Crocheting Canuck

I know it has been a while

2005-01-20T14:30:00.000+01:00

I have been having a bit of a tough time with my husband away. He is home soon and hopefully things will start to get better. Things just get on top of me and my family is very far away. My in-laws aren't very helpful as they critisize everything and I just dread when they phone. They never listen to things I tell them and are constantly sending me things I don't want despite what I tell them. I end up having to buy almost the same thing over again because they didn't consult me. Then they critisize me for spending money....it just drives me insane. Our quarter came with one built in cupboard aside from the kitchen. I mean no closets or shelves or anything and all this junk just piles up. The rooms are very small so you either have a choice of having one wardrobe or one dresser along with a bed. You can't fit both in and still be able to move. Dh has his clothes is ds's room.

We are moving and I hope that will help improve things. I guess we will have to see.

Rachel

Oh dear.....

2005-01-09T20:29:00.000+01:00

My husband phoned me and was saying he had talked to his mother. Apparently she had been watching House Doctor or one of those interior decorating shows where they fix up a house. My MIL considers herself to be quite good at decorating. Well there was a house on the show that was almost exactly like my in-laws house...same carpet and wallpaper etc. and it was heavily critisized by the show and had to be completely overhauled. She was devastated. I must admit their house is not to my taste but my dad loved it when he visited. My husband loves it also. I just think that it was decorated without thinking about how the other rooms are decorated. On top of that when they have bought new appliances or couches they didn't consider how they would fit in. So they have a new silver washer and fridge in the kitchen (in the UK you have your washer in the kitchen) with dark brown floors, dark brown cupboards, and wheat yellow countertops. Oh well. Maybe she won't critisize my military quarter with small child type decorating I have at the minute. I saw this great idea on a rental decorating site today. Applying fabric to the walls with starch similar to wallpaper. When you need to take it down you just peel it off and wash it to use again. I have a square of fabric stuck to my wall right now (adding to my utilitarian decorating style at the minute). I really like to decorate but Brendan doesn't believe in decorating rentals. Now that he sees how much I hated living in this quarter he says we will decorate the next one. Yay!

Rachel

A massive cone of yarn

2005-01-05T13:53:00.000+01:00

I received my massive cone of chocolate brown chenille yarn yesterday. It is around 2 kg of yarn! I am so excited about it. I think I will use it to make a seraphina's shawl. That pattern is so beautiful. I thought of using it for an afghan but it is a really good colour for me. I did make my BIL and FIL a scarf each for Christmas in their favourite football (soccer) team's colours. I am slow to finish my scarf as I am a little sick of scarves at the minute. I did weave in the ends finally on my silk shawl. It is made of that recycled silk. I love the colours. The yarn is a little odd in that it is sort of thick and thin with little bits of hay in it. Some skeins lasted a long time because they were thinner than others. Made it a little hard to gauge how much yarn I needed. Also they are different colours so no two skeins are alike. It made a beautiful shawl though. I am going to try to post a picture.

Rachel

2005-01-05T13:13:00.000+01:00

Silk Shawl

Back from holidays

2005-01-03T11:31:00.000+01:00

Just a quick note....

My mom and my husband were here for two weeks. I escorted my mom back to London where her flight was leaving from. We went to Amsterdam on the train and then flew to London. I was so glad to get home. I don't have to travel for 2 months now which is when we move. I think when Rhys gets older it will be easier to travel. Especially when he is potty trained.

Well, I am going to try to post some pictures of my crochet either today or tomorrow.

Rachel

Crocheting stuff and an unfortunate accident...

2004-12-17T20:29:00.000+01:00

My husband bought me some nice linen storage boxes to hold my crochet stuff. I had everything stored precariously on top of the tv out of my son's reach. Unfortunately, I didn't put everything in the boxes soon enough. I was working on a project with my wonderful K hook from turn of the century. Everything fell when I went to get something to show my husband. The hook was laying across some stuff behind the tv. I was trying to get it when my Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches (hardcover) fell on it and broke it. I was so upset but I will get a new one.

It is so nice to have my husband home. He goes back for another 7 weeks but then he is home in time for us to move. Hopefully, he doesn't go to Iraq in the Fall. He has been home a total of 3 months since October 2003 and I am getting tired of it. He had a weeks notice he was going away for 6 months this tour he is on right now. In fact our summer holidays were cancelled half way through because he had to go. We had the last tour confirmed about 3 weeks before he actually went. They tried to send him away for 9 months starting two weeks before I was due to have Rhys but someone volunteered to do it instead (he was single and wanted the extra money).

Some new yarn arrived today. I have some nice chenille and cotton. I can't wait until Brendan gets home in February and I have more time to crochet. It is so nice to have someone help with the housework. My husband is one of those good ones that helps with the cooking and cleaning.

I should go now so I can finish this scarf I am making for my FIL.

Rachel

Yay!!!

2004-12-15T13:48:00.000+01:00

My husband is home today. I cannot wait. He just phoned me to say he is waiting for his train and he will be home for supper (he calls it tea). I have missed him. He is only home for 2 weeks and then he is back for good 2 months after that. Then we move. I have to arrange all the moving I guess. I am also arranging the car. It looks like we won't get the car next week. Oh well.

I haven't been able to post much as I am crocheting like mad to finish some presents.

Have to get back to them.

Rachel

Happy Hanukkah

2004-12-09T14:11:00.000+01:00

I don't know how many ways there are to spell Hanukkah. My calendar this year spells it this way so that is how I am spelling it. I know I am a little late as tonight is the 3rd night but better late than never. My husband isn't home until the very end so he won't see any of the candles being lit. Rhys is getting into it even for a 19 month old.

I was noticing that on Crochetville there are a few people from Germany on it. I live the most north I think. When we get our car and we are settled in our new place I think we will be visiting a couple of the american bases because of the shopping. I like to go and buy Kraft Dinner and rootbeer. British bases only have british food. The differences are endless. Oh how I miss real dill pickles. In the UK pickled onions are what they call pickles. There is also this relish called Branston Pickle that is also referred to as pickle. Germans eat sweet pickles. Terrible. Beef Jerky....oh how I miss beef jerky. Enough! I can't talk about this anymore.

The more I travel the more I realize that Canada doesn't have everything though. German cake is the best I think. North American chocolate is terrible. British tea is good but according to my Tetley Tea package the tea is a mixed blend and back home we just have orange pekoe as our "normal" tea. Most British drink instant coffee which I don't like. Beef is not very common in Germany and the price is quite high but pork is everywhere. I wonder about that because there are so many Turkish islamic people in Germany. I think dutch cheeses are good. Cheese in general is better as you have so much choice. Kosher food is impossible to find.

Well all this talk of food has made me hungry so I will go and get something to eat.

Rachel

I put on a link.....

2004-12-06T20:39:00.000+01:00

I put a link to Crochetville on the side there. I am so impressed with my very basic computer skills. My husband sent me a sewing type basket for Hannukah. I can fit my crochet in it. It is very pretty. I will take a picture of it and post it on here.

My husband is here for 2 weeks next week. Then he goes back to N. Ireland for a month and a half and then home in time to move. Yes we are moving to another place in Germany. Actually, it is quite close to Bergen-Belsin the former WW2 concentration camp. I have been to the memorial and it is very sad. There are mounds with signs saying how many thousand people were buried in each one. There are birds there now if you have ever heard the saying that birds don't sing there. We are probably going to be put in an apartment. That means that the washing machine and dryer will be in the kitchen as per usual in European homes. It will be the first time I have had them in the kitchen as I have a basement in this house. Of course the washer is a front loader so it fits under the counter like a dishwasher. The dryer is a different matter. Dryers aren't a standard household item. Many people still line dry. In fact I am the ONLY mother at these parent and tot groups who doesn't iron all the clothes. I don't iron ANY clothes. People give me funny looks when I say that but I stay firm to my Canadian upbringing and don't iron (I hate ironing) ...lol. I must say though that line-dried clothes are more wrinkled. My neighbour asked me last week if I knew anyone who would iron for money. Just don't do it! My neighbour has a dryer so she only needs to take the clothes out right away and hang them up.

I want to make some summery things now from the Hooked On Crochet book. I am going to wait until Brendan is home before I start on anything big. I still have this scarf to finish, then the bikini top, and then my afghan. I don't think is too bad really. The bikini top just needs straps. I am experimenting making a bra top with a bikini top pattern and need Brendan to take measurements for the straps. The afghan could take a while. I like granny squares though. It doesn't seem so bad when you make one square at a time.

I guess that is all for this post.

Rachel

Some new yarn

2004-12-04T14:06:00.000+01:00

I finished one skein of Colinette yarn for my scarf and realized that 2 skeins will not be enough. I was a little disappointed because the yarn is so expensive. I bought another hank today. The scarf will be very beautiful as the colour of the yarn is so wonderful. I will post a picture of it when I am done.

This scarf is one of my WIPs so I will glad to get it done soon (and before it gets warm again!). We are moving in March so I will be soon concentrating on that. They have people pack for you but I will pack all my crochet stuff myself or I may never find it.

I don't have a lot else to say today.

Rachel

Another Day...

2004-12-02T14:07:00.000+01:00

I finished my Lizzy Hat but it is too small for me. I am not sure if it is a child size hat or if I didn't go for a big enough hook. I went up one size but it obviously wasn't enough. My crocheting must be tighter than other people's as I always have to up several hook sizes. So this hat actually fits Rhys.

I made another addition to my stash. My cats needed cat food and the pet store is 1 block away from the yarn store. I just walked by but they had a discount bin outside with yarn for a Euro. Of course I had to look. I bought 12 skeins of some purple yarn. I don't have anything planned for it yet but I will find something:). I have to go back downtown soon and I will try to stay away until I have reduced my WIPs. They don't have malls in Europe like they do back home so you have to go into each store to do shopping. The Christmas Markets have started in Germany so there are all sorts of booths selling things. They also have food booths and they have these wonderful garlic mushrooms.

We are buying a car. It is a british one so the steering wheel will be on the "wrong" side. We sold our car this summer to pay off some debt but we are moving in the spring to a place that is sort of out in the country. You get used to driving a RHD (right hand drive) although having 1st gear away from you is a little odd. This new car is an automatic. In germany they drive on the same side of the road as Canada but it is easier to sell a British car than a german one for a multitude of reasons. Driving in the UK was terrifying because they have a million traffic circles and I had to concentrate to go the correct way around them. London just about did me in. The traffic is just unbelievable in London ( I was driving on a Friday afternoon). My husband refuses to drive but says he will start when we get the new car. The traffic is bad here in Germany too. The autobahns often have construction (all highways are called autobahns) so you can be backed up for kilometres. It is almost always faster to take the train.

Rhys is getting better with his words and can say a few now. He will learn British and Canadian words. We avoid the word pavement though until he is older for safety reasons. Brits call sidewalks pavements and Canadians call the stuff on roads and parking lots pavement. Too confusing to a little boy.

I am going to make myself a coffee and dig out a WIP.

Rachel

A Third Hat

2004-11-30T13:06:00.000+01:00

I know she warns you if you are a beginner but I am making Dot's Lizzy Hat. I don't know how to do the linking thing but her site is the by the hook site. I am using a grape purple yarn and only had to frog the star row once so far.

I went to the market today. There is a market a few blocks away on Tuesdays and I buy most of my produce there. I also get fish, eggs, and cheese there. Today I made a vegetable soup and I chopped vegetables to freeze. We always have fish on Tuesdays and I freeze the rest for later on in the week. I also go to the Saturday market downtown but the fish people I like are not there. Looking at all this you might think I actually cook but I don't really. I make quite simple things because that is all I am capable of. I would order out a lot more but for Rhys's sake I try to eat healthy (well for my sake too).

My husband has bought me some canvas boxes for Hanukkah this year. He is so funny as he loves buying me presents but cannot wait to tell me about them. In fact, he almost always gives me something early. The boxes are for my yarn stash. Judging from what he has said about their size I don't have to worry too much about how much yarn I have at the minute as I have way less than he thinks I do. My husband is Catholic so Rhys gets presents for both holidays. I think inter-faith marriages can be a little hard this time of year (if one of the people is a christian). My MIL keeps referring to Jewish Christmas which sets me off. I am surrounded by Brits and they don't use the more generic Happy Holidays but just assume you celebrate Christmas and say Merry Christmas. My husband pointed that out in our last phone call.

Brendan has also bought me some yarn. He bought 1200 g to make sure I had enough for a project. LOL.... I wonder if this means that every time I buy yarn I can buy 1.2 kg? Ok, maybe I will need all the storage space.

Well back to my Lizzy hat before Rhys wakes up.

Rachel

2004-11-29T22:04:00.000+01:00

my second hat

Garbage Day and being a mom

2004-11-29T13:36:00.000+01:00

As I say in my description I live in Germany. Here in Germany they split the garbage 5 ways. Compostable in one bin, paper in another, plastic and metal containers in yellow bags, glass is taken to a drop off site and the rest in another bin. Today was bio (compostable) and yellow bag day. They only come every two weeks per type so you really do have to split your garbage or you won't have room for it all in the "normal" bin. Yes, I say bin as my husband is British and I am picking up these British terms. Today was one of those days that I ask myself why I am here in Germany when my husband has been home 3 months in the last year. He's coming home for 2 weeks in a couple of weeks time but not home "for good" until another 2 1/2 months. Of course they could always send him away again. Yes, my husband is in the military but not every person is sent away this much we are just lucky. So on Monday morning it is always a bit of a rush to get all the garbage out by myself with a toddler. If I put it out too early the cats around here get into it and then I have garbage all over the place.

Yesterday, I didn't get to crochet because I was setting up my blog. I couldn't go anywhere because they found two WW2 bombs down the street a couple of weeks ago and were removing them yesterday. They evacuated most of the area. I was allowed to stay in my house but not allowed to go anywhere. A little while ago I went to visit my husband and while we were shopping in Belfast a firebomb went off in a store an hour after we were shopping across the street. I often ponder what kind of world my son is going to grow up in.

I made two hats last week. I think my personal dress sense is being transformed by crochet. I used to wear rather conservative clothes but now I feel a change. I actually want to wear the things I make. In fact, all my future projects are for me. Selfish? No, I don't think so as many people don't appreciate handmade gifts anymore. More and more people just want to give you money or gift certificates. I appreciate what I make and know what it is worth in time and effort. Well actually I tell a lie.... Rhys keeps stealing my hats even the pink one I made and screams when I wear a hat I have made and he left bare-headed. I will have to make him a hat soon so I can wear my hats in peace. At least he appreciates my work :).

I guess I should sign off here before this gets too long.

Rachel

2004-11-28T20:24:00.000+01:00

Rhys wearing my hat

My first post

2004-11-28T14:08:00.000+01:00

I have no idea what I am doing with this whole blog thing but I am sure I will learn quickly. I think I can have a lot of fun with this blog and am really excited about it.

Rachel