Further thoughts on Mending

Well.... I'm clearly not meant for playful things lately and despite promises to jump back into blogging more frequently I've failed. Instead I'm sticking my fingers in my ears and singing loudly. If you've left a comment lately, mailed, pm'd or other please don't take it personally that there's been a lack of response. I'm mending. It's now a verb to describe moi. Even the giant has had sparse contact but then he has this habit lately of putting oceans between us. I'm trying not to take it personally.

I appreciate the contact, I really do, I'm just not very good at returning it back right this minute. I mean, it's not like I haven't TRIED to be playful. I did a mini yarn crawl with girlfriends that included Superknits and cocktails. Yes, cocktails. Well, it was cocktail rather than cocktails. I know, everyone is starting to panic at this point as cocktails usually fix everything. Also a paracetemol and tea according to my Nan. 

I have made a new friend though. A special friend. In my hellish job there is a kindred spirit and it made me smile. Then I returned to stomping and railing against the lack of justice there is where I work. 

Then I tried yarn. Just look at the goodies Amber sent me. YES. But I have placed it in the favourite yarn basket (don't judge me for having one of these, I know you do too) and returned to gift knitting. This shall be saved and I don't know what for yet AT ALL.It just sits whimpering at me as I walk past it in it's basket.

Then there was the winning moment when I left the green grocers, laden with autumnal goodness and realised that the local library IS open on a Sunday. I skipped in (gingerly as I was laden with goodies) and found.... MY FAVOURITE COOK BOOK. Oh Nigel, how I love you. But have I cooked from it yet? No. Have I even read it? Erm... no. 

So I'm decidedly out of sorts. The best news was that today, my beloved hand made project bag that I lost on the underground was found. I truly skipped to the office and informed the nice man at the window that he was a fairy godmother and hugged my bag, openly and unashamedly in public. My knitting project was still there. My signature needles glistened invitingly. 

But did I knit?

No. I came home and worked on a report for work. 

A very UN playful response if you ask me.

Episode 14: Mending

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

Notes:

Save the date! 4th December 2011 for the Playful Meet up 2011 at Interknit Cafe. Stay tuned for more details.

 

Donation giveaway:
A set of Stitchcuddles stitchmarkers from Stephcuddles and a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the colourway terracotta 802 for any donation or contribution towards the podcast.

Off the Needles
Test Knit for Rose Beck in Sundara Yarn Sock Yarn, in the colourway Brown Sugar over buttermilk and Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga in colourway KatyDid.
Little Colonnade by Stephen West in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock colourway Baltic.
Skew Socks by Lana Holden in 4 ply 100% BFL Sock yarn from CatsCradleYarn. 


A tragic ending for the Kai Mei by Cookie A in Superknits Mary, Queen of Socks, colourway 'With my tv and CD collection of Bob Marley'.

On the needles
Fallberry Mitts by Anne Hansen in Road to China Light

Munch Burp Schlurp

The Porridge of Champions

You will need:

1 cup of sultanas (or dried fruit of choice)

1/2 cup apple juice

1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
2 cooking apples roughly skinned and chopped
Knob of butter
1 tsp Brown Sugar (or low G.I alternative)


1. Soak dried fruit overnight in apple juice
2. Remove from fridge in the morning and add spices. 
3. Heat a pan and add the butter before browning the chopped apples.
4. Sprinkle on sugar and caramelise a bit
5. Add fruit and spice mix to pan
6. Dollop onto porridge and enjoy with fresh coffee and a good blog or ten to read. 

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

I miss you by Adam Stokes, available on Music Alley

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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Blog naivety or why I shouldn't just assume no one reads this.

This morning I woke with a crushing feeling in my chest, I was in pain and convinced today would be my last. I hit my alarm and announced 'I'm not going in to work today, I'm going to the Dr's'. 

Allow me to explain. One of my many health complaints is asthma. This weekend it pretty much taught me a lesson: I should respect it (and possibly always have the giant nearby, he saved my life). I've been wheezing since and not overly thrilled at the idea of a) going on the underground b) exerting myself running around at work or c) the giant going away for 2 weeks and I might die alone in the flat where only my corpse's smell will alert neighbours to my demise. 

I often write when I'm anxious. This very blog was started as a remedy to crippling PTSD and I have fiercely protected it of any negativity and up to this point not been prepared to state why I needed playfulness. It's not shame, I'm just not a fan of oversharing on the internet. It makes me feel icky in my tummy. Instead, I have a journal that I keep when I travel, a recipe journal and a kind of 'whatever mood takes me' note pad where I doodle, write play list ideas and jot down feelings that need to be documented sometimes in order to be owned. 

Today I didn't want to write it in a book. I wanted to see how it looked on a page. An obscure thought and leave it at that. I didn't care for it sat on this playful page and hit delete and walked away, to the Dr who agreed anxiety is a natural response to a near death experience and I was wise to call in and check my peak flow and that the dreadful beast PTSD was not about to cut me down again.

I returned and found an overwhelming number of contacts from people, via Ravelry and my inbox that asked gently if I was ok. I had managed to forget that by hitting delete, the RSS feed would still appear in google reader etc but there would be no post. This would be quite daunting seeing as it stated that anxiety was a killer.

I am honoured to know you all and embarrased that I didn't think that one through. I don't like oversharing on the internet but stating the obvious today seems ok. Today wasn't a good day but it's getting better. I promise xx

Now back to recipes and yarn....

Episode 13: To Seattle.... with love xx

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

 

Donation giveaway:
A set of Stitchcuddles stitchmarkers from Stephcuddles and a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the colourway terracotta 802 for any donation or contribution towards the podcast.

Shops reviewed in Portland:

Happy Knits

Yarn Garden

Twisted

Podcasters Delite

Aplayfulday has been enjoying the soothing, melodic tones of the Fluffy Fibers podcast. 

Munch, Burp, Schlurp
Aplayfulday recommends 'The Vegetable Dishes I can't live Without' by Mollie Katzen., author of the Moosewood Cookbook. 

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

Effects of Sunshine by 880 South , available on Music Alley

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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Episode 12: California Love

Aplayfulday is kindly sponsored by Superknits, the home of super yarns for super knits. Please show your support for our playful friend by clicking on the link above- go on, spoil yourself!!!

Show notes:

Notes:

The winner of Rose Beck's 'Be Mine Collection' is : Lorraine
The donation giveaway winner is : Tracy
 

Donation giveaway:
A set of Stitchcuddles stitchmarkers from Stephcuddles and a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in the colourway terracotta 802 for any donation or contribution towards the podcast.

Shops reviewed in California:

Imagiknits

A Verb For Keeping Warm

Green Planet

Podcasters Delite

Aplayfulday caught up with Jasmin and Gigi, whose podcast can be found here. 

Munch, Burp, Schlurp

Wine tasting in Carmel Valley is brought to you from Talbots and Bernardus.

If you're in San Francisco, please sample Boudin's sourdough, mmmmmmm delicious.

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Music Alley

California by Zach Hurd , available on Music Alley

Contact me at: aplayfulday@gmail.com
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