The season of fluff

Tis the season of fluff again in Parma, I'd forgotten all about it since last year but now the air outside is again full of little wafts of fluff ( like a fluffier version of a dandelion clock but with no obvious seeds).

Presumably it comes from a tree and for a couple of weeks in spring there's loads of it blowing through the streets, but I've never seen a tree with the fluff still attached, you'd think a tree like that would be pretty noticable but evidently not. Still Luther loves to chase the little woolly tumbleweeds of it which accumulate in corners and roll down the street in the spring breeze.

Talking of natural wonders, have just discovered the Angelys pear. It some kind of winter hybrid, very fat, super juicy and comes which a little cap of red wax on the stalk, utterly delicious!

Tank cosy anyone?

Just had to mention GlittyKnittyKitty aka guerilla knitting central which is a truly fantastic repository of all sorts of knittedness. Check out the pink tank cosy and a heap of really rather lovely projects for those who want something a little more manageable. Not sure where the kittens come into it but then who cares...

Hat!

My first non scarf project! A very surprising success of which I am inordinately proud. It fits the small pretty well and somehow makes him look even more hobbity than usual. The major news this week is that I managed to walk-run 6k on Saturday, don't think I could have done it without the incentive of a proper egg and bacon breakfast as a reward afterwards. Yes indeedy my very own personal shopper has managed to find bacon - none of yr dappy pancetta nonsense for us - we have good old fashioned streaky!

Barbieri

On Sunday we went with Alessandra and Leah to see the new show by Teatro Necessario. A real treat combining street theatre clowning, great musicianship and some pretty impressive tumbling. Kept a full house of under fives and their minders enthralled for a good hour and a half - first time I've ever seen a walking brass section do the chair trick, lovely!

The joy of knitting!

I took up blogging in envy of my dear friend Juniper whose writing I always enjoy so much, now I have another occupation 'borrowed' from a friend. Luther's fairy godmother Em introduced me first to trapeze and now to knitting. I think that says something about the passage of time but its probably best not to dwell... Now I have a load of new sites to window shop at. I especially love these Peace Fleece needles.

Older, wiser?

A snowy birthday in Parma:

I got to spend my birthday afternoon at a five year old's birthday party in Divertlandia (hideous indoor softplay centre). Today's visit made extra special by the 'entertainment' featuring a bare chested, pot-bellied fire eater and his performing goat. We were going to cycle home but once outside discovered the city transformed....