Carton of Delights

On Friday (I should also add that was Kate the Knightly Knitter's birthday - waves!), I had 5 minutes up my sleeve on my way to work, so I thought I'd check the post box - as you do.

I left behind all the Accountant's work mail and grabbed the registered parcel card lying in there oh-so-innocently! This is what was waiting - nearly 7kg of yum from BMFA! I have dropped my shoe near it so you can get an idea of the scale. This carton of delight was notified as posted last Saturday - so it apparently reached here in 6 days from Oregon. Considering my mail often takes longer than that to get from Sydney, I was pretty impressed.

Inside the box was some serious yarny goodness. Sock yarn, twisted, peru and lace, all lying innocently inside, as if butter wouldn't melt!

I hasten to add, that despite all reports to the contrary, I am not a yarn pig. This gorgeousness was not all mine. Several friends (you know who you are! Don't act all 'Who me?' - you are just as guilty as me!) piggybacked on my order - given that I had to use a discount coupon before the end of October.

I managed to do this order while the Aussie dollar was sliding - but before it tanked completely. Of course, I wish I had done it while the exchange rate was over 90 cents, but there you go, you can't have everything! And it has slaked my need for a yarn fix for some considerable time.

Now, there was a certain level of slow hand clapping for me to display the yarn which might be called stash by people unfamiliar with the Rules of Stash as outlined by the High Priestess of Stash. By these rules, I have 2 jumpers worth of Bendigo, which fall outside the rules and therefore can be considered my only stash. Unfortunately, I also have a 'yarn collection'. We do not have bandwidth to show the inhabitants individually (and I know my Rav stash pages are woefully behind - I will get to updating them at some point, I promise), I though I would give you a bit of a glimpse of the inhabitants in their natural surroundings.

This is the main collection area. It is approximately 2 metres wide by 3 metres deep and runs to about 1.5 metres high.

This is the ancilliary collection area. It keeps growing and consists mainly of 50 litre tubs, but other sizes and boxes and such have also been pressed into service.

This is mainly sock yarn, although some malabrigo seems to have crept in. There is also a collection of patterns and downloads catalogued and stored on the right hand side of the area. This is down staiors for petting purposes.

This is the knitting library (and a big thank you to the Book Depository here, please - the benefit if paying no shipping is the ability to buy more books!).

Just to let you know, there are also 3 jumpers worth which are in bags with their patterns waiting to be cast on, and around 40 pairs of socks worth, also in project bags with their patterns, ready to go (my own private sock club.) They do not appear in these pictures, but would like to make their existence known.

So there it is. My guilty secrets exposed. No more handclaps (slow or otherwise, please). If you want to meet the inhabitants individually, you'll have to come and visit. I'll put the coffee on, and make a cake if you do!

And a big hallo to Toni, who popped in to visit the other day. It's always lovely to meet new knitters and fellow Ravellers. She brought Ravelry Badges with her (2 of which my offspring are proudly wearing ( just in case I forget their names!).

We're all goin' on a Winter Holiday, No more working for a week or two!

Well, we are off on holiday tomorrow. This means I am
A) wearing my most disreputable bra
B) the dreadful pants
C) the top I don’t like
D) jeans which are almost (but not quite) ready for the recycling bag

This is standard pre-holiday clothing in my house. What about yours?

For the next or so weeks I will be reclining on a tropical island, sipping banana daiquiris and …What? Oh yes, the children will be there too…

OK – I will be on a tropical island, hot and flustered, hoping the children are moderately good and don’t drown themselves. Happy now?

Of course it’s a holiday. This means I won’t be cooking or washing up for 2 whole weeks – that’s my kind of holiday.

Just to hold you, here are some pretty piccies. First up, the Tidal Wave Sock in Vesper. Aren’t they purty? They look like Raspberry, Mango and Pistachio Gelato – good enough to eat.

Here is a package from the Loopy Ewe. My first ever. Service great – crack er, umm, YARN wonderful. This package has Hand Maiden Seasilk in Renaissance, Numma Numma Baby Boo in Spinach and Brown Rice, Spritely Goods in Mallow and Shibui in Autumn. The bright amongst you (all of you) will have noticed there is only one skein of the Shibui. This is because I become so overcome that I forgot you needed two for a pair of socks. Duh!

This has meant I had to do another order. Bad Knitter! Bad Bad Knitter!!

And finally, a present from the wonderful Madmad – a SIGNED COPY OF THE YARN HARLOT’S NEW BOOK – for me! Thank you!

Oh – and my Rockin’ Sock Club parcel arrived too – Shrinking Violet, for Cleopatra’s Stockings. Mmmm!

So for the next 2 weeks, I’m not dead, just on holiday. I’ll spend 3 weeks after I get back catching up with you all!

Hugs.
xo

How to have a Happy Monday!

Ssssshh!!!

The house is quiet. The computer is on and no-one is crawling all over me trying to get to the keyboard. It’s Tinkingbell’s child free Monday!

I have the latest VK (mmmm!). I have coffee. I have been into the local haberdasher and craft shop and bought fabric – because gorgeous fabric is 5 dollars a metre. Some de-stashing Lorna’s Laces arrived in the mail. I read my bloglines blogs, downloaded a couple of patterns, checked Rav, and sorted the Opal and Heirloom I’ve decided to destash on ebay.

Lorna's Laces in Goldhill

Lorna's Laces in Bucks Bar

I’m going out for lunch with the Accountant today. Two adults having lunch – with no children!! Goodness!!

The Nutkin progresses and one shoulder of Bella is done. I want to cast on my RSC sock. Here is the Dragon Dance yarn, and here again, nestled in the gorgeous project bag the Knighly Knitter made for me.

I have decided to work a little harder at becoming fitter and slimmer, and at regulating the stash. I’m not putting myself on a yarn diet, but I am going to attempt to make mindful purchases. Not all the yarn in the world REALLY needs to be mine. Some of it is meant for others. Sheep are unlikely to become bald tomorrow. I will think more about what I need!

The decluttering will continue.

IN

The destashing Lorna’s Laces, Vesper, Yarn Ahoy, No No Kitty mentioned previously.
1 skein of sock fro the Spindle Tree
1 VK magazine
4 books (Hobart trip)
1 glass bowl (Hobart trip)
1 gorgeous project bag (gift)
3 tops (birthday gift from the Accountant)
Fabric (lots-ish – around 8 metres in total)

OUT
4 skeins Rowan 4 ply (prizes)
2 small project bags (prizes)
Pile of boxes, plastic containers, bottles etc (recycling)
3 pairs of shoes (rubbish)
5 tops, 1 skirt, 2 jumpers, 2 polar fleecies (Lifeline)


Off to lunch! Eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow we may de-tox!

In Which Things are Knitted and Others Picked!

I’m feeling a bit guilty as it’s a while since I blogged, but I’ve been either out or fighting for computer time with the Accountant and kidlets! I’ve been sneaking downstairs early to read blogs and email and catch up on Ravelry!

I’ve also been trying to limit yarn purchases since New Year (given that I knew the BMFARSC2008 bill was coming) but rather fell down with a small Bendi purchase (3 balls of cotton and a couple of other things ready for a certain Ravelry bag swap) and taking a skein of Ranco off Donyale’s hands (a civic duty, really!). I also happen to know there’s a sock kit on its way from Red Bird, and the RSC first kit will apparently be posted on Jan 21st from the USA, so it’s not really that onerous, except, well… I heard of a fabulous sale and had to ask a blogpal in that city and she bought me some of the said fabulous wool which was on sale and apart from THAT, hardly any wool has come in my door! (and technically, neither has that one because she is holding onto for me until I get there in March!).

Knitting has taken place. The Kaibashira socks are finished, the back of Bella and half of one sleeve cap is done (to check if I am going to need more Amerah silk), I’ve done the heel of one Vog On and am down to the heel of the spiral rib sock I’m making from one of my Noropups. I’ve started the bag for the bag swap (from stash – yayayayay!).

Now, no-one has responded to my Pay it Forward request!! Wouldn’t you like me to make you a something-or-other? Remember, the first 3 people who would like me to make them something in 2008 and will agree to offer to make 3 other people something in 2008 can participate. Let me know. It will be a nice something!

So, this week was enlivened by a day out in convoy with other mothers of small children (and my friend’s mother, grandmother, Mother in law and aunt) picking blueberries and visiting nurseries (plant kind, not the other). My children picked and ate enormous amounts (blue poo for a month) and I picked. We came home with more than 8kg of blueberries (at 4.50 a kg!!) and 2 tired and fractious kids!

There was also a birthday party of two of Princess’s classmates (twins) yesterday with a hired jumping castle! Princess had a great time, even though it rained – the first rain for ages and most welcome! It rained most of yesterday and most of the night – hurrah!

Now, I’m just going to pick my bonnet up and swing it by its ribbons, take a short ramble and hope to encounter Mr Darcy in wet clothes (shiver!). Enjoy your day!

How Many Shopping Days Till Christmas?

Well, those Saturdays just keep on rolling around, don’t they – how many Saturdays are left till Christmas (not counting today)? Six, that’s how many – six!

Now I mentioned my problem with times stealers before – so whoever has around 3 months of my year, confess now, and I’ll be lenient!

Yup, six Saturdays till Christmas – and only 1 till the school fair. On the other hand, that’s only 10 Saturdays until I get my first Blue Moon Fibre (sorry, Fiber) Arts Rockin’ Sock Club kit!!

That’s right – the RSC for 2008 will have me attempting to keep up with kit knitting! Given that my Sock club kit knitting performance has been fairly dismal to date (Red Bird kits: 3; Tinkingbell knitting said kits - 0 ), this may be a little bit of a challenge!

But I am very excited about this – given that I begged and pleaded with them for 6 months or so, sending ever more plaintive emails – think of me as a pity membership!

The other even more exciting news was my meeting with Ms 2Paw in the flesh (for some reason my keyboard had 3 tries at making that ‘in the fleas’!) She is, of course, absolutely lovely and remarkably kind and composed in the face of a full scale onslaught by the monsters – sorry, delightful small children. We chatted, chatted and chatted (see? A Yarn of knitters?), discussed books and dogs and slipped in the odd knitting related comment.



It was a lovely time and I hope to repeat the experience very soon. (She, of course, may not be so keen, given the general rambunctiousness of said children!). As an example of her graciousness, she had made presents for us – The Princess received a beautiful bag (she is still trying to find the perfect contents for it and had to be restrained from shoplifting to fill it), gorgeous chickens for Destructoboy, which he has decided to share with the Accountant, and a lovely (and sparkly) Christmassy sock project bag – who couldn’t love so talented a blogpal?

I also slipped into the Doomlight of Spot and overdosed ever-so-slightly on Anchor Magicline, which was $1.00 a ball (note to self – everyone gets dishcloths – again!)

Before bed last night (and especially due to a couple of hours of driving), I actually have 2 finished objects – one finished (but as yet unfelted) Buttonhole Bag (gift) and what I believed whiule I was knitting it, to be a dishcloth, but is actually, I am informed, a face washer for the Princess.



You really can’t pick it, can you? Sometimes objects just have their own destiny.