Did you miss me? very long post

its been a long while since I blogged, too long I think. I've just been reading 2 blogs ,blogs that I have followed for many moons.
 Both had inspired me to start my own. This was a time when blogging was very new and not many people wrote them. I collected a reading list as time went on and some (a few) are still here but the rest have long gone sadly. As Antoinette says, we have an instant world now, Pinterest Twitter facebook all snippets and sound bites but no substance to it. I wasn't sure I would ever blog again time seemed to pass and I did other things, read other things. Got on with life stuff.
But I miss musing on paper, or what passes for paper. So let's see how it goes.
How about a small snapshot of what has been going on since we last spoke ? No particular order on the pictures as I am being lazy;) So here goes

 Autumn now. And a trip to a local garden centre for lunch gave me chance to capture pictures of these glorious acers at their best.

July saw me going back into hospital, this time to resurface the kneecap on the same knee that was replaced last year. the consultant  told me that it was a 50/50 chance of removing pain but a chance I had to take. Sadly it hasn't worked and the pain is worse if anything. Ah well there were some consolations.

lots of flowers came to greet my return from hospital 

Going into hospital a friend insisted I borrowed her tiny drop spindle. "You need to spin in hospital "she said.

so I did and I knit socks

One of the things on my bucket list has always been to ride the Settle to Carlisle railway line
I anticipated just being able to do that but a very dear friend arranged a birthday surprise for me (us)

A return trip from Lancaster to Carlisle on the Fellsman steam train Not only that but first class with breakfast and dinner silver service. a trip of a lifetime and we both loved it:) The journey encompasses the Settle Carlisle section and we travelled through some stunning countryside.Everywhere you looked there were people at the side of the line taking pictures or just waving to us.

Mr Mog goes to a railway club a couple of times a week and the enthusiasts there kept on about a Black 5 steam engine and hoping he would be lucky enough to travel on a train pulled by this engine. as you can see he was:)

Everywhere you looked there were people at the side of the line taking pictures or just waving to us.

 At Appleby there were vintage buses waiting to take people for a cruise on Ullswater. they would meet us on the way back.

 these flowers were on every table in first class and we were requested to take them home at the end of the journey.

 I think the engine driver was enjoying himself.

 Carlisle looked quite magnificent in the August sunshine

 I love this reflection

 Taking on water

 All these pictures were taken with my little fuji camera from a moving train so I am very pleased with how they turned out.

 these remind me of gravestones, I wonder if they are too help keep back the snow from the railway line in winter?

 set up for dinner on the return journey

 so many people enjoying the trains journey

 the wagon driver stopping to take a photograph.

 even a solitary cameraman

So the birthdays. Mr Mogs birthday celebrations lasted a week. It was a milestone and needed to be celebrated:) So the week started with open house on Sunday  for family and friends. 

This was the first cake:) purchased from supermarket last minute as it was a sudden thought of mine to have a cake. decorations from Mr Mogs collection;)

many many cards and gifts arrived on the actual day .

This was the second cake, made by eldest grandson for the actual day. it was very tasty also:)

Cake the third was made by a friend of ours for the following weekend when we attended a wool event in Cheshire and more friends and family came to help him celebrate:)

It has a bicycle as Mr Mog has been a lifelong cyclist, bells because, as those who know him can recall, he always has bells on the bottom of his trousers. started when grandsons were young as a joke but has continued. At least I always know where he is;) Cats for obvious reasons and knitting as our friend couldn't find a spinning wheel:) The cake went very quickly.
Week after was my birthday and Mr Mog surprised me with a cake made by the same friend and first cake I have had since my wedding.

Again lots of elements that reflect me.

my cards:) 

There has been creativity

and storing the tastes of summer and autumn. Lots of strawberry gin and vodka, blackberry gin and vodka, raspberry gin and vodka. also plum brandy, damson gin on the go as i couldn't find sloes. there are blackberries and damsons awaiting turning into wine. first time I will have made wine in over 15 years I think. Hope it turns out ok. watch this space. this picture shows just a small taste of whats stored.

There always has to be shawl knitting of course:) This one I spun the yarn and knit the shawl. Fibre was BFL and Silk from Freyalyns fibre on easy Colourway is silver skies.

And always socks, hospital knitting continues apace and I have found a new love for socks. look at this fabulous yarn. Doesn't it lift the spirits ? Mr Mog loves wearing these. The yarn is Regia  Fluormania,  colour way is rainbow in case you hadn't guessed.

More socks.

Current knitting also bright. a shawl in Solstice yarns changeling

Colourway Dream of India and I am afraid I don't know the purple colour ways name.

So current stuff? Mr Mogs PSA is up a little so he has ct and bone scans booked for Monday, hopefully no bad news. He continues to amaze me  with his positivity and long may that continue.
Phew going to try and get back into the rhythm of blog writing. I do enjoy it. Hope you are all well.
Thanks Antoinette for rekindling the flame:)

9th annual Cyberspace poetry slam for Brigid

For many years I have enjoyed all the poetry that abounds at this time of the year in honour of the festival of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid. I can't see any mention of it anywhere for this year but as it is a tradition for me to add a poem I intend to continue. Watch this space on Saturday and if you wish to join please do so and send me the link won't you? I first heard of it on Owls blog I think? And this was the invite:-

Would you like to join us?

Feel free to copy the following to your blog/facebook/website and spread the word. Let poetry bless the blogosphere once again! WHAT: A Bloggers (Silent) Poetry Reading WHEN: Anytime February 2, 2014. WHERE: Your blog WHY: To celebrate the Feast of Brigid, aka Groundhog Day HOW: Select a poem you like - by a favorite poet or one of your own - to post February 2nd.RSVP: If you plan to publish, feel free to leave a comment and link on this post. Last year when the call went out there was more poetry in cyberspace than I could keep track of. So, link to whoever you hear about this from and a mighty web of poetry will be spun.

new year

A happy new year to you all. Its been a quiet Yule and past few weeks, I seem to have hibernated more than normal.How about you? 
Today I decided to play in one of my colour journals and as I have been watching the geese flying over this last couple of days I thought I would use that as my starting point. Not sure  if you can read it? I painted (splashed colour) first then the words came. I've scanned it in but to be honest it is a little pale. Used my Lamy Safari with Pilot Namiki Iroshizuku (Old Man Winter )Ink . I thought it went perfectly with the day. I didn't necessarily want the text to be too bold, just a faint echo on the page

Colour and journalling

As I think some of you know I adore colour. It lifts my spirits, it inspires it fills me with joy. I have a few journals I work in and some are just words, some are just colour. There also ones that are a little of both. I haven't blogged much lately but I have still been writing and doodling. I wanted to try and put a little more structure to my art or certainly a little more regular play. Sometimes I think we get sidetracked. Things come up that need doing or we don't get round to it. All easy excuses not to do something, even something you enjoy. I must admit it hasn't just been that. This past couple of months haven't been easy.
My knee is still a big problem despite being a new super titanium model. I haven't had a day free of pain n it since the operation and getting knocked over a couple of months ago didn't help. So I have been referred back to the surgeon.
Add in a bad virus that took some shifting, now add in a second one which I am currently nursing with more antibiotics and it does explain some of the lack of get up and go.
But enough of that, must move on and ignore it:)
Mr Mog had oncology last week and things haven't moved on which is incredibly good. This drug trial had been a god send for us. Every day extra is precious.

So what has this to do with colour and journals? My friend Natalie has started a new club, for fibre and yarn and it is a yarn club with a difference. A colour journal one. It seemed a good idea to me so I have joined. It will inspire me to journal more and what decided me? The first month is rainbows. We all need rainbows in our lives. Don't we?

Take 5 pears

Take 5 pears, British conference pears that cost just £1 for 6 at Booths. This BTW was the smallest of the 6.

Add a chunk of freshly grated ginger, some local honey and a little local orange marmalade

Top with a crumble made from flour , butter , barley flakes, dark brown sugar , allspice and a few left over pecan nuts. 

Bake in oven until golden and you see pear juices caramelising on top of crumble.

Serve it with fresh live yoghurt

Delicious taste of Autumn.

I've been chatting to a friend about colour and its effect on  our spirits, especially during the dark half of the year. I mentioned some merino silk I had dyed and how I was trying it out on a spindle. TBH once I started to spin it I realised I wanted to use a wheel not the spindle as it just felt so gorgeous and was so bright. As its getting quite late in the day the full glory of the yellow doesn't show, its almost fluorescent 

As you can see and for some reason this photo has turned sideways. Very weird. The fibre is 70% merino and 30% tussah silk from Adelaide Walker and I dyed it with procion acid dyes.

Autumnal magic potions

 Today was magic potion day:)  I always try to make my Nan's recipe for winter, a secret mix of autumn fruits spices and honey. Ideal for coughs, colds, flu and a general tonic through winter.
I had struggled to find elderberries this year. We had found plenty of blackberries and black currants but no elder.  However last night 2 very dear friends arrived with 11 pounds of elderberries so the fun could begin:) They only took part of the forest harvest, leaving plenty for winter feed for the animals and birds. They even prepared them for me so no taking them off the stalks needed.
Here you see the first stage, fruits simmering slowly to release the juices.

Almost ready

 Now the fun, squeezing every bit of juice ready for stage 2. All the fruit remaining will go to the woods for the birds. As will a little bit of juice as a libation for the Goddess and a thank you.

 Stage 2 the spices and secret ingredients added along with my last 2 jars of Blue Witch's marvellous honey and some local honey to make up the total needed.

 Bottled ready for labelling. I ran out of the smaller bottles so had to use the litre ones until I get more supplies

 nothing remaining in the pans

 We had so much the last lot had to go in a honey jar for now. Over 6 litres of autumn magic for friends and family.

The house smelt glorious and I loved being part of the old magic once more.

An out

We had an out today to a new event -  Kendal wool gathering. Held in the K shopping village in Kendal(gateway to the lakes)

Free event, free parking and very good for a first event. 

I didn't need anything but saw this yarn and loved it.  It was a new to me dyer Yarn garden

The website is under construction but well worth a visit. This is called Tree Lupin and comprises 70% BFL, 20% silk and 10% cashmere. 100gms 400 metres.

Not a colour I'd have thought of buying or dyeing but I loved it.

 Found this book and at £5 thought it worth buying to  loan to beginners.

there were alpacas, gorgeous creatures and very interested in all the visitors:)

Who were also very interested in the alpacas;)

I had to remind Mr Mog that alpacas were too large for our back garden despite their appeal:)

We were then taken to a rather splendid eatery by the friend we were with and this is my  part eaten lunch before I tackled the rest. Cumin crusted lamb flatbread with salads. Very delicious

 They even had a special teapot for Mr Mog with a black cat on the cosy:)

 A thoroughly good day out with good friends. what more could you ask?