I'm also working on a Cobblestone Sweater for Jon - I'm using New Lanark Mills Donegal Silk Aran Tweed for it, which is smashing value (whole sweater will be knit for under £20) and lovely to work with. It's knitting up into a good hardwearing sweater, and I'm up to the armholes on the body, and am approaching the end of the first sleeve. It's a Jared Flood pattern, and I'm sure he won't mind me saying that it is welcome, mindless knitting - round and round and round with very few fiddly bits. It's my first sweater in the round, and with my aversion to sewing up, it won't be my last.
Jon's mother and sister came to visit for the weekend, and here's where we get to why I've titled this blog post as I have... We took them up to Seahouses for the day on Saturday, and went on a Billy Shiels trip over to the Farne Islands. I love this trip - out on a little boat around the islands, with stops on the way to see the seabirds on the Islands, the seals hunting, and the site of Grace Darling's rescue of the Forfarshire survivors, and then an hour on Inner Farne. There were some lovely birds to see - Eider Ducks, Shags, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, and these little fellas:
Everyone loves Puffins, don't they?
And who would have thought this little critter would turn into an Attack Tern - but he will - once he is old enough to have his own chicks, he will rattle like a machine gun, and attack anyone who he sees as a threat. But for now, he's just fluffy cuteness itself. Everyone go "aaah"...
Finally....
The one....
The only....
The money shot....
Jon had it worse than me... but we were both blessed as you can see. We were looking at a Shag nest, with 4 fluffy chicks in it, clinging to the cliff edge of Inner Farne, when the parent lifted its tail, and the wind did the rest. Oh well - it washes off.
Next stop - Woolfest...
ETA - No Handknits were harmed in the creation of this blog post. Jon and I both make sure we wear old clothes when visiting birdy places!
3 comments:
Great post! Jon's jumper sounds fantastic - and what wonderful value for the yarn. I love going on a trip round the Farne Islands, despite the inevitable decoration ;)
Did you get to Whitesnake/Def Leppard last night? Hope you had a fantastic time if you did. Planet Rock didn't come through with the tickets this time ;)
Have a great time at Woolfest, I won't be going, unfortunately :( Looking forward to hearing all about it.
Can't make Woolfest also, and so many og blogland friends going - I'm green with envy. I'll be knitting along with you in the GoddessKnits Anniversary Shawl knitalong - I just signed up - made the deadline by the skin of my teeth (wot - 2 days to go before signups close?)...
Love the pic of the puffin, and besplatted Jon (teehee).
You'll have to come down to Fibrefest next year and we can go explore Dartmoor.
That sounds like a fantastic trip. One to file in pending methinks.
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