What Catty Did Next

In the ongoing quest for sartorial independence:

 In Sherbrooke Forest, wearing the Meret - a great knitted beret pattern by Woolly Wormhead - a fast, easy and effective knit in some Noro I'd bought and was trying hard to knit into a lattice stitch scarf. Decided this was more user friendly and although you can't see it very clearly in this photo, it is lovely. I'll have to photograph it separately sometime for clarity. Also a new skirt - this is a tube skirt from a modified Ottobre pattern. Yes, the pattern sheets look like - I don't know, the confusing offspring of topographical maps that have mated with economic crisis flow graphs. But once you locate your lines, all is relatively straightforward. The stripey fabric was a freebie - leftovers from a sewing project of Mme. Rouge's. I coveted the fabric - it's silky - but couldn't work out what to do with her remnant. But I discovered by seaming two halves of the back there was enough for this tube. You can't see the stripey detail - indeed, this entire photo is notable for it's lack of detail! - but I like it. The final handmade element is the pair of handknitted socks, alas! another detail that is barely visible. But there you are - the whole look or the components? You got the whole look - with bonus forest tree.

On the needles: Rowan sock number two.

                                                                                          
And just off the needles - bright socks, yarn unknown but singing colours - more socks.
Still reading Peter Ackroyd's Foundation - Volume One, History of England. It's getting a little more battered as I haul it from home to the Mothership's, to the bath, to the train....and I'm only up to the early 13th century.

Recent films seen: the haunting and beautiful Japanese film, Like Father, Like Son - which I found mesmerising. Also The Invisible Woman, interesting - and I must put the Claire Tomalin biography on my reading list (and I suppose that means reading Ackroyd's biography - does the man ever sleep? does he eat? does he smell any roses? I can tell you for sure he does not knit his own socks!) - but I thought the film lacked something. Fiennes made a hugely likeable Dickens and Jones was great as Ellen Ternan, but perhaps the structure made the whole a little forced - and those furious tramps across the Margate sands? The costumes were beautiful and the story was compelling, however.

Listening to: most recently, First Aid Kit, found by following Mme. Rouge on Spotify. Lovely! Also Laura Kaplansky found for me by Spotify itself and Pentangle - blast from the past and still as beautiful as ever. Trying to keep a note of these because I often just play the same stuff over.

PS. Just read that the History of England is going to be in six volumes. Six volumes!
PPS. Have just written in the labels and I can't help but wonder if First Aid Kit and Peter Ackroyd and handknitted socks have ever before mentioned in the same blog post?

The Week that Was

I discovered a poem I really liked - 'Le Zebre' by Robert Desnos - it's a beautifully structured poem and I only found it because I had to prepare a poem for my weekly French lesson. That, too, is well structured - Elaine makes half the class present something each week. It can be a poem, a recipe, a small account of your activities or a talk about something French. It's a gentle introduction to the week.

I finished making the Abby Cardigan - and I really should have a photo, but I haven't. I don't know what is wrong with my brain, but I could not make the facing work 'burrito fashion' so I ended up hand-sewing it.  My mitred corners aren't perfect, but heigh ho, I  love the fabric and I suspect I shall wear quite a lot as a between-seasons cardie.

I started knitting the 'Meret'. I suspect that my needles are a size too small and that the eyelets in my Noro are going to be less pronounced, but the colours are gorgeous and I'll simply go with a more subtle pattern.

Today The Accountant and I visited an Open Garden at Coldstream. Great views - but the gardens were very dry. The property boasts 450 rose bushes. I have no idea what these two are, but they were very beautiful.

 After that we had a picnic in a nearby reserve. Note the smoked salmon tart - one of this week's successful cooking ventures. 

And there's the Meret:

The cutlery set above was an op shop find at the op shop near the Mothership. I have the best luck at that particular op shop. Other buys have included:
Peter Ackroyd's Albion; two white openwork pillowcases with buttons at the back for only $5.00!; a black cardigan with a faux fur colour; work shirts for Mademoiselle Rouge; six little dessert spoons with matching forks; a brown ribbon knit cardigan with a fringe (I love a fringe!) and two casserole dishes the perfect size for casseroles for two.

On the down side of this week, the Mothership landed badly and may have cracked a bone in her knee. She's being characteristically philosophical about this, although I'm wondering how she'll be able to sit at the movies if she had to have a cast on it? We're in the habit of seeing a movie every week - this week it was Mr Morgan's Last Love - beautifully acted and great shots of Paris.


Also my new ASUS tablet keyboard mysteriously failed to work but after two days of stubborn inactivity, self-corrected. Mysterious and mysteriouser.

On the writing front? Despite interruptions, I'm halfway through Chapter Nine, which is a good place to be. 

I always sound quite chirpy on this blog, but it's not always so. I'm often plagued by self-doubt and quite often feel overwhelmed with the diverse range of stuff I do. But, at the end of the week, looking back, I'm often quite chuffed at how much activity sneaks in and how much is accomplished. Sure, this week I certainly haven't managed my hour a day French practise. My monthly hand-knitted sock quota might not be met and I haven't finished Chapter Nine - so what?