Category Archives: Vacation

Jolene

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Pattern: Jolene Cardigan by Jenny Watson

Yarn: Berroco Pima Colour 2266

 Mods: Added 2 inches of length to the 51cm chest version.

My Rav Link

Last year when we went to Ireland, Moose came in one day with a UK knitting magazine called Let’s Knit for me. It was sweet of him to pick it up for me. Most UK magazines are in a package and include freebies, this one was no exception. It contained a booklet called The Little Book of Baby Knits. I flipped through and immediately stopped when I saw the cutest little cardigan called the Jolene Cardigan. I knew then and there I wanted to knit it for T. I brought it home, it got tucked away on a shelf and I forgot about it.

It wasn’t until I began a search for some cute patterns to knit for a few friends that are pregnant that I remembered about it. I contemplated knitting it for a friend but knew that I wanted one for T before she grew out of the sizes. I had some Berroco Pima in my stash from a sale last year. It was such a happy colour I just couldn’t leave it behind….of course I had plans to make something for  T  with it.

Why I didn’t immediately cast on in the round is beyond me but I definitely regret it when it came time to sew it up. I spent more time seaming than I did actually knitting the entire cardigan. I finished off the seaming in Ireland with the hopes of being able to take some pictures while we were there.

I did get pictures but it didn’t really get the blocking it needed so I reblocked when we got home and took the pictures you see about which turned out much nicer.

Here are the pictures I did get in Ireland.

T’s favourite landmark at home was definitely Scrabo Tower.  You can see it from many angles as you travel around the area and T’s little hawk eye would catch it every time and yell “There’s Scrabo Tower”, let it be noted that she started saying this with an Irish Accent.. sooo cute.

Around Scrabo Tower is the Scrabo Golf Club and Scrabo Country Park. You park at the golf course and then walk up to visit the tower. I didn’t want to go all the way up to the tower. I wanted it to be in the background of my pictures so we found a goat path off to the side and headed up to find the perfect spot.

Well we found the spot but when golf balls started landing around us we realized we were pretty close to a hole. We waited until the players started to walk down to the hole, lifted T up onto the green and started taking pictures. I literally only have a few moments to take them so they aren’t the greatest shots but I did get T with her Tower :)

Home

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We have returned from a great trip but as you know travelling can zap the life right out of you. Especially when you experience two daylight savings times within two weeks.

I’ll be back shortly once I get through the laundry and some extra sleep.

What have you all been up to? I’ve missed the chat!

Travellin’ | Singin’

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We’re on the road!

Well I finally decided what knitting to bring with us on our trip so I thought since I have a two hour bus ride and T is sitting between us reading a book like a pro. * I sometimes stress about trip’s and what its going to be like with a 2 year old but so far we’ve had a wonderful time, although we haven’t made it off the plane yet!!*

Sooo as for knitting…

I started a test knit before we left, Lancelot by Solenn Couix-Loarer for T. Solenn is the lovely lady behind Miss Korrigan that I knit for T that is already too small now. I think I’ll be knitting a summery version of Miss Korrigan soon.

I also swatched for Gemini, Jane Richmond’s newest design from Knitty. I have bought the perfect skirt for this top last year when we were in Ireland but I couldn’t find anything to go with it. Can’t wait to get it done.

I also have the buttonbands left to finish on T’s sunshine cardigan, hopefully I will be able to get some FO pics while we’re away.

I hope to have a few FO’s by the time I get back and lots of pics of course!

I’m not sure when I’ll get to check in again but would love to hear what you are all up to!

Dunluce Castle

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Well I promised you some posts on Ireland so lets start off with Dunluce.

Dunluce Castle is located on the beautiful coast of County Antrim. This medieval castle was built in the 1300′s by the Earl of Ulster Richard de Burgh.

The castle was given to the Northern Ireland Government in 1928 to be preserved as a national monument.

It has been added to  over the years and only the turrets remain from the original building.

It is dramatically positioned on the edge of the basalt crag with steep drop offs on either side. It offers a great vantage point of the sea and any enemy who might try to attack from the waterside.

In 1639 part of the kitchen fell off into the sea taking with it seven cooks. I don’t doubt it for a second, this castle used every inch of that cliff possible but they couldn’t have picked a more beautiful spot. The view is stunning.

There are small signs inside each of the rooms telling you what that room had been once upon a time. Above what the stable and harness room and farther up the guest rooms. When I first walked into the guest area I was shocked at the amount of fireplaces that lined the outside wall. I know a stone castle would be cold to live in but really do they need 6 in one room? It was then that I read about the guest rooms and each had its own fireplace, ahhh yes no inner walls. I’m sure they would have been quite toasty because the really wasn’t a lot of room between them.

T of course took one of her posing fits in front of the fireplace, work it  T, work it!

I think this was T’s favourite tourist spot that we visited. She had tons of fun running around in the grass,running across the bridge and peeking out of windows. She had a grand time exploring!

I took this picture because I just loved how the fireplace floors were set up in the manor house. If you look closely you’ll notice that those are individual pieces of slate all stacked side by side.

The bridge leading to the Manor House.  I love that you can still see some of the details on the corners of the building.

Who doesn’t love cobblestones! Corrie anyone?

We had fun, playing around and climbing turrets.

T had so much fun she didn’t want to leave.

The official website for Dunluce is here. You can read about its history, owners, and what once adorned the castle including items from the Spanish Armada.

We gave Dunluce Castle two thumbs up, a great exploration site for the whole family.

Back on The Ridge

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I’m Baaaack!

*taken the day we left for Ireland*

Ok really I’ve been back for weeks now but swimming lessons are in full swing as well as lots of outdoor play so I haven’t had much time for blogging.

*Aboard the first flight, little did I know I was going to feel like puking for the next 5 1/2 hours shortly after this was taken*

I managed to hold down my cookie’s on two out of four flights.. not bad not bad. I found a tablet in Ireland that worked wonderfully on the journey home. I think that was the first time I have ever been able to eat AND fly. Magic!

T travelled very well, but sleeping during the flight was hard for her. We all survived though and it was all totally worth it to see T interact with my grandparents. She loved them both to pieces and they her. I only wish they were closer to see her more often.

Here she is with two of her favourite people!

I’ll be back shortly with an FO, more pics and possibly a book review.

So how is everyone?  I’ve missed chatting with you all!

Leaving

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Our bags are packed and tomorrow morning we are heading across the pond to the Home Land.

I’m taking T and Moose on their first trip overseas to visit my old stomping ground and see my Nanny and Granda. As you can imagine they are super excited to see Trinity again, its going to be lots of fun. I’ll be excited once I get off that plane and will hopefully make it the whole way without being sick….. I have meds, I hope they work!

Hopefully I’ll have some interesting posts for you although I’m not quite sure what internet access will be like.

I’ll leave you with my current WIP. I’m test knitting  Kessa‘s pattern Xia.

I adore this pattern sooo much and can’t wait to get it off the needles.  I was hoping to have it done before we left but I was just too busy trying to get things ready. No worries, I’ll have some great landscape for my next FO :)

See you soon!!

Off to Never Neverland!

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Well this is it folks! Vacation is finally here!!!! I do have to work tomorrow night….. what is that about anyway, working the night before you leave,early in the morning?? Whatever I’m just glad I’m going.

I’m also glad because yesterday I was perusing the local spca sites cause I’m always on the lookout for my future doggy and I came across THE cutest mr. man you ever did see. I called Moose at work, who said go for it if you want him and that night we sent in the application. This morning we got an email saying they got the application and would get back to us later that day. Well you KNOW I was checking my email every five seconds waiting and hoping something was there. At about 5:30 an email arrived asking when we could go to the shelter…. then came the big question of will they keep him until we get back from vacation, bad timing to adopt a dog I know, but I couldn’t pass up that sweet face!

I’m going to see him tomorrow morning before…..work, and if all goes well I hand the money over and they’ll keep him till we get back. *insert squeals of excitement*

I’m sooooooooo excited for this young lad to come home with us. What’s that??? You want an introduction??? YOU GOT IT!!!

 Could you all raise your needles to Boston! Part black lab, rotti, mix.

 

 

*All about Boston from the shelters website* 

Boston is a handsome, solid pup. Very good natured, good with people of all ages. Good with other dogs and cats. Need leash training, but is very quick to learn. LOVES the water (even though it all seemed new ot him) and spent lots of time splashing around the kiddie pool. Seems to have the labs love of the water. 6-8, mos. old.

Wish me luck! I’ll probably be posting more pics of the big guy from the road!