Paint Samples. Blogtoberfest

This morning while getting the veges I dropped into Resene to get some colours for doing the eaves of the house this summer, and the gables too.  Normally I'd get my paint from there, but this time although I'm getting the samples I'll get the paint I need from another shop as I have vouchers to use.   Pending the results of the test pots we'll be using Parchment for the eaves to replace the cream that's mostly gone (it's not as dark IRL) and Stonewashed on the gable to replace the camel colour that's currently there.   I really hate that camel colour and the Stonewashed is more of a taupe which should look much nicer.  

We've also got the quote from Fix-It that will be presented to EQC which no doubt they'll argue about, only a couple of minor details not quite right and I've let them know so they can adjust them.   Will be interesting to see how that pans out when EQC do get here to go over everything.  We know they won't agree to everything, despite the fact that it is all due to earthquake damage.   In any case I'm hoping that before the end of summer we'll be sorted on that front and that we'll have done the painting, we can't do the gables till the EQC work is completed, but that's ok, paint will keep.

In other news I spent the afternoon before school pick up knitting and I cast off the Orchid Thief 30 minutes before school got out!
It's now blocking on the lounge floor, but I'll shift it to the conservatory before bed so the cats can't get to it.

Hard to get a good pic at night with the flash, but she's beautiful.   I'll weave the ends in once she's dry.

Now to decide if I'll work on Breakwater or Central Park Hoodie next.   CPH is much older, but Breakwater will be useable in summer which CPH most definitely won't be!

Oops, cast on! Blogtoberfest

Busy day again today, Thomas went off to Wellington and then rang me to say he'd forgotten his pies which were still at work in the fridge and wouldn't cope till Monday.    That had to wait though, first we had the guy from Fix-It around to go over the Scope of Works to see what needed to be done.  He picked up a few things we hadn't noticed.   So things are definitely in motion, I emailed the Opt-Out form to EQC today as well.   Not much else I can do right now, just wait.  It does feel good to have things started though.

I got 2 rows done on my shawl, I should have got 3 done but unfortunately having to go and collect the pies cut into that, and I can't even get revenge by eating them, cos they're all curried; ick.  Never mind, the first row of beading is in and it looks pretty, unfortunately I left it till now to take a photo and it's dark and the flash is useless.

See, beads!

Since I couldn't concentrate on the shawl tonight (need TV on to stop from hearing boys settling) and I couldn't see well enough either I cast on my Goodale in the hand-dyed yarn I created especially for it.

Purdy!

I'm changing skeins every row at the moment as they're both so different from eachother despite being dyed in the same pot of dye at the same time.  Unfortunately I don't have a short 3.75mm circular so I'm doing this on a long cable and magic looping, I know it'd be easier on a shorter one, but can't justify spending on needles at the moment when I have something that will do the job.

Tomorrow is the first day of Labour weekend, Thomas has his judo tournament so I won't see much of him.   I'm planning on trimming the boys nails and hair (not a fun job), knitting, sewing, spinning and possibly some baking too.   I'll have to do a cake to celebrate an important birthday, but that can wait till Monday.

Blurgh day, Blogtoberfest

I didn't sleep well last night and then this morning I was feeling a bit blurgh, feeling a lot better now but didn't have the concentration to do much most of the day.   I did get one sock finished though

Isn't she pretty?   Have to get the next one done as I really want to wear these!

I then had a bit more work on the opting out process.   We've told Fix-It we're going to use them, got the resource consent forms from the council, spoken to 2 garage places to get drawings and quotes.   I've filled out EQC's forms but not yet signed them, will do that tomorrow and scan and email them.   One of the garage places already has a quote for us but it was back in March so needs updating.   Should have that one by the end of the week, have an appointment to go see the second one and will take all our stuff with me.
Fix-It are coming to do their walk-through on Friday to get their quote for EQC ready to go.   I'm not expecting any actual building to start till after the Christmas break, but at least it gives us something to look forward to and I've found out more information today too.    We are on TC2 land so we're going to need a land test which sounds expensive, but at least that will be part of EQC's bill to deal with.
I suspect that things will be really busy while all this is being organised, but it'll be well and truly worth it in the end.   I think we'll do some of the finishing work on the garage extension ourselves to save money though and we'll have to get the fencing sorted before the garage is started, not looking forward to that bit.
I already have a pile of paperwork and we're barely started!

After I got as much done on that as I could I was feeling a bit better so got 2 more rows done on my Orchid Thief; got to get that finished before the build gets too involved as that has a time-frame on it, as does the quilt of course.  

Those markers?   They are I hope in the centre spine of each flower as I'm planning on beading it.

Tomorrow will be busy too, got to pick some fabric up from a friend at some point, that won't take long though.  Also got to do some tidying and cleaning so that things aren't too messy on Friday, and of course some knitting or quilt making.    Not enough hours in the day.   Oh, and no time to be sick, just saying.

9th day Blogtoberfest - Opting Out

1. We got all bar two of the inside windows washed.   The two not done are the kitchen ones that are hard to access.  I did however get everything off the window sill in that room.

2.  No knitting

3.  3 blocks joined together for George's quilt

4.  No cutting out

5.  Work partly done

6.  Opt-out meeting with Fix-It.    This went fairly well, I liked the guy and he seemed to know what he was talking about and left me with some information on the process.  He suggested we get the process of getting building consent and resource consent underway so everything is ready to go when the opt-out is processed and approved.
Our next guy comes on Monday, he's not an opt-out expert though so we'll wait and see, he is recommended by a friend though which is a big point in his favour.
Thanks to the FI guy though for calling me back with a suggestion as to how to get a Scope of Works, after yesterday being told we couldn't get one without having opted out and today being told yes we can, after a 7 week wait, which was way too long.   One email later, we now have one!

Oh, and George isn't going to his holiday programme tomorrow, I got visual evidence that he's not well enough yet, that's on top of the occasional sore tummy he's still got.   I've started him on probiotics to help him get over it.  So tomorrow won't be getting a lot done either.

October 8th, Blogtoberfest

No crafting today unfortunately, too busy working and on the phone.   I knew that I wouldn't get crafting done with George at home though.

Ian went swimming and to the Sensory Room with the Autism Society and he had a wonderful time, as did his caregiver so that was good.   George wrapped himself in the quilt his aunt had been using on Saturday night and watched movies, I refused to let him watch Cartoon Network as I can't stand it myself.  No X-box for him today after he booted his brother in the back with no warning; he whined of course but I didn't give in.

The phone calls this morning were to EQC to investigate opting out, after that chat we are definitely opting out, it's now just a matter of who with.   We were told our job was not a high priority and wouldn't be started till 2014 at the earliest; we only have storage covered till April 2013 and with a likely finish date of 2015 that means finding funds for that for 2 years!    Not an option.   Also Fletchers can't do extra work and we need the garage replaced with a different configuration and a little more space.   I've got one company coming around tomorrow, and have left a message with another.  Hopefully a friend of ours will come up with suggestions as to who to use that's happy to wait for payment until EQC pay invoices to us as we can't afford to cover them till EQC pays up.

In other news I think our quilt just got bumped down my to-do list.   On Saturday night my sister-in-law was snuggling into the Patchwork Prism Quilt I made a while ago.  Now it was my brother (her husband) who made us the gorgeous rimu coffee table that's now in our lounge for our Christmas present and I've been trying to come up with something to if not match that (as I don't think I can) at least make it obvious how much we appreciate it.   I'm going to make a quilt, probably the same pattern, but I'll check my books before making any definite decisions.   I have another blanket that would be a suitable batting, there's some old flannel sheets that I'll check for condition first for the backing and a stash for the front.   George's quilt will need to be finished first of course, but once that's done I'll concentrate on this.   I think my dress might have to wait too.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting, the weather forecast isn't great so we won't be washing the windows outside, might do some of the remaining ones that are mucky on the inside though.    There's the appointment with the company for opting out and the dreaded work.    I'd really like to do some work on George's quilt too, or maybe my dress if I can find room on the lounge floor to get the muslin cut out.  Wish me luck!

Things that we're happy about, plus updates

New duvet cover to replace the one youngest cut with nail scissors; love it!

George's new hiking boots for his camp in May; he loves them, we didn't love finding them so much; not many options in hiking boots for kids unfortunately.

Not the most flattering photo, but love the dress.  This is my annual bonus at work, a Merino/Possum dress in a dark smoked blue.

Latest Vintage Purls installment from the summer sock club. Not sure if I'll be able to go in for the winter one, need to save for the garage etc.

As well as this I've got all bar one carpet quote in and the final one knows he has to get it in tomorrow as we have to make a decision.   We're going dark grey no matter which quote we pick and extra heavy duty 100% wool loop pile.   House should be warmer this winter!

Spent more money than planned this last month, George's camp required things we didn't have so as well as the shoes there was some clothing and wool socks too, plus the camp fees.   I've cast on a new hat for him too in a singles yarn which is a mix of acrylic and wool in lime green; good colour for teachers to spot him.
Spent today turning up hems on his trousers for this winter.   On Sunday I finished 5 woollen t-shirts for it as well; they suggested thermals, we don't do thermals.  I firmly believe wool is much better; especially if you get wet.  As a result of that spending I'm putting some things on Trademe as I come across them to try and improve our finances, especially as we have other things to do like some fence posts to replace.

Ian's mittens are much wider than George's despite being same weight of yarn and same needles; it is a different yarn though and not sure how it'd look on smaller needles as the fabric is fairly dense already.  He's happy enough with the size so far so I'm just going to keep going; once George's hat is finished.

I've finished spinning my latest lot of singles, so now just have to ply.  The yarn is Merino/Silk/Alpaca/Mohair and will be a 3-ply.   I've also dyed some Mohair for the guild's challenge this year; I'll be spinning it as singles to make a shawl; loving the colour!
There will be photo's later, too dark at the moment, but it's a beautiful purple with oomph!

Got to keep trying to get hold of the EQC chap; his phone was busy yesterday and today and he didn't phone after I left a message.   We need to show him the quote we have and what it includes so he knows what we're expecting him to match on; we're also hoping that he might be able to use the company that did the quote as they did go beyond the call of duty and I'd love to be able to reward that.  Also need to know if we should put the carpet down as soon as we can or if things will happen soon with EQC if we should do them after that; can't wait too long though.

On a kitty note Star disappeared again yesterday; found her this afternoon.  She was locked in our garden shed poor lass.   She forgave us really quickly though and I'd hope she learned a lesson too.