That title is misleading. I’m not really a millionaire, although I did just find a bar of chocolate that I’d forgotten about so I am feeling pretty fortunate. (I sometimes hide chocolate away from the Twinnage, and the advantage/disadvantage of having a rubbish memory is that I then promptly forget it ever existed.) But the title of this post is because recently, my blog visit stats passed the million mark. Those visits can’t all have been by my mum, surely? A million! That’s quite a big number. Thank you, all of you, for visiting. You’re awesome. Especially you. Yes YOU. Please, have some flowers from my garden:-
Meanwhile, the rather large knitted panel is mounted. It should be higher up, really, but I’m loathe to bang additional nails into the wall because round here, that’s the sort of behaviour that leads to big chunks of house falling off. (Yesterday, in the rain, we got to play one of our favourite games. It’s called Where’s-that-drip-drip-drip-noise-coming-from-and-which-bit-of-roof-is-leaking-this-time? This game is second only in our affections to Do-you-think-it’s-rained-enough-for-the-cellar-to-flood-again?-Why-don’t-you-have-a-look?-No,-I’m-busy,-YOU-look. Fun times at Twisted Towers.)
Mounting the knitted panel on the frame was easy, with the aid of a staple gun.
Job done!
And yes, I will write up a post about the design process.
Since this thing was finished, I’ve had a motivation slump, yarn-wise. Instead, as the weather turned weirdly warm and sunny last week, it felt as though an invisible piece of elastic kept pinging me back outdoors. I spent last summer/autumn burying a garden-load of bulbs and digging the wildlife pond and now, as we peek over the threshold of spring, the results are beginning to show.
As soon as he weather warmed up, the garden and the pond did a collective “WA-HEY, LOOK AT MEEEEEEE!” behaviour that might be irritating in a person, but which is perfectly endearing in a garden. Everywhere, everywhere, there is exuberant colour.
Everywhere.
I haven’t dared tell the garden that winter may yet sneak back in with a last hurrah.
Another advantage/disadvantage of having a rubbish memory is that I have no recall of what bulbs were planted where, so each one is a complete surprise as it pokes up from the soil. Oh look, a tulip!
And another tulip!
And a ladybird! Hang on, I don’t remember planting that…
Is it me, or does that ladybird look remarkably like a cherry tomato with a few spots painted on?
Re-doing the garden is a long-term project and it’ll be a while before dots of winter colour like this…
…become carpets of gorgeousness, like this (not that our garden is quite that large):-
That photo is from Welford Park in Berkshire, where they’re partial to a snowdrop or 9 000 000.
I took the twinnage there the other weekend with my very dear friend Maryanne. We wandered the woods and paddled in the stream and – lacking a net – we used our hands to lift stones and gently capture fairy shrimps and flatworms and horse leeches and water lice. (Yes, we put them all straight back.)
I’m unstupid enough to realize that the twinnage will find their own passions and directions in life but I’m not gonna lie: it fills me with joy that the boys are developing the same fascination with ponds and streams that I had at their age. But maybe it’s for the best that they haven’t discovered the fun to be had in damming waterways…
And still, day after day, February did a convincing impression of June. (“Hey look at me! I’m hot and sunny and you’re getting sunburn every time you go for a longish run because you can’t get your head round using sunscreen so soon after Christmas!”) The lure of outside proved to be even stronger than the lure of sofa-and-yarn.
But indoors is calling and there is knitting to be done. We’re mere days away from the next Stylecraft Blogstars meetup and we’ve all been encouraged to bring an A4-sized piece of knitting/crochet…
Congratulations on hitting the million mark! Hope you rediscover your knitting mojo soon (although I do understand the temptations of the great outdoors…)
Thank you, lovely friend! It’ll probably be mere minutes until the yarny mojo returns.
Your garden looks lovely. And the framed knitting even more stunning. Reminded me of my old houses. One day in a blizzard the snow landed on our attic floor right through the spaces in the roof. I emptied it with a large snow scraper throwing it out of the attic window. Flabbergasting the neighbours who did insolate their roof. Oh well. Had a few new houses too, no drama but no atmosfere too. Take care of that old house. It may leak but it gives old roots too. Do you’ve Dutch ancestors? We make dams every were. XD
Yikes! Your housey snow-shovelling sounds alarming! I hope your current home is better sealed against the elements. (And no Dutch ancestors that I’m aware of, sadly. I did one of those DNA tests hoping for interesting forebears, but I’m about as boringly and thoroughly British as they come. Sigh.)
The panel looks even more amazing on the wall than it did before, it’s stunning. I love all the detail.
Liz.
Thank you so much! (And am I being insufferably rude by ignoring you in the village without realizing, or have our paths genuinely not crossed again?)
I also love the chest!
Thank you! I wish I knew more about its heritage, but it’s bought rather than inherited.
Spectacular!
How great to hang this work of art!
Kudos.
You deserve to pause and celebrate!
Thank you so much!
Congratulations on the big number!!
I love the new wall hanging, it looks perfect
Look forward to seeing more pictures of your garden as the surprise flowers make their appearance throughout the year
Thank you on all three counts – you’re very kind.
Wow, so inspiring. I love your garden too. I’m in a ‘new’ old house and am enjoying what pops up in the garden all the time. Gorgeous
Yes, it can be fun to see what you inherit from a garden’s previous owners.
Hung up like that you can see just how much work must have gone into it. Quite amazing!
Far too much work. I really should learn to make quick and easy things…
You roped me in with the word ‘Millionaire’ which, as I am actually hungry, first made me think ‘shortbread’ rather than cash – am I sad?? Lovely blog post, great to be part of your audience, and thanks for sharing great photos this time of Spring arriving. Looking forward to hearing more about your next projects.
Ha ha, now you’re making me hungry too!
Also thought shortbread, caramel and chocolate!
Superb piece of knitting, it looks lovely hung.
That knitted panel is SO gorgeous ????
Thank you so very much.
Buried in snow her in NEW England, thanks for your breath of Spring, there is hope.
Yikes. I hope you manage to dig your way out soonish…
Lovely garden flowers, hope Winter stays gone, my flowers and azaleas are blooming, and the pollen is covering our cars here in South Carolina, USA. So happy to be part of your one Million… and some people think blogs are dying, not with great content like yours. Congratulations.
Thank you (as always) – that’s incredibly kind. I’m glad that your garden is blooming too – so many people have said that they’re reading this from under a blanket of snow!
Congratulations on a million blog visitors.
Happy Gardening
Thank you. And thank you. 🙂
Lovely post. Great knitted panel. But why have you got my photo of Welford Park? I swear I must have stood in exactly the same place! Those snowdrops are awesome.
Oops, I didn’t think you’d notice the theft! 😉 You weren’t the incredibly friendly woman I got chatting to by the stream, were you?
What an imagination you have, I wasn’t too sure about the subject when you were knitting it, oh I of little faith, it is absolutely stunning, which I should have known going by the wonderful work you have done in the past. You are such a talented young lady, and I for one are so grateful that you share all you make with us avid readers of your blogs, and you make me chuckle, which is always a good thing, in my modest way I enjoy my crafts, but your talent is just amazing! You might not remember what the bulbs were you planted,but it worked and they look beautiful well done you for all your hard work. Best wishes from this ‘avid reader’
What an imagination you have, I wasn’t too sure about the subject when you were knitting it, but it is splendid, and looks so stunning on your wall, best wishes from an avid reader of your blogs.
You continue to amaze me – your knitting/crocheting (is that actually a word?) and your photos enchant me endlessly. And, yes, the chest is just perfection. Thanks for sharing yourself with your million fans – I’m sure there are others who just don’t follow you here. I wish there were a coffee-table book of all your projects as well as your photos – I would give one to my daughter for Christmas!
Congrats on one million!! If your mum is anything like my mum, at least half of them would be because of her and various siblings, friends, and relatives!! Your panel is amazing!! Brilliant, as you Brits would say. Thanks for the pictures of spring. Still snowed in here in Canada. Thanks for your photos. They give me hope.
WOW to both, your knitting and your planting!
congratulations on hitting the million mark! WOW!!!
and thanks again for all the beautiful garden pics … they brought back memories of my childhood in england … i am now living on northeast coast of USA, in Maine, right next to Acadia national park … it’s cold and we just got hit by 10″ of snow!
best regards always,
margaret/daisy
I think that is the perfect spot for your “thing”. It looks great with that beautiful cabinet. They compliment each other and seem to have been made for each other. Oh, my gosh I am so jealous of all your pretty, early flowers and even a cute little ladybird already making an appearance. With weather and flowers like that I can see why you have left the sofa and knitting behind. I can’t wait for spring here. Until it arrives I will crochet. 😀
Thank you for the beautiful “spring” photos! Your piece looks amazing, hung in it’s new home, and I don’t think it looks too low, as it ties in with the table very well.
Love your blog, as I get so many laughs from it. Thank you for that too!
Kathy
So well deserved…it’s a fab blog.
your pond “picture” is simply awesome! It looks fabulous mounted and in place. I too love the nature photos you share,
Congratulations and I have to say that you would not believe it is knitting. I bet you will get a lot of visitors being surprised when they see it close up. Fabulous.
Your knitted artwork is stunning.
Go get outside…I am here knitting/crocheting as we got 5 more ins of snow last night (New Jersey USA). It also won’t get above freezing for the next few days…sigh.
Am getting very tired of seeing daffodils and snowdrops in English gardens…my daffs will appear in April.
So over winter…
Really beautiful. Now that it’s hung, look how the pike has found a circle of underwater grasses to swim through! It comes alive even more. A million visits? Of course, that makes complete sense for a spot-on blog. Congratulations from a very appreciative reader 🙂
Congrats! And thank you for the flowers. I am still looking out at two feet of snow so they are most welcome. I love reading your blog.
Great Pictures
Your panel is simply beautiful. I did wince at the thought of firing staples into it so casually! Such a clever way of mounting it.
Your garden makes me nostalgic for spring in England. Here in Cape Town we are sweltering in temperatures in the 30’s, longing for autumn.
Love reading your blogs! They always cheer me on a wet windy morning on the Isle of Man! Your knitting panel looks amazing especially place over your beautiful piece of furniture! Keep the blogs coming and congratulations on your readers numbers- so well deserved ????
Congratulations on becoming a millionaire. 😉 I expect, stitch-wise, you are probably a trillionaire by now. The knitted panel looks fabulous. Perhaps your next project could be a knitted panorama of your beautiful spring garden.
Love the pictures of your beautiful flowers. We are about 4 weeks or so behind you. We are looking forward to at least some flowers here in town soon.
Oh Phil, this looks even more stunning on the wall. You are a creative genius… ❤️
Congratulations on your million! And surprise chocolate 😀
Would love to subscribe to your site BUT it’s not letting me, my email address is patriciaviviano59@gmail.com, could you check it out to see if there is a problem with the site. Thanks for all your beautiful work.
Eek, I’m sorry this has happened. Um, I’m not sure my meagre techie skills are going to be up to this. I’ll see what I can do. Give me a day or so……… (And thank you for your kind words.)
But quick question, have you checked your spam folder for the ‘confirm’ email?????