Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 34: Calmly through the day

[Mumtobabyhavoc]

New one!

Previous:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5276546-come-and-tell-us-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-33-calmly-through-the-day?page=1

Hi @MyrtleLion , that does sound cool! I am into memory planning/journalling (essentially sticking stickers in diaries), and love crafty things, but I don't have any knitting skills :) My grandmother tried to teach me to knit once, but i somehow managed to grow the lines?! We were howling laughing, and I didn't learn anything 😅
My great grandmother knitted little dolls, she had snow white and the seven dwarves, little beefeaters, and all sorts all over her couches, my sister in law and mother in law (not related) knit beautiful blankets, and my grandmother has knitted little clothes. It's such a fantastic skill and talent 😊

@MyrtleLion I’ve just started a chevron stripe knitted blanket - to a pattern from the American knitting/fabric shop Purl Soho. They have loads of free patterns (and not just knitting; sewing too). Definitely worth a nosey. When the winter comes on I always start getting the urge to knit. Glad to hear you’re feeling better.

Thank you @HildaTablet , I've seen some of their patterns when I was trying to find a Christmas Stocking pattern. I'll look at them for.more patterns.

@EllaDisenchanted you would need at least a beginner level of knitting to participate as the demonstrations assume you know the basics. I started knitting in June for a blanket MN Woolly Hugs made for someone on MN whose son had died unexpectedly. I have learned so much since then, but I'm still very much at the beginning.

If you are interested in starting knitting there are plenty of resources and videos. I don't like videos much unless they are showing me something I can't work out from reading. This guide has words, pictures and a video so is a good place to start. https://nimble-needles.com/tutorials/how-to-knit-for-beginners/

I believe the best way to learn how to knit is to dive right in rather than read about yarn and needles and some of the other paraphanalia. I have certainly gathered my own paraphanalia since starting!

Now 15kg. The vet was very pleased with her.😃

Ooh @MyrtleLion a knitting summit sounds wonderful. I got back into knitting last year and made several hats for new born babies, but never got round to taking them to the hospital. It started when my OH saw a knitted coffee pot cosy, so I found a pattern, got the wool and needles and off I went. I got the bug, so bought lots more wool, needles, circular needles, bamboo needles, steel ones and wooden ones. I then had to get place holders, row counters and a bag to fit them in. I made my OH a yellow scarf too! I think I have OCD when it comes to hobbies. I really go overboard. I’ve done the same with the bookmarks I was making, glitter, glue, pens, wax, envelopes, stickers and tape and the storage boxes, now running at 5 boxes, including a re-purposed wicker hamper. I think I need an intervention of some sort.

My grandson video called me tonight to play a piece he has been learning on the guitar. I was impressed, it wasn’t excruciating and was definitely in waltz time! He told me that he had got 98% for his art exam, he’d drawn an apple but he’d scribbled a bit at the end, which is why he lost 2%. Then he said that he had seen a picture of a tangerine, which was perfect, because there was no white on it at all, just orange. He said, “Granny, it was so perfect, it made me want to cry.” He is such a sensitive 10 year old soul 😄

Tomorrow OH and I are going to sort out the kitchen (he will do the moving and I will tell him where to put things). Again I have collections of roasting tins and baking sheets.

@Mumtobabyhavoc I’ve now got a hankering for poached eggs on sour dough toast, I don’t make them, OH does fabulous ones, but the eggs are always good quality fresh ones. Tomorrow it will be smoked salmon, with scrambled eggs on toast. He made a paneer curry tonight using a kit, he had bought. It said add sugar to taste, so he added a tablespoon of sugar, which tasted incredibly sweet to me and I couldn’t eat it. I had poppadoms with mango chutney instead, which I realise is quite sweet as well.

@sueelleker your spaniel sounds as though they are making good progress. How lovely.

This week a new television programme started, called Game of Wool, introduced by Tom Daley, the Olympic diver/well known knitter. It’s like bake-off where one person leaves at the end of the episode. This week they had 12 hours to knit a fair isle inspired pullover where the patterns reflected their own lives. Then they were divided into two teams and had to knit a cover for a sofa. It was a strangely compelling show. Not only because of Tom’s outfit.

I saw that was going to be on, @Umanresources and decided to give it a swerve, partly because I saw they were knitting the sort of things that give me a slight panic (a sofa cover?? 😱) and partly because I can’t be doing with Tom Daley. I feel OK with that decision based on the reviews I’ve seen.

For some reason I only ever knit smallish things - socks, scarves, throws, etc. I think it’s because I get bored easily with what’s on the needles. Though I can do quite complicated stuff (lace etc) and I’ve been a knitter all my life. The biggest garment I’ve ever made is a cabled cricket jumper for an ex-boyfriend.

Ooh @HildaTablet you didn't miss much. I recorded it and watched it when I was wrapping Christmas parcels. I didn't get invested in the participants and Tom Daley was Emperor's new clothes. The recording actually cut off just as they were announcing who was going home. I wasn't that bothered, so I'm not sure who went. I used to knit when my son was a baby. I still have one of the matinee jackets (as they were called then) and a hat, which was the sweetest thing and so small. I knitted quite a few jumpers for him, such were passed down to several children in the family. I knitted a lovely black and green diamond patterned jumper for my ex husband. I finished it the week after we split up, but still gave it to him.

@EllaDisenchanted the stairlift will be in in a couple of weeks. I hope it's earlier rather than later as it's getting harder every night to get upstairs. I'm counting the days and the steps now!

@Umanresources the stairlift will transform your life. My parents had one, initially for my dad who had asthma and various other issues, and later for my mum who absolutely couldn’t have managed without it. It was great.

(Re knitting - many years ago a good friend at work got into knitting and quickly became obsessed. She started on a jumper with a turtle-neck and every break and lunchtime was devoted to knitting. It was a great day when she finished and excitedly sewed up the side-seams and sleeves and tried it on. Only to find that her tension had been too tight and she couldn’t get her head through the neck 😂)

These knitting stories are wonderful! I have also.become obsessed and my first super chunky yarn has arrived as I'm going to make us all Christmas stockings in our favourite colours.

I went directly from straight needles to a needle system where I have eight sets of needles and four cables that interlock together to make different sizes of circular needles. Of course you can just turn and knit as if on straight needles. I also bought stitch markers and cable needles but I use the notes app on my iPad to count rows. However I saw one of the presenters using a little row counter charm where you slip the next ring on the charm as a row counter, so I may ask for something like that for my Christmas stocking.

The summit has provided some lovely patterns and instructions and demonstrations. I'm just going to watch a video about weaving ends in as you go - the presenter gave a lovely shawl pattern as a free gift.

I saw Game of Wool. Gordon was "cast off" because his tank top was unfinished and his steeking created large holes in the chunky fabric. Steeking (cutting holes for arms and neck) really only works in Fair Isle because the wool sort of merges together and doesn't fray, which is more difficult with chunky wool.

Thank you Myrtle I did think it looked a bit messy with the steeking. I’d never heard of that term before. I’m allergic to wool so can’t use it in my knitting. I come out in a rash and develop a cough. My OH wanted an Icelandic jumper, so I got him one a few Christmases ago. I absolutely hate it. The wool feels like wire to me. He can’t come near me because it starts me coughing. He has to wash it himself, very carefully, in cold water. I’m going nowhere near it. When I went to grammar school I had to get permission from school to have a cardigan knitted for me and not have the woollen uniform cardigan. It was only granted after getting a letter from the doctor about my allergy 😄

Your needles sound very complicated. I’ve only used the circular needles once or twice. I think I might have a go at knitting some mittens, although I do find myself drawn to some slippers I saw.

Those interchangeable needles are really easy, @Umanresources - I converted to them too, and have never looked back!

(sorry to all the non-knitters on the thread - I’ll stop now)

A wool allergy must have been really hard, though it's probably easier woth today's modern fabrics.

The interchangeable system is very easy. I have a set of needles, and a set of cables of different sizes that screw into the needles. The kit includes a pin that goes through the hole to tighten the cables and a cable extender that is used to make the cables longer.

It's really helpful, even if you only knit with straight needles because the stitches can be moved to the cable and kept even, rather than bunching up on the straight needle. It saves buying many different needles as well.

Happy Sunday everyone. ☺️
Just checking on everyone and a few regulars and past regulars. 😇
@bizzey @Deathraystare @Lemonsandlemonade @HelenaJustina @MargaretThursday @MissConductUS

Did some puttering and niggling tasks here. Watching YT vids with dc now, going to put a late lunch together then head out for a bit. It was gorgeous when I woke up, but clouds have moved in now. Forecast shows rain right through to next week. Had a death in the family this past week, which was the second one since early summer, so feeling a bit meh. One was a cousin I was close to and the other my mum's last sibling. Family is shrinking.

sueelleker well done! Hope you're having fun with your little rescue spaniel.

The dreaded wintry mix arrived with a bang today. I went out after mass to fill up my car and regretted it as the north wind would skin a brass monkey.

We are to have lake effect snow beginning soon and lasting until midday tomorrow. Lake effect snow happens when the feeezing wind whistles over the relatively warmer lake and turns evaporating water into snow. It can be very deep but it's impossible to predict what specific areas will be dumped on as there can be 'rivers' in the wind. I have my car scraper and snowboots ready, and also my winter coat, scarf, gloves, wool socks, and I've pulled my windshield wipers back.

We had red beans and rice mixed with Cajun sausage and a green salad for dinner. The spicy rice really hit the spot.

Brrrrrrrr

Sorry for your loss, havoc - it's hard when the people who were a big part of your world as a child start to take their leave.

Ohh @Mumtobabyhavoc so sorry for your losses ☹️ and thank you for thinking about me 💞.

I am going through a difficult time at the moment and it is hard to even type about let alone talk about !

I just keep crying 😭.

But anyway .. onto more trivial chat...

Seems like I am not suitable to have a diffuser in my bedroom !

It has taken me me a few days to join the dots. 🤣....but I decided. The :

Tight chest
Cough
Headache
Pain in throat

Was all down to the diffuser !

Have taken a puff of a Ventolin inhaler that was in the drawer ...and starting to feel better .

Loving the knitting chat !

I made a scarf once ...and that was it 🤣.

Tried taking it up again, but I am just too awkward with my dexterity!

My mom used to cringe while watching me trying to knit !!

Going to look up the knitting show .

Never knew there were so many needles that could be used in knitting !

Love learning new things.

Love to you all 💞 and thank you for checking up on me x

Math, I just checked your area's forecast. Fingers crossed it isn't too bad tomorrow. 🤞
Bizzey, we're always here for a chat. 🩷

Thanks for the kind words. 🩷

I miscalculated the yarn I would need for three Christmas stockings, but to buy a single ball in white, with the postage charge is expensive. So I am going to knit three more stockings for DH's DSis and DNiece and DNephew. Even though they are 15 and two adults. The blue for DNephew was out of stock in the big value yarn, so I've gone for a Toastie yarn which is velvety for all three. This is brilliant because it's £4.99 for a 200g ball whereas the value yarn is £2.59 for a 100g ball. It means I qualified for free postage along with my value white yarn.

I managed to knit a row to make stocking stitch rather than moss stitch on DH's stocking, so I might rip it back, but it's eight rows including some cable. I tend to drop stitches if I rip back, so I may just unpick it stitch by stitch. He says he doesn't mind, but I can't progress anyway till the new yarn arrives, so I may do that instead.

I'm sorry for your loss, Havoc. Deaths in the family seem to come in clusters for me as well. DH and I lost both of our mums in less than a year.

Math, DD had snow yesterday in Indiana. Did you get any?

I've been poorly with a cold for the last week, but I am feeling better now. DS now has the key to his new flat, and his furniture is scheduled for delivery this Saturday, so one of us will have to be on hand for that. We've been shopping online for all sorts of housewares for him - dishes, cookware, sheets and towels, kitchen utensils, rugs for the bathroom, etc. We're having it all sent here for now and will take it over to the flat on Saturday. I think his move is going to happen gradually over a week or two. Some of the things we've ordered have been delayed by the air traffic control issues due to the government shutdown. That, thankfully, looks like it will be over later this week.

We had a nice FaceTime call with DD and SiL yesterday. She had made a trip to Boston the weekend before to visit some friends from uni before the air traffic problems became a big issue.

I saw this fellow out walking yesterday. I've never seen a box turtle with that coloring before, and we have loads of them here.

Aah @bizzeyso sorry you are having a hard time. Echo what @MissConductUSsaid.
DS1 has nearly arranged his accommodation for next year, he is sharing with 6 others in a house. It’s crazy how early they need to do it!
@MyrtleLioni can’t pretend to understand your knitting speak!
stay safe and warm @mathanxiety

That's a very striking turtle shell pattern, MissC. Sorry you've been laid low. There are some horrible viruses doing the rounds this autumn. I'm sure you have mixed feelings about DS setting out on his own. That was certainly my experience. You think leaving for college is wrenching, but at least they're back for summer, or winter break, or even spring break.

We had snow and very cold temps, but only between one and three inches. NW Indiana got the brunt of it, and it's now snowing in Michigan.

I'm heading to bed early tonight and hoping to get many hours of restful sleep. I had vivid dreams all night last night, one of which woke me at 4am.

bizzey sending you good wishes across the miles.

Math, glad you didn't get the brunt of the storm.
Miss, sorry you haven't been well.

It was sunny and 8c when I took the dc out this morning for a (meh) Remembrance Day ceremony. We put a card on the cenotaph with info about a great great uncle who died at Flanders.
I made a pizza this afternoon with pesto, kale, asparagus and three cheeses.
I'm counting the minutes until the dc get their baths and go to bed. ⏳

Woke up to dark skies, wind and rain. Decided to use up some croissants going stale. Have just finished 2nd iced latte. Now watching Dr. Seuss stories being read on YT with dc.

Took dc to Lumiere, an outdoor light festival, last night. There are different installations around downtown. We went to the art gallery exhibit. It was like a party. Kids loved it.

You live in a happening place, havoc. Is that a croissant bread pudding?

Very glad it's Friday. It's been a long week.

I'm off to do my car's emissions test tomorrow morning. I checked the opening hours for the DMV facility I've had to use for the last few tests, and saw they've reopened the one I used to go to, but it doesn't snt stay open into the evening, so my plan of heading there straight after work had to be abandoned. The one I'm going to will involve a round trip of under five miles as opposed to one of just over eighteen.

We're expecting very unusually warm weather tomorrow after a lovely day today. Then much cooler weather next week.