Which Wood Is Best For An Ark?

I woke this morning to the familiar sound of the rain hammering down on my bay window roof.I seriously contemplated pulling the covers over my head and going back to sleep. I then remembered that next door's cat had come in last night to shelter from the rain and so would be in need of a toilet break so I reluctantly got up and let him out. He was less than impressed with me and stood quivering in my porch as if to say "Do you really expect me to go and wee in this?"

I still haven't showered as I am debating whether to just stand in the garden with the shampoo and body wash or go to the shops first, get wet through and then shower after that. Decisions, decisions. Whilst I decide I will eat some breakfast and hope that the rain decides to give me a break and stop for a while. I need to collect a prescription otherwise I would not venture out plus I don't think that my daughter in law would be too impressed with me if I don't buy her a birthday card.

I try to keep up with other peoples blogs but I must admit that I tend to do it in fits and starts as I follow so many so if I don't comment on yours then it's probably because I need to catch up on my reading. I did catch up with The Crochet Therapy and yesterday she put a link to a song by Michael Buble called I Just Haven't Met You Yet. I think that I will adopt it as my anthem song. If you want a nice peppy song then click on my blog title and it will take you to Bea's blog for a listen. One day I will work out how to add Your Tube links to my blog but I am completely technophobic.

I spent a lot of yesterday trying to ignore the rain and catching up with friends via phone chats so not much knitting was done. I have started a cabled jacket for Charlie from a Sirdar book delightfully called Ooh La La. I will try and find a photo of the front cover for another day.I have no idea what the wool is as it was donated to me in unravelled balls without any labels. It feels like it is either wool or has a wool content so I will try a wash patch test before I pass it on. I would hate to make two jackets and then find out that it is not machine washable without warning the mum first. The pattern has either got a hood or a collar and I have not decided yet which version to knit for the boys. Once again this modern Sirdar pattern is coming out huge even though my tension is correct. Do Sirdar have larger models? I am knitting 1-2 yrs and it looks like it will fit Charlie at pre school!

My niece has decided on a pattern and so I am ready to start once my other niece gets me some wool from the Yarn Barn in Shaw. I found out yesterday that my local Habi Knit in Bury which I though had closed down due to redevelopment has in fact re sited to the Millgate in Bury so I will have another place besides Bury Market to buy supplies from.

The rain has stopped momentarily so I will grab a quick breakfast and hope that it stays away until I can return from the shops. Referring back to my blog title which wood is most suitable for building an ark as I really think that I should put woodworking and ark building on my list of things to do in the future.

I hate sewing up all the ends

This is the downside to crocheting granny squares in multi colours. It's a great stash buster but a nightmare to stitch all the tails in!

I have managed to crochet half of one shawl together. I still have Vicky's to do. My usual method is to lay all the squares out in colour order on the floor and then crochet then together in situ. Since my back operation and subsequent knee injury the floor is one place that I don't explore too often so I have been trying to juggle using the table (round and too small) and blocking boards (too bendy to stand upright) I will get there in the end never fear. Today I guess I will be doing a lot of sewing whilst watching TV.

My Internet was off most of this morning so I am taking the opportunity to post on here whilst I still have got a connection. I will catch up on my blog reading another day. Orange insists that it is not their problem but a fault with my phone line. An BT engineer told me that I have very old cabling on an extremely ancient pole and so water from all this heavy rain could be seeping into the cables and causing intermittent faults. He said to keep complaining to BT and eventually they will come and do something about it. The telephone pole has been leaning at a dangerous angle since we moved in the house 40yrs ago. Every time there is a storm I keep thinking I will wake up and it will have fallen down the street. As all the neighbours keep complaining about this pole and the reception and have done so over many years I don't hold out any hopes for a new pole anytime soon.

The water pipes are the same. When they came to fit my water meter yesterday they discovered that most of the pipes (except those in my house) are still lead. When we moved into the house we got told that the street was due for a complete pipe overhaul. I guess that will come at the same time as the new telephone pole. I think I live in a complete backwater. I can only get satellite TV and not cable TV as there are no cables in this area either. I suppose I should be thankful I am attached to the mains with the gas, electric, water and sewers.

Last night I used up the last of the 200 grams of brushed pink double knit. The yarn was never ending. I have managed to make the hat and scarf that I posted yesterday and this hat and neck warmer which I crocheted in doubled yarn so the raffle got 2 sets for the price of 1. I have no idea whose yarn it is as it is from a donation from Freecycle given when I was crocheting for the prem baby unit. I didn't use it then as I was a bit dubious about fluff near a prem baby so I am glad to be able to use it for another charity as that was the agreement when it was donated.

The pattern is my own but there is a neck warmer very similar as a free pattern on the DROPS Garnstudio site. I have posted the link if you click on my blog title. Their version comes with a natty beret instead of the cloche style hat that I have made.

The sun is trying to shine today. Pity I don't have any washing to hang out. At the weekend when my bedding is due a change it will probably be raining yet again. Such is life! Well life in Manchester this year.

Right - off to watch Loose Women and sew in some of the ends.

I just had to do some crochet

I have been knitting for days and was getting withdrawal symptoms for my crochet. My friend Zuleika has been working on a pattern for Mary Jane type slippers so I tested out the pattern for her to see if I understood the way she had written it out. Breathe easy Zu. I did understand. I was supposed to go and buy some aran to make a pair but I am such an impatient person that when I decide to do something I want it NOW!. I found a ball of red aran of dubious origin and made myself a pair. I did think at the time that although the label said aran it looked rather thick. These slippers have turned out great but too big for my tiny feet (size 3-4) so I will have to make the effort to get some aran wool of the right thickness for another pair and donate this pair to my niece. If you like this pattern then contact Zuleika through the link to Life in the Zu (scroll down and see my favourite links) as you all know I am rubbish at attaching links to this blog. I must learn to link one day it would make my life so much easier! Her photos of slippers are detailed and not fuzzy as mine are. I suffer from shaky hand whilst taking snaps. I move the camera as I press the shutter so things come out very blurred sometimes.

The knitting is progressing although I am a little concerned how narrow the sleeve is looking. It's a good job that my sister in law is size 8 with slim arms. I have not been impressed with the way that the pattern has been written out (it had a mistake on the 6th row!) and the sleeve on the pattern photo has distinct points at the beginning (as did the body) but the instructions tell me to go straight into the main pattern so I had to improvise and use the start of the body for the sleeve edge to get the sleeve to match the body. I never used to have this problem with patterns when I had a shop. You just bought a pattern and knitted it. None of this searching Ravelry and the net for Errata pages as with every knit and crochet book I have bought recently. What is wrong with everyone lately. If they could get patterns right a few years ago how come they can't now? You would think with all the modern equipment that they use in printing these days that checking and amending BEFORE printing would be a doddle. Almost every pattern I have used lately has had mistakes especially the ones from the US. I am sorry but if I am paying £12+ for a book I expect it to be right first time. I wouldn't want to read a best seller book and find huge chunks of the plot missing or sentences that didn't make any sense.

I managed to dry some washing yesterday even though I had to take it in from the rain twice. Some summer we have had in the UK this year. It think it was summer those few days when I was in hospital and so I missed it this year.

My back is not liking all this rain and is telling me so. I was doing really well until this last week when I feel like I have taken a step backwards. Maybe I have been doing too much but it is hard to sit and look at dust bunnies without getting the urge to dust. I am not the most houseproud person in the world but after 6 weeks my house is looking very untidy and a bit grubby. I never thought that I did an awful lot of housework but obviously I must have!

The sun is bravely trying to shine so I will have my shower, get dressed and try to tidy up a bit before Loose Women on the TV at lunch time.

Knit Out Sunday

Caroline came for me yesterday and gave me a lift up to the monthly Knitting Noras Knit Out in Bolton. We had a really good turn out. There seemed to be loads of us there and the weather stayed nice enough for us to sit outside although we did have to move further under the canopy at one stage as Eadaoin and Jen were getting rather wet when the heavens opened on them. I wore my Doris Chan Farpoint Topper. I must admit that when I made it I didn't think I would wear it and so far I have worn it quite a few times and it always gets admired. It felt so good to get out and about again and meet people. My back stayed fairly comfortable even sitting on cafe seats so I had a good time. I even went mad and treated myself to a Tuna Melt as well as a couple of Lattes. last of the big spenders!

Lisa had brought some very old patterns that she had bought from a charity shop and that got us chatting about old patterns in our stashes. As I am years older than most of the Noras and have inherited some of my patterns from my mother so some of mine are quite old. Today's photos are from a book called The Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Knitting which belonged originally to my maternal Grandmother and I remember it as an old battered book when I was a child so I would date it around 1940. The men look quite dashing and rather reminiscent of films like Brief Encounter and the ladies must have got up very early to get their hair in such elaborate coiffures. As for the Pixie Bonnet well I hope that you all will be making this fashion staple in time for the winter chills. I think that you can read the instructions if you look carefully enough

There are in the book patterns for knitted men's vests and combinations but only diagrams. I think they didn't want to inflame the senses of the 1940's ladies. There are however photos of the ladies vests, French knickers and American panties but not of course modelled on a person. Far too risque in those days.

I have been sorting through my crochet patterns from the 60's and 70's and have had many a laugh with crochet hot pants, tank tops and strange looking hats. I should start a vintage crochet section on my blog! I only wish I had photos that showed me wearing some of my creations but in those days we didn't have a camera so few photos exist of me in the 60's. Judging from the hot pant patterns, mini dresses and Mary Quant sweaters it's probably just as well!

My Rah Boom De Ay sweater is still progressing and now has 2 sleeves plus over large frilly cuffs and I am about half way down the body. I am still unsure if it will have frills around the hips. I probably will put the frill on as I have a feeling that the whole sweater is one that I will rarely wear anyway. Bright red with frills is a bit OTT for a pensioner?

I saw Vicky J at the Knit Out and now have the missing colour for the final 10 squares for her granny square shawl. I gave her the Cinnabar, Anisette vest and the Drops Circles Bolero and I could see from her face that she is of the same opinion as I am about the last one. I think I will finish my sweater before I return to her granny squares again as it is getting quite large and taking over my pouffe at the moment.

I just had to dash out and rescue my washing from the line. It was lovely and sunny when I put it out 15 mins ago and now the heavens have opened once again. The good old British Summer. I am not going for a walk today in this. I have a pot of Tesco home made style Broccoli and Stilton soup in the fridge and some nice bakery bread so I will have that for my dinner tonight.

Tonight it is the Knit Out at the Kings Arms and I have just had a reminder text from Rachael about it. I don't think I will be going as I think Charlie is away so I have no chance of a lift. I just don't feel up to getting there on public transport just yet. I would have quite a walk from the bus or tram and it's not in the best area of Salford for walking at night. I am going to miss my car for outings such as these but it can't be helped. I can't afford to keep a car on the road just to get me to my Knit Outs much as I enjoy them. I have done my sums and something has to give and unfortunately it will have to be the car. I am not only looking for a handsome Prince Charming to brighten my life but now I need one with a car as well. Stand back - there is a long queue forming at my door! - Yeah right I know - in my dreams.

I wish I had made this pattern first

When I first started crocheting from the Everyday Crochet Book I should have started with this pattern. The instructions are beautifully clear and easy to understand and I have only gone Huh! once on this pattern and that was only because I had misread the row.Stitch markers are an absolute must for this pattern though as it is hard to distinguish the lace shaping from the normal lace. I think it is working up well and as I am only on my second ball I think there will be enough cotton for it to be a similar length to the pattern.

I had two pieces of sad news yesterday. I bumped into a friend walking her dog who I haven't seen in a long time and discovered that her husband passed away in January. She doesn't live that far from me but as I no longer work I haven't walked past her house in a long time. We were close friends back in the days when Ian and her children were all small but drifted apart as I started working full time. Sad news. he was only 64,

My other sad news was concerning my neighbour Julie, Buddy the lawn visitor's mum, who I also met whilst walking Buster. She told me that her chemotherapy treatment had not worked. What do you say to someone in those circumstances. I found it very hard. I have previously tried to keep her upbeat about her hair loss and sickness saying it was temporary and things like that but when she said it had all been in vain I just didn't know what to say. She has elected to have surgery to try to remove the last lump (They found 6 lumps on her organs but only removed 5) but the outcome is very uncertain. She is such a lovely young woman. I am trying to stay positive for her. Things like this make my problems fade into insignificance.

Today I have woken up to the sound of rain and it looks like it has set in for the day. I have the feeling that I am going to get very wet on my way to the shops this morning and walking Buster this afternoon. Thank goodness I have a couple of waterproof jackets.

Seraphina in green chenille

I decided to turn the green chenille into Seraphina - a free shawl pattern that I found on the net but can be seen made in many glorious colourways on Ravelry and Flickr. I had a couple of hairy moments when part of the chenille decided to fall off it's cone in a great lump. Untangling is not my favourite especially as the chenille welded itself together at every twist and turn. I think I have set the pattern in my head now. I wanted to do that in peace and quiet as I thought that I might be going to the Kings Arms to the knitting club tonight and wanted something to work on that I knew what I was doing. It's hard to chat and set a pattern at the same time.

Charlie who normally kindly provides me with a lift has a friend to stay so is not going tonight. Rachael - the founder of the club kindly e mailed me the photos of some of the knitters and my squares that I donated last week. Notice that I am rummaging in my bag instead of smiling for the birdie! As you can see the pub is quite quaint and a bit dimly lit hence my careful choice of projects to take with me. I have learned not to take socks as if a stitch slips off my Knit Pick needles then I cannot see to retrieve it. I have joked about wearing a miner's helmet with a spotlight and am seriously considering one of those battery operated lights that they sell to stick on the table.

The rain has hardly stopped all weekend and it hammering down the patio door windows as I type. Glorious UK summer weather. I wonder if we will have any more sun this year?

My back is giving me a reprieve. I have done hardly anything since my stagger to the shops and my back is loving it. Life would be so much easier if I could just sit all day and crochet or knit but it's not the answer. It's unhealthy not to exercise and keep fit. Although I am loving being relatively pain free it will not do me much good in the long term.

Buster is not back home yet and I am waiting for a phone call later to say what is going to happen to him. Is he staying at my son's until such time as I go in or is he returning for a while. I miss his company like mad but it is lovely not to have to walk him and hoover up after him every day.

Phildar shawls

Whilst browsing in the Phildar books that I retrieved from the loft I had forgotten how beautiful their shawls were. Every book has at least 2 crochet shawls in it. I have just photographed a few of them. I made a couple from the books at the time/ The bottom photo is what is left of the lovely shawl I crocheted (see the next to last photo) which was greatly admired until I washed it. It had taken me a long time to make it as it is huge. I had used the wool specified on the pattern Phildar Camargue if I remember rightly and although I am a very careful washer the shawl went limp and stringy and now looks like a badly crocheted spiders web made of parcel string. Nowadays I just chuck it in the washer as it can't get any worse. The damage was done in the first wash. I fold it in two when I wear it around my shoulders and it still manages to cocoon most of me.

I will take another look at the Phildar shawls in more detail later as they were all made in fine wool and might be more suitable for Christmas presents in stead of the thick Doris Chan ones.

I am still bravely soldiering on with the squares for my second granny square shawl. I am sewing in the tails as I go along this time but still have another 18 to make before I get to the edging and fringe. The socks are still languishing on the coffee table until I steel myself to pick them up again. I think they will be my first and only pair of toe up socks. I am just not as comfortable knitting them that way as I am with top down socks.

Today I got soaked through walking back from water aerobics. Buster was waiting for his walk so I changed into a second set of waterproofs ( the first jacket obviously isn't completely waterproof as my shoulders were wet) and I got as far as the front door. Buster is a walk in all weathers kind of dog but he turned tail and went back indoors and sat down on the sofa. I have never known him turn down a walk before. Eventually the rain slowed and we went out. The river which meanders through the wood had turned into a raging torrent and had flooded it's banks making the bottom path flooded up to a foot deep in parts so we had to retrace our steps back up the hill. Buster really wasn't happy and was just plodding his way along the path instead of tearing up and down searching for sticks as per usual. When I got to the gate I was intending to walk around the other part of the park but he just went and stood next to the gate as if to say - Enough mum I want to go home. I dried him off and he is curled up on the sofa now. I think maybe he is having a bit of an off day.

The rain is pounding down again so I think it's time for a coffee and sit and crochet a few more squares. I still haven't decided which project I want to make next. I don't want to start something I am not certain about as I know I will probably not finish it. It's unusual for me not to have the next project all lined up but I want something that I can finish before I go in hospital.