up bright and early

Every now and again its worth getting up really early for a walk.
Magical.
For the first time this year I decided to take the muddy way, I needed to work out my anger by fighting with the elements.

Not only muddy but also pretty steep.

Looking back down

View from the top. One ridge over from the castle

And after a morning with just the cuckoo, my thoughts and a few passing deer for company I felt much better

And here's one I made earlier.....

.....but only blocked out this afternoon.

'At the Market' by Ilga Leja in Araucania Ranco multi yarn, it's got pink and grey flecks in and is a super size rectangle.

Think a black one would be just right for Linda when she's singing in the choir.

It's knitted on the bias to drape better.

Lazy afternoons

Well the Wisteria has finally caught up with spring. We have had some glorious afternoons lazying on the patio and just drinking in the perfume.

The perfect peaceful setting for finish off my CALAIS shawl, made of the softest imaginable Silk Dream yarn (Australia wool + Thai silk), a lovely gift from Barbara (Bellarine Queen) from way down under.

And when I say WE, my fluffy pals, exhausted after their springtime friskiness, have also given up, and in, to the inebriating scent.

Naturally the king of the jungle/park gets the throne complete with cushion

Whilst Tigs opts for a freshly washed and beaten carpet drying in the sun

Finally left alone, even Mimi - the only girl (naturally seen to) - managed to grab a pew

Constantly bothered by Less, Rudoplf sticks to his outdoor 'igloo'

Last but not least Killer - the only real macho of the bunch - takes a kip on the bench and waits for V to light up the barbeque.

And for those of you thinking what a boring old soul I must be with my cats and knitting...well I also started step class this week...

Avoiding knitting sleeves!

AVIGNON in thick cotton, Knitted sampler t-shape

from Rowan mag. n. 45

(and yes I am wearing a bra!)

Swallowtail lace shawl by Evelyn Clark. My first real lace weight shawl. Beautiful wool bought in Yarn Forward Eastbourne. But I can't remember the name...yarn candy perhaps?

Actually its only a 'shawlette' as I hate pinning out and blocking.

Showing it off on a prickly hedge was not a good idea. Took ages to unhook afterwards!

Ready for next lace shawl. this gourgeous 45% lace, 55% merinos arrived this morning. I fell for the name 'chocolate and orange'. I am often drawn to these colours, even the cat blends in well.

Easter Monday walk

What about this for a view from a restaurant?
The square mountain is Bismantova, mentioned in Dante's inferno if you're interested. In the back ground Monte Cusna still covered in snow.
Fortunately it wasn't too cold because we just had to sit outside and eat.







But age is a funny thing. All that eating (cured ham, 3 pastas, grilled lamb and battered veg, wine but no dessert-I'm on a diet) tired me out far more than the one hour slog up a mountain side to get to it.










PS Walk from pietranera on Tassobbio up to Castellara

As mad as March hares

Well the clocks have sprung forwards, the sun has finally come out and we're all going crackers around here. To start off with we're overrrun with chocloate bunnies, plain, milk and white, both with and without calories.

And when it's not bunnies it's cats. I counted 9 yesterday and less has his work cut out to make them all toe the line.

And then there's Alla who decided to wear her birthday cake as a hat. Naurally knitted with candle. I didn't think that aperitif was a bright idea.

Got to go there are a couple of men in white shirts knocking on the door.

Not more snow!

The only way to cope with snow is to get outside and walk in it, but this week's record metre even kept my husband out of the office for the first time in 25 years. But the sun came out today and it was glorious so we did our 'spring' walk around Traversetolo. A walk which naturally begins with a visit to the sunday market and wool shop for Easter bunny brown and baby blanket cream.







A 3 hour walk through quiet lanes and byways with a halfway stop at Svizzano church (350 m) where we know of a secluded sun trap and even with temps below freezing we were lucky.

Beat this for a place to knit!

I am making mum a fine lace shawl with some pink wool she picked up in a charity shop in UK.

And last year we shared our picnic with a ginger Tom. (Ginger being my favourite cat flavour) . He'd obviously been busy in the last twelve months as the whole hamlet was over run with orange moggies.