Well, 2009, hmmmmm. We are safely back from Seville for the start of the new year (our Christmas present to ourselves and the offspring) so I am back to the cold and the damp and the local village piss-heads and their smashing bottles and 2.00am obscenities, and the teen-age attempts to breed in the hedge by the bus-stop sigh..... Seville, in case you ask was gorgeous - 10 days was not enough and I took 837 photos with the new camera (that's after deleting the cruddy ones). Now there is not a lot of knitting to be had in that fair city (I did spy 9 balls of very average acrylic-y looking yarn in a Merceraria on one of our forays) but in terms of colour and texture and sense of design the place is a dream. I totally loved it. Just look at these by the way - aren't they adorable and don't they just scream for some really funky handknitted socks? Every time I went past this shop I took more photos of these shoes (from other angles and with other colours).
Did I ever mention I am a sucker for bright colours? Therefore the Alcazar is just like a little spot of heaven... (and the birds are very tame - even allowing a clutz like me up pretty close to photograph them - in fact they seemed to like, and almost expect a photo - that dove kinda guy - now that was a particularly posy kinda chook)
In fact - how about this as a perfect, secluded spot for an afternoon tea and a spot of knitting...
actually now I think about it - this would be THE perfect spot for a little uninterupted knitting (if there is such a thing)
I have also shelved for the time being (again) the shawl with the yarn I originally bought in Barcelona, finally cast on in Singapore, frogged and re-cast on in New Zealand and managed a few more rows whilst away over Chrismas, Miss Lamberts Shetland thingummy is going to have an awful lot of air miles and the carbon foot print the size of a small village - it doesn't seem right to be knitting it here. So in the mean time I am back to knitting Adele which is a Debbie Bliss pattern and I have decided it is the time and project for some much clung-to Rowan that was buried deep in the stash and considered too precious for just any project. Adele, is I must say a very nice looking knit - I saw (and fondled) it knitted up in the display in the John Lewis Glasgow store, but - and it is quite a but - it feels like I am wrestling with the yarn, there is a lot of winding it here and there around needles and I am a bit concerned the result may look and feel like I am wearing a cardboard jacket. Still, onwards, the yarn is a lovely tweedy blue and the effect of the fabric is quite nice if you squint.
In more depressing news, Nr.1 child is having a growth spurt, I wouldn't mind (much) if he would grow within the normal (ie normal for UK clothing sizes) range, but difficult little sod, he has to have a 26 inch waist and 34 inch legs, as he is only 15 I suspect it can only get worse (longer) before it gets better (ie he takes responsibility and buys his own clothing), Nr.3 is also growing - she insists she is taller than me and now takes my shoe size. I think I will trim her feet when she sleeps, she however has pointed out my taste sucks so I may remain fully clothed - this is her about to go to her school formal (whatever next - formals for 13 yr olds??? In my day we were frog marched to our form years country dancing and wore thick sensible shoes for clumping, along with our first wonky Home-Ec attempts at making pinafores).
Happy new year to you too. Seems like you had a great trip back to the old country.'
My trip to my "old country" has been great. not as much knitting as I wanted, but much more time with friends and family. MY pictures will be winter wonderland like.. yours are great. Great shoes! and yes such a pity that the girls on 13 dont want to wear knitted knee highs and prettey dotted shoes. :-) mine wont!!! and growing--- >I tell them they must eat " flag-pole"seads. happy knitting.
Posted by: beate | January 03, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Oh as usual, you've made me laugh out loud :) Love the teenagers in hedge - young luv eh?
Glad you had a loverly time in Seville. Such lovely pics - what new camera did you get then? DH bought me an Olypmus E420 DSLR and it is seriously lush. And if I only managed to be awake during the rare time of sunlight I'd have nice pics of my few FO's lol :)
Posted by: RoxyKnits | January 06, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Juliet,
The light, oh the light, it is just so beautiful (and I love those shoes too!).
No 3 simply looks stunning.
Deb
Posted by: Deb | January 09, 2009 at 04:14 PM
What beautiful pictures, especially the shoes! I would buy them in every color if they were for sale in Tallahassee. I completely agree about "formals" for middle-schoolers; when my youngest was there they had to promulgate a rule against strapless dresses. What are their parents thinking? Thanks for your kind comments. Life is getting better and knitting still helps.
Posted by: ellen | January 13, 2009 at 04:14 PM