tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069886530226841132024-03-19T12:01:01.974+00:00simple natural handmadesimplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.comBlogger653125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-53512464135243776622016-10-17T13:13:00.001+01:002016-10-17T13:15:39.674+01:00Moving...I have moved to <div><br></div><div>simplenaturalhandmade.wordpress.com</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-81077039163069061112016-09-26T22:27:00.001+01:002016-09-26T22:45:32.347+01:00Funky dungarees...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx_YAQOADDPucnzU__pkAd27lyvRHlP__6_v_ZeM9EYFP6l5cEQtwiha4bY9-6U2i_HEM_IXksMHvI7MnZnnuZ0E_yRI-B5nTvNiIeI5dHAaUDriiNKOXFyJKDAiyMUWXUrNSIweq88or/s640/blogger-image-136057481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx_YAQOADDPucnzU__pkAd27lyvRHlP__6_v_ZeM9EYFP6l5cEQtwiha4bY9-6U2i_HEM_IXksMHvI7MnZnnuZ0E_yRI-B5nTvNiIeI5dHAaUDriiNKOXFyJKDAiyMUWXUrNSIweq88or/s640/blogger-image-136057481.jpg"></a><div><br></div><div>I had a day out in York on Saturday. The weather was perfect. The crowds were... ideal for people watching. It didn't really go as planned. The plan was to find the wool shop and treat myself to something woolly. I found the wool shop but nothing caught my eye.</div><div><br></div><div>I did better with the charity shops, picking up a brand new pair of M&S jeans for £1.39. The man looked at me slightly puzzled. I just smiled. I have no idea why they were priced so low. They weren't an out of date style or damaged. I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">picked up a couple of travel themed paperback novels. I've got a nice little pile by my bed to get through. It's the next best thing to actually travelling.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Talking of which. M and I are going round in circles with the subject of when is it OK to start taking holidays without your mostly grown up children. E will be 19 at Christmas and is talking of going abroad with her boyfriend next year so I feel it's definitely acceptable to go on our own holiday. M thinks this is unkind if it's a destination she'd like. Then there's J who will be 16 at Christmas which is a trickier one, if we take him is that unfair to E? My solution is to be firm and say that we'd like a holiday on our own. So we shall see.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Anyway, York. There was a food festival that was extremely crowded. I did try and look like a discerning gin purchaser and tried a sample or two. I sussed out all the potential stalls to buy food but when M was finally free of his conference duties we ended up in a quiet side street with tables on the cobbles outside. I chose a refreshing meal of pesto chicken and avocado on a bed of brown rice. Just my kind of food. Simple but tasty. It was almost like Barcelona for a moment, until a crowd of cackling hen party women turned up and started smoking like chimneys nearby and then it all felt distinctly British once more.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I was recently given a brief to crochet some bright or multi coloured baby boy dungarees. There was actually some similar yarn to that above in York but it was a tad shiny for my liking and looked like it would be a devil to crochet with. I'd forgotten I had two balls of this yarn in my stash and it felt just right for the 'brief'. The Mum-to-be is not the pastel blue kind which has turned out to be rather fun on this occasion. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now all I need to do is make a second pair the same... she's expecting twin boys!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>It'll probably take me a while but I'm intending to write the pattern up for these, for my own future reference as much as one to share. Whilst the second pair I make will be as above, I shall add a front and back post treble ribbed cuff to the bottom of the trouser legs, and also a front pocket for the pattern version.</i></span></div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-42763314897991364682016-09-21T14:40:00.001+01:002016-09-21T23:12:07.495+01:00Elephant buddies...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41YWCEJz1JhQ5wdils8dyrCKT6YWmm0XwrnZ3VbJ-YhPNB826kIVP50D6kY9m2Cm_8izMjK6wcbYxImc_pv1bINoOwQT07qgUEAFi1PDDY2Hgu7xrH2CGFEewXaMxth-GMARa72Hy2Rob/s640/blogger-image-1046469497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41YWCEJz1JhQ5wdils8dyrCKT6YWmm0XwrnZ3VbJ-YhPNB826kIVP50D6kY9m2Cm_8izMjK6wcbYxImc_pv1bINoOwQT07qgUEAFi1PDDY2Hgu7xrH2CGFEewXaMxth-GMARa72Hy2Rob/s640/blogger-image-1046469497.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3NUnVL3NsWhrLddOa1g79xFJhtaoUyNLlT77kgJB_EcWXSfkuHB9_Z4eUZJmL4BmvvcvrLPuuTtwJ7QZ-IsV57UQ3DloEOwHcpD7OL-RGyAADvrzy7QN1QtVRVytqE63fGmJhueQVuwG/s640/blogger-image--1009344268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3NUnVL3NsWhrLddOa1g79xFJhtaoUyNLlT77kgJB_EcWXSfkuHB9_Z4eUZJmL4BmvvcvrLPuuTtwJ7QZ-IsV57UQ3DloEOwHcpD7OL-RGyAADvrzy7QN1QtVRVytqE63fGmJhueQVuwG/s640/blogger-image--1009344268.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWQf48-6P0EICVspEejLdUN1-j3G46Ekd5aXQTqORlYp9m8gGrdfdgq93PMDHw3xNHSGKc5e0cvcN6or8W0nJKQ6XRNqugIMBvSlrNpUXjaewS8pPDMG3kZaSywMxSGCAqSCadhTJsKTn/s640/blogger-image-1410585685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWQf48-6P0EICVspEejLdUN1-j3G46Ekd5aXQTqORlYp9m8gGrdfdgq93PMDHw3xNHSGKc5e0cvcN6or8W0nJKQ6XRNqugIMBvSlrNpUXjaewS8pPDMG3kZaSywMxSGCAqSCadhTJsKTn/s640/blogger-image-1410585685.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks to a day of non stop rain I've finished a second elephant. She distinctly feels like a 'she' because she's a fraction smaller. I've cheated on the tassels this time and looped several strands through the 'rug'. Boy was that quicker and less fiddly! I tried a different colour scheme for the blanket edging and tassels and didn't like it so it was back to safe greys!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In fact it was actually two days of non stop rain. The dogs take themselves off round the fields at the end of the garden on rainy days but it isn't the same as a nice long supervised walk! I made up for it today with a long and leisurely ramble through our favourite meadows and nature reserve. For months I really didn't think my knee would ever recover by itself. It's still problematic and doesn't take very much to knock it into bad shape for a few days. Bizarrely it is still tender to touch, I can't kneel on it, bend down, sit with my feet tucked under my chair, I can't land on it, stairs are painful, slight inclines are painful nevermind hills but... I can walk on the flat and I'm absolutely over the moon about that. If I tread carefully I can do my usual dog walking route albeit with a nagging pain. Never again will I take walking for granted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Harvey still suffers from a deck slipping injury he acquired some years ago. He bounded outside on an icy day and yelped loudly as he slid across a small portion of decking. It must have done some quite severe muscular damage because he's never been the same since. He thinks in much the same way as I do and scorns 'rest'. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">After a lengthy tennis ball fetching session he limps home triumphantly with soggy tennis ball in mouth. There's no telling how much pain he's in.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I don't think I'm quite done with crochet elephants yet. I was aiming for two for my craft stall which has meant making three so that the nearly 19 year old in the house who should have grown out of cuddly toys but hasn't, can have one on her bed! Then there's the fourth one that I will make with my niece in mind but that will have to wait as I have a particular colour scheme in mind. Little E visited last weekend which was just fabulous. She really is such a star. It's pretty much the rule that small children are happy, sociable and easily entertained when you take them places and then save their crabby moods for home! I'm sure a certain someone was just like that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As adorable as Little E is I am pretty happy that my two are older now. They are still demanding but in a different way. J for instance, who has been largely anti social until now (partly due to Xbox and partly due to shyness) has started meeting friends in town or at the football ground two villages away. So just when E is suddenly out and about in her little car and freeing my time up hugely, J is suddenly asking for lifts. Unfortunately it's not always practical cost and location wise to tell him to catch a bus, though he does when he can and always with his passport as ID. It makes me quite cross that they don't believe that he's 15 and therefore a half fare, OK so he's almost 6'3 but surely anyone can tell he's not got the worldly manner of an older boy? For now I'm happy to be the taxi for his new found social life. One new driver at a time is plenty thank you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>I solved the mystery of the second elephant turning out a little bit smaller... both my 4.5mm and 5mm hooks are blue, with only a subtle shade of difference between them. I must have picked up the 4.5mm for the second one. A happy mistake as it turns out because the stitches are a bit tighter.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-42201200982604604602016-09-19T12:39:00.001+01:002016-09-19T21:20:28.968+01:00Off the hook... Big yellow elephant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PnG7TB5uBxMC6e44XrbrETA17uX6fCinv-__XWT9FLlIN0BHBC1IzK3BxRti-RTyWBZak_HtmEa-J7SFJmc9rEHcDfaT4cnNY6Fiu-khDSMsEAARY815ssOFkANOhtjUjhHSgX1YhcwT/s640/blogger-image-1898316117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PnG7TB5uBxMC6e44XrbrETA17uX6fCinv-__XWT9FLlIN0BHBC1IzK3BxRti-RTyWBZak_HtmEa-J7SFJmc9rEHcDfaT4cnNY6Fiu-khDSMsEAARY815ssOFkANOhtjUjhHSgX1YhcwT/s640/blogger-image-1898316117.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0OIrfEM3x5q5xN4HIxStEs3FB72pt8zOMqdelgIc3dCzWsCq24Ro4p0xAuVNCgrAKj6GJOJO-qJI4iEYKJbPH44KtzCBhulohuOfInYKoD7jKGMEUtS5fUjXxw-AJjTTQzhsadOQfLmp/s640/blogger-image--1053890569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0OIrfEM3x5q5xN4HIxStEs3FB72pt8zOMqdelgIc3dCzWsCq24Ro4p0xAuVNCgrAKj6GJOJO-qJI4iEYKJbPH44KtzCBhulohuOfInYKoD7jKGMEUtS5fUjXxw-AJjTTQzhsadOQfLmp/s640/blogger-image--1053890569.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPIXwsW66u_-ZBZz36GxyiiMNgF_30nzn-IP6E-2avgvg_gLHSmvJ40TsiBtRzns87ZsVIrVRJXOaFjnTKepA9n_YDWTsnbN9ArcAaEbF6rGyJPfNZ-JahyphenhyphenrkKuTa7X4pMHnFKdbMLwbp/s640/blogger-image--857010220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPIXwsW66u_-ZBZz36GxyiiMNgF_30nzn-IP6E-2avgvg_gLHSmvJ40TsiBtRzns87ZsVIrVRJXOaFjnTKepA9n_YDWTsnbN9ArcAaEbF6rGyJPfNZ-JahyphenhyphenrkKuTa7X4pMHnFKdbMLwbp/s640/blogger-image--857010220.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsyUPopIPurxHD3tMLdcnm8byWtZFhdMXvDpKaP8aFrKhyhxswXVukNyTjITF3vcNnW3nR2dB2F7oFJyUNHcsxivCZuH6xX496Rgqxt3CYmInzxoZHzzpj2rRRMnasUkuAyrISv3R_wte/s640/blogger-image-237478016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsyUPopIPurxHD3tMLdcnm8byWtZFhdMXvDpKaP8aFrKhyhxswXVukNyTjITF3vcNnW3nR2dB2F7oFJyUNHcsxivCZuH6xX496Rgqxt3CYmInzxoZHzzpj2rRRMnasUkuAyrISv3R_wte/s640/blogger-image-237478016.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well that was an enjoyable make! Rather than finish all the extra pieces I decided to sew up the elephant part first. He stood naked for a while until I'd finished the blanket. This is one of those designs that is more 'knitterly' in construction; flat parts, a gusset and then sewing. Not my favourite way of producing an animal but since he's so cheerful I can forgive it just this once.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this fine chap might not make it to market to be sold (at a craft fair) but he will be sticking around as a useful prototype for future reference. Number two is already underway, although he may be made in slightly different colours. I think the two shades of grey were playing it a bit safe, and also those tassels were a bit of a faff, I'm sure there is an easier way to make neater tassels. Maybe I just need practice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My favourite part is the blanket which is done in linen stitch, which doesn't really show up in these photos, but looks satisfyingly 'woven' close up. He's a nice size too at about 12" wide and 8" tall. I scaled him up from DK to Aran. He's very squidgy. The bright yellow is a very welcome colour to be working with today while we have grey overcast skies and constant rain. The dogs looked like drowned rats and since they harvested the wheat in our fields they also look like dog scarecrows with straw bits sticking out of their curly ears.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm planning on making just two elephants for my craft stall as colourful eye catching items alongside the hats and some jewellery. It's tricky to decide on prices. By the time you've factored in yarn (about 150g), toy stuffing, buttons and safety eyes it doesn't leave a lot of room to take into account the time spent making this toy, so really it's just about the enjoyment of making something and selling it to someone who will enjoy it too.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-11599227765973329232016-09-14T14:02:00.001+01:002016-09-14T22:55:35.910+01:00Hot dogs and yellow elephants...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-qtPjcMvYzEAdxoHluFED_Twe8uuhCJ2qZ_cl-dy0hygJoWg1yEE9CIW9XXZTAVdTPA7ZIkvISrYLXSaucCJgIruAOBcQvtOKU_hyyeOWEUFjv7qCW9ylvN_WKxZmJygHL_1DraRBRPc/s640/blogger-image-1685199136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-qtPjcMvYzEAdxoHluFED_Twe8uuhCJ2qZ_cl-dy0hygJoWg1yEE9CIW9XXZTAVdTPA7ZIkvISrYLXSaucCJgIruAOBcQvtOKU_hyyeOWEUFjv7qCW9ylvN_WKxZmJygHL_1DraRBRPc/s640/blogger-image-1685199136.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0Rx0yK4PWT1YuiN4qIkXeUJAiA0-C6428P8-XBh8iYTsZ-u8PSBsYljXT_t4-MU4OpRcKt4L2nrRFjElbEL63KPRzrH7rakd5lMiUNVjOZCvA9jhEDgEEeyw4F5gLyHzHdgQlBCoTS-9/s640/blogger-image--1942118516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0Rx0yK4PWT1YuiN4qIkXeUJAiA0-C6428P8-XBh8iYTsZ-u8PSBsYljXT_t4-MU4OpRcKt4L2nrRFjElbEL63KPRzrH7rakd5lMiUNVjOZCvA9jhEDgEEeyw4F5gLyHzHdgQlBCoTS-9/s640/blogger-image--1942118516.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mVTZOq6doS8RAyTYDjjuADuleggFtay3X00WDovvkzIQh7pKmuAXnNQ0LQ8Ed1c47m6XadxT8zVRol7OknakHw9HO1XmEocEgtsZTErqeeC4uacw8k2pXtngrHBIfASnBtRLsb7t8y3K/s640/blogger-image--623082745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mVTZOq6doS8RAyTYDjjuADuleggFtay3X00WDovvkzIQh7pKmuAXnNQ0LQ8Ed1c47m6XadxT8zVRol7OknakHw9HO1XmEocEgtsZTErqeeC4uacw8k2pXtngrHBIfASnBtRLsb7t8y3K/s640/blogger-image--623082745.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5XIs8jwgkDbgAUMsipIn8IFkz2zaYkH37wrFoOpbSkUP86u8-9FjZFE0Oi_GlDO8SiIIJTdtItxEPgjBhCifJ7RZtOtsOlx5oXK8j2YLwoKmaJbsZraF6bTzOiyxcKNwHTcn3JA1KgNP/s640/blogger-image-1499712695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha5XIs8jwgkDbgAUMsipIn8IFkz2zaYkH37wrFoOpbSkUP86u8-9FjZFE0Oi_GlDO8SiIIJTdtItxEPgjBhCifJ7RZtOtsOlx5oXK8j2YLwoKmaJbsZraF6bTzOiyxcKNwHTcn3JA1KgNP/s640/blogger-image-1499712695.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntwHAlqzxx8VMnkdbhiAEau5raDZ00nYwE6nG1bAIYBBEJ-9qYCa0I2GuWp6IXX5MuS8pnjgEkdIJ-mAQrod87yHw6bA2h90T6e0y2ZFaVKY45_RbbrXGuiXYmIkpSF8V8PZDH-M0K6MY/s640/blogger-image--874047507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntwHAlqzxx8VMnkdbhiAEau5raDZ00nYwE6nG1bAIYBBEJ-9qYCa0I2GuWp6IXX5MuS8pnjgEkdIJ-mAQrod87yHw6bA2h90T6e0y2ZFaVKY45_RbbrXGuiXYmIkpSF8V8PZDH-M0K6MY/s640/blogger-image--874047507.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MBZZHD_oH8xgrVwPOPEcLp7fCf6_5aNRYmUdockkMVBVWKMV5WD6JLipdNfNzjRoZI5dxLpXzpW3E2f0ZyEiHJFhC78RwdSltNXFraW5gIVp58T_jgybbbutqsVcDcOf2a_Ry63CEBuH/s640/blogger-image-1687081080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MBZZHD_oH8xgrVwPOPEcLp7fCf6_5aNRYmUdockkMVBVWKMV5WD6JLipdNfNzjRoZI5dxLpXzpW3E2f0ZyEiHJFhC78RwdSltNXFraW5gIVp58T_jgybbbutqsVcDcOf2a_Ry63CEBuH/s640/blogger-image-1687081080.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A week or so ago I heard that I'd been allocated a table at a local craft fayre. It's a well attended one, held just once a year. Nothing fancy, just a complete mixture of crafts. Of course I'm terrified. I love making things but I do hate selling face to face. It's partly worry that nothing will sell, partly that I will make a giant prat of myself by not being able to converse in a noisy village hall which echoes thanks to the lack of carpet or curtains. Actually that last worry is guaranteed to be the case. M will be my back up ears at least. Let's face it he will make a charming salesperson too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, I have a month to focus on supplementing the stock I've already made by way of leather/wood/metal jewellery. It would be mad not to try a few crochet items right? Something simple like hats maybe? Ugh! Not simple at all given that hat size charts vary wildly across the Internet. Oh well. I've stuck to one and that's all I can do. I've allowed for a bit of give too so they will get a bit of extra time out of it if it's for a growing child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was a good opportunity to dive into my Aran and chunky supplies and see what could be used up. I picked out all the machine washable yarns and used my wool winder to make neat 'cakes' of what wasn't already wound that way. It wasn't a very inspiring colour palette but after a frenzy of woolly hat making I now have a basket tray of each weight leftover. This is superb news! I've been working really hard over the last few years to whittle down my stash. The tiny amounts will probably get made into random pom poms (always useful!). This just leaves me with pure wool and wool blend yarns in more useful quantities which I prefer to work with these days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fun as they are, my random striped, side to side constructed baby and toddler woolly hats, there comes a time when you can't face making another. So in complete contrast I decided to make a big yellow elephant! Well biggish, not that big. The pattern calls for DK but I find Aran easier to work with so instead of roughly 8x6 inches he's coming out at 12x8 inches. Ella has a weakness for both elephants and the colour yellow so I need to be very firm about his destination ie. as an eye catching craft stall item!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have Mansfield to thank for the elephant inspiration. M had some legal work to do there this week and said he thought it might be charity shop heaven if I wanted to tag along. There were plenty of charity shops but there was also a haberdashery closing down sale within their department store. I don't usually buy a lot of Rowan yarn, especially if garments are involved but the sale prices meant that I could at long last knit up a cardigan/jacket pattern that I've had for a while but hadn't found a substitute yarn for. It would normally have cost £98 just for the yarn (who buys that stuff?) but I managed to get the required number of balls plus a bit extra just in case for £32. It won't be as enjoyable as crochet but it's the end result that I will enjoy; a chunky, throw it on over anything kind of cardigan. It's also good to refresh my memory where knitting is concerned too! I also picked up the book with the elephant pattern in it for less than half price. It has been out for years and caught my eye long before I knew how to crochet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, it's back to my big yellow elephant now in the dappled shade under our trees, while a certain four legged friend looks at me and sighs every now and then as if to say, 'is it cool enough to go for a walk now?'. We had a heat wave kind of day yesterday and I waited until the temperature had dropped to a milder 24 degrees (from 30!) before attempting to load them up in my car and take them off to the river for a swim. I so wanted to have a paddle too but I'm not so keen after watching a very large grass snake slither into the water a few weeks back. I've been managing to walk a bit further with my dodgy knee and hoping to see my Heron. Finally the other day I saw not one but two!</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-3798241899950652972016-09-05T10:09:00.001+01:002016-09-05T10:15:36.969+01:00crochet honeycomb hat pattern...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHjYpRF3sVuQkSPwsQqj8pIIUcgCMk_2_goci9BfYc9y9k6gtmZlPS0KmkF0JXhR3Bz6qoQpRE0qSchhyFzrQ7OUjuJYUzM_tbFzLeDaiKk7n3jHP6D-T6EBXrsr3TUKm1sn1LRIF5FAm/s640/blogger-image--1735615976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHjYpRF3sVuQkSPwsQqj8pIIUcgCMk_2_goci9BfYc9y9k6gtmZlPS0KmkF0JXhR3Bz6qoQpRE0qSchhyFzrQ7OUjuJYUzM_tbFzLeDaiKk7n3jHP6D-T6EBXrsr3TUKm1sn1LRIF5FAm/s640/blogger-image--1735615976.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLOSD2OV5JV7yL92X0Z9V3MS4vRe8MvP9HTEBp5FHsF6koyMEVTYG9wH-BPUJqqusrTKzk9RayGuE7TtbOB60Pc7sknFyKiDN43_g5Re6Kt77_e0qbW5UfbD0xIzU6vpedd_jira13wQH/s640/blogger-image--688166126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLOSD2OV5JV7yL92X0Z9V3MS4vRe8MvP9HTEBp5FHsF6koyMEVTYG9wH-BPUJqqusrTKzk9RayGuE7TtbOB60Pc7sknFyKiDN43_g5Re6Kt77_e0qbW5UfbD0xIzU6vpedd_jira13wQH/s640/blogger-image--688166126.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0TPc9mLC-XMQyvBKuA2yIXcdWUiKC1zqJkn_266EtzO9xni7kYOFEs6doKLvaQSp_5VnW36dJWNSknKt-ojFrwwfKZ4QaCeRBpnsHywUplN4TQOqUXIwslN8y4dGoGJI9mNDdhKZXgw-/s640/blogger-image-707747054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0TPc9mLC-XMQyvBKuA2yIXcdWUiKC1zqJkn_266EtzO9xni7kYOFEs6doKLvaQSp_5VnW36dJWNSknKt-ojFrwwfKZ4QaCeRBpnsHywUplN4TQOqUXIwslN8y4dGoGJI9mNDdhKZXgw-/s640/blogger-image-707747054.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXXlpxGo4SizQUKXBrx4hap6qRgF0MgqQujNle5kLHHM9UglbMH9k6nM_q0jvmnxGC8J9D5LTy9uvxJ9ImgO7v4joVwgLn4I0qX0DEraMBh52fY5iLn0HmVMWDUephFl4gGoTSswiG8l9/s640/blogger-image-533121635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXXlpxGo4SizQUKXBrx4hap6qRgF0MgqQujNle5kLHHM9UglbMH9k6nM_q0jvmnxGC8J9D5LTy9uvxJ9ImgO7v4joVwgLn4I0qX0DEraMBh52fY5iLn0HmVMWDUephFl4gGoTSswiG8l9/s640/blogger-image-533121635.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Mx5Tnvolt26_Gnn3U9x9spfXIjbDZ4UUWPuwmSDRNRF0BLlBTysoqyNi0QWuL4zBMrek4y3qdXoWDhyphenhyphenGsBAASn155F8nq1cMBlNpwv4Gns4_7MesumKEYTdQdcjPSKGc5tHOhflbib9/s640/blogger-image-1565849521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-Mx5Tnvolt26_Gnn3U9x9spfXIjbDZ4UUWPuwmSDRNRF0BLlBTysoqyNi0QWuL4zBMrek4y3qdXoWDhyphenhyphenGsBAASn155F8nq1cMBlNpwv4Gns4_7MesumKEYTdQdcjPSKGc5tHOhflbib9/s640/blogger-image-1565849521.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixCjjfvcE1pTlgDCAtDxnqHKxdCMb6GKznnKRzq7M9Blc-SvxyQGTHfYmpM4n245_Hz2uVg2b5O8vh9x3l-oG8aCQruB1yHddoh5fUZaodp306j5kK1wNv8N-I11-bxEfk45zN6aqDMH8/s640/blogger-image--1707768253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixCjjfvcE1pTlgDCAtDxnqHKxdCMb6GKznnKRzq7M9Blc-SvxyQGTHfYmpM4n245_Hz2uVg2b5O8vh9x3l-oG8aCQruB1yHddoh5fUZaodp306j5kK1wNv8N-I11-bxEfk45zN6aqDMH8/s640/blogger-image--1707768253.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTkF-PqRN71ptblWyOZN0KLSF0om6dDfQd0c34dgJ1y2105hW3cxkeLZs8xvmzdXATOvXFHb-BddE-gbM7ujVGAv1Sw_K2CT4yo_FMCOJzo7bXMaLkTeWqdUIIc8Vc8cuJzH7Kj6_3SQA/s640/blogger-image--1501843421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTkF-PqRN71ptblWyOZN0KLSF0om6dDfQd0c34dgJ1y2105hW3cxkeLZs8xvmzdXATOvXFHb-BddE-gbM7ujVGAv1Sw_K2CT4yo_FMCOJzo7bXMaLkTeWqdUIIc8Vc8cuJzH7Kj6_3SQA/s640/blogger-image--1501843421.jpg"></font></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lSXX47HlfXPeTmEMdlyCTiaiRJjYD0P-Q8Ov7LG4zcViNWfVgiHjsBedpLF95JUffEUs7aVNuyJEeMUMkFzU_l7dMbbKTl3hqirEQhp6j4BUw1UbiLwR283lm8hmhr2qjXhzpMELvmxl/s640/blogger-image--1819822025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lSXX47HlfXPeTmEMdlyCTiaiRJjYD0P-Q8Ov7LG4zcViNWfVgiHjsBedpLF95JUffEUs7aVNuyJEeMUMkFzU_l7dMbbKTl3hqirEQhp6j4BUw1UbiLwR283lm8hmhr2qjXhzpMELvmxl/s640/blogger-image--1819822025.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdubiYIY85KAXuDUUM5HpdGZMLq_Vpk4v1ClZBG5LQRcyyXG-PdCuEF45uu9VprWpNUXC2ufXc88vQKFLWARRcyPrxEf3bwli9eiz2DaXmcNpc_n7FZ9-UHfh09AM6cEYeiOsF45Z-lJBw/s640/blogger-image--1170736609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdubiYIY85KAXuDUUM5HpdGZMLq_Vpk4v1ClZBG5LQRcyyXG-PdCuEF45uu9VprWpNUXC2ufXc88vQKFLWARRcyPrxEf3bwli9eiz2DaXmcNpc_n7FZ9-UHfh09AM6cEYeiOsF45Z-lJBw/s640/blogger-image--1170736609.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Shout if there's a mistake! I'm no pattern writer but I've given it a go. The beauty of this style of constructing a hat is that you can choose any yarn weight you have to hand along with these guide measurements. I like working with Aran or worsted weight which is how I made the oatmeal coloured honeycomb hat. The baby/toddler sized red hat (see previous post) was made using chunky yarn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a very approximate guide I use a starting chain which measures 11" or 12" for an adult hat with a turn up brim. For a child's hat I would use a chain of 7" or 8". If you increase these dimensions you get a bit more of a slouchy hat or a deeper turn up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">An adult sized hat can be made using less than 100g of Aran weight yarn. The child sized one in chunky, I have found, uses slightly over 50g.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The best way to get to grips with how this honeycomb pattern works is to make a small baby/toddler hat with a starting chain of 25 using chunky yarn and a 7mm hook. This should produce a chain of approximately 8" long.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Work through the back loop (tbl) throughout.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ch1 and Ch2 at beginning of rows are turning chains and do not count as stitches throughout.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Row 1: ch25</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Row 2: (rs) ch1. (5 sl st, 5 htr) twice. 5 sl st. Turn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Row 3: (ws) ch1. (5 sl st, 5 htr) twice, 5 sl st. Turn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Row 4: ch1, 10 sl st, 5 htr, 5 sl st, 5 htr. Turn</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Row 5 ch2, (5 htr, 5 sl st) twice. 5 sl st. Turn.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Repeat rows 2-5 until piece measures approximately 16" at widest part. Sew seam with wrong sides together. Gather stitches at top and secure on wrong side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>For adult hat: </b>chain 40 or 45 using Aran weight yarn and 5.5mm hook. The chain should be roughly 11" or 12" long if you want either a slouchy beanie or a beanie with a turn up brim. Adjust accordingly if you just require a well fitted beanie with no turn up! If you've made the small hat as a trial run you'll know how the pattern works, just remember to sl st five stitches at the crown of the hat which makes it taper nicely and a little easier to gather. For an adult hat you'll need to repeat the pattern until the width, at the widest part, measures approx 18-20" depending on head size. As a guide my oatmeal honeycomb hat measured 18" before sewing up and my head is roughly 22" in diameter. With the give in the yarn this is an ideal fit.</span></div></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-76970795641710467122016-08-25T10:49:00.001+01:002016-08-25T17:19:20.149+01:00O'er yonder...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHwq82LAu_1PrUOE89nt7N_p9ky3sUGc-LH8qp-bDS1rAvGlHU5_ffKHsonIsEQtOcCopL0rS2Q25dDQEbVDOnNZxZSAJEm2Jm4DiqQtyyEwFRrzjTRudW1FThnkrRho0X3TAyGsp559U/s640/blogger-image-889419318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHwq82LAu_1PrUOE89nt7N_p9ky3sUGc-LH8qp-bDS1rAvGlHU5_ffKHsonIsEQtOcCopL0rS2Q25dDQEbVDOnNZxZSAJEm2Jm4DiqQtyyEwFRrzjTRudW1FThnkrRho0X3TAyGsp559U/s640/blogger-image-889419318.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV9QCdem7lP3gi8Q4IWeYkxI89X1jXOu8OCf9LuICfVNcaHwTdZx4yC6qVphhBPj1t70mXuZ8ML_-jQgRtcwJjOKT2aX8iuxpkhNWcz1cyN5Oy1lyH8AdxE0v6O_G0R1IJA3v8AZvjjmq/s640/blogger-image--1715592136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV9QCdem7lP3gi8Q4IWeYkxI89X1jXOu8OCf9LuICfVNcaHwTdZx4yC6qVphhBPj1t70mXuZ8ML_-jQgRtcwJjOKT2aX8iuxpkhNWcz1cyN5Oy1lyH8AdxE0v6O_G0R1IJA3v8AZvjjmq/s640/blogger-image--1715592136.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaFasUfUt816DFOti3wNe-xehkhVB6t8cf4qtGWlgy39MCrZvi7Wgvu8T82VVvG05df20ZPZlA3VzCvmKqEUpJvKXrzKc-TN4GGTia4kw4eVLpHWxT9t1ODjLfVahROFf4pVVIx7sBOx/s640/blogger-image-1324954425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJaFasUfUt816DFOti3wNe-xehkhVB6t8cf4qtGWlgy39MCrZvi7Wgvu8T82VVvG05df20ZPZlA3VzCvmKqEUpJvKXrzKc-TN4GGTia4kw4eVLpHWxT9t1ODjLfVahROFf4pVVIx7sBOx/s640/blogger-image-1324954425.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlBHpZH6cvcjAnK9GJxKeyq_WpCUJFMwzkcK7IHdcQXFOUHi1XPoeqCzDDbo-FScklrf6j3SR6G09xgcid6i8AD2SDojyNrj1ChXxqnsVzK_pvNlHen8EcX0qeht1wBe0OOD4Esr8uYE3/s640/blogger-image-809616660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlBHpZH6cvcjAnK9GJxKeyq_WpCUJFMwzkcK7IHdcQXFOUHi1XPoeqCzDDbo-FScklrf6j3SR6G09xgcid6i8AD2SDojyNrj1ChXxqnsVzK_pvNlHen8EcX0qeht1wBe0OOD4Esr8uYE3/s640/blogger-image-809616660.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EoGtRIJsMKvGV3Ylf-jbXKPKJzMcLzO0P783AJxKw8lhq95ZD2kRVusbWeEv4zjMmlHtzf9hLHtxwYKFm4UwsYgz4onSGPFIWizKVLHz4ra7ah52pGQpE_LesBXnwkF0PEwpqLS7rH-I/s640/blogger-image-863643922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EoGtRIJsMKvGV3Ylf-jbXKPKJzMcLzO0P783AJxKw8lhq95ZD2kRVusbWeEv4zjMmlHtzf9hLHtxwYKFm4UwsYgz4onSGPFIWizKVLHz4ra7ah52pGQpE_LesBXnwkF0PEwpqLS7rH-I/s640/blogger-image-863643922.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sadly, no, I haven't disappeared on a round the world trip. I'm still here. M and I managed to fit in a few nights away last week. There are still great big pockets of ignorance when it comes to my knowledge of all things Northern. When M mentioned Bradford I must admit I wasn't exactly filled with joy, it conjured up rather a different picture to that of camping bliss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">However, Bradford was where M needed to be for a couple of days so we eventually found a site that had space (should have taken that as a sign!). We arrived in a picture box village with beautiful window boxes everywhere, a lovely pub, a babbling brook... and a dreadful camp site with communal showers! The least said about the rest of it the better! Thank goodness we bumped into another couple who were also just leaving who recommended a nicer site five miles away. M made a phone call and phew, they had a space if we were quick. We were quick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The site was terraced and it was a devil to get a long caravan pitched but it was well worth the effort because it looked out over hills and dales and the most amazing sunset every evening. My head was obviously not in blog mode because I didn't take a photograph! Argh! We were somewhere between Otley and Ilkley and the countryside was wonderful. Despite work in Bradford we managed a nice morning in Ilkley just browsing book shops and drinking coffee and chatting to small children... we concluded that M must have a friendly face because, on two separate occasions, a small child decided to strike up a conversation with him. In a cafe, a three year old, clearly bored with her mother and grandmother's conversation turned around in her chair and said, 'Hi, I'm Lucy'. When M cheerfully replied, 'Well it's very nice to meet you Lucy' she had an attack of shyness but recovered enough after a minute or two to have another go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other small child introduced herself as Bella. M agreed with her opinion that it was a very nice name. He explained that we had a daughter called Ella which sounded a bit similar (she disagreed) but that we sometimes call her, EllaBella. This was clearly the funniest thing she had ever heard and she went off chuckling heartily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Indeed, EllaBella is doing the festival thing as I write. On the one hand it fills me with worry and on the other I am secretly glad that she is spending five nights in a tent and experiencing the delights of a single camping stove with no refrigeration facilities. This is a girl who would choose a hotel over wild camping any day of the week, unlike her Mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I dug out my Trangia cook set complete with meths burner. A visit to a camp shop for a new bottle of meths informed me that wow, these sets have gone drastically up in price since I bought mine, oops, that must have been at least 15-20 years ago. Jeez, time flies. I held out the set in front of E and asked her to guess how many cooking things it might contain (bear in mind the whole thing is about the size of a medium saucepan). She was miles off. I unpacked the three saucepans, the frying pan, the kettle and the windbreak/pan stand/burner unit, the meths burner and the handle for the pans and she did concede that it was pretty amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Still not convinced that this tiny gold pot would heat enough water for an espresso let alone a pot noodle I had to do a demonstration on the patio. If this failed then she'd be paying £5 for a small frankfurter in a roll for her main meal every day (apparently this was the cheapest food at last year's festival). Not only was she surprised that it boiled a kettle of water, she was surprised that it was quick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So last night I received the above pic, including boyfriends feet, of the stove boiling water for their packet pasta with the message, 'this thing is actually working!' Thank goodness these kids will never need real survival skills! I don't fancy their chances of making a shelter or starting a fire without matches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All the river pictures were taken on a warm evening in Ilkley. I had to try and walk off a pint of cider (I'm such a lightweight these days). Unfortunately I kept pointing out that everything was 'lovely' but with a dodgy Northern accent, it wasn't my finest moment. Thankfully I kept quiet when a friendly older couple walked by and M had the most interesting conversation with them about the area. They were both Ilkley born and bred and still taking romantic, hand in hand, riverside walks after goodness knows how many years together (I think they were at least eighty). Their accents were almost indecipherable for me so M had to translate so that I didn't look like a complete idiot. Apparently the Heron was often at the same spot. They were also keen to let us know that if we came back in May then the woods 'o'er yonder' would be a carpet of bluebells. Oo, I bet those two had plenty of tales to tell!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-56988012541920458682016-08-09T16:12:00.001+01:002016-08-09T17:18:07.304+01:00A simple break...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn09525GZhscADT-yV5A5Ocukj2J3y1a0MLWM88f-56Rv52RTtZ113Rz06LiXZMzCbNdXxsFTksrZTeunlYdOpedgvAZPE8V4ZmpqKmO8O8ItmPiVAgSuKmNvVGxUMkIgo3KW9Ybfn0jw0/s640/blogger-image-536506437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn09525GZhscADT-yV5A5Ocukj2J3y1a0MLWM88f-56Rv52RTtZ113Rz06LiXZMzCbNdXxsFTksrZTeunlYdOpedgvAZPE8V4ZmpqKmO8O8ItmPiVAgSuKmNvVGxUMkIgo3KW9Ybfn0jw0/s640/blogger-image-536506437.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukbGqsO1oy54_k7M2qNJLcnRDtU1mLTxp90R2rVXXkst14YnOukWGjD3xSa0USTZ_ZLYqEeLzLSYOAComTBDjLjS3UiHa88MwiBB7XXpfeACT4jvZORWP5NoFjOGqMXyGy6fXlUi5Bu1n/s640/blogger-image-403226806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukbGqsO1oy54_k7M2qNJLcnRDtU1mLTxp90R2rVXXkst14YnOukWGjD3xSa0USTZ_ZLYqEeLzLSYOAComTBDjLjS3UiHa88MwiBB7XXpfeACT4jvZORWP5NoFjOGqMXyGy6fXlUi5Bu1n/s640/blogger-image-403226806.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5RzLuO_PFPWsbA1SAv_Mq7Efycg92WNqeUPB1UsH0ILFADmzLXFdq8Otpt91_YWGx-7SqdSmQvNldArsdOcWEe-aFQZ31LjygeqsrcUOfxiHbq9wB9HPGkn8uHb86WueLtba80yX0ieS/s640/blogger-image-394236985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF5RzLuO_PFPWsbA1SAv_Mq7Efycg92WNqeUPB1UsH0ILFADmzLXFdq8Otpt91_YWGx-7SqdSmQvNldArsdOcWEe-aFQZ31LjygeqsrcUOfxiHbq9wB9HPGkn8uHb86WueLtba80yX0ieS/s640/blogger-image-394236985.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGzGZhbKI8j9Gr5CSCc52y8f_COmUIochMlD0dqkr4aH7iQzDMmaH5NaDDWSK0NyQRG-vETbznJZkWeSQyxF8oIRHhGy-tqVbw6Tpv0Y9fT5IjcCTa3bdkXc3B1Cjiu7wmzPgaS3isEE5/s640/blogger-image--1585521901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGzGZhbKI8j9Gr5CSCc52y8f_COmUIochMlD0dqkr4aH7iQzDMmaH5NaDDWSK0NyQRG-vETbznJZkWeSQyxF8oIRHhGy-tqVbw6Tpv0Y9fT5IjcCTa3bdkXc3B1Cjiu7wmzPgaS3isEE5/s640/blogger-image--1585521901.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv0iunoIISvMGtGUfXBGqtIbhU6aHocskz6-giK0L0AcUzx-qVlgMTIC7ASUT5nFpAOuq01aIb2Bho-MkVivFdL2cszzMNW91UH-TfkPNcgdQvVjmJarFzMAbdxqVcwljSO2WBmjKoEqs/s640/blogger-image--26344604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv0iunoIISvMGtGUfXBGqtIbhU6aHocskz6-giK0L0AcUzx-qVlgMTIC7ASUT5nFpAOuq01aIb2Bho-MkVivFdL2cszzMNW91UH-TfkPNcgdQvVjmJarFzMAbdxqVcwljSO2WBmjKoEqs/s640/blogger-image--26344604.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6rU5ffGyYAUcgMESk8JrPfZrF68y7uMhVXJfRk6jcqD8cFQB6mJk6Ktvk7UdcFZMxB0TvY36Lvu3aR6JDSEjF4ys3GufwkJI21l81ZaoNKplW9nc3IE6l9eNcvCtgmVpNqDHvrDCQPBm/s640/blogger-image--509040869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6rU5ffGyYAUcgMESk8JrPfZrF68y7uMhVXJfRk6jcqD8cFQB6mJk6Ktvk7UdcFZMxB0TvY36Lvu3aR6JDSEjF4ys3GufwkJI21l81ZaoNKplW9nc3IE6l9eNcvCtgmVpNqDHvrDCQPBm/s640/blogger-image--509040869.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWO9WsQIQX8nP2MreffKsz8B5fmo1Tkp5pb0Vq2R_f0I2ALT-dN1EqeYZeb76ROhfW8Vga386GROfw6aV_TAogSwdl72JzgS2g7w-kQ3gVklqAUOja7WZYQm4WiXJYrzO7zH14Kw6Z3Zx/s640/blogger-image-501124239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWO9WsQIQX8nP2MreffKsz8B5fmo1Tkp5pb0Vq2R_f0I2ALT-dN1EqeYZeb76ROhfW8Vga386GROfw6aV_TAogSwdl72JzgS2g7w-kQ3gVklqAUOja7WZYQm4WiXJYrzO7zH14Kw6Z3Zx/s640/blogger-image-501124239.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPtmdvtp5QJCXLFH_Y3KgBNDnZ2i14JL-MjTmchz8wH-MM0wKeWBNjQSCGmzv1jBAMhrqGXZArBfULpYlCuZQNNH_heVNfcu20kceI1vlrVZRbHCDOUbF_E7cp4_e3z9s0nl7JwEIJjTh/s640/blogger-image-1499974835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPtmdvtp5QJCXLFH_Y3KgBNDnZ2i14JL-MjTmchz8wH-MM0wKeWBNjQSCGmzv1jBAMhrqGXZArBfULpYlCuZQNNH_heVNfcu20kceI1vlrVZRbHCDOUbF_E7cp4_e3z9s0nl7JwEIJjTh/s640/blogger-image-1499974835.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's very good advice to have something in your diary or on your calendar to look forward to. It's a shame I don't take that advice more often! When it comes to short breaks and holidays we are definitely more likely to be lastminute.com and although I love spontaneity I've also come to need that little box on the calendar to count down to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The children had their own adventure this year and visited Cornwall for the first time. It wasn't so much of a trek along the south coast when I was growing up but it's now a major north to south expedition. However, they made it (with Mum clocking up a silly amount of driving miles) and loved it. J in particular enjoyed surfing lessons. E liked the laid back vibe (I knew she would). They visited the Eden project and Lost Gardens of Heligan amongst other places and generally made the most of it despite the lack of reliable sunshine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Meanwhile M and I didn't want to waste a whole week to ourselves despite the fact that M still had work assignments in Wolverhampton, Derby, Liverpool and Sheffield. It made it rather challenging to figure out how to get a few days away in the caravan. I <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">got the old fashioned road atlas out (I hate satnavs!) and figured out that Derbyshire would be an acceptable location for M to use as a base for work. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">From discussion and hasty booking of a site to leaving was approximately 24 hours!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We found a site near Ashbourne in Derbyshire which is an area neither of us knew very well. It was extremely popular with walkers and cyclists. I'd have preferred a less busy site with fewer amenities but you can't beat having everything to hand especially when you're in a caravan that hasn't been used for over a year. There were quite a few children running about which made Riley nervous so he barked at them which in turn made him seem quite unfriendly. One brother and sister weren't put off though and came and made friends with him which was really nice. He settled down after he'd made a few friends, he's a dog that doesn't like new places. Harvey is a dog who is clearly old before his time. He's like an old man who likes an uninterrupted afternoon nap so he'll snooze through anything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We liked Ashbourne, although it's small it has a few nice coffee places and everything you need. Tissington is a chocolate box tourist village but it was a nice spot for (more) coffee and to buy some homegrown rhubarb. I like picking up eggs, honey and whatever people have in a little makeshift shops by their garden gate. The large bunch of rhubarb was only £1 and enough to last the whole week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The week was spent in a very simple and relaxing way. We picked up food day by day, we read books, we took the dogs to nearby streams for walks and swims, we threw a few things in a basket for simple picnics, we visited a few places, not many, we fixed a few things in the caravan with the help of a parts shop nearby. We had Coca Cola in glass bottles with straws in a pub garden; a trip down memory lane! M was lucky and had two cancellations which meant more time to put his feet up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I did take some crochet but after buying some groceries in Ashbourne on day one I spotted some unbleached cotton and decided to make myself a decent sized face cloth. I'd forgotten to bring one and M uses his all the time (a face cloth is so much easier with a tiny sink). The face cloth went well and it was nice working with cotton in the summer so I challenged myself to use up the rest of the ball. I ended up making a sunglasses pouch since mine were getting chucked in my basket or bag every day. With the tiny amount left I made a cotton bracelet. We have a man drawer in the caravan which happened to yield the perfect button for a fastening. 100g of cotton turned into three nice things and not a pattern in sight!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We both agreed how relaxing and therapeutic the week had been. We were even able to calmly discuss the problems that need addressing with our property at the moment and how M blames work for not being able to deal with them and equally how he won't part with his hard earned cash to pay someone else to deal with them. A kind of stalemate I think. When we got home several of the tasks we had discussed miraculously got done! Happy days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">From our pitch round the corner from the little camper pictured above I spent some time being discretely nosey observing the couple who had come to England with it. M obliged and took a crafty snap so that I could share it with you. I'm not sure if the photo gives a sense of scale, perhaps the bicycles help show how tiny it is. They towed it with a hatchback which also held the bikes on a cycle rack. Isn't it just amazing!? I love it. It's clearly a well thought out little unit with its pop up top for standing room inside and even a mesh fly screen for the door. I'd have loved to have had a peep inside. Can you see the clever clothes line with the two dangling socks?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This little Dutch caravan got me thinking about how nice it would be to have a much smaller caravan that I could manage to tow myself. I'm sure there are women out there who are happy and qualified to tow a twin axle whopper of a caravan but I'm not one of them! I'd have a go of course but I'm sure it would be stressful. M is an absolute genius at towing, I've held my breath and clenched my knuckles at some very tight entrances and along narrow country lanes and he's handled everything that comes his way. He does get annoyed if I grab the door handle in fear but that's fair enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A quick browse for little caravans old or new revealed that it's just another idea along with one day owning a campervan that isn't going to happen any time soon! Small doesn't equal cheap! Not only that but even the small ones would have issues with windy days which is a whole scenario I could live without. This led me to discover teardrop trailers (google it!). The benefits of a caravan/campervan type thing but without too much of a towing hassle. Think 5'x8' a single axle trailer... as Catherine Tate would say, 'I can do that!'</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So, I've given M his next DIY challenge despite the fact the kitchen needs finishing off and his workshop still needs a roof. He's downloaded a template and cut it out of wood just so that we can see exactly what we are dealing with. It looks pretty darn small to me. We're pulling in favours and quotes from people M knows who can weld for a purpose built trailer. It's a pay as you go project and there's nothing hugely expensive to buy for it after the base itself so I think we might just have a tiny caravan by next April. That's the deadline I'm giving M; it's the start of the cricket season and I'd like it finished by then so I can at least remove myself from these four walls while every weekend is taken up with matches.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Without electrical hook up you can usually camp for a tenner or less per night. Although this camper will have the ability to hook up it would only be for charging phones and iPads and maybe switching the fridge/cooler from battery to mains like our caravan one does. For a short stay though everything can run from a leisure battery that recharges from the car on the way home. Unlike the caravan there will be virtually no setting up tasks. It will be a case of pitching up, unhitching and getting the chairs out. Ella already has her eye on it for next year's music festival!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-32145160195473350172016-07-18T15:04:00.001+01:002016-07-18T15:04:20.095+01:00Freedom!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreToNbNPakhtLtg8ctBo5dPNZy9ZpJDVQB8rbFpctgwEKYPgSI_Ebj5kKj2bvV_ZQxMgKO8GmNOP3KJorAo0Rgm6-jRWqnBL4sb3hLwEndzit00ZKHQwYHvNS0_sj4AqnWumi2Q1n-UM_/s640/blogger-image--1083427618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhreToNbNPakhtLtg8ctBo5dPNZy9ZpJDVQB8rbFpctgwEKYPgSI_Ebj5kKj2bvV_ZQxMgKO8GmNOP3KJorAo0Rgm6-jRWqnBL4sb3hLwEndzit00ZKHQwYHvNS0_sj4AqnWumi2Q1n-UM_/s640/blogger-image--1083427618.jpg"></a><div><br></div><div>When your child passes her driving test it is both exciting and terrifying in equal measures. On the one hand you join in with the jumps for joy (metaphorically, this knee isn't jumping anywhere for a while) and on the other it hits you like a tonne of bricks that she'll be hurtling down dual carriageways all on her own. Eek.</div><div><br></div><div>Another thing that hits you square on is the hike in insurance from having a learner driver on your policy to having a new driver. An additional payment of £625 thank you very much.</div><div><br></div><div>Then, round about day three when she's exhausted all the local places she can go to just because she can, and even picked up her brother from school, she comes to you and asks for ideas for a day out. Oh boy. I come up with anything within half an hour's drive while she rolls her eyeballs and says things like 'I can drive you know' and 'it won't be an adventure if it's only up the road'. Eventually one of my forty minutes away suggestions goes down well and craftily that makes sure she is only 15 minutes away from my parents.</div><div><br></div><div>All this and she knows the story well that I jumped in my car the day after I passed my test and toured the West Country and Cornwall with a friend for two weeks. Thankfully she has no such ambitions...yet.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-72706352508082358592016-07-17T14:17:00.001+01:002016-07-17T16:06:59.913+01:00Wheat stitch shopper...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zdrJb9cl54XxOLO4Gjt1reOCZaNV4xgWJA8GgfFCQg1gWQG1lRC-QSxr4UhiZioX0713EG2NyI2mIX8OIGJgBIfep42ZvRvnfYzq5vFwaYhWJDrXmeKjyuwV5eOYacsxNlgAmBq1Kbhs/s640/blogger-image--5982015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zdrJb9cl54XxOLO4Gjt1reOCZaNV4xgWJA8GgfFCQg1gWQG1lRC-QSxr4UhiZioX0713EG2NyI2mIX8OIGJgBIfep42ZvRvnfYzq5vFwaYhWJDrXmeKjyuwV5eOYacsxNlgAmBq1Kbhs/s640/blogger-image--5982015.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtDvAdqVuS9bEVV8UBJxmgtpCwOqgKFlGL17BjM_Lz1CAxsnQqA5hyphenhyphen2ymqaV7p798AE3VKE3QElhKhLj7EiUtRp6wVENTpekS25_5aq-MbVaEIl8r7FH3IR0D9yEmBULZUhlCDFLcjqou/s640/blogger-image-20503133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtDvAdqVuS9bEVV8UBJxmgtpCwOqgKFlGL17BjM_Lz1CAxsnQqA5hyphenhyphen2ymqaV7p798AE3VKE3QElhKhLj7EiUtRp6wVENTpekS25_5aq-MbVaEIl8r7FH3IR0D9yEmBULZUhlCDFLcjqou/s640/blogger-image-20503133.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3tAbq8l1hbsNCMlEagAtY7A8gCsrRjv7epAeHKpTkJ7IzZvvN1Q5lDgyOL8OfPsg00HkYJITMqwvuQfL7joJi5W5m2CrGJE6VccijKZQIqIRmn7-avtEbeGHQF3S-qGlvG9Bd3DHmK_w/s640/blogger-image--1910014000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3tAbq8l1hbsNCMlEagAtY7A8gCsrRjv7epAeHKpTkJ7IzZvvN1Q5lDgyOL8OfPsg00HkYJITMqwvuQfL7joJi5W5m2CrGJE6VccijKZQIqIRmn7-avtEbeGHQF3S-qGlvG9Bd3DHmK_w/s640/blogger-image--1910014000.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Urgh! I've managed to get sidetracked again! I really hope we get to take the caravan away for a weekend soon, I'll pack the CAL blanket and nothing else so that it gets done. The joining method instructions have been released and in a few days time so will the border.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Though who could resist the challenge of this shopping tote pattern? Not me. It's like a good crossword, it keeps my brain ticking over. It was fairly straightforward once the set up rows were complete. Front post trebles are always a bit fiddly to start off in the round, especially when you need to increase by doing two fptr's into each fptr. M says he totally agrees! I'm not sure whether it was the colour of this project or the complexity that caught his eye. He seems naturally drawn to anything in the orange spectrum. I seem to be naturally repelled by orangey things. I must have tried to convince myself that this recycled cotton yarn was a rustic terracotta when I bought it. It is a bit of a duller tone in real life but even so I had planned to make it up and then throw it in the washing machine with an indigo machine dye. Once finished I remembered some bag handles I bought in a Rome market a couple of years ago. I think they go with the terracotta and might also be sturdier than the crochet straps given in the pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'll have to call it my 'fancy shopper' since it's a lot fancier than my usual taste. Heck, it's colourful, patterned but not too girly thank goodness! I think they call this 'wheat stitch' which is rather nice since we have millions of acres of it growing in Lincolnshire right now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The free pattern is by Lily Sugar 'n' Cream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/rich-textures-tote-1.html</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I used a recycled cotton Aran weight yarn (I've forgotten the brand name) and it used 130g.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-90317086642209494742016-07-09T12:56:00.001+01:002016-07-09T13:45:40.024+01:00Honeycomb hats...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMz4HqCJhUUBI62-oO4o2fZLq8dyz9bDbvW_Br6Ywiw6U0O8QMFWPFDXuHVMkXXV3n2JRlpuFD26olZsRYIA9gVQqkvtMFv7CMRmpj64je6n2A996PIQY-JHHJWR-MetTvIzsll3aeh7_/s640/blogger-image--1881813695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMz4HqCJhUUBI62-oO4o2fZLq8dyz9bDbvW_Br6Ywiw6U0O8QMFWPFDXuHVMkXXV3n2JRlpuFD26olZsRYIA9gVQqkvtMFv7CMRmpj64je6n2A996PIQY-JHHJWR-MetTvIzsll3aeh7_/s640/blogger-image--1881813695.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0F7c2JWiG3a7uwHjf_jW305FWpoFVYrkoDEvC_MjiEQXeXnbuAvBeRzJE5VHHmi8txkbAeFwfxqXrEpQOrGdSj0OoJyPwULXfvL3PAoKPnmjc3YioxZFRIAMmYIt9_HZ_V1Zzr6fC8Fd/s640/blogger-image--1226518263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0F7c2JWiG3a7uwHjf_jW305FWpoFVYrkoDEvC_MjiEQXeXnbuAvBeRzJE5VHHmi8txkbAeFwfxqXrEpQOrGdSj0OoJyPwULXfvL3PAoKPnmjc3YioxZFRIAMmYIt9_HZ_V1Zzr6fC8Fd/s640/blogger-image--1226518263.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I might as well be calling these cricket hats. Most of the work was done on arrival at two day long matches recently. One in Stoke on Trent and the other at Cleethorpes, both County under 15s although Jake seems far too tall for this age group now, at 6'3.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Red is a devil of a colour to photograph. It took a bit of shuffling my little table around to get the light right so that it wouldn't merge into one big lump of red with no definition. Limitations of an iPad camera too I guess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Naturally I started the little red hat half way through the slog of the oatmeal one. I was curious to know how much quicker or less fiddly it would work up in a chunky yarn. The answer is, not much. The secret is too keep the slip stitches nice and loose. So, this is not a fast fabric to work up but well worth it for a hat because it provides a nice amount of stretch for a good moulded fit, not to mention a look that might not be obviously crochet to the untrained eye! In fact the knitted honeycomb stitch looks pretty similar.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think there may well be more of these in my crocheting future. I'm now curious to play around with stitch counts between changes and some kind of honeycomb yellow yarn is just crying out to be made as a baby or toddler hat with a small crochet bumble bee attached!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My next step is to crochet another adult hat so that I can write down and share the pattern. Coincidentally this kind of stitch was also the pattern for the last Scheepjes CAL square, at least I think it's pretty much the same, I haven't started those yet. It seems I finally succumbed to the boredom of repetition even though each week is entirely different. Psychologically it's just more squares. I really need to work on my concentration span.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I used to wait until we took the caravan away for a long weekend or longer to get projects like that done and dusted. The trick was not having a yarn stash, crochet magazines and the Internet as distractions. Not to mention leisurely summer evenings (are we ever going to have those again?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We've barely taken the caravan anywhere in the last two years which is something I'm trying to rectify. As the children have lost interest as they've grown up I'm in the process of emptying out all their 'junk'. Things like body boards, buckets and spades, balls of every type, kites, board games, plastic cricket sets, pop up goals, comedy films on DVD, books, boules, scooters, skateboards and probably much more once I get as far as the main under bed storage bunk. It's a wonder we ever had any room for the four of us with all that on board! <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to creating a more minimalist interior which I will find a more relaxing 'get away' opportunity.</span></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-37751994592645044912016-07-02T16:23:00.001+01:002016-07-02T17:15:11.600+01:00Rainy days and Monday's...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjMqbk_flnKDhyphenhyphenmFPo5UZnl4DoWCrJLtC0xrAxmfsM1pJkDLhrJc-WYVf-QKuC5fnGN1ELRix7Gh2dQB6-HABeUFtPLnO1nR6PZ2xFp_W8nHLTRf8Xtc44TnCCygfncSg89EMzOynXsc/s640/blogger-image--326150248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdjMqbk_flnKDhyphenhyphenmFPo5UZnl4DoWCrJLtC0xrAxmfsM1pJkDLhrJc-WYVf-QKuC5fnGN1ELRix7Gh2dQB6-HABeUFtPLnO1nR6PZ2xFp_W8nHLTRf8Xtc44TnCCygfncSg89EMzOynXsc/s640/blogger-image--326150248.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd4pKrbit_ELMhiSvHrIGSXfMjnGk6dnDIroxWORjPwud0P6GJOZpVSnaBASIQF-kB3l-_KoIolTzBwSkFmUU-SY4LW6vJuE2FlbfLH05kvU2J9qGS0vmYyASz1kW80jxd1cR5MRbB6fm/s640/blogger-image--2072228137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnd4pKrbit_ELMhiSvHrIGSXfMjnGk6dnDIroxWORjPwud0P6GJOZpVSnaBASIQF-kB3l-_KoIolTzBwSkFmUU-SY4LW6vJuE2FlbfLH05kvU2J9qGS0vmYyASz1kW80jxd1cR5MRbB6fm/s640/blogger-image--2072228137.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyk0508WH6yr9-ik4kjAq1ck0RV5p0Z02seWH_TmPsCzscdsP4Q6ZEDSr-Uz91GWdgqdainRIjLfDRCkL1Y7FsHSsrkLVhEZE5FxEyxKx5fu5X_zS-U53siyBbNvK5Wh6WRn0uJVPh_LC/s640/blogger-image-1193893299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyk0508WH6yr9-ik4kjAq1ck0RV5p0Z02seWH_TmPsCzscdsP4Q6ZEDSr-Uz91GWdgqdainRIjLfDRCkL1Y7FsHSsrkLVhEZE5FxEyxKx5fu5X_zS-U53siyBbNvK5Wh6WRn0uJVPh_LC/s640/blogger-image-1193893299.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNnn1I0uvM1V8Heh9eagpLawsU_A3YInzAcBNnti9hdWPzjF4e8vAWnOnETX3HjMRpBorwXyrYFXc93FRNwNtxcWopxD3d0WfAWXPsK82zZb9FoGPkY6gMeGeAWszXpUYwkbHTYknWqP1/s640/blogger-image-1647830848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNnn1I0uvM1V8Heh9eagpLawsU_A3YInzAcBNnti9hdWPzjF4e8vAWnOnETX3HjMRpBorwXyrYFXc93FRNwNtxcWopxD3d0WfAWXPsK82zZb9FoGPkY6gMeGeAWszXpUYwkbHTYknWqP1/s640/blogger-image-1647830848.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrHEhRuiHwLkzDTpqVNwFkuNvGAkNfE-_fAbLkmdwH3f3i40Dncx9jyQd66W4ehBuTp1jmiISR8whTcEiIap3LhlYADGP7OuZv-ABrgJghAkWl_XdQbfgymKEFFoh4C7_FfthaPiEMJOu/s640/blogger-image--2046574081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrHEhRuiHwLkzDTpqVNwFkuNvGAkNfE-_fAbLkmdwH3f3i40Dncx9jyQd66W4ehBuTp1jmiISR8whTcEiIap3LhlYADGP7OuZv-ABrgJghAkWl_XdQbfgymKEFFoh4C7_FfthaPiEMJOu/s640/blogger-image--2046574081.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiMgLFN3_s82d_Prj4HpGLYfSok5QvZAqU2kb7jiLmalyH1pB43WidD-BHWFgHluSs1Qzncsgwvi8ZBCqhX0LOpSIi5Pr29zPOlQsviZNVpbtqI_hA5ucxs7KMfL7HbgAQRxhmlZcesdB/s640/blogger-image-1286571741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiMgLFN3_s82d_Prj4HpGLYfSok5QvZAqU2kb7jiLmalyH1pB43WidD-BHWFgHluSs1Qzncsgwvi8ZBCqhX0LOpSIi5Pr29zPOlQsviZNVpbtqI_hA5ucxs7KMfL7HbgAQRxhmlZcesdB/s640/blogger-image-1286571741.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I haven't been watching the televised news and weather lately but I'm sensing that this British Summer must be heading for the record books as the wettest for some time. It is holding up our repair work on the workshop roof; every time M gets a free afternoon due to a job finishing earlier than expected (or someone not showing up for their court appearance) he comes home hoping to take the rotten old roof off and get started on attaching the new one. This can't be done in heavy rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">M had a whole day free this week but the forecast was grim and the skies were dark and ominous, so we did the only sensible thing and headed for the coast! I mainly associate the seaside with winter walks with a dog, since that's what we used to do when we lived near the coast in Sussex. As a family I don't think we ever spent a day on a beach in the summer. I don't think I've ever spent such a wet day at the beach as our visit to Cleethorpes though! Oh wow, it was seriously chucking it down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We found a quirky cafe for a large coffee while we waited for a break in the rain, the break didn't come. So we moved swiftly between charity shops while I picked up a few paperbacks. Finally a short break in the rain meant we could take advantage of the bargains that are only to be had in a town like Cleethorpes; dog beds for £4 each! Springer Spaniel sized too! I usually buy old woollen blankets from charity shops for them but these come with comfy padding and at £4 we can chuck them when they get too mucky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Taking home a bundle of rock for the kids was essential even though they are now 15 and 18 years old. Also essential is eating a cone of chips under a chip shop canopy while it carries on chucking it down like there's no tomorrow. Although I was dressed for the weather, M wasn't so we had to miss out on the walk along the promenade. He thought I was joking when I suggested that. I wasn't. At least we laughed a lot. Something I very much needed to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So today, guess what? Yep, it's raining again! I have managed to mow the front and back lawns, cut the front hedge back so that we can get to the caravan more easily, jet wash the caravan (it was turning green) and get the mower, hedge trimmer and jet washer all back inside my shed before the heavens opened. My knee is in pretty bad shape now but it was worth it to actually get something done rather than putting it off because it might rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I feel I have earned the right to sit down and do a spot of crochet now. The blue/greyish square is the CAL week eleven design. Not a big fan. It seems kind of unstable and flimsy compared to the other squares but hopefully it will hold up to being sewn in with them. At least it is a fairly simple square and works up quickly. This is the unblocked one and I have another on the blocking board.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm still a bit restless with the blanket as my main crochet project every day so I've been dabbling with some new textures/stitches. I came across a photo of something that looked like honeycomb and decided to try and replicate it since the photo wasn't linked to a crochet site unfortunately. Eventually I googled likely names for this stitch and found some instructions under the search 'crocheted textured wave stitch'. It's just slip stitches and half trebles and a pattern repeat of four rows. I've started a hat using this stitch and the side to side method I used a lot for my batch of Christmas hats. It's fairly slow even in Aran weight yarn with a 5.5mm hook but worth it for something slightly different. If it turns out to be a good fit for an average adult head I will attempt to write the pattern down. It's about time I put some free patterns in my side bar!</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-69376983628847406412016-06-27T14:49:00.001+01:002016-06-28T10:48:17.072+01:00Scheepjes Last Dance in the Rain CAL...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAWUICtVfy-_55spvQjdshDRjKDwWpVtW1PYhduniBnhORF1fTtVyHTm9uYXBZ0ZDHpTHYsmQWI2QbiubxCdwycXRmd8uF_UUt0StAxA65G6sfXUvzo8syVPJ1xsFnjMYYvbVK0HBsJch/s640/blogger-image--1249661448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAWUICtVfy-_55spvQjdshDRjKDwWpVtW1PYhduniBnhORF1fTtVyHTm9uYXBZ0ZDHpTHYsmQWI2QbiubxCdwycXRmd8uF_UUt0StAxA65G6sfXUvzo8syVPJ1xsFnjMYYvbVK0HBsJch/s640/blogger-image--1249661448.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP5aOOLmFpTWaKHxoSv2btIecpIc5Ve9LpSiz7x6vl7AahhC23VWeCIfVechIkysu-SusVHdkKDPUdWkAzQhw5pu4Dl1_JZCxtJXTsAzDiDdoVOphhThE5jfun42unavAiOO57qp3sx68/s640/blogger-image-1011786835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpP5aOOLmFpTWaKHxoSv2btIecpIc5Ve9LpSiz7x6vl7AahhC23VWeCIfVechIkysu-SusVHdkKDPUdWkAzQhw5pu4Dl1_JZCxtJXTsAzDiDdoVOphhThE5jfun42unavAiOO57qp3sx68/s640/blogger-image-1011786835.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYnFSsq3VX1wt8_mSaHYmzQ9GDWoKaBLSoxEzmM6TMr7O2kEmaHpeQTr06iZE99FbWi510yEVL82bo4grlPNcZWlEF3swOCaikQqvjNd_Acd3zQHPsAyMjJdjNdIs1TmkSo88WLztVSpT/s640/blogger-image-2036344405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYnFSsq3VX1wt8_mSaHYmzQ9GDWoKaBLSoxEzmM6TMr7O2kEmaHpeQTr06iZE99FbWi510yEVL82bo4grlPNcZWlEF3swOCaikQqvjNd_Acd3zQHPsAyMjJdjNdIs1TmkSo88WLztVSpT/s640/blogger-image-2036344405.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhPMy84J-Iy5ME2wLQVE4hHOm7xT2_zpORnRVSXRqLk9NZyJ-CbuzUKuWiWvh0l517yQmod3W2etReiO565lOOFLK1axFhR2o8U33tT0Gpr9OHe-uQquS-Xqz23zt0wbJfJKf8xj8Bb6v/s640/blogger-image-1947163084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhPMy84J-Iy5ME2wLQVE4hHOm7xT2_zpORnRVSXRqLk9NZyJ-CbuzUKuWiWvh0l517yQmod3W2etReiO565lOOFLK1axFhR2o8U33tT0Gpr9OHe-uQquS-Xqz23zt0wbJfJKf8xj8Bb6v/s640/blogger-image-1947163084.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CAd8n3cOV3zRlqSfRHm-E4T1g38leGxoS_3-O3Vjjjd7jyhDRQCMgufVK7h4dkyKpP-ec6SRPQNj3_lnSHRJvdoj7YfBNgnUsbY-mWoZJfXhG6efIsZmSbewq1qQczJy0qo3fyXSNi3t/s640/blogger-image-659308941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CAd8n3cOV3zRlqSfRHm-E4T1g38leGxoS_3-O3Vjjjd7jyhDRQCMgufVK7h4dkyKpP-ec6SRPQNj3_lnSHRJvdoj7YfBNgnUsbY-mWoZJfXhG6efIsZmSbewq1qQczJy0qo3fyXSNi3t/s640/blogger-image-659308941.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm experimenting with floret stitch for an alternative to the week ten Scheepjes CAL square. The instructions are in this very useful book I picked up at a local table top sale for 30p. It's called The Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitches, published in 1986. It's extremely well laid out and packed with stitches of all kinds; every crocheter should have one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Floret stitch is a bit fiddly and not especially quick but I need to settle on a square and make four by Wednesday to get me up to date ready for week eleven. I like the way it's keeping its shape and probably won't even need blocking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I couldn't resist getting my piles of finished squares out of their boxes for a quick recap. Oddly enough 36 squares all piled up like this doesn't seem anywhere near enough for a blanket but there are twelve more squares to make and I'm sure it will be plenty. If I need crochet inspiration in the future I only need take a look at the variety of squares in this blanket!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-15144431958546118222016-06-25T13:45:00.001+01:002016-06-27T09:19:10.591+01:00Warm woollen mittens...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQ1ULkqAYspHFOJ60SnXZ2tkcL6uEeuhs-9rcdGn-8vj26EInO_Xdtfq1E-G1M_Wi3RkHMcT80lIfO8K3rK1zIMm_CemvnRZoU3DKx-904cH_XFatktrFTnEt32xls9q2TNeWImDMzjkR/s640/blogger-image--94958075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQ1ULkqAYspHFOJ60SnXZ2tkcL6uEeuhs-9rcdGn-8vj26EInO_Xdtfq1E-G1M_Wi3RkHMcT80lIfO8K3rK1zIMm_CemvnRZoU3DKx-904cH_XFatktrFTnEt32xls9q2TNeWImDMzjkR/s640/blogger-image--94958075.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_BREq-ui_hLlnwPdmn9OBHrX56PPfNt-b3kbURwKxbBov-6nTDfSnEpteeNFRu9Hw25YBREfP6DY5xJTqXNgfdsLHsLLuuEFEmYJca2hVwwu1EpB5Wu6KQWD0rC_EjH5by3-5H8XZ_4R/s640/blogger-image--1317138436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_BREq-ui_hLlnwPdmn9OBHrX56PPfNt-b3kbURwKxbBov-6nTDfSnEpteeNFRu9Hw25YBREfP6DY5xJTqXNgfdsLHsLLuuEFEmYJca2hVwwu1EpB5Wu6KQWD0rC_EjH5by3-5H8XZ_4R/s640/blogger-image--1317138436.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzR0VAjqcDOJhfNYCfqdc7O8NrVWaYNuOFFIKxVC7zDWDwoKQXE6X3EW6cmXPH-I1HneDol7wmyh1Jdq9PyDrb0zAFL9__xCR3iyBdnRRC9CrDhz222U8sprZ548PzxohaSW5qANIRsou/s640/blogger-image-1222443132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzR0VAjqcDOJhfNYCfqdc7O8NrVWaYNuOFFIKxVC7zDWDwoKQXE6X3EW6cmXPH-I1HneDol7wmyh1Jdq9PyDrb0zAFL9__xCR3iyBdnRRC9CrDhz222U8sprZ548PzxohaSW5qANIRsou/s640/blogger-image-1222443132.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Following on from a frenzy of woolly hat making in June why not make woolly mittens too? I had a small quantity of Patons Crofter Aran weight that I found in a charity shop for 50p. It's 60% wool and has the feel of Rowan Big Wool, it's ideal for mittens. The pattern is from the book 'Crocheted Gifts' by Interweave which I've had for years and had the mittens bookmarked since I bought it. As with hats, once you've made them once it is easy to make adjustments for different sizes. I plan to make a pair in a slightly smaller size for E whose hands get cold so easily in the winter. Since there is plenty leftover if you start with 100gms I could easily add a few more rows of the shell cuff for extra warmth.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The pattern looks more complex than it actually is. The mitten is worked in the round until the thumb and then suggests fastening off but I slipped a few stitches to the new starting place which saved cutting and reattaching. They were done and dusted in one evening whilst watching the England vs Sri Lanka cricket.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've started weekly swimming sessions as a gentle way to exercise my knee. It's certainly a lot less painful than trying to walk on it. I dislike the faff involved in swimming, I'd much rather be traipsing through fields in the fresh air with all the country smells and watching the dogs enjoy themselves but once I'm in the water and particularly once I'm in the jacuzzi after the swim then I have to concede it is quite an enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today, J is taking a break from his very intense cricket schedule and resting a sore muscle so he'll be joining me for a swim. Not M though. As if driving J all over the country for cricket and watching it on TV wasn't enough, he's now a fully qualified umpire. E is working at a children's farm which she alternatively loves and hates, but mostly loves. It's weekends like this that remind me how difficult it is to actually spend some quality family time together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I've been catching up on my Scheepjes CAL squares. I've made the first of the week ten squares and decided that I can't bring myself to make four of them. Despite my best efforts the dc edges are a complete nightmare to go round without it looking raggy. It isn't just me, there have been comments from other bloggers. It's just not enjoyable to crochet four squares and settle for untidy edges so I'm going to try and work up something similar that will eliminate the edge problem. Another two weeks of square designs and I think it will be time for a photo call!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-6369078181342438842016-06-24T16:27:00.001+01:002016-06-25T13:31:20.525+01:00Hats as therapy...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP-ApYt0LyQuNvlpKW_ocCIv7v_KksgCT5Eon-r8RjOBi66q-kDaNNOrlbcwoJHlO8AotpWSX4TWibyuXgFq_Aa38VzdcBO2Ox_cNmZRqv5_j1qn_rTw0DXVL8J1T4RdnOL6vJahzn8TF/s640/blogger-image--1861634474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgP-ApYt0LyQuNvlpKW_ocCIv7v_KksgCT5Eon-r8RjOBi66q-kDaNNOrlbcwoJHlO8AotpWSX4TWibyuXgFq_Aa38VzdcBO2Ox_cNmZRqv5_j1qn_rTw0DXVL8J1T4RdnOL6vJahzn8TF/s640/blogger-image--1861634474.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYpsRaxZddKeSQ2lUe2WJpuErOPufNriXitPd67km1917OWSWLQ1WccPBW5DhIT7IXfTd-OBiOLTUnaG0jGY5EEqrqXEIn2VeRlvV-85nl8DrtYTxLkqFFNP29qg0jArlUO4PTH458fqj/s640/blogger-image-1693790127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYpsRaxZddKeSQ2lUe2WJpuErOPufNriXitPd67km1917OWSWLQ1WccPBW5DhIT7IXfTd-OBiOLTUnaG0jGY5EEqrqXEIn2VeRlvV-85nl8DrtYTxLkqFFNP29qg0jArlUO4PTH458fqj/s640/blogger-image-1693790127.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHD4_qqqklKbvQcnn9UUSnro3MVS4agorh2o3F2LOniJQAZ7YmVeXbqtHQJ9AGgJf3oVwKwIrxkT0Ny7PcmwPj0I7T3Ab6cQHuQ4dZ1T9Njx6EokFPzonf3NAXqwYgk1vXOTRiY7a3fQH/s640/blogger-image-1852586316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHD4_qqqklKbvQcnn9UUSnro3MVS4agorh2o3F2LOniJQAZ7YmVeXbqtHQJ9AGgJf3oVwKwIrxkT0Ny7PcmwPj0I7T3Ab6cQHuQ4dZ1T9Njx6EokFPzonf3NAXqwYgk1vXOTRiY7a3fQH/s640/blogger-image-1852586316.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEDMRENR8bXu48_ALKSv60uudhst6qvukUU-zH0DjfI0jpbmlBYpJSf4c7DL39z_j-W43vTvGQG5vLis1ULBaAH-J69AiJsEmK1dxid8wLggnfgT9T-HYVvrPNbzgA9dW0QHceOBmWO0e/s640/blogger-image-102132534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEDMRENR8bXu48_ALKSv60uudhst6qvukUU-zH0DjfI0jpbmlBYpJSf4c7DL39z_j-W43vTvGQG5vLis1ULBaAH-J69AiJsEmK1dxid8wLggnfgT9T-HYVvrPNbzgA9dW0QHceOBmWO0e/s640/blogger-image-102132534.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So the mustard Knoll yarn became a hat, as planned. Not the smoothest yarn to work with but it made a comfy hat. I planned for a raw edge slouchy beanie but ended up adding a ribbed section. It's arctic quality now, deepest, darkest winter attire. Made in June, of course.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sticking with the hat theme I somehow made four hats in four days. It was a case of; when in doubt, crochet hats. It's been a very sad week. A family thing. Heartbreaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I returned to a free pattern for the raised treble spiral design that I'd had trouble with previously. It went smoothly this time, working up quickly in Aran weight yarn and using up random leftovers. The pale grey yarn was leftover from the (shawl) wrap I made recently and the blue variegated left over from a cushion I made at the beginning of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The fourth hat was made using a purchased pattern (from the same designer as the Sunday Shawl) via Etsy because I knew it would be well written and photographed and I love the look of raised treble basket weave! The pattern is written for several sizes so I'm hoping that I will have enough of the denim coloured Rowan Felted Tweed leftover to make one in a toddler size too. The yarn was quite fine to work with even though it's a DK yarn but the result feels beautifully luxurious. Note, all these hats look far better modelled on people but E has been ill these week with a nasty bug and we've had so much rain, so I'll try and take some photo's soon. With four hats it would be fun to find a nice back drop that wasn't our unruly garden hedges!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm behind on my CAL squares but it won't be difficult to catch up. I'm still frustratingly limited in how far I can walk and coupled with the fact that June has been such a wet month I can only really crochet the afternoons away can't I? In fact, as I type we are in the middle of yet another torrential downpour. Roll on summer!</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-44212181275450401252016-06-17T12:06:00.001+01:002016-06-18T12:40:39.855+01:00Mojo...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83Qr8MyLSss2lbTmyAlTFA_veVXKdv2U5LXv_wF0UBoqgpNj1urKvuu8ttsczer5gJNBL9JkzHtSwm_6te823WQx7AuW38-HkcP9EvWtWl0Oxr4E79UvoA6nb8_XLMbhPTU5Z_BklKhQq/s640/blogger-image-160511836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83Qr8MyLSss2lbTmyAlTFA_veVXKdv2U5LXv_wF0UBoqgpNj1urKvuu8ttsczer5gJNBL9JkzHtSwm_6te823WQx7AuW38-HkcP9EvWtWl0Oxr4E79UvoA6nb8_XLMbhPTU5Z_BklKhQq/s640/blogger-image-160511836.jpg"></a><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hsd3A9kgV2O5QCX5EEfuKY3dCq9a2PnN7fz2Xrt_quwAQodRxUMHNf7L-VpHVKbgsYIRPQY3nL0rYleES4WNGuzw7XIUw5YRLjNLZ6aM8nLevRyVu_X4Mgp2Otenq_ImBoXBEGwo8B-m/s640/blogger-image--443695771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hsd3A9kgV2O5QCX5EEfuKY3dCq9a2PnN7fz2Xrt_quwAQodRxUMHNf7L-VpHVKbgsYIRPQY3nL0rYleES4WNGuzw7XIUw5YRLjNLZ6aM8nLevRyVu_X4Mgp2Otenq_ImBoXBEGwo8B-m/s640/blogger-image--443695771.jpg"></font></a><br><div><br></div><div>Sometimes it all falls into place and sometimes it just falls into one big mess. You can see which applies at the moment. I've lost my crochet mojo!</div><div><br></div><div>The granny square cowl that caught Ella's eye is an absolute nightmare. I'm hating the slippery splitty merino yarn. I'm not enjoying the many ends that need to be woven in per square. It took many attempts to get the gauge anywhere near the 8cm square required and even now I need to be adding a round of dc to make it just right, which may or may not be the reason that the squares once joined are standing out slightly puffy. I could just steam press it and hope it settles down or I could make a few more squares without that round and see if that solves the problem. I haven't really got enough yardage to be experimenting which is quite annoying!</div><div><br></div><div>I'm behind on my CAL squares because week 8 was a tricky one. It's not so much the crochet that's tricky, just this slightly textured charcoal grey is a b****r to see in anything but fantastically bright light! Even then it's quite tiring. I'm waiting for some new reading glasses. Thankfully week 9 looks pretty straightforward and it's in a light colour.</div><div><br></div><div>In my restlessness I dug out the single, almost finished wristlet I'm making for Ella. The enthusiasm for this project waned due to the small hook size and the fact that I've had to go wildly off course to get anything resembling a usable mitt. It doesn't matter that I departed from the pattern, it does matter that I have no idea what I did, and no notes, so making number two will be like crocheting in the dark. Not to mention that I'm not even sure I used the hook size in the pattern, I need to start attaching info tags to wips!</div><div><br></div><div>Also amongst my big fat mess is some newly acquired tweedy mustard yarn. M had a cancelled job recently and with the weather looking decidedly stormy, instead of tackling workshop roof repairs we headed over to a favourite little market town. There were two new places since our last visit. A fantastic new coffee bar decorated in a cool urban rustic style, right up our street and great coffee. Also a new yarn store! The latter was on two floors with fabric downstairs and yarn upstairs, oh I how I wish it had been the other way round! I stubbornly tackled the steep stairs and of course my knee complained for the rest of the day. There were a few yarns I don't often see, so well worth the aggravation. I was restrained and only came home with these three balls with a new beanie in mind. This is exactly the yarn I wanted six months ago when I was in my hat making phase. I'll make the hat and E and I can fight over who has it. She likes this shade too.</div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>Great coffee at: Auction House Cafe/Bar/Tapas, Corn Market, Louth</i></div><div><i>A selection of Artesano, Noro, Knoll, KnitPicks, Debbie Bliss and many more at: Owls Fabric & Wool Shop, Corn Market, Louth.</i></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-6396188176327862272016-06-11T20:32:00.001+01:002016-06-12T13:16:25.978+01:00Off the hook...one big cosy wrap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAHBu94GAqCox2PIo-SFKkeB1DlDKbJ25zFP5_F_Sr3dd7lPwDiP99ntuH9ALcW_FcBSRlszdR90p73y9NE-FImF5VWwpQLSz7Q4fz-GBucpUczHWVb4Au0dQpb40RC3_xPQoIJ_dENow/s640/blogger-image--1589161219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAHBu94GAqCox2PIo-SFKkeB1DlDKbJ25zFP5_F_Sr3dd7lPwDiP99ntuH9ALcW_FcBSRlszdR90p73y9NE-FImF5VWwpQLSz7Q4fz-GBucpUczHWVb4Au0dQpb40RC3_xPQoIJ_dENow/s640/blogger-image--1589161219.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vpltMo8PMkxezZygwl4FuyeWFmvS8x3yjEKuSX8jm5h6FB4nXsAJbA0IEW63UiJax_a719BMT-4jrT6thyphenhyphen3WnuGv4p2-UIjZuFvgShyEW4mbXd8_XV4q7-OmlpIIqbAk_rXlNyHO8jta/s640/blogger-image-1619178450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vpltMo8PMkxezZygwl4FuyeWFmvS8x3yjEKuSX8jm5h6FB4nXsAJbA0IEW63UiJax_a719BMT-4jrT6thyphenhyphen3WnuGv4p2-UIjZuFvgShyEW4mbXd8_XV4q7-OmlpIIqbAk_rXlNyHO8jta/s640/blogger-image-1619178450.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SavDmnOjfO2zGIoU_6PPPLtvTKQLMeNxUyqncKlKAZHcmDmsKy0pdgkczEmMDuD2yzUc8Zj76U-VDRn9QmccF6HjCdYEbTN0Ueb9pcWByHgFVtsPo_96qDcrFlCsft0tP7GtYZUwPX1f/s640/blogger-image-296453175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SavDmnOjfO2zGIoU_6PPPLtvTKQLMeNxUyqncKlKAZHcmDmsKy0pdgkczEmMDuD2yzUc8Zj76U-VDRn9QmccF6HjCdYEbTN0Ueb9pcWByHgFVtsPo_96qDcrFlCsft0tP7GtYZUwPX1f/s640/blogger-image-296453175.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This huge wrap came together in less than a week. A couple of sunny afternoons and a few evenings. Our kitchen island is two metres long and the width of the wrap exceeded that by a little bit. I've really enjoyed making it so there may be more of these in the future. E paid the highest compliment and said, 'I'd wear that' which means she'll probably 'borrow' it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I deliberated over the picot edge but in the end I decided it looked more finished with it. It's a very straightforward pattern, in Simply Crochet (43) but also in the book Modern Crocheted Shawls and Wraps by Laura Strutt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We've had an awful lot of rain here in Lincolnshire today. It was the perfect excuse to test out the warmth of the new wrap round my shoulders while I worked up a CAL square. It's definitely cosy and warm, both Harvey and Riley wanted in on the action, snuggling up next to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Before the heavens opened I took the dogs to our favourite spot and managed to walk a little further than usual. Still only a short distance and very slowly but I was so incredibly happy to manage that. Things could be on the up. I had definitely taken it for granted that I'd always have my dog walking no matter what.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the down side Riley got up to his old tricks and found some fox poo to roll in. Despite the slightly stronger current and higher levels in the river I let him have a good swim to get most of it off. He wasn't ready for the current and seemed to glide under the bridge and down river rather speedily, he ended up clambering out a little further down than normal. It can't have bothered him much because he ran back over land to me, jumped in and did it all over again. Harvey, whose brain is wired up differently, decided just to swim against the current. Each to their own eh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yarn notes for anyone raiding their Aran supplies for this stash busting project: the main colour uses just under 300g, each of the four other colours uses comfortably less than 100g (from 60g to 80g). Using a 5mm hook.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-25011203778301288732016-06-09T11:33:00.001+01:002016-06-10T14:51:45.878+01:00It's a wrap...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kfo2UJ8PbH4N801BYcjK_L7Yk0bewY2hq-sLp76BAJ9imSBbkh9e5ZkRgQemtD2oArVK-L6DEjSaIWe6VSo1HFkejcJVguJ9TTc7FjTMy2Q-cW8qHCE8fyYgPC5fFU6FoGoUkZlpztIZ/s640/blogger-image-1929998548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kfo2UJ8PbH4N801BYcjK_L7Yk0bewY2hq-sLp76BAJ9imSBbkh9e5ZkRgQemtD2oArVK-L6DEjSaIWe6VSo1HFkejcJVguJ9TTc7FjTMy2Q-cW8qHCE8fyYgPC5fFU6FoGoUkZlpztIZ/s640/blogger-image-1929998548.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MFxayU9D8vZ6bsZG5cvWNHm0F6HMkGdxXSoGOm0GpW5WZSJ6COxGsPUDEj1Ms6LzfsucSHJCwiDhXwuiXDc0Ucy_OuI7QedlPT9k4wQz25M2wRL_Qjr4Omfhm3c17LFv4IutGJ3scHVS/s640/blogger-image--858807733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MFxayU9D8vZ6bsZG5cvWNHm0F6HMkGdxXSoGOm0GpW5WZSJ6COxGsPUDEj1Ms6LzfsucSHJCwiDhXwuiXDc0Ucy_OuI7QedlPT9k4wQz25M2wRL_Qjr4Omfhm3c17LFv4IutGJ3scHVS/s640/blogger-image--858807733.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJmtvsxZEx1qY_ggzEaGo62VYX4l-j5pSog000WlW_5UDooEL3n_WyDXea6iOyvlx4SNEOt5KURokTGrvDUP5PDm7ddVdEK-nB4DrK8TATmCelNr_RsTlbIBfvFSK672L0Ekc8tJ3691y/s640/blogger-image--726694043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJmtvsxZEx1qY_ggzEaGo62VYX4l-j5pSog000WlW_5UDooEL3n_WyDXea6iOyvlx4SNEOt5KURokTGrvDUP5PDm7ddVdEK-nB4DrK8TATmCelNr_RsTlbIBfvFSK672L0Ekc8tJ3691y/s640/blogger-image--726694043.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqlhnE9LLpXl1m56-Ibc6W1UtmdwOU2e-BuinLqpB7-7aGfIst3UElI9_DQkqz-wQRxaa2YBOZYRh6kG_hp_1n4UF-WtQqRsd8zpFqEooeu9XvEzDAHip1gOhdw5eKtUp65sgpI7-f4zE/s640/blogger-image-1055251995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqlhnE9LLpXl1m56-Ibc6W1UtmdwOU2e-BuinLqpB7-7aGfIst3UElI9_DQkqz-wQRxaa2YBOZYRh6kG_hp_1n4UF-WtQqRsd8zpFqEooeu9XvEzDAHip1gOhdw5eKtUp65sgpI7-f4zE/s640/blogger-image-1055251995.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9YmwUw4JKIn1FnwA8URdB84UCtY3tpEBxNC2oDTCbRSBA_tjSWj19QqKzzbcHeMKc_hTqxF8OWIqF-kLVd3qQvUsXoG-p7nEJSnCaXV1Pwf84jU-KWAzR3DBa4nBzhCDiDHFtfKWO1Nb/s640/blogger-image-606151117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9YmwUw4JKIn1FnwA8URdB84UCtY3tpEBxNC2oDTCbRSBA_tjSWj19QqKzzbcHeMKc_hTqxF8OWIqF-kLVd3qQvUsXoG-p7nEJSnCaXV1Pwf84jU-KWAzR3DBa4nBzhCDiDHFtfKWO1Nb/s640/blogger-image-606151117.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm whizzing through this 'Flash your Stash' shawl from Simply Crochet (issue 43). I'm calling it a wrap from now on though. It's turning out to be quite a good size, definitely something to wrap round when the sun doesn't turn up for one of the many cricket matches I watch every season. In fact J is playing his next county match next week so I'll be popping it in the car for that occasion. Not much left to do now. Since I took these photos I've managed to find time to crochet a gazillion puff stitches which has given the lower half a nice bit of weight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I haven't used the suggested yarn for this. All the yarn pictured with the wrap in progress I had in my 'Aran weight' box. The four almost 100g balls were left overs but the pale grey 400g ball I bought simply because I liked the colour and knew it would come in handy. I suddenly develop selective hearing when M asks me what I'm buying a particular yarn for. I tend to buy 400g balls when I see them on sale. It's a useful quantity and doesn't seem as indulgent as four balls of 100g, even though it's exactly the same amount! Yarn psychology ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Talking of which, I don't usually get that 'one more row' urgency with striped blankets for instance but with wraps, especially the type with all the interest in the lower half, I definitely do. So I've been making speedy progress with this. Even though this pattern is mainly three types of row it looks like more because of the colour changes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The new yarn for E's granny square cowl arrived! These are the colours she wears and likes. I decided to order from Wool Warehouse this time because they had more colours in stock of this range and also the Drops Alpaca that I needed. The yarn came in a drawstring bag which was a nice touch and also arrived much quicker than the company I previously favoured.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've noticed that there has been much discussion about tension amongst those making the Last Dance blanket in Scheepjes Merino. Some have used a hook sized much larger than the squares have called for. I haven't had any sizing problems with any of my squares to date with random DK. However, I've made one square of this cowl and found it to be significantly smaller so I will need to go up at least one hook size. On that one square there were far too many ends for my liking so it's going to be a bit of a faff but I could probably do the ends according to the batches that they set out in the pattern. Five at a time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I don't tend to pull my yarn from the middle so it'll be interesting to see if it ends up in a tangled mess or not. Those easy start tags are certainly useful for something like this where I've substituted every single colour and there's a list of all the combinations that need to be made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I must confess, although my knee is not showing any signs of improving I've reached that stage where I'm not making quite so much fuss about what I can't do. I've just busied myself with things I can. I've given up hope that anyone in this household would 'see' that a job needs doing and do it, I simply wait until it's a good moment to ask E to put some washing out, J to sweep the kitchen or M to do a small DIY task that I'd normally have done myself. Timing is everything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the meantime, crochet is my therapy. Deep breath and...treble away!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-28083906993264968862016-06-07T14:38:00.001+01:002016-06-07T23:51:06.346+01:00Simple, rustic food...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y-hvDiTTLs80WZaR0an9Bl-D2ndKdz-hHUT9ieUbmjCryZTxRyzObSDa4hhWFIHtRUs_zOXSEwC5P2BYiP1Q-8QC35YixUBQoknHquxbzKYxOhZuTRhbbYN5MvKV0mgA0rFojc85nHXL/s640/blogger-image-601057754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Y-hvDiTTLs80WZaR0an9Bl-D2ndKdz-hHUT9ieUbmjCryZTxRyzObSDa4hhWFIHtRUs_zOXSEwC5P2BYiP1Q-8QC35YixUBQoknHquxbzKYxOhZuTRhbbYN5MvKV0mgA0rFojc85nHXL/s640/blogger-image-601057754.jpg"><br></font></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9c5v2y6ib7EScRfYQLjGpu5ns-sl_QqrR4uNWxRPy9mojy3SWnT0OnWd62BpOXXR0iSZFOjXQQEOqu9rRl1pf4_wudweGeVn0g9dZdWyaPFtEDBjX7Uo7RWUmyJ-v4H8IbTB64qt8SOb/s640/blogger-image--1784792485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9c5v2y6ib7EScRfYQLjGpu5ns-sl_QqrR4uNWxRPy9mojy3SWnT0OnWd62BpOXXR0iSZFOjXQQEOqu9rRl1pf4_wudweGeVn0g9dZdWyaPFtEDBjX7Uo7RWUmyJ-v4H8IbTB64qt8SOb/s640/blogger-image--1784792485.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3zmjnJskkHYa-RFyBZkDcQFqQbN0vEBaF_vvjFnD1soaoBXliiuXSbE6myT1gxjobwtQBw7zOFK7VtcTDyVr6QD1MsVwgTaSGkreA3Hu90f_y0JLFooK-M06od0c1X9fTA_EVosLzG4o/s640/blogger-image--1788624463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_3zmjnJskkHYa-RFyBZkDcQFqQbN0vEBaF_vvjFnD1soaoBXliiuXSbE6myT1gxjobwtQBw7zOFK7VtcTDyVr6QD1MsVwgTaSGkreA3Hu90f_y0JLFooK-M06od0c1X9fTA_EVosLzG4o/s640/blogger-image--1788624463.jpg"></a></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When M and I first lived together I was aghast at how many ingredients lurked in his kitchen cupboards. He was equally aghast at my lack of interest in anything remotely related to cooking. You could say we met each other half way (though I like to think he's simply come round to my way of thinking). Food can taste just as good with five or less ingredients. That's my general rule. It not only cuts down on time spent in the kitchen and expense but you taste what you're meant to taste. The exceptions are perhaps M's thai curry and his mushroom risotto. He throws in all sorts and they always taste pretty good to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am still discouraging jars of this and packets of that when we go food shopping. My ideal fridge would be an incredibly paired down version of what we currently have but that's not possible with a family of four with their various quirks. J loves ketchup. E likes Mayo. M likes anything with a kick. I like things plain. J likes flavoured yoghurts, E likes entirely different choices of flavoured yoghurts. M likes yet another set of flavours (Black Cherry for instance). I like good old plain Yeo Valley or Greek. Are you getting a picture of how complicated our fridge looks? I have steered everyone towards the plain-yoghurt-goes-with-everything school of thought and even been successful for a few weeks and then somehow the flavoured stuff ends up back in the fridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This last week with J back at school and E busy with all sorts (except A Level revision!) I've managed to make simple, tasty lunches for myself. Plain or cheese omelettes, fruit with a dollop of yoghurt, enormous salads, soups. I've found a new way of preparing food that involves surrounding myself with everything I could possibly need and then sitting down to do the work. It makes sense to carry on with this long after my knee is back to normal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm eagerly awaiting a new crochet square for the Last Dance in the Rain CAL to be released tomorrow. In the meantime Ella has spotted a granny square cowl on the cover of one of my magazines that she'd like me to make for her. One the one hand I'm over the moon that my crochet skills can be put to good use and on the other, ugh, millions of colour changes and ends to deal with. I didn't have anything remotely close in my stash so we've pondered over the colour charts and E has chosen a scheme that fits her taste. It'll be a <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">more autumnal/winter result than the magazine version but with pale grey as a backdrop it might just work for colder summer evenings too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Having completed the week 7 squares over the last six days and whilst waiting for a couple of balls of Drops Alpaca to arrive to finish my simple lightweight shawl I've also started another shawl! Ugh shawl is such a girly word. I prefer to call them triangular scarves. Anyway, this one is a warmer item, worked up pretty quickly in Aran weight yarn. It's one of those projects you spot and then realise you have just the yarn for it! I had a huge ball of light grey that is more than enough for the main colour. I'm just about to start introducing accent colours and then I will photograph it in progress. It's a pretty dull load of old trebles at the moment!</font></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-49083771960346017012016-06-02T16:07:00.001+01:002016-06-02T21:07:34.697+01:00On my coffee table today...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCgV-_mf2JZ2shM9DV_spLuwwfvukC66M7-3f7KxLvqpUqcFPyyNR6D6oSe3RBPFPttQFvLvMsKAQ6C2CNZhjH7ifD9L8gG3VoUNLvS-PVc2Yfp0_Dv5y4lNchoM5VwJ_9gW-YVYpVGmF/s640/blogger-image--167846345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnCgV-_mf2JZ2shM9DV_spLuwwfvukC66M7-3f7KxLvqpUqcFPyyNR6D6oSe3RBPFPttQFvLvMsKAQ6C2CNZhjH7ifD9L8gG3VoUNLvS-PVc2Yfp0_Dv5y4lNchoM5VwJ_9gW-YVYpVGmF/s640/blogger-image--167846345.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4hMrISTtP-5cDNMsyOyv8zQqc4va0ujiXYijlN9JyhVxiZYtqg_M5nETwEEefxyeJCFee4PYBpJ02FGF1UAatDrg2qm9ygSRDKG8QA-ULvKtEkHm5O9Rm3-54BAtXRCWcKbne-hKkdC2/s640/blogger-image-1281154032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4hMrISTtP-5cDNMsyOyv8zQqc4va0ujiXYijlN9JyhVxiZYtqg_M5nETwEEefxyeJCFee4PYBpJ02FGF1UAatDrg2qm9ygSRDKG8QA-ULvKtEkHm5O9Rm3-54BAtXRCWcKbne-hKkdC2/s640/blogger-image-1281154032.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrBaA9hyJfDqIZKNr4XYU0rs4PpjpfyV821svTSBqZ6WARTSCsLrEgem5TWtNNQWDNKoMSSPXOI8U9YVJBq0TKYKc6ENFCeJ_S_dQZhd6w7CZ2tU2VSZxsR_78lwc98ylP2lmRzoBWXO-/s640/blogger-image-1433052484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrBaA9hyJfDqIZKNr4XYU0rs4PpjpfyV821svTSBqZ6WARTSCsLrEgem5TWtNNQWDNKoMSSPXOI8U9YVJBq0TKYKc6ENFCeJ_S_dQZhd6w7CZ2tU2VSZxsR_78lwc98ylP2lmRzoBWXO-/s640/blogger-image-1433052484.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DICP5X2zwIU6Icn7cqBYPQiBqdEOOIZmabZjDLQsCNxRsjcjDzQjlZ2SdijtpE9MS7mBwYy-HdsQlUiOIIL3xg-QTS6ov0wECO13z1OY6arcla8vjGUw91ujkQTIyGUujQ3YNlkBy-DL/s640/blogger-image-1130501193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DICP5X2zwIU6Icn7cqBYPQiBqdEOOIZmabZjDLQsCNxRsjcjDzQjlZ2SdijtpE9MS7mBwYy-HdsQlUiOIIL3xg-QTS6ov0wECO13z1OY6arcla8vjGUw91ujkQTIyGUujQ3YNlkBy-DL/s640/blogger-image-1130501193.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm definitely not the hearts and bobble type usually but this week's CAL square is quite pleasing in the context of all the other designs. I can cope with hearts and bobbles in small doses! The colour way 'Last dance in the Rain' called for another grey, perhaps a bluish grey, I opted for a blue. I think. I can't always tell the difference between blue and grey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Knee recovery is slow and frustrating. I seem to be getting good advice from the physiotherapist. For the first time I feel like I know what's happening with this injury. Even with an interpreter (Ella) at the last consultant appointment things seemed pretty vague. Apparently it's now a 'wait and see' situation. Another six weeks or so of being extremely careful and not doing too much (impossible) and see what it's like then. The plastic 3D model of the knee joint she showed me today was interesting. I feel slightly squeamish knowing exactly which bit I've torn now but at least it explains why it hurts so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At least there is always crochet. It never seems to get dull. Though I really should not be starting a new project when I have a perfectly good ripple blanket on the go that needs all my spare time if it's to be put to use at cold cricket matches this year. (It's a myth that cricket is played or watched in this county during wonderful British summers!). M is keeping me supplied with extra magazines during this knee recovery phase and I loved the shawl in the latest Simply Crochet. I haven't got anything remotely like a lace weight ombré in my stash so I started it using the four ply alpaca mix I bought at the Knitting and Stitching Show. I'll need another couple of balls to get it to triangular scarf size and it's nothing like the suggested yarn but I'm looking upon it as a stash buster and trial run for when I next come across some interesting hand dyed fine weight yarn. It's a great no frills design with no unnecessary girly bits. I did most of this watching a cricket match from the car whilst Jake froze in what looked like gale force wind and spitting rain. I did offer to crochet the whole team a nice warm beanie but the offer wasn't enthusiastically met! Jake did, however, mow the lawns on bank holiday Monday whilst wearing the crochet Pom Pom hat I made him last Christmas. Result!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Having said that Harvey was a tricky subject to pin down for a photo I set myself a challenge...these were the best I could do. The standing one looking into the camera was only because I was holding his tennis ball! Ha! Gotcha!</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-33045880661845134782016-05-28T12:06:00.001+01:002016-05-29T20:30:09.420+01:00It's a crochet life...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ0FzafvTc5AKf2HUfxMaTpETkGzd0e6bF09rQ7YJBth02eNyJSLNkFW6h5aCl1VVqRz4YrSwYCx2PwCREW1QTky0mxpjAV_My_5WfRZxmTH3reOEHsXGUTXQ3Bonx0750F6rIIeSQvEG/s640/blogger-image--776249061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ0FzafvTc5AKf2HUfxMaTpETkGzd0e6bF09rQ7YJBth02eNyJSLNkFW6h5aCl1VVqRz4YrSwYCx2PwCREW1QTky0mxpjAV_My_5WfRZxmTH3reOEHsXGUTXQ3Bonx0750F6rIIeSQvEG/s640/blogger-image--776249061.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAkJysBaxBGdykuhQCQEylZM1nRNJg6G_o8-hTK6DqEQ3AvT1EpdOVq1muaB7Fu-1HTZmZzm7d9KBmFjCwXSvBod9jvluSdjzBxQ1qQ8doTBcAv25P2c-SyTO4CUBl4MR4dm-rsEnH8XB/s640/blogger-image-626837569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAkJysBaxBGdykuhQCQEylZM1nRNJg6G_o8-hTK6DqEQ3AvT1EpdOVq1muaB7Fu-1HTZmZzm7d9KBmFjCwXSvBod9jvluSdjzBxQ1qQ8doTBcAv25P2c-SyTO4CUBl4MR4dm-rsEnH8XB/s640/blogger-image-626837569.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ306zxOq9uwZVdfjcQMUet0KwbF4CeZKSTTagsg2Q5kDeWEjknBrXr06wkUoR2f00OaryqpaPYZ-qEj24j8kMaeMoDZsGYoSiHPjozeTsoWigL41-PqU5h5D6ibGOcoLDrGtMeToECENb/s640/blogger-image-1038625401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ306zxOq9uwZVdfjcQMUet0KwbF4CeZKSTTagsg2Q5kDeWEjknBrXr06wkUoR2f00OaryqpaPYZ-qEj24j8kMaeMoDZsGYoSiHPjozeTsoWigL41-PqU5h5D6ibGOcoLDrGtMeToECENb/s640/blogger-image-1038625401.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWH5i3X88rd88MeAPQNwgWUJkxm0KMtVy9fYYH8KecTIsFEcPgjM1XBMjTx1oXoTyrG084Bn4sRPtOshyphenhyphenttgyRcC-C-NeoYSt2TyejfSr5_9SJiYKQxm_SnvtMhKg9rkfRXb5EW7x6_HI/s640/blogger-image--566391808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWH5i3X88rd88MeAPQNwgWUJkxm0KMtVy9fYYH8KecTIsFEcPgjM1XBMjTx1oXoTyrG084Bn4sRPtOshyphenhyphenttgyRcC-C-NeoYSt2TyejfSr5_9SJiYKQxm_SnvtMhKg9rkfRXb5EW7x6_HI/s640/blogger-image--566391808.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWNLttC9vtftKzs2fMNXXL-uuHot0hGRSFp2lvEjfXOY4wApF5xC70z4P9u93JAZk3Jpm-f0Qfdlzfr8Gz3yaZuBycPbsF4x2pjlwroH1oA6buOuYz28xcxF7p2YSXJRWSAZhXDzF-yH4/s640/blogger-image--1864371307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWNLttC9vtftKzs2fMNXXL-uuHot0hGRSFp2lvEjfXOY4wApF5xC70z4P9u93JAZk3Jpm-f0Qfdlzfr8Gz3yaZuBycPbsF4x2pjlwroH1oA6buOuYz28xcxF7p2YSXJRWSAZhXDzF-yH4/s640/blogger-image--1864371307.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Are you fed up with Springer Spaniel photo's? Riley is such a good subject. Always happy to pose. When we first took him home he bounded into our living room, knocked all the cushions into a mound, climbed up on top of them and let out a deep sigh. Cushions are his thing. He still does this. Though lately I've assigned him just the one place he's allowed to trash my cushions and I've donated an old bed spread of Ella's to add to his comfort. He seems happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are always fewer photo's of Harvey because he likes to be on a high state of alert with anything that might be thrown for him to retrieve. You have only to walk past a stick or ball and he's up and ready just in case. If you approach him with a camera he darts off to find something you might like to throw. Quite possibly the best time to get a photo of him is when he's been for a six mile hike, swum twenty lengths of the lake and fetched a hundred sticks. He might sit still for a while then. Maybe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm on my fourth square for week six of the Last Dance CAL. It's the same technique used in Ella's Cedar River Blanket, corner to corner, so it's fairly straight forward. Twenty three squares are now blocked and beginning to look like the makings of a blanket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've wound my bargain recycled cotton skeins into balls using my wool winder and I'm keeping them in a bowl nearby until inspiration strikes. I'm already thinking that it would be handy to have some simple camping/picnic accessories like a pot holder for our Kelly Kettle. It has a wooden handle but the metal either side gets extremely hot. Cutlery rolls would be handy to throw into the crate with the kettle and plates, and maybe a sizeable napkin each to use as a lap cloth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I can see Jake getting slightly concerned about all this crochet. He eyed my baggy crochet jumper with suspicion the other day and said, 'making your own clothes now are we?' (Typical male lack of observation, I've been wearing that charcoal grey creation for months!). A vision of me watching his cricket matches wearing that jumper, keeping warm under one of my crochet blankets whilst eating a picnic from a crochet lap cloth and pouring the Kelly Kettle with a crochet pot holder, heck, he has no idea how far I can go with this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">P.S. I behaved myself at his cricket match today, just the one crochet blanket. Nothing more.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-46991023268126769382016-05-26T12:13:00.001+01:002016-05-26T14:32:07.830+01:00Rustic simplicity...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUDuE61eZX4BXpC7a1Z8zYDhXYM6zmCeUGqtFbmr9DWbzaeRt525VNqKCgAOXGOD9Qun5YyN0Rk8o6Fu3P0D-z9rZAvSDce9gJBe_DqIzb_sVQeuAeXEZ-UkAKr0tRurEXPUkks1Vlo3/s640/blogger-image--122504318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUDuE61eZX4BXpC7a1Z8zYDhXYM6zmCeUGqtFbmr9DWbzaeRt525VNqKCgAOXGOD9Qun5YyN0Rk8o6Fu3P0D-z9rZAvSDce9gJBe_DqIzb_sVQeuAeXEZ-UkAKr0tRurEXPUkks1Vlo3/s640/blogger-image--122504318.jpg"></a><div><br></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFYHU4m4HsTJQeoBDAraERAxfPrgzwc1wX1pSGBBu7E7BT9Cm-Jbn5aC-2fh8xTkmOHrXVkRBkTR4oyoVTDrM-4TPnUgOZOxkP7aUnfq3a-wzYUiU8EQxf6Sy9g7LPwwZ_h80PSxzoOyI/s640/blogger-image--48135668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFYHU4m4HsTJQeoBDAraERAxfPrgzwc1wX1pSGBBu7E7BT9Cm-Jbn5aC-2fh8xTkmOHrXVkRBkTR4oyoVTDrM-4TPnUgOZOxkP7aUnfq3a-wzYUiU8EQxf6Sy9g7LPwwZ_h80PSxzoOyI/s640/blogger-image--48135668.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPx2TWfPWCDHIPIkE2D1OJDdNvV0GRzShPMB02PWLq7s4kk5pUsuHV5ox4fLbzbdcISNVfYRxuONya6o2aR92hAgG1nw4TBOoRrst42OjCI79LygdzumoEHxbpzfox_B6xrfHfedXuKD/s640/blogger-image-771432670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXPx2TWfPWCDHIPIkE2D1OJDdNvV0GRzShPMB02PWLq7s4kk5pUsuHV5ox4fLbzbdcISNVfYRxuONya6o2aR92hAgG1nw4TBOoRrst42OjCI79LygdzumoEHxbpzfox_B6xrfHfedXuKD/s640/blogger-image-771432670.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtbIfjJFEp2PEKiPpz3yO78DJ8RqQNG1ubwsE44K93X8RpNOGGxhjTzHG3kehBq589lnAUSNuR8yaM8cfLABUWe9hqyMdTxH_hJUHwpF-2aBaPDqqNX2uohyphenhyphenTck0TzSB6bMG-4fkNlyRA/s640/blogger-image--1745426579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtbIfjJFEp2PEKiPpz3yO78DJ8RqQNG1ubwsE44K93X8RpNOGGxhjTzHG3kehBq589lnAUSNuR8yaM8cfLABUWe9hqyMdTxH_hJUHwpF-2aBaPDqqNX2uohyphenhyphenTck0TzSB6bMG-4fkNlyRA/s640/blogger-image--1745426579.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KaEXAVlkLheWyZ9PMCInxrn3oQ008cNP0P1BSZC1dNUMRF6j9fpG3ECRUhdMec36ys9Uc1D3ezzZmU6uoNWHjbzyqnZeYlaxHdbjqS2RBTwca25fiezEXZ8w7bsZikksQ7AAcyYRCQto/s640/blogger-image-275479072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KaEXAVlkLheWyZ9PMCInxrn3oQ008cNP0P1BSZC1dNUMRF6j9fpG3ECRUhdMec36ys9Uc1D3ezzZmU6uoNWHjbzyqnZeYlaxHdbjqS2RBTwca25fiezEXZ8w7bsZikksQ7AAcyYRCQto/s640/blogger-image-275479072.jpg"></font></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZ6ZUAAX9Aq3W-f05CBTOQL__S-QOaiBUACm6Zukv409NHVahazU6iUJOpJ_rEQjzGYqXjDCA2K9VXqQFRIcAh7kWZNGjUYDg6ZEp8aPe3PzGSlZO_ohHKBI6HtyrdNaz8IMWz0_N_kgf/s640/blogger-image--1777433565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZ6ZUAAX9Aq3W-f05CBTOQL__S-QOaiBUACm6Zukv409NHVahazU6iUJOpJ_rEQjzGYqXjDCA2K9VXqQFRIcAh7kWZNGjUYDg6ZEp8aPe3PzGSlZO_ohHKBI6HtyrdNaz8IMWz0_N_kgf/s640/blogger-image--1777433565.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan8ArRsod1sE5AtpwFzMrsnwnsgLCZlU4Ww1XyksC-g62XwAiLfovC8OxSXWopELqhB3rEdUN0Ay5eOyCpCrq9qwGLiu4H5qHrDWx_3TgzjCEs9iU0UDJzN4g0qzDu8dgOiAilBrFb2cg/s640/blogger-image-1800451233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan8ArRsod1sE5AtpwFzMrsnwnsgLCZlU4Ww1XyksC-g62XwAiLfovC8OxSXWopELqhB3rEdUN0Ay5eOyCpCrq9qwGLiu4H5qHrDWx_3TgzjCEs9iU0UDJzN4g0qzDu8dgOiAilBrFb2cg/s640/blogger-image-1800451233.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oG6Hex4tiE5RobeMs9Kx2R_AMHDQliaCGoVVf-srZ5f56vuf_SqJUL-AQ4bo9q_3XW_rWlBQfxlD2e5kI6FiCKfiHpmbeh7dv-ln7Jd_GjXPBPG4h2N-3ShRmVPqDjc3US1CXjQOjoAF/s640/blogger-image--1637603408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oG6Hex4tiE5RobeMs9Kx2R_AMHDQliaCGoVVf-srZ5f56vuf_SqJUL-AQ4bo9q_3XW_rWlBQfxlD2e5kI6FiCKfiHpmbeh7dv-ln7Jd_GjXPBPG4h2N-3ShRmVPqDjc3US1CXjQOjoAF/s640/blogger-image--1637603408.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXd4nIXBixTGSPrbWikjowOJhs-i0Fa_K4egcohwEdtC83bmaDdEecSSAmNFhgYn04HZW2kZGfZkc5UctxBW2tAN8TpUrBMD9NMz034XUBLClMRX4T93w4hyTS7fG4DJXZ9vUXt6jwpgS/s640/blogger-image-8808194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXd4nIXBixTGSPrbWikjowOJhs-i0Fa_K4egcohwEdtC83bmaDdEecSSAmNFhgYn04HZW2kZGfZkc5UctxBW2tAN8TpUrBMD9NMz034XUBLClMRX4T93w4hyTS7fG4DJXZ9vUXt6jwpgS/s640/blogger-image-8808194.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuybiv8k2T9fgx1xQF1djvqns5PIaaNzWSMCPXW7hR85qFkqxCtc4V-aNshw8JJUZ8WMSquT84Z12AL7pL0kgzcd54n3ivgSBjy-dsweRr0KWOwICOvJZ5GrclwwSbx55tIwnyItnYiFl8/s640/blogger-image-603267702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuybiv8k2T9fgx1xQF1djvqns5PIaaNzWSMCPXW7hR85qFkqxCtc4V-aNshw8JJUZ8WMSquT84Z12AL7pL0kgzcd54n3ivgSBjy-dsweRr0KWOwICOvJZ5GrclwwSbx55tIwnyItnYiFl8/s640/blogger-image-603267702.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8ISvZxUafisivgmvE84d3AiZEyiC3qWvjp3QS7uUBkZU81SKm13KH61dx7DWXHmNq8KhQrkYp4c5jbLaM3m_wlMRUHzp_A7mun5ryB1DRQRl-BbsT1C8EeBTEdivXrNoCn3griVqoWC_/s640/blogger-image--1744809816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8ISvZxUafisivgmvE84d3AiZEyiC3qWvjp3QS7uUBkZU81SKm13KH61dx7DWXHmNq8KhQrkYp4c5jbLaM3m_wlMRUHzp_A7mun5ryB1DRQRl-BbsT1C8EeBTEdivXrNoCn3griVqoWC_/s640/blogger-image--1744809816.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdE75WtHMe_2LLJ0N4M2kF35wE090OhIZieYBQcCSoaxctZYFzKfQDX7xL85raGmla4k8FSMiV7cNWo_7QdLEU3snVLDIKOXJeDj0gqF9ZvJR4Nv0p58r12le3JeQevcffRD-jpifPKF7/s640/blogger-image--1878915587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdE75WtHMe_2LLJ0N4M2kF35wE090OhIZieYBQcCSoaxctZYFzKfQDX7xL85raGmla4k8FSMiV7cNWo_7QdLEU3snVLDIKOXJeDj0gqF9ZvJR4Nv0p58r12le3JeQevcffRD-jpifPKF7/s640/blogger-image--1878915587.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0Xt8ZRgqL9NlhIy_2qN6k7NzWCUTUp280ND6uj3p3UH1tP0LNazAh1ENuFTxXq_JawbC68TFgmdFaues8pFpL-DeZIBCUL3cunY7MQkUcYCxrlrPsi37zJ897-utIAa2ZhdDLgpZy88E/s640/blogger-image-1843860147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0Xt8ZRgqL9NlhIy_2qN6k7NzWCUTUp280ND6uj3p3UH1tP0LNazAh1ENuFTxXq_JawbC68TFgmdFaues8pFpL-DeZIBCUL3cunY7MQkUcYCxrlrPsi37zJ897-utIAa2ZhdDLgpZy88E/s640/blogger-image-1843860147.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAU03JLEqiS5O1ZKI-RTDFn5MxBHk-h6sBWdaO0b42b09hG_Wes0n0WcqeACRw4oVVRc_9yNbwTnDz_uTGURC80It_OTxuJn1ZiG_bOcxVdV_LNlMVlkTzHn4Xnxvmy21ZVFK9TnLSecO/s640/blogger-image--1818796628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAU03JLEqiS5O1ZKI-RTDFn5MxBHk-h6sBWdaO0b42b09hG_Wes0n0WcqeACRw4oVVRc_9yNbwTnDz_uTGURC80It_OTxuJn1ZiG_bOcxVdV_LNlMVlkTzHn4Xnxvmy21ZVFK9TnLSecO/s640/blogger-image--1818796628.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNsUhBEcy4mHsbF-o4FfVKY4SBcnjqDRXNi0DYIHXTW1Q9pTtUR423Ikgn-wnf5pPMdBstLqkX7Uz5Wd_WI4XVngdQ0otgexQECam7lvIsPUlwKslVDNsLgE40-t_A95sFP90hv_xL8PF/s640/blogger-image--79179021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNsUhBEcy4mHsbF-o4FfVKY4SBcnjqDRXNi0DYIHXTW1Q9pTtUR423Ikgn-wnf5pPMdBstLqkX7Uz5Wd_WI4XVngdQ0otgexQECam7lvIsPUlwKslVDNsLgE40-t_A95sFP90hv_xL8PF/s640/blogger-image--79179021.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChBD8KY5mt7JKxdANl-SddJ5QVANMLaugxa2cbmwQ_RC3SDmbHtuDmxqe8m16EUS2H4Mals1b3e7Rtkr9_vqsDdIvR0Haqgs-ySJSu_yy85hplnyFeYmt4kFo4TcSFal2ia6EsEkxxjI8/s640/blogger-image--1714385299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChBD8KY5mt7JKxdANl-SddJ5QVANMLaugxa2cbmwQ_RC3SDmbHtuDmxqe8m16EUS2H4Mals1b3e7Rtkr9_vqsDdIvR0Haqgs-ySJSu_yy85hplnyFeYmt4kFo4TcSFal2ia6EsEkxxjI8/s640/blogger-image--1714385299.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This post hardly needs words as well as pictures. M has been doing a great deal of intense court work lately and this short break coincided with the end of a long London based case. Apart from having to constantly manage his diary by phone we did manage to relax for a few days. In fact M was quite taken with the many fields of lambs, at one stage sitting on a bench in amongst them, some curious, some scampering away, some happy to pose for photographs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I loved the simplicity of this particular hut. Our bathroom and simple kitchen facilities were in part of a barn a short walk away. This wasn't ideal and meant we had a couple of early starts to dash to the bathroom. It would probably have been a good idea not to have spent the evenings in the pub!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Supplies of firewood were not exactly generous and we wished we had bought our own or located some. We both agreed that it would be useful for the owners to spend a night or two in their hut because it was clear they never had. A fold away table of some kind would have been handy and a second chair by the fire could easily have fitted in if the small free standing shelf unit was replaced by a wall mounted wooden shelf rack of some kind. The bed however, was extremely comfortable though M, a seasoned caravan person, couldn't help but notice the hut needed 'levelling'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Nearby Penrith was as much as we needed in the way of a slow day out. The many coffee breaks were also knee rests but we did manage to gather a few second hand books, some handmade fudge for the kids, an old set of weighing scales and last but not least, a small stash of recycled cotton yarn from 'Penrith Crafts'. There was also a fabulous artisan bakery and deli where we managed to cobble together a tasty no cook supper; simple rustic food served on an upturned wooden crate with a large mug of tea, sitting outside in the last of the sunshine. For me, it doesn't get much better than that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We've been on the lookout for old, rustic light fittings for our conservatory and old metal chairs to accompany an upcycled table. So Brunswick Yard was a highlight of our trip to Penrith, it's not huge but there was quite a lot of stock. We didn't find what we were looking for but it was fascinating. Located on a rooftop terrace overlooking the yard and the town was a small cafe with lots of upcycled touches like the old drain covers made into planters. The hot chocolate was pretty good too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was the only hut we've stayed in that was completely off grid. Once upon a time I'd have been able to read by candle light but not anymore so we headed off to check out the local pubs. M and I are not pub types usually and we rarely drink but we had two lovely evenings in two very different pubs. The first was a pie and cider type arrangement with an assortment of locals who were pretty hard to understand. I noticed M doing a few of the tricks I usually employ when I'm struggling to hear, like smiling and nodding and hoping you've done that at the right time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The second pub was an old pub with a modernised interior; all bleached oak floors and furniture, brown leather sofas and designer beer. We only stayed because it would have been rude to walk out on the live entertainment which didn't have a huge audience to begin with. Apparently it was Irish Folk and they were very good. I couldn't say, I just can't hear music I'm not already familiar with. It was fun watching the various instruments in action and also the constant stream of random musicians turning up half way through a song and just joining in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, it's back to reality today. Piles of laundry, soggy dogs, mouths to feed, pounding rock music through bedroom doors, hoovering to be done, bills to pay, problems to sort out. A knee that doesn't seem to be responding to a week's worth of quad exercises. All bearable as long as we start thinking about booking another short break. A hut by the sea maybe?</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-5712025254047991052016-05-21T16:40:00.001+01:002016-05-22T19:58:29.003+01:00Preparations...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBBGS5hEibyoIuBnTrgMJTuaq4PMcq03BW6eK0eL8AM1YVJ_ZDj5Z1TVXrZtE85mgVLPUVar5Le_qZFUhHjFzjrVM_SU4MjJN5dmrSerKb77Og-TDHI3mHkmmPS98HldghVx1dp0EYL4f/s640/blogger-image-1941327065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBBGS5hEibyoIuBnTrgMJTuaq4PMcq03BW6eK0eL8AM1YVJ_ZDj5Z1TVXrZtE85mgVLPUVar5Le_qZFUhHjFzjrVM_SU4MjJN5dmrSerKb77Og-TDHI3mHkmmPS98HldghVx1dp0EYL4f/s640/blogger-image-1941327065.jpg"></font></a></div><div><br></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurd3xqJFDoPr3A4zHN2LFwRfVxDg2BBq3kLYdzBugATxqNgb1rvx8-u3W4p7Pzh_5QJsAC5uBkyensUgC0uSFL3aYD84LiVLUDJ823yUK0AQeeQbSeTo00xyjuP3fpzkrv9wbgZr5plp9/s640/blogger-image-108376415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurd3xqJFDoPr3A4zHN2LFwRfVxDg2BBq3kLYdzBugATxqNgb1rvx8-u3W4p7Pzh_5QJsAC5uBkyensUgC0uSFL3aYD84LiVLUDJ823yUK0AQeeQbSeTo00xyjuP3fpzkrv9wbgZr5plp9/s640/blogger-image-108376415.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLTH3Mw2lqEYH_6vd7aUTzlIorNrBz-eShKY_6YNgW5mge2S8gCSKY2QTmEVpX2PZSZzk-Vj_QT3o6adlP8HCLkr9kvd4g4U4DEEDYJD8NryKtuv44r7rnBcJ52Op6XvV3Vcd4SFd05CN/s640/blogger-image--1550747934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLTH3Mw2lqEYH_6vd7aUTzlIorNrBz-eShKY_6YNgW5mge2S8gCSKY2QTmEVpX2PZSZzk-Vj_QT3o6adlP8HCLkr9kvd4g4U4DEEDYJD8NryKtuv44r7rnBcJ52Op6XvV3Vcd4SFd05CN/s640/blogger-image--1550747934.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've had to paint my rustic coffee table top after it was nearly claimed for an art project. It almost became a photographic collage but thankfully E turned her attentions to a more 3D solution (in the shape of one of my vintage suitcases) and my coffee table top was returned. It was never going to go back to wood no matter how much I sanded it so when in doubt, apply white paint. Sshh, don't tell E but I think I like it better now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's all gone a bit Schjeepes round here since I started the CAL. The theme of their bi-annual magazine looked right up my street so I treated myself. All I have to do now is wait a few days longer to save it for a short, no kids, no dogs, weekend break. M has taken some convincing about these short breaks. He gets the whole trust thing but actually doesn't trust them to feed the dogs, eat properly, sort the dishes out etc. My approach is to simply say that they will never learn unless they are entrusted with these responsibilities. He's also a little hypersensitive when we return if everything isn't 'just so' whereas I tend to just put it right and express a little disappointment. They are teenagers and it definitely pays to try and remember when we were last that age. (Just don't mention sixteen, ugh that was a horrible age!).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm up to date with the CAL so I'm packing my ripple blanket for our short getaway. Books have been shoved down the side of my suitcase in place of walking boots. (It's walking country, if I swapped my crutches for walking poles do you think I'd blend in better?) Reading may present a challenge after dark since this latest hut we've found is completely off grid. It was my good luck that M didn't notice that in the small print until after we had booked it. Candles are provided, and of course we'd never stay in one without a wood burner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A few nights away hardly ever seems worth the bother when you're faced with the preparations. In our case we overdo the food shopping lest the children or animals should starve. I make sure the laundry basket is empty and the house is as clean and tidy as possible. Inevitably three days away from all these responsibilities and chores seem like very long leisurely days, something I've come to understand is absolutely vital once in a while to avoid resentment of the monotony of daily life. In the past I've always thought it was preferable to spend any spare pennies on improving the house but these days I throw caution to the wind and try and live for the moment.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-9750030682923260952016-05-20T17:43:00.001+01:002016-05-21T11:33:45.324+01:00Footprints in the sand...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVYlSvDvuIfoSbJNsVN4GYMUkd0cd0KzTS1KR_tYozqUxthLNz5LLUY0zUjLCjfcpTJZqWBK3-areQj7_jvwRSxJ-wydZGtL6k5h4xTlptnPJihVBpf7O_5p8OcmHdHCJwt9bE8qFf1sk/s640/blogger-image-1892302345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVYlSvDvuIfoSbJNsVN4GYMUkd0cd0KzTS1KR_tYozqUxthLNz5LLUY0zUjLCjfcpTJZqWBK3-areQj7_jvwRSxJ-wydZGtL6k5h4xTlptnPJihVBpf7O_5p8OcmHdHCJwt9bE8qFf1sk/s640/blogger-image-1892302345.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyt5DoEVm3-p9O76rY5LtMNAItUn-HtCD6falhWPA9Yao4vwc6H5tvDQ3evOX-epNuLuRg4XmAq41RsOImq7n8MCFKbmAzCLkkMDrv14NJ2ywt-OqM7ha692mG0usoA2ZLAju0_EoeCt9/s640/blogger-image-1654136206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyt5DoEVm3-p9O76rY5LtMNAItUn-HtCD6falhWPA9Yao4vwc6H5tvDQ3evOX-epNuLuRg4XmAq41RsOImq7n8MCFKbmAzCLkkMDrv14NJ2ywt-OqM7ha692mG0usoA2ZLAju0_EoeCt9/s640/blogger-image-1654136206.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrdEfxPK0cWE-3crcpCIGqlVQpU3VYckt6zvmBV-qtTY4L1naw-WoUcM9Dn5cLu91HnKtAqsbRIZOiySmICDGi5bVpDhjqcAqTfY-eCRfdFs0f7CiULlOUJh-U_YpzLXWD8loS4xtPBBK/s640/blogger-image-1255252465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrdEfxPK0cWE-3crcpCIGqlVQpU3VYckt6zvmBV-qtTY4L1naw-WoUcM9Dn5cLu91HnKtAqsbRIZOiySmICDGi5bVpDhjqcAqTfY-eCRfdFs0f7CiULlOUJh-U_YpzLXWD8loS4xtPBBK/s640/blogger-image-1255252465.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Another random, slightly disjointed and rambling post. It's how things are at the moment. There's no sign of the cat and everything feels kind of 'in limbo'. Someone shared their own cat story with us today, a wanderer who returned after four months. Tilly hadn't shown any signs of being a wanderer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I did not stage the photo of Riley at all, rather just snapped him quickly after he'd gathered as many toys as he could carry and took them away from Harvey. He was a hoarder when we acquired him. The first time we left him alone in the kitchen with Harvey for company it wasn't hard to work out who had stolen a whole pack of oats, a half pack of sugar and a squeezy bottle of chocolate sauce and stashed them in his basket. All of these were intact by the way, it was clear he just hadn't actually got round to making up the chocolate oat cookies before we got home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's a good job Harvey is the passive sort because there's nothing he likes more than a good old fashioned tennis ball. Rope toys he can take or leave but tennis balls are like all his Birthdays at once. I swear he squirrels them away somewhere in the fields because they really don't hang around the house for very long.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It was lovely and warm and sunny today while we did boring tasks like buy two new tyres and wait for them to be fitted. Made only lightly less dull by the entertaining husband and wife team who were like a comedy double act. The wife wouldn't stop going on about how long their MOT was taking and the husband sadly agreed with everything she said. After retirement age you have to wonder what their big hurry was. Our parting words to the chap who did our tyres were, 'gosh that was quick, I guess that's why you're called KwikFit'. She didn't see the funny side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We really could have done with some of today's sunshine last night when Ella had a cricket match. They managed to play a soggy 18 overs of the first half but rain finally stopped play half way through the second. E couldn't feel her hands so it was just as well she hadn't got round to bowling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I managed to do a spot of crochet whilst watching the first half in the car. The details of this fifth week square are a bit inconsistent if you read several blogs but from what I can gather it is supposed to be seagulls one way up or seagull footprints in the sand the other way up. I'm choosing the latter on account of them looking more like webbed footprints than flying gulls, especially on this sandy beige colour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The squares are stacking up nicely, nearly twenty squares. It's been barely any effort at all keeping up with four squares per week. Call me lazy but the fact that these are one colour squares with no colour changes is a huge bonus. I'm not a fan of overly complicated colour patterns in textiles anyway so I don't feel the need to produce that in crochet. I've noticed that one blogger is making the entire CAL in one colour only so that the emphasis is on texture. It'll be interesting to see how that turns out.</div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506988653022684113.post-24385111221879442092016-05-17T20:00:00.001+01:002016-05-19T08:58:06.071+01:00After the rain...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8QpxBP0YOoj17OI9XpvYLnwstPFYJT-jyln1H2bmXqsUuSafOZ7KlNtqx_HtsA-8HiCoOD2Q49eIqjjagfuRa8WqcUTO70XoB4fPdr1DhHrhWFBIlnvnL55wIudI6MBECHt-6TGD7VlT/s640/blogger-image-1715931919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8QpxBP0YOoj17OI9XpvYLnwstPFYJT-jyln1H2bmXqsUuSafOZ7KlNtqx_HtsA-8HiCoOD2Q49eIqjjagfuRa8WqcUTO70XoB4fPdr1DhHrhWFBIlnvnL55wIudI6MBECHt-6TGD7VlT/s640/blogger-image-1715931919.jpg"></a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-gS5mrj6SaR1lRyzInH7pss_nm7jhCk6lR-wIO-4-KUzp3Y4gnrhg8e_Bh638RjUP4wG1U3FCa0yA0sPem4RC2FKKU7-e53Hr_FK4yRUt2-YDMmkGvRzpgCLtITOyvr7tId4MRtpHI9o/s640/blogger-image--1329590389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-gS5mrj6SaR1lRyzInH7pss_nm7jhCk6lR-wIO-4-KUzp3Y4gnrhg8e_Bh638RjUP4wG1U3FCa0yA0sPem4RC2FKKU7-e53Hr_FK4yRUt2-YDMmkGvRzpgCLtITOyvr7tId4MRtpHI9o/s640/blogger-image--1329590389.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-LptgEiEarpsQL7IiFFNBKdcAzXYUOTUCY30b1p4TC2lqBMUYmfeCU_-0wz_APLY-CT7dUmV87U7KsJ8Z0Lo-EIQ9jWtfeP5NjCw7io0UurnuwNXtFQocRdMJDhbuHskaGLvvX7UtYV/s640/blogger-image--1635274800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-LptgEiEarpsQL7IiFFNBKdcAzXYUOTUCY30b1p4TC2lqBMUYmfeCU_-0wz_APLY-CT7dUmV87U7KsJ8Z0Lo-EIQ9jWtfeP5NjCw7io0UurnuwNXtFQocRdMJDhbuHskaGLvvX7UtYV/s640/blogger-image--1635274800.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There's a pattern emerging. A day or two of sunshine and then a day or two of relentless rain. It's the latter here today. Yesterday would have been perfect cricket weather but alas J's match is scheduled for tonight and will be a complete wash out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Riley has been testing out the warmth and comfort factor of the ripple blanket. Judging by how unwilling he was to move and let me do a few more rows I'd say it was extremely warm and comfortable. I'm making progress with this purely because it doesn't take a whole week to complete four squares for the Last Dance CAL.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Whilst the sun was out I photographed one each of the four squares to date. The colours don't look inspiring together at the moment but I think the addition of the lighter shades will help create some balance. The wavy square seems to have been the one I have most needed to concentrate on and yet it's also the one that I made once and didn't need to refer back to the pattern for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our garden is what we call a wild garden (only partly intentional!). We have a lot of mature trees at the end and that makes it nigh on impossible to grow a satisfactory lawn. Cow parsley moved in one year and now it's almost taken over. I was happy to see new additions this year though, we have bluebells that most definitely were not there before. Not a carpet of them yet but lots of little clusters here and there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">M has at last done the first proper mow of the year. From here on the responsibility is J's. He's been paid in advance in the shape of footballs (gone are the days when he'd be happy with the £2.99 type!). With this constant cycle of sun and rain it looks as though he will be quite busy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My scans confirmed a torn ligament. Apparently it should be a lot less painful by now so I may have damaged the joint as well. I'm pinning all my hopes on a four week course of physio in order to avoid the keyhole surgery that was mentioned. The dogs seem happy with the compromise I've come up with for their daily walk, run and swim. We park close to a crossroads of footpaths and fields which also has a bridge and river. They can run off in any direction but they always come back. When they seem satisfied I throw a stick or two in the river for them to fetch which washes all the mud off and we all trot (limp) back to the car.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's been such a busy week I almost forgot to download week five's square for the CAL. Not the most exciting design this week but that's probably just as well, the rest of the week looks set to be just as hectic. J watched me complete a few rows of the new square last night and asked, 'Doesn't it get boring doing the same thing over and over again?' I think I will answer that one when the blanket is finished!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>simplenaturalhandmadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08289827537339621785noreply@blogger.com1