April yarn ins and outs. Ouch

Oh my, today I have to report on my stash enhancements and it far outstrips the usage. For one reason and another I don't seem to have knitted much this month, now that is an untruth. What I have done is put the finishing touches to several projects that were started and almost finished in March.
I also dug out that sweater WIP and finished it, then there is the Snowflake sweater that I had to frog back due to clumsiness.

Anyhoo I am rambling, and in another little stroll off course I need to tell you that I have replied to comments on the last 2 posts.

Well enough of this procrastinating, thanks to the glory that was Wonderwool, (I am so going for both days next year) I put,  gulp, 
a total of 3,450 grams into stash. In my defence 1,950 grams was from Wonderwool and 800 grams was a kit for a gift.

But, including the WIP sweater I have only taken 2,100 grams out of stash. It hasn't all been knitted up but is on the needles or finished as in the WIP and some socks. I have only written 2 pairs of socks on my list of FO's this month and am sure that I made more, but hey ho not to worry. There are 2 sweaters on the needles and the Flax is almost down to the ribbing in the body, it will be finished this week.

I didn't post my March FO's so here they are.
7 pairs of socks
1 sweater, that was stolen asked for nicely by Francesca.
1 multi coloured Debut shawl
And of course I finished the crescent garter stitch shawl.

I have every intention to only have stash reduction next month, but as every knitter and crocheter will know that is so not set in stone.

The weather here is sunny with a breeze that just drops out of sight every now and then. I did some gardening yesterday so today is a take it steady and knit day.
Oh Oh Oh,
Such good news, there is a new knit and natter group starting up in the local Library, it is on Monday afternoon but as tomorrow is a Bank Holiday (Woop woop for the workers) I don't expect it to happen. But I will slip down and check it out just in case.
In fact the library has started a few different crafty days up and I will be giving them all a tryout, after all if you don't use it you may just lose it.

Ben is sprawled out beside me and the whole sofa is reverberating with his snoring so I am going to move elsewhere. I may just go and tidy round the kitchen. Dinner is all ready for the oven, I made a cauliflower and pasta cheese casserole. I added a head of roasted garlic to the mix, and yes I did peel all the cloves, I will probably just make a chopped salad to have with it.
Of course that means that there is a fair bit of washing up to do but tonight will be an easy ride, 2 dishes, 2 plates and cutlery. Nice.


                          TTFN                                             Pam

No tissues in sight.

Hellooooo, it's me!I am returned from the land of soggy tissues,vapour rub and bottles of medication that taste disgusting and (I suspect) do no good at all.

My sore throat turned into a rip roaring cold that departed as quickly as it arrived, thankfully.

I went out into the world today, just as far as the Post Office in my village store. It was an essential trip so that I could get the bags sent off, 1 each to Australia, Canada and the US and 3 to the UK.

I enjoyed parcelling them up and setting them off on their journeys, almost as much as I enjoy getting that rapataptap on the door from my Postie when I get a parcel. Happy post is always a treat.

I managed to do a little knitting yesterday and some more this morning, not on the lace work chart my brain didn't feel ready. I have made a start on the Flax Sweater from Tin Can Knits using Aran weight yarn. It is for the SO and when there is enough to see I will take a photo.
He chose the yarn, a 70/30% blend of acrylic and wool from King Cole in the Skye colour, a lightish navy with multicoloured neps. it is working up a treat and I will be ready to pick up the sleeve stitches by the middle of next week I think.

If I like the finished product as much as I like the WIP I will be casting on one for myself, possibly in 4 ply, and another for Francesca in Aran weight for her Birthday Bag.

The SO would like to try loom knitting, so I have just ordered a wooden loom and a book for him, there is a plethora of sock weight yarn for him to use. Part of me almost hopes that he doesn't take to it so I get a new toy to play with, we shall see.

I planted my seed potatoes today, I just grow first earlies in bags and tubs although when I shop next I may look for a small pack of  a main crop variety to fill a small corner.

The fruit trees are looking good all bar the cherry which looks dead, I will be checking it out later. If it is gone I will have it out and replaced with something else soon.

The washing has been blowing in the air for long enough, I am off to haul it in and think about a little ironing. 

                       TTFN                                       Pam

What a greedy girl.

I am quite embarrassed to show all my finds from Wonderwool, but here goes.

First on my list was Owl About yarn, it was lovely to see Zoe, from the Pins and Needles podcast, wearing her posh dress that she showed in the making.

I bought these lovelies as planned, stitch markers and had a good look at the yarn. It was all very tasty but I wanted to have a good look round before deciding what to buy.

My next port of call was Rosies Moments, I have bought yarn from her a couple of times and found two beautiful skeins of silky soft 4ply yarn there, and a little tin of plain round stitch markers.

The shine is the tin of markers, it would not photograph at all.

Then, after a good wander round I spotted these, on Moonlight Yarns stall. The multicoloured yarn had been knitted up into a shawl pattern and it literally stopped me in my tracks. It is called

Spatterdashette and is a paid for pattern on Ravelry, it is safely in my library now. It is a 2 skein pattern and I am going to knit the body of the shawl in the pale blue and the boarder in the patterned yarn but make it at least twice as deep.

More walking and looking, touching and maybe some drooling and I ended up here, Weavers Loft.

These are destined to be a shawl, the pattern is as yet undecided.

My companion and I were having a good look at all the yarns and she spotted these sock starter packs. well seeing her find just what she wanted made me get a bit closer and the lovely ladies made a mix of just the colours that I loved. I am not sure if they will be stripey socks or stripes in a garment, at 25 gs each there is plenty to play with.

We decided that it was time for lunch and started to wind our way through the halls, of course there were a few stops along the way. Then we spotted Blackbird Yarns, a long stall piled high with  Drops yarns.

I bought 200 grams of each of these colours. (After lunch we made our way back and I cleared the stall of the rest in both colours.)

200 grams of this pale yellow, almost Primrose, went into my bag, another shawl pattern.

By now I was on a roll and just went for it.

100 grams of this for socks for the SO. He does like bright colours.

This little lot is also for a shawl, The Arabian Nights, a free pattern from Drops, I saw it as a kit on another stall but it was £16, these 4 cost me £8:40. Bargain.

I did not spend all my cash, I could have spent 5 times and more quite easily but taking into consideration the stash I probably bought twice as much as I should have. 

But it is only yarn, it won't make me fat or drunk. It will give me loads of pleasure when I turn it into lovely things, many of which are destined to be gifts, and subsequently give pleasure to the recipients.

I know that I do not need to justify my actions but I like to make my plans clear. I hear too many podcasters saying how naughty they have been when showing all their purchases. I don't feel naughty just a bit greedy. I have no intentions of putting myself through the wringer, if I couldn't afford it I wouldn't have bought it. Simples.

On a different note I have a rotten sore throat and the start of a head cold, Boo Hiss.

On a better note Rufus is having a sleep over, he has started early and is snoring his head off on the sofa right now, as his owner left for Cardiff  at lunch time and will not be back until 12:00ish.

On a slightly shocking note we walked both the dogs this afternoon and out of a sunny, blue sky it rained and then snowed. The minute we got back I scooped the washing off the line and not a moment too soon as we had a ferocious hail storm, I half wondered if the windows would break.

Now I am going to drink my tea before it goes cold and settle down with my knitting.
I have earned a sit down, as well as 2 loads of washing done, dried and put away I made bread and a batch of marmalade today.

                  TTFN                                              Pam

Bleary of eye and weary of feet.

Ooher Missus, did I have a good day out. With all the bells and whistles.
We set off in a small convoy and arrived at Builth Wells showground in time to park in the first row. We had a quick leg stretch and "paid a visit to the necessary" before winding our way up to the entrance gate for  10 minutes or so waiting in the queue.

We made no plans, it was a given that we would bump into each other every now and then, and we did. I spent most of my time, wandering aimlessly or striding out with a goal in sight, with one of our group. We discovered that we share very many, far too many, interests in a myriad of crafts.

Although we did have a good look at the spinning booths and groups we were hooked by the weavers, particularly the Brinkley Loom Weaving on the Plant Dyed Wool stand. More research is about to happen on that particular front. 
The SO is happy to make a copy of the loom, cutting my expenditure by a considerable amount, he is also happy to make one for my companion.

I got everything on my list and much more besides I will be taking photo,s once my eyes are fully awake.

I did the draw for the giveaway last night just before I collapsed on the sofa with my knitting after a delicious dinner of spicy noodles and veg with lots of bamboo shoots and water chestnuts, two of my most favourite veggies.

In no particular order the winners are.

Julie, of KC's Court.
Vera, of The Threaded Lane.
Leisha.
Catriona.
Jackie, of The Land of the Living Skies. 
and last but not least....
Sheila, of Life's too short to iron tea towels.

Drop me a comment with your snail mail addresses and I will get them off to you asap. None of these will be published of course.

Photos will be up tomorrow, I did not take any at the show, the lighting was terrible and it was so busy that most shots would have shown the backs of shoppers heads and arms outstretched trying to grab something or other.

I made purchases from all of my destination stalls, gorgeous yarn from Rosies Moments, wonderful stitch markers and progress keepers from Owl About Yarn to name but two. 

We had a delicious lunch from No Bones Jones, a catering family team, who have vegetarian and vegan food to tickle the taste buds and satisfy the salivary glands. It was delicious, I did not make a pig of myself........well not till a little later when we stumbled upon a stall selling brownies with banana, peanut butter and sea salt. 
OMG I ate mine so fast I could hear my Granny saying "do you have to shovel that down like a workhouse kid?"

I am stopping here to get another brew on the go.

See you all tomorrow. It is the SO's birthday and we are off to look at wooden model kits, he's a bit of a fan of them. We may drop into a certain well known DIY shop to look at wood for a loom or two as well. he he.

                        TTFN                                           Pam

Too Late Ethel

Oops, would you look at the time. I am in bed ready to get some shuteye before an early start in the morning.

I am off to Wonderwool with some of the knit and natter girls, be still my beating heart. (not too still mind)

I completely forgot to do the draw,but I have got 6 bags ready, I am sorry but it will have to wait till tomorrow now, or possibly Monday if I am shattered or on a massive yarn high when I return home.
It has been a super duper summers day here, but the wind was a bit chilly on Ben's first walk. No coat required after 10:00 this morning and by 2:00 a parasol would have come in handy. It was T shirt weather.

I have made a list of what I want to look for, I have new batteries in the camera, which is in my bag. I have a sock on my needles for when I sit down for tea... Oh My There is an area called Coffee and Cake, swoon swoon. I just lurve cake.


I have printed off the floor plan and circled all the stalls that I must call at.

I have a calculator , to work out anything that I need to, yardage and so on. 

I have comfy shoes ready, tissues, Werther's sweeties (sugar free of course) a bag for purchases and a bottle of water.

Most importantly I have cash, the plastic is staying at home safe and sound.

So now all I need is some sleep, my alarm is set early enough for a shower and my clothes are laid out ready.

All that remains is for me to bid you all goodnight.

                  TTFN                                                Pam

Disaster Strikes

 I had a disaster this morning and am lamenting for a little while with some chocolate.

I was knitting away on my new jumper, the one with 2 charts, when it took on a life of it's own (or maybe I sat on the circular cord!) and it came off the needles #~**""!! Sooo after a bit of nearly tears and a hot strong cuppa I picked up the rats nest. Stitches had run every which way and I just ripped it back to a good spot and started picking up to find that 10 whole rows had gone. I don't care (well maybe I do a bit) it is only knitting and as the song goes "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". 

see me in the next strong man event.

Anyhoo, it is all done and set up for row 7 I just needed to step away for a little while. It will be easier this time as I found a line magnifier and it has arrived plus I now understand how the pattern is formed instead of just blindly following the charts.

I will be putting names in a hattish thingy later and pulling a few out so tomorrow I will publish winners and if they have blogs will let them know, if not they will have to contact me with their details. All my comments are moderated so no addresses will be published.

I am much better today but am still taking it easy, I do have washing on the whirly thing but after all pegging out is not arduous.

The weather is warm and dry but cloudy so I am certain that it will get dry. 

I found a new podcast to entertain me this morning, Woolly Elephant, run by a mother and daughter team a bit further North in the UK than me. I watched the first episode and will be having a bit of a binge later on.
 I may even make a rhubarb crumble and a drop of custard to enjoy with it. I have to listen to my body and it thinks that will hit the spot quite nicely.

Still excited about Wonderwool, I really need to chose a project and search for the yarn to make it. I don't want to just buy random skeins and then have to search for a pattern to match. One of the knit and natter girls is hell bent on finding the yarn for the Pavement sweater, I do like it but am not sure that it is far enough away from the Flax sweater that is on my list. I do have a couple of shawl patterns that I love...I will make my mind up at the last moment I am sure. If not I could be stretching my arms by a fair few inches. hehe.

Time for tea now and a little walk with Ben, he is loving all this couch potato time, I may have to call him chips or mash soon.

                  TTFN                                                    Pam

The Turn that stopped me.

I got up to a grey drizzle, almost a different world to yesterday.

After my usual cuppa, swiftly followed by another, and a little podcast watching, Relatively Crafty,  scooped my wits about me and got Ben out for his first walk. I went a bit early as I had planned to pick Jess up and show her where I get my wild garlic.

I was absolutely fine till I got back home, I got just inside the house and had what my Granny would call "a bit of a turn". I couldn't get my breath and just sat on the stairs feeling completely out of sorts. I got the SO to call Jess and cancel then made my way to the sofa.
And there I stayed until about 4:00 when I felt well enough to move about a bit. I slept on and off during the day and feel much better now.
This is the first bad day that I have had for a while and came out of the blue, I have decided to blame it on the shock of such a wonderful sunny day yesterday.

I have done a little knitting on the socks, another yarn that I am not in love with, but they are not for me so I will finish them.

On to something happy.

I have a small stack of project bags, some drawstring and some zippered. I also have some fabric that I washed, dried and ironed on Tuesday morning, that is clamouring to be made into something.

Until I move the bags I can not make anything else, so to cut a long story short, I fancy having a giveaway.

leave me a comment and I will find something hattish and someone to dabble around in it and pull a few names out. I will post anywhere in the world and there will be around half a dozen bags of various sizes. I will allocate them quite randomly so you may get a sock size or a sweater size.

I nearly forgot to tell you that I got some happy post, The Knitter's handy book of top-down sweaters by Ann Budd. I heard Tilly Trout praising it and decided that an early birthday pressy to myself was quite a good idea.

I will be taking it very easy for the next 2 days as I am off to Wonder wool on Sunday. I am really looking forward to it, my first yarn Feastival, and no that is not a typo, I fully intend to feast to my hearts content.

                     TTFN                                      Pam(greedy guts)

PS thank you for the sweater comments, I will look at it for a few days and see if I can learn to like it.

Sorry to whoever,s comment that i just clicked on to publish it has disappeared, if you repeat the comment I will endeavour not to lose it again.

No Gremlins after all.

It was just a total memory failure on my part, I completely blanked out taking the camera to the wool shop for photos of the windows.

My finally finished wip sweater, I loved it when I cast it on but now I am not so keen. I will wear it though, waste not want not.

I had intended to replace the sleeve cable with the lace pattern from the front but put that idea aside for the sake of speed.

Now for the window shots.

Easter in yarn.

A sample of some new yarns and garments knitted from them, such a good idea. It is great to see how a yarn looks in garment form, I 

have had a few disappointments over the years.

Knit and natter went well yesterday, we were low on numbers but not on chatter. Jess and Ivy came along and Sophie was there as well, once she woke up and started to move about Ivy was fascinated.

Dinner was a quick stir fry, I basically sliced everything from the salad drawer that was suitable and made a sticky sauce with soy, mirin and some maple syrup, with some thread noodles it made a very fast and tasty meal. There may have been a naughty trifle for pudding.

This morning the sun is shining bright and I have hand washing on the whirlythingamajig, I had an hour in the garden and had to come in for a cold drink. Once this is posted I will be going back out, it is far too nice to be indoors and there is far too much to do.

On that note I will wish you all a good day, wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.

                     TTFN                                                      Pam

PS, talk about pride going before a fall, I had to tink back 3 rows of my new knit as I had SSK,d when I should have K2TOG Right in the centre front yoke. DUH I am all caught up again now though.

Snowflakes and Gremlins, oh my.

The Gremlins have hidden my camera, I am in the Tidy up stage of knitting. The WIP sweater, duly photographed, has been blocked and is folded neatly in a drawer.
The "Posh" scarf is done and delivered, and properly enthused over.

All the odds and ends of yarn, Mmm nothing left from the scarf but 138 grams left from the sweater, have been put in the " One day I will make something from this lot" bag.

The patter has been filed along with the notes that I made.

I have treated myself to more yarn, and that also has been put in it's niche along with the patterns. More of that later.

I thought to myself, time to do a quick blog post, I'll just get the photos on the lappy. No camera to be seen, even though I had it in my hands last night just before going to bed. (better look in the bedroom soon)

As for snow, some of the new yarn is for the Snowflake sweater from Tin Can Knits, a paid for pattern. It has a lace yoke knitted from 2 CHARTS!!, my first charted sweater pattern knit in the round. it's a good job that I have umpteen stitch markers in different colours. I have knitted 1/3 rd of the yoke, in a soft purple, and the only problem that I have is focusing on the correct row to follow. My eyes like to wander a little, at the moment I am using two bookmarks to isolate my row. I need to find a proper clip on gadget that magnifies as well as blocks the adjacent rows, I will have a trip up the Amazon later.
The sleeves will be in the purple while the body of the sweater will be in Sand.

I was so pleased with my success that I have printed off the Knotty glove pattern by Julia Mueller, it is a free pattern on ravelry. I was watching Tilly Trout and she has knitted it up several times and that was recommendation enough for me. I haven't knitted gloves for a good few years, at least 15 and possibly more, and if all goes well it could become as addictive as socks.
Oh yes, I do have a pair on the needles, vanilla is the new black using a West Yorkshire Spinners  sock yarn from their Bird collection. Unfortunately I have lost the ball band and as it is deep stash have no memory of the name.

I did buy an attic 24 pack to make a bag and a cushion cover as my crochet mojo has started to nag at me. I just need to print off the pattern, or perhaps just make my own up as I go. Now that I think about it a lap blanket in that lovely chunky yarn may be the way to go. I'll get back to you on that.

If I find the camera I will get some photo,s and share.

It has been a mixed bag of weather over the past few days, bright sun, grey clouds, black clouds, cold wind and smeary drizzles. I haven't been in the garden for 3 days and doubt that I will get out today. I don't mind too much I have my knitting and some more "tidying" to do. Note, in this context Tidying is meant to cover stroking, oohing and ahhing and matching yarn to pattern. Along with a quick look at my fabric and patterns for various makes in the planning stage.

It has just occurred to me that tomorrow is knit and natter, these long weekends mess up my internal calendar even though I don't work any more. I will rephrase that to Even though I am no longer in paid employment, because of course I work. The house doesn't clean itself and dinner and bread don't magically  appear, oh for a bit of Hogwarts magic with dinner just showing up on the table.

Now I am in dire need of a cuppa, I hope that your weekend has been all that you wanted and that you all enjoy this last day of it to the full.

                   TTFN                                                   Pam

Woo Hoo, I managed it.

The cake that Jess made for me, isn't it magnificent. It smells even better than it looks.

My lappy had an automatic update and all has changed, now I have to find everything and learn all the changes. Anything that I can not figure out will be passed on to Francesca when she is here next. I will make do with what I can find on the dratted thing.

Today has been chilly, grey and windy, Ben was okay on his first walk but the second one was a different kettle of fish. He hunched down went just as far as was necessary and turned tail for home. I didn't complain as the wind was creeping into every gap in my clothing, my scarf just surrendered and shrunk with the onslaught letting a minor gale blow between scarf and skin. Brrrrrr.

I am knitting the neckband on my WIP sweater, once it is on the dummy I will endeavour to post a photo.  I need to get a pair of socks cast on, I couldn't understand why this WIP was taking so long  to get done, then realised that I had nothing else to work on for a change. At one point I looked at my hands and thought that any slower and I would be frogging rather than knitting.

I watched the latest podcast from Sew Sweet Violet this morning, very very early, and found 2 new ones to enjoy. Bumble Stitches and Tales From Cuckoo Land, I watched just enough to know that I would like them and subscribed. Then it was time to start the day with the first walk.

I made 2 loaves of bread, they smell fantastic, and am happy with how they turned out.

Once they are completely cold I will slice and freeze them, I may have to do a taste test of course, just in case. 

Dinner tonight will be the very last of my Maple Syrup roast Gammon with sweet potatoes baked in their jackets and some salad. I look forward to it and may have to make a little wholegrain mustard mayo to have with it.

I watched the massively hyped up final episode of Bones and felt that the door has been left open for a return, although perhaps with some cast changes.

I am still enjoying Elementary but think that Blindspot is being stretched a bit too far. I don't watch a huge amount of telly but like a bit of detective stuff and am loving the total fantasy of Grimm, whereas Once Upon a Time bored me rigid on the most recent series so I stopped watching.

Right now I have the telly on with reruns of ancient episodes of Floyd on Britain and Ireland, the food is so dated but Floyd is always chuckle worthy and I can listen without having to watch to enjoy it.

Wonders will never cease, now that it is too late to do any good, the sun is starting to gleam through the murk and it is brighter now than it has been all day. If it keeps it up I will be taking Ben out again for half an hour or so.

That's all for now, I want to get that neck ribbing done and set the sleeves in this afternoon. Tonight I will be casting socks on, I may try the Turkish cast on and knit toe up for a change. Wish me luck.

                        TTFN                                      Pam

Hell and set fire to it.

That is a direct quote from my Granny, it was uttered in ringing tones when some task or other would not go right.
I just said it 3 times, I have tried to transfer photos from camera to 'puter with no success. I will try again later....maybe ,or maybe I will use lots of naughty words and jump on the 'puter.

I was scooting round this morning, washing up and so on, eager to get out into the garden when there was a knock on the door.
Too early for the Postie I thought as I scuttled through, and it was Jess, bearing a gorgeous cake. Not just any gorgeous cake but a proper Easter cake, complete with Almond topping and 12 Almond icing balls for the Apostles. Jess, Will and Ivy are off to Wills parents for the festive weekend and I am overwhelmed that she found time to make a cake for me.
It is definitely a case of  "what goes round comes round" as the first job on my list was to pot up some Ladies Mantle plants for her garden. I also had some to pot up, for a forthcoming plant stall, for one of the knit and natter girls.
Job done and it is coffee break before I go outside again.

The day started bright and warmer than yesterday but has greyed over now and it looks and feels as though we maight ( I will leave that typo in, my brain said may and my fingers said might.) see some rain later.

I have just cottoned on to the fact that it is a double holiday this weekend (DUH) so have decided to do a shop later today. The roads will be mad and the shops will be heaving with peeps shopping madly for food and drink for garden parties and picnics.

I forgot last year and ended up abandoning my plans and made do with what I had until the Tuesday. I would do the same this year but I didn't shop for anything but fresh produce and dairy for the last 2 or 3 weeks. Ben,s food shelf needs replenishing and some of my staples are running lower than I care for. Plus just as importantly I need rubber gloves for the gardening. I am trying to look after my nails better, they are quite disgraceful right now, and aim to persevere with gloves at all times.

I think that,s all for now, my coffee mug is empty and I want to have at least another hour outside.

                              TTFN                                         Pam

Frozen Fingers and Droopy Lids

The temperature has plummeted and my circulation pump is a bit slow this morning so my fingers are rigid with cold and my eyelids seem to think that they have worked a double shift at hard labour. I almost need 2 matchsticks to prop them open.

I have managed a little knitting though, in short bursts while watching Tilly Trouts Podcasts. I have seen them all before but felt a wave of nostalgia for the Norfolk accent.

I am ensconced in the corner of the sofa with lap blanket and Ben to keep me warm, I did try the heating but it made me too hot. I think that a cup of tea is in my very near future while I work sporadically on those blessed sleeves.

I have decided to juggle my knitting plans around and make a couple of short sleeved tops next. I treated myself to some King Cole Smooth in sand yesterday at Debs shop and a pattern book with some amazing designs.
 I really wanted some brighter colours to mix in with it than Debs had so today I found 3 other colours on line and ordered them. Fingers crossed they will arrive by the weekend when the current sweater should be off the needles. I like my summer tops to sit just below the waist so combined with short sleeves it should make for a quick knit. Fingers crossed I may get 2 different tops out of it all, one striped and the other colour blocked.


Before I forget, AGAIN, I want to welcome the new readers and thank all those who comment. I do try to answer but sometimes it is just a step that my mind and hands can not manage to get in sync for. I am certain that sounds quite inane, but it the only way that I can describe it.

The need for that cuppa is quite pressing now so I am off to the kitchen, I better check the washing machine as well. I changed all the throws and cushion covers this morning, and they can go out on the whirlythingy and freeze dry.

                    TTFN                                                Pam

Should've known better.

Yesterday was spent helping SO finish off the first of his house decorating project. Lots of snagging, touching up of paintwork, cleaning windows, polishing wood (only a little) and cleaning the kitchen. One of the labours of Hercules without a doubt. 
A nasty layer of grease and/or nicotine over every surface inside and out of the cupboards, of which there was a plethora.

Then the final labour was The Kitchen Floor!!

The only way to remove the grime was on hands and knees with an old fashioned bristle scrubbing brush.
Lots of hot water, soap and plenty of elbow grease.

Once home it was a case of feed Ben, shower and feed us. By 9:30 I was nodding off so went to bed, and of course I have had my sleep and am wide awake. DUH. Should have known better indeed.

On the bright side I placed a bid on the Bay of E for a pair of brand new boxed Hotter sandals and got them for £21 including postage. HOWZAT for a bargain.

Driven by my success, I have placed bids on 2 more Hotter items both new and in their boxes.
I only looked the first time out of desperation, I ditched my old, and much loved, strappy sandals as they were in danger of disintegrating on my feet and had not found anything similar. Trawling the hotter online shop was a futile task, that I had performed several times. It was during a casual chat with Jess that I was reminded where else to look.

Knitting has taken a bit of a back seat but I have finished the front of my newly rediscovered WIP and made a start on the sleeves. I needed to keep up with the work in my own house so something had to give. 

It is knit and natter later, much later, today and I am looking forward to my afternoon.

What about the weather then, we sweltered on Saturday and then on Sunday which should have been hotter than hot it was overcast and quite cool.Then yesterday was really sunny but with a cool breeze.

I plan on getting out into the garden on Wednesday and hopefully get the raised beds cleared ready to plant up. I am bang up to date with household chores so the remainder of my week is garden playtime.

I hope that I haven't just put the mockers on the weather, you never know when the Gremlins are watching and listening to your plans.

I think that I will have a couple of rows of knitting on my sleeves and see if that drives me back to bed, sleeves are sooo boring, onandonandon......remember that Ad?

Night night.




               TTFN                                                    Pam

Move your bottom closer.

That's not something I expected to hear from the tasty young man who did my echocardiogram (?) yesterday. I was lying on my side (facing away from him and the machines) with my top half almost encased in a hospital gown. I had to squiggle as close to him as possible so that he could press the "whatever it was" right down to the bone. It was just like having an ultrasound apparently. 

Anyhoo, all went according to plan and then another ECG and more bloods and I was free.

I had a lift to and from the hospital and had an hour to kill while I waited for the return trip, out came a second sock and that was done.

No photo, the batteries are on charge, next post.

The posh scarf is well on the way to being finished, just 60 grams left to knit up.

When I got back yesterday I was a bit bushed, stale air and sitting around is hard work. Soooo rather than waste my time doing nothing I polished off a task that has been waiting for ages. The sun was shining and there was a lovely breeze so I dug out my cotton fabrics and washed a load. They looked great blowing in the bright sun and were soon dry enough to be ironed (boo hiss) I took my time and now they are all ready for me to choose patterns and start sewing.

This morning is as bright and breezy so once Ben had been walked I set to in the hall,stairs and landing, all the paintwork has had a birthday and the carpet had a VERY good vacuuming. A few days of having the doors open had left a wonderful layer of fine dust everywhere. Yes, I know that it will soon return but it looks good and smells really fresh.

I have tucked some of the winter woollies away, not all because it is Wales and only April, and had a general sort through. A few pairs of thick tights have gone to the recycle bag along with some shabby leggings that should never have lasted this long.

I have a little hand washing to do and then it will be time for another little walk and maybe some lunch. Nothing is planned for the rest of the day although I have some plants to pot on and there will be a patch of sun in a perfect working area around 2:00.

I have pulled one of my 2 knitting WIP,s out and made a start on it again. it is a summer sweater and should have been finished last year. I can not for the life of me remember why it was set aside. I just have to finish the front neck and armhole shaping, knit the sleeves and do the sewing up and neck ribbing. I hope to get it done in the next week or so.

That,s all for now, Francesca just sent me a text saying that she will be phoning in 10 minutes, and that will be an hour gone.


                          TTFN                                             Pam

Sprinters, Crawlers and Freezers.

Spiders, that is, little teeny tiny ones, small ones and medium. No big fat hairy ones thank goodness.
My Significant Other, (hereafter to be referred to as S.O.) has a contract to decorate and maintain some rental properties.
 Now I am not claiming to be bored, far too busy for that, but it is nice to do something different for a change. So I actually volunteered to help with the prep work. Cue cleaning, scrubbing, sanding, making tea and sandwiches,rounding up spiders etc. etc.
Today I spent several hours "cutting in" 2 of the ground floor rooms. Different? Oh Yes. Stimulating? Oh No. But lots of time to plan sewing and knitting and possibly a bit of crochet.... Oh and maybe a spot of decorating at home.

Tomorrow I am excused painting/cleaning duties as, happily, I have arranged to take Jess and Ivy into Neath. There are a few things that I want to get from The Works, and I may pick up a tin of white gloss paint while I am there, little steps don't you know.
 Then when we have a few clear days I can suggest a spot of decorating AND show the paint all ready to go. There will be no "wriggle out of it room"
I have emulsion and brushes/rollers/trays and so on. I might want masking tape, must check.

I am still knitting in the evenings,although last night I did throw in the towel early.
 I was tired after a busy morning and then knit and natter in the afternoon. I knitted on the homespun scarf apart from when I had Sophie in my arms, she was in full on Dora Explorer mode and wanted to be walked around so she could see everything. I am sure that the bright colours are mega attractive to her, it will be interesting when she starts to toddle about.

Our member who is learning to knit socks is doing very well, and is already planning the next pair. I did warn her that they are addictive. I am as bad, I have a pair on the go one down to the toes and the other ready for the heel. There is another skein of wool and a pattern ready for the minute those are finished.

My next planned knit is a Flax Sweater, I have the pattern, yarn and needles all ready but want to finish the scarf first, the socks are to give me a change of needle size. I don't want my hands to start aching, well that is my excuse and I am sticking with it.

I just had a discombobulating experience.
 I put my hand out to pick my tea up.
 And There Wasn't Any.
 I haven't made it.
 I must be hallucinating on the paint fumes.

There is a tray of Mary Berry,s Roast Sausage Supper ready to cook, and I have Cherry Pie and cream waiting in the fridge, you can't work and not build an appetite. 

Now the need for tea is overwhelming. back soon.

                      TTFN                                                 Pam

BTW I am hospital again on Friday for another raft of tests, I think this lot includes being wired up to a monitor and doing a session on a treadmill. 
Sounds like fun!

Lions, seduction and pins.

Wow, March really did go out like a Lion, or rather like a full on hunting pack. The rain came down so hard that it was bouncing back up almost 6' and the wind whirled it round the garden like a group of Harpies.

Still, mostly I was oblivious to it for the most part. I have not finished the scarf and my fingers did not fall off.
They didn't have time.
I was in the throes of washing the splashes of pasta sauce off the splash back and cooker hood when an uncontrollable urge swept over me.

I Had To Sew. Right Now.

I did finish the cleaning first.

Then I answered the seductive siren call.

Then out came my Orphan Annie quilt , finished many months ago and basted several weeks ago.

A quick practice and I was off, I sewed quite brainlessly, hither and thither, filling section after section. Then Ben told me, in no uncertain terms, that not only had he missed a walk but dinner would not go amiss either. OOPS.

We walked, he ate, I ate, I drank tea and gave a guilty look at the scarf and walked away.

I sewed, I pulled basting pins out and dropped them willy nilly.

Then with stiff shoulders and a mouth like the inside of a budgies cage, Bone Dry, I threw in the towel and made more tea.

This top section is done.

There are still pins in the bottom, but parts are quilted.

This quilt is made from orphan blocks, practice blocks, total mistakes with points chopped off or missing each other by a mile. They are just about tied together with some pale green sashing in random strips, I used what was left from another project. But is is bright and cheerful and will make a great garden quilt for a small person to skedaddle about on.

I have pulled my box of 2 1/2" strips out for a random binding, if I don't have enough I will just slice a few more.

In appreciation of his walk and Dinner, Ben treated me to a mad moment.

He calmed down once he noticed the camera.

My box of delights from Francesca, as promised.

Lovely passion fruit curd, 2 jars of each. mmmmmm. Together with a selection of my favourite chutneys and pickles.

I have not tried the spicy garlic and wasabi, I think that I will make something special to have it with, and possibly a cucumber and mint dressing as a fire extinguisher.

That is all for now, it is not raining, the sun is trying hard to get out to play and there are some tiny touches of blue up there. Ben has had a walk today and will have his next one on time.

Before I go I must tell you that I found a new Podcast, Craft House Magic. The hostess with the mostest, (Who remembers that add then) is Ellie from Norwich in Norfolk, my home city and county. I have only watched part of one while I drunk my early morning tea. but have subscribed and will try to binge watch later And Knit That Scarf.

                         TTFN                                                   Pam