My Ignorance Amuses Me

So I’m on series 8 of Masterchef Australia. Every year, they do this challenges, and for the life of me, I would’ve sworn on a stack of bibles that they were saying “diggerstation”. Between the accent and not really knowing what the word was, I just rolled with it. I finally decided to Google it. Big Surprise - no such thing as a “digger station”. Some research later, it turns out that it’s a “dégustation”. :facepalm:  What immediately came to mind is that bit in Tomb Raider where Manfred Powell says, “My ignorance amuses me”. “Digger station” - LOL!!!  

My knee is back to normal - phew!! I iced it to near frozen on Friday night. It wasn’t perfect Saturday morning, but I had to work. I think that the degree to which my knee got iced the night before and the amount of Naproxen and codeine that I can function on scared my knee into self-reparation! 

So I had today off from work. I think that I actually do not know how to relax. I mean, I get the concept, but I don’t know how to not do something productive. Unless I’m actually asleep or physically incapacitated, I need to be doing. So I had started deciding last night that yes, I really did need to clean the living room carpet. The stains had started to run into each other, and I couldn’t remember the last time that I had done it. I shifted furnishings and strayed last night, and then 6-ish hours later today, with a load of laundry done and hung as well, the carpet is clean(er). I don’t know how many more wash/rinse sucked I would have had to do to have it come out actually *clean*, but there is a marked improvement! 

I will feel the workout tomorrow - pushing and pulling the 25lb+ Bissell Proheat 2x (mine has yellow accents which I love!) an incalculable amount of times adds up. I was focusing on holding my core tight and alternating between my left & right arm, paying attention to being hard on the muscle and easy on the joint. I am pleased that it is done though, and while I don’t use it a lot, I have to say that this carpet cleaner is worth all the money! 

I had been making nice progress on Humulus  but the fabric just didn’t look the same as the stranded yoke. Sure enough, too loose. GAH!! I reknit the 2” after the sleeve division, trying to tighten up my tension a bit; still too loose. I’ve taken it back to just after the fair isle bit and am dropping to 4mm. Pretty needle tips on the Marblz!! 

Remember when I started out and said that I tend to knit more loosely on circulars - yeah, here it is. The fair isle was keeping the looseness in check.  It is easier to adjust needle sizes than it is to consistently adjust your tensioning to achieve gauge. Well, for me anyway. 

So here is to a night of backwards progress!!

Whatta Thursday

Nice easy pre-op physical - I'm relatively fit and totally hot. not going to argue with a professional ;)
Dropped of some stuff by Amanda, who is making her way, slowly and on her own terms, but she is doing it and learning a lot.
Then a lovely drive out to The Needle Emporium. I miss seeing Julie, touching the yarns and seeing the colours in all their glory!! I spent a lovely afternoon knitting, chatting and picking out all sorts.

I'm made marked progress on the Secret Project, but have had to go back a bit, (silly mistake), but I'm back on track now.

The Manos del Uruguay Alegria that I had purchased on the last couple of yarn crawls had been whispering to me. After going through Julie's stock of Alegria, I knew I had to answer its siren song.



Yup - Sweetspot. I am very pleased and can't wait to do an Alegria Strip!!




A Namaste BYOB to make toting my Knitter's Pride set easier.


A couple of magazines that had projects I want to do.


A Mountain Colors Perspective gradient kit for a yet undecided cowl.



I was utterly smitten with this new colour Hummingbird in Satchel by Mrs Crosby. I set to finding a shawl pattern and after much fancying about in Ravelry, selected Chevry as the winner. Hollywood Cerise was selected as the companion colour, also after significant study. Crème Fraîche, Spicy Habanero, and Icebox Watermelon were all contenders.

I also picked up a project to work on after my surgery. I know, but I don't want to run out of something to do.


Stockinette, but shaping to keep me mindful.

On my way home yesterday my rear wheel bearing seized on the passenger side. Could've been a disaster on the 401, but fortunately I had control of my car, was near an exit and was able to ease into a garage. Active Green + Ross, while they were able to find a wheel drum that same evening and do the repair, fucked me hard on pricing.
But I am going to count the multiple of blessings that kept me safe and got me back home to my puppies, who held it long time!! *\o/* yeah for crate training!!!

Today I scored the remains sets in the BSG (new) series


for $30!! and found myself a new creative outlet. My teacher, who is also a friend and a knitter bonus, was impressed with my quick study and sent me home with an extra note (beyond the beginner three) to practice on. Clearly I'm a natural


The puppies weren't sure what was going on, but ignored it soon enough. (And yes, a seriously unflattering pic of my arm!) This will give me something to occupy my fingers & mind whilst on my convalesce. Not that knitting can't do it, but I am expanding my horizons.

Whew - it's been a busy couple of days, but I am feeling quite content within myself. This vacation came none too soon!

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Camping at The Pinery

So we went camping this week at the Pinery Provincial Park - my first camping trip since I was little and went with my parents.

We had a few errands to run and then the inevitable "oops ... forgot" stops and  arrived early Monday evening. Lee set up the sorted out the shelter and fire while I went off foraging for food. The sky was clear and I saw 3 falling stars - took care of the big wishes.

Jake had a blast with some special glow sticks that were gifted to him.

The Force is strong in this one!!

The boys went of in search of some provisions so I woke up alone and left to my own devices. Fortunately I had devices and was roughing it Namaste style!

Tuesday was a nice day - swimming took up most of our day. Lee & I both ended up with some sun burn. It was overcast when we left the campsite so Lee & I didn't think that we'd need the sunscreen but it totally brightened up in the 7 minutes it took to walk to the beach.

I spotted a Phasmatodea on the tree in the center of our campsite. None of us had seen one before and it was very cool. It wobbled on its tiny stick legs when it walked. It disappeared up the tree by the time we had turned in for the night; I wonder if it sensed the storm and headed for higher cover.

Lee made a delish spaghetti sauce for dinner. We got through dinner and some drinks before the lightning started. Torrential rains all night, leaks in the tent, a neighbouring tarp collecting and dumping water ceaselessly = little to no sleep.

Wednesday morning was about setting things out to dry. Jake rode his bike through all of the water puddles! We went into Grand Bend for mini golf.

It was a lot of fun, more so because I won!!!




When we got back there was a warning from the Ministry of Health that the beach was a danger due to high bacteria levels - stupid storm!!


So there were card games and Jake played with some children from a neighbouring site. Lee made chili - nice and not spicy per request of the pickiest camper.



I had bought those packs that make coloured fire - Jake & I are easily amused!! It was hard to capture the colours but trust me - very cool!




Lee and I had toasted marshmallows - mmmmmm perfection!






On our last morning I made bacon and eggs to order and I was on the money! Mostly it's a "take what you get" thing when I cook but I wanted to do right by our last camp meal. Mission accomplished.



I help get the small stuff sorted away then Jake & I went to the beach while Lee broke down the tent and packed up the truck. It was way easier to divide and conquer than have a 7 year old boy bored and complaining. It was gorgeous and sunny; I'm not totally untrainable so sunscreen was applied. The water was refreshing and totally perfect once I was all the way in. Jake played with another boy on the beach (love camping for that - there is always someone for the kids to play with!) and I just floated in the water and soaked up the sunshine.

Next year we hope to stay longer than 3 nights; it seemed like we had just arrived and settled in and suddenly it was time to go.