Cast off, cast on!

Its been a strange week really, Tuesday we had our stitches and feeding tube out, but as we still have a large hole in our side the cone must stay! I have begun to notice a few paint chips on the corner of the wall beside the dog bed (note to self must cover those up before him indoors notices). The only downside is I have to look out for the other end of the feeding tube to come out as well - mm that's fun!

So I have managed to finish my monkey socks, grafted the toe yesterday and have now cast on for the top of my mermaid socks.

They don't look that exciting yet do they? Have a bit of special grafting to do and then I can start in the round - its a grand prix day today so I should be able to do that whilst we watch.
The plan with the socks was to cast on last night, glass of wine in the garden (Allison and I are having a sock along) but not to be. It was a horrid day and after a quick dash to Nantwich (birthday pressie and outfit for a party - Lottie not me), I then had to drop said teenager off to party and come home again. The weather was not fit to take the dog out for his first short walk in a long time so we watched a film (him indoors, the dog and I) and I cast on for the top of my sock. I had to stop and retrieve Lottie who by now was soaked as they 'had a water fight' - what is it with kids and water fights, we have come home with so many wet clothes recently I am starting to think I should carry emergency clothes and towels at all times. Any way I finished the top of the sock last night whilst watching 'Mr & Mrs' and not sitting in the garden as it was too cold and too wet! I did have a couple of glasses of wine though! How far did you get Allison and did you manage the garden part?
The box should by now be crossing the 'pond' again wonder where it will land this time?

New Book

Cookie A is on her way! My fantastic daughter dragged her father into Hatchards on Picadilly to get her for me - oh the hardship. We were looking at waterstones web site earlier on in the week and saw that the aformentioned shop had the book as nowhere local seemed to have it and as Lottie was going to London anyway she said I will ask if we can go there and get it. At this point I should mention that there was probably no dragging required because as a family (even a broken apart family) we all love books so it was probably just another chance to go and buy more anyway. Hopefully not too many more as there are some quite steep stairs at the station and I only just managed to get the wheely case down them on Thursday - let alone get it back up again today! So there will be double excitement when I go to collect her this afternoon.

Plus must try for posh sale later (Allison maybe dinner could be 7.30 as all the good stuff would be gone by then anyway - even 7.15 would do it or perhaps you should start earlier, it often seems to fall wrong for me too!).

Dilema!

As you have seen I bought 3 bats from posh yarn a few weeks ago, and I was checking out this weeks sale (as you know it is major stash enhancement time as I have some catching up to do) and the announcement in the blog is that this week is the last ever bats so I need to make sure I stock up. Actually I have tried to get several along the way but the ones I like always sell first and it seems I have not been quick enough. So I have my eye on some but last time I bought some I then missed out on the yarn I wanted - get yarn or bats first? hmm. Well it has to be the bats doesn't it as they won't be available again and there will be another yarn sale again next week. But I really like some of the lace weight (it is lace knitting time again isn't it) so I will just have to try and be quick and go for both. Looks like it could be beans on toast for a very long time!

Shopping!

I have been keeping up with your blogs girls and I know that some of you have teenage kids - mine is 14 nearly 15 and maybe its because she is an only one or maybe its because she is too much like me but she has really started to get into knitting! We went out on Tuesday to get some things before the dog got back and we couldn't leave him for too long and landed up firstly in Aberkahn in Hanley where I did buy 3 bags of 'fancy yarn' and a large ball of chunky (yes I know that is 31 balls of stash enhancement) but I am knitting a rug on huge 'rocket launcher needles' (as Lottie calls them) - does it count as stash enhancement if you cast on right away?

After that we started to head for home and Lottie said do you want to go to the wool shop in Wolstanton (knowing I did really) as she knows they have fab sock yarn so off we went. Well I couldn't resist some Regia in the easter colourway and another skein of Araucania Ranco. But Lottie bought a whole bag of Rowan all seasons cotton that was on sale (she thought she wanted to do scarves with it but might be persuaded to try something bigger if I can find a pattern she likes). How surprised was I when she said ooh can I get this with my babysitting money? I suppose it helps that her Senior section guide unit all think it is cool to knit as I got them started in September on the Innocent hats project - small enough to finish but fun to do. We shall see if it continues but it is nice to have someone to help lead me astray in the shopping department.

Has the box arrived yet anyone? Keep us posted!

My baby is home!

Just wanted you all to see that after all the ups and downs of the last month and the huge op last week my furry friend is home! Here he is lying in his favourite place (I put him something soft to lie on) but as you can maybe just see this is right in front of my rayburn guaranteed to be smack in the middle of where I need to be! Don't you just love it! I have missed him so much I will just have to work around him! (business as usual then). You can just see his feeding tube sticking out - he isn't using it but it needs to stay in a while. In fact he has lost so much weight he has to have a whole extra meal a day, I don't think he will complain - do you? Just wanted to share with you all!
PS Happy holiday Beejay - don't think you will be bored;)

Knitting

Its been a while since I actually said what I am knitting so thought I would confess my lastest startitis and other on going projects! So I already have on the needles : a coinlace clapotis (started last year but sadly abandoned for no reason other than the straight needles were in trouble for poking him indoors whilst I was working on it), a plain clop (clapotis without the dropped stitches) for Lottie - started after the Feb half term and almost finished but had to go back and loose some rows of the body as I didn't quite have enough yarn! And 4 sets of socks!

set 1 is the maine island socks I started a couple of years ago but the foot came out too large and I have had to undo it and knit the foot part on smaller needles so put that one down.

set 2 is the circle sock in regia red stripes - I love the pattern but don't like the colour of the wool and I am also doing the magic loop method and I still have a love / hate relationship with that.

set 3 is the baby beanstalk and I am on the second sock foot part - no real reason to put this one down except that I had an attack of startitis and some yarn I bought at the aintree show a few weeks ago was calling to me.

so set 4 was cast on in a fit of distraction on Wednesday. I am going to blame him indoors for going to the office and staying overnight (it is a long way to Egham and back) and I was feeling fed up so I did my usual trick of ball winding and then just having to cast it on. I have never done monkey socks before (anyone out there done them) but Cookie A has a new book out and I would really love it so I thought if I tried this pattern I could determine if I was up to the job or not. So far I have done the rib (I made it a bit longer than she said as I like a good top to the sock) and have done 2 full pattern reps and am 1/2 way through the third. What do you think?

I did put it down last night because I can't knit a pattern (unless it is really simple) once I get to the second glass of wine! Thought I would wish you all a happy bank holiday weekend and for those of us on half term - lots of time to knit!

Just a quickie!

Hi all,

Just wanted to post a bit about the dog in case you were wondering. Unfortunately he hasn't started to eat yet and so the vet put a feeding tube in yesterday - he should get his first bits of food today! Am going to check up again later and see where he is up to. More later.....