KAL (knit-a-long) Progress

Hello there, happy Friday! Thank you for your comments last time, I'm glad you liked my photo... thanks Nat. The real photo of me was in blue, front of chair exercise. Here's another Friday Catch Up link party. I'd love it if you wanted to join me, please simply leave a comment on this post, and link your blog post below. 

Some cheerful Tulips from Aldi. 

I decided to have another go at the Lent KAL (Knit-a-long). If you knit the pattern in chunky yarn, it'll make a cosy lap blanket. Or like mine, if you choose a DK yarn, it'll make a table mat. I have a few of these now including the Advent ones, along with the Lent scarf. A lady at Knit & Natter suggested spreading them out on the bed, see what I have and start sewing them all up together to make a blanket. I don't really want a lot of knitted table mats and the scarf rolls up, so wearing it isn't a joy as you can't see the design. 
These two swatch samples are a practice at tension and bobble stitch. I have collected several swatch samples from many other projects, including crochet samples. These will all be added to the large blanket. 

Each day has about 4 or 5 rows of knitting to do, with a short devotion to read. I confess that I get behind and then have a catch up session. This particular KAL is designed to be knitted in one solid colour, with no colour changes. I'm using up yarn I already had - Jarol Heritage Classic DK - Wool Rich
55% wool, 25% acrylic, 20% nylon. Each week I'm changing colour. 

Knitting so far. I needed to buy circular needles as the mat is quite wide. These are Knit Pro Zing interchangeable needles. I had spare cord but the size 4mm knitting needles were in use on the blue jumper. 

I always have a small simple project to take out with me, a flannel / washcloth is perfect. I took this with me to the village coffee morning this month. They served toasted tea cakes (fruit roll/bap/bun) with tea or coffee in the tiniest daintiest cups and saucers.
This pattern has become my favourite go to pattern, it's called Broken Rib Square. One row knit stitch, the alternate row k1, p1. repeat both rows until a square is knitted. The yarn is Rico aran weight 100% cotton 

A crazy Angus sporting a left eyebrow, achieved by rolling on the grass.  

We bought a new king sized duvet 7.5 tog, so until we take our old 'roasting' 10 tog duvet to the tip, Angus has it as his bed. We've put his bed (shown underneath) on top of it, so he has a very tall bed at the moment. I've tried investigating recycling it but the service isn't available in our area. Animal sanctuary's don't want them, neither do charity outlets. A shame but we can't keep it, it's too big and bulky.

I'm off to catch up on the knitting

take care and Ttfn
Cx

Fun Friday :: Catch Up

Hello there, thank you for your lovely comments last time. I confess that I was a bit unsure about changing the Friday link up. Tricky started the Five on Friday link up party, sadly his blog has disappeared. If anyone is in contact with him and his family, please do let me know. I'd love to know how they're all getting on. I remember they had big plans and dreams for life abroad, teaching Permaculture Sustainable living. 

On to this Friday Catch Up, do join me if you wish. 
This week has been a quiet week, I've been knitting the KAL (knit-a-long) daily. Some reading of the Book club read and a bit more de-cluttering. I've decided to cut back on my library book orders, they tend to arrive altogether and after having a quick look through the pile, I don't seem to enjoy them enough to read. Maybe if I only order a maximum of 2 or 3, I'll actually read them.  

I bought another Spring Bouquet, this one had daffodils in the bunch. I thought that daffodils in a bunch of mixed flowers, would kill off the other flowers. So I removed the daffs and placed them with the surviving few flowers, from last weeks bunch.

One afternoon we went into town to buy a few pairs of trousers for Mark. We also bought a wooden dog bone and a Nylabone for Angus in Pets at Home. Then a few bits including flowers from Sainsbury's and a 7.5 tog duvet from Tesco. We looked for some new mugs... they need to be a good size not too big, or too small, not tall and thin, the handle needs to have room for two fingers, not mega expensive... the hunt goes on.  

Last Thursday evening, an exercise instructor visited our WI this month to run a one off chair exercise class. The range of music was fun, I can't remember them all. It ranged from The Can Can, Glen Millar In the Groove - some stood up for that song, to The Polka Dot Bikini and many more. 

Sunday we took Nat and Ellis to the local sandy beach. Lincolnshire beaches are a long way out to the water. Closer beaches to us, have all grassed over with marsh grass. Angus enjoyed the freedom of running about without being on the lead. 

We didn't stay long as it was bitter cold.

Realising that I'm not in many family photos, Nat very kindly put me in ha ha. Thanks Nat.

Do you belong to any groups, eg Book club, WI, Craft Groups etc?
Do you remember to jump in the family photos?

Take care, Ttfn

Cathy x

  

Cookery Book Challenge :: Friday Catch Up

Hello there, I hope you're well. It's bright, sunny and a little chilly here as I sit writing this blog. 
You'll notice something a bit different today on my 'Friday Link Up Party.' It's not a Five on Friday link up, instead it's a 'Friday Catch Up'  I've been thinking about this for a while now, as I usually post more than one photo in each of the 5 categories.

I'm hoping it'll be more freeing to post about subjects without the need to find extra things to make up the five sections. To give an example, if I post about craft I would post 5 lots of knitting (as I'm only knitting at the moment). This would look like - a finish, and 2 projects that I'm working on (I only work on two projects at once eg a garment and a small project such as a washcloth), I would then add 3 other knitted projects that are waiting. 

I could of course add other subjects, eg a book, a recipe, a craft etc but I don't want to stick to a rigid framework. I do love the Friday catch ups, if you comment or leave a link to your blog, I'll visit you. I hope you'll continue to add your link and visit other's that have joined in too. 

Let me know what you think, and of course if you wish to continue your post as a Five on Friday, that's absolutely fine. At the end of the day we are friends 'catching up' together on a Friday. It's all good.  

A seasonal bouquet from Morrisons. I love flowers and thought these looked so cheerful. The hyacinths fill the room with their scent. Tulips are one of my favourites, I'm waiting for the tulips in the garden to flower.

The first week of march, in the words of Simon & Garfunkel... 'slow down, you move too fast'.
I thought I'd make this a Cooking Book Challenge post, using a recipe from one of my many cookery books. I've de-cluttered lots but there are still plenty more books on the shelf. Maybe I need to go through them again!
Penny from Homemade Heart used to host these the first week each month, but sadly like many blogs they've stopped and gone to instagram only. I think Penny's original challenge had two dinner recipes and no puddings, cakes etc. For me, it will be whatever I cook and more importantly remember to photograph before it's eaten. I'll try and use a different book next time, if I've not de-cluttered it! That will be a challenge in itself. 

For my Cookery Book Challenge I made a pie using leftover roast chicken, I decided to add sliced potato instead of the usual pastry top. 

Adding some finely chopped vegetables, a cuppa soup (no need for extra seasoning). I usually add mushrooms in meat pies, either fresh or tinned. 

Top with sliced potatoes brushed with cooking oil.

Bake the top recipe for 30 minutes in a hot oven. This recipe uses asparagus cup of soup but a different cup of soup of your choice is ok, I use mushroom or chicken and vegetable.  

This cookery book, was my first Christmas present from Mark. 

Top right, a photo of the pie made with pastry. 

Do you have a favourite way of cooking a pie? 
For Steak and Kidney Pies, I love Delia Smith's Suet Crust pastry on top. That method is ideal for Gluten Free baking too. The suet pastry stops the cardboard texture. 

Bulbs, Books and a Boy :: Five on Friday

Hello there, the sun is shining but it's a chilly day. Bulbs are sprouting up and it all looks lovely outside. Ignore any weeds, I've not felt like gardening, the soil here is clay so quite slippery when wet. When we go out to fetch coal, or Angus goes out, a well worn path of clay mud appears. You can imagine the mess at this time of year. We do have towels down in the conservatory, but dogs can't wipe their own feet, so it can be a performance letting him out. We have a bowl of soapy water and a flannel... he's not keen but would happily walk in streams. 

1) Bulbs: Glorious Daffodils, more to come. The last photo will soon be a beautiful display of bright red tulips. 

2) Finished book: Afternoon Tea at the Sunflower Café by Milly Johnson. I've read it before, but found it in a charity shop and read it again. It's about a cleaning company, infidelity and revenge, with lots of issues along the way. Milly Johnson always tells a good story with a deeper side gently unravelling. 

3) Library books: Every four weeks, the mobile library visits the villages. I place an order and await notification... then they all appear at once! I've started on Sweet Tomorrow's by Debbie Macomber. Her books are always entertaining, very light and often one of the character's knit. When I feel in a slump about reading, Debbie Macomber gets me back reading again. I love how her books (American) say 'visit with you'. In the UK we'd say, going to visit or something similar... it's not as cosy. Two of the books are non-fiction and the Anthony Horowitz book, I actually cancelled that book but it arrived anyway. I'll scan read it and return it. My eldest son & fiancée brought me the last book in this series for Christmas, so it will be good to roughly follow the story line.  

4)  Audiobook: Echoes in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope, book 19 out of 21 part series. I've listened to about half of these on the library app and borrowed the other books to read. They've gone on a bit but they were an enjoyable series. Thea Osbourne with her dog Hepsie (Hepzibar) is a house sitter who is hired to look after the house whilst the family are away. Things always go wrong, often resulting in a body for the police. There are family changes for Thea which create tension at home. Overall a light entertaining mystery.

5) Angus and his hedgehog: A new toy from Johnny's girlfriend, he carries new toys round with him for a while. I was sat on the sofa reading, so he brought me an upside down hedgehog.

What gardening jobs do you do in February?
What are you reading at the moment? 
Do you belong to your local library? 

Yarn News :: Five on Friday

Hello there, this week on Five on Friday, it's all about yarn. There are a few WIP's (work in progress), a finish and some hand cream to help with the knitting. 

I usually have several projects waiting to be worked on - a washcloth, a garment and a pair of socks are the main ones. If I crochet a blanket, or join the knit a knit-a-long for Lent or Advent, that changes things. I also have a cross stitch waiting to be finished too. It's simpler to concentrate on 2 or 3 and leave the rest waiting. 

1) Blue Jumper - originally knitted in mauve acrylic. I was persuaded by the yarn shop (many years ago), to knit this in a cheaper yarn. I was inexperienced at choosing materials and felt that it was a poor choice. My tension was likely very loose as it was far too big. I've started again in the correct yarn content 50/50 cotton & wool... it's lovely yarn, soft but holding its shape. You do need to concentrate on the pattern, as there's lots of counting throughout.  

2) Purple Washcloth - A finish, knitted in 100% Rico cotton. A good project for taking to Knit & Natter.  

3) Washcloth - knitted in broken rib - 1st row knit, 2nd row alternate knit & purl, repeat both rows. I took this with me to the village coffee morning (monthly). It's in the church hall, the volunteers serve tea & coffee in dainty cups & saucers. They always serve some baked goods, either toasted tea cakes, scones or other cakes. This week it was a delicious cheese scone, with lots of butter. 

I'm the only one that takes my knitting, one month I took the purple socks below to work on. 

4) Socks - King Cole purple self patterning 4 ply yarn. At the moment, I'm still knitting Winwick Mum's Sock-a-long by staying with the basic sock, I'm improving the fit of the sock each time. 

5) Hand care - recently my hands have been dry and cracked, particularly around my thumb. Previously I've used foot cream with Urea in the ingredients. It helped but I was hoping for something a little more natural. I've tried natural beeswax and the Aloe Vera plant rubbed into my fingertips. I've also tried drinking more water, as it seems if our bodies are dehydrated, the fingertips suffer first and can crack open. In the end, I purchased some O'Keeffe's Working Hands hand cream, it's not natural but promises good results. 

Overall taking care of hands, helps with the whole knitting experience. 
I was getting up early to spend 20 minutes knitting, before the day starts. It was nice and quiet, a time to think before the rush of the 'to do' list. It's something that I need to get back to. 

If you have any tips about taking care of yourself to improve knitting, do let me know?
Also any tips for not getting overloaded with projects waiting to be made?  

In My Kitchen :: Five on Friday

Hello there, I hope you are all ok. 
This week my Five on Friday mostly revolves around food. It has been cold, wet and grey recently with few spells of sunshine. I'm still enjoying the Movement to Music group, I've persuaded my neighbour to join in, so we travel together. You need your wits about you as the start up exercises wake up your brain. When the music starts, it gets easier each week as you remember the routines. I have the songs on Spotify, so can play / practice odd bits during the week ha ha. 

1) On my table - Daffodils bring cheer inside, beautiful delicate golden trumpets, so elegant. This vase (probably from a charity shop) causes arguments over its colour. I say green, others say blue. Having looked at yarn colour bands, it's probably Jade. What do you think?

2) Mackerel Pate - Having IBS and also wanting to eat less processed food, I tend to make a lot of my own simple creations. Though I like mushroom pate and course peppercorn pate (from when I worked for Waitrose around 30 yrs ago), I don't like the idea of making traditional liver pate. I do eat liver, I just don't want to blitz it all up. 
I found this very simple recipe of Mackerel Pate that mixes very quickly with a fork. The chives can be swapped for the green tops of spring onions, also extra lemon juice instead of the vinaigrette if wanted. It keeps for a few days in the fridge and can be used up, on top of a jacket potato.  

3) Sourdough starter - Fed and fermenting ready for Friday's pizza. After rising to over double its height, it's now mixed up as a dough and the starter put back in the fridge. It has had 4 'lift and folds' in the large covered bowl and will now sit in the warm lounge until the morning. Then be placed in the fridge until I'm ready to divide it between 2 pizza plates, topping it with ingredients after an hour. It will be delicious. 
The book that I follow is The Sourdough Whisperer by Elaine Boddy link to see inside. Elaine Fodbod on Instagram is very helpful, any queries, she is sure to help if she can. 

4) Hot Chocolate in my special mug - Not a homemade recipe but a tasty instant hot chocolate drink, free of gums and other UPF (ultra processed food). It may still have one ingredient that others object to, but I'm happy with it. It's all about reducing processed food, not making life difficult. 
A few years ago I bought myself a crochet mug from the yarn shop - for my Christmas stocking. Last December I bought the matching crochet tin. You could store anything inside of course, a biscuit or maybe some clips to hold your work together whilst you sew up your work. I chose the later. 

5) Gluten Free Cheese Straws - Sadly this recipe booklet is no longer available and not on the Dove Freee site online either. These are quick and easy to make, I always make double and happily take 2 or 3 as lunch if I'm out for the morning. I use Dove's plain flour which contains a blend of flour. I've since purchased Dove Freee Cookbook from Amazon (I think), the recipe wasn't in there either. 

I'm finding that many Gluten Free recipes use Xanthan Gum including Dove Freee recipes. I'll let you google how these Ultra Processed Food ingredients affect some people. Also it's interesting to note that they aren't actually food either, It's shocking! 
For gluten free baking, I can of course understand how all the gums and other ingredients can mimic gluten, stopping that crumbly texture... but I actually like the crumbly texture in cakes and biscuits/cookies. Regular cakes can stick around teeth, after years not eating gluten and now limiting it considerably, that's how I prefer baked goods. 

Incidentally the sourdough bread and pizza is made with regular wheat flour. The Whole process of fermenting the wheat slowly, ensures it's easier on digestion and therefore better for Ibs sufferers. Alana from the A Little Bit Yummy website has lots to say about this. She is another very helpful lady with lots of delicious recipes... I have her cookbook too.  

 

Well that's a wrap for my Five on Friday, have a lovely weekend.
Ttfn (ta ta for now). 
Cathy x