Mona - take two.

mona 001
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Finally another WIP off the needles. Can't even remember when I started these, think it was November 2008.

Mona by Cookie. A. Second pair I've made, lovely pattern but on both pairs I've suffered from 2nd sock syndrome.

2.25mm dpns.

Spunky Eclectic, Skinny Sock - colourway - Neopolitian. Very soft, very pretty.

Lovely

Thank you.

We had a lovely day

at The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, West Sussex.

The weather was totally glorious, it was almost impossible to believe it was still February. It was nice enough to have a picnic. We also indulged in tea and cake outdoors too.

Suzanne aka glittrgirl was down for a day or two, so we also had good company and much natter and some knitting. Plenty of wine quaffing too.

I made a new friend, he didn't say much but had beautiful soft oxblood colour fur and really liked having his ears fussed. We may see each again, I gave him my number.....wonder if he'll call?

Friday night M and I went to see Ray La Montagne at The Dome Theatre - Wow what an amazing performer. We abandoned poor Suzanne (couldn't get a spare ticket as it was sold out and completely packed) to the chattering of J, her ears did look at little red when we got home but I wouldn't have missed the concert for the world. His support was Priscilla Ahn she was really good and got the thumbs up from me for using a kazoo and a ukulele in her performance - wonderful stuff.

Now I must catch up on abandoned chores/laundry (yawn) and maybe a little more knitting am still musing over lace........

(photo's by J except the Snowdrops which M took).

Scarf with Clarence Border

Pattern from 'Victorian Lace Today' by Jane Sowerby. Knitted on a 3.75mm circ using 1.5 balls of Rowan KSH in a deep maroon/red colour. I started this last summer and it's been and on and off project. I whizzed though the first and second borders, it was the boring 4 row repeat in the middle that slowed me down.

The ever faithful camping roll is a wonderful tool for blocking long stuff! And Ma's dinning room table is the perfect length even when it's not extended.

Not the best photo but I feel like shit this morning and my sinuses are so inflamed that my head hurts so any pictures at all were an effort.

I haven't decided what to do with this as I don't find KSH easy to wear and originally I thought it would be a gift for someone but I'd be over 6 months late and am not sure on reflection if they ever wear it anyway.

It is perfect for around the shoulders - like an old fashioned tippet - great for summer evenings. I shall ponder it's fate a while longer.

I love the book though and am determined to get some other stuff off the needles so I can make something else from it. I have a plethora of lace yarn to use and my fingers are itching. I am still attempting to keep my WIP's in order and to finish off older stuff.

On the needles at the moment I have....

Sahara - oldest project and it's resting as I have just the sleeves to do and just am not in the mood.

Maja - Like this but it keeps getting put aside as gets more cumbersome to knit.

Mona Socks - got a little bit of 2nd sock syndrome here - did with the first pair I made too.

Tessellating Lace Socks - love it am on foot of sock 1.

Hey Teach - take 2 - another knitting love affair - just had to make a 2nd one and am whizzing up the back.

Rhineback - adore this but oh boy is it heavy to knit - it makes my hands ache and M moans that as I'm using Addi Turbo's that the clicking distracts him. I will finish this but it is a long term project now.

I am also distracted by my spinning at the moment and reading - so am knitting less than normal - I am sure it will balance back the other way soon, it normally does.

One misty, moisty morning....

One misty, moisty, morning,
When cloudy was the weather,
There I met an old man
All clothed in leather

All clothed in leather,
With a cap under his chin.
How do you do?
And how do you do?
And how do you do again?

The weather this morning recalled this nursery rhyme to mind. The first two lines are exactly what I can see out of the window. The downs and the sea have disappeared completely.

I can still hear birds, that are in the giant climbing rose outside the conservatory, cheeping but apart from that the fog is blanketing the noise from the world within its damp embrace.

I like this one called Fog by Carl Sandburg too....

The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over the harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Bat(t)s for a birthday

My birthday present from M - an Ashford Drum Carder, along with a whole heap of lovely fibre.

Two of the three bat(t)s I made this afternoon. 85% merino, 15% alpaca/silk blend. (is it 1 or 2 t's in bat(t)s?)

Spinning up the first bat(t )- the colours will go perfectly in my bedroom or if not I have a lovely frock in theses colours that would benefit from a lacy wrap.

This is a lovely gift from a lovely lady - Thank you so much.

I have been spoilt by family and friends alike and want to say thank you to everyone who is making/has made today so special. I've been sung to (thanks Sis), I been taken shopping, been bought lovely things and am being fed my favourite goodies too. I must turn 42 more often.

J bought me a lovely birdwatching book as I am always moaning that I'm not sure what bird is what when we are away and M also got me mini noculars - same reason really, his are pukka ones that require a forklift to look through!

Pretty much a totally spiffing birthday all round.

Stolen from 'The Daily Risotto'

Your Word is "Love"

You see life as possibility to form deep connections with a few people. Relationships are the center of your world, and you always take time to bond with those you love. You are caring and giving. You enjoy helping those you love. And when it comes to romantic love, you feel passionately ... even in a very long term relationship.

What's" Your Word?

More skulls & more socks...what a surprise!

An early birthday pressie from Big Sis, a mini hottle-bottle with a knitted skull cover. Very dinky. I love it.

Finally got around to finishing these fairly plain socks that I started in January. These are knitted in EasyKnits Bamboo mix, colour way Strawberry shortcake, on 2.5mm circs. The yarn knits up beautifully and the colour works really well. The yardage is also good and I have enough left for a pair of fingerless mittens.

I like the effect of the reversed wavy line which runs down the front of each sock - though I cursed myself for adding it as I lost count of the times I went wrong and had to fiddle and fix to make them match.

Setting the twist

Annie and Kate told me about severe yarn chastisement to set the twist (I'd not come across this before) so I tried it out, very cathartic.

The above are merino/silk (green) and pure merino silvery grey that needed plying and got my attention over the weekend. I gave them such a beating - I won't tell who or what I was thinking about as I did it.

This is merino from Limegreen Jelly (approx 50g - I have another 50 to spin) which I plied this morning. The picture is pre punishment! It seemed harsh to beat such pretty yarn but I did and it is now hanging, feeling a little warm and sore from a thrashing against the bathroom wall!

River Rapids Socks by Sockbug.

Made for Ma for her birthday so a UK size 5.

Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock in Lakeview. Knit on 2.75mm KnitPro circs.

A lovely pattern, well written and a good knit - complex enough to keep my attention but easy enough to follow that it makes great movie/TV knitting. Plus as it's written for 2 circs no fiddling or twiddling required.
I will make this pattern again and have queued more of Sockbug's patterns on Ravelry.

Pig-bat - a new definition

Do you remember the missing pig called Gavin? Well here he is now. His days of glory as 2nd most favoured toy are done (Lotties Blue Fing is her best ever toy).

So, meet Gavin II - the Tamworth lineage.

She loves him already. She stole Loobles bed and gave him a good chewing until he glisten with dog drool - yum!

I went to Annie's (http://upknitcreek.wordpress.com/) and I made a bat on her drum carder.

It is 'floofy' and purty. It spins up luverly. I want one!

Snow fun

The girlies love to play in the snow. It is hard to believe that Loobles will be 14 in May, she charged about as much as Lottie.

Lottie lost the Kong.

The latest Border Terrier beauty aid - 'The Snow Eternal Beauty Mask'.

J is still out there hooning about he'll have a good appetite for the homemade chicken soup I'm making for lunch.

Just for comparison...

ab4 012
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Lottie a year ago!

She looked sweet but she wasn't. She was evil.

It's been a year....

since this exploded into our lives. What a little beastie she has been? Led us a merry time and now finally she is just starting to settle down (a weeeeeeeeeenie bit).

She is the happiest dog I have ever known, she's self-contained, funny and stubborn and I am utterly under her wiry spell!

When you're smiling

The whole world smiles with you.

Lottie was having happy dreams yesterday evening, so she smiled for about an hour in her sleep. Oh to sleep so deeply and be so blissfully unaware of everything going on around you. I think 2 massive pigbat attacks in the garden, being chased round the house for 'wee-wee's' by me and a long walk tired her out.

This made me smile. A winter gift from a friend, she made herself, isn't he delightful?

Today

I have cleared a mountain of chores and laundry - that's the fun stuff done!

Entered our data to the RSPB for the Big Garden Birdwatch - which we took part in over the weekend. I am a secret birdwatcher (have been for a long time) right now I can hear a Magpie chattering away outside the window - I can and often do spend too much time watching the birdies......perhaps I caught it from Conkers?

Made tomato and herb bread- from scratch. Have recently re-discovered the joys of my breadmaker. Yesterday I made a sweet sandwich loaf - which we had toasted with jam and marmalade for breakfast today and the rest is destined to become M's favourite pudding....bread and butter.

I have chased a litter terrier all round the place to catch it so it will go 'out' for wee-wees - she's such a stubborn moo. Groomed both dogs and Conkers.

Caught up on my blog reading.

Done 30 mins of yoga.

Made lunch.

Finished this months household accounts.

Researched something that I'd been meaning to look at for weeks online.

Now I have an hour or so (fingers crossed) till I plan to walk the dogs so it's time for some knitting. What's the betting I manage 2 rows before something - child/animal/hubby related requires my attention?

*** 2 rows before M got in, 2 more after making coffee before the dogs needed to go out and 3 rows before J needed me - 7 rows!

Movement and loss - a thought or two.

So as family we can now start to move on. M's Mum's estate is finally settled and we can stop having to think about solicitors and wondering how soon we should phone them to, yet again, chase them up, stop wondering when the next form will arrive that they forgot to tell us we needed to complete, stop working out how all four siblings will get to sign it because the cracks in relationships are now so deep they are beyond repair? We can have movement. But so far the movement for me is a deeper sense of loss - not so much for me personally - but for M and J. We now have 1 parent between us and J has one grandparent - I think coming to terms with losing both parents must be so strange. Even now M says that he makes mental notes to tell his Mum this and that, and is bought up short that the person who, probably, know him best for longest is gone.

It makes me think about my relationship with J and my relationship with my Mum - which is complicated at times by the fact we live in the same house and quite often manage to piss each other off. But M's loss has made me appreciate the fact she's still around, and fit and strong, a lot more. I actually admire the fact that at weeks away from 70 she has so much vigour, strength and independence. We may not always see eye to eye - but I'm glad she is still a part of our lives.

I watched 'A Short Stay in Switzerland' last night - it made me cry, it made me think and it made me question my ideas and thoughts about illness and death (lovely jolly post this - isn't it?). I was deeply moved by the issues and by Julie Waters portrayal of this women and her decision. I am still thinking about it now. The three parents that we've lost between us all died differently - all unpleasantly in their own ways - all really without a conscious chance to tie up loose ends and say goodbye. I know people see funerals as 'goodbye' but I don't, funerals are a balm to the living and I can't abide them (just personal opinion). What moved me and gave me such food for thought was the chance to express parental/familial love - I believe that 'our' grief would have been easier to bear had that opportunity fallen to us at least once. As an atheist I don't believe in any sort of after life so the comfort of loved ones waiting across the great divide isn't mine. I know there is no point in wishing for the impossible and that lots of people experience loss without leave taking, but I still feel surprise that when watching last night I felt a sense of envy within my sadness of her story.

Flutter Sleeve Cardigan

This pattern is by Pam Allen and featured in Spring 08 Interweave Knits. I started in May last year and finally finished it today. It took 6 balls of Sublime Super Fine Merino and I knit the middle size.

Detailing on arm cuff (which does need blocking) the rest was blocked before sewing but this bit has to be done after and at 11.00pm last night I couldn't be asked and today I just wanted to get the seaming done.

Love the ceramic heart buttons though.

Did I enjoy making it? To be honest - No. Why? The shaping is great - love the S/row on the waist, the rest is a very boring knit and the moss st borders are endless, mind numbingly so! The button hole method also (IMHO) leaves much to be desired - I found it too messy with too many ends - I doubt I would make it again but if I did I would use a different button hole technique.

Do I like it now it's made? Not really. It may grow on me, it fits fine, but I don't like the way it flares at the bottom and it isn't very flattering over the 'ole ample booty'. I'll leave it to fester for while and look at it again in the spring - if I still feel the same it will be passed on or frogged!

Still it's one to be knocked of the 'to finish' pile - which is what I am determined to whittle down this year before starting anything new (other than socks - they don't count). I have 5.5 balls left of the yarn as well - so they may come is handy - hats/scarfs etc.

I love yarn!

Lorna's Laces Shepherd and Sock in 'Amy's Vintage Office' and as a tribute to the wonderful Amy herself, pictured on a Ukelele, a SpongeBob one at that. The colours remind me of our bedroom and are really subtle IRL. (The uke belongs to M - he's learning to play).

Manos del Uruguay, Silk Wool - I bought 600g of this wonderful limpid pool colour, it is destined to be a...........not telling ;) but I bought it with a preplanned purpose in mind.

The above two are Malabrigo Sock Yarn - oh yes baby! It is so very, very soft and squoochy. The colours are Abril and Persia but as I have already stashed it away I can't remember which is which - whoops.

M bought this Manos Wool Clasica destined to be a hat. Lovely subtle colour changes within it's rich blue palette.

I also bought some needles and lockable stitch markers, as most of mine are well over 10yrs old and are brittle so they snap or have been lost.

This little shopping expedition led to a complete overhaul of my stash storage, everything got re-baged, labelled and listed so I now actually know how much yarn I have - not as much as you may think - but enough for a while. It was satisfying to see it all organised and has inspired me, I have lots of things in mind for 2009's knitting etc.

A whole chunk of peace & bliss.

We had a lovely, relaxing and chilling weekend.

Log fires, snuggling, walking, saunas, feeding and watching the local wildlife.

We read, we knit and we talked.

A visit to Salisbury Cathedral on the way home rounded it off nicely. Although neither of us are religious we both adore old churches and this one is magnificent. I was blown away by the Magna Carta.

It is nice to be home....missed J and the critters. Have a mountain of laundry to catch up on - that kid sure do get through clothes!!

Oh and I almost forget on the way out on Friday I dropped a bundle of cash (early birthday pressie) in the Get Knitted shop, pictures next time ;-)