Getting windy

   The winds starting to pick up now, it wasn't too bad when I walked the dog this morning. We had a strong constant wind with a few strong gusts but nothing I haven't seen before, usually in November not September though. A little light rain last night and not much since but it is getting dark now so more rain my be due soon.

   I've knitted about 4 inches of the braided scarf, its looking good but a little tatty. I hope washing it when its finished will make it look better. The scarf seems to be knitting up fairly fast, I'm slower than normal as I'm still out of practise. I figure I can finish it in two weeks but don't hold me to that.

  Hope you all had a good weekend, have a good day and take care folks.

I'm back

   Sorry I've not blogged this week, I took a week off and forgot to mention it. There isn't a whole lot to blog about really, just some quick updates I guess. I should be back to blogging as usual next week.

  I think I have won the battle of the mice, I've not seen or heard any sign of mice for about a week. I think a couple of days of the poison being put out finished them off. I'll keep the poison down and keep an eye out but for now I think there gone. Just hope I don't get any more now the weather is cooling down.

   After starting to knit the scarf last week I had to stop, the needles and yarn weren't thick enough so the scarf wasn't wide enough. I ordered some tweedie chunky yarn and 6mm needles, got the yarn quick but the needles only arrived yesterday. I made a start again on the scarf yesterday, only a few rows but its coming along nicely.

  The weathers pretty warm today, a bit cloudy and windy though. Katia should be clipping the UK Sunday/Monday so the winds should pick up even more. The met office seem to be playing it down so I'm not sure how bad it will be. Last week we had gusts of 60mph, it was more like November than September.

  Hope you all have a great weekend, take care folks.

Knitting again

   Started knitting a Christmas scarf yesterday, twice as I'm a little rusty and keep dropping stitches. Knitting chunky braid scarf which is a reversible cable scarf that looks braided. I might have to start all over again with larger needles depending on how stiff it turns out after I've knitted a few cabled rows.

  Caught another mouse the other day but there are still more and now there getting smarter and avoiding the kitchen. I've moved some poison into the living room but am unsure of where abouts they are apart from behind the skirting board, I might have to pull up the skirting boards. I hope I can get them all before they breed again. 

  Hope you all have a great weekend, take care folks.

Crafty mouse.

   I've got the poison for the mice and laid it out in several safe places, also re baited the spring traps because yesterday the bait was taken. The bait was left alone last night and I never heard a peep out of Mr noisy mouse, I'm thinking this one is pretty crafty and might prove hard to get.

  I've still not decided on a colour for the scarf but am leaning towards brick red, as long as its not too bright. I'll have to check my past buys on ebay and see what sort of red I knitted my moms flame scarf in. I'm going to use that same yarn, Jarol Heritage, as I really liked knitting with it last year, did two scarfs with it.

  Starting to think I need to dig my thermals out, the days and nights are really starting to get cold here. I really hope this doesn't mean a super cold winter.

  Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.

Feeling chilly

  I think summers over, not that we've had much of a summer here. There has been a chill in the air the last couple of days that makes me think of winter and the need to get ready. Also makes me think of Christmas and the fact I better pull my finger out and get knitting presents. I've been looking at yarn over the weekend, I have already decided on a scarf again for my sister and have a pattern in mind too. I can't decide on a colour, I've never been very good with colours. The pattern for the scarf is a cable pattern that works on either side of the scarf, I want to add pockets as well.

  My other sisters scarf is already knitted from last year and I have the yarn to finish it off with the five fold cable pockets. I could make a start on that this week while waiting for the yarn for the other scarf, once I decide on a colour. My other sister and mum I haven't decided on yet, haven't given it any thought so far but might weave something, bags, purses, glasses cases??? I have time, no rush yet.


   I've taken care of eight mice and had thought that was the last of them as the bait has been left alone but last night I could hear one scrabbling around behind the skirting board making a heck of a din. With luck the poison will be here tomorrow and I can put a stop to them once and for all.

  Hope you all had a good weekend, have a great day and take care folks.

Mouse update.

   Just a quick update on the mouse situation, I've got rid of 5 but theres at least two more. I'm hoping theres only two more but there is probably more than that. I got two yesterday as I think I've found there mine base so should be able to finish them all off soon enough. I might get some poison as well to mop up any I miss.

  Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.

Grrrr, darn mouse.

   A mouse or mice are still giving me the run around. At the moment the well fed mouse is making a mockery of the spring traps by eating the bait in situ without setting off the traps no matter how I set them up. I've tried tieing bait to the trigger but the mouse just ate the bait then went home, the duct tape under the trigger isn't working either. I guess if I wait long enough the mouse will get fat and heavy then will set off the triggers. For some reason my diy traps are being left alone, I probably need to place them better or make more.

   Blogging will be light again this week due to the school holidays, my hours are messed up and I have a few busy afternoons. Hope you all had a good weekend, have a great day and take care folks.

Two down.

   Caught another mouse yesterday and now know there is at least one more, probably more than one. I figure a mother came into the house to give birth so maybe 6 to 8 in total?? I don't think the male sticks around after mating so probably just this family unit, if I can get them all quick there shouldn't be any long term problems, just hope I already have the mature female or that she hasn't already mated again. Not sure when the young are ready for mating, I could look the information up but I'd sooner spend my time killing the buggers.

  Ordered some split rings to make keyrings with so this weekend I might warp the inkle loom and start making some keyring lengths. My sister really liked the keyring I wove for her, she put it on her keys straight away. I didn't take any pictures but i still have some of the inkle band left over, I'll take pictures and post them to the blog. Its been a long time since I last did a picture post

  Hope you all have a great weekend, take care folks.

One down.

   Had a couple of busy afternoons this week so I haven't been able to post. Not had time to do much of anything else either so don't really have anything to post today. I've harvested loads more leaves off my tobacco plant and theres still loads left too. The seed pods are just starting to turn brown so will harvest those as well for seeds for next year.

  I've managed to catch one mouse without an anvil or piano falling on my head. I had 6 spring traps set out with nutella but the mouse was able to pick them all clean without setting them off. The duct tape didn't work for catching the mouse as planned but some of it was moved so either the mouse did sort of get stuck but managed to free itself or it was taking the tape home with the nutella bait. I ended up sticking the duct tape with nutella bait under the trigger of one of the spring traps and it worked. I'm not sure if this is a lone mouse and my troubles are over or if this mouse had family and its just the beginning. I'll leave some easy bait about and find out for sure.

  Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.

Mice, plan C. Tom & Jerry

   Well the duct tape doesn't work for catching mice, I think the mouse got stuck a little but managed to drag itself off the tape. The spring traps are useless, the light weight mouse can pick the bait clean in perfect safety. Plan c is diy traps. I've cut the top off a 2l bottle and shoved the end upside down back into the bottle. Its baited at the top and the bottom, the idea is that the mouse will climb in and not be able to get out. For bait I've found the mouse prefers dry dog food which saves me from using all my lovely nutella.

  Other diy traps I'm going to tray are a bucket of water with wire or string running across the top with a bobbin or something that will spin freely  in the middle of the wire. I'll bait the bobbin and the mouse should run along the wire for the bait which will spin around dropping the mouse in the water for a swim. Or seeing as this is starting to turn into a Tom and Jerry cartoon an anvil will probably land on my head.

  Another diy trap for me to try is with a large bucket, with or without water if its large enough to stop the mouse getting out, have a baited toilet roll balanced over the edge of something and when the mouse goes for the bait it tips the toilet roll over into the bucket. Or a large anvil falls on my head.

  I'll let you all know how I get on, once I stop seeing tweety bird flying around my head from the anvil injuries.

  Hope you all had a good weekend, have a great day, take care folks

Mice

   Sorry I've not blogged two days running, nothing to blog yarn wise really and I've been baby sitting. I am planing to do some carding and spinning today so I should have something to blog about next week.

  I saw a mouse the other day in my electric cupboard and have found evidence of mice eating the dog food. Not sure how many of the little buggers I have, never had mice in my house before. I've laid a couple of those spring traps. I hate setting those things, always feel like I'm going to lose a couple of fingers and yet the mice seem to be able to eat the nutella off them without setting them off. Plan B is I've laid some duct tape down sticky side up, not sure if its sticky enough or if the sticky goes off exposed to air but it will have to do for now until I can get the really sticky traps. Any other diy mouse trap tips please feel free to share in the comments.

  Hope you all have a great weekend, take care folks.

Stormy UK

  I've not started or finished any yarn projects so far this week so I haven't gotten much to blog about. I did a little spinning yesterday of the white Falkland and oatmeal bfl that I have, still have a long way to go there before I get anywhere close to finishing. I haven't gotten enough of that yarn yet to ply with.

  The weather was better yesterday but its gotten worse again today with heavy rains due soon, the rains should make the riots in the North West a wash out tonight. I'm not sure if the rains will spread to Birmingham and London so there may still be riots there tonight.

  Hope you all have a great day, take care folks.

Stormy weather

   Walking the dog this morning I had my full winter gear on. Wellies, waterproof over pants, thick coat and even my gloves. The only thing missing was a warmer hat. I do love walking in this kind of weather though, its so quiet and peaceful. The dog loves walking in any weather, it could be raining molten rocks with visibility reduced to 3 inches due to pyroclastic flow and he'd still want to go out and play, he'd also expect me to go with him to throw his ball. Still, if the worlds going to end it would be a nice way to go. Playing with the dog, not being hit on the head with molten rock or smothered in pyroclastic flow that is.

  Hope you all had a great weekend, have a great day and take care folks.

Blank mind.

   Short post today, my minds blanker than usual. I've got the loom set up to finish off weaving the clothespin peg bag. I'm still not 100% on the hemming so may play it safe and fold over the edges like a normal hem. I'd also like to make a start on knitting a washcloth as well but think I'll be too busy weaving and sewing. Maybe next week I can start knitting again.

   Hope you all have a great weekend, take care folks.