Wednesday 8 February 2017

learning to make socks & a forgotten post

finally learned to make socks! i was so thrilled at finally finishing one sock! until i tried to get it on my foot! it was too small  :(   talk about a sudden downer, with all the encouragement from the ladies at the DTE forum, i'm rearing to go on the next one ... with bigger needles. was told it may take several pairs before i get it. it was nice & comforting to know that they all had failures with their first socks too.

this is my finished sock but it is way too small,  will start the next one but keeping it plain

the plumber also came today & i now have a tap down on the other block, he's coming back Friday to finish off the grey water pipeline & then i'll have water for my future orchard. starting to feel very happy again  :)


ohhh & this post (below) i meant to post a fortnight ago & totally forgot i had it waiting in the drafting room!

<<<mowing & burned  ...

Monday 2 weeks ago, seeing that it was a bit cooler & nicely overcast, some mowing was in order, so out i went at 9am & started mowing the top half of my half acre down the back. it's divided into 2 halves, quarter acre each approximately. the top half i leave for my neighbours horses as it slopes & isn't easy to mow but this time round it needed some mowing. it took me almost 4 hours! i had a break in the middle then went back out after 20mins, it was still a nice day with a cool breeze blowing. i did manage to finish the top half. 
it's hard going especially as i'm so unfit! you see i do it all with a push mower as i'm not keen on the ride-ons, they mow way too short (some even take it all off at dirt level!) i like to mow the back with some height, it still leaves a bit for the  'roos, hares & parrots to eat plus i have lots of thyme, gota-cola & a few flowering wild plants growing & these struggle to get going after a ride on has been through. 
after the Mondays effort, when i came in i realized that i was burned, sun burned on my arms, face & neck, something which hasn't happened in a long time. i was badly burned so after dousing myself under the shower i went out & got myself some aloe vera & smothered myself in that & after all my showers. my sister suggested i should wear a shirt, never thought of that, i will have to pick my times of mowing to be in the cool of the afternoons when there's a bit of shade. the mozzies made a meal out of my arms as well & i looked diseased with ruddy huge welts all over my arms! well i guess that's what i get for getting myself cooked! anyway Wednesday i mowed the bottom quarter, with a shirt on this time, all went well, took less time than the top, it's all looking good now it's mowed. 
still got the house acre to do yet, in some places the grass is chest high! it's good exercise.>>>

i'm all okay now, had some issues with going outside with my sensitive skin but once that hardened off it was good. still turn bright pink with the heat but that'll pass too.


the weather really is hot here, humidity is high & it's extremely uncomfortable most days, gosh i wish it would just rain already! 
we're supposed to be getting above 40s for the weekend, hope it brings storms with it!

hope everyone is keeping cool or warm in your neck of the world



thanx for visiting






12 comments:

  1. My goodness, what a job you took on mowing in this heat. I love the finished sock...that's a really nice pattern.

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    1. it's a Bendigo Woollen Mills pattern, i will probably have a go at it again once i figure the sock making out

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  2. That's a big mowing job you've done, Selina. I know it can sure get hot up in your neck of the woods, my husband's grandparents lived there for many years, in the house near the railway bridge. So, I visited a few times and it was hot. Here, it's going to be 37C on the weekend. Oh, my. Not looking forward to that. Meg:)

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    1. that lovely rickety bridge is gone now
      mowings not too bad if i stick to the late arvo

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  3. Love the sock, and mowing is no fun at this time of year.

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  4. Selina, I am so pleased I am not the only one who had problems with the size of their first pair of socks. Mine were too big and I never did get around to making another pair. Instead I gave my 4ply sock yarn to a very competent knitter friend of mine who made me some well fitting socks in exchange for something she wanted. It worked well for us :-)

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  5. I'm putting up with the exact opposite right now! No mowing, because the snow has covered my property by four or five inches. Right now, I would give anything to be mowing! (Although I really like the snow) I use a riding lawn mower, because I have five acres to do and I have breathing problems. My mower can cut it as high as six inches. You don't have a choice on those where you are? That is too bad, I plug in my MP3 player, and listen to all my favorite music while I ride around.

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    1. most places i rented were more acreage but i only mowed around the house yard, here council insist you mow the lot!

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  6. Really looking forward to hearing about your future orchard and your plans for the other block.

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    1. my other block is going to have a mixture of native trees, fruiting & nectar as well as the odd traditional fruit tree, have planted a mulberry down on the 'topside' of the bottom half. i will do photos, befores & afters

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  7. Its timely that I read your post today Selina as I am sitting here procrastinating about going out to mow my own lawn. Its hot here today too. I love your sock & am so sad that it was too small - you are amazing to be able to knit that well. Happy Weekend to you Selina - lets hope we both get some much needed rain x x

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  8. thanx Julie,
    yeh don't do it in the heat of the day or middle of the day, probably best in early morning when there's no dew or late in the evening when it's cooler

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