I Coulda Been a Contendah...

but alas, my Sock Madness group winners were all in by Tuesday morning, and I somehow sprained my thumb on the weekend, which slowed me up much more than I had expected...

but they are done now!

Project: Mad Cow Socks for Sock Madness
Yarn(s): KnitPicks 'Essential' in Burnt Orange
Ruby Sapphire Yarns in 'Ariel'
Started: March 10, 2007
Finished: March 15, 2007


LOVE the short row heel - I made it slightly deeper and find it very comfortable and snug - I HATE baggy socks... the cast on was new for me, a figure 8 kind of thing - will post the link later - I couldn't make it very tight, so had to reinforce by sewing in more yarn -

however, I am happy, I really like the colours, and will wear them today as I whisk my young men off to Great Wolf Lodge for two days of waterslides, arcade games, and waterslides...

did I mention the waterslides? I had ordered myself a one piece swimsuit because at this point, I only have a tankini, and have visions of it flipping like an umbrella in the wind as I speed down these slides, making for a terrifying vision for adults and children alike - can you imagine the trauma that kind of vision might incur?

Still watching for the delivery guy - keep fingers crossed, and see y'all in a couple of days...

Change (but not of the TIME variety) is good...

OH


MY





GOSH!!!




Words fail me...

Time Change Kills

or at least, fatigues severely... and why are we moving our clocks ahead 3 weeks earlier than we usually do? Why, because the United States is, and we must follow - and in accordance with what may be perceived as difficulty with "authority", I am pissed...

but hell, it's sunny and melting out there, so I'll suffer...

PLUS it's March Break, and the boys and I have decided that we LOVE March Break - sure, we'll be tired much of the week because of the time change - but we can nap, or sleep in, or just assume our preferred positions of slug-ness... we can watch movies every night if we want to, and for some, March Break also makes the constant intake of junk food permissable... works for me (but not my ass, unfortunately)...

so yesterday I finished the foot and most of the heel of my first Sock Madness sock - surprising, since we were doing lots of things in between, but there you go...

and I wasn't sure of the colours when I chose them - Miss Scarlett, did you recognize the burnt orange you sent me back in SP 9? But as it has progressed, I find myself really liking it - looks sunny and warm... like outside right now...

my other big news? This afternoon, the boys are ... wait for it...

getting haircuts!

Needless to say, I will be posting before and after shots...

SOCK MADNESS

Yes, it's madness... 4 teams of 32 players, each team headed up by a sock knitter of renown... at the end of round one, only 16 players will remain on each team... it's nasty, cut-throat business, not for the squeamish of soul(sole) or tender of heart...

And I am SO in!

The weapons:
2.5mm circulars, and

The pattern: must check the website before divulging, in case I am arrested by the copyright police...

The bridesmaid (you know, the one who gets tossed aside like so much sock yarn while more important socks are tended to; always the bridesmaid, never the bride):
These are the socks from Yarn Ahoy mentioned in my last post... pretty, although too lacy, as I said before

The boys will be busy much of the day working on all the new magic paraphernalia purchased yesterday, so I might be able to make a dent in these today...

the madness descends...

Socks Rule!

"It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor, Would
You be mine?
Could you be mine?"

Mr. Rogers

Abso-frigging-lutely GAWGEOUS out there - sunny, expected high of +7 C (yes, that is, in fact, a plus sign), first official day of March Break (YAY!!!), and to celebrate, I might take my young men into Toronto to visit the two premiere magic shops there... yes, we believe in magic...

and the mailman just left, after dropping off a shitload of sock yarn - yes, I said shitload - but I mean that in the nicest way possible!

FINALLY got my first kit for the 2007 edition of the Rockin' Sock club, which I won't show till next week just in case not all kits have been received - the pattern looks totally intriguing, with garter stitch heels and toes, ribbing on the sole and instep of the foot and then a lovely cabely leg...

couple of skeins from Pick Up Sticks, which I shouldn't have, but I did - my impulse control with regard to sock yarn, particularly the indie hand-dyed sock yarns popping up all over the place, is nil - zip, zilch, nada...
but really, look at those colours:

Duet sock yarn in teal and brown, with brown accent for heels and toes - so-o-o-o yummy...
Yarn Pirate in Kona
And from Sweet Sheep (I like to think of it as supporting Canadian industry as a whole - I play no favourites here), Sweet Socks yarn in Spring Tulips...

how do you improve on this? you anticipate the beginning of Sock Madness tomorrow, and try desperately to decide which two yarns, one solid, one variegated, to use... you try to decide how best to allocate your time with other projects, like this mystery project... oooohhhhh... aaaahhhhh...

all of life's decisions should be this difficult...

HEY! Still out there? Anyone?????

Lots of catching up to do - I have been more than remiss, I'm afraid...

First, can you say generous? Kind-hearted? Thoughtful beyond words? Oh, then you must be talking about Natalie, my newly-revealed Secret Pal!

Honestly, it's overwhelming - yarn, a hand-knitted face cloth, Australian coasters, cake-shaped soap, a tote bag, sweets (and the cookies are totally addictive!), candles - wow! And as if that's not enough, Natalie also made me a counting bracelet, and a beaded stitch marker/row counter (which I am still trying to figure out) - it's beautiful, and orange, and all of it is just lovely - thank you so much!

In the three weeks since my last post, we have had snow, lost snow, had more, gotten warm, gotten VERY cold, and the screwiness continues - today's high is -10 C, but we are expecting +7 and rain by Saturday - truly the most bizarre winter I recall...

but my knitting has continued unabated... I finished my Jaywalkers - yarn is from Spunky Eclectic, but I don't want to name the colour because if she's watching, it'll be a dead giveaway - suffice it to say that photographing them in sub-zero temperatures was perfect... any guesses?

Also finished another sweater for Artisan Knitworks, 'Bemidji', which I love - love the yarn, love the pattern! Huge yarn, 10mm needles, and I think the cables really pop, more so than with the mohair and silk...

but maybe that's just me...

I also finished off a sweater for a friend, whose sister had started it but been bogged down by the sleeves - so I reknit those and sewed it up, and in the process decided that, although I don't like sewing sweaters in general, I really like sewing raglans - if the decreases are done well, you get the nicest diagonals framing the seam, and I love to watch it develop...

so, with all this "free time "on my hands, I cast on a birthday gift for someone which will be seen later - I know, I know, the suspense is killing you, isn't it? And, as always, a pair of socks, thinking maybe for me, using Indigo Fire yarn from Yarn Ahoy!, (I just noticed that Maya of Yarn Ahoy is taking a 2-month sabbatical - keep your eyes open upon her return - her yarn and colours are beautiful!)and the toe-up Feather and Fan pattern by Wendy of Wendy Knits!
I really, really like the short row toe-up part of this sock, but find the heel a little, well, little for me, so for the next pair I will work in a heel flap - just feels a little snugger on the foot -

I am also not so excited about the feather and fan part - just me - but I had been thinking it was time for me to design my own damn socks, and I had in my mind something like this pattern, so when I found it, I thought I'd save on brain cells... but in my mind, the pattern was not lacy, more solid, with a similar wave action - so I will continue to scour my pattern dictionaries for the stitch pattern in my head, and will work my own design around it - pics of the sock to follow...

so there we are, all caught up - so what better place for a gratuitous kid picture?

Wait! What is that? Could it be... knitting???

SNOW DAY!!!!!

Yes, I am just as excited as the kids, and I don't care who knows it! It has been snowing without a break for over 24 hours, and so far I have shovelled more than 2 feet worth of the white stuff - and it's still coming down!!!

I may have been a pioneer or something in another life, because I checked the freezer - lots of food - checked the woodpile - plenty for fires - and, well, didn't have to check my stash or bookshelves but am simply comforted by knowing that I am amply supplied well into the next decade...

At this point there are many kids out front, some I know and others I can't recognize because of extreme bundled-up-ed-ness, but they are hurling themselves over the mountain created by the snow plow, digging tunnels, making angels - makes me absolutely happy... silly, huh?

And the dogs? Oh, the dogs... doing their Pepe LePew imitations hopping through the snowdrifts, playing tag around the tree, tackling each other... and then, when they come in, something a little, um, odd... Maggie stands in front of Charlie and he licks the ice and snow from her legs and paws. Maybe a throwback to their ancestry? Maybe just weird...

I received the yarn for my next test sweater yesterday and it is beautiful! Soft, light, knits like a dream, and such colours...

I am also working on a Jaywalker sock, in a colourway to be named at a later date. It has taken me 6 - count 'em, 6 - tries to get this frigging pattern to work. Started with too large needles, then moved to slightly smaller ones and the smaller size of pattern, which was still too big, and so on, and so on... This has gone on for a week, and now, finally, I think the 6th time is the charm. Honestly, you'd think after knitting for as long as I have, I'd be a little brighter at this sort of thing. Guess that's what keeps it interesting...

such a treat, to have a day off in the middle of the week - I will be complaining about the snow and cold like everyone else in short order, I know, but today, it's been magical...

Another one bites...

oh, you know...

for James, who is 1, as previously mentioned:


Critter Top and Puppy Paws from Morehouse Farms, using their wonderful lightly-spun 3-ply merino... so soft

we will know tomorrow if they actually fit - I find small people's heads difficult to gauge sometimes, because my kids both had massive heads - fortunately, they have since grown into them...

The answer to a burning question...

Just how dumb are mice?

Mom and I had a discussion yesterday about this very thing, and I think I have the answer:

very.

I had two traps set up under my kitchen sink, as this seems to be where they congregate. I was wondering if a mouse saw one of his comrades in a trap, would he pause to think, hmmm, maybe it's not worth the peanut butter? Or would he think, oh, that happens to other mice. Or would he not think and simply act, go for the goods? Well, I don't know what thought processes transpired, but I like to think that perhaps there was an instance of tandem trap-jumping (like an Olympic suicide mission), because there were two this morning, side by side. Very sad, makes me scream every time I catch one, but ultimately, if they haven't been invited, they are not welcome.

Tandem trap jumping... little brown mice, holding paws and yelling 'Bonzai" as they leap for the peanut butter... can you see it?

Hi, I'm Deirdre...

and I am technologically impaired.

I went for broke last week, saved everything I could from the hard drive and then proceeded to reformat it. I followed the damned instructions - I am a "follow the instructions" kind of gal, particularly where the computer is concerned. Got a message telling me that Windows would not start unless I reinstalled a certain file, which I couldn't find because I couldn't get into Windows, which wouldn't open unless...

so, one Catch-22 later, I brought it in to my local computer shop, where they kept in for 3 days and told me nothing. Oh, they reinstalled Windows, but were of no use to me in understanding what the problem is. They only speak well to others who understand, which to me totally defeats the purpose of offering computer services to we, the less-than-excellent computer users.
The damn thing is JUST AS SLOW, takes ALL FRIGGING DAY to download one stinkin' audiobook, and generally is not a happy-making machine for me.

So I fume quietly, and work on another sock while I wait for web pages to download. The latest concensus is that it is not a 'hard drive' issue, it is a faulty chip on the mother-f$%^&*g-board, which may necessitate a new machine. Which I can't afford. And really, if I gnash my teeth anymore, I won't be able to afford the dental bills, either.

And for anyone who is reading, if you could possibly send your email addresses to my email account... I lost those, too... thank you

Big breath... find a happy place... maybe some cheese to go with my w(h)ine...

Knit-wise, lots going on, mostly good - I did some test-knitting for a lady in Michigan who has opened a fiber arts gallery - Artisan Knitworks - made two sweaters for her out of gorgeous yarns - silk, mohair, wool - and I guess I did well because she is sending me more work! Such fun to knit with beautiful yarns that I don't have to pay for, and to get paid for it!


Let's see, what else has been going on? Oh, I finished my Chipman's Block mitts (which ended up being way too big although they are Womens' Medium - next time I'll try DK yarn), and cast on socks for my dad's birthday, which we are celebrating this Saturday, along with my sister-in-law and nephew, who is 1!


Pattern: International Sock of Doom, by Yarn Monkey (and no, it's no reflection on my dad)
Yarn: Stahl Wolle 'Oxford Tweed', 2 balls, green/black mix - FROM STASH!!!
Started: Feb 4, 2007
Finished: Feb 7, 2007

I finished another gift which had been started before Christmas, and which I LOVE! What I particularly like are the thrums - so-o-o-o soft, they look - and feel - like locks of hair...

Pattern: Thrummed Socks, pattern and yarn by Fleece Artist
Started: Mid-December 2006
Finished: Feb 6, 2007

And now I am working on a hat and mitts for James, my nephew, using yarn and patterns from Morehouse Farms - this stuff is practically edible, and will likely require further investigation by and for myself in the near future - pics tomorrow when they are (hopefully) done - I will have Gray's Anatomy and CSI tonight, so should get lots accomplished!

I have also started another gift for someone, socks in a perfect colour for this person... can't say too much, they might recognize themselves...

Miss Scarlett, I DO NOT like the Dutch Heel on my socks at all - it doesn't stay in place like a short row heel - did you take yours out? And I will get more pics of Maggie up - and Charlie, don't want anyone feeling left out -

Kelly, I WILL put up a pic of our Sideways socks, but yes, they may be needing something different - I simply cannot see how it will fit...

And Anonknit, nothing in the post yet - hope you and yours have all settled in well post-move, and life has taken on a normal tone (whatever that is...) - I am so glad to have enabled you with the Wallaby - it's actually a lot of fun to knit, something I see myself making again and again over the years...

now, off to my sick son who is on Day 4 of being at home - between keeping him company, and waiting for this machine, lots of knitting time, right?

Ode to My Socks

I cannot lie, I love these socks -
My ardour I admit -
The colours flow, they're bright and warm,
and yes, by God, they fit!

I worry, though, about the holes
to come with heavy wearing -
But not to fear - another ball
I've stashed FOR ME - no sharing!

so it's not quite of the same calibre as Miss Scarlett's poetry readings... my taste runs more towards Dr. Seuss anyhow...

yes, I love them, and I am not ashamed to say so -
Pattern - my own basic, using Dutch Heel and Wedge Toe from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks (because I thought it might be fun to learn some new heels and toes - and now I know that I prefer the fit of a short-row heel to a Dutch Heel - does not detract from my love for these babies, though)
Yarn: Trekking XXL, colour #108
Started: November 17, 2006
Finished: January 25, 2007

And the instant the last end was tucked in, I decided I needed some mitts, as I am unable to feel my fingertips after walking the dogs in my pseudo-techno-plasticky sort of gloves. So, I dug out Flying Geese and Partridge Feet, by Robin Hansen/Janetta Dexter, with their mitten patterns from "up north and down east", and cast on the Chipman Block pattern, using Mission Falls 100% wool -

the colours are actually a little tame for me, but I was trying to find something to work with a brown kicking around coat, and a beige-y nicer coat, which doesn't get a lot of air time, but still...nice to match, sometimes...

Thinking out loud...

So it's Monday, which means it is hockey practice morning - and it was my turn to take Ben to the arena, so by 5:50AM, he was on the ice and I was basking under the glow of an overhead heater, coffee at my side and knitting in hand. I tend to sit on my own, because frankly, I am a little socially retarded at the best of times, and am SO NOT socially sparkling at 6 in the morning. I was near the hard-core hockey parents, who were discussing a possible tournament over March Break in very gung-ho terms. I looked out to the ice and watched the coach for the team we share the ice with.

This is an intense guy. It's rumoured that he actually received a coaching penalty because of his yelling and attitude towards his players, and that parents of his players have filed complaints about him. The players, keep in mind, are 10 years old. During practices, he likes to use his whistle. A lot. It's a very shrill, vibrate your eardrums, get right under your last nerve sort of whistle, and he uses it a lot. He uses it to start drills. He uses it to end drills. He uses it to call kids, and to get their attention. I wouldn't use it to call my dogs, never mind other people. I want to deck him every time he uses the godforsaken thing, and given my low level of energy at 6AM, that's saying something. I actually visualized it this morning: I saw myself climbing down the stairs, sliding across the ice and slugging him. In my mind, I saw him swallowing his whistle, and I smiled. I'm not proud. But please.

So I'm watching these kids - how old are they? Oh, yeah, they're 10. Are they NHL prospects? Not likely. Are they having fun right now? Uh-uh. I'm watching the coach. Nuff said. I am eavesdropping on the hard-cores, not by choice, but because they are so hyped and loud I can't avoid it. As the caffeine melts its way through my veins and into my consciousness, I think:

WTF???

I want my son to do well, of course, but only for the fact that he will be happy about it. Is he the next Sidney Crosby, or does he strive to be? No. Ultimately, he plays hockey because he wants to, because IT'S FUN. And things were so lacking in fun this morning, it was unbelievable. We have been part of the whole hockey subculture long enough that I shouldn't be surprised by any of this, shouldn't even notice it. And I still am, I still do, and it makes me kind of sad for our 10-year olds. They have their whole lives to feel pressured and pushed - it just seems so early to start.

Thank you for your indulgence.

And now for something completely different:
I am lucky enough to have some wonderful artwork on my walls. I look at it all the time for comfort and inspiration. But lately, I am keeping a different sort of artwork on my desk, and it makes me very happy indeed...

The frog is wearing a scarf made by Tanner - his first piece of knitting, in fact... and the crystal vase? Well, I am not a crystal vase sort of person - I am, by nature, an earthenware jug type of gal, but I have finally found something, some degree of beauty and inspiration, for which the crystal has been deemed worthy.

so now I am going to have a coffee, admire my artwork, and NOT think about whistles for the rest of the day...

The Week from H. E. Double Toothpicks

Yes, indeedy, read all about it!
Started Monday with an ice storm which left cars frozen solid in driveways, and trees sparkling like icy jewels in the sunlight.
Then it turned COLD. Nasty, nasty cold. Not a week ago we were out in sweaters and running shoes, and now, well, it's winter.
My youngest, Ben, came down with a horrid cold on Monday and was home for two days. On Wednesday his class had a field trip to Harbourfront Centre in Toronto for a Drumming Workshop - way cool.
And it was. He rallied in the morning for the hands-on, playing African drums session. After lunch we were ushered into a small, warm room to make our own clay drums, and unfortunately, this proved too much for the kid. After finding a washroom with not a second to spare, we waited in the hallway until it was time to go home, and then I sat nervously beside him on the bus for the 40-minute ride, plastic bags at the ready.
He was fine, but had to stay home Thursday to recuperate.

Tanner had some excitement of his own on Thursday:
Before:

After:

The bad news is, his teeth are too sore for solid food, and tonight is pizza night, which leaves him SOL. The good news is, I can order Ben his usual small cheese pizza, and then I can get what I WANT for a change - mushrooms, anchovies, onions... mmmm... heartburn, here I come!
And I clocked in my first official FO's of 2007:

Project: Ball-Band Washcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Peaches & Creme, Fiesta and Peacock
Needles: 4mm
Time to Completion: approximately 2 hours each

and today I learned that that crazy Yarn Monkey is at it again - seems like Socks Wars just wasn't enough... the new challenge is for the Knitting Championship of the World...check her blog link for details...

did I sign up? Do you even need to ask?

So, for a week which started in the netherworld, I think things have improved nicely... happy weekend, all!

Well, it had to happen...

FOOTNOTE: HATS BY BEN
and the fact that it didn't happen until the middle of January is really, well, weird...



but the kids are happy, even about having their snowpants on, and it does feel much more 'right' now - I mean, this is Southern Ontario, for God's sake - we should be sick and tired of this stuff by now, and instead we're (read: I'm) kind of excited about it!

So as they tumble and slide and come in periodically for dry mitts, I am wrapped in domesticity - working on a Ball-Band washcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting - very cute, pic to come - baked beans in the crockpot, bread in the bread machine - oh my God, I am turning into June Cleaver!!!

Hell, it could be worse, I suppose... I could be turning into Wally or Eddie Haskell or something...

and thanks for all the very very kind words about my return here - I feel so much better I can't tell you (well, my constant blogging probably says enough), and I am just so very happy to hear from people again - yay!

I will leave you with this idea for a new hobby, should knitting prove to be lacking in challenge (HA! As if!) Any guesses as to what it's made from?

And now I may become annoying...

Now that this seems to be working (yes, I am touching wood while I type), I must thank my secret pal, Anonknit, for this most wonderful sampling of goodies:

LOVE the tape measure, and now I have one in each knitting bag, so I should never be unable to find one... right? Tea with an infuser, edible treats (there was also a box of chocolate/caramel biscuits, but, well, between the three of us... it didn't survive long), a Christmas decoration all wrapped up in a lovely tea towel - thank you so, so much!

And note, this came to me while my pal has been in the midst of a cross-country move, with 4 kids, during Christmas... need I say more?

I am currently working on a couple of sweaters for a gal who has opened a 'fiber arts gallery' in Michigan - beautiful yarns, nice, basic patterns - and am working on the boys' henleys in between - will put up pics of those later, as well as my much adored socks - plus Kelly just sent me her Sideways sock for assistance - I think it looks fine, but since I'm the one who made her try it, I'm more than happy to try to fix whatever seems to need fixing - although I don't see much at this point...

A season in photographs...

most creative cookie of the year: "Tiny Tim"
followed closely by "Super-Gingey"

mittens:
thrummed alpaca from Green Acres Farm
thumbless reversible joggers' mitts from EZ's 'Knitting Around'

mini-ornaments: and

felted clog slippers from Stitch Divas:

basic socks, made better than basic with Knit Picks "Gloss" (merino wool/silk)

felted baskets, which I LOVE and will make more of...

and the dogs protecting their Christmas gifts from each other -



just a small note: it is January 13, and so far , between the two of them, they have only actually finished one of these suckers. Charlie is perpetually carrying the second one around with him, banging into walls and cabinets and dropping it on things like the floor and our feet, but is not actually eating it. He is, in a word, neurotic...

Special thanks to Tanya, for all of your help with the pictures - it worked!!

There's no place like home...

Okay, okay... I went, I saw, I blew it - just couldn't get the hang of the new system at all, and it was totally sucking the fun out of blogging, which for me, up until my "move", it was. I mean, really, I just want to write, share some photos, and maybe hear from people.

After a month, I could write, and sort of share pictures - as long as you are comfortable with teeny weenies - but couldn't hear from anyone - and I thought being master of my domain would be much more rewarding...

so I have conceded defeat - I give up - I quit - I admit to being somewhat technologically challenged - and I'm back - and I'm hoping that in the near future I'll be able to upgrade here to the new version and have more things to play with...

but for now I am happy to be here, and hoping that things will work out - my next major task is to reformat my hard drive - third time in 18 months - and once that's done it should all be a cakewalk... right?

Knit-wise, I am working on the second sock of those Trekking socks which I love so very much - got through a WHACK of Christmas knitting, pics of which I will get up pronto, am still working on the boys' sweaters (no longer Christmas sweaters, but rather just 'sweaters') plus doing some contract knitting - YAY!!! Paid to knit!!! Truly, my ideal...

wow - the relief I am feeling at this moment is just huge - such a weight off my shoulders... moral of the story? The grass isn't always greener on the other side, although, for January in Southern Ontario, it's pretty damn green...