Little Cotton Rabbits

Snapshots from February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are some pictures from my February, but words seem hard to find right now. What to say when the world has undergone such a monumental change? Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness abound and it seems unlikely that anyone in the world will be untouched by the ramifications of this horrific war in Ukraine.

It is hard to balance feeling both overwhelmed and distraught at world events with moments of contentment and happiness in our own individual existence, it creates an uncomfortable mix of emotions that are hard to accommodate. But it is human to feel both, and so I am sending the hope that you are finding some moments of peace and pleasure in your days. As always I turn to nature for solace and find it constant and steadfast in it's ability to calm racing thoughts and soothe physical tension. There's knitting going on too, but it seems so inconsequential at the moment and I don't have anything finished to show.

I'm still trying to work out how best to help, for now I've donated to the British Red Cross Disaster Emergency Committee fundraising appeal but there are many many other charities raising funds to help. If you or your loved ones are directly affected you have my very deepest sympathies.

 

 

Emerging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February is always the time when I feel like I'm emerging from hibernation. Not that I have slept all of January of course, though the temptation was certainly there. I have been busily knitting away and have put together the beginnings of a couple of new patterns. They still need editing, photographing, laying out and testing so it will be a while before they are ready but they will be coming soonish and when they're a little further along I might give a sneak peek. I've also been out and about with my camera a bit, enjoying the quiet of the winter countryside, though never venturing too far from the pull and comfort of home.

Winter this year has been mild, with only a few frosty January mornings. I do love how the frost transforms the dull coloured twigginess of the winter landscape, so couldn't resist heading out to take some pictures before scurrying back home to curl up with my knitting again.

In the last week there has been a sense of change in the air, especially at daybreak, which throughout December and January has been a silent affair. But now that February is here the dawn chorus is gaining new voices each day, with small birds singing out their territorial boundaries from first light. Spring is waiting in the wings, ready to burst forth with colour and fragrance and celebration of warming and lengthening days. I don't know about you, but I feel very ready for it.

 

quiet winter days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell

This quote chimes well with my idea of a perfect January - quiet days, spent gently and slowly. Of course life often has other ideas and usually throws up unexpected things to get in the way of peace and relaxation, but there have been some calm and relaxing moments in my January so far...

• peaceful moments watching the skies at sunrise whilst sipping the first cup of tea of the day, January has the best sunrises,
• calm moments spent reading and planning for the year ahead, I'm finding these books really helpful - 'Do Pause' and 'Do Breathe' books from the Do Book Company
• some weekend morning gentle-paced knitting, accompanied by tea and toast and warm blankets and Volume 3 of Shetland Wool Adventures which is a lovely read,
• and lots of quiet walks in the countryside, which is currently resting quietly under a wintry sparkle of frost.

 

I hope the new year so far has been kind to you and that you're finding comfort and calm in some of your favourite things this month too, J x

 

All I want for Christmas...

 

 

 

The two little animals above have been gifted to friends, the cards are all sent, the tree is up, the presents for the children are wrapped and the larder is full - I'm at last prepared for and looking forward to a few gentle-paced, family-based days. We have a quiet and simple Christmas here, centred around sharing time together, eating and relaxing. There's nothing I'm hoping for in the way of physical presents, but if my Christmas day includes some of the following then it will be a good one...

• A crisp, frosty dawn with mother-of pearl coloured clouds high above the rising sun and the song of a robin heralding daybreak from the top of the plum tree as I give the hens their breakfast,
• A cup of good coffee to warm my fingers after coming in from the cold,
• Toby and Amy having a long lie in, so I can sit with my soulmate and spend a little time alone together,
• Christmas carols on the stereo so I can sing along as I peel potatoes and prep for lunch,
• Hoping that my roast potatoes get crispy and the turkey stays juicy and flavourful, so that I can show my family what they mean to me with a gift of good food,
• An afternoon family film on the tv so we can all curl up together and feel nostalgic,
• An evening cosying by the fire with a glass or two of something warming,
• A bright moon floating in a clear sky studded with stars, so I can send up grateful thanks for a day well lived before heading off to a warm bed.

I'm signing off now but will see you in the new year, I hope your holidays bring you what you are hoping for and a little peace and pleasure and time with those you love most,

J xxx

 

Christmas tree bears & a new friend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year it seems to be proving harder than ever to get organised for Christmas. I had so many things on my to do list for this week but on Monday Toby developed some snuffles, and although he has no other symptoms and isn't unwell in himself I felt that keeping him home from college was the responsible thing to do because the current situation has us all feeling a little paranoid and extra sensitive to other peoples coughs and sneezes. Anyway, I'm going to be deleting a few of the less essential things from my list and what doesn't get done by friday will simply have to stay undone :)

I have ticked one thing off my list today though and that is to upload a new and updated version of my tiny bear Christmas tree decorations. I first shared this in December 2008 and I thought it could use a make-over and a few new photos. The instructions are the same as they were and are very simple and fairly quick, if a little fiddly, to follow. If you wanted to make some of your own you can download the new copy of the file from here:  download now 

And you can see all of the projects that others have made over the years (including lots of sweet adaptations) over on Ravelry.

Lastly, out in the garden I have a new friend. I am still missing Kit the fox and will never forget her frequent visits over the last 2 years, but the antics of this little squirrel definitely put a smile on my face. We've had plenty of squirrels in the garden before and they have all been typically skittish and wary, but this little chap is a very friendly character and follows me around the garden. I now have hazelnuts in my pocket whenever I go outside, and he politely takes each one in his little paws before scampering off to stash them somewhere - by now he must have the largest stash in the area!