I'm finally blocking..

So I've finally gotten around to blocking my Little Icarus Shawl. Go me. I've been wearing it all the time since I finished it. It was a good oppertunity to Febreeze it too, it was starting to smell like cats. Anyway, it's made a massive difference, the pattern shows a lot more clearly. I really should be less lazy in future. Usually I'm an iron it and be done with it girl. To be fair, I thought wet-blocking a DK scarf wouldn't have the same effect as if it was lace weight, as the original pattern.

I know, I should have finished the socks by now. I nearly have. To be fair I spent the weekend finishing mum's cardy, which now has just to be sewn up. Both projects need to be finished by Thursday, or I'm in trouble. I bought a lovely box to give Mum her cardy in, is that a bit OTT? It's a box she can keep using for something else afterwards.

So, here's some Guy Fawkes' fireworks for you. We went to Boots' (as in The Chemist) display on Friday with Gem and Chris, Laura and Judge and Harry. Poor Harry was being matchmaked with a random too, I don't think he really noticed though, bless. I was trying out the 'Firework' function on my camera. I'm sure it's not called that, but it worked quite well.

I'm having a sock yarn moment

Here are some photos of recent sock yarn acquisitions, for your viewing pelasure. They are not great photos and I apologise. There is a sunlight deficiency in our house at the moment. Get up in the dark, go home in the dark, grumble grumble grumble........

Firstly, this is Knitpicks sock garden in Zinnia, from a swap with JamieKate from Knitty. This is for socks for dad for christmas. Since he's the type to buy white socks and dye them pink/orange/red/blue on purpose. And James wonders why I'm slightly eccentric.

And this is Fyberspates sock yarn in blue/green/yellow. It's lovely and it was on sale but I have a small rant, and I've put it here. Save me writing it again.


If I don't post on Monday, a picture of J's finished socks, will someone come and beat me around the head??!!

Hee hee hee!

This came in an email last week. I guess it's only funny if you know what a 'Rich Tea' is!! Rich Tea - Richie, geddit?

The Screen Room

Last night we had a lovely evening with my work colleagues. Sylwia was leaving to go and work in Aberdeen, so one of the girls booked The Screen Room in Nottingham. It has to be one of Nottingham's gems. Apparently, it is the UK's smallest cinema, with 21 seats. Its a bizarre place, small, and it smells musty, but it was ace. Nice and cozy. In big cinemas I always get cold - too much air conditioning! You can hire the whole thing and they show whatever you want. Vic chose One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, as she managed to get out of Sylwia that she really wanted to see it. James and I saw it in the West End with Christian Slater and McKenzie Crook, but I'd forgotten exactly what happens. Sad, but good. A thin line between crazy and normal.

Speaking of gems of Nottingham, I found the Oxfam bookshop last weekend, and I'm thrilled! I can't believe I never found it before! It is a gorgeous shop, huge and airy with wooden floorboards and a chesterfield sofa. Just how bookshops should be (there's never anywhere to sit in Waterstone's!). They have books (including such titles as 'Reinforced Concrete'), videos, a few clothes, CDs and even fairtrade food. Awesome. I found a great pressie for James' birthday. I have a sneaking suspision he reads my blog, so I'll tell you about it later... I also bought a brand new hardback Jodi Picoult novel for Karen, for £2.99. Brill.

Since this post has turned into one singing Nott's praises, here are some photos. This is the sky this morning (ignore the towerblocks!) at about 7.30. In the far distance, on the centre right is the castle - important if you're a fan of Robin Hood, but there are also some great exhibitions.

And here are the autumnal colours on campus yesterday. My colleagues thought I was mad.....

Avrienne, I hope this is nostalgic for you and hubby!!

Kitties

I have a lack of anything to post at the moment, so here are some pictures of the kitties. I'm making an effort to take better photos for you all, and I think these are nice. Good natural lighting and stuff.

I feel a bit sorry for Daphne, she's quite needy of her sister, who's just bonkers. Daphne was doing a nice job of cleaning out the inside of Velma's ears the other night. She then lay in front of her Velma, ear first as if to say, 'my turn now'. Velma just got up and walked off. All that revolting effort, for nothing! Poor Daphne!

They're very chatty at the moment too. They don't stop mewl-ing! They have been doing a very good job of keeping me company this week, whilst J has been away. He's on a course for work ths week (otherwise known as a great-exuse-for-a-piss-up!). I made the mistake of watching an ITV drama called 'Bon Voyage' on Tuesday night and it frightened the living daylights out of me! It was about this freaky guy in a caravan who kidnapped children. At least I had two thirteen week old cats to protect me. Did I watch part two last night? No I did not.

My mum went to Italy and all I got was.......

.......some yummy boucle yarn from Filatura di Crosa! How nice it is to have something we don't get here, and in gorgeous autumnal colours. Thanks Mum.

There is enough for a lovely hat to keep my head warm on the impending visit to NY. On small needles I'm hoping it will be nice and warm and squoshy.

Speaking of heads, yesterday, a crow dropped a conker on my head. It really hurt. I wasn't anywhere near a tree, I was washing horse dribble off my hands at the yard tap. You can imagine my shock to be bashed over the head with a conker from a great height! Owww...

Little-Icarus

I've finished my version of Icarus, to be known as Little-Icarus.

Pattern : Icarus Shawl by Miriam Felton. Interweave Knits, Summer 2006

Yarn: RYC Cashcotton DK in Apple, 4 balls

Started: Monday 9th October

Completed: Monday 16th October

Satisfaction Level: Mega!

(Thanks go to Karen for the fab photography!)

I am so so pleased with this! I have always loved lacy shawl patterns like this, but never have the patience to knit them in the recommended yarn! So, I've scaled this pattern down, and used a DK weight yarn. If you are interested in doing the same, then I followed the pattern, but instead of repeating the main body of the shawl 5 times, I only did it once. I'm wearing it today, and it feels lovely wrapped around my neck, but without the 'ends' that give a big lump under your jacket! An alternative to a traditional, 'long as you are tall' scarf. I really enjoyed knitting it, I couldn't put it down. The pattern was totally straightforward, even for soemone who doesn't do a lot of lace. I'll do it again, maybe in something shiny, and definately won't shy away from this type of pattern again. Although I must learn not to be such a lazy blocker........

New look blog

So whadya reckon.....

I apologise if it looks a bit topsy turvy in the forthcoming weeks. I'm trying to get to grips with HTML (I don't even know what it stands for!) and make it look a bit more interesting and unique. The website that helped me changed the colours (colour schemer) reminded me of these.

When I was little I used to go with dad to the paint shop and watch the paint mixer spinning around. I was clearly an odd child. I also loved these little cards. I used to come out with handfuls. And picking these up on Tuesday, still has the same effect. How sad is that!? These were my suggestions for the front door. Although I asked my architect dad what colour Victorian front foors would originally have been painted in a street like ours. Apparently, unpainted. Unless you had extra dosh and you may have afforded brown or neutral coloured paint. So not green then. And apparently definately not blue. Blue pigments were impossible to make then. Interesting huh? Well Ok, maybe not.

Kitty Cam

So, I'm joining in Knitty's Blog Stalking game. I'm just warming up - so bare with me on this one (I think I mean 'bear', don't I?!). Our house has very little furniture in the living room (hence why small kittens are relegated in there - less to pee on!). But the most exciting game is jump in and out (and in and out and in and out) of a carboard box. Believe, me HOURS of fun.

And this, this is a Kitty Theme Park equivalent. They race at a million miles an hour up the stairs then launch themselves off the top stair. Again, hours of fun. You'd think they'd need a nap after that. I wish.

Because I had to have another WIP.

Honestly, I did. I really needed more knitting. To distract me from James' socks and mum's cardy. Both not yet half knit and with a deadline of November 10th! Yeah right I needed another WIP. But I just couldn't help it. Inspired by brooklyntweed's beautiful site and beautiful knitting I cast on for IK's Icarus shawl (fall 05?). Because it's DK (the RYC I bought last week) and not lace weight I'm going to size it down. Hopefully this pattern should make good christmas scarves for a few select people!

However, since I forgot to put it away this morning, it maybe a big chewed kitten-spit mess when I get home...

Velma and Daphne

So we've decided to call the kittens Velma and Daphne. Velma for the tortie because she's the clever one and Daphne for the tabby beacuse she's the pretty (prettier!) one! It was suggested on Knitty to call them Thelma and Louise. We loved that, but I don't think Louise is a cat name, albeit a lovely person name. So, from that we came up with Velma and Daphne. All we need now is a puppy to call Scooby (er, or not, two kitties is enough!) Here they are, playing with a sleeping James' feet. Don't they look tiny next to him!

Anyway, I had a great trip Hobbycraft last night. I managed to pick up four balls of RYC cashcotton at 30% off, three in a lovely leafy green and one in a kind of lilac. They're going to at least be some mittens. So soft! This pic doesn't do the colours justice, the colours are a lot less acidic. Hobbycraft has a new range of novelty yarns, which usually I wouldn't be a big fan of, but they had some great colours and interesting textures. I didn't buy any but I did also get some handmade paper and a sheet of card printed with buttons all over. I was feeling crafty yesterday.

As for feeling craft, I wanted to show you this, some beautiful fabric by a company called Hoffman. It is from their Kimono range. I love it. I wish I could buy a whole bolt and have it all around the house! The waves are actually quite small, and it's more subtle than it looks here.

I have a tiny remnant, (I lined Karen's christmas bag with it last year) that I want to do something special with. Any ideas? Anyone know a sewing knitty equivalent? They also do it in gold and cream colourways. I'm going to get three Fat Quarters, one of each, from an eBay seller I've found and cover some small wooden frames and hang them on the wall. You know, as 'art'. :0) Then I can look at this fabric all the time!

Ramble ramble ramble...

Well, the cats have 'flu. Boo. It doesn't seem to be affecting them, but it's the cause of their cloudy eyes. Our friend/neighbour/vet Laura didn't seem overly concerned. In fact, by the way she was talking it was as if it's not unusual. She did say that they would always be prone to runny eyes and stuff. They seem happy and are still bouncing about so I'm not going to worry too much. I've just seen a post on knitty about someone's flea worries. Now I'm panicking that the kitten's are starting a major flea infestation in the house........ They only have one or two, the plan was to get some Frontline when they go to the vet tomorrow for jabs. Maybe I should have made it more of a priority! the tortie has been nicknamed Monkey for now. She is so naughty, and knows it! She hangs from the side of the sofa by her claws and then jumps and runs before you can tell her off. She is also gwetting into the habit of chasing the end of my needles and James has taught her to play with and old scrap of wool. Fantastic. Tabby Cat just hides in the corner.

I was very excited to find this in the University Bookshop the other day. Mma Rawotswe makes me happy. I have to admit, and I'm slightly ashamed, that I am not a massive fan of literary fiction. I like to read, but I like my books to have obvious stories about people. I struggle if you have to try and elucidate a deeper meaning. I hate finishing a book and not having a clue what it was about. Perhaps that's to do with my scientist's mind. I'm not a thinker. It's a bit embarrassing, my sister has a drama degree and my mum is a writer, they're big readers of good books. Although, mum has always said, it doesn't matter what you read as long as you do read. I must admit to agreeing fairly frequently, although not always, with Richard and Judy. So, The Number One Lady's Detective Agency Series, I love. Easy reads, with great stories. And I've just spotted this too, also by Alexander McCall Smith! It is the third in the 44 Scotland Street series, the first of which I loved, and the second not so much. And this one will be next (although buying hardbacks is naughty so it'll have to wait til next month). Adriana Trigiani is ace, and silly as it sounds, reading Big Stone Gap was life changing for me. I really should re-read it. This latest one is the fourth in the Big Stone Gap series. Her others in between kind of tailed off a bit. Anyway ramble ramble ramble, I recommend all these authors!

I've decided that I'm going to start replying to your lovely comments in the comments section, so make sure if you've left a comment to check back. I'm not sure why I haven't done this before really. Perhaps because I don't ever re-check other people's comments. Maybe I'll start.

Kittens at last...

Check out these babies! We have kittens at last, and I can become a crazy cat lady. We were only supposed to have one, but they were so cute, I just couldn't resist. James went mad. Although only a bit because he loves them really. I'd kept it quiet we were having them as we've been trying to get a cat for ages and it kept falling through. I was worried I'd jinx it if I talked too much about it! They're the first cats either of us have had since losing childhood cats. My cat, Miranda died in 2004 at the age of 17, and her brother two years before.

The tortie is a girl, as they usually are, and we're pretty sure the tabby is a boy. That sounds stupid, you'd think it'd be obvious but when they're that small? It's hard to tell. The lady who gave them to us was convinced they were ALL boys.

Although they're litter trained (what a relief!) they are very timid, and are not keen on coming out from under the sofa!

I love the little spot she has on her nose, it's just like Miranda's! We think she may have been the runt, she's smaller and perhaps a bit weaker. I think she may have a mild infection in one eye and walks a bit stiffly. Our lovely neighbour Laura is a vet and they're going for a visit to her practice later this week, so we'll get it checked out.

They don't have names yet. James likes Enzo for the tabby (after Enzo Ferrari - typical), and I like Blossom for the girl. However, it would be nice to give them a pair of names. James' family have always named their cats in pairs. Nut and Bolt, Whisky and Biscuit (I don't quite get that one) and Tom and Geraldine. Although baby James couldn't say Geraldine so he called her Jelly Bean.

We'd love to hear your suggestions, answers on a postcard.........

Strawberry Hat

Yesterday I popped into one of my LYSs, one I haven't been to for a while, on the way back from the vets. Previously, Gweneth's (Blackberry Yarn, Mountsorrel, no website) stock has been good but limited. Now though, she has much improved. I bought some new Sublime yarn (the new luxury arm of sirdar). I am so impressed. I have put a mini-review here if you're interested. I bought a bright pink and a limey green, for a hat for a friend's baby girl.



I hoped I'd be inspired by a pattern when I got home. I started off using a very simple DB pattern for a roll brim beanie hat. I sized it down however, as the smallest size was 3-6 months and the baby is new! I was aiming for her to be able to wear it from now through autumn, about a 3 months size I guess. Although who know how big a baby's head is? So I started knitting and it occurred to me, I could use the green to make it look like a Strawberry! I know this is not that original, there are loads of similar ideas out there. So I made the rest up as I went along. I wanted to incorporate the leaves in with the main body of the hat rather than have the leaf sewn on afterwards. This is how it turned out.

I'm so pleased! My colourwork is usually rubbish, but this came out OK! I never know if I'm doing fairisle or intarsia. I was carrying the colour along the back and twisting as I went, no loops at the back? Which is that? I do get in a muddle whilst doing it! I was aiming for the leaves not to look too perfect and be a bit random, like a strawberry actually is. I hope baby Mia likes it!

James is away on a course so I had a very nice, quiet evening, with uninterupted knitting and one of my favourite films on ITV3, 40 days and 40 nights. I know I know, its rubbish, but very funny. And it's Josh Hartnett again (are you noticing a theme here?). I felt thoroughly content, but perhaps I should have taken the oppertunity to do some Jamesy-sock-knitting whilst he's away.....

BTW, thank you all for your ongoing sweet comments :0)

I did it!

I made a cake!

Thank you so much poops! This is her recipe 'Ern's Cocoa Cake'. And it worked! It came out a bit dome shaped, and took nearly an hour to cook (as opposed to 40 minutes Poops suggested). So maybe my oven is cooler than it should be? I sliced off the top (and ate it - naturally!) and then iced it with a very sickly icing sugar/cocoa mixture. Firstly the icing was too runny so it dripped down through the cake - which was actually quite nice! I did most of the mixing by hand, our hand blender is not really suitable for thick mixtures. And Poops, when you said 'big ass bowl' you meant a big ass bowl! It was nearly slopping over the top!

Anyway, most of it has gone. I wish you were closer Poops, so you could try it!

Thanks also, to everyone from Knitty who offered me recipes. Roxy, purrl, musetta, seven and miss_squeezie (sorry if I have forgotten anyone - all recipes were printed!). Believe me, I'm going to try them ALL. Thanks to everyone else who offered advice. It was duly noted!

Here too is a random campus shot, of one of the halls, just because it looked so pretty last week.

The Hansome Horse

Sarah took these yesterday and I think they came out really well. It ocurred to me yesterday that I don't have many digital photos of him and that there may not be endless summers left to take them. Usually, I'm not keen of photos of myself - I'm totally unphotogenic. I like these, they're not close up enough to show spots or smudged mascara! Although, work clothes and wellies is not always a good look! Its only when I see photos like these that I realise how big The Hansome Horse is. People who meet him for the first time say 'Isn't he huge!!'.. But no, to me, ten years later he's normal sized. But actually, he is on the large side!

This is quite embarrassing

But I'm posting in the hope that someone somewhere may have some pearls of wisdom on why I cannot bake. My general cooking is OK, but my baking just isn't. I wanted to make some muffins, inspired by Chockylit . So when I got home, I asked Delia . Unusually, she didn't know. Delia is the fountain of cooking knowledge, but she doesn't know how to make muffins. So I asked Nigella. She knew, but my attempts failed. These look promising don't they...

But this is what happened when I tried to eat one......

Nasty, horrible, not very tasty, squidgy muffin mess. And yes, they were cooked. Correct time, as per Nigella. Fork came out clean and all that. And it's not the oven, as people have suggested. We have a brand spanking new oven. And with previous ovens, I usually fail. Cakes get burnt, or just come out like big biscuits. Last time I made cupcakes and took them to James' mother they sat on the side all weekend. Anybody? Any hints?

I finished the back of Moonshine by the way. I love it when I finish the back of a garment. Feels like you've done the worst bit, the long, boring, monotonous bit.

I'm doing it, I'm doing it.......

..........I'm knitting a sock (properly)! And I'm loving it! I'm a bit disappointed that the sum total of Saturday's knitting ( about 4 and a half hours) was only 3.5 inches of sock, but still.

I'm really enjoying the pattern, the summer 06 surprise from knitty. As you can see it is toe up (to hopefully avoid my problems with the cuffs) and I think the construction of the toe is really interesting. It is all short row shaped, and the cast on edge is picked up and knit onwards so there is no seam. Clever. It looks a bit pointy but I don't suppose that matters. The needles are doing great too. Just one, very long circ. The bamboo is not as grabby or bendy as I thought either. I had a lovely morning (the boy was at work) eating English muffins and watching Saturday Kitchen and re-runs of Jeeves and Wooster on ITV3. Fabbo all round.

We went to see The Black Dahlia on Saturday. It was good. Worth it for Josh Hartnett's bare bum. As usual, Scarlett Johanssen was great, as was Hilary Swank. But Swanks on-screen mother stole the show. She is played by Fiona Shaw who is also Aunt Petunia in Harry Potter. A drunken, bitter woman, who was really quite funny in a sad way. I think I may have to see it on DVD to fully understand what was going on (and honestly not just for another look at his bum) it seemed that there were small bits missing that made it a bit difficult to follow in parts. Still a good, very dark, thriller. I'd definatley recommend.

I feel old

I'd like to think that my finger is generally somewhere near the pulse, if not actually on it. However, there have been several things lately that have made me feel really old. For one, I can't stand Radio 1. OK, so I don't mind Colin and/or Edith, and I can just about tolerate Vernon. But the rest seem to have this whiney, overwhelmingly patronising, sarcastic, condescending tone. And it's really not funny. I get the feeling I'm having the mickey taken out of me, just whilst listening. So I don't. However, yesterday, I felt like a bit of music. I turned over to Radio 1, and I lasted for one and a half songs. I quite liked the first - Joss Stone. But then, and I suppose this isn't really their fault, the next track verged on offensive I thought. It was a remix of Phil Colin's (or is it Genesis, I never know) Another Day in Paradise. Now I'm not a big fan, but this song has a rather serious message does it not? Well the remix didn't. In fact it was rather lewd in places. And it just annoyed me. So, give me Radio 4 any day. Like my Dad. Secondly, on the 'I feel old' track. I can't even go into TopShop without feeling seriously frumpy. I used to love it. But now, the stock changes every 5 minutes and I couldn't even imagine wearing any of it. And I feel really out of it. My Mum loves Jigsaw. She always has. I used to think it was mega-mumsy and boring. Now I shop there whenever I can afford it. I am getting old before my time. I really am. And I'm turning into my parents. Which I suppose is no bad thing, on lots of fronts, but at 24? So is it me that's gettign old, or Radio 1 and TopShop that are dumbing down? Grrrr.

Sorry. Rant over.

Sock Yarn at last!

At last, James' yarn came from Astrid's Dutch Obsessions (it is just me who thinks that sounds like an adult shop ;0) ? ). The service was great, if a bit slow, but it did come all the way from Holland in just over a week. The invoice said 'love Astrid' at the bottom! I'll order from her again. She has a HUGE choice.

James' yarn is the brown. It is a lot more beige than I thought, but the more I look at it the more I like it. The red is a RAK for miss_squeezie, about time I paid abck a bit of the RAK-ing kindness! This is also my first pair of addi's. Not sure 2.5mm bamboo needles were the best decision, they look like toothpicks! But, I was impatient, no aluminiums were available to order and I wanted to get it done in one fell swoop. They look ace, nice smooth join between tips and cord, and how clever than the size is printed on the cord! So, I must start the covert knitting operation...!