My Ramblings

Spring into Summer Contests.

There are two contests running in the Spring into Summer Dishcloth Swap, First, post a link in the comments to your very favorite dishcloth pattern! You may list more than one if you'd like, but please choose one as your favorite.  So, here is the link to a couple of my favourites. Feather and Fan, and Yvonne's Double Flower. 

Second, post on your blog and talk about what you are looking forward to the most about Summertime. Do you vacation? Bike? Hike? Swim? Love warm weather? Just a post talking about what you love the most about Summer, and that will count as an entry for the 2nd contest!  OK, what am I most looking forward to about summertime?  For it to be over! We've had a very long, extremely dry summer and we desperately need some rain.  We have had temperatures above average this autumn (fall for you in the US) and we need it to end.  Now, if we had had a long, cold, wet winter I would be saying something entirely different.  I'd be looking forward to the sun and the heat so that I could enjoy the great outdoors.  We have lots of lovely places here in Victoria and I love to go for drives into the country, look at craft markets etc, and enjoy a nice latte and cake al fresco.  You can't really do that in winter. 

In truth, I love all seasons for different reasons, one reason why I wouldn't want to live in a place where there is very little difference between the season.  For instance, I love Darwin in the Northern Territory, and have every intention of going back for another visit next year.  I would even like to spend a whole year there, experiencing both their seasons......yep, they have only two, the wet and the dry.  The temperature varies very little during the day, but is cooler at night during the dry season.  Here in Victoria we have the reputation of having all 4 seasons in one day, but that hasn't been the case for quite some time; hopefully that is about to change.  The country areas have had a fair bit of rain over the past couple of days, so our farmers are very hopeful of good crops this year..........lets join them in that hope.

Spring into Summer Dishcloth Swap.

Questionnaire.

1. When did you learn to knit? Who taught you?  When I was about 5.  My mother taught me.
2. What was your very first completed object? Your most recent?  It's so long ago I can't remember my first, but my most recent is a scarf for the Aussie Knitters One Skein + choice of 3 swap as seen in my previous post.
3. What was the very first thing you sent to the frog pond? (pulled out and started over) Your most recent?  Again, so long ago I have no idea.  I'm sure I frogged lots of things in the beginning.  My most recent was a scarf I was doing for ISE4, which I realised was going to be far too short so had to redo with less stitches, but ended up completely changing the design.
4. What is currently on the needles for you?  A sock, a hat, two scarves and a throw.
5. What types of needles do you enjoy working with?  What have you tried and hated?  Don't have a favourite, but I like the Brittany Birch needles I have.  Don't really have any I hate, though I'm less anamoured of metal than I used to be before trying wood.
6. Have you knit dishcloths before?  Many.
   
   1. What was  your favorite one?  Don't have a favourite, though I like doing round ones.
   2. Least favorite?  I tried a multi-directional one, and didn't do too well, yet I was fine with entrelac.......go figure.
7. Do you use homemade dishcloths or face cloths yourself, or give them as gifts, or both?  Both.
8. What are your favorite and least favorite scents? (For your body, such as soap/lotion/etc) Vanilla, Frangipani, Honeysuckle, Musk.  Least favourite, citrus.
9. What are your favorite colors? Green, Purple, Blue, Deep red. (Really dislike pink).
10. What colors (if any) are your bathroom and kitchen decorated in?  Bathroom and Kitchen are neutral.
11. What other hobbies and crafts do you enjoy?  Scrap booking,  cross stitch.  Reading.
12. Chocolate: Dark? White? Milk? Ew?  Dark and Milk.
13. Do you like salty treats? What kinds?  Love the spicy seaweed and vegetable mixes.
14. If you could go anywhere in the world for one day and spend the day any way you wanted, where would you go and what would you do?  Hmm, let me think.   So many possibilities.  Probably to some lulxurious spa and have a total pampering session followed by a candlelight dinner.
15. Do you have any allergies? (Yarns, foods, etc. that might impact what your pal can send) Apricots and anything containing apricot kernal oil. 

Finished,

My items for ISE4 and the One Skein +Choice of 3 swap are finished, packed and ready to go.  The latest finished item was for the latter swap, and as mentioned in my previous post, needs a button closure.  As I couldn't decide which button to choose, I bought 4 and will send them with the scarf so that the recipient can choose which button to sew on, or indeed, she could buy her own button for this scarf, and use these buttons for something else entirely.  Hope she doesn't mind a bit of sewing.
                           
I like the pattern of this scarf, and as it's a short one with a button closure, it's quick, easy and stylish. 

Now, due to lack of work, and therefore lack of finances, I am likely to be incommunicado for a couple of weeks.  I will still be knitting to fulfill my swap obligations, but unfortunately won't be able to blog or e-mail, so please be patient.  I will sorely miss you all.

Knitting, Posts and Comments.

Firstly, as promised, photo's of what I have been up to knitting wise over the past couple of weeks.  I got my camera back from my son on Tuesday night, but as yesterday was ANZAC Day, I was pretty busy and didn't get chance to get on the computer.  I've also been pretty busy with other things over the past couple of weeks, so I haven't done as much knitting as I would have liked, but for what it's worth, here it is....

The finished ISE4 scarf.  Sorry it's so dark, but I'm sure you get the idea.  I am also sending some Peruvian Alpaca yarn, some candle melts, chocolate and Tim Tams.

A hat for a young boy.  Hoping he likes it and that it fits.

A scarf for a swap I'm involved in.  Yes, that is a deliberate hole in the middle.  The scarf will be a short one, I guess you'd call it a scarfette, so I have incorporated a button hole and will put a largish button at the other end.

And finally, the first of a pair of socks for my grandson.  He has seen the other socks I have knitted and he asked if I'd knit him a pair, had a look at my stash and chose this yarn.  He wants what we call sports anklets here.

 

As mentioned in the previous post, I have given crochet another try.  I did a bit of crocheting many years ago, made a poncho for Natalie from granny squares, but that's the only crocheting I've ever done.  This is just a bit of "doodling", making it up as I went along.  As I also mentioned, I'm not over enamoured of this craft, though I might think better of it with heavier yarn and a bigger hook. 

Now, to the posts and comments....  When I have seen other bloggers giving prizes to the person who left the 100th, 300th etc comment, I decided to join the trend.  At that stage I was up to 98 comments on my blog and decided that was a bit close to get things organised, so decided to award a prize for the 150th comment.  Surprise, surprise when the person who left that particular comment was one who had given ME a prize for being HER 300th commenter.  Congratulations Gina, I am so please that I am able to return the favour.  I am now putting together a little prize package which will be sent to you shortly.

I am really enjoying the world of blogging, so thankyou to my wonderful daughter for getting me into it.  It is Natalie who got me back into knitting too.  I always thought that children followed in their parents footsteps, but in this case it's in the reverse. lol

Happy knitting everyone.

Since coming back from Echuca I have been doing a bit of knitting.  I have finished a hat for a young boy, finished the scarf for my ISE4 partner, done most of a scarf for another swap partner, done to just past the heel turn on the first of a pair of socks for one of my grandsons and have even had a go at crocheting.  I am not able to post photo's though as one of my son's borrowed my camera to take photo's of the work he's doing on his back yard, and now he can't remember where he put it.  I hope he finds it soon so that I can put some photo's up to show you all.

Today is my beautiful daughters birthday, so........
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE, have a great day, and a wonderful year.

On Saturday night the family got together for dinner at my youngest son's house, just for a family get together and also for my birthday, which is tomorrow.  My youngest son and his partner (it's their house) gave me a voucher for a Swedish Goddess Massage.  Now I'm not Swedish, nor am I a Goddess, but hey, I'll take whatever I can get, lol.  #3 son asked me what I was doing on my birthday and I said I wasn't doing anything.  He then asked me if I wanted to do something, and looking at the glint in his eye I said "what? Look after Jayda (his 2 y.o. daughter)?"  Yep, that was it.  Seems he and his fiancee are going out with the social club from his work (the next day is a public holiday, so no work) and need me to babysit.  What better way to spend my birthday than with at least one of my grandkids.  Maybe next year I can spend it with Natalie and her children.

Well, that's about it for this post.  Apologies for lack of visual interest, but they will be back as soon as my camera comes home.

Take care everyone, and happy knitting.

Saturday Sky at Echuca

Sorry to those with dial up, another one with lot's of photo's.  Also apologies for yet another post without knitting content.  I will get back to that very soon, I promise.

This weekend I went to Echuca/Moama, towns on each side of Victoria and New South Wales.   

Echuca is an aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters, the Murray River meets the Campaspe river here.  Moama was originally named Moamay by the aboriginals, and means place of the dead.  Echuca is by far the bigger of the two towns.

   We "Aussies" had been to the area many times before, (it was a first for Aunty and Uncle) but had stayed in a Motel in Echuca, well away from the river, and with no views.  This time we were in a caravan (trailer) park in Moama (on the NSW side of the border)  The MOTH and I stayed in one cabin and my parents and aunty and uncle were next door.  Our cabins were on the edge of the river, with such a beautiful vista.  My aunty and uncle were really taken with the place, as were we of course, and I was congratulated on recommending the park which the MOTH and I had been to several years before.

0715 Saturday morning, and the sky above the cabin.  Those fluffy white clouds were all gone by 1900 and we had yet more clear blue skies and the temperature was around 31 celsius........beautiful for the holiday maker, but we so need rain as is evidenced by this photo of our (once) mighty Murray River.  Note the sandy, beachy looking area on the far side, and 
also the way the water as far below the roots of the trees and the upper level of the bank.  The water is never to the brim here, and even in flood I don't think it's ever broken the banks, but it is usually much fuller than this.  In some areas it is apparently little more than puddles due to lack of rain plus the industrial and farming needs along its length.
In this one you can see a platform which is used for fishing and swimming.  As you can see, the water is well away from the platform, no diving in from here these days.

The MOTH relaxing on our verandah, (note my knitting on the table!);
and Mum and Dad on theirs.

The historic Port of Echuca.  In early Australian history, (around the 1860's) the Murray was the main transport route for produce and Echuca was mooted as becoming the National Capital.  However, the railway was built and trains then became the maid transportation vehicle and the once bustling Echuca and her river became defunct.  Melbourne was then named capital until eventually an area approximately half way between the famous rivals Melbourne and Sydney was set aside to become the Australian Capital Territory.  That this area is in NSW is somewhat of a sore point for many Victorians.

Aunty Glenys and Uncle Bill at the Port of Echuca. 

On Sunday we travelled a further 70 kilometres down river to a place called Gannawarra, and aboriginal word meaning place of many waters.  The area around Gannawarra did indeed have many rivers and creeks, many of which are no longer sadly.  This is the area in which my husbands family settled in the mid 1800's and which his father left in 1917, moving to Melbourne.  We lived up there for 2 years in 1980 to 1982 and loved it.  We love to go back to visit whenever we can.
The farm house of our relatives.  We never lived in this house, as it belongs to another branch of the family, but have stayed here on many occasions. 

Me feeding an abandoned lamb.

Eager friends coming to share our breakfast; or lunch or dinner.  Whenever we had food outside, they were there, or came pretty soon after we came outside.  Not only the ducks were friendly, but the possums too.  They loved to be given fruit.  We also had some friendly kookaburra's too, THEY wanted meat.  Didn't get photo's of the possums or kooka's though unfortunately.

And finally; it was 1130, the signs were out, the doors were open, but...........
Which should we believe??

LOOK...................

what arrived today.......

from my new friend Margaret, my lovely SP9 Angel.

The contents, minus a jar of Fluff, because........

our wonderful customs decided to confiscate it because it contains egg.  I have recently found this product on our supermarket shelves, so I will be going to have a look to see if it's made here under licence, or if it is imported.  If it is imported, then I'd like to know why the importers can bring it in, but I can't have it sent by a friend.
I have already tried the bread, and was surprised to see it's still pretty fresh after coming all that way, and now I've hidden it so I get to actually have some more. lol  I will buy a jar of fluff and try the sandwich that Margaret suggested.........creamy peanut butter and fluff.  Sounds interesting, and she assures me that it is delicious.
The yarn is Malabrigo, so now I have two different colourways in this yarn.  She also sent me a pattern so that I will know what to knit with this lovely yarn.
Thanks so much my generous friend.  I will be in touch again shortly.

A Nice Day Out.

Apologies to those with dial-up internet as there are a lot of photo's on this one.
On Easter Sunday afternoon, the MOTH was given two jobs, one for Easter Monday and one for today (Tuesday).  The one for yesterday was a big one which meant a 4.5 hour journey one way so I suggested that if there was room, I would go with him to keep him company on the way back.  He was to pick up 4 passengers from Melbourne airport.  One was to go to the city, the other three to Portland to join their ship.  We had to get up at 0345 and leave home by 0430 so we had a reasonably early night on Sunday.  All went well at the airport, and for once, the travellers were through customs quickly......I guess the time could have had something to do with that as most self respecting travellers had not yet arrived.  It was still dark when we left the airport at 0530, but by the time we had dropped off the first fellow and were heading out of the city, it had started getting light.
The journey to Portland was very uneventful and very pleasant.  When we got to the ship, one of our passengers, who was taking over from the incumbent Master (Captain), invited us aboard for a coffee.  For someone who loves ships of any kind, this was an offer too good to refuse.  We stayed aboard about 30 minutes then headed home.
Instead of coming back the way we had gone, which is the shortest route, we decided to come back the scenic way; along the Great Ocean Road.  This route added about 65 kilometres to the journey, and about 1.5 hours extra time due to the winding road.  This does not include stops to look at various sights or meals etc.
Our first stop was at a strawberry farm, even before we got to the G.O.R.  Yummy berries and to die for strawberry wine, mmmmm.
Onto the G.O.R. and our first stop here was at the Bay of Islands.  We also stopped at the Twelve
Apostles, but as these outcrops are very similar, I'm not including photo's of them here.  I don't know where the 12 Apostles got their name as I don't think there were ever 12, but now with some of them collapsing into the sea, there are only about 7.               
In this photo, take a look at the base of the nearest pillar.  It won't be too long before this one too succumbs to the ravages of the cruel sea.

In this one you can see the size of some of these "islands" as the boat cruises by.

This one is called London Bridge, and the "island" was once joined to the mainland by a bridge of sandstone, hence the name.  Approximately 10 years ago, the land bridge collapsed stranding several people on the far side for some hours before they could be rescued.

This one is Loch Ard Gorge, named after a ship that foundered near hear in 1878.  The Loch Ard shipwreck is probably the most famous of all along the Shipwreck Coast.  There were 18 passengers and 36 crew aboard and only one passenger and one crew member survived.  They were washed ashore in the small bay after the ship was wrecked outside in the ocean.

One of the pristine beaches.  Many of these beaches cannot be accessed from the land, only via the water, which is probably why they are so clean.......no drinking, smoking and shooting up happening here.

A view from inside the car.  Note the bug smears on the windscreen.  We hit swarms of butterflies, and decimated quite a few I would say.  This is not the most spectacular part of the road, but I was having trouble getting a good shot as we had to keep moving due to traffic behind us.
This is just entering the hamlet of Apollo Bay, one of my favourite places along the G.O.R...........they have "to die for" custard tarts at the bakery here. though we were too late to partake of that particular pleasure this time. :-(

Coming into Airey's Inlet.  I have never stopped here, and don't know much about this place really, except that during the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, this little village was surrounded by fire and I'm pretty sure that there was some loss of life here as well as much property.  As you can see, the hills full of trees and shrubs, and come very close to the sea.  In many places along the G.O.R. the road is banked by sea and one side and cliff faces on the other.
And finally, to show that were really WERE there, the MOTH staring out over Loch Ard gorge.  He steadfastly refused to look at the camera.  lol.

And of course, I can't forget the knitting........here is a photo of the scarf I am doing for ISE4.

Knitters Treat Questionnaire.

I didn't join this swap, it was much too late when I found out about it, and as I am already in 3 swaps, it probably would have been well beyond me, but I like the questionnaire, so decided to put it in here anyway.

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire
1. What's your favourite type of yarn?  I love silk, and any really soft yarn.  Not keen on "fluffy" yarns like mohair.
2. What's your least favourite type of yarn? Harsh yarns, be they natural or acrylic, mohair.
 3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop? Check the range and colours, feel the yarn.
4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do? I scrapbook, and crochet after a fashion.  I'd like to be able to crochet better.
5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to? None.
6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference: Food; Knitting; Home; Other Craft; Fashion, Crochet, Celebrity Gossip; Garden.  Travel wasn't mentioned, but I'd say that would be up there with food.
7. What items do you like to knit / crochet? Anything but at moment its socks, dish cloths and scarves. Soon I'll be knitting baby clothes for my soon to be granddaughter.
8. Are you allergic to anything?  Not in the knitting/yarn sense, though wool directly next to my skin makes me itch.
9.What do you like to smell, of?   Love vanilla!  I also like florals like honeysuckly, frangipani and violet.  Love musky scents and orientals.
10. What's your favourite way to relax? a good cuppa ,interesting TV show and my latest knitting project, or a good book.
11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?  The dainty tea room.
12. What do you come out with?  Nothing, it's all in my belly!!
13. Where do you go next? The old time bakery for several loads of good crusty bread, and maybe a vanilla slice if the middle is creamy.
14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal? I have a very sweet tooth; unfortunately.

Several of these questions have been asked before, but there are also some that are unique and I thought they would be relevant to other swaps I'm involved in.  I particularly liked the one about which shop I would go into first.  I think that really gives a good idea of what a person is like.  I have pointed out that I have a very sweet tooth, and if that Victoria'n sweet shop had been a chocolate shop, then there would have been absolutely no contest, but I'm not a fan of hard, boiled sweets.  I'm not into sweets/lollies/toffees generally, just chocolate.  I love going out for morning/afternoon tea, and my whole family loves GOOD bread.
Hope everyone is having/has had a great Easter, and for those of you who like them, lot's of Easter eggs.  Happy knitting.

 

Caramel Tarts.

I have had a few comments about these tarts, and request for the recipe too.  They are extremely easy to make, but rather time consuming and tedious.  So, if you still want to make them, here goes.
I use butternut snap biscuits, but gingernuts are good too, and I'm sure chocolate ripple biscuits would be just as yummy.  For those of you not in Australia, and are wondering what the hell I'm talking about, all these are sweet "cookies" with no cream filling and no sugar coating.  I'm sure you will have something wherever you are that would be fine for this recipe.  Next; sweetened condensed milk, either skim or full cream according to your preference.  Last; chocolate.  I use a mix of white and milk, but you use whatever you like.
Start:  Immerse unopened can of condensed milk in a pan of water, bring to the boil and fast simmer for about 1.5 hours making sure the water doesn't boil dry.
In the meantime, heat the oven to 180 degrees celcius (around 350 F), lay the biscuits out on a patty pan (cup cake pan) with curved cups rather than angular ones, and heat till the biscuits are soft and pliable, and not dried out.  Push them into the shape of the cups with a thick rounded something.......I have used a thick handled ice-cream scoop and the mortar from my medium mortar and pestle (have I got that right?)  Once they have cooled slightly, remove them from the pan and put them on a wire rack.
When the milk has caramelised, remove from the water and cover the tin and the can opener with a teatowel as the caramel often spurts when the tin is pierced.  Spoon the caramel into the biscuits (one can of milk does about 30 biscuits) and when completely cool, cover with the melted chocolate of your choice.  Another option, especially when using ginger biscuits, is to put cream on top instead of caramel.
Hope that is explanation enough.  If something isn't quite clear enough, e-mail me and I can try to give a more thorough explanation.
Enjoy.