Just not feeling it ...

... are you?

I've been trying ever so hard.

Maybe it's the unseasonally warm weather we've been experiencing.

Or the fact that frosts haven't yet forced my pelargoniums inside.

But I just haven't got the Christmas bug. 

Not yet.

There are three separate Christmas productions going on at school.

And glitter abounds.

But even though the beautiful strains of 'The Snowman' keeps echoing down the halls  I'm still not 'getting it'.

This morning we received our first Christmas card. I've put it next to our gorgeous smelling mulled wine candle (I told you I was trying) on the mantelpiece in an attempt to ramp up the Christmas cheer - but no. Nothing.

The ingredients for the Christmas cake - usually mixed together with great competitive fervour in anticipation of winning our annual 'cake off' - are gathering dust behind the fruit bowl.

Don't get me wrong. I like Christmas. My singalong songs during December vary from anything between 'In the Bleak Midwinter' to 'All I want for Christmas - is Yoooooou' (for which I apologise). But I think that might be the point. It's still November.

I have many dear friends who already have presents wrapped and cards sent. But for me Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the mad dash around the shops hours before the big day. 

Something needs to snap into place. Just like the urge to plant seeds hits me in the Spring, and making jam is an absolute must in Autumn.

So what have I been doing?

Well I've made a couple of happy purchases.

Look at this set of pretty glasses. £2.50 for six!

Surely these will twinkle perfectly against the fairy lights on Christmas Eve?

And I had to snap up this sign for £1.

Who wouldn't want a knitted brassiere - that fits!

I've gathered the last of our apples.

Made lots of soups.

And been fascinated by the rate this hyacinth bulb has put down it's roots.

I've also been doing a bit of crochet. I love the idea of having a snuggly wrap around shawl for the colder evenings.

With a chunky wool and 7mm hook this is building up really quickly.

I've also been tempted by the new Rosie Mitts pattern by Pink Milk.

The embroidered rose detail is so sweet.

So there we go. I'm not complaining. In fact as I sit typing this I'm being bathed in the most glorious winter sunshine. Mr K is down at the allotment adding finishing touches to the shed and I'm about to don my wellies and wander down with emergency coffee. 

I'll try and spot some robins!

Jane 

xxx

Meanwhile, back at the allotment .....

...there's been stuff happening. 

But only if you look closely. 

Really closely. 

Like lie on the floor and zoom in.

It's a broad bean!!!

I never thought I would ever get so excited about a humble bean, but to me this signifies the start of great things. 

If you like beans that is.

A little further on garlic wars are still going strong.

Mr K decided to plant some cloves from a regular shop bought bulb whilst I got a special garden type one from Wilkos.

Mine is the one in the bottom box compared with Mr K's in the top one!

Imagine my delight each time I walk past and see mine rocketing ahead. (I realise that this delight is petty and incredibly selfish but you have to take it where you can find it!)

The light was so beautiful today that I couldn't resist wandering down the lane and seeing what was going on in the other plots. 

Come for a wander.

I love the fact that number 4 keeps a 'nice, smart hedge'

.

Brownie points if you can spot the London Midland train in the background.

Part of the land to the left of the allotments is used to store old vans and campers. This one would make a fantastic 'project'.

Looking ahead. 

Past sheds.

Crops still waiting to be harvested.

Whilst others have seen better days.

Nearing the end of the lane.

Where I met the lovely lady at number 9 ... 

...who informed me that things weren't quite as idyllic as they might seem. Apparently she is currently under threat from a herd of goats that have been grazing in the adjacent meadow. No sooner do her crops start to fruit than they scale the hedge and help themselves. Apart from her gooseberries. Apparently goats don't like gooseberries. The farmer has promised a taller hedge.

Naughty goats!

Back down to our plot and the one major thing that has grown is our shed. Mr K picked up the frame for ten pounds and has been scouring skips and the like for the cladding and pallets. Friends and family have been chipping in to help and mum and dad kindly donated some of their old windows. We now have an allotment shed with leaded glass - fancy nancy! Of course shorter days now mean that we can only build at the weekends as it's fairly dark after work - but slowly and surely it's coming on.

From this.

Then this.

 Followed by Mr K trying to explain

 the rudiments of shed making to Big Sis.

Who really just wanted to be hiding behind another shed eating a raw parsnip.

A bit of sawing from my good self.

And then being told to look happy as I was doing it!

A big family effort to get the frame on the base.

And then today came the walls. Or at least some of them.

Oh for the joy of making a shed!

So there we are.

Up to date on our newly found precious piece of land. 

Light and weather will dictate how much time we will be able to spend down there over the coming weeks but for now there is lovely warm feeling of satisfaction.

And of course the knowledge that my garlic is the best ;)

Have a good week and remember to look closely for the positives.

Jane

xxx

I've Finished a Thing!!!

Now just in case you think you must have stumbled in to the wrong blog I would like to assure you that it is I - dreamer of many things, starter of some and finisher of few - who has indeed completed 'a thing'! I bought this wool at the Bakewell Wool Gathering last year and swore I would have it all wrapped up and round my neck by December. What I hadn't considered was that it might be the following December. It's a wonderfully soft Blue Faced Leicester twist - not sure of any of the other details now as the ball band disappeared into the pale blue yonder many moons ago. 

The one on the left!

As you can see from this little chap this is not his natural colour.

Image courtesy of  cottontailcrafts.co.uk

It had been hand dyed a rich orange with a mottled effect. Because of this I decided to stick to a straightforward moss stitch. I cast on fifty five stitches on 4mm needles and just went for it. Obviously the repetitive nature of this became stultifyingly boring after a while, which may have explained it's absence from my list of priorities.

To 'tidy up' the edges I slip stitched around with a 4mm crochet hook, and added a little bit of extra detail with some teeny tiny loops at each end.

Overall I'm really pleased with it. It could have been a bit longer but to be honest it's snuggly, it's warm and it it's a perfect contrast for my new to me five pound coat!

Bad picture alert - it's tipping down outside
and  try as I might I can't get these colours to
ring true
- the coat is actually teal!

If Maud had thumbs they would both be up!

I'm busy beavering away at something else at the moment for which I'm trying to write a tutorial. Crikey! Hopefully I'll be able to tell all soon.

Wishing you all warm and well.

Jane

xxx

Thanks to all of you who contributed to my last post - stories are still appearing in the comments section so do go and have a look if you fancy a 'spooky' fix!