And then there crept a little noiseless noise among

the leaves, /Born of the very sigh that silence heaves.

-John Keats. “I stood on tiptoe”

Hello to all! It is so cold here today and to look outside the window, one would think that it looks rather nice outside, until you step foot outside. Pixie and I went to the shops this morning and by the time we got to the car I was chilled to the core. I suppose it was not long ago that I was complaining about the heat we were having, and now it is the cold that troubles me.

I have been busily trying to get an Olympic Games display set up in the library before I went on holidays and a friend of mine came up with a fantastic idea for the display. Karen loves scrapbooking and she had a plan for my display. The idea for a 3 tear look (I’m sure there is a proper name for that!), the telephone box, letter box and bus at the back, the Olympic rings in the middle and the words ‘London 2012’ at the front. The whole thing can be folded down and stored away when we have finished with it. The idea is like when you open a book or a birthday card, the layers pop up. Karen also made the Big Ben while she was at it and I must say I am very impressed with the end result. Thanks for your help with the display Karen, you are super!!! Since the photo I have added posters and information to the back pin-up board and will continue to add as much as I can in the way of resources on my return to work.

I am not a scrap book fanatic myself, however while Karen is encouraging me to get interested in it, I have noted that it could be a very handy craft to help decorate my displays. So I bought this paper punch and can make a nice little border for the edging of the pin-up boards in the library.

Meanwhile, as I am on holidays, I have started to make a couple of dolls for another school library in our town. I don’t have a pattern for these two, but the idea is not mine. I have seen a photo on the net and just free hand sketched the pattern to how I wanted it. I still need to stuff them and sew the bottoms up.

I really wanted to show you my knitting project and I have almost finished stitching it up, so I will show you in a few days time. I have been searching the net for a free ladies cardigan pattern to knit for myself. I am not having much luck so far, as everything I find is not the right ply. I want to knit something in 8 ply and seem to be finding lots knitted in 10 ply yarn. I will continue my search. I don’t know if other knitter’s out there are having the same trouble as me with patterns. I can’t get my head around the different knitting terms these days and it’s really making me prickly. The term psso (pass slip stitch over) has been replaced with ssk????? And there are many other terms that have been renamed and it takes me as long to investigate the terminology as it does to knit!!!! Helpful Heather has given me some knitting books to look through and find some patterns, probably to stop me from moaning so much!! Lol. Nothing like the good old vintage patterns.

Some of my friends have had a rough road lately and you are all in my thoughts. Young Abbie is 6 years old and has just gone in for heart surgery to block up two holes in her heart. Hope you’re feeling better soon Ab’s! Thinking of Vickie as well, hope your recovery is speedy girl. When I was young I often heard ‘the oldies’ saying as long as they have their health that is all that matters. I used to wonder what that was all about and now I know. Next time I drop by I hope to have some knitting to show you, but now I am turning that kettle on and having a cuppa. Enjoy your lovely weekend everyone.

Cheers, Anita.

Darn skirt!!!!

A word fitly spoken is like apples

of gold in a setting of silver.

_Proverbs 25.11

I must say, I’ve been missing in action these last couple of weeks. It’s been that crazy busy around here that I haven’t even been able to visit my niece for her birthday. We have made contact by phone and birthday wishes were passed on, however with the school holidays just around the corner, we will manage to catch up. Last weekend was spent sitting outside the supermarket selling raffle tickets for the high school my son attends. It was cold and chilly to the bone, but I’m glad I didn’t have to do it this weekend, it was colder still. The raffle was for a load of wood and considering how cold it was, I’m surprised more people didn’t buy tickets. Brandon also went for the last part of his driving test and passed, so he is stoked about that. Well done Brandon.

My tribe is laid up with the cold and sore throats, especially my big boy. So things are quiet around here. I have finally finished sewing a skirt that I’ve been at for a couple of weeks and I have to be truthful, this skirt has caused me that much grief.....for a simple style skirt!! I have called this skirt almost every name in the book, and I might add, they weren’t very nice names and I won’t repeat them. I have unstitched every seam, one side twice, redone the zip, the backs of the skirt did not line up when completed, and I even had to unpick and redo the last two inches on the under flap. It gave me grief right to the end. However, I have tried the skirt on, and it fits nicely, looks nice on, doesn’t show my pouch!! And is nice and warm. So it was really worth the fight.

I don’t have anything in the way of knitting to show you, as the last couple of weeks I’ve been sewing on buttons, stitching up some of the things I have already shown you and I have 253 sts on my knitting needles right now, knitting something splendid for the show. By next week I should have something to show you and it is pretty indeed.

I didn’t make Max pose for this photo, he put the scarf on himself and posed!!!! Big Westcoast Eagles supporters live around here and they won their footy game this week. Go the Eagles!!!!

Cheers, Anita.

Worms anyone?

Each changing season begins its

own blessings, purpose and beauty.

It’s sunny here today and we welcome the warmth, I decided to go outside in the garden and as I admired my lovely nasturtiums that are popping up I also noticed these wretched things having a feast. By the time you read this post they will already be in wormy heaven.

We enjoyed a night out last night, a friend of ours celebrated his 50th birthday. We are all growing older, however I see my birthdays as just numbers. I noticed several of our friends saying they still felt 18 years old in the head, and I feel the same way. It was nice to catch up with a few friends I hadn't seen since our high school days, and I certainly enjoyed that.

This week I found an interesting knitting pattern that I thought I would give a try. It is a cowl neck scarf and it is such an easy pattern and very stylish. As you can see, I have made 2 already and have the third one on the go.

Click here for the pattern

My lovely neighbour Lorraine gave me these two cute prem baby beanies to donate to the hospital when I drop my lot off. Lorraine is another mad knitter and I just laugh when I visit her, she can usually be found in her

knitting corner, lamp on, knitting needles blazing away and a cup of tea. She usually finds me the same way when she visits.

My baby knitting and chemo caps have come to an end now and when I finish my cowl neck scarf I will make a late start on my show entries. I am annoyed at myself for the late start but a few other important things came up.

Cheers, Anita.

Country road drive with Brandon

Each changing season begins its

own blessings, purpose, and beauty.

Today, Brandon and I went for a drive around the country side, ticking up more hours toward his logbook. We only have a few more hours left to drive and then the final part of his driving test. We have the best conversations while we are driving around. Whilst travelling through the fair countryside, we came across this aging homestead called Glenfield Homestead. It must’ve been a grand beauty in her time and just admire that chimney. How many evenings around the warm fire place and who were the people who lived there, how many children were in that house?

Country roads, take me home...

I want to share with you some of the chemo caps I have made for precious Deb. The variegated pink cap is a slightly changed version of a pattern I found in ravelry. I added more cuff and in the middle of the cuff I added a row of eyelets to thread a cord through. The variegated orange in autumn colours is one I made up. The cuff just has a twist in it. I have made a blue and soft orange cap in bamboo and cotton, because the head can get very hot with a warm beanie on for all day wear.

I have shot off to the left field a bit here and have made a couple of buntings for the library. I intend to add more buntings to the library, so this is perhaps a new tangent for me to spin off!! If only I could put my knitting needles down for a second.

It looks like party time!!

The weather has turned a bit around our part of the world. These photo’s were taken at 5.10pm and incredibly dark for this time of the day. We are now in the winter season, so being this dark so early will become normal very soon. We did receive some much welcomed rain and good for our farmers. Most of the paddocks around here have been ploughed so roll on the rain and all the best for a good crop this year.

In Western Australia we are enjoying a long weekend. We are celebrating what was Foundation Day and now known as Western Australia Day. My weekend so far has been the usual chores, yard work and a lovely visit to my sister Rosa. The rest of the weekend will be spent doing some more sewing and bothering my husband, which is my favourite pass time. To those celebrating the long weekend, may you enjoy your long weekend. To everyone else, may you have a lovely weekend.

Cheers, Anita.

Chemo caps

There is memory

In the forest.

-Margaret Widdemer, The factories.

I have been making chemo caps for a dear friend of mine and have been lucky enough to find some really nice patterns on the net. I read up about what sort of yarn to use for chemo caps as a head without hair is very tender, and you need to find the softest yarn possible. Baby yarn and knitting with cotton seems to be the best option. I have made about 4 caps so far and have still several to make. At the moment I am knitting in the round a lovely cap called the Mulberry cap (as shown in my last posting). Last night I whipped up this cute beanie with a twist band. Heather and I went for a special trip to a neighbouring town to buy the brand that is lovely and soft. The brand is Dazzle.

Knit one, pearl one.

I found some nice sturdy material at Vinnie’s and made this beanbag cover for the library bean bags. I still need to make one more. I haven’t been doing much in the way of sewing as the knitting is taking up most of my time.

 I’m still waiting on one special little parcel to arrive so I can hand over a blue parcel of goodies. There is something in the water around this neck of the woods as I hear there is another baby on the way!! I have also made these cute little bootees for a little prem baby who keeps kicking off his bootees that are way too big for him.

Just for baby

We are enjoying the lovely warmth of autumn sunshine today. The mornings are pretty nippy and so are the nights, but it wasn’t too long ago I was complaining of the heat. Winter will be upon us soon and more excuse to keep knitting. I couldn’t resist taking this shot of a balloon going over head, what I didn’t realize was that I managed to get a rainbow in the picture as well. It is a common thing around our parts to see balloons going over. We are at the beginning of ballooning season and sometimes the balloons are so low you can hear the people speaking to each other in the basket!!

I’m off to do a bit of afternoon knitting and watch the football derby on TV, Eagles and Fremantle Dockers!! Go the Eagles! Take care and see you another time.

Cheers, Anita.

Happy 18th Brandon.

Do to others as you

would have them do

unto you.

The last couple of weeks have been unreal on many levels, firstly with the celebration of our beloved son Brandon turning 18 years old. A fun filled night with Brandon’s friends left us feeling very proud of ourselves as parents and in the knowledge that Brandon makes good choices. We survived the weekend having a bunch of teenage boys over, and what fun they were. Happy Birthday Brandon and we wish you all the love in the world.

I’m 18!!!!                                             

I’m special.

I had extra days at work, organizing dental appointments and the never-ending stream of chores. I have been knitting baby clothes for special friends of ours expecting their first baby, and by the time I gathered everything I had knitted, I was staggered at how much there was! Pixie and Cory are acting like the stork and delivering the pink basket today. The baby has arrived and will be dressed in pink. Well done Joshua and Lisa.

Love and kisses

At the same time I have quietly been knitting chemo hats and caps for Joshua’s mum. I am going to knit more caps for there is a nice assortment to choose from. Beanies are alright, but a stylish selection of hats and caps would be even better. Much love to our wonderful friends. xxx

This mulberry coloured beanie was just a pattern I made up. 140 sts on size 10mm needles using 5 ply wool and away I went. I love the way the top of the beanie has turned out. It was a hit and miss project that turned out well. The cap below is not my creation but is called a Mulberry cap. The pattern can be found on Ravelry.

Made with love

Last but not least, here is Max having a snooze. He was up all night enjoying the 18^th Birthday BBQ and was absolutely snozzled the next day. He’s pretty cute. Take care everyone and be thankful for everyday you have.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Regards, Anita.

I am creeping my family out!!!

There is more power in

an ounce of faith

than in a ton of worry.

I am totally creeping out my family! I don’t think they feel all too comfortable with so many scarecrows hanging around the place. Next weekend there is a festival on just out of town and they have asked for people to make scarecrows, so I thought I would join in. The scarecrows will end up living in the library so it will be a fun addition to the collection of toys already there.

We are family!

My newest scarecrow is the guy with the blue pants and top on. I couldn’t resist the red long nose just for fun.

I’m getting all excited about the new arrivals that will start to be delivered by the stork. One baby is due today and from then on the other precious bubs will come. I am so impressed with the Patons brand of wool that I have been using, no splitting the yarn, no knots, lovely and soft......I’m happy. Here are some of the projects I have been working away on.

Cute little bootees

 Made with love

Lovely and soft

There is nothing more special than handmade baby clothes and it is nice to see a come back with the new generation of mums appreciating the gifts you make. Some great news from our part of the world.......we have had rain!!! It is very exciting for us, as we are an agricultural town and we haven’t seen rain in months. We have had a steady flow of rain that will soak into the soil nicely and not overload and wash the soil away.

Have a fantastic weekend and enjoy yourselves with whatever you are doing.

Cheers, Anita.