Winter blues

Hi everyone (if anyone is still out there reading my blog)

Can't believe I've not even been on here since Oct. I've not been on knitting forums either.

Just not been in a chatty mood really.

I've been keeping busy knitting...love making things for my gorgeous nephew Michael who was born on 11.11.09 Congrats to my brother James and sister-in-law Anh (who had a very long and difficult labour - hope you are ok soon! xx)

We are hoping to see them on Boxing Day weekend...weather had better improve for the journey!!

I got my uni results last week. I have passed my second year. I start my final year at the end of Jan 2010...well done me!!!!

We had gorgeous double glazing fitted last Tuesday. Bargain deal...£5000 for 12 windows (inc 2 bays and the exterior cladding between them) and 2 doors, georgeon style and the best eco/energy friendly ones - thanks Safestyle UK...they make our house look much nicer. No more black mould growing on the wooden frames. No more exterior rotting. No need to ever paint them!!!

I'm not at work today as when I set off at 6.30am the roads were lethal. Not been treated at all. Our street hasn't been since the start of the snow so it is an ice rink anyway, but even the main road was slippy. I got so far and stopped to ring work to say it was too dangerous to come in. I work 20 miles away. It took me 20 mins to travel 2 miles (that was the round trip from stopping car to going home)!!!! Normally I'd be half way to work!!!

Well that's some of my news....hope you are all ok.

I will try to catch up on everyones news.

x

Bad blogger

What a bad blogger I have been lately...shame on me...what can I say but I've been busy knitting and working! Online games have also been taking me away from my blog and chat forums. But I miss it....so I shall return!!! Nothing really to say now except I'm tired but alive!!!

I promise to catch up asap!!

x

Time off work

I am now off work til next Monday!!! Whoohoo!!! Shame i couldn't get yesterday off, that would have been 9 days off!!!! What's more amazing is that I've only taken 2 days off (as time owed), the rest are my days off. Not bad considering I work full time!!! Our rota has changed this week and I've got extra days off it seems, not that I'm complaining!! I normally work 1 weekend, then off the next weekend, then work, then off.

I was off the weekend just gone but cos of the change I'm off this weekend too!!!

So I've had a slow morning. I've had my shower now. Gotta dry my hair and get something to eat.

I've got lots of plans for my time off:

1. knit more
2. sort and tidy away uni stuff
3. sort and tidy away paperwork
4. sort and tidy away knitting
5. catch up with my best mate who I haven't seen since our bdays in May!!!!
6. de-clutter as much as possible
7. rest and enjoy being off work!!!
8. write up new patterns for my blog

Today I shall enjoy 1 and 7, possibly 4 as well!!

Have a good week everyone!

Hello

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I was working but still it was nice. We went on an outing with 2 kids and went for a picnic at Studley Royal yesterday. The weather was beautiful and really hot. A nice part of my job!

I've just got home from work and what a difference a day makes...wet and cold. It is officially Autumn tomorrow but I think we've all known it's been autumn for a few months now. Leaves turned colour and dropped in August. Acorns and conkers have been out since end of August.

It's my day off tomorrow...I have no plans really except the usual housework and knitting!!! Oh and I'm having my hair done. Just looking forward to the weekend...I'm not working and weekends are really the only time Darren and I get together...the downfall of shift working.

Anyway night night...just wanted to check in and natter about nothing really!! x

Prize I won from Let's Knit

MOTM goodies!!!!

So...what do you think??!

I love Wednesdays!!!

Why??? Because I have the day off!!! I thought I'd be less busy with no OU work but it's been crazy busy this week. Think it's cos I've been catching up with everything.

I've hardly done any knitting, just occasionally been knitting some squares for my blanket and some teddies for tragedy. I need to look for my next project. I've got a lovely ball of wool waiting for me to make something for Michael - just need to chose which pattern.




Ok oh my god....had to break off from writing this as the postman came...with a parcel...it's my MOTM box of goodies!!!! There's loads of wool, some needles and a lovely bag to keep them in!!!!

I can't believe it!!! WOW!!!! Gotta find the camera and take some pics!!! I'm such a lucky girl!!!

Oh yes I almost forgot I also won a prize with the Let's Knit online competitions, I've got a goodie bag of jewellry making things....I can't believe what I've won in the last week!!! Yippee!!!!!

MOTM

Ok so I'm checking what I've been missing on the Let's Knit forum at Crafts Beautiful and was directed to read this thread:
http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/23370/P0/

Time sure is flying by - it is already the first Monday of the month, which means it is time to make a special announcement.
September is a brilliant time of year - the weather is getting colder and the run up to Christmas is on the horizon. A drop in temperature won’t trouble our new MOTM as she has plenty of knitted treats to keep her warm! We’re so happy to see that the knitters have settled in and really made the CB forum their own! They’ve certainly inspired a few other members to pick up the needles and get clicking again
One knitter stands out as a really lovely lady to be around, she was one of the first knitters to arrive on CB and has been a real help to others joining. Her knitterrific abilities are well known and we are delighted to announce that Buzy Lizzy is the September MOTM! Congratulations to our first Knitter MOTM!!! PM me your address and we will get a bumper stash of knitty treats out to you straight away
Thanks also go to Wiggley who will hand over her crown to Buzy Lizzy
Emma

That's me!!! I've been awarded MOTM!!! I'm going to get some goodies!!! Wonder what I'll get???

What a great day!!!

It's Wednesday!!!!

Freedom!!!!!

Ok so is everyone ready to enjoy 'me' time?

I kind of started yesterday afternoon after I posted my last essay but I don't really think housework counts!!

I'll be slowly plowing my way through blogs and forums. I've got 2 knitting mags that came on Monday (yes I opened them but not even peeked inside them yet!!!) so I'm going to look at them with my morning coffee.

The house, whilst not exactly needing Kim and Aggie to pop round, does need a good tidy up. Bits of college work all over, charity bags, boxes for putting stuff in whilst we decorate (ok so we still need them but they look a mess), paperwork all over the place etc.

But today is 'me' day....I'll catch up with you all asap...enjoy the day everyone, cos I will!!!

I need 'me' time

I seem to be so busy lately with work and my studies - nothing new really but it's getting to me. I suppose because the end is in sight...my last essay is due in next week and then I'm study free til end of next Jan.

I want, no I need time for me. Just time to sort through the piles of paperwork, take stuff to charity that's been sitting in bags since we decorated the lounge, time to write out patterns I designed ages ago, time to read my blog list and forum posts, time to knit....time to think of nothing.

Sounds selfish??? I don't care anymore!!!!!

I need 'me' time!!!!!! Anyone who wants to join me from next Weds, you are more than welcome!!!!

Bank Holiday Monday!!

And I'm working......Have a good one everyone!

Party time and you are all welcome!!!

Come join our online party at http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/22892/ - we're there now waiting for you!!!

My aliens/monsters

are in the latest Let's Knit mag!!! I thought I had already blogged about this - but I guess not!! Although I know it has been commented upon (thanks!). I was so excited to see them in print!! Even though I didn't win it was great to see them! The competition was to make anything using 1 ball of wool, our entries can be seen at: http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/19553/ The winners were announced at: http://www.crafts-beautiful.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/21271/P0/ Well done to Buzyknitting who won for her great tea cosy and Nab who was runner up with a beautiful shawl. This is a reminder of my entry and the free pattern: http://lizsknitting.blogspot.com/2008/07/oddments-of-dk-yarn-3.html

Facebook anyone??

Ok so I have a Facebook account - hardly ever on there but Darren virtually lives on it.

I much prefer blogging, don't really know why...although as alot of this is about knitting/crocheting not everyone I know would be interested in it.

So my blog is read by my on-line friends and all those out in cyberspace who also join me (big hello to everyone!!!) but Facebook is for my friends....

...but I'm on here daily and rarely on Facebook...does that say anything about me? Or just that I like being able to write what I please on here, in a more diary form and Facebook to me is about getting together at the same time and chatting. Which again is great for Darren as the people he chats to are all over the world!


Or maybe I am just bored and wondering about silly and strange things???!! Feel free to set me straight!! lol

Baildon Moor

Baildon Moor

Some photos I took when we went for a walk one evening. The heather was beautiful but as it was full of bees I didn't fancy getting too close to take better pics of it!!!

Isn't Yorkshire beautiful!! People find it hard to believe that this is Bradford....

New crochet bag

So this is my new bigger crochet bag. I managed to over come the base problems I had with the previous bag by working more tbr crochets into the foundation ring. I also made the bag alot bigger - which I had sort of forgotten about whilst moaning how long it was taking me to do!!!!

I apologise for the quality of these photos but they were taken with my phone - camera is no where to be found!! Probably in the garage with Darren (so maybe lost forever!!!)

I added a pocket to the front of the bag and did the last row of red with the same scallop shaping as the top of the bag.

Although it is currently being used to keep my Teddies for Tragedy in, I haven't finished it. I'm not sure what I want to do but it looks 'naked'. I tried adding buttons but they were too small. I've been looking at some crochet flowers and I think that's what I'll add...that is how Lucy at Attic 24, who's pattern this is, finished her's.

So until then....

No more being called Buffalo....

....we are waiting for Michael!!! Yep my brother and sister in law have chosen a name for baby buffalo. They are waiting for the middle name, they have asked her dad to chose a vietnamese name for them.

Draft excluders....

I never thought I'd become my grandparents but we need draft excluders...our 2 doors in the lounge needed to be planed but we took off quite alot to go over the carpet, so when they are shut there is a gap of approx 2cm.

I figured that since we need them, I could make them!! It'll use some of my stash (I've got some nice browns and creams to match the room) and be less 'old' looking (I hope!!)

No offence to anyone who has them...I now see the need for them!! Just glad I've plenty of time before we really need them.

SO I guess the question is, do I make plain stripped ones or more funky shaped ones??? Somewhere I think I have a pattern for a dog draft excluder! Thoughts anyone??

Last day of our holiday

Where has the time gone?

• We had a nice 1st weekend: Saturday we went to Leeds and the Royal Armouries; Sunday we went out for lunch and to see Harry Potter.
• Then started the 7 days of decorating. Had a break and went out on the Friday evening to see Walking with Dinosaurs.
• Been to Ikea hunting for a tv cabinet.
• Been round local shops and retail areas looking for tv cabinet.
• Had a day out in York.
• Spent the day doing housework (but needed at least 3 days!!!)
• Today, rightfully a day of rest.....

So...when can I book more hols???

York - we made it!!

Yep we made it....York we love you!!!!

We had a lovely day. The weather was beautiful and as we didn't have anything specifically to buy we just wandered around.

I did pop into Sheepish and bought a ball of wool for jumper for Buffalo. It's gorgeous, soft and acrylic!!! but ALOT more than I normally pay. It's King Cole Splash £2.99 for 100g DK. It's pale blue but it is a self patterning wool with cream, orange and green (shade 759).

I'm looking forward to making my next item for him with this! Oh and yes I can buy this as I have reduced my stash by a box!!!! Woohoo!!!!

I didn't even realise as everything is in such a mess in our house!! But I shall continue stash busting!!!!

Right, now I'm going to watch a film and crochet more of my bag - seems to be taking a while to do this one.

Todays jobs...

We put the mirror up in the lounge yesterday and 'built' the shelf but we didn't have the right screws etc to put the shelf up, so we'll buy them today. When that's up we've finished with all the dusty jobs (I hope!) in the lounge so we can start moving things back in!

What this then means is that I can get to my stash - my poor stash. We ran out of boxes for stuff in the lounge so I used my stash boxes. My stash was thrown into bags and is waiting to be found and put back again....I do like getting it all out and re-organising it, so I'll have something nice to do later today!!

I also want to put old videos and dvd's (we have a big film collection) into the new storage boxes and put them under our bed (we have a super king size bed so lots of room!).

We're also off to the hospital to visit D's dad, who 1 month from retirement has had an accident at work. He has an infection in his arm - he is a welder and hit his thumb twice within a few days. It swelled up after the 2nd time, as did his hand, and the GP sent him to hospital Tues evening for IV antibiotics. We don't know how long he will be in for.

Another busy day - our day out to York keeps getting put back.....

Well no Monday blues for me...we went shopping for things for our new look lounge!!!

We need storage for dvd's and our tv etc. Have got a few ideas, just hoped we could find something...but we didn't.

We went to Ikea, amongst many places....hopefully we'll find something soon.

We love our lounge by the way. Managed to chill in it yesterday evening after finally finishing (well almost...just a few bits to do like the doors need doing and rehanging).

My right hand hurt so much from painting etc that I couldn't do any knitting or crochetting last night - although I did have it next to me, just incase!!!

Well now we're home we feel more shattered than when we've been decorating!!!

We did buy some nice things....using vouchers we got for Christmas we bought:

From Argos - Lady's bed (which she lept onto immediately!!) and a new main light for the lounge. (saved us £34.99)

From Next - a lamp which has tall wooden reeds round it (sounds strange I know but lovely!) (saved us £25)

Then we bought a mirror and dried flowers from Asda (£21) and a shelf/brackets (£10.49) from Ikea, to go above the fireplace (we don't have a mantlepiece).

Gonna go make tea now and collapse in a heap.......with my knitting as my hands are the only part of me than can move!!!

Walking with Dinosaurs

So yesterday we set off to Manchester to the MEN Arena to see Walking with Dinosaurs!!!! Promptly at 7pm the show began and after we got the stewards to remove the people who were sat in our seats, we were able to sit and enjoy it!!!! WOW what an amazing show!!!! I was lucky enough to be sat next to our nephew who LOVES dinosaurs almost as much as me!!! We were ooooing and ahhhing together and when T-rex came out we both sat still so he couldn't see and get us!!! I had a great time!!! Check out the web site at http://www.dinosaurlive.com/about-the-show/ (there are also loads of clips on you-tube) and if possible get to see the show!!! Well worth every penny!!!

Grrr decorating

3 days of wallpaper stripping, sanding, filling, more sanding, cleaning up after all this and cleaning walls and we are ready to paint - which will have to wait for tomorrow now as we have lost the use of every part of our bodies!!!!

So in the morning we have to masking tape round the windows and pull back the carpet from skirting board....then off we go!!!

Some holiday eh?!

But will definately be worth it when it's finished!

Bolton Abbey

Last sunday was our twin neice and nephew's 7th birthday -every year we all go to Bolton Abbey. This year it rained, then got hot, then rained, then hot (you see the pattern!!) But we didn't care....

And as you can see the kids were in the water anway!!

Poor Darren trying to eat his lunch with a captive audience - note only the middle dog is ours!!!

Lady was constantly in the water - she loves swimming!!

Our neice nearly went in head first!!!!

Isn't this lovely....

You can just see the priory....we stayed by the water side though.

We all had a lovely day and were exhausted.....until next years party!!!

My new crochet bag

So it is my first attempt at the crochet as found here: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html It's a great pattern...however, I wouldn't recommend starting it whilst tired and doing a night shift...I'd taken DK and a 4mm hook rather than Aran and a 4mm hook. I didn't even notice that the bottom wasn't flat until I started work on it post-work and after sleep...as I'd done so much I decided to continue anyway. The result is a lovely bright bag with a cone base rather than a flat base. But as it's for me and my wool - we don't care!!! And as you can see, when it's full you wouldn't even know what the base looks like!

So this is the start of a new bag. I'm using DK and 4mm hook still but I added more tbr's into the foundation chain to make it lie flat...so far so good!!

Thanks Lucy for a lovely pattern!!!

P.S the photos don't do the colours justice - I've just taken them and it's quite dark. Figured if I didn't do it now...I'd forget especially as we're decorating as of tomorrow!