Ducking Feer Beanie

It only took me 5 days to make Sven's hat.

My first go at stranded colourwork.. I'd say it is an absolute success..

I used the Fornicating Deer chart with the Blue and White ski hat pattern

He claims he will wear it everywhere.. even put up with me trying to get a billion pics for the ravelry project page.

The socks are done!

(pic of sister in socks added retrospectively)

My sister, Miranda, is coming to get them this afternoon. She knows I've made her something, but she doesn't know what. Hahahaha. I may have taunted her with the fact that mum and her dad have seem them as well.

I hope she likes them!

Details:
Pattern: Cowasocky by Leslie Comstock
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 4 ply 
Needles: 2.5mm DPNs (used my bamboo ChiaoGoo set from Fiberific)

I got (mud) crabs!

First news though, knitting. I finished one of my two major projects I've been working on ever so slowly.

Snowy's sweater. It took me forever and was so much more work that it was worth. No more of this pattern thanks!

The second I cast that off, I was back working on the cow socks. Last night I started the toes of the second sock. Hopefully they will be done by the end of the weekend, where I am sure I will be batshit crazy from sewing in 10023892048 yarn ends.

After that I'll be starting on a beanie that the Swede requested. I've made him a couple of little knitted items, but this will be his true test of knitworthiness. I told him he'd better love this thing to death, or I'm going to torture him. He said he's ok with either outcome.

Speaking of the Swede, he is the one who gave me (mud) crabs. Actually, his parents caught them for us, and after his dad fixed my car (I had a huge hole in my muffler.. My little 4 cylinder car sounded like a V8 beast) we came home and the Swede cooked us up a feast

We sat on the floor with a blanket down, and made a big ol mess. It was an awesome night of crab, video games and drinking.

In return, I tried to make his favourite meal of ever, noodle soup with wantons. I didn't add the noodles, but I made chicken wantons, and added them to a tried and true sweetcorn soup recipe.

I was pretty darn impressed with myself and it tasted fabulous. I love winter cause winter means SOUUUUPPP!!! and the Swede is as much of a soup lover as I am, so it works out well. \

My posting has been very infrequent due to life stuff, including when the Swede comes to stay, but also out specialist involvement has increased, as well as now going through a battle royale with the hospital system. There could be legal stuff in our future, and dealing with that, and everything else has put a lot of stress on me. I find myself being a bit introverted and just wanted to knit, sleep and play computer games when I'm not in mummy mode. Hopefully this resolves itself so it's not a major stress for either me or Neeky.

Ahh, the weekend!

What an awesomely relaxing and awesome weekend. The perfect couple of days after a week where we saw 3 different speech therapists, and I had a big meeting about what we are going to do about the incompetency of the hospital system,

We spent Saturday with the Swede's parents, and had an awesome Thai dinner in front of the TV. The Swede's housemate was out for the night so it was nice to have some alone time, vegging in front of the Tv.

Sunday morning we got up bright and early and visited a couple of farmers markets around the Gold Coast. I got this almost brand new book for the grand sum of $2!! Plus a whole heap of kntting book/lets. We visited a couple of pet stores (we're thinking of buying a birdy) and drove up to a high point to take a look at a beautiful view of the whole Gold Coast.

My dodgy phone camera pics don't do it justice.

And now we're back to the old grind, but I definitely feel refreshed and ready to tackle the world and Neek's hospital woes.

Soapy sock cast ons

Soapmaking.. not as easy as it looks! I made my first batch, but made a complete mess of it. I'm not sure if it will be usable, but I learned a whole lot from it. I don't have photos as yet, but soon my pretties, I will take some.

The other night the Swede and I were talking about our post-apocalyptic plan after watching "Shaun of the Dead". He said I would make an excellent partner, because I have an excellent skill set (sewing, knitting, cooking, gardening, cabinetry.. yes, that's true).... Except when it comes to soap and cheese. Lucky he gave me a cheeky grin or I would have give him a dead arm.

This last week or so has been a mess of specialist appointments, shopping and cooking/gardening. There has also been some knitting and gaming to take away the stress. I'm back working on my sister's cow socks, and had a stress out today when I realised I didn't write down which cast on I used for the first sock. Duh Belinda. Lucky I found the video that I got the technique from (thank you for telling me which links I've visited before computer. Much appreciated).

If you want a super awesome stretchy cast on for socks, I highly recommend this technique

(Technique starts at 3.20 if you don't wanna listen to the intro).

I'm hoping I get through this sock as fast as I did the first one. I'm anxious to make my next project! It's going to be EPIC!

Holy cheesus

Cheesemaking was a FAIL!

but I think I have pinpointed my failings and when my ego have recovered, I shall try again.

Soapmaking was meant to happen today, but I'm having a bit of a BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH day. So tomorrow is soapmaking super happy fun times. This could also be an epic screw up.. so look out for a "I'm a failure at all the things" meltdown!

But I did get excited about replacing my temperamental DVD player today, with a shiny new Blu Ray player that lets me use the internet on my LED tv... Drool. Knitting on the couch, here I come! I'm more excited than I should be over a cheap dvd player. I don't care. Judge me.

Yummy chicken and Soap.. not at the same time

Neek had her EEG.. Well, they got 2 sensors on and she got all hulk ragey and tore them off. She was asleep when they started to put them on. The doctor has said he's giving up on doing the EEG, and all the specialists are like "Oh no he didn't!!!!". There are a lot of angry people in our support team right now.

But, on Thursday, as a distraction to the disaster that was, I went and bought all the supplies for some awesome projects. I'm feeling creative and motivated again. One of those projects is handmade soap, which I had every intention of doing today, but I am really tired today, so I cleaned. I'll leave the soap making till next week (which Neek is at school).


Yesterday I made cordial and laundry liquid and a really yummy dinner!! For the longest time I've seen a pin on Pinterest for Man Pleasing Chicken.

Photo from Witty in the City

It was to DIE for. And my man was pleased. It will definitely be made again. It's one recipe that deserves the pinterest hype.

Sunday, the Swede and I are going to try our hand at cheesemaking. As usual, I shall be documenting the process. I also have some gardening things in the works, and one of these days I'll finish the 1009840859430 knit projects I have started (ok.. there's 2 projects I'm currently working on).

There's my week. I'm now off to make lemonade scones and cheese crackers (once I finished playing Ticket To Ride on Steam.. Stupid addictive game)

Bring on the tough week

This week is gonna be an interesting one.

We have the long awaited EEG on Wednesday. Fingers crossed it's not the horribly stressful event it was last time. Against the advice of my friends, I've decided to try and brave it alone again. If at the end of the test I am a massive ball o stress, I know who to call. I hope we get the results we need and can move on with Neek's treatment and/or trying to plan for the future.

It now looks like my landlord is going to try and play silly games with me because I am making him abide by the rental laws. Fingers crossed he grows a brain and doesn't try and screw me over.. If it continues, I'll be out of here as soon as possible (but I'm reallllly hoping it doesn't come to that).

Neek is back to school this week, so here's to getting back into routine. I've been doing some.. well, autumn cleaning. The house is in a bit of a shambles with sorting through stuff, and bags of things that need to go to the charity stores and things that need throwing out. I'm trying to cull down again. I'm slowly getting out of my mild hoarder ways.

I also have plans for some more homemade things to be posted. I am getting back into the self sufficiency thing again, and have been madly researching a couple of things I want to do. Later this week, when my bank account has money in it once more, I will be buying some supplies! Woot. There will of course be pictures and progress shots.

Fingers crossed this week turns out aweseomly!