August TUSAL

Well, time has zipped away again and another month has passed and it’s TUSAL time again.  Here’s this month’s jar:

I still can’t find one of my portable ORT-ports, so not all my ORTs are present and accounted for.  There are days that its a wonder that I can manage to both clothe and feed myself.

So last month I posted my ORT report and then headed off camping with the family.  My husband decided to make a fun family event for all the nieces and nephews – he planned an Olympics for all the kids to participate in.  I helped out with rounding up prizes for everyone.  We didn’t award any first, second or third place prizes as it would make things too competitive and we’re just trying to have fun (plus the fact that the youngest competitor is 6 and the oldest is 16, it just didn’t seem fair!).  So we had a Torch Making ceremony (we were going to set them on fire at the end in our own Olympic cauldron, but there was a fire ban on, so no fires for us!), and ping pong ball blowing contests and stilt walking competitions and obstacle courses and canoe sinking and raft building and water-fun shooting and……  It took us 2 full days to get through all the events my hubby planned.  We had lots of fun!  I’d share pictures, but I haven’t asked for permission from the parents of my nieces and nephews, so you’ll just have to trust me.

I did fit in some stitching while we were away.  I started (and finished) this little Mill Hill kit:

It’s really pretty and sparkly.  I still need to cut it out, back it with some felt and make a hanger.  That likely won’t happen until closer to Christmas.

I also finished something else!  (I know, a record!)

Witchy Washy by Raise the Roof Designs

Stitched on 32-count Belfast hand-dyed by PTP “DaVinci”

Using most of the recommended fibres (subbed DMC 310 for Black Crow, DMC 414 for  Barn Grey, DMC 612 for Cidermill Brown, DMC 3829 for Schneckley)

This was a thoroughly enjoyable stitch and I had this piece kitted up for ages!  Don’t know why I waited so long to stitch it.  The only thing that I still need to locate are a couple of buttons shaped like black crows to sit on the branches of the trees.  The recommended buttons are from JABC and are a little (lot) pricey for my tastes.  Hopefully I’ll find a good substitute that won’t cripple the wallet!

I had a sudden urge to do a little finishing too, although I still need to find some trimmings to completely polish these two things off:

On the left is ‘Cold & Cuddly’ (I think that’s the name, anyway) from Cherrywood Design Studio and on the right is Lizzie*Kate’s ‘Life’s a Stitch’.  Both of which I stitched in the last year or so.  They’re both finished as cubes, but both need some ribbon and bows to really finish them off.  Need to do some shopping!

I have managed to convince myself that I should do some knitting.  So far I’ve mangled one ball of wool (and the project is in time out until it behaves itself and until I can find one ball of replacement wool) and I’ve attempted a sock – twice.  Apparently I don’t read directions well.  Really, I’m just a menace with wool and should give up.  Oh well, at least it’s entertaining remembering swear words in foreign languages.

I’m off to torture some wool again.