Pass the Corona, please

and keep 'em coming...

I cast on my Mystery Stole yesterday, well behind the pack but no less excited, and I LOVE IT!!! I've only done a little hardcore lace knitting before, so watching a picture unfold in my hands is absolutely thrilling -

I got Clue #1 done yesterday, in the midst of bike riding, walking, swimming, and helping the boys organize themselves for their week away with their dad.

They left around 11:30 today, and I found myself at utterly loose ends. We have been apart before, but it dawned on me that usually, when they are away for more than a couple of days, I arrange a trip for myself, too. I was supposed to head to Wisconsin to visit my blogless (but SO deserving of a blog) friend Kelly, but due to humungazoid vet bills last month I just couldn't afford it. I am hoping to get there for their Thanksgiving, to relive the Black Friday shopping experience, which really must be experienced more than once, just to make sure it wasn't a bad dream...

So in the meantime, here I am, totally discombobulated (new word of the week - donchya love it?). Can't settle, can't read, can't knit, cannot sit still. A couple of hours of hard weeding in the garden finally relaxed me enough so I could carry on with the Stole, and as you will notice, I am coping rather well right now:


Half a day down, six and a half to go...

pass the Corona, please...

Actually, I know the week will fly by, and I'll talk to them every night - I miss them terribly when they're gone, but have learned to appreciate the subtleties of a dry toilet seat, and clothes that are actually in the hamper, not somewhere in the vicinity, and movies that don't include fart jokes or explosions (kinda the same thing) or Chris Farley, so no pity, please... I'm good with a beer...

Warning: Graphic Photo Ahead...

They're here already! You're next... you're next...... you're next........
Kevin McCarthy, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956

Yes, it's another fabulously steamy day here in summer vacationland, the place where you'll hear such phrases as: What's there to do today? But it's too hot to go outside! Oh, I'll read later... And a personal favourite: How come we always have to clean our room when there's nothing else to do?

I, on the other hand, am never bored,which I expect displeases those who are younger even more - just finished the sample shrug for Apple Laine
I think the colours look like a watercolour painting, and I love the lace patterns. Being slightly perceptually challenged, however, it took me a LONG time to figure out how this would be worn - there's no head hole. Two armholes, but nowhere for your head to go. I did, finally, figure it out, even though it's not for me so it's not that important that I get it. But still, nice to have a visual of what's taken a couple of months of steady work to produce.

Got a little decadence in the mail today:. Nothing like a little Fleece Artist to kickstart the morning. But wait, what's that with it?Matching stitch markers with freshwater pearls? Are you sure they're not jewellery? And how hard would it be for me to make them into jewellery, because frankly, I think my earlobes are just a little more deserving of such luxury...

This evening, I am planning to start something else, about which I am very excited, but very late: . I have been completely enjoying reading along thus far, and am looking forward to jumping into the fray -

as long as the ivy doesn't get me first...

It's a Puzzler...

Years ago, I made a Seaman's Scarf (I'd link it but I don't remember where the pattern came from) from quiviut yarn (again, no memory, no link) as a gift for a friend (and those are wrinkles from its being rolled up waiting for my attention)
Said scarf was recently returned to me because of this:

It is absolutely riddled with moth holes! Oh, sure, the moths have good taste, but it's just heartbreaking!

And of course, I used every possible bit of the yarn for the scarf, so I have no bits for mending.

After much consideration, I think what I will have to do is frog it, and then reknit something similar, but likely a little smaller.

On the plus side, I had forgotten just how delicious quiviut is - the scarf is virtually weightless, and so warm... I think I've gotten more selfish over the years, because I doubt very much I'd be able to part with it now.

Here is the Ribbon Tied Hoodie from Debbie Bliss for my LYS, after drying:
I posted it on Ravelry, and mistakenly linked it to an incorrect pattern... I was soon corrected by one of the editors for the incorrectly cited book, and the link was removed before I could shamefacedly apologize... my, how information travels!

I am still overwhelmed with Ravelry, but I play with it whenever I can eke out some time - truly astonishing, the work, the information, the people... makes my head spin!

Still slogging - yes, slogging - away on my Toe Up socks (thank you, Wendy) in the Regiment colourway of Twisted Fiber Arts 'Arista' yarn. Love the colours, love the feel of the yarn, hate how long it's taking. I suppose if I were working on them exclusively, they'd be whipping along, but between work knitting, gardening, and amusing the boys, well, you know...

The boys will be off next week on a trip with their dad, so I have BIG plans - house stuff, knitting stuff, maybe some dyeing stuff, maybe even some spinning stuff?

Have I ever mentioned my tendency to think bigger than I can do? Yup, it's a definite puzzler...

News Flash!!!

Someone has taken over my feet!
And no, I don't have a foot fetish or anything - I just treated myself to a pedicure yesterday, and can't stop jumping every time I look down, thinking that someone else's feet have been screwed onto my legs... toes are still webbed, though, and I am embarassed at how much work it took the poor girl to make them presentable (because I spend most of time barefoot, and I only treated myself because my heels were getting caught in the carpet... file under: things you didn't need to know).

really doesn't take much to amuse me...

News Flash the second: I received my invite to Ravelry, and am absolutely astounded by the scope of this thing. I've only done a little playing with it so far, but I feel like I'll need a week all alone on the computer to really appreciate everything it offers - what an amazing job they've done!!!

News Flash the third: my children are off on a 3-day RV trip with their father, who rented a honkin' RV for himself, the boys, and two of their friends. I have been invited to come up and visit, and have had to do some soul searching... trapped in a trailer with 5 males, one of whom I am no longer married to, or sit in my backyard with coolers, audiobooks, and knitting at the ready...

hmmmmmm...

so, I'm just in from the backyard, having finished one of my work projects:
(the dark spots are where it is still wet from being blocked - I'll do a nicer pic when it's dry)

Project: Ribbon Tied Hoodie, by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan and Cashmerino Aran

Needles: 4.5mm

Started: July 18, 2007

Finished: July 26, 2007 (an unavoidable delay having been created by Harry Potter himself)

Cute little thing, lots of ends to weave in, but the yarn is very, very soft!

So, onto Harry I dragged out the reading as much as possible - kept finding errands to run, laundry to do, which is totally out of character for me where these books are concerned (actually, finding laundry to do is out of character for me at any time) ... I just didn't want to finish it! Started Saturday AFTERNOON (see previous post), and finished Monday afternoon...

sigh

I don't think I've cried so much reading a book before, and I do mean cried - partly the story, which I thought was wonderful except for the last little bit, which struck me as trite and something of a let-down, and partly knowing I would have to bid farewell to these characters... no, these people... whom I have come to know and care for over the years. I am still bummed - started it again and am moving through much more slowly this time, because I must have missed all sorts of subtleties in my first gobbling of the book. I am a little worried about what to read next, as this will be a tough act to follow, but I think this might do:

Reading the dust jacket made me laugh out loud, so hopefully the book lives up to my expectations...

Still working on the Lake Placid pullover for Artisan Knitworks , as well as the shrug for Applelaine.

Oh, I finished my Monkey socks - will post a pic later - and can now start something NEW... choosing it might prove to be a challenge - I am still working on the straightforward toe-ups posted previously, so maybe something more complicated? Perhaps the latest installment from Blue Moon? Hmm, too much to contemplate right now... other priorities... what flavour of cooler do I feel like right now?

With Apologies to Canada Post...

12:58 this afternoon


and frankly, this was enough to make me happy...
okay, almost... a little bit happy


and inside?

The U.K. children's version of the cover - the one shown in my previous rant was the U.S. cover - I suppose once a colony, always a colony??

I have cracked the cover, read the first three chapters, and am now out for an afternoon and dinner with a friend... because I am so mature, I can do this with no adverse side effects whatsoever...

I am, however, planning to pull an all-nighter...

mwa-ha-ha-ha.......

Postscript - for any who might be concerned, I did finally go to the bathroom, which also made me happy... very...

WHERE THE HELL IS IT???

I pre-ordered it in MARCH, precisely to avoid crowds and line-ups (I am not a crowd or line-up kind of gal), and to luxuriate in early delivery, as was promised at the time of ordering.

We have re-read the books in anticipation of today, re-watched the first four films, and saw the fifth last night and loved it - more later when I can FOCUS -

IT IS 12:25, PEOPLE, AND NO GODDAMNED BOOK.

Why, yes, I am a little tense... does it show?

I can't go outside on the first gorgeous day in a while, because I might miss the delivery guy. I can't even go to the bathroom in case he shows up. I have been up since 5AM, like a kid on Christmas morning, checking the Canada Post tracking number to see where it's at.

And it should be here by now.

AND IT'S NOT.

I don't care that people will find out what happens before I do; that bothers the boys more than me. I am just so annoyed to have done all this in advance, to have been assured of early morning delivery, and then be let down in a big way.

Small wonder I have customer service issues... I'll go scrub a toilet or something while I wait... endlessly...

New Books!!

Oh, don't you just love new books? The smell, the gentle crack of the binding as they are opened for the first time, the possibilities inside?

The sale prices???

Knitpicks is offering all of their books at 40% right now, and I figured I should take advantage to get some books which I have been eyeing for some time - hey, it's educational!

And it's supposed to rain and thunder all afternoon, the boys are cramming old Harry Potter books in preparation for Saturday's launch - I CANNOT WAIT!!! - so, really, it's destiny that I have a stack of books to peruse...

weeding this morning, between rain showers, and just wanted to share this flower, this coneflower, that has thrived so far this year - I've never seen this colour before, and am going to try to make cuttings so I can have them all over the place - I may need a sweater this colour...

Also, I think I figured out the macro setting on my camera, and had to give it a go...
Thank you for your indulgence...

My other project this morning was to dehair Charlie, at least a little - Maggie's breed does not shed, which is lovely, but I am honestly amazed that Charlie has any hair left...

so I read about "The Furminator" at Knit and Tonic - at this point I will try anything, I am so tired of picking dog hair off socks and clothes and furniture - well, I am amazed!
Almost half a pound - HALF A FRIGGING POUND - of undercoat from only half of his body! What's left is his black, silky hair, and the kaka is gone.

And he liked it, more than normal brushing. My sense is it's like someone with long fingernails scraping through his fur - when I get someone like that washing my hair at the salon, I get goosebumps, so I totally get it (no, I don't think that's weird... well, not really... maybe a little?) So I will finish him off now, and see if it does, in fact, reduce shedding as claimed. So far, so good...

now, to make lunch and read of things yarny...

Home again, home again

jiggety jig...



in spite of rain every day, and an average high temperature of only 65 frigging degrees, we had a lovely week away...
we lucked into a fabulous cottage, secluded, big, comfortable, with a wonderful picture window looking onto Oxtongue Lake.

We managed to swim, canoe and kayak whenever there were sunny patches, and worked in a couple of hikes as well
The boys are actually standing beside a beaver dam, near which we saw a baby beaver scampering across the top of one of their huts - just so cool!

There was wildlife:
Yes, some of them are stuffed, but the question is... which ones??

Lots of reading, and board games, and knitting, and no fights or squabbles to speak of - I was chatting with another gal staying at the same place who had been there for 2 weeks - same icky weather, but her three kids don't get along, and none of them read, so she was really looking forward to getting out of there. Makes me even more thankful for my young men, I must say...

Funny, I don't see how much they look alike normally, but when they paused in front of the window like this, I had to make them stop for the photo - I am shocked at the similarity!

My almost-done Monkey socks enjoyed breakfast on the deck, and I made progress on my toe-ups in the 'Regiment' colourway of Twisted yarn - is this not one of the neatest colourways ever? I am seriously in love with these socks - yarn itself is springy and so soft it feels like I'm knitting with roving...


Before we left, I got myself a gig knitting for my new LYS, Spun Fibre Arts, which is making me very happy indeed - I completed a felted tote bag from Louet Riverstone in Chunky and then while we were away completed a tank top in Nashua's 'Cilantro', which is just wonderful to knit with - soft and stretchy, lovely on the hands

I am also doing some work for Cindy at Apple Laine, whose yarn is a dream to knit with - I have made socks with it, and they wear like iron while being incredibly soft and springy - wool/mohair/silk - lovely, lovely stuff - I am taking my time with this one to make sure I get it right, and also because I am genuinely enjoying the process... fortunately, this is not a deadline project, so I can indulge myself


Charlie has had a bit of trouble of late - he gained 5 pounds in only a month, and we finally figured out he has hypothyroidism, so he started on supplements and lost 10 pounds in two weeks. Needless to say, I am eyeing his supplements with a renewed interest...

then he got a bug bite, which he proceeded to nibble and gnaw at - he chewed his tail raw, ripped the hair off until it looked like a hunk of raw meat in between black tufts of fur - stomach-turning... so he spent some time decked out in a collar and wrap, which didn't help that much. I did find out that he follows me constantly and closely, much more closely than I realized. I have circle-shaped bruises on the backs of my thighs to prove it, too - every time I stopped walking, he would plow into my back with his cone - so we lost the cone pretty quickly...

and now we are home, and it's summer vacation, my favourite, favourite time of the year - I am an aberration among my friends, but I love having the boys home, and wish the summer was longer...

wait... what's that I hear in the distance? Is it the call of the wild? Ohhhh, no, call of the pile... laundry, that is...

Well, I haven't been able to post for some reason - besides laziness and lack of motivation, you understand - nor have I been able to upload pictures, and so much has been going on... well, it's just frustrating, is all - and I still can't put up a damn title... what's with that??

TONS of knitting, dog stuff, baby birds - they flew the coop, as it were, and the mom is back in the nest for what I am assuming is round 2 - I didn't know they did that!?, kid stuff, garden stuff, building Ikea stuff -

lots of stuff, no? But the big stuff is that the boys and I leave later today for a week up north at the Blue Spruce, which is 10 minutes outside of Algonquin Park - I CAN'T WAIT! It's supposed to be hot and humid all week, which is just what you want when you have the opportunity to be on a lake - we lucked into a bigger, more private cottage than last year, so are pleased that we can all sleep in real beds instead of air mattresses and pull-out couches -

so in the throes of last minute packing - food, fishing rods, and most importantly, several and assorted knitting projects - I thought I should at least say, hey, I'm alive, although I have no photos to prove it - prepare to be inundated upon our return, though...

happy summer!!

Who comes up with these things?????

No, really, is there someone sitting in an office somewhere, coming up with strange ideas into which we can fit our personalities? I have an M.A. in psychology, and might actually be qualified - can I sign up??? It's like the folks who name paint or crayon colours - I could so totally come up with descriptive names ... bile green... diarreah yellow...

You Are a Ring Finger

You are romantic, expressive, and hopeful. You see the best in everything. You are very artistic, and you see the world as your canvas. You are also drawn to the written word. Inventive and unique, you are often away in your own inner world. You get along well with: The Pinky Stay away from: The Index Finger

What Finger Are You?

A little pre-senile dementia, anyone?

According to the Journal of Neurology, knitting is one of 13 activities shown to reduce the risk of developing dementia by as much as 38%.

Given that, why am I having so much frigging trouble making a sock that fits? I studied pre-senile dementia in grad school, and well, I'm just wondering...

I finally figured out the Grasshopper pattern from last month's Blue Moon Fiber Arts kit

and I don't like it.

I don't think this has happened to me before, but I finished the sock, put it on, and I don't like it. For several reasons. The fit is a little baggier around the ankle than I like... the top is a little snugger than I like. But I think that the most likely reason of all (yes, I am quoting the Grinch a little) is that the pattern doesn't do justice to the yarn. The yarn, a silk/wool blend, is absolutely gorgeous and knits into the most beautiful fabric with a soft sheen. With the lace pattern, the sheen is lost.

So, I don't like it.

I started the second ball as a Monkey sock, and much prefer it. Of course, I got to the heel before realizing I couldn't pull the damn thing over my foot - too small... so I frogged and am using slightly bigger needles, and am finally making socks that fit!

I started these a couple of weeks ago, from the Pick Up Sticks sock club.
Again, beautiful yarn ( bamboo/wool/nylon),interesting pattern (see the shell motif at the right end? works with the pattern name - Beach - get it?) - but it doesn't fit. Too small. Only one size was given for the pattern and in my enthusiasm I didn't bother checking. And it's too small. So off to the frog pond with this one, too.

sigh.

However, I do like how you can take something like this:
,
add a little of these

and come out with this


The sweater is now done and ready for mailing to Artisan Knitworks... yay!

And remember the nest in our euonymous vine? Look who showed up...

The mom is in the middle, flanked by two babies! I can't tell you how much fun the boys and I have been having watching them, and talking to them - the boys so much so that they TRY NOT TO SLAM THE DOOR - this is significant progress, let me assure you!

So now I must try to get my brain cells back in order - I cast on a sock on June 21 for Summer of Socks, which I will post later, and am hoping, praying - actually, I'm measuring - so that it fits...

You Are: 70% Dog, 30% Cat

You and dogs definitely have a lot in common. You're both goofy, happy, and content with the small things in life. However, you're definitely not as needy as the average dog. You need your down time occasionally.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Well, duh....

Late on the bandwagon

Finally, some time to sit and think, and do the 7 things about me post for which I was tagged by both Miss Scarlett and Riggwelter... I found this fairly difficult, because first, I had to actually sit still for a sec to think of 7 things, and second, had to think about things about me, which I find really tough...

so -
1. I have very ugly feet (so naturally I am posting a photo of them for all the world to see), but what is notable about them is the two webbed toes on each foot:
No, they do not improve my swimming, nor do they have any effect on me other than precluding toe rings, which I don't like that much anyhow.

2. I am a hard-core, lifelong animation, especially Looney Tunes fan, and sometimes at night, when I can't sleep, I come down and watch old cartoons (pre- and during WWII are the best for animation quality) all by myself...

3. I am much more upset when animals are hurt in movies than when people are.

4. Despite the fact that most of my house is in a state of perpetual uproar, I am actually an organized person, and once something has a designated spot, I will almost always put it back where it goes. Seems that finding the spot is the hard part, sometimes.

5. I am petrified of lightning and snakes, and not much else. I think I was okay with snakes until someone brought one for show and tell in Grade 1, maybe?, and it slithered up my arm and through my sleeve, coming out at my neck. Now I can't even watch them on TV.

6. Okay, I lied. I am also deathly afraid of being trapped in a car underwater. No idea where that comes from, but I am unable to watch movies like "The Abyss" - I tried to watch it and had to stop because I held my breath through the whole thing. I know what to do should my car plummet off the side of a bridge into deep, dark water, but I am terrified nonetheless.

7. French was my first language, and by the time I was three, I'm told I was fluently bilingual. Then we moved to Ontario and, according to my mother, I refused to speak to her unless she spoke to me in English. So she did, and I lost my French for the most part. I can understand reasonably well, but am unable to retrieve the words to converse.

What I really want to know is why my mother would have caved to me as a three year old. Was I that tyrannical? Or so strong in personality and will? Was she overwhelmed with her new baby, my brother Pat? There is no way I would have given over that much to my three year old, especially if I knew what benefit it would have been to her down the road. Just sayin', Mom, that's all...

Other items of note this week:

Ben is playing softball, two 2-hour games EVERY WEEK, Wednesday and Friday nights - he's having fun but it is putting a real crimp in our traditional Friday night pizza/movie thing - of course, he's very cute in his team shirt and cap
What I like about this picture is that he was way across the field, and still managed to see me with the camera and smile perfectly - so camera conscious...


And for the third year running, we have a mourning dove nesting in the vines surrounding the front door:
I can't imagine why they would pick this spot, because the front door is always opening and closing, often with a bang, but we are watching eagerly for babies...

and yes, the euonymous vines are mostly dead, thank you for noticing - I am thinking of planting clematis plants on either side of the door, and having them wind through the vines...

so now you probably know more about me than you wanted to, and I have decided I probably need a pedicure. But I will probably buy plants instead...