February

So, what has been achieved when Dennis prevented us from our visit to the South Coast. At last I’ve used up all the stash of Rowan Big Yarn making four cushions for our kitchen chairs. Slight problem in that I haven’t enough yarn  left to do the border on the last cushion as the odds and ends of one colour have different dye numbers, even to my untrained eye there is a slight difference in shade. At the Costa knitting group last week I was offered some Big Yarn, if the donor doesn’t come back to me  I will see what John Lewis’s haberdashery can offer on Saturday, will be there for Knitting & Crochet Guild meeting. JL are being difficult about the use of their Community Hub so difficult to plan ahead, nor is it easy to find an alternative venue in Kingston.

Not easy to see the edges need tidying up, also sorry, one side the stripes are north south, the other side are east west, actually all the cushions are rectangles  made with treble crochet stitch. I’m pleased with this stashbuster. Next project will be to finish Ian’s socks, the Tramlines sock pattern I have made before very successfully, I left the socks in favour of the cushions and the crochet blankets as they needed less concentration than turning heels.

Last Friday we were able to see the grandchildren, who had a day trip by train to London, a visit to the Natural History Museum, along I think with every other child on half term to see Andy’s Clock, apparently seen on BBCs children’s TV.

Family posing with the clock behind, I’m not sure even now why it is important, also children were beginning to tire, they are only four and a half and three years and one day!

We had shuffled around the dinosaur displays, I think a few opportunities for ancient grandparents to sit for a while would have been appreciated in this great hall, I admired Alfred Waterhouse’s architecture more than the dinosaurs, clever as the exhibits were.

Dennis consequences

What an odd name to use for a storm, it has had an effect on our lives for we had planned to go to the South Coast as it is half term  to see the grandchildren and their parents and the plentiful tourist spots.    As usual I was making a pineapple fruit cake to take with us, the mixture was cooling before eggs and flour were to be added, I checked the weather on my phone, noticed rain was forecast well into next week and made a sudden decision not to go. I know the maxim, there is no bad weather just inappropriate clothing, for me it is a health issue going out in such conditions.

So accommodation was cancelled, discussions were had about delivery of granddaughter’s birthday present and second cotton knitted facecloth to be used instead a disposable wipes, the most difficult rescheduling was for milk delivery.

The milk  had been cancelled, we then had an email informing us our delivery days were to be changed from Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Monday, Wednesday and Friday from this coming Monday. So, we had cancelled this Saturday and Tuesday, I went to the website to reinstate the service, was unable to do so, telephoned the company, it was possible to order and pay for this Saturday’s milk but not for  Monday’s for even the very helpful Jackie was defeated by the system. Looking through the website later it is tied up with how the payment system works, we pay in advance. It means we will just buy milk in a plastic container, not to difficult as we live a few minutes from the High Street with a choice of small supermarkets, I prefer milk in recyclable bottles, we don’t have to carry it, if we need a lot of milk we then have to drive to the shops with the temptation of purchases we don’t need.  Decluttering is the plan, a rereading of Marie Kendo is needed whilst we are bunkered down over the next few days, meanwhile I will use up Rowan Big Wool stash to make the last cushion cover for the kitchen chairs. Photos when it is finished. 

Fibre 4 Fibres

I’m partial to reading blogs especially those of the yarn community, many of the Bloggers are on Ravelry too. Once such blog is http://theknittingexploitsofjosiekitten.blogspot.com/
it started in 2008, in the last couple of years Helen has been diagnosed with myositis, a rare autoimmune muscle disease,  she has carried on with generously giving away beautiful yarn to fundraise.

Last Sunday I donated to the raffle to win this
http://theknittingexploitsofjosiekitten.blogspot.com/2020/01/fibre-4-fibres-preview-giveaway-8_24.html

There is not only yarn to make the Contoura hat designed by Woolly Wormhead but two 100grams of Schweppes, these will be used to make socks for Ian, the colours are just so right for him.  I like the hat so will be making it for myself. Helen posts on Instagram as josiekitten, do go and look at these and details of the next virtual raffle.

The fundraising is for MyositisUK, a small charity run largely by volunteers, I like to support small charities, not those with well paid staff and expensive London offices, if there is a craft and cat link so much the better. Below my photos of the great yarn, earnings and pattern.

So what else is news, I have been working on weaving in ends on the third crochet cushion cover using up stash of Rowan big wool in an absolute random pattern.  A 8mm hook and such chunky yarn has meant the work grew quickly, weaving in ends is taking rather a long time, I still have to decide whether to put a double crochet border around the edge before sewing it up.

Cushions, crochet and other thoughts.

One reason I do not go to yarn shows like Unravel, Wonderwool is because there is so much yarn in my stash, because I have plenty of projects on which I’m working, like two Attic24 blankets, a second pair of  Tramlines socks by Maria Higgs, and so far two new crochet cushion covers using Rowan big wool and 7mm crochet hook.  Crochet eats up yarn, especially Big Yarn that is just what I need to clear my stash with the intention of just buying yarn for the next project.

These cushions are for our kitchen chairs to replace some purchased through eBay chosen for their swan silhouette design, the fabric has worn, different colours and designs have been used for the crochet covers, linked by use of treble stitch each time, the design is governed by colours of yarn available. The blue cushion fits the kitchen colour scheme - so what - for the golden one and others yet to be made rogue colours add some fun. The starting chain was about 70 stitches.

So what else has been happening at Pixie Towers? Marmalade making, about 20lbs of oranges have been purchased, 5 batches have been made so far,  maybe one or two batches to finish for this year depending on quantities of lemons added.  This year I’ve made the marmalade thicker, not so runny more set. As we made many jars of damson jam last summer more jars were required for marmalade, we cleared Staines branch of Hobbycraft out of these jars. These have ounce markings in the glass, 12 oz at the top although they will hold a greater amount than this.

Must add, we’ve started digging into this jar, I did fill it right to the top, tastes even better when spread on bread made by Ian. 

Tying up the ends

Well, tomorrow it’s Epiphany, back to normal day and for us the day our lovely decorators arrive at 8am to paint our kitchen, ceiling, walls and woodwork. These two brothers have been smartening up our home, this and the previous one for well over 30 years, we have recommended them to friends, family and colleagues in all that time, they are trustworthy with work of high quality.

Christmas, we spent Monday to Friday morning in Dorset with DD and S-in-L, seeing very much wider family before returning to London for our family visit to Kew Gardens lights.  Although the lights were excellent it is my opinion that the walk was just a little too long, maybe I’m influenced by having an almost three year old and a four and a half with us and the parents didn’t bring the push chair. We’d been good people, travelled by public transport, not ok from Richmond station, no trains to our station, just two or three down the line, nor the one bus route that takes us just around the corner. Given the late hour, two tired children and two people who were driving back to Dorset we ended up with two taxis, reaching Twickenham just before thousands were pouring out of the Stadium after the double header rugby games.

Some photos,

 The Advent calendar made for me by DD, DGS was puzzled that the numbers were not in numerical order, I adore the randomness and workmanship of it.

DH and I in Dorset on Christmas Day, I’m wearing my qiviut cowl.

DGS intrigued by constructing this marble run and best of all we have over half of this cake left, I enjoy Christmas pudding, cake and mince pies.

Reasons why.

There are many reasons why I haven’t blogged, main one is we have been busy helping family, DS has been away from home for work so we have tried to help DIL with childcare and domestic stuff. Important work, here is Ian dealing with bedtime reading, important as GS at 4 years, 4 months has suddenly cottoned on to phonics so reading is beginning to take off although he seems to prefer STEM topics, surprised his reception teacher by recognising a hexagon, although not taught that concept at school.

Knitting and crochet continues apace, still working on second pair of toe up socks for Ian, progress has been made on the two Attic 24 blankets especially the Moorland for DIL as grandchildren like to help by holding the yarn, sometimes a bit too tight whilst we talk about colours and stitches.

I have a new project, our kitchen chair cushions have become worn, I have quite a quantity of Rowan big wool so I’m crocheting new covers using trebles, 6mm hook so the fabric produced is quite dense, work grows very quickly, should wear well without needing lining and I’m using up lots of stash. 

It will be made up envelope style, maybe if it is a bit narrow for a 40cm cushion I can add a border to frame it. Colours look a bit dull in picture, when complete will attempt to photograph it in daylight. 

Mmm, should I mention Christmas? Although a religious festival I dislike the intense commercialisation of a Christian festival, let the Solstice and coming longer daylight be celebrated by the non-Christian. It is not easy for me to just switch on a happy and jolly gene for the sake of it, I visited a lovely great aunt on Boxing Day to find  her dead in her chair, my Father-in-law died on Christmas night 35 years ago. With black humour DH says at least he waited till the credits went up on Raiders of the Lost Ark at 9.50, as requested the hospital had rung DH, he and his brother then had a 2 hour drive to Kent to break the news to their mother.  My father died suddenly 33 years ago today. 

It is not just these anniversaries, it is the big build up beforehand, then after Christmas nothing 'happens as all celebrations are before the event. Twelfth Night is just a date by which decorations come down, of course one could leave them up till Candlemas on February 2nd. I worry and become stressed over the most silly things, even to whether the Christmas card is right for the intended recipient, the printed words seem hollow for a recently bereaved friend, ‘merry’ to me implies rather tipsy, jolly or enjoyable Christmas would be an alternative.  

Don’t wish to sound miserable or Scrooge like, I’m saying how it is for me, a feeling going back to childhood when I remember being bored by TV so would be knitting or reading, the extra work load on my mother who stayed up late on Christmas Eve knitting dolls clothes for my sister’s new doll. I must have been an odd child, I had a doll too and used to wonder what I was supposed to do with it! 

If anyone is reading these scribblings may I wish them the opportunity to enjoy Christmas in the manner they would most enjoy and appreciate, thank you for commenting on my blog, I’ll try and return the compliment.

End of the marmalade

It was a sudden revelation that this was the last jar of 2019 marmalade, and a tiny jar at that. Although fifty plus jars were made back in January clearly this was not enough to last until next January. There are options to solve this, damson jam is eaten instead, we buy shop marmalade or purchase a can of Marmade (think that is the right name) to make a pseudo home made product. In reality  marmalade maybe home made from charity stalls at Christmas lighting up events or winter fairs would be a tastier option.

As long as I’ve had my own home I have made a Christmas cake, usually  using the recipe from the Stork cookery book from school, this year albeit a bit late to allow for maturity I’m doing the same. The fruit has been soaking in brandy, hope I wasn’t too heavy handed with the liquor and today, after a dental checkup the creaming, beating and baking will begin.

This glass bowl has a history, when DS was at play school there was the inevitable fund raising, this bowl, filled with ingredients to make a Christmas cake, was the prize, this was either 34 or 35 years ago. No clingfilm used, this cover reminds  me of shower caps, they are for food use to cover bowls, can be washed and reused, Ian bought them as part of our efforts to be eco friendly.