tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28170868746843813442024-03-12T19:09:43.269-07:00TinkingbellTinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-84348125555451363272014-02-17T17:02:00.001-08:002014-02-17T17:02:12.436-08:00Coping with abundance!Autumn is not far away. The harvest is just starting to kick into gear, and the 6 zucchini plants have just started to really hit their straps!<br />
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There are currently 36 <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/lunch-box-muffins-39997">Zucchini and Banana Lunchbox Muffin</a>s in the oven, and zucchini appears to have been making an appearance in some form in most meals. The kids have decided that they really like <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/5546/zucchini+slice">Zucchini Slice</a>, either hot or cold; yesterday I made 100 calorie soup in the Thermomix (carrots, zucchini - of course - onion, garlic. herbs, capsicum and a tin of tomatoes and some chicken stock, all whizzed up); ratatouille; and barbecued zucchini. Zucchini may also creep into curries (Butter chicken - with zucchini and spinach), bolognese, pasta sauces and anything else I can think of.<br />
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A few years ago, I made a collection of zucchini recipes, just to deal with the bounty. Zucchini and corn relish , of course, but apart from the muffins, and the <a href="http://www.kidspot.com.au/best-recipes/after-school-snacks+86/apple-and-zucchini-muffins-recipe+3899.htm">apple and zucchini</a> muffins, two other favourites are the <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/blueberry-zucchini-bread/">zucchini and blueberry loaf</a>, and <a href="http://food52.com/recipes/253-zucchini-lemon-cookies">zucchini and lemon biscuits</a>.<br />
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I actually really like zucchini, but I confess to needing some inspiration to get the rest of the troops eating it!<br />
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Of course, now the plums are about to come on. That means plum cakes, plum tarts and all things plummy. Unfortunately we are still working our way through last years plum sauce, so that one won't be happening this year. And then it will be tomatoes. I am eagerly awaiting the tomato bounty because I ran out of the frozen roasted tomato sauce which is my base for pizza, pasta and just about everything else.<br />
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In other domesticity, my 34 year old Janome died. This was a sad day, because I was given the sewing machine by my father when I went to university, in lieu of a clothing allowance. I made and designed lots of clothes, theatrical costumes, and basic wardrobe items as well as gifts. Granted, it hadn't been used much in the last 12 months, but it made me sad. I still have the machine, but the foot control is well and truly cactus.<br />
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The Accountant actually made my protest when, after much internet searching and being unable to find a replacement foot control, I announced that I would be buying a new machine. So, I now have a Husky in the house. So far it has sewn up one Lily dress, two sundresses for the Princess, a range of hems, and is about to sew up another Lily and a pinafore. Yay!<br />
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Enough for now. I'd be interested in more zucchini and plum recipes, and finding out new ways of dealing with the bounty. Plum jam may be in my future, and I think I may need extra hours in the day for the domestic side of life!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-14342593789303968612014-01-23T19:07:00.003-08:002014-01-23T19:07:30.386-08:00Deja Vu all over again!Here I am - good intentions at the ready. We'll see how it goes. Last year, as soon as I resolved to blog again, I ended up working and life just took over my - well, my life, really!<br />
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Last year seems to have been a blur of work, children, family and always running as fast as I could just to stay still.<br />
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The Christmas break has given me a chance to catch a breath. So, last year I was a chauffeur and cheerleader for the family. Watched innumerable junior games of hockey while freezing my bum off on an outdoor concrete grandstand, including a couple in torrential rain and one evening in a sea fog which eerily swallowed the small hockey players and most of the game. I find myself selfishly hoping that the kids don't want to play hockey this year (or, at least, that they get a roof on the grandstand).<br />
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Destructoboy played soccer, Princess sang, in choirs and as a soloist - and started singing lessons and then the singing teacher moved. Dammit dammit. Destructoboy started guitar lessons, Princess took a break from piano - well, she refused to practice, so it was more like a recognition of the situation. Both kids want to do Tae Kwan Do this year. I have a yellow belt from a long ago time when I was young and had a crush on a black belt..... Maybe I'll go along, too.<br />
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I knitted. 15 adult garments, some socks, some shawls and a baby jacket. Somewhat more yarn came in than was knitted, so I need to ensure that this balance is redressed. I finished 20,000m worth of knitting last year. Just. With slightly over an hour left. I even finally managed to take some pictures for my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Tinkingbell">Ravelry project pages</a>! They look a little less unpopulated now! <br />
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So, 2014 needs to be at least tepid sheep. We'll see how that goes.<br />
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What else has happened? I have seen a little bit of KnightlyKnitter and her family. I have attacked some of the accumulated crap which has collected in the house and am engaged in filling wheelie bins with rubbish and recycling. I decided on a minimalist approach to the veggie garden, and have been picking rainbow chard, rhubarb and zucchinis, laughing at the ridiculous number of volunteer pumpkins which sprouted from the compost I spread, and been gently encouraging to the tomatoes and watermelons.<br />
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I have been either walking or riding my bike most days. My knees appear to have decided that they don't like jogging, so I have slowed down to a brisk walk, instead. Very little travel happened in 2013, once we returned from the UK. Bendigo, of course with the Hustler Street Posse - even though we no longer stay at Hustler's Road; a weekend with the Princess in Melbourne to see King Kong for her birthday, and a trip to Queensland because we insisted on tagging along when the Accountant went up there on business.<br />
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Life rolls on, kids get bigger and busier and school is just around the corner again. The first month of the year is almost finished, and I have another pile of accumulated detritus from several lives to sort. <i> Au revoir,</i> until next time!<br />
<br />TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-13661312040405776592013-04-16T18:13:00.002-07:002013-04-16T18:13:45.578-07:00<h3>
<b>Yoohoo! Anyone out there?</b></h3>
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I know, I know. Expecting people to hang about for 2 years waiting for deathless prose is really a bit of an ask, but I am going to try to Blog more regularly. Truth is, I have actually missed blogging, and if I can try to do a weekly post, I think it would be good discipline!<br />
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So in the missing 2 years or so, I have got older - and hit a birthday which has a '0' on the end. The children are older - Princess is more like a drama queen, with Diva-ish sensibilities, but Destructoboy has just got larger, better at school and the zone of destruction has become wider. The Accountant has moved offices, had another close call, but is well now.<br />
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I have discovered that working full time really eats into your life, that I thoroughly enjoy teaching at high school - mostly, and that you can actually squish more into the day if you sit on it and shove things into the corners. The house is not any tidier, the garden is still neglected and I am currently spending the non-working hours (or rather, the non <b>paid </b>working hours) as a pretty much full time chauffeur and organiser.<br />
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Knitting has certainly happened - particularly around choir rehearsals (Princess), rehearsals for local production of <i>The Sound of Music</i> (Princess again - she is playing Marta, and of course, I am bursting with pride), hockey (both children) and soccer (Destructoboy). In addition, I attempt to creat haute cuisine, launder piles of clothes and occasionally venture into vacuuming and bathroom cleaning. <br />
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In Tasmania, we are heading into Autumn. After a very long hot summer, everyone is still picking tomatoes and chillis, but the nights are colder and I am starting to wear light 4 ply jumpers - but all day. My sandals are being packed away, and, although I haven't yet worn my boots, I am looking at them!<br />
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Over the Christmas holidays, we attempted a white Christmas, which unfortunately, simply become a wet Christmas in England. It was lots of fun, and we caught up with old friends. The bit which was not fun was breaking my wrist whilst ice-skating at an outdoor rink on Boxing Day. Twenty years ago, I was very ordinary at ice-skating, and my attempt to re-discover my former mediocrity meant I had the chance to examine Britain's NHS from the inside. I'm better now, but it is an experience I'd prefer not to repeat!<br />
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So, now we have caught up, what have you been doing? Triumphs and tragedies, fun and tears. Tell me what's been going on. I'm all ears!<br />
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<br />TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-43549180173499705342011-01-31T18:32:00.000-08:002011-01-31T18:49:26.922-08:00I don't just break resolutions.......I jump on them with both feet!<br /><br />I posted on the 19th, said I was going to post once a week, and then immediately left it almost 2 weeks until I posted again! Hopeless.<br /><br />I am blaming the holidays (and the fact that I barely know what day of the week it is), for the fact that I suddenly realised it was 1 February, and the beginning of school was just around the corner. So, in 2 sleeps the children are back to school and very shortly we are all off to NZ for a short time.<br /><br />So, you ask, what have they been doing? <br /><br />Well, there has been knitting and the nearly eternal Hay cardigan is finally finished. It is currently blocking and awaiting buttons. There have been 2 versions of the Hurricane Hat - one where I thought I knew much better than the designer (and it didn't look even vaguely like a hurricane) and one with the remaining posmerino which actually abided by the designers instructions and looks great - but meant that I had to frog the not-quite-a-hurricane in order to finish it off. The hat will go with the posmerino Boneyard shawl and will be worn in a cold place.<br /><br />That's right - a <span style="font-weight: bold;">very </span>cold place. I am off to Antarctica for a day trip! On the 30th annuversary of the Mt Erebus Aircrash, Air New Zealand sent 12 relatives of the victims to Antarctica to the crash site to place a memorial marker. The passengers were drawn by ballot - and I had no idea at the time that this was happening. Because it was so successful, Air New Zealand decided to put on a larger second flight. This time I actually knew about the ballot and entered my name - and I have a seat. The plan is to fly from NZ, land at Scott Base, place another memorial, and after a short time on the ground, to fly back to NZ.<br /><br />What this has meant from a practical point of view, is that we are all going to NZ (because there are several alternative flight dates, depending on the Antarctic weather) and I need to pack thermals, a scarf and hat and warm socks.<br /><br />Gosh - I wonder where the scarf, hat and socks should come from? I know - I'll knit some!<br /><br />So the kids go back to school for two days, and then vanish for a fortnight for some real world experience of vulcanology, zoology, studies of flora and fauna and some vicarious Antarctic experiences. I'll try to blog before we leave - but I must go - I have a hat to finish and block......TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-52531353336985387602011-01-19T16:54:00.000-08:002011-01-19T17:11:31.183-08:00Welcome to 2011! (and a resolution!)Well, it has been just a while since my last post and we are starting a new year. The resolution is to try and blog once a week, so we'll see how tht goes!<br /><br />I have been knitting - although I didn't quite get 1 garments done in 2010, (the Lia still needs sleeves and I'm plugging away on the Hay Cardigan), I did manage 11. I also knited 3 pairs of socks, 6 shawls, some mitts and hats and presents and such. I went to Bendi and partied with some wonderful peeps, who also held my hand when I ended up in the emergency department at the local hospital with a fever brought on by a throat infection.<br /><br />We went to Queensland with husby in September (actually, he had to go on busines, but we were so over the winter that we insisted on tagging along too). I finished the first year of my Masters course with quite satisfactory marks, thank you.<br /><br />We had Christmas, the Knightly Knitter and her family came to visit and see int he New Year. it rained a lot. We had a flood in November. We had another flood last week. This onew as much worse - although not nearly as bad as The Mainland, where it is dire (donations for people who have lost everything can be sent <a href="https://www.salvationarmy.com.au/newdonation/donation.aspx">here </a>- up to 2.5 million people can't sleep in their own homes).<br /><br />Friends were flooded, and I helped with the clean up which was beyond yucky. Mopping the same patch of floor 6 to 8 times will eventually get it clean and stop it smelling - just saying. The local boutique brewery got flooded (and their house next door - no beer lost, but the kegs had to be rounded up and there was more cleaning there - and lots of throwing things away.<br /><br />Here is our paddock - underwater<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XGg2nY9pSFPbZ9VridW5a0grGeEkFdSg4fMIBAkPfpTKfv1Wsvqrub5mpHTbgx0WdTADY0TBhtsZc_VCSq4Ordc5Wdywpf1Fx6-IHedUPrUxdk35ZaoLwJqKtRuKwzo0GHmPUea1zBqk/s1600/100_3847.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XGg2nY9pSFPbZ9VridW5a0grGeEkFdSg4fMIBAkPfpTKfv1Wsvqrub5mpHTbgx0WdTADY0TBhtsZc_VCSq4Ordc5Wdywpf1Fx6-IHedUPrUxdk35ZaoLwJqKtRuKwzo0GHmPUea1zBqk/s200/100_3847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564068648873258274" border="0" /></a><br />here is out road - underwater<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErBUMin3PmJyBNeNu5NQNOnJeYnj4KPctrn0zdm2_LqYXmor57yiDF6VIuVuaiszwORmoDFdh00FPmNf6KWdUR9M9sySonK1TURhNHTVNrmo-rYsm0W9lT9NCHxxjCyDrHOYIhDLQet7A/s1600/100_3878.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErBUMin3PmJyBNeNu5NQNOnJeYnj4KPctrn0zdm2_LqYXmor57yiDF6VIuVuaiszwORmoDFdh00FPmNf6KWdUR9M9sySonK1TURhNHTVNrmo-rYsm0W9lT9NCHxxjCyDrHOYIhDLQet7A/s200/100_3878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564068649546196978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />here is a platypus swimming in the paddock next door - which was underwater, too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRjaqEYXLTW37_GzQ250rZLsIeW7zKu5R26SV95H_B8mYf-aJKN5frI9nNBuIIU2hXPjNkDX-pVA2IQTE5DB24khjXepCtBKEVWDnkBYAPRe5j8cyLGCMiwOUQ-uC374ll2jypSS3Voh6/s1600/100_3882.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRjaqEYXLTW37_GzQ250rZLsIeW7zKu5R26SV95H_B8mYf-aJKN5frI9nNBuIIU2hXPjNkDX-pVA2IQTE5DB24khjXepCtBKEVWDnkBYAPRe5j8cyLGCMiwOUQ-uC374ll2jypSS3Voh6/s200/100_3882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564068670028616802" border="0" /></a><br />The best thing about the flood was the platypus. And the limbo day. The roads near us were all blocked, so the kids got tpo ride their bikes on the road for the very first (and probably last) time. Generally this is an unsafe thing to do, because we have no shoulder or pavement out here, and lots of hoons and trucks. The day after the floods was glorious - in contrast to the torrential rain for days before.<br /><br />Shortly, we head off to New Zealand, and I will be going to the Antarctic for a day trip. I'll fill you in on all tht later - but I have a posmerino hat to finish, to go with the scarf I made to keep me warm down there!<br /><br />Happy New Year - and all the best for 2011!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-80418970712910803742010-06-20T17:16:00.000-07:002010-06-20T17:56:44.012-07:00Oh dear.....Well, here I am, a little late and with almost too much news for a single post.<br />News of my demise has been greatly exaggerated - I have just been suffering from computer fatigue, due to assignments, required tutorial postings and general fighting and scrapping with administrators and bureaucrats. And then there were exams. Sigh.<br /><br />I have however, been knitting ('I knit so I don't kill people' has become a mantra).<br />There has been knitting. Here is <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Little Something</span> (Sundara Silky Merino Aran - from a Ravelry de-stash):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XSv2rya7G5ejjxGWyzMDP-f8MSf_OCWhVkGCkOe_ysbuu8B8Z7HA50B7D6uzDVP9AfT0Quz8muT-X36UKWu3wMIF8RTqRLtWmO-gYLl2_2Zyp0DVpYgHwrhY2PaQxYcIl6A2-TsUu1UO/s1600/100_3349.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XSv2rya7G5ejjxGWyzMDP-f8MSf_OCWhVkGCkOe_ysbuu8B8Z7HA50B7D6uzDVP9AfT0Quz8muT-X36UKWu3wMIF8RTqRLtWmO-gYLl2_2Zyp0DVpYgHwrhY2PaQxYcIl6A2-TsUu1UO/s200/100_3349.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485017287480221026" border="0" /></a><br />A second <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tempest </span>(longer - in Somoko)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybSuTQysxw5k_lasXaWZcKIGBXMYX1FwJLAd-WeeHnukpVsjE434QxwF5e_HSCVxoKBWyfVTfALlzbtzlp_C6taw2Mu7WLDGHKhDqK0oX6vhXWqbRdXxDGc8f6CiW0pACOZqJidyaxbk4/s1600/100_3345.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybSuTQysxw5k_lasXaWZcKIGBXMYX1FwJLAd-WeeHnukpVsjE434QxwF5e_HSCVxoKBWyfVTfALlzbtzlp_C6taw2Mu7WLDGHKhDqK0oX6vhXWqbRdXxDGc8f6CiW0pACOZqJidyaxbk4/s200/100_3345.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485017265484052530" border="0" /></a><br />A <span style="font-weight: bold;">Transverse Cardigan</span>, in Classic Elite Renaissance (also from a Ravelry de-stash)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OxrlBbwo-w5fKXHNLSBNQ8aZAnxqOexvzHrzzDmWHp3l3KUNBL9e0DIAKs14sMLBVP7FxgV5w7fu8t_awz5OJtvOGxdHKW22-mYEll5Bs0_aZhTc3UHuIBcCE-QtdeCvh7oCCDlRO8pw/s1600/100_3514.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OxrlBbwo-w5fKXHNLSBNQ8aZAnxqOexvzHrzzDmWHp3l3KUNBL9e0DIAKs14sMLBVP7FxgV5w7fu8t_awz5OJtvOGxdHKW22-mYEll5Bs0_aZhTc3UHuIBcCE-QtdeCvh7oCCDlRO8pw/s200/100_3514.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485015395099091986" border="0" /></a>A <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tea Leaves</span> cardigan in Sanguine Gryphon Traveller. This may be my favourite cardigan yet. The pattern is lovely and the wool is gorgeous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTC5Jk-jIpum0F8R94-UNfMrdzHhcwHOcxSMfxFudJVloteVWO6kHFJ6SReVlM53AUkVqH_K6TSFGLsypgM-XveXe3mjvL7V4fiS_xlSMTU95ISBGjwgMQCyyDrR-pbXzhuBDEwGxBpEe/s1600/100_3515.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTC5Jk-jIpum0F8R94-UNfMrdzHhcwHOcxSMfxFudJVloteVWO6kHFJ6SReVlM53AUkVqH_K6TSFGLsypgM-XveXe3mjvL7V4fiS_xlSMTU95ISBGjwgMQCyyDrR-pbXzhuBDEwGxBpEe/s200/100_3515.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485015404570946962" border="0" /></a><br />There is a bit of a selfish knitting theme going on here, partly because most of my cardigans and jumpers are too large on me this year (<span style="font-style: italic;">happy dance!</span>) but also because it is comforting to be making oneself something pretty when wading through a pile of assignments. I have also been trying to shop heavily from my non-stash (as it is well known that I have <span style="font-weight: bold;">NO STASH</span>).<br /><br />Partly this is motivated by the rather large quantity of - <span style="font-style: italic;">ahem </span>- insulation which appears to live in our spare room (amongst other places), and partly because, while organising it, I discovered how much beautiful - <span style="font-style: italic;">ahem </span>- insulation - I appear to possess. So I am using it, rather than merely patting it and admiring it.<br /><br />I seem to have actually knitted more than I have acquired over the last few months. This is <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Good Thing</span>, especially with the Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show on the horizon, and the near certainty that I may acquire at least something knittable while I am there.<br /><br />But it hasn't all been slaving over a hot computer and forcing the family to eat what ever I can throw together in 20 minutes.<br /><br />No, no.<br /><br /><br />Just after Easter we escaped to Coles Bay for a wedding. The Accountant's God-daughter married her beau, in a most beautiful ceremony held practically on top of a mountain, overlooking Moulting Lagoon, the Swan River and across toward Swansea. Beautiful day, stunning bride and amazing location. Because of this, we had a lovely weekend away and the weather was perfect, as was the wedding. (I love a good wedding.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4wgC1vihoLZoRSSkOKXokKT6MG0yXMrHXPlncf7P6pF9WrJYC-3ZIuDpm45mnZZ4I7I41s_OQnP-wPZmUL8t9qAybpLsXIUjVIM2g-NLl7uyXE6Hb4VvmT94zh8EjoQd59k7Xu9Opixf/s1600/100_3307.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4wgC1vihoLZoRSSkOKXokKT6MG0yXMrHXPlncf7P6pF9WrJYC-3ZIuDpm45mnZZ4I7I41s_OQnP-wPZmUL8t9qAybpLsXIUjVIM2g-NLl7uyXE6Hb4VvmT94zh8EjoQd59k7Xu9Opixf/s200/100_3307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485019562181746306" border="0" /></a><br />My lovely Step-mother came with us, and looked after these two monsters while we attended the wedding, and the reception later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3MEJGnu3SsNoxBDYr5V9I-XG8eCSGZYZpE-YfdTLo7rdMpA7pAIuv3FpGKY003svPryIa4LE55W-YoJFSLXPIZH5w4DMYakruWzQZHC1GMow9orHbr0DMvZ6exKNcAgLpTgzNFc8Fev4/s1600/100_3341.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3MEJGnu3SsNoxBDYr5V9I-XG8eCSGZYZpE-YfdTLo7rdMpA7pAIuv3FpGKY003svPryIa4LE55W-YoJFSLXPIZH5w4DMYakruWzQZHC1GMow9orHbr0DMvZ6exKNcAgLpTgzNFc8Fev4/s200/100_3341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485017304572414914" border="0" /></a><br />After the stress of the assignments, and my practicuum (which was wonderful and exciting and took place in a 'challenging' school, with a very experienced teacher, and a fun and very lively class), we took a holiday. In fact, I actually truanted from my course for the final week. I made sure all assignments and tutorial work was done, packed the lightest text book for exam study and we headed off for two weeks in Fiji. I studied and knitted in a hammock, snorkelled every day, taught the Princes to snorkel, saw sharks and rays and lots of lovely fish and coral, kayaked and found 2 lost Fijian Crested Iguanas while knitting in my hammock.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqlLTpr6GAdzvWZ_2Ng9QIhEdXqQQwEEROObNF2YL5m73tF0FydSoB-Ok-0EYMtJPc15zv9d2IMYY8kzNQ0KyVOUs3xn3H7Q3Awx_blYlxgT1dtGwRoVstmcCtlmhVEZdogA1gnmjqEKy/s1600/100_3442.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqlLTpr6GAdzvWZ_2Ng9QIhEdXqQQwEEROObNF2YL5m73tF0FydSoB-Ok-0EYMtJPc15zv9d2IMYY8kzNQ0KyVOUs3xn3H7Q3Awx_blYlxgT1dtGwRoVstmcCtlmhVEZdogA1gnmjqEKy/s200/100_3442.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485015428289189858" border="0" /></a>The finding of the escaped iguanas then gave me an excuse for spending as much time in the hammock as possible. When people asked what I was doing, I could reply that I was looking for iguanas, with a perfectly straight face. I basically finished some <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vesper </span>socks (still have to put in afterthought heels), started some <span style="font-weight: bold;">Duckies </span>socks, and almost finished a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Citron </span>shawlette (hate that word).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSsEz08NX0g8zALJahL_fz9vxUw9a6DKCyIqf9MNcmlre3EBWWgesCMbZxhqQQCWy1bl54E2ADJ4PIgHOrKw7jsx9OdHb7OfDHEXsNT-Zb305YJ-VCb8nG1bNqRzpuNwh-Cbzt8I3i6yl/s1600/100_3492.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSsEz08NX0g8zALJahL_fz9vxUw9a6DKCyIqf9MNcmlre3EBWWgesCMbZxhqQQCWy1bl54E2ADJ4PIgHOrKw7jsx9OdHb7OfDHEXsNT-Zb305YJ-VCb8nG1bNqRzpuNwh-Cbzt8I3i6yl/s200/100_3492.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485015414792706578" border="0" /></a>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Citron </span>would actually have been finished - had the Knitpicks cable not broken - grrrrrrrr!<br /><br />So that's it really. You are up to date. Now I am on holiday (as much as a mother ever is!), the kids are back at school. The Princess still has her 4 Fijian beaded braids in and is resisting all attempts to remove them. Destructoboy is missing his splashes in the pool and unlimited access to pineapple and paw paw. The Accountant is missing the warmth and relaxation, and I am missing my hammock.It is the shortest day today, and utterly freezing. We had a hard frost this morning. Fiji seems very far away.<br /><br />Excuse me, I need to go and knit something.......TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-1198262168761336952010-03-05T20:01:00.000-08:002010-03-05T20:16:50.092-08:00Bad, Bad, Naughty Blogger!I can't believe we are suddenly in March and I blinked and missed February entirely (at least blog-wise). My abject apologies. I think it is that time thief again. I truly can't believe it is March, and therefore, Autumn.<br /><br />There has been a frenzy of what the Princess calls 'hibernation cooking'. It has only been chilly once, but when school starts, you know the countdown is on.<br /><br />I have so far turned 20kg of tomatoes (not mine, unfortunately, this year) into roasted tomato sauce, which now resides n the freezer. I have turned the early plums into plum sauce. I have the second last plums (the D'Agen plums) in the dehydrator, becoming prunes. And I have acquired a slow cooker. A really big 6 litre slow cooker. Yesterday I turned 2.5kg of beef shin into an enormous amount of Osso Bucco, half of which has joined the roasted tomato sauce in the freezer.<br /><br />I joined the Ravelympics in an effort to get some WIPs sorted. I finished a Stash,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAye9wywyYn8sICpxoZb4OxcLzl2izTG_1EoX2oztp9CVamddQT0VCsdmzrcIBc1FblcDUdCI2V_H_19UiszsGLyx4NO9MGol6YbdSIxFd9Lu8AqNr8xTrJoz0H9nj72cQoJfrPuF4gGpH/s1600-h/100_3245.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAye9wywyYn8sICpxoZb4OxcLzl2izTG_1EoX2oztp9CVamddQT0VCsdmzrcIBc1FblcDUdCI2V_H_19UiszsGLyx4NO9MGol6YbdSIxFd9Lu8AqNr8xTrJoz0H9nj72cQoJfrPuF4gGpH/s200/100_3245.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445367118894046738" border="0" /></a><br />a self designed Cowl<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm3c7yfkTny00s13-BJ9d86dySiDqJBZwiqPX8nI4eYE-kuCbo2F8uCQ8M9shN6jPbto4kjztrWFwvRx_oXSDvQRm4MGFNKt68NfQFzBh7yGT2JJxSyQ4tmZMpVeU16xmYJc2XZRZNHXW/s1600-h/100_3244.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsm3c7yfkTny00s13-BJ9d86dySiDqJBZwiqPX8nI4eYE-kuCbo2F8uCQ8M9shN6jPbto4kjztrWFwvRx_oXSDvQRm4MGFNKt68NfQFzBh7yGT2JJxSyQ4tmZMpVeU16xmYJc2XZRZNHXW/s200/100_3244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445367108844556594" border="0" /></a><br />and the Ishbel<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdrEZQbGA7jcOV0exS8lA3JMuOsE7axYMopk11y_GGkD2aRnW1mvoYAml4K4CDLAK49dQtzboa55PD9IvRDQh3PwiZ8VsgLDNmOBB9S8WJt-ElV2rGrVFHG20y6S5S6giomCGc_njD8E5/s1600-h/100_3256.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdrEZQbGA7jcOV0exS8lA3JMuOsE7axYMopk11y_GGkD2aRnW1mvoYAml4K4CDLAK49dQtzboa55PD9IvRDQh3PwiZ8VsgLDNmOBB9S8WJt-ElV2rGrVFHG20y6S5S6giomCGc_njD8E5/s200/100_3256.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445367128965546482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />and I managed to finish the Rocking Sock Club socks from the November package, a lovely CookieA sock called 'Raven Swirl'.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhowKKRqGWAlgx1g-iffuX_sb_3b3yUFDFUmnBXlBxhu57FlDJf7iefeZ4mWyvCMBCW1cLGlUciC1c4_yZ_BeJJjPaxqUA6QXGumFhKTYpDhhVDJiIjh5d9NWvsSDsSyLFwJCyNLvTMYw/s1600-h/100_3243.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhowKKRqGWAlgx1g-iffuX_sb_3b3yUFDFUmnBXlBxhu57FlDJf7iefeZ4mWyvCMBCW1cLGlUciC1c4_yZ_BeJJjPaxqUA6QXGumFhKTYpDhhVDJiIjh5d9NWvsSDsSyLFwJCyNLvTMYw/s200/100_3243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445367093600106706" border="0" /></a><br />I'm currently not too far off finishing a Damson for my lovely Step Mother. Unfortunately, her birthday is tomorrow, and I don't think I am going to get there.<br /><br />Yarnadan was not a success. Despite some de-stashing and frantic knitting I managed to finish or dispose of around 1 kg or yarn. A bit more than that came in, but I am not admitting how much. There were some sock club parcels, a few moments of madness on the internet, and about 8 socks and 8 jumpers worth may have come through the door. Drat.<br /><br />I am feeling quite good that there have been no yarn purchases this month. Some yarn has come in, due to sock club memberships, but I have not actually gone searching and slapped down boodle for balls (or skeins), so that's a win.<br /><br />One of the main reasons for the blogging silence has been that my kids returned to school, and they are both at school five days a week this year. This has meant I had time on my hands. "Aha", I can hear you saying. "If she has all this time on her hands, why hasn't she been updating us with her no doubt riveting life and all the exciting things she is doing?"<br /><br />Now, a normal, sane, adult type person would say, "Hmm. Time on my hands? Great, I'll clean the house. Or knit more, or catch up on reading or do some gardening." That is what a sane person would say.<br /><br />I thought, " Great. Time on my hands? Why don't I go back to university and get another degree. I know, I'll do a Master of Teaching and I'll specialise in primary school.''<br /><br />Not only am I doing this, I decided that it would be a really, <span style="font-weight: bold;">really </span>good idea to do it online.<br /><br />And to do it full time.<br /><br />So I am currently a student, a full-time student, part time mother and casual cleaner and house person (very, very casual!). I may be the owner of the messiest house in Northern Tasmania.<br /><br />So, instead of posting exciting things on the computer, on an irregular basiis, I've been...<br /><br />Well, I've been posting slightly less exciting things on the computer on a regular basis. So far, I've been a student for two weeks and I'm not behind yet. That's got to be good, right? <br /><br />The really interesting thing will be how I manage to juggle the full time practical in-class requirement, when I am sent forth to practice my skills on unsuspecting children.<br /><br />The more things change, the more they stay the same.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-69531189068484696602010-01-19T19:57:00.000-08:002010-01-19T20:17:21.426-08:00Strange and Odd....I'm glad I didn't make any rash New Years Resolutions about yarn diets or such, because if I had done, I would have to be out the back giving myself a stern talking to.<br /><br />I was hoping to get through the whole month of January without buying any yarn. I didn't.<br /><br />Why aren't you at least pretending to be surprised?<br /><br />So, for February, I am going to declare 'Yarnadan', a month devoted to contemplation, planning and higher pursuits (like knitting and cleaning), and not low and carnal pursuits (like cruising the internet and shoving people out of the way - in a virtual, cybershphere manner - to grab yarn at a Wollmeise or Sanguine Gryphon update).<br /><br />Besides, February is a short month and I might make it.<br /><br />As well as some beautiful yarn which may be making its way towards me, there is also the matter of a New Zealand Sampler Box which will hopefully hit the Tasmanian shores in a day or so. This, of course, is not buying yarn. This is more in the manner of a 'research exercise'. Sampler boxes are fun show-bags of lovely bits and bobs, including fibre and notions which allow you to touch and try before you buy. I have been lucky enough to buy a couple of the new Australian ones, and now managed the first New Zealand one.<br /><br />The grand plan for some unspecified future date is to knit up some of the samples into swatch squares and make a sort of patchwork blanket from them. Sometime between now - and when I turn ninety!<br /><br />The time thief has been here again - the summer holidays are almost over - in less than three weeks, the kidlets are back at school. And we have only a week of January left! I'm glad I'm not the only one affected by <span style="font-style: italic;">timethiefitis</span>. Check <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BhgFrSkKWk">this</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(There was an unsuccessful attempt to embed the youtube video in here which, as you can see, failed completely. Never mind. Just follow the linky!)</span><br /><br /><br />Seems as if Kate Miller-Heidke has the same trouble!<br /><br />Of course, part of the trouble has involved connecting my Christmas Wii and playing lots of silly games which we are mostly bad at, but are lots of fun. I think I damaged my hamstring, possibly 100pin bowling, or maybe trying not to wet myself laughing as I attempted to beat the Accountant in a canoe race. We are enjoying it immensely, and it is bringing out amazingly competitive streaks in my children!<br /><br />This weekend we are off to Cradle Mountain. Hope to get in lots of walking and see lots of animals and have a lovely time. I am even hoping to actually finish something in the knitting line, but as I haven't managed to do that in weeks, I see no reason why it is likely to happen in the next few days!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-64545134563824343302010-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:002010-01-07T17:10:11.873-08:00Twenty10 - It's a Year, not a Game (or maybe it is a game.....)Happy 2010 everyone (insert sounds of fireworks, party poppers, sirens etc here).<br /><br />I went to bed before midnight, but got up again because the noisy neighbours around where we were staying in South Australia started letting off very loud fireworks at midnight - and I LOVE fireworks. I got up and stood outside in my PJs watching rockets and sparkly things head skyward and laughed and made faces and left my mouth open.<br /><br />Did you all have a marvellous Christmas and a very Happy New Year?<br /><br />I'm not sure about 2010 so far, I was really just hitting my stride with the old one, just getting used to writing 2009 on things and then they change it. Seeemed to fly past, but I think it is just the time thief again. Maybe 2010 should be the year I find out who is stealing all my days and weeks.<br /><br />In deference to the season, a little summing up is in order.<br /><br />2009 was the year that:<br />-My children were both at school for the first time<br />-We worried about husbeast<br />-I knitted 13 pairs of socks, 9 jumpers/cardis, and assorted blankets, scarves, shawls etc<br />- I created too many WIPs and think I should do something about them<br />-I joined 5 sock clubs (a few too many, I think)<br />-I seemed to add rather a lot of 'insulation' to the house<br />-I sorta learned to spin<br />-I worked off 18kg (round of applause please), although I still have 12 to go<br />-I started (<span style="font-style: italic;">gasp</span>) running - sort of<br />-I went to Bendigo and met lots of my wonderful no-longer-imaginary friends<br />-Australia seemed to go to the pack as far as climate and environment are concerned<br />-The 30th anniversary of the Mt Erebus aircrash<br />-Started the year as a journo, ended it as a redundant journo<br /><br />In short. lots of good stuff happened, some not-so-good stuff happened, and some downright bad stuff happened (bushfires, floods, GFC, Copenhagen failures, Japanese whaling).<br /><br />In other words it was a pretty normal year all round. Welcome to life in general!<br /><br />So here are the last finished projects from 2009.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73oHWy3vLa8bzIcpO3Bvi8AdTLd138HCgNlcBPVwC0wTmRths2C8GOvT2we0hMRxPAdf1rKZRoDVwIbZsL7GtraSaMFEhR9EzHiuFJfR_k66OX25c2RhLsdj9v7K0NF8K2DVtTbatyRa/s1600-h/100_3053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW73oHWy3vLa8bzIcpO3Bvi8AdTLd138HCgNlcBPVwC0wTmRths2C8GOvT2we0hMRxPAdf1rKZRoDVwIbZsL7GtraSaMFEhR9EzHiuFJfR_k66OX25c2RhLsdj9v7K0NF8K2DVtTbatyRa/s200/100_3053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424168069110897394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Felted wine socks, knitted from stash yarn, pattern from Yarn Magazine issue 1, gifty knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJx4Tz3BstonKMzBbixakdPYAVckaUjtExR8MVZUtFmIV9iWarjpzoXkHPTgPT31ttwMsJoobYZf1rHMZ4B0Cdr-xBb1HDXcbcmKLw80b2JFFHvOJlGEY-9-Fc_NeLH_V6z_rMVgoqbR-/s1600-h/100_3104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJx4Tz3BstonKMzBbixakdPYAVckaUjtExR8MVZUtFmIV9iWarjpzoXkHPTgPT31ttwMsJoobYZf1rHMZ4B0Cdr-xBb1HDXcbcmKLw80b2JFFHvOJlGEY-9-Fc_NeLH_V6z_rMVgoqbR-/s200/100_3104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424168055281092562" border="0" /></a><br />Gumdrops socks, knitted in BMFA STR lightweight from the sock club, july, 2008 (did I mention about too many sock clubs?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOYZX1epXS5qvuotPm7XPITtQrylvoBiJiV0AFaVkTRy8iNlDU4Nk9G97HN70u-XcgX2JEH92lb0txYQqYkKxrGy5Cse4rD8rEinCU_5pOCAMKh5t6CrGLi40gmO2NKipzEiFFnwnRCAX/s1600-h/100_3106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOYZX1epXS5qvuotPm7XPITtQrylvoBiJiV0AFaVkTRy8iNlDU4Nk9G97HN70u-XcgX2JEH92lb0txYQqYkKxrGy5Cse4rD8rEinCU_5pOCAMKh5t6CrGLi40gmO2NKipzEiFFnwnRCAX/s200/100_3106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424168065495317458" border="0" /></a><br />Arch-shaped socks knitted in BMFA STR Mediumweight in Iolite.<br /><br />What does Twenty10 hold? Hard to predict, but probably some good, some not so good and some bad (see above).<br /><br />Bendigo again, I hope. School for both the kids, more activity, more knitting, some spinning. I might be going back to Uni and I can almost definitely say there will be ups and downs.<br /><br />The rest? Well I can give you a definite maybe on that!<br /><br />Happy 2010, everyone!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-32811862799768676732009-12-23T19:26:00.000-08:002009-12-23T19:32:30.028-08:00We Wish You a Ripper Christmas and a Snappy New YearTaken from my son's kindie class song. It rather tickled me, because it's just so Aussie - it goes:<br /><br />''We wish you a ripper Christmas<br />A dead set ripper Christmas<br />A full-on ripper Christmas<br />and a snappy New Year''<br /><br />Great song and they had such fun singing it!<br /><br />Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my last post, I really appreciated your help. And I love 'Six White Boomers - and, now, so do my kids!<br /><br />Have a wonderful Christmas, all of you. Take care of yourselves and each other, drive carefully and safely. Take time to have fun, knit, crochet and do silly things.<br /><br />And have a wonderful 2010 - and all the best for a very happy and healthy New Year.<br /><br />I'll see you all in January.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-65388184082110380852009-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:002009-12-12T15:44:05.115-08:00Bad temperedI heard the most remarkable and amazing Christmas carol this morning. I was in the shower and listening to Macca on Australia all over and I heard 'Carol for the Wheat Country' by Zita Denholm sung by Andria (or Andra) Muhoberac. It was incredible and Australian and described the wonderful Australian Cristmas of walking down hot dusty roads, and the harvest going on and I can't find a link to it anywhere.<br /><br />Nearly all our carols are about snow and winter and frost and such, and really, Christmas in Australia is not like that. Christmas in Australia is about summer and beaches and prawns and long sunny evenings and chilled champers and flowers and worry about bushfires.<br /><br />It apparently appears on 'Macca by Request' and I really don't want to buy a Macca album for just one song. But I do want my kids to hear uniquely Australian Christmas Carols. We've done Carol of the Birds and the Australian Jingle Bells which is this one:<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#009900;"><b><br /></b></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#009900;"><b>A</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#ff3300;"><b>ussie</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#009900;"><b> J</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#ff3300;"><b>ingle</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#009900;"><b> B</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#ff3300;"><b>ells</b></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:+3;color:#ff3300;"><b> </b></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><table border="0" width="50%"> <tbody><tr> <td width="559"><div> </div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;">Dashing through the bush</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> In a rusty Holden Ute</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Kicking up the dust</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Esky in the boot</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Kelpie by my side</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Singing Christmas songs</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> It's summer time and I am in</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> My singlet, shorts & thongs</span> </div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;">CHORUS:<br /> OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS<br /> JINGLE ALL THE WAY<br /> CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA<br /> ON A SCORCHING SUMMER'S DAY<br /> JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS<br /> CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT<br /> OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE<br /> IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;">Engine's getting hot<br /> Dodge the kangaroos<br /> Swaggy climbs aboard<br /> He is welcome too<br /> All the family is there<br /> Sitting by the pool<br /> Christmas day, the Aussie way<br /> By the barbecue!</span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;">CHORUS</span> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;">Come the afternoon</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Grandpa has a doze</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> The kids and uncle Bruce</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Are swimming in their clothes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> The time comes round to go</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> We take a family snap</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Then pack the car and all shoot through</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:-1;"> Before the washing up</span></div><p> </p></blockquote></td></tr></tbody></table></span><br /><br />Anyone know of links to Carol forthe Wheat Country? Hard I know, but just in case.....TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-60169728384758248532009-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:002009-12-10T19:27:24.902-08:00Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fatYes, the Christmas knitting is complete (no, there are no pictures, some readers of this blog are to be recipients!). Mind you, I had pared it down to the minimum, but apart from knitting, it also needing felting, which has also been done. So I am currently feeling an enormous sense of accomplishment.<br /><br />And, it is not often that I beat the Yarn Harlot onto a bandwagon, but this time I have done it. My French Press Slippers have just been waiting until the Christmas knitting was put of the way (seeing that I am currently feeling the felting love). Zephyrama initiated me into the slipper fold, and I am so ready. I seem to have the perfect buttons, too.<br /><br />I currently feel so swamped with WIPs, with books (I request books from the library, and then all the books I have requested for the last 6 months all arrive at the same time. There is never a possibility of renewing them, so I have to try and finish 10 books in three weeks. Makes me feel under pressure.), with Christmas preparation, that any little thing I finish fills me with a great feeling of achievement. Anything. <br /><br />Done the washing up? Warm glow.<br /><br />Finished one sock? Yay!<br /><br />Posted all overseas and interstate Christmas presents? By crikey, you're a good 'un.<br /><br />Done Christmas knitting? Bursting with virtue.<br /><br />Finish a book? The best, baby, the best.<br /><br />Now all I have to do is finish some more WIPs, the pile of books by my bed, cleaning the house, the Christmas cards, wrapping presents, de-cluttering, losing 10 or so more kilos, the laundry, the vacuuming, the bathrooms, the dinner, commenting on blogs, the stuff needed for the end of the school year, organising the holidays and keeping the children gainfully occupied, and I'll be right. Everything will be under control.<br /><br />How about you?TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-51539281449201914032009-12-01T16:15:00.000-08:002009-12-01T16:41:09.783-08:00Having a bit of a WIP 'round...It has been a month of WIP frenzy. Each night I put my hand into the Big Bucket o' WIPs (<span style="font-size:78%;">tm</span>), and play Knittlotto (<span style="font-size:78%;">tm</span>), knitting on whatever gets hauled out. A little concentrated effort on a couple of projects which may have been hanging around for a while has resulted in this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyQvaZbbGrphyphenhyphen5kAFBAnRAI-LB9IGLDTxP2E7QhCY5_rFVP8qbAkjoCMCFYy2L9_6u8qepUNxNTC9du9UxO-OvNfoOBVUld8U0-fK94Bvkt-lRNZ_jd0l5uSRkhOym4G-7ln0y59o6RY5/s1600/100_3023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyQvaZbbGrphyphenhyphen5kAFBAnRAI-LB9IGLDTxP2E7QhCY5_rFVP8qbAkjoCMCFYy2L9_6u8qepUNxNTC9du9UxO-OvNfoOBVUld8U0-fK94Bvkt-lRNZ_jd0l5uSRkhOym4G-7ln0y59o6RY5/s200/100_3023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410428354254687058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Clapotis 2, started in May 2009 finished in November 2009 (Touch Yarn Merino and utterly gorgeous)<br /><br /><br />This:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dHFnqzHFpBb60QdNUKpX9LulSiyMoYtkMdU6Di9puMhz8yUN84M8ae6D7HDjuQhVVxXGnEOsbwn-oUZ_o7yWsMY-Tg4Q5-FwJVOl6UHP3LDLfR2ogN9Xv6CImF4uZC4UvXiskXK24dqg/s1600/100_3025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dHFnqzHFpBb60QdNUKpX9LulSiyMoYtkMdU6Di9puMhz8yUN84M8ae6D7HDjuQhVVxXGnEOsbwn-oUZ_o7yWsMY-Tg4Q5-FwJVOl6UHP3LDLfR2ogN9Xv6CImF4uZC4UvXiskXK24dqg/s200/100_3025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410428363316639202" border="0" /></a><br />Radiate from Knitty.com, in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk in Citrine<br /><br />and some secret Christmas Knitting (which isn't all finished yet)<br /><br />There are also a couple of single socks and a bit more done on several other projects which have been lurking in the undergrowth for a while.<br /><br />So the whole stash honesty thing doesn't look nearly so bad at present:<br /><br />Knitted: 1300 grams<br /><br />Inward enhancements: 1700 grams<br /><br />Slightly better stats this month!<br /><br />The aniversary of Mum's death passed with a family trip to beaustiful (but slightly rainy) <a href="http://www.discovertasmania.com/destinations/western_wilderness/strahan">Strahan </a>on the West Coast of Tasmania.<br /><br />There was some of this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavhWSsbghU2lJNkjylH6dGVBn1W7WwmKA-SLCyqzNOcYNt9J5NhSl15KRyAv7i7oPPUp33XphlJm8VwS2df7SLuIA2l4xU2MZ9rokNwLntmTiOagWPg-bgMCTjGRz8Gd1DkjIepNbNVf7/s1600/100_2957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavhWSsbghU2lJNkjylH6dGVBn1W7WwmKA-SLCyqzNOcYNt9J5NhSl15KRyAv7i7oPPUp33XphlJm8VwS2df7SLuIA2l4xU2MZ9rokNwLntmTiOagWPg-bgMCTjGRz8Gd1DkjIepNbNVf7/s200/100_2957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410428372149770578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And some of this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOHVY3LlLmpAMPIJgnl-VLMix09yXuunVLP320pnRDZoMUNNaekwvKqOH_OhoPlZiUsQntx0r2PqvnGPxCTNlEPLFtr0hILt8ToeJCZfAHv1Imci_dQm6UsgtiZK2K3DhX15CGxrrfTe2/s1600/100_2993.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOHVY3LlLmpAMPIJgnl-VLMix09yXuunVLP320pnRDZoMUNNaekwvKqOH_OhoPlZiUsQntx0r2PqvnGPxCTNlEPLFtr0hILt8ToeJCZfAHv1Imci_dQm6UsgtiZK2K3DhX15CGxrrfTe2/s200/100_2993.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410428391451025202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And almost a whole day of this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsUBIk5m8I1OrKOXzZeNtSeBplohWRupCIslK8Ybu_Ha-Ln1JmXbsAMCDeWo0AIew0Vm7tm-XJUPjBlGqAjjntguxGNoKTRuRhVY_LEjoXrhSjbDqBf8bQVz3XDfCLXiaRUr4kS_AuBB3/s1600/100_2988.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsUBIk5m8I1OrKOXzZeNtSeBplohWRupCIslK8Ybu_Ha-Ln1JmXbsAMCDeWo0AIew0Vm7tm-XJUPjBlGqAjjntguxGNoKTRuRhVY_LEjoXrhSjbDqBf8bQVz3XDfCLXiaRUr4kS_AuBB3/s200/100_2988.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410428379897830162" border="0" /></a>The trip on the <a href="http://www.westcoastwildernessrailway.com.au/">West Coast Wilderness Railway</a> was a wonderful day despite the rain. The original was contructed over a century ago, and has been revived as a tourist route, with a 50 year old diesel locomotive for the first section, from Strahan to the base of the mountain, and then a 111 year old stem engine - named Percy because he is green - takes over and the line becomes a rack and pinion (sort of like cogs) to go over a mountain and down the other side to Queenstown. <br /><br />The train stops at all the old stations along the way, includes a lovely lunch of Tasmanian gourmet bits and pieces and the kids had a wonderful time. A long day, but really interesting.<br /><br />Strahan itself is lovely - and I'm ashamed to say that I haven't been down there for 17 years. We had <a href="http://www.southernrocklobster.com/">crayfish </a>and the local hotel had a wonderful restaurant. The old railway link between the town wharf and Regatta Point is now a walk along the side of the harbour. Macquarie Harbour is, in fact, the second largest in Australia after Port Philip Bay (Sorry, Sydneysiders!)<br /><br />I intend to visit again, long before another 17 year hiatus!<br /><br />There have been lots of things happeneing - mainly at the school, with the year winding up - I have atteneded sports carnivals, inter-school sports, swimming lessons, the fete, the garden opening, and have the disco (lots of kids from 5 to 12 in 'crazy' dress hitting the town until the heady hour of 8pm) and the school picnic coming up.<br /><br />The time thief has struck again, because I cannot believe we are currently in December - woe is me!<br /><br />Back to the scheduled Christmas Knitting!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-66609694502932060602009-11-13T17:02:00.000-08:002009-11-13T17:13:28.333-08:00The story so far...The story so far, dear readers, is not for the faint-hearted.<br /><br />Our heroine, who has been battling a spring cough and lurgy, decided to take action last night and informed all and sundry of her intention to sleep in on Saturday morning. Nothing would get her out of bed, she declared, but the last trump.<br /><br />Enter the morning, in a burst of sunlight - and the knowledge that one of the heroes of the epic, Destructoboy, has not only thrown up in his bed, but has then made a conscious decision to sleep in it.<br /><br />Strangely, this had the effect of galvanising a very sick mother into motion and imploring the Accountant to (and I quote) "Will you stop wandering around with that damn pillow, you are spilling vomit everywhere!"<br /><br />Strange how every time I consider actually getting something approaching 8 hours of sleep, something like this happens.<br /><br />So I have the traditional spring/summer lurgy, which up until this morning consisted of feeling a bit yuk, and a dry polite cough. This morning, however, I sound like someone who has been smoking five packs a day and sleeping rough for the last 10 years. Not nice.<br /><br />In happier news, I am a gnats whisker from finishing Radiate, and am devoting the next seven days to finishing WIPs - so hopefully, the Clapotis and a pair of socks will be off the needles. <br /><br />Then I will throw myself into Christmas knitting (already organised), and Christmas presents, and into trying very hard to keep all the balls I am juggling in the air - instead of dropping the lot.<br /><br />There are no pictures in this post.<br /><br />Aren't you glad?TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-5405378628295106642009-11-05T14:28:00.000-08:002009-11-05T14:36:26.556-08:00Quick update for honesty!Just a very quick update, because we are getting ready for the school fair and I have a whole lamb or so to get into the oven for roasting (I am not joking about this!)<br /><br />Although it is after the end of the month, I think I should very quickly do an honesty update.<br /><br />This month was good until the closing stages, when I somehow ended with the acquisition of the equivalent of 110 x 50gr balls of yarn<br /><br />I have no idea how this happened - partly it was Ms 2paw escorting me to The Doomlight of Spot(<span style="font-size:78%;">tm</span>) where they had $1 a ball reasonable yarn and Anchor Magicline for less than that and I may have acquired around ooooooh 40 balls.<br /><br />Partly it was Rav destash, partly the thrill of actually being present at 2 Wollmeise updates. I have no idea how the rest happened - it just sort of stuck to me as I moved about, I think.<br /><br />I managed to finish items using less than 400gr or yarn.<br /><br />I have got lots of nearly finished things - so Next month will not doubt look much better.<br /><br />Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go and wrestle some lamb, and have a cup of tea, a Bex, and a nice lie down.......TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-8832428100249475852009-10-29T16:54:00.000-07:002009-10-29T17:23:19.566-07:00Off balance!I had a lovely, lovely day yesterday.<br /><br />I took the Accountant's car to the car doctor in the Northern Capital (as he was hesitant about losing a day of work, and I had one of my child-free days). This meant a meet up with the delightful <a href="http://cindy2paw.typepad.com/2paw/">Ms 2paw</a>, lots of talking and a little shopping.<br /><br />We visited the Doomlight of Spot <span style="font-size:78%;">tm</span>, amongst other lovely places, including a wonderful shop called Cocoon, which was full of wildly desireable, and completely unaffordable, hand crafted things.<br /><br />Ms 2Paw also gave me presents! She said they were a late Christmas present from last year, but I feel they were simply a very early and organised one for this year!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNBU7B71rMxsn2eoj0u8BIo9A93v59RJWrHJXMYe5CqA58B5t4hpesfPIdk-erKjJagCDo6z8YAnAxT7GtExI2VVKF0rnm9eJsrZn30M11PrznOU3gsKxhUPz0JqHR8ieijGV8HX-tO3i/s1600-h/100_2920.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNBU7B71rMxsn2eoj0u8BIo9A93v59RJWrHJXMYe5CqA58B5t4hpesfPIdk-erKjJagCDo6z8YAnAxT7GtExI2VVKF0rnm9eJsrZn30M11PrznOU3gsKxhUPz0JqHR8ieijGV8HX-tO3i/s200/100_2920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398177306597017778" border="0" /></a><br />There was a gorgeous skein of <a href="http://ixchelbunny.blogspot.com/">Ixchel </a>Dr Who themed BFL and Angora 4ply, some Dr Who magnets, a lovely 'generic blue police box' zippy case (this may look exactly like a TARDIS, but we don't want Ms 2Paw hunted down by the BBC), and the most exquisite, handmade and embroidered buttons. Now I must make something worthy of their beauty!<br /><br />I also forgot to mention the lovely Sock Club delivery from <a href="http://www.needlefood.co.nz/">Needlfood</a>, which had a pink Breast Cancer Awareness theme. I am so glad I signed up to this club - I think she may need to shoot me to be rid of me, if this is a fair example of the gorgeousness she supplies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7oXVWWkjqeNl6KBu9qh87lBjtOibwyxDjGUulz-Z5dXFOTDEd2QbCfclHwK3ETBONmkGUpDgoca_l3fzoEArPC5EJBgKvzf6RZ2y6uZrSyAqV4C2Oct2esrPWOjYwNEt8nJF-aWMYNiw/s1600-h/100_2909.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7oXVWWkjqeNl6KBu9qh87lBjtOibwyxDjGUulz-Z5dXFOTDEd2QbCfclHwK3ETBONmkGUpDgoca_l3fzoEArPC5EJBgKvzf6RZ2y6uZrSyAqV4C2Oct2esrPWOjYwNEt8nJF-aWMYNiw/s200/100_2909.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398177312508362370" border="0" /></a><br />I will do the rather blush making stash honesty update next week, because there is something else I need to mention.<br /><br />Thrity years ago next week, I waved goodbye to my parents as they went off for a holiday in New Zealand. Mum didn't know it at the time, but Dad and I had organised for her to have an adventure while she was away. She never returned,<br /><br />November 28 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Mt Erebus aircrash, in which 257 people were killed, Mum amongst them (and the only Australian on board).<br /><br />I was 17 years old, and this event has been central to my life. along with the associated investigations, Royal Commissions, court cases and periodic re-visiting of the events surrounding the crash of TE 901.<br /><br />At the end of November, Air New Zealand are holding memorial services and various commemorations of Flight 901 and of the aircrash near Perpignan which happened a year ago. They have finally apologised for the way they treated fanilies of the victims 30 years ago, and the lessons they learned from this allowed them to be much kinder to the families of victims of the Perpignan crash.<br /><br />They offered to fly me to New Zealand for the services and events. I was going to fly over there. But all this happened last Saturday and I have sent the last week feeling overwhelmed and off balance. I would have been flying over there alone. I would have had no support. I would have been gone from home 2 nights and I'm not sure how I would have coped.<br /><br />So I have decided not to go. I will spend the anniversary of Mum's death with my family. We will go away for a weekend. I will have cuddles and kisses if I cry. I will have them where and when I need them. <br /><br />Sometime in the next year, we will all go to New Zealand. And then I will visit the memorials. Air New Zealand are going to take messages to the Antarctic for a time capsule and we will all send something down. <br /><br />But we will be together here, not there. When all is said and done, this family is also Mum's legacy.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-39229549809196639582009-10-23T20:32:00.000-07:002009-10-23T20:55:18.012-07:00Oops, I did it again (with apologies for even knowing the name of this song!)Well, yes. It is the weekend again. And yes, I did not blog this week. And I read everyone else's blogs and try to keep up with comments, but really, if you all go out and have such a good time and then you go and sign up to Blogtoberfest, and then you blog every single day and you are not only doing stuff but blogging, well, it makes me feel just a bit inadequate.<br /><br />My life sort of rolls along.<br /><br />I'm knitting the same thing I was last weekend (because I had to frog more than half and re-do it).<br /><br />Then I was exhausted after running, and visiting <a href="http://www.kaydalelodge.com.au/">Kaydale Lodge</a>, and the<a href="http://www.touringtasmania.info/leven_canyon.htm"> Leven Canyon</a>. Kaydale is one of the few places in Australia to grow fritillarias and trilliums, and they are currently in bloom. They also do wonderful lunches (mainly with their own produce) and are very close to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leven_Canyon">Canyon</a> (Different link).<br /><br />We walked to the lookout up a sloping path, and it was windy and beautiful and catch-your-breath spectacular. And then we decided to walk the loop back to the car. This entailed walking down (thank all the little gods and goddesses - <span style="font-weight: bold;">DOWN </span>and not <span style="font-weight: bold;">UP</span>!) 697 steps, to the bridge and creek at the bottom.<br /><br />697! Can you imagine how you'd feel walking up the dratted things? Down was bad enough - my hamstrings and lower back hurt for a couple of days, and I am fairly comfortably fit at present!. How do I know how many stairs there were, you may ask? (I did hear you asking!)<br /><br />Because there are benches on the way and each bench contains information on how many stairs to the bottom from that bench, how many to the top and how many to the next bench, both up and down. I'm quite proud that I only had to read them, and not sit on them.<br /><br />And then once you reach the <a href="http://www.kaydalelodge.com.au/Canyon.html">bridge at the bottom</a>, you have to get back up to the car park, and that means a long and very steep path. We all did it, and despite the slightly sore legs, even the kids had no problems. In fact, this may be a record, because neither of them whinged at all!<br /><br />The only other news is that swimming lessons for small people have started. This has meant a total frenzy of excitement (and me having to purchase a smaller swimsuit). Destructoboy was really excited up until he had to actually get into the pool, but the kids are told that swimming classes are non-negotiable. They must be able to swim.<br /><br />They don't need to be competitive swimmers, (because who wants to be getting up at 5am in the cold and dark to take them to the pool for squad training - not me!), but they must be competent and safe.<br /><br />Too many children drown every year in Australia, in pools, dams, rivers and the sea. My children will not join them if I have anything to say about it (and I do). So swimming it is. The Princess loves it - as far as she is concerned, any moment not spent in the water in summer is a moment wasted. She is competent, confident and has absolutely no style! A bit like me really.<br /><br />Destructoboy can't swim yet, but in a few weeks he will. Not that my vigilance around children and water will relax, but at least I can feel calmer when I see them in a pool.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-79617476217351081182009-10-15T15:20:00.000-07:002009-10-15T15:48:26.822-07:00Unventing (or did I invent this?)Life has been rolling on, but the blahs returned because of yet another period of sustained rainfall. I have a feeling you can probably chart Tasmania's weather by the state of my blogging.<br /><br />It has been nearly 2 weeks since my last post. I have finished socks.<br /><br />Here are the Blackrose socks I made for Beth, currently winging their way across the Pacific.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hhhy3HV74aO_lry2TfwLE0PHgZlM6IRhBT17Z8VPCEA97KK0q-Km8VT1AGj5Giqapz__AUs8ofDfp9uBCtibRUB1ZfO25eoLhz6No_3_K5HuuMhqC6HrOmOPJkpMyXQk4SrqG84QlF0M/s1600-h/100_2888.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Hhhy3HV74aO_lry2TfwLE0PHgZlM6IRhBT17Z8VPCEA97KK0q-Km8VT1AGj5Giqapz__AUs8ofDfp9uBCtibRUB1ZfO25eoLhz6No_3_K5HuuMhqC6HrOmOPJkpMyXQk4SrqG84QlF0M/s200/100_2888.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392956295640370466" border="0" /></a><br />Bendigo Luxury 8ply in Purple Storm, made on 3.25mm sticks. These were really big socks and took a lot of knitting. These took up most of my knitting time for a couple of weeks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3FZpXlfsnvWRwWOFosxD6lgQda-ISLTxfWS4Zwono5izKwt6J7Jwjc6ocLd7vTWmvOQgTgvXH94bqvQUdXQ68K2jmzZh4JjrIPIC74SSYvfozW5M7hbJZlpNA4ntdVe57j2I33aPyhxq/s1600-h/100_2893.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3FZpXlfsnvWRwWOFosxD6lgQda-ISLTxfWS4Zwono5izKwt6J7Jwjc6ocLd7vTWmvOQgTgvXH94bqvQUdXQ68K2jmzZh4JjrIPIC74SSYvfozW5M7hbJZlpNA4ntdVe57j2I33aPyhxq/s200/100_2893.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392956305684992578" border="0" /></a><br />Here are the Fawkes socks I started when we were on holiday. These are my first magic loop socks - for some reason, although I have been using magic loop for all sorts of things (sleeves, hats, mitts) I had never gotten around to making socks with it. I am now a complete convert, because during the time I knitted these, I never once lost a DPN under the car seat! Not once.<br /><br />Fawkes socks, 2.5mm harmony circular, Fleece Artist Somoko in Sun - yum!<br /><br />Ms <a href="http://madmadhousewife.blogspot.com">Madmad </a>and I were having a conversation about how much nicer knitted garments are now than they were in days of yore. Beautiful yarn and fibres, lovely patterns, nice buttons. Having finished the Vine Yoke Cardigan and Tempest recently, both buttons heavy projects, I mentioned to Ms Madmad that since I had converted to the using of safety pins, I had no problems with button placement.<br /><br />I am not sure if I invented this. After all, for years I thought I had invented the cable cast on, because everyone I knew taught me that you cast on by sticking the needle <span style="font-weight: bold;">through </span>the stitch, and when I stumbled on the idea of sticking it <span style="font-weight: bold;">between </span>the stitches and discovered it made a much cleaner, firmer edge I had no idea that it had a name. From the moment I discovered it, I never went back, and it was only much, much later when I got my hands on a stitch dictionary that I found out that not only had I not invented it, that it actually had a name.<br /><br />So, the safety pin method for dealing with buttons.<br /><br />First, block your item. Depending on construction, sometimes I just steam press the finished item. Sometimes I give it a soak with a tiny bit of woolwash. I spin it in the washing machine and then lay it out on the wonderful rubber alphabet tiles I bought for less than 10 dollars. I pin shawls etc, but generally not cardigans. Them I smooth out by hand and match up bands.<br /><br />Matching up the bands is utterly crucial.<br /><br />Given that usually you have already knitted in the buttonholes, making sure that the bands are perfectly matched is the heart of this method.<br /><br />Wander off and leave the item to dry.<br /><br />Occasionally, I will give it a steam press when it is dry too. Depends. Lay it on a nice flat surface, and you are good to go.<br /><br />Now, grab a pile of safety pins and pin them where the buttons would go, on the underneath band. Start with the top and bottom button positions.<br /><br />I generally have them horizontal, and as I go I push the closed safety pins through the buttonholes <span style="font-weight: bold;">as if they were buttons</span>. This is the crucial bit.<br /><br />When they are all in position I check that the bands are still perfectly matched, and adjust the position of any safety pins.<br /><br />Once you are completely happy, sew on the buttons, matching the button to the safety pin. Voila! You are done.<br /><br />This all arose because of a series of button disasters, exacerbated by the problem that when I sew a button on, it stays sewn. My buttons, when I have sewn them on, never fall off, so changing the postion of a button is a nightmare. I used to use glass headed pins, but still had button disasters, and then I thought of using safety pins. They come in different sizes, so you can cover most sizes of buttonholes, they are easy to move around, but stay still when closed and they can pretend to be buttons for the purpose of this exercise.<br /><br />Since I started doing this (and as far as I know I invented it, but you are all probably doing this anyway and I just didn't know), I have not had a button diaster. Not one.<br /><br />So I am pretty pleased with myself (but having said that, I will now no doubt have 16 disasters in a row. Hubris works like that. I'll have to be extra careful!).<br /><br />Have a good weekend, and I'll try to do exciting stuff to report back. Pray for sunshine!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-27709934938211785852009-10-01T19:10:00.000-07:002009-10-01T19:25:21.661-07:00Just a Thought..I've been thinking, which is generally considered by those who know me to be a dangerous occupation.<br /><br />What I've been thinking, is that I've decided to completely embargo the term 'I've lost weight'. That's it. I've sent it into coventry and I am not letting it out.<br /><br />Those of you who have met Tinkingbell 1.0, may know that Tinkingbell 2.0 is a somewhat less cozy, fluffy and generally smaller version. In fact, having almost made it halfway, Tinkingbell 3.0 is likely (at some point in 2010) to be a much reduced version - slimline and sleek and 30% smaller.<br /><br />But you know what? I haven't lost weight.<br /><br />Losing weight implies that you have put it down somewhere and momentarily forgotten it. That perhaps you've had a senior moment and stuck it in the fridge while you were thinking of something else. That perhaps it's slipped down behind the sofa cushions, and next time you tidy up it will be there again. Or you left it on top of the car when you were getting the kids into their seats and it flew off on the road somewhere.<br /><br />Since the end of April, I have been serious about working my weight off. It has taken me a fair amount of effort to eat better (and somewhat less), to cook better food for myself and my family, to make lifestyle changes so I don't follow most of my relatives and die early of major heart disease. I gave up smoking many years ago, but the weight was a risk factor in and of itself.<br /><br />When I finally admitted that I was fat, I started going to the gym and strangely, I enjoyed it, but after eight months I had lost 300gr. I had, however, gone down a clothes size.<br /><br />So I began attending a certain well known group. I also started sorta running (which we now know has a real name - <a href="http://running.about.com/od/trainingessentials/f/fartleks.htm">Fartlek interval training</a>), where I would run to a telegraph pole, then walk to the next one then stagger to the next one and so on.<br /><br />But now, with the best part of 15kg (about 33 pounds) gone - and roughly the same to go, I have decided that that weight has not been lost.<br /><br />Not one gram.<br /><br />No. I've worked the stuff off. And it's been hard labour all the way.<br /><br />So, from now on, I'm going to talk about either slimness gain, or fitness gain or working it off. Any other good suggestions?TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-25123142571708520302009-09-29T20:09:00.001-07:002009-09-29T20:32:58.753-07:00Do you remember?Do you remember how I said I would blog more regularly and I promised there'd be photos and deathless prose?<br /><br />Do you remember me saying that?<br /><br />Damn. I was hoping you'd forgotten that incident.<br /><br />Okay. <br /><br />I have been a bad blogger, and haven't blogged as much as I should, and I'm not really sure why, except that life got slightly more complicated and I got distracted and, well, whoops, here it is, however long since I blogged. <br /><br />And there's <a href="http://www.bellsknits.blogspot.com/">Bells</a>, looking forward to blogging every day for a month. And me. Lucky to blog once a week - but truly - I am trying for more. I don't think I'm really a candidate for Blogtoberfest though - although you might be.<br /><br />In truth, the return to yucky weather brought on a severe case of the blahs, so much so that I have hardly looked at Ravelry, and I've been reading and not always commenting on your blogs. I am sorry. I can't help bad weather blahs. To put it in context, since July 1 there have been 5 days without rain in Tasmania. Five.<br /><br />No wonder I've been damp. Heavens - I can tell where North is because that is the side of me without moss on it.<br /><br />But it all stops here. I solemnly promise that I..<br /><br />look!<br /><br />What's that?<br /><br />Oh - it's some pretty knitting.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqReaWwxSgNO6huVoy4bjc1-Z2BVwlwQD1mePgLbhd9lnCN7rEg6QpyHXrIYGyVqfE9UC7uHt8MOlar-AcBdcoPxUDEATlkLt9bYSGkrgxEKJej7xapkDuoy8kvpe3oaDY5qvwzbf_UuGy/s1600-h/100_2886.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqReaWwxSgNO6huVoy4bjc1-Z2BVwlwQD1mePgLbhd9lnCN7rEg6QpyHXrIYGyVqfE9UC7uHt8MOlar-AcBdcoPxUDEATlkLt9bYSGkrgxEKJej7xapkDuoy8kvpe3oaDY5qvwzbf_UuGy/s200/100_2886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387092473744271554" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/75-fall-2009-patterns/396-vine-yoke-cardigan-by-ysolda-teague">Vine Yoke Cardigan</a>, (anyone mention bandwagons?). As yet buttonless, but blocked. In the Naturally Sensation (10ply merino/angora 70/30, soft as a baby bunny) that I bought while in South Australia in a heat wave last summer. For some reason there were 12 skeins, at $2.50 a skein. This cardigan used - wait for it - 6 and a half skeins. Can you believe it? So, including the cost of the pattern and buttons it cost about $25 dollars! An angora cardi for 25 bucks? Happy dance for sure!<br /><br />I have been trying to finish WIPs and wearing blinkers so I don't get distracted. Having finished the Vine Yoke I finally cast on some gifty socks (<a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/KSPATTblackrose.php">Blackrose</a>, but in 8ply) and will be trying to almost monogamously work on them.<br /><br />With maybe a teeny tiny side order of finishing the half a sock I have to go on a pair, a bit of garter stitch jacket and perhaps a little <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTradiate.php">Radiate </a>- just to take the edge off.<br /><br />In honour of <a href="http://roseredshoes.blogspot.com">Rosered </a>then, here are the incomings and outgoings for September.<br /><br />800gr from Bendigo Woollen Mills (gifty socks and enough luxury 4 ply for a thermal)<br />1 skein of sock yarn<br /><br />That's it.<br /><br />and I have finished 2 garments but they used very little yarn<br /><a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTtempest.html">Tempest </a>- 250gr<br />Vine Yoke - 325gr<br />Cottys - 100gr<br />and Fawkes may get finished tonight, so I'll throw them in too - 100gr<br /><br />775gr out and 900 in<br /><br />Doesn't seem fair really.<br /><br />Next month may be a little worse (unless I knit MUCH faster) - I know there may be something coming in and there are some sock club parcels arriving. I am still striving for stash diminuition. Maybe I should just knit socks and stuff with sock yarn for all of 2010.<br /><br />What do you think?TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-70954091227568925662009-09-17T20:41:00.001-07:002009-09-17T21:21:59.704-07:00What I did on my holidays.....We're back. The washing is done, the sheets are flapping in the breeze out on the clothesline and spring has finally happened properly. In fact, although it rained all day yesterday, it is beautiful today and was every day we were away too. Well done to the weather gods.<br /><br />We started out by having 2 days in Hobart, where I managed to catch up with the amazingly talented Ms <a href="http://frogpondsrock.com/">Frog Ponds Rock</a>. Pop over and visit her blog - she is a great potter and an amazing photographer. It was just lovely to finally meet her (and swap recipes and hit the spice shop!)<br /><br />We also caught up with the <a href="http://knightlyknitter.wordpress.com/">Knightly Knitter</a> and her family, where she prepared an incredible meal while also demonstrating superwoman capabilities by simultaneously cooking, wrangling children, talking about knitting, knitting and refereeing several disagreements amongst the junior set - and keeping the dogs outside.<br /><br />Off to Port Arthur for 2 days and, truth to tell, I was a little worried, having not been back there since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_%28Australia%29">events of 1996</a>, but it retains the same sense of peace and tranquility I always remember. I was afraid it may have become something else.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKgi-IIGRSkqCgFe09uwTQ7DGbp8su9JAVVJ8uwc4EChHm8Q-JZKyut6u8TJ4X4JoKcKWFsjyXmqaaE-pblQuNEn2fAksHW4uWc7SS-9cmsPvlj6-Z6MqKG95Mdvsq0vEz1yLgX3fXie2/s1600-h/100_2778.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKgi-IIGRSkqCgFe09uwTQ7DGbp8su9JAVVJ8uwc4EChHm8Q-JZKyut6u8TJ4X4JoKcKWFsjyXmqaaE-pblQuNEn2fAksHW4uWc7SS-9cmsPvlj6-Z6MqKG95Mdvsq0vEz1yLgX3fXie2/s200/100_2778.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382649207061881826" border="0" /></a>Despite its dark history, I have always loved Port Arthur. I think it is beautiful. It is hard to believe it was a <a href="http://www.portarthur.org.au/pashow.php?ACTION=Public&menu_code=400.100">brutal prison for so long</a>, housing convicts who had committed crimes after their transportation to Van Dieman's Land.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJbIuzfUIlCY6upNR_nvRZDsgCnIrTMUnv_MmyEVrSDsvK4n0nzmrBybEivW6Ouvgb3QBX3S_cUKlJhPcC4C25aXRbKV37TqlrvV76syJNb-sA0TvWFW6Rg27gXhQ_8E_aRnVycTm17Ly/s1600-h/100_2780.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJbIuzfUIlCY6upNR_nvRZDsgCnIrTMUnv_MmyEVrSDsvK4n0nzmrBybEivW6Ouvgb3QBX3S_cUKlJhPcC4C25aXRbKV37TqlrvV76syJNb-sA0TvWFW6Rg27gXhQ_8E_aRnVycTm17Ly/s200/100_2780.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382649221681268546" border="0" /></a>Probably the nicest thing about our stay down there was the fact that the place where we stayed was right across the road from the back gate to the site. Once we had paid the entry fee, we were given a key and could come and go as we pleased.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QXaTheHfH7ELecxICH9mzCp4IL9WG7OCHuR6uTVYO0lFsejPaQzwN9fMqKRgfyhxyGKI7VaWVAsBm0lGrH0uJyKpSXy-Kp9PoRhKsgtmuRJm0YFq__Hj2moafpQuKF6NPyFHVlyY9z2/s1600-h/100_2820.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2QXaTheHfH7ELecxICH9mzCp4IL9WG7OCHuR6uTVYO0lFsejPaQzwN9fMqKRgfyhxyGKI7VaWVAsBm0lGrH0uJyKpSXy-Kp9PoRhKsgtmuRJm0YFq__Hj2moafpQuKF6NPyFHVlyY9z2/s200/100_2820.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382649228834393522" border="0" /></a><br />It was our domain. This meant that I could sorta run in the world heritage nominated area in the morning and be the only person in there, with all this beauty all to myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5On5KbCPAjOA4lP4bH89Od0shpvGFjT6ctgPzXeMUzR-WBI7-O-1zuGhf7TvQLzPUWaQj2_OKv_c9Cqh36uuxKjP68tbxZPhUmp4RSoEA1EYMliTBFsFYoTvMx7KbruC28sSDDaj_kfLR/s1600-h/100_2847.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5On5KbCPAjOA4lP4bH89Od0shpvGFjT6ctgPzXeMUzR-WBI7-O-1zuGhf7TvQLzPUWaQj2_OKv_c9Cqh36uuxKjP68tbxZPhUmp4RSoEA1EYMliTBFsFYoTvMx7KbruC28sSDDaj_kfLR/s200/100_2847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382653511342301170" border="0" /></a>Then we headed up the East Coast and stayed at Coles Bay. We did some of the short walks and generally hung about.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztU7gZ0sZxZbqseQGpTRwwD-tUYU6yuZeb_EqOOM1cg1wPJzLw-379hWCbsztS80BdftvRULrTbJv6SzfxcMM_07GyuhjKl7p-BQ8ma3xBKcFAj882LWXqsQX6loIr7Tu6WtYSkIlQLaP/s1600-h/100_2865.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztU7gZ0sZxZbqseQGpTRwwD-tUYU6yuZeb_EqOOM1cg1wPJzLw-379hWCbsztS80BdftvRULrTbJv6SzfxcMM_07GyuhjKl7p-BQ8ma3xBKcFAj882LWXqsQX6loIr7Tu6WtYSkIlQLaP/s200/100_2865.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382653517969752418" border="0" /></a><br />The kids did some kids stuff (including mugging for the camera) and we all generally recharged our batteries. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM4a_xPdKFYfx9wna9tGjHFw6ASwAD95Ln73IpSO3shT8PtRVU45SGT_xXrFDlRGxSEK_izhCgk8iHt-m-yb1eEryYnXGGBk6OtuvR9yc_LxFvBP3ybFm-Py85EqBVG6TRAKV1-y0bXPH/s1600-h/100_2860.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM4a_xPdKFYfx9wna9tGjHFw6ASwAD95Ln73IpSO3shT8PtRVU45SGT_xXrFDlRGxSEK_izhCgk8iHt-m-yb1eEryYnXGGBk6OtuvR9yc_LxFvBP3ybFm-Py85EqBVG6TRAKV1-y0bXPH/s200/100_2860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382650166149878194" border="0" /></a><br />We built sandcastles here.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUKo55IcpvR0ICLdGnWf3q-rPsGqNWKYEOjPBsy4ydP7r6GGTxl2XZdv216hlJP_rmp9fEinxYC_8f91PFz38pavD8kGCEoRGUto0cOsRDFjSE9bQa1vDqDOq901v_ktlEnB7Ol75je8X/s1600-h/100_2876.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUKo55IcpvR0ICLdGnWf3q-rPsGqNWKYEOjPBsy4ydP7r6GGTxl2XZdv216hlJP_rmp9fEinxYC_8f91PFz38pavD8kGCEoRGUto0cOsRDFjSE9bQa1vDqDOq901v_ktlEnB7Ol75je8X/s200/100_2876.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382653527544685538" border="0" /></a><br />And despite the Accountant suffering a major gout attack on the first day (which meant I had no time to knit in the car because I had to drive, and this threw my plans out dreadfully!), I finally finished the Cotty socks I started at Bendigo. Here they are, in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock, mediumweight in Koi Koi. Love them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy06wKAZ-RIReiLpHbjfrnrMtHW-kpKQ2XlRHRQ6NVE_S_s7lW3I0Uxl4j8H_reiR-Ev7WUUepMs9gCwsZJpDBrAnyPgVqaUxa-bvpESHF2qfNNHUWgu_99X7Bfftzxjns6r0H2yMqwnH2/s1600-h/100_2881.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy06wKAZ-RIReiLpHbjfrnrMtHW-kpKQ2XlRHRQ6NVE_S_s7lW3I0Uxl4j8H_reiR-Ev7WUUepMs9gCwsZJpDBrAnyPgVqaUxa-bvpESHF2qfNNHUWgu_99X7Bfftzxjns6r0H2yMqwnH2/s200/100_2881.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382653539740990930" border="0" /></a>Now, I have to start looking forward to the next road trip!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-7325439890641976332009-09-08T18:20:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:38:51.746-07:00Spring is Sprung! The Grass is Riz!It's Spring, it's Spring! Or at least, it is spring today. The weather forecast is suggesting rain for the next week and for most of the rest of the month, but today it is spring. The bees are delirious with the beauty of the day - and so am I.<br /><br />For the first time in weeks the washing is flapping on the line, the breeze is soft, warm and gentle, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the only clouds are the little fluffy sort. Life is good.<br /><br />Life is so good, I couldn't resist sneaking on to the kids' trampoline for a bounce - which made me feel all dizzy when I got off!<br /><br />In fact, life is made even better by the fact I have finally finished Tempest. The ends were a complete sod to sew in (and next time I will use <a href="http://drbonesknits.blogspot.com/">Dr Bones</a> suggestion and carry them up the sides as neatly as possible!), but she is finished and I love her. This is really the first time I have made such a form fitting knit - she is snug (and will become less so as I lose more weight - fingers crossed etc), and I'm not entirely sure about the buttons - I needed 16 - 15 plus one for luck or accidents) and they were probably larger than would be thought best because the buttonholes grew with blocking. The colours are vibrant, so I went with transparent buttons - because I couldn't find the mother of pearl ones I really wanted!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4CCJ5iztBsNI9j1WmwKLot7sihpiIc89ueYjfMoL8J-kL5FhrSSO8WX9_cLBbb-uhkVcQpdGvb6gX9o6AB6fyw-NtDPrac_rA1QdPcqelTSQKB1LrQHI3yOqoZL5q7YgVunzbRAFYOuh/s1600-h/100_2772.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4CCJ5iztBsNI9j1WmwKLot7sihpiIc89ueYjfMoL8J-kL5FhrSSO8WX9_cLBbb-uhkVcQpdGvb6gX9o6AB6fyw-NtDPrac_rA1QdPcqelTSQKB1LrQHI3yOqoZL5q7YgVunzbRAFYOuh/s200/100_2772.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379271684928594562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Children are on holidays and showing tendencies of becoming loud and excited, so they and the guinea pig will be outside for a fair proportion of this glorious day. <br /><br />The Princess has expressed a wish to undertake some sewing, so we will be doing that shortly, and then packing will happen for our short trip. I finally have the wonderful <a href="http://www.femail.com.au/meet-me-at-mikes.htm">Meet Me at Mike's</a> book (a beautiful book and a must have for those who want to support Australian mde and especially Australian hand-made!), but todays small sewing will come from the 1970s books that have been hanging about since I was just a bit older than the Princess.<br /><br />Yesterday was another rainy day, so we went to the <a href="http://www.devonport.tas.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=137">Imaginarium</a>, where the kids went wild, raced the (virtual) dinosaur and learned about bugs, space and puzzles. I knitted.<br /><br />Have a lovely weekend. Enjoy the spring. At least until it starts raining again!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-12094679136500634042009-09-03T18:14:00.001-07:002009-09-03T18:43:18.674-07:00Random FridayThanks everyone for your good wishes - currently the lurgies are in retreat (fingers crossed, knocks on wood, does lucky dance etc). We have had a single day of sunshine in the past many, many days. Maybe that helped.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Random stuff:</span><br /><br />1. Apparently, if it rains on St Swithin's Day (July 15), it will rain for 40 days. It rained on St Swithin's Day and we are now approaching a lot more than 40 days. I'm hoping I have time to go to a woodwork class, because I don't think my skills are up to building an ark, but it certainly looks as if I need to be able to. We may have had enough rain - just for a little while. In ultra-random stuff, St Swithin is also the patron saint of apples and apple trees. Who knew?<br /><br />2. There is very little sign of it being spring. The bulbs are out and so are the early fruit trees, blossoming their hearts out. But it doesn't feel like spring. It's still cold. And wet (please see point 1).<br /><br />3. <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTtempest.html">Tempest </a>knitting has finished, but there is still the matter of umpty zillion ends. I hate sewing in ends. I am sure there are people who can make their sewn in ends look great. Mine look crappy and I find that sewing in more than 7 in a session fills me with a level of unholy rage. I loved the knitting. If I make it again I will either make it in one colour, or I will work out a way to carry the yarn up the sides for 14 rows. I won't sew the sleeves in until the ends are dealt with. This may take some more time.<br /><br />4. The <a href="http://twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/75-fall-2009-patterns/396-vine-yoke-cardigan-by-ysolda-teague">Vine Yoke Cardigan</a> is growing apace. Not only is Ysolda a genius, but I shopped from stash (or possibly from insulation, given that I have no stash, as laid out in the rules of stash), and am knitting it in the Naturally Sensation I picked up in Gawler, SA for $2.50 a skein. The yarn is gorgeous, the pattern fun, and I have a warm inner glow which only comes from feeling that you have a bargain. I even managed to get the perfect buttons for about 80 cents each.<br /><br />5. The concentration on knitting large garments have meant that the enormous pile of WIPs is still sitting there, staring at me sullenly. I will get to them.<br /><br />6. Stash honesty forces me to admit that some yarn may have entered the house during August, but I can't remember all of it. I know there was a little sock yarn. There was some Fleece Artist (around 3 garments worth) but I have absolutely no idea what else. I may have repressed the memory.<br /><br />7. The children have been tending to act up. Part of this is from cabin fever because the weather has been so awful that they have been cooped up - although I drove them outside last weekend with a pitchfork - well, not really a pitchfork, but certainly with a high level of coercion. Partly it is tiredness. The <a href="http://www.slipstreamcircus.org.au/performances.htm">circus school's major show</a> is on now and over the weekend, and there have been long (and sometimes, late,) rehearsals. The concentration on one child, has meant the other child asserting rights to attention by being a right little snot. On various occasions I have comforted myself with thoughts of infanticide, child slavery or sale or return. Then they are nice, and totally disarm me!<br /><br />8. On one of the nice occasions, the Princess (who spent some of her birthday money on a cookbook) decided to make breakfast, lunch and dinner. She did a wonderful job. She made pancakes, turkish bread pizzas and Tagliatelle Carbonara. Grownups did the stirring things on the gas stove, and the putting into and getting out of the oven, she did the rest. She also made little pink biscuits. I did the washing up. This behaviour is being highly encouraged. I have fantasies of never have to cook through her teenage years.<br /><br />10. School holidays start today. Next week we will have a few days away, visiting Hobart (and seeing the <a href="http://knightlyknitter.wordpress.com/">Knightly Knitter</a>), <a href="http://www.portarthur.org.au/">Port Arthur</a> and <a href="http://www.freycinetcolesbay.com/">Coles Bay</a>. This may help with the cabin fever.<br /><br />Will try a more organised post (possibly with illustrations!) soon.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-7292469350015536142009-08-19T22:42:00.000-07:002009-08-19T23:04:33.754-07:00Back to the Plague HouseYes. It is still winter, and around here that means lurgy time.<br /><br />I have been ill. I have been aching all over, unable to swallow, running a fever of 39 degrees (that's 102.2 for Fahrenheit users) ill. I have been exhausted, dropping asleep in chairs ill. And let's not mention almost nodding off while driving the car yesterday, shall we?<br /><br />It's been two weeks since I posted. I have been alive (just) and have organised 2 further birthday parties since we last spoke. On the weekend between the children's birthday, we have the grandparents to a party for both of them, so they don't have to travel twice in two weeks.<br /><br />Then we had the seven kids from kindergarten for a PJ party after school on Monday. We had fairy bread, sausage rolls and little red sausages. We had pass the parcel and musical cushions. We had a supervised trip to the top of the tower and a birthday cake with bright blue icing and sparklers. It was lots of fun, and I was totally knackered afterwards.<br /><br />You really can't have a party without fairy bread. In case there are people reading who don't know the glories of fairy bread, I'll explain.<br /><br />You take really good quality, really really fresh white bread, spread it with butter or margarine.<br /><br />Then you tip 100s and 1000s (a type of multicoloured, tiny, round sprinkle) into a plate and press the spread side of the bread into it. Then you cut it into 4 triangles and stack onto plates. Every self respecting Aussie kid loves fairy bread. I've been at a 40th birthday party where the crowd demolished 4 loaves worth of fairy bread at 1.30 in the morning - and asked for more.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjr_m-hRYjvmfSUs5zH1ZhMWRz-X13OW1IB9pLMYymeMmBH8e9OvBAj3uff2I9jRulioELwey69c7ny_KBurSQnfZeX6UkigV03ss6alGKzJ1C5EYbjCkOzdA2OMd3osFajZdMW60V_ts/s1600-h/100_2768.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjr_m-hRYjvmfSUs5zH1ZhMWRz-X13OW1IB9pLMYymeMmBH8e9OvBAj3uff2I9jRulioELwey69c7ny_KBurSQnfZeX6UkigV03ss6alGKzJ1C5EYbjCkOzdA2OMd3osFajZdMW60V_ts/s200/100_2768.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371919667098130402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've even had a couple of days when I was too sick to knit - despite being home alone. Now that's sick. I have also been a very bad parent, and stuck on a 150 minute Spongebob DVD and instructed Destructoboy to watch it while I dozed in the chair. A very poor mother indeed.<br /><br />I've also been avoiding buying yarn. I counted my indie sock yarn stash and what I discovered made me put my head between my knees and breathe very deeply for several minutes. In fact, the next project ready for my needles is the Vine Yoke Cardigan from the latest <a href="http://www.twistcollective.com">Twist Collective</a>, and the yarn was shopped from stash (it's green Naturally Sensation - a merino/angora mix I bought while on holiday for $2.50 a skein).<br /><br />That's the next project though. Before that I need to finish the second sleeve on my Tempest, do the bands and sew in a million ends.<br /><br />Other than the plague (or 'tonsilitis' as the medical profession call it), the most exciting thing to enter the house has been this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd2r0r2dcIGvbPlJ-ZPd7tDhJNhgFia7ifSeZxJ_6nkWO4jxYi65VPqjEPS9DLxws8TkeCFsAE-mfsFXbNdtKFeiXN2i5walNAOUum6fwQmSZ1NNRKl5TRV_Kk5pNy7-69G0R5ay95kAa/s1600-h/100_2769.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVd2r0r2dcIGvbPlJ-ZPd7tDhJNhgFia7ifSeZxJ_6nkWO4jxYi65VPqjEPS9DLxws8TkeCFsAE-mfsFXbNdtKFeiXN2i5walNAOUum6fwQmSZ1NNRKl5TRV_Kk5pNy7-69G0R5ay95kAa/s200/100_2769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371919676754802146" border="0" /></a>The first fibre and yarn sampler pack from Ewe Beaut. Lots of pretties in there for a convalescent to play with. <br /><br />I'll get back to more regular posting soon.TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2817086874684381344.post-17642641259109223672009-08-03T23:16:00.000-07:002009-08-04T00:34:20.155-07:00Status ReportSorry - haven't been blogging - there have been one or two other things on my plate (metaphorically speaking).<br /><br />Some of you probably already know that with the support and encouragment of several bloggers (including Ms <a href="http://kissmyfrog.wordpress.com/">KissMyFrog</a>, <a href="http://monnsqueak.typepad.com/monnsqueak/">The Knitting Revolutionary</a> and the<a href="http://knightlyknitter.wordpress.com/"> KnightlyKnitter</a>) I have been attending Weightwatchers since the end of April. This follows the fact that I have now been attending a gym for over a year, and at that point had managed to lose a measly 300gr - although I had gone down a clothing size.<br /><br />Although I was fitter, stronger faster and all that, I really did want to shed several tens of kilos which had somehow managed to stick to me over the last decade or so. So with some encuragement and trepidation off to WW I trotted.<br /><br />I have now lost the first 10kg (pauses for applause, wolf whistles and wild ovation), and truth to tell, I'm feeling a bit full of myself. I still go to the gym at least 3 times a week, but I have added in some walking and sorta running. This makes me feel virtuous - and very puffed and sweaty.<br /><br />I have also become somewhat boring in the food and cooking department. But not this weekend - this weekend I have been...<br /><br /><br />Taadaaaaaa!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SUPERMUM!</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Fighting against junkfood, commercialism and Barbie and Bratz dolls, ignoring housework and contributing badly to climate disruption as I zoom round doing errands.</span><br /><br />In other words, it was the Princess's birthday. She turned 7 on Sunday and we had an almost grown-up out to dinner at a restaurant for her a some friends - heavens to Betsy! They didn't get home till nearly 8 pm on Saturday night.<br /><br />So while you were enjoying your weekends I had somehow managed to do this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjadSOeRlY3GVIx-nKLfn5o_QjPNpSu_9BXWVerY1jLjyExQgK_S807dPMvwuhsYt0iTfnxwYFThhmcfiQN7NEXSqzpRB-U9On_5DDbsTuKZz0XZ1szuc3F4PJqW0QiGwZ1arrymEV5_A/s1600-h/100_2756.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjadSOeRlY3GVIx-nKLfn5o_QjPNpSu_9BXWVerY1jLjyExQgK_S807dPMvwuhsYt0iTfnxwYFThhmcfiQN7NEXSqzpRB-U9On_5DDbsTuKZz0XZ1szuc3F4PJqW0QiGwZ1arrymEV5_A/s200/100_2756.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365992779414656642" border="0" /></a>And this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HCAFOe-Hz4C-miqsIWRbVF_eefMXGOvcnnfnXAUbuLTeAKPyicX3LLcBtSJXlsExJ95eKdvqMlEMtBQ6lCn8OMhelEgIXl7MHd-y685BYGBxGvPXaPlX8V-xeMOnxOFYyuT1aFWC7XYz/s1600-h/100_2761.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HCAFOe-Hz4C-miqsIWRbVF_eefMXGOvcnnfnXAUbuLTeAKPyicX3LLcBtSJXlsExJ95eKdvqMlEMtBQ6lCn8OMhelEgIXl7MHd-y685BYGBxGvPXaPlX8V-xeMOnxOFYyuT1aFWC7XYz/s200/100_2761.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365992775062689074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But best of all, I managed this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHfEs0LtIkGsUanFEXZw5I6dfSsET5rmNCZlqbbERxPv0NvTYghnU4Ns2cAaC_B_9T573Eddh7gJSTOD2Je4HKIEc7RbFH64-Zm_O0o5uGNVS79wIDkcHVbi8ltZzhyphenhyphenYJStalgKz2DL3G/s1600-h/100_2766.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHfEs0LtIkGsUanFEXZw5I6dfSsET5rmNCZlqbbERxPv0NvTYghnU4Ns2cAaC_B_9T573Eddh7gJSTOD2Je4HKIEc7RbFH64-Zm_O0o5uGNVS79wIDkcHVbi8ltZzhyphenhyphenYJStalgKz2DL3G/s200/100_2766.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365992784452050130" border="0" /></a><br />I have been missing animals around the house. I think it is good for children to have an animal - they learn so many things from pets. This is Harriet Cuddles (no, I have no idea where the name came from either), a longish haired and very cute young guinea pig. She is much cuddled and loved. She is fed and played with.<br /><br />She has been the reason for certain children waking up early on schooldays, racing downstairs, getting dressed and eating breakfast and being entirely ready for school at least 45 minutes early. Just so they can cuddle a small black guinea pig.<br /><br />This is obviously the best present ever.<br /><br />There has been some knitting too, but let's leave that till next time.<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Princess. And welcome Harriet, long may you stay cuddly!TinkingBellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05424679933020998879noreply@blogger.com14