Welcome, new follower!

I posted a picture yesterday of myself and some blackthorn. That wasn't me, it was Helen. It did occur to me that I was looking unusually well but I didn't follow through on the thought. Poor Helen went to a dress shop she likes, here in Edinburgh, the other day – thinking ahead to The Wedding – and was told that one of the things she fancied was “very Judy Dench”. She doesn't deserve this treatment.

(It's not that we don't extravagantly admire Judy Dench. It's just that she's a full generation older than Helen.)

Trees

Among the trees we have planted in our 50 years in Strathardle, are four family commemorative ones down the commonty. The Rachel-and-Ed tree, an abies koreana, was put in to mark their 40^th birthdays, now some time in the past. Its party trick is blue fir cones.

But according to my Tree Book, it has only put on a full-scale show once before, in 2004. Taken together with the sunshine and general sense of wellbeing and keen awareness of an accelerating decline, I wondered if God was trying to tell me something. There won't be many more such weeks. Helen says I have been saying that for the last 20 years.

Every year, ideally during the Games weekend, I take pictures of those trees with the children from the corresponding family. It doesn't always work. Often the available children have to be spread around at random among the trees. But last week I did remember that Helen's family won't be here for the Games this year, so I took their picture early.

Their tree is a pinus nigra, planted to commemorate the little life of the oldest boy, Oliver, who died in infancy. It developed ominous brown patches last year, but seems a bit better this.

Knitting

Yesterday was a Normal Day, the first in a while, and I got back in the saddle. The final rank of Yowes now have faces. If I can maintain this pace, three rounds a day, I'll finish the centre of the Rams and Yowes blankie in another week and still have two months for the edging. I am assuming, as I have said before, that knitting with one colour will be quicker and much pleasanter. If not, I'll have to finish off with a brief edging like the one Kristie found for me on Ravelry. The centre is looking very good, despite my grumbles.

And three rounds leaves time at the end of the evening for a bit of Unst Bridal Shawl edging.

Back to Strathardle

Helen sent some of her pictures yesterday. She aspires to be as good as Kate Davies. I think she's pretty well got it. I didn't go on any of the expeditions.