Year of the crochet!

I am fairly new to crochet and last year I started the lovely 'Lula' scarf from here (www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/queenies-lula-crochet-scarf-pdf-pattern-3280-p.asp). I put it down to work on other things as the crochet was not flowing for me (it was not the kit it was me). But at Christmas I put in my Santa box a kit for the stunning Clementine wrap and couldn't help but have a go at the motif (sorry Barbara) using some spare lace weight that I had and I found that I loved it - alot- in fact those little motifs kept me sane through my usual Christmas nightmare (although they took ages to do).

So this then prompted me to pick the lula scarf back up again and I have nearly finished it (again I am still quite slow), plus I have about 6 projects on the go as well. So bad girl that I am I signed up for the January motif club, which arrived yesterday, and also I purchased the Elizabeth cowl pattern and some yarn to go with it which also arrived yesterday - had to have a go at that straight away - it would seem that I am 'hooked' on crochet currently! Something has to keep me sane as we are still without wheels, mine should be arriving at the weekend but the news on Dave's is not good at the moment (we still may not be able to go away at half term). I even had to borrow my Mum's car last weekend so that I could refill the freezer and larder. At least I won't have to carry stuff from the Co-op this week! Hopefully I will be able to show you pics of my new little run around very soon (no soft top though Allison sorry to be a disappointment).

Bye bye car!

Just a quick one to say that my poor old blue car is going today, I have had her from new and we have been through some stuff together so it is with sadness that I say bye bye especially as she could well be going off to the crusher, that part really upsets me as I am sure that some 'boyracer' would love to tinker around and fix her up again.

It is going to still be another week until my new car arrives (DVLA need to transfer the reg over) but otherwise it is just waiting for me to drive!

Long, long ago!

You may recall that sometime last year I bought a set of Harry Potter sock wool, well I have been using some of it to make what Lottie calls 'glittens' a cross between gloves and mittens although technically the real ones have a flap you can pull down over your exposed fingers!

Firstly I made some from 'Tonks' but they were worn as soon as they were finished so I never got to show you and then I have just finished the ones I have been making for 'him indoors' to wear whilst he works - it is cold in his office even with his heater so they keep his hands warm

while he is working, they are made from 'Draco'

I managed to find a well worn tonks to borrow for the picture.

Also I have rediscovered a pair of gloves I made for me from 'Harry and Ron' but one of them still has ends to sew in, that is one of the reasons I don't make many gloves but the glittens churn out like vanilla socks.




I have also got a pair of monkey socks on the needles in the 'Harry Potter' colourway but they have been put down since I started to do the Christmas knitting.

I was counting up the pairs of socks that I do have on the needles at the moment and it totals 5 pairs so I think a spot of finishing off is called for - I did cast off one of my 'circle socks' last night but I now have to cast on for the other one.... hmm. I also have a large number of other projects that need attention so for now I am going to try a spot of finishitis and see how far I get. Will keep you posted on that!

Frozen up!

Thought I would just have a quick moan about the weather today! When I got up at 7am our water was frozen - I turned on the tap and nothing! It took a bit of surfing from 'him in doors' to pin point the solution and I set to work in the garage with the hair dryer. Lo and behold we now have running water. I didn't realise it was 'THAT' bad but apparently we are not the only house in the street with same issue. At least if it happens again I will know what to do.

On another note apologies to my Secret Santa as I forgot to mention the lovely box of candles that were also in my parcel (I put them safe but have now found them again!).

I hope all is well with everyone and you are keeping safe and warm in this frosty weather. Lottie managed to get Wednesday off as a snow day but has been at school for the rest of the time. I have had no excuse not to go to work as I am near enough to walk anyway - sometimes that is a downside!

Christmas has come, been and gone!

Happy New Year to you all.

Time for a quick catch up on all the mayhem that has taken place here in Cheshire over the festive period.....

Firstly though I need to show you the lovelies that arrived in my Secret Santa box





A lovely scarf to keep me warm (it is just beginning to snow here).

The other goodies were a fabulous teddy bear, a beautiful bead bookmark (already in use as you can see), a pretty snowman box filled with lovely chocs (all gone now), a lovely tea canister (filled with tea), a wonderful smelling bag full of lovely spices to make mulled wine (just what we need to chase away the cold) and a calligraphy set which has been bagged by Lottie already!

Thank you secret Santa Claire! I hope that the move went well and you catch up with us all again soon.

As for the mayhem well I have manged to pull the muscle in my leg playing on 'just dance' for the wii on Christmas day - you have to try these things don't you? I then went on to make it worse whilst walking with the dog.

You may recall that we were waiting for the car to come home so we could go away for New Year but that didn't happen due to parts not arriving in time and then the garage making a mistake whilst putting it back together so now we are still waiting for more parts to arrive and then it can go to be MOT'd. To make matters worse the cam belt on my car snapped whilst I was taking Lottie off to her boyfriends house and we had to be recovered (3 1/2 hours later), fortunately we were only 10 minutes walk from home so all was not lost. It does however mean that I will need a new car VERY soon..... off for a test drive tomorrow!

I just wanted to share this picture with you considering all we have been through this last year with our 'baby'.

Ted enjoying his special present from 'Auntie Allison'!

So with all of that I think you are just about caught up with our goings on and I hope to be back on track again very soon. With all good wishes for the new year, Sarah.