No more winter

These photos are from last weekend. 

It's been snowing a couple of times in May after this, 

but I think it's fair to say the skiing days are over.

Party flags, Kites, Porridge bowls, Diamond & Castle

This weekend I tried something new.

I got my materials in a paint shop: Free paint sample strips.

A lot of cutting, glueing and sticky fingertips... and voilà!

5 small square posters for Baby O's new playroom.

London

Looking through the weather forecast last week, the destination with the worse weather seemed to be London. Rain, rain, showers, rain, rain. That was where I was going to travel.

The weatherman proved to be right. Having left my umbrella at home, I had to go and get a new one. The label read "wind proof". I don't know about that. It wasn't immune to the gusts of wind.. 

London was foggy, wet and cold, but never boring nor dull. It was fun to do all the first timer's things again, after so many years: to watch the stumping of the feet of the guards at Buckingham Palace, bear the crowds at Harrods, get confused about the traffic and eat fish'n chips and tea and scones.

And, in the end, the sun came up. Just before we had to leave home.

Summertime begins

Color Affection (Ravelry link)

by Veera Välimäki

Yarn: BC Garn Soft Silk

* * *

This weekend it was time to advance clocks. (I've never really understood the point of daylight saving time.. it just makes it even harder to wake up the next day..) Anyway, it meant that summer was getting closer. Also, for a few weeks it has looked like what you'd expect in springtime: The sun has been shining, snow melting, even birds have moved back from warmer climates and have been chirping in the mornings. I felt it was about time I started knitting a more summery scarf.

So I finished the scarf, which turned out.. em.. how should I put it.. enormous. Long enough to wrap around your neck several times. That might be a good thing, though, considering the Finnish summer, which more or less could be colder than winter in most countries..

Bearing that in mind, the turn in the weather didn't really come as a surprise. Snowflakes as big as handkerchiefs floated down turning everything white again. But it doesn't matter. I'll keep warm with my new scarf.

Mad as a hatter

Today the snow has been falling down from the roofs.

And I have been falling behind with my homework for a course, 

because I've been "mad as a hatter" instead.. trying to find the perfect form for a hat.

You'd think there's nothing easier than a simple hat!

  Hat #1: Too long, too loose, too colourful.

All of those easily fixed, but didn't bother..

Material: Recycled shirt

Hat #2 A bit too short 

(didn't have enough fabric, 

hence the band on different shade of red in the hem), 

a tiny bit too wide on top, but getting there. Wearable.

The next one will be perfect.

Material: some scrap fabrics

As if I didn't already have enough hats..

Return to the abandoned island

First time on skis this winter.

I did use them a couple of weeks back to hold a tarp over me 

when I slept in the snow.

But this time I was ON skis, not UNDER them.

Sun shining, warm winter day (+4°C),

tea with butter bun hot from the oven.

Yum.

The island was intriguing as usual.

Some things had changed since last winter. 

A storm had done some damage on trees

and the buildings had decayed a bit more

but the same feeling of a forgotten place still exists.

Should go there more often..

Springbreak

A few days off, spent with dear friends ♥

Sunny days,

spring is on its way.

Green

Green revolution is taking place outside.

I took on a new challenge, also in green:

Pomatomus by Cookie A.

Time will tell if I'll finish them by the time the green leaves turn yellow.

Lace shawl

 Pattern: Annis by Susanna IC (ravelry link)

Yarn: Manos Silk Blend

No pain, no gain!
I made millions of mistakes, but who cares, it's done now. Once I got the hang of it, it wasn't that difficult. Nice pattern, will definitely use it again.

Spring

 

Gorgeous day. 

Wasn't expecting to see a snake, let alone four of them.

I must have been no more than 5 years old when I last saw an adder or any kind of snake in Finland. Hopefully I'm done for the next few decades now.

The yellow coltswood was like sunshine pushing through the grey ground. Those I wish to see lots more!

To run or not to run..?

Cool signs

To London and Sveden.

 Children playing. And a cat, apparently.. And Pippi.

Dear dog..

Snälla hund!

Båtbyggaren blir 

ledsen då han trampar 

i din bajslort då han 

hämtar posten.

Bajsa längre bort!