Loving This

I am so loving this wool, it is Crazy Sock Zauberball in colourway Kleiner Fuchs.

Morag of Vintage Purls has imported a selection of Zauberball in lace, crazy sock and single sock. I looked at all the projects made with this and decided I would just do a plain sock, so I could just enjoy the colour changes made by this delightful yarn. I am already planning what colours next to buy, too many choices and I want them all!

Today is miserable rain gales and cold..... oh well it is spring!!

In the week went to my friends house, it was a glorious sunn

y day and the views from her garden over the sea and snow capped Southern Alps were just stunning. Took some pics but not very good, was trying to capture the colours of the blue mountains and sea.

I am out for tea tonight to friends for my birthday tomorrow. How the years roll by!

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

Not Quite Finished

Haven't got much to report on the knitting front except 2 little tops knitted from the top down which I love, with no seaming which is always a bonus.

First is Boheme which is a lovely little tunic top, I downloaded this when it was free but now it has been revised to add larger sizes and well worth the $6US. I did this in Patons Smoothie. I have yet to find some nice buttons for this.

I have just finished another Pebble Vest

in a sort of apple green, this has to be one of my favourite knits, so easy and done flat in one piece, there are a few ends to sew in though.

Had a busy day washing nets and windows, now its raining wouldn't you know it!

Had Georgia over for a sleep over. We made shortbread that was very yummy, even if it was overcooked we both decided we liked it that way anyway! The recipe is very easy.

9 0z butter

12 oz flour

1 cup of icing sugar.

Mix altogether and form into a roll cut into slices and bake 160 - 180 deg for around 15 min's.

I don't know where this originated from but its old.

Looks like there is another cold front coming brr...... roll on summer.

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are.

Winter Sock Club No 3

This arrived to cheer up my week. It was the 3rd installment of Vintage Purls winter sock club, it is lovely to have something to look forward to over the winter months.

This one had some lovely chocolate goodies in some sticky notes and a little heart bead. The pattern is called Leaflink which incorporates

cables into the design and doesn't look too complicated. The wool is shades of blue and purple,

very nice.

I have still been knitting the pebble vests and some Sucky Thumb Mitts here on Ravelry to go with them out of scraps I had left. I love that you can use up every little bit.

Lovely day here in Nelson, birds singing and the sky is blue, still a nip to the air but its lovely to see everything so lush and green.

Have a great weekend everyone, wherever you are.

Spring IS In The Air.......

Well finally it feels like spring is in the air. I do so love this time of the year,

I love the way there is a promise of new life.

I love the blossoms on the trees and new plants pushing through the earth.

I love the way the birds are singing a new song.

I love the different light.

I love the longer days.

I love the promise of summer.

I love the thought of fresh crunchy salads.

I love the thought of of picking juicy raspberries.

There are so many things I love about spring but most of all I love the fragrance that permeates the air in the evenings so heady you couldn't in a million years bottle that! Another blessing from God to enjoy. There really is 'Spring in the Air'

Hail Rain and Shine

Today has been quite cold with gales, rain, hail also sun at times so that was nice. Been out a bit this week, went to my friends Ruth for a catch up, when I returned 2 parcels were waiting for me. I seem to be blessed this last week or so with unexpected parcels. One was from my other daughter in Christchurch who sent a big bag of my favourite Earl Grey tea-bags, 2 Sherbet Dabs and a Walnut Whip to remind me of my childhood in England, some makeup and perfume samples and nail polish, I am really spoilt. The other parcel was from the lovely Morag from Vintage Purls, with 2 lovely skeins of sock yarn in a blood red so scrummy and a nice blue not sure what I will be doing with them yet, have to be something special for that red!

It seems the aftershocks have quitened down in

Christchurch thank goodness, hopefully they will soon get a good nights sleep.

On the knitting side of things I have made 2 Pebble Vests. and I am on my third, love the colourway of this wool from The Wool Company

it is called Mangrove and is lovely to knit with. I am going to try my hand at making polymer clay buttons for these. There are some lovely ones around for sale, here at Buttons by Benji.

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.