Making me HAPPY this week

Hello,  it feels like ages since I was checking out blogs online.  I am doing my best to catch up with you all.

Making me happy last week;

1) Managing to hit 10k steps 4 times last week.  My walking buddy (A.K.A. My Dad) is away so Anni and I didn't get our long, but fairly isolated walk in, so I can say it's all my own work.....  I bought myself a Fitbit in April and it has really encouraged me to give myself a kick up the butt to get my steps in.

2) Getting my craft on.  I have yet to get a desk for my craft room, but I happily sat on the floor and used a box for a flat surface to make the new bunting for my door.  Don't we all need more bunting in out lives?

3) A new shopping bag - Mum I didn't buy it (she'll moan at me for yet another bag).  I was an unexpected gift through the post and have you ever seen anything as gorgeous as this??????

4)  I am loving the sunsets from the new house.  Just look at those colours.  I could watch them every night.

A double moon reflection in the window.

5) We don't have a working oven at the moment so all our meals since moving have to be made in a microwave, on a hob or half a grill.  So when I accidentally discovered something new and easy - I am pretty happy.

Do you shop local?

When I first started to knit again I used to shop online with a big supplier.  I do love getting parcels though the post :-)  Nothing beats getting a parcel and unwrapping it and remembering what you ordered (or even better what someone else has ordered for you - BIG HINT THERE HUBBY)...........

However, one of the things I am trying to do this year is to support my local shops by shopping in them as much as possible.  In my village (it's really a suburb of a town but I've lived here since before I was married and it's always been called the village), we have a variety of facilities - Dr's (but not mine!), a post office, chemist, chippys, small supermarkets, hairdressers, pet shops to name a few.  My very favourite  shop of all is called Christine's.  It is a wool shop and I am addicted.  I only discovered her 12 months ago and pop in at least once a week.  My favourite wool is Stylecraft Special (DK) and Christine sells a lot of colours (I love the green and spicy orange below).

 Just look at them all - I think I have at least 1 ball of most of them - except the brights, not as keen on the brights.

I took the photos on the last day I helped in the shop (the day H got sick).  I also love the multi-striped wool (is that the correct term?), even though I have only ever knit with it, I must try crocheting with it soon.  I love how it changes colour as you knit.  When people come into the shop they either love or hate this kind of wool in equal measure.  Can you see a sneaky peek of "my" blanket below?  I must remember to take photos of it in daylight ASAP.

 My third fav wool if the stuff which has sparkles running through it.  Again, I have only knit with it.

 My other addiction is buttons (oh, and ribbons) - I have sewn many of the buttons on the front of those tubes, when I find an empty tube I have to add a button, but I can only do about 5 at a time before I get frustrated at how fiddly it is!.

It was a beautiful blue day too.  I sat in the shop for 4 hours, serving customers, crocheting and looking at that sky.

It was a day that was worth remembering - until I got home but I am working on erasing that from my memory banks!!!!

The problem of being a crafter

I have been making loads of things lately, mainly for Christmas presents and there lies the problem.  I am so excited about some of them, and in doubt about some of them.  I'd love to show you the ones I love and I would love your opinion of those I am in doubt about.  BUT every single one of them is going (or not!) to someone who reads my blog.


ARGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.


I am making a gift for A (who I don't think reads this blog - if AJ you are reading this, then it's not for you! (I don't think I have anymore A's)).  I am using 4 different colours of stylecraft DK.  I am crocheting 6 rows of each colour and then swopping colour.  I have finished 1 ball of each colour, but what strikes me as odd is that colour 1 JUST finished a row, colours 2 & 3 finished a row too early and colour 4 had enough for another half row.  All the same brand, the gift is the same size, I just don't get it.  I am a newbie at crochet so not sure if this is normal or if I have done something incorrectly.  Just hope I have enough yarn now as my local wool shop has run out of the Meadow that I need.

Feeling lucky

I recently won 2 giveaways on other blogs, to say I was happy is a big understatement.  I may have given a little squeal and done a happy dance in my pj's when I found out.  Can you imagine what I was like when the parcels actually arrived?????

My first parcel was from Jo at Through the Keyhole (check out her blog, it's fab).  I was so excited to win this one.  I did do the happy dance and even Anni looked at me strangely..........  I've been reading Jo's blog for quite a while now and love the fact that she is just up the road from me (well t'other side of the next city, but close enough!!!!).  I love that when she blogs about places she's visited I can not only enjoy her posts, but I can have memories from my visits to the same places.

Sorry it's taken so long to blog about my winnings Jo - once again the lead for the camera has been put in a safe place.  One day I will remember to hide it when D is not looking so this will stop happening.

Whoop, I've found the lead.  Want to see what made me happy?  Some lovely fabric- I think I may try and make some brooches with this.  The ladybirds look so happy.

A fab notebook.  You can never have too many notebooks (and I love Russian dolls- bonus!).

Heart shaped pins, nail files, buttons and some gorgeous cotton. I think I will be making myself a new face cloth (though knowing me, I will give it to someone else :-))

 I have only really been knitting for 12 months (and learning crochet for about 6 months) but I am such a yarn addict.  I can't get enough of the stuff.  I am thinking that I am a lost cause - BUT if it still fits in one cupboard (with room to spare- ish) then it's not a problem - is it?????

My Hubby does not work on Wednesdays.  It is meant to be his day of resting so he can keep working.  This past Wednesday he woke me at 6.30 am and when I said he had to be joking he wouldn't even believe it was Wednesday.  So I was happily surprised with the delivery on Thursday to say sorry.  I think he has great taste, and I LOVE that shade of pink.

They even have bits of glitter on the little green leaves.   

 My second giveaway was from Kath at Kath's Blog.  Kath makes fantastic cards, I can only dream of matching her talent.  I won a Christmas magazine (can I say the C word yet?) and lots of crafting goodies.  They arrived just before our friends came up for the weekend and I have yet to try them out but I can feel them calling to me, so I doubt I can resist for much longer.  The magazine looks fab, so I will be sitting with my feet up and a hot chocolate tomorrow whilst I choose what to make for Christmas (oh dear, I've said it again!).

and finally a photo of Anni with her Babbit.  This one was removed from her (with bribery) so it could go in the washer................... she hasn't let it out of her sight since she got it back.

When to admit defeat?

Earlier this year I decided to do some charity knitting to build up my confidence.  My goal this year was to provide enough squares to build a blanket for a charity helping children in Syria.  To this end, I am using all my bits of wool to knit squares.  I never thought I'd run out of part balls of wool.  So when in Leeds this week, I popped into a shop to buy some more wool.  The wool below was on a Manager's Special and I should have wondered why!!!!!  Don't get me wrong it is soft and knits up lovely but I just don't like the way the colours fall.  In the ball it is fine - not a colour I would usually buy (urgh Green),

 
(Anni trying to help - yup, she's the black thing in the photo below)

Cast on - MMM maybe it'll be ok.

 Nope, I just don't like it.  I guess I like my colours to be more in blocks and it is too messy for me.  I am sure it'll look lovely added to a blanket so I will happily use it up, just glad I didn't buy it to make myself anything :-)

Crafting on Holiday

Now last year I took no crafting on holiday and I regretted it hugely.  I just felt lost with nothing to do.  Now I did read A LOT of books (and that's great) but my hands were itching to make something.  So this year, I bought a crochet and knitting magazine which came with wool and hooks/needles and was set to go.

I wasn't too bothered in the first week but by week 2 I needed to do something.  As you know I am a crochet beginner so I concentrated on making Granny Squares.  Want to see what I came up with?  I didn't manage too much as I couldn't remember how to do it without using the Internet, and I couldn't see the screen clearly in the sunshine and I was determined to enjoy the sunshine this year.

Basic Granny Square - I can do these once I remind myself about the number of stitches needed.  I do love how these change depending on what colour you do.  I also made one in blue and white which I love (and used as a coaster).

A Closed Granny Square.  I love the look of this one, but I have to REALLY concentrate to make it and it's not perfect.  I hope to make many of these and make a blanket.  I'll worry about joining them when I feel I have mastered them!!!

I am not happy with the one below.  It is meant to be a circle in a square.  I think it is ok until the blue, then it doesn't look like a square.  I think I misread the pattern and didn't do the corners well enough.  Another one which needs lots of practise.

All in all I doubt I'll buy the magazine again.  The hook wasn't brilliant and had sharp bits on it which the wool kept catching on.  I also wasn't keen on the wool - I LOVE the blue though.  So on future holidays I think I will take my regular hooks and choose a couple of balls of wool to pack.

Making me HAPPY this week

This week has been a nothing kind of week and it's been great.  We arranged to see someone about a new wheelchair - we think we have finally chosen which one to buy, we ate healthily (sometimes), enjoyed the quietness of doing very little.

Making me happy this week;

1) Ice cream with Sour Cherry (this one is for you Maria).  The sun was shining, I'd remembered to buy ice cream (no banana in sight) and opened the Sour Cherries.  Yum

2) Knitting- no photos allowed.  A new project, (gone wrong twice now.  Mum has fixed once and I suspect will have to frog and help again). MMMMMuuuuuummmmmmmmm and I think it won't fit me too - arghhhhhhhhhh.



3) Walking Anni in the sunshine, with friends, and with family.  It's always nicer to walk with other people.



4) Finding new storage solutions to help with the de-cluttering.  Hopefully a trip to Ikea this week and we'll be set to start de-cluttering mark 2.  I will look forward to it................. maybe.



5) Thinking of our trip to Molyvos.  Yup, that's it in the photo below.  We have never flown over it on the way home before, and we were actually sat on the right side of the airplane so I could take photos.

PS The airport at Mytilene - now there is an experience you have to experience to believe!!!!!  Next Summer there will be 3 flights to the UK on a Saturday.  Great for the island, not so great for travelling.  It'll be hell - fact!!!!

First time

After the rush of clearing and tidying last week, I am having a softer week this week.  It has been a mostly sunny day today and sometimes being in the house, I forget to enjoy the outdoors.  In my disappointment that we don't have a garden as such, I forget that I do have outdoor space which I can still enjoy.

This afternoon, after doing the bits of housework I needed to do to keep up with last week, I decided to sit outside with my knitting.   Now I have never even thought of crafting outside!!!  I read other blogs with envy when I see people sat outside crocheting or knitting - nope, it has never entered my head to do the same thing until today!!!!!  D'oh.  The sun was shining, washing was drying on the line - bliss.  Anni even came out to join me........

I love the shadow of the washing

The sky was so blue, the photo below does not do it justice really.  There were less clouds when I settled down with my knitting.

I'm not arty farty with my photos.  But I do love the old and the new below.  This bench is just outside the back door and has taken a lot of bums in it's time!!  Our back yard gets the sunshine in the late afternoon and evening and is a real sun trap.  Indeed, by late afternoon it is often too hot to sit out there.

The sunshine really shows the true colours that I have chosen for this blanket.  I am desperate to get it long enough so I can add a border.  I have AGES before it needs to be handed over (it's for Christmas) but I am enjoying seeing it grow and really want to get it to the next stage.  I hope to have more hand crafted gifts to give this year, so I must start thinking of what else I can create.

 Erm, I think I need to work on my tan.  It doesn't feel that we have had an over abundant amount of sunshine so far this year and I don't really tan.  I do draw the line at pasty white legs though so I do need to remember to sit outdoors more often so that I do not embarrass myself on holiday!

Anni gets spooked by ANY little noise and runs inside and cries at the top of the stairs. She's been like this since we first got here.  She is more relaxed in the front yard - but that is on a busy main road and I don't like sitting out there with her too much as I have to keep watching her like a hawk (just in case).  We have tried shutting the door behind us, so she has to sit in the garden with us but after 20 mins of crying we give up and she's back inside.  I had music playing today but still wasn't ok with Anni :-(

This is the last photo I got before she pushed me out of the way to get back inside.  No idea, what spooked her at this point as it was quiet.  She does have a habit of standing by the gates staring into nothing and will quite happily stand there for 20 minutes- usually at bed time!!  Unless we want to sit outside and enjoy the quiet..... c'mon hubby a glass of something in the back yard when you get home would be perfect.

Dilemma

To do or not to do.

I started knitting a blanket when it was colder.  I intended to knit whilst it was cool and then put it away and start again when it gets cool again.  It's going to be single bed sized for a little boy, for Christmas.  The only problem is that I put it down whilst it was still cool and have since picked it up again.  Only problem it is no longer cool.  My knitting time is usually after tea when we are watching something on the tv and boy do I get hot.

Now I fully realise this is the point where I should be putting it down  and working on something else.  I know this, truly I do.  But I just want to get the main bit knitted, then I will be happy to put it aside and work on the borders to be added later.  I think!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  What do you knit when it gets warm?

I think my dilemma will be helped when I learn to crochet more, so I can attempt new things - I hope!!!!!

Blanket so far below.  I was asked for yellow and green.  It the photo it looks more blue.  I intend to border it in a spring green colour so I hope I have enough of the 2 colours of L's room.

Will I ever learn to  do the ends whilst I go?

March Roundup

March roundup already.  Where is the time going to?  My Mum always used to tell me that time passes quicker as you grow older - oh dear!

From top left: First attempt at a dishcloth (2nd since completed), Mother's Day card, Birthday cake, buns

From left (clockwise); D and Anni enjoying the outdoors, Mum and Dad, stream, flowers, G, A

Making me Happy this week

Would you be surprised to learn I don't have many (if any) photos this week?????

1) Hubby made it back to work for 2 half days this week - whoop.

2) Returning a lost dog to her owner.  We were walking Anni on Saturday when a yellow Lab came up to say hello.  She has a small cut on her nose and was very happy to see us.  I tried ringing the number of her collar but no answer.  Thankfully as we were trying to see if she'd follow us her owner found her.   She was with us a good 20 minutes.  We asked so many dog walkers if they knew her that people were searching for her lost owner all through the woods.

3) Mother's Day Cards.  I thought I'd mix sewing and card making this year.

4) Finishing my dish cloth and although there were one or two small mistakes it actually looks like the pattern tells me it should!!!!!

5) A cuddle with Anni B.  She isn't allowed on the sofa usually so she love it when a big blanket comes out and comes up for a cuddle.  She hasn't been a touchy feely puppy but as she grown she likes a little more contact.  Still not as much as Patch did (she loved to be with you at all times) but she's changing as she grows.  After all Anni B is now 2!!!  Happy Birthday Anni.

PS Anni B is short for Anni Bannani.  When we first got her she was going to be Mabli.  Then she became Anni as she was our 15th wedding anniversary present to each other.  Then she was just so cute that I started calling her Anni Bannani which shortened into Anni B - well have you gone to the vets with an Anni Bannani?????

Feb Roundup

I think I could get used to my monthly round-ups - but I must remember to take the camera out more.  I start quite happily at the start of a month but then it tends to tail off as the month progresses.

Main Pic: Anni making friends in the woods.  Champagne on 14th Feb (it had been in the fridge for a year and we were still a day late celebrating), gorgeous roses (still going strong), fab book I received for Christmas, a view from our local woods, the house I feel in love with when I first came to my village suburb.  I love the house, would hate cutting the hedge!

Crafting Roundup:

Not as busy this month.  Main Pic: Victoria Sponge.  Dave's new lap blanket (not finished), my new blanket (not finished).

Colours and a bad dog!!!!

How do you choose which colour to add to your knitting?  Do you plan your colours before you start and then know which colour follows which colour?

I think I may be weird. I don't do that.  I pull out a selection of colours and pick one and start knitting.  I then listen to what my knitting is telling me.  Yup, it tells me which colour to choose next.  No planning, no lists of order, I knit and it speaks.  See, told you I was odd.

So I've started knitting a little blanket for my flight to New York.  It started like this,

My lap blanket - beginning

I treat myself to 3 new balls of wool (the first 2 purples on the photo above). discarded the 3rd ball (too pink) and just took a few balls from my stash which I started to knit with.  I love the silvery grey colour.  Loved it so far.  Then I added the brighter pink, not so sure about it now (indeed I went to bed and slept on it before I added it).

What colour would you have added next ?  (I may surprise you with my next choice).  Am I mad?  Wise?

Wool

What do you think - would you have added blue?  So I loved it again, now not so much.  I am not worried though.  I was like this with the blanket I made Hubby.  It told me what to add (the odd colour out on his was red) and I listened.  By the end of it I loved it.  So I knit on in the knowledge (fingers crossed) that I will love it by the end.  It won't be too pink and I won't feel a twit using it in public.

My blanket - a bit bigger

I did feel a little odd waiting for Hubby at the hospital today as I stood in a corner knitting!!!!

So why is Anni is the bad books?  Not sure what she will sleep on tonight..............  the stuffing was EVERYWHERE.

Anni's ex bed!

Not that you would know she was in the bad books -

I prefer this bed!!!!

Jan Roundup

So I have realised that I take a lot of photos of my dog.  I do not apologise for that.  I love Anni but I have decided that I MUST try and take more photos of other things which are going on.

Big Photo: A fabulous Birthday present for Dave

Top to bottom: D and his Dad celebrating D's Birthday, Birthday balloons (do we ever grow too old for balloons?), Birthday Cake, biscuits, trees on one of my walks.

Crafting for the month.  I haven't been as crafty as I would have liked as been busy looking after my ill hubby, but I had made many cards and it's been enough - just!!!