Close up of yarn/stitches. 

The worlds cutest model in his grooviest hat! 

Here's our new baby - Dolly, isn't she lovely! She will get a lot bigger, so watch this space. 

Hi, Honey, I'm home..............

back from our wonderful break away. So relaxed, so calm, so chilled and very happy. The picture was the view from our bedroom window. I walked for miles, eat delicious food (I did pig out a little but hell I was on holiday and the food was lovely) and spent a lot of time either in the hydro bath or in the saunas. We also spent a lot of time in front of the log fire watching the wildlife, reading and in my case knitting - pure bliss.

Missed J but Ma said he had a ball. They seemed to do a lot together including a trip to the Lego shop to spend some hoarded Xmas money.

Glad to be home as my bed is my bed and I sleep best there.

Stopped off on the way home at our favourite tarantula shop (piccies to follow) of Dolly the Paraguay Pink Stripe tarantula.

Off now to reorganise my knitting, drink some coffee and chill out until Monday.

A lovely view of the lake from our patio. At the best we had 12 ducks, 6 moorhens, 2 squirrels and a rat feeding there in the mornings. Yes I said ...rat, a brown rat with a waffley nose and long whiskers. Fine by me I like rats ;0) 

May I introduce to the boldest squirrel I've ever met. He just sat there when I opened the patio door about 4 inches from me and waited for me to throw out more sunflower seeds. 

Question. How many moorhens can you fit on a brick BBQ? 

I just had to post this.

I sitting in the bathroom having a little cogitate when I noticed what looked like shoe tread on the top corner of the bath (?) I then noticed that these went all along the top of the bath rim. Now, these were little treads from the bottom (it appeared) of Spiderman slippers. So when I'd done with my little think etc, I called my DS and asked him why he'd been standing on the bath expecting a logical answer, like "I saw a spider on the ceiling and wanted a closer look." What answer did I get? "I was practicing tight-rope walking as I've decided I want to join the circus when I grow up." Long pause, for my stunned silence, trying very, very hard not to laugh at such a serious idea as this. Anyhoo, a lecture ensured regarding the safety of wet steel baths and glass shower doors, so hopefully this is the one and only time I'll find footprints along the bath rim (I am not holding my breath on this one!!!)

As I sit here typing M is cleaning the bathroom and has now found prints on the loo-seat lid as well - oh well if job is worth doing it's worth doing well. DS is now receiving 2nd lecture from M. I quite honestly expect to find footprints on the ceiling when I lay in the bath tonight. It's those Spiderman slippers, I am sure it!

NB - I don't have any idea why all the sidebar stuff on my blog has shifted (from yesterday) to the bottom - any bloggbrainiacs who can help this Luddite understand what has happened and how to rectify it ...............please post and tell me............please.................please.

Yarn Pr0n - Fiberspates Silk Boucle - mmmmmmmmm yummy! 

I'm so excited

I can't wait to go away for our romantic, smoochy and spa-ish mid week break. We leave early Monday - wheeeee!

Grandma is boy sitting (not literally - doh) he's going to be spoilt rotten - so he's excited too. I do miss him when we go away as a couple (I phone him everyday) but it's good for us to have time to be a couple, something I think that home-eding parents lack more as we don't offload the kids to school and other peoples care that much ;0) I know it's a personal choice but whatever the reason a break away is still a good thing.

I plan to relax, read, knit, walk, eat yummy food and sauna myself silly.

I also enjoy a break from the humdrum - you know ironing, cleaning etc, etc. Paying bills, balancing the budget - all the daily stuff - that just for 5 days can look after itself. Ahhhhh bliss.

Now I have to organize what to take - most importantly what knitting to take - need variety. Mmmmmmmmm socks (of course), my petal shawl and my aran silk top I think - so plain knitting, lace and cables - good mix - don't you agree?

Book wise I have the latest Joanne Harris - Gentleman and Players - which I've saved to take with me and the book of K-Pax incase I finish the other one. I'm packing my Ipod. Just wish M had had the time to convert Jane Eyre (thank you Deb) to MP3 files - but he's been rushed of his tootsies at work, so it's still on his to-do list. Oh well, I have a copy of Emma on there - that will do.

Now, I know you will all miss me most terribly, but chin up and all that, it is just for a few days, I'll be back in a wink!

I'll publish some yarn pR0n b4 I go to get y'all drooling while I'm away.

See you in a week xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's the Snew year.................Yawn.

Hippy, hoppy, happy 2006 to one and all.

We had fun. M had a birthday - which was a total blast. J has been inflicted with Dr Whoitus - and me.....well I've been calm, happy and relaxed.....................YES I HAVE!!!!!!!! No stress here.

I have been knitting - finished my Irish Hiking Scarf, Mil's Coronet and Voodoo wristwarmers, M's sockies, J's sockies and almost my sockies - no photos cos I just couldn't be asked. Am still knitting my full size clap and my petal shawl (mmmmmmm Alpaca) as well as a couple of other bits and bobs.

Ordered some scrummalicious yarn from the sale at Get Knitted including some silk - oh heaven, pet it, pet it.

Am reading .............text books!

Have been playing with J's AstroLogix. (see piccie)

Bought a couple of CD's including the new one by Korn - 'See you on the otherside' which is amazing.

Watched loads of films including 'Bride & Prejudice' which I love and ' I Robot' which is good but I prefer the book.

Have eaten too much but have tempered it with loads of healthy fruit smoothies and veggie juice from our new gadget.

Am back on the wagon - apart from Xmas day have hardly drunk anything and I admit to feeling so much better for it, so I'm now determined to stick with it and become an occasional drinker only.

Looking forward to - the ballet tonight, my favorite 'Sleeping Beauty'. Going away with M for a midweek break....yummy. Starting studying again. The rest of 2006.

Xmas 2005 - been there, seen it ........done it!

Or I perhaps a better title might have been 'A 101 uses for a Sonic Screwdriver!' J's top pressie. As for the rest of us, well, Loobles ate her furry squeaky boot and Buster killed his brand new catnip mouse. The spiders had a Locust lunch and Snuffles munched his favorite - celery and sliced pear. Dh and I enjoyed a long lunch with big sis and her hubby - where much merriment ensued. The two boys romped, played and were fairly well behaved.

Boxing day - a very quiet family day, just the 3 of us - lovely. Lots of knitting and reading. Very relaxing.

Yesterday - at Dh's family - 9 adults and 5 kids. We played a quiz DVD which got quite competitive but was fun. Got the pee taken out of me for knitting socks - but as I did better than the others - I claimed it focused my mind!

Today - life resumes - Dh is at work. I am recovering from a dodgey prawn - oh boy was I ill last night! I have plans to hatch & formulate for Dh's b/day on Saturday and loads of chores which I plan to ignore!

Hope everyone had a peaceful and jolly Christmas - does the thought of another mince pie make you want to hurl yet?

Happy New Year etc - see you on the other side!

Luscious punk stitch markers from the wonderful Purlpower. 

This is Suki my new Blythe -Asian Butterfly. She has amazing blue-black hair, which I've washed & conditioned, so it's so soft and silky. 

Lets play catch-up

A big hunormous ((((hug))) and thank you to Purlpower for the bestest punk stitchmarkers - they are so cool (photo soon - promise).

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee my new Blythe (Asian Butterfly) arrived from South Korea today (it only took a week to get here). I will post piccies soon, but first I have to think of a name.

Lots of Xmas knitting - therefore no photos cos you never know who might be peeking.

Am reading like mad as I start my postgrad in the New Year -so much for a nice long study break - ho-hum.

Bought some 100% Alpaca - am now in drool heaven.

Time to spare - take a look at these

http://www.ertdfgcvb.ch/p1/sky.html

http://www.wheredidthetimego.com

http://www.zefrank.com/string_spin/spin_1.html

uteler/leonardo.html

http://zonezero.com/magazine/essays/diegotime/time.html#top

Boris enjoys lunch.

Nuff said.

A Christmas Lou-Lou

Where is the mistletoe?

Meet Goomba - a Knitty handwarmer that I've made for J today. A bit fiddly but fun. I used lavender from the garden and he smells lovely. 

J's Sweater

Here it is at last. Only four years in the making!
I'm pretty sure I started this around the time J started school (abeit briefly). I got fed up with it and went on a 'knitfree' hiatus. The back was complete and front half done.

A couple of weeks ago I found this in my stash cupboard. It was a tad short. So I unpicked the back castoff, added a couple of inches, lengthened the front and sleeves and voila. Not a bad fit.

It's knitted in Sirdar Legend on 4mm and the textures are all from rib variations. If I'm honest I didn't enjoy the pattern, but it was worth it because J loves it.

Still here........

but very busy with stuff, hence lack of blogging.

I had S(stash) E (enhancement) X (expedition) yesterday. I bought some fun fur wool *ducks from yarn snob brickbats* I couldn't help myself it was so purty - it looks likes feathers. I also bought some Rowan Big Wool, Kidsilk Haze and Cashsoft DK. And to add to my yarn stash I had a nice delivery of HipKnits silk from the talented Kerrie this week - so soft and beautiful in mauves and pinks *drool*

Other News.

One stickie has moulted and doubled in size.

We are looking/musing over getting another 8 legged buddy (sh don't tell Ma - she'll moan at me).

DH bought me a surprise - the most beautiful dress (a new posh frock). I'm not a dress kinda gal normally but fell for this - exercised great control and didn't buy it. Ahhhh he's such a sweetie.

The cat got another a flea - more Frontline = one very disgruntled cat and dog, as we did her for good measure.

Finished J's sweater (hoobloodyrah) it's now blocking downstairs.

J is still working on geometry with DH - we also looked at fractions and have being doing a lot of stuff about nature and animals. He also finished the book he was reading - he just whizzed through it. (A huge thank you to Penelope for such wonderful books).

I've been out of the house 5+ times this week *gasp* to some that sounds silly - but when you think I didn't leave the house for 11 days, it's a biggie.

Now it's time for a brew and some knitting :0)

Sp 5 - Thank you!!!!!

I received this amazing parcel from Amanda (Skip?) today as the grand finale to sp 5 on the Knittyboard. I have always loved taking part in secret pal rounds and have been so lucky with the people I have been matched with and this round was the same. I have been blessed with kindness and thoughtfulness. So thank you, secret pal. I have loved all the wonderful gifts you have sent me. I've enjoyed all the e-cards and emails we have shared and want the world to know what a fabbo sp you are.

Yarn Pr0n - Louisa Harding - Kimono Angora - yummy! 

Here's Opal modelling the mini Clapotis knitted with love by my wonderful secret pal. I am so made up with this. So much tiny work and it's perfect. 

For Deb.

Posted below is a vicarious weekend feed up - just for you!

Saturday - starting the weekend with a good brekkie! 

Saturday dinner- chorizio with a tomato sauce and brocolli and chilli pesto served with home made oven baked maris piper chips and a fruity glass of red. 

A chilly and frosty start to Sunday - about 8.00am. 

Sunday lunch - home baked sundried tomato and parmesan bread with homemade green onion soup. 

Sunday dinner - green salad with a lemon dressing, roast tatties and an almond and cashew nut roast. 

Knitted this 

and knitted this 

A quick catch up.

It's been quiet - there quick enough for you!

Only joking. Just realised today that I am going through a really tough patch because as of Tuesday next, I won't have left the house for two weeks! Where does the time go? lol. M & J go out heaps, just thought I'd mention this, before people think that I'm cruel to my child and force him to stay in when I'm like this. It was a really stupid thing that set it off, a questioning of my intentions to be somewhere on a set day, it just threw me into blind panic that this person questioned me on would I be somewhere. I think that when I feel pressured (no matter how well-meaning the person is being) I retreat back to my comfort zone. Anyway, I have a bad hip, lots of pain, so resting it has probably helped. I've also had an ear infection so that has also made me a bit more antisocial as well.

I intend to leave the house tomorrow to take J to his HE group. I don't think anyone realises just how hard this is for me. To be thrust into company, with kids legging it all over the shop. I am normally a wreck by the end of it and spend the last hour or so counting the minutes until I can escape.

Now for more positive stuff.

J is learning Geometry with M and doing really well. He has also been looking at English Language stuff and appears to just understand it - like that. He's been a busy chap, full of inventions, home-made comics and just absorbing stuff like a sponge.

Knitting - well I made J fingerless mitts - he's worn them ever since, even sleeping in them. I've finished the front of his jumper and am making myself some Voodoo (Knitty pattern) wristwarmers.

5 out of 6 stick insects remain. We had a loss on Friday. J was devastated. It's too small for a funeral. We discussed Buddhist beliefs and re-incarnation, this cheered him up and he's decided to never kill another bug including flies!

M has been making amazing pottery and generally supporting me while I've been withdrawn. He is such a keeper!

Deb my Sp - has been cheering me up with regular PU's (perker-uppers) a regular smile fest has been a great help.

Plans for today - make onion soup and homemade bread with M. Listen to an Audiobook whilst finishing Voodoo - rest my hip with lots of tigerbalm, heat pad and painkillers. Make a nutloaf for dinner. Drink some red wine and have an early (ish) night.

OK - all up to date - not very exciting - sorry but perhaps the next blogg will be more jolly ;0)

Look what I found.

I've been wanting to make toe socks for ages but couldn't find a pattern. I went for a rummage in Mums patterns and look what I found. Knitted with 4ply on 2 needles - I can't wait to use up some of my sock yarn on these! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Just had to photo tonights sunset. Isn't it totally amazing. 

Glubbies

At last, a year after starting them, here are M's winter Glubbies! They got buried in my stash and I forgot about them. I found them after a stash raid on Friday. As today was Knittys All Day Knit In, I got around to finishing them.
M was in the middle of his bass practice but I rudely interrupted him and forced him to model his gloverly delights!!

Eeeeeeeeeek!

Isn't this cute? It was cold and Buster curled up next to my knitting. A purring, cat dreaming ball of warm black and white, hidden face, fluff. Ahhhh how sweet. Then.....................I saw something on his paw....dirt? Nope, a nerfin great flea! Yuck!! I only Frontlined him in September, but since then he has cultivated a pet. We drowned the sucker, flea combed a totally disgruntled Buster and then we Frontlined him, all at 10.30 pm. We did the dog as well this morning. So neither of my babies are talking to me at moment. I spent all night itching. I know animal fleas don't live on humans but that didn't stop me from feeling cooty. I always Frontline the animals as per the instructions throughout the year as I abhor fleas. I can't believe that he managed to smuggle one in. I'm still all itchy feeling today. I've done all the soft furnishings and the few rugs and carpet that we have but ewwwwwww cooty, cooty, cooty.

We have some new pets as well. J now is the proud owner of 6 stick insects (pink winged ones) M's sister has some and they had babies. They are weeny. I'm still not too sure about stick insects, especially flying ones. I am reserving judgement until they are a bit bigger. But even as littlies they sure do poo a lot.

Can I do this?

Can I hell! I have been practicing with my drop spindle and I'm sort of getting there but dah I feel like a total idiot. I normally pick up stuff so quick but not this. In fact the only other thing that I tried and never got the hang of is driving! Oh well, off to make a few more dents in the floor, then get wool fluff up my snozzle and as J is out for the day I can also turn the air blue with a few well chosen expletives.