3 day weekends....

I love my 3 day weekends with DH. He gets every second friday, saturday, sunday off work (after working 11 days straight). We usually plan to do something together on at least one of the days. Friday we went for a ride, a nice sunny, but a bit windy winters day. We rode down the coast about an hour and had a nice lunch in a little truck stop along the highway that we often call into on our rides for a nice cuppa. We were having a great fun ride on the way home. Until DH's foot slipped of his running board (large flat footrest on a harley fatboy) his leg got swung back with some force, as I was hooking into the corner also I didn't see what happened until near the end of it, he was laughing as he put his foot back in its place. He felt a bit of pain later that night, a bit more on Saturday and then this morning he couldn't put his foot down let alone walk on it. So early Sunday morning with a lot of things I had planned now out the window, I drove him to emergency at the hospital. OK not too bad will be the 3rd person in, unless someone comes in with a more of an emergency than the others waiting. Well 2 hours later the first person was in, 3 hours later DH got in, after waiting another 1/2 hour a man came along put him in the wheelchair and took him of for x-rays, then back and wait for the doctor, nearly an hour or so later and he was in extreme pain by now, the doctor came in had a look and told him to go to Wollongong Emergency tomorrow to have a MRI? as x-rays don't show up ligament damage. So tomorrow instead of going to work I have to take him further to Wollongong hospital and wait probably as long as today or longer to have it looked at. I am so tired, I am so upset with myself that I didn't get anything in the garden done and it feels like the whole day was so wasted. BUT I did take my knitting and did get 4 hours of knitting done on my MIL's cardigan for christmas, so not all lost.

I am just waiting for #2 son and his partner to get home, they called in on their way home from being down this weekend, they spend the friday night and most of saturday with us, then go to her parents for saturday arvo, night and sunday morning before heading home on a 3 hour drive. They called in late today to see his father and didn't leave until 7pm, so I will stay up until they ring to say they are home which will be after 10pm. I wouldn't sleep until then anyway.

I shall go make myself a nice cup of tea, and sit a while and knit a bit more.

As time goes by...

and wow is it going by. I can't get my ahead around the fact that it is the middle of August. Only a few weeks of winter to go, well a couple of months before it really starts to warm up a bit. And at this time of year I always start thinking of Christmas. Maybe if I learn not to think about it, it may come around a bit slower.

I have finished the size 2 poncho, knitted in Patons Mystique, mohair/acrylic blend. Yes it is an old yarn, more stash busting getting done around here.


Yesterday I finally got around to sewing up the blue baby cardigan, bootees and hat, just need 5 buttons for it and then it is really finished.

I have been knittting for me this week, another jumper in Shadow Tweed, and boy does this year knit up quick, I did the sleeve with some knitting yesterday in between 4 loads of washing, driving over and mowing my parents lawn while they are away, catching up on things I taped through the week, etc. I hope to finish the second sleeve tonight.

I am nearly back up to date with my list of knitting, I should have been finished this jumper today and started on the next item, but it maybe mid week before I get this jumper sewn up and collar knitting on etc. Not bad I don't think.

But the house does think it is a big deal, as nothing has been done and it is getting a bit too messy, even for me.

I am also in a destashing moood, not of yarn, I am not that good. But of cookbooks, I love cookbooks, but I don't use them, so I am listing some on ebay in a hope that someone else might be able to make good use of them, otherwise they are going to my works lunch room, as I know they will go from there. I have also destashed 5 kilos of fat which I am feeling pretty good about.

Sick people should stay home from work, shopping and everything

I hate it when people go to work sick and it pisses me off even more when I get sick from it. Well this is the second time this year (since May) that I have gotten sick because some people think they are so good coming to work when they are sick. I started to get a sore throat the day before we flew to Brisbane to go and visit son, dil and granddaughter for her 2nd birthday party. And yes I did leave it there for them too, son is not happy and he can't afford to be sick with his health issues.

Anyway we had a great time and the weather was great on the border of NSW & QLD. And no I will not be moving up there...way too many retired people there. Well when I win lotto then I will buy a holiday house there.

On the knitting front I haven't been doing much, don't know what is wrong with me, but just not that keen on knitting so much or anything else for that matter, need to talk to myself and get my act together and back into a good routine again.

I finished knitting the baby set but have not sewn it up. I am knitting on the child size poncho which I would have like finished last week. I may get some photos on the weekend and post them.

I definitely need a kick up the backside to get me going I think.

I have added a photo of my granddaughter a couple of weekends ago helping her dad with the car, she had a shifter and spanner helping him. And one with me and her while we were out at dinner when we were up there the other weekend. She had her grandparents (me and DH), and 2 sets of her great grandparents (my parents and DH parents) along with her parents at dinner.

Winter knitting is so good

Don't you just love knitting in winter. Especially when the item you are knitting covers you and keeps you warm. I started the knee rug the saturday before last at KITGO (Knitting In The Great Outdoors), and finished it before the next weekend. It was a quick knit on 5.5mm addi click circulars with acrylic...yes you read correctly...8ply acrylic yarn (given to me by my mother in-law who can't crochet anymore). I have made this for Albion Park Show in 2011 and then I will give it to my granddaughter for next winter.

I also knitted one of the teapot cosy's which is for the show too. Most of my knitting now is for the show but with places to go after the show so they are made good use of. It is knitted in aran wool and the pattern is from Jo Sharp Issue 2 knitting book, I just need to put some beads on the tie and it will be done.

I haven't worked on the baby shawl for a few weeks now, this is hard to say and I don't know how to write it, I feel a bit numb when thinking about it.....so here it goes......son and daughter in-law lost the baby last week at nearly 12 weeks, I guess it just wasn't meant to be this time. This would have been their second child. We will be going to see them next week as they are having our granddaughter's 2nd birthday party and my parents and DH parents will be travelling up to be there too. We all can't wait to see them and give them a big hug.

My plan is to knit what is on my list and whenever I finish before the date to start the next item I will knit on the shawl.

I am currently knitting a baby 3 piece set for the show which should be a matinee jacket (not many use them these days), a bonnet (even less use a bonnet) and bootees, in typical Annie fashion I am knitting my version of a 3 piece set of a cardigan, beanie and socks.

Poncho all done

I finished the poncho on Wednesday night, it turned out pretty nice, I am still not sure I like the way one side is longer over the shoulder than the other, I like my poncho to have even sides (the virgo coming out in me). It is for Albion Park show in January 2011, so it probably doesn't matter that much, I may not keep it if I don't like the way it looks when on.

I started the teapot cosy and stitched it up last night, only to see that I had sewn the leaf edging on the wrong side, I did such a good job on the seam I couldn't find where it was exactly, and yes while cutting a piece I thought was the seam stitch, well it wasn't and I had cut through the leaf edging, I nearly took the scissors to the whole thing (not a good mind day for me), I calmed myself and though 'oh well I can just take my time with it'. At a closer look I had only really damaged the last leaf so it is back on the needles to finish today while I am at KITGO (knitting in the great outdoors) which will be inside during winter, even though it is a lovely sunny day outside it is still cold.

I have packed the teapot cosy, yarn for a knee rug and yarn for a baby 3 piece set (my version of cardigan, beanie and socks). All this knitting is for Albion Park Show next year, but all things I can use too.

Winter Knitting...

Even though I knit all year round, it is nice having knitting on your lap when it is cooler.

I am knitting away at my list of my plan of things to knit in 2010. I am knitting an adult size poncho, probably for me, depends on how I like it when it is finished. The yarn is..hang on a minute while I walk out to the rumpus room and get the label...I'm back. The yarn is Karabella Majestic it is 77% Merino, 19% Mohair, 4% Polyamid, it is a rust colour, I really liked the colour when I bought it, but I'm not so sure now, will decide on that one when I finish it. It is knit on Addi Turbo Circulars size..hang on while I walk out and look at this size.....now you know how I get my 10,000 walking steps in a day, as my knitting is beside my recliner chair in the rumpus room and the computer is in the computer/craft room. Back again....they are size 6mm. Hang on while I go get the pattern...It is a Cleckheaton pattern book for Studio Mohair 8ply and named Poncho...how original. It is #7 in the book and under the heading Poncho it says 'in garter st and lace pattern worked on larger needles....well they got that right. I wasn't sure on my gauge as I never check it before I knit. I decided to check as I knit and it is spot on. I am knitting this as part of my 'stash' busting and off my list for Albion Park Show in January 2011.
The first photo is of the poncho folded in half, the pattern knits in one piece with same shoulder and neck shaping, it is folded in half and one shoulder sewn to make it into a poncho.



I did get a bit behind in my knitting off my list...as we do....because as time went by I thought of other things to knit, mainly for my grand-daughter or for the homeless in Sydney. I am back on track now and very determined to keep to my list (for now anyway). I may need another year to get through my stash though.

I am going to SNB in Wollongong this afternoon, so after reading a couple more blogs I will get ready and drive there. I am so looking forward to SNB as I haven't been in a few months.

A week of good knitting

This week I finished the socks started at camp, they are the Diagonal Lace sock from the Wendy Johnson book Socks from the Toe Up. I knit them using the figure 8 method on 1 circular needle, the yarn is from Knitabulous Yarns.

I have completed 2 more hats for the homeless youth in Sydney the pattern is a free pattern from Elann.com called Modern Vintage Hat. It only takes a couple of nights to knit. The first hat I knit was in Cleckheaton Country Prints 8ply and the second hat was knit in the Flinders Island yarn I dyed at camp last year, I started it yesterday afternoon at Knitters Guild Kiama. I had only knit items for my grand-daugher with this yarn, but as I had plenty over I thought it would make a nice hat and it did. I have the first hat blocking over my Sunbeam mixmaster bowl and the second hat just waiting patiently for its turn to be blocked, I should be able to send them off next week.

I have checked out my list of what to knit for 2010 and need to get back on track as I have been adding to the list, which has me a bit behind now. This morning I got out the yarn and pattern to start a ladies poncho which is the next item on my knitting list.

I'm Back.....

I have been up north right on the border, nice weather, took all the wrong kind of clothes, clothes which are more suited for our winter weather, not the northern winter. Had to go and buy a short sleeve top for some days to wear. I had a wedding to go to and it was great that it was where my son lives so I got to visit with them....just wonderful. Stayed a week longer than planned, a bit of a hiccup and stress, stress, stress, but all good now. Somethings seem surreal, but I guess that will pass and the excitement of things will come back.

I did take knitting but with my grand-daugher to enjoy I wasn't really planning on doing any. She was sick most of the time with what turned out to be a bad infection through her body from scratching sores on her face, she gets excema and scratches it until she makes a real mess of herself and then scratches some more. The Dr. said the sores on her face were school sores, not sure how she got them, maybe off a shopping trolley if that is possible. I did get some knitting done while she slept which was a lot for a couple of days while the medication kicked in.

One day she came downstairs after a sleep, I had been knitting socks, I had put them down on the lounge and she climbed up beside them, she lent over picked up the knitting and started clicking the ends of the needles together, how cute. But then she reached over and picked up my reading glasses and put them on and started to look like she was knitting....priceless.


I guess she always sees me knitting with my glasses on and she probably thought that is what you do....she is 22 months old.

I did get a photo of her which I will upload at a later time.

With that I am still on the second sock, so after I get a bit more organised now I am home I will get knitting on it to finish it.

One, two, three....

I'm as happy as can be....
Still sick but happy.

I finally felt up to sewing up my cardigan and I just need some buttons to complete it. I love it, I will get good use of it this winter. It is knit in Cleckheaton Country Silk 8ply.



Monday afternoon I started knitting a jumper for my grand-daughter, it was a pattern in the Patons Sugar Fairies book. I bought the book and wool from CR&K Daisy Designs (Fairy Meadow) knitting retreat. The pattern book is for Dreamtime 4ply & 8ply. I knitted a bit that night and tuesday was knitting away when I thought is didn't seem right, the pattern called for 4mm needles and 4ply yarn....well that is what I thought. It was 8ply yarn...no wonder it didn't seem right. Ripped it all back and looked for another pattern in the same book. Decided on "Caitlin" which needs 4ply and away I went. Thursday saw the finish of this lovely cardigan, it even has a crochet edge, which I don't really do crochet, so I had to google instructions and it is all done and it looks really pretty. I just need to get one button and it will be ready to go. I knit the body in one piece instead of all separate, and I did the sleeves in the round too, never done that before, but I have watched Shirly do it a few times, she does it on double ended needles and I wasn't going to do that, so out came two pairs of circulars, the only problem was in the size I needed I only had a 1metre and a 1.5metre circular, so it was a bit fiddley with so much length getting in the way, until.....about half way on the first sleeve I knit onto the wrong needle and only had it all on one circular, so I had it going like the magic loop?? and it worked perfectly.



At the knitting retreat I also bought enough yarn for another baby shawl (you know the one I don't need yet) Well guess what....I do need it now....happy, happy, happy. So I started it yesterday afternoon, it is a nice pattern in Patons Dreamtime 4ply.


When I finish this post I am going to find the sock yarn from Knitabulous' first yarn club and wind it into a ball and find a sock pattern from Knitting socks from the toe up and have them as a project to do when not working on the shawl. Well after I make a nice hot cup of tea.

still sick.....but still knitting

well some knitting did get done. I can't seem to shake this virus and I am convincing myself I will be fine for work tomorrow....well hopefully. How much more of coughing, blowing a runny nose and sitting on the recliner can one take, it may sound ok but you get pretty achey after 8 days let me tell you.

Here are some photos of the finished scarf for my Mum for mothers day.


I managed to finish the socks, the yarn I got at the Knitting Retreat over ANZAC weekend with CR&K Daisy Designs (Fairy Meadow). It is Regia Kaffe Fassett design Fire, knit on ONE circular needle (thanks to those who showed my how at the retreat). I made the first one with the whole ball as I wanted a longer sock, I finished with a tiny bit of yarn left, it was a bit close but it made it.(see bottom left photo) When I went to cast on for the second sock the ball of yarn didn't match up either end of the ball, I would have wasted alot of yarn to get it to stripe the same, so the decision was made, and I just started it where the yarn started. They aren't that bad and the striping is not that far out (it is out more than it seems in photo), who will notice under jeans anyway, and I like them and that is all that matters.


The grey Country Silk cardigan is waiting, waiting, waiting, for me to stitch the shoulders together and knit the bands, maybe today I will get to that. DH has gone for a ride to the Blue Mountains with friends for lunch, I just couldn't make it unfortunately.

My plan for today, wash Ruby's bed blankets (yes she is a dog and yes she has 2 quilts that she sits on one in the sun and the other she sleeps under in her bed, even in summer. Then have a look at sewing the cardigan together and maybe sort out my knitting plan for 2010 and get the patterns out and sort through some yarn to match up with patterns so they are all ready to go when I am ready to knit them. I am adding another baby shawl to the list, not that it is needed yet, but I want to be prepared as the other one took me 6 months solid knitting.

Mother's Day Scarf is off the needles...

and is blocking as I write. It is a couple of days after mothers day, but as I have been sick all through the weekend and still very sick with a bad head cold I took the extra time for finishing it.

I didn't get to see my Mum for mothers day as I was sick and don't want to spread my cold around, I am struggling with it so my mum really doesn't need it. I will try to see her over the weekend coming before her and dad go travelling around the countryside for winter.

Pattern: Luscious Lace Scarf by Knitting Pixie Design
Yarn: Flinders Island Fleece Pure Merino 2ply
Needles: Addi Turbo 2.5mm circular
Time: approx. 2weeks.
The pattern is a lace weight which must be around a 4ply and knitted on 3.25mm. I used a 2ply with 2.5mm needles and cast on the same as per pattern and knitted 30 repeats instead of the stated 15 repeats, as it wasn't long enough at 15 repeats. 30 repeats maybe a bit too long as when blocked it is 6ft long.
I have for a while now wanted time to be home to catch up on some things, but the only time I can get time off at home is when I am sick and we all know that it is impossible to do much if anything while sick. I have been pushing myself though, in between resting, coughing, blowing my nose, sipping hot lemon and honey etc etc.

I got out the book Socks from the toe up and managed to turn the heel on one circular needle, not that the instructions were for one needle, but I managed it and I am now on the leg length.

Now that I have worn myself out by doing this post, I am heading back to the lounge for some more much needed rest and a hot lemon and honey drink.

What a wonderful weekend

The weather was just great for riding down the coast.... a whole 823.5ks rode on the weekend, and yes my wrists are sore, that is probably more from all the knitting I have been doing than the riding.

I love the ride down through Ulladulla, Bateman's Bay, Cobargo, then over Browns Mtn through Bemboka, Nimmitabell and Cooma, it was 14 degrees when we arrived just before 4pm. We had a two hour 'happy hour', beer, wine, bubbly, nibblies and then shower ready for dinner at the Ex-servicemen's club Cooma.

Sunday morning it was a crisp 3 degrees when we walked to the main street to have breakfast, it was nice as the sun was shining, with the fog hanging about the hills, the autumn leaves so thick on the main street and I love the mosaic pictures at the roundabout on the park, I forgot to take the camera to breakfast so no photos. The mosaic pictures remind me of the chalk drawings on the pavement in the Mary Poppins movie.

We then rode to Canberra through thick wet fog, which was from just out of Cooma's main street to Bredbo, then the sun shone. We rode to the War Memorial, had a very quick walk through some of the memorial, had morning tea then back on the bikes to ride to Gunning for lunch via Gundaroo, what a nice old, old town Gundaroo is, it has very nice and very old buildings, the pub looked so nice (and old). Gunning is where my dad was born, he lived in Wollongong in his teen age years and he and mum are still in the Illawarra in our family home. Some had lunch at the pub and some of us had lunch at the Merino Cafe, I have been there before with DH and it is very nice. There are some old shops with old things in them, a nice little gift type of shop and some cafes which were open today (sunday). I love the autumn colours and the main street of Gunning was spectacular, with yellows through to ruby reds, the leaves are just amazing. I love autumn. We rode the old Hume Highway back through Breadalbane to the now Hume Highway which was a nice but bumpy ride. It was nice with all the leaves over the road and as we rode through they seem to dance and tumble all over the road. I guess being the old road it doesn't have much traffic we passed 2 cars on the way and it is about 33ks from Gunning back to the highway.

Top photos: left - DH behind his bike. right - my bike.
Middle photos: left - Australia's White House (Parliament House old (in front) and new(at rear)where all those big children play. - A tree in Gunning's main street
Bottom photos: left - Tree's main street Gunning. right - DH laying in gutter fixing my loose pipes (main street Gunning) - gotta love him.

I haven't done any knitting since thursday night, and not sure if I will be awake long enough to do any tonight, I am pretty tired.

I have some photo's of some of the places we were today along with the socks I learnt to knit on 1 circular needle last weekend and a scarf I am hoping to finish for my Mum for Mothers Day it is the Luscious Lace Scarf and I am using the 2ply Merino I bought a few years back at a Knitters Guild camp. It is a Tasmanian Merino of which the company now operate out of Canberra (Canbra) and I can't remember the name.

Blogger is not playing nice and won't upload my photos, so I will try later to get uploaded.