Settled

I trust everyone had a good Christmas, mine was very quiet, as usual, quiet but nice.

Miss A has gone to her dad's from Christmas day to NYE. One more sleep to go, it is getting easier to let her go and count the days till she returns, well she doesn't return, some grumpy, harpy returns and 2 days later she appears, but that's a whole 'nother post.

Do you think I could settle into some serious uninterrupted knitting time for the 6 days she was gone? 6 days, no plans, no 'have to' do anything, nope, but that was they plan. oh well.
But now that she is due back tomorrow and after speaking with Jess last night, I am raring to go and have found the magical project that will renew my soul and reinvigorate my love for knitting and help me stop verbally harassing the cats. I have, or will have - as soon as I stop looking things up on Ravelry, petting my yarn and blogging about it - decided on my next project : TaDa... a French Market Bag for Miss A.

Project Specs:
Needles: still agonising over the size here (what ones, what ones I think blogging is my way of procrastinating on this decision) I *think* I will use 5.5mm *think*
Yarn: Cleckheaton Vintage Hues colour 1279 blues and reddish in colour.


I really want one for myself so why would I be starting one for her first?

Aha! there is method in my madness.....( I have clearly been left on my own too long with only the cats to talk to, like they are actually people and care about /understand what I am saying)

• The size will be an 'unknown' and I have pretty clear expectations on what sized bag will be right for me, I need to practice first, see how the yarn/needle size gels with the finished product.
• Don't know how firm the fabric will be in relation to the needles used. Ravelry can be a curse, when you are trying to work out what needles to use and 4 people on there have each used different sized needles. Will be experimenting with 5.5mm, or maybe 6mm, hmm maybe 4.5mm ( see what I mean )
• Don't know how the colour will turn out in the end, have chosen my least liked colour to experiment with.
• Am making this first one slightly larger that the pattern specifies due to not knowing which sized needle to use and the fact that the yarn specified has a different gauge to what I am intending to use.
• And finally OMG Miss A's birthday is in 9 days and what have I bought for her?!? Surely I kept something back from Xmas like I usually do....nope.....Have I bought something during the year and put it away, forgotten in the back of my wardrobe?....nope...can't I just say that the bike I got for her in August was her present? .....nope....How about the new glasses that she needs, can't they be her birthday present?........c'mon now your just bein' mean, no glasses means she can't see......This doesn't make me a bad mummy does it?? She will get a gift. (if I get off this damn computer and start it)
  

So you see how I really must stop researching and blogging and petting the yarn for this project and GET CRACKIN' - she's home tomorrow!!

Update

So what have I been up to?
Not much at all really.
I have been reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.
I am such a sucker for vampire romance stories. So why would the quiz result surprise me??

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you're a night owl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Socktober

Here are the most recent socks that I have completed.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

Spunky Eclectic 'Signature' yarn

3.25mm needles

Nice thick, warm socks for winter.

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Dream in Color Classy 'Ruby River'

Specs:

Thuja pattern

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'pink/white'

Specs:

Hobby Print

2mm needles

My sock recipe

Not very happy with the way the colours pooled. Might have even posted these finished before - can't remember.

Current WIP: Sea Socks

Thuja again (love this pattern!)

3.25mm needles

Shepherd Colour 4 Me 'blue/green'

Other News

Uni

has just one more test to go in a week and a bit and then I am done for the year. Not doing Summer Semester this year, I really need the rest.

Car

found out who damaged my car, disappointed to find out that it was one of my students and even more disappointed when I found that I had to fork out for the repairs myself as the Dept will not cover staff cars! My car was not the only one vandalised either. Anyway, the damage has been repaired and I have been relieved of over $300. The crash repairers did a fantastic job, I am very happy and I will not dwell on this any longer, the damage is gone now.

Holidays

it is the holidays and we are both sick again. At least something in my life is predictable hey? I managed to avoid coming down with the flu during school-time but now that the holidays have started, I succumbed.

Weight Loss

Had official weigh in last week and my loss so far is 6kgs. I had engaged the services of a Personal Trainer 6 weeks ago and it is going well. Up until we both got sick that is and now I have no energy to do anything except reach for chocolate and pepsi max. I will worry about exercising when I am better.

Bikes

Miss A and I have new bikes and intend to go riding a) when we are better and b) when it is not raining. Kmart had 25% off bikes, Miss A had grown out of hers, great timing. I was ust going to get mine serviced but when we went to the bike store there was a bike in my fave colour for only 50 bucks more than a service would cost me. My old bike was bought when I was in my late teens and bike technology has changed a lot since then so.... a new bike was bought for me. The car has also had a towbar installed complete with bike carrier so we can ride further away. That was one of the main activities that we were going to do these holidays, best laid plans of ours always go astray.

So that's about it, being sick makes it the perfect time to sit and knit, so that's what is planned for the duration of this fluey/coldy thing.

Threes

They delivered the wrong washing machine.
I am going to bed now lol.

Long time no blog...or On The Edge!

Alternative Title: This is called living.

Don't you love it when the universe conspires against you?

WARNING: I will hit the next person that says, "Things can only get better from here".

Yes a ranty post, strap in and let's go. (It won't be too bad, I promise)
Seems like I only blog when things are not going as expected.

• On Saturday my washing machine fried. It was 12 yrs old. Only $999 for a new one which is getting delivered today. Probably should have turned it off when it started making that funny noise and not when the smoke started coming out of it right?

• Also signed up for a Cross Trainer only $999 can put it on GE Card and pay it off slowly right? Wrong if I want to use GE Card, I will have to pay full price of $1699 blah I can juggle some money over and pay cash for it....will only be broke for a few weeks...oh gee I have my prac teaching block coming up and I have to take that as Leave Without Pay- one whole week. Oops perhaps the cross trainer was not a good idea right now? Can save $700 this way, why pay them $700 when I don't need to right? But I want it! And I have paid a deposit, They need to get one in so that'll buy me some time, what? it's here, now, I need to get it this week? shit.

• Today was my divorce hearing.. it was granted, so that's not so bad right. Mr Ex didn't show up and cause problems or anything like that.

• Today I woke up to find that my car had been 'keyed'- right across the bonnet, Not too bad, it's only a car and it will only cost $350.00. Not buying yarn at the moment, it's only a couple of jumpers worth. I thought it was that stray cat that has been hanging around but the crash repairers said that it was definitely a key. Who would key my car at work?? See above that no money = no going anywhere. Haven't been to the shops for two weeks.

• My dear cat is still marking his territory IN THE HOUSE!! aarrgghh!!! right infront of us, IN the video cupboard ON all the videos and playstation games WTF? If I have to fork out another $60 bucks for Lego Starwars I will scream.

• I have enlisted the help of a personal trainer 3 weeks ago hence the desire for a Cross Trainer. I have exercised my huge butt off and have currently lost 7kgs. I am on a health kick and have managed to avoid the chocolate cakes at morning tea and just eat my banana and I have now been pushed over the edge.

• The lovely girls from work and I will be going out for tea tomorrow night, there may be alcohol involved, definitely schnitzel parmagiana and chips (diet!? c'mon I need a break-haven't you seen the week I've had?? Yes, I know I have no money, Yes, I know my Personal Trainer will not be happy, Yes, I know I will pay for it in sweat later this week)

Can you say 'Cash Flow Problem' ? I will look back over this post and laugh in a few weeks time.

BTW any invites over for tea will gladly be accepted.

I'm Baaack

Tigers is back from the dead. ooh zombie Tigers. scarey.

Anyway I have completed 2.5 socks. Cant remember what I have already posted about so apologies if I am repeating myself.
One is the horrible hobby print.
The other is DIC Classy in Ruby River. beautiful, love the socks and the yarn. Thuja pattern.

Over the last few weeks I have written posts in my head and not gotten round to posting.
They were all hilariously funny and witty. But I have since forgotten them. sorry again.

Lots of things to post about but no pics too lazy to get the camera, find the socks (they have been swallowed up by my room)


I have been:
drilled
filled ....obvious dental reference which is to be repeated in 3 weeks time. Oh joy!
scanned
poked
prodded.....problems with most of my girly bits, again Oh joy! also to be repeated in a few weeks time. See the pattern developing here?
miserable...due to above girly issues and general malaise of having a respiritory illness for 6 weeks.
ill....and so are 7 out of the 12 kids in my class so possibly to be repeated in a few days time.
studying...this is ongoing and I am trying to stay on task and up to date with weekly work.
socialising...girls from work have been ensuring that the above is not happening and have changed my online dating drinking status from non-drinker to social pisspot.
recovering...now I know what a hangover feels like ;)

Mr Ex has also had his own health problems that have impacted on Miss A, he has a bone tumour in his spine and his treatment so far is going okay. Miss A however has not been ok and that is one of my reasons for not posting as often these last few months.

1, 2, 3 bam

Tigers is down for the count...
She has caught another bug and is still coughing and spluttering. (not to mention - wheezing, crying, demanding drinks from Miss A and being a general pain in the a#$e)
I think this might be a record - over a month and still sick!

Luckily she is now on 2 weeks holiday from both work AND uni yay! First priority is resting and getting well.

She's trying to finish off the Horrible Hobby Print socks from recent posts.
Photos of knitting activity may appear, who knows?

test

Cough cough

I won't be going anywhere this weekend because I am sick...cough, cough, splutter, wheeze etc.
World Wide Knit In Public Day will be going ahead without us. I had hoped to attend this year, oh well.

Because I am sick I am allowed to surf the internet aimlessly for as long as I want to. Miss A cannot have it as she is well and the laptop is now infected as I have touched it. I feel a bit like a warped King Midas: 'I've touched it so now you cannot mwahahaha!'

I decided to make a mosaic, I'm sure you've seen them around and it killed half an hour for me.


Here's my mosaic:
The rules are :
A. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
B. Using only the first page, pick an image.
C. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into the mosaic maker

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to
?4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.







1. Loch Ossian Dawn, 2. Italian Clouds Canvas, 3. Wilderness of Glacier & Snow Lake, 4. drops in drops, 5. 4978-John Cusack, 6. Hat Lake Snow, 7. Roatan Beach - Perfect Day !!! 25000 + views and 200 + faves - Thank you - Janusz, 8. hot chockit in hungary, 9. water droplets in the shower - o.k. bokeh, 10. We are choosing hope over fear., 11. A big bloody Samoan storm that turned gay!, 12. Tiger! Tiger! Burning Bright

Kntting has not happened much this week cos I just don't wanna. The Iris Vest patterning has only 2 rows to go still and I don't wanna do it. The socks are pooling unidentically and I don't wanna knit them either. I have turned into a miserable 4 year old!

One thing I have learnt being on my own is if I feel that I am getting sick I wilI struggle on and get some shopping done quickly. We now have enough essentials and a few frozen dinners to last the weekend and then some. Not having someone else to pick up the slack is a bummer. Knowing that we will not starve this weekend If I can't get out of bed tomorrow is good.
Lots of funny foods end up in the trolley when I am not feeling well....blocks (plural!) of chocolate, custard tarts, and heat and eat puddings (hmm, all plurals)
Can you say 'comfort food' ?

Long Weekend

Aah, this weekend is a long one courtesy of the Queen having a birthday. Thanks QE.

My university assignments have just been posted in which means I have come to the end of this semester. Must go and see how long the holidays are...ooh looks like about 6 weeks. I feel so tired and have looked forward to this for so long, to have respite from one stress is terrific. I have 3 days off now until back to work and it is delightful.

I am currently knitting the Iris vest, but have decided to modify it to knit it in the round and omit the front opening. After 5 false starts we are off. So far it's going well, no pictures cos I am stuffed and not getting up to get the camera. I'm using some Cleckheaton Country 12ply in purple.
What's the bet that the size will be wrong? I am sort of slotting the pattern into an old vest pattern the difference is only 6 sts which I will reduce when the pattern has finished.

My socks are in time out as the pooling on the second one is not nice. I hae tried knitting tighter, looser and it is still not nice. This is disappointing as the first one was good.

The Mega boots stretch socks are also in time out as I think they might be better on smaller needles and can't decide whether to continue or frog 'em.

Also can't get hold of 4-5 balls of Cascade 220 number 2428 lot 0665. I have 3 balls but need extra for a complete 3/4 sleeve cardy. That means I have to save up and get 8 hanks of something suitable. Now if I lost weight I would need less yarn, this is my main motivator to get fitter. Hence we have had no soft fizzy drink for the last 3 days. Not much, but it is a start.

So I have a free weekend of knitting to do when I let them out of time out. Which one should I let off first? Or I could start something new, you know, just for the weekend, seeing as though the others are naughty.

Forgot

Forgot about the 3 pairs I had on the needles at the time plus the yarn 'in transit' oh and what I got today.... soo that'll bring the total to, let me see....oh let's just say closer to 140.

Found some Sllivans sock yarn at Lincraft today and 4 balls came home with me. Need to try this on 2.5mm needles and see how they turn out.

Finished the ones on 2mm needles:

Liked these but 2mm needles are small I need to try 2.5s.

Jenny Wren is finished not sure if I included picks of both before, so here they are:

Knittery Cashmerino Warm Pinks I think.

At Lincraft I picked up some Shepherd Colour For Me for some quick knit 8ply socks for me using Thuja pattern, 3.25mm needles and 48 sts cast on:

These are one of the pairs that were on the needles and missed being counted:

Hobby Print by rico, 2mm needles. Same specs for both of them but they are turning out a little different. The yarn is pooling diffeently on the 2nd one. See the pink and white stripe, much more noticeable and I don't like that, they are more random in the first one. They have been set aside for the pink ones.

Not just knitting socks either, this is Puff, a bear I made a few years ago now. The yarn is so soft and squishy.

Had 2 balls left over that were re-discovered when stash diving the other day and were turned into a scarf for Miss A. It is Patons Charming nice and squishy but not much use for anything but a scarf.

Not much else is happening here, been doing some prac teaching this semester and need to get 4 more days in, in the next 3 weeks and write a report then this semester is done. Can't wait cos I have not had a proper break for well over a year and I really need one. Struggling to complete this semester.

131, 132, 133, 134...

134
134
I have enough yarn for 134 pais of socks!! No way am I going to calculate how long I have to stay alive to knit them! I should be knitting now instead of typing this.

After Jess came over last Thursday and peeped at my sock yarn stash, I decided today, that I should try and count how much I have, how much it cost *shudder* and while at it I should probably write it down.

Been hunting the Sullivan's sock yarn, which I happily found whilst on holidays last week. Am currently knitting the pink,black,orange colourway and really like the colours. It is on the thin side though and so I am using 2mm instead of 2.5mm needles. I have the opportunity to purchase this direct from the company, in packs of 10, but am unsure then of how to offload the excess? Etsy maybe?? Not sure, still thinking about this.

No points for guessing my next project ;P

Currently working on...

Jenny Wren socks
Yarn: The Knittery Merino Cashmere Sock yarn
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm
Mods: 70 sts, incorporated pattern into my sock recipe, Eye of Partridge heel.
This is slow going as it is at a tighter gauge than I am used to and the needles are have been rubbing my hands. But still an enjoyable knit. These are the first socks that I have knit that have a pattern, and continue said pattern down the foot! Ooh what a wild, reckless knitter I am becoming. I have knit ribbed before but not cables. I prefer to let the colours of the yarn shine through. This is a very simple pattern and I love it.




Photo of completed Crayon socks, not sure if I blogged these finished before, here they are anyway. I added some length to the foot and they are now comfy.


Still really enjoying knitting socks and have stash dived and rounded up all of my sock yarn. Oh my!
I have 2 very big tubs of sock yarn, this really needs to be knit up and I must stop buying sock yarn.

When is it too hot for knitting?

The temperature here is ridiculous. Here's the way it went, and continues to go in degrees C.

Monday 3rd March.....35

Tuesday 4th March .....36

Wednesday 5th March.....38

Thursday 6th March.....38

Friday 7th March.....39

Saturday 8th March.....40

Sunday 9th March.....40

Monday 10th March.....40

Tuesday 11th March.....38

Wednesday 12th March.....39

Thursday 13th March.....40

Friday14th March.....38 last night's temp was 30! (hottestnight for however long) tonight 20.

and the latest forecasts:

Saturday 15th March.....38

Sunday16th March.....38

Monday 17th March.....39

Tuesday 18th March.....39

Wednesday 19th March.....31 yay cool change!

Thursday 20th March.....27

Apparently we beat the record for 8 consecutive days over 35 degrees and another one for the longest heatwave in an Australian Capital - I think that's it. Woo Hoo. Last night on the news they showed some rain pouring down, just in case we Adelaideans forgot what it looked like. Gee it looked really good. I promise I won't complain about winter when/if it comes.

It is way hot out by the computer so I am giving myself the weekend off of studying

(removed rant about text book availability and how it is nearly 3 weeks into the unit and they are just now sorting out textbooks which we should have been reading in week 1) hmmm. I figure with Miss A at camp next week and at her Dad's ALL Easter, I will catch up, and by then, my textbooks will have arrived. There will be no time for tears, I'll be too busy studying.

So when is it too hot to knit?? I am getting more knitting done now than ever before. Possibly due to new portability of sock projects and influx of sock yarn - darn stuff must breed when I'm asleep. Where did that package come from?

My sock knitting has increased due to the new method. The Tiger socks are done. I would change one thing though and that would be to knit the foot 2 cms longer or maybe more. The slip stitch on the heel actually sits on the underside of the foot hence a little more footage would be good. I think I did 30 rows then the toes.

The crayon socks were ripped back and restarted, they were half a foot complete each. Haven't worked on these since April 06. But made up that loss in no time. I did add to the foot in these, but still could be a little longer. I think I did 36 rows for these.



So next pair of socks, I think I will go to 40 or 46 - as the pattern recommended - it was hard to judge, some patterns said begin the toe 3cm from the top of your foot, and others were begin the toe at the base of your toes, neither is right for my feet.
Once I get this recipe right for my foot I'll be happy.

We couldn't wait till the weekend...

I dyed these during the week.
From L-R : orange from the other day, green, teal, blue, pink and purple and plain pink.



Happily got the strand variegation that I was looking for -each strand is a different colour to the next one. Lots of fun to make. can't wait to see how they knit up.

The sock is coming along really well. Turning the heel was way faster and smoother that the 2 on 2 circs method. I could put it down, pick it up and carry on. Not like having to set aside 2-3 hours for the heel with the other method.

Started this late last Saturday night and it is nearly done! I will, hopefully, finish one this weekend.

Dyeing Adventures

Sock yarn is difficult to find here in SA. Spotlight has just started stocking some Moda Vera Socks in yucky colourways. I am really disappointed with the choice of colour inyarn over here.
Anyway at $4.99 per ball we shouldn't complain. I bought 3 balls first, one in a red,khaki colourway and one in blue and this one in brown/beige/black. Like I said disappointed with colour choice here. I thought it might be dyeable so grabbed it. I am on a bit of a tiger fix at the moment so thought if I could dye it with orange it might be okay.

BEFORE: blah








DURING: nice variations of orange/brown





DONE: mmm tiger.... much better




Still not sure how the pattern will turn out but have envisioned one in pinks, one in blues, one in purples, Miss A wants green. Guess what we'll be doing this weekend.

Floozy

Normally I am a one project woman, normally. I have been suffering startitis for the first time I think.

I have the Kiri shawl on the needles growing slowly. A good project when I have the time to sit and concentrate on something.

I have another Ice Queen on the needles as the other one is a bit short for me but okay for Miss A. An easy knit for when I can't concentrate and want something straightforward to do. Looking forward to wearing this in winter.

Yarn: Caressa DK same as the other one.

Needles: Boye size 6s (4.25mm)

And as a constant in the background to work on whether it is a few stitches here and there or easy knitting or a 'take with' project....

Now that the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter, I have a hankering to knit some socks. In the past I have used the Crazy Toes and Heels method. This has served me well as it was a way that I could understand to begin knitting socks, I cannot use dpns. However I think the reason that I haven't knitted socks for so long is the fact that with this method (2 at a time on 2 circs, toe up) I have a contraption that is not so portable. I have always bemoaned the fact that it takes me over an hour for one heel (they are knitted around and around even while doing the heel so it takes a longer time than a heel flap) .

I am envious of Jess who produces beautiful socks on a regular basis. So I am going to give her method a go, see below...

short circular, top down, heel flap etc. I remember trying this with a sock in progress before and couldn't do it. It felt uncomfortable. This time it is different, I think the construction will be easier this way - especially the heel part. And I can take it with me more easily than the other way.

I only have one of these needles so I am off to find another few so that I can start it's partner.

I am a bit obssessive when it comes to matching socks, I don't think I will be comfortable with just measuring them for the length, so I think it will be ticky sheets and row counts.

Specs:

Yarn: Yarnivorous' Tiger sock yarn given to me by Jess. Thanks Jess - I have wanted to start these for ages and now have the sock bug again.

Needles: Addis 2.5mm, 30cm length

I am excited at using up my sock stash again. I can take these with me and always have a sock on the needles laying around.

Uni

Summer Semester finished this week yay! I am soo glad to have that behind me- 3 units plus working 6 days a week phew! No more maths exams! I now have one week off - first semester 2008 starts on the 3rd March.

Other

Miss A is at her Dad's this weekend, it is getting a bit easier but not much. It is my turn to pick her up from his girlfriend's place and I am to beep when I get there. Not allowed to go and knock on the door. Aah, but I will have my sock for company, not too dark I hope, maybe I'll get a few rounds in!

Aaaah - relaxed not stressed

Aaah, I am looking forward to the weekend.

Miss A has gone to her dad's and I've made progress - this time I didn't cry on the way home from dropping her off! Not at all. It is still not easy though. She returns Sunday evening. hmmmm

Plans for this weekend were to plow through my Health assignment tonight and tomorrow, but that has changed. I managed to do it this afternoon and after working on it, just tidying it up a bit, for just over an hour a short time ago - It's done, complete yay!

My English assignment was also submitted tonight so I figure I have earnt some free time. But I won't go and knit just yet, I'll draw out that smug feeling of having all weekend just to knit ( there is the small matter of housework and mowing the lawn, that, I will leave till Saturday - don't wanna get all sweaty tonight)

So know I am in an empty house with my Kiri Shawl ( whichis going nicely, sorry no pics) and stuff all on tv, what shall I watch?! Might be a podcast night and just leave the telly on to combat the feeling of total aloneness.

What have you got planned?

Knitting

The Flared Lace Smoke Ring ended up a no-go. I couldn't knit a repeat without stuffing it up!

So Ice Queen was the next best thing. A nice easy knit, something that I think would be suitable as a quick Christmas gift, along with Fetchings.

Done...

Yarn: Caressa DK

I need to make another one though because I made this one too short, but it is okay for Miss A.

Kiri shawl has been started:
Yarn: Kauni EG

Needles: 4.5mm

Been doing some 'home improving' these holidays, as well as the outside, I got my plumbing fixed ( a few seized taps, new washers needed here and there, a dripping shower repaired etc ). I treated Miss A and I to a new bathroom vanity. The old one was small and dinky, only one cupboard and just about to rust through where the plughole was. Not to mention it was low compared to this one, no more stooping to wash my hands. Bliss.

Forest Canopy is a FO

Finished it last night and blocked this morning:

Used my new lace blocking wires too.

Pattern: Forest Canopy

Yarn: Araucania 'Jewel' from Tapestry Craft

Was able to squeeze in 2 more repeats of the pattern and looking at the amount of yarn left I might have been able to do another, but wasn't game to try.

Is there anyone who is good at algebra - I need a tutor for my maths assignment. I started it at 9:30am and when I finished, the clock read just past 3pm! I missed breakfast and lunch and I still need to recheck it. I hate maths.

I have 5 health lessons to plan for, an English assignment, this maths assignment and one maths exam left for this semester.

Now I am inbetween projects they are the last hing on my mind. I think a Kiri shawl might be next or a retry of the Flared Lace smokering in Kaalund 2ply.

I won a Golden Spork!

Tink had a delurking day and I commented - don't do that very often. Which made me eligible for the Golden Spork Awards. (Didn't know that)



I won a spot in the "Crafty/Creative" category.

Thanks Tink,

I'd also like to thank.....wait, I have a list here somewhere...a speech...just let me...

Yard Work

Blogger is not playing nice again and it is taking ever so long to upload a few photos.

I have spent the last four days working my ass off in the backyard, hauling a half tonne of rubble and a tonne of gravel. I wanted to put some gravel down to level the cat run a bit and to cover the bathtub sized hole where I dislocated my ankle. To do that I needed some edging. I had some long pine logs down the side of the shed, but to get to them meant that I needed to clean that up. It took half a morning to drag them out and clean up the side.

To cut a long story short - I've gravelled and rubbled all over the yard. The edging is done, the area in front of the cat enclosure is gravelled and the side of the shed is neater. I bought a garden swing - cos I've always wanted one and that sits on the gravelled part. It is beginning to look like a home instead of a neglected paddock. I put together a trampoline for Miss A's birthday present and the garden swing. I can feel my testosterone levels rising and have even gained some bicep muscle too!

The cat run is complete. Unfortunately the first night I let them out there one of them found a weak spot and escaped. Two visits later by Securakat and the enclosure is secure again. Luckily the cat came home that night and was easily coaxed down from her tree with a can of cat food. All that I need to do today is to clear an area of gravel to put in some grass. Then that's it - not doin' anything else these holidays - except start on three assignments and prepare for another maths exam. Ooh I past my first maths exam with 91% yay.

Here's a shot of the entrance:

Can't do much about the rainwater pipe though, but I have filled in an area in front and raised the ground level so that there is not such a step over. Heaven knows I don't want to trip over again.

Below you can just see the shadecloth that I put up that nearly killed me. I had to go out of my comfort level and up one more step on the ladder to reach the highest part and I was shaking like a leaf the whole time while cable tieing 5 metres of shadecloth to the house. Had to lay down for ages afterwards, I felt so sick.

This pile of junk and the old chair ( as well as the 11 foot long pine logs ) were down this side of the shed... I wish now that I had taken some before pictures it was atrocious.




Mr Ex used it to chuck his rubbish and any old bits of scrap he didn't want down there. I have never seen it this empty before. Now the neighbours are keen to replace the fence.

You can just see the edging around the grass here it looks better in real life. After years of having Mr Ex saying that what I wanted to do was too hard, I managed to do it - with the help of two children ( dear neighbour's 12yo son was keen to help and Miss A got us drinks on request - with much bellyaching ) but it feels good to know that I can do it alone.

As a treat I have gone on a yarn ordering adventure - please someone hand me the scissors to cut up my card with.

I have something coming form Kpixie which is unfortunately stuck in customs since the 7th January, in, wait for it....Montreal. What the....? How/why is it there?! The lovely lady from Kpixie says it will either get to me or make it's way back to them, sob, I want it now. That will teach me to place an order so close to New Year's Eve.

A package from Astrid's is on it's way as well.

Ecoyarns is having a sale and I have coveted some Wild Cherry Karaoke for ages and a sale is the best time to buy isn't it?

Shawl craziness has hit here. I am still loving the Forest Canopy Shawl, have fallen in love with the following shawl patterns: Kiri, Seraphim, Spring Things, Sumac Leaf ( damn Ravelry - will people stop cueing things please?!) Leaf Lace and Angel Lace from Fibretrends and Diamond Fantasy.

The good thing about this is that I still want to knit each and everyone of them I haven't lost enthusiasm for them which is unusual for me.

No links cos blogger is really effing me off with the slow uploading of pics. I waited for half and hour and then it came up with an error and I really must go dig the side up.

First FO of 2008

I'm counting this as the first for 2008, even though I could have finished it New Year's Eve. It really needs blocking though, this is the first item where I didn't block the individual pieces and now I am regretting it.


Details:
Yarn - Neon from Bendigo - Bracken
Pattern - PT 8227 from Bendigo I modified the ribbing as they have it doubled and turned back on itself and use short rows and I didn't like that.


Stash Enhancement:
After umming and aahing for several weeks I caved and purchased:


Dream in Colour Smooshy - Dusky Aurora from Knitting Inspirations



Dream in Colour Smooshy - Gothic Rose also from Knitting Inspirations



Araucania - Ocean, from Tapestry Craft.
I would love to know how they dye this as not one strand is the same, and variations within the strand are mottled. One of my aims for this year is to clear out the shed and set up a dyeing area. I plan on getting a big table to lay the yarns on, storage for the dyes and utensils and maybe a second hand electric stove or a microwave specifically for dyeing. I have some Cascade 220 in a bright pink which I want to splatter with black and blue.


and Jewels also from Tapestry Craft


All of which I have in mind for shawls.





Like this one:

Forest Canopy Shawl, a tester for Miss A. I am loving knitting this! Not sure about the colours though but Miss A loves it.

Our cat enclosure should be done by Wednesday next week whereupon I will post pictures. The cats do not use the pet door willingly at the moment because it only goes to that square enclosure I posted about earlier. My neighbour had the idea to turn it on it's side and push it up against the cat flap enabling the cats to go outside of their own accord now. Rather than me fighting to put them into the enclosure out in the yard. I need to get some shadecloth ready too, as it gets very hot down that side in summer and they will need shade.

Uni studies are going well I received a letter commending me on my high acheivements (a Credit and a Distinction in my first 2 units) Assignments are due on the 14th of Jan so I am busy working on those. All is well there.

Can't wait to get back to work this year as I have spent way too much, need to focus on bills and debt this year as well as saving. I also want to focus on fitness too. Way overdue!

We went to the swim centre the other day and spent about 6 hours in the water- my friend encouraged me to move my arms and legs constantly, which I mostly did, by treading water the whole time. Miss A and her friend would not allow peaceful, floaty resting in the water ( I nearly fell asleep at one stage it was so nice!) that was an invitation to be splashed - today I am still stiff and cannot move easily. So more time on the treadmill is needed this year.

It has been so hot here, a heat wave last week 3 days over 40 degrees C, yesterday was close to 39 and today is supposed to be 39 degrees.That is about all I have been doing - study in the morning, try to knit the rest of the time and watch episodes of Angel. sweet.