Thank You Granny!

During my mum’s stay with us last September she took up knitting again. My Mum has knitted for many MANY years and knitted everything for me when I was a baby and then for my babies too.

A lot of these knitted garments have now been passed on to my daughter’s baby dolls along with the majority of Rachel’s baby wardrobe, which I had the good sense to keep and what joy I get from seeing them on my plastic grandchildren Ha-ha!

My mum made Emma, who is now 16, a beautiful Aran sweater for her first birthday and that sweater has been worn by each of my kids and has grown a little with every wash and Rachel will get wear out if it this winter.

Remember this Mam?!

My mum had laid down her needles since her baby garment making days until she came here and stayed with her knitting crazed daughter ME!

AND this is what she made…

My mum sent the finished jacked to Rachel and the best part of this jacket was it’s smell. OH MY GOSH it smelt of home and my lovely mum and well I doubt it will ever be washed ;)

Rachel loves her jacket so much and sends a huge THANK YOU, hugs and kisses to her Granny for her beautiful jacket.

LOVE YOU GRANNY!

 

Not forgetting the wonderful seamstress who kindly machined in it’s zipper… Thanks Debbie :)

2009 ‘To Do’ List Revisited

• Get my annual check up. All well and healthy
• Get all my kids their annual check up. All well and healthy
• Make time to call home more often.
• Take more notice about the world around me...watch the news, read a newspaper!
• Take a family vacation somewhere warm and fun! Florida Summer 2009
• Go camping in a tent.
• Stay under my goal weight.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Join the YMCA.
• Get a part time job once Rachel begins Kindergarten
• Begin a new hobby. Knitting!!
• Visit Canada
• Don't put off until tomorrow, what I can do today especially when it comes down to getting my hair done. Meaning: I am always totally depressed with myself by the time I eventually get round to getting MY hair done...when if I had just 'pulled my finger out' I COULD have had it done weeks ago, before I hated Kate!
• Speak up and say what I really think
• Stop analyzing everything!

OK… Hmmmm?!

I really thought that I had achieved so much more this year… but NO!

Some I have ‘kind of’ achieved or NOT …

• Make time to call home more often ~ I now feel that with fb and IM etc… telephone calls are not the most efficient means of communication with 8 hours time differences. Still i continue to feel bad about my lack of effort on this front :(
• Take more notice about the world around me...watch the news, read a newspaper! ~ Still do NOT read newspapers BUT I do now catch up with international news online everyday. I have no clue what is going on locally… but I can tell you what’s happening in the UK or the Far East (probably)
• Go camping in a tent. FAILED
• Stay under my goal weight. FAILED Not too bad…BUT bad enough that I feel the need to justify! Would love to be skinny Kate again ;)
• Exercise on a regular basis. FAILED I am definitely a sporadic exerciser but enthusiastic when I do ;)
• Join the YMCA. FAILED FAILED FAILED
• Get a part time job once Rachel begins Kindergarten ~ It may not be paid work BUT I am now very actively involved with my kids school. I am putting regular hours in the school library and helping in Kindergarten too. Very rewarding and a lot of fun!
• Visit Canada FAILED
• Don't put off until tomorrow, what I can do today especially when it comes down to getting my hair done. Meaning: I am always totally depressed with myself by the time I eventually get round to getting MY hair done...when if I had just 'pulled my finger out' I COULD have had it done weeks ago, before I hated Kate! ~ Hmmm! I do feel a lot more organized this year and I have a working online calendar in place which reminds me to to everything and it is sync’d up to my hubby’s calendar too. I am making hair appointments for me and the kids every 6 weeks and as long as I make the appointment before I leave the last then I am good ;) I feel I have successfully procrastinated FAR less this year and of that I am proud…Yeah ME! I went back and scratched this one out as I do feel I have achieved a lot on this point =D
• Speak up and say what I really think ~ FAILED …Ok, I have to resign myself to the fact that I will never be able to do this unless I grow a large pair of …
• Stop analyzing everything! ~ Let me think about this! Does recognizing that I have a problem work… Oops there I go again MY BAD!

So that was interesting and a little disheartening!

However, I guess my main goal this year was to keep the family happy, the household running, raise healthy happy kids and keep my marriage sweet… ACHIEVED!

I’ll work on the rest next year!

I will post my 2010 ‘To Do’ List anon

TTFN!

Santa Hat

I searched my usual resources to try and find THE perfect Santa hat for my 5yr old, but to no avail.

Many patterns were available but none to my liking so from my knowledge of making hats so far I managed to create my perfect Santa Hat and I thought I would share it with you…

This hat knit up in a day and was super fun to make!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

The pattern goes something like this…

Materials

Size 7, 16” circular needles & size 7 DPNs

yarn needle

pompom maker

 

Yarn

1 skein of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (White)

1 skein of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Scarlet)

OR any worsted weight yarn for the above will work

1 skein of Lion Brand Fun Fur (White) or similar

(you could make perhaps 2+ hats from the above quantity of yarn)

 

Abbreviations

DPNs = Double pointed needles

K = Knit

P = Purl

K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together (decreases one)

 

Method

• Cast on 84 stitches with both worsted weight white and fun fur white
• Join, place stitch marker and knit in the round
• Knit 5 rows in stockinette
• Then K1, P1 rib for a further 5 rows

I find these 10 rows give a great effect brim to any hat especially kids hats.

• Cut fun fur and knit an additional 2 rows with the worsted weight white
• Still with the worsted weight white *K19, K2tog* x 4 = 80 stitches
• Cut worsted weight white and join worsted weight scarlet
• Knit in the round for approx 3 ins in stockinette from color change
• After approx 3ins of red you are going to begin to gradually decrease to create the point of the hat.

Decreasing

(change to your DPNs when you feel it is necessary to do so)

Row 1 – Knit all stitches

Row 2 - *Knit 18, K2tog* x 4 = 76 stitches

Row 3 – Knit all stitches

Row 4 - *Knit 17, K2tog* x 4 = 72 stitches

Row 5 – Knit all stitches

Row 6 - *Knit 16, K2tog* x 4 = 68 stitches

Row 7 – Knit all stitches

Row 8 - *Knit 15, K2tog* x 4 = 64 stitches

Row 9 – Knit all stitches

Row 10 - *Knit 14, K2tog* x 4 = 60 stitches

Row 11 – Knit all stitches

Row 12 - *Knit 13, K2tog* x 4 = 56 stitches

Row 13 – Knit all stitches

Row 14 - *Knit 12, K2tog* x 4 = 52 stitches

Row 15 – Knit all stitches

Row 16 - *Knit 11, K2tog* x 4 = 48 stitches

Row 17 – Knit all stitches

Row 18 - *Knit 10, K2tog* x 4 = 44 stitches

Row 19 – Knit all stitches

Row 20 - *Knit 9, K2tog* x 4 = 40 stitches

Row 21 – Knit all stitches

Row 22 - *Knit 8, K2tog* x 4 = 36 stitches

Row 23 – Knit all stitches

Row 24 - *Knit 7, K2tog* x 4 = 32 stitches

Row 25 – Knit all stitches

Row 26 - *Knit 6, K2tog* x 4 = 28 stitches

Row 27 – Knit all stitches

Row 28 - *Knit 5, K2tog* x 4 = 24 stitches

Row 29 – Knit all stitches

Row 30 - *Knit 4, K2tog* x 4 = 20 stitches

Row 31 – Knit all stitches

Row 32 - *Knit 3, K2tog* x 4 = 16 stitches

Row 33 – Knit all stitches

Row 34 - *Knit 2, K2tog* x 4 = 12 stitches

Row 35 – Knit all stitches

Row 36 - *Knit 1, K2tog* x 4 = 8 stitches

Row 37 – Knit all stitches

 

• Cut yarn leaving a tail long enough to thread through your yarn needle and then feed needle through remaining 8 stitches and gather together
• Tie off and weave in end on wrong side of hat
• Make pompom with both strands of white yarn ( worsted weight and fun fur)
• Attach it securely to point of your Santa Hat!

 

Please note

Using fun fur to make the pompom proved very messy and in hindsight it may be wiser to just use the worsted weight alone. I am not sure how long the fun fur will remain in the pompom as it seems to be shedding profusely ;) Only time will tell. I may just make another pompom in the event that this mixed yarn one drops to bits in a few days of heavy 5yr old wearing!!

 

One size seems to fit all…

even Santa ;-}

 

This is the first ever pattern I have attempted to write so I do apologize for any errors or confusion you may find!

Please feel free to comment with any questions or queries you may have!

Happy Knitting!

Gratification!

Do you think Rachel loves her hat I made her yesterday?!

I took this photograph at 11pm last night, sound asleep and all snuggled up with a very warm head =D

And this morning…

“UGH…Why all the photos mom?!”

She just didn’t get why I was so tickled my her constant hat wearing!

This hat is the girl version of the penguin hat I blogged about previously!

This is my fourth to date, with another one on the needles for a kindergarten classmate of Rachel’s who’s party we are going to on Friday!

Got to go…there’s knitting to be done

TTFN

At Last I Can Share

Well am I sharing or is it a brag… well you have to when you can right!?

I have been wanting to brag share my creations for the last week or so now but secrets had to be kept to be sure surprises were had!

Because…

My friend Lindsey is having a baby girl and her due date is Christmas Day would you believe … Exciting!

Some friends and I organized a baby shower to celebrate Lindsey and her soon to be born baby girl!

I hosted the shower and the party was a huge success and once again I will say “I LOVE entertaining” It is a lot of work but so rewarding and I get to hang out with my favorite people and have a BLAST!

I decorated the house with help from my son who worked out all the calculations for the streamers and inspired me along the way.

My eldest daughter and I made a diaper/nappy cake. I thought it appropriate for me to make the cake as it was in fact Lindsey who originally taught me to make these amazing gifts…

Made from diapers/nappies. Roll one diaper and then wrap around another and then another and so on to get the width you desire and then tie a piece of string/ribbon/yarn around to keep diapers securely in place. You really need two pairs of hands for this unless you are a contortionist  ;)

Make as many tiers as you want. Three tiers required a big pack of diapers! I think 78 in total.

I decorated my cake with travel size Johnson and Johnson baby products, toys, a diaper sack dispenser and refill. You can use anything!

Then I wrapped each tier with matching ribbon with a pretty bow at the top!

I really think this is a perfect gift for any expectant mom or newborn baby… the MOST practical gift!

I also made Lindsey some knitted baby garments.. MAN… do I love being able to knit. It is such a great feeling to give a gift that has been handmade. There is so much thought and love gone into it. Even if it turns out not as you’d hoped it really doesn’t matter! Which is a good job for a newbie knitter like me ;)

Rachel (my youngest) (ha-ha this is NOT her below) helped too, with the loan of her baby doll so I could test out my knitted creations… FUN!

 

This is Chu-Chu!

AND this is Lindsey who was our guest of honor on the day!

 

Congratulations!

Lindsey

It’s Infectious!

No not H1N1… well yes that is BUT on a positive note I am talking about HAPPINESS!

I am sure he wouldn’t mind me saying without all the details of course…

My stepbrother, let’s drop the step as he has been my brother for 32 years so I guess the step is irrelevant eh?!

Well he has been having a tough time of late and yesterday he messaged me to express his happiness with life right now!

And I tell you what I am SOOooo happy for him! He deserves to be happy!!

He is the type of guy who never asks “ what? or why?” from anyone when asked a favor, he ALWAYS says “yep no problem” THEN asks what it is!

My brother has just recently found facebook so before now really we have only ‘touched base’ on one occasion over the last 3 years.

So not only am I very happy that he is HAPPY but I am overwhelmed and super chuffed that he wanted to tell me his news and share his happiness with little old me who’s so far away!

It is sad that both my brothers have special people in their lives who I have never met in the flesh. My other (step) brother and his fiancé have an almost one year old little girl whom I have never met either. This make me sad as I long to meet them. Thank god for amazing technology and apps such as facebook so I can see photos, virtually get to know these wonderful people in my family and I do hope to get back to the UK next year to finally meet them and give all my nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters, moms and dads, grans, aunts, uncles and cousins huge HUGE hugs!

Miss you guys so much!! *sniff sniff*

OK feel sad again UGH!

Send me more HAPPY vibes please!!

AND not forgetting my skinny blister Mel… whom I miss like SUPER crazy!

Love you and miss you Mel, Matthew, Nathan and Dave (((HUGS)))

In Honor Of My Carrot ~ Soup!

After reaping my harvest this year… ONE carrot!

I decided that I had to use, cook and eat it fresh from the ground, so to speak ;)

Soup! that’s what I’ll make. '”what do I have to make soup?” I said to myself, super excited to be able to make something from my hard earned efforts and high water bill ;)

Let’s see…

1 carrot :) obviously!

and  1 sweet potato, half an onion, carton of stock and a few left over baby carrots. Also I found a bag of lentils, frozen peas, tin of diced toms, tin of sweet corn and a bunch of herbs…

Having never cooked with lentils before I prepared them as described on the packet and then began concocting my soup!

I scoured through my saved recipes in my email inbox and found a few ideas for flavoring and to gain some inspiration. So thanks to Pei for her lentil soup recipe which suggested 2 tbls of red wine vinegar and a pinch of sugar… that worked great. I added cilantro and pepper corns from Lindsey’s soup recipe and well I just chucked the rest of my ingredients in and HEY PRESTO!

 

so the recipe…

• One organic beautiful fat scrumptious delicious HOMEGROWN carrot
• Half an onion
• 1 sweet potato
• 3/4 of a carton of chicken stock
• Handful of baby carrots
• 1 can of sweet corn including juice
• 1 can of diced toms
• 1/2 cup of cooked lentils
• 3/4 cup of frozen peas
• Boiling water to add to liquid
• 1 heaped teaspoon of minced garlic
• 1 heaped teaspoon of mixed Italian herbs
• 1 heaped teaspoon of cilantro leaves ( I used dry but fresh would be better)
• 2 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
• pinch of sugar
• some roughly milled black pepper

 

and the method…

Softened onions in a little olive oil in the soup pan and then threw everything else in and slowly brought soup to the boil and then simmered for a few hours on low.

We ate it with sour dough bread and it tasted YUMMY!

You could go buy your ingredients but why not just raid your pantry and make spontaneous soup too. It was fun and provided dinner for the family… What a result!

OH! and the carrot… DELICIOUS!