Tomorrow we go to sign our new lease, pay the rent, and get the keys to the house. Once we move the rest of our stuff over, we will drop off the keys to this apartment. I am so looking forward to being there and settling in. We brought two loads on foot yesterday and also defrosted the freezer, swept the house, and cleaned out cupboards. There will be more cupboard clearing to do when we get there. The people who lived there last left stuff behind, including many shoes. There are three pair of men's pointy-toed shoes, which are popular here. Those can go to the clothes bank. In the press I found a box with one brand new canvas shoe inside. I wonder where the other shoe is. There are two library books on the counter--not sure if they are books that have been withdrawn or if they simply never got returned. I will check.
Bill chatted with a Vodaphone rep today to confirm that they got his online moving house form. It is in process, but we do not know exactly when we will have wifi at home--should be less than 28 working days anyway. In the meantime, the library now has wifi so we can use our own devices instead of having to use library computers, which we will do on Wednesdays and Fridays when the library is open.
Have a great week!
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
Do We Have Enough Plates?
One thing I love about renting in Ireland is that places come furnished and equipped with the basics. Furniture, pots, silverware, and just about everything else is all there. Every place we have lived has contained numerous egg cups and a wine rack. This told me something about food culture from the start 😊 Most of them have had various pint glasses which have been rehomed from a pub. I read in a book about drinking culture here that this pint glass pilfering is a thing. I always have fun poking around and seeing what is in a new place. Like a few of the other places we've lived, the new house was used as a holiday home for a while, so there are a couple of kettles and even a couple of irons in the place. In Ballinrobe, we had two vacuum cleaners.
I like this system for a few reasons. First of all, it is a lot easier to move when you do not have to pack up furniture and dishes and stuff like that. We are spared the expense of buying this stuff. I always prefer to use things that are not new wherever possible and I would buy it in a charity shop if I needed it, but having it already there is better. Clearly, there is enough stuff around, so why not use what is already available instead of getting more? Finally, while this kind of situation would not work for a person who finds matching tableware to be very important, I am, happily, not such a person. I quite enjoy looking at the hodge podge of bowls, plates, and silverware--the designs, patterns and shapes are often interesting. Good thing, too, because I checked the cupboards the other day to see if there was any basic thing we would need to look for in the charity shop, and when I opened the door to the bowls and plates, I found that none would be needed.
I think we're good. Anyone want to come for supper? I have plenty of tableware. 😄
Happy Friday!
I like this system for a few reasons. First of all, it is a lot easier to move when you do not have to pack up furniture and dishes and stuff like that. We are spared the expense of buying this stuff. I always prefer to use things that are not new wherever possible and I would buy it in a charity shop if I needed it, but having it already there is better. Clearly, there is enough stuff around, so why not use what is already available instead of getting more? Finally, while this kind of situation would not work for a person who finds matching tableware to be very important, I am, happily, not such a person. I quite enjoy looking at the hodge podge of bowls, plates, and silverware--the designs, patterns and shapes are often interesting. Good thing, too, because I checked the cupboards the other day to see if there was any basic thing we would need to look for in the charity shop, and when I opened the door to the bowls and plates, I found that none would be needed.
Happy Friday!
Thursday, February 23, 2017
On a Sock Kick
Last week, I finished a pair of gift socks and posted them with my fingers crossed, hoping they'd get to their destination by today. Happily, the package arrived yesterday, so there was plenty of time!
After those were done, I was deciding what to do next and realised I still felt sockish, so I grabbed a skein of sock yarn, decided on a stitch pattern for the instep, cast on, and knit away. I finished the first one of the pair last night and a short time later, cast on and started knitting its mate. Just to be on the safe side, when I was packing yarn last week in preparation for our move, I removed enough yarn for another pair, just in case I finish this pair and still feel the socks calling to me. I have decided on the instep stitches too, so if the urge is still there, I will be ready! 😉
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Shifting Stuff
It's official. I am no longer a spring chicken. I am tired. I hope that means that I will fall asleep and stay asleep tonight, no matter what kind of pain my feet throw at me!
This morning we did some errands, including borrowing the key to our new place. We will be taking possession next week, but between now and then we will borrow the key a few times so we can bring some stuff over there. We did a couple of trips today.
We have two rolling suitcases--the red one above and a smaller green one. I packed both of those, both of my backpacks, and the shopping cart we have. I packed other stuff in various bags. Bill had a suitcase and backpack, as you can see. I had a backpack, the smaller suitcase, and the shopping cart, with another bag on top. When we got there, we emptied everything, rolled it home and filled it again. Because I had stuff already bagged, it did not take long to shove the bags into suitcases and take off again. Today's loads were primarily yarn, fabric, and thread with some other stuff tossed in, too. I kept a few skeins of sock yarn here so I'd have something to work on. I thought I might finish a sock last night, but I made it partway through the toe decreases and called it a night. Maybe I can do the last little bit tonight and then cast on its mate.
We could be in for a storm starting tonight and into tomorrow, with high winds and possibly sleety rain or wintry mix, so we will probably not make any trips tomorrow. Gives me time to get everything ready for the next trip!
I am glad to be in the process now. It will be nice to get there for good and start to settle in!
This morning we did some errands, including borrowing the key to our new place. We will be taking possession next week, but between now and then we will borrow the key a few times so we can bring some stuff over there. We did a couple of trips today.
We could be in for a storm starting tonight and into tomorrow, with high winds and possibly sleety rain or wintry mix, so we will probably not make any trips tomorrow. Gives me time to get everything ready for the next trip!
I am glad to be in the process now. It will be nice to get there for good and start to settle in!
Sunday, February 19, 2017
A Bit of Stitching
Wednesday night, I finished the gift project I'd been working on and it went out in the post on Thursday. Yay! What to start next? I chose to cast on a pair of socks.
Some months ago, I spent some time flipping through one of my knitting stitch dictionaries and choosing some stitch patterns to adapt to knitting in the round on the 34 stitches that usually makes up the instep. The other day I looked through my notes and chose a stitch to use with some blue/grey cotton/wool/nylon sock yarn. Then I cast on with my size 1s (US) and proceeded with the ribbed cuff, changing to 0s for the rest of the sock. Last night, I finished the heel flap and turned the heel.
Next up will be picking up the gusset stitches and decreasing on those while setting up the lace pattern on the instep. I thought I might do that this afternoon, but I got lost in a book and then had to take a nap. Hopefully I will do some knitting tonight.
I also did some tatting and turned a cross stitch doodle into a bookmark.
The cross stitch one is a repetition of this motif:
I spent some time a while back playing around with various placements of the motif and I still have some of the doodles. Might as well put them to use. This one is now a bookmark and I've used a couple of others on cards. I find my small collection of cross stitched doodles quite handy sometimes!
We've had a nice, quiet, restful weekend. Hope you have had a lovely weekend too, doing things that make you happy with people that make you happy!
Some months ago, I spent some time flipping through one of my knitting stitch dictionaries and choosing some stitch patterns to adapt to knitting in the round on the 34 stitches that usually makes up the instep. The other day I looked through my notes and chose a stitch to use with some blue/grey cotton/wool/nylon sock yarn. Then I cast on with my size 1s (US) and proceeded with the ribbed cuff, changing to 0s for the rest of the sock. Last night, I finished the heel flap and turned the heel.
I also did some tatting and turned a cross stitch doodle into a bookmark.
We've had a nice, quiet, restful weekend. Hope you have had a lovely weekend too, doing things that make you happy with people that make you happy!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Coasting and Wool
We went to the library today to drop off a couple of books and to pick up the one Bill had in. Then we called in at the grocery store. I wanted to take a short walk after that. I have been so tired these last months that I have not been walking much, but I am trying now to get out a little bit, even for short walks. I often do not feel like it, and sometimes I wonder how I will drag my sorry butt down the stairs and out the door, but I know I will feel better afterwards, so I make myself do it. I am looking forward to getting more of my energy back so I can walk more and longer!
It was windy today and the gulls were coasting in the wind.
No one was at the pier--just us, the gulls, and the sound of the water hitting the rocks. It was chilly, but beautiful.
We decided to stop at the charity shop on our way home. Bill picked up a couple of books and I walked into the back room and picked up these.
The green is a superwash Irish wool. The rust colour had no ball band, but I thought it might be wool. I brought it home and did the burn test. I was pleased when the snipped piece would not stay lit. Sure enough, the burnt end was ash and not a hard bead--it's wool. Between Bill's books and my wool, it was a euro well spent.
I am hoping to finish a project tonight so I can post it tomorrow. I had plans to finish yesterday, but I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open and am at a point where counting is necessary. I suspected I was not up to the task yesterday--fingers crossed for today!
Supper will be easy and quick. The other night I made some chicken. broccoli, and onion with herbs to go over pasta. Last night I made soup and wholemeal cheese bread (yum!). I have leftovers of soup and the chicken broccoli, but not enough of either one to make a meal. Happily, they'll go well together, so I will dump it all in a pot and add more broth if necessary to make a new pot of soup from the leftovers. We will have grilled cheese sandwiches on the cheese bread too.
May you have a day of ease with happy surprises!
It was windy today and the gulls were coasting in the wind.
I am hoping to finish a project tonight so I can post it tomorrow. I had plans to finish yesterday, but I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open and am at a point where counting is necessary. I suspected I was not up to the task yesterday--fingers crossed for today!
Supper will be easy and quick. The other night I made some chicken. broccoli, and onion with herbs to go over pasta. Last night I made soup and wholemeal cheese bread (yum!). I have leftovers of soup and the chicken broccoli, but not enough of either one to make a meal. Happily, they'll go well together, so I will dump it all in a pot and add more broth if necessary to make a new pot of soup from the leftovers. We will have grilled cheese sandwiches on the cheese bread too.
May you have a day of ease with happy surprises!
Saturday, February 11, 2017
It's the One Thing
The one thing I will miss when we move to our new place will be the view of the hills in the distance and a wedge of the water. When we lived in Killybegs, I loved the view from our bedroom window upstairs and our kitchen window downstairs--we were on a hill and part of the harbour was across the road. It was a quiet section of water, not the busy working area that was down the street. I would be chopping, mixing, cooking and watching the water, birds, sailboats, and the fisherman who sometimes checked his traps from his wee boat. When he was out there, he was very popular with the birds! It made me sad to lose that when we moved here. I consoled myself with what we did have here, which is a glimpse of the water over the rooftops and a dramatic sky. I got into the habit of checking every morning and throughout the day to see what kind of weather was coming--we could see the rain showers approaching. The water is a different colour every day--sometimes black, sometimes blue, sometimes grey. When we cannot see the water or the hills in the distance, we know the fog has rolled in. There have been many spectacular sunsets this winter and most days bring an interesting sky as day turns to night. Today was no exception.
The new place is set a little further up the road from the main part of town; it is not on a hill; and there is a B&B across the street, so we will not be looking at the water from our windows. I am hoping though, that once I get away from the issues here I will feel better and will be able to spend more time at the water's edge! Two and a half weeks until we move in and we are really looking forward to it! The place may not have a view of the hills and water, but considering what it does have, I'll consider it a great trade-off!
Yesterday afternoon we called in at the letting agent's office to take care of the security deposit and we chatted with the young woman there. She said they'd gotten in touch with the owner of the house, who is living in Vietnam, and she was happy to rent it to us. We also got talking about the electric storage heat again. Leo had told us that he has a hard time even getting people to look at a place with storage heat. She told us yesterday that people had looked at the house, but the heating was what put them off. It is unusual for a house like that to even have storage heat--usually it would be the oil fired central heating (OFCH in the ads) in addition to the fireplace. Ah well, it all worked out well for us. We love electric storage heating and if the place had not had that, someone else would have rented it already and we would not be able to live there.
In the afternoon, I tried making some chick pea bread in my bread maker. In my bread machine book, it said that adding chick peas to the dough not only provides a nutty flavour, but also makes the loaf lighter and it rises higher. The recipe called for plain bread flour, but I used a mix of plain flour and strong (bread) wholemeal flour. It came out quite well!
It tastes good, slices well, and has a good texture. I would have never thought of adding chick peas, but there you go!
Hope you're having a great weekend!
Yesterday afternoon we called in at the letting agent's office to take care of the security deposit and we chatted with the young woman there. She said they'd gotten in touch with the owner of the house, who is living in Vietnam, and she was happy to rent it to us. We also got talking about the electric storage heat again. Leo had told us that he has a hard time even getting people to look at a place with storage heat. She told us yesterday that people had looked at the house, but the heating was what put them off. It is unusual for a house like that to even have storage heat--usually it would be the oil fired central heating (OFCH in the ads) in addition to the fireplace. Ah well, it all worked out well for us. We love electric storage heating and if the place had not had that, someone else would have rented it already and we would not be able to live there.
In the afternoon, I tried making some chick pea bread in my bread maker. In my bread machine book, it said that adding chick peas to the dough not only provides a nutty flavour, but also makes the loaf lighter and it rises higher. The recipe called for plain bread flour, but I used a mix of plain flour and strong (bread) wholemeal flour. It came out quite well!
Hope you're having a great weekend!
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