Raining and Cold!

It is snowing, snowing - what is with this country of ours. Now I know that I said that I was going to enjoy our last winter and embrace it - as all I know it could be four years until we get south again, but seriously, Snow on the slopes in April!

Anyway - it is raining outside - which I am happy about. We need the rain, so you dont hear any complains here and fingers crossed that this may actually be the year that the drought breaks. I hope so. My parents in law have been feeding sheep for years and are now into their 10th year of this countries dreaded drought...

Photo taken on my inlaws farm in Feb 2007!

So need a bit of a chuckle to cheer up your day. Go and check this out over at Jacqui's blog. Oh my what a laugh - Thankfully my granny no longer knits!

Or put on your boots and go and jump in a puddle!

I am also updating my side bar - if you don't appear in there don't stress - It is going to take a while - But you will be there too!

Head Warmer!

It has turned cold here and we were heading to the ANZAC march and my little man needed a beanie to keep his head warm.
Well that is what this crazy mumma thought.

Unfortunatly Baden spends more time trying to get it off. Currently he will only leave it on if he is tired and about to fall asleep. As soon as he is awake, it is off.

We have already lost it while shopping (I back tracked to find it!)

Pattern: Aviatrix baby hat by Justine Turner

Yarn: Patons INCA (1 Ball from stash)
Needles: 5.5 and 7mm straights

Started: April 24th 2009
Finished: April 25th 2009

Modifications: This was actually the second hat that I knitted in a 24hour period. The first is just way to small for Baden's buffa of a head.

I followed Justine’s cast on instructions for the size 1 - 3 years Poppy beanie in the INCA.

I will be doing more of these as they will make a fab little boys baby gift!

Lest We Forget

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them not the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

"Lest we forget"

As most of you know we are a military family (hence the reason why we move so much)

This ANZAC Day was not different to others.

Tim attended the Dawn Service (I managed to swindle my way out of it this year as I wanted the kids to be in good humor for the parade!)

Then we headed into town for the parade.

This year Tim was in the march and it was great for the kids to see there Dad in it and part of this very special day.

Attempting to spot him in the crowd after was interesting, but I managed with a little help from the camera.

Let us today remember the ANZAC's courage, endurance and mateship which forged a spirit and legend that lives on today and it is this that we remember and honour on this anniversary. There are no Australian veterans of the Gallipoli campain with us today, instead let us remember our fallen Service personnel , current and ex-servicemen and women and those on deployment today.

We then came home and enjoyed a lovely lunch and great company, before a rest.

Daily Tasks and Little Giveaway

Last week after a trip to the local toy library, Amelia bought home the laundry set up. (I think that this is about the third time we have loaned it - lucky for her we have the car to be able to transport it home in)

And she got to work straight away.

Into the washing machine...
Onto the line...

And into the dryer for a final spin and to 'fluff' them up.

Disclaimer: No children were emotionally scared in the tasks undertaken. I do not condone in child labor. (LOL - this was her idea)

She insisted that the nappies go on her line, it was a challenge getting 2 days worth of cloth nappies on such a small line - but with persistence we managed.

For those of you that don’t know, I am a baby Beehinds Nappy Consultant. If you would like a home demo and live in the area let me know!

I have also noticed the other day that my visitor count hit 22222 - how I managed to jump on at that very moment to go to one of the links I have no idea.

To celebrate I thought that I would do a little giveaway.

What you have to do...

Tell me whether you are a knitter or a sewer

Linking back will give you an extra entry. (Just let me know)

Not 100% what it will be at the moment - but you will have your choice if you are the lucky commenter. Forexample - If you knit - well there is no point giving you something that you can knit yourself so you will get a little something for your stash - get the idea!

If you sew and would like a goodie bag - that is cool - but if you would like a beanie or a scarf, than that is what I will do - does that make sense???

Lurkers welcome to comment - obviously there is alot of you. Would love to know who visits so I can in return visit you. Obviously there are more that a few family members visiting under the covers of darkness.

So come on - come and comment - all comments from now until the 1st May will be included in the draw!

More knitting off of the needles

Well these were not on the needles for very long at all.Cast on yesterday morning while watching the kids play in there little home corner - more on that later. And off this afternoon.How could I resist but put them on the bum that they are for. How cute is he. (and as you can see my the photos I did not even wait to lanolise them before putting them on - I needed to get a photo before the sun went down and got to cool)Pattern: Vanilla Soaker by Kelly Brooker (ravelry download pattern for a very affordable price)

Kelly Blogs as knit.so.quaint
Yarn: Red Cleckheaton 12ply (another ball and a bit from the stash - I am on a roll with this stash busting aren't I - it was an op shop find from some time ago)
Blue Cleckheaton 12ply

Needles: 4mm and 5mm
Started: April 19th 2009

Finished: April 20th 2009
Modifications: Not that I meant to but the ribbing in both the soaker and the waist band are a little longer than in the instructions - which actually works for the long rise on my little man.
Next time I think that I will knit the band in a 3.75mm. I really will have to add the tie in.
New Things Learnt: I have never done a cowyak before or a sewn bind off - what fun - will be doing these again.
I would recommend this and the longies pattern to any new knitter. It is not hard to understand the patterns and the only thing that you really need to get your head around is short rows (of which are explained in detail in both patterns)

Down by the Seashore!

That is where I would love to be! Humm - living 5hrs from a beach at the moment and next posting will more than likely not go down that close to the water in fear of being taken by a crocodile...

Anyway - Onto the knitting content.

I present you with Baden's new Longies.

I love how this wool knitted up When I started them I thought that I would only be putting Baden in them for bed - But I love them so much that it will be a shame to hide them away in a dark room of a night time LOL - These will see the light of day.

Received this pattern for Christmas from my non knitting SIL (do you think that it is maybe a hint that she would like a set for her little one!)

They are Ladybug Loops, by Anne McCrea. The rise is perfect and they fit a treat. Well done Anne, a job well done. I will definitely being making more of these for him this winter (well at least two more sets that will actually be made for bed!) You can get yourself a copy here. Go on - you know you want to.

Pattern: LadyBug Loops Longies (also come with a capri and shortie option)
Yarn: Knitspirations 12ply Merino
Patons Jet (1 Ball from stash)

Needles: 3.75mm and 5mm
Started: April 14th 2009

Finished: April 17th 2009 (would you believe that it took me almost 24 hours to knit the second leg - I keep stopping to look at the pooling and admire LOL)Modifications: None - Knitted a medium with a large rise. Garter stitch hem and K2tog Bind off. (I love the Bind off - I can not recall doing it before - will definitely be doing it again)

Felted Bag Details

The bags took me a day each to make. The funnest and scariest part was putting them in the washing machine and waiting to see what would become of them. I placed them in one at a time (I knew that the purple one would run!) with a bathmat and sat back and waited. No - not really, I was like a little kid watching there favourite toy going around and around in the machine LOL.

Anyway - they are approx 30cm long before felting. The following photo comes with a story and is for the benefit of two knitting girls. On Thursday night we met at a local ice creamery for a coffee and gelati! Sitting there minding our own business approx 10 teens walked in. One of which sat beside me. Had a dig at me because I was knitting and said that it was boring. And then - it gets better - Asked it I would make him a hat. I politly told him that "No! I would not knit him a hat, because I had other things that I wanted to knit for my children" He then wanted me to place the bag on his head - see told you there was a story.

So here you go. One bag on my head.



And with its friend after felting.

Pattern: Petite Felted Bag by Ann Lim (this is a free Rav link - you will just have to join if you are not yet a member)
Yarn: Cleckheaton Vintage Hues (12ply) and Sean Sheep Armytage - BigW (discontinued)

Needles: 6mm
Started and Finished: April 9th - April 11th 2009 for both

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and that the Easter Bunny was able to find you this year.

We spent a lovely weekend at home - spending time as a family.


Of course the tradition of hunting for and eating eggs occurred

and Baden tasted his first egg this year, he is in love!We made hot cross buns on Friday.

And I knitted (and then felted - what fun) Amelia and Baden an Easter Basket each - hoping that these become an Easter Tradition.

What did you all get up to?

In the letter box!

Look what has arrived for me in the letter box. Well not for me - this will be for Baden. He is in desperate need of a pair of knitted longies to keep his little legs warm and it is getting cold quick.So this is the next project that will be on the knitting needles. And in 12ply - how could you go wrong...

Wool is from Jen at Knitspirations. Thankyou so much - and many thanks also for the cutest little stitch markers to help me out on my next project. Would you believe that these were on my wish list for Christmas but got something else instead.
And opps - I am meant to be on a stash building ban - but is it classed as stash if I am knitting it up almost straight away? Promise to try to be good from here on... (I did say try!)

Back to Basics - Week Two

So it looks like I will get around to this post every two weeks. Will see you I go, but that is a good as start as any.

If you would like to see more of these challenge posts then please pop over to Belinda at Getting Back to Basics.

IN THE GARDEN

Sowing Seeds
Onions
Shallots
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage (Sugar Loaf)

Harvest
Thyme
1 Mini Watermelon

Maintenance
Watering of garden beds and herb garden
Relocating the herbs
Observing herbs for any return of cabbage moth
Dealt with Mice - bought these little plastic things that you shove int he brick spacing to keep them OUT - yay - got to be happy with that.

Observing
Pumpkin vine
Tomatoes -Dont seem to be ripening - there are plenty on them - will look into what I can make with them (ideas welcome)

PLANNING/ WORKING FOR THE FUTURE
Dried Thyme to add to dishes at a later date

BUILDING COMMUNITY
Made a double batch of spaghetti Bolognase mince, Biscuits and Cake for a friend who recently lost her husband. (even if they sit in the freezer for a while - they will be there when she has a bad day)
Made lunch and went for a drive out into the sticks to enjoy there company.

LEARN A NEW SKILL
Learnt how to format the blog so I have a header that can be linked to - thanks for letting me know that this could not be done Belinda. And many thanks to all those that helped. Becca - it was your suggestion that worked.
Double knitting - I had no idea.

Can anyone help???

I have noticed on a few blogs that you can hit there title and be taken to just that page!

Can anyone help me to get this on my blog - I am useless with html - as in really have NO idea.

Thanks in advance

Kylie