Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes – unless you’re very unlucky – life is good.
The last few days have been particularly good here at TheTwistedYarn, (which no doubt means that everything will go catastrophically wrong tomorrow). The Toddler Twinnage have played adorably, the stoic spouse has spent happy evenings preparing to lay model railway track in the back garden of our brewery home (don’t ask), and I have had some peaceful knitting moments in the spring sunshine. The other day, on a whim, I decided to knit the entire world. (Pattern on Rav, here.) Progress is good, and I’ll show you the finished object soon. It’ll look better once I’ve stuffed it. It’s been fun to think about each country as I knit it. Here’s where I’m up to, accompanied by a mug of green tea and one of the cookies I baked for our work away day. (Had to test the cookies before inflicting them on esteemed colleagues, obviously.)
That cookie was good. There’s a lot of chocolate in that blighter. Rich, 85% cocoa solids kinda chocolate. 🙂
So we had the worky away-day, and the cookies were demolished, and the day finished earlier than a normal working day so I had a rare and blissful entire hour alone before I had to collect the toddler twinnage. And so I found a beautiful old pub on the banks of the Thames in rural Oxfordshire, and spent the hour sitting happy and alone by the river with a pot of green tea and my knitting.
So I knitted, and I watched the occasional narrowboat chug by, and I watched the mayflies enjoy their single day of life, and the swallows swooping and plunging to catch them, and the thuggish coots busying themselves on the water, and the superior moorhens paddling disdainfully past, and a crotchety crow harrying a red kite in the sky above. And then a ridiculous man launched a sail-boat from the opposite bank, despite the fact that there was absolutely no wind, and after sort-of floating listlessly and vaguely downstream for 20 minutes he begged a passing motor-boat to tow him back upstream, at which point he fell over-board whilst trying to tether his boat, then, soaked-through, he hauled his boat onto a trailer and drove away.
The housey yarn-bombing has not been forgotten, by the way. Over-excited ‘ta-da’ post coming very soon…
KerryCan says
Oh, cool! You’ve got the whole world in your hands! (Do you know that old folksong?!) Sounds like a lovely interlude in your busy, busy life.
The Twisted Yarn says
Yes, we used to sing that at school! I’m not going to be able to get it out of my head, now….. 🙂
Barbara says
What is your project by the Thames?
The Twisted Yarn says
A vest top for the toddler twinnage. I’m making a whole pile of them. Easy, quick, project. 🙂
nicolaknits says
Two beautiful WIPs there. Love those colours. Now going to check out that world pattern on ravelry ?
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. I recommend the pattern.
Jennifer says
I love the image of the man falling overboard while sailing with no wind …… definitely an optimist!
The Twisted Yarn says
Yes! I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing.
thecontentedcrafter says
What a wonderful and entertaining hour you had – many thanks to the man in the sail boat for his contribution 🙂 The knitting is all so very NEAT! I am quite in awe of your ability to not shred the yarn and to not make random odd loose stitches that mar the symmetry…… and despite your last post on how easy it is I remain obstinately unable to attempt fairisle!
And applauding the chocolate cookies!! 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
Awww, thank you! And no, I’m not that neat.
threadandethel says
Your world is looking good. 🙂
I really like your account of the sailboat. I am laughing so hard right now. I also love that another commenter (Jennifer) called him an optimist…I would have called him something unkind, but “optimist” is perfect. 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
Yes, Jennifer’s right! I couldn’t quite believe what I was watching…
crawcraftsbeasties says
Sounds like a great way to spend an hour… And the antics of the guy on the boat really made me laugh! Your woolly world is fab too ☺
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. 🙂
Felicity from Down Under says
I’d be reclining on the mosaic tabletop, I think, with the world at that angle. Sounds idyllic indeed: quiet time, fantastic pastime, much on view to entertain, green tea and a choc chip biscuit. Could life be any better?
The Twisted Yarn says
Yup, there have been some pretty blissful moments this week. 🙂
atelieroursonne says
Your post just really cheered me up. Happy twins, entertaining man on boat, great knitting (I will definitely knit that world too), and a promise to show us soon the yarn bombing. I am really looking forward to that
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. I do recommend the world pattern. If you go to the English version and look at the charts, there’s a modified one that shows the countries more accurately – that’s the one I’m using.
atelieroursonne says
thanks for that tip
soknitsome says
Blissful! And the knitting in the final photos is such lovely colours
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. 🙂
Jacquline Cappuccino says
I’m so jealous of your knitting by the water. It’s the one of the things I miss most about living in Indiana, getting to spend weekends at the lake crocheting by the water.
The Twisted Yarn says
Oh that must have been lovely (when you were in Indiana, I mean). And now I’m jealous of me, too, cos I had to go to work as normal yesterday: no more riverside knitting!
jenpedwards says
Such wonderful knitting goodness here! I look forward to seeing the finished world!
Gallivanta says
Bliss, amusements and bemusements; what more could you want?
sindhoooo says
Wow! Fabulous colours and awesome designs of your in progress creations… 🙂 Good to know that you are enjoying the good spring days 🙂
Regards,
Sindhu
Tantu
The Arts & Me
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. 🙂
Caroline says
Just read the part about the man and the yacht – so funny! x
knittingwithheart says
Such a lovely day! Love your pic of knitting by the Thames 🙂 ❤ <3