Conversations in the Locker Room

This took place in the locker room at work as I was getting ready to leave:
Me:  Hi Liz, and yes, I have on two bras.  Don't ask.

Liz:  We have the weirdest conversations.

I will have photos of spinning stuff later this week!

The World Is Out of Balance

.. and hell has frozen over...

I joined a gym.  And I went.  And I hurt.

My First Handspun

I present to you - my first handspun yarn. I dunked it into a waterbath after this photo was taken. I am going to knit *something* with it. I'm not sure what, but I just have to knit it!

Also, my porch steps were very rotted, and here is a before:

Here is after:

A Funny for You

I love Natalie Dee. Here's today's:


nataliedee.com

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly to MY Home

I said I wanted a ladybug, and my husband ordered it and surprised me with it. I didn't know he ordered it until it showed up!

I have never did any spinning, and I used to think I never wanted to learn to spin. I don't know what happened... like I need another hobby!

Here it is being unpacked.



This is where my ladybug sits (sorry about the blurred picture)




I needed help with the tension string, and some really wonderful girl named Abbyknitz on Ravelry helped me out.

First little bit on the bobbin - uhm, I guess it's good I can even get it on the bobbin considering I've never touched a wheel in my life. My first goal was to figure out how to treadle and just use the wheel in general.

Manic Bunny

The electricians have been here. It's been chaos, random rooms having electricity then the next day not.. And poor Loverbunny has been manic. He had to go on kitty pills for anxiety.

I'm slowly knitting on my Apres Surf Hoodie.

And I have to get on my soapbox a little. I'm frustrated about not being able to get certain yarns. I am working every single day, and I don't have time to check and check for updates (at work they don't let the nurses have access to the internet at all).  I keep missing out on Wollemeise and Sundara. The Wollemeise sold out on Loopy Ewe in 3 minutes! I guess I should just get over it, but I just had to vent my frustrations. I think I want it more now that I can't get it....

I don't need to be buying it anyway, because I plan on buying myself a spinning wheel soon. I am thinking about getting a Ladybug. I am a little worried I won't like it and be out lots of money, but I want a nice wheel to learn with. Originally, I was going to try and buy a cheap, used one, but the more I think about it, the more I think I'll be better off with a new wheel.

A quick before-work note

I'm not blogging as frequently now... this was supposed to be mostly a knitting blog, and the knitting isn't happening lately! I want to knit, I'm just busy with the house. I am thinking of making a new blog for the home restoration... I'm not sure.

Anyway, we opened up the back stairs... it had been enclosed by walls, and you entered another door to get to the outside door and stairs. It's gone now!  (I couldn't find a before picture so you could see what a dramatic change this is.)

The electricians have been here a week, and they are working upstairs. There is no power to the upstairs right now.

I wanted to wind some yarn to start some socks since it's so hot, but I couldn't get to my ball winder. It was upstairs in a pile of stuff that we moved for the electricians. *sigh* I have been working on my hoodie, but it's a slow go.

Another distraction is that I got Dance Dance Revolution for my Wii. I love it! I never knew I liked to dance so much.

Two WIP

I really am knitting, though it feels as if I never have enough time to knit!

The first thing is my started Apres Surf Hoodie. It kind of threw me for a loop because I never pre-think anything I knit (in fact, I never pre-think much of anything), and I didn't consider that when I decrease on my waist, I am decreasing every 8 rows, but it's a ten row lace repeat, and well it made for messiness. I started out trying to do it all tidy and mathematically but decided that was too much trouble, so I am just working it out on the fly now - as long as every yarn over has a decrease to make the stitches even, I go with it. I am hoping my seams will hide my multitude of sins.

I am using the Vivid colorway which doesn't get much justice in this picture. It takes on different colors on how the light hits it. Sometimes it seems very purple, and others very blue.

And I haven't neglected the Swallowtail. She's just slow, but I still love it.

I am just drawn to lace lately and I think I need to add in a plain stocking stitch project because I find it impossible to knit lace and watch TV at the same time. (Unless it's a very simple lace.....)

I have been busy watching "Knitting Workshop" with Elizabeth Zimmerman on DVD. It's one of my smartest purchases yet. It starts at the beginning with winding a ball of yarn, and works up to master classes like lace and aran sweaters. Even on the techniques I know, I've enjoyed watching her spirit.

Housework

First of all, thank you all so much for the comments on Max. We really miss the Pirate cat.

We've been working on the back upstairs bedroom.

Before:




Now:



We plan on stripping the woodwork (we are talking layers and layers of caked paint) and repainted a buttercream, getting the plaster repaired, then painting. We will also be having the wood floor stripped and redone.

I have knitting content soon... but will only be WIPs.

RIP: Pirate Max

Max had to go over the rainbow bridge today.

All work and no play makes me a dull girl.

I feel like I've been on call every day for the last month. In reality, I haven't, but I'm feeling very tired these days. Get this: I went to work yesterday at 9:30am. I left at 5:30, and was called back in as soon as I got home and ate. Went back in for three hours, came home and went to bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I got called back in. I was able to finally snuggle in at home at 4:00am.
So you will understand when I say, I've been too tired to knit.

So, where am I on the knitting? Nowhere, pretty much. I haven't made any progress with the Swallowtail, but I still love it. I just don't have the mental capacity to knit it after working 12 hours or more a day.

I got my yarn in finally for my Apres Surf Hoodie. Hooray! I hope to swatch tonight.

I bought some yarn on Ravelry for a good deal, and I now have Malabrigo Lace yarn in my stash.

And Michelle sent me the most awesome goodies from her contest that I won!!! (Best thing that happened to me all month, I must say.) They were wrapped individually and it was like opening lots of presents. I really should have taken a picture, but I was so excited I just started opening and playing with all my stuff instantly.

On the house front, stuff is finally happening. We signed a contract with the roofer last week, and he should be starting in a week or two. Electricians should be here in two weeks. The heating and air guy has been here and planning, and will start in a few weeks.

Family members are pitching in with stripping the ceiling and walls.

We ordered an oven, but I'm kind of ticked because they ordered the wrong one, so I'm still stuck without one.

There is a man on his way over to pull out these gas heaters that they stuck in front of every fireplace.

And I bought a rocking chair for $15 at a yard sale!

I think I need a vacation from my hectic life. Sam has the good life - ah, to be a loved cat.

Making nice with lace

If you read my blog, you may remember when I started the Swallowtail shawl that I ripped out. I started it out of Alpaca Cloud from Knit Picks. At first, I decided that I was going to cast lace out of my life forever. It was my enemy. Then, I got realistic... I know how to knit lace. I knit lace socks, I add lace panels to baby clothes... it wasn't the lace. It was just the yarn. Then, I decided I'd only do lace in fingering weight or thicker. No more lace weight for me. Then, I got realistic again, maybe it was just the lace weight I was using....

So, I started again with Knit Picks Shadow, which I had in my stash. I am loving it!! I think a lace monster may have been born.

I also just placed an order with Jimmy Beans Wool. I ordered yarn for the Apres Surf Hoodie!! I also ordered the Make It Modern pattern book from Classic Elite because they had it available, and I'm worried it'll sell out. I really love those patterns - I want to knit practically every one of those patterns.

Kitty update: We found the kittens mother, and sibling. It belongs to a neighbor a few doors down. At first the mother didn't want to let it nurse, but it seems like she has taken it back in now. We don't know how the kitten ended all the way down in our driveway?

And for a good laugh, here's a pattern for a kitty argyle sweater vest.

Anybody want a kitten?

Animals that are lost or sick always seem to know where to find us. They know we can not ignore them, and we'll take them in.

This was in our driveway. Sick, and hungry. He is sneezing and has pus in it's eyes and nose.

It didn't know how to eat so I went and got formula and a bottle and fed it a little. I gave it some Clindamycin drops we have for felines.

This is him after we cleaned his eyes out and his face off. My husband will take him to the vet on Tuesday.

We really don't want another cat, though. So does anybody want a kitten? :)

In other news, I went and spent tons of money today. I bought an oven, finally. (No, we haven't had an oven since we moved in.) I'm very excited because I used to LOVE to bake. I can't wait to bake again.

We also bought a new mattress for the second guest bedroom.

In knitting related stuff, I screwed up my Hemlock Ring big time. We are taking a break. Not breaking up, but definitely a time out.

I also knit about 7 rows of the Twisted Tulips sock, and while it's a beautiful sock, I hate it. I ripped it out, took it out of my queue. I think it's just way too complicated to satisfy my sock craving. I like my socks to be intuitive and flow easily. It's my relaxation knitting.

Fiber Arts Guild

My Fiber Arts Guild had a table display up today at something held at the county extension office. So much talent!

The quilters also had a beautiful display.

Now, I have to go organize and do some more planning. I'll be participating in the World's Longest Yard sale this year, as I live directly on this road. It's the first of August and I already have boxes of things to sale.  I think I'll go ahead and price some and pack them up in labeled boxes or I'll be overwhelmed come August.

Fun with Tagging

Michelle tagged me, so here we go~!

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was 19 years old, working on my art degree. I was having lots of fun. Age 19 was good to me.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

Go to work, ... uhm, that's all. Actually I'm feeling kind of bad today, so just getting through the workday was a good thing, and that's all I needed to do. My husband's making my dinner.

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Oh, I love anything chocolate. I had a delicious chocolate hot fudge cake with vanilla ice cream today. They gave it out at our staff meeting ( I didn't go to the meeting because I was in the PACU working, but someone brought me some). I also have a secret sickness of loving Stove Top stuffing. I freaking love Stove Top, and I would pick it over sweets most days. My husband thinks it's a frightening part of my personality.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

I'd finish restoring my house. I also have a desire to work with AIDS patients (particularly children) in Africa, so I'd go do that and wouldn't need to worry about getting paid.

5) Places I have lived:

I've always lived in KY - grew up in Eastern KY, but now live in Central KY. I studied abroad in China, but I guess that doesn't count as a residence.

5 peeps I want to know more about: CTJen, Rachel, sheepishone, FreeRangeKnitter, and MostlySelfTaughtKnitter.

I have been knitting (slowly).  Still working on the Hemlock Ring.  I'm still not sure about what sweater I want to make. I've narrowed it down to three.  The Caitlin Pullover by Pam Allen, Apres Surf Hoodie from Interweave Summer 08 (look at Michelle's GORGEOUS version!!), and the Tweedy Aran Cardigan by Norah Gaughn.

I Need Yarn.

I have been having the urge to knit sweaters.  Everyone knows I don't have much of a stash, but I really don't have any sweater yarn stash!  I need to figure out what sweater to knit....  I can't choose!!!  Any suggestions?

I also had a birthday on Saturday.  I turned 29.  I got Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman!!!  I was so excited.  My husband got me the biggest, sweetest gift of all.  He gave me his mom's wedding ring.

Not much of a post today, but I am at a knitting stand-still.

FO: Saartje's Bootees

I finished up some of these super cute Saartje's Bootees. Sorry about the picture quality, it was cloudy and rainy today. I just snapped the pictures quickly because I took them to their recipient today.

Knitting toys badly!

I have been on this kick where I really want to knit toys lately. So I attempted to knit Little Knitted Sheep by Barbara Prime with some leftover yarns I had. This is what I have so far. I sewed her head on badly, but maybe I can hide that with a pretty little ribbon or knitted scarf. Also, I ran out of my leftover yarn, and so she won't get arms. Or a tail.

I also have been crazy obsessive today. I went and got some page protectors and started organizing all my printed out patterns. You can see that behind my poor little sheep.

Totally off toipic... I start my allergy shots next week. It'll be twice a week, two injections each time. Yikes. I am seriously allergic to the world!

WIP... uhm... Thursday?

I see all those WIP Wednesdays, and I always think it's a good idea. But, it seems I'm always busy on Wednesdays!!

I have been knitting, and I do have proof!

I have one sock done of the Embossed Leaves sock from Favorite Socks by Interweave Press. I am almost to the heel of the second one.

I also started the Hemlock Ring. I started the beginning using Magic Loop method. I have to say ... Magic Loop isn't my favorite of methods, but with this project, it was a lifesaver.

And it took forever to get pictures because Loverbunny kept bumping up against my arms and legs wanting attention.

Big Messes Everywhere

It seems like everywhere I look I have huge messes.

First of all, when one thing breaks, everything else goes with it. First, the laptop. Well, next was my car. It overheated on my way to work the other day.

$400 later.... it's fixed.

Then, today I was looking in the knitting basket I have sitting near my bed. Chaos. It's overflowing with leftovers, yarns I started something with yet never finished, and other misc. stuff. Huge mess.

I got out my ziploc baggies, and started organizing. I labeled each bag with the yarn name. I found a few things I plan on giving away to my fiber arts guild.

I feel so much better after this.