Pies & Pukekos

2011-07-10T12:26:00.003+01:00

The house has been in an uproar the past 2 weeks due to our latest addition. He is a lilac point Ragdoll and was 8 wks old when we got him. He is so bold and full of life and its taken the other pets a while to get used to the continual ambushing and tail attacks. His name is Smokey but we tend to call him Flea as he never stops leaping.

My migraines have been much milder and we actually managed to get to Florida for a week - first holiday in 4 yrs due to my health. We had a wonderful time, Luke especially and have lots of happy memories. This photo of Luke and pointy bird really makes me laugh. The apprehension!

I've generally got my life back and its great! Haven't got much spinning or knitting done though as I seem to always have my nose in a book. I've discovered the 34 book Dynasty series by Cynthia Harrod Eagles which I'm really enjoying. I'm also reading 'Sarum' by Edward Rutherford which is about Salisbury over the ages (its only about 40 min drive from here which adds to the interest). Its not the best written book but very interesting all the same

On the fibromyalgia and migraine front - migraine have been less frequent, mild and managable and fibro is slowly improving. I've started a drug called Cymbalta and it has been fantastic for muscle/ joint pain. Really made a difference.

2010-06-17T12:48:00.002+01:00

I could hear our blackbird giving his alarm call this morning and wandered out to see what was happening. There was only a man cutting down the hedge that Boris and his wife have a nest in.
I wondered whether I should say anything or ignore it but decided I couldn't live with my conscience if I didn't confront him

So I've had a right morning of bird protection issues. Luckily the man was very polite and happy to listen to me. He had cut right up to the nest but stopped when I got a bit assertive with him and happily tie wrapped some branches back over the nest to give them some protection at my suggestion. Poor Boris has been going absolutely potty with the worry.

I rang the RSPB and got some advice and have since joined them (only £3 per month). They have some very useful advice regarding hedges and nesting birds which I printed off for the man.
He agreed to leave the rest of the hedge alone as we don't know if there are any other nests in it . . . and I pointed out that if he actually touched a nest I was within my rights to call the police as it is an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.

I am so angry about this I'm spitting tacks. Why can't people just give wildlife a chance?

In the middle of all this, I've been to work to discuss my employment. Luckily, it was with 2 managers who I've known for over 10yrs. They are going to get my contract reduced to 5 hrs per week which suits me and the chronic fatigue pain and see how things go. So fingers crossed!

2010-06-16T14:16:00.004+01:00

first post for ages but blog is being reactivated at my Mum's request so she still knows I'm alive!
I've had a hairy few months with my migraines and chronic fatigue but are in a good place presently, although it looks like I may be losing my job soon due to illness. Its sad as I love being a chemotherapy nurse but life will go on.

new things are:
on the bottom of my right leg. He's Boris, named after the blackbird in our garden who comes when I’ve an unbearable migraine and gives me hope to keep on keeping on. The sketch is from an 18C drawing I found in an old book
the text reads ‘I shine not burn” because I strive to make sure my migraines don’t overtake me and is also a quote from my favourite series of books ‘Outlander’ by Diana Gabaldon
He is on the side of my right leg and is about 6” tall

Humphrey the hamster. I'd never had a hamster before and say how much Luke and I adore this little man. He lives in the corner of our living room so that he can join in with family life and watch TV when he chooses to. He is quite the escape artist and has been discovered snuggling in my spinning fibre

the last thing I spun was some soft singles in 'Pallid' colourway by Hello Yarn. I adore this colourway and love the outcome

2010-01-06T17:29:00.003Z

I got the most amazing present through the door just before Xmas. A big parcel from my Mum in NZ containing the most beautiful handmade (by her) appliqued and patchworked quilt. Its perfect for snuggling on the sofa with. I put it on the floor to take a photo, turned around to get my camera and by the time I'd turned back both cats had invaded. Then a turf war ensued with them both chasing each other off the quilt until they kissed and made up! Thanks Mum!

and a photo of the fabric for my quilt. I sewed the first circle on square today so its full steam ahead now!

2010-01-05T15:28:00.003Z

This is the fabric I'm collecting for a quilt. Its called Hushabye and is by Tula Pink for Moda:

the picture comes from a great site called cross-patch.co.uk where I've bought both x stitch and quilting supplies from with very good communication and service. I've also collected fat quarters in the same series from Bramblepatch.co.uk and seamstar.co.uk with good service also.
Luke and I have decided to do a circles on squares design. I've hauled my old sewing machine out of the cupboard under the stairs and cleaned all the dust off it. I am going to put natural coloured calico sashing between the squares.

2010-01-04T18:35:00.004Z

I've had quite a rough couple of months with restarting work and stopping anti-convulsants which were making me really ill but I'm back!

I've got completely addicted to reading the 'Outlander' series by Diana Gabeldon. This is the best series of books I've ever read. I finished the last one I have (snow and ashes) and have started reading them from the beginning again while I wait for Echo in the Bone to arrive (hopefully next week). I just adore the characterisation and story lines. Sparky is getting used to being called 'me wee cheetie' slowly (funnily enough I had a Scottish Aunty who used to call cats 'cheeties').

I've managed to do a bit of spinning again but nothing really to show for it. It was just so lovely to sit and spin again. Its so soothing and meditative. A lovely friend in the US managed to acquire some Hello Yarn 'Thrive' which I've been lusting after so its next on the wheel:

I finished my Bent Creek Blackbird Sampler and have started Awake the Dawning Day by Blackbird Designs. I've almost finished the house and just about to start the vines and flowers:

I seemed to have acquired loads of cross stitch charts since Xmas, some already kitted up and ready to go!

The ones on my urgent to do list for 2010 are:

Angel Cat by La d Da. I'm going to do this in a deep vivid ginger colour in honour of the dearly departed Oskar J Cat:

Bittersweet Moon:

When you see this by Blackbird Designs:

I also was lucky enough to get £30 in vouchers from www.thread-bear.co.uk so have also ordered more charts and some threads. The charts I've bought are Mocking Bird, Garden Angel and Delivering Posies.

And I may have got carried away today to buy the new chart from Tralala!! called à la belle étoile. My present to myself for having the mother of all migraines today:

and also Morning Bird from Plum Street Samplers and the threads to make it.

So I think I may have more than enough to be getting on with at present.

Luke had a wonderful Xmas and 2 weeks off. He is growing like a weed and is very content and amusing at present. The animals also seemed to have a good time. Photos to follow.

2009-12-31T14:44:00.001Z

Happy New Year everyone. I'm hoping 2010 is going to be a really good year for us all.

Will write a longer post soon x

2009-11-23T06:35:00.005Z

We went to the Supreme Cat Show at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday. Luke had a fabulous time. He met the artist who draws Simon's Cat and got a book with his name and an original sketch in it from the artist. Luke was delighted and has laughed and laughed over this book.

We saw lots of different types of cats, as you'd expect. Some were more laid back than others:

some had definate signs of breeding (don't want to write in breeding in case the cat police come after me .... oops!):

and some just wanted to play (this was my favourite little cat):

Luke tried out the human sized scratching post:

and then we were well catted out. We all thought that Sparky was much more show cat than any we saw there.

I've almost finished the alphabet on Bent Creeks Blackbird Sampler. Then I get to do the 'good' bits of blackbird, house and pumpkin!

2009-11-19T19:31:00.000Z

I've actually finished some cross stitch. This is 'Softly Spring' from Shepherd's Bush. I got the chart ages ago in a stack of old charts off ebay and thats the first I'd heard of Shepherd's Bush. Now I adore them. Obviously someone had used the threads etc that came with this kit so I made a DMC conversion using variations for shading. Its brighter than ones I've seen online but I adore it. I dyed the linen with coffee and its lovely and old looking.

I've also purchased some other Shepherd's Hill kits on ebay - Shepherd's Hill for me and Shepherd's Earth for Mum for Xmas. I adore the little sheep on top of Shepherd's Hill!

I'm currently stitching Blackbird Sampler by Bent Creek. I'm using the DMC threads but have mixed some (1 strand each of 2 different colours) to make the colour more like the original. You can see my progress so far below. I'm enjoying the speciality stitches. Rice stitch is just so dense though, isn't it?

And here below are the threads I've bought to do Blackbird Designs Awake the Dawning Day (chart on order from USA as we speak) and Bittersweet Moon (chart on order from UK as we speak). I'll use DMC for the colours I didn't buy.

I've been working 2 x 4 hour days per week for past 2 weeks and really struggling. The pain and exhaustion the day after my shift has been really disabling. I finally got to see a Dr at the Chronic Fatigue clinic yesterday though and he said I should cut down to 2 x 3 hour shifts twice a week with a half hour break for at least 3 weeks before increasing by an hour. I'm hoping my manager will be patient enough to stick with it. It makes me feel really despondant seeing how disabled I am compared to the other nurses. Part of me thinks that this improvement in my health won't last anyhow and it all seems a bit pointless struggling along to work but I love it when I am there and need to just keep plugging along.

I have had a 6 day reprieve from migraines which was wonderful but paid for it overnight with an absolute corker of a headache. So not much stitching got done today.

We're off to the National Cat Show on Saturday in Birmingham. We're taking Luke and his cousins. Can't wait to see all the p'ed off Ragdolls. Mike and I went years ago. Never seen anything like it. There are some real cat fanatics there with their babies. The kids are going to love it.

2009-11-04T12:19:00.005Z

I made it back to work yesterday. I am just so pleased to be well enough to go back.
We had a wonderful couple of days in York. I loved it and really want to go back but without the non-shopping male part of the family.

The Merchant Adventurer's Hall

a real hornbook (they also had a horn window)

unfortunately they didn't sell these in the gift shop

rats ahoy!

I've made a little scissor fob as I kept losing my scissors and it was driving me nuts. Its based on a Bent Creek halloween design Pumpkin on the Hill - I never got round to stitching it for this year so put the Blackbird on a green Shepherds Bush inspired hill instead. Its stuffed with some wool roving so I can use it as a needle park too:

Molly has finally decided to live downstairs after 5 yrs of self imposed isolation upstairs. She is not afraid of the dog at all and spends most of her time asleep on the window sill. The living room looks like a knackers yard now though with all these pets lying round unconscious:

Luke came home from school delighted yesterday as he has been put into the top group in his class for literacy. This is such a big improvement for him and he is so pleased with himself.

2009-10-24T11:05:00.004+01:00

I've still been slowly improving. Really trying to take it easy some days just to make sure I don't overdo it. I'm actually going back to work next week after almost 6 months off! I'll go back to my job as a chemotherapy nurse and build up to working 12 hrs per week. I've reduced my contracted hours from 18 per week as really want to make sure I don't go sick if possible. I'm SO pleased to be doing the job I've done for almost 20 years and love.

I actually managed to take Luke to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London yesterday. Mike dropped us outside as he was working nearby. We spent an hour in the British gallery looking at Tudor/ Jacobean furniture, clothes, wall hangings etc. Luke had interactive activities to do on computer terminals scattered about. It was great but we'd both had enough after an hour. We headed down the road to McD's for lunch and then went to Harrod's to look at the Food Hall. Unfortunately Luke couldn't stand the smell in the main hall (very cheesy as they have a huge cheese counter) so we retreated to the in store ice cream parlor where Luke had the most enormous hot fudge sundae.

We then wandered back to the museum and sat in the lovely autumn sun until Mike collected us. I was knackered when we got home and really hurt all over today but boy was it worth it.

Today I'm doing as little as possible. We are going to see my friend Mandy tomorrow (yay!) and then going onto York - saying I'm looking forward to it is an understatement. Luke has just done Tudors at school so we're going to the Barley Hall and the Viking museum then to DIG and the Merchant Adventurers Hall.

I've been doing some stitching on Oriental Harem Garden (onto part 2). This is going to be a long term project as it takes ages but I'm enjoying it:

I'm also stitching Quaker Six Mains, a freebie from A mon ami Pierre, on 25ct linen. I'm doing it in very muted colours and using small silvered beads for the eyes and flower centres:

I also received the chart for 'The industrious bee sampler' in the post from USA today. I saw the one that Becky had finished on her blog and loved it. So its in the queue.

I'm hoping to start Shepherd's Bush Finch Song next. I want to get lots of smaller ones done so I can cover a wall in the hallway with them

I've done no knitting or spinning this week. I've got some Pigeonroof studios roving which is calling to me loudly though.

2009-10-15T11:54:00.004+01:00

I've got some fab news and I'm hoping I don't jinx it by putting it on here - I'm starting to feel better! I'm so hoping its not a flash in the pan and I go back to zero again. My muscle and joint pain is reduced and so is the fatigue. I was awfully ill with the flu and have just seemed to get better and better recovering from it. I don't know whether the flu bug has kick started my immune system properly or something.

But anyhow, I've been spinning (!), some soft singles from Lakehouse Loft:

and doing cross stitch on my new slate frame ..... yes, its bloody enormous, 40" wide to be exact but its good. Took a bit of getting used to but now I am its great. Just bloody enormous. Its handmade from beech by a bloke on ebay

so after I bought this, I found another frame listed in a totally random section of ebay and put a ridiculously low bid of £2.99 in for it - and won it. Its 24" so I now own 2 needlework frames.

Sparky is getting his winter coat and has had an inexpert trouser trim by Mum. I do wonder if we run a pet hotel sometimes.
There really is no need for this kind of behaviour, is there?

I've bought some fabric and floss to make a start on this Quaker sampler too. I don't think I'll make it so big. I've chosen pale blue, grey, lavender, ecru colours. Its a free pattern which is nice.

I've been searching ebay for Lego - Luke is really into castle Lego at the moment and I've managed to get him 5 new knights and 12 armoured war horses so far. I hope the little ratbag is still into castle lego by his birthday. His best friend is having his birthday party soon at Laserquest, which they specially chose for Luke (he feels quite awkward in company but they know he loves laserquest). How nice and thoughtful was that?

anyway, I'd better go and get stitching. I've decided to leave the weaving until I'm a lot better and put my loom away so it doesn't look at me.

2009-09-25T21:01:00.004+01:00

I'm knitting socks with wool/ nylon mix to see if they hold up better than the pure wool ones I've made which wear through the foot within weeks. Its just going to be a mindless, plain sock using Kangaroo Dyer yarn. I love this yarn and are pleased with it so far. Will take photos when past the toe ;0)

I've started my 'Oriental Harem Mandala Garden' cross stitch from Chatelaine Designs and are really enjoying it. This is progress so far:

I posted Mum's birthday present to her, a Milkweed Shawl made with MadTosh sock yarn. She was delighted (!!) and I really enjoyed knitting it. The yarn was lovely too and blocked out really well.

we're all over the dreaded swine flu and Luke even managed to dodge the bullet. It was horrible proper flu too. nothing worse. The cats were delighted that we were both in bed for an overlapping period of about 10 days. I've been exhausted today and just slept all day. Haven't had a migraine for 5 days though which is great considering I've had them almost daily for last 5 weeks, really horrible ones.

We had to take one of the cats to the vets and then the dog next day (flea allergy and sore leg). Just what you need with flu. Our window cleaner says he's just going to paint a plague cross on the door and avoid me as someone is always sick in our house (usually me though)

2009-09-15T11:53:00.001+01:00

o i n k.
f l u k i l l i n g m e
s e n d b u z z b a r s

2009-09-06T15:13:00.002+01:00

Mike has probable swine flu and is horrendously unwell with it. I haven't seen him so ill since he had his stem cell transplant in '95. Luckily I'm feeling a bit better last few days. Migraines have slowed down again thank g-d so I was able to go and get some anti-viral capsules for him.

It was very easy to arrange this - I just filled in a form on the internet and got a special code to give to the pharmacist. Despite this I still had to ring the GP as he lost his spleen in a motorbike accident in 2000 and I needed to check whether they wanted him to have a course of antibiotics to stop his chest flaring. But they didn't.

Rosie has been so good. She has been up lying on the bed with him and been really quiet and still. She realises Dad is sick 'cause she would usually be bouncing round like a loon on the bed. Cats couldn't care less.

I really really hope that Luke and I don't get it. I had real flu in early '90's when I was a student nurse and it was awful. I had a temperature over 40 degrees celcius and was delerious for 3 days. All by myself in a student room - I can vaguely remember the GP coming to see me and nothing else. Thank god for the friends that must have looked after me.

So I may disappear for a while. Take care.

2009-09-01T11:48:00.003+01:00

I on the up again. Just out of bed after another bad migraine and busy as a bee trying to spend the whole day doing craftwork!
I really don't know why my head has kicked off again big time. The cats are delighted though to have the electric blanket on full time.

I've finished Mum's Milkweed Shawl and will block it later once cat removes itself from back bed (well, you can't just shift them, can you? imagine the black looks!)

I started knitting a doily last week. Even my Mum laughed out loud at me. Its a Herbert Niebling pattern called Loewenzahn which should be knit with crochet cotton but I'm using cream Sirdar Calico which is a DK weight cotton/ acrylic. Its a lovely fibre to knit with and is so soft. No idea what I'm going to do with it - think I will knit whole doily pattern and add to it to make it bigger for a lap blanket (or cat blanket more likely)

I also came across a gorgeous cross stitch designer called Martina Weber of Chatelaine Designs. I was looking for Persian tile designs to convert to fair isle for my planned handspun vest but got side tracked. She does the most wonderful Garden Mandalas. I've bought the chart to Oriental Harem Garden and spent the morning looking for the threads etc. The design has lots of beads on it so it will really sparkle.
The only problem is that its 27 inches square. Yes, 80 cm square. Why I didn't check the size I'll never know but its so gorgeous it will be worth it. A lifes work I think!

Luke has gone happily bobbing off to first day back at school this morning.
He has been given the hard word about behaving himself and not refusing to work. He sometimes point blank refuses to do things 'as thats not going to help me be an engineer or to earn money'.
I can see his point (which I don't let him know obviously) but he's got to learn not to be so stubborn. As his head teacher says 'if he makes 18 without one of us strangling him he will be a wonderful man'

If he misbehaves, first he will have me going to school with him. Then Grandma if I'm too soft. Then Nana, ex- head teacher for hard line schooling. (well, thats what I've told him. I think he knows deep down that Nana is a lot nicer than that!)
He knows I'm not joking either.

And I still haven't posted Maeva's May birthday present. I keep adding things to it. I may just post it in parts.

2009-08-30T12:22:00.004+01:00

I've had 8 migraines in the past 12 days, some of them incredibly horrendous.
Psychologically I've been fine, just taking it as it comes, spending time with family, spinning, knitting, weaving in small blocks of time I am well enough to.
Until this morning. Luke has gone to see his sponsor donkey. Grandma pays for him to sponsor Choccy who lives at a rescue centre. Luke ADORES this animal and today its his birthday party to which we go every year.
But I've got a cracking headache from yesterdays migraine. Whats worse is that I'm too scared to go as can't face getting another migraine while there. I feel distraught hearing Luke all excited about going somewhere and not being able to share it with him.
And one of my best friends has moved 2 hours away and needs support. And I'm as much use as a chocolate fireguard to her.
I feel a pathetic shell of the person I was.

2009-08-12T14:19:00.007+01:00

Its been lovely having Luke off for the summer holidays. He is such a noisy bundle of fun. I haven't had much time to do any fibre stuff but I'm almost finished the Milkweed shawl, have resucitated a half knitted cardigan I found in the dresser and have spun some of the lovely merino/ silk peony fibre I got from FreckleFace Fibers on etsy. I made it to my spinning guild group on Saturday and it was just so nice to be out chatting in the sun about fibre etc. I love the ladies in our group and it really lifts my spirits to go for days afterwards.

I've actually almost got Maeva's 40th birthday present ready to post. I'm just not sure how I'm going to ship it all. Sparky is determined to go as well!

We took Luke quad biking. Luke doesn't like motorbikes at all but it was Mike's idea. We had a 2.5 hr drive to get there. Luke went 50 yards, fell off and refused to get on again. So that was a bit of a unfortunate event. But we went to the beach (I use the term 'beach' very loosely - Eastbourne is mainly pebbles, not sand) and had fish and chips on the Victorian pier.

We also took Luke to the fossil beach near Lyme Regis. The boys had a great time. I mooched around near the car as I couldn't keep up with them but it was nice to be out. I was almost in tears on the way back as I'd well overdone it and was in such pain and felt like I had bad flu. thank goodness Mike is so kind and understanding.

Luke's vegetables are growing OK, except for his pumpkins which are rotting as its rained so much. We did find this massive slug though. I've never seen anything like it!

This chronic fatigue is kicking my butt. I have about 2 days of feeling about 60% ok and then have about 5 days of being totally exhausted and in extreme muscle and joint pain. These days I can't knit or spin as I hurt too much. That really frustrates me.

And then I have 1 - 3 migraines during the week just to keep me on my toes. Luke went to stay with Grandma's last week so Mike and I could have some quality time together. I had a really, really bad migraine for the whole time he was away. I was not very happy about this!

Not sure what to do about a specialist. the local one is on long term sick leave and I really don't know if its worth chasing to see anyone.. As far as I can tell, no one is particulary interested and there is not much the medics can actually do apart from advise on pacing yourself.
I've started taking Vitamin D as there is some evidence it helps with chronic pain. I did have to laugh when I received the bottle of capsules though - the Vit. D is extracted from wool oil! Even Mike laughed.

I did discuss with Mike the option of me moving out for 6 months to a little flat nearby to give him a break from me and my constant ills but he wasn't having it. I do feel guilty about what its doing to his quality of life.

Saying that, at present there is a really happy little 9 yr old boy sat on the floor in front of me making a massive lego model with the money he received as holiday pay (I am too ill for us to go away so I split what I'd saved for a holiday into thirds and we all got it to spend on whatever we want).

I accidently won a 32" Ashford rigid heddle loom on Ebay so thats was my treat - I put in a low bid and thought I'd never win it but did! (I think it was because it was pick up only). I've only got as far as looking at it. How the hell do I think I'm going to learn to weave when I can't even find enough pain free time to knit and spin?

2009-07-17T13:00:00.003+01:00

take one piece of freshly washed and dried Romney fleece, add one pesky Ragdoll cat and it = ultimate comfort. Bloody animal. I'll have to make him a nice bed for the winter with some now.

I've started knitting the Milkweed shawl and are really enjoying it so far. Its a really well written pattern. The MadTosh sock is lovely to work with too:

I bought some fabulous green sock yarn to make another one. Its from Saffron Dyeworks and is really beautifully coloured:

Generally I've done not much more than sleep this week. The pain is more under control. I managed to get to Luke's sports day which was most important. I also managed to win an auction on ebay for 39 Yu Gi Oh magazines for a tenner! so that will keep him busy over the summer holidays.

2009-07-08T18:10:00.003+01:00

I've finally finished my little cabled handbag made using Pigeonroof Studios Romney. I adore the colours so much. Making the i-cord strap went really easily too:

I haven't done any TdF spinning today yet but may have a crack at my singles again later. I've stroked my lovely lemon batt if that counts?

I've joined a knit-a-long to make this shawl called Milkweed. The KAL is being run on The Backwards Loop Ravelry group. I will be using Madeleine Tosh Sock yarn in the Home colourway which I bought months ago. Its really yummy soft yarn.

2009-07-07T15:53:00.004+01:00

a new batt - its only 1oz but I've used handdyed lemon BFL, white BFL, gold merino, silk and sparkle. Have another 5oz of the mixture to make more batts up with:

I was stroking Sparky this morning. He has a bit of a love relationship with my floofy pink dressing gown so was in a blissful state. This is the face of a jealous hound. She did cheer up somewhat when Grandma turned up and took her out to the Ridgeway for an hour:

I'm really enjoying watching the TdF this year. Exciting speed trials today. They are dropping like flies. I am still sore, still tired but cheerier today. (big hugs Lynette - you are such a good friend, but you could have shot me with the Tirau dump rats when we were 14 and put me out of my misery then. Vache.)

Luke got a swimming badge on Saturday and I've sewn it to his blanket. As he doesn't go to Scouts he hasn't got many chances to earn any more. I've bought him some Star Wars ones off ebay but if anyone has any fabric badges hanging around that they don't want let me know!

2009-07-06T17:28:00.004+01:00

Here's todays and yesterdays efforts for Tour de Fleece. On Saturday I made my first batt (!) and yesterday evening pulled it into roving and tried to learn how to spin low twist singles.

I carried on a bit today but are not making much progress yet. They keep breaking off the bobbin and driving me nuts. Just need more practice I guess.

Really really frustrated with my health. Have been SO exhausted and aching yesterday and today after feeling OK on Saturday.

2009-07-04T14:09:00.004+01:00

I had a crack at sorting out my Romney fleece today ...

look mum, my fleece is better ...

this is before the first soak. it came out really clean except for some of the tips

its currently sandwiched between some net curtain and drying on the trampoline

2009-07-03T15:53:00.005+01:00

I received a very big box from the USA the other day - a Strauch Petite drumcarder!!! Mike sold one of his motorbikes and bought it for me. I was so knackered the day it arrived that I undid the parcel, looked in the box, squealed and went straight back to bed lol! I had a very happy companion assisting me though:

I haven't used it yet. Just admired it and thought about what I want to card on it first. Sparky is running scared though just in case he is first through it! Here's a photo of him running scared:

I've dyed up a big vat of cheviot, merino and merino silk in a chocolate colour to use in the carder. The cheviot was grey, the merino was chestnut and the merino silk was a yucky pinky brown from a previous dyeing experiment. They've all come up ok and are currently drying on the trampoline:

they are not as red as in the photo. more a milk chocolate colour. mixed from purple and orange.

I managed to get to Woolfest last week. I didn't really feel strong enough to go but Mike said on the Friday night that we were going anyway even if I only spent 10 minutes there. He knows how gutted I was that I couldn't go last year due to migraines. He is a keeper.
So we left at 5am on Saturday morning and got there at 10am. Luke loved the scenery through the Lake district. He couldn't believe how big the hills were.
Woolfest was fabulous. Luke loved seeing the animals especially the rabbits. I felt really rough and had to sit down every 5 minutes but managed to buy 2 beautiful turquoise braids of superwash BFL from Fyberspates, some bunny fur and some commercially dyed merino.
I met some of the wonderful girls from Ravelry which really made my day.
We stayed 2 hours and then drove 5 hours home again.

here is the hard evidence that I win as the slowest knitter in the world. This bag is approx. 6 inches wide and it took me most of a day to knit the stockinette part at the top! Luckily I adore the colours so can live knitting them for ages:

Generally I have been exhausted this week and then have had a migraine the past 2 days. Its killing me being so tired as I am desperate to wash and dry my Romney fleece while the weather is so good.
My roses in the garden are looking fabulous. Luke's pumpkins, tomatoes and sunflowers are also growing well. I love summer!

2009-06-24T17:29:00.004+01:00

I've finished the outside of the Cabled Purse from Last Minute Knitted gifts so now have the easy part of knitting the lining in plain stockinette.
I am really happy with how the Pigeon Roof Romney is knitting up, considering I completely overplyed it, being one of my earlier efforts. Its not next to skin soft though which is why this is a great pattern for it.
I love love love the colours. The depth and tones are gorgeous:

One of the ladies on Ravelry keeps Romney sheep and I had ordered a fleece from her. I've just had a message to say that its ready! Rosie is going to be delighted - she is like a glue sniffer when there is fleece around. Can't keep her snout out of the bad!

The doctor still can't decide whether I've got Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) or fibromyalgia. I'm taking between 700 - 800mg tramadol today to deal with my muscular and joint pains. The tramadol seems to really keep me awake during the day which is fabulous.

I overdid it on Monday and had to stay in bed yesterday as I was so weak I could hardly pick up a cup of tea. I feel so pathetic! The muscle in my right forearm where I did some gardening on sunday morning has gone solid. My neighbour was amazed at how hard it is. weird or what?

2009-06-18T15:09:00.003+01:00

I've finally finished spinning the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sheep to Shoe kit that I received for Mother's Day. Its my first 3 ply and is light worsted/ aran weight. I totally overspun it when plying so after washing and drying it I ran it through the wheel again and its much improved. The roving was lovely - slinky superwash merino. Its just waiting for its second wash and set:

I've managed to do some work on the jacket I started last year and only managed to get one repeat of the cable chart done. I love knitting cables.

Healthwise I'm struggling. I stopped taking slow release tramasol for a day to see how my underlying full body muscle/ joint pain was doing ... and I could hardly get out of bed the next morning for the sheer pain. So I've restarted that one.

Then yesterday I was feeling better than I had been, so took the dog out for 15 minutes and went shopping (which is a big deal because I haven't been out for weeks by myself or for longer than 10 minutes). I wandered round the book shop and supermarket for about an hour and this morning was really suffering with BAD pain everywhere and unbelievable fatigue.
So I've spent most of the day in bed. Its like my migraines have moved from my head to the rest of my body. My arms hurt so much I can't even read a book in bed as its too painful to hold the book up.

So I'm not going to push it again for a while. I need to be able to spin and knit with the energy I've got or I'll go insane!

2009-06-05T16:22:00.003+01:00

*spunky club spoiler below*

I’ve just today been to see the GP and she agrees that I’ve either got chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia ….. I think its more likely to be chronic fatigue syndrome as a) I was diagnosed with it about 4 years ago but got over the really bad patch and b) I’ve got rrecurrent sore throat and had a low grade temperature when I was really ill in hospital about 8 weeks ago.

My main problems at the moment are crippling fatigue and bad muscle/ joint aching. I spend about an hour or two out of bed and need to go back for a rest/ sleep for 2 hours.

I was really worried about seeing her about this as you don’t quite know whether Dr’s are going to be supportive or not but she was really really good. Signed me off for 2 months and referred me to a specialist clinic run by a retired GP, who apparently is very nice and interested. And gave me some really good slow release painkillers for my muscle/ joint pains.

Once they kick in I am hoping to get on with spinning again. My arms have just not been up to it this week.

I received this months fibre from Spunky Eclectic. Its Romney wool which I love spinning. I used to have a little pet Romney lamb called Tarzan who I adored. He was very naughty but good fun.

... and this gorgeousness from FreckleFaceFibers may also be living with me after 'accidently' hitching a ride on Mike's credit card. Its merino/ silk and just gorgeously coloured:

2009-05-23T11:44:00.004+01:00

finally I am starting to feel better and have actually got some spinning done! But before I show you, I must tell you about 2 wonderful presents I received from internet aquaintances:

firstly from Natalie at The Yarn Yard, some gorgeous Falkland wool dyed in this months club colours. I was so happy to get it as its just gorgeous and I really appreciate her kindness:

And secondly, I swapped some Spunky Eclectic club fibre with Leanne (willwork4wool on Rav) and when it arrived it had this beautiful merino/ cashmere batt with it. Again, it really made my day and I really appreciate her kindness too:

I've finished spinning some fibre I bought from Shunklies ages ago - its lovely 19 micron merino, not washed yet so still a bit curly. Its about sport weight so socks may be in its future or a stole.

I've also wound off about 1oz of singles I made out of a 6oz bump of merino I got from Lakehouse Loft Fibres and are going to wash them and see what happens!

My lovely yellow socks have made no progress due to all the spinning activities occuring.

I went for my cardiology appt. in Bristol on Thursday and the heart patch is looking REALLY good - I've gone from having about 300 bubbles crossing my atrial septum to about 8!!! He kept me there for half the day having all sorts of tests because he thought I looked so rough but couldn't put his finger on what was making me so ill either. But whatever it is, its on its way out finally. Onwards and upwards ...

2009-05-09T17:51:00.004+01:00

I was knitting a sock with Kangaroo Dyer yarn (lovely colours/ gorgeous to knit with, love it lots) but it was too varigated to show the cable pattern. So I cast on again with some naturally dyed BFL sock yarn from Oxford Kitchen Yarns and I'm really pleased with how they are turning out. I just hope the yarn is really hard wearing as I adore these socks!

I had an interesting reminder about internet social dynamics the other day. I had placed a message in a forum of a popular dyer asking whether anyone would like to sell me some of her fibre to try - I like all the colours I've seen her dye so far and was keen to handle some just to appreciate intensity of colour, how the colour repeats worked etc. I like trying out different dyers as everyone does it differently.
It has been bought to my attention that apparently the 'regular members' of the forum had passed comment that because I did not specify a particular colour I wanted (which I could have done but thought would narrow down my options too much and just appear greedy), I was just a groupie who would want the fibre just for status purposes and not to actually use and appreciate!

The day I need a particular fibre brand to boost my social status and self esteem is the day I put a bullet through my temple.

Feeling a bit sad because I've been too unwell to get out and get a 40th birthday present for one of my oldest friends Maeva, who lives in Tahiti. We've known each other since I stayed with her family as an exchange student when I was 15. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met and I love her loads. So Happy Birthday old trout and your present will be in the post as soon as I can get out of the house properly.

I'm still not up to spinning but my enthusiasm is returning. I've had a few better days but blood pressure low today and not feeling so well again. I have 2 more weeks off work and then will have to face the music with them about my sickness absence.

2009-05-03T12:09:00.004+01:00

I'm slowly recovering. Getting on with knitting the leg of my second sock so almost done the pair. Being very well looked after by the chocolate contingent who are keeping very close:

trying to convince Mike to sell up and buy a house by the beach in New Zealand so I can be ill under a pohutukawa tree in the sun. He's not buying it so far.

2009-05-01T20:42:00.003+01:00

finally home after 13 long days in hospital. Still feeling absolutely dreadful but at least back in own bed. Been smothered with animals sleeping with me today. So nice to just sleep and sleep and sleep as its exhausting being in hospital - never got a minutes peace. So just waiting to see whether things improve over the next few weeks.

2009-04-25T10:53:00.002+01:00

I have been in hospital with cardiac problems for past 8 days, and will be here for forseeable future so will not be able to answer emails/ messages etc

2009-04-13T21:04:00.003+01:00

I swear I'm as blind as a welder's dog sometimes. I was knitting away happily on the toe of my second sock and it crossed my mind quite a number of times (ie more than 5) that there was something not quite right with the whole thing. First I blamed my handspun, thinking I had plyed it so unevenly it was making the toe go skew wiff. then I blamed the thick and thin nature of my hand spun yarn. then I blamed the shape of my toes (WTF?) ... and only once I'd done about 2 inches did I realise that I'd been doing the increases wrongly. Doh! I should have been increasing at the beginning and end of each needle but had just been doing it at the beginning so the sock was twisting as it was knit. what a clown! so I frogged in a state of Zen like calm and have today reknitted past where I was, which is always an important psychological place to get over.

How the hell did I think my toes were that malformed?

I've been busy thinking about what I'm going to knit next (ie what socks/ what yarn). Think I'm going to use Oxford Yarns lovely yellow I bought recently. I really like this pattern called Feuillettes by PatternFish but probably wouldn't make the bumps go all the way down the foot in case they rubbed in my shoe.

Bit worried about how all this knitting is cutting into my spinning time though lol. I'm far to busy to have to work, especially now I'm getting better.

Sparky caught in in-action on Luke's bakugan game arena. He loves having a little tootle around with Luke's lego too once Luke has gone to bed. Still stropping because I didn't get the ragdoll kitten I wanted for my birthday tho.

2009-04-12T13:20:00.005+01:00

I've finished one sock and just done the toe on sock 2. they are fitting really well so pleased with the mix of patterns I've used.

I've bought some lovely sock yarn recently - some JulieSpins in 'Toffee' from a fellow Raveller (thanks Amber!). Its a beautiful colour and just glows:

and some Laughing Yaffle in 'Kayli'. Great service from Laughing Yaffle and I can't wait to knit this up:

I also, despite my big destash, bought some more spinning fibre from Sarah at Babylonglegs. Its a 150g set of merino and merino/silk and I adore the colours. I had a bad migraine last week and it spent 3 days in bed with me cheering me up:

Luke is having a lovely easter. Notice the nose in the lower right hand corner! Mike is out putting the trampoline up for the summer so we can bounce off some of the easter eggs

Had my tooth removed on Tuesday finally. I had to take a photo of it because its just HUGE. apparently the tip was almost in my sinus it was so long. no wonder I've been having problems with the damm thing. Don't scroll down if you aren't fascinated by disgusting things - the ruler is inches not cm's
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2009-03-30T17:24:00.005+01:00

My sock is ticking along really nicely. Up to the gusset of sock 1. I'm liking the Charade stitch pattern more and more.

I've worn a hole in the bottom of the other handspun socks I've made so need to darn them. I have worn them almost constantly over the past few months round the house so I'm not too surprised. I'm going to try 3 ply sock yarn next.

I've had a bit of a brutal fibre sale and sold about half of my stash. I don't like having things sitting around that I haven't a use planned for.
I've only bought one thing so far to replace it, this lovely merino roving from Hedgehog Fibres on Etsy. I'm going to ply it with the Bitter Orange roving I got from Pigeonroof a while back so I will get my lovely brown sock yarn!

2009-03-26T19:12:00.008Z

I've managed to get some more of my sock done. Not sure if I like the herringbone pattern but hey ho.

I seem to have a thing for sock yarn at the moment. Sick of cold feet I think. I just bought some yarn from Oxford Kitchen Yarns in gold. I've been looking for a nice almost solid yellow for ages now and hopefully this is it:

I was trying to get some Wollmeise in todays update as a little birthday present for myself but the shop crashed midway, after hours of refreshing to see whether there was actually going to be an update. I really really don't have the time or inclination to be chasing after yarn so won't try again. I strongly feel buying yarn should be a positive experience and this sure wasn't.

I've also decided that I have enough roving to sink a ship at present so are going to curb the impulse roving purchases for a while. Paying £12 a week for Luke's drum lessons helps a lot with my resolve not to buy anything for a while.

The only thing I really think I 'need' (ie don't need in the least) is some lovely dark chocolate semi-solid sock yarn. I really like this new Dream in Color colourway called Tea Party.

I also need to sort out the socks I have on the needles. I have a pair (one almost finished) but can't face finishing them as just don't like the colourway. Too pastel and meehhhh. So I'm thinking of reskeining it and dyeing it. Perhaps chocolate brown?

saying that, the yarn is from the P lucky K nitter so maybe I could swap it for some gold? and it doesn't look too bad now I've dug up the photo. I think I need to find the sock and reevaluate. Its actually got a simple eyelet lace pattern going up the leg which I made up.

I've also got a pair of sock (halfway done one) in a gorgeous shamrock green which I'm doing in a lovely flower like pattern. But its so slow to do that I may die of old age before I wear them. So again, I think I'm going to frog them and knit them up in something plainer. The photo does not do the yarn colour justice. It is so intense and gorgeous. It is Sweet Sock by Sweet Sheep:

Had both Luke and his cousin off school sick today (not very sick tho'). Rosie was very busy helping Sammy play on the Xbox. Then dog got a bath as she went for a long walk with Grandma and came home stinking of who knows what, so she is all soft and shiny again.

2009-03-25T19:17:00.002Z

I've started my socks. Will get a photo tomorrow. they are knitting up nicely. I'm also spinning up the blue/ khaki merino I got last week for socks. I've never spun such bouncy merino. I'm not sure whether bouncy fibre needs to be plyed more or less tightly?

Need to have it done in next few days as finally joined Spunky Eclectic Fibre Club (woohoo!) and want to be able to start on it the second it lands through the door. Joining is my treat to myself for finally making it back to work - all the time I was sick I said if I made it back for 8 weeks I'd sign up.

the tooth abscess fairy has struck yet again. 5th time I've had antibiotics for this one tooth. But hopefully it will finally be fixed beginning of April, as long as the dentist can get near it without me hitting the roof. I swear to G+d that I'm going to get her to pull it if she can't fix it. Grrr!
I'm just thankful that my migraines continue to get less severe as the weeks go by. Its so nice to be able to make plans and keep to them most of the time!

One more week til the big 40. I never thought turning 40 would worry me but I feel a bit miffed by it all really. I think its cause I've lost the last 2 years of my life due to illness and want that time credited back to my account! Funnily enough, I'd always hoped to get on top of my migraines by time I was 40 - wish I'd found a less dramatic route, like just taking a tablet or something!

I've been dropping hints about a Strauch Petite drum carder to Mike but don't think the message is getting through. We've just had to buy a new washing machine so its not going to come to the top of my list for a couple of months at least. Why is it so annoying having to pay out for things like that? Sure couldn't do without one for very long.

2009-03-22T18:40:00.003Z

here's the Spindlefrog roving (bamboo/soysilk/merino) that I spun and plyed with jade merino/ silk. The little skein is leftovers of the first one navajo plyed:

Had a lovely Mother's Day surprise this morning (Mike is good with explicit hints!). Its over 8oz of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sheep 2 Shoe superwash merino in 'Thistle' colourway. They didn't have it listed on their site and were very helpful when I emailed them to ask them about it. Its going to make some crazy bright socks:

I'm still knitting away on my little handbag. Its only 57 rounds but is taking me ages. I hate being so slow at knitting. I've been spinning some merino I got from LakeHouse Loft on etsy. I adore the colours and the fibre is very sproingy. Her customer service is great. Its quite unusual in texture compared to other merino I've used so far and is spinning up nicely:

I've going to go on a big sock knitting splurge. I desperately want lots of homemade socks as they are so warm. I've bought some Madeleine Tosh sock yarn and are going to spin, spin, spin for socks.

I'm going to try the Widdershins sock pattern from Knitty next. I like making toe up socks (great for big feet and using up all the yarn) but want to try a different heel than usual short row heel.

Hopefully I'll have finished a pair by next winter

2009-03-15T11:55:00.005Z

I've just discovered that one of my cousins in NZ reads my blog so todays photo is of her as a toddler. Lol!

and heres another one of us - I am the miserable looking one on the left. But look at Brenda's hair (far right)!!! Lol!

and she wanted to see a photo of us now. Here's one of me (looking a bit rough cause I'd only just crawled out of bed) and Sparky:

Went to Spinning Guild yesterday and had a lovely time. Spun up loads of a jade merino/ silk blend I got from Winghams to ply with the turquoise merino/ bamboo/ soysilk I have already spun. Its about the third thing I bought to ply with it but the others weren't quite the right colour.
We had a really good lesson about carding. And now I really want a drum carder - I'm thinking about a Strauch Petite. I really don't need one at all but boy, do I want one!
The meetings are held on a local farm that is open to the public. So I went for a wander to see all the baby lambs, piglets etc. It was great.

I also discovered that there is a knitting group that meets in one of the local pubs on a Monday night so I'm going to try and get to it soon.

2009-03-05T17:01:00.005Z

I've received some really lovely batts from Hobbledehoy as part of the batt club Mike bought me for Xmas. I adore them.

I'm currently knitting a cabled purse from Last Minute Knitted Gifts with some Pigeonroofknits handspun romney - its a beautiful colour and I'm loving how the colours are changing as I knit. I badly overplyed it so its perfect for this item!

I've been wasting time today (like all day today) as have discovered stumbleupon. Its fabulous. I've discovered so many new websites with wonderful stuff on them.

One of the ones I found was The Sheep Market. How cool is that? Luke had a great time watching all the sheep appear!

I love this site Bananca, especially the guinea pig queen!

2009-02-25T20:35:00.002Z

I'm in shock. I went to the dentist to get my troublesome molar fixed, knowing it needs a root canal. The dentist couldn't complete it today as, despite using the maximum dose of anaesthetic, couldn't get near the roots without sending me into orbit. The roots are just so inflamed and tender. So she put a dressing and temporary filling in and I made another appt for 6 weeks time. I also paid half of the bill . . . which came to £180. I almost passed out when she said that. Wish I'd asked how much it would be just to pull the damm thing out. Thank god for credit cards and jobs.

2009-02-24T16:31:00.002Z

I've started spinning up this lovely merino from Shunklies on Etsy. I've had it for ages but I think the thought of doing the whole 8oz very finely was putting me off starting. Its like candy floss and lovely to spin.

I'm taking Luke to see Horrible History's WWI and WWII live on stage tonight. He is really looking forward to it. He is doing WWII at school. He is very impressed that Grandma's house was bombed when she was a baby in London and that he was able to take a photo of bombed house to school.

2009-02-18T18:42:00.003Z

Is is cruel to be trying to work out the micron count of Sparky's fur? I've been doing some blind testing. Molly, our other cat, is more of a Romney but she was a wild cat so I'll let her off. Mr Sparkles, however, is a Ragdoll and moults like a moulty thing. I reckon he is on a par with baby alpaca. Definately softer/ finer than 19 micron merino but not quite angora I don't think.

I've been spinning some 'art yarn'. Dark green thick and thin plyed with bright green twists and bobble overspun bits. Quite impressed with it but really don't think I could do a whole 8 oz like this. would like me sometime into the next millenium.
Photos to follow when washed and whacked.

Thank goodness for Vitamin penicillin. Feeling so much better today. People must have really really suffered unbearably in the days before antibiotics were discovered. Makes me shudder to think. I have an old medical textbook from 1912 and its a real eye opener, especially some of the early cancer treatments.

2009-02-17T18:00:00.002Z

this is a cowl I've made out of the handspun baby alpaca I got from etsy. Its really soft and yummy. I may put a ribbon through the eyelets at each end.

Just been back to Doctor, who said 'oh, god ...' when she saw me. So I didn't have to explain that I wasn't feeling too hot.

She's given me some more antibiotics for my tooth abscess and I have to go back tomorrow to have ECG and blood test to rule out endocarditis. Just what I don't need at the moment. And my ferritin is low again so back on the lovely iron tablets again. So I'm going to have another sick day from work. At least its not with a migraine this time ...

2009-02-16T20:40:00.002Z

I'm lying in bed eating Pineapple Lumps, thanks to a timely emergency parcel received with thanks from Lynette. Mike generously gave me his virus for a Valentine's Day present so, on top of my infected tooth, I'm not feeling too great and have spent the day in bed.
And I'm pissed off because I managed to lose 6kg of my anti convulsant weight over the past 5 weeks by eating very carefully with no sweets or chocolate- and managed to put on 1.5kg over the last week, despite being ill and eating less. Hence scoffing Pineapple Lumps to cheer myself up ;0).
Luke is all snuffly so think he's going down with it too. We were going to take him to London tomorrow for a half term holiday treat but he is not feeling up to it.

I decided to get the gold merino/ silk to ply with my turquoise fibre so just waiting for that to arrive. Not been up to spinning today to still haven't finished the turquoise. Its taking ages. Not sure whether its the mix or cause its so finely spun. Mixture of both I think.

I managed to snag some Pigeonroof Studios roving from someone having a destash of Ravelry so can't wait to spin this baby. Its superwash BFL:

2009-02-12T17:49:00.003Z

I am being very indecisive about what to spin next. I have half a bobbin of lovely Tahiti coloured Merino, Soy & Bamboo Roving already spun and could spin the other 50g of that.

I can't decide whether to spin the rest on another bobbin and ply it with itself or get something else to ply with it.
P&M sell some lovely gold merino/ silk so I'm thinking I may get some of that to ply with it .....

so will probably spin something else in the meantime. Like this merino from All Spun Up

I'm going to try to get 400m out of 4oz so I can make socks out of this too. Saying that, I actually like thick socks so maybe I should spin it thicker and ply with something else. Now I'm never going to get this one spun either while I ruminate.

I've made a test skein with my chocolate alpaca half two ply and half navajo plyed so need to wash and inspect it before I do any more. Really don't know whether I have it in me to hand card a whole bin bag of alpaca though.
We learning how to wash fleece at Spinning Guild on Saturday so that should be fun.

2009-02-09T20:47:00.004Z

I finally got my latest yarn plyed tonight. Really pleased with the yardage (about 540 yds/ 8oz) but think plying it with ecru BFL has toned the lovely intense colours down a bit too much. Still, it going to make me lovely socks:

went to GP this morning - she can't find any reason why I keep passing out so think my heart has just logged off for a moment or two. So I went to work and did OK.
The weather has turned really cold tonight so central heating is all fired up.

2009-02-08T19:56:00.003Z

I managed to scare the life out of Mike yesterday morning by turning blue and passing out for a good minute. I'd already told him I wasn't feeling too great so he'll sure take notice next time I say that lol.
I spent the rest of the day in bed in case I fell over again but have been fine today.
Think it was another vasovagal attack. Really can't be bothered going to the Dr unless it happens more often as I'm sure they won't be very interested.

Worst thing about it is that I haven't finished plying the Plum Possum with ecru BFL. It seems to be taking forever but at least it gives me time to decide what to spin next. I'm using

Luke had another day off school Friday and had a wonderful time round at grandma's with his cousins making an ice fort. The poor dog was exhausted when she came home.
Luke then spent the weekend sleeping over at his cousins house. His best friend lives almost next door to them and he had the most fantastic weekend. It so lovely to see his little 9 yr old face so happy and full of enjoyment. He is the best days work I've ever done.
Its snowing a bit now but is supposed to really snow again tomorrow night.

2009-02-05T20:02:00.003Z

I'm knitting up some handspun baby alpaca at the moment into a cowl. I bought it last May off Etsy (where else?) and it took a whole EIGHT months to arrive, despite being posted the day I bought it. Its lovely and soft:

Its a bit duller in colour in real life but still gorgeous. I started doing a lacy patterned cowl but made a mistake about 2 inches in so frogged it and have just done plain stocking stitch with a garter stitch/ eyelets/ garter stitch border. Its soothing mindless knitting which helps me avoid finish plying Plum Possum with some ecru BFL. For some reason the bobbin is slipping and I can't be bothered trying to find out why at the moment so it awaits me.

I've just ordered some of this beauty from Frecklefacefibers. It merino and looked very icy/ wintery:

We had lots of snow (for us anyway) overnight so Luke got his wish and school was closed today. We didn't find out until 8am when we were already up and dressed ready to take Rosie out path making to get him to school! He is desperately hoping school will be closed tomorrow too so is booked into Grandma 's just in case. The country has almost run out of salt and grit for the roads so it should be interesting getting to work tomorrow.

Luke had a fabulous time making snow forts in the garden and Rosie ate her own body weight in snow (at last, a low calorie labrador food!). We had lots of birds at the bird feeders, including a robin who was at maximum puff to keep himself warm. They are hard little ratbags. He was chasing off everything else until he'd finished his breakfast. We saw blackbirds (pair who live in next doors hedge), starlings, sparrows, chaffinches, one big fat pigeon and another type whose name escapes me.

2009-02-04T16:03:00.002Z

I actually made it back to work today. I was SO nervous! Two colleagues couldn't make it to work because of the snow we've been having so instead of reading protocols etc like I thought I would be doing, I was right in cannulating, giving chemotherapy, venesecting etc. It felt really good but I am so exhausted and I was only there for 3 hours.
It was really nice to see everyone and patients I've known for years. So not so worried anymore.

Its supposed to snow really badly again tonight so Luke had all his fingers crossed that school will be closed tomorrow.

I've managed to get two weeks annual leave over the summer (the first two weeks of Luke's school holidays) so if the weather is good (please g*d) we can go camping or something.

2009-02-02T17:30:00.006Z

I've been feeling really low this week which is not like me, worrying about going back to work I think - and then this was delivered which really cheered me up from one of my bestest friends who lives in Tahiti (merci beaucoup Maeva!).

Its been really snowing here today. Mike spent 8 hrs trying to get to Gatwick Airport and had to come home. He is going to try to get to Ireland tomorrow for work. I was supposed to start work with a study day tomorrow but thats been cancelled as so many people can't make it so I'm starting Wednesday morning instead.

Luke, Rosie and Sparky have all been out enjoying the snow.

I spent the day spinning. I've started the lovely Plum Possum from FatCatKnits. I needed something which was a beautiful colour and I could just enjoy spinning. Its lovely. and still matches the cat.

I'm also pissed off because I really want to do some further studies, either in Literature or Anthropology. I'd love to do this course here but because its distance learning I can't get a Government loan to pay for it. I can't guarantee I'll ever be well enough to commit to a 3 yr course I have to drive to because of my fecking migraines ... saying that, I've only got another few modules to do to complete a degree from the Open University so I'll have to look into that again.

I just feel so demotivated at the moment. Everything is such an uphill struggle and its just going to be so humiliating if I get back to work and then have to go off sick again.

But I'm fed up with wallowing now so I'm gonna pop on over to Kiva and see if I can plan to give some loans once I get paid at end of February

2009-01-25T12:01:00.003Z

I've finally got some decent photos of some superwash BFL (8oz) I got from Wildcraft ages ago. Its Nplyed. I haven't worked out yardage yet but don't think its enough for socks :0(
I love the colours:

I discovered that Wonderwool in on in Wales on the last weekend in April. Mandy is going to come with me so really looking forward to a fibery day out.

The work meeting went well. I'm going back the first week in Feb. Only 3 hrs per day Mon/ Wed/ Fri for 2 weeks, then increasing to 4 hrs for 2 weeks, then 5 hours for 2 weeks, then up to 6 hrs. I went up to see my work colleagues and they were really welcoming and keen for me to come back. I saw some patients I know well and they were very kind and pleased to see me too. But I am a bit terrified about it all really.

2009-01-23T13:14:00.003Z

we've got the house back to ourselves after Mum's month long visit. She seemed to enjoy herself despite not being able to get out too much.
I've been a lot better migraine wise over the past 3 weeks which is just so fabulous. They have reduced to 2 - 3 per week (rather than 6 - 7) and are generally a lot less severe.

I've got a meeting at work this afternoon to discuss what happens next. I'm hoping I'll be able to return slowly in February. It will be great to get back to doing what I do best. I love being a Chemotherapy Nurse.

Trouble is, I'm bound to get every virus going as I've been in virtual isolation for past 6 months.

I've been doing a lot of spinning and have learnt to Navajo ply. Its very addictive.

this is Romney from PigeonRoof Studios on etsy. It was lovely to spin:

this is from Spindlefrog on Etsy:

and this is some lovely roving I got from FatCatKnits on etsy (one of three in my queue - her colourways are just lush). Its called Plum Possum and I know where the possum colour comes from!:

I got some hand cards which I'm slowly learning to use to make alpaca rolags and are spinning it up a bit at a time. I'm a bit worried as it looks very hairy:

2009-01-08T22:02:00.004Z

Long time No blog. Actually been busy rather than stuck in bed with migraines. The migraines I am still having are definately less severe and seem to be getting less frequent so I am really hopeful the operation helped. Saw the cardiologist today and he does not think I need surgery on my dodgy mitral valve either. My ECG looks really weird tho. Its just not right but I'll leave the Dr's to worry about that.

I've managed to get quite a bit of spinning done (photos to follow) and also have kept up the stash enhancement. Mum makes snipy comments each time I receive a package - as if its anything to do with her what the hell I spend my money on, especially as she's getting free bed and board for a whole month (I usually limit myself to 2-3 new fibres per month but happened to receive all three of Decembers on consecutive days. Why the hell I feel I have to explain this I don't know?).

So drumroll please for these beauties:

From Teresa Levite Studio (superwash merino):

From FatCatKnits (both Falkland):

We went for a day out to Stratford upon Avon which was really interesting. I've joined an online Shakespeare reading group - the first book we are going to read together is Hamlet. which is also the one I spent painful hours reading in English class. I can only remember 'take thee to a nunnery' and lots of tittering about country matters. I've bought the Royal Shakespeare Company's book called Complete Works of Shakespeare so are waiting anxiously for it to arrive.

And I've bought a pair of hand carders from Wingham Wool Work so I can start carding the huge bin bag of chocolate alpaca in our shoe cupboard. Unfortunately the handle on one was broken when I got them today so I'm sending them back for replacement. They were lovely on the phone when I rang them about it.

2008-12-24T17:04:00.002Z

i ve got a cracking migraine and have just necked half a bottle of cooking sherry. want to kill my mother already and shes only been here for 2 days. I knew there was a reason I'd moved 12,000 miles - unfortunately its now standing in my kitchen. (and you can still stop laughing Lynette)

2008-12-20T19:48:00.004Z

I've only had one bad migraine since Tuesday so have managed to get some yarn washed and dried and start to think about what I'm going to do with it.

This one is going to be a present for Mum at Xmas:

And I've wound the first Late Bloom (Ewe give me the Knits) into a ball and are going to make this cowl from it. It appeared on Ravelry just the same minute I was looking at the patterns page. I cast on for it last night but had wrong circular needle so will try to cast on again for it tonight.

Luke had a fabulous birthday last Friday. I always keep him off school on his birthday so we can have a special day together. Luckily Mike was not working either so we took him to the cinema to see Inkheart (which was great) and went out for lunch.

He LOVES his new drum set and X-box (he wondered why we'd sold his Wii a few weeks before).

Mum arrives from NZ on Monday ... for a month!!! I don't know if we'll survive it but can only hope (stop laughing Lynette or I'll send her round yours when she gets home)

and the best news! Mike has bought me a Feijoa tree!! I adore feijoas and it really kills me not being able to scoff bin bags full. It going to be repotted and sent to MIL's greenhouse for the winter. MMM!

I'm pondering whether to get a weaving loom to use some of my handspun as I'm such a slow knitter. I might get this one here just to have a play and try to get it out of my system lol!

2008-12-16T16:18:00.005Z

I've mostly slept for the past week. Not out of bed until 3pm, up with Luke until about 6pm and then back to bed for the night.
Its taken me until today to realise that I'm having daily migraines (which ususally cause bad, bad fatigue) WITHOUT THE PAIN! how weird and wonderful is that? I woke up today feeling knackered and took a triptan (I'm allowed 6 a month to abort migraines) and the tiredness abated. So its fabulous that the severe headaches are having a break but just need to get rid of the fatigue now. Its a really nice severe drowsiness tho' - I just doze and lay in bed listening to the telly. I'll be getting bedsores if I aren't careful.

Taking advantage of my increased alertness today I managed to get some spinning done. I'm spinning this from Spindlefrog as finely as I can on the middle ratio on my Rose. I'm loving the colours.
I also got round to setting the ply in 4 skeins I spun earlier in the month/ year as have just been too tired to think about it.

I managed to stay awake long enough to snag this beauty from Pigeonroof Studios tho. Been waiting a LONG time for a roving to be available. Its Romney wool - I had two pet romney lambs when I was in school so this made me smile.

and Mike and I almost died laughing when we saw this lovely item last night. Our current catchphrase is 'it must be true, its all round ASDA's', since one of the neighbours said this on camera when the poor child was finally found ...

2008-12-09T16:26:00.004Z

I'm not a superstitious person but are not sure I should share this news, the best news (DON'T tell the migraine fairy)...................... I haven't had a migraine for 6 days!! fingers crossed the operation helped and its not just a blip.

I've been spinning like a demon while I can. I've spun 12 oz in the last 3 days for Xmas presents so no photos until after Xmas.

I finished some yarn for me which I LOVE.
Its 4 oz Late Bloom merino from Ewe Give me the Knits plyed with 4 oz pink/ orangey Merino/ Silk blend from World of Wool. Its only 188yds pre-wash which is a bit disappointing but I have another identical lot of both fibres to spin more.

We've put the Xmas tree up much to Lukes excitement. Sparky has taken up residence under it.

2008-12-03T21:40:00.004Z

I have managed to spin a whole 40z of a lovely merino/ silk mix of blended pinks/ yellows I bought from World of Wool. It was really nice to spin - lovely and slippy!
I'm going to ply it with the 4oz of Late Bloom Merino I also finished this week (photos to follow). This one took me a month to spin.

I've had a good sort through my stash tonight as I want to spin some Xmas present yarn and I needed to choose what roving to spin and what to ply them with. So I had to make another purchase from World of Wool for plying complementary merino.

I've finished one of the fingerless gloves for my niece. She is pleased with it but I need to get up the enthusiasm to make the other one. or chop one of her hands off. whatever comes easiest.

I actually haven't got a headache today. It feels really strange after the 4 day wonder I've just had. God it was bad. I couldn't put my head on the pillow the pain was so bad.
But heres a photo of what keeps me going ...

Luke's been mentioning learning to play the drums over the past few months. So we took him to a music shop last week and he lit up when the man played the drums for him. So we arranged for him to have a lesson on Saturday (which I missed because I was in 'bucks yapping to a friend and lost track of time) and he loved it. So guess who is getting drums for his birthday on the 12th. Luckily a friend had a full adult set in the loft that her son no longer uses. Can't wait to see his face when he comes down and spots them. And they have got silencer pads on them too in case of migraine!

2008-11-27T18:16:00.002Z

I actually made it out of the house to do some shopping today with Mike as escort. We somehow managed to obtain a shedload of tinsel so this house is going to glow this Xmas.

2008-11-25T18:52:00.004Z

was feeling better when I got up this morning and managed to have a stroke of some of my fibre stash ..... and then got the most exquisitely painful migraine so are drugged up to the eyeballs

It s Rosie dogs 4th birthday today so she has been spoilt - spent most of the day sleeping on the bed beside me. Luke has made some fairy cakes to celebrate.

2008-11-24T19:04:00.001Z

feeling better today apart from a migraine. Onwards and upwards ...

2008-11-23T17:22:00.002Z

still feeling very wobbly and SO tired. I just sleep and sleep. I received some lovely flowers from my friend Sonja - they are really beautiful

2008-11-21T19:33:00.003Z

collapsed and knocked myself unconscious on Tuesday night, then couldn't get up without losing consciousness again. Had 4 paramedics turn up (!) and ride to A&E in ambulance. Really embarassing!

My blood pressure bottomed out and they've spent the last few days trying to get it higher which has been fun. I now know that you feel like you want to die when your BP is 50/30 or lower. and that it makes Dr's move really fast. Have massive lump on back of head where I hit floor.
I had a reaction to the contrast medium they gave me when they were checking to see whether I'd developed a clot in my lungs and are covered in an attractive hot red itchy rash as well now.

Luke was up to visit me every night. He put on an apron and gloves whether he needed to or not and thought he was the new best thing to hit medicine.
SO nice to be back in own bed again. Got hit by an avalanche of labrador when I got in which was almost enough to get me admitted again. going to take it realllly slowly next few days ...

2008-11-18T16:04:00.005Z

I got this gorgeous fiber thru the post this morning. Its from Spindlefrog again. Its a merino, bamboo and soy mix and is beautifully soft. I adore the colours - reminds me of Tahiti.

I'm now on a fibre buying ban. I've bought 4 lots in the last week just in case I needed it to line my coffin. But I'm now going to have to spin it before I buy any more lol. I was trying to get a selection of stuff I hadn't spun yet.

this is from Enchanted Hues Its Corriedale and the colours are stunning:

This one is from a lovely lady in France Lloer and is Merino:

and finally this one is from FreckleFaceFibers and is Merino again. I've been looking for some of her roving for a while and this one spoke to me:

Feeling tired today. Had a migraine but only a small one which is bearable. The photo below is what I've had put in my heart. The cardiologist called it 'The St. Jude device' which amused me greatly as St Jude is the patron saint of lost causes. I told him he was a cheeky bustid! St Jude is the company that make them and he hadn't realised the 'lost causes' link before I told him.

2008-11-17T10:10:00.002Z

I'm home again. The operation went OK apparently. The cardiologist said the hole was big and well worth doing. I'm feeling very sore though and spaced out.
Luke was disgusted that I wasn't up and running round as soon as I got home. He thought I'd be fixed straight away bless him so Mike had to explain it would take a few months to recover.
Going back to bed now ...

Thank You!

2008-11-13T14:46:00.003Z

Some kind person has anonymously sent me a copy of Vogue Knitting Holiday 2008. I was very confused when I received it as I've not long ordered some other magazines and thought they'd sent me completely the wrong thing. and from completely the wrong place. and addressed to 'Rosie and Sparky's house. It did fox me for a few minutes and make me laugh!

so thank you very much to the kind person who sent it to me. It was very much appreciated!

Mike took me out to get a curtain pole for the bedroom. Of course, we ended up going to 3 different places before we found what we wanted. Its a very nice distressed cream pole.

My MIL is coming to get Rosie tonight for a little holiday until after my operation. She will be delighted to stay at Grandma's until she realises she is there for more than one night. The house is always very quiet without the chocolate tank clattering around (or the 'pig in a wig' as she is otherwise known).

2008-11-11T18:45:00.002Z

Cardiac surgery has been postponed 24 hours until this Saturday. Can't wait to get it over and done with now so that extra day seems like an eternity to wait. Really really bored at the moment. Too bored to do anything at all. Just counting down the hours til operation.

My BIL has almost finished decorating our bedroom for us. He has painted it pale cream/putty colour and is going to wallpaper the back wall on Friday. The wallpaper is a lovely fresh green with a cream flowered pattern. I have matching pale green curtains and have just been out to get a cream metal light fitting - its like a chandelier shape with hanging crystals.
So if I'm really stuck in bed post-op at least it will be in a nicer room. Mike has had Sky TV piped upstairs in case I need it too. But considering I'm expecting my migraines to really kick off post - op I probably won't need that.

Lest We Forget .....

2008-11-09T10:24:00.002Z

This is my paternal Grandfather, Thomas Simon Mitchell, who was in the Seaforth Highlanders for the duration of WW1. He served in France and Mesopotamia.
He was injured twice - once by a lump of shrapnel while fooling round in a bomb crater with mates and then shot in appendix by German bullet. He died in 1942 from the effects of gassing received in WW1 - he was in the Home Guard despite this in WW2

2008-11-06T20:19:00.003Z

I'm making Luke a Lord Nibbler from Futurama as a surprise present (yes, I know I have still to make the arms for Bender the Robot but crochet is just SO SLOW!). So I'm knitting this one so its going a lot faster!

I received a lovely parcel full of Pukeko stuff from a good friend in NZ today (thanks Lynette!). And discovered there is such a thing as pineapple lump bars. my favourite sweet made bigger. did I say my FAVOURITE sweet (hint hint!).

Luke is going to stay at Grandma's this weekend (the lucky winner of this particular mini-break does not know the good news yet!) so its going to be lovely and quiet. The hound will go with him as they come as a joint package.

Almost finished one of Sam's gloves. Just got to ribbing round top end. But I mucked up and need to pick up stitches and feeling too stupid to do it properly.

Feeling really rough last few days - really, really, really nauseous. think its the new anti-convulsant, Lamictal, damm it. So I'll stop it yet again and re-start it in a couple of days.
I've press ganged my brother-in-law into decorating our bedroom just in case I end up stuck in it for weeks after the heart operation. Almond white walls and pale green wallpaper on one wall. I went into town today (trying not to throw up - worse than morning sickness this nausea) and got some really nice pale green damask curtains.

2008-11-03T17:47:00.005Z

I've made some progress with the fingerless mitts I'm making. They were supposed to have a cable pattern on them but you couldn't really see it with this yarn so I frogged and reknit them plain.

Sparky has a new bed for the winter. He is supposed to sleep in the kitchen as he always wants to go out at 4am and I'm not keen on been woken up at this time. So I found a sheepskin Luke had been given as a baby and never used due to his extreme pukiness. Sparky is VERY happy with his new bed.

Have had a really bad migraine again since Saturday but just surfacing again today. Luke is on half term holiday and its so frustrating to be in bed when I could be doing things with him. Luckily Mike is working from home today and tomorrow so was around for him.

2008-10-30T19:31:00.007Z

I've finished my hand spun socks. They are lovely, thick and warm. They fit really well into my Crocs (which have closed toes to keep the English rain out):

I'm going to make my niece some fingerless gloves. She had a good root round in my spinning box and decided she like this handspun yarn best. Good choice! (I love it too). Its not the best spun yarn tho'. one of my first efforts and is like barbed wire in places ...

I got this loveliness from Spindlefrog. Its SO not the colours I usually go for at all but its beautifully dyed as usual. I keep getting it out to make sure I still like it, which I do!
Its also Falkland fibre which I've not tried yet. I'm going to get some greyish pink or pale turquoise to ply it with I think. I can see socks in its future:

been feeling better today, no headache at least. thank god for hard (prescribed) drugs.
I rang the Dr today to see if she could give me a sick note without seeing me in person - she agreed she had seen quite enough of me lately and also disclosed that she'd had a cracking migraine for days. So I ended up advising her about painkillers and triptans lol! apparently one of the other Doctors and a nurse have been having bad migraines this week. Wonder whether its related to the cold weather system that has moved in this week?

I am obsessed with wearing my Serge Luten's Ambre Sultan perfume at the moment. I am a real SL fan. Its lovely on a cold day. I've got bell jar full that Mike bought me for my birthday. Its described as
'Essentially a classic amber scent enriched with powdery notes of vanilla, then coriander, oregano and myrtle lend sophistication. The base notes angelica root, sandalwood and patchouli leaves. The fragrance of the Moroccan souk'. I can cope with it when I am feeling ill.

When I have a cracking migraine I can only cope with SL's Louve 'the notes include almond, rose petals, fruity notes, jasmine petals, amber, musk and vanilla powder' This would be the only perfume I wore if it had more staying power - an hour on and its gone.

When I'm feeling really good and non-migrainey I wear SL's Tubereuse Criminelle. I adore the opening petrol note (I know I'm weird) and the tubereuse note is just gorgeous. I loved it so much from the sample I bought myself a bell jar for my birthday as couldn't wait for more of it! But you certainly have to love it and you know you're wearing it! ' Notes: tuberose, orange blossom, hyacinth, jasmine, musk, vanilla, styrax, nutmeg, clove'

Luke has been very busy making a big army base with papier mache. His cousin was over today and they sprayed lots of camoflague colours onto it. Mum's fibre supply came in very handy for making trees and bushes to hide the soldiers in.

Still spinning the fibre in previous post. Didn't spin anything today. I've been engrossed in the Intertwined book. It got some fabulous ideas in it. I'm thinking that perhaps I now want a drum carder to make lovely mixed fibre batts and stuff.

2008-10-28T17:54:00.003Z

My friend in NZ received the Ribbon Lace Scarf I sent her for her birthday and says that she is pleased with it! I'm glad she likes it as it took me ages to make as I'm such a slow knitter. Here's a photo of it finished (its not as yellow in real life, more green):

Still got the migraine I've had since Sat. night. Had to call the Dr today to get some really strong painkillers. Luckily my MIL could come over and look after Luke and his cousin until Mike got home from work. I couldn't even put my head on the pillow it was just so unbearably sore and it took rather a huge dose of drugs to take the edge off it ...

2008-10-27T09:47:00.004Z

Sunday: got a cracking migraine today. Mike took Luke to a pirate day at our local museum where he met a Jack Sparrow look a like and had a great time. I curled up in bed for some cat therapy for most of the day.

I ordered a book last night about spinning cool and whacky yarns. It called Intertwined and I'm looking forward to getting it. It will give me lots to think about when migraining if nothing else.

Luke was very excited the the new season of Futurama has started. He is on half term this coming week so I got Mike to buy some pre-made icing today so we can make a Futurama cake together.

My lovely Aunty and Uncle rang me last night from New Zealand. My Aunty is very concerned about my heart operation and I was telling her how terrified I am about it and would rather it was somewhere else in my body like a toe or elbow. She replied ' its not good when they're poking round in the main engine room'.............lol lol lol! is that supposed to make me feel better? i almost wet myself laughing, bless her.

But this is it for migraine 'cures'. Over the years, especially the past 18 months, I've tried lots of nasty drugs, homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropracty, hypnotherapy (I don't think he's recovered yet!), meditation, food allergy testing, diet restrictions, hormonal therapy, alcohol (purely medicinal of course).
No more I say. I'll just learn to live with them if this op don't work. The only other treatment I'm trying is 6 weeks in the sun (cou cou L'hotel Richard!)

2008-10-25T22:01:00.003+01:00

way hey! I'm awake again! I've started spinning up some lovely merino from Ewe Give Me The Knits . Its quite roughly spun as my co-ordination is not as good as it could be but the colours are cheering me up no end. Its really beautifully dyed. I'm not sure whether to ply it on itself (I have two braids of 4oz each) or get some/ dye some plain solid to match ...

I also managed to turn the heel on my second sock after struggling to knit a stitch all week which was rewarding

I bought some Sirdar Denim Aran Sport to swatch with a view to using it to make The Great American Aran Afghan . I was going to spin superwash merino or BFL to make it but thought it may tip me over the edge and stop me actually enjoying just knitting it. I don't like all of the squares so have gathered some others off the interweb to mix in with the ones I like.

Luke is not impressed that Sparks has decided to help him out with his computer games.

2008-10-22T19:32:00.001+01:00

still struggling with new drug. stayed in bed and slept all day until Luke got home from school. Going to reduce dose until I wake up again ...

2008-10-21T15:01:00.002+01:00

absolutely punch drunk on new drug. Did not get out of bed until midday. in fact, did not even wake up until midday. just as well mike got up and took Luke to school or he would have had an unexpected day off.
had nasty migraine yesterday so no spinning/ knitting/ anything at all to report ...

2008-10-19T11:42:00.005+01:00

I've managed to finish one of my socks, despite having to frog the top 5 times as my hands wouldn't work in sync with my brain. Doh! I really really wish I didn't have such enormous feet as it takes forever to knit the bloody things.

I managed to ply my free range BFL with the pale blue BFL I dyed to match it. My hands can work to ply but not to spin which is frustrating. It took forever to ply as its come out as fingering weight, I think. Its not the colour I thought it would be but I really love it. Its got quite an overall green cast and its going to make some yummy socks or a scarf. Its about 343 yds prior to washing which is a bit weird as I'd have thought I could have got a lot more yardage for 8oz of roving spun as fingering weight. But I quite possibly counted how much I've got completely wrongly due to my current brain spasms.

Heres a photo of the chocolate alpaca fleece I acquired last week. Its about 2kg and is from an alpaca called Aubergine:

feeling very speshel on my new anti convulsants - can't pick anything up without dropping it, have spilt every cup of tea I've had in the last week and keep lurching over when I walk. And I'm coming out in welts this morning. I'm trying to convince myself that they are flea bites and have sent Mike out for new flea collars for the herd. Sparky is such a flea taxi he should be in the circus. But I actually think they might be due to the new drug as I've had a massive flea blitz in the past few weeks due to finding some on Sparky. What a bloody stupid name for a cat. Never let a kid name a cat, I tell you. I think he would be great called Boris.
And I keep replacing words in sentences with the wrong ones. ie Coate Water for Cat food. wtf?
Again, Mike says 'whats new?'. Bastard.

Ajahn Chah said:

"Do everything with a mind that lets go. Do not expect any praise or reward. If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom. Your struggles with the world will have come to an end."

2008-10-14T19:04:00.003+01:00

done nothing today but knit and spin. another perfect day then. turned the heel on my sock and was going well ... until I realised it was too tight round the instep because apparently the depth of my instep is bigger that distance round ball of foot by 1". So I had to frog all I'd done today and add 6 stitches grr. just as well I'm enjoying knitting them.

Is this colour too green? you know who I'm talking to so answers on a postcard ...

2008-10-13T19:00:00.003+01:00

we had a bit of an Alpaca chase today. Mike mentioned that he'd passed a field of alpacas while out on his motorbike a few weeks ago (why this important news was not passed to me on the day I'll never know).

Mike was working from home, Luke and his cousin were off due to a teacher training day and I can't drive at the moment due to new anti convulsants ... so Mike had to take us all out to look at the alpacas.

We then went to see a friend whose birthday it was and one of her other friends mentioned an alpaca 'shop' just down the road. So off we went to try and find this farm. And find it we did.

I am now the pround owner of 2kg of chocolate brown alpaca fleece - half a bin bag full. Its really clean with no vegetable matter in it at all so I'm thinking I can just spin it without washing it (I rinsed a small bit and nothing came out of it at all). So I've officially got enough fibre to last me for the next 10 years ... hopefully I can borrow the Guild carder next month and make some alpaca batts. The farm was great - alpacas, sheep, goats, chooks, a well hard turkey, geese and lots of dogs. The kids loved it.

I've started my stripy handspun socks and done about 5" so far. They are really thick and warm.

have you ever heard the saying 'as useless as a chocolate fire guard' .... ?

I rang the hospital this afternoon to get a date for my operation - its going to be on Nov. 14th unless they get a cancellation earlier. It seems a long time to wait

2008-10-12T18:08:00.003+01:00

I had a really lovely day at the local spinning guild yesterday. The sun was out so we sat spinning outside - it was really hot and lovely. I finished spinning the lovely batts I received from Helen in the spinner's swap. I've never spun batts before and they were lovely to spin. I've bought some really fine gold thread and some gold beads to knit with it, hopefully into a scarf ...

I've started to spin some handdyed pale blue BFL to ply with the free range colour I spun earlier and its going well ...

and these are going to be my new stripy 'migraine' socks to wear in bed when my head is killing me and my feet are like blocks of ice ...

had a BAD migraine from Wednesday to Saturday morning. Its 'cause I couldn't tolerate the higher dose of gabapentin (> 2700 gives me awful muscle pains and swelling) so saw GP and I'm going to stay on gabapentin at tolerable dose (2100 - 24oo mg) as it helps with the migraine pain and I've started another anti convulsant called lamitrogine which apparently can really help with the aura and stopping actually getting the migraines ..... so here we go again. Feeling a bit spacey today and hungry but hopefully that will wear off ...

2008-10-06T17:19:00.002+01:00

I've finally finished spinning the Free Range BFL I got from Dragon Fibers on etsy.com. It seems to have taken forever. Now I have to spin the BFL I dyed pale blue to ply with it. I'm hoping I'll get a lot of yardage out of this and that the pale blue I dyed does not overwhelm this bobbin too much.

I also managed to get a few more rows of my cabled jacket knitted today. I adore the colour and are really happy with how its knitting up. I adore knitting cables.

I'm finally getting over the flu - like virus I've had. Man I was ill over the weekend. Didn't know where to put myself. And because I've lowered the dose of Gabapentin the swelling in my legs has gone down and I am actually awake!

2008-10-04T19:26:00.002+01:00

Don't read this if you don't want to hear me moaning yet again.

I'm feeling really really unwell so have dropped the dose of gabapentin again. Woke up with really swollen legs and ankles and getting breathless really easily which is a known side effect of this drug. Feel really shite. Have spent every day this week in bed as so tired except for Friday when went to see Cardiologist specialist nurse about my operation - did all the pre-op stuff and she is going to try and get me in in next couple of weeks. Au secours! and I came back from that appt. and went straight to bed again.
Sick of being sick and sick of moaning about being sick lol.

Its our wedding 11th anniversary today, 14 years since we first went out. And Mike's best man came over from Holland and they've gone out on their motorbikes (the 'girlfriends') for the day. Really glad Mike is having a good day out. He must get fed up with me being sick all the time.
Luke not feeling 100% so we've had a day of watching films and eating popcorn. And trying to make 3D cardboard Star Wars figures. Yes, me with my befuddled brain trying to follow instructions. Needless to say R2D2 has no legs yet at this point in time.

2008-10-01T12:30:00.004+01:00

I dyed some BFL earlier in the week - the blue one is to be spun and plyed with the bird's egg coloured roving I am spinning at present ... which is taking forever because I'm managing to spin it a lot more finely.
The amber one is to be spun and will be sock stripes with the lovely Chica roving I spun earlier and the yellow one is to be plyed with the roving in the previous post - it may be a bit pale tho.

I've decided that I'm going to make myself some fingerless gloves with the lovely alpaca yarn that Helen gave me in the spinner's swap - I'm hoping to use the sequinny (is that a word?) one around the cuffs for a bit of winter bling.

Sparky has taken up residence in the washing basket.

Rosie is not sure whether this is allowed.

And I've been feeling really unwell for past two days. I thought I'd just got Mike's bug he had last week but it turns out I have a raging dental abscess so am on antibiotics - funny thing is I'm not in much pain thanks to the nerve pain killing side effects of the anti-convulsants. So they are good for something then. The dentist is worried I may get endocarditis due to heart defect so hoping it doesn't happen. Like really hoping it doesn't happen.

2008-09-26T14:11:00.003+01:00

I've had the most awful fecker of a migraine since Wednesday night. Boy it hurt. but its starting to pass now. God only knows whether Luke got himself any breakfast this morning. Mike had to leave for London really early - Luke woke me at half eight. I got up, put him in the car, let him out at school and was back in bed inside of 8 minutes.
So I'm going to have to put my sunglasses on and go and pick him up looking like death warmed up. I'm sure some of the other Mums think I am an alcoholic as I look so awful sometimes ... and I've been know to be sick in the hedge on the way out of school. How embarassing is that?

My fab mother in law came over at some point during the morning and took Rosie out for a walk - I only know this because she was very wet when I finally came downstairs so had obviously been taken out for a swim somewhere. That woman is a saint, I tell ya.

I bought this lovely roving from Spindlefrog. I managed to do some dyeing on Tuesday and one of the ones I dyed was some lemon yellow to ply this with. I also dyed some pale blue to ply the birds egg coloured one I am currently spinning. I adore this new one tho. It is just so vibrant.

2008-09-23T20:46:00.003+01:00

this is my current spinning project. I've used a higher ratio to get thinner yarn. i can't decide whether to ply it with itself or dye some pale beige roving to ply it with so I get more yardage.

Luke and his cousin had Sparky in training as a bandit. Ratbags they are.

And then I got this lovely photo of Rose and Sparks catching some autumn sunshine

I'm still getting migraines every other day. I've spoken to work about having another three months off once this lot of leave runs out at end of December, taking me up til end of March 09. Hopefully this will give me time to have my heart surgery and recover fully from it (and hopefully my migraines will improve with that also)

2008-09-17T18:52:00.004+01:00

I thought someone had tossed a roadkill possum into our garden. I'd already told Mike to get the shovel out..........when I realised it was Mr Sparkles catching some late summer rays lol!

Managed to finish some spinning and just waiting to ply it. I'm trying to read up on plying before I tackle this one so I can improve my technique.
I've also tried using a smaller ratio to spin finer yarn - boy, it makes a huge difference.

I've got some nice yarn to make a winter jacket. Its a wool/ acrylic mix in a lovely heathered lavender colour (el cheapo off ebay as I'm broke but its lovely even so). I'm going to make this one here. And I've even done a gauge swatch!

Mike is off to Belgium tomorrow so my lovely mother in law is on stand by to come and take Rosie out for a very long walk.

I've got a date for attending pre-assessment clinic to have my cardiac surgery - 3rd October 2008. Hopefully the operation will be 3-4 weeks after that so the countdown begins. Eek!
had a very tired migraine'y couple of days. I've really upped my anti convulsants so expect a couple of sleepy weeks.

2008-09-12T11:58:00.003+01:00

The visit to the neurologist went very well. She was really on the ball and had a lot of suggestions re: preventative drugs and drugs to take when I get a migraine. One of the drugs she has on the list to try has had very good results in the lab with rats apparently!
I was in the middle of getting one while in with her which was useful!

This gives me hope that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. And I got off my backside and contacted some friends last night and had a good chat - I get so anti-social when my head hurts day in and day out and need to keep making the effort to keep in touch with friends more.

Poor little Lukey Lu has been off school today with a tummy bug - luckily Grandma doesn't work on a Friday so Rosie and Luke have spent the morning there.

And when I got home the lovely roving from Mandie in Australia had arrived and its stunning. I am so glad I bought both of them. No idea what to make from it yet so I'll just have to stroke it for a while until it decides.

2008-09-11T19:14:00.002+01:00

feeling really worried about seeing new neurologist tomorrow. the last neurologist could not have been less interested. As he said ' I'm actually more interested in epilepsy' and made me feel like it was a neurotic female thing I had. bastard. so fingers crossed something positive may come out of this visit.

A thread on one of the spinning groups I belong to has made me feel really sad. Someone was asking 'what are your other passions' .....

I used to: do photography and develop my own photos, walk my dog, work and love my job, cook and bake, read loads of novels, watch films, do lots of studying and be extremely sociable.

Now: - I try to hold it together for Luke, sleep, get migraines, sleep some more and just try to get through the day, with some occasional spinning or knitting ..... and I'm bored, lonely and its shit.

so I hope this neurologist is half way interested or I will be throwing a fit.

2008-09-10T19:43:00.003+01:00

I received the most incredible box of goodies from my spinning swap partner Helen - look at all this loveliness. I felt very spoilt and can't thank her enough

close up of the lovely bracelet:

even Sparky got some use out of the envelope. two days use in fact:

managed to get some spinning finished today at last. Yay! dyed it myself too. just wish I'd done more.

2008-09-08T13:02:00.004+01:00

... and I'm back with my moaning. bet you wish someone would just put me out of my misery. Mike says he's gonna get a block booking for me and the animals at the vet. says it will be worth every penny. nice.
so i've had the migraine from hell since last Wednesday.... god it was bad. And I thus missed going to London for the Knitting show on Saturday (sorry, Sonja ...).

But, as I saved money not going to London, I've done some more cheer up stash enhancement!

This is from Ewe Give Me The Knits in Oz. it could only be an Australian site with a name like that. Makes me laugh everytime I see it. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time when Mandie was updating and snagged these two beauties:

And I got this one this morning from Baby Long Legs aka Sarah on etsy. This is destined to be funky socks for my cold feet:

So now I need some time actually spinning, not just stash enhancing ...

2008-09-05T09:22:00.004+01:00

Received some lovely fibres through the post from Karen at Wildcraft. They are superwash BFL and destined to be a nice long woolly pair of socks for me.

I'm spinning this superwash merino at the moment that I dyed myself. Its a right slippery bugger though so not doing a very good job at it so far!

I'm really looking forward to going to the knitting and yarn show in London tomorrow. Just hope I feel OK. Luke has gone back to school and seems to be really enjoying it so far which is good.

been a bad blogger as have had awful migraines this week. Been hardly able to think as my head has been hurting so much.
The weather hasn't been great. Rain, Rain, Rain.

2008-08-31T16:10:00.003+01:00

Feeling loads better today - cut my anticonvulsant dose in half which seems to have worked.

I've finished spinning the lovely merino mix roving I got from Chimera on Etsy called 'Chica'. I was a bit worried when I opened the bag as its not really soft like the BFL I have spun so far but it was a dream to spin and has made a lovely sturdy yarn. The colours are just beautiful.

I've also finished my Ribbon Lace Scarf! I love it and are delighted to have finished it. Photos to follow when I've blocked it out.

2008-08-30T23:41:00.001+01:00

really nauseous and vomiting again today. its been miserable. Think it may be my anti convulsants unfortunately so going to taper them down then up again slowly cause I can't spend the rest of my life feeling this unwell. hopefully will start to feel better tomorrow ...

2008-08-29T18:29:00.002+01:00

got an awful migraine Wednesday evening and was awake all night with it. Then spent most of yesterday in bed or the bathroom as couldn't stop being sick.

Unfortunately there was no one around to have poor Luke so he had to spend most of the day entertaining himself - I managed to go downstairs a couple of times to lie on the sofa for the odd half hour during the day and to give him some food. Makes me feel really guilty.

I'm still in bed today - Luke is spending the day at his friends house so I know he'll be having a great time. Thank God as I just wanted to sleep today. and I did. Mike is home now. Luke says he'll kill him if he ever goes away again lol!.

Received my lovely Shunklie's roving through the post this morning. They are as beautiful as they look in the photo below. I need to crack on with spinning for my swap partner then will start on this ..... when I am well enough.

2008-08-26T20:02:00.004+01:00

had a lovely friend to stay on Sunday night - she is a knitter too so we had a fab time talking yarn and spinning amongst other things. And Sparky didn't run away from her either which is a miracle 'cause Oskar (ex-ginger tomcat) hated her at first sight. Lol!
She and I are going to the yarn show run by iKnit in London in 2 weeks time.

I've spun up all the purple/ gold coloured yarn and hopefully can ply it tomorrow. Then I will have a bobbin to finish the yarn I am making for my swap partner on Ravelry.
I've just got these two lots of extra fine merino roving from Shunklie's at Etsy I'm hoping to make a shawl as it total 8oz. or a very big stole:

I took Luke to get school shoes this morning. What a NIGHTMARE! I could have killed him. In fact, I almost did. He hates shopping at the best of times but really played up today. But we got some in the end that cost £35 (gulp!)

Still having migraines but the pain seems to be a lot less on 2100mg of gabapentin. Still getting the overwhelming fatigue and nausea etc but not unbearable pain so thats a step in the right direction.

Mike is still in Greece. He rang to day to say that its 36 celsius in Athens today. grrr.

2008-08-22T18:07:00.003+01:00

Started spinning the fibre I bought from Etsy today. The colours are absolutely stunning and I'm hoping to make myself some socks. I have some other roving I can dye dark purple for the toes and cuffs if more yardage is needed.

had a quiet couple of days but no migraine since Wednesday thank goodness. The weather has been lovely and sunny. I had a look at the fleece I bought and filled the sink with hot water to start washing it - and then couldn't face doing it and put the fleece in the bin. Just can't face having to card it all once its washed. Lesson learnt to buy pre-prepared fibre only in future.

Rosie is back from her mini-break at Grandma's. She is exhausted and snoring heavily on the floor after having the paws walked off her. She gets a lie in there though as Luke is always up at 5am here and gets her out of bed. The only bad thing about her staying there is that she sleeps in the lounge with three cats. I bet she doesn't dare move a muscle all night in case she gets pounced on.

2008-08-20T21:42:00.006+01:00

We managed to get to the Priddy Sheep Fair today! The weather was damp and warm but not torrential rain. There were lots of travellers selling horses which was fabulous to see. Some of the mares had their foals with them (is a mother donkey called a mare?). One of the foals was really new with very shaky spindley legs!

Then we went down the road to the 'sheepy' bit. No wool for sale that I could see but some shearing going on and sheep for sale. Couldn't convince the boys to bring a sheep home with us. The ladies from the Avon Spinning Guild were there spinning away and were very pleasant to meet.

Had another migraine overnight but luckily the worst had passed by this morning so dosed myself up and didn't feel too bad.
We stopped at ToysRus on the way home and Luke scored some Star Wars lego much to his delight. He hated the Sheep Fair lol! He said 'this is the only time I ever have to come here in my life, isn't it?'

I made an apple pie the other day with some of the apples off one of our trees. They are truely laden this year. Unfortunately we haven't got our free range rabbit this year to scoff them all.

2008-08-19T17:02:00.003+01:00

Managed to get some spinning done today for my swap partner and bought some more roving to ply it with. Its been really hard for me to decide on a colour to ply it with so fingers crossed I've chosen the right one.
I also received half a Mule sheep fleece in the post. Rosie almost fainted with delight when I opened it for a peek and gave it a through inspection. I've parceled it back up again until I can wash it properly. And I'm a bit scared of it truth be told lol.

Its been really, really wet here the last couple of days (weeks? months?). Luke's cousins came over to play this afternoon and they have kept themselves very busy with Lego and the Wii Fit. Rosie got a bath so she is all shiny and gorgeous. Sparky got flea'd so he is more pissed off than usual and stomping around rather than floating as normal.

I've been reading more about NZ colonial life - I read this book today out of the corner of my eye while supervising the kids. Its called Station Life in New Zealand and is by Lady Barker. She sounds like she was a game old chook - you can read more about her life here. She sure got about considering it was all by sailing ship. And theres me moaning about a 24 hour flight home.

I'm really hoping the rain stops as we're hoping to go to Priddy Sheep Fair tomorrow. I wonder who in this family want to go to a sheep fair? ;0)
Apparently its been held since the 1300's and was moved from Wells because of the Black Death. I might try to convince the boys to go to Wells for a gander at the cathedral too. Luke loves cathedrals which is useful.

2008-08-18T15:08:00.003+01:00

Mike and his sister have taken Luke and his 2 cousins to Legoland today - its been really wet on and off so think they are probably drowned rats but as its Luke's favourite place on earth they will enjoy themselves (well, the kids will) ;0)
I did warn Luke to watch out for the pink lego in case it dragged him over to the dark side - he is very wary of anything pink. He calls his cousins the 'pinkinators' as they love it.

Not feeling great. think I've got another migraine coming. feel really tired and yawny but no sign of it yet. Got letter from cardiologist saying he'd be delighted to stuff a catheter into my heart and plug the hole for me so on waiting list (the 5 month waiting list.) wouldn't want to be sick, would you?

Found a fab online site for NZ history documents called the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre . I had a dream I was on a whaling ship off the South Island last night (who knew?) so thought I'd read more about it.

I've also been looking for another module to take towards my never ending Open University degree. I've got to get another 60 points at level 3 and I'll be done. I'm hoping that by Feb 09 I might be up to starting something. There is two 30 point courses I'd like to do: Infectious Diseases; and Senses (vision etc not common) so fingers crossed for a complete cure by Monday next.

This arrived in the post for me last week from a lovely etsy shop DragonFibers . Its called Free Range and is blue faced leicester roving