Over Hill, Over Dale...

Yes my friends, I am totally rolling along.

Do you see that?! That right front has doubled in size since last week!
I have been knitting for days now. I know that some of you never stop and all of that, but I guess that I have to acknowledge that I am a seasonal knitter. Another part of it, the reason why I haven't been doing much knitting is that my kids have been on school break. Today was our first day back at school. We homeschool, so why would this make a difference? But see, knitting is a great activity for me to do while we are schooling. I can't do much cleaning, cooking, or such because I can't be too much in the middle of something incase my help is needed. Plus, if I'm not in the same room or at least in earshot it is very easy for the kids to get distracted and start taking the leads out of the pencil, seeing if they burn, lining up all of the colored pencils in rainbow order, then numerical- yes there are always so many more interesting things to do when it is time to do schoolwork! So- I knit. I am there. I can see them. I can hear them. I can remind them of what they are supposed to be accomplishing. Of how LATE it is going to be when they get finished if they keep going at this rate- for Pete's sake. Who takes two hours to read 5 pages in a Bio textbook and answer 5 questions?!!! Yeah. That would be my offspring thank you very much. I knit because then at least I feel like I am being somewhat constructive and I can tie my yarn in knots instead of their necks... arrrgggghhh. Sometimes it's a really good thing to have something between me and my offspring.

So. Yeah- I also just saw a preliminary release of this movie "Scrapped". It's pretty cool. It is about this guy- tattoos, piercings, motorcycles, who delves into the world of scrapbooking and discovers a whole new part of his self. I am hoping to get a copy some time next month and have a showing or something. I especially like the way he decorates his scrapbooking bag! (Let's just say the Ramones are favorably featured!) See, it's NOT all just about pastel paper and stickers!

Well it is off to bed for me. I have to rise and shine early and since my husband is still on his round the world travels (in Helsinki at present) I am the one who will need be coherent in the morning. He SO owes me a nice night out! I'm thinking Mojitos...

Fall is in the air

Well. I have started knitting again. I even did some KIPing yesterday evening at Barefoot Coffee Roasters alongside a decaf Cubano- yummy.

It has been a busy summer. I have spent a lot of time getting my new business started and I feel like that was time well spent, but I have missed having time to knit, so hopefully know that things are moving along a little easier in the business area I will now be able to get more done. I have picked up the husband sweater and am actually hoping that he might be able to wear it by the time it gets cool enough for one. I need a cheering squad though. Hopefully some of you can help with that. The back and half of one front (it's a cardigan) are done, so I still have a ways to go.

My youngest daughter is now a teenager and so I am currently residing with SIX teenagers and dear hubby is once again on a business trip. Damn, why does HE always get away? I know, those who travel for business always say that it isn't as much fun as you might think, but it sure sounds more interesting than staying here in the adolescent pit. Well, at least they are interesting teenagers who watch and read things of interest. At least I can have real conversations with most of them most of the time. I just must admit that I am looking forward to school starting again and so that we can get back to having a regular schedule again. Although for some reason I seem to be itching for a road trip. I inherited the gypsy bug from my dad I think.

Well, I should start winding down so that I can get some sleep tonight. Toodles... ; )

INSPIRATION ARRIVES!

Okay, this is great. I really have done very little knitting and just hadn't been feeling inspired to do so and now, after the worst heat wave this area has ever seen, and in the space of one week I have received:

The new Knitpicks catalog. They have new yarns that I really like. They have a new interchangable (a la Denise) needle set, but with turbo style needles rather than plastic. They have a new knitting bag that has an attachable purse and different sized "project" bags. Very cool idea. I love knitters. They are fun, pragmatic, thinking people.

The new Interweave knitting magazine. Many lovely patterns in there. Of course, most of the ones I really like are using alpaca or alpaca blends. Yes, I can sub other yarns, but why does that always happen?! Ah well, I am totally jazzed to get some fall knitting going!

And FINALLY it is cooling off. This global warming thing is really something. And yeah, on that note you really do need to see An Inconvenient Truth. If you haven't seen it yet, well I don't know what to say. Bad, bad person you.

I was in Yosemite earlier this week with my family and my husband's family including many visiting relatives from the Netherlands. It is so beautiful there and I really wanted to stay longer. But I had promised to leave earlier with one of my daughters because she was scheduled to work on Thursday and otherwise she wouldn't have been able to go camping at all - I knew that she really wanted to. So, anyway, we left early on Thursday, leaving the rest of my family and visiting relatives behind for a few more days, drove back home (4+ hours, during which time she also managed to get car sick in my new car- argh) - she showers, changes and takes the bus to work and THEY DON'T NEED HER! I cannot even begin to tell you how pissed, disappointed, frustrated, etc... I was. I wanted to be back at Yosemite. I wanted to be hiking, swimming in lakes, enjoying starry skies, evening campfires and camp coffee in my sleeping bag (my husband always makes it and brings it to me). Man that sucks.

Anyway, this is a bit of a rambling post, but I really am looking forward to getting some knitting going again. Think I'll go do a few rows on the husband sweater!

ta-ta! (oh yeah- I would add photos except that my camera is still in Yosemite without me!)

an appropriate funny...

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway.

Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the woman behind the wheel was knitting! Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, "PULL OVER!"

"NO!" the woman yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"

non-knitting post

Somehow it just isn't in me to knit or post on a knitting blog these days.

I am feeling quite overwhelmed about the world political situation. I feel frustrated, manipulated, and almost emotionally abused. Sorry. I know you don't come here for this, but I just don't know what else to say. Every day that goes by I feel like I don't know what to believe. I feel like our president is a puppet in Team America (mind you, I haven't seen the movie though) and whoever is holding the strings is obviously thinking of bigger things than we are seeing on stage.

It's like the middle of a chess game. I love to play chess, but I hate that part. You have to commit suicide, sacrifice pieces, just to get the board cleared so that you can play an end game. It is tedious, stressful, messy and dangerous. The game can turn on you so easily if you don't anticipate your opponents moves accurately.

This whole thing with Israel/Lebannon/Gaza - Syria/Iran/Iraq. I have no idea how this is all going to play out but it pains me so. And I still ask myself the question, are they trying to distract us from something else? And if so what are they distracting us from? And exactly who are "they"? Do I sound crazy yet? I have just read so many strange things in the last week that I may not make sense. I can't exactly put it together yet myself, but it just seems to me that there is more than meets the eye here.

I will get back to knitting if for no other reason that it will distract me a bit and help me stay sane. I just feel like this is a very dangerous game that is being played and the timing just seems really contrived, I am just left with the questions, "why?"

This just in...

Yarn Harlot is coming to Los Altos!
September 9th at Full Thread Ahead.

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/tour2005.html

I know, I know....

It has been a while since I have had a chance to sit down and create a proper post. Don't expect it now either. This is the crash course season of my life. From June 5th- until the 26th I have: three birthdays in the family, three graduations in the family, ...

(Me and my son at his 8th grade graduation. Is he a 14 year old boy or what...)

...one family reunion (in Nebraska), a graduation party and an open house for my new business (Creative Memories- quality album making and scrapbooking supplies- let me know if you are interested!).

Yeah, so- I haven't gotten too much knitting done. I do need to get a project travel ready though. Friday night, immediately following my twin step-daughters' graduations I will be flying to Denver (arriving 11:30 p.m.) and then driving to North Platte (hope to arrive before dawn- ugh.) So, some knitting would be nice. I have yet to cast on another pair of socks, so I am sort of in stagnation mode. I need something, quick, easy and successful.

I will keep you posted.

It's June?!

Holy Mother of all creation,

It is June. Spring is going to be gone soon and somehow it almost feels as if it hasn't quite arrived yet. Climate change. Hmm. On that note, please do go see An Inconvienent Truth this weekend. (See post below to link to a website that will give you locations, times and such.) I will be taking my family and going at a to-be-determined time on Friday. I am even going to suggest that we walk there. That would be almost revolutionary to my much chauffered offspring. On a related note I am going to go to a meeting this evening for a local "POST OIL" group. I am hoping that they will acknowledge my knitting as a skill set worth sharing. I am not too sure that I have much else to offer. Actually as far as that goes, given the state of my knitting recently, I'm not sure I have that to offer either. Here is a synopsis of my knitterly state of affairs:

Socks: nothing on the needles. My glorious Socks That Rock sock has been frogged. I tried to save it. I tinked, I partial-frogged and I tried knitting a test swatch for a pattern alteration. Somehow none of it "caught" and so I now, once again, have a ball of yarn. No photos. It's too depressing.

Sweater: The husband sweater is still on the needles. But every time I take it out of its bag I feel like I am being attacked by alpaca. This really sucks. I really don't want another unfinished project hanging around. No one needs that much guilt and I have my fair share already thank you very much.

Vest: See sweater. Vest is alpaca.

I really need a project that I can get excited about and finish. I know that I should just right away cast on with the socks again, but somehow it isn't the same once you have already knitted it up and seen what it looks like. It's not that you don't want to do it, but that same excitement, the exploration of the unknown, it just isn't there the second time around. Plus, that just really seemed like a "Spring" color and I'm just not there anymore. Argh. It's enough to make you want a good stiff drink.

Maybe I need to go back to scrapbooking for a few weeks. Much less traumatic.

I was gonna be so proud...

I must digress for a moment...

Did you see American Idol last night?! Oh my f*&%!$ing gosh!!!! PRINCE!!! (or whatever he is currently known as) -Prince on American Idol?!!!! Whatever, he was brilliant as always, but I swear my jaw dropped to the floor. Made my day in a sick kind of way.

Now- on to the knitting. So, I have been working on a sock. A beautiful pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. The Socks That Rock colorway (Lemongrass) was beautiful and it was striping nicely with no major pools. See? :


Gauge: 8 st/in on #2 dpn's.
Yarn: Socks That Rock- med. wt.

But now I am realizing that it is just too big. See, since it is a 8-stitch pattern I had to cast on 80 stitches instead of my usual 72. I thought it would be a better choice than the alternate 64 stitches. Everything looked fine, I don't exactly have dainty legs so I figured I was good to go. I cast on, I knit, nice pattern and then I started to run into a problem around the ankle. It just was looking downright beefy. So, I decreased all the way down to 72 (rather than 80) stitches at the heel gusset but now the pattern is just too big over the instep and the whole thing is just looking a bit large. Plus, it is also starting to pool with the green on one side and the yellow on the other. Fine, but it doesn't exactly match the rest of the sock. So, I figure my choices are as follows:

a) Rip it all out and start over trying the 64 stitch method. Stick with the #2 needles and pray that it stripes nice.

b) Rip it all out and cast on 64 stitches with a slightly larger needle size, #2 1/2 or 3. This would make the sock a little bit bigger, but might make it less comfortable and/or make the pattern look a little "looser". Not sure. Keep praying that it stripes nice.

c) Finish the sock and hope that it will shrink a little in the wash- although this still doesn't solve the instep or the puddle of color issue.

Any and all advice will be welcomed.

Go see this!

Seriously. Take your friends. Pledge to go on the website (link in title.)
But for this, you might want to leave your knitting at home....

Stash and Yearn

I guess I have been busy lately. Yeah. Stressed with kids. You'd think that I would have this down by now, but somehow they keep evolving and throwing me for a loop. I was recalling lately about how people used to stop and stare at me anytime I went anywhere with all of the kids when they were all younger. Just imagine this youngish looking mother (31ish) followed by six children between the ages of 2 and 8. Mamma duck and ducklings. That was me. People would literally stop and stare, ask "are they all yours?!", and then inevitably someone would say, "Just wait till they are teenagers!"

WORDS OF DOOM

Well guess what, they are all teenagers. (Well almost anyway, Anna will be 13 in August. Close enough. She is in her 13th year.)
Somehow, while I knew it would be difficult, I just never expected it to be so constantly emotionally straining and frustrating. Maybe I am expecting too much from them. Maybe I worry too much? Probably. But it is sometimes hard to trust when you know they aren't being 100% honest with you. It makes you wonder, just what exactly are they being dishonest about? And somehow I have a feeling that my imagination is very much worse than the reality. Ahhh..... I need to exhale.

Well the good news is I reminded myself that knitting makes me feel better. It really does. When I say that knitting keeps me sane in my profile, I'm actually not exaggerating. I think it just gives me something completely different to think about for the time that I am able to devote to it. I can focus on creating something beautiful and forget about my worries.


I did have some good news last week. When I was in Olympia, WA I found a beautiful pattern for a Dale of Norway sweater. I also found a perfect wool to use- a dark heathered navy blue. BUT they only had 3 balls and I needed like 16 or 17. Well, they tried to order some more for me but were not able to get it for me. Sure I could have found a different color, there are plenty after all, but I really LIKED this color! Not quite black but also not a "wrapping paper" color (don't ask). Anyway, I finally found an online vendor , who you have to call by phone, and who orders directly from Norway so eventually I came home to this:


Yay!

No. Don't expect to see the sweater any time soon. I am committed to finishing some other things first, but I will do it. I think this purchase might have officially put me in the "stasher" category though. Better than slasher... (that would relate more to the first part of my post..)

Sensational socks and alpaca allergies....

Somehow Spring has come and gone. Summer weather seems to be here already. It is hot. It is humid. It is uncomfortable. YUK. Maybe the long gray days weren't so bad after all? And now, when it is hot and sandal weather, I have completed my first pair of socks (wool, 'natch.) Wait, let me try this again...

I HAVE COMPLETED MY FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS!!!!!!


There that's better.

Thanks to Jeni, I already have a plan for pair number two (yeah!) and I also managed to cast on the right front piece for my "husband sweater" (aka "the black fog"- an upgrade from "the black death") But here is the rub. The yarn for his sweater, Andean Silk from Knit Picks, a lovely blend of wool, silk and ALPACA- well let's just say that's the problem. I am, apparently, allergic to alpaca. Did I tell you I love alpaca? It is yummy soft and warm and light. But every time I work with it my eyes get itchy and my nose and throat feel sore and scratchy. I have checked this against the vest I am working on as well- 100% alpaca- and the same thing happens.
I
AM
SO
BUMMED.

I have to rotate working on these things with the good 'ole wool, but I am desperately hoping that it is only WORKING with the alpaca that is the problem. I used to have an alpaca sweater that I wore often and I don't remember having that problem. But now I am concerned because the reaction seems to come much more quickly. Does this means that the allergy reaction is getting worse because I am working with it so much? This sucks.

Oh well, luckily I like wool too. Guess I won't be running an alpaca ranch after all...

TA DA!

Well. A finished object! (insert drum roll........)

My first sock!


It fits perfect and I love the colors. I needed something a little more uplifting after the long grey days of winter. Maybe that was the problem with my last sock. It wasn't bright enough. Anyway, the winter blues have been cheered and I have already cast on for the second sock! (No SSS here.)

Happy May! I am off to whip together dinner and go to the knitting Meet Up. See you there!

A grey day fit for a frog post

Well my wonderful almost done and looking good sock had a problem. But didn't it look good?!

Do you see the problem? (note the lack of remaining yarn....)

I know, I know, most of you reading this have already heard or even observed my resigned expressions of discomfort, bummedness and sighs of acceptance. But can I tell you again how bummed I was?
This was my first sock!
I had tried it on!
It fit!
Beautifully!
Alas, no more yarn in that particular hand-dyed lot could be found. I probably should have just used a different color when I ran out of that, but, oh well. It is too late. It has been frogged.

I don't want to talk about it anymore. It is a grey day and I am feeling like Eeyore.

Tank Cozy

This is the coolest thing EVER! My eldest sent me the link- I don't know quite where it orginally came from, I certainly can't take credit- but I absolutely HAD to share! A knitted Tank Cozy...

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/19/cute_pink_tank_cozy.html

Travel Travails Transcended

Well, I had intended to create a post about our journey up north to Washington and Oregon. It would include photos like this:

"SHEEP!" That was me, pointing them out to my poor daughter who had to try to capture a clear image as I was driving at some undocumented speed down the I-5 in the middle of Oregon.

And this:

This is Herman the Sturgeon. He is 67 years old and 10 feet long. That is one big fish. He lives at a fish hatchery along the Columbia river.

It would show the reason why we went to Olympia, Washington in the first place...


It would show you my lovely yarn purchases I managed to squeeze in (or at least evidence of such- bag carrying)


I was going to demonstrate the environmental difficulties I faced in my travels:

(I'm not sure which is the more threatening environment, Mt. St. Helens in the cloud covered background, or the car with these two enclosed in it.)

And show reunions with dear friends from back in the day:

This is Karena who lives in Portland. I don't think she knits.

But this is a knitting blog afterall, so I'll just show you the yarn...

Travel advisory- blue skies visible

Well, I haven't been able to figure out a way to post pictures from the hotel computer, but we are currently in Olmypia, Washington! We had a lovely drive up (took some pictures of sheep!), stopped in a yarn shop in Portland, missed the one in Hood River, and today went to the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I figured if I commit half of a day to an airplane museum for Conner's sake that he won't give me too much grief for going to yet another yarn store tomorrow ; )

This trip has definitely made me see the advantage of having a laptop with wireless built in. Somehow we have one just old enough not to have it and now all of the hotels assume that you have one as well. Of course we have the complimentary "high-speed" computer in the lobby, but %&*^#! it's a PC! Ack! They have three and this is the only one that seems to want to let me check my e-mail. Oh well. I do actually remember the days when you were out of touch when you traveled. No cell phones, laptops, etc... NO, I don't remember dinosaurs thank you. It's possible that I will be able to use Isha's computer to get a post with pictures going tomorrow, so until then- neener, neener, it's sunny here!!!!!

SUN!!!!!!

Wait, I almost forgot a most newsworthy thing. The sky is blue and the sun is shining!!!! Quick, grab your knitting and head OUTSIDE!

Purls of Wisdom

Wow. I just realized it has been a week since I have posted. Well, I am slowly recuperating from my sprained ankle. You would think that I would have lots of time to knit with a wounded ankle, but alas this has somehow not been the case. I have just spent more time puttering around the house because I am S-L-O-W. I have found it hard to knit while on Vicodin.
I have also been spending a lot of time on the phone offering emotional support to my afore-mentioned eldest daughter. She had a lovely visit here and then when she returned to Washington the adventures began. You know the kind, those everything-that-can-go-wrong-does-go-wrong adventures. The kind where you can hear the mischievous angels snickering as they duck behind a cloud because they are just messing with you big time. But somehow these life adventures always bring you to another level of consciousness so you can't get too pissed. She has an old Volvo. The brakes went out. She needs new brakes. New brakes that will cost more than the car is worth. She is in Washington to go to college. She doesn't have any money. School started on Monday and she lives about 8 miles away at a horse ranch without any access to public transportation. She is screwed. SO, she is now going to move into student housing and leave her boyfriend to fend for himself at the horse ranch. He is not so happy. Drama. SO glad I am over that stage of my life! (It will get better dear, I promise!) Just remember that it is the irritation that forms the pearl!

I will be heading up to Washington to visit her next week and help her finalize all of her moving (let me know about any "can't miss" yarn shops along the Interstate 5 corridor between California and Washington!).


Hannah came for knitting on Saturday. She is moving along with her purse and hopefully took it to Mexico this week and is almost finished! Dan is slowly accepting her new knitter identity. I am working on the black hubby sweater and a couple of socks (two different pairs-) as well as the German Clock Vest. Hopefully something will move towards finished status soon. Had a lovely time at the knitting meet-up last night! Knitters are some of the coolest people!!!!

Gimp or Pimp?

Well. I have been out of sorts lately. Somehow, on Sunday, at a beautiful gathering in Danville, I sprained my ankle. I am grateful it is not broken. But maybe that would be easier. A broken ankle would get casted and would require me to completely stay off of my foot. But, alas, I am only slightly injured. My eldest daughter, visiting from Olympia Washington, graciously accompanied me to the medical clinic on Monday and after the x-ray I was told it was "only a sprain." I am supposed to ice it (it's cold enough already!), keep it elevated (I have found this hard to do while puttering around cleaning up after the kids) and perhaps use a cane to help take the weight off of my ankle. Well, after spending several hours waiting at the clinic I was ready to go home. Tired, pain, let me just lie still thank you. My eldest daughters took it upon themselves to go procure a cane for me. Thrift store, vintage store and they return with what was dubbed a "pimp cane." (That is what the vintage clothing store called it anyway!) Somehow I am envisioning an whole new Senior Center craft activity, "Pimp your Cane." A few sequins, glitter tape, maybe some airbrush flames.... could be fun!

In the meantime I have been trying to some knitting done, directing dinner making from the couch, finding a cane handy for swatting mouthy teenagers, and I finally got a picture of Isha with the Helmet hat and fingerless gloves before she went back to Olympia. Ain't she cute?!