Another Year Older

The keen-eyed among you may have noticed that I've had to update my Profile. Yes, another birthday has been and gone. Another year older, but am I wiser as I'm supposed to be?

Probably not. To be wiser after the event is scary. I'd rather not have an Event to be wiser after! Any regrets for the past year? Happily I can say 'no'. I like to live life without regrets and when I make a decision I try very hard not to go back over it and pull it to pieces. The choice has been made, why grieve over it? That's just me.

But look what a lucky girl I am - this book came in the post as one of my birthday presents. 

I've been taking this off the display every time I've set foot in a bookshop lately (and I love bookshops) but I've reverently placed it back on the shelf as I thought it was an Extravagance and not an Essential. How lovely then to be given it as an unexpected surprise.

Now of course I need to decide which flower to make first!

You can also see the Ripple Blanket coming along nicely - just under half-way - and not bored with it at all. Perhaps getting older and wiser means I'll stay with a project to the end? 

Possibly.

Easy Knitting Pattern

Yes, I'm still crocheting the Ripple Blanket but a long project needs a few small detours going on as well   before finishing, doesn't it? I think so. Or is it that I'm too easily distracted? Anyway, I spent a few hours on something else this week when I came home from work. I came across a very easy pattern and decided to knit it for my eldest daughter..... but I may just keep it for myself.

It's a simple Baktus scarf, that can be tied any number of ways..... 

...you'll have to excuse my scraggy neck in the photos!

 Here it is folded in half. 

It can be any length, depending upon the amount of yarn you use. The free pattern is here on Flicr. 

OK, I can hear you Jenni! I'll just have to knit you another one. 

And I know it has to be purple.

Is The Iron Your Enemy Or Your Friend?

When everyone is outside, enjoying what could possibly be the last good weather of the year, what am I doing? The ironing! Not my most favourite pastime. Unfortunately I cannot ignore it as Hubby's OCD means I have to iron as soon as the washing's dry.
To keep me cheerful whilst doing this chore, I have lit a candle and dug out an old Michael Bolton album to listen to. Well, that's the idea...

Trouble is, the steam iron's trying to imitate a steam engine and the music's being drowned out by all it's hissing and spitting! 

As I'm standing here, wishing that ironing had never been invented, I wonder what you Ladies do to get through the task. Do you wait until the ironing basket's full before finally tackling the job? Do you watch TV, listen to the radio, compose Blog posts in your head or listen to music? Do you stand at an ironing board like me or sit down more comfortably?

Is the iron your Enemy or your Friend?

Or ..... do you never iron anything because it's a waste of precious time?!

By the way, the ripple blanket is progressing albeit slowly - I've been doing another project as well - but that's a post for another day.