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Lovely soft light in the flat last night, after a hot day. It's a treat having light until gone 10pm.

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Our walks have been beautiful lately, in warm, bright sunshine that makes the leaf canopies at the side of the river glow greenly. Today we saw a huuuge grey heron, sitting on the old tree trunk that's lodged in the rapids. He was very scruffy -- really long and straggly beardy-bits were all over the place. I wished I had my camera as he was sitting very picturesquely in front of a lovely calm bit of the river with the red-brick bridge behind. But I didn't, so here's a drawing instead. I was encouraged by this woman, Sarah, who I recently met -- she thinks we should all draw some little thing in our life each day.

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I heard a very beautiful poem read this week, by David Kinloch, from his collection Finger of a Frenchman (2011). It imagined the life of Esther Inglis (1571-1624), a Scottish calligrapher, miniaturist, and embroiderer. The poem was as delicate and carefully structured as the pieces that Inglis made, and was very moving -- as was the poet's commentary on it, talking about how she gestured at authorship, when words were considered male and images female. She produced very exquisite, tiny volumes of pious writings (most notably her productions of the Psalms) to try to sell to patrons (not hugely successfully -- of course she died penniless), illustrating and stitching around the letters. It really was gorgeous, as you can imagine from these images (all images are from the Folger Shakespeare Library, which holds some of Inglis's pieces). I love the way she has written, in her delicate hand, 'written and limd by me, Esther Inglis' -- such a poignant leap into the future, akin to Robert Browning shouting his name at the end of the one recording there is of him reciting a poem. Apparently, this is also the first identified Scottish self-portrait.

All images: Folger Shakespeare Library

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Everything lovely and green today, as the sun came out at last.

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A small pile of knitted dishcloths, made from Lion Brand yarn (as suggested by knitting expert friend, Sara). And the hare that lights our dinners has been joined by a French Bulldog.

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I went to a really inspiring and properly engaging symposium a couple of weeks' ago on wool. The speakers were so passionate about sheep it was almost moving, at least for me as I was remembering much loved uncles on the farm when I was little. It's a fascinating industry and one that is in part a concern (tragically, they've stopped teaching knitting in school in the Shetlands -- a real crime) and in part a hope (recognition and appreciation is strong, and growing). Oliver Henry from Jamieson & Smith, the yarnmakers from Shetland, was a wonderful speaker (great accent -- almost Scandinavian) -- and knew so much. Not least about how to present his wares: "Stick to what you know. Tell the story" (my employers could learn so much, were they not too philistine to ask). Here is a wool clip, and the Three Sheep Logo, which defines Shetland yarn. The yarn itself is quite robust -- it would be so warm for a jumper, but you'd need a soft vest underneath. The colours are gorgeous.

Here also a clipping from this pair of socks (excellent pattern from Purl) that I knitted for my mother earlier in the year. Almost impossible to take a good photo of these for some reason. And also slightly unfortunately reminiscent of the army cadets as it turned out (why didn't I see that coming when I chose the colour?!). But she loved them, which is very gratifying.

First two images are from Jamieson & Smith.

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Just a couple of little details from the new place -- and to show some Beth Carter love. Magical and mythical.

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Sentimentality alert: I did a birthday tea a couple of weeks' ago for doglet (yes..) and her co-owner as they both have April birthdays. I made the cake to be half-chocolate and half-carrot when cut (their respective favourites). I painted a Russian doll set to look like us. Sort of. If you are going to paint a Russian doll to look like your partner it's helpful if they have no hair -- it's very pleasing to paint over the dome with nice, smooth pinkish paint. In reality he is much more handsome than his rambler-looking avatar.

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This is my first post from our new home. We will now share two spaces, either end of the same road. I'm very happy. Here is one of the rooms (looking out to our shared garden -- this will be the view from my workroom) and the lovely blue sky and blossom on the little walk between the two points.

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It's voting day.












* Seen in Savannah's occupy demonstration.