11 things for 2011

2010 was a grand year. There were definitely more highs than lows.
And I did pretty well on my new years resolutions too.

So here are some more for this year:

• Challenge myself - Last year it was the London to Brighton. This year maybe paragliding...
• Make an item of clothing.
• Go swimming more often.
• Read more books and knit (a little) less.
• Draw more. I'm going to aim to illustrate at least one shopping list a week from now on.
• Have dim sum.
• Eat lobster.
• Visit new places (Malta & Berlin to begin...)
• Take a packed lunch to work at least twice a week.
• Make and bash a piñata. I now have a kit, thanks to Yumi.
• FONDUE!!! (This is an old old old resolution that must be completed).

27

It was my birthday on Thursday.
Rosie made me the best cake I think I've ever seen & I received lots of treats from other friends & family (including this owl mask from Brian).

I also ate lots of Polish food. A favourite.

bon natale

I had a really lovely Christmas this year.
Lots of warmth, rest, playing games and spending time with people who I don't see often enough.
It felt like a holiday.

a post about post

This is long overdue, but I just wanted to say a big thank you to Thereza for the lovely package she sent me as part of her giveaway (there are better photos on her blog).

Magnets & booklets & illustrations galore. It's all so lovely, and a physical reminder of why I love to follow her blog.

Thanks once again Thereza!

a christmas lamb

on the needles

I'm trying something new.
I think I like knitting in the round.

bobble

I hit a wall with my planned sock making over the weekend - partly due to me buying the wrong weight of yarn, and partly because all the shops in Brighton seemed to be 'closed due to adverse weather conditions'.

I took this opportunity to make something to keep my head warm. My first bobble hat! You can find the pattern over at Ravelry. It only took me a day, and it has ear flaps for extra warmth.

I also think this was the first time I've ever made a bobble that hasn't fallen apart...

...yet.

wrap up warm

A cosy winter knit. My best so far.

snow & ice

I do like to be outside in the snow!
Although I slipped on the ice yesterday and landed on my bottom. Bad times.

advent

It's the first day of advent today (I had a Santa-shaped chocolate for breakfast) and it definitely feels a lot like Christmas - much snow! It's a shame I don't work far enough away to get a day off for sledging but I'm looking forward to my walk to work tomorrow...it'll give me time to finalise my playlist for this month's mixtape.

I've been finding it really hard to do anything other than huddle under a blanket in the evenings this week. It's tough having a fridge for a house. It has given me time to finish off my cardigan though. Now all that is left is to find and sew on some buttons and it'll be ready to go. I need all the warm winter knits I can get at the moment.

Next task: Very warm socks (& possibly more scarves for cats).

glass

Tonight I made some stained glass biscuits for Rosie (a birthday treat). It wasn't my most successful baking venture - only about 50% of them made it off the baking tray in one piece and the recipe was lacking in flavour (not enough ginger, not enough orange, not enough sugar), but they look pretty. Nicely coloured windows.

I also got the glass piece back that I assembled on White night. Not bad at all for a bit of late night crafting. I like the shapes.

In other news, thanks to Lyzi & Deborah for their kind posts about my blog.

results

A successful biscuit batch to mark many occasions.
Let's hope the result today is just as favourable.
I have a bet to win.

baking with mouse

Friday baking and blog updating. I'm going to try and illustrate the shopping lists more regularly from now on.

Also on the internet, Hannah and Alan have a lovely new blog on the go (A year in Eggs) & Yumi has finally gone public with her toilet rating scheme.

one month

One month later, and with 28 days worth of knitting, my diary is complete.
As you can see, some days were big knitting days and some days not so much. But it was a nice easy project to do, with not too much to think about, and now my neck is very warm.
Snug.

mouse

I ate a lot of cheese this weekend, and made some very pink rose flavoured ice cream. It was a bit overpowering.

I also got this nice little mouse from the market. He's handy for holding things.

fireworks

I really wanted to cycle to Lewes tonight for the fireworks, but instead I fear I'm going to have to stay in with my handkerchief and a blanket.

under the weather

Cream of tomato soup to warm my insides.
This blog is 4 years old today. A long time...

bed rest

My laptop is getting some time off as I have a new computer to play with in the office.
This means I get to walk to work and back with a spring in my step.
I could even skip.

red

I got a new bag from the flea market.
It has 7 different pockets.
It's been taking me a very long time to find my keys.

november

I can't believe it's November already. I'm not at all ready to be walking home from work in what feels like the middle of the night.

Last year I think this month was one of the worst in history so I'm hoping for a big improvement this time. Today started well when I spied a couple of pigeons perched in the sun outside my window.

The weekend was also a winner. We hosted another pumpkin carving evening and spent saturday exploring the events at White Night.

Let's keep this up please!