I'm only practising ...

... not actually starting a new project,

... just practising a new way of crocheting called Tunisian Crochet. (Look it up on Youtube.)

I was reading Apple Blossom Dreams and liked the look of her Rockman Afghan. I also liked this image of a small blanket.

I just thought I'd like a little go at creating a stripe and found it quite enjoyable. My work has never looked so neat!

I also looked up entrelac which seemed an unusual way of crocheting Tunisian squares.

This video helps get you started. There are more videos in the series.

So I'm not really breaking a New Year Resolution, am I?

Just a quick one ...

... to give you a change from all the snowy scenes in Blog Land.

This was my view on my walk yesterday. Bright blue skies and sunshine all around. :)

It's dull again today though. :(

Hello and welcome to my newest follower!

Times

 I seem to have some sort of structure to my day which vaguely works out at

get the chores done in the morning and

play in the afternoon.

The day also seems to be punctuated with 'times'.

12.00 

Dinner time - even thought it's not strictly a dinner, more of a light lunch, it is always eaten if possible at midday. Always was when I was a little girl (then it was a proper dinner) and always is even now!

5.00 pm 

Tea-time - even though it is not a snack or sandwiches, more of a dinner, it is always eaten if possible at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Always was when I was a little girl (then it was a snack) and always is even now!

6.00 pm 

Bath time - taken to wash the day away and change into lounging around clothes. This was the time that we bathed the children when they were little and this is the time when we bathe ourselves now ready for a relaxing evening.

9.00 pm 

Down time (go downstairs to watch TV in the lounge) - in between bath time and down time we 'do our own thing' following our interests and hobbies either together or in separate rooms - crafting, music making, computering, reading or playing.

No other times appear to be as 'set' as these. We don't now have to have an 'Up time' as we are retired. We don't really have a 'Bed time'. We just go to bed when we are tired.

I wonder if anyone else has set times for doing things.

Oh, I forgot ...

Any time after 3.00 pm - 

Sherry time - not always taken but a little relax in the afternoon just sitting, contemplating and being happy!   :) It started with celebrations at Christmas and has just carried on since. (I won't tell you which Christmas!)

xx

Bloggy Blankets

Hopefully we now have another volunteer for our Bloggy Blanket. Thank you, Compost Woman. There is information on the Bloggy Blanket pages but I'll just summarise it here. 

1. Bloggy Blanket Chain. This is the blanket that I was referring to in my post. The idea was that the blanket started out as one square which was then sent to another blogger. The second person added a second square then sent it on to another blogger and so on. Some bloggers wanted to add more than one square which was great. Knitters can add on a knitted square if they wish to. As the blanket travels around Blog Land it gets bigger and bigger. Once it reaches a suitable size the last person donates it to a  worthy cause or deserving person. eg. Retirement home, hospice etc. In order to join in you just have to show interest via a comment. If this is the blanket you are volunteering for please get in touch with JuliaB over at Peacock Blue and exchange details. She would then send the blanket on to you for you to add your squares. From there you would keep hold of it until we find another volunteer. Details of the size of square are on the appropriate page. I log all the Blanket activity on a separate page so that everyone can see the blanket grow.
Pros = fun watching the blanket grow

no stress or hassle because there is no time limit

Cons = cost of posting the growing blanket on to the next person

2. Friends' Bloggy Blanket. If you wish to join in with this blanket all you do is crochet as many squares as you wish and then send them off to Fostermummy at My Beautiful Life who stitches them all together and donates them to charitable causes. Fostermummy also shows off the finished blanket on her blog posts.
Pros = fun noseying other bloggers' creativity
no stress or hassle because there is no time limit
Cons = cost of postage

3. The squares that I have been crocheting together are sent over to India via a contact I have in a second hand shop that I frequent. She has a few old ladies who knit squares for her but they cannot see closely to join them together. Whenever I call in I sometimes receive a bag of assorted squares (most are different sizes!) which I join together in my spare time. When I have completed a blanket I just take it back to the second hand shop and my contact takes them to her church to hand over to a doctor who goes over to India regularly to tend to some of the poorer people in different areas. These little blankets are destined for cots for the poorly babies. If you wish to knit or crochet some squares for this, or indeed sew or crochet them together yourself to make a cot blanket then you need to contact me for my details.
Pros = fun working out colour combinations and which squares will fit together

no stress or hassle because there is no time limit

Cons = none for me but postage cost if you wish to send me some squares

4. If you don't want to do any of the above due to cost of postage then I'm sure that there are places in your area who would be willing to receive your squares. Only recently I was given an article about a local hospice who wanted colourful homemade blankets for the ends of their beds. Local Old Folks' Homes also use lap blankets for their clients.
Pros = fun organising your own squares or blankets
fun organising other people in your area to contribute their crafty knowhow

no stress or hassle because there is no time limit

Cons = none really

Hope this helps and thank you again, Compost Woman, for your generosity. You should be able to get to my email address through my profile page if you have any more queries. Just let me know which blanket or blankets you wish to join in with. (Whoops! Never end a sentence with a preposition!)

Welcome to my new follower - a very talented crafter (including knitting and crochet!)

xx

Added later. PS If you don't know how to crochet and would like to there's plenty of tutorials on the web or why not look at Mum's Granny Along lessons here.

xx

Number 13

I think this charity cot blanket destined for India is another Noddy themed blanket with its red and yellow colours.

It's an avy wavy pattern!

Our Bloggy Blanket is also destined for a deserving cause and Julia from Peacock Blue has volunteered to add some more squares to it.  (See Bloggy Blanket page.) Julia, have you been in contact with Mummy Hen yet?

I'm sure that when Julia has added her square(s) she would like to pass it on to another crotchety (or knit witty) blogger. Don't be shy, why not have a go! Just leave a comment or get in touch via email.

Hi, just popped back again to add this pic of our grumpy cat! He's not as grumpy as some (look up Tard the grumpy cat). Let's hope he wakes up in a better mood.

Welcome new follower. I'll pop by your blog this evening.

xx

PS I've just read Mummy Hen's blog post and the blanket is on its way to Julia. Yeah! See the Blanket page for a pic.

Different!

I found this book in the CS and the blurb at the back prompted me to buy the book to read. (I ignored the fact that I had a huge pile of books just waiting to be read at home.)

'Rankin's whimsicallly dense sing-song patter reads like Douglas Adams crossed with Aaron Sorkin by way of Mother Goose' Entertainment Weekly

'Rankin's prose is like a mind-expanding drug ... beware, lest you find yourself addicted ' SFX

I also had to look up to see if Robert
Rankin was any relation to Ian Rankin.

Verdict: It's certainly an entertaining and very odd read. My mind didn't expand but the addictive comment might be true as a few weeks later this book turned up at the CS.

Now this one I nearly put down at the beginning, thinking 'this chap can't be serious" but I persevered and found it, again, a very entertaining read. I'd certainly 'have another go' with this author.

Perhaps I am addicted!

Has anyone else read any of his books?

Welcome to my new follower - I was just on your blog the other day on a blog hopping jaunt.

xx

*Ecky thump!

(to the tune - The Camptown Races)

I have got a restless leg. Doo dah, doo dah,

I have got a restless leg. Doo dah, doo dah day.

Turn onto my left, turn onto my right,

Left and right and front and back,

Can't sleep any way.

Chorus
(to the tune - The William Tell Overture)

Ekky bom, ekky bom, ekky bom, bom, bom,

Ekky bom, ekky bom, ekky bom, bom, bom,

Ekky bom, ekky bom, ekky bom, bom, bom,

Ekky bom!

Ekky bom syndrom!

(to the tune - Brahms' Lullaby)

Lullaby, go to sleep,
Close your eyes now, don't peep.
Count the stars up in the sky,
Breathe deeply, don't cry.

Chorus

(To the tune - Morning Has Broken)

Morning is here now,
My leg is sleeping,
Body relaxing, so peaceful and still.
Need to remember for the next evening,
And not forget to - take my 'leg' pill!

Chorus


* Ecky thump!

What I did today

* Went for a walk with former colleagues on the promenade.

* Played silly beggers with the sculptures.

* Called in a cafe for a toasted teacake.

* Continued to 'sort out' the kitchen. I've already tidied the cupboards.

* Today was the turn of the spice rack.

* Made some biccies from a recipe found on a blog I've read (can't remember which).

* Played silly beggers with the spices. (I couldn't make any rude words.)

* Got carried away with cleaning so ...

... I cleaned the extractor - it needed doing! (Can't tell, can you?)

* Swept the floor.

* Made a roast beef meal for tea.

* Crocheted.

* Stroked the cats.

* Read.

PS I've got an awful lot of bottles of cumin and mixed spice - must use them more.

While tidying the cupboards I found enough jars of Marmite to last the rest of the year and I don't need to buy jars of coffee for a long time! - must be serious when writing shopping lists, (or tidy cupboards more often).

xx

Pass it on

I thought that this was definitely something to pass on, so pass it on I shall. I read Dan's blog at Frugal Living and he has passed it on aswell.

Long live Common Sense!

Obituary in the London Times

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense

,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was,

since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will

be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: 

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain; 

- Why the early bird gets the worm; 

- Life isn't always fair; 

- And maybe it was my fault. 

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend

more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are

in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but

overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy

charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from

school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding

an unruly student, only worsened his condition. 

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing

the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly

children. 

He declined even further when schools were required to get parental

consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not

inform parents when a 

student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. 

Common Sense lost the will to 

live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received

better treatment than their victims. 

Common Sense took a beating 

when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home

and the burglar could sue you for assault. 

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed

to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in

her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. 

Common Sense was preceded in death,

-by his parents, Truth and Trust,

-by his wife, Discretion,

-by his daughter, Responsibility,

-and by his son, Reason. 

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers; 

- I Know My Rights 

- I Want It Now 

- Someone Else Is To Blame 

- I'm A Victim

- Pay me for Doing Nothing 

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. 

If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority

and do nothing.

It's a Sunny Day

Just the day for a walk.

It was cold but sunny and the tide was in. Wave to the sea please.

Did you see it wave back?

Note to self:- I must not call in the junk shop or the charity shop just because I'm passing.

Note to new follower:- Welcome and I hope you enjoy your visits.

xx

Kitchen Window - January 2013

Drip, drip, drip down the single glazed window so not so much on the windowsill this month.

The cup was left there after I'd washed it up. One of our friends likes drinking out of china cups. His wish is my command.

The entree (Is that the correct word?) dish was a Christmas present from another friend who's a CS shopper extraordinaire. It's very pretty.

No, it wasn't the correct word. It's a chip and dip dish.

xx

PS Don't look at the black mould. Roll on spring.

PPS Here's something that will brighten up my windowsill ...

Carol, from Tales from Spring Cottage, and her beautiful daughter called today to pick up some books (de-clutter books - aren't I good) ...

and she brought me these lovely roses plus some daffodils.

Did you notice the clean brass as you came in?

Grandma likes the brass clean!

xx

Number 12

It didn't take very long to dc all the squares together as this is the quickest way to join them. These blankets are given to a lady who knows a doctor who frequently travels to India to help the poorer families. The blankets are destined for the babies' cots.

Talking of blankets Mummyhen still has the 'Bloggy Blanket Chain' blanket ready and waiting to pass on to another knitter or crocheter. This blanket travels round the blogosphere increasing in size as it goes along. Eventually it should reach completion when it can be donated to a worthy cause - retirement home or a deserving person. Please read the Bloggy Blanket Chain page to see its journey so far. It would be a shame if it has reached a standstill. I know that I have gained quite a few more followers (welcome to the latest) and if you would like to participate in this bloggy adventure please get in touch with Mummyhen. The blanket will grow and of course it requires a small amount of money for postage for it to be sent on to the next person.

If you volunteer you only need to do at least one square and it doesn't have to be fancy, so beginner crocheters here's your chance to try out your skills. Please, please, please consider being a part of the blanket and if you do keep us informed so that I can update the page. 

Here's to hoping our blanket will grow again this year.

xx

PS If you've already had the blanket and would like to add to it again please feel free to volunteer for another go.

Gifts

A gift of wool,

a gift of knitted squares,

a gift of time

and I shall crochet them together to provide a gift of cot blankets.

Charity Shop Chatter

De-cluttering is going well this year with quite a few bags taken to the CS containing clothes, rags and books. I couldn't resist these colourful pegs to brighten up the washing line.

One rag that didn't end up in the bag was my 'dossing about' dress which had seen better days. It was my favourite lounge about dress but it had to go ...

... not to the rag bag but to the 'squares' pile for future quilting.

I also kept back some buttons from and old cardie - never know when they will come in handy. (Never, I know, but they went in the button tin.)

xx

Flowers in the house

This is Cymbidium Yule Log. Guess when it started flowering.

'Can you see the cave painting stone,
the smiley stone family and Madonna's bra
the old wooden cone shaped pipe shapers?'

xx

Welcome new followers, I will come a-visiting soon.

Come on!

Take - one cat, one rolled up newspaper (or similar) and one willing volunteer. Wave the rolled up newspaper round and round.

Say:

'Come on jump!'

Keep waving the newspaper round and round and say, 'Come on jump!'

Don't give up when the cat says, 'Nope.'

Persevere and say, 'Come on jump!'

'Yeah!'

xx

Welcome to my new followers and commenters. Lovely to have you on board.

Just found

I've just found one of my New Year Resolutions' lists from last year.

* Make a new password book by looking up and checking one password per night. - This started well but then stopped when I ran out of steam. I've just finished it now. At the end of my old password book  I found this NYR list!

*Make a crochet square each night. - The squares were not done each night but I have made over 365 of them.

*Make a Nativity figure each month. - This was done each month for the first eight figures. The last figure was done in December.

*Follow up one line of 'followers' each night by visiting their blogs. - I think I've visited everybody. If I've not commented on your blog in a long time please let me know and I'll pop along and have a nosey.

*Sell at least one item on Ebay each month. - I have sold more than 12 items but not as one item each month.

*Clean one room each day. - Errm!! Daily cleaning and tidying completed each day but not a deep clean. Hobbies and activities had priority. Must try harder.

Apart from the last one I've not done too badly.

Going up in the world

Up ...

and up ...

to the top.

Great views out to sea and scary views down below.

Thank you DS for my birthday treat.

Can you see our house?

Views to the North,

Whose thumb is that?

East,

South and West.

This was the second warm and sunny day this year.

Should have written 'Happy Birthday' in the sand.

Up again ...

and again.

Time to go with stairs first and a lift that took 69 seconds to descend!

My second trip up to the top. Another 40 years and you can take me up the Tower again.

xx