It's a gorgeous day

I woke up to lovely sunshine today.I love the sunshine and the warmer weather when I can put my shorts and a vest on. Yesterday the weather got better towards the end of the day and I did a small bit of weeding in my front garden and trimmed the small tree that is really supposed to be a neat bush which was blocking Buster's view of the world. I hope he appreciates my hard work. It could do with a bit more trimmed off it so maybe later when I come back from Buster's walk I will attack it again with the shears.

I decided to wash the throws and cushions (yet again) and spend some time in the garden knitting Vicky's socks. I had to give up after a few rows as my needles and wool were sticking to my fingers. I am valiantly trying to make the second sock a match to the first hence all the small balls in the photo. I unravelled yards and yards trying to find the same colour sequence, thought I had done it but it still isn't quite the same. Ah well.

I crocheted another ball into Jewel last night but could not take it into the garden today as it is like wearing a lap rug and I was hot enough without trying to crochet. I gave up in the end and put the fan on and went to clean the lounge. I will never top up my tan this way! As you can see I still have a way to crochet on the sleeves and a bit more on the length.

Buster was also too hot but still wanted to play ball. The first photo I took of him isn't particularly good but I included it because of the shadow. After I looked at the photos after uploading them I went back outside and tried to see what it was that was making the shadow and couldn't see anything. Perhaps it is the camera hog Buster saying this is me follow the arrow!

Off to take Buster for his walk now it has cooled down a touch. He will insist on chasing sticks so I don't like to take him out in the heat of the day as like me he is not as young as he used to be and gets too hot and bothered. It is shady in the woods so that does help to keep him cool.

Socks and more socks

I am still on top of the world after yesterday's good news. I went to water aerobics and it felt so good to be able to answer the question "Any news yet?" with "Yes - I have a date" Everyone is so happy for me. The phone rang a few times last night in response to the texts that I sent out telling my news.

Doris Chan still continues to dog me. I have managed to sort out the Jewel sweater. As you can see from the photo it is progressing nicely. Last night I took my Interweave magazine to bed with my Horlicks and was reading Doris Chan's article on shaping whilst leaning on my elbow. I suddenly got the most excruciating pain through my back and couldn't move. I think Doris is getting her revenge on me for calling her instructions hard to follow. This morning my shoulder blades were still very tender. I suppose this is proof that I am too heavy for my elbows these days. I am trying to lose some weight now that I have a date to aim for.

My niece Vicky came last night and brought her unfinished socks. I knew that there was no way that I could replicate her tension so decided to bite the bullet and unravel what she had started. Not an easy decision as she had almost finished one sock. The wool is Regia 6ply and quite thickish so should not take long to knit. The second pair she had only knitted about 3" but she could not find the pattern that she had used or the label. I think it is self striping fair isle Opal so any sock pattern should be OK to use. My niece wants plain stocking stitch socks as the toe socks that I made for her had the pattern on the sole and she finds them uncomfortable if she walks on floorboards.The wools she has bought are bold and stripey so do not need a pattern stitch to show it off.

The third photo is a sock that I started from the wool that my friend Vicky gave me at Christmas. Those will have to take a back seat until I have finished Vicky's socks and the Jewel sweater. I also have another purple Sweet Pea shawl to make before I go into hospital.