A blanket made of knitted squares

Buy up 8ply wool on special at the end of the season and knit it into a comfy blanket for you or the kids.

Simply knit lots of coloured squares in the stitch of your choice (garter stitch and moss stitch are favourites). Squares are about 250 x 250mm or 40 stitches across works too! Join them together with a brightly coloured, contrasting wool using blanket stitch. Best to use needles in a size 6 (5mm) or 8 (4mm).

For an even simpler snuggly rug see page 113 in the August 2002 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. You'll find instructions for blanket stitch there too.

An essential oil recipe for a chest rub or massage oil

Noni says this is "antiseptic and warming, smells beautiful and is milder than the bought ones". For a tip regarding essential oils, received from Rebecca of Ringwood Vic, please see below.
1/4 cup of olive or sunflower oil as base oil
1 drop eucalyptus OR 1 drop teatree oil
1 drop clove
1 drop pine
1 drop cinnamon

Mix and store in a clearly labelled bottle. Apply to the chest and throat or good for sinuses and nose but must avoid the eyes.

Rebecca's tip:

"Do not use boiling water, in the burner, with essential oils - it will destroy the properties of the oil. Use warm, not hot, water. A good test for water temperature: you should be able to place your fingers in the water bowl but the water should be very warm to the touch. Also use candles that are not made from kerosene.

You do get more benefit from essential oils if they are combined, two or three rather than one. To test whether the three you have chosen are compatible: hold the opened bottles together, 15cm away from your nose, and sniff. Combine oils with the three different notes - base note, top note and mid note or two of one note and one of a lighter note. Light note oil dissipates more quickly and may need to be refreshed. "