We try, we really do.  At present there is a plethora of planets visible in the night sky, most of them around or shortly after sunset - Venus (doing duty as the Evening Star), Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.  Oh, and the waxing moon.

The skies have been clear the past few sunsets and we've gone out to look.  Alas, there are the 'ahses in ( Read more... )

So, Dear Stargazing Reader, apparently the things to look upwards for in the next few days are i) the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower, dust from Halley's Comet, which will peak on May 5-7th this year, ie: the next couple of nights.  The best time to view the shower, suggest those In The Know, is just before dawn, which, these days, is, around here, ( Read more... )

Apparently the thing to look for in the heavens at the moment is a conjunction of Venus and Saturn.  This is currently occurring in the east before dawn.  So should you be up before 7:30am and have clear skies to the eastward, Dear Reader, it might well be worth a look.  Apparently this morning Venus and Saturn appeared about 1° apart.  Tomorrow ( Read more... )

First thing - the Paul Hollywood recipe Lemon Drizzle Cake was a hit, light and crumbly inside, I used wholemeal flour as I often do, and well flavoured of lemon ( Read more... )

Right, an American knitting (and other crafts) organisation has twice gotten it wrong in as many days.  So here is my guide to pouring, and poring, because they are different ( Read more... )

The sky was clear around sunset last night too, so I went and had a quick star and planet gaze.  They're all still there.  It was still chilly.  I mentioned yesterday that Canada is having it Seriously Cold, so some Canadians have headed south to where it is warmer.  Stephanie, aka the Yarn Harlot, and her Mum are two, they're currently enjoying ( Read more... )

So yesterday was alternately clear, bright and sunny and raining.  Around sundown it was clear, so I went outside to have a look at the sky and lo! There was Venus doing it's duty as evening star, well up above the 'ahses, but the sky was still too bright for Mars to show up.  Back indoors for half an hour or so then try again.  This time there was ( Read more... )

So, Dear Reader, did you get to see the Venus/Mars/New Moon conjuction this weekend?  Friday evening, when it happened, it was raining here.  Clahds in between, strike one!  Saturday evening it was clear, had been all day.  I forgot to look, strike two!  I set a reminder for yesterday evening, then cancelled it as, you've guessed it, it was raining ( Read more... )

So, Dear Reader, did you get to see the Venus/Mars/New Moon conjuction this weekend?  Friday evening, when it happened, it was raining here.  Clahds in between, strike one!  Saturday evening it was clear, had been all day.  I forgot to look, strike two!  I set a reminder for yesterday evening, then cancelled it as, you've guessed it, it was raining ( Read more... )

It started sunny today, and it's been warmer this week.  My aran weight, wool and alpaca, cardigan has been feeling a tad warm and prickly at times.  So today I put on the yellow/peach/green/purple chunky (wool/acrylic) cardigan.  It's better in the front room - warm due to solar heating, however here in the second coldest seat in the house it just ( Read more... )