Not My Birthday BUT..............

These goodies arrived the other day from my daughter Julie. It isn't even my birthday so what a surprise. A small pot of Manuka honey, some lovely Wool Company Wool, Mangrove colourway , a pair of handmade slippers, the cutest little pear pincushions, I have tried to make these but the work that goes into them was beyond me! A tea tote in lovely lime green that had 2 ginger and lemon tea-bags in. I have made these and were quite straight forward even for me. I am on my 4th fair isle hat and am loving the black which makes Vintage Purls yarn looks like jewels.

Having a day at home today to do lots of chores baking etc , its now raining and my third lot of washing is on........ Oh well that is Spring for you!

Greymouth Break

Water feature at the CCS house in Greymouth

Have just arrived back from 4 nights away in Greymouth with my D and family. We arrived to freezing cold, rain and hail! That was just the start of it as at 4 35 am we were awoken by a strong quake and being in a new house were disorientated and I couldnt find the door. Soon after my cell rang and it was my D living in Christchurch hysterical asking if we were okay as they had had a massive quake 7.1 and everything had come down. Her small daughter was thrown from her bed! They were unhurt and the house seems to be okay but with the intensity of aftershocks happening that may change they are all traumatized especially now her husband has had to return to work. They still cant shower and are boiling all water and cant flush toilets. They are still in survival mode. They are hoping to see some Porta Loos soon! The roads in their area are bad as the river is just at the end of their street, fissures and cracks in roads and ground. It was an absolute miracle that no one was killed because at 4 35 am most people were asleep. I wish they would move out but not easy with 2 dogs and 3 cats.

Here are a few pics they sent last night some are near them. The cracked road is down the end of their street and there are lots of these sand volcano's everywhere.

I am just thankful they are okay. I am off to update my survival kit!

Apart from that we had a relaxing weekend even though it rained most of the time.

We took the kids to the pools and were most impressed with them and the amount of help given for people with disabilities, even had a wheelchair that went right

down a ramp into the pool! They even turned on the hydroslide

for the kids, they had a great time. First class A1 to them.

It was nice to see the daffodils out too when I returned home a nice bit of colour in the garden

Finished

I really mixed this pattern up, in a good and not so good way. Made a few mistakes but was liking the colours and decided to do a few stripes on the top I really love it but the tension was a bit too tight and barely fits Joel. I have already started another for Georgia as she thinks it is trendy. My gauge so much better and will probably fit me now I decided to go up a size! cant win..... but I will get it right.

Tangled Up

Dull rainy day today just right for baking and some knitting. I have got a loaf of bread rising and have just made some Date Scones. I just added a cup of chopped dates to dry ingredients

.

Elfin Scones

450 gr S.R flour (eg 3 1/2 cups flour 6 tsp B. P

1tsp salt

50 gr butter

350 mil milk

Stir mixture of flour salt B.P. Rub butter into flour make well in centre and add milk I usually put a little water in the milk. Stirring quickly and lightly to soft dough. Turn onto floured board and knead lightly 10 times with fingertips. Roll to 15mm 3/4-inch thickness and shape as desired. Glaze tops with milk and beaten egg Bake 230 (450) for 10-15 mins.

Been trying to use up some of my odds and ends of sock yarn and found this pattern Mini Mochi Fair-isle Hat and Mittens Pattern. Trying to practice stranded work it takes me ages to do a row and my finger is full of puncture holes! and my yarn is all tangled I suppose practice will make perfect . It will be interesting to see how the gauge goes as it is looking quite small.

Well the sun is trying to come out to brighten up the day cant believe that we have had quite a mild winter and it is the first day of spring in a couple of days!

Sunday Market Shawl

What a super pattern, very clever. Sunday Market Shawl Stockinette quite boring but how lovely is it to unravel those dropped stitches!. Cast on 36 stitches and only used about 65g and it measures out at 62”x12” with a lovely drape will be making this one again for sure.I didnt even block it just washed it and laid it out straight! Only took me just over 1 day I used 4 ply for this but you could do it any weight. Love the colour of this "Sealing Wax" from Vintage Purls as always

Finally on the mend from the flu thank goodness,It is nice to get out of the house again. It seems to be doing its rounds here at present.

Spring is almost on its way, I have found several daffodils just budding after having years dormant Yay some colour at last.

May be going away next weekend with the family to the coast (Greymouth) so I am looking forward to that.

Have a good weekend all

Blessings

Something New

Yesterday I decided that I needed to try some stranded colourwork before I tackled any of the V P designs for birds and bugs from the Sock Clubs.

I found this pattern on Ravelry, Fair Isle Flower Socks They looked easy enough for a first project and trying my hand at knitting with 2 yarns one in right throwing the yarn and the other continental knitting , it was a bit fiddly at first but soon got the hang of it . I only used the motif pattern, and knit the rest using my basic sock pattern. It was miles too tight and my GD who is 8 could barely get it over her heel. My tension must be soo tight, I think the problem is I have just started knitting magic loop on one circular needle and it has made my tension much tighter than DPNS. Also the continental style is very tight. The other sock I am going to try DPNs and see how I go.( I found that using DPNS made the tension okay still a little tight though may have to try larger circs)I must admit I love doing this colourwork once I get the tension sorted.

It is a beautiful day here in Nelson as we had a very hard frost, but beautiful sunny morning. I went for a long walk quite early, must do this more often to enjoy this lovely walk seeing the snow capped mountains. We very often miss seeing what is right on our doorstep!

2nd Instalment of Winter Sock Club

These arrived this week and the colours are lovely as usual, the pattern more than a little challenging but really amazing. I have never done colourwork before but would like to give it a go perhaps one day soon. In the parcel was some lovely chocs and some gift tags, which I am sure I will use! Well done Morag.

I also finished my 'Esmeralda Theodora's' these are a gift for my DD birthday soon. Still having problems finding ribbon for these.

I also made a pair of toe up ankle socks for GD they turned out great.

This week I have been teaching my G D to make some of these little cuties. They use a bottle cork and are so easy to make, she learnt how to do purls decreases and cast off. She is very proud of them.

It has been a lovely week this week with lots of sunshine and a few frosts. Made a nice meal last night of Curried Meatballs and Satay Sauce.

Meatballs And Spicy Peanut Sauce

Cooking time 15 mins.

Microwave time 8 mins.

400g mince

1 onion finely diced

1 teas each of ground ginger and chicken stock

Salt & pepper

1 cup fresh bread crumbs

1 egg

I add a few more dried bread crumbs if mixture is wet

2 tsp curry powder

Sauce

½ cup peanut butter

2 tlbs soy sauce

1 tlbs hot chili sauce or ½ tsp chili powder

¼ cup tomato sauce

1 cup water

400 grams Spaghetti

Method

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Use wet hands to form into balls.

Bake 180 for 15 mins.

combine sauce ingredients heat until almost boiling. Pour over the meatballs, serve with noodles or spaghetti.

More Theodora's

This week has been all about socks. I was lucky enough to get this delicious yarn from Vintage Purls called Esmeralda, I was looking for something to knit the Theodora pattern again and this is how they are turning out. I really like this pattern and I am getting used to toe ups. I am in a hurry to get them finished for R s Birthday, hope I have better luck finding some ribbon this time have none in my stash that works. I also finished a pair of plain socks in another V P yarn, lepanto, lovely shades of blue black and green. Which looks even better knitted up, goes great with Jeans, this one is for me.

I have already cast on for the beret pattern Calvados This is a design by Sheryl Greenfield that I won in a competition on her blog here. I am loving how this is knitting up, the wool I got off of Trademe its a thicker wool than required but seem to be working out okay. It is lovely and soft with a silver sheen running through it.

Been a bit of a sad week this week, my nephew died suddenly in the UK he was such a lovely guy. Times like this you wish you were closer. I am so pleased I got to catch up with him when he visited N Z a few years ago..... good memories.

Well the sun is trying to break though but it is very weak, good weather to sit and knit and get those WIPs finished.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Blessings.....

Frosty and Sunny Day

Hard frost this morning -2 deg Brr! Been fighting a cold this week but finally on the mend. Have been eating lots of kiwifruit and hot lemon and honey drinks. The lemons came from Lindsey's friend Kathy's tree ....... thanks Kathy!

I purchased another skein of Vintage Purls sock wool Colourway

Sealing Wax, lovely as ever. I also got some Knit Pro fixed circulars to try my hand at doing my socks Magic Loop. I think it will take a bit of getting used as I have always done them on DPNS. My fingers resemble pin cushions as the points are sooo sharp.

I am trying them out doing my new Daphne sock pattern. I am finding it really hard doing the toe up socks using turkish cast on I suppose it is more practice makes perfect. The wool I am using is Coccon a 4 ply baby wool that I think will suit this pattern. I also finished a pair of Bella's Mittens for Courtney. They were a pleasure to knit I frogged a wrap and knit 2 strands together and got a perfect gauge.

Ive got 2 loaves rising in the warm sun, a Foccocia and a white loaf both out of Alison Holsts Breadbook. This is the best bread book ever......... no failures here.

Have a good weekend all and keep warm!

More Treats

These popped into my mailbox this morning, seems like history repeating itself again but this isn't a sock club just some goodies ordered from Morag from Vintage Purls.

Love the colour of this sock yarn 'Arabella' Mmn now what to do with it? I think some more Theodora's would be nice in this or the Daphne pattern that I ordered or possibly a matinee jacket but alas no babies to knit for at present. I was so excited to receive the Knit Pro Spectra Interchangeable Deluxe set and have just cast on for another Spring Beret for Kena using the right size needles this time ........ yay! Lovely to knit with and no joins to snag your work.

Lovely sunny day here after the frost, it has been quite a mild winter so far thank goodness.

It Has Arrived

This arrived in my mailbox the other day. The 1st installment of the Winter Sock Club from Vintage Purls. There was some lovely goodies awaiting. The Notebook is very useful having small squares to do your workings out on. A very clever construction going on with the pattern.

A quiet week this week haven't really finished much in the knitting line started and frogged back several things. I did manage to finish a couple of Spring Berets a lovely easy pattern that I

managed to do in a couple of hours I didn't have any 10 ply so improvised by using DK casting on 90 stitches for the rib and increased to 100 for the pattern. It just about fits GD ( 8 )with blocking on a dinner plate. The one I did in acrylic turned out much smaller. I have been making do with what circular needles I had closest to the size needed which is annoying SO I took the plunge and ordered this set of Knit Pro Acrylic Circulars These are interchangeable so should be able to use for lots of projects in my Queue like the Calvados Beret which I won in a online competition. I also want to do the Bella's Mittens Inspired by mittens worn by Kristen Stewart as Bella in the movies “Twilight” and “New Moon” These are to be for C. 4429 people have made these so are very popular.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Baking Day

Woke up this morning and decided the plan would be to do some baking, the weather was bleak and drizzly so just right for it. Soaked the dates in hot tea while I walked up to the shops early( 9 am) to get supplies. The Date and Walnut Loaf recipe came from The New Zealand Women's Weekly. I doubled the mixture and it made 2 good sized loves., this recipe is a keeper!

On the knitting front I have just threaded the ribbon through the Theodora socks that I knitted a while back, I couldn't get any black

velvet ribbon so found some wine satin ribbon that looks amazing , really pleased with these, the ribbon really finishes them off and it nearly finished me off as well as took me nearly 3/4 hour to thread through!!

I have finished some socks out of the Opal wool it is just a plain sock, Basic Sock Recipe out of this book, Knitting Rules. I got this out of the library but if you get the chance to buy or borrow this book it is a good laugh as well as giving you the basics into knitting. I just love the colour and patterns as I knit it up I really like the self patterning yarn. These will be for ME......

I am already thinking of my next project Blackrose Socks seem to be into lacy looking socks at the moment don't know why as the weather dictates otherwise!! Ive got some black blue and green variegated wool from my stash from Vintage Purls am hoping it will look okay but think more of a semi solid would look better.

Have a good weekend everyone.