The Oilily Jumper/Sweater

This is the jumper that I bought at the thrift an Oilily.  As you can see I have unpicked the seams up the sides and along the arms.  Now I'm going to have a go at crocheting in an extra gusset to make it larger.


All the recycling of older clothes that I have seen, is taking something larger and cutting it down, to a smaller size, but what about the other girls who need to take it up to a larger size?  So I'm going to have a go.


I love the colours in this, so today I must choose the yarn, I may not go with a solid colour, I may go crazy with a complimentary multi-colour.


Christy

Cold Today

Last night it was down in the teens Fahrenheit, sorry we're terribly old fashioned over here in not using Centigrade, but the sun is out, it seems to have been a long winter.  


Rob put some speakers on Craig's List, that he bought at the Thrift.  So he will be happy that the buyer a Vietnamese man with his little girl and cousin, came today and bought them. 

They all took their shoes off and went upstairs to look at the speakers, Tinkerbell had a field day investigating them, she does quite like shoes.  I hope they were not allergic to cats.  Funny enough Bo just said this morning how different the two are.  Tuppy just rushes to her breakfast food, but Tink takes her time investigating anything that has been moved, rearranged or new.


I'm thinking of seeds again, and know that some packets I have are several years old.  I will use some of these and buy some fresh ones from the dollar store.  Believe it or not if you get there early enough they have enough varieties to keep me going, in both vegetables and flowers. Plus I have seeds I saved from the actual plants from last year, I should have a go at growing those too.  And friends often share seeds, and starter plants.  The ground is still covered in snow.  I guess because the winter has seemed so long I think I should get planting, but it's only February.


If you'd like some little free printable seed packets  there are other places on line too, just take a look.


Christy

Mittens Made from Old Boiled Wool Jacket

These are the mittens that I finished, with some embroidery work; which I came up with.  The stitches are herringbone, blanket stitch, chain stitch, coral knot stitch and French knots.  It was fun working on stitches that I have not sewn for years, plus I learned some new ones. From my 1950s Anchor Manual of Needlework.

I was going to line them but it made them just too thick.  I finished them off with a couple of buttons.  I loved the blue one with the crest, but only had one, so thought I'd just stitch on a mis-matched pair.


I think they look a tad Norwegian.


Christy

Cocooned

Thank you for the well wishes.  Well I have been cocooned in bed for over two days.  I thought this flu would be one really bad day but it went into more than two days feeling really bad.  So now I'm feeling I must come out of this cocoon, since I am feeling somewhat better.  I already missed a luncheon appointment on Friday with a friend, and today Sunday we've been invited to a Superbowl party, not that I care about football, but I know they'll be a lot of old friends there and I just need to get out and smell the roses. 


Christy

Idle and Ill

Well it's Friday and I've spent the entire day ill in bed. This cold or flu, what ever it is, has been coming on for several days, but it just progressed and got worse until today when I had to admit defeat and go to bed.  I slept and read and slept, and the girls Tink and Tupp, slept and slept and slept, ya you'd be surprised if I said read to ha?  They don't usually get let on the bed but boy can they read circumstances and take advantage of them, then you don't have the heart to turn them off.


One advantage to hubby being home is that I've been waited on hand and foot.  Tea, tea and toast, hot milk, honey and whiskey, soup.  I can remember certain times when I've been ill and the family is all out and you have to get on with it, so this is a treat.


We had rain and an ice storm this week on top of the snow, so now it has this thick shiny crust on it;  which looks most peculiar.  We're meant to get more snow tomorrow.  Poor old Australia has had a terrible time of it, one thing after another.  The weather patterns have certainly been crazy.  


Oh my goodness I'm sounding like a true Brit and talking on about the weather.  Well I'm ready for spring and when I step out my front door and see my little bunch of snowdrops growing, I will know it's on the way.  Of course buried under the snow they probably are on there way.


I finished the mittens I was making.  I now have another project in mind. An Oilily jumper.  Oilily  is a very popular children's store, ridiculously over priced, but they also sell adult clothing.  They are known for their very colourful designs.  I found a woman's Oilily jumper at the thrift very pretty in multiple colours, for $6, but it's a tad tight, so I undid the sides and arms and I thought I'd have a go on crocheting in an insert, revamping the jumper/sweater. I've never tried this before and I have to find the correct yarn to do so.  I wish I had the yarn now because I'd start on it. 


Back in November Boosul Boy got a part-time job at a very upscale senior retirement home.  The type of place that has a cinema, hair dressers and it's own shops, plus several dining rooms.  Rob is a server, taking their orders and running out the appetisers, soup or salad, plus the desserts, the runners take the main course out.


We asked him what it's like? And he said it's like working on a cruise ship.  Rob can always hit the nail on the head.  We said who does he like serving best? He said the Asian folk, because they are the most courteous.  I'll have to remember that when I retire.  


He usually works three evenings a week, 4:00PM - 8:00PM, always a Saturday and the other evenings can vary except the evening we go to our Bible meetings, he always has off.  It makes for a long day  leaving for school at 6:50 AM. He gets paid a little above minimum wage.  Even that can add up though for a teenager who lives at home and has no expenses.  The buying power of teenagers in the States is huge.  Some parents just give their children what I consider to be huge amounts of money; which I think does them no favours growing up.  That's why big business can target that age group.

It's been pretty lean this last year, so he can now buy his own clothes, and he's thrifty with that.  And has been able to treat himself to a few goodies he wanted. Plus he will safe some of his check.  He's willing to help out in the family, as needs must.  It makes them think about sharing and chipping in.

Hubby has just brought up Italian Wedding Soup for me.  It's a beef broth with onions, garlic, carrots, spinach, tiny meatballs and an orzo type pasta, other small pastas can be used.  It's good.

So will eat soup and watch a Chinese DVD I have 'Raise the Red Lantern', so will watch that now.  Hope your weekend is good.


Christy

Boosul Boy doing his personal Bible study, with his faithful companion Tink and a cup of tea.  We have always studied the Bible with Rob from when he was born.  Proverbs 22:6  'Bring up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.'

A child needs to be taught values, standards and principles, because if you do not teach them, the world will.  As all those parents with teenagers know it's not easy.  But it's a whole lot easier if you started from infancy, building, building, building, the right foundation so when they do go though those hard years they have a Bible based foundation.


Christy

My Sunday

Well the sun is out and I was quite surprised to see that my Spring counter on my Blog says only 49 days until Spring.  I must say I have been thinking of seed planting.  My friends husband is getting an early start on his peppers as he thought they were rather small compared with his other seedlings last year.  Jack is always coming up with unique ideas.  They have a little cottage style house, no garage or basement.  This is how they built a lot of the post-war homes over here for the home coming GIs.  Well Jack took advantage of some space in the stairwell were all the heat gets trapped and hung a shelf on chains, with a plastic liner and a grow light.  This is where he keeps his seedlings.  It's a brilliant set-up.


Last year I planted seeds and every day my dear hubby took them in and out of the garage, quite a tedious task.  So this year I'm going to get some breeze blocks, place them on the dirt with some of my old windows covering them, to make a cold frame.  Well you all know I have enough windows.  We will see how this works.


Along with my frugal campaign I will be planting almost entirely from seeds.  Actually it was a wonderful surprise, probably no surprise to anyone else, but the absolute diversity of my flower garden led to a wonderful diversity of bird life, especially the dear little humming birds visiting regularly, joy of joys.  You see frugality does have it's rewards.


I was also thinking on a different train of thought, how we picnic more.  A picnic takes a little more thought and preparation before you leave the house.  Instead of thinking "Oh! we'll just get something out."  And in many cases a picnic works out even better because you don't have to worry about looking for some place to buy food or eat at, and then can't find something you can afford or you are out in the boonies and there's nothing around.  So I'm a great advocate of 'Pack-a-Picnic.'  My mum always did when we were children, in fact I could count on one hand almost how many times we ate out, that is until I came to the States;  which was a wonderful novelty being single and going out with friends.  But life moves on and now were back full circle. 


Did you notice all the new fonts on Blogger.  Maybe I'm a little late in noticing this, but I always did think more fonts were needed to express oneself.  I love writing letters and my journal and diary so a handwriting style of font was warmly received by me.


Actually I have a friend Candyce, and we have regularly exchanged hand-written letters for well over twenty years.  Isn't that lovely to be able to say that in this world of technology.  Not that I don't love those new innovations to, as I'm on Blogger.  But there is truly something about the hand-written word.  They even say that in American schools cursive hand writing is becoming a thing of the past.  How sad because your hand-writing is you.


I guess that's why it was fun, actually down-loading my Lil Bit Brit Blog 2008 into a book.  Plus the access to digital format changes.  I have old mini VHS of Rob when little taken by a friend and cannot view it, it all needs converting.  So I guess my thought is, it's nice to have a tangible written letter or book.  Not something else that sits on a cloud server and could be here today and gone tomorrow.


I love to listen to Prairie Home Companion, it comes on American Public Radio and has done for over twenty-five years.  For those of you not familiar with it, it comes on Saturday evening and in our area is repeated on Sunday afternoon.  It's hosted/narrated by Garrison Keillor and is set in Minnesota.  A lot of fun about life there.  The stoic people who live there, plus music, readings, and stories.  More of an old time radio show.  Click on the link and take a look.


Well I must get back to my needlework, the felted mittens.  Plus I have the second DVD of Jane Eyre to watch, the 2006 version.  I have a notion to view my way through all the different versions from the thirties onwards.


Poor hubby is in bed with flu like symptoms.  So will take a hot water bottle up to him.  My mum always gave me hot milk, honey and a splash of whiskey, it works wonders.


Christy

Felted Quasi Norwegian Mittens

I felted these mittens out of two old Austrian jackets. they were past their best.  One blue, one red.  I'm going to have a go at embroidering them, my own design, I guess quasi Norwegian style.  I will line them with a soft fabric. 

Will let you see what they turn out like.  It will be a work in progress.

Christy

Tinkerbell Snuggled In

Tinkerbell is pretty happy snuggled in here on the sofa.  She usually sits on the arm where I keep a little cover for her, but if she can she will decamp to the even cozier spot, right here.

I need to make more throw cushions for this sofa, I think what ever takes my fancy.

Christy

T.G.I. Tea On The Chinese Table

Tea on the Chinese table seems quite appropriate as in:


2737 B.C.
• The second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovers tea when tea leaves blow into his cup of hot water or so the story goes.


I have a little gathering here of an American teapot and little matching tray Hartstone, USA  go on line and look at some of their lovely designs.  In fact you hardly need to use a tea-strainer because the pouring spout is so narrow.  It pours very well but slowly. 


If you're like me a pot has to pour well.  I bought a teapot, the design of which I liked a lot, but when I got it home it did not pour at all, it was worse than terrible, so I took it right back.  A bad pouring teapot is unacceptable. 


My teacup and saucer is from the Royal Horticultural Society Collection, Hookers Fruit, made in England.  The milk jug you've seen before, basket work tray and lace-work tray cloth both thrifted. 


Biscuits are called Spekulatius and are spiced cookies from Germany, I love them.


My Chinese table has seen a lot of where and is a BR before Rob acquisition, with six little stools which store underneath.  It is a great spot to serve tea and by the fire makes it very cozy.  As you see it also has some sewing going on, with my old sewing machine in the background, to the side.


I have the latest IKEA catalog open for a browse.  Have you noticed it's smaller and lighter in weight.   Less white and a lot more barn-wood type walls in the demo rooms.  I especially liked the room in the photo.


So where are you drinking your Tea?  Would love to see some settings from around the world.


Christy

Revamped Willow Pattern Cushion

I bought this cushion years ago.  Eventually the silk just wore out, so I unpicked the seams, kept the centre panel and the backing and bought some Chinese brocade to rework the sides.  It took a little longer than I thought it would.  Not measuring correctly and then having to add the squares in the corners, to not waste fabric.  Plus I am a stickler for inside edges all being finished off.  I don't know why. nobody sees them, although on the brocade which frays like crazy it was a good idea, but I just must have neatened seams.

The backer which is a soft fabric showed all the seam holes, so I embroidered a chain stitch all around on the back to cover that up.  Should have put the opening on the bottom, not the top, but c'est la vie!

Christy

My Windows on the World Today

This is a wonderful cedar tree in the neighborhood, isn't it glorious?  Makes me think of the Cedars of Lebanon I Kings 4:33 "and he would speak about the trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon..."

This is my view of the world today.  Snow this morning and more snow tonight.

All snows are different, well they are aren't they.  Soft and powdery, heavy and wet, misty and crystalline,  I don't think any snow storm this winter has been the same.  All has it's unique splendor.  Have you ever thought if snow was black?  No it would never be, humans love white.  This earth was created for our joy.

Christy

Moonflowers

 

Here are some Moonflower seed pods that my friend gave me.  She knows I love Moonflowers, their fragrance is heady and pungent, conjuring up far away romantic places.  I hope I do well growing them.

I thought of two places I would like to plant them.  One outside my Simla room windows, because I'm often sitting in there of a summer's evening, and the second place would be by my circular pond patio. I hope there is enough sun in both places.

Annual, Perennial, Ipomea

Moonflowers are nocturnal bloomers, perfect for night owls and late night strollers. After sunset, these huge white flowers bloom and glow all night in the moonlight. Then, as the sun rises, they close their fragrant blooms. 

Moonflowers are a vining plant, and can grow as much as 12-18 feet in a single year. They are perennial in their native tropical homes, and used as annuals in more northerly areas. 

Moonflower plants are prolific climbers with attractive leaves. Make sure to plant them where they can climb quickly towards the moon. Plant them along patios and sidewalks where people are likely to be in early evening hours. 

Christy

Snow and Reason

Well yes we did have more snow and yes we will be having more snow next week or spelled backwards wons.  In any case you may wonder about the word reason in my title.  Well the reason our lovely 700 acre park exists in the middle of suburban sprawl, is because well over a hundred years ago it was the decided site for the Insane Asylum; which later became known as the State Hospital.

For at least a hundred years, it was thought that working on the Farm helped them improve and they learned things. There used to be arable farming, plus the dairy herd for milk, pigs and hens.  All this was used for food at the hospital.  Then in the late sixties it was decided that maybe it was not right to let them work with no compensation; which I guess I can see, but that led them right in to not working at all; and personally I think they were better off working because all, most of them do now, is smoke cigarettes and drink coffee.  That alone would drive me to a state of dementia.  There are several green houses and each year in spring they do have a plant sale, and some work there.  I do love to visit the green houses, unfortunately the guy who used to head it up retired and now there is not the diversity of plants to buy that there used to be.

So the farm or a least part of it was and still is leased out to a farmer, but a lot of the land was just left.  So in the nineties it was decided to turn it into a park area.  A good idea that actually came to fruition, and I can truly say it is used and very much enjoyed, by both humans and wild life.

I got a listing of all the sitings of birds, so I got my bird book out to identify them and will work on trying to spot them over the year.  I thought I might even gather my photos over the seasons and put them in a Blurb book.

So the snow photos are of the actual hospital area, with a lot of the old beautiful buildings no longer in use.  I also think there was a whole underground tunnel system which connects them, I learned that from my son, somehow I think old abandoned tunnels appeal to him.

So of course all that land belonged to the State of Pennsylvania and was just never built on, as all around was gradually bought and over the years houses were built. Just about two years ago someone wanted to take a big chunk and make it into a golf course, but that kicked up a huge stink.  In fact there was a golf course right across the road, but that land was just sold, and they are now building a brand new spanking hospital.

So that's the reason for my post title.

Christy

Carmine's New York City

 

 

 

Well Thursday was the big day a trip to Manhattan for a sales kick-off meeting.  I was up at 4:30 am to meet at 6:00 am for the drive up to New York.  We made good time even getting through the Holland Tunnel with not too long a wait.  We were in the New Yorker Hotel by 8:15 am, with enough time for coffee and a croissant before the meeting began at 8:30 am.

It was good to see different ones who I communicate with on the phone but hardly ever meet with from New York, Florida and Connecticut.  Met some new folks and was introduced to our new creative verbiage, "Smarter Solutions, Better Results."  Time really flew by, with round table sessions at the end.  By now it's 1;30 pm and we have a reservation at Carmine's for 2:00 pm.

Our little group from PA took a cab, so we were just about the first ones there.  I have never been to Carmine's before, so was quite excited to go.  We had a great time, a lot of talking, laughter and good food, served family Italian style, as you can see from the tables.  Bottles of Carmine's labelled wine, beer and all those lovely Italian courses.  I know I'm a Brit, but if they left me on a desert Island and said choose one ethnic food to eat, it would be Italian.  How can you not love focaccia bread, salad, olive oil, cheese, fried calamari, ziti in cheese sauce, cheese ravioli in marinara sauce, chicken parmigiana, veal Marsala, and ended with tiramisu, gelati bombs, Italian bread pudding and cannolis, with cappuccino. Yum! Yum! Yum!  

I seem to have no photos of the pasta and entree courses, because I must have been too busy eating them.

So yes I had a great day in Manhattan, even if we were delayed for one hour on the turnpike home, because of an accident.

Christy

P.S.  I love the photo of the waiter handing the bread over and the hands reaching out for it.

Morning Snow

If you live in the States and it's a Snow day, you will receive a phone call at 5:00 am when you are sound asleep and for an instance I always think, oh! that must be BB my sister phoning from England because, sometimes she forgets what the time is here.  And then I remember no, it must be the school phoning to say that they have no school or have a two hour delayed start.  High School starts here at the un-earthly hour of 7:25 am; which means that Rob must leave the house at 6:50 am.

So before he left for school he had to shovel all our sidewalks, that's the law, it must be cleared.   His dad gave him a break and drove him to school.

Christy