Amelia and Grace turn one!

I can't believe it has been a whole year and we have all survived. We had a party for their birthday on the weekend and all their grandparents came down and Jane and Ian, Carolyn and Shaun. They both ate a lot of fairy bread and pretty much anything that they could reach. They had their first bit of cake. Amelia tried to stuff the whole thing in her mouth - she was quite excited by it. I'm quite suprised they slept so well last night after all the sugar - the best sleep they have had all week (still no signs of teeth so no idea why the bad week).
Their crawling is getting better and they are getting faster. The weather has been so nice so they have spent a bit of time crawling around the lawn. I had them weighed the other day. Slowly, slowly growing. Amelia as 7.78kg and Grace was 8.14kg. I am sure that has increased after yesterday.
Everyone has gone home now, we just need them to a have a nap so we can have one too - hmmm - wishful thinking.

Klaralund

The weather has just started to get a bit cooler here, especially at night, so I have made it my mission to finish Klaralund as soon as possible (which realistically for me could be the end of winter). I like the look of this yarn and the feel, but I'm just not feeling the love when I have to knit it, it just makes my hand hurt.
The girls are having their afternoon sleep, thank goodness. They have been very grizzly this morning, I wonder if they are going to get a tooth for a birthday present?

A day at the farm

We went to visit my sister Jane and her husband Ian today for lunch and Mum came down as well. The girls were surprisingly good for nearly 4 hours in the car today. Amelia was pretty sick of it by the time we got home though. I could see little arms and legs going in all directions.
Jane made us lunch using mostly ingredients fresh from her garden which is amazing. So Chris and I have eaten way too much.
The girls were very excited by the dogs, the chooks and especially Lawrence the lamb. Unfortunately Lawrence didn't seem that excited by them, but he let them have a pat (pull) of his wool and a ride.

Woohoo!

I just saw a Commonwealth Games ad without that Shannon Noll song! Life is good when my world and his music does not collide.

Sheep

This is the end of my animal making frenzy. I should have a good stockpile for all the babies that are due. I have managed a couple more elephants and then I thought I'd make a little sheep from an Aranzi Aronzo book. Pretty cute, but that furry wool stuff was not that much fun to work with. It definetely needs something a bit thinner.

Grace has learnt how to pull herself up and she is pretty happy with herself. The girls went to a birthday party yesterday and had their first bit of fairy bread. They loved it. Grace tried to shove a whole piece in their mouth and sucked all the sugar off and spat the bread out. Amelia has really gotten the hang of commando crawling. She is doing a nice job of keeping the floorboards polished.

Frog

I turned around this morning to find the girls rubbing their heads together and giggling at each other. A nice change from just trying to take each others toys or dummies.
This frog is a bit better. A little bit more in proportion and nice and cuddly.

The pattern for my elephant from my last post comes from this book can be found here

Elephants and Bears

I managed to finish another little elephant. I love these even though they don't quite stand up right. I love the wool felt - so easy to work with.I'm not sure what this is. It started as a bear and I guess it kind of still is. It is a bit out of proportion like yesterdays frog. I'm still working on the frog - it just doesn't look right yet.

I received some double pointed needles today so time to learn to use them and then I can make some socks!

Galumph went the little green frog one day...

Galumph is the girls favourite song. So I thought I'd make a little green frog. Ok for my first try at a frog, but its not fat enough and the head just isn't right. So I will have to redesign and try again.

Sock Yarn

Nope, no photos of me from the wedding, photoshop isn't that magic, but had a great day with my friend Rose yesterday and she took this. It was a very civilized day, we had a lovely lunch sitting out in the shade at the cidery. One step closer to my New Years Resolution. I have the yarn and Amazon have sent the book.
I couldn't choose so bought some Lorna's laces and some Koigu (I have wanted to use this ever since I saw a huge basket of it 2 years ago in new Orleans, and it's as lovely as I remembered).
The girls have morphed from gilgies into hermit crabs. As soon as you put them down they are gone and you don't want to move or you'll tread on one. They seem to get into the oddest places.

The Wedding

Jane and Ian's wedding was fantastic!! Here are a few pictures.
Jane nearly ready.

Jane and Ian after the ceremony.
Amelia
Grace
Gemma and Paul
No none of me, but I'll see what magic I can do in photoshop.

Quiet girls

A rare quiet moment from Grace and Amelia today. It all started with fun and games this morning (and a lot of staring at Paul, my sister Gem's boyfriend) and ended in tears at playgroup where they tried to pull each others hair out.
Here are a couple of bags I made this week from my current favourite Japanese Craft Book. I'm going to give the front ont to my sister Gem as I think she can just fit her knitting needles in.

Baby Kimono

It's finally finished, thank goodness, a lot of garter stitch. So its ready to be sent to a little girl called Lily. Managed to sew it up while the girls where having a brief nap. They have little colds and have been grizzly and they haven't been sleeping well. I took them to the markets today, they were so excited at the animals there, especially the big animals. They get so excited at any dog, especially if they look like Rolf. The biggest hits were 2 half grown pigs. I don't think they could believe it.
Pattern: modified from the wrap in "Simple Knits for Cherished Babies"
Yarn: Rowan 4 ply in Splash (love this colour, but I think it's been discontinued)

Ahhhh Silk

I love silk and now I have a reason to wear it. My sister Jane is getting married next week and I have been sewing a top and skirt for myself and a top for Mum (I know, I know we have left it a bit late). We somehow seem to have chosen very similar colours. Although Mum can't see how they are even remotely the same colour and Chris thinks they are exactly the same.
I am just so glad it is over and just hope no one stands too close to me that sews and notices the dodgy zip, lining and the less said about the buttonholes the better!!

Two and a half years later...

I finished my table. The top has been finished for over 2 years. Mum bought me the table for Christmas and Dad put it all together for me and yesterday I grouted the top so now it is finished. Yeh!!! And it is finally summer down here so maybe we can sit outside and use it.

A Good Nights Sleep

The girls sleeping is improving. I was going to say it was really great until this morning. Well it is a lot better then it was. We have had a few nights where we haven't had to get up to them at all. It is kind of a shock to the system to be getting a full nights sleep, but I think I can get used to it again!
We had a lovely afternoon yesterday. I thought I'd better teach them to dance to bad 80s music before Jane's wedding. Chris doesn't allow any Abba in the house which is a bit of a shame. Might have to sneak some in. I think Grace and Amelia would love it. I haven't any pictures of them dancing, but here are a couple before they were weighed the other day. Grace is now 7.72kg and Amelia is 7.4kg. They have such a fixation with labels. On their own clothes or each others. They have to pull and look at them. I don't think this is going to be such a great thing in a few years time.
No other exciting pictures this week - just trying to prepare for next week when I have to make something for me and a top for Mum for Jane and Ian's wedding - and there's only 2 weeks to go - Yikes!
Amelia is on the left and Grace is on the right trying to rip her hood off.

Elephants and Curry

I love this little elephant. I made him from another Japanese craft book and he's made from wool felt and scraps.
He's just got 1 small problem - he is slightly unbalanced and has to rest on his trunk all the time.
I made my (and Chris') favourite curry last night. It was so cold, the weather was perfect for this. It is a Sri Lankan curry called Kukul Mas. You can find the reipe here http://www.theworldfeast.com.au/recipes.php?recipeID=5&archive_cultureID=52

How's the Serenity?

Why would you live anywhere else. Cider, dinner at the cidery, riverside picnics and a bakery. I think that sums up the weekend visit from Dave and Tash.
Here is Grace

Amelia and Tash

Chris, Grace, Amelia and Tash

Puppy Dog Sleepover

The girls survived their night away from the farm. Here is poor Frida waiting for one of the other dogs to move so she can steal a bed.


This is the start of feeding time, by the end everything and I mean everything was covered in spag bog and custard. Well done to Grace who seems to be able to spit her food further and further each day.

Australia Day

We've had a pretty cruisy Australia Day - it was good to have Chris home, though he went to work this afternoon. Jean came to stay for the night and Mum and Dad are staying tonight. I think they had had enough of Rolf so they brought him home. They also brought the farm dogs Agi and Frida who aren't really used to being enclosed or actually being anywhere but the farm. We went over to the cidery this afternoon and it took Frida 40 minutes to work out how to escape. She looked pretty happy with herself as she ran over to find Dad
Here is Jean with Amelia and Grace.



I've been trying to finish this quilt I started when I was pregnant with the girls. I've finished the top and pinned it all and am now machine quilting it - which is becoming a bit of a nightmare.

I've made a New Years Resolution - it's not something I normally do as they are usually a bit boring (I know most people will find mine boring and ridiculous). They are always things you should do or stop doing. It was so cold down here the other day so I decided to learn how to knit a sock this year - I know I probably should make two. And you may laugh now Chris, but who will be the one sitting here with toastie toes laughing in winter.

Tomato Soup

We've been inundated with tomatoes so we are eating a lot of pasta, tomato salads and tomato soup.

Tomato Soup

butter
250g bacon - chopped
1 large onion - chopped
2 clove crushed garlic
1 kilo chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato past
1 bay leaf
750 mL stock
fresh basil

Heat the butter and gently fry the bacon, onions and garlic. Add the tomatoes, paste and bay leaf and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and blend. Serve sprinkled with basil.

Afternoon Sleep!

The girls had an afternoon sleep! We had a phone consult with Ngala this morning and followed their suggestions and it seemed to work. The girls weren't happy at the start but they seemed to come around. I set up their little prison as they are starting to move around more and we are going to lose one soon under the couch.

So while they were asleep I took some pictures of the front of Klaralund - not sold on this jumper, but I'll keep perservering.

The start of a little baby wrap. Changing a pattern I have to make a kimono type wrap.

Screaming banshees

If this evening is anything like the last one I can probably do a great deal on two babies - still under warranty! There is only one way to describe them - screaming banshees.

Bloody Silk Mohair

Ok third time lucky - I am not going to make another mistake on this shawl - I have already started it 3 times and everything I have read about ripping Kidsilk Haze is true - it's a nightmare, but I am quite happy with how the pattern is looking. It is the Daisies shawl I found here http://www.heirloom-knitting.co.uk/free_pattern.html I am loving the colour of this - it is blushes.

This was the only time they were quiet yesterday and it didn't last long!

Home again

I can't believe that Chris' holidays are going so fast. It has been great having him home - it makes my days a lot easier and it means we can go away. Last week we went to Mum and Dad's farm to help with shearing (ok I left that bit to Chris) and then to Perth to catch up with people, Jane and Ian and the Motts and then home again.

One of the great things about living down here are that people come to visit us so this week we've had Chris' friend Jo and her parents which has been fantastic. The only downside to this is how much I have been eating. So while Chris has the girls I'm off for some exercise.

Here is a pic from the farm last week when it was a bit hot.

Vegie Queen and Craft Geek

I've grown something!!!! My vegie patch doesn't quite look like Jane's does, but I'm pretty happy with what I picked today.

The girls are obsessed with phones, remote controls so this was inevitable. They had to have their own playstation controllers.

Here is the geeky craft picture. I finished a cardigan for next winter for the girls. So now their are two of them (everything has to come in pairs now). And here are some bunnies I made for Christmas. I found the pattern in a strange Japanese craft book.
Things I have just learnt: don't try and update your blog after a lot of wine. This simple little thing has taken over an hour. So any spelling mistakes are now Chris' fault as he had to proof read it.