Charity Knitting

I finished up a baby hat for charity. They are taking them up at the Yarn Harlot event I'm going to tomorrow. When I finished, my husband said "But you didn't add cutsey stuff to it!" I didn't because I wanted it to be gender-neutral. That's why I picked this celery green, too. I want it to go to whatever gender needs it.

This is the Simple Baby Hat from Itty-Bitty hats by Susan B. Anderson. It's in Rowan Handknit Cotton, which is my favorite cotton yarn. It's fun to work with.

We had our leak fixed in our front porch roof, and it's a good thing. It's raining and raining and raining....

Goodbye old shrubs, goodbye old wallpaper

I am back to scraping wallpaper. It has two layers of wallpaper, then you get to a layer of blue paint, which has an additional two layers of wallpaper underneath it.

I have a technique down that seems to work.  Basically, I spray it down with this DIF wallpaper stripper gel.  I strip off the top two layers, score the paint so I can penetrate through it, spray it with the DIF again, then strip off the rest with the help of the steamer as well. It goes slow. Luckily, most of the plaster is in decent shape. There is one spot in the wall that is bad, but other than that it seems smooth. This is the room I'd like to eventually make into a nursery. (And no, I'm not pregnant. But, by the time I want to be, I better have a room in good condition.) The wet spots are just from my steamer... it had not dried yet.

Also, I decided that the textured ceiling in this room is intact, and therefore not worth my current time and effort. I hate the textured ceiling, but it's not falling apart like other things... and unfortunately I need to prioritize. So, I am going to eventually just repaint the ceiling.

My husband cut down all the shrubs in the front. They were not taken care of for years, overgrown, and causing some problems to our foundation and porch. We don't plan on doing any landscaping for a while because we need to fix some stuff first.


Max says "These people don't have a clue what they are doing." (Max is the kitty who came with the house.)


Oh, and knitting. I haven't tossed it completely aside. There are husband's socks. I'm on the second one, almost to the heel. And I bought the new Yarn Harlot book, and I have a ticket to see her next Saturday at the bookstore!!

Time to get started...

Well, spring is officially here.  (Even if it is still freezing.)  It's time to get back to work on our house.  So, unfortunately less knitting time, but it must be done....

We hired a man to work on the roof of our porch on Saturday.  If he does a good job, we will definitely get him to fix the roof/flashing on the addition as well.
I have a list of things that keeps growing that I need to get done.

• must finish stripping wallpaper in rear bedroom


• strip paint off fireplace tile in front master bedroom (yes, someone painted dark blue over gorgeous tiles)


• figure out how much work it is to scrape off a textured ceiling


• take a billion things to the recycle center from the basement


• paint the new side door


• plant flowers outside

This is just a list of things to accomplish before we hire electricians.  After we fix our electrical problems, my list grows exponentially. (Going back to the porch for a minute, I plan on having the electricians put in ceiling fans in our wrap around porch.  I have this dream of sitting on my southern wrap around porch, with the fans going, sipping my sweet tea and knitting.)

I have an appointment with an allergy specialist on Tuesday.  After that, I am going to try and score the Yarn Harlot's new book at the bookstore for comfort.   Yay.

Loving the Knitty Funnies

Today's Natalie Dee comic made me laugh. Had to share!


nataliedee.com

Buttons!

I got some buttons on Tangled Yoke, and took a better photo!

FO: Rosebud Hat

This hat is the cutest hat - I will probably make another one.
It's made of Rowan Handknit Cotton. From Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson. I made the 6-12 month old size. I only used two colors for the roses: two shades of pink.  I also used less rosebuds and leaves than the pattern called for.  I used the "celery" colorway for the leaves instead of the recommended green.  The rosebuds knit up very fast, as does the hat! I even enjoyed the assembly of the hat, and usually I hate the finishing up.

I had a great day off. I went to a knitting class about altering your patterns, and it was very helpful. I learned a more accurate way to measure my gauge swatch, and how to approach your patterns when altering, and how to think about the pattern in a more general way.

Fun stuff! Knitting classes and baby hats. It can't get any better, right?!

One More Day

Can I make it?  I miraculously have a vacation day on Friday (for a knitting event, even better) and thank god I do.  It has been the week from hell.   I'm not even sure I can make it one more day.

One good thing in this week from hell: New Knitty!

Casting On Multiples

I spent a lot of my weekend untangling my Handmaiden Casbah. It was on my swift, when the clamp came undone, and it all fell off. It was sooo tangled it took me two days of going back and working on it (and a lot of ugly language). I finally have 3 wound balls, as I had to cut certain parts due to tangles. I did get it all untangled, even if in segments, and had it been any other yarn - I admit, I would have thrown it in the trash.

I am going to cast on for my husband's socks tonight with the Casbah. I am still debating between patterns...

I also casted on some lace this weekend, my first lace with actual lace weight. I cast on for the Swallowtail Shawl. They say lace looks like a mess until you block it. I hope that's true because right now it looks like a big mess of yuck.

Yes, that is dental floss I am using as a lifeline. I am very pleased with how that works. The waxy coating keeps it from tangling with the fibers of the yarn. Thanks to David Reidy for that tidbit.

I also worked on some little knitted rosebuds for an Itty Bitty hat. I had mentioned on Susan B. Anderson's blog that my rosebuds didn't look like hers. She was so sweet to reply to my blog, and give me tips. I just rolled the bud tighter and finessed it a little bit, and that worked. I have the black hat made, and I want to get a contrasting rose color to finish it off.

I am not sure why the sudden need to cast on for so many things. I'm not going to question it. I'm just going to do what makes me happy!

March Snow

I have always thought our house looks pretty with snow on it.

Looks like it's going to be a good day to curl up with some knitting.

 

Tangled Yoke - The End

Well, sort of the end. I don't have buttons, yet, and won't be able to get them in the town I live in. So, it'll be at least a week. And I can't keep my enthusiasm in. (I may even wear it tomorrow without the buttons because I'm so excited.)

My second adult sweater is done, and I love it! It fits the way I wanted, it turned out better than I could have wished. So, despite the dark dreary night, we attempted photos.

You'll probably have to suffer another Tangled Yoke photo shoot with natural light after I have buttons.

Caught in the act of being cute...

Sam says you must enjoy his cuteness while the Tangled Yoke is blocking!

Once.

I love this movie! I was alone tonight, and thought, I'll rent this through Itunes. (yes, you can rent movies through itunes. which is so awesome because I don't have to get cold to rent a movie.)

I am downloading the whole soundtrack. (I'm not a soundtrack kind of girl, either.)

And be prepared, I couldn't take my eyes off the film, so it's not a great knitting movie. It is beautiful in every way.

Go watch Once.

Words, words, words

I know a lot of people don't like blogs without pictures, but I have none today.  So if that's what you came for, sorry!  I will have some as soon as I see sunlight again (which lately seems like never).

I seriously need a mental health day.  Besides some random stress, I've had some health issues.   Friday my heart decided to beat a little, ahem, fast, and oh, be in an irregular rhythm.  It seems as if some sinus medication plus some headache medication together could have been the culprit.  So, they want me to go off everything for sinus, no more headache meds, and no caffeine.  (Beat me now - no Coca-Cola?)  I had the worst headache Friday, and I've been having some severe long-lasting headaches that I believe originate from sinus problems.  I had a cyst in my sinus cavity a few years ago, and there is some question that I could again, so I'm on tons of antibiotics now.  I whined about no meds for my headache, and they gave me something that wouldn't affect my heart.  Also, before it was my choice not to take allergy shots, and now they are saying I sort of need to.

Needless to say, between being knocked out and an irregular heart rhythm, I didn't really do any knitting lately.  I went back to work today and I feel a lot better - so I did start the collar of the Tangled Yoke tonight.

OH! We did house stuff this weekend.  (Well, I didn't, my brother in law did while I was upstairs knocked out.)  We have a new storm door on the side now!!  Hey, progress is progress, no matter how small!

Tangled Yoke Progress Despite A Knitting Injury

I've only got two rows left of this Tangled Yoke chart. While knitting this, I just kept being so surprised and so happy with the loops and turns.

I'm far enough along now that I am fussing over how to do my button band (I had to add rows...) and how I am going to block this. I think I may soak it in cold water for a while before blocking. (I'm not very good at blocking.)

I have been doing all this despite a knitting injury. I have a callous on my middle left finger. I tried to cushion it with a band aid, but it doesn't really help.

Knitting classes have never interested me because I usually like to teach myself most things. I've always been this way in every subject. However, I signed up for a knitting class at long last. I took a vacation day in March for it. It's called "Adapting Patterns". I am supposed to bring a pattern I want to alter in some way and some graph paper. I have no idea what pattern to pick!!! I've thought about The Pewter Coat by Shirley Paden from IK Winter 2006, since it only comes in two sizes. But, I have my reservations since it is a huge knitting investment with both time and yarn/money. Any suggestions on other patterns I might be interested in changing up and knitting?

Speaking of Interweave Knits, I did get the Spring 2008 issue. There is nothing in it, I must admit, that I am burning up to knit. I think it's a good issue, but not one for me. I like the Drawstring Chemise, but it seems to me you need a pretty flat or small chest to wear it successfully. Maybe I'll be proven wrong by some Ravelry folks, but for now, I'm thinking it's a *don't* for me.

One last thing, David Reidy mentioned on his podcast Y Knit.  Y Knit is a new podcast by two guys about knitting.  Their first episode had Debbie Stoller on, and it was a great episode.  I think it will be a new favorite for me!

From tornado to ice...

Between the tornado, the recent ice storm, and other un-fun events, I have been down in the dumps. Not knitting dumps, just dumps in general.

I have been knitting and buying yarn. To keep my spirits up, of course. I bought 2 skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton. Any guesses on what I started? (Hint: pink and black) The Tangled Yoke does continue on, of course, but I have limited myself to 1-2 rows a work night. I get tired and mess up, so if I feel tired, I don't knit on it.

I did take some pictures of Tangled Yoke in progress tonight, but they were so dark, you couldn't make anything out. I will attempt to take some other pictures I can share in the near future.

Molly says "Geez, you are boring!" (Sorry, Molly, your owner has to work to buy you premium cat food since you are so picky.)

Tornado sirens in the middle of the night

I woke up at 1 AM or so to the tornado sirens. We turned on the TV to see the news, and immediately went downstairs to shelter.

The elementary school roof was blown off, two restaurants are totally damaged, our fairgrounds building is destroyed, several homes are either gone or have no roof. An apartment for the elderly has no back wall.
We were very lucky, we only lost a shutter than we know of. I had trouble getting to work today. My normal road was blocked. Apparently, there was a power line down in an almost flooded road.

I think I may go out and take some photos later. I will post them if I do. It's just so unbelievable. And we are supposed to have these winds again tonight.

Edited to add pictures.... (There are more on my Flickr page)

My heart is with the many who lost their lives in several states.

Rip it, Rip it.... Tangled Yoke untangled

So, I started on the tangled yoke chart, and while it's a chart I can handle... it's not a chart I can handle when I'm watching Lost. I know better than to knit complicated things while watching TV. But, I somehow always do it anyway.

So, I took a deep breath this morning, and put in a lifeline... (and put on an episode of Stash and Burn that helped give me courage to rip)



Have I mentioned Sam has started to really love this sweater? He wants to sit on it and tread it.




After making Sam move, I began to rip it out.... Look at what a mess.



And now, my stitches are back on the needle (happily), and I am back to where I started.

While I am not happy I had to rip back, I am very happy that I have gotten to a point where I'm ok to rip things back. Before, I would have fudged, lived with wrong stitches, and just sucked it up. Now, I'm at a place where once I put time into it, I want it to satisfy me. And I can rip back successfully to do that. I think that's progress.

Also, while I had it off the needles, I tried it on, and I believe it is going to look nice. That made taking it off my needles worth it.

Well, I need to go take a break from knitting and my computer. My parents are coming tomorrow, so I need to do some serious cleaning that I've been neglecting.

On Fire-Spitting Hair Dryers and Scary Winds

My hair dryer spit fire at me just now. Big blue sparkling flames with a red glow at the end. I think that means I need a new one.

We had wind gusts up to 60 mph where I live last night. I was sitting, happily knitting, when the tornado sirens went off. I turned the news on to see there was a storm three counties away heading at a quick pace our way.... So, I got up to get a quick shower, and as soon as I stepped out, the power went out. I ended up going to bed since it was pitch black (and cold), and the wind was making such bad noise I had to fall asleep with my ipod in my ears. This morning, I got to see that the only thing that saved my car from being crushed by a huge ice box was the railing on my back porch. The ice box was barely caught on it, and could have smashed my car in at any minute.

So, this is a good time to tell you what blogs make my day (especially during weeks like this!):

My Boring Life has given me this really sweet honor!! (And her blog is delightful and her life is not boring! She really does make my day!)

I am supposed to pick 10 people to give this honor to.... and they are in no particular order...

1. CTJen

2. Knitterella

3. Kathryn Ivy

4. Mostly Self Taught Knitter

5. Wendy (and Lucy)

6.  MLE Knits

7.  Knitting Like Crazy 

8.  Stash, Knit, Repeat 

9.  Knitter Boy

10. Susan B. Anderson 

There are many other beautiful blogs I read, as well. And truthfully, they all make my day.

Tangled Yoke - Sleeves Are Finally Done

I finally finished living in the sleeve hell of Tangled Yoke. If this cardigan doesn't turn out, I think I'll scream after all the work I've invested in just sleeves!

I've also been thinking about my mistake mitten, and I believe it should be knitted on size 3 needles anyway... so I do plan to rip it all out and start over after all. But, I am tucking that away for a rainy day (and until I own size 3 Brittany needles).

My husband keeps complaining about how I have yarn for his socks, but I haven't started them. So, those may take priority over the Endpaper Mitts.

I got a phone call from my dad a few days ago when it got really cold. He wanted to let me know that the socks I made him for his birthday were on his feet and he might not take them off. I made them for him in April, and he had not worn them yet, saying he was waiting for it to be cold enough. Now, I think he quite enjoys hand knit wool socks in the dead of winter. :)

Heath Ledger found dead

It is a sad day.  Heath Ledger has been found dead at age 28.   That's my age....

The article can be found here on CNN.

Ugh!

Why did I cast another thing on? Especially a charted something, when I was distracted? (Ignore the bad photo - it's dark and gloomy here. And cold, did I mention cold?) I decided I needed to start those Endpaper Mitts while I was watching my FAVORITE Buffy speech. I messed up the pattern, on one segment. I even circled it for you. It sticks out way worse in person than on this picture, trust me.

(My favorite Buffy speech is when she is telling the Watchers in Season 5 that there will be no review. "I've had a lot of people talking at me the last few days. Everyone just lining up to tell me how unimportant I am. And I've finally figured out why. Power. I have it. They don't. This bothers them." Best. Speech. Ever. (And I enjoy the sword throwing too.))

Also, nurses: I have some scrubs for sale. You can see them on my Flickr acct. Also I have a Bose stethoscope for sell for $50. It's actually the DRG with Bose acoustics. I'll include some antimicrobial covers.

One more knitting thing: most informative blog ever: TechKnitter. You must read her stuff - great info and illustrations.

Piecework: A Must Have Magazine

I purchased Piecework magazine today.  The Jan/Feb 2008 issue is devoted entirely to knitting.  It has amazing articles, and most articles will have a pattern of a reproduction piece for the item being discussed.  The article on Knitted Rovaniemi Mittens has a pattern for Fingerless Rovaniemi Mittens at the end that are absolutely a must-have.  So cute.  In fact, there isn't a pattern in this magazine that I wouldn't want to make - they are all beautiful.  I am so thrilled to have discovered this magazine.

On my own knitting front, it is slow.  I have been feeling very tired recently, unusually tired.  I have a thyroid disorder, and even on medication, I have moments where I have no energy.  I came home last night, went to bed at 7:30 pm and slept through until 9 am this morning.  So, forgive me for the blogging boredom.

How to do nothing.

I have been BORING these last few days! I didn't do anything this weekend. Seriously, I left my house ONCE in a two day period. Sometimes, with nursing, I get very tired of people in general, and feel like I want to be alone. I think I get tired of doing the happy smiley thing 24/7. I'd like to sometimes just be - not mad, sad, happy, or anything... just be.

(On a happy side note about nursing, I've had three patient compliments in the last month that have been sent to my supervisors. The last one commented that I was "awesome". One very sweet person said I was "the best nurse" he's "ever seen". It makes me feel good to know that I'm connecting to people in that way.)

Anyhow.... I had started on Foliage, and promptly ripped it out. My attention span made me cause so many errors that I decided to rip it. Then I worked and worked on my last Tangled Yoke sleeve. (I was re-watching season 5 of Buffy this weekend.)

I also learned how to do an Italian tubular cast on, so I could work on those endpaper mitts soon. I practiced on some scrap yarn. This video to teach you this cast on rocks, and made it seem really simple. Thank goodness for the internet.

And how do you make those mosaics of your knitting for the year? I want to make one, but haven't a clue how.

Loopy Ewe Package!!

I received my first Loopy Ewe order today!! It was fast fast shipping. I ordered Tuesday (late I think) and it arrived today. The packaging was perfect and protective. She includes a hand written note. She also included some samples of Regia Bamboo and Silk, and a needle inventory card.

I ordered Hand Maiden Casbah sock, in Earth. This is for socks for hubby because he's been feeling left out of the sock love. I also ordered some Shibui Knits in Honey, which is gorgeous. The picture does it NO justice.

I know what I plan on doing this weekend!

Come on Friday...

It has been a long week. Not a bad one, but long, and I'm tired!!!

My kitty, Sam, loves to sleep on the radiator when I take a shower. He gets extra nice and toasty, plus he gets the bonus of being in the same room with me.
After getting out of the shower tonight, I said, "Sam, you think it's time to get into bed?" He said "Meow" and jumped down and ran to the door. Even Sam is tired.

I must say I love my knitting group. They were all supposed to bring finished hats tonight, and I was all ready to take pictures for you... but none of them finished. I think Christmas and gift knitting became priority! We had our meeting today and it was so much fun.

One of them is making the Baby Surprise Jacket, and I must say -- it's very hard for me to understand. I must confess to all knitters, I have never read an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern until tonight. *hanging head in shame* And I'm wondering - are they all that difficult to understand??

Magic Looping and Casting On

Yesterday, I went to my favorite yarn store. I told the store owner, Jane, that I planned on trying socks on two circs. Then, she showed me her sock on magic loop....

I always thought Magic Loop would be harder than that. (If magic is in the name, it has to be hard and mystical.) So, I promptly came home and tried my hand at magic loop. I am using the Simple Sock pattern from Socks Soar on Two Needles so I don't have to try and manipulate a DPN pattern on my first try.....

I also wound up some yarn this morning. Some Malabrigo Worsted for Foliage from Knitty, Fall 2007, and some Louet Gems Fingering for Endpaper Mitts, by Eunny Jang.

I am also happy to report that I cast on for my second Tangled Yoke sleeve!! I decided it would be my TV knitting since it's simple, and then it would get done!

Thanks for all the nice comments on my Pomatomus socks.  I was really happy with them, and wore them yesterday!

First FO of 2008: Pomatomus Socks

Pattern: Pomatomus from Knitty, Winter 2005

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

I started these socks in November on the flight back from the BVI.  Then, I sat them down and forgot them until Tangled Yoke drove me back to them.  I absolutely love this pattern.  It's not very hard, you just need to pay attention and be aware of your charts.  There are two charts:  Chart A and Chart B.  Chart B is for the foot, and if you aren't paying attention, you could get into the *wrong* flow of things.  However, it's just knitting through the back loop and purling through basically all the pattern!

(I love Koigu.  It's so squishy and pretty, and it makes me so happy.)

I have a happy announcement to make:  My friend, hoosier nurse, has passed her boards and is an official RN.   Congratulations and I always knew you would pass with flying colors!

Happy New Year to you all!!

Three Good Reasons to Love Life

This is how I spent my day. Sitting beside these three kitties, knitting.  (Notice my wonderful total tote in the background!!!)

I've been wanting to take a look back at 2007, and honestly - it wasn't my best year. I noticed looking back at blog posts, I was sick A LOT. I think some of this was because it was my first year of nursing, and my immune system was overloaded...  Also, among being sick, I had a job for the 1st 6 months that I hated!

So, I will look forward to 2008...  and let's start with some knitting goals.

1.  Double knitting.

2.  Socks on Two Circs.

3.  Magic Loop Knitting.

4.  Finish my Tangled Yoke!

5.  Buy more yarn.  (No, I'm not kidding!)

What are your knitting goals for the next year?

A Good Christmas

I hope everyone had a good Christmas!

Mine was filled with knitty goodness. I received a Total Tote, which I'd been wanting! In chocolate. I added seriously to my knitting book library, with Mosaic Knitting by Barbara Walker, Favorite Socks, and Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi.

I also got a pink I-pod, which my husband says classifies as knitty goodness because of all the podcasts I listen to!

This is the end of my first year of knitting, and knitting has been very good to me.  I can't imagine not knitting - what did I do before all this?  I am looking forward to year #2 of my knitting, and looking forward to seeing what others create in 2008.  The people I've met in my one year of knitting have been amazing, fun, and a blessing to meet.

Warmer house, warmer hearts?

We got a new side door!! Our back staircase was always FREEZING because the door that was up let in all the winter air. It showed an inch of daylight or more at the bottom, and as we found out when we took it down - it was hollow! We got a new door, and wow... does it make a difference. It made the staircase much warmer. It will be painted in the spring, but until then, I'll just enjoy keeping the cold air out.

(Yes, our side stairwell is painted a lime green. There is no point of me fixing it until electricians come....)

One of Molly's eyes always looks super-dilated and dark. Here is a picture... can anyone tell me if it's just the way her eye looks or if it's a problem? She seems to see just fine.

My husband has asked me to knit him a pair of socks. Any suggestions for patterns? I told him they would have to wait until spring because I have too many things on my needles, but I would make him some.

I keep jumping from subject to subject - I know.  My brain has been working that way all week.  I have been doing a lot of planning and plotting for projects (house and knitting) , but not really a lot of DOING.

If I don't blog before then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Some sock progress

Well, getting my attention off Tangled Yoke was a good thing. I've worked on my Pomatomus sock, and I feel like I am close to returning my attention to my last sleeve for the cardi.

I taught a knitting class!! I taught a little about short-rows, and my knitting group (those who wanted to) printed out the Short Row hat pattern and brought it with them. We started that, and I went around and sort of helped out those who needed it. I think provisional cast-on was new to many of them, and that was fun to teach. Next month, they are supposed to bring back their finished hats to show off, or bring their hat for help if needed. I hope to take some pictures and post them!

A bit more of a sad note.. I have found out my friend has Lymphoma. I am wondering what I could make her - and I am considering the Hemlock Ring Blanket that could be used sort of as a security blanket when she is feeling her worst. I am just worried I won't be able to make that quickly..... Does anyone have suggestions of other patterns I might use?

December has never been a good month to me. It was a year ago this month that my baby, Amos, passed on. It hurts even now. Also, last year, I lost my cousin on Christmas Eve to a massive heart attack. I had opened her present and was calling  to thank her as she was being rushed to an ER.

I wasn't planning to end this blog post on such a depressing note.  I just have trouble being happy in December.  I thought that might change this year, but it hasn't...

Oh, wait, maybe I can end with a good note.  My beautiful cousin will be induced on Dec. 26th if baby doesn't come before then!  We can't wait to welcome baby girl in the world!

The Knitscene Preview!

I love Knitscene.  It's my second favorite knitting mag (first being Interweave Knits).  Have you seen the preview for Winter/Spring?  (Or am I late to the party?!)  Anyway.... I love the Norah Gaughan bag.  And if she doesn't quit designing bags, I'll never finishing knitting them all.  She never comes up with a design that I don't love.  Also, I love the Four Corners Headbands - cute!   I am also in love with the Apothecary Raglan and Pebble Hoodie.

What a great knitting world we live in - we definitely are not desperate for beautiful and genius patterns!

A little Tangled Yoke Frustration

To be quite honest, I'm tired of it.  I finished a sleeve, or so I thought, but realized it's too short.  I need to add about an inch.  Which isn't a big problem, but I just can't bring myself to pick it up and do it!  If I could just finish the darn sleeves already, I could move on to the yoke, and the cable, and the challenge.  I've found that I'm the type of knitter who just doesn't like it if there isn't some little challenge involved.

Maybe I can pick my socks back up for a day or two, and then I can face Tangled Yoke again.

I also bought yarn for some Endpaper Mitts for myself, and maybe I'll start those.  A very pretty red and black yarn.

Also - a little announcement to my Blogger friends - I am still reading your blogs.  I just can't figure out how to leave you a message now so that you know it's me -- Blogger changed the way you leave comments?  Does anyone know?

The Almost Moon

I haven't been knitting.  I started reading "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold.  It was slightly morbid, in a fascinating kind of way.  Once I got started, I couldn't quit.  She also wrote The Lovely Bones, which is excellent - and I highly recommend.

I don't think everyone would like The Almost Moon.  I think you need a bit of a dark side.  It is a dark, haunting glimpse into mental illness (and pure madness, I think).  It begins with "When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily", and that is how you are introduced to Helen, our main character.  I enjoyed the way Helen loves her mother so deeply and hates her so passionately at the same time.

Other than reading, not much has been happening.  I passed my Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).

Oh, and in case I don't get around to blogging tomorrow....  Friday is my friend Beth's birthday.  Happy birthday!  Beth is also a nurse, a wonderful friend, and a shoulder I can always turn to.  She understands my craziness, and embraces it.  May we live long long lives of friendship and joy.

Happy December

I haven't got much of anything to post as far as knitting goes. I've been sick this week. (I felt too bad to knit or to watch Pushing Daisies if that tells you anything.)

So, some cute kitty pictures. Molly always looks grumpy - here she looks at least slightly intrigued. That's the most emotion I've seen from her in a while! The second kitty is Loverbunny. It's a miracle to get his picture. He is scared of his own shadow. I wanted to take pictures of Sam too, but he thought otherwise.



And, last but not least... my new shower pictures. It was freaking expensive, but at least I have a shower. However, I have to buy a new riser because the person installing it didn't measure correctly and cut a riser too short. Due to it's instability until the new riser comes, I can't even use it. (Yes, this caused me to almost lose my head yesterday. I was very upset.) Ignore the dirtiness look from around the new faucet - it's from the old faucet and it scrubs out. I just need to buy a toothbrush to get in the little nooks around it. I bought this conversion kit for the claw foot tub from Clawfoot Supply. They are very fast with shipping, and while expensive, you get what you pay for -- it's good quality. (And please ignore the ugly wallpaper. I haven't redone that bathroom for good reason! There isn't any electricity that goes to it, and it just recently got in working order. It used to flood the floor below it, but it doesn't anymore!! And for light, I use a battery powered light.)

FO: Brea Bag

You can't believe it's finished?! Me either!

It's a delightful pattern. And quick (if you finish things..). I had this done a long time ago, but kept dragging my feet on getting a handle, then lining it. It is my first lined bag. I cut out three pieces of fabric: the front, back, and gusset. I sewed those together, then turned the bag inside out and pinned it in. Then, I whip stitched it in.

I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca (2 skeins), and I love love this yarn. It's soft and beautiful. The pattern is the Brea Bag, a free pattern from Berroco. I got my handle from Webs. My lining was bought from a local quilting store.

Also, my blogging and emailing are slow this week because my laptop died. (I think {hope} it is just the battery/power cord.) So, I finally set up my desktop downstairs, but it's very cold down here!

Some works in progress

Ok, I've finally got some pictures of stuff in progress. Nothing that fantastic, but proof I've been knitting (at least some!).

The beginnings of a Pomatomus sock. This was after I ripped out three different patterns on vacations after I knit practically each sock. My husband was really rolling his eyes about that.

 

A tangled yoke body. I've started on the first sleeve now.

I am off now to order a shower-tub attachment thing.   It attaches to the old claw-foot tubs so you can shower.  It's expensive, but I'm tired of not having one.   Hopefully, I'll have pretty pictures of that in a few weeks!!

In the knitting dumps

I am in the knitting dumps.  I took socks with me on vacation.  I had half a sock knitted in the Drunken Bees pattern by domesticat, and ripped it out because it didn't suit the yarn. (Beautiful pattern, though, but needs a solid colorway.)  Then, I knitted different patterns with my yarn with several false starts.  Finally, I settled on Pomatomus.  I am not even halfway down the leg.  My husband just kept trying to figure out why I kept ripping out these socks - and honestly I don't know why either.  None of them suited me.  I could have had a pair of socks knitted by this time if I would quit frogging what I started.

I am also in the knitting dumps because I'm so tired this week - all I do is sleep when I get home.  I also need to pass a certification in Advanced Pediatric Life Support on November 27th, so I'll be studying, studying, studying from now til then, which cuts into my knitting.

No time or energy for knitting - just puts me in the knitting dumps.

On another note, my cats have been driving me nuts since we got home.  Sam, the one we bottle-fed and is now 6 years old, is our huge baby, and he now stands beside me and cries until I hold him.  I think I traumatized him by leaving so long - even though we had two people coming to the house to check on them twice a day!!

I will be getting some vacation pictures up on Flickr soon hopefully.  And I promise some kitty and knitting pictures soon because I know a pictureless blog is a boring blog!

I'm back...

and here is some eye candy while I rest up.  I promise more pictures later!  This is the view from right outside our villa.

This blog is on vacation...

I will be gone for the next 7-8 days.  I will be soaking up some much needed sunshine down in the British Virgin Islands.

When I come back, I hope to have lots of pretty things to show you!

With the cold, comes the lazy...

My whole house has been sleeping the weekend away. Here's a picture of Molly asleep with her tongue hanging out.

I have no new knitting to show. I have been knitting only a few rows of straight stockinette a night.... I am already daydreaming of other knitting projects to start. I also started to piece together my Brea bag because the handle came in, but that ended up thrown back into the knitting bag with a few select naughty words. I hate finishing.

Well, back to lazy land.

Look! Yarn cakes!

Somebody got their ball winder and swift in the mail today!!!

And in case you are curious - this is Lorna's Laces - Grays Corner. It was the beautiful yarn my secret pal sent me.

My toilet works!

I have two working toilets. The plumber came yesterday! Still no shower, as we need to order it special. I have been cleaning this upstairs bathroom today and my hands are dry and icky. Lots of bleach. (I hate the idea of germs.)  So, I can actually flush our toilet upstairs without showering the butler's pantry downstairs.

Today is my 6th wedding anniversary. We went to Louisville yesterday to the Speed Art Museum and attended a forum on The Kentucky Sugar Chest. After that, we went to Ramsi's Cafe on the World for lunch. Then to a knitting shop where I bought some double pointed needles for my Tangled Yoke sleeves. Then, on to the bookstore and some ice cream. It was a nice day.

Well, I'll get back to cleaning the bathroom now. It's going to take several scrubbing attempts.

Shopping Sin

I committed a shopping sin. I bought stuff at Walmart. I usually don't shop there - I have some political and moral issues with Walmart. (I don't hold it against people for shopping there, I just choose not to.) However, my husband insisted we go there last night to pick up a certain brand of cat food for Max. At first, I was going to sit in the car, but I decided to try my luck and go in to see if they had the Interweave Knits Holiday issue.

Sure enough - they did!! So, I bought that, and then I also bought Crazy Aunt Purl's new book! I also bought Nacho Libre because it was on sale for $3.98, and well I couldn't pass that up - I thought it was hilarious.

Also, my ball winder and swift are in route to my house. I can't wait. I have a feeling I'll be yarn winding crazy.

Sorry I am picture-less lately. I haven't had much to show - I'm slowly working on the Tangled Yoke and in the stockinette stretch.

And one last word on the house front - the plumber is coming on Saturday so that my upstairs bathroom will be in working order with brand new pipes and a working toilet!

I want my head back.

I've had a headache for 6 days now. It's been just enough for me to know my head hurts and to feel down, except Friday. I woke up with it as a full blown migraine. You know, fetal position kind. So, I took my prescription medicine and it started to kick in, so I went to work. The headlights of other cars made me sick sick sick. I did make it to work, and after a nice cry and curling up in a recovery room where no one could see me with the lights off for about 15 minutes, I was able to get up and do some work. Since I can team up with people in pre-op to get people ready, I had assistance and didn't have to completely rely on my own thinking ability. Finally, the headache went away, and I was all happy thinking my prescription meds did the trick. And they did, but it came back last night, and it's still there as a fuzzy irritating headache. If it becomes a full blown migraine again, I'm screwed cause I have no meds left. I want my head back!

I have had migraines since I was 5 years old. I've had so many MRIs and CTs, I probably glow in the dark. A few years ago, they started becoming so bad that my face goes numb and sometimes I look like I've had a stroke. My face droops. No one can tell me why - nothing shows up on the scans. I tried Topamax, but it makes my arms go numb up to my shoulders. I was on Inderal LA for a long time, and it seemed to help, but I went off it because I can't be on it if I decide to get pregnant so I wanted to see if I could control my migraines myself. I do know one of my biggest triggers: second-hand smoke. So, restaurants becoming smoke free recently has been a huge blessing to me, and no one in my family smokes. Now, if I could figure out the other triggers.....

The last time I had one of the biggie migraines that make my face droop, I went to my new dr (mine moved to Texas) to get some more meds and he kind of freaked. My smile was all droopy, even though my migraine was gone, and he wanted to do another MRI. I refused it - no need to do another one.... they are always fine. And this isn't something new.

Enough about the gloom and doom of migraines...

I went to the knitting group I was invited to on Thursday night. And yes, I was the youngest person in this group by far. But, I had a blast! These women are amazing. One lady there was crocheting things with this thread that was thinner than my dental floss - little pumpkins and poinsettias. She was just making up the patterns as she went along. Unbelievable! They were gorgeous! I think she is making the poinsettias into a pin and the pumpkins into earrings. There was a lady there who spins and dyes her own yarn. There were several ladies making some very beautiful felted bags. A woman knitting this most beautiful alpaca poncho/shrug kind of thing for her daughter. The talent of these women..... They made me feel so good, too, because they oohed and aahed over my stuff - and want me to teach a class at one of their meetings on short rows. I could not believe these talented women were asking ME to teach them anything! I definitely will be going back.

Well, I'm on call this weekend, so I think I'll go knit while I sit by the phone.  I ordered a ball winder and swift this morning, so I'll daydream about that!

My Secret Knitty Pal

I got my final package today from my Knitty SP9, who turned out to be maddogknitting!

The pink folder in the back contains the coolest idea - a knitting journal that she started with my Short Row hat! It's divided into different sections - current projects, in the queue, a place for sketches, a place for yarns.

I also got some green tea that comes in a cool tin. Some olive oil bar soap, which smells delicious. A red point protector. Rosemary from her garden (this woman can seriously garden, she sent me a cd with some garden pics on it and they are beautiful). And some wash for delicates and woolens. A sheep tape measure (love it!). A sweet guardian angel to hang in my car. And yarny goodness - Lorna's Laces in the most beautiful colorway!

This was my first secret pal exchange, and it was so much fun. I had the *best* pal!

Guess what I got?!

I received my copy of Itty-Bitty Nursery today!!!!

I love love love the mice mobile, the cupcake tea set, the cupcake hat, the elephant pacifier clip.... I just want to knit, knit, knit from this.

I think I am going to make our friend's daughter the cupcake tea set.  She's 3, and this will be perfect for her.

Getting better....

This is how my wrist looks every single night. I mentioned my wrist was hurting, and that I could possibly be getting carpal tunnel. I was told to keep a brace on my wrist at night, and to rest my wrist as much as possible. Well, resting my wrist is hard (and I cheat and knit anyway) - but the brace is really helping. It feels much better - no more middle of the night throbbing and tingling.

I've been moving right along with my Tangled Yoke cardigan. (The picture is kind of bright from the flash- that yarn isn't supposed to look shiny..)

Tangled Yoke - The Beginning

Well, here's my Tangled Yoke beginnings. I've decided to lengthen it by adding an extra two rows before every decrease in the garter ridge. I am keeping track of it so I can adjust the button band for my extra length.... I'm hoping that it works out.

I do love this knit.

Just Amused With Life

Ever had a day that is just so odd, but amusing? That's how my whole day was. People were talking to me that usually don't talk to me at work, and were saying some of the funniest stuff to me. And I did pre-admission phone calls all day, and the last call I made was to a man who somehow knew my grandfather who lives 3 hours away!! Yeah, they've traded cows or something - it was so odd.

But - here was my highlight. I came home and husband told me I had a message on the phone that I just had to listen to. It's a lady saying "I hope you are the young lady I saw in Shakertown back in the spring. I was the one knitting the bags. Anyway, if you are that young lady, I'd love to have you over to our knitting group as my guest."

So, I remember her! She knitted the most fabulous bags. I called her back. She told me that she had NO IDEA my name, but she was describing me and my house (we had talked about my house restoration when I met her) to some ladies from the Christian Church. One of the ladies realized who I was, and told her my name and my husband's name. It ends up this lady was a best friend to my husband's mom when she was alive. So, she called me up and hoped I'd join her at the knitting group.

So, next Thursday I am going to a knitting group with her. Isn't that just such a strange chance of meeting? Wonderful, but strange!

OH - and have you seen the new Holiday Gifts preview from Interweave?  Looks fantastic!