Three Days in Spain

A sign with my name on it
the warmest welcome from strangers
acres of almond blossom
citrus trees laden with fruit
wide skies of sunshine
bathed in light
red earth
endless pines, heavy with cones
Gaudi curves
a house overflowing with yarn
a room with a view
a single jasmine flower placed into my cupped palm
a fruit fiend's paradise
haggling in the market
a cat named Goya
stolen siestas
generous hospitality
a huge paella
a parrot who can squawk the theme tune to Bridge On The River Kwai
an Arab household as Egypt finds her voice
footsteps running through the house, exultant cries, 'He's gone!  He's gone!'
sitting by the pool in the fading light, feet dangling in the water
evenings spent with wool in my lap and a crochet hook
an intermittent background of Al Jazeera
centuries-old olive trees
lemon ice-cream
the beautifully designed finca
a marble staircase with the smoothest, worn, wooden handrail
oranges, grapefruit, clementines for the picking
delicious soups and a very special salad
modelling knitwear for a photoshoot
mint tea
the strangers who are now dear friends.

A Tough Job

I'm in Spain! In a house filled with yarn (and I mean filled with yarn!).

I'm here at the invitation of a lovely lady called Amal who's a fabulous fibre artist. She also happens to own an idyllic retreat house which I'm checking out for possible future escapades.

Please don't pity me, basking in the sunshine on your behalf....plucking oranges and grapefruit fresh from the trees.....eating lunch on the terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. No, no, no, don't feel sorry for me!

It is, as they say, a tough job. And yes, somebody's gotta do it. :)

P.S.  If you're on Ravelry, check out Amal's work (artknitsbyamal).

A Good Reason to Come to The Magic of the Moors Retreat: To Meet Joss

Personally speaking, I think this is reason enough to traipse half way around the world.  But then I’m a tad biased. 

I can guarantee, however, that someone (other than me) will be ecstatic to have you here.  And will welcome you with glee.  And will gladly be your companion as you roam about the moors.

He’ll introduce you to the joys of chasing grouse.  And sniffing for rabbits.   And fishing in the pond.  And rolling in the heather.

He knows all the paths so you’ll never get lost.  And he’s also pretty good at posing for photos if you’re short of a model.

Now tell me….how can you possibly resist?

Rooted in Place: The Magic of the Moors runs from August 15th-20th, here in the Pennine hills of Yorkshire.  You can find more information and register here.

On Show

Eeeeek!  Guess what? 

I have photos in an EXHIBITION!!!  Me!  The girl who - until a couple of years ago - NEVER took pictures.  Who snaps away now only because she compulsively can’t help herself, not because she has any grand ambitions to be a photographer.

Yet there they are.  Three pictures in a real, live, grown-up exhibition.  Which makes me feel….well, dead chuffed!

The exhibition, ‘Endings and Beginnings’, is at the Love Keighley Gallery and runs until 23rd February.  You’ll find the gallery in the Airedale Centre, Keighley, West Yorkshire.

My Latest Obsession

Remember the Hipstamatic photos?  I’m still taking them.  By the dozen.  Those and other iPhone app-driven pictures.

And, for a while there, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the resulting deluge of images.  But no longer!

Enter Instagram.  Since this arrived on the scene (or materialised in my consciousness), I have a ready outlet for my daily snap-happiness.

If you’re as yet unfamiliar with IG (as it’s known), it’s a kind of Twitter for photo addicts.  A never-ending stream of photos to wallow in; you follow the photographers (or, more accurately, iPhoneographers) of your choice.

If you already post to IG and I haven’t yet discovered you, leave your username in the comments below so I can track you down.  And if you want to follow me, I am - of course - dixonhillgirl.