Log cabins and Red Kites

Some old friends came to visit us in the new house. We had seen them quite recently but they had last visited us "at home" probably some 30 years ago! Consequently they had not seen the log cabin blankets that litter our sitting room and, fortunately, they loved them and, inevitably, requested one to match the new colour scheme of their lounge. I was delighted to oblige as baby knits are now proving a task. The difference is simple - with the log cabins I can just sit and knit. I don't need a pattern, I don't need to think very much. I can guess what 10 ridges look like and it doesn't take too long to count the rows if I have any doubt. With baby knits there is usually a pattern to follow, there are little pieces to sew up, borders to add, buttons to sew on. Little doesn't always mean less trouble.

So it was on to a new log cabin and it was quickly finished. Then a young friend got engaged and has chosen the colours for her log cabin engagement present and the eldest daughter has re decorated and wants a new log cabin in a new colour way and I have donated a log cabin from stock to a Kidney research charity as a raffle prize. Great! Lots of throws to knit, the first delivery of new yarn arrives - of course I had to add to the order of colours requested with just a few extras......

Sitting on the deck starting on the second of these new log cabins - purples and pinks being the dominant colours - I watched a large bird soar over the field. It came to rest in the copse of trees directly opposite and then soared into the air again. A Red Kite. Such birds were extinct in this area but have been seriously encouraged to return in recent years - and with great success - a majestic creature. The Red Kite flew out of sight but the family of three green woodpeckers reappeared together with the swallows ans the multitude of sparrows who live in our eaves. Fourteen little sparrows bickered over the bird bath, flew to and fro across various parts of the garden and came to rest in a row along the electricity cable - a fascinating and fun sight. I opened the door at the rear of the sitting room and a dragonfly flew in. I love my new home.

Then I made a little cowichan:

A rush on baby knits

Everyone seems to be having babies. I am inundated with requests for little items to send off to new parents all over the country. Two friends of my son are expecting babies within a month of each other . One knows that she is having a girl but the other has elected not to find out so I am preparing for each eventuality!

As so often happens with such events, today I learned of the passing of an uncle. At 85 he had reached a good age and outlived my Aunt by many years. When I heard the news, via Facebook as so often seems to be the case nowadays, I went searching for old photographs. In my favourite family album I came across a family shot from the 1970s. Only eight of us now remain, two whole generations almost gone but the few remaining are the characters we have loved for years.

I have one Aunt who is approaching 90 and is suggesting a family cruise to celebrate and I have a Great Aunt of a similar age who seems no different now to how I remember seeing her as a child.

This all prompts me to return to Family History research. An unexpected subscription to a family history site is going to be put to good use but maybe not until the end of the summer. I need something to look forward to when the garden is no longer a welcoming prospect and when the nights are long and dark. For now it will be some knitting of baby clothes in the evenings and days spent outside as much as possible. Memories will still be there when autumn approaches and some more obscure branches of the family tree can be investigated. In the meantime - the latest baby cardigans and that family photo.