Winter walking

I'm actually a pretty big fan of winter, especially when it is crispy cold and sunny or, even better, snowy.  But not everyone feels that way  - Emma at Silverpebble and MrsThriftyhousehold are trying to banish the winter blues by holding a Making Winter week at the beginning of each winter month.  Mrs Thrifthousehold is cajoling Emma into having fun this winter.....today there's a post about how to make pinecone firelighters which I'm definitely planning to try (I've admired them in shops but not been able to bring myself to spend all that money on a few pinecones)

I thought I'd join in with what makes winter work for us. 
And one of the best things, I think, for blowing away winter cobwebs is a walk on the beach.

Beaches don't get muddy unlike pretty much everywhere else (unless of course its a perfect snowy or frosty winter day).  Having said that the kids don't tend to come back dry and I'd never take them to the beach in good clothes.........but that's perhaps just my children, they aren't really to be trusted to stay clean and dry anywhere (which is, mostly, fine by me and really what I think they should be like - altho' it would be nice to be able to rest the washing machine every now and then).

This is Gullane beach last Sunday.  It was a really overcast with a heavy, threatening sky which, surprisingly, held off the whole time we were out.

I guess its not much good if you don't live near a beach.  We're really lucky here in East Lothian, we have loads of wonderful beaches within 10 miles of our house (and we have woods and hills nearby too - its pretty good living here if you like being out).

Sea buckthorn really brightens up the coastline.  The orange berries stand out against the silvery muted leaves.  They are edible but aren't a favourite with the birds so tend to be around most of the winter unless there's a long hard spell.

 The dogs like it too!

Knitting is such a classic wintry activity.  Its not really my forte but I am getting better gradually and am persevering and managing to teach myself.  I've been using this book to help me with stitches and techniques and it certainly explains things in a way that I can understand (and has some lovely patterns too).  I love yarn - when I find some with a texture I like I find it very hard to resist.  At the moment (started last winter, I have to confess) I'm working on a little cardigan for Katie - and had better hurry up before she gets too big for it.  especially since I'm really not sure what size it will be - gauge etc is a bit beyond me.  Its from this book which has some really simple patterns.  The hat on the front cover sold it to me - isn't it fabby?.....I have persuaded my mum to make one for Islay for her Christmas!  I'm using wool bought from Raystitch  - it is Louisa Harding Thistle, a very soft merino/alpaca mix which seems just perfect for baby skin.

I'm dreadful about getting sidetracked and starting new things if (or really 'when' as its always happening) I see something that I like.  So, not surprisingly, I have some more gorgeous yarn on the go.  This is a Rowan wool/cotton mix which I found in a charity shop.  I'm not much of a bargain hunter - lack the patience sadly - but do occasionally strike it lucky.  So, instead of sensibly focusing only on knitting, I'm trying to learn to crochet too.  I found the perfect tutorial requiring only one stitch.  Its the Kelly scarf from One Flew Over.  If I'm lucky I may be wearing it next winter!  Ideally I would have liked to make one or two more as Christmas presents but, really, there's no way that's realistically going to happen.

What fits the 'Making Winter' category for you?  There's some lovely pictures in the Making Winter flickr group pool.