Hello from QT

Hello from QT

Well hello there, I didn't think Biscuit lady was going to write a blog this week so whilst she fell asleep watching the Grand Prix today, I thought I'd put paw to keyboard. She's taken a few strange photos and loaded them on the computer, one of which is a photo of my furry paws! How rude! Still, I coughed up a fur ball on her bed this morning so that'll teach her.

I'd been missing teen 2 this week with his Guitar Hero 'noise'. He went away for a whole week to Lancashire with the church youth group. I heard he turned into a frog, seriously humans are so strange! I'm going to have to watch him and see if he changes again, I've heard frogs are very tasty, yum yum.

I love sleeping in his room, the sun streams in and warms my fur purr-fectly. The best bit is biscuit lady leaves us in peace, something about the heavy rock noise. Occasionally she brings laundry to the cupboard and wakes me up, erh excuse me, I'm trying to sleep!

                       

Teen 2 as Kermit - throwing a Dab! at the hero's dressing up evening

My furry toes

I'll leave you to see what Biscuit Lady's been up to this week, she looks like she's waking up now. I need to keep an eye on my birds. My people filled up the bird feeders yesterday and it brings out young families for my 'cat tv'. I'm wanting to find the soot covered one that's been down our flue 18 times now! The Land Rover lover is sure it's the same bird.

They've got 'bird freeing' down to a rotten fine art that goes like this - I'm banned from the lounge, the curtains are shut making the room dark. The patio doors are flung wide open, then the inspection hatch is open and whoosh, the bird flies away. After some noise, depending on who is carrying out the operation, I'm then allowed back in. Really, it's so undignified. I'm in charge of this house and it's an outrage, I shouldn't have to 'leave the room'.

I'm not sure what QT's been upto with my keyboard but I've just got time to write this before getting his dinner. The Grand Prix has finished, apparently Vettel won. I knew that.

Sorting & FinishingThese are the leftover colours from the Attic 24 - Moorland blanket I made. I showed you the crocheted triangles last week. Here are the triangles joined in a row to make some bunting for celebrating family birthdays etc. The joining band at the top, mirrors the colours of the blanket edging. My inspiration for this came from Nicki French crochet book.

My bunting in the Moorland pack colours

Colour on a rainy day

Enjoying looking atSome pretty candles that look too delicate to use. M bought these with the wooden cat candle holder for me, back in July. I'm not sure I'll ever use them but I enjoy looking at their intricate beauty.

Crocheting
Another blanket of Lucy's at attic 24 this time it's her Woodland blanket, it'll be a gift for my MIL so I need to get cracking.  The pattern has treble stitches, some missed stitches and some with 2 trebles in one stitch. This is followed by a row of double crochet (UK terms). The plan is to crochet 3 colours a day, if I want to finish it soon.

Reading

Conclave by Robert Harris is the September book choice, I think I've given up with the August book which is 'The Loving Husband' by Christobel Kent. I'm hoping if I have time I may come back to it after this one.

Warming

By the fire, the first fire of the season. Despite the bird/s whizzing down the flue sending a cloud of soot in their wake, we'll still need to have the chimney swept. When M opened up the inspection plate soot had dropped down onto the metal plate inside.


Thank you for stopping by to read my blog, QT has appeared again asking for his dinner. Thank you for all your kind words left on my blog last time. I'm still catching up on blog reading and it's been nice to get in touch again.

From QT and me (Cathy) bye for now!
x

Hello

How time has flown, sorry I've not been about in blogland very much lately. Thank you for taking the time to stop by at Hooks and Needles, I'm pleased you're still here. I've enjoyed reading your blogs whilst trying to keep up, though I've not always left a comment. 

People come and go in blogland and for myself it would be so easy to say I've been too busy. That isn't totally the case, I think I just lost my blogging mojo. I seem to spend ages choosing photos, cropping pictures, editing texts - repeatedly. Then it's looking for references on-line and generally faffing about before posting.

The Homemade Heart blog that hosted - The Cookery Calendar challenge and FAST - Homestead blog that hosted Five on Fridays, have both stopped for now. I enjoyed reading these but... life goes on and other interesting blogs pop up. There has been an increase in very suspect followers with the same address details through Bloglovin' which makes for more checking of personal info before posting. 

April

Much has changed since I last sat down at the keyboard. I may have mentioned before that teen 1 has now turned 18 years old. He's finished college and is finding his way in the world of employment. Temporary work, interviews and hoping for positive news, life can be stressful but good too. His birthday cake (Easter time) was gooey chocolate and delicious with obligatory Easter eggs.

My homemade laminated cake band (covering imperfections) reflected Guvna B's opening line to one of his songs - 'Fear is a Lie' with 'Allo Mate'. We'd seen him as a supporting artist at the Rend Collective concert in Huddersfield. Teen 1 saw NF live in Birmingham shortly after his birthday with his school / college friend.
                                 

Some flowers from springtime, left ready to post in drafts.

April also saw the launch of the local Knit & Natter group which has been great. It's nice to catch up with like minded ladies in the village and chat over our projects. Usually everyone brings their own things to work on, though twice there's been a specific project to all 'have a go at'. One of these was knitting socks another was some quilting. 

May

QT at the salad bar, crazy cat! Eat it, roll in it and gently dozing on it. Strange lad.

What do you mean it's your chair

It can't be, I'm here - it's mine!

As the sun warmed up, I'd moved the fireside chair into the lounge so I could crochet in the warmth with my feet up. QT however had other ideas.

July

Using the leftover yarn stash from the Attic 24 Moorland blanket that I'd crocheted last year, I made some bunting to match. I like to put bunting up when we have a birthday in the family. I was too late for my own birthday which was a shame but... it was a significant birthday and though at the time I felt miffed at being 50, I honestly don't feel any different, though I still think 38 years sounds a lot better.  

August

The bunting, now complete is still up at the moment as we had our open home this Saturday. We invited people from church to drop in for cake and a cuppa. There's something very enjoyable about throwing open the doors and windows, putting the kettle on, plate-ing up cake and getting out the lego for little people. We did a few last year as well, though we may just do the one next year or possibly one a month from May - August.

I can't remember everything thing I've read, listened to, made, baked and seen so I'll just mention a few:- 

Two weekends ago we went to stay with my Mother-in-law, whilst there we saw my parents in their new home too. They've recently moved back to Hampshire near my Nan and Brother & his daughter. It's strange with them all moved south, suddenly it feels almost alone without family nearby.

I've been reading books for the book club, the group recently decided to cap numbers which will help with seating arrangements and book choosing. My book for this year was How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. Apart from being featured on the Richard and Judy book list it was also on the Radio 2 book club. We had a very good discussion about the book which is always encouraging when you've chosen a book.

I've purchased material to sew some nightdresses. If you're new to dressmaking do checkout this youtube video of JessalliHandmade. At the moment the fabric is awaiting ironing and then pattern prepping. Honestly, I'm just putting off the tracing of the pattern etc! Is this even essential! I will try and get a move on with these.

I've started crocheting another blanket which I hope to take some photos of as it progresses.

The socks I'd knitted and put away for M Christmas present took an airing at the WI BBQ / Horticultural show. I was chuffed to bits as they won 2nd place in the sock knitting & crochet category. I've never entered before and will definitely enter again!

I'm going to post this now before I change my mind and start faffing about with it. I'll take some photos of the finished bunting and blanket progress for next time.

Thank you for reading and have a good weekend whatever you're doing.
Cathy x