Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Noteworthy
In lieu of something more interesting I thought I'd tell you about my notebook. Yes the old fashioned paper type.
Each year I usually buy a diary, use it until perhaps April or so and then resort to plain old lists. Also I'm very fussy, I like a week to two pages, with room for notes etc. The reasons the diary doesn't get used much are many. We also have a family calendar near the computer, and depending where the diary is at the time (in my handbag, in the kitchen etc), it can be a painful exercise making sure the two mesh. (Reality is, my life is fairly thin on social occasions and most everything is committed to memory anyway, but as the kids activities increase, and my powers of recall decrease it is most useful to have one place that tells us all what we're supposed to be doing)
Well late last year I happened upon an A5 Spirex notebook with little lines to put the date on the top of the page. The pages are perforated. Turns out this is exactly perfect for the type of things I use a diary for, which is usually a list type deal where things may or may not get done on the day. When I am done, I can just tear the sheet out. It works well for my shopping lists also.
Here is a pic (thrilling I know). Now take special note of the dates my friends. Seem I may have travelled back in time to scribe my list of 4/1/73...talk about autopilot.
Each year I usually buy a diary, use it until perhaps April or so and then resort to plain old lists. Also I'm very fussy, I like a week to two pages, with room for notes etc. The reasons the diary doesn't get used much are many. We also have a family calendar near the computer, and depending where the diary is at the time (in my handbag, in the kitchen etc), it can be a painful exercise making sure the two mesh. (Reality is, my life is fairly thin on social occasions and most everything is committed to memory anyway, but as the kids activities increase, and my powers of recall decrease it is most useful to have one place that tells us all what we're supposed to be doing)
Well late last year I happened upon an A5 Spirex notebook with little lines to put the date on the top of the page. The pages are perforated. Turns out this is exactly perfect for the type of things I use a diary for, which is usually a list type deal where things may or may not get done on the day. When I am done, I can just tear the sheet out. It works well for my shopping lists also.
Here is a pic (thrilling I know). Now take special note of the dates my friends. Seem I may have travelled back in time to scribe my list of 4/1/73...talk about autopilot.
Noro Love
I'm pretty forgetful lately, so there's a good chance I've written this post or one exactly like it the last time I knit with Noro. Oh well, I'll risk it.
I remember when I had my second return to knitting a few years back. Before then I'd always bought my yarn from local big box stores (ugh) and wondered why the selection was so lousy. Then I discovered online yarn stores and a few local 'bricks and mortar' types. Economically speaking I'm better off than I was in my early 20s. Yarns that were once absolutely out of reach (except for maybe one ball to make a scarf or hat) are now affordable.
I recall hearing about this Noro stuff, then seeing it at a store, then frankly wondering what all the fuss was about. The colours were a bit of a mish mash and the Kureyon at least, really wasn't all that soft. It was hard to imagine what, if anything, I would like to knit with it.
Somewhere along the line though, my intested was piqued enough to try it. The Lily Multi that was on sale was the perfect composition for my first Clapotis. Soon I was feeling the love...My next Noro project was a scarf in the Silk Garden, which is indeed, very very soft.
For this Kureyon sock, I'm knitting a pair of (wait for it!) - socks! At first touch, the yarn feels a bit like twine, but as I knit with it, it seems to soften up under my fingers as I work the stitches. But the real buzz of knitting with Noro is watching the colourwork as it emerges. You can anticipate the hues as they evolve out of the ball, and it compels you to knit a few rows too many after midnight, just so you can see what's next (clever yes?).
I'll be trying to knit a few rounds at least today (and daytime knitting is unheard of around here of late), just so I can see the lime green as it comes into play.
I remember when I had my second return to knitting a few years back. Before then I'd always bought my yarn from local big box stores (ugh) and wondered why the selection was so lousy. Then I discovered online yarn stores and a few local 'bricks and mortar' types. Economically speaking I'm better off than I was in my early 20s. Yarns that were once absolutely out of reach (except for maybe one ball to make a scarf or hat) are now affordable.
I recall hearing about this Noro stuff, then seeing it at a store, then frankly wondering what all the fuss was about. The colours were a bit of a mish mash and the Kureyon at least, really wasn't all that soft. It was hard to imagine what, if anything, I would like to knit with it.
Somewhere along the line though, my intested was piqued enough to try it. The Lily Multi that was on sale was the perfect composition for my first Clapotis. Soon I was feeling the love...My next Noro project was a scarf in the Silk Garden, which is indeed, very very soft.
For this Kureyon sock, I'm knitting a pair of (wait for it!) - socks! At first touch, the yarn feels a bit like twine, but as I knit with it, it seems to soften up under my fingers as I work the stitches. But the real buzz of knitting with Noro is watching the colourwork as it emerges. You can anticipate the hues as they evolve out of the ball, and it compels you to knit a few rows too many after midnight, just so you can see what's next (clever yes?).
I'll be trying to knit a few rounds at least today (and daytime knitting is unheard of around here of late), just so I can see the lime green as it comes into play.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
...
The purchasers popped this up on Friday before we'd even signed the offer (which we agreed to albeit verbally). I'm glad they are as excited as we are!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Me time?
Generally I average about 1.5 - 2 hours at the end of the day of pure 'me time'.
Time when all the babies are sleeping, the dishes are done, and there is nothing that needs doing that can't wait until tomorrow. Granted it's not always 'uninterruptable' time...and that can be offputting when you want to knuckle down to a crafty type of activity.
In this house, there isn't enough space to really leave crafts out for long periods of time, so the interruptibility is a definite factor in choosing how to spend the time. This won't be as big an issue when we move (yay!), and for at least this year, I plan to keep a room for just my stuff (although I imagine it will become a certain small boy's own room when he goes to school next year).
So, how do you decide to spend your 'me time'? Craft wise, I like to knit, make jewellery or stitch markers, and soon I hope to be sewing too. I am also in the middle of a distance education course (well truth be told, I'm still mostly at the start as I achieved so little last year), and I should be devoting at least a couple of nights a week to that!
Do you allocate specific nights to specific crafts? Do you just do whatever takes your fancy come the evening? Or do you get sidetracked reading blogs or forums because you can't quite decide how to commit your time? (yes, this is me!)
PS: Oh and don't think it's gone unnoticed that you are way more excited about me starting a new craft than finishing my nan's blanket (see below) LOL
Time when all the babies are sleeping, the dishes are done, and there is nothing that needs doing that can't wait until tomorrow. Granted it's not always 'uninterruptable' time...and that can be offputting when you want to knuckle down to a crafty type of activity.
In this house, there isn't enough space to really leave crafts out for long periods of time, so the interruptibility is a definite factor in choosing how to spend the time. This won't be as big an issue when we move (yay!), and for at least this year, I plan to keep a room for just my stuff (although I imagine it will become a certain small boy's own room when he goes to school next year).
So, how do you decide to spend your 'me time'? Craft wise, I like to knit, make jewellery or stitch markers, and soon I hope to be sewing too. I am also in the middle of a distance education course (well truth be told, I'm still mostly at the start as I achieved so little last year), and I should be devoting at least a couple of nights a week to that!
Do you allocate specific nights to specific crafts? Do you just do whatever takes your fancy come the evening? Or do you get sidetracked reading blogs or forums because you can't quite decide how to commit your time? (yes, this is me!)
PS: Oh and don't think it's gone unnoticed that you are way more excited about me starting a new craft than finishing my nan's blanket (see below) LOL
Sunday, January 18, 2009
New Supplies
I.must.be.seriously.insane.
I barely have time for the many things I need to do, let alone want to do already. Not to mention I'm about to move into a very old house that will suck leisure time from my already reasonably busy life.
Somehow, I've got it into my head though that this is something I want to pursue.
Did I mention I can't even actually sew?
I barely have time for the many things I need to do, let alone want to do already. Not to mention I'm about to move into a very old house that will suck leisure time from my already reasonably busy life.
Somehow, I've got it into my head though that this is something I want to pursue.
Did I mention I can't even actually sew?
First FO 2009: Ripple Blanket
A belated Christmas pressie for my dear nan. She actually unwrapped this, minus 8 repeats on the day - but I was determined to make it bigger so it would be substantial enough to cover her sufficiently come winter.
She will love it! Having made one now though, not sure if I will ever get to finishing one for myself...We would need one at least 4 - 8 times that big for our king size bed and just not sure I have it in me...
The blanket is made with Merino Magic, which is a machine washable 100% wool yarn. I think I used the equivalent of 14 x 50g balls. It's reasonably soft, but the main reason I chose it was for the colour selection and so it would be easy for my nan to care for. It is made from the ripple pattern as found here.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Real estate rollercoaster
I think our house has been on the market roughly 3.5 weeks. Not even one month. And yet DH and I are nervous wrecks. We don't do wheeling and dealing too well. The agent who is selling the property checks in with me every few days and lets me know about the perspective buyers. Once, after frantically preparing the house for a second and third showing, it seemed a sale was in the bag. Until the husband decided he didn't want to live on our street. (Yes that would be the same street the house was on the first two times you looked!)
Last Saturday we had 15 groups through at an open. That's a lot of people...assuming they were all genuinely looking to buy of course, which they probably were not. Real estate shopping (or should I say real estate window shopping) is a valid pastime in this city.
Anyway, if anyone wants to buy a smallish two bedroom house (with a great yard and 2 living areas!) in a great location 2 clicks to the beach, make us an offer...any offer - we'd probably accept it just to put our nerves to rest!
Last Saturday we had 15 groups through at an open. That's a lot of people...assuming they were all genuinely looking to buy of course, which they probably were not. Real estate shopping (or should I say real estate window shopping) is a valid pastime in this city.
Anyway, if anyone wants to buy a smallish two bedroom house (with a great yard and 2 living areas!) in a great location 2 clicks to the beach, make us an offer...any offer - we'd probably accept it just to put our nerves to rest!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Worth the wait!
5.55pm EST and we're still at 38 degrees celcius. I've finally let the kids out for the day :).
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Roast Potato Salad (and Lamb)
Our friends wife makes a mean potato salad. It really is excellent and I always look forward to it if she comes to our place for a bbq, as I know she'll bring her signature dish. For some reason I can't bring myself to ask how she makes it. It's her specialty afterall...
Anyway I know most of the ingredients, so here's how I do it:-
You will need:-
8 medium/large potatoes diced to small cubes and roasted until just crisp
4 hard boiled eggs sliced or chopped
4 rashers of medium bacon (cooked)
1 generous tablespoon of mayonnaise
a couple of sliced spring onions
a dozen fresh mint leaves (these are important)
salt/pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl!
You can make this salad ahead, but I like it a bit warm. I also recommend mixing everything together whilst the potatoes are just cooked as it makes the flavours 'pop' a little better.
We had this tonight with some marinated organic lamb shoulder. If you can get yourself to a Hagens Organic butchers (I go to the one at Prahran Market, but there is one at Vic Market too I believe), it is well worth the trip. For $25 you can get a pre marinated lamb shoulder which will serve 7 or 8 adults. This is *the* most tender, tastiest lamb I think I've ever tasted. Oh no, I tell a lie, Sister Suffragette's Roman Lamb was better, but this one is a close second!
And there goes my vegetarian readership!
Anyway I know most of the ingredients, so here's how I do it:-
You will need:-
8 medium/large potatoes diced to small cubes and roasted until just crisp
4 hard boiled eggs sliced or chopped
4 rashers of medium bacon (cooked)
1 generous tablespoon of mayonnaise
a couple of sliced spring onions
a dozen fresh mint leaves (these are important)
salt/pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl!
You can make this salad ahead, but I like it a bit warm. I also recommend mixing everything together whilst the potatoes are just cooked as it makes the flavours 'pop' a little better.
We had this tonight with some marinated organic lamb shoulder. If you can get yourself to a Hagens Organic butchers (I go to the one at Prahran Market, but there is one at Vic Market too I believe), it is well worth the trip. For $25 you can get a pre marinated lamb shoulder which will serve 7 or 8 adults. This is *the* most tender, tastiest lamb I think I've ever tasted. Oh no, I tell a lie, Sister Suffragette's Roman Lamb was better, but this one is a close second!
And there goes my vegetarian readership!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
A long time between drinks!
Sorry folks. Went MIA for a bit there.
We had a lovely and relaxing holiday season, but now it's back to the everyday stuff (well mostly, the kids don't have kinder of course so it gives each day a laid back feel).
Still trying to sell our house (not fun) and just keep the chaos in check really.
I would have loved to start the new year with a new blog, but it may have to wait until after the Big Move. There is so much to do I barely know where to begin.
For now you'll have to settle for a random pic of me and my bebe...
We had a lovely and relaxing holiday season, but now it's back to the everyday stuff (well mostly, the kids don't have kinder of course so it gives each day a laid back feel).
Still trying to sell our house (not fun) and just keep the chaos in check really.
I would have loved to start the new year with a new blog, but it may have to wait until after the Big Move. There is so much to do I barely know where to begin.
For now you'll have to settle for a random pic of me and my bebe...
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