Happy New Year

Hallo my friends, just a few photos to post and to wish you all a Happy New Year/Bon Annee!

We had a nice quiet Christmas and are just pottering along, this Summer has been mild so far compared to some we've experienced.

My old barbecue looked quite charming in the early morning light after I'd watered all the pot plants...I spray painted it this bright blue last year, inside the hood behind the front pots is a great space for storing tools and pots. My chandelier and birdcage were rescued from the verge where they'd been out discarded as rubbish...(grrr)

the silverbeet is still going well although I have given up on growing tomatoes as the little green caterpillars are relentless and I won't use pesticides...

Have also become as obsessive knitter these days...lots of socks...these are Winwick Mum's free pattern, I have used Bendigo Woolen Mills 4ply Merino and Nylon yarn for these socks for Joe...Christine has blocked hers but I don't feel it's necessary...

I made a second Feather and Fan stitch scarf with the Jennet wool from Northern Yarns in Lancaster , the first one was posted back to Lancaster to my cousins who sent me the wool...

and Spotlight had that gorgeous Jeans yarn on special again so Charlie will have two posh jumpers this Winter lol...it has some nice wooden buttons on it now...it's such a soft acrylic and a delight to knit with...pattern is free of course from ravelry, Meabh's Cardigan (isn't she a cutie, Charlie wouldn't wear the hat so I'm not making that...am also making a complicated French pattern for him and am knitting the collar for the third time as I watch tennis on telly...

Dad is doing quite well but now I'm making him 7 meals a week, it's a challenge as he needs small meals of soft foods and is rather fussy, I plate it up on a bread and butter plate and write what it is, when to eat it and hot or cold otherwise he will just eat rubbish and then have indigestion again! Cue really bad photo...

In other news our dear Rhonda has been unwell but is in great spirits and has started her blog again, just if and when she feels like writing, I can't tell you how much influence her simple lifestyle has had on me and many thousands of others, do have a look if you haven't already...

Down To Earth blog

Always leave them laughing...Charlie is now just the right height for his ole Nana to lean on lol

Christmas Day <3 My tablecloth is a length of Christmas fabric from last January when it was 75% off the original price. I forgot to get the crackers/bonbons out so that's one thing less we'll need to buy this year lol

Keep well and be happy,

Love Sue

xx

Hanging Hand Towel Pattern

Hallo Every-one...here is a pattern I have modified to make a knitted cotton hand towel that you can attach to the oven door handle or a towel rail.

I've used Bendigo Woollen Mills' 8 ply cotton, it is a rather thin 8-ply and 4mm/UK size 8 needles. 25 to 30 gms was all it took. If you don't have 8 ply cotton you can use 2 strands of 4 ply together.

Cast on 9 stitches
Knit 5 rows
Row 6 K4, yarn fwd, K2tog, knit to end.

Knit a further 22 rows.

Increasing starts now~
K2, yarn forward, knit to end.
Repeat this row until you have the desired width for your hand-towel...I went to 46 sts, you may wish to make it wider.

Main body and to keep the hole at the edge~

K2, yarn forward, K2tog, knit to end
Repeat this row until you have the desired length.

K2, *yarn fwd, K2tog, K1* to end.
Knit 2 rows and cast off.

Sew on a button and it's done

My gorgeous buttons come from Sharyn at Buttons B Busy on Facebook

Shoulder detail

Close-up of top

Hope you enjoy making one or two, they would make a simple last minute gift perhaps? Stripes would be fun or use a variegated yarn. If you don't have 8ply cotton then you could use 2 strands of 4ply held together.

Love from Sue
xx

This Week...

...really started last week with what I thought was hay fever but then developed into the first head and chest cold I have had since 2008! Grrr...I still feel sore and tired but am definitely improving.

To make this lovely baked omelette you'll need

6 eggs
150gms of chopped bacon
a small onion, finely chopped
2/3 cup of milk
2/3 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup peas
2-3 cooked potatoes, chopped coarsely
some finely chopped herbs and salt and pepper

Start by lightly frying the bacon and onion in a (very) little oil and then stir in the potato, letting it cool while you beat the eggs and milk.
Spread the bacon etc evenly over the base of a greased quiche dish and season well
Pour over the eggs and top with the cheese
Bake at 180C until set and golden, around 40 minutes.

I've been resting and knitting...fingerless mittens for friends...

Moving some pots around as we have less shade on the other patio now...

 

I weeded all along the fence line here and moved the pots too, the tree lost a large shady branch when the fence was installed and I miss it now!

I planted some more tomatoes and 4 marigolds to deter any nematodes that may be thinking of eating the roots of the tomato plants...

Some-one special in the briar patch...he loves to get under this asparagus fern and rest his day away when it's not too hot outside...

My lovely new cotton came Bendigo Woolen Mills this week...a green ball is on back order

I started knitting almost immediately...it's all for face and dish cloths...I like the broken rib stitch in the darker one. I find this yarn a little thinner than a regular 8ply so I used size 10/3.25mm needles and another 10 stitches to get a nice firm knit...

Yesterday friends were talking about the $5.95 a kilo BBQ steak at Coles this week so I went in to get some...it comes in these vaccuum sealed packages but is ready sliced. I went into Woolworths too just at the right time when the Singing Vegie Lady had reduced lots of goodies to $3 bag...

I washed and sorted the tomatoes, many were still firm enough to enjoy raw, the rest I cooked down with a huge clove of garlic and then blitzed with my wand...1200mls of fresh sauce and it smells heavenly...

The Christmas Swap is in full swing at the forum...yesterday I got a lovely surprise package from Vikki in Queensland...she wasn't really supposed to send me anything but look at this gorgeous handmade selection...

Priscilla has finished her chemo at long last, she meets with Dr N on December 2nd to discuss the surgery she needs now so please keep her in your thoughts. Cousin Dave is still having his treatment and is in good spirits so let's keep hoping for a great result for him. 

The forecast today is for a hot 37C...curtains will be kept closed and I think a BBQ dinner will be a great idea!


Hope all are well at your place, enjoy your weekend
Love from Sue
xx