More black tank top...

This photo shows the nice fitted shape, but not the colour. Anyway so glad it is finished. Knitting with black is not something I will repeat. Spurred on to finish it as I am waitng for my Marion Foale yarn to knit a pattern that was featured in Woman's Weekly a while back. I have been trying to find a suitable substitute, without success (and the kind folks at the Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns Discussion forum were so helpful on this), but in the end decided to treat myself to the 'proper' yarn, as I hope this will be an heirloom sweater.

The sun has re-appeared today thank goodness; the weather has been pretty grim, although nothing like as bad as the UK.

C'est terminee!

Determination won through and the black silk wool tank top is finished. This photo on the dummy shows the colour well - but not the shape....

Lush lavender and bees

Our lavender has been magnificent -- I have never seen so many bees of all kinds. We are particularly fascinated by the humming bird bees with their large probes; they are all enjoying the nectar. the climbing rose has a second flush of flowers too.

Warm evenings in Gensac...

Smokey's regular evening look out post (he sometimes sleeps on the job!)

Tres jolie!

I have been a bit of of a knitting traitor and the black tank top has been laid aside while I did this quick crochet cardigan in Rowan 4ply from a Sirdar pattern. it was meant to have a crochet flower on - but I have skipped that. Keep things simple! I have a pair of well loved linen trousers in the same shade and I think with a contrasting cami this will look rather good.

Mind you the weather here has been pretty cool, wet and blustery til recently and I have been indoors a lot trying to get the website functioning again.

There is also a plum glut to deal with (not our tree - too young) but at a friend's house. I have made a plum sauce which is great to cook or serve with duck apparently. Next week the Mirabelles will be ready - they will be for bottling I think.

Our veggies are coming on a treat. The Monty Don report this week:

Radishes (3rd lot)
Salad leaves (3rd lot)
First tomato today
Baby cucumbers
Baby melons
Baby aubergine
Chilli ripening
Picked two lots of beans (some French/some young haricots)
Figs formed
One lot of grapes formed.....

My first wool sales came in this week. So pleased! And I got a 'parfait' on Friday from Madame in La Poste for my labelling and packing - a gold star equivalent!

Am I bovvered????????

Why am I not more like Smokey? Master of relaxation.

Getting the business set up has been a trial. Determination has seen us through the notorious French beaurocracy; can anyone tell me why the Chambre de Commerce insisted on a marriage certificate issued in the last 3 months before I can register Alba Yarns? Someone must know. £23 later and a what is to me a useless document, it is done. And C'est la vie Francais. Dinnae let it get yee doon as Oor Willie would say....

The website has also been taxing my grey matter, trying to find what should be an easy way to convert to Euros proved tricky (Isabel where are you?), however cracked it I think and now need to sort out postage. And why did the bank print my maiden name on my business account despite being told not to. Another visit there needed. As a further test of the slumbering grey matter I have listed a few things on Ebay in France. I feel a need to sell some wool........