FO Friday 2/15: TLDR

Hanson-Roberts Tarot

I'm feeling a bit like the chap in the card today - droopy and tired. Destructo Boy has kindly shared his bugs and now I have a heavy head cold along with a cough that makes my chest burn. I had caught a cold from Mini Diva towards the end of last term, too, the first in absolute ages. So if I've had one from each of them that should be me done, right ?

But before I retreat to my boudoir to sniffle, hack and use up all the tissues, I'll just tell you about a hot water bottle cosy I made as a Christmas gift for my eldest niece.

She has dodgy heating and feels the cold, and I knew she uses hot water bottles; plus I had some yarn in my stash that her Mum (my sister) had given me that was just the sort of jewel tones that she likes; it had no label, but I'm fairly confident that it was James C.Brett Marble Chunky:

That was it before my kind MIL unravelled and reballed it for me. Now it looks like this:

I used 5.5mm needles, seed stitch for the edges, a cable stitch pattern I found somewhere, and Bob's your Uncle. 

No, I totally didn't even write down how many stitches I cast on, let alone put it into a pattern form that others could use. Did I weigh the yarn before I started so I would know how much I used ?  No, of course not. Whaddya think I am, organized or something ? I don't know, as I get older even the most obvious basics seem to be beyond me, though I can just about manage a witty blogpost title linked to yarn color. Go figure.

Anyway, I wished I had made one for myself, as it's just what I need right now, along with a good dose of Lemsip. Pop over to ChrisKnits for far more enthusiasm and way less whinging ....

Monday Moan

Tarot of Durer

Well, it must be Monday because here I am moaning again. Not whinging, as that would be a Wednesday, right ? And the Universe must have me tagged as a soft sap for lame ducks. Meanwhile, I have me tagged for being psychic: I foresee another trip to the vet in this holiday period.

Jewel the rescue cat is in a cone of shame to prevent her from licking, scratching and biting herself - she has an allergy to flea bites, and even though she is treated regularly with the one vet prescribed product that works for her, every now and then she breaks out into a self-mutilating frenzy.

In addition to that, suddenly over the weekend Sebastian has been scratching and licking himself to pieces: usually we see this in spring and summer as he is allergic to grass. But it is winter and there are no flowering grasses right now. He also is treated regularly with vet prescribed anti-flea product, and has no fleas: I have checked him over exhaustively.

He does have some rather large hot spots which I totally sympathize with him must be horribly itchy. 

So he and I have had a shower this morning in his very expensive anti-bacterial dog shampoo. I guess I won't have any bacteria either now. I sure smell medicinally sulphurous, even after a shower on my own to wash and rinse it away.

He now has one of DH's shirts on to prevent scratching and licking while I wait for his steroid prescription to be ready for collection from the vet:

He is still cute and gorgeous if a bit grumbly. Also cute and gorgeous is Mini Diva (who is very grumbly), and who has been sneezing like some really sneezy thing, and also shares the allergy sensitivities - again, not hayfever season and she has no bug bites. So there is definitely something going on.

The only thing that is new or different is that last week we had some building work done, and an internal plaster and lathe wall dating from the Victorian era when this house was built was removed and replaced: the dust was unbelievable, and went everywhere.

On top of this, Sebastian's insurance renewal has come through for next year, and it is now just about the same amount as the Wilhelmina the 2.4l Volvo V70 estate; and if we switch insurers, although it would be tons cheaper, anything connected to his pre-existing condition ie. allergy, will not be covered. Wilhelmina has developed an electrical fault which drains the battery as soon as you look at it, so she will be visiting the garage very shortly.

 

The thing is, the dog is mine and the car is DH's. And you can't cuddle a car.

WIP Wednesday 41: Enforced Hiatus

I have been cracking on nicely with the scarf I am making for one of my BILs: I had bought (or rather, DH had paid for) 3 balls of Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK, and here is where it has got to:


It's nowhere near long enough, so I ordered one more ball from McADirect (plus 2 balls of different colors of the discontinued RY Classic Silk Wool DK - more of those another time). This morning I came back from taking the kids to school to find this:


Our old postman used to come around lunchtime, not in the middle of school run time; and if I wasn't in, he'd tuck little parcels like this one behind my big pot of plants by the door. Dang this efficiency stuff.

So that's a miles-too-far walk to pick up the yarn, or wait til Saturday and DH to take me there. After Jewel the rescue cat has been to the vet for a steroid injection for her flea allergy: she has no fleas - now - but has the allergy ie. is scratching herself to pieces .... go figure.

To while away the time in between, I started a baby cardigan for my neighbor-across-the-road's Bump, due next month, using my go-to baby pattern, Sirdar 1629 and some James C.Brett Rainbow Baby DK I picked up from Anjays in Woodbridge: I am surprised and disappointed with myself that I bought it: it is not nice acrylic, being a bit tough and hard, no give or softness. I should have noticed this when I was choosing it, and not have selected it. I can only put this down to feeling rushed. I hate being rushed. Or maybe I am spoiled from knitting with Sublime, and my latent snob tendencies are becoming not so latent anymore ... ? Don't judge me - everyone has 'em, it's just a question of how well one can repress them.

It looks OK, though, and perhaps will feel better after washing and fabric conditioner.

Pop on over to Tami's Amis for other more happening works in progress ....

Le Chat Persillade

Or, cat with a garnish of parsley ....