Reasons to be cheerful

Since the new year, I've tried to post this earlier in the week, but here I am squeezing it in on a Saturday again!  Today,  I am linking up with Planet Penny with my

Reasons to be Cheerful

First reason?  It is a beautiful, sunny morning and this is the view of the calm waters outside my back door, its cold, crisp and blue-skyed......what could be be better?

Secondly, I have been given a Liebster award by Planet Penny, but have to admit to being totally lazy to mention awards, as before Christmas I was also given this award by Stocki, Hazel's Crochet, All4meggymoo, The Green Dragonfly and Tea at Weasels.

Do you know.... the blogging world never fails to make me cheerful, I have had my mind opened to new ideas, been inspired to push myself further and been treated to more than a few giggles.  These bloggers above, are all truly lovely ladies, whose blogs I love to read and be challenged by, so to be given an award by them makes me feel very special (most people who know me in real life would say I am a bit....well....'special'!)  I know that a lot of the brilliant blogs that I read, have also been  recipients of this award and I am at a bit of a loss as to know who to award, without inadvertently leaving someone out..........soooo..........can you hear the cop-out coming......

Please take a look along my blogroll, and if you see a new place you've not been to before, give it a try.....I've nosied around a few times, clicking on people's side bars and where the road goes nobody knows!  I have to say, rather annoyingly, I have sometimes found somewhere nice but never got back there again! 

This is turning out a little longer than I normally whitter on for, but don't want to leave out my last reason for being cheerful.....and that is......... I've learnt to knit continental style. 

I've recently started knitting a sweater for myself, which has a lot of moss stitch (seed stitch). Knitters will know this is knit1, purl1,  a lot of throwing the wool and pretty tedious. I was toying with the idea of re-learning, but thought my tension would change, however after making a mistake which meant ripping back and that going wrong too (oh, dear, you know those times, when something happens, you try to rectify it and then it just gets worse....) I decided to start again totally. I even learnt a new method of casting on...who knew??

So it is a little slow, but I am already finding a pace and I think it is quicker than my 'English' style moss stitch.....I am a little smug, I can tell you and keep telling my unimpressed hubby to look at my knitting.....bless him too!

Anyway, if you reached the bottom of my ramblings you'll probably be needing a cuppa by now!

Please do check out Planet Penny's place and maybe even join in too, with your

Reasons to be cheerful!

One a day (which day?)

It is still Tuesday?

Well, if I use the excuse that I missed the day, I will never get back to it........ so,I'm late I know.....but enthusiastic!

So I actually finished my last one-a-day project (which came in the shape of a sunnyspread blanket) in November and then did some Christmas presents, but I am back in earnest now with a WIP blanket, here on in known as the boring blanket.

I actually started this when I first learnt to crochet...I was young, naive and a little wet behind the ears!  I soon realised I had no staying power and was drawn into quick crochet flings, promising bright colours, quick fixes, no commitment.........

So I am back, admitting I've done wrong and wanting to put things right.

This week I have done five hexagons and actually found since my crochet has improved they didn't take too long (although I still haven't learnt to sew my ends in!)  I will probably end up doing two a day I should think.

So here comes the maths, I have done 89   hexagons so far, with 5 added this week that makes 94 and I think I need ......well, lets not think about it, as that is why it become the boring blanket a year ago!

To see other people's one a day projects, pop on over to  gingerbread girl's blog.

In other news, I have discovered that knitting is not quite like riding a bike.  As I've previously mentioned, I have got it stuck in my head to knit a jumper, and today, I began!  Funny how it didn't come naturally at all and it took some time to remember I needed to reposition the yarn to purl.....sooo..as my brain works, I have been looking this evening at continental knitting thinking that if I could get my head around it, it would probably sit better with my crocheting position, particularly as I am a yarn grabber.  Anyone have a preference?  Wish me luck as knitting is maybe not my forte!  But I'm very determined!