Knit Tea, Purl Scone

Updates on the way...

2010-02-16T14:31:00.002-05:00

after I figure out how to change my page design.

Anyway, February brought me my first car accident. Hopefully, my jeep will be fixed in about a week.

I finished Clapochet and am relatively happy with it. Still need to wash and block the hat, Coronet. Hope the wool softens up or it won't get any use.

Working on my sock has been put on hold so I can make birthday gifts for the sisters.

2010-01-15T10:29:00.003-05:00

It is halfway into Selfish Knitting Month and all I have done is a small portion of one very small project. And did you notice? It's crochet, not knitting. To be fair, I did plan on knitting a shawl but I didn't have the right size needles. And this IS a crochet version of the knitted 'Clapotis' found on Knitty. I was so looking forward to knitting for myself that I failed to concentrate on the one holiday item I had yet to finish. As a result, there is a young man wandering the town with mismatched mitts. Normally I wouldn't have given them away but it has been abnormally cold. Besides, his mother has assured me that he hasn't even noticed that the cables are different. I don't mean that one is shorter or fatter than the other. I mean totally different as in a completely different design. Still wondering how I managed to finish the whole thing without noticing... Eventually I'll get around to making a third to match one of them. Hopefully.

While trying to decide what to knit for myself I came to realize that my selfish knitting is knitting for others. There is so much joy to be had through making something for someone else(whether they want it or not!). I'll be the first to admit that my needle/hook skills are, at best, average. I love the fact that I can make a simple scarf and my friends and family think I have amazing talent! :)

2009-10-10T21:27:00.002-04:00

Two beanies I made for Dave during his winter stay in New Hampshire. The green baby alpaca was not warm enough for anything below 20F so I made the brown one. (The lady at the wool shop said that camel would be warm enough.)

Since it is doubtful that will ever wear these again both are heading for the frog pond.

Finally finished my cardigan - 'Hey Teach' from knitty.com. I'll post a photo once I find someone to handle the camera. (Another drawback to being on my own.)

2009-09-19T10:47:00.002-04:00

1. Crocheted booties for the xmas pile.

2. My first Fair Isle project!

3. Neckwarmer from one of the many 'one skein' books. Shown here unblocked, unfortunately after blocking it is now a couple of sizes too big.

Socks!

2009-07-23T00:00:00.005-04:00

Proof that I did indeed knit a proper pair of socks, using sock yarn and small needles.

I'll savour the moment because it may never happen again!

Leyburn socks by pepperknit

Nothing new

2009-07-19T14:51:00.002-04:00

Seriously. Finished a pair of socks but don't have a picture yet. Finished some scarves but haven't sent them in the post. Still working on my sweater. I hope to have it done before my trip out west.

Still missing Dave. :(

2009-06-16T18:53:00.002-04:00

Not really happy with either of these but then I rarely am really happy with my work.

1. Colour is actually a bright hot pink. 2. The green is really soft but isn't as ruffle-y as it should have been. Can also be worn overlapped.

Coldplay concert

2009-05-21T10:31:00.002-04:00

We went to see Coldplay last night. Key word being cold. The temperature dropped and there I was without a bit of knitted warmth. Obviously wasn't thinking straight, probably the lack of food earlier in the day. To top it off, I didn't want to chance my needles being confiscated so I missed out on a good deal of prime knitting time.

Oh, the music? Coldplay puts on a good concert. However they do need to get better opening bands.

In other news...

2009-04-21T11:55:00.003-04:00

I finally finished the baby sweater.

And some scarves...

Photoless Connecticut

2009-04-01T22:20:00.006-04:00

Not that Connecticut is undeserving of photos - we just forgot to take any.

After tea on Saturday we left Boston and headed to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. There wasn't much opportunity for photos. Once we got off the freeway it was dark and we were on rural highways, probably passed something photo worthy but there were no streetlamps so...it was dark. Until we got closer to the casino. I could tell that we were nearing the casino by the halo of light on the hills. And the steady stream of cars on a dark highway in the middle of nowhere.

Who would have thought that a large casino with four hotels would be totally booked? Tom Tom comes to the rescue again and finds us a Best Western near by. Except they had no vacancies. But the desk clerk was very helpful in directing us to another grouping of hotels not too far away. Days Inn at four in the morning... I didn't take pictures.

Sunday we set out to see Rob, with a quick stop for breakfast. Oh, and some outlet shopping. Spent time with Rob and his youngest, the darling Eloise. Forgot to take pictures.

We spent Sunday night in Atlantic City. I remembered to take pictures of the hotel room at Caesars. But my batteries were dead. Very nice room, fabulous shower. I just wish that it had a bathtub. :(

The nice thing about the hotel/casino? Smoke-free for the most part. Not so nice? They didn't have a 24 hour restaurant. Two in the morning and we had to go over to Bally's to eat. That wouldn't happen in Vegas...

Mom- I know I said I'd send you a postcard but, unlike Vegas, there weren't a lot of gift shops in the hotels. We did get some batteries though.

The AC Boardwalk. That's about it. Nice for a day trip but I'll take Vegas.

Monday evening we spent in Baltimore and got home Tuesday afternoon. Travel can be fun but it feels good to be back home. It feels even better to finally have Dave at home.

The Boston Tea Party*

2009-04-01T18:51:00.018-04:00

*with equal parts hard cider

Dave's work trip was finally at an end so we spent five days making our way back home from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Thursday we went up to Kittery, Maine to do some shopping and then headed down to Boston, Massachusetts.

Dave had booked us into the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The room was nice (I would have taken a picture but we'd already spread our stuff all over) but the bathroom needed a renovation.

Very...public restroomish. And take a look at the back of the door.

A bottle opener. Seriously.

That night we had dinner at MJ O'Connors, the pub next door to the hotel. A pint of Magners and Guinness Beef Stew. Yum!

On Friday we went to Brattle Book Shop (established 1825)

Art work on the side of the book shop

We went to the New England Aquarium, home to Myrtle the green sea turtle - 70+ years old and over 500 lbs. Did you know that penguins bite? and projectile poop?

Along with the turtles these are my favourites...

We also wandered around the Market Square. Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Had a cider at the Black Rose and of course, went to the Hard Rock Cafe. We met up with Dave's friend Ted at MJ O'Conners for a cider (Dave) and Irish Coffee (me).

On Saturday we went to Windsor Button (established 1936) where I bought buttons for the baby sweater I'm making and a skein of silk/seaweed yarn. I know, it sounds weird but its soft and beautiful. We strolled the Boston Commons and the Public Gardens.

In winter the Frog Pond is iced over and the Bostonians come here to skate.

Indulged in a bit of park bench smooching...

Afternoon Tea was set for 3pm back at our hotel. We had time to kill so we went to the pub next door and had a pint of cider.

Before our courses began we each had a glass of white port, infused with tea. Lovely was the only way I could describe it.

First course
The scone recipe was described as a cross between a scone and a Scottish rock biscuit. It was very good - made with currants, not too sweet.

Second course
Egg salad, chicken salad, salmon and pork tenderloin. Spiced cake, petit four, dark chocolate truffle and chocolate dipped strawberry.

Third course
Tea infused Crème brûlée.

We were lucky enough to be served by Cindy, one of only a handful of tea sommeliers in the world. She was very helpful in choosing teas and also suggested that we share pots of tea so we could sample a variety of the blends. Of course I bought tea to bring home. :)

The lobby of the Boston Park Plaza.

All in all, a great trip and I certainly wouldn't mind another visit.

2009-03-21T00:28:00.002-04:00

How does it feel to be forty-one?

I feel tired.
Dave (who likes to point out that I've now caught up to him in age) feels tired.

And we're not even in the same state so that is not the reason. ;)

2009-03-19T23:45:00.003-04:00

Today is my birthday.

I thought it would be depressing to be alone on my birthday but I had a good day.

I spent the morning chatting online with a couple of friends and I had several phone calls/texts of birthday wishes.

I went shopping and splurged just enough to feel good without having to feel guilty too.

I went to dinner with my boyfriend's brother (and he insisted on paying when he found out it was my birthday!).

This is what 41 looks like:

2009-03-13T19:24:00.005-04:00

March 14 - Just shy of midnight we pulled into the parking slot for his apartment. Our apartment.

Three days earlier my home was in California, almost 3000 miles west of where I now stood. How had that happened? I left behind all of my family, all of my friends. My two beautiful nieces whom I had the pleasure to help raise on a daily basis. I've never been one to take risks or embrace change. Isn't it amazing what love can do?

It's been five years now. We traded the one bedroom apartment for a 93-year-old house that needs a bit of work (quite a bit) and settled into a normal life of couplehood - work, chores, travel. Holidays with the kids every other year. Pretty good recipe for happily ever after.

So what happens when he has to go away for work and I have to be on my own for most of the year? I wonder why I moved out here. If he's not going to be here...what's the point?

And then I think about the last four years filled with work, chores and travel. And the holidays with the kids every other year. I think about how it makes me smile when I get his daily phone calls and how I start to cry when I see him after a long absence. I think about the love I have for this man.

That's the point. I am where I belong.

2009-01-31T13:49:00.003-05:00

Another year, another try at keeping an updated journal.

2008-11-16T16:24:00.000-05:00

Mystery beret. Who gets it is a mystery too.

2 finished projects

2008-08-09T21:11:00.002-04:00

My first felted piece.

Originally I was making a shrug for myself, but apparently my chest is bigger than I thought. Into the x-mas pile it goes.

Empty Nest Syndrome

2008-07-03T13:21:00.004-04:00

And now they've left the nest.

And we got these instead.

2008-06-09T21:18:00.003-04:00

Sunday morning...

Sunday afternoon...

As of Monday morning there were still just the two.

2008-06-01T15:45:00.006-04:00

Our property seems overrun with trees. We planned on removing this one.

Then we noticed this...

With these...

The tree is staying.

Some Finished Stuff

2008-04-06T20:18:00.004-04:00

New Furniture!

2008-02-26T19:31:00.004-05:00

Good-bye cheap plastic bins. Say hello to your replacement.

We've been looking for a dresser for quite some time now. We just hadn't been able to agree on something we liked. Until now. After scouring the furniture stores we finally found something we liked - at Big Lots! Yes. The store formally known as Pic-n-Save.

Nice, isn't it? I would love to get the other pieces but they wouldn't fit in my Jeep. Or up the stairs. This one barely made it.

Finished Projects

2008-02-24T13:02:00.001-05:00

After several false starts I finally finished Jenna's leg warmers and Sarah's lap blanket.
Naturally I forgot to take pictures before packaging them up.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-13T23:31:00.001-05:00

2008-01-08T10:52:00.000-05:00

Know what that is?

Does that help?

Apparently we didn't seal off the leak in the upstairs bathroom well enough. I guess we will be replacing the ceiling after all.

2008-01-06T19:06:00.000-05:00

My x-mas gift from Dave. An old trunk that we rescued off the curb- given a new bottom, refinished and painted. I should have taken the picture before I filled it so you could see the cedar lining.

He made me a stash box! I love Dave.

Still not sure how my stash now fits in a smaller space. It used to reside in the blue bin and the cardboard box (plus a couple of baskets).

2008-01-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

Awhile ago I saw these gloves in Knitty. I liked them but didn't think I could make them. In the past few months it seemed that in every knitting blog I read somebody had made them. I took
that as my sign.

(It is impossible to take a photo of your own hand when you don't have a camera with auto-focus.)

I finished these. They actually go nicely with the gloves but I'm giving away the socks. I'm keeping the gloves because they go with my cabled hat and scarf.

Knitting in Public

2007-12-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

I don't see it much. If there is someone knitting(or crocheting) while waiting in line at the market, post office, or waiting for a table at the neighbourhood restaurant its usually me. So I was surprised yesterday to see an older gentleman sitting in the library knitting away on a Christmas stocking. It just made me smile.

Try, Try Again

2007-12-15T13:26:00.000-05:00

I said I was through with socks but I couldn't let a sock defeat me. I ripped the first one (well, Dave did it for me) and I started over. This one is shorter and wider. I tried it on and figured I could wash it to make it smaller so it would fit my mom. Or if that didn't work I would just find someone with feet bigger than mine. No problem...except I realized that I don't have enough yarn to make a pair. I admit defeat.

Something to Think About

2007-12-13T10:40:00.000-05:00

*Warning: This a rambling, work-in-progress, self-help kind of post about my work-in-progress life. Feel free to skip it if internal struggle and reflection make you queasy.

"I have nothing to show for my time."

As I was scanning the last post this phrase caught my eye. Take it out of the knitting context, apply it to my life in general and it is appallingly true.

Do we go through the everydays of our lives and just be? Or do we attempt to leave a mark on the world, however small? At one point I would have said yes, my time is being well spent. I would like to think that I was making a difference in the lives of my two beautiful nieces, being in their lives and interacting with them everyday. Now that I have moved away I wonder if they even think of me, did I have a lasting influence?

Lately I've been thinking about charity. I have oodles of spare time and yet, what do I have to show for it? I could be spending my time/money working toward making a difference in someone's life. A monetary donation or even making hats, scarves or blankets for those less fortunate than myself. (That sounds so condescending. Less fortunate than myself. How about those in need? Everybody is in need of something) The questions that go through my mind are: Would I being doing it to help others? Or would I be doing it to make myself feel better? Kind of takes the shine off doing good deeds when you do them for selfish reasons.

A few days later...

While charitable acts are a quick feel-good fix, a sense of self-worth needs to be present in everyday life.

In my case it boils down to learning to accept and be happy with who I am and where I am in life.

1. Dave - absolutely the best thing in my life; I need to stop worrying that one day he will wake up and decide that he doesn't love me anymore.
2. Work - I enjoy my job; I like working part-time so I can be home when Dave gets home; I like the flexibility in my schedule so we can take off on trips when Dave gets the travel bug; I wish it paid more but it pays my bills(most of the time).
3. Education - I was close to graduating from the local community college when I got married and moved away. I'd sometimes think about going back to school but I'd come up with reasons not to - I have a hard time doing things alone (I always took classes with friends), it was too expensive, I didn't know what I wanted to study. Now its almost 20 years later and I've finally realized that the only reason I kept thinking about going back to school is that because people kept suggesting that I go back to school I'd come to believe that I was a failure because I didn't have a college degree.
4. Career - which is not the same as 'work'; you need a career to be successful, right? And you can't have a career without a college degree, right? A career should set you up for financial security and provide for retirement, right? Another area in which I ~~have failed~~ perceived myself a failure.

I've never been very good with New Year resolutions and I've always resisted writing down goals. I'll make an exception this time.

I will work on...
I will try...

Ah, screw it.

A good friend told me "You have to move on past your self created walls of inadequacy, and have faith that you can do things."

That's what I'm going to work on.

That, and winning the lottery.

Stepping Away From the Knitting

2007-12-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

Knitting has taken over my life.

I haven't read a book in ages -unless it had to do with knitting.
I haven't been doing my crossword and sudoku puzzles.
I haven't been doing households chores. (Okay, scratch that one.)
I daydream about matching up my stash with patterns.
When I need to go somewhere I stand in the living room staring at the floor, trying to think of what knitting project I can take, even if I know that there will be no time for knitting.

It seems like I knit everyday but don't have anything to show for it. No socks, no sweaters. The hat and scarf I've been wearing lately were made last year. I have nothing to show for my time and yet I get nothing else done. It's time for a little self-intervention.

I will finish the pink socks.
I will not start another knitting project until I finish reading a (non-knitting) book.
I will not start knitting up yarn unless I have a clear project in mind.
I will take up my crochet hook again.
I will start to cross-stitch again. (Maybe even finish a few of the UFOs in my stitchery stash.)

My life will be enhanced - not dictated - by knitting.

Today's Lessons

2007-12-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

1)You can always change your mind
2)There's nothing wrong with changing your mind.

I started knitting almost two years ago. From the beginning I knew that I wanted to learn how to knit socks. After all, that's what knitters do, right? Yes, I made the Cabled Socks but those don't count. They aren't sock socks. They're more slipper socks. I wanted to make socks that you could actually wear with shoes, the kind of socks that had millions of little stitches and cool patterns and colours. You know. Real socks. So I decided to make these for mom (because as much I love the mix of colours I would never wear them. Well, probably never. Or possibly never):

They're supposed to be ankle socks. (Actually, not even up to the ankle. The ones that sit just under the ankle - what are those called?) Leg looks a bit too high for anklets doesn't it? I also knit into the back of the stitch instead of the front. Why, you ask? I don't know. I just did. Now my stockinette is not straight, my stitches are really tight which makes it harder to knit and makes my hands hurt. I telling myself that I'm almost done, I'm almost done. But I'm not, am I? I haven't even got to the decrease for the toe yet. And I can tell you now - I am NOT knitting a second one. One more for the rip pile.

And then there is this. I love the yarn though it does make for a thicker sock. The ribbing adds a little interest. I'm almost to the toe decrease. I will make the pair because they're meant as a gift (yes, the other ones were going to be a gift too but she's getting an afghan. Someday.), but its going to take a long while. Why do socks take so long to knit? (Other than the fact that I wouldn't see any progress at all so I'd get discouraged and put it aside. I know that can't be the only reason.)

I have changed my mind. I don't think you have to knit socks to be a real knitter. Knitting socks is tedious work that numbs my brain and makes my hands hurt. I don't want to knit socks. Although it might be better if I try a lace pattern?

Shawls are nice. I haven't tried a big lacy shawl yet.

2007-11-29T09:47:00.000-05:00

The birthday blanket isn't going to make it for Christmas either.

Sorry Mom.

Unfinished... Never to Be Finished

2007-11-25T11:24:00.000-05:00

After almost a year I finished this throw last night. It was more WIP than UFO*. Well, maybe more of a 'little something to work on while I'm watching tv and I don't have anything on my needles right now'. I've finished it and will be sent off as a Christmas gift.

*Work in progress, unfinished object

I really need to figure out how to use the zoom lens. Anyhow, behold my tank top. I bought some yarn because it was on sale and I loved the colours. (100% Egyptian cotton) They only had one skein. You can't tell but there are no straps. Did I mention that they only had the one skein? Can you see the safety pins? I wanted to see if it would fit. It goes around the body but it is way too long. Guess where I'll be getting the extra yarn for straps? So this has been sitting in the bin for ages waiting to be ripped back to a pile of yarn. Maybe I'll have Dave do it. It seems less painful to have someone else rip out all your hard work.

This is Jenna's blanket. When I found out that my friend Heidi was pregnant I decided that I was going to make a baby blanket. It's about a third of the way done. Jenna will be 11 years old in December.

I'm pretty sure this yarn will be recycled into something else...

In Knitting News

2007-11-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

I made this hat from this book. You can't tell from the picture but its bright pink, almost magenta. Its not the yarn called for so its a bit on the floppy side.

I made the Yarn Harlot's (Check out her blog. She's got a great sense of humour that even non-knitter's will enjoy and if you know a knitter it might help you understand her/him a little better.) "An Unoriginal Hat". Different yarn, different needle size, didn't swatch. Am I surprised its too small? Also didn't notice where I messed up in the cable until after I had sewn up the top. Still debating whether to rip it or not. Dave says you can't really see it, but I know its there. *sigh*

Happy Black Friday

2007-11-23T11:09:00.000-05:00

I am in the perfect spot for the busiest shopping day of the year - at home. We may venture out later in the afternoon to get Dave a haircut but we'll stay well away from the malls. Well, I might run into one store while Dave's in the chair. I'm still trying to find something to wear to tea tomorrow. (One of the historic houses is putting on a "Dickens Tea" tomorrow afternoon. One of my coworkers volunteers at the house and tells me that they lay out quite a spread, including figgy pudding. I've always wondered what that was exactly. The house will be decorated for the holidays, there'll be music - her daughter has been hired to play the violin, and my coworker will wander the rooms reading passages from "A Christmas Carol".)

I had a couple of outfits in mind, but I no longer fit into them. Had I lost the weight he said I would by all the walking he was going to put me through in Europe I might have been able to appear somewhat stylish tomorrow. (Honey, you walked me until my legs were ready to fall off but guess what? I'm still fat!) As it stands now while Dave will be quite dapper in his suit (and ladies, he does look fabulous in a suit...) I will probably end up in some drab skirt/blouse combo looking like his pity date. You know that couple you see where you think to yourself, "Wow, he is so good looking! She must have a great personality." That's us!

In the past couple of months I haven't had much luck with shopping. While in Europe last month my major purchases were pyjamas, and glass art. I wanted French lingerie, Italian leather goods and jewelry. I couldn't find anything I wanted to buy. Huh?? This month is more of the same. The local Brit shop has never heard of Toffee Waffles. The boots I found in England but didn't buy because they would be cheaper at home? Can't find them in the stores. Can't find a velvet jacket. I don't like buying shoes/clothing online because I never seem to wear the same size designer to designer. I know it doesn't really matter in the larger scheme of things (except the Toffee Waffles - if you've had them you know) but it feels good to get it out.

Uhm, I Meant to Do That?

2007-11-20T15:24:00.000-05:00

I could have sworn it was washable wool. Apparently not. My lovely cabled socks are now shrunken and semi-felted.

Is it sc(oh)ne? or sc(ah)ne?

2007-11-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

Either way, while in Ireland we had the best scones I've ever tasted. At Clontarf Castle to be precise. We had just arrived in Dublin (took the red-eye from Washington DC), and were looking forward to breakfast. Oh course, they had just finished serving. We were told we could get a light snack in the lounge. Tea and scones, heaven! The scones were large and fluffy and piping hot. So good. As a result, when we had afternoon tea at the Dorchester in London and The Pump Room at the Roman Baths in Bath we couldn't help but compare the scones and be just a wee bit disappointed.

Spanish Chocolate

2007-11-18T20:19:00.000-05:00

While we were in Madrid we sampled their hot chocolate. (I know... I'll try to get Dave to blog the trip in the next week or so.) Anyway, this chocolate is so thick that a spoon will stand up in it. You get a hot chocolate and some churros for dipping. Yum! Dave was missing the chocolate so he found a recipe online. I think we'll be having hot chocolate a few times per week...

Solitary Crafter, Even Online

2007-11-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

I figured it was time to start meeting people who knit and crochet so I wouldn't feel so isolated. The problem is that I'm shy. Walking into a LYS to introduce myself and ask if they have a knitting group is just not going to happen. So the perfect solution? The Internet of course! I joined Crochet Me and Ravelry so I could interact with others who share my interests. It was going to be great! I was going to make new friends! I was going to have people to support me when a project wasn't going right or was just taking too darn long!

Funny thing timidity. It doesn't go away with anonymity. So I cruise through the forums, peek in on discussions, and envy the camaraderie. Then I turn off the computer, curl up on the couch with the latest project and work away in solitude.

Home At Last

2007-10-27T20:09:00.000-04:00

Our trip to Europe was fantastic but it felt so good to sleep in my own bed! Having come down with a cold in Madrid, I was ready to come home.

Dave is now sorting through the 400+ photos so we can share them. He took some fabulous scenic pics but he needs to work on his people pictures - or find a better model! :D

I finished the other cable sock. Twice. I made the novice mistake of not checking my progress and my sock was half as long as the first. So I ripped it all out and started again. I got to the end and realized that I had forgotten the instructions on the bind off so I improvised. Then I realized that I had forgotten to pack a tapestry needle! *lol* Oh well.

My first sock!

2007-09-29T11:53:00.000-04:00

With cables no less! (The pattern is in One Skein by Leigh Radford) They're not perfect and I can see every flaw but not bad for a first try. Now I just have to find time to finish the mate.

Actually, I did attempt socks once before. They were the tube type so no challenge with the heel flap. I decided I would never wear them so I turned them into wrist warmers. I still don't wear them.

Tomorrow we're off to Europe so no new posts for a month or so. (Like I'm usually really prolific in posting... *rolls eyes*)

Happy October!

10 days and counting

2007-09-20T08:20:00.000-04:00

She can knit and crochet but can she sew?

I bought some slacks for the trip and of course they're way too long. This is what happens when you have a petite height but a not-so-petite body. Gotta buy the fat girl clothes and have mom do the hemming. Dang, should've bought them when she was out here last month. Oh well, how hard can it be? Famous last words...

I finally finished mom's shawl. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it but frankly, I just ran out of time. Now I'm on to a hostess gift. I wanted to make a pair of socks but was persuaded to make a scarf instead (more likely to finish a scarf in time). I think I'll try the socks anyway. I'd like to move beyond scarves and hats and baby blankets. Thank goodness Michael's is having a sale. Hard to believe but out of all the yarn in that huge stash I have there is nothing suitable for socks.

29 Days til Lift-Off

2007-09-01T16:02:00.000-04:00

I need to plan what to pack (which means I need to go shopping because I don't have anything suitable for the trip). I need to make a list of things I would like to do and see in Dublin and England. (We haven't yet figured out where we're going after that.) I need to print a list of addresses for sending postcards. I need to clean the house. However, I can't do any of that until I finish the shawl for my mom. She wants to wear it for Tanya's wedding next month so I need to get it into the mail by mid-September. I'm not quite half-way finished on the length and I think its going to need a border. On the plus side, I get a break from the afghan (see previous post on cursed knitting).

Europe - Here I Come!

2007-08-03T19:31:00.000-04:00

Well, okay, not until October but at least now its official. I received my passport in the mail today! I'm bouncing around the house (literally), willing Dave to answer his phone so I can share the good news. Does he answer? Of course not! I've been plagued with nightmares of my passport not showing up in time; Dave having to cancel the trip; even worse - Dave going without me. Thoughts Dave finding someone else to share the castle room with... yeah, like I was going to let that happen.

Nightmares can now fade away and leave me in peace. I've got my passport and it's all good.

So good in fact, that I almost forgot about the moron trying to change lanes. Honking her horn to tell me she NEEDS TO GET OVER - NOW!! Fine, 'go ahead' I gesture (not that gesture). And what does she do? Move over another lane to make the off ramp? No! She stays in my lane! She HAD to get over because she was in a lane that went... the same place my lane was going...at a slower rate than the lane she left (read that as 2-3 mph). And to top it all off, she refused to let in any cars that were trying to merge from the right! WTF?! I felt better after a car came alongside her and the driver chewed her out for being rude and stupid. My thoughts exactly.

Lights Out

2007-07-29T13:14:00.000-04:00

Friday night we had a whopper of a thunderstorm. The intersection flooded again, we had water half-way up the walk. A couple of lightning strikes that seem to hit in our front yard and there went the power. Not the city, not the neighbours. Just us. *I've been meaning to buy a battery operated lantern for some time now. It's now at the top of the shopping list.* Dave reported the outage around 7:30 and the power company came out and fixed the problem some time after midnight. I know because I couldn't sleep (no a/c) and I noticed the bright flashing lights outside the bedroom window. We weren't looking forward to dark, cold showers in the morning. In my head I was already lining up a hotel for the next night.

The New Pick-Up Truck

2007-07-22T15:25:00.000-04:00

You're heading to the local DIY store. You're thinking about putting down new flooring. Which vehicle do you take? Her Jeep Cherokee or his RX-8? Yep. Luckily there is a backseat, sort of, in the RX-8.

2007-06-20T20:16:00.000-04:00

I left the house this morning and noticed that the plant on the porch had blossomed. With all it has been through I'm amazed it is alive, let alone in bloom. I'm not a garden type person. I don't water it. Its been out in the frost, in the baking sun; its been knocked off its perch, out of its pot. Maybe I should just stick it in the lawn and see what happens.

It's Sunday already

2007-06-17T07:26:00.000-04:00

I still have a case of blogger's block.

Topics to think about:
the abundance of ugly cars in this area (you PAID somebody to do that?!)
squirrels in the walls
making plans for July 4th

Have Passport, Will Travel...Hopefully

2007-06-12T13:24:00.000-04:00

I sent in my passport application today. They're projecting 10-12 weeks for processing so I should have my passport mid-September at the latest. We're supposed to leave for Europe at the beginning of October. Cross your fingers.

In knitting news - I've made the back of a tank top and am coming to the neck shaping and straps of the front. I'm also nearing the end of the skein. :( I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have enough yarn to finish. I haven't decided what to do yet. Maybe I'll work on something else for awhile.

Cursed Knitting

2007-06-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

Is it possible for a knitting project to be cursed? I'm starting to believe so. I made the mistake of asking my mom what she wanted for her fifty-ninth birthday. An afhgan. My first thought was "Do you know how long it'll take me to make an afghan?!" Okay, I've only been knitting for a year or so but I guess it's time to move away from scarves and hats.
I picked several different fibers for variety in colour and texture. I finally settled on a stitch pattern. All I needed to do was cast on and knit it up. Riiiiiiight...
Being a novice, used to using only garter and stockinette stitches, how am I supposed to know that there is an error in the feather and fan pattern I am using? It only became apparent after finishing four rows. Four rows of two hundred some-odd stitches. Yes, I know about swatches but I figured with gauge not being imortant, well, you know. After cruising online for inspiration (a big thank you to all the knitter's out there who post free patterns!) I found a shawl that fits exactly what I had in mind for momma's afghan. Just figure out how to make it wider and I'm good to go! Riiiiiiight...
I made a swatch (go me!) to see which fibers and colours worked best next to each other and checked that the pattern would work this time. I figured out which needle size would give me the openness that I was looking for and cast on. Two rows in and I had a shortage of stitches. I tried to unknit the row and ended up ripping out the whole thing. Cast on again.
What else? My sweetie caught his foot on my yarn and dragged stitches off the needle; the screw came undone for my interchangables and the cables slipped out the stitches; more dropped stitches and extra stitches. I finally made it to the fourteenth row. I had an extra stitch so I did a decrease (which probably skews the pattern). At the end of the row I'm now short a stitch. Huh?
I'm not worried about finishing on time as I've got a few months. What I'm wondering is do I really want to give this aggravating project to my mother? I recently knit a lap afghan(see photo) for a friend who is going through a difficult time. It may sound strange but I tried to knit into it positive thoughts and good vibes hoping that would transfer to my friend. Using this line of thought this afghan is full of bad feelings, frustration and probably a few four letter words, to boot! Momma doesn't deserve that.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet and start all over again. After all, its only two thousand one hundred four stitches. Give or take a dropped stitch or two.

Post originally created 5/20/07

Baby Sweater

2007-06-07T07:58:00.000-04:00

The first sweater I've ever made. :) It turned out more dense than I thought it would and it isn't the best colour for a baby, but since I just wanted to see if I could do it I used stash yarn, not paying too much attention to gauge (better too big than too small). I'll send it off to my nephew and they can use or not. At least now I have hands on experience in finishing a piece. And I discovered that I need more practice in sewing seams! :P