Thursday, April 19, 2007

Garter Rib For That Dull Man in Your Life

If your man is anything like my John, who has conservative taste in clothing, this would be considered daring but wearable.

The yarn is Italian. 50% Merino, 25% Cashmere and 25% silk. 2/15 weight used double.

This approximates to 375m per 100gm. This could easily be knitted by hand, using approximately 3mm needles.

It was knitted using the Brother Garter Carriage on tension 10, on a Brother 940. The gauge was 27sts and 46 rows to 10cm AFTER washing and tumble drying. The completed seater was washed and tumble dried. From now on it will be machine washed on a 30c delicate cycle and dried flat.


Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Zimmer

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Garter Rib


I have just started the first sleeve of this sweater. The back and front and neckband have been done. It is a simple garter rib pattern using the garter carriage on a Brother 940. The yarn is 50% merino, 25% cashmere and 25% silk.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Luna and Her Puppies

Luna and her 5 day old puppies.
Sable girl.
Brindle girl.
Brindle boy.
Sable and white particolour boy.
Brindle girl.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Phew!

My scan was fine. I get to keep my balls.
I am exhausted and off to bed now.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Opal Feeling

This is Opal's Feeling, colour number 1704. The colour shown here is very close to reality.

Anyway, 24 rib rows on 2mm, 60 leg rows on 2.25mm and then the gusset and heel, picking up 20 sts either side and then decreased. Once decreased, start row count again and finished on row 86. Weighs 34gms. Tension was 10sts and 14 rows to 1" or 2.54 cms.

Dutch (square) Heel.

Scan Day

I have the ultrasound scan on the lump tomorrow morning at 10.15am.

I will have more to say after that.

Suffice to say that for now meditation has really been of great use. I have remained calm and slept well.

I am also now a non smoker. 3 weeks today.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Comment on The Secret

"I AM a childhood victim/survivor, and I DON'T think "The Secret" is pushing that if you only think positive, no bad will happen. They also said to examine negative behaviours/experiences for the lessons you can learn from them. Maybe you missed that part, it was near the end of the part with the young woman with money troubles.
I do believe in "The Secret" and I don't think what happened to me happened because I thought bad thoughts. I'm also not a millionaire, happily/lovey-dovey married, perfect family, etc. But I use my life experiences to teach me, and I believe that when we project positive energy, we are much more likely to receive positive energy back. I've thought that for a long time, almost as long as Oprah's been on the air (since 1785, LOL)."

I listened carefully to all of the program. Also I have been aware of this New Age 'philosophy' for about 30 years. I think it is dangerous precisely for the reason you give. You only heard the part about positvie thinking, it seems from your comment. Perhaps that is all many hear. What about the part where we 'attract' stuff to us by our thinking? This is a very important part of their 'message'. That the bad stuff in our lives is there becasue we brought it into being by our thinking? THIS is where the lie is and where the danger is and where it is no different from other Fundy forms of thinking. The Secret is indeed pushing this type of thinking and we ignore it at our peril.

The Secret - Oh NO Oprah!!!!

The Secret was the subject of Oprah today, probably a while ago in the USA.

Now I am one of Oprah's admirers but I really do not agree with her on this subject . In fact, I am pretty much appalled to hear her pushing this New Age rubbish.

It is no different in it's message to that of the Westboro Baptist Church and other Fundamentalist religions.

HUH???!!! I hear you choke.

Okay. The Westboro Baptists and other Fundy belief pushers, believe that bad things only happen to bad people. If you get cancer, or murdered, or go broke or whatever, it is a sure sign that God is angry with and you will rot in hell.

Now the pushers of The Secret say that if you are good enough, nothing bad will happen to you. If bad things do happen to you, it is because attracted it yourself.

How?

By your thinking.

Your thinking was negative so therefore negative stuff will happen to you.

So when Oprah was sexually molested as a child, it was her thinking that caused this to happen.

When a parent watches their child die of cancer, their thinking brought this upon them.

Okay, maybe I am dense but I cannot see the difference between the Westboro Baptist message and that of The Secret.

One thing we as people are fearful of is lack of control. If we feel we can control events, we tend to feel happier and more secure. So victims of abuse, for instance,hang on to the guilt for what was done TO them because it is less painful than realising how powerless they were.

We tell ourselves that if we think right, eat right, pray right, or in short are good enough, we will not get cancer and die.

We will not get divorced, will not lose our children, jobs, money, homes. We can convince ourselves of this and walk around with that annoying smile those who are certain have.


Until the day something bad happens.....

Then what? Well, we either blame ourselves-

we weren't good enough, didn't pray enough, didn't think positively enough, didn't pay enough for enough seminars run by these people with The Secret


OR

we examine our thinking and belief system.


We might come to realise that bad things happen to good people all the time.

Much happens that is random. People die because we are have physical bodies that malfunction and do not live forever. People often suffer at the hands of others. Many times we can do nothing about it. Did the victims, yes they were victims, of Sept 11, attract that appalling death to themselves? Was their thinking to blame? Or were they victims of circumstance?


So do we just cower in the corner and fear to live? NO!!!!

What we do is love ourselves, value ourselves and realise that we have the strength within in us to cope with whatever life brings us. We can tap this strength thru prayer and meditation. You do not have to have a religion or even a belief in a God for this to work.

Yes, we can change our lives and much of that change can be brought about by changing our thinking. but do not be fooled into thinking you can think way EVERYTHING. You cannot.

It reminds of this prayer:

GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY
TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE
THE COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN
AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

I think Oprah and these pushers of The Secret could do worse than to look at the meaning of this prayer. I really am disappointed to find that Oprah is pushing a belief system that ultimately blames the victim.

Socks , Pups, Plants and Friends.

Okay, I think this colourway is odd. It is Opal 625. From the ball band, it would seem that socks can also be knit sideways. There are instructions for this but in German so...
Being concerned I would not get a man sized pair, I ended up having loads left over! Anyhow, I used 2mm for the cuff, and 2.25mm for the rest. I knit 22 rows in 2x2 rib, then 50 rws st st, then did the heel, then knit 100 rws for the foot, including the decrease rows.

This is the Sherman Heel. My own adaptation of it anyway. I think it is neat.
Luna and her 5 pups born lst night between 10pm and midnight. 2 boys and 3 girls. Her first litter. Micah is the father (Shameless' dad)
Shameless at 18 weeks. Still hates the camera being pointed at her.
This Amaryllis was given to us by Leive. It has had nothing done to it at all. Just sits on the window sill. This is it's third and best flowering. It went from nothing to this in 2 weeks. It has 4 heads this time.
Dawn-50 something. I have known Dawn 20 years. We hated each other on sight. After about 6 years we became very good friends. She really was there for me when the shit hit the fan and my other 'friends' disappeared. Dawn is President of the Manor Park Spiritualist Church (SNU). Moon has gone to live with Dawn and Ron.
Ron, 60 something, Dawn's husband. Has a droll sense of humour. Needs it living with Dawn.....

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Westboro Baptist Church

(This 'church' was the subject of a Louis Theroux documentary on BBC2)

THE CHURCH OF HATE


Having watched a documentary regarding these people, I cannot decide if the adults are evil or insane.


What I really want to know is why the mother of those 11 children has not been charged with child abuse? Why have the children not been removed to a place of safety?

This group pratices the worst aspects of child abuse: they destroy their minds and spirits.

And the authroities are just letting them get away with it.

No matter how they protest that they are preaching God's word, they are clearly not. All they are is vile child abusers with hubris so intrenched in them they are beyond anything loving or sane.

Their leader, Phelps, oozes evil. Just his eyes leave you in no doubt at all of the vileness swilling inside him.

OF COURSE, THE ONE THING THEY DO NOT REALISE IS THEIR FAITH IS NOT IN GOD'S JUDGEMENT BUT IN THEIR OWN!!! THEIR FAITH IS IN THEIR OWN INTERPRETATIONS. THEIR FAITH IS IN THEMSELVES. THEY DO NOT DOUBT THEMSELVES. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE CAPABLE OF BEING WRONG. SO DO NOT BE FOOLED, THESE ARE NOT RIGHTEOUS GOD LOVING PEOPLE. THESE ARE PEOPLE ROTTEN WITH SELF LOVE.

More Men Behaving Badly

Just been to the supermarket.

As John and I were leaving the checkout, I looked up to see John was being verbally harangued by a shaved headed thuggish looking man. I was in my wheelchair. I caught just a word or two and realised immediately that this was the husband of the woman I had sworn at outside the chemist!


I told him to leave John alone, and that it was I who had the run in with his wife.

So he starts on me.

Of course his wife had told him a pack of lies about what had happened. I told him that the incident was over and that I had apologised and that was that. I did not expect his wife to apologise for her appalling attitude. He got really narked at that and related more of what his wife had told him. Of course she didn't tell him anything that resembled the truth. He demanded that I go with him to apologise to her which I of course refused to do. I told him I had already done so - twice - and that was the end of it.


I pushed myself off to customer services and when I turned around I saw this man was still haranguing John. I pushed myself back and told him to go away. It had nothing to do with John, and he did not need to be bullied by a thug. He of course spluttered thru his red angry face and the security guard came and told him to leave us alone.

Hopefully, this is the end of the matter.

300

....gay s&m porn comes to mainstream cinema.......

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Dreamland

I was with the characters CJ and the President in an episode of The West Wing (at least I assume it was an episode).

The President was addressing a large group of people and CJ was standing by his side. I appeared to be standing behind them both tho I am sure I was not visible to anyone.

A man in the crowd, who was seated and dressed differently to everyone else, suddenly called out, very calmly. 'I love you'.

Switch to another scene.
The President is relating this story and is very moved by it. I could feel how moved he was. It was as if I was feeling his feelings.

I asked him if this was real or was he acting? (Because I knew it was Martin Sheen and not the President).

At that moment, a group of people could be heard giggiling and making fun of this 'I love you' incident.

I was about to do something or other when I awoke and I heard very clearly:

'I am a Buddhist monk and I love you.'

Now what was that all about? I have my own view. Maybe you have yours?

Bavarian Twist Sock Pattern



I used Subeam's St Ives, a 4ply yarn(sock) giving 200yds (182mt) to 50gm.

The gauge is 8.5sts and 12 rows to 1 inch or 34st 48 rw to 10cm(4") using 2.5mm needle.

I used 1 long circular needle.

This sock fits me well and I have a 10" long and round foot. Even my ankle is 10".

Cast on 72 sts using Continental Cast On and 3.25mm circular needle. Make join when cast on done.
Switch to 2.5mm needles and knit 24 rows of 2x2 ribbing.

Using one long circular you have 36 sts on each 'side'. You knit the pattern on each side. It is a ten row repeat.

Round 1:

K1tb, P 15 TB2B(place next st onto cable needle, hold at back, knit next stitch thru back of stp, p 1st), K2TB, TB2F(place next st onto cable needle sand hold at front, P1st, then K1st thru back of st), P15 K1TB.

Repeat above for second 'side'

Round 2: K1TB, P15, K1TB,P1, K2TB, P1, K1TB, P15 K1TB.

Round 3: K1TB, P14, TB2B, P1 K2TB, TB2F, K1TB

Round 4: K1TB, P14, K1TB, P2, K2TB, P2, K1TB, P14, K1TB.

Round 5: K1TB, P13, TB2B, P2, K2TB, P2, TB2F, P2, K1TB

Round 6: K1TB, P13, K1TB, P3, K2TB, P3, K1TB, P13, K1TB

Continue in this manner until 10 rounds have been knit.

You can see that the TB2B and TB2F are moved over one stitch on every odd round(1,3,5 etc) and not moved on every even(2,4, 6 etc) round.

Knit 6 repeats, ie. 60 rows.

Now knit a Sherman Heel.

My version differs from both Mary and Janine. I do as Janine does in that I also slip the 1st sticth after the pivot row. However, I leave my 36 sts on each side as they are and I do not do any wrapping whatsoever.

Once the heel is complete, I continue knitting st st on the sole side, and the pattern on the top side.

Knit 70 rounds.

Shape toe: quit knitting pattern and knit in st st only. No purling!

Round 1: (first side)
k1, SSK, knit 30, k2tog, k1.

Repeat for 2nd side.

Round 2 and 3; knit all sts

Round 4: (1st side) K1, SSK, K28,K2tog, K1 Repeat for second side.

From round 10, decrease on every other row until you have knit 24 rows and have 11 st on each needle. Knit one more row.

Turn sock inside out and cast off as follows:

Place needles side by side, with sts right up near tip of each needle.

Using a 3 rd needle, take 1st st from needle nearest you, onto 3rd needle.

Now take 1st stitch off second needle onto 3rd needle. Now pass the 1st stitch over the 2nd stitch.

Continue in this manner until all stitches are on needle 3.

You should only have 11 sts on needle 3.

Using a larger needle, cast off as usual.

NOTE: There will be 'ladders' up the sides. These are part of the pattern, they ought to be there!

Friday, March 30, 2007

Man's Hubris

* The climate is changing! The 10 hottest years on record have
occurred since 1990. In fact 2005 was the hottest year since record
keeping
began.*


And it always will change. Why should the earth stop being the earth just because it inconveniences us?
Man, in his typical arrogance, now thinks he can control the climate.

Bollocks!

Anyone who has done even the smallest study of geography/science at school knows that our climate has always changed.

Pollution is another matter entirely, and yes we need to change the way we do things. But don't lets kid ourselves that we can stop the way the earth works!

Why are we all not thinking about this? Why can't we see that we are being lied to?

More tax anyone?

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Bavarian Type Sock

Knitted with 2.5mm circular needle. Pattern made up as I went. Yarn is 80%wool 20% nylon, 4ply by Sirdar. Less than 50 gms for this sock.
I normally knit the ribibng on 2mm and the body on 2.25mm but I boobed and was half way thru the ribbing when I realised I was using 2.5mm. So I stuck with that and didn't change for the body.
Top view. Heel, sole and toe knit in st st only.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Men Behaving Badly

Or in this case, one man, namely me.

I have been so good too. Thru prayer and meditation I have kept myself calm. Not allowed my mind to escalate things regarding my lump. No panic. Sleeping well. Getting on with my stuff. Pretty amazing really. I was a frightened wreck when the Dr looked so seriouly upon examining my lump but I have handled it thru the above mentioned means.


Until today that is.

I had to go to the dr's surgery to pick up a prescription. I got there, with difficulty due to traffic, to find all the disabled bays taken by non disabled drivers. I kept quiet. I asked for my prescription and was told the chemist had it on the other side of town. I left and as I was doing so, I saw one of the non disabled people getting into their car. I resisted saying anything.

I arrive at the chemist. Now outside the chemist there are two parking bays. On one side is a driveway and on the other a pedestrian crossing. As I arrived, a woman was in front of me and she just stopped her car so that she was parked in the middle of these two bays, leaving no room for another car.

I rolled down my window, and politely asked;


'Would you move forward, please?'

Out of the car got this 'footballer's wife' type, fake tan, streaks, high heels, the works. She looked at me as if I were something she had just trodden in and said:

'No.'

Before I even had time to think, I had exploded and yelled at her.

'You selfish ****!!!!!'

I hobbled off to the chemist and there she was bold as brass, mouthing off at me about having sworn at her. I apologised. Twice in fact.

'You are quite right, I should not have spoken to you in that manner, I apologise. However, I did ask you politely to move your car forward and you refused point blank. I was angry at your selfishness. However, I should not have sworn at you.'

'I have never been called **** in my life, ' she wailed.

I resisted the urge to say the words that came into my mind, namely;

'I bet you have!'


She just went on.

'I can do no more than apologise,' I say. 'All you had to do was move your car a few feet before you got of it.'

'Well I am not apologising. If my husband was here.....'

By this time I had been given my drugs by a chemist who was trying hard not to laugh and I left thinking how good her husband would look beating up on a cripple! And if he was like her , he would not have given that any thought.

I should not have sworn at this woman, that is clear. I behaved badly. I am so taken aback by how quickly I went into one. I had no time to catch myself, or think, or anything. I wasn't even feeling bad. However, lose it I did. Up I went like volcano. It was the way she looked ta me and said no that did it.

And I was so good to have kept my thought to myself when she wailed about no one ever having called her a **** before.....


Low Carb Breakfast/Meal

A handful of prawn/shrimp

1 salmon steak

2 eggs(free range for preference)

a small onion/shallot

a little garlic
a little black peper

a little Parmesan cheese

10ml oil

Heat the oil in pan. Put in the onion, garlic, salmon(which you have cut into small pieces), and the shrimp. Cook through.

Beat up the two eggs and pour over the mixture (pan should be HOT). Make sure it has spread through. Now grate a little parmesan on top.
Ready when Parmesan has melted.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

On The Needles

New Aran design. The yarn is Jaeger's Shetland which is 80% wool and 20% alpaca. Knittid on 4.5 mm needles.

New sock design. Actually my first design, having just knitted the multicolour type previously. This is a Bavarian style one, using twisted stitches.