Big girl now

Lottie is 2 today. There have been times when I have despaired of her ever becoming a good girl but (and I'm probably shooting myself in the foot here) the last few months have seen her really start to turn into a wonderful little Border. She's loving and companionable if still a little mad. She and Bogeyboy get on so well and they have complimentary personalities and manage to make me smile many times a day. I think sharing my days with these two little monsters makes the humdrum more bearable.

Cranford Handwarmers

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Love this pattern. Have been meaning to make these for ages. Knitted from scrapes of Regia Silk and sock yarn on 2.25mm dpns. These really are an entertaining knit. Well thought out pattern too.

Pattern Cranford Mitts by Jane Lithgow available on Ravelry and at p/hop.
This pattern has been donated to Medecins Sans Frontieres as part of the p/hop project - pattern is free but if you like it than you donate what you feel it is worth - details below:-

www.p-hop.co.uk
www.msf.org.uk/phop

Friendly enemies

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

That's it you dumbass pooch, just a leetle closer and I'll show you meaning of pain. My purrs are luring you in then BAM you're fuzzy leetle butt will be mine.....all mine!

I know...

two in one day. I'm spoiling you. This is a 100g of Tussah Silk and brown Alpaca.

Navajo plied. It is gorgeous and is destined for someone else. I hope they like it.

Naughty boy! I wondered where he was....on one of my posh cushions.

Oh yes!

Lord Lucas a Tory peer gets Home-ed more than any of the younger Labour idiots appear to. This speech is wonderful. It made me hope (a little).

At last some common sense.

Read it here - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldtoday/22.htm

Please help

The UK Govt is trying to bring in a law that will give them the ability to 'big brother' how we parent our children's development. It is against human rights.

Please help. Google 'The Badman Review' this will not just effect home educators it gives them a platform to bring this in against all families.

This will fundamentally change the role of the state in UK family life and will put a size 13 foot in the door to having compulsory CRB checks and monitoring of parents.

Please sign our petition - http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Home-ed-families/


Thank you.

And after

I am not forgiven for this.

It is brilliant. Lucy is a genius. No more tangles.....for now.

Before the barbers!

He's there now - hopefully not barking too much!

Phew

Tiny looks fine. This moult was a really slow one and as he is on a high shelf I had to wait till M was home from work before I could be sure he/it/she was OK. I was worried if I'd clambered up to see, that I might have caused a vibration which could effect the moulting process. He looks a lot bigger and very, very hairy, he's dark brown to black with salmon pink flecks, he is still plumping up so can't say for sure how big he is now. No obvious sign of sex though, so I assume he'll have further moults....unless we are lucky and he is a she, only time will tell. I'll attempt pictures once he's fully back to normal but as he is a pretty fierce dude it isn't easy. When we open the hatch he automatically thinks it's feeding time and charges the front of his tank so he needs handling with care as I think a bite from him would be very painful.

Fergus is now 6 months old and is off for his first visit to the barbers tomorrow. His coat is so dense and woolly - he gets mats even though I groom him every day. I'm wondering what Lucy will make of him as he likes to bark when he's away from us (the vets couldn't wait for us to collect him when he went in to be neutered). Still whatever she does will be an improvement on his current woolly Gorilla suit. Lottie isn't going to the hairdressers as M and I got a DVD and learnt how to strip her coat ourselves - she is all tidy and looking very cute.

I'll take before and after photos of Fungus tomorrow. He looks so much like a Scottie that I'm wondering if he'll come home with a Scottie coat tomorrow - all beard and eyebrows.....hmmmm sounds like someone else who lives here and no I don't mean my Mother.

So now I wait

Waiting is not something I'm very good at but when a spider needs to moult then there is no choice but to wait. There is nothing you can do. It (touch wood) has always turned out OK, there can be problems, but if there is then you are helpless really.

A little while back Marmite moulted, we found it on its back on a web when we got up already part way there. Marmite is beautiful with renewed glossy black hair. He/she/it is a small spider, about 3 inches across and the moult seemed over in a blink. Then you wait whilst they pump themselves up again - which can take a few days - when it's completed you finally get to see that all eight legs are there and intact.

Today we awoke to find Tiny, our biggest tarantula, on its back waiting to moult. Three hours later he's still there. We can only be quiet near the tank, make sure we do not bang, crash and thump about near the bookcase where his tank is and wait.

I am hoping that this moult will answer what sex Tiny is but as he isn't full size yet he could have more to go. I get excited to see what happens - will there be changes in colour density or size? Will we see male tibial spurs or it will it still be a game of wait and see?

I know spiders aren't every ones cup of tea, and I know a few friends that actually abhor them and will probably not read my blog for a while in case I post pictures, but I find them fascinating. I'm not into the OMG factor of owning them, what floats my boat is the fact that they are so separate from us and so alien. I can watch them for hours, how they move, hunt and groom is so weird it's compelling.

And relax

Fergus yesterday after being groomed.

Eighteen years

It still hurts and I still miss you.

River Rapid socks - take 2.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

It's been all about getting stuff finished and off the needles. At this moment in time, for the first time in years, I don't have any socks on the needles!.......Wait I feel faint. I am down to 3 knitted WIP's and 1 in crochet, and the crochet one is squares and a very long term doohickey.

I will have socks on the needles by the end of today - I'm sure of it.

Last pair of these I made for Ma. I so liked the pattern I decided to make some for myself.

Pattern - River Rapid Socks by Sockbug - available for free on Ravelry.

Needles - 2.75mm circs.

Yarn - Lorna's Laces Shepherd & Sock in Bittersweet - these took about 1.25 skeins.

Spirogyro Greenies

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Early Xmas pressie for Ma. She feels the cold and walks a lot so these are perfect and they match her coat.

Pattern - Spirogyro by Lynne Vogel availabe for free at Knitty.com and on Ravelry.

Yarn CTH Super sock in Green Mountain Madness.

Needles - 3.25 and 2.75mm dpns.

Time - in total 2 days but they were on the needles a weeks because I decided after glove one to have a break and finish something else.

My side of the bed.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

This is what happens to my side of the bed when I get up to go in the shower, every day.

Rhinebeck

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Started Sept 2008, finished yesterday.....mmmmm took my time. Actually, although I love this and it's a great pattern, clever but easy - no seams to sew, it is very heavy being constructed all in one piece. So the time it took was due partly to it making my hands and wrists ache.

It's a lovely fit and I know I will wear it loads.

Pattern - Rhinebeck by Lisa Lloyd from 'A Fine Fleece'.
Needles 4.5m circs and dpns.
Yarn Cascade 220 - 6 skeins.

googoogahgah.

*head-desk, head-desk, head-desk* repeat as ness until you start to like the pain.

I've been having a 'meat in the sandwich' time lately. Not nice to live with 24/7. I am so very close to just walking away from a lot of stuff right now - that or maybe I'll just see the Doc get some happy pills and let everything else fade away into a cloud of meds.

Some of it funny (when it's not almost reducing you to tears) and some of it drags you down so deep you loose sight of the surface.

The blog (for now) is one of the things I need to walk away from right now, as it is one of the one too many things to remember and deal with.

Please excuse me for a while. I need space to learn to breathe and cope.

Doggy day out.

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Lottie (middle), Fergus (botttom) and cousin Ruby (top) had a family play/walk today.

Such a trio of naughtiness.

Socks for Em

Even more knitting.....OMG could this be turning back into a blog about knitting.

Anyhoo, I knit these Plain Ole Vanilla Socks for my niece.

Knit on 2.75mm circs using Hot Socks - Dream, purchased from the lovely little 'WoolBar' in Worthing.

Pattern is my own aiming for a UK size 6, I was slightly corrupted by the wisdom of Wibbo to try an afterthought heel. She (as usual) was so right. I love this method - so easy, neat and cool.

They are all washed, blocked and ready to cosy up Em's toes through the winter.

More knitting

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Shur'tugal Socks.

Serious 2nd sock syndrome with these.

Lorna's Laces - Shepherd & Sock - colourway, Motherlode. Used about 1 and 1/4 skeins.

Knit on 2.5mm KnitPro circs.

Nice pattern but not one I'd knit again. Clever way the heel and toes work out - well thought out.

Milkweed Shawl

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Originally uploaded by loobles2002

Yes, more knitting, at last I finished something.

This is a Milkweek Shawl by Laura Chau (http://www.cosmicpluto.com)

Knit on 3.5mm Addi Turbo circ using Handmaiden Casbah.

I love it. I love the pattern. Thank you Wibbo for inspiring me with yours.

I used 3/4 of one skein in a purple, black and brown-ish colour interspersed 1/2 down with a contrast that has the same colours but also firey ember colurs too. I love these mixes together and it made sure I had enough yarn to cast off with!

(Wibbo's one - which is gorgeous- can be found here - http://wibbo.typepad.com/wibbos_words/ or on her Ravelry page).

Binky, bonky boZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mmmm cosy fur throw....just for me.

Rolly rubby lubby fur throw.

Is mine!

Right now - it is very quiet.

No kids, no builders, no lawnmowers (which for around here is bloody amazing) just bird song. So nice.

J is busy. We've been looking at WW1 - he's off researching something. M is at work. The cat(s) are out (Ma's kitty may just be asleep somewhere) the pups are zonked out after their early morning route march. Ma has gone to the IOW for the day with one of her groups. So right now, it is just me and the quiet. Bliss.

Our egg.

Lick the egg.

Mmmm yes lick the egg.

Our yummy egg.

Mah bed

So piss off!

Mah chair

Not Daddys chair.

Nope - it is MAH chair!

Blimey.....knitting!

A plethora of baby socks.

2 pairs of larger size (probably 3-6 mth) the narrow stripe ones were knit on 2.25mm the others which is a thicker yarn, on 3mm.

2 pair of first size (0-3 mth) both knit on 3mm.

The pattern originates from one of Ma's old booklets - which is so fragile, half the pages fall out. The book is 'Beehive Baby Book - knitting for the first 6 months' it cost 1' and is numbered sc34 - I tried to find it online but couldn't. The original was knit on 3 ply on number 13 needles. I adjusted the pattern to knit a smaller sock on bigger needles with thicker yarn. It worked out really well.

Climb on board, climb on board...

for the Double Deckers.

Gosh that's really showing my age, but I loved that programme when I was a kidlet.

They didn't stay like this for long but it was so funny the way Fergus clambered to the high ground. At the moment most times Lottie settles he does this in some way, though right now he's a kip at my feet. I get wafts of earthworm as the little beast is a prodigious digger and is excavating the side path flower bed - I should have named him Dickie.

Everything is still ticking over, very quiet. Lots of reading, me and J. Knitting is all secret stuff so no pictures. No spinning as I have a painful toe (don't ask, it's just too daft for words). Looking forward to a long weekend - just maybe this weeks will be better than lasts - which was pretty abysmal to be honest. *sigh*

My chair and other stories

Not wanting to alarm anyone - spider content ahead but no pictures - if you don't like spider tales.....scroll down,

The picture above is of Tiny's (Salmon Pink Birdeater) tank. That is metal, quite thick metal, mesh. The hole is Tinys way of showing us he/she is bored. That hole took less than 2 hours and was almost big enough for an escape. Tiny is our largest spider *gulp*. He/she is now in a new tank with even thicker metal mesh - he/she has attempted to chew it and has so far failed *phew*. Why don't iPod or Nintendo make entertainment systems for bored tarantulas?

Lottie was actually asleep - eyes open, blue fing ensconced in her maw - when M took this. We removed it, with some difficulty, as she wasn't letting go and she must have had a dry tongue. She looked so funny as she tried to moisten it - lip smacking and chattering her jaw. Bizarre.

My chair. My lovely leather, comfy, perfect for knitting, reading, snoozing reclining chair. Stolen by a Bogeyman! He's still in it NOW. My chair. I love my chair and now it's lost to me....boohoo.

I think it's camo as you can hardly see him in it and he knows it's time to be groomed. Oh well I'll have to sit in M's one - they are identical but I swear mine is more comfy.

It's not all dogs

Honest. I am doing other stuff but it's all so boring. Knitting is very slow. Spinning is at a stop.

Life is a plod, plod, plodding along fairly normally. I have nothing to tell.

Am reading so that all the books J and I decided on for him to tackle this year I've read or re-read (cos at my age I can't clearly recall books I read at 12 etc). I have 'Catcher in the Rye', 'Animal Farm' and 'Lord of the Flies' left to do. I have read the latter two and remember enjoying them but have never read 'Catcher in the Rye' before so am looking forward to it. We also got a 'Dummies' guide to 20th Century history yesterday as that's the period J wants to look at. It looks really good so I think we may be reading it together.

The house is quiet - the dogs have PNB and kibble filled Kongs to entertain them. The laundry is under control and no dinner to plan as we are off to a BBQ tonight. I think I might have a little time to knit and read today - hurrah. Just need to finish the dusting...where does it all come from? I only did it yesterday and it looks like it hasn't been touched for days *sigh*.

Yes I am lovely - aren't I?

Beddie-buddies

Morning. I was snoozing next to my bird you know.

Not more pictures. Enough already with the flash-flash. I am a trying to have a kip.

If we lay doggo together, you never know, they might finally get the message.

Shhhhh

Don't tell anyone but every so often the spirit moves me and I go through a cooking dinner phase. This home-made lasagne was last nights dinner. The 3rd meal I've cooked from scratch in as many days. It won't last. It never does and M is a much better cook than me. However, this effort was pretty spanking, even if I say so myself.

Cross over bolero

Cross over bolero
Originally uploaded by loobles2002

One down - one to go.

Patons Baby Book - circa 1961

3.75mm - 75g RYC Cashsoft Baby DK.

Four weeks on

Friends.

Ahhh just what a little Bogeyman needs a Lottie pillow.

Bigger, hairier, naughtier!

A million slags dancing.


Peel back the layers and watch the slags dancing
Invisible morals dripping like acid
Dissolving the filaments, the thread of society.
Tip up the bottle and down with knickers
Turning a trick in a pool of vomit
No pleasure, just action. Writhing in bile.
Slumped in a gutter - eyelids fluttering
Sticky and dripping with the seed of a stranger,
One shoe missing, the other in danger.
But the slags are still dancing around their handbags,
Faces are melting, hair has gone stringy
Time of their lives, screams ‘Am I minging?’
Another bottle, another tune, another trick - over too quick.
Vile and degraded but shrieking with glee
‘I’ve had him and him. They’ve all had me!’
Needing to piss but too drunk to care
Chunks of kebab matted in hair.
But the slags are still dancing - it isn’t yet dawn
Squeeze out the last moments of riot and porn.
Who cares for tomorrow, our future, our life’s?
It’s all about now, all pleasure no pain.
Here is our future. What we have become
A million slags dancing and living for fun.

Weddings, walkies and weirdos.

Monday saw us at the wedding of the super smooth Dan and the retro groovy Sam. It was a lovely relaxed ceremony and a really nice day all round. The D C & Aer's rounded it off with lunch at a local Italian - yum.

We've been walking a lot this week. Fergus's strength is improving so he can go further also we want to keep him busy as he has an ear mite infestation (we've been to the vets and got drops) and he worries his lugholes less when he's out sniffling about with Lottie.

You meet a lot of peeps dog walking. You meet a lot of weird peeps dog walking. Perhaps you have have to be a little strange to be walking across the Downs before 7.00am and after 7.00pm. I should fit in perfectly.

Got a nice quiet one today. Chores all done - thanks to Fungus being awake at 5.45am, even all the laundry is done and on the line. So I'm going to take advantage of the peace and quiet.

An ahhhhh and a squee

It's a tough life, all walkies and playing. It gets you in the end. In the end you have to stop and flop.

Lookie - I got a giftee. This came in the post today from SIL & BIL. They saw it and thought of me. I love it!

It's by Kate Garey. I went to check out her site (www.kategarey.com) very cute.

Helping

Perfect spot for a snooze.

Fergus likes it when I spin.

Offline

Going offline for a few days - need to clear my head - life is a bit sucky right now.

Back soon. xxx