Sometimes, I think that barn owls must have been designed by a six-year-old.
(There is crochet coming later in this post, but I just need to get the barn owls off my chest, so to speak.)
Don’t get me wrong: they’re beautiful and magnificent birds of prey, but they do have some odd design elements. I’m writing this because I saw one up-close at dusk the other day. It flew alongside my car for a moment, just as I topped the Berkshire Downs ready to descend into Oxfordshire. There I was, zooming along at the wheel of the Stinkwagon, when a huge white-winged apparition appeared beside me.
I haven’t seen a barn owl for years, so I was very happy, but I was also puzzling over why a beast that relies on swooping unseen on its prey in the gloom would be so, well, bright and white and visible. See? Must’ve been designed by a six-year-old. And how un-aerodynamic is that great heart-shaped flat face? If you pitched up at the airport and your plane had a flattened front like that, you wouldn’t seriously expect it to be able to take off, would you? Again, six-year-old. I rest my case.
Anyway, now I’ve got that off my chest, let’s talk about crochet. And possibly knitting. And let’s not talk about running, because my dignity has gone AWOL after I landed on my backside in the mud right in front of my friend when we were out running this morning.
As you can see from the photo above, the final stage of the big crochet house-related project is back on, because this thing just needs to be finished. The Flymo pictures on my phone are because I’m considering crocheting a mower lying on the lawn. At the moment, I’m working some begonias around the edge of the grass. I started by aggressively and semi-randomly hooking the greenery:-
And then I went and had a rummage for some begonioid colours. (Yes that is indeed a word, as of right now. It makes perfect logical sense.)
And we have begonias! Though there are a fair few more to go…
(By the way, photos taken in a gloomy, fire-lit room of an evening, which is my excuse for poor quality.) Proof:-
So I’m on the case, and nothing* is going to be allowed to distract me. Can’t wait to show you the finished object.
Oh, did I say distraction? Well there is the un-small matter of a new knitting design. Its colourwork is… complex:-
*Except children, work, house, redesigning the garden, sorting the allotment, seeing friends, reading, drinking too much wine, other knitting and crochet projects, and baking.
Oh, talking of baking (see how distractible I am?) I made some beer bread the other day using the Stoic Spouse’s home-brew. Blimmin’ stuff tried to escape from the tin while it was in the oven. LOOK?!
Which slightly begs the question, WHAT ON EARTH DID YOU PUT IN THAT BEER, STOIC SPOUSE?
I’m terrified of that bread, but I’d still eat it.
Your thoughts on owls have blown my mind.
The bread says no, it’ll eat you first.
Apologies to your mind. I stand by what I said about owls, though.
The annoying thing is that you will never be able to recreate that loaf!! Fantastic isn’t it!! xx
Fantastic…. and a little frightening.
But you’re right: it’s definitely a one-off.
I got a real kick out of that beer bread photo! 😀
Ha ha. 🙂 Don’t mess with the beer bread…
How do you cram ALL OF THAT STUFF into one life?! I am in awe Ms T. That bread is all positives. You get “bread”, that stuff that you can make sarnies out of and you get some delicious crunchy spill over that can be slathered with butter and called “the cooks benefits” from this day forth. I think you owe The Stoic Spouse Ms T.
…By doing all of it badly and inadequately.
As for the bread, it told you to say that, didn’t it?
Yes. Yes it did.
You got to it in time to stop it taking over the house ……………
I’m not sure… What if it’s spawned?
I love it! Thank you for making my recent yarn stash acquisition look sane;-)…I just had to read parts of this out loud to my boyfriend, once I remedied the cat’s running off with the latest yarn problem, for now;-)
Awww thank you, as always. Enjoy your new yarn. 🙂
Phil, you always make me smile. I can’t wait to see the finished crochet house and garden. My gosh the hours you’ve put in to it.
Thank you. (But yes, the time it’s taken has been a little ridiculous…)
Be kind to yourself.
Each time i read your blog I am filled with this gorgeous bubly giggling energy. Your posts – and you – is one of those vitamins that, if bought in a pharmacy, would be as costly as royal gelly + some. I can’t wait to see the crocheted lawnmower. And if you run out of ideas ( as if ) you might also consider frogs and such – i thought – and how about one of those miniature owls
I also know that if you would write a book – in the manner you write this blog – i would run to buy it, and you would probably be stinking rich and could use all your time to knit and be fabulous.
Hi Leelah, You’re always FAR too generous in your comments, but thank you, nonetheless. It’s very humbling and cheering to hear if I can make someone smile.
And YES to frogs – genius! I’m going to try. Thank you. 🙂
As for your incredibly kind thoughts about a book, well between you and me, a friend and I are working on a quirky book project, but of course it’s taking SO long…
the quirkier the better vitamines
I sent my husband on an owl day for his birthday one year and he learned that owls in fact, despite all their reputation for wisdom, are incredibly stupid birds. But the sight of a barn owl swooping is indeed a majestic one – I was lucky enough to see one in the Lake District at dusk not long ago.
Oh no, you’ve shattered my illusions! At least they’re clever enough to LOOK clever…
I think the 6 year old had a hand in that loaf!!
Tee hee, you may be right!
Really cheered me up, I have had a horrid day so far and your post made me smile for the first time today.Thankyou and keep up the good work!
Thank you for such a generous comment. But I’m very very sorry you were having a horrid day. Hope the days since have been much better?
Love your posts as they always make me smile too! The beer bread does look a bit like a half baked monster trying to get out. What IS in that beer?
Thank you. 🙂 As for the beer…. I don’t know… and I’m a little scared to find out…
I think you are right about the barn owl thing…..love your yarny pictures, cant wait to see the complete picture of said yarn.
ps…I’m hungry now I’ve seen your fabulous bread xx
Thank you. And my friend Rebecca has commented that apparently barn owls are really quite dim. Dim and oddly designed: why are these creatures still in the gene pool? (They are beautiful and majestic, though.)
I was just yesterday searching through all your posts to see how the giant project was getting on! You hadn’t seemed to mention it for a while and I was terrified I missed the big reveal I’m really looking forward to seeing it all finished 🙂
I’ll have a slice of that monster bread too if it’s going please! jenny xxx
I’m on it, honest! (Of course, it can only be a massive disappointment after all this build-up!)
I think it still has ambitions…
Have you read the rascally cake? I wonder if this is a relative…the bothersome bread. Korky Paul might be willing to illustrate a sequel.