Try again

Today is a repeat of this time three weeks ago. Ned to the kennels this afternoon and pick my aunt up and bring her back to my home. Hopefully this time, my aunt and I will leave tomorrow for our delayed holiday to visit my sister.

It's raining today, which is going to be a nuisance trying to pack our luggage (and half my house) into the car. I always take too much, just in case:-) This comes from having a caravan and being able to take loads of stuff that doesn't matter whether it is not used.

I guess there will be no more posting to my blog until I return, in about two weeks.

In Between Socks

I've completed the first "In Between" sock. The first photo has the view as others would see it and the second view is how I see it looking down on it.

Ned has managed to get into the photo as well.

Blanket, socks and holiday.

I've recovered from my bout of viral meningitis. Feeling fine now. Plan to start the delayed holiday next Monday.

Managed to get quite a bit of the blanket-with-sleeves project done. Almost finished the main part and I've started one of the sleeves. It's getting on to weighing 2 kg.

I've also started another pair of socks. I'm calling them the "In between" socks because I am knitting them when the blanket's weight makes my thumbs ache. I've just started the second sock.

The start of sock 1.

The lace pattern is taken from the second pattern on page 72 of the Japanese book "Knitting Patterns Book 250". I think I will do this pattern again, but alter the last 12 rows so the whole pattern will look like a goblet, with a more defined stem. I plan to called the socks "Stacked Goblets".

I did a rough count of the socks I've knitted and these are, I think, pair no. 22. Seven pairs have been given away as presents. I started sock knitting 18 months ago, so I think I going quite well considering I have knitted other things as well in that time - and not small items.

No holiday

Well, I never left yesterday for my holiday with my aunt. I've put it off for three weeks. I woke about 4 am feeling dizzy and a bit "oomy".

Felt a bit worse by 7:30 am. Younger son came from work and took me to doc. I have a mild case of viral meningitis! Would you believe it? It's mainly a childhood complaint - just confirms I'm in my second childhood:-) Still, it could have been worse if I had taken ill today - 400 kms from home with a 94 year old aunt with me! I do hope she doesn't get it as I took her back to my place on Sunday afternoon and she stayed overnight so we could get a good start in the morning -haha. Her son came and took her back home. Of course, even worse, it could have been baterial meningitis and I would had to go straight to hospital and on to anti-biotics immediately. Boy, am I glad I didn't have that.

The sister I was supposed to be visiting arranged with my brother (who just arrived back yesterday from a 4 month UK trip) to give me an electric blanket and he brought it over this afternoon. Didn't come inside incase the v.m. is still catchy. I have thought occasionally about getting an elec. blanket, but I usually warm up after a bit when I go to bed, especially if I wear my handknitted woolly socks. So I've been spoilt. I've just put it on my bed. Will see how it goes tonight.

Holiday

Frantically spring cleaning. I like to come back from a holiday to a clean and tidy house, even though it is not that tidy most of the time. Hate housework.

I leave to visit my sister next week. It's a long drive and I am taking my aunt with me for company. Also she hasn't seen sis's house for about 8 years and a lot has been done around the place since then.

Ned goes to the kennels on Sunday afternoon and then I pick up my aunt. She will stay here until we leave.

I finally (sort of) got the hang of the sat. nav. device. I printed off some of the manual. This time it paid to follows directions and not try to work it out for myself.

Waiting, blanket

Seems I am always waiting for something. At the moment, I'm still waiting for the home cable of the nat. sav. device. Better though, I am waiting, impatiently, for my trip away to begin. I shouldn't wish my life away.

I lost a poor little goldfish yesterday. Only a young one. Maybe just too cold for it or maybe there are just too many in the pond and it was "natural selection" time for it. The pond seems to hold about a dozen fish comfortably. If I put any more than that in, the fish seem to die until I have about 12 again.

Nothing exciting has happened since the last entry. As usual. Weather cold and a bit damp. Suppose to be worse tomorrow. I'll have to see if I can get in a walk for the dog today.

Granddaughter's blanket with sleeve is slowly growing. Two and a half patterns done. A half a pattern to go and I can start the openings for the sleeves. There is a total of four patterns with moss stitch borders.

Nav. sat. device

Well, it working again. Today I discovered that I have the TomTom GO 910. The box says that it is supposed to be 710. I really think I have been given a demo model. I wonder if someone bought a 710 in an 910 box? Tandy rang today to says that they have tracked down a home cable and I should have it within a week. The device won't charge from the USB on the computer. It has to be connected to power, hence, I guess, home cable.

Just have to wait and see.

Sat. nav. again

Plugged the device into the cigarette lighter this morning to charge it enough to show the store that it's not working. B.h.! It is working now!! So I'm keeping it for now. There's a two year guarantee on it so if it plays up in that time I can return it. Missing power cord and adapter for UK to be order from Sydney today.

Still got to sort out the "over the 30 days for map update" message I received. Probably have to get in touch with their support team.

More about the sat. nav./GPS device

After returning from visiting the shop where I bought the sat. nav. and having lunch, I plug the thing back into the computer. It took an age to see if there were any updates - so long that I left it to it and went on with something else. Sometime later when I returned, the screen was blank.

"Hello," I thought. "Must need recharging."

Connected it to the car cigarette lighter and left it for 3/4 of an hour. Little green light showed that it was connected. Still couldn't get it to turn on. Screen still blank. It's as if all the info has been wiped and the computer can't find it. My phone, through bluetooth, can't connect either.

?(%&#!)>! Now what's wrong with it?!! It's going to be returned on Monday - definitely.

GPS

I bought a GPS device yesterday. Unpacked it. Linked to my phone (Bluetooth). I presume it install updates. It took so long I left it and came back later.

Then I check the bit and pieces that came with it and, with my usual luck, the cable to enable it to be charge from the power point is missing. I don't use the car enough to keep the thing fully charged and I'm not sure if I left it attached to the cigarette lighter in the car whether I would end up with a flat battery.

It is telling me also that I'm passed the 30 days that I can get a free up-to-date map. What! I only bought it yesterday.

I am also unable to access the menu so I can "buy" an updated map. Boy. I am one unhappy chappy. Now I know why it was $58 dollar cheaper that the original price!!

Today I called back into the shop where I bought the wretched thing from and they are going to order the power cable for me on Monday. It has to come from Sydney (to Adelaide). I have a fortnight to return the device if I find I don't want it. At the moment, there's a good chance of that.

Saffron cables blanket

I have now reached half way on granddaughter's blanket. The picture show the blanket at a few rows into the second pattern. There is a total of four patterns to knit for the blanket.

I bought the wool for it at a deceased estate sale and the whole blanket will cost not much over $20.

Nothing was done over summer, too hot, or autumn, too busy with other projects. At the rate I'm knitting it at the moment, it will take at least another couple of months.

Holiday

Next month my aunty and I are driving about 1200 kms (each way) to visit my sister and husband. Date chosen. Dog booked into boarding kennels for at least 12 days. Need to book car in for service. I was debating about getting cruise control but I've decided to get a GPS device instead. I hope my knee can survive the trip.

I've planted some white onions seedlings and some red and brown onion seeds. I hope I have better luck that I had with the last lot. A multitude came up and the birds demolished them all. I'd planted them too close to pine log edgings and the birds dug them up while trying to get to whatever they were after under the logs.

The assorted lettuces are going well - covered with bird netting. That keeps the little blighters off! Some beetroot up and I've planted more seed. Coloured silver beet seems to be going OK. The birds haven't attacked that as yet.

The potato plants are looking good, but I have to keep checking the dirt over the base of the plants as the birds - yes, them again - dig the dirt away and expose the potatoes. Consequently, if they are not recovered with dirt, they go green. I've put some scraps of shade cloth around some and straw around others. The little b.... will probably still removed the straw.

Planted a grapevine and prune the existing one. I have to attack the peach tree next.

Meanwhile, I have actually knitted half of granddaughter's blanket. Yeh!

Lunch

Some of the ex members of the Aussie Safari Caravan Club met for lunch today, as we do every third Wednesday of each month. One of our group turned 80 years old last Sunday, so we had birthday cake and candles for him. The founder of the Club has attended the last few lunches and is doing remarkable well for a 93 year old. His wife died last year after a long illness, so he wasn't able to come to the lunches before.

While we were there, we heard that another couple, who usually come to the lunches but had gone to Queensland for a couple of months, had the axle of their caravan break on them. About $500 to have it fix. It's bad enough to have to pay exorbitant petrol prices, so caravan repairs are something caravanners don't need.

Sunny Sunday

Today was a lovely sunny day but a bit windy. I spent sometime this afternoon weeding the front lawn and planting more mondo grass. That was followed by the pruning of the roses in the backyard. July is "prune the roses back hard" month.



I have been knitting about 4 rows a day on Alison's blanket. At that rate, I should be finished in about three months. The middle joint in my right thumb doesn't like the heavy wool and thick needles so four rows a day is enough. Only a couple of rows today though as I went out for dinner tonight.



I am also knitting myself a cardigan to go with socks I knitted previously. It's being knitted with Regia 4 ply sock yarn. I called the socks Joseph socks.

Socks and dog.

I finished my Left Over socks yesterday and I rather like them. A combination of Patonyle, Opal and Regia yarn. I wasn't sure about these when I started, but I wore them this morning when I took Ned to the vet for his annual vaccination.

Ned is fine except that he has to have some plaque removed from one of his top teeth on the left hand side of his mouth in the near future. Had his toe nails trimmed, too. This is the first time that he has had them done. I guess it is a result of not getting as many walks as he used to. He didn't get one today either as the weather was too wet. Maybe tomorrow as the weather is supposed to clear a bit in the afternoon before another cold front descends on us.

Ned's a bit soppy tonight. He wants to sit on me. I had him on my lap for awhile, but I put him down because I wanted to get on with my granddaughter's blanket. He just sat there looking at me for about an hour. Perhaps the vaccination has some affect on how he's feeling.

When I finally put the knitting down and came up to this cold room and the computer, he came too, but he didn't stay long as the other room is so much warmer. Comfort before attention:-)

Birthday excursion, Murray river mouth,

Left about 9:30 am to visit my sister. It's her birthday tomorrow, but her husband is taking her out for a special lunch, so I went today. It's about 110kms from my place.

I picked up our aunt on the way down. She will be 94 in August - she certainly doesn't look that age.

We arrived about 11:45 am after stopping to buy something yeasty to have after lunch. After we arrived, we were informed that we were all going to a hotel for lunch. So off we went. The other three had fish which looked quite nice, but I had chicken schnitzel which was overcooked. Vegies were good, though.

After lunch, we drove to the river Murray mouth. Dredging has been going on there for about two years to keep the river mouth open. The river Murray needs another flood desperately, but it won't be this year. We could see and hear the breakers of the ocean against the mouth.

We also had a look at the place in Goolwa my sister live in 20 odd years ago. The area has certainly change. So much building going on.

I gave my sister a pair of long socks. She seemed pleased. She gave me several bags of books and magazines. They should keep me going for several years, as I don't read as much as I used to. I do a lot of knitting instead. I've never managed to do both at once.

Left Over Socks

The blanket has been temporarily abandoned again. I started another pair of socks yesterday using the remainders of other pairs I have knitted. I'm calling them "Left Over Socks" for the obvious reason. I think I may have enough for two pairs.

The weather fined up a bit this afternoon so I took Ned for a walk. I don't do it as often as I used to as my feet (toes actually) have arthritis in them and, because I tend to favour them when I walk, it plays havoc with my right knee at times. So walks are now down to about twice a week instead of every second day.

Socks and things

I finished the JT2/Genie Jeanie socks this morning. I am very pleased with the way the pattern turn out and I am thinking about selling the pattern. Not sure yet, need some thinking about before I jump in. Probably needs a test knit to make sure it is understandable.

Ned found the socks a warmer place to sit than a paver on a cold, wet and windy day.

Knitting group meeting tonight. A number of us meet at a hotel on Monday evenings between 6:00 and 8:30 pm and knit and crochet together. We are part of Adelaide's Ktog group and have been meeting for about 18 months.

I resumed Alison's blanket with sleeves tonight at the group. The pattern, minus the sleeves she wants me to add, was published in a Interweave Knits magazine and was called Saffron Cables. The blanket I'm knitting is a pinky red with a purple/blue border and not saffron yellow. I bought loads of the wool at a deceased estate sale and it will probably cost me about $16 instead of about $150-200 retail. It's slow knitting because it has a lot of cabling.

Front garden

I have spent several months gradually renovating the front garden. I try to do a bit each day and I'm starting to see the results.

I've reduced some of the lawn area and removed bushes that died because of water restrictions over last summer. New plantings included some native grasses and other drought resistant bushes. For borders in the garden where it meets the lawn, I have planted medium height mondo grass. There are pavers laid as stepping stones that go from the lawn to the gas meter box, so whoever does the meter reading doesn't have to tread on the new garden. Between the pavers, I've planted short mondo grass.

Yesterday, I removed some more dead bushes and severely trimmed back three others. They haven't been done for years. Even found a newspaper dated January 2008 that had been thrown in the bushes instead of up the driveway. I still have several bushes to go, but they will have to wait until August, as next month is rose pruning month.

In our area we have a fortnightly service that takes green waste placed in a big wheely bin - prunings, weeds, grass clippings, etc. Anything that will compost. This means it will take me quite awhile to gradually get rid of all the prunings.

This week, I have also planted beetroot, lettuce and silver beet seeds. I hope I have some luck. I seem to have green fingers for gardening, except for raising plants from seed sown straight into a garden bed. I think I may have a bird and/or snail problem. Netting will fix the birds, but I can't put snail bait down because of darling dog, Ned.

Meanwhile, I have nearly finished the pair of socks from the yarn I won in a draw on the Ivy Shawl KAL Yahoo site.

Adding to blog

I have no idea what I am doing, but by following instructions, I now have a favourite blog list started. Now to add pictures.

Today I finished the first sock of the JT2 pair I'm knitting with Opal Petticoat Cotton I won as part of a prize in a draw. I love the colours. JT - in honour of Jeanie Townsend, the amazing socks and shawl knitter and designer. In the photograph, I have just passed the heel.

Beginnings

Everything has a beginning. Starting a blog, this blog, is something new for me. Entries will probably not be all that frequent, but time will tell.