The art room is nearly done- Dh and I just completed our frottage painting technique. I figured out a system for cutting paint drop cloths- the plastic ones, and cut about 20 some of them. It was a little tricky in some places to get the painting to look seamless, so some areas of the wall look more modular. I am going to call it a design feature. For those of you who have done our own faux painting or watched Trading Spaces you know that an empty room really shows off a painting technique. Once you get your stuff, and furniture back in the room it all starts to flow better, and you don't notice one particular "design feature" as much as you did while in the painting moment.
Tomorrow Dh will finish setting up my "flying saucer" lights, and I will finish the blue sky painting on the big vent thing in the room, then it will be time to sweep, and move things in. I am really looking forward to that time!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
this is what we are up to...
click here. One of our readers found some unsavory info upon googling the painting technique so I thought it would be helpful to show a link.
more on the paint technique, frottage
To do this we first primed the walls, then painted on a base coat of radiant orange. I had picked this color rather impulsively while Menard's was having its paper bag sale. That's the one where you get a bag and fill it with things and get a certain percentage off all the items. I had begun questioning the logic of this decision- what kind of color is radiant orange? Is is like the construction sign orange or like a real orange? When I began painting it I was pleased to see that while bright it looked more mango-y than anything. I really liked it.
Today we will begin the next step of mixing the glaze with the topcoat, sunnyside. A yellow color. We will paint on the glaze/paint mix, then immediately cover it with plastic sheeting like drop cloths until the whole wall is covered this way. Here is where the rubbing comes in, Kelly, we will rub, or smooth out the plastic with our hands while it is on the walls. When the wall is covered in plastic we will pull the plastic drop cloths from the walls, and have our big reveal moment- and see how the paint turned out.
Pics later- after we do all this.
For knitting- I have been working on my blue sweater once again. I did the armhole decreases for the cardigan fronts late last night. Only 8 more inches on both pieces and the fronts will be done.
Today we will begin the next step of mixing the glaze with the topcoat, sunnyside. A yellow color. We will paint on the glaze/paint mix, then immediately cover it with plastic sheeting like drop cloths until the whole wall is covered this way. Here is where the rubbing comes in, Kelly, we will rub, or smooth out the plastic with our hands while it is on the walls. When the wall is covered in plastic we will pull the plastic drop cloths from the walls, and have our big reveal moment- and see how the paint turned out.
Pics later- after we do all this.
For knitting- I have been working on my blue sweater once again. I did the armhole decreases for the cardigan fronts late last night. Only 8 more inches on both pieces and the fronts will be done.
We primed the basement the other day.
Here it is, ready for the next technique- frottage. To be continued.
A cloud I painted
This is a snippet of my new cloud ceiling for my art room. I am very
pleased with how it turned out. I mixed 3 parts of glaze to one part of
bright white satin paint, and used a rag, a sea sponge, and another
normal sponge to get this effect.
pleased with how it turned out. I mixed 3 parts of glaze to one part of
bright white satin paint, and used a rag, a sea sponge, and another
normal sponge to get this effect.
The ceiling
I painted the whole ceiling myself using just a paint brush. First I
mixed my own sky blue colorway- using three different paints we already
had. The kitchen aqua blue, another medium blue, and white all together
till I got what I wanted. I was concerned I wouldn't have enough so I
brushed the whole ceiling to conserve on paint. It worked, and helped
set the stage for the cloud technique that I used later.
mixed my own sky blue colorway- using three different paints we already
had. The kitchen aqua blue, another medium blue, and white all together
till I got what I wanted. I was concerned I wouldn't have enough so I
brushed the whole ceiling to conserve on paint. It worked, and helped
set the stage for the cloud technique that I used later.
The paint and glaze choices for using the faux finish technique I selected for my art room walls
The paint and glaze choices for using the faux finish technique I selected for my art room walls
Originally uploaded by CorgiMom.
one on the left which uses a base coat of orange, and a glaze color of
yellow.
[This was supposed to be posted yesterday but never went through. She decided on the left - DH]
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Go to the other blog that I share with DH. We went to Zelo for lunch, and it was magnificent. You can get to the other blog via the sidebar
It is hard to have two blogs, because sometimes I post to the wrong one, like when I forget to check which blog I am posting from, I send it to the wrong one. That is why the title to this is so long. For some absurd reason I have not found a way to copy and paste text to my blogging field, only to the link field or the title bar. So that is why this one is the way it is.
In the knitting kingdom- The kangaroos are making WAY more knitting progress than I have been. I think I will set a knitting goal to complete the birthday/Christmas socks for Elzbieta, and DH's hat before January 2nd. Can I do it? Wait and see.
In the knitting kingdom- The kangaroos are making WAY more knitting progress than I have been. I think I will set a knitting goal to complete the birthday/Christmas socks for Elzbieta, and DH's hat before January 2nd. Can I do it? Wait and see.
The mama kangaroo is still knitting!
I am a devout fan of google.com. It is my go-to place for everything. When I went to the site this morning I was surprised to see that it had changed. I thought that two kangaroos were knitting yesterday- but today there was only one. I wanted to check out my suspicions, and looked and looked on the site, and found all the holiday google doodles, and more when I clicked on "logos."
Dh and I took the dogs out for a walk and I came back, and clicked on the google doodle as they call it, and found the sequence of the holiday kangaroos. You can see them all here.
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays on this sunny Christmas eve day.
Dh and I took the dogs out for a walk and I came back, and clicked on the google doodle as they call it, and found the sequence of the holiday kangaroos. You can see them all here.
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays on this sunny Christmas eve day.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Knitting Kangaroos
You've all heard that corgis can knit, but what about knitting kangaroos? Check them out here.
Friday, December 22, 2006
a little knitting teaching, spa time, and visual OCD
Today I had a rare chance in the middle of my day to teach a coworker how to knit. She was really determined, yet not sure if she could handle the commitment to a project. We worked on the slingshot long-tail cast-on first with the Blizzard alpaca acrylic yarn, but it was too loosely spun. Then we tried out an Encore-type yarn. My co-worker wanted a yarn that was "harder" that wouldn't un-spin itself or split on itself. She really meant more tightly spun, and we found such a yarn. She left the store with lovely wooden needles, a ball of the Encore-type yarn in a earthy tan, and a knitting magazine- for its learn to knit instructions. How fun it was to try to share my knitting passion!
I don't think I knit more than those introductory cast-on stitches, and perhaps 2 practice demo rows of knitting on the tan yarn. But it was gratifying.
I came up with a way to remember the sling-shot way to hold your hands, you just use your left hand to make an 'L" like in the pop culture slang, "loser" or the preschooler's way to tell left from right when learning directions. Then, the idea of holding the right hand needle pulled towards oneself to see the "x" and the triangle. It seemed to work pretty well. I will have to check up on my coworker friend and see how it's going. The super cool thing is that of our 7 person team (including myself) two people has been knitting for a few weeks, one has been knitting for a few years, like myself, one learned to crochet last year, one began learning how to knit today, and the other really wants to learn how to knit. How sweet is that!
Tomorrow is my birthday- and I am going to the spa instead of working. I am especially looking forward to the visit with great hope, as my last two most recent massages weren't relaxing experiences.
DH and I got our hair cut tonight, just in time for my birthday. I originally had scheduled him for an 8pm appt. at the same time as mine, but he reminded me of having worship practice in the evening. So I called the salon, and set up a 5pm instead. When we got there my hair stylist asked me if I wanted to get my hair cut then instead of at 8- which worked perfectly. So now I have new hair again, just in time. I really enjoy having good hair on my birthday, and I also appreciate it when DH has good hair for all special occasions too.
Because of my being who I am, I decided that I must have some sort of visual OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for those who don't speak psych lingo. I am very aware of aesthetics, and because of that I want my environment to be a certain way, and my surroundings to be visually stimulating. When I knit I want my project done right, with the stitches just as they are supposed to be, or even better if I know tricks to make them such.
In my rooms I carefully select all the paint colors I use in our house, and revel in crawling into a tightly made cozy bed, without wrinkled blankets and sheets. Contrary to my visual obsession there are plenty of messy but not dirty, places in our home. At my worst these areas make me stressed, at my best they make me feel human.
I am getting ready for my art room, and the fulfillment of that goal and dream. This completion is right around the corner. I hope to have further updates of progress on this special little place as the next week passes.
I don't think I knit more than those introductory cast-on stitches, and perhaps 2 practice demo rows of knitting on the tan yarn. But it was gratifying.
I came up with a way to remember the sling-shot way to hold your hands, you just use your left hand to make an 'L" like in the pop culture slang, "loser" or the preschooler's way to tell left from right when learning directions. Then, the idea of holding the right hand needle pulled towards oneself to see the "x" and the triangle. It seemed to work pretty well. I will have to check up on my coworker friend and see how it's going. The super cool thing is that of our 7 person team (including myself) two people has been knitting for a few weeks, one has been knitting for a few years, like myself, one learned to crochet last year, one began learning how to knit today, and the other really wants to learn how to knit. How sweet is that!
Tomorrow is my birthday- and I am going to the spa instead of working. I am especially looking forward to the visit with great hope, as my last two most recent massages weren't relaxing experiences.
DH and I got our hair cut tonight, just in time for my birthday. I originally had scheduled him for an 8pm appt. at the same time as mine, but he reminded me of having worship practice in the evening. So I called the salon, and set up a 5pm instead. When we got there my hair stylist asked me if I wanted to get my hair cut then instead of at 8- which worked perfectly. So now I have new hair again, just in time. I really enjoy having good hair on my birthday, and I also appreciate it when DH has good hair for all special occasions too.
Because of my being who I am, I decided that I must have some sort of visual OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for those who don't speak psych lingo. I am very aware of aesthetics, and because of that I want my environment to be a certain way, and my surroundings to be visually stimulating. When I knit I want my project done right, with the stitches just as they are supposed to be, or even better if I know tricks to make them such.
In my rooms I carefully select all the paint colors I use in our house, and revel in crawling into a tightly made cozy bed, without wrinkled blankets and sheets. Contrary to my visual obsession there are plenty of messy but not dirty, places in our home. At my worst these areas make me stressed, at my best they make me feel human.
I am getting ready for my art room, and the fulfillment of that goal and dream. This completion is right around the corner. I hope to have further updates of progress on this special little place as the next week passes.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
a special treat
I subscribe to a sock knit along group and it was in one of the e-mails that I came across this great link. It was referenced for the video tutorial on knitting 2 socks at the same time on circulars, but I got distracted and decided to check out a different video instead. I watched the blocking video. I enjoyed the video podcast and hope you will too.
So here it is.
So here it is.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
just a few rows
That's all I did. Now I have to do some paperwork that is due tomorrow. For a few seconds I thought about continuing knitting tonight and waking up really early to do my paperwork- but I know myself. I would not be able to wake up that early after working as hard as I have been working these past two days. It just would not happen.
But I do want to keep knitting on some socks. Now that I have them figured out the second sock is going much faster than the first. I just need to make sure to duplicate the former sock's order of ribbing.
Tomorrow- I will have some knitting time at SnB- just a little then, but more later in the afternoon if my energy doesn't crash. Then- thursday, and a pre-birthday dinner at Big Bowl with family, and Friday- spa day- and my birthday. Hooray!
But I do want to keep knitting on some socks. Now that I have them figured out the second sock is going much faster than the first. I just need to make sure to duplicate the former sock's order of ribbing.
Tomorrow- I will have some knitting time at SnB- just a little then, but more later in the afternoon if my energy doesn't crash. Then- thursday, and a pre-birthday dinner at Big Bowl with family, and Friday- spa day- and my birthday. Hooray!
Monday, December 18, 2006
New yummy yarn
DH gave me an early Christmas present- yummyliscious yarn as mentioned by Lime and Violet on their uberpopular podcast Lime n' Violet.
This yarn is superwash merino, hand-dyed sock yarn, colors selected on
the basis of the new Over the Rhine Christmas album, "Snow Angels." The yarn colorway is thus is "Snow Angels." The yarn is purchased via Etsy, like an Ebay for arts and crafts and fabulous things minus the auction.
"Adam knits & dyes" is credited for developing this supersoft sock yarn.
This yarn is superwash merino, hand-dyed sock yarn, colors selected on
the basis of the new Over the Rhine Christmas album, "Snow Angels." The yarn colorway is thus is "Snow Angels." The yarn is purchased via Etsy, like an Ebay for arts and crafts and fabulous things minus the auction.
"Adam knits & dyes" is credited for developing this supersoft sock yarn.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Christmas letters and sock teaching
Today was another, typical, holiday busy day. Church in the morning, celebrated my parents' 35th anniversary with a nice lunch out, knitting with Leslie, friends (Beth and James) over for work on my art room (nearly ready for me to prime the walls!), dinner with them here- pasta with shrimp and leftover pomegranate salad, with chocolate mousse for dessert, then more work on my paperwork and billing.
Plus work on a sock. A semi-secret sock. But it is not really secret. My friend Leslie was knitting her first sock and I was able to bestow a great amount of sock knitting knowledge on her, and talk her through the heel flap, turn heel (my favorite part) and picking up the instep stitches. She was knitting a sock out of really soft yarn- I think it was by the Araucania brand, Atacama. I think it was color # 805, I believe on size 6 (I'm guessing here) needles. I was a bit jealous because the thicker than sock weight yarn looked tantalizing and speedy to knit with as compared with my yarn and smaller sock needles.
This evening DH was addressing Christmas letter envelopes while I knit on my break from paperwork. What a good helper he is!
Plus work on a sock. A semi-secret sock. But it is not really secret. My friend Leslie was knitting her first sock and I was able to bestow a great amount of sock knitting knowledge on her, and talk her through the heel flap, turn heel (my favorite part) and picking up the instep stitches. She was knitting a sock out of really soft yarn- I think it was by the Araucania brand, Atacama. I think it was color # 805, I believe on size 6 (I'm guessing here) needles. I was a bit jealous because the thicker than sock weight yarn looked tantalizing and speedy to knit with as compared with my yarn and smaller sock needles.
This evening DH was addressing Christmas letter envelopes while I knit on my break from paperwork. What a good helper he is!
knitting and pomegranates, and animal safety
I really like knitting, and I really like pomegranates.
Last week I had a pomegranate mojito; tonight I had a pomegranate salad with smoked turkey, and bacon.
I knit just a few rows today, while re-watching most of the most recent episode of "The Office." That show is so funny- even when I would ordinarily get upset over the idea of a dead goose being in their office, and then eating it, somehow it is still funny to me.
I must state a different animal related thing that was upsetting to me- from the movie "Happy Feet. " There is a part in the movie where one of the penguins has a six pack plastic ring around his neck. Part of the plot involves this "talisman", but I am a strong advocate of environmentalism, and I always try to cut those things into several pieces so if they were to get around animals at any point in time no animals would have to die or be seriously compromised as a result of my irresponsibility if they were to get one stuck on their body.
So this scene in the movie made me want to yell, "Other penguins! Use your sharp little beaks to gnaw that horrible thing off that suffering penguin guy! " (so I can continue watching the movie in good faith that the animated penguin was not seriously harmed in the making of the movie).
Last week I had a pomegranate mojito; tonight I had a pomegranate salad with smoked turkey, and bacon.
I knit just a few rows today, while re-watching most of the most recent episode of "The Office." That show is so funny- even when I would ordinarily get upset over the idea of a dead goose being in their office, and then eating it, somehow it is still funny to me.
I must state a different animal related thing that was upsetting to me- from the movie "Happy Feet. " There is a part in the movie where one of the penguins has a six pack plastic ring around his neck. Part of the plot involves this "talisman", but I am a strong advocate of environmentalism, and I always try to cut those things into several pieces so if they were to get around animals at any point in time no animals would have to die or be seriously compromised as a result of my irresponsibility if they were to get one stuck on their body.
So this scene in the movie made me want to yell, "Other penguins! Use your sharp little beaks to gnaw that horrible thing off that suffering penguin guy! " (so I can continue watching the movie in good faith that the animated penguin was not seriously harmed in the making of the movie).
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Christmas shopping
We had an office Christmas party- and I was sitting next to a friend who noticed that I was noticing- and commenting on all the knitted items. Things like a Bath and Body Works gift set that was in a little ivory colored machine knit bag. There was a bear wearing a machine knit sweater given as a gift. Also, the person next to me had a really cool felted purse, that she had received as a gift during a previous Christmas. Knitting is all around us, and suprising how often it shows up in daily life.
I was in Kohl's tonight and there was an off the shoulder shirt with a large collar that looked like it was knit out of an all black version of Colinette's Tagliatelli, their merino tape yarn. Life through a knitter's eyes is a different way to look at the world.
I was in Kohl's tonight and there was an off the shoulder shirt with a large collar that looked like it was knit out of an all black version of Colinette's Tagliatelli, their merino tape yarn. Life through a knitter's eyes is a different way to look at the world.
Friday, December 15, 2006
A new look- customized
I did a little knitting on DH's hat today. But I got tired. Somehow I found time to redesign my blog with the new version of Blogger. I don't think it is quite where I want it to do yet- colorwise, but I have a somewhat limited palette of colors for selecting.
I am really tired as the whole week has caught up with me. I told DH I wanted to keep knitting on his hat ot make progress on it, but I was too tired. Maybe some other time.
I am really tired as the whole week has caught up with me. I told DH I wanted to keep knitting on his hat ot make progress on it, but I was too tired. Maybe some other time.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
boots
Today I bought two pairs of boots- both on sale for 60% off. I bought one pair at lunch time, and the other in the late evening. I finally found some tall black boots that fit comfortably. I am keeping the second pair because they are the best of the two.
Today was SnB- which is why I was staying up so late last night, trying to get my gift together. Had I known I was going to receive my own gift in the end I would have gone to bed way earlier, to join DH.
Last night I felted a needle cozy from the Cat Bordhi book that I got from my in-laws thanks again!!! I started by felting it in the washing machine on the hot setting, and it was a slow practice. It was nearly agonizing to watch the washing machine keep filling with water for such a small thing. Eventually it was the rinse cycle, then the end, and it was hardly felted. I was tring to felt some of the Araucania Nature Wool (that wouldn't wind nicely on the swift) and Karaoke soy yarn. I finally acheived progress when I began vigourously scrubbing the needle cozy against the washboard like portion of our old sink. That was pretty cool to watch, as I alternated between getting it hot with steamy water and then changing things by giving it cold water. It was far more effective than my short little washing maching stint.
When that was done I moved on to the second part of my gift, googling and creating beaded stitch markers. I didn't have the toggle clasps that were mentioned on the net instructions so I improvised with bent hook, like fish hook, earrings. I used DH's needle nose pliers, and went on a hunt for his other pliers, and began creating.
But my beading creations never happen fast. The process goes this way- I get out all my beads, look at them, feel like there is a lot of them, then set out to design the item. It never goes smoothly. I find myself wishing the bead store was open so I could find whatever I need, but it is too late at night.
First I didn't want to use a few certain beads as I'd bought them specifically with another project in mind. Then after trying all the other options I changed my mind and decided to use them anyway. So then I began and ended up making 6 stitch markers. By the fourth or fifth marker I was getting really good at twisting the headpin wire top around nicely to make a smooth twist. Then, I had another wave of inspiration hit. I'll make a bracelet out of memory wire that can hold the stitch markers so one can "wear" their stitch markers while knitting and just take them off the bracelet as they are needed. Cool! I found myself thinking I am going to have to make one of these for myself sometime.
The first gift I unwrapped at the SnB gift exchange was a needle felting kit. I laughed- I already have two needle felting kits. And at this point in time I actually know where they both are. They are in a pile awaiting their proper place in my art room- which will get finished someday- I am told. The reason why I had two needle felting kits was because I had misplaced the first one I purchased, at the first Sheep and Wool festival I ever attended. By the time next year the S&W Festival returned I had no clue where the first kit was, so I bought another.
I traded for the in-demand pre-measured to dye in the self-striping way sock yarn. But another person "stole" it from me, rightly so, as I had stolen it from another person beforehand. Then, I had to decide if I would steal from another person, or unwrap the last gift. I chose the last gift- it was another needle felting kit!!! Wow. Fortunately Kelle wanted to try out needle felting, so I traded with her, for the gift that I had traded my sleep for. If only I'd known. Next time I'll just sleep. I had given it serious consideration- and almost went to the gift exchange giftless- and just watched the others.
In the other predominant arena of my life is a stressful family related crisis. I don't desire to post much about this in regards to details, only that it is making my Christmas feeling like a sadder time than ever before. I have never felt sad at Christmas, though I have heard of others having crappy holidays. For me Christmas has always been a time of fun, good feelings, treats, and cozy enjoyment. All is well with DH and I- don't worry about that, but other things could definitely be better.
Today was SnB- which is why I was staying up so late last night, trying to get my gift together. Had I known I was going to receive my own gift in the end I would have gone to bed way earlier, to join DH.
Last night I felted a needle cozy from the Cat Bordhi book that I got from my in-laws thanks again!!! I started by felting it in the washing machine on the hot setting, and it was a slow practice. It was nearly agonizing to watch the washing machine keep filling with water for such a small thing. Eventually it was the rinse cycle, then the end, and it was hardly felted. I was tring to felt some of the Araucania Nature Wool (that wouldn't wind nicely on the swift) and Karaoke soy yarn. I finally acheived progress when I began vigourously scrubbing the needle cozy against the washboard like portion of our old sink. That was pretty cool to watch, as I alternated between getting it hot with steamy water and then changing things by giving it cold water. It was far more effective than my short little washing maching stint.
When that was done I moved on to the second part of my gift, googling and creating beaded stitch markers. I didn't have the toggle clasps that were mentioned on the net instructions so I improvised with bent hook, like fish hook, earrings. I used DH's needle nose pliers, and went on a hunt for his other pliers, and began creating.
But my beading creations never happen fast. The process goes this way- I get out all my beads, look at them, feel like there is a lot of them, then set out to design the item. It never goes smoothly. I find myself wishing the bead store was open so I could find whatever I need, but it is too late at night.
First I didn't want to use a few certain beads as I'd bought them specifically with another project in mind. Then after trying all the other options I changed my mind and decided to use them anyway. So then I began and ended up making 6 stitch markers. By the fourth or fifth marker I was getting really good at twisting the headpin wire top around nicely to make a smooth twist. Then, I had another wave of inspiration hit. I'll make a bracelet out of memory wire that can hold the stitch markers so one can "wear" their stitch markers while knitting and just take them off the bracelet as they are needed. Cool! I found myself thinking I am going to have to make one of these for myself sometime.
The first gift I unwrapped at the SnB gift exchange was a needle felting kit. I laughed- I already have two needle felting kits. And at this point in time I actually know where they both are. They are in a pile awaiting their proper place in my art room- which will get finished someday- I am told. The reason why I had two needle felting kits was because I had misplaced the first one I purchased, at the first Sheep and Wool festival I ever attended. By the time next year the S&W Festival returned I had no clue where the first kit was, so I bought another.
I traded for the in-demand pre-measured to dye in the self-striping way sock yarn. But another person "stole" it from me, rightly so, as I had stolen it from another person beforehand. Then, I had to decide if I would steal from another person, or unwrap the last gift. I chose the last gift- it was another needle felting kit!!! Wow. Fortunately Kelle wanted to try out needle felting, so I traded with her, for the gift that I had traded my sleep for. If only I'd known. Next time I'll just sleep. I had given it serious consideration- and almost went to the gift exchange giftless- and just watched the others.
In the other predominant arena of my life is a stressful family related crisis. I don't desire to post much about this in regards to details, only that it is making my Christmas feeling like a sadder time than ever before. I have never felt sad at Christmas, though I have heard of others having crappy holidays. For me Christmas has always been a time of fun, good feelings, treats, and cozy enjoyment. All is well with DH and I- don't worry about that, but other things could definitely be better.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
up to trouble
Tomorrow is the gift swap at my SnB. I am up to trouble on its behalf. Pics tomorrow. I am busy finishing up on some things.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Lots of work- no knitting today
I did manage to untangle the rest of the yarn from DH's hat, so now it is closer to restored back to what it was before the dogs. I think I will have to unknit a few rows as there were some rows pulled off the needles by the dogs.
I went to Three Kittens Needle Arts, and forgot the true purpose for why I was there. Sorry girls, I will try again. I must have been too hungry for my brain to work right. I did look for yarn for the thrummed mittens, and did not find any.
Tomorrow will be a late and long day of work. I am tired already from thinking about it. Good night!
I went to Three Kittens Needle Arts, and forgot the true purpose for why I was there. Sorry girls, I will try again. I must have been too hungry for my brain to work right. I did look for yarn for the thrummed mittens, and did not find any.
Tomorrow will be a late and long day of work. I am tired already from thinking about it. Good night!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Super Sunday
So far, the night has not ended yet, but I did a little knitting while in the car driving to church. I was passenging- don't worry- not driving while I knit.
We visited a new, groovy church today. It is in Minneapolis, called the Spirit Garage. This is definitely the church for people who want something new, something edgy and creative all at once in a friendly and welcoming package. I am trying to figure out how to visit it more often as it had rockin' music, that felt like great alternative music stuff with really talented musicians. Very Uptown.
After that my other Beth friend (I have 3 now) and I went to check out the Midtown Global Market. She had expressed interest in visiting, and I said I'd go with her, but I was quite surprised when we just decided post-church to just do it. It was great. I bought a pretty and big colorful bag, fix-ins for guacaomole, mochi, and lunch at the Sirena Gorda (the fat mermaid). Lunch was mahi-mahi tacos on the tastiest hard corn taco shells I'd ever had. The special included hisbiscus iced tea, so I tried that too. It's not bad, but it's not my favorite.
In the afternoon DH and I (thanks so much DH for all your cookie-making help!!!) made 16 or 17 dozens worth of Sue's Swedish Ginger Cookies. They are fantabulous with their crunchy little Swedish pearl sugar on them. While they baked I worked on and completed our Christmas letter. I also snuck a few tasty cookies.
We visited a new, groovy church today. It is in Minneapolis, called the Spirit Garage. This is definitely the church for people who want something new, something edgy and creative all at once in a friendly and welcoming package. I am trying to figure out how to visit it more often as it had rockin' music, that felt like great alternative music stuff with really talented musicians. Very Uptown.
After that my other Beth friend (I have 3 now) and I went to check out the Midtown Global Market. She had expressed interest in visiting, and I said I'd go with her, but I was quite surprised when we just decided post-church to just do it. It was great. I bought a pretty and big colorful bag, fix-ins for guacaomole, mochi, and lunch at the Sirena Gorda (the fat mermaid). Lunch was mahi-mahi tacos on the tastiest hard corn taco shells I'd ever had. The special included hisbiscus iced tea, so I tried that too. It's not bad, but it's not my favorite.
In the afternoon DH and I (thanks so much DH for all your cookie-making help!!!) made 16 or 17 dozens worth of Sue's Swedish Ginger Cookies. They are fantabulous with their crunchy little Swedish pearl sugar on them. While they baked I worked on and completed our Christmas letter. I also snuck a few tasty cookies.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Run Around saturday
What a busy day- with all sorts of activities. This morning I had an earlyish chiro appt., then DH and I did some shopping and returned some items to various stores. We visited two major malls in the process, along with many shops nearby and including Turtle Bread Co. and Needlework Unlimited. I went to the yarn store in search of the perfect Cascade Quattro colors to to go with my multi-colored roving to knit myself a pair of thrummed mittens. I did not find the perfect color there. I did find this awesome set of sock needles- that I have been eyeing on the internet. The thing was that at the store they cost a lot more than on the 'net. I pondered if I should buy them or not, and then declined.
I did just a little knitting today. I made it to the chest increases and completed all three of them, and will be knitting up to the armholes soon. I am amazed how fast it goes when I am knitting both pieces at once, even with a size 6 needles (which I would consider kind of small for sweater knitting).
Today was also my Mom's birthday. Happy birthday Mom! She and her DH went to Lorie Line at the Orpheum, with her sister and brother-in-law, then we all met up with them for dinner at M & S Grill. Yummo. We had a delicious meal- great appetizers- seared ahi tuna, and phyllo dough wrapped brie with caramelized onions and dried cherries. I had a Pom Pom Mojito. Yes- a pomegranate mojito. Talk about a cool drink. I only drink the fruity "frou frou girlie" drinks- 'cause they are the best. And this one was quite good.
DH had top sirloin, and I had Blue Crab, Brie, and something else I forgot stuffed salmon. We all shared one creme brulee at the end. Delish for sure. You picked a winner of a birthday dinner place Mom.
Also back to the blue sweater, I am almost committing to getting it done by December 22nd- my birthday. I am just not so sure how realistic that goal is, but I think I am going to try for it.
Along those lines I must share a "Three Minute Meditation" that I read while at the chiropractor's office today. It was about the Zen-ness of "not knowing." The goal was to cultivate a feeling of not knowing, not knowing the outcome of one thing or another be it hugely related to your life path, or something more minimally impacting. So I will try to embody that in being fine, content, at peace, with not knowing if I will get my sweater done by my birthday- or not. We will see.
I did just a little knitting today. I made it to the chest increases and completed all three of them, and will be knitting up to the armholes soon. I am amazed how fast it goes when I am knitting both pieces at once, even with a size 6 needles (which I would consider kind of small for sweater knitting).
Today was also my Mom's birthday. Happy birthday Mom! She and her DH went to Lorie Line at the Orpheum, with her sister and brother-in-law, then we all met up with them for dinner at M & S Grill. Yummo. We had a delicious meal- great appetizers- seared ahi tuna, and phyllo dough wrapped brie with caramelized onions and dried cherries. I had a Pom Pom Mojito. Yes- a pomegranate mojito. Talk about a cool drink. I only drink the fruity "frou frou girlie" drinks- 'cause they are the best. And this one was quite good.
DH had top sirloin, and I had Blue Crab, Brie, and something else I forgot stuffed salmon. We all shared one creme brulee at the end. Delish for sure. You picked a winner of a birthday dinner place Mom.
Also back to the blue sweater, I am almost committing to getting it done by December 22nd- my birthday. I am just not so sure how realistic that goal is, but I think I am going to try for it.
Along those lines I must share a "Three Minute Meditation" that I read while at the chiropractor's office today. It was about the Zen-ness of "not knowing." The goal was to cultivate a feeling of not knowing, not knowing the outcome of one thing or another be it hugely related to your life path, or something more minimally impacting. So I will try to embody that in being fine, content, at peace, with not knowing if I will get my sweater done by my birthday- or not. We will see.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Workshop day
I went to a really great workshop today about how to start your own business. It provided me with a full brain, lots of ideas, and way too much knitting time. Seriously, I have been knitting both of my cardigan fronts at the same time, so they get done at the same gauge, and so I can do two at a time. I made a serious amount of progress on them. I must have knit 30 some rows on each piece- about 60 plus rows. I went from the bottom of them, about 3 inches up from the bottom past my waist shaping, and to the chest increase stitches, and did the first of 3 increases there. Sweet.
I didn't knit on the other projects though- just my cardigan fronts. And now it is Friday night and we are about to hang out with some friends and I am T-I-R-E-D. I didn't get to sleep on time last night- and got less sleep than I need. Plus, on Friday the busyness of the week catches up with me.
I didn't knit on the other projects though- just my cardigan fronts. And now it is Friday night and we are about to hang out with some friends and I am T-I-R-E-D. I didn't get to sleep on time last night- and got less sleep than I need. Plus, on Friday the busyness of the week catches up with me.
Long Day
Today was my long day. No knitting. Very sad. Tomorrow, DH and I are attending a workship together, and I plan on knitting there.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
SnB and Chiropractor
DH has been going to the Chiropractor for awhile now, and I had tried one once in the past spring. It was too weird for me. The guy tried to test some food allergies by my holding a vial, and all sorts of other strange things.
But today I tried again. I went where DH goes, and where a co-worker of his goes whom I trust. This time was not so scary. What was scary was the diagnostic read-out or the muscle tension in my body. So I am looking forward to that diminishing.
Kelle asked if this trip was better than the last massage I attempted to receive at a spa. It was. At least the person didn't smell like smoke! The lights at the place (the new place) were nice. They had cloud coverings which served to mute and calm the otherwise glaring overhead fluorescent lights down.
I missed a large chunk of SnB to do this though, which was difficult. My job/life is such that I start anticipating Wednesday's SnB once Monday comes around. By Tuesday I think, "whew, and wow- I made it. Just one more day (till SnB)." So you can imagine how difficult it is for me to give up my few daytime moments of escape. But I did it. I made it through. And now I have just one more day till I attend a workshop on "How to Start Your Own Private Practice." That'll be on Friday. DH and I will be attending together, as he wanted to hear and learn all the info too. But tomorrow will probably knock me on my butt- as it will be a busy day trying to cram more than my brain and body can handle into one day, and then, it will be time to knit again, and regain my composure.
But today I tried again. I went where DH goes, and where a co-worker of his goes whom I trust. This time was not so scary. What was scary was the diagnostic read-out or the muscle tension in my body. So I am looking forward to that diminishing.
Kelle asked if this trip was better than the last massage I attempted to receive at a spa. It was. At least the person didn't smell like smoke! The lights at the place (the new place) were nice. They had cloud coverings which served to mute and calm the otherwise glaring overhead fluorescent lights down.
I missed a large chunk of SnB to do this though, which was difficult. My job/life is such that I start anticipating Wednesday's SnB once Monday comes around. By Tuesday I think, "whew, and wow- I made it. Just one more day (till SnB)." So you can imagine how difficult it is for me to give up my few daytime moments of escape. But I did it. I made it through. And now I have just one more day till I attend a workshop on "How to Start Your Own Private Practice." That'll be on Friday. DH and I will be attending together, as he wanted to hear and learn all the info too. But tomorrow will probably knock me on my butt- as it will be a busy day trying to cram more than my brain and body can handle into one day, and then, it will be time to knit again, and regain my composure.
Today we got two Christmas trees!
One is the traditional Christmas tree- a Balsam fir about 8ft tall. The other tree is 6 inches tall. It is a rosemary tree. Well, it is the herb rosemary trimmed into the shape of a Christmas tree.
This evening we also ordered and picked up our Christmas photo cards with the pic of Dh and myself and the dogs which we took on the chilly Saturday.
I knit a bit on the two cardigan fronts for the blue sweater. I am trying to knit them both at the same time. I haven't knit on DH's hat since the incident. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see.
This evening we also ordered and picked up our Christmas photo cards with the pic of Dh and myself and the dogs which we took on the chilly Saturday.
I knit a bit on the two cardigan fronts for the blue sweater. I am trying to knit them both at the same time. I haven't knit on DH's hat since the incident. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Another big day-
Worked out hard at the club, then came home. Freaked out- you'll see why- and later house-hunted with friends who are house-hunting. Not us- we have a house. Did some dreadful billing and paperwork, fretted for a long time over which Christmas photo card to select. Found the perfect one, with a little Golden Lab for an hourglass like symbol for when pages are loading online. Soon- am going to bed.
Oh- also fretted over hunting for a piece of paper that documented the color blue I used on my Noro Gloria sweater. I am doing this one differently than originally, and now need much more blue Cascade but what color? yarn than before. I visited lots of internet pages with the color cards and narrowed it down to 4 colors from the 'net. I dug through all my knitting things in the basement- art room area stash- and upstairs in the guest bedroom closet, and the study closet. Then, after all that found the manila envelope that held the information.
I realize that I will have a different dye lot, but figure as long as the back is the same dye lot, and the front is also of the same dyelot- both halves the same dye lot at least, it should all be fine. Plus- eventually I will have to figure out how I want the sleeves.
I sat down and felt like a medical coder, coding my knitting process that I used for the sweater back. St k for 3 inches, then begin dec of 1 st at each end of k row for following x rows. St k even for x amounts of rows, then, inc 1 st every knit row for x rows, then bo for ah. Etc.
Oh- also fretted over hunting for a piece of paper that documented the color blue I used on my Noro Gloria sweater. I am doing this one differently than originally, and now need much more blue Cascade but what color? yarn than before. I visited lots of internet pages with the color cards and narrowed it down to 4 colors from the 'net. I dug through all my knitting things in the basement- art room area stash- and upstairs in the guest bedroom closet, and the study closet. Then, after all that found the manila envelope that held the information.
I realize that I will have a different dye lot, but figure as long as the back is the same dye lot, and the front is also of the same dyelot- both halves the same dye lot at least, it should all be fine. Plus- eventually I will have to figure out how I want the sleeves.
I sat down and felt like a medical coder, coding my knitting process that I used for the sweater back. St k for 3 inches, then begin dec of 1 st at each end of k row for following x rows. St k even for x amounts of rows, then, inc 1 st every knit row for x rows, then bo for ah. Etc.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
LONG day!
I have a work group thing on occasional Saturdays- today was one of them. It starts at 8:30 and goes till noon- or so I thought. When I received a text from another group person questioning my whereabouts at 8:33 I was surprised. Didn't the group just start? OOOPs- I believe I apparently subconsciously decided that the start time is 8:30- when I believe it really started at 8am. OOOPs. No wonder I felt like I was sleeping in when I got up at 7:03 today.
I got some knitting done there though, and that is always great. I worked on DH's hat. For some reason a 32 row pattern is starting to seem a lot shorter- and to go a lot faster than it went after I had just begun this project. I am not complaining- all that garter stitch tends to feel like the same thing- because it is, over and over. I found myself sitting in church today actually contemplating knitting another pair of Jaywalkers. I was wearing my one pair then, and was looking down at them. That's right. The one project that nearly kicked my butt, I nearly gave up on them, and I was for a fleeting moment considering knitting them again.
I also went to a shopping mall event where a friend was selling jewelry. I bought a really beautiful bracelet that is silver with little scrollies and sparkle. That was a great find.
Yesterday I was successfully advertised to. I just had to end that sentence with to. Just because it is bad grammar and fun to play around.
I was at Southdale with DH and we were doing Christmas shopping. We walked by New York and Co. and there was a nearly life-sized cutout of Meredith Gray and Derrick Shepherd. Meredith was apparently wearing a coat they were advertising. I asked DH if I could go try on this coat- so I did. And I bought it, and another nearly identical coat that was a shorter version. I couldn't decide if I should be practical with the longer coat- The one Meredith was wearing- or the shorter one. With the help of Elzbieta and my Mom I decided on the practical longer one. It is a puffy style jacket with a faux fur hood trim. I have a weakness for faux fur for the pure floofieness of it all. My "old" coat also had faux fur. It was from Sam's Club, and I want to say it was 50 dollars. A great price for a winter coat. But the little hooks to hook it shut were all wearing out, and getting sharp and pokey. Plus the coat was suede with faux fur and it cost about 20 or more dollars to dry clean it. Which I did about once a year due to the prohibitive cost. This new coat is machine washable, except for the detachable hand wash hood. I totally fell for the advertising- Meredith wears that coat!!! Plus it was on an incredible sale. And I love a good sale (thanks Mom for teaching me about sales!).
I got some knitting done there though, and that is always great. I worked on DH's hat. For some reason a 32 row pattern is starting to seem a lot shorter- and to go a lot faster than it went after I had just begun this project. I am not complaining- all that garter stitch tends to feel like the same thing- because it is, over and over. I found myself sitting in church today actually contemplating knitting another pair of Jaywalkers. I was wearing my one pair then, and was looking down at them. That's right. The one project that nearly kicked my butt, I nearly gave up on them, and I was for a fleeting moment considering knitting them again.
I also went to a shopping mall event where a friend was selling jewelry. I bought a really beautiful bracelet that is silver with little scrollies and sparkle. That was a great find.
Yesterday I was successfully advertised to. I just had to end that sentence with to. Just because it is bad grammar and fun to play around.
I was at Southdale with DH and we were doing Christmas shopping. We walked by New York and Co. and there was a nearly life-sized cutout of Meredith Gray and Derrick Shepherd. Meredith was apparently wearing a coat they were advertising. I asked DH if I could go try on this coat- so I did. And I bought it, and another nearly identical coat that was a shorter version. I couldn't decide if I should be practical with the longer coat- The one Meredith was wearing- or the shorter one. With the help of Elzbieta and my Mom I decided on the practical longer one. It is a puffy style jacket with a faux fur hood trim. I have a weakness for faux fur for the pure floofieness of it all. My "old" coat also had faux fur. It was from Sam's Club, and I want to say it was 50 dollars. A great price for a winter coat. But the little hooks to hook it shut were all wearing out, and getting sharp and pokey. Plus the coat was suede with faux fur and it cost about 20 or more dollars to dry clean it. Which I did about once a year due to the prohibitive cost. This new coat is machine washable, except for the detachable hand wash hood. I totally fell for the advertising- Meredith wears that coat!!! Plus it was on an incredible sale. And I love a good sale (thanks Mom for teaching me about sales!).
Friday, December 01, 2006
My next project will be...
I have been eyeing these wonderful cozy looking thrummed mittens. I have been thinking about taking this technique further, perhaps to a coordinating hat as well, if I have enough roving. The challenge is that if I use the roving for these projects I won't be able to try spindle-spinning it. Plus- I would have to decide which of my two blobs of multi-colored roving I would like to use. I really like sparkle, so I am leaning towards my pink and turqouise and glitter roving, with a lovely as yet to be determined shade of Quattro.
In SnB the other day Rox said that the Quattro is four different shades together, and I love a multicolored yarn!
In the hat news- I have not worked on it since Thanksgiving.
In SnB the other day Rox said that the Quattro is four different shades together, and I love a multicolored yarn!
In the hat news- I have not worked on it since Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
SnB and LakeShore Learning
Today at SnB I knit on the socks. These are special mystery socks, though the recipient knows who she is- but no more than that about the socks. I must say I was quite pleased to receive a kind comment from the designer of these socks- Shelly- when she said my sock looked really good, and that it might have been the first time she'd seen them knit by another person in real life.
On the food blog news, the blog I share with DH, I tried another Gingerbread Latte. You can read more about it here- but here's a hint- it was a real winner- in appearance and taste.
Today was also the day that I didn't feel stressed- on a workday this week. It helps that my day had plenty of space to it, and that I was to do a little shopping at LakeShore Learning. At SnB I learned where this store was- and was especially pleased to hear that they had the "multicultural crayons" there, though they call them 'People Colors" and weren't the ones from Crayola that I am used to using. Last year or so I was looking for them to complete some Bible people puppets for a Sunday School class. I couldn't find them at the time.
I also had fun buying a few other things, like a no-spill paint cup, metallic watercolors, and wipe-off crayons. MIL and FIL- those are for you- so you can label the miscellanous food containers in your fridge instead of having to open them all to find what you are looking for!
On the food blog news, the blog I share with DH, I tried another Gingerbread Latte. You can read more about it here- but here's a hint- it was a real winner- in appearance and taste.
Today was also the day that I didn't feel stressed- on a workday this week. It helps that my day had plenty of space to it, and that I was to do a little shopping at LakeShore Learning. At SnB I learned where this store was- and was especially pleased to hear that they had the "multicultural crayons" there, though they call them 'People Colors" and weren't the ones from Crayola that I am used to using. Last year or so I was looking for them to complete some Bible people puppets for a Sunday School class. I couldn't find them at the time.
I also had fun buying a few other things, like a no-spill paint cup, metallic watercolors, and wipe-off crayons. MIL and FIL- those are for you- so you can label the miscellanous food containers in your fridge instead of having to open them all to find what you are looking for!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Two good things...
Thanks to Kelly for this article about inmates who are knitting for charity. What a great purpose for them. I wonder if they have to knit endless garter stitch- that would drive me crazy! Hey- DH's hat is all garter stitch too.
A Knitting Confession-
I am a knitting podcast junkie. I started with Knit Cast with Marie Irshad, then moved on to Cast-on with Brenda Dayne, and have expanded to Lime and Violet, and The Knitting Cook. I also listen to Quirky Nomads with Sage Tyrtle. I have tried some other knitting podcasts that I didn't "click" with, but out of thoughtful consideration and becasue I am such a nice person, I do not feel the need to lambast them. I applaud their efforts, all of them, whether I chose to subscribe to them through I-Tunes or not. (I think that about covers it for my podcast addiction.)
How else can you vicariously make homeade bread, or basmati rice with beans while driving around in your car? Or marvel at the word "Starbucks becoming a noun"? Or listen to 'It's Friday- and that means, Something Out of the Ordinary." Only through the magic world of podcasts.
Tomorrow- the story of when I first listened to "Lime and Violet" where I was and what was happening at that moment.
A Knitting Confession-
I am a knitting podcast junkie. I started with Knit Cast with Marie Irshad, then moved on to Cast-on with Brenda Dayne, and have expanded to Lime and Violet, and The Knitting Cook. I also listen to Quirky Nomads with Sage Tyrtle. I have tried some other knitting podcasts that I didn't "click" with, but out of thoughtful consideration and becasue I am such a nice person, I do not feel the need to lambast them. I applaud their efforts, all of them, whether I chose to subscribe to them through I-Tunes or not. (I think that about covers it for my podcast addiction.)
How else can you vicariously make homeade bread, or basmati rice with beans while driving around in your car? Or marvel at the word "Starbucks becoming a noun"? Or listen to 'It's Friday- and that means, Something Out of the Ordinary." Only through the magic world of podcasts.
Tomorrow- the story of when I first listened to "Lime and Violet" where I was and what was happening at that moment.
Monday, November 27, 2006
along came a little frog
So, I was working on DH's hat, on the rare few moments of freedom I had tonight, it was a LONG day, and I realized my st count was off. Dang- and I was doing so well! So, I frogged while DH and friends watched tonight's episode of Heroes, and found my way back. I couldn't find where I'd lost a st so I followed Beth's advice (this is a knitting Beth, but not Beth's Blue BLog Beth), and just picked up a st along the edge. Then I decided all was well for that hat. I am rapidly, (as rapid as garter st gets), approaching the row 32 once again, I Just need to do the same 1-32 row repeat a few more times.
This was the day that would not end. Last night after injesting some Caribou Gingerbread Latte I did some of my billing work- yet still this morning more awaited me. I got it all done just in time, just barely, and my day kept flying by. After coming home I still had a bunch more to do. Blah- too much work! And it is only Monday!
This was the day that would not end. Last night after injesting some Caribou Gingerbread Latte I did some of my billing work- yet still this morning more awaited me. I got it all done just in time, just barely, and my day kept flying by. After coming home I still had a bunch more to do. Blah- too much work! And it is only Monday!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
wow it feels so late!
But it isn't. It takes me awhile to get used to this get early quick thing. Today we babysat for our friends'3 year old while they were houes hunting. It was some adjustment for me, as I spend more time with 4 years-old and older kids. DH and I were helping him with a puzzle, with 24 pieces, a Koala Buddies puzzle. Then we played some Memory, a word puzzle picture matching game, and some game he invented with racing Thomas the Tank Engine cards. I was glad I had all those games and toys for my job, otherwise I wouldn't have known what to do!
It was fun to see DH try to be Adlerian with him, like helping him have the tools to do things on his own. Rudolph Dreikurs, a premier Adlerian family counselor said, "Never do for your kids what they can do for themselves." This was said to encourage adults to permit kids to do things on their own so that the children may have a greater sense of competence, and mastery over tasks.
I had told DH that he could probably just lift him up to the sink to wash his hands, but DH was quick to provide our step stool so the boy could "do it by himself." That reminded me of when I was little, a favorite book I had at my Grandparents' house was "I Can Do It By Myself." This was one of those sturdy hardcover books, in which where several examples of things that "I could do by myself" like get dressed, tie my shoes, etc.
So far I have not knit tonight. But I have done some house cleaning, cooked Double Meatball stoup, worked on the new puzzle, walked the dogs with DH to and from Caribou Coffee at which I had their Gingerbread Latte, (and remembered that it isn't as good as the Dunn Bros. version) and worked on some case notes and billing for tomorrow. Perhaps tomorrow I will feel more like knitting. I'm sure I will as soon as Monday hits, and all my work starts up again.
It was fun to see DH try to be Adlerian with him, like helping him have the tools to do things on his own. Rudolph Dreikurs, a premier Adlerian family counselor said, "Never do for your kids what they can do for themselves." This was said to encourage adults to permit kids to do things on their own so that the children may have a greater sense of competence, and mastery over tasks.
I had told DH that he could probably just lift him up to the sink to wash his hands, but DH was quick to provide our step stool so the boy could "do it by himself." That reminded me of when I was little, a favorite book I had at my Grandparents' house was "I Can Do It By Myself." This was one of those sturdy hardcover books, in which where several examples of things that "I could do by myself" like get dressed, tie my shoes, etc.
So far I have not knit tonight. But I have done some house cleaning, cooked Double Meatball stoup, worked on the new puzzle, walked the dogs with DH to and from Caribou Coffee at which I had their Gingerbread Latte, (and remembered that it isn't as good as the Dunn Bros. version) and worked on some case notes and billing for tomorrow. Perhaps tomorrow I will feel more like knitting. I'm sure I will as soon as Monday hits, and all my work starts up again.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
too much knitting
I have had too much knitting time. Enough time to realize that DH's hat is meant to be knit at a 18 sts= 4 inches gauge, with 36 rows to 4 inches. MY row gauge is on- exactly, but my stitch gauge is 3.5 sts = 1 inch, so about 14 sts = 1 inch. I don't think it will be a problem however, as the hat is knit from top to bottom and the row gauge I think is the more important gauge for this particular hat. So it seems my st gauge being off will yield a taller/longer hat, which I figure will just require the brim to be folded up more. That is what I am hoping at least.
I didn't get to watch Grey's on Thursday night, so I am just about to watch it tonight. I listened to the Grey's podcast on which they referenced that episode as the one where everything falls apart.
Oh, we have a pop-up Genevieve jumping up alongside me as I blog.
That reminds me of the impulse item we just bought at Super Target. DH noticed a box of Reese's Puffs cereal with a "Happy Feet" figurine in the box. I really wanted it because that was a cute movie and I love animals, including penguins. He noticed that the toys are supposed to be in boxes of Lucky Charms too, but we couldn't find Lucky Charms with the penguins inside. So we bought the Puffs. I really don't like them, and DH isn't a huge fan of them. Oh well, we'll find a home for them.
So, to take a break from knitting DH and I bought at new puzzle at Super T. It is one of those new kind that glows different colors in the the dark. After Grey's we will give it a go.
I didn't get to watch Grey's on Thursday night, so I am just about to watch it tonight. I listened to the Grey's podcast on which they referenced that episode as the one where everything falls apart.
Oh, we have a pop-up Genevieve jumping up alongside me as I blog.
That reminds me of the impulse item we just bought at Super Target. DH noticed a box of Reese's Puffs cereal with a "Happy Feet" figurine in the box. I really wanted it because that was a cute movie and I love animals, including penguins. He noticed that the toys are supposed to be in boxes of Lucky Charms too, but we couldn't find Lucky Charms with the penguins inside. So we bought the Puffs. I really don't like them, and DH isn't a huge fan of them. Oh well, we'll find a home for them.
So, to take a break from knitting DH and I bought at new puzzle at Super T. It is one of those new kind that glows different colors in the the dark. After Grey's we will give it a go.
Friday, November 24, 2006
knitting on the road
This early morning we drove to the nearest big city/town in WI, and I knit cozied up in the back seat, working on DH's hat. I am now on row 13 of the 32 row pattern. This pattern calls for the 32 row repeat being knit nearly six times. I am on the second of the 5 repeats.
Today my MIL gave me some gift certificates she had for Northwinds Book and Fiber. This is a bookstore and yarn store in one. They also carry weaving supplies, and have a loom or two on site. It took me awhile to select a knitting book. There were two of Barbara Walker's treasuries, the new Knit Fix book, Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman, Maggie Righetti's two books, and Knitting on the Road. Those were just the titles I was trying to decide between- there were many more good knitting books there. I also almost bought a skein of the new Austermann sock yarn with aloe. That sounds like such a graet idea- keep the feet warm and moisturized at the same time. Has anyone tried that sock yarn out yet to see if it is worth it?
Well, I decided on the "Knitting on the Road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter." I really like the Conwy, Dalarna, Canal du Midi, Denmark, New England, Inst and Whitby. I really liked how some of those patterns like New England has straight stockinette up the back to a point, then the knitted pattern continues further up the leg.
Today my MIL gave me some gift certificates she had for Northwinds Book and Fiber. This is a bookstore and yarn store in one. They also carry weaving supplies, and have a loom or two on site. It took me awhile to select a knitting book. There were two of Barbara Walker's treasuries, the new Knit Fix book, Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman, Maggie Righetti's two books, and Knitting on the Road. Those were just the titles I was trying to decide between- there were many more good knitting books there. I also almost bought a skein of the new Austermann sock yarn with aloe. That sounds like such a graet idea- keep the feet warm and moisturized at the same time. Has anyone tried that sock yarn out yet to see if it is worth it?
Well, I decided on the "Knitting on the Road: Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter." I really like the Conwy, Dalarna, Canal du Midi, Denmark, New England, Inst and Whitby. I really liked how some of those patterns like New England has straight stockinette up the back to a point, then the knitted pattern continues further up the leg.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
It is time to thank God for abundant stashes, and full bellies. May you eat enough turkey to satisfy- but not so much that you can't knit well! (Turkey has tryptophan, and that makes us sleepy, which would result in some unproductive knit sessions).
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
DH's garter stitch hat
I know, I know. It looks SO hat-like, right? I thought the same thing.
I am really enjoying knitting this now that I have it figured out. I
knit 5 rows on it at SnB, and knit about 10 rows on it last night. It
is using 98 sts on a size 7 needle. The construction of this garter
stitch item is phenomenal in my opinion. I would have never thought of
it. Thanks again Kelle for the use of the pattern.
I am really enjoying knitting this now that I have it figured out. I
knit 5 rows on it at SnB, and knit about 10 rows on it last night. It
is using 98 sts on a size 7 needle. The construction of this garter
stitch item is phenomenal in my opinion. I would have never thought of
it. Thanks again Kelle for the use of the pattern.
my first hand-spinning without a spindle
was using the "Spin It" book and it instructs how to spin wool
without a spindle or a hook. It is done by rubbing the loose wool fiber
against your leg to create friction and felt the fibers together. This
is what it looked like when I tried it out.
Drop Spindle- before I kept dropping the wool
Last year I selected this drop spindle at the Yarn Barn in Lawrence,
KS. I picked it because it had cute sheep on it, and I wanted to have a
drop spindle. According to my spinning book this is one is a slow
spinner because the hook is not by the whorl. I guess this would be a
bottom whorl drop spindle. My singles (is that even right?) are of blue
and purple superwash wool. I wasn't sure how it would spin because it
was superwash, which does not felt, so I was concerned I wouldn't be
able to spin it well, but I think it worked well enough for my little
diy drop-spindle session. I am content with this early product, and am
also content to stop trying for the night when I feel like I am ahead.
Perhaps I will be able to visit the WI sheep person while I am out
there and buy some more wool for spinning, now that I sort of
understand the process. Rox, I am taunting you! I know it.
This was the second time I tried to drop spindle. And yes, I did drop
it a few times. The first time I tried was last spring sometime after
the Sheep and Wool fest.
DH's hat
I have been knitting tonight, after eating Culver's food post- workout. I am working on DH's hat, and was on row 9 today when I started up again, and am now on row 28. Yay- progress!
Maybe it'll get done before the snow flies. Good thing he bought a Walgreen's fleece hat last night for in the meantime.
Maybe it'll get done before the snow flies. Good thing he bought a Walgreen's fleece hat last night for in the meantime.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Naughty dogs
Thought they would try their hand, I mean paw, at Sudoku. Looks like
they got frustrated at the puzzles too, and decided to try it as a
snack instead.
they got frustrated at the puzzles too, and decided to try it as a
snack instead.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
My first eye of partridge heel
I have never done one of these before. I am wondering how the slipping of the stitches goes, knit wise or purlwise?
It is for a "secret" project/gift. Perhaps I will go Google now.
It is for a "secret" project/gift. Perhaps I will go Google now.
great haircuts
I was on Black Sheep's blog, and if I read correctly, she is joining the this- a challenge where bloggers are to blog *every* day. Since I hadn't been up to date on my blog readings, I just now discovered this, in mid/late november. The deal is to blog every day for the month of November. Seeing as it is already Nov. 19th, I missed the chance to fully participate. But I think I will create my own, spin-off challenge and blog every day till December 19th- or longer.
Yesterday, I visited a new salon, Accolades Salon Spa in St. Paul. Nicole cut my hair, and she did an awesome job. Yes, Snb'ers, I know it seems like I always am getting my hair cut, and this time I did. I think I lost about 2 inches, and got some funky layering things going on. I love it, she did an awesome job. The way I found my way there deserves a story, so here it goes (oh, did I mention I am supposed to be doing my billing for work right now?).
Way back in the summer/spring, I won tickets to Sip, Slip and Pitch knitting night at the St. Paul Saints game. There was a drawing for seats at the game, and I must admit I am not a big sports fan. I thought, oooh- free date night with DH + knitting! Sounds good. I was the first of the batch of winners, and anxiously awaited game day. It came, it was fun to knit in a big section of people, and I won the Freakiest Fan award too for my double-jointed shoulders trick.
While we were leaving the game (early, as we had to drive to Kansas that night for my brother's college graduation at 8am the next day) a girl handed out two cards to me. I took them, instinctively. I read them and they were awesome- 3 free trips to Accolades an Aveda Salon. Wow! That will be fun I thought.
Fast forward, we drove to Kansas, and while I was driving some nearly prehistoric short squat animal crossed the road. I wished I would have gotten a second glance of it, but I didn't. I also didn't hit it, otherwise I might have known what it was (but that would have been awful).
Fast forward again, to Yesterday. DH and went to Accolades and got haircuts simultaneously. And we both looked hot, or good or something like that. It is always fun to have a good salon experience.
Just the week before I was at Litespa in Mpls. using my Christmas gift from DH, a manicure, pedicure and a massage.
I had climbed on the massage table, and was trying to relax but I smelled something stinky over the smell of the rosemary mint lotion. I was closing my eyes trying to not think about it and wondered if it was my own body giving off cigarette smells. (I do not and will never smoke, but sometimes my job takes me to smelly places, so that option was possible. ) Then I realized, that with every nose exhale of the massage therapist the smell intensified. Still lying there, trying to relax my mind began to race. How do I confront this problem in a spa? What should I say? Should I start off and say, "Can I ask you a question?" That would be relatively non-threatening, I thought. The more I smelled the faster I thought, till I acted on it and asked, "do you smoke?" LONG pause from the masseuse. The kind of pause that means, "yes, why did you ask? more than a straightforward 'no'. "A little" he answered. "Did you smoke today?" I inquired. Again, a pause, and a question, "can you smell it?" To which I answered, "yes, and I can't relax when all I can smell is cigarettes." Then, "ok, you can get dressed then."
So I awkwardly donned my robe after he'd left the room, and stood there, wondering in the doorway. I was ushered back to the relaxation area, my body more tense than it was when I had entered the spa earlier.
From there I waited, and drank what was to be my second cup of tea of four or five that day. Eventually the manicure girl came for my manicure and pedicure. It took me a few minutes to vent the story to this perfect stranger, the stranger who had rescued me from smoking man, but when I finished I did feel a bit better.
Fast forward to the end, the salon manager wrote me a letter of apology, on natural colored paper with a vellum envelope, and enclosed a gift card for the cost of the massage. Now I have enough gift card money for more services there, but it was quite awkward and unprofessional to have a stinky massage therapist. I don't entirely feel like going back there, as it wasn't the best experience.
So, would you go back if you were me? Or how would you have handled the situation?
Yesterday, I visited a new salon, Accolades Salon Spa in St. Paul. Nicole cut my hair, and she did an awesome job. Yes, Snb'ers, I know it seems like I always am getting my hair cut, and this time I did. I think I lost about 2 inches, and got some funky layering things going on. I love it, she did an awesome job. The way I found my way there deserves a story, so here it goes (oh, did I mention I am supposed to be doing my billing for work right now?).
Way back in the summer/spring, I won tickets to Sip, Slip and Pitch knitting night at the St. Paul Saints game. There was a drawing for seats at the game, and I must admit I am not a big sports fan. I thought, oooh- free date night with DH + knitting! Sounds good. I was the first of the batch of winners, and anxiously awaited game day. It came, it was fun to knit in a big section of people, and I won the Freakiest Fan award too for my double-jointed shoulders trick.
While we were leaving the game (early, as we had to drive to Kansas that night for my brother's college graduation at 8am the next day) a girl handed out two cards to me. I took them, instinctively. I read them and they were awesome- 3 free trips to Accolades an Aveda Salon. Wow! That will be fun I thought.
Fast forward, we drove to Kansas, and while I was driving some nearly prehistoric short squat animal crossed the road. I wished I would have gotten a second glance of it, but I didn't. I also didn't hit it, otherwise I might have known what it was (but that would have been awful).
Fast forward again, to Yesterday. DH and went to Accolades and got haircuts simultaneously. And we both looked hot, or good or something like that. It is always fun to have a good salon experience.
Just the week before I was at Litespa in Mpls. using my Christmas gift from DH, a manicure, pedicure and a massage.
I had climbed on the massage table, and was trying to relax but I smelled something stinky over the smell of the rosemary mint lotion. I was closing my eyes trying to not think about it and wondered if it was my own body giving off cigarette smells. (I do not and will never smoke, but sometimes my job takes me to smelly places, so that option was possible. ) Then I realized, that with every nose exhale of the massage therapist the smell intensified. Still lying there, trying to relax my mind began to race. How do I confront this problem in a spa? What should I say? Should I start off and say, "Can I ask you a question?" That would be relatively non-threatening, I thought. The more I smelled the faster I thought, till I acted on it and asked, "do you smoke?" LONG pause from the masseuse. The kind of pause that means, "yes, why did you ask? more than a straightforward 'no'. "A little" he answered. "Did you smoke today?" I inquired. Again, a pause, and a question, "can you smell it?" To which I answered, "yes, and I can't relax when all I can smell is cigarettes." Then, "ok, you can get dressed then."
So I awkwardly donned my robe after he'd left the room, and stood there, wondering in the doorway. I was ushered back to the relaxation area, my body more tense than it was when I had entered the spa earlier.
From there I waited, and drank what was to be my second cup of tea of four or five that day. Eventually the manicure girl came for my manicure and pedicure. It took me a few minutes to vent the story to this perfect stranger, the stranger who had rescued me from smoking man, but when I finished I did feel a bit better.
Fast forward to the end, the salon manager wrote me a letter of apology, on natural colored paper with a vellum envelope, and enclosed a gift card for the cost of the massage. Now I have enough gift card money for more services there, but it was quite awkward and unprofessional to have a stinky massage therapist. I don't entirely feel like going back there, as it wasn't the best experience.
So, would you go back if you were me? Or how would you have handled the situation?
Friday, November 17, 2006
scary post- the knitter's nightmare
I know it is after halloween and all, but the post after this deserves too disclaimers.
Now, you've been warned.
Last night was a SnB knit night at Beth's Blue Blog's house. I'm short on time otherwise I'd link to it here. Check the sidebar for further info.
As always we had a great time, though not without some yarn related problems. Shelly, or her blog, (check the sidebar) was kind enough to bring her ball winder and swift, so I responded by raiding my yarn stash for hanks of yarn to wind. I found several. I took a pic of them all wound tidily, and most of them wound, then re-wound so as to prevent the yarn from unnatural stretching. Who of you out there would be willing to confess to pulling on sheep's wool- while still on the animal. Now that would be mean- kind of like Cow tipping I would think.
Well, I plan to post the pic within a day or so, and you'll be able to see it all. There was one Horrid SKEIN of yarn though, one I had gotten on clearance at the Yarnery, an Aruacania Nature Wool skein, in a nice hand-dyed medium blue, that was hopelessly convoluted and tangled from the point that I untied the hank. I owe a lot of thanks to Shelly and Lisad for helping me on that beastly one. Unfortunately, it is still not untangled. But it will be. Even though Shelly offered me 6 dollars (.60 less than I paid for it, $6.60 was the marked price) if I would just throw it away. But tangled skeins are still yarn, and the challenge continues to untangle it, and not let it win, until it can be a tidy little wound "ball" just like its cousins.
Now, you've been warned.
Last night was a SnB knit night at Beth's Blue Blog's house. I'm short on time otherwise I'd link to it here. Check the sidebar for further info.
As always we had a great time, though not without some yarn related problems. Shelly, or her blog, (check the sidebar) was kind enough to bring her ball winder and swift, so I responded by raiding my yarn stash for hanks of yarn to wind. I found several. I took a pic of them all wound tidily, and most of them wound, then re-wound so as to prevent the yarn from unnatural stretching. Who of you out there would be willing to confess to pulling on sheep's wool- while still on the animal. Now that would be mean- kind of like Cow tipping I would think.
Well, I plan to post the pic within a day or so, and you'll be able to see it all. There was one Horrid SKEIN of yarn though, one I had gotten on clearance at the Yarnery, an Aruacania Nature Wool skein, in a nice hand-dyed medium blue, that was hopelessly convoluted and tangled from the point that I untied the hank. I owe a lot of thanks to Shelly and Lisad for helping me on that beastly one. Unfortunately, it is still not untangled. But it will be. Even though Shelly offered me 6 dollars (.60 less than I paid for it, $6.60 was the marked price) if I would just throw it away. But tangled skeins are still yarn, and the challenge continues to untangle it, and not let it win, until it can be a tidy little wound "ball" just like its cousins.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Homecoming Presents
Hello, CorgiDad here. I don't usually post, and unfortunately what I have to share has nothing to do with knitting - except for the fact that my DW is currently at a knitting party, and this is the easiest way I have to show her what I came home to tonight, and what I have to look forward to in the next half-hour or so.
That being said, these photos are not for the faint of heart.
If you'd rather not be exposed to this sort of unpleasantness, please do not scroll down.
Seriously, just wait until she posts some more knitting stuff.
I'm sure it will be much nicer.
But if you do choose to go on...
At least be grateful that technology has not sufficiently advanced so as to let you smell what would come through your monitor.
So, how 'bout them people freezing out there waiting in line for PS3s? Crazy, huh?
That was your last chance.
Ok, so I got home to some hyper dogs. They greeted me, and ran around as I unloaded the car. Then I went to feed them, since it was already 8pm and they were probably getting hungry.
That being said, these photos are not for the faint of heart.
If you'd rather not be exposed to this sort of unpleasantness, please do not scroll down.
Seriously, just wait until she posts some more knitting stuff.
I'm sure it will be much nicer.
But if you do choose to go on...
At least be grateful that technology has not sufficiently advanced so as to let you smell what would come through your monitor.
So, how 'bout them people freezing out there waiting in line for PS3s? Crazy, huh?
That was your last chance.
Ok, so I got home to some hyper dogs. They greeted me, and ran around as I unloaded the car. Then I went to feed them, since it was already 8pm and they were probably getting hungry.
As I went to dish them some food, I saw this:
Oh, great. Somebody just couldn't wait! Well, I guess I'd better clean
that up before I get them their food. All right, everybody outside
while I clean up!
that up before I get them their food. All right, everybody outside
while I clean up!
Wait, what is this by the door?
Apparently this was more than just an "I have to go" - somebody must
have had an upset stomach or something. Oh well, up the stairs to get the cleaning stuff.
have had an upset stomach or something. Oh well, up the stairs to get the cleaning stuff.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Unconventional uses for Knitting
My DW told me I should post my little trinket of a story. This afternoon, I had grabbed my wife's PDA off the table to quickly check how much battery it had left. Being the efficient person that I am, rather than reach all the way under the PDA and pull out the stylus, I noted that there was a plethera of knitting paraphernalia scattered about on the table, and simply picked up a knitting needle (I believe it was of the circular variety) to use as my stylus.
Apparently, this is amusing.
- DH
Apparently, this is amusing.
- DH
Announcing, another blog
Dh and I decided we needed to document our own Tasty Travels, ala Rachel Ray. We love to try out new restaurants and taste new things from all ethnicities. Though, for myself, I wouldn't be caught dead eating a cheeseburger, or a hamburger ever. When I was little I loved going to BBQ's where the families owned pets. In particular I remember going to a BBQ at our friends' house who lived in an adjoining townhouse. They had recently adopted two pets from the animal shelter. An orange kitten they named, "Molly" and a samoyed dog they called, "Teachie." When the adults weren't looking I fed my burger to Teachie. And he loved it, much more than me. I can't recall ever liking burgers, and can remember eating them only on a few occasions.
One time was on a school service trip where McDonald's provided us all with lunch, cheeseburgers. We were sandbagging near the river to prevent flooding, and it was all that was available. It really wasn't that bad after all those hours of manual labor, but give me ethnic food anyday, and I will be much happier.
So all that to say, our new blog is called Two Twin Cities Foodies. And you can visit it by clicking on the link.
It will probably feature some retrospective dining experiences, as well as more current dining adventures.
One time was on a school service trip where McDonald's provided us all with lunch, cheeseburgers. We were sandbagging near the river to prevent flooding, and it was all that was available. It really wasn't that bad after all those hours of manual labor, but give me ethnic food anyday, and I will be much happier.
So all that to say, our new blog is called Two Twin Cities Foodies. And you can visit it by clicking on the link.
It will probably feature some retrospective dining experiences, as well as more current dining adventures.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Blonde moments
Very few would consider me "blonde" but I do have my blonde moments. The other day DH was trying to explain something to me and I had no clue what he was trying to say. Even people who have studied communication (myself) run into problems communicating. Do you have that happen too, where you are searching for the words- and instead of the word you are looking for you find every word but that one particular word?
Like the other day I said a child was observational, or observative, when I was looking for the word observant. And today I did the same thing again with some other words. There is actually a social psychology phrase that was coined for this conundrum- and accurately named too-
"tip of the tongue syndrome." Who'd of guessed?
But besides the learning lesson, I have a new phrase for those moments where my neural pathways aren't clicking along as fast as I'd like, and it is simply,
"I'm wearing a lot of wool." Now who could argue with that? This is the perfect thing to say when you have your next "blonde moment" and when you are indeed wearing a lot of wool.
At the time I was wearing a wool/acrylic Lion brand Woolease scarf 2x2 rib, and a "Live Dangerously Don't Swatch" hat done up in Bartlett Yarn in a basketweave stitch pattern, and of course, grape colored mittens, of Knitpicks Sierra with a cable. Give it a try, and let me know if it works for you.
And if you ask me a question that I'm just not following, or try to explain some knitting technique that just won't click, don't be suprised if I utter, "I'm wearing a lot of wool." You'll know what I mean.
Like the other day I said a child was observational, or observative, when I was looking for the word observant. And today I did the same thing again with some other words. There is actually a social psychology phrase that was coined for this conundrum- and accurately named too-
"tip of the tongue syndrome." Who'd of guessed?
But besides the learning lesson, I have a new phrase for those moments where my neural pathways aren't clicking along as fast as I'd like, and it is simply,
"I'm wearing a lot of wool." Now who could argue with that? This is the perfect thing to say when you have your next "blonde moment" and when you are indeed wearing a lot of wool.
At the time I was wearing a wool/acrylic Lion brand Woolease scarf 2x2 rib, and a "Live Dangerously Don't Swatch" hat done up in Bartlett Yarn in a basketweave stitch pattern, and of course, grape colored mittens, of Knitpicks Sierra with a cable. Give it a try, and let me know if it works for you.
And if you ask me a question that I'm just not following, or try to explain some knitting technique that just won't click, don't be suprised if I utter, "I'm wearing a lot of wool." You'll know what I mean.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Drug-addicted cocker spaniel
My brother sent me this link the other day and it was too funny for words. So I had to share it.
You can either read the story or listen to it. I would suggest listening though, as it is good for some laughs.
I hope our dogs never get high on something. Though I know Weasel does eat poo at times, and Buster used to get 'roid rage when he was on steroids for his third eyelid issue.
You can either read the story or listen to it. I would suggest listening though, as it is good for some laughs.
I hope our dogs never get high on something. Though I know Weasel does eat poo at times, and Buster used to get 'roid rage when he was on steroids for his third eyelid issue.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Knitting and returns
Remember that post of a pic of my impulse purchase. It was post dentist and it wasn't yarn. I took a pic of some beads that I was going to turn into jewelry. I had a vision for the jewelery too, and it was going to be cool and trendy.
Yesterday after carrying the beads and things around in my car for a few weeks I decided to return the items at Michaels. I looked all over the place for my receipt, my car, all the tables in our house, my purse, my knitting bag, etc., and looked in these places several times just in case I had overlooked it the first 3 times I was hunting. I could not find the receipt anywhere. I could find every other receipt for everything else I had bought, but not that one receipt. So I returned it all and got store credit. I really needed credit card credit- since I had already bought YARN the week before, while I planned to return the beads.
This morning, I was poking around through another of my bins of stuff for my traveling office, and there it was. A Michaels receipt folded in half the long way, with the Michaels logo facing outward- all the items were listed. Unbelievable. The only place I didn't look was the right place to find it. Since I hadn't had the receipt the previous day I had gotten less than full price for some of the items due to them being on sale. So, to Michaels I went. And I was pleased with the service as the sales lady kindly put up with me, and I have now been credited back to my account so I can keep the yarn I bought already.
The YARN.
I indulged in a trip to the Three Kittens Needle Arts, just barely a week after the Shop Hop. I went there originally for baby yarn for a boy baby sweater for an upcoming baby shower gift, and came out of there with more. I purchased the yarn for a wild and crazy sweater vest out of Berrocco Foliage yarn, the color named "Russian Sage" which is ironic because I have Russian Sage, or salvia, growing in my garden. The pattern is free online, and another knitting friend of mine made it, and I kind of thought it was over the top, too wild for me. I wear lots of wild colors, often at the same time, and for me to make this statement seems kind of uncharacteristic. But I thought this vest was too crazy. I bought the yarn for it now as it has grown on me.
When I was little I used to lament the evils of the color pink, socks with ruffles on them, and sweater vests. A few years ago after many years of shunning the color pink in any form, I gave in. It was popular that season, and there were some newer shades of vibrant pink. Now I have much more pink in my closet than ever before, except for the time I was really little and Mommy did my shopping. Along with pink, I thought ruffled socks were just plain wrong. Now I often wear patterned socks, with fall leaves, black cats, silver reindeer, and knitted patterns on them, but I do not own any ruffle-top socks.
This brings me to the sweater vests issue. I thought they were pretty awful when I was little, but old enough to have an opinion. I wore a red one with a school bus, and some of the alphabet on it for my first grade pictures. It was my jack o' lantern look, as I was without my two front teeth too. The night before picture day I remember my mom telling me "don't lose those two front teeth before picture day tomorrow, or you will have a funny picture." Gues what happened? I don't remember when but sometime between then and picture day I lost both of those front teeth. So I smiled toothlessly wearing my red sweater vest with a white collared shirt. And now, after some time, I am planning to knit one. Go figure.
Yesterday after carrying the beads and things around in my car for a few weeks I decided to return the items at Michaels. I looked all over the place for my receipt, my car, all the tables in our house, my purse, my knitting bag, etc., and looked in these places several times just in case I had overlooked it the first 3 times I was hunting. I could not find the receipt anywhere. I could find every other receipt for everything else I had bought, but not that one receipt. So I returned it all and got store credit. I really needed credit card credit- since I had already bought YARN the week before, while I planned to return the beads.
This morning, I was poking around through another of my bins of stuff for my traveling office, and there it was. A Michaels receipt folded in half the long way, with the Michaels logo facing outward- all the items were listed. Unbelievable. The only place I didn't look was the right place to find it. Since I hadn't had the receipt the previous day I had gotten less than full price for some of the items due to them being on sale. So, to Michaels I went. And I was pleased with the service as the sales lady kindly put up with me, and I have now been credited back to my account so I can keep the yarn I bought already.
The YARN.
I indulged in a trip to the Three Kittens Needle Arts, just barely a week after the Shop Hop. I went there originally for baby yarn for a boy baby sweater for an upcoming baby shower gift, and came out of there with more. I purchased the yarn for a wild and crazy sweater vest out of Berrocco Foliage yarn, the color named "Russian Sage" which is ironic because I have Russian Sage, or salvia, growing in my garden. The pattern is free online, and another knitting friend of mine made it, and I kind of thought it was over the top, too wild for me. I wear lots of wild colors, often at the same time, and for me to make this statement seems kind of uncharacteristic. But I thought this vest was too crazy. I bought the yarn for it now as it has grown on me.
When I was little I used to lament the evils of the color pink, socks with ruffles on them, and sweater vests. A few years ago after many years of shunning the color pink in any form, I gave in. It was popular that season, and there were some newer shades of vibrant pink. Now I have much more pink in my closet than ever before, except for the time I was really little and Mommy did my shopping. Along with pink, I thought ruffled socks were just plain wrong. Now I often wear patterned socks, with fall leaves, black cats, silver reindeer, and knitted patterns on them, but I do not own any ruffle-top socks.
This brings me to the sweater vests issue. I thought they were pretty awful when I was little, but old enough to have an opinion. I wore a red one with a school bus, and some of the alphabet on it for my first grade pictures. It was my jack o' lantern look, as I was without my two front teeth too. The night before picture day I remember my mom telling me "don't lose those two front teeth before picture day tomorrow, or you will have a funny picture." Gues what happened? I don't remember when but sometime between then and picture day I lost both of those front teeth. So I smiled toothlessly wearing my red sweater vest with a white collared shirt. And now, after some time, I am planning to knit one. Go figure.
Did you wonder too?
Remember the Yarn Shop Hop? How many of you where waiting and wondering if you were the winner? I was wondering. I was checking my phone and my e-mail address- but no luck. Who is the lucky winner? Does anyone know? I feel as though it should be posted for all to see - somewhere- possibly in the blogosphere, or on the TC Knit list for sure.
Friday, October 06, 2006
my prize from the drawing at Three Kittens Needle Arts
Big long needles. I did not have this size or length.
two steps left
Kitchener- which I really enjoy. I think it is easy and amazing how it
works. And weave in the tails- which I dread.
works. And weave in the tails- which I dread.
I have a plan for this
I dread going to the dentist. So when I went last week Thursday and
received a good report post teeth cleaning, I rewarded myself with a
trip to Michael's where I bought jewelry fix-ins. We will have to see
if my "vision" turns out the way I planned.
received a good report post teeth cleaning, I rewarded myself with a
trip to Michael's where I bought jewelry fix-ins. We will have to see
if my "vision" turns out the way I planned.
finally- done
I used the free Knitpicks pattern that uses Sierra yarn with leftover
mohair from my vogue knitting mohair/Sierra v-neck chunky cable
sweater. I also used the same cable from the sweater rather than the
cable from the pattern for the main cable. The side cables are from the
pattern. It will be fun when it gets cold to wear both the sweater and
carry the matching purse.
mohair from my vogue knitting mohair/Sierra v-neck chunky cable
sweater. I also used the same cable from the sweater rather than the
cable from the pattern for the main cable. The side cables are from the
pattern. It will be fun when it gets cold to wear both the sweater and
carry the matching purse.
the three little kittens have lost their mittens...
and gotten new ones from their friendly new owners! Yes- that is right- New ownership at the Three Kittens!!!!I took a pic of the sign because this news was nearly too good to be true. The challenge of this is that I will have to budget more carefully, as this store is WAY TOO CLOSE to my house for monetary safety- and with new owners comes some new policies. Knitter friendly policies to be exact. I can now go there freely and not have a credit card use spending limit. The previous store required a 20+ dollar purchase when using credit cards. Now don't worry, I am not about to flip and individually charge those little stitch holders one by one on my credit card, or make ridiculously small amounts of purchases just cause I can. But let's just say the store owners might get to know me on a first name basis.
the changeover came just in time for the crawl- in fact the switch happened at the start of this week. For those of you muggles (non-knitters what are you doing reading my blog? This is a knitting blog, for knitters! ) , The crawl is like a mini-olympic knitting event where groupies flock to participating yarn stores to get stamps on their treasure map, by answering clues, and get treasure treats along the way. Like prize drawings, and little silver knitting related charms for a funky un-screwable safety pin.
The fun times began this morning for me as I had the luxury of scheduling my day around the 7 yarn shops on the 'crawl. I began at 11:30 at Amazing Threads. There I was greeted by two female pirates.
Later in my day I drove past the Yarnery- to work- then back, to Grand Avenue. Along the way I picked up a paint chip at Restoration Hardware, bought new fabulous running shoes, and stopped at the Yarnery. Yay- another stamp and another drawing!
Then, off to Three Kittens Needle Arts. No longer the yarn shop with 2 p's and an e at the end. Coolness. I was really hungry and my brain was about to shut down to the point that I knew I could not make any decisions- shopping wise- but waited about 13 min as a drawing for prizes was about to happen. Good thing I waited, 'cause I won the drawing of the hour. Sweet!
I was mulling over a purchase that I have meant to do for awhile, buy 5 skeins of Berrocco's Foliage for a funky sweater vest, but could not make any color decisions on an empty stomach.
I was cognizant enough to read the good news sign and snap a pic of it though.
Tomorrow I have a long all morning work meeting- then I will visit the other stores on the map in the afternoon. I must say that the stores are sure spaced out away from each other. It's like a few mini road trips to make the map full.
the changeover came just in time for the crawl- in fact the switch happened at the start of this week. For those of you muggles (non-knitters what are you doing reading my blog? This is a knitting blog, for knitters! ) , The crawl is like a mini-olympic knitting event where groupies flock to participating yarn stores to get stamps on their treasure map, by answering clues, and get treasure treats along the way. Like prize drawings, and little silver knitting related charms for a funky un-screwable safety pin.
The fun times began this morning for me as I had the luxury of scheduling my day around the 7 yarn shops on the 'crawl. I began at 11:30 at Amazing Threads. There I was greeted by two female pirates.
Later in my day I drove past the Yarnery- to work- then back, to Grand Avenue. Along the way I picked up a paint chip at Restoration Hardware, bought new fabulous running shoes, and stopped at the Yarnery. Yay- another stamp and another drawing!
Then, off to Three Kittens Needle Arts. No longer the yarn shop with 2 p's and an e at the end. Coolness. I was really hungry and my brain was about to shut down to the point that I knew I could not make any decisions- shopping wise- but waited about 13 min as a drawing for prizes was about to happen. Good thing I waited, 'cause I won the drawing of the hour. Sweet!
I was mulling over a purchase that I have meant to do for awhile, buy 5 skeins of Berrocco's Foliage for a funky sweater vest, but could not make any color decisions on an empty stomach.
I was cognizant enough to read the good news sign and snap a pic of it though.
Tomorrow I have a long all morning work meeting- then I will visit the other stores on the map in the afternoon. I must say that the stores are sure spaced out away from each other. It's like a few mini road trips to make the map full.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Gandalf
Ok, so this really isn't going to become a habit, me (DH) posting all
the time, but I had to post a picture of Gandalf! Basically, Gandalf is
my work's way of recognizing outstanding achievement. He was first
given out last December at the office christmas party, and then this
week he was given to me. Cool! He also came with a little bit of moola
with which I can take Corgimom out to a nice place. And maybe a Segway
tour, she wants to do one of those.
the time, but I had to post a picture of Gandalf! Basically, Gandalf is
my work's way of recognizing outstanding achievement. He was first
given out last December at the office christmas party, and then this
week he was given to me. Cool! He also came with a little bit of moola
with which I can take Corgimom out to a nice place. And maybe a Segway
tour, she wants to do one of those.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Lost!
This is not a story about the show- sorry to dissappoint- but it is a real life experience, something that happened just the other day on DH's birthday outing.
It began Tuesday- we both took "half days" of work- I ended at 2, he ended about the same time. The event was DH's birthday. We had decided to take some time off work to visit the apple orchard (not the Emma Krumbees orchard, it was a different one) and Emma Krumbees in Belle Plaine, MN.
It was a bit of a drive, but a much nicer one than the last time we had driven to this orchard. That time took like an hour and a half to get there from Eden Prairie due to all the weekend-only Renaissance Festival traffic. That was crazy. But this time we went on a weekday, after all the kids were done with school- so no field trip kids to steal all our apples.
We drove to the Apple Orchard of my childhood memories, the first one I had visited and remembered, from my first grade field trip. I have visited this apple orchard many times, and always had a positive experience and a great time. I am sure you can sense that my memories are going to take a detour-
DH and I waited with a large group of people to board the apple wagon to visit the trees of our chosen apple varieties. There was a small sign with a holder for the "apple picking info" papers. We grabbed the instruction sheet, and eventually boarded the wagon.
The wagon was driven by a hispanic young man, with presumably his spanish name tatooed across the back of his neck (very modern Romeo and Juliet movie- the one with Claire Danes, and that Leonardo DiCaprio guy). Others aboard the wagon proceeded to ask him questions, none of which he responded to. The wagon bumped along, through the orchard, to arrive at our first stop. Honey gold apples. We wanted some of these, so we departed from the wagon and proceeded to search high and low for these apples. Nearly all the trees were picked over, and only the apples that were rotten or at the tops of the trees remained. So, I ventured over to where I could see more apples, and began picking them with DH. We picked about a half bag full, to save room in our bag, and because there were no more nice apples that we could find, for the 3rd and last stop apples, Cortland. We looked around, and wondered while wandering. Let's go find those apples, I thought. So we walked some more, and soon thought, there must be an easier way to find them in this great big orchard.
So I said, hey Dh, is there a phone number on our apple picking paper? He checked, and there was, so I dialed the number into my silver Razr cell phone from the Raspberry Road and Lone Oak Road crossing signs in the orchard. I proceeded to tell the woman on the phone our coordinates, so she could give us better directions. I heard her say, "YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING BACK THERE!!!" And I replied, "We are not driving, we're walking. We picked some Honeygold apples, and the driver left us." "He LEFT YOU-He WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE WAGON TO TAKE YOU IN THE ORCHARD! I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT! And our call was done.
So now, we are getting yelled at for trying to speed up our s-l-o-w visit to the orchard, as the sun is starting to drop. We waited for what seemed like 30-45 min, and a smoking man in a minivan with an out of state license plate drove by us twice. Then, a group of horseback riders came by. We continued to wait, DH more patient than I. I knew we weren't lost, I had been to this big orchard before quite a few times.
We waited. Eventually the wagon came by, this time with a second wagon connected. By pointing the driver instructed us to get into the empty back section. It felt like we were in time out- for having wandered in the orchard. Our empty wagon bumped and shook along with every dip in the road, as it had only us two to weigh it down. We picked up the other batch of people who had been in the first wagon with us. The wagon continued to bump and shake along. We waited through the second stop, onto the third. The wagon passed by through the rest of the orchard, and took us all the way back to the start, without stopping at the Cortland apples. What a day. Time out, and skipping the third stop. There were only 3 total stops, you'd think it wasn't too hard to remember them.
Back at the main building, we wandered, wondering where to pay for our apples. We waited in line behind a guy who had purchased a brat at the cafe there- and had not received a bun. The other cashier was surprised as well that he didn't get a bun, and quickly remedied the situation. The cashier also offered to charge us for a full bag of apples and included a 5lb bag of the Cortland pre-picked apples. It was not our best time at the orchard- but at least he fixed the problem. It seemed like this guy's job was to do the clean up work for all the other employees who were not quite meeting the expectations. It was frustrating, but a little funny. What a day.
It began Tuesday- we both took "half days" of work- I ended at 2, he ended about the same time. The event was DH's birthday. We had decided to take some time off work to visit the apple orchard (not the Emma Krumbees orchard, it was a different one) and Emma Krumbees in Belle Plaine, MN.
It was a bit of a drive, but a much nicer one than the last time we had driven to this orchard. That time took like an hour and a half to get there from Eden Prairie due to all the weekend-only Renaissance Festival traffic. That was crazy. But this time we went on a weekday, after all the kids were done with school- so no field trip kids to steal all our apples.
We drove to the Apple Orchard of my childhood memories, the first one I had visited and remembered, from my first grade field trip. I have visited this apple orchard many times, and always had a positive experience and a great time. I am sure you can sense that my memories are going to take a detour-
DH and I waited with a large group of people to board the apple wagon to visit the trees of our chosen apple varieties. There was a small sign with a holder for the "apple picking info" papers. We grabbed the instruction sheet, and eventually boarded the wagon.
The wagon was driven by a hispanic young man, with presumably his spanish name tatooed across the back of his neck (very modern Romeo and Juliet movie- the one with Claire Danes, and that Leonardo DiCaprio guy). Others aboard the wagon proceeded to ask him questions, none of which he responded to. The wagon bumped along, through the orchard, to arrive at our first stop. Honey gold apples. We wanted some of these, so we departed from the wagon and proceeded to search high and low for these apples. Nearly all the trees were picked over, and only the apples that were rotten or at the tops of the trees remained. So, I ventured over to where I could see more apples, and began picking them with DH. We picked about a half bag full, to save room in our bag, and because there were no more nice apples that we could find, for the 3rd and last stop apples, Cortland. We looked around, and wondered while wandering. Let's go find those apples, I thought. So we walked some more, and soon thought, there must be an easier way to find them in this great big orchard.
So I said, hey Dh, is there a phone number on our apple picking paper? He checked, and there was, so I dialed the number into my silver Razr cell phone from the Raspberry Road and Lone Oak Road crossing signs in the orchard. I proceeded to tell the woman on the phone our coordinates, so she could give us better directions. I heard her say, "YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING BACK THERE!!!" And I replied, "We are not driving, we're walking. We picked some Honeygold apples, and the driver left us." "He LEFT YOU-He WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR THE WAGON TO TAKE YOU IN THE ORCHARD! I CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT! And our call was done.
So now, we are getting yelled at for trying to speed up our s-l-o-w visit to the orchard, as the sun is starting to drop. We waited for what seemed like 30-45 min, and a smoking man in a minivan with an out of state license plate drove by us twice. Then, a group of horseback riders came by. We continued to wait, DH more patient than I. I knew we weren't lost, I had been to this big orchard before quite a few times.
We waited. Eventually the wagon came by, this time with a second wagon connected. By pointing the driver instructed us to get into the empty back section. It felt like we were in time out- for having wandered in the orchard. Our empty wagon bumped and shook along with every dip in the road, as it had only us two to weigh it down. We picked up the other batch of people who had been in the first wagon with us. The wagon continued to bump and shake along. We waited through the second stop, onto the third. The wagon passed by through the rest of the orchard, and took us all the way back to the start, without stopping at the Cortland apples. What a day. Time out, and skipping the third stop. There were only 3 total stops, you'd think it wasn't too hard to remember them.
Back at the main building, we wandered, wondering where to pay for our apples. We waited in line behind a guy who had purchased a brat at the cafe there- and had not received a bun. The other cashier was surprised as well that he didn't get a bun, and quickly remedied the situation. The cashier also offered to charge us for a full bag of apples and included a 5lb bag of the Cortland pre-picked apples. It was not our best time at the orchard- but at least he fixed the problem. It seemed like this guy's job was to do the clean up work for all the other employees who were not quite meeting the expectations. It was frustrating, but a little funny. What a day.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
The Technorati
Warning! Warning! This is a DH posting! Which means, sadly, that there will likely be a lot less knitting content than your typical Corgimom post. And by that I mean zero. Unless you count the fact that I just used the word knitting. But I don't.
Anyway, the time has come for my DW (does it work that way?) to enter the next phase of technological assimilation: the PDA. We have determined that her schedule for her job is simply too crazy to handle without the assistance of electronic devices. However, she is unwilling to give up her Razr phone, so we are bypassing the Treos and the Crackberries and going for a straight-up PDA (which are getting harder and harder to find, I might add).
She's been able to play with a few - mainly a Palm Tungsten in an Office Max and an iPaq that my coworker has. So far I think she's favoring the latter, as the Windows Mobile versions have a better visual display for the day view in the calendar - it blocks it out with squares and colors, whereas the Palm OS version just gives you dots and times. However, she thought it would be wise to solicit opinions from the collective experience of the masses, and thus here we are. At this point, our two main choices would be between the Palm TX and the iPaq R1955, as they both have Wi-Fi capability, but we're open to new suggestions.
That's it for me. Back to your regularly scheduled Corgi Knitting.
- DH
Anyway, the time has come for my DW (does it work that way?) to enter the next phase of technological assimilation: the PDA. We have determined that her schedule for her job is simply too crazy to handle without the assistance of electronic devices. However, she is unwilling to give up her Razr phone, so we are bypassing the Treos and the Crackberries and going for a straight-up PDA (which are getting harder and harder to find, I might add).
She's been able to play with a few - mainly a Palm Tungsten in an Office Max and an iPaq that my coworker has. So far I think she's favoring the latter, as the Windows Mobile versions have a better visual display for the day view in the calendar - it blocks it out with squares and colors, whereas the Palm OS version just gives you dots and times. However, she thought it would be wise to solicit opinions from the collective experience of the masses, and thus here we are. At this point, our two main choices would be between the Palm TX and the iPaq R1955, as they both have Wi-Fi capability, but we're open to new suggestions.
That's it for me. Back to your regularly scheduled Corgi Knitting.
- DH
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
DSCN0357.JPG
Dh's birthday was yesterday- sorry for those of you who did not get to
eat the buttercream frosting and Funfetti guitar cake. It was/is quite
good though. I made this for him, and decorated it. You can tell when
Buster barked while I was decorating because it made me mess up on the
tops of the guitar strings.
eat the buttercream frosting and Funfetti guitar cake. It was/is quite
good though. I made this for him, and decorated it. You can tell when
Buster barked while I was decorating because it made me mess up on the
tops of the guitar strings.
Guess who saw Dr. Phil and Robin!
I did. Dh and I stayed at a hotel nearby the Northwestern Bookstore in Maple Grove, and woke up really early to go there. We were the 5th and 6th people in line, and got there about 7:15 on a Saturday morning.
We waited till the line grew, and the store opened at 9:30am while knitting on DH's sock and eating Krispy Kremes and Starbucks. MMM. I wore the same sweater I wore to meet the Harlot since it was toasty warm.
We got into the store and Dr. Phil introduced his wife Robin and her book, while threatening to go through the audience/crowd and "check us out" jokingly. It came to be my turn to meet Robin and get my copy of her book autographed, and my camera was swept from Dh's hand and given to a book signing staff person for them to take a pic. I was whisked along with DH, to keep the line moving, and told Robin how Dh and I had stayed in a hotel to be nearby. She reached out her hand and held mine while saying "isn't that sweet." I held hands with Robin McGraw!
Then we noticed that the camera girl had taken a pic of the person in line after me/us. She hadn't even taken my picture with Robin! How unfair. So we chatted and we begged, and the girl took a different picture. This one had Dr. Phil smiling, while Robin and her best friend at the signing table were looking down. I felt like my face had a "Don't you know how to take pictures?" look on it directed at the "photographer."
We went next door to Best Buy while I thought about whether that was an acceptable picture of not. Then I decided it wasn't, and we trotted back to the store, and had to discuss and nearly beg for another picture. It worked, and I got a better picture with Robin and myself smiling a real smile.
I took a little camera video too, and will have it up on the blog later this week.
We waited till the line grew, and the store opened at 9:30am while knitting on DH's sock and eating Krispy Kremes and Starbucks. MMM. I wore the same sweater I wore to meet the Harlot since it was toasty warm.
We got into the store and Dr. Phil introduced his wife Robin and her book, while threatening to go through the audience/crowd and "check us out" jokingly. It came to be my turn to meet Robin and get my copy of her book autographed, and my camera was swept from Dh's hand and given to a book signing staff person for them to take a pic. I was whisked along with DH, to keep the line moving, and told Robin how Dh and I had stayed in a hotel to be nearby. She reached out her hand and held mine while saying "isn't that sweet." I held hands with Robin McGraw!
Then we noticed that the camera girl had taken a pic of the person in line after me/us. She hadn't even taken my picture with Robin! How unfair. So we chatted and we begged, and the girl took a different picture. This one had Dr. Phil smiling, while Robin and her best friend at the signing table were looking down. I felt like my face had a "Don't you know how to take pictures?" look on it directed at the "photographer."
We went next door to Best Buy while I thought about whether that was an acceptable picture of not. Then I decided it wasn't, and we trotted back to the store, and had to discuss and nearly beg for another picture. It worked, and I got a better picture with Robin and myself smiling a real smile.
I took a little camera video too, and will have it up on the blog later this week.
The very scary bookshelf
To be read with all the lights on and loved ones nearby. So, it was a cool, fall Sunday afternoon, and DH and I were getting some thing accomplished for my Art Room. I was just about to start painting the second, or the third coat of paint on this giant bookshelf. Perhaps I should have measured it to share the full effect, but that is too tedious, so I will try to create an image for you. Think about the width of an Scion Xb, and the height of my chest, when the bookshelf is propped up on sideways lying fenceposts (leftovers from Project Corgi Containment). I was preparing my area, a dimly light downstairs with minimal natural light at the time.
I thought, hey, this just needs to move over a little, so the one lightbulb could shine into the deep recesses of its cubbyholes (it was a bookshelf with 2 levels of shelves, and 2 levels of cubbys). And, then I was yelling. I think. Dh asked if it had landed on my foot. I said no, but really it had. It wasn't as if the whole shelf were sitting atop my foot. Then suddenly I felt warm and flushed, and as if I was about to throw up. I told him I was feeling sick, as I felt a crazy head rush. I told my psychologically trained self, don't faint, breather slowly from the gut, concentrate, focus, breathe. Then I remember being in a seated position with minimal hearing, and I felt my eyes were fully open but in a very blurry squinty way. I was drinking a bottle of water, very slowly, and in a daze while Dh nonchalantly painted another shelf.
I felt like my toe had been removed from my foot, when in actuality I had scraped the top layer of skin off the big toe, and it hurt a lot. Dh asked, didn't you remember saying 'I need to get up off the floor?" And I said, good thing I didn't pass out because I felt really sick. He told me he had caught me from falling, but knew I wasn't going to die, so he kept on painting. It was a very scary painting time with a very scary bookshelf. A bookshelf that still needs another coat or two of paint.
I thought, hey, this just needs to move over a little, so the one lightbulb could shine into the deep recesses of its cubbyholes (it was a bookshelf with 2 levels of shelves, and 2 levels of cubbys). And, then I was yelling. I think. Dh asked if it had landed on my foot. I said no, but really it had. It wasn't as if the whole shelf were sitting atop my foot. Then suddenly I felt warm and flushed, and as if I was about to throw up. I told him I was feeling sick, as I felt a crazy head rush. I told my psychologically trained self, don't faint, breather slowly from the gut, concentrate, focus, breathe. Then I remember being in a seated position with minimal hearing, and I felt my eyes were fully open but in a very blurry squinty way. I was drinking a bottle of water, very slowly, and in a daze while Dh nonchalantly painted another shelf.
I felt like my toe had been removed from my foot, when in actuality I had scraped the top layer of skin off the big toe, and it hurt a lot. Dh asked, didn't you remember saying 'I need to get up off the floor?" And I said, good thing I didn't pass out because I felt really sick. He told me he had caught me from falling, but knew I wasn't going to die, so he kept on painting. It was a very scary painting time with a very scary bookshelf. A bookshelf that still needs another coat or two of paint.
Monday, September 18, 2006
anything but work, please!
I did a bunch of paperwork on Saturday so that I would have less for today. It took F-o-r-e-v-e-r. Ordinarily I would do it Monday morning, and try to get it all done before my first client of the day appt., but I wanted to complete it. I did finish it all then, but now, I still have some more other paperwork to do, before tomorrow morning.
I want to do anything but that. You will notice my procrastination skills in the form of adding many, many more blogs to my "blogs I read" list on the right sidebar of my blog. It was time. I was lying and fooling many of you into thinking I read a small handful of blogs on a regular basis. Well now my secret is into the light, and out of the dark. There are a lot of blogs I "tend" to.
Today- I worked and went to 2 Yarn shops. All About Yarn in Coon Rapids, and Borealis Yarns in St. Paul. At the first I was amazed by the prettiness of the store, the variety of examples that were knit up, and the selection. I only had about 10 minutes to spend there, but still did not make it out empty-handed. I purchased "Sherbet Socks" a Shelly Kang original sock pattern using Cascade Fixation yarn. I was so happy to see this pattern- as I have been stumped by what to do with the Fixation yarn I bought last winter for a pair of lace-ish socks for my best friend, Elzbieta. Wow- how did I go through the world so long without knowing about this pattern?!? And to think it was written by one of my blogging friends!
Later on in the day, I deliberated about visiting Borealis. Then, decided to take the leap, and was pleased to encounter harldly any rush-hour traffic, and 2 successful purchases. I was desperate for another size 6 circ needle- it seems like everything I am knitting aside from socks needs a size 6, and I bought some size 3 dpn's to use with my fixation yarn and my new sock pattern.
I was busy swatching again for my noro-gloria-whatever it will be- sweater with the 6's. The gauge is looking good, tighter and better.
I really should go do my work now- I am stalling while our Windows PC boots up, while using our Mac. It has been booted up for a few minutes now. Oops.
If I get time I will tell you about my very scary bookshelf story- that gives me a bad taste in my mouth just thinking about it- Shivers...
I want to do anything but that. You will notice my procrastination skills in the form of adding many, many more blogs to my "blogs I read" list on the right sidebar of my blog. It was time. I was lying and fooling many of you into thinking I read a small handful of blogs on a regular basis. Well now my secret is into the light, and out of the dark. There are a lot of blogs I "tend" to.
Today- I worked and went to 2 Yarn shops. All About Yarn in Coon Rapids, and Borealis Yarns in St. Paul. At the first I was amazed by the prettiness of the store, the variety of examples that were knit up, and the selection. I only had about 10 minutes to spend there, but still did not make it out empty-handed. I purchased "Sherbet Socks" a Shelly Kang original sock pattern using Cascade Fixation yarn. I was so happy to see this pattern- as I have been stumped by what to do with the Fixation yarn I bought last winter for a pair of lace-ish socks for my best friend, Elzbieta. Wow- how did I go through the world so long without knowing about this pattern?!? And to think it was written by one of my blogging friends!
Later on in the day, I deliberated about visiting Borealis. Then, decided to take the leap, and was pleased to encounter harldly any rush-hour traffic, and 2 successful purchases. I was desperate for another size 6 circ needle- it seems like everything I am knitting aside from socks needs a size 6, and I bought some size 3 dpn's to use with my fixation yarn and my new sock pattern.
I was busy swatching again for my noro-gloria-whatever it will be- sweater with the 6's. The gauge is looking good, tighter and better.
I really should go do my work now- I am stalling while our Windows PC boots up, while using our Mac. It has been booted up for a few minutes now. Oops.
If I get time I will tell you about my very scary bookshelf story- that gives me a bad taste in my mouth just thinking about it- Shivers...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
about the yarn harlot escapade...
Wow- everyone else has a well-developed narrative about the yarn harlot, but I. I just had a lot of pics. Perhaps I should offer my perspective as well, it is only fair as I am a blogger.
So on a cold, dreary fall day we gathered into Roxanne's Magic van. It is magic because she is a magical driver who can drive through darkness while all throughout her van the dome lights were on, to accomodate us insatiable knitters. We, who knit from our respective places in MN, all the way to Eau Claire, and then back again in the night.
The funny thing is that Shelly was trying to find her booklight to knit with by the light of her Sidekick, in the depths of her knitting bag. She found it just before Roxanne, our magic driver, proclaimed her permission granting us the use of all the van lights. Hooray for all day all night knitting. It was like an SnB that was a day long, with a comedy club about knitting show wrapped all into one, plus, a knitting celebrity- Stephanie Pearl McPhee- signing autographs.
The other funny thing was this- The Yarn Harlot asked "didn't I put a comment on your blog recently, I remember one on a blog of a person with two corgis." Not wanting to embarrass myself by not noticing the Yarn Harlot (though how could I miss a comment from her?!?) thinking she had commented on my blog (which would be big-time for any knitblogger) I did what I do when (a) either I don't understand someone, (b) am in a different country with a different language than my country of origin, (c) both. I smiled and nodded. I don't remember expressing any sincere gratitude from her assumption that she graced my blog with her comment, but I remember smiling and nodding.
Being the obsessive researcher that I am I had to google this elusive comment. This is what I found... I did not receive a comment from the Yarn Harlot. Alas, maybe some other day.
If you would like to read further on regarding the Eau Claire trip, please visit Tipper, Shelly, Stephania, Kelle, or Roxanne (who is blogless).
So on a cold, dreary fall day we gathered into Roxanne's Magic van. It is magic because she is a magical driver who can drive through darkness while all throughout her van the dome lights were on, to accomodate us insatiable knitters. We, who knit from our respective places in MN, all the way to Eau Claire, and then back again in the night.
The funny thing is that Shelly was trying to find her booklight to knit with by the light of her Sidekick, in the depths of her knitting bag. She found it just before Roxanne, our magic driver, proclaimed her permission granting us the use of all the van lights. Hooray for all day all night knitting. It was like an SnB that was a day long, with a comedy club about knitting show wrapped all into one, plus, a knitting celebrity- Stephanie Pearl McPhee- signing autographs.
The other funny thing was this- The Yarn Harlot asked "didn't I put a comment on your blog recently, I remember one on a blog of a person with two corgis." Not wanting to embarrass myself by not noticing the Yarn Harlot (though how could I miss a comment from her?!?) thinking she had commented on my blog (which would be big-time for any knitblogger) I did what I do when (a) either I don't understand someone, (b) am in a different country with a different language than my country of origin, (c) both. I smiled and nodded. I don't remember expressing any sincere gratitude from her assumption that she graced my blog with her comment, but I remember smiling and nodding.
Being the obsessive researcher that I am I had to google this elusive comment. This is what I found... I did not receive a comment from the Yarn Harlot. Alas, maybe some other day.
If you would like to read further on regarding the Eau Claire trip, please visit Tipper, Shelly, Stephania, Kelle, or Roxanne (who is blogless).
Sunday, September 10, 2006
the pattern
I call these style of bags "dauchschund" bags- "cause they are long,
like doxie's. I suppose when I knit one, it will have to called a corgi
bag- 'cause they are long too, and they are my hired hands. I outsource
to the 'dogs.
like doxie's. I suppose when I knit one, it will have to called a corgi
bag- 'cause they are long too, and they are my hired hands. I outsource
to the 'dogs.
can you hear the frog pond?
My knitting is too wholey- time to rip it out, and start over, this
time using my new Dutch Treat knitting needles in a 6, not a 7.
time using my new Dutch Treat knitting needles in a 6, not a 7.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)