Goodbye 2015 ...... Hello 2016

The busyness of December is almost at a close, given its the very last day for 2015!  I did manage to get some gifts made up which included the Beanie for daughters partner and the Sun Hat for her.  The brim proved to be a bit tricky since the 10ply cotton I purchased from Bendigo Yarns just isn't quite as course and thick as the stuff like sugar n cream that comes from the US ..... it was also impossible to find liquid starch around here and the spray starch just doesn't do much........ instead I used water mixed with PVA glue which dries clear and worked great after about 3 coats!!  Hopefully she gets some use from it!  It sure has been pretty hot these past few days!  I was really hoping we might get a day of rain and cooler weather today .........

A number of crocheted hand towels and dishcloths were made and all received gratefully which was rather nice given the time we put in to do handmade gifts :)  I posted a pic of those last post so I'm sure you don't need to see them again.

Need to find a home for all the empty baskets!

Hubbie and I have been blessed to both have from Christmas Eve until the 3rd Jan off work.  We've been taking it a bit easy to have a bit of a break, but also putting time into the garden ...... and I spent a couple of days in the craft cabin getting it somewhat sorted!  The past few months it became a dumping ground when we had to quickly make room in the house........... I've yet to get the table tops cleared, but the storage unit was completely emptied and I moved things around so that all my yarn is sorted ready to grab for various projects through the year!

Found the lounge lol - bottles waiting for cordial making

  My fabrics have been moved to the other end since I'm finding it's easier to get knitting and crochet achieved than it is for me to get much sewing done since I picked up the extra day at work.  Amazing how just 1 extra day a fortnight can have such a huge impact on what can no longer get fitted into doing at home!  I'll review how things are going mid year to decide if I keep doing the extra day or not.

I really enjoyed making the Beanie for daughters partner and the fact he was so excited and pleased with it has made me want to knit more of these little projects!  So since the pattern was such a great one being simple to follow (Woolly Wormhead design and it was a free pattern called Noma) ..... I went to her group on Ravelry and it just happened that they have a little thing going for knitting 12 of her hats in 12 months ...... hmmmm ...... Perfect!!!  These will make great birthday projects I'm thinking ....... I've had a bit of fun looking through all the patterns of different styles of hats she has for all ages and trying to pick out only 12 ........ I've ended up picking about 19 which will give me a choice as I go through my stash during the year.  Yes, I will be knitting these from stash, especially now I have it all sorted and there sure seems more than enough for 12 hats!!  So stay tuned for the hat making!     
Getting hats sorted for the next 12 months has also got me thinking about lots of other things that I would like to have sorted to plan out over the next 12 months ...... still in the planning stages for now so that will be another post!
In the meantime, I will wish you all the very best as 2015 comes to a close and a brand shiny new year is about to unfold .......Happy 2016 Everyone xo

Yep, caught myself in the mirror taking the shot :)

December: Catching Up

It's been so crazy busy around this place since my last post, and although I've thought about

Baby Willy Wagtails out of the nest

 getting a post out, it just hasn't quite got there till now ..... kinda.......  I'm starting this morning, but I soon will have to run out the door to work, so it will be tonight no doubt before I can actually post! (as it turned out that was yesterday morning and I'm trying again )  No doubt everyone else is busy as well, especially those of you who have to fit in working outside the home!!  It really does cramp my style and stop lots of things from getting done, that I really would like to be doing..... oh well, guess I'm lucky to only have 7 days a fortnight rather than 10!  Anyhow, I'm sure nobody wants to hear about that .......
I've been busy getting a few little crocheted kitchen towels made up for Christmas giving, and I've also managed to get that Beanie knitted up which will be going under the tree for daughters partner. 
I'm actually quite pleased with how it turned out, being my first knitted beanie and all lol
 

I'm wanting to get a summer hat crocheted up for daughter for Christmas, but it needs some thick cotton yarn.  I've ordered some online from Bendigo Woollen Mills this week when I found out its currently on sale  for $11 for a 200gr ball!  I got a couple of colours  in 10ply cotton and also purchased some other yarn which took me over the $60 (which then gives you free postage!) It should arrive by Friday ..... at least I'm hoping it will so I can make a start over the weekend, and hope its a quick crochet lol

In the meantime, I've been working on getting my Park Slope finished up, and I'm really pleased with the result and the fit!  The yarn I used is the Wollmeise fingering and its so nice and light to wear!  I will definitely be making more of these in the future.

Summer time here means all the stone fruit are coming into season.  We've been blessed to have our eldest son bringing home some very yummy cherries.  I now have some pitted and frozen ready to make cherry pie to eat on Christmas

Day.......  and our Apricot tree is just about ready to be picked, so it will be time to get making the jam sometime in the next week or so I expect!    Although we pulled out the large vegie garden, some pumpkin seeds found their way down into the garden bed where Dad had been drying some seeds when he was here ........ the vine is doing so well, we have decided to just let it keep going and I see it's beginning to set some pumpkins. 

 I've put a few tomato plants and capsicums into the front flower garden to companion grow ...... most seem to be doing well ......... and yes, couldn't help myself ....... I moved some of the wood pile and put in a temporary garden with some cucumbers to see if a garden would work here in this area.


The little chicks are growing nicely, Mary is such a great foster mum.  They should be grown and ready to begin laying come winter, which will be perfect for keeping up the egg supply!  I lost a couple of hens a couple of months ago - both older girls, so these little ones will be replacing them.  I may even set a couple of fertile eggs (I'm sure I'll be able to find somebody willing to give me a couple) if I have a broodie hen towards the end of summer, in order to keep my little flock up.  Well, now I think we are pretty well caught up ....... except to say that I have received a lovely little embroidered hexie all the way from France to put in my table cloth, but I think it deserves a post all its own, so you will have to wait to see that photo for another day or two.    Take care and have an awesome day!