Then the Sunset.....

I have said this so many times already - but we do get the best sunsets here in Scarborough. After the heavy storm we had the other day - we had the most perfect sunset!
The tide was out and the reflection on the water, and in the puddles made by the heavy rain were so spectacular.
I never get tired of taking pics of this magnificence


And Lucky and Girl, exhausted by the stress of the thunder and lightning, shared a basket to relax and recover from it all!

First the Storm.......

Had a series of big thunderstorms during the last week - noisy and violent and lots of lightning. My dogs are terrified of storms poor dears ! Grandma's Knitting Place was awash!

But oh, the rain is so welcome - we are in the middle of the worst drought in Australia's recorded history - climate change is no myth - it is Spring here - just - and already very high temperatures during the day.

We get heavy downpours, but not enough to really refill the catchment areas, maybe just enough for a few months - but then no rain for another 6 weeks or more, till the next downpour.

It really bucketed down - these two views are taken at the front of the house, looking out to sea.












The front garden and the park across the road really welcomed it - and so did I - everything smelt so good - fresh and clean!

As I said, the dogs hated it - but Queenie, our Burmilla, reclining on her cushion, wasn't fazed one bit!

Making Friends with a Duck

There I was sitting on the banks of the Baroon Pocket Dam, near Montville - nursing a sore foot, when I made a little friend. He was very interested but a little shy.










A little black duck showed great interest in me and my knitting - and possibly my sandwiches?






He came closer for a look - keeping a wary eye on me - but not too scared.








I kept very still - and waited............










He took a little bite of sandwich - but, "naaaaah, think I'll go and see what Mum's got for tea!"





Such a peaceful place - a lovely spring day; birds nesting and flying about and singing; no sounds except the lapping water, the birds, and the breeze in the new leaves on the trees.....






I heard a noise behind me...............

A cheeky Butcher bird checkingout what I had for lunch, too!

Exchange Package!

Look what the postman brought me!! Last year I participated in a knitting exchange with one of my American groups. My partner didn't reciprocate. But another friend on the same group sent me these gorgeous hand made goodies, plus some yarn to make up for it. Aren't people just lovely?? Especially knitters!

The socks are knitted from Cascade Fixation - which I simply must have, dear reader!



This lovely friend made me two Knitting Totes - one in fabric, don't you love the appliqued sheep?

The sentiment is one I love too! "So much yarn, so little time"















The other bag is knitted, in diagonal stripes of black and green - so pretty!







Both bags are reversible too - and they have lots of useful pockets sewn in for carrying patterns, needles, scissors, chocolate, etc - all the absolutely necessary things for a knitter to have handy!

And because she knows I knit baby things for charity - a whole bunch of nice yarn too!


Some Patons Astra, some Red Heart Super Saver Pink, a ball of Sensations Smania which will be very interesting to knit up - and three balls of a gorgeous boucle type yarn, in dark greens, oranges, blues and browns ( see one on the bottom left)

Thank you so much dear friend!!

Sweet Little Set

This pretty little set was so easy - quick too!

The yarn is Big W's Carnival Effects - Fair Isle colour #5

Done on a circular needle as socks you get a fairisle effect - on flat knitting you get cute stripes.

Booties are Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Booties. Hat is an invention. Jacket is a version of mine which is a cross between the Rectangle Sweater and a little jacket from the Lion brand site. I crocheted round the edges of the jacket hat and the booties in Panda Angoretta in mint green. Now I have found some more of this yarn - thanks Karen - I will make a little blankie to match - another donation for Knitting for Brisbane's Needy .

Two Tomtens and Two Leggings Sets

Made two little hoodies from some donated anonymous yarn - almost like a chenille in thick chunky delicious red - this is the Elizabeth Zimmermann Tomten pattern which I love and am (almost) as addicted to as the Baby Suprprise Jacket!

The original yarn had obviously been wound into balls - although I am not sure it had ever been knitted up before. It smelt strongly of cigarettes (ewwww!) and had bits of grass and stuff in it too. But a nice warm wash in shampoo and a rinse in apricot conditioner made it good as new, and it smelt much nicer too!

I made two little leggings sets - oh so cute and such pleasure to make. The leggings pattern is the Happy Baby pattern free on line. The pink Jacket is Rindy's Raglan, and the Camo jacket is a Tiny BSJ.

The pale pink yarn is - you've guessed it - Panda Angoretta - the darker pink flecked with blue, red , yellow and green (honest!) is Cleckheaton Fleur - this little set is sooooooo soft and cuddly!










I LOVE this little set - so cute!! I invented a little round beanie to go with it - and tried to make the booties as much like army boots as I could!




These boots were made for marching.........
They aren't really different sizes - I just photographed them with one slightly forward of the other.

Camouflage is Big W Carnival Effects yarn. The muted yellow is a Cleckheaton Crepe Yarn - machine wash wool.

All these little outfits are being donated to Knitting for Brisbane's Needy.

Two more blankets finished

This is for my friend Di in Michigan - made in her favourite colours, christmas Red and Christmas Green.


On its way to her as we speak!







This has been promised to Di for a long time - *sigh* - life, and other knitting does get in the way some times!






The lavender and pale green and blue blanket is for Marlene in Bendigo - another friend I have never met before.









I was showing off this blanket at the Caboolture Library - Knitting for Brisbane's Needy have been meeting up there, teaching ladies to knit and just doing a Knitting Awareness program - and another lady was so taken with it that she asked me to make her one too! This next one won't be exactly the same as Marlene's, because I hate doing the same thing twice, but it will be in the same colours. But this second one will be a paid project - whoo hoo!

WE WON!!!!!!!!! YAAAAYYYYY!!!!

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Back on line..................

Finally back on line after a glitch with my computer - could receive and send emails, but could not access Internet Explorer. However after help from a good friend (God Bless you , Annette!)I am now using Firefox Browser, so should have not too much trouble, once I get the hang of the new set up. So will be able to update everything now!! Talk about suffering withdrawal - no blogger, no ebay !!!!!!! AaAgggghhh!!

It felt like being a moth - I kept circling the light but unable to get in!!