Two & A Half Years In The Making .......



Just over 2 1/2 years ago I visited my local wool shop looking for wool to make a granny blanket for our bed. After a lot of pondering I chose the wool & the colours that I thought would look best in the bedroom.

The wool is Wendy Emu Superwash, it isn't as soft as Rowan but as it is going on top of my duvet I didn't mind. The colours are bright but subtle at the same time which is what I was looking for. I started it as soon as I got home from the shop & managed to do 26 squares before other projects started to take up my time. After a while it ended up in a bag in the study not to see the light of day for 2 years !!



I found it again when I was having a sort out back in July. I was so determined to finish it ready for this autumn that I worked on it whenever I had the chance. Now all that hard work has paid off & I am so pleased to say that I hooked the last stitch last night.

So without further to-do I proudly present my finished bedroom granny blanket ...................

Bedroom Granny Blanket

Yarn : Wendy Emu Superwash 100% Wool

Colours : Stone # 1520 / Blush # 1517 / Damask # 1516 / Steel Blue # 1518 /Spearmint # 1519 / Grape # 1513 / Claret # 1512

Hook : 4mm

Words can not describe how happy (& relieved) I am to see this finished. I ended the border with a scallop edging which is a lovely finishing touch. Am I happy with the end result ............. OH YES !!!!! I am so proud of it that I keep going upstairs to admire it.

The End Is In Sight .......


At long last I am on the home run of this little beauty. I decided to do a striped border of all the colours, ending in two rows of cream. I am really hoping to finish the border tonight, then there are a zillion ends to sew in, I should have sown them in as I went !!! At least it will soon be on my bed in time for the chilly autumn nights.

.

More Signs Of Autumn ......

This morning we woke to a very foggy world outside. As we walked up to our local shop the little men where fascinated by all the beautiful spider webs covered in dew that were festooned over the bushes & trees.

September is defiantly the month of the spider, they are everywhere !!

There are big fat juicy blackberries growing by the shop, unfortunately not for picking as they are right by the car park & most probably full of car exhaust fumes. They are lovely to look at though & I am sure the birds are enjoying them.

The Hawthorn berries are appearing ::

After the chilly walk to the shop we came home to hot chocolate & freshly baked warm french bread, butter & jam. I think I need to put away our summer clothes & dig out some warmer ones.

Birthday Dinner Party ......

.

Oh dear I am suffering today !! Please don't feel sorry for me, it is self inflicted. Last night I had seven very good friends round for a Birthday dinner. My great friend Sally Ann made a gorgeously chocolately Birthday cake, yummy !!

I made the main course, Sally Ann also brought garlic bread, Trish made a gooey Banoffee Pie & every one brought nibbles & lots of bottles !!

What more could I ask for than celebrating with delicious food, & wonderful friends. It was such a fantastic evening & my sides still hurt today from laughing so much.

.

A Little Ray of Sunshine ......

The weather is so dismal today, grey clouds, rain, rain & more rain.

Luckily I have these beautiful sunflowers & roses to brighten up my day. Thank you Auntie Dorothy & Trish for these birthday beauties, they really are a ray of sunshine on such a dull grey day.

I have spent most of today getting on with my bed granny blanket & have managed to do 4 more squares. I did have good intentions of clearing & tidying the study, which has been used as a junk room for the past couple of months, but when I opened the door my heart sank & I just couldn't face it !! I don't know if it is the weather or the aftermath of the summer hols but I am just sooo tired at the moment that I can't seem to raise the energy to do anything over & above the day to day jobs that us ladies have to do. Maybe I'll find the energy tomorrow ..... !!

Birthday Baking ......

Today is my ......... 42nd birthday. If I say it quick enough it may not sound so bad !!!!

Sadly my little man no.1 is poorly with an upset tummy, so as I am confined to the house I thought I would do some baking. I love making apple scone this time of year but I thought I would try something a little different. Instead of apple I used plums & I must say they are really yummy, just warm with lashings of butter.

Here is the receipt if you would like to make some, I promise you won't be disappointed.

PLUM SCONES

1. 8oz SR Flour
2. 1 tsp Baking Powder
3. Pinch of Salt
4. 2oz Butter
5. 2oz Caster or Demerara Sugar
6. 1/4 pint of Milk
7. 5-6 Plums coarsely chopped

Pre heat oven to 200oc, GM6

Sift together SR flour, salt & baking powder. Rub in butter, then add sugar & chopped plums. Add milk slowly to make a soft, but not sticky dough. Roll out dough to 5mm thickness, then using cutters cut out scones.

Place on greased baking sheet, brush tops with milk & sprinkle with demerara sugar. Bake for 20-25 mins.

Serve warm with butter.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did, yum, yum !!! You can replace the plums with any fruit, I'm going to try them with dates & apricots next time.

I Think The Cats Will Approve !! ......

This photo says it all !!!

I think the cats are looking forward to seeing this blanket finished & on my bed as much as I am. Now that the little men are settled in school I am hoping to get this little beauty done & dusted as quickly as possible. The nights are starting to get chilly & I need something cozy & pretty to keep me warm.

Pottering around the garden today it is becoming more apparent that autumn is nearly here. There is still some blooms here & there but everything is beginning to fade & the leaves are beginning to change colour. I love all the seasons & I am looking forward to the beautiful colours of autumn. I love the cold weather & being wrapped up in a hand knit jumper & scarf or inside snuggled on the sofa or in bed while the wind is howling & the rain is falling, strange aren't I. As for snow, I'm just a big kid !

Male Bonding !!! ......

.

The little men's best buddy 'H' came for tea after school yesterday. They were all rather tired so they asked if they could watch a movie. I left them to chill out while I cooked tea, after a while I thought that it was al little too quiet so went to see what they were up to.

.

This is how I found them !!!! A little male bonding is good for the soul don't you think.

My Little Men's First Day At School ......

What a big day today for both little men & mummy. I just can't believe that they have started school, where has the time gone. It seems like only yesterday that we where bringing them home from hospital !!!

2 weeks old, they where so very tiny ::

Look at them now !!! They look so grown up in their uniforms, but are still so diddy.

Mum came with us to see them go into school on their first day. They where very excited to see all their friends & Mum & I were fine until the whistle went & all the children lined up to go in, then the tears started. Luckly we had sunglasses on & the little men where fine, smiling & waving as they went into school & onto the next chapter in their little lives.

New Books To Add To My Ever Increasing Collection .......

I have been addicted to crime/murder books both true & fiction for as long as I can remember. In fact if my memory serves me correctly it started when I was 12 when my Auntie Jaquie lent me "Forty Years of Murder" by Prof Keith Simpson. I was hooked from the first chapter, my mother was horrified to find me reading such a graphic book & the book 'went missing' never to be seen again before I could finish it. Four years later my mother & stepfather bought it for me for my 16th Birthday & I read it from cover to cover.

When I was at school I was seriously thinking of having a career in forensics or criminology but my life took a different path, so I read about it instead. My school friends used to think I was morbid to have such an interest but I just find it fascinating. I have over 40 books on true crime/murder & over 60 fiction.



Over the last week I have been adding to my collection as the sales are now on & how could I pass by the chance to 'buy 2 get one free' & 'buy 2 for £7.00'.

I have all of Patrica Cornwell's, Karin Slaughter's & Kathy Reich's books & have just got into Tess Gerritsen.



Looking at all my new books it almost makes me feel that Autumn & Winter can come along & I wont care, I will have my new blankets to snuggle under while I read, knit & crochet away the dark evenings.

An Old Unfinished Project .......

.

Deep in the depths of unfinished projects I have found this granny blanket that I started over 2 years ago. This was destined for my bed to keep me warm through the long, dark, cold winter nights.

.

Why did I never finish it ? I have pulled it out from the depths & I am determined to finish it before Autumn takes hold. I only have 16 squares left to do & as the boys will be starting school full time from Friday I should be able to steal a little more hooking time.

Autumn Is Just Around The Corner ......

Ok, I Give Up ......


This is my punishment for having an extra half an hour in bed this morning!!

I give up trying to keep the house tidy while the little men are on holiday, you win boys !!!

A Trip To The Park & The Dentist ......


On Tuesday I developed a niggly pain in one of my wisdom teeth. As time went by the pain got worse & by the evening I didn't know where to put myself. I was up ALL night pacing the floor & eating Ibuprofen, which didn't help. As soon as 9am came I rang the Dentist who very kindly fitted me in that afternoon.

Mum & I had promised to take the boys to Dunorlan Park for a picnic & to feed the ducks & I couldn't let them down, so off we went.

.

I must say that I found it hard going as I was exhausted & in awful pain. It was such a shame as it was a glorious day for fun in the park.

Little man no. 2 blowing Dandelion fairies ::


Picnicing in the sun ::

After a couple of hours of fun in the park it was off to the dentist for me. Unfortuately once my dentist started drilling he informed me that it would be best to take the tooth out!!!! My blood ran cold .... Oh no!!! But I was very brave & went through with it. At least it was a wisdom tooth & wont show. The pain has now all but gone & it seems to be healing well. Thank goodness !! I am nearly back to full working order though still rather tired.