Greetings from SO9096

I'm afraid I've been somewhat distracted from knitting by this site,

http://www.geograph.org.uk/

The aim is to have a photograph,or several, taken in every grid square in the British Isles, so I've been busy filling in the gaps in my local area. It's a good way to get out and about, something I've been doing too little of lately. The weather has been glorious for the last few days, and it seems a shame to stay in and knit.

Having said that, I do have a deadline and a couple of things needing urgent completion. I finished these some time ago and they have now gone off to their new owner. Mum is Chinese so the red is appropriate as it signifies good luck.

My usual Baby Surprise pattern and Zoe Mellor bootees.

Good News

I see from Andy's blog that Niki has had a baby boy, Peter. She has not had an easy pregnancy so it was good to hear of the safe arrival. I don't know Niki, only from reading her blog, but it is strange how you feel involved in blogger's lives from their blog posts.

Views

There is some knitting going on but nothing completed as there is quite a lot of sewing up to be done which I hate. Hopefully by my next post I will have at least one completed project to show.

Meanwhile here are some views from my conservatory; first, the Brown Clee.......

.......then a view across the Shropshire countryside........

This is the country that Housman had in mind when he wrote, in the Shropshire Lad, of lost youth .........

'Into my heart an air that kills

From yon far country blows:

What are those blue remembered hills,

What spires, what farms are those?

That is the land of lost content,

I see it shining plain,

The happy highways where I went

And cannot come again.'

And lastly, while I was taking these photos, the Robin had to get into the picture. He is in mid moult and was obviously having a bad feather day!

Birthday

On Thursday we celebrated my mother's 90th birthday. After a family meal at a local hotel, we returned home for the cake..........

............ with more family members and friends.

More pictures on Flickr.

This picture was taken around her first birthday when World War One was still being fought.

First

My BSJ was placed first in the knitting section of the Albury Produce Show. Don't know what the competition was though as I didn't manage to go, my cousin entered it on my behalf. I also entered a photograph, but that wasn't successful.

Stash

I've had a good sort through my stash recently. The wardrobe is tidier.......

............ the boxes 'out back' are organised and some very old UFOs have been reduced to this......

My WIPs are neatly bagged up, and untangled, and are going to be completed in an orderly way.

I've sorted a box of odd balls to go to Freecycle and made a resolution to buy only quality yarns, with a project in mind, in the future.

So what do I do? Only order Texere's Big Box of Balls! Well it was a bargain, and will help to fill the gap my sorting out has left.

ASJ and Invasion.

Has it really been ten days since I last posted? Well, at least I haven't been idle. The ASJ is complete! I give you the front..........

and the back ...........

I've also been invaded, by insects. I live quite happily with ants in the garden and don't use any poisons, unlike my neighbours who are out spraying at the first sign of anything with more than four legs. Unfortunately, the conservatory has been built over an ants nest, and they swarmed inside the other day. I must admit they've done a great job disposing of their dead companions (the flying ants die after their nuptial flight) but there are still quite a few running around, so I've had to put some bait down which hopefully will solve the problem.

Rather more serious is this.......

........ a wasp's nest inside my cavity wall. They're going in and out next to the patio door so will have to be removed before they start to get aggressive in the autumn.

Happy 4th.......

........... to any readers from across the pond. Steven went off to day care suitably dressed this morning.

We had an early start this morning when three hefty young men arrived to turn this.......

...........into this............

Can you spot what has gone? Yes, the very large buddleia which was blocking my view is no more. I can see the Clee hills again, (when it isn't misty or raining.)The butterflies will miss it but I won't, and I can see a beautiful rose rambling along the trellis. Probably an English rose from David Austin. who is just down the road.

BTW, does anyone else get reminded of Monty Python when they encounter Tree Surgeons? NonPC now I suppose, but I do get the urge to start singing!

Thoughts on Terrorism

I heard on the news this morning that one of the men being held on suspicion of the recent car bomb attempts in London and Glasgow, was a hospital Doctor. It makes you wonder how someone dedicated to saving lives, could be plotting to kill people.

It takes me back to the 1970s, when I worked in a residential nursery, in London, and shared the care of six babies, with an Irish nurse, a pleasant girl, easy to get on with, kind and loving towards the children. She went on holiday and never returned. The next thing we knew was that the police were looking for her in connection with bomb plots. Her flat had been searched, and explosives found under her bed. As far as I know, she has never been found, although her boy friend was arrested some time later. I had great difficulty in believing that the person I had been working with was a terrorist bomber.

Back to more mundane matters. I have been working on the ASJ and made a little progress, the front bands are nearly complete and I've chosen the buttons. Just the sleeves to finish. Not much point in showing a picture as it hasn't changed much from the last time.

I got a little diverted by another BSJ (baby clothes are so quick to make!) This is intended for a village show later in the month. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

Parcel sent

I sent off a parcel of jackets, hats etc. to Brigid, for Kisiizi this morning.

Notice that they are displayed on my lovely new conservatory floor!

I completed this set with the addition of hat and bootees, about a one year old size..........

.........and found some attractive buttons for the jacket, which are also easy to use, important when you are dressing children. Some fancy buttons are too awkwardly shaped to go through buttonholes easily.


The weather has been appalling the last few days, although this area has not had the bad flooding some places have. I'm unlikely to suffer floods anyway, being on a hill.

Recovered

Just about recovered from my visit to Gardener's World Live last week. I found walking around for about five hours, extremely exhausting. There were actually three shows, Good Food and Good Homes as well as the gardening show, too much to see in one visit. I did see some conservatory blinds I liked, but no furniture.

I'm afraid the ASJ is in the waiting area at the moment as I'm making a few small things for Kisiisi as light relief, and to use more of the stash, which seems to get no smaller.

I've completed another BSJ, double knitting, approx. 20" chest. I love the way this has turned out; the joy of this pattern is the way each garment is so different from the others, and you're never quite sure how it will look.

Now I have to find some suitable buttons.

I also have some tiny jackets, for the smallest babies, and hope to make a few hats.

The flooring in the conservatory is being fitted on Monday, so disruption again for a while.

Not much done in the garden this week, due to the wet weather, but here are a couple of pictures.

Peony Sarah Bernhardt, and Rose New Dawn.

June Garden

The garden is recovering from the ravages of the builders and looking at its best.

I'm afraid these days, due to lack of time and energy, my gardening has been of the 'studied neglect' variety. The principle is to pack 'em in tightly so the weeds don't have a chance to grow. In the past I've also planted a lot of 'thugs', like the Golden Marjoram, which has seeded everywhere and overpowered more delicate plants.

Still no flooring in the conservatory, but we did manage to eat Sunday lunch in there this week.

I'm off to Gardeners World Live tomorrow, which this year is incorporating a Good Homes show, so I may see some conservatory furniture I like.

Snap!

I've just completed socks for Steven and see on his blog that Colin has been using the same yarn and colourway!

The ASJ is getting very unwieldy now, so I need socks for when I KIP.

The jacket is now on two 40 inch circulars and I am about to start the body extension. It is starting to look like a jacket.

I haven't blogged for a while as life has been quite busy. It was good to meet up with Rose and Steph (briefly back in the Midlands) at Fiona's house last week, but sad that I had to leave early due to an unscheduled visit by workmen ( why do they never choose a convenient time to come?) The flooring in the conservatory should be fitted soon, then I can start to consider furnishings. I also have to get window blinds.

Chester and ASJ

I ventured a little further afield on Wednesday and visited Chester and had an enjoyable day there. I did the usual visit to the cathedral and walk around the walls, not the complete circuit although I have done that in the past.

I also shopped in the 'Rows' and, of course, visited Stash where a few small purchases took place.

My ASJ is progressing, a little more slowly as the first enthusiasm has worn off. Also, I discovered a dropped stitch and had to frog several rows. However, I am approaching the neck shaping. Here is the progress in the last few days.

While I was in Chester Cathedral I bought this .............
.......... a copy of the Green Man misericord which I thought would be appropriate to hang on the wall in the new conservatory.

Garden

Not a lot more to show on the ASJ, although it is progressing, if a little slower, so I won't bore you with pictures.

We had a pleasant afternoon out at a local garden which was open yesterday. It was lovely having tea on the lawn, and the weather was perfect. So was the chocolate cake ;)








In my garden, the robins are busy feeding several speckled youngsters, and looking a little harassed. Its a pity they didn't find somewhere more photogenic to perch.

I don't seem to have much success in encouraging the blue tits to use my nest box, unlike Roo whose BF has rigged up a camera in her box. I think mine must be spoiled for choice, as every garden round about here has a box.

Progress

The ASJ has made progress. I'm finding this an easy knit so far, although I have hit upon a snag. I started the diagonal increases on the first instead of the second row, which means I may not be able to make an invisible join when I start knitting the sleeve extension.

In reply to Helen's comment, the ASJ is worked on a different principle to the BSJ and you need to have the pattern as the size is based on your stitch gauge and your personal measurements so is different for everyone.

There is also progress on the conservatory which has now been plastered and has electricity.

I've also had someone to measure up for flooring to cover the mess the plasterers made.

The bad news this week is that I have strained a muscle in my back. Lots of lovely sitting and knitting you may think. But no, I still have the same household chores to do, Steven to feed and bath, just at half the speed. Hopefully, the Ibuprofen will start to kick in soon.

A.S.J.

I am taking the plunge and joining a knit-a-long to make Elizabeth Zimmermann's Adult Surprise Jacket. I've collected together various colours of DK wool that I have in my stash, found a 40inch circular needle, and worked my swatch to check my gauge.

The pattern is in the Opinionated Knitter.

A quick calculation says that I will be casting on over 400 stitches, which is more than a bit daunting! Hope I don't fall by the wayside and it ends up as a UFO. However, my bugbear is sewing up, and there is very little of that in this pattern.

Sad news

I heard yesterday that a distant relative has committed suicide. I didn't know Lynne well, we only met occasionally at family gatherings, but she appeared to be a happy, well balanced girl. She leaves a devastated husband and two teenaged children. That side of the family has had more than its fair share of tragedy recently. Of the people in this happy family group, three have taken their own life, none were blood relatives to each other but only connected by marriage.

Finished

Yes, I've managed to finish some knitting, and it was the socks, Steph! They are being worn as I type.

Not quite finished, but heading that way, my conservatory. There is still the internal plastering and electrics to be done but it is taking shape and I'm very pleased with it.

UFOs and WIPs

Oh dear. I looked at my basket of WIPs this morning and despaired. I'm sure some of them are going to end up as UFOs if I don't get cracking and complete them.

Trouble is, I'm bored with them all and longing to cast on something new. I really must discipline myself and finish something, probably the socks, as they are nearest to completion.

It's here........

......... at last! The much anticipated Yarn Forward magazine arrived this morning.

I haven't had much time to look at it yet, but there are some interesting articles, quite a bit on socks and a charming baby Kimono. I can see a long session with a cup of coffee, once Steven is fed.

The conservatory build is progressing with the minimum of disruption, although access to the computer has been limited. Hopefully, construction on the top should start on Monday.

I was told to keep off the wet concrete (goes without saying). When I returned from a visit to the wheelchair clinic with Steven I found this.......
......a row of prints leading to and from the back door! Too small to be any of the builders, further investigation proved it was a neighbour who was looking through the kitchen window to see if I was in! Although she swore the concrete was dry.

Out with the old.......

.........in with the new, hopefully. Yes, tomorrow work is starting to replace this.......

with a brand new conservatory, twice the size, and rotproof!

The main problem I'm going to face is that my computer room is on the right and to get to it I shall have to take a flying leap from the kitchen door, in the centre, to the door on the right. I shall probably be faced with a large hole especially while the foundations are being dug. This means I may not be able to use the computer for a while. My washing machine is also in this area, so no washing will be done.

Now Steven is getting some respite care, I'm managing to get out more. Yesterday, my mother and I spent the afternoon at Wightwick Manor, a national trust property in Wolverhampton. It is a late Victorian house and a shrine to William Morris. Very OTT but somehow it works.

The gardens were not at their best, despite the early spring, as nothing much was flowering except the wisteria.

Farewell Rose

Today our Beatties' Knit-Chat group said goodbye to Rose, our leader and mentor. She is off to pastures new at RKM wools in Shrewsbury and I'm sure some of us will be keeping in touch.

Yuca's children had joined us as it was school holidays, her daughter already knits and her son kept us entertained with 'cats cradle'.