Georgie's Kitchen Table

Show & Tell

2009-03-02T21:18:00.007+11:00

As I'm sure you're aware, last weekend was the Canberra Show. And you'll also be aware that little old had a few entries in the craft section. Seven to be exact (why yes, I do enjoy a challenge!): 5 in the hand knitting, 1 in the crochet and 1 in the sewing.

We arrived at the show at around 9am, and it was all I could to do not to sprint straight to the craft pavilion.

I managed to play it cool for a little while. We watched the circus. We checked out the tractors (well, it is an agricultural show, after all).

We dropped into Flyball Central to say hello to Kylie and Trent. Where Trent tried very hard not to spoil the surprise for me.

And then I casually sauntered into the Pavilion.

There aren't any pictures (that I'm willing to show you!) of my face when I saw the cabinets. But to stay I was stunned would be an understatement.

Here are my entries with their ribbons:
What we have here, dear reader, are three (three!!) firsts, two seconds, and that little green rosette in the middle there? Well that just happens to be a Champion rosette for the novice (less than 2 years) crochet!

Clockwise from the top right, is the felted entrelac bag (first), Leisel (first), Evangeline mitts, Boheme baby jacket, U-Neck Vest (second) and Mrs Perkins (she's hiding behind her second place ribbon). In the middle is my Champion Boteh scarf.

I coaxed Mrs Perkins out from behind the ribbon for a portrait. This is my second one - Gracie's wasn't good enough for the show, and I don't think the judges appreciate the aesthetic qualities of drool anyway.
And is my Boteh (Rav link), displayed in the cabinet at the Show.

I'm not a great competitor; I don't do much in the way of sport, and competition generally makes me uncomfortable. But I was thrilled beyond words that the judge thought my crochet scarf was worthy of such a prize. I'm still all goose-bumpy writing about it days later!

I must take the opportunity to thank Quilting Mick for coaching me through the pattern for this. I would never have entered the crochet without her encouragement! And I'd like to thank my Mum and Dad, and my Beloved and....(cue music)

Seriously, it was great fun planning and working on my Show projects, and I'm already thinking about next year.

And now that I've conquered the crochet, there's the cakes, and the jams, and the vegetable sculptures, and the cats, and oh, do you think I could start breeding chooks, those ones with the fluffy feet, and ........

There's something sweet and wistful

2009-03-01T18:53:00.007+11:00

And so it seems that summer is officially over. Like Kylie though, I don't much trust Australia's understanding of our imposed calendar, and I'm pretty certain it will be a while before I need to break out the woollies (to wear, that is).

I was a very bad KAL-er for the Long Lacy Summer, although I was there in spirit! I got a little tied up with deadline knits (more on that shortly) and didn't achieve my aim of knitting something in actual laceweight yarn.

I do, however, have two FOs to log for the LLS, but sadly only crap-o-rama pics to go with them. In the interests of brevity, I'll spare you the typically drawn-out FO post and cut to the chase.

1. December-January-February Baby Sweater

Pattern: FBS by E. Zimmerman, from the Knitter's Almanac

Yarn: Lincraft cozy-wool, gifted by Bec and hand-dyed by moi (using Gaywool acid dyes)

Sticks: 5mm Knitpicks Options

Mods: Being so enamoured of the top-down seamless knit, I decided I could go one better than EZ's "almost seamless baby sweater" and do the sleeves in the round as well. Instead of following the pattern as written, I put the sleeve sts on waste yarn, cast on 14 sts between the front and back (for each sleeve), knit the body in one piece, then when back to do the sleeves. I made sure to take the sleeves off on a purl row so I could cast on the sts without interrupting the pattern.

I'm pretty happy with the result; the yarn and pattern seem to go together quite well. The gull stitch pattern went quite smoothly once I got the hang of it.

But therein lies the problem: before I got the hang of it, I cocked it up spectacularly. Right in the front.

See?

Well, even if you can't, I'm sure a show judge would. It was intended as an entry to the Canberra Show, but with that mistake, it will just be worn (with great panasche) by the Princess instead.

It was a fun knit, though, and I might give it another crack for next year. I'll certainly file it away for future baby gifts because it finishes really nicely.

2. Liesel
Pattern: on Rav and also here.

Yarn: Fibreworks Lustre 8ply in colour #18

Sticks: 4.5 mm straights

This is a really lovely and straightforward pattern; I knit it as written for 30 repeats with 4 rows garter each end..

The photo above shows it unblocked, I'm afraid; I was not clever enough to remember to take any of it blocked before I handed it over as a Show entry. I will add some shortly, though, for it bloomed beautifully.

How did it go in the Show, I hear you ask?

You'll just have to wait for that story!

And so ends my paultry contribution to the Long Lacy Summer. I'm looking forward to Bells' wrap-up sometime soon!

Never felt better

2009-02-23T20:40:00.011+11:00

I have too much of a headache to knit tonight, so please be polite and try not to act too stunned that I'm blogging twice in as many days!

I thought I would start on that pile of FOs, with the one I'm probably most proud of.

I have long been fascinated by entrelac, and wanted to give it a go. I am also very fond of the felted bag, and when I spotted the Felted Entrelac Clutch on Ravelry some time back, I just had to give it a go.

The impetus to get it on the needles came from the inclusion of a new class in the knitting section of the Canberra Show craft schedule: item of fulled knitting. Done deal.

Pattern: Felted Entrelac Clutch by Meg White. Lets hear it for Ravelry; comments on another knitter's project page helped me navigate an error in the first stages of the pattern that would have driven me insane with frustration otherwise.

Yarn: Patons Jet in three colours. Instead of using a varigated yarn, I joined the colours at the end of each row. I used nearly 3 balls of the dark brown, nearly 2 of the mid-brown, and 1 of the cream.

Sticks: Knitpicks options 6.5 mm circ

Felting: A good soak, and then several hours in the dryer, in a pillowcase. It took quite some time to get it to felt down to a nice tight fabric, but it's lovely and solid and firm.

For all you felting/fulling nerds, here are the before (left) and after (right) shots, with pencil for scale:

Mods: none. I was really hesitant about following the section in the pattern between the body and the handles, when you unpick the crochet cast-on to do the top triangles, where you have far fewer stitches than I felt were needed, but I resisted the urge to pick up more stitches and went with the flow. It was, of course, the point where you get that lovely nip in at the top of the body once it felts down - clever designer!

Time taken: mid-November to end December 2008. Yes, it has taken me months to blog it!

What I learned: heaps! Entrelac was not very intuitive to begin with, but once I got the concept and read a couple of tutorials, it was very easy (if you're looking, this one was very helpful). Entrelac generally begins by constructing triangles, but this pattern begins with squares, so it was a leap of faith for me.

Also - my first crochet cast on. A b$tch to unpick, but a very useful technique.

I am totally in love with this bag, and can't wait to start using it as soon as I collect it after the Show next week! I'll let you know how it goes!

p.s. sorry about the crap-o-rama photos; the bag is of course in lockdown at Show Headquarters, and I didnt realise how awful my picks were until too late!

And so you're back from Outer Space

2009-02-19T10:00:00.011+11:00

But man, those last few light-years seemed to take forever, didn't they? Yes, I am still alive, although I have been sucked into a mouse-wheel of routine since I've been back at work that doesn't leave a lot of time or energy for my poor blog.

A blog is a lot like a garden - you've got to tend it, water it, weed it, keep an eye out for pests and other icky things, plan for it, make time for it. Although I do love the *idea* of gardening, sadly I tend to just whack seedlings in the ground and leave them to fend for themselves. My blog has clearly suffered similarly. I think about it often, just don't get around to getting down and dirty with it as often as I should.

So in no particular order, here are some recent happenings from the Kitchen Table:

1. I have quite a number of FOs to blog. There has been a big push to get things finished for the Canberra Show (I handed them over this morning). I'll give them all their moment in the sun shortly (promise!). There are a couple of items that belong in the Long Lacy Summer too - even though it's almost over!

2. Spinning class went really well. The teacher's method of plying and I didn't get along, and I'll have to find my own way with that, but I did wind up with this:

I was much happier with the spun singles than with the plied yarn, but I'll be working on that. Perhaps using a different plying method.

3. Work is bearable. The first few weeks were very slow, but my line manager returned at the start of February and immediately found lots of things for me to do. (My sometime-manager doesn't really know how to handle me. I probably don't help him out as much as I should with that). So I am kept really busy, which is good.

4. Princess Grace has settled in fabulously well to childcare. It helps (both of us!) that I go in and feed her once a day. She is growing like a weed, putting on stacks of weight. She's quite pudgy now! After languishing in her size 000 clothes for moths, she's almost out of the next size up (00) after only a couple of months. At weigh in on Thursday, she was 6915 g, and is tracking very nicely along a percentile, instead of resolutely crossing them as she was a few months ago.

She is busily trying to crawl, and so spends much of her time like this:

until she tires and face-plants, at which point someone has to pick her up. Repeat, every few minutes!

5. Pirate Jim is busy being 3-and-a-half. Which means he seems to spend every waking moment driving me crazy with frustration. I so hope 4 is better than 3. Please tell me this is true.

6. In amongst it all, there has been some crafting. In addition to the knitting and crocheting, there has been some sewing. I was stoked to find that the fat-eighths my favourite fabric store had out at 5 for $10 were wide enough for bibs from this pattern:

Very funky Princess wear!

And that is all I have the energy to report for now. Here's hoping it's not another 6 weeks until my next post.

Whatever wool be wool be

2009-01-10T15:34:00.010+11:00

Apparently I don't have enough to do with my spare time. Or I'm not quite obsessed enough with just knitting. And sewing. Because when given the opportunity, I gleefully signed up for the Canberra Spinners and Weavers Guild's Beginners Spinning course.

I've done a teeny bit of spinning before. And I've had a wheel (thanks Othlon!) for ages, but just not the time to apply myself. And being largely self-taught, I'm not confident at all. I need to get some formal teaching. This course is the perfect opportunity.

I turned up on Thursday evening with several other local bloggers and Ravelers (big thanks to Carrie for getting us all there via Rav too!), wheel in hand, for the first session.

Two hours, lots of treadling and a lovely supper later, I departed with my "homework":

A great hunk of raw fleece that needs to be prepped for next week.

I spent a lovely (albeit greasy and dirty) couple of hours on the back today today combing.

And wound up with what I thought was a big pile of nice combed locks (see I'm jiggy with the lingo already!). I'm about halfway through that pile of fleece.

Sadly, that's only about 80 g (2 3/4 oz), so I've got a big more to go (I reckon I need about 150g if its going to worth knittting when I'm done). I ran out of puff today though.

I'm resisting the urge to start spinning it. I'll be good and wait til next week. After all, I'm doing the course so I can learn stuff, not continue on with my dodge-o-rama, haphazard approach.

It's a good thing I've got lots of other projects that need to be done rather soon, so the temptation is diminished.

But roll on next Thursday!

Day Two: It's oh so quiet....

2009-01-06T13:42:00.004+11:00

I have to admit I'm at a bit of a loose end. I'm the only person in the house. Just me, all alone. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't have a million things to do, it's just that I don't want to really start anything because I keep expecting childcare to call.

The plan, you see, is that I go to the centre around lunchtime to feed (nurse) the Princess; they'll call me when she wakes up from her late-morning sleep. She was going down to sleep when I left her at 8:45 this morning, and I expected the call about 1230 or so. Except it's nearly 2:00 and they haven't called!

Yep, my phone is still working. Just called it from the landline to check.

I raced out this morning to the supermarket - how novel, to do a week's shop entirely unfettered by little people! - and a couple of other errands, then raced home again by 11:30. I was afraid I'd get The Call in the checkout line at the supermarket, or some other place where I couldn't just grab my keys and walk out.

But now I've been killing time at home, waiting, not wanting to start anything in case I have to leave. I've got cooking to do, sewing projects, major clearing out of cupboards, phone calls to Government departments to make. All things that can't really be abandoned instantly. Instead, I've caught on some blog reading (Bloglines had 450+ posts when I opened it, I am dreadfully behind), and I've got the cricket on the telly (in the middle of the day! Naughty!).

Yep, phone still working.

I'm happy, because this means Gracie has slept and eaten lunch. Otherwise I'd have been summoned ages ago.

Looks like there's nothing else for it - I think I might just have to sit on the couch and watch the cricket and wait. Some crochet might just accidentally fall into my hands.

How nice is this quiet though?

Day One

2009-01-05T20:39:00.003+11:00

Thanks so much for all your wishes for today. It went.....OK. Not really well, not too bad, just OK. Gracie has crashed, she's exhausted, and I'm feeling quite drained too. I didn't sleep so well last night, worrying about how we would cope, if I am a bad mother for putting my baby in the care of others.

I guess it was always going to be a little chaotic, today being the first day that the centre is open following the holidays. So even the kids who have been going there for months or years might be a little hesitant or fragile going back after 2 weeks in a different routine at home.

Grace was very interested in the new environment - she loves looking at other children, and there were of course new toys. I arrived around 830, and by the time I chatted with the carers about her routine and did some paperwork, she was getting cranky and tired. I was never going to just dump her and run, I always planned to spend most of the morning there with her, so I put her down to sleep myself.

Except that she didn't much like the different bed, in a different room, with different light, sounds and smells. So she screamed. For about 40 minutes. I couldn't even rock her to sleep, which is usually a sure-fire trick. If I haven't mentioned it before, Gracie is a champion sleeper, a great self-settler, just wrap her up and away she goes. I could count on one hand the number of times we've been unable to settle her. So it was pretty upsetting that I couldn't soothe her, on today of all days.

I kept thinking "that's it, I'll take her home. Just home to her own bed". I was so close to walking out with her. But we hung in there, and in the end gave up on sleeping (even though she was so tired she was falling asleep between howls! She just wouldn't stay asleep), and fed her instead.

After that she was fine (yes, arguably she was hungry in the first place, but initially she was more tired than hungry. I still get those signals wrong sometimes). I handed her over to the primary carer and she was all smiles and ready to play. I took myself off to the kitchen for a cup of tea to soothe my nerves (parents are encouraged to do this if they feel like it), and after half an hour looked in the window and she was happy and playing.

I checked in at lunch-time and she had just woken from a sleep and finished a bottle, and was ready for lunch.

When I picked her up this afternoon, she had only had an hour's sleep all day, and refused to settle for her afternoon sleep, but had eaten a big lunch, drunk both her bottles of milk and charmed both the carers and other kids. She was sitting in a swing chair surrounded by other children, looking for all the world like she holding court!

So today was OK. I'm sure tomorrow will be better, and next week better again. On the up side, they have agreed to try using her cloth nappies this week. (Normal practice is to supply your own disposables.) That made me very happy!

Wooooosh!

2009-01-04T13:45:00.012+11:00

The sound of 2008 rushing by and receeding into the past. It seems to have flown; it feels like just weeks ago that the Department I work for took up residence in our new building (January 08), we moved to our new house (April), Princess Grace was born (June)....she's six months old already, where did it go??

And now, with the new year, a new phase is about to begin for us. Tomorrow the Princess has her first day at childcare. I can't even begin to describe my feelings at this event - my brain and stomach are both churning. PJ loves it there, and can't wait to go back and see his mates. But he's 3 and a half - the Princess is just 6 months old. Yes, he did start childcare at 4 and a half months, but the circumstances were somewhat different.

This week is practice week - I don't start back at work until next week. We've been practicing giving her expressed milk in a cup a couple of times a day, and she's taken to it really well (and Beloved loves the special calm time feeding her too). I hate sitting there watching her drink while expressing away with the electric pump. And I know I'll hate sitting in a closed room at work expressing as well. I'll still visit her for one feed a day, but still....enough of that. I'm sure we will all adjust, and everyone will be fine.

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you enjoyed yourself, however you chose to celebrate. We had a lovely break at my parents' home over Christmas and an equally lovely time schlepping around home these last days.

I am such a doofus at the mosaic maker thingy, so sorry, no captions!

There's been lots of reviewing of 2008 and looking forward to 2009. I've got nothing much to show for 2008, in a crafting sense, unlike some people I know. (And that's only the handful of blogs I've caught up on today - I'm scared to see more examples of outstanding productiveness that will make me feel terribly unorganised and slack!). And I'm not quite ready to look forward yet (let me get through this week and next).

I've got one or two little FOs to share to finish off the old year, but they're for future posts. Yes, I know I've said that before, but I promise I will share!

In the meantime, my knitting calls. I've got a rather big deadline looming (that's for another post too), so I need to get some serious time with the sticks.

May 2009 bring joy, peace, happiness and all good thing to your house.

G x

Just dropping in....

2008-12-22T19:30:00.007+11:00

Once again the days and weeks have flown past and I have failed to keep my resolve to blog more regularly.

I have been busily making ready for the silly season, crafting, baking, wrapping, socialising and enjoying what remains of my time at home. I am now officially finished my maternity leave, and on rec leave until January 12th. I am sad, but trying not to dwell on it too much.

Tomorrow we head off down the highway to my parents' home, where we will celebrate Christmas. PJ is beside himself with excitement, both at the prospect of a visit from the man in the red suit, and a whole week of playtime with his Grandpa.

The Princess, well she's not so sure what all the fuss is about, and she's not too keen on that beard either.

The good news is that she has been putting on weight, 350g in 3-and-a-half weeks, and is no longer falling off the bottom of the charts. She's started "solids" and is vacuuming up all manner of mushy things. Especially yoghurt!

No, I do not feed her through the nose. It just looks that way.

But I really just wanted to drop by and wish everyone, near and far, a very Happy Christmas if you celebrate, and warmest Season's Greetings if you do something different. Travel safely (if you are travelling) and enjoy the time with your loved ones. You're in my thoughts and my heart.

G x

My best friend is a gentle giraffe

2008-12-09T16:01:00.009+11:00

A couple of weeks ago, SweetP shared her list of what her three girls will get for Christmas. The list looked like this:

something to play with
something to share
something to read
something made by mum

Like many others, I am trying to not get caught up in the consumerism and pressure of the Silly Season. I love this list. Although I'm already a little beyond it (I've been stashing bits and pieces since the middle of the year), next year it will be game on.

In the spirit of the list, I have committed myself to making at least one thing for each of the kids. (Well, between you and me, I've been dying to make this for the Princess for ages, and christmas was just the justifcation for a blissful hour spent at my favourite fabric store buying the pattern and choosing fabric!)

Introducing Mrs Perkins*.

Doesnt she have the sweetest face?

She's made using this pattern from Melly & Me. They have lots of very lovely patterns for softies (and very funky bags - shame I can't muster the courage to finish the one I've got on the go!), but this one has always tugged at my heart-strings.

She was remarkably easy to make - about an hour to sew, then about the same to stuff! And a bit of fiddling to do the finishing. But I'm terribly pleased with her. PJ has been fascinated by the process, watching all the pieces come together, and has demanded a Mrs Perkins of his own. I have other plans for him though.

I hope the Princess likes her. They're about the same size! And if she doesn't well then I'm quite happy to give Mrs Perkins cuddles. When I'm not cuddling the Princess of course.

* Mrs Perkins is the name given to her by Melly & Me. I'd like her to be called something else but I'm not very good at thinking up witty or clever names - any suggestions??

Oh-no-Back-to-work Vest

2008-12-05T20:06:00.008+11:00

I like to think that my internet diet has led to an increase in productivity in other areas of my life (efficiency dividend, anyone?), and I have a few FOs to post about to prove it.

Here's the first: my Oh-no-back-to-work Vest. Cos I don't wanna go back to work yet. Hopefully by the time its cool enough to wear it here I will be back in the swing of work.

Pattern: Back-to-school U-neck Vest from Fitted Knits. Easy to follow, logical construction (for me), and I even remembered to check the errata. There are a few for this pattern.

Yarn: Lincraft Balmoral Tweed, 5 balls. This is a weird yarn; the label has it at worsted weight, but it's quite thin. But it blooms really nicely when washed and blocked, and I made the correct tension with no worries. And the meterage is fabulous; I bought 10 balls thinking I'd need 8 and I used less than 5.

Needles: Knitpicks Options 4mm.

Size: 37" bust. I should probably have knit the next size up; I was a bit too hopeful about my potential for post-baby weight-loss. Possibly (hopefully!) by autumn next year both boobs and belly will be a little less....out there.

Mods: Just a couple: I added 5 cm (2") length to the bottom section. I like my tops quite long, and if I did it again I would add twice that. At least. I also did a three-needle cast off at the shoulders. Why seam them when I could do that?

Time taken: September 9th to November 18th 2008. There was a large break to knit the birthday jumper in there; all in all a fairly quick knit.

What I learned: how great knitting in the round is. Well, Miss M's birthday jumper was the first, but this has confirmed how easy and quick it is. This was my first use of bust darts, and they make such a difference to the finished garment.

What this really did for me was boost my knitting confidence. I'm becoming more intuitive in my knitting, I now have much a feel for how the garment goes together and what different parts of it do.

And I love the waffle stitch bodice!

Apart from the *ahem* firm fit, I am totally happy with this vest and I know I'll get lots of wear out of it.

Shame that's likely to be at the office. *sigh*

From his Sunday best to his Wednesday worst

2008-11-30T20:01:00.007+11:00

How to begin.....a confession perhaps? Forgive me, it's been 24 days since my last post.....

It's not that there's been a lack of activity Chez Kitchen Table - quite the contrary. But I have put myself on a little internet diet, trying to savour the last days and weeks of my maternity leave. I think it's working, because it's 8:05pm and I've just turned on the computer for the first time today to write this post. Normally I turn it on on the way from the bedroom to the kitchen to rendezvous with the teapot first thing in the morning.

A few things have been going on, so here are some random (love the random) points.

1. As alluded to above, my maternity leave it nearly over. I'm due back at work on December 15th, just TWO WEEKS away. To say I feel quite unsettled would possibly be understatement of the year. Childcare for the Princess doesn't begin until the new year though, so I'm taking more leave until January 12th. That gives me a week to settle her into childcare and get our feeding routine sorted out.

One of the perks of the Public Service is that I am entitled to the very glamorously named "lactation breaks" to go the the centre and feed her, or to express. I hope to do a combination of both - go and feed her once a day and express however many more times is needed.

I went into the office last week for a meeting about my return to work, and it was made quite clear I wouldn't be getting any projects of my own. One of the downsides of those afore-mentioned perks, and working for a group of middle-aged men with teenage or adult children, is that I obviously have to prove myself all over again, while dealing with my emotions about returning to work and continuing to breastfeed my 6 month old daughter.

Looking forward to January. Not.

2. As I said, lack of blogging does not signify lack of activity. Today, for example, I kicked off the Christmas baking season with the first batch of biscuits and two plum puddings, dyed, dried and skeined 200g of yarn, did the menu for next week (in which Beloved is away and Nana is visiting), cleaned up the living room three times, and the kitchen twice, fed the Princess 5 times, picked a kilogram of mulberries (it turns out we have a tree in the backyard!), put away 2 loads of washing, made lunch and dinner, bathed both kids and read several stories to PJ.

3. There has been mucho crafting. I've got several knitted FOs to blog, several more things on the needles and I've been continuing to sew up a storm. Almost finished (and to be blogged - all in good time my pretties) is my first Softie. It is for the Princess for Christmas and I love it. PJ saw it and immediately wanted one of his own.

Although I haven't taken the Handmade Pledge due to lack of time and confidence, I've got a few things on the go. The kids will each be getting something handmade, and gifts for friends will be handmade too.

4. This internet diet. I have been reading blogs every few days (keeping Bloglines closed when the computer is on is a good way to cut down the computer kilojoules), but obviously I haven't been commenting. Or emailing. If I owe you and email, I really do apologise; I think of you all the time and I promise I do love you and care! Part of my To Do list every week is a list of emails to write. I think I've crossed off two names in the last three weeks. Please don't abandon me just yet.

One of the upsides of returning to work (I'm taking all the upsides I can get) is that I get to spend 8 hours in front of the computer. I will get back into online life then.

5. The Princess is growing! I say this with some excitement because despite being almost in the 90th percentile when she was born, she had dropped to 10th percentile at 3 months and was only putting on about 80g a month. I nearly slapped the Maternal and Child Health nurse when the first thing she said was "You should try giving her formula". A baby who sleeps 10 hours straight, who puts herself to sleep several times a day with barely a whimper, and who is happy and calm and alert and engaged for her waking hours is NOT HUNGRY and it made me furious that the first thing they think of is to give formula to a happily breast-feeding baby. Her next suggestion was that I WAKE UP in the middle of the night to feed my otherwise sleeping baby. Not doing that either, sister. The Princess has since started waking for an early-a.m. feed, but entirely of her own accord.

So when we weighed in last week and had gained 250g for the month, so we are now tracking along a percentile instead of crossing it, I was really happy. And she's finally into the next size clothes! We are off to the paediatrician this week just to rule out any underlying cause for her slow weight gain, but I'm really not terribly concerned.

Is this a starving baby?What I am concerned about is that this nurse is advising first-time mothers, who are probably anxious and uncertain when they face issues like slow weight gain, and take what the MACH nurses say as gospel. Your baby is low on the charts, therfore she isnt getting enough food and it must be a problem with your supply, or with you in some other way. Grrrr.

And no, I've no idea where that red hair comes from!! She's quite the strawberry blonde.

So, that's enough then. I don't pretend to be caught up; hopefully that will come soon. I also don't pretend that I'll suddenly become a super-commenter and timely emailer (at least not until January!), but be assured that I'm lurking about and you're often in my thoughts.

G xo

The answer is sewing in the wind

2008-11-06T09:14:00.006+11:00

Phew, after Blogtoberfest I needed to have me a little lie down!

But it hasn't been all feet-up here at Chez Kitchen-Table. There has been crafting. Not so much knitting, but lots of sewing.

For some bizarre reason, I cannot justify in my mind sitting down and knitting during the day. There's some ancient hind-part of my brain that feels like it's wasted time, and I should be out in the fields or milking the cow or something.

Sewing, on the other hand, is a justifiable pursuit, as it involves moving between table, ironing board and machine, and is somehow more active than knitting. If i knit, I want to have the teev on, and that is a no-no for me during the day. The exception is when I'm feeding Grace and would otherwise be staring at the wall, since I can't knit - or sew - and feed her. Television during the day feels very lazy, passive perhaps. See Mum, you did have some influence!

But I digress.

Much of the sewing has been for gifts, so I can't reveal it yet.

But the first item was gifted on Monday, to Bec's newly-three-year-old Charlotte, so I can show you. And in the words of someone much more famous than me, I'm loving myself sick over it!

The hat is from Kwik Sew pattern 3079, and the bag was based on this tutorial. Of course I made it much harder for myself because I wanted the bag to be reversible, so it's a little gumby at the side-seams. The hat is also reversible, lined in the same plain purple cotton as the bag.

The birthday girl was pretty impressed - you can see the hat on the intended noggin here.

As for the other projects...all will be revealed in the fullness of time. And at the pleasure of Australia Post.

Day 31: Love Fridays!

2008-10-31T19:42:00.003+11:00

There are several reasons to love Friday this week.

Friday is my day for hanging out with Pirate Jim. As regular readers would know, sometimes it's desperately trying and exhausting, but many days, it's good fun and exhausting. Today was Good Fun. We made lanterns and monsters from empty toilet rolls, went scuba diving in the lounge room. When the Princess and I got tired we could sit on the couch-beach with PJ told about all the under-sea things he could see. We did some other secret-squirrel crafting for an imminent birthday that I will show you later, we had a stress-free trip to the shops (shame about all the boofheads and morons who were also at the shops), we watched Playschool, which has thankfully overtaken the Wiggles as PJ's favourite viewing and we read stories.

It was a fun Friday.

I love Friday because I'm going to cast on something new tonight after finishing the birthday jumper. I've no idea what, but it will be something that's not a pink-striped jumper!

And I love Friday because today is the end of Blogtoberfest - and I made it! I didn't think I would there for a while, but here we are, 31st of October and 31 posts!

I haven't got to visit nearly as many blogs as I would have liked - I'm barely keeping up with my regular reads - but I have discovered some fabulous new blogs that I will be dropping in on regularly (in an ideal world!).

I also feel like I've got some of my blogging mojo back, after a dire few months where I felt all dried up and without inspiration. I almost certainly wont be blogging every day from here, but I've got some momentum and feel like I can find the blogginess in the everyday once again.

I must extend a huge thankyou to Bigcat for dreaming up and hosting Blogtoberfest, she's done a brilliant job. Thanks too, to others who have held my hand for part or all of the way.

Now, if it's OK with you, I may just not blog for a couple of days, and knit instead!

Day 30: I'm too tired to be clever

2008-10-30T20:11:00.004+11:00

I've made it out the other side. The birthday jumper for Little Miss M is done! Sadly, it won't make it to Germany for her actual birthday, being that it's today, but it will make it in time for her to wear it this (northern) winter.

It's bad form to blog a gift FO before it's gifted, but I'm low on blog-fodder. So K (M's mum), if you're reading, look away now!! It's in the mail tomorrow!

I'm feeling particularly brain-dead this evening, so will just give you the facts rather than any of my usual witty prose.

Pattern: I used the Tiny Top Down pattern #608 by Deb Gemmell from Cabin Fever. My version is based on the Club Pullover (#66) from the Bouton d'Or #11 pattern book.

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic in soft plum, musk, rosebud and magnolia

Sticks: Knitpicks Options 4mm for the body and standard 4mm dpns for the sleeves

Mods: Plenty. That's the joy of top-down construction. I had Little Miss M's measurements, and I just went from there. I muffed the stripe pattern early on - the dark in-between stripes are only supposed to be 2 rows wide, but I made the first lot 3 rows, so I just kept that up. I also added the rib polo-neck, by picking up the neck stitches and knitting the 2x2 rib up until it was long enough.

This was my first in-the-round top-down, and I'll do it again anytime. The pattern was straightforward and so easy to follow and modify. I know I moaned about it a while back when it seemed never-ending, but that's just because I want to knit so many other things! Really, it was fast and easy, and even all those bleedin' ends only took a couple of hours to sew in.

I'm a bit worried the sleeves will be a bit on the short side, but 4 year olds are into everything so I'm hoping slightly shorter sleeves wont get as wet/dirty/sandy/soapy/gooey.

Otherwise I'm really happy with it.

Finally, I can't go without wishing my gorgeous god-daughter M a very happy 4th birthday, with lots of fun. I wish I could be there to share in the fabulous cake I know K will have baked! Happy Birthday, M, from the Australian heiden-tante!

Day 29: Desperate times....

2008-10-29T20:12:00.005+11:00

....call for desperate measures. Never was a truer word spoken.

And I hit just such times this afternoon at swimming lessons.

Imagine the scene: PJ is happily in the pool and find a dry seat amongst all the other parents and take out my knitting (yay! 30 whole minutes knitting time!!).

I've got a pair of Fetchings on the go as pool knitting. Last week I had to cast on 4 times before I got a green-lighter (yarn issues), and that took most of the half hour. This week, I have one more plain row and then the cable row.

K4, P1 for one round.

I reach into my knitting bag........uh-oh.

No notions pouch.

No cable needle.

And 27 minutes of knitting time left!!

A mad scrabble around my handbag didn't even yield a pen. I resisted the urge to upend the bag on the pool deck, and to mug the woman next to me for the pencil she was flagrantly using to fill out a form, for heaven's sake. The only thing I could find was a (thankfully, large) safety pin.

Phew. Crisis averted.

What's the strangest thing you've ever used in a Desperate Crafting Situation?

Day 28: I just want your extra time and your list

2008-10-28T10:31:00.004+11:00

I mentioned the other day that I've started making a list of meal options for the week. I loves me a good list.

The plan is (and there's always a plan!) that it will make shopping easier, make deciding what to cook every evening easier, mean I have all the necessary ingredients to hand, and reduce waste. I'm a shocker for buying things on a whim then letting them rot or go off in the fridge because I don't have a plan for them.

I've even got a dedicated notebook where I make the list, and then make a note of how the meal went afterwards. Beloved is always saying "That was great - we should have it again" and then I forget about it and we never do! So I hope this is a way of keeping track.

Each Sunday, I sit down with a couple of magazines or recipe books, and a cup of tea, and browse through them to choose a few recipes to try for the week. Then I add a few sure-fire favourites, and make sure there is a variation of "chicken and rice" included. This is PJ's favourite, so it's essential for household harmony.

Then I check the ingredient lists and add anything I need to the shopping list for Monday morning.

This week's list includes:

Lemon baked chicken with couscous

Vegetarian chili with brown rice

Chicken stir-fry with rice

Tacos

BBQ - sausages, flat mushrooms and corn on the cob with salad

It has been slightly complicated by the partial-breakdown of our fridge on the weekend. Freezer Roulette will now feature highly as I try to use up stuff that has been lurking in there. A container of unidentifiable something, which turned out to be bolognese sauce, will now be tonight's dinner.

I'll report back on the success or otherwise of the new system!

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I've been a bit slack with the Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word. The word for Wednesday, from page 1511, is opinion.

Day 27: This is....something Im surprised I like

2008-10-27T20:16:00.006+11:00

image from here.

I very rarely start reading a book and give up on it (although that has changed recently, life is too short to read crap!). However I tried and failed 3 or 4 times to read this book in the few years after it was published. I like to read the Booker winners, but this one was just beyond me. The best cure for insommnia I'd ever found, short of my organic chemistry textbook. (my literrary nemsis, perhpas?) I couldnt engage with the characters, didnt find any of them likeable, and found the plot just too contorted and dry.

Last year, my "cube-mate" at work (with whom I shard a cubicle) insisted that I give it another go. It was his favourtest book ever, he said. Even loaned me his copy.

I was enormously skeptical, but because I like G, I gave it another bash. With a huge pile of murder-mysteries on standby to help me along.

But after the first dozen or so chapters, I actually found myself engaged in the stories. Not exactly liking the protagonists, but interested in what happened to them.

By half-way, I found it was becoming compelling, and I was looking forward to picking it up again.

And in the end, found it clever and satisfying.

Suprisingly.

Thanks to threebuttons for hosting This is.... and to Earl and Cookie for this week's theme!

Day 26: I think I can.....

2008-10-26T20:11:00.005+11:00

Not, not Blogtoberfest - with only 5 more days, I know I can do that.

No, this is my current nemesis, the millstone around my neck, my albatross:

The deadline-knit birthday jumper for my goddaughter-niece, Little Miss M. I am so ready for it to be over, because there are about a hundred other things I want to cast on right now, and I can't until I Get. This. Done. It feels like it just keeps going and going and going....

The body is done. The sleeves are done. Even though I looked at PJ siting in the back of the car while we were driving yesterday, to see he had TWO dpns in his hands. Two dpns of course means that one has come from holding live stitches, which it clearly wasn't when he was using it as a drumstick. But the stitches were saved. (I am rubbish at picking up dropped stitches, hence the angst. Luckily I was about to be surrounded by several other knitters, so it was only momentary). Note to self: don't leave knitting within his reach in the car.

I'm currently picking up the neck. So a few dozen rows of 1x1 rib.

Then I just have to sew in the ends of all those stripes. Just thinking about it makes me want to weep for all the other things I could be knitting.

Soon.

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And the fascinating results of yesterday's poll have option A, paper over, out in front by a country mile.

Which is my preferred - nay, essential - option. I'm with quiltingmick, I'll change the rolls at work if they don't go over, or other people's houses.

No compromise, no surrender!

And I'm behind on Blotoberfest Inspiration Words. How about nemesis? What's yours?

Day 25: Pop Quiz

2008-10-25T09:50:00.004+11:00

Which do you prefer?

a) or

b)

Day 24: One Good Thing

2008-10-24T19:49:00.006+11:00

Because some days, especially on a Friday, I need One Good Thing to hold close at the end of the day. In a day of what feels like many crappy things, when my nerves are frayed to a single quivering strand that threatens to go "ping" any second, One Good Thing makes me take a deep breath and know that I can do it all again tomorrow instead of running from the house, screaming.

Today, it was finding this little guy before the home-grown lettuce leaves made it on to our dinner plates.

And watching PJ watching him-her (because snails are hermaphrodites) cruise over his hand and a clear plastic lid before releasing her-him back to the wild.

OK, so that's two good things. Bonus.

Day 23: Raindrops on roses and stitches of knitting

2008-10-23T15:52:00.006+11:00

Today's Blogtoberfest post is brought to you by Rosered's List of bloggy inspiration. If you pop over to Bell's place, you'll see she's doing a post on the same topic.

Today, it's #14: the favourite thing that I have knit.

It's a tough one for me. You all know I have issues with knitting large things, and so tend to knock out small stuff, like beanies or scarves. Larger projects often make me, well, bored, and other times apprehensive. A project needs to be really engaging for me to keep on with it; otherwise I'll just pick it up less and less often until it finally makes it's way to the bottom of the knitting basket, where it has a very long holiday.

That's a very long-winded way of saying I don't really have that many FOs to choose from. I've only got 10 listed on my Rav projects page, and several of those have been gifts. There are a few more listed on my (embarrassingly outdated) blog, but you'll see many of those are small stuff.

Anyhoo, my favourite thing. I've actually got two.

1. My clappy

It was fun to knit, it's made from custom-dyed yarn from a local yarnie, so it's one-of-a-kind, I love to wear it and it looks so glam, and I always get compliments on it.

It dead-heats in the favourite stakes with....

2. PJ's Little Star Sweater

It seems I never blogged it as an FO, but it's from Zoe Mellor's Adorable Knits for Tots. It was my first crack at intarsia, and my first time knitting with cotton, and it came out a treat. And PJ just looks so darn cute in it! Of course it no longer fits - this was last winter. Maybe if I stopped feeding him, he might stop growing....

I always wanted to do him another one, in red, white and blue, but when he announced at the start of this winter that he wasn't going to wear jumpers, I thought I wouldn't waste my time. Maybe next year.

So those are my two fave FOs.

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The Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Friday is participation. Thanks Rosered!

Day 22: Random Wednesday

2008-10-22T19:58:00.005+11:00

I'm struggling a bit today. So here are a few random happenings from Chez KitchenTable.

1. Today was week 2 of Swimming Class. PJ was once again brilliant - engaged and responsive, and happy to be there. I remembered to take knitting, so got and extra 45 minutes of knitting time today. Given that I usually get about 1 to 1.5 hours a day right now, this is Worth Noting.

2. The Princess has started waking up at 5am. Before that sometimes. Anything with a 4 as the first number does not count as morning in my book. That's still Middle of the Night. And not going back to sleep after a feed. So we are taking long morning walks so the rest of the house can sleep. Although I know these walks are good for me, and it's really lovely to watch the sunrise, and the Princess certainly enjoys them....well, I do rather wish she'd go back to sleeping until 6 am. But given that she has been sleeping through the night, from 730 pm til 5 am, for the last 6 weeks, I really can't complain. Not many babies start sleeping through at 8 weeks old.

3. I had to take the Princess for some blood tests yesterday. I have a thyroid condition, and it needs to followed up with her in case she develops the same thing. PJ had to have bloods done at 3 and 6 months too. It is one of the most awful things I have ever done, holding my baby down while a stranger sticks a needle in her arm. But the techs were great and got a vein first go, and she stopped screaming a short while later. I was still shaky a couple of hours later though.

4. We had a lovely weekend, with two couples, who are very old friends, from Kangaroo Island visiting. Lots of eating, a fabulous day at the National Botanic Gardens with a picnic lunch, eating on the deck in the sunshine, going for walks. One of the women, S, is a keen quilter and sometime knitter, so we had lots to talk about, much to everyone else's amusement. I love such visits and miss the friends very much - we would see each other several times a week when we all lived in Darwin. I think a holiday to Kangaroo Island is on the cards for next year.

5. I have been trying to be more organised by making a list of meals for the coming week and writing my shopping list to make sure I have everything on hand to make said meals. Not rocket science, and I've done it before, but fell out of the habit. So far it's working well. On the menu for this week are such culinary delights as chicken schnitzels and steamed vegies, lamb filo scrolls, tuna and corn fritters with fresh salsa, butter chicken with rice and farfelle with bacon and peas. I'm even keeping the lists in a bound notebook so I can look over meals from previous weeks and see what was good (and tantrum-free). See - organised!

6. My knitting continues apace (albeit a snail's pace) on the deadline gift knit that should have been finished last week. One sleeve and the neck to do, and the sewing in of about a trillion ends (it's stripey and I'm stupid for choosing that pattern!). I will post pics and details once it has been gifted. And then there's the Back-to-School vest to finish off (I'm up to splitting the front and back) and some lace to get started on! Not to mention entries for the Canberra Show in February next year. I'm determined to enter several items, and at least one of crochet. Oh yes, I've started crocheting again...but I'll save that for another post I think.

I'm afraid that's as thrilling as it gets around here right now. I'm retiring to the couch to get a decent whack of sleeve #2 of the deadline gift knit done.

Day 21: Desko Fever

2008-10-21T20:00:00.007+11:00

There is a groovy weekly game played by lots of crafty blogs that I read called "On my desk", hosted by kootoyoo. I love seeing little glimpses of everyone's crafty inspirations and projects, watching the glimpses turn into wonderful creations, but I'm much to shy to play along.

D'you think this could be why?

My desk, 2pm today.

I think "shambles" is generously understating the reality of my desk. I long to be organised and inspired, to have a desk like other people. I'm organised on the inside, but sadly it never seems to manifest on the outside.

PJ likes to come and play while I'm on the computer, and he's as bad at cleaning up after himself as I am. The last few days my desk has been his construction site, and you can see his roller, bulldozer, trucks, racing car and workmen. Oh, and a forklift.

There's also my diaries - yes, two, one for the desk and one for the handbag - Bendy shadecards (I may have bought some yarn recently - wanna make something of it?), the cutest owly quilt pattern I bought the other day, 4 different USB cables and three separate piles of filing. No one can call me unorganised when I've got three piles for my filing.

There's also a notebook where I've started jotting down important stuff, like phone calls with government agencies, lists of things to do and what patterns I intend to make with yarn purchases. I was writing those on scrap paper, but for some reason I kept misplacing them.

Turn 90 degrees to the left and this is what's beside my desk.

Beloved allocated me a whole bookcase for what he very nicely calls "my things", but what is really all my crap, so I don't leave it in piles throughout the rest of the house. I'm still getting used to that system.

There are numerous bags of yarn - the most recent purchases - and fabric, my pattern folders, and a box of...wait...oh, look, more yarn! No, this is not the stash, this is just the customs lounge where new arrivals await processing.

Today I finally got jack of the whole debacle and spent 2 hours tidying my desk. A generous contribution to the recycling bin was made, and I even did some filing. I'm down to one pile, yay me!

Tomorrow I will tackle the bookcase.

And then Thursday - the WORLD! Mwhahahha....

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The Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Wednesday is habit. I'm starting to wonder if PJ can actually read....

Day 20: Summer lacin'

2008-10-20T20:13:00.011+11:00

I have long suffered from Lace Lust, but suffered it in conjuction with Lack of Time and Too Many Projects. For some reason, lace seems like an indulgence to me when there are other things to be knitted.

And, I really must admit, I'm a teeny tiny bit scared of it. Not so much the charts and the complexity, but the fineness of laceweight yarn and the un-tink-ability of it. All those yarn overs and knit-together stitches - once it's knit, it's knit. So it's a bit scary. I'd rather not start than muff it up.

My first lace experience was very positive and completely enjoyable, but I just haven't gotten around to more. And it was in 8ply, so avoiding the fineness issue.

However, we must grow as knitters and crocheters, and I will evade the issue no longer. I have decided to join Bells in the Long Lacy Summer.

I've got a few different yarn options in the stash (oh, shut UP already!); a couple of 2plys, lots of 4plys. For the most part, I haven't gotten as far as matching patterns with yarns yet, but do have a bit of a wish list.

This malabrigo laceweight is slated for a Lace Ribbon Scarf.

I would love to tackle a Branching Out, Leisel has caught my eye and I'm quite partial to the Monteverde Scarf. The Woodland Shawl is on my list, as is the Haruha scarf, the Waltz and Travelling Vines.

Hmmm, I can see a pattern here - these are all scarves or stoles! Maybe its the full-blown triangular shawl I'm afraid of.....

So I hereby challenge myself to knit a triangular shawl this summer. Maybe a Forest Canopy? It's the only one in my Ravelry queue!

Are there any other suggestions for triangular shawls that you've loved knitting?

Here's the skein I'm going to designate to this challenge:

110g / 990 m of Fibreworks laceweight, colour #5. Crap photo but it's deep purples and blues through to silvery mid-grey.

Any thoughts?

I'm nervous already!

This is....my favourite film

2008-10-19T21:38:00.003+11:00

I'm really not much of a film buff. It's not from lack of wishing - I have a huge list of want-to-see films - but more from lack of time and opportunity. The last time Beloved and I went to the cinema was 2004. And we never seem to have the time or motivation to hire and watch dvds.

And so my favourite film is really not terribly exciting. I'm clearly a child of my generation.

But Harrison Ford circa 1977.....

Yup, Star Wars. I could watch it over and over. I'm not a sci-fan, far, far from it (sorry, little Star Wars pun there). But it's got everything: an unassuming hero with an unknown past, an epic plot, a mission to save a world, a mentor, mercenary made good, scary bad guys, the little people up against a seemingly all-powerful force, and big hair. And Han Solo. I've seen it dozens and dozens of times.

My only advice is this. If you take part in a Star Wars drinking game, try to avoid having to drink on R2D2's lines. You'll probably pass out before you get to see Han.

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The Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Tuesday is evade. Thanks to PJ for picking this page.

Day 18: Sew much fun!

2008-10-18T21:58:00.005+11:00

Har har, yup, Queen of Da Pun over here folks. It's been a long day.

I've been trying to get more sewing done in the last few months; the cloth nappies for the Princess were the start, but I've got heaps of things on my "must-try" list.

Reverse applique was one thing on my list. I'm not a huge regular applique fan, but do like the funky look of reverse applique.

So when I found this fabulous tutorial, I had to give it a whirl.

This is just a cheapy all-in-one suit (or onesie, if you prefer) from the local department store, a scrap of pretty fabric and a very easy design.

Sweet, don't you think? And very, very easy (Yes, Amy, you could certainly do it!!). Please excuse the crap-O-rama photo, it's late.

I see lots more of these in my future. Like in about 15 years when I have more time.....

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And I forgot yesterday, but the Blogtoberfest Inspiration Word for Sunday is chain. Thanks Sean via Bells!

Day 17: Just for laughs

2008-10-17T07:40:00.003+11:00

We have guests all weekend; I'm going to try really hard to blog every day, but....

Anyway, I saw this this morning somewhere a little unexpected (can't recall where. I'm lucky to remember to put my undies underneath my jeans these days, so give me a break). I don't get across all the big knitting blogs - heck, I'm not across any blogs right now - so I may be the last person on the planet to have seen this offering from the Mason-Dixon knitting girls.

But I laughed.

And laughed.

So even if you have seen it, do yourself a favour and go have another look.

Day 16: Skwish!

2008-10-16T18:02:00.009+11:00

Tante Mia from Weidenbruek (we have 4 Tante Mias in our life, so we have to differentiate geographically!) sent the Princess some money and asked us to buy her something special.

I've been eyeing off this Skwish toy at our local toy shop for ages and so that's what Tante Mia bought for the Princess.

Danke schoen, Tante Mia!

Day 15: Making a Splash

2008-10-15T20:03:00.006+11:00

Today was a Good Parenting Day. I don't feel like they happen terribly often right now, so I'm trying to celebrate them when they do. And I can't up with anything of significance for pilgrimage, so this will have to do!

Today was the first day of Pirate Jim's swimming lessons. He's been having them since he was 5 months old, but we've been having a hiatus since about April this year.

The pool where we used to go, very nearby, had a change of management at the start of the year, and all their good, experienced swimming teachers left. It took 5 weeks (that's half the term) before they had a permanent instructor for his class, and although I'm sure she was fully qualified, and probably really good with older kids, she wasn't very experienced, and didn't know how to handle a grumpy 2 year old.

She and PJ never clicked, and he hated going to lessons. I was determined to see the term through, but he howled every time the lesson started, refused to do as he was asked and often I had to physically force him to sit on the side of the pool for the 30 minute duration of the class.

The instructor just didn't know how to deal with his behaviour. The other kids in the class were a little older, and advanced more quickly, than PJ, and as the term wore on, she didn't seem to be able to tailor any of the drills to PJ's lower standard.

He hated it, I hated it, and I don't think the instructor much liked it either. It was terribly demoralising when he would leap up as soon as the class was over and dash for the toddler pool, where he would happily splash about for as long as I'd let him. He just hated the classes.

So we took a break over the winter terms.

I did some research and talked to other parents, and decided to enrol PJ this term at a pool about 15 minutes drive away.

This afternoon was his his first class.

I was pretty apprehensive, I have to admit. I went along fully prepared to bribe him into the water with anything (up to and including a pony), and even took my own bathers in case it took me getting into the water as well to make him stick it out.

I had been talking it up all week, and PJ was actually quite keen. We talked about all the other kids having lessons as we walked into the pool, and he was thrilled to see there was shallow toddler pool there. We got changed and he asked if he could go into the small pool.

"Yes", I said, "but only if you come out straight away when your class begins." He agreed, and when the whistle blew at 5:00 to signal the class change-over, I asked to come out. He did. First hurdle!

There were two other little girls in the class, and a very young-looking instructor. I've nothing against young at all, but after last time, I was worried that it would equate to "unable to handle toddlers".

But I needn't have worried. Another two instructors appeared, so there was one for each child. Within a few minutes PJ's instructor had him happily being towed around, although he was keeping a weather-eye on me sitting on the sidelines. But in less than 10 minutes, he had PJ totally focused on the exercises, and when they took the kids out of my line-of-sight, PJ didn't even notice.

After 20 minutes, I could see PJ leaping, unaided, from the side of the pool.

I was so proud of PJ today. He was clearly a little nervous about the new big people he had to deal with, but he was calm and (eventually) focused. And he obviously enjoyed it! After all, that's the main goal.

H came tearing up to me when the 30 minutes were up, and wanted to go back into the toddler pool. I explained that no, we had to go home to Papa and the Princess, and then he couldn't wait to get dressed and home to tell them all about it.

And now I think he's actually gone to sleep after only 10 minutes.

Good Parenting Day, I tell you.

Remind me of this when next I'm on the look-out for gypsies, will you?

edited to add: The Word for Friday is synchronise

Day 14: A day in my life

2008-10-14T16:39:00.005+11:00

I've been meaning to do this for ages. Little jenny wren started the idea, and I've watched Rosered do it for the last few months and really enjoyed it.

Quite simply, it's a chronicle of my day, on the 14th of the month. So here's my day....

3:10 am Pirate Jim crawls into bed with us and immediately falls deeply asleep

3:11 am - 5:45 am I get woken every 15 or 20 minutes by an elbow or hand to the head, or a foot to the kidneys. PJ is a restless, space-monopolising sleeper. I should have just gone into his bed.

5:45 am Princess Grace awakens for her morning feed. I listen to a podcast of In the National Interest, an in-depth public affairs program. No idea what it was about, I dozed through most of it.

6:30 am Dress the Princess and head out to the kitchen. Kettle on, first cup of tea and a chat with the Princess while I try to wake up properly.

6:45 am I turn on the computer and my suspicion that it is wirelessly linked to PJ's brain is heightened when the Windows boot-up tone and "Morning Mama" are heard simultaneously. I put porridge in the microwave for him, pour juice, dress the porridge with fruit, cinnamon and brown sugar, give him the porridge, fish out the pineapple, add banana, give him back the porridge. Tag with Beloved and I head to the shower.

7:00 - 7:15 am Alone time as I shower and dress - until there's a banging on the door because PJ needs to use the toilet.

7:15 - 8:15 am UN-level negotiations over day's attire for PJ, brushing of teeth, washing of face, combing of hair, putting of shoes and socks. I get to have a bowl of cereal in there too. PJ watches 15 minutes of ABC kids (including Sean the Sheep, which I watch too!) before we leave for childcare.

8:45 am Return from childcare drop-off. The Princess is dozing in her rocker, so I scan the newspaper online and check my email, getting time for one or two few-lines replies before she wakes up for morning tea.

9:00 am Morning tea feed for the Princess. And West Wing time for me; second last ep of the second series. I love this show!

9:45 am Change the Princess and have a play, tidying the lounge room and kitchen, make phone calls to try and see if I can find a swimsuit for PJ, who starts swimming lessons tomorrow afternoon.

10:15 am The Princess is getting cranky so I put her down for a nap and open my email.

10:40 am The Princess is finally asleep so I can finally answer an email or two and do some online searching for a birthday gift. I've been trying to do some sewing these last few weeks, so I get out the patterns and fabric and lay out and cut out a little dress for the Princess. I sit down at the machine but realise I don't have the right colour thread for this fabric. Lay out another fabric instead. She needs a few of these dresses this summer.

11:30 The Princess wakes up, so I grab her and then tidy up the sewing stuff. She has another feed and I watch the final ep of West Wing for series 2. It all gets a bit over done in the last minutes, but is moving and compelling nonetheless. I'm sad because I don't have series 3 yet, and Christmas is a very, very long time away.

12:30 We pack ourselves up and head to the Plaza to check out a large sporting goods store for that elusive swimsuit, pay a bit off my laybys and see if I can find the thread I need. I didn't score on one and three, but did find a nice little short-sleeved cardi for a bargain. It's a lovely red, yay! Wes top at the post office on the way home to try and locate a missing parcel. No joy there either.

2:00 I put the Princess down for another nap and finish cutting out the second little dress. Time for a couple of quick emails and to do an order for some yarn I promised someone.

2:45 pm. The Princess wakes up, another feed, this time watching the first ep of season 3 of Veronica Mars. I loved seasons 1 and 2, but this first ep didn't do it for me. I'll give it a couple more eps, otherwise I may just have to buy myself an early Christmas gift.

3:30 pm Change the Princess, have a play, tidy the kitchen, start preparing dinner. Tonight its salmon and leek tart from the July issue of Super Food Ideas (not online yet, sorry!).

4:30 pm. Put her down for a nap. Check email and start blog post.

4:45 pm She's still awake

4: 55 pm Go and get Princess and go for a stroll in the garden to look at the flowers and pat the dog.

5:15 pm The boys arrive home, PJ clutching a small pink rosebud for me. He presents it to me and promptly clonks his head on the edge of the buffet in the hall. Ow. After the tears are dried, he helps me finish the dinner prep.

5:30 pm Sit down to feed the Princess. Read a book with PJ and discuss his day at the same time. Watch him empty the sand out of his shoes all over the rug.

6:10 pm Put the veggies on to steam, set the table, finish getting dinner ready. UN-level negotiations take place once we are at the table as PJ is unhappy that he doesn't have a "big piece" of the tart like Papa.

6:45 pm Last mouthful is successfully negotiated in, tantrums are averted (for a change), the table is cleared and the bath drawn. Beloved cleans up the kitchen while I undress the Princess and get her and PJ into the bath.

7:15 pm The Princess is dressed and back in the lounge with Papa and I get PJ out, dried and into his jammies. I swap kids with Beloved and give Grace her supper feed and put her down to sleep. That's the last I'll see of her until 6am. PJ on the other hand.....

7:45 pm After a couple of stories, I take PJ to brush his teeth and tuck him into bed. Beloved is making a cup of tea in the kitchen and I come in to the study to blog.....

8:45 pm PJ is still awake and calling out. I've finished this post and my cup of tea, Beloved is talking on the phone and I'm about to hit "publish", go and make another cup of tea and hit the couch with my knitting.

Today was a fairly quiet day by general standards: no lunch dates or other sppointments, no real errands to do, PJ was fairly balanced - trying but at least no real tanties - and the Princess was happy and playful. I'm pretty tired, but it's all good. No major failures of parenting today, always a bonus.

He's still awake. Do you happen to know any gypsies who are looking for a child to buy??

*************************************

And don't forget the Word for tomorrow is pilgrimage

Day 13: This is......my current reading material

2008-10-13T14:03:00.004+11:00

I am a voracious reader. I have been known to read jam jars and cereal packets just to have something to read. I used to never, ever leave the house without reading material, and would often have several books on the go at once. I used to go to bed early just so I had more reading time, and a "sleep in" was just an excuse to stay in bed in the morning to read.

Now that my reading time is severely curtailed, and is usually about 20 minutes in bed before lights out (much to Beloved's disgruntlement), I usually only have one book on the go at once, although the queue is always long. Bed-time reading is essential to me though; I simply cant get into bed and turn out the light. I need to quieten my brain with some words on the page.

I also have a a pile of mags each month too, usually food ones, that I have in the living room to leaf through whenever there's a spare few minutes (preferably with a cup of tea and a nice biscuit or two!).

So here's the list, top to bottom:

Things I Learned from Knitting and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off, both by Stephanie Pear-McPhee, aka the Yarn Harlot. Bells was kind enough to lend me both these books, and I dip into them every few days for a page or two.

The Fourth Bear, by Jasper Fforde. Also lent to me by a friend. I love Fforde's unique and quirky fiction; he comes up with completely left-field characters and plots, and draws in dozens of obscure literary references. This is the second book in the Nursery Crimes series, and I'm not quite so enamoured of this series as I am of his first, the Thursday Next series. This is mu current read.

Carpentaria, by Alexis Wright. It won the 2007 Miles Franklin literary award. Also lent to me by a friend. Haven't started it yet; my friend says it's hard going by worthwhile. Might save it for when I'm not so tired.

The Messenger and The English Assasin, both by Daniel Silva. My read of choice these days is crime fiction, and Silva is my latest find. I quite like reading a series from start to finish, watching how the lead character develops. In these books, Gabriel Allon is an Israeli spy, who is supposed to be retired and living in Venice as an art restorer. He of course keeps getting called back into service. So kind of thriller-intrigue. Good switching-off reads, but the Jewish history component is quite compelling. These two are next off the rank once The Fourth Bear is done.

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. I loved Bryson's early travel works, although once he hit the Big Time they became less appalling - more kind of "trash the locals" than quirkily observant. Another one lent by a friend, I dip into this now and then as I'm not so much of a non-fiction reader these days.

Finally, my mags for the month: Australian Good Taste, BBC Good Food, Super Food Ideas and Interweave Knits. Yes, I do love reading about food (there is often a cookbook beside my bed but I took the most recent back to the library on the weekend). I cook maybe a half-a-dozen recipes from each mag each month, and many of them go into rotation. I have an extensive library these days and they're constantly being dragged out to find past recipes. Although I do tend to go to Taste in the first instance since this is where most of the recipes reside online.

Thanks to threebuttons for hosting and to My Champagne Dreams for this week's ace topic!

The Blogtoberfest Word for Wednesday is pilgrimage. Have fun with that one!

In search of....

2008-10-12T15:52:00.000+11:00

There's a bit of it around - lack of inspiration in the face of the need to blog every day for Blogtoberfest. I love the concept, but am struggling to not only find the inspiration but the time for a post everyday.

Bells lamented it, Kylie is suffering, other Blogtoberfest goers are wondering what they got themselves in for and even Blogtoberfest SuperMama, BigCat, is feeling the squeeze. Rosered helped out with a list for Bells, that she very generously shared, and will get many people (including me!) out of a tight spot, I'm sure.

Well, I can't do anything about the lack of time (but oh, how I wish), but just to add to the inspiration mix, Bells, Kylie and I have concocted another little scheme to kick start the brain cells on those slow-blogging days. Bells mentioned it in her post yesterday.

If you check out all our posts from yesterday, you'll see they all feature the word or theme transform. That's because it's the word I chose from the page of my Macquarie Dictionary that Pirate Jim picked yesterday afternoon. We thought we might do this every second day, so that there is some inspiration sitting there if we need it over the course of the month.

If you're feeling stuck for inspiration, pop on over and at the bottom of each day's post, I'll give you the Word of the Day for the second next day (that means two days away). A word randomly selected from a page in my Macquarie Dictionary, third edition, once Kylie or Bells give me a page number (up to 2478).

You might choose to make this your post theme, or just to try and get it in the text somehow.

This is just a way of sparking something off in your brain, and providing extra fodder for Blogtoberfest!

Also, I am very honoured to have received a Blogtoberfest Spirit Award from BigCat. Thanks! I'll wear it with pride!

Every now and then everything comes up roses

2008-10-11T18:46:00.004+11:00

I guess everyone has them now and again - moments of clarity that transforms what you're doing or how you think; an epiphany; an "a-ha" moment (and I don't mean Norwegian bands in tight jeans).

My mum taught me to knit when I was about 4 or 5, and I knit in exactly the same style as her. Until recently, this was pretty absolute; I used standard Australian patterns from ACS, almost exclusively their yarns, and I knit garments the same way as my Mum (whom I should add is a brilliant knitter who test-knit for ACS in the 70s). That is, in pieces - back, front(s), sleeves, sew up seams and pick up stitches for neckbands, button bands etc.

I thought that's how one knit.

I never thought I'd say this, but I reckon Donald Rumsfeld may have been onto something when he postulated that not only were the "known unknowns", but there were also "unknown unknowns".

I had no idea that my knitting would be so transformed by my exploration of the knitting community via the web and blogging. There were (and still are) indeed unknown unknowns.

The knowledge that has transformed my knitting, probably more than any other thing I have learned recently, is that garments can be knit in one piece, from the top down, or bottom up. One piece. No seaming.

Although this isn't anything new to, oh probably a goodly 99% of the knitting world, it was news to me a few months back when I figured it out.

One piece. No seaming. Wow.

It has changed the way I look at garment construction. I now understand how things go together to make a garment and if I see a pattern knit in pieces, I immediately want to know if it is essential to construct it that way, and if not, how I could make it in one piece. Without seams.

Although my first top-down one-piece was a wrap (so it was straight, really), my current deadline WIP is a roll-neck jumper that I've done in this style, in the round. I can't show it to you right now, because it's a gift, but let me tell you I am totally chuffed with how it is working out. I reckon it might even fit the intended recipient!

Now that I've got the top-down seamless by the short-and-curlies (to borrow a very elegant phrase from my mother), I am really looking forward to the next "a-ha" moment that transforms the way I craft.

What was your ephiphany?

p.s. the spellchecker in Blogger reckons Rumsfeld should be "misfield". Maybe someone should have spell-checked his name back in, say, 2001, and taken the hint.

*******************************************

The word for Monday is lend.

Day 10 - Im going to sea, dont try to reason with me.

2008-10-10T20:33:00.004+11:00

Beloved is back from his work trip this afternoon, so things are on a more even keel around here. I may even have something vaguely interesting to say tonight.

I wanted to thank everyone who shared their favourite lullabies and songs in the comments; I hope everyone who read them enjoyed them as much as I did. It seems to be one of those things that is so individual and personal and memory laden. I hope that I'm giving my kids some deeply connected memories with the songs we sing and the traditions we start while they're still young. Those are precious things.

There has been some dribs and drabs of stash enhancement going on over the last weeks and months; I'm not brave enough to document it a la Rosered, but almost all of it has a plan (some people seem to think this is important!), once the current deadline WIPs are done. I thought tonight I might lay some of those plans out - perhaps it will shame me into actually doing some of them. But then again, perhaps not.

Sorry, no pics (cant be arsed, frankly! And most of it isn't photographed - it doesn't count as stash that way!), and all the patterns links are from Rav. And no particular order, either.

1. There was some Bendy purchased a few weeks back - mostly for a gift jumper (in progress), but one has to make up the free postage threshold!

Waving Grass in Rustic 12 ply in Spiced Plum for the Princess for next winter;
Little sister's dress in heather cotton for this summer;
Avita in maritime blue cotton - but I'll modify the straps because I don't like the ties.

There was Bell's little Berry adventure that yielded some Cascade 220:

2 skeins of a gorgeous red (9404) that will become a Toddler Tunic;
2 skeins of teal (9455) that may just want to be a February baby sweater for next year.

Bells also arranged a small Knitpicks shipment:

Wool of the Andes in two shades of purple for a Green Zebra
Mainline cotton in red for a baby swing jacket

Bec put me onto the very lovely Utiku yarn from NZ:

200g of Watermelon will become an Oriental Lily;
I'm as yet undecided what 200g of Blueberry will be though.

There have been plenty of Spotties purchases as they cleared out their winter stock:

some Mode Vera Torte will become a Boogie Vest for me;
a few balls of Lion Brand cotton that will make many things including a Confection Baby Shrug, a Daisy and perhaps some longies
Im not owning up to the rest just yet.

There was a German shipment in July that included:

Garnstudio Paris cotton for a 100-2 Jacket with Rib
Garnstudio Alpaca that is just so nice to smoosh it doesn't need a plan

Lincraft blowouts:

Balmoral Tweed (green) that is now partly a U-Neck Back-to-school Vest;
Patons Smoothie for a Wicked;
more Balmoral Tweed (grey) for another vest, or maybe a Tree Jacket.

I would like it noted I have passed on numerous enhancement opportunities in the recent past, despite the temptation. I am strong, I tell you.

And I haven't listed anything I want to do for the Summer of Lace.

I expect that should keep me off the streets for a while.

One last thing - I wanted to mention a new-ish blogger on the block who is an old friend from my Blue Mountains days. Liz runs the Button Bower (if you like vintage buttons you must go there)and also crafts beautiful jewelry and objects from buttons and other vintage thingies. And she's a scientist by day! Drop by and say hi; she's having a giveaway for Blogtoberfest too!

Now, if I dont get back to the couch and my knitting, this list will remain just that.

Dear Teacher.....

2008-10-09T20:29:00.005+11:00

Please excuse Georgie from posting anything intelligent or worthwhile on her blog tonight. As you know, she has really good intentions, and signed up to Blogtoberfest in good faith, but after today she just doesn't feel she can deliver. Even with me here to help her out while Beloved is away for work, it's been a difficult day.

If the Pirate was asleep at his usual time of 7:30, instead of still bouncing in and out of bed like a jack-in-the-box for the last 90 minutes, then maybe she could have come up with something interesting.

If the Princess hadn't had an hour-long screaming session that started at the precise moment dinner was placed in the table, then maybe she would be in a position to string a few words together.

If she hadn't spent most of the day walking around the Plaza with me, waiting while I tried on clothes, trying to get the self-serve checkout at the LargeLetter store to work, patiently following me around the supermarket, and taking me to the yarn store (ok, ok, I didn't say it was all hard work!!), she might be in some sort of state to sit upright at the computer.

If she hadn't been woken three times in the night by the Princess, then four times by the Pirate before he finally climbed into bed with her and then took 95% of the available space while she clung to the remaining 5% and shared it with the cat, perhaps she might be able to relate an interesting anecdote about her day.

And I haven't mentioned the other tantrums, tidying, bathing, cooking and wrangling that has taken place today. Or the six, 45-minute breastfeeds that she's delivered since 6am.

So I'd appreciate it if you excuse her for tonight. I'm sure she'll be back at her best tomorrow night.

Yours,
Georgie's Mum.

Rock a bye baby

2008-10-08T16:55:00.003+11:00

Thanks for all your great comments about MCNs - its so interesting to hear other's experiences! One of the selling points I forgot to mention was nappy rash - Princess Grace had it when I was using disposables in the first week or so (before I was confident she was big enough for the clothies), but after 24 hours in cloth - gone. And not a skerrick since. How good is that?

When I put the Princess to bed of an evening, I usually sing her a lullaby as she lays in her cot, swaddled up like a sausage and big eyes gazing up at me.

Sadly, I can't write music and so can only tell you the words, not the tune:

Moon, moon, shining and silver,
Moon, moon, silver and white,
Moon, moon, whisper to children,
Sleep through the silvery night.
Shine, shine, shine, shine,
Sleep through the silvery night.

I've heard it a few times on Playschool, but haven't been able to find anything more on it.

It's become a special quiet time for the Princess and I. She seems to like my singing - possibly the only person in the world who does, as Beloved snorts when I try to sing and even Pirate Jim says "Stop singing Mama!" if I try to sing along with Playschool!

Before PJ knew enough about music to know my how bad my singing is, our special song at bedtimes was "Twinkle twinkle little star". First time around I didn't have so much confidence, or Playschool, and my repertoire was very limited. He'll sometimes still let me sing it, and sings along now too, which I love.

It got me to thinking though - what's your favourite lullaby? The one you sing (sang) with the special wee ones in your life, or the one that was sung to you.

I'd love to hear about it!

The Princess's new clothies

2008-10-07T20:31:00.006+11:00

When Pirate Jim was a mere bump and we were getting ready, as you do, I was quite determined that disposable nappies were the way to go. I had read what little information there was on the question of disposable vs. cloth, and to me there was no question. The production and landfill costs of disposables were preferable to me compared with the cost of producing and washing cloth nappies.

In my mind, though, cloth nappies = the large terry squares that I was nappied in back in the 70s. That had to be folded, that leaked, that needed pins and horrid plastic pilchers and to be soaked in a stinky bucket of bleach, that had to be somehow dried in winter. All that water, detergent, power, time...it was not for me. I had my arguments sorted and I was quite adamant.

But every time I ditched one of those things in the bin, I felt just a little uneasy. Although I liked to think I was trying to tread lightly, since cotton is so intensive to grow, all that water and detergent and power, yadda yadda, I thought that there had to be a better way.

Luckily there are many, many way cleverer people in the world than me, and they had it sorted ages ago.

I stand here before you, admitting I was wrong, and shouting from the rooftops that there is a better way. I am a true believer!

In the months before the Princess was born, I became aware of this "new" thing: Modern Cloth Nappies, or MCNs as those of us in the know like to call them (Yes, as usual I'm light years behind. Stop laughing down the back).

I did some research, talked to some friends who were there before me, got myself a mentor (not a compulsory step, but when you're like me and need hand-holding for something new, it helps) and I was away.

Pockets are my nappy of choice, and I love them. They are easy to use and dry so quickly. I wont bore you with the details (I suspect I'm nearly the last person on the planet who knows about these anyway), but suffice to say I am sold. Love them.

I wasn't initially sure about what they looked like or how they worked (thank goodness for my very patient mentor!), so I bought my initial stash (yes, we MCNers have another sort of stash - another selling point if you were still wavering!!) from a respected seller who carried lots of different brands and types.

But then my mentor suggested building up the stash by sewing my own. I was astounded - I could do that?

Yep - and I did. Lots of free and purchased patterns are available online; I found one that I liked, bought in the supplies and had a bash.

Behold, nappy stash!

Aren't they groovy? And it's enormously satisfying - not only am I reducing all that waste but I made these myself. The first one (front centre) is a bit gumby, but it still does the job.

Bring on summer so the Princess can get out in her funky new bum wear!

And whats even better - shhh, don't tell Beloved - is that now I have the perfect excuse to maintain yet another stash: the nappy fabric one. Sometimes I am so sneaky I amaze even myself!

This is.....my favourite kitchen thing

2008-10-06T17:22:00.006+11:00

I haven't played "This is...." for yonks, but given the kitchen is my favourite room in the house, I felt it was time to come back.

I love kitchen stuff. LOVE it. I love to cook (except lately, when it's become about getting folk fed before the regular evening meltdown happens), love to entertain, love browsing cookbooks - I have an entire bookcase for them - love food mags and I love all the stuff that goes with cooking and kitchen-ing. Put me in a kitchenware store and I wont be out for a week.

So how to choose my one, single, most favouritest thing?

Perhaps my KitchenAid stand mixer that I coveted for years before Beloved put one under the Christmas tree for me?

I adore it, but it's not my favourite.

My Microplane grater? Close, very, very close, but no cigar.

Lemon zester? Citrus reamer? Scanpan classic frying pan? Juicer?

Nope. It's this.

My stick mixer. The thing that makes it my absolute favourite is the mini-processor bit. Its the perfect size for mincing garlic, onions, ginger etc., chopping herbs, making pastes - all the things I use a processor for without having to haul out my Big Bertha processor. And it does it in a flash, then goes straight into the dishwasher.

When I'm in the cooking zone, I use this several times a week. The whisk is also really handy too, except I've lost the little sleeve off the end at some stage, tragically.

So there you have it - and if you dont, you should get one.

No startling car accident post-script from me; just a cuppa and knitting on the couch. Bis morgen.

Cute as Pi

2008-10-05T08:31:00.007+11:00

You will recall there was knitting that took place while I was in labour with the Princess.

Although it's bee finished for months, I've been too lazy to blog the item in question. So finally, here it is.

Princess Grace's Birthday Pi Blanky.

It is of course based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl. I'm such a dreadful copy cat that once I saw Bell's beautiful Pi Blanky I knew I had to make one of my own, and cast this on as a brainless knitting project when I was about 7 months pregnant.

Pattern: EZ's Pi Shawl, from Knitter's Almanac (Rav link)

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8 ply in Tuscan (200g) and a grey colour I'm not sure of (about 220g). I had the Tuscan in the Stash (yay) and Bells gave me the grey.

Needles: 5mm Knitpicks options

Mods: I guess one doesn't really modify and EZ pattern, does one? As you can see, it just did the eyelet rows on the increase rows in the red section, then about every 6th row in the grey. I did the ordinary garter stitch edging.

Here it is blocking:

To give it a final lift, I ran two rows of running stitch in Tuscan around the edge. Thanks for this suggestion, Quilting Mick, it's perfect!

And finally, here it is with the recipient. Shhhh.

Suits her, don't you think?

Nothing much

2008-10-04T21:15:00.004+11:00

That's what happened today - not much at all.

Rain overnight, an early visit to the markets, friends whom we havent seen in about 5 years for a bbq lunch, kids tearing around the backyard (it stopped raining), cleaning up afterwards, leftovers for dinner and collapsing on the couch with a Hitchcock film on the teev, a cup of tea and knitting in my lap....

So, instead, just a quick piccie of the wee ones taken yesterday.

Nice one, Nana

2008-10-03T21:02:00.007+11:00

Today, 3:45pm, home. Nana (my mum) and Pirate Jim are talking on the telephone.

PJ: I'm getting my hair cut today Nana.

Nana: Really? Are you going to get a spike?

PJ (giggling): Nooooo, Nana, I'm not getting a spike!

4:00pm, local hair salon. PJ is sitting in the hairdresser's chair.

Hairdresser: What are we doing today, PJ?

PJ: You're cutting my hair.

Me: Short back and sides, please. A little off the top.

4:07pm, local hair salon.

PJ(entirely without prompting): Can I have a spike please?

Hairdresser: Sure thing!!

4:10pm, home.

Dis one's for the lay-dees....

Yeah, thanks for that, Nana.

Goody two shoes

2008-10-02T21:29:00.006+11:00

I'm not sure if blogging twice in one day gets me brownie points, but as Amy pointed out, it was still her yesterday when I posted on my this morning, so maybe I'll count that as yesterday and this as today.

Today was a fabulous, lovely, shiny day - it was warm (26oC), sunny and lightly breezy. The Princess and I headed to our local plaza / mall to do some clothes shopping for me. It was a much more successful expedition than I've had in the recent past, and I was even fiscally responsible enough to lay-by everything instead of buying it straight up. Aren't I good?

Then after a lovely impromptu lunch with Kuka, who works very close by, we came home, threw the doors and windows open, and while Princess G slept, I finished off a little sewing project.

I've been trying to make a pair of these shoes for about two weeks, but kept getting stymied - first I didn't have the right interfacing, then I didn't have the right thread, then I didn't have the right elastic....

Anyway, today, I finally did the last 30 minutes work required, and was very satisfied with the result.

The pic is a little too blue; they're actually light and dark purple. And the sole pulls in a bit where the tops and heels join, but I think that's because the soles might be too thin to resist the elastic (just two layers of cotton, no interfacing or fleece).

Sweet, na?

I've got lots more of these planned. They use a teeny amount of fabric, and take only about an hour or maybe two to make, now I know how to do them.

Wow, two posts in less than 24 hours - whoda thunk it?

Can you spell "irony"?

2008-10-02T08:48:00.004+11:00

For a whole lot of reasons, I have been very quiet on the blog front lately ("Really Georgie? No!" How kind of you to say so....).

Since being at home on maternity leave with the Princess, I find if I sit down in front of the computer, hours just get sucked away, I do an email or two, read some blogs, do a little Ravelry-ing, and the whole day is gone.

I have lots of goals for my leave, not the least of which is to enjoy my special time with the Princess (but never doubt I have a massive, multi-layered list of Things to Do), and unfortunately being on the computer excludes every thing else. I don't think sitting on my lap watching the screen counts as suitable stimulation for a 3-month-old.

I have made a conscious effort to reduce my screen-time. I don't want to find whole days have been sucked out my week by faffing about the internets. I don't want to find it's January, I'm heading back to work, the Princess is 6 months old and I've done nothing of consequence with this very important time. I am very privileged to have significant maternity leave in a country where many women are forced to go back to work after just 6 weeks (and many don't even get any remuneration for those 6 weeks), and I feel obliged not to fritter it away on frivolous things.

It's spring here in Canberra, and I want to enjoy being outdoors with the Princess and Pirate Jim. I would like to achieve some long-standing goals around the home, such as decluttering and re-organising all the stuff we have. I want to have more than an hour a day to spend on knitting. I want to get back to sewing, and crocheting, and spinning, I cant do that from in front of the computer.

As a consequence I have dropped out of the blogging habit, and although I try and read them, I comment much less often on other blogs. I still read, but I just observe, don't participate as much. I have been an appalling correspondent of late, and am dreadfully behind in returning emails.

But I miss it. I have decided that, rather than feel guilty about my screen time, I need to be more disciplined, give myself discrete windows of usage time, and not stray from that.

So ironically, rather than step further back from blogging, I will step up instead, and take on a challenge. Blogtoberfest has started over on Big Cat's Emporium, and I'm signing up. There's no pressure, just the challenge of posting every day. I'm a day late, but better late than never, I say!

Bring it on! Now, I'm just off to check Rav, and my email, and the weather in Belgrade....

I'm it

2008-09-17T09:44:00.003+11:00

Bells tagged me for a meme, thinking I needed some bloggy inspiration, bless her cotton socks!

She's right, I do.

So without further ado, here are Seven Random Things about me:

1. I wanted to be a vet from when I was about 5 years old. Even though I did pretty well at high school, university came as a bit of a shock to me and I only got very average marks in first year Science (first year of the general science degree was the requirement for entry into the vet program). I applied every year through my Science degree and never got in; I did however get a scholarship to do my PhD.

2. I don't have a sweet tooth at all. I appreciate fine sweet things (good dark chocolate for example, or lemon tart) but can mostly take or leave chocolate, cakes or other sweets, or stop very easily after one piece. Being in the same room as a pavlova makes my teeth ache. I do, however, have a raging savoury tooth and can devour chips or savoury biscuits by the boxful.

3. My favourite snack is Jatz crackers. I used to be a Savoy girl, but when I moved to Darwin I couldnt buy Savoys so moved over to Jatz, and never went back. I have been know to eat a box for lunch. Love them with cheese, mustard pickles, smoked mussels or just on their own.

4. Others have noted their ickiness about feet, so they might want to avert their eyes now. I love cutting my toenails. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction, and I force myself to wait until they're quite long (not claw-long, just a few millimetres) before I cut them.

5. Despite having a couple of dozen pairs of shoes, I wear my blunnies almost exclusively. I *want* to wear other shoes, but I'm just too lazy and value comfort too highly.

6. My first car was a Holden Escort with a 2.0L engine. It went like the clappers. My second car was a red short-wheel base Nissan Patrol diesel. It didnt go so fast, but I thought it was still pretty cool. I once drove from Melbourne city to Brunswick (only about 10 kms) with 11 people in it.

7. I had pet rats as a teenager. My first, Ratty (inspired, I know), used to go most places with me, sitting on my left shoulder. I got a kick out of freaking out checkout chicks at the supermarket and the librarian at the public library when she peeped out from under my hair or ran down my arm to sit on my wrist.

So that's a few random thoughts.

Here are seven people I'd like to know more about (apologies if youve already been tagged this round):

1. Bec from Kids, Knits, Classes, etc
2. Kuka
3. Pransell
4. Kate from Knitting and Knotting
5. Strikerin
6. Twitchy Fingers
7. Cindy2paw

Saturday is for swatching

2008-09-06T18:07:00.011+11:00

You're probably aware I've had a bit of mental blockage about starting new projects, particularly larger items, since the Princess arrived (Ok, ok, long before that). I've spent the last few weeks trying to actively play down the angst and get myself a bit organised - lots of Ravelry-ing, updating and prioritising my queue, a good Toss of the Stash (you are so not seeing the photos of that little exercise), researching patterns and yarns. And polishing off a few lingering WIPs.

While I still have a few of those pesky WIPs hanging about, Ive made some good progress and finally my head is in the right place to make a start on some new projects.

My German god-daughter, Little Miss M, turns 4 at the end of October - the end of autumn start of winter in Europe - and I have (for better or worse) started a tradition of knitting her a jumper for each birthday. So I've ordered the yarn from Bendy for that, but in the meantime I thought while I had the desire to cast on, I'd run with it. I've paired off patterns and yarn in the stash, so had a few options.

What's a procrastinator to do when faced with choice?

Why, swatch of course! So I picked two - one big (gotta get back on the big-things horse, its been way too long) and one small.

The "big" project is a Goldilocks project: not too big to be intimidating, not so small as to be avoiding the issue, but j-u-s-t right.

Stephanie Japel's Back to School U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits. An adult-sized garment, but not the whole catastrophe of front, back and two sleeves. Easy does it, don't want to get spooked.

When Lincraft had their Balmoral Tweed out for $2 a ball a few weeks back, both Bells and I snapped up 10 balls with exactly this pattern in mind. The yarn is listed in Rav as DK/8ply, even though the ball band says worsted, and others have told me I'd have trouble making the 18 sts / 10 cm gague required. And the yarn did feel a leetle thin as I was knitting it.

Well ner-ner-ne-ner-ner, because I got 17 sts on the 4.5 mm needles recommended! The fabric is only slightly more open than I would like, and so I'll go down to 4 mm (I typically gain or lose a stitch per needle size) and just keep an eye on the length and reckon I'll rock it in.

I'm loving the waffle stitch that makes up the bodice too.

My "little" project is of course something for the Princess. (Btw - I've shelved the Wollmeise for now. Too much pressure. Thanks for all your suggestions, but as Beloved is fond of saying "it needs a little bit more thinking").

Given that spring has sprung, I figured I'd better get cracking on some lighter-weight garments for her. I'm hoping the berry baby hat has broken the hoo-doo on knitting for her. So first cab off the rank is Blossom, a sweet little sleeveless (hmm, pattern developing here!) wrap around dress.

Big W had a $2 yarn sale last week (what is it with me and $2 yarn???) and I got 4 balls of Cleckheaton Cocoon, a yarn whose colours I love and have been dying to try but was put off by its 4-ply-ness.

So after all the chores were done, I retired to the deck with a cuppa and the latest Yarn to swatch.

I'm still waiting for it to dry (yes, people, I even wet-blocked my swatches!), but it looks like I'll come in a stitch under the 24 sts required. The fabric is quite open, but is lovely and soft and drapey even before a bath, so I think it will be lovely for this garment.

The Princess seemed quite pleased with this outcome when I told her.

Now I've just got to decide which one to start first...like right now.....arrggghhh, the indecision is killing me!! Maybe I'll swatch for something else.....

If I remember her name I'll never forget her

2008-09-01T21:09:00.015+11:00

Despite all appearances to the contrary, there has been some knitting going on here at Chez Kitchen Table. Not as much as I would like, and limited to small, quick projects (because I have the attention span of a boiled carrot right now), but nonetheless I have managed to finish a few things over the last few-ish weeks.

So I thought Id just get a few of them out there in one hit. There's one more to come, but it deserves its own post.

1. Anouk. I actually intended to gift this, back in April last year, but lost my nerve. I packed it away, sans buttons, and forgot all about it. Bu clearly the Knitting Goddess knew I would one day produce a baby girl, becasue I re-discovered it a week or two after Grace was born, found the perfect buttons with some help, et voila!

Knit in Patons Zhivago, no mods.

2. Waratah beret. I adore hats and have been feeling the need for a beret all winter. Espcially after so many other gorgeous ones were popping up in my circle of friends.

This Waratah Fibres colourway (whose name escapes me...blueberry perhaps?) knit up a beautiful simple beret, using Margie's Carla pattern. I love it.

3. Fetchings. Two days before the arrival of some dear friends at the end of July, I realised that Bev would be celebrating her birthday during their stay with us. They live on Kangaroo Island, and are very outdoorsy, so 15 seconds after loading the pattern search page on Ravelry, I knew exactly what to make her. Clearly I am the last person on the planet to knit the most popular pattern on Rav!

I used a single skein of Natually Harmony 10ply from the stash (bummer - no excuse to dash to the LYS for gift-making supplies!). Great pattern though, very fast and I'll certainly make them again.

4. Berry baby hat. Grace has suddenly outgrown almost all of her beanies, but it's still chilly enough here to warrant the wearing of head gear outside. I'm also a sucker for cute baby hat patterns.

I made this in Shepherd Colour-4-me 8ply, increasing the cast-on stitches to 80 to make up for the lighter weight yarn.

I'd post a photo of it on the recipient, but she proved to be a very reluctant model this morning. Trust me, though, it looks very cute.

So, to make up for that, here's one of her modelling Anouk.

Clearly the Knitting Goddess knows what she's talking about.

Avast, me hearties!*

2008-08-26T11:19:00.016+11:00

Thankyou everyone for the lovely birthday wishes for Pirate Jim! I'm terribly behind in blogging, but we had a small celebration for him the weekend before his birthday. I've been putting off the whole kids party catastrophe, but I think next year we will go there. This year, my parents (aka Nana and Grandpa) came to visit, along with some other special guests, for a bbq lunch.

Fireman PJ was on duty just in case the bbq got out of control. (That boy loves climbing ladders and being up high. It makes my heart stop and I am dreading the day he figures out how to get on the roof of the house. Or up a tree....)

After the bbq lunch, there was unwrapping of gifts. This one is from Nana and Grandpa. What can it be, PJ?

A Pirate Ship!!

Grandpa takes his grandparenting duties very seriously, and this includes major construction. This now lives in our backyard. I think we have to buy this house now, and live here for ever and ever, because I am not looking forward the day we need to move.

And do you think PJ might have liked it? He's the Captain!

And of course there were Pirate Crew on hand....Ahoy me hearties!!

And a pirate cake....
Made from this book. And because what I lack in parenting skills I try to make up for in baking, I over-achieved and made another cake for PJ's birthday-day at childcare.

It's a bit wobbly, as it's out of my own head, but the kids loved it.

Now I believe I have some First Mate duties to attend to! Arrggghhh!

*Ive been swotting up on Pirate lingo. Can ye land-lubbing scurvy bilge-rats tell?

Three years old today

2008-08-19T13:36:00.005+11:00

Today my gorgeous, outgoing, independant boy turns three.

Where did that time go?

He can count to 17.

He can recognise his name when it's written down.

He can put on his own boots and knows his left foot from his right.

He can put on and zip up his jacket.

He can jump with both feet together.

He can balance and walk along the brick garden edge at childcare.

He can name all the ingredients for a cake and help me to bake it.

He can climb the ladder to the big slide at the park all by himself.

He can sing songs from memory, and make up his own.

He can keep a beat and dance to music.

He can help set the table for dinner, and clear it too.

He can make us laugh until we cry.

He can use scissors and draw faces with all the bits in the right place.

He can do so many things that make me wonder, every day, about he he got to be so grown up and clever.

But most of all he teaches me something every day, and he can make my heart feel like its going to burst from pride and love.

Happy third birthday Pirate Jim!

(inspired by one of my favourite knit-blogger mamas, annypurls)

Decisions, decisions

2008-08-07T11:05:00.006+11:00

I have mentioned to a few people that I was completely stunned when I discovered the Princess was a girl. Speechless even. Beloved says my face was priceless at the moment I was told.

You see, when she was still on the inside, I was convinced she was a boy. 99.9% certain. I felt it in my waters.

Just goes to show what my waters know. Nuffin'.

It took me several days to come to terms with the fact that I had a girl. I kept opening her nappy to check. Yup, still girl-bits. I may have even said to my mum "What on earth am I going to do with a girl?". Because after nearly 3 years with Pirate Jim, I feel like I understand what makes boys tick. (Can someone remind me of that statement every 12 months or so? Ta). I was all prepared for another boy and not at all ready to start thinking about how girls work.

So now that I have a girl, there are so many cool things to knit. For some reason, I feel that "girls" knits are so much more creative and interesting that "boys" patterns. And more interesting colours too. Probably a bit gender-ist of me, but nonetheless that's what I feel.

And so with the huge range of choices available to me, I am completely and utterly paralysed by indecision. I have no idea where to start. There are probably only a couple of cold months left here - it will take me time to knit, then she'll grow, so maybe I should knit for next year, after all she was gifted so many lovely things that fit now.....(and if I was a half-decent blogger and friend, that last phrase would be linked to the post where I'd thanked everyone for their gifts, but well, I'm still working on that!)

But there is one thing I've decided on. Given there was purchasing of yarn whilst in labour with the Princess, some of said yarn should make a garment for her. Remember the Wollmeise?

150g / 500 m / 574 y of 100% merino superwash 4ply / fingering weight in stunning reds to almost orange colourway.

But what to make? There has been some discussion with helpful people about the February Baby Sweater (Rav link), which I love. Classic, but contemporary. But y'know, I don't really "get" EZ, and I know I'd just get all angsty about trying to follow her "pattern", especially after reading some of the issues other Ravellers have had with it.

And so, dear readers, I am seeking to draw on the wisdom and knowledge of Blogland. What should I make? Something for now, something for next year? It's going to be an heirloom (I hope), something special to keep.

Should I suck it up and try the FBS? Do you have another suggestion? I would really like to knit something for my daughter!

Tell me what to do before my brain explodes!

It's oh so quiet.....

2008-07-30T18:09:00.005+11:00

Shhhhh. Please. I'm savouring the quiet. The lack of bustle. Being the only person in the house (well, almost).

Our Germans guests (all 5 of them) departed Friday morning, giving us just enough time to wash (some of) the sheets and towels, vacuum up all the dried play-doh (that stuff gets everywhere) and re-stock the fridge before the arrival of dear old friends from our Darwin days.

B & C now live on Kangaroo Island, along way from Canberra, and we see them terribly rarely. But they were in the area (visiting relatives about 200kms away), so they "dropped in" for a few days. It was a fabulous visit, reminding me how much fun we had in the "good old days" and how I wish we could see them more often.

But in the true style of old friends, it was as if we'd seen each other just last week. We had a lovely couple of days, eating out, meandering around the National Gallery, endless cups of tea.

They left us this morning, and now I'm revelling in the emptiness of the house, and have taken my time feeding and cuddling the Princess, thinking about all the other things I need to do.

Tomorrow.

Shhhh.

Lions and tigers and bears - oh my!

2008-07-24T11:15:00.008+11:00

Last Sunday my BIL was due to arrive into Sydney from Germany, to join Beloved's sister and their three teenage daughters who have been staying with us since the day Princess Grace was born.

So we all decided to take the train to Sydney from Canberra, ostensibly to meet him, but with the added bonus of a trip to Taronga Park Zoo.

It was a weekend of firsts for PJ: train, ferry, zoo. He was pretty excited about the whole adventure, and we unashamedly used the threat of not going to keep him in line all week. (This may be why I am yet to be offered an authorship deal on a parenting guide)

It was his first train trip. He nearly burst with excitement every time the train's horn blew. He wanted me to take him to the driver so he could drive the train.

We arrived in Sydney late on Sunday afternoon. Apparently there was another event on that weekend too - there were "youth" everywhere. Pilgrims, they called themselves. Central Station was packed, the park outside Central was full to bursting, roads were closed and there were more people with guitars than a Fender convention.

We walked to Surry Hills against the tide. This is looking down Albion St towards Central, if you are familiar with Sydney.

The upside was that at least it wasn't a crowd of football fans or post-Christmas -sale bargain hunters, so it felt pretty benign and non-threatening.

The next morning we were up bright and early and caught the ferry to the zoo from Darling Harbour. Another first for PJ. He wanted me to take him to the captain so he could drive the boat. (I wonder if he has his mother's control-freak tendencies??)

At the zoo, there were a few must-sees on the list. Elephants, monkeys, seals, kangaroos (well, for the tourists), lions, meerkats and tigers. But these guys were the absolute favourite.
And of course we had to wave to Mama's favourite animals.

We caught the train back to Canberra that evening, exhausted but full to the brim with exciting new experiences.

And Princess Grace, now well-travelled for 4 weeks old (especially if you include the trip to my parents, 450 kms away, when she was a week old), slept through it all.

I know you're all just here for the baby eye-candy now, so here you go:

That's your lot for this post, you'll have to wait for some more! Hopefully now that my computer is back working again after a week on stress-leave, and I'm not competing with three teenagers for use of it, or travelling around the countryside, I'll be able to answer my emails and post a bit more often.

Hopefully!

FO: Princess Grace

2008-07-12T13:30:00.014+11:00

We've all had those WIPs that seem to linger on and on, and take forever to finish even when you finally knuckle down and get on with it.

Let me tell you, the last few weeks of working on this particular project were hard yakka. I was totally over the whole thing. If I could have, I would of put it in the time-out corner. But I guess I was kind of attached to it and felt compelled to see it through.

But then, 2 weeks ago today, I finally cast off and admired my work. I decided it was well worth it, and that I'd probably even contemplate making another one. Perhaps.

Introducing Princess Grace, born 440am (AEST) on June 28th:

Pattern: Human Baby, designed by Evolution. Although I've personalised my version, Evolution has been working on this pattern for tens of thousands of years. The design is so elegant, allowing for a myriad subtle mods to get a perfect fit. There are lots of clumsy workings behind the facade, but all in all, the outcome is rather nice. This is my second attempt, and Ive been rather chuffed with how the first is wearing. I get compliments on him all the time.

Sticks and string: I used the recommended DNA double helix, and split the strands initially before recombining strands from two different dyelots as called for in the pattern. Beloved was a big help with this.

Mods: many, but very small and probably barely noticeable. It has been noted she has lovely eyebrows; I like to think I put a lot of effort into those in week 32 or so.

Time: September-ish until June 28th 2008. (Damn it, missed the Federal Government's increase in the FO-bonus by two days!! )

Now, there are one or two rumours swirling about regarding the arrival of the Princess that I'd like to take a moment to address.

1. Yes, I did knit in labour. Much to the amusement of the midwives and obstetrician. I was laying there, strapped to a machine and with a doodad in the back of my hand and antibiotics going in - may as well put the time to good use, working on another WIP!

2. Yes, I did buy yarn online when I was (technically) in labour. I blame Tinkingbell - if she hadn't called me to tell me Wollmeise had stock in her shop, I wouldn't have even contemplated any impulse yarn purchases. Quilting Mick was my partner in crime, but she redeemed herself by looking after Pirate Jim when Beloved and I went to the hospital.

I say "technically" because even though my membranes had ruptured a few hours earlier (on the kitchen floor - thanks for jinxing that Kuka!!), nothing was happening.

That's Farn on the left, and Red Hot Chilli on the right. No photography can do the colours justice - they are quite breath-takingly beautiful and jewel-like.

Does any one have a problem with either of those things? Hmmm, thought not.

And finally, it is my great please to announce the winner of the Arrival of the Bump Competition is Jan, who was only an hour and forty minutes early in her guess! Email me, Jan, so I know where to send your prize. Well done!

Oh, one last thought (the hormones make me a touch philosophical) - perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself in calling Princess Grace an FO? It's probably much more accurate to consider her still a WIP....

Edited to fix incorrect link to Jan's blog!

A very special post

2008-06-26T09:55:00.011+11:00

I'm still here.

I contemplated taking Rosered's suggestion to save my 100th post for the arrival of the bump (who's ready for the live streaming?? Kidding!!), but an opportunity to good to pass up has presented itself.

What nicer way to mark one's 100th blog post than with a celebration of the kindness and generosity of knitters, crocheters and bloggers?

I have commented before on the joy and acceptance I have found with the Canberra SnBers. Ive been going for a bit more than a year now, and look forward to the regular gatherings so I can catch up with those whom I now regard as friends, ooh and aah over everyone's projects, paw through new books and pat new yarn and meet new folk. I was introduced to blogging, and a whole new world (literally!) of blog-friends, through SnB.

On Tuesday evening, at one of the regular gatherings, I was reminded once again of the importance SnB and blogging now has in my life.

I was presented with the most gorgeous, thoughtful, generous gift for the bump.I cant do it justice with any single photo, but you get the idea: a blanket made from squares knitted and crocheted by a raft of SnBers and bloggers, sewn together and edged in crochet.

I'm not sure if it was evident, but I was quite speechless and overwhelmed that this has been going on behind the scenes for so long and with so much enthusiasm!

I love it - both because it is so lovely and snuggly and perfect for the Bump, but also because it represents all the things I love about being part of the SnB and blogging communities.

I would like to thank everyone involved, both local and remote: a special one to Beth Bynnag for organising, coordinating, sewing up and edging, and to all the contributors: Jejune, Othlon, Kuka, Taphophile, Happy Spider, Quilting Mick, Silkydoll, Luckycat, Twitchy Fingers, Rosered, Tinkingbell, Monnsqueak, Olivia, kms, Bells, and the bloggless Jacqui and Krissy.

So finally my 100th post (you were so right Bells! June - and only just!) and Im so glad I had the opportunity to make it about something special. Since the Bump Sweepstakes is still going, I think there will a random celebratory competition sometime down the track.

Thank you all, more than you can possibly know.

G x

p.s. The Bump Sweepstakes are still open, of course, but enough with the middle-of-the-night predictions already! Please!

*******************************************

ETA: It had to happen, It nagged at me when I wrote the list, and I thought "I bet I'll forget someone".

And I did: Caffeine Faerie, Im so very sorry!! It wasn't on purpose, I promise!

Did someone say nesting?

2008-06-24T10:53:00.010+11:00

I guess maybe I have been. Just a little. That big long list of Things To Do Once I Start Maternity Leave is slowly getting shorter. I have been cleaning, washing, baking, making (more) lists, sewing, and yes, some knitting too.

I figured that despite recieving many gorgeous gifts already (about which I will blog later), I really should knit something for the Bump myself.

Inspired by Bells, I started a Pi Blanky a couple of weeks ago, in Bendy 8ply Classic in Tuscan.

You need a nice warm, bright blanky in the Canberra winter. I'm keeping it simple, just the YO increases for the pattern, although now I'm in the "knit 48 rounds" section, I've put in an extra row at 24 rows.

Although it's great, mindless round-and-round knitting, Ive decided to put the brakes on because I've got some outstanding gift knitting on the needles.

That didn't stop me casting on a pair of longies in Happy Spider 8ply Wakame.

What did stop me, however, was getting to the gusset of the longies and needing a second pair of 4mm dpns. Now I know I have at least one more set (I'm sure I've two), but do you think I could find them?

Not in my needle cases or boxes (just dont ask. I am in dire need of needle storage solutions.)

Not in this knitting basket......

And not in this knitting basket.

What I did find, though, was a huge bloody shambles of WIPs, random small purchases, sample cards, ball bands and general crap.

It called for some cleansing. I am pleased to report that I frogged no less than five languishing WIPs:

a BSJ in Happy Spider 4ply (I just can't get the hang of this pattern, as much as I long to),
a beanie in Jet that I can't get the cable pattern to work for,
a baby kimono (from a Sirdar pattern - in pieces! Why would I knit one in pieces and then sew them up? Hah!)
a Debbie Bliss baby jacket both in pieces (hah!) and 5ply (w-a-y too slow)
a baby beanie in Peaches and Cream that just wasn't working.

And relocated no less than 25 balls of yarn back to the stash cupboard.

Still no 4 mm dpns.

But it feels much better! And I have identified some good hospital knitting:

Cobblestone jnr for PJ; Im up to the sleeves and just need to concentrate
Monkey socks that have been OTNs forever
the rest of the Pi Blanky

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got stock on the stove, 2 loads of washing to hang out, and I believe there's the back of a cupboard somewhere that might need cleaning....

Bump-date

2008-06-18T15:44:00.010+11:00

First, a public apology to Bells, for suggesting she could ever be anything approaching unkind. The irony of the rudeness of calling her unkind (even a teeny bit!) is not lost on even me! I claim a failure of my brain to come up with a better word and lack of rigorous editing, rather than intentional slander. Sorry Bells.

***************************

Now. It has come to my attention that there have been questions asked about The Bump.

So I thought - even at the 11th hour - I'd make sure everyone has all the information they need.

Listen carefully, I will say this only once.....

Everything is fine. No issues with the Bump, no issues with me. Apart from mild annoying wakefulness in the middle of the night (usually 1:56 am to around 4am, then 5:01 am to 6-ish) and an unspeakably painful pelvis, we are both very normal (quiet in the back) and healthy.

My due date is 26th June. That's the doctor's due date. Mine is 3rd July. We'll see. Place your bets**.

No, I don't know the gender. I'm not ready, and once you know, you cant unknow. I did half-wish I knew when I was browsing the baby clothes sale at a local department store but.....no. Still not ready.

No, we're not particularly hung up on gender-specific colours. Bright is good - of any colour. Pale yellow is not. Frills and fluff are not a favourite either. I'm right with you on the pale pink frou-frou thing Amy. (this is not intended to sound presumptuous - but I know it has been asked)

As I mentioned last post, there has been some expansion. Even though everyone keeps telling me I look very "neat" or "compact", I feel like a hippo.

I was going to entertain you with a photo of what used to be known as my belly-button, but decided against it.

Despite my very best intentions, and an ever-increasing Ravelry queue, I am yet to knit a single thing for this baby. Not a sock, not a hat...nada. I do have one thing on the needles, nice mindless knitting, but it's got a long way to go.

Bad Mama.

*************************************

**Kate's comment on the last post arrived just minutes after I wrote that sentence and I say YES - lets have a guessing comp!

Leave your bet for date and time (Australian Eastern Standard Time please - no way am I figuring out where you're from and what time it is there compared with here.....) in the comments and there will be a prize for whoever gets the closest!

It can be either side (before or after) - just the closest. Entries close when I go into labour - although I wont be blogging that, there will be some who know when it happens.

Note to Beloved: if I give away some of the stash, am I allowed to replace it?

Breathe....

2008-06-18T15:04:00.005+11:00

Yet again, another week (and more!) has slipped by and my blog lies neglected. Ive missed yet another This is....but I dont think you really want to see a photo of my forehead, since my brain is my main creative space right now - I dont really have a physical space right now.

My first blogiversary was sometime in April, a date which I duly missed. I voiced my regrets to Bells, and said "that's OK, my 100th post is coming up, I'll celebrate then". I thought she was being a teeny bit unkind when she said "Oh, sometime around June then?". But of course she was right. I just checked - this is post 97.

Maybe July then? Har har.

I finally finished work on Thursday, after scrambling a few last minute items for my manager. Despite all his claims that I didnt need to do any handover notes, and trying to brief him for several weeks, I spent an hour with him on Tuesday morning explaining one small part of the what Id been doing for the last two years - how I'd put it together and where the files were.

At least they gave me morning tea!

Today is really the first day I've felt like I can settle and take a breath and "start" my leave - we went to visit Mum and Dad on Friday for the weekend, then Monday and Tuesday have been full of appointments and errands.

Including one with my OB, who calmly said "So 10 days to go then?". Hmmm. Yup. 10 days. 8 now.

That means 8 days to get through the huge list of things to do that Ive been compiling for the last couple of months: "things to do when Im on leave". Like catch up on our 7 or 8 loads of washing, find and wash all the teeny tiny baby clothes, the cot sheets and the spew cloths, set up the nursery room so I can find said things, clean the pram, clean the grusome alien life-forms out of the fridge, try and get through some more unpacking / re-organising / decluttering (that's wishful thinking!). I'll be a lady of lesuire.

That also means 9 days until the next tranche of Germans for 2008 arrive - Beloved's sister and her 3 girls (aged 10, 11 and 13). In their (and my) defense, they booked in first, a whole year ago. Its just a quirk of timing.

But it does mean 4 extra people (5 when their dad arrives 3 weeks later) at a time when things are already likley to be somewhat busy. However, they're very self-reliant and although it will be crowded and busy and hectic, it wil all be OK.

There has been some knitting, but that will be blogged later when it's gifted. Hopefully soon - it's already overdue.

There has also been significant expansion in the bump department since I last updated you - but that's another post.

Who knows, now that I'm a lady of lesiure, maybe I'll get to post 100 this week!

This is....my favourite holiday memory

2008-06-08T16:10:00.006+11:00

Eek - has it really been a week since I posted last? 7 whole days? No one nicked any....positive? I guess being my second last week at work, I was unusually busy. Colleagues finally realised I was GOING for 6 months and that if they wanted anything from me, now would be a really good time.

So, thanks to Hila, here is my favourite travel memory.

You may or may not know that Beloved is German, from a small village not too far from Cologne. When I say small, I mean 550 people. His family has lived there for nearly 900 years, and he is related to about half the inhabitants! We try and visit every 1 - 2 years (although that is of course less possible now with kids and costs), and I love going back. It's very grounding.

We went for Christmas 2004, and as Beloved's godson was having his first communion at Easter in 2005, we decided that I would take leave without pay and stay there for the in-between time. We found out 2 days before we left that I was pregnant with Pirate Jim.

Beloved returned to Australia at the end of January, and I stayed with his younger brother, his wife and their 3 months old daughter. (The very same who visited us earlier this year, although Miss M is now 3 years old of course). I had a fabulous time. My German improved out of sight, I got to experience a Karneval in the village, and did some travelling around to visit friends and family all over the country. Nothing like getting caught on an inter-city train without the correct ticket to give one's language skills a run!

This photo was taken a few days before Beloved left the village to return to Australia. The village is nestled in a little valley between several mountains; I am standing on top of Limberg, with the village and it distinctive spire behind me (although you cant actually see that! But what you can see is a bit more than half the village).

There was snow, and there would be a lot more that winter, but it was a period of several warm-ish, rainy days - hence the patchiness of the snow and the umbrella I'm carrying.

It was my first "white Christmas", and very very strange to be celebrating all rugged up with short, cold, overcast days, when Ive only ever had long, balmy (or baking) days in swimsuits and sundresses with post-feast naps in the shade. Athough the post-feast nap is apparently universal.

I have a dozen travel memories I can draw on, but I think this is my favourite because its the time when I really felt that I became part of my German family. It also gave a very strong appreciation of just how hard it was for Beloved to leave here and relocate to Australia (Bundaberg) in his 20s, with no family and only school English.

And PJ was there too!

This is....my pets

2008-06-01T18:54:00.009+11:00

I grew up on a farm, and so as kids we had a constant procession of pets (or animals we tried to make pets), ranging from cats and dogs to Miss Margaret the chook , ducks, a tortoise (Bert), rabbits, pigs and countless doomed goldfish. You've already seen my pony Diamond, a few posts ago.

These days we are much more pedestrian, with just a cat and a dog to our name. We did recently find ourselves seriously discussing a fish for PJ. He was fascinated by the one we fish-sat for a couple of weeks last year, and maybe one day soon we will.

But for now, here is Asha, adopted from the pound as a kitten when I lived in Darwin. She's now 8.

And here's Brock, also adopted from the pound as a very neglected 9 year old when we lived in the Blue Mountains. He's now 13. His hobbies consist of sleeping (23 1/2 hours a day) and eating.

Both these two have always been sensational with PJ, never raised so much as a claw in his direction despite some fairly severe toddler treatment.

We couldn't ask for lovelier pets, really.

Me, too!

2008-05-30T19:33:00.004+11:00

No Rose Red, you're not quite the last person in blogland to do this meme. I love a good meme, and I'm brain dead after a long Friday, so here it is.

1) What was I doing ten years ago?
I was halfway through the second year of my PhD studies in Darwin. At this particular time of the year - start of the tropical dry season - I would be most likely to be found out at one of my field sites, probably up to my knees in water or mud, taking measurements, keeping a whether eye out for snakes, wild pigs, crocodiles and drug growers. Since 530 that morning.

2) What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today?
Given the day is almost over, Ive done a few of them. Go to the supermarket, visit friends with a new baby, hang out the washing (and bring it in again). I still have to do the heel on a sock (deadline knitting) and do some more research on purchases in Germany for my SIL to bring out with her next month.

3) Snacks I enjoy?
Milk. More milk. Chocolate milkshakes. Cheesymite scrolls. Cheese and crackers (a nice sharp cheddar on Jatz by preference). And if Ive got a sweet-tooth (which you may have gathered is not often) a cinnamon doughnut or a square or two of dark (70% cocoa) chocolate.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire?
There have been stacks of good suggestions here already, and I'm not so imaginative as to come up with anything startlingly brilliant. Buy our own home, pay off my parent's and brother's mortgages and give them some play money, invest for the kid's education. I would also set up substantial trusts for the RSPCA and several organisations that focus on neglected and abused children and women. I might take a long holiday, and might work less, but certainly wouldn't give up working.

5) Places I have lived?
The country town (now outer suburb of Melbourne) where I grew up (3 houses); inner Melbourne while an undergrad (2 houses); Darwin to do my postgrad degree (at least 9 houses, Ive lost count there); outer Sydney and Blue Mountains (4 houses); Canberra (2 houses).

I am so tired of moving house.

6) Jobs I have had?
Nursery hand, devonshire tea waitress, GPs receptionist, bar attendant & waitress (up to management level), gaming attendant (ie. poker machines - soul destroying comes close), university tutor and lecturer, researcher. I'm now a public servant for the Federal Government.

7) Peeps I want to know more about?
Everyone! As I said, I love memes and I also love getting to know people. If you haven't done it, please do!

Like, totally wrapped

2008-05-28T21:04:00.007+11:00

In amongst the chaos that has been Chez GTK - moving house, unpacking, crazy work stuff, impossible tiredness and what I fondly call "placenta brain", there has been knitting.

Small things, mainly, because chances are I wont have more than about half an hour before I either fall asleep, get stressed about work and head back to the computer or get mired in another PJ-shaped drama, but knitting none the less.

I have had revelatory experience in particular. After maybe a year of reading about it, I finally sucked it up and knit something top-down and seamless.

And I am here to tell you, sisters and brothers, I have seen the light!

Why in HEAVEN'S NAME do we not knit everything like this? Well, OK, not quite everything, some things need seams, but I'm really taken with this method. Really easy to conceptualise and modify, with the added bonus of making me feel really, really clever! See, I knit something in one piece and do no have to send it Mum to sew up!

So I solemnly swear from this point on, as the Knitting Goddess is my witness, I will never knit something with seams again unless it completely necessary.

Pattern: Seamless Baby Kimono (Rav link) from The Complete Fabrication (blog link).

Yarn: Bendigo Classic 8ply in Blueberry - 90 g

Sticks: Knitpicks Options 4mm

Mods: The pattern is sized for a 6 - 9 month old (size 00 in Australia), and I wanted a newborn size (000). So I:

stopped increasing at 44 sts instead of 50 across the back, and then knit the fronts until they were also 44 sts.
had 30 sts held on waste yarn for each sleeve, and picked up 4 more under the arm, then decreased to 22 sts and knit straight until the sleeve was 12 cm long before doing the cuff
used the 3 sts held for the front tie to knit i-cord instead of flat

Time: cast on 2 May, cast off 9 May. Pretty quick by my standards - you know I'm not a one-project kinda gal!

The possibilities with this pattern are endless. First, if I can re-size it that easily, I'm sure my cat could too if I cast on the stitches for her. Second, use a different increase down the front for a different (less-lacy) look; button closure instead of tie, not to mention the options for some applied i-cord or duplicate-stitch bits and bobs on the front to customise it.

I am resisting the urge to cast on another until I get some urgent gift knitting out of the way (more on that once it's gifted), but I think this pattern will become a permanent fixture in my knitting bag.

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One more thing before you go: there's a new blogger on the Canberra scene. Pop over and check out Bec's crazy world and say hi! She's just finished the loveliest clappy.

Been 5 o'clock shadow boxing all round town

2008-05-25T20:37:00.014+11:00

Oh, hello! I didn't realise anyone was still there.....

Sincerest apologies for my lack of blogosphere participation of late - something had to give and this was it. I have been reading and mostly keeping up, and I still love you all, but frankly if I was blogging and properly commenting, I wouldn't be doing something else, like sleeping. And since I still haven't discovered how to type with my toes, I can't knit and blog at the same time, and I'm afraid any snatched moments for relaxation have gone to knitting.

So last week it was my birthday. Given my heavy workload and that Beloved was in Cairns (tropical town, mmmm, warm...) for a conference, it threatened to be a non-event. And between you and me, I kinda like having birthdays, so I was a bit sad, and fully prepared for a non-event birthday.

However, the efforts of PJ and my Mum (who was staying with while Beloved was away), lovely messages from friends and some fantastic gifts, I had a lovely birthday, that stretched out most of the week with the arrival of parcels and cards in the post.

After a very trying work day on Monday, I arrived home to be greeted at the door by a big hug, kiss and very loud "Happy Birthday!" from PJ. He then led me to the kitchen table, ordered me to sit down and "stay!", then vanished into the back bedroom with Mum. They emerged after a few minutes of furtive whisperings, holding a beautifully decorated and be-candled birthday cake. After a rousing chorus of singing, PJ saved my poor aging lungs and blew out the candles. Sadly, I cant share a photo.

My Mum, bless, always asks if there's anything I want for my birthday. She came through with a set of Knitpicks Harmony dpns, one set of which are already halfway through a sock and which I am loving.

And she cooked dinner for us. All week.

Beloved and PJ, with a little help from a friend or two, presented me on Sunday morning with one of my heart's greatest desires:

A swift and ball winder. And, it seems, unlimited PJ-power to turn the winder! It's not slave labour if he asks to do it, is it?

The astute amongst you will note what's on the swift: a lovely gift from Bells and RoseRed. They fully appreciate the restraint I have shown since the Cassidy's $2 brain-snap and decided my stash needed some enhancing. Four skeins of mmmmalabrigo to love and pet and squish and call my very own. Three in stonechat and one in oceanus.

If it's possible (and I didn't think it was), they are more beautiful in the yarncake than the skein (cos now I can make yarncakes!). Now I have endless hours of pleasure ahead of me in deciding what to do with them!

After a particularly gruesome day at work (can you tell it was one of those weeks?), I arrived home to find yet another parcel waiting for me. I was floored to find that kms had gifted me her stunning Waratah Fibres polwath-silk Shetland Triangle, and some lovely tea. I may have swooned.

So thank you to everyone for my lovely gifts and for all the unexpected greetings and wishes. 'Twas a surprising and fabulous birthday indeed!

This is....what reminds me of my Mum

2008-05-12T19:06:00.007+11:00

It's funny how scents from childhood have some special place in our brains that are permanently linked to special memories.

My mum has used Oil of Olay every day since she was a teenager, and insists on receiving it as a gift at birthdays and Christmas. It was the first moisturiser I ever used myself, and I still go back to it from time to time. I always have a bottle in the bathroom cupboard.

And, in a similar vein, both the sight and smell of Cusson's Imperial Leather soap are irrevocably tied to thoughts of my Mum.

Happy Mother's Day to all mums, and to all women with special children in their lives.

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This is.....me pre-1985

I missed one part of last week's meme, so in the interests of completeness, here is me before 1985:

with my beloved first pony, Diamond, at out first gymkhana in 1983. Note the plaited tail and mane, and that Diamond isn't too impressed with the whole deal.

We won three ribbons that day: the light blue is for a clear round in show-jumping; then there is a second and third, but I cant recall the events.

Oh, OK, here's another a bit closer up:

A fwe years earlier, maybe 1980. My Nan knitted me that jumper.

This is...the pair of shoes I would sleep in

2008-05-04T20:57:00.002+11:00

I am all about the comfort factor. I always have been. I've tried to do glam, polished and sophistocated, but I just cant pull it off. I feel grown-up and put-together when I put on make-up (eyeliner, eye shadow and lipgloss) to go to work.

I own maybe thirty pairs of shoes, but wear about 5 of them. And thats the total for summer and winter.

These are my absolute must-have shoes: Blundstones. Or, as they've fondly known by regular wearers, Blunnies. I think this is about my tenth pair; I killed 4 pairs during the fieldwork for my PhD, but this pair has lasted longer (they're clearly not Public Service suitable!).

If I could have just one pair of shoes, this would be them. I would sleep in them any day - and have. Many times. But those stories aren't suitable for this timeslot!

This is....my latest discovery

2008-04-21T18:57:00.003+11:00

Good old milk. It's not especially amazing, and yes its the whim of a hormone-addled pregnant chick, but I have (re)discovered milk these last couple of months. On its own or chocolate milkshake, I can't get enough. Smitten.

Afternoon tea at work is a walk across the way to caf to buy a litre of nice cold milk. My colleagues think Ive gone bonkers. (that is not an open invitation to agree!!)

A couple of big glasses before bed sees me through the 2am munchies.

And since I'm trying to limit my caffeine intake, a choccy milkshake is the go when I'm meeting friends or colleagues for coffee.

I'd just like to thank all the cows out there....cheers!

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This is my latest discovery, Part II:

I drafted the above before dinner, but now that we've had dinner, I have to share this with you:

Pirate Jim loves brussels sprouts! He scarfed three at dinner, in preference to the sausage also on his plate. That boy loves his veggies!

I wonder how long that miracle is going to last....

On the move, and desperately seeking...

2008-04-16T10:02:00.005+11:00

Today we pick up the keys to our new house and start moving. We have been packing and cleaning and moving furniture downstairs (with the very welcome help of Bells and Sean on the weekend - thankyou!). My Dad is coming up today for a few days to help Beloved actually relocate stuff.

So now the telly is sitting on a box covered with a sarong and we are playing freezer roulette for dinner and reminiscing about we were students and this was standard practice! All we need is the bricks-and-planks bookcase to complete the look.

Of course moving house means moving phone and internet connections, so we'll be offline for the next few days. Not that I've been particularly communicative the last weeks (sorry if I owe you an email! I still love you, honest!), but at least I could be found if needed. I'll check back in when we're all hooked up again.

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I also have a request. My non-blogging, non-Ravelrying friend, Dr Fe, is desperately seeking a discontinued yarn. Its for a Zoe Mellor pattern (fair isle cardi - Rav link) that she'd like to knit for her daughter, Little Miss M. I thought I'd throw the request out there and see if anyone has a ball lurking at the bottom of the stash. Hell, even part of a ball might do it - its for part of the the pattern, not the main colour.

She's after just one ball of Rowan Cotton Glace in the colour Bud (800). It seems to be as rare as hen's teeth. If you can help Dr Fe out, please let me know.

Alternatively, if you can suggest a substitute (that will knit up fine in fair isle in combo with the Cotton Glace - she has all the other colourways for the pattern), please let me know too! It seems to be on of those annoyingly unique yarns - not quite a 5ply, listed as DK in yarndex....

Thanks!

See you on the other side of packing box hell.....

This is my ....perfect dinner party guest list

2008-04-13T13:50:00.006+11:00

What a corker of a theme for this week's meme. I maintain this list in my head - but of course as soon as I have to cough it up, the cached version has crashed! As soon as I post, it will pop back to the front and centre of my brain.

Anyway, here it is:

"You are of course hosting this dinner party with your significant other and you can invite 6 other guests.. All we would love to see is your choice (images please) and your reason why you chose that particular person... " (Since this is a dream list, Ive taken the premise that being alive isnt a prerequisite!)

Geoffrey Robertson, QC: We used to get shown Hypotheticals in class at school, and I've always admired his intellect and presence. Since I learned some years ago about his background as an international human rights lawyer, he's had a firm place at the top of my list.

Jill Dupleix and Terry Durack: Husband-and-wife ex-pat Aussies who have lived in the UK for years as food writers and critics, Im a huge fan of Jill's approach to cooking (she is unasahmedly a self-taught home cook raised on a sheep farm) and have long enjoyed Terry's writing. They have eaten their way around the world and would make fascinating dinner guests.

Katharine Hepburn: Her autobiography was the first I ever read. Not only am I a fan of her body of work and range as an actor, but she had a fascinating upbringing in a time of great change. She was taken to suffrage rallys as a child, was encouraged by her (very liberal) parents to frankly speak her views and attended college, not a terribly common thing for a woman in the 1920s. She had a remarkably strong personality - how else do you account for her loyalty to a drunk who refused to leave his wife for her, despite their decades-long affair.

Andy Goldsworthy: is a Brisitsh scultpor and photographer whose work I find inspirational. He works with entirely natural, found materials in their natural setting, just rearranging them. Although I did find a pic of him, Im sure he'd appreciate that I post a pic of one of my favourite works of his, called Soul of a Tree.
My Nan, Shirley Ida McMillan (sorry no electronic pic available): Nan died in 2000 and I miss her in a way that sneaks up on me at unexpected times. She was truly one of the kindest people I ever knew, who was a tireless charity worker and never had a bad word to say about anyone. She taught me the importance of seeing things from other people perspectives. Soppy, but true - my list, my wish!!

This is.....my trinket box

2008-04-09T21:11:00.004+11:00

It's in here somewhere. I'm afraid you'll just have to imagine the treasures that are contained within. (And I'm also very late, but we wont dwell on that!)

This is just a small (tiny!) portion of our belongings, all packed up in anticipation of the move into our new house in about a week and a half.

We have finally found a house, after being given notice to leave our current home because the owners are selling. We got confirmation today that we can move in on the 16th of this month. Phew.

I'm quite excited about the move, because the new house is in the same suburb (which we really like), has nice central heating and is all on one level (unlike the last three houses we've lived in. I'm totally over stairs!). There's just the rest of the packing and the moving between us and a nice, warm, stairless new home.

So I'm sorry that I can't really share on this great meme this time round - maybe I'll revisit it when we're all settled in a couple of weeks!

To market, to market

2008-04-02T16:25:00.008+11:00

I finished the Embossed Leaves socks just before Easter, and as we were going to visit my parents for a few days (unlimited baby sitting!) I felt needed a project that would work up fairly quickly and not require a whole lot of thought on my part. Relaxing knitting.

Enter a pattern I have long wanted to try out: the French Market Bag. Added bonus: it requires felting which I have also long wanted to have a crack at.

So here it is:

Yarn: Lincraft Cosy Wool (dk), 2 strands held together throughout

Sticks: 6mm straights

Mods: I ignored the yarn weight and gauge recommendations - the finished measurements had the bag quite small, and I wanted mine bigger. I knit the base flat according to the pattern, and picked up the body stitches as stated, but then just knit and knit until I thought the sides were high enough.

Here it is before felting:

Felting: having a front loader machine, and being a felting novice, I wanted to be able to control the process, so I opted for using the dryer. I soaked the bag for an hour or so in warm water with some wool wash added, rinsed it cold water, wrung it out in a towel, tied it in a pillowcase and put it in the dryer with a few beach towels on hot.

I checked it every 20 minutes or so, rewetting it after about an hour and a half. It took about 2 and a half hours to loose stitch definition and get a tight fabric.

I wasn't sure how the Cosy Wool would shrink. It seems to have shrank quite a bit more vertically (the base went from 36 cm wide x 32 cm long to 28 x 22; height went from 30 to 19 cm). Although I had added extra height to the bag sides, I made the handles to the pattern and they seem too short. Lots too short. Even in the unfelted version, I cant see how they would come out as long as those in the "model" bag from the pattern (hindsight is a wonderful thing).

I am considering (credit to Beloved for this idea) knitting and felting two straps, then cutting the existing handles and sewing in the pieces. It may make the handles weak though - your thoughts are welcome!

And finally, this pic is especially for 2paw, who also cant take a photo without the obligatory Lab supermodel hogging the limelight!

This is...the contents of my handbag

2008-03-30T16:47:00.004+11:00

This is such a mess!

This is a good chance to have a clean out.

This is very dull compared with other people's handbags!

A gift voucher for my Dad's birthday from hardware chain

Teddy bear bikkies (now teddy bear crumbs) for PJ

My work pass

Paracetemol

Travel pack of tissues

A pile of used tissues and old shopping lists

2008 diary

Notebook and pen - I always need something to scribble on

Tape measure

Mobile phone

Emergency dummy for PJ (yes, he still uses one in time of distress)

Emergency sugar rations - snakes and barley sugars (it gets ugly if my blood sugar gets low)

Two house keys (same house, same door!)

Tickets from the paddle steamer ride in Echuca with the Germans in February

Business cards, including one for a wool shop in Luebeck, Germany

FIVE lipsticks / glosses. (Strange, because I put lipstick on once a day, on days when I work. In the car before I go into the building. )

Saftey pins

And my purse and bag, both from Colorado.

Very utiliarian, Im afraid!

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey

2008-03-27T14:55:00.006+11:00

We are finally waving goodbye to summer in these parts, and although this year has been lovely and mild (only a handful of days over 35oC), I'm not going to miss it. I was feeling the heat as the bump grew, and its nice to snuggle under the doona again. The trees on our (soon-to-be-former) street are starting to turn colour and we've even had a little rain.

My lack of blogging can't be written off by disaster or tragedy - it has been simply due to lack of time and anything interesting to blog about.

But there has been knitting. A commission for my colleague G (who either admires my handknits or uses it as a way to shut me up about knitting!) as a gift for his partner's birthday next month.

G wanted some socks. After much discussion, and cruising of Ravelry, he decided on embossed leaves (sorry, Rav link) from 25 Favorite Socks, using The Knittery's cashmere-merino sock yarn in Merlot.

This yarn was just a dream to knit with, and they came up beautifully. It was very hard to give them up. Sorry about the dodgy photo though; little fingers smeared the camera lens and the light has been tricky this week. It doesn't do them justice (even if I do say so myself).

Egads, its worse than I thought. Trust me, they're pretty!

Yarn: Knittery merino-cashmere in Merlot (link above)

Sticks: 2.75mm knitpicks dpns

Mods: Several. Remedial sock knitter here, don't forget. I didn't follow the first two lines of the pattern; I just used my usual cable cast on and then did 20 rows of twisted rib. I also had to make them a bit longer to fir the recipient's foot, so did an extra half pattern rep (rows 9-16), then did a usual flat unpatterned toe shaping and grafted toe (instead of the slight patterning as stated). Oh, and an eye-of-partridge heel too. Just to make myself feel clever!

I really can't take credit for these socks coming out so well; the pattern is really straight forward and I enjoyed knitting them. But I must thank Bells and RoseRed for holding my hand when I got all angsty and needy over the changes.

In other news:

The bump is growing. All is well.

We may have finally found a house to move into to. Its not yet 100% certain, so please keep up the sacrifices to the goddess.

PJ and Beloved are both recovered from the chocolate-induced comas of Easter. Am I a bad mum if I steal the easter eggs out of PJ's basket while he's searching for more eggs, to hide them again and keep the fun going?

Friday round-up

2008-03-07T13:15:00.008+11:00

tap tap tap...hellloooo......testing.....Apparently I blinked, and February happened. Hopefully there are still some readers out there who drop by occasionally, water the plants, feed the goldfish, check on stuff. Because I have been somewhat negligent, and it serves me right really if Bubbles has gone belly up.

But I'm still here, honest!

On houseguests:

The Germans, Frank, Katja and Maya, have come and gone. As is always the way, time flew, we all had a fabulous time and we were very sad to see them go. Spending time with them always makes me wish we lived closer to family and could hang more than once a year or two.

On knitting:
I finally have some FOs to report (drumroll, please!) (hold on to your hats, people these are MAJOR FOs - ahem):

Dashing, for Beloved, in Lana Grosso Bingo, bought from Germany. I love this yarn; its super-soft and has a gorgeous twist. I have some more small amounts in the stash, but will be seeking to upgrade on the next trip to the Vaterland.

I have been participating in this project, although only at a minimal level, Im sorry to say. However, I did manage to finally send off my "Dishcloth series" to Elizabeth's exhibition in Philadelphia:

Top to bottom, they are:

Lacy dishcloth in Achor Magicline (pattern from the dishcloth boutique, which, alas, isnt working right now);

Ballband dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting in Yarnbee 4ply;

Ballband in leftover Heirlook cotton;

Squidge cloth in Anchor Magicline;

Grandmother's Favourite (from Dishcloth Boutique) in Panda 4ply cotton, 2 strands held together;

Squidge cloth in gifted unknown cotton from Happy Spider;

Grandmother's Favourite in Peaches and Cream;

Ballband in Peaches and Cream;

Feather and Fan (from Dishcloth Boutique) in Peaches and Cream

I am totally sold on two things: dishcloths as instant-gratification, cant-concentrate-on-anything-larger knitting; and Peaches and Cream cotton. None of the others even come close, I love love love it. Really. Love. It. Sadly I have found only one supplier in Australia (The Wool Shack).

On excessive garden produce:
I love the idea of a veggie garden, but rarely nurture it enough to produce any, well produce. This year, though, the conditions in Canberra have obviously been perfect because we have had a glut of tomatoes. So far nearly 10kgs from 4 vines.

I wanted to make some nice preserves, since it makes me come over all Nigella-housewifely to preserve stuff. So I made some tomato kasundi recommended by kms, and some spicy tomato relish from a recipe shared by Tinkingbell.

Yum.

On house-hunting:

Nada. Nix. Nought. Nothing.

Looking for a reasonably priced rental property that is livable is a depressing and infuriating process. We still dont have a house, and we have 4 more weeks to find one.

However, we are packing and cleaning, so we are at least trying to get ready. Please keep fingers crossed for us!

So that's it - the long weekend will surely be spent doing more packing and cleaning. Oh joy.

But there is another project on the needles that I will blog shortly - its a secret-squirrel gifty project, so I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. And there's too much packing to be done for that!

2008-02-27T08:13:00.003+11:00

Em tagged me for this meme, and I have to apologise for being so tardy at running with it. I love a meme, but between you and me have trouble finding anything about myself I rate as "interesting" or even "weird". Heaven help me if I ever get tagged for a "100 things" meme!

So, in accordance with the rules, here are the rules.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

1. I shower, and wash my hair, every day. I will only not do this if I am in the middle of nowhere without access to a shower. Some people need coffee to start functioning; I need a shower. And if I dont wash my hair, by 1pm its lank and greasy and disgusting and look like I haven't washed it in a month. I dont use products or anything, its just really fine.

2. If I could have a single wish granted, it would be to be able to sing. Not Ella Fitzgerald or Kate Cebrano kind of singing talent, just to be able to sing approximately in tune, hit and hold a note, and not have everyone else turn and stare when I open my mouth. I sing completely flat and I wish more than anything that I could sing just a little.

3. I hate the beach. I love the idea of the beach, and seeing the beach, and the ocean and the colours, but I hate the sand and the salt water and the hugeness of the ocean and the power of it. Its hot and there's no shade and the sand gets EVERYWHERE and you're surrounded by "beautiful people" and they leave their cigarette butts in the sand. Yuk. Totally overrated if you ask me.

4. I moved from my home town of Melbourne to Darwin, 4000kms to the north (very tropical), when I was 22 to do a PhD. I bought a big red 4WD, packed up my stuff and drove north. My parents thought I was insane. I didnt know a single person there, but it seemed like a good idea. It was the best 5 years of my life and even though I have since lived 6 years in Sydney and moved 12 months ago to Canberra, Darwin still feels a bit like home (Melbourne aside). I "grew up" there and it made me a better person.

5. I was vegetarian for 10 years. It was prompted by a school project I did at 16 about the use of animals for scientific research, which led me to find out more about how animals are raised for human consumption. And a whole lot of related stuff that I wont go into now. But then I got more into cooking and became less idealistic and activist (ie. more selfish) and gradually started eating fish, then chicken, then red meat again. And see point 6.

6. I love meat pies. (warning: veggos or those with a queasy stomach probably shouldnt read much past the first bit of that page, esp the bit under "nutritional value"). It is my take-away meal of choice, but usually only from a bakery, rather than a mass-produced brand from a take-away shop etc. When they're bad theyre awful, but when I find a good one, its fabulous. Im not so much into "gourmet" pies (thai chicken curry, satay beef, and so on), but prefer standard beef, beef and mushroom or beef and pepper. With tomato sauce, of course!

7. In year 10 English (fourth form or fourth year of high school), my teacher wanted to give me different work because she thought the standard class work was too easy for me and I should challenge myself. I said no, because I didnt want to be seen as different from my classmates. Being "clever" isnt a good thing when youre 15 years old. As a result I got a "B" that year (my only B grade in English ever). I have regretted my decision ever since - not because of the B, but because I wonder what I could have achieved if I has let myself be challenged. (I still have issues with challenging myself!)

So now I have to tag a few people. I'm not totally up-to-date with blogs after the last few weeks, so I apologise if you've already been tagged in this recent round.

You're it: Donni, kms, Dood, Tinkingbell, Kuka, Five ferns fibreholic and Ilikecraft.

Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated

2008-02-21T18:39:00.007+11:00

Rumours that I have started working flipping burgers in a golden arches family restaurant in Albuquerque are also way off the mark.

I apologise for going underground these last weeks. It's been a little busy - our german visitors have coincided with an extraordinarily busy time at work. I have been (in no particular order) cooking, working (usually 5 days worth in the 3 days I'm paid for), sight-seeing, driving all over the place, speaking bad german, stopping toddlers from beating each other senseless with duplo bricks and trying hard to sleep (but not succeeding very well).

However, events of moderate significance have occurred. I have been working on this:

22 weeks

I am considerably bigger than at this stage with the Pirate (not at all surprising), and the difficulty sleeping and indigestion are much worse too. But so far, so good - we're both healthy and happy.

Our visitors are having a great time; having exhausted Canberra, and visited my parents in the south of New South Wales, they've headed to the coast for a week or so. And with everyone's suggestions and some planning, we've been eating well too, thanks for asking!

I've recently been the recipient of some bloggy goodness which I must share.

A little while back I was one of the winners on Tinkingbell's blog comp; this arrived shortly after.

My first ever Rowan yarn (Rowanspun 4ply) in the most gorgeous greeny-bluey-deep sea colour, and a fabulous little project bag. Thanks, Tink!

And then a few days ago, much to my bemusement, a parcel turned up from the US. Apparently, I'm Valentine worthy - or so Madmad Rachael thinks! She graciously declined sending me yarn (which Beloved counted as his Valentine's gift), but instead some candy (PJ who? No one called PJ who can have this around here...) and a book I have long coveted:

Thanks Rachael, I'm so pleased to finally have my own copy instead of the library's!

If you read Bell's blog, you will know that there was a delivery of sock yarn from Germany recently. I will decline her offer to elaborate on the dramas that took place during its 12 week transit time (yes, we paid for air freight), but the very apologetic and well-suntanned box finally turned up.

There may have been some rolling in the yarn before it was distributed. I think waiting 12 weeks for 7kgs of sock yarn warrants some rolling.

So that's the good news. The bad news is that we've been given 8 weeks notice to move becuase the owners are selling the house - we were told one week after they stood in the kitchen and asked us to sign another 12 month lease and thanked us for looking after the place. Nothing like a move of residence to look forward to in one's 7th month of pregnancy.

If we can find somewhere to live that allows us to afford to eat as well, that is. Maybe I should start work on that house cosy!

So I apologise if I havent commented / emailed / phoned / visited - I'm working on it (when Im not flipping burgers, that is).

G x

A call to (culinary) arms

2008-01-31T20:45:00.000+11:00

The Germans are coming! To the barricades! Dont mention the war!

Seriously, the Germans are coming - the first tranche of clan Beloved for 2008 ~~invades~~ arrives next Wednesday. Beloved's younger brother Frank, his wife Katja and their 3-year-old, Maya. I'm really excited because it will be great fun to have them visit, but I'm also a little apprehensive.

I am pleading for your help, dear friends. Have mercy on me and my kitchen!

I thought our family were big eaters, until I met the Beloveds. They are seriously big eaters. Actually, theyre quite normal for the Germans in general; if you've never eaten out in Germany (or a German-themed restaurant), then buckle up your appetite and hang on.

Here's a meal Beloved had (just him, its a single serve) in a pub one night. Just a regular pub. Its a sort of mixed grill, and those long things opn the left are crumbed, deep-fried asparagus with hollondaise sauce. Then there's pork, steak, turkey and fried potatoes. And a salad on the side that you cant see.

Thats a frypan folks, a 25cm (10") diameter frypan. Holy hardening arteries, Batman, charge those paddles.

Anyway. Our visitors are big eaters. Last time they visited, with two other friends, between the 4 of them they used an entire 400ml bottle of sweet chilli sauce on one bbq meal.

That in itself doesnt usually frighten me, I just make more, but they are also very conservative eaters.

Frank has a saying: "the farmer eats what the farmer knows". In Bontkirchen, the farmer doesnt know Italian or Thai or Moroccan or Mexican or Indian or Chinese. Or anything that doesnt eat grass.

Bang goes three-quarters of my repetoire.

I hesititate to say he's a "fussy eater", he'll usually give something a try, but he's certainly a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy. Katja is much more adventurous, and often bemoans that Frank's tastes are pretty pedestrian.

Its also very warm here right now, so my usual fall-backs of stews and casseroles are off the menu.

And there's only so many bbq's we can have a week without endangering the local cow and sheep population (and my sanity).

So, I'm after your suggestions for quick and easy fare that will fit the bill. My requirements are:

filling
quick (I work!)
not too challening to the tastebuds
not too heavy on the budget
child-friendly (but non-fussy kids)

So far, my list includes things like spag bol, schnitzels (Ja whol!), meat with sauce (eg. steak with mushroom sauce), pasta bake, roast chicken.

Seriously, I'd love an email or some ideas in the comments. Please!

You dont want to see a grown pregnant woman cry, do you?

I like the green grass under my shoes

2008-01-22T20:58:00.000+11:00

Recently Canberra's very own Jejune had her OMFG Im in Vogue blog competition, and little old me won a prize!

Jejune very generously shared some of the her own Knitting Art products, which Ive been coveting for the longest time. If you're not familiar with Jejune's knitting-themed art, you must drop by her site and have a look. She's terribly talented and and her work is fabulous and I'm very privileged to call her a friend.

Here's my lovely prize:

Some cards featuring several of her prints, a fridge magnet of Shiraz Socks and a lovely personalised bookmark. Ignore the chocolate....just keep walking, nothing to see here. Don't get between the pregnant lady and the chocolate. (Yes, that does mean you Beloved!)

Thanks Jejune!

And another thankyou.....

for everyone's supportive, sympathetic and helpful comments on last night's (awfully verbose) post. I really, really appreciate your thoughts and shared experiences.

Some comments also gave me hope that it is possible to overcome the odds, learn to live mindfully and see that there can be another way. Which certainly gladdens my heart.

I won't dwell anymore on the subject, but will continue and extend my own New Year's Aim of living more mindfully myself.

Thankyou!

Children learn what they live

2008-01-21T20:41:00.000+11:00

Those who know me well know that I often feel the need to talk about stuff, that I have to share experiences to try and understand my feelings, get some perspective and try and find a way forward.

I had an experience today that affected me very deeply, and even though I've already downloaded on a couple of understanding friends and discussed it at length with Beloved, I'd like to share it a bit further. This post is really a record for myself, so I'm sorry if it's rambling or overlong or pointless.

My office is about 10 minutes walk out of Civic (the CBD part of Canberra) and to get to the main shopping area I need to cross the main road through the city. I was waiting at the pedestrian crossing for the lights to change, and noticed that on the other side of the crossing were two women and two children.

One of the women was holding the hand of a little boy, aged about 4 or so. He was clearly trying to get her attention, although she was talking with her companion. She would turn to him every few seconds and say loudly "Quiet!", "Be quiet!" and then finally "Shuddup!". With this last word she reached up sideways with her right leg and kicked him, quite hard, in the back of the thighs, hard enough that he staggered forwards a step or two.

He started crying and his mother dragged him back to her side and turned to continue talking with her friend. I was quite shocked that first, she would quite deliberately hurt her child, and second that she had no issues with doing it in public, at the side of the busiest road in the city.

We all waited another 15 seconds or so for the lights, and the little boy was crying and still trying to get his mum's attention. I felt sick and appalled.

Just as the lights changed and the cars came to a stop beside us all, she turned to the little boy and raised her hand. "Are you gonna shuddup? Just shut the f*** up will ya?".

The little boy cringed away from her, and she said, again very loudly "Come on!" and pulled him across the road.

I had to force myself, after a couple of seconds, to step off the curb and cross the road, walking in the opposite direction to the woman and little boy. I wanted so much to stay on the side of the street and confront her, to say "do you have any idea that how you're treating your child will affect him for the rest of his life?". But then if she had no qualms about kicking, hitting and swearing at her son in public, then she wouldn't take very kindly to being embarrassed by a total stranger.

So I took a deep breath, stepped off the curb and crossed the road. By the time I got to the other side, I was crying. I felt ill. (Can we blame the hormones at this point? Makes me feel a little less silly). I kept my sunglasses on, walked very purposefully the 100m or so to where I was to meet Quilting Mick for lunch, and thought I was doing a fairly good job of holding it together. Until QM saw me, and exclaimed "Oh George, what's wrong?" (clearly not such a good job then). She very kindly listened and sympathised and discussed and distracted me with socks and yarn and noodle soup. Thanks QM. Then I went back to office and emailed Bells, who was sympathetic and understanding and distracted me with the steek jacket. Thanks Bells.

Maybe that mother was having a particularly bad day, and her son's behaviour was the last straw. There are myriad variables and circumstances that I don't know from those few seconds contact.

We've all had those days; I've had countless, when I'm fully ready to give him away to a passing stranger, but I don't kick and swear at PJ. I talk to him sharply, I withdraw my attention, I abandon whatever we're doing and come straight home, I take away things he likes, but I never physically or verbally abuse him. I had the feeling from the way they interacted, that this behaviour was quite usual for the mother and not unexpected by the child.

Perhaps this incident, even though it only lasted about 30 seconds, has affected me so deeply because my hormones are all arse-about, or perhaps it's because I'm beginning to realise how much of a social and economic divide has developed in our country in recent times. So that people who don't have access to resources and facilities (because they can't pay for them) just use the skills and tools they were taught by their parents and peers. (Although I'm sure it's not isolated to the results of 10 years of Howardism in Australia.)

How many people out there are parents, who have no idea how to be parents? Who don't know how to give a child the skills and tools they need to deal with conflict, anger, stress as they grow up? Because they were never given the same skills by their own parents. If they grew up in a household where it was normal to use violence and shouting and threats and anger to solve problems and deal with stress, then they think that's the way to deal with it in their own households. I am coming to believe that children learn what they live.

I worry now that the little boy I saw today will probably be yelled at or hit again today, or tonight when he doesn't want to go to bed or eat his dinner. That when he goes to school he thinks it's OK to hit other kids who make him mad or to throw stuff when he gets frustrated. That he wont have any respect for his mum, or any other women he meets, and so wont tell her when he goes out. That he'll get into fights when he's a teenager, that he'll hate authority and start rebelling by stealing cars or throwing rocks through windows or spray painting the underpass. That he'll leave school early because he doesn't deal with the structure and rules and will only be able to find unskilled work. That he'll wind up getting a girl pregnant when he's still a child himself, and find himself having to work to support a family he didn't want. And that I'll see him in 15 years at the pedestrian crossing, telling his kid to "shut the f*** up or I'll whack ya".

Maybe I'm a cynic, a glass half-empty kind, and he'll be a whiz at maths and economics and go onto to uni and work for an international merchant bank and live on the North Shore of Sydney with harbour views. Or he'll find himself an apprenticeship and train as a builder and make more money than you and I will ever see and marry his childhood sweetheart and have gorgeous kids and love them within an inch of their lives. But it feels like the odds are quite firmly stacked against him, and he'll have to fight every step of the way to break out of the cycle. On the other side of the coin, I know that not every kid whose life takes a rough path comes from a home where they don't have love and support and kindness, and that all the love in the world can't stop them self-destructing. Life is certainly not so straightforward.

Beloved and I work hard, every day, to do our very best to give PJ a safe, loving, supportive and happy environment. Yes, we have boundaries ("the" is not the most used word in the English language: its "no" by a country mile), and we have conflict and we have tantrums and we have meltdowns, but we work really hard to be consistent and explain things to PJ and be firm but fair.

It's hard; every day I question myself and how I'm approaching things; I read books and talk with others and Beloved and I are constantly reviewing our approach. But some days, oh, some days, I am within a whisker of lashing out, through frustration and anger.

But I don't; I never do. I walk away and go to another room and take a very deep breath (or cry or scream or yell at the cat). Even though I realise I am lacking in many qualities I wish for my children, and can't be the ideal parent, I do my best every day to teach the skills they need to navigate through a sometimes hostile and difficult world and find their own path and be happy and safe. If PJ goes off the rails, it will be because he made the choice, not because he had no choice.

Perhaps what hurts even more is that I don't have the first idea how to help kids whose parents aren't able to give them that happy safe place and those skills, or how to help the parents who were never given those things themselves. In a civilised, affluent society, surely there must be something we can do?

But I've already downloaded enough (if you're still reading that is!) and that is probably enough for one post. And I'm crying again so I can't see the keyboard (damn hormones!).

I think I need to go and give PJ a hug (and try not to wake him! Silly Mama!) before I try to forget that there are so many things I can't change.

WIPs in crisis

2008-01-20T20:17:00.000+11:00

My task for this weekend was to get my WIPs into order: do an inventory, assess the priorities, and formulate a plan for getting them off my worklist so I could get onto all my wish-list projects without too much guilt.

Oh dear.

It seems I have a teeny-tiny problem with finishing stuff I've started. But then anyone who has given up checking on the WIPs and FOs list on my sidebar might have twigged to that.

I'm not going to do a pictorial inventory (no point killing off your download limit as well as mine); a list will give you sufficient idea of the magnitude of my problem. We know how much I love a list.

In no particular order:

1. Isabella - cast on 21/10/07, 20 rows completed

2. Dashing - cast on July; 1 mitt and about 15 rows of second mitt complete

3. Spider socks - turning heel on second sock

4. Monkey socks - cuff and one patter rep complete

5. Beloved's Jet jumper - cast on 1/12/07; about 50 rows of back complete

6. Cable vest for PJ - cast on 2/01/08; half of back complete

7. Branching Out - cast on January 08; only half a dozen rows complete and will probably be frogged

8. Adult cable beanie - up to decreases but still need to work out pattern

9. Checkerboard dishcloth - one pattern rep complete, but using 2 strands 4 ply together and cant memorise pattern

So you see, I have some work ahead of me. To borrow a turn of phrase from Beloved, this needs a little more thinking. I would welcome any advice on how to approach what has become a very hostile knitting basket, full of truculent and nasty WIPs.

And all the while there are a dozen more projects calling to me, and yarns in the stash begging to have some attention paid to them.

While you're contemplating that, I would like to canvass opinion of the final WIP, as I have been undecided about it for some time.

10. Baby singlet in Happy Spider hand-dyed.

This is most of the back of a baby singlet in Ms Spidey's Pansy colourway. I'm not convinced.

So if you comment on nothing else (and let's face it, I don't really need more grief on that list), answer me this:

Frog it and go for socks or a BSJ, or persevere?

The lines are now open.....

New Year FOs

2008-01-14T20:10:00.001+11:00

Because it's been too hot around here (and because I'm feeling too fat and too tired) to do much more than this:

knitting has been limited to small things. (PJ and I are discussing whether or not the Australian cricket captain should have resigned in the wake of the recent controversy over sportsmanship. I say yes; he's a softie and says no. Just in case you were wondering)

After Bells and I went on a little cotton finding mission a couple of weeks ago, I have been feeling the dishcloth love (yeah I know, you all discovered that about a hundred years ago - I'm slow on the uptake).

I do love Anchor Magicline. Violent psychedelic colourways and all.

The pattern is Garter stitch lace from the Dishcloth Boutique. How much fun are dishcloths? I've cast on another straight away.

The little tags you see attached are for this project that I've signed up for. Performance anxiety means this is the first thing I've done, but I've got another in the works. More on that another time.

The second hot-enough-for-ya? FO is a Roll Brim baby hat for some friends in the village, Jens and Melanie, who have just had their first baby, a little boy called Janne. I love this pattern - dead easy and super quick.

It's in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran, a little darker blue than has shown up here. This is, in my opinion, the perfect yarn for this hat. Lovely and soft, and although not machine washable, a beanie isn't a high-wash item.

So, hopefully that's broken the FO drought.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a cuppa, a dishcloth and the couch waiting.

Baby did a bad, bad thing

2008-01-08T21:09:00.000+11:00

When Amy and Bells published their No Guilt Stash Manifesto a while back, I was in there with bells (haha! no pun intended) on. I've been known to spend a little on yarn in recent history, especially since my initiation into the world of indie dyers, sock yarn and (mmmm) luxury fibres.

Ok, even the not-so-recent past. If you buy Beloved a beer, he'll gladly tell you about the 2kgs of yarn we hauled to Germany and back, so I wouldn't be bored during the 4 months of snow-bound winter I spent there in 2004-05. (I knit less than half a jumper, and we hauled it all the way back. Did you know you can still go outside when it snows? Whoda thunk it?)

So I embraced the Manifesto, confident it would be a little shield against the comments Beloved had started to make. Like "more yarn? When are you planning to knit that?".

Little did I know that I would be clinging to the Manifesto like a drowning man to a lifeline, reciting it like a desperate rosary in the wee small hours when the oblivious snoring of Beloved beside me amplified the guilt of a little.....slip. A minor brain snap.

No amount of manifesto-ing was gonna ease this magnitude of guilt. Marx and Mao would have to go into business together to manifesto my way out of this one. This was nuclear-strength guilt.

I blame QuiltingMick. If she hadn't gloated about her haul at our LYS, Cassidy's, $2 yarn sale, I would have blithely sailed on, ignorant to the temptation, my integrity intact. Check it out she said; I was there on the weekend, and they didn't have so much, she said. Just some Totem, some Cleckheaton Country. A couple of boxes worth, she said. It's probably all gone. She said.

But really, I'm hardly to blame. It's a knitter's nature.

I mean, wouldn't you? Just cruise along in your lunch hour to see what they had? At $2 a ball? Around 60% off? Of course you would. Of course I did.

They still had a couple of boxes worth. And a table full. The store manager had just been to their other store, on the other side of town, and picked up all the stuff that wasn't selling there to bring it over here.

I don't suppose you've got a box I could use, I asked. I may want a couple of projects worth.

She handed me a plastic shopping basket, and then showed me the other stuff that was on sale that she hadn't had the chance the mark down yet. Over here. And here. All this in these racks.

I think I may have blacked out for a while. Thirty minutes and four trips to the car later.....

There was still some Totem.

There was still some Country 8-ply, there was Caressa, and there was some Cleckheaton Machine washable 5ply.

There was some Jet.

There was some Bluebell 5ply.

And then there wasn't much of those left anymore.

Just in case you lost count on the way through, that's Two. Hundred. And. Ninety. One. balls of yarn.

Oh dear.

It took me three days to work up the courage to open the car boot again. Yup, it was still there.

Oh dear.

Did someone say they had a pattern for a house-cosy?

Georgie's List

2008-01-04T21:11:00.000+11:00

As I noted yesterday, I need to become more organised so that I'm more efficient at using my time. On thinking over last night's post, I realised I get bogged down and can't-be-bothered because there are just too many options for using any spare time I have. So I faff around with everyday things or dawdle along on the computer, and never really get started on anything of substance.

So, in the interests of disclosure and accountability, I give you (fanfare) The List:

clean out wardrobe and throw out anything not worn in last 12 months; put clothes that fit right now to the front

clean out and reorganise PJ's room; move baby things to nursery

go through PJ's toys, store anything no longer used (too young) and relocate most to his bedroom

declutter store/junk room that will become nursery

organise nursery

spring clean and update blog

tidy knitting corner in lounge room

review and tidy stash

review WIPs and planned projects list; prioritise

update Ravelry

clean out linen cupboard

establish system for weekly menu planning

clean out pantry

declutter kitchen cupboards

go through boxes of kitchen stuff in garage

declutter spare room

clean out cupboards in guest room

go through boxes of materials from study

set up sewing machine and organise accesories

review sewing projects and prioritise

clean out bookcases

organise loose recipes into folders and organise magazines

go through, cull and print digital photos

put printed photos into albums

as at 5 January 2008.

Hopefully, by posting publicly, I will succumb to the weight of expectation and guilt and be able to post progress every so often. Feel free to indulge in public butt-kicking. I respond well to humiliation.

In the meantime, I'd better get in one last faff for old time's sake and contemplate the procrastination opportunities this list presents.

Taking aim

2008-01-01T20:45:00.001+11:00

The mere fact that my promised post about my thoughts on the incoming year is 2 days overdue (4, if you count the fact that I should really have posted on the first) should give you a hint about the sort of things I'd like to tackle in 2008. Does it count that I've basically broken the ~~resolutions~~ aims I haven't even formally made yet?

I've never been one for making resolutions, since I'm both very bad at deciding what I should resolve to do (aside from inanities such as "be happier" or "world peace") and very bad at keeping anything more specific. My resolution for 2004 was "to give blood" (remember that one, kms?) and I still haven't done it!

So this year, I am making some aims rather than resolutions (thanks, Donna Lee!).

I know I am a procrastinator of the highest order, which can lead a lot of useless diversions, laziness and "can't be botheredness".

Whether it's cleaning the bathroom, going that extra mile at work, starting a new knitting project (especially on a deadline - make that doing anything on a deadline) or unpacking those boxes from the move in February (that's Feb 1997, when I moved to Darwin), I would quite often rather hang about and think about it than get stuck in and just do it. If I do start, chances are I'll get part-way through and get distracted and it never gets finished. (OK, between you and me, usually Beloved finishes it. One of the myriad reasons I adore him!)

It's strange, because I feel compelled to be organised; I have been know to make lists of lists I need to make, and am never more productive than when I have clear goals, tight deadlines, and (perhaps most critically) people who will be affected by the outcome.

So for 2008, I aim to live more consciously, instead of just thinking that I'll deal with it tomorrow. By this, I mean consciously make the decision to suck it up and do whatever task is at hand. Consciously work at my parenting skills; consciously identify and work at my weak points at work; consciously plan so that the week goes more smoothly.

I think, for me anyway, the key to this is be more organised: keep a running list of tasks, use my diary religiously, consider myself as one of those who will be let down if I don't complete a task, make tasks short, focused and realistic.

Another important part of this aim will be to declutter the house. I am a world-class hoarder. No further evidence of this is needed that the fact that it took us TWO shipping containers to move our belongings from Sydney to Canberra earlier this year. Two adults (who have cohabited for 7 years), one toddler, a dog and a cat should not have that much stuff. No wonder I can never find anything.

I'm not going to sign up for a seven-things style declutter (yet!), but will try and include one task each week that moves towards this. Lets just see how we go with this one, shall we? Remind me to check in in about a month!

Of course my 2008 aim extends to knitting. The first 10 weeks of pregnancy really knocked me about and knitting made me feel worse; I fell out of the habit of picking it up at any spare moment.

In the vein of being more organised, I want to use tools such as Ravelry and this blog to keep track of WIPs, plans and stash more rigorously. I aim to set aside time to maintain and nurture both these things without feeling guilty about neglecting other things. I would also like to use the blog to try and document goals, tasks and progress, knowing that someone will read it and know whether or not Ive at least tried to do them.

I will also (please don't read this bit, Beloved - I know you'll use it against me) knit as much as possible from my stash. This isn't by any means a full-on commitment, just a promise to check what I have and try and knock over some of my planned projects before I buy more yarn.

So, there you have it: a wishy-washy non-committal kind of almost-promise to think about trying to work towards becoming a better person.

It only took 4 days of procrastinating to get there!

Reflections (or other naff post title of your choice...)

2008-01-01T20:10:00.001+11:00

Lots of my blogging mates have been reflecting on the past and coming years; I've been thinking a lot about both too. Because I wouldnt know brevity if it leered at me, offered to buy me a drink and tried to feel me up, tonight I'll reflect on the past year, and tomorrow will think about the coming one.

2007 has been a very interesting year, not least of all because I've joined both the blogging and local SnB communities. The insights and friendships that both have given me are nothing short of inspiring.

We moved to Canberra in February 2007, and I shortly after went to my first local SnB gathering. As an introvert, I would never have had the courage to do it if I didn't already know kms, and persuade her to introduce me, as it were. I was dead nervous (she had to meet me outside the cafe - no way was I going in on my own! They might eat me up!), but it's been one of the most rewarding things I've done in the last year. All of the Canberra SnBers are wonderful, and many have become friends. So thankyou all, bloggers and non-bloggers, for enriching my year in so many ways, and making me feel so welcome in a new city.

As a new blogger in 2007 (you may have noticed I'm always just about the last one to notice something interesting going on!), I have been amazed, excited and overwhelmed by the friendship, generosity and support of fellow bloggers. Who would have thought you could become such friends with people you've never met? And I've had the pleasure to meet quite a number of fellow bloggers in the flesh - even better. I don't want to name names for fear of leaving someone out, but if you are a regular or sometime reader, commenter or not, thankyou for making me laugh, cry, think, knit and feel compelled to share my own experiences with you.

Knitting has waxed and waned a little for me this year; I've had maybe a dozen or so FOs, maybe twice as many UFOs and more wishes than I can count. Stash enhancement has featured strongly (stop giggling down the back - I'll blog it soon) and I've discovered the joys of luxury and indie yarns. Oh, and the web as a source of patterns, and the bottomless pit that is knitting books. Just what a hoarder loves - more stuff!

My year has had myriad other ups and downs, too many to document (and many I'd rather forget), but as I am extraordinarily lucky to have supportive and grounding family and friends, an amazing husband who indulges me and a little boy who teaches me something new every day, the ups outweighed the downs many times over.

Thankyou to everyone who enriched my life this past year. I am lucky indeed.

December Roundup

2007-12-31T13:27:00.000+11:00

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I am hoping They are right, because I haven't done much else to endear myself to you, dear reader. I have been a very bad blogger indeed. I can only promise I will try to make it up to you.

This month has been a topsy-turvy (whose December hasn't?) and I present to you a wrap-up of a few Moments of Significance.

1. Catering a friend's 50th birthday weekend gathering.

I somewhat rashly promised to do this back in, oh about August, and it all came back to bite early in the month. The party went for 3 days, and there were between 15 and 25 people to keep happily fed. Bbq one night, finger food for several hours, buffet dinner the next night.

Luckily it was held at the Birthday Girl's newly renovated country lodgings in Jamberoo, with a shiny new whiz-bang kitchen, and ample capable and willing sous-chefs on hand (capable meaning capable of taking orders!).

It all went swimmingly: no disasters, too much food (phew!), everyone happy, especially the Birthday Girl. And lucky me, she presented me with a little something: Secrets of the Red Lantern, one of my recent wish-list cookbooks.

2. Doing the Wiggle Groove.

The Wiggles came to Canberra, and of course we took PJ along. He got into it a little more than last time, and even took me down to the mosh pit at the front of the stage for a while. No dancing, just absorbing the atmosphere.

But it's still a very serious business, this Wiggles thing.

Note to ACT govt and operators of AIS arena as a venue: SORT OUT THE FARKING PARKING. What a shambles - and they socked us $5 for the privilege of sitting in traffic for more than 30mins coming in and going out. Total Shambles doesn't even come close.

3. Holidays at Nana and Grandpa's.

We arrived back home last night after 2 weeks staying with my parents at Corowa on the Murray River in southern NSW, for Christmas and the aftermath.

Highlights include:

Catching up on lots of sleep, as PJ sleeps in Nana and Grandpa's room. (Mind you, he sleeps through almost every night for them!)
Seeking relief from the summer heat by going for a swim

My Dad's World-Famous paella, cooked, like most of his creations, on his Weber:

Keeping PJ up til 9pm on Christmas Eve to walk around the corner to see the christmas lights. The animated Reindeer head that spoke to him by name freaked him out a little, but otherwise he got right into it.

The usual present excitement - PJ totally got the idea of gifts this year and we couldn't put anything under the tree until he went to bed on Christmas Eve because anything wrapped clearly needed to be unwrapped Right. Now. and was obviously for him. PJ very democratically played with all his gifts in turn, but I think the winner was this digger, made by his Grandpa:

I scored very well indeed on the gift front: an Ipod (once I figure out how to use the mongrel apple thing); not one, but THREE cookbooks (Delicious. 5 nights a week, My China by Kylie Kwong and Margret Fulton's updated tome); socks from my MIL; a gorgeous brooch from my parents. Lucky, lucky me.

A very decadent Christmas lunch, as prepared by the whole family

A lunch cruise on Lake Mulwala which captivated PJ

Eating fresh blackberries and icecream

4. Deadline Knitting

My brother, 6pm on Christmas eve: "Hey Georgie, you know how I'm going to Detroit in 2 weeks - don't suppose you fancy knitting me a beanie do you?"

Me: "Why not. Would you prefer this yarn, or this one?"

10am Boxing day: one beanie and one happy brother, thanks to Taph's TTWC. No photo, but hey, its a beanie.

5. Planning Failures

You would think that after my catering triumphs (see 1), I could organise knitting projects for 2 weeks. But no. Sadly, there was little other knitting aside from the emergency beanie, despite ample opportunity. I took 4 projects - one, I'm not happy with and will probably frog; the second, Beloved's Jet jumper, stalled because I didn't bring any more balls other than the one I was already halfway through; both the third AND the fourth, I didn't bring the patterns for.

Idiot.

6. Coming Attractions

I opened with an apology for my lack of blogging these last weeks. I hope you can forgive me when you see that I've been a little busy - and tired - growing this little critter:

Sorry about the crappy scan. Due July 3rd. Unlike my pregnancy with PJ, I have been nauseous and dizzy, and tired like Ive never felt. But now hopefully things will be on a more even keel and I will be back to my knitting, blogging, commenting self.

If I missed catching up with you before, I hope you and your loved ones had a very happy and enjoyable Christmas (or celebration of choice), and my best wishes for a gute rutsche (good slip) into the New Year.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2007-12-07T13:40:00.000+11:00

and Christmas around here means Spritzgeback! German christmas biscuits. Last year Bertie's parents were with about now, and my MIL taught me how to make them. So last weekend at our place it was all hands on deck.

I wont reproduce the recipe here, because, as you will see, there is some specialist equipment involved, and I'd never heard of this particular use before so Im not how widespread it is. (of course I can add it if you roolly want).

Spritzgeback are basically a shortbready biscuit - butter, sugar, flour, vanilla, eggs, touch of milk. The dough is made the day before it's baked, and stands overnight somewhere cool (yes, clearly a northern hemisphere recipe).

Then you give it a good mix and start cranking out the biscuits.

Pirate Jim was very keen to help this year. Note the concentration manifesting in the poked out tongue.

As you can see, the traditional method is to use a hand-turned mincer, with a special form on the front, to squish the dough out into the right shape. We've tried rolling out the leftovers and using a biscuit cutter, but sadly it doesnt work.

You can see it a bit better here:

That long flat bit to the side is a series of different shaped holes that that give you different shaped biscuits as the dough gets forced through.

You get a long snake of formed dough, that is then cut into short lengths before baking.

After about 15 minutes in a moderate oven, they come out all nice and lightly browned.

And becasue there are very few things in thie world that arent improved by the addition of chocolate, you can then paint one end. Very traditional, Im assured.

And then, the pay-off: enjoying them with a cup of tea!

Unfortunately, despite making two batches already, I'm going to have to go back in and make another couple. It seems Santa has been sampling the goodies at our place already.

p.s. if you're up for some more European Christmas baking, Kuka's been making some yummy treats over her way too.

Yes, there has been (some) knitting

2007-11-29T13:21:00.000+11:00

I have been very slack not reporting on a couple of FOs from the last month or so. Sadly, they've been few and far between. First I got a bad case of casting-ons, now Ive got a bit of startitis. I currently have too much choice (but more on that in a future post).

Firstly my beloved Clapotis. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways....

I cast this off weeks ago, just in time for Canberra's warm spring weather to hit. I still love it.

Yarn: Happy Spider custom-dyed; about 110g.

Sticks: 4.0mm addi circ

Mods: I only did 5 increase reps (following RoseRed's lead), and I'm quite happy with the width; in hindsight though I should have done a few more straight rows for a little more length.

Next up: a vest for Master O, a commission (my workmate keeps me busy!). And one for the Pirate (see issues below):

Pattern: Vest with splits from Panda book 204

Yarn: Bendigo 8ply Classic in Tuscan

Sticks: 4.0mm straights; mark II on 4.5 mm straights (see issues)

Mods: none (except I knit on the first one at SnB one evening and got distracted, so its about 3 cm longer before the armhole decreases than the pattern states)

Issues: I was given Master O's measurements, and the met with the pattern finished measurements, and I got correct tension, so I knit this as the pattern stated. Except when I finished it, it was 2cm smaller a the chest than it should have been. Master O is the same age, but a bit bigger, than the Pirate. This vest is intended for next year, and I figured if it was only mildly roomy on PJ now, it wasn't going to go close to Master O next autumn. So I sucked it up and knit another one on 4.5 mm sticks, which is much better.

So now both PJ and Master O have tuscan vests.

Confessions: I outsourced the finishing. But I did try! Several times! But considering these were a commission, I thought they deserved better than my efforts. Next time, I promise.

Because, believe me, if I'm going to regain any credibility around here after last weeks little expedition, I'm going to be doing A LOT of knitting over the summer.

That's all I have to say about that right now.

She's back....

2007-11-24T08:39:00.000+11:00

And because I'm too lazy right now to recount all the comings and goings of the last 2 weeks, I'm just going to ease back into the saddle with the meme that's been doing the rounds lately (first seen by me on Amy's blog).

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.
Pirate Jim saying, very seriously "oh my goodness" when he dropped something.

2.What were you doing at 0800?
Having a shower and listening to the radio news (we have a radio in the bathroom)

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Brushing my teeth (its only 845 am)

4. What happened to you in 2006?
I got a job in the Commonwealth Public Service - I had been applying for about 3 years, and then got a call out of the blue the day before Good Friday to ask me to apply for a job I had never seen advertised based on submitting my cv for about a dozen other jobs in the place.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
"Bye" to Pirate Jim and Beloved as they headed off to take the dog for a walk.

6. How many beverages did you have today?
One - a juice with breakfast. Haven't gotten around to making my first cup of tea, but that's next on the agenda.

7. What color is your hairbrush?
I don't use a hairbrush, I use a comb. Its blue.

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
A prescription at the pharmacy yesterday.

9. Where were you last night?
On the couch. S.O.P.

10. What color is your front door?
Blue, same as the trim (inside and out) of the whole house. The owners obviously have a thing about steely blue-grey.

11. Where do you keep your change?
In my purse. Unless the Pirate has been in the there, in which case its all in his pockets.

12.What’s the weather like today?
Overcast, mild. About 17oC (62F) right now, predicting 25C (77F)

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Pistachio. Or bacci (choc hazelnut). Especially from a Roman gelateria.

14. What excites you?
Yarn. Patterns. A block of clay waiting to be worked. Getting mail (even junk mail). Good news. Having guests over. Unexpected guests dropping in. Right at this very moment, the prospect of a change of Federal Government.

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Meh...no. I can count on one hand the number of times I have actually liked how my hair looks. I would really like to trade my hair in. Too fine, too frizzy, too mousy, and I'm too lazy to take the time to do anything about it.

16. Are you over the age of 25?
On the outside, well and truly. On the inside, I'm somewhere about there. I always get a little shock when I fill in a form with the age groups and my pen hovers over the "18-25" category, then reality sinks in.

17. Do you talk a lot?
Yes. More than I should.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
Yes - very amicable work colleague.

20. Do you make up your own words?
In English, not so often. In German, all the time. Usually by taking the english word and "german-ifying" it. I hit the mark a surprisingly high percentage of the time!

21. Are you a jealous person?
Sadly, yes. I don't much like the idea that stuff goes on without me. I'm working on it.

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter "A."
Antoinette

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter "K."
Kylie

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
My mum. She returned my call when I called her from Cassidy's (LYS) to tell her about the $2 yarn sale.

25. What does the last text message you received say?
"You have 2 new V-mail messages". I'm completely hopeless at hearing and answering my mobile.

26. Do you chew on your straw?
No.

27. Do you have curly hair?
Kinda. I had ringlets as a child; now its kind of wavy-frizzy-totally unglamorous.

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
The local primary school to vote in today's federal election.

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
I have an aunt who is appalling rude, but I don't have much contact with her. A couple of work colleagues.

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Weeties and sultanas fro breakfast.

31. Will you get married in the future?
Already am, so its not on my radar.

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
This could be "the last 2 years" and I still wouldn't have an answer. I don't have the attention span or patience any more to watch the rubbish that passes for movies these days.

And I haven't actually watched a movie in the last 2 weeks.

33. Is there anyone you like right now?
John Corbett. But I don't think its reciprocal.

Otherwise there are lots of lovely people in my life right now who I enjoy spending time with.

36. Did you cry today?
Not yet. But the day is still young and Pirate Jim has a lot of boundaries to push. Never say never.

37. Why did you answer and post this?
I love a good meme, and I needed something a little bit easy to get back into the blogging mood.

Did anyone get the number of that truck?

2007-11-10T13:22:00.001+11:00

Today I graduated from bed (where I have been since Wednesday) to the couch.

Can't do more than a few minutes on the computer, can't knit (even thinking about knitting does me in), thankfully can read for short periods....thank goodness the cricket's on the radio.

Normal services will resume shortly.

Sock Progress

2007-11-06T13:37:00.001+11:00

Due to popular demand, here is an account of my sock progress in the last week or so.

If I had to describe it in a single word it would be this: slow.

Since my triumphant finish of the first Opal Smoke plain sock, I have been plodding along with the second:

I may be about to lose my "newbie" status on Southern Summer of Socks with the following statement but...I think I'm over the plain sock. I'm up for a challange.

So I dived into the stash, joined the rest of the known knitting universe and cast on a Monkey:

The yarn is Jawoll Colour Superwash. I did the cuff using three needles instead of 4, being still too newbie-ish to juggle 4. But Im loving the pattern and it cruises along quite nicely.

Not as easy to pick up for a round or too when the Pirate is rampaging as a plain sock, so I think there's room in my life for fancy and plain socks.

That my boy Part II

2007-11-04T19:29:00.000+11:00

It's been a slow blogging week Chez Kitchentable - Beloved has been away, pushing back the frontiers of science, and Pirate Jim's Nana has been keeping PJ and I company. Not a lot of screen time available when I'm keeping those two in line.

Regular readers know my Mum as the Master Finisher; she was a sample knitter for Patons in her youf and does beautiful work, as well as having a seemingly bottomless supply of patience. So there's always lots of knitting going on when she visits -often because she has big pile of my finishing to do!

PJ clearly decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

PJ: (with my 4mm Addi circ) Nana, I knitting too.

PJ: Nana, I want wolle (wool)

At the ripe old age of 2 years, 2 months and 3 weeks, PJ has his first knitting lesson.

Thank heavens for Nanas!

No Guilt Stash

2007-10-31T08:31:00.000+11:00

I hereby adopt the No Guilt Stash manifesto as developed by Bells and Amy.

No Guilt Stash Manifesto

I will neither defend nor apologize for my stash. My yarn brings me joy, and therefore brings others in my life joy.

Through my hands I do good in the world. I knit with love for friends, family, and strangers. Yarn is my medium.

I promise not to let my stash acquisition interfere with personal relationships or financial health; yet neither will I give in to pressure from significant others to reduce my stash.

I will not judge others' stash. I can admire it, be inspired by it, even covet certain skeins, but it is not my place to pass judgment on quantity or quality.

I recognize that stash management is personal. I fully intend to knit my beautiful yarns, but I refuse to be guilted into doing so on anyone's schedule other than my own.

I understand that it may take many years for a yarn to reveal its destiny, and that yarns that have been in my stash for a seemingly long time just haven't met their correct pattern. I won't feel guilty about this.

I also recognize that yarn can have many destinies. It can be a reminder of a special trip, a friend, a time in one's life. It can be comfort or inspiration. It doesn't always need to be knitted to fulfill its destiny. I accept that some yarns in my possession may never be knit by me.

I believe in the karmic properties of stash. I willingly share with other knitters, and I realize the stash, like love, will grow when it is shared.

**********************************

Thanks Amy and Bells!

That's my boy!

2007-10-28T20:51:00.000+11:00

This afternoon, Chez Kitchentable......

Pirate Jim: Mama, I take basket, I go shopping (holding small plastic shopping basket)

Mama: OK, darling, what will you buy?

PJ: Eggs, we need eggs.

(a few minutes later....)

PJ: Look Mama, I go to shop. I kaufen (buy).

The postman always rings twice

2007-10-25T21:21:00.001+11:00

Well, he would if I stopped ambushing him halfway down the driveway and let him get the to front door.

The wheel needed feeding. So, with thanks for all of your recommendations, I did a little shopping. How much do we love the innernets?

Yesterday, my lovely postie brought me this:

Merino tops from Virginia Farm Woolworks. And a spare bobbin and a niddy noddy. I've gotta get set up, right?

I've also discovered the lolly shop that is Ewe Give Me the Knits. Mandie does amazing things and tonight, the poor postie had the parcel containing this ripped from his hands.

Chacha (top; a little more....er....vibrant than I expected!) and Skip a beat tops.

Cheeky Cherry, and Under the Sea

Moroccan Nights and Mulled Wine (hmm, sounds like a good idea to me!):

It would be fairly safe to say I got a little excited at EGMTK; I plan to spend quite some time with the plain tops before I tackle these beautiful dyed fibres.

And I may possibly have reached husbandorial limits too. While I was standing on a chair trying to get decent light to take photos of my haul, he wandered past, shaking his head. The words "sick", "obsessed" and "crazy" all passed his lips.....

Make mine a Guinness

2007-10-23T09:45:00.000+11:00

I noticed a little quiz over at Kuka's blog...

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions.
You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

I do love Dublin. Especially because it's filled with Irish people with Irish accents, my favourite accent! Hey Amy, do ya reckon Tom Brady has an Irish accent??

Did you pick it?

2007-10-21T13:44:00.000+11:00

Ten championship points and a free set of steak knives to all those who picked that yesterday's photo of my newly finished sock was posed on the treadle of an Ashford Traditional spinning wheel.

Which has come to live with me!

A few weeks back, Jejune mentioned to me that Othlon now had two wheels, and that they didn't really have the space for this one. Especially since they're moving house soon, would I like to borrow the Ashford for a time?

Is a bear a catholic?? Would I!

So yesterday afternoon we had a bit of a playdate, and Othlon showed me to drive it. (please excuse the hair. I was going for a Farrah Fawcett flick but I think I may have missed. Exacerbated by sitting beside the very glam Ms Othlon with her sleek new haircut - way to look daggy and slept in, George)

And after an hour or so, I had a nice little bobbin of spun yarn (the colours have photographed somewhat more...vibrantly than in rool life):

And then Othlon showed me how to skein it:

And now I have it to love and pet and call my very own. (That's some of Othlon's hand-dyed fibre she let me play with, by the way. I've got twice her years - how come she's so clever??? And has such groovy hair? 'snot fair)

How much fun is this spinning caper?

So now, of course, I'm desperate to know where one obtains things such as tops, or batts, or fibre, or whatever it is I have to use to feed to beastie now residing in the spare room. It's getting very hungry! If you have any suggestions for reputable sellers, and also for good reference materials, I'd love to know.

The Sock is My Bitch

2007-10-20T21:37:00.000+11:00

'Nuff said.

With a very special thanks to Jejune for showing me kitchener stitch.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode, in which out heroine explains the context for this photo....

Sweet surrender

2007-10-18T13:45:00.000+11:00

You are going to think I'm the worst kind of trollop, but I'm here to admit that I am smitten once again.

Last time it was the flashy, trashy Clappy that came on like the executive assisstant after a few bubblies at the office christmas bash*; this time I have been gently wooed and finally succumbed to the subtle and serene beauty of the humble sock.

I'm not going to claim it's been all sunsets and heavy breathing - no indeed, this relationship got off to a slow (dare I say rocky?) start - those first few rows on dpns made finding our rhythm together a little tricky.

I was slow to warm up to the round and round and round of rib, then stocking stitch. But I thought we were getting somewhere - like ready to start the heel.

Then, as is often the way, it took an outsider to observe that things may not all be fine and dandy. "Hmmm, its rather...big, dontcha think George?" observed Bells on the weekend. "But I'm using Happy Spider's basic pattern in the small size! How can anything possibly be wrong?" said I.

A count of stitches showed that I had 76 - fine, if I was doing the calf shaping as written into Ms Spider's pattern. Which decreases the number of stitches to closer to 60 when its time to start the heel. Der.

Luckily for me, Ms Spider's patterns come with a free 24-hour counselling hotline. Several angst-ridden emails and a calming phone call later, she had the sock and I back on speaking terms, and we felt like we'd really turned a corner in our relationship.

And here it is: one sock, stitch count waaaay out, but with a turned heel and partly decreased gusset:

Isn't it pretty? It might be a little wonky, but but I'm satisfied now that the sock and I are back on solid ground. I'm flying down the foot, and have discovered what everyone else already knows: the deep and abiding love that is sock knitting.

A comfortable, easy relationship; now we've got the maths sorted, certainly not high maintenance. No jealousy here - its happy to be picked up and put down at a moments notice, for a round or two while Pirate Jim eats breakfast or while I'm waiting for the pasta to boil (assuming the pirate isn't trying to play with the knife block or pretend the dog is the dishwasher and trying to find the place to put the detergent tablet).

It might be short grabs of togetherness, but its quality time. And that's what counts.

*disclosure: I have edited this analogy - my first attempt was a little unthinking and possibly hurtful to people I care about. Sorry if you read it and were offended - that wasn't my intention. Think first, post later, George!

The drought has broken

2007-10-14T21:20:00.000+11:00

Looking back at my blog, I realsied my last FO was the Dayflower scarf way back in August. Yikes! Anyone would think I haven't even been knitting - although I'm sure Beloved would very quickly disabuse anyone of that misplaced notion.

So I am very pleased to finally report on the completion of Little Miss M's Birthday Jacket (aka acres of moss stich).

For once, the colour is pretty good!

Pattern: Zip-up Jacket from Adorable Knits for Tiny Tots by Zoe Mellor, in the 3-4 years size

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 12 ply in Tuscan; 500g (the pattern stated 400g - a big thanks to the good folk at Bendy who sorted through the store until they found an extra ball in the correct dyelot!)

Sticks: 5mm straights

Modifications: I left off the two front pockets and a pocket on the upper sleeve. This was a deadline knit and I wasn't about to make things any harder than they needed to be.

Comments: this was a very easy knit, once I got over my initial dislike of moss stitch. There is not terribly much shaping, and it goes quite fast in the 12 ply.

Disclosure: the finishing was outsourced (thanks Mum!). Didnt she do a fab job? I would like it noted that I started, but found getting seams and stitches ot sit properly with the moss stitch wasn't easy. Being a gift, I didnt want it look like crap, so I let Mum work her magic.

Coming soon - 1 sock, O's vest (actually finished by me!) and some clappy progress.

URGENT - Feral Sock Warning!

2007-10-09T17:21:00.000+11:00

BE ALERT, NOT ALARMED: FAUX FERAL SOCKS SIGHTED IN CANBERRA ENVIRONS

Issued: Tuesday October 9th 2007

Department: Bureau of Invasive Garments, Department of Knitting and Associated Crafts (DoKAC), Canberra

Priority: HIGH

The Department of Knitting and Associated Crafts (DoKAC) issued a High Priority Alert today in the wake of several sightings of the potentially dangerous and highly invasive Faux feral species of sock. All residents, especially knitters and crocheters, are warned to be on the look-out for specimens.

Faux feral socks are easily recognised by their distinctively patterned pelts, usually in contrasting but complimentary colours. They are most commonly found in pairs, but older specimens may occur singly.

F. feral can survive in most urban settings. They are excellent climbers, and are generally arboreal.

Pair of F. feral in their preferred habitat

F. feral are generally shy and will seek cover.

However, when mating, as with all species of sock, they are found on the ground in sheltered habitats.

Mating pair of F. feral. Note the distinctive entwined coupling.

F. feral will often approach domestic environments to find food and water, particularly in the current drought conditions.

Most importantly, residents should be aware that domestic socks of all species, particularly Business sockii, are in danger of predation by F. feral. A shortage of the natural prey items of F. feral has led to increased incidence of injury and death of B. sockii. Residents should avoid leaving domestic socks unattended, especially if they are tethered.

F. feral feeding on domestic sock species

Any sightings of Faux feral should be reported to DoKAC immediately on the hotline number 1800-FERALSOCK.

Residents should not confuse Faux feral with the similarly patterned, perfectly harmless domesticated sock, Faux fairisle. Should they, Trent?