Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Start to finish - in more ways than one.

 100g of merino/tencel fibre.
 Two half bobbins of spun singles.
 2 plied onto one very full bobbin.
 Skeined up.
I got 20 wpi, 98g and 344m out of one plait. Now I've just got to do it all over again with the second one.

*** That's it the very last NaBloPoMo and I didn't miss one. Not sure if it has kick started the blogging mojo will just have to wait and see.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Early birthday pressie.

 Mrs Grunty will be 4 later this week. M came home with pressies but unfortunately the PAH bag was spotted and harassed (and as there in crickets in there) I took the path of least resistance and capitulated (otherwise there would have been crickets all over the kitchen). Mrs G chose the bunny - who has been well loved - it is sodden! But it is in one piece and still squeaks.
Fergus McNortybeard got the goose - who no longer squeaks, has had it arse ripped off and its guts removed in quite a brutal manner and with no anaesthetic.

Fergus now covets the bunny who he thinks needs the same treatment (got to be fair, no favouritism) and Lottie spent all of last night guarding the bunny from sneak attacks from the Scottie brigade.

I have taken the decision to hide both toys this morning .......just to get some peace! The war of the bunny can continue after lunch.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Mrs Grunty gets a 'do'

I has been defluffed. I'm not too sure about the defluffing business. I gets a Nippy-Moo-Bag. The Pink Monkey Fings say my beard still needs a bit of a tidy and paws and claws are left to do.....I think not. They try that and there could be tears before bedtime.....theirs!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Van Gogh SockYarn

Just had to get these - aren't they gorgeous? Wonderful colours inspired by two of my most favourite paintings. Total winner.

Can't knit them yet though, need to finish other stuff first.....it's almost torture.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Progress

A little bit of progress - all the ends are now sewn in and some of the singles are sewn on. After I took this picture I realised it is wrong side up (whoops) but you get the idea of what all of yesterdays hexagons are destined to become.


Friday, November 25, 2011

Hexagons




Yesterday I rediscovered this partial project in the stash cupboard and from that I got a bit of crochet mojo going on......it has been missing for a long time. I can't have worked on this project for at least a year.

I love these little hexagons - the colours are from scraps of favourite sock yarns. I also think the texture and shape really work. Perhaps I need to spend some time being a 'hooker' over the weekend.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Singles

 I started spinning the fibre I bought at Lewes the other week. It's a merino/tencel blend in shades of blue. The above is a spun single, fairly fine, and is half of one braid so approx 50g.
I've started on the second half and will ply them together.

The colours are gorgeous. I  think I may have rediscovered my spinning mojo.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Graveyard


sham 012
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

I have a thing for graveyards. I find them peaceful. Never creepy just a good place to find some quiet and stillness.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Puppy Boggart


fergus 003
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Well as Mrs G had a puppy post the other day, I thought I had to play fair and post a puppy piccie of Fergus McNortybeard.

He was probably the easiest pup I've ever known, he was quiet, playful and gentle.....then it all went down hill. Now he's grumpy, shouty, stubborn and determined. Oh and he is also an attention seeker, he loves to be fussed and nudges you with his hooter until you do, the second you stop he nudges you again and again and again.

For all that he's a grumpy little bugger I do love him.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Migraine

Three or four times a year on average I get migraine. The one I have today has been slow in coming on (2 or 3 days) but this morning I woke up and here it is. I have done everything to try and stop it hitting me in full force but all my normal avoids have failed me.

So now it's time for strong pain meds, no caffeine at all and to wait.........

Not much of a blog post but them's the breaks.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Mrs Grunty - the puppy years.


ab3 009
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

As Lottie is fast approaching her 4th birthday, I thought I'd post a puppy picture of her. I've had dogs all my life but she was the nortiest puppy I've ever, ever encountered.

She wasn't destructive, other than her own toys and her first bed, she wasn't a chewer, what she was, was a monster. A biting, snappy, scrabbly little beastie who wasn't affectionate unless she was sleepy and sleepy was always rather brief.

If I am honest there were times when I despaired of her ever becoming a well behaved and loving pet. She still has a lot of funny, quirky little ways but she has become more than I ever dreamed she would be. She is loving, gentle and sweet and she is a wonderful companion.

She does still get the evils now and then and Pigbat-Monkeydog still gets taken out of the box if she feels the occasion merits it. She still shakes her bluefing or her bing-bong-kong and grrrs at stuff and she still chases fairies (reflected light) - but I wouldn't change her for the world.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Time for toast.

Hurrah it's the weekend (even though M is on call again). Have woken up starving hungry therefore I declare it is time for  toast and ............................................................can't choose............. blueberry jam or peanut butter and don't say both - Yuck!

M makes the best homemade bread, we never have shop bought anymore, other than the odd french stick. I love homemade bread toasted, I think it is my favourite breakfast. Never liked cereal much, cooked brekkie is nice but only occasionally and porridge, well I do like it a lot, but not as much as toast.

I like toast anytime of day. With soup for lunch, with cheese as a snack. Toast just rules.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Meet the neighbours.

 This is a local 'Charlie' he sits on the pipe above my bathroom roof and chatters away - it's a sort of "bub-bub-bub-bub-bub" conversation.
And below is another frequent visitor - in fact we have 3 that regularly haunt the tree at the top of the garden. They watch us intently with their beady greeny/grey eyes and  then fly off with a "chak, chak, chak, chak"call.
We get a nice variety of larger birds in our garden and in the past have had a Sparrow Hawk with its kill on the lawn. The Kestrel raids the sparrowville on a regular basis and we also get Magpies, Carrion Crows and Rooks. I can waste an awful lot of time watching them.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Six things about me.

1) I am a total maths dunderhead. I can do arithmetic but proper math beyond fractions and I am utterly useless - my brain just locks up and I can't see what it is that I am meant to be doing.

2) I love poetry and have a particular love of poetry written for children. I love A.A. Milne, Edward Lear, Hilaire Belloc and Spike Milligan's poems and can loose myself for hours reading them - I know quite a few off by heart.

3) I love classical music and in amongst all the metal and rock stuff  I have a nice little selection of my favourites and quite often choose classical over anything else. I love it when I have the house to myself and I can play it loud enough to fill the room.

4) I hate music radio (other than radio 3). I hate radio's on in cars or houses especially if they're just left playing for noise. I really only listen to radio 4. I prefer a silent house.

5) I will always choose savoury over sweet. If we go out to eat, I'd rather have a starter than a pudding.

6) I rub my feet against each other in a circular motion before going to sleep.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

I am an arctophile.

 A person who loves and/or collects bears of the 'Teddy' variety. I have two shelves in my bedroom where I keep my favourites. The picture above has (going from roof slant end) Brunel who had his paws well chewed by a very naughty Siamese kitten, sitting with him is Mike's bear 'Ted' who he had as a little boy, next to them is Jezabell who is cuddling Lois B Bearlove, next along is Leroy Brown (don't tell the others but he's my favourite bear) who is resting his chin on Arfur Bear and the last two are Charlie and Bruin Leadbum. In that lot are a couple of Steiffs and a couple of Barbara-Ann bears for anyone interested in makes and types.
On the bottom picture are Solly, Perkin aka Fred, Herman, Bungar, Zoe, Ebenezer, Sir Thomas-a-Pocket and Valentino. Another couple of Steiffs, a Herman and a Mother Hubbard in that lot.

I have other bears - some in store - some scattered about in other places. I don't really collect much any more as I haven't the £'s or quite the inclination, most of these were bought well before J was born. But I still like to have them and they still make me smile and bring me joy.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Tuesday yap from Mrs Grunty

I is not amused - here I is in all my fluffy hairy lovliness which has taken me months to grow and what do them stoopid Monkey Fings start doing plucking it all out. My poor ickle brows are gone.....gone I tell you.

I gave them some serious grrrrrrrsssss and some snappy nips - though I always miss - and what did that get me? More plucking.....yes........more.

Today they will finish off plucking my beard - I look a bit silly - skinny plucked head and a fluffy bod. I do gets lots of kibble and they keep saying how sweet and pretty I look but I look sweet and pretty all the time.

I don't fink I will ever gets them!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Climping beach

 This photo makes me feel warm - it was warm for so late in the year.
 This looks like some kind of boiler/tank rotting away at the edge of the beach.
I have no idea what this plant is growing in the pebbles and shingle the flower looked like fine paper. It was the most glorious yellow.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Roses.

 Mike came home on Friday with these for me.
Rose, the sign of love
Beauty is picturesque
Speaks for itself
An inspiration

Rose, scent is everlasting
Always fresh upon the eyes
Keeping a pose of pure divine
Beauty evokes
An inspiration

Rose, pedals are smooth
With a bounty of great beauty
Shows affectionate feelings
Has a unique power
An inspiration

Rose, sways slowly in a breeze
Perfuming a scent all its own
So, sweet and light
An inspiration

Rose, in full bloom, it is radiant
As it whispers of passion
Breathes of love
An inspiration

Rose, each thorn has a reminder
Rose, is fragile and delicate
Love can hurt
An inspiration

Rose, a token of great love
An inspiration

Elizabeth Grant Price

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Short n sweet Saturday

Up early for a weekend morning - colouring my roots.....again. Have decided to attempt to grow out the colour in the New Year and let my hair tinsel shimmer. I hate colouring my hair and it's getting less and less time between colour sessions.

Planning to get some serious baking/cooking done today *fingers crossed* I might loose my mojo tween now and then.

A nice dog walk and the dinner followed by Strictly.

See you tomorrow.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

And I guess that's why they call it the .......

blahs!

Got a shitty day today. Happy head is in hibernation. Might feel better once dentist is over and done with. Pissed off and fed with the world and everyone in it. Not at all fit for human consumption. Want to kick something.

Going now. Back tomorrow hopefully in a perkier frame of mind,

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Book review.

Yesterday I finished a book that I had downloaded onto my Kindle called 'Gears of Wonderland' by Jason G. Anderson. I loved it.

He uses steam punk themes and takes them into the Wonderland setting - there are robot assassins, air ships, steam driven troop carriers and EMP style weapons mixed in with gas lighting and Victoriana. Add to this the Knave of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat among others and you get a book full of delights. It isn't the longest book I've read or the most complicated but it was certainly very entertaining and I couldn't put it down.  I liked it so much I commented on the authors web page and wrote a brief review on Amazon!

I think part of the appeal for me was the light touch of 'Neverwhere' in the main character being displaced from our society and the homage to both Wonderland books which were such favourites of my childhood.

If the idea of the book appeals you can read a sample here.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Yarnalicious

 I spent a good proportion of yesterday sorting out the stash. OMG not a small task and to be honest I only catalogued the fairly decent stuff. I also did my fibre stash at the same time though that is a lot smaller than the yarn and hand spun.

I found some stuff that I hadn't actually forgotten about but that were more impulse buys that I have no idea why I bought them in the first place - the above is a perfect example. The yarn is made from sugar cane fibre and is called Araucania Ruca Multi - I would say it's about 4ply weight I have 200g of the stuff...what possessed me? Even the colours no longer work for me as in recent years I have moved further and further away from my pastel/pink phase (though not completely).

I'm sure that I will one day see a pattern and think of this yarn but until then it will languish in the stash.
 The second picture is Manos Silk Blend - now this I love the colours - again I have 200g of this but I have no idea what it will ever become.
This last yarn is in my stash due to me over calculating the yardage needed for a project - I ended up with two and quarter skeins left of this lovely Nimu kid mohair lace weight - it is so pretty and with 1600+m left I know one day it will become a gorgeous shawl when the right pattern presents itself, though it will probably be a gift knit as after knitting the original project I discovered I can't wear it as it makes me itch and again my colour tastes have changed since buying this.

My day of organising have left me with not only a sense of order in all things yarn and fibre related but also has inspired me with textures and colours to get my knitting mojo all fired up (been a bit laggy lately). I am determined to get one lot of spinning finished and two projects (if possible maybe three) off the needles this week so I can use up some of the lovely yarn I rediscovered yesterday.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Hurrah...the return of the Grunty report.

 It has been a long weekend and all the whizzbang-pops have exhausted us-we've been run off our paws with investigating, jumping up from sleeping and woofing. So I is having a lie in this morning....this is ma belly, ma lovely pink belly - you may give it kisses if you like....but not raspberries - that will make me grrrrrrr you and show you my teggies!
As for the Boggart he's been perfecting the art of uber fast running on the spot on the slippery floor whilst barking and going nowheres. He did it so much on Thursday he has hurted his front leg and has to rest....so he decided to rest in the middle of the Monkey Fings changing the bedding on our big bed (they fink it's theirs but it so isn't). One minute he was killing the invisible scurriers that live under the duvet, the next minute is was all about the "Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's".

Time for more dozies now - will post more impawtant stuff for terriers next week.

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Happy

Yesterday I made a determined effort to be happy all day - on a normal day this would be a bloody miracle on the 5th November it would normally be nigh on impossible.

I have no idea what made for a such a huge change of perspective, perhaps it was the fact that 20 years have passed since my Da died and although I still miss him I just felt that I couldn't have a day of sad any more. I still never get the chance to let the anniversary slip by, being bonfire night, but instead of resenting it, I just went with it and had a fairly good day.

One of the things that amazed me the most about yesterday was the wonderful kindness, support and amusement I received from my friends on Facebook, they were wonderful and I think acted in the way true friends are meant to, if I'm honest they were more kind and concerned than some real life friends and family (though some of my FB buddies are real life friends and family and J and M are always brilliant). Everyone who moans about FB can't be as lucky as I am in the people I've got know on there, or perhaps it is because they are linked by certain things.....knitters, dog/cat owners or just a warped sense of fun.

I had a happy day and for everyone who helped me achieve that for the first time in 20 years - I thank you. You all totally rock.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Autumn's harvest.

 These photos were all taken by J in the local graveyard.
I love the way that as the landscape turns to winter greys and duns that nature throws out a last burst of colour and texture to dazzle the eyes.

Friday, November 04, 2011

Terrier TV

Fergus and Lottie both enjoy Frozen Planet (they love nature programmes) but the wolves this week really got them going. We couldn't get to the camera in time to get the snap of Lottie with her paws on the TV unit and her nose up against the screen but we didn't manage to catch Fergus staring at the screen intently. They only reacted to the wolves this time but there have been other programmes when they have sat together in front of the screen and watched the whole thing.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Just over the hill from home

 We are very lucky where we live, we have the sea just down the road and  the South Downs just round the corner.
Up the road and over the hill we also have Falmer - it's a small village wedged between the Downs, two universities and the new football stadium and it is quiet and beautiful. Even on a weekend it is unusual for it to be busy. We go there to watch the fish in the pond, the ducks and geese, the gulls and local rook population. We go there to use the wonderful farm shop and to pick blackberries and to walk the dogs who love it, lots of interesting smells and undergrowth to rummage about it and lots of good walking.
 We visit there for a few moments of calm and peace and to take pictures and explore the old churchyard.
It is a hidden gem and we love it.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

RAK

Many moons ago when I rediscovered knitting I wanted to interact with like minded people. I tried different places on the Internet and eventually I found the the Knitty board (forum) it was like coming home. Knitty introduced me to yarn and patterns from all around the globe, it showed me knitting styles and techniques I had never heard of and it introduced me to some wonderful people. These wonderful people (some of who all these years later I'm still in contact with and quite a few I've met in real life) also introduced me to the joy of the Secret Pal Swap and the RAK. An RAK is a Random Act of Kindness where you send a gift to someone just because you want to with no thought of reward or payment other than they pass the good karma on at some stage.

Yesterday (which was a really shitty day for me) I received a RAK from a Knitty board friend called Dawn. Although I'm not on Knitty much these days we've kept in touch at first via our blogs and later via FB - she used to send me pictures of the magnificent Orb Spiders in her garden and as well as knitting we share a love of kite flying. I read a few weeks back that Dawn was off to Rhinebeck which is a large and wonderful wool festival in the USA. I jokingly told her I was jealous because of all the global yarn related events Rhinebeck is the one I'd go to if I could - just to see and sample some of yarns that are not so easy to get in the UK. Dawn kindly offered to get me a RAK from Rhinebeck - some sock yarn that I have coveted for quite a while. The yarn is dyed by The Sanguine Gryphon and is a sport weight called 'Bugga' it's a blend of super wash merino, cashmere and nylon and is so soft and bouncy, the skein cries out to be squished. The colour of this yarn is 'Fierce Snake' - it is subtle and natural and I love it.

J was there when I opened it and I read the card that was enclosed out to him - Dawn put that the name Fierce Snake put her in mind of me. J laughed and told me there really is a snake called that. Intrigued I mastered the art of Google-foo and I discovered that - the Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan is considered as the most venomous land snake in the world by many and is native to Australia. It is called Fierce because of the strength of its venom not because of its nature - which shy and retiring and prefers to escape from trouble. It changes colour with the seasons and the colours of the yarn shows its winter colouring perfectly.

Dawn and I only know each other online but she chose perfectly for me - I love the name, the yarn, the colour and I can relate to the nature of snake...... the only thing to do now is to decide what to make with such a wonderful gift and to look for the opportunity to pass the karma on.


Tuesday, November 01, 2011

NaBloPoMo kick off.

Could there be storm clouds brewing as I attempt to blog every day for the whole of November? Well one thing is for sure it will either kill my blog off or cure my lack of blogging mojo.

This blog of mine has been around since 2004 but in recent months I have found it harder and harder to get be motivated to post so signing up for 'NaBloPoMo' is my blog kick up the arse!

I still read other blogs, some I look forward to their posts that I check my blog roll most days for updates. I love the diversity I find there. But I lack inspiration at the moment......here's hoping this works and my blog and I find a sense of revival.

(photo by Mike Lainchbury).