Last night Kev's cousin Ian slept over, because his parents and older brother were busy doing the tour of his new college campus, and so Caitlyn and Ian could have a bit of fun playing together. Last night after he went to bed, Caitlyn cried when she heard that he was going home today, and then this afternoon when he left, they both had overtired, too-much-sugar meltdowns.
They had a lot of fun making cookies and decoorating them yesterday afternoon after the football game finished on tv. And Lachie even joined in their hide and seek game last night.

A lot more photos in my flickr account --here--

aaargghh!

(11pm Sunday 7th Dec)

This computer really is horrible to use. Maybe I am just used to being about to have the ability to run more than ONE PROGRAM AT A TIME! I can't even type in this box without it getting a delay and having to catch up on what I have typed.
Consequently, I don't feel much like stuffing around withh it and uploading more photos. And donn't even get me started on how hard this tiny keyboard is. I won't remove typos from now on andyou will see what I mean, I'm sure. I don't even know how anyone cantype on these things.

So... we are supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow tomorrow night and tuesday!! That sure will beinteresting! They were also sayingsomething about blizzard conditions. Last year at this timethere had been a record snow fall, and we are already almost double that....going to be a long, cold winter, me thinks.

Lachie has a cold and stil is not much impressed with the cold weather. We went shoppuing yesterday and just walkingfrom the car park to the front door was bad enough. We decided to walk from one store to another across only a parkinglot and my god was that ever a bad idea! The wind was literally fierce enoughto take your breath away, and my hands, face, and ears were all numb and aching by the time we stepped and smushed and slipped our way through the snow.

I will post some photos tomorrow ...hopefullly from the other computer. goodnight!

I can't believe that we have been here for a week already! I have been taking photos, but haven't had any chance to upload or post since we've been here. So, hello, everyone!

It snowed for the first time onSunday night, and that was pretty exciting for everyone, lol. There was snow on the ground when we first got to Madison though, and that's what the first few photos are from, at Lynn's house.

Yes, it is cold! Yesterday was a maximum temp of about -1.

There are more photos in my flickr account, it is getting too painful and taking too long to post on this computer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisphotos/

FO: Multidirectional Scarf

Another finished object to add to the collection for going away. This was a really quick knit but I put off finishing it because I got bored. I think it would look better in a colourway with longer colour repeats, but it still looks cool.

Pattern: Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf
Web Link: here
My Rav Link: here
Yarn: Four Bags Full Merino by The Yarn Cafe - DK / 8 ply Merino
Needles: 5mm



Scarf turned out quite shortish, but it's still long enough to be wrapped around your neck twice. Yarn is lovely!

FO: Starfish Cloth

Another finished item... I'm on a roll!

This one is the Starfish Cloth that has been doing the rounds lately.



Pattern: Here
Yarn: Peaches & Creme Ombres

by Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc

Worsted / 10 ply Cotton
Needles: 5mm

I finished it in one day, and it was definitely addictive! My Rav link is here.

FO: Forest Canopy Shawl

It's done!

I love love LOVE this shawl.

I am so proud of myself, and right now very elated at finally having finished a big lace item. This was, in most part, due to such a great pattern. I am so glad that I purchased it, and I can understand why so many people have made shawls from it. It was the perfect mix of activity without being too brain mushing, but also without being boring.

I will definitely be making another one of these.

(I hope Mum doesn't read this in the next week before she gets it, probably not....lol)

Blocking the lace was a pretty big learning curve, as I haven’t really ever done that before. I think I learnt a lot, and kept seeing ways to go back and fix it, and line the sections up better than they were.

More photos on my Rav project page.

Almost FO: Pixie Hat

I’ve been working on it in 5minute stretches when the kids are playing nicely….

Finished in 2 days!
Well ok, almost finished… I think I might pick up the stitches and knit a band around the bottom, since it’s a little short. Though, it will fit Caitlyn nicely, I’m sure.
Whether she will wear it or not is another thing…

And I am proud of myself, I grafted it together!
weeee!

And: I did end up knitting a band around the bottom, but it looked weird, and didn't sit right, and it was hard to get the ribbing lined up, so I frogged it again. I'm just going to add icord ties instead.

Linky to my Rav project.

Quick knit hat

Thought I needed something quick to have a break from some other WIPs.

I found this hat and it seemed the perfect thing to whip up!

: Pointy Rib Pixie Helmet Hat :
Pattern: here
Yarn: Cleckheaton Cocoon and Patons Caressa
Needles: 5.5mm

I am holding 2 strands of yarn together from these 2 balls, and it's ending up a bit bulkier than a worsted yarn, but I want it to be pretty warm for our trip to the snow!

Couldn't seem to get the colours right, my camera is being obstinate again :P

hmmm disturbing?

Does anyone else see something seriously wrong with this?
There were a bunch of these "homecare" catalogues in the mailbox today, and I thought I'd have a quick look... for some unknown reason. I would never buy anything... gah what a money trap.

Anyway, the first thing I noticed was this:
Santa's Trousers.
Imagine the delight on Christmas morning when your children wake up to find Santa's left his trousers behind and they are full of gifts! $7.90 (presents not included)

So I don't know about you, but if I was a child, I think I'd be rather horrified to know that some old man was running around my house without any pants on. And that's without even considering WHY he had taken his pants off in the first place? But maybe that's just me...

And as for the rest of the stuff in these catalogues, it just disgusts me, most of it. Do people really not have enough stuff to spend their money on without wasting it on junk like this? I can just hear Peter Walsh groaning.

Cause we all know we need a set of Tasty Watermelon Bowls or perhaps our very own set of Charming Cockerel Mugs.
But wait! The must have item of all time, the Easy lace-look shelf decoration!

Caitlyn's crocodile

raawwr.
She cut it out with her new scissors and then taped it together herself :-)

One cotton jacket = ...?

I found this size 18 cotton/acrylic jacket at kmart yesterday for a whole $17.25.
It was soft and not too bad of a colour so I thought I'd give it a go at frogging it.
Result...600g of double stranded yarn. I think it must be about a 4ply weight, doubled.
The seams were a bit nasty to deal with, and I had to cut the ribbing off the sleeves, because it was just a huge mess to try and undo.
Now just don't ask me about the bajillion little pieces of fluff all over the house...

Who wouldn't....

....visit the beach most days if you live 2 blocks away, and summer is almost upon us?
;-)

Lachie is so much more confident going near the water than Caitlyn was at that age... but she's quite adventurous now!

Recycled shirt.

Follow on from this post.

I tried out the tute on transforming a man's shirt into a dress, and it worked pretty well! The dress could probably do with an iron, and the batteries on my camera died, so not much in the way of decent photos... maybe of the next one.
The dress is also now in a wet sandy heap after a trip to the beach, where the warm waves were too tempting for Caitlyn to resist :P

Oh, and yes, I haven't trimmed the threads properly yet, or hemmed the bottom... call me lazy. lol.

Button obsession?...nooo, not here.