Show Time

The local show was on last weekend, and I went along for a few hours to have a look at the different happenings. I'd been along already the week before to drop off some of my knitted things, having decided to enter them in.

I hadn't originally planned to enter anything in the show, hence the last-minute decision. I was teaching a knitting class the evening before, and one of the ladies attending also happened to be part of the show society. It came up in conversation, and when she asked if I'd entered anything, I replied that no I hadn't. I went on to add that I didn't think I really had anything worth entering.

She told us how one year they didn't have enough entries in the flower section, so she had to race home and cut some roses and gerberas, just to fill up the display. They ended up winning ribbons, but the main point is that having a full display is what's important. For a little show like ours, it can be hard for them to have the displays nice and full. This year it was, and it was nice to have played a small part in that.

May

Just as I begin to wonder if the seasons will change, all of a sudden the days are shortening, the afternoons are decidedly chilly and I'm shutting up the house early to trap the warmth and light the fire. The trees have turned golden yellow and are starting to drop their leaves, a little later than last year but lovely none the less. May is a beautiful month, and has always been one of my favourites - up north it was a gorgeous mild month of perfect weather, and here it signals the final month of Autumn before winter truly arrives. L M Montgomery might have been glad to live in a world where there are Octobers, but I will always be glad of May and June.

Here & Now | April 2019 Link Up

I originally didn't intend to continue with the Here & Now link up during this year, but I've missed writing the posts and seeing yours, too. It's a nice way of checking in once a month, another way to keep a journal as the year goes on by.

I had the joy recently of visiting a beautiful garden, and amongst all the other gorgeous flowers growing was this patch of echinacea. They are such pretty flowers, I had to take a photo.

Porridge Days

April is here and the delicious weather with it - porridge days they should be called as they are not too hot and not too cold, but just right (just like Baby Bear's porridge in the Goldie Locks story). I've been snapping photos here and there and doing lots of knitting, but never quite finding the time to put the photos together with words here on this blog until this afternoon.

March Making

March has rolled in alongside the most beautiful weather. Deliciously cool mornings that require socks on my feet if I'm to enjoy my first cup of tea sitting outside, watching the landscape around me change as the sun comes up higher over the hills. As the fog fades and the birdsong gets progressively noisier before they decide they've well and truly had their say, the sun strengthens and by mid-morning it's a gorgeous warm day.
I so love this time of year. It's the perfect blend of everything - cool and warmth - all rolled into one.

Although it might not feel like it right now as day time temperatures are still up quite high, the proper cold will soon arrive and with that thought, I feel like knitting so many snuggly things. I've cast on a rainbow shawl for myself, finally using a kit that I got as a treat at the end of Knitfest last year. All of the yarns in the kit are hand dyed, a mixture of merino, alpaca and silk. Upon reading through the pattern that came with the kit, I sadly don't have enough of the contrast colours to make the shawl properly. In the end, I'm supposed to knit twenty-six lace panels between twenty-six garter stitch panels.

Knitting Projects: Finding my Balance

I'm at the delicious part of knitting a garment where it's nearly finished. I have trouble putting them down when they reach this point as the excitement starts to build. The other half of my mind can't help but think that there's no rush to finish, as Autumn isn't here yet. But I love that as soon as that first cool day arrives, the one that has you reaching for something warm to put on, I'll be able to reach for something I knitted by hand.

I'm trying a new way of making this year. I'm trying to have fewer projects on the go at once. My plan is probably laughable, as generally speaking, I'm not a knitter with a project problem. At the most, I've only ever had 6 on the go at once, and as knitting is my only craft I know that this sounds like a tiny amount to some. My happy place used to be to have three to four projects on my needles at the same time. But lately, I've felt the need for change. I'm going to experiment with only having one major project happening at once. When I've finished knitting one, I will start the next. I'll only double up when I'm also working on a design for a pattern.

Here & Now | December 2018 Link-Up

Well, here we are - the last 'Here & Now' post for the year. On one hand, I feel as though the year has flown by, and on the other, I feel like it's been sooo slow. Such a lot has happened over these last 12 months that sometimes if I stop and think about it I feel a little breathless (figuratively, that is).

The last of the spring blooms are still clinging around, although the sweetpeas have mostly stopped flowering and the majority of the cornflowers have bloomed now, too. The last of the carrots have been harvested, the cucumber picking is becoming more frequent and the zucchinis, tomatoes and capsicums are beginning to flower.

Here & Now | November 2018 Link-Up

Loving // Cooler days after the heatwave we had a week ago and the garden bursting in flowers on most of the plants. I'm also admiring the beautiful handspun yarn samples and hand dyed/spun/woven coasters I was sent by Vicki Cornish of Bonsai Woman. I interviewed Vicki for Yarnologie Issue 02, and she was kind enough to send some samples of her gorgeous work.

Eating // Fresh strawberries from the patch with yoghurt most days, and there's a chicken roasting away in the oven as I type. It smells delicious.

Drinking // Less tea as the days warm.

Bits and Pieces

Summer is arriving, bringing with it all of the things that I love and also dislike about the season. Hot long days aren't a favourite of mine (don't get me wrong, I like the days being a little longer but they are a fair bit longer than I'm used to now I'm living in New South Wales). I'm a woolly kind of person at heart, and because of that autumn will always be my favourite season - the cups of tea, snuggly blankets, endless knitting and joy of baking things in the kitchen.

Here & Now | October 2018 Link-Up

Despite the widespread exclamations about the speed at which each year goes, it seems that time is determined to still march on at what seems to be an ever-increasing pace. Here we are in October, and what I very much view as the ending of the year. As we roll into these final months I find they all seem to run together, as people begin to talk more about their end-of-year plans.
It's Here & Now time again and it's a great way to pause and think about the present. Will you be joining in this month?

10 Good Things Right Now

It's been a week of trials here, in various forms and with the worst taking up the whole weekend. The result is the beginning of this new week is being met with tiredness and the hope that it'll be smoother. It's been a long time since I've written one of these blog posts, and I thought now might be a perfect time to list 10 good things right now.

Here & Now | September 2018 Link-Up

Can you believe that after this Here & Now, there are only three left for 2018? I was quite shocked when I realised that! I'd love it if you'd join in!

Spring Thoughts

The warm weather arrived right on schedule yesterday. As the calendar ticked over to September, the temperature rose a little. I was so happy to welcome to warmth, to stand in the sunshine and feel the breeze blowing against me was warm instead of cold. Seasons don't usually just change in an instant, and sure enough, it's a little bit cooler today, and the wind that is gusting around outside right now is anything but warm.

There are definite signs of the season changing, with the days becoming longer and just a little bit warmer. The birds are becoming noisier and the sight of hares hopping by in the morning a little more common. A few stout seedlings survived a recent heavy frost and have suddenly shown obvious signs in growth in the last few days. A self-seeded tomato has also heralded the warming soil temperatures.

August Thoughts

August days are so changeable. As the temperature dances around, some days bringing spring-like warmth and others mid-winter chill, I get impatient for the season to change. I love winter, but by the end of it, I’m ready to shed the layers, open up the house and start enjoying lighter meals again. I’m drawn to the garden at this time of year. I want to be planting spring seeds, but I know it’s still too early. We’re perched atop a hill here, giving is a wide view over quite a distance.  Lately, there has been a thin layer of smoke hanging in the air, as the world around us gets dryer and dryer.

I’m watching my seedlings grow ever so slowly, as the soil temperature is still cold. We had more frost only the other morning. August truly can’t make up its mind about which season it wants to be part of! Despite sweet peas being something you should plant during the cold, they are growing rather slowly as everything does in this weather.

Winter Gardening, Spring Plans & Spinning Yarn

After a week of frosts and chilly days, this week it's been all warmth and mild temperatures. This afternoon was particularly warm, and despite my love of winter, I have to say that I loved the warm change. It's still cold of an evening, but it's feeling evident that mid-winter has passed and we're ever so slowly creeping towards spring.

I've been heading out to the veggie patch every morning and staring closely at the mulch, as I await the appearance of some winter seedlings. I sowed the seeds over a week ago, so I think I can now reasonably hope they'll appear. Among them are Sweet Peas, which I'm hoping will still shoot even though I was late in planting them. It was pretty cold when I put them in, so fingers crossed they sprout! I've put a little teepee over each planting, and if they grow I'll be able to see their pretty flowers from the office window. I'm also hoping to see cornflowers and snapdragons, too.

Here & Now | July 2018 Link-Up

Welcome to this month's Here & Now Link-Up! It's shamefully late, but that's been a bit of a theme throughout the year, hasn't it? Never mind!
The link-up is open now, so if you'd like to join in you can!

Here & Now | June 2018 Link Up

Loving // The woodfire keeping the house warm and the delicious smell of freshly baked sourdough 

Eating // Chicken pie rolls. (Chicken pie filling, made into the shape of sausage rolls. A case of using what was on hand, and surprisingly delicious!)

Drinking // Herbal teas...ginger & lemon is a favourite

Feeling // A bit excited as it's just over a week before we pack up and hit the road to head North for Knitfest. I'm also feeling slightly disorganised. There's lots of list making and I'll feel better once there are some ticks on it, too!

Making // Not a lot as the days have been full, but I have been doing some knitting on my Cherry Pie beanie. It's the sample for the July Magic Looping workshop, and I'll publish it as an online pattern, too.

Thinking // How the year is just flying, and this month particularly.

Dreaming // Of a little trip to the beach when we get back and life isn't so busy. Every day is so full at the moment, as it generally is when preparing for an event.


What's happening in your world right now? Would you like to take a moment to document it on your blog? Here & Now is a fun exercise to reflect and think about the little parts of life (the ultimately make up the bigger picture.) Join us!

The link-up is open from today until midnight on the 17th of this month.
Simply copy the Here & Now list from below, paste it into a new blog post and fill it in. Add as many (or as few) photos to your post as you like and then hit publish!
The last step is to come back here and add the link to your new blog post to the link-up tool below so that we can all see your post.
I'd love it if you could please link back here in your post, too, so that others can find the link-up.

Copy & Paste....

Loving //
Eating //
Drinking //
Feeling //
Making //
Thinking //
Dreaming //

I can't wait to see your posts! Thank-you so much for joining in. Remember to spread the link-up love by visiting the other participants.



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Winter Thoughts

Winter is here and with it the realisation that we are at the halfway point of this year. Where did it go? This year has been a blur of things, filled with so many new beginnings in both small and big ways. In some ways, it feels like it was a long time ago that I was unpacking boxes and trying to find my way around this new town and state, and in other ways, it seems like it wasn't long ago at all.

Here & Now | May 2018 Link Up

Loving // Autumn coolness and beautiful sunshine filled days (after a week of clouds and rain)

Eating // Toasted sourdough, and later today a slice of the most heavenly chocolate, cherry and coconut cake

Drinking // Tea!

Feeling // Excited and overwhelmed with the list of thing to do to get ready for Knitfest Maleny. The list just seems to keep on growing! This small business thing can be a bit hectic sometimes!

Making // I'm putting the finishing touches on my Tea Mouse today as it's the last day of the knit-along! I'm also making speedy progress on my carbeth cardigan, it's a lot longer than in the photo above. And I'm making graphic design edits to patterns, getting them ready for printing (for Knitfest)

Thinking // About knitting workshops...I'm not organising any more until after Knitfest, but that doesn't stop the planning of then! Especially after teaching such a lovely group of ladies on the weekend.

Dreaming // Of the mini holiday I'll be having just before Knitfest


What's happening in your world right now? Would you like to take a moment to document it on your blog? Here & Now is a fun exercise to reflect and think about the little parts of life (the ultimately make up the bigger picture.) Join us!

The link-up is open from today until midnight on the 17th of this month.
Simply copy the Here & Now list from below, paste it into a new blog post and fill it in. Add as many (or as few) photos to your post as you like and then hit publish!
The last step is to come back here and add the link to your new blog post to the link-up tool below so that we can all see your post.
I'd love it if you could please link back here in your post, too, so that others can find the link-up.

Copy & Paste....

Loving //
Eating //
Drinking //
Feeling //
Making //
Thinking //
Dreaming //

I can't wait to see your posts! Thank-you so much for joining in. Remember to spread the link-up love by visiting the other participants.

Subscribe to receive posts via email and never miss out again

Autumn Changes

The weather has changed, and this time I think the cold isn't a "snap", but here to stay. The days are getting shorter and cooler, with the evening chill creeping in earlier and earlier, and taking longer to leave in the morning. And the light is getting more golden.
I've started warming up my mug in the morning before pouring the tea so that it holds the heat for longer. A mug cosy helps, too.
These pretty teacups came from a little shop in town, and they are just perfect. I love having a cup and saucer, but I find traditional teacups so small. These cups hold a nice sized cup of tea, and you still get the "teacup" experience. It's odd how a pretty cup can make your meal feel so much more special.

I've been training myself to get better at "switching off". Not just from my business, but from everything. Switching off the to-do list on all topics at the end of the day, not letting my mind start straight on it of a morning, and trying to keep it turned off for a weekend. Listening to my body and just having a rest if that's what I need, rather than doing lots of other things, be it housework, business work or sometimes even just crafting.
I'm reminded of that feeling you get as a child, where you know you're tired but you feel like you're missing out, so you keep going anyway. As adults, we really aren't any different, except now our mum isn't there to tell us to have a quieter day, or go to bed on time!