Sunday 28 September 2014

Challenge Update - September 2014

My 2014 challenges are:-

1) Knit one hat each week for The Innocent Big Knit.

2) Do something nice for me.

3) Choose a non fiction book from the library.


These hats are Innocent Big Knit Hat With Brim which can be found on The Creations Of Crazy Dazy blog. I set myself the challenge of knitting fifty hats over the course of the year, but realised that I'd need to have them finished before the end of the year as there's a deadline and they usually need sending in around October time. I believe these four hats brings me to my challenge total of fifty, I'll have to check. On looking at the website this morning, the deadline has been extended this year and they don't have to be in until the 12th of December so if I have reached the grand total of fifty, I'm a little early in doing so. Still, it's good to have succeeded.


My nice thing for September was visiting Yarndale. I went yesterday and I'll tell you all about it in my next post.


My non fiction book for September is A Slice Of Organic Life by Sheherazade Goldsmith. Packed full of advice about organic living, this is a great book for dipping in and out of. It covers all manner of subjects which are split in to three areas: No Need For A Garden, Roof Terrace, Patio Or Tiny Garden and Garden, Allotment Or Field.


It isn't all about gardening though, it covers other subjects such as saving energy the easy way, shopping ethically, cleaning without harsh chemicals and going green in the playroom amongst many other things.


It's a great book for dipping in and out of and though you would definitely need further help and advice when dipping your toe in to some of the suggested activities, it does give you a taster on things such as keeping a goat or two, raising a couple of pigs, keeping honey bees and keeping some chickens.


It has some lovely photography too.


We're reaching the end of September already, I don't know where this year has gone. I'm starting to think about my challenges for next year, there's a couple of things I've already decided on but other things I still need to think about. I find it's this time of year when I start thinking about Christmas too and I have to admit to already having a few presents stashed away. What about you, have you started thinking about Christmas yet?

34 comments:

  1. Yes I've started Christmas shopping too, always pay cash so I spread my spending over a few months.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I save an amount each month for Christmas. It means that if I see something earlier in the year, I have the money there to buy it. It works out well if I see any bargains.

      Delete
  2. Thats a great achievement - 50 hats. Looks like a good book....lovely photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It doesn't feel as though I've knit fifty hats, spreading the knitting out through the year has worked well, and they don't take very long at all.

      Delete
  3. I've not seen that book since borrowing it when it was first published in 2007 so have ordered it from the library for another look.
    A few presents in store, but no ideas for the others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy it. It contains so much information, though I suppose that some people may already do much of what's contained. It's a great book for anyone starting out on this venture though. I think it gets harder thinking of gifts for some people each year, especially men.

      Delete
  4. Well done on the fifty hats. That book looks interesting. As to your last sentence I must admit that I've started thinking about it, but that's all for the moment. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The book's great, it's certainly provided food for thought. It's hard not to think about Christmas at this time of year, the shops are all gearing up for it already.

      Delete
  5. Christmas may have crept into my mind!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it starts to creep in to most people's minds at this time of year, no matter how hard some people try to forget about it until December.

      Delete
  6. Gorgeous little smoothie hats. I have that organic book, my son bought it me for Christmas a few years ago. On the subject of Christmas.. I have 2 presents stashed away and all my cards made ready :-) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a great book, it has so many different topics in it. Well done on having all your Christmas cards ready, that must have taken you some time, but I always appreciate a hand made card.

      Delete
  7. Yes, I have bought one or two things for Christmas. My problem is, will I remember what I bought - and where I hid them!! :oD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've lost presents I've bought in the past, I write everything down as I buy it now and then I don't forget.

      Delete
  8. The boys have decided that they would like to make their own Christmas cards to send this year so we got some christmassy decorations and red/green cards this morning. Well done to you on the hats x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well done to the boys making their own cards. It's a great activity and I'm sure the recipients will appreciate a hand made card more than a bought one.

      Delete
  9. No, I haven't started to think about Christmas yet!! I am still thinking about autumn decorating and 100 other things. You have done well on your hat challenge this year Jo, it would be lovely to see one big photo of them all together before you send them off! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't decorate for autumn beyond a carved pumpkin at Halloween, and that's only if I can be bothered. Perhaps that's why I'm already thinking of Christmas. I will definitely get a photo of all the hats together before they're sent off.

      Delete
  10. You have done so well with making the hats. The book looks good, and yes Christmas has crept in a wee bit, I agree this year has gone crazy fast!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to seeing the smoothies in the shops once they're adorned with their hats, it would be brilliant if I could spot one of my hats on them. I can't believe how fast this year's going, a sure sign of growing old.

      Delete
  11. Just trying to catch up on blog reading, as we've not got any internet where we are staying at the moment. (Doing this at MacDonalds). I "think" I have that book at home? Glad you liked Yarndale. I went on Saturday and loved it, but couldn't stay too long. Have the same handbook and will look at some of the websites. Have you still got our mobile number as I need to get in touch before we go.
    Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a shame I didn't know you were going to Yarndale on Saturday, we could have met up. I think I've still got your mobile number, I'll have to trawl back through my emails and check but I'm pretty sure I'll have it.

      Delete
  12. Well done on your hat challenge. Your book looks like a lovely read. Yes I have started on the christmas pressies, took advantage of being in the UK, and ended up being bang on the button for the weight limit yesterday. xcx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've started looking out for gifts if I'm visiting anywhere I don't usually go. I got a couple of Christmas presents at Yarndale on Saturday.

      Delete
  13. That looks like such a good book, I would enjoy it a lot. Good job on the hat challenge! Fifty hats is a wonderful achievement, congratulations to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The book is great for picking up and dipping in to when you've got a spare five or ten minutes, I've enjoyed reading lots of it.

      Delete
  14. Well done on your fifty. And lucky you going to Yarndale. I missed it this year. And yes, I've already begun to think about Christmas presents too, although we've some birthdays to get out of the way first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I missed Yarndale last year as it was the weekend we were moving Daniel to university so I didn't know what to expect really, it was quite an eye opener. We don't have many birthdays at the end of the year apart from my mum's, it's her 80th this year.

      Delete
  15. How lovely to include do something nice for yourself on the list - so we all should! I'm coming round to the idea that Christmas is on the horizon, although I don't feel done with Summer yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been good concentrating on myself, even if it is just one thing each month. I do more than that for myself really, but it's nice to actually plan something for myself, that doesn't happen too often. Summer is my favourite season so once it's over I like to concentrate on Christmas to get me through the first bit of winter.

      Delete
  16. The hats are great, Jo. I've got my two eldest's birthdays coming up in Oct/Nov so I like to get them sorted out first, then I really think about Christmas. But I do often pick up bits and bobs throughout the year, or jot down a good idea for a present when I have a brain wave!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I'd put Christmas to the back of my mind if I'd got two children's birthdays to sort out first. I've got a few gifts already but I've got the bulk of my present buying yet to do.

      Delete
  17. Yay, you went to Yarndale!
    Yes I've started with the pressie buying too.
    Well done with the hats challenge.
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I keep picking up a present or two when I see something, I'm having to keep a list though so I know what I've bought.

      Delete