Squares

Last night I decided to start working on an afghan for my college-bound son. I started with the psychedelic square, knitting up three, with each taking approx. 40 minutes. Didn't know if I was liking this, so this morning I searched some more and found the Diamond Afghan Recipe. The later will probably be what I go with. I have lots of scrap yarn to use up and wanted to have a take-a-long project that was small. I was thinking of making a scrap quilt, though I still might. The bed size in the dorms are Twin. So, I can either do 12 x 16 squares, giving me just under the recommeded finished size for a Twin. I will probably add a crocheted border around the outside edges with would add that extra little bit I need.

I've got a Wattle...fence that is

Remember the Wattle Fence that I wrote about previously? Well, today I actually made a small one for my newly planted bulb garden. It took about an hour and half, this includes planting Glads, Frescia and two others I don't have the name of at the moment. To keep the girls out (my chickens) I figured this would be a good place to start practicing making wattle fences. Alex likes it, so I guess having DD#1's approval is good enough. I do like the "natural" part of it, no cost involved and it just feels like part of my gardening day to create this.

Looking to the North in my garden after the three yards of bark I laid out a few weeks back. The rain, walking upon it and the chickens have helped to pack it down. I will need more, hoping to complete all bark before Spring Break as I need to start staining and repainting the trim on the garden shed.

Spring break is 25 working days away. Not only will I hope to have the garden in great shape but I would like to get as much "spinning time" in as possible.

In knitting news: I started on the lovely Hip Knits Silk that Lucie Fluff (SP7) sent. What have I started with this silky goodness? The Kiri shawl from All Tangled Up. I'm on chart 1 and haven't boo-booed yet. No life-line added so far, but I do have my markers in place. The silk is a bit tricky to work with, wants to run off the ball sooner than I need it, much like when I made the Flower Basket Shawl with the SWTC Bamboo yarn.

Son is at work, DD#1 is at Retro-80's tolo (11 pm pickup by Mom, ugh), DD#2 is playing WWII with DH and others from all over the world while dinner is in the oven.

Finally...Bumble Bee Socks FO

I believe this makes the third pair in February. I'm tellin' you, Second Sock Syndrome exists, with gusto, I might add. And it's not that I put the needles down after sock #1 of the pair and didn't cast on for the 2nd. I did...it would just take "forever" to complete.

While picking up stitches on the after-thought heel at 6am this morning, before heading off to work, I noticed I screwed up "big time".

Here's why: I originally started, two socks, top down on two circs. I prefer dbl pts (I have this thing about "the old ways", like handknits and handquilting), so I took one sock off the circs and put onto the needles. This was one of those huge one-skein for a pair of socks Opal sock yarn. I had one thread from the middle and one from the outside, all starting at the same color.

I had to clip the inside of skein thread as I knew there would be a tangled mess if I didn't. Sooooo, long story short, I should have picked up the yarn from the inside of the skein to continue on sock #2 when I realized this morning I picked and knitted with the yarn from the outside.

My once matching stripes "Bumble Bee Socks", are now off by a full stripe. Duh! I'm not frogging, I am accepting that I am human and make mistakes. I also accept that unlike some, I can live with "not perfect".

But hey, lesson learned. I don't care for doing two socks on two circs at the same time, though I'm sure this so stops that "Second Sock Syndrome".

I have my Cable Vest to work on and the lovely Hip Knits Silk that I balled up tonight...wow, that was alot of work. My ballwinder was letting some of the silk slip, so I had to finish half of the skein winding by hand. Talk about "weight". The little ball is heavy. Still looking into what pattern I will use.

Postbox holds a nice surprise...Thank You Lucie Fluff

Wow, my SP7 (aka:Lucie Fluff) sent the most amazing package full of sheep postcards, pictures, a booklet on British Sheep Breeds, a skein of Laceweight Hand-dyed silk from Hip Knits.

Look at the most adorable hat that Lucie Fluff made for me...me, not my daughter, who is modeling it for the pic, but me...but do we really think my darling, sweet, loveable, adorable, drives-me-crazy daughter #1 will listen to me. The hat is from MagKnits Feb 2006. The Odessa pattern by Grumperina. Guess I will need to print the pattern and make one for her 'cause she's not getting mine...or she'll end up a "caddy lamb". LOL

Thank you Lucie Fluff...everything is so outstanding. I have thought to make the Clapotis or the Flower Basket Shawl with the beautiful silk.

What a great way to start to weekend.

My SP knows I love Sheep

The postbox had a lovely Sheep Postcard waiting for me today. It made its journey Via Royal Mail from my SP7. Lucie Fluff (aka: SP7), you seem to know how much I LOVE sheep. I enjoyed the story of your grandparents farm and will think of orphaned lambs as "caddy lambs" and think of you.

This postcard, will make its way into my 2006 Knitting Scrapbook, along with the other postcard I received. My love for sheep, caddy or not, will never fade.

In knitting news. I'm half done with the second sock in the Opal Bumble Bee Yarn (aka: 2 yo UFO). I am reading Life of Pi for the March Knit the Classics book and working along on my sock. Thankfully, the sock is mindless at this stage.

We had our BSD knit night up at Cutter's Point Coffee last night. Always shutting the place down, lights are partially turned out to let us know it is time to go. We hadn't met since, I believe October of last year. A good four months. As a group, we have decided that once a month to meet will keep us all going and yet not put a strain on having too much on the calendar.

I really need to finish that sock tonight...I also want to get back into my vest so I can move onto my "Spring" projects.

In gardening news. My tomato starts (plum) are doing great. I have lettuce started and perineal flowers going as well. I plan to get the pepper seeds sowed in the next week or so. The plants are loving my four shelf mini-green house in the southern exposure window of the dining room area in the great room. Warmth, daylight and daily attention from me.

Headlines: Two Year Old Project Comes Back to Life

Over two years ago I started these socks, one skein of Opal in "BumbleBee", two at a time, top-down on two circs. Yeah, try wrestling with taking the yarn from two ends, it was not the funnest project to start up.

So...I knit down about 4 inches and stopped...two years ago. Wow...talk about mental block on that project.

Well, I've finished two other pairs of socks this week and decided to jump back into my BumbleBee buddies. I also went back to my trusted doublepoint needles. I did pickup a pair of Size US 2 in the shorter, 6" inch sock length on Friday when the girls and I went to Weaving Works in Seattle.

I'm just a few inches away from getting to toe decreasing on sock #1. Wish me luck.

Completed Socklettes

I sat down this morning and got the second sock done. These socks are for K, DD#2.

Yarn: Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4 Ply
Color: Deep Forrest Green
Size: Women's US 7
Start to Finish: 48 hours

Shshshsh-shopping, Seattle Style

Since I was up at 5:30 a.m., on a non-work day to boot, I was able to get some laundry done, pay the bills, feed the livestock, empty dishwasher and cruise the net before the first flicker of power outage occured. I took my girls up to Seattle, braving the huge gusts of wind that were blowing the Tahoe around on the highway. We made it to Weaving Works in Seattle, 50+ miles from home in an hour. Traffic at 10 am should not be so congested. After Weaving Works, we headed towards the Queen Anne district, stopped by Hilltop Yarns before proceeding to Dick's Drive-In for a bite to eat. I actually purchased two sets of US 2 - 32" length addi Turbo needles, one for me and one for my SecretPal, along with the "Magic Loop" booklet so that she can start making socks. I only purchased the "Blue Sky Shrug" from Hilltop Yarns, it's alot like the Streaker shrug that I am soon to start.

Can you see the Louisa Harding Design Collection book in the pic? It met my requirements for purchasing...a majority of the pattern I just loved.

Now that I have spent the day running around for knitting items and I didn't buy a lick of yarn, it's time go work on my socklettes that I am making from Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4ply in deep green. Will post pics as soon as I complete the pair.

I've been "gifted"

Wow...Elann.com was fast, fast, fast. This is the yarn I ordered two days ago for those project pics I posted that are in the Interweave Knits Spring 06 issue. Nice to find this kind of package in the postbox.

Heide, being the most fabulous lady, kind, giving, and my knitting chat buddy at school came by before school dismissed and brought me this beautiful yarn. What a wonderful gift. It's "Two Waters Fiberworks" merino sock yarn. For more info, go to Two Waters Fiberworks. I am planning to make the "After Bertha" socks like Heide is making for the Knitting Olympics. Thank you Heide, you so ROCK!!!!

This wonderful display of goodness was given to me this morning, from Corie, my co-worker, intern principal extrordinare and just a hoot. Core just has so much going on that nobody, I mean, nobody could remember everything...I guess I've helped her out a bit and she wanted me to have all this lovely scrapin' goodies. She is an excellent cardmaker/scarpbooker...and just a nice person al'round. Thank you, Corie!

My beautiful, darling daughter #1 is sweet "16" today. 16 on the 16th. She wanted new shoes for this day, ending up with two new pair of Converse (remember when those were the shoes to buy and didn't cost a fortune?) Times have changed. Tonight she is heading off to see a movie with friends, I will try to make a cake as I believe all of them are coming back to watch MORE movies up in the gameroom.

Off to finish dinner...

Feeling better...socks finished

Finally, the second sock that took way longer than it needed to is finished. Here's my completed pair of After-Thought-Heel Socks knit up in KnitPicks "Autumn". The yarn was gifted by my SP5 last Fall. I love orange, I love green and the plum just adds a touch. A subtle but not subtle yarn.

I'm not as cranky now. DH owes me a backrub...hoping to cash in on that tonight.

"Crrrraaaannnkkkyyyy"

Waterlily Top is a project on my list as soon as I get the Katia Ancla yarn I ordered from Elann.com.

Streakers Shrug is on my list. I ordered Schoeller Stahl yarn from Elann.com for this little beauty. So as I wait for the new yarns to arrive for said projects from Interweave Knits Spring 2006, I will complete my socks and move back to my vest...or onto another pair of socks.

Yep...I'm cranky. The end of the day was so loud in my head, I just want to shut down. The girl that cut in line at Fred Meyers got one of my famous stares as I had been in line for over five minutes, behind everyone else and the nasty little thing decided to create a second line. I would have stumbled over my tongue as I was having a rough time as it was anyways.

I took a glance at my calendar, there is no way I could be this bitchy this early in the month. Too bad I gave up drinking. This may be a sign that I can't handle chocolate during the day either. Yikers, what will I do without chocolate.

Off to finish dinner on this fine, romantic, stay the h^%& away from me day.

Love to all my knitting girls out there...

Book Swap Package arrives

I received my February Romance Book Swap from my swap buddy setup by KTC (Knit the Classics). What wonderful books I get to read, new ones to my collection.

Don't you just love getting packages in the postbox? I know I do.

No excercising tonight, my shoulder is not feeling it's best, having woke up with a terrible pain if I move it wrong. I blame it on the three yards of bark I shovel into the garden path on Saturday and Sunday.

Winter Knitting Retreat

Saturday evening, Mary and I had been lucky enough to get dinner tickets for the "Sally Melville" event. Prior to attending, we hit the vendor market and this is what I brought home. The Spring 2006 Interweave Knits issue, sock yarn (Lana Grossa) and the little sheep bag that looks like a mini-lunch pack is a circular needles holder. (Mary was poking my arm when she found that...luckily I had "just" enough cash to add that to my purchase).

Sally Melville talked about the "right and left" side of the brain (with knitting in mind). She also said to have three projects going, three different levels of projects. She also talked about "flow". Where the brain either finds anxiety or boredom, pending the progress of the activity. Did you know that the day that worst day for adults (say, that have a job during the week) is Sunday morning, at 10 am. After working all week at a job that most would say they do not love, running all day Saturday to get the errands done, Sunday morning hits at 10 am and the said adults don't know how to spend their day. (I typed the below mentioned day activities before adding this paragraph).

Before heading into Tacoma, I made two trips to get medium bark. I've had it with all the weeds in the paths between my raised beds...the only sea of green I want to see is in the fruit tree mini-orchard. I need another 2-3 yards...I may get one more today and work on it next weekend, or I may not and just putter in the garden, cleaning up the perinneal side beds (which desperately need them). I don't know if I can take the smell or itch of bark today. Maybe after breakfast I'll feel a bit different about it.

I could just stay in the house and work on those socks. Hmmmm. Kellie is going to do painball with Cody, so I may sit in the car and knit while I wait for her.

One will never know how the day turns out until it's over. (see third paragraph above).

TTFN

Postman, Postman...bring me a package please!

Ah, a package in the postbox today. I joined International Rowan last month and received my first of two magazines. Here is Rowan No. 39. I have yet to sit down and really look at it...but from the quick flip through the book, I have the feeling of gypsy or peasants with a romantic twist.

I am eagerly awaiting my February Book Swap package to arrive...what romantic book does my book swap buddy think I should read? It's nice to have something to look forward to.

The Tivo froze up on us when I got home...so I haven't been able to watch "Lost" while making dinner. It's nice and quiet, dd#2 has fallen asleep on the sofa, what a growing teenager she is.

I am on the home stretch of the second sock...knit in the waste yarn during my lunch break. I plan to stay up to watch survivor, so I should be able to get some knit time in then. I am close to a week behind when I wanted to have those socks done...but I will knit on and get these done so I can get back to my vest or onto some other fun project.

Slower than mollasses on a winter's day...

Yep, that's me. Not making big progress on that second sock. I've been a diet/excercise nut since the New Year. I must workout after dinner, then off for a shower, then a cup of tea and I'm done. Crawling into bed at 8:30 p.m. to read for a bit and lights off by 9:15 p.m. does not get any knitting done.

Tonight is a new "LOST" episode. Do I dare try to stay up, watch and knit or tivo it and sleep?

This weekend is the Winter Knitting Retreat in Tacoma, Washington. I didn't sign up for any classes, but I did pay for the lecture dinner with Sally Melville. I'll pick up my Knitting Retreat roommate/knitting shop road trip buddy Saturday afternoon, head down to the Sheraton Hotel, check out the vendors and enjoy a nice dinner and lecture. Though, Sally's Third Book in the Knitting Experience Series is not one of my favorites, I will surely enjoy the evening.

Baaaa - Sheep Everywhere

My SP7 must truly know how much I LOVE sheep. I went to the postbox after work and found this lovely postcard all the way from the U.K. I'll have to get the story on the "spider monkey" her dearly beloved would rather have than sheep. Could be the most interesting story for quite some time.

Bonnie also knows how much I LOVE sheep as she brought me this so soft to touch, ewe named "Val" who is a counting sheep and has a "14" embroidered on her ear.

One down, One to go...

I finished the first of the pair of After-Thought Heel socks this morning and have cast on for the second one as I don't want to get SSS (second sock syndrome). I will try to get as much done as I possibly can before heading down to our neighbors for the SuperBowl XL gathering. I will stuff my little knit sack and wonder on down.

I did have to cinch up the two sides where you pick up a stitch, never happy how that turns out. The sock foot fits perfectly for my long foot.

Will post a pic once I have the pair done...don't want to jinx it.

Uh..."go SeaHawks?" Wait, I'm hanging out for the commercials...LOL. Oh, the food too.

P.S. Of course the rain has stopped, the sky seems to be clearing and today would be the a wonderful day to be out in the garden. Always next weekend.

My Version of a Knit Sack

After knitting on my sock, watching the Saturday sewing shows and browsing the new KnitPicks catalog, I found the GoKnit Pouch on the back of the catalog. Hmmm, I can make one of those. So I did. Actually I made two as you can see. One is for my SP7 that I will stuff with some knitting goodness for package number 3 to go out.

I need to get two more cord stops and make two more in the green ripstop nylon I purchased also. Ok...so I went to JoAnn's even though I said I was going no where.

Off to finish the toe on the sock. DH is being nice and making dinner tonight.

Rain, Wind, Thunder, Oh My...

Here's this weekends project. Knit Picks Stripes sock yarn in "Autum" from one of my previous SP's. I love orange and green, with the bit of rose giving it a "kick". I am doing an after-thought heel, hope to have the first sock done by afternoon. Plans are to have the pair done by tomorrow. I am not going shopping, to the library, the postoffice as the weather is just awful. Why venture out.

Sheep Stitch Marker for the Belle

Don't you just love her...that's JuJu...my sheep stitch marker from Katie, of Pink Sheep. JuJu arrived today in the mail. Katie was wonderful, emailing me when she received my payment and when she mailed out JuJu.

Ok..for a few of you, you should know I have a sheep-fetish. This is just what I needed today in the mail. Love it so.

I am working very slowing on my Airy Scarf. I have hardly knitted in days now. Two nights of not excercising too. Yikes. Back at it tomorrow. Tonight was bills, taxes and hopefully, a bit of knitting.