Cat's Kitty Socks

Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend 4ply
Composition: 100% Wool
Colour: Black
Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend 4ply
Composition: 100% Wool
Colour: Pale Grey
Yarn: King Cole Merino Blend 4ply
Composition: 100% Wool
Colour: Pink
Pattern: Cat's Kitty Socks
Size: adult
Needles: 2.5mm
Amount used: 100g
Started: 29th Aug 2019
Finished: 2019

This is a reworking of YinYang Kitty Ankle Socks by Inorgaknit. 

Using 2.5mm needles, cast on 64sts. Join.

Work in 2x2 rib for 20 rounds.

Declutter The Understairs Cupboard

It's time once again to declutter the understairs cupboard. It was done earlier this year, but quite a number of items were put back in the cupboard to be donated to a charity shop in good time for Christmas. This feels like a good time.

I've recently decluttered the sitting room again, and there's a pile of games we no longer play waiting to go to a charity shop. It would be good for this collection of stuff to leave the house tomorrow.

I love the feeling of space that's generated when things leave. Last week I was feeding a friend's cats. Her house is physically the mirror image of mine. She is also a maximalist. It was fun seeing so many interesting things in her kitchen, but I could not live with that much stuff. I greatly prefer a tranquil space.

Breast Cancer Screening

I don't want to do it. I don't want to go. However, it's one of these things that is necessary.

A few years ago, a friend was asked to be part of a pre-50 breast screening trial. In her screening, cancer was found. It was far too small to have been detected by monthly self-examination. If it had been left until she was 50 her treatment would have been far more invasive, and her prognosis nowhere near as good.

I still don't want to go, but I will go. Partly it is out of respect for my friend. 

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Done! That's it over for another two years. 

Cry Me A RIver

And the rain fell. It surely fell!

At the weekend, there had been some heavy rain, and with a major rainfall (two weeks rain in 1 hour), the water was not able to soak into the hills, or flow into the drains. It ran off into rivers, and along roads.

Laxey was originally a little fishing village at the bottom of a glen. As the population grew, houses were built up the sides of the valley. The roads to the houses often proved to be the path of least resistance, and the rain falling on the hills very quickly drained into the river. There was just too much water for the river and drains to cope.

In the picture above, there's a digger in the river, and what appears to be a second river flowing alongside the original. The Department of Infrastructure had breached the wall by the river, and placed the digger in the river. The intention was to excavate some of the river bed to make flooding less likely. However, the timing was such that the digger became part of the problem. The water was not able to flow as quickly as it had to navigate around the blockage of the digger. Also, the breach in the wall meant water was able to escape the river at a higher point than it would have done if there had been a whole wall, and no digger.

The Beloved was on-call and was out in Laxey helping people. He set up a rest station in the local church, and also deployed sand bag to help divert water.

October Goals

1. finish Christmas stockings
2. write and publish the 'Simply' patterns
3. sweep the kitchen floor every day
4. blog every day

September Review

1. start Lilo and Stitch's quilt

2. finish Christmas stockings

3. finish two pairs of fingerless mittens

4. write and publish the 'Simply' patterns

A start was definitely made on the quilt, but it's far from finished. 

The stockings now need the cuff sewn to the tops of the stockings, and the binding put on.

Two pairs of fingerless mittens were indeed made, and six hats, and another two pairs of mittens.

The 'Simply patterns have not been written.

Atelier 6

Look what's arrived!

It's time to play!

I'm just wondering if I should warn the family that there will be no dinner provided today.

Time for Tea!

A lovely addition to my life, a new teapot. I drink either herbal infusions or loose-leaf tea almost every day. A teapot is a requirement. 

Sadly, my old teapot was no longer up to the task. A few weeks ago, I realised the collar (bit that the lid sits on) had a crack in it. As the collar is plastic it wasn't a big deal, but yesterday, I noticed the plastic sleeve also had a large crack. This had the potential to be far more dangerous. 

While the Beloved was making a pot of tea (in the new teapot) he checked to see the extent of the crack. There was not one but two, on opposite sides. The cracks extended about 90% of the up the sleeve. It really feels as if a nasty accident was only a few days away. Thank goodness we noticed in time! 500ml of boiling water in free fall is not fun!

Starting To Prepare for Christmas Dinner

I think I might have been bitten by the gardening bug. A few days ago I was learning about new potatoes for Christmas dinner. This idea pleased me. 

A bout 10cm of potting compost is placed in the bottom of a large container. Seed potatoes are placed on top, and then covered with potting compost. As the shoots grow up through the compost more compost is added. This continual banking up of the growing medium produces a good yield of potatoes.  

I feel the need to give it a go.

Sew MuchTo Do, Sew Little Time

There's a sale of sewing machines, machines suitable for garments and also quilting. A beautiful new shiny toy is now on order for me.

I want it now! I want to make so many things!

Green Beans!

I still get very excited going into the garden and picking veggies!  

Today, we added fresh green beans to dinner. From plant to pot was less than 5 minutes. There's also an extensive crop of lettuce, and oodles upon oodles of flowers and tiny green tomatoes. I'm looking forward to being able to adding them to my salads.

Simply A Hat

Yarn: King Cole Drifter Magnum Chunky

Composition: 25% Wool, 75% Premium Acrylic

Colour: Berry

Pattern: Simply a Hat

Size: adult

Needles: 6mm

Amount used: 100g

Started: 1 Sep 2019

Finished: 2 Sep 2019

This is a part of a series of designs I have been working on. They are for those just starting out in knitting, or those who like the designs. The pattern has been knitted twice. The first version is in English sentences, and the second in how it would appear in a conventional pattern.

The hat uses the following: cast on, cast off, knit (k), knit 2 together (k2tog) and yarn over (yo).

Using 6mm needles, cast on 38 sts. 

The hat is made from two rows of pattern. The first row is knit 3 stitches, knit 2 together, yarn over, and then knit the rest of the stitches in that row. In the second row, every row is knit.

Repeat these two rows until 120 rows have been knit. Cast off. Leave a tail of yarn around 30cm, and cut the yarn. This yarn will be used to sew the hat together.

The knitting will be a rectangle, with a row of holes near the edge of one side; this is the top. Fold the knitting in half and sew the short sides together. Sew in the other end.

Take a cord and thread through the row of holes at the top. Pull the cord tightly. This will gather the top of the hat and produce a pom pom-like effect. Fasten of the cord. Fold up a brim on the hat, and it is complete.

The cord can be crocheted, twisted, a piece of ribbon, or some strong elastic. If elastic is used, the hat can be worn with a ponytail poking out the top.

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Using 6mm needles, cast on 38sts.

1. K3, k2tog, yo, k to end.

2. K.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 a total of 60 times.

Cast off, leaving a tail of yarn to sew up the side.

Sew the short sides together. Weave in ends of yarn.

Thread a cord through the row of eyelets.  

Christmas Tree Update

On Saturday, I took part in the "Our Island, Our World" festival. There was lots of interest from people wanting to know why there was a Christmas tree on display at the end of August.

Yesterday, I created a Pinterest board for the project. It was lots of suitable patterns for mittens, gloves, wrist warmers and hats. And then , I started a Facebook group.

So much interest!

September Goals

1. start Lilo and Stitch's quilt

2. finish Christmas stockings

3. finish two pairs of fingerless mittens

4. write and publish the 'Simply' patterns

Decluttering in August

Only one of the Declutter 365 tasks for August fitted with my needs (declutter guest room). Therefore, I headed back to the start, and began tackling the kitchen once again. It's been really good to see how many areas are working well, and bring me joy. And of course, it's good to revisit what's been done previously and give it a little more love.

The tasks completed in August are:
1. Declutter your kitchen sink and organize the sink area
2. Clear off kitchen counters
3. Declutter and organise freezer 

4. Declutter and organise fridge

5. Declutter or exchange excess coins from change jars

6. Declutter and organise herbs and spices

7. Declutter and organise cutlery drawer

8. Declutter and organize ziplock bags, foil, and plastic wrap

9. Declutter small kitchen appliances

10. Declutter and organise potholders and kitchen towels

11. Declutter shelf above radiator

12. Declutter food storage containers

13. Declutter and organize bakeware

14. Declutter and organise canned food
15. Declutter other shelf-stable food

16. Declutter front and top of refrigerator and freezer

Kitty Socks

Whilst on Pinterest I saw some fabulous socks, YinYang Kitty Ankle Socks by Inorgaknit. The decision to knit them was made then and there, and I promptly bought the yarn. I was however very good and didn't cast on until I had finished the project I was working on.

It was at that point I realised the socks were made toe up, with a short row heel, and intarsia for the details. That isn't going to happen. Instead, I shall keep the look of the socks, but they will be longer in the leg, have heel flaps, and Swiss darning will be used rather than intarsia.

New Watch

Telling the time at work has been difficult. When I worked in an Administrator I placed a clock on the wall of my office. As I was using a computer most of the time, my eyes could scoot down to the bottom right of the screen to see the time. At home, I'm normally in the sitting room, with a nice large wall clock, or near my computer or phone.

At work, it's different. There's a clock in the office, but I don't like popping the office just to see the time. I tried carrying my phone with me, but it is quite heavy, and women's clothing does not have many pockets of a suitable size for carrying phones. I'm going to be making some new clothes and will address the pocket situation, but for now, I have a new watch.

It's probably about 20 years since I last wore a watch. The leather is stiff and creaky, and it feels weird.

Walnut Cake Traybake

Notes

The last few times I've been making cakes they have been baked in aluminium foil tray. These are really useful as the cakes can be easily transported in the tray, and also served from them. If the person cutting/serving the cakes is careful the foil trays can be used multiple times. IF they are not so careful, the trays can be placed in the recycling box. 

However, each time I have used the trays I haven't taken note of the quantities to use. Today was an experiment, and I've come to the conclusion that a 4 egg sponge is about spot on. 

Ingredients

200g sugar

200g butter

200g gluten-free SR flour

4 medium eggs

200g walnut halves

50g butter

50g cream cheese

200g icing sugar

Method 

Pre-heat oven to 180C. Set aside 15 of the prettiest walnuts and reserve for decoration. Beat 200g of butter, and 200g of sugar until light and fluffy. Whilst the mixer is attending to this, break the remaining walnuts into pieces. Add then to the butter and sugar. Then add the flour and eggs. Mix well.  Spread the cake mixture into the aluminium tray. Bake for 25 mins, or until the top is golden and the cake cooked. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before decorating.

Cream 50g of butter, 50g of cream cheese and the icing sugar, until well mixed and glossy. Spread the icing onto the cooled cake. Add 15 walnut halves in a regular grid pattern. This will facilitate cutting the cake into nice regular portions.

Simply A Hoot

Yarn: King Cole Dollymix 

Composition: 100% Acrylic 

Colour: Taupe Pattern: Simply A Hoot

Needles: 4mm 

Amount used: 100g 

Started: 25 Aug 2019 

Finished: 25 Aug 2019 

This owl was designed to be suitable for a brand new knitter. The ability to cast on, knit and cast off are all the knitting skills required. 

Using 4mm needles, cast on 25sts.

Knit 100 rows.

Cast off, and cut the yarn, leaving a tail of around 20cm.

Notes: I would recommend using a smooth, lighter coloured yarn. This will allow the new knitter to see their work clearly. Once the knitter is feeling more confident, darker yarn, or self-patterning ones can be used.

Poor Pooch

Da Hound is feeling a little sorry for herself.  There were some GI problems yesterday, and she decided the only thing she would eat was ice cream. She didn't even want yogurt, or scrambled eggs.

Today, she has had some chicken, but required a little coaxing. I'm currently thinking about recipes that will tempt a dog's palate.