Dragon Rambles

Granny died yesterday. Neither she nor I are religious. The only life after death that I believe in, is that which is passed on in the genes or the memories left behind. In that respect, Granny will live on a long long time. She is in all of my happiest memories of my childhood. She has also always been my role model. If I ever become half the person she was, I’ll be proud. She was the best person I know, will be remembered forever, and missed always.

Until a few months ago, we thought she’d be getting a letter from the Queen. These photos were taken when I was in NZ for her 90th, so you see what I mean. Instead, she died aged 92. She deteriorated quickly, which while sucking for us, I was grateful for because it meant she did not suffer long, and when the worst part came, it was over in a few days. I have to be grateful for that.

I’m also so very glad I was able to visit with her last month. Now, I’m flying back to NZ just one month later to attend her funeral. And to say goodbye.

She is the person I loved most in this world and her death leaves a very large hole. I hope she knew just how much she meant to me.

I love you Granny. May this blog post show the universe a little just how much.

Last week I mentioned the thousands of daffodils planted around Cardiff. This afternoon I was looking for a distraction so went for a short walk to enjoy the sun and take some pics for you.

This lot is at the end of my street, as it joins the main road.

And walking down the main road a little way you come across more.

Somehow there are several stages of daffodil in the fields, from shoot to bud to bloom. And while this is great because it lengthens the time they’re prettying up our roadsides, can you just imagine what they would all look like in bloom at once? Now that would be awesome.

I woke up this morning at 12.45am, but instead of going back to sleep (which I tried), I just get waking up more until by 1.45am I was completely awake and gave up trying to get back to sleep.

So, I got up at 2, and after a leisurely shower and doing a stack of dishes, I decided to make pancakes for breakfast. Not because I was hungry, but because I could.

On the menu? Blueberry pancakes. I had three (yes, that’s a lot), layered with sliced banana, with warm maple syrup poured over the top. Mmm, pancakes for breakfast on a work day… Now that’s decadent. And slightly more tasty than pancakes in Sunday morning

And since I was finished by 3am, I left the house and am enjoying a crisp and peaceful walk to work.

How’s your morning going? I hope there’s room for some pancakes

I’m stressed, wound up and poised waiting for something bad to happen. It made for such a pleasant day at work.

I’m hoping an evening of knitting and maybe baking will help relax me.

What do you do?

What you’ve all been waiting for….

I’ll be taking a break from this now as I need to order in a longer circular needle to pick up the border. This is probably a good thing as it gives me a chance to work on some other projects that I also love and to make sure I don’t overindulge on Spring and turn myself off it for a time.  Kinda like you can do with chocolate.  Ok, not chocolate, or ice cream, but I’m sure there’s some food item out there that fits the analogy.

Gotcha

Sorry, no show and tell of the Spring shawl today. The last couple of nights I’ve been unknitting as much as I’ve been knitting. Probably because I was too tired to be knitting in the first place.

March is daffodil month here in Cardiff. They usually start to bloom late Feb so we have a showing in time for March 1st. This is significant, because March 1st is St David’s day in Wales. You wear a daffodil, and there’s meaning behind the day but I’ve completely forgotten. Go google it if you’re curious

But, because the daffodil is seen as the national flower, informally if not actually, they are planted everywhere. So March sees thousands of blooms throughout the city. On roundabouts, median strips, parks, you name it. It’s beautiful and one thing I’ll miss when I move.

These photos though are just pics from my backyard. And just piddly little bunches compared to what the council has planted everywhere.

Fingers crossed I get a good day of knitting in today. Then I’ll be back tomorrow with the pics of Spring that you were really after

Yes, all has been silent in DragonRambles land this last week or so. And as well as my absence from here I still haven’t caught up on very many blogs. There are a few reasons for this, but the biggest is my Spring shawl. I have been seduced by the yarn and the shawl and most of my free time is spent knitting. But I don’t want to show another pic here until I have the centre finished. Don’t worry though, the rate I’m going, that’ll be before the weekend. Though you may have to wait until Sat so I can get a photo in decent light.

So that’s where I am. In case anyone was wondering

Yes, there has been radio silence from me for about a week. I hadn’t caught up with everyones blogs since I got back, and now I’m behind again. Ah well, I’ll catch up eventually.

As you’ve probably all guessed, my plans to get the Spring shawl knitted in Feb completely flew out the window. I didn’t even come close. But I love this shawl, and the yarn and colour I’m knitting it in, so I plan to keep going. Here’s what little I did manage to get done in Feb.

I tried to open the lace a little to help you picture how this section will look once blocked. Not easy to do on this size cable so it looks a bit odd, but it gives you an idea.

And this weekend I really needed to be a hermit. Well, after I really needed to get drunk on Fri night . So I stayed at home and knit. Not all weekend, but a nice chunk of it. So I got a bit further.

Hopefully I’ll get the center section finished by the end of the month. I’ll show you more then.