Decisions

I still have the edging and the fringing to do on the granny square shawl. I finally managed to sew in all of the tails last night. It was a marathon task. I am going to mark the right sides of my squares and sew the tails in on the wrong side as I go along on my next one. Hopefully there will be photos of the finished shawl tomorrow.

I have so many projects whirling in my mind and so much stash to choose from that I am really undecided what my next project will be. I am still on the first toe up sock for my niece so have those to finish before I go in hospital but I do like to have some crochet on the hook as well as knitting to give my wrists and fingers a break. Hopefully it will all come to me in a blinding flash as I do my housework or when I walk Buster. I work out some of my best projects in my head whilst dog walking. I have bought some colours to incorporate with stash for another granny square shawl but am unsure if I feel like starting another just yet. The colours I am playing with are in the top photo. Maybe I will finish off the cardigan I started a couple of years ago and then stuffed in a drawer and forgot all about. I have almost finished the back of it. Another reason why I should stay untidy and leave things lying around. For some reason I fell out with crocheting it and just pushed it into a bag. If I can find the pattern I might have another try at finishing it off. I like the way the stitch looks but maybe I didn't like crocheting it - I will find out later no doubt.

I am already trying to work out my Christmas knitting and crochet projects. Who would like what etc. I crafted myself into a frenzy last year so am hoping to take a bit of pressure off this year by starting earlier. I did buy 4 mugs from Dunhelm as stocking fillers but they only had 4 of our family's names so I could not get one for everyone.

The day is miserable and windy. I have pegged my throw on the line but had to use 8 clothes pegs to prevent it flying into next door.

I have coloured my hair today as my friend Caroline could not come to do it for me this weekend. My dark roots (well maybe they are grey by now - who knows) were making me look like a Coronation Street extra.

I just read an article saying that people who knit and crochet are happier and healthier than people who don't. I don't know about the healthier although apart from my back I don't suffer many other ailments that people my age do. Anyone who visits our Knit Out will vouch for the fact that we are a happy smiley bunch and there is always lots of laughter in our corner of Costa Coffee. I did try to post a link to the article on our web site but for some reason it would not work after I posted it. I will try it again on here and see if it works

http://www.curlsofsunshine.tipzu.com/people-who-knit-and-crochet-may-be-happier-and-healthier

if it doesn't work as a click link maybe you could copy and paste the whole title onto your search browser.

Last minute frenzy

My friend Caroline came yesterday and helped me to wrap all the presents (except hers of course) and put them under the tree. I have still to stitch up Kath's cardigan but I did manage to finish off crocheting all the pieces last night so that will be done - Yeah. I have today and tonight to try to finish knitting the doubled hat. Sounds easy but I am finding it very slow going slipping one and knitting one on one row and then picking up the second colour slipping a different stitch on that row and purling. All it needs is a moments loss of concentration and I knit when I should purl or I slip when I shouldn't and I have to unravel again. Argh!

On Saturday I finished off the food shopping. Whatever I don't have will stay un bought and I will work around it. I felt like I was queuing to join a queue in Tesco and it really is true that ALL the mums (and Dads) go to Iceland!

On Sunday I polished and hoovered the house, washed bedding, dog's bedding, cushion covers and throws until my washer and dryer were shouting "Mercy" so that didn't leave much time for my crochet or knitting. With the help of my friend and her son we managed to heave a very reluctant dog into the bath for his Christmas bath. To say he was not impressed is putting it mildly. He let us bathe him, dry him with the hair dryer but then curled in a ball sulking for the rest of the day as if to say I smell like a girl now!

This morning when I took him out for his walk he has rolled in all the mucky leaves he can find - Ah well he was nice and clean whilst it lasted. We had unexpected company on our walk. A heron swooped past us and perched in a large stagnant pool of water just by the side of us. It was like a tableau in slow motion. The heron stood perfectly still on one leg just like the plastic ones in people's gardens. I stood still so as not to scare it and even the dog just stopped and gazed at it. We all stood frozen in time for what seemed like ages (probably a minute actually) and then the heron took off again and disappeared into the woodland. I have only ever seen one before in there but that was standing still and sort of in hiding in the reeds. It is the first time I have seen one in flight. An old guy came shambling along with his dogs and I motioned him to stay still and pointed out the heron and he was so drunk (at 9.30am!) I doubt if he could focus on his dogs let alone a heron.

I am going to have a final push at finishing off the cardigan and hat but firstly a drink of coffee to get my strength up. I am using my new "Christmas present to myself "mug and I might break open the Christmas biscuits to go with it