Wobbly Wednesday

Wondering about the title?

I am currently off work with a bout of Labyrinthitis, you know sick, dizzy head.  I'm ok if I keep my head in a certain position, most annoying is the ringing in my ears.  I have Prochlorperazine for nausea and dizziness, but these make me feel sleepy and a bit woolly mouthed.  I am signed off till next Monday and have to be assessed before I can return to work

I CAN'T KNIT!! I tried yesterday afternoon but it made me feel awful.  As I said, if I keep my head still I'm ok, so at least I can do small amounts of computer time and reading. I am not allowed to drive, not that I feel in the least like doing so.  Annoyingly, I can't go to my Knitting Group this week, no one that goes lives anywhere near to me and the thought of getting on a bus fills me with dread, I really would be sick!! I'm not the best traveler, getting very car sick

I've not done any knitting since Saturday afternoon, so no progress on the Ten Stitch at all.  I have started a pair of Smockie's for a friend of the youngest who is expecting twin girls.  My daughter has a thing about the Smockie pattern! I have knitted so many of these, see here, here, here and here.  I try to make them different each time.  I can't decide how to decorate these?  Your thoughts would be appreciated.

I am knitting these from some yarn from my recent stash enhancement.  It Czarina Jumbo DK - just an acrylic yarn, but it has knitted up fine and will be easy care for a new Mum with 2 babies.

I have managed some reading, finishing the Phillipa Gregory - Kingmakers Daughter.  I wasn't sure when I started it, lots of overlaps from previous books, but then I suppose it is written from another characters point of view, so the story is going to feel similar in parts.  I then went on the read The Last Letter from your Lover by JoJo Moyes, which I enjoyed very much.  A love story based in the 50/60's and present day, it was interesting to see the attitudes to marriage and family life back then and to see just how lack morals are today! An easy read, one that I couldn't put down.  I currently have another Miss Read on the go, life was so simple back then........

Faces...

Cute Laurie

His brother wouldn't pose or try on his sweater vest, so this is the only view I could get of him

For the boys

I got the sweater vests finished before going to see the boys tomorrow.  I took the photos and then noticed that the bottom red pattern is different on the two vests!  I knew the top would be different as the bigger one had more rows, obviously.....

For Laurie

For Rufus

I went through the last two bags of yarn and this is what I decided to keep

actually the 4 large balls of white at the back I'm not keeping bit on the shiny side for me

I now have two bags to go to the Medway ladies on Thursday.  I've sorted it all and bagged it up to make it easier to look through.  Hopefully they will find something they like.

I spent the afternoon trying to find a home for everything I have kept.  Basically I don't have enough room in my cupboard to see clearly, so I will get some plastic storage boxes and have another sort.

I have a big bag of yarn set aside for the orange shades Ten Stitch for Rufus. I just need to get on and finish the one for his bedroom.  I then have pinafore dresses to knit for twin girls due soon; would you believe I have to go buy yarn for these, unless I can convince the youngest to go with something from my stash.

Just a peek of whats coming through in the garden

Because its Wednesday

I don't have any WIP photos to share today.  The ten stitch is in the same position as last week.  I finished Laurie's vest and have nearly finished with the one for Rufus.  I will share photos on Friday.

Today we have sunshine and its around 11C which is a vast improvement on last week.  It is also very windy, but I got my washing dried outside which is a bonus. I've put some polyanthus in the borders and pots,  there are some definite signs of spring in the borders, bulbs are poking through and new growth on some of the perennials, which means I need to get out and start having a tidy.  Weather looks good for tomorrow too.

I am slowly getting to grips with the new car, seems really alien having to remember to keep changing gear.  It has made me realise just how lazy driving an automatic is. Still each day is getting easier, it has been over 20 years you know.  I know my family think I'm crazy, but the older you get the harder it is to adapt to changes.

Peter came home with another bag of yarn last night and he has another to bring tonight (he cycles to work) he found them left in his truck after dropping off on Monday.  Rachel and I are going to sort through it all again tomorrow evening.  I passed the crochet blanket, squares and associated yarn to a knitting group member who knits/crochets for a African Baby Charity, she will finish off and make up baby blankets with the squares.  So nothing is going to waste.

The yarn fairy called today........

and left lots of bags by my door.

A friend has been clearing her loft and came across her late mothers' stash.  She had planned to throw it away - she's not a knitter.  Luckily she mentioned this find to my husband and he suggested letting me look through it first..... phew!! I have him well trained.

Anyhoo, this is what there was.  Sadly I had to throw out some of it, due to the fact that it was so old it had started to rot.  I found that anything without a bit of acrylic had to hit the dump pile.

See the grey fleck, there was at least 25 balls of this and it is all dumped!!

I was very good; I went through each bag and sorted it all into colour themes. Then I went through it again and decided what I would use in terms of types of yarn, colours, weight etc.  I now have four bags that I won't be using myself.  One has lots of small amounts which I will give to a colleague as she crochets.  The second will go to my knitting group to share out.  The third has a crochet blanket half made up, with lots of crochet granny squares and the yarn for more, all pastels not my kind of thing, so I plan to take it to the charity shop. The fourth is the rejects which will go in the recycling bin.

That leaves me with this lot, along with some patterns - which I also sorted through, there were 2 folders worth and 2 bags of toy stuffing (always handy)

I now need to sort my stash cupboard and try to fit it in.  Some is already earmarked for the Ten Stitch currently being worked on, and there is some orange yarn so I can start another Ten Stitch as requested by Rufus.

The give away pile - the pile in the middle is going to the Medway ladies

Many thanks Cherry, it is very much appreciated.

6 months already

This weekend Laurie turned 6 months it seems hardly any time since he was born.

Here is a comparison of Rufus and Laurie at 6 months

Will I have time for any knitting?

With a busy weekend ahead, I am wondering if I will have time for any knitting. Laurie's slipover is coming along nicely. Back and front completed.  It will look much better once the ends are all in and its blocked.

This evening we have Anne (MIL) and Pat coming for a Burn's Night Supper.  It will be the usual, Haggis, swede and mashed potatoes. This year I plan to add celeriac to the mash as I like the added flavour.  For dessert I am making Nigel Slaters' Marizpan Berry Cakes, but instead of blueberries I plan to use blackberries and make a blackberry and apple compote to serve with them.

Saturday is a busy day.  We pick up our new car first thing, then back home, pick up Anne (for her birthday treat), into town, lunch at Jamie's Italian, then Anne and Peter are at the theatre, they are going to see 39 Steps, and I am going to look round the shops (there may be some yarn shops involved here).  Then its pick them up, home, wash, change and then its out to dinner with work - La Mimosa - cue more Italian here.  We are celebrating 20 years of Kitchensmiths Ltd, so if you are local and in the market for a new kitchen this year watch the local press for details of some exciting news.

Sunday - will be getting to grips with the new car and its features, putting all the gear that I cleared from the old one somewhere and hopefully enjoying some milder weather - they are forecasting 9C but rain, like we need more rain.  Mind you tonight we are forecast heavy snow, then rain.  The snow of last weekend is still with us so I see that we are going to be very soggy for some time to come.

I hope you have a great weekend whatever you are up to. Stay warm and dry but most importantly have fun