Upheaval

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a shocker with my mum being taken back into hospital which resulted in me swiftly decamping back home. I have to say that really the last few weeks have left us all feeling a little tired and bit like chewed up string. And now that mum has been discharged and is on the mend we are all starting to look forward to some nice quiet time to recharge. Although this has been a really stressful time there have been some good things in the last few weeks - amazing support from friends and family and very clever medical people being top of the list. However, there have been some highlights (mostly edible) that I’d thought I’d blog about.

 

Chocolate Hedgepigs - My sister, H, bought these for me after reading my last post.

River cottage yoghurt - possible the MOST Amazing yoghurt I have eaten in the world ever. De-lish. Very excited about River Cottage Autumn starting on Thursday and have been enjoying Jamie’s Ministry of Food (although it tends to make me cry at least once an episode). (I've also been throughly enjoying a bit of an E4 love-in with Hollyoaks and fostering a new One Tree Hill obsession - guilty pleasures!)

Crumpets and Malt loaf - I love autumn and I especially love that autumn is the best time of year for tea and tasty things. Hot buttered toast, malt loaf, crumpets and teacakes all become the best things to eat when it is foggy and wet outside. After reading Jane's post about maltloaf I bought some and remembered how much I love it (I think it is probably impossible to make yourself). I have also started drinking clipper organic earl grey and it is really very tasty and nicer than the twinings organic earl grey. This is slightly sacrilegious in my house because Twinings Earl Grey is a staple. I’m harbouring plans to make some crumpets at a later date to see how homemade ones taste.

Glossy magazines - I seem only capable of reading spy fiction or women’s glossy magazines at the moment. Mainly Easy Living although Glamour and Eve have also been devoured. I know an awful lot about this season’s makeup and vibrating mascara.

Amazing mushrooms on my mum's lawn - this is what happens when you don't mow the lawn for ages but such an exciting surprise.

New Bellowhead album, Matachin - My love of folk and particularly Bellowhead has been quite well documentated on the blog but I have been humming the tunes on this disc for the last couple of weeks. I saw Spiers and Boden perform at the Paradise Bar just before my mum got taken back into hospital and it was fab - really magical. Tiny venue and we were sitting very close to the front - was like having it in my front room. The audience was great as well - singing and even having a little dance! The new album took me a while to get into it because it feels fairly theatrical and overblown* musical hall in places but I love it now - songs about whisky and disease and some kazoo action. Looking forward to seeing them at Koko at the end of the month.

Knitting - I’ve been a bit of a roll recently and am really enjoying finishing projects. It's so gratifying! Who knew! Having been a process knitter for a while, short projects are upping my knitting mojo at the moment. I'm on a massive accessories kick - i have seen so many lovely mitten, slippers and hat patterns that I'm looking forward to cranking out some woolies to keep me happy this winter. It is a bit like nesting for winter or preparing to hibernate in a warm fug of woolly loveliness.

I’ll start with the most recent FO – Autumnal mitts. I’ve been a fan of these Garter Stitch Mitts for a while and once I saw this yarn I know it would be perfect. I discovered the yarn in a very small craft shop in Stony Stratford and it was very cheap. I'd never seen it before - James C Brett Wool Rich Ripple Double knitting. It is 50% wool and doesn't feel very wool rich but I loved the flecks of colour in the wool and it is my trademark turquoise blue.

Great knit - fast and fun and comfy, I think the pattern could be slightly clearer in how it is written out but all in all I really enjoyed them. Excellent mindless knitting for hospital visiting and car journeys. Ravelled here . I’m thinking about loads of different ones for the winter, I love these ones which look perfect for blackberry picking. I’m also thinking about making J some with fleecy lining for his poor cold fingers. Now back to slippers - I appear to have made one which would be large for an elephant.

*it should probably be noted that I'm quite partial to overblown and theatrical music - dog man star is my most favourite album ever.

Comments

[FelixFelix]

My dearest Lara,
So nice to see that you are finding some loveliness in amidst the stress. I feel much happier about you & your Mum knowing that you have crumpets and maltloaf, garter-stitch mittens, H and each other to get you all through this tough time.

A bucket of love coming your way...

Can you send me your postal address in MK?

Mwah x

[Lynne Miles]

So happy to see you a bit back on form, my lovely. This is all making me miss you very badly and wish I was at home to look after you. I send you love, once again xxx

[Sarah Ditum]

A "warm fug of woolly loveliness" is simply the place to be. I'm glad you've got lots of good support on hand. And there is nothing - NOTHING - as delicious as Soreen Malt Loaf and I'm damned if I know how they do it. X

[alice]

Sorry to hear about your mum, Kirsty mentioned it yesterday when I was on a 'we really should have Lara round for tea' rant.

With you on the Hollyoaks... Seemed to be in early enough to watch it last week, all very exciting with the explosions.

[Philippa]

Hello. I've been thinking about you since first I read this post, in a few minutes before a lecture, and didn't have time to think of what I wanted to say properly.

Hope you and yours continue to do well. Hugs. xx