December Goals - Review

Personal

Exercise has been happening. I've not managed to meet the 5 days a week goal, but I'm getting closer.

Vestibule
Nothing has happened, and it needs to.

Crafting

Various things were made, but not the tomtem, Christmas tree quilt, an cushion covers. I decide my sanity was more important than trying to get everything done. 

December Craftings

Toddler Hat
Started: 15th December 2018
Finished: 17th December 2018

Scissors and Needle Cases
Started: 18th November 2018
Finished: 17th December 2018

Blue and Grey Chunky Hat
Started: 18th December 2018
Finished: 18th December 2018

Hot Water Bottle Cover
Started: 19th December 2018
Finished: 19th December 2018

Christmas Stockings
Started: 22nd December 2018
Finished: 22nd December 2018

Brioche Scarf

Started: 23rd December 2018 

Finished:  27th December 2018

Doggy Day Bed
Started: 26th December 2018
Finished: 26th December 2018

Wine Flip Top Mittens
Started: 3rd December 2018
Finished: 29th December 2018

Wine in the Mist Hat
Started: 29th December 2019

Finished: 29th December 2019

Wine in the Mist Hat

Yarn: Deramores Studio Anti-pilling DK

Composition: Acrylic 100%

Colour: Wine 70045

Colour: Mist 70025

Pattern: Super Chunky Hat

Size: Adult

Needles: 10mm

Started: 29th December 2018

Finished: 29th December 2018

The yarns used are the leftovers from the Brioche Scarf and the Flip Top Mittens.

Doggy Day Bed

The cushions (throw pillows) on my sofas were decidedly old and needed to be replaced. I wasn’t sure what to do with them and tossed them into a corner of the dining room. Da Hound decided the cushions make a good ‘day bed’ for her whilst in the dining room, well, apart from them slipping and sliding with every twist and turn of her body.

A couple of nights ago, I sewed together the four cushions to make a ‘day bed’ for the dog. She was very interested in it, but was pawing at it, trying to work out what the cushions were not coming apart. She settled down, and pronounced it ‘Rather satisfactory’.

2018 Review

Irene at Sugaridoo was looking back at her year, and reviewing it. She asked three questions: what are you proud of; what mistakes did you make and learn from; what are you willing to let of in 2019?

Proud

I am proud of the charity knitting I have done. It makes me very happy to know that a good few people will be a little warmer because of things I have done. This is also tied into decluttering my craft supplies. My yarn stash has decreased again by making all of these items. I'm also proud of the health gains, and weight loss I have managed since September. Another area are the changes I have made regarding waste, switching to shampoo bars, using the refill service, cutting right back on cling film, Al foil and greaseproof paper. 

Mistakes and lessons

I am a massive procrastinator, and I am slowly learning to practise the idea of 'Do it now'. Another massive mistake was not speaking up in relationships. I need to learn to voice concerns.

Let go

I'm willing to let go of a lot more clutter, and to use up a lot of my fabric and yarn stash.  I'm willing to get go of body fat and bad health, and I'm willing to let go of butt-hurt feelings. 

This is going to take a great deal of work, but the benefits are huge. 

Brioche Scarf

Yarn: Deramores Studio DK

Composition: 100% acrylic

Colour: Mist (70025)

Pattern: Brioche Scarf

Size: Adult

Needles: 4mm

Started: 23rd December 2018 

Finished:  27th December 2018

Abbreviations:

k - knit

p - purl

s1p - slip one stitch purlwise

kb - knit into the stitch below

kfb - knit into the front and back of the stitch
ssk - slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together
p2tog - purl two stitches together

Using 4mm needles, cast on 3 sts.

Set up rows

1. S1p, k1, kfb

2. S1p, kb, p, k

Repeat section

Work the following 4 rows until the scarf is 28st wide.

1. S1p, (kb, p) repeat to last stitch, kfb

2. S1p, (p, kb) repeat to last 2 stiches, p, k

3. S1p, (kb, p) repeat to last 2 stitches, kb, kfb

4. S1p, (kb, p) repeat to last stitch, k

Main section

S1, (kb,p) repeat to last 2 stitches, p, k.
Repeat this row until the work measures 25cm from the last of the increases.

Cable twist

Slip 14 sts onto a cable needle. S1p, (kb,p) to the last stitch of the stitches on the main needle, kb. Then knit the stitches from the cable needle, (p, kb) to last 2 stitches, p, k. (Note: This produces a huge cable twist, and it will not stay in place by itself. I decided to secure the twist by sewing large buttons to both sides.)

Repeat the main section until the work measures 85cm from the last of the increases.

Cable twist (as above)

Repeat the main section until the work measures 110cm from the last of the increases.

Decreases
1. S1p, (kb, p) to last 3 stitches, ssk, k
2. S1p, (p, kb) to last 2 stitches, p. k
3. S1p, (kb, p) to last 3 stitches, p2tog, k
4. S1p, (kb, p) to last 2 stitches, p, k

Repeat these 4 rows until there are 4 stitches remaining on the needle, finishing with row 4. 

1. S1p, ssk, k
2. S1p, k2tog
3. P2tog

Cut the yarn, and draw it through the one remaining stitch. Weave in the ends. Sew on buttons to keep the cable twists in place.

Christmas Cakes 2018

This year's Christmas cake was chocolate sponge, sandwiched with fresh cream. It was decorated with chocolate ganache and chocolate trees. The trunk of the trees were Matchmakers, and the branches were white chocolate dyed green (using an oil-based food colour). Before the tree branches had set, they were sprinkled with tiny multicoloured sugar balls, an topped with a tiny white chocolate star.

I can't decide if I like this cake or not. The idea was originally to impress a design on the top, and allow the colouring to fill the grooves. I think it would have worked if I had used alcohol with the food colouring powder, but as a friend who is a recovering alcoholic was coming round, I decided not to use alcohol. The result was a liquid that was too thick to drip into the groves, and too wet. Instead of being groovy, I decide to go for a smear. 

The leaves were made using my holly and plunge cutters, and by mixing up different colours of fondant. The Elder Offspring gave me some wibbly wobbly packing foam. After the leaves were cut they were draped over the foam to give them some life and shape. The leaves look great!  Still not sure about the blood smear.

WIPs and UFOs

A list needs to be created. I fear I am going to have a very long one!

For the moment, the highest priority items are the flip top mittens and scarf for the Elder Offspring, and adding a cuff to the Christmas stockings. (I totally forgot about the cuff when I was making them!)

The WIPs and UFOS List
wine flip top mittens (done)
dove grey scarf (done)
Christmas tree wall hanging
fabric gift bags already cut out
Muppets baby quilt
Doctor Who cross stitch

There are more, but I can't think of them of the top of my head

Ongoing Projects
knitted Christmas tree
mittens and gloves

The Oooooh, I Wanna Make List
dove grey flip top mittens
lavender and lace quilt
dog snooze bed for dining room (done)
appliqued cushion covers
fabric gift bags for the Elder Offspring
quilted wreath to place under the pine cone wreath (it needs some green)
brioche sweater for me
Norwegian sweater for the beloved
embroidered tops for Christmas stockings 
Cutting Corners quilt 
TARDIS quilt

There are definitely more I want to make.

Cutting Corners Quilt

I don't know if it was a good idea putting the Elder Offspring in the same room as my fabric stash!  To add to my list of projects, I have agree to adding a cross stitch topper to the Christmas stockings, making gift bags in the same fabrics as the stockings, and also a new single bed quilt.

It will be made in the colour palette above, teals and greys, with a few more greeny tones thrown in for good measure. The pattern is Cutting Corners. My modification is I shall be making the pattern en pointe. The border will be a charcoal grey.

Nollick Ghennal

A very merry Christmas to one and all.

I've been so busy making things that I'm sitting here thinking, "What shall I make next?" My head is buzzing with ideas.

But, yesterday I was over-optimistic in my ideas about how many gift bags I might be able to make, and so cut out a few too many. Ooops. After I have finished the flip top mittens and scarf I shall finish those gift bags. We all agreed it was so much simpler dropping a gift in a fabric gift bag than wrapping it in paper. 

The Elder Offspring would rather like some gift bags of her own. I'll make some in the same fabrics as her Christmas stocking.

Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings were requested, and stockings have just been finished.

Spark a Light

Alexander den Heijer wrote: "You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you."

I was driving myself bananas trying to work out if I could finish the scarf for the Elder Offspring for Christmas morning. She has no expectation of the scarf being ready this year, let alone for Christmas. I realised I wanted to impress her and appear to be Super-Mammy. Whilst I am a super mam, I'm also a daft one. The scarf can wait; there's things I need to do for Christmas. The scarf can be finished later.

'Tis time to spark a few lights. I'm off to make a couple of Christmas stockings.

Ava's Christmas

Ava has been with us just over a year. She is now very much part of our pack, and she loves it when we are all together, especially when we go out for a walk.

The first few nights she was with us she slept in the sitting room, and we could tell where she had been by looking at the pattern of white hair. Then, we started noticing an increase in the hair on the blue carpet outside the bedroom doors. That's when we took her unused bed from the sitting room and put it in our bedroom. When we called her up to bed that night she ran up the stairs, saw her bed and launched herself at it. That was really a 'Yes. This is MY home.' moment.

Last Trip to the Craft Shop Before Christmas

1. Buy Christmas fabrics

2. Go shopping in town

3. Start Christmas stockings

4. Make soup

5. Wash kitchen floor

How Water Bottle Cover

I'm so glad this project is finished. It was started yesterday, and when I tried it on the hot water bottle this morning, it was too small!  My spirits took a huge nose dive, and I was most unhappy. Then, the postie rang the doorbell; he had a yarn delivery. There's three balls of soft grey, and a rainbow of loveliness!  

Spirits lifted, and a new, well-fitting hot water bottle cover was created. The cover has a flap in the back where the hot water bottle is inserted, and the hot water is inserted via the top.

I'm very pleased with the binding - very neat. It's the first time in years I've used a commercial binding, and it worked beautifully. I'm also very pleased with my pattern matching.

Making Presents

1. Finish Dad's gift

2. Post gifts

3. Sweep kitchen floor

4. Tidy kitchen

5. Make soup stock

Aaaargh! The hot water bottle cover is too small! Back to the drawing board. 

Yeah! A second hot water bottle cover has been made. The gifts have been wrapped and posted.

The floor has been swept, the kitchen tidied, and the stock is bubbling away.

Blue and Grey Chunky Hat

Yarn: three random, bandless balls

Composition: 100% wool, and 100% acrylic

Colour: blue and grey

Pattern: Super Chunky Hat

Size: Adult

Needles: 10mm

Started: 18th December 2018 

Finished:  18th December 2018

Due to the amount of yarn available, the hat was made by knitting 28 rounds. The decreases were compressed too. A round of k2tog, p2tog, was worked. Then next two rounds were k2tog, and the end of yarn drawn through the live stitches. The end was then fastened off and woven in.

A Day of Doing

I've chosen five things to do today: make my Dad's Christmas present (a hot water bottle cover), sort out the laundry, get to grips with presents bought,  food shopping,  and make gift bags. 

Presents have been bought for the Elder Offspring's partner. They will be delivered to his parents' house (so much easier for EO than collecting from the Post Office). I realised I'm a tad short of presents for EO. We bought her a footstool as a Christmas present when we were over in England, but that means she doesn't have it to open on Christmas morning. It also means she doesn't have to try to get it home again though. So far, there's a book and a couple of tiny things to open on Christmas day. There will also be a new Christmas stocking and flip-top mittens. Perhaps it's time to visit her Amazon wish list.

Laundry has been started. Dried clothes have been taken to the bedroom (and dumped on the bed). A new load of dirty clothes have been sorted. I'm off to dry the wet clothes, and wash the clothes I've just sorted. 

Then, it will be time to make the hot water bottle cover...

The laundry has been done, presents sorted, the hot water bottle cover started, and then brought low by a stinky head ache, and sore back. Half a hat was knitted, food thought about, and one gift bag made.

After dinner, I'll make a shopping list, the Beloved and Younger Offspring will shop, and I'll stay home, finishing the hat. Tomorrow, I'll finish the hot water bottle cover, and post it, along with the gifts for my parents. I'll also see about making some more gift bags.

20 Days Mental Wellness

I have really enjoyed the 20 Days of Mental Wellness Challenge. There have been days when it has been very easy, and others where a considerable amount of effort was required. The challenge as a whole has been great, and I'm feeling refreshed by it, which is quite a thing to say 9 days before Christmas.

I'll definitely be repeating this in the not too distant future.

My Christmas Wish

Quilting Digest posted on facebook, "All I want for Christmas is more time to quilt." This got me to thinking about my Christmas wish. I realised I want my super power of procrastination be taken away. Just think how much I could get done if I didn't faff around so much!

The 'Just do it!' challenge on Sunday, and yesterday's finishing of the scissors and needle cases made me realise, I am the one who can take away my power of procrastination. I'm super awesome at procrastinating. Could this possibly be because I practise it on an almost daily basis?!  What would happen if each day was a 'Just do it!' day?

I'm going to take this Christmas wish, and turn it into a fantastic present for myself. Obviously, I will need to practise, and I plan to do it in this week before Christmas. When Christmas comes, I'll be able to give myself a wonderful gift.

Cases for Needles and Scissors

Way back in November, I started a Scissors Case for my Mam. I decided to make a needle case too. Yesterday, as my 'Just do it!' challenge, I finished the cross stitch work. Today, the projects were completed.

Hope she likes them.

Don't Overthink

I have repeated been told 'You think too much.' My internal response has almost always been 'And you could do with giving thinking a go!' Some people are thinkers, others are do-ers, and most oscillate between the two at different times.

To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what people meant by the phrase "Don't overthink it." A little bit of Googling resulted in "When you think too much, instead of acting and doing things, you are overthinking. " I have a problem with the whole concept of 'thinking too much'. Brains are meant for thinking, that's what make us different from many other species. How can a brain 'think too much'?!  There's no such thing. I often think at the expense of acting and doing. However, it's the planning and prep that means when I do act, it's done well. For me, thinking and planning are far better than making a mess of things a few times before getting it right.

The article went on to say "When you analyze, comment and repeat the same thoughts over and again, instead of acting, you are overthinking." Ah ha! This I get, this I understand, this is a definition I can get behind. It makes sense. It's also something I'm already working on. Yup, I can do this.

Just Do it!

"Do one thing you have been putting off."

Yes, the Christmas presents for my parents! Technically, that's three things, but they are all lumped together. Today is the day! It's time. It's beyond time.

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And, 5 hours later, it's still not done. I am really good at the procrastination thing.

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It's done!  The cross stitch has been completed. Tomorrow will be another 'Just do it' day, and the cases for the scissors and needles will be completed. I hope to also make my Dad's hot water cover.

Make a Wholesome Breakfast

Making a wholesome breakfast is a tricky prospect when I am not having breakfast just now. There's two possibilities, I can make a wholesome meal for when I break my fast, or I can make a lovely breakfast for Ava. Oooh!  A third possibility is rearing its head. I could do both!

Ava has thoroughly enjoyed her breakfast of fried eggs, cheese and biscuits. I shall think up something lovely to have for the breaking of my fast. Hmm... there's a cauliflower 'pizza' base in the freezer. Perhaps I could make a low carb 'pizza' later.

A Big List of Things To Do Before Christmas

There's a big list of things to do before Christmas.

wash towels
dry towels
finish small red mittens
finish green knitted square
tidy kitchen
wash kitchen floor
bring bin closer to the house
change bedding
wash bedding
dry bedding
change bedding in guest room
wash bedding from guest room
dry bedding from guest room
declutter and tidy 
clean guest room

Buy Yourself Flowers

A simple task today - buy myself flowers.

A little problem - I don't want flowers. Our Christmas decorations are up, and I don't feel the need to add flowers into the mix. 

I was thinking instead about some outdoor plants, and then a light bulb turned on. Instead of buying cut flowers, I could buy winter bedding plants and these could be enjoyed much longer. It turns out this light bulb was on a dimmer switch, and the idea could be even brighter. I'm going to buy some bedding plants for Cat's front garden. This will give joy to both of us.

Done! A raised bed was cleared, and winter pansies and daffodil bubs planted.

Don't Complain!

The challenge was "go the entire day without complaining". I don't think I managed it. There was a little incident after dinner when the Beloved was asked a question, and he didn't respond. This really, really bugs me. I don't know if he has heard, is thinking about it, has decided upon something and hasn't yet shared the information, or whether he is ignoring me. We had a little discussion about this and it was resolved by the following:

Me: You're a poo poo head.

Him: Your poo poo head.

That seemed to sum it all up, and everything was fine again.

When I was looking for images to use with this blog post, they were all rather wordy. A few made me stop and think. One I really liked was "Happy people don't complain." and this is true. The unhappier I am, the more I complain.

I also liked "Don't be a complainer - make things better." This could well be my motto for next year! An interesting one was "Don't complain about things you are unwilling to change." "Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time and energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier."

Some thought provoking stuff!

Plan a Coffee Date with a Friend

Cat came round for coffee, and it was good to catch up and find out what's been happening in her life. Listening, and being listened to can make such a difference. The same is true of sharing experiences.

It's good to sit and have coffee with a friend.

Mittens for Toddlers

Using 4mm needles, cast on 28st, join.

Work 14 rounds of 2x2 rib, then 1 round of stocking stitch.

1. Kfb, kfb, k to end. (30sts)
2. K (and all even rounds)
3. Kfb, k2, kfb, k to end. (32sts)
5. Kfb, k4, kfb, k to end. (34sts)
7. Kfb, k6, kfb, k to end. (36sts)
9. Kfb, k8, kfb, k to end. (38sts)
11. Kfb, k10, kfb, k to end. (40sts)
12. K
13. K2, place stitch marker, slip 10sts onto scrap yarn, k to end (30sts)
The stitch marker will now become the begining of the round.
14. K15, place second stitch marker.
15. K
16. K
17. K

Shaping for top of mitten
18. K1, ssk, k to 3sts before marker, k2tog, k1, k1, ssk, k to 3sts before marker, k2tog, K1.
19. K

Repeat rounds 18 and 19 until 14 stitches remain. Break yarn leaving a tail, and then graft the top closed. 

Thumb
Place the 10sts from the scrap yarn back onto the needles, and work 6 rounds of stocking stitch. Then repeately work k2tog on the next round. Break off the yarn, leaving a tail, and draw the tail through the 5 live stitches. Pull in tight and weave in the ends.

Get Up 30 Minutes Early

I didn't get up 30 minutes early to pray, but to make tomato and lentil soup for the Beloved's lunch. Frittatas were also made. Ava had some for breakfast, and the Beloved took a couple to add to his soup and salad lunch.

Making a good packed lunch is a way of saying 'I love you'. It's a way of showing care. It's also a way of finding out just how little there salad stuff and veggies there are in the fridge. I need to go shopping today!

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I'm really enjoying these challenges. They are not big, or hard, but need me to stop for a moment and think. I'm looking forward to 'buy yourself some flowers' and 'make a healthy breakfast'.

Send Five Encouraging Messages

Send five encouraging messages - sounds simple, but when life is complicated and your stomach is in knots thinking of others can be really hard. Finding the time, the mental energy and what to say can all be hard.

However, getting out of your own head-space can be so refreshing. Thinking of friends, what's going on in their lives, and sending encouragement is almost as good as sitting down for coffee or tea with them.

Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Emails

I managed to be a little ahead of the game and unsubscribed from a number of email lists in one account. It's now time to do the other. It does make a difference not being swamped by emails I'm not interested in.

The second account has been cleared too. Some companies make it extremely difficult to find the 'unsubscribe' button. For two, I had to search the page for the words. One that I rather liked gave the unsubscribe option first, but also offered to pause emails for 1 week, 1 month or 3 months. I could see those choices being very useful to some.

Enjoy the Sun, Eat Lunch Outside

The forecast says there's a storm coming in. Firework displays, lantern parades and the ferry have all been cancelled. I had anticipated the sun being in short supply too. But it's there, it's shining. the skies are blue and there's white fluffy clouds scudding about. I decided to have a late breakfast outside to enjoy it all.

However, it's early winter, and the temperature has been brought a bit lower by the wind. I was able to eat my bowl of cinnamon porridge with strawberries. The plan had been to finish a couple of knitted squares - weaving in the ends is a job that is best done soon after each square has been completed. A warming bowl of porridge is quite a different beast than weaving in ends. Defeat reared its chilly head, and I headed back inside.

Inside is wonderful. Inside is warm. Inside means I can look out at the sunshine and bright blue sky, and think, "I'm so glad I'm inside."

Get Rid of Five Things

This morning started off well, getting rid of some baby powder (I didn't like the smell) and an old asthma inhaler. It took a turn for the worse when I blocked two people from Facebook, and then it swung around again when I decided to give up my pain. 

I Googled "How to let go". This article claimed to be a five minute read, but I found it was more like a solid 30 minutes of challenging work. 

For the last 17 months I have been incredibly butt-hurt, and instead of dealing with the problem I ran from it, or perhaps more accurately, I hid. Strange enough, hiding doesn't solve problems. I realised I need to do some work on how I react to situations that could become confrontational, or might hurt my feelings. In essence, I need to become more mature in how I deal with relationships. I've started the process of forgiving them, and myself, for our mistakes.

I had no idea today would be so challenging. However, I am choosing to be happy. I am choosing to say goodbye to pain, and I'm choosing to have a better life.

Watch the Sun Set

Today's challenge is "Slow down, sit and watch the sunset." Sunset is at 15.57 this afternoon, and given how overcast and wet the weather is, I suspect I shan't be venturing out. Instead, I'll watch youtube and listen to calm, soothing music.

In other news, I have spots! 

The doctor has had a look at them and declared “Nah, they don’t look like shingles. They looks like spot-spots. Here look at the pictures from WebMD. See?! Yeah, you’re fine.”

So, the recap is I’m fine, but with spot-spots and a mild case of sneezing and a slightly elevated temperature. Tomorrow we’ll check to see if it looks like Black Death.

I don’t know what makes a man with a PhD in Computational Geo-Physics an expert in spots, but he seemed really convinced.

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Going outside for a sunset didn't happen, but I have been watching one on youtube. It was a sunset over the sea. The combinations of changing colours and the sounds of the waves on the sand. It was blissful, so calm, so peaceful.