Davis Cup (tennis)

My cold returned last night, lucky me and as I was stuffed up and it was going to be very cold, I decided to take the day off and hopefully get rid of the dratted cold altogether. I have rugged up well and stayed inside and done very little except keep hydrated. Coffee, hot chocolate, hot fresh orange juice with honey and ginger plus soup for lunch.

I am not a fan of daytime TV but not having much energy to do anything else I was flicked through the channels to pick the best thing to watch when I noticed Davis Cup Tennis live from Darwin. Thats it, that's where I am, in front of the TV with my many drinks, rug over the knees and wearing Warren's ugg boots. I don't possess any as I don't need any (today is an exception and he is wearing his $35 pair of NZ socks anyway).

First game is over and unfortunately our young guy got beaten, he is only nineteen but I think he will end up being better than the our other two young guys. They are 22, 20 and 19 years of age and ranking is 26, 38 and 69 at the moment.

While there is a break, I am catching up here and clearing up some cups. I have almost finished a kids beanie while the first game was on so should finish it in the second game.

Australia is playing Kazatan (my apologies for spelling)

Teddy bears

Finally my teddy bears are dressed and ready to go. I was at the Post Office this morning and they had a special offer of 1kg anywhere in Aust for $10 that doesn't include the box or parcel pack. I have been working on a box for the charity that I have been sending to although I am going to look for somewhere closer to home to save the postage. Postage money could be spent on more materials to make into things to donate.

Anyway here are my teddies already to be packed. I knitted most of them over the summer months as they were not so hot to have knitting and wool on my lap. They are knitted in one piece, folded over at te top of the head, sewn together and then stuffed. The ears are stitched across to give some shape and then the scarf is tied also to give shape. I stitched the scarf on to the body. Some have buttons for eyes but i think I will just stitch eyes on as then there is nothing to come off. he white and pink are neck scarves, designed to go around the neck and button up.Teddies are 22cms from head to toe, I think I have a few more to complete as I had run out of filling. I enjoy knitting but also like to get things done so a beanie which I can make in a night or two, a teddy takes about the same time is good. Currently I am knitting a pop over jumper for about a six year old, I am on the last now but it takes about a week. Like the teddies, it is knitted in one piece and then the sides sewn up.

Cricket

Yesterday afternoon I sat and watched the World Cup Cricket final between the Aussies and the Kiwis. I had some hand sewing and some knitting to do.

It was quite a good match and I got six small teddies sewn up, eyes on and stuffed, I also finished a jumper and sewed that up and neatened the edges. I hand stitched three big flowers on to another piece of plain material to make up some more book covers.

The Aussies got the Kiwis out with a couple of overs to go, thirty minutes and it was our turn to bat and the boys ran out the winners in a very short time.

I don't mind the knitting but I didn't realise it would take that long to stitch them up, maybe I should knit and then stitch before going on to another one.

Interesting buildings

A few weeks ago when we went to Dayboro, I was surprised by the buildings in the main street, some of them looked quite old and different.

A church in the main street, I didn't think to see what church it was, I was struck by the fact it was in the main street!

Probably a house once but now it is a real estate business. Love the veranda

Now an information office and they hold poetry readings once a month on the front porch on Sunday mornings.

and finally this one where we had coffee and a pie, got to love country towns. There is one more but it was too difficult to get a photo of because off the trees. It was a small cottage and now is used as a craft shop, selling the locals craft and food stuffs. The front room is the reception area and the others rooms have the different crafts, one is all knitting, another one has sewing, woodwork is out the front as one enters and cooking, pickles and jams etc in the old kitchen. I always pay a visit there when we go, love t buy some local produce and also get idea re crafts.

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Beanies

In my spare time and while watching TV, I like to knit, then I don't feel as though I am wasting time by sitting in front of the TV.

I also like to see a finished product or object, reasonably soonish, patience is not one of my qualities. Knitting beanies fits many of my requirements, they are easy, I know the pattern, I get to knit, I can finish one in a short time, doesn't take much to sew up (not one of my fav bits!) and lastly I am doing something for less fortunate, so a definite win/win for me.

I have a stack of wool, at last count, it fills a laundry basket, some I have bought and some was from my mum's stash Mum was also a great knitter and crocheter but she would make blankets. Knitted squares to be made into blankets or she would crochet a whole blanket. Not my thing and my squares never seem to look like squares. The other day I was in an op shop looking for some vintage velvet for a project that I have in mind (just another one!) and there were two quite large bundles of wool, I bought them, just cant let a bargain like that pass by. There was around twenty balls altogether for $8, all new still with the bands on, retail would have cost easily $40-$50.I won't run out of wool for awhile, that's for sure.

I use up the small pieces by adding stripes and also to make them a bit different. There is a group that meet for knit and natter at the local libraries around and they knit for "Knitting for Brisbane's Needy, " I have donated items to them before and the above lot will go there too but I have missed this months meet so I'll keep knitting and will have more to add. so far I have knitted sixteen and hope to have doubled that by their next meeting.

I was on the train yesterday and knitting when a lady came and sat next to me (some people opt to sit elsewhere rather than next to some-one who is knitting!)and she remarked that you don't often see people knitting or reading a book on the trains these days, she then got out a book. Most people were on their phones! either checking emails, reading or listening to music.