Kill the Spam Monster

Ah my poor neglected blog! The spam monster has been chomping away at it, leaving a massive amount of wildly hilarious and off-topic comments. Unfortunately this means that I have needed to change my settings so that comments now have word verification. Boohoo. 

Below, a prime selection of some of my favourites (a mere handful selected from approximately 100 comments). Some are lovely and flattering. One, copied below, made me feel a little sad until I counted all the mistakes in the comment itself.

You can certainly see your skills within the article you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren't afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart. my website :: borkum riff 

Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people consider worries that they plainly don't know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks Here is my homepage ... amber leaf

This design is incredible! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost...HaHa!) Excellent job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! Here is my blog - youtube.Com

And one which is totally ridiculous:

I think that everything posted made a great deal of sense. But, what about this? what if you wrote a catchier title? I ain't suggesting your content is not solid., however suppose you added a title that makes people want more? I mean "Spring Blossoms - Free Crochet Pattern!" is kinda plain. You ought to peek at Yahoo's front page and watch how they create news headlines to grab people to open the links. You might try adding a video or a picture or two to get readers interested about what you've got to say. In my opinion, it would make your posts a little bit more interesting. My site - Har Vokse Review on Spring Blossoms - Free Crochet Pattern!

In other news, sorry I have been so absent. I know some people who have left comments and I have not replied yet (I could not find them in among the jungle of spam).

My husband and I have been walking through a rather painful time, and I have not had the energy to keep up the blog. Also, for the last month we have been travelling around Tasmania in a hatchback car and a three person tent. Fun times!

Once we are in a real house again I am going to try to do some update-y posts and so on.

In case I am unable to get back here in the next few weeks, I hope you all have a wonderful and joyful Christmas and New Year!

 

Merry Christmas!

I think this just might be the most adorable retelling of the Christmas story ever.

Wishing all of my readers a wonderful and happy Christmas!

Christmas has Landed

So! Today was awesome!

I did some volunteering in a friend's classroom (which I've enjoyed so much) and that led to me getting to decorate a gingerbread house! I had to do it super quickly as it was almost lunch time (and the kids were using all the lollies I wanted!), but I think it's cute.

That's the door - notice the two hinges!

After supervising several groups of children, I knew that for a gingerbread house to be successful (and look extremely tempting) a huge amound of icing is crucial!

A bird's eye view.

After volunteering (I was only there from 9 until 1), my husband and I went to Mitre10 (a hardware store) to find a real, live, prickly, conical and cute Christmas tree. I love the one we chose - a White Spruce, still very much a baby.

It's decorated with bells (red and while), angels with glitterly wings, and a starry garland. We think it's too small for the lights, though I may add them. It would be nice to have it lit up.

I also wrapped a silver and red ribbon around the pot, to make it look a little nicer.

As we now had a Christmas tree, it meant that decorating could happen, and now the house is decked out. 

I'm pleasantly surprised at how many times I've already posted this month, I half expected to get to Christmas and realise I hadn't posted at all!

I'm planning on being back soon to share about my snickerdoodle making venture and the recipe for the yule log I plan to make for boxing day!

Advent Day 18 (But really only day 4)

Only a week until Christmas! December is zooming past at the speed of light.

I've been occupied knitting my sister's present, a Saroyan (see this post for more details). Since posting those pictures I ripped it out and started again, so the the ends would be more tapered.

This is what the first one looked like: 

This is what the end looks like now (notice how the first leaf now has a stem):

I have done nine repeats of twenty-two, so still have a way to go, but it should definitely be done by Christmas Eve. The garter stitch edging likes to fold over to the back, I think because stockingette naturally curls. It is so soft! I love to hold it against my neck - if I could purr while doing this, I would.

You can see that my tension is a bit wonky in places... but hopefully after a wash it will be looking better. The picture below is of where the increase section finishes and the straight section starts.

So, Christmas knitting is under control at my house... how is it going at your place?

 

Advent Day 14 (But really only day 3)

Well, I have done an awful job posting everyday leading up until Christmas. I'm sure I'm no busier than most other people, yet somehow they find time to post!

Christmas knitting is still happening (extremely slowly - I need to speed up if I'm going to finish in time!), some presents have been bought, and the house has been decorated. No photos to share, however, as since then a hurricane has adversely affected the state of my house :(

I've come across a couple of sweet Christmassy idea, which I've been wanting to share with you, my lovely and deeeply appreciated readers :D

Kootoyoo shared a tutorial for these cute no-sew flower ornaments:

no sew star flower decorations

View more presentations from kootoyoo.

I think this felt ornament is simply adorable, and the tutorial is free over on zakka life. Yay! I might even have time to make some... for next Christmas...

Image belongs to zakka life

And lastly, something to munch on. My friend directed me to this cake recipe: Boiled Chocolate Cake. Apparently it doesn't look like much, but the taste and the moistness are incredible. As soon as the damage from the hurricane is taken care of I plan on making it.

Hope all your Christmas planning is going well!

P.S. Don't worry, there wasn't really a hurricane... my house is just superduper messy.

Advent Day 2: Christmas Knitting

I have already nearly forgotten to post! Not a good start to the month...

So, I'm doing a fair bit of knitting and crocheting for Christmas. My sister is getting a lovely scarf-which-is-also-a-bit-like-a-shawl, called Saroyan.

It has lace leaves running down one side of it.

 

This photo is from the first time I started making it. You can see that I've done two repeats of the pattern. It has four more increase repeats, making it reasonable wide, then ten repeats that neither increase nor decrease, and then six decrease repeats.

Since taking these photos, I frogged all this (knit-speak for 'undid it all') and started again, using some modifications which makes the ends of the scarf more tapered, gives the first leaf a stem, and uses a different increase which is more invisible. So far I've done three repeat. Each repeat takes about an hour, though they're taking longer as the rows grow.

I have not taken any more photos since starting again, but no doubt you'll see some pictures soon enough!

If you want to make this scarf, it is a free pattern (Ravelry link). If you want to see my details, go visit my Ravely page.

Are you doing any handmade presents for Christmas? Please share! I need more ideas.

2010 Advent Blog-A-Long

I have found another challenge thing to join in with! Yay!

The Advent Blog-A-Long is hosted by Carrose Creations, and the challenge is to post everyday up until the 24th of December.

Prepare yourself for lots of Christmassy stuff! (And maybe even join in?)