Thinking and pondering

It seems I've caught the blogging bug! Smallest (Bella) and Biggest (Pete) are asleep having naps as we've had another restless night. However, as it was my turn to stay in bed this morning and they were a noisy pair it's given me time to think and ponder. I've come up with the following ideas:

• steampunk: knitted fingerless mittens with cogs woven in. My fab book on knitting has some gorgeous lacy knits in it and I thought they would be rather fab.
• knitted wire. Nothing new here but would be fab if I can give it a steampunk twist. A knitted brass wire hat would be fab!
• knitted medieval hats: I've got to spin the wool first, and for as much authenticity as possible I should spin our rare breed  fleece on my drop spindle as it spins differently to on a wheel. I want to make Pete one first. I'll need wooden double ended needles that are rather fine as it seems from the research I've done the knitting was very fine. I then need to wet felt/full the hat once it's done. I want to try doing a "henin" (the one that looks like an upturned flowerpot) and see if that works as it would stay on my head a lot better!
• mobiles based on nursery rhymes: in multi-media, so knitted, crochet, felted and sewn. I got a needle felting kit for Christmas that I haven't used a massive amount as I caught the knitting bug (plus it's easier to knit when Bella is up, I don't trust her around a felting needle!)
• Pete came up with an idea for the tickle spider, that is add three legs that are joined to the thumb. Only trouble is I'd have to add at least the base of the fingers on the glove. I think having the legs separate from the fingers gives more ease of movement. I could do different bugs too and make hats to go with them!

Stafford Castle as seen from Doxey Marshes, just over the road.
I'd have almost this view from my bedroom except a tree has grown in the way!

View from the castle on a clear day across to the Wrekin near Telford, Shropshire.

My favourite view of the castle, seen from Billington Bank to the west of Stafford.
You can see the traffic on the M6 Motorway, you can see the castle from there, but it is a blink and you'll miss it if you don't know what you're looking for.
My Nan lived in Haughton,, a village about 4miles outside Stafford, for many years and this was the view on the way home.
The street lights on Castle Bank would look like a Swan's neck at night and the castle would be basking in a faint golden glow.
Growing up next to this it's no wonder I ended up being passionate about history and becoming a re-enactor!

I'm off to see my parents today and as it's a wonderful day I may, if we have time, go up the castle. It's  an amazing place and I'm so lucky to have grown up next to it. It's given me so much inspiration and let me day dream as well as enjoy the nature up there over the years. It's one of my favourite places. The weather is gorgeous today so we might be able to see past Telford and the Wrekin across to Welshpool and the surrounding hills. You can just about see Birmingham when it's this clear and up to Leek as well. If it's hazy we can have a nose at the reconstruction of the castle walls. Last time we went up there were stone masons there mending the walls as they had started to become a potential hazard. I may get some more ideas while we're up there, whether it's from the seclusion of the wood, the amazing vistas or the warmth of the sun is anyone's guess, but I always leave there feeling calm and rejuvenated.