interesting times

Interesting part 1.

Monkey is progressing well, this is the first time that I've done a twisted rib and I like the feel of it and its affect on the colours of the Araucanía. I'm going even slower than usual as the pattern is quite complex (although when I was listening to The Manic Purl today Chrissy says she knows the pattern by heart. Wow!).

As a fairly new knitter, I find it interesting to see how ssk is different to k2tog and how yarn overs create lacey patterns, it's fascinating to see how string can be manipulated to create such complex shapes, and Cookie A's patterns never fail to be interesting. I'm converted already!

Interesting part 2

I often get my groceries from The Co-operative, partly because it's local (only 5 miles away) partly because it has good prices and good offers, and partly because the company has a conscience (I've been using the fairtrade cotton carrier bags for a couple of years now).

Yesterday at the checkout all customers were being offered free packets of seeds to grow wildflowers to assist the ailing bee population. Sadly bees are going through interesting times at the moment (in the polite curse sense of the expression) with fewer wildflowers for them to feed upon .So I'm impressed with the Co-op for giving away seeds to help bees and of course I shall sow them in the garden.

I've been busy in the garden today, planting flowers and pulling up weeds (& digging up weeds from the lawn with a small knife!). I don't like to use pesticides, I prefer to encourage beneficial insects into the garden, so I've been planting marigolds near the roses to encourage hoverflies to visit. Hoverflies like flat yellow flowers (easier for them to feed from) & will then lay their eggs on the roses and the larvae will eat any green fly that are around. Definitely a win-win situation, unless you are a greenfly.

Interesting times part 3

Well, depressing times is more apt.

Sunderland were ahead for 2 minutes at Portsmouth last night, and then Pompey rather spoiled the fun by scoring 3 goals. There is a good chance that my boys will be relegated on Sunday if Newcastle and Hull do well. The level of interest may be too much to bear and I might have to hide in the garden and do some more weeding, or marmalise slugs or something.