Send Help!!!

I've fallen into a pit.....

I have not knit a stitch since Wednesday of last week.  Oh.....I am so missing it, but  I HAVE to get this done!  With so much more left to do:

My own fault, procrastination never pays!  BG's enthusiasm helps during the week, but his willingness to "help" does not!

I knew I was in bad shape when my husband mentioned the possibility of a 2 day road trip, and my first thought was "Great!!! I can knit!".  (This is NOT a project for the road).  So....hope that trip happens, and soon!.  Also, I was watching a video podcast this morning (while working on the advent calender) and the gal showed a knitted baby bid, out of cotton.  I thought "WOW....I want to knit that!".  Yes...I am convinced that I am in knitting withdrawal, and in need of immediate help! 

But, while knitting and spinning are nonexisitant right now, stash enhancement remains.  If you will remember, I am on a red yarn kick, and these three braids will add wonderment to my collection. 

These are colorways "Covered Wagon", "Farmer Phil" and "Ranchero" all on VBFL fiber.  "Ranchero is a 6oz braid, the other two are 4oz each.  These are from FatCatKnits, probably my favorite dyer.  I like that most of her colorways are repeatable, and all are available on all of her fiber bases.  She has both 4oz and 6oz braids available.  Oh - and also, on her website, the different colors are shown on the different bases, which is very helpful as different fibers take colors differently.  Anyway, no....no connection to Ginny in any way, just a very happy and satisfied addict customer.  :)

This one is the Fall 2011 Club selection.  I am actually not a member, but occasionally she has extra skeins that eventually make it into her shop.  This is on BFL.  Lovely stuff, and will probably become colorwork "something" eventually.  5oz total. 

While I obviously am a procrastinator at times, happily it is not my normal nature.  Christmas gift buying is well unnderway at my house.  BG and I made a trip to TOYSRUS the other day.....(Santa needed some help, and BG was happy to accomodate.)  I know he always loves books, and Caillou is his favorite TV show (here at my house anyway.  He watches it daily while I fix his lunch). 

Yesterday, I stumbled across the Caillou books at B&N, each selling for $3.99, which is a bargain for a nice little book these days.  Then the clerk mentioned this box of the same books - for ......see that price!  Yep, a little less than $11, for 6 books!  Santa smiled all the way home!

Our kitchen will be measured for the new flooring tomorrow.  I still have not made final decisions, but we wanted to lock in a sale price, so the paper work has begun.  I think perhaps a deadline will help me decide!  I even have to decide on grout color! 

Catchn up

Wow - it's been awhile.  Where do the days - weeks go?  So, this will be a catch-up post.

First off, I think we are pretty much over the nasty bug that we all shared.  Hubby was last to get it, but seemed to have a fairly short-lived version, when compared to what both me and my mom endured.  During the first few days of my illness, I managed to break an older dental crown.  Due to coughing, I chose to wait out a couple of weeks before getting dental work started.  YIKES - it's been years since I have had a crown put on, and now I remember how much I hate the process.  I really like my dentist, but just hate being captive and out of control.  I always have those "I want to swallow NOW!!" moments.  And - thanks goodness we have good dental insurance. I was blown away by the cost!!

DH has started planting garden (peas, onions, lettuce, radishes,) and probably more are in the ground.  Due to horrible rains last year, our garden was pretty much a waste.  We are hoping for a better crop this year.  It's a lot of work, for no gain......kind of a downer last  year.

And on the knitting scene, I've been busy.  A pair of plain jane socks were recently completed. I really enjoyed knitting these with my new 2.25mm Signature DPNS.  I am a total fan!

A couple of the gals in my knitting group just purchased the new Signature circulars, and I am anxious to hear how they like them. 

 I completed the Flamboyan shawl by Stephen West.  It's knit out the 2 colors of my handspun, shown in the previous post.  I really like it, now that it's finished.  It looks really nice draped over one shoulder with the ties handing down either side on the other side.  Sorry - no personal modeling shot.  If you could see my hair you would knot why!  LOL  The fence is much better looking than am I!  ;)  It's very soft and drapey fabric, so anyway, color me happy with this one!

And currently, I am nearing the edge of a shawl/shawlette knit out of this handspun:

BG was helping me "thwack" it during the finished process and declared it to be rainbow yarn, so I just had to take a rainbow photo......

I am enjoying knitting with it.  I'm making a Traveling Woman shawlette, starting with the green and ending the bottom edge with the dark wine color.  I would bet my last dollar that I am going to run out of  yarn though.  My yarn meter malfunctioned, so I didn't know what yardage I had.  I added quite a few pattern repeats, as I wanted to use the entire skein of yarn, so.....I'm afraid I misjudged.  Oh well - I will manage to use every yard of this yarn, which was my desire.  I think I will finish the very edge with a bit of Knitpicks Pallette.  I have all those little color samples, if you will remember, so picking out the exact color will be easy.  I think there are a couple of good matches, so I'll be placing a small knitpicks order soon. Hopefully it won't be too noticeable.

And some stash enhancement....

  8oz of IntoTheWhirled Polwarth fiber.  Quercus is the colorway name.  Nice!  My comfort colors.

And for some rainy day, when a little color is needed:

Again, IntoTheWhirled fiber.  This time SW BFL, in "Mandarin" colorway.  This colorway was inspired by a photo of a beautiful Mandarin duck.

So, Happy Spinning, Knitting, Crocheting, Quilting, Sewing, Baking, Gardening, Reading or whatever makes your heart sing.....talk to you later!  (In the reading category, I've recently discovered the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher.  Fun escapism!!)
k

Brown....

About as basic brown as you can get:

Knitpicks Stroll in the colorway Kindling.  My basic plain jane sock recipe.  These were the first socks that I knit with my new Signature dpns.  Love them - socks and needles.  66st - 2.25mm - 5/1 rib.

And "Brown"

was the answer BG gave to Grandpa when asked what kind of leaf this was.  Pretty appropriate answer, I think!  Each day, BG seems to find his "Very Favorite" leaf in the walk from the car up to the back door, and has to bring it in and save it to give to Grandpa.  While Grandpa was going to share tree identification skills with BG, BG was quite happy to share his 2-yr old perspective with his grandpa.  We all had a giggle, and "Brown" it is!

Brown, with a tinge of blue

is how this lovely brown elixir has been making me feel of late.  I drink my coffee black, with the exception of that first cup of the day - that one is doctored up....  I love my coffee!  It's what motivates me to jump from my bed each morning - just the thought of that first cup of joe.  But I have been battling a bad cold for the past week or so, and nothing tastes good - nothing - including that first cup of coffee!  So, sad...:(   I do think I am on the downhill slope though.  I'm feeling a bit better today. 

I have two things on needles right now, and sticking with the brown thing.....

These yarns are being knit into Flamboyan (Rav link) by Steven West.  I'm on the outer ribbed border, and I think I'll really like the finished shawl/scarf.  As always, I love knitting wth handspun.

And for just a splash of color!

 

Socks in the colorway  "Viola"!  Yarn is by IntoTheWhirled - her  Saginaw sock line.  Merino - luscious!

And an update:  The "kids" made it home safely from Hawaii.  They will be returning in a few weeks though, for another visit!  Each bought the other a trip to Hawaii as a surprise gift to celebrate their 1yr anniversary of being a couple.  The funny thing is both employers knew what was going on, as each had gotten the time off arranged for the other in secret.  Bet there were a few chuckles exchanged behind closed doors!  Ahhhhh - young love!

As the world shakes.....

Sometimes half way around the world is really pretty darn close to home!  As is the case when your son is in (potential) harm's way of tsunami waters!  Amazing what your body does when you get shocking, fearful news.  I was working out at Curves at 5:30 this morning,  when I overheard a discussion of  "Earthquake, Tsunami, Hawaii"....all in the same sentence.  Body shock sets in - as I knew my son and his beloved landed in Hawaii yesterday.  Fast forward about 30 minutes when I was talking to him, (love cell phone technology) and learned that their hotel was about a block from the water's edge, and his room was on the "safe" 5th floor.  Safe, that is unless the building collapses.  Roads were closed down, and they were not being evacuated.  Again - he was "safe", but I could discern that note of worry in even his (usual) carefree voice.  Hmmmm.....  But, as I read on an internet news site a little bit ago - Hawaii lucked out this time!  Whew.....  Grateful...yep, that is totally what I am.  I do feel so bad for those with loved ones in Japan, not to mention the residents of Japan.  My heart truly goes out to everyone affected.

It seems Sweden is pretty close to Iowa these days, also.  I placed an order on Etsy for some stitch markers.  They were mailed on Monday of this week (at a cost of only $3.00!!).

Rose-Marie (aka BeGins) said they could reach me in as little as 3 days.  Sure - I reminded her where I lived in relationship to where she lived.  LOL - Live and Learn!  They came today!  I think mail between here and New Mexico takes longer than that - seriously!!

Aren't they cute!  All sizes of rainbow markers.  Special order - which she completed with lightening speed! 

So, at the end of this day, I will be just a little more grateful than normal.  Hug your honey(s) - and keep them all close to your heart.  Take care - k

On the last day of Christmas......

Yes, for us, this is it.  We are having our official Christmas dinner today.  Schedules being what they are - waiting till the dust settles sometimes is best.  New Years is an official day to stay home, safe and sound for DH and I, so once today is over, our Holiday celebrations are pretty much finished.  We had a nice time though. The few handknits that I gifted were well received.  That's always nice!  But....

BG was sick.  Not feeling terribly bad, but just not his perky, mischievous self.  He had Roseola, rash and all.  Christmas photos were pretty subdued.  While he enjoyed his new toys, well, he wasn't as animated as he usually is.  His momma tells me he is back to normal now, so he should really enjoy things when he comes over this afternoon for dinner.  I managed to get his train table re-configured, holding his new Thomas Train 

 pieces, so hopefully we'll see some excitement when he sees it! 

I managed to finish my Advent Scarf on schedule, but it is not blocked yet.  Photos will be coming soon.  I am still working on my mom's scrap shawl.  She likes it, and it should be done soon.  Those long rows of garter stitch are growing as we speak!  I also am working on a cowl for DH.  I gave him one of mine to wear when he was outside working a couple of weeks ago, and he was sold.  So....off to find a"manly" shade of Malabrigo.  I'm using a pattern that I had highly modified to make my own, and of course my notes are inadequate several years later, so I have had to frog back and do parts over several times, but hopefully it will get finished soon too.  So - photos coming.

And, Sofee has FINALLY discovered a benefit of having BG around so much......

I hope you all had a great Christmas, and only the best 

to each of you in the New Year!

And for a change of pace......

Wow - no post since the 24th of November.  Well, I've been a tad busy.  BG was here with Grandpa and I 24/7 while mom and dad were in Hawaii.  We had a good time, but now I know the true meaning of  "bone tired"!  I spent all day yesterday knitting, relaxing and enjoying (?? - not sure about that one) the silence of our now empty home.  He'll be back bright and early on Tuesday morning, and this grandma will be ready!!! And then some.....

So, where was I, oh yes....  I couldn't talk my mom into a Terra shawl.  Instead she wants one made out of scrap sock yarn.  She has requested a garter stitch triangular shawl knit out of odds and ends of sock yarn, with a picot bind off.  I have one that she likes, (but I fail to find a photo right now).  Anyway - I held a lace yarn along with the sock yarn, which I had to order.  Actually, I don't think I have an adequate amount of sock yarn scraps to make it either.....but I'll get it accomplished.  If that's what she wants.  I doubt that it will be completed in time for Christmas, but I'll do my best.

Untill I get the supplies for mom's shawl, this is keeping me busy:

 

It's an Advent Scarf.  (just added link - sorry) Each day starting on December first, the designer has posted a section of the pattern.  I think it's probably some sadistic madness from which I suffer, but I am somewhat addicted to it right now.  The designer actually posts the clues late in the evening of the day before, due to time differences, so I get a head start on the next days assignment.  Evening is when I do most of my knitting, so so far, I have been able to keep up.  I wanted a more substantial rather than lacy scarf, so this is knit out of fingering weight (Cascade Heritage Sock yarn) on size 2.75 mm needles.  The width will be generous enough to fold over and make a nice warm neck wrap, and hopefully the length will be ok too.  I can always repeat a couple of the segments if I need to add length.  It was designed for either lace or fingering weight, but on a larger needle, so it should be more open and airy (and larger, I presume).  Time will tell.....if I can keep up the pace that is.

Off to ready my son's Christmas box.  I need to get it in the mail before the rush is on.  And house decorations will come out today.  BG will have some new excitement when next he comes thru the back door.  We visited Santa last week, and while shy at first, eventually thought he was an ok kinda guy.  He's learning "jingle bells" at preschool, and lots of other secret stuff is going on there.  Parent's gifts I presume.  Life thru the eyes of a two year old must be so curious at times!  

As promised:

My Etsy delivery came today!  Sofee stitch markers!

Aren't they just the cutest ever!  Jillian of "WeeOnes" made them for me.  I saw some buff colored Chi markers in her shop,  and I asked if she could make ones marked more like Sofee.  She asked for more photos of her - from the back, etc, and was most accommodating.   I can't imagine being that talented!!!!  I think they are just adorable!  Each one has her in a different pose.  So cute! I am just delighted with them. 

BG had his first two days of school last week - well 2 hours really.  He was so excited about his new back pack.  (Talk about early education - it had to be packed with extra "pull-ups" a clothes change, and his "lovey")  Here he is all ready to go!  Grandma's taxi service seemed to be quite acceptable, and I didn't hear any complaints about it not being a yellow school bus.  Whew.....

Day one went very well, even though I was a little nervous because there was one little boy wailing uncontrollably when we arrived.  BG seemed unfazed, although that was what he talked about most when I picked him up.  His day recaps are mostly in one words - that I have to somewhat piece together.  At barely 2 yrears of age, sentences are just beginning to form.

Day two was a little more challenging for him, however.  When I picked him up, he had his Eyeore in a strangle hold, and had big tears in his eyes.  He declared himself as "sad" when I asked him what was going on.  According to the teacher, he wanted to go to the "big gym" and play with the ball at a time when it was not allowed.  So.....he started yelling for "Grrrraaaaannnnnndddddmmmmmaaaaa" real loud, and got a little disgruntled with the whole situation.  (Yes - he makes about 14 syllables out of that word!!)  Anyway - I guess he thought I'd come to his rescue and let him do what he wanted.  Hmmmm.....wonder where he got that idea????  I probably need to re-evaluate my grand-parenting skills...... (I'll let ya know how that goes.....)

And Three weeks later......

Sorry....MIA.  Several folks have written expressing concern that I have not been posting.  Nope - nothing wrong.  Just life getting in the way I guess.  Sorry - I'll do better, I promise!

While I personally am fine, Sofee, well you know her allergies!  She is in the middle of the worst of it.  Poor little girl.  Her eyes are really bothering her this year.  We have a new ointment, but basically she needs to stop rubbing them.  We are balancing drugs and barrier clothing items with full-attention/lap time.  We'll get through this again......  I'm just hoping for early (and frequent) frosts!

  She could be a poster child.....poor little girl!

On the knitting front, finished are the "Deep in the Woods" mittens.  They've been on my Ravelry page for a couple of weeks, so sorry if this is redundant for many of you.   I made a few changes, which can be found on my Ravelry page.  Basically they are knit as pattern is written.  I really like them!

I started a plain vanilla sock.  Opal yarns can hardly make "vanilla" socks! Pretty wild!  This colorway is one from the rain forest collection of a couple of years ago.  Stash yarn. It's a project that I can take and run with.  Mindless knitting - hmmmm - that seems to be what I need these days. 

I am nearing completion on another pair of  "Knotty" gloves.  These are out of a skein of Cherry Tree Hill - stash yarn that is several years old.  Love them.  They fit a bit tighter than the reddish pair I recently completed.  Same needle size and stitch count, just a slightly different yarn weight. 

The post-lady has been VERY nice to me this past week or so. 

This Schauht Lazy Kate came to me on Friday of this week.  My WooleeWinder bobbins are just a smidge longer than the stock Lendrum bobbins, and would bind up on the Lendrum Kate.  I decided that I would prefer a horizontal kate, and decided to go with this model.  I have yet to use it, but hopefully I will like it immensely!

I decided it was about time that I figure out what I should be doing, so DH actually, purchased these DVD's for me.  I am a "spin by the seat of your pants" type of gal.  I do what feels right.....and for the most part I have been pretty happy with the outcome.  But the recent sale on these DVD's - well, I decided that perhaps it was time to see how things are "supposed" to be done.  LOL.....  (Lots of Luck) with that!  I'll be trying to break bad habits from now on......
 
And speaking of:  This fiber was especially dyed for me by JulieSpins.  I wanted to spin some light to dark transitional yarn.  Love this fiber.  She named the colorway "Teddy Bear", which is a perfect name!

With a little bit of manipulation, it has been spun into a nice hank of yarn.  It's not been sett yet, so not really ready for it's debut shot.  Also, only half has been spun at this point. I need to find the perfect pattern. 

And, a new sock book:  I pre-ordered this one.  I have knit many of Stephanie's designs and find them both beautiful and challenging.  Little dpns have been dancing in my brain since this beauty arrived!

I am actually waiting for an Etsy delivery that I will be sure to share with you all.  Nope - not fiber!  Something really cute....and I am so anxious to receive!  Be sure to check back to see......... :)  

That's about all I guess.  BG will start his little "pre" pre-school this week.  Only 1 hour each day (Tues/Thurs) a gradual adjustment.  We have been talking about school and reading books about going to school for the last several weeks.  He keeps zeroing in on the "school bus" aspect of school.  Sadly, I am his school bus.  Hope he's not too disappointed with that.  I'm very excited for him.....I think he's going to love it!  I'll keep you posted.  

Some pretties.....

I love Redbud trees.  I think they look mystical and "other-worldly".  After a couple of failed attempts, I now have a fine specimen of my own - right in my own back yard.  But what I saw today nearly took my breath away!.

Red Haw State Park is covered in Redbuds!  DH and I took a road trip to Southern Iowa today.  The park is located near the town of Chariton.  Timing could not have been more perfect. 

There is a nice lake, the banks of which were just covered with them!

They also lined the roadways.

Right around this bend, we could see the water again, and were thrilled to see a group of Pelicans.

DH liked the trees, but I think a group of Pelicans.....well, it made his day.  Up until then, we had seen only a few Canadian Geese and a few ducks - one of which was a wood duck.  I quickly grabbed the camera, but these guys didn't stick around for many  poses.

Then on to Pella.  Pella is a Dutch community, with an annual "Tulip Time" fesitval every May.  This year, I'm afraid the tulips may be past their prime.  They were the most beautiful I have ever seen them - today - which is two weeks before their festival.  The whole town is covered with gorgeous beds of tulips. 

This has to be my favorite color of all!  Followed closely by

these gorgeous yellow ones. 

I really don't know much about tulips, but there were some very unusual varieties! 

So, this year we missed the street dancers in their wooden shoes, and the street washing that they do.  We weren't tempted by all the junk food vendors either. We experienced absolutely gorgeous tulips and no crowds!  Not a bad way to end a spring road trip.

"Yeah, easy for you to say.  I had to have a bath when we got home....something about washing off allergens.  Up until then I was having a good day too! - oh well, at least that little boy didn't get to go!!"

So much for THAT plan.....(sigh...)

Yesterday was somewhat frustrating.... as in a great deal frustrating actually.  I was so excited about starting my first handspun sweater.....so what went wrong?

These guys, (shown waiting for their shampoo), are now all done, patiently waiting for their knitter to return. All 12 skeins were weighed, measured, tagged, and put in line as to how they will be knit up.  I hope to minimize any noticeable difference between the skeins.   They are very close in grist, and perhaps I am being overly cautious.....but well, I am who I am!

 I unashamedly admit that I am a swatch knitter. (Notice the coaster - they make great coasters).   I get a lot of razzing about my swatch knitting activity from my TNKG, but I learned a long time ago - better to be safe than sorry.  (I avoid all speed traps in life whenever possible.)  So, I am grateful to my swatches, but they did cause my frustration.  I would have suffered more than a little frustration had I just moved on with my plan, however.....

Gauge was not the issue, and I love the fabric that the yarn is giving me, but the cable pattern - not so much!  Darn!  I think it is a combination of the dark color (which I knew might be an issue) and the color variation within the yarn....anyway, I am just not loving the cables.  So.... what to do??

This is the sweater I had originally thought would be my first handspun sweater, rather than Fylingdales.  But then DH made a comment about not liking it so much.  Plus, I have a HUGE amount of this yarn, and probably should save this pattern for a time when a smaller quantity of yarn is available.

So, I decided to sleep on it.  Well, try to sleep anyway.  That is getting harder these days anyway, and this dilemma didn't help any.  But this morning, I remembered Kerrar, a pattern that Pat (who, btw, is nearing completion on her first handspun sweater) had brought to my attention.  Ahhh.... could be just the ticket! 

So - that's the new plan.  The pattern has been purchased, downloaded,  and printed.  Gauge swatches have already been knit, washed, dried and inspected.  So....hopefully this will be a go!  I'll be back with updates.  Oh, and that Fylingdales sweater - some other time, but with a lighter and more solid color.  It really is a gorgeous sweater, I just don't want my yarn to fight with the pattern.  So again.....Swatching paid off!  I'll be back soon with updates.....

Plans.... hopefully of the best laid variety.

Seems I am always planning the next project as I work on the present one - be that knitting or spinning.  Do you all do that too?  Is that just a symptom of the fiber-fever that so many of us have? 

At other times, things turn spontaneous, and that's ok too.  I had no plans for any specific Olympic knitting projects.  But, for some reason, I decided to knit a pair of socks....Red socks no less.  Perhaps it's all those Red Canadian mittens I see waving in the crowds.  (Yeah, I know....I said "socks", not mittens.) 

Anyway, I cast on for these socks during the opening ceremonies.  Yes, I really am not that far along, but I do actually watch the action from time to time...... And, there are 75 stitches on those size 0 needles.... so, I'm getting there!  It has been quite some time since I have knit anything other than a "plain jane" sock, and I am enjoying this little project quite a great deal. 

 The pattern is a freebie from Ravelry.  Its called "Gansey Girl Socks" by Debbie O'Neill. It's a very nicely written pattern.  There are various sizes offered too, which is somewhat rare.  I could have cast on only 66 stitches, but I remember the "old days" and kind of longed for those size 0 needles once more.  It's fun..... 
And, as I knit, I am planning..... big time.

My husband has the temporary bobbins all ready for me, as I plan on spinning all my singles before I ply them together into skeins.  I need temporary bobbins and the t.p. cores were less than perfect.  I ordered color cards, thinking that would help me pick out the perfect color. LOL - well, not all plans work out quite right.  It was still a difficult decision!  And then there is the pattern selection.....guess I have plenty of time to decide while I am spinning all that yarn up.  The fiber should be on the way tomorrow!  I decided on "Rainforest", a dark green/blue color.  It's the one I have been "playing" with actually.  I cannot for the life of me capture the color correctly, but please believe me when I say it really is pretty.   

While this cold bug is still hanging on, I think I am feeling a tad better each day.  (Hate to jinx it).  It seems I feel a little different every morning when I wake.  There aren't many symptoms left for me to experience, so I presume I will be well, and back to normal soon. That's the plan anyway!   Thanks for all the well wishes I have received, and so sorry to have whined so......