Sunday, 31 July 2016
Saturday, 30 July 2016
Tanks, Monkeys, BumBags and Birthday presents
It was DGS2's tenth birthday recently. We asked him what he'd like, and he asked for a Day Out. So, that's what he had.
He likes military history, and we though he'd like Bovington Tank museum in Dorset. We arrived just as it opened, and we were there for hours. It was really interesting, lots to see and do.... and so...many....Tanks.
Some of them had glass panels in, so you could see inside. One tank was cut in half, with a walkway through the middle. It really was fascinating. And horrendous, actually.
I found myself getting a bit teary at the WW1 Horse bit - memories of War Horse came flooding back, and I had a lump in my throat while watching the stories of several individuals.
I was quite excited when I found a Scorpion Tank amongst the many tanks there. My cousin Martin and I each had an Action Man Scorpion Tank when we were kids, so it made me smile to see it in full size.
I gave him some money to spend in the gift shop, and said that if it wasn't enough, to let me know and we'd see what we could do. At first it looked like he was going to buy a bullet. A big one. I inwardly shuddered. I don't mind, but I could imagine his mum wouldn't be overjoyed. (We'd already taken an extreme liberty by taking him to Air Rifling with us the night before).
And then he found what he wanted. I saw him from the other side of the shop, going through a rack of commando vests. And then the utility vests. And that's what he had. He was so excited!
We left The Tank Museum and drove half a mile up the road, to Monkey World. I'd wanted to go to Monkey World since watching Monkey Life on TV. I couldn't believe it when I found it was so close to the Tank Museum.
A couple of weeks beforehand, I'd pre-booked a guided tour, got the last one available, 3.45pm. The timing worked perfectly. We arrived at about 2.30, we walked slowly through the park looking at the enclosures and the gorgeous apes and monkeys. We had an ice cream at the top, and then got to the meeting point at the appropriate time.
The guide was fab. The background stories were really interesting, we learned stuff we wouldn't have known just by reading the displays next to the enclosures. It was really lovely seeing some of the animals we'd seen in the show, and I really wish I'd watched some episodes again before we visited. Luckily, we walked a different way to the way we had come up, so we saw lots of things we hadn't seen on the walk down.
I was concerned that H might find it a bit "dry", and he wasn't always listening. But he did ask lots of sensible questions, and I heard him relating lots of bits of info to his mum and then his dad later that evening over Skype.
At the gift shop H chose something very inexpensive, and said that he realised that we'd spent a lot on him at the Tank place.
We left just before closing time, and drove home. H slept nearly all the way.
The next day, I was working from 11.30. H wanted to make something on my embroidery machine, and fancied a bumbag. (We'd briefly mentioned bumbags the day before, when I had to carry some stuff for him in my handbag). He went to look at my fabric stash, and was really excited to see some camouflage fabric, which would go REALLY WELL with his combat vest.
I explained that it was quite an intricate design and would take a while, and that I hadn't made it before. He still wanted to go ahead, so we did. I searched through my bits and pieces and was amazed to find that I had the necessary hardware. I didn't really have the right sort of strap, but I used canvas tape instead. Not great, but it'll do.
It came out really well. I didn't take a photo before he left, so I'll see if I can get one sent to me to post.
He's such a pleasure to have. I suspect he presents his best side when he's with us.... to be fair, I suspect we do the same back, LOL.
He likes military history, and we though he'd like Bovington Tank museum in Dorset. We arrived just as it opened, and we were there for hours. It was really interesting, lots to see and do.... and so...many....Tanks.
Some of them had glass panels in, so you could see inside. One tank was cut in half, with a walkway through the middle. It really was fascinating. And horrendous, actually.
I found myself getting a bit teary at the WW1 Horse bit - memories of War Horse came flooding back, and I had a lump in my throat while watching the stories of several individuals.
I gave him some money to spend in the gift shop, and said that if it wasn't enough, to let me know and we'd see what we could do. At first it looked like he was going to buy a bullet. A big one. I inwardly shuddered. I don't mind, but I could imagine his mum wouldn't be overjoyed. (We'd already taken an extreme liberty by taking him to Air Rifling with us the night before).
And then he found what he wanted. I saw him from the other side of the shop, going through a rack of commando vests. And then the utility vests. And that's what he had. He was so excited!
We left The Tank Museum and drove half a mile up the road, to Monkey World. I'd wanted to go to Monkey World since watching Monkey Life on TV. I couldn't believe it when I found it was so close to the Tank Museum.
A couple of weeks beforehand, I'd pre-booked a guided tour, got the last one available, 3.45pm. The timing worked perfectly. We arrived at about 2.30, we walked slowly through the park looking at the enclosures and the gorgeous apes and monkeys. We had an ice cream at the top, and then got to the meeting point at the appropriate time.
The guide was fab. The background stories were really interesting, we learned stuff we wouldn't have known just by reading the displays next to the enclosures. It was really lovely seeing some of the animals we'd seen in the show, and I really wish I'd watched some episodes again before we visited. Luckily, we walked a different way to the way we had come up, so we saw lots of things we hadn't seen on the walk down.
I was concerned that H might find it a bit "dry", and he wasn't always listening. But he did ask lots of sensible questions, and I heard him relating lots of bits of info to his mum and then his dad later that evening over Skype.
At the gift shop H chose something very inexpensive, and said that he realised that we'd spent a lot on him at the Tank place.
We left just before closing time, and drove home. H slept nearly all the way.
The next day, I was working from 11.30. H wanted to make something on my embroidery machine, and fancied a bumbag. (We'd briefly mentioned bumbags the day before, when I had to carry some stuff for him in my handbag). He went to look at my fabric stash, and was really excited to see some camouflage fabric, which would go REALLY WELL with his combat vest.
I explained that it was quite an intricate design and would take a while, and that I hadn't made it before. He still wanted to go ahead, so we did. I searched through my bits and pieces and was amazed to find that I had the necessary hardware. I didn't really have the right sort of strap, but I used canvas tape instead. Not great, but it'll do.
It came out really well. I didn't take a photo before he left, so I'll see if I can get one sent to me to post.
He's such a pleasure to have. I suspect he presents his best side when he's with us.... to be fair, I suspect we do the same back, LOL.
Saturday, 23 July 2016
Sudden tears
I was caught off guard this morning, staring out of the window whilst filling the kettle..
I tried not to cry, but my DH happened to turn and see, and asked me what was wrong. "Nothing, just something stupid". "What?" He persisted.
So I told him, and the telling of it made it worse.
Silly gulping-for-breath, fat tears falling, as I tried to get out the words and deal with the emotions.
"It's the chickens. I was just watching..."
"The chicks? Is it the chicks?" he asked, thinking I was getting upset that they are destined for the table.
"No. I was watching Sasha walk across the garden and, for a moment, I thought she was Lotti".
And then I was really blubbing. Memories of Lotti my Exchequer Leghorn girl, and memories of the fox attack came flooding over me.
The release of emotion also brought up nemories of Lily, the Leghorn I had before Lotti, the first chook that was really really tame, despite Leghorns supposedly being a flighty breed. The picture flashed across my inner mind, up out of nowhere and gone in a flash. Lily made me decide there would always be room for a Leghorn in my flock. I think about her from time to time, and but the memories haven't made me want to cry for several years.
With Sasha and Lotti, it's really only the black and white Borlotti Bean markings that make them similar. That and they are/were both small and flighty.
I tried not to cry, but my DH happened to turn and see, and asked me what was wrong. "Nothing, just something stupid". "What?" He persisted.
So I told him, and the telling of it made it worse.
Silly gulping-for-breath, fat tears falling, as I tried to get out the words and deal with the emotions.
"It's the chickens. I was just watching..."
"The chicks? Is it the chicks?" he asked, thinking I was getting upset that they are destined for the table.
"No. I was watching Sasha walk across the garden and, for a moment, I thought she was Lotti".
And then I was really blubbing. Memories of Lotti my Exchequer Leghorn girl, and memories of the fox attack came flooding over me.
The release of emotion also brought up nemories of Lily, the Leghorn I had before Lotti, the first chook that was really really tame, despite Leghorns supposedly being a flighty breed. The picture flashed across my inner mind, up out of nowhere and gone in a flash. Lily made me decide there would always be room for a Leghorn in my flock. I think about her from time to time, and but the memories haven't made me want to cry for several years.
With Sasha and Lotti, it's really only the black and white Borlotti Bean markings that make them similar. That and they are/were both small and flighty.
 |
| Sasha |
 |
| My lovely LottiBorlotti |
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| Lily (died 2011) |
Friday, 15 July 2016
Highs and Lows
Last night, the chicks took themselves upstars to bed. Amazing. All 4 of them, no one left running around, panicking. And they hadn't had any experience of going u the ladder to bed before.
Very proud of them :-)
We extended their ranging area, so that it now includes a border. I would say a "flower border", but that's not quite true. It's a border with meadow grass in. Or at least, it had meadow grass in, before the chicks leapt on it in delight. They spent most of the day rooking about, having dustbaths, eating seed heads, and running around in the undergrowth.
Another good day today. At least, it was a good day. Until it was a slightly less good day.
I was, fortunately, in the kitchen; the back door was, fortunately, open. I heard a feathery kerfuffle and walked to the back door to see what was going on.
I saw Poppy, who had escaped from the big girl paddock, fluffed up and angrily hurling herself at the chick netting. On the other side, the top chick was similarly puffed up and hurling himself at the chick netting. I rushed out to deparate them, and chased Poppy off, eventually catching her and rturning her to the correct side of the netting.
I went back to the chick paddock and caught the little boy. He did not wan tot be caught and was very squirmy. I had to let him ride on my arm, which we normally avoid (a) becaise it's not really the best way to carry a chick and once they have the habit, it can be hard to break it; and (b) because the chick claws are really sharp! If I'm honest, it's really (b) that does it for me.
Anyhow, we got back to the kitchen and he hopped off on to the draining board. He had a cut on his comb, which I bathed. I couldn't see how to spray "purple spray" on his face, so I sprayed some onto a piece of kitchen towel (liberally dyeing the draining board at the same time), and I dabbed this on. I then gave him so Garvo Alfa Chick (which is actually just chick feed, but we use it as a treat substitute), and we went back outside.
He seems OK now.
He's a brave lad.
Poppy, on the other hand, really does seem to have a screw lose. I know it all goes back to her treatment by that b*tch of a hen, Millie. She obviously sees the chicks as a threat. I did wonder whether she was also angry at them because she'd sat for 7 weeks and hadn't been able to hatch a chick (she wasn't sitting on any eggs, she was just broody). I guess that's just anthrpoomorphising her somewhat. I'm sure chickens done't really think like that.
Do they?
Very proud of them :-)
We extended their ranging area, so that it now includes a border. I would say a "flower border", but that's not quite true. It's a border with meadow grass in. Or at least, it had meadow grass in, before the chicks leapt on it in delight. They spent most of the day rooking about, having dustbaths, eating seed heads, and running around in the undergrowth.
Another good day today. At least, it was a good day. Until it was a slightly less good day.
I was, fortunately, in the kitchen; the back door was, fortunately, open. I heard a feathery kerfuffle and walked to the back door to see what was going on.
I saw Poppy, who had escaped from the big girl paddock, fluffed up and angrily hurling herself at the chick netting. On the other side, the top chick was similarly puffed up and hurling himself at the chick netting. I rushed out to deparate them, and chased Poppy off, eventually catching her and rturning her to the correct side of the netting.
I went back to the chick paddock and caught the little boy. He did not wan tot be caught and was very squirmy. I had to let him ride on my arm, which we normally avoid (a) becaise it's not really the best way to carry a chick and once they have the habit, it can be hard to break it; and (b) because the chick claws are really sharp! If I'm honest, it's really (b) that does it for me.
Anyhow, we got back to the kitchen and he hopped off on to the draining board. He had a cut on his comb, which I bathed. I couldn't see how to spray "purple spray" on his face, so I sprayed some onto a piece of kitchen towel (liberally dyeing the draining board at the same time), and I dabbed this on. I then gave him so Garvo Alfa Chick (which is actually just chick feed, but we use it as a treat substitute), and we went back outside.
He seems OK now.
He's a brave lad.
Poppy, on the other hand, really does seem to have a screw lose. I know it all goes back to her treatment by that b*tch of a hen, Millie. She obviously sees the chicks as a threat. I did wonder whether she was also angry at them because she'd sat for 7 weeks and hadn't been able to hatch a chick (she wasn't sitting on any eggs, she was just broody). I guess that's just anthrpoomorphising her somewhat. I'm sure chickens done't really think like that.
Do they?
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Growing up
The weather has been kind enough for the chicks to be out most of the day for the last few days. For two of the days, however, there were sudden heavy showers. The chicks have no experience of rain (yet), so they don't know to go and shelter under the Go where it's dry; and because they aren't quite fully feathered, we don't want to leave them out there to find out the hard way. So, this resulted in several mad dashes in the rain to catch the chicks and rish them to the safety and dryness of the shed.
One of the chicks has learned to leap up and perch on the top of the edge of the brooder, This is quite an achievemet as the panel is a metre high, and as it's only epoxy coated weldmesh , there is hardly any grip for the little blighter to catch on to once they get to the top!
It means that, after we've put the chicks away, we have to visit the shed frequently to make sure s/he hasn't escaped. I don't really mind them getting outside the run per se - the shed is secure - although I don't really want to have to deal with chick poo surprises. The issue is that that they seeme totally incapable of getting back in (to the food and water) that is the problem.
S/he has also taken to perching there if s/he isn't the first to be taken out in the morning. In fact this morning, after I'd caught and taken the first chick out, I came back to find two cheeky beggars sitting waiting to be collected!
They are 6 weeks old now, so don't need heat any more. They haven't been sleeping anywehre near the Electric Hen for about four days, the night time temperatures are warmish.
The weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow is reasonable, so I'm planning on letting the chicks sleep outside in the Go tonight
One of the chicks has learned to leap up and perch on the top of the edge of the brooder, This is quite an achievemet as the panel is a metre high, and as it's only epoxy coated weldmesh , there is hardly any grip for the little blighter to catch on to once they get to the top!
It means that, after we've put the chicks away, we have to visit the shed frequently to make sure s/he hasn't escaped. I don't really mind them getting outside the run per se - the shed is secure - although I don't really want to have to deal with chick poo surprises. The issue is that that they seeme totally incapable of getting back in (to the food and water) that is the problem.
S/he has also taken to perching there if s/he isn't the first to be taken out in the morning. In fact this morning, after I'd caught and taken the first chick out, I came back to find two cheeky beggars sitting waiting to be collected!
They are 6 weeks old now, so don't need heat any more. They haven't been sleeping anywehre near the Electric Hen for about four days, the night time temperatures are warmish.
The weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow is reasonable, so I'm planning on letting the chicks sleep outside in the Go tonight
Friday, 8 July 2016
Strange behaviour
I remember some years ago - pre internet - hearing that people in extreme debt often hid their unopened credit card / utility bills. I couldn't understand that mentality, hiding from the bills was 'obviously' the worst thing someone could do.
I was lucky enough to be offered a new sewing (sewing only) machine, at a marvellous price. I'd been thinking about this particular machine since it was launched, and had been working out how I could get the money together to pay for it. I'd got to the stage of contacting dealers to see what the best price might be, and I was in a good position because I was perfectly willing to walk away and wait. I did not expect to pick up such a fab offer. After the briefest of hesitation, I accepted.
The machine arrived the next day.
It's still sitting in my hallway, unopened.
At first, I wanted to wait until I'd sold my current machine. I didn't want her to know she'd been replaced (yes, I know it's a sewing machine. I just feel the way I feel). I was expecting to have the current machine picked up yesterday, but the buyer couldn't make it. And won't make it until early next week.
So, I reasoned, I might as well open it. I can keep it on the kitchen table, so the current machine doesn't see it.
And yet, all day so far, I've found other things I must get done, before I allow myself to open that box.
I've told people that I'm savouring it. But that's not really true.
I've been this way with any 'spontaneous' large purchase, and it occurred to me today that it's a bit like hiding the unopened bills. A bit like it. A bit.
Maybe.
I guess I'd better get on with it. I'll be fine when it's open, on the table, and I'm using it.
I was lucky enough to be offered a new sewing (sewing only) machine, at a marvellous price. I'd been thinking about this particular machine since it was launched, and had been working out how I could get the money together to pay for it. I'd got to the stage of contacting dealers to see what the best price might be, and I was in a good position because I was perfectly willing to walk away and wait. I did not expect to pick up such a fab offer. After the briefest of hesitation, I accepted.
The machine arrived the next day.
It's still sitting in my hallway, unopened.
At first, I wanted to wait until I'd sold my current machine. I didn't want her to know she'd been replaced (yes, I know it's a sewing machine. I just feel the way I feel). I was expecting to have the current machine picked up yesterday, but the buyer couldn't make it. And won't make it until early next week.
So, I reasoned, I might as well open it. I can keep it on the kitchen table, so the current machine doesn't see it.
And yet, all day so far, I've found other things I must get done, before I allow myself to open that box.
I've told people that I'm savouring it. But that's not really true.
I've been this way with any 'spontaneous' large purchase, and it occurred to me today that it's a bit like hiding the unopened bills. A bit like it. A bit.
Maybe.
I guess I'd better get on with it. I'll be fine when it's open, on the table, and I'm using it.
Friday, 1 July 2016
Wherever he wanders...
Wash stayed at the Vets for a few days.
We saw him each day, and each day he looked a little brighter. Another xray, this one showed that the shadow on his lungs was clearing. All the other test results came back normal.
We got a call from the Vet to day that Wash could come home, and we went and collected him immediately.
He was so happy to be back! He's looking good, his fur is sleek and soft, and he's very purry.
Hes been back to the Vet since for another checkup, and he's got another one scheduled.
We put a GPS tracker on him overnight so we could see where he goes when he patrols. His territory is enormous and, worryingly, still includes an area over the main road. Idiot!
He's also deliberately patrolling in the area where the black and white cat lives. Idiot!!
We saw him each day, and each day he looked a little brighter. Another xray, this one showed that the shadow on his lungs was clearing. All the other test results came back normal.
We got a call from the Vet to day that Wash could come home, and we went and collected him immediately.
He was so happy to be back! He's looking good, his fur is sleek and soft, and he's very purry.
Hes been back to the Vet since for another checkup, and he's got another one scheduled.
We put a GPS tracker on him overnight so we could see where he goes when he patrols. His territory is enormous and, worryingly, still includes an area over the main road. Idiot!
He's also deliberately patrolling in the area where the black and white cat lives. Idiot!!
Friday, 24 June 2016
At the Vets
We phoned this morning to find out how Wash was getting on.
He'd eaten a little bit, but not a lot. The vet assistant remarked "He just isn't himself, is he?" She was one of the young ladies who looked after Wash during his stay earlier in the yearl she always asks after him when we bump into her on the many occasions we're at the Vet. He was very popular, and they are really kind.
She asked me what his favourite food was ("Normally, anything"). She said she didn't mind cooking him some chicken or fish, which did I think he would prefer? ("Chicken, probably").
We arrived at the Vets dead on visiting time. Wash ignored us for a little while, but after we'd both had a bill and a coo and a stroke he started to purr. We saw the dish of chicken (uneaten) and a pile of dry food (uneaten). He looked a little brighter, presumably due to the IV, but he wasn't right.
There was a note stuck on his cage, which made me smile. I wish I'd had my phone with me to take a picture. It said "Social eater, please keep him company while he eats".
None of the other in-patients had such a note.
There wasn't any other news, so I guess it will be Monday before any more tests are done. We will pop in and see him on Saturday and Sunday.
He'd eaten a little bit, but not a lot. The vet assistant remarked "He just isn't himself, is he?" She was one of the young ladies who looked after Wash during his stay earlier in the yearl she always asks after him when we bump into her on the many occasions we're at the Vet. He was very popular, and they are really kind.
She asked me what his favourite food was ("Normally, anything"). She said she didn't mind cooking him some chicken or fish, which did I think he would prefer? ("Chicken, probably").
We arrived at the Vets dead on visiting time. Wash ignored us for a little while, but after we'd both had a bill and a coo and a stroke he started to purr. We saw the dish of chicken (uneaten) and a pile of dry food (uneaten). He looked a little brighter, presumably due to the IV, but he wasn't right.
There was a note stuck on his cage, which made me smile. I wish I'd had my phone with me to take a picture. It said "Social eater, please keep him company while he eats".
None of the other in-patients had such a note.
There wasn't any other news, so I guess it will be Monday before any more tests are done. We will pop in and see him on Saturday and Sunday.
Poor Washy, again
The cats have both been a bit lethargic lately. Not surprising, the weather has been humid and horrible, and lying around doing nothing is quite attractive.
On Saturday, Wash got caight in my legs as I was walking round the kitchen table trying to pin out my duvet cover. It was a noteworthy occurrence, because the last time Wash had got caught my legs was just before he got hit by a car - and we later discovered the lack of agility was a symptom of his liver problems. So, I mentioned it to DH, and asked him to watch out for any other instances.
On Sunday, Wash failed to get out of the way when DH was coming downstairs in the dark. We checked Wash over, and couldn't see any obvious injury, and he wasn't exhibiting tenderness anywhere. On Sunday night we found a scab on his head, which hadn't been there in the earlier examination. He'd presumably got caught on something, or had a run in with another cat.
On Monday he seemed fine, just a bit sleepy. On Tuesday, he was still laying about (which isn't unusual), but he just didn't seem right. We'd been testing his blood sugar levels, and they weren't unusual. We made a Vet appointment for the following day.
On Wednesday, the Vet determined that he'd had a bite from another cat. A battery of tests was run, but everything came back normal. He wasn't fighting an infection, there was nothing obviously wrong. However, the Vet (who knows Wash reasonably well now, having had so many interactions with him since Christmas) agreed that something wasn't right. He gave Wash an antiobiotic jab, took another urine sample which this needed to go to an offsite lab, and we made an appointment for the following day.
The following day was yesterday. Wash had eaten some food in the morning, but promptly vomited it back up. He continued looking really miserable all day. The Vet checked him over, and Wash's heartbeat was a bit fast (not surprising, he hates being at the Vet). Th ewanted to do a chest xray, to rule various things out, so we waited while this happened. And we waited. And waited.
How long does a chest xray take?
Well, the reason for the delay was because the chest xray showed some clouding, and the Vet had gone back to the Christmas xrays to do a comparison. There was definitely something there. The next step was to do a heart scan, and also to do a test for pancreatitis. The scan would be done on Friday, Wash would be kept in and, because he had vomited his breakfast, he would be on a drip.
We had not expected to come home without him. We had to go back a little later, to take in his insulin. We arrived at 8.15pm and were surprised to fid the Vet was still there. He'd stayed on to do the heart scan that evening.
The good news is that the heart scan was clear.
Wash has to stay at the Vets until his situation has improved. We had, of course, expected we'd be bringing him home today.... but we know that he's in the right place.
Hopefully we'll know more later.
On Saturday, Wash got caight in my legs as I was walking round the kitchen table trying to pin out my duvet cover. It was a noteworthy occurrence, because the last time Wash had got caught my legs was just before he got hit by a car - and we later discovered the lack of agility was a symptom of his liver problems. So, I mentioned it to DH, and asked him to watch out for any other instances.
On Sunday, Wash failed to get out of the way when DH was coming downstairs in the dark. We checked Wash over, and couldn't see any obvious injury, and he wasn't exhibiting tenderness anywhere. On Sunday night we found a scab on his head, which hadn't been there in the earlier examination. He'd presumably got caught on something, or had a run in with another cat.
On Monday he seemed fine, just a bit sleepy. On Tuesday, he was still laying about (which isn't unusual), but he just didn't seem right. We'd been testing his blood sugar levels, and they weren't unusual. We made a Vet appointment for the following day.
On Wednesday, the Vet determined that he'd had a bite from another cat. A battery of tests was run, but everything came back normal. He wasn't fighting an infection, there was nothing obviously wrong. However, the Vet (who knows Wash reasonably well now, having had so many interactions with him since Christmas) agreed that something wasn't right. He gave Wash an antiobiotic jab, took another urine sample which this needed to go to an offsite lab, and we made an appointment for the following day.
The following day was yesterday. Wash had eaten some food in the morning, but promptly vomited it back up. He continued looking really miserable all day. The Vet checked him over, and Wash's heartbeat was a bit fast (not surprising, he hates being at the Vet). Th ewanted to do a chest xray, to rule various things out, so we waited while this happened. And we waited. And waited.
How long does a chest xray take?
Well, the reason for the delay was because the chest xray showed some clouding, and the Vet had gone back to the Christmas xrays to do a comparison. There was definitely something there. The next step was to do a heart scan, and also to do a test for pancreatitis. The scan would be done on Friday, Wash would be kept in and, because he had vomited his breakfast, he would be on a drip.
We had not expected to come home without him. We had to go back a little later, to take in his insulin. We arrived at 8.15pm and were surprised to fid the Vet was still there. He'd stayed on to do the heart scan that evening.
The good news is that the heart scan was clear.
Wash has to stay at the Vets until his situation has improved. We had, of course, expected we'd be bringing him home today.... but we know that he's in the right place.
Hopefully we'll know more later.
Sunday, 19 June 2016
Animal Antics
Sasha, the gobby Appenzeller, is continuing to be the shriekiest chicken I have ever met. We're shutting the coop door at night now, in an attempt to muffle her sounds, but still I have to get up somewhere between 5 and 6am to do something about the racket.
"Doing something" usually means letting them out of the coop and going back to bed, then getting up again half an hour later to try and catch Sasha and shut her in one of the nest boxes to keep her quiet. The standalone nestboxes work quite well for this, because she can't stand and stretch her throat (like a cockerel does while crowing), so she can't reach quite the volume.
However, I don't really like doing this, so I only do it when she's being particularly voluble particularly early. I always set a timer if I do it, just so I don't forget about her.
This morning it was 6.05am. When I rushed through the kitchen to get to the back door I saw that Izzy had had a fit. After sorting out the chooks, I came back in to investigate the fit, decided to make a cup of tea, and so there was no point in going back to bed.
Izzy has had two fits in the last 2 days, and is being extremely finicky about her food.
.....
Wash has also been "not quite right". He got tangled up in my legs yesterday, when I was working on the duvet cover in the kitchen. Last time he got tangled up, he went on to get hit by a car, and we learned that he has liver problems and jaundice, and this had affected his reaction times. I mentioned it to DH, on the basis that a one-off we can not worry about; 2 instances, and we have to keep watch; 3 instances and action must be taken.
Last night when I went to bed, Wash was sleeping on the top step, just below the landing level. DH went downstairs and, in the dark, almost trod on him. Wash was very shocked and ran into the bedroom. We checked him all over and couldn't see any obvious sign of injury, he wasn't reacting to being poked and prodded.
This morning Was came in with a cut on his head. Unlikely to have been caused on the stairs last night, we would have found it.
Vet appointment for him tomorrow, I think.
.....
The torrential rain and bad weather has meant the chicks haven't got outside much. I managed maybe 10 mnutes yesterday. It was hot, briefly. I put the outside hen on, then waited 15 mins to see if the weatherwas going to stay hot, or whether it was going to turn. It stayed hot, so I put the chicks out. 10 mins later I could see a rain cloud approaching, so I had to try and catch the chicks on my own, and put them away.
This morning I've been waiting for the grass to dry and the wind to die down. I'm ging to attempt to put them out shortly.
.....
And while I was outside, I noticed that a snail was having a drink from a chick waterer I'd left on the paving. It was balancing on the lip, and leaning in to the dip where the water was. It was a very delicate operation, it's little antenna wiggling slowly as it tried to stretch in.
What a little sweetie! I've bever really thought that about snails before, they are usually a pest in the garden. But this little thing was going about its business, drinking from the oasis I had kindly - if unknowingly - provided.
"Doing something" usually means letting them out of the coop and going back to bed, then getting up again half an hour later to try and catch Sasha and shut her in one of the nest boxes to keep her quiet. The standalone nestboxes work quite well for this, because she can't stand and stretch her throat (like a cockerel does while crowing), so she can't reach quite the volume.
However, I don't really like doing this, so I only do it when she's being particularly voluble particularly early. I always set a timer if I do it, just so I don't forget about her.
This morning it was 6.05am. When I rushed through the kitchen to get to the back door I saw that Izzy had had a fit. After sorting out the chooks, I came back in to investigate the fit, decided to make a cup of tea, and so there was no point in going back to bed.
Izzy has had two fits in the last 2 days, and is being extremely finicky about her food.
.....
Wash has also been "not quite right". He got tangled up in my legs yesterday, when I was working on the duvet cover in the kitchen. Last time he got tangled up, he went on to get hit by a car, and we learned that he has liver problems and jaundice, and this had affected his reaction times. I mentioned it to DH, on the basis that a one-off we can not worry about; 2 instances, and we have to keep watch; 3 instances and action must be taken.
Last night when I went to bed, Wash was sleeping on the top step, just below the landing level. DH went downstairs and, in the dark, almost trod on him. Wash was very shocked and ran into the bedroom. We checked him all over and couldn't see any obvious sign of injury, he wasn't reacting to being poked and prodded.
This morning Was came in with a cut on his head. Unlikely to have been caused on the stairs last night, we would have found it.
Vet appointment for him tomorrow, I think.
.....
The torrential rain and bad weather has meant the chicks haven't got outside much. I managed maybe 10 mnutes yesterday. It was hot, briefly. I put the outside hen on, then waited 15 mins to see if the weatherwas going to stay hot, or whether it was going to turn. It stayed hot, so I put the chicks out. 10 mins later I could see a rain cloud approaching, so I had to try and catch the chicks on my own, and put them away.
This morning I've been waiting for the grass to dry and the wind to die down. I'm ging to attempt to put them out shortly.
.....
And while I was outside, I noticed that a snail was having a drink from a chick waterer I'd left on the paving. It was balancing on the lip, and leaning in to the dip where the water was. It was a very delicate operation, it's little antenna wiggling slowly as it tried to stretch in.What a little sweetie! I've bever really thought that about snails before, they are usually a pest in the garden. But this little thing was going about its business, drinking from the oasis I had kindly - if unknowingly - provided.
Marked cards
Two cards this week...
The outline of a Plymouth Superbird as a reminder of things past for my Dad
And a congratulations card for my therapist friend, who's just passed her reflexology exams (with merit!)
The outline of a Plymouth Superbird as a reminder of things past for my Dad
And a congratulations card for my therapist friend, who's just passed her reflexology exams (with merit!)
Duvet Day
You may remember from many many months ago, that I'd had an idea about making a Duvet cover using some gorgeous chicken themed fabric?
The fabric was very expensive, and I couldn't justify spending that much money on fabric to make a duvet cover for a superking sized bed, so I'd decided to use the fabric as a feature and to make a duvet cover around it.
I couldn't find really high quality fabric for sheeting, and then I'd had a brainwave... I'd buy a flat sheet and use that! Brilliant! It would already be hemmed round the edges, it would be really easy to sew, what could go wrong?
Well, I bought a sheet, in a blue similar to the background of the chickeny fabric, but wasn't sure about using that colour for the top as well. So I bought another sheet, this time in white, as well. I'd then have enough for pillowcases too. I washed the fabric in preparation. I pressed it. I was very new to sewing then, and I needed to think about it for a bit. I also suspected that an overlocker would make the whole process much easier, so I decided to wait and see.
And then events overtook me.
We re-designed the front bedroom to make a sewing area. No point starting until that was done. Then I waited for my overlocker course to see if it would really help with my projects. Then I waited until I had bought an overlocker. Then I started down the path of making tops, in stretch fabric, using the overlocker.
Months passed. Every time I saw the fabric I thought "hmm, I really must have a go at that."
Then, the other day, I decided I was going to do it.
I got it all out of it's Ikea box, and wasn't enthused. I wanted a much BOLDER colour to set the fabric off. I searched online for sheets, looking for a burgundy red to match the red on the fabric. Few places had sheets that colour.
Eventually, I found some in John Lewis. I did some sums, and decided that I'd buy 2 flat sheets, and that would give me enough to do the pillowcases (like in my original plan mark 2). Before I clicked "checkout", I suddenly wondered about buying a duvet cover and cycling-up ( "upcycling" as the trend has it) that.
The idea had advantages. It certainly had poppers already in place, and straight seams. But that wasn't realy what I'd set out to do, was it? But then, if I was buying two sheets, why not?
I bought the duvet cover. I winced at the thought of the total cost of the project (although it was stil cheaper than buying enough chickeny fabric to do the whole thing). Even the "free" pillowcases weren't really making me feel any better about it.
And yesterday, I had my duvet day.
I started by making a little mockup with the overlocker. I created a mini duvet cover, overlocked on 3 sides. I cut a section out, and put some other fabric in. I worked out how to do it so it didn't look like it had just been sewn on the top. I was going to use the full width of the fabric, but I wasn't sure how long to make it. I wanted an inset rectangle, ao I used the computer to draw out the duvet cover size.. then the bed, which was was a more visual representation of the size, and then anothe rectangle to work out what sized length looked proportionate.
And then on to the real thing.
Firstly, I have to say, I should have used 2 sheets. What was I thinking?! Trying to lay out, measure, cut, sew a panel in the middle of a duvet cover is a P.I.T.A.
It was a pain even trying to get it all laid out flat to start measuring and drawing lines, despite pressing it beautifully first. DH helped as we draped it over the kitchen table.
Then the cutting! Oh my goodness! I managed to not move the cutting mat at one point, so I cut both layers of fabric. Thank heavens I wasn't pressing hard, ptherwide I would have gouged the kitchen table too! So, as well as everything else I had to do a repair. Darning wasn't going to work, but I had an idea about using a really tight zigzag stitch, and using some embroidery stabiliser on the back. It worked. It looks like a bit of a duelling scar, but it's on the underside, so who cares. And, on the plus side, I now know how to do a really fab satin stitch, like they do for going round applique.
I used a pen to draw on my cutting lines. I drew on my sewing lines. I drew on my corner clipping line. I checked it was all square, and parallel. I pressed. With an actual iron! I got the chickeny fabric, and pressed the seam allowance all round. Then I attached one side of the the fabric - pinned, pinned, pinned. I used wonderclips too. I turned it right side out, to check it looked OK. I changed my mind about the size of the seam allowance.
I drew the new seam allowance all the way round, moved the pinned side, then pinned and wonderclipped the other 3 sides. I turned it right side out and checked it looked OK. I then sewed a side, unpinned, and checked it. Then I sewed the other sides. (Yes, I know you don't need to sew first if you're overlocking - but doing so means (a) I don't have to deal with two layers of fabric slipping about while using something as final as an overlocker, and (b) I can see whether I've cocked up before the fabric gets irretrievably cut off)
I decided to take a break, and looked at the pillowcase. I had one from another bed set, so I looked at how it was constructed. I looked at my fabric. I had just enough to make 2 pillows, assuming I was adding a band of the fabric as well. We have special neck pillows, and I debated whether to make pillowcases to fit those, or whether to make standard sized cases (too big really for our pillows). I went down the standard route.
I laid out the fabric for one, measuring, measuring, measuring. I overlocked the fabric to the divet offcut, and then pressed all the seams and cuffs. I did the same for the second one. Then I had a go at making them up. Sew the hem at each end. Turn over and sew the small inside bit. Make the cuff. Overlock all round.
It worked! The pillowcases looked lovely!
Inspired, I decided to do the overlocking on the cover,. It went well. I then had to finish the corners, which I didn't do particularly well (I'll think about how to make that better for another time). And, finally, I decided to top stitch, to stop it rolling. Or whatever the reason is you do topstitching.
Top stitching a superking sized duvet cover is quite hard work, there's a lot of fabric to squish up on the sewing machine and to hold out of the way whilst sewing.
A quick press, and I had to put it on the bed to see what it looked like. The pics make it look more of a scarlet, it isn't that colour at all. The real colour is in the plain pic further up ^^^
It came out quite well. Not perfect. One particular corner needs some attention, but I've had enough now, I might try and fix it when I take the cover off for washing.
I think it would have taken half the time if I'd used two sheets instead, and that's what I'll do next time. If there is a next time!
.
The fabric was very expensive, and I couldn't justify spending that much money on fabric to make a duvet cover for a superking sized bed, so I'd decided to use the fabric as a feature and to make a duvet cover around it.
I couldn't find really high quality fabric for sheeting, and then I'd had a brainwave... I'd buy a flat sheet and use that! Brilliant! It would already be hemmed round the edges, it would be really easy to sew, what could go wrong?
Well, I bought a sheet, in a blue similar to the background of the chickeny fabric, but wasn't sure about using that colour for the top as well. So I bought another sheet, this time in white, as well. I'd then have enough for pillowcases too. I washed the fabric in preparation. I pressed it. I was very new to sewing then, and I needed to think about it for a bit. I also suspected that an overlocker would make the whole process much easier, so I decided to wait and see.
And then events overtook me.
We re-designed the front bedroom to make a sewing area. No point starting until that was done. Then I waited for my overlocker course to see if it would really help with my projects. Then I waited until I had bought an overlocker. Then I started down the path of making tops, in stretch fabric, using the overlocker.
Months passed. Every time I saw the fabric I thought "hmm, I really must have a go at that."
Then, the other day, I decided I was going to do it.
I got it all out of it's Ikea box, and wasn't enthused. I wanted a much BOLDER colour to set the fabric off. I searched online for sheets, looking for a burgundy red to match the red on the fabric. Few places had sheets that colour.
The idea had advantages. It certainly had poppers already in place, and straight seams. But that wasn't realy what I'd set out to do, was it? But then, if I was buying two sheets, why not?
I bought the duvet cover. I winced at the thought of the total cost of the project (although it was stil cheaper than buying enough chickeny fabric to do the whole thing). Even the "free" pillowcases weren't really making me feel any better about it.
And yesterday, I had my duvet day.
I started by making a little mockup with the overlocker. I created a mini duvet cover, overlocked on 3 sides. I cut a section out, and put some other fabric in. I worked out how to do it so it didn't look like it had just been sewn on the top. I was going to use the full width of the fabric, but I wasn't sure how long to make it. I wanted an inset rectangle, ao I used the computer to draw out the duvet cover size.. then the bed, which was was a more visual representation of the size, and then anothe rectangle to work out what sized length looked proportionate.
And then on to the real thing.
Firstly, I have to say, I should have used 2 sheets. What was I thinking?! Trying to lay out, measure, cut, sew a panel in the middle of a duvet cover is a P.I.T.A.
It was a pain even trying to get it all laid out flat to start measuring and drawing lines, despite pressing it beautifully first. DH helped as we draped it over the kitchen table.
Then the cutting! Oh my goodness! I managed to not move the cutting mat at one point, so I cut both layers of fabric. Thank heavens I wasn't pressing hard, ptherwide I would have gouged the kitchen table too! So, as well as everything else I had to do a repair. Darning wasn't going to work, but I had an idea about using a really tight zigzag stitch, and using some embroidery stabiliser on the back. It worked. It looks like a bit of a duelling scar, but it's on the underside, so who cares. And, on the plus side, I now know how to do a really fab satin stitch, like they do for going round applique.
I used a pen to draw on my cutting lines. I drew on my sewing lines. I drew on my corner clipping line. I checked it was all square, and parallel. I pressed. With an actual iron! I got the chickeny fabric, and pressed the seam allowance all round. Then I attached one side of the the fabric - pinned, pinned, pinned. I used wonderclips too. I turned it right side out, to check it looked OK. I changed my mind about the size of the seam allowance.
I drew the new seam allowance all the way round, moved the pinned side, then pinned and wonderclipped the other 3 sides. I turned it right side out and checked it looked OK. I then sewed a side, unpinned, and checked it. Then I sewed the other sides. (Yes, I know you don't need to sew first if you're overlocking - but doing so means (a) I don't have to deal with two layers of fabric slipping about while using something as final as an overlocker, and (b) I can see whether I've cocked up before the fabric gets irretrievably cut off)
I decided to take a break, and looked at the pillowcase. I had one from another bed set, so I looked at how it was constructed. I looked at my fabric. I had just enough to make 2 pillows, assuming I was adding a band of the fabric as well. We have special neck pillows, and I debated whether to make pillowcases to fit those, or whether to make standard sized cases (too big really for our pillows). I went down the standard route.
I laid out the fabric for one, measuring, measuring, measuring. I overlocked the fabric to the divet offcut, and then pressed all the seams and cuffs. I did the same for the second one. Then I had a go at making them up. Sew the hem at each end. Turn over and sew the small inside bit. Make the cuff. Overlock all round.
It worked! The pillowcases looked lovely!
Inspired, I decided to do the overlocking on the cover,. It went well. I then had to finish the corners, which I didn't do particularly well (I'll think about how to make that better for another time). And, finally, I decided to top stitch, to stop it rolling. Or whatever the reason is you do topstitching.Top stitching a superking sized duvet cover is quite hard work, there's a lot of fabric to squish up on the sewing machine and to hold out of the way whilst sewing.
A quick press, and I had to put it on the bed to see what it looked like. The pics make it look more of a scarlet, it isn't that colour at all. The real colour is in the plain pic further up ^^^
It came out quite well. Not perfect. One particular corner needs some attention, but I've had enough now, I might try and fix it when I take the cover off for washing.
I think it would have taken half the time if I'd used two sheets instead, and that's what I'll do next time. If there is a next time!
.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Not all failures
It's not all been about failures. In the last couple of weeks I've done a few cards:
My colour choices for the butterfly on my friend Sue's card ended up being a little bizarre.
No idea why this photo is so dark. Shame, as I really liked the card (and obviously don't have it any more to be able to re-photograph it). The first letter is applique, the rest is stitched. The two fonts are from two different designers, but they go together quite well. I expect I'll use this pairing again.
And a Plymouth Superbird for my dad for Sunday. Many, many years ago, he owned two of these - and there were only 3 in the whole country at the time.
I've just done a design for a friend who has successfully passed her Refloxology exams. I haven't got round to stitching it out yet, maybe later today.
My colour choices for the butterfly on my friend Sue's card ended up being a little bizarre. 
No idea why this photo is so dark. Shame, as I really liked the card (and obviously don't have it any more to be able to re-photograph it). The first letter is applique, the rest is stitched. The two fonts are from two different designers, but they go together quite well. I expect I'll use this pairing again.
And a Plymouth Superbird for my dad for Sunday. Many, many years ago, he owned two of these - and there were only 3 in the whole country at the time. I've just done a design for a friend who has successfully passed her Refloxology exams. I haven't got round to stitching it out yet, maybe later today.
Be careful what you wish for
I tried ironing on the Stay tape.
I failed.
I tried using the ironing press to iron it on.
I failed.
I don't think it's actually fusible tape, I think it's sew-on (wtf?!).
So I have to wait for the mega roll now. I hope that one is fusible.
I failed.
I tried using the ironing press to iron it on.
I failed.
I don't think it's actually fusible tape, I think it's sew-on (wtf?!).
So I have to wait for the mega roll now. I hope that one is fusible.
Contrariness, continued
DH wandered into the kitchen, and made a cheery comment about the cut out pieces of top all over the table. I explained to him the tape saga, and showed him the tape. He looked at the reel and said,
"that's just clingfilm".
"Is it?. I thought that, but when I unwrapped it, it was the tape".
He unwound a bit. "See? " I said. "It's not clingfilm, it's the tape".
He unwound a bit more. The tape/clingfilm changed from being loose and clingfilmy to being tight an tape-y. He stopped unwinding, and we examined it. It was still clear, and it didn't have a rough side. Whatever it was, it wasn't what I needed. I mentioned this to him.
"No, I don't think it is the tape, look at the side of the reel, that's not clear.". He continued to unwind. More and more clear tape rolled off the reel. I wasn't too bothered, I had a larger, correct, reel coming at some point. The tape had reached the floor and was starting a little pile. He continued unwinding. "This is really odd", he said.
And them, after yards and yards of clearness, there was white tape underneath. With a rough side.
Well done him :-)
And yay!. Which, if you could hear me saying it, you'd hardly hear anything.
Because now I have to get myself psyched up again. Which is precisely why I'm writing this blog entry, instead of getting on with it.
But I am going to do it. I am In a few minutes. When I've had a coffee, checked on the chicks, tested those DVDs to make sure my DVD player can read them......
"that's just clingfilm".
"Is it?. I thought that, but when I unwrapped it, it was the tape".
He unwound a bit. "See? " I said. "It's not clingfilm, it's the tape".
He unwound a bit more. The tape/clingfilm changed from being loose and clingfilmy to being tight an tape-y. He stopped unwinding, and we examined it. It was still clear, and it didn't have a rough side. Whatever it was, it wasn't what I needed. I mentioned this to him.
"No, I don't think it is the tape, look at the side of the reel, that's not clear.". He continued to unwind. More and more clear tape rolled off the reel. I wasn't too bothered, I had a larger, correct, reel coming at some point. The tape had reached the floor and was starting a little pile. He continued unwinding. "This is really odd", he said.
And them, after yards and yards of clearness, there was white tape underneath. With a rough side.
Well done him :-)
And yay!. Which, if you could hear me saying it, you'd hardly hear anything.
Because now I have to get myself psyched up again. Which is precisely why I'm writing this blog entry, instead of getting on with it.
But I am going to do it. I am In a few minutes. When I've had a coffee, checked on the chicks, tested those DVDs to make sure my DVD player can read them......
Procrastination fail
Well, the reel of "Stay Tape" arrived, along with other bits I'd ordered at the same time. I'd since had a reply from the Wrapalong lady telling me which Vilene product best matched my needs. I'd found an enormous roll of that online (rarer than I expected) and, in the expectation of all the future jersey dresses and tops I was going to make, I'd ordered that. It'll be here in a couple of days.
While I had been waiting for the originally ordered small roll, I had re-traced my pattern, using the top and part of the skirt from the original tissue version. I checked the front and back had the same curves etc, and then I committed them to tailors card.
When the stay tape arrived, I had run out of excuses, so I cleared the kitchen table and attempted to lay out my pattern pieces. I had trouble finding the grainline. The jerseyish fabric was curling a bit, so that didn't help. I also discovered that the selvedge was a bit weird. It wasn't consistent.
I googled and read posts and watched a video or two, and then attempted to find the grain by stretch. I mostly managed it, although I guess I won't know until the top is made whether I got it right or not. I laid the pattern pieces out, and had to have a break while I considered the implication of one of them. The original pattern had a lined top, and so required 4 front pieces to be cut out. Because the fabric is folded, it was 2 pairs, with 1 pair using the pattern reversed. I'm not lining my top, and I suddenly couldn't decide whether this meant I needed to just cut out one pair, or whether I needed to cut out a single one way and a single reversed. It must be just a pair, surely?
I ended up doing a mock up with paper, and it seems that my assumption is right. I guess I'll find out shortly.
Anyway. Eventually, I had cut out the front and back. I'm not having full length sleevies, so I cut out fabric a bit longer than I think I need, I can adjust before I go ahead. I'd used clover wonder clips to keep the pieces attached to the card templates, in an attempt to stop the edges curling. I'd had enough by this point, so I didn't cut out the ties, nor the binding for the neck.
This morning, I found myself wanting to make my duvet cover, or to watch some sewing videos which arrived yesterday. Anything, in fact, which didn't involve doing the wrap top. I know what I'm like, and I know that I'm really just afraid that I'll make it and it won't be right, and I'll be disillusioned.
So, I gave myself a mental slap, and prepared myself to get on with it. I read the instructions. Step 1. Put on the knit stay tape. I marked on my card templates where I needed to tape. Put it rough side down, and press with an iron, don't move back and forwards. Yep, I can do that.
I would normally use my ironing press but I decided to start with an iron and a board downstairs. I got the reel of tape out of it's packet, carefully wrote "stay tape" on the cardboard core so that I could tell it apart from all the other tapes (they all look surprisingly similar when they're out of the packaging), and started to unroll it.
It had a sort of clear clingfilmy thing around it, which I had trouble removing. I then realised that it wasn't clear clingfilmy stuff to keep it clean, it was the tape itself.
So, after all that, I have to wait for the other stuff to arrive.
True to my naturally contrary nature, I was feeling a bit let down.
Saturday, 11 June 2016
Over the Top
I completed my first successful jersey fabric tee shirt!
I has a very large pattern on it, and by luck (i didn't even consider it) the pattern on the front looks OK. The size is far too big (so I'll try the same size in a non-stretch fabric), and I made a bit of a booboo at the shoulder.... but it's actually not bad at all.
I saw a great blog pot about dresses for overweight ladies - it didn't refer to overweight, that's me - and it was really interesting. Firstly, the lady whose blog it is is a similar shape to me. She was wearing a wrap dress she's made, and it looked really good. http://curvysewingcollective.com/tried-and-true-pattern-christine-jonson-wrap-dresses/ Secondly, she talks about how easy it was, and there was a promise of a sewalong (or wrapalong as she called it)
I ordered the pattern (from the US), and it arrived this week.
Following on from my success at the other top, I decided I'd make a top version of the wrapalong dress. I found the wrapalong posts, and realised that it really should be easy enough to convert it. She also changed the neckline to use binding, which I've now done successfully on two teeshirts, and that suited me.
I got the pattern out, got my pattern paper out and traced off the correct size. I cut this out, pinned it together at the seams, and tried on the paper version to see what I needed to do about the length. I decided it needed another 5 inches.
After some debate with myself about whether I shoud be adding the 5 inches directly to the bottom, or whether I should be adding it above the tie. I opted for adding it to the bottom, as I guessed the tie should still sit on my waist.
I farted about adding 5 inches to the length, carefully measuring vertically at many points then joining them up using my recently acquired patternmaster curve, and trying to get the same shaped curve as the original. And then I put the back and front together andmade sure that I'd ended up with the same shape and same positioning for both.
Several hours later, I realised that I could and should have just included 5 inches from the top of the skirt pattern. Doh!
Then I read the wrapalong instructions carefully to make sure I was ready to lay out and cut. Apparently I need some "knit stay tape". I found several products which might be the equivalent of the US "Knit stay tape". I ordered a reel of it, and I have to wait for that to arrive before I can carry on!
Maybe I'll make a oven tee shirt while I'm waiting....although that means I have to prewash some fabric....
Or maybe I'll just wait.
I has a very large pattern on it, and by luck (i didn't even consider it) the pattern on the front looks OK. The size is far too big (so I'll try the same size in a non-stretch fabric), and I made a bit of a booboo at the shoulder.... but it's actually not bad at all.
I saw a great blog pot about dresses for overweight ladies - it didn't refer to overweight, that's me - and it was really interesting. Firstly, the lady whose blog it is is a similar shape to me. She was wearing a wrap dress she's made, and it looked really good. http://curvysewingcollective.com/tried-and-true-pattern-christine-jonson-wrap-dresses/ Secondly, she talks about how easy it was, and there was a promise of a sewalong (or wrapalong as she called it)
I ordered the pattern (from the US), and it arrived this week.
Following on from my success at the other top, I decided I'd make a top version of the wrapalong dress. I found the wrapalong posts, and realised that it really should be easy enough to convert it. She also changed the neckline to use binding, which I've now done successfully on two teeshirts, and that suited me.
I got the pattern out, got my pattern paper out and traced off the correct size. I cut this out, pinned it together at the seams, and tried on the paper version to see what I needed to do about the length. I decided it needed another 5 inches.
After some debate with myself about whether I shoud be adding the 5 inches directly to the bottom, or whether I should be adding it above the tie. I opted for adding it to the bottom, as I guessed the tie should still sit on my waist.
I farted about adding 5 inches to the length, carefully measuring vertically at many points then joining them up using my recently acquired patternmaster curve, and trying to get the same shaped curve as the original. And then I put the back and front together andmade sure that I'd ended up with the same shape and same positioning for both.
Several hours later, I realised that I could and should have just included 5 inches from the top of the skirt pattern. Doh!
Then I read the wrapalong instructions carefully to make sure I was ready to lay out and cut. Apparently I need some "knit stay tape". I found several products which might be the equivalent of the US "Knit stay tape". I ordered a reel of it, and I have to wait for that to arrive before I can carry on!
Maybe I'll make a oven tee shirt while I'm waiting....although that means I have to prewash some fabric....
Or maybe I'll just wait.
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
One week
On Monday it was baking hot, and we thought we'd set up an outside coop for the chicks. Because there's only 4 of them, we decided to use the Eglu Go.
They are, of course, far too small to use it as a coop at this stage. We use it to give them a safe area outside, with shade from the raised coop and with heat from an Electric Hen. It took us a while to retrieve the coop from it's storage place, plus finding the Hen, then an outdoor extension lead, then for me to disindect the extra feeder and drinker. DH had to mow the grass, we need it very short for the chicks.
By the time it was set up, it was too late to put the chicks out.
Yesterday, the weather wasn't suitable. Because the chicks are so young, it needs to be really warm out and really dry. The grass didn't dry off properly in the humidity, and then we had an enormous thunderstorm.
Today it wasn't warm enough, and the grass was still wet.
Then, suddenly, it was baking hot and the grass was dry. We got the
chicks and popped them in the run, underneath the Hen. They didn't
stay there, they came out and sat in a group, just looking. I can
imagine they were on sensory overload.
Then they were
off. One of them tried nibbling the grass, then they were all at it.
One of them climbed on the spoke of the wheel. They chased each other
round. It was great to watch.
Eventually they had a little break and sat down by one of the wheels.
Izzy came to investigate, and I told her off. She was a little too interested - probably thinking "I know what you blighters grow in to, I'll get you while I can".
Wash also strolled by, and looked deliberately disinterested. He continued his absolute disinterest when he lay down nearby, and started washing himself. Which means he was watching very closely.
They were out for about 30 minutes, then we brought them back in. From now on, they'll go out for a short time each day (or several times a day), if the weather is good enough.
Only a week old, and look at the wing feathers on Blondie:
They are, of course, far too small to use it as a coop at this stage. We use it to give them a safe area outside, with shade from the raised coop and with heat from an Electric Hen. It took us a while to retrieve the coop from it's storage place, plus finding the Hen, then an outdoor extension lead, then for me to disindect the extra feeder and drinker. DH had to mow the grass, we need it very short for the chicks.
By the time it was set up, it was too late to put the chicks out.
Yesterday, the weather wasn't suitable. Because the chicks are so young, it needs to be really warm out and really dry. The grass didn't dry off properly in the humidity, and then we had an enormous thunderstorm.
Today it wasn't warm enough, and the grass was still wet.
Then they were
off. One of them tried nibbling the grass, then they were all at it.
One of them climbed on the spoke of the wheel. They chased each other
round. It was great to watch.Eventually they had a little break and sat down by one of the wheels.
Izzy came to investigate, and I told her off. She was a little too interested - probably thinking "I know what you blighters grow in to, I'll get you while I can".
Wash also strolled by, and looked deliberately disinterested. He continued his absolute disinterest when he lay down nearby, and started washing himself. Which means he was watching very closely.
They were out for about 30 minutes, then we brought them back in. From now on, they'll go out for a short time each day (or several times a day), if the weather is good enough.
Only a week old, and look at the wing feathers on Blondie:
Sunday, 5 June 2016
Oh Poop!
The blue chick didn't hatch, so I dismantled the incubator and sterlilised it all, leaving it strewn around the bathroom floor to dry.
This moening we moved the now-5-day-old chicks into the shed brooder. This gives them more space, and a choice of whether to snuggle under the electric hen, sit under the lamp, or sit in a cooler area. Aa aoon as they've grown a bit, we'll enlarge the ring, and then we'll add some things to hel keep them amused.
As soon as they were in the shed, I went to remove the initial brooder from the guest room. I wanted to be able to get back in and to sew. I picked the brooder up by the top handle, and the bottom promptly fell off.
This meant that the water bottle vacuum was broken, and the water gushed out. I couldn't risk moving the half I had left in my hand, as that would have spread the joy even further. Instead I stood, and waited for the water to finish pouring.
Spilled chick poo, chick crumbs, water, and soggy newspaper, make a surprising amount of mess.
I pushed my "grrrrr" feelings to one side, after all, a few months ago, that would all have been on the carpet.
I gingerly put the top down out of the way, and went to get some kitchen towel, a dustpan, and some newspaper.
Fortunately most of it missed the Ikea boxes.
It didn't take that long to clear up. And it's gone now.
And it could have been worse. I might have picked up the brooder with the chicks still in!
This moening we moved the now-5-day-old chicks into the shed brooder. This gives them more space, and a choice of whether to snuggle under the electric hen, sit under the lamp, or sit in a cooler area. Aa aoon as they've grown a bit, we'll enlarge the ring, and then we'll add some things to hel keep them amused.
As soon as they were in the shed, I went to remove the initial brooder from the guest room. I wanted to be able to get back in and to sew. I picked the brooder up by the top handle, and the bottom promptly fell off.
This meant that the water bottle vacuum was broken, and the water gushed out. I couldn't risk moving the half I had left in my hand, as that would have spread the joy even further. Instead I stood, and waited for the water to finish pouring.
Spilled chick poo, chick crumbs, water, and soggy newspaper, make a surprising amount of mess.
I pushed my "grrrrr" feelings to one side, after all, a few months ago, that would all have been on the carpet.
I gingerly put the top down out of the way, and went to get some kitchen towel, a dustpan, and some newspaper.
Fortunately most of it missed the Ikea boxes.
It didn't take that long to clear up. And it's gone now.
And it could have been worse. I might have picked up the brooder with the chicks still in!
Saturday, 4 June 2016
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