Knitting, Rain and Warm Food

Will start with the rain...after a whole week of none we've broken local records and even had hail one morning.
 I saw pink and grey galahs hanging upside down from power lines, wings out-stretched enjoyed a refreshing shower. I saw a huge black crow splashily bathing in a muddy puddle without a care in the world. Doves walked back and forth along the top of our fence looking like a Gary Larsen cartoon but my favourite was this little wood-duck. While I was knitting in the car and waiting for Joe at the dentist(he broke a tooth and needed a filling) I heard what sounded like a cat mewing loudly. When I opened the window it was this little chap/lady thoroughly enjoying the pop-up pond in the car park...what a funny noise they make...

It swam back and forth totally unconcerned about the cars coming and going...they actually nest in trees unlike other breeds of ducks.

Recent knitting includes this lovely free pattern for a diagonally knit washcloth , I've finished 3 in 8ply with 4mm needles and have ordered some 10ply(worsted weight) from Bendigo Woolen Mills to try it on the larger needles as per the pattern...

Then I read about a lady using up all her odds and ends of wool on very large needles so I found by 10mm needles and all my pink and white wool and made this in less than 2 days...all I've done is cast on 30 sts, knit around 10 rows in garter st, work a row of yarn fwd, K2tog to end to create a bit of a pattern, it's very loose and snuggly at the same time and cost nothing...

On to warm food...we've been enjoying lots of soups...this one is made from the left-over roast vegs and corned beef...I even found a stray sweet potato growing in the front garden, that beetroot gave it a beautiful colour and I added some frozen green beans for bulk...

Last night we had a sausage meat and pasta bake, I topped this the breadcrumbs I had in the freezer and only used the meat from 3 pork sausages with some chopped mushrooms so it was very thrifty.
I've just walked up to the letterbox and my neighbour, Vera, called me in to give me this enormous leek she'd bought on special yesterday...she'd like me to make Leek and Potato for my dear Dad who can't wear his dentures...easy to eat...aren't people wonderful? The prize leek...

I have some dianthus seedling to plant today, they are like small carnations and seem to last at 2 years...I like to have flowers in the back courtyard...

Now unfortunately it's not been all sweetness and light this week with the news that Joe's step-brother has been murdered in Canada, such a shock and we're still waiting to hear what the motive was as Pierre was a very easy going, likable man. RIP Capitaine...my mother-in-law has now out-lived her first 3 children...no-one should do that...

Joe has had surgery on his nose to remove a possibly dangerous basal cell carcinoma, he has sts inside and out and is very sore, let's hope they got it all this time as they missed some cells last time.

Priscilla isn't doing very well atm either. The Vit C infusions have come to an end and she is quite exhausted now. The doctors have found a bed in a respite facility to give her complete bed rest and hopefully stress and pain relief for the coming week. At the weekend she and Will had all three younger children baptised together with all their god parents attending too...this is my favourite photo...

So we all just muddle along as best we can don't we?
Hope things are going well for you,
Love from Sue
xox

PS was just sent this, these 2 guys were born 83 yrs apart but have such a deep connection...

Hallo There!

Still here, just meandering through my days as I countdown to a wonderful holiday that I will tell you more about another day.

Priscilla has started thrice weekly Vitamin C infusions and is feeling a little brighter...the good news is that she has a 'gopher' now and can get out and about now the weather there is much milder...the girls ride their bikes along-side and Liam catches a lift with Mom...

I've been quietly crafting away and have finished an incline scarf made from a giant 200gm 'cake' of yarn...

made a bag from 3 samples of curtain fabric...

some 'subversive' embroidery...

some tasty meals...Singapore noodles...

Feta and spinach turnovers(the spinach was actually sweet potato leaves!) and stuffed capsicums with some chopped tomatoes and cucumber...

and some goodies for Dad, creamy soup, cooked pork sausages, vegetable 'quiche' and a dinner of silverside and vegetables...he grumbles when he sees so much food but it doesn't last long :)

Our little grandsons are continuing to thrive...Kullen is such a chubby chops now...

Cyclone Charlie is now walking and turns one year old next week...

...we're really looking forward to his Nanna Tracey coming over to join us for a week.

That's about all my news for now so I will wish you all a happy weekend,

Love from Sue

xxx

http://pearlzjourney.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/first-meeting-at-ottawa-integrative.html


Have just up-dated Priscilla's blog, check out the link if you'd like to see what's happening these days

Love Sue

Priscilla's Blog Updated

Lots of you are wondering how Priscilla and her family are doing these days so here is the link to her updated blog...still fighting after almost 5 years of illness...

http://pearlzjourney.blogspot.com.au/

Keeping Going

After my last sad post I am happy to share some nice photos with you and also to thank every-one for their loving support and messages.

On October 30th Priscilla's baby boy, Kullen, was delivered by c-section after a very long labour that was going nowhere because of the second tumour blocking his way...he weighed 4 lbs and was breathing on his own after a day or two and they both went home shortly afterwards. After 4 weeks in hospital Priscilla and Will were thrilled to be going home at last...

moved to a 'big boy's bed'...

  with Daddy...

ready for home...

Chemo started again for Priscilla yesterday with the usual nausea and fatigue but she's resting in bed and being well cared for. As her milk will be unsuitable for Kullen a donor has come forward to gift her own milk for him which is such a wonderful offer and will be the next best thing to his Mama's milk.

Here in the west Charlie(6 mos) continues to delight us all with his character...up at 5.30am for piano practice today...

loving 'solid foods' now, tenderly made at home by his awesome Mum...B made this hilarious collage, we love his pumpkin face...

Dad has tripped and hurt his back, I fell outside the post office and am grazed and bruised but Joe has topped that! Mandy called him an over-achiever...he had a mini stroke in September which is still causing double vision and this week he added conjunctivitis to his list of ailments...you just have to laugh at times!

I been enjoying lots of knitting and even some cross-stitch work recently as well as lots of Christmas planning and gardening. Being Spring the flowers are in abundance all around us, I'll do a separate post as there are so many photographs.

This is another 10-stitch blanket I am doing, quite easy once you work out how it develops, I'm using 8 ply acrylic on 5mm needles for a softer drape...

If you are a member of ravelry you can see more of Frankie Brown's patterns here

So there is my update, I will sort out the garden pics shortly but wish you all a very happy day today where-ever you are and what-ever you are doing,
Love Sue

Priscilla

http://pearlzjourney.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/update.html

Some new treatment is planned, please click on the link to read about it
xxx

PS Mother...click here!

Liam's Baby Shower/Welcome Party

Priss's lovely SIL, Anita, organised a baby shower for when Joe and I were here in Canada and able to attend. Family and friends gathered in the lovely park outside the back gate on Saturday afternoon. Anita had us play some hilarious games, every-one brought far too much yummy food and some wonderful gifts for Liam, he'll be the best-dressed baby in Ottawa!

Will let the pics do the talking...

Anita made 2 lovely posters and decorated with blue and white balloons and streamers

Grandson, Austin, played in the park

he loved Elmo, the Basset Hound

I love Elmo too!

Gerry talks to Mel (who was holding Liam)

Kyra, Bella and Skylar

Will's Nanny came too

Joe and his SIL, Will(Priss's hubby)

Uncle Jeff came too, he's Anita's hubby

Priscilla and Amanda catch up on the news, Amanda is expecting a baby too

Cousin Jackie had lots of cuddles

Mel and Anita help Kyra with one of the games

the beautiful cake made by Anita's friend

Last pic, taken by Mel of Priss opening her many gifts...

My wonderful, Dad, turns 80 years young in 70 minutes and I so wish we were there to share some time with him and Mum...will catch up when we get home but we all wish you a Very Happy Birthday, Dad, and many more.
PS stay out of the trees and off that roof!

Love from Sue
xxx

More Baby Pics

I've just updated Priscilla's blog with lots of new photos.

Congratulations too to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son, we understand completely their joy.

Thank you so much for all the loving comments you left yesterday, it means so much.
Sue
xx

Liam is Here

I'm so sorry to have been so slow at posting this both here and at Priscilla's blog. Liam was born on July 19th after a marathon 54 hours labour. He weighed in at 5lbs 1 oz even though he is 5 weeks premature because of Priscilla's cancer. It's been a very stressful time but he is thriving, nursing ferociously and winning hearts where-ever his photo is seen.
Priscilla will now be forever known as Warrior Queen to me, I have so much admiration for her strength and maturity. Enough dribble you say? Where is the lad you say?...here, look here..

Have you ever seen a sweeter baby? Yes of course, your own or your friend's but you must admit Liam is pretty darn special?
Will update Priss's blog tomorrow with some newer pics.
Thanks for all the support
xxxxxxxx

That Scandinavian Loaf

First of all just a wee whisper that Priscilla is in hospital now and her baby is being gently induced. There are still quite some hours to go but I'll let you know as soon as he arrives. Thanks to you all for your love and strength.

Hot on the heels of reading this post from Rose yesterday I nipped down to the shops to buy some psyllium husks and some sunflower seeds as I already had all the other ingredients...

It's dense and chewy and very nutritious and just what I have been looking for.

This is what I used yesterday and as the original recipe states there are endless possibilities for changes...

1 1/2 cups of rolled oats(not instant)
1 cup of sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of pecan nuts
1/2 cup of LSA
4 T psyllium husks, powdered
3 T coconut oil, melted
1 1/2 cups of water
1 T honey and 1 t of salt

I baked it for 50-55 minutes at 180C

I've had a slice toasted and Joe has had the crust as is, it's not too sweet but I think I'll use just a little more salt next time.

Crazy hat for cold Hippy Momma

It's very cold here today with 3C expected as the over night minimum, I have a new pile of library books and an urgent "order" for warm hats so I'm busy in the sunny living room while keeping an eye on Facebook for Priss's messages...what a modern world when can get messages from the Maternity Ward 12,000 miles away!

Talk to you soon,
Love from Nana Sue
x
xx

Weekends...

... are funny things when you have retired, truly each day is a holiday but we do have to fit in with society and those around us who are still working.
Yesterday Joe and I attended a friendly BBQ at Thomas Oval held for members of a local Facebook group who had not met each other before. In the interests of building and promoting community spirit one Admin member, Wayne, bought sausages, bread rolls, sauces and soft drinks etc and the other Admin member, Liz, and her partner, Bevan, brought their huge BBQ and a million sliced onions. Around 25-30 members turned up despite the wintry weather and we enjoyed chatting while Bevan cooked our lunch. The mayor, Carol Adams, popped in for 30 minutes on her way to her birthday celebration lunch and I met Mary, the mum of Elizabeth's kindy boyfriend all those years ago.
I didn't take any photos out of respect for the privacy of the members but I do encourage you to get out into your community and meet your neighbours. At our next gtg we plan to take along un-needed books, plants, surplus fruit perhaps from our gardens and put them out on a table for others to help themselves to.

Two nights ago I took the big camera outside to catch this sunset...and vowed to stop using my little camera after I saw how much better these next 2 photos are!

and a bunny in the woods...

On Saturday I popped into the local shops and just where the koala had been last week was a little "Petting Farm"; an assortment of lambs, chooks and ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, a mini pig, and an alpaca, all very tame and there for the children to stroke and get close to...the mini pig had a curly black and tan coat but my batteries went flat...
a bird's eye view of a shiny lop-eared rabbit...

ducklings, chickens and 3 baby bunnies ...

can you see the bunny on it's tippy toes to reach the carrots in the green basket?

and beautiful Albert the Alpaca...

awww!

The hospital was too busy to admit Priscilla last night so we're hoping tonight will be better...here she is yesterday at 34 weeks...she looks so very healthy despite the cancer doesn't she?

Now we're on stand-by again and sending all our love to Priss and her family, I hope you will do the same.

Hope to have some exciting news from her tomorrow,
Bye bye for now,
Love from Sue