id·i·o·syn·cra·sy

- a structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group. write down five of your own personal idiosyncracies. then, if you wish, tag five people.

I have to thank Ali for this [I think !].
Actually,I'm not going to list five idiosyncracies as most of the things I thought of aren't really that at all. Just slight exaggerations of the norm.The one I'll admit to is that when I'm ill or stressed I can't sleep lying down.I panic.So I sleep propped up by five big,feather filled,high count cotton case covered [!] pillows.It started when I had ''killer flu'' for over a month in 1999.I was so ill and couldn't breathe except when upright.Rescue came when the fertility unit rang,to find out why we hadn't arranged our next course of treatment,in the form of horse pill antibiotics prescribed by my gynaecologist.

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Kiri is finished,and awaits blocking.

I added beads to the points

with my grandmother's really tiny crochet hook.I felt quite emotional using it,for the first time,and thinking of her.I'll never crochet the really fine cotton thread this was intended for,so it was nice to be able to use it for a subtle bit of beading.
Now I need to find the time,energy and space to block Kiri to a reasonable size ! And show off the beauty of the pattern,of course.

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I've wound this gorgeous Hip Knits silk into balls and have started a neck down raglan top,with a buttoned front placket.This stuff is gorgeous to knit with.Silk loves to be handled.It softens and glows.Delicious !
I have a few more hanks in residence.Here are some of them.

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I've been meaning to show you some fabulous spinning fibre I bought from the lovely Amy Boogie.

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The last time it was hot and sunny,weeks ago [!],the chick and I sat in the garden,blowing bubbles.

KIRI.

A lot of people are knitting this.Thanks to Polly for the fab,free,pattern.

I'm at the ''will it never end'' stage ! Do I stick at 11 central leaves,or keep going to 13,or beyond ? It's hard to tell how hard you can block some yarns until you get them wet.Much easier to predict the finished size with wool than with mohair [this is a discontinued d.k. weight mohair].I need to knuckle down to it though,as my exchange recipient will soon start to wonder where her gift is.

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My really beautiful exchange gift arrived earlier this month [I told you I had a backlog !]. It's this lovely shawl,made for me by Yvonne.

It came with some fab coloured sock yarn,in a lovely bag.This beauty is knit from the old and very rare Alice Starmore Bainin,from the days when she still spoke to Jamieson's ! I very much appreciate Yvonne making me a gift from this treasure,love the feel and heathered colour of the yarn and am very happy with my gift.

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Talking of gifts

this gorgeous hank of mohair,in perfect colours for me came from Bron [it's worth waiting for her blog to load,which can take ages sometimes,as Bron knits and crochets beautifully,and very fast !]. A generous and much appreciated gift.
It's Fiesta Yarns Heaven in colour 8113 Clematis,and it's beautiful.

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Don't think I haven't been shopping.A little bit !

A beautiful,clean,sound and surprisingly log stapled shearling [i.e. 1st shearing] Portland fleece.I'm working my way through the rare and interesting breeds.Can't wait for it to stop raining,so that I can start washing it.This fleece came via Sandie.She exports !

There's more to show and tell.It will have to wait until next time.

GOOD FOOD.

I love organic food delivery day ! Farmaround are great. They deliver in London too.
The contents of our luxury fruit bag. Allan will be thrilled with the greengages.His favourite fruit.The chick has made inroads into the plums.There are apricots,peaches and grapes,as well as the usual apples,pears and bananas.Summer produce is so good.

The standard veg bag,which also contained new potatoes,onions and swede.

Tonight we'll have the spinach,stir fried with onions,some new potatoes and carrots [which may get eaten raw before then ! look how fresh they are !] served with stir fried lambs liver,onions and garlic with a dash of cream.Fancy coming round ?

Not included here are my much love organic Earl Grey tea bags and some fair trade,organic,breakfast tea bags.
I love that the broccolli comes from Northallerton,just down the road from here.The eggs,milk,butter and cream are all from this region too.

Eat well.Then go knit and spin !

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Added later : It was bit wierd to post this entry,then to go and read a number of other bloggers writing about food ! Hello Norma ! I feel very strongly about eating as much organic food as possible,and eating lots of fruit and veg. Which I,luckily,happen to love ! Sadly,Mia,the bananas and melon are imported. Not the organic Wensleydale cheese though !