Look! Babies!

...hedgehogbabies! There are 6 of them living under the big stones/rocks that hubby has put along the road down to the seahouse. We knew we had 2 big ones, two different of size- but today when the kids went down for a swim, they almost tripped on these little ones. They are sooo cute! I am a bit obsessed with hedgehogs,I guess... At first we saw only two. Then they found some more, and finally all six of them.
And DD2 is all set to pick them up...using ovenmitts...They were a little bigger than tennisballs, and the kids had a great time taking photos and also filming them. I tried to upload a film, but it wouldn't work- they had taken two small films with the hedgehogs- one where DS1 even spoke English! I think he planned on posting it on youtube...
It's a funny thing- when I sit in my chair knitting, I have a long post planned in my head, with excellent writing, good stories and a punchline...then it all sort of...fade...

But I AM doing some knitting-LOL! This is Andrea's design DiamondGirl. The yarn(a substitute) is a blend of wool, cotton and linen, and I guess it wil be pretty warm...but I really like the design, and the quiltstitches are both easy to do, and nicelooking. I've been knitting it for some time, it is an inbetweenknit, but there isn't much left now. And then there is the MS3 ... I decided to lengthen it. I plan on using it as a tablerunner on my diningroomtable, which is 3m long and 1.60m wide, and ovalshaped... I'm nearly done with the lengthening,and then it is only to finish clue 4. I wonder what she has in mind? My guess is that it will not be the same at both ends. That doesn't bother me, because I can always knit another half that looks just like this part, and graft them together at the middle. I also wonder why we should put in a lifeline? To be honest, it took me some time to figure out what a lifeline was...I blame it on the Norwegian schoolsystem- we learn pretty well all those random things like travelling in English, or shopping, or ordering food- but not any of the really important in life- like knitting terms!!!LOL.

I have never used a lifeline before, (it doesn't show in this picture, because that was taken yesterday, and the lifeline was put in today), and I really wonder why it had to be put in such an odd place? Next clue coming out on Friday! But before that- the next Sockamania will hopefully be on my needles. After I started blogging, I knit a lot more than before, and I have learned a lot of new things. Socks knitted toe-up? Never heard of it. Lifelines? Never heard of it. Figure8- cast on? Totally unknown. Sewn cast off? Ehh? Magical loop? Knitting socks on 2 circs? Sorry, that is all new to me. And I have always considered myself being an experienced knitter... It is FUN to try all this new stuff! So thank you all for writing and sharing!

I'll leave you with Tussi and Mr.Black, both sound asleep...
Have a nice week!

we're back...

The kids and I went to visit Farmor(fathers mother-their paternal grandmother) She lives 3 hours away. She is a widow since Feb.2003, when Farfar suffered a massive heartattack and passed away on the kitchenfloor, with all the crandchildren around him.

She is a lovely lady, and we had some great days with her. The weather was okay,okay enough for the kids to go swimming....we went to a bathingplace in the river,where they jumped (see the splash...?) and swam for some time. I had to drive them, and brought some work with me to do... Anyone who has joined the MysteryStole3 ? I signed up...I can't have been at my senses at the moment- there just wasn't time to do any knitting at all...but I signed up...Well-so far I'm done with the third clue...I'm using crochetthread to knit with, on 2.5mm needles, and will use it as a tablerunner. Why? I don't know what kind of yarn to use. I've knitted a few shawls some years ago using Icelandic yarn (Eingirni), but my local LYS has nothing, another has too expensive stuff- lovely, but way too expensive- and I haven't tried ordering through internet yet...hubby doesn't like it at all. So that's why I'm using crochet thread:-)
Balancing the pattern, following pattern rows, and knitting with white- a challenge-LOL!

Before starting MS3, I finished my Serpentine socks. They're done toe up, with rather short legs-because I was using only two balls of yarn...and my feet are pretty big. But I like them. a close up of the mystery stole-the pattern is beautiful so far.
We didn't do much on our little vacation, but the kids helped farmor in the garden, cutting grass, watering and carrying firewood closer to the house(it will soon be winter, my friends!) We also went to see "Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix" at the movies. A bit of a disappointment...There has been a lot of writing about it in the newspapers around here, saying it is not suited for children under the age of 11 due to something-well, my kids are not the average kid,I guess...nothing seems to scare them... Anyway, we're glad we went, but we were expecting a bit more.

DS2 is reading the fifth book at the moment, I read the first to them, but they got longer and longer by each book, so now they have to read them by themselves...

I'm waiting for the last book to be translated to Norwegian- here is just NO way that I will start reading that in English!!! Still haven't read #6,though...guess I'll have to start all over again...

DD2 celebrated her 10th birthday on July 24th- it is really hard to believe that she is already 10!!! I mean- I'm not getting any older???

Have a nice week!

out for a walk...

DD2 and I got some yarn yesterday, at a sale, and after seeing Sandie's dishcloths the other day, I remembered that I had the pattern for this one... When I first found out about and started reading knittingblogs, it amazed me that people would actually put so much effort into a dishcloth!!! There were so many beautiful patterns in blogland,and I couldn't understand why they wouldn't MAKE something out of it, something REAL- like a BLANKET- not only a dishcloth that would lie crumpled on the kitchen sink...well, I started what I call my "dishclothblanket". It will not be done for a long time...no pictures, I have forgotten to take any. But back to the dishcloth. I'm a bit curious...is it possible to actually USE a cloth like this??? I will have to give it a try. So I knitted this yesterday while babysitting our friend's sick daughter,while mum was picking up the rest of the kids at her parents, and dad was fertilizing.
I don't get the hang of short rows. The stitches gets too big. Sandies cloth is a lot prettier. And a lot more even. And is made in a much better yarncombination. But it was fun to see how the colours turned out! The ball of yarn didn't seem quite as bold as the finished cloth. I used nearly the whole ball (50g/70m) for this cloth. DD2 started knitting a towel. Mr.Black, Tussi and Lady Gray are all relaxing...He came to meet me and walk me home tonight- quite a gentleman he is, my Mr.Black! A good friend calledat 10:15pm and asked if I would join her for a walk, and I went. We walked up the mountain along the main road, it is pretty steep, but went okay. I will feel it in my legs tomorrow though-LOL! When we came back down, after a nice walk and nice talk, Mr.Black was waiting for us at the parting point- she would continue straight ahead, I had to turn left...and he walked home with me! Funny creature. We also met a hedgehog on our way. I haven't seen any in years, but this year we have seen them almost daily! And they are cute!
When we first came to look at this place, ten years ago in August, this view is what met us, and it still amazes me every time I come down the mountain. Rain, sun, overcast, even fog- it still is stunning.Every time. This is not the best picture of it, but it was taken tonight, around 11pm, so it is today's view.
Have a nice day- and perhaps a long weekend ahead?

RockinGirlBlogger!

Thanks to Kristy and Rani for nominating me-here there should be an insert with the button RockinGirlBlogger.... did I figure out how to do it? I think not...sorry...BUT- instead you go to those two ladies and read- Too bad you are already nominated, or I would have done it. I love your blogs, and it is so much fun to see what people in other parts of the world are doing. I've been blogging since April, and reading blogs only since around the beginning of the year, but there are so many talented women out there in blogland, and always someone new to read. Also lots of great patterns. I thought I was a pretty experienced knitter...but every day there is something new to learn. It is great.

I do have someone I would like to nominate, and if you feel like it, please make your own choices.

Judy- ,SiljaDevine-,Bea- ,Janice-,Michelle- and a lot more... These women are very different from each other, but they have knitting in common. And a very down-to-earth approach to life that suits me.

This is written around 2 am thursday morning-I've been up since 6am wednesday morning, so I'd better stop before it gets completely out of control around here-LOL!
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite:-)

Hi!

Thanks a lot for your nice comments on my "beejacket"!!! I love it, it is so comfortable, and I really want to use the pattern again-the jacket fits, so I want to make another one with a different pattern and different colours(or juxt solidcoloured...I'll see what I can come up with...)
Picture taken this morning...had to get up at 6am to drive hubby to the boat leaving for Bergen at 6:50am (it takes 5 hours to Bergen, then he flies to work in Stavanger, and he'll be gone for 2 weeks. But he has actully been home for 4 weeks now...it is a looong time since that happened last!) The kids are still asleep, the guests at the seahouse is still asleep, the cats lay around sleeping.... Last night Tussi met the hedgehog. He was pretty curious about it, tried to play, but backed away quickly-LOL!
There is actually some knitting too! These are the SockamaniaJuly socks,(I'm having the blues...this is the third pair-of three-that I have made for myself in this club in blue yarn-hehe)The pattern is great, but I'm having big troubles with the cables...cabling every third row? I always forget which row I'm on... They are knit toe-up, I used a figure8-cast on, which works for me-because I am totally unable of making short rows with wraps! I've tried! Several times! It looks awful! So I cheated on the heel too, and made my own version. The cuffs might be a bit shorther than usual, because I thought I'd use only 2 balls of yarn(and my feet are so big that if I start top down, I need nearly half a ball extra...) That sounds weird. It's too early in the morning. BTW: the tablecloth is made by a neighbour, we got it as a present when we moved into the new house a year ago. It is beautiful!
I also signed up for MysteryStole3...and still haven't had time to start it, haven't even got yarn for it...I've seen parts of it on different blogs-(sorry,too tired to find any links)but I might have an idea for that one too...There will be more knitting and reading now that hubby's off to work again.
I'll leave you with today's view...a wet, foggy day.Which I will spend in company with my knitting needles...
Have a great day!
And Kristy ,I'll get back to the rockin' thing!

bzzzz....

the little bee said, and tried to sting her siblings! DS2 graciously offered to model my" beejacket" as she calls it....

all done, exept for the buttons- I don't have any stash, so I need to buy some. The colours are hideous, but I like it, and it fits! pattern was found in a norwegian magazine called Familien, but it is a Drops design,# 100-29,a free pattern. Drops has plenty of free patterns, and most of them seem to be translated into English or German. The yarn I used for this is Gjestal Bomull Sport, a 100% cotton, 50g/100m, tension 23 st=10cm. I've added extra lenght,since I am rather tall, and I knitted the largest size. Started June 5th, finished July 11th.
Then there is my longterm project...the FISHblanket... I decided on using 5 different colours in blue and green, and make stripes,so I'm sewing them together as I knit. I use Gjestal Østlandsgarn, pure wool on 4mm needles. I get -nearly...-3 fish out of one 50g ball of wool.... 2 fish is approximately 20x20cm, so there is still a long way to go-LOL! Some more fish, with eyes and everything.

And if I have given you the impression that we have only sunny, warm weather, lovely sunsets, and lots of light around here....well, here's todays view....
Have a nice day!

btw: at this time we do have long light nights...if it is clear. But the sun has turned, so it's getting darker every day. The fog doesn't help...

just had to add....

Tussi is getting bigger, but loves to lie on his back in someones lap... we've had some lovely summerdays...
and last night we sat outside till 2am... around 11pm the kids found this hedgehog in the flowerbed!
There might be some knitting next time!

Summer"vacation"...

we've been rather busy these last couple of weeks...the car has served as a tractor-lol-driving those haybales from the fields to our barn. gas is needed...yeah,that's me.
a bit of child labour...
and suddenly the neighbour's horses came for a visit! this is at 9pm- still lovely and light...
more child labour...
DS1 turned 15 on July 1st. we went to a fair and he and DS2 couldn't get enough of the rollercoasters and stuff...sorry it's the wrong way-i forgot to turn it before uploading, and haven't figured out how to do it afterwards...

this is what the fields look like...all ready to make haybales(each weighs 15-20 kgs or 30-40 lbs)
riva-the machine that turns the hay and gets it together into neat rolls like above...
hubby with the haybales...and machinery...
the barn!!! filled with dry greatsmelling hay...great for the sheep in the winter...
two weeks of hard work hauling those bales, cutting the grass, turning it(most of it done by tractor, but some we have to turn by hand because the fields are so steep) baling it, and getting it off the fields and into the barn....we have enough to feed the sheep during winter.

Now it's back to normal, I hope...

Have a nice week!