Merry Christmas

I am so tired, my inlaws arrived at our place this morning at 6am to give Christmas presents, I was in a deep sleep dreaming away, when I was startled by DH jumping up saying shit....there here. Now at 8.31am I am at my desk and wishing I could go back to sleep. My FIL is having lung surgery tomorrow for lung cancer, he is looking great, so all should go well, his hospital stay will be about 10 days, bummer being a few days before Christmas, but you take a bed when it is offered, and with cancer you don't need to delay it any longer than necessary.

The inlaws seemed to like their blankets I knitted them, I am coming up to half way on Dad's blanket, only 4 more nights knitting and two of those we will be out, boy oh boy I need more time, maybe I will have it done by the time Mum and Dad are leaving our place on Christmas Day, but with temperatures expected in the high 30's, maybe not.


I got a lovely gift from Shannon this week, a CD of Christmas Carols and a lovely card, I am getting a new CD player for Christmas so guess what will be the first CD to play, thanks so much Shannon.

Yesterday I got a gift from Sharon, a lovely handmade stocking with my initial on it, a Caramello Bear, it was yummy! A Koala crossing fridge magnet, some candy canes, a lovely card, and a family newsletter, I will read it soon I promise, just a bit busy at the moment, I did look at the photos on it though.

I finished the Felted Wine Sock for my boss, and the scarf I did earlier for a Manager in my department, I gave it to her this morning, she loved it. Thanks Sharon for sending me your copy of Yarn magazine with the pattern for me to borrow, but I had already got a copy, I will send your copy back soon, thanks again for the lovely gesture, do you know what, it arrived on Sunday, a knock at the door, DH answered, a lady handed over the parcel, and we don't have weekend delivery only usually letters by the postie on a Saturday during Christmas seaon, and I don't think we have had any of those this year in Kiama.














Only two more working days then off for over 4weeks...yahoo.

Marti I hope your parcel arrives soon (you will get two now, the original match parcel and just a small Christmas parcel), I was hoping it would before I finished work tomorrow, so I would know you got it OK. I will try to get on the internet at #1 son's and check while I am on holidays, well before he moves from across the road, they are going to move in with her mother and step dad who have bought a house in Wollongong with a granny flat out the back, so they will have a bit more privacy and be closer to work, but I will miss them, #1 son is going to miss being at his father inlaws, he loves it there, and he will certainly miss his swim in the river and walk on the beach each day, but they will have a swimming pool in the backyard and the beaches will only a 5 minute drive.

I wish you all a very happy christmas and a great New Year, and I will catch up with you all in the new year. I hope to see alot of white Christmas photos on blogs, it just looks so lovely.

Cece, I forgot to take my knitting place, I was walking around with the camera this morning thinking that there was something else to take, but I couldn't remember, and as usually I just remembered now while typing this.

Have a great Christmas.

I'm so lucky....lucky, lucky

Wow, I have been so spoilt this week, I received a beautiful little angel for the christmas tree, the tree went up last night while I was out with the girls from work having dinner, so I put the angel on the tree this morning and took a few pictures.

I think I need to have a bit more light, this is taken from the other side of the room, the tree has been put up downstairs in the rumpus room, which #2 son and girlfriend use as their loungeroom.






This one shows the boxes from where the decorations are kept, now just to get them packed back away till after Christmas.














I received my Tribe gift from Lisa yesterday, thank you so much, I really have to learn to spin now, I think I have everything I need, but a bit of knowledge would be advantageous. I got some beautifully coloured rovings to spin (help), some lovely stitch markers, a CHOCOLATE Yummy! I am taking it to work to have during the day (well as long as it will last once opened) and some garden soap, now Lisa I know I said I have a lot of gardening to do, now I will have to get a move on and do it, and this soap will be so good to wash up with, thank you so much for the lovely gifts, you really did give me things I like.



Aren't they just great colours together, I wish I had great colour sense, to put colours like this together.







DH took this picture of me on Saturday night we were ready to go to the HOG christmas party.

All the Aussie tribe members little gift for christmas have been posted so hopefully they will receive them this week.

And finally, but still not finished this is how much I have done with Lucky for my #1 daughter in-law (no they are not married, but have lived together for nearly 5 years so I class her as my daughter in-law), her birthday was Monday and her party this Saturday, I have plans to get it finished tonight.

Christmas Knitting still to get done, Dad's blanket, then I have to find some wool that will felt well and make two felt wine socks, so I guess my cotton top and the one for #2 son's girlfriend (who lives at our place) will have to wait, as there are only 11 more knitting nights left and we have some nights out in that, and I don't finish work for my holidays until Thursday 22 December.

I love Mail...

I received a parcel from Cece yesterday, she made me a lovely dark purple booga bag, a skein of knitpicks...yes knitpicks dye your own yarn, and some lovely note cards with a knitter on the front, she really knows how to make someone's day, I needed some things to bring a smile to my face.














My recent ebay finds are a box of blue and white cotton, a spinning book, and wool gathering book (see previous post).














This is some of the knitting things I did on the weekend, the first colour on dad's blanket for his christmas present and 6 more rows on Jaywalker. I did get a couple more tribe pressies done last night, but I can't show photo's just yet, I am hoping that I can get them all to my tribe members for christmas day, that way every time we us it on Christmas Day we can think of each.




I also got the book Millinery Knitting by Annie Modesitt.

How'd I do.....

I didn't get too much done on the weekend, I did get half of my tribe christmas gifts done, I will post the USA ones on Thursday (I have to wait until pay day), I did manage to get out and shop for an outfit for my DIL party, I did get a bit down with the whole thing, the shops seem to have all the same things which didn't suit my shape, I ended up at a shop which has some very nice classic style ladies wear, I have a couple of their outfits for good wear. I really like the dress, #1 son and DIL aren't too sure, but I told them I like it and feel comfortable in it. I then tried to get some shoes to go with the dress, I want some nice summer strappy shoes, well my fat little feet don't fit nice strappy shoes....BIG BUGGER. I do have some court shoes with a bit of a heel that will go with them, will look around here at lunchtime this week for shoes.

To top it off while in dress shop, I spotted some really nice 3/4 length denim shorts for $89, tried them on, well I am short remember, they were a perfect jeans length, so I didn't get them, then while walking up the street towards the local spotlight store, I came across the Red Cross Second Hand store, well they had a brand new pair of Katies brand denim 3/4 length denim shorts for $10, and in my size - bargain of the day mate.

I only got through the first colour of dad's blanket not a full repeat let along 4 repeats of the pattern (which consists of 2 colour bands as in other blankets), what else did I do, oh yeah, I did manage to clean the bathrooms, YUK!.

I did wash all of Ruby's blankets and packed some away now that the weather is warming, how hot is it going to get today - expecting 30 degrees, I hope it doesn't get that hot. #2 son bathed Ruby yesterday.

Our friends came over on Sunday we had a great afternoon, we ended up going down to the golfie for the meat raffle, we won another 1/2 ham, which we opened last night. Our friend won a turkey breast (already cooked), she also won $30 on a poker machine, put a couple of dollars in the machine next to win and got another $80, then moved to another won with a couple more dollars and won $50, she is so arsie, anyway she ended up shouting dinner, so we ended up there until nearly 10pm, we were the last lot in the club - and their photos of their wedding in Bali are absolutely gorgeous.

I received another ebay win on Friday, it is a book on spinning, weaving and dyeing, with another called Wool Gathering which is similar. I had a quick read, and can't wait until I learn to spin. Maybe in the holidays I will have a practice.

I even did six more rows on Jaywalker KAL.

I will post some pictures later of what I have been doing.

Another Christmas Present done

Mum's blanket for Christmas is off the needles. I just need to sew in the ends and it will be done. I have done 4 rows on Dad's blanket, no pictures yet.














And a close up of pattern














This is how much I have done on Jaywalker, it isn't a very clear picture, maybe next week I shall have a better one.














This weekend I hope to:
Get my Tribe members Christmas giftie done (well maybe the overseas ones)
Do atleast 4 repeats on Dad's blanket
Clean all the bathrooms (3) I hate that (thank goodness for Enjoi)
A few more rows on Jaywalker, so I can get a decend picture, like everyone else's lovely jaywalker socks.

I have to go shopping tomorrow and find something to wear to Seanna's 21st Party.

I would like to finish painting the bulkheads around the kitchen (12 months since the new kitchen went in - I want it done before Christmas)

I would like to paint above #2 son built in wardrobes (same as kitchen)

I would like to weed a small side garden and plant the Lavender I bought the other week before it dies in the pots.

We are having friends over Sunday arvo to show us their wedding photos in Bali in September, we had to cancel, which I am glad about now as it was when the bombs went off for the second time.

Wash Ruby's blankets from her kennel

And the list should end here as my weekend is only two days, not the 10 days I would need or like to have to do the above list.

I need to clean the outside windows (well the ones I can reach), I would have to do them with a bucket of water as we aren't allowed to use the hose to wash down any hard surfaces or vehicle, we have had these water restrictions for over 12 months now with no end in sight, I also want to wash all the floors (we don't have any carpet anywhere in the house, except for a carpet mat in #2 son's bedroom, but this may have to wait.

I will update with what I achieved next week. Wish me luck

I hope everyone is healthy and happy.

Talking of happy, my #1 son had a new drug this week for Crohns, he will need to have it every 8 weeks, it takes about 4 hours on the drip in hospital while being monitored, and it costs $4,000 a go, I am so glad our public hospital system is good at the moment as he doesn't have to pay, his specialist is the head of gastroenterology (Spelling ????) at the hospital, although the hospital system does seem to lack in some areas. So far he hasn't shown any side effect signs, and I hope that it works for him, as it doesn't suit everyone with Crohns.

I would really love to sit down outside with my knitting and a nice cold bourbon and coke, but I need to get to work. Thank God it's Friday.....Yippee

Warning! Sunglasses needed to read this

I cast on for the Jaywalker KAL last night after everyone had left and I needed to just sit and unwind (read Knit), the pink is so bright you may need your sunnies to have a look. I got the wool off the trading table at Knitting Guild for $6.














I wanted to be finished my Mum's blanket tonight, so I will take to work to do some at lunchtime.

My parcel yesterday was the book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, I had totally forgotten about it coming as they had told me the expected delivery date would be December 12. I had a quick read before making the salad last night, I will need to sit down and get the circulars out and try it I think, it wasn't making really good sense last night, but I did have about a million other things going around in the old mashed up brain.















Just for Cece, this will be a great idea when you and Aaron start a family.

Jaywalker KAL

I am going to join in a knitalong, while reading Fiberfish this morning I read about the socks she is doing with the Jaywalker KAL, so I thought, and I wish I didn't think sometimes, that I would love to do this too. I have some bright pink sock yarn so I was thinking (there I go again) that I would use that for the Jaywalker pattern.

Shit what am I thinking (I am not) I am 3/4 through Mum's blanket, with another one for Dad, the Tribe Christmas gifts, sew together Seanna's "Lucky" top for her 21st on 12 December. And I would also like to knit myself a cotton top to wear on Christmas day, and maybe a cotton top for Abby for Christmas. Then the only people I have knitted for will be my BIL and Nephew, I could do them a beanie each. Bugger, what the hell was/am I thinking.

Well I shall see how much I can get through before Christmas, we also have a friends daughter having her first baby which is due 10 December, I think that just may have to be a bought gift.

I will cast on the Jaywalker socks tonight, as it is Steve's birthday (he is 47 - but don't tell anyone - shhhh) so the family will be over for dinner tonight and as Steve's parents will be there I can't knit on my Mum's blanket as I have done one each for Steve's parents for Christmas.

Steve has just rung me at work to let me know a parcel is at the post office, so I will collect it on the way home, I can't think of what it would be as I don't think (there I go again - all this thinking is mashing my brain) I am expecting anything.

Major Disappointment

We had a phone call from DH's favourite Aunty last night it is his favourite uncles 60th birthday on Wednesday and they want us to have dinner with their family on Saturday night at Wentworthville Club. So now I am going to miss SNB Dinner. I will still get to SNB but will have to leave around 4.30pm to drive to Sydney. Another craft person who's blog I have been reading is going to come along to SNB, check out her blog here.

I finished the sleeves on Lucky, and have cast on for the front band. All bits are ready to block, so I may do that tonight, oops, well after I sew in all the ends.


I am so getting itchy hands, I have so much going on in my head with what I have to knit and what I would like to get knitted before Christmas, it is driving me mad, as you know I like to work on one thing at a time, and it has been so hard this week, as I want to be getting lots done.



I have wrapped up my tribe pressie to go to US, I will post it today at lunchtime.


My #2 son is home today from TAFE with a tummy bug, and as I sit here typing this, my stomach is not feeling to crash hot, but I have had a bit of time off lately sick so I had better get along to work.

Here is how much I have done on Mum's Christmas present.

And the heat is on.....not in my office

After 14 1/2 years my office has finally got reverse cycle air conditioning, yippee, this summer is going to be very bearable.

In the knitting side, I am up to the armholes of Lacy and hope to finish them tonight. I also have done two more repeats on my Mum's blanket.

I rushed around at lunchtime getting some things to hopefully do for pressies for Christmas for my tribe, but time is getting extremely tight with all the projects I need to do and the ones that I have in my head to do....I must stop listening to my head.

I also got some things to send to Marti with the lace yarn, I hope she is going to love the colour, as I am sure it will go with a lot of different things.

Wollongong SNB will meet this Saturday and afterwards are going out for dinner together, it is going to be a great night. Ailsa is the November gift recipient for our tribe so I will take her gift to SNB.

I will get my act together and get some photos on my blog of knitting I am doing.

And if you want a virtual patty cake then just go and see the mouth watering ones that Just Jussi and Pick Up Sticks have pictured on their blogs recently, they look like they are such great cooks.

Shannon, I am thinking of you along with our other tribe members, I hope all goes well for you in the coming weeks, I know how hard things seem sometimes, but just keep going, keep smiling, and most of all never forget.

What my birthday says about me....

Your Birthdate: September 15

You take life as it is, and you find happiness in a variety of things. You tend to be close to family and friends. But it's hard to get into your inner circle. Making the little things wonderful is important to you, and you probably have an inviting home. You seek harmony with others, but occasionally you have a very stubborn streak. Your strength: Your intense optimism Your weakness: You shy away from exploring your talents Your power color: Jade Your power symbol: Flower Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Weekend Away

This picture has my bike first then Geoff and Fiona's (with Indian head) and then Steve's bike.


Our weekend away to Canowindra was great, but I didn't get the camera out until Sunday morning when we were leaving. I have some pictures mainly of the bikes. The countryside was absolutely beautiful, everything is so green and the farm dams are nearly full, they must be getting a fair bit of rain, I don't know if the drought is over for them or not. I love the Blue Mountains and Katoomba, we rode through Lithgow, lunch at Bathurst, through Orange then Canowindra, the ride home goes through Cowra, Yass, Goulburn, Marulan and down Macquarie Pass to home. Most after Marulan kept going up the Hume Highway to Picton Road and down Mt Ousley to Wollongong, but it is quicker for those south of Wollongong to go down Macquarie Pass. Steve and I left to ride home by ourselves, the first time all weekend we rode together, he rides up the back and helps keep the group together I ride up the front it is faster, a few others rode also left as we did they caught up to us, I was having a ball leading about 8 bikes doing 140klms down the freeway, all the time trying to keep an eye out for any cops and there radars, luckily we didn't see any.

I got home and within half an hour I was sitting doing some knitting, I need to catch up a bit on Lucky, while riding home, besides singing to myself I was going through things that need doing, I decided that I would get lucky up to the neck decrease last night, well I got further than that, I am up to the armhole decreases aswell. I hope to have the left front finished by Wednesday night, I don't know how that will go as I have the mole cut off my back tomorrow morning, so I may not get knitting done tomorrow or the next few days after, I will have stitches for two weeks. NO riding, lifting heavy loads, Yey! no carrying basket loads of washing, I will have to get the whip out around my place.

I have received confirmation that my ebay purchases are on there way, so hopefully this week I will have my 8ply cotton and my wool winder. I also received confirmation from Amazon that my book Socks soar on two needles is on its way, expected date of arrival 12 December, but with the back log at the wharfs and customs with there new beaut scanning machines, it could be a bit late.

The picture is my bike out the front of the Canowindra Hotel, this is were we stayed the night, this is getting ready for the ride home. The local Lions Club come down and set up in the side carpark and feed us a great dinner and good old country style breakfast, they have been doing it for 9 years now. This is an annual ride on the 2nd weekend of November.














The next picture is Steve with friend Glenn, who is sitting on his bike suffering from the worst hang over, he was so drunk on Saturday night that we had to walk him about a kilometre to his motel room, I nearly wet myself laughing, I have never seen someone so drunk that they were staggering on every step, it took over 1/2 an hour to walk him to his room, we then went back to the pub for more dancing, they had a great band there for us - "Loose Stones".













The next picture is the bikes lined up in front of the Royal Hotel Canowindra all ready to ride home.

Shopping at Ebay and Amazon

I just got some great bargains on ebay, and ordered from Amazon the book (knitting book naturally) Socks Soar on Two Circulars. It says 6 - 21 days shipping, so I will see if I get it before 1 December, then I will order the smallest bamboo circulars to knit some socks on, I can just see my list of things to knit getting so out of hand that I will be still getting through them next Christmas. I need to stop buying yarn, but who can resist when you get a bargain. I will have to flash my stash in the next few weeks, and let you all see how out of control it and I am, and I don't mean in how much....I mean "how much and how messy the room with it is".

I bought 10 balls (500g) of Heirloom 8ply Cotton in green for $16.55 (they are over $4 a ball in shops), don't know yet what I will do with it, probably knit myself, yes myself a summer top. I also got a wool winder, I have been trying to get one of these off ebay for ages, but was always outbid, I ended up paying $32 for it, but it is still about 1/2 price to a new one.




I got another little suprise in the mail from another tribe member, Donyale sent me a really nice little mauve colour notebook, just the thing for carrying around in my knitting bag to jot down knitting things when I need to.

I wonder how those two tribe members are going on their family together holiday this week down the coast, I can see them now, loungeing around the pool, with drinks in hand and knitting close by, lucky things.

I tried to order some things for my giftingtime person from Knit Picks and got right through to the checkout part, put in her address etc, but couldn't get it processed as I don't know her home phone number in US - bugger, bugger, bugger. Anyway, now I am getting a wool winder I may just do up some of my lace yarn purchased recently and get some things from here and send instead. So hang in there Marti I haven't forgot about you. I can't wait to get my ebay purchases in the mail, probably next week now as we don't have saturday mail delivery here, only a couple of weeks before christmas as they get such a back log of christmas cards/mail.

The weather here is being a bit unpredictable this week, boiling hot one day, cool the next, with the forecast for here on the coast in low 20's and inland under 20 degrees for the weekend, I don't know what to wear riding as I am not taking much, the area we are riding through is the blue mountains, which is going to be a bit cool, but then where we are going could be a bit warmer, what a pickle hey!. I guess wear long sleeves and take a short sleeve t-shirt and hope for the best.

Lucky

I am getting along very well with Lucky, I will have to use the computer less as it makes my arms ache too much using the mouse to often. I am trying to get as much down as possible as this weekend there won't be any knitting until probably Monday, we are riding to Canowindra for the weekend with the local HOG group. I hope the roads will be all clear, as they had a really bad storm the other night out Bathurst way and some roads are still under water, we may have to take a different route. No the knitting won't be going with me, I am only taking one small bag strapped to my pillion seat, so with a change of underwear, t-shirt, socks, toiletries, and the bourbon, and then there are Steve's things, there won't be any room for knitting. Plus Drinking alot and knitting won't go well together. We ride most of the day saturday, party the night away, then ride home most of the day sunday.

Here is the right hand side front of Lucky.













I have been tormenting myself again, by looking on the knitpicks webpage, why is it that US get all the good online stores, but they don't ship to Australia. Bugger - double bugger. There sock garden yarn in hollyberry is yummy, and the sweet tarts is a nice colour

Knitting progress

Damn my left arm from elbow down is so sore, I think something is a little overwork in it or something, it really hurts to bend or twist my arm from side to side. Anyway that won't stop the knitting.

I have now finished the right front of "Lucky" and will start the left front tonight, this is knitting up quicker that what I imagined. Photos to come. I also completed two pattern repeats on my Mum's blanket for Christmas.

Stupid me got my arms so sunburnt yesterday, and I didn't even think I was out in the sun for long, well at any one time that is. We washed our bikes, I hang out heaps of loads of washing, (that is probably what did it), we mowed the lawn at 4.30pm, so I was cranky with myself when later in the evening I realised how burnt my arms were, and the cancer spot cut out recently is extrememly red and raw, I hope it goes before I go back to specialist Tuesday week to have a mole cut of my back. Boy is he going to be pissed. I will have to put on the sunscreen all the time, I wish it was in the shower water it would make is so easy, instead of trying to put it on yourself.

Thanks Shannon for the lovely card you sent to say hello. It was really thoughtful. I am trying to decide on what to send Weebug, I had better get my act together before long and also the November person I have to do something for her. It is all so exciting.

Ailsa is knitting Annie Modesitt's Corset Thank Top and it is beautiful. I didn't put two and two together when she was showing us how it was going the other week, I decided to have a look at where to get the pattern from and it was then I realised that I have Annie's book "Confessions of a Heretic Knitter", I haven't read much yet, but what I have read is very interesting, something I will have a try at next year.

Tagged by Donna

What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with? Heirloom wool and their cotton are nice to knit. Aurora 8 is a really nice yarn to knit.

Your favourite needles? Addi turbos - circulars

The worse thing you've ever knit? I can't remember so I will go with the blanket I made my in-laws for this christmas, I don't like the colours used, but hopefully they will, they were made with my attempt to reduce my Stash.

Your most favourite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it but it was the most fun to knit) I enjoy lace patterns, I just didn't know that is what they were all the years I have been knitting these patterns in baby wear etc.

Most valuable knitting technique? Mattress stitch and Kitchner Stitch, I have to have instructions for doing the latter.

Best knitting book or magazine? Whichever one has the pattern I like knitting.

Your favourite knit-along? I haven't been involved in a knit-a-long, maybe next year, I have too many things I need to get done in a very short time at the moment.

Favourite knitblogs? All the ones on my blog especially Our Tribe.

Favourite knitwear designer? Not sure, I just knit whatever takes my fancy.


The knit item that you wear the most. (how 'bout a picture of it?) My jumper made from Nundle wool - springtime colourways????.

Tagging? A lot of people have this so I tag Fiberfish and Yarntherapy and Sassy Gina-d - my favourite USA bloggers.

I feel of the wagon

I slipped up, I have started the blanket for my mum for christmas. Lucky is coming along nicely, but sometimes (like late at night or at lunchtime) it takes a bit more concentration than I can muster, so I have cast on for the blanket and will do that when the old mind isn't thinking clearly, I guess it isn't too bad having two projects going at the same time.

Mum's Blanket for Christmas














I have finished the back of lucky and am up to the right side front. It is in Heirloom 4ply Cotton, which is really nice to knit.















On the losing weight side of things, another 1/2 kilo is gone, I am doing OK by just trying to eat better, no biscuits just yoghurt or fruit between meals.

Rain drops keep falling on my head.....

Isn't this rain just wonderful, we have had a full day and night of rain, good soaking rain and it is falling in the catchment area.

I am nearly finished the back of the "Lucky" lace wrap top, photos to come.

Stitch N Bitch on Saturday was great, we sat around chatting, knitting, checking out other people's knitting, and books that some had brought in. Sipping cocktails (Strawberry Whisper) - yummy, while sitting around with so many great people and knitting....just great! I was good I resisted the desserts, I am determined to atleast start to lose some weight, we will be walking again tonight (weather permitting).

Donni had a few projects going, the Knitpicks (I wish Knitpicks sold to Australia) sock yarn in red and green, she is so clever knitting them together on 2 circulars, and the clapy she is doing in brown and blue, it looks great, these two colours are so IN.

Ailsa with her Mystery Shawl and the Corset top - it is just so lovely, she is doing it in her own handspun and dyed yarn, another clever chick. Oh to be so multi-talented.

Jussi was doing the stripy tiger socks, they are so nice in those colours.

I keep feeling as if I need to start on my parents blankets for christmas, but I am trying hard to resist and just do one project at a time, and as I need to finish "Lucky" by 12 December I will keep that going alone, then start the blankets.

55 days till Christmas Day, so I will give myself 50 days to finish all projects, that makes it 20 December to be all done. That way when I finish work for my holidays on Thursday 22 December, I will have a few days to potter around getting things ready for Christmas Day, like clean the barby, get the chairs out, and the old doors and trestles (these make great long tables), you know the stuff, running around like a chook with its head cut off trying to make sure everything is done and how I want it.

What makes my heart sing........

Lots of things make my heart sing, seeing my kids happy, riding along side Steve on our bikes, Ruby makes my heart sing, my roses when in bloom make me smile, just being alive and seeing the beauty around makes me smile. Even with all the shit that can happen in life from time to time, there is so much around us that is beautiful....you know, You just have to "smell the roses" as they say. Look around you and see the good and beauty in all.



This picture of #2 son asleep on outside lounge with Ruby watching over him, this is one thing that makes me smile and my heart sing.

Yesterday #2 son gave her a whole egg, she loves them, she gently plays with it, then she licks it, she even gets it in her mouth and runs around the yard with it, has another play with is rolling it around with her paws,she does this for about 15 minutes or so, she then gently puts it in her mouth and cracks it open, and eats the whole thing. She is so gentle for apparently being the most vicious breed.

The wait was worth it

I had a great time at Knitter's Guild Camp on the weekend. We knitted, ate, knitted, learnt new knitting things, ate, knitted, did I mention we knitted.

We arrived at 5pm on Friday afternoon, settled in, ate dinner, talked and knitted till late. Saturday we were up early, some went for a morning walk, others got a cuppa and sat and talked or knitted until 7.30am when breakfast started, then at 8.30am the workshops started. I wanted to do A-mazing knitting, well I lasted through the sample piece, and couldn't get my brain around it, so seeing as the books and yarn people had set up I decided to go and see what I could spend my hard earned and hard saved cash on. Well I bought 5 books see picture for titles. Others from our group who kept at it, said it was easy once you got the cast on going, but with something like 2,000 stitches, I think I will have another go at home in peace and quiet.

I bought some Centolavaggi 2ply lace wool in off white, I got a ball of Hot Socks wool yarn. From Flinders Island Fleece I got a cone, no a huge cone of 2ply wool in a terracotta colour for lace knitting, a cone of over a kilo of 8ply pure wool in off white, some dying to be done, a small cone of off white 4ply for dying, that was my first cone I thought I would try my hand a dying, then I spotted the 8ply and I want to do some more felted bags, so I ummed and arred and got the Virgin Credit card now I am talking in name and by nature and made my first purchase on credit card, I am so happy it was for wool, I didn't go crazy just $52, but I did tell Steve of my credit card when I got home.

I then won 25 balls of Miraggio by Patons yarns with two pattern books, also I won a Learn to Crochet kit.

The food was plentiful, saturday I stuffed myself stupid and went easy on sunday, I didn't have any morning or afternoon tea cakes etc the whole weekend, I don't know where they expected me to fit it after the meals we ate.

I made great progress on my father in-laws blanket for Christmas.














My mother in-law makes the most amazing cards, this is my birthday card
















This is what $302 looks like converted into Knitting Books and Yarn.





















And I won these:

















And I made this yesterday in Mosaic Knitting Workshops:

One more sleep....that's all it will take....just one more sleep

One more sleep, alot of packing and still doing homework for Knitters Guild Knitting Camp this weekend. We are staying at Stanwell Tops Conference Centre - I can't wait.

I need a nice relaxing weekend after last weekend and the dramas that followed. You know the song "Dancing in the Street" well the new title is "Brawling in the Street". And after many thoughts on choosing a name for my house I think I will rename my street to "Anarchy Hill Drive" - Rebellious, Chaotic, lawlessness, just plain out of control would suit. Anyway a good old aussie brawl any day is pretty good, not these girl fights with guns, knives etc which seem to be creeping into the aussie way of life. Anyway two visits to the chiropractor and all is well with the old body again.

Tianne I am still deciding on whether to take alcohol this weekend or not, I don't think I will. I am running out of time for getting everything ready. I have prepared homework for the Amazing Knitting and Mosaic Knitting workshops. I have started on the seams etc workshop stuff, but probably won't be doing them. I have to remember to take the camera for some good blog picture. I should write a list of things to take so I don't take too much or leave something behind, maybe tonight I will do that.

Pictures on Side Bar

When I work on my blog and look at it on my computer, I can see all the links buttons etc. Eg. Yarn Magazine button, button for Sassy Gina-D who spoilt me in SP5. I was looking at my blog from another computer last week and I couldn't see the buttons I have on my side bar, can other people see them or not. Can you let me know please. Thanks.

3 more sleeps......

Just 3 more sleeps till Knitting Camp....yahoo!.

I have to get my act together, after a full on week at work last week filling in the for General Manager and Mayor's Executive Assistant, I was sooooo tired each night, I am glad to be back in my own office this week. After an exciting weekend (if that is what you call what happened) I had to go to the chiropractor yesterday to get put back in alignment, feeling a bit better today, I finally last night started getting things ready for knitting camp this weekend, I will need to finish work early on Friday to be at the venue for 5.30pm. We have a few 'homework' items to prepare for the workshops, so I will have to get them finished tonight hopefully.

I got a lovely parcel from Ozeyarn yesterday, the 100cm circular needles needed for a workshops at camp and Heirloom 4ply Cotton for my #1 son's girlfriend's 21st pressie for December. I will take that to camp along with the second blanket for in-laws.

Julian from Ozeyarn send me an Ozeyarn carrybag, sample cards and some Jo Sharp pamphlets in my order. There is a great article on Julian and Ozeyarn in this issue of Creative Knitting.

Pick Up Sticks had another article published in this issue of Creative Knitting, it was a great read, I didn't put it down until I finished, I was cooking dinner while reading, and guess what....the meat was so well done, nice and crispy. Oh well, they are use to my cooking.

Chrissy Blanket

I am about half way on the mother inlaws blanket for Christmas.


On Tuesday I had to see the skin specialist for a large black spot thingy on my back, he froze off a sun spot above my lip (well doesn't it look a treat today, I am glad it is Council's Union picnic day tomorrow so I don't have to come to work) and he took a skin cancer of my arm (both of which I had no idea were there), and now I have to go back to have this mole cut off my back next month. The next available appointment was a week before our annual bike ride to Canowindra as I did't want to have to ride with stitches in my back I put it off until after that weekend. Oh what joy of ageing, now we know the dangers of all those years at the beach and sun baking in coconut butter and baby oil, but hey the tan was great. Isn't it funny how now I think white is nice. When I was young I was always dark brown people thought I had olive skin, now people think I have lovely fair skin as I try not to get my face in the sun much at all (just a little bit).

I went to the knitting frenzy on Saturday it was a good day, sheep being sheared, a couple of women spinning and a lot more knitting away on the squares to be made into blankets to be sent to Mongolia. One ladies mother had knitted 350 squares, that is going to make 10 blankets. They raise money for medical procedures for people in Fiji, India etc for surgery on some awful looking body defects in mainly children. The idea is that you get people to sponsor the squares you are knitting. The organisers are hoping to raise more funds than last year and they are certainly going to have more blankets than last year. The local paper took a photo of me and a few others watching the sheep shearing, well I can tell you it really has kicked my butt into gear as far as the eating better is going. I have been eating heaps better since yesterday (hahaha) when I saw the picture. Light and Easy Cereal with Soy milk for breakfast, I have my homemade natural yoghurt, strawberries, a mandarin, a salmon salad to eat at work, and will have to decide on something healthy for dinner, and drink plenty of water. I must start walking of a night again.

What I've been up to

I told you I had been knitting....Here are the squares for the blankets, because of other commitments on Saturday I was missing SNB, but I had the newspaper clipping from Wednesday's paper saying the Knitting Frenzy would be held in the Old School Park next saturday the date and time. I thought DH is at work I have time to drive down and knit abit before going to friends party in afternoon.
I got my knitting together, my chair and headed off down, I got there and no-one was to be seen, I thought they must have packed up as the weather was turning cold and wet looking. So I went and got some supplies for party and the alcohol (most important) and headed home, only to read the date and it is Saturday 1 October. So I will drive back down this saturday morning and knit a bit. I always get confused with the "next saturday", I take it that it is the saturday coming up not the one after.



I have been knitting the tops on some kitchen hand towels, which should keep me going for a few more years to come. Some are Christmas hand towels, but they will be used all year round. They are all different in colours and patterns, which is the beauty of having a timber kitchen, with black benches and white tiles, any colour matches.



I am working on a blanket for my in-laws for Christmas, I am not sure on the colours, but I am trying to use up this ridiculously huge stash, so I am trying to match up colours the best I can. They are a blue and lemon colour, so hopefully when finished won't look to bad.

My DS #2's girlfriend (damn what a mouth full), was looking at the book I got from the Bookman who comes around work, I was going to get it for my niece, but it had some useful things in it so I decided to keep it for myself. So the girlfriend said last nigth she would like to learn to knit, so she said she would have a go at it from the book, I left her some needles and yarn out on the book this morning, so maybe when I get home she may have started. Would be nice if the dishes were done, the washing folded etc, but that would be just too much for my heart to take......