New Years Eve 2007

Okay, it is New Years Eve, and I decided to look over the blog to see what I have written over the past 12 months. Below you will find the first few lines of the first post of each month, kind of a year in review of Mountain Purl.

January 2007 - 2006 sure seemed to fly by. In keeping with tradition, I have my resolutions for 2007. Whether or not these will be kept, only time will tell.

Okay, some were kept, some were not, there are still many UFOs, I still have some unwanted poundage, the yarn room is a wreck and so is the house. Oh well. And I still need patience.

February 2007 - This is where I have been hiding myself, and it's not pretty. The yarn room looks like a bomb went off in there. I had to move numerous projects off the bed to make room for my outlines and books, with room for me to read.

Yep, it is still a mess.

March 2007 - The test is over, in the books, finished, done! Don't know if I passed, I was not happy Tuesday afternoon, and you never know with the multiple choices - it always comes down to 2 answers. But I'm done!

I managed to pass the Bar, and the lunch bunch took me out to celebrate at Knit Knack. A good time was had by all, and we enjoyed pomegranate margaritas!

April 2007 - It's April. I have leaves on the rose bushes that made it through the winter. There are purple buds on 2 of the 3 lilac bushes. We mowed and fertilized the yard. So of course it is snowing.

Nothing unusual here.

May 2007 - Our ship sailed into the San Francisco Bay this morning, right under the Golden Gate Bridge. Joanne and I were out on the balcony watching. We sailed past Alcatraz and then docked by the Embarcadero in San Francisco.

The cruise. My seasickness. Such fond memories. Poor Joanne! Nice yarn purchases though!

June 2007 - It always seems to be that you zip on home Friday after work, and before you can blink your eyes, it is 9PM Sunday night. What happened? The work week never goes that fast. I need a two day work week and a five day weekend.

This is a weekly occurrence for me.

July 2007 - This is me knitting outside on the front porch. Okay I know I need to trim the bushes, but I'm knitting. I have the house decorated. I put the bunting up for the Fourth of July, along with flags. What am I knitting - Koigu. And I need to knit my Koigu.

I STILL need to knit all my Koigu.

August 2007 - I’ve been really busy. My best friend Beth from high school arrived in Denver on Friday with her family. Her DH is a nurse anesthetist, so they are in town for his conference. So we have been running around. Saturday they came over to the house for a cookout, so there was a mad session of trying to clean the mess that is my house.

The house got cleaned, we had a great time. I miss her.

September 2007 - Where did the summer go? It seemed like yesterday that the outdoor pools around here opened, and now they will be closing next weekend. Must be all the traveling I did this summer that made me completely lose track of time. The beefsteak tomatoes are starting to turn red - hurry up before we get the first frost! My roses are looking good, and I am now planning to put in numerous bulbs in the front for a glorious spring display.

Never planted them bulbs did you Kath?

October 2007 - I decided to knit a pair of socks for Socktober. I cast on the Tyrolean Stockings from the Fall Interweave Knits. I am using Green Mountain Spinnery Vermont Organic Wool in a cream color. The yarn is a nice wool, although I am picking a lot of grass or whatever, out of it. It shows the pattern nicely, but right now the yarn is pretty coarse.

You just looked at those socks on the needles in the yarn room this weekend didn’t you? Or should I say 2 inches of just one sock in the yarn room?

November 2007 - Okay, it has been a while since I have blogged, and I do have pictures to post, but alas, I am not at home, where the camera is. So you get the idea that I really should be doing something else right now (oh yeah – working) but oh well.Let’s start with the Rockies. They lost. It was sad.

World Series. The Rockies lost. That really sucked.

December 2007 - Okay, there is no way it is going to happen. I finished the back of DH's sweater and had to rip out 30 or more rows of the front because I wasn't paying attention and didn't decrease 16 stitches. So there is no way this baby will be done by the 6th.

It’s still not done. I’m not working on it at the present. I just don’t feel like it.

Not a bad year. My half century mark. To all my friends and family. May you have a wonderful 2008.

P.S. I am not making any Resolutions for 2008!

A friend, a steek, and some knitting

This is my friend Robin. She is no longer a steek virgin. That's right, 2 days before the end of 2007, she cut her steek on her beautiful Dale sweater, and she's smiling. And she didn't even need a shot of alcohol before she took the first snip. This sweater is going to be so pretty and she has done a beautiful job. She has the armhole steeks to cut, the sleeves to put in and the neck and front facings to knit. Not much left. She is also working on a shawl which is now being bound off. Some FOs are in her not so distant future. She had two visits to my small shop called the yarn room and didn't pass out in horror or look at me as if I was insane. I think she was just being nice. She did come bearing gifts - 2 running books I wanted to borrow.

Today was a lazy day. Knitting with Robin, reading, watching TV and knitting. Ordering Chinese food, and then knitting. I am trying to stick with the two projects of each type plan. Sweater number one is the hoodie. I have knit 48 rows, but I am not back to where I started from, nor am I back to where Leanne the Purple Princess is. She is probably way ahead, because she had a long plane ride to Florida to spend some knitting time. Though, I am wondering about her gauge, because I am on the needles the pattern calls for, and I am usually one needle size down from her. But I have been the ripper, not her.

Number two is a two color Kauni that I put up on needles this weekend. If this turns out how I think it will, it should be a work of art. But it is slow knitting because I have 258 stitches per row. Right now the colors look too Christmasy, I can't wait until the blues and the purples come out of the balls.

I bought yarn today. I admit it. For two fair isle projects. I've got that bug again.

The most pressing thing right now is should I go to work tomorrow or stay home? Hmm, if I go, I will take Friday off. If I stay home, I have two days left of vacation. Hmm. I'll sleep on it.

Evening post, 2 in one day?

Okay, what is going on. I have ripped out the same sweater again. I can't tell you what it is because Leanne www.purpleprincessknits.com has a contest on her blog to figure it out. I found this stupid pattern, and I still like it. I'm just off row gauge, and then my head is somewhere else I guess. So the whole back to the arm holes was ripped back yesterday, and then 2o rows was ripped back today. I stayed up to 1AM re knitting this thing, to rip it back today. Oh, just slap me and put me out of my misery. And to top it off, I sliced my finger putting Christmas decorations away, and I'll be dog gone if I will let that get in the way of my attempt at knitting this thing. Why is it always the necessary knitting fingers, of course my left index finger?

I am trying to finish projects. I am trying something new. Working only on 2 sweaters at a time and 2 shawls, and 2 whatevers, you get the idea. Not bouncing from project to project. I am trying only to have 2 active projects in each category going at a time. And this is hard. Because I bought silk. Beautiful soft, yummy silk Fiesta La Luz that I order from Fuzzy Mabel for the hoodie from Interweave Knits. The hoodie that has been tempting me for months. I am not starting it. Leanne and I are getting are sweaters done at the same time. Or so I hope if I can ever get past my knitting errors.

I think I am blogging to avoid the sweater. I really do like it, I do. I will finish it Leanne, after all, I think I talked you into it, didn't I? And I am not seeing you having any knitting brain farts with it. Oh please, not another Damn sweater......

A new Day

I can't find it in me to be witty or amusing this morning. Maybe because it's early, and I stayed up too late last night re-knitting a completely ripped out sweater. Maybe it's because it's just so cold outside and my computer sits by two windows, which I love. And I normally watch the sunrise, which I am doing right now, but I can tell by the color of the sky that it is colder than normal. It feels like one of those days that you just want to stay inside and be warm. Drink the warm drink, knit, or curl up with a good book or good movie, in comfy clothes, and just not venture out.

I know a part of my lack of wittiness is due to the fact that DH's second cousin died yesterday. This is a big deal for my husband. This man was my husband's father's buddy. DH's father died 10 1/2 years ago. DH would go hunting every year with Don. He didn't go this year, partly because there was a screw-up with the tags, and partly because I was on a knitting retreat in Buena Vista. I told DH to go, but he said don't worry about it. Now there won't be a next year.

And I know how that goes, because I have always been the Queen of Next Years. Wait until I pass the bar, wait until we move from California, wait until I retire.... Makes you think, doesn't it, because, you don't always get that next year.

So, I'm not witty today. I'm going to have a day of selfish knitting. I'm going to start some organizing, because this house is an utter mess. I'm going to hug my kids and DH. And I'm going to finish watching the sunrise.

A never ending sea of entrelac

First of all, here is my alligator. Shoot, I should have plugged him in for you. He is my non-traditional Christmas lawn ornament. He lights up, his mouth opens up and his tail moves. The perfect lawn ornament for a Florida Gator such as myself. Drives DH crazy. Real Christmasy he says. I told him I'd get the gator a Santa hat, but never got around to it. Anyway, I love it.

As you can tell, we haven't shoveled. We spent all Christmas Day inside watching it snow. I spent most of the day cooking, and really didn't get any noticeable progress made on any knitting project. And now, I am drowning in this sea of entrelac.

Okay, I know I am almost done. I went up to the mess I call the yarn room, moved 14 tubs of yarn, the Lantern Moon basket tree, miscellaneous projects and balls of yarn, and set out the two blocking boards end to end. I then dry pinned this baby to see how wide I could go and how long without totally flattening out the entrelac. I wanted 30 inches wide. Dudes, I don't think it's going to happen. I'm thinking I'm going to have to be happy with 26 to 27 inches wide and maybe 75 or so inches long. I think I have 6 tiers left to knit. I looked at it pinned out and figured 3 more side triangles to get the length I want. Will this never end?

On a funny note, my older sister sent me knitting needles from China as part of my Christmas gift. I have never seen these types of needles before, they are the Bamboo Premium Collection, environmentally friendly in sizes 10, 10.5 and 11. I thanked her and told her if she ever decides to come visit me I will take her on a tour of the small shop I call my yarn room and she can be horrified.

I hope you had a great Christmas. I hear the pitter-patter of little feet, so I think the boys are up. Have a good day.

Look What Santa Brought!

I'm waiting for the ovens to warm up - one for the pumpkin pie, and one for the "eggies" the breakfast egg casserole with eggs and sausage. For some reason the top one is running really warm, so I hope I can figure this out before I need to get the turkey in.

Anyway, we tracked Santa last night on NORAD, and if you haven't done this with your kids it's so much fun to watch his progress around the world as he makes his way to where you live. We put the kids down to sleep as soon as he was done with Newfoundland, because he had worked his way up there from Key West and we weren't sure how soon he was going to hit Highlands Ranch. And the radar showed good ole Rudolph in front, probably because of the snow storm that Santa brought along with him. We have about three inches of snow on the ground already and there is a lot more falling.

Well, the pie and the eggies are in the ovens, a shower is calling my name, the boys are playing their new Game Boys and Nientendos and waiting patiently on the other presents. I hope to knit a lot today in between cooking and opening presents. I wish I had bought champagne for mimosas, got to go check the wine cellar.

Merry Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

I can't believe that it is Christmas Eve already. I knew this was going to happen. A rush, rush, rush, with no time to sit back and enjoy the holiday until it is over. And here we are. Christmas Eve.

And it's a a typical one. Throw in a fight with the in-law's (DH's), having a flat tire on the way home from the fight at the in-law's, an unexpected large car repair bill (unrelated to the flat tire - that was on the loaner vehicle) again DH's, staying up too late wrapping presents, planning to cook too much for a small family dinner tomorrow. I feel like one of those made for TV movies where an angel is about to appear.

But we had one stop and help DH change the tire on the loaner car. He was a nice young man who was on his way to cook his mom a Christmas Eve dinner. There are nice people in the world.

So I have been knitting. The top photo is Lady Eleanor. I have 2 balls of yarn to go. I am tired of entrelac. But there is a light at the end of this tunnel. Maybe I will knit on it tonight.

And then there is the hoodie. My row gauge is a little off, but I am thinking it should block out because I am not starting it again. You can't really see the cables, but they are pretty.

Then there is some lace. I pulled out an unfinished shawl. I needed to work on some lace, so I am trying to finish up some projects.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and may God bless you and your families in the coming year.

Half a Century!

Holy Crap, I'm old! Okay, I did wake up this morning and nothing fell off during the night that I know of - though I probably have a new wrinkle or two, and wonders of wonders I can move my left arm because I got a tetanus booster yesterday (this dumb arse forgot her last one was in 2003 so I said, sure - go ahead and give me one it's not MY $ and then later checked my records). And I'm not too stiff because I stupidly fell out of what I call the hole, the opening into the storage area that runs the length of the house in the basement which is about 6 feet above ground, and I should have waited until DH was around, but I just HAD to have the Christmas tree skirt when I WANTED it, and hurt my right wrist and shoulder. Okay, turning 50 did not make me smarter. My mom would tell me, for someone who is so intelligent, you certainly can be pretty stupid sometimes. Yep, she would have loved yesterday. Well, I look at it this way, now I know, tetanus shots - birthdays, 50, 60, 70, and so on. And I probably will try to get into the hole by myself again.

And it snowed yesterday. It's that pellet snow, dry, kinda like sand, or maybe like non pariell candy balls. Doesn't stick together, blows like crazy, and it's cold. We did go out in it last night and get a beautiful Christmas tree, which is in the garage right now, because I didn't want the snow melting on the carpet. Boy does the garage smell great.

I met my friend Leanne at the Corner Bakery for lunch yesterday. I have to show you what she gave me for my birthday which made me laugh! First of all, let's talk about the card. I have been in law enforcement for 19 years, so the old joke with the 3 caballeros "Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" has been a favorite and gets mentioned every once in a while. So when I saw this card I roared. These women have hanks of yarn for their bandoleers and needles stuck in them, and inside it reads, "Swatches? We don't need no stinkin' swatches!" And they have needles stuck in their pockets as if they had holsters on. TOO FUNNY!!!!!! And so definitely me.

And then we get to the gift. Do you see what it is? It is a silver flask with some knitting on it! Two knitting needles, some knitting and a ball of yarn. It holds three shots of what will be in my case Baileys. Just what every well - equipped yarn bag needs don't you think? This other picture shows the knitting picture on the flask better. I don't know where she found this, but it was perfect. She did warn me she had a nasty card for me, but that was for after I turned 50. Remember, Leanne, is the nice one, always sooooo thoughtful!

Here is the progress on the hoodie - three inches and counting. I'm on size 5s right now and will soon be changing to size 6s when I get out of the ribbing. I should get a lot of knitting done today because DH and the boys changed my birthday plans and are taking me first to breakfast and then somewhere else. So no zoo lights tonight. I'll let you know what we ended up doing. I think the flask will be tucked in the knitting bag just in case we go somewhere cold.

Well, I still have some quiet time to myself before the boys and the sun come up. Enjoy your day!

Happy Half Century Birthday to Me!

Last day...

It's four in the morning, okay make that quarter to five in the morning, but I have been up since four, walking around the house, digging through tubs in the yarn room, winding yarn. Four, why you say?

First of all, I think I woke up so early was that I was expecting to see snow, and since I have major running around to do today with having to drop the boys off at school, get to my physical, get to work, meet the girls to knit at lunch, back out on the road to get the girls picture taken (mammogram), I just did not want to see a lot of snow, and if was there I better start shoveling. And it's not snowing. Hmm, being the weather nerd I am - I love the Weather Channel and Weather Stories, I'm going to have to check out local on the eights and see if they lied, or if this storm is going to hit later. Oh, it's snowing in Barrow, Alaska, doesn't help me here.

Second, I am used to waking up early, although lately, I just haven't wanted to. (I am trying to cast on a sweater as I type this, and it is just not working too well as I am trying to cast on in pattern). Okay, I don't need to be casting on a sweater, but it is the last hurrah sweater, the last sweater cast on in my 40s. So this baby is being cast on today, I didn't even buy new yarn - that's why I was digging through the tubs, I KNEW that I had something suitable and I did. 1320 yards of Blackwater Abbey in the blue, I can't remember the name right now, will check the color card, but Marilyn, if this turns out like I think, you are so going to want this for your shows (smile). Cute, modern, fitted hoodie. Cables, buttons. It's a great pattern - wish it was mine.

Okay, back to the weather, oh 22 degrees and they still say snow. I just walked to the front door and looked out, hmm, nothing.

Pictures, I think I have one. Let's cast on a few more stitches while I look, where am I 66 - stitches? Found the color card, okay what color is this, would help if I didn't only have the one light on, hmm, it looks like Bluestack. I wonder how fast I can knit this? I need to finish DH's too. Decisions, decisions. Thank goodness I did not commit to any Christmas knitting!

Here's the picture. That is my new Della Q knitting bag. Isn't it nice? I like it because it goes great with my mainly black, boring work attire. The knitting is some chunky Misty Alpaca that I turned into a real cute hat out of one ball.

I'm so hungry. Can't eat until after my physical because of the cholesterol test. I'm thinking french fries.

Well, I am going to finish casting this baby on, knit a few rows, and then start the morning. Enjoy. Less than 24 hours until I'm a half century old!

I'm not Scrooge, but I don't have the spirit...

Are you in the mood for the holidays? I am not and it’s already the 10th of December. St. Nicklaus day has come and gone, Christmas will be here in 15 days. We went to our annual Christmas program at church, which I enjoyed very much. I have been to two Christmas parties, and one of the Friday grazings at my other office was this past Friday, and yet, I am not in the mood.

Kind of like my knitting. I have bounced restlessly from one project to another this weekend, started three different socks and ripping out two. I finished a mobius and I don’t like the finishing and I will rip that out too, but for now it is banished to the yarn room. I pulled out a cardigan to work on, the tangled yoke, and put it back. I am doing some mitered squares, because they are mindless. Nothing has my attention.

Maybe it’s because it’s my last week to be in my 40s, and I think my birthday will be a bust. Always seems to happen. And I don’t think it’s selfish to expect that one day a year will be all about me. 1 out of 365. DH and I had a blow out at dinner Friday night, the kids are on my nerves, and I don’t feel like working. Some kind of December malaise. I’m feeling blah, its cold outside and cold in my office.

And I feel bad for DH even though I am mad at him. His second cousin, who grew up with his dad (DH’s dad died 10 years ago), got sick with what was thought to be pneumonia. And he has been in the hospital, and in a drug induced coma, and they did a biopsy on his lungs because no medicines were working. And unbeknownst to the doctors, he had a series of strokes, which were masked by the pain medication. So this man, who my husband hunts with every year, and through a mess up, didn’t get to hunt with last month, is never expected to awaken. Pretty crappy.
So I am just blah. But I did go to Chicago last week to celebrate my friend Terry’s retirement. Here’s a picture of our table, Terry is the one that looks like Harry Connick Jr. I even had a good hair day. After the party, I took a cab over to Loopy Yarns where a new Della Q knitting bag was purchased. And I bought some chunky alpaca for a cap, and some Monica Ferris fiction books that I enjoy reading (they are set in a needlework shop in MN).

Oh, and my friend gave me a beautiful silver and gold David Yurman bracelet. He saw it a few months ago and the chains looked like knitting to him, so he bought it for me. And he is right. He was way too extravagant, but I love the bracelet.

Tim Tebow won the Heismann. The voters got it right. A fine young man, a great athlete, a strong Christian, and a great role model. His parents must be so proud.

I hope you are having a good December and are enjoying the holidays. I’m looking for that Christmas spirit. Can’t seem to find it yet.

Off to the Windy City

A day trip. A quick fly in and out of the Windy City. I am going to my buddy's retirement lunch. My best bud from work, another attorney from Chicago that I became fast friends with after a walk on a beach during a lightning storm in Miami. (No one said attorneys have common sense!)

I miss him. We traveled a lot together, teaching updates in the law to agents. Terry is such a class act, I love him to death. You know, they say, a friend is someone who can see through you and still enjoys the show. That's us. We can say absolutely anything to each other and never think badly of the other person. We are buds.

So I am off to Chicago for his party tomorrow. I am going to relax, knit on the plane, have a cocktail or two and enjoy the day. I know I will be talking at the lunch, and I will do my darnest not to cry, but I probably will.

So DH's sleeves will be joining me, along with another yet to be determined project. And if I have enough time, I'll be stopping at Loopy Yarns on State Street, a shop I like to visit when I am in the Windy City. No time, I'm afraid for some good Chicago pizza. Hmm, next time.

I surrender

Okay, there is no way it is going to happen. I finished the back of DH's sweater and had to rip out 30 or more rows of the front because I wasn't paying attention and didn't decrease 16 stitches. So there is no way this baby will be done by the 6th.

Finished FOs - let's see, the back of the sweater, one sock, and one scarf. Pretty pitiful pickings I am afraid. There has been too much knitting on too many projects for any of them to be finished. I think December might be a good finishing month. We saw see...

I lost most of today for knitting because I went to bed with a headache and woke up with a migraine. It's been a while since this girl has lost her cookies, but this one was so bad, it happened. I still have some pain floating around my head, but nothing like this morning. My doctor had wanted me to go 2 weeks without headache medicine to try to get rid of the rebounds, but I only made it 4 days. Oh well, tomorrow I start over.

Well, I have 2 cuffs to cast on, and not much desire to knit right now. Have a good night.

P.S. Like the new slippers? They are so comfortable, and of course the sheep are adorable!

I knit in public.

I like to knit on public transportation. Granted, it sometimes gets hard to hold everything on your lap. Take this morning for instance. It was snowing, so the bus had more riders, as did the train. I had my purse, my knitting bag, and a plastic grocery bag with DH's Black Water Abbey pullover in it. Why not in the knitting bag? It was too full of other projects that I needed for the class I'm teaching tonight at String.

Anyway, I had some yarn I needed to wind from the sleeve I ripped out. So winding and balancing things, and trying not to have too much body contact with the person sharing the seat with me was interesting. Add in the fact that I had a bulky long coat on, as did he, and there was less space to sit. The poor guy got elbowed a couple of times, and I did apologize though he never responded.

I did get the yarn wound. I also managed to add four rows to the back of the pullover. The thing is - I'm thinking I want to get this done in a week. Is this possible, or am I just insane? You see, we celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, so it would have to be knit, blocked and sewn together on the 5th, so I can put it under the stocking (you put out stockings for St. Nicholas the night of the 5th, and if you are good you find something in them the next day). I still have both sleeves to knit and about 40 rows on the front and back. I'm thinking I may be kidding myself. Ya think?

We shall see....

I'm Back...

I am back from my vacation. Wow. It seemed to take forever to get here and now there is only two days left. We flew into Orlando and drove up to Lakeland, FL which is where my parents and one of my sisters lives. We got in late that Thursday night, the boys didn't sleep on the plane so of course they crashed in the car. The next day we went exploring around Lakeland. Here I am knitting (of course) on a statue of a gator (of course) in a nice park on a lake. There also was a beautiful garden there with numerous fountains and places to sit. It was chilly the first two days - in the 50s and 60s so of course every Floridian thought it was freezing. I thought it was nice.

The next day we drove back to Orlando and visited Sea World. The boys sure enjoyed the dolphin and whale shows. DH loved riding Kraken, a roller coaster that goes upside down. I just had fun. Here's the knitting with the boys by the Flamingos. We later checked into our hotel, where the youngest son had a fight with the coffee table and ended up with an awesome black eye. Yes we got looks, when people saw him. Today he is a beautiful shade of green and yellow - he is on the fading side now.

The next day we were off to visit the Magic Kingdom. We rode in the front of the monorail with the engineer, which was a hit with the boys. The oldest son wasn't that adventurous with the rides, the little one loved the Haunted Mansion and went on it three times, but the oldest would only go once. The Pirates of the Caribbean was a big hit, along with Peter Pan's Adventures, Small World and the Buzz Lightyear rides. Here's me and the boys along with the knitting, waiting for the character parade. As you can see, the weather was back up in the mid to high 70s which was really nice. Like the hair? Lovely humidity!

The next day was Epcot. Ah yes, they serve adult beverages there. Why not in the Magic Kingdom, parents need a break there too. So we visited the different countries, rode rides, looked at beautiful Dale sweaters in the shop at Norway, drank beer, margaritas, and enjoyed the day, but the legs and feet were getting tired of three non stop days in a row.

Next day, back to the Magic Kingdom. The crowds were insane, there were girls in tiaras everywhere from some beauty pageant I have never heard of. There was a lot of knitting while waiting in line. That night we went back to mom and dad's. My brother and his family and my sisters were there. It was a night of card playing, and margaritas. Yep, a good time.

This is where we went on Wednesday. Yes, it was nice, yes it was really warm (my kids and my niece and nephew were in the water swimming). Hard to believe, because when we got back to our car last night at the airport it was 19 degrees outside with snow on the ground. I looked for shells. Yes the knitting made the trip to Clearwater Beach too!

Thursday was Thanksgiving, a big family meal with football and cards and fun.

Friday morning I braved the crowds to do a little shopping, then that afternoon we were back on the road to Orlando to fly home.

What knitting was done? Nothing finished, but I knit about 20 mitered squares, worked on the little ones hat and mittens. Worked on a sock. Never touched DH's sock or the shawl, or the new Dale. Oh well, got another flight in a week and a half. More knitting time.

Well after getting the nails and the pedicure this morning, I'm back to chores, with some football and knitting to be thrown in. Have a great day! It's pretty out there, but cold!

The yarn is doing what you say?

Kicking my arse, to borrow an expression. That’s what an incredibly simple lace pattern was doing to me on the train this morning. A lace pattern of 6 rows, that I normally could do almost with my eyes closed. And it kicked my arse. So as I ripped back for the 3rd time, you see I spent more time ripping than knitting, I wondered why I was screwing this up.

So I came up with a few reasons:

1. I was in no mood to go to work. I have a telecom today on a case which I hate from the bottom of my soul. I never, EVER, wanted to work labor law, and this case from hell has been dragging on. So I get to talk to the judge today, along with this idiot, and see what she wants us to do. I want to win the lottery tonight so I can ship this case off to my boss and never, EVER, work another labor case.

2. I have so much to do before I get the kids on the plane tomorrow that I am feeling disorganized and frustrated, which is what the knitting has become. But I cast these socks on last night because I thought they were idiot knitting. Maybe I was the idiot who was doing the knitting.

3. I’m tired. But I’m always tired. Nah, not the reason.

4. I can’t count. Well, I can count, but maybe I wasn’t paying attention.

5. Someone’s alarm that wouldn’t stop beeping, albeit it wasn’t very loud, was driving me nuts like the drip of a faucet, and I wasn’t paying attention to my knitting.

6. I turn 50 in a month. I’m already getting stuff from AARP. Yes, it’s AARP’s fault.

Oh well, I need to re-knit the eight to ten rows I ripped back. Hey Leanne www.purpleprincessknits.com, I’m getting SO MUCH PLEASURE out of using this yarn for the fourth time!

Hey – where’s the snow we were supposed to have this morning?

Enjoy the day, hey go ahead and rip something back for the heck of it!

Just Five Minutes

Not much time, but it’s all I have.

Too much is going on. I have to get ready for the family vacation, try to figure out what to bring since it will be warm. Pack clothes for the boys and double check their backpacks so they don’t try to bring a toy gun or a sword on the plane, no matter how “Cool” that would be. Make sure the neighbor girls know how to take care of Norton and Cochise. Go grocery shopping, do laundry.

Figure out what knitting is going along. I think I have the list whittled down to the Icarus Shawl, the little one’s pirate hat and mittens (I don’t care that he told me he now doesn’t like pirates!), DH’s socks, my cable socks, some beaded socks for an upcoming class, and a sweater. I think that should be enough. Okay, I know it’s way too much, but there will be lines when we visit Mickey Mouse, and knitting is visiting the Magic Kingdom too.

And I'm at work.

Speaking of socks, I ripped out my heel in the cabled socks three times. Normally this would ensure that the vile sock would be banished to the dungeon of unfinished socks in the yarn room, but I’m determined that this sucker will not piss me off four times in a row. In fact, this is going to be finished on the vacation, but then I still need to do the mate. Oh well.

Okay, my 5 minutes are up. Have a great day!

Sunday already?

Where did this week go? It seemed to fly by (except when I was at work), wow, it's Sunday afternoon.

Taught a lot of classes this week. Wednesday was a stranded knitting mittens class. A group of friends had asked for this class, so off we went. Would have helped if I had double-checked the pattern and had them on size smaller needles for the cuffs, but all in all, I think they had a good time. We shall see tomorrow night when we meet for class 2.

Thursday was the modern quilt wrap class. Oh these are going to be so pretty, and so different. Everyones colors are different, and the tone of each changes as a new color is added in, 9 colors in all.

Yesterday was class 2 of Icarus. We are still in the boring stockinette section, but it slow going for one. I think she is a good knitter, but is letting the lace defeat her. I had her walk around the store and take a break before going back to it.

What about me? I was working on the cabled socks, but after turning the heel, decided to rip back and do it again. Picked up DH's Black Red Rocks pullover this morning and put some rows on it. The little son decided he didn't like pirates and doesn't want his hat and mittens. There are new socks to be cast on, shawls and sweaters screaming for me to pick them up. There's other things that need attention, and projects to be picked for the Florida trip.

But I'm tired, I have a rebound headache from yesterday's migraine and I'm just drained. So like it or not, the boys are lying down for a nap in a half hour (after the Bronco game), just like mom. DH is at a memorial service for a fellow agent who was killed when an IED exploded under his vehicle in Iraq this past week. Sucks.

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day.

Yard work, yawn work, and Yarn

Oh my, today was just one of the prettiest days and being Saturday, of course, chores were high on the list. If you don't live in Colorado, you just don't really know how blue a sky is. I think it's something about being over a mile high, you are just closer to it. I don't know. All I know is we have this amazing Colorado blue sky. So as I was driving back from the allergist with my littlest one (I got the shot, not him) I thought, what a great day - a good day to work in the yard. The roses need their winter whacking back, there's leaves everywhere, the butterfly bushes and sage need to be cut back, and let's not even think about the sea oats. I think there is still stuff that should have been cut back last fall. The lilacs have taken over the other side of the yard. So out I went. I lasted about two hours, any more and my arms start to itch from the dried stuff I'm ripping out or whacking back. Then of course, I had to make a leave pile for the littlest one. Here here is after a running long jump. My baby.

Then off to lunch with the boys at NoNos. Their idea, but who am I to say no to blackened catfish and a glass of crisp white wine.

Then there was yawn work. Laundry. Okay, granted you can throw a load in and walk away, but it's a boring chore, and then I have to walk upstairs with the folded items and put them away. Also, another yawn is Lady Eleanor. Oh I so want this done. I am on tier 40. 40 entrelac tiers and still counting. I have a little over 3 balls left. Do I see light at the end of the tunnel? Small, very small, just a pinprick but it is there.

Yarn. I cast something new on. (Stop laughing!) I'm not saying what, but I LOVE THIS YARN!!!! I have never used it before, and I am in love. I will be designing something in this yarn at a future date. The yarn is Melosa fingering from Lamas Punas. Handpainted yarns from South America. 100% merino. It has the feel of Malabrigo, but it is fingering weight. Oh my, just like butter. I am so loving this yarn.

I was a single mom today, DH had to work, so no knitting at the LYS, or Borders, sorry Nachaele, missed your phone call. I am going to sit down to knit now. Okay, okay, back to Lady Eleanor. I think I need some Halloween candy to put me in the mood. I'll leave you with some pictures:

Me with the cast on Kerry cardigan at game four of the World Series. See the glove? As usual, we were in foul ball territory, but not one came our way.

DH and I at the game.

Been a while

Okay, it has been a while since I have blogged, and I do have pictures to post, but alas, I am not at home, where the camera is. So you get the idea that I really should be doing something else right now (oh yeah – working) but oh well.

Let’s start with the Rockies. They lost. It was sad. DH and I were at game 4, which besides the loss was a lot of fun. I love fly overs so of course I loved seeing the fighter squadron buzz us after the National Anthem, which was sung by Trisha Yearwood – another plus because I have many of her CDs. The weather wasn’t bad, I knit THE WHOLE GAME! I decided not to knit on purple yarn, because that had not helped the Rockies, so I put up the Kerry Cardigan in some deep red, almost cranberry Black Water Abbey. Let me tell you, increasing 91 stitches evenly across a row while you are drinking beer, hopping up and down to scream for joy or hurl insults at Ramirez, Ortiz or Twinkle Toes, is not an easy task, but I managed it. But, they lost. Crap. Next year.

So knitting, what I have I worked on. A little on Kerry. But then, ah oh, I got sucked into stranded knitting. It’s not my fault. Cassidy asked me to finish a mitten class started by another instructor at String. It’s the stranded Corazon mittens. Well I looked at the pattern and thought, shoot, without the chart, it’s the same as the little son’s pirate mittens that haven’t been started, and a pair of Latvian mittens that I started during the winter. So out came both, along with little son’s pirate hat which is 2/3 done. So I am cruising on his mittens, and then pulled out the hat to work on it. And I went crap. Dumb A**. You reversed the colors. On the hat the skulls and cross bones were white with a blue background. I had made the skulls blue on the mittens. I showed them to the lunch bunch, and Kris in all her niceness told me I was clever. (I think that’s her code word for Dumb A**). Well, before class last night it was into the frog pond, rip it, rip it, and rip it. So now they are being knitted the way they should. Yes Leanne, I’m getting twice the pleasure of the yarn…..

Anyway, the class went well, 5 knitters having a good time, AJ and Steph, Ruth Ann, Sara, and man, I forgot, oh I remember Debbie. They are doing well, so the next class we will be doing the after thought thumb.

I have a lot of classes next week too, another mitten class, a mitered class, and a shawl class. Going to be busy. It’s looking like another beautiful day in God’s Country. Been up since 4:30AM, so I got to see the sun rise. Enjoy!

Man oh Man

It's hard watching the series. The boys are just not the same team of a week and a half ago. They need something to turn this around. I hope something does. I feel bad for them. It will be hard to watch them tonight if this continues.

Time to leave to go home in about four hours. Boy this weekend went fast.

Quiet

It's early in the morning. I have been up for over an hour and a half. And it's quiet, very quiet. I am waiting for the sun to come up, although I see a lot of clouds. I am hoping to see a beautiful sunrise. I have been peacefully knitting, enjoying my quiet time, with no interruptions. I needed this.

I am at a lodge, a beautiful log home. And I am with 14 or 15 other knitters. And the funny thing is, no one else is awake except for the owners who run this beautiful place. It's a bed and breakfast sitting right above the banks of the Arkansas River.

I'm having a good time. I met some very nice women, drank some wine, bought some yarn and a new knitting bag, and two more sheep for the knitting room, and just relaxed.

Life is good, it will be great if the Rockies win the next four games. GO ROCKIES!

Here comes the sun.....

How do I choose?

One of my problems of having so much knitting up on needles, is how do you choose what to work on?

At one point in its knitting life, each project was at the top of the list. The one that had to be cast on, the one that you said to heck with a gauge swatch, I want to knit this NOW! And through no fault of its own, the yarn didn’t change, neither did the pattern, the project slowly moved down the list of must work ons, feeling neglected and wondering why it happened.

So now I am going on a knitting retreat this Thursday and I have to choose what to bring along. I always bring too many projects whenever I travel, but I rationalize it by thinking, well I might get bored with it, or I might finish it (Okay stop laughing!) or I have to have a variety of things to work on.

So, I’m trying to choose. Should it only be purple projects in honor of the World Series starting Wednesday with my Rockies in it? Should it be DH and the youngest's sweaters that I really should make an effort to finish by Christmas? Should it be the newest beaded shawl that needs to be cast on? Should I add some socks? Decisions, decisions.

I know, I’ll think about it while I’m knitting on my purple Cabled Cape during my morning telecom. I love having telecoms, shut the door, hit the mute button, listen and knit and only talk when I need to.

Gorgeous day in God’s Country, Enjoy!

We have tickets!

DH and I going to the World Series! Neither of us have ever been to a World Series game. We have tickets to game 4, Sunday night, which is what I wanted. And we have awesome seats. We could have gone to game 5 too, but oh my gosh, the price of the tickets is insane. So no tickets to game 5, but maybe they will win it all in game 4. Next Sunday, Coors Field, the Rockies, DH, me and my knitting will be there!

SNOW!

Snow. It happens every year, our pre-Halloween snow. And it is coming down, big, fat, wet flakes that stick to everything. Beautiful, but it has a price. It's heavy, and if you don't get outside and knock it off your trees, and other plants, they may break. So, if it continues, I'll be out there with a ski pole, hitting branches to dislodge the snow.

Here's my rose bush that I took a picture of with my knitting on Friday. I need to cut it back for the winter now, but the last roses were so pretty, I wanted to wait.

The boys are hoping it keeps snowing, because they want enough on the ground to build a snow fort. I've heard we may get 4 to 6 inches, but if it warms up, instead of snow, we will have slush.

It's a great day for knitting, snow outside, and warm inside. Enjoy your day!

You are where you are meant to be.

Ever end up in a place you have never been before, but after you get there you find out why?

Happened to me yesterday. I was at a place I had never been before, 15 minutes later than I had planned, and when I turned around to leave after completing my business, there was a friend of mine. Not only a friend, but someone I have been thinking about a lot lately, whom I usually see during the week, but not this week; who is going through a rough time. She's fine, but she's dealing with the impending loss of a long time friend, and she's hurting. But I hope she felt better yesterday, even if only for a little while. I tried to make her laugh, and of course made her come knit. And we ate dinner together and drank Pomegranate Margaritas. So even if it was only for a little while, I hoped I helped. You are where you are meant to be.

However, my knitting is not. Okay, I am a Starter, I fully admit that. Always wanting to try the new yarn, knit the new pattern. Startitis. And I have it. The other day my friend Denise asked me why I was knitting some socks on size 0 double points. She knows I'm a 2 circular needle woman. As I paused to consider my answer, if I would darn right lie, or make something up, I decided to come clean. She was thinking that I was trying something new, some new technique or whatever that I would pass on to the lunch bunch, but no, I wasn't. I didn't have a single pair of empty size 0 24 inch Addi Turbos. They are all occupied by orphan socks. Yes I am a starter, yes I get bored after starting a sock. I admit it.

So I need to finish some socks, especially the models for some upcoming classes. Self, do you hear me? I said finish.

But I want to work on the Tangled Yoke Cardigan which was started this week.......Yes, "Started"

Afraid to watch...

This is where DH and I were last night. Game 3 of the NLCS at Coors Field. It rained during the entire game - 3 or so hours. But we didn't care, the Rockies won. I did have knitting at the game, but never was able to pull it out.

Tonight is game 4, and it's the bottom of the 4th. We are down 1-0. I'm afraid to watch. I want a sweep. GO ROCKIES! I had better go knit.

THE ROCKIES WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROCKIES ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!!!!

It's past midnight -Time for bed! GO ROCKIES!

IT'S ROCKTOBER!!!!!!

It's ROCKTOBER! Like the shirt? I am so excited about the Rockies being in the National League Championship Series. My guys. I'm sure you know that I am an avid Rockies fan, putting the games on so I can knit and watch, cheering them on even before they became HOT! And now - look at my guys! They will be in the World Series and my friends, it's going to snow. We always have that pre-Halloween snow the week before Halloween and when is the series? That week. The week I am going on the knitting retreat. But if we score tickets, this girl's butt will be in a seat at Coors Field. Speaking of scoring seats, guess where we will be tomorrow night? At game 3. I don't care if it rains, I don't care if it snows. I am going to be there screaming with everyone else and dancing. Maybe get up on the Jumbotron again - who knows? Me in my long underwear. Yep - I'm there.
Okay, what else is in the picture? Purple socks of course, put up during game one of the NLCS, in honor of the Rockies. These have a cool cuff, and I changed the lace pattern for the rest of the socks. These will be short socks. My husband asked me if they would be finished tomorrow. Okay, I knit fast, but I'm not Karen from A Knitted Peace. These should be done during the World Series.

To the left in the picture is a broken Harmony needle. That's right, one of my brand new Harmony size 4 needles is broken. I don't know how I did it. I might have stepped on it (Okay - the girl throws her knitting on the floor, not in a bag, just loose, next to the bed when I can't keep the eyes open any more). The break is along a color change. Might have been a defect, but I don't know. But Knit Picks was amazing. I called them, totally prepared to pay for a replacement, and they are sending me one free. Great customer service. I am impressed.

Next in the picture is my great Pretty Posey sock sack by Nana Sadie Rose. Too cute. You pick the style bag, and the material. I knew I wanted gators of course for the Gators, but what a bonus to have an orange and blue gator bag, with blue contrast strap and an orange button. The inside is orange fabric, another score, and there 4 double point needle pockets and a bigger pocket. What a cute bag. Check out her site!

The other thing is some new sock yarn from The Woolen Rabbit. Superwash wool, 450 yards in a beautiful colorway called Tupelo Honey. Various golds. Bought some other wool too today. I was teaching at String, the Icarus Shawl class and decided that I just had to have some Rowan Felted Tweed for the Tangled Yoke cardigan. So some came home with me, imagine that. Must have just jumped into my knitting bag.

Today was a good day, except for the 3rd day of rebound headaches. I was home Wednesday with a massive headache and have had a rebound headache every day since. But I got to knit today. I was at String and today was Brenda's last day. I saw Jody and Christina, Robin, some new friends Madeline and Dani (poor girl major migraine sufferor - good knitter). The weather was not too good, but the company was great. Speaking of weather, there's a good thunderstorm over the house right now. My newly painted, just finished Friday, painted house.

Well, it's almost 9PM, and the boys are patiently? waiting for me to finish so I can open up the boxes addresses to me that hold their Halloween costumes. Have a great night. GO ROCKIES!

Oh I forgot, I'm going to have knitting slumber party. Details coming up....

Playoffs and Socktober

I decided to knit a pair of socks for Socktober. I cast on the Tyrolean Stockings from the Fall Interweave Knits. I am using Green Mountain Spinnery Vermont Organic Wool in a cream color. The yarn is a nice wool, although I am picking a lot of grass or whatever, out of it. It shows the pattern nicely, but right now the yarn is pretty coarse. I am hoping that after a soak in Eucalin it will soften up nicely. If it does, this wool will be on the list for some future aran sweaters and a pair of socks for DH for hunting. I went down to a size 2 needle to try to make the stockings a smaller size, and I am using flexible Pony double points which I am not liking. I didn't want to use my Darn Pretty needles, because there are cables and twisted stitches. I have been known to snap double points on pattern work socks, so the Ponys had to be used. The tips are like stumps though, so I don't like them. We shall see what happens - can she snap a flexible plastic double point?

I thought I would have a lot of finished objects in September, but that didn’t happen. I was knitting on too many things at once, and not just on one thing at a time (like who can really do one at a time I ask?) So, October needs to be a FO month. I have DH’s sweater to finish, a pair of socks, Lady Eleanor and Icarus to name a few. I need more knitting time, less working time.

Today is the first day of the playoffs for the Rockies. Too cool. My boss is a Phillies fan, and since the Rockies are playing the Phillies, he totally understands my need to leave work early to go watch today’s afternoon game. I am hoping to combine some organizing in the yarn room with watching the game, and some knitting of course!

Another beautiful day in God’s Country, enjoy!

Busy weekend.

How was your weekend? Mine was really busy, but it was a good busy. Friday night we went to the Rockies game. It was the first game of the series against the Diamondbacks and they really needed to win. But they didn't. We had a good time though, had club seats and enjoyed the fireworks afterward. I thought the Rockies playoff hopes were dashed, but they won the next 2 games, DH went on Saturday night, and now they play a one game playoff tomorrow for the wild card, AND WE HAVE TICKETS! I am so excited. I'll be picking up the boys early from school tomorrow to make the 5:37 game time. GO ROCKIES!!!

Then on Saturday, I went here: Lonesome Stone Alpaca farm. Leanne, Sharon and I went on a bus trip up to Gramby with about 48 others, on a trip sponsored by A Knitted Peace. The alpacas were so cute and soft. They had been shorn on June 1, so their coats were only about an inch and a half thick.

The babies were so adorable. There was this little grey baby, you can barely see him by the fence in the picture, that was so cute. He was only about 2 weeks old.

Of course I bought some yarn. Some for a shawl, some for a sweater and some for mittens. I didn't need it, just wanted it.

The company was great on the trip - and Sharon had flasks with Baileys in one and vanilla vodka in the other. We also had munchies on the bus, and lunch at the farm. A good time was had by all.

Today we went to Daniels Park for a picnic and to let the boys explore. Here's me knitting. That's a wheel of unspun Icelandic wool I'm using. I'm casting on a shawl, with 421 stitches on size 9s. You have to be extremely careful not to pull too hard on the yarn, because it is basically like roving and easily pulls apart. I found the yarn when I started organizing the yarn room which is a WRECK! I bought new tubs to put yarn in, but have a long way to go in organizing.

Well, back to the yarn room for a while. Beautiful night here in God's country. Enjoy!

Not a bad weekend

There was football. First there were the Saturday college games, and thank goodness the Gators won. They weren't looking that good, and I had my doubts, but they managed to pull off a win against Ole Miss. But there were repercussions and they dropped in the polls to #4. Still early in the season.

Then there was flag football. The oldest plays in a 7 year old league, and the team is quite good. Saturday was the first time they were scored against, but they still managed to win 34-7. The oldest grabbed flags twice and was quarterback twice, so he was happy, and I was happy for him.

There was a lot of knitting time this weekend, while watching football, baseball and at String Saturday morning. Speaking of baseball, the Rockies have been AWESOME, sweeping the Padres and making a last ditch effort to get the wild card slot. I managed to get us tickets to Friday night's game against Arizona and to make it better, there will be fireworks. Knitting, baseball, hot dogs, beer and fireworks with my 3 favorite boys and the Rockies. Can't wait!

Knitting - let's see, there was progress on Lady Eleanor, I'm almost done with ball 5 of 13. But, for some reason this is not proving to be a popular class so far. Maybe if I can get it in the shop soon, people will realize how pretty this is. My camera did not capture the colors very well.

I managed to get up to the Black Water Abbey open house today. I saw old friends - Marilyn, Judy, Debbie from Castle Rock, and ran into a new friend Christie. I did buy some yarn. I had a gift certificate that I managed to finally use, and I bought yarn for a sweater for DH - a beautiful cabled pattern and the yarn is the brown called Jacob.

The peach yarn is for me, for a one button cardigan. This will go in the stash for a while, along with DH's, for knitting when I get a lot of other projects completed. I also bought some yarn for gloves that I will be knitting on 00 or 0000 needles, a project that will involve concentration on my part. I think winter will be soon enough to start the gloves. The sweater underneath is another BWA project for DH that I am trying to get done for his birthday next month.

I am going on A Knitted Peace's Alpaca farm trip on Saturday with my friend Sharon. We should have fun. Oh - and I signed up for 2008's A Year of Lace. I wasn't going to, but when I saw that Sivia Harding was one of the designers, I changed my mind. Have you see this?

Well, it's going to be a nice, cool night, fall is in the air. I don't think I'll be getting too many more tomatoes this year. Have a good one!

Oh I wish...

I wish that I could retire today. I would do it. I would turn in my paperwork, tell them to kiss my royal -ss and walk out the door. Have you every been that angry? So angry that it makes your hands shake and you can't stop thinking about why you are so angry? That's where I am right now. And I got a bloody nose, probably from all the pent up steam in my head!

You see, I got up at 2:30AM this morning, couldn't get back to sleep and left at 4AM to go to the airport to catch my flight to Kansas City. While I was in Overland Park, Kansas, my husband called and told me he had to respond to something in a far off area of Wyoming (he didn't arrive there until 3PM, so that's how far away it was). He told his boss I was out of town for the day. His boss told him that he and I should have contingency plans for the kids if this happened. I was frickin livid! How dare he make any comment about me or what plans I have in place for my kids. I was in a another state and he sends my husband to another state. We work for the same agency, in the same building. Needless to say, I am livid!!! The guys with me in Kansas rushed me to the airport (flying low down the highway I might add) and got me there so I could catch an earlier flight. So I am home, royally pissed off, but I will be picking up my children from school, DH's boss can go do whatever. But I don't want to go to work ever again. Oh, and I got in trouble from my boss for daring to tell DH's boss that if he had any questions about my contingency plans for my kids and that I was on Division requested business, he could call me. So it just gets better and better. And my boss thought I should apologize to the jerk. That my friends is NEVER going to happen!!!!

Okay - I did knit on the plane, and I don't think the gauge was too tight because of pissed off knitting. I am on ball 4 of 13 balls for Lady Eleanor. The colors are so pretty, like fall (that's right think about yarn and maybe you won't be so pissed off....) Pretty yarn, pretty yarn, pretty yarn......

Socks - not happy with ones I've cast on lately. Maybe I am too picky. I'm just not sure. I am certainly not a sock machine like some knitters. I have too many 1/2 pairs started. Who knows how many pairs of 24 inch size zeros and ones I have socks started on. Oh, I'm thinking that's a lot of money invested in small Addis. Speaking of needles, I ordered my Harmony needles from Knit Picks. Too pretty.

Time to get the boys. Contingency plans - bite me!

Joy

Did you watch the Rockies game last night? It was the bottom of the 9th, I think there were 2 outs, Matt Holliday was on base and Todd Helton was up to bat. The Rockies were down by 1. Helton hit a beauty of a homer, a 2 run homer that won the game. What was so great was as he was rounding third, the whole team was waiting for him at home plate. He threw off his batting helmet and took a leap into his team. The look on his face was one of pure, unadulterated joy. It was something to see. And the crowd gave him a standing ovation and stayed in the stadium for quite a while even though the game was over. It was one of those moments that just made you grin, and Helton has been such a part of the Rockies for the past 10 years. Great night!

I did some knitting and some ripping last night. Didn't like the socks that I put up, so off the needles they came and up went the waterlily socks. Though I did dump the bag of small crystal beads off the bed and onto the carpet, which made for lots of fun picking them up! So far so good on the socks, put then I am only on row 6 of the beaded ribbing.

I have a one day trip to Kansas City tomorrow, and I am looking forward to the knitting time on the plane. Although the 6:45AM flight time is a killer!

Well, too much work is calling my name. It's a beautiful day here. Enjoy yours.

A day off..

It's raining outside, and very grey. I don't mind it because I have alot of knitting to do and laundry. I'm off from work today because I have to go to the dentist and the orthodontist. It's a good day to be off. When I'm at work on a grey, rainy day, all I can think about is being at home and knitting, or reading, or sleeping. Yes, it's a good day to be home.

I did get some organinzing done. Those shows on HGTV always make me want to get organized, but then when I see how much time it takes, I lose interest. Though, the top of the dresser in the yarn room got organized this morning and now you can see some of my lamb collection (which was previously under piles of yarn). I did find the Darn Pretty Needles yesterday and they are back in the double point case. I think if I can put 10 things away a day I should be organized in say, 2 years.

Knitting today - let's see, the Kauni Shawl will be worked on, Lady Eleanor, and other WIPs yet to be determined. I want to make some good progress today. Bye!

Football, Finished Objects and Free Time.

A little FO. This Debbie Bliss was finished during the Florida-Tennessee game yesterday. Which the Gators won by the way! It took me 5 hours of finishing time. Unbelievable. The hardest was getting the sleeves sewn in. I did try to give this to the intended recipient after the game, but they weren't there when I stopped by at 5:15PM. Can you see A B C?

Here's a little yarn porn. I am not starting either of these right now, because except for class projects, I have to finish 2 WIPs before starting a new one.

I had some needle porn to show you too, but I don't know where the Darn Pretty Needles are. Maybe I left them at work.

I have so much to do today. Laundry, bills, organizing, and knitting. I can knit and do the bills watching football, excellent use of my time. I have some class projects to finish, September's socks to cast on, other WIP's and I need to check the little son's Dale to see where I am (not very far I am sure) and get some rows on it. I am going to try Intarsia in the round on this sweater, because I don't want to do duplicate stitch as the pattern calls for (there is a dragon on the front). I read a tutorial on this technique, but I am sure it is going to be interesting trying to figure it out.

I just thought of something, the needles might be with a Kauni shawl that I didn't see while I was yarn organizing. Hmm, I will be looking for that.

Enjoy the day, it's a beauty out there!

Sludge

Things are just not running on all cylinders this morning. I feel like I’m swimming through sludge, and getting no where. I’m on my second diet soda and its only 7:15AM. Maybe it’s because its hump day, maybe it’s because it’s not really fall yet. We were treated to some nice cool weather, but summer is not done with us yet and it’s back up into the 80’s today. Maybe it’s because I’ve got a huge headache and I’m tired. All I know is that I’m swimming through sludge.

I did knit on the train, and I don’t think there are errors. I’m knitting the 2 sleeves of the gift at the same time, and I’m thinking I only have 19 rows to go on each. I’m looking at the yarn though, and I have the 2 balls that are currently in play, but I don’t think that there is enough on them to complete each sleeve, so the last unused skein will have to be worked from both ends. I hate that when it happens. It’s usually when you are so close to finishing and the last thing you want is another end to weave in. Oh well, there are many worse things in life than 2 more ends to weave in.

I’ve got startitis, and I don’t know why. I surely do not need to buy any yarn for the next decade, and I want DH’s sweater done in quick order. I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I want to look at another color. That could be it. I’m working with solids right now, brown for one WIP and green for the other, though I did put up a pair of socks last week which would give my eyes some pretty colors to look at. You know, that just may be it. I can’t wait to get up in the mountains and see the Aspens in their fall glory. I think I need a full assault on the senses of autumn in its splendor here in God’s Country. I’m thinking DH better be prepared to go for a drive – because the girl’s got to knit while she’s enjoying the scenery.

It might be time for soda #3. Boy, it’s going to be a long day. Ladies – you better be able to knit at lunch!

Fall is here, I think...

Okay, fall is trying his darnest to arrive here in Colorado. Right now it is 42 degrees outside, which I really don't mind at all. For me, this summer had way too many very hot days. I like about a 72 degree day, you don't need a sweater, you can wear shorts, and you are not cold. Yes, I think 72 is my favorite summer temperature.

But fall is trying to arrive. There is one tree that the kids and I call "the push past" tree - the one that always has to be first. (I have to yell at the boys on occasion to not push past people, because it is rude, just because they "have to be first!") Anyway, this tree is always the first to change it's colors, and it is the same type of tree as 20 or so others that line the street as we turn into our subdivision. And it is now bright red, so it's the herald of fall.

So I'm knitting on DH's Black Water Abbey Aran because now I can stand the heat of it on my lap as I knit on the bus and train to work. It's the Red Rocks pattern, named for Colorado's beautiful Red Rocks, so it's fitting that I am knitting this for my Colorado Native DH. Though I am still getting crap from him regarding the fact that I have never knit him a sweater (okay let's qualify that because I probably have 5 or so up on needles that he does not know about, let's say "completed" a sweater) so this will be finished this year, before his October birthday and then I can say "shut up" about a sweater, or you can forget about getting any socks knit for you wise guy.

Well, I need to get to work. There is a beautiful blue sky out there. Enjoy your day!

Some hits, some misses, and a whole lot of frustration..

Okay, to begin with there will be no pictures with this post, partly because I'm in an irritable mood, and partly due to the fact I don't feel like taking a picture.

First - let's talk about tomatoes. I have waited ALL SUMMER long for the beefstakes. And now they are ripe, and now they HAVE BUGS!!!!! Each one has a hole in it! I am not happy, no not one bit!

This weekend was a bust. I went to the Rockies game Friday, which I love doing, but due to events beyond my control - it was more of a babysitting chore for me, and a partying with his buds night for DH. I did let him have it, and told him I had given up Girl's Night Out to go to this game with him, and that I didn't care that he got to meet Pete Coors, and he did bring me 2 big cups of private brew pilsner that the public does not get to drink, the fact remained that the kids were dumped with me (although the boys and I and a neighbor boy made it on the park TV twice for our outstanding dancing techniques), the fact remained I was not given a private tour of the Coor's Field Brewery like every other adult in our party (6 others). What a load of crap. The beer was good though!

A highlight of Saturday was that the Gators won, though they looked like dog crap during the entire second half, which gives me worries about the Tennessee game next Saturday.

The little one was sick all day Saturday and had a fever again when I checked an hour ago. That kid threw up so much yesterday and had a fever all day. I felt so bad for him. I slept with him last night, holding his hand, trying to make him feel better. He might be going to the doctor's tomorrow.

Lot's of knitting this weekend, not all of it is making me happy. I did finish the front and the back of the gift, which is not a Rowan (found out when I checked the book this AM) but rather a Debbie Bliss. I cast on both sleeves, so I am hoping to get them done soon. But I don't feel like working on it.

I dug an old WIP out of the yarn room, a sweater for DH. I shouldn't work on it since he has been such a butt, but it's a Black Water Abbey and I am in the mood for a cabled aran with today's change in the weather. And- if this gets done he can NEVERRRRRRRR give me crap again about not knitting him a sweater. That damn sweater (the other DH sweater, over 10 years old one with the pattern error) can sit in the stash for ten more years and he can't say one word. Okay, I'm knitting on the aran.

I want catfish from NoNos but with the little one feeling crappy, I am tied to the house. I have washed every item of fabric in his room today, I think I am on laundry load #10.

The older son had a scrimmage today. He has such an intense football coach who would make them play every day if he could, and these are 2nd graders. But they won their game yesterday, and they are 2-0. Hmm.

I missed knitting with the Girls today because I was at the scrimmage and DH was with the little one. I wanted to go knit, and I was told the place was cute, and the company I am sure was great. Leanne you were supposed to let them know for me that I wasn't coming girlfriend!

Oh well, I guess I'm back to knitting, and laundry and other sundry tasks. Bye from the grouch.

September already?

Where did the summer go? It seemed like yesterday that the outdoor pools around here opened, and now they will be closing next weekend. Must be all the traveling I did this summer that made me completely lose track of time. The beefsteak tomatoes are starting to turn red - hurry up before we get the first frost! My roses are looking good, and I am now planning to put in numerous bulbs in the front for a glorious spring display.

I did finish August with a FO. Hanging Gardens is done and blocked. Although I found out that I had broken a bead (they are glass) and had to sew one on (I dare you to find which one!)

However, September is starting with too much to get knit. I worked on Lady Eleanor this weekend, and Icarus from the Best of Interweave Knits went up on needles yesterday morning while everyone in the house was asleep but me. I will be teaching this shawl later this year. I worked on my Melissa coat, and a Cheryl Oberle shawl. I need to finish the Rowan gift, and there are other things that need to be worked on. These are all from the stash. But I did buy yarn for a sweater - more about that when I cast it on.

And the mailman brought fun things. I received my darn pretty needles from England and some mother of pearl seahorse stitch markers. Wooly Wonka fibers sent me some hand dyed lace weight for Anne's Honeybee stole, and Red Bird Knits sent me a Bird Foot kit that I have been drooling over. And I have new books too. What fun it is to open up what my kids call "it's just yarn for mom."

One more day of a lovely 4 day weekend and then back to reality. I hope your day is wonderful!

Up, Up, and Away......

We went to the balloon rise this morning. This weekend is the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival and they had over 65 balloons participating in the rise this morning. At 6:45AM they started rising by the Chatfield reservoir and by 7:30 almost all were in the air except for the Energizer Bunny which was still inflating. The Flying Pig is always a hit, and there was a dragon balloon - very cool, and Tony the Tiger. There was also a sleepy cat, cute - but I think a sheep balloon would be a welcome addition.

We then went to get pancakes for breakfast and then off to church. The little one is playing only child today because his big brother is having a sleep over at Grandma's house.

This one flew right over our heads, I don't know where they landed.

I have a lot of knitting to get done. I am on repeat 11 of 12 on Hanging Gardens, started this morning with approximately 100 rows to go until bind off. This will be a FO this week. I have a coat which is going up on needles this week, and I need to finish some other projects, especially the Rowan. But I have another trip this week, a short one to Indianapolis, so there will be extra knitting time on Frontier watching TV to make some dents in the huge amount of knitting calling my name. Plus I have yarn and needles coming from Europe and Canada which should be arriving any day. Oh boy!

Yesterday, I went to a style seminar with Leanne http://www.purpleprincessknits.blogspot.com/, Judy http://www.fiberexperiences.blogspot.com/, Christie and Theresa. It was interesting and time will tell if I learned anything when I go clothes shopping or try to match up outfits. And of course we had a good time at lunch with margaritas for all!

I then rushed home to bake a Kahlua fudge cake for a party DH and the little guy and I went to. Nice party, nice folks, great new backyard. After that it was off to the balloon festival for the night time illumination which is very cool if you haven't seen one. The balloons are inflated, but on the ground and when they fire up the heater, the balloon is illuminated. Try that with 65 plus balloons and it is quite a show.

Well, I have knitting to do, laundry to do, tomatoes to pick and a meeting to get to. Weekends are way too busy! Have a great day! It's gorgeous outside.