Puppy Porn

OK, today we're just going for some gratuitous puppy porn.....



Jo-Jo and Rosie having a little cuddle (aaawwwwww, how sweet).



And our resident "emo" Otto, contemplating the futility of an empty dog dish.



And Finally - what we affectionally call "The Black Mass" lounging on "their" bed.

Number Two

I've got a start on shawl number two now. A real start this time. After playing with about six different lace patterns until 1am Monday morning, I finally found one that struck just the right chord. It's just a simple zigzag pattern, but it's simplicuty is deceiving. I have made two dumb mistakes in the two repeats I have done already (they're corrected now), just because the pattern is so easy and lulls you into a false sense of security. I have to keep the pattern close by, until I am sure I've learned to read it right every time.



I wasn't so sure of the color, at first, thinking red might be too vivid. But the color really does compliment the lines and angles of the pattern. A softer color might not make the pattern "pop" like the red does.

Still, I'm anxious to get this done. I want to do other stuff. For myself and for others. The list of things I would like to get done this year is nearly as long as the list of books I want to read. Well......it might be longer

Finito-Completo!!

Finally finished Auction Shawl #1. I think it's great. I hope folks with money to bid on it feel the same way. It blocked like a dream. I think the color and the rawness of the yarn really works for an all-round wearable wrap. I can see it with a simple blouse and a pair of jeans, a floaty summer dress, or something dressy for evening.

Here are the particulars on the shawl - 21 inches wide by 75 inches long, knit in a mystery Shetland-like fingering weight Welsh wool, in a yummy lavender color. Cast on 84 stitches (9 - six stitch repeats, plus 2, plus 10 for the seed stitch border edges). Pattern is the Alternating Motif stitch from The Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns, page 207. Eight rows of seed stitch bordered the ends. Used about 5 skeins of yarn. There was no yardage on the ball band of the yarn but I figure they were at least 150 yards each.

Then I packaged it up all pretty-like. I figure you can get livelier bidding going on when even the packaging even looks nice. Even tucked in a little lavender sachet.



I started on shawl #2 yesterday. Originally my plan was to knit it length-wise. I cast on 387 stitches on to a 42-inch circular to knit it length-wise. But once I started on the actual pattern, I realized that I miscalculated, and ripped it all out. For efficiency's sake, I abandoned that plan and am going to knit it width-wise. But I am not giving up on that plan altogether. I still want to knit a length-wise shawl, but the time I have to complete this project won't allow me to do it this time. So after I get this one finished, I'll knit a new swatch, revisit my math (three or four times) and try again. One thing I did learn, however, those new Addi-Turbo lace needles ROCK!

Flickr-ing

Techno-Dork that I am, I am just beginning to learn about the really cool stuff that Flickr can do. Talking to my MIL this evening, it dawned on me that if I created a private Flickr group, open to my family members, that we could all share pics of the kids and the grands with "The Grandmas" who are totally scrapbook divas. Let me make it clear, my GIL (Grandma-in-law) Cha was scrapbooking before there was scrapbooking. My husband, his two brothers and sister, and all of our collected seven kids (and hubby's cousins and their kids), ALL have scrapbooks that date from their births to at least last Christmas. I am not shittin' you guys.......these ladies are serious scrapbookers. Probably one of the reasons I am the scrapbook anti-christ of the family. I take pictures, and then shove them in boxes, unmarked, unreferenced, never to be seen again.

The Flickr account is my way of making amends to the Grandmas for my laxity of sharing family pictures. If the pics are there on the inter-web for them to access, then I don't have to worry about getting hardcopies to them, ever....again. I believe a new photo-friendly printer and digital camera is in my mother-in-law's future. From then on, gift giving occasions can be used to replenish their photo-quality paper and ink supply. Oh boy! This could get way easy for me!

Thought I would share a pic from the long lost family archive of pics I've just downloaded:



I've gone against my normal policy of not showing any identifiable pics of my kids to show you this one. It's at least six or seven years old, and if you can recognize my son now, from his toddler shot, good luck. And hubby without beard. Believe me folks, I think this is one of the last pictures that was taken of my beardless hubby. He was cute then, but he is way cuter, now.

SOCK WARS!

The announcement of registration for the upcoming round of Sock Wars came out the other day. I immediately signed up! I will likely die in short order, but I hope I last a few rounds at least. I have one small advantage.......The day after the War begins, I will be on a cross-country flight. All that lovely knitting time! (as long as the TSA doesn't "disarm" me at the airport). Hopefully I can develop my two at a time sock knitting skills enough by that point, to knit strong and FAST! I have about two months to "train." I am so excited by this, it's almost unreasonable!

Auction shawl #1 is approaching completion. I think I have about one more skein of yarn to knit in to it. Takes me about two days to knit in a skein. I have no idea of the yardage of each skein. I am thinking they are about 175 to 190 yards each. No pictures just yet. Looks the same as before, just longer. I am itching to get started on #2 however.

Took away from my knitting time yesterday to get my 2007 household records in order. So now I am ready for taxes. Really can't wait to get the taxes done early this year. We're getting a REFUND! That happens so rarely, that it is a genuine occasion when it does happen. Looks like I get my completely remodeled family room this year!

Unfaithful

Knitting monogamy is a hard row to hoe, folks. Yes, I am sad to report that I broke down and cast on a pair of socks last night.



I swear! I couldn't help myself. The knowledge that I had sock yarn sitting at my bedside waiting to be made into snug little socks for my 10 year-old to wear inside his new hiking books, wore me down! OK, so his feet aren't that little. He can almost wear my shoes, I and wear a very substantial women's size 9. I'm OK with my youngest having feet the same size as mine, as long as he keeps his sweaty toes out of my little sparkly, strappy, high-heel sandals!

Along with the two auction shawls, I want to knit three pair of socks before we fly back to Kansas the end of March. And if that means I'm finishing sock #2 of the third pair of socks on the flight to Wichita, so be it.

Found some Trekking XXL in colors I actually didn't own for the socks for the big boys.




#2 son placed dibs on the blue stuff. So #1 son gets the browns. Gotta use Trekking or something like it for #1 son. Every inch of the generous 459 yards in a skein is needed to cover his size 14 feet. Now if the thought of buying shoes for that kid doesn't send a shiver down your spine, you are stronger than I am!

Monogamy/Monotony

I have been true to the Auction Shawl for the past week. Knitting exclusively on the lavender lovely. I have to admit, I usually have a pair of socks going at the same time, and right now, I don't. Even though two of my boys need new socks for the "Great Kansas Bird and College Hunting Trip of '08" The whole Fam Damily is going to Kansas in March to shoot birds (for me, read that "knit") and look at a couple of colleges for #2 son. Hubby swears by my handknit socks for warmth and comfort in the Kansas winters and early spring, so the boys need to be equally outfitted. Originally, I was not going on this trip, then hubby decided that I need to go. There goes my three days alone with just my knitting.

In preparation for the Safari, we trekked down to the new Cabela's store in Lacey to buy hiking boots. I have been told that it is the largest Cabela's store in the country....if it's not, it is missing a great chance to be. This sucker is HUGE! Imagine the largest Costco or Ikea you have ever seen - and add a second story to it! Oh yeah, there's a restaurant, a video shooting gallery, a gun library, a mountain and an aquarium in the store. They have a boat section....with six boats in one corner of the store - and they aren't crowded in! We spent four hours looking around in the store, and DH claimed we were "rushing" him. Of course, his idea of heaven is a Cabela's in his backyard.

I have to admit that I drew a few chuckles knitting while walking through Cabela's. I was not going to waste all that good knitting time!

But, I may have to cheat on the shawl soon........

WIP

So this is one of the auction shawl projects:
Yarn - some unpronounceable Welsh wool - fingering weight.
Needles US 7.
Pattern: Alternating motifs from page 207 of The Big Book of Knitting Stitch Patterns from Sterling Publishing, with a seed stitch border.

I've got about three and a half repeats of the pattern done. The picture is of the unblocked pattern, just pulled flat by pins. Not perfect by a long shot, but it gives you an idea of the finished product. The yarn is not the softest in the world, but it's slightly rough hewn quality appeals to me somehow. The funny thing is, the yarn is not soft, but I would not call it rough either. Just textured. I'm hoping some auction bidders will like it as much as I do.

Finally sussed out the pattern for the other shawl. But I do need to go yarn shoping before I get started (oh durn!). After trying all kinds of yarn in my stash, I decided I need to get some different stuff to work the pattern the way I want. It really calls for a smoother yarn. I've also decided this one needs to be knitted width-wise. This could be a nightmare, but I can't imagine it working as well any other way. Once I get started, I'll do a little more show and tell.

Project Socks

Finished my project socks from the "2-At-A-Time Socks" book over the weekend. No, these aren't meant to be a pair. The book suggests knitting with two different colored yarns to keep the different socks in your head while you're learning the method. The whole method was pretty easy, but I got lost around the heel gussetts for a little bit. The problem righted itself and the rest of the sock was a breeze. I'm going to knit another practice pair, and this time be more mindful in reading the directions. I couldn't tell if it was my sloppy reading of the directions, or a problem with the way they were written. I will report back on this later. These socks will go into my Afghans for Afghans collection to be mailed later.

I think I've got one lace pattern settled on and started for the auction shawls. The other one, I have the pattern chosen, but after several tries with several types of yarn, I've come to the conclusion that I need to visit a yarn shop! I think I want to knit the second shawl in Lavold's Silky Wool. I have some in my stash, but I stashed it for myself (LOVE the color), so I have to find another color that I can bear to part with to make the shawl.

A Day Late is Never Too Late

In honor of the third annual Silent Poetry Reading, I offer you all a poem from one of my favorite authors..........

Grief Calls Us to the Things of This World
by Sherman Alexie


The eyes open to a blue telephone
In the bathroom of this five-star hotel.

I wonder whom I should call? A plumber,
Proctologist, urologist, or priest?

Who is most among us and most deserves
The first call? I choose my father because

He's astounded by bathroom telephones.
I dial home. My mother answers. "Hey, Ma,

I say, "Can I talk to Poppa?" She gasps,
And then I remember that my father

Has been dead for nearly a year. "Shit, Mom,"
I say. "I forgot he’s dead. I’m sorry—

How did I forget?" "It’s okay," she says.
"I made him a cup of instant coffee

This morning and left it on the table—
Like I have for, what, twenty-seven years—

And I didn't realize my mistake
Until this afternoon." My mother laughs

At the angels who wait for us to pause
During the most ordinary of days

And sing our praise to forgetfulness
Before they slap our souls with their cold wings.

Those angels burden and unbalance us.
Those fucking angels ride us piggyback.

Those angels, forever falling, snare us
And haul us, prey and praying, into dust.

Puttering Around

Yesterday, I visited one of my favorite places - Packaging Specialities. If you don't have one of these stores near you, I pity you. PS is a wonderland of gift wrap, ribbon, and boxes; in short, everything you could imagine to create wonderfully wrapped gifts. I found this:



The only reason why I bought it, was because I wanted to figure out how to copy it! $3.50 for that! I had some cotton chenille left over from making washcloths, and have been wondering what to do with them. After some puttering around, these emerged:



I like the purchased one, but I like MINE better - mostly because I used my own scraps that cost me nothing. (I am not mentioning the beads, thread and pin backs I bought to dress up the flowers. Those don't count, you see.)

I also went to my LYS for a skein of Muench "Touch Me" (wool chenille) to experiment with what they would look like in felted wool chenille. Those are the dark purple ones in the above pic. Currently, they are unfelted and un-embellished. I hope to get around to playing around with those this evening when the Hub takes #3 to a Sonics game. Gotta get the high-maintenance males out of the house before I can get anything done.

So did I get anything done on the two auction shawls???? Of course not! But did you see my pretty flowers??????

Mine. All MINE!

These are MY new socks! I know it sounds stupid to be so excited about finishing a pair of socks for myself, but so much of my knitting lately has been for others. It's nice to finally finish something for myself. I started these things the end of October and finally got them done yesterday. That's just too damn long to take to knit a pair of socks. But Holiday Knitting got in the way. We all understand that.



The particulars -

Yarn: Trekking XXL ombre (wish I could tell you the color, I keep losing the ball bands on this stuff) It's a purpily to almost baby blue with a touch of grey mixed in.
Needles: US1
Cast On: 64
Pattern: My own dubbed "DT Diagonal Rib"

Next up: a pair of socks for son #3. I'm going to work on the two socks on one magic loop method - using this book, and want to knit the smallest socks possible. But since his feet are nearly as big as mine now (he's only 10), I won't be saving myself that much work. A glance at the book looks like it should be a breeze to learn. Keep your fingers crossed.

Speaking of projects for others, I have two auction shawls to knit. I got one started yesterday, using some nice Trekking Pro Natura (wool and bamboo). Should be fun. The other? Well, that one is still rolling around in my head......wrap or triangular shawl? That funky purple Welsh stuff I found in my stash, or something else? Decisions......Decisions......

Your Opinions Are Appreciated........

Just yesterday I was asked to knit pieces for two different school auctions. So out came the stitch dictionaries, and armed with yarn retrieved from Stash, I spent last evening swatching.

This is what I came up with...........



Now, I like this pattern, even though it is rather solid, as lace goes. The yarn is a fingering weight welsh wool in an awesome shade of purple. The color rocks. I just don't know if those wavey curves do the yarn justice. The rhythmic-ness of the curves strike me, somehow. I might need to go up a needle size to make the shawl a little more open, however.

I welcome your comments. I gotta make a decision on this ASAP.

Finished, Almost

Finished the first of the baby blankets I am knitting from "Blankets, Hats and Booties to Knit and Crochet" by Kristen Spurkland. The Rose Leaf Blanket. Well, it's finished, except for the blocking. Here 'tis:



As you can see it is hanging out on my blocking board. I've never blocked a cotton piece before, so I'm hoping that wet blocking wasn't a totally bad idea. It's January, it might take a month to dry now - as I happen to be kind of stingy with the heat in my house.

Here is a close up of the lace border:



I really liked knitting this, even though I've never really been a fan of cotton. The blankets in this book are changing my mind. I also feel a bit righteous, because this is the result of stash-diving. Now to just find someone to give it to....

Now, I did make ONE change to this pattern. When knitting the body of the blanket, the original pattern called for Kf&b to create the increases. The look didn't thrill me to the core, so I opted for M1R and M1L one stitch away from the corner for a more symmetrical look. Just a personal preference, but I like the way the corners turn out doing it my way. Besides, I hadn't done "make ones" for a while, and it is nice to get back into practice on that.

I also finished a hat that doesn't really deserve a picture. Hat was meant for Hubby, but ended up fitting #3 son. Either I have an issue with hat sizing, or the men in my family have HUGE heads!

So now that I am over my "startup-itis." I am on to the second of the blankets I want to make from that book. This one actually has a recipient in mind. #3's teacher's wife is having a baby in May. Gotta do a blanket for a new baby girl. I might try to find something cute to make for big sister, too. Maybe a new stuffed toy.

Yarn Crawl!

Saturday was such an adventure! A group of intrepid ladies - and one very faithful Husband - took the train from Seattle to Portland to prowl the Pearl District in search of yummy, yummy yarn. All I can say is MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Up at o'dark-hundred to be at King Street Station by 6:30am. Only the lure of Portland yarn shops - where they don't have sales tax - would get me out of bed at 5:30am on a Saturday! I had heard there were about 25 to 30 of us crawling to Portland. In reality, there were about 50! Fifty wonderful people bundled in handknits and outfitted in comfy shoes raring to get on that train. Massive props MUST go to Charisa - probably the most incredibly organized person on the planet! She organized the train, contacted the yarn shops to negotiate discounts and freebies, created maps, and kept us all informed about the trip. She is a wonder, beyond doubt. This woman could have organized the invasion of Normandy!

My first train ride. It wasn't what I was expecting, really. A lot slower than I assumed it would be. I knew we would be making a lot of stops, but hey now. Tukwila, Auburn, Tacoma, Yelm, Olympia, Centrailia, Longview/Kelso, Vancouver and THEN Portland. The Amtrak Pacific Cascades is a nice trip - sometimes it goes along the water and there are some nice views - but this wasn't no Japanese bullet train. Still, it was three and a half hours, where you got to knit and chat, and chat and knit; meet new people and find out about Kristen's (sorry, no picture), knitting injury. She jammed a 10.5 dpn into her foot......lengthwise! Need I say more? ACK! So all of us pussies that gripe about stiff necks and sore wrists because of knitting can hush up! Kristen has Shed Blood for her art!!

We arrived at Portland, and off we went! There are three, count 'em THREE yarn shops within easy walking distance of the train. We broke off into more manageable groups; with Alysa (nearly as intrepid and smart as Charisa!) in the lead, we headed off to Dublin Bay Yarn. The folks there were great, and the owner's mom had made scones and cookies for us. Mom makes some wicked scones! She's a keeper. They had a lot of lovely stuff, a bunch of yarns imported from Ireland. And the Handmaiden! Oh the Handmaiden! I bought a single skein of Seasilk....it's MINE, and nobody gets it but me! - my precious - I resisted the urge to buy something I had never seen from Handmaiden....Camelspin. Camel and silk amazingly hand-dyed the way only Ms. Handmaiden knows how. Beyond yummy! Next time, I doubt I will be as strong.

Off to Knit Knot Studio, run by Elizabeth Presiewicz - a lovely lady in a teeny tiny shop with some of the most decadent stuff around. Found a lovely skein of soft, browny, gold-flecked sparkly stuff. Elizabeth had a wonderful simple scarf/shawl pattern for this yarn (offically, Blue Heron Yarn Rayon Metallic in the chocolate colorway), that is now going to become one of the basics in my evening wear wardrobe. Now I just need to buy the dress to go with the yarn.



Then it was off to our final yarn stop, Knit/Purl, home of ShiBui yarn. Here I was introduced to the joys of ShiBui, Habu yarns (silk and bamboo, Yummy!) and the wall of KOIGU!!



This is the entirety of my yarn haul - Habu Bamboo Laceweight(lavender), 3 cones of Habu Silk Laceweight (mossy green), ShiBui fingering weight (the rust colored one - the green one I bought to go with it is hiding), the Blue Heron Rayon Metallic (chocolately), the Handmaiden (jewel colored hand-dyed); and the Zen Yarn Garden sock weight (pinkish/lavenderish hand-dyed). I guess I am knitting a lot of lace real soon.

Theoretically, I should not contemplate buying ANY yarn for quite a while......yeah, right.



Our final stop, was POWELL'S CITY OF BOOKS - otherwise known as "Mecca" to bibliophiles. Apparently, reading and knitting go together, because we ran into a lot of fellow-crawlers at Powell's. Amazingly enough, in the knitting books section! Go figure. This is the second time I have been to Powell's, and I have yet to make it to the second floor (unless you count the trip to the bathroom AND to take this picture.



Imagine.....this bookstore looks like this for three or four floors in a building an entire city block long! Next time, I'm starting on the top floor and working my way down!


Finally, walked, shopped and yarned out, we headed gratefully back to the train station for the return trip. Strangely enough, we were ALL back early. The Crawl was a blast and a half - but too much of a wonderful thing can wear you down.

So, ah, Charisa.....when's the next trip???

Baby Got Beer!

Last night, DH bottled batch #2 of his homebrew. This was an amber ale, and ya know what, even uncarbonated it tasted pretty good! In two or three weeks, We'll have a nice amber ale to sip - can we say Superbowl Party?

Here's my man bottling up his ale.



Doesn't he just look like a burly-outdoorsy-man. Well, he is, but the plaid shirt and the boots make him look like we live in the Yukon, not suburban Seattle. But it was snowy yesterday. And the beard covers the baby face. Not that I mind the baby-face, but I hate it when people think he's younger than me!

Snow. AGAIN?

It has snowed for the second time in a month. In most places in the northern United States, this would not be remarkable. But this is Washington, for Pete's Sake. It does not snow here on a regular basis - except on our ski slopes - where snow belongs! The kids had a one hour late start at school today. Not really a big deal, but not much help in the "waiting until it melts a bit" department either. If you were careful, driving was no big deal......except for being stuck behind an incredibly stupid woman that was driving up the rather steep hill up to the elementary school at FIVE miles per hour, while talking on her cell phone. Hang up the Friggin' Phone Bimbo!! I am not one of those cell phone hatin' people, but there are times when driving and talking is really stupid, and today is one of them! Now, it is cold, and the sun is shining, sky is blue, and it promises to get below freezing tonight. If you thought driving around today was fun.....wait until tomorrow morning, when the lovely sheet of ice is where the mushy snow is now.

But while I am comfy and warm and the snow is still pretty, I will share a picture of snow on my favorite Japanese Maple tree in my front yard.



The morning was spent watching Season 1, Disc 2 of The Tudors and working on some socks for ME! The work continues apace.



I love the colors in this yarn. Usually I'm not a huge purple fan, but that Trekking XXL just knows how to put colors together.

Why is it, once you get past the heel decreases on the first sock - the rest just blazes by? I am still working on the baby blanket, but I like the progress I'm making on these socks, too.

Just Noodlin' Along.............

Pretty much a quiet weekend. #3 had a basketball game, we had lunch at XXX Burger afterward. And NO, it is not a combination porn theater and drive-in. It is really called "XXX(triple x)Burger."

Sunday, #3 and I went to a reading by one of my favorite authors - Eoin Colfer. He is the sweetest Irish man who writes the Artemis Fowl series of children's books. He has a new non-Artemis book out called "Airman." Quite a fun read. #3 was hesitant to go to the reading, but a promise to eat lunch at Dick's Drive-in got him to go along. Now, he thinks Mr. Colfer is way cool, too. I just sat at the back of the room listening to him talk and knitting on the rose lace baby blanket. I could listen to Eoin Colfer talk all day. I am a sucker for a good Irish or Scottish accent! Successfully got the lace edging past the first corner and am ambling down the second side of the blanket. Granted, it's not terribly hard, but it is helping me understand about knitting on lace edges. I've done them before, but never with much confidence. This project is going a long way to increasing my confidence.

Also picked up the socks I started for myself months ago. Socks are perfect running around knitting, so I am hoping I will get quite a bit of this done in the next few days. I want a snazzy pair of purple socks!

Now I have to run off to the doctor to get my neck and back looked at. I have been having a bit of pain lately, and it is no longer fun.

All Over The Damn Place

After a highly productive holiday knitting season, I am now confronted with a bad case of "which way do I go." I had to go sit with my mom in the hospital yesterday - no worries, all is fine - so I stuffed my knitting bag with no less that FIVE projects. I just couldn't decide what to focus on. This is what I would consider "active" at this moment:




Bias squares to get my High School Charity Knitting group started on blankets for Afghans for Afghans. I've got enough yarn to do several blankets, so I'm hoping to get the kids all excited about this project. I inherited this beautiful wool from a cousin-in-laws mother. She would have liked seeing this yarn made into something to warm children in a struggling country, so I save this yarn for charity knitting. I don't even count it as part of my personal stash. I am it's custodian until it can be made into positive things.



A pair of socks for myself, that I started before the holidays fell on me hard. Maybe I can get them finished sometime soon. I need a new pair of socks!



A wonderful cotton baby blanket I started after I finished the holiday knitting. The pattern is from "Blankets, Hats and Booties to Knit and Crochet" by Kristen Spurkland. It has some great patterns if you are in the mood for some baby blanket knitting. I have the body of the blanket done, and have to still knit on the lace edging. Totally the reason for the whole blanket, IMO.



And this is one of two hats I have started. This is the boring hat my husband wanted. Three by two ribbing, long enough to turn up the brim, in a good hunting hat color. Yawn! The other is in such a nacent stage, it doesn't even photograph well.


And then there is THIS:

The Summer Shawlette I started for my mother, oh MONTHS ago, and decided I should finish. I had less than a dozen rows to finish, shouldn't take more than an hour or so, right?.......Do any of you who are familiar with this pattern notice something missing? How about, the LITTLE ARROWHEAD LACE panel that is supposed to be running down the back! Sooooooo that one has been sent to the frog pond. Besides, I found another faroese-style shawl that I liked the look of better to make for my mom, so I'm going to replace this dismal failure with something better. But I have to look on the bright side. If several people I know have girl babies, I am totally ready to make cute little baby sweaters with the five or six skeins of Blue Sky Organic Cotton that I had bought for the shawlette. Actually, if five or six strangers I know have girl babies, they might get sweaters!

Hopefully, I will have something finished soon to show you all.

Still Rollin'

Finished another beanie last night. It was made from the yarn remains of the earflap beanie. Even though I don't do browns much, these colors really strike me. The Pattern came from a search on Ravelry. It's the Solstice Hat, with a few alterations - changing it from a child's had done in a bulky yarn to an adult hat done in worsted.

Here are the changes, in case you are interested:

. Needle sizes 6 and 7
. Worsted weight yarn (I used Cascade 220 Superwash)
. Cast on 108 stitches
. Six rows of ribbing instead of 3
. Three rounds of plain knit before starting the fair isle pattern (three rounds
after, too.)
. Two additional rounds before starting the crown decreases.
. Start the decreases with K 16, K2tog - and work down to six, as the directions
indicate from there.

And here is the finished product:



And now on to a beanie for hubby! He feels so abused, not having a wife-made beanie. He will be better once I get a warm little cap on his head.

I'm On A Roll!

Organization and domesticity struck hard today. Must have been yesterday's bread baking that prompted me to plan dinner menus for the entire week; shop for the food; and then come home and pre-assemble four of the seven meals I planned. I was all done cooking tonights dinner, and pre-cooking two other night's dinners; before 6pm! One of the meals was already lurking in my freezer from a previous brush with Martha Stewart-itis, so I only had to slap together two extra meals. Lord how I love easy to please families Now, I all have to do is get my kids to do the dishes I dirtied in my cooking-frenzy..........

On the knitting front, I finished the long anticipated ear-flap beanie for #2 son.

Beer and Bread

Looking for an original present for Dear Hubby at Christmas, I hit upon the idea of giving him a home brewing kit. We are barely two weeks beyond Christmas, and hubby has already made one batch of beer - that is happily fermented, bottled and carbonating as we speak. Batch #2 is in the barrel doing its fermenting thing right now.

One of the byproducts of homebrewing is a crapload of whole grain. What starts out as about 2 cups of grain when it is dry, turns into about 8 cups when it has been steeped to make beer. What to do with this soppy, odd-smelling stuff? You make Spent Grain Bread! A quick check of the inter-web yielded several recipes to try. Strangely enough, most of them were connected to home-brewing sites, go figure! This is my first effort. Waddaya think?



Hot out of the oven, it tasted pretty good. I will need to sample a second slice after it cools a bit more to catch the depth of flavor. I'm already thinking of ways to "tweak" the recipe - honey or molasses instead of sugar should compliment the grains better. I'm thinking there may be more breadmaking in my future.

Just the two brief exposures I have had to the homebrew supply store has made it clear to me that baking and making beer goes hand-in-hand. This could be fun!

Rrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiipppp It!

I was knitting along on this lovely drop stitch shawl for our cousin-in-law who turns 40 today. I knew I was going to get it done in time when I started the bind-off last night. It should look like this:



I used the same yarn, the same color even........

What did mine look like? A droopy, saggy mess! The drop stitches were too "droppy" the panels of stockinette between the drop stitches were limp and lifeless. My only option was to rip it out. What I am going to do with three skeins of Soysilk Oasis? I can return the other three skeins (I planned to make one for myself, too). But now I have to find something to make with 600+ yarns of Soysilk, that doesn't involve dropstitches! Did I mention I never really liked dropstitches?

So now I am back to working on the lovely lace edging for a baby blanket from this book

I am in love with this book. There is a boatload of beautiful baby blankets in there. I plan to make at least four of them, and have the yarn already for three. And Spurkland (the author) shows you how to line knitted baby blankets with flannel. I LOVE this girl!!

Politics

I know, I have already been here today. Don't count on this happening a lot.

Generally, I am not a political person. I don't vote party - EVER. I vote the person. Let's establish that at the beginning of this election year. But......Obama won the D Caucus in Iowa!! I'm happy but stunned. Hillary came in third! Cracks me up, CNN seems to be so surprised that Hilary didn't get all of the female vote (is that the right term for a caucus?). Women don't universally like Hillary just because she is a woman. I doubt all African-Americans like Obama because he's black, or all Mormons like Romney because he is Mormon. What if you were a black, mormon, woman.......how would the pollsters count you?

I love this one: Knitters for Obama

The 2007 Count

I have noticed that several bloggers have done end-of-year knitting inventories. I might give this a try, but since I only really keep track of my sock-knitting, this could be a bit of a challenge.......

This is what I came up with:

8 pair of socks;
7 Fair Isle hats (can you tell I learned to fair isle this year?);
4 or 5 shawls (since I give most away, can't be sure);
2 baby blankets;
3 charity scarves;
2 Tilli Thomas bags (none for me!);
1 Xmas stocking;
2 baby sweaters;
3 pair Fetching mitts started Summer of 06, thumbs finally added Fall of 07.

That is all I can recall. The big questions is....what UFO's do I still have:

A sweater for me that I started in 2003(?) and just needs sewing up;
A pair of fingerless gloves (started last summer);
A pair of socks for me (started before the holiday knitting frenzy);
A sweater for #2 son (ditto);
A graduation afghan for #1 son (he graduated HS in 2004);
A baby blanket (started after holiday knitting frenzy);
A shawl for a cousin (needs to be done by THIS Saturday);
A shawl for my mom (oh, we won't discuss this!);
A felted purse (that is mostly knitted, and I am NOT loving);

Strangely enough, I actually DO finish the books I read!!

Charlie Wilson's War

Hubby and I saw "Charlie Wilson's War" on Sunday afternoon. Now, I have to admit that I have been over Tom Hanks for quite a while. Not that I think he's a bad actor, but for a long time, he was just everywhere. It got tiresome. But after seeing Charlie Wilson's War, Ole Tom is my man again. It was a wonderful film! I have to admit, the idea of the movie kind of made me uncomfortable......knowing that the ouster of the Soviet army from Afghanistan opened the door for the repressive Taliban regieme, that eventually led to Osama Bin Laden and 9/11. But I think they did a good job of addressing that in the end of the movie (and in subtle places throughout, foreshadowing how things could go really bad, if things didn't go just right in Afghanistan). And Phillip Seymour Hoffman, oh my gosh! He is a hoot! I've seen him in other things - he's been a character actor for a while - but he stands out in this one, and stands up against Hanks' acting well. He definitely doesn't get bulldozed in his scenes with a three time Oscar winner.

What really irritates me is that I had a copy of the book the movie was based on a while back, and I gave it away in a book-clearing frenzy. Now I have to get another copy. There is lots more to this story, and I want to find out. Go ahead....see the movie. But, READ the BOOK!

In Answer to Your Questions............

Linda, over at All & Sundry posted a list of end of year questions, that I thought I'd answer. Well as many of them as I can. Honestly, some of the questions are just to clever for me to answer at the end of the year. But here, goes..... (my answers are in Italics)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
 We took a family road trip to San Diego for a baseball tournament in July. I-5 through the San Joaquin Valley is probably the most misrable stretch of road in North America.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
 In short, oh hell no! I would like to make a resolution for 2008, but my track record for keeping them is pretty dismal.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
 Nope, we're all too old for that. And I'm too young for grandkids (did you hear that boys??)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
 My sister-in-law died after a long battle with liver cancer. We were never particularly close, but I feel that I should have been closer.

5. What countries did you visit?
 Does San Diego count as a country?

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
 More time for my attempts at writing

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Memorial Day weekend 2007 - see question #10 for the why. Pain sticks with me.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
 Starting this blog.

9. What was your biggest failure?
 Not sitting down and spending time writing more. I have a long term goal of going back to school for my MFA in Creative Writing in the next few years, but I have to actually spend time writing for that to be a realistic goal

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
 I received a lovely compression laceration that required three stitches and bruised by leg from knee to ankle over Memorial Day weekend. I now have a beautiful scar on my shin. Did I mention that I scar easily?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
 My new car, an Infinity FX35.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
 All three of my sons. They are all growing into wonderful men. Especially the youngest, who is showing glimpses of being really concerned about the world around him. He is finally passing through that "it's all about ME" stage.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
 My husband's brothers (both of them)

14. Where did most of your money go?
 Besides books and yarn? With regard to disposable income, likely sports stuff for the kids.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
 The really large tax refund I just learned we may get for 07.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
 "I'm with the Band" by Little Big Town

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
 a) likely happier; b) definitely fatter, unfortunately; c) about the same income wise.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
 Write and Knit, and Exercise

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
 Eat

20. How did you spend Christmas?
 At home with family, the extended family came to my house and my SIL and I shared holiday dinner responsibilities. It worked out great!

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
 Only with my hubby all over again.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
 Doctor Who and Torchwood (sorry, I'm a British SciFi geek)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
 Do George Bush and Hilary Clinton count? Wait a minute, I hated them last year, too!

24. What was the best book you read?
 The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Makes me look at religious differences in a whole new light.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nuttin' But Stringz

26. What did you want and get?
 A down pillow! Yummy!

27. What did you want and not get?
 A spinning wheel and latin dance lessons

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
 The Bourne Ultimatum or Elizabeth: The Golden Years

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
 Not much on the birthDAY itself. Just went out to dinner. But I got concert tickets for Little Big Town and Sugarland in Reno for my b-day, so a couple weeks later, we flew to Reno for the weekend and saw the concert. Reno really isn't an exciting town, but it was still a fun weekend.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
 If I had the willpower to lose weight.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
 If it involves jeans and a pair of boots, it's me!

32. What kept you sane?
 Knitting and Prozac

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
 David Tennant of Doctor Who

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
 Barak Obama getting into the presidential race. Yay!!

35. Who did you miss?
 Most likely my oldest son, away at college. He's fun to talk to.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
 New people? What are those? I met a new group of people at the end of the year - The Eastside Stitchers - a knitting group I am hoping to become more involved with. All lovely, giving people.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
 Sometimes I have to take control, even if it doesn't make other people happy at the moment.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Somebody's got to be unafraid to lead the freak parade

Somebody's got to be unafraid to lead the freak parade

Somebody's got to be unafraid to lead the freak parade

To lead the freak, to lead the freak, to lead the freak parade

This, gentle audience, (all ONE of you!) is my final Xmas knitting assignment of 2007. Completed BEFORE Christmas! Ta-Da!! A right and proper Christmas stocking for my youngest son. Just mere days before his first Christmas, ten years ago, I had a little epiphany. It went something like this...."CRAP!! I don't have a stocking made for the Baby!" So a trip to the fabric store followed and a rather sad excuse for a stocking was created. Face it, there is only so much you can do with red felt, fabric paint, and no sleep. I have promised myself every year since then that I would make him a "proper" stocking. His brothers have cross-stitched stockings lovingly made by their mother when I was less harried and not nearly as insane as I am now. When I took up knitting about 5 or 6 years ago, I decided I would knit him one, rather than cross-stitch. Don't get me wrong, cross-stitch is fine, but I'm a Knitter-grrl these days. Still, it took me all this time to get a stocking knitted for him. That included a couple of false starts. Especially the false start I had that prompted me to visit Cultured Purls for a little knit-assistance. I spent four hours last Wednesday getting myself straightened out on how to resume the argyle pattern on the sock, only to decide on the drive home, to rip out the entire heel, and just make an afterthought heel. As a result of this decision, I had the whole thing completed by Friday morning. Then blocking and sewing in a lining and Voila! A completed stocking. The only problem now.......the other boys noticed that #3's stocking is LARGER than theirs!

Holiday Madness is about to ensue around here.......So I thought I would entertain you all with my youngest's holiday handicraft. A new star for our Christmas Tree.
Have yourselves a MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS!!!

Almost to the end of the F.O. Trail

Behold, the third and final fair isle hat for my nephews. All in their school colors. Now the clock is running on my fifth Xmas knitting project, the Argyle Stocking for my youngest. Made wonderful progress Wednesday. Did the entire leg, heel flap, heel turn and the picked up stitches. Then I got stuck! I had appointments all thursday and didn't get to my knitting guru. So first thing Friday, a trip to Cultured Purls for wisdom from Shannon, my personal knitting Goddess. She helped me figure out what was wrong (one was me, the other was the pattern), and got me started again (Thanks Shannon!). But on the way home, I got thinking - always a dangerous thing......me.....thinking. And I decided that it would be easier and hopefully faster, if I did an Afterthought heel instead of a heel flap. So I ripped our the picked up stitches, the heel turn, the heel flap; put in some waste yarn and started in on the pattern again and am working down the foot. Only 12 more rows of pattern to go before the toe decreases; then I add the heel, and I'm done. I still may get there. Pray to the Knitting Goddesses for me!

And when I haven't been knitting, I have been making Lefse! A lovely result.....SEE




But Lordy what a mess! I am still cleaning flour off my countertops. And for some reason, it has hardened into concrete!

Three Down, Two to Go!

Finished Xmas Knitting Object, the Third. Socks for #3 son's 5th grade teacher. Pattern: my own wing it top-down Garter Rib pattern. Yarn: Trekking XXL ombre color #66 (blues, to dark green, purple, reds - in a manly-man combination). Needle: US #1, cast on 72 stitches. The best part of all.....finished THREE days before my deadline.

Now, one more hat for nephew #3 and a new Xmas stocking for #3 son. I was going to try to make it a surprise for him, but then I just decided to tell him, so I didn't have to sneak around knitting. I think I may make it!

#1 son is home from college for the holidays, so now I have someone to talk politics, religion and other BS with. He's fun. He's old enough to have opinions, and valid ideas to back them up.

He also helps me find wacko things on Youtube. Like this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RKQgDY0pZ68

Keep in mind, I don't really like the lyrics of the Crank That song, and Travis Barker is a bit extreme for me. But he does have to be one of the most phenominal drummers in the world. And I do like me some first class drummers!

Well, today, I am making Lefse for a classroom party. Pics tomorrow, if it doesn't come out like crap (please God, don't let it come out crappy - I got Lefse lovin' kids counting on me!) What, pray tell, is Lefse? Well, Swedish Tortillas, Swedish Naan, Swedish Pita. Go with the ethnic reference you are most comfortable with. Or look here: Lefse Sounds weird, tastes wonderful.

Doing the Martha Stewart Thing

Here is my Holiday present for you all. I love making hot cocoa mix and homemade marshmallows for the Holidays. The below is the recipes I use. Make a bunch, package it up and give it away with cute mugs you pick up on clearance. Everyone will think you are so clever!


HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

3/4 cups powdered milk
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

Mix the above ingredients together and seal in an airtight container until ready to use. You can use it in a ratio of 1/2 cup mix to 1 cup water - OR - 1/4 cup mix to 1 cup milk. Warm up the water/milk, place the mix in, stir thoroughly, until the little chocolate bits melt and everything is blended together.

NOTES:

* I use Trader Joe's 72% bittersweet chocolate Pounder Plus bars for the chocolate. They are fairly inexpensive and is really good quality chocolate. And you can easily make a quadruple batch from one bar.

** I always quadruple the recipe when I make it. You can go through this fast during a cold snap.


MARSHMALLOWS

2-1/2 TBSP unflavored gelatin
1 cup water, divided, plus 1 TBSP
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract (the REAL stuff!)

NOTE: I use 12-1/4 x 8-1/4 in aluminum pans you buy at the grocery store (the kinds of pans with clear plastic lids) to make the marshmallows. They end up being just the right size for a big fluffy marshmallow. I suppose if you want smaller marshmallows, use a larger pan, so you need to spread out the marshmallow mixture thinner and then cut them smaller.

Lightly coat the pan with cooking and dust with powdered sugar; then set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, stir together the gelatin and 1/2 cup of the water. Let stand 25 minutes.

At the same time, in a heavy 2-quart saucepan, combine the remaining 1/2 cup water, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook, stirring constantly, over low to medium-low heat until the sugar has dissolved.

Increase hit to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring often. Reduce to heat to medium and boil at a moderate rate, stirring frequently until the thermometer registers 244 degrees Fahrenheit - about 15 minutes. MAKE SURE THE MIXTURE DOES NOT BOIL OVER OR BURN.

I use a instant read thermometer to watch the temperature. A candy thermometer will work, too. DO NOT USE A MEAT THERMOMETER - THEY ARE NOT ACCURATE ENOUGH.

Place the bowl with the gelatin on the stand of the mixer, with the whisk attachment (you MUST have a stand mixer for this - if you don't have one, don't bother). Turn it on to low and gradually pour the hot sugar syrup into the gelatin, add the vanilla and the final 1 TBSP of water. Increase the speed on the mixture to high and beat at high speed and beat 15 minutes. In the end, the mixture should be white, thick and look like, well.....Marshmallows!

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Dampen your hands and press the marshmallow mixture into the pan until it is pretty well, smoothed out (it doesn't need to be perfect).

Let sit overnight, and then remove from the pan and cut into marshmallow-sized pieces and roll in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container.





NOTE: You need a heavy duty mixer to make marshmallows. I have one of the original (40 years-old plus) Kitchenaid stand mixer (I inherited it from one of my great-aunts), and after 15 minutes of mixing the marshmallows, my mixer head is pretty hot and needs a serious rest. If you have a portable mixer, I would call that annoying friend with all the expensive kitchen gadets and ask to borrow her Kitchenaid.

Have fun!!

It's Official, I'm Going to Hell!

So, I wandered into one of my favorite LYS's, just to pick up a set of size 6
DPNs, mind you........walked in the door and headed to the sock yarn section (as is my habit - I love sock yarn). And what was just sitting in the little cubicle next to the sock yarn.........MALABRIGO LACE WEIGHT! I looked, I touched.......I caved! Two skeins of lovely lavender Malabrigo followed me home.

Otto (the Emo dog) wanted to show his gloomy face in the picture.

I am truly going to hell. Krisdutch, they have rehab for this stuff, right? Now, if I can keep my hands off of it until after the holiday knitting is done!

This is the Week that Was

Ah, Sunday evening........ Company Holiday party, a pleasant memory (I planned and executed a party for 200, without a hitch and under budget!!). The day AFTER the party, when I slept all day, also a memory (country dancin' can wear a girl out!) And the piece de resistance...........all of my Christmas shopping is done!!! And it's only December 9. I decided to cyber-shop this year, mostly because I hate going to the mall on regular days, and I especially hate going to the malls during the holidays. I don't like the noise, the crowds, the impossible parking situation and the poor retail clerks trying to be cheery when the cheery holiday shoppers are treating them like shit. (if I do go to a store during the holidays, I try to be genuinely kind to the folks working retail - it is an especially thankless job during the holidays)

OK, honestly, I did go to Barnes and Noble for a few filler books, and I need to go to my favorite soap shop, Island Soap and Candle, for some lovely soaps (sorry, their website really isn't up to snuff, but their stuff is great). I plan to do that early tomorrow, and get that out of the way. Then, some stocking stuffers, and I am finished!

The Xmas tree is purchased (yet currently undecorated), and hubby and #2 son got the outside lights and the inflatable santa up outside yesterday.

Now, if I can actually get my Christmas cards out this year...........

Here then Gone!

<<<<<<This was my house on Saturday

This was my house on Sunday>>>>>>

This my friends is December in Washington State. Don't like the weather? Wait 20 minutes, it will change. We had a windstorm last December that knocked the power out to almost all the western half of the state for up to 10 days in some areas. We've gotten a little weird about unpredictable weather these days.

This was suburban flooding in a neighboring town today.

Krisdutch offered up a PIF opportunity the other day, and I bit. Kris is going to send me a special handmade gift, but I have to now "Pay Forward" her generosity to three other people. I have to PIF in the next 365 days, and so would you. The first three people who leave a comment, will get a handmade something from me within the next 365 days.......not before Christmas - I gar-un-tee! So, let me know you're reading this, and I will send you something fun. Remember, you have to be willing to share, too.

Two more holiday knitting projects have snuck into my knitting queue, and I have no idea how they got there..........Oh yeah, now I remember, I think there are 48 hours in each day, and I have not one thing to do!

Now the list stands like this, three fairisle hats (two done), two pairs of socks (one may be going away), a new Xmas stocking for #3 son, a beanie for hubby, AND a knitted Santa hat for #3 son. This last one got dumped on me Sunday afternoon, and #3 has been a huge pain in the arse about it ever since. "Are you done yet?" "Are you done yet?" He forgets I have the last minute details for a 200+ person Holiday party to take care of before Wednesday. But hey...he NEEDS that had for the party on Wednesday! Everything else can go to hell in a handbasket, as long as his hat gets done!

What am I doing blogging? I have a Santa hat to knit!

It's Time

It's time to share one of my other obsessions with you........BOOKS! When I am not knitting, I am reading. Sometimes I do both at the same time (this last one requires a fairly high degree of co-ordination, and some extremely mindless knitting to be successful).

My latest completed read: "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. This book recently won the National Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. I will point out, that I am a huge Alexie fan. I think he is brilliant, funny, kind of hot-looking (nice hair Sherman), and a very original voice. He's also a local guy for me, and since I don't share the Pacific Northwest's blind love for Tom Robbins, I have to spread my literary love somewhere.

Where to start with this book. It is painful, funny, sad, joyous and very real. You don't have to be Indian to feel out of place. That is the perspective Alexie writes from, but it is a feeling that almost every teenager experiences at some point. I know I sure did! I read everything that Alexie writes, but this one was a particular standout. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for a teenager you love.

I also received a knitting related goodie from Amazon yesterday: "Son of Stitch 'n' Bitch by Debbie Stoller. I haven't had time to actually knit any of the patterns, yet, but I can testify that they are "guy approved" patterns. My 16 year-old has already put in orders for two hats, and a sweater from the book. I have also found one that is perfect for #1 son, as well. AND there are a couple of good sock patterns (always a plus for me!). The sizing for the sweaters is pretty good, it seems. None of them will fit my XXL hubby without some alteration, but it is much better than some pattern designers I could name (Debbie Bliss). I'm so interested in diving into these patterns that it is taking all my restraint to not ditch my Holiday Knitting for a foray into "Son of Stitch 'n' Bitch." I hope I will soon be able to share a FO from the book with you all.

Is there an "all" out there reading this, yet? Or is it just a "one" so far (not counting #3 son who keeps reading my blog over my shoulder!)

F.O. Part DUX!

This, gentle people is finished Xmas object #2! I am SO on a roll! Same Pattern, Same Yarn, different color scheme. I have to admit, this hat pained me a bit to knit - being Husky colors and all (Go Cougs!). I had to keep telling myself that it was not Husky colors, it was Issaquah High School colors. Cooled me down enough to finsh the hat. Thank God I only have to knit one of those! Now to find a way to dispose of that dreaded purple and gold! Sorry Husky fans, but this is a Cougar household.

I know, I know, not so imaginative with the differing hat styles, but this hat is particularly suited to knitting in school colors, and it was my first taste of fair isle, so I have a fondness for it.

Started a pair of socks for Son#3's teacher today. Weird to knit socks for one of your kid's teachers, but hey! I don't think HE would get off on the knitted, felted roses, or the pretty soaps and knitted washcloths I have made female teachers in the past. But how do you surreptitiously find out someone's shoe size? Anyone have a good answer for that?

Holiday F.O. Numero Uno!

Tee Hee! I have officially finished my first knitted Xmas present for 2007! A fair isle hat in his high school colors for twin nephew #1 (well, or #2, they ARE twins after all). Technically, he does not start high school until next September, but his and his brother's excitement for high school is barely contained in their lanky blonde bodies - hence their need for spirited headwear.

For the knitterly among you, the pattern is Fiber Trends Swirls Hat (pattern # AC-59). Yarn used, Cascade 220 Superwash.

F.O. #2 is nearly done.....just have to knit the I-cord top-knot. Only one hat and two pairs of socks left to go! Tee-Hee!

And I have some of my Xmas shopping done, too (thank you Internet!). My goal this year. To complete Christmas shopping without ever setting foot in a mall. Can we do it?? Yes! We! Can!

Kelli Wins!

I'm taking Kelli's advice and commenting more and adding my URL to my comments. I really got in the habit of just reading lately, and not commenting. Gotta change that.

On the Holiday Knitting front, I already have one hat finished, and another just shy of half-way done! I ROCK! I will try to get #3 son to do some modeling soon.

BTW, Cougs beat the Huskies in Apple Cup #100! Take that DAWGS!!

Just realized that I have not yet had my Thanksgiving nap. Too late for it tonight, but I AM going to get in some serious nappage tomorrow. What is a holiday weekend without a nap surrounded by the family dogs!

Oh My GOSH!!!

I have a comment! (Hi Kelli!!) Yeah, I have been a total bore, I know. But now I am tossing something around in my head - and believe me, there is a lot of room in there! I have been inspired by Kay and Ann's participation with Oliver's American blanket . I think I may want to make my own. I know, I know, this could be a project of Epic Proportions - or the "Project of Death," however you want to look at it. But I have loads of lovely ends of sock skeins.......Koigu, Lorna's, other fantastic hand-dyeds, and the little balls just sitting in their plastic box doesn't thrill me like a blanket draped across my lap with memories of all my sock projects woven (well, knitted) into it. I mailed off my squares on Saturday, and hopefully Kay has them now. Honestly, I could have made a whole blanket on my own from my remnants. But the Holidays and it's associated knitting, looms large for me right now, so I have spend enough time on squares (for the moment).

Here's the holiday knitting countdown:

1) fair isle hats for nephews A, B, and C (in their high school colors - even though they are not in high school.....yet)
2) socks for FIL
3) socks for youngest's teacher

Five weeks and counting......wish me luck!

P.S. And, Oh Joy!!! Youngest's teacher's wife is having a baby!!! I get to knit a baby blanket!!! And just when I really wanted to knit another one and had no Bee-Bee to knit for!

P.S.S. Happy T-day folks! I'm off to bake more PIES!

I Know. I Know, I have not been putting any effort into this Blogging thing, but honestly, I think my life is boring - for the most part - and the really interesting stuff is not fit for a family blog.

But tonight I met the Eastside Stitchers, a Stitch'n'Bitch group in my area. Ladies, in a word, YOU ROCK! I am going to learn so much from you guys......I can hardly wait!

A lot of the Stitchers are also part of Eastside Spinners, and they invited me to come learn to spin with them on Saturday.....I am so Psyched! My Hubby is going to hate it, but he will be out of town on Saturday. By the time he gets back, I will be Spinaddicted as well as Knitaddicted.

Still gotta learn how to do pictures.......Xmas knitting is just beginning and I will have show and tell soon!

Ravelled!

I'm on Ravelry now. Don't really know what I'm doing, but I will figure it out eventually.

COFFEETAWK

While eating Mexican food with my soon-to-be 21-year old (ack! I'm old!!) son last night, we started talking about three questions we would ask our favorite celebrities, if we had the chance.........Here are mine............

1) What is your favorite thing to eat?

2) What books have you read/enjoyed

3) If you had 48 hours to yourself, to spend entirely on yourself; with no responsibilities other than to yourself, and no repurcussions (money and travel constraints are NOT considerations), what would you do with those 48 hours? Being totally selfish with the time is the goal.

Who would I like to hear the answers from????

David Tennant
Christopher Eccleston
George Clooney
Mother Theresa
Sherman Alexie
Jodi Picoult
To name a few................

Folks, who would you ask these questions of, and how would you answer them yourself?


Discuss..............

WARNING:

If you actually like Paris Hilton, stop reading here!

I usually don't get involved in this celebrity crap. I don't care one bit. But this Paris in, then out, then in jail again stuff just galls me! The LA County Sheriff let her out on home detention, against the specific instructions of the presiding judge because he said she had "medical problems" and had been visited by several mental health professionals in her whole 75 hour incarceration. I wonder, perhaps she was, for the first time in her life, confronted with being by herself, and didn't like what she saw?? Discuss......

If Paris really can't stand being in jail.....for a couple of million dollars (and someone to replace me while I am gone) , I would be more than happy to take her place in jail (provided I am allowed my books AND knitting, and at least one of my puppy-dogs). A few days alone with myself is my idea of heaven. Then again, I don't live for the adoration of the papparazzi, AND I actually LIKE myself!

Snitch!

I so totally have to tell on my dear hubby. He went on a short business trip this week. On his way back home, he was waiting for his flight and happened to be sitting next to a woman who was knitting baby booties on double pointed needles. After watching her for a few minutes, he turns to her and says "ya know, that would be easier if you knit them on two circular needles...."

She of course, turned to him with an absolutely incredulous look on her face - so what the heck does a big ole' bearded guy know about sock knitting! He goes on to say....."you're obsessed with it, aren't you?" And of course we all know she nodded - still a little dumbfounded.

Then dear hubby, all sympathy, "My wife is too" and reaches in to his carry-on bag and pulls out some of my handiwork - a pair of handknit socks! Frankly, he doesn't travel without a couple pairs of the socks I have knit for him.

I have him talking to strange women in airports about knitting......do you think I can get him to knit his own socks soon?