Hot Hot Hot

Well, today is the fifth day over 30 degrees here and we decided it was time that the dogs got some relief. We took them down to Brighton today for a bit of cooling off. Here's the results!




My health is progress - I was well enough to take the dogs to the beach, but spent the rest of the day on the couch. I am feeling better though.

This final shot for today is of Melbourne, taken from the Brighton Beach.



No real knitting progress to report, I have given myself a break from the TwistTop and frogged a sock (and have nearly finished knitting up the 'noodles').

Day 6

No, not of 2007, but of my mysterious illness knocking the stuffing out of me. At this rate, I will need another economy packet of pain killers!

Not much news to report. I did pour another ball of Zhivago into the TwistTop last night. It really is very boring. Just plain old stocking stitch. At least I have finally reached the decreases for the arm holes. But then it is just another 12 cm of plain old (boring) stocking stitch. I am trying to appreciate how lovely it will be when finished. Yes, I should keep this in the front of my mind!

I do, however, provide this completely ripped off pictures which is undoubtedly infringing my sis's copyright. Well, it would be except for the comment she posted yesterday! Anyway, here is the tea cosy in use - yea!



Wishing that Day 7 does not eventuate!

Yours in Illness,

Tea Cosy Home Located

The tea cosy modelled so lovely by the BF has found a new home. Yes, I gave it to my Mum and Dad as Dad is always complaining that my tea pot keeps tea hotter than his!

I hope this rectifies the problem for you Dad!!

More posts than you can handle!

Yep, I'm back again - still sick, although pain killers are doing a wonderful job of making me almost human. I thought that I was getting better yesterday, but by 6pm when the pain killers had worn off, I realised that I was only marginally better. Oh well, at least my Mum and Sis kept me company yesterday.

While I had visitors, I finished off the bejewelled scarf which everyone (who has seen it so far) says is great. Why don't you be the judge?



It's 50% wool and 50% alpaca and i think I previously mentioned that it's from the back room of the Bendigo Woolen Mills. I love the colour and all in all a good purchase me thinks!

We also at the BF's special recipe egg'n'bacon pie for lunch - yummy. Followed this up with leftover Christmas chockies and sipped tea. When I was pain-free enough, we went on a little yarn store cruise, only to discover Marta's Yarn Store is closed indefinitely. I wonder if the same is true for the city store? Sis mentioned something about Marta being unwell, and if that's the case I hope all is better soon.

We then stopped at The Button Store on the way home where Sis decided to knit Dilby and Dilby's little bro the loopy hat. She picked up a couple of balls of loopy, and I handed over my almost complete ball of loopy leftovers for the job. Sis also managed to get herself some prized ladybird button for her Dale of Norway project, which I'm sure you can read about on her blog.

After everyone went home, and I had myself a nap, I began my crossover top which I have day the yarn for forever - well June actually.



I am knitting with Zhivago, which isn't all that nice to knit with but it does knit up well. Since I'm not enjoying knitting in that much, I have decided to empty one ball per day into the top. That should do it.

So after that - yep I was still on pain killers - I began Amanda's Shawl from Yarn Magazine. I am making it out of Anny Blatt's Fine Kid. Technically, this is left over from making a scarf, except that I have a ball and a half left!



At the moment it looks a little like a spider that's been petrified by bug killer. Or in the BF's case, Exit Mould, but that's a story for another day. In any event, it won't be growing until I purchase myself some circular needles!

Hanging in there

It might be hard to believe, but I am still sick. This morning I dragged myself to the pharmacy to get more medication, but there just doesn't seem to be anything I can do for my throat. Oh well, bed rest is it I guess.

The good news is that today my mum and sister are coming to visit. I was supposed to go there, but in my current state I am more than a little reluctant to drive. Anyway, there should be here in an hour or so. No offense guys, but I am not even going to bother attempting to clean up for you. The little walk to the pharmacy has wiped my out!

The other good news is that the bejewelled scarf is just a handful of rows from completion.


I have also been making my way through the books sis lent me (she goes home on Friday so I should finish them by then). I know you have all probably well versed in the Yarn Harlot and Elizabeth Zimmermann, but these are new to me.

I was remarkably surprised by the similarities of the two books. I am almost finished 'The Secret Life of a Knitter' and I have to say that I can totally related to stories about stashes (and I have only been knitting for a little over 6 months!) and finding mistakes in the fourth row and a meter of knitting! I have also laugh (out loud) and cried at hearing some of the stories towards the end - I don't want to give anything away, my Mum hasn't read this yet.

'Knitting without Tears' was a practical, down to earth knitting guide with some very useful tips. I have now finished this book (and think that I will have to get my own copy some day). There were times when I thought that I had already read a section but it turns out that Yarn Harlot had been discussing such things in her book. These include making knitting your own - everyone's style is different, cutting (I don't get this at all!!) a jumper to put sleeves in and how easy knitting is, if you want to do it! I did also have a chuckle at a couple of statements, such as Ms Zimmermann likes to put button holes on both sides of the cardigan so boys and girls can wear them (no boys wear cardigans anymore and who cares what side the buttons are on!) and also that she is lucky enough to own a 'thinking woman's wash- machine'!

I give both books 5 mittens out of 5 mittens!

Quick dog update - still no walk, but both behaving very well except for a new hole developing in the backyard. I am sure that I will one day curse this as I run out in the dark, just as rain starts to fall and I trip and almost break something. Until then, I am grateful that they are being so patient with their sickly owners!

BF modeling the Yarn Magazine tea cosy I finished about a month ago after the MagNation knitting nite.

Welcome 2007

Well, 1 January 2007 has come and gone (sort of) and I feel worse than yesterday. True, the eyes are a little better (thanks to some nasty eye drops) but my head, throat, neck and back are worse. Thanks to the BF for all of his kind care.

In my pain killer induced periods of normality, I have produced 42 inches of bejewelled scarf. I note that my fellow knit-alongers are fairing better healthwise - get well soon Lolly. Sorry I am far too lazy to add any pictures today. (Some (Ging) would say that this is no different from usual.) But - my new year's resolution is to add more blog pictures, and even though this is a bad start, you can all be the judge of how I manage this.

Doggie update, both Toby and Elvis are doing well but have been deprived of a walk for the last two days due to owner illness. They were very well behaved last night, even though the neighbours were partying in their backyard and we had some very local fireworks. I am hoping to be well enough to at least get them down to the park tomorrow.

News just in - siren just passed by the house and Toby is howling along!

Hope everyone else had a happy and safe new year's eve. I look forward to reading all of your blogs this year.

Blah...NYE

Well in true 2006 form, I am too sick to consider sending this year off with my friends.

I woke up this morning with a sore head, back, nose and my eye partially shut. After waiting for an hour and a half at a weekend clinic, I have been diagnosed with a cold and an eye infection. I really just look like someone biffed me in the eye. No photos, its just too gross!

Anyway, I have called in sick to the party and will now spend a miserable evening at home (listening to my neightbours having the party of the century). I refuse to watch the Sydney fireworks on TV. My only comfort is that I can now fit inches of knitting into NYE and watch all of the DVDs I haven't got around to watching yet.

Don't let my bad mood dampen your spirits!

Happy 2007.