Dear God...

Crane Flies*...

WHY?!?

*Tipula paludosa, known in our household as Clunk Bugs because they're useless fliers and when they get in your house they bumble about and "clunk" into everything. For those of you not familiar with these little darlings, the body alone is over an inch long. Then there's those legs! EEEeeeeekkkk!!!

Woodpigeons Again

Remember the woodpigeons I introduced you to in this post? The babies - teenagers now, I suppose - still pass through our garden occasionally.

Well, about a week ago I spotted Mrs Woodpigeon inspecting the old nest, pulling a twig here, prodding a twig there. Then Mr Woodpigeon arrived with a new twig... Could they be nesting again? In September?

Since then, when I looked, more often than not Mrs W was sitting on the nest. Final confirmation came today. I was in the middle of cleaning the bathroom - the nest can best be seen from the bathroom window - when I spotted Mrs W "fussing" with something in the nest. She had her back to me and I couldn't see much but I waited. Finally she shuffled around the other way and I could clearly she her rolling a bright, white egg into position.

More babies on the way! I just hope the weather holds for them.

Update 30/9/08: Sad news. After checking several times over the last few days I have come to the conclusion that the nest has been abandoned. No sign of Mr or Mrs W. Perhaps the eggs were infertile. Or perhaps the magpies paid a visit. All the to'ing and fro'ing with the previous brood stripped many of the leaves from the surrounding branches making the nest much more visible. Our weather has now turned wet and chilly - not ideal naked chick* raising weather - so maybe it's just as well.

*I wonder how many hits I'm gonna get from that word combination!

International Crochet Day

Today is International Crochet Day - as first declared last year by our beloved crochet hook artiste Jimbo.

http://jimbosfrontporch.blogspot.com/2007/08/contest-im-giving-this-hook-away.html

...I have thought for a long time now that the art of crochet and those who practice the art deserve some significant recognition. And so in my great power as the Ruthless Tyrant of my vast hook empire have decided to declare that Sept 12, 2007 will be a Holiday that I'm cleverly calling "International Crochet Day". I'm giving everyone who works for me (ME) a day off. You just go ahead and take the day off too.... tell'em Jimbo said it's ok (see where that gets you!)

In honour of this great day I am sharing this:

I was so thrilled when Patti Sandlin sent me this picture of the blanket she made using my Peace Granny Square pattern. What a feeling of pride, LOL! And hasn't she done a wonderful job? I just love all the colours.

I'm so pleased Patti liked the pattern enough to put all that effort in and then take the time to contact me. I love crochet and I love crocheters. And today is our day! Happy Hooking!

Long time no flake

Ten Mondays have passed since I last made a Snowflake Monday post. That's because almost that much time has passed since I made a snowflake. But the arrival of September made me aware that Christmas is not all that far off.

The first flake is Snowflake No.11 from ASN Crocheted Snowflakes by Mary Thomas #1025(25).










The second is Snowflake No.2 from ASN More Snowflakes by Mary Thomas #1038 (go Mary!).









Three more to go and I'll have one gift dozen out of the way. Then, hopefully, I'll be able to make a few more for myself this year.

Garden Visitors

One of the joys of moving here was to finally have a garden and to discover all the little critters that call in from time to time.

This fella (Common Frog) has taken up residence in DH's timber pile behind the workshop. I jumped almost as far as he did when I disturbed him. Well, he is a big frog... and I wasn't expecting him... {blush}

This little guy (Grey Dagger Moth caterpillar), on the other hand, is slowly and peacefully munching his way through our damson tree. The moth he will eventually become is quite plain but right now he's very colourful. And check out those spikes!

I wish I could get close enough to get a picture of the two baby Woodpigeons in our neighbours' cherry tree. Their wings are feathering up nicely but their heads and bodies are still just grey "chicken skin" with a wispy covering of fluff. They're so ugly they're cute!

Update 27/8/08: The pigeon babies have graduated to flapping around the tree.
Update 29/8/08: The babies have flown the nest are are currently hanging out in our willow.If you look about a quarter of the way down the left side you can just make out the dark grey back of the second (camera shy) baby.

Time for another update

My love of the CrochetPartners Friendship Granny Exchange (FGX) continues unabated.

Here are some of the squares I've received recently:

1) Gothic Square; 2) Basic Granny; 3) #29 from LA 99 Granny Squares to Crochet #3078; 4) Heather's Flowers

And here are a few I've sent:

1) Woven Marvel from ASN Definitely Different Afghans #1288; 2) Asymetrical Log Cabin (alternate sc and dc rows around a centre "granny's daughter" with colour changes after varying numbers of rows. The asymetry is more noticeable in a larger square); 3) Gothic Square; 4) Christmas Tree Square (no really, there are four trees in fact. Squint!) The recipient stated a preference for Christmas themed squares. My own design - I'll write it up if anyone's interested. I may do it even if you're not interested. Ha!

I'm about 10 squares away from my single-bed-sized afghan. It's so exciting! Well, it is for me. You wait 'til you see it - it's going to be a stunner!

If you're mad about crochet (like me) I recommend you join CrochetPartners - a great crochet community and resource - then get yourself signed up for the granny exchange. And drop me a line if you do. The more the merrier!

Wake us when it's Summer

It's July.

It's 15 degrees outside, peeing with rain, has been all day, not expected to get any better for the foreseeable future.

This is what the girls think of it:

ThisClose!

DH and I went for a walk today,

from Beaumont Quay around to Landermere (only about a mile each way). Very nice it was, too. Sunny with a cooling breeze, lots of shorebirds to see, no one else around.

But the best bit was on the way back, about 100 yards from the car.
A baby bunny on the footpath -


Close -


Very close -


This close!!!


It had no fear of us at all. It was so tiny - we were probably the very first
what-the-heck-is-that?s it had ever seen.

Eventually instinct kicked in and it decided it probably shouldn't be hanging around us and scurried off into the bushes.

Late Snow

Surprise! Another Snowflake Monday post - just when you'd given up hope.

Nothing new here - these are flakes I've blogged about before. The left-hand one is by Noel Nevins. If you're already a member of CrochetSnowflakes you can access the pattern, otherwise, sorry, but no one's moderating the group at the moment so you wouldn't be able to join. And the right-hand one is from LA Thread Tree Trims leaflet 2836.

Peace Granny

UPDATE - 10 Aug 16: OMG! We have a video tutorial! Thank you Nadia of YARNutopia!
UPDATE - 14 Aug 12: NOW WITH CHART!!
The fabulous Isabelle (FilACroche on Ravelry) set about making a chart for her own use - clever girl! - and then very generously allowed me to post it here for everyone!
UPDATE - 17 May 12: Having trouble with the RVS in round 7? Try the "longhand" version posted here. 
UPDATE - 29 May 11: a schematic for rounds 1 and 2 has been added - the stitches are shown "flat" for clarity but you'll be working in the round. I hope it helps with that fiddly round 2!

Some time back a member of Crochet Partners posted that she was looking for a peace symbol granny square pattern. Somehow it caught my imagination, and this was the result.

Seeing the picture of it now, I think the square would benefit from a wider border, but at the time I was just trying to knock something up quickly to fill a need. It came out 10" for me (I crochet loosely) but it would be a simple thing to add rounds to bring it up to any size you like.

Peace Sign Granny Square
(American Notation)

Worsted weight - Colours A and B
H hook

FL= front loop
BL = back loop
RVS =
Reverse V-stitch: work 2dctog, skipping 1 st btw first and second dc. Click here for more details.

Changing colours: with last 2 loops of dc still on hook, drop first colour and complete stitch with second colour. Carry colours across the back of the work, catching under a stitch if they get a bit long, or work completely over them throughout.

With A: Ch 4 and join to form a ring (or use a Magic Ring).

Rnd 1) ch 1, work 12 sc in ring, join with slst in FL of beg sc.

Rnd 2) ch 3, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of next st. With B (first colour change - see note above): dc in back loop (BL) of same st, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st, dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st. With A: dc in FL of same st, dc in nxt st, dc in FL of nxt st. With B: dc in BL of same st, dc in same st (both loops), 2 dc in nxt st, dc in BL of same st as beg ch3, join with slst to beg ch3. = 24 dc

Click here for the full-size picture

Rnd 3) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 5. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st). Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 5, join with slst to beg ch3. = 36 dc

Rnd 4) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st) x 2. Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. = 48 dc

Rnd 5) With A: Ch 3, (dc in nxt st) x 2. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 3 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st. *With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 2 st, 2 dc in nxt st. Rpt from * once. With A: (dc in nxt st) x 3. With B: (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 3 st) x 3, 2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. = 60 dc

Rnd 6) With A: ch 3, dc in nxt 3 st, (2 dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 4 st) x 11, 2 dc in nxt st, join with slst to beg ch3. Finish off A. = 72 dc

Rnd 7) NB. You will be starting and finishing this round above the first stitch of the upright arm of the peace sign, i.e. partway along a side, not at a corner. With B: sc in beg ch3 of prev rnd, ch 2, (sk st, sc in nxt st, ch 2) x 3, *sk st, RVS, ch 2, (dc in same st, ch 2) x 2, RVS starting in same st, (ch 2, sk st, sc in nxt st) x 6, ch 2, rpt from * around, join with slst to beg sc. = 40 ch2 sp

Rnd 8) slst into ch2 sp, ch1, 2 sc in sp, *3 sc in nxt sp, 2 hdc in nxt sp, 3 hdc in nxt sp, 2 dc in nxt sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in nxt sp, 2 dc in nxt sp, 3 hdc in nxt sp, 2 hdc in nxt sp, 3 sc in nxt sp, 2 sc in nxt sp, rpt from * around, join with slst to beg sc. = 112 st, 4 ch1 sp

Rnd 9) ch1, sc in same st and in ea st around, working 3 sc in ea ch1 sp. Join with slst to beg sc. Finish off. = 124 sc

Copyright © 2008, Judy M Kerr. All Rights Reserved.
Errors? Problems? Please email me.

Ta da! Isabelle/FilACroche's chart -

If you do try this pattern I'd love to see pictures!

ETA: See an afghan made with this square here.

It's the Real Thing

Proud as I am of the lovely ornamental apple tree in the front garden, I now have a "real" apple tree in the back garden.


Okay, it's a bit of a glorified stick at the moment but it's a Worcester Pearmain - absolutely delicious apples - and we spotted it, crammed in a tub with a load of other plastic-wrapped fruit trees, at our local supermarket, price £4.99/$10. Not the most auspicious start, but it had a few leaves on it so we thought we'd give it a chance.


These pics were taken 2 weeks ago but it's still putting out new blossoms. Will we actually get fruit this year? I would have said not a chance but it's been doing so well I'm just tempted to hope.
Update 27/6/08: The one little applet I had on the tree, that I intended to take a picture of to share with you, fell off. Next year!

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

I realise that you must all be very concerned about the fact that I haven't been making any Snowflake Monday posts for a while (meh, humour me). Here it is, a third of the way through the year, and I've only made 9 snowflakes. What ever could the matter be??

Well, mainly it's the fault of this little tadpole here:
No, not me you idiot! At my age?? This little girl (yes, apparently it's a girl) is on her way to becoming our first grandchild. Early October.

So, naturally, I've been crocheting baby stuff like a mad thing since we got the news in February. Snowflakes will just have to wait their turn. Here are the results of my efforts so far:













Heirloom Baby Blanket and Crocheted Hat and Jacket for Baby (the mittens and booties are my design)














Baby, It's Cold Outside (BICO) and Shining Star baby blanket from 50 Sensational Crocheted Afghans and Throws (WIP).

In addition, I've made another pair of booties, a BICO for another mum-to-be and seven chicken potholders.
Okay, so the chickens are nothing to do with babies. But they're cute.

I even have one as my avatar on Ravelry and Flickr.

Apple Tree Redux

I thought you might appreciate a more spring-like view of the ornamental apple tree than my Easter Day offering. The apples are gone now (so is the snow) and the lovely pink blossoms are starting to open.



The apples might make nice jelly, I haven't tried. But they stay on the tree all winter and look so pretty when everything else is grey. By late February/early March they've softened up enough for the blackbirds to eat. Then, mid-April, just before the flowers come out, I remove about half a carrier bag-full of apples.

FGX Update

The squares have been flying thick and fast in the CrochetPartners Friendship Granny Exchange, so I'm ready to give another update.

Received:

No pattern info for any of these I'm afraid, although Little Miss Colourful there is a basic granny and The Blues is a basic granny with the first two rounds worked in 3dc-popcorns.
Update 14/6/08 - The lovely CPer who made the purple/variegated square for me paid my blog a little visit and left a message to say that it's a Camellia Square designed by Karen Whooley. It was a free pattern on her now defunct website Crochet Legacy. I had to go back to a 2001 page on the Wayback Machine to find it! Where would us pattern addicts be without the Wayback Machine?!

Sent:

Clockwise from top-left: 1) HDC Mitred Square. 2) Nine-Patch Granny (I'm hoping to find the time to write up a pattern soon). 3) #23 from LA 99 Granny Squares to Crochet #3078. 4) Corner Puffs Motif (adapted).

Easter Greetings from sunny Dovercourt Bay

We rarely get snow here, so this is a treat! Well, for me anyway.

A low-key Snowflake Monday

This is my latest snowflake for Snowflake Monday. This is #14 from ASN Crocheted Snowflakes book 1025(25).

I'm not being very productive in the SF department this year. Perhaps because I made so many last year. And because I don't need quite so many this year so I'm not feeling pressured (yet) to crank them out.

FGX Update

Well, I finally got around to editing all my Friendship Granny Exchange photos, so it’s time for another update (with lots of pattern links, woohoo!).

Here's some I’ve received:


1) Basic Granny. 2) Basic Granny. 3) Basic Granny combining an eyelash yarn and plain DK. 4) Basic Granny. 5) I’m sure I’ve seen this pattern somewhere but I can’t find it now (anyone?). 6) A Pumpkin Square! - guess when I got this one. 7) Sunshine Jewel. 8) Friendship Jewel. 9) This is another one where I’m sure I’ve seen something like it but…

And here’s some I’ve sent:


1) This one was for “Dragonpuck”, a dragon and hockey fan. My own design, a fiery puck. Yeah, it is, trust me. 2) Pretty Patchwork (from 101 Granny Squares, Carol Alexander, 2004). 3) Square Flower. 4) Cat Tracks. 5) Christina’s Favorite. 6) Easy Daisy Granny. 7) #42 from Crochet Primer Vol. 64 (Bucilla, 1972). 8) Penguin Square (the pattern used to be available in crochetroo's Etsy shop but I can only find readymade items at the moment. Maybe she'll list the pattern again sometime).
9) Sweet Dreams (adapted).

BTW, I used Picasa to make these mosaics. So easy!

I’ve received 21 squares so far. I need 50 for the blanket I want to make with them - basically a single-bed topper with a wide border to hang down the sides. I may even incorporate a row of my own squares in the border.

If you are one of the people who sent me these squares thank you, thank you, thank you! I am loving this exchange! If you don’t see yours here yet I will post another update when I have a few more squares together.

Snowflake Monday

Yoohoo! Sus! Lookie, lookie.


It's Monday.











                         There are snowflakes.








It must be




Actually, these two were ready for last Monday but we had such lovely weather that DH just went out for the day (I only work Tue-Fri). So no blogging.

The first SF is the one previously seen in it's voodoo stage. Both of these patterns can be found in ASN Crocheted Snowflakes Book 1025(25).

Saturday Sky

Saturday Sky, winter tree and Felixstowe

DH spent ALL of last night being very sick. Gastroenteritis - I'll let you fill in the blanks.

So, as we were clearly not going to be going shopping in Colchester today I figured I'd use my unexpected free time (between making cups of tea, re-filling hot water bottles and making appropriate sympathetic noises) to post my first Saturday Sky in quite some time.

You make my day!

All you fantastic bloggers out there - you really do make my day. I could spend, well, forever just snooping here and there, happily flitting from one intriguing/delightful/informative blog to the next.

And, apparently, this little old blog of mine makes Sus' day, 'coz she's selected it for one of her ten "You Make My Day" Awards. I'm well chuffed!


So now I get to share ten of my favourite bloggers with you all. Lord knows I visit and enjoy many more than that but if I have to limit myself to ten, well, here goes:

Back at ya, Sus! - and Alice, Annie, Crystal, Drew, Ernest, Laurie and Shula. You guys are the greatest!

And in the Rest In Peace section (sob!), the blogs that belonged to Scott and funny thing really used to make my day - miss you!!