May the Farce be with You!

The Beloved's sister and brother-in-law are over visiting. We will be heading out for a celebration meal tonight. There's two birthdays this weekend, and here's the cake. Yoda has conquered the Death Star!

Clutterbug's Challenge

Clutterbug's October Challenge is going as well as can be given we have guests staying just now. So far, the tasks have been:

1. under kitchen sink

2. food containers

3. bakeware and dishes

4. utensil drawers

5. fridge

6. freezer

7. pantry

8. junk drawer

9. linen closet

10 bathroom drawers

11. under bathroom sink

12. medicines/toiletries

I've not been able to do the freezer, the junk drawer or medicines/toiletries. The freezer will be tackled next week, as will the other tasks. We don't have a junk drawer, but we do have a small set of drawers that contain spare light bulbs, batteries, shoe laces, picture hooks and candle making stuff. This needs to be sorted and will be done in lieu of a junk drawer. Medicines/toiletries need to be done too.

Today I tidied the linen cupboard. Nothing was decluttered as this was done not too long ago. We replaced the large bath towels last year, and next year, I think we need to replace the hand towels. Some of the duvet covers are looking rather tired and worn out. These will need to be replaced at some point. But that's for another time. A time in the distant future, possibly around spring.

Cheesecake

Ingredients

Base

100g gluten-free digestive biscuits

25g butter

Cheesecake filling

500g Philadelphia cheese

3 large egg

150g castor sugar

1.5 tsp vanilla essence

3 tsp lemon juice

Topping

300ml soured cream

1/4 tsp vanilla essence

2 Tsp castor sugar

Method

Crush the biscuits and mix with melted butter. Press into a lined rectangular, loose bottomed tin (30.5x20.5cm), on the base and up the sides. Chill for 10 minutes in the freezer.

Pre-heat oven at 180C.

Mix all of the ingredients for the cheesecake filling. Smooth on top of the biscuit base and bake for 30 minutes.

Mix the ingredients and smooth on top of the cheesecake layer. Bake for 7 minutes.

Chill.

Note
The Beloved has said this is the best cheesecake I have ever made. it scored a 10 out of 10. He's very happy.

Socks for a Youth

Company:  Regia

Yarn: Design Line "Garden Effects" 4ply

Composition: 75% wool, 25% nylon

Colour:  Lupine

Company:  Filcolana

Yarn: Arwetta Classic
Composition: 80% wool, 20% nylon

Colour:  Grape Royal
Pattern: Socks for a Youth

Size: Child
Needles: 2.5mm

Amount used:  34g

Started:  10th October 2017

Finished: 17th October 2017

Cast on 56sts. Join. Work 20 rounds of 2x2 rib (K2, P2, repeat). Then switch to stocking stitch and knit until the sock is 14cm long.

Heel flap: Knit 14sts, turn, and purl back 28sts, slipping the first stitch. Work 26 rows. (The remaining 28sts will be brought back into play when the gusset is knitted.)

Turn heel: 
1. S1, k17,ssk, k1, turn. 
2. S1, p3, p2tog, p1, turn. 
3. S1, k4, ssk, k1, turn. 
4. S1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.

Continue in the pattern until all of the stitches have been incorporated, and 20sts are left on the needle.

Gusset: Pick up 14sts from the side of the heel flap. Place marker. Knit across the 28sts of the front of the sock. Place marker. Pick up 14sts from the heel flap.

1. Knit to 3sts before the marker, k2tog, k1, move marker from left needle to right. Knit to next marker. k1 ssk, knit.
2. Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until 48sts are on needles.

Knit until the foot measures 16.5cm. The first stitch marker now marks the new beginning of the round.

Toe shaping: 
1. K1, ssk, k to 3sts before marker k2tog, k1, move marker, k1, ssk, k to 2sts before marker, k1, k2tog.
2. Knit
Repeat these two rounds until there are 20sts remaining. Graft the toe closed.

Socks for a Child

Company:  Regia

Yarn: Design Line "Garden Effects" 4ply

Composition: 75% wool, 25% nylon

Colour:  Lupine

Pattern: Socks for a Child

Size: Child
Needles: 2.5mm

Amount used:  34g

Started:  7th October 2017

Finished: 9th October 2017

Cast on 48sts. Join. Work 20 rounds of 2x2 rib (K2, P2, repeat). Then switch to stocking stitch and knit until the sock is 10cm long.

Heel flap: Knit 12 sts, turn, and purl back 24sts, slipping the first stitch. Work 22 rows. (The remaining 24sts will be brought back into play when the gusset is knitted.)

Turn heel: 
1. S1, k16,ssk, k1, turn. 
2. S1, p3, p2tog, p1, turn. 
3. S1, k4, ssk, k1, turn. 
4. S1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.

Continue in the pattern until all of the stitches have been incorporated, and 18sts are left on the needle.

Gusset: Pick up 12sts from the side of the heel flap. Place marker. Knit across the 24st of the front of the sock. Place marker. Pick up 12sts from the heel flap.

1. Knit to 3sts before the marker, k2tog, k1, move marker from left needle to right. Knit to next marker. k1 ssk, knit.
2. Knit.
Repeat these two rounds until 48sts are on needles.

Knit until the foot measures 14cm. The first stitch marker now marks the new beginning of the round.

Toe shaping: 
1. K1, ssk, k to 3sts before marker k2tog, k1, move marker, k1, ssk, k to 2sts before marker, k1, k2tog.
2. Knit
Repeat these two rounds until there are 16sts remaining. Graft the toe closed.

Hats and Socks!

The hat-a-thon has been completed. Twenty six hats have been made. All of the yarn came from stash, which I am very pleased by.

I had a weird notion of making something for myself. The project was picked out, the yarn was selected. And then, I realised I didn't have the correct needles! So many needles, but not the right size for this particular project. Amazon have been most helpful; the right needles have been ordered.

In the meantime, I shall make some socks. These socks are going to a refugee camp in Dunkirk, France. 

Dining Room (Stage 1) - Complete

I am delighted, so incredibly happy! Stage One of the dining room make over has been completed, and it's looking fab-u-lous!

The room has been decluttered (apart from 3 pacing boxes. The extra set of chairs has gone. A load of stuff that should have been binned years ago has now been binned. Crafting materials are making their way to my study. Three walls have been painted white, and new curtains have been hung.

Stage Two will happen in November. This will involve painting the fourth wall white, buying a curtain and using the fabric to re-cover the seats of the chairs and the piano stool, and dealing with the contents of those three boxes!

Stage Three is scheduled for Spring 2018, painting the ceiling. Some thought it would be a good idea to paint the ceilings of the dining room, sitting room and the main bedroom. We disagree. All three ceilings will be painted.

Have I mentioned how happy I am to have a decluttered, decorated dining room?

Utensils and Paperwork

'Tis time to clean out the utensils and cutlery drawers. Everything will be dumped in a sinful of hot soapy water. Then the drawers and cutlery inserts will be washed and dried too. Only the things we use will be put back. Anything I'm not sure about will be put into a storage box. If it isn't needed before Christmas, I'll ditch it.  I don't think there will be many thing we will be decluttering as I've already decluttered the kitchen twice.

In the dining room, my task is to empty the bureau, decluttering the papers and I go. These are being placed in a crate, and taken up to my study. I'll sort through them at a later date (after the visitors have been). The family will be asked to choose which of the display items they would like to keep. The rest will be donated or tossed.

Yesterday's hat knitting did not go well at all. No new hat was created. A hat will emerge from the unravellings.

Decluttering the Dining Room, and the Clutterbug Challenge

The decluttering of the dining room continues. The Beloved has started painting the 'institutional green' walls white. It looks so much better, even with just one coat on two of the wall. The goal is to have three walls double coated by the weekend, and many items decluttered too. 

There's a huge amount of unsorted paperwork in there. I've gone through about half of it, deciding what needs to be kept and what can be ditched. At a later date, I'll go through the papers and file them. 

Amongst the items leaving the house today were four dining room chairs. We had two sets, (six and four) and didn't need that many. There's six chairs, and if we need more, there's two study chairs, a piano stool and a kitchen stool. We are not short on seating.

I've been taking part in the Clutterbug Challenge - 30 decluttering tasks for October. The first was decluttering under the sink. That's where I keep my pots and pans, and they were recently decluttered. Instead, I looked to the laundry room as that's where we keep the cleaning supplies. Yesterday was food containers, and today was bakeware and dishes. Since Christmas, I have been on the look out to replace our chipped every day plates. Today, it happened! Out with the old, and in with the new.

Week 40: Living & Family Room

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #40: Living & Family Room

Tuesday: Declutter living room and/or family room

Wednesday: Declutter under and in between couch cushions

Thursday: Create designated spot for remote controls

Friday: Declutter stairs (and under stair storage area)

Saturday: Declutter hallways

Sunday: Declutter or display collections and collectibles

The sitting room was decluttered a little while back. It's currently a little bit of a mess, but this can be sorted in 15 minutes. 

The lower hall has been decluttered. I just realised there's some of the Elder Offsping's books in the middle hall, and there's quite a bit of decluttering required in the top hall. However, we have guests coming next week. This week will be spent decluttering the dining room and painting it.

The understairs cupboard was decluttered a little while back. It could certainly do with a tidy up.

Week 39: Entryway & Mudroom

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #39: Entryway & Mudroom

Tuesday: Declutter entryway/foyer

Wednesday: Declutter coat or entryway closet (plus winter coats)

Thursday: Declutter winter coats, gloves, scarves and hats

Friday: Declutter mudroom/back entrance to home

Saturday: Create designated spot for keys and other items in pockets upon entry

Sunday: Create launching pad for each family member

I would love to have a beautiful 'mudroom'. Instead, I have a coat rack in the hall with coats galore, and shoes lined up neatly under the radiator.  What I want will have to wait until the new house has been built!

However, in the here and now, it's time to declutter coats and jackets near the front door. At the back door there's a small area where The Beloved has his walking boots, hill kit etc. This need to be readily accessible for those times when he is called out to an emergency. The only other thing in that area is a tumble dryer, and an arrangement of artificial sunflowers.

The plan is that when the laundry room is re-done the dryer will be moved into there, leaving space to create a 'kit room' for the walking boots, high vis jackets, steel toe capped wellies, hard hat, rucksack... We have been considering purchasing this clothes stand. It will provide suitable storage for the kit. 

September Craftings

A collection of the crafting projects I have finished this month.

The Pre-Quilt
Started: 2011 or 2012
Finished: 2nd Sept 2017
Status: Completed Project

Wrist Warmers
Started: 14th Aug 2017
Finished: 7th Sept 2017
Status: Made from stash

Dennis the Menace Sweater
Started: 3rd July 2009
Finished: 8th Sept 2017
Status: Completed project
Notes: Absolutely bonkers! This little sweater only needed 4 buttons to be sewn on to finish it!

Fuchsia Bookmark
Started: ????
Finished: 9th September 2017
Status: Completed project

Turquoise Fingerless Mittens
Started: September 2016
Finished: 16th September 2017
Status: Completed project


Stripes and Spots Baby Hat
Started: 16th September 2017
Finished: 16th September 2017
Status: Made from stash

Stripes and Spots Baby Hat (slightly larger)
Started: 17th September 2017
Finished: 17th September 2017
Status: Made from stash

Stripes Ahoy
Started: 18th September 2017
Finished: 18th September 2017
Status: Made from stash

Newborn Square Hat 
Started: 19th September 2017
Finished: 19th September 2017
Status: Made from stash

Newborn Hats 
Started: 19th September 2017
Finished: 20th September 2017
Status: Made from stash

Granola

This recipe has been adapted from Megan's Granola. The original called for ingredients that were either not gluten-free, or didn't have a gluten-free version.

Ingredients

9.5 cups rolled oats 

1.5 cups oatmeal

1 cup sunflower seeds 

1 cup finely chopped almonds 

1 cup finely chopped pecans 

1 cup finely chopped walnuts 

0.5 cup brown sugar 

0.25 cup maple syrup 

0.75 cup honey 

1 cup vegetable oil 

1 Tsp ground cinnamon 

1 Tsp vanilla extract 

Method

Preheat the oven to 150C. Line two large baking sheets with parchment.

Combine the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.

Bake until crispy and toasted, about 40 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then store in an airtight container.

Notes

This makes a great deal of granola! I split the finished granola in two. To one half I added dried cranberries, and to the other half raisins and coconut. Do not add the dried fruit or coconut to the granola before baking as these items will burn.

Decluttering the Dining Room

Now my study/craft room has been decluttered, it's time to sort out the dining room. My dining room looks nothing like the one pictured above. It is a mess, a big mess, but the mess is being reduced. The Beloved is on holiday next week, and we have planned to paint the dining room. This requires the room to be decluttered and tidied. The following week, we have guests over.

We have a few boxes of stuff from a previous move. For the moment, these three boxes will remain boxed up and tucked out of the way. The writing table/bureau will also remain, but I don't actually want it.  It currently holds a load of old papers and crystal bowls etc. I've started work on the papers. A great deal more work is required. With the deadline of guests arriving, its decluttering will be left until after the visit.

When I'm done with the round of decluttering, additional items remaining the room will be the PA equipment for our ceilidh band, the dining table and chairs, and the piano. Items leaving will be a set of four chairs, my quilting stuff, and some random stuff destined for charity shops.

I found the dining table to be very useful for sewing and quilting. However, I make too much mess in there, and things pile up. It will be so good to have an actual dining room again. We have been eating our meals in the sitting room. 

Decluttering and Hatathon

This afternoon I shall see a huge difference in my study/craft room. Decluttering in the room is almost complete; there's a top of a desk to sort through. At lunchtime, we will be making deliveries at a children's charity with five boxes and two bags of crafting materials. In addition, there's two boxes of stuff going out to the rubbish bin. It's going to be a sudden, and very welcome improvement.

I'll be in there until Monday tidying and cleaning. It's going to look so much better.

In hatathon news, seven hats have been completed, and an eighth is underway. 

At the start of the month, I set out my plans to work to a cycle of finishing two unfinished projects, two projects from scratch, and then one brand new one. This has not happened! The hats have all been made from bits of knitting ripped back and re-knitted into something new. I've no idea where they fit into my scheme of things. Perhaps, it's time to just be glad that the unfinished projects are no more, and useful items have been created instead.

Newborn Hat

Company:  King Cole

Yarn: Merino Blend Prints DK 

Composition: Wool

Colour:  Dordogne 647

Pattern: Newborn Hat

Size: Newborn
Needles: 4mm

Amount used:  27g

Started:  19th September 2017

Finished: 19th September 2017

Using 4mm needles, cast on 64sts. Join.

Work 10 rounds in 2 x 2 rib. Then 30 rounds in stocking stitch.

Shape the crown

1. (K6, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

2. K

3. (K5, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

4. K

5. (K4, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

6. K

7. (K3, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

8. K

9. (K2, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

10. K

11. (K1, k2 tog) repeat 8 times

12. K

13. (K2 tog)

Work an I-cord of 14 rounds with the remaining 8sts. 

Cut yarn, leaving a long ‘tail’ to use to draw through 8 stitches, pull up tightly. Fasten off and tie a knot in the cord.

30 Day Declutter: Days 17 and 18

Decluttering continues, but I don't have a lot to say about it. It's more of the same. The only thing different from previous days have been finding felting needles and a holder. 

It did not take me long at all to decided on which items were leaving. The section that really took time was untangling yarn. I was at that for over an hour! 

Stripes Ahoy!

Company:  Patons

Yarn: Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK

Composition: Wool

Colour:  Turquoise

Company:  King Cole

Yarn: Merino Blend DK

Composition: Wool

Colour:  Cream

Pattern: as below

Size: Newborn
Needles: 4mm

Amount used:  27g

Started:  18th September 2017

Finished: 18th September 2017

Using a 4mm needle, cast on 64sts. Join.

Work 10 rounds of 2x2 rib, then 20 rounds of stocking stitch.

Crown shaping:

1. (K4, k2tog) 5 times, k5, (k4, k2tog) 4 times, k5

2. K

3. (K3, k2tog) 10(11) times

4. K

5. (K2, k2tog) 10(11) times

6. K

7. (K1, k2tog) 10(11) times

8. K

9. (K, k2tog) 10(11) times

10. K

11. k2tog  10(11) times

12. K

13. K2tog 5 times, K1

Make a 14 row I-cord using the 6sts. Break off the yarn, leaving enough to fasten off the stitches. Weave in the ends.

Notes: 

I used the turquoise for the ribbing. In the stocking stitch the colours were alternated until the turquoise ran out, and I continued in white.

Week 38: Vehicles

Monday: Read Organized Home Challenge #38: Vehicles
Tuesday: Remove rubbish from and declutter car interior
Wednesday: Declutter car boot, glove box and storage compartments
Thursday: Clean interior
Friday: Wash Car
Saturday: Make sure there is a map, torch and first aid kit in the car
Sunday: Create vehicle maintenance log for each vehicle

Our car is normally quite clutter free.  We don't tend to eat or drink in it, except on long journeys, and they don't happen frequently. Even then we remove all of our rubbish at the end of the journey.

The things we need in our car might well be vastly different from other people. We live on a tiny island, and nowhere is more than a 30 minute drive from home. It's a very safe place to live, and if there was an emergency we would be able to go to any house and get assistance.

We now have a large torch in the boot, and a smaller one in the glove box. Our old first aid kit was old, and out of date. It was cheaper to replace the whole thing than restock it!  And whilst I was ordering a new first aid kit I also ordered a seat belt cutter/glass breaker. It's one of those things you hope you never need, but if you do need it, it's brilliant.

Two Hats of the Hatathon

The first two hats have been made, using the pattern Baby Hats. I've worked both hats in blue and white. The ribbing in blue. The design is worked by knitting two rounds in white. The third round is alternating stitches in blue and white. Rounds four and five are also in white. Then it flips, and this five round design is worked in blue with white flecks. The design is maintained through the crown decreases.

Company:  Patons

Yarn: Fairytale Colour 4 Me DK

Composition: Wool

Colour:  Turquoise

Company:  King Cole

Yarn: Merino Blend DK

Composition: Wool

Colour:  Cream

Pattern: Baby Hats

Size: Newborn
Needles: 4mm

Amount used:  22g for the smaller hat and 30g for the larger one

Started:  16th September 2017

Finished: 17th September 2017