Well popeye I thought I'd made my first two squares and somehow managed to make them 8 x 7" DUH! Frustrating cos they took exactly one ball to do and I cant add any more. So I shall start over lol!

vivz2 - 2014-05-27 13:46:00

I am on squeare 4 boring

carolev - 2014-05-27 14:13:00

Sorry that you are still feeling unwell Carole :(

I have 3 kids sittnig on my sofa with their I-pads.
I will need to send them scooting home shortly as it is cooling down and starting to get darker. One hasn't got her fleecy with her :( but she is sitting wither cycle helmet on :)

grandmasue1 - 2014-05-27 16:32:00

At least her head will be warm and protected GMS.
Recently when looking after 2 1/2 year old great nephew we found an old phone with push buttons so I asked him what it was and his quick response "i-pad". He doesn't have one but loves sharing his grandma's or mine when we visit.

I have put my patterns on an ipad which was the excuse to get one but use if for a lot more than just patterns.

Busy trying to get my fingerless gloves finished now that the weather has turned colder as I need them so can knit in bed in the morning.

jayemtoo - 2014-05-27 17:14:00

morning ladies :) -5 here this morning, it looks like it has snowed outside it is so white. It hasn't lol ... I wish... just for one day would be nice. It 'snowed' here a few years ago but turned to sleet very quickly. But there is no wind and it's going to be a stunning day.

The Furry One and Fluffy One are enjoying each other's company and racing round. They have a 'racetrack' through the house. While they are running round, I just stay out of the way lol. They are funny though as The Fluffy One gets tired quicker than our boy and stops to ambush him, then it's all on.

I'm going to be checking out all the wonderful advice I got about sock knitting on our FB page today and start psyching myself up to knit them. Then when the frost is gone I'll spray the weeds around the house and garden seating area. Have to make the most of no wind.

Happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-28 08:05:00

morning nice white frost -4 here but air pump is keeping house warm

carolev - 2014-05-28 08:30:00

Cold here too, 10 degrees in the lounge, and I thought I had set the timer correctly on the heat pump so I would get up and it would be all nice and warm, but no, didn't do something right and it wasn't on. Have to read the book again. Maybe I should just "waste" some firewood instead. (Mr K always refers to having a fire as "wasting firewood" - always cracks me up!) My little puss slept on my big ball of wool again and is still there, no half mouse this morning thank goodness.

Knit and natter for me this morning, then we'll go for a walk. It was very cold yesterday - lovely and sunny but the wind was very cold so hopefully today will be better if the wind doesn't start up.

Have a great day everyone.

kuaka - 2014-05-28 08:32:00

Fire in lounge going, diesel heater in hall cranked up, heater in dining room going and I still lit the coal range because the house in cold. Overcast but supposed to be sunny

raej2 - 2014-05-28 08:36:00

Morning everyone.. was 0.6 when I got up outside.. is now 2.7 outside and a tropical 9.4 inside lol.. but the sun is starting to come into the dining room so it will warm up. I do have the heater on tho. MrP is the softy when cold. so hes only just getting out of bed. I have my beanie on, I tend to wear them all winter. Cos I still like to have my hair up in a bun. I sleep with one when its cold too.
Furry ones are settling well. I made a play pen for Poppy. So she can play and curl up and sleep and gives Bob a bit of time out too.

MrP always said we were burning money when we had a fire. Ohh I miss having a coal range.

Going to be a nice day here Not. Now hes complaining cos something is beeping.. And its annoying him and getting me wound up.

Grrr maybe I should go and hide in bed all day. Let him see then how much of my time is taken up with everything else, and why I like my short play on here in the morning.. sorry venting.

Have a good day all stay warm

popeye333 - 2014-05-28 09:12:00

Just popping this to the top again for the day.

My routines are working well. Had a little temper this morning but it was short and sweet.

Its been a glorious day. The sun has just gone below the top of the fence now so it will cool down quickly.

Ive managed some of my frill today. Have decided to sew the jacket up tomorrow and start attaching the frill. The bonus is it will all sit on my knee as I knit and attach the rest of the frill lol... Wise winter thinking.

I know I have been saying I wish it would get cold enough to wear my other jacket. Well by the looks of the sky we will have the third frost tomorrow. So Im going to wear the first jacket I did.
It will rain Friday, so ill make the most of my opportunity.

How will I know weather wise? I don't know why but MrP has always said you get 3 frosts in a row then rain. and he's been right for years.

So Im am really looking forward to finally being able to wear my jacket.

Hope everyone has had an awesome day.

Time to go get everything sorted for tea and MrPs insulin and the furry ones.. will be in reverse of that order lol.

Have a good night all

popeye333 - 2014-05-28 16:11:00

morning all. will be off line PC needs repairing

carolev - 2014-05-29 07:01:00

Morning
Another cold morning but not a frost, my hands are nice and warm though with my new fingerless gloves.

Now to continue with the ballet cardy I am making for a great niece, it has i-cord cast on, along the edges and for the ties. I haven't done i-cord cast on and edges before and although quite slow to do it does give a nice edging - the cast on is slow not the edges.

Got a long supermarket shopping list so better get there today, do not like super markets very much so tend to leave it until getting desperate for things.

Have a good day everyone and keep warm.

jayemtoo - 2014-05-29 08:06:00

morning ladies :) I made I-cords for our grandy's pants and it was quite effective, not hard, just boring :)

I'm going to squeeze a couple of hours outside while the day is calm, it's supposed to rain this afternoon. Have some daisies which were hit hard by yesterday's frost and a friend gave me a big bucket of daffodils. Have no idea what colour or size or shape they are and she said they were all different sorts. So will plant them somewhere lol and what I don't plant I'll offer to our nieghbour. I originally wanted daffs planted down the fenceline of our paddock but seeing as it is on the market, won't bother now.

Then I'll get some knitting or sewing or maybe crochet done. Who knows. Lovely to have the choice.

Thought I would share a pic of the Furry and Fluffy Ones playing in yesterday's -5 frost - they had a ball lol. If only life was this simple for us :)
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/318243580.jpg

Happy knitting.

Edited as that blimmen 's' key won't always work!

Edited by kiwimade64 at 8:16 am, Thu 29 May

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-29 08:15:00

Morning everyone.. Ohh to have a dogs or cats life. Noo worries so long as they are fed and get attention eh.

I sewed my jacket up last night.. Handy to keep the legs warm. Will start adding the frill today.
Im going to wear my red one today. Not so cold but Ill still wear it.

Poppy is tearing around at 90 miles an hour. Much to bobs disgust lol. Ouch she just got my leg.. grr blood again

Off to supermarket for us too... and I have a bigger list than normal.

Have a good day everyone

popeye333 - 2014-05-29 09:15:00

Another cold start to the day and again I thought I had set the timer on the heat pump so that it would come on and make it all nice and warm for when we get up, but no, either I'm doing something wrong or the timer isn't working. Mr K was up first and came into the bedroom to inform me that the bl**dy thing isn't working and he couldn't get it to work. It's nice and warm now but it's a nuisance that I can't seem to figure it out.

I've almost done the second strip on my blanket, so probably only another 38 to go! If I get too bored doing it, there's a chance it may end up single size instead of king size.

Also got a scarf on the go for me - I will have heaps of wool left over, can't decide whether to make more scarves or just sell the wool.

Have a great day everyone.

kuaka - 2014-05-29 09:18:00

Came into my study this morning to find cats all over the floor and room very toasty. Turns out the heat controller on the wall that I thought was obsolete is not. Took my slippers off and floor is warm. Two years in the house and I find I have underfloor heating this end of the house. The cats might be in heaven but god knows what my power bill is going to be now :(

vivz2 - 2014-05-29 09:26:00

Be careful vivz - I recall someone about 3 or 4 years ago who moved into a house with underfloor heating, and nearly died when their first power bill arrived and it was over $800.

kuaka - 2014-05-29 09:56:00

oucchhhh kuaka, that's a huge bill! In my last classroom the heat pump refused to work as the outside bit keep icing over in a frost, so my classroom was freezing until the frost melted and the heatpump would work. Really cheesed me off as when my class needed the warmth the most it wasn't working.

Raining here so a perfect day for knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-29 12:01:00

Maybe time to get a technician in Kuaka. And have MrK listen to what he says too.. Two sets of ears work better than one.

Vivz meant to say the other day a couple of my quares are 7 inches on one size. They will all be different but able to be worked in. I got 23 in the post this morning, So yay I can finally make my first blanket for the cause.

Ouchies for the power bills. Im tight with heating, I admit. But I was always raised with put on more clothes, get a blanket. And tough out having the windows open all year around lol.

Ohh Kiwimade, doesn't make things easy for kids to learn when they are cold eh.

Ohh My jacket was lovely and warm. The sleeves a perfect length. Have sewn the frill to the second one.. I hadn't don't as much as I thought. But have gone from shoulder seam down the front to the side seam.. Will have to alternate that with constructing the blanket.

Madam fluff is resting which is good. Giving Bob a bit of time out.. poor old thing.

Stay warm everyone

popeye333 - 2014-05-29 12:28:00

I tend to be a bit like you Popeye regarding heating, think it relates to when I was doing a lot of study and if my head got warm I wanted to doze off so prefer an extra layer or two and a hot water bottle during the day at least.
I lit my new fire last night and it made the room very cosy quite quickly and didn't use much wood at all. The only draw back is I'm not very good at lighting fires so a box of fire lighters were well up on my shopping list this morning!

Off for a walk then on with the knitting :)

jayemtoo - 2014-05-29 15:32:00

we're also tight with heating and the heater went on all day for the first time today. The Furry and Fluffy Ones have been curled up next to me on the couch but every now and then start racing round. I've started MrK's socks, three quarters of the way on the first one. Had to unpick it three times otherwise I would have finished it. MrK keeps looking at it to see how much further I have to go... no pressure to get them finished! lol.

Might do some crochet this evening.... hmmm.... that will get a lovely 'bite' from MrK!

happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-29 16:37:00

Perhaps show Mr K the photo on the FB page and he will be knitting his own socks then :)

jayemtoo - 2014-05-29 17:34:00

Ah thanks for that Popeye, the first square I did in basket stitch and it folded in half triangle perfectly then I did garter stitch and it didnt uite make it. But they are nice squares in real wool so if they can be used thats great

vivz2 - 2014-05-29 20:00:00

lol jayemtoo, I did show him! He did not look impressed when I offered to teach him lmao.

OK, I'm almost finished this sock and it looks big. I've put it down for the evening now as I'm getting tired but have another 2 inches to go before I start the toe bit.

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-29 21:26:00

morning ladies :) Dark and damp here today but not as cold as yesterday. I remember that 'new' smell fires have jayemtoo, doesn't take long to burn it off though. When we lived in town we had a fire and put a replacement in. We could get our firewood free as we knew farmers dropping trees and we would take all the 'waste' bits. Saved us $$$$ over the years.

The Fluffy One goes home today and back again Monday. While Dad is wintering in Aussie it is kinder for her to be with us during the week while no one is home. She misses her 'mum' though as towards the end of stay she gets snugglier and snugglier.

After the housework is done I'll get some knitting done. Two more inches and I'll start the toe so almost done the first sock. Must admit it is lovely and warm so should be toasty on cold feet.

Happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-30 07:37:00

Yes, warmer here today too, (still got the heat pump on though but that's only because we're a couple of old wimps and Mr K really feels the cold these days, especially as he's just sitting around most of the day - that's if he does decide to get up today).

We are supposed to get rain today which will mean no walk, but if I make an effort and do some tidying up and housework I might do some sewing this afternoon/and/or knitting and won't feel guilty. Yesterday afternoon I filleted and skinned a snapper which we were given. We didn't have it yesterday as I already had tea organised, so tonight we've got battered snapper and chips. Yum!

I'd like to get my scarf finished so I can start wearing it once the cold really bites, and I can put the remainder of the huge ball of wool away (I know I'm a spoilsport as puss likes to sleep on it but she'll have to find somewhere else to sleep).

Have a great day everyone.

kuaka - 2014-05-30 08:50:00

Morning everyone.. Definatly warmer today. We have had rain but its not at the mo.
Well done on the sock Kiwimade.. I will make MrP another pair but Im going to make him some mittens first.
Started crocheting a row of squares up last night. Im doing it in black, so Im going to switch that to daytime work and do my jacket at night.

Kuaka we are having snapper and chips tonight too. I got some yesterday at supermarket

Madam Fluff is going bonkers with all her toys. The current bit of fun is diving beneath her huge pillow lol. Bobcat is an absolute tease, he's sitting on the outside of the ranch slider teasing Poppy on the inside. lol

I've decided Im going to thin out my wardrobe, there's soo much stuff I've got from oppies etc. that I've never worn... Ill thin it down a bit and it will be easier to find thing to wear too.

Have a good day all

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 09:00:00

popeye, I bought my puss a little "laser" here on tm, from memory it was about $6 plus a couple of bucks for postage, and she goes absolutely nuts trying to catch the little red light when I shine it on the floor. It's only a little harmless battery operated thing, but the best toy I've ever bought for a cat, she just gets so much fun out of it.

kuaka - 2014-05-30 09:04:00

Ohhh cool, Ill look into that Kuaka.. both would like it I reckon.

Her fave toy seems to be some curling ribbon lol... I haven't made her a paper bow on string , since she has soo much fun with the curling ribbon .

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 09:12:00

Best thing my Burmese kitty has enjoyed is an extremely large cardboard box that I cut random circles out the sides then tied a few dangly things inside. Doesn't look very classy but he goes mad in it.

Made another dolls blanket last night but I have to say I dont like acryllc yarn crocheted. It has a bendy cardboard effect. I used a Crucci yarn. Can anyone suggest anything else?

vivz2 - 2014-05-30 09:36:00

And I've had it for absolutely yonks and it's still on the same battery, so doesn't cost a fortune to "run".

kuaka - 2014-05-30 09:36:00

I've just looked popeye and there is one listed as a dog toy, it's exactly the same as the one I bought, but I'm sure I didn't pay so much for postage

kuaka - 2014-05-30 09:59:00

yep vivz2, some acrylic is really hard and stiff but there are some softer ones out there, usually the yarns for baby. Can't think of any particular brand... ohh hang on.. Patons is one I've knitted and it came up nice.

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-30 10:28:00

Yes I found it Kuaka. Must look and see if they have pay now.
Years ago when we got Bob I made them a play tunnel of boxes that I joined into tunnels they had a ball.
She finally given into sleep now.. Been a right pocket rocket this morning lol.

viv2 Jame c brett has lovely soft acrylics. I get mine from www.deramores.com. And its around $4ish a ball from memory. Top left hand corner of the page you can change the currency to NZ dollars. if you spend $100 you get free delivery from England. And usually here in 7-10 days. more likely the 7 days too. Faster than some trades take here in NZ.

Ive put another row together. A challenge with the different tensions, as some of the squares are a different size. But Im getting there.

Had lovely comments about my jacket this morning.. It was how ever a bit too warm to be wearing it lol

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 12:19:00

the sock has gone flying across the room and then unpicked. The heel fitted beautifully (go me!! lol) but across the top of the foot was just awful. So when I have finished my tanty I will start it again.

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-30 14:55:00

Ohh Kiwimade, are you doing one on circular needles or four needles? I did MrPs on two needles. he doesn't feel the seam and he has had plastic surgery on the sole of his foot which is very sensitive.
Thankfully when I did his pair everything went smoothly. Perfect length etc foot wise but too long on the leg for my liking.
Just don't let the furry ones get it.

Ive crochet 3 rows together now. And have knitted and sewn on a bit more frill. Ill start some mittens tonight. Not often I have three things on the go but I want to get the mittens done before the next cold snap. So long as I get some done on the blanket and jacket everyday Ill be happy.

Kuaka I got that laser pointer... Whether Bob is happy about it or not Im not sure lol, but Poppy will have fun lol

Edited by popeye333 at 3:45 pm, Fri 30 May

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 15:43:00

Oh My... Boy oh boy.. I had to google iceyarns didn't I... they have an online store. I was gobsmacked to be honest.
One example. I had some sock wool on my watchlist here, $6-80 for 50 grams... At Iceyarns 100grms for $5-83.

Its not free delivery but when you can get wool from 73 cents a ball even with postage it would have to be a winner. From Turkey. Im waiting to hear what the delivery costs are like.

Wanders away shaking my head,,, my credit card is Ill, so I cant even buy anything at the mo lol

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 16:13:00

I visited that site yesterday popeye and even MrK said buy some! We were both gobsmacked at the prices. My credit card has taken a hammering this month so next month lol. My aim is to reduce our credit card this year but looking at these sites doesn't help.

I'm knitting the socks on circulars. The length and heel were perfect, just across the top of the foot. I don't think there were enough decreases to make the sock snug. Doesn't matter, I'll have another go tomorrow :).

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-30 16:20:00

Lol MrP said to buy some too... but like you Ive been wanting to reduce the card a bit.
Its high time I got back into listing things, we have way too much stuff.
Then I could have a wee looky, when theres a bit of room on there.

Im sure you will figure the socks out. You do lovely work so you will get it to how you want it.

I cant believe it wool for 73 cents a ball ... its doing my head in lol

popeye333 - 2014-05-30 17:33:00

I am back along with a new hard drive and more ram knitting a hot water bottle cover , did some sewing made 2 bed covers and a jumper.

carolev - 2014-05-30 18:43:00

lol popeye, just checked out iceyarns as well. $53.00 for shipping so may pass on that one. Just paid $13.00 from the woolhouse in England and hummed and harred about that

raej2 - 2014-05-30 19:30:00

morning ladies :) awww thank you popeye :)

omgg $53 for shipping? wow!

It' a gorgeous morning here so I'm going to be outside in my gumboots pruning the perennials today. The ground is pretty soggy. Then knitting (battling? lol) these socks. I started again last evening and so far so good. Was worth unpicking.

Good to see you back carole.

happy knitting :)

Edited by kiwimade64 at 8:24 am, Sat 31 May

kiwimade64 - 2014-05-31 08:23:00

morning all. my new pussy has gone missing . did heaps of knitting last night, feeling so much better, tummys still playing up will start a cardy for MrT soon

carolev - 2014-05-31 08:40:00

Morning everyone.

OMG $53 in shipping is ridiculous.. Ill stay with Deramores.. I don't mind paying a reasonable cost in postage but that's ridiculous. Thanks rae for looking that up.

Just adding in,. I have to pay $25 in petrol to get to spotlight. So even tho its expensive compared to a trip its not terribly bad. But Id still have to seriously think about it

Lovely here. will hopefully get out to trim the grass around the roots of the blackberries. I noticed the council has pruned their roses so I will do ours at some stage. They need a good cut down this time.

Ill fit it in-between everything else I want to get done.

Knitted a mitten for MrP last night. so will do a couple of blanket strips and knit the other mitten and then get back to my jacket.

Not good re the cat Carole, hope shes just playing somewhere, shut in a garage or something and will return safely.

Poppy is burning off some energy with all her toys. Her playpen is an absolute bombsite lol. But its handy for her to be in while Bob is outside.

Have a great day every one

popeye333 - 2014-05-31 09:02:00

Lovely day here - ideal to get outside, probably have to visit hospital this pm unless patient is discharged first - hope so.

I also checked out the ice yarn and as I very seldom knit acrylics decided that the cost of postage didn't warrant getting any wool.

Getting quite a bit of knitting done as wet day yesterday so good excuse not to do anything else. Knitting some of my self dyed wool and now want to try another lot - tends to get a bit addictive.

Havw a good day all

jayemtoo - 2014-05-31 11:09:00

might go garden here suns lovely and warm

carolev - 2014-05-31 13:47:00

morning :) not quite as cold this morning, sun's out so going to be a gorgeous day. Back out to finish weeding a garden today, got the perennials trimmed back hard and half of it weeded yesterday. Some hostas to split up and replant and another plant to move now it has died down. Once that is done, I'll be two thirds through the winter cleanup.

Then I'll knit :). One sock done - and it fits perfectly this time. MrK tried it on and loves it. Am glad I only did one though, especially after my first attempt. So this afternoon I'll get the second one started for him. Must admit it does look nice and cosy.

First I'll put the crockpot on for dinner so that is organised and it's one less thing to do when I come inside.

Happy knitting :)

kiwimade64 - 2014-06-01 08:50:00

Morning everyone.. Another glorious day ahead weather wise. Be good if winter is like this all the way through.
Felt like I achieved a lot yesterday. Have another busy day ahead. need to prune the roses. The town ones are done. Ive never cut them down as low as the council does them. but I figure they have two options lol Live or die.

I did MrPs other mitten late yesterday so he is a happy chappy. Also made a huge pot of soup. About 6 litres lol. So will pop that into marge containers for individual serves for him.

Plan of attack today is the roses, get some stuff out to list. And crochet some more squares together. Then my jacket tonight.

Have a wonderful day everyone

popeye333 - 2014-06-01 08:53:00

Just had another quote for my lawns - $70 + gst. Don't think he'll be getting the job - I can see me doing them myself as usual, just means that while I'm doing the lawns something else isn't getting done. Oh well. Freezing cold wind here today but a beautiful clear blue sky. I got quite chilled out in the garden with this chap showing him what needs doing, my little toe is throbbing like mad.

I guess we will go for a walk later, then seeing as it's Sunday I might frighten the kitchen floor with the mop then relax and do some squares for the Lets wrap up NZ - I've done a couple of nice crocheted ones (can't think of the name of the pattern, but it's one that popeye admired)
would you like me to send them to you popeye?

Have a great day

kuaka - 2014-06-01 10:11:00

Cold and overcast here with a constant drizzling rain.

Yes definitely soup weather Popeye I made a slow cooker full yesterday and it has turned out very thick not that I mind that at all as it is very tasty as well, trouble is I like barley in a soup but never quite judge how much it will swell up.

Had a good morning in the garden yesterday pruned the grape and tidied up a lot which is fortunate as not a garden day today.

Hope it clears up enough to get a walk in later, find if don't get a walk most days I stiffen up, but in the mean time will keep the needles clicking and enjoy my library book.

jayemtoo - 2014-06-01 10:21:00