Blogging

Why am I sitting here at the computer when there are a million other things I could/should be doing? Probably because those things aren't very appealing LOL Although I have been quite productive today. My mission for this week is not to turn the computer on while L is at home. I am also aiming to stay off the computer in the evenings. I guess if I can manage that, then a couple of hours (or less depending on how M sleeps) in the afternoon while L is at kindy won't hurt, right? my lunch hour, so to speak :)

Anyway, managed to get 3 loads of washing done AND HUNG OUT!! before lunch. made the bed, cleaned the loos and sorted out a few orders for customers. I've even got a real excuse for sitting at the computer, as I have some *real* work to do. I've done part of it, the rest of it will involve actually moving and using my brain, so for now I'm putting it off LOL might try and get on it tonight.

The knitting ban isn't going too well, but I have really cut down in the last week. I couldn't do nothing, so I've really been taking it easy and only doing bits at a time. I've figured out that it's a muscular problem (most likely anyway) as the muscles in my arm feel quite sore, so I think it's coming from holding my arm up to knit. Have really been concentrating on keeping my arms down, and yesterday I even propped my arm up on a couple of pillows, to take the *weight* off in a way. Seemed to work ok.

No progress pics of anything atm, although I am up to splitting off for the front and back of the child's hoodie for L. I now have no more dyed wool left, so need to dye the two balls I have sitting here, and order some more to complete it. The weather hasn't really been conducive to dyeing wool though, so I've been putting that off.

I can't believe that it rained almost non-stop here from Thursday morning (early) until yesterday (Sunday!). The sun is actually shining today, and no rain so far. Hopefully all my washing will get dry LOL

Had a small windfall on Saturday too. Found $40 in the pocket of a skirt that I hadn't worn for a while! yeeeha! Have spent it already, so the rush is gone, but it was exciting while it lasted :)

Zhivago Shrug

Here's some pics of the shrug that I'm knitting up for myself, and my progress so far. I found this pattern when I was looking for a pattern for something else, and the woman in the store handed me this book. It's lovely, and I've seen one knitted up and it's really lovely :) It's a Paton's pattern book, and I'm using the yarn specific to that. It's Zhivago and I'm using a very dark blue, but I wouldn't call it navy, or royal. Not sure really. Midnight Blue? Anyway, it's not wool, it's an acrylic/tencel blend, but thought it best not to try to use something else for my first project for self :) It's lovely and silky feeling though, and I'm really enjoying knitting with it. I'm knitting as the pattern specifies, but I'm sure a much cleverer knitter than I could have knit it in the round maybe? I thought about it for a bit, and I just couldn't work out how I'd get to flat from round after I finished all 51cms of ribbing for the arms!!!! Anyway, flat will do for now.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to put it away for a while though :( My wrists and hands and arms have become very sore. From a combination of too much knitting and too much computer :( I have RSI in both wrists and have to be careful, but it's hard to be careful when you just want to finish what you are knitting! So I've decided that I'm going to take a short break, just to give my arms a rest. I need to dye up some more wool to finish off the hoodie anyway, and I have a bunch of paperwork that I have been neglecting in favour of knitting, so this will be a good opportunity to get on top of that.

What I got up to last night

Had my beading class last night! It was great, lots of fun. It was only a small group, so nice and *cosy* LOL I'd love to go back today and buy some stuff, but I just don't think the boys will appreciate it, and it takes me forever to decide, so I'll leave it until the weekend.

Here's some pics of our creations.

Hoodie progress.....

I've become a bit obsessed with this hoodie LOL Unfortunately I'm onto the boring bit of knitting stocking stitch for 15.5 inches! ugh. I might have to take a break from it (and knitting in general) for the next couple of days though, since my hands have been hurting quite a bit. This is due to the "can't find a good place to stop and just want to get this next little section done" syndrome LOL I really must learn to pace myself :) I banned myself from knitting today, but couldn't help myself when M was napping and L was amusing himself quietly this afternoon. I'm out tonight though, so that's a good way to avoid it, and we are out tomorrow morning too, so certainly wont' have time for knitting with all that housework I'll have to do when I get home from a morning at playgroup....... will I?!

Another work of art by my little man :)

This is a picture done by L yesterday. It is of birds flying in the sky, and each of the birds is losing a feather. He loves finding feathers on the ground when we go for walks :)

Child's Hoodie

Here's the progress so far. In the end I started with the merino supreme I dyed up to use for longies for M. I don't think I have enough of the merino supreme in the colour I had originally bought (which L chose) and unfortunately they have no more left and I can't find it anywhere either :( Doesn't help that the merino supreme has been discontinued either. I can get more of the cream though, so I asked L which wool he preferred - the dyed or the blue that he picked earlier. He said the dyed wool :) I'm actually not sure if I like the way it is knitting up in this pattern, but I'll press on and see how it goes. I don't want the jumper to overshadow L too much, IYKWIM. He is insistent that I keep using the dyed wool though LOL

I bought some bamboo circs to use for this project too. Not sure if I like those too much either. They aren't addis, and I don't know if bamboo addis would feel much different. I think the join would probably be smoother, but the knitting doesn't seem to *glide* as much as it does with the metal addis. They are ok though, and I do like that my stitches don't fall of my needles as much as usual LOL They're nice and light too, which is good.

Happy Easter!

Yes, I know Easter is now officially over for this year, but wanted to post a pic of my Easter baking. This is Platzek. It's some kind of Polish Easter bread that is a tradition in DH's family. I believe his great-grandmother was of Polish origin and her and DHs grandmother used to bake this for Easter, and then MIL took on the tradition of doing so also. At least I think that's the story. Anyway, the handed-down-through-the-family recipe talks about great-grandma and grandma's techniques for the bread, so it's an old recipe :) And I've had confirmation from a Polish ex-coworker that this is indeed a Polish traditional Easter bread. One thing I've managed to do, which apparently great-grandma, grandma and even MIL could never quite achieve, is get the topping to stick. I'm not exactly sure what I do, as I just followed the recipe, but it sticks :) and tasty it is too ;p

I've only made this once before myself, in the whole 8 years we've been married. In fact the last time we had it was probably 2002. As DH's family are in the US the last Easter we spent with them was 2001 so I'm hoping to carry on this tradition with our family too. Pretty easy to really, since this is so delicious! Unfortunately our oven temp is not quite right - about 50 degrees not right :( - so I did end up baking it a bit too long and the bottom of one of the loaves was a little darker and tougher than it should have been LOL This obviously hasn't made a bit of difference, as I baked this lot on Saturday night and it's now all gone!

Platzek is best served smeared with butter (yes, butter NOT margerine!) and is tasty on it's own like that, or you can also nuke it for 10 seconds (after applying the butter) and it is extra-tasty that way LOL

And yes, I am aware that the two loaves look a little unsavoury as they are LOL but I can assure you they taste great ;)