1st New Year Resolution

Learn how to use Blogger and Facebook more effectively!
will try more!

What Color Green Are You?

You Are Apple Green

You are almost super-humanly upbeat. You have a very positive energy that surrounds you. And while you are happy go lucky, you're also charmingly assertive. You get what you want, even if you have to persuade those against you to see things your way. Reflective and thoughtful, you know yourself well - and you know that you want out of life.

What Color Green Are You?

I haven't blogged in a long while. funny how life steers you into certain directions. It looks like Blogging may be a casualty eventually.

Update on Mitts

...and it's a success!
DS has worn it to the last 2 training sessions and he's even wearing it at home while working on the computer! Cold hands like Mom :).
Rho, you're fantastic! You spotted the homework!
I'll have to make a second pair in navy so I can wash these other ones...eeewwwww!

Quick Running Fingerless Mitts for Men

A quick knit using bulky stash yarn. DS lost his running gloves and I was appalled at the cost of a new pair made of presumable hitech space material. Scaled the needle size down by 3 sizes to get a firm fabric. The mitts had to be up to his knuckles so he can tuck in his fingers and keep them warm while running.
I think he will wear it next week at training?

please excuse the long nails on the right hand - he plays classical guitar :)

Sock yarns from Eat Sleep Knit!

They're here!
I can get started on test knitting my pattern!

Second Pattern - Twilight Inspired Socks

'Just Before the Meadow'
For Twilight fans -
The orange breaks in the yarn remind me of streaming sunlight filtering through the tops and branches of the majestic trees as Edward and Bella approach the edge of the meadow.
The anticipation, the hesitation, the anxiety rippling through just before Edward reveals his magnificence!

My second offering - available now at Ravelry and after a few more tweaks, will be available for sale.

Ravelry Withdrawals!

I can't get into Ravelry all morning!
Arrgh!

Counting Down AUG 2 - Breaking Dawn

Get this widget!

I can't believe there's only 1 month left after waiting for so long!

Where will you be on Aug 2, 12:01am?

Home Alone.....

We've had our house for 18 yrs and it's only been this last year that I've truly been able to enjoy it.
Today is just one of those days.
All household chores are up to date and these two winter months to plan and clean up our garden.
The irony is that if things work out, we may not be here much longer.
Ah! Such is life!

My first pattern on Ravelry

I'm still learning and ironing out little kinks as I go.
I can't seem to add a pic of the bags in Ravelry so I've linked the url here for a pic of the bags.
If you'd like the pattern (available in pdf format, plse email me at desbyhl@yahoo.com.

Simplifying

It's been a while since my last post. Have been caught up in the momentum of keeping things up to date at home
but unfortunately, this poor blog was temporarily abandoned.
With a systems background and all this spring cleaning, it was probably natural for my thought processes to rattle on to the BIG PICTURE -MY LIFE: How to simplify everything.
And for a moment there, this blog was on the chopping block too.
I've ebayed most of the knitting mags and yarn that I forced myself to admit that I'll NEVER get around to knit.
In fact, the process was so liberating (not forgetting the $ that came in but admittedly more $ was spent buying those items in the first place) that I'm contemplating putting some more out there on ebay.
I've been forced to consider what I really want to do - knit? design? go back to school? go back to work? stay fluid till the kids go to uni? travel more? change my line work all together?
No easy answers here with my eyesight and health going with age......
But in the meantime, I'm still eyeing the stuff that I can get rid off in my stash......

I'm a Compulsive Frogger

I'm a Compulsive Frogger. Finished this one sock...
Wanted a snug fit ...check!
Wanted the length...check!
But it just didn't feel right.
So I frogged it and tweaked the number of stitches and length....

Hi Trish....

I just checked the date of your last email sent and it was more than a month ago. I’ve been meaning to write but it has been very hard for me to kick start this even though I’ve had a million conversations with you in my head. Yes I’ve been ‘talking’ to myself again…bwahahaha!
I’d ask you what you’ve been knitting and what you have cooking for dinner. I think you had just started Bob’s gansey and found more pretty inexpensive stitch markers. You know me, I’d use just about anything for a stitch maker and thanks for the offer. I have stitch makers that I take out and admire how lovely they look in the sunlight and stash them away again carefully ☺. These ones you found are lovely and I wouldn’t have thought of using those jewellery findings. You’re always so innovative!
Thanks so much for finishing that hat for me too and sending me pics. Your finish is impeccable as usual! It’s no wonder you’ve got so many fav comments for your work at Ravelry.
Nothing has happened much since I last wrote to you. Other than the usual knitting and running around with the kidlets, you know. Same old routine, same old blurred images racing past. It feels like time detaches and just stands still. And yet you notice the scenery changing around you. Weird!
I’m quite cheesed off at you for not finishing Bob’s gansey - being so adamant that you were feeling better. And a little angry with myself for not insisting that you get the A-O-K from the doctor’s.
When Vi sent me a message about you, I was so confused that I had switched your name and Vi’s while typing. I guess I didn’t want it to sink in then. I got as many details as I could from her and Rho too and frantically sent you a telegram. Vi and I knew you’d be really upset with us that we made such a fuss. I could picture the knuckle-dragging goon that you’d send over to beat the crap outta me.
But it doesn’t matter.
There wasn’t any other way I could get in touch with you quickly enough. I didn’t think it was a great idea to call Bob at work either. You know what crazy determined nutcases we all are. And it didn’t matter that after all this, you’d never speak to us again.
So it’s been over a month now. The scenery around me has changed – it’s a lot quieter for me on the web, the place we met over 4 years ago. I haven’t had a message or email from you with your usual loud AHAHAHAHA laughing at my silly juvenile jibes. I suppose we’ll have to postpone our plans for yarn stash spree until later, Kimosabe. It’s funny that I had so much to say to you all this time and now I can’t seem to write anything down.
I won’t say goodbye, girl. As you said, we’ll just pick up where we left off the last time.
G’nite, Gracie.
We miss you.
Yours,
Coco-knut

For Trish 1951-2008
For her quiet and yet great selfless generosity.

and She's Gone....

I've been thinking of what to write here.....
and it will be a little while still before I can say more.

A dear dear friend passed away on Friday.

Too soon

Memories about we goofed around thru our emails and messaging are running thru my head and how she made me laugh.

She hates attention and fuss and this would have made her furious at me.

So I'm waiting for her to come and beat the crap outta me.

Ok ... I'm pushing it

Here's DD's feet in her Edward's Heart anklets. I've only started 3 rows of ribs and I don't think I'll have enough to give it a good length of ribbing to finish. I wonder if Knitmeup has some scraps?
The last of our visitors just left today. Had 3 grps - One anticipated and the other 2 were surprises.
Even though it was a nice change with the hustle and bustle, I'm doing a mini cleanup over the next 2 days that sorta got waylaid when the visitors arrived. Everything should be back to normal...hopefully!

How to hypnotise a bulldog

This is DS's other interest other than cooking - hypnotising said white marshmallow. Hazard can stay totally relaxed for quite a few minutes.
Now if only DS could figure out how to levitate him.....


Actually when you turn the photo around, Hazard looks like an overweight trusty companion of Superboy!
or "PIIIIGGGGSSSS In SPAAAAAACCE!"

My first ever Sock Club sock!

I learnt how to knit socks more than 2 years ago along with learning the Figure 8 cast on and Magic Loop techniques.
The first pair was a top down and the second pair was a toe up. I've used the Figure 8 cast on and Magic Loop technique in many of my projects but never felt the urge to knit another pair of socks.
At beginning of this year, one of our Twilight Ravelry group members started recruiting for the 1st Twilight Sock Club for a Feb 14 commencement and being such a fan-atic for the series, I was shamelessly drawn into a Twilight-inspired project.
Carol at KnitMeUp.com kindly sent my package a little early to me as it had to make the trek half way across the world.
I was trying to finish reading Queen of the Damned and start re reading Twilight to coincide with knitting the socks. When the package arrived on Friday, (almost) all reading stopped! I have another wip but I couldn't contain my excitement and casted on the first sock!
and yes, I have already frogged once!
Note the color - "Thirst" and my size 0 KP classics naturally depict E for Edward :)




I have very narrow feet and even following the instructions to knock off 4 sts and use a smaller needle, it was still too wide.
So I modified and decreased by 12sts. I think I could go down another 4 without disturbing the pattern - may run into a bit of bother at the heel turning. I'm almost there now......

Noodle making fun

About a week ago, we had a visitor from Malaysia who has been in the noodle making business for more than 60 odd years. DS was intrigued with the process - watched and helped when she had a noodle making session - that he bugged me to try. So we borrowed a pasta machine from my sis and it took us about 3 tries to get it right. Now we're thinking of getting a nice basic machine for ourselves. Hazard was watching the activity around the kitchen bench intently when he realised it was raining food! Yes - he cleaned up whatever dropped on the floor as we rolled it out.

The Lace Tree

I had to repost this pic by itself - it was most amazing and beautiful! Click on the pic to view the textures and the lovely green backdrop.

The Otway Fly

Another pic heavy post - now of the Otway fly. (www.otwayfly.com.au).
First thing- I am ASKEERED of HEIGHTS! I don't get motion sickness or sea sickness and love certain rides but heights??!!
So here we are at the start of the actual engineering feat.

It's an amazing construction in a beautiful setting - taking into account the minimum contact/disturbance to the natural wildlife, fauna and flora and to be able to view all this.

My Crew went up the tower but I didn't. They went on the Cantilever as well - which is scary! It's a 24m extended walkway that you can make it shake and move a bit. I was assured that it can take the weight of 14 elephants. yes yes yes all very fine I'm sure! are you KIDDING me?


Here's me looking very 'relaxed' in a pic taken from the Cantilever. The whole structure - posts, bridges etc - they all sway a bit. It's a little like being at sea but with humongous drops all around you.

Triplet Falls

Walking to Triplet Falls - Part 1

Lovely walk to Triplet Falls - everchanging scenery

Last photo - A glimpse of the lower falls here.

On the way home but first to Triplet Falls

It was a fine morning at Johanna but as we approached Lavers Hill on the way to Triplet Falls,
we drove through an eerie countryside.... beautiful and reminiscent of Forks!

Distant Cousins

Fisherman's Grotto - Now and Then - Dinner and a lovely sunset

This is Fisherman's Grotto
About 10 years ago, you could go nearer to the first arch (although not advisable when the tide is coming in. Signs posted everywhere).
At the bottom edge of the photo, you can barely see the top of the low wall they've built to stop people from going down.


This second photo was taken 10 yrs ago on a cloudy day and with waves splashing into the Grotto.





This is a large part of what we had for dinner for 2 nites- lovely Crayfish! Flesh is firmer than the Boston lobster and more intimidating to get at with all those barbs.



And a lovely sunset to end the day....

The Twelve Apostles

Hi!
(Had a few uploading problems yesterday). This is the stretch that is called the Twelve Apostles just almost adjacent to the Gibson Steps. There used to be more of these solitary structures standing guard here. I think at least 2 to 4 have fallen in the 30 years that we have been in Australia. Time marches on for everyone and everything.

Next day - Gibson Steps

Here's a pic of our cottage in the morning just before we leave for the Twelve Apostles Drive.

Our first stop along this drive is the Gibson Steps - steep steps down to the beach. The sun was warm but the wind was a little chilly.
Beautiful clear day for lovely pics!