Bluebells

Aren't bluebells lovely...the woods are full of them and have been for a while now. When I was a kid we had them in our garden and my dad used to say my birthday was coming as soon as the bluebells appeared.

Magical woods

Ok so our local woods aren't exactly magical but we love walking in them and when I took these photo on Saturday, the light made them look magical!

What has she seen??

Darren doing his impression of....something??! His Klingnon face I think he said...say no more....

I said move out of the way if you don't want your photo taken....don't just stand there....

Run Darren run....

I love how the light came down on this track.

This is the start of atrack that leads down to a site where at the turn of the last century there was an open site school for poorly inner city kids.

Unfortunately....

So not much to see I know but this is where the school was.

I just think that it was such a wonderful thing they did. Apparently a short time in the fresh open air helped them a great deal health wise.

Birthday - part 2

This morning I woke up and it didn't feel like my birthday. I opened my cards..still didn't feel like my birthday.

Darren brought me breakfast in bed (aren't I lucky to have a fella like this) and requested a song on the radio for me! Still not feeling like my birthday....

We then drove to Harrogate to meet my parents and grandparents for lunch, narrowly avoiding arguments about useless family members! Had a wander round town, popped into Pets at Home,saw 2 cute dutch rabbits that I nearly got (I did put my practical head on though and quickly left!), went to Stephen H Smith garden centre in Otley, then home.

Took Lady out. Quick shower.

Darren and I then went to our local and yummiest Indian the Aagrah...gorgeous food...it is now 8pm and finally it feels like my birthday!!!!

We're now going to shower (again cos it's so hot!!) and chill watching dvd's for the evening...too tired to go to the cinema and pub!

Thanks for a lovely day babe xx

Birthday

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Lola - from Lionbrand

Yeadon Tarn

Yesterday evening we decided to go to Yeadon Tarn for Lady's walk. We normally go the local woods. Yeadon Tarn tends to be our Sunday morning walk, if the weather is nice we have a picnic. It was just such a lovely evening that we decided to go.

Not quite sure what Darren's thinking here.....

I tried to get in close to take a photo of some ducklings but they got scared and swam off.

Lady goes to say hello...

She loves to go swimming in the Tarn...

There she goes....

Come on smile Darren......

Then with wet dog in tow, we went for tea at Harry Ramsden's...the only place I know where a veggie like me can get chips!! It's taken me 20 years to find somewhere (only discovered this fact a few months ago)...yippee.....

Ripple Ripple Ripple...

So far I've rippled 16 stripes....

It's been a long day at work today...emotionally exhausted...I almost cancelled my hair appointment until someone at work pointed out that it would do me the world of good. She was right, I love having my hair done....it's when it's being washed and brushed...if I had the money I'd pay for this to be done daily...so relaxing! Darren won't do it for me....grrrr....

I got home and Darren had 'bought' tea (pizza)...yummy!

So I am now going to curl up in my pj's and watch a film with my ripples!

Buffalo's Ripple Blanket

So finally here are some pics of my Ripple Blanket from Attic 24..thank you so much for the pattern Lucy!!!

I'm really enjoying making it, it's easier on your hands to crochet comparded with knitting and of course you don't have to worry about dropping stitches or leaving your work in the middle of a row.

This is the nicest crochet blanket I've ever made!!

So this is my test piece which I will either continue with to make a scarf or something else.


SO....after I was happy with the pattern and I had my baby wool ready I began Buffalo's blanket!

Stripe 1: blue

3 stripes: blue, green and yellow...these are my repeating colours.

I am in the middle of the 7th stripe, so I will take some more photos as it progresses. It looks really nice and is so soft...a perfect baby blanket as there are no holes for little fingers to get caught in!

I am going to get cracking on it today!

Ready for a break

After putting up with this flu for over a week I'm fed up and ready for collapsing. I've had a busy week too and have been trying desperating to write an essay which had an argument and wasn't too waffly...not sure if I succeeded but as I ran out of time...it's been sent off...oh well nothing I can do about it.

I had a long and busy day at work yesterday, 11hrs mainly driving around for a service user appointment and contact visits but it was all worth it when they thanked me and said they hadn't expected me to do what I did, ie allow them more time together.

Today I have uni...then I need to go to Asda, do the housework I've badly neglected it. Darren hasn't done any since last weekend as he got poorly too. I think at one point I saw my dog with the dustpan and brush, it's that bad! lol

But this evening...ah this evening, I can chill. I can upload the pics of my WIP ripple blanket. I can continue making it. I can do nothing but indulge in me! Get the chocolate ready!!!!

Blog facelift!

So what do you think?? I got this from a free site http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/, nice to have more options than in Blogger and so easy to change!!

Buffalo

Here is Buffalo! x

Not sure if I've mentioned that I'm going to be an Auntie again. I have 2 neices and a nephew (Darren's side of the family). This will be the first from my side of the family, my brother is going to be a daddy! This is the email he sent with the 1st scan pic:

Dear Grandad Quang, Grandad Tony, Grandma Margaret, Auntie Liz, Uncle Darren, Uncle Khoa, Auntie Bich, Cousin Voi, Cousin Duoi

My name is Buffalo. The doctor says I am healthy and happy inside mummy's tummy. Doctor says I was sleeping. So mummy had to drink some water so that I can turn over and swim a bit so the doctor can take more pictures of me!

From my head to my bottom I am 75mm long (so this doesn't include my legs).

I'm due to come see you on 8 November but I'm not sure. It's nice and warm inside mummy.

See you in 6 months

I will send you another picture on 30 June

Buffalo xxx

I think I will make the ripple blanket from http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html for Buffalo. I bought some lovely baby wool last weekend. Hook and wool ready to commence battle!

Inspiration

I feel inspired to do more crochet...I came across this blog http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/ and I read it all between last night and this morning. I've printed out some patterns...I'm going to raid my stash and be inspired!

I love Lucy's style of blogging and all the lovely photos of her work, I must take more photos of mine. Her photos of local scenery are beautiful too. She's not far from me, so it's nice to see familiar scenes! Makes me want to go to the Cow and Calf rocks now.

Shame I'm battling with this awful cold. I hardly slept last night. So bless him Darren has been doing some washing, washing pots, mown the lawn...guilt or love???!

x

Lola - from Lionbrand

Swine Flu??? - NOT!!!

Ok so unless you've had your head buried in wool, you're aware of Swine Flu and the panic some people are in about it. Obviously it is terrible that people in Mexico had died from it and others are ill with in (inc in the UK).

However, I'm sure that to most people it is seen as being blown out of proportion (anyone remember the Bird Flu Pandemic panic??!)

Anyway, I think I'm coming down with flu! I was fine yesterday. By teatime I was a bit thick headed and aching (but thought it was just my back). I was cold and tired so I was in bed by 9pm. I had a really bad night. Today I feel like crap...on my way to work soon.

...SO you can imagine the comments/jokes etc about Swine Flu that I'll get when I go to work!

Thank goodness I've then got 4 days off but I've also got an essay to write.

Loving Hands challenge

The new challenge is in!! This is the challenge as written by Lou (founder) on the site....

OK - It is that time again - I know you have all been waiting for the announcement of the Summer challenges for 2009. These will run from 12th April right through to 18th July and we will then announce the Autumn challenges on the 19th July. :0)

This time we are looking for four sections again with items to suit all of your talents whether you knit, crochet or sew for us I am sure you will all find something to get you working like fury - if not then by all means feel free to continue with your favourite items from our wish lists - as you all know already we can always find places for everything we receive at HQ :0)

First off we would like you to help our furry friends - we are looking for Dog Coats, Pet beds and Animal Blankets - these can be knitted, crocheted or stitched - we need all sizes from pussy cats and puppies right up to Great Danes - we would love to get 200 of these if possible xx

We have been approached by SANDS the UK charity that supports bereaved parents - they have launched an appeal for blankets for their precious memory boxes - these blankets need to be made in white (they will also accept cream) DK yarn and 4mm (size pins. Here is the pattern to use:-

200gm of Double Knit Wool and size 8 (UK) needles
BASIC BLANKET
Cast on 1 stitch
Next row :- Make the one stitch into two stitches.
Next row :- Knit 1, into the next stitch make another,3 stitches on needle.
Continue to knit, ALWAYS knit the first stitch and into the 2nd stitch make another. Only increase this way at the BEGINNING of a row
Continue until you have almost come to the end of the 100gm ball.
Knit 1 row plain.
Next row:- Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Knit to end of row.
Continue this way, always knit the 1st stitch then decrease into the next stitch by knitting 2 together until 1 stitch remains.
You should now have a neat square.

LACE EDGING Using Double Knit and size 8 (UK) needles
Cast on 8 stitches
Row 1 ( Wrong side) Slip 1, Knit 1,(Yarn fwd knit 2 tog)twice, Yarn fwd Knit 2 (9sts)
Rows 2, 4, and 6. Slip 1 Knit to the end.
Row 3. Slip 1, knit 2 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog) twice. Yarn fwd Knit 2 (10sts)
Row 5. Slip 1, knit 3 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog) twice. Yarn fwd Knit 2 (11sts)
Row 7. Slip 1, knit 4 (yarn fwd knit 2 tog)twice . Yarn fwd Knit 2 (12sts)
Row 8. Slip 1, Knit 11 sts
Row 9. Slip 1 Knit 11 sts
Row 10 cast off 4 Sts Knit to the end ( 8sts)
These 10 rows form the pattern.

Continue in pattern until it is long enough to fit one edge, or all around, as you wish. Sew onto the blanket We are hoping to be abe to give them 200 to help out with such a very worthwhile cause which I know is very close to a lot of our members hearts :0)

Part 3 of our challenge is for summer items for children - for our knitters this could be cardigans, tank tops, summer tops, dresses etc. Our stitchers could make pretty dresses, shirts, shorts, trousers etc. These items will be divided equally between our two childrens charities - Linda MacDonald and Algerian Action so we would love to be able to send them 200 items each - that means we need 400 childrens summer items xx

and finally Part 4 - this one is the pet project of our lovely Suzanne and she has already had a trial run which is off to the charity for approval so she can then help any of our stitchers who want to take part - Algerian Action is looking for sanitary towels for girls in their catchement area who are desperately needing them. You can read all about it in the 'washables' section on the Algerian Action website. Apparently some of these poor girls have been reduced to using plastic bags as they do not have the money to buy towels - in this day and age this is appalling and easily remedied by providing each girl with a set of washable towels in a handy drawstring bag - there are instructions on Algerian Action for the way Lynne has been making them or Sizanne has devised a way to make alternatives. We will not put a set target on these but would like to help as many girls as we possibly can to have a bit of dignity and comfort back in their lives.

So there you have it folks - another challenge launched - I hope none of you are disappointed and that we have managed to give you something for everyone to get involved in again.