Saturday evening, 02-11-24

 Hello again, lovely people.  Are you having a good weekend.  I do hope so.

It has been a quiet day here today.  I did some housework, some kitchen work, no ironing (must do it tomorrow) and worked to finish a crochet cardigan.
Have any of you heard of a hexa-cardigan.  It is basically a cardigan that starts out as two granny hexagons that you add to.
Hang on, let's see if I can find a photo.

The one I have made looks nothing like this but you get the idea.  You granny stitch a hexagon and the way you fold it makes half a cardigan,  You make two (obviously) and can than lengthen the sleeves and the body, stitch cuffs and an edging and . . . there you go.

I'll try and take a photo of mine tomorrow.

And that is about it really.  I am off to bed soon so I will wish you good night and sleep well.  I hope you have had a really lovely day.  xx

Saturday morning, 02-11-24

Good morning, everyone.  Sorry about last night's non appearance.  It was one of those evenings when I couldn't keep my eyes open, went to bed early and woke up at stupid o'clock today.  Oh, well . . .

Yesterday I got the 'start of the month' things done.
I read the gas meter and sent off the readings - I used more this last month because the heating now comes on at times but I do have a credit cushion, despite the loss of the winter fuel thingy.

I sharpened all my kitchen knives - it really does make such a difference.
I double checked the bank statement/finance stuff, just to make sure I got it right.  I find numbers a bit tricky because of my mild dyscalculia - not in terms of mathematical understanding, just seeing them in the wrong order sometimes and remembering sequences.

Topping up the water softener.

And my first of the new month shop - which wasn't so bad because I still have plenty of stuff like dishwasher powder, washing up liquid, washing powder and so on.  And the canned food situation is also fine.

(I have already done my petrol top up)

I enjoyed Slimming World as always.  I told C, the lady who goes to the Knit and Natter group, about my date goof up and she checked in her diary that I have the November date right (I did).  She brought with her a bag she had made from granny squares which was lovely.
(I had a gaintain of one pound but am still under target weight so I'm not in the least bit fussed,)

Before I wrap them up, here's a photo of the neck/ear warmer and the fingerless mittens.  I think the colour match is pretty good, given that they are totally different yarns, not even the same company.  The mid pink carries it really.

I decided not to use the circular motif on the warmer, it just didn't look right - or maybe it looked just too much.

The warmer also works really well as a pull on to keep one's ears warm - I didn't have it in mind but the difference between the cast on and the cast off gives it that shape.

I like to go a bit sort of merry and festive at the December SW meetings so I made these using the same idea and those above.  It's supposed to be a wreath.  When I go to the Hobbycraft bauble workshop, I will come home with a pack of little ribbons and some mini bells and I plan to add them (one of each on each, I mean) onto the wreath - just for a bit of fun really.
It doesn't show in the photo that much but the white and the red yarns are a bit sparkly and look festive.

(I know one looks too short but it isn't, it's just the camera angle, I think).

Another thing I did yesterday was to make a big loaf.  I know I made a couple of smaller ones the day before but Hungry Horace (aka Alex) is coming to stay for the week tomorrow and he does like his bread so that's for him to go at as he wants.

I'll finish off with a reflection.

To coin a phrase, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl in search of a no spend month is going to be hit by temptation very quickly!

Isn't it weird how that happens yet, if one gives oneself to spend £xyz, there's really nothing one fancies.

Odd.  However, I will hold firm . . .

Have a great day, everyone.  xx

Thursday evening, 31-20-24

Evening again, everyone.  Have you had a lovely day!

Round here, it started rather dull and damp but by the afternoon the sun was out and it was beautiful.

I spent the morning in the kitchen - well, now and again in the kitchen.

I used lots of odds and ends, soup mix, barley, stock, chicken - oh, all sorts - in the slow cooker to make a very autumny sort of soup, thick and (I hope) filling.  One portion for tomorrow and two in the freezer.
I them made a couple of loaves.  One was my usual seeded wholemeal but to the other I added garlic, sliced olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and grated cheddar.  It is scrummy!  Both are sliced now and in the freezer.

I did some housework and some crochet and sorted out my end of month finances so it's all clear for a no spend November now.
That doesn't mean buying nothing, it means just buying essentials, paying the usual bills, etc.  And if I do see Christmas gifts, I will be getting them as I count that as essential.

It's all those extra things, like yarn!!!!!

I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep as I'm pretty tired and I wish the same for you too.
Stay safe and warm, everyone, and see you tomorrow.  xx

Wednesday evening, 30-10-24

Evening, everyone.  This week (and the end of the month) is going so very quickly.  Are you finding that too.  It has been another very dull day today but no rain as far as I could see.

Today was a day of changed plans.

First thing this morning, I was rootling in the yarn cupboard and found a forgotten 'work in progress', a granny cardigan I was trying to make that didn't work out well at all so I just gave up and shoved it in the cupboard.  However, it was lots of perfectly good squares with all the ends sewn in and I had joined using the join as you go method so it was relatively easy to unpick the joining and release the squares.
It was actually quite good fun and I decided I really didn't NEED to go to B&M, etc, and I would rather get this done.
So I did and now I have a big pile of squares to consider plus a whole load of white in shortish lengths that will probably be very annoying but it's definitely usable, all the same.

It took ages but all done now and bagged up until I decide what to do with them which won't be until after Christmas now.  

This afternoon, I set off for the hall where the group met but - don't all laugh at once - it was last week, not this.  As it is a once a month thing, I have three weeks to wait before I can give it a try out.  A bit disappointing but I had to laugh.

I decided that, as I didn't go this morning, I could do what I didn't do this morning this afternoon instead.
All I wanted really was some wooden spoons, a set of washing up brushes; both spoons and brushes are pretty antique and I knew I could get them at B&M.  I could have got them in Wilkinsons too but that's now closed, of course.

I also had a nosey round (not that impressed) but I was thrilled to see that they had H2O Glitterberry and we love Glitterberry for family Christmas occasions.  It tends to sell out quickly so I seized the opportunity and stocked up.

So not the day I had expected but useful, all the same.

And I will double check the date of the next Knit and Natter meeting!

I asked Beth and she said I could so here's what she is negotiating this week, having cleared her bedroom.  This is the living room and there's more in Alex's room too.  

Bless her . . .

Time to start chilling so I will love you and leave you and wish us all a great night's sleep.  xx

Tuesday evening, 29-10-24

Good evening again, everyone.  It's been another dull and dreary day but it has also been a very pleasant, enjoyable day

The first nice thing was that then next part of the Crochet Along project went live and I'm going to enjoy these rectangles.  I haven't started yet because I wanted to get the handwarmers finished first (which I have now).

After watching the video on YouTube, I popped out in the car to go to Home Bargains and HomeSense (which is just next door) and I had such a lovely time wandering around looking at all the Christmas goodies.
I got a few groceries in Home Bargains although they didn't have what I went for and another thingy for my Twelve Days of Christmas (some bath soak).  I was sorely tempted by other toot but held firm.
I didn't hold quite so firm in HomeSense but it was OK - just a few bits of festive china plus one Spode Christmas Tree china.  They actually had quite a lot (they'll soon all be gone, they always are) but I don't NEED anything else - if 'need' is the right word.
To be fair, I do use the Christmas themed china from the beginning of December all the way to Twelfth Night, so they do get some use, not just on one or two days.

Then I decided that as I was out and sort of in that direction, I would go and do my monthly top up of petrol because there's a Budget tomorrow and what's the betting petrol will go up!  I allocate £40 each month to petrol and it was under that this month, despite the drive up to Elveden and back a couple of weeks ago, so that was good.

I took a few photos of the naughty Advent thingy I got from M&S.  It does look exciting inside.

The container itself is rather good quality and will definitely be used.  I think I will put my Twelfth Night gifts in it after Christmas and then I think I will use it as project storage.

I'm doing another exciting (to me) thing tomorrow as I am going for the first time to a local Knit and Natter group.  It's actually run by the couple who organise the coach trips and, in fact, the first trips were run for this group.  They quickly became very popular and now, I gather, the mailing list is in the thousands - pretty impressive.
Anyway - one of the SW ladies said I might like to come along when she saw the slipover last Friday and, as there's no personal training this week, I thought I'd give it a go.

Well, it is past half past eight and definitely time to shut up shop and start chilling.
I hope your day has been as nice as mine has.
Take care, everyone, and stay safe.  xx

Monday evening, 28-10-24

 Evening, everyone.  It's been a chilly and gloomy old day here but most enjoyable, all the same.

When I checked my diary for today, it said 'Get the Advent of Change calendar'.  So I went online and now one is winging it way to me.
If you've not heard of this, here's what it is.  It's a bit different to other advent calendars in that you, the recipient, do not get anything.  Instead, each door you open tells you about a charity a bit of your payment has gone to support so by the end you have donated just a small amount to twenty four charities.  OK, there's a slight risk that one of them might be something you wouldn't want to support but I think it is worth taking.
Here's the link to the site in case you are interested.

https://adventofchange.com/products/charity-advent-calendar?srsltid=AfmBOorE31ATg3Uu20aWaXhaD6AOtBRn96_QVgYKrm5BfD9Q6qAa651G

At around half nine, Diane arrived and we drove into town, first to have a coffee and a good chat in John Lewis and then to hit the shops - Diane's going on another Christmas cruise this December and needs a few more things for it and I was also looking for a few things.  I wanted to look for a body warmer/gilet type thing and found just what I was looking for min good old M&S.
Having decided not to get another advent calendar this year, went a fell hook, line and sinker for the M&S one that is available to buy if you spend more than a certain amount.
Not cheap but actually rather good value and - well, ooops!!

Diane found several things she was looking for so all in all it was a very successful morning.

The we came back home and she stayed for lunch before leaving.  Then I got the rest of my ironing finished, did a bit of housework, baking, etc, done and finally settled in my chair to get on with my crocheting.  

Now I am just waiting to be called for the regular Monday online chat so I need to get this posted.  I hope your day has been as enjoyable as mine.  Take care, everyone, and stay warm and safe.  xx

Sunday evening, 27-10-24

Good evening, one and all.

The day started with some glorious autumnal sunshine and finished with the same -  it was a beautiful day.  Not warm, not cold, filled with sunshine.

First of all - I think I've got it.  I changed the last round to dc with three dc in the corner spaces and 'joining as you go' to join the two granny thingies.

I am now happy with the length of the cuff too.

Apologies for the wrinkly hands - I just am a wrinkly now, however much I would like to ignore it!

I've made the first pair and, really, I am still developing the pattern, but I'm happy with the outcome - happy enough to give them as a gift.

Now I am wondering whether it would work to make the central granny square circle and fasten it to the snood/neck warmer/cowl (take your pick) to create a more obvious link than just the colours.  I will just have to give it a go and see.

Beth and Al came round for lunch and it was lovely.  Beth was very nice about the slipover and said I ought to make another one two or three squares longer to act as a dress because it really 'showed off my lovely shape' (quote)

Isn't it nice when your daughter approves of your style choices?

After they went, I just settled for some knitting while I watched the Strictly results.  It has now got to the point where I don't want anyone else to leave but, like anyone else, I have my favourite.  I remember gunning for Bill Bailey on a FB group when everyone else was knocking him and look what happened!!

I doubt the same will happen to Diane and Chris but they are my total favourites, partly because I think Chris is just amazing in all ways and partly because Diane must be such a gifted teacher.
And I love that Chris is ready to take Craig on . . .

Well, that's about it for today.  This time next week, Alex will be here but for now I have quite a free week ahead  - lots of time to get on with my crafting.  |How good is that?

Good night everyone.  I hope your day has been as lovely as mine.  Sleep well.  xx