Yarn Along and a Long Overdue Yarndale Post

 It has been a while but here I am yarning along! I am  knitting something for me, some cheerful looking socks, using wool hand dyed by these folk in  "watercolour." 

 

 

 

Having heard Esther speak nearly a month ago, I am still slowly reading my way through this book and to be honest, it will need several reads for me to fully absorb and attempt to put into practise some of the things suggested!  Never mind though, I am quite happy to be a work in progress and any improvement is better than none at all!

 

 

 

After taking ages to finish a sleeve and weave in the ends, I was able to give Kathryn her long overdue birthday present!  Would you believe it, I started this project when Pip had the noro virus way back at the beginning of the year!  I had completed over three quarters of it, before Gracie appeared and then completely lost my knitting mojo, when all else around me was falling apart, myself included.  So you can imagine, it was a complete relief to cast off this project once and for all:

 

 

At one point there were over four hundred stitches on the needles.

 

 

I love the cross over shaping at the front.

 

 

Here is the lovely lass, modelling her cardi.

 

 

Speaking of Kath, she has also taken up knitting and has progressed quite quickly from knitting squares, to hats and then finally an aran cardi for Gracie:

 

 

My mum helped out a little bit, but what a fab job.

 

 

Last but not least, my Yarndale trip.  If you pop over on to this site you'll get a real flavour of the event.  Surprisingly for me I did not take many pictures, I think it was a case of being exhausted from diabetes checking at two hourly intervals during the night and due to overwhelming numbers of people and stalls, I actually reached sensory overload and could not think straight!  I would definitely go back next year and it was a real treat to spend the day with my lovely friend Debs:

 

Yarndale Bunting.

 

 

 

 

Lucy's Attic 24 Corner.

 

 

Lovely llamas and their wool ~ I would love to have a rug made of their fleece, totally scrumptious!

 

 

Debs bought some black llama wool to make herself a pair of wrist warmers.

 

 

Fluffy Angoras.

 

 

No wonder the wool is so expensive, it must take a whole lot of angora hair to make one ball of wool. 

 

 

So, that's me up to date, I'm know off to knit a few more rows before bed, tootle - pip!

 

 

 

 

 





 

 



Living with a Monastic Heart

Yesterday I visited Rydal Hall with my friend from prayer group to hear Esther de Waal speak on the title above.  She shared about her own journey in faith and finding St Benedict as a busy wife and mother and how "The Rule" had not only helped her in the nuts and bolts of daily living but had also been an anchoring point in the storms.  My thoughts here cannot do justice to her as an eloquent, amusing and incredibly knowledgeable speaker, now well into her eighties!  One of her comments resonated so deeply and was the encouragement I needed at the end of a very harrowing week and it was such a blessing to be able to share this with her.

The day began at 10:00 with the usual coffee and chat, Esther's first talk ran from 10:40 until 11:50 with a five minute break in between, after which there was a half hour meditation for those who wished to take part.  It was quite something to be in a room of well over fifty people, sitting in silence and "Holding oneself still before the gaze of God" ( Esther de Waal)  My friend and I attempted to eat our lunch outside in the gardens but when the Lake District rain became a little more persistent, we wandered back inside.

Esther's talk in the afternoon highlighted the many similarities between Benedictine and Celtic spirituality as in essence they are both a "weaving of prayer in daily living", one by the call to pray at regular intervals throughout the day and night, interspersed with work, rest and eating; the other making a tapestry of grace filled moments as each task is completed around the hearth and home.

Whilst the second meditation session began, I took my camera for a prayer walk and the joy it brought me in focusing in the tiniest detail and capturing the beauty on a wet autumn day, was pure balm for my soul and a very gift from heaven above:

 

 

 

My walk began here.

 

 

Past the angel on guard...

 

 

... the colourful foliage and ...

 

 

... the rain soaked leaves.

 

 

Listening to the water crashing against the rocks.

 

 

Walking through an inviting tunnel...

 

 

... and finding this place, I wonder what is behind the door ...

 

 

... a thunderous noise and an amazing sight, I must take a closer look...

 

 

Just wonderful!

 

 

Back on the trail.

Standing Still.

 

Saying good bye.

 

 

By now it was time to meet my friend and make our way back to the car but not before admiring a special unexpected treat I had discovered on my wanderings:

 

 

 

Yarn Bombing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then as we wandered past the tee rooms and headed down the hill, what should we spy but a woodland walk full of weavings and wood carvings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one had truly become part of the landscape as you can see the lichen growing through the weaving!

 

A coat for a tree complete with...

 

... stone buttons!

 

A lasting image and a peaceful heart.