It's lucky for her she's so cute

Okay, I'm speaking to the baby again. Yes, she frogged the third neckwarmer, the baby thingy and the stole I'd started for my mother-in-law. But she was was so proud of herself, and so pleased to show me what she'd done that I couldn't get truly cross. Although there was a moment there when I wondered if the recent banning of smacking in New Zealand also applied to stabbing your child with a knitting needle.

Anyway... Since I had nothing else to do I've started the second sock. The test now will be to try and get a pair since I didn't bother making any notes about how many rounds I knitted at any point - I never actually believed I'd finish up with a sock until I got to the grafting.

House guest at the door!

Anyone have a bell, book and candle?

I have no WIPs.

Jess has a pile of wool and a collection of needles under her bed.

Olive Cake

Another recipe I don't want to lose! This one came from my sister's sister-in-law in France, and it's divine...

100 grams flour (add a little more if the mixture is too wet)
150 grams grated cheese (preferably gruyere)
4 eggs
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small glass of white wine
2 teaspoons baking powder
200 grams pitted green olives, sliced (nice with pimento stuffed olives)

Mix all together and bake in a greased 22 inch ring tin (or any suitable pan) for about 40 mins at 200 C.

Smug mode on

So Monday morning I was a little bored and I picked up the cursed double point needles and figured I'd give it yet another try. And voila...

My first ever sock! It's not a great sock - in fact it's a lumpy, bumpy, and very stumpy sock, but it's a sock! I had to do a little sock achievement dance with the girls, and we all sang 'Mummy can knit socks'. Well, Jess just shouted 'Mama! Sock!' but the thought was there. My partner pointed out that, strictly speaking, I can knit sock and until I do another I can't have that final 's'. Of course, he's right, but I'm not sure that this poor sock will ever get a mate. I figured there was no point in spending hours knitting the leg until I knew whether or not the whole heel thing would work - which is why it's so short. And do I really want a pair of stumpy socks? I may just keep this one as the Lone Sock and start a proper pair. Of course the girls are demanding socks of their own now, so it may be a while before I get to knit some for me.

I finished the neckwarmer (photo eventually - Jess took it away somewhere) and liked it so much that I knit another...

This one is in Cleckheaton's Vintage Hues which is my new favourite wool - I just love the colours. And I love the whole concept of neckwarmers I have to say. Way faster than a scarf, so I don't get bored, way less wool than a scarf, so I can afford to knit with nicer stuff than I would usually. And this one I liked so much I even blocked it! Wonders will never cease! I'm knitting a third one now - not in feather and fan this time - in some fluffy stuff I found on top of the bookshelf. I'm not sure what it is, but I have a feeling there's another ball in my glovebox which might have the band still on it. (Hey, I have small children - I stash my wool anywhere they can't get it!)

The baby thing is proceeding sloooooowly - I'm not sure if I like it or not so I'm not putting much effort in because it may yet get unravelled and changed into something else.

And now it's time to face the laundry mountain... We have a friend arriving to stay on Tuesday and I'm not even sure that there is a bed in the spare room because the laundry may well have eaten it!