Tag: Winter Wednesday

Posted on

🧶 Going up…..

Winter solstice is in two days time….

After the last couple of weeks we’ve had,…..where as well as all the other things going on that I mentioned earlier…… the day my car was serviced they managed to ‘prang it’……moving it over to the car wash area the driver reversed into something!……extra days while it was being sorted out and resprayed, knowing she had things to do and no loan car available did not make Catherine a happy chappy, which meant the cold gloomy weather we had made everything feel worse……so the prospect of daylight going up (increasing, becoming longer) and eventually temperatures going up sounds good…..to be honest……more than good – bloody marvellous!.

To lighten my mood and give me something else to think about I broke into a bag of yarn I’d put aside for Bowen and began one of the sweaters.
Reasoning – it was going to be ‘winter knitting’…..winter was here and it really wouldn’t matter where the knitting took place. Plus little snacks provided by The Golfer kept me happy as well😊

This wasn’t the most expensive yarn, yes it was on special but not ‘cheap’ by any manner of means…..heavier than it appeared through the sealed bag and has the look and feel of ‘wool’ not the acrylic I assumed it to be. Which is why I went up a size making a 4yr not the 2yr I’d planned.
Mill ends have no descriptions just sold by weight.

* PRODUCT OVERVIEW.
Be challenged and get creative with a surprise bag of yarn! Value Ball Mill Ends Packs are assorted 400 g packs of mixed fibre yarns from factory overruns. Each pack will be full of surprises, you may receive a bag of soft and fluffy novelty chenille yarn, lightweight variegated pastel yarn, versatile beige chunky yarn, or a vibrant neon acrylic DK yarn

You can usually judge by looking and rolling a strand to try and get a feel but really it’s like a lucky dip – never knowing and making the best of what you get. I’ve never gone wrong by buying them but there are times I look at what’s on offer in the bins and wonder ‘what on earth would you make out of that?’
********

So what I’m making (and have made previously) is described as…..
child’s jumper with yoke patterning on front and back as well as purl fabric ridges above lower bands, at tops of sleeves and at base of neckband.
To me it’s like a guernsey- straight up and down, dropped sleeve, a bit of cabling on front and back with some ridges here and there😊

There’s also been a little reading going on. Nothing heavy – does Julia Quinn ever write heavy?

‘Going Up’ very very soon – to where it’s warm 😎

2,400kms
  • It’s Wednesday- time to check in with Kat and others at her weekly link up called  Unraveled Wednesday . why don’t you pop over, see what’s going on – maybe stay and say hello.

(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)

Posted on

All gone…

The international exercise that used Bowen as one of its bases (the one I wrote about last month ) has finally come to an end
And if you’re a little bit strange like me some of you might be interested in this detailed ‘wrap up’ article released by the Defence dept.
It includes many Facts, Figures, Places Where, Reasons Why …plus mention of the four servicemen who lost their lives down the coast near Lindeman Island.

The exclusion zone ‘warning’ notice boards found near various beaches and other spots in town have now been removed – see how the little arrow I added shows how close that area was to Rose Bay and why we saw all the ships moored there, prepared and ready…we weren’t quite sure what for though
(It turned out that US military and the ADF built a 540m floating pier at Bowen, Queensland.) source

At the end of the allocated time they moved off slowly, one by one, over several days – turning east and sailing away. Past Gloucester Island and off into the Coral Sea.

So by August 19th they had all gone and the seas were ‘empty’ again.

And it was almost like magic (or perhaps coincidence) lots of families began to arrive for an early Saturday morning dip. There were balls to kick and buckets and spades for the littlies, as well as sea kayaks and boards (of all shapes and sizes) – children here are so confident around water.

Now our mornings are back to watching gentle peaceful views like this – a single yacht sailing by in a northerly direction.

Winter is coming to an end and I’m going to miss this when we leave for home in a couple of weeks time 🙁

Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge

Posted on

🧶Stranded…..

I am now officially finished with knitting for ‘friends’!
I should’ve known better but this one wanted to give her grandson something to wear this winter that was entirely different to anything else he had.
To begin with she wanted a fair isle jumper – as In the whole of the garment completely covered in bands of colour.
Similar to this 👇

Source

It’ll be too busy for a two year old I said, too heavy as well. It’s almost like two layers of knitting and where we live our winters don’t warrant that, also his mother won’t thank you when it comes to washing/drying.
Maybe something simpler like half and half would be be the thing – plain sleeves with front and back having small bands of stranded patterns below the armholes. He’ll have ease of movement at the top as well as interest at the bottom.

This is what she chose from my pile of patterns – ‘love the red, he’ll look good in that’.
‘ It doesn’t have to be red’ I said.
She dropped off a bag of red 8ply (acrylic mill ends manufacturer unknown) a couple of days later!.
That was much earlier in the year.

It was returned – unworn – three weeks ago.
‘My daughter doesn’t like it, it’s too bright. She says to put it in your charity box’

I don’t mind too much, someone will benefit from it and I definitely enjoyed knitting it (even if the wool was a bit rough in texture). Making it gave me the idea on how to use up some of the left overs as well as looking at a different way to reduce the large amount of yarn I have waiting to be used …..the supply of knitting material I have gathered.

So the idea at the moment is – I want to make more of these –
What do I have I can use?
Original Sirdar pattern for sizing – library and online resources for band (peeries) patterns. Various colours for the body plus white/cream for contrast.

Never one to let an idea pass here’s the nearly finished back of my next one

And….I have enough cream to use as a contrast with this denim blue as well the tweedy brown. And….look what I found on the library shelf

The very easy guide to Fair Isle Knitting – Lynne Watterson

It’s all out there just waiting to be discovered!.
(As was the last of this year’s Roses and the first Camellia)

Thank heavens for plain knitting The Golfer said when I reached the end of the last pattern row. I was driving him batty with my mutterings of 1 2 3 – 1
as I counted the colours along the rows

Just wait until he finds out I have more in mind 🧶😊
*****

Joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday 
Lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on
Why don’t you pop over – you never know who you might see there

Posted on

Left hand down a bit

Right or left?
Oh left, it’s easier!
Just let it hang loosely. I’ll do the rest!

Is that it, are you finished already?
Yes, we use really fine ones these days. Just have to note that down and you’ll be on your way.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Left or right?
Your choice, there might be a problem
Just let me see, then I’ll decide. Let it relax, it works better that way

Oh you were good, where have you been all my life.
I used a fine one and I’ve been tending the sick. Just sign here and you’ll be on your way

~ ~ ~ ~

Two different practice rooms – two very skilled female pathology nurses ….one rehired after retiring – the other changing ‘her area of interest’ after burning out elsewhere.
Both made me welcome and both came up close and personal with my left arm😊

Okay so I was just having my latest (4th) Covid jab….now referred to as the ’winter booster’….and then on a very early cold morning (with an empty stomach) having blood drawn for annual tests but they both involved people sticking needles into my arm and I’ve had mixed experience with them over the years.

Extensive bruising from having an injection in the upper arm wasn’t usual, according to one doctor….who then said ’I’ll have a word with her’ when I told him it was one of his own practice nurses who done it. I haven’t seen her since so I’m assuming his word was final.
Slight bruising in the crook of my arm after blood drawing seems to be the norm for me but not dark purple coloured spreading in all directions as happened after I heard someone muttering ’where on earth are you’ accompanied by pushing and prodding the needle in out and around both arms trying to find vein.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So I’m hoping that’s that for another year

Although I had a little laugh thinking forget the pub or the local coffee shop, those rooms ’were the place to be’……both times sitting there waiting I saw/chatted with people I hadn’t seen for quite a while.
”Did you hear about xxxxx – s/he died”

Posted on

If you’re interested….

Guess whats back on…later in the year…..in real time

Even though I will never get the chance to attend, I love the idea of showcasing and celebrating a particular hobby of mine.
Yes, knitting and the style called Fair Isle

But it’s much more than that

Shetland Wool Week is a world renowned celebration of Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands.

source ~ https://www.shetlandwoolweek.com

After a couple of years of online / virtual events (because of ’you know what’) the much loved annual event known as Shetland Wool Week has returned – see link below 👇

Casting on Shetland Wool Week 2022

Part of the fun is the Hat – each year there is a new design –

2022 Hat

You can find photos (and sometimes their patterns) of previous years online – even if you don’t knit the actual design they provide inspiration for what you might/could do – remember the delightful Baa-ble (Donna Smith 2015) that had us all adding sheep borders to children’s woolies

If you’re interested this year’s hat is called Bonnie Isle designed by Linda Shearer

Link to 2022 Hat Pattern 👇👇👇….also available on SWW website

Click to access SWW22-Bonnie-Isle-Hat-Pattern-LR.pdf

Posted on

Allo..Allo..Allo

What do we have here – the first day of June – you know what that means
It’s the day that is deemed to be the first day of Winter here in Australia.

Our seasons change the first of the month not the 21st like in the Northern Hemisphere

Officially our Summer starts on January 1st – Autumn on March 1st

Winter on June1st and Spring on September 1st

I grizzle and groan at this time of the year – often the weather is cold, wet and miserable. We all know ‘cold’ is relative to where you live  – compared to other places our cold here in Melbourne is not really cold (average winter lows of about 4c which is about 39f)  – I can’t remember the last time we had a real frost – so when I complain, its not really about the weather, its more about the fact that I have to put more clothes on☹️

What do you mean – these are not winter shoes??

There is one thing I do know about this time of the year – as sure as fate – a particular brand of chocolate comes on sale..it’s winter, it’s cold, there’s no way it’s going to melt😊😊

So all I have to say (remind myself more like) is……..

I’ll have accepted it by tomorrow morning – which hopefully is warmer than yesterday

Yesterday afternoon – about 4.30pm Tuesday 31 May

ps – and if you are under the impression that ’it doesn’t get cold in Sydney’ pop over to Kylie’s blog eclectica where she will let you in on the secret that – it just ain’t so……it does get cold cold in Sydney

Posted on

It’s that time of the year again

Yesterday was Tuesday 1 June
officially the first day of winter 2021 in Australia.

I wonder what is in store for us this year.
When I had a quick glance late in the afternoon the first week didn’t look too bad – a bit wet maybe but not too cold

Hopefully it’ll be nothing like this ‘poem/carol’.
remembered from my childhood
In the bleak midwinter by Christina Rosetti.

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter.
Long ago.

https://youtu.be/pTzqMi2AQF8



But then this is Melbourne so it could be anything!

Whats the year round weather like in Melbourne? – this might explain – but let’s just say, 4 seasons in one day is quite often the way it’s described 😎☔️⛱⛈☀️💨

Posted on

Winter visitor for Winter Wednesday

Even tho’ we are near the hills the area is still suburban meaning there are lots of houses and even more going up where owners are subdividing so a lot of the parrots give us a wide berth, We do get flighty Eastern Rosellas and Crimson Rosellas as well as the funny little Rainbow Lorikeets who love the berries on the Lilly Pilly tree

Now the only deciduous tree I have growing nearby is next doors oak – yes,  the one of falling leaves fame , and the great thing about this tree being leafless in the winter is that I can see any birds who do sit in the branches.  Plus any pesky possums lol

So this is where I need a little help here from some of those with more knowledge of birds than I have .  This beautiful parrot with an orange head and chest arrived there this morning and played around on the branches for a short while – luckily just long enough for me to race inside and get the camera.

I don’t recall seeing one before – google suggests a King Parrot, would that be right?

Website Built with WordPress.com.