Knitting on the Green

The last two weeks have been hard and hectic, hence no blog. Martin has finished his 2nd year at University and is now the proud owner of an HND in Computer Sciences, he returns to complete his degree October. He's done really well considering he has had no formal education for over 30 years. He is now building a covered gazebo, near my garden room, he calls it relaxation. It is so that i can sit and spin, without dogs. The night we tried it, with candles, coffee and supper 5 goldies joined us around the table, so much for a dog free space. Lilly is encouraging Martin in his work, by demolishing the other part of the veranda so that Martin has it cleared to build a new fence, he didn't really want to touch that part, but Lilly thought it would look better if it all matched. She has also demolished 4 cushions, 1 pair of glasses, several plants and 1 quilt. At times we do not know whether to laugh or cry with her. After the destruction, she has such a pathetically cute look on her face, yet the DAMAGE. She will grow out of it we know, but WHEN.

Red now for our surprise visitors from Cardiff. My big, little adopted brother and his partner came to see us this week, after many years of not seeing each other. ( He is bigger than me, but younger). So we had to clean out the garden room( Hide my yarn, in other words), and tidy up a bit. But it was lovely to see them after so long a time. They went home late Saturday, when we went to a friends 4oth wedding anniversary, which was great fun.

Sunday, knitting with fellow Ravelery knitters on Jesus Green, listening to a band playing the Glen Miller, war time music. The company was great, music wonderful, but of boy it was cold. Claire threatened the sun to shine, but it would not listen to her, it did stay dry. She needed to have performed a sun dance in the morning i think in order to make it shine all the time.

Must not forget other things. i managed to complete my openings Art course, and get the essay in, my reward was going to John Lewis for a yarn fix. there 50% sale was too good to miss, so yes i went back again, and a 3rd time. I now have enough yarn to keep me knitting into the next millennium, but i just could not resist. The first time visiting was to buy yarn and bits for my secret swap pal, well that's my excuse, i did buy her some lovely bits, in her favourite colours. I also brought yarn for the travelling Ted swap.

I have just joined the Travelling Ted group on Ravelry, sad i know , yes i knitted Ted, but he looked so forlorn, Martin gave him startled, shell shocked face, by placing the eyes to far apart, we dare not send him on hid travels. Instead, Baggins the bear was brought in a charity shop, to go travelling one way around the world and Penelope, the rabbit was brought to travel around Europe, i chose Baggins, Martin chose Penelope. We are making up passports and rut sacks to send them on there travels, and they will visit 10 other Ravelers, who will make things for them and write in their note books. We all have to return to our childhood some time, its that we have done it a bit earlier than most.

I have also been given a second hand mobility scooter, nick named the Silver Surfer. My cousin was going to throw it out but Martin rescued it, and fixed it for under £15. It means i can go with him when he walks the dogs, and that i don't miss seeing them frolic around. They are so funny to watch, and it helps save my poor old legs. The car can take me many places, but this means i can actually get on the common with them.

UK Swap Questions

• Missed question of the week 1
• Question of the week 2.
• 3 guests I would invite to dinner and why.
• Michael Palin. I love all of his travel programs and i would like to ask him about his exploits around the world. Plus Martin is a Monty Python fan. I can imagine that Palin has a wonderful sense of humour and that the conversation would be witty, humoros, yet serios at the same time.
• Guest 2 Gandhi. I love what he did for India, his determination, pacificism, and his beliefs. My father came from India and i believe i would learn alot from him. He too had a sense of humour and a twinkle in the eye.
• Gladys Alyward, the little lady who went to China as a missionary. I met her when i was a child, a small lady, determined, couragous, kind, what a women, a great teller of tales.
• Question of the week 3
• Is there a tv program you watch religiously?
• Tribal wives, travel experiences from a womens point of view.
• Any really good detective series or historical drama
• What TV programmes do you avoid like the plague?
• Any of the soaps ie East Enders, American rubbish like Friends, Reality programmes like Big Brother. To me they are all mindless rubbish.
• Is there a Tv program that works particulary well for knitting?
• Not really. I prefer to knit listening to audio plays, radio 4 or radio 7
• What was or is your favourite kids program?
• Jackanory, with all the tales being told by famous actors such as Bernard Cribbin.
• Week 4
• What is the worst thing you have ever knitted?
• The recent mystery jacket on Ralvery. I enjoyed parts of it, but when i came to make it up, i hated the mixture of patterns, knitting, crochet etc and it would have fitted an elephant.
• What are your favourite knit blogs.
• I have never listened to one, i am fairly new to Blogs etc
• What is the most amazing knitted thing you have ever seen?
• I think it has to be the life size Ginger bread house, seen in pictures in various magazines, what colour, texture and pleasure it radiates!!
• What is your favourite knitted item to wear?
• Shawls and poncho's.
• Week 5
• Stop or go? Stop
• Staying out or staying in . Staying in at home, out on holidays.
• Small town or big city. Cambridge size, not too big or too small.
• Happy or sad. Happy
• Straights or circulars. Both
• Red or Blue. Blue
• Seaside or countryside. Both, ie Wells Next to the Sea.
• Fish or chips. Chips, I'm allergic to fish.
• Surprises or plans, both, each has there place.
• Wine or beer, neither Tropucal fruit juices.
• Sweaters or cardigans. cardigans
• Pizza or Pasta, neither, satay chicken
• Chopsticks or fork, either for Chinese meal, fork for english
• Early Bird or Night Owl, In between, so twilight owlet
• Knitting or crochet. Both
• Hot or cold, warm

The Constant Gardner

Today, the sun came out, from hidding behind the clouds, and i sat in a friends garden, whilst she and Martin, weeded and tidied her small plot between them. the birds were singing, good company, knitting and carrot cake , what more can you want in life! 5 Goldies. It was Clair's garden not ours, and i missed the fluffy tails, wet noses and general mass of golden fur lying all over the place. In our own garden Lilly has been helping us to re-arrange the plants. Martin is trying to put a roof on the veranda of my garden room and Lilly has been helping. As well as the mud she is now covered in blue paint, the colour of the wood, and the door is now decorated with paws prints. Tumi, her best friend has blue strips as does Simba, i think there is more paint on them than on the door. With the amount of soil and pots that she has moved in and out of the house we have now named her the constant gardner. Over the last two weeks, life has generally been a little slower. martin has finished University for this year, so he is catching up on house hold maintance. I have recently finished crocheting a lilac shawl for a friend, plus a red modular shawl for my self.

The modular shawl took a bit of playing with so I am pleased it came out as well as it did. We had an away day to Bursy St Edmunds to the new wool shop there, called Wibbling Wools. What a lovely lady and what a lovely shop, and yes I brought home some lovely sea green marino sublime wool. It's been a good week for yarn, one of my swap pals sent me some lovely treats including a small wind chime, bag, needle savers etc and some hand dyed lace weight for a shawl. On thursday, I had Lunch with my silk painting group in one of their gardens, Filo pastry stuffed with feta cheese, champagne, 3 salads, pancakes etc 3 cakes and cream, I waddled out. Later in the week I had coffee with another set of friends, home made short cake, raspberries and cream. again in her garden. Thank goodness they were end of term do's, I now have the summer to try and loose the weight I put on. Life with Goldies and 1 cat, is never dull, this week Simba, went with me to a friends to see her puppy Alfie, a little spaniel, so that he could teach him what males to. We were in fits of laughter as the wee little thing, followed my lion off a dog, watching how he walked, sat and weed. Simba took it all in his stride, strutting his stuff. It was so comical to watch. Lilly has learnt the run down the garden, hoping over all in sundrey, they leaping and twirling in the air, running back and doing the whole thing again. Missy has learnt to move our the way to stop from being squashed. She has also developed a liking for my drinking chocolate and taken to woofing when she thinks I should be in bed. Still the day draws to a close and I have that new wool to knit. Bye

UK swaps ( Ravelry ) Information

UK SWAP (2) INFORMATION


Ravelry ; Goldenneedles

Crafting
I knit, crochet, silk paint, embroider, felt, spin,textile print,patchwork and quilt
I like to make most things, but not socks or baby things
My favourite project is one with texture, beads, buttons and colour
I like most of the natural wools, silk, cottons etc, I love hand dyed ones, and textured yarns
My least favourite wools harsh acrylics
As above, I also spin, silk paint embroider, tapestry, quilt, patchwork
Yes I knit in public, I carry around scarf’s, bags, etc
Gifts, any hand dyed yarns, beads, buttons, wool winder, silks threads, sea cell yarn, posh yarn

Favourites
Favourite colours are those of the sea, turquoise, blues and rich jewel colours
I do not like black, white , orange or many of the baby pastels
I love roses, rich oriental smells, flowery smells
I pamper myself with rich body butters and bath salts
I have to be careful what I eat, I have Crohn’s disease
I like both tea and coffee
I listen to audio books and have just discovered pod casts

About me
If I were a yarn a would be a deep sea coloured posh yarn to be made into a soft silky shawl, to cover someone in a warm soft textured reassuring hug or I would be a vibrant silk, glowing like an angel in the night sky.
Cambridge
I have lived here for most of my life, but I have lived in other towns
My favourite places in all the world are Egypt, morocco and India
If I could visit any where in the world, I have 2 places, the Taj Mahal and the Amish in the USA
My other hobbies include travel, theatre, reading , I love historical detectives, my 5 golden retrievers, nature, visiting museums etc, gardening, cinema,….

Themes
My theme is an Eider duck paddling on the River Cam, the colours are not those I would normally usually choose, but I loved the ripples of reflection in the water. The colours are subtle, with a hint of a silk shine on the ducks face. The neutral colours of the buildings in the background have a calming effect, but are textural in substance. Martin, took the photo whilst acting as an extra in the film the Golden Age, the duck refused to keep quite whilst they were filming. All the costumes, other than the queens were also made of natural colours.

Allergies
I have to be careful with foods
Other wise I am ok with most things

Other information
Hand made gifts are lovely
Other interests include angels, dragonflies, myths, sunflowers, texture and colour , the sea, mythology and nature of all kinds
I have 5 golden retrievers and 1 cat
I have only done 1 swap before
I don’t have a blog, so it makes no difference if I send to one with one or not
I will be around most of the time required
I live here all year

Goldenneedles

Close encounters of the furry kind.

'' You may drive a dog off the kings high chair, and he will climb into the preachers pulpit; he views the world unmoved, un embarressed, un abashed- Jean Le Bruyere.

Today, the first day of blogging i find myself thinking of a hundred and one ways of skinning a golden retriever to make into gloves and bags, before us lies a minefield of devistation,paper,threads, wood, earth, material wool,the odd pen or two. Five goldies come rushing up, tails wagging, 4 of them saying it wasn't them, the 5th saying I have played interior designer again. Lilly the 10 month old puppy looks at me with her big brown eyes, my heart melts, and thoughts of dog skin gloves disappear. Life with Martin, 5 Goldie's, Simba, Missy,Merlin,Tumi and Lilly, plus a tank of 4 large fish and Sophie the cat, is never dull, messy, but never dull. we all share a little house, filled to the roof tops with books, wool, material and various other interesting things. The mini ark of 4 legged friends keeps us on our toes, feeding,walking (Martin does that) fussing, grooming and helping at whelping times. We love them all to pieces, the big fella, Simba in particular has got us firmly under his fluffy paw. When we have time, I play with a variety of textile media's and martin is a mature University student studying IT. We also travel when we can, go to the theatre, read, watch TV, listen to audio books and enjoy life.

In this blog, I hope to be able to muse on life, show my current projects, share the furry adventures, my love of poetry, prose etc and meet fellow life traveller's.

Lilly by the way shows no remorse at her creative abilities, 4 new threads, a book and several other bits have died, never to be used again. Instead, she has climbed up by my side, wet nosed and waggy tailed, to supervise what I am writting here, just in case i should write anything negative about her.