A Chick is for Life - Not Just For Easter

It is this time of year again 'Click this Link' for an Easter Message

A Chick is for Life, Not Just for Easter!

I Am Sure The Pain Is Not Worth The Gain!

I am talking about my second attempt at Needle Felting.  I really don't think it is for me!  I decided to Needle Felt some Easter Eggs for The Basket!  I got my pretty fibre ready and my incredibly sharp, three pronged felting needle and set to work with gusto.  Much too much gusto.  I seriously drew blood from my index finger and my thumb within the first three minutes of creating the above egg.  The core of the egg is natural Merino which is blood stained!  I managed to cover it up nicely with layers of green Merino with a fancy pink stripe and pink spots.  This egg is a one off.  It wont be having any Needle Felted friends.  I may have to give up on my Needle Felting career as I can not take the pain.  It does look pretty though with the crochet Easter Goodies.

For health and safety reasons I have gone back to nice safe crochet.  I am working on something that I have high hopes for.  I always have high hopes, which might explain why I experience so much bitter disappointment in my life!

Yep I am excited about this wonky hexagon.  I am going to leave you guessing for now as to it's destiny.  xxx

"Two Hour Crochet Cowl'

Baba by Adriafil - Bulky/12ply 100% Merino

I had plans for this yarn as soon as I saw it.  It was a Destash on Ravelry and I managed to buy it for 20% of its cost.  I have just the hook to cope with bulky yarn.

Mr 25mm Beasty Bad Boy Hook!

Projects work up very quickly with this hook.  I chained 55 stitches, then did a row of double crochet, starting in the second stitch from the hook.  I used a chain to turn then worked crochet rib for eleven rows.  Sewed in the ends, attached three buttons (from my tin of old buttons) and Bob's your Uncle, I had a soft, warm, Merino cowl in well under two hours.  It has gone chilly again and some parts of the UK have had snow.  Widespread snow has been forecast.  Bring it on. . . I'm a ready for ya!

Monday Mystery

Euan took the above photograph this morning.  We were both amazed when we went to collect our three eggs this morning.  I do not know how this happened?  It definitely is not an April Fool.  Somebody has laid a pure white egg.  I have done a bit of research on the internet and read it can happen rarely.  It can happen as the result of the hen having a shock or trauma.  I do not know what could have caused this.  Usually white hens lay white eggs, brown eggs lay brown eggs, all of our eggs have been brown apart from this bright white egg.  All three girls look well enough today and are running around in the sunshine as usual.  When they first started to lay we got double yolkers, occasionally we get a 'Wobbly' soft shelled egg, the shell is soft and squishy but the egg inside is fine.  I haven't cracked the white egg yet so I don't know if it is 'normal' inside.  How strange, I just had to share it.
          

Five Reasons Why I love Blogging

1)   Other Bloggers are so lovely. 
 I received this little parcel in the post from my Blog Buddy Carol.  Carol likes to Smile At the Flowers so much so that is the name of her blog.  She has been enjoying the Spring sunshine and tending her garden in between all the crafty projects.  Carol mentioned she had some 'Honesty' seeds that she would be willing to post to Blog Buddies.  I love 'Honesty', tall, vibrant pink flowers then best of all when it goes to seed, you get translucent 'pennies' containing the seeds.  My Mom would use 'Honesty' in dried flower arrangements when I was little.  Not only did the package contain 'Honesty' seeds but also some lovingly wrapped little plants.  Complete with plant labels to help the novice identify the goodies.

Jacobs Ladder

Helleborus Oriental

Helleborus Corsicus

Aquilegia

Valerian

 and Hesperis Matronalis.

Euan and I got out in the garden yesterday and planted these babies and gave them a drink.  I really hope we will be 'Smiling At The Flowers' soon.  I must thank Carol not only for the lovely parcel but also for her ongoing support in 'The Pasty Power Protest'!

I have made some great friends in Cyber Space and they even spill over into the 'Real' World like my Blog Buddy Claire at Simply Life.  Huh, still can't get over Claire is only 10 minutes from my house!   

2)  I find lots of great recipe and cooking ideas.

This weeks favourite recipe came from Kashi's Corner.  It is her recipe for Raspberry/Plum Oatbars.  My little plum tree has got lots of blossom on for the first time this year, so I have high hopes for a plum or two.  Then maybe next year there will be enough for Plum Jam.  I used a jar of homemade Plum Jam that my friend gave me to make these bars and they make a good snack for hungry boys on Easter Break.  The good news is my Jam making friend is about to move house and the garden has another Plum Tree.  I could live off Blog Recipes for the rest of my life I am sure.

3)  Reading Other Peoples Blogs Make Me Happy.

Actually more than that, they often have me laughing out loud!   Knits and Crosses has to have my favourite 'Cookery' posts of all.  They are usually timely and I find them when I am in a grouchy, tired mood.  They have me belly laughing in no time.  Not only is Sarah clearly bonkers, (if you click the link you will see what I mean, in the nicest possible way of course), I think her writing is brilliantly comical and the recipes are very tasty and practical too.

I also love to look at other peoples Crafty Projects and gain a lot of inspiration and ideas from Bloggy sharing.  Gothy and Her Crafty Stuff has some amazing journeys from fibre, to yarn, to finished projects.  Yeah I lose sight of that!  The finished projects!

I think this is a great post too from The Smiling Robot, not only is Grace showcasing 'A Rabbit Disguised as a Zebra' with one ear up and one ear down, which in my opinion is a genius little creation, but she is also showcasing her finished pair of 'Granny Chic Granny Stripe Wrist Warmers' Made using my pattern.  

4)  Surely Everyone Loves a Blog Give Away?

I find Blog Give Aways a bit too exciting and if you win, well it is the highlight of the week!

There are some really exciting ones at the moment if you enjoy crafty stuff.

This one from 'According to Matt' is really exciting, you can win a Beautiful Rainbow of Yarn, perfect for Summery Projects of Lovliness.

Here is another one at 'Show and Tell' I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Just look at this adorable 'Wabbit' made by 'Marmalade Rose'.

5)  I learn a lot from Blogs.

I had never heard of 'Extreme Crochet' until I came across 'Fiddly Fingers' Blog.  I love the giant crochet projects, Granny Squares the size of cushions and 'Chester' the Cat who is bigger than me!

           I also learn about other parts of the country and the world via blog reading.  I have learned all sorts of things over the year from Teresa Kasner.  Teresa lives in a beautiful part of the world and shares her knowledge about the Natural History and Heritage of her area on a regular basis, including Native American history, accompanied fantastic photography.

           I also learn about others perspectives on life and blogging helps me to slow down and smell the roses.  I recently enjoyed this post from Different Choices and this post from Chicken Stitches.

I learn about gardening, crafts, cultures, cookery, places, people. . . blogging has turned me into a proper clever clogs!  I could go on and on with more 'Reasons Why I love Blogging' but I am sure I have gone on and on enough already. 

I hope you check out at least some of the links that I have posted as they are sure to give you a smile or two.  

March 2012 Photograph Collage

 Another great month in Blogland passes by, I have had fun, hope you have too :)