When you just have to make do.

Ok, this year has been pretty rough for me with my chronic pain, so I haven't been able to mooching about the shops for presents or cards.  I've had to make do, picking up a bit here and there on my weekly shopping day.  Sorry guys but that's the way it is, be thankful you get something and if I made your card it was also a painful experience!

Yes I know I can order over the internet, I've done a lot of that.  Sometimes you just want to get out into the fresh air no matter how much it hurts - you can't be on meds and drive!  Well not me anyway.

Anyway this is my besties little something, she got a dvd which she wanted too...yay!!  She appreciates the little things like myself.  Anyway she can't complain as she's sent me stuff that wasn't even wrapped.........lol  That's why we're best friends for life I guess.

The Beach Rocks!

Everyone walks their dogs here, so I'm always trying to find times when nobody is there so I can give my wee fella a free run.  He has no dog etiquette skills and I've only met one super friendly JRT that he 1/2 tolerates (by that I mean he doesn't attack him).  I hate to think why such a lovely wee dog is so aggressive and what kind of start he had for his 1st year, before fate brought us together.  It is the final task we have to solve with him.
Anyway if it's cold or wet it's a sure bet we will have the place to ourselves, or before 9am.  So on these rare days I can relax and look at what is lying around on the beach, but I still keep my eye out for dogs appearing out of nowhere.

I found these pebbles on two separate occasions, I call them our his 'n' hers rocks! I'm fascinated by the white lines and how I found two of a kind at different times.

And this heart shaped rock, which was half buried in the sand with the white line running around it!  This one is quite big and the odds of finding one like this is very slim.

Random Fact:
Penguins give rocks. Not just any rocks, male gentoo penguins search through piles of pebbles to find the smoothest, most perfect ones. When a penguin has selected his pebble, he presents it to his intended companion.  Pebbles are so important to the penguins that males often fight over the prettiest selections.

And for a final giggle, this is brilliant from Chronic Crafter!  I've seen a couple of these and they gave me a much needed laugh of the day.

Fredrica hat by Niina Risulainen

Pompom hats are go and pink is the new season trend, so I'm told.  So what better way to combine the two that this fabulous pattern Fredrica hatby Niina Risulainen.   It's big, it's cosy and so easy to make.  I should have made it one repeat less, but who cares, on a cold day you can pull it right down and cover everything!

Cable knit mini Aran Poncho

So this started off as a jumper, only it turned out too small for me with all the cables.  So rather than unravel the whole thing, I continued until I had a rectangle of about 33 inches long.  I made another the same size.  Then sewed the sides together and picked up stitches along one outside edge for ribbing, repeated on the other side.

It's got a V neck and since I had no pattern for the whole thing, I just made it up as I went along (not even writing it down).  For the neck I picked up the middle 3 stitches, working back and forth adding 2 stitches at each side until I thought it high enough, at which point I then did the same on the other side, but at the end picked up stitches on the shoulder and knit in the round for a few rows, so that it rolls over.

If you would like to give it a go the pattern is available to buy on Ravelry

Drop Big Fabel leftovers

I had about 2 balls leftover from mum's jumper.  Now they have been sitting in the press (cupboard) for over a year and I'd been planning socks out of them.   I'd found a pattern ages ago that helps you knit any yarn sock, all you had to do was know your gauge. I knit from the cuff down as I'm more comfortable with that way and now use kitchener stitch to graft the toes.

Now I can't remember where I got the any yarn pattern,  But I think it was How to  make any size socks with any wieght yarn by Nancy McMullen.  Or you can try this one called a Sock-u-lator is available for free.  Do you think one day I might remember I have a sock loom sitting in the box unused?

I also had enough to knit a bonnet which turned out slightly larger than I expected.

Louie's got some new clothes

Ok so I wanted to make a new Harris Tweed harness for the wee man.  This one is based on his cheapo one from Dealz.  The tweed I've had for over 10 years, leftovers from a handbag I made for a friend.  There is a lot left over and I had planned another bag.  But I've moved so many times and even changed country, that it was forgotten about....... funny how I brought the fabric though!

So I drafted the pattern from his cheap one, which is getting a little holey.  I reinforced the inside seams with black webbing tape I had in.  I thought I would have enough bias tape to do the edges, which I did, but not to do the lead ties and when I went to get more the shop has zero bias tape, let alone the colour!!!  Arrgh, so after traipsing around a number of shops I finally found a close match fabric lining and mad my own for the straps.  So it's finally done, even if it is a little rough with the sewing of the bias around the leg holes. (I need practice).

He will look rather dapper when Santa brings it to him this Christmas ;)  While I was at it I drafted a pattern for a waterproof jacket.  Since Ireland is particularly cold this year I decided to insulated it.  This one is all using recycled materials. Waterproof fabric from an old jacket, padding, velcro and trim from a broken heat pad, D rings from a worn out harness.

I had a bit of debate as to where and how to attach the lead ring, because I don't want the rain getting in through the sewing (I know you can tape the underside, but having to source it was too much hassle).  I ended up going with inserting into the front side seams and fixing in place to the insulated lining on the chest, so it's doubly secure as he likes to pull on the lead. Here he is just back from our walk.

It was a nylon trim and a bit of a nightmare, I did my best but missed one or two spots and had to put a few hand stitches in other places to stop it from curling..... mostly on the underside you can't see... phew!  It may not be perfect but it does the job and keeps him warm and mostly dry.  As you can see, he's not happy about putting it on again for a model shot so you can see it in all it's glory.

I have to make a second one for summer and my friend says to put a hood on it......sou'wester she shouts at me, you need a sou'wester on it!  I need to buy the trim for that one though.  I'm thinking I might use a clip and thinner strap around the chest.

The Mutt and his new foods

I think this is the month of change for my mutt.  He got some new raised dinner bowls, which he wasn't quite sure what to make of at first.

I've also changed his diet, hopefully for the better, after a friend said that he should be avoiding wheat and carrots...... he doesn't think much of veg anyway.  But his current food contained wheat, as did the treats, all of which come from the pet shop not the supermarket.  I hunted down a couple of options and requested samples, 1 didn't respond. 1 sent them but they were too big and the 3rd sent a whole box of samples (same flavour).  He liked the last lot so I went with them and ordered the different flavour for small dogs.  I got great value and delivered to the door..... much excitement ensued, my dog loves deliveries, oh how he adores the postman!! Of course he can smell the good stuff and was dying to get into the box.

As you can see he couldn't wait to get stuck in! Now this is a dog afraid of boxes and he jumped right in there on his own and wouldn't come out!!  Josera Miniwell all the way from now on.  It was a smooth transition from one to the other over 5 days.  Wheat, soya, gluten, yeast free and no artificial colours, preservatives or flavours.  You can check out Josera Ireland here to see what they offer and find out more.

Next step was to find treats.  In the end I decided to try my own.  I made cheesy biscuits using violife cheese for pizza, which were a hit. Here's the recipe

1 cup of doves gluten free self raising flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon margarine
water
1/4 cup of violife cheese for pizza

Rub butter into the flour and mix all ingredients together except water until it forms a dough. Add water if needed.  Roll our to 1/2cm thick and cut into bitesize pieces or use a cutter.
Bake at 180 C for 15 - 20 mins until risen and lightly golden.  Once cooled store in a plastic container.

I also made Tuna flatbreads the recipe I found here, I baked in the oven at 180 for 15 -20 minutes and used a 50/50 mix of gram flour and doves plain gluten free, with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder.

OMG! the tuna smell drove him nuts when it was cooking and he goes totally mental for a treat,  I tried one and it was super tasty........ and it didn't upset his sensitive tummy.... hooray!!  That's them ready for the freezer.  I can take out as many as I need every couple of days and they defrost in no time.