Boring Post

This is SSSS #7.

It's nice.

Haven't really got a lot more to say than that.

Gosh, this is a boring post.

Wanna see a picture of our new cat pen? No, not really, thank you?... Tough.



















Here it is before DH installed a few perching shelves. Access is through an open window in the utility room.

The girls have always been indoor cats. This was one of the requirements of the rescue centre we got them from and also the only practical option as we used to live upstairs in a block of maisonettes. When we moved here we promised them a pen so they could enjoy some fresh air and a spot of bird watching.

If you look closely you can see Beastie sitting on the (temporary) table and Tinkle mooching around on the ground at the back. The next morning I opened the window for them before I did anything else - now if I don't do it first thing, or dare to close it during the day, they kick up a fuss. On the other hand, it took Sasha 6 days to work up the nerve to go out in it, bless her little timid heart.

FGX Update

Time again to show off the latest lovely squares I've received as part of the Crochet Partners Friendship Granny Exchange (FGX). Where I've been able to locate the pattern online I've added the link.

Clockwise from top left:

Amber Waves from Texas, USA;

hot pink and peacock variegated from Nebraska, USA;

Friendship Jewel 7" from Pennsylvania, USA;

cream/pink/cream from Arizona, USA;

4-Patch Granny from Texas, USA (similar pattern here);

eight-petal flower square from Wisconsin, USA.




And I've sent out:

Off-Kilter Granny to New York, USA;

Amber Waves to Pennsylvania, USA;

Frilly Flower to Ontario, Canada;

Circle of Friends to Illinois, USA;

Heart Square to Ohio, USA;

Chain Link Granny (my design based on an afghan I saw, pattern to follow) to Arizona, USA.




If you've sent me a square and you don't see it here, don't worry - when I get another half-dozen or so I'll post more pics.

Fresh Snow

In an earlier Snowflake Monday post I showed off my competition winning snowflake design (yes, in a field of two - ok, ok, moving on). As promised, here is the pattern. Since first working this flake I've redesigned the centre slightly.

Crystal Snowflake
(American notation)

Picot = work stated number of chains, slst in furthest chain from hook.

Rnd 1) Ch2, 6sc in 2nd ch from hk, join w slst to top of beg sc.

Rnd 2) Working in bl only: ch1, sc in same st, ch2, sc in same st, (sc, ch2, sc) in ea sc around, join w slst to top of beg sc.

Rnd 3) Slst into ch2-sp, ch3, dc in same sp, ch7, (2dc in nxt ch2-sp, ch7) around, join w slst to top of beg ch3.

Rnd 4) *Ch3, 5ch-picot, 6ch-picot, 8ch-picot, 6ch-picot, slst in base of prev 6ch-picot, 5ch-picot, slst in base of prev 5ch-picot, ch3, slst in nxt dc, ch4, tr in same dc, hdc in ch7 loop, tr in nxt dc, ch4, slst in same dc, rep from * around, working last tr and ch4 in same dc as beg ch3.

Copyright © 2007, Judy M Kerr. All Rights Reserved.

Please let me know if I've messed this up anywhere.



ETA: There's another pattern here if you're interested.

Snowflake...

...Monday


This is pattern #6 from the simplysnowflakes Snowflake Signup.

The first round called for 24sc in a 6ch ring, then in the next round you had to work a stitch in each of these stitches. Tight! Too tight, in fact, so I worked 12sc instead and then 2sc in sc between each cluster instead of 3sc in all.

I don't think it made any appreciable difference. Except to my eyesight.

Saturday Sky with Lighthouse - Part 2

The Low Lighthouse in Harwich, with the High Lighthouse in the background.

Ships approaching the harbour in the 1800's would align the lights of these two lighthouses to steer a safe course up the channel. Over time the channel shifted and these lights became redundant in 1863, replaced by the Leading Lights further west along the shore in Dovercourt.



The Low Lighthouse is now the home of the Harwich Maritime Museum.

Want some lime with that?

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced --- Relaxed --- Flexible
Compassionate --- Philosophical --- Humble
Loyal --- Inventive --- Unique

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Melting Snow

SSSS #5

This snowflake picture was not taken on my customary blue background because a) it didn't fit - even made with #20 cotton this sucker is 8½" across and b) I don't like it and I'm not keeping it. It's blocked but not stiffened and I haven't even cut the thread - I just airbrushed it out of the photo.

That is the one slight drawback with these sorts of sign-ups - you sometimes have to make things you don't like in order to get the next pattern. Still, this is the first one I've really disliked so I can't complain.

But I can recycle my thread.