Intruders

Someone got into my garden the other night and managed to break off the top of the fence while climbing over. There were also some plants trampelled down. Luckily nothing was taken and my tomatoes weren't touched, that would have upset me! Talking of tomatoes, the first one is starting to show a blush of red. I began to think that they would stay green for ever.

Knitting

Here are some completed projects which will be given to charity.

First a couple of Elizabeth Zimmermann February baby jackets, the pink one still awaiting buttons. I also used a different lace pattern for this one, slightly less open.

Then two linen stitch scarves using up scraps of DK yarn.

Bird Table

This Bird table has been lying in pieces for quite a while awaiting assembly. I'm afraid that I don't get along with screw drivers, I'm more at home with knitting needles. However I plucked up my courage this morning and got to work with assorted pieces of wood and screws and this is the result, which so far is standing, for how long I wouldn't like to guess. The Buddleia on the right has outgrown its allotted space, so once the butterfly season is over it is going to have to be removed. This, I think, is a job for professionals

Lunch

Out for lunch to a friend's yesterday.Two of the party were celebrating birthdays in the next few days,so of course we had to have a cake.

Ignored

City Photo Blog is still ignoring me. I've managed a photo each day so far on my Wolverhampton Daily Photo Blog and find it very useful for getting out and about.

It has been pouring with rain all day and almost uprooted my tomatoes. However I've managed to rescue and restake them. As you can see the tomatoes are swelling nicely although still very green.

Le Tour

I'm still unable to walk far, or indeed be very active, but thank goodness for Le Tour de France and Wimbledon keeping me entertained. The tour went right past my cousin's house in Hebden Bridge so they had a good view. I've been busy knitting as usual and appropriately a Mailot Jaune, which will go to charity.

I'm doing well with my Wolverhampton Daily Photo blog and so far have managed to post every day. However I haven't managed to get it onto City Photo blog portal as none of the organising team are responding to messages.

Gardening

Most of my gardening is in containers this year as the GP has said no bending because of my back problems. However I may have some tomatoes soon and the courgettes are peeping through.I'm afraid I've had to use the dreaded slug pellets as I would have nothing left if the weather turned wet.

Back again. Spent a few days by the sea in Llandudno, but unable to do much because of a painful back and sciatica. Things have improved after seeing the GP and getting some powerful painkillers. I've still been able to knit and am working on a scrap log cabin blanket to use up odds and ends.

Also, despite the fact that I'm unable to keep up to date with this blog I've started another, Wolverhampton Daily photo. I'm hoping to show that my city isn't such a bad place to live in as some people like to make out.

Back Again

I've been away too long but at last am getting myself organised enough to blog again. In January I had a cataract removed and can now see more clearly than I have for years. My back, which has been troubling me since Steven was in hospital last year, has at last improved enough for me to enjoy a little gardening, much needed as the garden is looking extremely overgrown. Needless to say nothing has stopped me knitting. I've just sent a large box to Lou at Loving Hands

For some reason Blogger doesn't seem to like the third picture which is baby surprise jackets and cardigans. Hope these will be of use to someone.

Sad News

Sadly, Steven didn't improve and passed away on the 31st of January. He did have a few weeks in his new care home and seemed to be brightening up but it was not to be. I now have a funeral to arrange and want to make sure that people who loved and cared for him are the ones to attend. I am in a quandary over his birth family who have had no contact with him for 24 years and don't know him at all. They have been told, but should they be included in the funeral?

Hospital woes

At last I have time to update this blog. It has been a roller coaster of an autumn, and not over yet.

In my last entry I was recovering from an operation, and I'm pleased to say this continued.

Unfortunately things have not gone so well for Steven. He had to be admitted to a nursing home when I was ill and unable to care for him. In September I had a call to say he had managed to pull out his PEG (feeding tube) and was in hospital waiting to have it replaced. The hospital then found he had pressure lesions and would not release him.

Added to all this, he also had repeated chest infections. Temporary tubes were inserted which invariably fell out leading to Steven not being fed adequately. Eventually a permanent PEG was inserted, on the 7 December. He is now on a higher calorie feed and is beginning to regain some strength.

This isn't the full story about his treatment, which I won't go into as the hospital are holding an investigation. The good news is that on Monday, all being well, Steven will be discharged to a
different nursing home where hopefully he will be better cared for as I no longer feel able to meet his needs.

To finish, here's a picture of the lad in happier times and hopefully we will start seeing those smiles once more.

Back home

Back home after a spell in hospital with a perforated appendix. Starting to feel more human now so hopefully on the path to recovery.

Return of the Blogger

Sorry for my absence recently. The past two years have not been the easiest and have left little time for blogging. My mother was getting increasingly frail and eventually moved to an excellent care home. Sadly, she passed away in December. I spent as much time as I could with her which meant the garden got very neglected although I did manage quite a bit of knitting.

I hope to get started blogging more regularly in future. In the meantime I leave you with a glimpse of the garden on a rather chilly, grey June morning.

Bantock Weekend

We had another successful 1940s event at Bantock house this past weekend. I had a stand demonstrating 1940's knitting and displayed various 1940s items, including my mother's wedding dress. The sock knitting fascinates most people.

I included these...........

knitted from a 1940's pattern in this Murray and Koster book.

The original pattern was knitted in silk, but I used a very soft Patons Dreamtime baby wool. Even so, everyone agreed that they wouldn't fancy wearing them!

The highlight of the show was a mockup of a Battle of Britain RAF operations room with alerts every hour or so when every one sprang into action. Sorry, no pics as they are in my phone and my Bluetooth is refusing to work.

Blight

Sadly my tomatoes have succumbed to the dreaded blight, probably due to the damp mild weather we've been having recently. I'm trying to rescue the larger fruit in the hope that they will ripen indoors. They were growing so well too, and had the best of care, watered, fed and supported. Ah well, there is always next year.

Progress

I'm pleased to say that my wrist is better and I'm back to my usual knitting speed. I've started a raglan V-neck for Steven. I used a generic Patons pattern, which was rather boring stocking stitch, so I'm doing the main part in a garter stich rib with the sleeves in stocking stitch. I've also changed the raglan shaping.

This is progress so far.

The yarn is Rowan Extra Fine Merino DK.

In the garden the 'Marmande' tomatoes are plumping up nicely. The hot June got them off to a good start, although things have cooled down now, but they have another couple of months to ripen.

Ouch!

I didn't realise I hadn't Blogged since April, time just seems to slip away.

Knitting is slow at the moment due to this

I foolishly managed to trip and fall over Steven's sling and sprained my wrist, luckily nothing was broken but it has been very painful and incapacitating for two weeks. The worst thing, of course, was difficulty knitting. I had a SANDS blanket half made and progress has continued now the pain is easing. It has a lace edging which was designed to be made separately and stitched on but I'm joining it as I go along, saves all that stitching up afterwards. Also the pattern has a mistake as the last two rows of the edging are reversed.

Mum has settled into her care home and is getting back to her old self although she still isn't very mobile. She is confident in using the lift on her own now, so can go up and down to her room when she wants and has been spending time in the garden as the weather has been glorious.

My garden is very neglected although I do have someone to cut the lawn. I'm also growing tomatoes in a grow bag and these seem to be doing well.

Steven is well at the moment although we have an appointment with a consultant at the end of the month as his breathing is not good at night.

Quick update

Recovering from a rather traumatic weekend. Steven's hoist ceased working Saturday morning and I have had to do transfers by lifting him and my, how my shoulders are suffering. Luckily he is a light weight so this is still possible, but not easy. The engineer is here now fixing it, thank goodness.

On to knitting. My Mr Green Jeans has been spending time on the Naughty step as it was turning out too small, but I decided to give it a reprieve. I undid all the cable rib. I then increased instead of decreasing, the rib pulls in anyway, then completed the cable/rib section on the same size needle as the stocking stitch section. The rib pulls in anyway and it is now a better fit, although still snug. Also, as you can see, a sleeve has been completed.

Woolly Goodness

I had a note from my postman on Tuesday that they had tried to deliver a parcel but couldn't because I was out. I had an idea what it was, and today, Saturday, was the first chance I had to receive it.

I wasn't disappointed. It was my share of Cormo/Mohair yarn from Juniper Moon Fiber Farm.

Steven loved the feel and smell of the skeins, and for me, knowing I had witnessed the births of some of the animals providing the yarn, was an extra pleasure. Kidding, and soon lambing, has started again, and the first kids are bouncing around.

Still here

Things are calming down a little here. Mum moved into her care home two weeks ago, although things were a bit rough for her to begin with as she had a fall and was very confused. However she is much more herself now, and gradually adapting to her new situation. She has at last remembered how to use her mobile phone, which makes communicating much easier. Surprisingly, none of the staff could help her with it, I thought all young people knew everything about phones.

I have been knitting, although no photos today as I haven't had time to take them. My January socks are finished. I cheated a bit in February as I didn't have much time, so just made some baby bootees. One March sock is finished and the second well on the way. I'm afraid the Mr. Green Jeans has been put on one side as it is coming out far too small for me, sob!

I have some new carers for Steven; they've only been once and are due again tomorrow so time will tell how they work out.

Hope it won't be too long until I update again, hopefully with some photos.