I keep my blog as a personal record of what I'm up to, which might be seen as working towards "An elegant sufficiency, content, retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books, ease and alternate labour, useful life"

I'm certainly not there yet.  There is quite some way to go!

Search

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archive
Saturday
Nov252006

Bath time



I read this morning that yesterday, Friday, is known as Black Friday in the USA, because it's the day when the retailers know if their sales are on course for the year and if targets will be met. We did our bit for the retail sector yesterday and did a little Christmas shopping in an historic setting if not the most seasonal of weather.


Mark wanted to know why it was decided to decorate the city by hanging giant moustaches above the streets?

Good job we went early - this was the situation at 11.30am the same morning. Suddenly internet shopping is an attractive proposition!

And just to prove that I can motivate myself at times, look what happened with no nagging whatsoever!

Thursday
Nov232006

Starting conditions

No, this isn't a picture of the shoe heap in my wardrobe, but it's not far from the truth.

Reading messages from a couple of friends this morning makes me realise that I'm not alone in needing to have a clean slate before I can begin a task. That clean slate might mean an empty ironing basket (unlikely) or a completed Sudoku puzzle in today's paper (hmmm....nearer the mark!) Right now, I really need to sort out my wardrobe and get rid of some things to make room for clothes more suitable for the autumn/winter which finally seems to have arrived.

Today, I'm posting my intentions, in the hope that it will give an added incentive to get things done. After I've been to the dentist this morning, I'm planning to come home, get the Christmas Cakes in the oven (yes, they are still to do) and then sort out my wardrobe.

And I give you permission to nag me. (Unless your name is Mark, that is!)

(and the ballet shoe pile was in a display in the Millennium Centre, Cardiff when we were there recently. All shoes are autographed and looked a little the worse for wear!)

Monday
Nov202006

Finishing stuff

With December looming, it felt quite good to finish a couple of things which have been so very nearly done for the last couple of weeks. First, Mark's socks, which have turned out pretty well. I knitted them following the pattern in Sensational Socks and particularly like the heel, which is traditionally worked but Charlene Schurch's addition of a garter stitch border alongside the picked up "seam" is something I will try to remember when I knit other patterns. I think it works very well.

The second fanfare was sounded as the (very long!) cast off was finished on the Swallowtail Shawl. A whole heap of mistakes in this one, some more noticeable than others, but it was a learning experience and I might add that there are fewer mistakes towards the end of the shawl than at the beginning! I think that next time I knit this pattern, I shall choose slightly smaller needles or less fine yarn. Knitting cobwebs never did come easily to me and I think that having more substance on my needles would have made forming the stitches more straighforward.
Taking this photograph of the edge alerted me to one area of potential disaster. Can you spot it too? (Off to find my crochet hook and a darning needle!!)

It is intended for the one and only person in the whole world who will think it's wonderful, however many mistakes there are in it. You can guess who that is.

(Good job there's been no questions about how the Christmas cakes turned out yet!)

Sunday
Nov122006

Not much knitting

Having a really great break in St Mawes, Cornwall where the weather is unseasonably warm. Off to dinner now. Bye! Posted by Picasa

Tuesday
Nov072006

Did it!

Such a collection of ingredients can mean only one thing in this house - it's Christmas baking time. When I was teaching, the Autumn Half Term was the week to get such things under way and I still try to aim for that - though sometimes, like this year, those plans go a little awry.


I use the good old Delia recipes for both. I have my Nan's traditional recipe, but somehow, Delia's works better for me. Her Christmas Pudding recipe is so easy to do - not much more than assembling ingredients and leaving them to soak overnight, that I can't really bring myself to buy one. By making double the recipe, it means I have a couple of standby presents for an unexpected visitor or two as well (never known anyone to be less than thrilled by a
homemade pudding!)





We each had a stir and a wish, of course.



The right tea towel had to be found to cover the bowl overnight, too.



Next, the weighing of the fruit for the cakes. Again, I make double the recipe, which is perfect for our large hexagon tin and a small hexagon for Mummy. I got help to snip the cherries.

I think there might just be more than six tablespoons of brandy in there, too, but the Christmas cake is not a recipe for short measures.




Two covered bowls of goodness, awaiting further action. A busy day tomorrow means that they might sit for a couple of days - but all the better to soak up those flavours!