Little Cotton Rabbits

knitting by the fire

I still haven't ventured out into the crowds of christmas shoppers, I'd much rather be right here...

...knitting mittens. The top left ones are for my Dad (made with yarn gifted to me a while ago by the lovely Michaela). Last christmas I'd only finished one and wrapped it for him with the promise that the second would follow shortly and suddenly here we are 12 months later! You will get your pair of mittens this Christmas Dad! The other two pairs are for me because you can never have too many mittens!

Anyway all this mitten knitting has led me to resort to internet shopping for our most of my present buying and our Christmas food and drink. I just hope that the deliveries don't get stuck in Christmas snow! I'm remembering an episode of The Good Life where Margot's entire christmas delivery didn't arrive. I do hope I won't be saying 'Christmas has not been delivered to this house' on Christmas morning!

feeling festive

Thanks so much for the good wishes, Amy's school play was wonderful and I did cry buckets!

We're now in the last week before the schools break up and so it's really the last chance to get all the christmas shopping and preparation done before my little lovelies suck up all my free time! The trouble is I can't seem to motivate myself to go and join the fray. I'm happy here in a peaceful house with my quiet knitting. I do feel very festive though despite the lack of decorations - it's our christmas tradition to put up the tree and decorate the house on the day after the schools break up. I'm even seeing things in my coffee - kind of looks like a snowman or an angel or have I already succumbed to christmas madness?!

What's your run up to christmas been like so far, calm or crazed?

the christmas play

 

At around 2.30pm today I shall be weeping and sniffling into a large bunch of tissues (in a highly sentimental and very proud way) as I watch Amy perform in her school play. She's pleased as punch to have been given the part of Mary in a play called the Christmas Jazz and sings a very beautiful solo song towards the end. I think part of me will be weeping at it being her last school play of junior school. Next year secondary school will engulf her and I'm sure the changes it will bring to her, although a necessary part of growing up, will cause me to weep many more times!

I know I'll not be alone in needing tissues today so I'll wish all you parents watching your children in their school plays over the next 2 weeks a very happy weep and don't forget to charge up your camera batteries!

 

PS: frosty berries have nothing whatsoever to do with all this - we've had very frosty mornings here this week and I just thought they looked pretty.

Wood walks

Going out to the woods has become a definite highlight in Toby's weekend. A few months ago he would cling on to me when we were out but now he's more confident and likes to skip off and explore a little. It's lovely to see him enjoying the different textures of the path under his boots as it travels through crunchy leaves, squelchy puddles and over echoy wooden walkways. It's a special and gentle time together.

In keeping with our drive to build on his communication I'm going to be using these walks to add to his vocabulary by using a comment board. I'll be trying to teach him to name what he notices so that when he comes home for instance he can tell Amy and Daddy that we saw a dog in the woods.

Hopefully we can add to this and in time help build him a functional language.

Thanks so much for all of the kind comments on the last post. It's always really helpful to hear from anyone else with experience and great to read some different ideas that we may be able to adapt for Toby, it's also a very nice feeling to know that there are people out there just wishing us well - many thanks x

"a bird in the hand...

...is worth two in the bush" as the saying goes. But I've already got 2 birds in my hands today because I've finished the mittens and I'm chuffed to bits with them.

Knitting the Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn on 2.5mm needles really makes them thick and warm and the gorgeous tonal range of the yarn really does Kate's beautiful pattern justice. I love the secret little bird on the inside of each thumb and the design seems fairytale like, so it seemed appropriate to take them into the woods for their first outing.

Though I did have to keep checking over my shoulder to make sure Mr Wolf wasn't sidling up behind me through the trees!

It's a really lovely pattern and I'd definitely recommend it. If you're put off by knitting in the round or by the estonian braids then take a look at my ravelry page for some cheats and tips.

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PS: I had an email from a dear friend with a request:

Kate and Gerry McCann are looking for people to sign a petition that they hope will result in an independent review of Madeleine's case - the text of Gerry's letter follows.  I was wondering if you'd be able to highlight this in your next blog and give a link to the petition so that your readers can sign up?  As you know, I struggle with physical pain most days but the pain of losing your child, wondering what has become of them, being vilified in the press - Julie, I think that would drive me mad.  Consequently I feel I should do anything I can to help them ... so I do hope you don't mind me turning to you once again. The link to the petition is:

 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/madeleinemccann_case_review/signatures

If it's a cause that has resonance for you please take a moment to sign the petition - you can visit their website too which details the history of Madeleine's disappearance three and a half years ago. Thanks x