in the forest at dusk

The other day I got an email from Goodreads with my 2017 reading tally. The year's not finished yet, there are still pages to be turned and books to add, so I'm not going to link to it just yet, but it did make me think about all of my 2017 accomplishments. All those seeds I've planted, all those miles I've driven, all those weeds I've pulled, all those lunches I've made, all those podcasts I've listened to, all those words I've written....

2017 feels like it's been a productive year. Despite my wish for a simple life, growth just happened. I guess that's what being alive is all about. Moving forward, trying to do better, trying to learn, trying to teach, trying to grow.

I look forward to thinking about and blogging some of the tallies and some of the things we achieved in the past 12 months over the next couple of Fridays as the year comes to a close, but for now these photos are of the girls modelling the two wraps I knitted this year.

I took these photos to add to my Ravelry projects page to try to work out my knitting tally for 2017. (My desk might be a crazy mess, but at least my Ravelry page will be neat and ordered.) These photos were taken last Sunday evening straight after a trip into town to the supermarket, but a bit before the bugs started biting. One of the wraps was knitted for Indi and worn to school all through last winter. And the other was knitted for my mum and only given to her last Monday.

I love that my Mum saw her granddaughter in skinny jeans, Blundstone boots, a linen shirt and her wrap and decided that she wanted one of her own.

These photos make me so happy because they remind me of the origins of this blog when it was purely a craft record. Each time I'd finish something I'd get the girls to model it for the photos. Long before high school and long commutes and homework and boyfriends.

The details for Indi's wrap are here.
The details for my mum's wrap are here.

As well as traipsing through the forest at dusk snapping photos of girls in knitwear, this week I watched and really loved My Mother's Lost Children.

I also watched and cried my eyes out at this short film called I have a message for you.

On Tuesday we celebrated 18 years of marriage!

On Tuesday while mowing the middle apple orchard I listened to all three parts of 36 Questions - a musical in a podcast. A few years ago I'd heard a Modern Love podcast about those same 36 questions and was somewhat intrigued.

So on Tuesday night when we went out for dinner to celebrate our anniversary we asked each other and answered Arthur Aron's 36 questions. Well most of them anyway. It's one thing to use them to fall in love in the first place, and quite another to ask them of someone you've loved and lived with for almost 21 years.

This week I've been reading Roxane Gay's Hunger and thinking a lot about my perception of my physical body and also about how much space people take up.

I cast off my tree socks, ravelled here.

I opened a box full of information for my flower farming course starting early next year.

I ordered some cord to further my macrame obsession.

I bought and planted a couple of rows of flowering plants.

And I ate strawberries, and salads, and broad beans and peas.

This week we're celebrating our three girls who have had wonderfully successful school years.

We're loving the thought of six weeks off from the school commute.

We're planting and weeding and watering.

And while I'm hiding in our bedroom typing this Bren and Jobbo are putting the finishing touches on the deck that comes out from the sun-room and goes all along the front of our house (photos soon)(check my instagram story if you're too impatient to wait til next week), Jazzy and Pepper are painting on face masks and Indi is vacuuming the carpet for her birthday party tonight. I'd better hurry up and publish this so I can go and help her with the preparations.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend my friends.
Can you believe there are only two Fridays left for this year?
Are you starting to think about your bests, and worsts, and tallies for 2017?
Do you want to come and help me make a flower crown and string up the fairy lights?

Big love to you lovers!
See you next week.

Love Kate x

the second week

sixth

When I decided to do a photo a day in May project last week one of the rules I imposed on myself was to not always capture the prettiest moments, but to challenge myself to look for the interesting and the gritty too. The two photos I took last Saturday are heading in that direction.

It was a freezing cold, wet, windy day and we'd called off all of the girls' activities and were bunkering down inside instead. There was one point in the late afternoon where I looked around at the cozy scene wondering what to capture. If I didn't get my shot then, I'd lose the light and miss my day. The fire was roaring, the house was a mess of papers and computers and musical instruments and girls, but nothing called to me. Then I looked outside, onto the back deck and decided.

I slipped on my clogs, quickly slid open the back door, snapped two photos and dashed inside again.

Leaves from the grape-vine that cover our back deck and give us shade in summer, grapes at the height of autumn, and then a sludgy mess as they decompose into winter.

seventh

Miss Pepper helping me out by searching for scarlet runner bean pods inside the tee-pee.

eighth

Knitted with love for my kitty cat obsessed, youngest. She loves them but did not love me dragging her outside into the cold and pulling up her leggings, as proven by her goose bumps.  

It's a free pattern I found on ravelry, you can find the details here.

ninth

Last year we grew a paddock of pumpkins. This year we didn't get them in til so late that they didn't get a chance to really get going before the days started to cool off, so we gave up on them and eventually pulled them out. The compost it seems had ideas, and seeds, of its own and grew this load. It's probably more than enough for us for the season anyway.

tenth

One of the first things we built when we moved to our farm back in 2001 was this hot house onto the side of our house. Using bits of poly pipe and greenhouse plastic, but without the help of YouTube, farmer Bren and my dad constructed a place for me to raise seeds and shelter some sensitive plants.

It's hard for us to remember where the idea for the plans came from. It's hard to imagine if we thought it would be a temporary fix or a long term solution. It's crazy to think about who we were back then: a couple with one baby girl and no farming experience.

And here we are all these years later pulling it down. Cutting the pipe, slicing at the plastic and digging out all of the soil. It's served us well over the years. I'd guess it's grown hundreds of thousands of plants.

And now it's time for an upgrade. We've drawn up the plans, we've gathered some old windows, we're starting on Monday. Watch this space.

eleventh

Rushing outside last night to catch a photo of the flame tree glowing in the afternoon sun, it occurred to me that I could take the shot from what until the day before was inside the hot-house. Four steps to the right gave me another perspective. Makes me pleased to know that the new hot house will have opening windows. And how about that tree hey!

twelfth

My current knitting project is a Guernsey wrap for Miss Indi. Remember when I told you a few weeks ago that Pepper had a list up on the door where family members could place their knitting orders? Indi ordered a scarf.

The thought of that scarf and the meters of knit stitch or purl stitch that would be involved in the making made me shudder. A more tedious project I couldn't imagine. That is until we sat on Ravelry for a while and looked at the endless possibilities of stitch combinations.

We chose this pattern because it was a mixture of textured patterns found on traditional fisherman's sweaters which would keep it interesting for me and yet was a simple long, rectangular scarf for her. I know I've barely even started, but so far I'm loving knitting it, long may it continue and grow.

The ravelry details are here.


And there they are, my seven (plus a couple) photos of the week.

It's been a bit of a topsy-turvey week for me. One afternoon I cried three separate times on the drive home from school at the sheer magnificence of the show that mother nature was putting on for us, the next day I heard a friend's difficult news and felt so weighed down by the weight of the world. Nasty, short sighted comments on a friend's Facebook shocked me and hurt my heart, but then a brother and sister raised over two million dollars in five cent pieces to kick cancer where it hurts and smash a world record. One of our girls got a role in a local production of The Three Lost Children and we were all thrilled, but then she has this bit of eczema that makes her so uncomfortable it hurts. Some of the olives were hit by frost, but the carrots are sweeter than ever. Up, down, up down. I'm blaming PMS and the full moon. And I'm hoping for clear skies and calm waters ahead. And sunshine of course.


I hope you've had a gorgeous week.
I wonder if the leaves are growing or falling off where you are?
If the days are getting longer or shorter?
If you use circulars or DPN's to knit your socks and sleeves?

Happy Mother's day!

Love Kate xx

The yarn basket

The yarn basket

In the middle of all the book craziness last week I remember thinking to myself that I missed my life. That I missed kneading bread and dirty finger nails from gardening and days without appointments and deadlines and city clothes. 

I guess the strange thing about all of this book stuff, is the feeling that I've taken a little break from my real life and now I'm finding it a bit difficult to find my way back again.

With all the fuss and fun and excitement I've drifted off somewhere.

I used to bake bread almost everyday for our family and now I can't seem to get back into that rhythm. Bread baking needs time and forethought, but now I never seem to remember until it's too late.

I've lost confidence in my writing. I've never called myself a writer which made writing easy. But now for some reason things have changed. I still know that I'm more of a recorder than a writer, but my writing is traveling further than blog-land now and I am feeling self conscious and sticky and uncertain.

The square by square blanket

There are some aspects of mothering that I am feeling on top of; reading, seeing, cuddling, adoring, listening...But there are others than I am losing at; school notes, dates, organisation, finger nails, laundry...

It's been weeks since I did anything but harvest in the kitchen garden. Spring will be here any minute and I have a list a mile long of what needs to be done between now and then.

 Another hottie

I've mostly always had a one woolly project at a time rule but now I can't seem to stick to anything. Last night I found myself alternating between rows of a knitted blanket square and rows of my long, long scarf. Two rows of this, then two rows of that. Three projects on the go and I'm about to cast on a size one Milo to make it four. 

The long, long scarf

Ugh, I want to delete this all and start again. I think it might sound negative and yet it's really not. It's just different. 

This morning I've sent off some photos for a magazine and an article to a newspaper and now I'm sitting here with time. It feels a bit strange. Like a holiday. Like luxury.

I think I'm going to press publish on this, mix up a bread dough and leave it to rise, and then head out into the hot house to prick out some onions. Hopefully my farmer boy will come up from planting the food forest and join me soon.

The winter sun is shinning, my book is out in the world, I am happy to be here on our farm and I feel optimistic. 

(And just between me and you, I feel happy that I've got this all down, but that it'll be in my archives in a few days time.)

How about you, are you enjoying the sunshine?

Are you making something colourful?

Are you between things, or are you missing things, or are you there?

I hope you are happy today, I really do.

Bye! xx

Proper knitting

Just over a week ago I got an email asking me to knit something for the Guardian Angel Knitting Program which encourages Aussies to knit a gift of woolen warmth for a child in need. I cried. I always cry about charities that help children, but something about helping with hand knits just got to me. Every child deserves a bit of hand knitted, woolly goodness I think.

If you would like to be a Guardian Angel and knit something for a child doing it tough, you'll find all the details here. I knitted my beanie in wool, but if you don't mind acrylic, there are a couple of packs of acrylic yarn and straight needles available from the charity to get you started. To be honest I'm not sure how many, but if you are interested in one please leave you contact deets in the comments and I'll pass them on.

The details of my project are here.

After I finished the red beanie, I knitted a chunky cable beanie for my farmer boy. Farming in Daylesford in winter is freezing cold work.

Project deets here.

And then I knitted him a balaclava.

I know!

He looks a bit like this dude don't you think?!

But the main thing is that he loves it! It's not quite as cozy as a tractor with a cab on it, but at least it's something.

Details here.

Sometimes he even wears them both at the same time!

We think he looks funny, but as long as he's warm, right?!

Next up on the sticks is a footy scarf!!
On straight needles!!

Who even am I?

It's for my sister Emily. I love her. And I love thinking about her and my Mum in a wool shop (my world), listening to people discussing their woolly projects, describing her project and buying her wool (not acrylic). And I love that even though she owns several Bulldogs scarves already, she still wants a handmade one. And I love thinking about her as I knit each row next to the wood stove at night. And I love that she paid me in coffee beans (unnecessary but nice). And I am loving knitting with straight needles. I haven't used them in years, but something about them makes me feel like I'm doing proper knitting. Strange but true.

Knitting makes me happy. And keeps them warm.

What's making you happy? Or warm?

xx

PS My blog is now on bloglovin - whatever that means.

Blue (the scarf).

I've started this week off with such a strange feeling.
A bit of a sad feeling.
Like things are changing.
Like time is passing by.
It's making me feel a bit panicky.
A bit short of breath.
A bit anxious to savour each second.
To live it.
To realise it and remember it.
To etch bits of it in my mind, on my skin, so I can hang on to this moment forever.

I am reminding myself to stay calm.
To quiet the butterflies.
To breathe.
That in our now, we are exactly where we want to be.
That we are making lots of decisions and living well.
That whatever is to come, will be what it will be.
That notes about Miss Pepper starting school next year and Indi's high school orientation don't have to overwhelm, but can be positive and exciting.
That a carpet of fallen leaves means winter is approaching, but so are quiet times on the farm.
That the end of a knitting project I have loved means the beginning of something new and a cozy Indi.
That no matter how I long for time to slow down or stop for a while, it wont, so I may as well get on with enjoying it.

That what I probably need now more than anything else, is to grab my big girl straight home from school and to go for a fast walk around the big block. To feed my family soup for dinner. To squeeze them all as hard as they'll let me. To cast on something new. And to breath it all in.
It's all good.

I wish you a peaceful, wonderful week my friends.

xx

PS. Details for Blue the scarf are Raveled here.
PPS. I bought the beautiful blue wool from Kate's One Fat Slug Etsy shop.

Seven Circles.

I have spoken before on this blog about the trials of getting your kids to pose for your blog photos, about my lack of pretty white walls for backgrounds and about how uncomfortable I feel being in front of the camera, but today I experienced yet another photography problem.

Last night I cast off my seven circles and sewed in the ends and today I needed a photo for my Ravelry page. The only problem was that I was home alone with a three year old and it was raining.

I tried and I tried and I tried to take a photo of myself but it wasn't working. The camera strap got in the way, my neck was too liny, the lens was too big, it was too dark outside.

Then I had a brain wave, I asked The Twitter: Is there a trick to taking a flattering pic of yourself wearing a woolly necklace you just knitted?

Almost instantly I had replies: use a mirror, get a small person to take it, take 1,000 and choose the best, use photo booth and take a photo of it on someone else.

I tried the first four of the above.

But I still wasn't happy. I couldn't get the mirror photos to show the necklace without the camera in the way, my camera is waaaay too heavy for Miss Pepper, I did take 1,000 pics but they were all crappy, the best of the photo booth ones are above and not so hot and so I waited for the last one.

When the big girls came home from school, after the tantrum that almost had me turning back to school and leaving them there, I took advantage of the apologetic mood and snapped some pics.

It's too big for her and it doesn't really work with the school uniform but it gives you a much better idea than the ones of me.

The details are on Ravelry here. You should totally make one. It is a simple-pimple, quick pattern to knit and it is perfect for the person who doesn't like tight things around their neck yet craves a bit of snuggly warmth in the arctic depths of winter.

I hope you've had a great day. x

A morning...a winner...

This morning Farmer Bren wore his new hooded scarf to take the girls to school and to do his farm rounds. He said lots of people asked him about it and loved it. He told me the boys who work here with us said they were jealous and wanted me to make them one each as a staff uniform.

This morning Jazzy pulled out a notebook and a pen and started writing furiously. She wrote down every thought that fluttered through her mind and every word she heard spoken. She wrote and wrote and wrote and forgot to eat or brush her hair or get dressed. So I took the notebook and pen and popped them on a shelf for later on. She could have them back as soon as she was all ready to go to school. But by the time she was ready she had lost her rhythm. She was distraught. I'd ruined everything. She couldn't get back into it. She couldn't remember what to write. I feel terrible.

This morning Miss Pepper, thinking Jazzy was the coolest, got some pieces of paper, made Bren stick them together and me write 'Pepper's writing book' on the cover. She then sat down and started to fill it with her words. Its very important, she says and she has to take it every where she goes.

This morning Miss Indi said she was disappointed that swimming sports had been postponed until next week because it is freeeeeeezing here. She was so excited. She has entered herself in eight events even though you are only meant to compete in five.

Earlier in the week I had offered her to skip school on swimming sports day. I remember dreading that day when I was at school. That day when you have to compete with your classmates, stand around in your bathers and huff and puff up and down the pool. Not my kid. She looked at me like I was insane. She has been looking forward to the big day all year. She loves it.

This morning I asked the Random Number Generator to choose a random number between one and 138 and it chose number 50.

The fiftieth comment was Jo from Bubala!

Congratulations Jo! Send me your postal details and I'll pop your Hooded Scarf kit in the post.

For everyone else, thank you so much for your entries, I wish I had a kit to send to each of you. The lovely Anna of KnitKnit emailed me the with the same thought and would love to offer you a 10% discount off any purchase from her site. Mention my blog, Foxs Lane, in the checkout and she'll refund you the amount.

The details for my Hooded Scarf are Ravelled here.

Its now almost afternoon. I'd better get on with my day. I've got cooking and cleaning and a test pattern to sew up.

I hope your Friday is surprisingly wonderful.

Bye for now. XX