F is for Family.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
F is for...
Slacker.
Yeah, okay, this isn't a real F post. It turns out it won't even be a real "anything" post. I have the spring doldrums. I have been reading, knitting, running around outside, having a grand time, but I gots nada to show for it. I am officially out of sock madness, but I made it one round farther than last year, so at least I'm improving. Last year there were a few socks that weren't to my taste, but this year they are all fantastic so far. I am so happy I signed up again!
On that note, I am going to crawl back into my allergy-induced fog, spare you from the bitching about the heat, and maybe get some energy back. (If the soda and cookies I just had don't do it, I've run out of options.) This weekend I have a whole two days of nowhere-going and laundry-doing, and I can't wait. Seriously. Yes, I do know how pathetic that is, thanks. If only I did as much interesting stuff as VUBOQ. I would also like to be able to call people kittens and say "smooches" without people slapping me, but alas. I am just not that fabulous.
Yeah, okay, this isn't a real F post. It turns out it won't even be a real "anything" post. I have the spring doldrums. I have been reading, knitting, running around outside, having a grand time, but I gots nada to show for it. I am officially out of sock madness, but I made it one round farther than last year, so at least I'm improving. Last year there were a few socks that weren't to my taste, but this year they are all fantastic so far. I am so happy I signed up again!
On that note, I am going to crawl back into my allergy-induced fog, spare you from the bitching about the heat, and maybe get some energy back. (If the soda and cookies I just had don't do it, I've run out of options.) This weekend I have a whole two days of nowhere-going and laundry-doing, and I can't wait. Seriously. Yes, I do know how pathetic that is, thanks. If only I did as much interesting stuff as VUBOQ. I would also like to be able to call people kittens and say "smooches" without people slapping me, but alas. I am just not that fabulous.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
E is for...
Extended absence.
It's not like I planned a blog break. I've been reading, commenting as I feel moved to do so, etc. I just haven't quite gotten back into the habit of a completely wired life after having been offline for so long when the MIL passed away. Plus, as the spring quickly moves to summer here, we have spent every weekend at the lake trying to prepare the old camper for when the stepkids come for Memorial Day, which leaves me weeknight evenings to do all the laundry and tidying that I usually did on the weekends. Yeah, who am I kidding? I didn't tidy and I rarely did laundry. But it's still piling up faster than usual, it seems.
There has been knitting, though. I finished my Zombie socks (Ravelry link) for round 1 of sock madness, and squeaked in under the wire for round 2 with the Reversai pattern (Ravelry link). It was quite a feat of knitting stupidity, too - it took me four days of evening knitting to finish the first one, so I decided to finish the second in one night. I had to give up at 2:30 when my hands stopped responding to what I wanted them to do, and my brain was so tired I screwed up more stitches than I knit correctly. I finished them this morning in the car on th way to the lake, and, all hail modern technology, took a picture, uploaded it, and emailed the judges from the car on the side of the road.
Zombies
Socks That Rock Light in Ruby Slippers (which is much better in person than in my photo) and Reynolds Soft Sea Wool in purple
Addi 2.0mm, 32in Turbos
Started 3/15/08
Finished 3/19/08
Reversai:
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Tahoe
2.0 mm Addi turbo for magic loop
Started 3/31/08
Finished 4/5/08
It's not like I planned a blog break. I've been reading, commenting as I feel moved to do so, etc. I just haven't quite gotten back into the habit of a completely wired life after having been offline for so long when the MIL passed away. Plus, as the spring quickly moves to summer here, we have spent every weekend at the lake trying to prepare the old camper for when the stepkids come for Memorial Day, which leaves me weeknight evenings to do all the laundry and tidying that I usually did on the weekends. Yeah, who am I kidding? I didn't tidy and I rarely did laundry. But it's still piling up faster than usual, it seems.
There has been knitting, though. I finished my Zombie socks (Ravelry link) for round 1 of sock madness, and squeaked in under the wire for round 2 with the Reversai pattern (Ravelry link). It was quite a feat of knitting stupidity, too - it took me four days of evening knitting to finish the first one, so I decided to finish the second in one night. I had to give up at 2:30 when my hands stopped responding to what I wanted them to do, and my brain was so tired I screwed up more stitches than I knit correctly. I finished them this morning in the car on th way to the lake, and, all hail modern technology, took a picture, uploaded it, and emailed the judges from the car on the side of the road.
Zombies
Socks That Rock Light in Ruby Slippers (which is much better in person than in my photo) and Reynolds Soft Sea Wool in purple
Addi 2.0mm, 32in Turbos
Started 3/15/08
Finished 3/19/08
Reversai:
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Tahoe
2.0 mm Addi turbo for magic loop
Started 3/31/08
Finished 4/5/08
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Checking in.
Last weekend I had grand plans to knit, sew, relax, and slough off my obligations on the DH for a while. Alas, MIL passed away Monday afternoon after several long years of infirmity, and we sped off to be with FIL and help with the arrangements.
Interestingly, it was the best visit to Montana since I've known DH. Everyone was off work, and the shock had worn off by the time we got there, so we all spent days talking about MIL, laughing about dumb stuff they did as kids, or stuff she did before they were born. FIL doesn't talk much, but during the last week we all heard stories of how they met, where they lived before the kids came along, stories from earlier days. In the 8 years I've known him, I think he talked more this week than in the rest of the time combined. We took the kids to the park, we drove around and looked at the house she grew up in, and took FIL out to breakfast (his favorite) every day, and we had loads of good family time with no obligations. We laughed about the fact that well-wishers all brought chicken. (I think at one point, FIL had three family-size buckets, abut 60 pieces, of KFC at the house. Sympathy chicken, it was.) I knit on my socks while they talked about the crafts MIL did before her injury. The Bug played with Cousin D and the neighbor's puppy and always managed to know when someone, especially Grampa, needed a hug. MIL somehow arranged that the only two sunny times all week long were the afternoon she passed, and the hour of the cemetery gathering.
Interestingly, it was the best visit to Montana since I've known DH. Everyone was off work, and the shock had worn off by the time we got there, so we all spent days talking about MIL, laughing about dumb stuff they did as kids, or stuff she did before they were born. FIL doesn't talk much, but during the last week we all heard stories of how they met, where they lived before the kids came along, stories from earlier days. In the 8 years I've known him, I think he talked more this week than in the rest of the time combined. We took the kids to the park, we drove around and looked at the house she grew up in, and took FIL out to breakfast (his favorite) every day, and we had loads of good family time with no obligations. We laughed about the fact that well-wishers all brought chicken. (I think at one point, FIL had three family-size buckets, abut 60 pieces, of KFC at the house. Sympathy chicken, it was.) I knit on my socks while they talked about the crafts MIL did before her injury. The Bug played with Cousin D and the neighbor's puppy and always managed to know when someone, especially Grampa, needed a hug. MIL somehow arranged that the only two sunny times all week long were the afternoon she passed, and the hour of the cemetery gathering.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Punting
I was going to do this big snazzy green post for Joan, but alas, a family emergency has cropped up and we are off to the great snowy north. I will leave you with a couple of pictures of the weekend, and that thing that I stole from Joan today.
Bug and his friend Stick on the deco peacock in front of the zoo.
The only picture in a series of 10 when Bug wasn't running full tilt.
Playing in the water fountain after all the running.
Incredibly inaccurate thing I got from Joan. (After you read each sentence, say, "sha!" with the Wayne's World intonation and you will have my basic reaction.)
Bug and his friend Stick on the deco peacock in front of the zoo.
The only picture in a series of 10 when Bug wasn't running full tilt.
Playing in the water fountain after all the running.
Incredibly inaccurate thing I got from Joan. (After you read each sentence, say, "sha!" with the Wayne's World intonation and you will have my basic reaction.)
You Are Grass Green |
 Down to earth and a bit of a hippie, you are very into nature and the outdoors. You accept the world and people as they are. You don't try to change things. You are also very comfortable with yourself, flaws and all. Optimistic about the future, you feel like life is always getting better. |
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
A day at the lake
We spent last weekend at the lake, and it was just what the doctor ordered. The Bug played in the dirt/mud/weeds to his little heart's content, and I sat in the shade and knitted a bit. We even got out on the lake for a couple short rides, but the combination of wind and lots and lots of rain for our area made the lake choppy, and full of debris. It's the highest I've ever seen it, just a foot or two shy of the high water mark, and has been low for so long that there are whole acres of trees underwater. Sunday we went up to the north end of the lake, drove to the marina to get gas, and made our way back to the launch.
The wind came up and kicked the waves up while we were in the marina, so what was a short little cruise there took three times as long to get back, fighting 4-6 foot swells the whole way! (For perspective, our little boat is 14 ft long.) I sat in the back, snuggling the Bug in his ginormous life jacket, and when I wrapped my sweater around his legs to keep him warmer, he decided all was well with the world and took a little nap. I don't know if it was because I was snuggling him or because he thought it was boring, but the level of this kid's fearlessness has me worried for his teenage years.
Here is a little panorama I made on Sunday. (It's a bit more than 180 degree view - the bridge was to the southeast of where I was standing, and the other end of the photo was due west. Click to embiggen, if you like.)
We had such a grand time while we were gone, and we all played so much, we were completely worn out when it was time to go.
And for Joan, who wants pictures of green, I present my lunch. Ahhh, avocado.
Pictures of actual knitting later, when I take the time to photograph some. (A bad blogger, I am.)
The wind came up and kicked the waves up while we were in the marina, so what was a short little cruise there took three times as long to get back, fighting 4-6 foot swells the whole way! (For perspective, our little boat is 14 ft long.) I sat in the back, snuggling the Bug in his ginormous life jacket, and when I wrapped my sweater around his legs to keep him warmer, he decided all was well with the world and took a little nap. I don't know if it was because I was snuggling him or because he thought it was boring, but the level of this kid's fearlessness has me worried for his teenage years.
Here is a little panorama I made on Sunday. (It's a bit more than 180 degree view - the bridge was to the southeast of where I was standing, and the other end of the photo was due west. Click to embiggen, if you like.)
We had such a grand time while we were gone, and we all played so much, we were completely worn out when it was time to go.
And for Joan, who wants pictures of green, I present my lunch. Ahhh, avocado.
Pictures of actual knitting later, when I take the time to photograph some. (A bad blogger, I am.)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Sometimes
...you just need chocolate for lunch.
And if that chocolate is wrapped in pastry, deep-fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with ice cream, so much the better.
Look, Joan! Flowers! (It officially hit 80 here yesterday.)
Baby sweater in the wild, with permission from Baby's papa.
(Bad color on Baby shows better color on sweater. He doesn't look like a tanning-bed accident in real life.)
(More natural coloration. I am not Pioneer Woman with Mad Photoshop Skillz.)
Additional randomness, I would like to tell you: if you are at all a plus-sized woman (which for the store in question means 14 or above, I think, and we will not comment on that at this time) and you have a hard time finding pants that fit, do please go right now to your nearest Lane Bryant and get yourself some Right Fit pants. I have THREE pairs of them, and I actually leave the store smiling, with a spring in my step, instead of either fuming or near tears, which is the usual. They redid their sizings so they are based not only on measurements, but proportion. Therefore, a woman with wide hips and thinner legs isn't trying to squeeze herself into the same size as a woman with a narrower waist and more booty. Refreshing, truly. I lurve them. Go buy them. Go tell your favorite store that everyone should have these options - even skinny stick women. (I would suggest that men have the right to nicely-fitting jeans too, but until they start making as many easy-care, attractive clothes for women as men get, I'm keeping mum.)
I am going to the lake this weekend and only packed four knitting projects. Is that enough?
Sock Madness (Ravelry link) starts soon and I can't wait.
And to complete the random, my wrist hurts.
And if that chocolate is wrapped in pastry, deep-fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with ice cream, so much the better.
Look, Joan! Flowers! (It officially hit 80 here yesterday.)
Baby sweater in the wild, with permission from Baby's papa.
(Bad color on Baby shows better color on sweater. He doesn't look like a tanning-bed accident in real life.)
(More natural coloration. I am not Pioneer Woman with Mad Photoshop Skillz.)
Additional randomness, I would like to tell you: if you are at all a plus-sized woman (which for the store in question means 14 or above, I think, and we will not comment on that at this time) and you have a hard time finding pants that fit, do please go right now to your nearest Lane Bryant and get yourself some Right Fit pants. I have THREE pairs of them, and I actually leave the store smiling, with a spring in my step, instead of either fuming or near tears, which is the usual. They redid their sizings so they are based not only on measurements, but proportion. Therefore, a woman with wide hips and thinner legs isn't trying to squeeze herself into the same size as a woman with a narrower waist and more booty. Refreshing, truly. I lurve them. Go buy them. Go tell your favorite store that everyone should have these options - even skinny stick women. (I would suggest that men have the right to nicely-fitting jeans too, but until they start making as many easy-care, attractive clothes for women as men get, I'm keeping mum.)
I am going to the lake this weekend and only packed four knitting projects. Is that enough?
Sock Madness (Ravelry link) starts soon and I can't wait.
And to complete the random, my wrist hurts.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
D is for...
DONE!
My first ever completed adult-sized sweater.
(Note - my hair is wet, not greasy, and yes, I should have been standing up straight but I wasn't.)
Four Seasons Eyelet Cardigan, from Classic Elite City Park
Less than 16 full skeins of Classic Elite Four Seasons, 70% cotton/30% wool, in Blueberry
Knitpicks Options needles, mostly 4mm (US6), though I think I blew it and used a 7 for the back)
Started in September, 07; finished February 08
Buttons from Grandma's Spinning Wheel.
I love this cardigan, and I can't wait until it gets hot so I can wear it (in the office, where the AC is in the control of a horde of menopausal, hot-flashing women). When the Bug saw it yesterday, he said, "Wow, look at THAT!" Kinda made my whole day.
My first ever completed adult-sized sweater.
(Note - my hair is wet, not greasy, and yes, I should have been standing up straight but I wasn't.)
Four Seasons Eyelet Cardigan, from Classic Elite City Park
Less than 16 full skeins of Classic Elite Four Seasons, 70% cotton/30% wool, in Blueberry
Knitpicks Options needles, mostly 4mm (US6), though I think I blew it and used a 7 for the back)
Started in September, 07; finished February 08
Buttons from Grandma's Spinning Wheel.
I love this cardigan, and I can't wait until it gets hot so I can wear it (in the office, where the AC is in the control of a horde of menopausal, hot-flashing women). When the Bug saw it yesterday, he said, "Wow, look at THAT!" Kinda made my whole day.
So. Very. Close.
Seams are sewn, buttons are installed.
I LOVE these buttons. (Click to embiggen.) It's a good thing, too, since they are sterling silver and were stupidly expensive (for buttons), but I think they look wonderful on the sweater and I couldn't be happier.
Except for one little thing.
Surgery is scheduled for this afternoon.
And a few Bug and sky pictures, because I have been remiss in my duties to tell you that my kid is the cutest ever.
Honkshu.
Neon frosting on face courtesy of Daddy.
Watching Mama with her sweater? BOR.ING.
Late sunset on eclipse day last week.
I LOVE these buttons. (Click to embiggen.) It's a good thing, too, since they are sterling silver and were stupidly expensive (for buttons), but I think they look wonderful on the sweater and I couldn't be happier.
Except for one little thing.
Surgery is scheduled for this afternoon.
And a few Bug and sky pictures, because I have been remiss in my duties to tell you that my kid is the cutest ever.
Honkshu.
Neon frosting on face courtesy of Daddy.
Watching Mama with her sweater? BOR.ING.
Late sunset on eclipse day last week.
Monday, February 18, 2008
A whole week.
It just slipped on by. Nothing special happened, but it was all nice. I knitted, I sewed, I snuggled on the Bug, I enjoyed the sunshine, I enjoyed the rain when it got cold (yeah, a drop of 30 degrees overnight is cold no matter how you slice it).
It doesn't look that impressive in my little cell phone photos, but the clouds were covering most of the mountains and that snow level was down to 3000 feet. (I think my part of Tucson is 2000-2500, so it was close.) Thursday our high temp was at 3am, and our low was at noon. Heh.
Saturday we packed up and went to the lake. The little lot was green and soft and damp, a far cry from the usual hard pack that is my yard at home. The Bug had a grand time kicking weeds and running free and poking sticks in the mud, and I had a beer and some camnesia. There was knitting, a little stitching, and a lot of kicking back and watching the campfire. I wish I was still there now.
It doesn't look that impressive in my little cell phone photos, but the clouds were covering most of the mountains and that snow level was down to 3000 feet. (I think my part of Tucson is 2000-2500, so it was close.) Thursday our high temp was at 3am, and our low was at noon. Heh.
Saturday we packed up and went to the lake. The little lot was green and soft and damp, a far cry from the usual hard pack that is my yard at home. The Bug had a grand time kicking weeds and running free and poking sticks in the mud, and I had a beer and some camnesia. There was knitting, a little stitching, and a lot of kicking back and watching the campfire. I wish I was still there now.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lovin' the weekend
Oh yeah, this was a great weekend, and I have lots of photos of warm for Joan. I think I will figure out one of those mosaic thingies so you all don't die of the boredom. Note the wearing of shorts in these photos. In February.
Click to embiggen and see the individual stuff.
Here's the most telling image of our warm weekend, though. Most of it was spent like this:
Some other few random photos, since I have them now.
Year of the Hat, FO #1 (I call this my glamour shot.)
(Coronet, from Knitty, in Cascade 220 Paints, unknown colorway, 143 yds, 5mm needle)
The camel that followed me home.
Also, a small knitterly PSA: A few weeks ago the Bug broke one of the cables in my options set. I emailed and asked what I should do, and customer service asked for the cable length that had broken and promptly sent me a replacement SET (TWO cables, the way they normally sell them, and four end caps) free of charge. Based on that, I'll still be recommending the Options sets to anyone who asks (or who gives me the opportunity to proselytize on the needles' virtues).
Click to embiggen and see the individual stuff.
Here's the most telling image of our warm weekend, though. Most of it was spent like this:
Some other few random photos, since I have them now.
Year of the Hat, FO #1 (I call this my glamour shot.)
(Coronet, from Knitty, in Cascade 220 Paints, unknown colorway, 143 yds, 5mm needle)
The camel that followed me home.
Also, a small knitterly PSA: A few weeks ago the Bug broke one of the cables in my options set. I emailed and asked what I should do, and customer service asked for the cable length that had broken and promptly sent me a replacement SET (TWO cables, the way they normally sell them, and four end caps) free of charge. Based on that, I'll still be recommending the Options sets to anyone who asks (or who gives me the opportunity to proselytize on the needles' virtues).
Friday, February 08, 2008
C is for.... converting Ceige!
Yes, it's true, I think we have a fledgling knitter on our hands.
She texted me to say that already her knitting made her happy and it calmed her down after her homework was frustrating her. There was a threat from her SO to put her on a yarn budget. When the baby ripped out her needle and broke the yarn, she just picked up the stitches again and started with the working yarn. I think she's finding her way into the fold. HOORAY!
My own knitting was less successful yesterday. While trying to sew in my cardigan sleeves, I realized I have to reknit the sleeve caps AGAIN. This meant learning how to "calculate" sleeve caps and write up some notes and do some math. I think if I can do these caps successfully I will be able to design my own sleeve caps in the future, which will make me happy. (I can do the math to adjust other patterns to my size, but the sleeve caps always throw me.) I even found a little free program that allows me to create my own graph paper based on my row and stitch gauge. How excellent is that? (If you are interested, it's here. Scroll to the bottom to download the program. FWIW, I did it last night and have seen no ill effects or malware on my system, but I haven't checked it extensively. Caveat emptor, and all that.)
She texted me to say that already her knitting made her happy and it calmed her down after her homework was frustrating her. There was a threat from her SO to put her on a yarn budget. When the baby ripped out her needle and broke the yarn, she just picked up the stitches again and started with the working yarn. I think she's finding her way into the fold. HOORAY!
My own knitting was less successful yesterday. While trying to sew in my cardigan sleeves, I realized I have to reknit the sleeve caps AGAIN. This meant learning how to "calculate" sleeve caps and write up some notes and do some math. I think if I can do these caps successfully I will be able to design my own sleeve caps in the future, which will make me happy. (I can do the math to adjust other patterns to my size, but the sleeve caps always throw me.) I even found a little free program that allows me to create my own graph paper based on my row and stitch gauge. How excellent is that? (If you are interested, it's here. Scroll to the bottom to download the program. FWIW, I did it last night and have seen no ill effects or malware on my system, but I haven't checked it extensively. Caveat emptor, and all that.)
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