So here is me in my car again, just in case you are as blind as me and couldn't see the first one properly.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
BIG
Thanks to Feppy I have discovered how to make big photo's, I like big photo's best.
So here is me in my car again, just in case you are as blind as me and couldn't see the first one properly.
So here is me in my car again, just in case you are as blind as me and couldn't see the first one properly.
Lewis in another life.
Everytime my babies come home, we end up in a snuggly bubble, eat drink, play cards, laugh and snuggle on the sofa. They are still here, so we are still in our bubble, but am just snatching a few bubble free moments (they are all still in bed) to add a little update otherwise you may think I have disappeared.
We spent Christmas Eve evening at my Dad's, he has been putting all his old slides onto his computer.
And this photo is me circa 1966/7, possibly Italy or France, maybe my first time behind the wheel, seems like my love of driving and cars started at an early age.
Shame I wasn't a boy or my name might have been as famous as Lewis Hamilton.
We spent Christmas Eve evening at my Dad's, he has been putting all his old slides onto his computer.
And this photo is me circa 1966/7, possibly Italy or France, maybe my first time behind the wheel, seems like my love of driving and cars started at an early age.
Shame I wasn't a boy or my name might have been as famous as Lewis Hamilton.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dentist & Shingle Street
I went to the dentist this morning, thought I was going for a filling, but it turns out it was a couple of x-ray's, so my girlies and I went to the beach instead to celebrate.
Feppy is the stripey one and Maisy Mae has green hair.
On the skyline you can just make out the church tower, and a little bit to the right there is a row of poplars on the skyline, these trees are at the back of Moors Farm and my house is next door to the farm
The lighthouse on Orfordness, barely visable, but I can see it, maybe because I know where to look.
The coastguard cottages.
Maisy Mae
Feppy is the stripey one and Maisy Mae has green hair.
On the skyline you can just make out the church tower, and a little bit to the right there is a row of poplars on the skyline, these trees are at the back of Moors Farm and my house is next door to the farm
The lighthouse on Orfordness, barely visable, but I can see it, maybe because I know where to look.
The coastguard cottages.
Maisy Mae
Saturday, December 19, 2009
WE HAVE ELECTRICITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday night at about 7.30 the electricity went off in a thunderstorm/snowstorm, very odd as we don't normally get thunderstorms in the winter.
No electricity is fun for a little while, light the fire & candles, pour the wine and snuggle.
However it wasn't just for a while it was for nearly 40 hours, here is my photo story of our misery.
Friday morning - The backgarden with not much snow and an OTT tiny puppy frolicing in the snow.
Ok, so tiny puppy is 3 1/2 but its his first proper snow and as he has never grown up mentally he loved it.
Friday afternoon, still no power, even though our neighbours had come back on, Geinome and I had started to go stir crazy. We are both technology adddicts and after we had killed our laptop & ipod batteries we played games, boring games, won't try and explain which as I was so bored I can't remember.
Saturday morning - still no electricity and more snow.
The front garden, notice only one car, Homer had cleverly spent the night in Felixstowe at a works do, so missed our exciting evening.
Saturday morning - these 2 houses have electricity.
These 2 houses which are next door do not have electricity.
This white house in the distance (our next nearest neighbour) doesn't have electricity either.
No electricity is fun for a little while, light the fire & candles, pour the wine and snuggle.
However it wasn't just for a while it was for nearly 40 hours, here is my photo story of our misery.
Friday morning - The backgarden with not much snow and an OTT tiny puppy frolicing in the snow.
Ok, so tiny puppy is 3 1/2 but its his first proper snow and as he has never grown up mentally he loved it.
Friday afternoon, still no power, even though our neighbours had come back on, Geinome and I had started to go stir crazy. We are both technology adddicts and after we had killed our laptop & ipod batteries we played games, boring games, won't try and explain which as I was so bored I can't remember.Again this is odd, as my family (including our 2 potentials) are a huge games family, we always play risk, cards, monopoly etc etc etc
I think it was just Geinome and I were going cold turkey so neither of us wanted to play.
This is what the coffee table looked like at 6pm.
Then he had a brainwave, if our neighbours had electricity, then the farm might have electricity
And it did!! so the 2 of us spent the evening at the farm, snuggled in blankets, watching films on the laptops and drinking more wine.
And it did!! so the 2 of us spent the evening at the farm, snuggled in blankets, watching films on the laptops and drinking more wine.
Saturday morning - still no electricity and more snow.
The front garden, notice only one car, Homer had cleverly spent the night in Felixstowe at a works do, so missed our exciting evening.
Saturday morning - these 2 houses have electricity.
These 2 houses which are next door do not have electricity.
This white house in the distance (our next nearest neighbour) doesn't have electricity either.Its not fair!!!!!!
Well it wasn't fair, but the power is back on, we are beginning to defrost and the sun is shining - :-)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Stamina & clubs
I know I should be doing sofa resting, but was getting to the stage I couldn't sleep as I hadn't done anything all day I hadn't made myself tired.
So decided to dye the club yarn yesterday, shouldn't take long, 4 dyebaths which is ok as long as they are ready to go.
But had forgotten I hadn't tied the wool and hadn't mordanted it, so that adds another hour.
First dyebath (cochinel) was ready to go using already used dye, I hate to throw it away if there is still colour left and this looked like there was lots of colour left, but there wasn't. So needed to re-vamp it - another hour while I waited it to boil and then cool down and be ready to dye with.
During this hour I dyed some indigo, well its almost instant once it heats up as I never empty my indigo vat, so dyed 2 kgs which is a very small batch for me, then of course I had to wash it twice and hang it out.
Incidently got the worlds most amazing blue on yarn destined for mini skeins - :-)
Decided to have a cup of tea while I waited for the cochineal and while relaxing it suddenly hit me, I was totally drained, I'd only done about 2 hours work!
I have lost my stamina and even though I am better I haven't recovered yet, need to build back up to 15 kg dyeing days.
So the clubs aren't going to be posted before christmas, I am really dissapointed, but guess they will be a nice after christmas suprise for all the club members and even if I did manage them before they might get lost in the christmas post so maybe its a good thing.
So am back to the sofa today, feeling guilty because I should be at work, but have christmas cards to do today and so will feel smug and satisfied that I have actually done something we normally forget to do until christmas eve - :-)
oh and p.s - I still didn't sleep.
So decided to dye the club yarn yesterday, shouldn't take long, 4 dyebaths which is ok as long as they are ready to go.
But had forgotten I hadn't tied the wool and hadn't mordanted it, so that adds another hour.
First dyebath (cochinel) was ready to go using already used dye, I hate to throw it away if there is still colour left and this looked like there was lots of colour left, but there wasn't. So needed to re-vamp it - another hour while I waited it to boil and then cool down and be ready to dye with.
During this hour I dyed some indigo, well its almost instant once it heats up as I never empty my indigo vat, so dyed 2 kgs which is a very small batch for me, then of course I had to wash it twice and hang it out.
Incidently got the worlds most amazing blue on yarn destined for mini skeins - :-)
Decided to have a cup of tea while I waited for the cochineal and while relaxing it suddenly hit me, I was totally drained, I'd only done about 2 hours work!
I have lost my stamina and even though I am better I haven't recovered yet, need to build back up to 15 kg dyeing days.
So the clubs aren't going to be posted before christmas, I am really dissapointed, but guess they will be a nice after christmas suprise for all the club members and even if I did manage them before they might get lost in the christmas post so maybe its a good thing.
So am back to the sofa today, feeling guilty because I should be at work, but have christmas cards to do today and so will feel smug and satisfied that I have actually done something we normally forget to do until christmas eve - :-)
oh and p.s - I still didn't sleep.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Struggling not to be angry
I AM REALLY REALLY ANGRY AND NEED TO RANT.
I have just been reading a thread on Ravelry about mink/cashmere yarn, it works out at £12 per skein.
If the yarn is that cheap then its not going to be top quality ethically farmed cashmere, good cashmere is expensive.
(If you are interested put "Chinese cashmere farming" into google, there are some really informative.)
AND how do you shear a mink???????
Lots of answers to the thread saying "oh isn't it beautiful" and "lovely and cheap"
A couple of people have raised objections and been scorned with millions of disagrees.
Don't people realise or do they just don't care?
And if they don't care, why?
Most people are animal lovers and even the non animal lovers don't want to harm animals.
And the animal issue is just the tip of the iceberg, there is a huge enviromental impact to consider too.
Sorry to rant in riddles, but I have to be careful about what I say.
I'm not naming names, I'm not giving you links, its my own personal opinion and I might be totally wrong in my assumptions, but go read the sites and maybe you will end up ranting too.
I have just been reading a thread on Ravelry about mink/cashmere yarn, it works out at £12 per skein.
If the yarn is that cheap then its not going to be top quality ethically farmed cashmere, good cashmere is expensive.
(If you are interested put "Chinese cashmere farming" into google, there are some really informative.)
AND how do you shear a mink???????
Lots of answers to the thread saying "oh isn't it beautiful" and "lovely and cheap"
A couple of people have raised objections and been scorned with millions of disagrees.
Don't people realise or do they just don't care?
And if they don't care, why?
Most people are animal lovers and even the non animal lovers don't want to harm animals.
And the animal issue is just the tip of the iceberg, there is a huge enviromental impact to consider too.
Sorry to rant in riddles, but I have to be careful about what I say.
I'm not naming names, I'm not giving you links, its my own personal opinion and I might be totally wrong in my assumptions, but go read the sites and maybe you will end up ranting too.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Day ? - whatever, have forgotten what number
Guess it doesn't matter, was a stupid idea to write a sofa diary, how interesting can sitting on a sofa be?
Feel better now, can I go back to work?????
To the Doctorr's at 9.20 for blood tests, Homer wanted to know "what for?", have no idea I didn't ask - :-)
It was traffic jam nightmare out there, almost as bad as driving in London, the Doctor's is in the next village 2 miles away across the marshes.
First I got stuck behind a tractor, then a turf lorry, then when I got to the Doctor's men were digging up the road and I had to drive on the path, not good when your car is only about 6 inches off the road, kept expecting to hear crunching noises and then stuck behind the bin lorry on the way home.
But I love the drive home from the Doctor's because you are driving alongside the sea, or rather you are driving towards it.
This morning is greyish and muddy, but the sea is shining like a long silver ribbon, much brighter than the sky.
I love living here, I sometimes wish for mountains, but know this is where I really belong
If you look on a map I live in the big empty bit just north of Felixstowe on the other side of the river Deben, its empty because the land was so bad for farming.
No little pink thatched cottages, no big farm house's, no big rich villages, no tourist attractions, no holiday camps.
Instead we have nothing except sea and sky and miles and miles of forest and miles and miles of saltwater marsh.
4 villages, 2 shops, 2 pubs, 2 schools in about 100 square miles.
In the summer its always hot, in the winter its bleak and wild
And its my home.
And today the Zoom and I were honoured to be stuck behind the bin lorry, because it meant we could look at the silver sea and get all lyrical.
Feel better now, can I go back to work?????
To the Doctorr's at 9.20 for blood tests, Homer wanted to know "what for?", have no idea I didn't ask - :-)
It was traffic jam nightmare out there, almost as bad as driving in London, the Doctor's is in the next village 2 miles away across the marshes.
First I got stuck behind a tractor, then a turf lorry, then when I got to the Doctor's men were digging up the road and I had to drive on the path, not good when your car is only about 6 inches off the road, kept expecting to hear crunching noises and then stuck behind the bin lorry on the way home.
But I love the drive home from the Doctor's because you are driving alongside the sea, or rather you are driving towards it.
This morning is greyish and muddy, but the sea is shining like a long silver ribbon, much brighter than the sky.
I love living here, I sometimes wish for mountains, but know this is where I really belong
If you look on a map I live in the big empty bit just north of Felixstowe on the other side of the river Deben, its empty because the land was so bad for farming.
No little pink thatched cottages, no big farm house's, no big rich villages, no tourist attractions, no holiday camps.
Instead we have nothing except sea and sky and miles and miles of forest and miles and miles of saltwater marsh.
4 villages, 2 shops, 2 pubs, 2 schools in about 100 square miles.
In the summer its always hot, in the winter its bleak and wild
And its my home.
And today the Zoom and I were honoured to be stuck behind the bin lorry, because it meant we could look at the silver sea and get all lyrical.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Fatter
Day 2
Busy, busy, busy
I sorted my stash and pile of pattern books and magazines that were strewn across the lounge.
Was amazed to discover I have just of a kg of Angel 2 ply, I know its my favourite, but I didn't realise I had stolen that much. Looks like lots of pretty lacey things are now on the design list.
But also came to the realisation that sitting on my sofa makes me hungry.
This is really bad, as I am going to get fat!
Those of you who know me may think "what is she talking about??? she already is fat!!"
But as I have come to terms with my body I am quite content with my fatness.
I didn't used to be, spent all my teenage struggling with weight and then came about 20 odd years of constant binge dieting. You might know the kind of think I mean, starvation and weight loss followed by gorging and massive weight gain, this went on for years.
The reason I stopped was because I had become so obsessive I was getting depressed, I threw my bathroom scales away and forced to accept that as long as I didn't diet again and accept who I was I might be able to control my eating.
That was about 5 or 6 years ago, I have stayed the same size and learned to love myself, buy nice clothes and not wear tents and hopefully not look awful and unhappy.
In that time my appetite lessened and I started dyeing, dyeing is my exercise, its very physical. I lug around kgs of wet wool, so have big arms, muscles covered with a nice layer of warming fat, so that equals weight lifting.
My dyeroom has a gully and there are quite a few steps from the packing room to the office and then from the office to the dyeroom, which all equals step aerobics, who needs exercise classes??
But now I'm laying on my sofa and being hungry because I'm bored and not exerciseing I am worried I am going to get fatter - :-(((
The good news is I have several big wholesale orders lined up for the new year, so it should only be a temporary fat.
Busy, busy, busy
I sorted my stash and pile of pattern books and magazines that were strewn across the lounge.
Was amazed to discover I have just of a kg of Angel 2 ply, I know its my favourite, but I didn't realise I had stolen that much. Looks like lots of pretty lacey things are now on the design list.
But also came to the realisation that sitting on my sofa makes me hungry.
This is really bad, as I am going to get fat!
Those of you who know me may think "what is she talking about??? she already is fat!!"
But as I have come to terms with my body I am quite content with my fatness.
I didn't used to be, spent all my teenage struggling with weight and then came about 20 odd years of constant binge dieting. You might know the kind of think I mean, starvation and weight loss followed by gorging and massive weight gain, this went on for years.
The reason I stopped was because I had become so obsessive I was getting depressed, I threw my bathroom scales away and forced to accept that as long as I didn't diet again and accept who I was I might be able to control my eating.
That was about 5 or 6 years ago, I have stayed the same size and learned to love myself, buy nice clothes and not wear tents and hopefully not look awful and unhappy.
In that time my appetite lessened and I started dyeing, dyeing is my exercise, its very physical. I lug around kgs of wet wool, so have big arms, muscles covered with a nice layer of warming fat, so that equals weight lifting.
My dyeroom has a gully and there are quite a few steps from the packing room to the office and then from the office to the dyeroom, which all equals step aerobics, who needs exercise classes??
But now I'm laying on my sofa and being hungry because I'm bored and not exerciseing I am worried I am going to get fatter - :-(((
The good news is I have several big wholesale orders lined up for the new year, so it should only be a temporary fat.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Day 2 of Sofa Rest
I have eventually arrived on my sofa, even though for several weeks I have been talking about resting I haven't really been doing it.
My idea of resting was to stop dyeing, but to carry on with doing everything else.
But after developing a gum infection from hell and a cold i realised that I had to stop everything or I wouldn't get better.
So all my wholesale is gone and on its way to its new homes, most of the Unicorn is gone, not really much left to do.
Yesterday (day 1)
I re-wound some skeins which I can do from the sofa as my skein winders sit on the floor in front of me.
I finished cutting the poodle, who had looked like a half shorn sheep for about 4 days.
And I made a little tiny sample piece of my angora Kiss, which is pretty.
I can almost begin to feel my mojo tingling and am really excited that it might be on its way back, so the sofa might be a good place.
But first I need to finish the winding.
My idea of resting was to stop dyeing, but to carry on with doing everything else.
But after developing a gum infection from hell and a cold i realised that I had to stop everything or I wouldn't get better.
So all my wholesale is gone and on its way to its new homes, most of the Unicorn is gone, not really much left to do.
Yesterday (day 1)
I re-wound some skeins which I can do from the sofa as my skein winders sit on the floor in front of me.
I finished cutting the poodle, who had looked like a half shorn sheep for about 4 days.
And I made a little tiny sample piece of my angora Kiss, which is pretty.
I can almost begin to feel my mojo tingling and am really excited that it might be on its way back, so the sofa might be a good place.
But first I need to finish the winding.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Preview of the last Unicorn of 2009
THE LAST UNICORN 2009 WILL BE ON-LINE
MONDAY 7th of DECEMBER
9.30 am & 4.30 pm UK TIME.
SHERBET FIZZ
ROSEWOOD
LOVEHEARTS
LIMONCELLO
LIGURIA
CLEMENTINE
CANDY CANE
AVALONIA
TROPICANA
PALMA VIOLET
Thursday, December 03, 2009
The end is nigh
Monday is the last Unicorn update ever, ever, ever.
Oh - that is until we come up with Unicorn 2010, which we are planning to do over new year.
BUT this next update of 2009 will be the last chance you can buy this yarn.
http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/the-unicorn-quest-2009-212-c.asp
I have dyed all mine and it is drying and being wound, am going to put previews on the blog so you can decide which colours you want before they go on sale.
So check in tomorrow for the first 2 or 3 colours.
Oh - that is until we come up with Unicorn 2010, which we are planning to do over new year.
BUT this next update of 2009 will be the last chance you can buy this yarn.
http://www.thenaturaldyestudio.com/the-unicorn-quest-2009-212-c.asp
I have dyed all mine and it is drying and being wound, am going to put previews on the blog so you can decide which colours you want before they go on sale.
So check in tomorrow for the first 2 or 3 colours.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Parties
I don't go to many parties, in fact I can say I have only been to one party this year and that was last new year (maybe should include a mini party to celebrate thhe end of the F1 season).
We don't go to parties because most of the time we are both working and don't really have a social life, thats ok as we are home bunnies and happy and content with each other's company.
The shows are our social life, almost all our friends are in the wool world, so I really look forward to show season.
But looking at other peoples photos on facebook sometimes makes me feel a bit sad, there are lots of party photos, smiling drunk people having fun.
Christmas parties are the worst as everyone has office parties and working on my own means I miss out, so I suggested to Cheryl that NDS knitting group have a Christmas party or rather we all go out for a meal.
And she being the superstar that she is organised the whole thing, so here are the photos and...
THANKS CHERYL - YOU REALLY ARE A SUPERSTAR. I had a lovely time, even though I look like my mother in the photos and I only had 1 glass of wine and didn't disgrace myself - :-)
We don't go to parties because most of the time we are both working and don't really have a social life, thats ok as we are home bunnies and happy and content with each other's company.
The shows are our social life, almost all our friends are in the wool world, so I really look forward to show season.
But looking at other peoples photos on facebook sometimes makes me feel a bit sad, there are lots of party photos, smiling drunk people having fun.
Christmas parties are the worst as everyone has office parties and working on my own means I miss out, so I suggested to Cheryl that NDS knitting group have a Christmas party or rather we all go out for a meal.
And she being the superstar that she is organised the whole thing, so here are the photos and...
THANKS CHERYL - YOU REALLY ARE A SUPERSTAR. I had a lovely time, even though I look like my mother in the photos and I only had 1 glass of wine and didn't disgrace myself - :-)
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