Hello 2020

We began the new decade quietly and gradually everyone slipped back into their normal routine of going to work.

I always make sure I take the Christmas decorations down before the Twelfth Night and our home was back to normal too.

There was a penumbral lunar eclipse of the Wolf Moon.

The nights were often clear with a sharp frost the next morning.

I have been going out for lots of walks, including this one at sunrise.

There are drifts of wild snowdrops around the village and woodlands.

Some days have seemed spring-like and there have been many squirrels chasing each other around the oak trees.

There are lots of beautiful lichens and mosses growing on the trees nearby.

At home I have been doing lots of baking,

Cheese Scones

Pecan, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies

Rock Cakes

Coconut Pyramids

have test knitted the Sonder Cowl for Ayesha of Dusty Dimples

and have been stitching some Drop Cloth pincushion samplers.

January is also the beginning of the gardening year and I have set the seed potatoes to chit and have sown some sweet peas.  In the garden the primroses continue to flower, as they have all winter.

Vlogmas and Christmas

During December I once again recorded Vlogmas, which is a daily vlog posted on YouTube.  I have a YouTube channel called The Snail Garden where you can find the daily episodes of what I got up to in more detail in December.

Early December we went back to Blenheim Palace for Alice in the Palace

and to walk in the grounds following the illuminated light trail.

It was a foggy night with the temperature below freezing, but we had a wonderful time and were thrilled to see a wild otter by the water.

One weekend we went to London to see the Christmas lights.

At home there were preparations for Christmas, although we were celebrating Christmas at my parents' home.

Whilst staying with my family we visited Norwich to see the lights.

We also went to the coast to see the seals and their pups.

Back home again, we saw the latest Star Wars film at the cinema

 and spent a quiet night in for the New Year.

November

We started November with a trip to Blenheim Palace for a laser light and firework display, set to music from Star Wars.

It was a really enjoyable evening 

and we were lucky that the rain held off until the end of the fireworks.

A week later S and I travelled to stay in an eco pod near Ironbridge.

We visited Ironbridge when we first arrived in the area.

The main reason for our visit was because I was attending the WoolLay Retreat, run by Kelly and Nick of Lay Family Yarn.

It was a very relaxing retreat with lots of delicious food, making new friends

and the chance to dye our own yarn.

We were gifted a cowl pattern and each attendee decided to knit the pattern with their retreat dyed yarn as a momento.

At the end of November I went to Tracy of Norah George Yarns open day, where I spend 

a lovely time chatting, knitting and of course purchasing some yarn.