tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318276602024-03-13T10:05:32.602+11:00Pixen Penko PurlsPixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-1902133294267765402008-02-29T12:00:00.005+11:002008-02-29T12:10:43.391+11:00It's only natural.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R8dZvrX2ueI/AAAAAAAAACk/hMJWGvcvz_4/s1600-h/28022008%28001%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R8dZvrX2ueI/AAAAAAAAACk/hMJWGvcvz_4/s320/28022008%28001%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172201372689807842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I’ve been thinking a lot this week about nature and how to get people to value it. Seems to me that a lot of people are harping on about “the challenges of climate change” but, when push comes to shove, it’s actually a depleting resource base that bothers them, not the well-being of the world.<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p>I don’t mean that to sound as snipey as</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> it might. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p></o:p>I completely understand that there is a need for a pragmatic approach to natural resource management. It goes back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs%20local%20urban%20area">Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs</a> doesn’t it? We care first about physiological needs (do I have enough water to drink); then safety (will we have enough water to fight fires and prevent toxic algal bloom outbreaks); then love/belonging; esteem and self-actualization. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Where ecosystems fit into that I’m not quite sure. If caring about rivers, biota et all,<span style=""> </span>fits into the ‘self-actualization’ part of Maslow’s hierarchy, then we’re fighting a losing battle in an environment of depleting water resources.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The bottom line, as I’m fond of saying at work, is that fish don’t vote.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p>I’ve been doing a lot of musing about this i</span><span style="font-size:85%;">n <st1:placename st="on">Carlton</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Gardens</st1:placetype>, the World Heritage Listed park across the road from my office in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Melbourne</st1:place></st1:city>. I’ve been grabbing half an hour each day to down a sandwich and contemplate on why a few stolen moments of tranquillity among the plane trees and white poplars, is so important to the human psyche . I guess I’</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R8dbV7X2ufI/AAAAAAAAACs/mS0dSHuR7t0/s1600-h/Up+close+and+personal+with+Jet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R8dbV7X2ufI/AAAAAAAAACs/mS0dSHuR7t0/s320/Up+close+and+personal+with+Jet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172203129331431922" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">m looking for ways to elevate nature up the hierarchy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10;"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size:85%;">You can’t talk about spiritual needs </span></span><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:85%;">i</span></span><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:85%;">n a government environment without being guffaw-ed </span><span style=";font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="font-size:85%;">at. (So lets not). And the value placed on psychologic</span></span><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:85%;">al well-being diminishes next to the needs of a desperate irrigator looking for a few megalitres of water to keep his f</span></span><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:85%;">ood-producing farm hanging on through another year of drought.<br />So, what’s to be done? I keep musing. Answers on a </span></span><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:85%;">postcard…</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knit news: </span>Cast on today for a simple hat for Ben, seeing as the temp has dropped dramatically. Here's the yarn - Jet, Paton's Australia. I loved the colourway so I'm keeping it simple. Pics in Next blog.</span><br /><span style="font-size:10;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-13688694093120291422008-02-21T13:10:00.007+11:002008-02-22T08:50:34.759+11:00Warm hugs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R73t-rX2udI/AAAAAAAAACc/d6n5nQzilfM/s1600-h/Warmhugsjacket2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R73t-rX2udI/AAAAAAAAACc/d6n5nQzilfM/s320/Warmhugsjacket2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169549608341649874" border="0" /></a>I mentioned in my last post that I'd been frantically knitting baby clothes, having read a post on the s'n'b forum about an orphanage (without heating) in south-east China, a country which is currently experiencing a devastating winter. <o:p></o:p> <p>Snowstorms first hit the country on 10 January, and have so far affected nearly 80 million people across 14 provinces in the centre and south of the country.<br /><u1:p style="font-family: times new roman;"></u1:p><br />In some areas, people are experiencing food shortages and more than a dozen provinces have also been hit by blackouts due to missed coal deliveries for power stations and rising demand amid the cold. <o:p></o:p></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, I've managed two hats and a baby-jacket in a week and a half. Look, it's not great but it’s something - and hopefully it’s the beginning of a whole lot more.<br /><br />I have to say, (while trying not to go overboard), that knitting these things has been a very different experience. I've been 'present' for every stitch - a bit like a meditation-in-action, or a knitted-prayer if you like. It's been a project full of urgency and, well, anxiety, frankly. It’s certainly put a lot of things into perspective – like the fact that Ben spent his first night last night in his big bed (which I’d been freaking out about). Big deal, really! (For the record, he loves it and slept safely, all night, in his warm bed).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The jacket (now known as "The Warm Hugs Jacket") was simple to make and I knocked it up using Elizabeth Zimmerman’s percentages system, which can be found nicely summarised <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter04/FEATknitbynumbers.html">here</a>. The hat was put together using <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/">Yarn Harlot</a>'s simple hat recipe (from <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting Rules</span>). Both were done in stocking stitch with garter stitch hems and a knit row every ten rows.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many thanks to Jeanette for giving us all the opportunity to contribute to this project. It’s nice to feel useful.</p>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-16482720779749987402008-02-18T10:25:00.006+11:002008-02-18T10:36:35.774+11:00The cosmos in his eyes....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jEeLX2uXI/AAAAAAAAABs/Zzk4Je1Sd9w/s1600-h/yasviclouis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jEeLX2uXI/AAAAAAAAABs/Zzk4Je1Sd9w/s320/yasviclouis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168096595135609202" border="0" /></a><br />Had an amazing Friday: Had lunch in St Kilda with wonderful Yasmin Boland whom I have not seen in about 14 years. Yasmin is not only a friend but was my first boss in magazine land, so she has played a very large role in my life and continues to astound me with her ability to grab life by the nether regions and go,go,go for it.<br /><br />Have to say that as soon as we sat to chat the years melted and I felt like I'd last had lunch with her only a month ago.<br /><br />In the decade-plus in which I haven't seen her, Yasmin has 1) carved a niche for her<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jEn7X2uYI/AAAAAAAAAB0/AWcK4e_hrJU/s1600-h/louisvici.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jEn7X2uYI/AAAAAAAAAB0/AWcK4e_hrJU/s200/louisvici.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168096762639333762" border="0" /></a>self as one of the world's most revered astrologers, 2) Married Olivier, the most welcoming, marvellous, charming man who clearly adores her (I approve heartily) and 3) given birth to Louis who, at the a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jE3bX2uZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Dx2pOfatf9M/s1600-h/Louis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7jE3bX2uZI/AAAAAAAAAB8/Dx2pOfatf9M/s200/Louis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168097028927306130" border="0" /></a>ge of one, has already developed a cockle-warming smile and carries his heart on his sleeve and the cosmos in his eyes.<br /><br />Unfortunately I forgot my camera and my phone just didn't cut it, so I've nicked these photos from Yasmin's blog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knit news</span>: Spent the weekend trying to knock-out baby hats for nenna'smum, who is on a mission to save lives in a freezing orphanage in South East china. If anyone wants to help, post me and I'll get you details.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-57386522789280987942008-02-12T08:07:00.000+11:002008-02-12T14:43:38.752+11:00Who was Wilson anyway?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7EVjLX2uVI/AAAAAAAAABc/SHKvUAB12Bo/s1600-h/06022008%28001%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7EVjLX2uVI/AAAAAAAAABc/SHKvUAB12Bo/s320/06022008%28001%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165933941663119698" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />There are a couple of hard questions I've been asking myself lately, like "at what point did I become a nature nerd?" and "who the heck was Wilson anyway?"<br /><br />On the first issue: I've never been into 'spotting'. 'Spotting' to me, is something done by sad men in thick spectacles and plastic anoraks, often involving trains or birds, usually to fill a void vacated by a love-life or..well...a life at all really.<br /><br />And yet I found myself last week, standing on a beach at Wilson's Prom, with my trousers rolled up (exposing my knobbly knees) enraptured by a white tray full of water and broad-leaf sea grass, trying to 'spot' wee aquatic beasties. My mother would have been proud.<br /><br />"Oh, it's a pipe fish It's a pipe fish! Look! etc" I yelped excitedly, every time a piece of sea grass moved. And then I caught myself and cringed. A wee bug spotter, I am.<br /><br />I was at the prom for the State Waterwatch conference - Waterwatch being one of my responsibilities in my relatively new role at the Department of Sustainability and Environment.<br />It was the first time I'd met the state team (or at least thirty of 'em) but they're all amazingly passionate folk and genuinely interested in what I had to say (which is just as well, as I keep saying it repeatedly, so obsessed am I at the importance of educating voters on the importance of healthy waterways and the beasties (including us) who rely on them). I may extrapolate on this in a further posting... Be warned.<br /><br />So who was Wilson and why is it his prom? Still haven't got an answer to that. But he made a good choice. Wish it was mine.<br /><br />Other news:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting</span>: Ariann is coming on in leaps and bounds... well, more like little-hops actually, but I hope to have something to show you by next week's posting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Kids:</span> Lachie has been walking around furniture fora <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7EVvrX2uWI/AAAAAAAAABk/zlUCtmnbLOI/s1600-h/01022008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/R7EVvrX2uWI/AAAAAAAAABk/zlUCtmnbLOI/s320/01022008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165934156411484514" border="0" /></a>couple of weeks. To top this off, he threw himself out of his cot this morning. I'm thinking of buying him a surfboard... :-)<br /><br /></div>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-67786672098727168862007-12-14T20:37:00.000+11:002007-12-14T20:58:11.266+11:00Not-so-creepy crawly<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oviZMuZStwA&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oviZMuZStwA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Well, he's off. Lachie's crawling. He made his first few commando-like moves a couple of weeks ago and now he's zooming around the floor like Speedy Gonzales. Lock up your daughters, etc.<br /><br />I've gone mad in the Bendigo Woollen Mill sale, which ended today. I managed to get in one last order for alpaca ( in Merlin) before the shutters came down (metaphorically speaking. I don't think there are actually shutters at the mill, but I'm happy to be corrected ;-))<br />This means, of course, that the stash is becoming mildly uncontrollable again. And weirdly I have absolutely no projects in mind.<br /><br />Clearly I'm sick or something.<br /><br />Luckily, my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> invite came through today, so I'm planning time to immerse myself in it to get some knitspiration. Have to say, <a href="http://www.frecklegirl.com/blog">Freckle Girl </a>and Casey are doing an amazing job of getting through the invite list and it really is worth the wait. Will let you know how my first proper sourjourn into Ravelry-world turns out...Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-58134091911318496212007-10-21T20:07:00.000+10:002007-10-21T20:50:54.623+10:00...in which Lachie makes a spectacle of himself<div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RxspTLul6TI/AAAAAAAAAAs/2_OnCImDDmI/s1600-h/Lochie+in+specs.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123734410606537010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RxspTLul6TI/AAAAAAAAAAs/2_OnCImDDmI/s320/Lochie+in+specs.JPG" border="0" /></a> Okay, so before you set child services onto me, yes, yes, yes, I know putting a baby in specs is a really bad idea but...oh, he looked cute, alright? And it was only for ten seconds, honestly. <div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Lachie turned five months old last week and, on the advice of our paediatrician, started solids. I'm glad to report that he's taken to it with gusto (better than he ever was on breast or bottle). He's also cutting his first tooth, poor kid. Who knows, one day we might have a whole month in which he isn't in some sort of pain!</div><br /><div></div><a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/Rxssmbul6VI/AAAAAAAAAA8/EBhA8qysJ48/s1600-h/Ben+the+artiste.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123738039853902162" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/Rxssmbul6VI/AAAAAAAAAA8/EBhA8qysJ48/s320/Ben+the+artiste.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ben's been in his element this weekend. Its been warm (32 degrees c today) and he's spent a lot of time running around outside with his Dide (granda) in the garden. He's also completed his first work of art (see pic) which is a relief as, until now, crayons have only featured in his life as an integral part of his diet (alongside cat food and<br />'maaaa-toes'). </div><div> </div><div>Tonight we were flipping through his animal book and he pointed at an orangutan and said (I thought) 'O-chie' (which would have been hilarious as I've been telling him since he was eight months old that it's his dad). When he repeated the word, it was actually, clearly, 'monkey'. So there y'go. </div><div> </div><div>Not as funny, but twice as satisfying.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-17027760397611572552007-10-12T08:29:00.000+10:002007-10-21T20:56:47.065+10:00Rain rain, come again...<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/Rxsvabul6WI/AAAAAAAAABE/rPBfEpPZjJw/s1600-h/Haemony+top+down+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123741132230355298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/Rxsvabul6WI/AAAAAAAAABE/rPBfEpPZjJw/s320/Haemony+top+down+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Its raining in Melbourne. I'm watching a downpour from my office overlooking parliament gardens. Ben was watching the raindrops through the front door this morning as I left for work. Its crazy to think that, since he was born, rain has been as rare as snow was to me when I was a pommie toddler.<br /><br />I've been back at work for a few weeks now and things are quite okay. I still find it hard leaving the boys but when I get home at night I have more energy for them (despite the chronic insomnia and average four hours sleep).<br /><br />Ben is talking lots, which is proving to be quite useful as I can tell, without looking at him, which dangerous feat he is attempting just by listening to what he says. "Sit down!" I've learned, is most used when he's teetering on tip-toes on the toilet lid. He's also singing lots at the moment, his current fave being the theme tune from the I.T. Crowd.<br /><br />Knitwise, I'm working on a top down thing worked on 5mm addi turbos using harmony from Bendigo Woolen Mills. I'm making it up as I go alone (in a Barbara Walker kind of way). Anyway, will let you know how it goes.<br /><br />Finally, just read that Yasmin's little boy turned one yesterday. That's an immense milestone and I hope she's revelling in what a great Mum she's turned out to be. Happy birthday Louis!!</div>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-42752082372078851622007-09-16T21:53:00.000+10:002007-09-16T22:05:40.138+10:00The sun'll come out...Is it possible to feel dubiously apprehensive? Or is it apprehensively dubious? Whatever it is, that's it - that's what I am. Feeling odd. Or glum. (No - too negative.) Frankly, I'm just not quite sure how I feel but its something strange and sickly : I'm going back to work tomorrow. I just don't know why...*<br />Tonight, for the first time in a long time, I'm wishing that I hadn't given up writing. Why did I do that again? I was making good money, enjoyed the work and always new where the next quid was coming from. I could have managed that career at home - looked after the kids and been here for them during the day.<br />Oh well. Too late now. And I can't witter on about it. Because I need to go - have to get to bed early... Because I have to go to work tomorrow. Did I mention that? Ugh.<br /><br />* (<span style="font-size:78%;">actually its something to do with paying the mortgage and keeping a roof above our heads).</span>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-497220514916135532007-08-30T19:12:00.000+10:002007-08-30T20:04:50.882+10:00With thanks to Ms Zimmermann...<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RtaSNdfPBjI/AAAAAAAAAAk/TfwdkpM6weY/s1600-h/Stripey+sweater+backshot.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104427987622626866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RtaSNdfPBjI/AAAAAAAAAAk/TfwdkpM6weY/s200/Stripey+sweater+backshot.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RtaP39fPBiI/AAAAAAAAAAc/WPuW1entMT0/s1600-h/Arty+sweater+shot.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5104425419232183842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RtaP39fPBiI/AAAAAAAAAAc/WPuW1entMT0/s320/Arty+sweater+shot.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>See this smile on my face?<br />See this grin that's so incredibly large it almost cuts my head in two? </div><br /><br /><div>Well, okay, no you can't, but if you <em>could</em> you'd see that I've been so deliriously happy today because, just two weeks on from launching my 'knit anything stash attack', I've completed Ben's stripey pullover, with ne'er a pattern in sight - all thanks to Elizabeth Zimmermann's percentage system (handily summed-up in this <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter04/FEATknitbynumbers.html">Knitting By Numbers</a> article from Knitty.com).</div><br /><div>To the more seasoned knitter among you this stripey stocking-stitch jumper, knitted in-the-round, is a bit run of the mill, ergo - no major feat. But, like I said, its the first time I've used the percentage system (love it) and I'm over the moon that: </div><br /><div>1) I managed to knit something despite my 'two under two' devouring every morsel of my knitting time; and<br /></div><br /><div>2) I used up seven balls of stash (Patons Fireside) which was actually on its way to the op shop, as I'd bought it to make a baby blanket which I never quite managed to complete. (Or start, actually).</div><br /><div>The only duffer side to this celebration is the fact that today was about 25 degrees C, so I could only force Ben to run around in it at dawn, in the wee hours of the morning. (Spring has obviously arrived with gusto, so he will probably never wear this completely-wintery pullover again. Ever.)<br /></div><div>Yet not even this can bring me down. This sweater symbolises a lot to me. Its completion represents the closing of a chapter. We've turned a corner: Lachie is well and settled (at last), we're sleeping (not a lot, but we're sleeping) and Spring has sprung ...</div><br /><div>Onwards, my friends, onwards ...</div></div>Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-31959502826587844752007-08-17T18:36:00.000+10:002007-08-17T19:12:59.978+10:00Four skeins and a baptism...<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RsVlntfPBhI/AAAAAAAAAAU/Ztlumne-NIo/s1600-h/CIMG0463.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099593885966861842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RsVlntfPBhI/AAAAAAAAAAU/Ztlumne-NIo/s320/CIMG0463.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Two things to report on this week:<br /><br />1) <strong>Lachie was baptised on Saturday</strong>, in a simple, warm and friendly ceremony at St Peter's Eastern Hill. He now has two sets of fairy God parents, and if they're reading this they should know that they've signed up to a lifetime of babysitting. Or God will be very angry...<br /><br />Lachie giggled throughout the entire ceremony, which Emma (one of the aformentioned God mums) thought was entirely unfair as she was under strict instructions not to laugh (or cross her fingers or any of that stuff). Anyway, she gave birth two days later, without much fuss, to Finn (who is gorgeous) so she was justly rewarded for her piety.<br />Huge thanks to Father Craig. You rock.<br /><br />2) <strong>I'm launching a stash attack</strong>.<br />In a bid to knit <em>anything</em> (given that Lachie and Ben can hear the sounds of needles clicking from the next suburb and use it as a cue to howl) I realised I needed to spend less time thinking of <em>what</em> to knit (as I have no time to think) and more time <em>actually knitting </em>. So, as a quick remedy, I've cast on a really simple striped pullover (for Ben), on circs, to use up some odd skeins of 8ply (with a matching gauge) in my stash.<br />Where I've written 'really simple' here , I probably mean 'really boring' - y'know, it's stocking stitch and the hardest part of it is counting eight rows per stripe. Taxing stuff. But, heck, I'm knitting. And I've managed six inches into the body already. So hurrah. And all that...<br />Pics later this week.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-65099796916955484182007-08-09T06:35:00.000+10:002007-08-09T17:17:41.731+10:00OutedI outed my Simple Knitted Bodice last night - at my first SnB meet, of all places. I personally think this was extremely brave, given the stretchy, would-fit-a-sumo nature of the finished product. Aww, who am I kidding? I wore it because I could find nothing else that fit over my post pregnancy body. I've gone up a dress size and you'd think, almost two months on, I might be approaching normal?<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />Anyway (says she, trying to be a little less self, er, focused) the North Melbourne meeting was great. Many thanks to Tam, Jacqui and Rebecca. My Mum (who is visiting from the UK and lapping up her grandkids) came along too and loved it.<br />Back in Blighty, Mum has a jumper on the needles - where it's been for eighteen years. I remember her starting it - a rather intricate thing with lots of lace. Anyway, her arthritis took hold so she had to give up knitting and now paints (brilliantly). <br /><br />Off the needles: My first pair of socks, which I finished at the meet last night. Okay, so they were done on 5mm needles with extremely bulky yarn and I won't wear them anywhere but at home. But, darn it, I'm proud. Pics to come.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-58476604151461782662007-08-02T07:45:00.000+10:002007-08-02T09:34:37.843+10:00End of an eraWell. It's finished. 'Tsover. An era has ended, on two counts:<br /><br />1) Bracksy and Thwaitesy resigned. For anyone not in Australia, this means that Victoria's Premier (Steve Bracks) and Deputy Premier (John Thwaites) have hung up their hats as State leaders. And very nice hats they were.<br /><br />I am unexpectedly sad at this news, especially as I've had quite a bit to do with Thwaitesy over the last five years, most recently in his role as Water Minister, and I have to say that he seems quite a decent bloke (for a poli). I'll miss him. Sort of. Oh this is freakin' me out.<br /><br />2) The Simple Knitted Bodice is finished. <br />And it will never see the light of day. <br />This is the jumper that has taken me three months to knit - the body lace finished on Mothers Day when I was in the maternity hospital possibly 'losing' Lachie, the right sleeve completed at the Royal Children's Hospital as Lachie underwent surgery at two weeks old, the left arm completed this week, at home, as we nursed Ben and Lachie through one of the worst colds I've come across (and I'm a Pom so that's saying something).<br />I was wondering how I'd ever wear this jumper, given the memories associated with it - but seems that is no longer a quandry.<br />Despite my meticulous calculations, and the fact that I swatched, measured and swatched again, it's just toooo big. <br />As the project was knit 'in the round' I didn't have any sewing up to do (hurrah) but as I wove in all the loose ends last night and tried on the bodice - I realised that it would fit a woman two sizes larger than me. Or a weight lifter with very muscly arms.<br />This could be for two reasons:<br />a) I was seven months pregnant when I started it.<br />b) I was eight months pregnant and / or extremely emotional while I was knitting it.<br />c) It's just a rather generously sized pattern (and I'm going with this one as I've found at least four other Simple Knitted Bodice knitters on the net who have had the same problem).<br />Anyway, I'm going to 'gift it" to my Mum (if she'll have it) and knit up another one in a smaller gauge to see if it makes the foggiest bit of difference.<br />Perhaps. If I ever recover from the first one...Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-79844948363583656472007-07-22T10:06:00.000+10:002007-07-22T10:25:40.832+10:00Lucky Little Lachie<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RqKj6_cyZwI/AAAAAAAAAAM/J9lzFUDLsQ4/s1600-h/Lochie+at+the+Children%27s.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_QfOOa_RG7uU/RqKj6_cyZwI/AAAAAAAAAAM/J9lzFUDLsQ4/s320/Lochie+at+the+Children%27s.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089810762741999362" /></a><br />Well, it's only taken me two months (cough) but erm (drumroll)..... "Introducing the latest addition to the Penko household - Lachlan Callaghan Penko!!!" (Applause, etc).<br /><br />Lachlan was born, in a bit of a rush, on 14 may at 12.40 am. For non Aussie viewers, the 13th was Mother's Day. My present? An epidural.<br />Anyway, things have been a bit hectic since he was born. Two weeks in he began projectile vomitting - I'm talking wall hitting stuff - and we assumed that he'd developed reflux, like big brother Ben. No such luck. After a 3 am trip to Emergency at the Royal Children's Hospital, we discovered that Lachie had Pyloric Stenosis, a gradual thickening of the sphyncter at the bottom of the stomach, which meant food was finding it dfficult to leave his tummy and, left unchecked, it would close completely and he'd starve to death.<br /><br />Gulp.<br /><br />Anyway, he had to undergo surgery which was, frankly, the most traumatic thing I think a mother can experience. To see the little fella with drips in his arms, feeding tubes up his nose, antibiotics in his arms... Just horrendous. But, oddly, the worst thing for me was that he couldn't feed for 24 hour prior to surgery - and I couldn't hold him because smelling my milk made him even more upset than he already was.<br /><br />So, yeah. It's been a ride. To add insult to injury, Lachie's surgery became infected (cue heaps of antibiotics) and he was later diagnosed with also having reflux, so he's had more drugs than Courtney Love (erm, allegedly.<br /><br />Still. He's here. he's gorgeous and he's rockin' my world. And I get to spend the rest of his life watching him develop into a little man. Aren't I the lucky one?Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-1154660172991544952006-08-04T12:26:00.000+10:002006-08-04T12:56:15.240+10:00Voodoo babes?Okay, now I'm getting slightly concerned.<br />The last week, as you know, has not been good - aside from Tilly's arrival.<br />I did, however, think that things were getting better. Ben's third tooth cracked through, his fever broke, his flu began to subside and the Big Bloke was also feeling better. Then yesterday, having posted Tilly on the Knitted Babes blog, I started to feel positively, well, 'positive' so I took a jaunt into the city to buy a belated birthday pressie for my best buddy. As I reached to get Ben from the baby seat, I was hit by a spasm of pain across my chest and upper back. I swear I thought I was having a heart attack. The pain subsided and I did what all sensible mums do (ie ignored it and continued to lug around my nine kilo child).<br />Five hours later I went to bed complaining of heartburn (duh!) and then awoke this morning to find that I COULDN'T MOVE. Seriously. Ben was crying in the nursery and I couldn't actually get out of bed, never mind pick him up from the cot. Thank Goodness Big Bloke hadn't leftf or work yet.<br />So this is how I found myself at 9am this morning on a chiropractor's table having emergency work done.<br /><br />I am seriously beginning to wonder whether there's a knitted voddoo babe out there with my name on it. If so, stop it right now, whoever you are. I've had enough.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-1154329087584954812006-07-31T16:44:00.000+10:002006-07-31T16:59:40.286+10:00Tilly has arrived!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/1600/Ms%20Tilly%20in%20her%20birthday%20suit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/320/Ms%20Tilly%20in%20her%20birthday%20suit.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Introducing Tilly! Reinvented as a blonde, Tilly today hit her strides and launched herself onto the Knitted Babes scene. Unfortunately she's still in her birthday suit (not her fault, poor dear. She hasn't got any clothes yet - or at least that's what she'll be telling <em>Paris Match </em>when the photos resurface in ten years time).<br /><br />What Tilly wont be telling the Paris set is that she's currently got a bald patch - actually more like a tonsure - at the back of he head and will possess this for the foreseable future until I can be bothered to spend another hour sewing on her 4ply hair.<br /><br />But Oh Madame Tilly! What you lack in hair you make up for in joie de vivre.<br />Vive Ms Tilly!Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-1154301919624116832006-07-31T09:17:00.000+10:002006-07-31T09:25:19.636+10:00Rush to hospitalWe ended up at the Royal Children's Hospital last night. Ben's flu was getting worse and he had a temp of 38.9 and had refused food all day. I phoned the telephone nurse and she said to take him to hossie asap. <br />Turns out our fella has TWO flu viruses (one from Dad, the other from my gorgeous Goddaughted Maddy), conjunctivitus and a toe infection. He's now on antibiotics. I feel like such a terrible Mum but the registrar kept telling us that it wasn't our fault and that we'd done such a good job because, despite his food refusal, he wasn't dehydrated.<br />Anyway, to add insult to little Ben's injuries, we got home and realised that his top right tooth had broken through. Poor little fella.<br /><br />(Big intake of breath and long sigh.....)<br /><br />Okay, knitting: My <a href="http://www.knittedbabes.com">Knitted Babe </a>is getting there. She's emerging slowly. I thought she was a redhead but when I started adding the strands she looked at me and I realised that Belinda Carlisle she is not!!! If I get a break froim nursing today I'll buy some blonde and try that. She's a water babe but as we're aussies and very sunconcious, she's a paler surf chick with a love of factor 30 sunblock.<br /><br />Will post work in progress piccie later today.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31827660.post-1154129012328374042006-07-29T09:06:00.000+10:002006-07-29T10:15:18.390+10:00Knitting saves the birthday horrors<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/1600/pixenpurls.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/320/pixenpurls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/1600/Mum%20knitted%20me%20this%20sweater%20too!.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1169/3177/320/Mum%20knitted%20me%20this%20sweater%20too%21.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />G'day.<br />Okay, so this is my first post and it's not good. Nope. It's pooey. I had the all time worst birthday - turned 35 - and knitting was the only thing that kept me sane. First Age, my bloke, got sick with flu. Then my six month old got the same lurgy. Then I started to get it but can't, obviously, because I have to look after my little Ben and big blokey.<br />I found myself at 6pm, on Tuesday, with a shocking headache, sitting on the deck in a cold Aussie winter, grabbing fifteen minutes knitting time while watching the sun go down. That was my birthday moment.<br /><br />To try and rectify the situation, my brother in law Steve and his wife, Ann, babysat for us last night so that we could go to the Melbourne Comedy Theatre to see Woman in Black. I didn't know what it was about but I'll tell ya this, it wasn't funny... bloody terrifying!!! Honestly I was petrified. I don't think I've even been so scared at the movies. I actually burst into tears? (I know!!! How lame is that?) We rushed home and hugged Ben. And if anyone else has seen the play you'll know why I'm taking the rocking chair out of his nursery today!!!! (My husband is trying to convince me that it's not a rocker, but a glider, so I shouldn't be so silly etc)<br /><br />Of course, on a happier note, I bought myself a present - <span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Knitted Babes</em> by Claire Garland</span>. I can't wait to get started. Hoping to join the blog if I'm allowed!!!<br /><br />Okay, <span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>my current knitting learning</strong></span> is that I'm never again knitting a sweater that doesn't have shaping. I've just completed a simple v neck sweater in a gorgeous lilac mohair mix. Gorgeous wool, yukky jumper. It makes me look pregnant! Seriously if I wear it people will start telling me to put my feet up (which isn't a bad idea come to think of it). If anyone can tell me how to rectify this situation with clever blocking or sewing up, I'd be pretty rapt.<br /><br />Okay. Off to work on my cardi.Pixenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00582749497877055037noreply@blogger.com0