HOT

• This cat map.
• Dark chocolate with hazelnuts, from Lindt.
• Planning for the show in October. I’m still in the excited stage – the panic will kick in later!
• Cinnamon tea, perfect for a sore throat.
• Getting towards the end of a project (Alexandria) and choosing a new one (possibly Paper Dolls).

NOT

• A nasty throat virus that has laid me low for days. I must be rundown, because I can’t seem to shake it. Yesterday I felt so ill, I stayed in bed all day. Not fun.
• Current fashions. The autumn collections are coming in, and they depress me. Shapeless baggy tops, skinny leggings, 80s shapes, dull dingy colours. There isn’t a single thing that I like in the new Toast catalogue, usually the first place I go to when I want something new. Knitting patterns seem to be going the same way – have you seen all the huge chunky knits in the latest Rowan? Who looks good in that sort of thing?? I have a waist, I want to show it!
• Mouth ulcers. I had them regularly for years, then they stopped, and now all of a sudden I’ve started getting them again, often. WHY??? 

HOT

• New winter boots. Won’t they be fun with jeans tucked into them? And they fit nicely over my ample calves.
• All the autumn clothing ranges popping up. I have a looooong wishlist.
• Brown rice porridge. Yes, I know it sounds disgusting, but I can’t have regular porridge, and this one is filling and good for you and yummy. I make 2 versions, one sweet, one savoury. I use short grain brown rice, 1 part rice to 2 parts liquid, simmered for 45-60 minutes. The sweet version is cooked in rice milk, with nutmeg, cinnamon, and a dash of agave nectar. The savoury version is cooked in water, then stirred into diced fried onions, and finished with a dash of tamari soy sauce. Both are yummy and very comforting and filling. Try it!
• Magic loop. Who knew! Following on from my adventures with 2 circs, I thought I’d give magic loop a go. I like it! I’m actually knitting both socks now, one on magic loop, and one on 2 circs, to compare the two. So far I think I prefer 2 circs, but magic loop is ok too. I’ll tell you one thing though, I am never going back to dpns.
• And I’m never going back to top down socks. Toe up rules!
• I am also completely in love with my handspun socks. I’ll show you soon, I promise. They are heart meltingly wonderful.
• Coffee made with a pinch of cinnamon. I keep meaning to try a pinch of nutmeg, that sounds good, doesn’t it?

NOT

• Being woken at 6 am by a heavy lamp falling on your head. I had a headache for 3 days.
• Going out for a short run and finding that you’ve lost all your lung capacity, and are totally winded after 5 minutes. Deeee-pressing.
• Mornings. I don’t know what’s with me lately, but I cannot wake up in the morning. And talk about grumpy!!!! Am I turning into a teenager?
• Hormones. They are playing merry hell with me at the moment.
• People who carry around large wooden spoons. You know what I’m sayin’.

HOT

• This cast on for toe up socks. Yes, I caved, and cast on a new pair of socks from the handspun.
• Following on from that, I have discovered how much easier it is knitting socks on 2 circs rather than on dpns. Exciting stuff!!!
• The Knitter’s Mencap Hat Design competition. Give it a go!!
• These gingersnap cookies. I make them for Tony, and the house smells wonderful all day after.
• 7 For All Mankind jeans. I just got my first pair (a bargain from eBay!) and they are fabulous.
• Bubble & squeak. We have a cabbage/potato glut, so its just as well that I could happily eat this every day!
• Miss Buncle’s Book on audiobook. I’m listening to this today while I photograph this week’s yarn.

NOT

• Back ache. I overdid it on my treadmill on Monday, and have had a sore back ever since. Not good.
• Quinoa porridge. In a word – blech.

Wow, not many nots – must be a good week!!! 

HOT

• Herbal remedies. I started taking Dong Quai, because its supposed to help with painful periods, and it definitely did have some effect. Not enough to be able to do without painkillers altogether, but I didnt need to use as many strong ones as I usually do. And maybe it will have an accumulative effect over the months?
• The Toast archive sale – up to 90% off!!!! It’s times like these that make me happy that I have stonking great size 8 feet – there are always shoes left over in my size!
• Gluten free vegan chocolate zucchini muffins. These were gooooooood. I replaced the sugar with half as much agave nectar. They didn’t rise much, but they had a good moist crumb.
• Could this family be any cuter???????

NOT

• The new Knitty. Used to be that I would want to make half the patterns in an issue, but now it seems like only one or two call out to me, and the rest are…. meh. Still, I shouldn’t criticise too much, they are free patterns, and the whole thing is well put together.
• Leaving home. We have to go away for a few days, and I’m really not in the mood to be away from home right now. I wish I was a snail, and could carry my house around with me. 
• Bare feet. I hate, hate, to have bare feet, even in hot weather. But I have found that if I don’t have bare feet when spinning or knitting, even if I’m not especially warm, my hands get all sweaty, and the fibre/yarn gets all sticky and matted. So since I’m spinning and knitting all my spare time at the moment, my poor little feet are bare and chilly most of the time. I don’t know what I’ll do come winter!

HOT

• Spinning! I forgot how much I love it, how soothing it is, how wonderful the smell of sheeps wool, how satisfying making yarn out of fluff.
• Homegrown potatoes, made into potato salad, with a mustard mayo (vegan) dressing. Oh boy, so good. Who knew potatoes could be so tasty?
• Knitting socks. I’ve suddenly become obsessed again. Why did I ever stop knitting socks?? Last Wednesday I started Spey Valley by Nancy Bush, for Tony. I’ve set myself a little challenge – I want to see if I can complete a pair of socks in one month. I know that will seem slow to some of you, but I am a slow knitter. So far I think I’m on track, I will turn the heel today, which I think marks the halfway point, don’t you?!
• Beetroot burgers. These were so good, even though when you cut into them it looks like extremely raw beef, lol. I added a tin of beans to them too. Oh, and the beetroot was homegrown too!
• Lovely photographs of people you miss, oh so much.

NOT

• PMS. I’m having the PMS week from hell. And I thought I’d give Agnus Castus (Vitex) a try, and it made it ten times worse. So then I thought I’d try soy milk, and……
• SOY. Ohmygoodness. That’s why I stopped having soy. My stomach was in bits.
• Budgets. We decided that we would set a limit to our spending money each week, because we’ve been very naughty lately, and spent way too much money on frivolous things. Ack. I don’t like budgeting. I spent £10 over my limit on the very first day of it. Oooops, don’t tell Tony……….
• Gluten free peanut butter cookies. I was so hoping these would go in the hot pile. But although the flavour is quite good, the texture is not pleasing – they are dry and sandy and make you feel like your mouth is the Sahara. Its not the recipe’s fault, it wasn’t designed for gluten free flour, and I should have compensated with extra liquid, I suppose. If anyone knows of a gluten free cookie recipe that is also vegan and uses agave nectar instead of sugar, please tell me!