Loving Hands Autumn Challenge

The new Loving Hands challenge runs from 25th July to 23rd October 2010. I haven't sent anything in for the last 2 challenges so I have plenty to send for this one...I hope!!

So here is Lou's challenge:

"I have decided that this will be a 3 part challenge this time - hopefully you will all approve of what I have found ;0)


1. The first part of this challenge will be thanks to our dear Dot. A couple of months back I was reading a great book - one of those true story paperbacks that make you cry all the way through. It was called ‘Street Kid’ and was by a lady called Judy Westwater. The morning after I finished reading it I got a parcel from Dot and in it was a note with a newspaper cutting from the Inverness paper. It was an article about an Inverness lady knitting jumpers for children in Africa - these items were being taken to Africa and being distributed by …….. Judy Westwater - the author of the book I had just finished reading. This had to be an omen - Judy has set up a trust for street kids in Africa called the Pegasus Trust - I contacted her and here is her reply …….

Hello Lou,


Thank you so much for contacting me and thank you also for reading my book. (Which I assume was 'Street Kid' my first book?) I am hopeful that by the sale of my books they will bring about a far greater worldwide awareness as to the desperate plight all our street children continue to face on a daily basis.


Thank you for offering to help our children with delightful knitted goodies. Our children are always so delighted to receive knitted goodies and to know that they have been made especially for them, new and warm thrills them no end.


We take care of children from birth onward. We have shelters for kiddies from birth to six years, and then from six to eighteen, and then from eighteen to twenty four years old. So a huge range of sizes. For our under six shelter all goodies that you have mentioned would be amazing as they do love soft toys, blankets or any item you are happy to make everything would be totally embraced by them. They have never had anything new and they cannot believe that someone from so far away would care enough about them to make something especially for them.


Our kids from six years to eighteen would be thrilled with school jerseys and cardigans in school colours. For a child in South Africa they cannot attend school unless they have the full uniform and many times during winter they do not have warm clothing. They would love anything to wear that is knitted, crocheted or sewn. South African kids love knitwear. The older kids would be the same, for them socks would be fabulous as well as jerseys.


Hope I have given you an insight. But believe me it would not matter what you sent for this every item would be so very much appreciated.


Thank you for your very kind offer. Should you wish to see our clips from my latest visit to South Africa please type in Judy Westwater S.T.V.News and see the latest Scottish news broadcast.


I look forward to hearing from you.


Till then do take care


Very best wishes


Judy Westwater

I think you will all agree that this is a very worthwhile charity for us to help and as Judy has said these kids will be happy with anything we make for them - the great thing on our side also is that Judy lives in Inverness now so I will have a great excuse to meet up with Dot and Ron when I go up to deliver our end of challenge items to Judy ;0) For this I think we can make clothing for all ages, toys, blankets, school jumpers and cardies etc. If any of you have good quality school skirts, shirts, trousers or shorts we could put those in too - lots to choose from! Our stitchers can make kids clothing , toys, quilts etc as well to add to the mix.


2. The second part of our challenge is all thanks to our friend Tricia who runs the Teddies for Tragedies site. She has been in touch asking for our help to get 1,200 teddies complete with bags to help out her causes. She needs 1000 for street kids in Cambodia and 200 for Orphans in Uganda. Once again the addresses for us to get them to are in the UK so no overseas postage for us. Knitters and Crocheters can make the bears and the stitchers can make the bags.


3. Part three of the challenge will be for our shoeboxes for Blythswood Care - the usual items and fillings for these. I have been keeping all of the shoeboxes that come in here this year so the attic is stuffed with them ready to be wrapped and filled again for this winter. "

Certainly worth while checking out Judy's site at http://sites.google.com/site/pegasuschildrenstrust/Home. There is a video of her work and an interview as shown on This Morning.

I've got some Teddies waiting to be stuffed already. I'm going to make some school jumpers, blankets and other goodies for the Pegasus Trust. I've probably got quite a few things made already that can be used. I already support the local Samaritan's Purse shoebox appeal so I won't be doing the 3rd challenge.

More Granny Striped Blanket!!!

On Sunday we got a fantastic new camera from Argos..it's an Alba SL1231 reduced from £159.99 to...wait for it....£59.99!!! Unbelievable bargain!!! Absolutely fantastic camera!!!! Our only hesitation with it is that it takes a Li-ion battery and we now want to get a spare as the last thing we want to have happen is be out and have the battery die...which did happen today...I'll post our lovely day out pics later.

But for now check out these lovely scrummy pics of my blankie as taken by our new camera!!! It has really captured the colours...Be warned I did get a bit carried away!!!

...I just love how is looks all crumpled together - so squishy and snuggly...

...to give you an idea of how big it is now...

I love it love it love it!!! But I've got so much more to do. Darren thinks it's nearly done???!!! Is he crazy?? Yes, well no, it's because he feels it's ready in length fo him to snuggle under on the settee (which is my plan for it) but I don't just want a lap blanket...I want to snuggle up from head to toe under it!!!

Oh and to top off what a lovely day we've had (been to Yeadon Tarn for picnic, drive around Yorkshire countryside, visited Studley Royal at Fountains Abbey and then went to Brimham Rocks) I've lost 2 lbs!!!! I've been clinging onto them for the past 2 weeks and finally decided to get rid of them!!! That means folks that I've now lost my first stone!!!! Yippeee!!!! About time as well!

Free Mobile Phone/Ipod Case 3

Oddments of DK yarn

4mm needles

Button

Pattern can be adapted for length and width of mobile phone or Ipod.

I’ve used 2 colours (pink one) and a variated colour (blue one) but you can use any combination you want!!

Pattern:

Cast on 32sts

Work in gst for 43 rows (either in one colour or 2 rows in 1st colour, then 2 rows in 2nd colour)

Row 44. Cast off 26sts, K to end (6sts remain)

Work 12 rows in gst on these 5sts

Row 57. – buttonhole – K2, yrn, K2tog, K1

Row 58. K to end

Row 59. K to end

Cast off.

Make Up:

Fold in half length ways. Sew up from cast on edge to row 44.

Button strap can be on either side:

For pink:

With seam at centre back, oversew cast on edge together.

For blue:

Keeping seam at edge oversew cast on edge together.

Then for both turn right side out.

Sew button onto case to match buttonhole.

Place mobile/Ipod in and enjoy!!!

Free Mobile Phone/Ipod Case 2

Oddments of DK yarn

4mm needles
Button

Pattern can be adapted for length and width of mobile phone or Ipod.

Pattern:

Cast on 32sts

Row 1. K to end

Row 2. P to end

Row 3. K to end

Row 4. K4, P4, K4, P4 repeat to end

Row 5. K to end

Row 6. P to end

Row 7. K to end

Row 8. P4, K4, P4, K4 repeat to end

These 8 rows form the pattern.

Work 33 rows of pattern in total.

Row 34. Cast off k wise 27 sts, K to end (5sts remain)

Row 35 – 46. work in gst

Row 47. K2, yrn, K2tog, K1

Row 48. K to end

Row 49. K to end

Cast off.


Make Up:

Fold in half length ways. Sew up from cast on edge to row 34

Keeping seam at edge oversew cast on edge together.

Turn right side out.

Sew button onto case to match buttonhole.

Place mobile/Ipod in and enjoy!!!

Free Mobile Phone/Ipod Case 1

Oddments of DK yarn

4mm needles

Button

Pattern can be adapted for length and width of mobile phone or Ipod. The rib makes it a stretchy case.

Pattern:

Cast on 32sts

Work 26 rows for shorter version, 32 rows for longer version, in K2, P2 rib

To check it is the correct length and width wrap it around your mobile/Ipod. It should completely cover it.

Row 27(33) cast off in pattern, 26 sts (6sts remain)

Row 28(34) K2, P2, K2

Row 29(35) P2, K2, P2

Repeat last 2 rows until

Row 38(44) – buttonhole – K2, cast off 2 sts, K2

Row 39(45) P2, cast on 2 sts, P2

Row 40(46) K2, P2, K2

Row 41(47) P2, K2, P2

Cast off in pattern

Make Up:

Fold in half length ways. Sew up from cast on edge to row 27(33)

Position button strap at front of case (sew photo) and oversew cast on edge together.

Turn right side out.

Sew button onto case to match buttonhole.

Place mobile/Ipod in and enjoy!!!

Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Icing

I got this sent in an eamil by my MIL. These are the only emails we get from her!!! But they are usually quite funny!!

If all of the eight desserts listed below were sitting in front of you, which would you choose (sorry, you can only pick one)!

Trust me...this is very accurate.

Pick your dessert, and then look to see what psychiatrists think about you.

REMEMBER - No Cheating. Make your choice before you check the meaning.

Here are your choices:

1. Angel Food Cake

2. Brownies

3. Lemon Meringue Pie

4. Vanilla Cake With Chocolate Icing

5. Strawberry Short Cake

6. Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Icing

7. Ice Cream

8. Carrot Cake


No, you can't change your mind once you scroll down, so think carefully about what your choice will be.

OK - Now that you've made your choice, this is what the researchers say about you...

SCROLL DOWN---No Cheating

1. ANGEL FOOD CAKE --
Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all Warm and fuzzy items. A little Nutty at times. Sometimes you Need an ice cream cone at the end of the Day. Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at Times.

2. BROWNIES --
You are adventurous, love new ideas, and are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When Tempers flare up you whip out your saber. You are always the Oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You Tend to be very loyal.

3. LEMON MERINGUE --
Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent Caregiver and a good teacher. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, you set your own style because you do your Own thing. You shine when it comes to helping others and Have many friends.

4. VANILLA CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING --
Fun-loving, sassy, humorous, not very grounded in life; very Indecisive and lacking motivation. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker.. Others should be cautious in making you mad. However, you are a friend for life.

5. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE --
Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people, can be counted on in a pinch and expect the same in return. Intuitively keen. You can be very emotional at times but a true person in every way. You like to do things for yourself and help others learn about themselves.

6. CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING--
Sexy; always ready to give and receive. Very creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate. You can appear to have a cold exterior but are warm on the inside. Not afraid to take chances. Will not settle for anything average in life.. Love to laugh.

7. ICE CREAM --
You like sports, whether it be baseball, football, basketball, or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but you enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control. You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance.

8. CARROT CAKE --
You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm hearted person and a little quirky at times. You have many loyal friends. You Were meant to lead and teach others.. A wonderful role model.
 
 
So I chose chocolate cake, although I was also contemplating ice cream (which I do LOVE!!!)....well according to this test I am definately NOT ice cream!!!!

So sleepy

Afternoon!! Having done a 13hr shift yesterday - not including 2 hrs to and from work, I am knackered today. To make matters worse, when I got home at 11pm yesterday just able to stand up without falling asleep - Darren announced that he'd reserved some things at Argos for our neice and nephew (their 8th bday on Mon, party on Sun). He'd asked his sis what they'd like and she said money towards going to see a show in Oct - I'm damned if I'm paying towards their pressie to their kids!! Is it just me or is this unfair??? Not like we'd be saying this is from mummy and daddy and me and D!! The kids would never see the cash again!!


So D finally had the guts to look at pressies from us (he does agree with me) but this was yesterday morning before we left for work! So I get home and he says I need to collect the pressies from our local Argos - which to be honest I don't have the energy for but it's ok (despite the weather!!!) BUT I also need to go into the centre of Bradford to get a pressie from another Argos! Well I don't even know where Argos is in Bradford!! we don't go into Bradford much and never been to or seen an Argos!

So, bless him this morning he woke me on his way to work, to say he was walking (I would normally have driven him as I need the car today) and at lunch time he'll ring me for me to collect him and we'll go into Bradford together. He's going to take a longer lunch and make the time up. I'm really greatful as the thought of wandering aimlessly through Bradford just wasn't appealing.

What makes it worse is that due to the hours I've been working I have piles of washing to do, housework to do, animals to clean out, paperwork to go through - all of which needs to be done as I'm working some RIDICULOUS hours from tomorrow until next Weds. Then very long day next Thurs -Fri. The only time I'll be home will literally be to sleep - no exageration whatsoever...Darren is not impresssed. But from next Sat we have 2 weeks off!!!!!

Golden Acre Park

Yesterday we went to Golden Acre Park in Leeds. We had decided to go when chatting about weekend plans on Friday. Saturday was a no-go for plans as I did the night shift on Friday, so should have been sleeping on Sat but I was awake all day!!! Ahhhh!!! I was so tired...but couldn't sleep!! And Darren was doing his special effects in York all day.

So Sunday was OUR day. A picnic and lovely walk with Lady. We woke up to a miserable looking day, strong wind, heavy black clouds, interspersed with some white fluffy ones and a touch of blue sky. But it wasn't raining. In fact as it was cooler it would make for a nice walking day. We realised we didn't have much in the way of picnic food, so on-route we went to Marks and Spencers (aren't their sarnies lovely!!!). Then off we went. It's only about 20mins away in the car from our house - strangely most of the drive is my route to work - not good on your day off!!! lol

I'm so glad we went as it got brighter and the wind wasn't as strong and kept us cool. So first stop was a wooded area to let Lady burn off her energy. She then had a paddle and a swim. Then picnic time - I had to fasten Lady to a bench as she kept wanting to swim and chase squirrels!!

I took a few pics - had thought I'd taken more, but I guess we just enjoyed ourselves too much!!!

Daft dog I said go find a stick to her....

Sat not so patiently whilst we ate (you can just see her scar near her eye). Strangely once food came out she was more settled!!!

The view of the lake whilst we ate - not great photos.

We spotted this tree on our walk and loved it. It's been chopped back and looks pretty much dead but there's just something about it...

It was lovely to be out and about. We then finished our walk by having a double scoop 99 ice cream - yummy. We ate them too quickly to take pics as they were melting!!!! Sun was out by the time we got to the car! lol

Baby me

My dad has literally just emailed me these! Kinda touching that they have kept them all these years!

Update on Granny Stripe Blanket

Ok so Lady has to be in on every photo I take - this is my best side mum - my scar still shows through my hair on the other side!!!

I've fiddled with the colours when uploading them to try and capture their true colours which is why they are not exactly the same in each picture. It feels lovely and warm when I'm working on it - needless to say with this heat I'm not always able to sit with this on my knee!!! I'm going to take it with me to work tonight, so hopefully I'll get lots more done!!

By the way to get an idea of the width - I have folded the blanket - it is 3 times as wide as what is shown.

Grumpy post

Well I'm in a very emotional and grumpy mood so excuse me venting. Woke up tired and with my poorly head just after 8am I did manage to get bit more sleep but gave up by 10. Anyway after months of suffering this is nothing new. But I'm doing a night shift tonight and try to sleep in and take it easy cos I can't sleep later before work.

So I got up and realised it's bin day and I need to clean animals out. Quick hoover up. Then went for my shower - that always seems to make me feel better. Except today....COS THERE'S NO *@%^$* HOT WATER!!!!!!! Try as I might I couldn't get the boiler to re-start. To top it off the bright sparks who previously owned the house and installed the boiler put it outside the house in a cubby hole, which is actually under the stairs. I have to crawl in as the floor is below ground level. It is filthy and dusty. Boiler wouldn't start. I re-pressurised it. I waited and went back. It did come on but by the time I got upstairs it was off.Grrrrr!!!!! Spent about an hour messing about. Had one false start of trying a cold shower but ahhhh!!!!!

However, in the end I was nearly crying in the cubby hole...too frustrated and head pounding to be bothered to boil water in the kitchen to take up...so I braved it. Initially I just washed my hair in the cold water.....not too bad - thank goodness it's relatively hot today. Then I got in for my shower, telling myself it's just like the seaside and it's always cold to start with but it gets better.....I have news for you...IT DOESN'T GET BETTER!!!!

But, my 10 second shower worked, I feel clean and refreshed.

The postie has been and I can see all 3 of my knitting mags waiting on the mat for me - YIPPEE!!!! I have blogs to read and forums to chat on.

Ahhhh...I feel better now - thanks and feel free to laugh at or ignore this!! lol

More fun stuff from MIL

For all my smart friends!
DEMENTIA QUIZ

FIRST QUESTION:

YOU ARE A PARTICIPANT IN A RACE. YOU OVERTAKE
THE SECOND PERSON. WHAT POSITION ARE YOU IN?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




ANSWER: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE FIRST,
THEN YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF YOU OVERTAKE THE
SECOND PERSON AND YOU TAKE HIS PLACE, YOU ARE IN SECOND PLACE!

TRY TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.
NOW ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION,
BUT DON'T TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS
YOU TOOK FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, OK?



SECOND QUESTION:
IF YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON, THEN YOU ARE....?
(SCROLL DOWN)




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





ANSWER: IF YOU ANSWERED THAT YOU ARE SECOND TO LAST, THEN YOU ARE.....
WRONG AGAIN. TELL ME SUNSHINE, HOW CAN YOU OVERTAKE THE LAST PERSON??


YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS, ARE YOU?

THIRD QUESTION:
VERY TRICKY ARITHMETIC! NOTE:
THIS MUST BE DONE IN YOUR HEAD ONLY.
DO NOT USE PAPER AND PENCIL OR A CALCULATOR.
TRY IT.

TAKE 1000 AND ADD 40 TO IT. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000 NOW ADD 30.
ADD ANOTHER 1000. NOW ADD 20. NOW ADD ANOTHER 1000.
NOW ADD 10. WHAT IS THE TOTAL?


SCROLL DOWN FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER.....




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


DID YOU GET 5000?

THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ACTUALLY 4100...



IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, CHECK IT WITH A CALCULATOR!
TODAY IS DEFINITELY NOT YOUR DAY, IS IT?

MAYBE YOU'LL GET THE LAST QUESTION RIGHT... MAYBE...

FOURTH QUESTION:

MARY'S FATHER HAS FIVE DAUGHTERS:
1. NANA, 2. NENE, 3. NINI, 4. NONO, AND ???
2. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FIFTH DAUGHTER?






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



DID YOU ANSWER NUNU? NO! OF COURSE IT ISN'T.
HER NAME IS MARY! READ THE QUESTION AGAIN!



OKAY, NOW THE BONUS ROUND,
I.E., A FINAL CHANCE TO
REDEEM YOURSELF:


A MUTE PERSON GOES INTO A SHOP AND WANTS TO BUY A TOOTHBRUSH.
BY IMITATING THE ACTION OF BRUSHING HIS TEETH HE
SUCCESSFULLY EXPRESSES HIMSELF TO THE SHOPKEEPER AND THE PURCHASE IS DONE.
NEXT, A BLIND MAN COMES INTO THE SHOP WHO WANTS TO BUY A
PAIR OF SUNGLASSES; HOW DOES HE INDICATE WHAT HE WANTS?





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IT'S REALLY VERY SIMPLE
HE OPENS HIS MOUTH AND ASKS FOR IT...
DOES YOUR EMPLOYER ACTUALLY PAY YOU TO THINK??
IF SO DO NOT LET THEM SEE YOUR ANSWERS FOR THIS TEST!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE
SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
HAVE A NICE DAY, ONE AND ALL.

Fun stuff from MIL

YOU EVER BEEN GUILTY OF LOOKING AT OTHERS YOUR OWN AGE AND THINKING, SURELY I CAN'T LOOK THAT OLD? WELL.....YOU'LL LOVE THIS ONE!

MY NAME IS ALICE SMITH AND I WAS SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH A NEW DENTIST. I NOTICED HIS DENTAL DIPLOMA, WHICH BORE HIS FULL NAME.

SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED A TALL, HANDSOME, DARK HAIRED BOY WITH THE SAME NAME HAD BEEN IN MY SECONDARY SCHOOL CLASS SOME 30-ODD YEARS AGO.

COULD HE BE THE SAME GUY THAT I HAD A SECRET CRUSH ON, WAY BACK THEN?

UPON SEEING HIM, HOWEVER, I QUICKLY DISCARDED ANY SUCH THOUGHT.

THIS BALDING, GRAY HAIRED MAN WITH THE DEEPLY LINED FACE WAS FAR TOO OLD TO HAVE BEEN MY CLASSMATE. AFTER HE EXAMINED MY TEETH, I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD ATTENDED MORGAN PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL .

'YES, YES I DID. I'M A MORGANNER! ' HE BEAMED WITH PRIDE.

'WHEN DID YOU LEAVE TO GO TO COLLEGE?' I ASKED

HE ANSWERED, IN 1965. WHY DO YOU ASK?

'YOU WERE IN MY CLASS!' I EXCLAIMED.

HE LOOKED AT ME CLOSELY.

THEN THAT UGLY,

OLD,

BALD,

WRINKLED,

FAT ARSED,

GREY HAIRED,

DECREPIT,

BASTARD ASKED....





'WHAT DID YOU TEACH?'

Just another day

Morning!!! Ok so have you noticed anything different about my weight loss tracker??? No???!!! Well then let me tell you my good news this morning - I've lost another 2lbs this week!!!! I'm so giddy!!!!!! Yippeee!!!! Ok so I've still got LOADS more to lose but I'm really chuffed with my progress!!!

However, I'm BORED of salads and stir fry's. Gotta love em as they have REALLY helped kick start my diet (12lbs in 5 weeks!) but I need other food now. Problem is that when it is so hot who wants anything cooked?? It seems a bit cooler today so I'm going to make Shepherd's Pie (obviously veggie for me and meat for Darren). This'll be healthy if I remove the milk and butter from my mash.

One thing about dieting that I hate is having to portion control - I don't eat big portions typically but when a diet calls for you to eat less, you just seem to battle against hunger. Slimming World is great cos you can eat as much as you want of certain foods, so you don't have the hunger factor.

Anyway - enough taking about food and diets!! I have a day off today!!! Since going back to work at the beg of June I've been on a phased return and I've not even worked 2 days together. As of this week I'm back to my normal full time hours. I worked Sunday last week. Then Mon and Tues this week. So I've just done 3 days together which has hit me quite hard! Daft isn't it when I can have 6 days on and then 1 day off as part of my rota!! But I had a sleep in this morning - was woken about 30mins by work ringing asking me to swap shifts on Fri.

Gonna do a quick tidy up in the house, clean out Ted and Becks (rabbit and guinea pig), I'd normally put them out in their run but to me it looks dark and gloomy. Then again the curtains are still closed!!! Then a day of t'internet and knitting/crochetting!! Can't be bad! Oh and I need to take pics of my WIP and for some free patterns to go on here. My chill out day is getting busier and busier!

Have a great day everyone!!

Feeling sleepy...

...I really think that it is unfair that people (by this of course I mean me) should have to start work at 6.30am...especially when they didn't finish until 10.30pm the previous day.

OK so luckily I was also the sleep over person at work, but as night staff didn't stop talking to me til nearly midnight (I kept edging out the door and saying things like "well I'd better get to bed cos it's an early start...") I could've been home in bed by then!! I only have a 45min drive!!

Then it was so hot in the sleep in room, again, that I had to have the window open and traffic is so noisy - despite being in a village!! So I took ages to fall asleep and woke at 5.30am to the delightful squeals of the kid in the room below mine....grrrr!!!!!!!!!!! Luckily this was the first I'd heard of him cos apparently he started about an hour earlier!!

So I finished at 1.30p.m, got home about 2.30pm - slow traffic - but I took Lady out straight away for a walkies in the woods...whilst I had the energy to do it. Darren and I normally take her out when he finishes at 5 but as this is his 1st day back after his hernia operation, I figured he would be pretty exhausted!

Then I did some housework, it's amazing how messy the house gets when I'm away at work for 24hrs!!! Washed some clothes. Had a shower. Picked Darren up from work. Went to Morrisons. Made tea. Now on computer...

My trainers have also just had a wash...how's this for embarressment. When I went to bed and took my trainers off, I couldn't believe the smell...luckily I had some body spray, so I sprayed them...however, this just seemed to create a more sickly odour. Today I was convinced I could smell my sweaty trainers whilst wearing them...I joked about it with my colleagues, mainly so they were aware I knew of the smell, in case they could also smell them!! Which let's face it - they must've!!! Yuck a weekend of sweaty feet (I do wear socks) left my trainers almost walking themselves!!! lol Tomorrow I can wear my sandels, as it is team meeting day not child care...it is at our own risk to wear sandels whilst on child care. Personally I don't want to run the risk.

So I'm going to hang out my trainers on the washing line, then get into my pj's and collapse in big heap clutching granny stripe blanket.....

Soon after I'll probably be asleep...so night night!

My diet

I've seen lots of people on forums using these ticker factory designs and then I saw one for weight loss. I thought it would be a good way for me to keep track of my progress - just need to remember to update it!!

No work today!!!

Afternoon! So what is everyone doing this weekend??

I'm going to give the house a hoover and do some washing but other than that I can't be bothered. I'm so tired...didn't make it to bed at work til nearly 1am. So no crocheting in bed. Then woke when kids woke up at 7am (luckily I didn't hear them through the night - dsepite them being noisy....apparently!)...so I got up just after 7 (couldn't really go back to sleep at work at that time) and came home.

Then we had coffee in bed; a nice long walkies in the woods, meeting lots of dogs; out for breakfast - Darren had a fry up, but I had scrambled eggs and beans on toast (I've lost another 2lbs this week - 10lbs in 4 weeks!!!)

Quick dash into Wilkinsons...where I treated myself (again!!!) to 14 balls of acrylic for my blanket....they've put the price up to £1.17 for 100g - cheeky blighters! I'm not sure how much I will need but I can easily get more of the colours if I need them and if I don't they are great for toys.


My dad sent me this photo this morning...it's an ice cream shop in Knaresborough....the question he asked me was..which ice cream do you think Cassie chose? (Cassie is his dog!) SO I'm thinking...he gave her an ice cream???? Then as I looked carefully....

Better not let Lady know about this place!!!

Right get hoovering Liz.....

TTFN

Friday Feeling....

Morning everyone. Yep it's another hot one here. We had heavy rain over night, not sure if more is expected. Bet Charlie the cat was glad he didn't stay out last night. He's a silly cat who LOVES to be in his bed with Lady at night but sometimes he stays out too late and we've gone to bed...so he's out for the night. Then he's waiting the next morning....famished and wanting kisses and cuddles!! Such a big softie...just don't tell the other cats that!!! lol !!!! He then curls up asleep for the day!

Well, I'm at work this afternoon and doing my first sleep over since January. I'm not at work tomorrow, so I can get up later and head back home. I'll check and see if there are any good films on, as we have a tv in the sleep in room, so I can go snuggle up in bed - free from cat and dog hairs - and crochet more of my blanket.

It's coming on nicely - lovely and soft too!! I'll take more pics...probably tomorrow...don't think you need to see if grow stripe by stripe!!! Although at least then you could enjoy seeing it grow as much as I am!! :)

New crochet blanket

So this is my latest project. It is a blanket inspired from Lucy's design at
http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2010/05/granny-striping.html I have tried doing blankets like this before but I could never get them right, so thanks alot Lucy!!! We do love your work!!!

The colours in the photos really aren't the true colours. The greens are brighter, the photos have muted the colours quite alot...shame...and you wouldn't believe how many times I've tried to get the colours right - I give up for now, cos at this rate I'll have finished the blanket before getting the photos I want!!! lol



My blanket started with a 300 st foundation chain...amazingly I have counted right!!! Yippeee!!! I was rather nervous about that....after all that's alot of stitches to rip out, esp after doing a row of dc!!

I then did my first 2 rows of trb in the same colour...


It was at this point that I took photos yesterday but they were all really blurry. So after completing more blanket last night, I have just taken these....the green I am currently working with is actually a really bright green, this looks more aqua for some reason.

So I have alot more to do but it is coming on really quickly. The great thing is I can crochet this without having to think about the stitches as they are just repeats of 3 trb in each space....nice and simple.

And nice and cheap, it is all acrylic from my stash. Balls are all 100g and cost 99p for some and £1.10 for the rest.

I feel like a time traveller....

....cos another month has gone by!

Is it just me or is this year flying by??

I was saying to someone at work yesterday that the 3mths I was off sick seemed to go REALLY fast and the month I had been back at work had gone even faster!!

I hadn't even realised it was PAY DAY!!!! There must be a time travelling vortex or something cos I never don't know when it's pay day - I'm sure we all count days to that day of the month!!!

I'm feeling abit wobbly today with my head - it doesn't seem to know whether or not it's going to be a headache, so I'm going to have a lazy day.

I've got some photos of my latest project to put on...did start doing this yesterday before work but some of the photos weren't very good, so I'll take some more today.

Have a good month everyone!