(no subject)

[pensnest]

I went to Fibre East with friends yesterday, and had a very agreeable time despite the excessive heat. (I felt very sorry for some of the stallholders.) It's basically a market for spinners, knitters and crocheters—not the place to go for regular yarn, but definitely the place for something a bit fancy.

The stall which captured my attention most successfully—OH GOD THE YARN OH MY GOD—was easyknits.co.uk. I was looking - among other things - for something with which to double-knit a scarf for my Boy which will incorporate the words inscribed on the One Ring (in Elvish, natch). Flame colours on one side, black on the other. Well, I found my flame colour. The complementary black is a shade called... Shelob (take a look at their yarn colours!). When I explained what I wanted to the vendor, he got very excited.

We had a very civilised day, taking it sensibly and breaking for coffee and then for a picnic under a handy tree—with four women of sensible age, a picnic is a well-provided affair, with mini pork pies and sausage rolls and carrot sticks and cheese and biscuits and pate and tomatoes and falafel and dips and lashings of ginger beer alcohol-free Mojitos and strawberries and macaroons and cupcakes (which we saved for later). Also, proper plates, glasses and cutlery, napkins, plastic bags for the rubbish, and even wet wipes for afterwards.

And I got something in each of the yarn categories I was seeking, and only one skein that wasn't on the list (Deeply Wicked: Autumn Glow from easyknits, because I am predictable), so I did well. It probably helps that the stall with the *amazing* buttons was not there this time. Still. A good day.


I mentioned my lilies a few days ago. The yellow ones in bed with the ferns and hostas (which have been ravaged by the famous Hertfordshire Trampolining Slugs, alas) were mightily in bud a few days ago...



and they bloomed like local sunshine.

yellow lilies

The pink ones out front are taking their time, and have apparently decided not to bloom all at once, but to spread out their bounty, which is fine with me. Today's selection:




And before I forget, some unusual visitors in the back garden.



I don't know what they are—some sort of game bird, plainly, but I don't know which—but they visited for two or three days, very placidly.

Comments

[dine]

your lilies are v.v. beautiful!

[pensnest]

The yellow ones have been glorious, but are starting to fade. Still, there are more pink ones in store!

[nopseud]

Lovely flowers!

And those are Red-legged Partridge. Do you have anywhere near you that people shoot? At this time of year they might well have been bred for a shoot and just been released.

[pensnest]

Partridge, eh? That doesn't surprise me - I don't recall ever hearing fusillades of shots around here, but I'm sure you're right that they have been bred to be shot, and randomly escaped. Aside from anything else, they showed only mild interest when I was anywhere near them.

[nopseud]

Hopefully they will have the sense to stay in the gardens of Hemel Hempstead, and not fly home!

[pensnest]

Indeed, yes! They haven't been here for a few days now, so who knows. We do occasionally see a pheasant roaming around between here and St Albans, too.

[chalcopyrite]

Ooh, yarn. \o/

The lilies are gorgeous. I hope the pink ones keep going for a while!

Partridges are very cute. I had no idea they were so small.

[pensnest]

The yarn was very, very pretty. Glorious colours, and exceedingly strokable.

I'm glad to have the birds identified. I'm not strong on birds!

[rikes]

Wow, the lilies look amazing!

[pensnest]

I did manage to capture them in their full glory, I'm glad to say! The yellow ones are fading already.

[(Anonymous)]

those lilies are gorgeous! i haven't been on a picnic for ages! i need to get out more and enjoy this gorgeous weather while we still have it.

[kira-j.livejournal.com]

that was me lol

[pensnest]

We have had quite the run of good weather - it's been mostly hot since Camp, and that was more than a month ago. Picnics are fun!

[turps]

You lilies are beautiful! Especially the yellow ones, so vibrant and lovely.

[pensnest]

They really were like little pieces of sunshine - of course, they're fading now.

[watervole]

I've always loved lilies and yours are beautiful.

[pensnest]

I'm a big fan of bulbs, and the lilies have all come up beautifully this year.

[turlough]

Why did you link to that company?! They have so many pretty yarns. And they do international deliveries. I want to order everything and I have no money :-)

Your lilies are fantastic! So gorgeously vibrant and happymaking.

Such cute little partridges.

[pensnest]

I *know*! I was held captive in their stall for so long, stroking things and cooing to myself... they have a dark blue called 'It's Bigger On The Inside', fyi. Heh. Yes, the guy is definitely a geek.

[sperrywink]

Glad you had such a good time.

ANd wow, your lilies are gorgeous!

[pensnest]

The yellow ones are past it now, but they were stunning a few days ago, really gorgeous in the sunshine.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a lovely outing. Your lilies are quite lovely!

[pensnest]

It's a shame they fade so fast - the yellow ones are past their best now. Still, there are plenty of buds left on the pink stems.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

You're giving me a serious case of garden envy!

[pensnest]

I seem to be in a gardening phase - helped considerably by the satisfaction of garnering vegetables from the back garden to put into meals right away. Beans and a weapon-sized courgette yesterday!

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

That sounds like the perfect day! And ooooh those lilies are beautiful! The pink ones are really lovely.

(hertfordshire trampolining slugs?!?!)

[pensnest]

See, the hostas are quite large and tall and their leaves are well off the ground, yet riddled with holes so that it's clear the slugs must have eaten them. I figure the slugs have been cheating, using trampolines to get up there...

[starturtle0977.livejournal.com]

Fibre East sounds amazing! I wish there was a similar event here. I love being able to see the different yarns and of course touch even though it increases the dangers of spending more money than budgeted.

And your garden is beautiful!

[pensnest]

The yarn is very tempting! I managed not to go over the top, but I do have as-yet-unknitted skeins from last year, and probably the year before... shows like this are such a good way of getting hold of that *special* yarn. I think everybody goes around stroking everything. My first year, I petted some 'baby camel and silk' for so long that I figured I really ought to buy it. We had a relationship.

[starturtle0977.livejournal.com]

I'm familiar with having unknitted skeins! LOL! But if you don't indulge, you'll kick yourself later. And thankfully, yarn keeps well ;) You have to touch! The fibres out there are just so special. I know my grandmother didn't have yarns like this to choose from so I'm thankful :) When you spend so much time into some of the projects, its good to have a relationship before you start ;)