Tour De Bloomin Fleece Day 9! 2011

Who would have thought it was so difficult to spin daily?  Tomorrow is a day of rest and I intend to crochet.  I am determined to spin every day I am supposed to but today I am all Birthdayed out!  I will do half an hour of 'Old Man's Beard' while I watch the news.  I am so glad I am not cycling.  My little fella had a lovely day today and is now fast asleep.  We had a Barbecue at my parents in the sunshine.  At one point both of my sons, (they won't like me for sharing this) were running around in their underwear, having a balloon fight!  You had to see it to believe it.  Hooray for July babies!  Euan had lots of great presents, a new BMX bike, he bought himself a new Games Console with his birthday money, he has had games, water guns,  lego and a remote control Rattlesnake which is fun.  All that is left is;

Gooey Chocolate Birthday Cake with Sweeties on the top.

And Strawberry Trifle - Would anyone like some?  You would seriously be helping me out!

Tomorrow he will take lollipops to school to give out to his classmates at the end of the day.  He says being 7 is fantastic and being 56 will be even better.  I told him today' it is great to have a seven year old son' and he told me 'it is great to have a forty year old Mom.'  Bless him.  The oldest is now gearing up for his Birthday on Friday when he will be 15.  He has requested a Barbecue too.  Blimey I will have to experience it all again ( and so will my poor parents who host these affairs for me!).  It will play havoc with my 'Tour De Fleece'!  Oldest starts work experience tomorrow in a local Primary School for a week.  I am definitely more nervous than he is.  He has hair longer than Ozzy Osbourne's and a personality to match,  (we also have the Brummie accent!)  I wonder if he will last the week?  Should go down a storm with the kids!

Day 8 'The Tour De Fleece 2011' One small step for spindling, one giant leap for me!

My oldest son's friend wanted to try my spinning wheel last night.  He tried very hard but it beat him.  He did master changing direction of the wheel with just his feet though.  I learnt to spin on a wheel, although I have read spindling is a good place to start.  I bought a spindle back in October and have had a love hate relationship with it ever since.  I just couldn't seem to grasp it.  Eureka!  Now it seems I can do it!  I took it to the park today and even in the wind could manage slowly but surely to spin 'Old Man's Beard' into a reasonable yarn!  I can't say I enjoy it... but I can do it!  It seems very slow compared to my wheel, but I know there are many people out there who spin beautiful yarns, love their spindles and have no desire to own a wheel.  I know it doesn't look like much but it is a triumph to me.

I just had to show you my new 'Picnic' plates too, I think they are very pretty.  The kids charged around the park while I had a nice 'Single Glass' bottle of wine and a Smoked Salmon Bagel with homemade Chilli Cream Cheese.  Spinning in the blustery wind!  It was enough to blow my fibre and my picnic blanket around, but do you think it would launch the kite?  Of course not!

Picnic Bread - Tear and Share

As much as I love my 'Slow Pot', I also love my 'Bread Maker'.  I do not buy bread, I may buy wraps, bagels and naan breads but I make my own bread, rolls and pizza dough.  My 'Bread maker' is in use most days.  There are three types of 'Picnic Bread' in the basket.  From left to right, 'Pesto and Garlic', 'Olive and Oregano' and 'Sun Dried Tomato and Parmesan'.  You can leave them together as'Tear and Share' bread.  Although I need to master the shape of my 'Tear and Share' as it morphed from a neat circle, very rustic!

It is just a basic dough recipe with additions.  I can think of endless varieties,  I would like to try 'Cheese and Chive', 'Cheese and Onion', and 'Sun dried Tomato and Fresh Basil'.  I have also bought gourmet breads in the past that were tasty including a 'Walnut loaf' and a 'Brazil Nut' Loaf, these were both wholemeal loaves.  I think walnut bread would be delicious with 'Celery and Stilton Soup', 'Sun dried Tomato and Basil' would be delicious with 'Carrot Soup'.  Pesto and Olive breads are delicious with pasta. 'Picnic' breads are an economical addition to any meal.  You can turn a plain old bit of cheese, a simple homemade soup or salad into a tasty meal.  They are great if you are catering for a number of people at summer barbecues, buffets or of course picnics.
Day 7 of 'The Tour De Fleece' back to grey for today but struggling to fit spinning in.

It Spins like an Old Mans Beard, previously the donor of this fleece has been burning it each year!  I am hoping to at least knit a hat with it.

My youngest has his 7th Birthday on Sunday and his best friend is coming for the day tomorrow.  My oldest is 15 on Friday and has a friend stopping tonight.  These birthday preparations are seriously interfering with my spinning time!  I also really wish I had crocheted bunting!  Maybe next year.

Day 6 'The Tour De Peas' 2011

The 'Tour De Peas'...well it makes a change from the 'Tour De Fleece'.  I do love fresh peas.  I don't have many but the ones I do have are very tasty.  I love them raw but am very wary of grubs.  I always inspect my peas and it gives me a shudder to see grubs in the pod!  These were steamed for about a minute and added to a simple pasta salad.  It is important that I sustain myself with 'Carbo loading' as all athletes need to pay attention to their diet.  Day six of the 'Tour De Fleece',  I sneaked in a bit of crochet today!  Before continuing with my 'Rainbow Bobbin'.  I think it is getting fatter.

I must admit my right knee is feeling a bit creaky but nothing too bad.  I am sure the rest day on Monday will help.  It is a good job I am not in 'The Tour de France'!  I am too much of a hypochondriac.

Tour De Fleece Day 5 - And 'The Happy Couple'

I have been wanting to show you this happy couple.  They reappeared last week from the dark depths of the 'Toy Box'.  They are both about 35 years old and were made by my Nana.  They have been very loved by me (and still are).  Then my oldest son loved them and then my youngest has loved them.  It is almost time for me to reclaim them.  I think they deserve a trip to the 'Dolly Hospital' but I am a bit too scared to touch them. They both need a good wash and could do with a re-stuff!  They are called 'Lady' and 'Ted'.  I know, highly original huh?  They have lasted well though and have both been on many adventures.  I am amazed they have survived the years.  My Nana knitted all of her grandchildren toys and I think we all had a 'Ted'.  I also used to get lots of pretty 'Sindy doll' clothes and baby doll clothes.  The boys had football kits and cricket jumpers for their Action Men.  I think handmade toys are the best as the love gets stitched in. 

I am still going with the old 'Tour de Fleece'.  I did over and hour yesterday of 'Rainbow' and when all is calm again tonight will spin a bit more.   I am very tempted to ply 'Rainbow' with the grey.  I will have to do a sample of a couple of meters and make my mind up.    

Day 4 'Tour De Fleece' 5 July 2011

 My Ashford Standard Niddy Noddy is 15" (380mm) long to make a 60" (1524mm) skein. 60 winds is 100 
yards.
Yeah it turned up!  Well my Mom must have found it while she tidied my house when I was at work!  I know I am very spoiled!

I got 110 winds round.  I only work in Metric so will need to go and do some maths.  I am happy to work in approximates so over 150 metres of yarn.

It made a nice 70g skein.  That I will have to wash and set the twist.  I also have another slightly larger skein.  I have not decided what to make yet so these skeins will join my stash.  It is good to be reunited with my Niddy Noddy though.  (I like typing it as much as I like saying it!)  For Day 4 of 'The Tour Fleece' I    will carry on with the 'Rainbow' spinning when all is calm.

Last night I felt very smug picking peas, broad beans and parsley from the garden.  I made a delicious looking rice salad for my lunch at work with a splash of lemon juice, some seasoning and olive oil.  I also added chopped gammon.  I was really looking forward to it at lunchtime.  Guess what?  I forgot to take it!  It has been one of those days, I hope I remember to take it tomorrow.