The bare bones of it all.....

Once upon a time I had this really really good mad idea that I would knit something special for my mom's 70th birthday - it would be magnificent, it would be wonderful and it would be made by me!!

I did loads of research on the tinter, planning and calculating - checking out places like Ravelry and actually doing a grown up thing called -a swatch...yes, a swatch, I did one of those things and finally I decided on a very pretty (but VASTLY too complicated for me) shawl - oh I did fall for this one, I could just see me knitting up this gorgeous little number and  seeing I had three and a half weeks up to her birthday - I was sorted!

Did my head swell at the thought of the cleverness of it all!! *oh yes*

Any hoo, I started. I unwound the hank carefully and re-wound it (with a few inevitable knots and the equally inevitable cuss words) I cast on the required 4 stitches, did three rows of garter, then turned it one quarter and knit on the other side, then reading the pattern turned it one quarter again and did the same.... and ended up with a sort of square lump - hmm..... so I frogged it, started again and did three rows of garter, then turned it one quarter and knit on the other side and found I was soon heading for that same mashup I had had at my previous attempt. Hum. So I frogged it and put it away coz I still had three weeks to go and I was still buoyed by the audacity of it all.

That weekend, I started again, I cast on, I carefully read the instructions several times, wondering whether to contacted my beloved knit-perfect sister-in-law for help when suddenly it dawned on me and I understood the gobbledygook written on the paper. I started again, and despite a wonky start, I was getting some way and I actually felt that yes, I would get this done in the remaining two and half weeks.

The first half of the shawl grew off my circular needles as I got closer to the impending lacy pattern. I managed to only frog the odd bit as I launched myself into........ the lace.

I could actual feel my heart beating as I tried to translate the pattern. You could have heard a pin drop - I sat with my mouth open and my brain empty...huh? I have to do what?  I read it again. And again and still you could hear the tumbleweed rolling through my head as I tried to comprehend the pattern instructions. I put it aside - I needed to think about this part....never mind I still had two weeks to go.

A few days later I sat myself down and had a serious heart to knitting needle discussion with my shawl and managed to finally (after a practise run and frogging session) understand the pattern - but wow was it mind blowingly hard to concentrate - I marked, in pencil, each stitch I did as I went along. I would get so far and would reach for the pencil eraser and frog my knitting and frog my pencil marks....for several days. I put it aside - Himself could see I was struggling and made typical husbandy type soothing sounds of - 'just go and buy her something' and 'just unpick the ****** thing and give the wool and the pattern'. I hid it from him (and me) and went away for the weekend....never mind I still had about 10 days and I was over half way.

Back from our weekend I felt refreshed and ready to tackle the lace pattern again, I knew I could do it, it was just I was incredibly painstakingly slow. Then. Then I noticed the pattern was not working... I frogged it back, re-knitted and it was the same. I looked at the pattern and looked at my knitting and the lacy pattern was not lining up. I tried again.

And re-frogged.

I had a sinking feeling as I knew I would have to frog back about 10 rows of lace to start again when I spotted where the error was.... I carefully threaded another needle through and frogged back down to it. I also decided that now was the time to change from a circular needle to needles as I was struggling to see what I was doing.
Despair.

Right. Fed up to the back teeth I put it aside and composed myself by having a small controlled temper tantrum in the kitchen which entailed gorging myself on everything and anything fattening I could lay my hands on and washing it down with copious amounts of tea. Grrrrr.

Then feeling fortified (read that as feeling really sick) I tried again, and by the evening I had managed to get myself almost back up to where I was before when........ sitting on the settee next to Himself, there was an almighty thud upstairs which made me jump out of my skin...... and pulled out the knitting needle - scattering nearly all my stitches at high speed.  Himself sat there and looked at me. I shut my eyes momentarily, then frogged back the entire shawl. I put it in a bag. I put it away.

I went back on to the tinter to a pattern I had looked at initially but had been enticed away by the gloriousness of my now poor choice. My inexperience was an excellent lesson of over achievement. I cast on for the Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West. I had found it on his blog and followed it over to Ravelry to get the pattern. I had only about 5 days left.


Humbled I knit a simple stockinette stitch and purl 'bones' with a garter stitch border and it slowly grew. At every opportunity I knitted. As it got larger I only managed a row or two after work as I was just too tired to do any more without making mistakes.

My mom's birthday came and went.

 The rest of May came and went -I knitted.  June came, my birthday - I knitted. Every time I was a passenger in the car - I knitted. We went on holiday. I knitted. I sat on the beach and I knitted, I was eaten alive my midges and still I knitted. Then on our return home, I knit the whole way home. And we got back - all I had left to do was the border.

Two weeks of double shifts at work certainly didn't help but finally finally last night I gave my mom her birthday shawl - a mere five weeks late for her birthday but I got there in the end :)

I was given a lot of support by my dear knit and natter friends as well as bloggy friends  -  Jane (hook and yarn) - who also made a boneyard shawl - thank you too for your encouragement.


PS - because someone will ask - Pattern - Stephen West's  Boneyard Shawl. The yarn is The Natural Dye Studio - Nymph 4ply in Wisteria, I used two x 100gm skeins (800 metres)  and had a small amount left over.

In which I have a mini crochet-athon.........

I put it down to nervous energy. I also put it down to new-startitis and a severe case of never-finishing-itum and oh yes I definitely blame short-attention-span-icum and butterfly-brainism......
So... what am I getting to?
Well.

I present exhibit A

A classic granny square.

In a nice chunky cream wool.

I have frogged it back several times as I was never completely happy

(still not)

It no longer looks like the photo.....

Aah.. this more like it.

Not quite finished and probably about to be frogged again.

I ran out of wool 

and had to eke it out very carefully.

Fortunately fav sis-in-law has a cone of it left 

and generously offered it to me!

Woo-hoo!!

Yes - my toe nails are different colours....

S'pose I could be forgiven then for not finishing my granny mat w.i.p..

I now present exhibit B

Bright colours in cotton and buttons

A quick and instant gratification fix

Bunting.

I oohed and aahed at it's bright little bunts

 and the happy little buttons.

Himself asked where I was going to put them.

The catlings (yes - they have grown) thought 

they were brilliant and tried to steal them.

They now reside in a box. 

(bunts not catlings - although that is an idea hmmm)

*sigh*

I also present (part of) exhibit C

A slipper clog for Eldest.

Made with two strands of pure wool (pre-felted)

The wool is something out of my stash, 

a bag of 4 x 50gm balls .

He loves it (it? - where is the other?)

here.................

Youngest is waiting for his slipper clogs too.

I present exhibit D & E 

String bags - I am at it again. 

Thought that making 17 over the festive time would have been enough....

Apparently not.

And the reason for all this nervous energy? Well - I have so much going on in my head regarding our YARNIVAL that I feel that it will explode! Never mind, at our next knit and natter we are going to get down to the serious side of things. 

*watch*this*space*is all I can say!!

Ooh how exciting!

Shame I have to do this boring thing called work!

13♥ days to 2012

I'm still in recovery mode after the weekend so I am fully embracing the fact that the house is quiet and empty apart from Giddy Dog and the kits.  Mind you the kits more than make up for the boys being at school - they are just as bad as the boys at leaving their toys all over the place. I will, over the course of a day, have to pick up cushions and blankets, rescue toppled over pots of pens and paintbrushes and rehang the ornaments on the tree....


Any hoo - enough waffle -


today's number is 13♥, not one of my favourite numbers - 13. As a teenager I was incredibly superstitious and would go to great lengths to avoid saying, thinking or seeing the number. Made maths a bit tricky (Mind you maths was a bit tricky for me any way!)

The kits are galloping up and down on their dainty elephant-sized feet and the washing machine has become silent....better get on, got work to get ready for and I am still trying to finish my crochet pressies - the deadline draws closer and I keep kidding myself that starting another woolly based handmade gift is a good idea....I start off in good time and as chrimbly-pressie-swap-day gets closer, my crafting becomes more frantic and instead of going with the flow and finishing them off in good time, I hastily start the next one as I convince myself that weaving in ALL the ends and stitching on ALL the buttons and sewing on ALL the labels is a good idea if only I would actually get on with it and do it!!

And the hardest thing of all? Not sharing the pictures with you, oh well, will have to have a show and tell after everyone has opened their pressies :)

A Happy Monday to you all!

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!

Not only have I written all the online exams but I have passed them all too!! 

WOO HOO!!!  

Feeling giddy now! 

Won't be able to be sensible  now (what do you mean - not sensible normally??!!)

*sigh* 

Phew

D'you know - I've been so busy!

Today I have..........

1. Done a load of washing
2. made a brew
3. hung out said washing
4. visited the chickens and the compost heap
5. started another load of washing even sorting out the whites to soak in some 'Dolly Blue'
6. stoked the fire
7. put the kettle on again
8. filled the wood basket
9. looked at but not yet started washing the breakfast things
10. made some toast
11. ate said toast
12. answered all my email correspondence and even written to a couple of friends that I've not written to for aa-aa-a-ages
13. wondered about another cup of tea
14. looked at the washing machine to see how near to the end of it's cycle
15. hovered near the kettle
16. started this pointless waffling list of things I-am-doing instead of what-I-should-be-doing.............

I still have 2 modules left to do for my on-line exam.........I  have completed four and am heartily fed up with them. I  am doing them because I have to and not because I want to.................

So instead I practice the art of studiously ignoring the ever looming deadline - a personality trait I am gifted with and fully intend on perfecting.

So. I shall leave you with an image in my head, from my life and where I'd rather be............

The islands of Eigg and Rhum from Traigh

I have just found that there is an additional module to do,  now it is three (as in 3, as in one more than the original 2 I thought I had to do ................ aaaaaargh!

Counting..counting 17 and not so slowly becoming mad

Sitting, waiting for Eldest to come out of school yesterday, I contemplated the complete lack of the number 17 of any shape or size or anything slightly resembling a 17 at all. I had taken to carrying my camera with me for those unexpected opportunities to snap a number, much to the bemusement of Himself.

Pulling my coat closer around me, the warmth of the car quickly fading, I wondered idly about this elusive number and thought on my self-imposed count down. Why do I add unnecessary detail to my already randomly chaotic life.  Movement caught my eye, I looked up to see students were beginning to pour out of the gates in a noisy gaggle of black and green uniforms. No sign of Eldest, he usually appears after the initial escape. I glanced at the clock in the car and it said................15.16.  I sighed. 15.16. A thought slowly trickled into my tundra like brain. 15.16.

WOOHOO!! After 16 comes 17 !!!!!!!!

I fumbled for my camera, my fingers feeling thick and wooden, I glanced up.....phew, still 15.16 - nope, it was now 15.17! I became frantic, the camera case zip was stiff, the strap was in the way, I couldn't get the camera out of it's case, I shook it and pulled it at the same time, I kept looking up, still 16.17.....finally I freed the camera, still 16.17, turn it on, still 16.17......click! Got it! no - no no, it was totally out of focus, in my haste the setting was for macro, flick the setting, quick quick ....get the damn photo! Click! Got it! Argh!! **!//\\!! (and similar foul mouthed thoughts) it was still blurry, quick get it right! C-L-I-C-K!! YES, YES, YES! And on the final YES the clock tripped onto the next number....the moment gone.

Feeling fully chuffed with myself I looked up and saw a rather started Eldest with his friends with mouths slightly agape.

Oops erhem, sorry lads. 

**Funnily enough, having finally obtained a clear clean photo, I proceed to fuzzy it up on photoshop...... method in my madness? Or just plain mad........................

Counting still...10. This self imposed count down - not as easy as it looks!

Yesterday I searched urgently whilst I was driving. My eyes darting across the road and up lanes as I  carefully manoeuvred through the still snowy streets.  I was on my way to collect the boys from school and I had two critical deadlines. Firstly I had to get to the school in good time to find parking and more importantly (I jest) I had to find a number 10!

I looked at road signs, I looked for speed signs, I looked at road way numbering, I even contemplated looking at house numbers but knew that it would be frowned on if I suddenly stopped outside a house and grabbed my camera and started taking photographs of somebody's front door.

In exasperation and completely '10-less' I  slotted the car into what appeared to be the last parking space at the school. I turned off the engine, released the seatbelt, glanced at the dashboard clock and saw I had about 10 (ha - the irony) minutes to spare, so decided to do a bit of in-car-entertainment (that's crochet to you and me.....) while I waited for the boys.

A little while later, 

I casually looked up 

and saw 

this....

I.was.parked.right.alongside.the.

previously.scarlet.pimpernel.like.

number.10. 

?Quirk of fate?

Counting down (up?) day 7

First week down and only 16 shopping days left to go.....

Hmmm.

Better go and find the car keys and shopping list.
.

Am I ready? Am I heck! Bollywood night here we come ready or not :)

Our house is filled with part made costumes, sequins and ribbons. There are brightly coloured garlands tumbling out of vibrant bowls in shades of shocking pink and lime green. A freshly washed dhoti waits to have it's final decoration stitched on. I have learnt how to wrap a turban in a Rabari style. The boys Sherwanis are waiting to be finished. Fortunately I have been lent a Salwar Kameez but  due to a catalogue of  mini misundertandings - I still don't have it, let alone know if it will fit me. Himself is collecting it for me this evening while I am at work - finger's crossed!

The food is sorted - I have........... well sort of............. umm............ sorted it, well, I've thought about it........The house needs tidying and decorating, the list goes on.

When's all this for? Saturday.....day after Friday, which is the day after Thursday, which is tomorrow.... and in those few days I have a knit and natter evening, a bonfire party to go to (only just received confirmation this morning that it is going ahead!), shopping and cooking for the party and - oh yes - and still go to go to work............ something has just got to give - hmmm, me thinks it will be work! Now why didn't I think of that earlier :)

************************

The multicoloured jolly throw has finally gone to his new home. He seemed to be well received as he was stroked and patted and hugged. I took a few last photos of the blankie as he posed on the settee and then by the fire just before he said his last good byes.

The blankie showing his best side, or is this his best side?

Last cosy look as he waits to be taken to his new home.

I have just realised I have given this blanket a gender..................good grief - is this normal?? 

Actually most of our inanimate objects have a gender or a name, it just looks strange now I've see it written down! 

Oh well. 

(shrugs shoulders, if other folk have realised I am odd, surely it is time I accepted that I am!)

**************************

Just remembered that I was going to henna tattoo my hands and feet - now where did I put that henna kit?

30.06.10 - WIPs

Last day in June, this half of the year has flown by!

A quick posting, gotta get out and get those last pesky weeds before this weekend - then I can relax about my garden.

I always get a 'bit precious' about the garden the fortnight leading up to the garden festival. I am seen chasing after kids and dogs yelling '......gerrrofff me laaaand!' or  incoherently babbling to the rambling roses as I encourage them to come in to flower in time or pleading desperately with the foxgloves to hold on to their blooms until the weekend is over.
I am seen on hands and knees wrenching weeds out of the lawn, desperately filling in the brown patches with grass seed where giddy dog piddles and getting more and more deranged as the big weekend looms menacingly close. Then on Sunday (and only then) I lean back and leave the garden to it's own devices and calm down and make my family promise promise me that they won't let me enter again......

Sigh.

Now for something a little more relaxing - WIPs

The Zwartbless clapotis is still on the hook, but I am waiting for more yarn to complete the project and while I  am waiting (can't keep my hooky fingers still! - also need an antidote to all that weeding and gardening)....I am doing another clapotis - this time one in a cotton silk mix from gifted yarn for me.

This one has a lovely drapey sensual feel to it, I can't wait to swish it over my shoulders and smoulder Greta Garbo like (not sure to whom or what....possibly the weeds in my garden of course...........)

Oh dear - really have to go, weed bucket lurking at back door with work boots. It is surprising how loudly inanimate objects can shout when you-do-not-want-to-listen.............

10.05.10 - lists and 18 days to go

My head is filled with lists. Sometimes these lists spill over and either get lost or if I am lucky land on paper and continue to remind me that I still haven't done them yet......

lists like

1. Boys:-

• sort out Eldest's shoes (bit difficult as they are on his feet and he is at school)
• find missing socks (might actually let the boys look for their socks for a change)
• sort out the 'school shelf' before it cascades off and lands in an untidy heap on the floor (oops too late)

2. Mom :-

• sort out birthday plans (in progress but can't say too much shhhhhhhhhhhh) blogs have readers - is this a updated version of walls have ears?

3. College :-

• Start next module (and stop blogging)
• find enthusiasm to start next module (and stop crocheting)
• find enthusiasm to find the enthusiasm to start the next module (and stop gardening)
• stop groaning at the thought of the next module....... (and generally stop procrastinating)

4.Greenhouse/garden

• continue sowing seeds (2nd and 3rd sowings of some of the vegetables to give continuous cropping)
• prick out veg seedlings (running out of compost - need to get some more)
• pot up larger seedlings (running out of space)
• sift compost (see above)
• weed 
• mow
• re-seed some bare patches on the lawn (think I might enter the village garden festival)
• there is a lot more to this list, but sadly this is part didn't reach  paper and has got lost in the ether...

5. WIP

• finish 1 x cave man (needs arms and face detail)
• start 1 x cave girl (has head but nothing else)
• finish 1 x Rolf Harris (No - don't know why this one was ordered - and I haven't asked either!)
• Put faces on the 4 of the 5 guinea pigs I have made for a school fayre
• start another guinea pig for a separate order (I am getting heartily sick of guinea pigs)

A tanglement of guinea pigs, cavemen, cones of wool and a celebratory 

6. Holiday planning

• try not to get too excited (too late!)
• need to arrange pet care/cover (phew for cat and chicken sitters - my Mom and Dad)
• find/fix/replace any holiday gear for the boys (which in itself is a HUGE list)
• get caravan and tent ready (that's on Himself's list but I like to have it on mine too :) )
• plan where and what we will do! (know where were are going but it's nice to have a goodly list of places to see, beaches to comb, hills to climb, valleys to walk - getting extremely excited now!!)

It's been a while since we've been away - our last holiday was in August in the Orkneys, since then we have had commitments or unable to get leave off from work and made do with walks and bike rides on weekends.

I am sure there are more lists lingering in my head, but they have evaporated with thoughts of going away - only 18 days to go :)

03.04.10 - In which Evelyn and I go exploring...and take the boys and the dog too....

We were all off on Friday, but with one thing and another, we didn't get out as planned. So on Saturday - despite the promised foul weather - we jumped into the bicycle laden car and headed off to Glasson Dock for a bike ride on the cycleways (converted from disused railway tracks)

Himself Just open the road atlas, I'm not too sure which junction off the motor way we need..
Me err, where is it?
Himself - ho ho! I've left it in the landrover, not to worry, use the OS map...
Me err, where is that?
Himself, Ho ho (bugger) um, left that on the table, never mind, I sort of know where were are going....


45 minutes later, several turns, changes of direction and scenic routes through nameless villages we found the road we needed and turned on to it, when the heavens opened. Great big lashing down wet rain.

Grumbles began to eminate from the back.

Youngest Move up - you are on my side
Eldest Nowhere near you
Youngest Mu-u-uuu-u-um he's leaning on me
Eldest Not..... Are we there yet?
Youngest You are...Mu-uu-uum he is, are we there yet?
Me Stop it both of you, we're nearly there.
Silence.....rain....more turns, more lanes, rain, rain......subversive grumbles from the back.

Me (to Himself) Are we nearly there yet?

Himself (more to himself than to me) Nearly there - Ah here it is!

We damply drove through a soggy grey miserable litte village, peering through a drenched windscreen for parking.

Himself ( brightly)  I think we find parking first, then have our lunch in the car and see if it picks up

More subversive grumbles in the back with the occasional clear word... hungry, starving...

Me Ok ok! we get the message, Just park there!

Himself  Oh, missed it, will try this one...

Me ok

Himself Oh, can't, won't fit under the barrier with the bikes on the carrier, will stop at the next one

Me - sigh

EVENTUALLY!

We parked.

AND THE SUN CAME OUT!

What a difference it makes when THE SUN COMES OUT. The sad little grey seaside village suddenly had colours and charm, it suddenly had appeal and charisma.


We rode down to the cycleway and stopped to breathe the sea air.

We trundled down the cycleway......

We stopped for picnics and basked in the sun, whilst just absorbing the view and leaving behind all the stress and all the grumbles and we suddenly remembered that life is good (but it's even better when the sun shines!)

Evelyn

Mud

More mud

Then it was time to leave and get back in time for a family meal with my Mom and Dad, only, we still didn't have a map, we still had very muddy children and had to get them clean and presentable and we had less than an hour to do it!!

Sorry Mum! Dinner still tasted delicious - despite it having to be kept :)

30.03.10 - You want it for when??!

4.45pm - Thursday evening, I'm about to get ready to go out, Eldest is about to go off to music lesson when he absently mindedly says...............


Mum

Yes

We've got a bun sale coming up soon

When is it?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow??!!

And we have been told to make at least 12 buns

Tomorrow??!!

Yes, I told you about it

When???

Oh....... um.... about three weeks ago


Aaaaargh!!

(Last seen galloping into the kitchen, much clattering and cussing later)

Mum

What!

Do you want any help?

Thanks love, but no, it's quicker if I get them done, you better finish your homework and get ready for your music lesson, your Dad will be home from work soon

(Himself stumps into the kitchen noisely urging eldest to hurry up, followed by a whirlwind of bodies and music books and slamming of doors, leaving me to finish the buns and still get ready.)

(Some time later, late for my evening out and son and Himself back from music)

Triumphantly dishevelled I presented a tray of buns to Eldest who graciously says

Thanks Mum - good thing I reminded you.........

**********************************

(Overheard the next day in the car on the way to school)

Got my buns for the sale (shows friend)

Friend - wow - did you make those?

No - my mum wouldn't let me!

Friend - but you are s'posed to have done them

I know, but you know mums - they think they know best....................


sigh.

I do love him, honest...!

15.03.10 - when really what I would rather be doing is this...............

College work strikes again. The deadline looms which is counterbalanced by the enthusiasm waning.

I am doing a subject - that although interesting is not what I am interested in.

I would much rather be doing this....................

or this.............

or this.......

But - hey - ho, this part of the module has been completed, time to post it now then off to work.
So starts my week.

11.02.10

Today's Heart is ..........

Part of a story,  are you sitting comfortably?  Then I shall begin.

Still under the influence of a pernicious cold that has lingered for nearly 10 days, I took to my sewing machine for comfort and crafting pleasure.
That and the fact that nearly three weeks ago I challenged our Knit n Knatter coven to make something on a Valentines day theme and I still hadn't started mine.

(Please note gratuitous usage of a scrappy heart pin cushion so to continue this month's theme)

I had been gifted some lovely fabrics and one in particular wove itself into my mind for a particular project. So after wearily doing yet another load of pungent washing, I cut out two little bodies.

(Please note further gratuitous usage of a scrappy heart pin cushion) 

At this point I have to say that the house is looking similar to  Mr Woo's Laundry as I am surrounded by  washing hanging everywhere, but - hey - that is so much more preferable to yesterday's bad smell everywhere!

Oh - where was I? 

Yes, yes, 

Today's heart and tonight's Knit n Knatter. 

After some delicate bird surgery, even more delicate cutting of the smallest hearts I have ever made - remind me not to do that again, I went cross eyed....

I have for you now , via a shaggy dog tale....

Today's Heart(s) are .......

.... on two Love Birds

Twirling in the winter sunshine

I will gift them to Himself this Sunday

with my love

24.12.09

The last of the presents made - finally.

The last of the presents wrapped - well - almost.

The last of the snowflakes  cut out and hung up - the snow storm is now complete.

The deadline has done it's usual - arrived

whilst I wasn't looking.

But to all,

family,

friends,

far and wide,

 in

Africa

Australia

Switzerland

France

America

and

here in the uk......

I wish you peace,

happiness,

love and a family filled time.