tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71973372024-03-13T11:58:09.379+00:00League Against Boring LunchesKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-8544867992950009082011-01-19T22:07:00.001+00:002011-01-19T22:08:20.108+00:00FinThis will be the last post on League Against Boring Lunches. It’s been going since 2004 (!!!) and started with no real idea of a direction. I’ll continue to blog at <a href="http://www.knitcooksew.blogspot.com/">KnitCookSew</a>. Please come over and check it out, and thanks for reading!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-20661206488876531492011-01-14T15:44:00.000+00:002011-01-14T15:45:09.513+00:00Friday funnyWoman at work asks the team what they think might be wrong with her heating as there’s a tapping noise. We suggest bleeding the radiators.<br />Woman: ‘Blee-? Bleed? As in blood?’<br />Us: Yes, you need a radiator key, you turn it to let the air out and then close the valve again when water starts coming out.<br />Woman: <looks><br />Us: Look on youtube<br />Woman: But it’s in the boiler!<br />Us: Oh!<br />Us: Well it could be air flapping a vent. It’s been windy. Or a bit of solder come off and ticking against something.<br />Woman: Sol-? Solder? What is that?<br />Me: Perhaps a very small person has got trapped in there and is trying to get out?<br />Woman: Ahahah! Hah.<br /><br />Later, Woman calls the boiler man.<br /><br />Woman: Hallooo? Halloooo? Yes. My boiler has a problem. I think it might blow up. Or perhaps there’s a little person in there trying to get out.<br /><br /><br />I’m serious. This happened.<br /><br />HMOG people. HMOG.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-6357767338128890192011-01-04T20:05:00.005+00:002011-01-04T20:22:34.068+00:00Post Chrimble Corral (like a round up but different)<div><div><div>Have not blogged for a while and now we’re back to work. Nooooo! I was really enjoying being at home and having some free time. Things got done! I could sleep in and relax occasionally! Spend some time with my darling husband! (Who is totally not neglected at all, whatever he might say.) </div><div><br />Before Christmas we had more snow. My parents went away abroad to a wedding and their 12hr return flight ended up taking two days with a stopover in Marseilles. How delightful. Our road was inpassable to anything other than 4x4s for about three days (unless you were going downhill) and the rest of town’s roads were a mess, and the pavements sheet ice. I don’t know if it’s because of <a href="http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2010/november/26/tunbridge_wells_council_leader.aspx">inner</a> <a href="http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/Undefined-Headline/article-3027200-detail/article.html">wranglings</a> in the <a href="http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/news/Tories-confidence-leader/article-2989440-detail/article.html">Council</a> but I saw nary a gritting lorry the whole time. The best we got were a few poor chaps with a flat-bed van hand-gritting the steepest slopes.<br /><br />We hosted Christmas at ours this year, for ten of the family. Mum got the turkey for me, and stuffed it, and it was delicious but HUGE. Ten of us, including two second helpings, did not manage to make it into the second side. Therefore the freezer is well stocked with leftover turkey ready to throw into stir fries and whatnot. We had a great lunch with enough trimmings to please people from all sorts of family traditions. That seems to be a sticking point when you have to start going to other family’s Christmasses – will they do it right? Will there be bread sauce and cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon? When will presents be opened? Will they make us play Charades? (shudder)<br /><br />All was well. I even got the Man and his cousins to come to midnight mass on xmas eve, which was an achievement and only done I think thanks to a timely mojito in the local trendy winebar. The Man did take a bottle of beer in with him but to be honest I was just pleased they were all there. Christmas isn’t Christmas without singing some carols.<br /><br />And now, decs are down, snow is gone, back to work and January Healthy Eating Plans (snore). My friend Clare has had her baby, welcome to the world Alexander! My brother and the Man’s brother are both moving house. We have workmen booked in to come and sort our house out – electrician and plasterer so far. Things are popping up in one of the bulb pots – I can’t wait to see how many of the 200 bulbs we planted actually grow.<br /><br />I am still knitting the tea leaves cardigan because I had to do some frogging and go up a needle size in an effort to make the yarn last. It seems I only bought four skeins, unless I’ve lost one, which is totally possible. The body is now done, so I need to do sleeves and button band with just over two skeins. Will it happen? May have to do some juducious juggling and perhaps have ¾ sleeves or something. I also started a cowl in some really yummy silk / alpaca yarn which I am beading (remember last time I beaded anything I said never again until hell freezes over?) but I just hope it will (a) fit over my head and (b) not be itchy. The yarn is like butter in your hand but you know how things get when they’re next to your skin and you start getting a little warm. Eeeeech.<br /></div><br /><div>I also visited Loop while slightly drunk after our team Xmas meal (which some genius booked in a restaurant in Islington) and bought way too much Madelinetosh sock, and then the Man and I went to the first day of the sales after Xmas and I hit the John Lewis yarn sale. Got yarn for a couple of jumpers / cardigans and also a heap to design something with. That’s a goal for 2011. I started doing the maths yesterday and my brain started to melt; probably full of mince pies or something.<br /><br />In other news, with some wedding vouchers we bought a handheld vacuum thingy. Can you tell which is which? </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558425511018173026" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TSN-jW61EmI/AAAAAAAABNg/F_fIZ5sw16w/s320/untitled2.bmp" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558425517658627698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TSN-jvqCXnI/AAAAAAAABNo/t8AIMh0BThA/s320/IMG_2069.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 249px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558425507809837922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TSN-jK95w2I/AAAAAAAABNY/G-2u5eriKXE/s320/untitled.bmp" />And the Man and I went for a fish pedicure.<br /><br />These things are springing up all over the place at the moment, I believe there are two in our town now. How it’s supposed to work is that the water makes the hard dead skin on your feet soft and then the little fish (about 2 inches long) suck all the skank off and eat it. Mmm, yum. I’ve heard the sensation described as ‘relaxing’, ‘like bubbles’ and ‘a bit tickly’. Riiight. It’s frikking weird. I felt like I needed a wooden spoon to bite down on. Do you remember when you were small and before you were trusted with scissors your parents had to cut your toenails for you? I remember my mum sitting on the edge of the bed with my ankle firmly pinned under her armpit while I thrashed in hysterics behind her, trying to keep my foot still so she didn’t cut off a toe. It tickled! And not in a good way. Well fish pedicures are like that, crossed with the prickly sensation from the little electrical zappy machine the physio uses. So I was laughing and crying and trying to keep my feet still do I didn’t either crush a fish between my toes or kick one out the tank. And then sometimes one fish really scrapes its teeth into your skin. They tell me the fish don’t have teeth, well that is LIES. I felt them. Little sharp pointy teeth. Seriously.<br /><br />I’ll stick to the Body Shop foot file, thankyousomuch. </div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-31812424688129595762010-12-12T15:22:00.001+00:002010-12-12T15:24:16.255+00:00Bird fluIll. Very ill. Poorly sick. Only knitted 4 rows since Thursday so it must be bad.<br /><br />The Man has also decided to do some DIY and wants help which unforts won’t be forthcoming. Helping the Man with DIY requires more strength and tact than I can currently summon. Sorry darling. Sorry front door. Sorry cat (if we had one).<br /><br />He’s currently singing though so perhaps the preliminary stages are going OK.<br /><br />I made some chocolate chip cookies earlier. Note for future baking sessions: too much cookie dough in one dollop does not spread evenly into a monster cookie but just wrinkles up into something which resembles a cowpat.<br /><br />Tastes OK though.<br /><br />Chrimbo tree is up. Presents all bought and waiting to be wrapped. There are ominous sounds of sawing coming from the garage and kung fu ‘Yaahhhh!!’ noises.<br /><br />Wish me luck, gentle reader, wish me luck.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-36542884138971851742010-12-04T21:03:00.009+00:002010-12-04T22:01:13.035+00:00Snowed In, or How to Get Lots DoneLots of pictures in this post.<br /><br />It started snowing on Tuesday, so I've been working from home since then. Not much choice with the amazing train network we have in south east England. We had just the same last year, but I suspect it would cost far too much to install overhead power rails which are more snow-proof. Although for the rest of the year the rail-side power lines seem to have fewer problems. Hmm. Maybe I should just save up for a helicopter. Although they are quite sick making. :)<br /><br />So here are some pics of the snow, starting on Wednesday. You need to keep an eye on the big plant pot in the garden. It was like a souflee rising over several days.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqxJ2RQKMI/AAAAAAAABNE/PES-2j_luhM/s1600/Weds%2B1st.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940673805002946" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqxJ2RQKMI/AAAAAAAABNE/PES-2j_luhM/s320/Weds%2B1st.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqxJig6WWI/AAAAAAAABM8/ssJY8jHV4yg/s1600/Weds%2B1st%2B2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940668501973346" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqxJig6WWI/AAAAAAAABM8/ssJY8jHV4yg/s320/Weds%2B1st%2B2.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw_YCYmZI/AAAAAAAABM0/QvMVae-EmLA/s1600/Weds%2B1st%2B4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940493890886034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw_YCYmZI/AAAAAAAABM0/QvMVae-EmLA/s320/Weds%2B1st%2B4.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thursday morning. It's risen!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw_P5XmxI/AAAAAAAABMs/p7RVLHWHVkI/s1600/Thurs%2B2nd.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940491705588498" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw_P5XmxI/AAAAAAAABMs/p7RVLHWHVkI/s320/Thurs%2B2nd.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-7QnV7I/AAAAAAAABMk/njyRsqxGTBo/s1600/Thurs%2B2nd%2B3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940486165944242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-7QnV7I/AAAAAAAABMk/njyRsqxGTBo/s320/Thurs%2B2nd%2B3.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>The town sold out of sledges (again!) and the kids made the most of the big slope in Calverley Rec.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-oD6IVI/AAAAAAAABMc/idgwRuS5LSA/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940481012375890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-oD6IVI/AAAAAAAABMc/idgwRuS5LSA/s320/IMG_2041.JPG" /></a><br />Someone made a cool snowman in the precinct. He's waiting for the phone box.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-S3e-xI/AAAAAAAABMU/j-Tnvk6NDcI/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546940475323120402" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqw-S3e-xI/AAAAAAAABMU/j-Tnvk6NDcI/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" /></a><br />Good use of available materials. Carrots from M&S? (Not just any carrots.) Check out the eyes. Maltesers!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwEV2dPXI/AAAAAAAABMM/3cRGJVbyPDM/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546939479691705714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwEV2dPXI/AAAAAAAABMM/3cRGJVbyPDM/s320/IMG_2043.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>My little car turned jeep sized. Bless. I suspect if we try to start it the battery will be flat, poor thing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDhw4EOI/AAAAAAAABME/jbyTj7Du1R8/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546939465709654242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDhw4EOI/AAAAAAAABME/jbyTj7Du1R8/s320/IMG_2044.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Our gutters need replacing but the leaking makes some cool icicles!</div><br /> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDcBiSsI/AAAAAAAABL8/Aob3UYrHQtU/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546939464168917698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDcBiSsI/AAAAAAAABL8/Aob3UYrHQtU/s320/IMG_2045.JPG" /></a> </div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546949246055211938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPq480Y946I/AAAAAAAABNM/_0jUbDnblAE/s320/IMG_2046.JPG" /><br />Then last night it rained and look! Deflated souflee! You can see steps and plants!<br /></div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546938657930391410" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqvUgjSr3I/AAAAAAAABLE/AlxDXXiN8Gc/s320/IMG_2047.JPG" /> </div><br /><div>The birds had little else left so went to town on the red berry bush. </div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqvVVkD1gI/AAAAAAAABLU/8uoPrYxtATE/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546938672160691714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqvVVkD1gI/AAAAAAAABLU/8uoPrYxtATE/s320/IMG_2050.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Make this pic bigger to see the shredded stalks.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqvVGlqPEI/AAAAAAAABLM/KFEvFauXTww/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546938668140870722" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqvVGlqPEI/AAAAAAAABLM/KFEvFauXTww/s320/IMG_2052.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>Remember those icicles? They grew some more after I took that picture. Good job the Man didn't park on the drive because this would have gone through his bonnet.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 242px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546939460117145266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDM7hJrI/AAAAAAAABL0/8RHKgKku9Hk/s320/IMG_2053.JPG" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The gutter wasn't so lucky.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546939459612450306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqwDLDMHgI/AAAAAAAABLs/tR8md5Xr1-E/s320/IMG_2055.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>Just hoping it's not gone through the top of the bay window though. Because if it did that would be directly below the new hole in the gutter...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtWFcmWGI/AAAAAAAABK8/jXr-ZTo5VWY/s1600/IMG_2056.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546936485991045218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtWFcmWGI/AAAAAAAABK8/jXr-ZTo5VWY/s320/IMG_2056.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div>So anyway, those are our snow dramaz. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The great thing about having snow days is that I can catch up on some of those craft projects that I've been itching to do for weeks.<br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVnQuQ3I/AAAAAAAABKs/dHvCxN0iBNs/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546936477888168818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVnQuQ3I/AAAAAAAABKs/dHvCxN0iBNs/s320/IMG_2060.JPG" /></a><br />There are numbers on this pic but you might have to click on it to see them.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. Mini Maiden from Handmaiden - two skeins for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/percy-shawl">Percy</a> shawl that I'm not allowed to start until my knit group decide if it's going to become a knitalong next year.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>2. Debbie Bliss Andes (65% baby alpaca 35% mulberry silk) with some clear beads to be a cowl or mini shawl / scarf when I finish the current project.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>3. First proper dressmaking project I think - an Amy Butler Domestic Goddess apron. Was good, the instructions are clear even for a newbie like me. Had to dredge up some of the dressmaking hints mum told me aons ago, combined with some hints from the interwebs. Yay mums and interwebs!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>4. Christmas cards. Card from Hobbycraft (hiss), stamp from Nooliebird via notonthehighstreet.com, inkstamp from Papertole in the Pantiles. Which is now the only shop in T Wells proper which sells cardmaking stuff. Now you understand the hiss for Hobbycraft.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>5. Jumper which I knitted twice and it was still too small so is destined by my cousin I think. Just waiting for some poppers which are stuck in the snow somewhere to finish it off. Got the buttons there all ready, see?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So here is the Amy Butler project done. It came to an abrupt halt when I ran out of thread two yards from the end. Unforts that was to topstitch the waistband which goes right across the front, so it had to be matching. Even more unforts, I was using Sylko thread. They don't make Sylko any more. Since when?? Apparently Coats took them over. They are taking over the world, I swear. So I ventured into C&H to try to match the colour. So, it's minus two outside and everyone has elevently hundred layers on and C&H have their aircon on 9000000 degrees. I walked in and said out loud, 'Wow! It's hot in here!' and the man said, 'It's nice, isn't it?' At that point the sweat was already running down my back, under my lotsoflayers and feather-filled snow coat. Um. No?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One of my knitting buddies described it as menopausally hot, which I think sums it up quite well.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>They were also playing Cliff's Christmas Hits on loop. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The things I do for craft projects.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVHb3wgI/AAAAAAAABKk/IWnf8e9BG1k/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546936469344993794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVHb3wgI/AAAAAAAABKk/IWnf8e9BG1k/s320/IMG_2061.JPG" /></a><br />This is a good project, if you're over 6ft tall. This apron comes to my ankles. I may be taking it up. This is the pleat front apron, with pockets. Not that you can see either in that pic!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVHhQ32I/AAAAAAAABKc/92mIynlA7Oc/s1600/IMG_2063.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546936469367611234" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtVHhQ32I/AAAAAAAABKc/92mIynlA7Oc/s320/IMG_2063.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>During some recent sorting out I rediscovered these cool little tags I'd bought in Bath. One of those is now secreted around the apron. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546936485928245618" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPqtWFNoGXI/AAAAAAAABK0/pDhJbewqquE/s320/IMG_2067.JPG" /><br /><br />And now it's time to clear up my desk...<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-40627572038755687512010-11-28T21:08:00.006+00:002010-11-28T21:21:37.607+00:00Don’t hate me, but I’ve nearly finished my Christmas shopping. I think I’ve learnt the skill of organising complicated events well in advance while still at work. Only problem person left to buy for is, as usual, the Man, so any suggestions gratefully received! Tempted with <a href="http://www.sharingmachine.com/index.php?item=81">this</a>:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544711793292773442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TPLF_7UiiEI/AAAAAAAABKU/9wlPCqkR6D0/s320/drew-fart-133-1.jpg" /><br />Are you guys well stuck in yet? Are you knitting (or making) stuff for people?<br /><br />It’s just as well these things are getting done early because we’ve got the family coming to ours this year so it will be all hands to the pumps to cater for the feeding frenzy. I’m looking forward to it really, it’s lovely to have a house full of people and I can pretend to be Nigella (or more likely Gordon Ramsay).<br /><br />The Man is doing even more of a Victor Meldrew impression at the moment because not one but two (ie both / all) of our TVs are broken. One just shrivelled up and died three weeks ago, refusing to turn on from standby, and on Friday night I got home to find the Man sitting with a face like thunder in front of the big TV (his pride and joy) which was shooting lines of snow across the bottom of the screen. Apparently I broke it. Even though when I left in the morning it was showing the repeat of Loose Women fine. (I turn over anything that talks about the Royal Wedding and breakfast tv can’t get enough of it at the moment.) The big TV has now gone back to the shop (luckily still in warranty – broken before a year is up!) but not before we spent an evening playing petulant canasta. Not even winning could cheer him up. How sadly reliant we get on tv. I was quite enjoying it, suddenly you get out of the zombie state and think about all the things you could be doing – putting up pictures, sorting out the bookcases, starting that new knitting project I’m itching to get going on. But no, it was like having a toddler in the house who needed entertaining before he threw a strop. Sigh. And I was sure he said he’s over 30…<br /><br />These things have been happening since the new people next door moved in and started gutting their place. We’ve had not one but two bluetits in the house. The first one was in the kitchen and we could not fathom how it had got there, because that was the week the Man had decided it was cold and went around plugging all gaps under doors and other draught-making holes with all the stuff that was in the charity clothing pile. (The house now looks a little like the laundry basket exploded.) Nonetheless there was a bluetit in the kitchen, hanging out on the windowsill. Then on Sunday morning I was in the bathroom and there was a massive scuffling under the bath. I thought it was a mouse going crazy, but next thing I’m getting divebombed. Since when did bluetits live under baths?<br /><br />This weekend I also made a batch of christmas cake cupcakes and stollen cupcakes. These are experiments. The mini xmas cakes are getting fed with sherry for a bit and will be iced nearer xmas. Stollens freeze OK apparently. They are so cute! Lovely little bits of soft bread dough rising around balls of marzipan and lots of yummy dried fruit, peel and nuts. Mmmm. Great with a frothy coffee during a fraught moment.<br /><br />However I am a newbie food blogger and took 0 pics. Apols. I will try harder next time.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-75111912104432205732010-11-23T19:43:00.007+00:002010-11-23T20:11:56.142+00:00Brrr - hat gloves and scarf weather<div>It's cold dark and dreary and when the alarm goes off it's like the middle of the night. Sounds like we're in that long on stretch of winter. Hey ho. No choice but to just keep plodding on, and think about planning a holiday.<br /></div><br /><div>Lots of friends are having babies, so I am knitting. Clare is due any minute, and for her, an <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KatieS/undercover">Undercover</a> in sagey greens and greys.</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwaB3z-r9I/AAAAAAAABJ0/O6EsHtqyR7Q/s1600/IMG_2011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542833860850397138" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwaB3z-r9I/AAAAAAAABJ0/O6EsHtqyR7Q/s320/IMG_2011.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542834533578327266" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwapB60ROI/AAAAAAAABKE/zihoR3n4LAc/s320/IMG_2017.JPG" /> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And because they are fans, this Star Wars inspired <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/twistedtwee/product/baby_in_the_corner">babygrow</a>:</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542836878769280210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwcxib6VNI/AAAAAAAABKM/nhC-PwBUVlA/s320/normal_the_force_is_strong_babygrow_high_res.jpg" />Genius.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>My old flat mate Ali has just had a little boy which they've called Alfred, so I decided on a Mrs Weasley style sweater. The sweater itself is pretty good, but the letter is wonky - too high. It's OK, Mrs Weasley's aren't perfect either. :)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwaBvhGxCI/AAAAAAAABJs/2dEKd3Z0Two/s1600/IMG_2000.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542833858623751202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TOwaBvhGxCI/AAAAAAAABJs/2dEKd3Z0Two/s320/IMG_2000.JPG" /></a><br />Now I can get back to my own knitting for a while!</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>In between times we've been to see Bill Bailey on his Dandelion Mind tour. Go if you want to hear Ace of Spades played on an oud, or Abba played on a car horn xylophone (the act has Gary Numan’s Cars scripted so Abba was an impromptu bonus). I love Bill Bailey’s comedy, he’s funny and ridiculous but hugely intelligent and cultured. I’d love to have several pints in the pub and listen to him pontificate on the state of society. He’d be a great mad uncle to have.<br /><br />Also Clare and I went to see Harry Potter. Fab. But you know that already. :)</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Right, I'm going to go and wind some yarn for the Tea Leaves cardi. These small things make me happy.<br /></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-31196671923579148272010-11-01T21:02:00.002+00:002010-11-01T21:07:47.926+00:00BooksGod, I have no idea what to do with myself in those spare moments now that I don’t have a wedding to plan and there are no exams upcoming. I suppose in a while I’ll be occupied with redecorating and Christmas. In the meantime, do you think the boss would mind if I knitted a little at work? <br /><br />I thought I’d do a little round-up review of some of the audiobooks I’ve listened to lately. What a brilliant concept; I can knit and read at the same time! Perhaps in future I’ll do these reviews on the end of my Ravelry project notes – I think it will be quite interesting to look back and see what I was listening to at the time.<br /><br />True Blood: The Sookie Stackhouse novels – Charlaine Harris<br />Yes, all eleven of them. Loved them. The Southern accents add so much to it. What you get in the books which you don’t in the TV series is the humour. <br /><br />Barchester Chronicles – Anthony Trollope<br />Takes a little while to wind down to the pace but the cast is excellent, the satire scathing and the romance practical. <br /><br />The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer<br />Beautiful, gentle and charming.<br /><br />The Help – Kathryn Stockett<br />Amazing book, about black ‘help’ in 60s Mississippi. Not at all preachy. A must read.<br /><br />Vampire Diaries – L J Smith <br />Tedious. Watch the TV series, they took a concept and made it waaaay better.<br /><br />One Day – David Nicholls<br />Book about two friends’ intertwined lives from leaving Uni in the 80s. A little flesh creepy in places because it’s a little too true, and ultimately unsatisfying because a novel is supposed to wrap things up in some way but this drops a bombshell then leaves off. I’m interested to read more about why the author wrote this book, but I didn’t like it.<br /><br />Skulduggery Pleasant: Book 1 – Derek Landy<br />A book for teenagers but nothing lacking due to that, apart from it should be longer. Luckily there are more in the series.<br /><br />Any other book recommendations would be appreciated!<br /><br />Also, if anyone has any good ideas for xmas presents, please let me know. Especially men presents. And it’s too late to knit things for people, esp as other people keep procreating and I have a huge backlog of baby knits on the go at the moment. Seriously, can’t you all just take it in turns, about six weeks apart?Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-12617000535306885602010-10-17T22:11:00.005+01:002010-10-17T22:31:48.712+01:00MarriedI took the wedding nail varnish off my toes the other day. It was the one remaining part of me that wasn’t shedding its top layer naturally. I am peeling from just about every conceivable part of me, it’s quite delightful. But it’s worth it, because it’s the result of too much sun on a totally decadent honeymoon.<br /><br />I haven’t posted for a while because so much has been happening that I don’t know where to start. About three weeks before the wedding, my grandfather on my Dad’s side passed away, and the funeral was on the Friday eight days before the wedding. I’d not seen Grampy for some time, and he’d been suffering from vascular dementia so hadn’t been himself for the last two years. The memorial service was amazing, the church was packed, people were standing at the back, and he’d been such a big figure and featured in so many people’s lives, it was a great thing to see.<br /><br />The run up to a wedding is a stressful enough time without having to contend with grief and funeral arrangements, but hey, what can you do but get on with things? And from then on it was all hands to the pumps, foot to the floor flat out busy until the day. I’d taken the week off and had a notebook of things to do, which was basically a closely written A5 sheet a day. And it all had to be done on that day because the next day was just as tight. There’s no way around it but it does mean that come your wedding day, a bride is absolutely knackered. I think the ‘glow’ they talk about is residual adrenaline and the euphoria of exhaustion.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtoskHAVCI/AAAAAAAABJI/SqJTbF8TRB8/s1600/wedding3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529128082344006690" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtoskHAVCI/AAAAAAAABJI/SqJTbF8TRB8/s320/wedding3.JPG" /></a><br />But we had an amazing day. The weather running up to the day had been pretty grey but when we got to it the sun shone and it was warm and glorious. We had the service in the village church and the reception was at the farm, in a marquee in the field. Reception drinks and canapés in the garden. Children roister doistering everywhere. Funny speeches, great food, plenty of wine and local beer, dancing and cake and rose petal confetti. I loved my dress. It got taken down the field, across lots of sheepshit, unscathed. I loved The Man in his suit. I loved wearing a veil for the service. I loved knowing he loves me enough to want to go through all that for me (he’s really not one for being the centre of attention) and wear a ring to say to the world that he’s married. To me. Yay! I love that he wanted matching rings. He’s a big sop at heart. :)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtq6we15II/AAAAAAAABJg/lAnBeQldJco/s1600/wedding4.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529130525206635650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtq6we15II/AAAAAAAABJg/lAnBeQldJco/s320/wedding4.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div>He only told me where we were going on honeymoon the morning after the wedding, and he couldn’t have chosen better. He could have chosen cheaper, but you only go on honeymoon once, right? We went to one of the poshest hotels in the Maldives, flew Club Class on BA (oh yes, flat beds), took a little sea plane once we got to Male and pitched up in paradise.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtotPGM2nI/AAAAAAAABJY/vbrMIvimuNo/s1600/honeymoon2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529128093883357810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtotPGM2nI/AAAAAAAABJY/vbrMIvimuNo/s320/honeymoon2.JPG" /></a><br />It was perfect, because all we needed after the madness that is wedding planning was to do absolutely nothing for as long as possible. And pretty much all there is on a desert island is to sit around reading and sunbathing until it’s time to eat. Maybe go shell-hunting, or play with the hermit crabs, or dunk in the sea and check out the fish. Oooh, the food was so gooood too. I was so spoilt! We went to the Spa (amazingly beautiful) for one of those massages for couples. Two and a half hours of coordinated pampering, including having to go out into the secluded garden together to use the outdoor shower to sloosh off the body scrub. In paper pants. If we weren’t so chilled out at that point it would have been hilarious!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtos7Mm_mI/AAAAAAAABJQ/aZ_f1nkzVYU/s1600/honeymoon1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529128088541527650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TLtos7Mm_mI/AAAAAAAABJQ/aZ_f1nkzVYU/s320/honeymoon1.JPG" /></a><br />We got back in time for the Ryder Cup (of course) and finally I was allowed to open all the lovely presents. We were given a lot of really beautiful stuff, which I’ve had a lot of fun using. Sad that I have a lot of fun with kitchen stuff these days, but hey! And for all the new china, we’ve had to get a new sideboard. How terribly grown up. </div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-34554622942103914142010-08-31T13:58:00.010+01:002010-08-31T22:46:16.700+01:00Stunning organisationI read on someone's blog recently (it may have been the Yarn Harlot, I kind of lose track who I'm reading on Google Reader sometimes) that they have decided that they waste far too much time prevaricating over which stashed yarn to match with which pattern and thence end up being late for appointments or nearly having to travel with No Projects! Shock! So what they did was print out their queued patterns, put them in freezerbags with the appropriate yarn and fill a storage bin with them all. Then, when you need a new project, just put your hand in and see what you get, like a lucky dip. What a genius idea, I thought!<br /><br /><br />So here are my selections which are now parcelled up and some ideas for the next bucketload.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0A7cajpwI/AAAAAAAABIo/fjwCWTWl1iE/s1600/firestarter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562540211218178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0A7cajpwI/AAAAAAAABIo/fjwCWTWl1iE/s320/firestarter.jpg" /></a><br /><br />or the very similar<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511559055062286658" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9wlOTQUI/AAAAAAAABHI/0_fNKarWW1s/s320/brainless.jpg" /><br /><br /><br />Using Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sock in Vera (70) - a mix of blocks of magenta, khaki and stone. (Actually have just wound this and it's going to be quite bold colour blocks so glad I'm doing a sock without complicated stitches on it).<br /><br /><br />Frootloop using Sparkleduck merino/nylon in a hot pink semi-solid.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AwJ1NEvI/AAAAAAAABIg/mEBx9tD50cU/s1600/frootloop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562346244150002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AwJ1NEvI/AAAAAAAABIg/mEBx9tD50cU/s320/frootloop.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div>Nutkin using Colinette Jitterbug in Lichen (75) - sort of dark yellow. Although I am quite tempted also to use that yarn for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/goldengrove-socks">Goldengrove</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AtnzvDXI/AAAAAAAABII/cbnHkXaeSSQ/s1600/nutkin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562302751444338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AtnzvDXI/AAAAAAAABII/cbnHkXaeSSQ/s320/nutkin.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Galder using <a href="http://www.nimuyarns.co.uk/">Nimu Yarns' </a>'Tussmorker' (with two dots over the o) in a purple / blue colour from a 2009 sock club.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AvQ6yAwI/AAAAAAAABIY/wKmpmEc5N8g/s1600/Galder.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562330966721282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AvQ6yAwI/AAAAAAAABIY/wKmpmEc5N8g/s320/Galder.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div>Hedgerow using <a href="http://www.poshyarn.co.uk/">Posh Yarn </a>Esme in Keep Smiling Through, which is a muted sandy tropical sunset sort of a colour.</div><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH11-ce9M9I/AAAAAAAABIw/gq2ztd0A3uw/s1600/477591465_39d274a33c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511691234629727186" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH11-ce9M9I/AAAAAAAABIw/gq2ztd0A3uw/s320/477591465_39d274a33c.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Love Bugs in Wollmeise Merino Superwash 'Walk the 'red' line' from same sock club.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AukDBuuI/AAAAAAAABIQ/k35uEuehAsQ/s1600/lovebugs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 241px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562318921710306" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AukDBuuI/AAAAAAAABIQ/k35uEuehAsQ/s320/lovebugs.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I have a big skein of laceweight Touch Yarn which I'll probably use for an Aeolian,</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 290px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511559039052960226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9vplYUeI/AAAAAAAABGw/FkMdQrMOyjI/s320/aeolianPURPflatbig.jpg" /><br /><div>(although it will probably end up this big...)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9v1qq3EI/AAAAAAAABG4/uwo_Qt9jR54/s1600/aeolianWHITEbig.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511559042296372290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9v1qq3EI/AAAAAAAABG4/uwo_Qt9jR54/s320/aeolianWHITEbig.jpg" /></a><br />But the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vernal-equinox-shawl-surprise">Vernal Equinox Shawl </a>is also rather tempting.</div><br /><div></div><div>I like the Torreyana too, but I think it looks best in some shiny worsted as below:<br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511562287640849954" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TH0AsvhFriI/AAAAAAAABIA/S7l40sFD38I/s320/torreyanaBIGsilverflat.jpg" /></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tea-leaves-cardigan">Tea Leaves Cardigan</a> in Manos del Uruguay Silk blend in that rosey blend with flecks of green and gold.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/urban-necessity-gloves">Urban necessity gloves</a> in Misti alpaca sock in a russety grey.</div><div><br />Knitty's Annis is on the next list:<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9wR7bYNI/AAAAAAAABHA/1mSCQPH6_hw/s1600/Annis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511559049882853586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/THz9wR7bYNI/AAAAAAAABHA/1mSCQPH6_hw/s320/Annis.jpg" /></a>And the <a href="http://knitspot.com/?p=2238">Pea Vine shawl </a>which is not yet released but on the way from Knitspot.</div><br /><div></div><div>Other socks (if I can ever face socks again) are <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rivendell-sock">Rivendell</a>, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ellington-socks">Ellington</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kalajoki">Kalajoki</a>. And the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vinterblomster-mittens">Vinterblomster</a> mittens. Love. </div><div> </div><div>What do you think? Any patterns you hate? Any suggestions for better ones?</div><div> </div><div></div><div>I think I need to give up work and just knit!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-84536101525945359682010-08-10T18:35:00.008+01:002010-08-10T19:24:47.633+01:00Way too much lycraWe got up at 3.45am on Sunday to get The Man to the London Triathlon for a 7am start time. All the comments from recent parents have been a knowing, ‘ah yes, good preparation for having babies’. Holy sweet jesus, enough with the baby comments people! The other day three people in three hours asked me what the baby plans are after the wedding. Well let me say here and now, currently there are no plans. Let’s just get the wedding over with first, I have enough to think about with that and work at the moment without considering pain and nausea and hemorrhoids (which I can't even spell).<br /><br />The tri was great though, The Man did really well and was in the same group as Jensen Button so we managed to get lots of pics of both of them. Almost made up for getting up so ridiculously early on a Sunday! Anyone who wants to swim 1.5km in the London Docks though has my utmost <s>incredulity</s> respect. Seriously, why would you??<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRqzU87lI/AAAAAAAABFA/3P0NsN2N5pc/s1600/IMG_1779.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503840384142077522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRqzU87lI/AAAAAAAABFA/3P0NsN2N5pc/s320/IMG_1779.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRrE_zXGI/AAAAAAAABFI/n2wGlGLdpaE/s1600/IMG_1781.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 257px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503840388885208162" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRrE_zXGI/AAAAAAAABFI/n2wGlGLdpaE/s320/IMG_1781.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:85%;">JB out of the water with a bag of soggy wetsuit<br /></span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRr9xDInI/AAAAAAAABFQ/HRJqDNHE3m4/s1600/IMG_1784.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503840404124148338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRr9xDInI/AAAAAAAABFQ/HRJqDNHE3m4/s320/IMG_1784.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVG2dEFYI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Z-xj4j_xjfQ/s1600/IMG_1788.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503844164552627586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVG2dEFYI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Z-xj4j_xjfQ/s320/IMG_1788.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRsFqMeYI/AAAAAAAABFY/xZcOw8HWQok/s1600/IMG_1790.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 232px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503840406242883970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGRsFqMeYI/AAAAAAAABFY/xZcOw8HWQok/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVHXhmroI/AAAAAAAABGY/0zWlGVmiRoE/s1600/IMG_1791.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503844173430042242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVHXhmroI/AAAAAAAABGY/0zWlGVmiRoE/s320/IMG_1791.JPG" /></a><br />2hrs 46mins 14secs - well done my Man!</div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVH5fAZyI/AAAAAAAABGg/_Y_TW4YzfAo/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503844182545950498" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGVH5fAZyI/AAAAAAAABGg/_Y_TW4YzfAo/s320/IMG_1792.JPG" /></a><br />We went to see the vicar for the final time a few weeks ago for our last ‘pre-wedding counselling’. In this session he discussed managing finances, sharing the housework and (recurring theme) having babies. (And slightly unsettlingly coming from the vicar, not letting your partner pressure you into doing things in the bedroom you’d rather not.) I think these sessions, tangential as they often end up being, are a good thing for a couple getting married. Too often you get caught up in the madness of organising the day, what colour will the bridesmaids be wearing, what to have for the starter, how much the florist is charging you, but very rarely do people actually ask you how you feel about getting married, or do you actually think properly about what you are doing.<br /><br />My friend <a href="http://threebeautifulthings.co.uk/">Clare</a> lent me a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Conscious-Bride-Feelings-Getting-Hitched/dp/1572242132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281462173&sr=8-1">The Conscious Bride </a>which has some interesting things to say, and some interesting quotes from other brides. One bride was saying that she organised her wedding in three months, but actually in the end wished she’s taken the usual year or so, just to allow herself time to get her head around the big change happening in her life.<br /><br />I can’t speak for the chaps but presume this happens to some extent as well, but it’s a weird change of identity getting married. For girls, if they decide to change their surnames, it’s a huge deal. I can see myself in some of the descriptions in the book – initial excitement, then resistance and kick-back against my fiancé for the changes he’s inflicting on me, then a gradual come-around to accepting the different identity I’ll be taking on as a wife. I don’t know if this simile was due to corporate brainwashing, but I felt like a piechart being stabbed by a new piece of pie.<br /><br />1. Me, whole and happy being me, finally (after 30-ahem<ahem> years).<br />2. Man comes along and wants to be permanent part my life. Thin end of the wedge. Pointy and a little ouchy. Requiring rearranging of my nice complete pie.<br />3. Gradual acceptance of man in my life.<br />4. Full integration.<br /><br />Now this makes it seem that having The Man in my life was a bit unwelcome, which is not at all the case, it’s always been fantastic being with him. The final pie is much shinier and bouncier. In fact, I’m sure if he thought about it he went through pretty much the same thing. The first part of the transition stage was a bit odd though; even though you're having lots of fun together it takes time to let that new piece of pie settle in. Now he’s a fantastic part of my pie. Life. You know what I mean. It just takes a little while for change to happen. I find the idea of spending the rest of my life with him hugely exciting. Do-a-little-dance-and-say-yay! exciting in fact. We shall see what the future brings but I know whatever happens we’ll both be there supporting each other and being proud of each other. You can put the bucket down now I've finished.<br /><br />In other news, one of the dogs at home had a litter of five puppies. Here’s some when they’re just waking up and looking a bit grumpy. They are complete timewasters and brilliant fun and they grow so fast!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSy3PNdEI/AAAAAAAABGI/lZF8KOs1S6A/s1600/IMG_1801.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503841622142317634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSy3PNdEI/AAAAAAAABGI/lZF8KOs1S6A/s320/IMG_1801.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSycBdv_I/AAAAAAAABGA/8m9ZGPK2Y3M/s1600/IMG_1798.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503841614836908018" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSycBdv_I/AAAAAAAABGA/8m9ZGPK2Y3M/s320/IMG_1798.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSyKxtaHI/AAAAAAAABF4/XM50pym4wCU/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503841610207422578" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSyKxtaHI/AAAAAAAABF4/XM50pym4wCU/s320/IMG_1814.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSx71lXQI/AAAAAAAABFw/755lkIlM8_4/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503841606197140738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSx71lXQI/AAAAAAAABFw/755lkIlM8_4/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSxgIcHeI/AAAAAAAABFo/YCh0mf6Qgq4/s1600/IMG_1795.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503841598760033762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TGGSxgIcHeI/AAAAAAAABFo/YCh0mf6Qgq4/s320/IMG_1795.JPG" /></a><br /><div>And a cardigan was knitted all the way up to the neck but then was frogged completely because it was too small. Amazing how many hours’ work can be destroyed with the aid of a wool-winder in five minutes flat. Sigh. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-12940689242247911362010-07-04T20:51:00.003+01:002010-07-04T21:06:36.513+01:00Sugar overloadCupcakes for the work bakesale....<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490141737685058786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDm0olDhOI/AAAAAAAABEA/i5Pem3DHy18/s320/IMG_1573.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490141734351854738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDm0cKW3JI/AAAAAAAABD4/1VRVK0qs8hw/s320/IMG_1569.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490141729477398386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDm0KAMj3I/AAAAAAAABDw/j8voU-DKbqY/s320/IMG_1568.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490141744531671026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDm1CFah_I/AAAAAAAABEQ/92dq6grVVsM/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490141741306287122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDm02EbFBI/AAAAAAAABEI/IJTv6lEjJW4/s320/IMG_1633.JPG" border="0" /><br />Cupcakes for some sporting fixture...<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnZAGo9dI/AAAAAAAABEg/nlq7oAwZ-PY/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142362475230674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnZAGo9dI/AAAAAAAABEg/nlq7oAwZ-PY/s320/IMG_1640.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnZPNWgcI/AAAAAAAABEY/FvRTba0sfk8/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142366529913282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnZPNWgcI/AAAAAAAABEY/FvRTba0sfk8/s320/IMG_1636.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>And cupcakes for 4 July.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142389687235570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnalefM_I/AAAAAAAABE4/wQxFXFz4bWo/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142381992414258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnaIz5jDI/AAAAAAAABEw/EKsRSwf4XMc/s320/IMG_1671.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490142373793129970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TDDnZqRCZfI/AAAAAAAABEo/NEE-hi0dv1I/s320/IMG_1670.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Each batch is helping me learn how to do them better. The frosting recipe has changed, now I'm using half butter and half cream cheese which makes it less rich and sickly. I've learnt that making cupcakes on hot days leads to floppy swirls and intense colours are hard to achieve. But we're getting there!</div><div> </div><div>Will shortly be taking orders for weddings, birthdays, bah mitzfahs... :)</div><div> </div><div>There is some knitting blocking so will have some yarny stuff for you next time.</div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-23906866326067114052010-06-16T21:36:00.007+01:002010-06-16T22:09:02.713+01:00How does your garden grow?You may remember some of the <a href="http://leagueagainstboringlunches.blogspot.com/2010/04/outside.html">dramaz</a> I've had in the garden. That was only the first implement that succumbed... Anyway, this is what it all looked like at about May time. A flowerbed of reeds and spent primroses. A haymeadow of dandelion clocks underlaid with moss surrounded by various late-middle-age shrubs and seeded saplings.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483473482245856146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2FFSJ25I/AAAAAAAABBI/TkjbOHnhIVQ/s320/IMG_1503.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483473496543451426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2F6i92SI/AAAAAAAABBY/9WDsE7pa_tE/s320/IMG_1509.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div> </div><div>A riot of ground elder in the corner.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483473502428393106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2GQeC7pI/AAAAAAAABBg/3wW6NK1IBZQ/s320/IMG_1510.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Flowerbeds on a serious slide held back with sandstone rocks.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483473491437515538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2FnhncxI/AAAAAAAABBQ/syg0m5O5O_k/s320/IMG_1505.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Ah, the rocks. How many did I dig up?</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3h8ixEGI/AAAAAAAABDY/oiPpzVUN8Qo/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483475077627449442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3h8ixEGI/AAAAAAAABDY/oiPpzVUN8Qo/s320/IMG_1550.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474444158558418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk29EsA4NI/AAAAAAAABCw/BBFZOxtaP1k/s320/IMG_1563.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>(bags of small rocks, pebbles, stone, housebricks, guttering, drainage pipe, bolts...)<br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3hcrI4jI/AAAAAAAABDQ/aZvXcqj5TYI/s1600/IMG_1551.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483475069072630322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3hcrI4jI/AAAAAAAABDQ/aZvXcqj5TYI/s320/IMG_1551.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>But The Man, being smashing, decided to get me a landscape gardener for the day for my birthday. In fact it turned out to be two - Italian brothers, who of course were referred to as the Super Mario brothers. ('When are the Super Mario Brothers coming?' 'Have you sorted a day for the Super Mario Brothers to come?' 'Shall I write a list for the Super Mario Brothers?') They weren't quite Italian stallions in the end but they were very nice, and as well as grubbing up loads of dead bushes and seeded trees, took away the lawn.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>And then some other nice men came from The Man's work and laid the turf.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483478801362425330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk66siXlfI/AAAAAAAABDo/2wLjim-CH9s/s320/IMG_1552.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>Mmm, grass. With an edge.</div><div> </div><div>All these plants from the garden centre were waiting desperately for a flowerbed to become clear for them. </div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483473511563852178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2GygG-ZI/AAAAAAAABBo/BbUzJhixQmo/s320/IMG_1506.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Some nine hours of digging and two wheelybins full of reeds and ivy roots later...<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483475081734171442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3iL14qzI/AAAAAAAABDg/xYxNm2vQJvo/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3hBTdLRI/AAAAAAAABDI/l10d7-nRySM/s1600/IMG_1554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483475061725539602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3hBTdLRI/AAAAAAAABDI/l10d7-nRySM/s320/IMG_1554.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Some were presents from The Man's mum. Aw.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3goQsAnI/AAAAAAAABDA/RvIt66YZbho/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483475055003042418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk3goQsAnI/AAAAAAAABDA/RvIt66YZbho/s320/IMG_1558.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Is this peony (which was supposed to be white according to the label) ever going to open? It's been a bud for 6 weeks, I swear!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk29nNv-7I/AAAAAAAABC4/Y7XLm0p_ndE/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474453426863026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk29nNv-7I/AAAAAAAABC4/Y7XLm0p_ndE/s320/IMG_1561.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Nereide lilies from bulb.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2812LolI/AAAAAAAABCo/7T59jX5H67c/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474440174674514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2812LolI/AAAAAAAABCo/7T59jX5H67c/s320/IMG_1576.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk28mOnxUI/AAAAAAAABCg/AidneNwUWw4/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474435982214466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk28mOnxUI/AAAAAAAABCg/AidneNwUWw4/s320/IMG_1577.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>First tomatillo flower! And the tomatoes are getting big too. (I still have no idea what a tomatillo is going to be like.)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk28TMu34I/AAAAAAAABCY/UyQOLZhRuLU/s1600/IMG_1580.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474430874017666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk28TMu34I/AAAAAAAABCY/UyQOLZhRuLU/s320/IMG_1580.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Foxgloves. I love the little faces on the buds before they open, all squished up eyes and grumpy looking.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2r5o69wI/AAAAAAAABCQ/UYN1xSnAI6Y/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474149135021826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2r5o69wI/AAAAAAAABCQ/UYN1xSnAI6Y/s320/IMG_1584.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Buds everywhere...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rtV1-EI/AAAAAAAABCI/XOv14KrFW8A/s1600/IMG_1586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474145833777218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rtV1-EI/AAAAAAAABCI/XOv14KrFW8A/s320/IMG_1586.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rT7swKI/AAAAAAAABCA/wh5FtH8m0Q8/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474139013234850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rT7swKI/AAAAAAAABCA/wh5FtH8m0Q8/s320/IMG_1587.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rHh7d3I/AAAAAAAABB4/e3UINGqAIxo/s1600/IMG_1588.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474135683921778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2rHh7d3I/AAAAAAAABB4/e3UINGqAIxo/s320/IMG_1588.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>And the best bit, the monster BBQ. Love it! It's already been used a lot, including a lunch for 10 of the family.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2qsiF9EI/AAAAAAAABBw/b8GjTzQQKlY/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483474128436851778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TBk2qsiF9EI/AAAAAAAABBw/b8GjTzQQKlY/s320/IMG_1590.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Next year hopefully we'll have more plants in the new spaces, and some fruit and veggies. So exciting! Can't wait to have a real harvest. Clare has given me two courgette plants so if I don't kill them, we can have some Real Food from the garden. Perhaps even a ratatouille from courgettes and tomatoes and tomatilloes. Who knows?!</div><div> </div><div>I am perhaps a little overexcited by all this. Sorry. :)</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-42960373837111250992010-06-03T19:05:00.002+01:002010-06-03T19:20:18.658+01:00Dear Lady...Dear Lady on the Train,<br /><br />It doesn't matter how loudly and frequently you complain about gentlemen commuters not giving you a seat, the very fact that you've mentioned it has immediately glued their buttocks to the upholstery. Please be aware that commuters are creatures of habit. They have their bit of their carriage and their routine with their newspaper / ipod / blackberry / snoring and after a long day of pontificating and many years of practice will stick to this routine through hell or high water. A train has to be stuck stationary for a minimum of two hours before a commuter will speak to a fellow commuter whom he sees <em>every single day</em>. That is how rigorously anything which doesn't comply with the routine is ignored. He can quite easily ignore you for the usual 45 minute journey.<br /><br />A commuter feels justified in this possessiveness of his seat when he has paid three and a half grand for it and tailored his day to ensure he gets to the station early enough to claim it. You with your lowly off-peak return, scrambling on at London Bridge, are way down in the pecking order.<br /><br />Also, if the conductor kindly tells you there are seats further forward in the train, take his advice and use them instead of yabbering on when I am trying to work. Unless you would like to take my exam for me next week?<br /><br />Lastly, complaining that you are 72 and your travelling companion is pregnant is not going to encourage gallantry, especially when you clearly are not 72 and your travelling companion is carrying her belongings in a bag marked 'HM Prison Service'.<br /><br />Yours,<br /><br />A Lady Commuter.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-91203285272913096652010-05-29T13:30:00.006+01:002010-05-29T14:08:56.063+01:00Blood, sweat and cupcakesSorry for radio silence but things have been happening offline, promise!<br /><br />Firstly I did the Yorkshire Three Peaks walk with work. 26 miles, 1600m cumulative climbing, supposed to be done in 12 hours. We did it last Friday and it was also 24degrees (at least) so it was hot for Yorkshire, and also hot for walking!! We completed the circuit in 13.5hrs, but actually walking time was about 10.5hrs. What can I say, we needed breaks. Boy, did we...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476669852005700306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKNrjkEtI/AAAAAAAABAY/_Hn1wdJaaj4/s320/IMG_1494c.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />We started at 7am up Pen-y-ghent, then there was a 9 mile walk to the next peak.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476669840842202178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKNB9-nEI/AAAAAAAABAI/8S4cSaFCU9M/s320/IMG_1501c.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />But we all completed it and it was a job well done! Still lots more money to raise for charidee though...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476669846796785570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKNYJqV6I/AAAAAAAABAQ/0TW7dXjFTzE/s320/IMG_1499c.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />Although at the peaks it was windy and cool (and we also had to put the corporate windbreakers on for photo ops) I have some stunning Tshirt and watch shaped tan lines now, which is just going to be dandy for the wedding in 4 months... Gah!<br /><br />But onto less tiring things... I went to do a cupcake course at <a href="http://www.faircake.co.uk/">Faircake</a> in Greenwich. I did the Roses and Buttercream one and it was fab. (You can also follow <a href="http://www.facebook.com/faircakelondon">Faircake on facebook</a>.) I learnt so much, I was frantically scribbling loads of notes trying to get it all down before I forgot it! Sugar craft is not something I've done before but it's something I've wanted to try, because I likes me a posh cake. :) And really, it's not that hard after all, as long as you know which widget to wield at the appropriate time. Check out this sugar rose! Excuse the marshmallow pink, apparently cartoon colours can be avoided with a dash of yellow or ivory into the mix, but I discovered that later. So now you know.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvlp0sNI/AAAAAAAABBA/ILzvydztSRA/s1600/IMG_1526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476670434536894674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvlp0sNI/AAAAAAAABBA/ILzvydztSRA/s320/IMG_1526.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And these are the cupcakes. Yummo.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvXsLm-I/AAAAAAAABA4/SHipQUeRpXM/s1600/IMG_1529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476670430788688866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvXsLm-I/AAAAAAAABA4/SHipQUeRpXM/s320/IMG_1529.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I love the big flowers on green grass icing best I think because they're so cute, but the blush swirls are classic Faircake and the reason I wanted to do the class.</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvBm4JOI/AAAAAAAABAw/g11Vo5HKF98/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476670424860861666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKvBm4JOI/AAAAAAAABAw/g11Vo5HKF98/s320/IMG_1531.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmmm......<br /></div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKN0VgGqI/AAAAAAAABAg/T_6uzQTyz_4/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476669854362639010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/TAEKN0VgGqI/AAAAAAAABAg/T_6uzQTyz_4/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Next time we will be investigating how to transform a garden (if it ever stops raining...). </div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-39181304153509591512010-04-27T15:07:00.007+01:002010-04-27T17:12:16.618+01:00Serious stash enhancement.......aka hammering the bank balance. Ouch.<br /><br /><br />We were at Wonderwool at the weekend and unforts while it's good for <a href="http://www.aragonyarns.co.uk/">selling</a> it's also good for buying.<br /><br /><br />Some Amy Butler fabrics from a shop in the north half of Wales which I can't even pronounce let alone spell, but they were lovely people. I shall make two <a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=39">aprons</a> from this lot (in my spare time). Mum wants to come for a sew-in (like a sit-in but different) - she said she liked team curtain making last time, and seeing as she got some fabric too and owns the pattern, sounds like a good idea to me! Actually I think she's just very covetous of my craft room. <smug><br /><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819924727112722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwxIbWJBI/AAAAAAAAA_w/X4tldgEI60Y/s320/IMG_1431.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>Two lots of Manos Silk, the first a lovely rose sort of jumble...</div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwwtpPLwI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PkuNEeh1mdo/s1600/IMG_1432.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819917537619714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 312px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwwtpPLwI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PkuNEeh1mdo/s320/IMG_1432.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Mmmm, silky rosey loveliness....<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwwc5qdXI/AAAAAAAAA_g/76lHfu29374/s1600/IMG_1433.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819913043113330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwwc5qdXI/AAAAAAAAA_g/76lHfu29374/s320/IMG_1433.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>...for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tea-leaves-cardigan">Tea Leaves cardigan</a>. Do you think it will work?</div><br /><div></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464820426736633362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bxOWjvhhI/AAAAAAAAA_4/1Jhbvw6CbKM/s320/tea_leaves_portrait_low_res_medium.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>She needs to cheer up I think. Perhaps someone should get her one of those chocolate torte cakes from <a href="http://www.questtwentyeight.co.uk/2008/10/love-patisserie.html">Love Patisserie</a>. I would put the pic in of mum -erm- eating is not the right word - one of them but I think she might object. You know those 1950s pictures of children with chocolate from ear to ear? It was like that.</div><div><br /><div>And some silvery greeny stuff for...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwSgv0qFI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/qseZWa5JTf0/s1600/IMG_1434.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819398679504978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 262px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwSgv0qFI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/qseZWa5JTf0/s320/IMG_1434.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwSVk4vvI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/NfTaE9ea534/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819395680845554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwSVk4vvI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/NfTaE9ea534/s320/IMG_1435.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>...brooklyntweed's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wool-leaves">Wool Leaves </a>baby blanket.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464820434894430018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bxO08tn0I/AAAAAAAABAA/ZNbcYgTwxeI/s320/4290756025_de2601a439.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><div>I don't think gauge is too important for blankets. Probably.</div><div></div><br /><div>Also some Malabrigo sock, maybe for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/damson-2">Damson</a> or a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/multnomah">Multnomah</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwRxh-QsI/AAAAAAAAA_A/lzUrfFpVAKo/s1600/IMG_1436.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819386004947650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwRxh-QsI/AAAAAAAAA_A/lzUrfFpVAKo/s320/IMG_1436.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>Some <a href="http://yarndamour.com/">Yarn D'Amour </a>Ariadne (63% silk, 36% cashmere).<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819209554727202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwHgM9kSI/AAAAAAAAA-w/7r9pgics0qg/s320/IMG_1439.jpg" border="0" /><br />And <a href="http://www.sparkleduck.co.uk/">Sparkleduck</a> silk/baby camel...<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwRoDTtlI/AAAAAAAAA-4/auXwNvN2ZpM/s1600/IMG_1437.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819383460410962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwRoDTtlI/AAAAAAAAA-4/auXwNvN2ZpM/s320/IMG_1437.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />...and merino sock.</div><br /><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819201081649554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwHAo0qZI/AAAAAAAAA-o/yqOy4DlS30w/s320/IMG_1441.jpg" border="0" /> <div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwGSXnVwI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/NpM_u-FN66I/s1600/IMG_1443.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819188661442306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwGSXnVwI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/NpM_u-FN66I/s320/IMG_1443.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Check out Sparkleduck, she's new and was staying in the same hotel we were. Her yarn colours are yummo.</div><div></div><br /><div>And some completely pointless yet amusing badges.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwGF3jvwI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/pR5Y87CDpxA/s1600/IMG_1444.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464819185305763586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S9bwGF3jvwI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/pR5Y87CDpxA/s320/IMG_1444.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Not sure the one on the bottom right was quite true after the weekend, but we shall pretend it is!</div><div></div><br /><div>Next week I'm back to France but at least we're in the posh chateau again and not in Paris. Hopefully the weather will hold because as a team we're walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks next month, and we're going to do some walking training during the brain training. What can I say, the three peaks seemed a good idea at the time....</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-52366422586827961522010-04-18T19:16:00.002+01:002010-04-18T19:24:49.134+01:00OutsideThe garden giveth...<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNKuq0tbI/AAAAAAAAA9o/dB6trYcuY8c/s1600/IMG_1422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461543819838535090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNKuq0tbI/AAAAAAAAA9o/dB6trYcuY8c/s320/IMG_1422.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lily of the valley! Look how much!</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNKP7MDLI/AAAAAAAAA9g/iq46gC8F2_I/s1600/IMG_1427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461543811585674418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNKP7MDLI/AAAAAAAAA9g/iq46gC8F2_I/s320/IMG_1427.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />...and the garden taketh away.....<br /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461543825157991442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNLCfFLBI/AAAAAAAAA94/6FC725_-1SQ/s320/IMG_1419.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /><p>This time the reeds won.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461543820760491698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8tNKyGoprI/AAAAAAAAA9w/pr1zykSeoN0/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Do you think they'll give me another one? I only had it a couple of weeks, the bar code is still on the back. </p><p> </p><p>Sigh.</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-34833664024637989992010-04-13T21:29:00.010+01:002010-04-18T19:28:22.883+01:00Full of yarny goodness<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724477210264418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWfDOfg2I/AAAAAAAAA9A/XQ6ehu1LKQo/s320/IMG_1408.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>But first, a view of our kitchen table. Lovely spring flowers against a rare stroke of genius paint colour selection by the old house owners. The hyacinths smell lovely when I get home from work. </div><br /><div></div><div>Some promised yarn! This is what I got from La Droguerie. Cassis and I forget what. Maybe some socks with contrast toes? Scarf with fancy ends? Fingerless mittens? What do you think? It's 100g and 20g. Answers on a postcard!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWfaOOtOI/AAAAAAAAA9I/g5h9YamdLuM/s1600/IMG_1409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724483383178466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWfaOOtOI/AAAAAAAAA9I/g5h9YamdLuM/s320/IMG_1409.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Some super dinky ribbon with radishes! This is made to trim some kids clothes I think. Little fingers would like to play with the fluffy radish tops.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724676764887234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWqqoBaMI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/wP1RzDyIdEg/s320/IMG_1410.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />And lots of Liberty bias binding! In fact the colours are a bit more peppy. It's almost proper daylight when I get home but not quite yet....<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724680843398738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWq50ajlI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/yycQhG29A3c/s320/IMG_1412.JPG" border="0" /><br />Some pics from the garden! Hurrah for the garden! There are some narcissi coming up in a mystery pot left to me by Grandma.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWeNqZuKI/AAAAAAAAA8w/Woc3TZqHCeo/s1600/IMG_1405.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724462831810722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWeNqZuKI/AAAAAAAAA8w/Woc3TZqHCeo/s320/IMG_1405.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Some daffs already in the garden.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWdy0p1_I/AAAAAAAAA8o/BDeQW5zAaQs/s1600/IMG_1403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724455627053042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWdy0p1_I/AAAAAAAAA8o/BDeQW5zAaQs/s320/IMG_1403.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Large clumps of primroses discovered under the reeds.</div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV6VFBZ5I/AAAAAAAAA8g/Ra1pMh9Sm7I/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723846347220882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV6VFBZ5I/AAAAAAAAA8g/Ra1pMh9Sm7I/s320/IMG_1402.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723834263761842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV5oEGc7I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/9jvIa3SGl6M/s320/IMG_1400.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div><br />And some wild strawberries!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV6DnhQ7I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/RrXNos_6U0k/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723841660076978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV6DnhQ7I/AAAAAAAAA8Y/RrXNos_6U0k/s320/IMG_1401.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Lots of grape hyacinths.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV45foplI/AAAAAAAAA8I/V09F1xUJvi8/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723821762782802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV45foplI/AAAAAAAAA8I/V09F1xUJvi8/s320/IMG_1399.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Some FOs, finally. Firstly the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bitterroot">Bitterroot</a> shawl in Fyberspates' Unicorn yarn. More notes on my Rav page. It was a quick and easy knit but the beads are spawn of the devil, seriously. The yarn is sooo soft and silky. I just love blocking out lace shawls, when you pull the points out to be all scallopedy. Pretty!</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723494290396514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVl1kIlWI/AAAAAAAAA74/xydqaAZVgYw/s320/IMG_1393.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV4LDeg7I/AAAAAAAAA8A/aTOcJ04ZrYA/s1600/IMG_1396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723809296647090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TV4LDeg7I/AAAAAAAAA8A/aTOcJ04ZrYA/s320/IMG_1396.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>And the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/whisper-cardigan">Whisper</a> cardigan. </div><div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723466198281746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVkM6c7hI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/ALylFi7cUKE/s320/IMG_1340.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Supersoft Malabrigo yarn, surprisingly warm for laceweight, and quite boob-enhancing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVk30UoGI/AAAAAAAAA7o/WPauxDUSV1I/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723477715296354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVk30UoGI/AAAAAAAAA7o/WPauxDUSV1I/s320/IMG_1345.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>The colour is actually grey with undertones of purple. Love it.<br /><br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723480046321106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVlAgFPdI/AAAAAAAAA7w/mmSPeCEUMSY/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" border="0" /><br />You do have to get quite zen when knitting it because it takes foreeeeeveeerrr with teeny tiny yarn.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459723474980099458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TVktoM1YI/AAAAAAAAA7g/wlNQ4NSM8nM/s320/IMG_1343.JPG" border="0" /><br />Flattering from the back view. </div><div></div><br /><div>I have to say these photo shoots really help the diet. I can chart the gut over the months as I finish projects! The beady eyed among you may notice there are no pics from the front here. There are reasons. A month in Paris with no gym visits did indeed show...</div><div></div><br /><div>One more pic of those lovely flowers. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459724464846825186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8TWeVK0ZuI/AAAAAAAAA84/1zW2y_EkICw/s320/IMG_1406.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-5457356890791271692010-04-11T19:39:00.007+01:002010-04-16T09:14:36.221+01:00ParisSorry for the lack of posts but I'd been sent by work to Paris for a month. Ooo how glamourous, you think. Well, unforts I'm one of those poor unenlightened people for whom Paris holds few charms. Which is a shame, because there are lots of good things.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458988009564492066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I4q_c1USI/AAAAAAAAA6o/FOVpvaRKZNM/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div></div><div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I4qtc0TnI/AAAAAAAAA6g/lTqB5u0rC70/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985076345119010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2AQW1oSI/AAAAAAAAA5I/oRtPTwC8htE/s320/IMG_1330.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458989313448734226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I524zD7hI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/5IwxXb8gSWY/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Don't I looked tired? Yikes.<br /></div><br /><div></div><div>This is a life-size model of the Statue of Liberty's flame, situated next to the Seine. It's surprisingly small I thought. I always think of Liberty as being huge. Interesting.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2zX2q29I/AAAAAAAAA6I/N4YPrDJpAkQ/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985954531007442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2zX2q29I/AAAAAAAAA6I/N4YPrDJpAkQ/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.merci-merci.com/">Merci</a>, found via <a href="http://indiaknight.posterous.com/">Posterous</a>, are currently doing a Liberty range. Want want want a vintage Fiat in Liberty print!! The Man won't let me do the same to my ancient Golf though. Shame.</div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458987996601219714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I4qPKJeoI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/-FK7P-2Q0PQ/s320/IMG_0030.JPG" border="0" /><br />Noticed via <a href="http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2010/03/09/my-vacation-slides-paris-day-5-pastries-and-scoldings/">Not Martha</a>, in Paris there are around 350 of these mosiac space invaders. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invader_%28artist%29">artist </a>invades all sorts of cities around the world, there is a list somewhere. This is on rue Rambuteau where is crosses with rue du Temple.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2zB8SGGI/AAAAAAAAA6A/ddI4bjTD4rs/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985948648970338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2zB8SGGI/AAAAAAAAA6A/ddI4bjTD4rs/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Another:<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2ysBRvkI/AAAAAAAAA54/IctZj7LHxZw/s1600/IMG_1323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985942764338754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2ysBRvkI/AAAAAAAAA54/IctZj7LHxZw/s320/IMG_1323.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A classic sort on rue Geoffroy Langvin. Would recommend the restaurant too, if you want <em>pain</em>, <em>vin</em> or <em>fromage</em>.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2yYFRjMI/AAAAAAAAA5w/82sAeUTc4HY/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985937412394178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2yYFRjMI/AAAAAAAAA5w/82sAeUTc4HY/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Others were also spotted on rue Renard and somewhere near Les Archives. There are loads, keep an eye out!</div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div>Cupcakes from <a href="http://www.cupcakesberko.com/">Berko</a> on rue Rambuteau (there's another branch near Montmartre). Yum. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2BpoXqDI/AAAAAAAAA5g/LJ1m_dQRsm4/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985100309407794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2BpoXqDI/AAAAAAAAA5g/LJ1m_dQRsm4/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Of course no self-respecting knitter can go to Paris without stopping by <a href="http://www.ladroguerie.com/">La Droguerie</a>. The first visit turned out to be a recce only, I was overwhelmed.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2AqxOvtI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/pGry3lwzTcU/s1600/IMG_0023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985083435138770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2AqxOvtI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/pGry3lwzTcU/s320/IMG_0023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />(General apols for iphone pics btw, they're rather dark.)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458989299337263826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I52EOn-tI/AAAAAAAAA64/rOdG-cB-1K8/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>One day I did a site visit to a perfume factory (the whole place smelt of Shalimar), got back into town at a reasonable hour so I went back to actually buy something. I flagged a girl down and said something like, 'pardon, je suis anglaise' to excuse my rubbish French, and she shrugged that Gallic shrug and said, 'ce n'est pas grave'. Like I had a disease or something but it was curable. Funny!<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>They have a really old-fashioned system. First, have a good look around and decide what you want. The yarns are mainly sock weight or so, there are ribbons to die for, hundreds of them and all gorgeous (you'll never decide), jars and jars and jars of beads and buttons and feathers and silk flowers, some jewellery making bits and pieces, and some fat squares. Once you've decided, flag down a member of staff, and they tend to work a section so do your best. They will then gather your items, cut the ribbon, count out the beads etc. The yarn at the front of the store is just for show, it's sold by weight (min 20g), so ask for what you need and they go out to the back and wind it off a cone into a ball. Then all the bits are given to the lady in the little booth (like at a really old-fashioned butcher's shop) and she does all the money transactions. If you try to speak a bit of French it's appreciated but I think they understand English quite well. There were a lot of tourists in there so they must be used to it!</div><br /><div>They had dozens of spools of Liberty print bias binding. Be still my beating heart.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458989305942996290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I52c1jdUI/AAAAAAAAA7A/fdodkYgk1Sk/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>They've used this as trim on jumpers, to reinforce neckbands etc, or to trim up shopping bags, or to make corsages... How to choose? So many lovely patterns!</div><br /><div>This made me smile - business class on the Eurostar on the final trip home. Knitting and champagne. Hurrah!<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458985961553141378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I2zyA4HoI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/nEz8lMuiNvk/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" /><br />And bought for the Man (who doesn't do any chocolate fancier than Dairy Milk): <em>coeur </em>cheese and <em>saucisson sec</em>, eaten on it's own or with a very cold <em>aperitif</em>...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458989309192029266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S8I52o8LxFI/AAAAAAAAA7I/c2YG8dDJA-o/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" border="0" /><br />So what's happened since I've been back?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. The sun has shone. Hurray for the clock change!</div><br /><div>2. I've listened to the Glee soundtrack and grinned inanely at people as a result (Loon.)</div><br /><div>3. Mum and I spent two and a half hours doing forensic gardening and discovering things like alchemilla mollis and wild strawberries buried under pampas reeds and ivy</div><br /><div>4. £700 has been dropped with the garage but the car has stopped making strange noises so I suppose that's good</div><br /><div>5. The Man has been over to Augusta to watch a few days of the Masters, which he was very very very very happy about (did I mention he enjoyed it?)</div><br /><div>6. I've finished the Whisper cardigan and Bitterroot shawl. Pics to follow in a generally yarny post next time.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's so good to be back!</div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-77118746084112968682010-03-24T18:29:00.004+00:002010-03-24T19:11:36.703+00:00Grandma<div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S6paW06avWI/AAAAAAAAA4w/2mafRDZPDyw/s1600/going+fishing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269647092694370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S6paW06avWI/AAAAAAAAA4w/2mafRDZPDyw/s320/going+fishing.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Eileen Dorothea Reder</span></div><div align="center">1916 - 2010</div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Grandma passed away on 12 March 2010 after three months in nursing homes. Until then she'd lived independently on her own, rightly proud of the fact that even at 93 she still had all her marbles. But finally her body started to give up on her, her legs stopped working and she could no longer look after herself alone. </div><br /><div></div><div>The funeral was yesterday. It was lovely, very emotional, but old fashioned and totally fitting. I want to put the tribute here, which was written and read by Dad, her son in law. It's a really brief summary of her life, but as you can see she packed a lot in. I'll be writing more about Grandma in the next few months.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I’m very grateful to Eileen for leaving us some wonderful notes, nay memoirs,that describe large parts of a varied and colourful life.<br /><br />Eileen was born in 1916 in Leeds, Yorkshire. Her father, Revd. Percy Sturdy moved frequently with his job and by the age of 11 Eileen had attended 13 different schools before finally arriving in Gloucester. Movement and travelling were to be a large part of her life, with spells in Tanga (Tanganyika) Gloucester, Dar es Salaam, Moshi, Ashford (Kent), Lusaka (Zambia), Maidstone, Cape Town and Durban before finally settling in Tunbridge Wells, where she lived for the last 21 years.<br /><br />Eileen was not a strong child but resolute. At the age of 3 her family was invited to a tea party with the Bishop, whose sisters were prim and proper but thought that they should force this little girl to eat a cake. Eileen responded by throwing it at them! She was also tough enough to survive a tonsillectomy, as she noted, “performed on the kitchen table”.<br /><br />With the family settled in Gloucester, Eileen flourished at school. She “did well at learning” as she put it and also yearned to be captain of hockey, a post that she didn’t quite achieve but she was House Captain and during her spell her team won the Hockey Cup and three other trophies.<br /><br />During the holidays she was often packed off to see her Grandmother (Grandie) in Leeds. She would be put on the train with a label, luggage and sandwiches. At each stop the porter & guard would check on her and arriving at Leeds, Aunt Eva would take her by tram and on foot to see Grandie. “The summers were good and we had lots of fun,” she wrote.<br /><br />Eileen found out in later life that, after school, she was supposed to have become a teacher and marry a curate. However, she opted instead for a job in the accounts office of a ladies’ department store. Although this was a start she was soon studying typing and shorthand at night classes. This led to a job for a firm of solicitors and a further offer of work in East Africa. It was there in Tanga, in 1948, that she met and married Paul. After the reception they set off for Mombasa for a pukka night in the Mombasa hotel. Unfortunately, it was the rainy season and the car slithered on the unmade road, leaving one wheel over the edge of a precipice. There were no other cars and no passers-by, so they returned on foot to Tanga drenched from head to foot, to an empty house. Luckily the telephone was working so they sent the garage staff out for the car and a friend brought round eggs, bacon, baked beans and beer for supper. Not quite what they had anticipated.<br /><br />After Pauline was born in Tanga in 1950, Paul was posted to Nairobi; but that being a potential troublespot, Eileen had to return to UK with Pauline, only returning when Paul gave up his job to be back with the family. It was 1953. Life was slightly more settled and William was born in Dar es Salaam in 1954. They moved to Tanga and Eileen made news in two ways : first she began to write a column for the Tanganika Standard and occasionally for the East Africa Standard and then she made news herself by becoming the first woman Town Councillor. As she herself wrote, “I could see the tremendous efforts being made to educate the young men and prepare them for independence, whereas hardly anything was being done for the women……this I considered to be shortsighted and was in the habit of discussing it at parties….so it served me right when I was summoned to the Provisional Commissioners office and was told that I was to be nominated as Town Councillor!”<br /><br />She continued her public duties after the move to Moshi, working on Public Health and Building Works and Highways, later helping to host the opening of the New Town Hall by President Nyerere. She also worked for the British Council, Chamber of Commerce and UN Development Fund.<br /><br />It was during her periods in office that she and Paul were recognised by the Chagga tribe and became honorary Chaggas. Some years later at an eye appointment at Pembury hospital the nurses were alarmed to hear this strange woman gabbling away to their doctor in Swahili – two Chaggas together in Tunbridge Wells!!<br /><br />While in Moshi, Eileen also found time to run a shop selling women’s fashionwear (her hats were particularly famous), raise a family and continue her newspaper reporting. She made two scoops – the first when a plane crashed into Mount Kilamanjaro, the second when a French parachute team landed on the summit. The latter was an exclusive and enjoyed front-page coverage, for which Eileen earned the title “Here comes the Newshound” and enough money to buy a piano – a much treasured possession and one that many visitors admired, especially after it had been blessed by the nimble fingers of none other than the late Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong.<br /><br />Music and singing were sources of great joy to Eileen. Her family were musical and almost every occasion was marked by songs together around the piano. From school choir, Eileen graduated to local operatic society but it was in Africa that her talent really came to fruition. She helped the Tanga Music and Drama Society and was producer of their first-ever production, “Aladdin”. She noted later, “It was an enormous amount of work. How did I manage to do it? Every detail covered, even down to the girls selling chocolates from trays (ice creams would have melted!)”. She recorded “like the A-team, I love it when a plan comes together!” She also co-produced the Coronation Revue, a daring production with a multi-racial cast, Indian dancers and African singers, which went to several towns to great reviews. They even added in an extra verse at the 11th hour because somebody arrived with the news that Hillary and Hunt had conquered Everest!<br /><br />In Moshi, she teamed up with a superb soprano, Margaret Morphew and, as the Moshi Singers, they toured much of East Africa to great acclaim.<br /><br />After returning to England, Eileen moved to Kennington, Ashford and joined the W.I.. She sang in their rather special choir and received accolades at The Canterbury Music Festival and at the W.I. Choral competition at the Albert Hall. She also sang with the Saint Nicholas Singers at Wye and on returning to Africa in 1970, for the Lusaka Cathedral choir, an experience that she recorded as “very uplifting”. </div><div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452269654819725314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 237px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S6paXRsr4AI/AAAAAAAAA44/KrddMDvHTUY/s320/grandma.jpg" border="0" /><br />Not only that, she was a virtually self-taught organist. In Moshi, the organist had to leave and the plea went out “can anybody play or try to play the organ?” Eileen was coerced and found herself at an old organ that required pedalling at just the right pressure and speed and at the same time controlling two side flaps with one’s knees. The stops were all labelled in German, which wasn’t much help. Practise was on a Saturday afternoon when not too many people were about. One Saturday, the organ was playing up a little and she could not get a sound from one stop. Suddenly there was a swooshing sound. Eileen backed away and then slowly lifted the lid. There was a rapid scurrying and a large striped lizard darted out and away!<br /><br />Eileen and Paul were in Maidstone for Pauline’s marriage in 1973, then Paul was offered a good job in Zambia and Eileen subsequently joined him there.<br /><br />From Lusaka, Paul and Eileen moved to Cape Town where Paul died in 1982. Eileen thought of staying on, but fortunately for us all, she returned here in 1988 settling in Sherborne Close, Hawkenbury. Still active in mind and body, she became immersed in Hawkenbury life becoming involved with church, giving talks on her African experiences, writing as local correspondent for the Courier Newspaper and the Kent Messenger (I hate it when those junior editors chop my articles about!), helping raise the profile of Dunorlan Park, flower arranging and enjoying her tiny garden and our rather bigger untidy one, which she would tut-tut over and attack with her trusty secateurs.<br /><br />I must just mention cats. Eileen loved cats and cats loved her. She had cats in Africa and cats over here. Sadly she couldn’t have one in the flat but when she visited our farm, the cats used to treat her like royalty. There was such empathy.<br /><br />Above all, Eileen loved her family. She was immensely proud of Pauline and William, her grandchildren Katie and Peter, and her little great grandson Rory. She also kept in touch by card or letter with many of the far-flung family members. She was never more happy than on family occasions, where she could catch up on the latest family news, berate us for something silly that we had done (that was “daft” or you mucky pup) and be teased in turn for her lingering Yorkshire dialect (it wasalways 'bath' not 'barth' and 'plant' not 'plahnt').<br /><br />Kind, decent, honest, thoughtful, patient, calm, resolute, forgiving, loving – words can only begin to describe her. We were so so lucky to have known such a wonderful friend, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452279326830003778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S6pjKQvohkI/AAAAAAAAA5A/OLPllafXXpg/s320/gma.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-83846327761795087932010-02-28T21:52:00.006+00:002010-02-28T22:43:13.321+00:00Norty<div><div><div><div>Yesterday I was in Islington for an afternoon of learning to jive. It was modern jive and apart from the basic step was very similar to salsa in all the spins we did. I thought it would be more jumpy up and down! Which dance am I thinking of peeps? Is it actually jitterbug? Or does modern jive get more jumpy as you learn more?</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>Aaaaanyway, a knitter can't go to Islington without going to <a href="http://www.loopknitting.com/">Loop</a>. It's much smaller than I thought, or than it seems in the magazine shoots. Cunning. More estate agents should learn that photographic skill. It was also stuffed with people on a Saturday lunch time, some tourists from up north, some students and a couple of young mums with enormous push chairs cluttering the place up. One was wanting to do her first ever knitting project and had chosen a baby cardi, and the other was going to help her, and was adament that she should do the thing in flat pieces and sew them up and not make life easy for herself and use circs to do it all in one piece. Sigh. How about starting with a scarf anyway?</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>It was yarn p0rn-erama though. I was quite restrained and only spent [cough]<cough>£75[cough]<cough>.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443418219294428386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S4roB6zvDOI/AAAAAAAAA4I/rq2FrIOIrbY/s320/IMG_1302.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div> </div><div>Madelinetosh tosh sock in Jade. MTosh yarn keeps cropping up in some lovely <a href="http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2010/02/cosette.html">projects</a> online, so I'm looking forward to trying this out. Perhaps Loop will stock the DK soon.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443418225535180162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S4roCSDpXYI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/vaFzOdcXBBU/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Malabrigo sock in Rayon Vert. The greens are much more emeraldy in real life. Soft as Malabrigo always is.<br /></div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443418729593921474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S4rofn0nX8I/AAAAAAAAA4o/-n4smLZti8o/s320/IMG_1309.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Sea Silk in Pewter. I've always wanted to try this because it's got seacell in it, made from seaweed. I think this is destined to become a lacey scarf. It's gorgeous and silky and sheeny and I love the colours.<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443418224567912738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S4roCOdCCSI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/dK0_pk4iUKs/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Colinette Jitterbug in Lichen. This looks like it should be sproingy like Koigu. </p><p>All of these yarns just could NOT stay in the shop and had to come home with me in a yes-you-are-a-big-spender-haha! fancypants cotton Loop shopping tote bag. You know when you get a free fancy bag they're going to have a huge smile on their faces when you leave the shop. Hey ho. Singlehandedly keeping industry alive...</p><p>There are some lovely shops between Angel tube station and Loop though. At the end of Cross Street is an amazing fishmonger, it had everything, including an enormous salmon. Seriously, this thing was about 4 ft long. There is a groovy flea/antique market in Camden Passage on Saturdays, and there are some big name boutiques and a lovely Art Nouveau antique jewellery shop. Also lots of little knicknackery shops which looked good to explore. Trouble is when you commute all week the last thing you want to do is go back up to London at weekends! So, I am recommending it to you guys - let me know how you get on.</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-41632019619826633082010-02-15T13:10:00.004+00:002010-02-15T14:11:15.185+00:00CraftyFinally, I started work on one of last year's new year's resolutions. Ideally one day I'll be making one of those amigurumi ninja vampire things, but for now I'm starting out with granny squares. Or hexagons. Whatever.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIQ25abkI/AAAAAAAAA4A/DIt9vqfJlCg/s1600-h/IMG_1265.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457479478013506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIQ25abkI/AAAAAAAAA4A/DIt9vqfJlCg/s320/IMG_1265.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm using <a href="http://www.aragonyarns.co.uk/">Aragon Yarns Classic Romney </a>because I have all the colours in plentiful supply. :)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIN5bqDFI/AAAAAAAAA34/BA_n8hD0PHA/s1600-h/IMG_1266.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457428618906706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIN5bqDFI/AAAAAAAAA34/BA_n8hD0PHA/s320/IMG_1266.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Here is the first hex! Hurrah for <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2008/11/hexagon-crochet.html">patterns that write things out in longhand with notes</a>! Thanks Attic24 for assuming the reader knows nothing, because indeed, I know nothing. Really Obvious Information is gold dust for me.</div><div><br />I also purchased a swift, as previously mentioned. This is a <a href="http://sunflowerswifts.blogspot.com/">sunflower swift</a>, as opposed to one of those umbrella swifts, as some of the girls at knit group recommended this sort.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lINqquQkI/AAAAAAAAA3w/khwjzRYhvGg/s1600-h/IMG_1268.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457424655565378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lINqquQkI/AAAAAAAAA3w/khwjzRYhvGg/s320/IMG_1268.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It definitely does the job. In fact, it spins so freely you have to wind like crazy to keep up. I may have to work out some kind of dampening mechanism. But it doesn't eat yarn and it keeps an even tension which are both Good Things for me.</div><div><br />So despite the physio prescribing me a Slob Day, which I booked in for Sunday, it seems I am completely rubbish at such things. Instead, I fixed the new front door dead bolt, did some hoovering, then mum called and asked if I wanted her to come over and help me make curtains out of the fabric I bought on Saturday. Reasons against: that is not slobbing, and I had man flu. Reasons for: I hadn't made curtains since I was about 16, couldn't remember how, was terrified of cutting the fabric in the wrong place, was scared about the pattern matching, and have dubious skills at machine stitching a straight line. Also we may have people wishing to use the room next weekend and I'm sure they'd appreciate some window coverage. So, some help, and help now, would be Excellent. </div><div><br />The fabric I'd bought was in the sale at our local haberdashery and fabric sort of place (half price at £11.50/m!) and is sort of silk look with embroidered flowers. Hey, it's for my craft room, I can be as girly as I like! The sales girl also sold me some brushed cotton lining, which is thicker than just normal cotton lining so you can sort of make it look like the curtains are almost interlined. Sort of. It's on the way at least. And these are not big sumptuous curtains for a fancy window so 'on the way' was just fine with me.<br /><br />Here is mum hard at work hiding behind her hair with one curtain done (bar the bottom hems) hanging up behind her. She got a bit excited and wanted to see what they looked like.<br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lINPnVZNI/AAAAAAAAA3g/mMjlrtj_8nI/s1600-h/IMG_1270.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457417393595602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lINPnVZNI/AAAAAAAAA3g/mMjlrtj_8nI/s320/IMG_1270.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Its soooo much nicer working with two of you! Especially on big things like curtains, so you can pull from opposite ends to make it flat. One can cut and the other sew. Hurrah for teamwork.<br /><br />I'll post some better pics when they're both up. Unforts the people who sold us the house left a curtain pole with nine rings on it. Genius. So some kind soul is going to buy a bag of 24 so we can actually hang two curtains. It will probably be mum as The Man only knows his way around the fabric shop as far as to extract me from the yarn section. Bless.<br /><br />Funny how, looking through those craft room pictures, I don't mind showing you all the clutter. It will get tidied up eventually, but it's currently functional clutter, so that feels kinda OK.<br /><br />And as well as all that on Sunday I baked some cupcakes. Just in case I got bored at all. I am raising money at work for this charity walk and therefore hoping that they don't poison people. I did cheat, it's all cake mix and frosting from a pot. Someone's already asked for the recipe. Damn you, Betty Crocker!</div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIBO75X6I/AAAAAAAAA3A/oca02s8eiZ4/s1600-h/IMG_1283.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457211052973986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIBO75X6I/AAAAAAAAA3A/oca02s8eiZ4/s320/IMG_1283.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The Man helped me frost and decorate some. I'm sure there's some domestic goddess in him somewhere.<br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIBwA_S4I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/HcvTXF_rL4g/s1600-h/IMG_1275.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIA1VOzFI/AAAAAAAAA24/PH0rlzz_jBM/s1600-h/IMG_1284.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438457204179913810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S3lIA1VOzFI/AAAAAAAAA24/PH0rlzz_jBM/s320/IMG_1284.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />That is all so far. Progress continues on the hex blanket and the whisper cardigan - I cast off the second sleeve this morning so now I have a shrug. I think I should try it on, it looks of indeterminate size (ie huge) at the moment. Next step is to pick up eleventy hundred dozen stitches all around the neck/waist/armhole. Evenly. This could be a Home Task - doing things like that on the train (especially with man flu) is just asking for trouble.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-16058311370241759212010-02-08T20:41:00.002+00:002010-02-08T20:46:01.096+00:00Around the kitchen tableThe Man and I sat down to a very calm, civilised breakfast of fresh baked pastries and coffee yesterday morning, around the kitchen table that the previous night had had eight members of both our families crammed around it in raucous enjoyment of each others’ company. We’d all been watching the rugby (I pity the neighbours, apparently in numbers we can make quite a racket cheering and shouting) and at the same time I’d been cooking and helping my brother put up shelves, which involved power drills, dust and hoovers. Everyone took turns entertaining my nephew. He’s quite insistent – ‘Aunty Katie, Peeeeeeease (he doesn’t do Ls yet, which makes talking about clocks quite entertaining) can you come with me and hewp me do XYZ?? [tugs hand] Peeease pease pease?’ ‘Nephew, I’m simultaneously trying to cook everyone supper and help your daddy put up this wall bracket, can we do it later?’ ‘No Aunty Katie, need to do it now!’ Ah what it is to be in favour.<br /><br />He also takes great delight in sliding the wardrobe doors in one of the bedrooms, because behind one of them is a bathroom – the Magic Bathroom – in which the lights come on all by themselves. Ooooo. Unfortunately he managed to get behind the wrong door and close it, where there were no lights, and we all (just, over the shouting) heard this little shout of, ‘Mummy! Mummy! Help!!’, to much hilarity, poor little chap.<br /><br />Later, when we were all sitting around the table, Nephew boosted up by a cushion so he could just see over and so his mouth was about at plate level, we realised that it was indeed Nephew’s first dinner party. And as a very good budding guest, he even insisted on helping with the washing up. He loves making a mess with water and suds. Aw.<br /><br />I am so lucky to have such a lovely family and have such a lovely house for them all to come to.<br /><br />Recently, I treated myself to a swift. This was a long winded decision but Such A Good Thing. I think, despite initial raised eyebrows at my overexcitement, The Man will think so too as I won’t have to interrupt his telly viewing pleasure any more getting him to hold the skein and also my yarn cakes will be of totally even tension instead of getting a bit tighter at the points where he got distracted by an attempt on goal or a particularly good smackdown. The swift is freshly made and still smells of new wood and linseed oil or some such that’s been rubbed into it to make it gleam. There are brass fittings. My white and red plastic wool winder, usually kooky and retro, looks a bit sheepish next to it. Why is it that some knitting items get upgraded to brass fittings status and others remain solely produced in cheap plastic? Like using Lantern Moon circulars with one of those plastic rotally counter things. Not a good look. Who makes a pretty row counter, please raise your hand?<br /><br />Work are sending me to work in Paris for a month. This sounds terribly glamorous, doesn’t it? Well, not really. I have laid the law down and taken the budget and booked a decent apartment for myself (I hope) in the Marais (yes I know that’s the gay quarter but it’s also supposed to be very nice and there are loads of restaurants and shops which are open on Sundays), although it’s on the fourth floor, which might make up for lack of gym while there. Last time I was in a sort of Travelodge with a kitchenette for a week, right by the red light district of Clichy, which was just plain nasty. The office, despite the façade and atrium (and executive floor) being beautiful, is pretty uninspiring, and the French like to have their own office each so it’s not very sociable. In fact, surprisingly for a Latin race, they are quite private people. When you’re at work, you don’t talk about home with your work mates. You don’t go out for drinks after work, or even out for lunch, although some have started going down to the cafeteria as a department these days. OK, so there are exceptions to this rule, but you can’t make assumptions! Luckily because of this sort of company university thingy I’m part of, I know a few people there quite well, which is a saving grace indeed. Gosh, can you imagine being away for a month and only talking about work??Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-19916828290816004212010-01-27T22:04:00.006+00:002010-01-27T22:45:47.688+00:00In which the Fridge happened...This is going to be a post of pictures, and it's late, so sorry for the brief captions. Perhaps I'll have time for a wordy post soon, who knows?<br /><br />Firstly, just to be normal, some yarn.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544212142475570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C4rvKUyTI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/QIm0wu-G7tw/s320/IMG_1222.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />This is some Touchyarn laceweight which I've had for a couple of years, just waiting for the right project. It's gorgeous - lovely jewel colours in the skein, glossy when wound.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544202737466802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C4rMH_vbI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/CAPeezrdcw8/s320/IMG_1218.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Yum! Perfect for a <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/KSPATTbitterroot.php">Bitterroot</a> scarf, I thought.<br /><br />Hmm. Perhaps not.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544215880107058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C4r9FchDI/AAAAAAAAA0g/mVKHVAv2JfU/s320/IMG_1223.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>It just looks like a tangled mess and you can't see any of the pattern in there. I is having a rethink.</p><p>In other news, the fridge arrived.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544231521070050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C4s3Wiq-I/AAAAAAAAA0w/QLfhHSz_9Kw/s320/IMG_1225.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>That was as far as it got. Interesting trying to get in the front door when I got home.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544219179251250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C4sJYBdjI/AAAAAAAAA0o/QJAm3_njhwg/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" border="0" /></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>So that's where it stayed for a couple of days, until people came visiting. Looking all mean and brooding, and then slightly self-conscious, and then rather put-out.</div><div> </div><div>Brother and Brother-in-Law and The Man managed to unpack it and manhandle it into the kitchen.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544439190983890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C448-6FNI/AAAAAAAAA04/PdFdHoAkrss/s320/IMG_1227.JPG" border="0" /><br />BIL and The Man judging the space. (You can just see The Man's fingers, he's the one behind the fridge.)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544443812394546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C45OMvNjI/AAAAAAAAA1A/yhBADvgxaP0/s320/IMG_1230.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Result!! It fits! Shock and amazement!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C45VP0UZI/AAAAAAAAA1I/hMGl3YTouRY/s1600-h/IMG_1231.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544445704360338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C45VP0UZI/AAAAAAAAA1I/hMGl3YTouRY/s320/IMG_1231.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Good job.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544451499221106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C45q1a4HI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/uA206P_MGiA/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" border="0" /><br />It's a monster.<br /><div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544980620135170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5Yd9rSwI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/Bg7jQ15Tvi8/s320/IMG_1242.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>The most entertaining thing is this:<br /><div><div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544984748203634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 216px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5YtV4nnI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/MJF7jdEWQH8/s320/IMG_1243.JPG" border="0" /><br />..turns to this:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544998068440178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5Ze9rTHI/AAAAAAAAA2o/XRMlPCJz450/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>Due to this:</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544988833173538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5Y8j0UCI/AAAAAAAAA2g/RWro4ujd-cs/s320/IMG_1244.JPG" border="0" /><br />Are they kidding? A monster fridge powersaving by turning off six tiny LED lights on the front panel?? Seriously, that's the least of its worries.</p><p>Following a trip to Ikea on Sunday, the craft room had turned into this:<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544454498783602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C452AkkXI/AAAAAAAAA1Y/a6I15e2hMck/s320/IMG_1233.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>A desktop, a box with a flatpack chair in it, assorted other bits and storage and table and bags of stuff. A Mess, oh yes.</p><p>Several hours later it looked more like this:</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544688792337538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5He0gfII/AAAAAAAAA1o/qXqipuQFbag/s320/IMG_1235.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Reusing some shelves left by vendors but these will be upgraded:<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544690704230610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5Hl8VqNI/AAAAAAAAA1w/_Sa8-RDJsiw/s320/IMG_1236.JPG" border="0" /> <p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544695539857986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5H39PekI/AAAAAAAAA14/nzPZRBt_3pE/s320/IMG_1239.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Some fabric from the stash, now amalgamated and easy to view.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544681680360802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5HEU4VWI/AAAAAAAAA1g/Ba4g_i-fpHg/s320/IMG_1234.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Tidy cupboard with see through storage boxes (need more of them I think).<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544702724993346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5ISuT8UI/AAAAAAAAA2A/INfjU7I3bUk/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>And finally, I am apparently starting to turn into a granny. Not only knitting but also this:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431544977085539522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S2C5YQy9pMI/AAAAAAAAA2I/aPnVj-oVdoI/s320/IMG_1241.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>The Rolls Royce of shopping trolleys, oh yes. Raised eyebrows all round, as well as a vow never to be seen with me if I'm using it, let along take it for a spin himself. Hee hee, can you see The Man wheeling that back from Sainsbury's?</p>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197337.post-12241068462016558262010-01-17T18:32:00.003+00:002010-01-17T21:13:40.221+00:00All changeFirst of all, some knitting. Since finishing that baby blanket I've been rather more productive! This <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ishbel">Ishbel</a> was started on Boxing day and finished on 12 Jan. It was just enough knitting for me, being the small neckwarmer size rather than the large shawl. My first lace shawl, first time blocking a scalloped edge, really quite smug with myself. :)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427787823906685890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgRKgmA8I/AAAAAAAAAzI/UkTC8Cu71q0/s320/IMG_1185.JPG" border="0" /> <div><div><div><div><br />Here is a compare between how it was when finished knitting...<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427787837056533234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgR7fwwvI/AAAAAAAAAzY/ZSp8kDyHyyY/s320/IMG_1177.JPG" border="0" /><br />....and how is turned out after blocking.</div><div> </div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgSK2zvYI/AAAAAAAAAzg/YjpmJB8xSsw/s1600-h/IMG_1178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427787841179729282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgSK2zvYI/AAAAAAAAAzg/YjpmJB8xSsw/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Like wings!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427788412545261634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgzbW94EI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Uxig3Xfn4Tg/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>I also did a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-crossed-slouchy-beret">Star Crossed Beret </a>for mum, who has an ancient one from the 70s which she wears around the farm in the cold. It's rather thin and weary looking, so hopefully this will be an OK alternative for her.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgRgw_PYI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/Qb3vaZf2ItQ/s1600-h/IMG_1190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427787829881027970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgRgw_PYI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/Qb3vaZf2ItQ/s320/IMG_1190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I love how the random cables look sort of like tree bark. It's done in Rowan Cocoon yarn which is lovely and soft, bouncy and drapy at the same time.<br /></div><div>So, now we're up to date on the knitting what about the other stuff? Well, we moved house. It went through very quickly, luckily - we viewed in November and moved on 11 Jan. It's been a bit of a culture shock, going from a one and a half bedroom flat into a 4 bed townhouse - lots of rooms which we don't know what to do with, a bathroom each, a garage for junk, two flights of stairs... my legs are going to get more toned! Not least because we've not sorted everything out yet and whatever I need is usually at the other end of the house...<br /></div><div>Best of all though, because we have so much space at the moment, I can have a craft room.</div><div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427788417413154882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgztfkCEI/AAAAAAAAAzw/xD5pKKz-HnA/s320/IMG_1205.JPG" border="0" /><br />So far the only storage I have is what the old owner left behind (yeah thanks for leaving your crappy shelving unit) but I'll gradually get this all usefully arranged I'm sure. I've already scoped out a big L shaped corner desk from Ikea for a starting point, and The Man's mum has mentioned a big dresser which she used to have in her kitchen but since she upgraded it she's just kept in her garage. She's just as keen for me to have a fully functional craft room as I am! (It's possible since she now has a key I may come home to find her in it quite often.) It will be wonderful to have everything get-at-able. I aspire to having one of those workspaces they feature on home and lifestyle blogs, with useful shelves in the right places and chi-chi pots for your pens and paint brushes. Hey ho.</div><div><br />Here is a new house / new table combo pic. This new (old) table is rather orange because it's in the process of being 'revived', having been in the barn at home for several months waiting for a new home.<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgQ1R10PI/AAAAAAAAAzA/YyPi_sAgTRg/s1600-h/IMG_1199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427787818207662322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1NgQ1R10PI/AAAAAAAAAzA/YyPi_sAgTRg/s320/IMG_1199.JPG" border="0" /></a>It's been given a drink of a woodworm treatment shooter followed by a beeswax and noxious solvents cocktail. In two days we are allowed to buff it to a sheen. Meantime hopefully it will have absorbed what it needs and the solvents will have evaporated and it will go back to a sensible colour. It has started to already so I should really trust my (furniture restorer) brother not to leave me with a tangerine table.</div><div><br />Here is some old woodworm damage - love the crazy pattern. I think it looks a bit like that tubes screensaver they used to have on Windows 97.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427788424663005426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1Ng0IgD-PI/AAAAAAAAAz4/yMgs40bvD38/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" border="0" /><br />Yesterday we had our washing machine delivered. The Man's plumber mate is on hols so we thought we'd plumb it in ourselves. How hard can it be? There's an instruction manual and everything.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427788424394158818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1Ng0Hf9suI/AAAAAAAAA0A/Jsa70FfoFRk/s320/IMG_1212.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>Just in case, we put a washing up bowl underneath to catch any drips for the first cycle.<br /><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427788427760552962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6YpHZyKaJlU/S1Ng0UCkzAI/AAAAAAAAA0I/ojtUAASmzYQ/s320/IMG_1211.JPG" border="0" /><br />Ahem. Yes, well. This has now been rectified.<br /><br />All this house roaming fetching things from upstairs when they're needed downstairs is just as well, I had a serious gym session with my trainer yesterday and I hurt in strange places, and if I sat down for too long I think I'd cease up. Balls of my thumbs? I presume it's due to having my first session of pad boxing, which is much more fun than ten minutes on the cross trainer.<br /></div><div>It's taken a while but I'm starting to get into the mindset that not everything in this house needs to be done immediately, which is quite a new thing for a child of the Now generation like me. It's lovely just doing a little chunk at a time, and thinking that we can write a list and cross things off slowly. It's also lovely watching The Man getting to grips with my power drill. Hee hee. He's somewhat of a DIY virgin but seems keen so far, which is ace. There'll be plenty of just-jobs* in the next few years I'm sure.<br /></div><div>Since Friday though he's been very happy because the Sky man came and made Sport happen again (or indeed any telly, we've been surviving on DVDs), so now we have golf / cricket / football in HD on the big flat telly, and on Saturday his mates appeared to sort out the surround sound, so we also have Kef eggs (this is a technical term apparently) around the room and disconcerting noises coming from under chairs and in the bookcases. I have to plead to being terribly girly and being happy with the telly not set to HD and with its own speakers, but apparently I'm being a Philistine and Must Not Utter words like that.<br /></div><div>Finally, hurrah for being able to see the roads again and them not being white and skiddy, but some doom-mongerer said the other day that we might be due one or two more snow snaps this year. Noooo! I've already had six (yes, six) days when I couldn't get into work because the trains weren't running, enough is enough!<br /></div><div> </div><div>* Can you just...?<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906323415664821040noreply@blogger.com0