Tina

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.
The first two were trying to be arty shots outside, but it was windy and I was worried she would blow in the pond (not good).
Knitted in Zephyr Wool Silk, she took just over two and half balls.
All available from here

She is now waiting for Granny to come and collect her ready for her big day on Sunday.

And as I finished knitting her last Sunday I had this calling from a parcel that was sent to me last year....

And she is growing very quickly, photos soon so everyone can see what good taste someone has (yarn is wonderful to knit with, thank you once again)

And now I really must go and find some words otherwise I will be getting Nil points and I really dont want that !!

Dear Liza...

I know you are more used to dealing with buckets, but this is a bit more serious...
You know I had a new oil tank installed the back end of last year, well it appears to be leaking... It was just a slight seep and now after the man has looked it became a big drip (nearly two pints collected in just over a day!!)

So now I'm waiting for a new tank, at least he has managed to stop the big drips and the container is filling up much slower..... but there oil everywhere apart from in the tank where it is meant to be !!!


Thanks for all you messages about the boy.

He is healing well - we did have a slight mishap when visiting nextdoor, he had a good scratch and took off the scab and then rubbed his head on the arm of the sofa, the bottom of the sofa and neighbour's top... She was ok about it luckily, after all she does think he is her cat !!




Part of the reason why I have been quiet for a while is I was up in Manchester visiting friends but enjoying some proper music.

Some of it was better than others .

Shawadywady were a good opening act and The Osmond Brothers closed the show.

Of the two David's I think Mr Cassidy past me by - I only knew two of his songs and he does talk a lot...

The other David I could have listened to for years !!!

And this was the sky in Manchester on the Saturday morning - grey, just as I remember it when I worked there in a past life.



And this was the sky this Saturday.

The telephone pole opposite.

I had that usual problem on Saturday night, the smell form the chip van calling me - but I was strong, Shona and Isabella would have been proud of me - I ended up having cottage cheese instead !! Only a stone to go (for the second time) but I am more determined now...

And what else have I been doing, apart from dealing with everyday life and the problems it throws me.... in the last week nearly 80 hours of study (or that's how long I should have spent reading books) I should be writing an essay on mortality and morbidity in the UK at the moment but concentration is non existent - I'd rather be out playing in the garden....


Oh and I have been knitting, but that deserves it's own post ;-)

Just heard from tank man, there have been problems with the tanks and it should have been recalled - but as always why inform the customer !!!

A Lot can happen in a week....

First I tried to clear up and found an interesting place to store wool - This is a disgustingly painted fireplace in my bedroom and I found some wool hanging out of the chimney - I pulled and the ball appeared.... I've no idea how the ball got up there....

But now I know that the chimney needs sweeping....


Then I got one of these he is called Morris - coz he's a traveller (my Mum had one of them when I was little - the car not he wheel, that is....)




This is Saturday Sky taken in Mid Wales where I went to a meeting of the Spinners, Weavers and dyers.


I decided to stop spinning half way through the afternoon, I thought three bobbins was probably enough for one day !!




And when I got home I found that one of my boys was not well - he had a very bloody face, an abscess had burst on his face...

And while talking to nextdoor about him I nearly fainted, not a good feeling...

He has been to the vets and had injections, and I've been a good mum and put some savlon on his hole, works well for a little while and then he licks it off.... (I didn't think anyone would thank me if I put up a red faced cat picture..)

<


This is the first proper spinning on Morris, after about an hour I've managed to be able to spin thinnish....




I also went on an adventure to pick up some Leicester Longwool fleeces.

And I have a washing production line in the garden (the smell is interesting and the neighbours haven't said anything yet !!!)

First you soak over night is hot water with washing up liquid...


Then you put over some wood and chicken wire.

And put the hose on it to rinse....

When it looks a lot cleaner, leave to dry....

And the following day it might end up looking like this....



















And after a little while with Morris, this is what you get.....

A really nice spin, extra long staple which makes things so much easier ...



And I think I will be blogging more intermittently, too much course work coming up in the next few months.... And then there is the garden, not to mention the knitting that needs catching up on...

And while I think of it, Tina is on the third edge, only another 41 points to go... Promise I will be back when she is finished ;-)

Yvonne's Passion

I've just been reminded that I haven't posted the recipe for my chocolate carrot cake, that someone rather liked(understatement !!) at NEC....

Chocolate Passion Cake.

5 eggs
150 g caster sugar
150g plain flour
40g cocoa powder
175g carrots, peeled and finely grated
2 tablespoons sunflower oil

Topping:
350g medium soft fat cheese
175g icing sugar
175g milk or dark chocolate melted.

Lightly grease & line the base of a 20cm/ 8inch deep round cake tin (I used a square one...)

Place eggs & sugar in a large bowl and whisk over a pan of simmering water until very thick. Lift whisk and it should leave a trail for a few seconds.

Remove bowl from heat. Sieve the flour & cocoa into the bowl and carefully fold in.
Fold in the carrots and oil until just combined.

Pour into tin and bake at 190 C gas mark 5, for 45 minutes or until well risen and springy to the touch.
Leave to cool completely.

For the topping beat together the soft cheese and icing sugar. Beat in melted chocolate.

You can split the cake in half and put half the icing inside and the rest on the top or have a thick top icing.

And then enjoy....

It does say that it serves 10 - 12 and that the un-iced cake can be frozen for up to 2 months. Defrost st room temperature for 3 hours or overnight in a fridge.

(Taken from What's cooking Chocolate by Jacqueline Bellefontaine)

Sorry for no photo it went rather quickly... It's an easy cake to make and will impress chocolate lovers. I have also managed to make it dairy free with dark chocolate and dairy free cheese...

Happy Easter

Baaaa Baaa

I've finished the sheepy shawl

Not easy to photograph...

Heads with ears and legs that dangle



And this is how it drapes...

It is for nextdoor neighbour, I hope she likes it and will wear it when watching Shaun later....

No sky picture this week, suffering with terrible hay fever, went straight to bed when I got in last night, couldn't even watch Doctor Who :-(

Reasons not to blog...

First when I was at Winghams I got some 20% possum 80% merino.
Here is it spun and plied with some merino in various shades of purple.

It was given to the Possum queen at the NEC show, and it is the first of my spun that looks properly usable !!!



Then there is some grey, from an unknown batt - I think it came with my wheel...

Strange spinning from a batt and not a roving or rolag and it did sort of work...






And while at the NEC I went over to the dark side.. I think this is the first time I've actually followed a crochet pattern and it's working !!!

Talking of the NEC it was a very strange show, Thursday was quiet for teaching but we did a lot of PR on the stand and managed to get rid of all the leaflets for Shaun's Picknit before lunchtime.
Friday I stayed at home and had a rest.
Saturday was busy not helped by some of the volunteers not showing up :-(
Lots of finger knitting and teaching knitting and crochet. The stand looked like my living room floor by the end of the day - wool everywhere !
Sunday was quiet again, not many people wanting to learn anything - but I have nearly finished the sheep shawl .. photo soon...

And before anyone asks, I got some beads for presents, some chocolates for another present, some silk undyed hankies and cocoons and some very cheap cotton 4ply also undyed... And none of them look interesting enough for a photo...I will share when they are more colourful...


And this is a reason for not doing housework... I thought something was not quite right and then I realised that a wire had escaped.. So I stopped clearing up and just crocheted and spun instead....

Hopefully the knitting will start again soon....