Knit Your Square To Give Your Share - Part 3

Kinsey

Lorna best wishes to you and your brother.

mrs-moneypenny, lovely squares, and lovely colours.

mioliere good luck with the last minute 'christmas' rush!

ChocClare

Well, I've just spent this entire evening catching up on a month's worth of posts so am going too blind to change my signature or actually do any knitting...

:grouphug: Big big hugs to all of you who have lost family members or friends over Christmas and New Year - always extra difficult as you have every following Christmas to remind you. I work in a residential/nursing home and this time of the year we always seem to lose someone - people hold on for Christmas and then they think, that's it, I can go now... Our worst one was an elderly lady we had whose daughter had passed away on her (mother's) birthday. She never celebrated her birthday after that, as you can imagine. Anyway, not to dwell - big, big hugs to all of you. It's Candlemas next Tuesday, so winter will soon be over! (Or Imbolc, or Groundhog Day or whatever you prefer!)

Loved the pictures of potimarron for those who can remember that far back. I have been given some seeds and will be growing some this year, so glad to hear it's nice! Those of you who tasted it and liked it might be interested in this.

Thanks for all your help with links and things - just a quicky question. For Chalky's squares, is acrylic OK? I ask because our Home keeps being presented with cones and cones of "wool" which is often acrylic. The four-ply is too fine for our ladies to use, so I inevitably get given that, and I could use it double to knit up some squares. I think you said you're happy with patterned and textiled ones, didn't you, Chalky? I swap dishcloths and there's always lots of patterns I'd like to try (which is why I started knitting dishcloths, as the idea of samples just felt like a waste of time). Some of the "dishcloth patterns" I try just AREN'T suitable for dishcloths but they'd make good blanket squares!

Well, it's bedtime nearly and DD and DD's friend are giggling away in high-pitched squeaks which you'd think only the dog could hear, but which astonishingly have the capacity to pierce our metre-thick 17th century cob walls. That's 14-year-olds for you.

Thanks for the welcomes back and apologies if I missed things already posted in my marathon three-hour skim of the last month's pages!

In_Search_Of_Me

just popping in to say hi...no knitting to report as now have 2 cross stitches to do - 1 birth announcement for weezl's no 2 and 1 home welcome one...will post piccie when done!
Hugs for people suffering...I for one will be happy when my life has some calm/peace but think it will be a while...meanwhile am trying to see the positives and leaning on people who have been wonderful pillars of strength when I have lacked the energy ...
had a lovely lunch and craft morning with friend. Each year church has a motto so we made and decorated lots of the motto so people can put them on their wall/fridge etc and focus on this years aim while going about their day...
sorry to hear that more poorlies and hope things improve...hugs those tht need them...esp thinking of those who have lost loved ones; are missing those that they love; are powerless to help those around them and people generally feeling that they are at the bottom of a deep chasm...

mioliere

It's a rare occasion when Louis the cat stays in for the night, but last night he did, and in the early hours of this morning he decided to stand on my pillow and tap my face to wake me up! He needed a handful of Friskies and a visit outside soI let him out half an hour ago and it was like broad daylight outside, the moon was so bright. Although I was a bit miffed at being woken up so early, it was worth it to see the moon. Luckily, it's Saturday so I can catch up with an afternoon snooze!

Lorna - thinking of you and your brother; I hope he had a peaceful night and that you got some sleep.

Shaz - I know you're probably not up to posting much, but it's good to see you on here. I hope things are going as well as they can for you. Thinking of you.

F1 - what a lovely surprise, especially after what you have been going through lately. (((Hugs))) to your DS - I hope he has a great weekend and that things are better when he goes back to school on Monday.

ChocClare - thank you so much for the link re the potimarrons! It was me who mentioned them in the autumn. I just had to buy one as soon as I saw them. They were really cheap - I paid 79 cents (about 70p) for it and roasted half and turned the other half into the most delicious soup. They didn't seem to be on sale for long so I bought some more but, sadly, they've all been eaten! I love the sound of the project and will be sending off for some seeds. I need to find where to donate the surplus according to the project's instructions, but that shouldn't be difficult - we have a Red Cross just down the road so I shall ask there. It will be fun to grow them. We need to send four first class stamps with our application and, luckily, I have some UK stamps hidden away somewhere; as they'd need to send the seeds to France, I'll send six stamps for postage. I must admit, I'm quite excited about the prospect!

Chalky - it's a shame you can't just put some legs on some hedgies, isn't it? I don't think they'd look very puppy-like, though! Looking forward to seeing your pictures and plan! And, yes, the excitement is growing but so is the panic - I have loads to do before we leave next Saturday! DIL2 had the brilliant idea of suggesting we all get together for Sunday lunch the weekend before we come back here, and she has booked a table at our favourite restaurant - at the last count, the table is for about twenty people! The restaurant is lovely, overlooking a beautiful lake, and offering delicious food, so that's definitely something to look forward to. She keeps thinking of more people to invite, so I'm sure the staff will be putting several tables together!

I must, must, must take some new photos of the work that's been done on the house to take back and show everyone, so that's another job to do before we go! Time is ticking away rapidly now!

ISOM - a brother or sister for Fergie - what a perfect excuse for some cross stitch. I shall look forward to the photo. I haven't done cross stitch for ages; I really must look out my stuff. I'd love to do some samplers for the grandchildren.

Sunny Girl - the colours you have chosen for your new wool sound lovely. Made me think of Wedgwood! I love blue and cream together. Don't forget a photo of the finished result - or even the balls of wool before you start! I can't wait to visit my favourite wool shop when we are in the UK!

Well, my second cuppa is beckoning me, then I shall sit and do some crochet - it's so lovely and peaceful here.

Thanks for the great totals so far. I'll do the update on Monday from everything posted up until midnight tomorrow night, then our lovely Jean will be taking over from me while I'm away (in fact, she's so lovely, she does it anyway so that we can cross-reference and get it right - I'd still be making dreadful mistakes if it wasn't for her so 'thank you, Jean'!).

KathyXX

mioliere

Well, I'm still wide awake so I thought I'd post some photos!

Here are the two Chalky squares I've made so far


and, draped over my footstool, the lapghan for DGS


and one for DGD1


KathyXX

SunnyGirl

Kathy They're lovely! The grandchildren will be so pleased My lot still use blankets that they've had since been little. Some of them are so patched now that it's nearly more patching than original but they adore them Hope that you do get a snooze in this afternoon. I was woken this morning to hearing a cat crying outside. Utterly convinced that one of them was in dire straights I rushed downstairs to find Cookie, one of the 2 boys, sat on the doorstep with a mouse for me :eek: I thanked him for his very kind gesture and yanked him in, minus the mouse, very quickly :rotfl: He's had a good scoff now and is asleep on the kitchen windowsill.

chalky_75

Good Morning and Miaow to you all-- It sounds like you have all had a night on the tiles!!!!

Well I hope everyone is going to have a really better Saturday-- Lots of little moments to help build up the happiness bank. A nice cup of coffee always helps!!

Kathy lovely things-- Lucky Grandchildren -- what lovely things to treasure

Acrylic is fine for the blankets. Thank You

I spent some time sewing together a Lapacuddlyghan last night so that I can take it out with me as we go adventuring in the Sunashine Bus. Sorry won't be here for coffee or tea!! We are going out to a village in the mountains today to have a Tapas lunch but most importantly to see the Almond Blossom in the little fertile plains on the way up. It looks so pretty and a lovely way to end January.I acn crochet on the ordinary road bits IYSWIM!!

So thanks for all the encouraging words re the puppies and they are the next job to
tackle!!
Right been given the countdown so must go
Lots of gentle thoughts to you all

mioliere

Thank you for kind words about the blankets! I will get some more wool in the same colours and make them each a cushion to go with them ....for next Christmas!

Well, having opened the shutters as it got light, we were faced with three inches of totally unexpected snow! Everything looks wonderful but it's put paid to DH doing some outside work today, which he had planned. There's definitely enough for a snowman, so we will be attempting one later on, I think! I've already take some photos but the snow was so heavy, it kept landing on the lens, so - if it ever stops - I'll take some more.

Anyway, Chalky - have a lovely snow-free day. I bet you're glad you chose Spain and not France, aren't you?!

Cats are lovely but they are persistent when they want something, no matter what time of day or night it is. He's currently flaked out on the sofa - it's alright for him!

Anyway, I've finished DGD2's top, apart from sewing in the ends and adding a button, so I should be starting the little matching pants later on today. I've also decided to make her a little headband with a butterfly or flower on it, to match. For the whole outfit, I've used some soft pinky-white self-patterning wool with some in a really hot pink. I'll post photos when it's finished. Then the next thing will be packing up the wool for Chalky squares - to be done all the way to the UK and back!

I've had another de-dusting session here while DH vacuumed, so the place feels nice and clean until he starts renovating again! I've also prepped all the ingredients for a chicken casserole for dinner, and made some bread. I feel a snooze coming on but will save that for this afternoon!

KathyXX

KathyXX

shazrobo

morning all, love the blankets and squares kathy, also summers outfit sounds lovely, cant wait to see pics when its finished.
met up with ian for a coffee and chat yesterday, now i wish i hadn't i feel as bad as i did last week, i love him so much it hurts, but it isnt to be. i gave him the last of his things yesterday, so at least no reminders of him in the house. cheeky so and so asked if he could still text me and ask for more hats, socks and scarfs, as he often loses them, of course i said no. all my knitting efforts now are for charity, myself, my mum, or my kids.
anyway enough moaning from me,
hugs all
shaz xxx

mioliere

Oh, Shaz - lots of (((hugs))) on their way to you. It must be a painful time for you but it sounds as if it's not meant to be. I agree, it's a bit cheeky to have asked you to carry on making things for him.

I hope things start looking up for you soon. Thanks for your kind comments about my photos.

KathyXX