thanks

Firstly, thanks to Lynne from Lily's Quilts for hosting the Small Blog Meet Up. I have gained quite a few new followers in the last few days. Welcome - I hope you will be happy here!

Thank you to all the people who follow this blog and a special thank you to all who leave comments; it's great to get feedback on what I am doing.

And finally, thank you to all of the people who voted on my 500th post. By far the most popular cause was Medecins Sans Frontieres with 78% of the votes; World Vision received 17% of the votes and World Wildlife Fund 5%. Donations to all three charities have been made on your behalf.

And, because I know you want a photo, here is Younger Grandson. This was taken when he was just four hours old. Like many second children, there just aren't as many photos of YG as there are of his older brother!

home again, home again, jiggedy-jig

WM and I have been home since Tuesday evening and the previous three weeks seems like a distant bad memory. We have both had a massage, I've seen the doctor and had my hair cut and coloured - all appointments that had to be cancelled before we rushed off.

Since Tuesday I have watched some television (mostly tennis), knitted, blocked a baby blanket, sewed in some ends on another blanket and read most of Pride and Prejudice. I started it yesterday afternoon and am now at Chapter 47. I have played several games of Bejewelled, caught up with all the messages on the Knit4Charities message board (around 260 of them), read blogs, written drafts for three posts and will soon get around to taking photos.

Stretched out in front of me are four more glorious unplanned weeks. Time to watch the tennis, knit, nap, read and do the other hobbies that get put aside during term time. Underlying and over-shadowing those weeks however, is the knowledge that dad is dying and that, at any moment, we may have to put our holiday lives aside and make the return trip north.

At the beginning of December I had seriously been considering closing down my blog; I had lost the motivation to write and didn't think anyone would really notice my absence. But, during the height of the family crisis, expressing my pain on my blog was a blessed relief and I truly appreciate all the well wishes that came my way. You guys supported me through a very difficult time and I'm so grateful. "Thanks" is so inadequate but has never been meant more sincerely.

Winter of Textured Knits KAL final round up Act 3and thank you

And now, the end is near...

First up today: Rose Red. The pattern is called, appropriately, Rose Red. Have I given too much away? Look here for the complete photo and several others of the same beautiful object. Again I wish I had the courage to wear one!


This is unusual; I think it suits Rose Red beautifully.


This is an adaptation of an old favourite that is currently doing the rounds on the Interknits. Oops, have I given it away?


Scroll down to see this most unusual take on an everyday item.


There are so many textures here I didn't know what to show you. Make sure you follow the link and see all Rose Red's photos.


Leaving my home city [Sydney] where Rose Red also lives [but way over on the other side of town] and travelling south, we come to the national capital, home of RR's good friend, Bells. On 2nd July, Bells showed us these:


Read here about Bells day out at The National Gallery and see her wearing this in public for the first time:


These pretties look warm:


This was finished in the Tour de France KAL with time to spare! Well done Bells - the yellow jersey is yours.


Bells said these were a boring knit but her hubby likes them a lot.


And for the special girl in Bells life lookie here:


And so we say farewell to Bells and travel further south to the state of Victoria to visit our final knitter - Susan [otherwise known as Catsmum]. This is appropriate as Susan was the last one to join the KAL but this in no way diminishes her wonderful work. Susan has recently had major surgery so we wish her all the best for a speedy recovery and better health than she has endured in the past.

This is a pattern she has knitted once or twice before.


Some team colours for the grandson:


A pretty item in lace for the DIL:


A similar item in gorgeous alpaca:


Then this gorgeous piece of "lace" that's been a long time coming:


And another baby item:



Thank you to everyone who participated in the KAL and those who followed along by reading what we were up to! It's been great fun even if the round-ups were time consuming. Will we do it again next year? Let's wait and see, shall we? I'll be a grandmum and a new aunty by winter next year!

Thank you

Thank you to the people who left comments on my blogiversary post. I have either emailed you privately or visited your blog to leave a comment.

Thank you again - you made my day!

"you all come back now, you hear?"