Waiting for the Repairman.........

Initially, this post was just going to be about my new scarf that I completed last night.  It's been quite a labour of love, the yarn is incredibly fine and it has taken me over a week to crochet.

It was definitely worth it though, and I have worn it today and am very pleased.  On to the denim wristwarmers.....

This afternoon I had to wait in for the washing machine repairman.  As always, they told me any time between 1 and 6 p.m.  So while waiting, I have.....

..made pumpkin pie.  It's browner than the photo - I'm still struggling to get back to normal with photo editing on my 'new' computer as I lost the previous camera software.

I also made ginger beer - a Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipe that I can thoroughly recommend.  If you leave it long enough, it even gets a little alcoholic - what's not to like!

I've inspected the growth of the bulbs in the garden - we're going to have a lot of mini daffodils again this year.

I've even done all the ironing.....I cannot believe I was so bored I  photographed the ironing. 

And I have put up with an awful lot of this face, combined with whining as he cannot understand why we didn't go for our usual walk at about half past two.

And after all that, the repairman turned up at 5, stayed for about five minutes - just long enough to determine that my washing machine needs a spare part and he'll return another day when it arrives.  Then I can wait all over again......

P.S. no need for sympathy, the washing machine isn't broken just VERY LOUD when it spins. 
Think I'd better take the dog out now....

I Know Where Fairies Live.....

Where I walk the dog every morning is fairly remote, a playing field only used at weekends and in the summer, the rest of the time it is just used by lone dogwalkers.

At the far corner of the field, away from everything, is a small group of trees.  Can you see something unusual?

How about now?  Let's go close and see just what that is......

I found this on Tuesday afternoon.  It has been very painstakingly made out of twigs all the same length and thickness.

It covers the entrance to a rabbit hole....or is it the gate to faeryland?

Whatever it is, it made me smile and I was glad it was still there yesterday when I took my camera along.  Perhaps somewhere there is a budding Andrew Goldsworthy?

Whenever there is something nice, isn't there always someone who wants to spoil it?  I'm pleased to say that Clovis just had a sniff then left it alone.

I wonder what we'll find today?

Hello,Hello, It's Good To Be Back!

Sorry to quote a Gary Glitter song, but despite his proclivities, the music was fun!
Well, after 4 computerless days, I now have a very clean house!  It's quite shocking how much you rely on a computer  and also how much time you spend on it!
Anyway, I now have a Frankenputer which a colleague at work's husband has very kindly put together for me, retrieving all my files and photos from the old mangled hard-drive, for which I am eternally grateful. (Note to self - back things up regularly!)
I haven't yet had a chance to tinker with the thing and re-discover how to download my photos, but give me a couple of days and I'm sure I'll get there.
So it's back to business as usual - hooray!

Computer Says No........

My computer has died............RIP
If you need to get in touch with me, I will be checking in once a day until it has been resurrected.
I'm off to have a little cry......

I Got The Blues.......

Long story short, work owed me a heap of back pay, got it last week, treated myself to the above skein of blue heaven......it's yarn made from old blue jeans!  How brilliant is that?  (Big thanks to Sybille at Magpie Magic for showing it to me!)  I have a project lined up for it - I lost one of my most favourite wristwarmers last week, the ones I always wear to walk the dog, so I think a new pair in denim blue is in order.

In the meantime, I am crocheting a light lacy blue cotton triangular scarf for myself now that Spring is hopefully on it's way and we can dispense with all the heavy pullovers.....soon, please?  I am using the same yarn as I knitted this shawl with and thankfully crochet is very much quicker!

Hello Sailor!

In exchange for the sofa and dog, I received a bumper envelope of vintage knitting patterns.  The two that really took my fancy were this one (love the sailor with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, you couldn't get away with that these days) which has these beauties inside :-

Anyone fancy a balaclava helmet and some knee warmers?  If you want me to knit you some, you only have to ask!

This one is pretty cool too:

 although I don't think my waist ever looked like that!  I'd love to make this but for someone else - the pattern only goes up to a 36 bust anyway.

I've put some more paintings for sale in my Etsy shop recently, including this one:

 It was painted in situ a few years back when I used to take an art class at a local church hall.  One bright summer afternoon I sat in the graveyard outside and had great fun painting this sun-dappled headstone.  The subject matter is a trifle bleak, but I feel it is actually a very peaceful picture.  I've always liked it and it seems a shame for it to languish hidden in a porfolio.

Beam Me Up, Scottie......

Another little dog hot off the needles, a Scottish terrier this time.  Being black, he is incredibly hard to get a decent photo of, so you'll have to take my word for it that he is cute.  Bizarrely, as I was sewing him up and attaching his face while watching my daily fix of the The Dog Whisperer, the programme featured a little Scottie that didn't like being groomed, so I was able to have a good look at the real dog's facial hair and sew on a 'beard' and eyebrows correctly.

Once all the accessories have been made, he will be in my Etsy shop for sale.

The little white dog and sofa will be going to a new home shortly in exchange for some vintage knitting patterns and handmade beads.