Frog For Breakfast.

No I didn't eat any, I had porridge with some blueberries.

I meant the Rip it, Rip it of frogging out knitting when you gaze at your work in pleasure and spot A Glaring Mistake. Not too bad just 6 rows to go back on a sock. I could have sewn in a safety line, took the sock of the needle and pulled it back to the line. Quick and easy to do, BUT it was a stupid error and I wanted to etch it into my brain. So I took it back stitch by stitch and then knitted it all back, minus the mistake, before my breakfast.

By that time my tum was starting to grumble and my toes were curling up like a row of pigs tails.

I still haven't got round to trying to get photo's up on this laptop. I just get settled with my knitting and some  telly in the background before it pops into my mind. Then I just shrug my shoulders and think, I will do it in the morning.

I have nothing pressing today so once my chores are done I will try.

I have been watching season 1 of Quantico on box sets, the first episodes were quite compulsive viewing. B U T it is dragging on and seems now to be merely a vehicle for the Leading Lady to pout and pose her way through each scene.

The best program, in my view, on TV now is Planet Earth 11 on Sunday evening. Strictly has become a bit of a balls up and even the John Lewis advert is banal.

Thank goodness I am happy with the radio or silence while I am pottering about.

On that thought it is time that I got Ben off his bed and out for an airing.

Have the best day that you can.

               TTFN                                                    Pam

If it isn't broke Leave It Alone.

Blogger has changed the format, I have to trawl through all sorts of things to get to where I want to be. Why oh why can people not keep their busy little fingers out of something that is working fine.
I just have this feeling that somewhere there is a room full of male under achievers who are desperate to demonstrate how essential they are. This time they decided to turn the blogging system inside out.

Right I am down off the soap box now.

We have had a pretty decent day, sunny and dry but with a chilly wind, 2 loads of washing done and line dried. Lovely.

I am feeling so much better right now, this morning I managed to drive over to Llandeilo and visit the wool shop. I did a little stock up, not too much, some chunky yarn for a shawl that I saw on the Stylecraft Blog Tour,  I chose King Cole Riot in Moors colourway. Then I spotted the  Head over Heels sock wool in the Olympus colour, I did pick up a shawl pattern to go with it but I may choose another from my pattern books.

I picked up a lovely bit of Beef Skirt from the RTC section and made a steamed pudding for dinner, I cooked carrots and broccoli to have with it and 2 of us had a very greedy meal indeed.

I have finished the hat, I did seam it up in no time but really should have got off my bum and got the 16" circular from the next room.

I cast on another pair of Blueberry Waffle socks, it is such a simple pattern to knit and grows fast in DK wool. These will be a gift along with a hat later on.

Ben is snoring away and I feel that I should get myself settled with a cuppa and my knitting. I may have some chocolate covered spiced gingerbread for later, I love it so only buy a small amount. I can not resist it, I normally buy from Lidl but found some this bag in Home Bargains and it is pretty scrummy.

So I am off to get the kettle on, enjoy the rest of your evening.

             TTFN                                                             Pam

Keeping close to home.

For home read sofa, it has been lashing down and blowing hard for the past 2 days. Ben has gone for the smallest walks ever and as soon as possible has slammed his brakes on and turned for home.

I have pottered about a bit in the house, kept the ironing basket empty and the soup pan full. The last batch was my standard mix of veg, a can of chopped tomatoes and one of chickpeas, home made stock and some seasoning. This time I used cumin and turmeric with a little Harissa, it was lovely. Warm and spicy with no burn, I was going to freeze some but it is in the fridge and will be lunch every day till it is gone.

I have finished the Big Rib hat, Jooles from Sew Sweet Violet had one on her last podcast, it is so warm I will be making another soon. Then last night I planned a rest from knitting but within 30 minutes my fingers were twitching. A quick rummage and AHA, 3 x 50g balls of Drops Alaska in colour no.53, a lightish burgundy, were discovered and another Antler toque was cast on. The ribbing is finished and I will be starting the pattern later today. I usually knit my hats on 16" circulars but have cast this on straights. When you get to the decreases you have to change to either dpns or a longer circular for magic loop. My straights were close to hand so I plumped for them, I don't mind seaming a hat at all.

Apart from walking Ben I have nothing on the agenda for today. I may get most of the new hat done. Hopefully the results from last weeks tests will be through, I will call and check. Our surgery group are notoriously slow at getting back with any results.

Dinner last night was a very lazy scrambled eggs on toast, it was all that I fancied. Tonight I have some roast chicken to use up, so possibly a pasta dish.

In preparation for a mainly non shopping December I have a list drawn up of all cleaning/toiletries/non-perishables and freezer filling foods. The plan is to raise my stock levels to last well into January. I have a small pile of things for the charity shop so will be "killing 2 birds with 1 stone" and making a round trip of it.

You may have noticed my lack of comments on Strictly, when Daisy went and that Bouncing Ball stayed my heart went out of it. As there is a planned shuffle of judges for next year perhaps they should have a long hard look at the voting system.

I am looking forward to Sewing Bee next year though, I have enjoyed every minute of each series. Even the more outlandish challenges are good to watch and I have picked up lots of ideas and tips.

I am still watching podcasts, I saw the last 2 from Little Yellow Uke yesterday and quite enjoyed them. BUT how does she get so much done in a week? She cannot possibly go to work and must eat once a day. I salute her, but could not emulate her. I need a break every now and then and have to move around and stretch a few different muscles, never mind the creaky joints.

On that note I better rootle Ben off the sofa and get us both wrapped up for a walk.

                    TTFN                                                 Pam

Sun and frost

There was a half tidy frost this morning and now the sun is sending sparkles glinting off the cars, the wind has dropped. Luckily we only got a fraction of the storm that battered Aber.

I had a reasonably early start to my day and am now feeling very virtuous. I took my time and tidied the sewing/dining room. All the detritus that has been untouched since that Virus hit me has been cleared. Fabric, threads, yarn and patterns have been put in their respective places.

The quilting frame is now empty and ready for business, soon, soon.

I have some cushion covers ordered and I may pull the fabrics for them. I will not be cutting though, I want to get the results from Thursday first.

I have a satisfyingly small shopping list ready.

Before I do that I will be getting a pot of fridge bottom soup on, a handful of haricot beans will add a hit of protein.

Ben enjoyed his walk this morning, we were joined by his friend Dowie the Bichon and owner.

Just as I predicted Fran has put any thoughts of Christmas on hold till next month. Moving and setting up her new house has filled every spare moment for weeks and now she is having a rest. I should say that every year she normally starts planning and making lists in October, and is done and dusted by the end of November. She is a complete child for the whole business, the tree, bunting, decorations, a theme for gift wrapping and labelling, a new Bauble every year etc. etc. etc.

I just hope that once she starts it does not turn into a frenzy.

Now I am off to the kitchen to start chopping and sweating. (the veg, not me)

Enjoy the weekend as much as possible.

                           TTFN                                       Pam

Still going round in circles.

Knitting circles that is, the socks are off the needles, and will probably be on feet soon as the recipient loved them.
I cast on the first Antler Toque, love that word, and have done the ribbing and the first pattern repeat, I found 100g of superwash merino Aran tucked  away and will make it enough for the hat. I think that it was from a bag of oddments that I bought years ago in a closing down sale.

Archie and Dolly went back yesterday afternoon and the house went suddenly quiet. They didn't make a lot of noise but were very busy and often had a 5 minute of madness, rushing round play fighting and sofa diving. Ben just sighed and turned his back upon them. He did have a long snooze after they had gone and then demanded attention and fusses.

I could not make my mind up over dinner, I batch cooked some pasta sauce for the freezer but just didn't fancy it. In the end I chopped up some crunchy salady bits and had it with smoked cheese and granary bread. It was just what the doctor ordered, tonight I quite like the idea of a cottage pie, a one pot wonder with all the veg nestled under some mash.

Hopefully today will see the last of the blood tests and ECG,s, all the other bloods have been fine and this one is just a bit of "belt and braces" double check.

Apart from the vestiges of the cough, and the night sweats I am feeling pretty good. I wouldn't sign up for a marathon though.

I am yet to try getting pictures on here, I just haven't had the patience for it, but really must try soon.

I didn't have such an early start this morning, it was gone 5 when I oozed out of my sweaty pj's and into the shower. A brew made and a little sit down with Sandra of Cherry Heart and her latest podcast. Then a little pottering around blogland and now I am off to sling a load of washing into the machine before making more tea.

I hope that your day goes well wherever you are.

                     TTFN                                         Pam

Filling the wee small hours.

After another sweaty night I threw in the towel and got up very early. I finished the second sock and rather than a new cast on, I must finish a WIP next, I had a blog reading session. I managed to write a comment or two but it is something that I have found difficult recently. Goodness knows why as I am not usually stuck for words. I read a post, a comment pops into my mind and I click into the box    and nothing  just nothing. Not a word never mind a sentence, it feels just like the times when I scuttle off to another room only to stand and wonder why I am there.

I know that I am not alone in this, my friend Mary does it frequently as does Fran. I chose to think that it is because we are always doing one thing and planning the next three things. Our minds can not keep up with our bodies.

I read Dawn's post on her home cured bacon and was transported back to my childhood. We had a wood fire with a smoker in the chimney, there always seemed to be bacon or sausages in there and quite often  fish. The taste was amazing, although I did not appreciate it then. I think that once this final, fingers crossed, round of tests is done I will get some pork into a cure.

I sold my smoker before I moved as it was far to big to bring, perhaps it is time for a replacement, albeit smaller.

I do like "green bacon" but prefer it smoked over Applewood chips.

We are having a wet and dismal time of it here but it is still quite warm. I have the heating set for a couple of hours morning and early evening but have had to turn it off the last few days. On the other hand all the washing is going into the tumbler, it is impossible to dry them any other way.

This afternoon Archie and Dolly go home, I will miss them but will be pleased to get back to the status quo. 2 little dogs mean 2 extra beds in each room, a whole heap of toys and a pair of super charged dynamos in the house. Luckily they are happy to charge around outside and use up some of that energy.

I think that is all, for now anyway, so it must be time to get the kettle on.

                      TTFN                                        Pam

Sock it to me Baby

The stitches on the pins go round and round, round and round and sock after sock is born.
Not quite as fast as that but I have just turned the heel on the second sock of another pair.
I am romping through the stash and really hope to make it over to Debs shop very soon.
I may not need to buy very much but I do need to look at and touch some squidgy new balls of yarn.

I have two more pairs of socks on the list, two hats and a wip to complete before I finally decide between an Aran cardigan or the Antler sweater. I have loads of time to make my mind up as this will be my Christmas Eve cast on, I have the yarn tucked away. It is an Alpaca blend that I snapped up from Debs months ago.

I have a pair of house guests right now, Archie and Dolly, they will be here for two more days before returning home. Ben has been loving the company but I suspect that, like me, he will be glad when the house returns to normal.

My plans for today are very exciting, duh, I have to tidy the freezers and make a meal plan and shopping list. The idea is to get as much of the mundane shopping completed this month to take me to the years end. Because I tend to buy non perishables in large amounts when they are on offer, I will not need  toiletries or cleaning products.

The few tinned foods that I use will also see me through, although I will be looking for some garlic stuffed olives. I absolutely love them and have to use all my willpower not to eat a jar full in one sitting.

I still have to talk with Fran about The Dinner, it will not be the "stuff yourself stupid" roast with every veg known to man, unless of course she wants to prep and cook it. I will see how the conversation goes and plan from there.

The softly softly approach seems to be working, I no longer have the spells when I am gasping for air. If the night sweats would stop I would be almost perfect.

I have to replace the summer duvet soon, I still have not needed to put the winter one on. I do take the cover off and air it every day but I think that it whiffs a bit. I suppose that I  should wash it but it is King size and too big for my machine.

Apart from that all is well in my life, that is not taking Strictly into consideration of course. But I console myself with the wonderful new David Attenborough series, magnificent.

It is fast approaching 5 and I am in need of tea, there is a new podcast from Katy, at Inside Number 23 to watch and that sock to be finished.

               TTFN                                                    Pam