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.

Things are slowly happening

I think the first update has to be on the Tom Cat. He got to the cat shelter and then escaped from his cage! He's not been fixed, they've set up loads of traps to catch him and I'll let them know if he turns up here again. He's a wiley wee sod, got to give him that. Apparently even if he doesn't get trapped over there he certainly won't be short on food.

On the garage front we still don't know what's happening; this is what it looks like at the moment.

We've got approval from insurance to put the stuff in storage; we are on a wait list for storage which will probably be around 3-4 weeks.  We'll have to wait and see.
I've rung EQC again, no response from the chap who came out to look, so rang the main number who have (I hope) referred it urgently to Fletchers.   I rang them yesterday, so I'll give them a week before chasing it up.   We were doing some measuring last night and Thomas leaned against the worst wall; he wasn't thinking, but it moved and you could hear it too.   Not a good thing to listen to.

I've not knitted much, but I have finished the crocheted dishcloth for Thomas' Mum.  It turned out quite well luckily, though I did have to add to the side edge as it was getting too long.

It's 100% cotton and I'm not blocking it as it'll be used for dishes.

I'm now about to get back to the spinning for a bit while watching Black Swan.  I'm still working on the same as last time, except the bobbin is almost full

 and I still have this to fit in there; don't think it'll make it, but I'm going to push it as far as I can.

Tom cat? I think not!

Yesterday a friend turned up with a cat-trap to catch the cat we call "Bastard Cat".   I've blogged about the sod before, he's the one who sprays in our house and bails up our kitties in the garage.  She set the cage up and showed me how to reset it for just in case a cat we weren't after went in, put some food in there and then left.   He didn't turn up all day, but we've been busy around the section and garage so that wasn't a surprise.
This morning I went out and could immediately see the cage had been set off and was really hoping it was him and not the resident hedgie.   Lifted the cover and I was immediately very happy!

As you can see he's a handsome beast, just not very nice if he gets inside.   He was not happy, growling was coming from the cage, and if he knew what was going to happen he'd be even less happy!   Tonight or tomorrow he'll be losing his balls and will no longer be the Tom Cat of the area.   If we're lucky he'll have a microchip and can be sent back home, if not he'll be released here but should be a lot less bolshy.   I am really, really happy!

Onto other news, we've got a fair bit of stuff out of the garage, most of what's left is not stuff that we'd weep over if it went.   I've put up a bunch of tarps this morning to help protect what is now on the deck and in the kids hut.

and the conservatory is full of stuff that can't live even under tarp such as the power tools and T's gaming figures

We have an aisle to walk through to get to the deck, but this wasn't quite what I had in mind when I tidied the conservatory initially.    At this point we haven't heard from the insurance company about storage, nor from EQC/Fletchers about a date for the garage to be pulled down.   I've heard that garage companies are taking a year or more to build atm and I'm really hoping it doesn't take that long for us; having all this stuff around with an autistic child is not what I'd call ideal.

On the knitting front, not a lot been happening due to all of the above, plus the colonoscopy, but I have stopped work on my Central Park Hoodie for a short bit and cast on another sock.   No photos yet, but I'm about 5 rows from the toe increases being complete.    It's Mandorla from the Vintage Purls sock club a couple of years back, using the yarn that was dyed for the pattern; really liking it so far but yet to decide if it's for me or Thomas.   Luckily there's a wee while to make the decision, but I know Thomas would love more handknit socks, so......

Baby Knitting

First up the BSJ was wrapped up in its fat quarter and tied with a ribbon and given to the parents-to-be on Sunday and they loved it!  

As you can see the colour of the fabric matched the BSJ perfectly!    As a result of the enthusiastic response to the jacket I said I'd do one more knitted item and when I got home I started an Aviatrix helmet for the wee one.   Not finished yet, but this is it so far

The colour isn't quite right on this one, I'm still working on the camera; didn't want flash so worked out how to change the ISO, but it's more pink than in real life.  You can see the pattern on Ravelry.  It's a free pattern and very cute; I think it's also unisex which is nice.

No baking yet, that's now planned for tomorrow.   At a minimum banana cake, banana bread and chocolate brownie.   I was feeling a bit sore today, yesterday I turned my ankle and felt the shock right through my back; had to go to the chiropractor today; luckily she had a cancellation.    Feeling better now, but I didn't feel like standing a lot kitchen; that and both boys were really tired after a day at Quail Island.   Groceries first thing tomorrow, then baking and tidying and cleaning.  

To finish with here's what I found in the bedroom this afternoon

What do you think we're doing?  We're playing pattycake of course!

Spinning the little sheep

I finished spinning the guild fibre today, even plied it and I have 85.5m before washing.   This is what it looks like:

 And this is what I'm knitting it into; the handspun will be the body of the sheep and I've some 4-ply in black that I'll use for the legs, face and ears; I'll be holding that doubled over.  I didn't really want to purchase more yarn considering the size of my stash.   I think my sheep will have golden eyes with any luck; black won't show up.

I think he'll be gorgeous, and seems appropriate somehow.  I had thought about a bag, but 85m isn't that much and it doesn't say bag to me.   I didn't have much left on the bobbin after I finished plying either, good luck meant just this wee bit

Pretty good judgement for a change; normally I have quite a bit left on the remaining bobbin.

No sewing done today, but at least the fabric for the second skirt is preshrunk now.  Tomorrow I shall be going to the guild (if my nose cooperates).   Tonight I'm knitting the gift for my mother and watching the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (and hoping Wales wins the rugby).

Finally, here's youngest with Star, she was purring at the time.  She's never happier than when someone is patting her, or even better scratching her chin.  Ian is always very proud when he gets her purring.

Day 18 - getting tidier!

I spent much of the day tidying the sewing room today.  It's not finished yet, but is much closer now.  2 bags of recycling, another of rubbish and a lot of reorganisation turned it from this:

To this:

 Definitely better; still a couple of containers to go through and those folders on the table will go back under the chest of drawers after I vacuum.  Then I can do something about blocking my Jetty jersey properly and maybe cut out a skirt to replace my favourite tiered skirt; which to be honest is past tired and should be well and truly retired.   A full circle skirt would be nice too and then maybe some stuff for the boys.

A quick update on the cat door.  Neither cat is keen, though both have used it to get out and Ray at least has investigated getting in; I keep hearing it click as it releases, but she doesn't come that inch further to actually open the door.   Star is definitely not keen, but if she wants to get in, she'll have to use it!

Day 17 - installing a cat door

The new cat door arrived this morning, so of course I had to install it straight away.  First thing was to get the old one off; that was fairly quick and then this is what that looked like

Not overly clean, and the glass underneath was worse; so a cleaning up using water and paper towels ensued.  Once that was done the next step was of course the reading of the instructions, followed by checking to make sure it would cover the hole; which it did.   I determined looking at the fitting system that it would need some help to stay put, so out to the garage to find some silicon sealant/glue; this was recommended for larger holes in the instructions too.   Found some that was still good and applied it to one side, put the insert on, realised it was on sideways before it sealed thank goodness; adjusted, checked it was level and then blocked the whole door off from outside and in for 2 hours to allow it to cure enough to hold.   2 hours later, the other side has the same treatment and I get the rest of the door on.

Isn't it nice?   Batteries in, learning button hit and no cats to be found anywhere.   Another hour later and one turns up; won't go through, but does go through enough to be picked up on the learning program.   Another hour later and I nab cat number 2 (Star) and give her the same treatment; so far neither has gone through under their own recognizance, but at least no-one else can come in!  Here's hoping they work it out over the next day or so so I can get rid of the cat litter tray.  Unfortunately installing this thing took up much of the day, so no real tidying.   I did however go through a container in the sewing room and tidy that; as well as choosing some fabrics that have to be sewn up soon.   I found a textured cotton voile which will make a lovely tiered skirt; and a printed cotton voile for a circle skirt; just got to get those cut out.   There's also some lovely quilting cotton that I got to make myself a dress; but I'll wait on that one.

Last night I got some drumcarding done too.  This is Romney/Merino/Silk/Glitz/Corriedale/Merino/Silk/Cotton all carded together which I'm hoping to spin in the next week or so.  2 batts; one pass.  I tried a second pass on a bit and decided it wasn't going to work with the cotton component.   Fingers crossed it spins well.

Tomorrow the boys go to Grandma's for a couple of days, tidying, sewing and spinning will be happening; oh and installing a new smoke alarm in the hall as the old one went doolally this morning and the hush button wouldn't work.   Battery has been removed and I'm grateful we have the bedroom ones as well.  I'll pick up a replacement tomorrow at the same time as the PVC cement for the downpipes and the milk and juice (though from different stores)

Day 12 - cat issue resolved (we hope)

After some research, a little asking on the Nappy Network forum and some searching for the best price we now have a Sureflap Cat Door on the way; not cheap at $257.50 including post, but that was the cheapest price we found and included the glass adaptor so we can fit it in the back door hole.   Just hope like heck it fits; the only other type of door I found needed a much smaller hole and also cost about $100 more, eep!
Tonight I'm hoping the cats will both stay inside; at the moment I don't know where Star is, but Ray is inside and we have a litter tray as well so if she needs to go she can.  The cat door is now locked both ways.

In other news I've done some tidying today; all the drawers that I use in our bedroom are now tidy; there's three bags in the car of clothes that are either going to the rag bin or else to the Salvation Army; including 2 handknits that I really don't like; so hopefully they can find a new and appreciative home.

I'm doing a touch of knitting on my Central Park Hoodie tonight; for the first time I'm trying out cabling without a cable needle.  I've seen other tutorials, but they all seemed to leave the second lot of stitches sitting out there and hoping they'd not unravel.  This to be honest scared the crap out of me!   Then the other day I saw this on Life on Laffer and it suddenly made perfect sense.   I've tried it and it works!

I also tried making my first dryer ball today; I was using Gotland wool and I was expecting it to felt really easily, but it had other ideas.   I've got it sort of felted, but at this point I'm thinking I might have to use my needle felting equipment instead, at least to get it started.

In other news my Merino is dry so I'm hoping to start getting it all ready to spin tomorrow once I've done work, groceries and my run.   Boys are still being pretty well behaved for the holidays so I have some hope I might actually get to do it.   Since I've got a mix of fibre I'm considering making batts on my drum carder; wish me luck!

That Damned Cat!

Not ours, though if we didn't have them we wouldn't be having the problems we are.
A while back we locked our cat door one way only (out) so our cats could get out but the other local greedy cats couldn't get in.   Recently though I've been catching wiffs of cat pee and wasn't sure where it was coming from.   Yesterday it became obvious from the moment I walked into the lounge that we'd had a visitor as the smell was really strong and I traced it to the bean bags.  Fabreeze didn't do much to move the smell so the next nice day I'll have to wash them with the hose outside.
Last night at 4am there was a cat fight in our laundry, when I went in they'd scarpered, but not before leaving 6 separate spray trails in that room!   I've cleaned it up, but we're going to have to lock the cat door completely and put a litter tray down for a wee bit as a short term solution.  The long term solution is going to be expensive; we're going to get a microchip activated cat door.   Just hoping that Ray can still get in as I think her chip has moved a wee bit.
One of the collar activated ones won't work as our kitties have never worn collars and since they spend a lot of time in trees I don't want to risk that; lost collars get expensive and tangled cats are not pleasant either.

Cold days

This post is a bit of a mix, it's been a busy few weeks what with snow, sewing, knitting and family.   Also Thomas and I both got hit with a nasty bottom bug, just coming right now and we've also picked up the cold Ian brought home; not fun.

I did manage to get a few things done, George's pyjamas are now finished and he loves them!

I can now show you the socks I finished for a friend's baby in my Lace Chain Baby Socks pattern.

After I'd given the socks to Sonya, they got passed around along with all the other gifts and were much admired; I got a slightly swelled head for a few moments there!


2 days later we got hit with snow again, a lot of snow!   We had more shovelling to do than last time, but we got onto it earlier to avoid the icing problem.  In the end we probably didn't need to bother, it got rained away 2 days later; however it was deeper and fluffier than last time.   A couple of photo's I took turned out quite well, my helpers for shovelling the path and drive:

Both had fun helping, I had to go and get the old shovel as both my spades got appropriated.  I took a few more photo's, but the one I like best was this one:

this is our nicely iced peach trees; aren't they beautiful?   Was kind of glad that we had the fire though (don't tell Thomas), I would still like a heat pump as well, but T doesn't want one for some reason.

Tonight I finished the sleeves on my Central Park Hoodie, they're looking really good.  I'm not starting the next bit yet, waiting on the yarn to do the final Camp Loopy project; this is feeling a bit like deja-vu.  Yarn I ordered a week later arrived today, hoping it'll arrive on Monday now that I've finished these sleeves. 

Isn't it gorgeous?     Got further on my sock too, now past the heel turn and about to pick up stitches for the gusset.  Might get a bit further with those tonight.  Almost up to the colourwork part of my mittens as well and feeling the need to cast on something new.   Need that yarn to arrive!   Ian needs mittens too, but I need to get mine finished first.

I think my cats have the right idea, no knitting, not worrying about when yarn will arrive; this is where I normally find them:

I think that's Star on the front and Ray at the back.   Ray was the original beanbag cat, now both are.  I usually find both of them on our bed in the morning and here in the afternoon.   At night they often sleep with us, but if they go outside they stay there unless I hear them; fed up with the black and white tom coming in, eating their food and occasionally fragrancing the house.  If I could catch him I'd make him regret it, but I can't so I've taken precautions; cat door is now out only.

Spin, spin, knit, knit

Been a busy time with spinning for Tour de Fleece which is now over, since my last post I've done the following:

2 bobbins of what I think is Romney, quite strong but nice to spin.

The finished yarn, thinking this will end up as a bag; should wear well.

The Merino singles, still not fulled yet, but looking good all the same.   I think this will be a shawl

Singles and then plied Merino Superwash that I splatterdyed.  Love this, it's got enough colour to be interesting, but isn't too strong.  Would be lovely for a baby, but will probably be for me!

This was the final spin for TdF, 200g of Merino in a colourway called Pukeko.  I've spun up both bobbins, finished the second last night and will be plying it this week.  Not sure what it'll be yet; will find out once it's finished I think.
I'm thinking I might spin something from one of my raw fleeces next; maybe go for a 3-ply yarn.

I finished my socks on Friday night, really pleased with the feel of the yarn and the pattern as well, not sure how well it's going to wear; it's fluffing a lot from the first wear.  Nice and warm though!

My Twisted Bonsai socks in Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca; colour Hunter.

I also received a wee package I won from Woolly Wormhead's blog

an Entrelac book I'd thought about getting, but hadn't yet.  Some wonderful accessories for knitting and some yarn that I'm not sure what I'll do with yet, I think it'll join the stash for a bit until it decides what it wants to be.

I'm temporarily down to 3 projects on the needles now; my Central Park Hoodie, my Merino/Silk handspun socks and my second mitten (for the pattern I'm designing).   I've decided I need to switch the CPH onto a circular needle as I'm finding the wood needles a bit sticky for the cables and things are moving too slowly.   The socks are my go-to pattern if I'm out.   Really should cast on the second mitten though as I know it won't take long once I'm started.   However in about 15 days it'll be time for the next Camp Loopy project (assuming the yarn is here) so I'm putting it off.

Sewing hasn't been happening, but will have to.  I need a skirt and said skirt is cut out with the embellishment pinned on.  The boys need new school trousers and as I already have the fabric and don't want to pay $30 each for the bought ones I have to get them made too.  School's back tomorrow though so I should have a little more time.

Been a good holidays for the boys; they did spend a bit more time than planned on electronic entertainment, but they also got to do some cool stuff with the Autism Society (swimming, mini-golf and 10-pin bowling).  They got snow days

Ray cat loved the snow.  Ian did too, you can see a typical Ian snowball there.    A snowman was built, I have a photo, but haven't uploaded it yet.   It was the coldest day in almost 100 years in Christchurch and in places the snow was up to 30cm deep (about a foot).
And yesterday we went to the Botanic Gardens to do the gnome hunt.  Despite it being really cold we all had a great time and found all the gnome clues which led to the Gnome Grotto.  I counted 85 gnomes in there; Thomas found 72 and George 64.  Ian didn't count them at all, but he still enjoyed himself.  We rounded it off with a KFC lunch to warm ourselves up.  

A mouse in the house!

Not any more, but last night Star was paying a whole heap of attention to the hall cupboard; when after an hour she was still there I figured it had to be more than just a toy.   I closed all the doors into the hall and then pulled out the various boxes in the bottom of the hall cupboard; sure enough a wee mouse made his appearance.
Star caught him, but wouldn't then come out of the cupboard.  I'm ok with her having a mouse, but outside is best so I kept trying to get her out and of course she dropped it!   Streaky mouse across the hall, under the bookcase, sigh.
I had to get an old coathanger and bang it around under there (after closing the cupboard door) until he streaked out again.   Took a couple of tries, but I managed to catch him by the tail; took him in to show to Thomas and his gaming buddies before taking a very frightened but very active mouse out to the compost heap.   If I see him again it'll be death, but as I figure Star probably brought him inside in the first place he deserved a second chance.
I did have a very confused kitten for an hour or so afterwards though!

What are you looking at?