Sunday, January 21, 2007

Summer knitting.....damn it's hot

It has been extremely hot lately, but that hasn't stopped me knitting. I finished a pair of bed socks in 8ply pure wool very late last night (they are for Berrima Women's Prison), and I was itching to find something else to start. I have been wanting to read through the Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, and then try to knit socks using this method. So I got out the book and read through a bit of it, then I got the needles out, found some sock yarn, then decided that it was way after midnight and I should go to bed.

Today in this extreme heat we went for a ride for lunch down the coast, I told DH that it was going to be too hot to ride the bikes, but did he listen...NO, anyway we had a nice lunch and a lot of cold lemon water when we got home, and then I sat and got out the two circulars book, a pattern book for socks as I decided to try this method on a childs sock, and away I went. It is pretty easy so far, I will wait for better judgement when I have to turn the heel. I am only doing one sock at a time, not two like some people I know. I am using Patons Patonyle 4ply sock yarn, it was left over from my very first pair of socks I knitted for myself, the colours are knitting up nicely.

It is now 8.30pm and after an extremely hot summer day of over 40C this is the sunset I am looking at from my chair here at my computer as I type this post, it is beautiful. I have even put Ruby's quilt flat on her blanket in her kennel, she still lays under the quilt when sleeping, I hope tonight she will just stay on top as it is way to hot for her to be under it, and it would be much cooler to sleep on than sleeping on top of the blanket she always has slept on.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Show & charity knitting

Here are the items I have knitted for Kiama Show - the 3 piece baby set knitted in 3ply pure wool and the tea cosy knitted in 8ply pure wool. I am knitting for "Knit4Charities" and the January charities are Wangaratta Hospital (Victoria) and Cordelia's Canine Rescue. The hospital needs premmie and newborn size hats, mittens, bootees etc for the babies and the shelter need blanket and dog coats. This knitting is a part of my stash/UFO bust along knitting for 2007, the bootees and blue hat are in 4ply baby yarn (acrylic) and the green and yellow (Aussie colours) are in 4ply pure wool. I still have some more baby yarn to get through until the end of January.
I have also completed one of my UFO bustalong items, the knitted squares have been put together into 3 blankets in total. It is a pity my holidays end tomorrow and then back to work on Thursday, I have been getting heaps done in the knitting department, even a bit of tidying up.


Monday, January 15, 2007

Flash that Stash

For the Stashalong/Stash Bustalong I have joined and starts today, here is my stash that I am committed to knitting by the end of 2007.












And there is more.......
And there is still more.......

It is all pretty messy except for what is in the drawers, I just want my floor back.



Sunday, January 14, 2007

UFO's and Wedding Anniversary

These are my UFO's that I am committing to finish by the April 15 deadline for Bustalong.


The knitted squares are by DH's great aunt and then I have the good job of putting them together and making into blankets that the local knitters guild donate to the local hospital mental health ward. I have put one together and have enough squares for another two blankets.


The next UFO is the blanket for #2 son, I want this finished before his birthday in July, so the April 15 deadline will suit me fine.

On the knitting front I have finished the 3 piece baby set for Kiama Show, I just have to sew it together....YUK, I don't like sewing knitting together.

I will flash my stash soon, I have to get it a bit more organised and take pictures.

Today January 14 is our 24th wedding anniversary. Yeah I know the boys are 27 and 23, you know you have to try before you buy, well it worked (well most of the time), more than 30 years have gone by since we first set eyes on each other, and it has been fun, sometimes a bit rough (alot lately), but so far we have got through it.

Well I had better get back to knitting this stash away to nothing, I still am committed to having it all knitted by the end of 2007.


Sunday, January 07, 2007

My First Born's Birthday today

27 years ago at 9.13pm, I gave birth to my first child, a son. He took a fair bit of convincing to arrive, but he finally made it 2 weeks late. He was a cute baby, 7lbs 10oz. Lots of black hair and he slept a whole lot, even through his 2am feed. But being a new mum I would wake him for it, that lasted a short time until I relaxed and let him sleep through.

Today we all got up late, had bacon and eggs for breakfast, some family visited for lunch, then had a drink at the club before dinner.

Happy Birthday son, I hope all your wishes and dreams come true.

I will have to get some photos and post here later.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

New Year Knitting

Since finishing my green cotton top on Boxing Day, I have been knitting a tea cosy for the Kiama Show at the end of January, I did run out of wool with about 10 rows or so to do, I went out in the rain today and got some more wool today to finish it off.

You can see by the photo how close to finishing the second side I got, it is using double yarn. I will finish this in the next few days as I have started the baby set for Kiama Show and I am enjoying knitting it in a 3ply pure Australia wool.

In the meantime I have knitted another cotton top, again in Bendigo 8ply Cotton in the colour "Flax", it is softer to knit than the green cotton top.
Pattern: Jo Sharp Book Knit issue 2.
Bolero Version 1 with short sleeves. (page 9)
Yarn used: Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Cotton
Colour: Flax
Amount: 350g
Needles: 3.25mm; 4mm; & 3.25 x 80cm Circular for band.
Started: Wednesday 27 December 2006
Finished: Monday 1 January 2007


For Christmas I got the Stitch N Bitch desk Calendar for 2007, I have been looking ahead a few pages and it looks like it is going to be full of good information and tips.









Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Cotton Top for me

I have finished something for me. An 8ply cotton top knitted from Bendigo Cotton using a Bendigo Pattern. It is nice to knit with, it took 400g of cotton. I was trying to get it finished to wear on christmas day, but just couldn't get it done, but did finish it today on our Boxing Day holiday.


I am knitting a blanket in the same pattern as I did my parents and in-laws last Christmas, it is for #2 son, his birthday is in July so I will take my time and get it finished for then, which is in time for when it is cold here.

Christmas day was great, we had a really nice sunny day, sometimes the wind was really strong, but most of the time it was just lovely. We had bacon, eggs and hash browns at our next door neighbours at about 7.30am, my parents arrived around 9am to pick up some outdoor chairs then we all headed off to my sister's home for the day. The boys and girlfriends spent from around lunchtime on at their girlfriends families, a very relaxing and fun day. In Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales snowy mountains regions had snow on christmas day, how weird is that for a summer day. Anyway today after visiting friends I sat down and finished my top and now am blogging, before going and sitting down and relaxing before having an early night tonight. It can be so tiring at this time of year.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Six Weird things about me!

This meme of 6 weird things about me after being tagged by Cece.

Here are THE RULES:

Each player of this game starts with the weird things about you.People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are tagged in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

My weird things...

1. I don't like talking on the phone much... go figure....I am an executive assistant so you can imagine how many times a day my work phone rings, but at home I wouldn't just pick up the phone and ring someone for a chat, only when I need to speak with people I will.

2. I budget fortnightly, shop for groceries fortnightly and in my diary on every second thursday I have my own budget for my own personal money I get to spend how I want too, this does not include the house budget (groceries etc).

3. I only like to be knitting one thing at a time, but I have been trying to have a couple of things going at once, not much luck doing that.

4. I have to have our bedroom door closed and locked when sleeping, yeah a big chicken of the dark.

5. I always had to check on the boys before I went to bed to see if they were tucked in and OK, now they are adults I don't do that (not that I wouldn't if I could mind you), I do the same to Ruby our dog. I go outside and check she is safe and secure in her kennel.

6. I would never put a green peg on blue clothes or blue pegs on green clothes when hanging on the clothes line to dry, I have fixed that problem I only use wooden pegs.

That's it! Tianne, Donna, Jae, Jade and Rox - I tag you for this one!

Monday, December 04, 2006

My Last Tribe Gift and Soaring Eagles

I posted the last 11 beanie, I didn't get to finish the 12 beanie, in total I knitted 23 beanies for the Soaring Eagles Project. A friend from knitters Guild knitted 3 beanies which I sent with my lot. I will check out the site later and see how many beanies she has collected so far, I really do hope people can knit a beanie or two for this wonderful project.

I received my last Tribe gift the other week, some lovely knitpicks Shadow and dye your own, along with knitpick cirular needles, a wonderful Blue Day book, and other wonderful things.


A friend and fellow tribe member send a lovely Christmas Card with two cute little puppies and a crochet Christmas Stocking with my most favourite Lifesavers "Musk" flavour, a Christmas Cane Candy, and Caramello Bear, which didn't last for the photo. The crochet stocking to hold them is so cute and will get a special place on the Tree.

Today I started Christmas shopping, I had an accrued leave day off work, I amazed myself, the "I hate shopping" person, I arrived at the shopping centre at 9.40am, got a few things, then off to another one about 15 minutes drive to get some more things, all going well, then drove to DH's worksite to swap cars with DH so I could along with #2 son take the trailer full of rubbish to the tip, a couple of groceries on the way home, and all before 3pm. #2 son loaded trailer onto car and off to the tip to get rid of the rubbish. I got more than 1/2 my Christmas shopping done. And not a headache in sight, I am really pleased with myself.

Friday, November 24, 2006

WTF

WTF...was how to described the weather on Wednesday, it is still spring here and we had 38.5 celsius. Thank goodness it was only one day, the heat was unbearable. I keep reading all the blogs where winter is approaching, wishing I was there, in the cool and the snow, rugging up in nice thick woolly jumpers, sitting by a fire place knitting, sipping hot chocolate with a marshmallow on top, heaven. Anyway back to reality, we are heading for summer, that means nice sunny days, heat, swimming, sweating, wishing winter would fast approach. How easy do we wish our lives and years away, hoping for winter or hoping for summer. We always seem to want the opposite to what we have. Anyway wherever we are, we should all enjoy the present and make the best of it we can, even if that may be difficult some days.

I have pulled out of the "Comfort Jenn" project, I have just been too busy with Soaring Eagles project to be able to knit a square, I know what you are thinking (well most of you), it is only one square, but I am a woman possessed with knitting beanies for these kids, and they need to be in USA by 18 December, I can see myself knitting and finishing off a beanie as the person loading mail onto the plane is trying to untangle my yarn as I try to finish off ANOTHER beanie. Yes it is that bad, I am totally obsessed with it. I have sent 12 beanies early last week and hope to send another 12 at the end of next week, with a 14 day delivery as said by Australia Post, I hope that they are delivered at the other end quickly.

I have knitting planned (in my head) to do before christmas, but I can see myself rushing out at the last minute and buying all the gifts this year.

A busy weekend coming up with Christmas Party's starting this weekend, I am trying to make time to get to SNB tomorrow arvo before our HOG Christmas Party at 6.30pm, Sunday we have to rip out our laundry ceiling, cut a large damaged piece of ceiling out of the front upstairs entry and rip out the upstairs hallway ceiling, the plasterer is coming at 7am on Monday morning, so I will need to get up early to get ready for work before he arrives. And we all know what these reno's mean, Yes, more painting, so I also plan to get all the painting done before Christmas.

When I get my camera back from #2 son, I will take photos of more beanies, they are pretty nice, I am still doing the cable pattern from Stitchnbitch, it is a great pattern and quick.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

S.O.S. - Comfort Jenn


Please go and check out this blog, a young woman is enduring probably the worst time she will have in her entire life. She lost her parents in a car accident as a teenager, her brother in a motorcycle accident, and last month lost her husband, her 7 year old son and her 4 month old baby in a car accident, and now she has lost the baby she was carrying. Cathy has put out a plea for help, she would love to make a comfort blanket for Jenn. She needs 64 squares, 8inches square, made in 8ply washable pure soft wool. She is asking for comforting colours. Any excess squares will be made in blankets and given to charity.

Please help, I know alot of us are busy with Soaring Eagles, but please take the time to make just 1 square for Jenn. We could only imagine the pain and sorry she is going through now.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Keepin the shiny side up

Well I tried to keep the shiny side up, but it didn't work so well. We had our annual weekend away on the bikes to Canowindra (western NSW), with the Illawarra HOG Chapter. It was a lovely day, hot, sunny and a lot of great people. We have a few raffles amongst members and raised $3,500 for the Kidz Wish Foundation, a local charity for sick kids and kids with a disability in the Illawarra area.

In our chapter there is a patch "Ground HOG", yes it is for those who can't keep their bikes upright, or drops it over so far that you can't pick it up yourself, even if it doesn't actually all hit the ground. I had always thought when others were getting these patches, that the only way I wanted to get a ground hog patch was if the bike was sliding down the road, yes I know that would hurt, but I wasn't thinking of that, it was the embarrassment of dropping the bike at a standing position or similar. Well we arrived at Canowindra, all bikes at the front of the Canowindra pub for the officially photo's. Then park the bikes around the back for the night. Most had parked there bikes along the side fence, but if there is a heavy dew, then the seat is wet when you get on the bike in the morning, so there was one bike under a lovely big tree, DH road his bike up under the tree, I followed and had plenty of room between the two bikes (photo below), as I road in, DH turned his bike to stop, our mirrors hit, I lost balance and toppled over, but I wasn't going to let my bike hit the ground, and RJ's bike (brand new I might add) actually stopped my bike from going all the way to the ground, so with my leg between the two bikes, and my left hand mirror resting on his saddle bags, it didn't go all the way down, but I couldn't lift it, shit. JB came over and picked the bike up and asked if my legs were OK or were they a bit shaky, no they weren't shaky, I put the side stand down, looked at RJ's bike and was so relieved that is didn't damage his bike. I did go and find RJ and tell him about the accident, he said he would worry about it in the morning. The next morning he come out and said, where did you damage my bike, I showed him the tiniest scratch on the hard case saddle bag (pannier??? bag), he wasn't worried about it at all, after all he is a spray painter.

The ride home through Cowra and Yass was great, we were so tired when we got home, it is such a huge weekend. Riding up through the Blue Mountains of Lawson, Leura, Katoomba, Blackheath and Mt Victoria, then through Lithgow, Lunch at Bathurst, the on through Orange, and finally to Canowindra. The local Lions Club always cook us dinner and breakfast, they have for the last 10 times we have visited, they even made a special cake to celebrate. We did stop at 11am for Remembrance Day, we were outside the Hydro Majestic Motel at Medlow Bath (Blue Mountains area) at about 30 seconds to 11am, by the time the last bike pulled in it was 11am. One minute later we were starting up the bikes again and on our way. We have two members who served in Vietnam, one who is a member of the Vietnam Veteran Motorcycle Club.

I didn't take knitting, and have only finished one more beanie today, and another on the needles tonight, (number 14).

Blogger isn't playing fair, and won't upload my photos. I will try to put them in this post tomorrow. Now the next day (Tuesday night) and blogger still won't upload pictures. WTF.

Monday, November 06, 2006

And the Eagles Soar higher

I wonder how many beanies have been made for the Soaring Eagles Project? I am knitting my twelve beanie (mauve beanie in photo), should finish that tonight, I may send some on ahead of when Tianne and I are going to send a parcel later in November. I have checked it out at the Post Office and was told that it takes 2 weeks air mail, even as it gets closer to Christmas. I just don't won't to take too much of a chance and not get all the beanies needed there on time.


I am loving the cable beanie pattern from StitchNbitch and the Hot Head beanie patter from the other StitchNBitch book. So easy only take a couple of hours each to knit. I probably should look for more nice beanie patterns so not too many are the same, but with a deadline fast approaching, and these are quick knits, I probably should just stick to these patterns.

I have posted my last Tribe swap parcel today, I was a bit slack and then I forgot to send it friday, so it is all gone and on its way now. Hopefully you won't wait to long Cece, and I can see if the Post Office is right in saying it only takes 2 weeks.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Soaring Beanies and a Silk Scarf

At Knitter's Guild on the weekend we made a silk scarf, no yarn in sight, but we had fun, and while having afternoon tea and waiting for scarfs to dry completely, I did manage to do some knitting on my first soaring eagles project beanie.

The colours I used for the scarf were a purple, bright pink and deep aqua, they came together pretty well for my first attempt. It was a pretty windy day, so we took the scarfs outside and held onto them as they flapped around in the wind, which dried them nearly completely in a short time.


I have finished 3 beanies for Soaring Eagles Project. They have asked to be knitted in acrylic for ease of caring for.


The first two (at the bottom of photo) are from the MODA Impact Issue 3 Children's Knit book, on size 4mm needles and knitted with blue acrylic. The were both a quick knit, plain but versatile.

The third beanie is the Basic Cable beanie on page 75 of Stitch N Bitch Nation. I didn't read the instructions properly (surprise, surprise), and didn't do the 6 rows of rib, I just got stuck straight into the 6 row cable repeat, it was so easy, and nice to knit, I am really happy with this pattern so will probably do more.

Friday, October 20, 2006

Soaring Eagles Project

Looking for a good cause? How about knitting for less fortunate school children? Rachel over at Procrastiknitter is looking for lovely people who are willing to knit small projects for the children at her school. These things might be the ONLY things some of these kids get for Christmas.....And it will keep them warm this coming winter in the US. If you would like to help out go HERE!

It will be a bit like "Paying it Forward", doing a wonderful thing without wanting anything back. And just imagine the faces on these school children when they receive a hat or a scarf, or with a little bit of effort both for each child.

A group is going to make 300 scarfs, so that is one for each child, so we all need to get knitting on some beanies or headbands, so each child can receive a scarf and beanie/headband.

So come on all you knitters in this big wonderful world of knitting, lets all get together and make this one of the best things to happen to all the children at this School. And especially for Rachel for putting this great idea out there.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Catch up with gifts

I must apologise to anyone who has sent me gifts for POM, Dishcloth exchange or just because they are wonderful people, that I haven't posted photos of the gifts, well here they are, and please don't be mad if I have forgotten anyone, it has been a rough week in this household. DH lost his job last week, #1 son was really sick last week, couldn't keep food down, lost heaps of weight (wish that was me), and is very pale looking, our Dr. picked up that his Specialist gave him the wrong medication, son stopped taking them on weekend, a day later started to feel a bit better, after a blood test yesterday, our Dr. rang and told me to get son to emergency in Wollongong Hospital straight away he needed a blood transfusion, he got there about 5pm. Not only did specialist prescribe the wrong medication but failed to act on his last blood test a few weeks back that was showing his blood count to be low. He rang us at 1.20am to see if we could drive in and pick up his girlfriend and take her home, I drove in and picked her up at 2am in the morning getting back to bed at around 3am, after 14 hours in hospital overnight all is well with him now, I just need to catch up on some sleep and find some stress free things of some kind so I can feel a bit normal myself, all in all not a good week here. Anyway can't complain, things can get worse and probably will, the house is a bit of a hot topic here, with only about 4 weeks of money to keep us going, things look as if we won't be enjoying our new renovations for very long, and that some other family may just benefit from them. Not a happy knitter am I.


Shannon sent me a nice tea bag in a lovely bag, actually two tea bags, but customs opened it and sent one to me with sticky tape on the end of it where they had opened it, so it went straight in the bin, what do customs think people are actually going to consume something they have literally cut open then taped back up, what are they stupid. The remaining surviving tea bag was really enjoyed, thanks Shannon.

My dishcloth pal sent me a lovely Katharine Hepburn book, I love Katharine Hepburn, wish my spirit and get up and go was like her. Along with 4 very lovely dishcloths, which I did take a photo of when they arrived but it got misplaced somewhere along the line, so I took another one tonight, they have all been used and the red one with the initial "A" on it is in the washing basket (clean) waiting for me to fold and put away.

Then there was a lovely gift again from Shannon received today, some really nice Halloween things, I have to admit, I have been eating the candy while typing this, pretty nice, washed down with a bourbon and coke....lovely.

Another gifts received today was from Amysue, a lovely Autumn note pad and a lovely note typed on it, with a lovely autumn leaf shaped stitch holder with the intitial "A" on it and some pretty pink ribbon.

What else, oh yeah... pictures of the scarfs and gloves I am knitting for someone who ordered them, not doing that again, not really my thing. I still have to sew up one of the mauve gloves and finish knitting the blue fingerless glove, hopefully tomorrow night that will be done and I will try to contact the woman and see if she will collect them while I am at knitter guild on Saturday.


I also have on the needles a Bendigo cotton summer top for me, the back nearly finished, but will take photos next time.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Still a knitting, broken needle and all

I have gotten some lovely gifts from Tribe members, thanks so much, you are all so thoughtful.

I did finish the black vest and gave it to person today for her birthday. I also finished both of the scarves for my order.

I then started on the first set of gloves, and was about half way through the first glove and not without a bit of a needle drama, and with life time guarantee Ivore needles I might add. Can you see, yes look below.

I got about half way through the first glove, the first time I used these needles and guess what, into the row, knitting along, and then it happened, the damn thing broke, yes it broke. They will be going back for a refund I can tell you. They were nice to knit with, but never again. Anyway I did remember to take all my needles away with me, so it wasn't too much a drama, just had to pick up stitches and transfer others to a new needle.

I am itching to start a cotton top for me, but I am here blogging instead, as I am trying to avoid starting it until I finish the order of gloves, I wish I could just loose the woman's details and not finish them. BAD bad knitter, if I do that. I guess it is because I am not sure I even like the mauve scarf, I do like the second scarf, so that is why I am in two minds as to finish them or not.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I have been knitting.....I promise

I recieved my dishcloths for the Dishcloth Shuffle, and some very amazing other gifts, I was so close to crying, I was so touched by the thoughtfullness of this person, truly amazing, Thanks Kim. I will post photos later, remember I am the slack one, I have taken pictures but just haven't had time to post them yet.

With the long weekend coming up this weekend YAHOO! (Labour Day on Monday) we are off to friends at The Rock (NSW) on friday after work and we both have the Tuesday off so an extra day of weekend for us (4 days).

I have nearly finished the black vest for son#2 girlfriend, her birthday is next week, so I will take it away with me on the long weekend and get it finished for that.

I have only about 80 or so more rows to do on the scarf and then I will get started on the first pair of gloves, then finish the second scarf and I have decided to do the cable fingerless gloves to match this scarf, then I will ring the woman who ordered them and see if she still wants them and get them off my hands. I then want to start a cotton top for me, and get along with some more dishcloths from all the cotton I have been sent from different people in USA, thanks guys, you are great.

I will have to post all the POM from Our Tribe gifts I have been getting through September, I have taken the photos, but just haven't had time to post them.

I painted some more in the 2 ensuites last night, just a tiny bit to do tonight, then hang the toilet roll holders, towel racks and then we can use the showers, tomorrow hopefully. Next week we have to look at finances (we got another Barrister bill yesterday, ouch, that hurt), and with another day to go in court, well I have to just work out the money as we need to get 2 sliding doors and get a carpenter to hang them then we are almost done, just the cornices and finishing of the gyprock (drywall) to go with a slick or two of paint.

And we got a toilet lid (one was damaged) it is not good using a toilet without the seat, it has to be put together yet.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Happy Birthday to the girls of this house

Two birthdays this week for the girls of our house, I have a lovely birthday picture of the 3 year old, taken on my birthday (15 Sept). (don't worry about the date on the picture, it must have reset to that when the batteries were changed. Isn't she gorgeous. Ruby's birthday is the 12 Sept.

We get our bathrooms fitted out today and the laundry tub put in, yahoo, maybe we can use the new toilets by tomorrow arvo. We still have to get the sliding doors and frames and then the cornices put in a bit more painting then all done, hopefully only another week away. I still have to clean the tiles down before the shower screens arrive next week.


Also a big thanks to Cece, she sent me the most wonderful colours of Sugar N Creme cotton for dishcloths for my POM gift, I have to get my act together for that swap too. And big thanks to Tianne for my POM gift she gave me today at Knitters Guild, some lovely chocolates, lovely hand and body lotion, soap, facewasher was a beautiful red rose embroidered on it to replace the roses Tim dug out of my garden, I can keep this one and not get pricked, a lovely hankie with my initial, a wonderful card with a beautiful dog which reminded her of Ruby, and lovely chocolates, did I already say that, but hey they are lindt chocolates.

At Knitters Guild in Kiama today we learnt to needle felt, it was great, so I purchased some needles and fibre to have a bit more practice at it, I did prick my fingers on a couple of occasions, ouch did that hurt.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Renovate or Detonate

That is the heading on some Real Estate signs for homes to be sold, maybe that should have been the sign for our house we purchased 2 years ago, maybe we should have just build a new home for the 3rd time, that was the easy way to go I think. But this house was in the home town of DH (was that Darling Husband or Dick Head), I will let you decide. Anyway we are in a wonderful location, golf course behind us, river about 200 metres from front door, beaches within 500 metres, what more could you want and only a 6 minute drive to work for me. A house that doesn't need too much renovating, NO not around here. Anyway, lately we have been renovating our ensuite, the downstairs entry, laundry and other ensuite. You start off will all the enthusiasm, then you hit the what the hell are we doing stage, that lasts a while why the work is getting done, then you get to the nearly done bit and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, now this is a huge black tunnel, but I can see the light. I spent from Friday, all day Saturday (well DH did help when he got home from work around 3.30pm), then first thing Sunday morning painting both ensuites and laundry. We guttered both ensuites, re-tiled all the floors in the laundry, entry and tiles both ensuites, now the painting is done, I have to remember to get some quotes for the glass shower doors, then we need to get the sliding doors fixed and gyprock the outside wall on our ensuite, then paint again. I haven't got the new toilets, vanities, or laundry tub back in yet, hopefully that will be done by the end of the week. So with 5 adults and down to 1 toilet from 3, things can get a bit hectic around the only surviving bathroom. Then DS #2 brings 2 friends home for the night, they had spent all day Sunday with the couple and then decided that they could have dinner and stay the night, WTF was he thinking, that's 7 adults and 1 toilet. Anyway I am back at work today, it is my bosses 60th Birthday (11 Sept.) so a Manager and I am taking him to lunch to celebrate.

On the knitting front, up to the neck and armbands on the black vest and about 3/4 through the first scarf which is an order (not doing that again, I am pretty selfish and would just like to knit what I want to and when I want to). My DH always says "She doesn't share well or play well with others" and that can be true. But hey, I don't care.

A first for me, I didn't do a stitch of knitting all weekend, I think I really wore myself out with all the painting, but I do hope to catch up a bit tonight, that is if I can stay awake long enough.