2paw

And The Company Jumps, When We Play Ravelry

There was no Boogie-Woogie on Saturday, not even any Rum and CocaCola, but the company was delightful. The Northern Apple Islanders had a Ravelry meet up at Blue. We were all so excited, well I was so excited that Kate who'd ratherbeknitting* had left by the time I took the picture!! So the Ravellers are, from the left: MrsDrWho, Shrekgirl63*, AmandaJ, Magdalena* , Katt and Sharon. [* Ravelry Link] We were all so excited that we plan to meet again in three weeks for some more Ravelry!! Amanda made me a giant brooch, well actually it's Cuzmo [whom I want to call Cuzco] a Knitted Babe, and he matches my new Cardigan. He is lovely and came with a wonderful letter warning of the ill effects of Labradors on a Knitted babe!! Here he is, pinned safely to the corkboard above my computer, like a green guardian angel. Amanda was right: Harki and Peri did want him. They wanted him a lot!!! Thank you Amanda, and rest assured while he has a holey head, at least he's not holey all over!!

I started some new socks at the meet up, but I unravelled them after the gusset decreases because my high instep refused to fit. I have started them three times, and the third time's the charm: Diamonds in the Stream. [I sing along to Dolly and Kenny in my mind] The wool is from the Wonderful Katie at Live2Knit and it's Rita dyed in the 2paw colour!! I wanted to highlight the colours and so I needed an expanse of stocking stitch, but I still wanted a pattern. I have ladders through my purls. I don't have ladders through my knits. I hope they block out. This wool is so nice to knit with, it's delicious. I'm using 2.25mm and 72 stitches and doing my usual sock thing.

MrsDrWho and I went to the pictures to see Iron Man on Friday night. Excellent film!! Well we thought so, and so did the rest of the cinema-goers who were geeky boys. I think we may have been the only females there. I'm up for comic genre films, happy to give them a go, and I need to see this again. Two hours and twelve minutes and I didn't want to check the time once. Lots of nice Robert Downey Jr muscled arms and a plot that didn't let up for a second. Stay till after the credits. We did, and so did five other males. Does no-one else check out the Internet before they go to the pictures to see if it's worth sitting through the credits???

I have been buying myself some Fat Quarters as they take my fancy. I am going to do some sewing (See Katt and Sharon!!) and not all for me, obviously, as they are not all green!! I am attached to them though.

After our walk this morning we were quite late, it was almost time for Elevenses when we came home. I bought some yummy French Earl Grey tea from Tonic, good sourdough rye from the bakery and some Chilli Salami from the deli at the trendy shop at the corner. My teapot has lost it's little knob and I was at a bit of a loss and then I did some Girls' Carpentry and found a nice green wooden bead and Voila, it's fixed!!!I didn't eat and drink at the same sitting, the one would have destroyed the taste of the other, but Harki and Peri really wanted some salami. I offered them bread. See what happened. The slight shaking is when I laughed!! We do 'Sit and Wait' but this time they were taking it way too seriously......

Now my blog is sidey-waysie, Toni doesn't like it. I'm not sure, I put all the 'business things' at the right and the reading at the left. I'm not sure I don't want to have it symmetrical again. It is ever so slightly weird.......

We-e-e-e-ear: Is Love?

Does it come from skies above? No, The Love comes from my Green Is The New Black (Ravelry link) cardigan. It is so warm and soft and it fits really well. I sewed on the buttons this morning and I have had it on and off all day. On and off because it is so warm and it's just not really cold enough yet to wear it. I will persevere though!!! The GITNeB, or Basic Black Cardigan by Glenna, knitted on 4.5mm needles in Grundl Dolce. It is variegated greens and so it goes with everything.

I sewed up the fronts and back in less than an hour last week: far less time than I expected. I put it off, and it wasn't as bad as I anticipated at all. In the meantime I finished the Harry Hat (Country Silk) and the It Ain't Half Hot socks (Buttons) for my mum and posted them off. I loved knitting the hat and  the socks took just two separate days to knit. Harry is modelled by MrsDrWho. It was either her, or my round sewing basket balanced on top of The BareNaked Lady. I wanted to buy my mum Sally Wise's new book: A Year in a Bottle, but it hasn't been published yet. The Saturday morning radio announcer raised my hopes that it would be available for Mothers' Day and Agfestm but alas my hopes were dashed. Luckily my mum is fine with delayed present gratification!!!

Harki and Peri just love the cooler weather. They are off up the side of hills, and down the face of almost-cliffs and there are so many new smells and things to see. We met Chocko and Jessie/Jazzie, not sure which is right, and their mum today and Peri was so excited. She ran about with the two other dogs, around in circles and even off up the track with them. Harki is less effusive and likes to keep an eye on things. Just when I thought Peri was going to run away with the other dogs, back she came at top speed, ready for a big pat and a treat!!!  They have some new Kangaroo/Lamb treats from MrsDrWho and they will turn inside out to earn one.

I went to MrsDrWho's classroom this week to help make Mothers' Day gifts. We made mobile phone covers from felt, decorated them, and added a drawstring to the top. You can see some of the finished ones here. The children are quite well behaved and have learned from Easter time how to thread a needle and tie a knot in the end!! I came home and sat on the couch and I was totally overcome with tiredness. My head kept dropping and I could barely keep my eyes open. I had to go straight to bed for a long nap. I am feeling quite well, for me, at the moment and I have to be careful not to do too much. I am wont to try, and then I am worn out!!!

I am Apron Sewing Along, with Sew Mama Sew.  They call it a smock, but it is an apron to me. I have  cut out the paper pattern and Harki has surveyed it for me, making sure everything is A-OK, and it is!! I have to choose some green material and then sew away!! This will be the third apron I have sewn this year and I saw there are patterns on sale at The  BlackSpot of Doomlight, so I might buy a new apron pattern next week.

There has been much loud machinery noise lately. I looked out the window and I saw giant machines working across the highway. The area was once marshland, covered in bulrushes. Vundy and Tori would run and leap through the stalks and get all wet and smelly when we went for a walk. The Council has been filling the area with the silt dredged from the river. You can see how awful the river is: so narrow in the middle and then all choked with silt. No-one wants to accept responsibility for fixing the problem, so they fiddle while the river dies. It is also very smelly, though we can't smell it way up here. The big machines drone up and down and raise and lower their appendages. I will be glad when they stop.

This weekend there's an exciting Ravelry meet up here in town, and MrsDrWho and I may occasion the cinema and Iron Man!!! Now it is very dark and I am off to watch Friends, the expurgated version, and knit the back ribbing for my Chappa'ai cardigan, I am alternating with The Pop Tartigan to save my shoulder muscles, and I'll wait impatiently for The State Within.

Canoe Feel The Love Tonight?

I have less than no interest in the fact that The Apple Isle will host the 2009 Canoe Wildwater World Cup, but how could I pass up the chance for an Anna Coren segue to The Lion King???  I have never seen the film but MrsDrWho plays the soundtrack in her classroom in the holidays. We will be feeling the love in 2009!! Peri is feeling the Morning Tea love and hoping for a titbit from The GardyGardeners.

I've been meaning to blog for three days but the light has been bad, on Thursday I had my car lights switched on at 3pm, and somehow it always seemed too dark to take a photo. I have been a little busy, though not on The Pop Tartigan because I knitted a sleeve in the space of 36 hours and my shoulder was boogelly: those 5mm needles can be a killer. I have been doing other things. I have made my mum an Odessa. It is meant to reflect a crisp Spring day in Odessa, though I am not sure if that's Odessa Brazil, Canada or USA, but I like to think it's Odessa, The Film, which just makes me think of The Ipcress File, so I think I'll call this The Harry Hat!! Now if there was a choice of looking at me modelling The Harry Hat, or poking your eyes out with hot needles, MrsDrWho knows which one you should choose. So there is only a progress picture of said hat until maybe MrsDrWho models. It's on 4mm needles using almost two balls of Cleckheaton Country Silk in a blue you can't buy here anymore.

There has been sewing: a Sock Tote for Amanda from you-can-guess-where and a zippy bag for Kate:she's not keeping her Library pencils in it, but rather her socks-in-progress!!! There is also a backpack for me made from LoopyLouey's gifted fabric. I used Lotta Jansdottir's pattern though I lined it with lime green poplin. You can see some dog treats in the back pocket and also Harki's zebra striped toy. She's not very happy, I think you can see her bottom lip trembling in the picture: she's pretty sure I've taken it for good. I gave it back straight away.

My last post about The Flame Attendants et al seems to have elicited the same feeling from most people: we are very sad and disappointed at the politicisation of the Games, but supportive of our athletes. It's less than a hundred days till the Games begin: I suggest we all watch these Games instead and revel in John Howard's Apology.

There has been some cooking: a classic Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. I made it in a bigger tin and I really should have used more pineapple. I did buy more and was planning to dredge it with brown sugar and pop it under the grill, but it never happened. Recipe follows.... I have more to say - what a surprise!!, but I'm saving that for next time.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Topping

• 2 tins of sliced pineapple rings, drained**
• 90g butter, melted
• about 1 cup of brown sugar

Cake Batter

• 120g butter
• 220g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tspn vanilla extract
• 185g self raising flour
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice from the tin**

Preheat the oven to 180*C, and then line a 25-28cm spring-form tin with baking paper. Brush the base and sides with the melted butter and then sprinkle in the sugar. Finally  place the pineapple rings in the base of the tin. I didn't have enough. You can also put a glace cherry in the centre of each ring!!

To make the batter, cream the butter and sugar, lightly beat in the eggs and vanilla and then fold in half the flour and half the milk by hand. And then gently fold in the remaining flour and milk. Spoon over the pineapple and spread evenly. Cook for 45-50 minutes or until it is browned and springy to the touch and has come away from the sides of the pan. Invert onto plate and serve with lashings of custard or cream and ice-cream. A Classic.

PS The Jennifer Fallon series?? It's a set of four now!!! Just in case you were on a knife edge waiting for the next one. I am.

People Will See Me And Cry:Flame!

I am in a state of ambivalence. When I was teaching The Olympics was a time for celebration, excitement, lots of interesting research and often our own Olympics with fun events. This year I am not so sure. This year we have the official Chinese pale-blue track-suited flame 'attendants'. This year the flame has more security measures than APEC. This year we have actual violence against spectators and non-violent protesters for Tibet. This year the gloss of the Olympics seems to have been tarnished. This year I am not sure whether I will watch the Olympics, or if I do watch, will I enjoy myself?  In other Flame related pondering: Yesterday was ANZAC Day, and though it is good and proper that we remember the past and honour the people, we apparently don't learn from History. 93 years later and we are involved in an illegal war. Happily the troops will be home soon. And then some Happy Labradors on their way somewhere to cheer you up!!!

There are no such doubts about my knitting. I have finished the Ing Time socks. I actually finished them last night but I grafted the toe this morning. Very happy with them, the fabric of the knitting is very smooth and even though the 'speckly' bits have made different spiral pattern on each sock, I am not too concerned!!! The Ing Time socks on 4mm needles using 2 balls of Buttons wool. They are just a basic 44 stitch top down sock to fit a 30cm foot.

I have started The Pop Tartigan for MrsDrWho. The first sleeve is complete. I am making up the pattern as I go using the Ann Budd Book of Sweaters. I like doing this as I can really personalise the Tartigan. I am using black Jet for the bands and Moda-Dea Vixen in Licorice Whip for the body. It knits up quite quickly, I knitted 40 rows watching Pie in the Sky . My imaginary wool from Bendigo turned up. It took a whole week. Three 200g balls of Classic 8ply in Mid green for The Chappa-ai Cardigan which will feature a Stargate on the back!! I showed such self -restraint (again) by starting The Pop Tartigan first!!!

Yesterday there was a mini Knitting occasion!! Amanda , and Kate and her family, and I met in town for a cup of tea, a few rows of knitting and a good catch up. How lovely to see everyone. Kate gave me a Spring Arbour patterned face cloth which I haven't used yet!! I am looking forward to it though. I saw her Jacobean socks and some other projects too. Amanda had her socks on two circular needles and reminded me that it was 10 years ago that we first met in my classroom. My . how time flies!! Soon they were all gone but there's talk of more catching up soon: Amanda has tasked me with the organisation!!

This morning we went for our walk and saw a rock. Yes, it's the same rock we see every time but today it was imbued with special Rock Powers that needed about 5 minutes of concentrated sniffing!! On the way home we rescued Muffy and his two Humans. Their car was stopped and I saw in my mirror that they were pushing it. I reversed to see if there was anything I could do (Ha!! Like I know anything about cars or could push with any force!!) And so they availed themselves of a jump start. Muffy was a bit grumpy at first, but then had a nice pat and a treat from my pocket. Harki and Peri had extra pats from the Humans and were very excited.

Later Peri went to have her stitches out. Was she apprehensive or tentative?? NO, she was not. She made long noises of excitement and was too overwhelmed to drop and roll over. In the end, I supported her head and the Doctor 'gently' pulled her legs out from under her. Then she kept very still and calm while her stitches were whipped out. What a good girl. I bumped my neck in the process though!!

On a Jennifer Fallon note, I have it on good authority that she is writing a pentalogy. I of course realised this as I got closer and closer to the end, thinking all the time, 'Wow, she's really going to have to wrap this up quickly.'  Well it does mean I have two more books to look forward to!!

Now I'm off to have lunch with MrsDrWho and Mrs House Of.........

The Lady's Not For Turning Straps

How cute it would be, I thought, if Peri could sit outside in the Sun, with a little sign that said 'Thank You' and I could take a photograph and everyone would go 'Awww'. Right, like that was ever going to happen. Peri is feeling almost back to normal: she is playing rowdy games with Harki (who loves her and is very tolerant!!), she is stealing the newspaper and trying to escape out the back gate at every opportunity. She is back to being Peri Naughty. The only reminder apart from her stitches, and I have restrained myself from posting a picture of her belly, is that she tends to sit down a little gingerly. That's it. Everyone's kind wishes, thoughts and virtual pats and kisses passed on with enthusiasm have obviously done the trick!!! We are very lucky.

The enforced sabbatical at home (and here I wonder can you actually have a sabbatical at home if you are always at home anyway??) has led to some more sewing and knitting. I made another Lotta Apron, this time for MrsDrWho, from some vintage (and this sounds so much better than old, I think) fabric given to me by Cathy. I added a pocket and I think I have mastered the strap length. This apron is hot, and I don't mean hot in the 'oh it's the man from Burn Notice, he's really hot' kind of way. No, I mean the added two layers of fabric in the apron make it almost too hot to wear!! It's definitely a Winter Apron. The fact that I am not for turning straps led me to make a Pointy Strap Tutorial. You can find it in the side bar under My Patterns. It is but a small and whimsical thing, yet I like it!! It is my first photo tutorial foray!!!

The next sewing projects will be fixing the zip in MrsDrWho's handbag and sewing myself a Lotta backpack from the lovely Dog fabric LoopyLouey sent in my Bag Swap parcel. It is drying outside now and as soon as I have posted I will make the pattern pieces.

I started the first Ing Time birthday sock for Mr Madcage and you can probably guess his first name!!! It is a quick knit from 8ply Buttons on 4mm needles and 44 stitches. It grew very fast as I knitted away in waiting rooms this past week. No other socks for me as yet, and no Bendy wool has appeared so I'm wondering if I did order some, or I'm just delusional!!!   

I do have a new cooking magazine: the AWW published a Christmas edition last year and that was quite good. This Winter one has a delicious Moroccan soup with chick peas and lamb that I will cook tomorrow. Also Chile Con Carne with Corn Dumplings and Pea and Prosciutto pasta. Y.U.M. And there is a whole chocolate section.

Right now I am reading the final book in Jennifer Fallon's Tide Lord series: The Palace of Impossible Dreams. It has many story lines happening simultaneously, and they get a chapter each, concurrently. It hate it, she leaves you with a cliffhanger ending and then it's off to another character. I am rationing myself to make the pleasure last as long as possible!!!

Operation: Peri-coat*

No Cary Grant, no Tony Curtis, not a submarine to be seen, but thankfully Doctor Malcolm was on hand to save the day!!

Over the weekend I was idly rubbing Peri's belly with my foot as I am wont to do, me on the couch and her on the floor, when I suddenly felt a big lump. My heart stopped still and didn't really start beating again until 5-47pm tonight when Doctor Malcolm rang to say Peri was fine.

We went to the Hospital on Monday and saw Doctor Malcolm, so I knew they were as worried as I was, because he's the Senior Partner and Labrador Specialist!! He felt her lump while she stood very still, and then she leaped about like a mad thing afterwards to show how happy she was at being a good girl!! Then he said she had to be operated on straight away the next day.

We had an extra walk and I fed her especially yummy food. Just in case.

I dropped her off this morning and left Harki at home by herself. Peri was as happy as Larry till I went. I could hear her complaining as I drove away. I kept myself busy all day: Harki and I went for a walk around town to buy some wool, I went to The Knitting Coven, I found my lost Library book, I also found enough money on my bedside table to pay my mobile phone bill ($10, I never talk on my phone!!), I ordered some wool from Bendigo even though I have no idea which colour or how many balls, and I knitted away at the first Ing Time sock. Harki stayed at home by herself when I went to The Knitting Coven and didn't cry or bark and was such a wonderful girl- I checked with my neighbour and she kept an eye on her!!! Harki looked for Peri all day.......

The friends I told were supportive and positive and helped to keep me sane and calm.They did an excellent job.

Peri had a fatty lipoma. It is out now and she has some stitches and some antibiotics and she is going to be fine. Tonight she wandered about the house like an aged rock star: confused and weary!! Harki followed her around and they have both gone to bed. Where I will soon be.

It's been an interesting few days and I will be close to home for the rest of the week keeping Peri warm, and trying to keep her at least a little confined. My poor baby!!! She is very brave.

*The film was much better than the TV show.

When You Wish Apron A Star!!!

I borrowed Lotta Jansdotter's book from The Library, and I have made an apron. I am wearing it now. I have barely had it off since yesterday: everyone can thank their lucky stars I didn't wear it to bed as well. It's that good!!! I was originally going to make one for MrsDrWho, but wouldn't you know it, all my fabric is green!!! If you already sew, you can whip this up in just over an hour. It was very quick and easy. I had to make the waist ties longer otherwise I would have expired from constriction!!! I may still add a pocket. Maybe. I hate making ties, with the whole turning them right side out thing, so I always do it my way: I'll take some pictures to show next time.

Last night MrsDrWho and I watched The Ark of Truth, the first Stargate Movie. Wow!! I had assiduously avoided all spoilers and information, and I was thoroughly surprised, amused, frightened, sad and happy. I really enjoyed it. I squealed and hid my eyes and laughed out loud, at various different times I hasten to add, not all at once like a crazed person. It was one of the best sequel movies I have ever seen and now I am impatiently awaiting the next one: Stargate: Continuum.

I joined The Ravelry Wee Small Sock Swap and I received my sock from the lovely Kim yesterday!!! She specially found some green wool and a tiny sheep stitch marker. It is very remiss of me not to have shown my lovely Ravelry Bag Swap either, from the excellent blogless LoopyLouey!! It is green, beaded, lined with green and has a detachable brooch!! Too many extra good things to mention individually, but click to embiggen and play I Spy with the pictures!!! First things to spy? Harki and Peri!!

There are also a lot of books to spy. I snapped up a bargain Nicky Epstein at the Crazy Day sale last Saturday. I don't know what I will ever use it for, but how could I pass it up??? The GardyGardeners gave me some old cook books, which I am reading in bed!! Then last night MrsDrWho lent me some very old books, some older than me, to read.. there's a Biggles, The Secret Garden and a ballet book!!

There has been no knitting, I had a woozy head and a day in bed on Wednesday, but was up and about yesterday and we have been for a brisk walk in the bush today. The weather is dulling up (I know dulling is not correct word usage, but it is exactly what is happening) and rain is forecast soon. Hooray. I am still managing not to kill my lemon tree and I think this is due mainly to the rain we have been having. I will have to have a closer investigation next time I go through The Forbidden Zone to see if it is actually growing. I'm off to wash some more fabric, I'm thinking of making a new bag, and after 3pm I'm having afternoon tea at the trendy cafe on the corner with The MadCages. Oh, and here's a picture of Peri on the left and Harki on the right, wagging their tails furiously as I am taking photos outside. They were hoping for a treat as it was time for Elevenses. Sadly, no luck there!!!!

Hour: Mutual Friend*

Yes, at last Daylight Saving has ended and we all gained back the lost hour. This means, of course, that we are waking up an hour early. Sigh. The Labradors are all perky-eared and bushy-tailed at 6-30am and have to be very persuaded to lie down again until it is time for a walk. This morning it was drizzling and then raining hard so it was a very happy walk. There's not enough rain for puddles, or even the greening of the bush, but there's enough for hope.

The When You're On A Shawl Thing? Well I've stuck to it and it's finished.  Donna at Random Knits was so right: it is the blocking that makes a shawl!! This is just a little shawl, but I am still extremely pleased with myself. I couldn't believe how a little soak in some warm water could turn the crepey, bubbly knitted fabric into such a soft and smooth lacy swoosh. I left it all night and here it is, pinned on some poplin on the back of the couch, and badly photographed. I may be able to talk someone at Sewing on Wednesday night to do some stylish modelling!!! So, it's The Swallowtail Shawl from IK Autumn 2006, I used 2 and a tiny bit balls of Merino and 3.75mm circular needle. Started about the 28th March and finished 6th April. 

I was then bereft of a new handy project. I hadn't started any socks, I had sewing up to do, and you can't start a cardigan you're knitting a Stargate into, or The Sherlock Hemlock Blanket while watching the last episode of Life on Mars. So I started the cuffs of MrsDrWho's as yet un-named cardigan. I think I should call it The Pop Tart. Any other good Doctor Who names you can think of??? It is supposed to be knitted on 6.5mm, which means 7mms for me, but I am using 12 ply on 5mm for the cuffs and then Making up the pattern for the frou-frou black yarn.  In another handy way I'm making March Wife, or Annie Modesitt's June Bride, for my nextdoor neighbour. The picture in the book bears no resemblance to the actual pattern, so I'm a bit disappointed, but soldiering on nevertheless. They are in a burgundy or maroon colour to match the colours on her stall at the Market. They should keep her warm now Winter is coming.

Life on Mars?? Most excellent thing I have watched or read in recent times. Absolutely wonderful. Great ending, fabulous characters, writing, music, John Simm: Everything!!!

The passionfruit and lemon cake was delicious, served with some vanilla bean King Island Yoghurt and more fresh passionfruit squeezed over the top. However, I made a mixed berry topped brownie, more or less from Donna Hay's Chocolate book, for MrsDrWho. Recipe follows. There's not much green in this post. I had better get my act together and whip up some green things pronto!! Tomorrow I'm making Things Rhubarb: more Autumnal Harvests!!! (Karen Martini's new cook book: can anyone recommend it? It's a bit expensive to buy without the nod from someone)

Berry Topped Brownie

• 220g good dark chocolate, 70% is nice
• 250g butter
• 200g cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 200g plain flour
• 1/4 tspn baking powder
• 40g cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups berries: I used mixed frozen berries

Preheat the oven to 180*C (350F) and grease and line a 20- 23cm square tin. Melt the chocolate and butter together gently, cool slightly then add the sugar and eggs. Sift in the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into the tin and then strew the berries over the top. Bake for about 45 minutes or until it is set in the middle. Take care, as all the chocolate will burn easily. Cool in the tin. I think it is nice, I can't eat it:-(

*Our Mutual Friend

Much Ado About Nupping

It was either this, or Sort Of Dunno Nuppin', and Shakespeare won out, mainly because Much Ado was first performed in Autumn!!! I did do cheating nupps: even though I knitted loosely (thanks Ann) and thought about slip 2 P3 together slip the 2 purls over (thanks RoseRed) in the end I found a tiny sock needle and used that for the purling 5 together. It was no more trouble than using a cable needle, so I was very happy. I do like my new camera which enables me to take much better close up pictures. Relatively speaking, you realise, as compared to a Labradors taking photos!!!

All the pieces of The GITNeB are complete and are waiting in the Sun to be blocked and then sewn up. This was a fast knit, I used 4.5mm needles!!! I have new wool put away at the Woo(l) shop in town: Vera in variegated green. It isn't cheap, but I can pay for it as I go. I am making a vest of some description. I don't know which vest yet, but the wool is beautiful!!!

Here is my Ravelry Bag Swap bag all complete. I knitted the String Green Bag pattern from YARN 8, designed by Lisa at PlainJane Creations. I used BlackSpot of Doomlight(TM) plain wool, and it took 8 balls. Of course I had no wool other than green in my stash so I spent most of the money limit on the wool. I bought lining and made a little zippy detachable bag and I spent some extra on beads to match. I changed the pattern: the size, the placement of the holes, the handle length etc and I also added a gusset by sewing across the bottom corners before I felted. The felting went really well and I was very nervous, worried, and then jubilant when it worked!!!

The weather here has been truly Autumnal. We had hurricane wind warnings, that's the highest you can go on the Beaufort Scale. There were no actual hurricanes, but roofs blew off houses, about 20% of people in the state were without power and there were 17 metre high waves on the West Coast. A house further up the road lost its roof. We hunkered down last night while the wind blew the torrential rain right into the verandah and onto the front windows- and that never happens. It is a bit worrying because the man over the road managed to undermine the actual road with illegal digging and blasting. The council put up a helpful, if badly spelled sign, but though it started on Boxing Day, there are still huge water filled barriers and no sign of a retaining wall yet....

Autumn is also the time for apples, and The GardyGardeners brought me some apples and passionfruit yesterday. I am eating the apples and making a passionfruit and lemon cake!! Harki and Peri like the apples but are not sure about the passionfruit. I know they would like cake though.

The B.A.G.

So, you're thinking this title refers to maybe The Ravelry Bag Swap, or even Roald Dahl and his BFG?? Nope, that would actually be Jerry O'Connell in Sliders. And the B.A.G. is The Beautiful Adorable Girl: Harki!! (Whose nickname as a pup was Giant Baby Harki. She was a big baby!!!)  But I digress as usual. There's an episode of Sliders where Jerry's character Quinn Mallory  is walking down some rickety wooden steps, his hands tied in front of him, towards a scaffold where he is to be hanged. MrsDrWho and I looked at each other and decided it was at this point we would feel self-conscious and silly if we were actors. Kind of Willing Suspension of Disbelief Jumping the Shark time. From that day, whenever we see an actor doing something really silly we refer to it as a 'Jerry O'Connell Walking Down the Stairs Moment'. I had one of these moments this week, sitting on the couch with half a plastic bag balanced on my head. A moment when I realised that if anyone saw me they would think I was mad!! In fact I was playing Harki's favourite game: Little Hat. To play Little Hat to its fullest potential the person on the couch should put on a hat, but hats are in short supply here so Harki brings me whatever she has handy, an ice-cream container or a toy, but usually a bag. The person then places said 'hat'; on their head, says "Little Hat' and then Harki delicately hops up on the couch and ever so gently removes said hat from the person's head. Et Voila: Little Hat!!!

The GITNeB is going along really well. I only have half a sleeve to knit and it is finished. This is good news as Autumn seems to have arrived!! We have had a  2*C overnight low and it was 12*C on Thursday and we have had rain, substantial rain, for two days in a row!!!! This makes Harki and Peri very happy and they are more alert and playful (Little Hat) and love their walks in the cold crisp mornings. They run far afield and their ears are all alert and their eyes peeled. Peri always has her eyes peeled for a way out. I'm looking at the gate and thinking that I might paint it green soon. I think this will involve dry weather, some sanding, primer and green metal paint!!!(Metal green paint??)

I have been led astray by some Horrible Bunny Cosies. Mine, not the pattern itself I hasten to add!!! I think I made their ears too far apart. They are cosying up to eggs here at MrsDrWho's house but I left them cosying the electric salt and pepper shakers and various other things!!! I helped her class make their Easter Felt Eggs too!!! I'm also making my Aunt the Swallowtail Shawl, or the When You're on to a Shawl Thing!!!!! It is easy thus far, I knitted 12 of the 14 sets of lace repeats yesterday but I am up to the Purl 5 togethers now. They take a bit of time. There are just 20ish rows to go. This is my first ever shawl and so far so good.  I have finished and sent away my Ravelry Bag. I felted it and lined it and it worked really well. I hope my Swap Recipient likes it....

I love the things that have been sent to me: some beautiful wool, some excellent pot holders and really truly Amy Butler fabric!! So far all I have done is wash the fabric and the Easter Eggs disappeared with me to a good home!!! The handspun worsted is to be a neck warmer. I need a pattern, anyone recommend one?? For 160 yards?  Thank you to everyone for their very kind words and thoughts!! I am feeling quite well at the moment, numbers stable and drugs juggled. I have been quite social this week catching up with all my friends. We have a ten day Easter Break here in The Apple Isle, which gives us Four Terms when You're Not Having Four Terms. We're philosophically opposed to Four Terms. Children here don't need more holidays in the colder times!!!

One of my friends from school has a blog of her own. You might like to say hello to The Highland Quilter!!!! So that's it for today, I'm keeping it short(ish) and sweet and I have saved things for posting again in April. "Cause that's just the day after tomorrow!!! Now I can read lots of blogs as I have replied to my languishing comments!!!

Corn Fritters

• 425g can corn kernels, drained
• 1 egg
• 3 or 4 spring onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup SR flour
• 1/3 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• oil
• Extras of sour cream and smoked salmon, a little freshly squeezed lemon juice

Whisk the egg then add the milk, corn, onion and flour. Stir well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat the oil in the pan over a medium heat and then add tablespoonfuls of the mixture. Cook till bubbles appear on the top or the underneath is lightly is browned. Then flip and cook for about another minute. They are nice eaten hot right away. Or, when cold, top with sour cream and some smoked salmon with a little lemon juice. they are delicious. Sadly my picture is out of focus, and I did take 3. Maybe it was that glass of wine???