Spinning soon now I got a wheel:)

Went for tea with my friend around the corner last night and her mum was there. She spins and knew I was looking for a wheel to have a go. Guess what?? She offered me an Ashford wheel with carders , spare bobbins and more for just £50. She is keeping it for me til we move as I don't have any money yet with the cost of removals etc. I am so thrilled, it is the most wonderful looking wheel and it will soon be mine, all mine. Can't wait:) Then I just need to learn how you spin and will I be able to do it with these hands being so stiff and unweildy now? I'll certainly be trying. No knitting today we've been busy packing, got what seem like millions of banana boxes and need more. Can't believe the amount of stuff I've accumulated. Even culling and offering on freecycle I've still loads. Desperately need a large(very large) wardrobe or armoire once we move to keep it all in as this house has built in wardrobes. DH has packed as I supervised. Its so frustrating when you want to do stuff but your body won't let you. Even the mere fact of saying what to keep and what to let go brought on chest pains and breathlessness. Why can't my body be more like my mind feels?
Anyways, yarn is next to pack that will be tomorrow as we are taking a well earned break.

Still here packing and planning

Well its been a busy few days. I've got some packing done thanks to Mr.mog. We are maybe a quarter done up to now. Its not easy when you have visits to cumbria, doctors and other stuff to work round. Last week for example we went to Cumbria for mums birthday so that day was full,
I had doctors visits as this move and other stuff is majorly affecting my health. We are talking stress but with a capital S. Stomach is affected with IBS and possibly the ulcer that I started with a few years back. To top it all add in a sprinkle of heart problems and breathlessness. Recipe for bad days with a vengeance. Then if you add to that a day of child care. Doesn't leave much time for packing.
This next week? Well Monday packing and Tuesday packing, Wednesday and Thursday child care full days plus doctors wednesday for fasting blood tests and ecg. Friday up to Scotland til Saturday to sign lease, clean new house. Sunday packing if we have any energy. Monday Tuesday children, wednesday doctors for results, thursday move. Full schedule. I'm going spare wondering if I've remembered everything. SP I will be more talkative mid June when I'm in the new house.(fingers crossed). I'll be changing to a local wireless connection so will no longer be with virgin. Think it will have to be hotmail address after that.
I have however been knitting:) I've finished the feather and fan throw in purples, I'llbe taking photos when I've moved so will show them then. I'm also part way through another 2 noro bags. Well a mog has to have something to keep busy at nights:)
On a better note, the garden is looking wonderful really lush and full of life. I'll be sorry to say goodbye.

Packing, listing, panicking

Started packing, part way through the craft room now and mr mog's railway room almost finished. Wow do we ever realise how much stuff we collect?? I've listed loads on freecycle inc nearly 100 acrylic paints. Don't ask( a friend closed his craft store down and we acquired them for something like 10p each. )Not what I use in my crafts and mr mog used all the scenery colours. They went within 5 minutes and the lady who collected is over the moon with them which is cool. I've still a lot to go through in the craft room but loads of baby patterns, books etc going on ebay.
Panicking because the landlord hasn't been back to see us yet. He has been really busy and I think will be here tomorrow but until he does I can't book removal van etc. Last night I sat in the grove in the gale force wind and rain. It was peaceful down there, a haven of calm amidst the storms. Looking around I thought how sorry I'd be to leave my trees and plants. But who ever moves in is going to have the most fabulous garden:) We are leaving 2 sheds and 2 greenhouses. Partly because its too much hassle to take them, greenhouse glass is very fragile after all. Partly not enough room. It does mean we won't have piles of stuff outside that we don't use very often.
So exciting times but impatient mogs don't like waiting:) I keep thinking of colours and where will I put this and that? Isn't it fun:)
I have 3 issues of simply knitting and knitting going free to first people who email amberdotmoggieatvirgindotnet for them.
Also bag of miscellaneous yarns

WE GOT THE HOUSE:))))))))))))))0

Yes I'm shouting:) We got the house, just heard from the agent that we can have it. Gave notice to our landlord which was very upsetting as they are more like family. I cried, the landlord got choked and mr mog was very quiet. When we left we asked each other were we certain it was right. And you know it is, it felt wonderful walking in the house and thinking of what it would look like decorated and with our stuff in. I told my daughter and son. My son was great and happy for us. The daughter who has been rather awkward and tried emotional blackmail ended up being ok. I had to do the motherly put the foot down and say WE WILL be visiting very often and you MUST come to us. Fingers crossed it will be ok. I'm seeing our 2 grandsons tomorrow so we will show them pics of the place and reassure them that we will still be there for them just as much. So the moggie has to start getting boxes and getting packed. I think we will be moving in 3 weeks it may get to 4 weeks max. Won't be long when I look round the rooms and think of moving this stuff. Got quotes for removals and its way too expensive for us. I'm currently looking for cheapest rate for 7.5 ton van to rent and hoping that it will all go in there. I need to find a 3/4 bed, a large cupboard or wardrobe(for the stash that is currently in walk in wardrobe) 2 chests of drawers think thats it.
Oh and a lottery win to enable us to pay for move etc would be very nice

magazine gone and house viewing:))

Sue K has claimed Simply knitting but do have another copy of it and the previous months if anyone wants them?
We are going to view the house tomorrow and I am so so excited I can't wait:) How will I sleep tonight and will it be what we want???

free copy June Simply knitting and waiting,waiting

Have a spare copy of the latest(June) Simply knitting mag if anyone wants it. Sadly no circular needle as they didn't bother sending me one with my subscription copy which finally arrived. Well 2 copies actually neither with a free gift. Did I mention I was seriously p***ed off with both British magazines? Simply knitting and Knitting. Why I bothered to subscribe I don't know as neither sent my copies without my constant ringing them and fobbed me off with its in the mail. Why can't we organise ourself like the US magazines instead of acting as though they are doing you a favour by letting you subscribe. Once I get my needles I'm out of there. No more subscribing. If I see one I want I'll get it from the shop. Far easier. Also is it just me or is the standard of stuff in the magazines inferior to the US ones? I've found one thing past few months I may make and surprise surprise its a throw:))
I'm ranting I know, sorry for that I think part of it is the wait for the phone call. The guy is supposed to be leaving the house today and soon as he has we can go view it. Trouble is when will that be? Patience is not one of my virtues. I'm busy on the purples throw in feather and fan and liking the look of it. But there again another rant(VBG) are circulars meant to be awkward? This Daisy 10mm is so slow. I keep having to stop to push the stitches nearer to the knitting point. I know I knit tighter but on straights the stitches do at least move. I'm seriously thinking of transferring back to straights and putting up with the lack of space on the needle.
I'll leave you for the moment with a picture of the tulips in the grove this morning. I will however update as soon as I know anything. And if you want this Simply knitting magazine email me at amberdotmoggieatvirgindotnet. Willing to mail over seas.

in which the mog attempts to be patient and a blatant request:)

Yet more funeral notices:( what is it about this time of year? I took ill yesterday so not at home yet. Too much worry partly stressing me out, very bad legs and more than all of this the wait for THE house visit. Supposedly this next couple of days but as each day seems to be over a week long that makes for a very impatient moggie. I can't access my emails while away for some reason it won't accept my password, yet I can blog. so figure that out. I don't want to do much and neither does Mr mog its a limbo situation around us. I comfort my self with the hope, although it may be a vain one, that making us wait means the house will be perfect for us. I'm having to correct every other word as my fingers aren't typing well at all so if I missed any typos apologies. On the needles ,still, a throw in purples various thicknesses of yarns feather and fan pattern. Good fun to do and as my cousin gave me the loan of her daisy circular much easier although I suspect the needle isn't same size as I started on which were wooden with no size marked. Doesn't seem to have spoilt it. Still looking for earthy/ mossy shades of different thicknesses if anyone has any to swap or sell cheaply:)) for the organic throw or cloak thats next for the needles. I could also swap for one of my elemental one of a kind figures if you'd prefer

Glorious day, wonderful sunshine

What a fabulous day today. The sun is shining and its very warm. I've been sitting in the grove watching the bees collecting pollen and its been gorgeous. The heat makes me feel like a cat, ready to purr with the warmth:) I took the turquoise shawl out with me and almost done now. I wanted to add a little more to it. I'll post pics tomorrow promise. I've been looking on ebay for earthy coloured yarns in different weights, not much about at the moment. I'm also looking for cicrular needles in 10mm and above if anyone knows of any going cheap.
Took more photos of yarn today so will probably list on ebay tomorrow. DH has several saws to sell, jigsaw and the like so maybe putting them on also.
Almost finished sorting the group of people I'm hostessing for SP8 so will be sending matches out tomorrow at latest for that.
I saw the most gorgeous throw today at a friends and she didn't know what yarns it was. It was deep plummy through to lilac colours and very fine through to very thick. Definately not Colinette. Apparently it was from car boot for a pound can you believe??? About 6 foot by 3 foot and I so wanted to bring it home with me.
Still trying to fill days in waiting to go and see THE house.

more tulips 

tulips 

spring in the grove 

spinning wheel and earthy yarns

Missed another darn spinning wheel today:( Wonder if I'll ever manage to find one? Have let everyone know I'm looking for one so if it gets passed around the grapevine there just might be someone with a spinning wheel going spare. I'm almost finished the turqouise shawl in assorted yarns and I've started looking for earthy/mossy/olive shades of various yarns to start a huge throw/shawl cape for me. I want mohairs, cottons, thick and thin you name it:) I have a couple of yarns already but I thought with the money from the yarns I'm selling and the ones I hope to swap I may start an earth stash. Still awaiting news on the house, it is possibly this weekend when it is empty, soon as I know I'll be up the M6 to view inside. Here seems limbo at the moment. I don't want to do anything and DH doesn't want to garden in case we are going. We have started to talk about minimalising a little. Just a little and yarn wasn't mentioned as one of the things to go:) More the ornaments, witchy statues and such. We have way too much.I thought I'd try our local newspaper for selling. They do quids in once aweek where if the item is under £100 you can advertise free. Also going to sell the mower as we won't have lawns if we move. I keep saying IF as it seems safer to hedge my bets til we've been inside the house. Also Loki lives with us and anytime we say we will do something or we won't then the opposite happens and I don't want to tempt him.
some photos of the grove to show the spring colour

more 

yarn 

yarn 

noro kureyon 

SP8 questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?Lorna's laces, koigu, noro, colinette or any handpainted/handspun. Also love mohair. Don't particularily like 100 per cent acrylics
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?An old jug and a knitting bag
3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?Been knitting around 49 years. Oh heavens is it that long now? I'd say intermediate knitter/crocheter
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?No
5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)Patchouli, frankincense essential oils. Allergic to many synthetics.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?I adore 70% chocolate, green and blacks etc.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?I make elemental figures/crochet and journal. I'm learning to spin and am trying to find a spinning wheel .
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I love new age, blues music and can play MP3s.
. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?I love jewel tones and favourite colours are deep purples and the earthy green family. I am not too keen on pastels.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?DH at home with me , son and daughter and 2 grandsons they don't live with me. Sadly no pets now as I had to rehome my 2 cats due to my health problems
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?love shawls and hats
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?love knitting shawls, bags hats and throws.
13. What are you knitting right now?currently knitting a mixed fibres shawl using many different thicknesses of yarns and a noro bag.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?love hand made gifts:)
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?Almost all my needles are old plastic and metal ones. Sometime I'd like to change them all for circulars. I do have 1 set of bamboo and love them but a little frail for these heavy hands of mine.16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?no yarn winder or swift
17. How did you learn to knit?my nan taught me to knit at a very early age.
18. How old is your oldest UFO?have no UFos now
19. What is your favorite holiday?Samhain or halloween and yule
20. Is there anything that you collect?only yarn:)
21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?Would love to try more koigu, and other hand spuns, would enjoy anything unusual pattern or yarn wise. I subscribe to interweave knits, simply knitting and knitting(latter 2 are UK mags) but am giving up the 2 UK ones as I don't get anything from them.
22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?Can't think of any. I gave up with socks couldn't get the hang of the heels
23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? See above, gave up on sock knitting wasn't for me. foot size 37 or english 5
24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) August 21st

looking for simple cardigan/shrug/bolero pattern

I'd like to make a simple cardigan or bolero or shrug pref mainly in one piece? looking for easy pattern link if anyone has any please. Have googled to no avail
thanks

looking for spinning wheel

I'm looking for a spinning wheel if anyone knows of any going cheaply? I missed one at the car boot yesterday and really want one to enable me to spin my own yarn. I've had to give up so many crafts with my rheumatoid arthritis and associated stuff that it is a question of what can I do to create? Spinning seems a fun thing to do. Someone emailed me that there was a free one last week which would have been unbelievably good luck as I don't have much funds with now being unable to work. Can you believe I missed it by 5 minutes only?

Bletane greetings, may your maypole stand strong

Happy Beltane to anyone reading. One of my favourite festivals on the wheel of the year if not my most favoured. A fertility festival, a fire festival. Beltane is all of these and more. A time of greenwood weddings and handfastings. A time to jump the sacred belfire and drink mead. Where the word homeymoon came from. For me at this most traumatic time a pause and a chance to see the abundance of the Lady. Everything is in full growth, lots of flowers, buds and new leaves all around us. Part of my Beltane rituals throughout the past almost 40 years has been to try be out among the greenwood at dawn. If not then at least some part of the day. It wasn't quite dawn but as I stood in the grove earlier I felt the energy of this most powerful of festivals all around me. We have had a maypole for several years now and I entwined new ribbons upon it today, yellows and green for the Lady of Spring. This may hopefully be the last Beltane in this house. A sad time but one full of hopes for future ceremonies north of the Border. The move is still all flux and attended by much emotional blackmail from DD who is not above using our 2 grandsons within her moves. We were supposed to go to Scotland and to Cumbria for the weekend but were both so upset from the family stuff we didn't have the heart to go. My DD is saying now that due to her and her partners work commitments they wouldn't be able to visit and if we visited them they may not be there. Hence the tears from my grandsons. I was all for not moving Friday but I've now decided that firstly we need to still see if this house is all we hoped and secondly if it is we need to do what feels right for us. Trusting that the Goddess will be with us and that we will see our family as much as we want to. Bear in mind that the move would only place us just around 2 hours away, not exactly the end of the earth.
So Beltane a fertile time for hopes and dreams. If you wish for something here is what I've done in the past. The token I use is either a piece of wood that I've inscribed with sigils that represent my wish.(windfall no need to cut a tree for your token), or a piece of paper with the wish written on it. I usually then say something like this:-
I make a wish on the fire tonight, with Goddess golden and the God so bright,
Place a token within the fire, a physical sign for my desire.
Watch it blacken , watch it burn, my wish will come as the seasons turn.
Bearing always within my thoughts, as it harms none so mote it be.
Thank you lady bright blessed be
(Copyright ambermoggie)