Rainy Days

Honestly, I just don't know where the time goes to? It's been almost 3 weeks already since my last post and I haven't got anywhere near as much done as planned. Not helped by having to be driven home by my boss from work the day I went back to work after being off from my asthma attack. I only lasted a few hours. It was not good. I knew I wasn't right but just couldn't believe how long it was taking to get back to normal. I was seeing the doc anyway the following day and she was great. So now on stronger steroid nasal spray and stronger antihistamines. They have made a difference thankfully and I actually managed to stay at work the last 2 weeks. I've been exhausted after, not surprisingly. I've also bought an air purifier for home - basically if it helps even slightly it will be worth it. I'm still on max asthma & hayfever meds and it would be so nice to reduce them..........

++++STR sock kit spoiler alert++++

My STR kit was late this time as it got held in San Francisco for no apparent reason for 5 days. How annoying is that? So I had to avoid blogland till mine arrived as I so hate spoilers. Luckily mine was one of the first to arrive in the UK after its vacation in SF and it is just wonderful. I love it, love the pattern and the colours are just so bright and cheery. I would say summery but with all the flooding going on in the UK its feeling far from summery!

I even managed to finish my rude Monsoon socks before the new kit arrived and am so pleased with them. I've even tested them out in trainers and they were very comfy indeed. I thought they may be a little loose for trainers and become house socks (which I would have been most pleased about) but they were perfect and oh so cushy. I am so pleased I joined the club. It has been so worth it ;)

Whilst hunting for a replacement DPN that DH broke on hol I stumbled across a great find - a site in the US offering free international shipping for orders over $35 that don't contain heavy items like mags and books. I was hunting for a supplier that had all the Crystal Bamboo DPNs I needed that didn't charge extortionate shipping costs. So to find one that had a free shipping offer was truly amazing. I placed my order and got an email a few hours later to say the items in stock had been shipped the the OOS items would be shipped as soon as they arrive. I knew not all the items were available but had expected the order to be held until ready. So to hear part of my order was on its way was just well, the most amazing and unexpected customer service. The fab store concerned is The Yarn and Fiber Company and they have lots of lovely goodies to tempt us with. The needles arrived the same day as the STR kit turned up. Oh it was such a good day that day ;)

Until now I didn't even know Crystal Palace made 9" bamboo straights but as soon as I saw them knew I had to have some for the lace shrug I'm making so very little progress on. I thought the lace would be easier and I was right, it just slides off these needles. They're an unusual length but perfect for this project. I still hate knitting lace though and only time will tell if this shrug ever gets the back finished, never mind the rest of it!

Foxglove has progressed a little - the knitting has all been finished, its pressed and the sleeve heads are sew in. Its starting to look lovely and actually a lot easier to visualise what sort of edging would be best now its starting to resemble something wearable. It never ceases to surprise me that all these flat bits of knitting can become a real garment......

Even though Thunder tried laying on it to stop me working on it I have another FO. Yup my Crochet Bag is finished and is gorgeous. I thought I wouldn't be using it quite yet, but its actually perfect for this rainy weather. I used 2 shades of Big Wool and one of Point 5.

Kitsch has been perfect for this lousy weather too and finally I have a photo of me wearing her. She is fabulous. Even if I do say so myself ;)

I've been destashing quite a bit of sock yarn on Ebay and I'm quite pleased as I knew I'd never use it. I'm too much in love with my STR to spend hours on a standard sock yarn. I know, I'm such a terrible yarn snob ;)



Here's a photo of my purchases from my last Get Knitted trip I mentioned last post. I love the Rectangular Shawl pattern and the Blue Sky Alpaca Handspun Organic Cotton is such a fantastic yarn. Of course the yarn isn't for the pattern, in fact I've no idea what its for yet. But I just had to have it!

I've bought no other yarn supplies though I went to both the House of Fraser and John Lewis sales. Except for some Rowan buttons that were 10p each at HoF. There was nothing else that screamed 'buy me' so I didn't. Quite good really.

Poor Chilli was recovering really well from having his toe bitten off by Roo. I'd been putting tea tree oil on it which he does not like one bit but is good for him so thats that. Due to his wound we couldn't let him have his sandbath for about 10 days and boy did he miss it. When we finally put it back he wouldn't stop going in and out of it for ages. Bless ;) But now the wound has swollen up. Possibly from sand! So we went to the vets and now he's on antibiobtics for 3 weeks. Hopefully it is an infection, as it will need to be amputated if it doesn't go down. The vet did think they're might be a bit of bone protruding thats causing the trouble........but fingers crossed the meds work. After Chilli nearly died twice when being neuteured, anything involving surgery is a huge risk for him :(

Roo got a very good talking too and isn't allowed anywhere near Chilli's cage. We're now letting Chilli out first so that he gets tired and lays down away from the front of the cage whilst Roo and Roxy are out.

We've now got an oven that works! It wasn't the cheapest of repairs not helped by the repair man managing to break both the lamp and the lamp cover. Of course they would deny all knowledge so I ordered it online only to find the lamp blew as soon as DH put it in. So another is on the way. Amazing how much these 2 little items cost too. Expecially when you compare it to STR ;)

The car insurance saga is settled and I got some vouchers which I spent on a PSP game, Ratchet & Clank which I'm now quite addicted too. The hours that can be wasted on game playing is unreal. But its fun while it lasts ;)

I know I keep saying it but I really will try and sort some of my holiday photos out......