Fetching is finished

After some furious knitting fetching is now complete.
I did modify them and I am perfectly happy with them. I have put the changes here incase I lose my notes so I'll have a record of them.
I thought they'd look better if the cable up the top was repeated so you have 2 down the bottom and one up the top.

Mods:
Hand
At the end work 5 rows k4p1 rib, then work a cable round then:
round 1: k4p1 rib.
round 2: Decrease by k1, k2tog,k1, p1 all around.
round 3: K3, p1 around.
round 4: Cast off - regular plain cast off.

This gave it a completed cabley (??) bit at the top and made them fit snuggly, just covering the base of the fingers.

Thumb
Pick up 3 sts at each side instead of two and it helps to eliminate holes.
Round 1: Decrease by knitting 2 tog at each side, thus eliminating the extra stitches.
Knit 6 more rounds for a total of 7 for the thumb ending just below the thumb joint.

Working with the yarn was a treat and it took less than one ball. Just don't pull too hard on it because it'll break - I was tightening up a stitch - luckily I still had enough to weave in, but did not pull as hard on the second one.





I can understand how addictive these are, and I am off to start another pair for Miss A. I think hers will be in the pink Cleckheaton Country Silk. I'm itching to knit with that and she wants a pair, so her scarf will have to wait a little.

Next project started.

Okay, so I finished the mittens and was in that dreamy stage of what to start next. It was either the light pink scarf for Miss A in Cleckheaton Country Silk which would have been a rib pattern or Fetching. I couldn't wait to play with the new yarn I purchased last week so Fetching won.



Specs:
Yarn: Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in Festival
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty
Needles: 2 x Boye size 5s

I somehow accidentally, in the second cable, knitted 1 row short before crossing the cables - I must have clicked the row counter on mid-row. It looked a bit funny and I tried to let it go, but I knew it was there so this morning I took a big risk ( 'twas a big risk for me) and yanked out both needles and ripped back to the cable row, carefully pulled the yarn out of a stitch, picked it up with a needle and thread all the way around and carefully put it back on the needles, phew. It is now fixed and even though I was shaking when I did it I figure the more times I do it the less scared I'll be - not that I'm going to deliberately make mistakes just to rip 'em out ;)

I had to figure out how to cross the cables, I now know that the working yarn needs to stay at the very back behind the stitches on the cable needle, and that you don't knit the stitches off the cable needle out of order or from the same side they went on. It has been a great introduction to cables and I can't wait to finish/wear them. Now if I could just get off the internet I may have them finished by Monday like the designer says.

Oh and the yarn I ordered for the Central Park Hoodie is now on the way as well as the pattern for it. Perhaps I should join the knit a long.

Oh Bugger!

I've done it now.
You see if you go here the price for Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran is AUD$31.90 per ball. (and I reckon shipping would be extra) Yep, that's right!

But here the same yarn is only US$7.00 which works out to just AUD$9.34 per ball. You can do the math cos I need to go lie down now. (Turns out a saving of around $330.00 Australian)
So I now have enough to do either the Rogue Hoodie which is a jumper or the similar Central Park Hoodie which is a jacket.

You can see I'm trying to justify it but I hope you'll all agree it was too good to pass up. I just hope I can live with it if the colour turns out way darker than the monitor shows ;)

Now Jess what was that about a yarn diet?? Sounds good to me, lets start tomorrow.

TaDa..

At 6:30pm last night we had mittens!! Want proof? Here it is...

Currently eyeing off the Central Park Hoodie. There's a Knit A Long starting in September..Hmm what yarn to use? Do I go all out and get some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed before it all disappears and if so what colour, and what if the colour is different when it actually gets here? I can't decide.

Mitten update

Last night I finally sat down to knit, I now have this much more of the mittens done:


See Andy's paw in the bottom left corner? Just before he pounced on them!
I hope to have them mostly complete tonight...then I can decide on the next item to work on.
I really want to make Fetching with the yarn I bought yesterday, so I think they will be next. Plus it's a good introduction to cabling.

Happy knitting ;)

The trip to the yarn stores was great fun, it's just a pity there aren't many of them and we can't go more regularly. ( I don't think their stock changes too much) Unfortunately I didn't find much that I really wanted to make something out of so my total purchases were:

Patonyle in cream to dye, I am planning to make a variegated pink pair, with a few stitches in each colour shade of pink from very pale through to very dark. Might be able to do it this Sunday.
Some Jo Sharp DK Tweed for Fetching, and Cleckheaton Country Silk because I liked the colour and thought Miss A might like it for a scarf.

More things to add to my 'to do' list! I still haven't done anymore on the mittens, I am so slack these holidays, although I have the best intentions of actually knitting it just isn't happening.
I plan to watch some episodes of "Buffy" and knit - I really do but the weather is so nice at the moment I can't settle inside.

I did however dye something else. I have this Bodymate pillow which lays across the back of the pillows on my bed and it had been a very bright peachy pink - a little like the top colour below. I did go looking for a purple cover for it but at $30 I couldn't justify buying a pillowcase. So my next option was to try and dye it purple. After one and half hours (and $11.00) it is now a beautiful royal purple colour, darker than the bottom colour, but you get the idea.


Not wanting to let the dye bath go to waste I searched for other items that I could dunk into the mix.
The t-shirt in front was next, followed by some white towels, flannels and socks. They didn't turn out a nice purple though, but a paler blue. But it was fun to do anyway, and I'd definitely recommend it.

Dye used: Dylon Cold Dye A26- ultraviolet.

I conned asked Miss A to make us some muffins so I'd better go and eat one get 'em out of the oven.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho or I want to be a pirate!

Because it's the holidays we have a list of things that Miss A wants to do. One of them was to go to the pictures. It was either Over The Hedge or Pirates 2, and after Piglet's Big Movie I will not let her pick the movie ever again! - I haven't fallen asleep at the cinemas since. So I had to talk her into seeing Pirates 2 - which wasn't as difficult as I thought it would have been, we've been watching Pirates of the Caribbean heaps these holidays and I don't mind watching it over and over, really ;) Aah, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Ice skating was another activity that I promised her these holidays so yesterday we forked over $27, donned ice skates, and for 2 and a half freezing hours I saved Miss A from breaking her neck/arms/legs/fingers etc, on the ice. I hadn't skated in, ooh about 17 years (used to go ice skating regularly in high school) She of course, has never strapped on a pair of ice skates in her life. Last time I went I'm sure you had to tie them on, now there is a ratchet/lever system to secure the blades to your feet.

If you were lucky you could snaffle a chair to push on the ice which helped with stability. So once she was able to get her hands on a chair whe was off. After about an hour with the chair she was ready to try it by herself. Not too bad for a beginner. At least I can say I didn't fall over or cause anyone else to fall either, it was quite fun and I reckon we'll go again.

Now a knitting update:
I am not knitting very much at all and really should get stuck into it while I have the time.
I have only this much done on my mittens:

At least they won't take much longer to finish.

Unless....Jess and I are off to the LYS's this afternoon! We did plan to go last week but Miss A was hit by a virus that makes you ralph a lot and lay there like a limp ragdoll who can't tolerate light of any kind. That was scarey cos it came on so suddenly but luckily only lasted for a day and was recovering the day after. Thankfully she didn't pass it to me, normally she shares her bugs.

Just don't know what to buy yet, maybe some sock yarn cos we all know I really need more of that.
I want something to dye, something for Fetching and Coronet perhaps.

So buying yarn and knitting said yarn will be taking place today, better go and get ready.

Red sky in the morning...

This was the sky that greeted me this morning, (yes, it was that red) I remember this old saying whenever I see a wicked sunrise/sunset:

Red sky at night shepherd's delight.
Red sky at morning shepherd's warning.





Shepherd's warning was that he should get the sheep in quickly as it was going to be a stormy day. Well it was quite windy here overnight, settled now and the sun has started to come out, it's supposed to be an okay sort of day, a top of 18, but tomorrow's forecast is rain.

Yesterday afternoon was spent at knitting group, and I've come home with an 'I want to make that' attitude. Although I have my mittens to finish, Coronet and Fetching are now on my to do list.
Now as to the yarn, I don't think there is anything in my stash that will do so perhaps a trip to the yarn stores should happen these holidays.
I should put a 'To Do' list in the side bar but I fear it will grow waay too big, then I'd have to add all of my UFOs and that means a hunt through all my knitting stuff but now I am happily in denial and don't have to admit that the mermaid toy has not been finished or the blanket that was going to keep me warm during winter is just a really long scarf right now. Perhaps confrontation would be good and make me finish them off.

I do have some finished items I haven't been completely slack:
Last week I completed Miss A's grey/pink mittens - well they were supposed to be mine but they are a bit small so she can have those and I started another pair. A work colleague admired them and I sold them to her :( Now I have to knit another pair for myself. Next time I will knit to a price as what I sold them for barely covered the yarn. Lesson learnt.



Pattern Specs
Yarn: Piuma from Spotlight - 2 balls
Pattern: From Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
Needle size: 5.5mm (US 9) - 2 circs.

School Holidays are here now and there are two whole weeks of prime knitting time.
Miss A should be suitably occupied as she now has one of those sets of knitting ring/looms from Spotlight and thanks to Miss B we can now make Scoobies. What do you do with them once they've been made?...we are yet to find out. But Miss A is loving them, so I can see another packet will be purchased when we come across them next.

Thank you Secret Pal!

When I got home today I had a surprise waiting for me to collect at the post office (We all love getting parcels now don't we?)
This is from my Secret Pal. This post is big on pictures as blogger was behaving today.

First up is the magic box - Customs had a peek inside and confiscated the kitty treats :(




Inside we have a lovely selection of lollies, yumm. I give 'em till the weekend then they'll be all gone. There is some jam too. Wonder what flavours looks like umm raspberry and apricot but I'll let you know when I taste 'em.




Some lovely hand creams and toiletries. Can't wait to try these.


Kool Aid for dyeing - soo much Kool Aid. Now I have to go and buy some yarn to try it on. I've used up all my Patonyle dyeing stash. Thinking about trying some Bendigo sock yarn......

Oh and I thought the little round things were lollies, hah luckily I read the packing slip, I think they are the Easter Egg dyes...would've been nice to try and eat those. (No wonder customs had to open the package)



This is some Silly Putty I had some of this when I was little and played with it for hours. I think this was supposed to go to Miss A...hmm maybe I'll have to have a go at it first ;)



PomPoms you should have seen Miss A's face when she saw these. She has a PomPom fetish big time. The cats now have some new toys aren't they just great it seems a shame to let the cats have a go at them. Andy loves the balls!




Some yummy Knit Picks yarn...Shimmer this I chose for a shawl. Some sock yarn we have Stargazer Lilly, Pansy and Grandma.



These were the best part of the surprise. My Secret Pal took all sorts of photos and had added some notes on the back. These were very interesting. See the one of the Coral snake? This actually bit her soon after she took the photo! Ouch! Beautiful pictures SP.



So thank you, this has made my day!
Now if you'd like to leave a comment and let me know where your blog is I'd really like to take a peek.

The scarf is done!

The black alpaca scarf is complete and is now blocking on Miss A's bed and will probably be there for the next few days. It is in her room with the door shut so no puddy cats can mess it up. It's cold in there with the door shut so I am disappointed to find it is going to take a few days to dry.

I have cast on for some mittens with Spotlights Piuma yarn (very soft). Knitting them one at a time with 2 circulars. Unfortunately I mucked up the first two increases and had 2 little holes where the thumb gusset stars so I ripped it back to the ribbing this morning. Luckily I was able to rip back successfully, and ended up with the right amount of stitches on each side, and the correct amount of rows worked as well. So It's ready to go later on today. It is more of a grey and then a pinky purple not the nice blue/purple it looks like on my monitor.


I am just starting to take risks with my knitting, like ripping back a bit and not restarting the whole project from scratch. Also considering deliberately dropping a stitch on something just to see if I can pick it up without panicking.
Oh also considering lace! Evolution of a knitter??

Today I finished the last assignment for one of my Cert 4 courses. Yay. Hopefully not much will come back with more work needed to be done on any part of it.

It is a beautiful day outside here it's a bummer I can't move the scarf and put it somewhere warmer to dry. I dare not move it.

Yesterday Miss A and I baked. She made Gingerbread Biscuits and I made my favourite, Lemon Slice.
Gingerbread Biscuits are from the book: Women's Weekly Kids Cooking.

Lemon Slice is an old family favourite. I remember it being called Marie Biscuit Slice because it uses Marie biscuits.

Recipe as follows: I double it cos otherwise you have half a tin of condensed milk leftover.

Lemon slice
1 tin condensed milk
250g butter
grated rind of 4 lemons
500g crushed plain biscuits
6 tablespoons coconut

Lemon icing
Icing sugar mixed with lemon juice

Melt butter and condensed milk over a low heat, do not boil.
Add crushed biscuits, coconut and lemon rind.
Mix well.
Press into a shallow tin, set in the fridge.
Ice with lemon icing cut into fingers (or big huffing chunks) to serve.
Really healthy.....yeah, right.

Oops, when doubling this to write out I just realised I only used 125g of butter and only 3 tablespoons of coconut and it still tastes good. Hmm ,well there you go, I just halved the amount of fat in it perhaps now it's a bit healthier? Better go and have another piece just to check.

Have a good weekend.

Guinea Pigs and socks....

As promised earlier, here are the pictures of the finished socks, we also have Guinea Pig pics!

Made from cheap Big W acrylic and some eyelash yarn - pattern link in a previous post cos I'm too lazy to add another link and must do some more of my assignment tonight.



Isn't he the cutest? I am soo glad he's done as I think the gauge was wrong it was tight to knit, so next time I'll use larger needles. He needs a friend and some babies. Oh and some food too.

Here are the socks in Opal Magic - yellow. I should have made these a bit bigger too as I don't think they'll fit for very long. And she won't wear them now!!

Top view:


Bottom view:

Side view: You can just see the Eye of Partridge on the heel ;)






I have only three assignments due (two are half done) before I finish up the Cert 4 in ICT yay! Then the Cert 4 in Business Admin starts up this Wednesday. phew.


Knitting Knews

The yarn has come in for Rogue and I haven't had a chance to swatch yet but definitely will.
I am lusting after some Bendigo Rustic in 12ply so that will have to wait till next pay day.
I am still on the 4x4 ribbed scarf and think that I am about one third the way through, so I'll do some more this weekend.

I've had a bad cold this week I think I had one weeks break between this one and the last one I posted about and am looking forward to the long weekend.

I knitted a quick scarf in some pretty yarn from Needlenook this week while I was sick and should block it this weekend, I'm trying to make it a little bit longer and open out the stitches so will post pics when that's done - don't hold your breath but.

Have a great weekend wherever you are.

Tigers' Big Day Out

Yesterday I had a day off of work and decided to skip town to the country for the day. Miss A and I went to Hahndorf. My friend Jess went there last weekend. We have a lot in common Jess and I - she goes to Hahndorf, I go to Hahndorf (totally coincidental) She's knitting Rogue, I want to knit Rogue (okay this is after she shows me the pattern!) Did I mention she is a great enabler??

First off we went to the Farm Barn (had to put in a fun thing otherwise Miss A wouldn't have come)
Miss A got to milk a cow, bottle feed lambs, feed guinea pigs. They have different types of sheep there that you can pat: Damara, Liecester, Suffolk and Merino. Outside they have a huge fenced yard that contains wallabies (I think they were wallabies definitely not kangaroos), geese, ducks another Damara sheep, and several deer. Inside they have a beehive and chicks hatching in an incubator, an alpaca, rabbits.

All was going well until this big deer targeted Miss A and began to eat the bottom of her pants. She's standing there squealing and I'm laughing, then I come to my senses, if it keeps going it'll wreck her good pants and she's just standing there so I grabbed her and pulled her away and out come her pants from the deers mouth luckily unharmed.

They have a show that goes for about an hour and they bring out the different sheep to meet everyone.

After that we went into the city itself. There's lots of shops to visit - a beeswax shop with lip balms and creams, a lolly shop with boiled lollies, oh a soap shop - I bought 2 bars of Frangipani and 1 of honeysuckle. There's an alpaca shop with yarns and garments already made to purchase. There was a nice jumper there for only $199.00 !

I didn't buy any yarn there and decided to stop off at Needlenook on the way home for a quick fix.
I didn't purchase anything there either but I've ordered yarn for the Rogue.

Miss A fell in love with a guinea pig at the Farm Barn and in Needlenook decides that I could knit her one. Yeah right I said, but after sleeping and dreaming of knitted guinea pigs I think it's possible - they make Hedgehogs right? How hard can a guinea pig be.

Mine will be very simple - a knitted tube stuffed with embroidered eyes and mouth. She also wants a carrot - a knitted triangle sewn up with a bit of green out the top, and a piece of lettuce - I'll make this up as I go along. Oh and then there's babies it has to have babies! Simple - smaller tubes.

So we are off to Big W today for some supplies to knit guinea pigs.
Watch this space for the birth of guinea pigs!

I've promised her by tonight she'll have a guinea pig.
____________________________________________
Added:

Here is a ready made one.

Did you know that there are patterns for this!! Wow this looks a lot like a guinea pig. Miss A has decided this is the one she wants, don't know if I'll finish it tonight though we'll see.

Well, off to Big W to buy yarn. Have a great weekend.

Ahh, we're both sick here, my cold has reached the two week mark and Miss A's just started yesterday.
The lack of posting bothers me but I just can't be bothered grabbing Miss A and stuffing the yellow socks on her for a photo. Hope you understand.

The good that has come from this is that I've completed 3 assignments in this week alone. I tell ya - I've gotta do them when I get them and not leave them till the last minute!
So Communicating Electronically, Produce Complex Business Documents and Develop and Use Complex Databases are all finished (whether they are correct and I pass are another story)

I haven't been able to settle to knit much of anything. I took on a project - I think I posted about it before - a black alpaca scarf. It's kicking my butt 160cm of black 4x4 ribbing.
Each time I sit to knit my new cat jumps up on my lap and sleeps, I can't disturb him. If I start to knit he wants to play with the needles. Always wanted a cat to snuggle on my lap, none of the others are lap snugglers.


Uh Oh, this is where it gets whingy back away now.

So my list of things to do is as follows in no particular order:

1. Complete Cert 4 in ICT by end June
2. Begin Reclassification process (going from SSO1 to an SSO2)
3. Start Cert 4 in Business Administration next month
4. Fight Centrelink for benefits
5. See lawyer regarding property settlement and stuff
6. Initiate divorce proceedings
7. Knit something

Now number 4 above: Centrelink does not agree that I am separated and trying to live on my own meagre wage. They say that being separated under one roof is too hard to prove and keep sending me away. However in desperation I sought legal advice with Legal Aid here in SA. They say that Centrelink is not doing the right thing at all and I am indeed entitled to said benefits and need to keep appealing their decision. Just have to have few letters of support from like the therapist that I visited each week for over 8 months (at a cost of $50 per session) when I first split up, the teacher that supported me when I had a mini melt down at work (the students still say to me - "Remember when you cried that day? That was funny". Luckily I can counter with some crap about us all having bad days and that I can remember consoling each and everyone of them when they have cried) and my doctor who is very supportive.

Not separated indeed! If I want something for Miss A, I have to buy it and give him the receipt and he'll think about paying half!! We don't even talk to each other.

Which begs the questions -

Why am I still here?

And no, it's not because I still hope to get back together, he is a different person now and I've seen his dark side and have no desire whatsoever in that direction.

Because this is my home, my cats are here and I know I'll lose at least 2 of them, Miss A can see her dad whenever she wants (although he hasn't been here much lately and mostly just sleeps after work), I have too much on my plate at the moment, we have too much stuff to move, I love the area, but the bottom line is that Miss A and I have talked it over at length and she wants to stay. Perhaps if I keep ignoring the problem long enough he'll go away.

Quick Update...

Wow, it's been two weeks since I last posted!
I've finished the socks and have made progress on the 'crayon' socks.

I've been asked to knit a scarf by a work mate. A 4x4 rib with some lovely black alpaca.
The yarn is soft and yummy. So I am hoping to cast on for this tonight.

I will post pics of the finished socks - if Miss A can find them - haven't seen 'em for a while, and the socks in progress.

Looking forward to the Mother's Day knitting meet this Sunday.

We have heels!

Last night I completed both heels in record time - 2 hours each - perhaps it's because they are a smaller sized sock and perhaps it's because I finally get the construction of them.

There's four steps in the Crazy Toes and Heels method:
1...Short row down
2...Turn the heel
3...Short row up
4...Meld gusset stitches with the heel stitches.

They fit well and it's good to be on the home stretch. The cuffs will probably be plain ribbing, maybe 4 knit and 2 purl??

After some furious knitting the last few days, we have completed gussets. Heels are the next step.

I said that I'd try not to cast on for the next pair of socks until I was at this stage. For once I managed to stick to it. Last night I cast on using "Crayon" from my hand dyed stash. Can't wait to see how this knits up.

Hopefully I'll get to the heels Thursday if I can drag myself away from these ones.

Update

The socks are coming along nicely, I am now up to the gusset increases and almost ready to start the slip stitch pattern under the heel. I think I'll try the Eye of Partridge this time. Almost ready to cast on the other pair! - I am still on holidays this week and have plenty of time to complete the heels, so shh, we'll keep that a secret.

I can't remember how I divided this ball up, but you can see that I picked the right starting point for them. The pattern lines up well. I know they have a long pattern repeat but half a sock?! Don't know if I can do this again. With all my hand dyed yarns they are just going to be cast on, there is no way I can line them up as I just chucked the dye on willy nilly and fudged it to get the same effect overall. Busting to see how they turn out though.

Pattern: Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes and Heels Book - standard pattern I always use.

Needles: 2 x 60cm circulars.

Yarn: Opal Magic Yellow.

The little guy is settling in, the others only growl at him in passing. This morning he was playing with Scrappy and Kitty in the yard. He has really made himself at home, last night he bounded onto my bed and plonked himself down with his head on my pillow and his butt in the bed!

He is fascinated with my knitting and will attack the needles which makes knitting difficult until he falls asleep. You just have to get his attention and he'll jump on your lap for a cuddle and a snooze.

Sock Progress

Now that the weather is getting colder, I feel more like knitting.


There's been some steady progress on Miss A's socks. Enjoying these, love making socks and I am restraining myself too because I really want to cast on for socks in some of the yarn I dyed last weekend. So I 've made a deal with myself, knowing heels take all day (3-4 hours each to fully complete, so I need to set aside a good part of a day to solidly knit heels) When I get to the heels and there's not enough time to finish one in one sitting then I'll cast on new socks.

D'ya reckon I'll last??

I finished this scarf for a co worker - finally - I had to choose a yarn that I didn't like so that when I was finished I wouldn't want to keep it. I've kept two others for myself. Even though this is very soft and warm, and the colour is not what I would usually buy, I like it. There were so many knots in this yarn I hope my joins hold out. Part of me thinks that I can't risk giving it as a gift if it'll come undone....fingers crossed.

Here is one that I just had to keep myself, I love this yarn, love the colours. So much that I had to make a matching hat.

This hat worked up quickly, but alas it is not deep enough for my big head. So another will be made shortly. Miss A is the owner of this now.

See what she's done with it?

It's perfect for a nest for her two Egg Flips - a new collectable (bird ??) toy here in Oz. They know how to market to kids don't they, cute looking, different smelling, you don't know which one you'll get when you buy 'em and you gotta get the whole set! Yeah right!

Aaww, aren't they just the cutest faced toy you've seen lately.

Can we keep him?

You know that we lost one of our cats 2 weeks ago...weeellll...

A couple of days ago the neighbour's boy came knocking at our door to ask if the bundle he was holding was one of our cats. He'd been feeding it but his Mum said they couldn't keep it. Do you want it he asks?
"Nooo!" says I, we already have three! "No thanks", and off he went.

What was sitting out on our outdoor chair in the backyard the next day??

I tried to ignore him but ended up ringing Mr Ex at work and saying that we've been adopted and what should I do. I was ready to pack him into the cat cage and head for the Animal Welfare. But Mr Ex said "Well give him some food" and the words "wait till I get home". With anyone else he would have wandered away but not our house. We are the ones most likely to take him on. What can you do??? Mr Ex said that he can't bury anymore cats and was reluctant to keep him, and it would have to be my decision and my responsibility.

Anyway later that night after checking to see if he was still out the back, we made a bed for him in a box with an old blanket, but he preferred the mat on the back step. It was getting cold and he has a sore leg (he's limping and so skinny too.) so we decided to let him in. You can imagine our other cats were delighted with this! They've only been hissing at him, nothing too fierce. So he stayed the night.

Guess where he slept? Yep, with Mr Ex.

Guess who I caught snuggling and smooching with him in the bathroom this morning? Yep, Mr Ex.

Guess who says he better stay for a few days to see if his leg improves? Yep.

He has made himself right at home here. I tell ya, he kicked a goal coming to our house.

He's not that old either I'm guessing around 10 months. He's very affectionate. Cute little face. Beautiful orange eyes. Miss A likes him.

Debate rages on what to call him though - I suggested "Andy", but Mr Ex says he's not standing out the back calling "Andy". He suggests "Tiger" because he's a tabby cat and our last tabby cat was "Tiger". Miss A suggests "Hoppy" because he's hopping.

So, can we keep him??

Dyeing Adventures

I trust everyone had a good Easter. For me it was the best one in years, Mr Ex has gone for the weekend and Miss A and I are having a girl's weekend in.

Ahh, Easter Sunday, a nice sunny day - a perfect day for dyeing some yarn.

I have more pictures on my Picture Trail albums. Blogger wasn't playing nice again and swallowed every photo I uploaded for an hour, so I have uploaded heaps to PT (my complete hand dyed collection and some 'in progress' photos in a separate album) and these below are yesterday's efforts.

Miss A and I had fun naming them.


First up is Marine Life:
This had black flecks too, but they washed out!

Here we have Moss:

This was made by using up all the left over dyes from Marine Life. Then saturating with a light green to help mute the colours.

Ooh Crushed Berry:

With purple and black, dabbed on randomly then purple was used to fill in the gaps.

Autumn:

The first one using flecks but they all washed out. I had another go below though. Oh and the pink turned into a coral colour.

Crayon:

Second attempt at flecking. I used more dye powder to help retain the hot pink colour. The flecks are more like spots. The spots were done with blue dye so the pink has purple spots, the yellow has green spots and the orange has brown spots - very pretty.

Cute Content:

Kitty likes the beanbag at the moment, she'll stalk it, wrestle it into submission then snuggle in it. She sleeps in it every night. Used to be the end of my bed but Puddy has that spot now.