Bits and Pieces

Yes...I'm still making wrist warmers - I've got over 40 pairs of them listed in my etsy shop now. That does sound like a lot and it probably is really, but once I start doing the summer markets and am selling them in Lucy's shop in the village hopefully I will be grateful that I've been able to build up some stock.

Every single year though, I never have enough of them by Christmas so I'm going to try harder this year -- they always are my most favourite things to make anyway so it's no big hardship and it helps use up some of the yarn in my cupboard at the same time.

These two pairs are made using some of the yarn I've bought most recently -- on our holiday in Iceland! It's made by Schoppel and is a German brand that I'd first come across while we were on holiday in Germany.

I've just been googling it and have found an Irish stockist --  http://www.theconstantknitter.ie/ so I hopefully will be able to get some more at some stage in the future (it was VERY expensive to buy in Iceland)

I've been feeling very under the weather and sorry for myself lately as I've picked up a flu-y cold that just seems to linger on and on: I have a day where I feel nearly 'normal' and think I'm over it and then the next day I can be feeling horrid all over again.

I've been trying to take it easy on my days off work so I haven't been out and about with my beach cleaning - I did go for a short walk along the local beach here in Waterville last week though - just to get some fresh air and I collected some shells. I LOVE the detail in these little flat top-shells.

 Then I'd been notified about a stranded whale over on Valentia Island so Peter and I headed out to take a look. It was a minke whale and had been sighted floating in the water off Slea Head (near Dingle) recently. As part of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group strandings scheme, I was able to take a small skin sample and record the stranding.

 And now something more cheerful - the other night I came home from work to find that Peter had brought me these gorgeous soaps! What a lovely treat :) I love little surprises!