Sticks and Stones

I know I need to do some posts on my own stuff but I really am spending my time doing this lovely test knit - next week I will be back to posting a bit more often…. I hope.  This post is just to drop in and exclaim, “Mel, you are amazing!”.  I was just over at Homespun Living and read about Rhonda Jean’s tote swap and saw the ingenious tote Mel sewed by HAND!  Go you girl, that is such a great feat!  Seriously, go check it out!  I don’t think my machine would cope sewing denim let alone doing it by hand…..very very impressed!

Got to go knit sleeves…..

Hi All

I just thought I’d write this up quickly to let you all know that some good friends of ours - my garden gurus in fact - have just put out their new catalogue of fruit trees that they grow and graft themselves.  Now is the time to get ready for Winter planting.

You may remember that they gifted me some apples when we lived in Melbourne - I am going back in Winter to dig them up and bring them to our new home!

This year they are selling a range of nut trees, citrus, kiwi fruit, gooseberries and currants as well as a wide range of their standard deciduous fruit tree offerings.  They are a small, family and home based business and rely on word of mouth referrals.  If you are a member of a permaculture group, gardening or seed savers club have a look at their catalogue and distribute it far and wide.  Also, if you think your local market is fantastic and you would like to see them there this winter let them know and they’ll see what they can arrange.

They are in the process of developing a website www.yalcafruittrees.com.au, but this is not up and running yet.   Note that they don’t send their trees over to WA due quaranten restrictons.  In the meantime, email them at camandtan[at]bigpond[dot]com[dot]au (replace the words in square brackets with appropriate symbol) and ask for the catalogue, it is great!  If you do request a catalogue, tell them where you heard about them so they know how far they are reaching!

Thanks, I hope you all go and buy a food producing plant!

So much seems to have happened since my Computer SOS post but then so little as well!  I now have my Macbook back and running so I am feeling a little more in control but, I have not had time to upload photos or write about much of consequence.  I feel very much like things are 2 steps forward and 1.5 steps back so that there are only small incremental changes in my life….slowly slowly.

On the knitting front:

Sophie’s Jumper is up to attaching the buttons

2 Calorimetry’s are completed and ready to be gifted

Sam’s vest only needs the neck band and 1 sleeve band

1 sock for Pete is almost complete with only about 2 inches to go til I do the toe

ribbed wrap cardigan for me has not progressed at all

The reason most of this remains unfinished is that I have been working on a “test” knit for LilyGo .  It’s the Simple Cable Cardigan and I am really enjoying knitting it.  It keeps my interest as it progresses and being knit from the top down I know how it looks and it looks great!  I have about 8cm left on the body then I only have to pick up the sleeves and the front bands, sew on the buttons and photograph it.  I am really looking forward to wearing it and had hoped it would be finished for when we go to Melbourne this coming week but it wont be done til tomorrow week.  I highly recommend this pattern - I know I am test knitting it but it’s an unpaid service so I feel I can promote it without bias - it is fun and everyone comments on the lovely cabling  Lily has incorporated.

Having done one of Lily’s patterns I fully intend to try some more at a later date but for now I have enough to finish up and I am feeling inspired enough to unravel Wicked and have another go…….when I buy a ball winder that is! 

My Macbook is playing up for the second time in 12 months and it’s fair to say I am NOT happy! This time it’s not charging up….got to take it in on the weekend for servicing so no computer for a couple of weeks now….happy knitting, spinning, sewing and gardening til it’s repaired!