Sunny Sunday

Today was another out of sync day.  I went to bed early last night as a consequence of having got up so early on Saturday morning.  I did a fatal thing. I started knitting.  I finished my third pair of gloves, and have almost completed my second set of boots - this time for an adult.  I had to stop as I have run out of wool.  I will finish them tomorrow.

What is really fun is that each knitting project is a little bit different.  Either the wool is a new texture or colour or thickness, or I think of something that would make the pattern more useful or attractive, so when I do it the next time I change the design.  Or it is a completely different garment or piece of craft work from one that I have tried before.  I am starting to understand why this hobby can last a lifetime.  I can also understand why Merle is passionate about quilting.  I can only begin to imagine that quilting is even more alluring.

The veggies are starting to pop through quite quickly now:

There are sixteen squares per box.  This is one of the squares.  At the moment, only radishes and lettuce have sprouted.  It is probably still a bit nippy for the summer veg that I planted.  Also, the larger plants, like peas and beans take longer to sprout.  It would be really, really nice if one or two of the larger or summer plants have popped up before Friday.  What is quite interesting is that when I planted the seeds, I painstakingly put one seed into each hole, thinking that I could always add new seed where plants did not sprout.  Yet I see that every now and then two little plants are sprouting from the same hole.  Either the seeds are minute and I managed to plant two in the same hole, or the seeds are producing twins :). 

I added to Lesson in Light with Love is like a butterfly.  And to Project 365 with Peppers.

Biorhythms out of sync

I was all hiked out yesterday evening, so went to bed ever so early - and paid the price.  I was up again at 02h00.  I played down all my open scrabble games, then noticed that Dani was on line.  We chatted for ever so long.  She tipped me off to National Novel Writing Month.  So I joined.  The next Novel Writing Month is in November, so I have time to plan and mull.

Then I went back to bed and snoozed for a bit.  Then harvested all remaining veg:

and cooked up some lovely roast veg for the next few days.

Then I went shopping.  Whilst at the Mall, I found a busker, and made him by photograph for Project 365.

And found a beautiful bush of vygies which made it onto Lessons in Light.

Hike through Cape Point, starting at Gif Kommetjie

Another wonderful day's hiking.  Now for this one, I don't want a stop button.  The spirit of fellowship amongst the hikers is like a spiritual balm, and the views, oh the views.  I can't seem to stop drinking them in.  I hope that this particular thirst is never quenched:

 More piccies of the beach can be viewed at Hike through Cape Point.

There was some scrambling through the bush:

And we saw three tortoises and a pair of ostriches who seemed to be protecting something - perhaps a clutch of eggs.  Pictures of these can be seen at Wildlife in Cape Point.

We didn't go and view the shipwreck, but took note for next time:

I have a horrible suspicion that the reason why we didn't go and view the shipwreck was because of me.  It is  bit embarrassing.  Of the hikers, I am probably one of the youngest, if not THE youngest.  Yet I am the strain on the group at the moment.  I had Walter walking ahead of me to get me through the patches where I might incur vertigo - and most certainly did!  And Brian brought up the rear guard.  Everyone assured me that in due course I would graduate from a mountain sheep to a mountain goat, like they are, and that they had all had their turns to be the sheep.  I so hope that this comes true.  I am just not sure how many hikes it is going to take for me to get there.  If anyone hiking today reads this, this comes with my grateful thanks for your kindness and support.

I have posted one picture of this hike on Project 365: On top of the world.

A stitch of Kindness

There is a project in Cape Town at the moment, to knit fingerless gloves for disabled children, for distribution during August.  Here is my first attempt:

Go Bokke!

The pink gloves in my previous post are my second attempt.  The ones above have already been handed in.  The pink ones will be handed in when I go to knitting club next week.

My DNA string doesn't have a stop button

I started knitting on 14th July.  I didn't sew anything up as I went.  I just moved from project to project.  Yesterday was pouring, so I made it into a sew-up day.  I nearly fainted when I actually looked at the pile that I have produced in the past two weeks:

I have enjoyed every moment of it.  Each project has a specific person or purpose in mind, and I meditate on the person or purpose as I go.  It's been fun, and productive as well.

Peek-a-boo, another 2

We most certainly couldn't avoid winter altogether.  After the love warm balmy days that we have had for more than a week now, we are back to the winter rainfall region's norm.  It is raining today, somewhat intermittently, but when it is raining, it is most certainly raining.  Makes sense then to make today a knitting day.  Here are two more of my 'secret' projects:

These colours are cool, dude!

Egad - is that a purple hat coming on?

A photo walk through Silvermine Valley

Today turned into such a lovely day.  Bev came through and we walked through Silvermine Valley, indulging ourselves to our hearts content taking piccies:

Bev taking shot of False Bay framed by the mountains

There are more piccies at Silvermine Valley Walk.  There are three posts.

I got some amazing knitting tips from Olive's Menage.  I will post more on this when tips have been put into practice.  I also started 'A stitch of kindness', which is a project to knit mittens for disabled children, for distribution later in August.  Once complete, I will post a piccie.

And the first sprout has sprouted:

First sprout - it's a radish

I have updated Project 365.  My sister-in-law has very kindly offered to help me put any photograph that I would like to print onto fabric.  I am grateful for the offer.  I will mull it over for a while and be really choosy about which picture I select, and also decide what project it will contribute to.  Will it be a picture to hang on the wall?  Will it be my first adventure into quilting?  Many things to think about before leaping in.  Thanks, Merle, for the kindness of this offer.