Pretties.

I just love Lorna's Laces sock yarn - it is so pretty. The orangey colour (Neon) is already on the needles - I've worked out a groovy design for this yarn.

Am a bit better, but still feel weak. I have periods of feeling A-OK and them zammo I feel ill and washed out again and boy do I ache. But still it's better than it was. We have re-planned our camping trip to go in two weeks. Different campsite but still one that looks good. Our friends we camp with can make it (half-term) too so J will have buddies to romp with. Now just need to sacrifice .....mmmm a pigeon maybe......to the weather gods.

M took me yarn shopping on Saturday to make up for missing camp. Bought enough yarn to make Sahara by Wendy Bernard am at the waist shaping already. It's a great pattern very well written and clear to understand. Am caught up in sock fever today but may return to Sahara this evening.

Other knitting items are also progressing. Isabella is abandoned but not forgotten....I got bored *sigh* all the 4ply cotton st-st, but I will finish it. My rib cardi is progressing and am still enjoying the pattern but I am an unfaithful knitting and am flirting with Sahara instead.

Sock challenge - completed. 2nd sock took a bit longer (8hrs 20 mins) so total for a pair of Monkey socks 15hour and 5 minutes. Not too shabby I think.

Have plied a 2nd skein of Wizz....so pretty. Am spinning single for skein 3 already. Can't wait to knit with it now.

Secret boy birthday shopping is underway. No party this year (again) he wants to go camping and go for a meal in his favourite Indian Restaurant - my-oh-my is he growing up.

DON'T FORGET THE BIG KNIT IN - 03/06/07 - in Brighton - Art College @ Grand Parade - be there or be a big meanie!

Too ill to camp!

Pah and phooey!

The boys have elected to stay home with me - cos they're lovely.

But I am seriously peed off and fed up. I hate being ill.

Am going off now to sulk in a corner with my knitting - ah a little silver lining in an otherwise grim grey day.

A well deserved thank you and a .......

little moan.

But the 'Thank you' first ------------>>>>>>>> looksie at my new, improved and tidy sidebar. Isn't it lovely? Well, after my Luddite confession in a previous post Sandykins offered (most kindly) to do a spot of blog tidying for me. The new super whizzy sidebar is proof that some peoples understand how to use blogger! THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH SANDYKINS, YOU ROCK!

Now the little moan.....after getting blown out of our previous planned camping trip *mutter, mutter, grumble, complain* we are going camping this weekend *hurrah*.....NO! Not hurrah - firstly the weather forecast is terrible and secondly and more importantly (cos I don't mind the weather that much) I've got a terrible cold and chest infection and feel like sheeeeeeeet! Can you Adam and Eve it? Talk about sods law.

At this moment in time it is still my intention to go. But if this gets any worse then I may have to wimp out (I wanna go camping - 1st camp of the season - I wanna go camping) *stamps foot* the problem with me and colds is, that with having perennial rhinitis that colds hit me really bad. My ears, under my eyes, my nose and head pain are often inflamed by the rhinitis a cold doubles or sometimes even trebles what I normally suffer. I have a steroid spray (which I am always loathe to use) and can take pain meds etc - but colds still knock me really low. So I am not a happy bunny today.

We are meant to leave to camp tomorrow lunchtime, so I have a while to 'wait and see' how I'm doing........watch this space.

Sock in a day!

The Knitty Board has a knit a sock in a day challenge (or within 18 hours spread across a few days) - this is the option I decided to try. Picture 1 - cast on and 1 row at 9.50am yesterday.
1 hour later the rib (12 rows of twisted rib) and 2 rows of pattern completed.
I decided not to make it easy for myself so I chose to knit another pair of Monkey socks with my jinxed sock yarn (every pair I've attempted with this yarn, I've hated and unpicked). So here is my sock 3 hours in 4 rows into my 4th pattern repeat.
6 hours - about 10pm last night. I mainly knit in 30 min intervals on and off the day with plenty of breaks. As it was belting down with rain a lot, it was a good day to sit and knit.
15th May - sock not touched until after lunch. 1 completed sock, total time 7 hours and 45 minutes. This is an adult UK size 5 sock knitted on 2.5mm dpns in Elan Sock it to me! Phew..... I had often wondered how long it would take me, now I know. I've cast on for the 2nd one and will attempt to complete the 2nd one in the 18 hour time limit.

Wizz-a-wizz!

Here is the Corriedale Wizz from Angela (link in previous posts). This is the 1st skein, still slightly damp but plied. I got 52g from my first bobbin of singles. I know it's not the best picture but it is pissing down and overcast so it's the best I can do in the circumstances.
I'm quite pleased with this as my 2nd proper spinning effort. The yarn is soft and bouncy. The colour blend is not well represented in the pictures - but I can assure you it is lovely and held completely true through a wash - so expertly dyed - well you couldn't expect anything less :=)

I've already started my 2nd bobbin of singles and am not really even 1/2 through plait number one. It spins like a dream.

Knitting is occurring too - socks - what a surprise! 1/4 of Isabella's front and a front from a rib cardi about 6 rows from completion.

******DIAMOND GEEZER SOCKS*******

I've finally typed up the pattern - I am LUDDITE! I can't hyperlink etc but if anyone wants a copy email me - or if you're on the Knitty board - pm me (user name lainch) and I will email copies to anyone who wants it.

Please don't try and explain how I can link to it or post it in sidebar etc - although it is helpful (I do appreciate helpful gestures normally) every time I tinker in anyway with this blog - I f**k it up big time - I can't get my head around this, I'm too old to have learnt it at school and I'm a dumb ass with computers!

Poor J.

He is a little sad today. Due to an amazing drop in overnight temperature last night, the Triops (Biggie-smalls and Smallie-big) are no more as is David the Fairy Shrimp. I left the heat lamp on until 11.00pm and when I woke about 6.30am there was no sign of life. M (big brave male) investigated and found we had deceased weird things on our hands. They have been flushed to a better life, with dignity. J hummed the funeral march then kasploosh, gurgle and they were gone.

Yay! I've got my bedroom desk back - now I can use my sewing machine and hopefully next week can put that dress (I cut out ages ago) together.

Weird thing is, I said as a joke to J yesterday (he did know I was messing) that I wished the Triops would hurry up and die. He now thinks I hexed them *rolls eyes* as if.

M is off call and has a few days off - as it's a bank holiday - he took a couple of extra days - we plan a weekend of 'dossing' - so hopefully lots and lots of time to spin and knit. But before all that I must away with a smoothing iron and do the dance of drear with the Dyson.

A weird mix.

This is the Corriedale roving that I got from Angela at http://www.fairislefibers.co.uk/ in the colourway called 'Wizz' (pictures of roving plaits on a previous post). I couldn't wait to start spinning this and as my knee felt better today.......well this is it so far. It spins like a dream, absolutely gorgeous. The colour blend is lovely and not quite a bright IRL. So if you are in need of delicious roving in the grooviest of colours may I suggest you talk to Angela - her stuff so rocks! I can' t wait to carry on spinning this just so I can see what it's like when it's plied.
As the title suggests a strange mix of subjects - but hey who cares? The boys went off for some 'man' time at the weekend and here they are in front of a Spitfire at http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/ they had a great time. J loves planes and M said the displays of WWII stuff and the stories connected to them was extremely moving.
The boys agree this place is well worth a visit. One of the museum staff (who also gave J a couple of aeroplane magazines to bring home - what a nice person!) let him behind the barrier for this picture. J was totally made up.

On the way home they detoured to http://www.bairdsfarmshop.co.uk/ to get the meat for Sundays dinner. The piece of beef M chose was the tenderest, nicest piece of beef I have ever eaten. We have also sampled the South Downs Lamb - lovely, local bacon - delicious, local eggs - amazing and one of their home-made steak, mushroom and Guinness pies - wonderful!

Thinking of wonderful and food in one sentence. M made his own recipe stuffed mushrooms for dinner last night - truly they are like angels crying on your tongue - I still adore veggie food even though I am now a carnivore - and these mushrooms had all that is best about vegetarian cookery in them.

Lastly....almost.....finished some socks yesterday but they are a gift so no piccies - apart from that no other new knitting news.

And now really, finally - still have two Triops and one Fairy Shrimp - they just get weirder. The Triops are really big and the bigger they get the stranger they are!

My 1st handspun.

My 1st proper bit of spinning on Lewis - my wheel. It's Merino and it's soft and yummy.
I Navajo/Navaho (?sp) plied it. It was interesting to note that the quality of my spinning changed as I progressed back through the bobbin. The early stuff was much more lumpy or over spun. I don't think it is too bad for a 1st effort and now am hooked. I have Angela's Corriedale Wizz (see a previous post) waiting in the wings and am itchy to try it. Just need to wait for my knee to heal a bit more and there will be no stopping me!

Humbug is 'big-leggie'.

This was Humbug (Bumhug) when we first got him. He is a Giant Brazilian Black and White Tarantula.
This is Humbug today! Fresh from a moult - just about two weeks ago. This is only the 2nd time he has come out since. He fed last night and has stayed out since. What he is sitting on is half a coconut shell,which will give you some perspective of his size.
Sadly, in a way, he is a HE - so this is his bloom. He will not moult again and once he starts making sperm webs he will deteriorate gradually. He had massive clubs on his pedipalps and tibial spurs, so he is definitely all male. But no matter what he is one BIG magnificent spider!

In the 1st photo the pot he was sitting in was about the same size as the coconut shell! So he has grown some.

Diamond Geezers.

I love designing and making socks and these are my latest.
Knitted in Regia Silk on 2.5mm dpns.
I wanted to make a sock that was 'unisex' but not boring. So I fiddled about with this diamond relief pattern.
I wanted an Argyle look sock without the colour changes. I am very pleased with how they've come out. All I need to do now is to transcribe my notes into a pattern so I can make them for M and J too.

The Big Knit In - 2007.

http://www.knitin.co.uk/

The perfect excuse to have a weekend in Brighton ;=) sun (hopefully), sea, knitting and even more knitting!!!!

Why not go along. It is always a really good event.

Might even see you there.........................if you're really lucky (or unlucky - depending on your perspective).

I am a mole.....

and I live in a hole.
Conkers latest game. He hides under the patchwork quilt as you make the bed and then tunnels all around - like a little black mole - until he reaches the edge, then he just peeks out at us for ages. It makes finishing making the bed more interesting, hence the rather rumpled look in the photo. The awful crochet throw of squares is his blankie - 'Mr Heatie' which I put on the bed to tempt him out to no avail.

Other stuff.

I caught M's bug. I was nowhere near as ill as he was, but I was ill enough that most of the weekend I felt like sheeeeet. We did manage to make the most of J having a sleepover though. It wasn't until he'd gone and we felt a bit odd that I worked out that this was the 1st night we'd had without him in 15 months! He had a great time to but I think Auntie Z's ear took a bit of a bashing as J can talk for England............hmmmmmmm........wonder where he inherited that from?

Seasick Steve was ace - nuff said!

Have not done a lot of spinning as my bad knee flared up over the weekend and I spent a good deal of time rubbing ibuprofen gel onto it. But managed a little on Monday and intend to finish the pink merino if possible today or tomorrow.

Knitting - have 3 completed socks - all from different pairs! I just can't settle to my knitting at the moment. Though I did manage to finished the back of Isabella http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/PATTisabella.html

One of the socks is a new design of my own which I am very excited about - it's probably the best pattern I've come up with. It's partner, alas, is only 1/8 completed *sigh* maybe today will be the day to finish it.

Due to illness life has been fairly boring and uneventful - sorry!

It's been a bit of a week. Perplexing is the best way to describe how it's felt. So here is a brief (ish) catch up.

Cousins to play - and play they did beautifully, no fights or disagreements.

M ill from Friday evening - still ill now actually off work - which is normally unheard of.

Knitting - spits and spats - same with spinning.

Reading lots.

Triops - down to 2. Fully grown and mature and now laying eggs. They are such weird little dudes - most bizarre.

Shoreham Farmers market - Yummy - venison sausages *slurp*.

Humbug - just finishing a moult. Other spiders just hanging.

Other critters - Loobles has terrible wind - geesh does her arse stink! Conkers escaped last night - goodness knows how - he's now restless and mewy, though right a this moment he's akipping on my bed on a pile of hand knit throws......ah the life!

Swimming pool - emptied and de-bugged - ready to be cleaned and filled.

Veggie patch - dug and planted by M this year as I fancied a break.

J happy and full of beans. Looking forward to a sleepover at cousins this weekend - M and I are looking forward to it too :=)

Blog - up to date!

I've got those happy feet.

*Does a little dance* - "I've got new shoes-ees, I've got new new shoes-ees!"

Those who know me well, know that before I developed a yarn habit, I had a serious shoe habit, which is now (normally) under control. But I couldn't resist these and neither could the 'ole hippy' part of my personality. Twenty years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead in something like these, but now I think they're 'perfeck Ma, perfeck.'

I do so love new shoes. Hate buying clothes, clothes shopping pee's me off. But shoes....shoes sing to the core of my being.

I am having a good day - it's sunny and warm but not too hot, the birdies are singing, the girls next door are out = quiet = no screaming and I've got NEW SHOES! Just in case you hadn't noticed.

Wizz-O

This is some fleece that I bought from Fair Isle Fibres http://www.fairislefibers.co.uk/ the colourway is called Wizz - and it's even more delicious in real life.
Angela, who owns Fair Isle Fibres, is a total wizz herself with colours. These are bright and vibrant and the Corriedale fleece is soft and airy. This will be such a treat to spin and knit.
'Oh me Darlin. Oh me Darlin. Oh me Darlin Clementine.' All finished and beautifully modelled by a bush in the garden. I love this pattern. I would happily knit it again tomorrow, it has a rhythm to it that is blissful plus it's lovely to wear.
After the family decision for a quiet Easter - which was quiet in all but noise (5 girls aged 9-11, one large trampoline, 9 hours of screaming - you get my drift?) J spent many happy hours in the garden, grubbin about, getting soaked with his super soaker and learning to Pogo. This Pogo stick was my older sisters and was purchased in the 1960's and it still works (only for kiddie weights - M tried it and it became a non-pogo - so he had to go back to his super-whizzy grown up pogo stick.) My holiday was spent - sitting on my arse, knitting, spinning and reading - wonderful. We did visit M's older sister for dinner but apart from that we avoided the traffic and crowds and just enjoyed family time at home - lovely!
Conkers decided to help M change the sheets - isn't he a good kitty?

TRIOPS ** 4 still living! 1 very large named Biggie-smalls, 1 slightly smaller named Smallie-big - the other two are a bit smaller and their names change though J insists one is called Tiny-small. Two fairy shrimp - David (don't ask) and Fish - are thriving also. The 5th Triop has mysteriously disappeared without a trace - hmmmmm me thinks Biggie-smalls turned cannonball ;=)

Now my attention is required for a vicious game of swingball with the aforementioned pogo whizz kid, let us hope that my sore inflamed knee can cope with it!

Just a crazy mixed up post.

Finally finished my 2nd pair of Monkey Socks (from Knitty designed by Cookie). I love this pattern. Firstly it looks complicated but it isn't and secondly they stay up. I can't abide socks that go to sleep down your leg and Nora Batty around your ankles...ewwww! These are made in Regia Silk on 2.5mm ebony dpns. Please note - I was home alone (again - twice in as many days!!) and this photo is a solo effort invert on sofa!

I've started the 2nd half of Clementine - another lovely pattern, very satisfying. I have one other pair of socks on the go - an adaptation of Grumperinas IKSpring pattern Roza.

Finally on the knitting front, I brought some Rowan 4ply cotton to make 'Isabella' from Spring Knitty by Jordana Paige http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring07/PATTisabella.html I know that I shall be casting on for this later today. Knitting ADHD strikes again!

Away from knitting now. I forget to mention in my last post that the boys - big and little - have, as it is warm and spring-like, hatched out some Triops/Aquasaurs...again. Last time we got one, named Triopy, this time we have 4/5, two of which are quite large already, the others look strong too which as good because apparently they can go cannibal! *mind boggles* We also have Daphynia nymphs and Fairy Shrimp. So my bedroom desk is now an aquarium and my sewing project (cool dress - groovy fabric from Sue http://knittiotherapy.typepad.com/ ) is on hold. *sigh* I can use my machine in the kitchen as it doesn't need a foot pedal but it's just too chaotic and I can't settle for any period of time. The only other option is to use Ma's in the sewing room but as she is in card making mood - chaos reigns there too. Oh well, Triops only live 8/12 weeks, not too long to wait.

Ok if anyone has survived this post with the will to live still intact. Please take the time to peruse the wonderful montage/horror show below.
Just felt like a blast from the past....groovy baby!

Where has all the blogging gone.......

long time passing?

Well, it's been a busy week!

There has been knitting....1/2 a Clementine from IK Spring knit in HandMaiden silk/cashmere 4ply. Also Annie from http://anniesknit.blogspot.com/ popped over and taught me to spin. I spent the next day practising until I really felt I got it and got into it. Five hours later, one aching leg and hand later I thought I better stop. A big 'Thanks' to Annie she made it look easy.
Also this week I finally went the whole hog. This was my hair a year or so ago. It's gradually got shorter and shorter until....
This! Craptastic photo of me - J took it and really it's the best of a really rotten bunch. I always photo like a sick pig - it's cos I know this and that I never relax so each picture gets progressively worse. However, I am very happy with cut and novelty of hair that dries in 2 minutes.
Some of us had a relaxing week though..... look at those buttons - I kissed everyone of them and they may look strawberry flavoured but they're not - they are kitten boy flavoured!

And still there's more..... Glittrgirl http://www.glittyknittykitty.co.uk/ came for a visit *YAY!* She arrived in a glamorous fizzy bubble Wednesday, shouted us a curry, got nicely squiffy with us on fizzy poo and Sailor Jerry's then disappeared back Oop North to Greebo on Thursday. We had a laugh!

I've also been good and am still running every other day. Though you can't see it in the aforementioned abysmal piccie, I've been told that I've lost quite a lot of podge *YAY! - again*

Tonight is another social event - I don't know it's like buses, none for hours then 3 come at once. I will need a quiet one next week to recover.

Also, if you get the chance give the new Ray LaMontagne album -'Till the Sun Turns Black' - a listen, it's excellent.

J is happy - new Dr Who starts tonight and this series has Daleks in it - total boy bliss and euphoria.

As promised - happier post and piccies ;-)

Have a good weekend Peeps!

You make your own karma.

I know this sounds like a load of new age cods, but funnily enough, I do actually buy into this concept.

Yesterday I was grumpy (see previous post) in fact I was beyond grumpy, though I did try very hard to internalise the grump within and shelter those I love from my foulness of being. My little ray of light, my silver lining was that fact that I was getting 2 & 1/2 hours kid free in the afternoon. M was taking J to L's birthday party (which I am reliably informed was brilliant). I had my afternoon all planned it involved an hour with the very complex book I am reading and then the rest of the time in front of a fav movie with plenty of knitting....sounds good? What karma did my grumpy bring I hear you cry? Well, Mother decided to inform me she was going for a walk with her GBF - just a short one - leaving her neurotic, never stops barking and yelping when left behind, Dachshund at home. She wouldn't be long, and the dog would be shut in her room and therefore wouldn't bark. Yeah right!

He barked and he barked and he barked - from baying to yelping, to scrabbling the door to throwing himself against it and yipping, without respite for the 2 hours + that she was out on her won't be long, short walk! I went downstairs to check the dog so many times I lost count, he didn't need a wee or a poo, I put him in his bed with his blankie and soothed and fussed him, I shouted at him and in the end gave up because all he wanted was his Mummy!

This is what my grump bought upon me. I didn't read a single page, I didn't watch a fav movie, I did knit but very little because I was fuming, I was spitting chips. I get so little time alone, so little time just to have quiet and do what I fancy - and it got fucked up. I was incandescent with rage. And did I get an apology? - did I fuck! I wouldn't mind normally but this is almost a daily occurrence. Off she swans for hours and I get left with a constantly barking wacko sausage!

She and I had the Mother ('scuse the pun) of all arguments. I am still annoyed and she is as light as a feather acting as if nothing has happened. And guess what? She's booked another day trip with her God squad cronies that leaves at 8.30am returns around 5.30pm and guess who's left to dog sit? - Did she ask was I ok with this? Did she check that I was home before she booked it? Again I answer - did she fuck!

I know she looks after my animals when we go camping but Loobles is not neurotic and only barks when there is something to bark at. In fact at her age she spends most days moving from sunny spot to sunny spot and kipping. Mother doesn't even have to walk her because her creaking joints are so bad that she can go a couple of days without walkies and be ok - the rest does her good.

Anyway, I digress. Then to top off my perfect day I then learn that a family members house has burnt down, with my 92 year Grandma inside, luckily no casualties - all cats and humans got rescued. My Mothers reaction to this - was to tell the person concerned all about her week and suggest she keeps her chin up! By this stage I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When did Mother develop the sensitivity of a rhino? She's getting a little scary these days - it's like living with a stranger!

Ok rant numero 2 over - phew I needed to get that off my chest or it would've started to fester!
Next post will have A) picccies and B) be bright and breezy.................yeah right!!!

What do you get...(bad language warning)

every Spring when BST starts?

A very grumpy me!

Stop it now - I hate all this fucking about with the time. It totally messes with my body clock. Takes me at least week to adjust and get back on an even keel. And what is the point? That's a rhetorical question, by the way. I don't give a dustman's fart to be honest - I just hate it and want it to cease. In this modern age etc - why are we still doing something so fucking prehistoric? Another rhetorical question.

Every year this stupid custom fucks up my Sunday lie in. I woke up at BST 8.45am and realised that if I didn't get up and get at them then the whole day would be out of time - culminating in a late Sunday dinner and a late night for J - and his body clock getting fucked up. So at 8.45am BST I was up, in the real world this is 7.45am...on a Sunday....please and a WTF for good measure.

Plus before anyone mentions long summer evenings etc may I point out the following;

1) I hate the fucking summer!
2) I hate the fucking summer!

You can guess what 3 is.

On a more serious note though. Light summer evenings mean either a whining kid who can't sleep because it's still hot and broad daylight or having a kid have late nights - which I don't believe in. The sleep before midnight is the most beneficial and kids need sleep and after home-edding all day - with few breaks and respites - come 8.00pm I've had enough and it's then time for me to do what I'd like.

Then we all get used to long, long never ending, boiling hot sweaty days and evenings - when fuck me - they change it back again. What was the point of that then? It is just to fuck with your head, another control, another weird custom that is soooo past it's sell by date etc.

Make it stop.

(I do know why etc, I do understand the supposed necessity etc - but that doesn't mean I have to agree with it or like it).

Bunny-along-kal.

Piccies of George the knitted bunny posted here http://bunnyalong.blogspot.com/