Saturday 16 February 2013

Life Goes On

I found a surprise in the garden!!


Marigold shoots!
The summer heat killed them all and they dried really quickly. Then we had days and days of rain. And voila!!
I've saved a dozen of them in seedling punnets. And upon closer inspection throughout the garden I found heaps of little seedlings dotted everywhere, even down the neighbours end...
Viva la marigold!

Thursday 14 February 2013

Happy Valentine's Day

Pheromones are in the air!!

I do adore romance. Flowers and chocolate and foot massages. But I can't say I'm a fan of Valentine's Day. If you can't make the effort to show how much you love your significant other during the year, then a half-assed commercially manufactured heart shaped token given on an overly hyped arbitrary date is more of an insult than a romantic gesture. Having said that hand made with love is completely different story. And any time of year is good for that. So here's a little bit of cross stitch l'amour.


You may indeed have the pattern.  Here you go.

I started about an hour ago and this is as far I got. It's actually a little creepy.... 



So if you've got someone to snuggle with get snuggling.
If you don't, stretch out on that bed and enjoy the covers just as you like them.

(♡^▽^♡)

Tuesday 12 February 2013

A Worm Farm

Been pondering the purchase of a composter but we simply don't have the room and with only the two of us we'd never accumulate enough material to make it viable. 

Insert brainstorm. 

Worms! It cost about the same to set up but unlike a compost heap does not require as much space, material nor turning. Also we are able to reap the benefits straight away with a little water.

 I did try taking a picture of the inside but aside from being unappealing the worms are camera shy and wouldn't comply.

So here's hoping we make excellent worm farmers!! (^^)

Thursday 7 February 2013

William, the Amigurumi Jellyfish with pattern

For all your flange desires!




And the pattern!

First, choose your weapon

Then
R1- sc6 in magic circle
R2- 2 sc in each sc around (12 sts)
R3- *Sc 1, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R4- *Sc 2, 2 sc in next sc*, repeat 6 times (24 sts)
R5-10: Sc all the way around (24)
This when to put the face on. I just used two vertical stitches for eyes.
R11- Sc 24 through back loops only (you'll use the front loops later when crocheting the little wavy things at the bottom)
R12- *Sc 2, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (18 sts)
R13- *Sc 1, dec 1*, repeat 6 times (12 sts)
Stuff
R14- *Sk 1 sc, sc 1*, repeat 6 times (6 sts)
Bind off leaving long tail to close up the little hole, weave in loose end.

Wavy Part
Join yarn to one of the front loops you left in R11, chain 1, *4 sc in next st, sk 1 st, sl st 1*, repeat 7 times more. Bind off, weave in loose end.

Tentacles
Join yarn to the bottom part of your jellyfish, chain about 20. Bind off and weave the excess back into it. Repeat as many times as you want.

Now go forth and make me an army!

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Octochu, a Cross Stitch Octopus with pattern

I stumbled upon a cross stitch program a couple of days ago and have been playing with it non-stop.
So I present to you my first creation, Octochu!!
This is just a design, I haven't actually made it yet but I was too excited to wait that long.
It was made with KGChart which after a bit of experimenting is actually really easy to use.
It definitely beats grid paper and pencil (●♡∀♡) 



Friday 1 February 2013

In Memoriam

Fifteen years ago a family friend's dog had puppies. A fairly common event to be sure but from this litter came our Sabre. As a mix of what we believe to be pit bull terrier, red cattle dog and probably a polar bear you'd be forgiven for thinking she'd grow to be a vicious killing machine with wild eyes and pointy teeth. To the contrary, she was so loving I've had worse nips from guinea pigs. 
Her brown eyes exuded such benevolence. They reminded me of a cow, slightly sleepy and almost motherly. But at the hint of play they'd light up like she was 7 months old again.

As a puppy she would sleep in the clothes basket and chase carrots that we'd roll along the ground. At one point we gave her one of our old kids toys, a yellow rubber elephant, which went everywhere with her up to the day another dog broke it. 

She had a few strange habits. For one she loved walking under things like tablecloths and low shrubs. She'd do this very slowly with her tail sticking straight out behind her. Once the tip of her tail had been scratched she give a vigorous shake and trot off with it wagging behind her. She also loved soft drink bottles. It would impossible to count the hours she spent chasing them around the house. When she finally tired she chewed the cap off in victory. Her hearing was amazing. You could open a packet of chips in the kitchen and she'd come screaming in from wherever she happened to be sleeping to beg a treat from you. She loved sleeping in the sun so much her pink belly would turn red.
For my 10th birthday I got a cat. Chloe is her name. She has a story all her own. But once again you can take your expectations and put it in a pile labeled "Disregarded". Sabre was as much Chloe's dog as ours. She'd curl up in the dog bed, sometimes with Sabre, sometimes kicking Sabre out. Sabre would let the cat eat her dinner. If she was hungry enough she'd put her nose in the bowl too.

Not once did she show aggression to anything that wasn't in her bowl. 
As she got older and slower she also got fatter. Her neck melded with her back and her jowls sagged. When she trotted through the house the fish tank shook. Like most who live to old age she got arthritis. Eventually she needed to be carried up stairs. She also got a large tumor on her chest. But nothing would keep her from greeting you at the door when you came home. Tail wagging and tongue out ready to lick your shins.

On the 30th of January she passed. In Memoriam of the dog who loved all unconditionally.