Hooked again

After a crochet marathon in August with my completed challenge of creating 35 squares for a charity blanket

and making chains for Miriam’s chain picture challenge, I didn’t pick up my crochet hook last month.

But now I’m hooking again thanks to Miriam (again) and an unexpected online find.

Miriam is organising a Christmas decoration swap with the option of making the decoration that you send.  I’ve signed up (you can too if you haven’t already as the closing date is 1st November). I’ve been looking through my crochet magazines for ideas and am eager to start trying some out for the swap and myself

I’ve also been creating strange shapes at the behest of Botanica Mathematica – who are collecting knitted and crocheted shapes created following mathematical rules that are found in botanical structures.  I suggest you read their website for a clearer description rather than me trying to explain it properly.  Anyway at the point when they posted some patterns I was into my crochet box for hook and wool and stopped trying to understand the mathematics.  I've created 2 shapes so far

and am making a bonsai tree. Creating these shapes are strangely addictive and I know they will not then be sitting around on my shelves as I’ll be giving them to the researchers – bonus!

And a totally different type of blogland loveliness – Patty let me know that she had used my city visit scavenger hunt on a recent trip to Florida and I really enjoyed seeing her items.

Look Up Look Down at the rules

A spot of recording the everyday for my pair this week (rather than lovely images).  On my regular walk by the river I pass a number of official notices spelling out things that are not to be done while out walking

- not that I’m tempted to do do either as I don’t have a dog and don’t go fishing. 

September numbers in 3 parts

Joining Julie again from my month in numbers and the communal count

I spent much of my month doing seasonal things with fruit

and spent a week away

Another 2 fascinating items in the communal count – how far away do I live from my 1st school

and how much milk do I consume and what does it cost.  I have to admit that I had to look on a receipt for the cost as I’ve never been one to know and always wonder why politicians are lambasted when they don’t know.

Thanks Julie for this monthly accounting

Look Up Look Down at the firestation

It was Doors Open Day at the weekend and another invitation to nosey around buildings we don’t usually visit.

We chose

* the food depot of a charity which collects food from supermarkets that would other wise go to landfill and then distribute them to soup kitchens and hostels – very interesting to see what they do, what they are given and how efficiently they are organised

* a printmaking workshop where locals can print lithographs and screen prints – lots of creative energy

* neighbouring flats with different attic conversions – always interested in how people remodel their living space

* newly opened centre for carbon innovation – mostly they were describing the building remodelling rather than their eco work

and the firefighter museum with fire engines from the 1840s through to 1980s – lots of gleaming brass, shiny red, ladders and noisy bells being rung.  And some hats to try – I, of course, was drawn to the firechief hat

and had plenty of choice for up and down photos