Spinayarn99

AN INTERESTING AND SAD OBITUARY

2012-01-16T17:52:00.000+11:00

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

PHOTO FRIDAY ..... 'END OF THE DAY'

2012-01-10T15:42:00.000+11:00

If you are looking for a weekly photo challenge look at this great site http://photofriday.com/. Each Friday there is a new subject for you to interpret and photograph.

I immediately thought of photographing dusk ...... BUT ..... sitting on the outside table was a vase of dead flowers waiting to be cooked in the dye pot !!!! LOL ... yes, these once beautiful flowers had come to the end of their day !!!!

THE GREEN BAG

2012-01-03T15:40:00.002+11:00

I was asked yesterday on facebook, did I have airconditioning in our house .... ???? The answer was NO!!! ... considering it was 41C I wish we did have airconditioning. However, I remember saving the undermentioned and want to share it with you ...

Checking out at the grocery store recently, the young cashier suggested I should bring my own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. I apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right about one thing -- our generation didn't have the green thing in “Our” day.

So what did we have back then…? After some reflection and soul-searching on "Our" day here's what I remembered we did have.... Back then, we returned milk bottles, lemonade bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles repeatedly. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of Western Australia. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the green thing back then.

Back then, people took the train, tram or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest fish and chip shop.

We did as we were asked BECAUSE WE RESPECTED OUR PARENTS. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

2012 IS A NEW YEAR !!!

2012-01-02T14:18:00.000+11:00

Hello everyone ..... just to let you know that Ern and I are still in the land of the living !!!

In the past, I have always said that I do not make New Year Resolutions, because they are only meant to be broken. This year however, I did make one ..... to write in my blog "every now and then" ..... LOL

WONDERFUL FRIENDS

2011-03-05T00:02:00.001+11:00

Yesterday I had such a lovely surprise telephone call. Jeanette and Joy were going to meet me at ????? yes ..... at Allan's Bakery ...... and bring Ern ..... be there at 10.30am

When I/we get there, Rosemary was there also. They had met her in the shopping centre and said she had to come for morning tea.

It was lovely to catch up with them, friends from the past, friends whom I hadn't forgotten and whom I often think about. We were all in the Kilsyth CWA together.

We had our coffee and much laughter (and some tears) and were about to leave, when another friend from CWA lingered outside the shop, then decided she was going to take something home for lunch. So Betty and the rest of us had lunch there and then .....

..... in the meantime, Ern had joined us, couldn't stand our chatter and laughter and waited outside the Bakery with our dog Chloe ....... geez Ern, go home !!!! No he wanted to wait for me ...... oh isn't that nice?? Yes he did eventually take the dog home. Come to think of it, I think Chloe took Ern home !!!

I really did enjoy the morning (and avo with the girls). It was wonderful to catch up on their families ..... how the time flies by ..... kids grow up so fast !!

Thankyou Jeanette, Joy, Rosemary and Betty for making me laugh, cry and remembering the good times we once had.

2011 LÓREAL MELBOURNE FASHION WEEK - MODEL CASTINGS

2011-03-02T22:14:00.000+11:00

My beautiful (I mean stunning) neice Anna, auditioned for the 2011 Australia's Next Top Model auditions at Chadstone. Two of the judges said they wanted her to go to Sydney, but the third judge said NO !! When Anna questioned why, she was told that she was too short ..... she wanted the models over 6ft !!! Although disappointed, she accepted the outcome quite graciously ..... mind you this was her first official catwalk appearance !!!!!

A couple of weeks later, Anna was invited to participate in the 2011 Model Casting for the L'oreal Melbourne Fashion Week. This was quite an honour for her .... the other Vogue models were extremely nice and helpful and gave Anna technique advice for strutting her stuff on the catwalk.

The day was awesome to a young schoolgirl, talking and laughing with models she has admired from afar. Below is the official LMFF video of the Lóreal model casting. Anna is in it and I am a very proud aunty !!!!!

HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY MUM

2010-10-23T21:06:00.000+11:00

My lovely Mum has just celebrated her 80th Birthday.

Now everyone who knows me had better sit down for this ....... Ern and I actually were able to celebrate it with her. OK, so what does that mean? I live in Melbourne and Mum lives in Wangaratta. I have not been to Wangaratta for over 3 years. We actually travelled to Wangaratta ..... yes ....... we really did !!! I put our lovely dog in a boarding kennel and Ern and I travelled to Wangaratta by train. Of course I was thinking that Ern wouldn't go ..... however, he was going, even if I had to drag him kicking and screaming.

When we got there he was out of his environment but at least he had his laptop and port !!!!

We 4 kids decided that Mum was going to have a party. 35 people enjoyed a very informal and lovely luncheon at the Vine Hotel. It was so relaxing. Everyone had the opportunity to say a few words and this proved very entertaining.

WORLDWIDE SPIN IN PUBLIC DAY 18 September 2010

2010-09-18T14:56:00.005+10:00

What a lovely way to celebrate Spin In Public Day2010.

I live in Kilsyth, an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne Australia. My husband has Alzheimers Disease, so I very rarely leave the house alone. So how was I going to participate in "SIPD"? To make things worse, the weather looked as though it was going to rain.

So I went down to my local shopping centre and did some handcarding in the car park !!!!! This caused some amusement amongst the shoppers, especially as we have a retirement village nearby and we are a very "sedate"suburb. I carded some lovely BRIGHT pink, orange and lime green rovings.

Then I ended up at our local bakery (Allan's Bakery Kilsyth - http://allanscakes.com.au/ ) and whilst carding there, enjoyed coffee and delicious blueberry pancakes.
Allan's Bakery do the best decorated cakes I have seen - modern and tradional).

What could make for a better day ....... my two favourite thingies ....... fibre and food ........ hehehehe

FIBRE FRIDAY - 2 BASIC COLOURS AND ??????? and SPIN IN PUBLIC DAY

2010-09-17T21:34:00.010+10:00

WORLDWIDE SPIN IN PUBLIC DAY

This day is always held on the 3rd Saturday of September. WILL YOU BE PARTICIPATING ???????

I did last year ...... yeah spinning on my nature strip ......

....... not too sure where I will be tomorrow - perhaps in front of my most favourite local shop ....... Allan's Bakery !!

These 4 skeins were made from a base of 2 colours - orange and green. Then for each skein I added one or two other colours. By doing this, I ended up with 4 distinct coloured skeins.

I ran the colours through my drumcarder in no order, but tried to keep the colours togetheR.

The four skeins were plied with the same black yarn.

ONE WEEK SINCE HURRICAN BEN

2010-09-16T10:55:00.001+10:00

Yes, it has been one week since our our heater installation debarcle. This photo shows some of the dust left AFTER the tradesman left.

This is part of an email sent to AGL - and to be fair to AGL I have omitted surnames.

One week has gone by since Ben **** came to install the gas heater. Apart from ourselves, our family and friends have been appalled by:

• Ben's incompetence - especially cutting the live wire without turning off the mains power

• his inability to communicate with us regarding the amount of dust involved and the need to cover furniture, electrical items and other items

• no apology from him regarding the dust covering expensive Nikon camera, computer equipment, TV, video equipment and others

• his failure to leave our home in the same state as he found it when he arrived to do the installation

• for sternly telling me "THAT WE WANTED IT FITTED!" when I said that I was cross about him not covering the furniture

• his apparent lack of respect to us as customers of AGL Assist

• his apparent lack of respect to the company he works for

Ben Lombard is NEVER to come to our house in the future to service any of our gas units.

I am disappointed that AGL Assist Bayswater did not endeavour to send Ben back immediately to clean up his mess which was left, nor to check if the gas heater was working correctly. In fact Jack and Pat only came on Monday afternoon to check on the heater, after my telephone conversations with Nicole and Christine from AGL.

And I am disappointed with AGL Bayswater for not contacting me since last Friday (not even acknowledging my email/photos sent to you). A courtesy call would have been appreciated.

LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS

2010-09-12T12:33:00.001+10:00

CAMILLIA CORNER

2010-09-12T00:50:00.002+10:00

I feel so much better having vented my anger and frustration in my last posting ....

.... so here is a lovely photo of one of our camillias.

.... they have been really beautiful this year.

No wonder our house is named "Camillia Corner".

WHAT A MORONIC TRADESMAN !!

2010-09-12T00:17:00.015+10:00

Last Wednesday we had a new gas heater installed as the old one had 2 large cracks in the Heat Exchange thus leaking carbon monoxide (the same thing that killed the children at Mooroopna earlier this year). We were extremely lucky.

Pictured is my new Nikon D90 camera with macro lens attached covered in red brick dust. Why????? Well the new heater was 5cm too small to fit in the fireplace. Our moronic/stupid AGL Assist (Bayswater) tradesman had to chip and grind at the red bricks inside the chimmney.

I was on the phone at the time when he started and when I went into the lounge room the whole room was absolutely thick with chocking red dust. I cried when I saw that NOTHING had been covered. By this time it was really too late to cover anything. However, sheets were thrown over the computer table, TV and the dining room table. My camera was taken outside and dusted down.

I could see that the tradesman had a difficult job to install the new heater, but that does not excuse him for not covering furniture/computer/TV. I was so furious with him ..... if he was so DUMB and perhaps couldn't be bothered, why didn't he ask ME to cover things.

When he finished grinding, I told him that I was furious that nothing had been covered. He tersely told me THAT I WANTED THE HEATER INSTALLED and that he had warned me what he was going to do!

YES, of course I wanted the heater installed asap, but HONESTLY I DID NOT realise the amount of dust that would have been generated. Perhaps he thought that I was just a stupid housewife and that I would not "mind" a little dust covering everything.

BOY WAS HE WRONG ....... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was here for just under 4 hours and explained to me in two minutes how to turn the heater on and off. Later that evening when I turned the heater off I could still hear the fan going..... He didn't tell me that the fan switched off once the unit cooled down. Thank goodness for the instuction manual !!! (By the way, our old heater was approx 25 years old and very basic).

The next day, right on 9am, I was in contact with AGL Assist (Bayswater) expressing my disgust at the tradesman's lack of good sense. ....... and again on Friday ..... I was aked to send photos via email to them.

I have the whole unfortunate installation documented and on Monday morning will be ringing AGL Assist H.O. with my complaint and emailing the photos and documentation.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE

The dining room table was also covered with dust ...... yep ....... and everything on top of it. The morning of the heater installation I had set the table for a formal birthday luncheon for the next day ... lace table cloth, cutlery, crockery and serviettes. Well, the lace cloth had to be soaked to get the red dust out, cutlery and plates washed and the flowers thrown out.

Curtains had to be washed, but the drapes have to be drycleaned. My hand felted large floor mat will have to be washed (I made this at the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic a couple of years ago). A few years ago I won one of Isobelle's handwoven floor mat at a Guild function. It has always looked so lovely in front of our heater. Now it is in the laundry waiting for a dry, sunny and windy day to get the dust out of it.

ONE DROWNED MOUSE .........

NO NO NO not the four legged variety ..... After the tradesman went, I was left to clean up HIS MESS. I was wiping the dust off my computer equipment - I was wiping the "mouse" when my hand shook and it fell into my hot cuppa ....... I drowned it !!!!! Lucky I had a spare one in the drawer.

MACRO MONDAY - ANTS

2010-09-06T18:13:00.004+10:00

This photo was taken the first day I got my new macro lens.

Ern and I are both well, although Ern had another fall - the left side this time. He sure has good bones - no rib or hip fractures ......

MONDAY'S COLLAGE

2010-06-22T22:34:00.011+10:00

These skeins were all made from the same fibre source - a mini-fibre-sandwich!!! I spun three bobbins and then plyed each with a different coloured commercial plying thread. I used black, pink and blue. I seem to use black alot when plying.

Pink isn't really my favourite colour to spin, however, as I continually tell others .... "spin outside your comfort zone (OCZ)". When I spin pink, I always think of Joan D from the Guild - a lovely lady who doesn't like spinning pink.

A couple of years ago, I gave a workshop on colour blending at the Guild. In the morning session I asked each participant which was their favourite and least favourite colours. These were then written on a white board ...... BUT that wasn't the last of it !! Oh no ....... just before the lunch break I handed each participant a length of roving in their least favourite colour and told them that after lunch they had to spin it !!! hehehehe

So then, after lunch just as they were about to spin their piece of roving, I told them I had changed my mind and that they weren't required to spin it at all ..... they could keep it and use it anyway. (what a mean thing to do to your students!!!!)

My exercise was to get the participants to "think outside their comfort zone" .... and for them to think how they could spin something they didn't like. hehehehehehe

To conclude ..... they all used their "hateful" roving during the afternoon's session and created some lovely skeins. (BTW: Joan D was a participant and I had anticipated her "pink"answer)

Monday's Collage

2010-06-14T22:59:00.003+10:00

Although it is now winter, the autumn leaves are still looking beautiful in our garden.

AM I COMING OR GOING ????????

2010-06-06T18:19:00.003+10:00

My head's in a turmoil ..... am I coming or going ??? I sit in front of the my computer screen thinking of what am I going to write on my blog .... there are so many things that I could be writing about ..... what am I currently spinning, dyeing or knitting. So what do I write about ? NOTHING ....... I leave my blog with an empty screen.

A CLAYTON'S HARRIETVILLE .....
Yes that was my Harrietville for this year. My dear friend Ellen arranged with Ern's daughter to stay in the house with Ern, whilst I went to Harrietville for a couple of days. This was unbeknown to me. Was I surprised when I found out ..... I cried and cried ...... BUT .... when
Ern found out there was no way Kate was going to "babysit" him !!!! Ern said that I was to go to Harrietville and that he could look after himself. Words were firmly spoken but to no avail .....

Friends and neighbours had mixed thoughts ..... some thought he was being selfish and that I was being tooooooo soft with him. Alzheimers is a frustrating disease because although they may have a short memory loss, sufferers are still able to function as normal. It's the Carers who suffer the most. I must admit that since Harrietville I have not been as forgiving as I have been in the past. Then I feel guilty ..... no Counsellors for me ...... says me !!!!!

A couple of weeks after Harrietville, Ern had a nasty fall whilst putting the wheelie bin out. No broken bones thankgoodness BUT ultra sound results not good. Completely torn all ligaments in the shoulder and upper arm ...... the doctor and physiotherapist said that they were the worst ultra sound results that they had seen. Some of the damage was caused by the fall but most of the damage he has had for years. Ern being Ern ... STUBBORN ..... shouldn't be able to move his arm ...... but he can and he does !!! The Physio said that the neck muscles were compensating for the lack of arm muscles.

OK, so now that Ern is 85 years old, how many more years ??? ..... gotta make the most of life .......

SATURDAY SKY 27 Feb 2010

2010-03-01T19:55:00.003+11:00

These photos were taken within 30 minutes whilst Ern and I were on a walk near home.

After it being so dry, rain had been predicted ..... and did we get any ??? NO NO NO NO It did rain in some suburbs ....... and we are still waiting for the rain !!!

HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY ... ERN

2010-02-20T15:37:00.004+11:00

I still say that my darling hubby doesn't look 85 !!!!!!! .... or maybe I am looking much older ....... ummmmm

For those who read my blog, Ern is keeping well despite the hot weather. He walks to the shops, usually with the dog, twice a day - 10am and 2pm regardless of the weather !!!!! (although the dog, Chloe, is not tooooo keen on the hot weather)

Ern's Alzheimers is progressing slowly (thankfully). However, it has come to the stage where I cannot leave him on his own. RESPITE is a 4 letter word ....... (OK 7 letters)

My dear friend, Ellen, organized with Kate (his daughter) to look after him, here in our home whilst I go to Harrietville. This was done unbeknown to me ...... I just cried when I found out. I am now counting the "sleeps" until Harrietville.

HAPPY BELATED NEW YEAR

2010-01-12T17:31:00.004+11:00

Did I make any new year resolutions? ..... of course not !!! .... I only break them.

Did I loose weight last year? .... of course not !!!

Did I keep up with blogging? .... of course not !!!

Did I do much spinning? ...... YES OF COURSE !!!

Did I take many photo? ..... YES OF COURSE !!!!

REFLECTIONS

2009-11-14T11:31:00.003+11:00

Reflection of the Croydon Library ..... the lake was next to where the Remembrance Day Service was held .... where war veterans, family and civilians reflected on past wars and how fortunate they are living in a wonderful free country - AUSTRALIA ..... !!!!!

THE 11th OF THE 11th OF THE 11th

2009-11-11T22:52:00.010+11:00

Today is Remembrance Day.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918, after more than four years of continuous fighting in Belgium and northern France, firing ceased along the Western Front.

So at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we remember those who died or who had suffered during wars. After the end of the Second World War, the name ‘Armistice Day’ was changed to Remembrance Day so that day would commemorate all war dead.

As a mark of respect to those who have suffered and died, people in Australia are encouraged to stop what they are doing at 11 am to observe one minute’s silence and reflect on the loss and suffering caused by war.

Ern and I went to our local service - IT WAS SUCH A HOT DAY - I felt sooooo sorry for those veterans wearing suits and ties (Ern was one of them .....) ..... but noooooo way would they not dress up for the occasion regardless of the weather.

The Melbourne Shrine of Rememberance is 75 years old today.

The red poppies which bloomed on the battlefields at Ypres in 1915 inspired Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae to write the poem, In Flanders Fields. He was a Canadian surgeon attached to the 1st Field Artillery Brigade during the battle of Ypres.

2 NEW DRUMCARDERS

2009-10-14T22:33:00.002+11:00

I bought a Louet Junior Drumcarder ..... it is a lovely machine and with fine teeth. This one will be used ONLY for my REALLY GOOD fibre.

I also bought the fantastic WILDCARDER from Ashford. This will be great for my art/novelty yarns.

SPINNING IN PUBLIC DAY

2009-09-19T11:44:00.004+10:00

Today is Spin In Public Day (SIP) ..... so here I am spinning on our nature stip outside my home. Admittedly I wasn't spinning there very long, but at least I participated !!!!!

Before I went onto the nature strip, I had been spinning on the front lawn where passers-by always wave and say hello. They must be used to seeing strange things at our house - eg, strange fleeces drying on the front lawn, dyed skeins waving in the breeze from the front porch and dyed fleeces and rovings swinging from the clothes line !

Tuesday Card Day

2009-08-26T14:35:00.003+10:00

When I can, I like to go to Ferngully Stamps for a card making class on Tuesday mornings. I went this week where we made 3 cards using the roller stamps ... my first attempt. Our tutor, Marlene is so patient with us .... is it because we talk so much?
For the top right card, we used black mulberry paper. To fray the edges, drag a wet cotton bud along the sides of a ruler and then tear apart. It's such a lovely textured paper to work with.

I'M HERE ..... AGAIN .....

2009-08-22T12:37:00.002+10:00

Motivation and commitment are especially needed for keeping a blog up-to-date .... and these I have not managed to have over the last few months.

Stress eating has me stacking on the weight since I last wrote. Of course, when you feel FAT you loose self esteem, confidence and certainly motivation.

A week ago, I had a dear friend measure me .... cause I wanted to loose some of the blubber! Again, lacking motivation I thought "well this is going to be hard" ..... until Ellen measured my hips ..... OMG the tape measure didn't meet !!! Hells' bells !!!!! about three inches ...... and that was the clincher !! One week later the tape measure nearly meets .... yaaahhhhh (mind you I didn't loose much anywhere else)

Now I have joined Curves gym AGAIN, signed in yesterday and went for my first session this morning. Ern met me and we went to Allan's Bakery. I even took Chloe to doggie school but will be changing class to time to 9am next week.

My mum rang to ask how to post a picture to a blog. Whilst helping her, I decided to write something in my own blog ...... so here I am once again !!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN ??

2009-03-15T11:12:00.002+11:00

2008 was a non-year .... and here we are in March 2009 and what have I been doing with my life??

Last April my husband, Ern (who has alzheimers) went missing for a couple of days just before ANZAC day. I had been taken to hospital with a possible heart complaint and Ern came with me in the ambulance. When we were told that I had to wait 12 hours for another blood test Ern went home. He was to book a taxi at the hospital reception desk, however, surveillance camera shows him leaving through the front door to ........... ??

26 hours later he was found 22kms from the hospital and no where near home. Apparently he walked all the way. It was a frantic 26 hours - I discharged myself from hospital - there was TV and radio coverage, helicopter surveillance and family, friends and neighbours looking for him.

He spent a week in hospital (badly cut from blackberry bushes, dehydration and kidney probs). His memory has deteriorated and I feel that I can't leave him for long periods of time. Yes I could get respite, but I just don't want to yet.

I have had to change my lifestyle greatly. I no longer go into my favourite place, The Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic. I miss my voluntry work there and especially my friends/members. I haven't done very much spinning either ..... until this year. I have knitted umpteen beanies for the Guild's charity "St Mary's House of Welcome" for the homless. So I still feel useful.

Early February 2009 Victoria experienced their worst bushfires in history. Over 200 people perished, whole towns burnt down and 2,000 homes destroyed which left thousands homeless. These fires changed many peoples' lives.

I personally didn't know anyone who perished. However, I look at things differently now. Amongst other things, just how much wool and fibre do I REALLY need?

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

2008-01-07T11:46:00.000+11:00

I thought of the usual New Year's Resolutions, like losing weight ....... being a good girl ...... don't buy wool, spinning fibres etc etc etc ......

So what did I decide on ...... ???????

Firstly, that I am going to be more committed to my blog ...... someone recently asked me if I had fallen off the planet ..... perhaps for a while .....

Secondly, that I will knit and forward one item each month to one nominated charity for my yahoo group - Knit4Charity. Of course I will still keep on knitting my beanies and scarves for St Mary's House of Welcome here in Melbourne.

The photo shows Chloe lying on a cat blanket ..... saying, "why can't it be mine ??????????

A Doggie School Saturday Sky

2007-11-03T22:49:00.000+11:00

Today was doggie school. My mum who is visiting for a few days came and watched. She said Chloe was a very good student. (I was really hoping Chloe would be on her best behaviour with mum watching !!

The photo shows from left to right: Terry with Sooty, Yvonne and Scout, Michael and Boof, Cheryl and Sweep (Sweep and Sooty are related), myself with Chloe and Lyn with Benson.

We had rain this afternoon - beautiful beautiful rain - it was lovely to hear it on the roof ! We need so much more ......

Monday's Jewellery Day

2007-10-29T19:01:00.000+11:00

I made this lovely two strand necklace and matching earrings at Sonja's jewellery class today. Black, white and clear beads with silver spacers in between were threaded onto silver tigertail with a large pewter flower in the middle.

It would look stunning on a "little black number" ...... something that I don't have in my wardrobe any more !

I'VE JOINED RAVELRY !

2007-10-28T11:16:00.000+11:00

After months of waiting, I have finally been invited to join Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/

This is an awesome site and I suggest anyone interested in spinning, knitting and crocheting to join. Now I definitely have to post knitting/spinning photos to my blog.

This photo shows 6 skeins I contributed to the Handweavers and Spinners Guild Experimental Group entry for the 2007 Bendigo Wool and Sheep Show. The blue and green skeins represented the sea and the orange skein the Australian outback.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM

2007-10-24T08:17:00.001+10:00

Happy Birthday to the best Mum in the world .........
Lots of love from Viv, Ern and of course Chloe
kiss, kiss, hug, hug, woof, woof

CAN ANYONE RELATE TO THIS?

2007-10-16T23:08:00.001+10:00

This is funny and totally explains why spinners are such unique people! A recent study indicated, that raw fibres gives off certain Pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts.

When stored in large quantities, the Pheromones (in the fibre) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome, (similar to the one squirrels have, before the onset of winter, i.e. the storing of food,) therefore, perpetuating their species and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others.

Sound tests have also revealed, that these fibres, emit a very high-pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women known as "spinners." When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as chants, “buy me, dye me, spin me".

In order to overcome the so called "feeding frenzy effect," that these fibres cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs, to avoid being pulled into their grip.

Studies have also indicated, that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects that these fibres have on the human population. They are called "FIBRE STORE ASSISTANTS".

It's also been experienced, that these same Pheromones, cause a pathological need, to hide these fleece purchases, when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash.) When asked by a Significant Other if the fibre is new, the reply is, "I've had it for a while!"
Author Unknown

Dolly has a sister

2007-10-08T22:04:00.001+10:00

My Uthando dolly now has a sister and a baby! My three dolls will be sent off tomorrow to the Uthando Project Co-ordinator.

I have already started knitting another l-o-n-g scarf for the homeless. I am using acrylic yarn, 14 stitches and 10mm needles. This is one way of using your stash and helping those less fortunate than ourselves.

Saturday Sky 6 October

2007-10-06T14:07:00.000+10:00

Five minutes after this photo was taken, the sky turned stormey and it rained! So why didn't I take a photo of the rain? I had just left home to take Chloe to doggie school.

I know we always talk about the weather, but we need the rain so much. It really is quite scary that our water reserve levels are so low.

I need to wash some fleece before I dye it, but I sorta feel guilty using the water. It's a shame we can't get our fleeces drycleaned !!! hehehehe lol lol

Uthando Project

2007-10-04T14:45:00.001+10:00

I am a member of the Aussie Knitters Yahoo Group and we are knitting for the Uthando Project (dolls for Zulu children). The dolls must have brown (not black) skin with black hair.

My dolly began as a Trauma Teddy and ended up looking like this ..... I began with 12 stitches for each leg, then dolly just evolved as I continued knitting. I knitted in some lace at the bottom of her knickers !!

I have now started on a "sister" for her ............

This is their web site: http://www.uthandoproject.org/

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

2007-09-29T16:47:00.000+10:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME ........ he he he

2007-09-29T15:59:00.000+10:00

WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS
...... mmmmmm .... lets see .....

I had a birthday !! So what did I do for it??? Well it just happened to fall on a Certificate Spinning Class day where I was co-tutor with Carmel. It had been Carmel's birthday a fortnight before. Carmel is such a quiet, considerate person who does just so much for her family (I think they might take her for granted). So I organised a birthday cake with Happy birthday Carmel and Vivien on the top. The cake suited the fun day that we had planned for the students.

During the spinning class, we broke all the rules the students had learnt over the 2 years. We made a "fibre sandwich" which was broken into 16 portions. The students were to spin and ply their portion in whichever way they felt like it ...... !!! The students are just so lovely and clever ...... even some of these roughly spun skeins from the fibre sandwich balanced !! Oh how clever!!

TODAY the weather is dull, dull and even more duller. We actually had rain yesterday - YEAH ..... none today so far ....We are in desperate need of so much more.

Chloe went to doggie school ..... and was the star pupil today ...... Again, I was hoping that we would all get soaking wet training our dogs. Nope, I came home dry !!

It is the football Grand Final Day today - Geelong v Port Adelaide. At the time of writing this they are into the third quarter and Geelong is miles in front. It has been 44 years since they won their Grand Final.

I AM BACK !!!

2007-09-01T17:02:00.000+10:00

Sorry I have not been in the land of "eblogland" but things got a bit beyond me. However, I am here now, so if anyone is still reading my blog I am back !!! I must admit I had trouble remembering my password!!

Today being the 1st day of Spring, I thought what better way to post to my blog. This photo shows the beautiful red flowers of Great Eastern Camillia against the beautiful blue sky .... ahhhhh ....... Saturday sky!!

Earlier today, Chloe and I went to doggie school ..... yes, we are still attending. Both of us are doing very well!!! Then Kate came for lunch - for Father's Day tomorrow (Kate is working tomorrow).

Ern and I are both well, although Ern's memory is not so good and I am putting on weight !!!

A Scarf Saturday

2007-07-09T19:42:00.000+10:00

Last Saturday the Handspinners and Weavers Guild of Victoria in conjunction with Craft Victoria organised two workshops -

- Spinning fat singles, dyeing the skein and knitting a scarf on your hand.... and ...

- Knitting a scarf straight from unspun roving/fleece, at the same time adding bits of material, beads and locks of mohair or wool.

I was there as a general gopher for the morning and in the afternoon helped the students knit their scarf.

The photo shows one of my scarves that I knitted straight from unspun wool/mohair roving. I added English Leicester locks throughout the scarf.

We had a wonderful day - the students had a great time and the tutors and gophers enjoyed themselves.

SP10 May/June Parcel Arrived

2007-06-29T13:42:00.000+10:00

Today a parcel arrived from Kristeen, my SP10 Pal. Once again it had been opened by Australian Quarantine. Several parcels had been unwrapped, then rewrapped but nothing had been removed.

Kristeen had included in the one parcel my May and June gifts.

Kristeen you have spoilt me again this month. You have been so generous and thoughtful in your gifts.

Kristeen lives in Windsor Canada and she sent me:-

Canadian flag
Canadian carry bag (for all my lovely goodies)
Canadian notebook
Fibre Trends Pattern (Everone's Favourite Hat & Scarf) ....and .....
Knit Picks skein (Bare) - it is just so soft
2 balls of blue Cotton Ease
2 balls of Bernat Ultrasoft Cotton (mauve/aqua)
a jumper keyring
5 very cute sheep buttons
sheep magnet
2 lovely soft sheep (Ebony has a lovely black face and Ivory has a pink face)......and .....
8 pkts of Koolaid (will be used for dyeing not eating!!)
block of "stickies" in the shape of a V
2 tubes of hand lotion - Mango mandarin and Cherry blossom (and they smell absolutely devine)

There were also some yummies .....

2 Pkts Smarties (who can only eat one smartie and leave the rest until later?)
2 Aero bars
2 Caramilk chocolate bars.........and ..... I think this may have been for Chloe .....
a box of very cute Twisted whiskers blank cards

Kristeen, thankyou very much for everything. As you said in your card, buying for someone you don't know can be difficult and fun at the same time. Well, all I can say is that you make a wonderful swap partner .... and thankyou very much.

SP10 Contents

2007-06-22T19:12:00.001+10:00

This is the lovely card that Kristeen, my SP10 pal sent in her April parcel to me. It is just so cute .............

Now keep on reading .........

This is how my SP10 swap parcel arrived.

My swap partner, Kristeen, sent the parcel early April and I received it today.

The parcel had been opened by Australia Post for inspection by Australian Quarantine because the screeening process, which uses detector dogs and X-ray machines indicated that there may have been an item of quarantine concern in the parcel. A leaflet was added to my parcel stating that upon inspection, everything met quarantine conditions. The offending item was a pump action hand cream. It was subsequently rewrapped and nothing was removed from the parcel.

Inside the parcel each individual item was wrapped in lovely new issue paper. The offending parcel is the one on the right.

Haven't I been spoilt?

My parcel consisted of:-

3 balls of Bamboozle yarn (55% bamboo, 24% cotton, 21% elastic nylon)

3 dishclothes she knitted from organic cotton. They are just so soft ... will be used as facewashers.

1 round pot scrubber (I think?? it is just too soft for the kitchen sink!!)

Pkt of Canadian playing cards

sheep stationery (ewe beaut!!)

sheep shopping list (I won't be writing lamb chops on it !!)

a magnetic Canadian Mountie (and he is so sexy)

Pkt Werther's Original hard candies ..... yummo

2 Nestle coffee crisps ..... who cares about dieting when you have something like this to eat !!!!!!!!!

some Lindt chocolate sheep - it would be tooooo cruel to eat them !!!

AND ......... the offending hand soap (along with the Australian Quarantine leaflet)!!!

THANKYOU KRISTEEN ...... THANKYOU KRISTEEN ..... THANKYOU KRISTEEN .....

SP10 PARCEL RECEIVED

2007-06-22T09:15:00.000+10:00

Hi World ......
Just wanted to let the World know that I have received my SP10 April parcel this morning (9am). I haven't even opened it yet ... I have sent an email to Kristeen thanking her for the parcel. It had been opened by Australian Quarantine but they said nothing had been removed.
NOW I am going to go and open it ............

Mystery Skein Swap Parcel Finally Received

2007-06-17T12:19:00.000+10:00

This Saturday morning sky photo was taken Saturday morning when I was heading towards the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria for a dyeing (colouring day). The photo shows Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance in the background and one of our trams in the forground.

I still have a lot more to write about ..... but a Sunday roast needs to dished up.....

It has been quite an eventful week. On Monday I went to Wangaratta to visit my mum who was not well. She has had xrays and tests and gets the results back this coming week. So I hope everything will be Ok. It was good to catch up with my mum and also my sister and her family. Life is so precious, so we have to make the most of it.

I received a swap parcel .... this one was one that I didn't expect to receive. I participated in the Mystery Skein Swap which began in January. You were to send 100gm of yarn (wool, acrylic, whatever) to your swap partner and they in turn sent you 100gm of yarn. Then we were to knit something with that fibre and send it back to them. I received my swap yarn and promptly knitted a really long sideways scarf and sent it back to Paula in Mitchigan. I sent my lovely soft black yarn to Paula wondering what she was going to do with it.

So I waited and waited ..... to be fair, Paula did have back surgery during the swap period. The Mystery Skein Swap Yahoo group was very interesting - there was a fair bit of flaming and allegations of thieving. Abruptly the Yahoo group finished and that was the end of the swap ... people were left without addresses and without receiving their swap parcels. I had thought I was not going to receive my parcel ..... and then it arrived ..... a scarf and some note pads and pens. It was such a lovely surprise. Thankyou so much Paula for sending it.

So maybe I will still receive my SP10 Swap parcels. My swap partner has emailed that the first parcel had been sent ..... in April. Oh well, time will tell if I receive it and the one for May/June.
And in case you are wondering yes, I did send my SP10 parcels to Chooi wah in KL Malaysia!!

Will I participate in the next SP ??? Don't know .... will wait and see .........

The First Week of Winter

2007-06-03T19:07:00.000+10:00

Saturday looked as though it was going to be stormy. But no rain. Chloe completed her "Juvenile - Advanced" dog obedience class and was awarded her certificate. We, the dog handlers didn't receive a Certificate ...... !! sob sob

It has been a busy week. On Monday I went along to a bead jewellery class and made a lovely handbag charm.

Wednesday I went into the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria. The Bendigo Spinning group came to visit our rooms. I had a table of different bombyx and tussah silk products .... you name it, and I think I have it! There were also silk skeins and some completed silk items.

The Bendigo group wanted me to show them how to do a 'Fibre Sandwich". They brought along 50gm of fibre and with the fibre that I provided we created a sandwich. We layered the different fibres and after we divided the sandwich, portions were placed in paperbags and distributed to the participants. We had a lot of fun and the ladies enjoyed themselves.

Doctor's appointment on Thursday - got the results of a bowel cancer test - negative !! hooray !!

On Friday it was back into the Guild rooms. I was on office duty. It was also Joybelle's day where Jan showed us how to knit with wire, fancy yarn and beads. We were suppose to make a braclet but I didn't like mine and redid it when I got home. However, my braclet turned into a brooch!!

My SP10 Swap partner Chooi wah in Malaysia emailed me to say that she received her parcel. This was a 3 month swap, however, I sent her a parcel in April and then sent her a combined parcel for May and June. My own swap partner said she liked that idea and is doin the same for me.

On the knitting scene I have been knitting some scarves for KOGO "Knit One, Give One" charity. When you travel on public transport you seem to get a lot of knitting done.

Swaps

2007-05-27T18:37:00.001+10:00

Saturday Sky
It was a beautiful day and it is hard to imagine that winter will be here next week.

The 2007 Certificate Spinning class was on today. The girls were having a dyeing day. As I was not required, I went to dog obedience class with Chloe (Ern came along to have a look and a laugh)! Chloe found it difficult to concentrate .... "now where is he" I could hear her say !!

SWAPS
In the past I have enjoyed participating in different swaps. This is something that we do because we enjoy it. Most times you receive your parcel from your swap partner and sometimes you don't !! That is the risk you take, especially when participating in an overseas swap.

Over the past few months I have participated in several swaps:-

Aussie Knitters "one skein and a choice of three"
I sent to Frances in Adelaide some dark blue fingerless gloves, handspun wool and a lovely (well I thought so) knitting book.

Last week I received my parcel from Brigite in Townsville. She sent a lovely beanie, but not just a beanie! It was made from using 2 yarns together of Patons Jet (30% alpaca 70% wool) and Moda Vera Butterfly (nylon, merino wool and acrylic). It really is beautiful. Brigite also sent a lovely pair of gloves made from some of the leftover Jet, a baby knitting pattern book and 3 cakes of beautiful handmade soap that she made herself. Brigite is a very talented lady. I will definitely be wearing the beanie and gloves when I travel by public transport into the city this winter.

SP10 Swap
This is a current Swap. I am sending to Chooi wah in Malaysia. I sent her a parcel in April. Apart from handspun wool and aussie souveniers, I also included a felting book and some beautiful handpainted commercial tops which Chooi wah could use to felt. She said that she was pleased with what was sent. Last week, I sent her a parcel which included her May and June gifts (well, it is nearly June!!). I hope she likes the contents of them.

My secret SP10 pal has emailed me saying that my April parcel is on its way, and perhaps it would have been quicker for her to travel and personally deliver it rather than sending it. Well that's snail mail for you .......

One Skein Swap
This was a very interesting swap in April. We had to raid our stash and exchange 100gm of fibre (it could have been anything ..... acrylic, wool etc etc). With the acrylic fibre I received I knitted a LONG LONG sidesway scarf.

I sent my oh so soft fibre to Mitchigan, but as yet I haven't received it back knitted into something really exciting.

Towards the end of the swap there was a lot of flaming on the yahoo group and it was becoming quite unpleasant. Then the yahoo group abruptly ceased.

In General About Swaps
As I said, sometimes you receive and sometimes you don't. But never be disheartened and say that you will never participate again. In future I will gladly participate in swaps. These are friends that we are yet to meet via a swap.

Natural Highs

2007-05-26T18:40:00.000+10:00

Maureen from the 2007 Certificate Spinning Class sent this to me. Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one. It Really Does Make You Feel Good!

1. Falling in love

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts

3. A hot shower

4. No lines at the supermarket

5. A special glance

6. Getting mail

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry)

12. A bubble bath

13. Giggling

14. A good conversation

15 The beach

16. Finding a 20 dollar note in your coat from last winter

17. Laughing at yourself

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours

20. Running through sprinklers

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS

25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you

26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep

27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner)

28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones

29. Playing with a new puppy

30. Having someone play with your hair

31. Sweet dreams
32. Hot chocolate

33. Road trips with friends

34. Swinging on swings

35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger

36. Making chocolate chip cookies

37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies

38 Holding hands with someone you care about

39 Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change

40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you

41. Watching the sunrise. (I like watching the sunset)

42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day

43. Knowing that somebody misses you

44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply

45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

"If you can no longer cling to the mountain, then celebrate the fall"

The Guild's AGM

2007-05-19T23:04:00.000+10:00

This is a photo of our wisteria's autumn leaves and the pods. The sky is grey and we have had rain ..... lovely soaking rain. It is amazing how everything looks so green and alive after a good downpour.

Today was the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic Inc AGM. I couldn't go because Ern wasn't well and I didn't want to leave him on his own. Although I have enjoyed the role of Teaching Convenor, I decided not to stand for re-election. The Teaching Committee is like a well oiled machine and this made my position an easy one.

Saturday Sky 12 May

2007-05-12T17:16:00.000+10:00

Our first fog for the season .... this photo was taken at 8.30am this morning. Chloe and I went to dog obedience class this afternoon and it was really quite warm - in fact it was a beautiful day once the fog had lifted. Yes, Chloe did well at school and yes, so did I !!!!!

This last week has been hectic - my Mum came down from Wangaratta and stayed for a few days. We were on the go most of the time. I think she went home to recover !!!!

The computer swallowed Grandma

2007-05-06T16:01:00.000+10:00

I want to share this email, that a friend sent me ......

The computer swallowed Grandma.
Yes, honestly it's true.
She pressed "control" and "enter"
And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin
And files of every kind;
I've even used the internet.
But nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found "online",

So, if inside your "box",
My Grandma you should see
Please "Copy, Scan and Paste" her "
And send her back to me! '

Saturday Sky 5 May

2007-05-05T14:56:00.000+10:00

I am actually posting my Saturday Sky photo on Saturday!!! With such a threatening sky you'd think that we would have such a wet day ...... but no ..... hopefully tonight it will rain!!

Last Saturday's Sky

2007-05-02T18:26:00.000+10:00

To all those lovely people who read my blog I sincerely apologize for not being so chatty lately. I don't know why I haven't been posting. I have been feeling a fit down lately, however, today is a new day and I am back !!!!

This photo showed the medical helecopter hovering above our house. It stayed for quite some time and then flew away. No one in our neighbourhood knew why it was there. It certainly wasn't there for us.

So what have I been doing lately? Spinning, knitting ....... certainly not housework!!!

I participated in the Aussie Knitters Yahoo Group exchange, sending my package to Frances last Thursday. Frances has posted on their site that she has received it.

Last Thursday I also sent my April SP10 package to my secret pal in Malaysia. I hope she will like what I sent her. Her May parcel will be sent probably next week.

Ahhhhh, I am feeling better now that I have posted something to my blog. Perhaps I was just suffering blogging withdrawal symptoms !!!

ANZAC DAY

2007-04-25T16:48:00.000+10:00

ANZAC was the name given to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey early on the morning of 25 April 1915 during the First World War (1914-1918). (Ern's father was one of these soldiers)

As a result, one day in the year has involved the whole of Australia in solemn ceremonies of remembrance, gratitude and national pride for all our men and women who have fought and died in all wars. That day is ANZAC Day -- 25 April.

Ern went to the local Croydon RSL Dawn Service which started at 5.45am. At the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne they had a crowd of around 35,000. Each year the crowds increase and the number of veterans decrease .......

Saturday Sky

2007-04-24T17:40:00.000+10:00

WE HAD

RAIN

TODAY !!

A telescopic view of the birdie on the branch in the top photo.

A Dyeing Day

2007-04-15T17:30:00.000+10:00

Saturday was not quite a typical Melbourne autumn day .... it was too warm! This photo was taken about 5.30pm and was showing some rain clouds.... we had a few spots and that was all. Oh when is it going to rain??? I decided to dye some fleece before it did rain.

The Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria will be conducting a workshop later this year. In preparation for it, some of the girls are dyeing English Leicester fleece. I chose to use Landscape dyes - Madder Orange; Tomato (red); Wattle (yellow) and Wattle sprinkled with Opal (lime green). I don't use precise measurements, just a couple of teaspoons of dye powder ..... ummmmm is that enough? oh well just a little bit more. The same with the vinegar I add to the water, a splosh or a splash ..... whatever comes out !!!! The colours speak for themselves.

Aids Baby Jumper

2007-04-09T20:36:00.000+10:00

These two photos are of the front and back of an Aids Babies jumper that I have just finished. I thought that the recipient could have two jumpers in one ..... when one side gets dirty, it can be turned around and voilla...... they have a new jumper!!!

Clever thinking ..... yes I think so !!!!

I have knitted enough of these little jumpers for a while ... so will now knit some scarves and hats.

HAPPY EASTER

2007-04-07T13:49:00.000+10:00

........ the Easter bunny is upon us!!! The Easter bunny hopped by just as I was taking my Saturday sky photo ..... today is such a beautiful autumn day .... a lovely blue sky, no wind but unfortunately no rain. Maybe it will rain tomorrow ...... and maybe the Easter bunny will deliver a basketful of chocolate eggs !!!!

Spin to Knit Final Parcel

2007-04-03T10:44:00.000+10:00

What a lovely parcel Barbe sent me recently. There were 3 exciting skeins, one was completely coiled with targhee. The second skein was in superwash and had wonderful Beehive coils. The final skein was a sparkly one in mohair with angelina. As I said, the skeins are really fabulous. Barbe also included the current issue of Knitters magazine, tape measure and a reel of glow in the dark thread.

Make sure you have a look at Barbe's wonderful website: http://barbesaintjohn.com

This is No Saturday Sky Bandit

2007-03-31T16:58:00.000+10:00

My darling Ern had a BCC cancer removed from his nose. He went into hospital for overnight surgery, but had to stay in for an extra day. The cancer was deeper than originally thought. He has quite a big bandage on his nose (although the photo doesn't show it). The stitches come out next week, so it won't be long before he looks like my knight in shining armour once again.

We have had beautiful rain. Not an aweful lot but was so lovely to hear it on the tin roof. The plants seem to be reviving and the lawn is getting greener. From now on we will only be able to water the garden on Wednesday and Sunday from 6am to 8am. Not long ..... so I hope it absolutely teems down with rain.

Over the last couple of weeks I haven't written anything ..... so now I have some catching up to do ..... I have a few photos for you to look at.

A Beautiful Autumn Saturday Sky

2007-03-18T15:10:00.000+11:00

A beautiful clear blue sky and the autumn leaves are starting to show.

Chloe completed her "Juvenile - Basic Course" ..... or .... did I complete my "Delinquent dog handler - Basic Course" !!! Chloe was tickled pink when she accepted her Certificate !!

Thankyou Beth of New Mexico

2007-03-11T15:25:00.000+11:00

Thankyou, thankyou Beth, from the bottom of my heart. What a lovely lot of goodies I received from my secret Favourite Colour Swap pal, Beth from New Mexico.

Beth said that she had a great time putting my parcel together and I can see why. Each item in my parcel was lovingly wrapped in blue tissue.

First of all, I had said in my questionnaire that my favourite colours were blue, purple and turquoise and that I also collect sheep ..... and look what I got !!

. A beautiful sheep card which she had written in.

. a cute sheep tape measure - look at his cute tail!

. Some sheep "Post-It" notes - I have never seen anything like these before

. Lovely stitchmarkers which she had made herself .... and they are a credit to her ..... these were found in a beautiful little blue satin pouch.

. A yummy box of Lindt Truffles ..... what more can I say except yum yum yum

. To pamper myself, a lovely 'Good Night" aromatherapy kit. The perfume is Lavender Vanilla and really smells heavenly. I should be able to sleep much better now.

. A lovely wool/nylon skein which Beth had hand dyed herself. The skein is just so soft and will make beautiful socks. I just love her brand name "Some Assembly Required"!!!

Beth, you are a very thoughtful swap pal and I am extremely grateful for your kind generosity.

Anyone looking at my blog, please look at Beth's blog and see the beautiful work she does. Her site is http://bethblogs.socksthatfit.net

Saturday Sky 10 March

2007-03-10T18:59:00.000+11:00

A beautiful blue sky all day today ... temperature 30+C ...... no rain .... so what's new????

SP10 Questionnaire

2007-03-09T19:49:00.000+11:00

1. What is/are your favourite yarn/s to knit with? What fibres do you absolutely *not* like?
I don’t really have a favourite yarn, I always like to try the new fibres. I don’t like harsh acrylic yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Knitting needles are stored in glass jars and crochet hooks in a pencil case.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting forever …….. my mother gave me a pair of needles and wool and said to knit my own jumper for the winter …….. and I am still knitting. I consider myself to be an intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No I don’t have an online wish list.

5. What's your favourite scent?

I suppose that depends on my mood. I just love the perfume from a vase of freshly picked roses, but I also like the smell of lavender, cloves and herbs.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favourite candy?
Who doesn’t ???????? In Australia we call candy sweets or lollies. Yes I do have a sweet tooth, that’s why I am not a size 10 !!!! Everything is my favourite !!!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Over the years I have tried all types of crafts, both traditional and modern. Hower, my main craft is spinning. I love it ! I am always relaxed when I spin. I spin all fibres – wool, silk, mohair, alpaca and anything else I can lay my hands on.

Recently, I have just started making my own jewellery – have only had 3 classes.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes, my computer can play CDs and DVDs. I don’t really listen to a lot of music, but when I do, I enjoy jazz, and music from the 40s to the 80s …….. and if you are counting the years, I am NOT over 60 !!!

9. What's your favourite colour(s)? Any colours you just can't stand?
My favourite colours are purple, blue and turquoise. Brilliant orange and yellow are 2 colours I don’t like.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have been married to Ern for 21 extremely enjoyable years. We have no children but Ern has a daughter Kate (now in her 40s) from his first very happy marriage.
We have a lovely natured Border Collie/Kelpie Cross dog called Chloe. Border Collies and Kelpies are both working dogs (sheep and cattle) and she certainly is a very active dog. She is only 2 and half, but has trained us well !!!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I am not a poncho person, but I do wear scarves, hats and gloves in the winter. I really do feel the cold (even though it doesn’t snow here) …..

12. What is/are your favourite item/s to knit?
I travel on public transport quite a lot, so I usually knit easy things …… scarves and beanies.

13. What are you presently knitting?
At the moment, I am knitting some scarves and beanies for the homeless.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
WHO DOESN’T !!! Yes I do like to receive handmade gifts. When we make something, we usually make it to the best of our ability. When receiving a handmade gift, even if it is not well made, I always think that person has put their time and effort into it and done their best.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I don’t have a preference, except for using a circular needle when knitting with A LOT of stitches.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, I am fortunate to own both a yarn winder and a swift which I use mainly for my spinning.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
All I can say is ummmmmmmmmmmm ………

18. What is your favourite holiday?
Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Sheep and different fibres to spin.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any knitting magazine subscriptions. Presently I don’t have any books, needles or yarn that I am dying to get.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
At present, there is nothing I would like to learn …… maybe I am just being lazy !!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am not a sock knitter ……. I have knitted 1 sock (half a pair) which I framed !!!! I love handknitted sox, but then who doesn’t. The length of my foot is a very “dainty” 10 inches !!!

23. When is your birthday? - September

A Belated Saturday Sky

2007-03-08T18:54:00.000+11:00

Mike my nice computer man brought my hard drive back today. Hopefully it will behave itself and not have to be dismantled ..... again !!! So now I have to catch up with my blogging and photos.

This photo was taken last Saturday afternoon. We have had such a dry summer and this lovely dull grey sky was teasing us ..... we were all hoping it would absolutely pour with rain..... but to no avail.......

I am still here!!

2007-03-04T21:52:00.000+11:00

My hard drive died so I got another one built .... more memory ..... more speed ..... more trouble .....!! This new one has Vista ... and there have been a few teething probs. My computer man has taken it away and will bring it back when it behaves itself. So it may have Vista still on it or he may re-install XP and then reload Vista in a few months when some of the bugs have been ironed out.

I rather like the Vista system ...... it is so similar to my Apple laptop ......

When I eventually get my hard drive back I will post my Saturday sky photos and others.

At least I am not suffering computer withdrawal systems ..... As long as I have this laptop I can keep in touch with my blog, yahoo groups and mail etc.

Its been one of those days!!!

2007-03-01T16:08:00.000+11:00

I got a new hard drive ...... and yes it has Vista on it ...... the only thing wrong is that it freezes ...... usually when I am on the internet. However, my man is coming tomorrow to fix it (hopefully).

I am getting used to Vista, it is very much like Apple ....... Next week I will say just how much I like or hate Vista ......

Not So Secret Pal 9

2007-02-28T14:01:00.000+11:00

Last Sunday afternoon I had a very pleasant visit from my "not so secret SP9 Pal" Sue. Remember, last month I sprang her whilst she was delivering my parcel.

This month I was at a neighbour's home when Sue arrived unexpectedly. Ern had to ring my neighbour and say that there was someone to see me .......

Sue's lovely gift was a beautifully knitted
Elann Inca shawl and matching cloche ....... she is so clever with her knitting needles. The shawl and cloche will certainly be warming during the winter months

....... and tucked inside the shawl was a yummy packet of Black Forest Fantasy Tim Tams (a limited edition ...... indeed limited ..... they won't last long in this house!!!!!).

Thankyou Sue for being such a lovely SP9 Pal ...... not everyone can say that their SP's personally deliver their gifts.

The Postie has been busy

2007-02-24T11:17:00.000+11:00

The postie sure has been busy delivering parcels from overseas.

Nastasha from Connecticut sent me this lovely thankyou gift. I was her SP9 "angel", something that I really enjoyed doing. In her parcel were some American "thingies", a lovely red elephant tape measure and a various array of skeins that she had beautifully spun.

Thankyou Nastasha.

These two beautiful baby alpaca and merino skeins were received from Kerry, my SP9 hostess. They were a prize for a competition she held during the SP9 swap for the most beanies knitted for charity.

It was lovely to win this competition, especially as I enjoy knitting for those less fortunate than myself.

Julie, my OSSPE friend from Colorado, surprised me by sending this parcel. The photos in the Colorado calender are absolutely beautiful.

Julie drumcarded hand dyed lincoln .... now I have to decide how to spin it to its best advantage.

Thankyou Julie for your thoughtfulness.

Aussie Knitters Dishcloth Swap

2007-02-21T17:45:00.000+11:00

The Aussie Knitters Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aussie_knitters/) recently held a Secret Dishcloth Swap. Today the postie delivered a parcel from Antoinette who lives in Canberra (www.need2knit.blogspot.com).

Inside the parcel were three lovely dishcloths (beautifully knitted) and a bar of olive oil soap. Antoinette had written in a lovely sheepy card. I guess that she has read my blog and knows that I am a spinner and that I like to collect sheepy things. The grey, blue and lavender dishclothes are just too nice to be used as dishclothes and in future will be used as facewashers.

Thankyou Antoinette for your generosity.

Spin to Knit January Parcel

2007-02-20T19:15:00.000+11:00

I recently received a very exciting parcel (treasure chest) from Barbe St John, my Spin to Knit Pal. Barbe is a mixed media artist and a very clever person to say the least.

Hidden beneath the pink tissue paper was a treasure trove!! So what was in the treaure chest you are asking?

There was a fantastic coiled skein made of Falklands wool with coccoons of dyed Targhee. It had been plied with a glow in the dark thread and the coccoons were plyed into coils.

At the beginning of the swap, Barbe asked me if I wanted a CRAZY yarn or something a bit more tamer. Naturally I said CRAZY PLEASE .... and I certainly have not been disappointed. I really am so excited about getting a skein of coiled yarn, especially one that has been spun so expertly. Anyone can spin a tamer yarn, but a coiled yarn ..... this is special ....

Please have a look at Barbe's web site: www.barbesaintjohn.com - you won't be disappointed.

Also in my treasure chest were bags of dyed romney staples, "PollyPay" and a beautiful watermelon coloured batt of wool & mohair (I think). There was a small skein of black sparkley yarn and a little bag of purple stuff (in Australia we call it glitz).

And the last thing in my treasure chest was a lovely orange and yellow braclet made from orange and yellow felted balls.

All I can say is thankyou Barbe and WOW !!!!!

2007-02-18T22:41:00.000+11:00

RANDOM FACTS!
A friend snail mailed these “useful random facts” and I thought that everyone who reads my blog really should know !!!!

In the 1400's a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. Hence we have "the rule of thumb"
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Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
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The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
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Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S.Treasury.
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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
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Coca-Cola was originally green.
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It is impossible to lick your elbow.
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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
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The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David
Hearts- Charlemagne
Clubs - Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
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Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
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Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?A. One thousand
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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All were invented by women.
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
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In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase........ "goodnight, sleep tight."
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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.
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In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down." It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
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Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
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~~~~~~~~~~~ AND FINALLY ~~~~~~~~~~~~
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At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow~ yes I am one of those 75%, what if you were that one person that could!

A Heatwave Saturday Sky

2007-02-17T12:18:00.000+11:00

Such a beautiful mid-day sky. The temperature at the moment is already 33C heading towards 38C ... and its going to be the same tomorrow.

This photo was taken outside our house .... leafy suburbia!!! We are fortunate to live on a corner block and from the front of our house we only see trees. Even though we are having such a severe drought (even in Melbourne) the trees outside our home are so lovely and green. Of course the grasss is brown .... more like a dust bowl!!

Happy Birthday Ern

2007-02-16T20:21:00.000+11:00

Ern's birthday today .... and no guessing as to how old he is !!!

He certainly doesn't look it .... does he??

Ern is (and always has been) very young thinking and keeps active. Two years ago he had 2 stents inserted and a few months later was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He immediately gave up driving his car and has walked every day .... and will take the dog for a walk every day .... or should I say Chloe takes him for a walk !!!

We had a lovely day today and look forward to his 83rd birthday ....

Rain Rain Beautiful Rain

2007-02-15T19:09:00.000+11:00

After weeks of no rain, we had a deluge late this afternoon. It was wonderful ..... In the pouring rain and thunder, Chloe and I played frisbie on the front lawn (lawn?? it is really now a dust lawn!!). Chloe didn't even realise that it was raining ..... remember .... she is a dog!

Project Spectrum Saturday Sky

2007-02-10T17:47:00.000+11:00

In keeping with Project Spectrum's colours for February (blue, white and grey) here is a photo of today's sky. We are in desperate need of rain and although there was some blue sky there were a lot of grey and white clouds. It tried so hard to rain .... but to no avail.

FAVOURITE COLOUR SWAP QUESTIONNAIRE

2007-02-08T23:17:00.000+11:00

1. What are your top three favourite colors?
- blue, turquoise, purple

2. What crafts do you really enjoy?
- spinning, dyeing, knitting

3. What products do you really covet?
- my spinning wheels and fibre stash

4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favourite crafty things?
* I enjoy spending time with my husband and family
* I enjoy my best girlfriend’s friendship
* photography (although I am not good at it)
and sitting on the front porch watching the world go by

5. Is there anything you collect?
- anything with sheep (not the real ones – although I do like a lamb roast!!)
- fibre
- yarn

6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol?
Zodiac sign -Virgo : Chinese zodiac symbol - Rabbit .... that's right a bunny!!

7.What are your favourite
…scents/smells? - roses (and fresh air!!!!!!!)
…types of music and/or bands? - pre-80’s music
…authors? - none
…animals? - tigers especially
…places to shop? - anywhere you can get a bargin!
…season? Autumn is beautiful and spring is lovely after the cold winter months
…yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? - I love any unusual fibre to spin and any yarn that is soft and unusual.
…candies or goodies? - I have a sweet tooth, that’s why I am not a thin person!!!

8. Do you have any wish lists? - no - I am not a person who asks for anything - I am always thankful for what I receive.

9. Are you allergic to anything? - no nothing

10. Do you have any pets? What are they?
I have a very active 18 month old Border Collie/Kelpie cross dog called Chloe.

11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- I just love pleasant surprises …………..

Dolls for African Aids Orphans

2007-02-07T21:05:00.000+11:00

Apart from the jumpers for the African Aids' orphans these little dolls are being accepted as well.

I knitted these dolls with my own handspun wool.

Cute .... aren't they???

Project Spectrum

2007-02-04T22:29:00.000+11:00

I am participating in Project Spectrum. Each two months (beginning February) there are 3 chosen colours to stimulate our creativity. We can use these colours in whatever manner we like, eg, spin, weave, knit, crochet, weave, paint, construct, scrapbook, sew, traditional/non traditional crafts, cook, grow, collage, photograph or bake.

I plan on using these 3 colours with my spinning and dyeing. Like my "Fibre Sandwich", I want to think outside the circle, and be more creative. I also want to use these colours in my photography (which I know isn't great!). Perhaps I can learn to conquor Photoshop ....!!!

The colours are:
February/March Blue White Grey
April/May Green Yellow Pink
June/July Red Black Metallics
August/September Brown Orange Purple

Now I have officially started ..... I am using 2 of Feb/March colours - blue and grey.

Saturday Sky Dusk

2007-02-04T15:29:00.000+11:00

This photo (taken 8.30pm) shows the last of the sun's rays shining on the trees opposite our house. Tomorrow is going to be so hot - hotter than today.

I took Chloe to dog obedience this afternoon - Chloe did fine ....... I failed though!! Ohhh how can you growl at your dog when she looks up at you with those mournful eyes ...... and at 1-2pm it was just sooooo hot.

The First Dyeing Day for the Year

2007-02-02T16:54:00.000+11:00

A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month .....

.... and what a great way to start February than to do some dyeing. Landscape dyes were painted on some Corriedale tops. After they were wrapped in clingfilm, they were placed in plastic bags and steamed for about 30 minutes. Oh by the way, nothing was weighed or timed exactly.

And the results ..... well here they are.....

Aren't they just so colourful ????

Red Back Spider Discovered

2007-01-29T16:54:00.000+11:00

I was spreading mulch (by hand - no gloves) when I came across one of Australia's most dangerous spiders - the Red Back Spider. She was feeding on the green praying mantis (to the left of the photo).

The female Red Back Spider has the red stripe down her back and can live for 2-3 years. The male is much smaller, no red mark on his back and only lives 7-8 months.

The bite is highly venomous and characterised by intense localised pain and around the bite site. Other symptoms may include sweating, muscular weakness, loss of co-ordination and, in severe cases nausea, vomiting, convulsions, etc.

Saturday Sky

2007-01-28T18:09:00.000+11:00

Four seasons in one day ..... this time last week we were sweltering on a sultry Saturday. Today we even had the heater on ...... don't forget we are having Summer!!! Today it was cold, windy, raining, sunny..... we had it all!!

This photo shows the figs on our self sown fig tree ... so who is going to get the figs first ...... us?? or the birds?? The birds probably will win !!!

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY !!!

2007-01-26T17:42:00.000+11:00

Creating and Spinning a Fibre Sandwich

2007-01-22T17:12:00.000+11:00

Each year the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Victoria conducts "Summer School" during January. This is two weeks of different workshops, not necessarily to do with spinning or weaving.

I was the tutor for a "Creative Carding and Spinning" workshop. My dear friend Ellen was my wonderful assistant.

We created a "Fibre Sandwich" in the morning. I lay a sheet down on the floor and we all proceeded to lay various fibres onto it. We used wool, mohair, alpaca, baby camel, flax, cotton, bombyx and tussah silk and glitz. Then I sprinkled cut up cotton threads on the top - they looked like sprinklers on top of a cake!!

After the "Sandwich" had been completed Ellen and I divided it into portions and we put them into brown paper bags. The bags were tossed around and then handed out to the students. I thought this was the fairest way to distribute the "Sandwich".

It was a very interesting session, with some students spinning worsted and some spinning woollen. Most of them pulled the fibre directly from the brown paper bag and spun as it came. To make the day easier, I supplied commercial thread to ply with.

Don't the skeins look yummy and good enough to eat!!! It was a fun morning and everyone enjoyed themselves.....

There is more to a fibre sandwich than just bread and filling !!!!!

Saturday Sky ... and it's raining !!

2007-01-20T22:18:00.000+11:00

Can you believe this photo ..... the last week has been extremely hot, humid and so uncomfortable - yet today we had rain.... and at long last! The rains brought welcome relief to the bushfires in Victoria. They have been burning since 1 December and has burnt over 1,000,000 hectares of beautiful forest. Australia is experiencing severe drought conditions and here in Victoria our major drinking water reservoirs are very low. We can only water our gardens with a hose twice a week for two hours in the morning and two in the evening. I recycle my washing maching water into a wheelie bin and then bucket it out onto the garden.

Today Chloe (our Border Collie/Kelpie X dog) and I began dog obedience classes. I thought it was for deliquent dogs but it was for juvenile dogs (same thing??). Mind you Chloe is 18 months old now and the other dogs in our class were around 6-8 months old. I think Chloe thought she was "mother" to them and I felt like a grannie!!!

I was extremely pleased with her progress today, especially as the classes began last Saturday and we had to miss that class.

We will show them next week ..... just how clever she is !!!

The Crazy English Language

2007-01-17T23:14:00.000+11:00

The undermentioned was taken from Briana's blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/knitteralaska.

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes;
but the plural of ox became oxen not oxes.
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice;
yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I spoke of my foot and show you my feet,
and I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,
yet hat in the plural would never be hose,
and the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother and also of brethren,
but though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
but imagine the feminine, she, shis and shim.

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant,
nor ham in hamburger;
neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted.

But if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square
and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea, nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing,
grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?
Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends,
but not one amend?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends
and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught,
why didn't preachers praught?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables,
what does a humanitarian eat?

Sometimes, I think all the folks who grew up speaking English should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play
and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down;
in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.

Saturday Sky

2007-01-13T19:19:00.000+11:00

This beautiful pink shrub is an Oleaner Punctatum. When we were kids, these plants were in nearly every garden..... now it is unusual to see it anywhere .... maybe it might be due in part that all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous. This shrub is not in my garden but in the garden opposite our house. So I am fortunate to look out onto it and admire the lovely flowers.

A Sultry Saturday Sky

2007-01-06T16:20:00.000+11:00

Today has been a very unpleasant day weatherwise. It has been extremely sultry, very hot and northerly winds. Where I live, a north wind is a hot wind .... great for drying clothes!

Although as I write this, there seems to be a change in the air. The wind is changing direction and it seems a little cooler outside.

Today I have done some drumcarding and spinning. It is too hot to knit, and especially too hot to do housework!!!! Anyway, there is always tomorrow for housework!!

Felted bag and Fudge

2007-01-04T23:23:00.000+11:00

I have just finished another felted bag, using my handspun (mainly wool with some alpaca and mohair). After knitting the bag, I threw it into the washing machine with the towels/sheets and it felted quite nicely!!

I came across this yummy fudge recipe on http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/ blog.

I thought YUMMO, but when I looked at the recipe, I realised that it is one of my own favourite recipes!

One-Bowl Chocolate Fudge
16 oz. semisweet chocolate squares or chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cups chopped walnuts
Microwave chocolate and milk on high, 1-2 minutes, or until chocolate is almost melted. Stir half-way through heating time, taking care not to let the chocolate burn. Remove from microwave and stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add vanilla and walnuts. Spread into greased or parchment-lined 8” square pan. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Cut into squares.

Catching up with Photos ....

2007-01-03T14:29:00.000+11:00

In Dec, I took part in the first Aussie Knitters Swap. My swap partner was Donna from the Blue Mountains. She sent a beautiful pale blue baby alpaca mobius which is so soft and wearable ..... in fact I can't wait until the winter to wear it!! She also sent a beautiful red candle, not only smelling devine but it lovely on my Christmas table.

Now I must tell you what happened when I received Donna's parcel. I was so excited that I wanted to let her know straight away that I had received it. She didn't forward an email or blog address ..... so I thought I was being clever when I looked at the Aussie Knitters database and sent an email expressing my delight and thanking her for her generosity. Can you imagine how I felt when I received a return email from Donna in NSW saying that the mobius sounded just devine but unfortunately SHE didn't send it ....... there must be two Donna P's in the Group !!!

SAMPLE OF FLEECES FROM COLORADO

Julia (my OSSPE Pal) sent me a lovely surprise package before Christmas. And indeed it was a lovely surprise.

She sent samples of Shetland, Wensleydale, Karakul and Teeswater/Wensleydale fleeces. These are types of sheep/fleeces which are unavailable in Australia. As a spinner it is really exciting to get these samples. Due to strict quarantine restrictions in Australia, they had been processed. I keep looking at them, just like a little kid in a toy shop! ....... and there was more ..... Julia sent packages of Koolaid and Great Value powder drink mix. These are wonderful for dyeing wool ....

Julia thank you for sending this lovely box of goodies. I had to smile though, on the outside of the box on the Custom's label, the koolaid/powdered drink packets had been circled in red!!! ???

New Blog Design

2007-01-01T22:51:00.000+11:00

As it is the first day of 2007, I thought I would change the look of my blog. Why???? ...... knowing perfectly well that I was going to get into all sorts of bother !!!

Still I went ahead and did it ....... and yes, I did get into trouble ........ lots of it. I finally worked out how to post a "button" to the side. Now they are all uneven and the Saturday Sky ring is sitting next to and not underneath another button.

Still I perservered, didn't lose my cool (although I ate more chocolate than I should have!), and sort of accomplished what I set out to do. Tomorrow, I will have to get another site counter. It is always interesting to see where those people who look at my blog live.

I was about to go to bed ..... but thought, no Viv, you can get that site counter TONIGHT ..... and I did ..... !!!!!!!!! So now all that is left for tomorrow, is to work out how to re-arrange those buttons!!

SP9 December Parcel Contents

2007-01-01T14:47:00.000+11:00

My SP9 Pal Sue has certainly spoilt me and I thank her so much for her generosity. After her being sprung leaving the package at the front door, I was eager to see what was in the box. I contained myself, and opened the box on Christmas morning.

Inside the box each item was individually wrapped. It was so exciting, I felt like a little kid opening Santa's presents. ('Cause I have been a good girl this year ..... I really have!!)

... and this is what was inside the parcels. A beautiful pair of handkitted sox, made from Knit Picks yarn. They are so lovely on my tooties!! ..... bring on winter !!!

There were 2 balls of Crystal Palace Yarns (Aran Print 100% wool) in a beautifyul mulberry/pale blue colour; two balls of Sugar and Cream Cotton (red/green/blue/dark cream in colour and the other one in greens/blue and mauve colourings; a face washer and Christmas talc..... yes there was even more ...... a lovely cream dishcloth/facecloth (it is far too nice to use on dishes!) AND a delicious Glace Christmas Fruit cake (yummo!). There was a lovely handmade Christmas card with all of this ..... I wonder if Sue made it? Thankyou Sue for my goodies, you really are a generous SP9 Pal.

The Last Saturday Sky for 2006

2006-12-31T14:01:00.000+11:00

Today is the last day of 2006. Hasn't the time just flown by? As we get older, the years seem to slip away so quickly.

I sincerely hope that 2006 will be a much happier year world-wide ..... no wars, no droughts or floods, no hunger, no povety ..... who am I trying to kid!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS ..........

My SP9 Pal was SPRUNG !!!!

2006-12-24T22:21:00.000+11:00

Last month, my SP9 Pal who lives in Dandenong delivered my exchange parcel ...... today she did the same thing ...... except this time Sue was SPRUNG!!!

I was walking through the loungeroom when I saw someone walking up to the front door ..... and oh boy, was she looking guilty! I realised that it was Sue my SP9 Pal delivering my December parcel. Would I let her get away with it, or would I say something ....... oh well IT IS a secret exchange, and secrets are made to be broken.! So I called out "SPRUNG" and invited Sue for a cuppa. We chatted for about 2 hours, as though we have known one another for years but haven't seen one another for a long time.

Ern took the photo of us .... (the 2 guilty SP9 pals who have been sprung)........ Sorry Sue, I should have had your parcel in my hands ...... instead it is under my Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas Eve ...... hope everyone has a lovely Christmas Day .......

A Xmas Saturday Sky

2006-12-23T13:49:00.000+11:00

Happy festive season to everyone who reads my blog ...... and even to those who don't read it !!!

After weeks of abnormally high temperatures for this time of the year, it is quite cool today. We even had some rain last night, which was a welcomed relief. The rain has brought some relief for the terrible bushfires that are still burning in our country.

I have 4 metres of mulch to spread ..... today looks as though it is going to be a good day to do it. It has to be done because we still have months of hot weather to come.

My Christmas shopping has been done ..... food, presents, presents and presents ...... is there anything else?

A lovely thing happened during the week. I set up a webcam on my mum's computer but it wouldn't work. My sister Lyndy fixed it and there we were having a lovely time on the computer seeing one another. Whilst this was going on, I had a parcel delivered. It was my Christmas present from my sister ..... so I was able to open it (only the envelope ..... not the contents) and she was able to see me doing this. I felt she was actually in the room with me. What a wonderful invention.

Spin to Knit a Saturday Sky

2006-12-16T14:11:00.000+11:00

4 metres of Euc mulch (!!) has been delivered and is now ready for us to spread on the garden. Euc mulch is finely ground eucalyptus. It has a beautiful smell when it is wet ..... and that is the reason why we got it. We are in drought conditions and can only water the garden every second day. We would just love to have some rain.

The terrible bush fires are still burning - 42 homes have been razed to the ground. I do feel so sorry for them - the week before Christmas. As can be seen in this photo the sky in Melbourne is blue ........ no smoke haze ...... still be have our home !!!

Spin to Knit Exchange
This morning I received the details of my Pal in the first-ever Spin to Knit Handspun Secret Pals Swap organized by Interweave Press. Her name is Elizabeth and lives in the USA. I thoroughly enjoy these swaps .....

The Malawi Project

2006-12-15T22:38:00.000+11:00

This photo of jumpers was taken from the web www.aids.net.au For more information go to this site and follow the link to "The Malawi Project" then Knitting for African AIDS Orphans.

The Members of the Handweavers and Spinners Guild of Vic have rallied and have been busily knitting these jumpers. Even my mum has knitted quite a few.

The jumper pattern is very easy and the one size will fit different age groups, as there is quite a bit of give in the pattern.

Here is the pattern for the Aids BabyJumpers :-

Knitted all in one - double knit wool is ideal (8ply)
Size 5mm needles (tight knitters)
Size 4.5mm needles (loose knitters)

Cast 44 stitches
Work 18 rows in K2, P2 rib
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows,
at same time change to K2, P2 (for sleeve)
Rib 22 more rows
Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, Rib 21
Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, Rib 21
Work 22 rows in K2 P2 rib
Cast off 12 stitches at beginning of the next two rows
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Work 18 rows K2 P2 rib
Cast off

Please stick to pattern ‑ This has proven to work well.

Stripes and bright colours are fine.

A big thank you from the tiny babies of Africa.

Saturday Sky

2006-12-10T12:56:00.000+11:00

What a hot day it was today ... and so appressive! It has been an extremely busy week for me and I am looking forward to Sunday to just sit and do nothing. This photo was taken from my sister's house in Wangaratta.

Last Saturday, Sunday and Monday I went into the Guild for the Certificate Spinning Assessements. The students' work was mindboggling ..... and this is their first year. The assessing was time consuming but well worthwhile just to see their achievements. I am very proud of them.

On Tuesday I went to Wangaratta to visit my mum. My sister and her family also live there. I was there until Friday lunch when I came home. There are terrible bush fires around them and in other parts of Victoria. The smoke was so thick, it actually looked like a pea souper fog. The next few days will be quite a worry for the fire-fighters. We desperately need the rain - not the 39-41C days with the north winds.

Today (an extremely hot Saturday) it was on the 7.30 bus/train/tram into the Guild for the last meeting of the year. The Certificate Weaving students graduated from their 2 year course. These students produced such beautiful work. I don't weave, but I certainly appreciate the work that they put into their pieces.

Saturday Sky

2006-12-02T23:09:00.000+11:00

This is the dome of Flinders Street Railway Station in Melbourne. Isn't it just beautiful? The photo was taken at 8.45am on my way the Handweavers and Spinners Guild.

Today the 2006 Certificate Spinning Course students handed in their work. The assessments began later in the morning of flax and cotton. What stunning work!! Some of the students have only been spinning for 1 year. Of course, as the Teaching Convenor I must say that our Tutors were excellent ...... and of course the students were brilliant!! I am very proud of all the students and what they have achieved this year.

They have another year to complete the Course. Judging by the standard of the work here today, at the end of 2007 the students will all have exceptional talents in a wide field of spinning techniques.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I go in again for the assessing of worsted, woollen, silk and other protein fibres. It will be a long and rewarding day, but one that will not be rushed. The students deserve our time and attention to their folios and samples.

A Hat or two ......

2006-11-27T17:08:00.000+11:00

These are two hats that I have just finished knitting for the homeless at St Mary's House of Welcome in Melbourne. I do quite a few hats and scarves over the year for them and also for a women's refuge that I support.

The blue hat was knitted in 2ply handspun, using white merino tops and then dyed. This hat has a garter stitch border at the bottom.

The multi coloured hat was knitted in 1 ply handspun merino tops which had been randomly dyed. Note the slant in the body of the hat ....... this is because I knitted the hat before I washed the handspun single .... this is called an "energised single". This hat was knitted on a circular needle and has a turned up brim.