Test knitting :)

I'm SO glad it's Friday! With the kids starting school again on Thursday and we having to be up at 6.15 in the mornings again, I've been so tired this week... It's strange what a week or so with sleeping in in the mornings can do to the routines *sigh*
To those of you wondering if we have gotten our water back - we have not :( Hubby have been trying to defrost it the last couple of days without any result.

At the moment I have 5 pairs of socks on my needles. 3 pairs is almost done, they are some simple stockinett st to knit on while the kids are playing outdoors ;) But the one above is a beautiful pair of cable socks I'm testknitting. Can't wait to have them done!

And getting a package when the weekend begins is great :) I got this fron Jenda in Sweden. We've swaped books and yarn in a swap over at Ravelry. I have this book in my to read queue, so I'm looking forward to start reading it soon. Right now I'm reading book 5, Dead as a Doornail in the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I'm really enjoying this series, and it's so much better than the tv serie! So far book 4, Dead to the World is my favourite :)
I'm almost done with The Girls by Lori Lansens - a beautiful, funny and tragic book about conjoined twins Rose and Ruby Darlen. They are linked at the side of the head, with separate brains and bodies. So if you don't know what to read next, this book is one you should look at!

Have a great weekend! I'll be knitting on my cable socks to try to finish it and I guess we're heading out in the forest if the weather stays good - what's your plans for the weekend??

Ishbel is done :)

My Ishbel shawl is done! I'm so happy about how it turned out. I loved the colours when I looked at the skein, and I really love how they look knitted up too!!

My plan was to complete it as a part of the Knitting Olympics, but I lost all my knitting mojo :( And I didn't feel like knitting at all. Just another proof that it's not great to stress when knitting! It should be fun too.

Pattern: Ishbel by Ysolda Teague.
Yarn: 1 skein Spunky Eclectic Tough Sock - colorway Rolling Hills.
Needles: 4 mm
Size: Large. I wasn't sure if I would have enough yarn for the large size, but I hoped so and knitted along ;) I did ran out of yarn, so I could only make half of the last pattern section.

I've just steam blocked it. I'm going to wear it as a wrap around my neck anyway so I guess it doesn't matter if it gets a bit wrinkled :) Sorry about crappy pictures, but we're having freezing - 25 C today, and I was freezing my fingers off!! I really need to knit me a pair of photographer mittens...

When my knitting mojo got lost, I turned for my books instead - my other big passion ;) And when I saw that there was a swap involving yarn & a book over at the Ravelry book group, I had to join. And look what came in the mail yesterday! I'm sure I'll have my knitting mojo back with this two beautiful skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock :) The book looks great too. I haven't read any of that author before.

And as I have mention before, our water is frozen :(
It's been for a month now, and it's not likely we'll have it back until late spring/early summer. (Which means June here...!) Our water well is running over with water, so that's not the problem. It's frozen in the waterpipe leading the water to the house. Hubby has been working hard several days to try to defrost it, without any luckiness... They say it's about 2 meters of ground frost - the normal is about 1/2 a meter... And it happend because we didn't get any snow before this very cold winter set in... So one really get another perspective on how to use water! We fill our water cans 2 to 3 times a week. And then we have about 90 liters og water. And to give you a hint of how much water is spend on a normal day when we have water running in the tap, flushing a toilet takes 10 liters! (So our "yellow is mellow" is being practising a lot now!) The only thing I could get used to by not having water, must be that I get all our laundry clean and folded every weekend! My mom does that for me, and I could never thank her enough!

Enough with the rain now, please...

Picture from the weekend :)

I'm a bad blogger these days... But real life just takes over sometimes. I've started my fight agains those extra kilos, so I try to exercise at least three times a week ;) - When I'm home alone so the kids can't laugh at me *lol* Hubby's daughter is living with us every other week now, so having a teenager in the house has it's moment too... My afternoon is filled with helping the kids do their homework, making dinner, supper and then bedtime with reading outloud. So there are not much time for knitting left. And our weekends are mostly filled with time outdoors. And there's no doubt - fall is here now. Some of the trees have no leaves left do to the wind we've had the last days. And the rain has been pouring down for weeks now. I'm just looking forward to - degrees and snow now. Everything is better than cold rain!

So while I'm baking bread and doing some laundry today, I have time to enjoy a latte and knit a few rounds on a wool pants for Endre. It might be a new pair of monster pants, but it also just be a stripy one ;) We'll see.

And when the sun abandon us, I'll have to make some sunshine in another way. So I finished up some dishcloths :)

And finding a package in the mailbox is always great when the weather is bad :) This is a red swap package all the way from Eleanor in Australia :)

Into the Wilderness

My knitting mojo has been lost this week... I've hardly touched the needles, because I've been totally lost in the book Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati. It's the first book in a serie of six. And I can't wait for my order from amazon for the rest ;)

It is December of 1792. Elizabeth Middleton leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. It is a place unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered--a white man dressed like a Native American, Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, she soon finds herself locked in conflict with the local slave owners as well as her own family. Interweaving the fate of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, Sara Donati's compelling novel creates a complex, profound, passionate portrait of an emerging America.

And I've received some great packages in the mail this week :) First my 3rd package in a little envelope swap from Rowlesgirl. And a book swap from kyrasmom. Beautiful yarn from Knit Picks and a Terry Pratchett book ;) Can't wait to read it.

Have a great weekend everyone! There might be som knitting during the weekend and maybe some finsihed projects to show off next week ;)

Green

I got a wonderful package from Claire today. I've been in a swap at Ravelry called Don’t be pea green with envy and as you can see I got a lot of great green stuff! (click on the pic to get it larger) There are cotton yarn, silk bamboo, some funfur and a beautiful handspun skein. I also got needles, stitch markers, a table cloth, tea , candles & candle holder, notepad and Hello Kitty pens and note book - which Eirin grabbed right away ;)

The handspun yarn is so beautiful! I think I will knit up a pair of mittens to myself with it :)

And I love the table cloth - just wish I had curtains that matched ;)

Yesterday the kids and I went bilberry picking :) It's funny, because we call these berries "blåbær" and if you translate it right into english it will be "blueberry". Which we also leraned at school. But if you look up "blåbær" at wikipedia and the go to the english version, it's not called blueberry, but bilberry. Blueberry is what we call American blueberry ;)

# 7/52 k2, p2 socks

My 7th pair of socks for the 52ppiii is done ;) It's a simple pair of k2, p2 socks with heels and toes in a different color.
Pattern: 64 st, k2, p2.
Yarn: Opal Petticoat #1293 and Ida Strømpegarn.
Needles: 2,5 mm.

I'm also making progress on Endre's blanket. I can't say that I'm just crocheting one each day (or 7 a week) as supposed to by the En bestemor om dagen ;) But if I shall manage to crochet the kids a blanket each before christmas, I have to keep the speed up ;) I'm corcheting the Circles to squares afghan (rav link), but I'm not going to swe the squares together as in tha pattern. I've been playing a bit with it and think Endre's blanket will end up something like this. This is just half of the squares, so it will be bigger. I might make one row as the one in the middle to make it a bit wider...

And a little envelope full of surprises came in the mail today :) I'm in the Summer Mini Swap over at "My other hobby swap" group at Ravelry.

I have got some new yarn in the mail too. A package from the sockyarn club from Strikk Innom came the other day. And I got two balls of this beautiful yarn! Can't wait to knit it up :)

Packages :)

"Jag är med & tävlar om ett överraskningspaket från
kreativa Blafre Design
i SessanochPrinsessan`s blogg"

I have bought these beautiful bottles for the kids from Blafre Design. And I was so lucky that I received these beautiful cards aswell ;)

And I have been in a swap in the chocolate group at Ravelry. And I got speachless when this package arrived today from Shannon, knittingshannon on Ravelry.

So much lovely yarn, and I can finally try to knit with Noro ;) The other yarn is Cascade, Debbie Bliss and Knit Picks.

And so much chocolate, There is even a big, heavy chocolate version of the Jefferson Memorial. So Hubby & I have a lot to taste during the weekend ;)

4th pair of socks in Socktober

I made these for Eirin, but she doesn't want them... Hmmm, maybe they are not pink enough *lol* So I guess they will end up as a x-mas present or I'll try to sell them on a christmas fair next month. We'll see ;)
I have knitted them from the toe up to make sure I had enough yarn. I have used leftovers from these socks.
Pattern: My own, 36 st, k2, p1.
Yarn: OnLine Supersocke Fantasy color #1013
Needles: 3mm

And lucky me found this in the mailbox today :)
I have been participating in a dishcloth swap at the European knitters group at Ravelry.
I have swaped package with Nicsknot. Thank you so much! There was two beautiful dishclothes, tea, chocolate, some shampoo/conditioner samples and a ball of yarn.

And these are the two dishcloths I made for her.
Patterns: My own
Yarn: Mor Aase cotton for the pink one at the top and Gjestal bomull sport for the one on the bottom. I know it looks more pink than red, bad light when I took the pictures...
Needles: 3mm

Wanted: Spring!!!

Vi våkna til nesten 10 cm med nysnø idag... Vår, hvor er du??

We wake up to close to 10 cm of fresh snow today... Spring, where are you??

Men da er det godt at det kommer pakker i posten :) Først denne fra Maria fra Spring Into Pink swap på Ravelry. Mye lekkert rosa her ;)

But then it's a good thing there's a lot of goodies in the mail :) First this from Maria in the Spring Into Pink swap at Ravelry. A lot of pink goodies here ;)

Og så denne boka. Har smålest litt i den nå i kveld og jeg liker den godt! Mange fine ideer! Sjekk ut bloggen også - SouleMama - herlig!

And then this book. I've been reading a bit tonight and a like it a lot! Lots of great ideas! Check out her blog to - SouleMama - wonderful!

Lots of snow and goodies in the mail

Snøen har lavet ned i hele går og i hele natt. Så vi våkna opp med ca 40 cm nysnø. Har ikke snødd mer idag, og de to minste og jeg var ute en tur tidlig i dag. Men det var ikke så moro å være liten og ikke klare å komme seg noen vei pga av all snøen... Ikke klarte jeg å måke unna så mye snø heller, for den er skikkelig tung og kram i bunnen. Så her må det nok en traktor til - noe minstemann bare går og venter på ;)

It's been snowing both yesterday and during the night, so we woke up to about 40 cm of fresh snow. It's not been snowing today and the two youngest and I have been outside playing. But it's not fun being little and not being able to walk around due to the snow... And I didn't manage to shuffle much of it away either, because it's so heavy and wet at the bottom. So we need a tractor - and Endre just can't wait ;)








Det meste er dekket av snø siden det blåste skikkelig i hele går. Selv håper jeg ikke det kommer særlig mere snø nå. Det holder til både ski, aking og snøskuter turer :)

Most things are covered in snow since it was very windy yesterday. I hope this will be it for a while now. It's enough for both skiing, sledging and snowmobile rides :)



Nå til godsakene som kom i posten idag :) Først en pakke i fra Joan. Dette er en swap jeg har vært med i for ungene på Swap-bot. Mye godteri å dele på og to søte håndklær :)

Now for the goodies in the mail :) Firts from Joan. This is a swap for my kids over at Swap-bot. Lots of candy to share and two cute towels :)


Denne har jeg fått fra Mary-Catharine. Jeg er med i Think Pink gruppa på Ravelry, og vi har hatt en pink swap. Og som dere ser fikk jeg mange flotte rosa saker :) Her er sjokolade, te, garn, pinner ( endelig har jeg fått meg 2,75 mm pinner), Hello Kitty ting, søte små kort og maskemarkører.

All this have I got from Mary-Catharine. I'm in the Think Pink group at Ravelry, and we have had a pink swap. And as you can see I have got a lot of great pink stuff :) Here's chocolate, tea, yarn, needles (finally I got a set of 2,75mm needles), Hello Kitty stuff, sweet little cards and stitchmarkers.

Kortene hadde små garn nøster og strikkepinner på :)

The cards have yarn balls and needles on them.

Garnet er bare helt nydelig! Dette er Pretty in Pink fra yarn chef.

The yarn is beautiful! This is Pretty in Pink from yarn chef.


Dette er Think Pink fra Scout's Swag. Det er super tynt merino.

This is Think Pink from Scout's Swag. It's super thin merino.

Siste dag i november / Last day of november

Vi har nydelig vintervær for tiden, med temperaturer helt nede i -15 C. Alle ungene har vært/er syke i tur og orden med halsbetennelse, og i morges kjente jeg at jeg begynner å brygge på noe jeg og... Håper bare jeg får ordnet med julegardiner, adventskalener og få kjøpt inn de siste julegavene i løpet av helga før det slår til for fullt.

We're having a wonderful winter weather these days, with temperatures down at -15 C. All the kids have been sick (and still are) with a sore throat. And this morning I felt that I'm beginning to get it too.... Just hope I manage to hang up the x-mas curtains, fix the advent calendar and do some shopping for gifts this weekend before it hits me full time.


Tidligere i uka fikk jeg dette flotte garnet fikk jeg fra Kerry i en sock yarn swap på swap-bot. Og det blir en god del tid til strikking når jeg må sitte i sofaen sammen med syke unger og se på tegnefilmer ;) Så det kommer noen poster etterhvert.

Earlier this week I got all this greaat yarn from Kerry in a sock yarn swap at swap-bot. And there has been some time for knitting while sitting on the sofa with sick kids watching cartoons ;) So I'll post about that later.

Gøy med pakker / Fun with packages

Jeg har vært og trukket en visdomstann som har kranglet en stund.... Og det er ikke så kult å gå rundt etterpå og se ut som en hamster pga et hovent kinn ;) Men jeg har heldigvis sluppet fra det uten de verste smertene.

I've been to dentist and pulled out a wisdom tooth that's been quarreling a while... And it's not fun walking around looking like a hamster because of a puffy cheek ;) But I got away with very little pain - fortunally.

Har strikka fire par sokker som skal ligge under noen juletrær til jul. Jeg har strikka de i rester etter andre sokker. Godt å få brukt opp små nøster som ligger og strør ;) Det er to par i størrelse 1 år og to par i størrelse 4 år. Strikka på pinne 2,5 mm.

I've knitted four pairs of socks that will be under somex-mas trees. I've knitted them with leftovers from other socks. Good to use up some small yarn balls that's been laying around ;) They are two pairs in size 1 year and two pairs in size 4 years. Knitted with 2,5 mm needles.

Er koselig å få pakker i posten når man er litt satt ut etter å ha vært hos tannlegen :) Her er en pakke fra shopinc i Autums hot drinks swap på swap-bot. Mye godt å drikke, og hun sendte med et par andre småting også. Vises litt dårlig på bildet, men det er et bokmerke med Ole Brumm og noen klistremerker :)

It's great to get packages in the mail when you feel a bit bad after being to the dentist :) Here is a package from shopinc in Autumn hot drinks swap at swap-bot. Lots of great things to drink, and she sent some other little things too. It doesn't show so good in the picture, but there is a bookmark with Whinnie the Pooh and some stickers :)


Jeg har også fått pakke fra nazca i International crafted christmas gift swap. Mye fint her også! Den store pakken i bakgrunnen er en eske med peanut hard nougat - blir spennende å smake ;)

I've also got he package from nazca in the International crafted christmas gift swap. Lots of great things here too! The big package in the back is a box with peanut hard nougat - will be fun to taste ;)


Er ikke denne snømannen søt? Kom skikkelig i julestemning da jeg så denne. I går regnet det hele dagen, så all snøen ble borte. Blir ekstra mørkt og trist ute når det ikke er noe snø... Er ikke helt sikker hva dette skal være, på baksidener det sydd en liten lomme. Hmmm, må nok spørre henne ;)

Isn't this snowman cute? It really made me in a x-mas mood. Yestrday did it rain the whole day, so all the snow is gone. It get's so dark and sad when there is no snow to brighten it up... I'm not sure whay this is meant to be, on the back there is a little pocket. Hmmm, I guess I have to ask her ;)