In New Zealand on Labour Weekend it is traditional to spend time in the garden and that's what we've been doing. Admittedly I didn't get so much done yesterday as I was at the guild (wearing my eighteenth century garb, no less!), but I did get some weeding done in the afternoon.
Today though we'd originally expected to be stuck inside as the original weather forecast was pretty awful, but they changed it and it's been lovely! As a result after me getting over an IBS attack (probably brought on by antibiotics for an ear infection) we went to Oderings Garden Centre and spent more than I wanted to on plants. It was a good haul though, we got tomatoes, potatoes, asparagus, strawberries, beans, bok choy and marigolds. They're now all in aside from the tomatoes which I think need to be a little bigger before being planted. The boys chose most of the plants and then helped plant them
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| This is the back vege patch that was cleared yesterday. It now has the bok choy, beans, marigolds and potatoes in it |
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| Strawberries! |
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| Zucchini, I love these things in the summer, hope they do better this year than they did last year. These and the strawberries are in the flower garden bed in front of the living are. No flowers in here! |
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| And finally the main vege patch. It's got asparagus, corn, lots of lettuce types and some marigolds as well. |
We put in extra asparagus as the original one was able to be harvested for the first time this year and it was so much nicer than the shop bought ones! Unfortunately it didn't produce enough, so in 3 years we should get a much bigger crop when the new crowns are ready.
Next weekend we'll clear out the old sandpit of weeds and the tomatoes will likely go in there.
No weaving so far this weekend, but I'm hopeful for tomorrow. It's been making my RSI worse, so have given my arms a break from it and have been doing some arm strengthening exercises and stretches to hopefully help them recover. I'm not far off finishing the scarf though, so hopefully I'll get it finished this week; eldest now wants to learn too, but I think I'll have to find a smaller loom to help him with that.
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| This is what's on the loom, I've got 1m to go at the most I think. Can't wait till it's off and wet finished. It'll be one of the pieces I send up with my application for the new weaver's award later. |
On the knitting front my test knit is growing. I've done 6 repeats of the second chart and it's looking good.
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| I want to get this finished quickly so I can wear it before it gets too warm, but it's quite large and has a lot of beads and lace so takes time. The yarn is Wandering Cat Yarns Slinky Solo Cat |
My travel knitting has grown as well, I'm about to start the heel flap
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| This is a mishmash of patterns including Hermione's Everyday Socks and Cristi Payne's double gusset sock. The yarn is John Q's Earth Wear which is a sport weight yarn with possum and is darker than it looks here. |
In my other knitting I am about 2 rows off finishing the raglan increases for my jersey and I'm about 2 rows into the colourwork for my socks that need me to concentrate. I've put a couple of projects on hold as I know I won't get anything done on them while the above projects are active. Finally my Pi Shawl is not on hold, but not overly active either; I'm halfway through the first chart. One of the ladies who started when I did has finished and I suspect all the rest are much further through than I am, I'll get there though!
I also need to start doing some sewing for the boys and me, but not till I've got a little more time. Hopefully George might be interested in that too, I do have 2 sewing machines after all, and he enjoys it at school.
Finally on spinning. I've got the first bobbin of my grey perendale finished and am over halfway through the second; they're for my eighteenth century stockings. After that's done I've got a SAL for Artemis Fibres and I've got the coloured romney to finish as well. Maybe then I'll do something from Heavenly Wools or something else in the stash.
