Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Well he was home.....

It has been chaos around here lately. Soldier received a call on his mobile on Thursday. It was from his work. I didn't like the look he had on his face for the duration of the call. Turns out he was to be deployed again - on Monday! Three days before Christmas.

We, thankfully, did have most of the Christmas shopping done. All the pressies had been wrapped and the tree was up and decorated, and the most of the food had been purchased, but there is always the little loose ends that need to the tied up. I hate loose ends. Now I have to do all that by myself.



So he left me yesterday afternoon, with about a squillion things to do. At least the socks for my sister are done. My very first adult sized socks. I am very happy with them, but being the scatterbrain I am at the moment (can I still blame baby brain??) I forgot to take photos of them before I lovingly wrapped them up and placed them under the tree. So you will have to wait until the paper is torn off and I can take some shots.

The Boy has decided that he prefers to view his world from the seated position and gets very cranky if you put him on the floor in any other configuration. He can't do it by himself yet so is very frustrated on his belly. He has managed to work out how to get down on his belly from sitting up too. Which delights his greatly. Now he can chase his sister and the cat around the room. He is still commando crawling, and has the carpet burns on his legs to prove it.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

He is home!!

Soldier is home. A lot earlier than we thought too. Home in time for Christmas. We are so excited. Time to get organised, put up the tree, write shopping and gift lists, and get the house visitor ready.

He is home just in time to look after us all as well. Noo, The Boy and I are all sick and it has made for a lot of sleepless nights and crying filled days, and that is just me! Luckily we have Soldier to look after us.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Kris Kringle

I have been a part of an online forum for expectant parents since I was about 6 weeks pregnant with The Boy. I have found it a wonderful source of support, laughter and advice. There has never been one cross word or nasty post in the entire time I have been part of the board. Unlike some of the other forums I read.

Our babies are all now six and seven months old and growing rapidly. The Boy is no exception. Out of about 70 expectant Mummies there are about 20 or so of us who are still posting and meeting up in our various cities around the country. We have decided to do a Kris Kringle for the bubbies, and I drew a gorgeous little girl.

I decided to make her a knitted caterpillar and a bib. The bib is a complete knock off of one I saw on a blog somewhere (sorry I don't know who) and loved. I really hope her Mum loves them.


Sometimes I am not sure how much people like handmade gifts. I know I love them, but others prefer to receive something that is store bought. I don't know the Mum, so I can't gauge what kinds of things she likes.

I wonder who drew The Boy!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Sense of Normality

Things around here have slowly moved back into the rhythm and routine that I like so very much. It got a little skewiff after the Soldier left, as it normally does. I have had to work out how to occupy two little minds, make sure everyone is bathed and fed and try and keep on top of the washing and other household duties. I have succeeded in most of my endeavours, lets not speak about the mountain of washing in the laundry, kay!! I believe that dirty laundry breeds, and makes very fast work of it. In my opinion, if it has evolved that far, how come it can't just make the evolutionary leap into the washing machine and onto the line?? I will even fold it when it is dry.

I am not so anxious about Soldier, I have been able to speak to him on a nearly daily basis and he seems to be in good spirits, and really loving his work over there.

However, when I find myself on top of the household duties all crafting goes by the wayside. I have made The Boy one bib and I have grand plans to make many more, and I have knit about twelve rows on the simple socks for my Sister's Christmas pressie. That just isn't enough creating for me to be completely happy. I need to get somethings finished.

I think I can, I think I can........

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Deployed!

Today isn't a great day. The Soldier has been deployed, and I am terrified. Terrified of where he will soon be, of his well-being and safety, terrified of managing two small children all on my own. I know we all will survive this.

He is excited. As they say - this is what they train for. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I have been trying to be upbeat and supportive through the run up to the goodbye, and quite frankly I am exhausted. Now I have time for tears, and worries, and for being cranky about it all. All the emotions I have kept in check in the last two weeks can now come out.

I know we will be alright - I will manage on the homefront and he will manage 'over there'. It is not like we haven't done this before. T
his is our third deployment together - his fourth. We have coped in the past and we will do the same this time around.

Noo is old enough this time to understand that her father has gone away. She has been acting out and misbehaving ever since we told her. That is normal, and she should settle down.

We are going to survive!

In happier and knitting news, I have a sock! Only one and I haven't cast on for the other yet, but I will. I enjoyed the simple pattern. It is for Noo and she loves it.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Three!!!

My wonderful, smart, inquisitive, loving, articulate, creative little girl is three. Where have the years gone. It seems only yesterday that we welcomed this tiny little person into our home and our hearts.


Happy Birthday Sweetie! We love you!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Southern Summer of Socks

I have just signed up for the Southern Summer of Socks, I think I have mentioned before that I have only knit one pair of socks in my life and I have been wanting to learn a few new things and get a few new pair of socks. I would like to stretch my wings a little and try my hand at some toe up socks and some pretty lace ones. So The Firstarter, Spring Forward and Spindle Socks are at the top of my Ravelry queue. I don't think I am being too ambitious trying to finish these four pair (including the No Tears for my sister) be the end of the Summer. At least I will try my best, but with a Husband, two small children and a house to look after I am not promising anything.

How did I celebrate such an occasion? By ripping out the No Tears Socks I was working on for my lil sister's birthday! I need to go up a needle size because they were turning out too small. I had been thinking that since about half way down the leg, but continued hoping I was wrong. I turned the heel and tried them on and the are too small for me, so would be super tight on lil sis (her feet are wider than mine). She wasn't getting them for her birthday anyway because Noo let the cat out of the bag and she is expecting them. So she will get them for Christmas. Gotta find some 2.5mm needles first.

It has been a little crazy around here the last couple of days, with Soldier away and the changes in time due to daylight savings. GRRRRR! I just can't seem to get us back into some kind of routine. Noo didn't go to bed until 9.30 last night. Pity she didn't sleep in this morning.

They Boy has learned to roll over. Now, most babies perfect the rolling from tummy to back first. Not my little one, he has decided to go for it and learn to roll from back to tummy. Such a pity that he hates being on his belly and he can't roll back yet. So what is a boy to do? Scream the house down until I come and roll him over, and just for kicks he immediately rolls over again.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Friends again, we are!!

Well it seems that Hey, Teach! has spent enough time in the naughty corner. I dug it out the other day and I am very happy to say that I have two sleeves. WooHoo!!! I have worked out how to read my knitting too. Look, aren't I clever??


I am up to the ribbing on the back, after 20 cm of stockinette, and almost ready to start the lace again.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

The Naughty Corner

I have been eyeing off Hey, Teach ever since I saw it on Knitty. Being a very, very new knitter, I have never attempted anything in lace before, and I anticipated a few teething problems along the way. However, I see myself as a resourceful person and I was sure that I would be able to find the answers to all my questions.

I cast on for the sleeve using Patons Washed Haze Aran. I read somewhere that some people use the sleeve to swatch, and because I am lazier than lazy these days, it sounded like a wonderful idea to me. I sucessfully cast on with a two strand tubular cast on - which I have never used before, and knit the ribbing. Then started the lace pattern. The yarn overs weren't a problem, and once I worked out how to read the pattern I was flying, for me anyway. Until I reached the purl row after row seven of the pattern. I realised that I had missed a yarn over, so I tinked back to the place where the yarn over was supposed to be, did the yarn over and continued on my merry way. Then I got to the same row in the pattern and realised that I had missed the damn yarn over again. So I put the knitting down gently and backed away slowly and went to do something completely different.

Let me just say that leaving your knitting on the couch when you have a nearly three year old running around, is not the greatest idea. I came back and the needles were missing. I found the few rows that I managed to knit, sitting on the couch laughing at me and the needles MISSING!!! After locating the missing needles - in the bathtub - don't ask, I don't know either! - I came back to the couch with some trepidation. What I found was the ribbing and three rows. I could have cried. I have to admit that I nearly walked away forever, I thought knitting was supposed to be fun. I was NOT having fun.

Because I can't let anything beat me I picked up the measly few rows and got it back on the needles, and began again. Guess what happened when I got to row seven again. Go on, guess. Yep, missed the yarn over. So now Hey, Teach is in the naughty corner until I can muster some strength to disipline it enough to continue.

In better news, after having to fight Soldier for the use of his laptop, I finally have one of my own, and he wants it because it is apparently better than his. He is not getting his dirtly little mitts on it. It is all mine, mine I tell you!!! Oh and it's purple!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

The Postie Delivers

So I guess there is no hiding the fact that there was some sock yarn purchasing going on over here. I ordered these from Yarnomat, and can I just say as a first time sock yarn buyer and a first time online orderer, I am a very happy camper.

Crystal Palace Yarns - Bamboo Wool
51% Bamboo, 39% Wool and 10% Nylon

Misty Greens


Crystal Palace Yarns - Maizy
82% Corn Fibre, 18% Elastic Nylon

Stormy Purple


Crystal Palace Yarns - Bamboo Silk
52% Bamboo, 43% Superwash Merino Wool, 5% Combed Silk
Jade Tones

I have knit two pairs of socks in my entire life. One in an 8 ply acrylic just to see if I could actually do it, needless to say they turned out really badly. It wasn't the pattern or the construction, it was the yarn.My Mum has those, she loves them. Although I must say that it is probably more about the fact that I made them.

The other pair is a bright red 100% wool pair for Noo. She loves them and I have to admit that I am pretty happy with them too. Whenever someone comments on them to her, she very proudly states that "Mummy made them".

I have never knitted an adult pair with sock yarn, and when trying to decide what to get my little sister for her birthday next month, I remembered a little conversation I had with her ages ago, in which she said that she would like a pair of handknit socks, and being the loving sister that I am, I decided to knit some up for her. She loves purple, so the Maizy
is being turned into No Tears Socks. Not too bad so far. I have done one complete repeat and I am really happy with them. The pattern is really simple and the ribbing will hopefully make for a sock that doesn't fall down.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

Today is Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to the wonderful, caring, and very handsome Soldier. We love you! And a very happy Father's Day to my Pa. And to all the other wonderful Fathers out there.

We are finally settling in around here. I managed to fit everything into two large packing cartons. They were very, very full and I am extremely surprised that the boxes stayed intact and the contents didn't end up all over the back of the truck.

I am also amazed that the zip on my large purple suitcase didn't bust open. I had visions of a broken case and the contents including my underwear going round and round on the baggage carousel, and me walking
away, very embarrased and making a trip to Westfield to buy a whole new wardrobe. Soldier said I should have added an occy strap. Very classy.

There has been some knitting around here, and ma
y or may not have been some sock yarn purchasing. We will have to see if the postie delivers anything or not.

I spent last night watching a couple of movies with Soldier and Noo, and working on a little hat for The Boy.



It is the Little Cables Hat by Claudine over at Knitting Box. I used some 4ply 100% wool that I rescued from a horrible hat that I crocheted The Boy before he was born. Thankfully I saw the light and frogged it before he had to explain to his friends what it was all about. Babies can, and frequently do talk to other babies about their headwear, you know.

Thanks Claudine, it is the cutest little hat. I love the little cables. The pattern is really easy, but not too boring because of the added twist.

It is a little on the small side, luckily the weather is starting to warm up around here, so he won't need it for long.


After Noo saw it she insisted that I make her one as well. So out came the 5 ply Bendy (ravelry link) and I have cast on.


There has been another little girl welcomed to our extended family. My cousin and his wife welcomed little E on the 28th and they are all doing very well. So along with the Color Me, I decided to make a little washcloth.


This one is the Knitted 'E' Cloth. Made with two strands of Sullivans Cotone (ravelry link) held together on 4mm needles.

And because I thought it looked great, I made one for The Boy.


Baby Feet Cloth. Made with two strands of Sullivans Cotone held together on 4mm needles, again. I still have about 5 balls of this stuff. I see a few more washcloths on the horizon. Please ignore the stupid twisted stitches. I didn't notice them until I had bound off, and I couldn't be bothered ripping it back to fix it. I can live with it. I hope you can too.

Enjoy what is left of your weekend.


Friday, September 5, 2008

One of those days...

I am home.

Finally.

I have only unpacked one box.

It isn't the box with my knitting stuff in it.

It is the box with all the kids toys.

They are currently strewn from one end of the house to the other.

At least it is from one end to the other of MY house.

They can stay there until tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Look what I got!!

I have been wanting to learn to spin for an age. After reading a few blogs lately, I have become more and more inspired. So after much research and a little persuasion, look what my darling Pa made for me:



I also bought some roving at Spotlight (I know, I know, but it is the only place in this town that would carry it),


and I have started spinning. I don't have any photos of the yarn yet, and because I am lazy and it would require me getting of my lazy butt, you will have to wait for another time.

The Color Me is finally photographed:

I took the kids for a little shopping trip on Monday, I didn't need anything, I just wanted to get out of the house for a few hours. We had lunch and I picked up a few essentials.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Stuff n Nonsense

Well, I go home to the wonderful Soldier in a week. Home to cuddles, my kitchen, my bed, my stuff. I can't wait to go home and get some normalcy and routine back into my life, however I am really going to miss seeing my family on a day to day basis. As annoying as it can be to have to work around so many other people, I will miss them and all the help they have given me over the last five months. So sometimes I am really happy to be going home and others I am really sad. Drives me nuts.

I am packing up all our stuff, trying to fit it all into two large packing boxes (who am I trying to kid), and working out what stuff I can leave here. Can someone explain to me how the smallest member of my family has the biggest suitcase. I am also in a quandry over how many cloth nappies (I use these
, can't rave about them enough - might leave that for another post though.) I have to pack in the boxes and how many to take with me. There might be a lag of a few days to a week between when I get home and when the boxes will.

Noo will be happy to be in her own room and in her 'big bed' again, and The Boy has almost outgrown his cradle and will have to make the move to his cot when we get home. Not sure how I feel about that, but I will have to get over it. The Boy is growing up waaaaay too fast for my liking.

The Color Me is done and I am mostly happy with it. Pictures tomorrow (or the day after) when the batteries for the camera are charged and I get off my butt and take some. I decided not to do the lettering, because I didn't really like the way I crocheted them, nothing wrong with the pattern just me!! Might also have something to do with being too lazy too!! Hmmmm....

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Just a Mum??

I was at Virgin Mobile with my children a little while ago, signing up for a new mobile account. The guy behind the counter was asking me all the necessary questions, name, date of birth etc, and when we got to the question about employment he asked me what my job was and I told him that I am a Mum. He looked at my son who was dozing in my arms and said "I can see that, but do you have a job, or are you just a Mum?" I very politely informed him that being a Mum is my job, and no I don't have a job that pays money.

It got me thinking about how the world at large sees stay at home parents. How is not having an income make you "Just a Mum"? Sometimes, I wonder if I am being a little defensive regarding the way Soldier and I have decided to raise our children and live our lives. I worked before I had children and I will work school hours when my last child is at school. Does that mean that I was/will be more productive and contribute more to society whilst I am working.

The first thing that comes up when you meet someone new is what you do for a living. More often than not I am greated with silence when I say I am a wife and mother. People just do not know what to say next.

I find myself wishing that I was born fifty years earlier, when what I "do" with myself was more mainstream, and then I remember that there was no internet in the 50s and I very quickly change my mind.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Uh Oh!!

See this mess:


This was three very expensive dummies. I was happily sidetracked with the children, while they were happily boiling dry and melting into one huge mess.

The good news is the saucepan survived, the bad news is I had to replace them at nearly eight bucks each.

Oops - Lesson learned, I alway stand next to the boiling saucepan and wait the five minutes now.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Things I am Loving

I have seen a few bloggers post about the things they are loving at the moment and I thought that I might join them. Perhaps I could make it a regular thing too. So without further ado, these are the things I am loving at the moment.

  1. The smell of my The Boy. Is there anything better than the smell of a newborn. Especially after a bath.
  2. Noo's use of the English language. She is stringing sentences together faster than I can even believe. Her sentence structure is just blowing me away at the moment.
  3. My new mobile phone. A LG Viewty. Touch screen, 5mp camera, need I say more?
  4. The sun on my face as I hang the nappies on the line early in the morning.
  5. Finding a dear friend that I lost contact with about 10 years ago. I am looking forward to catching up on all those missed years.

There has been little action on the Color Me, I have been sidetracked with knitting a sock for my new phone. I would like to have it finished by the end of August, (the blanket not the sock) when the recipient is due to be born. Best get to it then.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

I have found Ravelry!!

I finally got off my butt and signed up with Ravelry. I can't believe it took me so long!! I am really enjoying looking at everyone's projects and reading all the tips and tricks. I particularly like that you can look at others finished objects to see what they look like 'in the real world' and not just the professionally photographed, professionally crafted items you see in the patterns. It gives me the confidence in some instances to try something that I would have thought was too difficult or above my skill level. It also helps to pull me out of my comfort zone and stretch my abilities, thus learning new skills.

There are so many talented people out there, and some really wonderful projects to try. I really like that there are so many free patterns as well. I can get my crafty fix without breaking the bank - we all know how expensive patterns and yarn can be.

You will find me at Ravelry as HoneyBeeMine.

Finally an update on the colour me blanket......I have finished the second crayon (a blue one) and I am now working on the yellow one. There are a million ends to weave in, and that is driving me crazy. Other than that I am still enamoured with the blanket and I am hoping the recipient is too.



Thursday, July 3, 2008

Blog Silence

I have moved!! I am currently living with my Parents in North Queensland because my Soldier had to go to Melbourne for a course with the Army. The course is six months long and he is now four months into it. Only two months to go. So with him in Melbourne and me 32 weeks pregnant and staring down the barrel of having to give birth to The Boy on my own with no-one to look after Noo, we thought it would be a great idea to move north.


The Boy was born on my Dad's birthday, much to my disgust as it is the only day that I didn't want to have him. I am a firm believer in that everyone should have their own birthday. My Dad loves the idea though. The Boy was delivered on the 22 May after an incredibly fast 50 minute labour. Everything went well and we are enjoying our wonderful new addition.




I guess between moving north and having a baby there isn't a lot of time for blogging or crafting. Now that we have settled into somewhat of a Routine with The Boy, there has been some activity on the crafting front.

My cousin and his wife are about to welcome their second child so I have been working on a the Color Me blanket for the little tyke. I have finished the red crayon and I am working on the blue one. I am exceeding pleased with the texture of the fabric. The pattern calls for a 5mm hook but I didn't have one so I pulled out my 4mm and I really like the way it is working up.

I have to get cracking on it because I have less than 8 weeks to finish it. That may sound like a long time, but with a six week old and a very jealous two year old to contend with, finding time to work on it is quite difficult.

Monday, March 3, 2008

One Down.....

Since I am due to have our second child in May, a boy, I have been busy with my crochet hook. I have many, many ideas and this little blanket is one that managed to make the journey from brain to reality. It is a small blanket that will be perfect for the cradle, pram and capsule/carseat. It is made with a simple shell stitch. As this babe will be a winter babe, I am going to have to make a few more.

I am toying with the idea of a fleece backed flannel cradle blanket and a few other crochet ones. I am also making Noo a replacement for the one her little brother is going to steal off her. The one he is stealing is just the right colours for a little boy and I just wanted the excuse to work with pink yarn. I am using pink verigated yarn and a basketweave stitch. The basketweave is a learning process as I have never used back and front post stitches before. It is looking good at the moment.

Friday, February 29, 2008

A New Blog

Our two year old daughter, Noo, is obsessed with all things books. She especially enjoys our weekly trips to the library. So today I got her, her very own library card and then just had to make a little library bag to go with it.



I am quite happy with how it turned out considering it is the first bag I have ever made. I didn't use a pattern, I just looked at her books and found the largest one and used it as a guide for the size. I also made a little wallet to hold her library card so it doesn't get lost.

 

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