Cotton Top for me

I have finished something for me. An 8ply cotton top knitted from Bendigo Cotton using a Bendigo Pattern. It is nice to knit with, it took 400g of cotton. I was trying to get it finished to wear on christmas day, but just couldn't get it done, but did finish it today on our Boxing Day holiday.


I am knitting a blanket in the same pattern as I did my parents and in-laws last Christmas, it is for #2 son, his birthday is in July so I will take my time and get it finished for then, which is in time for when it is cold here.

Christmas day was great, we had a really nice sunny day, sometimes the wind was really strong, but most of the time it was just lovely. We had bacon, eggs and hash browns at our next door neighbours at about 7.30am, my parents arrived around 9am to pick up some outdoor chairs then we all headed off to my sister's home for the day. The boys and girlfriends spent from around lunchtime on at their girlfriends families, a very relaxing and fun day. In Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales snowy mountains regions had snow on christmas day, how weird is that for a summer day. Anyway today after visiting friends I sat down and finished my top and now am blogging, before going and sitting down and relaxing before having an early night tonight. It can be so tiring at this time of year.

Six Weird things about me!

This meme of 6 weird things about me after being tagged by Cece.

Here are THE RULES:

Each player of this game starts with the weird things about you.People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

My weird things...

1. I don't like talking on the phone much... go figure....I am an executive assistant so you can imagine how many times a day my work phone rings, but at home I wouldn't just pick up the phone and ring someone for a chat, only when I need to speak with people I will.

2. I budget fortnightly, shop for groceries fortnightly and in my diary on every second thursday I have my own budget for my own personal money I get to spend how I want too, this does not include the house budget (groceries etc).

3. I only like to be knitting one thing at a time, but I have been trying to have a couple of things going at once, not much luck doing that.

4. I have to have our bedroom door closed and locked when sleeping, yeah a big chicken of the dark.

5. I always had to check on the boys before I went to bed to see if they were tucked in and OK, now they are adults I don't do that (not that I wouldn't if I could mind you), I do the same to Ruby our dog. I go outside and check she is safe and secure in her kennel.

6. I would never put a green peg on blue clothes or blue pegs on green clothes when hanging on the clothes line to dry, I have fixed that problem I only use wooden pegs.

That's it! Tianne, Donna, Jae, Jade and Rox - I tag you for this one!

My Last Tribe Gift and Soaring Eagles

I posted the last 11 beanie, I didn't get to finish the 12 beanie, in total I knitted 23 beanies for the Soaring Eagles Project. A friend from knitters Guild knitted 3 beanies which I sent with my lot. I will check out the site later and see how many beanies she has collected so far, I really do hope people can knit a beanie or two for this wonderful project.

I received my last Tribe gift the other week, some lovely knitpicks Shadow and dye your own, along with knitpick cirular needles, a wonderful Blue Day book, and other wonderful things.


A friend and fellow tribe member send a lovely Christmas Card with two cute little puppies and a crochet Christmas Stocking with my most favourite Lifesavers "Musk" flavour, a Christmas Cane Candy, and Caramello Bear, which didn't last for the photo. The crochet stocking to hold them is so cute and will get a special place on the Tree.

Today I started Christmas shopping, I had an accrued leave day off work, I amazed myself, the "I hate shopping" person, I arrived at the shopping centre at 9.40am, got a few things, then off to another one about 15 minutes drive to get some more things, all going well, then drove to DH's worksite to swap cars with DH so I could along with #2 son take the trailer full of rubbish to the tip, a couple of groceries on the way home, and all before 3pm. #2 son loaded trailer onto car and off to the tip to get rid of the rubbish. I got more than 1/2 my Christmas shopping done. And not a headache in sight, I am really pleased with myself.

WTF

WTF...was how to described the weather on Wednesday, it is still spring here and we had 38.5 celsius. Thank goodness it was only one day, the heat was unbearable. I keep reading all the blogs where winter is approaching, wishing I was there, in the cool and the snow, rugging up in nice thick woolly jumpers, sitting by a fire place knitting, sipping hot chocolate with a marshmallow on top, heaven. Anyway back to reality, we are heading for summer, that means nice sunny days, heat, swimming, sweating, wishing winter would fast approach. How easy do we wish our lives and years away, hoping for winter or hoping for summer. We always seem to want the opposite to what we have. Anyway wherever we are, we should all enjoy the present and make the best of it we can, even if that may be difficult some days.

I have pulled out of the "Comfort Jenn" project, I have just been too busy with Soaring Eagles project to be able to knit a square, I know what you are thinking (well most of you), it is only one square, but I am a woman possessed with knitting beanies for these kids, and they need to be in USA by 18 December, I can see myself knitting and finishing off a beanie as the person loading mail onto the plane is trying to untangle my yarn as I try to finish off ANOTHER beanie. Yes it is that bad, I am totally obsessed with it. I have sent 12 beanies early last week and hope to send another 12 at the end of next week, with a 14 day delivery as said by Australia Post, I hope that they are delivered at the other end quickly.

I have knitting planned (in my head) to do before christmas, but I can see myself rushing out at the last minute and buying all the gifts this year.

A busy weekend coming up with Christmas Party's starting this weekend, I am trying to make time to get to SNB tomorrow arvo before our HOG Christmas Party at 6.30pm, Sunday we have to rip out our laundry ceiling, cut a large damaged piece of ceiling out of the front upstairs entry and rip out the upstairs hallway ceiling, the plasterer is coming at 7am on Monday morning, so I will need to get up early to get ready for work before he arrives. And we all know what these reno's mean, Yes, more painting, so I also plan to get all the painting done before Christmas.

When I get my camera back from #2 son, I will take photos of more beanies, they are pretty nice, I am still doing the cable pattern from Stitchnbitch, it is a great pattern and quick.

S.O.S. - Comfort Jenn

Please go and check out this blog, a young woman is enduring probably the worst time she will have in her entire life. She lost her parents in a car accident as a teenager, her brother in a motorcycle accident, and last month lost her husband, her 7 year old son and her 4 month old baby in a car accident, and now she has lost the baby she was carrying. Cathy has put out a plea for help, she would love to make a comfort blanket for Jenn. She needs 64 squares, 8inches square, made in 8ply washable pure soft wool. She is asking for comforting colours. Any excess squares will be made in blankets and given to charity.

Please help, I know alot of us are busy with Soaring Eagles, but please take the time to make just 1 square for Jenn. We could only imagine the pain and sorry she is going through now.

Keepin the shiny side up

Well I tried to keep the shiny side up, but it didn't work so well. We had our annual weekend away on the bikes to Canowindra (western NSW), with the Illawarra HOG Chapter. It was a lovely day, hot, sunny and a lot of great people. We have a few raffles amongst members and raised $3,500 for the Kidz Wish Foundation, a local charity for sick kids and kids with a disability in the Illawarra area.

In our chapter there is a patch "Ground HOG", yes it is for those who can't keep their bikes upright, or drops it over so far that you can't pick it up yourself, even if it doesn't actually all hit the ground. I had always thought when others were getting these patches, that the only way I wanted to get a ground hog patch was if the bike was sliding down the road, yes I know that would hurt, but I wasn't thinking of that, it was the embarrassment of dropping the bike at a standing position or similar. Well we arrived at Canowindra, all bikes at the front of the Canowindra pub for the officially photo's. Then park the bikes around the back for the night. Most had parked there bikes along the side fence, but if there is a heavy dew, then the seat is wet when you get on the bike in the morning, so there was one bike under a lovely big tree, DH road his bike up under the tree, I followed and had plenty of room between the two bikes (photo below), as I road in, DH turned his bike to stop, our mirrors hit, I lost balance and toppled over, but I wasn't going to let my bike hit the ground, and RJ's bike (brand new I might add) actually stopped my bike from going all the way to the ground, so with my leg between the two bikes, and my left hand mirror resting on his saddle bags, it didn't go all the way down, but I couldn't lift it, shit. JB came over and picked the bike up and asked if my legs were OK or were they a bit shaky, no they weren't shaky, I put the side stand down, looked at RJ's bike and was so relieved that is didn't damage his bike. I did go and find RJ and tell him about the accident, he said he would worry about it in the morning. The next morning he come out and said, where did you damage my bike, I showed him the tiniest scratch on the hard case saddle bag (pannier??? bag), he wasn't worried about it at all, after all he is a spray painter.

The ride home through Cowra and Yass was great, we were so tired when we got home, it is such a huge weekend. Riding up through the Blue Mountains of Lawson, Leura, Katoomba, Blackheath and Mt Victoria, then through Lithgow, Lunch at Bathurst, the on through Orange, and finally to Canowindra. The local Lions Club always cook us dinner and breakfast, they have for the last 10 times we have visited, they even made a special cake to celebrate. We did stop at 11am for Remembrance Day, we were outside the Hydro Majestic Motel at Medlow Bath (Blue Mountains area) at about 30 seconds to 11am, by the time the last bike pulled in it was 11am. One minute later we were starting up the bikes again and on our way. We have two members who served in Vietnam, one who is a member of the Vietnam Veteran Motorcycle Club.

I didn't take knitting, and have only finished one more beanie today, and another on the needles tonight, (number 14).

Blogger isn't playing fair, and won't upload my photos. I will try to put them in this post tomorrow. Now the next day (Tuesday night) and blogger still won't upload pictures. WTF.

And the Eagles Soar higher

I wonder how many beanies have been made for the Soaring Eagles Project? I am knitting my twelve beanie (mauve beanie in photo), should finish that tonight, I may send some on ahead of when Tianne and I are going to send a parcel later in November. I have checked it out at the Post Office and was told that it takes 2 weeks air mail, even as it gets closer to Christmas. I just don't won't to take too much of a chance and not get all the beanies needed there on time.


I am loving the cable beanie pattern from StitchNbitch and the Hot Head beanie patter from the other StitchNBitch book. So easy only take a couple of hours each to knit. I probably should look for more nice beanie patterns so not too many are the same, but with a deadline fast approaching, and these are quick knits, I probably should just stick to these patterns.

I have posted my last Tribe swap parcel today, I was a bit slack and then I forgot to send it friday, so it is all gone and on its way now. Hopefully you won't wait to long Cece, and I can see if the Post Office is right in saying it only takes 2 weeks.

Soaring Beanies and a Silk Scarf

At Knitter's Guild on the weekend we made a silk scarf, no yarn in sight, but we had fun, and while having afternoon tea and waiting for scarfs to dry completely, I did manage to do some knitting on my first soaring eagles project beanie.

The colours I used for the scarf were a purple, bright pink and deep aqua, they came together pretty well for my first attempt. It was a pretty windy day, so we took the scarfs outside and held onto them as they flapped around in the wind, which dried them nearly completely in a short time.


I have finished 3 beanies for Soaring Eagles Project. They have asked to be knitted in acrylic for ease of caring for.


The first two (at the bottom of photo) are from the MODA Impact Issue 3 Children's Knit book, on size 4mm needles and knitted with blue acrylic. The were both a quick knit, plain but versatile.

The third beanie is the Basic Cable beanie on page 75 of Stitch N Bitch Nation. I didn't read the instructions properly (surprise, surprise), and didn't do the 6 rows of rib, I just got stuck straight into the 6 row cable repeat, it was so easy, and nice to knit, I am really happy with this pattern so will probably do more.

Soaring Eagles Project

Looking for a good cause? How about knitting for less fortunate school children? Rachel over at Procrastiknitter is looking for lovely people who are willing to knit small projects for the children at her school. These things might be the ONLY things some of these kids get for Christmas.....And it will keep them warm this coming winter in the US. If you would like to help out go HERE!

It will be a bit like "Paying it Forward", doing a wonderful thing without wanting anything back. And just imagine the faces on these school children when they receive a hat or a scarf, or with a little bit of effort both for each child.

A group is going to make 300 scarfs, so that is one for each child, so we all need to get knitting on some beanies or headbands, so each child can receive a scarf and beanie/headband.

So come on all you knitters in this big wonderful world of knitting, lets all get together and make this one of the best things to happen to all the children at this School. And especially for Rachel for putting this great idea out there.

Catch up with gifts

I must apologise to anyone who has sent me gifts for POM, Dishcloth exchange or just because they are wonderful people, that I haven't posted photos of the gifts, well here they are, and please don't be mad if I have forgotten anyone, it has been a rough week in this household. DH lost his job last week, #1 son was really sick last week, couldn't keep food down, lost heaps of weight (wish that was me), and is very pale looking, our Dr. picked up that his Specialist gave him the wrong medication, son stopped taking them on weekend, a day later started to feel a bit better, after a blood test yesterday, our Dr. rang and told me to get son to emergency in Wollongong Hospital straight away he needed a blood transfusion, he got there about 5pm. Not only did specialist prescribe the wrong medication but failed to act on his last blood test a few weeks back that was showing his blood count to be low. He rang us at 1.20am to see if we could drive in and pick up his girlfriend and take her home, I drove in and picked her up at 2am in the morning getting back to bed at around 3am, after 14 hours in hospital overnight all is well with him now, I just need to catch up on some sleep and find some stress free things of some kind so I can feel a bit normal myself, all in all not a good week here. Anyway can't complain, things can get worse and probably will, the house is a bit of a hot topic here, with only about 4 weeks of money to keep us going, things look as if we won't be enjoying our new renovations for very long, and that some other family may just benefit from them. Not a happy knitter am I.


Shannon sent me a nice tea bag in a lovely bag, actually two tea bags, but customs opened it and sent one to me with sticky tape on the end of it where they had opened it, so it went straight in the bin, what do customs think people are actually going to consume something they have literally cut open then taped back up, what are they stupid. The remaining surviving tea bag was really enjoyed, thanks Shannon.

My dishcloth pal sent me a lovely Katharine Hepburn book, I love Katharine Hepburn, wish my spirit and get up and go was like her. Along with 4 very lovely dishcloths, which I did take a photo of when they arrived but it got misplaced somewhere along the line, so I took another one tonight, they have all been used and the red one with the initial "A" on it is in the washing basket (clean) waiting for me to fold and put away.

Then there was a lovely gift again from Shannon received today, some really nice Halloween things, I have to admit, I have been eating the candy while typing this, pretty nice, washed down with a bourbon and coke....lovely.

Another gifts received today was from Amysue, a lovely Autumn note pad and a lovely note typed on it, with a lovely autumn leaf shaped stitch holder with the intitial "A" on it and some pretty pink ribbon.

What else, oh yeah... pictures of the scarfs and gloves I am knitting for someone who ordered them, not doing that again, not really my thing. I still have to sew up one of the mauve gloves and finish knitting the blue fingerless glove, hopefully tomorrow night that will be done and I will try to contact the woman and see if she will collect them while I am at knitter guild on Saturday.


I also have on the needles a Bendigo cotton summer top for me, the back nearly finished, but will take photos next time.

Still a knitting, broken needle and all

I have gotten some lovely gifts from Tribe members, thanks so much, you are all so thoughtful.

I did finish the black vest and gave it to person today for her birthday. I also finished both of the scarves for my order.

I then started on the first set of gloves, and was about half way through the first glove and not without a bit of a needle drama, and with life time guarantee Ivore needles I might add. Can you see, yes look below.

I got about half way through the first glove, the first time I used these needles and guess what, into the row, knitting along, and then it happened, the damn thing broke, yes it broke. They will be going back for a refund I can tell you. They were nice to knit with, but never again. Anyway I did remember to take all my needles away with me, so it wasn't too much a drama, just had to pick up stitches and transfer others to a new needle.

I am itching to start a cotton top for me, but I am here blogging instead, as I am trying to avoid starting it until I finish the order of gloves, I wish I could just loose the woman's details and not finish them. BAD bad knitter, if I do that. I guess it is because I am not sure I even like the mauve scarf, I do like the second scarf, so that is why I am in two minds as to finish them or not.

I have been knitting.....I promise

I recieved my dishcloths for the Dishcloth Shuffle, and some very amazing other gifts, I was so close to crying, I was so touched by the thoughtfullness of this person, truly amazing, Thanks Kim. I will post photos later, remember I am the slack one, I have taken pictures but just haven't had time to post them yet.

With the long weekend coming up this weekend YAHOO! (Labour Day on Monday) we are off to friends at The Rock (NSW) on friday after work and we both have the Tuesday off so an extra day of weekend for us (4 days).

I have nearly finished the black vest for son#2 girlfriend, her birthday is next week, so I will take it away with me on the long weekend and get it finished for that.

I have only about 80 or so more rows to do on the scarf and then I will get started on the first pair of gloves, then finish the second scarf and I have decided to do the cable fingerless gloves to match this scarf, then I will ring the woman who ordered them and see if she still wants them and get them off my hands. I then want to start a cotton top for me, and get along with some more dishcloths from all the cotton I have been sent from different people in USA, thanks guys, you are great.

I will have to post all the POM from Our Tribe gifts I have been getting through September, I have taken the photos, but just haven't had time to post them.

I painted some more in the 2 ensuites last night, just a tiny bit to do tonight, then hang the toilet roll holders, towel racks and then we can use the showers, tomorrow hopefully. Next week we have to look at finances (we got another Barrister bill yesterday, ouch, that hurt), and with another day to go in court, well I have to just work out the money as we need to get 2 sliding doors and get a carpenter to hang them then we are almost done, just the cornices and finishing of the gyprock (drywall) to go with a slick or two of paint.

And we got a toilet lid (one was damaged) it is not good using a toilet without the seat, it has to be put together yet.

Happy Birthday to the girls of this house

Two birthdays this week for the girls of our house, I have a lovely birthday picture of the 3 year old, taken on my birthday (15 Sept). (don't worry about the date on the picture, it must have reset to that when the batteries were changed. Isn't she gorgeous. Ruby's birthday is the 12 Sept.

We get our bathrooms fitted out today and the laundry tub put in, yahoo, maybe we can use the new toilets by tomorrow arvo. We still have to get the sliding doors and frames and then the cornices put in a bit more painting then all done, hopefully only another week away. I still have to clean the tiles down before the shower screens arrive next week.


Also a big thanks to Cece, she sent me the most wonderful colours of Sugar N Creme cotton for dishcloths for my POM gift, I have to get my act together for that swap too. And big thanks to Tianne for my POM gift she gave me today at Knitters Guild, some lovely chocolates, lovely hand and body lotion, soap, facewasher was a beautiful red rose embroidered on it to replace the roses Tim dug out of my garden, I can keep this one and not get pricked, a lovely hankie with my initial, a wonderful card with a beautiful dog which reminded her of Ruby, and lovely chocolates, did I already say that, but hey they are lindt chocolates.

At Knitters Guild in Kiama today we learnt to needle felt, it was great, so I purchased some needles and fibre to have a bit more practice at it, I did prick my fingers on a couple of occasions, ouch did that hurt.

Renovate or Detonate

That is the heading on some Real Estate signs for homes to be sold, maybe that should have been the sign for our house we purchased 2 years ago, maybe we should have just build a new home for the 3rd time, that was the easy way to go I think. But this house was in the home town of DH (was that Darling Husband or Dick Head), I will let you decide. Anyway we are in a wonderful location, golf course behind us, river about 200 metres from front door, beaches within 500 metres, what more could you want and only a 6 minute drive to work for me. A house that doesn't need too much renovating, NO not around here. Anyway, lately we have been renovating our ensuite, the downstairs entry, laundry and other ensuite. You start off will all the enthusiasm, then you hit the what the hell are we doing stage, that lasts a while why the work is getting done, then you get to the nearly done bit and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, now this is a huge black tunnel, but I can see the light. I spent from Friday, all day Saturday (well DH did help when he got home from work around 3.30pm), then first thing Sunday morning painting both ensuites and laundry. We guttered both ensuites, re-tiled all the floors in the laundry, entry and tiles both ensuites, now the painting is done, I have to remember to get some quotes for the glass shower doors, then we need to get the sliding doors fixed and gyprock the outside wall on our ensuite, then paint again. I haven't got the new toilets, vanities, or laundry tub back in yet, hopefully that will be done by the end of the week. So with 5 adults and down to 1 toilet from 3, things can get a bit hectic around the only surviving bathroom. Then DS #2 brings 2 friends home for the night, they had spent all day Sunday with the couple and then decided that they could have dinner and stay the night, WTF was he thinking, that's 7 adults and 1 toilet. Anyway I am back at work today, it is my bosses 60th Birthday (11 Sept.) so a Manager and I am taking him to lunch to celebrate.

On the knitting front, up to the neck and armbands on the black vest and about 3/4 through the first scarf which is an order (not doing that again, I am pretty selfish and would just like to knit what I want to and when I want to). My DH always says "She doesn't share well or play well with others" and that can be true. But hey, I don't care.

A first for me, I didn't do a stitch of knitting all weekend, I think I really wore myself out with all the painting, but I do hope to catch up a bit tonight, that is if I can stay awake long enough.

Sunrise Debut

Here is the photo Sharon took of me wearing the Sunrise Circle Jacket at SNB on Saturday. I am looking a bit stiff, and I was, the back is still giving me curry and I had to go back to work today, bugger. I have been trying not to sit at my desk for too long, and keep getting up and going for a wander.

I am about halfway through the front of the black vest, then sew up, do neck and arm bands, then it will be all done.

Sharon had Bronte at SNB, there was so many lovely knitted things people have been doing, you just had to be there to see them in real life to appreciate the work that has gone into them. Tianne is crocheting a beautiful white baby shawl, Linda is making a lovely cable jumper, Zena is doing a lovely little blue and white stripe hooded baby jumper, Donni was crocheting with a huge hook, she did frog while we were there, but did manage to get it back on track.

For more photos of Wollongong Stitch N Bitch click here.

Sunrise all done

After 3 weeks ago sewing the Sunrise Circle Jacket together I have finally put the buttons on. I wore it today to SNB and got so many great comments, everyone loved it, as I do. It was an easy knit, although I must admit that during the Sunrise Circle Jacket Knitalong and reading so many comments about the sleeves being way to long, I was a bit scared about sewing it up and trying it on, but there was no need to worry, as the size 37in that I knitted, fitted me perfectly, sleeves and all. I knitted it with Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed 8 ply in colour Emerald, it is a beautiful yarn to knit with.

I am currently knitting the second black vest for son #2's girlfriend for work. I have a long list in my head about what I need to do next. I am involved in the Dishcloth Shuffle which Rox is running, and she so gracioulsy sent from USA the Sugar N Creme cotton for the dishcloths, so I could see the thickness of the yarn, it certainly is alot thicker than 4ply yarn in Australia. After seeing how thick the 4ply is, I would need an 8ply and a 4ply knitted together to get the same thickness, it is about a 10 to 12ply.

I have to knit 2 pairs of gloves and 2 matching scarfs for a lady in my local area, she wants them for gifts for her daughter in England for Christmas, so they will probably be on the needles next, along with some cotton tops for myself for summer, a chevron blanket for son #2 as part of his Christmas present, so much to do and time is going by way to quick.

I have to get a bit like Tianne and Donni and have more than one thing going at the same time, that way I can choose what to knit and when, but at the moment I am a person who likes to get one thing finished before starting another thing.

My back is getting better, very slowly I might add, I have just had all of last week off work as I couldn't even straighten up to walk, the pain was not pretty, neither was for that matter me trying to stand up and walk.

Anyway while at SNB this afternoon, I realised I should take my own advice and just "Get Over It", that is the only way to stop being so stressed, and whatever happens, happens. Good advice, lets see if it works for me.

One Skein Gifts

Today was a much better day, and thanks to all of you who gave nice comments, you are so wonderful.

My One Skein Pal sent me my second skein and my knitted gift all in one package, and it turned up just when I needed a smile put back on my face.

She sent me a lovely skein of New Zealand yarn from Utiku Yarns it is 100% wool in a some lovely green shades, I love green. I never use to as when I went to Catholic School as a young girl, I am talking primary school, we wore Bottle Green uniform, and I wasn't that impressed with that colour for many years, but over the past probably 6 or so years, I have been getting back into green colours. My knitting gift was a Clapotis Hat, yes you read it right, A Clapotis Hat, in lovely colours, which probably won't go to bad with my green Clapotis, my One skein Pal also made some stitch markers for me, thank you so much to Knitting with Zen for my wonderful gifts.

Who gives a ....

Well that about sums up my mood right now, how about my life right now, I hadn't been blogging personal stuff, but hey, after guzzling a bourbon down, anything can be said.

I hurt my back again saturday morning leaning into the car to get my handbag, for shit sake it was 8am in the morning, pain, can't stand up right, bloody hell. Thought I would have a cup of tea, and what is on the fridge, a magnet with my chiropractors telephone number, lights go on, I ring and guess what, he works Saturdays, isn't he a gem. Ring up make an appointment and go get cracked. It will take a day or so to settle, well by Sunday afternoon it was feeling pretty good, but after a nights sleep all stiff again, so I had today of work.

Have I ever mentioned that we we can all get pretty moody at times, when I was my boys age I use to deal with it by throwing things, and if they broke all the better. Well son #2 yes the one featured a couple of posts ago for his birthday, well something has been brewing for a few days now, and guess what it snapped today, nothing imparticular, just snapped, we had a few exchanges of words, nothing to damaging, then he threw the butter on the floor, or should I say splattered it all over the floor, well my dummy came out, and finished with something I have never said before, get out and don't come back. Shit that did it. he got the car and skidded all up the driveway (no licence), he opened the gate, then must have snapped again, and kick one side in, shit, the dog isn't safe now, little shit he is. He put the dog in the car, his girlfriend got him into the passenger seat and they drove of. I was devastated, my heart sank so low, he took Ruby, I yelled at them to look after her. Anyway about an hour later, he came home fixed the gate as good as he could, came upstairs cuddled me and said sorry. Why the hell do genes get passed on, that is something of me I wished would have stayed in me, and not my chilren. Anyway, he has to face his father when he gets home. THat will be just great.

This week we are all living on tender hooks, this week we go to court (family day out), for when the guys who attacked son #1 and his ex-girlfriends father then stopped out the front of our both homes and started a fight which they lost big time, now my family yes hubby included along with the ex's father have to face charges. And now all too late the cops know the truth, but all too late for us. So over $10,000 down the drain and still more to come plus we have no idea what is going to happen to them on THursday. So all in all a fucking shit time in this household and across the road.

Anyway enough of my shit week, I have nearly finished Sunrise, just the toggle buttons to go, I knitted another beanie for charity and started another black vest for son#2 girlfriend for work. I wonder if they let you take knitting into court. What a day of wasted time.
Well there won't be pictures, as blogger wants to be a shit too today.

Cossack Hats and the Dishcloth Shuffle

A postcard from Jade from one of the places she and D went on their latest vacation, and from Rox a lovely little tin for my stitch markers with a cute sheep magnet on the front and a lovely card, thanks so much to both of you, you are thoughtful tribey's.

The Sunrise Circle Jacket is nearly sewn up, I have done one sleeve and it seems to be the correct length.

The last couple of nights I have been knitting some yarn I got many years ago at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, I think it was at the last show at the original site of the Sydney Showground. It was Willabaa 8 ply Australian Wool and pattern in a calico sample bag, it was to be knitted up for charity, which now it is going to the Guardian Pharmacy World Vision charity which is going to Mongolia.

I have joined up another knitting KAL, the Dishcloth Shuffle, I decided to have a practice go at knitting dishcloths, I was a bit confused as to what yarn to use as the patterns are American using 4 ply worsted cotton, I used Panda Regal 4 ply (Australian) on size 4mm needles, and as I was knitting it just didn't seem right, it looked to open and not thick like in the pattern, after checking out more about the Lily Sugar & Cream I came to the conclusion that it is probably equivalent to our 8 ply yarn. So I frogged it, and it wasn't as painful as I thought, then got another colour and knitted it up with two 4 ply's together, the result, a much better looking dishcloth. See for yourself, what do you think?

I'm off to start another dishcloth while I watch the end of the mini series "Human Trafficking", a bit of a heart wrenching show, so close to the truth about what probably is going on around the world. I know I should be going to bed at this time, but hey, when there is knitting to be done, well you all know who that goes.

One Skein KAL all done

I finished my gift to my One Skein Pal tonight, I will try to post it off tomorrow. This has been a fun KAL and I am excited about getting my second gift from my pal, and then a knitted item. It is so much fun trying to decide what do make my pal, and all the time hoping she will like it, I wasn't sure these would be appropriate, but after a few exchanged emails, I know now that she should get wear from them during winter.

The pattern is "Fetching" from Knitty: Summer 2006.
Yarn: Heirloom Heatherwood 8ply, shade 576.
Needles: Addi Bamboo 4.5mm DPN's - (I don't have 4mm dpn's as per the pattern)

It is an easy pattern and only took a night of knitting for each glove.

I will be revealing myself to my pal when I send the parcel. I do hope that you like the gift.

Sunrise Circle Jacket

It's off the needles, not sewn up yet, but it is finished. I had a flexi day off work on friday and sore finger and all, I knitted away most of the day, I had to be careful to tuck my finger away from the knitting, if I put pressure on the cut it would have bled all over my knitting, bandaids didn't help as they only got caught in the wool.

It did go away with us for the weekend, but no knitting got done, Sunday night when we got home, I sat down for a bit, OK, it was really late (but before midnight) and knitted until I finished. I was planning to sew it up last night, but after a day at work on the computer, my eyes are never the best so I thought it best to leave the sewing up probably until the weekend when all rested up and my eyes can see clearer.

I am hoping this is OK for the Stashalong extra Challenge for July, I agreed to knit something in July out of my stash and as I started the Circle jacket I nominated it, then came the cut finger which brought an abrupt holt to that, anyway it was finished before end of July, just not sewn up. Pictures to follow when I get some taken.

Happy Birthday

Our baby turns 23 today (22 July), and I was looking over his baby photos and thought I would share.
The first photo he is 2 days old, his brother is 3 1/2 years old. Birth doesn't do anything for the mothers looks I can tell you, it takes a few days to feel a bit normal again, and in my case after 16 hours labour then a C Section, it took about six weeks or so to get back to normal.

The second photo he is 5 months old with his fluffy dog. He dwarfs this dog now, yes he still has it and it still looks pretty good.

The third photo is with his girlfriend not sure when but in the last 12 months. I will try and get one later today of him to have a birthday picture.

As I post this today, 23 years ago he would have been 1 hour and 15 minutes old. My boys make my heart sing, they can bring a tear to my eye just thinking of them. They have been great to bring up, but sometimes with some heart tearing issues, I guess that is what being a parent is all about, being there for them, loving them unconditionally (even if they push that fine line so hard it bends a mile), Happy Birthday Timothy. Love you always, XXXX

Here is the photo taken after dinner tonight of Tim, Ruby and the fluffy dog from previous photo. What a good boy having this picture done for his mum.

I got Mail

Yahoo... I got my parcel from Amazon with The Happy Hooker and One Skein, now I can have a look and see what to knit my One Skein Wonder Pal to be sent off in August. Looking at the Happy Hooker and I am really excited to have a book that shows you clearly how to do things and with some pretty funky things to crochet.

My Sunrise Circle Jacket is coming along nicely, I am getting through the right front increases and hope to have that done by end of this weekend. Then onto the back next week.

My next project should be my gift for the One Skein exchange, then I have an order for 2 scarfs, 1 gloves and 1 fingerless gloves for a woman to send to her granddaughter in England for Christmas, so I will get them out of the way. Then it is open slather on what I will knit next, I have so much yarn still to get through and so many books with lovely things in them. I think I will get onto some more socks, and then maybe the lace knitting, which I would love to do my Mum some lace knitting for Christmas. I think I will be all done for knitting for others until I finish my stash reduction and get it down to nearly nothing. I also will probably do another sunrise circle jacket for girl at work, we swap pressies at Christmas, so the deal maybe she buys the yarn and I will knit it for her gift, that is if she still wants that jacket when she sees mine finished.

Nice cold wet winters day again, we got woken up at 4.30am this morning with #2 son car alarm, remember he is house sitting down the road, we had to ring him to come and turn it off, we then found out we had all the keys at our place, but the car battery had gone flat, but the alarm was still going, and the remotes for the alarm didn't work, so he had to get out of bed and come up in the cold wind and rain and turn it on silence, so it was still going but no-one could hear it. I am sure I will fall asleep at work today, not good being woken at that hour.

Saturday Sky and stuff

Above is my saturday sky and it is raining, raining and more rain, we need rain desperately and do get our fair share on the coast but not in the catchment areas on the mountains which is only approx. 30 minutes drive away, crazy I know.

Yesterday I had an accrued leave day off work, and with the rain not much got done but catching up with knitting. I did one load of washing and put it in the dryer, then I crochet around 2 knitted blankets of 35 x 6 inch squares, and then crochet together 2 more blankets completely. These get donated by the Knitters Guild Kiama to the Mental Health Unit at our local public hospital.

On this raining saturday morning I am getting a head cold, it has been coming on for about 3 days now, and isn't coming on very quickly either, which maybe is a good thing, although I do prefer illness to come and go very quickly, I don't do sick well, and as a wife, mum etc when does anything change, Sick or Not

I finished the left sleeve and front of the Sunrise Circle Jacket the other night, I have now cast on for the right sleeve and front and am up to the second increase. I hope to have this finished by the end of July, it is a really nice and easy knit. I may not get it put together as the next few weeks are busy for me: Work 5 days per week, today I have Knitters Guild in Kiama, tonight we are going out to dinner with friends celebrating a friends 40th birthday, tomorrow (weather permitting)we have a ride to Manly with the HOG group, next Saturday is my baby's 23rd Birthday, then on Sunday 23 July we hope to rip out the laundry, entry and ensuite downstairs, the last weekend in July we are going away to celebrate 30 years since we met, I will miss SNB in Wollongong, but a weekend away is going to be great.

Tribe Gift and One Skein Gift

I got my special Tribe parcel today from Jussi, thanks so much. I was very busy when I got home from the post office, so didn't get to open the box until I had dinner cooking, which it still is, I hope it doesn't burn...ooops. I shall be quick then.

The box contained some lovely hand dyed by Jussi yarn in the best colours, I love them and the yarn is Rabbit (how cool), also a very nice crochet flower brooch, I am thinking that will go nicely with my clapotis, a box of Boss Lady cinnamon gum, it says to chew them up and spit them out and on the side it says "sizzling nuggets, should I be afraid. A cake of Vanilla soap, I just love vanilla, I have vanilla oil perfume, and I keep spraying the vanilla air freshner in the toilets at work, just to get a smell (how sick is that). A lovely bright green notebook, a bright green with pink spots tiny make up mirror, it is so cute. A lovely skein of pink, white and green of angora yarn (for show) and a lovely needle wrap for my dpn's. The Rabbit yarn was wrapped in pink checked material bag made by Jussi.

I will cherish it all, thanks Jussi.

Earlier this week I got my One Skein pal gift, it is 2 lovely balls of Wirraworra 8ply Wool from South Australia, it feels really soft. The colour is wattlebark, I will wait until my One Skein book arrives from Amazon to see what I will make with this wool. Yes I am still waiting for my books, apparently Amazon said it must have gone missing (someone has got themselves 2 good knitting books - the bitch in me hopes they can't read english), so I had to re-order them and Amazon will refund me the money for the original order, the downfall of this is that it cost me more for quicker postage, which doesn't guarantee delivery, and customs may charge me a tax duty on the parcel now, what bullshit. Anyway I will be just happy to get the books in my hands.

A bit about Wirraworra wool (from the label) It is a semi worsted handknitting yarn, millspun from wool grown on our family's farm at Reeves Plains in South Australia by our coloured Corriedale and Merino sheep.. Their prizewinning fleeces are selected for their silky softness and sorted into 8 natural shades. Subtle variations in shading and texture are designed to create knitted garments with a unique, handspun look. Knit and enjoy - Coloured Wool Naturally!

And no I didn't burn dinner, the T-bones were cooked just right.

Baby Blue

The Baby Aran Jumper is finished, it looks great and so soft. I visited the baby and his family the other day, it is only 5 weeks until they head back to Ireland to live, they have been here for over 3 years now, and the dad is very excited about going back home, along with the mum she is happy to be going back to Ireland and making it home for her family instead of her home Australia. The baby is 7 months now and the jumper is a size one so it will be just right for the Irish winter this year.


Onto progress on the Sunrise Circle Jacket, I have finished the left sleeve and I am onto the front circle bit and raglan part of the pattern, the Jo Sharp yarn is just lovely to knit and it is nice and soft. Pictures to come later when a bit more done. It is nice knitting something for me. And I someone I work with wants me to knit her one when I have finished.

Happy 4th of July to USA knitters

Today while we are awake and USA is asleep, it is the 4th of July here, so when you all wake up over in USA (tomorrow here) then it will be your independence day. We celebrate Australia Day on 26 January each year. It is a cold and raining winters day here today in my neck of the woods, I bet it will be a hot day for your 4th July celebrations.
Below is a picture taken last wednesday by one of my sons, this is taken 200 metres from our home, we have the river (on left) and ocean (on right) out the front way (we can't see it from inside the house, but can from the front yard) and the mountains is our back view from anywhere in the house at the back. The photo is taken at very low tide. In summer we swim across the river and walk down the beach to the end and back, it is so lovely.

The Baby Aran Jumper is coming along nicely now, I have gotten my head around the pattern and am enjoying it now, although I do wish it was finished, I want to get to my own knitting for a bit. I did put the pockets in (see stitch holders), even though I don't know what a baby is going to do with pockets, but the mother wanted the pockets, so I did them. I just have the front to finish, edge and sew in the pockets, put it altogether and then do the neck.


I have cast on for the Sunrise Circle Jacket in Jo Sharp wool, and even though I have only done a few rows it is lovely and soft to knit. I don't have a timetable as to when I will complete it, but I hope to be able to work on it over the next few weeks and get a lot done, hopefully to get some wear before winter is over (plenty of time then). I am probably the last person to cast this on in the KAL for this jacket, but I will try not to be long in finishing it.

I still haven't received my books from Amazon, it is over a week late now, I just wish they were here already.

Stashalong - 3 months on

I survived 3 months on stashalong and have reduced my stash heaps, but still with a lot more to get through, I am going to sign up for another.....1 no 2, bugger it 3 months, that should see me through my stash. I wasn't going to, but I know I need to commit to this otherwise I would just go and mess up all the good I have done over the last 3 months. I am really liking how my stash isn't all over the floor now, it is just over 1/2 the floor..hahah. I need to get this house in some type of order and this is the only way to do it. I wonder if there are dusting, cleaning just plain housework alongs, I would definitely have to join it.

I am on my day off today, we work extra hours and can make up 2 days per month to take off, my plan is to thoroughly clean our bedroom top to botton and all in between, hem 4 new pairs of jeans, (3 for DH and 1 for me), wash my car (it hasn't been washed in months (alot of months), we are still in water restrictions and will be for a long time to come, get the clothes washing all done (which isn't much) and naturally do some knitting and hopefully finish the sleeves for the baby aran and then get onto the front, and all before 4pm as I have to pick DH up from work and take him to bike shop to pick up his bike (what a good wife), I even got up at 6.30am and drove him to work to save on messing around with vehicles this afternoon to pick up bike.

Flappers, yarn and good times

We went to our friends 50th Birthday party on Saturday night the theme was 1920's Flappers and Gangsters. We had a great time, she rolled up in a 1928 Ford, didn't she and hubby look the part as did the 60 or so guests all in fancy dress. Here is me and DH just be leaving home for the party.

Here below is the birthday girl and her hubby. Their daughter in-law and my hubby also got in the picture.

I have been waiting for a parcel from Amazon with two books, The Happy Hooker and One Skein Wonders, it has been over 4 weeks now, I am getting a bit anxious as the date they gave for delivery has past, so I am starting to worry they have gone astray, as the last lot from Amazon took about one and a half weeks to get to me, and I am having tomorrow (Friday) off work as accrued leave, so I would really love it if the books turned up now.

Last night I cleaned up the study/knitting/sewing room by putting alot of yarn into clip lock bags and then into large clear containers, I have 3 piled high, and the rest of the yarn is in the middle of the floor in cane baskets of all descriptions, it is still messy, but I had some nice surprises of yarn I had totally forgotten I had. There are some little odds and ends of balls of yarn, so I am thinking I will take them to Knitters Guild in a few weeks and give them to whowever wants them.

This Saturday Berry Spinners and Weavers are having their first annual show at Berry, so my plan is while DH is at work I will drive down to Berry to see the exhibits and I also want to go back to one of my favourite shops and get some tea towels I saw there a few weeks back that will go with my kitchen nicely.

Confessions of SEx

At the Annual Craft & Quilt Show in Sydney I did my one day a month (Stashalong) of Stash Enhancement eXpidetion. I did all my shopping from stall for Bendigo Mills in Victoria, they are working on a website, at the moment the only way of buying yarn or patterns is by visiting the mills or mail order with free postage and handling in Australia for orders over $35 (as told be a reliable source). I got six 200g skeins of 8ply cotton in Gumleaf (green), Wattle (yellow) and Flax (cream) colours, 2 skeins in each colour for $6 each skein, 2 skeins is enough to knit some summer tops for me, I also got for $10.70 a ball, 6 x 200g 8ply pure wool Classic range in Aztec colour (a nice deep blue) I am going to knit DH a jumper, but he doesn't know it yet. I also got some patters for the cotton tops and the jumper but have already put them in the cupboard so no pictures of them.


My confession is that when I went to my spinning lesson at Daisy Designs in Fairy Meadow with Kerry I did buy a ball of sock yarn for my One Skein Secret Pal, that was 4 days before my one day a month shopping day at the Craft Show. I know I can only buy yarn one day a month, and I have stuck to that for the previous two months, but I did need to send my pal a skein of yarn to keep within the rules of that KAL.

I am also thinking of doing another 3 months in the Stashalong, but will think about it over the next week that I have to go in the KAL as I did sign up for 3 months, and it has been wonderful and kept me on track for stash reducing.

See I have been knitting, this is the slow progress on the baby Aran jumper, I did manage to get just past the armholes last night.


This is my knitting for the Guardian Pharmacy Angel Program which will be going to Mongolia. A size 1 Baby jumper and a hat in progress, it is knitted with 4ply baby yarn and using double yarn, gotta love that for stash reduction.

2006 Craft & Quit Show continued

I have been busy knitting and will post pictures next time. I have more pictures of the Craft and Quilt show in Sydney last weekend.
The Knitters Guild of NSW is 20 years old this year and to celebrate you need a cake, this cake is just the best thing, doesn't melt, looks delicious the whole time on the plate and the best thing is....it doesn't have any THATS Zero Calories.


The summer section of the exhibition was great, you had your beach life saver, your family picnic set out including BBQ, even a bottle of wine and willow pattern cup and saucer, a bikin clad surfy chick.
Here are some more shots of the Autumn and a bit of the Winter section, the beautiful jumpers, the blue and white men's jumper was knitted by a younger male member of the guild (in his early 30's), he is so talented, he was at the exhibition with us on the saturday and was wearing another of his own knitted jumpers a lovely all over fair isle pattern, it looked so warm, he was knitting a baby shawl while sitting with the exhibition.
There is the elegant mum in beautiful lacy skirt and top, below are some lovely biscuits, can you see the Arnott's Ice Vovo's?

We had a great day, and with the area for the Knitters Guild being away from the smaller areas for exhibitors, you could sit and knit, go for a wander around, then come back and sit and knit a bit more then take in more of the exhibitors.

Rox would have loved it as they had the Annual Bead Show as well, I think it was the first time they had this, some of the beads and ideas were wonderful, I didn't see any stitch markers though, afterall it is the Craft and Quilt show not the Knitting and Fibre Show, wouldn't it be great to have a show just for that in Sydney, I don't know of any such event, well in the future it may turn out to be more knitting and fibre as people told me that a few years ago there was only one or two yarn stalls at this show, I think this year there were about 6 stalls, so it is increasing.

2006 Craft & Quilt Show Sydney Australia

We had a great day at the craft show, the Knitters Guild of NSW had a wonderful display, I did manage to get some photos, there was a strict NO Photos to be taken policy, but you could get the permission of the stall holder and as we were there for the Knitters Guild photos weren't a problem.
Bendigo Yarns (Victoria) did well from me and a lot of other keen knitters, I will tell and show more later.

The 50 Japanese Quilts were on display, they are something else. Fiberfish would have loved them. The Australia Quilt display was just as wonderful with so many different patterns, styles etc, some were hand quilted, some machine quilted.

It would have been wonderful to see more knitting stalls but I guess it is a Quilt and Craft Show and was originally the Quilt Show.

The following pictures are some blankets and the winter theme which the Kiama guild was a part of doing. It was amazing, everytime you looked at the exhibition you would find something you hadn't seen in it before when looking.






Isn't the knitted fire place in the background so just warm and cosy.

I think this post is photo heavy so I will post some more another time, including the knitted 20th Birthday Cake as the Guild is 20 years young this year.