To Finish Divine

Taking a break from knitting...

2012-01-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

to write this post. I just finished watching the AFC playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. It was an extremely tough game with one team scoring and then the other, but in the end, the New England Patriots won the nail biter and are heading to the Super Bowl. I am not normally a football fan, definitely more the fair weather type. I may not watch consistently, but I do pay attention to the season and the standings and am thrilled that the Pats will once again be heading to a Super Bowl. I just hope the game isn't as stressful as this week's game was.

I'm still plugging away at the reading..so no new updates on my reading status. My attempt at 52 books in 52 weeks is not off to a very good start. Hopefully that will change.

Knitting wise, I've managed to finish 3 of the 4 Special Olympics scarves that I am knitting for the Rhode Island Special Olympics teams. They are due by February 11, but my knitting guild is collecting them as part of our winter charity drive. As our meeting is this Wednesday, I will be bringing them in at that time. I think I will manage to get the fourth one finished, but we'll see. Here's a not so great taken-with-my-cell-phone photo of the three finished scarves:

IMAG0197, a photo by n_tella on Flickr.

I did start a new project which I hadn't planned to do until I had finished a few more WIPs. But my resistence was low and the power of a new project was strong..and I succumbed. I am making "Cloos" from Berocco. It is knit in Berocco Vintage DK and I am making it in the colorway Chana Dal..which is a heathery golden brown. I am hoping to finish it for the Knitting Weekend at Slater Mill on February 10, but if not then, perhaps I will finish it for Spa weekend in Maine later in February.

We finally got some winter weather over the past few days. There is snow on the ground..only about 4 inches, but still, it's snow. That is why I live in New England..I like all four seasons. However, I prefer when it snows during the week and not on the weekends..what are snowdays for after all? But it is only January and there is still the potential for more snowdays before spring.

In addition to starting a new project, I also decided to join a Mystery Shawl KAL that Helen Bingham from Fresh Purls is hosting. She is the designer and it was hard to resist the appeal. I will be using strictly stash yarns so that should work towards my goal of stash busting and making 12 projects from stash this year. KALs help to keep me focused, all that pressure from fellow knitters, and when it comes to projects, I really need the extra incentives..plus I believe there are prizes involved.

Alrighty then, I am off to watch the third installment of Downton Abbey..I lurves it!

As promised..another post!

2012-01-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

Surprise surprise! With only 7 days seperating my posts, here I am again. Hopefully my desire to post on a more regular basis will actually be a good thing. I am sure that some weeks will contain nothing much in the way of fodder to blog about. So I will try to keep it interesting.

I have managed to finish and almost finish several scarves for the Rhode Island Special Olympics. They are hoping to obtain over 1300 scarves for their winter games in late February or early March. Today I started my fourth one, although I have only completed two so far. The third one is still under construction, as I had run out of one of the yarns midway and just recently purchased some more. They both will be done by the next knitting guild meeting, which is when they are being collected. I hope to have all four finished, with maybe one more dependent on time and yarn available. Last year I managed to make 5, but I started earlier. I will post photos before they are sent off.

Reading wise..still plugging away at Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I am enjoying the book, just have been slow going since I have only been reading it at school during SSR. I need to pick up the pace and read more of it at home, as I am already two weeks behind in my 52 booksin 52 weeks challenge. In addition to that title, I am also reading a novel written by a friend of mine. It is a first for them, although the author is a published playwright. It is a science fiction mystery which I am enjoying very much.

Well, that's about it for this week. I am off to start dinner. Here are the items which I plan to prepare.

Spicy Thai Noodles from Leana on her blog, "A Small Snippet". They looked delicious and I pinned them on Pinterest hoping to make them soon...and tonight's the night.

This is also being made for dinner: Boneless Pork Loin Roast with Herbed Pepper Rub.

Alrighty then, I must get them in the oven or dinner will be at midnight. Golden Globes are on tonight and I plan to knit and watch and enjoy a glass of wine or two, as tomorrow is Martin Luther King's birthday and there is no school! Yippee Skippee!

Off the Shelf signup post

2012-01-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

okay..here goes. As an added twist to my commitment to finish 52 books in 52 weeks, I am also hoping to read most, if not all, of those books from my already well established stash of books and e-books that have accumulated prior to 2012. I am planning on joining the Off the Shelf Challenge 2012.In the category of "Making a Dint" which is to read at least 30 books from my shelves. Perhaps I will upgrade to a higher level at some point during the year, but I thought I would start with a reasonable goal. Happy Reading!

New Year....New Post...New Attitude???

2012-01-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

Whew...I can't believe my last post was December of 2010..talk about a lapse. I guess an entire year would be considered much more than just a lapse. That would constitute true neglect. So, that being said, with a new year comes a new attitude. This blog was started because I suck at finishing things. So to that end, I have resolved to stay more on track in my life..both physically and emotionally. Or maybe I should say get back on track..because I have certainly derailed a lot over the last 52 plus weeks. But I have also focused a bit and did manage some positive things in 2011.

On the health front, I managed to lose almost 50 pounds since March of 2011. I say almost 50 pounds because the holidays have wrecked some havoc with the scale and I have been fluctuating within a 5 pound margin since Thanksgiving. I have been trying to refocus my efforts, but damn those Christmas cookies and candies that still remain about the house. Next week will be a better week.

On the knitting front, I managed to finish 21 projects in 2011. Some were hanging about for several years in various levels of completeness. Others were started brand new for KALs and challenges. Five of the projects were scarves that were knit for the Rhode Island Special Olympics. So all in all, it was a fairly productive year knitting wise.

Quilting wise, I can not say it was very successful. I managed to make a couple of charity quilts, but they are still not finished. The two flannel quilts that I started for the girls are still not done, although the tops are finished. They just need to be quilted. My youngest daughter's graduation quilt is still unfinished as is my oldest daughter's grad quilt. Needless to say, I need to get on some of those projects in 2012.

On the book front..2011 was not my best reading year. I think I only managed to finish 20 books or so..pathetic! So, I am back on the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. I am also going to add a bit of a twist to that challenge and try to only read books that I've had hanging about the house and on my kindle since before the new year. I am going to participate in the Off the Shelf challenge and hopefully it will help me clean up some of the piles of books that are strewn about the house. Wish me luck.

Ok..I think that covers most things. I am also going to once again challenge myself to keep this blog updated. So I will plan to post every Sunday, if only for a quick update on the week and the progress of my life. Hopefully with photos too. So here's one to start the New Year with:

It's a cute sheep from Rhinebeck's New York Sheep and Wool Festival 2011. No significance..just cuteness.

Well it's the day before the day before Christmas...

2010-12-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

and my mind is mentally back in July somewhere. Although the fact that there is snow on the ground and the temperature is 34 degrees would indicate December and the holiday season, I am so not ready! I have just finished writing the last couple of Christmas cards, but there is no chance in hell that they are going to arrive in California by tomorrow..ah, well, it's the thought that counts, as they say. My tree is half decorated..I couldn't even find the garland that I usually use. None, I repeat, none of my presents are wrapped, although they are bought. I still have to go to the stores tomorrow for one more gift card,groceries,liquor and bank, along with mailing these darn cards at the post office. I just couldn't get my act together this afternoon after school to finish up these last few errands. So it's out with all of the other procrastinators tomorrow.

Part of my excuse for my last-minute-ness is my back and leg problem. Ever since October 16 and my trip to Rhinebeck, I have been suffering from pain. It started as, what I thought was, simply another bout of sciatica. Apparently it is more than that, after trips to my primary care doctor, xrays, an orthopedic doctor visit,and an MRI. There have been some major and not so major drug therapies involved, as well as heat packs and ice packs and more. We are still trying to determine what the actual cause of the pain is, but I will just be happy to have some relief. Actually, knock on wood, things have shown some sign of improvement over the last week or so..but I think all of this last minute rushing around stuff has caused some reversal of that progress. Hopefully no school and a somewhat unplanned 10 day school break will help me to recuperate. Woe is me...

On the book note..I just posted my 22nd entry for the year. It is definitely not looking good for the 52 books in 52 weeks accomplishment this year. Surprised? I guess I will try again next year. And if Santa brings me the Kindle that I asked for, hopefully I will be able to read at least a comparable quantity.

Knitting wise I've been somewhat at a standstill as well. I have been working on my Boneyard Shawl which I hope to finish this vacation. Sock wise..not so much. I've finally finished my Mr. Greenjeans and have actually worn it a couple of times. It's quite warm and snuggly..but I'm afraid that the yarn is going to pill prematurely and that will make me very unhappy. Fingers crossed that it survives.

Alrighty..I really must address this situation and at least start to sort out my gifts with an attempt at wrapping them. Although both of my children want me to be "green" and abandon the wrapping for this year. And now that the clock is quickly ticking away..I may just take them up on it. Is it wrong of me to hand them each a trash bag of stuff and call it Christmas?? The Grinch in me says..definitely not!
Happy Holidays all!!

I found this...

2010-09-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

and just wanted to share. I have been a long time Celtic Thunder fan. I have seen them twice in concert, the third and fourth concerts already planned. I have started a Thunderhead group on Ravelry and have every video and cd available. I follow each of the lads on Twitter and Facebook and Myspace, as well as their website and blogs. I even get up in the middle of the night to catch them on QVC promoting their latest CD or on PBS promoting public television. Obsessed? I think not! Just a devoted fan. So when this link popped up today on Facebook, I had to save it. I'm not sure how I feel about Keith's new look, but I wanted to preserve the video as long as possible. Enjoy!

Happy 234th America!

2010-07-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Wow..July already! I've been out of school for a little over a week now and haven't really gotten anything done. I supposed that is what vacations are for..but I have big plans for this summer and time's a wastin'!

I have been getting a few knitting projects finished up and squared away over the past couple of months. The onslaught of baby births over these last few weeks have kept baby sweater production in high gear. I managed to finish and give our 3 boy cardigans and one baby girl shrug. Very cute. I will post pictures soon. I also started a birthday cardigan for my mom. She is not a typical sweater person, but I am hoping she will find a use for a short sleeve, cotton blend cardigan in neutral tones. Her birthday is July 19th, and I am more than half way done with it. I hope she likes it.

I also started an Ishbel last night too. I bought the yarn for it back in October at Stitches East in Hartford, CT. and have been anxious to get started on it. It is done in a lovely, midnight blue fingering yarn from Tess' Designer Yarns. I am hoping to work on it more this coming weekend when I attend The Knitting and Crochet Guild of America convention in Manchester, NH. I am really looking forward to the 2 days away..which will probably be my only vacation getaway for the entire summer. I will post photos of the scarf and the event when I return.

I also have to finish planning my daughter's graduation party. Yep..my baby is all graduated from high school now and will be off to Boston in the fall to attend Northeastern University. sniff sniff. I am getting a bit better about the entire situation, although ask me again in September when I pack her off. I don't think I am going to handle it very well.

Well, this posting was only going to be a word or two long and once again I have rambled on about drivel. I will leave with this adorable photo that Jen sent to me a little while ago..

Two of my most favorite things in one neat little package! Now..if there was only some cheesecake somewhere in the photo it would be perfection!

April in Paris...sigh..I wish!....

2010-04-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

But this year it wasn't to be. An hour before we were supposed to leave on our spring vacation to London and Paris, we got the call that the trip was off, our flight had been cancelled, we weren't going. A little whole in the ground in Iceland had destroyed our plans. Am I angry..you bet! I still haven't unpacked, I am in denial..it's been 5 days and I keep hoping that things will change..Fat chance! I should be grateful that we are on this side of the ocean and not stranded like so many other passengers trying to get back home from Europe, but that thought is only slightly comforting. That damn volcano was dormant for over 200 years...it couldn't wait another 2 weeks before it blew? I mean..are you kidding me? Oh well..

I have been sleeping late, partially because I needed to catch up on some sleep, but mainly because I am depressed about the entire vacation situation. I did drown my sorrows with some online retail therapy in the jewelry area, and later today I might take a trip to the LYS to see what I can encounter there. I had budgeted most of my souvenir money to fibery things, so it couldn't hurt to look at what's new in the shop. I have been very good about only knitting from the stash, so I think I deserve it. I am also planning on attending a local sheep and wool festival this Saturday, so there may be other opportunities to enhance the stash then.

I have been the tiniest bit more productive in the knitting area thanks to the unexpected gift of time. I pulled out my Mr. Greenjeans sweater that had been languishing in the WIP bag for sometime. I found a mistake about 8 inches back in the knitting and debated about leaving it or ripping it out..I opted for the frogging. I know it would bother me if I left it, and now that I had the extra time, I decided to attack it. It's also not a portable project anymore, and seeing as I wasn't leaving the house much this week, what the heck right?

On the reading front..I'm way behind. By 7 books at this point. But perhaps I will also gain some ground in that area this week too. And there's always the summer.

Well, I guess that's enough venting for one session. DH made another big purchase last week..here is a photo:

I would be seeing a lot of these in real life if I were in England this week...grrrr!

Okay...let's try this again, shall we?

2010-01-26T19:54:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I've said it so many times before. But this time I really, really mean it. I am sincerely going to try to keep posting on a regular and timely basis on this blog...after all, why did I even start it if I wasn't going to be holding myself accountable with it? That was one of my main purposes for beginning it in the first place. So, with that said...

Happy New Year!

Ok..so I'm a little late..but it is still January and my tree is still up, although it is naked. (And artificial, should you be concerned about fire hazards). Again..unfinished business.

There is so much that has happened since my last posting, besides the fact that six months have passed. Some majorly important things have happened and not so major. If it's even possible, I have been busier than ever. Not an excuse, just a statement of fact. Hopefully I will be able to account for my whereabouts for the hiatus, but until then, it's a new year, so a new start.

Speaking of starts, I am going to attempt the "52 books in 52 weeks" thing again. I made it to 42 books last year, and I know I could have reached my goal if I hadn't been so lacksidasical over the summer with my reading. I don't regret my accomplishment of 42. Actually, I had students and friends alike giving me titles and asking about my progress. And it was interesting keeping a list of what I had read..that part alone was worth it. So, now that I am starting the month already behind by 3 books, we're off. I will keep last year's list up for awhile and start anew with this year's tally.

There has been some progress on the knitting front..but not so much on the quilting UFOs/projects. Some holiday knitting was finished, other items weren't started until after the holidays, but it's all good. I will post some photos soon, when it's not after 11 pm and past my bedtime. So, good night for now.

I'm feeling discouraged...

2009-07-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

because I have fallen significantly behind in my personal challenge of reading "52 Books in 52 Weeks". It is also a group on Ravelry, which I joined, and from whence I got the idea. I thought it would be a fun way to increase my reading level..although I think in a regular year, I probably read 30 or so titles. I am hoping to catch up in the next month or so, now that summer school is coming to an end. Tomorrow is the last day, so I can stay up late and read, which is when I get the majority of my reading done. I also hope to fit in a couple of beach days, if the weather here cooperates, which would also increase my page/book count. So here's hoping that the number on the right side jumps high in the next couple of weeks.

Since school ended, not much has been happening. I had 12 days off before the beginning of summer school, which were not very productive. I've done minimal sewing and some knitting. I have been targeting WIPs that need finishing, so hopefully I will also have some new photos of those items soon.

The plans for our big trip to Niagara and RIT are being finalized. We leave on August 5 and return on the 9th. Not the biggest of vacations, but it will be nice to get away. We haven't gone anywhere as a family in several years, so it will be fun. No one in the family has ever been to Niagara and for my husband, it will be his first trip out of the country! That's right..we are going to Canada! They say that side of the Falls is a must see..so we must see it! I just hope the weather is nice..overcast will be fine...just no more damn rain! (It's raining now as I type this..of course!)

Well...off to read, or at least find the next book that I plan to start reading...

Alright, this is getting ridiculous....

2009-06-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

I mean, why can't I manage to keep up with this blog? It's not like I never spend time on the computer! God knows that between Ravelry, Facebook,et al, my spare time is sucked away like crazy! Well, now that school is once again done for the summer, I will try to be more "regular" with the postings. (Famous last words!)

Hmmm..let's see. Since my last post way back in March, I've managed to finish a couple more items in the knitting realm. Here are my finished Sock A Month socks for June.

The pattern is Shur'tugal by Alice Yu. They are knit in Regia 4-fadig in the colorway "Limone". I started another pair using this yarn on my trip to Paris in April, but it just wasn't working for me, so I changed to this pattern, which has lovely stitch detailing, especially in the heel flap. I decided to keep the name, though. They are knit on a US size 1.5 (2.5 mm) circular needle, two at a time.

I also managed to finish my Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery.

This photo is when it was a WIP, but other than blocking, which I am not sure if I want to block or not, it is finished. I started this project last April on my trip to Italy and Greece, but didn't finish until this month. I literally ran out of yarn at the very end, using my cast on tail to bind off the other end. I really like the drape on this scarf and I am sure it will soften even more after wearing and washing. The linen was fun to use, although a little splitty.

I've been making washcloth/dishcloths like crazy lately. Our TSG 4 has decided to do another swap with dishcloths and stitch markers. I will post photos of some of my finished ones as soon as they are finished. I have a cute idea for my stitch markers also, but I want to keep it a bit of a secret, should any of my TSG4 friends be lurking about.

DH finally found a job in mid April, just before we left on vacation. I was happy that he wasn't going to be home alone for 10 days with nothing to do. The weather in April wasn't really conducive to outdoor projects, and there really wasn't any funding for some of the indoor ones that need to be done. As it turned out, he received several offers of employment within a week or so of each other, so it was a good thing. His commute has gone from about 10 minutes to a little over half an hour, but still not bad. He seems to like it well enough. We're all just glad that he's employed, unlike some of his other job mates.

After his employement, I received a combo Mother's Day/Birthday gift from DH. It is an Ipod Touch, and I lurves it! It is so much fun finding cool apps for it, most of which have been free. I have purchased a knitting one, "KnitBuddy", which is like a traveling version of Ravelry. I am still uploading photos and stuff to it, but it's really cool. I can keep track of my projects and stash and needles when on the road, so that there won't be any more duplicate purchases or lack of yardage information when visiting LYSes. Of course, I also have some music, videos and other things on my Touch,too. I really enjoy the web browsing feature and I think it will be perfect for keeping in touch with things while traveling. I have to say..it's great fun.

Family wise, everyone is well. Oldest child is home from college...perhaps permanently, although I am not privy to much information from her these days. Tomorrow, the youngest one and I are visiting an art school in Boston..the first of several college visits planned for the summer. She will be a senior in the fall..I can't believe my baby will be graduating and going off to college a year from now. I guess it had to happen sometime, and the bright side is, I don't think I will have an empty nest with the oldest back in it now!

OK..I guess that's enough rambling for one session..if I plan on keeping this blog up at a regular interval, I have to save some ramblings for another time.

I'm exhausted...

2009-03-06T15:56:00.000-08:00

and probably deservedly so. It's been a crazy week and I am so glad it is Friday. I managed to survive costuming our drama festival show, which was held last weekend. Nineteen bodies clothed, wigged and accessorized. Sadly, our school did not advance to the semi-final level, as we have the past two consecutive years. But that's ok..it just wasn't our year. The show looked great,though, and the students did an awesome job with their performances. There's always next year!

Besides costumes, I haven't really had too much time for anything else. I managed to make a little pair of baby socks with a matching beanie hat for a co-worker who is expecting a baby boy in May. We had a snow day on Monday, so it was dedicated to knitting, knitting, and more knitting. It had literally been over a week since I had picked up the needles, and I physically had a need to knit. I will post photos of the baby set soon. I also managed to cast on another pair of socks, my Green Monkeys. I think I am the last sock knitter on the planet to make a pair, but they are finally on the needles. The incentive to work on them now came from the Sock A Month 7 group that I belong to. Usually, one can work on any style of socks that you choose, as long as they are finished during the month and posted by the end of the month. Now there is a little twist. Although it is not mandatory to knit the specially chosen pattern, there will be an additional prize drawing for anyone that completes a pair of Monkeys during the month of March. So..no time like the present!

It seems I have fallen behind in my "52 books in 52 weeks" challenge. I have been plugging away at three books at a time. Today I finished "Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing) by Elizabeth Lenhard. A very cute read about one of my favorite subjects. There are a couple more in the series which I plan to read also. Definitely not deep thinking..just a lot of fun. And patterns are included! Yipee!

DH is still unemployed, but several calls have come in this week. Keeping our fingers crossed that something happens for him soon! Well, off to finish prepping for a "Radio Flyer" quilt class that I am taking tomorrow. Typically last minute, as always.

Thank goodness it's vacation week...

2009-02-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

Because it couldn't have come at a better time! I used to think that the week off in February was a waste of time. We were just off for the twelve day holiday break only seven weeks ago. There was also MLK day and a professional developement day as well, although we still had to attend school, minus students. But between all of the colds, the snow, the cold, and my own personal stress levels, I needed this week off! It isn't just a luxury..it is a downright necessity!

So, what am I doing on this wonderful vacation week? Sewing. Tons and tons of sewing. As the production assistant/costume designer/drama mama of our school's drama club, I volunteer my time and expertise, to create costumes when needed for the productions. Every year we are involved in our state drama festival. Our school is a host school for the preliminary level of the festival. We have six other schools from the state arriving on Saturday, the 28th, to participate. Our production this year is a Japanese folk tale, "Dragon of the Winds". Therefore, I have to transform 19 high schoolers into traditional Japanese townspeople, head to toe. Many kimonos, obis, hatamis, happis, and other assorted garments are being created. Thankfully, the construction of everything is fairly simple..it's a quantity issue. And I stress over the littlest details, wanting everything to be perfect. I am sure, once they are all put together in their wigs, kimonos and zoris, they will look wonderful, but right now I am only seeing piles of fabric in various stages of doneness. So, that is what I will be doing this week. I will post photos of finished garments when they become available.

On the reading front, I have finished "The Eyre Affair" by Jasper Fforde. Quite enjoyable, I must say. I really liked the mix of mystery, sci-fi,and classic literature that Fforde creates. I definitely plan to read the other titles in the series. For now, I went with super light.."Chicks with Sticks (It's a Purl Thing)" by Elizabeth Lenhard and "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer.

On the knitting front, I finished the soy wool hat, although it hasn't been felted yet. Here it is in it's ginormous, uncooked state:

The photo on the left of me wearing it is the truer color of the actual hat. I really need to felt that puppy, as who knows how many more cold days of winter we have left here in New England. What am I saying..it can snow well into April here!

On the personal front, DH is still job hunting after being laid off over a month ago. Finances are still holding, thanks to a small severance package he received. He was only at this facility for a little over four years. Previously, the company he worked for for over 17 years, was closed and outsourced to China. But the world is a different place economically than it was four years ago. Hopefully something will come along soon, if only for the normalcy of a routine again. It's just really odd leaving for work myself and having him home. But it is even stranger, and more depressing, for him, when I leave and he is left behind.

Well..off to sew. Kimonos await!

In Keeping with My Resolutions...

2009-01-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

here is my second post for the month. For me, that is saying something. Although I really don't have all that much to say today.

My progress on the "52 Books in 52 Weeks" has been slow and steady. I finished New Moon last night. It was an enjoyable read, but I think I liked Twilight better. Really hard to say. I do plan to read the other two books in the series, but for now, I am starting The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

I am also making slow and steady progress on the knitting front. I am almost done with the cabled yoke portion of the Cable Luxe Tunic. I am using Woolease in the colorway "Seaspray".

I really should be working on other UFO's rather than starting something for myself, but after all of the holiday knitting, I thought it would be fun to work on a longer term project just for me. So far, so good.

It looks like I will be forced to uphold my resolution to only work from the stash for both knitting and quilting. Goodness knows I wouldn't need to buy another piece of fabric or skein of yarn in order to keep quilting and knitting well into the next several years. The incentive to keep this resolution came in the way of my DH becoming another statistic of this lousy economy. He came home Friday and told me he had been laid off from his job. Ugh! We had been cutting back on many things all along in order to maintain..but now with this new developement, I am forced to bite the abstention bullet. Hopefully something will come along for him soon..but in the meantime, belts must be tightened. Thank goodness knitting relieves stress...be prepared for tons of finished objects!!

019

2009-01-07T13:10:00.001-08:00

019
Originally uploaded by n_tella

First Post of the New Year...

2009-01-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

at last! Belated Happy New Year wishes! Better late than never, as they say. Just wanted to post an update regarding my 52 Books in 52 Weeks group. I've finished book numero uno: Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. I had resisted the need to read it for someime now, although after witnessing several co-workers, friends and students consume it with relish, I decided to jump in. I must say, I think Stephanie Meyers had some sort of spell placed on the pages, because, despite my best effort, I could not put this title down. It was an easy, yet compelling read, that, dare I say, I enjoyed. I have already started my second book of the year..you guessed it: New Moon by Stephanie Meyers. I might as well go nuts with the entire series in one fell swoop, as it were.

On the knitting front, some progress has been made; I started and completed a pair of socks. They are my December contribution to the Sock A Month group. I made Hedgerow Socks by Jane Cochran. Yarn used was Paton's Kroy on US size 1 needles.

Whoah..it's been HOW long???

2008-12-27T17:57:00.001-08:00

I can't believe it's been four months since my last post. I missed Autumn entirely! As one of my many resolutions for the new year, which is literally only days away, I pledge to post more often and with some regularity..not just when guilt goads me into it. In keeping with that resolution, as a member of Ravelry I joined a new group that is reading 52 books in 52 weeks. Therefore, I plan to post at least weekly on my book progress (or lack thereof). This is the plan at least. It will also keep me somewhat accountable for my other hobbies, such as knitting and quilting and hopefully I will be posting my progress in those areas as well.

I did manage to get a few projects done for the holidays..a pair of fingerless gloves for my friend Patty and a scarf for Amy. I also made an illusion scarf in a dragonfly pattern for my DD's roomate at college, who is an entymology major. I have almost completed a pair of fingerless gloves for my youngest DD, and I have managed to make at least one pair of socks per month to go along with the Sock A Month Knitalong. I will post a few photos soon.

Well..off to try to organize my books for next week and to finish off a pair of Hedgerow Socks for this month's SAM pair.

Where's the Bengay??

2008-08-25T19:23:00.000-07:00

Because I am one sore puppy! The 2008 Ravelympics are now over. I managed to finish half of my events that I signed on to do. Besides the two pair of Olympian socks, I finally started, and finished, a Clapotis. It is the pattern from Knitty by Kate Gilbert that just about everyone in the world has done but me. Here is my version:

It was great fun to knit and I definitely plan to make another one someday. The only variation to the pattern that I made was an additional three repeats of the straight row section. Except for some of the pooling, I like the way the KnitPicks Gossamer knit up. It drapes nicely and I am sure it will get a lot of usage this winter.

Of course, I couldn't go a day without starting something new. I cast on this evening for a Special Olympics Scarf. Information about the project can be found here. I purchased my yarn at Walmart (the Delft Blue was a bit of a challenge to find) and decided to improvise a pattern using the two required colors. I am using a modified version of the Ballband Dishcloth or Slipstitch pattern. I cast on 21 stitches on a size US7 needle, which is giving me a scarf about 5 inches wide. Here is what I have done so far.

Front side

Reverse side

I think it is making an interesting pattern on the backside that is making it more reversible than expected. I hope to make several for this worthy cause. And I do plan to finish those projects that I started for the Ravelympics but failed to complete. Knitting time is becoming a bit more precious, but I have started attending a local SnB at my nearby Borders. It was great fun last week and I met several Ravelers there as well. I hope to make it a regular thing. Well..time to go get that massage from my sports trainer..ah, if only....

ps..I just realized that yesterday was my two year blogaversary! amazing...

I feel like Rocky...

2008-08-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

although I don't feel much like running up the stairs of the Philadelphia Art Museum. All of my pre-Olympic training did not prepare me for the aches and pains of marathon knitting sessions..I think I need a massage. The Ravelympics are well underway on Ravelry, and my events are going pretty well for myelf and my Team Red Sox Nation. I committed myself to starting, and finishing, 5 projects during the 17 day period that the Summer Olympics in Beijing are being held. I also signed on for an Olympic Sock Knitting Contest in the Soctopia knitting group on Ravelry. Thankfully, the pair of socks will count towards both goals. Well, not only did I start and complete a pair for the competition, I made two pair!

This first pair was started on 8/8/08
Pattern: Olympian Socks by Sheryl Giles
Yarn: Regia Color 4-ply in "Tansania"
Needle: US size 2 Addi Turbo 40" circular using 2-at-a-time method
Completed: 8/13/08

The second pair was finished last night..or was it this morning??
Pattern: Olympian Socks by Sheryl Giles
Yarn: Crystal Palace Panda Silk #4006
Needles: US 2 dpns
Started: 8/14/08
Completed: 8/18/08 @ 1:45 a.m.

Not only have I completed these socks this week, but I also started a Huggable Hedgehog by Fibre Trends which is partially completed:

And I've started my Seascape Stole by Kieran Foley from the summer issue of Knitty. I am using Rowan Kidsilk Spray in "Medici".

And believe it or not, I've also started my first Clapotis by Kate Gilbert from Knitty.I am using Knitpicks Gossamer in the Sweet Pea colorway. I will post a pic when there is actually enough of it to photograph.

All in all, it's been a very productive month so far. I have also completed several other projects which were non Olympic, but I will post about them at a later date. Off to stretch before my next event!

I'm in training...

2008-07-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

for the Summer Olympic games being held on Ravelry. I will be knitting for Team Red Sox Nation in the 2008 Ravelympics. I am competing in "Shawl Relay", "Amigurumi-n-Toys Toss", and the "Felted Freestyle". There were many other events that I could certainly qualify for, such as "WIPs Wrestling" or "Sock Put" and "Scarf Stroke". But I decided that I really needed to make my first Clapotis..seeing as I am probably one of the last knitters on the planet who hasn't made one. And I think it is a doable project for me in 17 days. I am gathering supplies as part of my training..printing off spreadsheets and questioning experienced "Clap" artists for their best tips and information. I will be using stash yarn, my Knitpicks Gossamer in "Sweet Pea"

I also plan on making a felted hedghog which would qualify for both the Amigurumi Toss and Felted Freestyle. I may be biting off waaaay more than I can chew with this stuff, but it's all for fun. And I know I work better under a deadline...so I am back in training!

I feel like Alice Cooper...

2008-06-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

and singing the song "School's Out for Summer"! Well, almost. I am off for 10 days before heading back in for summer school. And I am totally enjoying it. I have made some major stash enhancements..taking advantage of the fact that, with the end of school, comes the end of paychecks. Even without purchasing another skein of yarn in my lifetime, I will have plenty of projects and stash lined up to do. But I just couldn't resist some of the new patterns and such that have arrived in blogland and Ravelry and the internet..here are just a few that I have lined up or am thinking about starting.

I have purchased yarn to make the Seascape Stole from the Summer issue of Knitty. I plan to make it using Rowan Kidsilk Spray in Medici

I have jumped on the February Lady Sweater bandwagon. It is the grown up version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Baby Sweater on Two Needles" and created by Pamela Wynne. I have purchased this yarn to create it.

It is Nature Wool by Araucania in Eggplant. One of these projects will be my Olympic Knitting project...just haven't decided which one.

I definitely need to start, and finish, this sweater for my cousin's new baby girl which is due in July. It is "Baby Athos" which I will be knitting in "Lullaby" in "Ophelia"

I will be making the newborn size, so it shouldn't take too long.

For her older brother, who will be 2 in October, I am making him a couple of pairs of socks. The project is serving a dual purpose; first it is a gift for Ian, but mostly I am using it as a learning tool to finally learn to do "2-at-a-Time Socks" using the technique in the book by the same title by Melissa Morgan Oakes. I have wanted to learn a Magic Loop, circular needle type of method for sometime now..and I finally get it! Here are the beginnings of the two socks, which are knit in Berocco Comfort in Aegean Sea and Seedling.(I will be making identical socks so that Ian has 2 pair of matching socks..the 2 different colors were recommended to learn the technique.)

On the finished item front..my "Jaywalking Through Europe" Socks are finally finished! After several stops and starts and one complete do-over, they are done and actually fit! They were knit in Lion Brand Magic Stripes in an I-don't-remember the colorway on US size 1 dpns. I call them Jaywalking Through Europe because they were actually worked on while in Europe this past Spring, although the majority of the socks were done here in the USA. Here they are:

They were done in time to be my June socks for SAM5. The pattern is "Jaywalker" by Grumperina.

Well..off to pack up stuff to bring to my Quilter's Anonymous Dinner tonight. I'll be posting about my Drop Spinning Class Experience from last Saturday in a day or so.

Nearing the End...

2008-06-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

of school that is. Tomorrow is our last full day with students, then there are three half days of finals and review. School officially ends on Monday, the 23rd. Everyone, students and teachers alike, cannot wait!

On the knitting front, I have been trying to finish up the Jaywalker socks that were started several months ago..I will definitely have them done by the end of the month so that I will be eligible for my "J" for the SAM5 KAL. My Lace Ribbon Scarf from the Spring Issue of Knitty is going along well. I am more than half way finished, so that should be completed soon. I have been working on the various Traveling Scarves that have been coming my way. It has been great fun and a bit challenging to work on everyone's piece; trying to decide which yarn and what pattern to use has been stimulating.

While surfing sites tonight, I came across this little Game by Cast On Cast Off..try it for yourself. Enjoy.

1. Nancy through my eyes, 2. chicken piccata, 3. Voices, 4. purple haze, 5. gerard_butler_pants, 6. coffee art, 7. KELLS PRIORY. KILKENNY, IRELAND., 8. New York Style Cheesecake, 9. Still Life For Teacher, 10. Snowmen family in TX, 11. 365:23 Create, 12. -{ ❤ ~

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

The concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker).

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Yikes..it's been awhile...

2008-05-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

And life goes on. There is no possible way that I am going to be able to remember all that has taken place in the past couple of months. Let's just leave it at lots. Some things have been great...others not so much. Life goes on..oh well.

One of the wonderful things that happened in April was my vacation in Europe. My daughter and I, along with several other adults and students, spent 10 days in Greece and Italy. It was amazing! Athens and some of the Greek islands, Pompeii,Sorrento and Capri and then Rome..Fabulous! As an art history minor in college, many hours were spent studying many of these places and artifacts. But when actually standing in the Sistine Chapel looking up at that amazing ceiling...well, let's just say that I was overcome with emotion. Here are just a couple of the literally thousands of photos that I took on the trip.

The Temple of Athena, Athens
The Greek Island of Poros

The Isle of Capri->

The Colloseum in Rome

It is hard to capture the beauty of all the sights that were seen in the ten days that we were there..all of them were images and memories that I will treasure forever.

On the knitting/quilting front here at home, not a whole lot of progress. One of my quilt guilds held it's bi-annual show in early May. I did submit a few of my quilts for exhibit, but none of them were new ones. I now have two more years before the next show to get some of my current UFO's completed. Knitting wise, I have done a couple of things. I have been working on my Jaywalker socks, having to start the pair over because of dye lot issues. I have also been working on a pair of "Earl Greys" that haven't seen the light of day for some time now. I did finish these as my SAM5 pair for the month of May:
The pattern is Taraknits "Chunky Ankle Socks" knit in Bernat Softee Chunky in the "Nature's Way" colorway. I used size 7 dpns.

I also started this scarf on the trip to Europe. I began it while riding on the bus for five hours crossing Italy from coast to coast. It is the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from the Spring 2008 issue of Knitty. I am using Euroflax Linen yarn in "Aqua"; the color reminds me of the Mediterranean.

Besides my scarf, I have also been working on several rounds of the Traveling Scarf Swap from Ravelry. It has been great fun. We started by creating a 4-6 inch section using our own pattern/yarn choice. Then it is sent on in a specific rotation (round robin style) where each participant adds to it in their own pattern/yarn choice in a 4-6 inch section. By the time the scarf returns, it is apx. 60" long and has been contributed to by 12 people. The real challenge has been to decide which yarn to use that the recipient will like and also choosing a compatible pattern. It has been great fun to experiment with patterns that I have never attempted before.

The biggest news in our house is the arrival of my new baby girl...hedgie! I am finally a hedgie mom! Here name is Truffle and she is almost two months old. She is a cutie..but don't take my word for it..see for yourself!

I will keep everyone posted on her progress and antics..she's a real character! Actually, I think I will go and play with her right now! Till later!

I've Been Busy...

2008-03-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Now I know why they call it "March Madness". This month has been just a whirlwind of activity...where do I begin.

I have been really busy with our High Schools Drama Festival activities this month. We hosted the preliminary levels and I was in charge of concessions, among other things. Such is the life of a production assistant, which is my "official" program title now. We advanced to the semi-final level, with my daughter receiving an award for set design..a very proud moment for Mom me! At the semi final level, which was two weeks later, we didn't advance, but my daughter again won an award for set design! Woo Hoo! I wept! LOL! Yesterday, my daughter and I went to see the final day of performances at the state finals, and it was a great day. I'm so happy that, as a sixteen year old, she still enjoys spending time with her mom. Working with kids every day at the high school, I hear them constantly complain about their parents..how much they hate them. I am sure, for various reasons, that is true. I am just completely grateful that my situation is just the opposite. But enough of that..on to the knitting for the month.

I did manage to complete a pair of socks for the SAM5. Although I had planned on finishing my Jaywalkers, which I have been working on and off for several months now, I knew that I wouldn't. So I started these on Easter Sunday and finished them this past Friday..a record six days for me! Granted, they are done on size 3 needles and are made from a worsted weight yarn and are anklets, but for me and my life..six days is amazing! It was an easy pattern, but if I were to do it again, I would do a traditional heel flap instead of the garter row flap. The pattern is Mini Cabled Socks and I used Paton's Classic Wool Merino in "Worn Denim" on size 3 dpn's.

I've also been working on several swap packages and charity items. A beaded scarf for a fundraising auction, four hats for the Seaman's Church Institute (originally there were 5, but DH latched onto one of them),and several costumes for our high school's musical which is this weekend. I am sooo ready for a vacation, which thankfully is coming up in a couple of weeks! Then it's off to Italy and Greece for 10 days! Bellisimo! Ciao for now..

Just a couple of things...

2008-02-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

While I was posting to various other blogs, I thought it was time to update here a bit. I have been doing the Sock A Month KAL 5, which has kept me pretty focused and productive as far as my sock knitting goes. Of course, it is only the second month, but I did manage to make a pair of baby socks for my cousing Jayne, who is expecting a baby girl this summer. It is Your Basic Baby Socks pattern by Patti Pierce Stone for P2 Designs. The yarn is Bernat Softee Baby in "Candy Baby". It is a DK weight and I used size 2 DPN's.

I plan to make a Baby Surprise Jacketwith the remaining yarn to send along with them.

I have been on school vacation this week. It's been a pretty lazy week, although I have managed to get a couple of things done, including making 200 chocolate pops for our school's drama festival this coming weekend. I also took a quilting class today. It was a Happy Villages Workshop based on the book by Karen Eckmeier. It was very fun and freeing. I will post pictures of the finished product at some future date (when I finish it! LOL!)

I continue to work on hats for the Lenten project of 4,000 hats in 40 days. I am on number three..hoping to start number four tonight. Perhaps it will be my Oscar watching project.

What Happened to January??

2008-02-05T11:32:00.001-08:00

Okay..I lost January...I know I had it around here somewhere...but now it's gone! And now we are five days into February. Well, even though I misplaced a month, I was fairly productive in my non-blogging life. I managed to begin and finish...yes, I did say finish, several hats for charity, a pair of socks, and fingerless gloves. I began even more projects that have yet to be completed. Here are a few of the finished items:

These Cabled Fingerless Gloves were made with extra yarn sent to me by my Ravelry Scarf Exchange partner. It is Berroco Peruvia in the "Dragon" colorway. I have another skein that I may make a hat with or perhaps something for DH.

This Charity Hat was made from Lion Brand Wool Ease in Navy, although the photo is coming across as a royal blue shade. It was made for the 4,000 Hats in Forty Days Knit for Lent project. I hope to make as many hats as my stash and time allow. Here is another one: it is the Marsan Watchcap by Stacyjoy Elkins.

I also managed to begin and finish my SAMK5 socks for January. I made Bellatrix. I used Paton's Kroy Socks yarn in Vista Sea colorway. It was a fun, easy knit and a finished pair of socks in a month for me is a miracle! What do you think?

I have also started my socks for February..I am making Stephanie Pearl McPhee's Earl Grey. I am using Regia Strech in Grey..quel surprise! My pattern may be getting a bit lost in the mottle of the yarn, but I am still liking the way that they are coming out, so I am not going to frog anything. They may be for DH or possibly DD. We shall see...

Here is another quickie knit that I started last night and have almost finished...but I ran out of floss in the blue. It is the House Book Scarf from Charmed Knits. I am making a Ravenclaw version for my swap partner for HSKS4. Shhhhh...don't tell her! I am using DMC embroidery floss and size 0 DPNs.

Well, it's no wonder I did not get to post during January...I was too busy knitting (and doing some quilting too, but that's another story for another day). February, thankfully, has an extra day in which to make up for my lost month.

Happy Almost New Year...

2007-12-31T09:25:00.000-08:00

although it is already 2008 elsewhere in the world. I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post..and in order for me to get one in for the month of December, it was now or never. Hmmm..what has happened since my last post...

I managed to get through my Spanish class with an "A" for my final grade! Yay! I still have a 4.0! As a thank you/Christmas gift, I made this scarf for my professor.I used "Incredible" ribbon yarn in a simple dropped stitch pattern and added some bead trip to the ends.

(I knit it Thanksgiving Day during the marathon meal at my brother's house.) It was a fun class and I would love to continue with it, but this semester is my crazy drama one, and I am not sure if I can dedicate the time to it. I am still debating though, as I would hate to lose the skills that I have already aquired. Must think on this...

I sent out and received my Ravelry Scarf Exchange package during December also. I can't begin to describe how much I love my scarf that Danido from Las Vegas sent to me, along with all of the other goodies. Here is a photo of the package that she sent me.

The contents were wonderful. There was, of course, the wonderful scarf itself. There was an additional skein of the yarn she used, Berocco "Peruvia" in a gorgeous heathery green. I plan to make some matching fingerless gloves. I managed to find more skeins of it at a LYS, so I may even make a matching hat! There was some yummy candy and really cute stitch markers which were all native critters to Alaska! In addition, Danido sent some really cool hand dyed yarn in a purple colorway that she dyed with Kool Aid! Beautiful! Here is a photo of the scarf, which I wear constantly!

Thank you again, Daniella!

Here is a photo of the package that I sent to my swap partner, DeliriousDuckie..AKA Linda.

She is in Florida, so I hope she gets to wear the scarf I sent to her sometime. I used Misti Alpaca in a really pretty autumn colorway. I want to make something for myself from it now, it is soo yummy! The pattern that I used for the scarf was Brooke's Column of Leaves. It worked up wonderfully, don't you think?

During the past month I also managed to get a few Christmas gift knitted..some slippers (here in the prefelted stage) and a scarf for my oldest DD.

The slippers are Fiber Trends Felted Clogs
and the scarf is from a Morehouse Farms Merino Kit called "Swiss Cheese Scarf". I bought the kit at Rhinebeck, but I didn't care for the color yarn that came with it..something about green cheese wasn't very appealing to me. So I changed the yarn to Debbie Mumm's Tradtions in "Beeswax". I loved the colorway and the way that the scarf turned out, but the yarn itself was a PITA to work with. It kept bunching up onto it's core and I had to constantly stop and pull it smooth while knitting. I really like the finished scarf, though, and so does DD.

I made these legwarmers for my youngest DD from my own pattern, basically just a K2P2 rib for about 13 inches using Bernat's Super Stripes yarn. She likes them.

DH also gifted me with some yarn for Christmas. He gave me 2 skeins of Joann Sensations "Licorice" in a great green colorway. It is 100% wool (I trained him well) in a bulky weight. Here is what I made for myself the other night while watching the Patriot's play their record breaking game agains the Giants.

The pattern is the Mobius Tube Scarf. It knit up very fast on size 13s, although I made it shorter than the pattern called for and if I make another one, I will make it shorter still. I still have almost a complete skein left, so there may be a hat or some trimmed mittens in my future too.

ok..I think that is quite enough for the marathon blogging. I resolve to be more regular in my posting in the future and stay current with the events, etc., in my life. Although..where have I heard that before???...Happy New Year~!

Her Owl has landed...

2007-11-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

Finally! My HSKS3 pal Julianne has finally received her sock kit. It took the scenic route to her via her Mom in New York. I had sent it to her old address in Virginia not realizing that she had moved to Ohio. Thankfully, everything was forwarded to her Mom, and she then sent it on to Julianne. And from the sound of it, she liked everything that I sent...whew! I get soooo nervous sending things to fellow knitters...especially talented ones like Julianne. I really enjoyed this swap and hope to do it again soon! Now that she has gotten her box, I can post a picture of what I sent to her.

The felted bag was a great pattern and I hope to make one for myself at some point. I will have to find the perfect colors. I used a combination of Lambs Pride Wool for the blue and grey and Plymouth Galway for the black stripes. It felted into a nice, thick bag. Yum. I was very pleased with it and I am glad that Julianne likes it too!

Now I just have to finish up my Ravelry Scarf Swap project for my pal Linda. I am also really enjoying this knit and hope to get it done before the deadline of early December.

I am off to grocery shop in the madness that is pre-Thanksgiving. Happy Turkey Day all! Eat, knit and be happy!

It's Christmas...

2007-11-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

Or at least it feels like it! My HSKS3 swap box arrived today by priority "Owl" from Holly in MI. There is a wicked Nor'easter happening as I type and the arrival of the package was a wonderful diversion on a stormy day. I could barely contain myself from ripping into the tape on the box, but then I composed myself and found my camera in order to document each and every piece as I unwrapped them. Here is the wonderful knitting tote bag that Holly created and a black tissue wrapped item just as I took them from the box.

The knitting tote is just wonderful. I have been wanting to purchase or create a bag such as this one in order to take my knitting on the road in grand style, instead of using the tacky (yet useful) ziploc baggies. And here are the Hufflepuffly wrapped items found within the perfect tote bag:

The pattern that she sent was a lovely one from Briar Rose called "Criss Cross Lace Socks", a pattern that I had wanted to purchase at Rhinebeck, but the Briar Rose booth was out of stock. How ever did she know?? And the sock pattern is going to look wonderful when I knit it up in this yarn that she sent:
The yarn is from a hand dyer on Etsy, MacKintosh Yarns and the colourway is "Professor Sprout". It is perfect! Lovely shades of greens and teals and browns..wonderful! There were some lovely, handmade beaded stitch markers in a little oganza bag. They are nice and small, perfect for sock knitting, and a size that I didn't have. The beads are a lovely ambery gold with a black bead. There are 2 styles, perfect for marking starts and stops. Within some of the other black and yellow packages were some fun Harry Potter candies, Jelly Slugs and Bertie Bott's Everyflavor Beans. There was a huge bar of dark chocolate from Tanzania, some Italian Hot Chocolate (did you know that I had some just like that on my trip to Italy a couple of years ago?? Yummy!) and a wonderful coffee blend called "Full Moon Mocha". Even the title of the coffee sounds Potteresqe! There was also a 32" Addi Turbo lace circular needle in a size 2 which will be perfect for learning to do Magic Loop, which is something that I have been wanting to do for some time now. Here is everything in their unwrapped glory:

I love it all! Thank you sooo much Holly for everything! Thanks also to all of my fellow Hufflepuff housemates for winning the House Cup and to our perfect prefect Adele for all she did for our house. Thanks also to Jenean for creating such a fun and friendly swap. I can't wait for Term 4!

It's been over a week...

2007-10-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

and I haven't posted anything about the wonder that was Rhinebeck! It was amazing! Talk about being overwhelmed! Wow! Words cannot describe how wonderful it was. For a first timer like myself and my friend that accompanied me, we were not prepared for the scale of the show. I had thought that I was somewhat prepared with all of my research at Ravelry, making lists of must see vendors, planning my shopping list accordingly, even planning some of our food purchases in advance. But all of those things tended to go by the wayside once we stepped off the Yarn Safaris bus that we took to get to Rhinebeck.

We actually arrived a bit late, due to an issue that occurred before our stop. I guess there were detours involved on the journey there, but because we were knitting and chatting away and enjoying the beautiful weather and views, we didn't seem to notice or mind. Thankfully I had printed off a map of the fairgrounds and had it with me, because there were none available when we arrived. It was near noon, so my friend and I decided to attack lunch first so that we would be fully fueled for the fiber frenzy which was about to ensue. Even with all of the recommendations on Ravelry, I was not brave enough to try the lamb chili or the fried pickles or the artichokes french. They did look and smell wonderful, but I was not very adventurous in the food category. So I opted for a burger and my friend a sausage and peppers sub, both of which were good. The food lines were minimal at this time too, so it worked out well. I met my first Blogger Bingo person at this point too, Claire from NewYorkMinKnit. After that we ventured over to the Ravelry meet up near where we were eating. I stalked around and found a few more blogger bingo squares, but because my friend is not on Ravelry nor is she a Blogger Bingo person, I did not want to monopolize what little time we had there with all of my silly fun...after all, we were there for fiber!

We walked around with map in hand, checking off the buildings as we finished them so that we would be somewhat organized. Here is my friend fondling fiber:

We also visited the buildings that had lots of these:

I didn't have any of the celebrity sitings that other bloggers had, such as the Yarn Harlot...although I could have run right into her, literally, and due to being high on fiber fumes, I wouldn't have even realized it. We ate a huge fried dough for a snack, ran into several more blogger bingo squares( Boogie Knits, Wooly Headed, and Calling on Kahlo)and spent lots of money on stuff! Great fun was had by all! Before we knew it, it was almost time to board the bus for our return to reality...aka home. The ride was full of show and tells and oohing and aahing. Some folks chatted, some knitted and some slept. I was too high to come down until hours later, at home, where I fondled my purchases. Here is my haul:

There is some STR yarn in mediumweight in the "Brick" colorway from The Fold,hand carders from Carolina Homespun, a cute hedghog handpuppet kit from Orchard House, a Swiss Cheese scarf kit from Morehouse Farms, three patterns from Briar Rose, and a learn to spin Drop Spindle kit from Goldring. I pretty much kept to my list and budget, but could have easily gone really wild. Plans are already being made for next year, perhaps making an overnight event of it. Pennies are now being saved and projects planned...it was a wondrous day!

Off to Rhinebeck...

2007-10-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

very early in the morning, so I am off to bed. I feel like it is Christmas Eve and I am 7 years old again...I won't be able to sleep because I am just too excited!

I hope to meet up with lots of Ravelers and Blogger Bingo Folks tomorrow. I think I will be wearing jeans and a white t-shirt and perhaps a denim shirt or shawl...depends on the temperature. I have my "I'm a square" tote bag and button, my maps and spreadsheets are ready, and my camera is charging. Whee!

The meetup for the daytime is supposed to be 12/1 pm outside the food building (E). I am sad that I won't be able to attend the big Ravelry Bash Saturday night, but the YarnSafaris Bus will be leaving for home at 5:30. I just hope I can fit it all in! See you at Rhinebeck!

oh...for all of my fellow Blogger Bingo friends...sorry that I haven't posted this photo before...I forgot all about doing it. Here you go, such as it is!

HSKS3 Trivia Time Again...

2007-10-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

and Photo Scavenger Hunt. Here are the photos:

Bertie Botts Beans

Chocolate Frogs

Blood Pops

Jelly Slugs

Jenean's First HSKS Kit

(Bonus Point: Who made the kit?)
Ansley (Pink Porcupine)

TRIVIA

1. What was the name of the book Dumbledore left for Hermione in his will?
a. The Tales of Beedle the Bard
b. The Tales of Bard and Beedle
c. The Stories of Beedle and Bard
d. The Adventures of Beedle and Bard

2. Whose sign was on Xenophilius Lovegood's chest?
a. The Dark Mark
b. Gregovitch
c. Rowena Ravenclaw
d. Grindewald

3. Was October 30, 1980 the night that Lilly and James Potter died?
a. Yes
b. No

4. What's another name for the Elder Wand?
a. Deathstick
b. Stick of Destiny
c. Deathwand
c. Wand of Death

5. Whose Potterwatch code name was 'Rodent'?
a. George
b. Lee
c. Arthur
d. Fred

6. What was so special about the peacocks at the Malfoy Manor?
a. They were all black
b. They weren't peacocks at all
c. They were twice as big as normal peacocks
d. They were all white

7. Who does Harry say was "probably the bravest man I knew?"
a. Snape
b. Neville
c. Dumbledore
d. Lupin

8. What thing was Lockhart giving Hagrid advice about getting out of a well?
a. Hinkypunks
b. Kelpies
c. Grindylows
d. Flesh Eating Slugs

9. What was the occupation of Colin Creevey's father?
a. Mailman
b. Fireman
c. Bus Driver
d. Milkman

10. Which Professor of Hogwarts was a dueling champion when he was young?
a. Flintwick
b. Dumbledore
c. Snape
d. Lockhart

I'm a Square...

2007-10-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

and a Player! I am very excited! What is a player and a square you may ask? It is an exciting game created by author and blogger StitchyMcYarnPants that will be played at this year's New York Sheep and Wool Festival, better known as Rhinebeck! And I am going! My friend Patty and I will be taking a Yarn Safaris bus from Massachusetts to upstate New York to attend this year's event. It is the first time for both of us, and I am giddy with anticipation. And thanks to a lot of discussion on Ravelry and encouragement from my HSKS3 Swap partner Julianne, I decided to jump in with both feet and participate in this year's Blogger Bingo. I hope to come up with some creative way to identify myself before the Festival, but in case I am without imagination over the next few days, I have ordered my pin and tote bag that will identify me as a square. It would be really cool if most of my card is filled with names of folks that I have already met...but then again, the purpose of the game is to meet with names one only knows in the "cyber" sense..not in the 3D sense. Either way, it is going to be tons of fun. I hope I will be able to focus on everything and still manage to fill my card! I hope I am not overwhelmed...it really doesn't take much to overwhelm me these days.

On the Finishing front...progress is not so good. Here is an updated photo of my "Jaywalkers".

I hope to have them finished by Rhinebeck to wear, but I have tons of stuff to finish ahead of them priority wise, so the prognosis for them being ready by the 20th is not good.

You see, when I finally decided to sign up for Rhinebeck, I thougt that I might need a new garment to wear, so I cast on for the Oversized Cardigan from the Fall Issue of Vogue Knitting 2006. Thankfully, it is knit on size 13 needles and is working up remarkably fast. I have the back, one side and more than half of the other front done. Hopefully, the weather will be cool enough to wear this item to Rhinebeck. If this past weekend's temperatures are any indication of the upcoming forecast, then a tank top and shorts may be in order. Yikes!

Well, I need to go and finish my Spanish homework so I can reward myself with some knitting time! I am almost done with your Sock Kit Julianne! I hope to mail it off either this weekend or early next week.

HSKS3 Quidditch Round 2...

2007-10-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here are my answers to the Quidditch Trivia 2 for the HSKS3 Swap:

Trivia

1. In Deathly Hallows what does Harry step on when exiting his room to wash his cut?
a. A small figurine
b. A saucer
c. A teacup
d. A coffee cup

2. Which two members of the Order of Phoenix came to escrot the Dursleys to a safe place?
a. Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt
b. Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones
c. Dedalus Diggle and Kingsley Shacklebolt
d. Arthur Weasley ad Hestia Jones

3. In order to throw off the Death Eaters, several of Harry's friends take Polyjuice Potion to resemble him and each Harry goes with a different member of the Order of the Phoenix to a different location. Where do Ron (disguised as Harry) and Tonks go?
a. Aunti Muriel's house
b. Tonks' parent's house
c. Kingsley's house
d. Mad-Eye Moody's house

4. At Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry must disguise himself by taking Polyjuice Potion and takes on the appearnce of a redheaded Muggle boy from Ottery St. Catchpol. He was introduced to wedding guests as Cousin . . .
a. Jimmy
b. Davy
c. Barny
d. Willy

5. Kingsley sends a message via Patronus to warn the Weasleys and wedding guests of the coming Death Eaters. What form does his Patronus take?
a. A German shepherd
b. A lynx
c. A bobcat
d. A coyote

6. In the Half-Blood Prince what drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
a. Pumpkin Juice
b. Elf-Made Wine
c. Butterbeer
d. Gillywater

7. What is the name of the person that heads the Holyhead Harpies?
a. Gwenog Jones
b. Glen Jones
c. Gwenog Smith
d. Glen Smith

8. What tatoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
a. Blast Ended Skrewt
b. Hippogriff
c. Unicorn
d. Mermaid

9. What color robes do the staff at Weasley's shop wear?
a. Buttercup
b. Magenta
c. Royal Blue
d. Aqua

10. Where do Nicolas Flamel and his wife Perenelle live?
a. Kent
b. Surrey
c. Manchester
d. Devon

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Room of Requirement

Gryffindor Quidditch Robes

Slytherin Quidditch Robes

Hufflepuff Quidditch Uniforms

Ravenclaw Quidditch Uniforms

It's the First of What???....

2007-10-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

and I am mentally still in July somwhere! Yikes! Okay...I suppose I can blame some of my shock on the crazily warm weather that we have been having here in Southern New England. It has been unseasonably mild and I have been wearing t-shirts and sandals for weeks. That alone has definitely extended September (or even August) in my mind. Today was the first time that I actually broke out a sweater when returning from my Spanish class. By the way; la clase de espanol esta bien, gracias!

Let's see...what has been going on besides my seasonal time warp. I have been diligently working on all of my Ravelry swaps...making my bag for my HSKS3 swap partner (its in it's final stages, yarn and needles and pattern have arrived and I am just finishing up the final touches to the stitch markers and other goodies). I have also chosen my scarf yarn and pattern for my Ravelry Scarf Swap partner. I love the yarn and hopefully it will work well with the chosen pattern..otherwise I will have to find something new. I am also enjoying finding goodies to go along with this little swap. So much fun!

Hmmm...what else..I have even managed to make some progress on my personal knitting. I have been plugging along on my Jaywalker socks...I should have some pictures up soon; I just have to unload my cards from my camera. I also started and already have done about half of it, a cardigan from Vogue Knitting Fall 2006. It is called "Oversized Cardigan", a not very creative but pretty apt description of this sweater. I found some Paton's "Pebbles" yarn at the local dollar store last year and bought 20 skeins of it with no idea what I was going to do with it. When I saw this pattern last year, I bookmarked it. Now that it is almost sweater weather, I decided to cast on for it last week. It is done on size 13 needles with bulky yarn, so it is working up really fast. I will have pics up soon for it too.

On the quilting front, I pieced a lap size throw for one of my quilting guild's summer challenge. We had to make something out of apx. 20 different black and white 10" squares that we swapped amongst ourselves. A recognizable piece of everyone's fabrics had to appear in our finished piece. We could only add one additional color/fabric to the B&W's. I used the traditional red, piecing the top from the Atkinson Design Book "Happy Hour". It came out cute, although I did not manage to get it quilted in time for our big reveal a few weeks ago. So, in order to combat my notorious un-finished-itis, I also managed to piece and finish a little hand bag using a wonky log cabin block and the red/black/white fabrics. I literally started it 4 hours before our projects were to be presented at the quilt guild and managed to get it done. See what I can do under pressure? It came out pretty cute...pictures to follow.

Guess that's it for now. I need to finish up some of my spanish tarea. Hasta luego amigos!

Weekly Update...

2007-09-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

on my Life and the stuff in it. Another week bites the dust and here are my accomplishments:

I have been working diligently on my HSKS3 swap pal's package. The bag for the swap is coming along nicely...I hope it finishes up nicely too and will be ready soon for shipment. I still am awaiting her sock yarn which has been ordered but has yet to arrive. I am hoping that it is here soon. I have the pattern, needles and some goodies for the package, but have to finish the markers and a few other things. This swap is so much fun, I hope she likes her kit as much as I am enjoying creating it for her. Hi Juliane! Go Hufflepuffs!

I am also working on my Ravelry Scarf exchange pal's scarf. The yarn for that just arrived and I will be casting on shortly (as soon as the above mentioned bag is finished). I really love the yarn and hope that it works as well with the pattern that I chose as I imagine it will. I hopefully bought enough to perhaps make myself a little something from it after the scarf is finished. I hope Linda will like it too. Hi Linda!

The other project-du-jour is my summer challenge quilt for one of my quilt guilds. The name implies that I had all summmer to create this item. But true to my nature, I just started it last night and the big reveal is this Sunday at 6 pm. You see...I need a deadline to light the fire under my butt. I know the top will be done (it is only going to be a lap size number) but it may not be quilted and bound by Sunday. Hopefully it will still qualify. I also may try to create a miniature quilt with some of the scraps from the top. It could be cool, but time is not on my side. Oh well..

I will post photos of all of the above as soon as time permits...but don't hold your breath.

HSKS3 Trivia Time...

2007-09-13T17:27:00.000-07:00

Trivia

1. Who is the Hogwarts teacher that Voldermort performed the Avada Kedavra curse on in Deathly Hallows?

a. Mad Eye Moody
b. Charity Burbage
c. Irma Pince
d. Quirenius Quirrell

2. Who replaces the Muggles studies teacher in Deathly Hallows?

a. Charity Burbage
b. Irma Pince
c. Alecto Carrow
d. Dilys Dirwent

3. When Harry meets Mr. Olivander for the first time, which wand law is introduced?

a. Wands cannot be shared.
b. Spells can be worked with any want.
c. The wand chooses the wizard.
d. Only one wand will work properly for a wizard.

4. According to Mr. Ollivander, what is not necessary to take true possession of another wizard's wand?

a. to kill the owner
b. one cannot take possession of another wizard's wand
c. to force the wand away from it's owner
d. to ask the owner politely

5. If you know anything about Harry Potter, you will know that Harry's Patronus is a stag. But what is his best friend Ron Weasley's Patronus?

a. Otter
b. Owl
c. Weasel
d. Jack Russell Terrier

6. Now for the third member of the trio. What form does Hermione Granger's Patronus take?

a. Otter
b. Kneazle
c. Tabby Cat
d. Beaver

7. What did Mrs. Wealey make to eat the first night that Harry arrived at Grimmauld Place?

a. Stew
b. Goulash
c. Roast beef
d. Ham and chicken pie

8. In book 5, at the start of term feast, what is Ron eating when trying to talk to Nearly Headless Nick?

a. Treacle tart
b. Pork chop
c. Roast potato
d. Cottage pie

9. A half-giant called Rubeus Hagrid takes you to Diagon Alley for the first time. To get there, you go into the courtyard of a pub called the Leaky Cauldron. There, Hagrid taps a certain brick on the courtyard wall three times with his pink umbrella, revealing the entrance to Diagon Alley. As he decides which brick to tap, he mutters instructions to himself. What instructions does he mutter?

a. Third brick from the left above the dustbin
b. ‘Three up... two across
c. Three down ... four across
d. Four up ... three across

10. The first place you go in Diagon Alley is Gringotts bank, where you can withdraw money from your vault and Hagrid can withdraw a top-secret package from Vault No. 713 on Dumbledore’s orders. On the second set of doors leading into the bank you notice a poem written. These are the first two lines:Enter, stranger, but take heedOf what awaits the sin of greed,What is the next line?

a. For you’ll pay dearly in your turn
b. So if you seek beneath our floors
c. Thief, you are being warned, beware
d. ‘For those who take, but do not earn

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Rolanda Hooch

Firenze

Argus Filch

Moaning Myrtle

Colin Creavey

I can't believe...

2007-09-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

that I missed my Blog-aversery! It's been a little over a year since I started this blog and I have really enjoyed it. Even if no one ever reads it, it has managed to accomplish what I wanted it to. It has made me somewhat accountable for the things that I start in my life, and so far, I have gotten more done in the past year than I have in the past few years combined. Thank You my blog!

Along the same vein, I have managed to finish a few items over the past couple of weeks. Here are some socks that were started about 2 years ago.
I, for whatever reason, put them away with only the toe decreases on one sock left to finish. They literally only took me minutes to complete..why, oh why, did I wait 2 years to do it! This photo shows the socks in progress, but you get the idea.

I also finished the Sockotta socks that I was working on this summer for my daughter. This project is not nearly as old as the other pair. I started them this summer and managed to finish them before Labor Day...amazing. Here they are, again in the unfinished state.

I've also completed my Hip House Scarf from Alison Hansel's book "Charmed Knits" I knit them in the Gryffindor House colors, but in actuality,after taking 4 different Sorting Hat quizzes, my House is Hufflepuff. I had hoped to get the scarf done to wear to the last book release party, but that didn't happen. And I couldn't wait to go to the last Harry Potter movie until the scarf was done, so I guess I will wear it when the 6th movie is released.

Here it is...

Also from the Charmed Knits book came these House Hats that were created during the House Hat KAL from the Charmed Knits website. They were sent to the Warm Woolies Charity. It was a really easy, quick and fun pattern and I was happy to be a part of it. Here are the ones that were finished and sent out.

I have been working this week on creating something for my swap partner, Julianne. It is for the HSKS3 Swap. I hope she likes it! It has been so much fun trying to find all kinds of things to send along to her. I really hope to have everything off to her by the end of the month, if possible. I'm really enjoying getting to know everyone in the swap, in my House Hufflepuff, and Julianne through the website, Ravelry and emails.

School has started once again for me, both during the day as my occupation, and at night with my Spanish 1 class that I am taking at a local college. I had taken 2 years of Spanish during my High School years in the 70's, but I thought it would be best to start at the beginning again. I have had one class so far, and I think it is going to be great! So, hasta luego mi amigos! (gosh, I hope that's right!)

HSKS3 Questionaire...

2007-08-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

for my Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 3 partner. I am posting the info here for my swap partner, although she sent her own version of a questionaire which was really good (and I borrowed the idea to use with my sock kit receiver). I am also posting it so that our House, Hufflepuff, can receive all the House Points possible! Go Hufflepuff!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

I am a Hufflepuff (according to 4 different Sorting Hat quizzes!)

2. List your favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. Or would you prefer circulars?

For DPN my most favorite is Scacel from Germany. The stainless steel version is nice and slick and the points are really sharp. I only have one set in size 0000 and would love to get a set in 1's or 2's.These needles are the DPN version of the Addi Turbo Circulars. I also like Inox/Prym from Germany for metal DPN's. I have many sets of these. For Bamboo, I like Brittany needles and I have several sets of Clover bamboo. I have also used Web's version of Bamboo from Valley Yarns. They are nice too.
I have been planning on trying to use the circulars for socks, either the Socks Soar on Two Circulars method, or the Magic Loop method. I have books for both methods, but have yet to purchase the circulars required.

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?

I have been going to try the Knit Picks nickel plated DPN's. I have heard good things about them, but haven't tried them yet. The six inch in size 1's, 2's or 3's would probably be my first ones to try. Or their circulars, which I have also heard good things about. (Maybe then I will learn the "modern" method of sock production! LOL!)

4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

N/A

5. Do you have any allergies?

No
6. If you are swapping scarves - what is your desired length for the pattern? This will help your partner find the pattern that is just right for you and buy yarn accordingly.

N/A

Somebody stop me...

2007-08-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

because I can't seem to be able to stop myself! I've done it again, and I blame Ravelry for it! (I really love Ravelry, I do I do I do). You see, Ravelry makes it really easy to find friends and groups and swaps of all kinds. Mix that combination with a lack of willpower to abstain, and you get me signing up for 2 new swaps! Yikes! One of them is the Ravelry Scarf Exchange, which sounds like it will be a lot of fun. The other is a Harry Potter Sock Kit Exchange (info can be found here)which ties in really well with my Harry Potter obsession. Of course,both of these exchanges will require tons of yarn shopping, etc. which is a major sacrifice on my part. NOT! I am looking forward to receiving my swap partners for both exchanges.

And speaking of shopping, we spent a couple of days on the North Shore this past weekend, and while away I managed to find 2 yarn shops from my pre-planned list. We spent Friday in Salem, MA and while there I went to Seed Stitch Fine Yarn. It is a lovely shop with some amazing knitted floral sculptures in the windows. It is open and bright with some comfy chairs for spouses to sit in while wives fondle fibers. There were some new yarns I hadn't seen, but for the life of me, I cannot recall the names.(My pace was hurried due to the sitting spouse and 2 teenagers that I had in tow, otherwise I would have spent much more time here browsing.) I did manage to make a purchase..

2 skeins of Malbrigo in "Stonechat" (a beautiful red/green combo for me that reminded me of all of the brick homes in Salem with ivy covering and green trees). It will probably become a scarf.

My 15 year old chose a Schaefer Yarns Handpainted Superwash Sock yarn called "Anne". It is a beautiful blue/purple/green combo that she wants knitted into knee socks.

The color combo was definitely her, and the fact that her middle name is also Anne helped her to make the choice too. In addition, Seed Stitch Fine Yarns is across the street from a quilt shop called Market Place Quilts. Nice shop.

The other shop found was Loom and Shuttle in Ipswich,MA. We were there on Sunday and, thankfully, the shop is open on Sundays. It is a combination quilt and yarn shop (how lucky for me with both fiber addictions in one shop). Fabric wise there were some batiks and novelty prints, some beautiful florals and juvenile fabrics. Yarn wise, there were some interesting items. There was quite a bit of Debbie Bliss and Elizabeth Lavold, some novelty fibers, baby stuff and a little bit of sock yarn. Again, I was under the gun with the entire clan waiting for me in the car, so time was of the essence. I didn't leave empty handed. I bought a fun turtle batik print to include in my DD's quilt, and 2 skeins of Regia color sock yarn in "Tansania".

It will probably become a pair of socks for me, or maybe DD, as she claimed to like it too. I also bought one skein from the clearance bin; a Handpaint Original from BrownSheep called "New England Falls".

It is a beautiful mohair/wool blend, but there is only about 88 yards, so perhaps I can make a short scarf from it. It is definitely in my colorway. That's it for now.

I'm finally a Ravelrer...

2007-08-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

and I am Soooo excited! While attending the Yarn Harlot event in Burlington last week, I met several members of Ravelry, including Kimberly (aka Somebunnyslove.com)from Rhode Island. (Thanks Kimberly for the photo of Jess below!)

While waiting on queue for our books to be signed by Stephanie, we also met Jess,(in black and white on the right of above photo) the creator of Ravelry. She, along with her co-creator husband Casey, have developed a most amazing site! I had signed up back in June and have been waiting patiently (or not so patiently,as I kept checking my status constantly)for my invitation to join to arrive. And lo and behold, last week in my inbox, there it was!
I signed on immediately and have been obsessed with it ever since. There are so many fun and useful features to the site and it is majorly addictive! I love it! Thank you again Jess and Casey for filling the need in the knitting community!

The other new item is I finally attended a real life knitting group last night. My LYS owner Joanne had invited me to these events several times, but something always seemed to get in the way. Last night,however, I made it a priority to attend at our local Panera and it was great. It is only one Sunday a month, although in the fall she is planning a weeknight and a weekend get together on a regular basis. I will try to attend the Tuesday night event whenever possible. Yay..more fiber therapy in 3-D!

This weekend was tax free weekend here in Massachusetts. DH and I took advantage and purchased a new laptop for me! Another Yay! No more pounding on my stuck "I" key or slapping my moniter upside the head to get the picture back. No more using DH's pc to upload photos because I was using windows 98 and didn't have any usb ports or card readers on my antique pc. I have to say, typing on this keyboard is going to take some getting used to..the angle is so flat and I am making tons of typos, but I know I am going to love it! Hopefully the fact that I have my own equipment now will increase my posting regularity. We can only hope!

So what else have I been up to...

2007-08-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

besides going to see the Yarn Harlot? Just a couple of things. I finished my three week stint at summer school a week or so ago. During that time, I managed to finish up a couple of projects.
I signed up with Charmed Knits which was created by Alison Hansel, the author of "Charmed Knits". Alison also writes The Blue Blog, one of my favorite blogs. (See my link under favorite blogs). I, like millions of others, am a major Harry Potter fan! I have really enjoyed the references to knitting throughout all of the Potter books. (JK Rowling secretly knits socks in her spare time in Scotland, is my suspicion.) Alison obviously felt the same, so she created a book full of Potter-esque knits. She also started the knit-along to create "House Hats" for Warm Woolies, a charity that collects and distributes warm knitwear to orphanages in Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China as well as Indian reservatioins of Pine Ridge and Rosebud.

Here is one of the hats that I finished for the knit-along:

I am also working on the beret version done in the same Gryffindor House stripe pattern. I may even bring myself to make a few Slytherin versions as well. It is quite fun to be reading Harry Potter books, seeing Potter movies, and kitting Potter Knits! I am in Hogwarts Heaven! (My kids think that I am a major geek!)

Besides the "House Hats" , I have been making Toe Cast Socks for my LYS and our local hospital. They had been collecting baby hats, but found that they were overloaded at this time with them...apparently more hats than babies. They did tell the shop owner, however, that what they could use desperately was a sock to go over the top of the foot, or toes, of someone in a leg cast. Because it has to stretch quite a bit and be washable, we are doing them in washable worsted weight yarns. They work up really fast and remind me of golf club covers. It is a great way to use up bits of yarn and the orthopedic unit of our local hospital is very grateful.

Here is few of them that I have made:

I'm sort of famous...

2007-08-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

Well, not really. But I did have another brush with fame yesterday at the Borders Bookstore in Burlington, MA. I was there to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot.It was my second time seeing her; the first was a couple of months ago at Webs in Northampton, MA. At the Northampton venue there were probably 600 or so knitters in the audience and I was about 30 rows back, as seen in this photo:

And here is a photo of Stephanie from last night at Borders:
Obviously I was much closer than in Northampton; in the front row in fact. I spent the day at the Lowell Quilt Festival and the Yarn Harlot venue in Burlington was literally on my way home. Talk about a day of fiber therapy!

Here is a photo of Stephanie taking a photo of us..(surrounded by her panties..see her blog for the explanation of those)

And here is the view from Stephanie's camera: Thank you Stephanie!
I borrowed the photos from Stephanie's blog; this is where my claim to fame comes in..that's me in the front row in the photos, on the left of the travelling sock.

Here we are waving and greeting the "real celebrity" with undies!

Here is Stephanie signing her latest book, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off at the Northampton gig:

And here I am holding the travelling sock and Stephanie is holding my blue donation hat that I brought to the signing.

It was a long, hot, tiring, but wonderful day for me. I left the Border's store just as they were closing at 10 pm. facing an hour's ride home. As I was leaving, I took this shot throught the store window of Stephanie still signing books and taking photos with her crazed knitter "McPhans". (I can't say that I "Kinneared" this shot..I did look through the viewfinder!)

Stephanie is amazing! The Yarn Harlot rocks!

Never Again...

2007-07-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

I hate shopping. Unless, of course, it is for fabric or yarn. There are definitely exceptions to that statement. But what I really hate shopping for is appliances. It seems that as my body is starting to age and break down, so are all of the appliances in my life. And lets not even go into the state of my furniture. But back to the original gripe...I hate shopping. And here is why...

This tale of woe begins sometime on Friday. My daughters and I decided to have a late lunch at a restaurant which was near a local outlet shopping center. After lupper (which is our lunch/supper combo) we did a bit of shopping for some upcoming birthdays in the family. As is typical for New England, as I am sure in other parts of the country as well, a summer thunderstorm came upon us, which definitely cooled us off from several days of heat and humidity. However, during this storm, the neighborhood where we live experienced a power outage. Now, because I knew that there was a possiblity of these storms affecting our area, I had the forethought to shut down the computers in the house. So thankfully, those items were unaffected. I cannot say the same thing for our poor refrigerator.

Now, before you feel too sad for this appliance and its demise, it did have a nice long life. Longer than most, I suspect. My mother purchased it shortly after my High School Graduation in 1975. She used it for many years and my husband and I inherited it about 20 years ago. So technically, the shopping trip that my husband and I made yesterday was for our first, and hopefully last, refrigerator. Thankfully, I had been doing some initial research on the internet to narrow down my choices and preferences. We knew this day was coming; the fridge was giving us definite signs that it was on it's last leg for several weeks now. But, for any couple thinking that this type of shopping experience will bring you closer together...FORGET IT!

Our choices were somewhat limited by our tiny house and its configurations. We have a small kitchen and the dimensions of the new fridge had to fit. I also had some particular features that I have been wanting and waiting for my entire life...it may seem trivial, but I wanted ice...lots and lots of ice...made automatically. No more dripping, cracked, plastic trays. No more screaming and raving because someone used all of the ice and only left one cube and forgot to fill the tray again. I will be able to take a bath in ice if I choose to..and I just might because I can! Anyway...back to the shopping nightmare. We, thankfully, live in an area where all the national chains are within 5 miles of our home..Sears, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. So we started to make the rounds. I was armed with internet printouts and measurements galore. I had my heart set on a bottom mount, stainless steel, french door number. My husband, on the other hand, couldn't see anything wrong with our 1975 model and its less expensive replacement twins. I was not having it. Considering all of the money that he has saved by not having to buy a refrigerator EVER, and the money he will save by having a more energy efficient model, his plan for a 1975 clone was quickly shot down. Granted, this is one of the most expensive, one item purchases that we have ever made. And I am sure that it will not be lasting us another 32 years (the salesman at the store was quite impressed with that figure, especially since he wasn't even thirty himself!). And we do plan to remodel the kitchen in the not so distant future. But if I never have to appliance shop again, it will, as they say, be too soon!

The new fridge arrives tomorrow morning. I still have to finish the post mortem on the old one and finish cleaning it out before they take it away. (It really needed to be cleaned out anyway, but this was not the way I had in mind). I will be grateful for the new door racks (the old fridge had lost its racks over the years, so putting items on the door was a juggling act). The freezer door had some garment waistband elastic strung across it so I could put things on that door. I also have to wash the floor behind the old one before the new one goes in. I am sure it is nasty back there. Wish me luck..and pray that the oven doesn't die this week...I don't think my marriage or my blood pressure could stand it.

I want to knit! I need fiber therapy! Maybe tomorrow when I am bathing in ice...ahhh...

What was I thinking...

2007-06-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

One of the main reasons for the creation of this blog was to try to get some of my unfinished items completed by admitting to them publicly. But after doing some blog surfing yesterday, I came across an irresistible KAL that is about to begin. It is the Mystery Stole 3 created by Melanie (aka Pink Lemon Twist). Of course, I don't have any of the necessary supplies, so a yarn purchase is in my immediate future. I have a summer school meeting this afternoon, so a trip to the LYS is in order after that. Sadly, the closest yarn shop to me is closing soon, so I may have to take advantage of her "going-out-of-business" sale. The KAL begins this Friday, so time is of the essence. Beads are also involved in this project, so the craft store may also be involved in this excursion. Wish me luck! I will post swatch photos soon.

What else have I been up to?.....

2007-06-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, besides traveling to Europe in April, I turned 50 in February. It was a fairly low key event...one which I wasn't really looking forward to. But the alternative is a much less desirable option. Now that I am a few months into this new decade, it's not so bad. I have some students surprised when they hear that I am 50. Perhaps they are just being kind, but I have also had some adults remark that they didn't think I was that old. Let's hope that this trend continues...

I have been really envious of all of the fun and beautiful stitch markers that I have seen in the yarn shops. I was tempted many times, but talked myself out of purchasing some; my theory was that I could make my own. My daughter had all of the beads and findings and tools necessary to create them, so a few weeks ago I decided to give it a try. Here are some photos of my first attempts.(I apologize for the quality of the photo...I was in a hurry) I found the knitting beads at the local Joann's on clearance for $.50, so I bought all that they had on hand. This first set I gave to a knitting friend for her birthday, but I plan to make another set for myself.
The blue glass set is for me. The rings will fit up to a size 10.5 needle, but I hope to find some sort of ring that I can use on larger needles. They were easy to make and a lot of fun.

I had a graduation party to go to a few weekends ago for a friend of my daughter. I also know the girl from working at the High School and doing costuming for the Drama and Musical productions. She and my college daughter were in marching band together at the high school and both are continuing to play in their respective college's marching bands. So here is the gift that I made for her:
They are at rival colleges and the colors in the pillowcase are more like my daughter's school colors, LOL, so I hope she doesn't mind. I just like the way they looked together.

Okay..So Much for Resolutions...

2007-06-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

I knew I wasn't going to be very good at this blogging thing. My follow through on anything is pathetic at best. However, the last six months have not been a total loss. I have been really busy and fairly productive in both my quilting and knitting worlds, as well as my academic and personal pursuits. I am now off for the summer from work, although I will be doing a three week stint in summer school which starts in the beginning of July. I am also planning to take another course myself in the seemingly endless pursuit of my degree. That will entail another six weeks of time beginning in July. Hopefully, with all this, I will still find time to knit and quilt.

Okay..how do I condense 6 months into a couple of paragraphs?? I guess one of the most exciting things that happened over the past few months was my trip to Europe in April. Or, I should say, my European yarn shopping spree. I made a point of doing a bit of research on our destinations prior to leaving and where I could find yarn/fabric shops. I actually did pretty well in finding them all and, of course, making a purchase at all of them too! Thank goodness for expandable luggage!

The first stop of our trip was Munich, Germany. I had been there in the 70's, but only briefly in the airport and driving through the city on our way to a smaller, outlying town. During this trip, we spent 2 days in Munich, visiting the central Marienplatz, museums, Olympic sites and BMW headquarters. A day trip to Dachau was extremely moving.
Even though the itinerary was intense, I still managed to visit 2 yarn shops. My first stop was to the main department store of Munich, Ludwig Beck.

Rather than having just a small section in the main store, the yarn department has it's own store front around the corner. It is called Geknöpft & Zugenäht . Here is a photo of the storefront:

Considering that the majority of my sock yarn stash originated in Germany, I thought that there would be a gold mine of sock yarn in Munich. I was not entirely disappointed. This shop contained some really beautiful yarns. They also had a wonderful selection of buttons and trims and other needlework and sewing notions. The sock yarn selection was somewhat limited, but I managed somehow to purchase some..LOL! I bought 2 skeins of Opal "Hundertwassers" in "Der Blaue Mond" and "Singender Dampfer in Ultramarin III".
These yarns were inspired by artwork by Hundertwasser.They have a vertical stripe pattern on the inside label or it can be found here on the Opal website.It looks interesting, so one of the skeins may go vertical. I also found some lovely Lana Grossa "Tocco" yarn in a deep, dark green colorway.
I know, I know, Lana Grossa yarn is made in Italy, what am I doing buying it in Germany?? Well, the texture was irresistible (it is a mohair/merino/microfiber blend, sooooo soft) and the color reminded me of the Black Forest in Bavaria. So someday it will grow up to be a cuddly scarf for me for the winter. The other sock yarn purchased here was Lana Grossa's Meilenweit 100 Bosco in a blue/purple colorway.
It will make a lovely, subtly colored pair of socks for someone. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring along my US to European needle conversion chart, so I didn't purchase any needles at this shop. They had a fairly good selection of them too. But I did purchase little hat and glove double point needle protectors. So cute and useful. These are probably available here in the US, but I haven't seen them.

Okay..onto the next Munich shop. That was Wolle Rodel.
Here is a photo of the storefront.It was a fairly good sized shop with lots of colors and fibers available. It was only a few blocks away from Geknöpft & Zugenäht , so the visits were back to back. Even with all of this yarn overload, I didn't walk away empty handed.
I purchased 2 skeins of a blue/green sock yarn by Wolle Rodel and a beautiful skein of hand painted Opal sock yarn called "Herbstmelodie". It is a gorgeous autumn colorway. This skein is for ME! The one little unique item that I found at this shop, which had many little goodies, was a smokey grey acrylic ring that loops around a finely knit scarf to turn it into a necklace of sorts. I have made many thin, drapey scarves that I think this little gadget will work with wonderfully. I will post photos of this item in action as soon as I can.

Our next stop on the itinerary was Switzerland. Again, back in the 70's I had passed through Switzerland, but had never stopped for any length of time. This trip, we spent 3 days in Montreux. It is a beautiful city on Lake Geneva at the base of the Alps. We had amazing weather for the entire trip (after leaving rain and snow here in Massachusetts) and to be under gorgeous, clear blue skies and palm trees on the Swiss Riviera was just fabulous! Here are a couple of photos of Montreux.

Although I did not have a yarn shop scouted out ahead of time, I managed to find one on our trip to the Chateau de Chillon. The Chateau can be seen in the lower portion of the photo above. It is a medieval castle dating from about the 11th century. It was made famous in the poem by Lord Byron, "The Prisoner of Chillon". It was only a short distance from the center of Montreux and the yarn shop that we passed was within walking distance of our hotel. It was an Anny Blatt shop; very tiny and only Anny Blatt yarn available. No problem for me! I purchased 2 skeins of a beautiful purple angora that will also probably be a scarf in the future.

After taking a train from Bern, Switzerland to Paris, my French yarn acquisition began. It was my first time in Paris and I loved it! We did all of the classic sites; the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Montmarte,Sacre Couer, Versailles, eating and shopping. I forgot my list of yarn shops at the hotel on the free day for shopping, but I remembered that the main department store, Gallerie Lafayette, had a yarn department. Yay! So I managed to make a Paris purchase too! In this store, I focused on clearance yarns. I bought 2 skeins of Phildar "Horizons". It is an acrylic/wool/nylon blend in a heathery blue.

I don't have any idea what will become of it, but I just had to have it. The other item purchased there was a 10 skein package of Phildar's "Tribord" in a pretty "French Blue" color. It is a cotton/acrylic blend. I am thinking about turning this into a short sleeved cardigan..perhaps something like this. I just realized that I made a lot of bluish colored yarn purchases on this trip...perhaps I was inspired by the beautiful weather. It was a wonderful 10 day trip and I did manage to make other purchases besides yarn for the family; but it was really fun to try to find the shops that I had researched and to have a special souvenir from each of the countries that I visited. Next year's trip is Greece and Southern Italy with Rome! Molto Bene!

I am going to try...

2007-01-07T06:39:00.000-08:00

to keep postings more current this year. There..another resolution committed to the page!

Some of my latest and, I am happy to say almost finished items, are scarves for The Red Scarf Project. I found the organization through some of my blog surfing and, because I have a child in college myself that I send care packages to all the time, I really felt the need to make something for these motivated students. If you would like more information about the organizatioin and The Red Scarf Project be sure to click the button in the links section.

Here is one of the finished scarves. The pattern is from the 2007 Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar. It is called Samuel's Red Heart Scarf by Sandra Bennett and is knit in Woolease Cranberry. (the photo makes it look a bit more light and pinkish than it really is.)

The other one is still on the needles. I need to get it finished and mailed, as the project sends the red scarves out to the students in February for Valentine's Day. They accept mailings throughout the month of January only, so I need to get these off ASAP. The second scarf is The Rib Of Doom Scarf from The Thrifty Knitter. The photo doesn't do it justice, as the pattern is really deep and fun. I need to retake it so it doesn't look like it is glowing like something nuclear!

Here it is in the newly started state. It too is knit in Woolease, but this time the color is Ranch Red.

Happy New Year!?...

2007-01-06T18:45:00.000-08:00

It's been three months today since my last posting. I sound like a broken record, but my life is just whizzing by! I can't believe the holidays have come and gone and we are now into a new year!

As the title of my blog implies, I am terrible at finishing things. Every year my number one resolution is to make a commitment to completing things that I start. I am once again going to publicly resolve to finish at least one UFO before beginning anything new and to try and only use yarns and fabrics from my current stash. (We'll see how long that one lasts...)

I did manage to begin and finish several Christmas gifts this year. However, I did not remember to take photos of the items before giving them away, so I have no documentation. There were four scarves; one green basketweave pattern, one child's pink fun fur, one wool and mohair crochet potato chip scarf, and using the leftovers from the potato chip scarf, I made a crochet scarf for my mother. I also made another potato chip scarf, but ran out of yarn during the binding off. When the yarn is found, I will finish that one also and either keep it or save it as a head start on next year's gift giving. Here is a picture of that one:

In addition to the four scarves, I also made a Fiber Trend's "School Colors" hat for a friend's 6 year old son made from blue and black Woolease. There are some matching mittens still on the needles for him.

While on vacation over the holidays, I managed to make my first "intentionally" felted project. I think I am hooked! It was great fun! Here is a photo of my after felting..of course I forgot to take a before felting shot. The pattern is "The Mini Skull and Crossbones Tote" from HelloYarn.com. My version is done in Patons Merino in dark grey minus the skull and crossbones.

Wow...where has the month gone?...

2006-10-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

It seems as if I keep repeating myself, but this past month has flown by. I can't believe it is October already. This is my favorite time of year. I love all of the color changes in the trees and the fact that is it officially "sweater weather"!

I really need to upload some more photos to the site, even though production has been pretty slow. I have been working slowly on the mates to the Socks for Soldiers socks...I really need to get them finished and sent out by the middle of the month to make the first shipment deadline. And for that reason and for an additional incentive, I just recently joined ...

Socktoberfest!

It's a month -long- knit- along - sort- of- thing which is just one more motivational tool to get my socks off the needles and onto peoples' feet! Feel free to join the fun by clicking the button in the links section.

I have been busy reading and writing for my college class..it really is time consuming and yet I am really enjoying it.. (even though I am the geezer of the class!) I am already looking at next semester's course schedule....

On the quilting front, I recently went to a local event that was the first of it's kind, at least around here. It was called "Quilter's Day Out" and was a fun event where various quilt guilds gathered to have a sit-down luncheon with vendors and guest speakers and lots of social sharing. The guest speakers were Joan Shay and Karen Coombs. They each presented a wonderful trunk show and were very entertaining. I even won the table centerpiece...5 fat quarters and a pretty fall arrangement. It was almost like a quilt show, only there weren't any quilts...lots of fun and they are already planning another one for next year.

I really need to get a few of my quilting ufo's done soon as one of the guilds that I belong to is having a quilt show on October 21st..yikes! I did manage to get a table runner done too, although it still needs to be quilted. It was a summer challenge from the same guild as the show, and in a blind "viewer's choice" vote by the guild members, it won second place (even in it's unfinished state! imagine if it was finished...) Photos to follow soon...promise!

This has been the longest week...

2006-09-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

And yet it has flown by. That doesn't sound like it makes any sense, but in my reality it does. The days with the students in class seem to pass quickly, and yet it feels like we have been back in school for months, not just 8 days. Yikes!

There has been some teenage angst this week too, just to add to the fun. My youngest was having a few adjustments to her new life as a freshman in High School and it hasn't been the easiest of transitions (for any of us!). She was feeling some pressures both academically and socially and was not willing, being a typical 14 year old, to open up to Mom about the situations. I felt so helpless..she was upset. But things seem to be a bit better today and she is actually in the midst of planning a movie outing with her friends for later today. (sigh of relief)

College child is doing ok. I try not to nag..things need to be done by her with out my assistance. She seems to be adjusting well to sophomore year. Classes seem to be ok for her, although her roommate situation is not. But she is working it out and then life will be good.

My college days are going along ok too. I discovered that if I do participate in class discussions, I will not burst into flames and die on the spot as I had previously thought. Even though I am the "geezer" of the class, my theory is, so what? I may actually have more insight to some of the topics with my "wisdom that comes from age" than all the rest of the teens and twenty-somethings. As long as I can keep up with the readings and homework, I think I will be ok..or at least well enough to sign up for another course for next semester.

On the quilting/knitting front..not too much happening. I have been knitting sporadically on the mates to the Socks for Soldiers socks. I really need to get going on those as there is a first mailing/shipment that is going to be sent overseas in mid October, and I really want the 2 pair that I am working on to be part of that initial package. I am going to start practicing knitting and reading at the same time and see how that goes. Is that physically possible? Hmmm...must ponder that one for awhile.

I also decided to rejoin a quilt guild that I used to belong to over 10 years ago. At the time, my DH and I both had meetings that met on the same evening. Both of the kids were small, and it became an issue over who could go to their meeting and who would stay home to watch the kids. As it turned out, it just didn't pay to belong to a guild that I could never get to. As the years passed, I was able to join another guild that met on a different night ( I still belong to that one) and have subsequently joined another one last year. I really don't need to belong to 3 guilds..but perhaps all of that inspiration will help me finish all of my UFOs! That means that at least one week a month I have meetings on Sundays,Mondays and Wednesdays and school on Thursdays. hmmm...perhaps I should rethink this schedule too!

I think I will go and knit/read/study/and watch "Under the Tuscan Sun"..one of my favorite movies. Hope to post some photos of more finished projects soon. (I did manage to actually mend a shirt for my DD that has had a hole in it for months..I'm a terrible mother! LOL! I guess that counts as a UFO!)

I've made it through the first week...

2006-09-08T17:09:00.000-07:00

TGIF! It's been a long, tough week! Labor Day has come and gone and so has the summer! We've delivered the first born back for her second year of college. I started back to work at the high school with a professional day on Tuesday full of paperwork and meetings. Wednesday brought the freshman only to school, with my youngest daughter being one of them. Several days later, some of her anxiety over this major life transition has been somewhat relieved. She seems to be enjoying her classes and teachers and is making new friends. As a mom..this is a "whew" moment! My classes consist of 3, count them, 3 math classes! The teachers that I am working with are great and so far, so good on the students too, so all is well on that front.

My first night of college classes was also and experience! I was "Ma'med" by a student who mistook me for a professor when he asked for directions to the classroom. I had to laughingly tell him that I, too, was also in his class as a student and was also looking for the classroom. Of course, with the exception of the professor, I am the oldest of 30 in the class. I hope I can handle all of this work..tons of reading..and writing. I will try my best, that's all I can do. Fingers crossed! (I am definitely going to have to practice some time management strategies)

On the knitting front, I was able to put several inches on the BBS mate on the trip to college with my daughter. DH drove the 4 hours round trip which left me with tons of knitting time. I generally like to drive due to some motion sickness issues, but getting this much un-interrupted knitting time was definitely a luxury!

Tomorrow is my monthly trek to a LQS with a friend. We usually have lunch and enjoy catching up on what has happened over the past month. She is also returning to school to earn her doctorate degree, although it has only been a year since she was in school completing her mastor's. We joke about graduating together, using our walkers at the ceremony and, at the rate I am going, that image is not far off the mark!

I should be in bed but...

2006-09-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

I just can't sleep. It's nearly 1 a.m. here and my mind is working overtime. Today is the day that I bring my oldest back to college. I pretend like I am happy that she is returning....but in reality it is a difficult thing. Thankfully this is going to be a very busy week. I go back to work on Tuesday and school begins on Wednesday. I start my college class on Thursday and the weekend is already over booked..so hopefully I won't have time to miss her. Let's hope...

On the crafty/quilty side of things, I did manage to finish a project that was technically started last winter. (Is the purchase of supplies for making something but not actually starting it considered a UFO or WIP? details shmetails)
Last Christmas I had planned to make pillowcases for family members including my niece and nephews. I found the perfect fabrics for them at my LQS, reflecting their hobbies or personalities. Unfortunately, as usual, I ran out of time in December, so I planned to save the project for their respective birthdays. My niece's birthday was in February and I did manage to make her the figure skating pillowcase for that event. At the time I thought that I should make the ones for my nephews, as I was on a roll, but I just packed the fabric away and that was that. Weeeelllll, Thursday was one nephew's 12th birthday and Saturday was his brother's 18th. My brother was planning a 5 pm party for them on Saturday, so true to my usual form, I started scrambling to find the fabric late Friday night. I gave up but returned to searching on Saturday morning and, after much cursing and cussing, managed to find it late morning. I probably started to work on them around noon time...and managed to finish both of them by 3 pm or so. (I then had to scramble to make something to bring for dinner...I managed to scrape together a spinach dip with stuff I had in the fridge...yeah!) I have always been able to pull it off when it came to tight deadlines..but why do I put myself through that stress all the time??

Here are some photos of the finished pillowcases. I think I have a picture of my niece's skating one somewhere..but that will take some researching. In the meantime here are Saturday's creations.

Here is Trevor's (he's 12)

And here is Ricky's (he is 18 and a hockey player)

Back to School...

2006-08-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

Wow..Time keeps flying by. It's been several days since the last update. I have been working on the mates to the Socks for Soldiers socks, alternating between the BBS and the leisure sock. They are both at approximately 4" each on the legs..Not a whole lot of progress, but I keep plugging away. I've also been working on a couple of scarf ufos which are done with large needles and ribbon yarn, a nice break from black fingering yarn on size 1s! I will post photos of those soon.

I've also been trying to spend as much time as possible with my oldest child, who will be returning to college this weekend for her sophomore year. The summer has certainly flown by (that seems to be a repeating theme for me) and now it is time to send her off again. (Actually we have to drive her up and move her in as she doesn't drive.) She is only about 2 hours away, just far enough for both of us.

Last night was spent at freshman orientation at the high school with my youngest who is starting her freshman year. Again..Where has the time gone? This transition will be a tad easier for me though, as I work at the same school that she will be attending. She is a bit anxious about it..I'm not sure if it is the academic expectations (she is an all honors student, so she has nothing to worry about in that area) or just the social aspects of the new environment, but I am sure it is all just normal, adolescent stuff.

The other new development of the past few days is that I, too, am going back to school. After being away for 27 years, I am starting back at a local college next week. It is another of my "unfinished" things... probably my oldest UFO. I was just 2 semesters away from finishing my bachelor's degree that was started in the mid 70's. For various reasons, it wasn't completed, but I had every intention of going right back within a year and getting it done. Well, as we know, time does fly and that one year led to 5, led to 10, led to 25, and here we are. It has been something that has just been nagging at me for decades! But here I am...All registered for a class! My DH didn't believe that I was actually going to go through with it..Its that whole wolf and sheep thing..He's heard it so many times that he didn't think I would really ever do it. But with my 50th birthday looming in front of me, there literally was no time like the present.(Maybe its a midlife crisis thing...hmmm) I still don't know what I want to be when I "grow up", but we will let it evolve one step at a time. DH suggested that I quit working and go back to school full time, but financially we really could not afford that, and I need to ease back into this whole new academic world...Wish me luck!!

Wow..I get to buy some new yellow pencils for myself for once! Yeah!

A little decorating today...

2006-08-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

This blogging stuff sure does take some time. Luckily, for the next few weeks at least, I have a bit. I work at the High School as a ParaEducator and we do not begin the Fall semester until September 5. Hopefully I will be able to maintain and stay current with this and all my other projects and committments. Or maybe I'll just be committed!

Today I spent some time decorating the blog...can you tell? I added a few links and rings and such..but I hope it doesn't get too busy. I mean messy looking. I'll have to live with it for awhile I think.

Many thanks to my youngest DD for helping with some of my html issues. Its been awhile since I have worked with it and she is a lifesaver when it comes to anything web related. Hopefully she will be able to care for me in my old age with that talent!

I don't feel too guilty for spending so much time on it today as it was a very rainy, dreary day here in Massachusetts. I suppose I could have been knitting or quilting, but there is still time for that tonight.

There's no time like the present, as they say...

2006-08-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have become addicted to knitting socks. My family can only tolerate (and wear) just so many pairs of my handknit creations. My college age child enjoys them, but has a tendancy to lose mates in the dorm room/laundry. My 14 year old has yet to discover the joys of a handknit sock (she doesn't like them..tsk tsk). About a month ago, I joined a yahoo group entitled "Socks for Soldiers". The idea of knitting socks for soldiers in the Middle East (and elsewhere) seemed perfect. It filled my need to keep knitting socks and to do something for the military who are serving so far from home. If you would like to join this cause, here is the link:

Click to join SOCKFORSOLDIERS

It is a totally non-political group...just united in the cause to create BBS (big, black socks) for our soldiers!

Here is a photo of my first finished BBS~

Along with knitting the basic black socks, some folks are also knitting socks that can be worn by the soldiers during their leisure time. Many vendors have donated some of their beautiful yarns to this cause. One such company was Claudia Hand Painted Yarns (ClaudiaCo.com). Here is a photo of one of my leisure socks made from Claudia's sportweight 100% merino wool in the Navy/Olive colorway. The pattern is the Diagonal Rib by Ann Budd.
Both of the mates are on the needles and I am working on them simultaneously. I will keep you posted on their progress.

And so it begins...

2006-08-24T20:27:00.000-07:00

Finally, I have a blog!

Everyone in my family thinks I am silly...that someone at my age would want to blither and blather on the web about absolutely nothing. (Not that I'm old , mind you. Age is just a number, right?) It's just something that I have wanted to do for awhile and so here it is.
Besides just random ramblings, I hope to keep posting about my current (and not so current) projects in the hopes that by publicly announcing them, I would then become more accountable to finishing them. This has been a constant theme in my life...

"Hello. My name is Nancy and I am a procrastinator."
"Hi Nancy"

I suppose I have some ADD issues and always have, although this is just a self diagnosis. But it does explain why I have so many loose ends in my life. Well, this is the first step in my recovery...acknowledging the problem...and posting my projects. Here we go..

oh..and once in awhile there might be postings about my family, our travels, a book review or maybe a recipe or two...who knows?