Remember

The Doodad pattern that Jane shared last week? Well, this particular TOG didn't have any doodads the right size or shape... I did however have some bead caps for 8mm beads that needed finding! 

I eventually managed to tat the pendant... Brooch methinks...

Wanna see??

why?

Does my hubby decide that tomatoes need stringing when the temperature in there is in the 40's? Degrees C in the greenhouse! They can wait till tonight! It's 25 outside which is hot for my area of East Yorkshire.

I can't even knit or tat or any crafts till I cool down! Somebody find me a breeze please...

The pigeons decimated the strawberries and other soft fruit before they were ripe. Beans not coming up... Sweetcorn is growing, but we've had to cover the sprouts n caulis... Pigeons again!!

Right, off to cool down somewhere shady...

One Side

Remember that waterfall cardi? Well the first side is done and the second is part done. Must admit I like the way the pattern looks! Only the front is patterned, the rest is stocking stitch, so will work up quite quickly!

Got another elderflower gin on the go, with the last of the flowers for this year. I'm going to steep it a while longer than the last one though... See if it has worked in July!

Considering making some from rhubarb next!

How Old??

Those of you that know me well will know that this usually accompanies me in my tatty bag.

I hear you asking. .. what is it??

a crochet hook!!  We believe German make and definitely over 100 years old!

It belongs to my Mother in Law and she's almost 99!  She can remember her mum using it when she was little. It fled with her and her father to Berlin in the war. They left the farm virtually empty handed when the Russians were advancing.

She met her husband at the end of the war in Berlin and came to the UK in the late 1940's to get married. Sir was born 10 years later.

It's still in use even given its advanced age, but we can no longer ask questions regarding it's age... She now has dementia and can no longer knit, crochet or sew, or even make a sandwich for herself. We think she's also forgotten how to make a cup of tea. I did manage to get this crochet hook... and use it when I'm tatting! I wouldn't use it for beads or crochet any longer as it's very thin through use. So, nowadays it's still used but only for joining picots!

Anyway, thought I'd show you!!

what to do...

With elderflowers.... Gin?? Ok, I know a lot of you are saying cordial.... But gin appeals!

There's an elder on the boundary of our garden and the railway. Currently in blossom. So I decided to make something with a few flower heads.

A couple of years ago we went to Germany and bought a kilner (mason?) jar full of honey. One of those jars with a glass lid, a rubber seal and a wire metal clip! A tablespoon or 2 of honey had crystallised in the bottom. The rest had been used! I put the 8 or so flower heads in, poured in a bottle of gin from the local shop. Not an expensive gin I might add... The cheap for the UK stuff.... Seal and leave in the cupboard for a week...

Yesterday I decided it had to go back in the bottle... It had turned yellow.... Coffee filter paper in holder balanced on a funnel and drip into the original gin bottle.... Took all afternoon!

We tried it... It tastes like elderflowers smell!! 

I may just have to do it again!!!!

And a different...

Bit of knitting.

I managed the tubular cast on with the circular needle, however it'd be easier for me with a double  ended straight needle! Tried circular knitting ... Got cramp, waited a while, still got nowhere!!

In a fit of 'I've had enough of this,' it has been returned to a ball!!  I've not ruled it out completely, may well have another go, however...

A  few years ago I spent an afternoon 'teaching' a group of bloggers how to tat! I was 'gifted' 900g of yarn. This has been sitting waiting for the 'perfect' pattern to cross my path!

A couple of weeks ago it crossed! Bought it... Now started, traditional method on traditional needles...

Wanna see??

Yes, the yarn has got glitter in it. Stylecraft Cabernet, Purple Haze!!