Guess who is in the dog house.

Drip, drip,drip, drippety drip drip.

That is the sound of rainwater dripping out of my back yard water butt into a plastic bucket.

Why is that? you may ask.

Why doesn't she turn the tap right off? you may think.

Well this is why!

There is a little fawn and black Jug in the house who, at some point, yesterday morning decided that plastic taps were as good as a bacon butty.

This butt is, of course, full to the brim. We now have to get it emptied and try to get another tap put in. If that does not work it will mean a new butt. 

They Are Not Cheap.

I still love him.

Honest, truly, cross my heart and all that.

On a different note wasn't Strictly full of surprises on Saturday. Seann Walsh looked like a different person and Kevin can have all the bananas he likes from this fan. Again no surprise in the dance off couples and it was, to me, no surprise as to which couple left. 

I did have a little conversation with Francesca, in regard to Christmas gifts.
She has plumped for heaps of woolly goodness, and nothing else this year, he he he. Little does she know that I have been squirrelling yarny items away for many weeks now.
There are hats, cowls, socks and a sweater all done and wrapped up. There are a few more pairs of socks to finish off and another sweater cast on. It is in chunky yarn so will not take long.
 I did finish off a hat yesterday morning, all it needed was the pom pom and I made and attached it while drinking my first cuppa.

I did crop this photo but now can not find it. I am so not techy. I will try again later after my hospital visit.

The rib is 2 x 2 and the knit stitches are twisted every other row for 5 repeats and then every fourth row for 3 repeats. it gives a nice texture and makes knitting rib a bit more interesting.

Now it is time to get the dogs fed, they have had their first walk and the SO will give Herbie a longer walk a bit later.

I do expect that the instant I walk back in the house both he and Ben will NEED to go out Right Now.

 I am certain that most dogs do this, almost as if they are making you realise that they should come first, last and in the middle.

Or is it that we just automatically live our lives around what we think they need?

Any how, I will see you tomorrow, hopefully.

                      TTFN                                    Pam

The sock knitting journey.

I have neglected to say Hello, Good Morning and Welcome to many new followers, I am happy to have you on board. 

Over the past weeks, even months, a few have asked me about sock knitting. 

I advise anyone who fancies having a bash to visit Winwick Mum, her blog has a wealth of information and help. There are free patterns and tutorials and she has published a book on the subject.

Sandra at the Cherry Heart Blog and Podcast has a simple pattern with stacks of help for sale on ravelry.

Ellie of the Craft House Magic Podcast has video tutorials for toe up and top down socks.

Cristi-Lael from the Relatively Crafty podcast has a very good tutorial for the Turkish cast on. 
That is the method that I use, in fact it was watching Cristi that got me knitting toe up socks.

There are many other good blogs and tutorials out there, you just need to "go fishing" and find the method and person that suits you.

This should carry a health warning, there is a (massive) group of knitters who after knitting their first pair become addicted.

(Hello, my name is Pam and I am a sock knitting addict.)

The main things that I did not learn from all of this info is the difference that you find within one weight group of yarn, and the effect that pattern has on fit.

I know that you should swatch, and if I knit socks with a new pattern then I cast on the smallest size, knit 4 rows of rib and then one pattern, I can then measure, and even try it for size on leg and foot. It doesn't take long and  frogs out before the yarn takes on the stitch shape, I hate knitting with wiggly yarn so would never buy a sock blank.

At least this is what I do after I  knitted half of a sock in a new yarn and a textured pattern only to find when trying it on the recipients foot that it was too small. All that frogging made me much more aware of yarn weight and the effect that pattern has.

My current pair are in King Cole Zig zag and it is a very plump yarn, I am using the normal amount of stitches but will need less rounds of kitting to get the length.
I have a small note book with records of socks that I have knitted. All the stitch and row counts are listed along with a yarn sample and the label.
I looked back through this and found that I had knitted a pair of socks in this yarn. They were the some of the first socks that I made and were for Francesca. I will follow that "recipe" for this pair.
I also have a recipe for her feet in several other yarns and patterns. For instance, when I use the Hermione's everyday socks pattern for Francesca it needs 4 more stitches than a lace pattern. This is because a lace pattern gives much more ease, a bit like a stretch jersey dress over a cotton one.

All these things are part of the wonderful, never ending journey through sock knitting, or any knitting come to that.

If you have a go and find yourself struggling then consider trying a different method. Some people swear by magic loop, (my method)
either one or two at a time. Some love the short circulars, I tried that and my hands cramped up.
Then there are dpns, double pointed needles, sets of 4 or 5, beloved by some and hated by the rest.
I have never tried them, I saw my Granny knit socks on them every day of her life, just about, and was horrified at the sight. All those flashing sharp points, not to mention the noise. She could drown out the Billy Cotton Band Show!

I did buy a set with the intention of trying them, I was inspired by Dan of the Bakery Bears, but so far am still a chicken. Part of the problem is that I do like to knit 2 at a time, it saves on all that row counting and perhaps having a pair with one 2 rows longer than the other. 
One reason why I went to 2 at a time, you only need to keep a check on where  in the pattern you are. 

This is my newest cast on, another pair of Strictly socks, I am knitting these singly as I can count the pattern repeats rather than rows. I get so involved in the dances that my yarn management for 2 at a time goes out the window and I end up with a rats nest.

I should add that if knitting in the round scares you silly, you can knit perfectly acceptable socks flat. There are books around, Knit your socks on straight by Alice Curtis for example. A quick search and you will find dozens of books, patterns and tutorials. I knitted a few pairs like this and then plucked up the courage to buy a circular needle. I have never looked back.

I believe that I have prattled on for far too long. If there is anything that I have left out just ask me in the comments.

                    TTFN                                              Pam

How do I smell?

With my nose! 

How else would I?

Mmmm, I think that I smell with my eyes as well. If I walk into  room, perhaps a shop, that is cluttered, has dull lighting and is stuffed full then I can smell musty, dusty stale air.

When I walk into a kitchen that is pristine, shiny, squeaky clean with empty surfaces I smell bleach/cleaning products.
If the kitchen has a cook book or 2, a few, obviously used, gadgets and perhaps a few implements dotted around then I get a light scent of meals, lovingly prepared, a cake just cooled, possibly the yeasty smell of dough rising.

My house smells of all the above along with fresh air and flowers.
The flowers are not real, they are not air fresheners they come from a little bottle from my childhood.

Zoflora.

That bottle, once glass, is made of the naughty, pariah product plastic and in some circles is one of the "must have" items.

I understand that there is an Instagram mega star promoting cleaning, almost as an art form, and Zoflora is one of the stars of the show. many more have jumped headfirst onto the bandwagon and go into raptures over this wonder product of the times.

Well, I agree that it is a very good product and that it deserves a place in most households. I say most as there will be those who find all the perfumes wrong for them, there may well be allergy issues to boot.
My Granny agreed long before all this media stuff was even a glimmer of an idea, her mother taught her how good it was.

I use a light solution in the bathroom on a daily basis, every surface, tap, ledge and the "wet" side of the shower curtain gets a spray. A drizzle goes down the plug holes at each end of the day, and a slug into the loo last thing every night.

All the kitchen vertical surfaces, handles and splash backs get the same. Work tops have white vinegar/water/dish liquid spray.

In my vacuum cleaner there is a little ball of cotton wool that has neat Zoflora sprinkled on it, the air that comes out smells like perfume, not dog hair.

In case you think that I get through it by the tanker load, a little goes a very long way. It is readily available in the budget shops, I get mine in Home Bargains, around £1 a bottle. I keep 1 in both bathroom and kitchen and they last for ages.

I do not love cleaning, but I do love my home to be as clean as possible. Not antiseptic clean, not as tidy as a show home, just to be a normal lived in and comfortable space. 


On another note the next pair of Strictly Socks are on their way, I am using  King Cole Zig Zag in the Wild Orchid colourway, nothing like the colours on the website, but lovely all the same.

My usual Turkish cast on with 14 wraps and increase to 64 then 6 further rounds in stocking stitch. This fits Fran's toes a treat, I can not follow the exact recipe as this yarn is super plump so a few less rounds. Not to be sneezed at. 
I am using Hermione,s Everyday pattern, a long time favourite. It gives a really nice textured fabric.

I will get a photo later, my eyes do not want to play this morning. Nothing serious, just tired and a bit blurry.

We were recommended Designated Survivor on Netflix and had a quick look last night......4 episodes later and just after midnight we tore ourselves away from the telly and went to bed.

It is now 7:30 and I have been awake long enough to make a cuppa and let Ben out into the garden. Herbie is curled up, tighter than a hedgehog, in his bed.

I guess that once Strictly has been watched, chewed over, dissected and talked out we will be watching some more episodes. Kiefer Sutherland is a joy to watch, just like his father Donald was.

I am in dire need of another cuppa and I can hear the SO moving about. I am off to get the kettle on, see you all tomorrow.

Have a good weekend.

                      TTFN                                      Pam

Bad hair day, DUH!

I have been, on the surface, firing on all cylinders for the past week. Yesterday that veneer dissolved and I had, what I always call " a bad hair day all over my body"

I do not suffer from clinical depression, thank the Lord, but I do get the odd visit from the Black Dog. Sometimes, indeed most times, if I get busy with lots of things I can head it off. This time it did not work, yesterday I woke feeling wrung out, strung out and just wanted to crawl into a hole.

I could have quite easily got back under the quilt and hid for a day or three.

BUT

There are Ben and Herbie, they can not feed or walk themselves.
Yes the SO is perfectly capable of doing all that, and has done many times. In reality having them to attend to is a lifeline, by the time they have walked, wolfed their food and, in Ben's case, retired to the bed of choice I am seeing a glimmer of light. A couple of hours or so later I head out with Herbie and Rufus for a good long walk. With each step my mood lightens, it does not go away, it does not even reduce by half, but I can feel the lessening.

I got through the day, made soup for us and W, tried a new cake recipe out, watched some Strictly take two (knitted on the Strictly socks). We did the weekly shop, I do not enjoy shopping so may as well get it done while in the doldrums, cooked dinner while the SO unpacked and put it away.
Comfort food, sausages, sweet potato mash, broccoli, carrots and onion gravy. It did help.

The evening slid by and we were in bed by 10:00 and I fell asleep almost instantly.

This morning I feel so much brighter, I have plans for the day and am looking forward to getting stuck in to them.

I consider myself to be a fairly strong, level headed and reasonably able person.
There are those in my life who refer to me as their rock, well rock crumbles under pressure. Hard weather erodes it and I have weathered a few storms.

If you have somebody in your life who is always there for you, always has time to listen, always provides a shoulder to cry on or an arm to lean on, make time to ask them how they are. Listen, really listen when they speak and not just to the words they say, try to figure out what they are not saying.

Ooh er! that was a bit deep. 

It is far too easy to be so engrossed in your own issues that you simply do not notice when someone is not quite their self.

Now I am off to choose the yarn for Strictly Socks take 3.
yup the second pair are cast off and ends woven in.

Fran will certainly get her quota, and more, of new socks this Christmas.

I love the way the colour has pooled but am not happy with the actual colour in the pics, it is not at all a true representation. The colours are lighter and brighter and the purple shown here is actually orange! the green is really yellow.

Having said all that the SO has just shown me the last photo, from Monday, on his phone and the colours are showing truer. Goodness only knows what you are all seeing.

Before I run myself into a decline I will leave it here. I feel that it is coffee time before I go and "do" the bathroom etc.

                       TTFN                                         Pam

PS. I hope that this was not doom and gloom, I do feel on the up this morning.

You can always ignore the text and focus on the socks.

                                             Pam xx

Just took this and it is much truer,must be the dark background changing the colours. The blues are still showing as purple though.

A double edged sword

Last May I bought a Howgate Wonder apple tree for my garden, It flowered well but I removed all but 3 of the resulting fruit, the tree was a bit too young to carry the weight. The fruit that I left dropped off naturally, it was very windy for much of the autumn.

This year it has fruited well and all the fruit that I left has grown and ripened.

Unfortunately it is not the variety that I bought. I finally sat down to do a little research. I have grown Howgate before but was not sure if there were any variations. I have not found any so have just contacted the Nursery and wait for their response. The fruit on the tree that I have is a very bright red and the flesh is blushed with red through to the core. 

Very pretty and cooks down beautifully but not what I want.

 Even if they "do the right thing" and supply me with a replacement it means that 2  years will be lost.

 I will also have to remove the tree in order to plant a Howgate. There is just not enough room for another large tree.

I am not pleased and will keep you posted.

On a happy note, another pair of socks are off the needle. These are part of a Christmas gift and have been tucked away.

I decided to press on and get them finished yesterday but still managed to get into the heel shaping on the Strictly Socks.

I have worked through today,s "to do" list and helped move the last big slab for the patio. The dogs have been walked and there is a beef curry and lentil dahl in the fridge for dinner tonight.

I will probably make some Naan bread as we will be having rice later in the week.

Apart from that there is nothing new happening here. I have hospital on Monday (I have been telling all and sundry that it is Wednesday!) and once my mouth has settled down I will, hopefully, feel more like going out and about.

I have a few plants on my wish list, nothing exotic just 3 hardy Fuchsias and a few Cyclamen.Of course I will keep my eyes open for anything that might take my fancy. At the right price,of course.

Now it is time for me to get the kettle on and supply coffee and think about lunch for the SO.

                  TTFN                                            Pam 

Resting

Yesterday was mega, we were both working hard for most of the day. The patio has 3 more slabs to be fitted in, the wall is finished. I have emptied and cleaned a stack of planters and pots ready for next year.
A new bed has been topped up with spent compost, soil from the patio area and some home made compost. I think that this will become a mixture of low growing plants, bulbs and corms. I have a bag full of dwarf spring bulbs ready to go in and I think that some Cyclamen and Primula would look good for late summer/early autumn colour. 
I will have a look round for plants at the weekend, I will not be out and about before then.
I will be looking for 2 pear trees to plant in the next few weeks, feathered maidens  if I can get them, to plant against the fence. I saw some in Neath the other day and they looked good, absolutely dripping with fruit.

Today is damp and drizzly so it has been  catch up with house work, cook ahead and generally be busy crossing lots of jobs off the list.

There is a beef curry in the slow cooker, Mary Berry's sausage supper is ready to bang in the oven and I have chicken and bacon to go in as well for  a rice dish. There are a couple of apple crumbles, apples part cooked and crumble mixed, ready to be assembled and cooked. One for us and another for W.

I haven't touched the Strictly Socks yet as my btm has hardly been on a seat since first thing.

It is a rest day, but only from the garden. We have both kept occupied, now I am about to take Ben and Herbie out. They usually go a bit later but the SO has Asthma clinic this afternoon so it is an early walk for them. They will still go out later in the evening, they have good internal clocks and will be on Red Alert withing a few minutes of 9 o'clock.

I still have some comments to reply to and a load of blog reading to catch up with, but duty calls.
ie, both dogs are looking at me, how they know that the walk is early I can not fathom, it must be my body language.

                      TTFN                                     Pam

PS. It will be knitting tonight, I have 2 days of Strictly It Takes Two to watch, I didn't have time to watch it yesterday.
Pam

.

Another Saturday Night.

It was Strictly knitting after a very full on day in the garden. Some of the dances did make my hands come to a full stop, not just in admiration.
I do think that the right celeb was voted out, and that is all I have to say on the subject.
I made an amazing discovery, you can fine loads of Strictly on you tube, from bang up to date to some very old dances. I did watch a few on Sunday, we had a day off from all the heavy lifting.
This means that my first strictly sock (take two) is finished, I even wove the ends in.

The colour shows much duller here than it really is,the blues are showing as purple, I will try another shot later.

I have cast on the second one and am halfway along the foot. I hope to watch Zoe Ball later this afternoon and get a few more rounds in. Shhhh, I have another skein caked up ready for pair 3.

I did have to take another photo of my Wool warehouse sock haul, goodness knows where the first one went.

The, odd man out, ball of Fabel is for heels and toes, it is very hard wearing. I have to say that Zig Zag is not my favourite yarn for knitting, it feels quite coarse on the hands but is softer once soaked and does wear very well. 

I would love to knit with Indie dyed luxury yarn all the time but not only does my budget not cover it (I would knit my annual budget in a couple of months) we both need hard wearing socks in our wardrobes. After all I will not be putting on my Strictly Sparkly Socks to dig in the garden.

Maybe in a few years time I would consider wearing these with boots in the garden, but not yet.

Anyhoo, the sun is shining, we are invigorated after our day off and raring to go.

Tonight's dinner will be Spag Bol, I made the sauce yesterday so an easy meal.

The first load of laundry is done and hanging in the sunshine and I just have the bathroom to whizz round.

Then it will be walking Herbie and Rufus before I join the SO in the great outdoors.

Time to get a wiggle on, I do not want to miss a moment of the sunshine, it will be a distant memory all too soon.

I do hope that this becomes an Indian Summer and lasts well through October. Fingers crossed.

                       TTFN                                            Pam