Garland

We do not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, 
but by making the darkness conscious.

-- Carl Jung

Has it been 5 years?

We miss you Roi. Peace and Love.

Roi Ankhara Kwabena

23/7/1956 - 9/1/2008

Fiona Apple

How has it taken me so long to discover this girl?!?

Lyrics | Fiona Apple lyrics - Never Is A Promise lyrics

I heard Hot Knife a few weeks back, thought it was brilliant, loved her voice and have only just gotten around to checking her out. I've just spent about three hours watching videos of her performances and interviews. Fiona Apple rocks!

If you like this video you might like to hear the studio version - less raw and immediate but it showcases her gorgeous voice.

Walled Garden Square (maybe)

Correction update 28 Jun 2022 -

Tiffany D spotted that I'd missed stating "in blo" in parts of rounds 4 and 6. Thank you, Tiffany! 

Correction update 10 Aug 2020 -

"Unknown" (I'm hoping to get their name so I can credit them properly) spotted a problem with round 5. Mega-apologies to all those who've reached out to me in the past saying they were having trouble with that round... Now I can see why! Thank you so much, Unknown! 

Way back before personal computers and easy access to photocopiers and scanners, the only way to get a copy of a pattern was to write it out by hand.

I found one such hand-written pattern in my "old" pattern folder (pre-1986). No name, no picture, obviously, but a quick scan of the instructions showed it to be a granny square of some type.

Curious, I whipped one up. And it turned out quite pretty.

I have no idea if I copied this pattern from a book or made it up myself. It would have been done over 25 years ago and I have troubling remembering yesterday! I searched the Ravelry pattern database without success and made enquiries amongst the members - no one (so far) could come up with a source.

So, I'm sharing the pattern with you all here. If anyone does recognise it - perhaps from an afghan pattern rather than as a single square - do please let me know, so I can attribute it properly!

Walled Garden Square

(amended 10 Jun 12 - thank you Scraplyn!)

• US terms 
• DK + G hook = 6” (bearing in mind I crochet loosely) but you can use what you like
• Beg Cluster = ch 3, *yo, insert hook in ch-1 sp, yo, pull thru, yo, pull thru 2 loops on hook, rpt from * 3 times, yo, pull thru 5 loops on hook
• Cluster = *yo, insert hook in ch-1 sp, yo, pull thru, yo, pull thru 2 loops on hook, rpt from * 4 times, yo, pull thru 6 loops on hook
• blo = back loop only
• Crossed DC = skip one hdc, dc in next hdc, dc in skipped hdc

Ch 5, join w slst to form ring.

1)  ch 4, (dc in ring, ch 1) x 7, join w slst in 3^rd ch of beg ch-4.  = 8 dc, 8 ch-1 sp

2)  slst into ch-1 sp, Beg Cluster (see above), ch 5, Cluster (see above), ch 5, (Cluster, ch 5) x 6, join w slst to top of Beg Cluster.  = 8 Clusters, 8 ch-5 sp

3)  slst into ch-5 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, 4 dc in next ch-5 sp, *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-5 sp, 4 dc in next ch-5 sp, rpt from * 2 times, join w slst to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3.  = 40 dc, 4 ch-2 sp

4)  ch 2, 2 hdc in blo, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in ch-2 sp, *10 hdc in blo, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in ch-2 sp, rpt from * 2 times, 7 hdc in blo, join w slst to 2^nd ch of beg ch-2.  = 56 hdc, 4 ch-2 sp

5)  slst into next hdc 2 hdc, ch 3, dc back into join at end of prev round prev hdc (= Beg Crossed DC), Crossed DC, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp, *Crossed DC x 7, (dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp, rpt from * x 2, Crossed DC x 5, join w slst to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3.  = 28 Crossed DC, 8 dc, 4 ch-2 sp

NB. You should have only 2 Crossed DC before turning the first corner.

6)  ch 2, 4 hdc in blo, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in ch-2 sp, *16 hdc in blo, (2 hdc, ch 2, 2 hdc) in ch-2 sp, rpt from * 2 times, 11 hdc in blo, join w slst to 2^nd ch of beg ch-2. Finish off. = 80 hdc, 4 ch-2 sp

-- Judy M Kerr ©2012

Please email me if you find a mistake (or two) or have any problems. :-)

Fridgie Butterfly

Back in the early 80's a friend showed me a butterfly fridgie she'd been given. I thought it was really cute so I studied it and wrote out a rough pattern.

I've recently started making squares for SIBOL - Sunshine International Blankets of Love - and their "symbol" is crocheted butterflies. It reminded me that I had this pattern languishing in my collection.

I can't claim it as an original idea but I've never come across another pattern for it (similar but not quite the same), so I'd like to share it. If anyone does know the source please let me know.


Fridgie Butterfly

Yarn and hook of your choice

A small fridgie-type magnet
Craft glue

Pipe cleaner (optional)

Notes:

·    US  terms

·    Ch 3 for the beginning dc of rounds 1 and 2

·    Picot = ch 4, slst in 4^th ch from hook

·    Your work will be very ripply – this is normal and will flatten out when you fold your butterfly in half

Wings:

Ch 6, join w slst to form ring.

1)  (3 dc in ring, ch 1) x 8, join w slst to top of beg dc.

2)  slst to next ch-1 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in each ch-1 sp, join w slst to top of beg dc.

3)  Ch 1, sc over slst just made (i.e. in the gap btw the last and first 3-dc shells), (4 dc, picot, ch 1, 4 dc) in ch-1 sp, sc btw next two 3-dc shells, *(4 dc , ch 1, 4 dc) in ch-1 sp, sc btw next two 3-dc shells*,  repeat btw * x 5, (4 dc, picot, ch 1, 4 dc) in ch-1 sp, join w slst in beg sc, FO leaving a long tail for sewing up.

Antennas:

*Ch 9, slst in hump of 2^nd ch from hook and next 7 ch, repeat from * once, FO leaving both tails for tying off.

Body:

Weave in beginning tail. Fold the butterfly in half, with the two picot “wings” forming the bottom pair of the butterfly with the yarn tail between. Place the antennas at the top of the wings, tucking the tails inside. Stitch up the centre of the butterfly and over the middle of the antennas to secure them, then stitch back down again. Repeat once and FO. Knot the antenna tails together and cut off close. Glue the magnet to the back and voilà! - one butterfly fridgie.

Alternatively, leave a shorter ending tail, weave it in, omit the crocheted antennas and use a pipe cleaner (p.c.) for the “body” and “antennas” –

Fold the p.c. in half and position the fold at the top of the wings (i.e. at the head).

Keeping the two halves parallel, wrap the p.c. down over the middle of the wings and up the underside.

Bring the ends up through the loop formed by the original fold at the top.

Press the p.c. “body” flat, adjust the antennas and give them a little curl.

-- Judy M Kerr ©2012

As always, if you spot any goofs please email me. Thanks!

Peace Granny Square - Reverse V-Stitch deciphered

I've had several people contact me saying they were having trouble understanding the Reverse V-Stitch instructions. I thought it best to post my reply here and put a link in the pattern.

Thanks so much for contacting me. In hindsight, Reverse V-stitch may have been a poor choice of name – Upside-down V-stitch is more accurate. Perhaps if I write that round out “longhand” it will be a little clearer...  

Rnd 7) With B: sc in beginning ch3 of the previous round, ch 2, (skip next stitch, sc in next stitch, ch 2) x 3, *skip next stitch, #yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through two loops on hook (2 loops will remain on hook), yarn over, skip next stitch, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, yarn over, pull through two loops on hook, yarn over, pull through 3 loops on hook (Reverse V-stitch complete)#, ch 2, (dc in same stitch as last dc, ch 2) x 2, repeat between #s starting in same stitch as last dc, (ch 2, skip next stitch, sc in next stitch) x 6, ch 2, repeat from * around, join with slip stitch to beginning sc. = 40 ch2 spaces

I hope this helps. If it's still as clear as mud please don't hesitate to contact me. Happy hooking!

Garland

...Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt, crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;...

-- from Write it on your heart, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Springtime

First a howling blizzard woke us,

Then the rain came down to soak us,

And now before the eye can focus -

Crocus.

-- Lilja Rogers

Garland

With Whom is no Variableness, Neither Shadow of Turning

It fortifies my soul to know

That, though I perish, Truth is so:

That, howsoe'er I stray and range,

Whate'er I do, Thou dost not change.

I steadier step when I recall

That, if I slip, Thou dost not fall.

-- Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861)

I found a newspaper cutting of this in my late father's wallet. I like it.

SOPA/PIPA

But keep an eye on ICANN, too.

Live a good life

Live a good life.

If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care

how devout you have been,

but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by.

If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them.

If there are no gods, then you will be gone,

but will have lived a noble life that will live on

in the memories of your loved ones.

-- Marcus Aurelius

Roi lives on in our memories.

Roi Ankhara Kwabena

23/7/1956 - 9/1/2008

Garland

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

-- from Anthem by Leonard Cohen

Fliplife!

Ok. It's official. I am a sad geek with no life.

The warning signs were there when I declared my devotion to Real Park. But now there is no denying I have no real life... because I have a Fliplife!

I expect there are a few acronyms I could toss out at this point so that the cognoscenti would know exactly what sort of set up Fliplife is, but I've never played anything like this before so I don't know the lingo.

I've seen it described as a cross between The Sims and Farmville (I have only a vague knowledge of either, so I really couldn't say). Whatever it is, I'm enjoying it thoroughly!

The game play seems perplexingly pointless at first but as you progress it all starts to make sense and becomes deliciously challenging.

You choose a "career" and then work to gain "cash" and "flips", which can be spent in the "shop" (what self-respecting avatar doesn't want to be seen in the latest fashion?) , on "training" to increase your earning power or on recreational activities that allow you to regain energy and build endurance.

Working as part of a "team" builds your "friends" base; working with friends increases your bonuses - win-win!

I'm probably explaining this really badly but let's just say I'm totally addicted and I'm hoping you'll give it a try and get sucked in too. The more the merrier!

Update 6 Nov 11: Here's my personal invitation link. I'd love to see you there!

A walk in the Park

First of all, I should point out that a lot of the time I'm 50-something going on 12.

With that established, I want to tell you about my latest Favourite Thing.

For the longest time I've been scouring the internet for a 3D virtual reality to play with. Not one of those "games" where I'd have to kill monsters or race cars or scale sheer cliffs or do anything like that. Or do anything at all! Just somewhere that I could wander around and explore. Somewhere calm and restful and pleasant to be.

I've found it!

Real Park - free from Schillergames.

Wander around, ride the train, go for a swim, chat with other visitors to the park (or not - you can visit offline) or just sit on a bench, watch the sunset and listen to the birds twitter.

At the moment, all visitors are blue-jeaned males with their nicknames emblazoned on their white tops, but different characters and wardrobe options are in the pipeline.

Hope to see you there!

Things that go munch in the night

We'd known for some time that we had a fox visiting our garden in the night.

He first came to our attention last December when he appeared a couple of time at dusk, helping himself to the crispies put out for the birds - "crispies" being the bits of batter that break off when you deep-fry fish. They are skimmed off and discarded, but our local chippie is good enough to save bags of them for us.

When we told them about our latest diner they started putting in the odd piece of fish and battered sausage - bits that had sat too long under the warmer - and these we left out for Foxy after dark. They were usually all gone by about 2 in the morning.

Naturally, the staff at the chippie hoped we'd have pictures... So we decided to treat ourselves to a trail camera, and were lucky enough to have success straight away.

That's a great lump of battered cod in his mouth. :-)

Yes, we'd known about the fox.

What we hadn't known about was this guy:

A European Badger - generally more placid than his North American cousin (unless threatened, then watch out!) and quite willing to visit peoples' gardens if food is on offer.

Chuffed to bits we were! We now put peanuts out as well as fish. Boy, does he love peanuts!

Here's a few more nice photos:

Peanuts! Nom, nom, nom...

What is that light?

Ah, and this is Blue, our outdoor cat. We get lots of shots of him and his little feline friends.

Garland

Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.

-- Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words)

It's a Hard Life

Remembering Roi

Roi Ankhkara Kwabena
23 July 1956 - 9 January 2008

There's a wonderful video by Maximilian Forte of Zero Anthropology, of Roi's powerful poem Obeah Man* -

"Deep Obeah". Enjoy!

*from Whether or Not (text) and Y42K (spoken word)

We've got snow!

Yes, I'm one of those people who actually loves it when it snows.


This lot was dumped on us in 5 hours yesterday evening.


Ok, my former neighbours in Winnipeg will be saying, "You call that snow?"

But this area of the country rarely gets any snow, never mind this much.


And this is our second batch. The first arrived back in November.
Unheard of!

"Wot is it, Mummy?"

Garland

I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.

-- Groucho Marx (1890-1977)