Half A Sheep

Keep on Bloggin', Mama!

2006-08-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Blog my blues away....
(with apologies!)
Everyone....go HERE ! I'VE MOVED DUE TO BLOGGER OUTAGE!
I have had the best blogging day yet!

My blog was mentioned on Stephanie's post about Austin! I hope she enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoyed meeting her in person! That alone generated a spate of comments, which were wonderfully nice!
And, Blogger actually let some comments in! I don't know if everyone who came posted something, but 5 comments actually got through! I don't know about anyone else, but Blogger seems to have technical difficulties, quite often. Is this common with everyone's blogs? At any rate, I've opened a Typepad account and will soon be moving the blog. I'm going to work on it more this weekend.

Now, to answer some of the very lovely people who stopped by:

Violetsrose, Denise and Jess all wanted to know about the Blue Sky Alpaca DPN's in the lovely, ever-so-convenient tins...

These lovelies are Sizes 0, 1 and 2, as I felt I needed more needles for socks....(or more reasons to cast on more socks before actually finishing any) They are described on the package as Exceptional Lal Khola wooden needles. When you Google Lal Khola, the only thing I can find is reference to the needles! Who knows what kind of wood this is? The package also lets you know that they are "Made in India by people who are treated well and fairly". (Maybe the Knitting Goddess will adjust my karma accordingly, as they certainly made a fair wage off ME! These puppies are trop cher! )

I haven't gotten to use them yet, but they FEEL wonderful! The wood is smooth, without ridges, or defect that I can feel. But even though they are very smooth, I don't think that they will be too slippery! It almost feels as if it wil "grasp" the yarn without catching it!

They feel a bit more solid than the Crystal Palace DPN's that I'm knitting the background sock with, as well! (I certainly hope so, as I have a tendency to *snap* mine in half!) The points are fairly sharp, but taper quickly to the full diameter of the needle. I don't know how that will affect decreases (like k2tog), but I'll let you know when I find out!

CRAPITO! CRAPOLA! BLOGGER WON'T LOAD PICTURES! AARGH!
I'M MOVING NOW!!!!!!

Stalking in Austin!

2006-07-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

I fear I am not alone!

If stalking is a sport, it was elevated to an art form yesterday, in Austin!

I arrived at about 8:30, after driving 3 1/2 hours from Dallas....to find two women sitting at the bus stop on S. Congress...the only signs of life. I parked my car and began walking to the church, when I noticed that both these women were armed....with pointy sticks and yarn! Eureka!

As we waited, and busses went by, we waved them off with our needles...."Not us! We're waiting for the Harlot!" (and stupid me didn't get my camera out!)

Gradually, more people arrived. They finally opened the church doors when the ambient temperature reached about 90 degrees. We filed in, in small packs, like wool-verines!

Imagine a couple of hundred knitters, pointy instruments in hand awaiting the arrival of their heroine!

My bus stop buddies and I got in the very front row (excellent stalking skills, that!)

Incredible amounts of public knitting going on with this group! Everyone was checking out each other's projects...like this Regia sock yarn that I so HAVE to have...

Not to mention our lovely Ken doll
Bermuda shorts! TOO HOT!

Someone even brought the size 7 Sheep that goes with my Half a Sheep!

Then it was time...
Cowboy hat in hand, with Giant Yak in foreground, we finally meet our Harlot, face to faces!

And, of course, THE SOCK! (Ee ees so veery hansom in de person, no?)

On a serious note, if you EVER have the opportunity to see Stephanie in person, break your neck to get there! I have rarely enjoyed listening to someone as much as I did our Harlot! Her humor is even more evident in person, if possible. Kind of a cross between Elizabeth Zimmerman and Rita Rudner! And if she ever tries to tell you that she's shy....I have pictoral evidence to the contrary!

We laughed 'till tears streamed! We hooted and ye-hawed! And loved every minute!

The book signing was held in the small garage behind Hill Country Weavers, so we had to wait our turns (and shop) in the relative coolness of the store! But, you've got to hand it to the Hill Country ladies, they supplied us with Shiner Bock, Corona, Brownies and some of the best Pecan Pralines I've ever had! Can you even bend your brain around a couple of hundred knitters in a small yarn store where they serve beer and chocolate? It was mayhem! Many firm resloves not to increase stash were broken yesterday, including my own!

(Please note the LACEWEIGHT yarn...I have succumbed!)

And we all know that one can never have enough pointy sticks!

And I got to meet a few of my fellow bloggers!
This is Diane S. who I've been chatting with IN PERSON! Yea Texas Bloggers!

We finally got our turn at the "Signing Shed" at about 2 P.M. Please note our heroine is diligently WORKING at this...

(Also note that bottle of Corona as well as the Shiner Bock in the background!) I believe that it was the influence of all that beer that caused our dear Harlot to take a potty break...and to leave the SOCK UNATTENDED!

What happens when you leave a half knit sock ALONE in a WOOL-verine pack?

THEY FONDLE IT!

Now, for the point of this entire blog!

I GOT TO MEET THE HARLOT!

I got to give her gifts of LARGE Shiner Bock and Yarn!

And our Socks acutally got to meet!

And, as promised, pictures of my camera-wielding new friend, Cindy

Alas, all good things must come to an end. My stalking has come to fruition...I have met the object of my efforts.. ANOTHER HARLOT ON SOUTH CONGRESS!

Stalking the Harlot!

2006-07-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

CHAPTER IV -
During which our heroine anticipates meeting HER heroine!

THE HARLOT IS COMING! THE HARLOT IS COMING!

CAN YOU TELL BY ALL THE SHOUTING THAT I'M EXCITED!

Yes, ladies and gents, the really, truly Yarn Harlot is appearing at Hill Country Weavers in Austin. On Saturday! Only two more days! I've planned to go to this ever since it was announced (before Hill Country Weavers even sent it out on their mailing lists!). All I can tell my family is that there had better not be any emergencies, glitches, or whining when I leave! I'm travelling from the suburbs of Dallas to Austin (about 250 miles) as this is the only appearance she has scheduled in Texas, so I will leave Friday night, spend the night in Austin, get up early and soak up all the knitting-ness I can! I will probably be a completely tongue-tied, stammering idiot, if I get to meet her at all! Does this classify me as stalker-esque?

I have even gone so far to issue an invitation for a Kerbey Lane Queso Consumption and Longneck Liquor Lapping. What will I do should she accept? Anyone else up for this on Friday night? Let me know! If she does accept, I may need others to help me speak, as I'm sure I'd sound like some star-stalking fool!

Honestly, when I first began this journey into the knit side, one of the first weblogs I found was "The Yarn Harlot". Irreverant to the bone, how could I possibly resist reading a blog with a title like THAT? I was amazed at her humor! I could identify (as many of us can) with most of her yarn dilemmas. The popularity of her writing is due to, in part, the fact that she speaks to us all, about the mundane, and makes us laugh at ourselves, our families, each other and life. When I'm burnt out from too much work, or disasters at home, I sit at the computer, click on my "favorites" link to the Harlot, and generally laugh like a looney. Even my ten year old has taken to reading chapters of the "Secret Life of a Knitter", much to my suprise! Her subjects, and her wit refreshes me, and inspires me to be a better knitter. Her blog has been the inspiration for this blog, and my entrance into the knit/blog community. Without her, I might not have found out about Grumperina or Rabbitch or many of the others that I read so diligently. Her Knitting Olympics idea was pounced upon and inspired many of us to challenge ourselves to greater feats of knitting prowess! And the technical tips (disguised as "oopsies") have been invaluable. I am assuming that I am not alone in my adoration of the Harlot, as I don't think I've ever seen less than three or four hundred comments on her blog entries.

So, we shall head for Austin tomorrow....

Besides, I really, really want to meet the sock!

Knit on!

Les butons!

2006-07-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

De scrollin', de scrollin',
de button, de button!
Smooth on down like
the butter on a muffin!
-Strongbad

Check it out, ya'll! I made de button! Feel free to nab it and post it!
I'm proud of myself, techno-idiot that I am!
The picture is of a "half sheep" that my daughter got at a furniture store (I think they gave her this in self defense, to distract her from running rampant through the sofas). Too cool!

I've also tried to update my "Blogs I read" list, although there are many left to put on. But I'll get there.

Isn't it amazing what I can accomplish, if they'd only let me have days off?

Knit on!

Hot, hot, HOT!

2006-07-18T18:24:00.000-07:00

Good evening.
Welcome to HELL.

Or at least, Texas in July!

Our official temperature at DFW airport (which is really quite far from the actual CITIES of Dallas or Ft. Worth) was 107 degrees. Add at least 2 or 3 degrees in town....now, that's HOT!
And we didn't even come close to the record for this date....that's 111!!!!!!!

Our only salvation is airconditioning and pools! I've been shamelessly taking advantage of both for days! The only time I've set foot outside is to dash for the car (airconditioned) or splash into the pool! So, I figured that my knitting should be photographed poolside!

I'm knitting the French Market bag from Knitty in Noro Kureyon for my little daughter, who wants a project bag of her own. She picked the colors, which I think will look wonderful when felted!

I also started the fronts for my grandson's sweater, which I have been meaning to work on for months...I figured that since I was knitting it 2 sizes too large, I'd have plenty of time!
This is a sweater pattern from Sirdar, knit in Baby denim. I love the cables on the fronts, but I'm a little worried about picking up the button band from the single stitches at the edge of the cable....we'll see.

I finally started "Cedar Creek" socks, from the Socks that Rock KAL. I know, I'm late, but...the "Rock and Weave" pattern was so much fun, and I ADORE STR (!!)... so better late than later! And no pooling so far!!!

Finally, this is what all children should be doing when it is 107!

See you later, if I don't melt!

One big blank

2006-07-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

After returning from vacation and surviving the post-vacation slam dunk at work, I seem to be in a mind blanking fog from which I am having the greatest difficulty emerging. I work, sleep, clean, knit and read but have been absolutely uninspired to share any thoughts with anyone. I seem to be going through this isolationist period in response to having both the girls home at the same time.

When one child has gone off to the university, it becomes easy to believe that the trials and tribulations of two girls in one end of one house are over. Au contraire, mes amis! If abscence of one's love makes the heart grow fonder, abscence of one's sibling is only a reason to redraw the "territory" boundries, so that there is something new to fight over when the absent one returns. The first several weeks of summer have been spent hearing "Get out of my ROOM!" and "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" and "You are SO gonna GET IT!" One would think that the 9 years in between them would make this type of fighting pointless, but one would be dead wrong. I'm trying my best to simply observe, as to jump in the middle of these fights usually winds up with ME as the enemy and THEM going off to huddle and discuss how completely unreasonable their mother is.

Thus, the lack of communication. I've effectively gone into hiding!
I must, however, come out of this! Knitting pics tomorrow! I Promise!

NO MORE VACATIONS!

2006-06-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

If anyone is out there, please forgive my lack of knitting content, as well as my poor posting performance (can you spell aliteration?) (Did I spell aliteration?)
I have made a discovery. You have to pay for vacation.

Yes, I know, vacation is supposed to be a benefit for working tremendously hard during the year. Every year, I look forward to some time off. Every year, I think, "I'm going to do exactly what I wish for two (one, three, whatever....) weeks!" I vow each year to hold firmly that resolve....and fail miserably.

Now I had fun on vacation...but I did exactly what the 10 year old wanted (so much easier!). When I got back, I had accomplished very little knitting, had no pictures to show for what I did accomplish, had two weeks worth of dirty laundry (that I still haven't finished), a filthy house (because the three other adults cannot be left on their own to clean...) and only 4 days left to do it in. I had to ready everyone for the following week.

When I take vacation time, I am actually expected to "make up" my call time....which means that I have 5 call days out of 7 this week! I figured it out and will spend a total of 126 hours in the hospital THIS WEEK ALONE!!! Vacation simply cannot be worth this!

So next time I get the urge to take a vacation, STOP ME!!!

Si Vas Para Chile....

2006-06-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Go visit my socks......

Yes, boys and girls, the socks that I adored.
The ones I ranted and raved about.
The ones I wrote odes to.
I even sang songs to them....
They are gone.

Gone to the far ends of the earth!

At my daughter-in-law's kitchen table, I whipped out the finished product for her to model. (I had actually thought of these as a slightly late B-day present for her, since she is a sock shopper from way back). I had actually planned to post the finished pictures, with the cute little heart buttons on the side. But they were socknapped!

The hermana (sister) of my nuera (daughter in law) began ranting about them...weren't these muy linda (beautiful) and could I hacer (to make) some for her....she loves calcitenes (socks). She apparantly suffers from cold feet (even in the Atacama desert, where she lives)....and so my socks are in Chile. Not only did she admire them so much that I gave them to her, she went on so much about my 10 year old learning to knit, that I had to go to the LYS across the street and buy some Aruncania yarn so that she could knit a scarf for LILI! Not MOM, who taught her, but LILI (who already has mom's socks!) I wish I could do that!!!!

I miss them already!

(Seriously, we love Lili very much, and I am glad she got my socks....I think I've found someone to knit socks for who will love them as much as I do!)

The development where my son has an apartment, includes a small, centralized area for retail shops...including a yarn store!!!!! It's called "Woolwinders" and I've actually ordered something from them on the internet, before. Lovely shop, and very friendly knitters. Yes, knitters are the sales help. In general, you might have to wait until they get done with a pattern repeat, but it is worthwhile, since they are knowlegable in a way that only knitters who have made those discoveries or errors are knowlegable. One of the girl's mothers knits with Annie Modisett, in Jersy...she's going to be there in July, I think or late June. Whenever it is....I'll be in Dallas.....WAAAAAA!

I haven't done much knitting,( having spun into a depression over my purloined piggy warmers) as I have been doing all the driving (They won't let the small one drive, even if she could reach the pedals) and, while I have actually worked on socks in traffic (we were at a dead stop) I am not brave enought to do it on the interstate through mountains! So knitting content is sparse, but should be better later this week!

Stay tuned for the "Tale of the Frogged Scarf....."

Wagons, East!

2006-06-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Rollin'...rollin'...rollin', rollin' down the trail I go...
Rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin down the trail.....

As the summer holiday season approaches, I just wanted you to know that I, too, have joined the ranks of the half-baked, half asheep idiots out on the highways of our nation in search of the elusive SUMMER VACATION.

Not only am I braving the highways and byways of our great nation, I am doing it in a two seater car which essentially has no trunk, with a 10 year old child, and my knitting bag! For two weeks!!! Holy batshit, Batgirls! What the hell was I thinking?!?

We left Dallas on Saturday morning, about 9:00AM (I had actually planned to be gone before 6). We made 4 (count 'em! FOUR!) potty stops before we got to TEXARKANA (AT ONE PM!!!!!) Now, for those of you who don't know this, that's a two to two and a half hour drive, under most conditions (not including ice, torrential rain, tornados or, apparantly, ten year olds!).

The stop in Texarkana included a stop at Best Buy to purchase a small digital camera, so that I could keep the grubby little fingers off of my very expensive digital SLR ("Mom, I WANT TO TAKE PICTURES, TOO! CAN'T I GET A DISPOSABLE DIGITAL CAMERA? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?") So, now we are about two and a half hours BEHIND. It just kept getting worse.

By the time we got to Malvern, AK, I was to the point of threats. I actually listed all the major airports between our location at that moment and Washington, DC (our final destination), and quietly informed my daughter, my sweetness, my heart, that if she didn't shut up and quit whining I would pop her bony little butt right onto a plane and call her dad or sister to pick her up! And that Hartsfield was less than an hour away! The compromise we eventually reached was that she could say "Are we there, yet?" and "I'm bored" only one time per day.... so of course, she kept asking me "Can I say them yet?" AARGH!

We finally made it to Nashville, TN.....at 10 pm! When I last drove to DC, I left home at noon and made it to Knoxvillle by 10......

Sunday wasn't nearly as bad, thanks to a fully charged digital camera....

And now I have 352 pictures of "The Road"!

By Sunday evening it was all worth it....cause this is what we get to see every day

Woven and Stoned!

2006-05-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

I wish to propose this as the National Anthem of the STR club!

(to be sung to the tune of "We Love you Birdie" from "Bye, Bye, Birdie")

We love you "Socks that Rock"
Oh yes, we do!
We love you "Socks that Rock"
and we'll be true
When we're not knitting you
We're blue
Oh "Socks that Rock" we LOVE YOU!

Undoubtedly, there are alot of you who will think that I have completely lost my mind. To them I say only, "Be thou sad? Get thee a sock! Get the a sock!" (with apologies to the Bard).

I have finished the first sock of the new pattern and am completely enchanted (in the true sense of the word) I simply cannot stop knitting them! I'm knitting them at home. I'm knitting them between cases (or when surgeons are late). I even stayed at work 15 minutes longer than I had to, in order to Kitchner the toe! I NEVER stay at work longer that I have to (since I practically live there anyway). I am entranced. I am undone.

I truly understand what everyone means by the term "hand" now! It's an epiphany thing, I think. I am communing with this yarn! And the pattern!

Note the darling little picot edge at the cuff! Saturday, I'll go looking for buttons!
For those of you who said this yarn will not pool....please note the cute little bands of stripes...not exactly pooling, but definitely patterning in alternating colored stripes! Still adore it!!!!

I adore it so much that I actually cast on the second sock as soon as I finished the first one!!!!

And here's the proof!!!!

(I've fallen off the edge, haven't I?)

KINT ON!

Weavin' and Rockin' Part Deux

2006-05-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Apparantly Blogger is now functional. Now we can post pictures, again!
Despite frustration with this apparatus, I have to look at this as another opportunity to wax rhapsodic over this yarn! If you are in love with this colorway, go to see Fricknits' Ode to STR. This is the singularly best praise in prose I've seen in awhile!

As I mentioned yesterday, my yarn came Saturday and simply SCREAMED to be wound! So loudly that I didn't even snap a picture of the skein! So you will have to do with my "Emergency sock yarn picture!

The hollering began when I started to put up the ball winder, and yarn swift. It kept hollering until I at least cast on the cuff (On Addi Turbo US 5's)...we don't need no stinkin' swatches! (Don't laugh later if they don't work...I was under the spell of this fabulously insistant yarn!) I managed to get the cuff mostly done Saturday evening. The linen stitch is very easy to memorize and looks SO great with this colorway!

Please note the darling little picot edge at the bottom of the picture (sorry about the lighting, but this was late Sunday afternoon). And the buttonholes just above it! (no, not a slip in the pattern!)

By Sunday afternoon, after many interruptions for necessary, if not quite so important, things, (like paying bills, cleaning house, laundry) I was up to knitting the heel.

I ended Sunday night with a sock, ( still whimpering loudly that a few hours loss of sleep would certainly be worth the finished product) heel turned, ready to start the gussets!

Cannot wait to post pictures of the finished sock! I hope everyone in the Rockin' Sock Club is having as good a time with this as I am!

Knit on!

Weavin' and Rockin'!

2006-05-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I did promise knitting pictures this week.
I just planned to post pictures of the stuff I was already working on!
However, blogger is being a big butt! (alliteration, no?) The pictures are in my computer, but will not upload. Bummer!

Because, man, I am lovin' me some Socks that Rock!

Yes, I am a member of the Socks that Rock club. And since I'm 'fessin' here, I did not knit the Cedar Creek socks yet. But when this new colorway came on Saturday, it simply SCREAMED to be wound. Then it HOLLERED until I cast on! Now it is simply nagging loudly every time I put it down!

The new pattern has a linen stitch cuff with buttons(!?!) Too cute! And it feel sooooo wonderful! I absolutely understand why everyone has raved so much about this yarn! So smooth! No splitting, even on US 1's. and the linen stitch with this color is stupendous! I can't wait to show you. Stupid Blogger!

Mom

2006-05-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

The other reason for going to Austin.
In a small, central Texas town cemetery.

I miss you so much, I can't breathe if I think about it too long. I know we fought and feuded when I was young. I know we became good friends as I grew up. You were my touchstone, my "safe base", my conscience and my guide. I still hear your voice in my head when I'm troubled. I still see you with your hands on your hips when I've done something I shouldn't. Big girl and I stood at your grave yesterday, with flowers and tears, selfishly wishing you back with us.

On this Mother's day, I remember every little thing about you and weep like the child I still am. I remember everything you ever taught me, and go on like the woman you wished me to be.

The Eyes of Texas are Upon You

2006-05-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

All the live long day!

My big girl's back and there's gonna be trouble...
Hey nah, na na, my Big Girl's Back!

Big Girl is home from college, having survived her freshman year in Jester (3 thousand teens under one roof. Woah!)

While it probably wasn't necessary to go pick her up (she'd already moved most of her stuff back), it was a great excuse for a road trip/yarn expedition. I think she actually asked me to help her so that we could shop at the Co-Op and I could pay for it. But it's "all good in the 'hood", as I got to go to Hill Country Weavers, finally! Really nice people! Great goo-gobs of yarn! I behaved myself, mostly because I wasn't sure how much room I'd have after packing the girl, but I did manage to score some Nashua yarn in Burnt Orange and Cream. I'm sure Hogwart's didn't have a UT house, but by golly, it will now!

I also scored some really pretty roving and a drop spindle (pictures after the camera recharges). Yes, I am going to attempt to spin. Note the word attempt. Remember it. I give myself 6 months...if I can't do anything by then, I'll cry, pass on the spindle, and chalk it up to experience. I have a couple of books, and a video of "Knitty Gritty" - the episode on how to spin. I mean, how awful can it be? OK...don't tell me, but send suggestions!!

I did get to see some people that I have been wanting to get in touch with for awhile, including my old college buddy, which was awsome! We "haven't changed at all" in each others' estimations (25 years later). Which means that we are either both lying through our teeth, or have completely blocked all short term memory...we only remember what we were like! I'll take the latter!

The girl and her roomie took Moms out for dinner at the Hula Hut on Lake Austin on Saturday. Much fun was had by all, including big girl getting a swig of mom's Margarita!

Great enchiladas, by the way!

I promise by all the yarn goddesses that I will honestly post pictures of KNITTING by next week, or you may all flog me with the yarn of your choice!

KNIT ON!

I got trouble, Right here in River City!

2006-05-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

With a capital T and that rhymes with D and that stands for DH!

Those of you that have been reading know that DH, lazy butt that he is, has had to have surgery (undoubtedly as a result of laying on his lazy butt all winter) to have his iliac artery unclogged. Since this wasn't possible (surgeon talk of blood clots travelling distally and clotting off entire foot!!!), he had to have a femoral to femoral bypass. OK. That's done. Good blood flow. Good pulses. Good boy.
And, since this was certainly exacerbated by his smoking, he finally QUIT! (yeah!)

But....(you know there had to be one), I have come to realize that I am married to the largest WEENIE on the entire planet!!!!!

Now, when I had our daughter by C-section, cut side to side, had my gutty wuts removed and replaced and then stapled together, (with a giant hole in my uterus mattress stitched together...yes, the same mattress stitch you use in sewing), DH expected me to get up and take care of all of the people who came to see the baby. Cook. Make refreshments. Keep the kids under control.
But let him have 2 tiny groin incisions, and he thinks that we should all wait on him, coddle him, constantly check his incision, etc. And bandage changes are a nightmare! If you pull off the tape, he swears that you are pulling out fingernails or testicles! I swear that he actually asked me to push the button on the remote control once! He kinda backed off when my head started to spin.

Needless to say, the sheep pen is a disaster! And to complicate everything, big girl moves home for the summer this week!

But, you will all be glad to hear that some knitting has occurred! Just not in photos, yet.

I'm up to round 40 on the Rogue...working like mad to get to the point where you join the pocket so I can get those flippin' needles that it is on out of my way! I've also worked on grandson's sweater some, and knit some more on socks (two on two circs, toe up). I'm dying to get into my STR socks, but might have to wait until this weekend. (If I don't hurry, I'll be one sock behind in the club)

I don't know what the rest of you do when you're stressed. I know some drink wine, or eat chocolate. Some take long baths, or have a "lie down". But, I would be willing to bet that many more of you do what I just did...BUY MORE YARN!

Yep, they got me in the Project Spectrum sock a long....I'm anxiously anticipating my first yarn....

AND I WON!!! Yep, I won some Regia sock yarn from CIRQUE DU SOCKS! Thank you Elaine!!!! I NEVER win anything, so this is almost as good a chocolate!

Think I'd better go knit?

Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

2006-04-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

Quasimodo has nothing on me!

My back is sore,
my shoulders bent,
my hands are filthy, cut and bruised.
My skin is roasted,
my eyes are itching......

But we did accomplish a lot in the garden.
We are nowhere near finished, but at least progress was made.
Now, if I ever recover, we might get more done this week.

Meanwhile, I have made progress on the Rogue and my two simultaneous toe-up socks, but no pictures....maybe later in the week. There's just too much work to do. I am actually looking forward to being on call this weekend, in the hospital for 72 hours. At least there are no weeds there!!!!

What a tangled mess we weave!

2006-04-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

...when first we practice to deceive our spouses and sit on our lazy butts all winter!

Constant readers
Please forgive the dearth of knitting of late.
Methinks it is because the season hath turned.
Spring/summer is here, as only two seasons grace us here in Texas (generally "Cold" and "Hot").
Now that we have reached "Hot" (the temperature was 101 earlier this week) there is much to be done, and no DH to do it!! He's recovering from his bypass surgery nicely, if a bit grumpily, but no lifting, pulling, hauling, digging, toting or baleing. Since it is commonly supposed among my dearest friends that I keep DH around for the heavy lifting, they are now scratching their heads in amazement!

I spent most of today working in the yard (and a lot of work it is, too!). The flower beds by the pool are overgrown (He was supposed to do that in January).

The bushes need to be cut back (that was a job for last August)

Everything needs mulch. The container plants that didn't get in last fall (also DH's job) are dead as doornails, and must be replaced. The patio is starting to grow weeds between the blocks.

And there are bugs of rare and colorful species all over the place (including mosquitos as big as a small helicopter, and almost as capable of carrying one away) . The nice part is that the oleanders are starting to bloom.

I went to the nearest MegaLoMart/HomeDebit store and began the transformation myself this afternoon. I started with the flower bed nearest the kitchen window (since I see it most of the time).

Lookin' good!
I also got bunches of plants!
There's lavender in pots,

a lone tomato plant (also in a pot, as DH always mows them down after one or two tomatos),

bougainvilla,

and lantana.

I did, however, even with all this yardwork, manage to knit a bit on the Rogue. I'm now at the kangaroo pocket, and the cables are starting to look like something (I hope and trust).

I do have to say that I really like Gedifra's Top Soft! It is rather slick and slippery ('specially on Addi Turbos), but I really like the way the stockinette looks and feels.
Hopefully I will get to knit a lot more this week...I'm falling sadly behind in Le Cirque du Socks, I'm afraid. DH goes back to the DR tomorrow...hope he gets released to do SOMETHING! Even if it's only to drive to MegaLoMart/HomeDebit and stare at the power tools!

Of Surgeons, Queens and Rogues

2006-04-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

Another week has come and gone... where I do not know.
Postings have been sparse of late, but I have multiple good reasons. Or, at least, multiple reasons.

For anyone out there keeping track of this, DH had his surgery. All went well, so he will be back in commission in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, all of the things that he does around here have fallen squarely on my head. Not that he does all that much, but what he does do is ugly, dirty, distasteful or involves killing poisonous things. (shudder) I have, in the last 6 days, had to kill multiple big-ass spiders, stick my hand down into a hole in the ground to turn on the valve to the sprinklers, (I don't know what was down there....and I DON'T WANT TO!) haul groceries in, drive everyone, everywhere, climb ladders, clean pool decks, move furniture, etc. I'm exhausted! All this in addition to the several million things I have to do before and after work. *sigh*

While he was having surgery, his vascular surgeon went on a mission to recruit me to the anesthesia department of his hospital. While DH was in recovery, I was interviewing with the chair of the department. I must give this a lot of thought. I love my position and my boss, but they are making me an offer that will be hard to refuse. Two 24 hour days. That's it. Each week. Five (count 'em) FIVE DAYS OFF EVERY WEEK!!!! NO CALL!!!!! Five days a week to knit!!!!!! (If they can come up with enough money to keep me in yarn!)

Because this was Easter weekend, and my son gave me tickets, we went to see the road production of "Phantom of the Opera", which was phenomenal! My daughter brought her roomate from college and her boyfriend. She was able to discuss all the technical aspects of the production, which made me realize, suddenly, that she is actually learning someting in college! Whoopie!!!!

Oh, you ROGUE

I did manage to keep working on the Rogue hoodie, through all of this, and finally got to the cables. (Did I mention that I've never done cables before?!?)
Does anyone think that I may have overestimated my ablity? Does this LOOK right?

I'm knitting this with Gedifra "Top Soft". The stitches are VERY well defined in stockinette stitch, and look wonderful. This is as far as I've gotten with the cable, so it's a little hard to tell if it's ok. The yarn may be a little too elastic to do well, or I may be a little inexperienced. Either way, I shall press on!

Take me to le CIRQUE

I finished my Jaywalker socks last week, so I wanted to start some new ones. It took a little while, since I needed to sit down and read the instructions for Mary Ann Beattie's "Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes and Heels Socks". I've never done "toe-up" socks before, either, so this one may take a minute, but I'm doing them simultaneously on two circular needles.
The yarn is Katia "Mississippi" print...not a true "sock yarn", but it seems to fit the bill, and I like what the colors are doing, after the "pooling" that I got with the Lorna's Laces yarn on the Jaywalker socks. I'm not sure what I'm going to make these into, but I'm increasing like mad! I do absolutely LOVE the toes!
This is the long tail cast on method. I HATE Kitchener stitch, so this is my chicken-shit way of avoiding it! Works for me! I may never knit top down again!!!! Let Le Cirque du Socks continue!

I am itching to cast on something else, as well, but I think this is still reaction to the bout of monogamous knitting during the Olympics. I sure hope I get over it fairly soon! I may run out of needles!

Look for more this week, as I'm taking a lot of call and may get a lot more done! Until then, I'm still Half a Sheep.

Boogity, boogity, boogity

2006-04-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

Please forgive the lack of postings this week....busy, busy!

DH has been having trouble with his leg (previously stented open TWICE) and had to see the vascular surgeon on Monday. On Thursday, we wound up at the hospital having an aortogram with R U N N O F T. (See "Oh, Brother, Where art Thou?") The results: he has another occlustion of the Right iliac artery, which means that he will be going into the hospital tomorrow to have a femoral to femoral bypass done. Great.

Now, prior to all this, he invited his brother and sister-in-law to visit, and go the NEXTEL cup races at Texas Motor Speedway. So, here I have a husband who can't walk 10 yards without resting, two KY natives in the big city, and a race to get to. The logistics of THAT were mind boggling. Plus, I had to work in between hospitals, family, kids, etc.

Needless to say, not a lot of knitting going on. I did manage to finish the Jaywalkers while we were waiting for the surgeon to report back on what we were going to have to do.

These were knit with Lorna's Laces yarn. I love the colors, but found it interesting the way the colors pooled on the feet. Anyone have any ideas how to prevent this in the future? I knit each sock the same, but would've liked them much more if I could've kept the stripes going as on the leg.

(Note the pigeon toed picture, trying to illustrate the stripes!) But, they're finished and I love them. VERY comfortable pattern! Thank you, Grumperina!!!

Will post more this week, hopefully. With DH out of commission, it's liable to get really frantic around here! Prayers, good thoughts, etc. will be gratefully accepted!

Rendering Ceasar

2006-04-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's....

Knitters who live in the US all know what's coming....April 15th. Tax day.
Now, I know that every year on April 15th, I'm going to have to pay money.
I know that I need all my information to enter on the tax forms.
I know that I need to have paid quarterly taxes all year long.
I know that I will need to make a trip to North Dallas to the financial planner dude to fund Keough, educational funds, etc. in order to pay the government less.
So, why do I resent it so?

BECAUSE IT HAS CUT INTO MY KNITTING TIME!!!!!!!

(Sorry for the shouting, but it pisses me right off!)

I envy women who get to knit for hours instead of minutes!
I envy those who actually have FO's to post!

Now, my son actually WORKS for the IRS (attorney...do I sound proud?) in DC. I really wouldn't mind paying taxes so much if they would just let me send HIM a check. I might even send it early. Just deduct it from what you owe him! :)

Speaking of which, son, nuera y piqueno nineto flew through DFW on Friday, so I actually got to SEE him for an hour! This is the first time we've been able to see each other since Thanksgiving 2004! WOW! He got SO BIG!

Gratuitous Grandma and Grandson picture!

While he looks a little like a deer in the headlights here, by the time they left he was blowing kisses and saying "Vamos?". I plan to go to DC in June. Give me a couple of weeks with this guy and I'll have him wrapped around my little finger (or me around his!)!

Knitting has been limited, because of filthy lucre greedy jerks who want their money ON TIME!
Such as it is, I have rounded the heel on the second Jaywalker...it's all downhill from here!

I also finally got the nerve to cast on the rogue AGAIN!

Now this is only the hem, but it IS straight! No more moeibus rougues for me, no sir! And I will always know when I reach the end of my round, thanks to my beautiful stitch markers, courtesy of Rabbitch. Take a bow!

Isn't it beautiful?

Perhaps more knitting time this week...if DH doesn't object to me knitting at the NASCAR race!

Second post of the day!

2006-03-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

I had to add this when I found it! Too cute!

Does it look like me?

The Best Laid Plans

2006-03-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I planned to post all kinds of wonderful knitting pictures to the blog this week. I planned to be well into the cables on the Rogue hoodie from the Girl from Auntie, as well as to have finished my Jaywalkers. But, as the title says...

This is the view of my yard last Sunday afternoon.

I guess you could declare our months of drought in Dallas officially OVER! We got over 6 inches of rain in about 12 hours here, but almost 10.5 inches in the middle of town. A woman actually drowned in the middle of the city! Just so you know, this is the same view this Sunday.

Yes, the water eventually receded. My youngest asked if I thought it would continue for "30 days and 30 nights." Think I need to work on her biblical knowledge?

Now, I did cast on the Rogue Hoodie. And after 7 rows of twisted stockinette stitch, I frogged it. Why, you ask. Because I was knitting a moeibus Rogue! I THOUGHT I checked to make sure that my stitches weren't twisted when I joined it, but apparantly I missed it. By the time it became apparant to all that this wasn't right, I had already done the whole hem. I frogged the thing and was too depressed for a couple of days to start it again. Right now I've cast on and knit 2 rows (not even enough to take pictures of!).

The Jaywalkers are progressing, slowly. Work and other obligations have cut into my knitting time drastically. My partner is on vacation, so I'm doing alot more call...and we've been busy. But...they ARE progressing.

Eventually, all things will finish!

Good news, I got my first installment from BMFA for the Rockin Sock Club! Along with my "emergency sock yarn!" It is absolutely too cute! I'm also waiting for my stitch markers from Rabbitch. They are en route. I cannot wait! You have to see these! And for those of you who are waiting for Amazon.com to get their collective act together and get us our lovely Harlot's new book...mine shipped on Friday!

All in all, a better week is in the offing!

Who's my Daddy??????

2006-03-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

I know that these things are bogus, and can be annoying, but I absolutely HAD to post this one!

Your Daddy Is Johnny Depp

What You Call Him: Old Man

Why You Love Him: He knows best

Who's Your Daddy?

OMG! Wouldn't it just figure that "Cap'n Jack Sparrow" is my favorite character, EVER! And wouldn't it figure that DH absolutely cannot STAND him? Tee, hee!

Rowlf?

2006-03-21T20:09:00.000-08:00

"I don't even believe this one..." she says as she giggles hysterically all the way to Blogger!

You Are Rowlf the Dog

Mellow and serious, you enjoy time alone cultivating your talents.You're a cool dog, and you always present a relaxed vibe.A talented pianist, you can play almost anything - especially songs by Beethoven."My bark is worse than my bite, and my piano playing beats 'em both."

The Muppet Personality Test

Beside the fact that I have FOUR dogs (and 2 cats), now I can BE one!

Lucky dog!

Spring Broken

2006-03-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

If you are a mother, and your children are on Spring Break, you will understand the title of this post!

I love my children. I really do. In much smaller doses than I have had this week.

BOTH of the girls are on spring break. At the same time.

While the eldest was in high school, this wasn't a particular problem, as her sister was in daycare. She simply dropped her off on her way to "hang out" or do whatever she did on her break. But, now, she lives in Austin, at UT, and we only see her when she has breaks from school. Which means that her little sister only sees her then, too. And, being almost 10, she expects her big sister to pay attention to HER. Most of my week has been spent consoling a small child because "Sissy won't play with me", or, alternately, getting on to her for getting into her sister's "stuff." AARGH!

The eldest walked in with this:

I personally think she does things like this to shock me. But I rose to the occasion. I told her if she got a cold, she would blow snot out her nose, sideways.

I did manage to get some work done on Jaywalkers...one down and (to avoid SSS) second is cast on and running! (Apparently Blogger won't let me post any more pictures. I think the nose ring caused it to go on Spring Broke, too!)

So much for higher education

2006-03-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

"One little kitty, TWO little kitty, THREE little kitty...muhahaha" the Count, Sesame Street

I used to think I could count.
I actually remember learning to count to one hundred.
I remember learning to add and subtract by counting change with my mother (she worked as a waitress when I was young, and always had pockets full of change to be counted). I learned to multiply and divide the same way, multiplying rolls of quarters, etc. This was all before I started school.

In school, I was always top of the class in math and reading. In college, I made it all the way to differential equations! I've been known to tell my children that the two most important subjects in school are reading and math, because everything else is based on these two subjects.
I can outstrip a calculator in adding columns of numbers. I beat the cash register at the store, every time.

What a comeuppance to find out that I can't count!

How did I find out, you ask?

By Jaywalking.

Yes, Jaywalker socks a la Grumperina.

I read the pattern carefully. I prepared my materials. I cast on and knit for several rounds, and all was well. Each time, I counted stitches. Each time the pattern got more and more familiar. Then....
I couldn't count.
I should have had 42 stitches...I had 40. Tink, tink, back to 42...OK. Knit, knit, tink, tink, knit, knit, tink ,tink. (And this with Lorna's Laces sock yarn on US #1 needles!). I swear that 2 + 2 used to equal 4, but NOT ON THIS SOCK! Jaywalkers exist in a black hole in the universe where all real numbers are sucked flat! Only imaginary numbers (remember those, math nerds?) exist in this pattern. Pattern? OK, I re-read the pattern. Shit.

I can't read either!

So much to knit...so little time

2006-03-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what is going on, but Blogger is being a butt!
I had a wonderful blog all planned, and it won't let me put everything together the way I want.
And everytime I check on how it looks...I loose the whole thing! AARGH!

Right now I'm working on my grandson's sweater that I started right before the Knitting Olympics. I just can't seem to get into stockinette right now. I'm suffering from Post Knitting Olympic Knitits. I want to knit fast and furiously! And I want to do complicated things! Plain vanilla knitting won't do!

On Wednesday, while on call at another hospital, I found a LYS about 5 minutes away! Just the perfect place to browse while waiting for someting to happen. (I could spend LOTS of money this way!) It's a lovely little shop called Yarn and Stitches and is located in Richardson, TX. The ladies in the shop were very nice, and a joy to talk with. I purchased some #1 Addi's and began to teach myself to knit socks on two needles. And not just any sock....Jaywalkers!

These are being knit with Lorna's Laces sock yarn. The colors are actually Turquoise, Violet and a very deep fuscia. Camera colors leave much to be desired here.

I also purchased a book that I have been lusting after

As well a some more yarn...Katia Missisipi print....yummy!

The next day I finally got my mail and lookie, lookie!

Lots and lots of Socks that Rock!!!! I'm thinking Mermaids, from the new book!

I also got some of this on sale on Friday

This is for a sweater for the Katie diva for fall.

And look what else showed up this week....

The questionably other half saw these and has requested a sweater. This from the man who says "Real men don't wear sweaters!" If you knit your husband a sweater, will he go away??

Then, today, I did a semi-stash survey...

I think I'd better go knit something....

My Wonderful Medal

2006-02-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

Da Da Dada Da Da da
Da da da da da da da dada da da da (Hum to the Olympic anthem)
Finally, the Gold !

I want to thank Stephanie Pearl McPhee (aka: The Yarn Harlot).
Thank you for spending so much of your time inspiring us.
Thank you for creating an outlet that, obviously, so many of us needed!
Thank you for your humor, humility, and perseverence in the face of daily adversity!
Thank you for your ability to make all of us feel good about our efforts (not just whether we finished or not)
And thank you for keeping this all together! What a Herculean effort! Worthy of Gold, all by itself!

On to 2010... you know it HAS to be done! :)

The Rest of the Story

2006-02-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

I told you that I would get back with the rest of the story....here it goes.
Ice storms, call, weird family emergencies, dogs, cats and husband notwithstanding, I planned on finishing by Friday. I figured it out, and it wouldn't be a big deal...just a couple of hours on Thursday, then sewing it up on Friday. I haven't even been posting to this blog, just to make sure I finished on time.
Then it all unraveled...my life, that is, NOT the sweater!!! (Scared you, didn't I?)
K had a school project that she needed help with. Hubby wanted any kind of attention at all (even if it meant getting stabbed with the needles) and kept pestering. Wednesday was only good for about 20 minutes, while I was on call, as labor and delivery was crazy. Thursday night I slept, since I didn't Wednesday night. OK...here we are at Friday. Of course, when I bought the very expensive and wonderful tickets to the symphony, I didn't know there would be a Knitting Olympics! And this was the Mozart Celebration! So, off I went. Without sweater, as it was too bulky at that point to knit decently in a concert. Great concert, by the way, but now we are at Saturday.
Saturday morning, bright and early, with coffee in hand, I began knitting the last 15 rows of both sleeves (I did them simultaneously, since counting is out of the question with the hoard I live with) and the collard to do. I had plenty of time. I did laundry on breaks. I drank LOTS of coffee. I knit and knit. Just when I had bound off the collar...the beeper goes off. Crapito! Double crapito! Labor and delivery.
Off I trot to the hospital, knitting in tow. Epidural in, charted. Knitting in hand, ready to sew.
I managed to do the shoulder and collar, as per instructions. Dr. wants to do a C-section on another patient. Triple crapito!
On to the OR...One C-section. When we got out, the other woman needed some more medication...pump ran dry. By the time I had finished charting, dosing, etc. and picked up the needle, it was after 10pm. Then our OB went to check the laboring patient. Complete, time to push. OK, I put the sweater down, thinking, I'll be going home in 30 minutes or so. WRONG! Patient is asynclitic...now why the Dr. didn't figure that out before, I don't know. Second C-section. We are now at quadruple crapito! To make a very long story short, I didn't get home until after one am.
I don't know about you, but I was not about to try to set in sleeves at one in the morning!
So...we'll just get up a little early...no problem.
Now don't think I'm complaning(much). I love my family. But when I have a day that I can sleep in, it never fails that a dog will bark to be let out...everyone's asleep, so I get up. Or the youngest just "can't sleep any longer" and I HAVE TO GET UP! (K. up by herself is UGLY! The kitchen could be a disaster by the time anyone finds out!)
Counting on my internal and family fail-safe alarms, instead of a clock, I fell asleep.....and woke up at 10 AM. Three hours until closing ceremonies (CST)! Quintuple crapito!!!!! They just decided to let me sleep in, since I'd been working and knitting so hard! *sigh*
I sewed and coffee'd frantically, telling everyone they were nothing but a bunch of freaking knitting saboteurs, and that they just couldn't be relied upon for anything. (At least they had sense enough not to come to close, as I was sewing...THAT needle is considerably sharper than the Addi's. But I finished! With only 25 minutes left, I finished! Yeah! I feel unbeleivably great! Now I am basking in post-Olympic glory, my laurel wreath firmly planted on my brow and my stash scattered to kingdome come, going "OK, what am I going to knit NEXT?" :)

And she takes the Gold!!!

2006-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it!!
Finished, with only 25 minutes to take pictures, post, etc....but it is done!
The lovely model/recipient of my Olympian effort is my youngest daughter, Katie, who obviously aspires to the dramatic!
I will rearrange the pictures later, and tell the story, but for now, this will do!

AND SHE GETS THE GOLD!

And, since we are knitting not only for Team USA, but for Team TEXAS, as I take to the podium, we will display the Lone Star Flag and sing "Oh Texas, My Texas!!!!"
Yee Ha!

Got 'dem Memphis Blues again, mama!

2006-02-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the frozen wasteland that is Memphis, TN!
I am so not used to this!
I am currently stranded (sort of) in Memphis, because I had to come here to a class...now I don't have a lot of hope of getting out of here. Since I drove, I need to drive back...but all the highways here are iced. HELP!
My olympic knitting has progressed a little....but much remains to be done.
Now, do I try to get home, using different routes, or do I sit in the lovely Mariott in downtown Memphis, watching the ice, and knitting for a day or so?
Sounds like a no brainer.....except I miss the short girl and the animals!
So, wish me luck....I'm gone to Jackson!

Post qualifying...after the Short Program

2006-02-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

I had intended to post on Saturday, after an entire night of knitting to the opening of the XX Olympiad (which was beautiful), but due to a number of reasons (which you will meet later in this posting), that didn't happen!

After the debacle of the guage swatch (which I finally got right!), I thought that I was all set. I had the proper size needles, without a mad rush to my LYS for a longer size Addi Turbo. I had more than enough yarn (2 balls more than the pattern required). I had studied the pattern for almost a week...no major glitches that I could see. Yes, I would be knitting from a chart, but the chart was very straight forward...knit and purl. I had coffee. I had chocolate. I had all of the remote controls to all the electronic devices in the living room. As the athletes marched into the stadium, I watched with anticipation, not of Olympic splendor, but of knitting splendor! I would surpass myself! I would knit like the wind! Nothing could stop me!

As the Olympic flag was carried in, I was mentally preparing myself for about how many rows I would need to do in ribbing. As the torch approached, I worried about how my astigmatism would affect my ability to count tiny little boxes...I know, draw lines every five boxes, so I can count easier (problem solved). I cast on as the torch lit the night sky! The excitement was tremendous. I ribbed for five rows (about 1 1/4 inches). As Pavarotti sang the finale from Turandot and I headed for the body of the sweater...DISASTER! In all my planning, studying, swatching, etc., I had failed to notice that the graph was WRONG! PANIC!!!!

I looked at the graph. I looked at the picture of the sweater. I looked at the graph again. It called for several rows of knit stitch with occasional lines or partial rows of purl. But the picture was in stockinette stitch, with purl lines on the front of the work! What the.....?????

Now, I love some of Katia's designs. And I am completely taken with the colors in their Nepal yarn. But whoever they hired to translate the pattern from Spanish to English is an idiot! (I hope that they aren't reading this!). Because I live in Texas, I have to have more than just a passing knowledge of Spanish (not to mention that I have a Chilean daughter-in-law). So I had to go back and look at the pattern en espagnol. Now punto jersey dereche apparantly means "stockinette stitch" and punto jersey reverso means "reverse stockinette stitch". SO....I had to figure out whether I should be knitting or purling a ROW, THEN I had to REVERSE it when it came to the stitches marked as purl! I think that was the knitting equivalent of Shaun White almost not qualifying on the men's halfpipe snowboard competition! But "todo es mejor ahora!". I will press on to GOLD!

Now for the gratuitous knitting pictures:)

This is the back of the sweater, with it's intended recipient anxiously watching, so that nothing happens to her sweater.

This is the front, which is actually about 1/3rd finished. Again, under Miss Katie's watchful eye!

Can you find the three dogs with this child?

And finally, la bella Lucy, in her golden splendor.

Sorry, but the two kitties just weren't in the mood.

2006-02-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

No time for pics, today! I finally swatched and OMG! Too big! Too big! Gotta re-swatch! I'm on call tonight (and was in-house call last night) and there is NO TIME!!!!! So, do we give up food, or sleep? My bet is sleep....that's my standard choice and why I remain....
HALF A SHEEP! (too punny!)

I hope to have pictures of the swatch (in correct guage, of course) by tomorrow morning, and begin knitting as the flame is lit!

You will note the new button from The Quacking Fiber Addict. It's too wonderful not to post! Another proof that really SMART people KNIT! Actually, I'd like to be on EVERY team out there! I am completely and utterly amazed at the number of knitters joining in and the range of projects! And the enthusiasm with which everyone has joined in! I'm actually EXCITED!

So heigh, ho, it's off to work I go...with dreams of knitting gold!

Get de Button!

2006-02-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

For any and all Texan Knitters: GET THE BUTTON!
I want you all to know that this is the first button I have ever made!
I'm so proud!

2006-02-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

OK, Blogger is up and working!!! This is the sweater, the event, the challenge! I am knitting this in these colors, so the finished product should look like this! (Note: I said should!)
The pattern itself isn't all that complex, but I've never knitted a sweater in 16 days (Challenge #1) The pattern has a graph...I've never knitted from a graph (Challenge # 2). I work an incredible number of hours (Challenge # 3). Since I work the aforementioned incredible number of hours, I let my ACLS certification lapse (not from lack of trying, but from inability to schedule a class. So... right smack dab in the middle of the Knitting Olympics, I have to drive to Memphis, TN from Dallas for 2 days to take ACLS! (Challenge #4) All of this occurs while dealing with the T.A.K.E. team that lives with me (i.e., Hubby, 9-year old, 74 year old cousin, 2 cats, 4 dogs....and one non-resident teenager currently at college) (Challenge #5). Am I up for this??? YOU BET!!!!!!!!

See you on the needles!!!

of FO's and new WIP's

2006-01-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in several days...I actually decided that I needed to be knitting, instead of messing with the computer, since the Knitting Olympics has become such an incredible competition! Training, you know! Since I am currently knitting a sweater in the same yarn that I will use for my Olympic event, I consider this "training." Of course, I've been working on this sweater for 6 weeks....can I finish one in 16 days?????

Anyway, I finally finished the sweater, including all the weaving of ends. All that is left to do is the buttons, but after all that sewing, I really wasn't up to buttons today. I will do that this week, as the elder princess will be in town for the Super Bowl. (Trust me, she doesn't care much about football, but the boyfriend does!) Would you like to see it? OK....

This is the collar

And this is the picture overall...I hope the detail comes across!

I am very happy with the way this has turned out...wait till you see it with the buttons!!

While I was waiting for the yourngest to finish her bath, I started on this project...more training for the Olympics (plus, I need to knit something for my grandson)
I am knitting this sweater in the recommended yarn

And this is how far I made it

Olympic notes:

You will notice that there are several more buttons on the sidebar under the olympics! I am absolutely delighted with the buttons from JenLa! They are hysterical! Also, the Welsh knitting team is amazing! I think we should ALL join them! (Plus, they'll just about take anybody!). An amazing number of people are signing up for the event! It's nice to know that there are so many of us out there!

More pics to come....

XHTML and Causes

2006-01-21T13:53:00.000-08:00

OK...it wasn't really HTML...but who knew? You did? No one told me!

Now that I am blogging, and reading blogs everywhere, I've found it necessary, if I want to be a real part of this online community, to learn what all this stuff is. "Stuff" being the generic term for anything I don't understand (or know the name for). Abbreviations on-line, for example. Or computer languages. If I want to join a web-ring, I have to post their "code" on my blog!?!? Now, I have to learn how to do that.

Being a completely compulsive and somewhat anal person (all the better to anesthetize you, my dear), I couldn't be satisfied with simply copying something from someone's site. I had to UNDERSTAND how it got there in the first place! To wit: I went out and got a book...if I can learn to put people to sleep (and wake them up ---important part!) I ought to be able to learn to do this.

Boy did I underestimate the complexity of this! First, I find out I'm not using HTML. OK, it was what I thought it was called! No, now we must use XHTML which is a version of XML which is a version of SGML....and I fell flat asleep! But, lying there with my forehead pressed against the book must've allowed me to absorb something, as I was able to add another link without assistance in about 2 minutes flat! Hooray!

The link that I added is the second part of today's blog.

In the sidebar, you will notice the "Free to Stitch, Free to Bitch" link. When I found out about this from http://theknittingcurmudgeon.com , I was completely incensed! If you read my previous posts, you will realize that Deb Stoller's book was the instrument of my knitting epiphany! I credit her witty style (and cute little pictures) with the rebirth of my interest, nay, obsession with knitting! Now I will count myself with those who have risen to her defense!

Apparantly, we have become a nation which cannot simply "live and let live". No, we must sully each others welcome mats with legal torts in order to feel important. First, has anyone, up till now, ever heard of Sew Fast/Sew Easy? Where the hell is it? Who are these people? Are they knitters? Are they crocheters? Do they even sew? Since no one seemed to know who they are, can they be that large that they can conquer thousands of knitters? With pointed little weapons? NAY! How many hundreds of knitters attend "Stitch n' Bitch" groups? How many people identify the phrase with these groups or Deb and her books? Surely, we are spread across the country!

Secondly, the phrase itself "Stitch and Bitch" is descriptive of actions which we all participate in (to greater or lesser degree :) ) much of the time. Because Bryer's has a "Peaches and Cream" Ice cream, does that mean that someone in Podunk can't have a confectioner's shop called "Peaches and Cream"? Or that I cannot say that a friend has a "Peaches and Cream" complexion? Did SFSE make up the words "Stitch" or "Bitch"? Were they the first ones to ever put them together, in the history of the English language? I think not!

The saddest part is the incredible amounts of money that will be spent, arguing over something that really wasn't all that big a deal to begin with, until SFSE got greedy with the English language! Or, perhaps, this is simply SFSE's way to capitalize on the tremendous success which Ms. Stoller enjoys, and the popularity of the S n' B's across the country! Publicity, even negative, is still publicity! Personally, even if I knew where it was, SFSE would never see my trade! So, save your pennies! As soon as we can find out if there is a legal defense fund for Ms. Stoller, I'm SO there!

In the meantime, I am with Marilyn when I say:

HTML anyone?

2006-01-19T19:37:00.000-08:00

I think blogging might just be cool!

If anyone has read my blog, you will now notice that I have edited my sidebar!!! All by my lonesome!

Yeah, Me! :)

You load sixteen tons....what do ya get?

2006-01-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

As much as I hate it, this has been a nearly knitless day.

I work in medicine and I am on call. Which happens to mean that today, I will not see my home, my hubby, my kids, my dogs, my cats, or my cousin (who lives with us). I brought my obligatory WIP with me (as usual), but have been exceptionally busy and unable to work on it much. I am on the computer in our call room, waiting for a young girl to be ready for her epidural and simply don't feel like getting set up to knit and then having to put it down right away. I want to knit for HOURS, not minutes, damn it!!!

I have cast on the sleeves for the ungrateful teenager's Katia concoction, and have knit about 1/4 of one sleeve, since yesterday. I need to finish this so I can swatch up for the competition! Our lovely Yarn Harlot is playing host to the winter Knitting Olympics! I must train! My project will be a sweater for the less ungrateful nine year old, done in Katia Nepal. This will be the first time I have tried to knit a sweater in a limited amount of time (and for me, time is what I have the least of). Nor have I ever knit a turtleneck.. in ribbing. I need to sacrifice small amounts of fibers to the yarn gods to make sure I can get it over her pointy little head! It may not be up to the level of Wendy and her Bohus sweaters or the Harlot and her steeking (I cannot even imagine taking scissors to anything I spent an inordinate amout of time knitting!), but it will definitely be a challenge!!!
I can't wait! One pm CST on February 10th! Sharpen your needles!

One TAKE agent out...one remains!

2006-01-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

Just so you know that I am still here....I figured I'd better post the pictures I promised. If anyone is out there lurking, or reading, I may have to do away with the elder princess of the house. She's back off to that hotbed of rampant liberalism that we used to call a University...probably in the nick of time! Too many more days of biting my tongue and I would've had to start working on my fingers...and then where would we be?

The Yarn Harlot calls these insidious agents members of T.A.K.E. (Team Against Knitting Enjoyment) I heartily agree! No matter what time of day (or night) that I think I can relax, and maybe knit a few rows without interruption, one or the other of these creatures I actually had surgery to give birth to will find a way to stop me. "Mom, I need... ". This was ok when they were younger. They NEEDED me. "I need a cookie." "I need to go potty." It was my job. Now, however, they are coming up with "Mom, I need a new laptop." "Mom, I need more money." "Mom, I need you to take me, feed me, buy me, fix me, or make me" SOMETHING, 24-7. AARGH. Like I said, good thing one has gone back to school!

A good example is this sweater. It is a pattern in the latest Katia pattern book. When I offered to knit a sweater I thought my eldest would love, her response was "EEEEWWWWW". So I turned her loose with the book. She picked out a long coat...okay. Aside from the fact that I might have to mortgage my house for the yarn, it was actually very classy. But....could I make it shorter? Sure....how short? Oh, the length of the sweater (that she didn't like). AARGH! At any rate, here is a picture of the back. Both fronts are finished and I'm working on the sleeves. I love the way this is coming together, using Katia Nepal yarn. The colors are in random blocks and work larger or smaller blocks depending on the width of the piece. Makes for interesting patterning!

I particularly like the twisted 1x1 ribbing at the bottom.

Now, all you have to do is pray that I finish it before I throttle her!

2006-01-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

I don't know if this is proper knit blog etiquette, but I am definitely in on the 2000 sock thing!!! Camera should be up and running tomorrow with pictures of WIP's!

Projects on sticks

2006-01-10T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hi, everyone!

Just as I am new to knitting, I'm new to blogging, so please bear with...
About 6 months ago, I discovered I could knit! Yes, discovered. No, I have not lost my mind. I learned to knit when I was about 8, one boring afternoon. I stuck with it just long enough to finish a purse that measured about 3 inches deep by 4 inches wide, with a strap about 4 feet long. I made it with some god-awful ombre yarn and quit knitting. Crochet was FUN!Crochet was FAST! Sure, the fabric wasn't quite as pretty as knit, but you could crank out a project in NO TIME!

Many years later, I decided to try again...same results. BORING!!!!!After several more years (and several more attempts at trying to make ANYTHING knitted)I gave up.

One day, while giving the devil his due (going to the financial advisor and taking care of tax stuff) I decided to stop by a LYS that I had noticed, rather than fight traffic. I was in the mood to crochet, and figured I needed a new project, pattern, yarn, whatever. The store is called the Woolie Ewe (in Plano, TX). (Do I get discounts for advertising????) A woman there was knitting a beautiful red sweater, that my eldest daughter would love, and I commented that I wish I could knit, but, as a crocheter, I simply couldn't make myself do it.The woman commented, very quitely "Can't never could". I felt like Hamlet, only it was the ghost of my dead mother laughing, so I promptly nabbed the owner, said, "Find me something that I can knit that I won't get bored with" and proceeded to the register. She sold me a Fiesta Yarn shawl pattern, along with a hank of yarn so expensive that I would have felt guity not finishing it (smart lady). I also added in a book, just to make sure I remembered knit and purl. (although the pattern only calls for knit). STITCH N' BITCH! Bless the author of that little gem! Later that night, I was flipping through the pages, reviewing how to make a stitch. First she showed "English" style. (Is there more than ONE???) I turned the page to find CONTINENTAL style knitting. I looked at the picture. I stared at the picture! I held it closer and stared at it some more! Could it be? She was holding yarn in her LEFT HAND! It looked just like I hold yarn to crochet! Holy shit!!!!!I picked up my yarn and miracuously, I could knit! Amazingly, I could purl! Unbelievably, I could do anything! I have knit intarsia, and it is mine! I have knit lace! I CAN KNIT!!!!!! Not only can I knit, I CAN KNIT FAST!!!!May the earth mother bless all the Woolie Ewe people, all the woolie sheep and eveyone else who have gotten me here!

I'm currently knitting a lovely pair of Traveling Willbury socks (from the Knitting Curmudgeon, I think?) in Koigu, for my wonderful cousin, who has adopted my girl in college. She works at the university that my daughter attends, and has been a wonderful mentor (and savior) for my oldest girl. What better way to say thanks and hugs and kisses than several thousand stitches of wonderful wool?

I'm also working on a sweater derived from a Katia pattern book. It started as a coat but we shortened it to sweater length. I've done the back and most of the left front in Katia Nepal. I love the blocks of color in this varigated, bulky yarn!!!! It's gorgeous. As soon as I figure out how to upload photos on to this, I will post them!

I work (alot) outside my home, so I usually take one portable project with me every day. I will take larger projects when I'm on call, and have to stay at work.

Anyone with comments or who can help me learn to do this blogging thing, feel free! I have the thickest skin on the planet, and would certainly appreciate any help I can get!

Till next time, I am half a sheep!

What's happening to me?

2006-01-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I've begun this...I hope to continue to post and join the rest of the knitters who have inspired this adventure! If anyone out there has any ideas, or suggestions, I know that you will post them!

First, let me tell you that I'm new to blogging.
Second, let me tell you that I'm relatively new to knitting.
Third, I must tell you that I am completely obsessed by it! I read knitting. I sleep knitting. I knit at work, in traffic, at the doctor's office, in line at the tax office, at Starbucks. And, I buy yarn EVERYWHERE!

Is there hope?