So Much to Tell You!

Well, I was feeling quite relaxed after our trip to Prague, and now I've just jotted down a few things that I want to remember to blog about, and would you believe there is just too much for one post! So I'm going to shamelessly serialise it like a cheap Victorian novel and you'll just have to bear with me for a few days :)

So, first, obviously we've made it back safely from Prague - which was absolutely gorgeous, although fairly grey. It's such a romantic city, no matter what the time of year. I've posted a few photos towards the end of this in case you are interested to see some of the sights of Prague! Some highlights included: flying Swiss Airlines and discovering that the complimentary chocolate that they provide on all their flights is GORGEOUS and definitely not to be missed - see, a helpful tip even if you're not going to Prague LOL; the medieval Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square (or variously Atomic Clock or Astrological Clock, if you are my husband and have difficulty with names); gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous food - we ate so well, and only got away with it because we walked for hours on end during our stay; Charles Bridge; the view over the city and the wonderful quiet solitude on the grounds around the Strahov Monastery; but mainly the chance to spend a quiet and happy few days with H celebrating our 2nd anniversary.

And it wouldn't be a holiday without a bit of stitching stuffed in my rucksack now would it?? Of course it wouldn't! I took along a simple chart in one colour, and even managed to finish it! This is JBW Designs' Christmas Sampler Motif on 36ct Examplar linen from Lakeside Linens using Crescent Colours' Apple Fritter floss (does anyone else wonder about the misnomer 'Apple Fritter' for a maroon/dark cherry coloured skein of floss? One of life's imponderables I suppose).

As I mentioned before we left, I was intending to put in a few stitches on Spanish Wine before we left, which I did do. I finished Band 2 in fact (with the grapes) and started Band 3 (the slim cross stitched band directly beneath it). I do so love this design, and I wish I could spend more time on it - that, however, would mean signing up for less exchanges. Such a difficult balance to strike!

I don't think I actually posted my goals for January - but I did have a small list of them, all of which I'm quite pleased to say I achieved! I'll post my February Goals in part 2 of this post.

January:

Stitch, finish and send SBEBB Winter House Exchange - Yes, I did this

Stitch, finish and send Hooked on Exchanging Scissor Fob Exchange - Yes, I did this (photos in Part 2)

Stitch an ornament with Leena - Yes, I did this (in fact I did 2!)

Stitch a gift, and start another - Yes, I did this, one is ready to go and the other is firmly started

Initiate a Crazy Exchange - Yes, I sent Virpi an exchange (photos in Part 2)

Carry on stitching Awake the Dawning Day - Yes, I spent one day on this

Carry on stitching Spanish Wine - Yes, I spent one day on this

Carry on stitching Paradigm Lost with the Snowbird SAL - Yes, I did this each week

Oh, and just before I go, one small piece of indulgence: despite my rigorous (yeah, right) attempts at sorting out my small stash acquisition tendency, I treated myself to a gorgeous new pattern today and linen for it as well - although it won't arrive until after it's formally released. It's Shores of Hawk Run Hollow by Carriage House Samplings and isn't it gorgeous!! (Photo courtesy of the Carriage House Samplings website)

Right, Part 2 of this post will be available in a day or two :) In the meantime, Happy Stitching, and enjoy the photos of Prague:

Astronomical Clock in Old Town Square

Charles Bridge - above, facing the eastern tower, and below, the view of the Charles Bridge from the next bridge over

Above - Prague Castle at night, and below, the main gates of the castle the next day. Below that, we managed to be just in time to catch the changing of the guard




Above: a typical street sign in Prague (incidentally, this street was the one in which Kafka was born, obviously subsequently renamed!). Below: trams are the main method of travel for Prazaks