Sunday 3 October 2010

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY!...............





The weekeend started off beautifully, with a warm breeze, sunshine and a BLUE sky. That was yesterday! Today.... strong wind and RAIN, RAIN, RAIN! No point planning to do too much today then. Still, that means Sunday afternoon spent in hibernation mode on the sofa. My schoolwork is done, housey jobs complete and so that just leaves a little bit of blogging and knitting time :)

 I've tried to make sure that I have completed at least a little knitting each evening this week. That's manageable, as long as I don't also spend time browsing on the internet. There is always some schoolwork to do in the evenings, however organised I try to be. This weeek there was the added excitement of knowing that the 'Through the Loops' sock KAL would be beginning on 1st October. Yarn and needles were at the ready................ click and away we go. Only the first part of the pattern has been released thus far; the cuff! It's quite strange to be knitting an unknown pattern, but also quite exciting to see what appears. Here's what has appeared so far....




I've gone as far as I can go until the next pattern release. I have to say, I just love the yarn. It had sat in my stash looking rather dull and dark, for quite a while. Once knitted up though, the lighter, brighter touches of pink and purples really show through.

I 'bit the bullet' and ripped back the 'Pomatamus' socks last weekend. I knew if I didn't pick them up again this week and at least knit back to where I had been, they could so easily slide into the naughty corner and not be seen again for some time.


There we go! Looking much better. No snags and no unexplained hole! Smile! This yarn deserves the best!

My youngest 'lovely girl' has expressed a desire for me to knit her a warm 'coaty kind of cardi',  several times recently. Yesterday, whilst in John Lewis on a bed linen buying mission, we veered off course and found ourselves surrounded by wooly goodness. She found just the right pattern and yarn and Snoopydog thought 'yum!' So, without too much thought about the expense of this particular 'coaty cardi', my 'lovely girl' hurried right along to the 'Pay Desk'. It's 'Gayle' from Rowan's Purelife 'the British Sheep Breed Collection', knitted up in undyed Blue Faced Leicester. The pattern book has lots of warm, scrumptiously woolly jumpers and jackets inside it.


How times come around again! I remember knitting aran sweaters and cardis for Mr Snoopydog and myself, way back in the seventies. I'm secretly hoping to get a 'wear or two' of this one. I think it's lovely! Not quite so sure about the handwashing (to keep the lanolin in) though, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now I should be feeling much more concerned about actually managing to complete the knitting! There does look to be rather a lot of it!

Just to satisfy myself that I had been a little productive today, I managed to rustle up six jars of marmalde to stash. Okay, it's only made from a can of 'Ma Made', water and two 1.8kg of sugar, but it's still satisfying to produce.


It's that time of year, when Sunday evening supper calls for roast vegetables. Scrummy! Tonight, they'll be served with fresh broccoli and tender leg of lamb. Usually we add sweet potato as well. Chop them all up, dry them, chuck them into a large roasting dish, with several (quite a few!!!!) whole cloves of garlic. Add a little olive or sunflower oil and a slash of maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper before whacking in the oven for an hour. Delicious!


I wonder what's on your menu this evening? :)

Tomorrow, Oscar has to return to the orthopaedic vet, for further x-rays, to find out how he's healing. He needs lots of crossed fingers, toes and paws, as he is still limping and the shoulder is clearly still troubling him. There was no guarantee that he would be cured :( I feel rather pessimistic at the moment, but let's wait and see what tomorrow brings. He deserves to feel well again, so that he can run and play and enjoy life in true uninhibited labrador fashion. So, on that note, I'll take my leave and pop the lamb in the oven. Please cross those fingers and doggy or pussy paws!!!!!

25 comments:

Fiona said...

Come on Oscar, you can do it.

Unknown said...

My paws are double-ly crossed. We all want Oscar well soon.

What a charming weekend you are having. Who cares about the weather, when you have a bunch of yarn and some yummie veggies in a pot. Can't wait to see what this turns into.

Just checking, while my Butternut Squash/White Bean Soup is stewing away. Then, it's out to start the clean-up..yuck..my least favorite part of the gardening season. But, it all needs to be put away here.

kate said...

Certainly hoping things go well for poor Oscar!

You're thinking dinner, but I've just finished breakfast - pork sausages from a local pig and eggs. No idea as yet what dinner will bring!

That coat is a lot of knitting, my goodness.

Sarah said...

We are crossing all paws and fingers here. Poor Oscar, I hope he is ok. He looks so fed up in your photo of him today!
I love the look of the long cardi-very cosy. I still have an arran(SP?) jumper that my Gran knitted-for my Dad I think, in the seventies. I occassionally wear it-it is really itchy wool and very hot-but beautifully made!
I know what you mean about the rain-all afternoon yesterday, most of Friday, most of last night, and then this morning. Not raining at the moment though hurray!
Hope you have a good week and get lots of the cardi done!

Lyn said...

Hope Oscar is well soon.
It has done nothing but rain here too, how boring, still at least its a good excuse to do nothing in the garden!
xxx

Kathy said...

Oh poor Oscar ... he's too young to be limping! Fingers crossed for a good recovery.
Those Aran coat cardi things are so on trend this year and cost a small fortune on the High Street ... but I expect it cost a small fortune to buy the yarn! It's looks lovely! My 18 year old son has taken ownership of his grandad's aran jumper recently and is the envy of all his mates ... it's very cool!
Have a good week. Love Kathy xxx

Lynne said...

Oooh!! I love the potamus and mystery socks, and your yarns are gorgeous.

Team Blackbeard will have our fingers and paws crossed for Oscar. :)

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Raining there too eh?
I see though you have accomplished such beauty to fill the damp day.
Fingers, toes, two sets of kittie pads and a set of doggie paws crossed for Oscar...
Hope you enjoyed your lovely Sunday dinner.
Susan x

Teje said...

Dear Oscar, we cross fingers and paws and you will be fine!
Lovely knittings! I remember also knitting similar pullovers years ago - it would be nice again...
Not much dinner here today...just salad and bread...Kali Oreksi = Good Apetite!
wishes and hugs from Teje and Nero

Scented Sweetpeas said...

Sending love to Oscar in the hope all is OK - it hasn't been long since the op so hopefully is it is just because of that that he is still limping. x

Sue said...

Oh I hope he does get better, it must be so uncomfortable for him. Your cabled jacket looks beautiful too, what a gorgeous pattern.

Helsie said...

Oh poor little Oscar. He does look a bit sad. I hope all will be well.
On the roast dinner front. Why not throw a few pieces of butternut squash in with all of those roast vegies. I think you might LOVE it. I do.
Cheers
Helen
PS Love,love ,love the cardi/coat !

Molly the Airedale said...

OMG, homemade orange marmalade! You have mom drooling!
Our paws are crossed for you, Oscar!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Diane said...

Arran cardi's are very much in this year and a fortune in the shops. Fingers crossed for Oscar. xxxx

Tracy said...

Oscar... do be getting better, sweet boy! Keeping all fingers and paws crossed here that all will be going well with Oscar. Let us know how it goes. What a good weekend... That marmalade looks sooo good...mmm... And so does your knitting--deliciously beautiful! We managed to start garden clean up Saturday before the rains came... And not it's been raining since...*sigh*... Very dully. But good knitting weather! ;o) Happy Week, Ros ((HUGS))

Dawn said...

Crossing everything for Oscar.
Love that cardy /coat - wish I could knit something on that scale but I know my limitations!

bellaboo said...

Bella has got everthing crossed for Oscar.Sorry..I think I was away when the problem started.
Need some blue sky and sunshine...badly! :o)

Ms. ~K said...

I always enjoy my visits here...
My mother was knitter and I miss the click, click of the needles...

Hugs and positive thoughts for Oscar,
~K and the Pups

josiekitten said...

Your Mystery sock looks good - the yarn is lovely! I need to get going with mine this week! I have to say that I don't envy you all that Aran knitting. Maybe you should suggest to Miss Snoopydog that she learns to knit!! Hope all is well with Oscar. xx

melissa said...

i hope that things go well for sweet mr. oscar.

and i am loving those cream colored cables. gorgeous!

Jennyff said...

I love knitting aran and am quite envious of your lovely project, will you be able to part with it when it's done. Hope Oscar is doing OK, he does look a bit sorry for himself, bless, give him a hug from me please.

Stadtwaldvogel said...

I hope Oscar will get well soon!
Both your socks look great! I have given up with my Mystery Sock KAL, I am too impatient for so many cables.
Have a great weekend!
Julia

BadPenny said...

Hiyah ! I can't knit at all !
but I have an over eneretic dog & know what it's like when they can't exercise !

Anonymous said...

You inspired me to do the mystery socks! I'm having a blast with it.

Good luck with your pup.

cmv said...

oh my fingers are very crossed and lama (the cat) has politely crossed his too for Oscar!
your knitting projects are all absolutely dreamy! wonderful!