I'm so happy with this cardigan

And it cost me nothing I used two 4 ply cottons from my stash. the size is perfect, albeit one more than several yars ago :(

Note embroidery and crochet picot trim.

from Rowan magazine 41. Dandelion

Quattro Castella from the back door

There is nothing nicer than a sunny day after months of rain and snow. And this time it was particulalry specail being a Sunday.

Not even my daughter wanted to stay in bed!

But the going was still pretty muddy.

The Med and Italy has had a hard time this winter with all the rain. There have been several awful landslides in parts of Italy .

After milleniums of deforestation, this is the result.

After sidetracking this area we arrived at the Belveder overlooking 4 castella, the village we visited a fortnight or so ago.

The belvedere was closed but the view was as good as ever.

monte Airone 389 metres

You are my sunshine

I recieved this much needed ray of sunshine from Paula (Tavish on Ravalry) who has so kindly passed this Sunshine Award on to me!

I'm quite chuffed as this is my first award and means that someone out there is thinking of me!

But now I have to elect another 12
The Sunshine Blog Award is awarded to bloggers whose positive and creativity inspires others in the blog world. (blush blush)

The rules for accepting the award are:

1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post. (have I done that right?)
2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

And this is why she chose me..................

My Englishwoman moved to Italy Friend . . Lessie @ Wool and Walking in the Appenines

And now its my turn

Fiogob (rav) longlost uni pal and creative book writer http://ecostitcher.wordpress.com/

Ambra former virtual, now real friend http://lospaziodib.blogspot.com/

Bettyknitter (rav) http://www.bettyknitter.com/

Meny (rav) http://filoturchino.blogspot.com/

Lauren for her flamingoes ! http://lauransworld.blogspot.com/

Jane http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com/

Laura .hoping that one day she'll start blogging again ! http://littledragonflydesigns.blogspot.com/

Suseslowknitter (rav) http://wishidaskedmygran.blogspot.com/

Heidi http://www.ravelry.com/people/Faluche

Cadi (rav) http://www.maehegirl.blogspot.com/

For my daily dose of my hometown in UK http://hovedailyphoto.blogspot.com/http:/

and my yoga teacher, why not? She's creating me !!!/robinsyogaspace.blogspot.com/

Carneval time in Cento

Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; usually February. It typically involves a parade combining circus elements, masks and public street parties. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations and is traditionally held in Roman Catholic societies. While the starting day of Carnival varies, the festival usually builds up to a crescendo in the week before lent, ending on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
The origin of the name "carnival" is disputed. Variants in Italian dialects suggest that the name comes from the Italian carne levare, "to remove meat", since meat is prohibited during Lent.

All down to experience (dedicated to Nadia and Ambra)

On Valentine's day we were invited to lunch at Nadia's. After just one bite of her ultra light pasta I knew we were in for a real treat. But best of all she cooked frappe, a carnival treat, really wicked, deep fried and dowsed in icing sugar. But these were so light I couldn't belive they were 'harmful'.
(Actually Nadia even filled some with custard, but I didn't think of taking a picture until it was too late).
Now I reckon I'm a good cook but to equal these I'd need another fifty years experience of
watching mum in the kitchen rolling them out paper thin and getting the right temperature.

I lack her experience and passion



Which brings me to Ambra and knitting. Although she hasn't been knitting as long as me she is much more patient and very accurate, yet she is still ot very confident over stranding colour.
The only reason here is that she needs experience too. I've been doing it all my life and just to prove it here is one of my first ever models. Made when I was 16, I've kept it with me all these years. I was working at WHS as a Saturday girl at the time and I used to copy bits from the book in the store and buy a ball a week with my earnings.
And yes for my UK pals who might recognise the motto, Dad was a Unigate milkman. (So I'll dedciate this to him too)

PS PART 2 to follow............

Got there in the end.

I'd always wanted to try out some Noro wool. Knitting with it was hypnotic, watching the colours unwind and feel the slubs and skinny bits , even fibre, slip through my hands.

It took ages because I unpicked it several times to get it just right, afterall I had spent both time and money getting hold of it I wanted it to be perfect.

But I can do better than this really. The brand's patterns don't do the wool justice so I had to adapt. I reckon they're aimed at mums who want to knit them for their teenage daughters. But women in their prime of life like bright colours too (and my teenager wouldn't be seen dead in a handknit) I reckon they should change their marketing strategy I'd be the first to buy a book with real women's patterns in.

Anyway the look is finished off nicely by the necklace Betty gave me for Christmas, the Deisel cargo pants (knocked down from 159 to 25 Euro) and new hair colour, which was a bit of a surprise never having had dark hair before.