What’s On Your Workdesk this Wednesday?
1. Kitty Throw
Great progress on the kitty throw this week.
I’ve completed my 80 crochet squares! I just had to finish the embroidery on the cat stitch squares before going on to the next step.
I wanted the cats formed by the cat stitch to have faces, so I embroidered their eyes, noses and whiskers. This took rather a long time, with seven squares, each with quite a lot of kitties!
I was working on one of these when my hubby asked me, “What are you doing?” It’s the first time he’s taken an interest. I nonchalantly moved it slightly out of sight and said, “Oh, just some crochet stuff…” and changed the subject! He didn’t pursue it, thank goodness. I don’t think he suspects anything.
Blocking
Now I was ready to block the squares. The blocking mats that I bought last year are totally brilliant. You can use them individually, or click them together in whatever configuration you want. I decided to follow the lead of someone online who blocked a stack of squares all at once. I stacked the squares in fives. I managed to do the first 50 squares before I ran out of pins.
The blocking mats are marked with a 1-inch grid so I could make sure that all the squares were blocked truly square, and all exactly the same size.
Beginning the blocking. This is a special square I made, with our initials. They were supposed to be surrounded by a heart but it came out more like an apple! I may add a few flowers and/or leaves to pretty it up a bit. This square will go in one corner of the blanket. On the left of the picture you can see my new blocking pins. I found it easier when blocking several layers simultaneously to use the regular pins (in the tin) but I had to use a few of the new ones at the end when I ran out.
As I pinned them on the blocking mats, I sprayed each one individually with water to dampen them.
The finished squares measure 7 x 7 inches. I had originally intended them to be 6 inches square but when I discovered they had come out different sizes, I had to add an extra round of crochet to quite a lot of them to make them all the same size. I don’t mind, because it just means the blanket will be that much bigger.
Once they were all pinned on the mats, I took them through into Mum’s bedroom and propped them up against the wall to dry.
I put a “No Entry” sign on the door, warning my hubby not to go in there!
A couple of days later, I removed them from the blocking mats. Being 5 squares thick, they were still a bit damp, but they held their shape OK and I put them in the airing cupboard to finish drying. They look much better now.
The first 50 squares blocked.
Blocking the remaining 30 squares.
This time I stacked them only 3 squares high, so that they would dry more quickly.
Square dance
Now for an exciting step: laying out the squares on the floor in Mum’s bedroom. Arranging, rearranging, to get a random look! As was pointed out to me last week, “random arrangement” sounds like an oxymoron… The trouble is, a truly random setup will tend to generate unplanned pattern, or clumps of too-similar items, etc. What I was doing was a highly organised pattern that created the illusion of randomness, for those pedants among us. Moving the squares around was a square dance!
When I did a mock-up, several weeks ago, with the then-available squares, I laid them out in portrait orientation. However, thinking about this subsequently, I realised that the blanket will have to be in landscape orientation in order to give the best coverage over my hubby’s chair. I’m glad I thought of this when I did, because otherwise he’d have had a throw covered with kitties all on their sides. Not a great look.
The next step was to stack the squares in order, by columns each consisting of 8 squares. I pulled a length of yarn through the top left-hand corner of each stack with a crochet hook and tied them together. Then I added stitch markers to each stack – 1 for column 1, 2 for column 2 etc.
Towards the end I was starting to run out of stitch markers, so for columns 9 and 10 I used one and two stitch markers in the bottom left corner, respectively.
The colour is off in these photos because the light in Mum’s room is not good at the best of times and at night, the incandescent bulb gave such a yellow cast that it was not possible to correct the colour any better than this, but it doesn’t really matter, because this is only for mock-up purposes.
I shall crochet them together in columns initially, adding the embellishments as I complete each column.
Embellishments
I am now working on these, adding to the few that I have already done, and as I go, I am photographing them individually and saving them as png images with transparent backgrounds. I shall then be able to arrange them digitally on the photo of the full layout above in my desktop publisher, and I will then know how many of each colour to do. I’ve got a chart indicating ones done, and ones still required. Here’s a sample of a few of the images I’ve done so far.
The cat faces will have the features embroidered.
2. Birthday card
I had to make a birthday card this week, so I used one of my Celtic knot drawings. This had already been gessoed, so my Tombow markers blended beautifully. There’s a little Vintage Photo distress ink around the edges as well. The card base is one of a series I printed on the computer, ready for the addition of a topper. I made a mistake with this card – I wonder if you can spot it? (Answer below.)
When I stuck the topper onto the card, I got it upside down! The shadows should be at the bottom, not at the top. Duh… Hopefully the recipient won’t notice.
I thought of Shaz when I made this, because I used some bleed-proof white paint that she recommended a few months ago. I think we are all going to have these moments when we use something that was a result of her brilliant enabling.
Food
Recipes of the week
The recipes are in the description under the YouTube video.
Here is my basic chia pudding. It looks a bit like sago, and the texture is similar, with a slight crunch from the seeds.
It’s just chia seeds mixed with some almond milk, with a little maple syrup added for sweetness, left in the fridge overnight, during which time the seeds swell and exude their thickening magic stuff.
You can then assemble your little breakfast pudding by adding the toppings of your choice. My first one was the “Very Berry” one in the recipe.
I topped it with a spoonful of yoghurt and some hemp seeds and chopped pistachios. Unfortunately the pudding wasn’t firm enough to support these toppings, and the bowl was in danger of overflowing! I could then see the reason why these puddings are always served in a jar or a glass.
They seem quite light to eat, but they are remarkably sustaining. I like my oats at breakfast, though, so I have since adapted the recipe by adding some rolled oats. Overnight oats are rolled oats (it doesn’t work with those quick-cook instant ones) which are mixed with other ingredients and allowed to soak in the fridge overnight. The Chia Oat Pudding I usually have for breakfast works on this principle. Treated this way, the oats don’t need to be cooked.
All these breakfast dishes are relatively easy to assemble in advance – a chia oat pudding lasts four or five days, stored in a Mason jar in the fridge – so if you are in a hurry in the morning, all you have to do is whip it out of the fridge and you’re ready to eat.
The berry smoothie for the topping of my first chia pudding was a fairly small quantity, and I found that the Vitamix didn’t blend it very well. The Vitamix jug is quite wide at the bottom and you need a bit more for it to work adequately. I finished it off in one of the Vitamix small bowls and the final blending was perfect.
I came to the conclusion that the best way is to increase the quantity and store it in the fridge, where it will last for several days. The berry topping is basically the same as a smoothie bowl recipe so you could use any of those.
The conclusion of the matter
What I eventually ended up with was my own version of these recipes, adaptable and versatile, and very easy.
Chia Oat Pudding
Serves 2, or 4 small servings with a smoothie bowl topping.
2 cups almond milk
6 tabs chia seeds
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tabs maple syrup
Mix all ingredients together in a Mason jar and put in the fridge overnight. This chia oat pudding will last for several days in the fridge.
An adapted version of the “Tropical Heat” topping from the YouTube video above:
Tropical Smoothie Bowl
Serves 2, or 4 if used as a topping for Chia Oat Pudding.
1/4 cup almond milk
1 tab soya yoghurt
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple
1 banana
3 pitted dates
Small handful of mixed kale and spinach
1 tab desiccated coconut
1 tab flax seeds
(No need to add maple syrup or other sweetener, because the banana and dates do the trick.)
1. Add ingredients to blender in order, starting with the liquid and ending with the greens and seeds.
2. Blend on high for 2 minutes.
3. Serve either on its own, or as a topping for chia oat pudding.
4. Add toppings of choice.
Toppings (or anything else you might choose):
Sliced banana
Pineapple chunks, chopped small
Chopped pistachio nuts
Shelled hemp seeds
Halved grapes
Desiccated coconut
Granola
This is an absolutely delicious smoothie bowl recipe. There is no hint of bitterness from the greens. Definitely a keeper (well, probably not – I can’t see this staying in the fridge for long!).
One thing you can say, life in Shoshi’s kitchen is never dull, is it… What next??
Volcanic bread!
On Sunday I made a loaf of bulgur wheat bread, which is normally a very successful recipe and my bread machine produces a perfect loaf. However, this is what met my eyes when it was completed:
It looks like something thrown up by an angry volcano! I’m not entirely sure what I did wrong, but I suspect I miscalculated the flour and made the whole thing too dry. I ran out of one type of flour while I was weighing it out and while getting a new batch out, the scales turned themselves off and I had to do a bit of jiggery pokery to discover how much more to add. It smelt marvellous though. None of the seeds got mixed in and they all fell out when I tipped the “loaf” out of the tin, but they are edible! I might chop them up a bit smaller and add them to my next batch of granola.
As for the bread – weird, yes, but it was delicious, if a bit cakey in consistency. I made another batch yesterday.
It didn’t rise as much as it should have, and again, quite a few of the seeds had not got mixed in. The only explanation I can come up with this time is that this was a new batch of flour. Flours can vary with their moisture content. Next time I’m going to try adding a bit more liquid because I think the dough was a bit dry.
This is what it is supposed to look like.
Nutrition
Three cheers for chia
These little seeds are fantastic, and enough to cheer your day. They come from a central American plant Salvia hispanica, which is related to mint. They were an important part of the diet of the Aztecs and Mayans – in fact the word “chia” means “strength” in the Mayan language. They are now grown in many different parts of the world.
You can get the regular brown ones, or white.
There isn’t any nutritional benefit from choosing the white seeds over the brown, but I prefer them for appearance’ sake in my sugar-free marmalade – the brown ones make it look as if it has been invaded by ants! This is the only thing I use the white seeds for – they are a bit more expensive than the regular brown ones.
Chia seeds have a very low calorie density, but a very high nutrient density, so they are great for weight loss. They are rich in calcium and other elements good for bone health, and protein and fibre, and various B vitamins. Most chia seeds are grown organically and are non-GMO, and they are also gluten-free.
They are high in anti-oxidants. These important chemicals fight free radicals in the body which cause cell damage and are involved in the ageing process, and can give rise to cancer.
They are high in omega-3 fatty acids and contain more of these, weight for weight, than salmon, and without the health hazards of eating fish (whether wild or farmed). Flax seeds are similar in this respect, and both are useful for reducing cholesterol levels in the blood and protect against cardiovascular disease.
While they can be eaten as-is (and no need to grind them, as is recommended for flax seeds), you can unlock the nutritional benefits by soaking the seeds, making the nutrients more bio-available and easy for the body to absorb. They can absorb up to twelve times their weight in water, producing the nutritious gel which also has the effect of cleaning the lining of the gut of anything undesirable hanging about.
In food preparation, soaked chia seeds are useful as a thickening agent, and can also be used as a replacement for eggs (as can ground flax seed) in baking. When you first add water to them, it is important to keep stirring and agitating them for a few minutes, or the seeds will tend to clump together. You can then leave them to soak for about half an hour to get the full thickening effect, but longer is better – preferably overnight in the fridge, where it will keep quite well – you can soak a quantity and store in a jar so that it’s always to hand for adding to smoothies and other dishes. Generally, the ratio is 1:6 seeds to water. To replace one egg, you need 1 tablespoon of chia seeds mixed into 3 tablespoons of water.
Chia puddings are made by substituting the water for milk (preferably non-dairy). The seeds will still swell up and thicken the milk. Chia pudding has a neutral taste which is quite pleasant, but bland, and you can create infinite flavour variations by the addition of different toppings, or mixing in cocoa powder, banana, fruit puree etc.
An insignificant-looking little seed that really packs a punch nutritionally, and very versatile and useful in food preparation.
Yippee yay, yippee yo——ghurt!!!
I did my weekly online Tesco order on Sunday and lo and behold, my favourite yoghurt is back!!
That wonderful lady at Tesco HQ has been as good as her word and been in touch with the local store manager, and it has returned to the virtual shelves! Not only that, but they now have the full range of unsweetened non-dairy milks so my hubby won’t have to get them from Sainsbury’s! I emailed her to thank her, and got a very nice reply from one of her colleagues who said she’d pass the message on. I also told my delivery driver about it yesterday and he said, “We aim to please!” Nice to have some good news to report for once.
It just goes to show, it’s worth making a fuss about things. When I told my hubby this, he was glad of course that the yoghurt is back, but he pulled a face and called himself “Mr. Don’t Make a Fuss.” “Yes,” I teased, “and Mr. Hates Confrontation, Mr. Just Let It Go, and Mr. Anything For A Quiet Life”!! He’s always embarrassed when I make a fuss, but I’m the one that gets results!
Kitties
One night last week, I was preparing to go up to bed, and put my bits and pieces in my bag which I use to carry stuff up and down stairs. I had just put my fleecy blanket in the bag, and in hopped Ruby!
I proceeded to pack my other things around her and she didn’t seem to mind. I told her I was going to take the bag upstairs but she didn’t get out. I always hang the handles over the armrest of my stairlift, and I did this, and with Ruby still on board, we sailed up the stairs! I wish my hubby had been awake to take a photo. It was like a cable car ride for her. When we got to the top, I put the bag down, and she hopped out and ran downstairs again! I think she enjoyed her little ride, though.
Lily the Cheshire Cat
In addition to his famous grin, the Cheshire Cat had the ability to disappear and appear at will. Yesterday as usual we shut the kitties in the flat first thing in the morning to give the Tesco delivery man a clear run, with no risk of them running out of the front door onto the road. When I went into the flat before he arrived, there was Ruby, but Lily had completely vanished. I searched high and low and could not find her. I called my hubby and he said there was an easy solution – to rattle the biscuit box. I did not see her emerge, but suddenly she was there!
Later I went in again, to let them out, and again Lily had vanished. My hubby repeated the biscuit routine and I saw her emerge from under the table. I had looked under there, and behind the chair, and behind the curtain and she had not been there. It is very, very mysterious.
I swear she was grinning at us.
Two very sleepy girlies
Clothes
After saying that most of my winter stuff is boring, I decided that my Norwegian knitwear is not boring but beautiful, and that you might like to see it. Several years ago we went on a Norwegian Fjords cruise and I bought several of these beautiful jumpers, including ones I’ve now inherited back from my parents. My hubby bought a lovely one for himself with a matching hat.
The first one is striking in black and white with no other colour.
I like the fact that the main part of the body and sleeves is not just plain white, but has spots of black. One of the advantages of this small overall pattern is that the secondary yarn is carried across the rows on the back, and this adds to the warmth. The other nice thing is that where there are areas of alternate black and white stitches, from a distance this appears to be more grey, adding another element to the design.
Here’s a detail of the fabulous pattern.
I’ll show you more in due course.
Health update
This week I had a letter from the chief bod at the Exeter Hospital, in charge of patient services, and the one who deals with people like Mrs. Always Makes A Fuss (Yours Truly). She said that it is when someone is initially referred that sets their place on the waiting list, so the delay I experienced for all those months would not have made any difference. If this is indeed the case, I am feeling reassured, but also annoyed that nobody thought fit to inform me of this simple fact, despite months of non-productive correspondence with various people.
It’s all very well chucking more money at the NHS, but I think what is really required is a proper shake-up of the creaky system and for someone to get them properly organised. There’s a huge amount of inefficiency and wastage – even back in the 1980s before my Dad retired after over 30 years as an NHS hospital consultant, he was always complaining about it, and it’s got even worse in recent years. While we all admire Captain Tom immensely for his amazing effort raising all those millions for the NHS, it did rather reinforce the “throw money at it” approach and encourage the “absolutely no criticism of the wonderful and oh-so-perfect NHS is allowed” attitude.
The lady concluded her letter by saying that they could not give me a date for my operation (which I fully understand, given the current situation), but she wished me well for my upcoming surgery.
So, we aren’t much further on in that I am still waiting with no end in sight, but at least I have some reassurance.
I said to my hubby that in the unlikely event that my hernia causes another obstruction (the first time it happened, the hernia was small, and more likely to block, and now it’s quite large so much less risky), we should go to the Exeter A&E rather than Torbay. If it required emergency surgery I’d want to have Mr. Daniels, so that he can do what he has planned, rather than have a third party messing about with it and possibly putting the kibosh on what actually needs to be done. This is what happened with my first repair, because in the emergency, my regular colorectal surgeon wasn’t available, and I was patched up by a general surgeon, and the repair inevitably failed, because simple sutured closures of parastomal hernias have a 100 percent recurrence rate. If that repair had been adequate, I could have avoided the second repair attempt which produced life-threatening complications subsequently, and I’m still back at square one, with quite a large hernia which is definitely beginning to cause stoma management problems.
So, we continue to wait. And wait.
As usual, Shoshi, a good read…
The apple shaped heart made me giggle! But what an amazing blanket this is going to be!
I wouldn’t have known that the card was upside down!
That was an interesting bulgar loaf – and I loved the kitty ina bag story!
Happy WoyWW!
Susan #2
Oh the cats! This is going to be fabulous when finished, and I am very much NOT a cat person LOL! The jumpers are stunning – I have not yet tackled a colourwork yoke jumper, bt I have a few patterns but by so … one day. Your volcanic bread made me laugh, but not sure about the chia seeds. They may be nutritious, they may be healthy, but the texture? well I won’t say, I’m sure it is a personal problem with my, like with the smoothie bowls. I just can’t deal with certain textures, no matter how much crunch you add! Hope the health stuff gets on track for you soon. Now for MY health I am off to treadmill…
Happy desk hopping’ day!
Mary Anne (1)
Hi Shoshi, your cat blanket is looking magnificent! I hope you can maintain the surprise.
I’m not sure if the hospital letter constitutes progress but I’m glad it’s reassuring. I’m afraid that big organisational overhaul projects often use up mega funds and fail because they don’t involve people in developing the change.
I bet if frontline staff had a moment to draw breath, they’d have lots of simple improvements that would have a big impact.
Your stories often remind me of another. I have a “don’t make a fuss” husband, too. We went all the way to Belgium for a Magritte exhibition and they weren’t going to let us in. We had tickets but their website had not said there was another part of the reservation system. He and a friend hid behind a pillar while I waved a printout of their website and got us in. Hah!
I truly believe all cats are Schrodinger’s and can dis/re-appear at will.
I love your Scandi jumper! Happy memories
Stay safe and happy WOYWW
Hugs
Lynnecrafts 11
Morning Shoshi. Wow. Not far to go now!! The blanket will look lovely – and I am sure N will be thrilled with it. dashing now to hear today’s update… see what is in store for us for the next few weeks. Glad you got your yoghurt.
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #4
Really love the colours you are using for Hubbies secret blankie, so well matched to the kitties and those wee noses what attention to detail, already looking marvellous it will be a labour of love and devotion when complete. Oooo pudding for breakfast now that’s a treat, looks lovely. I’m getting a little tired of porridge and fruit I must say. You hang in there with your appointment Shoshi, I know it’s hard for so many waiting but they will get to you asap.
Best wishes this WoywW, your jumper is fab btw Hugs Tracey #14 x
The squares look great all laid out like that – we can see how the finished blanket will look. What a mammoth project this must have been, even for you! I love chia seeds and have tried that pudding – without the topping – just soaked them in milk. Still have some – I’d better make some more. The second bread came out perfect and good to know that the first didn’t go to waste either. Ruby looks adorable in that bag – she’s almost saying “what are you looking at?” They’re the mirror image of each other curled up like that! Your Norwegian jumper looks nice – perhaps a little nod to Shaz, who has Scandinavian heritage according to the link Doug put up. Hopefully, your hernia will not cause any problems and you can get your operation soon. Have a lovely week, Shoshi xx
It was worth taking the time to block the squares, they look great all laid out like that. I find doing random things really hard and always have to order things to my satisfaction! Your husband will love it. The Celtic card was fantastic too!
Hugs LLJ 8 xxx
Hi Shoshi! The blanket is really coming on isn’t it?! I had no idea what was involved in blocking, being a non yarn person, so that was really interesting to see it all stage by stage. I agree about the wastage in the NHS – so many times I’ve seen situations get worse because procedures have been put off and that has ultimately cost them more money. Even with my first ankle op – it was half day case so an afternoon appointment with the usual “not sure who is going first” type affair. I went down last, at 4pm. When I came around they explained I couldn’t go home because I needed to be seen by the physio first, as always in these cases, and she leaves at 4.30. Sometimes it really is the basic things that go wrong isn’t it?! I absolutely loved your Celtic knot by the way. I really must try my hand at one. I did a loopier version as a cross stitch kit many years ago. I wonder where it went?! Stay safe and keep smiling, Lisa-Jane #7
Oh those kitties and your throw. All delightful and cuddle worthy.
That yoghurt looks interesting, I may just go and seek it out.
As for your jumper I think it’s very nice. I love a bit of pattern.
Lynn x 15
aw….you lost me at knit blockers… Knickerblocker Glories?! Yum! The cat squares are comimg on, even since this morning! And the Yoghurt, that will do. Must look out for it ready for the next onlineshop.
happy WOYWW! ((Lyn)) #16
the blanket is going to be fantastic! It wouldn’t have occurred to me about the orientation of the kitty faces I don’t think. Hope to see it all done soon . I am sure the card’s recipient will just admire it, not check for shadow positions! I didn’t spot it! Helen #5
Wow! The blanket is starting to look amazing – seeing it all laid out on the floor must have been so satisfying. Your hubby will love it! Sorry I’m missing in action again this week – we have building work at ours and every evening I am having to move things round the house to make way for the next thing! I hope to be back next week. Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. Caro xx
Hello Shoshi, your kitty throw is going to be magnificent when it’s finished. That picture of Ruby on your bag is priceless ! So adorable. I am going to look into those Chia seeds, they seem very versatile. I tried flax seed once in salads. We are eating a lot of salads at the moment , trying to have a light diet, but still getting an overloaded plate even if it is celery, carrot, lettuce, cucumber etc! Have a great week Angela #17
You are always so busy, don’t know how you find time to sleep. Loving the progress of the crochet squares for the blanket they are going to look great when finished. I always love your celtic knot designs and it looks great on the card. Wishing you a very happy week and a creative woyww, Angela x19x
The kitty throw is coming on so well Shoshi and is already looking stunning. Glad Lily wasn’t truly lost and miss Ruby enjoyed her ride lol. It is reassuring news that you have not lost your place in the queue, hopefully there will be a date before too long with everyhting heading in the right direction. You are right about the NHS and wastage. Far better to ask the people on the ground for suggestions. A friend of the family who did her nurses training with my mum and ended up in charge of the nursing programme at Wolverhampton always said that they could save a fortune just by making some simple tweaks but the people on the very front line never seemed to get asked. i believe Toyota used to encourage suggestions from the workers by offering a bonus to workers who came up with money saving ideas that didn’t cut corners or reduce customer service. Perhaps the NHS should do that too. STay safe, meow to the kitties and happy WOYWW. Sarah #3
Hi Shoshi!! I’m the latecomer! LOL Better late than never eh? LOL I hope you got my email. Sometimes I never know when I send things if they are received or not? I have NEVER claimed to be tech savy! LOL
So I’m in love with the kitty throw!!! He will be over the moon about it I just know it!! You have done well with your secret and I am so loving all the final touches you have put on it! What a process with the blocking of those squares. I confess I have NEVER blocked my things when I knit, which is why it always seems wonky to me! LOL That being said I don’t knit many things that need to be precise!! LOL But that was surely a task for you with this guy! The little embellishments are super cute too! Also, gorgeous birthday card! I don’t think they will notice the upside down ordeal, but I totally get you on that because I suffer from extreme OCD and it would kill me! LOLOL but the card was beautiful Shoshi! 🙂
As ALWAYS, I love the recipes you shared this week. You know, I have NEVER done the breakfast in a jar thing, which is so odd considering how I eat and how fly by the seat of my pants I am in the mornings trying to get to work!! LOL This would certainly be a perfect solution for my morning yummies! Starting the spring season it gets harder and harder to find the Ball jars, so I need to get a jump on things!! I so want to try these!! Do you know if the oatmeal one would take usins steele cut oats? I am a bigger fan of those for their nutty taste, but wasn’t sure if they would work the same as regular? Loved your information on Chia Seeds! I love them and put them in everything!! I had no clue how they were grown so that was a little education for me today! LOL
Too cute about Ruby and the lift!! I can so see the whole scenario of putting stuff around her in the bag and her not budging!! Cats are so funny and they so do things on their OWN time don’t they???? Your little felines seem like little mischief makers!! I think God has a sense of humor and provided things like that in our lives to keep us wondering and lifted up!!! My old cat would do the same thing with the biscuit box except it was the “treat bag!” If you shook that treat bag, all three came running! They TOTALLY knew the drill. And……they knew just where I kept them too! So for example if I was in the kitchen doing who knows what and I happened to be around “the cabinet” that housed their “treats,” they got excited and would come running! It was a HUGE let down when they realized, nope, mama’s not giving out treats right now! LOLOL I love animals and in particular kitties! I can’t wait for the day when I can once again have a furry friend living with me!
So I see the whole health/doctor shenanigans continues!! You know, I think on some level, they think if they act oblvious enough, we will give up! But what they don’t realize is that some of us (ME) don’t give up so easily and will continue to be “Mrs. always makes a fuss” as you say!! LOLOL It’s not that I am trying to be mean, it’s just my thought is stop yanking me around and just be civil and straight. They would find that “we” would go away a whole lot faster and easier that way! LOLOLOL Hang in there Shoshi, you are such a strong woman!!
Well, I must be off….you know, to do what they pay me to do here!!! LOLOL Sorry again, it’s late coming in, but know that I am thinking of you and so thankful for your sweet friendship and you kind words, ALWAYS!! Blessings to you Shoshi! Felicia #26
I think it just settled in my brain that the kitty blanked is going to be a gift 🙂 I have never seen the squares being blocked so, the whole play with them and lay it out ahead of time is a cool visual journey too. I hope they get your surgery scheduled sooner rather than later. and that sweater looks amazing too 🙂 ~Stacy #28
Hi Shoshi, the kitty throw is looking amazing. I love the slight interest from hubby, and your ‘oh, just some crochet’ reply, and he is blissfully unaware. I could probably crochet something for Mr M in front of him and he would be none the wiser. In fact I think I did finish off his birthday card one year, and he was sat next to me, totally oblivious! So long as I’m happy doing what I am doing, then he’s happy. I know I’m only relatively new to crocheting, but I have absolutely no idea what blocking is, although your blocking squares look very similar to some foam blocks we use in the garden when the grandchildren come over (albeit ours are pink, green, yellow, etc and not gridded). From the pictures, I’m guessing it is to get all the squares the same size? I haven’t yet made anything up from squares, so haven’t had an issue with that yet, but I can’t imagine it could be a nuisance. Gosh … who would say that a random arrangement was an oxymoron – (grins) – your randomly placed arrangement looks quite perfect, and random!
Great news in getting your yoghurt reinstated at Tesco. Perseverance does pay off sometimes. I love your jumper- Mr M and I are hoping to do a Norwegian fjords cruise when things return to normal, but at the moment all I can do is peruse the holiday websites. Ah well, patience is a virtue. I sense your patience is wearing thin on the NHS/operation/delay front, and I’m not surprised. It has been quite badly handled, and does sound a bit of a fairytale …. but sadly, not a great deal you can do it about it!
Have a lovely week, Heather xx #25
Sorry I late. My word the blanket is coming on so well, the squares look splendid. Am not remotely surprised that so far, he hasn’t really noticed what you’re up to…I like your idea of putting your initials on one of the squares too.
I don’t like confrontation and certainly don’t want a reputation for making a fuss, but I don’t let things go…I like to think that ‘fuss’ is the last thing I make when I have reason to complain or ask for service…..
Your blanket is looking beautiful – such a lot of work and love has gone into it, I am sure you hubby will be thrilled with it. I didn’t realise you could block several pieces at once – what a time saver. The Celtic card is gorgeous – I do love that series you did. I hope you get your surgery soon, I’m glad you’ve had an explanation now. The kitties do make me smile – how cute is that little face looking out of your bag, and it sounds like Lily is keeping you on your toes! I love the jumper too, it looks very cosy.
Have a good week and apologies for lateness,
Diana xx #20
Wow. I am amazed at the blanket! So much work! So beautiful! I hope hubby realizes all the work and thought that went into it! I love that you put your two initials in the corner! I love the little paw prints you made as well – so cute! I love reading about all the things you eat – so different from us carnivores. I put chia seeds in my granola, so I do eat them, just not the way you do! Did you ever hear from your blender company? Now that you have been successful with the yogurt, maybe you can work on them! Your sweater is gorgeous, I love B&W. Thanks for all your advice regarding snoring. Hubby is supposed to be going in for sleep study at some point, we may have to wait until everyone is vaccinated. He doesn’t snore extremely loudly very often, just when his sinuses are acting up, but I found some wax earplugs that don’t go into your ear canal, but kind of sit in the ear like earbuds. They are soft, and don’t seem to make my ears itch. If he does have to get a CPAP I am anticipating I will still need earplugs! I was looking at the headphones that you are getting, thinking they also might be nice for walking, you will have to give a review! I love the story of the cat in the bag, and the trip up the stairs! I wonder if she will do it on purpose now! The kitties look so cute sleeping together like that, like yin and yang! Thanks for your visit, have a great week, Lindart #29
Hi Soshi!
Oh kitties (can you hear my happ squeal from there?) Both the afghan and the actual kitties. One of the things I love about your Wednesday posts is they are always so informative nutritionally. Thank you for sharing.
Creative Blessings & Hugs!
Kelly #27
So much to take in!! The end is in sight for your lovely blanket, truly a work of love and dedication (though I did have a giggle at the appley heart). Your Norwegian is stunning, I particular like the collar. Nice and cosy for chilly winter days (could have done with it today, could not get warm this afternoon despite thermals and three layers). Sorry to hear you are no further along with your surgery, that must be a disappointment but alas the norm for now, hang on in there and yes I think that is a good plan in case of a future emergency. I think I’m going to go and start up a chia pudding right now so I can try it in the morning. Have had the seeds for a while but keep forgetting to do it. I made my own hoummous this week (hubby commented I might have added a touch too much garlic but it was yummy) and had a lovely bean salad for lunch today. I know this is very basic stuff but I’ve never really bothered before with pulses and beans etc before. I am trying to make small steps to eat more healthily. I am never going to make my own bread though – I think all my attempts would turn out like that first photo (yes I laughed). In the unlikely event it turned out Ok I would just eat too much of it, so steering clear is a win win for me! Happy belated WOYWW – I have stopped trying to get round in one day, it doesn’t work for me right now. But no rules eh? Have a good week, stay well, stay safe, Cindy #18 xx