pretty things...

1.  The daffodils I bought on Sunday are still looking bright and colourful.  I love the yellow clusters along the roadside which herald spring, and it feels good to have their cheerfulness in the house.

2.  I got home late last night to find a present from Andrew waiting for me.  I now have a lovely new bag to replace the plastic Thornton's bag I've been using to carry my bits & pieces to and from work.

3.  My 'free' gift has finally arrived after taking out another year's subscription to the knitting magazine.  I'd originally been hooked in by KnitPro wooden interchangeable circular needles which never arrived, but many emails later I've been sent a set of brightly coloured Acrylic needles instead.  I'm looking forward to trying them out.

Weekend makings

Makings...

• Mary Berry's Christmas Chutney - this is the fourth time I've made this recipe, and I'm getting the hang of it now.  This time I left the lid off during the early part of cooking the veggies so that there was less liquid to evaporate later.  It seemed to work, so that probably took about an hour off the boiling time.  It went down very well last year, so I'm looking forward to giving some jars as presents

 

 


























• Fingerless Mitts - another Christmas present.  I've probably planned slightly too much for the time available, but I should be able to get these sorted out ok.
• Frizzante scarf -  my gran loved the scarf I made for her a few years ago, and she wears it every night, so it's time she got a new one!  I started knitting it in the car on the way to town, about 2" so far...

Shopping...

• We're getting there... I think we've found something for my brothers and my mum now.  We'll hopefully sort out the rest tomorrow.  Hooray!

Christmas WIP

I've started the next Christmas present.  I couldn't resist this crocheted broom broom beanie and plan to make it for Sam's Christmas present.  I love the idea and hope he will too.  I'm going to use car buttons, if I can find some, instead of turning toy cars into a brooch, but otherwise will stick to the design as much as possible.  So cute!

I'll probably make a girly hat for his big sister too...  I'm not sure what design yet...

Dino hat and mitts - done!

• The mitts were so much easier and quicker than I expected...
• I love the design, and I think I'll try to make some bigger ones for some other presents
• I've added some spikes to the back so that they match the hat
• so cute!  and I'm hoping he likes them too
• Veg chilli for tea
• fab comfort food for an autumn evening
• Long chat with Oma after tea
• 92 yesterday
• she's seen so much that we just can't begin to know...

Finished! and starting part 2...

• The dino hat is finished!
• so cute! I took it to work to show a couple of people and they loved it - I'm really pleased
• I've started a pair of fingerless mitts which I plan to adapt to also have stegosaurus plates on the back.  The first mitt is done already, and I'm pleased with how easy it was.
• I just hope they fit! (fingers crossed...)
• I found the pattern on Ravelry

growing dino, yummy leftovers

1. Daniel's dino hat is growing...
• I'm not sure if it's too big, but I'll see how it goes
• I can always frog it if I need to
2. Andrew cooked again this evening
• using up leftovers...
• I had yesterday's spicy aubergine, pepper & tomato sauce on seeded ciabatta with salad.
• yummy :o)

ring, dinosaur and clearout

1. Happy news from Emily & Sam
2. perfect pattern found for Daniel's birthday present
• already started and looking good so far
3. the junk clearout has started on my side of the room!

Smiles

Three things which made me smile today

1. Uncle M has found the home-made chutney we left for him at Grandma's - it made his day!
2. Toby likes his birthday present
• big brother wants one too!
3. playing guitar & leading our worship time at housegroup
• plenty of missed chords, but it didn't matter...

Teddy's scarf

The scarf is finished!

details on Ravelry, but it's blue and yellow stripes, doubleknitted, with a T at each end (for Toby & Teddy)
We found Teddy at Clas Ohlson in Liverpool - A was determined to find a smiling teddy, most of them looked too glum, but this one's lovely!  Soft and cuddly too :o)

Birthday blessings, Cleaning up

Birthday blessings

• I'm touched by the number of people who've written messages / texts / sent me birthday cards.  It's lovely to be remembered
• I enjoyed taking my bakings around at work today - lots of smiles and good wishes
• some lovely presents and apparently there are more on the way!
• phonecalls from my grans & mum

Cleaning up

• planning to renovate our QC lab so that it will look & feel much more professional
• exciting to hear the many ideas being suggested
• it'll be hard work for the team, but well worth it
• surprisingly good fun to clean some of the labs today - an hour of scrubbing and mopping by almost everyone, and now it's sparkling

Birthday treats and making things

Making things:

• yesterday we experimented with Bombay Potatoes - ground cumin, fenugreek, coriander and chilli flakes fried with onion & garlic, then simmered with chopped tomatoes and potatoes.  Delicious!
• today, I've made Rocky Road to take to work on Tuesday (my birthday) which has turned out very crumbly, and flapjack, which hasn't
• Andrew improvised chicken, potato, veg & rosemary stew for tea
• tomorrow I plan to make jam-filled cupcakes
• and I've almost finished knitting a scarf for Toby's birthday teddy bear

Birthday treats:

• 2 wonderful birthday cards from our godsons - Daniel has even written his own (uniquely spelled) message
• their present to me last year was possibly my favourite
• happy tears!
• they've given me pots, seeds and compost so I can have a go at growing food next year