tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32731380830229629332023-11-16T11:07:49.536-08:00Organised FidgetingTales from a wife and mum who might more-than-just-occasionally let crafting and baking come before family responsibilities.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-52290492596653480072013-06-17T05:47:00.001-07:002013-06-17T05:47:22.079-07:00Winter sky and cycling heroicsOh how lovely the winter skies are at the moment. The weather forecasts have been predicting showers all week but it was certainly been brilliant blue skies over the weekend.<br />
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On Sunday we went to one of our favourite parks, Manning Park in Spearwood, to see if we could get Little Soldier riding on two wheels instead of four. Such a glorious afternoon, I spent most of my time looking up instead at the cycling action. Just look at that gorgeous sky.<br />
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I did pay attention long enough to see Little Soldier take his first ride on two wheels, and to video the second ride . <br />
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I must say I am a fairly lazy parent in some respects - I don't have the energy to push them to reach milestones. The upside to this is that the later you leave things the quicker the kids seem to pick it up. It's only taken a few tries to get him off of his trainer wheels. He also only did about a year of swimming lessons when he was a toddler but is in at the same level as the kids who started at birth and still go weekly. It does make me happy to think of all the cold hours in the pool I missed out on. It's all about self preservation in my world!<br />
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I am getting along with my crafting at the moment. After the drama of getting the Tardis blanket finished, I have plunged into another tight deadline project. A friend is going to have a little girl in around six weeks (no, I am not friends with the Duchess of Cambridge). I have started knitting a baby blanket inspired by <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2010/10/17/purl-soho-kit-the-super-easy-baby-blanket.html" target="_blank">this pattern</a> - I'm using two strands of soft acrylic in slightly different shades to give the look of texture of the hand dyed wool whilst keeping the blanket easy to care for, an essential in baby gifts I think. The double thickness also makes it nice and thick and suitable as a floor rug. I haven't been progressing very quickly - I find crocheting so much quicker than knitting - but I am hoping to get it finished in time. I'll post some pics when I get away from the colour.<br />
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Hope you are having blue skies where ever you are x<br />
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-14271921648398450382013-06-12T06:40:00.000-07:002013-06-12T06:40:08.363-07:00Who got a pass out to Melbourne?Life is it's usual hectic beast at the moment. I love spending time with my family, I love my job, I love organising things for the house but just sometimes I wish there was two of me. That said, I was lucky enough to get a pass out at the start of the month to go to Melbourne with some girlfriends. I had been having a hard time at work and not feeling like I was getting what I wanted done at home, so it happened to be perfect timing to get my mojo back.<br />
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Flying from Perth to Melbourne is a 3-4 hour flight, depending on which way the wind is blowing. I had to get to the airport during rush hour, so to account for the outside possibility that it would take twice as long to get there I left really early. Which meant I got there really early. Oh well, more time to crochet.<br />
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<span id="goog_409845506"></span><span id="goog_409845507">I was speed crocheting at this stage as I was desperate to finish a project for my friend who lives in Geelong and who I was going to meet up with. I got it finished at her house and handed it over, and she was just delighted! Her and her husband are Dr Who fans and her husband immediately spotted the border (which is the scarf the John Pertwee Dr Who wore). </span><br />
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It is so lovely giving things I have made away, people are so generous with their praise.<br />
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So what to do when in Melbourne? Eat and shop, that's what. On the eating side of things, I went to the Meatball and Winebar - not for vegetarians but delicious<br />
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Seamstresses - very nice and delicious cocktails, the donut van at the Queen Vic markets - soooo delicious</div>
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and had an alcoholic cider slushy - which froze me from the inside, as if the winter weather wasn't enough!</div>
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On the shopping side of things, I went to Ikea to get something that we don't get in the Perth store (a monumental event but worth it in the end), stocked up on bits and pieces at <a href="http://www.daisostore.com.au/" target="_blank">Daiso</a>, bought lovely yarn from <a href="http://www.morrisandsons.com.au/" target="_blank">Morris and Sons</a> and of course bought shoes. I had first seen these in London last year but couldn't find them at any reasonable price ($200 for trainers is not reasonable to me). I was looking in Myer for ankle boots when out of the corner of my eye I saw them! At a reasonable price! So happy! I really am too old for them but what the hell. </div>
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And I got the ankle boots - well done Myer!</div>
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And of course, when in Melbourne you have to take in some art. This was in an alley behind a restaurant.</div>
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And to finish things off for today, here is the sunset over North Cottesloe last Thursday. </div>
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Keep well x</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-7137058434971902162013-05-06T16:44:00.001-07:002013-05-06T16:44:39.117-07:00Autumn WeekendsIt is so lovely here at the moment, with the autumn setting in and making it quite fun to put my feet on the cold concrete floor in the morning and then warming up to glorious sunshine in the mid-20's in the afternoon.<br />
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I spent a lovely hour with Princess on Saturday at the local playground. I am so lucky that this one has a fence all the way around <u>and</u> four cafes within 30 metres, including the fantastic Cookie Dough. Needless to say they sell amazing biscuits. This is the view above my head.<br />
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As I walked back home, I noticed something I've never seen before, no matter that I have lived on tis street for 8 years. Some of the houses on our street are semi-detached (ie. they share one central wall). This was outside on the top of this central wall. <br />
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Princess was quite intrigued as to why there was a beautiful lady on the top of the house. There was another lady and a man underneath her that I couldn't catch a picture of. I am going to have to keep a look out for more.<br />
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I am struggling on with my long list of knitting and crochet projects, will have to report soon I am sure!<br />
<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-15158550144768471262013-04-28T23:43:00.003-07:002013-04-28T23:43:57.890-07:00Lovely holidaysMe and The Dude are generally pretty bad at organising holidays but we have just spent a week outside Dunsborough with his sister and her family. It is always lovely to get away and the Dunsborough-Yallingup area of Western Australia is just beautiful. Even though it's getting cooler we had a couple of great days at the beach and then there are the wineries and breweries when lunch is needed. I can thoroughly recommend the Eagle Bay Brewery - Princess and Soldier loved the sand pit!<br />
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The only slight downside was being with an almost 2 year old that doesn't sleep through the night. I had to work very had at keeping my mouth shut and not offering unsolicited advice along the lines of "he's old enough, you just have to let him figure it out on his own". Having two babies pretty close together certainly stamped some of the gentler parenting ideas out of me.<br />
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I have been busy in the garden lately turning the sandpit that surrounds our house into something green. There is a master plan that is going to take some time to implement so for the time being I am just having fun planting any bit of ground with vegetables, herbs and flowers. This is the north side of the house, which I didn't think got much sun and wouldn't produce very good results. Here is Soldier is helping get the soil ready.<br />
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We live on the top of a limestone hill so the soil is really just crushed limestone (aka sand) with lots of rocks in it. I have a very low key approach to gardening which involves throwing likely looking things (manure, Dynamic Lifter, crushed rock minerals) on top of the sand, digging them in if I have the energy (I ran out about half way through this bed) and putting seedlings in. I am a disciple of Jackie French and her book Backyard Self-Sufficiency which advocates a pretty low key approach so I feel justified in not being too scientific about things. So that was about 4 weeks ago, here is what it looks like now...<br />
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So lush and green. I will admit that some of the green is winter grass but I have been picking salads from here and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first cauliflower. And here is a pumpkin that sprung up from the compost. I see a future with lots of pumpkin soup!<br />
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I have been slow on the crafting front but I do have a giant granny square blanket that's almost finished, an emergency baby gift that is coming together pretty quickly. You can have a peek when it is done.<br />
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And just for a bit of a lift, isn't this a gorgeous photo? We were in Kings Park for a BBQ and the sun coming through the trees was just delightful.<br />
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-14154549230758680982013-04-11T09:09:00.004-07:002013-04-11T09:09:41.650-07:00Life is just crazy busyHi there! I wish had time to take more photos and blog more often but my life is just crazy at the moment. Between family, work, house and craft (an absolute essential in my life) every minute is full. Here's what I'm working on at the moment...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Tardis blanket -very belated wedding gift for a friend</span><br />
R2D2 beanie - for my nephew<br />
garden beds -have given up on getting a gardener to come to see the garden and then come back to do it!<br />
Guest room - to be magicked up out of very messy craft room<br />
Baby blanket - for a friends baby, nearly one year late<br />
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And yet to be done...<br />
Baby blanket & toys - again nearly one year late<br />
Curtains for princess and my rooms<br />
Rugs for kitchen & entry hall<br />
So much knitting for our English family<br />
Tiling the veranda<br />
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And so on. That said, I'm usually pretty happy these days! How's your life at the moment? X<br />
<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-68724307146722286362013-03-13T06:29:00.001-07:002013-03-13T06:29:28.352-07:00Baking breadLet me start by saying I am not a domestic goddess. I am what my mum calls a journeyman cook - I am fine at the basics but in no way fit for Masterchef. That said, I have had a go at baking bread the last couple of weekends. Look...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWZQn9JSAZ3geEqMOVXKbJD7gje5HWY5jjYauphyphenhyphenFZE_6qysi1yAX9UVIR9g3xVlzxgYuO2MT91ou-NYUE5jp_7IUlVSgWGCnIlvb_inxOeEEGWxf9iFczQJHgBnXjghQiAqvBkF34kQG/s1600/20130310_163007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWZQn9JSAZ3geEqMOVXKbJD7gje5HWY5jjYauphyphenhyphenFZE_6qysi1yAX9UVIR9g3xVlzxgYuO2MT91ou-NYUE5jp_7IUlVSgWGCnIlvb_inxOeEEGWxf9iFczQJHgBnXjghQiAqvBkF34kQG/s320/20130310_163007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am following my lovely London sister-in-law's practice of baking a cake in Saturday mornings for weekend snacks. Both cakes so far <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">have come from 'Mary Berry's Baking Bible', which does a very nice line in easy, plain (as in not iced, layered confections) cake recipes. This is the Spiced Ginger Traybake and it was very nice, even out of the freezer.</span></div>
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One of my favorite fabric stores, Homecraft in East Vic Park, is having it's annual 50% everything sale (and they really mean everything, I stock up on zips, cotton, curtain tape, snips, needles, etc). I have been twice already and will go again and am having real difficulty resisting the urge to buy this plastic tablecloth. I am such a sucker for tacky...</div>
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Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-30510197529808379562013-03-03T03:57:00.000-08:002013-03-03T03:58:41.588-08:00My quiet spot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have just figured out how to easily upload photos to blogger. Took my time but I finally got there. So you might be hearing from me more often now. So, here are some photos from my lovely last Sunday. </div>
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Look at that beautiful sky. I got to sit and knit for a full hour, so lovely.</div>
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I am getting close to finishing this R2D2 beanie but there are sooooo many ends to sew in, it's taking ages. I think I might be up for aunty the year when my nephew finally gets this. The fact that I'm his <b><u>only</u></b> aunty won't interfere with this vote of course.</div>
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And this is the same spot later that day, so beautiful. And having a cocktail made for never hurts.</div>
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Hope you to got to enjoy a beautiful in your day too xx</div>
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-39811596653626247222013-02-12T20:35:00.001-08:002013-02-12T20:35:51.752-08:00Lovely life I haven't had much time over the last week for crafty work - the kids are now at preschool (Little Soldier) / kindy (Princess) which means I have less time than last year as school days are much shorter than daycare/grandparent days! I am still figuring out how to fit in my increased work hours and look after the family (the fridge has been very bare on a couple of occasions) and take care of myself. I'm sure in a few weeks it will all be much better but for now I am just concentrating on the little bits of joy in the day.<br />
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Like a perfect coffee from Hustle in Freo (soooo pretty too)</div>
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Princess' delight with her shadow</div>
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A cheese sandwich in greaseproof paper</div>
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The second fig from my new tree (I scoffed the first one before I could record it for posterity)</div>
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We are going proper camping for the first time on the weekend for my brother's birthday. By proper I mean in a tent with very limited facilities (I think toilets and a firepit is about it). I very much like the idea of camping but it's possible that the kids will be up at 5am and not in bed til 9 pm and all of us will be grumpy. On the plus side we will be in the forest, almost on the beach near Margaret River and very near a number of microbreweries (to keep The Dude happy). Lovely. </div>
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I need to go through my stash to find some mindless crafting I can do around the campfire, all my current UFOs require laying out on a table or constant referring to a pattern. Just aswell the stash is pretty big.</div>
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I will report back after the weekend, when I am washed and awake! xx</div>
Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-29955990591044698132013-02-05T06:20:00.000-08:002013-02-05T06:20:04.065-08:00I'm back, or at least on the way back...It has been a long time since I blogged. The break has been for a number of reasons, including a very long trip to England and some very busy family times.<br />
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But I am back and ready to share my world. And what I have been up to. Which at the moment isn't much as I don't have much time (new job) but I need to get back into doing something creative and I'm hoping that feeling that I need to report to you will get me going.<br />
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First on the list is a R2D2 beanie for my nephew. I am basing it on a pattern by Esther Park I found on ravelry, but I am 8ply/DK weight yarn and 4mm needles.<br />
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I'll let you know how I get on! xLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-7780697033619618642012-07-08T20:47:00.000-07:002012-07-08T20:47:24.553-07:00Where do the weeks go? The last few weeks have been so busy with ill children, an ill husband and the need to get things done on the house that I haven't been able to blog for a ages...<br />
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It has been so cold in Perth the past couple of days. Perth winters tend to be a few days of real cold ((less than 10 degrees max) and then a week of warmer weather with the occasional rainy period. So I should be used to the cold weather but it shocks me every time! The new house hasn't performed as well as I had hoped in terms of staying warm but the fact that I haven't made the curtains for all of the rooms other than the bedrooms probably plays a big part in that. More curtains are somewhere on the list of things to do!<br />
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We all went to the beach yesterday after swimming lessons, it looked so sunny and inviting to be outside. Doesn't it look gorgeous? What the picture doesn't tell you was how cold the wind was! I went to the local supermarket and we had a picnic lunch on the grass which was a lovely break from our usual weekend roster of doing things around the house.<br />
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I did finish the jumper for Princess and managed to grab a photo on the one occasion she has deigned to wear it. It turned out pretty well and should fit for couple of years. I'm considering making tiny versions for her dolls in an effort to get her to wear it. The pattern should be easy enough adjust!</div>
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I have almost finished off a baby blanket for a friend. Just a garter stitch rectangle but I love the colours. (It has just occurred to me that the colours are a bit Dockers and I think they might be Eagles fans, oh well.)<br />
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One of the many fine things about having my parents back from their travels is that The Dude and I get Thursday nights to play at being sophisticated grown ups. Last Thursday we met up in the city and went to the <a href="http://www.picassotowarhol.artgallery.wa.gov.au/" target="_blank">Picasso to Warhol exhibition</a> at the Art Gallery of WA. How they managed to swing such a fabulous exhibition for little old Perth I don't know but it was fabulous and there are another five exhibitions to come. The Dude and I have been fortunate to have travelled in our (much) younger years and we have been to <a href="http://www.moma.org/" target="_blank">MoMA</a> twice so we had seen some of the exhibition before but not curated the same way. The focus seemed to be to show the 14 artists' development from regular-looking still lifes and landscapes to the weird and usually wonderful art they created at the end of their careers. I still don't get Warhol or Mondrian (The Dude and I had our usual discussion/argument about the merit of Mondrian) but I loved Matisse's colours and Duchamp's cheekiness.</div>
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And then we went for dinner at <a href="http://bivouac.com.au/" target="_blank">Bivouac Canteen</a> - very nice. Lovely cocktails (always a winner with me) and delicious food. Yay!<br />
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xxLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-29467228716800511072012-06-19T05:33:00.001-07:002012-06-19T05:33:17.590-07:00Airport knittingMy lovely parents have just come home from a ten week trip to the other side of the world, aka England, to see my brother and his family. While they were there, my nearly-70 & 74 year old parents walked 250 km through hilly terrain in France. They are awe inspiring people - I hope that I m dong the same at their age! I love the fact that they just get on and do it. Mum realised after they started the walk that when they hope to finish the whole walk (it's 750 km in total, they have broken it up into three parts) Dad will be 78. How's that for an active retirement?<br />
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I volunteered to go and pick them up from the airport, at 1230 am. Nutty decision given how tired I am but I knew I couldn't sleep thinking about them trying to find a taxi and get themselves settled at home in the middle of the night. Weird that I think they are quite capable of walking through countries on their own where they don't speak the language but I don't think they are up to getting a taxi from familiar airport rammed with cab drivers. Of course, I was there far too early and settled in to do some people watching and knitting. I was working hard on the jumper for Princess I mentioned <a href="http://luluslifeathomefreo.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/when-gabions-come-before-knitting-diy.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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I got loads done - there's really not much to see at Perth airport in the middle of the night except inappropriately dressed people who have just landed from Bali and not realised that it was going to be 4 degrees.<br />
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I've now finished the jumper and will post some pictures if I can actually get Princess to put it on. Again, I can thoroughly recommend the pattern if you want a jumper/dress/top that will knit up quickly and mindlessly - a good in front-of-the-telly knit. I suggest not doing stripes (I changed every 8 rows, there were sooooo many ends to weave in) or either doing much smaller ones (say every 2-3 rows) so you can carry the yarn up the inside or even really big stripes. Anything to avoid all those ends. Given that this was just supposed to be an everyday wear type garment, as opposed to something special, I probably could have picked up the spare yarns in a stitch every couple of rows - a few bumps up the side would not have mattered. Next time!<br />
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I am now onto long overdue baby gifts. The gifts are overdue, not the babies. I have to talk myself into sitting down and finishing them, preferably before the baby in question turns 1! Tiny things in tiny yarn, sigh...<br />
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xx<br />
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-57046642935006170352012-06-05T05:36:00.000-07:002012-06-05T05:39:20.094-07:00When gabions come before knitting... (DIY gabions tutorial)A quick trip to the hospital and a week of bed rest followed by a weekend of hauling rocks in the front yard have combined to keep me away from the computer. <br />
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Look at the beautiful DIY gabions The Dude and I made in the front yard! I thinking I carried about 500 kg of limestone from the courtyard to the front yard. It was my job to put the stone in against the mesh so that it looked nice (The Dude is more of a chuck it in any old way kind of guy). Basically it was the same as doing six jigsaws with no picture and more pieces than necessary. But the effect is lovely. <br />
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Now I just need to get the garden planted, which means cashing in the housewarming present from my lovely brother and sister-in-law, who offered to do a bit of the garden for us. Aren't they lovely! If you are like the gabions and would like to do make some yourselves, they are quite easy, though a bit of work.<br />
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<b><u>DIY Gabion Tutorial</u></b><br />
First, cut out some welded grid mesh (ours was 100mm x 100mm) to the size that you need (a reason for The Dude to buy an angle grinder, any excuse to buy a power tool!), wire the grids together to make boxes (obviously leaving the lids off), put in some wire cross bracing to stop bowing (we put ours near the bottom, nearer the top would have been better to make it easier to fit the lid), put your rock in and then put the lid on. If you are going to use the gabions as a retaining wall then you should wrap the sides that are going to be in contact with soil (back and bottom in our case) with geofabric to stop weeds coming through and stopping salts leaching up while letting water drain through . We got our gabions as kits from <a href="http://www.permathene.com.au/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=73_74" target="_blank">here</a> but the shipping to Perth from Sydney was a bit of a killer so we will make any more that we might need (I'm thinking of a very smart letterbox) from scratch.<br />
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The rock is very local limestone, as it was the rock that was dug up and saved when we were building the house (our house is literally built onto stone). That saved us a few dollars and made me feel warm and fuzzy for not wasting resources!<br />
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I have been plowing through the knitting in the evenings. I finished the retro throw for my friend Wendy who has moved into her new home. Being invited to a housewarming afternoon tea sure helps get the knitting needles flying!<br />
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And Princess doesn't have enough jumpers for this winter, so instead of buying one I am knitting one up super quick. I'm using a top-down, raglan pattern that's all in the round, which makes things really easy - no seaming. The pattern is <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90495AD.html" target="_blank">this one</a> and the yard is Moda Vera Pure Wool from Spotlight in (unsurprisingly) pink, another pink and a soft lime green. I've added an additional 10 stitches at cast on just to make the pattern a bit bigger and I'm judging how far to knit down before I split the sleeves from the body by trying the jumper on Princess as opposed to achieving a certain number of stitches but it's basically this pattern. There is a nice eyelet detail made by doing yarn over increases and I think this pattern could easily be adapted for larger sizes, just change the cast on number of stitches and the number of rounds before splitting the body and sleeves. <br />
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I'll post some pics when it's done.<br />
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Have a lovely week every way - enjoy the Jubilee celebrations if you are in the Old Country! xLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-92163699906421508802012-05-25T07:25:00.000-07:002012-05-25T07:57:06.332-07:00I want a Dora cake, with chocolate wheels...Today was the Princess' birthday. She has worked out what birthdays are all about - presents and cake - and put in her cake order early (on Little Soldier's birthday in January). A Dora cake with chocolate wheels was in order. To explain, Little Soldier's cake was a Thomas the Tank Engine with chocolate covered biscuits as the wheels, which were obviously a hit with the Princess. So this afternoon I stretched my limited drawing skills to the limit and came up with this...<br />
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I found the picture on the Nickjr website <a href="http://www.nickjr.com/printables/doras-color-by-number-book.jhtml" target="_blank">here</a> and belatedly thought when I was about to add Dora's eyes that it would have been much easier and more accurate to roll out fondant icing in the appropriate colour, trace the necessary shape onto it, cut it out and put it all together like a jigsaw. Then I would only have to pipe on the black outline. Next time...<br />
It is beautiful here at the moment, a very cold 2℃ at night but fine and mid-20s during the day. Just look how lovely it is...<br />
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I took these as Little Soldier and his cousin played in the river. And then I made a conscious effort to put my phone away and enjoy the sunshine and their delightful little boy play (mainly chucking things into the water). And a pair of dolphins came past - I'm glad I had stopped fiddling with my phone!<br />
I haven't been getting to my WIPs at the moment as I just don't have the time but hopefully I will get to them over the weekend and get a couple of late baby gifts off of my conscience. And the I can get started on this<br />
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which came from this<br />
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Slight problem in that the pattern is in French, but I'm sure I figure something out!<br />
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Have a lovely weekend! xLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-4016142282609043992012-05-18T20:02:00.003-07:002012-05-18T20:02:56.066-07:00Busy autumn daysSuch a beautiful autumn day today, which made the mad racing around I did much more pleasurable. Sneaking a look at the sky never fails to lift my spirits when I am doing chores.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh1wiW0jgb4ya23ocnoW2Na0ikM_pzWnTRM7D70ZC6sWcpEPREHvMxVoBpO2FNmaVlshJ6cdbTBNM1ejs9C_GWqAtYkZg45BT14b_w-QyoO2r6xsHS-QjGJ7S_pYqRWoYopDzXxwyFyJ8/s1600/20120518_130315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh1wiW0jgb4ya23ocnoW2Na0ikM_pzWnTRM7D70ZC6sWcpEPREHvMxVoBpO2FNmaVlshJ6cdbTBNM1ejs9C_GWqAtYkZg45BT14b_w-QyoO2r6xsHS-QjGJ7S_pYqRWoYopDzXxwyFyJ8/s320/20120518_130315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Everything in my garden is what my mother calls survivors - old fashioned plants that survive or even thrive on neglect. Not much attention has been paid to the garden since we moved back in, and indeed not much was paid in the five years before we built the new house, but some plants just seem to soldier on and provide pleasure regardless. How kind! Here is a climbing rose that is in the backyard, next to the old outdoor toilet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnhGiC5x_KUJ5ZcTPLXif278TZW1Q29VCFg5A12zLqjwn69lO_kyebA9V-BylIE4trlaeRTDKQ_W5VjpI5vphISmxoYlhd3NzD66FqkXinAJh0JcoV4eQuBK2wXQN1ACJYzk8crxqRmG3/s1600/20120518_130736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnhGiC5x_KUJ5ZcTPLXif278TZW1Q29VCFg5A12zLqjwn69lO_kyebA9V-BylIE4trlaeRTDKQ_W5VjpI5vphISmxoYlhd3NzD66FqkXinAJh0JcoV4eQuBK2wXQN1ACJYzk8crxqRmG3/s320/20120518_130736.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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And a washing line full of clothes bathed in bright sunshine - a sight that fills my housewifely heart with joy. It was a beautiful washing day today, bright and breezy, no need to race out to the line when showers threatened!<br />
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Part of today's list was to make a curry for Sunday night family dinner. My favourite is a recipe from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rick-Steins-Food-Heroes-Stein/dp/0563521759/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337395637&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Rick Steins Food Heroes</span></a> called Mumrez Khan’s Lamb and Spinach Karahi. Delicious though like most curries a decidedly unattractive brown. There is a paprika in the recipe - I love a reason to get my paprika tin out (on the top left). Why a couple from the 70s is on a paprika tin is a mystery but they look so free and breezy, the paprika must be fabulous!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB3A07wPwSyVdSqoXCCXeG6Vct3F4wZ3iAPMIOCw_VdVlNVik_-QPTuGINpJOlk5uZDkDGXcY7IjueboxgQ6mum16JImyyvbONuyw5Hq-nShrleihTflAYLV186dBjOp1x8Px1xAcAmzs/s1600/20120518_130400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>These are my mothers day flowers from last Sunday. Don't they just look so bright and cheerful! </span></div>
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<span id="goog_1912957396"></span><span id="goog_1912957397"></span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-45567105150782533442012-05-11T06:48:00.000-07:002012-05-11T06:48:15.559-07:00Too many UFOsI have had a long and tiring week this week with not too much movement on many of my WIPs. To get some perspective, I took photos of everything that I have on the go and was somewhat dismayed by the results...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHprFYpTtvofoyuov5jifqXxT1VjYCfeloYGvSMgDRsZBUzpAnAWyVgKaqzNfuP7gF80qNiLehZHoxYMWfWC9SZ8cuoUV6Si3c7zy7lOTCgk_AyhhpLmrl5upsL_aKdSobWrKbSHvttOv/s1600/20120511_195747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHprFYpTtvofoyuov5jifqXxT1VjYCfeloYGvSMgDRsZBUzpAnAWyVgKaqzNfuP7gF80qNiLehZHoxYMWfWC9SZ8cuoUV6Si3c7zy7lOTCgk_AyhhpLmrl5upsL_aKdSobWrKbSHvttOv/s400/20120511_195747.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Sweater Vest for The Dude. This will be a long time before completion, seeing as he doesn't really want it. Don't ask me the obvious question - why am I making it???<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_HXeXCfvwAzP7L4d4JTFGyaWlgQMDUjE4-fVHzuG3gedW44eXhC-Rozq3rWnz0kC_gLwP-GB8AUsbag7lyXVZwP8G7CDhu9LOhxlAQOl17Mg_LMST3XMAWPaLaGVN51a8eHsIo2WVW3P/s1600/20120511_195846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_HXeXCfvwAzP7L4d4JTFGyaWlgQMDUjE4-fVHzuG3gedW44eXhC-Rozq3rWnz0kC_gLwP-GB8AUsbag7lyXVZwP8G7CDhu9LOhxlAQOl17Mg_LMST3XMAWPaLaGVN51a8eHsIo2WVW3P/s400/20120511_195846.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Retro Throw Rug for my friend Wendy as a housewarming present. Wendy hasn't moved into her new house but it is going to a close run thing to get the throw ready. I only have two sew two block in and then do the edging but it's the finishing that always takes the most time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvJyaTxzNbesyLNN3_3uPX7wKzggBSNnYLXzbcbhahpz-RCkrc5psMG2r-5H2puH85QusN99z31ats7A5T4eiSK-OSqUc2zPOVPVl3Ua_pWsE1VsEmV2aAOYiZy2oknPcFaWvT4DEyUmh/s1600/20120511_200013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvJyaTxzNbesyLNN3_3uPX7wKzggBSNnYLXzbcbhahpz-RCkrc5psMG2r-5H2puH85QusN99z31ats7A5T4eiSK-OSqUc2zPOVPVl3Ua_pWsE1VsEmV2aAOYiZy2oknPcFaWvT4DEyUmh/s400/20120511_200013.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Stash Scarf. I love doing stripes with variegated wool, watching the different colours come up next to each other. This is very much a stash buster scarf that was small enough to take with me when I went out with the kids. No need to finish it anytime soon but I am getting a bit sick of the sight of it, it will definitely be going into the present box.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAauMu995CCbVpLBN1GLVZiDtCNFzr19ajMjoY7UYoFHlbHZBonEDHl_If1GFW88xy13dxcS2v1AlgL2H7i98vZnASCzJzjiDLRQGH5282R7C4GAHVGrCacqiXZsmXb5ssTD8Ir00IrP_4/s1600/20120511_195416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAauMu995CCbVpLBN1GLVZiDtCNFzr19ajMjoY7UYoFHlbHZBonEDHl_If1GFW88xy13dxcS2v1AlgL2H7i98vZnASCzJzjiDLRQGH5282R7C4GAHVGrCacqiXZsmXb5ssTD8Ir00IrP_4/s400/20120511_195416.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Baby booties for the current crop of babies. These shouldn't be too hard or take too long but I am personalising them with their initials in the soles, so I could be creating another monster for myself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4My7FQD_hgb9FNnRif3e8nw5ebMBL7CeKqU9DZPHKT7bGmxLFZpTwV2bvjbckCAP0vHD6ADM5G0t2towksw1Np34GDpzJslZ_mvvCdsShGUzcsIMLeb-84wpsvubXbNBTFgfdJLEUHYz0/s1600/20120511_195618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4My7FQD_hgb9FNnRif3e8nw5ebMBL7CeKqU9DZPHKT7bGmxLFZpTwV2bvjbckCAP0vHD6ADM5G0t2towksw1Np34GDpzJslZ_mvvCdsShGUzcsIMLeb-84wpsvubXbNBTFgfdJLEUHYz0/s400/20120511_195618.jpg" width="400" /></a>Stripey Scarf. This is one for me (it's rare for me to make something for myself) so I want to get it finished to wear for the winter that is so rapidly approaching.<br />
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There is also a rug for Princess that is packed away and so many sewing tasks. It's all a bit disheartening at the moment, I'm sure I will be back to high levels of enthusiasm when I've finished the throw and the booties. But I <b>have</b> ordered a knitting pattern from Canada that I desperately want to do for myself. And the pattern is in French, which I speak not a word of beyond 'non parlais francaise'. Oh dear.<br />
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Do you have a box of WIPs/UFOs - otherwise known as works in progress/unfinished objects.<br />
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What I <b>have</b> completed this week was a Peter Pan costume for the Little Soldier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzmV7GejUGG32YRGD9GbkhjBy-choU4HElxvH__2qwSgw2y6x-1wo5PpG75nXhAuXAQ_w2gcnG15s3apHjpDxlK_j2R7I46q_DbVxw2vDe4atWa4tb9RAr02m-cQchU2TN2cI6VbmJL0n/s1600/20120510_153927%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzmV7GejUGG32YRGD9GbkhjBy-choU4HElxvH__2qwSgw2y6x-1wo5PpG75nXhAuXAQ_w2gcnG15s3apHjpDxlK_j2R7I46q_DbVxw2vDe4atWa4tb9RAr02m-cQchU2TN2cI6VbmJL0n/s640/20120510_153927%231.jpg" width="480" /></a>To explain, it is Mothers Day this Sunday in Australia and I was invited to a tea party at kindy today. I was to dress as a fairy or princess and Little Solder had to dress up too, no superheroes allowed! A call to the turn on sewing machine if ever there was one. I found this <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2009/10/peter-pan-costume.html" target="_blank">lovely tutorial</a> on Ashley's blog <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/" target="_blank">Make It and Love It</a>. Ashley has loads of fabulous tutorials, if you are a <s>sewer</s> sewist <i>(have just seen how the word sewer looks in print and now understand where the strange word sewist comes from) </i>I thoroughly recommend having a look. And yes, I am the type of mum who makes things big and says 'but you'll grow into it'.<br />
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For my own costume, I managed to borrow a flowery gown from a friend - it was a bit sad to look in wardrobe and find nothing, short of my wedding dress, remotely princess-like (ignoring all the smart work dresses which could pass off as Kate Middleton-esque). I've never been much for pink and girly but wearing a proper frock was lots of fun, along with Princess' tiara and all the necklaces I could find. Little Soldier thought I looked great and served me scones and cake. It was lovely!<br />
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To all the mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day on Sunday. No matter what you might think some days, you are doing a fabulous job!<br />
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To my own mum, who at nearly 70 has just embarked on a 10 day walking tour in the south of France, independent of any tour group and with just my dad for support and company, I love you, you are fantastic and I can't wait for you to come home. x<br />
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<span id="goog_690036606"></span><span id="goog_690036607"></span>Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-13156005221078435772012-05-06T19:09:00.002-07:002012-05-06T19:10:30.957-07:00Birthday SeasonApril and May is birthday season. My adopted Mothers Group kids are all born in April or May and there are a couple of the mum's birthdays too, along with the family birthdays of Princess and her cousin. <br />
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I had a strange moment standing in my local KMart the other day, choosing all sorts of merchandise (Ben 10 pants and pencil case, Fairies knickers, Princesses tiara-making kit) - I remembered making a promise to myself <b>before </b>the Little Soldier was born that I would not participate in the merchandising of my kids or any one else's. In previous years I have been able to stick to this pretty well (including a basket of crocheted insects and butterflies that I sat up until 1 am the night before finishing - I almost didn't want to give it away!) but it seems that 15 kids parties in four weeks grinds down the resolve to buy non-Disney gifts. And to be honest, the kids like it...<br />
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Party food is a strong childhood memory for me, a chance to get all sorts of treats that we wouldn't normally get, and sausage rolls were definitely a party requirement along with fairy bread and cupcakes. Homemade of course - my mum was not one for shop bought when she could do it herself, a trait which has definitely been handed down to me. Here is the platter I took to a party on the weekend, with the centre well filled with tomato sauce.<br />
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I didn't make it through the front door before the parents were helping themselves. Apparently I'm not the only one who remembers homemade sausage rolls!<br />
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I have been furiously knitting up my scarf that I mentioned in my last post whenever I can find a few minutes - I am only mum at swimming lessons who knits as opposed to playing with her smartphone. I started the scarf thinking that I would do a ripple pattern, using the fabulous one by the lovely Lucy at <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Attic 24</a> (here's the <a href="http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/neat-ripple-pattern.html" target="_blank">post</a>). But the rows were too thick for effect I was after. So I went back to a 1x1 rib on circular needles so I can carry one yarn up each side of the scarf. Fortunately I taught myself the continental way of knitting so ribbing is not too slow but I have noticed that my tension is definitely looser on my purls compared to knits, so I end up with a quite bumpy fabric. Hopefully blocking the finished product will help.</div>
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It is definitely autumn here, the days alternate between absolutely gorgeous sunshine with moderate temperatures and days like today - blowing a gale with clouds scudding across the sky, occasional showers and a definite need to keep the ugg boots on! At least all the wind means the clothes on the line will dry as long as I make it out there before the showers hit. Here is the view from the balcony today...<br />
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-20969107256297852282012-05-02T06:59:00.000-07:002012-05-02T06:59:50.593-07:00At home alonePoker night for The Dude means a quiet night at home for me. Tonight I watched one of my favourite films, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bright Star</a> by Jane Campion. Not only is this the type of film I like to watch when I am on my own - slow, quiet, visually beautiful - but also because the main female character sews all her own clothes, by hand, beautifully. If only I had days to while away, hand sewing and floating around Hampstead Heath...<br />
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I got this film out of my local library, which is the awesome City of Melville library, AH Bracks. I don't go as often as would like, but I swear they get in at least two new crafting books every month. Yum yum! Plus there is a huge kids section with jigsaws to keep the little ones amused I try to decide which eight books to take home. If you have a local library, support it!<br />
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I've decided to start yet another knitting project, a stripey scarf using these two colours of Moda Vera Pure Wool 8 Ply yarn from Spotlight. I want a nice flat reversible stitch for this but don't want to do K1P1. Any suggestions? x<br />
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<br />Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3273138083022962933.post-59485886624060521202012-04-30T05:16:00.001-07:002012-05-02T07:01:24.120-07:00I'm in love...A strange place to start my blog but I have to declare that I am in love. Obviously with The Dude, Little Soldier and Princess. But my feelings for my new toy, an iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner (or Daisy as Little Soldier has named it) are pretty strong. The Brand New House has all concrete floors that I fail miserably to keep clean so having something to beetle across the floor and pick up all the dust and dirt is wonderful. When I went back to work the deal was that I would have a cleaner but I can't find someone I'm happy with so this is a partial compromise (anyone know of a gadget that will clean the bathrooms???).<br />
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This afternoon Princess was at Nan's house (bless all grandparents who volunteer to have their grandkids) so Little Soldier and I went out into the garden (or rather wasteland that will one day be a garden). He's not too happy to be out there on his own, so I took my knitting and a cup of tea, perched on a footstool and enjoyed the fresh air.<br />
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I'm knitting a sweater vest for The Dude. He doesn't want one but he's getting one anyway and he is such a good hubby he will wear it. It will be grey and navy blue, as low key as I can manage. I've completed the waistband, now just lots of circular garter stitch - perfect for mindless knitting! I'm using two circular needles at the moment, but am considering transferring to one to make things quicker - all that pulling cable out and knitting onto needles gets a bit tiresome.<br />
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It was a beautiful afternoon, clear skies and not too cool or windy. Just look at that beautiful blue sky, and try not to look at the sand, rubble and mess that is the backyard. And also ignore Little Man wasting water while making mud pies. </div>
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Lets hope we have lots more autumn days like these! xLaurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08613961040664348210noreply@blogger.com0