A Cure for Winter Hands and some Crafty Shopping.

At last! I recently discovered this fabulous hand cream...

It's called Organic Mother's Balm and is available here though I bought my tub at a craft fair. I'm not normally tempted by smelly stuff but there was a tester pot on the stall and after one tiny application I was smitten. If you suffer from dry sore hands (especially affecting the skin between the fingers) then I'd recommend this, it works for me anyway.

Also at the craft fair I bought...

...a fabulously scented little Christmas pillow from Primrose Hill, and...

... a dinky felted Christmas pudding from Vintage Squirrel.

The craft fair itself was organised by Lisa of Primrose Hill & Katie of Vintage Squirrel, you can read more about it here. It did entail a long drive up for myself and Country Mouse, but meant we escaped the gloomy wet weather of the west to enjoy some eastern sunshine and it was lovely to meet some fellow bloggers, though sadly we missed Dancing Beastie who also visited later.

It seemed daft to travel so far without seeing the sights of Knirossie...

The thatched cottage,

the churchyard,

a beautiful view looking south from the churchyard.

It also meant I missed my Saturday morning cycle, but as I said, the weather back home wasn't great so I wasn't too disappointed. On the way home Country Mouse and I lunched at Gloagburn Farm Shop near Tibbermore, where we both agreed that the cakes were top notch. Definitely a coffee shop to revisit, just need another excuse to be in that part of the world again!

The Other Crochet Scarf, and a couple more...

Ta da! Here is the first crochet scarf I ever started...

... and it will not be getting frogged! It's the same pattern as the one in my previous post but made using more suitable yarn (the reason I didn't like the last one was that it felt bulky and springy and was just a little too flamboyant for me).

I ran out of yarn on the last row while making this one, hence why it's the first scarf I started but not the first I finished - I made the frogged one while new yarn was on order.

The pattern is Cascade Scarf by Kittyboo Crochet, and the yarn I used is King Cole Riot in shade Spirit.

Sadly I'm not keeping this one as it is intended for a friend's birthday gift. I have, however, started one for myself seeing as I did have to order another ball of yarn, it'll just be a little shorter (to be honest I think I'd make the scarf shorter anyway, I plan to start with a chain of 150 instead of 170).

Now here's what has happened to the yarn from the frogged scarf...

...I used it to make a simple scarf just using (UK)dc stitch.

I then had a go at this one...

...again using (UK)dc stitch but putting the needle through the back loop only so as to give a more ribbed effect. I think I went a bit mad with the fringe for this one but it took me long enough to do so I'm not changing it! It's also not really my colours, but I made it and the other dc scarf in order to donate them to the craft stall at the upcoming school fair, hopefully someone will like them!

Crochet Scarf

I crocheted a scarf. It was only the second scarf I'd ever started and the first one I'd finished. I was really pleased with it...

...I wore it the very day it was done...

...then decided I didn't really like it after all and frogged it the next day.

Hmmm.

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

On Saturday monring I decided to make a visit to the avenue to see how the trees were looking...

Off up the long hill. I'm heading south-east so the rising sun is hidden behind the hill which creates lovely silhouettes such as these trees and, if you look closely, a flock of birds flying between them.

The moon is still up, pylon lines cut across the blue sky.

Looking back from underneath the wires.

A couple of cows watch me make my way slowly up the road.

I like the contrast of bare branches against wintry blue skies.

Made it to the top. Unfortunately the sun has since hidden itself behind a large bank of clouds. Never mind, some cows come over to say hello.

Autumnal trees lie ahead. When I reach the trees I disturb lots of little birds who have been feasting on the beech nuts. Among them are...

... great tits (similar markings to a blue tit but with a solid black cap),...

...and bramblings. I find the RSPB website a big help in indentifying birds, particularly the "similar birds" section as I had at first thought the brambling might have been a chaffinch.

The avenue and the reason why I came this route. I'm a little disappointed as the sun is still proving elusive and the sky is rather grey, so not such a good photo as I'd hoped for.

Looking up.

Also on this route a few miles further on is the little ruined cottage, I stop to take a photo through the window.

And then the sun comes out, hooray!

Now heading downhill towards Barcraigs reservoir.

The whole time I've been out cycling the hills on the other side of the strath have been bathed in constant sunshine. I definitely picked the wrong direction weather-wise today.

The gorgeous colours of the trees around this little section of road cheers me up though. The previous day we had quite a lot of rain as you can see.

At the junction coming up I'm going to turn right in the direction of the sunshine...

...found it! What a difference, it makes the leaf and berry colours dazzling bright.

Barr Loch.

Bridge over the river Calder.

A swan on Castle Semple Loch. The big bank of clouds is still lying over the area I've just spent the last couple of hours cycling around.

The notices warn of issues with the water quality, nobody's told the ducks.

The swan on the left with a yellow beak is a whooper swan. He has a damaged wing and stays at the loch year-round along with the mute swans.

I then zoomed home along the cycle path.

That afternoon we all went for a little walk on the braes...

... someone tell this guy he needs a bigger bike.

Crochet Robin

Spotted...

...in the garden...

....one HUGE robin.

Last seen in N's dumper truck.

Pattern here but I mucked up making the body which turned out rather larger than it should have been. Will have another go soon but with modifications...

October so far

I enjoy taking photographs! In keeping a blog I have realised how difficult it is to express oneself in writing. For me, a picture does indeed speak a thousand words. Here are some October photos, no link between them aside from that fact that they are all from October this year and were taken within 500 yards of home.

Early October, a bee (I love the detail of the wings) visits the asters.

My version, raspberry and brown chocolate. The raspberries on top were from the garden, the canes were only planted this year and we didn't actually expect any fruit till next year. They were lovely and sweet.

N's teddies being bumped down the step into our kitchen. I did originally think I would paint this step at some point but I rather like the "distressed" look of it now, plus there are other jobs further up the priority list...

...such as tiling the kitchen. I still have vague plans to do some sort of mosaic, in the meantime a huge chopping board acts as a splash back behind the hob. For tea this day was chicken casserole (one of my favourite dishes). The chocolate cake far right was eaten before it was even iced, healthier that way I suppose!

Some of A's velcro animal creations, a snake and an elephant. She was keen that they be photographed.

Better than cbeebies; N watches some digger action from the living room window.

After school A & N play "beaches" in the garden.

A rainbow. It was a gorgeous Autumn day for visiting the nearby park...

...N absolutely loved running around in the fallen leaves.

The leaves are satisfyingly crisp and crunchy this year...

... perfect!

An aeroplane follows a recent vapour trail.

A halloween picture by A. I'm pleased that the spider and witch look happy and friendly, especially as they are now up on one of the kitchen cupboard doors.

A asked me one day what my three favourite things were. I replied that she, N and daddy (hubby) were. She disappeared to her pens and paper for a while and returned with this picture for me, she'd even made a frame for it. Awwwwwww!

Holly berries ripening nicely.

A frosty leaf.

Our doormat(!)

An attempt at a corner of my home photo. Corners are all I'd post, the rest being so untidy, I despair of ever getting the whole house tidy at one time ever again.

So, some of the nicer aspects of life in October. I like to remember what has pleased rather than record things I'd prefer to forget after all, like most of us I expect.