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.

----

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.

A Mindful Person?

“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally.” Kabat-Zinn. 

It appears I'm actually quite a mindful person. Who have thunk it?! Whilst cycling this morning, I was captivated by the sky, and clouds. It claimed my attention for almost 5 minutes. It was a lovely, calm time, well until the music I was listening started speeding up. At that point I closed my eyes and allowed the music to take me where it willed. This involved some rather fast pedaling, and ended with a calm, yet energised. That's a good start to a day!

Mindfulness

Last night, I was looking through Amazon's reading recommendations, and spotted this little one. It was on sale for 99p, and I decided to take the plunge.

The first exercise is "In this exercise, the invitation is to pick as a focus of awareness a new aspect of life. You may really look at a particular leaf on a tree, or a stone, a flower, or a plant."

I tried, I really did. My focus was the parlour palm beside my chair in the sitting room. However, Madam Ava had other ideas. The chief amongst them was she should be the focus of my awareness, and strokes. This duly happened, and I pounded how our lives had changes since this beautiful dog joined us. I also thought about the family that felt compelled to give her up, and the love and attention shown to Ava at the MSPCA by staff and volunteers. 

It was indeed a calming five minutes, and one filled with gratitude.

Cycling Every Day (Or Not!)

One of my goals this month was to cycle every day. The aim was to start off with 1 minute on the first, 2 on the second etc. It was all going well until the 10th, and circumstances happened. I tried to do 21 minutes on the 11th, but managed about 15. On the 12th, I tried to reclaim the lost minutes, but failed. On the 13th, I wasn't feeling great, and no cycling was perpetrated, and well, it all came crashing down.

Part of me though, "This is not a problem, I can start over next month." But, another part of  me thought "Why the delay? The existing plan isn't working, so adapt. Change the plan. It doesn't have to be perfect, just a bit better than the current one. You can tweak it again and again, until it is serving your purpose."  "Oooooh!" thought a third part of me.

And so a new plan was created. This is a good plan, I like it. It allows for days when life is crazy, or when I am ill. It has the benefit of being simple.  Wanna hear the plan?

Each month, I am going to select an album, and then each day I will cycle for one song/track. The following day I'll use the next song, and then the next. If I miss a day due to business or illness I'll just skip it and not worry. If on any given day I want to cycle for longer, then that's great.

Christmas Has Been Saved!

Glory of glories! Isobel asked her friend where she had the information. It turns out it isn't the WI who are making a knitted Christmas tree, but she met a woman the Tynwald Fayre. THAT'S ME!  I am that woman!

When I heard Isobel had misunderstood and the WI hasn't hijacked my project I was ecstatic, I was dancing around at work!  Wheeeeeeeeeee!

Christmas Hijacked?!

At Yarnies this afternoon, I was asked what I was knitting, and explained a bit of the Christmas Tree for Refugee project. Isobel asked if I was doing it the Women's Institute. She told me they were making a Christmas tree for the airport, and the tree is made from green knitted squares.

My mind started racing. I had spoken to people in the WI a couple of years ago about this project. Maybe they thought I wasn't going to pursue the idea and decided to take it up. There's so many conflicting thoughts and emotions. I'm feeling bereft.

However, I don't feel there's anything I can do about it just now. I'll start making inquiries on Tuesday afternoon. All I can do it take this maelstrom, put it in a box and then revisit it later.

Free Audiobook

I have won a free audiobook!  It's The Lonely Heart Attack Wrinkly Olympics by JC Williams. I've read the book, and am now looking forward to listening to it too.

When reading it the first time, I had to go back and read the same paragraph three times as I could no longer see the text because some idiot was laughing too much that the Kindle was shaking!

Winnie Pooh

I'm practicing my Italian comprehension by listening to Winnie the Pooh in Italian. It's proving to be rather tricky to understand Pooh when he has his head stuck in a honey pot! 

The three most important things I have learned are: 'O rabbia' (oh bother), 'pensa, pensa, pensa' (think, think, think) ,and eating hunney cause people to get stuck in rabbit holes - don't eat hunney!

Sigma 19 Progress Report

At the start of the year, I signed up for a series of 19 self-set challenges. This is a little progress report. 

19 hat: 19 

18 hats: 18 

17 hats:  17

16 mittens: 15 made

15 fabric gift bags: 10 made 

14 finish or frog WIPs/UFOs: 10 frogged or finished 

13 hats: 10

12 new recipes: 10

Crispy Parmesan Chicken, Somerset Chicken, Parsnip and Apple Soup, Creamy Garlic and Parmesan Chicken, Salmon Florentine, Bacon and Cheese Puffs, Aromatic Chicken, Bakewell Cupcakes, Gluten-free pizza base

11 new places to visit: 6

10 areas to declutter: 6

Cupboard under the stairs, shower room, bathroom, back vestibule, Offspring’s wardrobe, sitting room 

9 read new books, rather than re-reading old ones: 9

Frank and Stan’s Bucket List, Frank and Stan’s Bucket List #2, Coming Home for Christmas, Spark Joy, The Joy of Less, Goodbye, Things (Would not recommend. It is incredibly self-obsessed, and the content is very shallow.), The Clocks, The Unexpected Guest, Resurrection: Skulduggery Pleasant 

8 quilts: 1 made 

7 techniques to learn or practise: 6 

Brioche stitch, Fair Isle, free motion quilting, flowers in a row, bubble pattern, fisherman’s rib in the round

6 gloves: 

5 new items of clothing to make for me:

4 stones lost (56lb): 20lb 

3 cardigans/sweaters knitted: 3 knitted 

2 hooded blankets: 

1 new language to start learning (British Sign Language)