Finish & Start:: Five on Friday

Hello there, a few recent finishes and a walk today. I thought I'd try a Five on Friday post today and see if anyone is interested in joining me. I still remember when Tricky used to host these on Fridays. It was always fun to see who'd joined in and go visiting new blogs. 
The first two photographs were taken at Knit & Natter in the week. I'm knitting a shawl now and reading 'Five Little Pigs' by Agatha Christie for the Read Christie 2025 Challenge  I may not read every month's book choice, just if I can get the book from the library in time. 

1) Finish:: Crochet baby blanket, intended for a charity make but... it's still at my house at the moment!
The bold colours are Rico baby cotton dk Grey blue, Mustard, Red, Plum and Blueberry. The cream is Stylecraft Bambino dk Clotted Cream. 
3.5mm crochet hook
The Ripple pattern is in this book I missed off a few inches in length. The border edging I made up my own, as I didn't fancy the scalloped fussy edge in the pattern. 
My edge has 2 plain cream edges, top and bottom a blue yarn to fill in and straighten the edge. Then 2 rounds in different colours and another round of slip stitch. 

2) Start:: Put the kettle on and make a cuppa. This is the photo that went on the church Facebook page to advertise the coffee morning
(My cat mug, Mark's Land Rover, Johnny's Guitar mug)
This week I started going to 'Movement To Music', it was a lot of fun. There were routines to 'wake up your brain' first, stretch out your muscles, help balance and general just 'move to music'. We finished with a cuppa, chatting with the next group to arrive for Line Dancing.  

3) Finish:: Holy Island by L J Ross - for the December bookclub read. A murder mystery with pagan ritual killings. My copy was on Kindle, generally I go with the cheapest, World of Books or Kindle. 
The reviews on Goodreads were quite poor but as it was for the bookclub, I felt that I should read it. I was hoping that the sisters could've resolved their issues, but overall I thought it was a good story. It's the first in the series of DCI Ryan Mysteries. 

4) Finish:: Another book for the bookclub, this time it was my choice. I borrowed this one from the library. Shay, the main character, cares for her parents and looks out for her adult children, typical of my generation. There are several stories interwoven, unravelling dramatically and resolved at the end. I enjoy reading Milly Johnson's books, there have been several of her books chosen for the bookclub. 

5) Finish:: A walk with Angus, at a local beach. The water is a long way out but thankfully it's not all grassed over with muddy dunes. Angus loved running up and down on the sand. He paddles quite happily without going in the main sea. It was a cold day with plenty of frost about.
Sadly the last two photos, the sun shone through the camera lens. The pathway leads you from the carpark to the sand. The sea is visible to the eye but lost in the glare. 
 

Thank you for visiting today. 

What are you making at the moment? 
What are you reading? 
Until next time, have a good weekend x

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Craft Show & Tell - Five on Friday

Hello there, I hope you are well? If you've been following my blog for a while, I just wanted to thank you. I appreciate that it's been a bit of a stop start of regular blogging. Over the years I've struggled to feel well, I'm still trying to sort IBS issues. So with other commitments and feeling rubbish, sometimes things have slipped. I've recently found another thing that I'm intolerant too, or at least, one that I'd not thought to check on labels. In Aldi's hot chocolate there is a chemical ingredient that upsets my stomach. Google it if interested, it's called Carboxymethyl Cellulose. I knew about it in bread wraps from the Co-op, so only purchased wraps from Aldi. I was treating myself on bad days, to a nice hot chocolate. It makes me mad all this label scrutinizing.

Anyway onto nicer things. We went out for a meal on Wednesday evening to celebrate my son's 24th Birthday. Happy Birthday Nat, a favourite photo of him and Zola (his cat). To think that I once held this tall handsome young man, just like he's holding Zola - he's taller than me now and I'm 5'11". I'm proud of you teen1 Son, love you always x

This week's Five on Friday is a bit of a 'Show & Tell' 

1) A Christmas Bauble. A lady called Carole taught me to make these at the Village Craft Afternoon. It's simpler than it looks, starting at one end building up layers of folded 3" square pieces of material. Lots of pins are involved to secure each point. This one has a thin ribbon to hang it up as a decoration. 

2) Another Craft Afternoon, this time it was at a church ladies social. There were several craft options on offer to try out. Making Pom-Poms, with pattern ideas to make characters. Button necklaces, Macramé, knitting and making these Crochet Wind Spinners. There are some Youtube videos online if this interests you. They will stay in better shape if hung up and free to twirl. 

3) A simple restful portable knitting project. A washcloth, flannel or dishcloth knitted in Rico Aran 100% Cotton yarn. Front and Rear view, (not blocked). The pattern is called broken rib from this book: Knit Yourself Calm. I borrowed the book from the library. Lots of simple projects to inspire knitting to help calm.

4) A Dishcloth - For the Lent KAL (knit-a-long), following along on a Facebook Group. The official KAL was to make a shawl. I've knitted a shawl before and didn't want another, so I went for the alternative dishcloth - pattern on Ravelry. Each week is knitted in a different colour in Sirdar Happy Cotton yarn. The yarn had been donated at the church Craft Group. I will block it and probably use it as a table mat.  

5) A pair of socks for me. These caused me lots of unpicking... not surprising my husband would say. These are knitted in WYS 4 Ply, Blue Lagoon. The yarn started life being knit into a KAL shawl several years ago. It had beads along the edge, sadly I grew impatient with it, all the knots/bumpy edges you needed to add along the edge. So I unpicked it and continued my sock journey of  'improving each time.' These fit snug, though due to a difference in stitches picked up around the heel, one sock had a different finish point for decreasing. When I tried to match the row count for the feet length instead of  a measurement... it was completely too short! Cue another unpick session. Each time I knit socks, they are a better fit. I feel like I can get it right next time... I hope. Pattern on Winwick Mum's blog - Sockalong tutorial. 

I have a few projects on my needles at the moment, so I need to finish those first before I tackle another pair of socks. 

A) Knit a Helicopter - WI competition for May

B) Rainbow Cardigan - WI craft group - charity request

C) Vest - Fish & Chip jumper/vest

When I've finished these, then I can start another pair of socks, another washcloth and finish a Jacket/Cardigan. 

What are you making at the moment? 

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Five on Friday - Show & Tell

Hello there, it's good to be back, I've been catching up with blog reading. Thank you for leaving a comment on my last post. Today I'm sharing my 5 random things. I miss the days of Tricky sharing the Five on Friday Posts. Has anyone kept in touch with him and his family? Have a lovely weekend everyone. 

1) A present for Christmas: a Janie Crow crochet mug. There were no knitting or crochet kits at the local yarn store last year. So I chose a mug for myself... I love it. A quiet sit down with a mug of Redbush tea, or Rooibos as it's called in store. Morrison's own brand is the best. 

2) One Skein Chevron Scarf. I've made several of these now, this one is the widest and longest. I originally found this scarf crocheted on Thistlebear's blog... another blog sadly finished, that I miss. 
Yarn: 100% recycled wool, Kingcole Wildwood Chunky. 

Crochet hook 6.00 mm. 

Pattern is free on Ravelry. 

3) Hat practice knit, far too big... massive! I'll have to re-knit before using the expensive Alpaca yarn. I donated it to the WI charity knit tree (decorated in hats) for Christmas. Depending on the size of hats they went to babies or adults in need.
Yarn: Stylecraft DK Khaki & Meadow. 
Pattern: Patons 

4) Crochet Ottoman Cover: using up all the yarn from @attic24 Lucy's Coastal Blanket  The Coastal blanket and Moorland Blanket by attic 24 are both my favourites. The coastal cushion, I made whilst on a crochet course locally, a few years ago. 

Yarn: Stylecraft DK 
Hook: 4.00 mm 

5) Crochet Willow Square: The pattern is from Jan Eaton's book. I've seen these squares made into blankets on Mitzi's Lazy Days and Sundays blog the link shows the winter one, there is an autumn one in her Crochet ta da cloud. Maybe one day I will do more of these, for now I'll keep ticking other projects off the list first. 
Yarn: Rico DK mustard cotton.
Hook 3 or 3.5 mm

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Some of these projects were shared on my Instagram account but I thought I'd put them altogether on the blog. 
Craft wise - I'm knitting the KAL dishcloth for Advent and a pair of socks for the WI April competition. 
Reading - I'm reading Sheltering Rain by Jo Jo Moyes for the book club. 

I've lost touch with a few blogs, either they don't write any more or... who knows. If you can recommend any interesting ones that still blog, I'd be grateful. Knitting is my main interest at the moment, with a little crochet, reading and cooking too. 
I'm blogging once a week for now, any more and I'll feel swamped again.  
Thank you for stopping by to catch up.
Ttfn
Cathy x

Five on Friday

Hello there, How are you, had a good week? We've had odd days of intermittent rain in Lincolnshire. You daren't leave home without a coat. Thank you all for visiting and leaving a comment, it's good to hear from you.  

Library Books: Monday was the mobile library visit. I haven't ordered any new books this time, just returned books that I'd read. The top item is a DVD box set series of Little Women, I've not seen this before. My favourite version is (1949) with Elizabeth Taylor as Amy March, I must've seen it at least 15 times. I watched Emma Watson's version recently but didn't enjoy it as much.  

Finished: A Fatal Mistake by Faith Martin, the second in the Ryder and Loveday mystery. Probationary WPC Loveday assists Coroner Clement Ryder in more suspicious deaths, set in Oxford 1960. I'm enjoying this series, Trudy Loveday is puzzling over Dr Ryder's symptoms and wondering what they mean. He is doing his best to hide the onset of Parkinson's, whilst helping WPC Loveday to stand up for herself and be more confident. Policing at this time still lacked respect for women, who were seen as little more than tea makers. 

Books to read: this month, 2 of these are from the library. Library books can be renewed up to 6 times, which is useful, as I have other read-a-longs for this Month.
I'm reading Trouble in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope first, then Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie for the April 'Read Christie 2023'.
Also a chapter a day of The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel for the Bookclub. It's not my choice but it's nice to read different genre's, the beauty of book clubs.
If I get chance, I'll read Storm in the Village by Miss Read which is part of  the Fairacre series. Written in the first person, they are a wonderful escape.

Crochet Project: Once the initial set up row, it's a simple project of repeating the same row. I find it's an ideal project to take to Knit & Natter, no real concentration is needed, so a chance to natter. The pattern is on Ravelry, it is called One Skein Chevron Scarf. It's crocheted in aran weight yarn, however this particular yarn is chunky with one size larger crochet hook. It's 100% recycled wool and quite soft.   

Knitting Project: A KAL (Knit-a-long) Scarf for Lent, I heard about this on a friend's Instagram account. There are weekly print outs with a daily reflection, each week has a theme eg the sample was a tree which was knitted upside down. When I've finished I'm going to list all the clues, there is 1 week left to finish off. 

Beautiful Glasses: and a spoon holder for cooking, purchased today from Boyes in town. After a glass broke, I had a look in town for a new one... and came home with 2 different ones. There was limited choice in stock but below is a leaflet of other designs. Aren't they just gorgeous! 

I like the tulips, blue gerbera and probably most of the others designs too! They are quite tall and wide, larger than a tumbler but not as tall as a high ball glasses. There were gin glasses too like these, they are all hand painted. The Daffodil stock and gin glasses aren't with these floral glasses, I wish things were altogether in shops. 

This afternoon Johnny and I planted out some hyacinth bulbs that weren't too happy inside on the windowsill. All the ones growing outside have flowered beautifully. We also tidied up the edge of the grass on the driveway, it was spreading a bit. Then we spread some woodchip on the rutted up grass/clay soil front garden, that serves as extra parking spaces. Eventually it will be a proper driveway with shingle for drainage.

Bye for now, enjoy the weekend
Cathy  

From the photo gallery - ing

Hello there, How are you all, thank you for your comments on my last post, it's good to hear from you. 
I've not taken any photos this week except for a few on my phone. Whilst browsing the phone gallery, I saw a few projects that were posted on Instagram. I thought it'd be nice to see them here. 

Looking: a photo of  Angus aged 4 years old, taken last year. He's staring into my eyes, so it must be biscuit time. We've since had a stove fire put in which is lovely and warm. It's great for drying washing overnight and warming sleeping dogs.

Decluttering: This week I've cleared out the food cupboards, I blame the supermarkets stock issues. Most of my shopping is done at Aldi with the poultry shop, butchers and a few other shops in town for the rest. When items have gone out of stock, they've been unavailable for so long. Sometimes items came back in store but quickly sold out again. Eventually the items have filled the shelves but it caused me to grab 3 or 4 instead of 1 or 2. I struggled to find things in the food cupboard or things would fall out into Angus' water bowl. Now the cupboards have less in, I can find things again. I took these 2 bags to the outreach in town, they'll be divided up into food parcels.  

Reading: I've finished a library book, yay! 1 down 9 more to go I think. One is a library ebook - Mercy by Jodi Picoult, that's my next read. The Word is Murder is first in a 4 part series, it was a good story with lots of revelations. I'm going to read the others eventually but not yet! Too many books in the pile just now. 

Looking: this way and that, never at me long enough to snap a picture. I often pass the horses when walking Angus. 

Crocheting: The Willow Square, pattern in this book and first seen on Mitzi's blog. I've got 4 or 5 more matching cotton yarn balls in modern colours. I've always admired this pattern square and wanted to try it. The square will languish in my craft store for now, whilst I complete other projects. 

2) One Skein Scarf pattern on Ravelry, it's crocheted in one thread yellow bamboo yarn and one thread WYS Marie Curie daffodil yarn - bought online with a required donation.  

3) Crocheted Twirley from the church ladies craft night last year. There are some patterns on youtube, easy to do - putting extra stitches in the next rows, the row is pulled round into a twirl. 

                                                                                                               

Knitting: A Katia sparkly shawl, all finished. It took a while to sort out the pattern, it's from a chart with a few sentences and nothing more. An ebook finish from the library, another of Rebecca Tope's Cotswold series. Thea Osbourne is a widow who takes up housesitting to ease her loneliness at home. She takes her trusty spaniel Hepzie to all her different commissions. Bizarrely, somebody always dies in mysterious circumstances on the house sits. Developing relationships in the series makes reading the books in order best.

2) I couldn't get on with this library book, I love Miss Marple, have even knitted 3 Miss Marple scarves, but I'm not a lover of short stories. I read a few and flicked through the rest on a speed read. This blue yarn scarf was a present for my Great Aunt's Christmas present. 

Waiting: Knitting socks in WYS blue lagoon 4 ply yarn. The pattern is another of Winwick Mum's Supersocks.  These are languishing in a craft bag at the moment. I finished Debbie Macomber's The Christmas Spirit book at Christmas time. A job swap to change characters. 

2) Another project waiting in the craft bag, this is another chunky knit cardigan. I knitted a red one a few years ago in James Brett Marble yarn. This one is the same yarn in a different colour blend. I think this will be the last chunky knit I make, as I prefer DK yarn. 

Chipping: I'm going to adopt a top tip I read from Christina's blog recently... consistent 30 minutes a day to chip away at finishing projects. 

                                               

Cooking: Dinner last month, a basic layered dish that I saw on Instagram. Fry to soften your chosen ingredients such as mince to brown, onion/garlic/carrots/celery/pepper, tom puree and tin chopped tomatoes, season and add beans and pulses if wanted or sweetcorn. Cook for around 20 minutes in the pan, then place half in a greased oven dish, take 3x tortilla wraps and spread Ricotta Cheese on them. Lay the first one cheese side down on top of the cooked mince mixture. Layer up with mince mixture and repeat with wraps, the last wrap cheese side up. Top it with grated cheese and bake for 30 - 40 mins at 180'c. 
It's like a lasagne without all the sauce and pasta, very tasty.
You could make this up as a chilli and it will still taste great. I will definitely make this again.  

Thank you for stopping by, do leave a comment. 
Have you any projects languishing in craft bags? 
Ttfn
Cathy x