I'm plugging away on my shawl. I've essentially put the lace weight yarn one away for now and am working with the worsted weight. I've frogged as much (or more?!) as I've knitted. Those damn 'yarn overs' are driving me crazy! The row after the yo I seem to miss one of the extra stitches and of course I don't realize it until the next row when my stitch cound is off. I will prevail...and I will be the winner. My lace knitting class starts in 3 weeks so maybe the instructor can give me some pointers. But...I can see it could very much be another addiction.
I actually made a menu plan today. I used to do it when the kids were little, then got away from it. I've been thinking about it for awhile. Then today Bill mentioned we should do one, that way he could do more cooking, knowing what to cook. So...I pretty much immediately sat down and did one for the next 2 weeks, Sundays thru Thursdays. Of course he said 'we' should do one, but he didn't contribute any ideas!! But...if he'll cook...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
What happened to October? I think all I did was go to work and come home and crash. (it's been extremely busy at work)
No, that's not true. Parker's been hired (temporary) by the McCain Team Ohio. He's finishing up his 3rd week. Almost every evening of his 2nd week, I went to his office about 8:00 to help him with his paper work. That enabled him to get home before 1:00-1:30 a.m. His last day is election day. I'm sure on Wednesday he'll spend the day sleeping. He's targeting the money he's making as his 'move out of the parentals' fund. Now...to get a full time job so he can do just that.
My latest knitting addiction is definitely lace knitting. I'm working on 2 shawls, one with lace weight and one in worsted. Of course I'm liking how rapidly the worsted weight is going. I'm also taking a lace class at my favorite LYS in December.
Kendra's puppy is getting so big. Darby is such a pretty thing. She's definitely got a little mind of her own! She's regressing a little in her potty training and it's driving Kendra crazy. I keep reminding her this is pay-back from when she first brought Darby home and there were no accidents. Kendra's got a very long work day next week so we're keeping Darby overnight. I"m sure we'll make a trip to the pet store for some goodies!
I got Kendra's Christmas list several weeks ago...without any prodding. I sent her brothers an email telling them the pressure was on, that I had her list. (I told Parker I didn't expect one from him till after the election) Well, I got one from Marshall. Then I got a text message from him saying he'd like 'several' more pairs of knitted socks. My response was 'Funny, Funny'. When he was over yesterday I told him there was no way I'd have time to make him even 1 pair before Christmas and maybe he should learn to knit himself. I think he likes the idea, but he's afraid I'll have a national ad campaign telling the world that he's knitting! I'll see if I can get him to do a cotton dishcloth for himself...
No, that's not true. Parker's been hired (temporary) by the McCain Team Ohio. He's finishing up his 3rd week. Almost every evening of his 2nd week, I went to his office about 8:00 to help him with his paper work. That enabled him to get home before 1:00-1:30 a.m. His last day is election day. I'm sure on Wednesday he'll spend the day sleeping. He's targeting the money he's making as his 'move out of the parentals' fund. Now...to get a full time job so he can do just that.
My latest knitting addiction is definitely lace knitting. I'm working on 2 shawls, one with lace weight and one in worsted. Of course I'm liking how rapidly the worsted weight is going. I'm also taking a lace class at my favorite LYS in December.
Kendra's puppy is getting so big. Darby is such a pretty thing. She's definitely got a little mind of her own! She's regressing a little in her potty training and it's driving Kendra crazy. I keep reminding her this is pay-back from when she first brought Darby home and there were no accidents. Kendra's got a very long work day next week so we're keeping Darby overnight. I"m sure we'll make a trip to the pet store for some goodies!
I got Kendra's Christmas list several weeks ago...without any prodding. I sent her brothers an email telling them the pressure was on, that I had her list. (I told Parker I didn't expect one from him till after the election) Well, I got one from Marshall. Then I got a text message from him saying he'd like 'several' more pairs of knitted socks. My response was 'Funny, Funny'. When he was over yesterday I told him there was no way I'd have time to make him even 1 pair before Christmas and maybe he should learn to knit himself. I think he likes the idea, but he's afraid I'll have a national ad campaign telling the world that he's knitting! I'll see if I can get him to do a cotton dishcloth for himself...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Emerald Isle, NC
I'm sitting here, looking at the calming ocean waves as I write. There's something humbling about that mass of water.
Bill's out fishing today, deciding to go on a charter for about 6 hours. The weather is suppose to be wonderful so maybe he'll bring back some fish. (he brought a cooler just in case...) He's also been fishing right outside the house we're renting. It amazes me that people can just stand at the water's edge and fish for hours! (he probably thinks the same about my knitting)
Speaking of knitting. My hopes/plans were to sit on the beach, either knitting or reading all week. Well, good laid plans do fail. Before we left home I cast on for the Icarus Shawl. I got tons of knitting in on the car trip and it's looking great (few mistakes, but I can live with them, I challenge non-knitters to find them). However, I didn't take into consideration the 'wetness' of the air. I can only knit outside with the lace weight yarn for about 10-15 min. before it begins to pull from the moisture, making it hard to knit. Damn...I have to do any knitting inside. So...I haven't been outside as much as I thought. But our house is right on the ocean and has great views throughout.
We were driving yesterday, mostly so Bill could find this boat charter place. He pulled on a side street in this quaint town of Swansboro, NC. Low and behold...there was a yarn shop! Since I've got Bill trained quite well, he immediately found a parking spot. (actually, I got out of the car, then realized he was not in a space, and suggested he find a legal spot while I went in the store) It was a small but very nice shop called The Salty Sheep Yarn Shop. Everyone was sooo friendly. Yes, I made some purchases. I got some gorgeous cotton/alpaca blend in a medium blue twead. I first saw this pretty taupe (but I'm working on a cardigan almost the same color) then started grabbing the gray (of course thinking of OSU colors) but put it down convincing my self I need to 'broaden my horizons' and be more colorful. That's when I saw the blue. I bought all they had (6 skeins, 100 grams each), along with some other small purchases and the new Interweave Knits fall addition. Last night I searched ravelry and (think) I found the pullover sweater I want to make. Luck would have it that I actually have the pattern in a book at home! I should have had the nice store owner wind one skein for me so I could at least do a gauge swatch...I'm anxious to see how it knits. I just might have to have Bill hold a skein while I wind it by hand. (he won't care...he's done it before...once again...well trained)
I got my own ipod last week. Said husband has the 'big' one with all the bells/whistles, but he just doesn't seem to share well. I asked him if he thought I'd get it in time if I ordered one from Amazon. Well, he immediately said we should just go to Easton (shopping area) to the Apple store and get one. We got in the car and were in and out of the store in a record 8 minutes! I got the new generation nano in green. I'm actually learing how to download and use it! Marshall's on a mission to burn some things for me...don't want to know if it's 'legal' or 'pirated'...and I gave him some suggestions. Hopefully when we get home he'll have it ready for me.
I've totally become addicted to knitting podcasts. I've been listening to them on "Bill's" ipod, but just never seemed to get my hands on it enough. Now that I've got my own...hooray...I can put all that I want on it. As of now, my two favorites are still KnitPicks and Knitmore Girls but I'm sampling new ones every day. Oh...it's really going to be hard to go back to work next week.
Off to a walk on the beach before I continue knitting my shawl.
Bill's out fishing today, deciding to go on a charter for about 6 hours. The weather is suppose to be wonderful so maybe he'll bring back some fish. (he brought a cooler just in case...) He's also been fishing right outside the house we're renting. It amazes me that people can just stand at the water's edge and fish for hours! (he probably thinks the same about my knitting)
Speaking of knitting. My hopes/plans were to sit on the beach, either knitting or reading all week. Well, good laid plans do fail. Before we left home I cast on for the Icarus Shawl. I got tons of knitting in on the car trip and it's looking great (few mistakes, but I can live with them, I challenge non-knitters to find them). However, I didn't take into consideration the 'wetness' of the air. I can only knit outside with the lace weight yarn for about 10-15 min. before it begins to pull from the moisture, making it hard to knit. Damn...I have to do any knitting inside. So...I haven't been outside as much as I thought. But our house is right on the ocean and has great views throughout.
We were driving yesterday, mostly so Bill could find this boat charter place. He pulled on a side street in this quaint town of Swansboro, NC. Low and behold...there was a yarn shop! Since I've got Bill trained quite well, he immediately found a parking spot. (actually, I got out of the car, then realized he was not in a space, and suggested he find a legal spot while I went in the store) It was a small but very nice shop called The Salty Sheep Yarn Shop. Everyone was sooo friendly. Yes, I made some purchases. I got some gorgeous cotton/alpaca blend in a medium blue twead. I first saw this pretty taupe (but I'm working on a cardigan almost the same color) then started grabbing the gray (of course thinking of OSU colors) but put it down convincing my self I need to 'broaden my horizons' and be more colorful. That's when I saw the blue. I bought all they had (6 skeins, 100 grams each), along with some other small purchases and the new Interweave Knits fall addition. Last night I searched ravelry and (think) I found the pullover sweater I want to make. Luck would have it that I actually have the pattern in a book at home! I should have had the nice store owner wind one skein for me so I could at least do a gauge swatch...I'm anxious to see how it knits. I just might have to have Bill hold a skein while I wind it by hand. (he won't care...he's done it before...once again...well trained)
I got my own ipod last week. Said husband has the 'big' one with all the bells/whistles, but he just doesn't seem to share well. I asked him if he thought I'd get it in time if I ordered one from Amazon. Well, he immediately said we should just go to Easton (shopping area) to the Apple store and get one. We got in the car and were in and out of the store in a record 8 minutes! I got the new generation nano in green. I'm actually learing how to download and use it! Marshall's on a mission to burn some things for me...don't want to know if it's 'legal' or 'pirated'...and I gave him some suggestions. Hopefully when we get home he'll have it ready for me.
I've totally become addicted to knitting podcasts. I've been listening to them on "Bill's" ipod, but just never seemed to get my hands on it enough. Now that I've got my own...hooray...I can put all that I want on it. As of now, my two favorites are still KnitPicks and Knitmore Girls but I'm sampling new ones every day. Oh...it's really going to be hard to go back to work next week.
Off to a walk on the beach before I continue knitting my shawl.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Sock blank update
Well, I'm still working on the socks and loving how they're turning out. Only have about 1/2 of the cuffs to do and I'll be done. Too many other things kept me from doing much knitting this week. We're going out to dinner tonight before the Ohio State tonight and my plan is to plop down when we get home and knit during the game. Using the sock blanks is such a painless, simple way to knit up socks. Those people at KnitPicks are geniuses!!
Tomorrow's agenda includes blocking. I've never blocked the EZ sweater I made for a class I took late last winter. It's shorter sleeves should be perfect for our trip in 2 weeks to Crystal Coast (Emerald Isle) of NC. I also need to stitch up 2 short seams on the Lotus Blossom tank I made. It, too, will be going on vacation with me. We're downloading some books on the ipod to listen to in the car, which will make for great knitting listening. My current plan is to do lace knitting for the car ride. Plan B will be socks and Plan C will be dishcloths. I still need to do some net-surfing for LYS near where we're staying. Bill is great about stopping at them...guess I've trained him well.
Off to get ready for dinner at Bravo's.
Tomorrow's agenda includes blocking. I've never blocked the EZ sweater I made for a class I took late last winter. It's shorter sleeves should be perfect for our trip in 2 weeks to Crystal Coast (Emerald Isle) of NC. I also need to stitch up 2 short seams on the Lotus Blossom tank I made. It, too, will be going on vacation with me. We're downloading some books on the ipod to listen to in the car, which will make for great knitting listening. My current plan is to do lace knitting for the car ride. Plan B will be socks and Plan C will be dishcloths. I still need to do some net-surfing for LYS near where we're staying. Bill is great about stopping at them...guess I've trained him well.
Off to get ready for dinner at Bravo's.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Darby Update
Kendra's puppy, Darby, is an absolute cutie! She's such a smart little girl. She's not quite 3 months old, having been with Kendra 4 weeks, and pretty much has the potty training down. Kendra was home sick (most of the week) 2 weeks ago that's when Darby realized if she sat by the back door & cried a little, she'd get to go outside to do her thing. Last weekend Bill, Kendra and Parker worked with her and taught her how to find the steps in the swimming pool so she can get out herself. She still hasn't jumped in, but that will come. She's grown so much Kendra had to enlarge her 'room' (aka crate), buy her a larger collar and longer leash. Just like 'people babies', she's growing way too fast!
Sock Blank Knitting
1/2 way there!! I've got the socks almost half done, only having several more rows of decrease on the gusset. By essentially dyeing the sock blank (KnitPicks) in (about) 2 equal parts it's going to work perfectly for the cuff to be different from the foot. It amazes me how this whole process is working. If I'm lazy enough tomorrow I should be able to knock out a good portion of the cuff. I need to go on a shopping trip to find the perfect pair of shoes for my scarlet and gray socks. I've got the start of another KnitPicks order and am definitely getting another sock blank, more dye and do it all again.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Dyeing Sock Blanks
Kendra and I dyed some KnitPicks sock blanks on Sunday. We both did scarlet and gray, making our own designs. It was so much easier than we thought and we didn't make a mess at all! I downloaded the freebie toe-up-2-at-a-time pattern from KnitPicks and really like the directions for the cast on, especially since it's NOT a provisional cast on. I'm almost to the heel flap (another plus with it being a flap, not short rows). The way I dyed the yarn, the cuff should look totally different from the foot. I'm anxious to get them done! I can see that dyeing could easily become yet another addiction.
We leave for Emerald Isle (Outer Banks area) the last week of the month. I can hardly wait!! I really need a vacation. We've rented a house right on the ocean. I will be content to just sitting, looking at the water with either knitting or a book in my hand. My major stress of the day will be when we determine where to go for dinner! I've decided to try some lace knitting for the trip. Since we're driving, I'll get that much more knitting in. I've got the yarn and pattern. The plan is to get it cast on and all the markers placed before we leave. I'm sure there will be some sock yarn in my bag, too.
We leave for Emerald Isle (Outer Banks area) the last week of the month. I can hardly wait!! I really need a vacation. We've rented a house right on the ocean. I will be content to just sitting, looking at the water with either knitting or a book in my hand. My major stress of the day will be when we determine where to go for dinner! I've decided to try some lace knitting for the trip. Since we're driving, I'll get that much more knitting in. I've got the yarn and pattern. The plan is to get it cast on and all the markers placed before we leave. I'm sure there will be some sock yarn in my bag, too.
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