Goodbye My Home

It was with a heavy heart I said my last goodbyes to a place that has been in my family for what seems forever,I spent every Christmas of my early life(14 years) plus cared for the gardens for another ten years or so and knew so much of its every nook and crany.I took so many pictures as I left but they will never replace the feeling of home,it was my steady rock to know it was there through good times and bad and I hope the new peoplewill care and love it as I did and appreciate the history of the past!
I left home at 5.30am,monday 18 July with my middle son as company towing a tandem tailer on loan from the bestest friends without whom I wouldnt have been able to do what I set out to.My own trailer had too many things needing work to get it ready in time which I wasnt aware of til two days efore leaving date.
I packed two project bags and two spindles and had plans to work on them at travel stops. We spent first night at the WA border,I started a sock in some handspun(Espinner) dyed y me ages ago,it ll be a plain toeup with a feather fan pattern at the top. the spindles job was to finish some polwarth from EGMTKs for the Bandwidth hat (top since finished in a lovely light worsted weight)
3500kms to go,over the Nullabour towards Ceduna

Patrick kept busy with his books,military history etc

Ceduna,beautiful green crops........

We had some fun man handling the trailer into position before backing 100 Series in and rehitching,as youve guessed Im not good at reversing a trailer...this was the second night,I did some more on the sock...we also tried out a local pizza shop to compare notes...

Leaving Pt Augusta and heading up into the holls to Peterborough

Back to 3rd gear and up climbing!

Then second!!

...then down through to Broken Hill

Little Topa,whats left of the flooding rains last Christmas,I saw a bustard slinking off into the grass here,so many have een shot and eaten over the yeasr Im glad theres still a few around

Loads of summer fire fuel here going into Cobar on the other side of the Macdonald Ranges,eautiful scenery,wish I had time to stop and take more pics of the ranges themselves,wonderful painting material

This pics didnt come out like I hoped but it was like the southern Aroura lights,a rainbow hanging over Cobar as we approached aout 50 ks away! Stayed at the Western,everything else was booked out and we scored the 3rd last room at the pub in the old party rooms,had to put up with an annoying drunck yelling out at his TV all night...

Onto the Louth road which was the roughest Ive driven over for a while,I stopped a few times to check wheel bearings etc and to have alittle break from the rattles,the Bourke end was shocking! This pics was the good part through the sandunes,they were graded for the famous LouthPicnic Races which we missed as we were going home the week before they were to be held

Over the hill and nearly there

All my Dads stuff for all and sundry to sort through and bid on,country auctions are a big day out for people to travel to and try to get bargains and just have a great day out.It can be heart breaking for some if they re being sold up for example but for my own family it means a move to someplace more comfortable,Mums has existed for the last few months on no runing wtaer with the tanks rusting through and as she was going to move there was no need to spend money.Thats for the new owners.It was sad for me in the way Im losing my real home and also I wasnt quick enough to get some family heirlooms out of the way before they were put out,I did however managed to save my girls,given to me a long time ago by my father they were frisked away and hidden from prying eyes.

Just look at them lined up and ready to go!
Auction time...........

And all gone the next day,the sale lasted from 10amto after 7pm that night with flood lightslighting up the shed as the auctionare gaming tried to finish off.
I was very angry to learn during the day that a certain attendee bid up to an extravagant ammount for a family heirloom that shouldnt have been in there and due to a miscommunication among other family I was distracted and failed to bid on the item.Upon discussion with the organisers later it was realised that it was a mistake for it to be put out as my mother wasnt aware and even though she didnt really care at the end of the day I will always regret not being able to save it and that person involved will be remembered. I did however managed to rescue my OWN spinning wheel,Dads stock whip and his pistol holster along with a few tools and abit of his hobby stuff(lapidary)

Over the next couple of days i went through and took photos of everything I could for the memories.

Front of house,one of my fav spots..

 At side facing the river,this was the best side to sit on the kitchen step and have acup while the kokaburras rallied up in the trees and blue wrens twittered among the shrus

A portion of the gardens,a fraction of what they were in my Grandfathers day

 

The mighty old 45 stand shed,I aim topaint this one day so got heaps of pics to keep the memory as correct as possible.

thats it for now,Ill e back with more photos of the house ad shed and Im hoping to find the time to tpe up an article that was printed in the sixties about the history of the old place.

No knitting or spinning pics but i have started some white optim on a tiny spindle as I want to use it to make a delicate little scarf with nupps etc,Ihave also started the second half of Charlies Churro Bunny top and as Im not back at work for another week im thinking of  getting out the sock knitting machine in between fnishing the ast Uni assignment,finishing grouting the abthroom and getting garden upto some sort of decency. 

the blasted key board is dicky too so if you see a few missing letters(b) thats why.....

Gee times running out

Bugger me the week ended before I could get some things done including murdering some clover,Ill have to go into work tomorrow and spray and water new plants ,leave paper work for a certain Staffy and then wizz home and pack!!
Its going to take me at least days to get back and probably abit longer coming home with aheavy load,I will definitely take alot of pics this time and store them properly

I plied a skein of Charleys Churro this morning and washed it,one more to go and there should be enough for socks which I want to start NOW

Looky I found an ld project I was working on last winter,I think a bug had a chew but only had to reknit two rows,I have to decrease for crown now and I cant find the sock needles so hopped on Ebay and bought a pile of Knit pro cords and ends in sizes I need for these type of projects.I really want to wear this hat when at home as its going to be freezing and Mum has no heating,the beds will feel like ice so we ll be taking hot water bottles,LOL

The trouble is I have so many on the go I use up my supply,LOL Oh this is a wurm hat,I did one for my Mum last year with the ruffle scarf the same colour in  Sensation,(pale blue) Ive got some pale pink here someplace I  would like to do the same set again for me~

Got my eye on another pattern for a pack of Cleakheaton Silk in raspberry,called Harvest Moon, by Heidi Kirrmaier,I love the pockets though Im a bit worried the neck linarrowne will be too low and end up sliding off shoulders as I have  bony  narrow parts there! Ive got soem dark lime green too but dont know how much,probably a vest! Ive been wanting to cast on for a long time for that old pattern Vestish ,have some burnt ornage mohair and abit other stuff that I had in mind,also three packs of that cleackheaton charcoal tweed naturals,boy I think I hve enough to stock a shop.

I ve got to set up a project bag and realistic one at that to take with me too.Im driving the whole way (3500 odd k) and can only really knit and spindle during stop overs if Son no 3 dosent get cranky ! He should pleased with the ammount Ive managed to plough through!!That said off to bed for me,have sooo much to do!

Last day

Well today is my last day at work for a few weeks,off to give Mum a hand and load my bits up so she can move,Ive been spinning a lot to keep up with te Tour Fleece and boy Im gettig afair bit done too and all by spindle!So Ill pack a bit of fleece and my spindles including the new Trindle,pics soon!
I have to finish a uni assignment tonigt and post it before I go,Ill get a registered postbag today and just chuck it into the mailbox as I leave so I have the maximum time to do as good a job as I can.
Its overcast but I hope I can get to the weeds this morning so theyve died off by the time I get home!
Ill be back later with more pics!

Re photos

I would really like a more professional camera but shes not bad really! Oh and a fat cop!

Gotland(EGMTKs),170 odd metres,the second skein,yet to be washed,still has grease in it,the first one I think was 120m,have another 100 grams to spin,Im hoping to do a lace style wrap,still looking for the just right pattern,I hope to take this as a project (along with spindle and other bits)on my road trip though as Im driving the whole 3500 odd ks,itll be stop times and night time only

Ta Ra!!

Photo time

Blue..........

Green

Red....

Knitty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Heavens,Oh My,what shall I do with such a wish list of patterns,this edition is wonderful,I have my eye on at least half of them......................KNITTY is up!!!! The lacy socks look like the right ones for my last spindles production,the Silk Garden Cardie is divine! Oh the choice!

Feeling pretty good

Yep,Im nearly finished this weeks Uni assignment,lets see if I can get a week ahead this weekend so I can post the thing in the mail and not have to take Laptop with me and battle with that in week 9 when Im supposed to be travelling home
I finished the second half of the BFL in blue/mushroom that I started on the weekend,balled up first plied half but havent washed it yet,it looks awesome,I think Ill be knitting with 2.75 needles but will swatch first
Darn photos not up loading! Will try again! Nope blogger being a bad blogger tonight!

Back again for 3rd try,LOL

There 148.8m in one ball and 132.8m(sportweight) in the other hopefully enough for a pair of sock maybe aheaps of lace otherwise Ill dye a bit more up  ...And my rescued Bunny Taffy,fat bunny

Yes that is her bottom seen under my hand and the jumper is a Jo Sharp sweater I finished at Toodyay,5 years sitting there half sewn up.it growing abit as I wear it but its gorgeously warm and I think a bit of a hot wash will tighten it up a bit,BTW its Merino Fur or Fur nMerino,I think a Naturally Yarn,love possum,awesome stuff

TEACOSY 2

 

 

Im reposting this to help a couple of people who have contacted me even though I didnt see their comments in this as somehow my editing of Blogger isnt up to scratch when fixing comment thingy,I be back to edit this to fix the problem I think people are having

Tea Cosy

Simple Cosy for a 3 to 4 cup Pot

Yarn: 1 ball Patons Jet

remnants of three colours(Cleckheaton Silk used here )

Needles: 5mm

Abbr:

RS-right side

WR-wrong side

K-Knit

P-purl

YO- yarn over

SS-slip stitch

PSSO-pass slipped st over

St-stitch

tg-together

Rib-K1 P1

Cast on 84 sts,work in basic 1x1 rib for 4 rows

Work Rib pattern 40 sts,cast off 4 sts,continue knitting on these 40 sts for 20 rows.

Break yarn and rejoin to other 40 sts and knit for 20 rows as for first half,knit across the first 40sts so there is a toal of 80 sts on needle keeping in rib pattern.

Knit in Rib pattern for 8 rows,then knit two together across row ,40 sts, Purl 2 together across row,20 st,knit 2 together again so ther are 10 sts left.Break yarn leaving enough yarn to draw up remaining sts.
Here you will start with 84sts at bottom,knit 44,turn,cast off 4 sts and continue knitting on that 40 sts to the top for 20 rows,break yarn return to other 40 sts and knit them for 20 rows,this will have the two lots at the same level,knit across all sts(80sts) and continue onto decrease.
I apologise for not making this clearer as I didnt realise it wasnt understandable!

Using wool needle, pass through these last sts and secure.

Decorate with knitted or croqueted flowers,pom poms,or a knitted cord(cast on a number of sts knit a row,cast off) that can be tied into a bow.Another sugestion,gather last sts with a ribbons of contrast colour and tie in bows.

Green leaf pattern:

Cast on three sts,

RS R1 Turn,K 1,YO,K1,YO,K1

WS R2 Purl all sts

RS R3 K 2,YO,K 1

WR R4 Purl

RS R5 K 2,SS,K1 PSSO,YO,K1,YO,K2 tg,K2 (7 sts)

Repeat last 2 rows 4 times,should have 6 lace"holes"

WS P

RS Knit 1,SS,K 2 tg,PSSO,K1.K 3 tg (5 sts)

WS P 1,P 2 tg,P 2tg,P1

RS K1,SS,K2 tg,PSSO,K1 (3 sts)

WS P 3 tg.

Using wool needle secure end of yarn by sewing into back of sts, Press and attach to cosy.

Flowers used are from Simply Knitting ,Issue No 16,June, 2006,not sure about year,but if you cant find it,any embellishment of knitted flower shapes woill be good

Still cold

Freaking hell, its getting cold,havent had time to get wood so unless my older boy and myself go out Im buying a load this week,at least Im putting my lovely warm jumpers to good use,the possum jumpers are super awesome,I should make  pair of mittens and socks with the last of it..

Ive been playing with my spindle this week again..I actually plyed the last lot,some South African Fine from Knittery Things in wonderful yellow through to brown and bright blue,just love it,only got around 346metres out of it and really wanted to do the Kvothe pattern,might try it and mod it somehow

I love the way the colour lined up on he skein holder! Now Im spinning BFL handdyed in delf blue through to mushroom,its drafting like a dream and hopefully enough for a pair of socks.I dyed it at least 3 years ago and its been sitting there all this time,I nearly destashed it but now the spindling has caught me Im taking it everywhere.I have another lot in rose pink and mushroom that Ill do after.I think Ill ply the blu with blue so the socka have blue toes fading into mushy legs.The pink I think Ill ply opposite s the barber pole thingy happens with the ends swaped.Im currently shoppinf for a couple

more spindles and one day Ill have a Golding....

Knitting wise Im done with the ribbing on one vest,6 inches on second,and shawl is getting bigger too!

Ill leave with another pic of the fluffy inhabitants

Dont look at the carpet lol it was Friday night and I work all week....

Bitterly cold

It is freezing here at moment,straight off the artic it feels, but no snow of course,I struggled through work today,offsiders been reallocated elsewhere for a few days so worked around different parts not that theres much to do as we done everything earlier and it had rained.
Got bad news on one assignment last night and no I aint repeating it,I didnt like it at all,may do an internet based one early next year if I can to make up for this one.Theres a mix up in the other one,the tutor awarded me Very Good on all parts and marked it at 35/50 which Im sure is 75% but she put it through on main sheet as a mere 35%,emailed her to confirm and hoping she just messed up as I dont want to do it again either,want to do something different, I got 60% for 1st assignment and 77 for second not sure ehwere it leaves me.
Anyhow I had a huge ball at Toodyay for the retreat and will add pics down below,the weather ws cold enough to show off new knits and enjoy knitting new ones,I finished one 5 year old UFO and nearly second one but started 4 others ,LOL I also added 4 more skeins to cashbah stash and a skein of  Trail sock which I cant wait to attack,must finish at least two UFOs and do some seriuous study first

Me and my BF,we talked each others heads off!

Inside the main market/ work room...the mittenes were the Retreats pattern for this year

Spindling workshop, market night,we all hang out for this part!

One project I started,this was spun on a spindle,the top an old club from EGMTKs,fine merino in Old Jeans

and this is the Mosley Park yarn I spun from a Christmas Club I think about 2009,lovely squishy stuff and Ill have enough for mittens as well!
Theres two more(I think) but I havent taken pics yet
Must go, its bloody cold and I have to do something about dinner