Finger less gloves my latest project

I have been knitting up a storm while watching the tennis and had several beanies and scarves to donate. A few days ago a suggestions for finger less gloves came across in my emails. These were for kids overseas which I used to make and send things too but the postage is just too much so I have changed to making and donating to places here in Australia.

I liked the idea of the finger less gloves, they looked quick and easy to do but I had to adjust them for adults and thicker wool.

It is a make and see as the wool thicknesses that I am using are different, I have been using either Warren's or my hands to check the length and the width of them. I am using up some bits and pieces to add some colour on the top and bottom so they will be all different. The scraps are mainly 8 ply so I am using it double. The one on the left is sewn up ready to go.

That is how they fit. Just started my fourth pair but my knitting will slow down after today as there will be no more tennis to watch. They are a quick knit though so should be able to get a couple of pairs done each week.

Beds (sigh)

I have not ever thought about beds much only that they are a place to sleep.

Thursday we traveled to Hervey Bay again, this time to collect Maggie Two (new? caravan).

Its supposed to be only 200kms but  am sure that it must be more, seems much farther. Anyway warren had stated that he wasn't going to get up at or before sparrow fart (his words) and drive like a nutter to be there ready for the pick up at 9 am. We would go the day before stay overnight and pick it/her up and drive home in a leisurily fashion

I checked motels in the Hervey Bay area, ohh, I know its on the coast and therefore sought after for holiday but we only wanted somewhere to sleep.

Prices started at $230, I scrolled down and found a place at $88 a night that was more like it. I booked it for the night and when getting the confirmation, it stated "Bring own linen and towels" difference for a motels but we threw bedding and towels and a change of clothes into a plastic box in the back of the ute.

Arriving there, it was a small cottage in a caravan park! There were two rooms a lounge wit table and chairs on one side and sink, microwave etc on one wall and a separate bedroom. The bathroom was a separate room thru the bedroom door and about three or four paces, with toilets and shower. Quite big and that had is own key. Surprise surprise, the bed was made up and there were towels in the bathroom so it appears that the information was either old or wrong.

Bed was comfy however, there were only ceiling fans and boy oh boy it was a hot night. We "slept" with the windows open as there were security screens on all windows and doors and the fan on medium any higher and we were worried that it was going to take off plus the noise was quite loud. Needless to say we didn't get a lot of sleep because it was so hot.

We were ready for bed last night and only watched two sets of the tennis, went to bed and it was blissful to be in our own bed with the room air conditioned. I really appreciated it until it was about the time to get up this morning and Warren let Lucy in. She had been encouraged to jump up on the bed and further encouraged to assist me to get out of bed.

She hasn't jumped up onto the bed much before and only does it when we are there but because she has been encouraged by someone who will remain nameless, she is quite happy to do so. a few days ago i was making the bed and because I was there she thought it would be great fun to jump up and jump around. I told her a firm No and she got off, the following day when I was making the bed she came to the door of the bedroom and and just stood watching me. She is a fast learner.

Aprons

My mum always wore an apron and there are times when I know I should but I had not owned an apron in years. However, from one of my online things that pop up in my email box from time to time, there was a tutorial on how to make an apron from a metre of fabric in less than an hour.

What a challenge! plus I had everything on hand. Last time I went to Spotlight and they had a sale, I bought the end piece of fabric quite cheaply. I can't remember how much but I do know that if the rest of the roll was bought, it was cheaper so it was only a few dollars.

No pattern was required, this get better and better so I actually read the whole thing through, it was only one page.

Ok so i need to measure from top to bottom so where I wanted the top to be to the length I wanted it. Then measure from one hip to the other, and across the top and that was basically it. There were no measurements or suggestions about the straps. An arc from the side top to the hip measurement gave the arm "hole" and was where the back straps around the waist were to be placed.

I cut the main piece according to the measurements that I took and did a small hem around all of it. The side pieces of fabric that were cut off became the neck straps and the back straps. They were quite wide so I ironed a turn over and then turned them on to themselves and sewed all around them. I did think to put stiffing in them then I decided not to as the straps will be tied so dont need it.

I had enough fabric to make two more as i have a gift to make for a friend and her daughter so I made them one each. the one on the back of the chair is for the daughter who is 8/9, Aidan bless his cotton socks consented to be measured for that one. The bottom one is the adult sized one. The fabric is quite light and as the gifts will be winging their way to Mc Kay North Queenslan where it gets get hotter than here, quite suitable for their weather.

It probably took me longer to make as I was ducking out to watch the tennis in between sewing, measuring and pinning but a good exercise. All I have to do now is to remember to wear mine when I am cooking.

Nana naps

I used to laugh at my mum for dozing off in the middle of watching daytime TV (lets face it, mostly its pretty boring!) Now though I am doing it! Taking nana naps I mean.

It seems that most afternoons after lunch and I am watching the tennis on TV, I suddenly feel tired and put down my knitting and settle into my chair, it is very comfy to sleep in and doze off for a few minutes, it may only be five or ten minutes and then I am refreshed again.

I'm up and out of bed early than I have ever been or can remember and possibly I am ready for that nana nap. Yesterday I was going out in the afternoon, we had lunch and then yep, I could have had a nap but I didn't, I went and did something so that I didn't nap and therefore miss the time of going out. What do you know, last night I had trouble getting to sleep, ended up getting a drink and a couple of corn cakes and I read for awhile (finished my book) before going into that slumber state.

This morning bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6.30 am (well at least after my shower I was)

After tracking down Yowies on the weekend, I came home and slept for two hours and we didnt even do that much, there was some walking involved but I blame the heat for that, maybe I just needed to catch up.

Stuffed Peppers

I had taken out two lots of mince for dinner a couple of nights, I intended to make a big lasagne eat some and freeze the rest. Warren suggested we go out for dinner, how could I refuse? No cooking no dishes so sure we'll go for dinner.

While chatting over dinner i told him what I had planned to make for dinner and he told me that he wasnt real fond of it. What? I must admit he is very good and will eat pretty much what i dish up so when he said that I thought that I would not go ahead with the lasagne.

However, there were still two meals of mince unfrozen to be used up. I made hamburgers the following night and then when I went shopping, still with no idea what to turn the second lot of mince into a meal. a solution came in the form of large and cheap peppers/capsicums.

I dont know what I paid but they were $3.99 a kilo and I bought two, often they are up as high as $8.99 a kilo.

I added some bbq sauce, an egg and some peas and after de seeding the caps, stuffed the mince mixture into them. Fifteen minutes in the oven and they were cooked. A slice of cheese of top to melt A salad and another easy meal hits the plate.

I always fine that capsicum when it is cooked becomes quite sweet.

Yowie Hunting

Yowie is one of several names given to a hominid reputed to live in the Australian wilderness. The creature has its roots in Aboriginal oral history.
The yowie is usually said to be a hairy and ape-like creature standing upright at between 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) and 3.6 m (12 ft)




The above information was supplied by Wikipedia.

As a kid we were told about the Yowies, the Bunyip and Big Foot although Big Foot was in Canada and North America, They could have come to Australia so we needed to watch out, of course then there were drop bears too but I didn't know about drop bears until much later in life. Not sure why we were told about these things, if it was scare tactics or just fun to frighten little kids. Anyway Sheri and I were on the hunt yesterday although we didn't set out to look for Yowies, it just happened.

We had been driving West and happened upon Kilcoy and our first sighting on the Yowie which was the statue in a park. It is a rather large imposing statue and along side of it was a smaller version where people could put their own head in and be photographed with the yowie's body.

We read about another yowie a couple of kilometres away and decided to go to see what we could find. It was based at/near the race course. This yowie was a bit more elusive and involved walking around the outside of the race course to try to locate where he was hiding.

It was a hot day and for the first part no shade so we debated where to go or not, I voted for not, but was persuaded to go and we set off for a walk. I'm glad I went as that Yowie was much smaller and definitely cute (as far as a yowie could be cute) his lair was also in shade, smart yowie. We visited for a few minutes before returning to the car.

Thank fully after some lunch in a near by cafe which we were hopefully would be air conditioned, it wasn't, we returned home and a cold change settled in bringing much needed rain to the Kilcoy area and home.

Glenmay Wetlands

Lucy and I visited this nice little place a few days ago. Great spot for walking and I did see a dog fenced area but when we came back, there was a dog in there so we didn't venture over. Lucy was very upset about the one that we have near home and last time we walked past it, she did go in but stayed close to us.

Lucy didnt feature in this photo, shes not silly, she is at my feet but in the shade, there was a covered seating area,(can see the shadow.)
We left early to go walking as it has been so hot. Lucy has been getting car sick on longer rides so we are trying a few things out, no breakfast before we go, a ginger biscuit about half an hour before and we hae the back windows down a bit so she can get fresh air.

So far since doing these she hasn't been sick so here's hoping, I am taking her on short trips also for her to get used to riding in the car, to the wetlands it as about ten kms.

Lucy has her own mat that goes over the back seat, I had made a towelling one but it was a bit slippery so we bought a custom made one and the seat belts go through the cover to hold it in place. If we take anyone in the car, its an easy thing to slip off which also removes the dog hair. Even though she is a short haired dog with little fur, she still does shed which I was surprised to see.

More Tennis

Got to love Summer in Australia (that's if you are a sports fan, many people would say that one is not a true ozzie if you don't love sports)

Last week was the competitions in Sydney and Monday the Australia Open started so we will have tennis for another two weeks.

I turned on the TV mid morning on Monday just to hear some tennis and there was one of our 17 year old giving a pretty good account of himself so I sat down to watch. I knit while watching so at least i can justify that I am doing something. Anyhow that game went to five sets and he finally won it but boy oh boy was he tired at the end. Another 17 year old also got thru to the second round but the 16 year old got beaten, she was playing a top ten player but did take it to three sets so she should have been proud of herself.

Such a lot of young Aussie players coming through that I had not heard of before but it seems they have done well at junior level and are now going to the next level.

I try to get what I need to to do done so that I can sit and watch and then after each set I get up and do something. I was doing some sewing yesterday in between sets, almost got it finished, will finish it this morning before tennis starts.

Lucy makes herself at home

Lucy doesn't jump up on furniture which is a good thing. We have not taught her this she just doesn't but she had decided that our footstools are fair game.

We have breakfast sitting at the new cane chairs and usually have the foot stools tucked under when not in use. However it is a bit awkward to pull them out while sitting so I tend o pull out the stool before placing my breakfast on the table and then sitting. i proceed to do that the other morning and as soon as I pulled it out Lucy stepped up and curled herself around ready for a snooze.

As you can see no room for me to put my feet up.

However when Warren came and sat down she deserted me, giving me back my stool and went over to his stool as she could use his foot to rest her head and therefore she was then in no danger of falling off. 

Yesterday afetr  we had had breakfast, I purposely left the stools out but no once we weren't there she had no further interest in sitting there. She prefers to be around where we are so if we are n the lounge room thats where she is. With the computer now up in the third bedroom, she will come up here when one of us is here but not any other time. 

When the cat's away........

the mice will play so in this case one mouse and one project.

For months now, my bag hanger, a material one, has been looking tatty and it had been mended twice and I had been talking about making a new one. Each time I had mentioned it Warren had said that he wanted to make one for the pantry. He even bought the ends for it, on a trip to Bunnings, about six to eight weeks ago.

A few days ago I went out to morning tea which turned into lunch, arriving home about 2 pm. This what I had to admire when I did get home.

Oh dear the photo is on the side.

Warren had cut two holes in a piece of poly pipe, added/glued the ends on to seal it and hung it at the back of the pantry door. 

Its nice to have it finally done and does look much neater than the fabric one

Allied The Movie

What a great movie! It had drama, romance, history couldn't find any comedy but it was good.

Brad Pitt of course was wonderful as always, didnt know any of the others. It was set in world war two and the settings looked really good and what I imagined places to look like back then.

For me the ending wasn't predictable and thats always a plus. I like trying to work out the ending and if I am right then its a bit of a let down but the movie didnt go where I know it would.

Well worth a viewing for sure.

We saw in a different theatre not far from home, one that we haven't been to before and it was really nice, plush seats and plenty of leg room.

Boat ramp Perth

We wanted to go out  to the boat ramp and then walk along the river/sea side. I'm not sure which it was but there was a large marina and it was pleasant walking. Luckily we had chosen the day that was cooler max 26 degrees and overcast. We were going to catch a train or bus but as we walked out of the hotel, lo and behold there was a taxi and we thought why not, much easier than trying to navigate public transport in a new place.

We wanted to locate the Octopus and here it is above, not exactly what I was expecting.

The Marina.

and we saw several black swans out on the river, this one was very close and didnt want to move.

Lunch!

Its too hot for much other than salads but cold meat and the usual lettuce tomato and cucumber gets a bit boring after awhile. Although apparently thats what Warren had for lunch every day last week when I was away.

This was lunch yesterday, just a bit different, it was not my original idea but I did adapt/change it a little.

Watermelon, smoked salmon peas and bean with some feta on top. I had bought salmon for Christmas but ended up not using it, as the expiry date was coming closer, I thought I had better use it. If  I buy smoked salmon, I normally only buy 100 gms a little goes a long way but this time I bought 300 gms.

Kings Park Perth

What a massive park this is! I forget how many acres it is but it is acreage and just a ten minute walk from our hotel, well that's what the taxi driver told us but I dont think I would have wanted to walk there. We had been out to the boat ramp area and walked some of the way back then got an Uber car to drive us to kings Park.

I didnt ever think I would take an Uber but it just worked at the time. We were going to get a bus and walked to a bus stop only to realise that we were at the wrong one and so walked back again, that when Uber came into play. A driver and car picked us up in five minutes, there had no been any taxis at all in the area, he drove us straight to Kings Park, chatting about changes to Perth in the last few years. He was very knowledge and it was like having our own personal guide.

Lots of people having picnics and just enjoying the scenery.

This was a tree that looked odd. When we went closer and read the plaque, we found out why. It was one of the oldest trees in the Perth area and it had been transported there in 2012 to preserve it. It reminded me of seeing trees transported and then replanted in China. It was very successful there, I didnt know that we did it here but it seemed to have also been a success.

    

Perth Art work

Its amazing what one sees when one has no wheels to get around. Sheridan and I went walking on the Monday evening when we arrived in Perth and we found lots of incredible art work dotted around the CBD. I woud assume that the layout or size of Perth is much the same as Brisbane but less hilly so for me it was easier to walk around, I dont particularly like walking up hills.

There was a Perth Plaques to find, one was on settlers and the other trail was about war heros. The plaques were set in the footpaths and it was interesting to find and read them. There was also a trail of sculptures to locate and marvel at. one in particular was a big cactus at the start of the mall, not sure exactly if that was what it was meant to be as we didnt get very close to it, just drove past in a taxi.

We found Cuddle pot and Snuggle pie in a garden near the foreshore, they were very cute.

Home Alone means Dinner for one.

The trouble is what could I cook? We had ham and salad for lunch before Warren went off to work, its still hot. Egg and Bacon sandwich?Quick tasty but too much bread. What can i heat up quickly, hummmm nothing really appealed. I had already been out as I took Lucy down to the lake for a walk (pull) around it. She had not been there before and there was soooo many smells to sniff and other dogs to meet who were also doing the same thing. So i didnt want to go out again and pick up take away, besides I would have to pay for that out of my pocket money (new rules for new year!).

Sheri and I shared a plate of nachos at the airport yesterday, we had only had a banana each for breakfast before leaving the motel and they were nice.

Light bulb moment! I had corn chips in the pantry and prepared mince in the freezer for such a meal. No beans but that was okay as I dont like beans that much anyway.

This was my dinner

Yum, quick and easy, no cooking dishes as I heated the meat in the microwave, luckily I  had bought an avo and sour cream this morning on my first shop since Christmas.

There is enough mince for our lunches tomorrow, I dont mind another round. Warren gets fed at work so dont know what he will be having or had but it is catered by a caterer and pretty good food. 

Perth and the Hopman Cup

The Hopman Cup started in Australia about twenty years ago by a former Aussie double great. It is a competition between countries. A pair male and female play and represent their country, its a womens and mens single math followed by a mixed double. Since its inception, I have always wanted t go and watch it.

Things fell into place for this year and Sheridan and I were able to get a package deal of four nights accommodation and four sessions on tennis. We had to arrange our own flights to and from Perth.

The sports package advertised tht the motel was only a ten minute walk to the venue, I thought to myself, double that and it would probably be closer to the mark. I didnt time it but it was not far at all. The Perth Arena or entertainment centre is used for all types of things and it was ideal. The night we saw Roger play, it was a record attendance 13545  people, they may have been some empty seats but very very few.

We were in Perth briefly last year on our caravan trip but we stayed in the north west suburbs and didnt even go into Perth city itself.

I was impressed by it and we did a lot of walking and looking in between going to the tennis. It was hot! 40 and 41 degrees on the two main days we spent at the tennis but a bonus, it was air conditioned! They played with the roof open but we were not in the sun and it was very pleasant inside.

The security outside and Sheridan decided to bomb my photo.

During a break in play.

The Cup that they play for was on display with a security person there all the time, the cup is massive but the smaller badges/pins are theirs to keep, a gold tennis racquet with encrusted diamonds.

Neck Scarves

I/we have been watching a lot of cricket lately. There has been a test match with Pakistan which they should have won, they batted for two days and one batter scored a double hundred. I think they ended up with over 400 runs. Our guys hung in there with the skipper getting 165 not out and then when the eighth person was out he declared giving us only a short time to get the Pakistan guys in again. It was very likely to be a draw, which I think it rather silly to call it a draw just because they didnt get finished, anyway aside from that the Aussies actually won as they bowled the Pakis out before they could catch up to our score, who would have believed it!

There was the test for five days during the day and the Big Bash series at night. Cricket again but much faster as they each have 20 overs to score as much as possible. Each state has a team with Melbourne and Sydney having two in the comp. They wear bright colours and even the commentators wear brighter more casual clothes, the two forms are on different networks but they dont compete for time as one is day and the other is night. The Big Bash does wonders for the game and they have sell out games to the grounds. I dont mind cricket on TV as I can do other things and then when something exciting happens, there is always a replay. No way would I go to a game but I probably would consider going to a Big Bash, BBL or T20.

Anyway we have been watching quite a bit on and off and while watching, i have been knitting. Only small things, with the house closed up and the A/C on its not so bad.
I have set myself a challenge, I do like challenges and its usually only against myself but I want to have a box full of goodies to take to a friend who runs a charity called "Knitting for Brisbane's homeless". There is always a need for blankets and I did knit one after we came back from holidays so that is in the box along with a few beanies. Now I am knitting Button up neck scarves. They use less wool and take up less room, with the buttons, its easier to have them up close to the neck to keep warm. I had bought a lot of wool n the sales just after Winter and some is ideal for these scarves as they are a thicker ply.

The lighter pink one took a long time almost a week and I started that before Christmas, it was two 4 ply wool knitted together. The others two whites and three dark reds I have made since Christmas, I think they are about 12 or even 16 ply. The white ones are very soft and I made one to the pattern of nineteen stitches and it is very wide so I adjusted the second one to only thirteen. It is called a seed stitch which i hadnt done before. 

I sewed all the tail ends in last night and stitched the buttons on, no need for button holes as the buttons can be pushed through the stitches making them adjustable.