Clicking Sticks

Last Ramblings for the year! Promise!

2010-12-31T14:39:00.005-06:00

It was the best of times it was the worst of times...

It was a good year at work...after 3 years, they finally accept me as part of their team!
It was a bad year at work...still not getting paid a competitive wage.
It was a good year around the house...new windows...all employed (even if its "under" employed)!
It was a bad year...well, no, not really - but the utility bills (gas/elec) keep going up dammit!

It appears that the greedy oil speculators are driving up the cost of oil again which means the cost of transportation will be going up. Gasoline prices are hovering around $3 a gallon again. Wish I could ride the bus to work. I could...if I wanted to spend 3 hours a day commuting 18 miles. Maybe someone down this way would be interested in ride-share? Burnsville-Eagan to St. Paul Midway area?

The cats are all doing well.

Piawacket will be 15 in May and she's just a crazy ol' gal. Love her bunches!

Dori will be 7 in June and is still a little sweetheart (merrrrrup)!

Tegan's kitteh, Ace, might be a wee bit less spastic...? maybe ?

In September it was finally time to let Xena go, or help her on her way out of pain and the infirmities of old age. She was 13 and 4 months when we said goodbye at the Vet's. Again I say, "Bye-bye baby girl." (sniff)

Axel is a punk! And the squirrels continue to blow raspberries at him from the deck. He's back to his puppy ways of jumping up on the trees in the backyard in hopes of catching one...whether they're in the tree or not. He's tearing the bark off of the one just off the deck, the little jerk!

He'll be 7 in June, also. He was diagnosed in the spring with elbo dysplasia and has been helped by a very pricey anti-inflammatory in addition to having been put on a weight-loss diet. He's lost 25 lbs and is a svelt 93 lbs now. He also, tore his dew claw off this year chasing Ace around the house. That was costly and earned him the cone of shame for a bit...

In the world of knitting, I finished an entrelac beret and mittens, a spiral multi-color striped beret, the Flutter Scarf, the shrug that's been on the needles since 2008 or 2009 since spring.

I have lots of stuff planned for 2011.

Everything in Amigurumi Knits and they're all worsted weight on US #5 needles.
Cheryl Oberle's Chinese Red Vest (Ravelry link) using the red Alpaca in my stash.
Icarus Shawl using Briar Rose 4th of July and US #6 needles. I asked her for a custom color at Shepherd's Harvest and it arrived 2 weeks later! It's been calling me ever since but there's just been so much to do.....Soon, very soon now.
Have to finish Buttercup (Ravelry) by spring so I can wear it! Started it last summer. I'm using Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in the 020 (red) colorway
Explore some more Lace knitting, starting with a few more scarves
Knit up some felted clogs (use up some stash)
Knit some socks (again, use up some stash)
And last but not least...another February Lady Sweater (for Tegs) - no idea what color yet.

Oh, one other thing...after 40+ years of hiding the truth I've decided this year to come out! Yep, that's right, I'm an atheist Having been "raised" and schooled in the Catholic tradition, the indoctrination was tried...but it never, ever stuck. I can remember the exact moment that I walked away from catholicism...I was 14 and it was a Saturday evening mass at Holy Ghost Church in Dubuque, Iowa. It was like a lightbulb clicked on.

All these years I've pretty much said that JC was an ok dude but that's about it. I said I was agnostic for the past couple of decades. Turns out, if you start applying logic and reason to historical analysis, JC probably didn't exist.

Now, I'm a huge Bill Maher fan, I feel a sort of kinship with him actually, and so of course I've seen (own) Religulous. So funny! So Brilliant! I guess that's what started me on my self-discovery path this year really. And after lots of research and reading, and especially after having read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, I just have to shake my head. The wars and destruction wrought in the name of religious faith are devastating. People turning their minds away from science in the name of god? Ridiculous! History is a very interesting subject and so is biology. And facts are facts.

And so all this right wing christian stuff has really turned me off these past couple of years.

The people who voted against their own best interests because the plutocracy has convinced them it's the christian thing to do to throw in with them make me sad...and at times I feel like my head will explode!

I hope that we can get this country back on the track that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine had set forth! Otherwise, I think perhaps the U.S. is going to find itself a wasted nation. Better regulation of our food industry, the oil companies and other big corporations needs to be put into practice.

Manufacturing needs to happen here!!! Wages need to go up so people have money to buy things so that manufacturers will make more products and get this economy moving. It's really NOT rocket science. But it would mean that CEO's and CIO's and speculators will have to give up something...

Note that the US highway system didn't pay for itself...and big corporations didn't pay for it either. Your parents and grandparents taxes did. The infrastructure crumbles while Republicans hold the unemployed and lower income families hostage so that they could secure a 3% tax cut for the uber-rich! Complete insanity!!

So here's to better economic times in 2011, and a hope that those low-information people in this country stop listening to Fox News and start doing some fact checking of their own!

Almost Thanksgiving

2010-11-19T06:43:00.002-06:00

It's almost time to buy the Turkey and cranberries and sausage for the stuffing (called dressing by my mother and the ladies of a bygone era). As we prepare for another winter season, I hope that more people will start talking about their success in landing a job. My son, who's been unemployed for over a year is finally employed! All of my chil'ens seem to be on the upswing and that's good.

Politics 24x7
I volunteered some time this fall with the Minnesota DFL (Democratic-Farm-Labor) party in the hope of getting out the progressives to vote in Congressional District 2. It's a red district so it was an uphill trek. And the Corporatist Party won the day once again in the mid-terms. We are stuck with John Kline for 2 more years! I sure hope Shelley Madore runs again in 2012! She really has it going on, and she knows what's going on in CD2 as well as Minnesota and the country. She would be a fabulous Congressional Representative for our district and our state...and I hope she'll make the sacrifice and run again!

And in my State district (38A) my Representative and Sentor did not win their bids for re-election. The myopic voters in this district decided to vote against incumbents... but to what end?? They definitely didn't vote for the better candidates. I hope Rep. Masin and Sen. Carlson will take up the fight again next time around.

Meanwhile we wait for Mark Dayton to be confirmed as our new Governor. Alas, we'll have to suffer another recount but I feel a little less anxiety about it knowing that the vote spread is large (almost 9000 votes), so it shouldn't be as contentious as the Franken-Coleman recount in 2008.

The country is divided...and what is so very frustrating to me is that almost 1/2 of the voters in this country continue to vote against their own best interests. We need a strong middle-class...and we were growing that middle-class, there was a war on poverty happening, civil rights were finally expanding to include all Americans, wages were coming up, manufacturing was strong, education was top-notch. Without a middle-class what do we have? Do you remember reading about the feudal system in history class? Did you have any history in your history class? I know I did back in the 60s and 70s.

...and then....

Ronald Reagan, the actor, charmed the public into believeing something called "trickle down" economics. He broke the air-traffic controllers union. He wasn't a friend of the middle-class. He was another minion of corporate interests and he had a certain gift to charm the people and make them think that taking away their rights was a good thing. So they began the dumbing down of America, tweezing out important history from the text books. Moving the educational system toward the model we have now - Tell them what to think and not HOW to think - aka, teach to the test.

There are tomes written on the Bushes...so I'll leave that to the experts... Family of Secrets is a good place to start. They've been soldiers for corporate plutocracy since the 19th century...and they did a lot to destroy the country that the Greatest Generation fought so hard for!

Now we are looking at trying to get DADT and the DREAM act passed before the corporate take-over begins in January. The TSA has run amok groping travelers who don't want to be subjected to dangerous xrays. All because someone is making a ton of money on full-body scanners. People are now being terrorized by the TSA. Privatization is not the solution to this one! Do you want Blackwater groping you instead?? Not me, thanks.

Locally, the residents of Minneapolis were given notice that their property taxes will be going up in 2011, double digit increases, in most cases 16%and 17%. The main reason for this increase, in addition to funding cuts from the state, is stated to be the hit that the city pension plans took because they were invested in the stock market. They should be nationalized as the poster child for NOT PRIVATIZING SOCIAL SECURITY...or this could happen to that fund as well.

As to Social Security and Medicare, what a lot of people don't realize is that it is NOT affecting the Federal budget, deficit or national debt. But the people who want to cut out the safety net put in place by FDR want everyone to be afraid (more terrorism) and to give them the power to take it away by telling them that privatizing it will fix everything. There are other ways to fix this. How about raising the cap on the withholding??? The current cap on OASDI (Fica/SS) is 108K...so people who make more than 108K a year don't have any SS withheld on "earnings" over 108K. Here's the annual report if you want to geek out on it...Ipersonally like the charts and graphs.

I am Pro-Choice. I support repeal of DADT. I support the DREAM Act. I support my President, with one caveat...if he leans any further to the right, my affection will cool. We need Single-Payer healthcare! While I support the Affordable Health Care Act...it fell short of giving the country what it truly needs and wants! Single Payer!

I think it's time for people across the country to stop being AFRAID! We are Americans. This is supposed to be the home of the free and the brave, right? Stop letting terror rule your lives. Let's fight for jobs here by saying NO to companies that off-shore jobs, that ship raw goods to countries with low wages, where they manufacture and assemble into finished goods and ship the stuff back to the U.S. That only works for the CEOs who are looking at profits and cost margins and not the betterment of the people in the U.S.

Next time, I'll post something more upbeat about pets and knitting and spinning and the winter solstice. This time, though, I had to vent a bit.

Happy Unlaborious Labor Day

2010-09-06T14:55:00.006-05:00

What a marvelous lazy day it is today! We took Axel for a walk this morning andI did a little knitting on Buttercup. This afternoon I watched President Obama's speech at Laborfest in Milwaukee.

Nothing like Saturday...me and 234.5K people went to the Minnesota State Fair! Luckily we (and by we I mean only Chris, Tegan and me - not the entire 234K+ group) went early in the morning by bus and were home before 3PM. What a crowd there was when we were leaving!! Next year I'm going on a weekday! BTW - the BEST mini-donuts can be found at the stand just outside of the Grandstand building on the left side as you face the grandstand. Fluffy and sweet and just the right amount of grease and sugar! ;-)

Back to a normal work routine tomorrow after a long weekend after a week in Atlanta for Horizon Lab File Build training. Learned a lot...now to put it to use. More training will be forthcoming over the next 8 weeks! I hope this proves to be interesting AND rewarding.

Knitting Project Update

I'm still not finished with that shrug...whatever.

The Flutter Scarf had an error in it about 18 painful rows back and so I ripped it (not easily) while listening to (I can hardly say I was watching) Doubt with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep. An unpleasant task and a not-so-great movie. Glad I didn't pay money to see it in the theater when it came out. The scarf is back on track and I hope to hell don't have to rip it again because the Malabrigo lace was clinging strongly to itself!

This is 13 repeats of the 50 repeats of this chart until the ruffly edge chart can be started. This has a provisional cast on and it starts in the middle of the scarf and is knitted to one end, then you come back and pull out the waste yarn and knit to the other end.

The Buttercup, which I'm knitting with red Hempathy is much more knitter-friendly. While the yarn I'm using is the same as that used by the designer in the pattern, I'm thinking I would prefer it in a little heavier gauge. Maybe I'll change my mind when its completed and blocked. As it looks right now, I will have to wear a cami under it. Here's what it looks like at the moment.

In just a few more rows I'll be splitting the sleeves from the body! Yay! I originally wanted to wear it this year but as often happens, other projects got in the way. So instead, it will be a spring thing. Seriously, I need to start knitting spring and summer stuff beginning in October and November and then do the winter stuff starting in April and May! It's all just backward!

The next big project that I want to start is the Icarus Shawl and the next smaller project will be the Spiral Tam with matching socks and hand warmers. I hope that's before the end of September! I want them to be a Holiday present for someone.

Bird Watching

It's that time of year again. The Red-Breasted Nuthatches have arrived on their autumnal flight to their winter digs south of the border. We saw several Eastern Phoebe's out front yesterday...they must be traveling with the RBNH's this year. Soon I suppose the Dark-Eyed junco's will be popping around on the deck like so many bouncing eight-balls.It was a Purple Finch pool party this morning at the birdbath out back. And last evening we saw a Cooper's Hawk swoop down and grab a snack. :-S Bird's gotta eat, right?

Mrs. Cardinal is having a bad "hair" month....she's lost all her lovely head feathers and sort of resembles a turkey vulture...sort of. We saw this a few years ago and the lady at the Wild Bird Store said it's some sort of virus. Hopefully she will be back to her beautiful self soon.

I'll leave y'all with a Labor Day message from Robert F. Kennedy that was shared by one of my favorite House of Representatives members, Congressman Alan Grayson of Florida.

What's on the Needles?

2010-08-19T20:45:00.004-05:00

I've been working on the Textured Circle Shrug for over a year - it was a KAL on the web. Most of that time it was hibernating. I have about 2000 seed stitches left... :-( Its Aran weight wool so its not really a fun summer knitting project...but it will eventually get finished this fall.

I'm also working on the Buttercup with Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy in colorway 020, a tomato red, which I purchased from Webs/Yarn.com. I'm just starting into the lace on the front, having joined it in the round about 5 rows ago. I thought maybe I could find the pattern online and link to it for y'all but couldn't find it. I guess Ill have to post some pictures of the progess, eh?

Some of the Wednesday Night Knit Club....er, the South of the River Ravelers, are knitting the Flutter Scarf. I think everyone who's knitting this is using Malabrigo Lace. My colorway is periwinkle and it's LOVELY. I'm making it for a special person. I sure hope she isn't reading this! I don't think she knows the blog exists...should be safe.

In the wings, I want to start on the spiral beret kit I ordered from KnitPicks a few months ago and hope to get that finished before Christmas. I also want to start on the Icarus Shawl with my "4th of July", custom dyed yarn (seen below) from Briar Rose!!! I'm really excited to start that one. The pattern is written for lace weight yarn on size US3 needles. I'm using worsted weight yarn and a size 6 needle...or maybe a US7.

Dori in ...stuff

2010-08-19T20:27:00.004-05:00

Dori is notorious for attempting to sit or sleep in EVERYTHING.

This is the box the my Droid came in...I barely got phone out of the box...the accessories were still inside.

Same box....emptied...of the original contents anyway.

Dori in the fruit bowl...happens when the last banana is lifted out of the bowl but before the peel has been completed removed.

This was a keyboard box...and she definitely doesn't. quite. fit.

Well...sort of....

Continuing with the Belated Photo posting...

2010-08-19T20:06:00.003-05:00

This was my first intrelac project. It was a kit from Knit Picks. There are some really fun matching mittens also... I don't have pictures of the mittens because I needed to get a wee bit more yarn to complete them...I ran out with the cuff bindoff left. Drag! Knit Picks was gracious enough to send me another skein so I could finish them. Its their lovely Andean Silk. I was scrumptious to knit with...Alpaca, silk and merino blended yarn. Anyway this is the underside/brim of the beret.

This is the topside of the beret. It was really an interesting project....haven't decided who's

getting the hat and mittens yet... ;-)

This was last November's knitting projects...

Mike's stocking on the left and Tegan's on the right.

I started her's back in ....2006? It was done all but applying the holly leaves and berries...and bells around the ruffle (which I see now...the bells didn't make it into this picture).

Mike's sock was from a pattern I picked up at Shepherd's Harvest in 2009 and then bought the yarn from the vendor, Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mills, online.

This was made for Betsy and given to her last winter.

And another shot of Cathy's scarf (with just a hint of Piawacket at the left edge).

Not Enough Pictures lately! ....so here we go....

2010-08-19T19:19:00.009-05:00

Piawacket has always been a sucker for a photo op. The feature here was supposed to be the scarf....Aw well...this works. This scarf went to Cathy up in Superior (WI).

Axel loves being outside and the weather is inconsequential. Except rain. I think it has to do with the upright ears.

This is the Felted Tote I knit last spring....

It was a lot of fun to knit and I'm looking forward to using again now that Autumn is right around the corner.

Friday - Let the Weekend Commence!

2010-08-06T15:19:00.004-05:00

I finished Practical Demonkeeping last night and now have to decide what to read next. This was CM's first book, written back in the early '90s. I have to say I didn't like the demon, Catch, at all, nor did I care for Robert...my favorite character was Augustus Brine...who ran a shop that sold bait and fine wine.

I was introduced to the author via A Dirty Job...which was many books after Practical Demonkeeping. I think he's had all these books floating around in his head and they are slowing pouring forth onto the written page for us to enjoy!! He has really honed his humor along the way. It's sarcastic and dark - a lot...but sometimes is "LOL" funny. I read Fluke a couple of months back in which he attempts to explain why the humpback whale sings - now THAT was totally weird. TOTALLY! I loved every moment of it!

I bought 3 books last time I was at B&N but I also have a few others laying about the place waiting to be read....The newest books in the library are The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens and Why Orwell Matters, also by Chris Hitchens.

I'd like to start on a new Christopher Moore book and I think C. has Blood Sucking Fiends on his Nook and I could borrow it.

I have a pass on Book club for another week since I've already read our next discussion selection, Water for Elephants. I was going to skim through it this weekend to refresh my memory before our meeting on Tuesday next...but then I remembered I lent it to my brother in Iowa. Doh! I see there will be a movie..wonder if it will be as good as the book.

I also have to get started on The Death of Vishnu so I'm prepared for the September discussion. For now I'm going to start in on Richard Dawkins book I think...or maybe I'll download Vishnu to my Nook tonight.....

Not my Mother's Kmart

2010-08-02T15:04:00.001-05:00

Ok, I went over there to the Big K to see what it was like. First thing I noticed was that the parking lot was almost empty; the blacktop cracked and starting to grow weeds in those cracks. Walking through the “IN” door I notice immediately that the lighting is wrong somehow. The ceilings are too high which is also why the lighting is wrong. The display racks and shelving are in need of upgrading and look like they were new back in the 1960s or maybe the 1970s – the EARLY 70’s. There is a scarcity of selection and this alone is off-putting when one is used to the bountiful shelves of Target. Also I couldn’t help noticing that the store was almost completely devoid of customers which lent an air of surrealism to this shopping experience.

If Sears doesn’t want to invest any money in this Kmart and make it viable in Burnsville then they should close the store because it’s a sad, sad shadow of what I remember Kmart to be.

Weird not-quite-bright-enough lighting + Not much to choose from = Not Going Back…period.

I read something over the weekend that was posted on the Target website and they used words like “listening to their employees and guests” and “regret their actions” however it seems to have been removed from their pressroom page now. I was going to link to it but it’s either been removed or its buried somewhere. Alas, I want to patronize you Target but I just don’t agree with what you’ve done. I definitely disagree with Justice Roberts’ view in the Citizen’s United case which has opened up campaign financing to allow corporations to pump obscene amounts of money into the political process!

Kmart vs Target

2010-07-30T10:27:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I've been to Kmart. It used to be my mother's favorite place to shop for acrylic yarn and hardware, socks and underwear, candy and other miscellaneous crap.

I remember being forced to go to Kmart with her on many Sunday afternoons, the "long" drive out to Plaza 20 in Dubuque from the north end. Rmember having to trail her around the store because I was just a little kid of course. When I got older I could wander a bit on my own and would find myself in the pet section where they had fish and a talking Mynah bird.

You could smoke in stores back then (wow...what a weird concept - but there weren't any regulations against it so people did it, I remember doing it! - Regulations are necessary, people!). Anyway, so when I moved to Minnesota in 1973 I shopped at the Kmart in Hilltop/Columbia Heights until a neighbor in apartment below us (on 24th and Emerson Ave South) introduced me to Target. Terri and I used to hop on the #17 bus on Hennepin Ave and ride out to the Target in St. Louis Park every couple of weeks. It wasn't a very cheery store but they had more intersting clothing than Kmart did.

Ooooh, and there was Zayres back then, too. The one in Dubuque opened around the time I left there....but there was a Zayre Shopper's City in St. Louis Park and it was an alternative to Kmart. Apparently Zayre bought out Shopper's City in that location- SC being a dying MN discount chain. The one we went to was over on 100 and Excelsior (where the Computer store is now). You could get gigantic soft-serve ice cream cones for 20 cents! It was about as cheery as the existing Target back in the 70s....sort of crowded with little outside light. Walmart hadn't expanded to this area yet...but it sort of reminded me of Walmart inside. Kmart was still a nicer place to shop.

Over the years I shopped at the Kmart in Richfield and more and more at the Target in Bloomington or Edina. I think I heard someone say that the Kmart in Richfield is gone now. I may have to take a drive over that way and check it out.

Target has been working hard to get the entire market share in the Twin Cities that's fo certain. And they were winning. Now I think Walmart is coming from behind and starting to seriously compete by opeining up the inside, making it lighter and brighter with wider aisles and all that. I still won't shop there, even if they fix the gray, depressing interior...they still treat their employees badly.

Kmart used to be a really cheery store but somehow over the years it has been neglected and so it wasn't the sunshiny place I remembered from my youth when I went into the one on Burnhaven a few years ago. I am planning to make a trip over there later today or tomorrow to find out if its changed much in the past couple of years.

One thing also is certain, I'm not shopping at Target until I see some sign of regret and a change concerning campaign contributions on their part. The right-leaning US Supreme Court and Justice Roberts may think that corporations should be given the same rights under the Contstitution that individual citizens have but that's ludicrous. So maybe if we all stand up against big business involvement in politics they will think harder and longer before trying to buy politicians! One person can't do it alone, it is in numbers that we can succeed.

8 Months is a Long Time Between Posts!

2010-07-20T21:47:00.003-05:00

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Its time to make a few changes and one is to get back to the blog. However, after playing for a couple of hours (?!!) with the new template designer its now time to turn in because 5am comes really early. We'll see, won't we, how soon I come back to do some blogging.

Parting shot: Pelicans on Pelican Lake near Orr, MN - taken last week on the Bog Walk.

All the Leaves are Brown (not!)...but the Sky is Gray

2009-10-20T15:28:00.001-05:00

Well this has been a weird year, weather-wise, so why should autumn be any different. Not the first time and most likely not the last. The leaves on a lot of the trees are green, yet drying up, on the trees. Some of them had the good sense to turn to red or yellow but a lot of them are completely confused. We've had snow at least 3 mornings already. It might actually be a good winter for X-country skiing for a change! I can't help but look on the bright side. Its my nature.

I've slipped into the autumn way of cooking already. I see meatloaf and paprikash and stews ahead. I clipped a recipe for Butternut Squash soup from the Byerly's organic & natural flyer. Thought I'd give it a whirl this weekend maybe, with some braised pork.

I'm listening to Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris and I'm about half-way through it. Its a good companion during afternoon drive time if there's nothing new being discussed on Thom Hartmann's show (XM 167). I tend to listen to my book during the morning drive also since Bill Press (also XM167) hasn't had anything too engaging to talk about...this week he's off and his producer, Peter, is hosting the show. They were discussing the proposed tax on "sugared" sodas yesterday but if you ask me it should be a tax on HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) sodas since that might spur the soda companies to start making more of the Real Thing (with REAL SUGAR) again. Seriously, everyone needs to wake up and smell the poison! Stop ingesting all this HFCS ...and don't turn to diet sodas filled with aspartame as an alternative. Cancer causing substances are no alternative!

Back to books, I just finished Common Sense by Thomas Paine (1776) and that was delightfully enlightening...and a full use of English, I might add! I'm also halfway through Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, which I'm also enjoying. Its a kids' book so its a quick read. We'll be discussing it in Book Club (generic name, we have no name for our group) the first Tuesday in November. My book selections this year are diverse, owing to the book club. I'm glad Darcy wanted to start one south of the river! Our next book after "Graveyard" will be Into Thin Air. I bought it but I'm not so sure its going to suck me in like some of the others we've read this year. I also have the Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food and Food, Inc waiting on the nightstand.

Food, Inc. is a companion book to the movie I saw this summer with my friend Dina. This was a life-changing event...not seeing a movie with Dina...although I don't recall another movie we've seen together in the theater...No, this movie opened my eyes and sent me screaming back to a lifestyle that I lost sometime around the time Reagan plunged us into the darkness...and by that I mean the ol' Back to the Earth movement from the 60's and 70's...organic, whole, natural foods!
And nowadays its even more important because most of the food in the supermarkets is full of antibiotics, pesticides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms)...and I'm fairly sure its the cause of a LOT of our health issues today from the rise in autism to the rise in diabetes and obesity, among others.

Fluffy and White

2009-10-12T09:48:00.003-05:00

So....its probably not all that fluffy...but it looks like Marshmallow Fluff covering the trees across the street from my office window. Its probably heavy and wet and thank goodness its not sticking to the pavement. Shoveling the heavy, wet stuff is the worst!

We had a flour-coating of snow when I let the dogs out on Saturday morning. That melted away by Sunday and Chris was able to stow all the deck furniture and the grill away for winter while I brought in the serving cart and potted mums.

Today we expect 1-3 inches before this is finished. I think we have 2" already. One of the guys in the office said he only remembers it snowing once in October...he was 9. LOL!!! That was 1991...the big Halloween blizzard that everyone who was alive and in the Twin Cities remembers. I was a programmer at Open Systems in Eden Prairie that year. Chris worked for OPM. It was a gruesome winter because it all stuck to the roads and it stuck around all winter. We had big ice potholes in the otherwise snow/ice packed roads and it was pretty harsh on vehicle suspensions. I'm sure the repair shops had a great season!

There was a guy on the news from one of the local apple orchards. He said the apples would be fine. They just have to get them off the trees before they hit the ground. They can't sell them once they've been on the ground (which was news to me).

So that's about it for the start of the 2nd full week of October. Just 74 shopping days (counting today) until Christmas.

Its October! First Weekend Recap

2009-10-05T10:51:00.002-05:00

I finished listening to Club Dead Friday evening and the next book in the series, Dead to the World, wasn't available at netlibrary.com so I had to put myself on the waiting list for it. So while waiting for this one to be available I downloaded Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Different, I know... I'm almost finished reading The 19th Wife and just in time for our book club discussion on Tuesday night! Whew! I have to start reading Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book this month for book club too! It would be easy to keep up with all these books if I didn't have other interests and hobbies and commitments to keep me busy. There just isn't enough time in the day!

Watched Real Time w/ Bill Maher Friday night and finished several rows on one of the lace scarves I'm knitting as Christmas gifts. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Janeane Garafalo and Thomas Freidman made up the panel - and they were awesome! He also had on Richard Dawkins. It was a good show this week!

In the mundane category of life there is grocery shopping, which I did on Saturday. At least part of it was done at the Farmer's Market - which isn't as mundane as other forms for food buying. With the Carrots and Potatoes from the Farmer's Market and the Organic cabbage from the Co-op I made New England Boiled Dinner on Saturday. It was yummy...and the Corned Beef was consumed at once! However, I have a LOT of cabbage left, as well as potatoes and a few carrots. Its a good thing I'm on a cruciferous vegetable kick this week. I don't know why I didn't do any laundry on Saturday (even more boring than groceries) because I knew I wasn't going to get to it on Sunday! Oh, well...I guess that was pretty poor planning on my part as I don't know if I'll get to it anytime between now and Thursday. I have a feeling the washer and dryer may be tied up tonight since its DD's one night off in 2 weeks.

Yesterday morning I handed out water and cheered on runners at mile 17 of the Twin Cities Marathon. No Rain, it wasn't muggy and there was a little breeze - a perfect day for the runners! There were 35 people from my group, HealthEast Medical Lab at Mile 17 with 3 other groups. The station Captains were great! The first of the wheelchair participants flew past us around 8:45-8:50 and the first runners passed us around 9:15-9:20 with the last runner passing us around 12:15.

The street was continuously kept clean of GU packets and cups by fellow volunteers. After the last runner passed by, the trucks moved in behind them and the tables were loaded on the trucks, and all the recycling and garbage was loaded in the Waste Management trucks. The volunteers worked as a well oiled machine - a sign of good volunteers and excellent leadership! We were out of there within 10-15 minutes of the last runner passing by. I think a great time was had by all!

Interesting after-effect - my right bicep is sore from holding my arm extended for 3 hours! A very small price for helping out.

Chris and I went to see Capitalism: A Love Story yesterday afternoon and it was one of the few movies I've seen where the people in the audience clapped afterward! Confession here, this was the first Michael Moore movie I've seen. One of the members of the House of Representatives who really stood out in this film was Marcy Kaptur - she is a true representative of, and for, the people! Why do people trust corporations? Why?? Check out Common Sense sometime....government is necessary to regulate vices - and greed is definitely a vice, peeps. If you go to see Mr. Moore's latest creation - stay for the credits as its interspersed with quotes and there are many, many groups and people who are thanked at the end - not just the production crew.

Romancing Wash Day??

2009-08-31T14:44:00.012-05:00

Monday Musings
Another Monday. Mondays suck. Or they start out that way. Its a paradigm I would like to change. I'd love to get up and do the wash on Monday like women did when I was little - ok to have the option at least. Laundry was an all day event that started early in the morning and finished with the sprinkling after naptime on Monday afternoons. In between was the washing, wringing, rinsing, wringing, hauling it up out of the basement, stringing the wash lines up, pinning up the clothes, waiting for them to dry (which on breezy days meant some of it could be taken down by the time you had the last of it hung up). On calm, humid summer days the drying might take hours and hours. If it rained after you hung it all up, well then you had to run out there and grab it all and bring it in! What an adventure that was! If it was raining before you could get it outside, then it was hung in the basement (likewise in winter). After the wash was all hung out to dry, there was lunch to be made, and the little ones (that was me) put down for a nap.

The nostalgia of playing outside on wash day and listening to the sheets and towels flapping in the breeze captivates me. Oh, But Don't touch!!! I guess making mud pies and then running through the clean clothes wasn't really an option - unless you wanted a spanking. However, when the sheets first went up (and getting to hand her the clothespins) when the grass was still damp with the dew and the sun was overhead...I recall standing between the lines and feeling the moist summer air scented with Tide or Oxydal and Downy and how it was heavenly.

I presume during naptime that the sheets and towels and underwear were brought in and folded while watching the daytime dramas (soaps). After naptime, the shirts and pants were brought in and those that would need ironing were dampened or "sprinkled" with water and then rolled up and put in a plastic bag and tucked into the fridge until the following day, which was Ironing Day. :-) "Permanent Press" was something that came later in my childhood but there was much rejoicing around that innovation I can tell ya! It eliminated that whole sprinkling thing and the recycled ketchup and coke bottles with the cork sprinkling tops were retired. There was spray starch for those difficult shirts!

I think there are actually city ordinances in some suburbs against wash hanging out on the line now-a-days!!! Pity - it would be a great way to reduce your carbon footprint! I haven't hung wash out since 1985. I lived on 46th and Bloomington Av in south Minneapolis and had actual, real wash poles and clothes lines and clothes pins! Again, more's the pity! Nothing smells better than sheets that were dried outside!

Anyway, that was Monday in the pre-liberation days. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I do like the convenience and freedom that the automatic washer and dryer affords us. But the romance of a simpler time beckons on Monday mornings sometimes.

Gardening
Its time to start pulling out the dead vegetation and the stuff that just didn't do what I expected and put in some fall flowering plants. I started this weekend with the 2 pots on the deck, replacing begonias that brightened the deck this summer in yellow,orange and red, with lavender mums.The barrel out front will have the salvia removed between now and Labor day to be replaced by yellow and magenta mums. I haven't decided yet about the pots on the front steps. I think a cabbage or some celosia and maybe some orange mums...?

Saying Goodbye
Thanks to MSNBC I was able to experience Senator Kennedy's high mass on Saturday morning. It wasn't nearly as emotional as Bobby's funeral was for me and of course I still well up with emotion and shed tears whenever I see the film clip of John-John saluting his father's flag-draped casket. I'll never forget the solitary sound of the horses clip-clopping as that grim caisson carried JFK to his final resting spot at Arlington. And the empty boots in the stirrups of the horse, symbolizing our fallen leader. Jack, Bobby and Teddy are once again united.

Now lets do the moral right thing and get this health care bill passed!!!

Knitting
Knitted my swatch for the February Lady Sweater - while the funeral progressed. The yarn is Dream in Color Classy in the Black Parade colorway (how fitting for the occasion).I decided to stay with the US 8 needles although my gage is 18 stitches to 4.5 inches and not the recommended 18 per 4 inches. Instead of trying to get the correct gauge on smaller needles, I'm going to knit a size smaller. I'm hoping my plan will work...but since the construction of this sweater is similar to the Baby Surprise Jacket (E. Zimmerman) I can't just divide the stitches to get some width measurement... We'll just have to be adventurous!

Lazy Sunday (=no movie) - just more gardening, reading, and watching the tube
Did some weeding out front and Chris applied the late summer weed N feed to the yard. I would love to get rid of the landscape rock around the front and I've been asking my son for a couple of years to help. I guess I just have to do it myself since every time I bring up the subject he tells me how hard removing rock is. Good grief!

I also finished reading Wicked by Gregory McGuire. I was under the gun on this one because the book club is meeting to discuss it on Tuesday! It was a chore to finish it. While there were parts of it that were sort of interesting, and while I had high hopes that it would get better...sadly, it did not. I felt sort of used afterward. Like I had wasted that time reading it. The book from July (Loving Frank by Nancy Horan) was really good from beginning right to the end. The September book, which I've already started, The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, is also very good right from the start. So sometimes you have a loser in the mix. If I had been reading Wicked for myself alone, I would never have finished it.

We had salmon for dinner last night...Byerly's had Copper River Salmon on sale for $9.99/lb, and while King salmon season is done until next May, we are at the end of the Sockeye season and right in the middle of the coho season. I picked up a couple of lbs and grilled it last night for dinner; it was awesome! Also, the Colorado peaches are around and they're delicious!

True Blood - the 2nd to last episode of the season. I'm hoping that last night's episode was a bridge to somewhere since it had a lot of extra stuff that didn't fit - like that whole segment surrounding the Vampire Queen. Why is Sookie's cousin there as part of the Queen's court and how come Bill doesn't act surprised? Bill leaves when Erik arrives sent by Sam to find an answer to the MaryAnn problem (same as Bill). Why do I feel like Sookie is in grave danger now from MaryAnn - even more so than Sam? Could it me that special new power she exhibited last week- coupled with the knowledge that MaryAnn is looking for "the perfect supernatural vessel" - well, perfect and with a beating heart (hence she doesn't much care about the vamps). Can they kill her? She only 'thinks' (?) she's immortal (according to Sophie-Anne) but is seeking her own death by uniting with Bacchus? Tara went down a lot in my thinking. She may not have been bug-eyed when she conned her mother there at Lafayette's but she definitely is still under some sort of spell. And what's with the giant egg in Gran's bed? A lot of info for the 2nd to last episode of the season was added although it wasn't what you could call cohesive - sort of the lull before the storm?

And all the while this was going on I couldn't get the cat off my knitting bag. Well, of course I could've but she just kept sassing me and then ducking her head back under her paw to nap. The punk! No knitting was done last night.

Fun and Food but We want REAL Food please.

2009-08-25T13:32:00.004-05:00

The weekend in review - wow - 2 movies and the Renaissance Festival and I STILL managed to get the laundry done.

The weekend started with dinner on Friday night at the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe with some members of the book club. The food was (at least in my opinion) fabulous! We split an appetizer sampler while waiting for everyone to arrive. For my entree, I chose the Kababi chicken - Hot and Spicy! And it was HOT and SPICY...next time, I'll try to go just a wee bit less spicy but it was still awesome. It was a mixture of grilled chicken in bite-sized pieces in a light and tangy tomato sauce with fresh, whole, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and summer squash, red and green bell peppers and sliced jalapeños. It was served with saffron rice and a Greek salad. Yum!

After dinner, complete with belly dancing, we beat it over to Cinemagic by Burnsville Center to see The Time Traveler's Wife. This was one of the books we'd recently read and so we were all excited to see how they were going to capture the magic of the book. I think overall, we liked it - we all cried at the end anyway. Rachel McAdams was very good in the role of Clare. Of course there were scenes missing but you can't have everything right? The one thing I didn't really like was the feeling that we were being rushed, as if in a race, through the story. I've read the book twice - and would read it again sometime. And I am in awe of the author and the care and exactness with which she spun the tale, keeping the timelines clear and precise yet there was a lot of forward and backward throughout the story. The movie didn't capture that magic. But the movie was still entertaining. Just not as entertaining and enthralling as the book.

Back at home before 10 to watch Real Time with Bill Maher (here's the Maherisms from that episode). The opening interview was with Sam Harris (author). And the panel was made up of guests Jay Leno, Chuck Todd from NBC (their White House correspondent), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); and on the other side, Jeremy Scahill (Journalist and author of Blackwater). Discussion revolved around health care reform, the crazies at the town halls, the media and guns in addition to the recent news about Blackwater. It was one of his better panels this year.

On Saturday we went out to Shakopee for Ren Fest. We mostly just went to the shows on this visit - of course there was beer, wine and food. And BEER. We are planning one more trip out there sometime in September and will go in Renaissance garb. My daughter and her fella have season passes and are planning to be out there every weekend. Watch out for pirates!

On Sunday afternoon we went to see Ponyo, which is a lovely little tale reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. There's something soothing yet exciting in Miyazaki's colors...they are vibrant and relaxing at the same time. I have been a fan of his work every since my first viewing of My Neighbor Totoro back in the 80's!

A dose of True Blood was had on Sunday night and they cut it at 45 minutes...just as we were about to catch a glimpse of the Vampire Queen! Dang dang dang....now I have to wait until next week to find out how they're going to present her. I was happy that Bill and Sookie were able to pull Tara out of the black void and back into reality. Whew! And Jason pulling off that Bacchus thing was pretty awesome! Chris and I both knew Maryann was going to be really pissed about that one! Only 2 episodes left of the season. How sad. I've started reading the books - ok, listening to the audio versions - so the separation anxiety won't be quite so bad when that final episode is over in a couple of weeks. The books and the show have sort of parted ways but that's ok I guess because they're both good in their own ways. I'm about half-way through Living Dead in Dallas.

I spent some time reading Wicked last night and missed The Closer! I'm starting to panic because I'm a little over half-way and the book club meets next Tuesday evening! I have to do a lot of reading and not much else during my spare time between now and then to get this finished!

After work today, I'm meeting a friend and we're going see Food, Inc. This is a movie that everyone should seen simply because it concerns everyone! I don't know if its because I'm getting older and so I'm reaching back to my starting place, or if I'm just fed up completely, 100%!! with big business/inhuman corporations taking over this country and killing us off with their greedy ways - but its time to go back to basics. And believe me, what the food industry is doing to people is absolutely criminal. Check out the article in Time mag this week concerning this very subject. What we eat these days, what they market to us on TV and on billboards and in magazines, isn't real food..its food-like substances created in labs. What we are doing to animals is disgusting. Its all just so wrong.... We can start here at http://www.eatwild.com/ to find LOCAL, healthy food.

Coming up....my search for a deep freeze - chest or upright? and how big?

Mid-August already! Hurry Hurry...its getting away

2009-08-17T13:51:00.003-05:00

August is more than half-over! Someday I'm going to take all of August off from work and just enjoy it! I think some of my greatest adventures as a teenager occurred in August. Why shouldn't there be more August adventures ahead?!

We went to a movie on Sunday - District 9. Humans being inhuman to creatures they don't want to understand as metaphor for man's inhumanity to man, perhaps? Someone once said that good cannot exist without evil. Although its a shot at apartheid, as I see it, they would have been treated badly no matter where their ship had stopped. I, being the person always hoping and helping the oppressed, felt sorry immediately for the aliens. And there really weren't any likable humans in this film.

Sort of like the beginning to Wicked - there aren't really any likeable characters in the first 1/4 of that book (which I'm currently reading).

We saw some good trailers before the main feature... Legion (Dennis Quaid, Paul Bettany) looks good...angels sent to purge mankind (last time god lost faith in mankind he sent a flood). Also, Zombieland looks like it will be campy fun and stars Woody Harrelson. Now who doesn't love a good Zombie movie!?? Saw another trailer for 2012 with John Cusack (and Woody Harrelson) where the earth's crust shifts causing another sort of apocalyptic upheaval. Anyone who watches the Discover channel knows all about this one...our 640,000 years are almost up. Surrogates with Bruce Willis looks promising in that Matrix meets The Fifth Element kind of way. Anyway, lots of good horror-sci-fi-fantasy was promised. We'll see what they deliver.

I'm going to see The Time Traveler's Wife with my book club on Friday. I've read the book twice and loved it even more the 2nd time so I have HIGH hopes for the movie!!!

In Knitting - the seafoam scarf and shrug are coming along and the Nutkins are still in hibernation.

Thor's Day Musings

2009-08-13T12:06:00.005-05:00

My copy of EveryDay with Rachel Ray came in the mail this week...along with the re-subscription notice. I'm debating if I should re-up or not. I do enjoy the recipes and I like her 30 Minute Meals especially. I've been pondering this for a month or two (ever since they started mailing me the notices that my subscription is about to expire). The cost is decent...so on that point its a yes...what I'm wondering is what to do with the magazine once I'm done with it...any ideas out there for magazine management?

I stopped getting all those knitting magazine subscriptions because I was finding that I wasn't really liking a lot of the patterns...well, not enough to justify getting the magazine every month without perusing it some. Now I just check them out at Barnes and Noble and if I see something worth the magazine price, I buy it. I have plenty of other sources for great knitting patterns so I don't really need the latest magazines every month.

I spent last evening as I do almost every Wednesday evening - knitting with friends at a local coffee and wine bar. The shop hosted a high school "Cabaret" night last night and there were show tunes sung by young men and women from Burnsville High school. Wished I'd known ahead of time that this was happening - I may have suggested we meet somewhere else for this one night. The problem for us - the space is not the right size or shape for this type of event. It was loud (louder than normal) and hot....and did I mention LOUD? They proprietor's did a lively business last evening so I guess they got their intended results. Revenue was definitely higher than a typical weeknight.

I'm sort of wondering if we should start looking for alternatives again for our weekly knit-outs. I like this place but it IS really loud from time to time. Perhaps there's a more centrally located spot to have our South of the River Ravelers weekly gatherings that would be quieter...but then, just about anything would've been quieter than last night. I'd like to know what the rest of the group thinks - if you're reading this and you are part of the South of the River Ravelers, please ante up your 2 cents.

If it hadn't been so toasty outside we could've gone across the street to the park but this is the week that Mother Nature has decided to send us some summer heat and humidity. I can't say I've missed the humidity at all. We have really been fortunate here in the upper-midwest this year.

On a completely different subject (health care!) I have to say that growing up Catholic, I was educated by the good Franciscan Sisters at Holy Ghost....and they taught a very valuable lesson that I took to heart. I learned that people should watch out for one another and care for one another. Who do you support? Your fellow human or big business profits? Just sayin'...

Check out what someone who knows about insurance has to say about it... Ex-Insurance Exec: Industry "Playbook" At Work Against Health Reform.

Feast or Famine

2009-08-10T12:52:00.003-05:00

Its either feast or famine some days at work and today is definitely a famine day. Which I suppose is ok since I have time to review the interesting part of the week - Friday through Sunday evening.

Nothing too exciting happened at work on Friday but after work I spent quality time with knitters and spinners at Knitter's Palette for the monthly Spin and Knit (SP-IT) gathering. There was a lively group talking about spinning at the Dakota County fair (which started this week), European knitting cruises, Eastern seaboard cruises, babysitters who text!!!!, bananas that may or may not be jacked with (wink wink) and of course, yarn and knitting patterns. I actually finished sewing up the sleeves of the project I've been working on, the Imagine sweater, before the fun was over.

After SPITting, I picked up my oldest son from work, stopped by Caribou for coffee and made it home for the 10 PM edition of Real Time with Bill Maher. He opened the show with President Obama's former physician, Dr. David Scheiner, who spoke about the need for reform and is 100% in favor of a single payer system (which is not on the table at this time). Bill's panel this week was made up of 2 Repugs from the House of Representatives - Jack Kingston from Georgia and Darrell Issa from California - talking about Health Care Reform. He was joined by Arianna Huffington and a lively discussion was had, although not quite as exciting as Bill had wanted or expected. New Rules this week - Smart President <> Smart Country

Saturday, CB and I were supposed to go for a bike ride but it was raining and thus I squeaked out of that one! I took my son's shoe shopping at Knollwood Mall and discovered that the DSW there is MUCH better than the one in Burnsville. Anyone who has been to the Burnsville DSW store should make the trip to Hopkins to check it out! I bought a cute pair of brown slip-ons for work and the offspring bought work boots/shoes as each required. Note - lots of purses and bags...LOTS. We finished up our shopping excursion with a stop at Chipotle for a late lunch.

Later, CB and my friend Rina and I went off to Irish Fair on Harriet Island. I really love this event, or I have in past years. I wasn't really crazy about the tent layout changes they made this year. It seemed really random and somewhat chaotic. The one thing that stands out is that they set up the food vendors in a row that backed up to the river walk. Maybe that was so that the trash could be collected easier with carts or a truck along the river walk. The athletic field was set up where the food vendors had been in previous years. Also, there seemed to be a lot of crowding and chaos in the vendor tents...were there more vendors this year? Seemed like it. With the humidity up after the big rain on Friday and Saturday, it was really uncomfortable in the tents. And there was plenty of mud. I think I've been spoiled by the beautiful weather we've had all summer prior to this weekend. The music was good though, even if the beer was expensive ($6) and so was the parking. ($10-$15). People Watching was good. There just seemed to be something missing - flow, perhaps.

On Sunday I escaped the bike ride again due to cloudy-looks-like-rain weather in the morning. Instead we went to see Julie and Julia at the Cinemagic Theater over by Burnsville Center. We both enjoyed it immensely. CB and I are both Meryl Streep fans and by the end of the film we felt like we were actually watching Julia Child and not an actress portraying her. We also loved Stanley Tucci in the role of her husband, Paul. I laughed, I cried....CB laughed a lot. I, for one, can't wait to make Bœuf bourguignon once the weather cools down a bit.

Everyone has been asking about my spinning lately owing to the fact that I haven't been doing much of it and I don't really talk about it much. So in answer to, "Have you been doing any spinning?" or "Do you spin?" or "Have you used your wheel lately?" - a resounding YES! I don't always find time to spin and so to all who have been asking - I USED IT YESTERDAY! Hooray! I hauled my Schacht Matchless out of the corner and into the center of the room, and after oiling all its moving parts I spun up about 2 oz of natural, undyed CVM while listening to Dead Until Dark. I know awhile back I said I would sew on Sundays...but I'm not so much tied to that schedule quite yet. As a matter of fact I haven't had the sewing machine out since I made that schedule for myself. But back to the spinning...it felt really good to spin after so long a time away from my wheel. I have a lot of this CVM; in 2 colors! So I have plenty to experiment with - for certain! I think I'm getting the hang of the long draw, paying special attention to the little bumps that threaten to form when, after drafting out as far as you can reach, you sort of hold the fiber a bit firmer and you let the wheel take up the yarn onto the spool. The single I spun up measured out at a consistent 20 WPI! :-) Anyway...I wish I could spin again soon but it looks like Thursday evening is my first free time at home this week.

TV last night was entertaining....Dateline did piece on Woodstock to commemorate the 40th Anniversary which is this week. My son pointed out that I finished Imagine just in time for the Anniversary! If I had only been born 2 or 3 years earlier... I would have my own first-hand memories of it.

And of course Sunday night is True Blood night on HBO and it was a rollicking good episode with Sookie showing her grit and standing up to Bill's maker! Whoa! And that Godrick..what an evolved, smart Vamp he turned out to be. CB and I agreed that we are starting to like Eric... Jason has really turned a corner as well! But the scene with Eggs and Tara and the Hunter's Souffle...yikes! Where is that all going to lead!? Andy is also coming around as a might-be-likable character, its too bad the Sheriff doesn't see that yet.

Yikes!

2009-08-07T16:15:00.004-05:00

Sheesh...its been awhile since I posted anything out here - too busy I guess.

The ringing is still there. The cicada's are around now because I saw one on the deck last Saturday...I wonder if I'll notice them...oh, I'm sure I will!

Here's a few pictures from our week up north. I wish the weather would've been better; it was cool and rainy for about half of the week.

The Wolves live at the Wolf Center in Ely and the bears are wild and were eating at a bear sanctuary up the road from the cabin resort we were staying at.

You Can Get Used to Just About Anything!

2009-05-19T14:57:00.001-05:00

It just takes about 3-6 weeks. I first noticed the tinnitus on April 2nd or thereabouts. I thought it was going to drive me crazy. I went to the doctor and had some tests done. Found that I'm one in 20 million Americans that have this lovely ringing in the ear. Its just in my left - or that's the perception anyway. Nothing to be done but keep an eye (ear?) on it and go back in a few months to make sure its not a lot worse. I can still hear so the ENT said anything they might do in there could damage the nerve and rob me of my hearing entirely...so, ok...risks outweigh the benefits...at least that's how it feels today.

Sometime in the past 2 weeks I stopped noticing it in the quiet time between awake and asleep. Although Its freakin' loud today for some reason and I've noticed that its louder on the nights after I've spent a few hours in a crowded, loud room (like the wine bar, et. al.).

What's a little ringing anyway? Its like....the cicadas or locusts singing on a warm summer evening. ;-)

Do Something Good for Mother Earth!

2009-04-22T07:50:00.004-05:00

Today is Earth Day peeps! Do something nice to help keep this place in shape. Reuse and/or Recycle whenever possible. If you don't know where to start to be Ecologically responsible...click on the EarthLab link on the right over there at the top of the page and find what you can do to help.

I'm old enough to remember the first Earth Day - I spent the afternoon of April 22, 1970 at a Teach-In at Hempstead Senior High School in Dubuque, Iowa watching videos and discussing our environment and what we needed to do to insure that it was still around for future generations. It was very inspiring. Over the years I haven't been always been as ecologically responsible as I could've been but my carbon footprint remains a lot lower than the local, state and national averages. I hope to do more this year in reducing waste by cutting out more plastic in my life, buying local whenever possible, and starting a composting area in my garden.

How important is clean air and water to you and your family?

WIP

2009-04-01T22:04:00.001-05:00

Please excuse the mess while I try to return the blog to its previous design state....Rule #1 - make a copy of your template before you F around with it!

Spring is about to be Sprung!

2009-03-31T20:12:00.005-05:00

Well tomorrow is April 1st...almost out of the woods here in Winterland. I thought I'd better post something out here and prove I'm still around.

I finished the knitted bits of the Orange Butterfly (KnitScene 2008). Although Dori is making it difficult to assemble and add the crocheted edging...

But dang she looks good on tangerine!

And check out those GREEN bananas! Believe it or not...that's the way someone in my family likes them... (blech!)

I'm a little nervous about piecing this together and adding the elastic in the back (gulp).

My next project will be Imagine...from Knitty in organic cotton from Blue Sky Alpacas...in the natural/creamy white colorway just like the picture on Knitty.

I ripped the edging from the Ivy League Vest (IWK) and I'm going to redo the armholes. Just need to get up the courage to start! I may also need some of the cream colored yarn as I don't have a lot of that left over - although I have plenty of the other colors.

Ooops...forgot I have a taxi job to do...more later!

Glass Houses

2009-02-12T08:41:00.007-06:00

I have to publicly apologize for giving y'all crap last night at knitting about not blogging more often! When I came in here and saw that I haven 't posted since December 2nd I was like WTH OMG!

And the reason I was in here was to say that its only 12 weeks until Shepherds Harvest!

12th Annual
SHEPHERD'S HARVESTSheep and Wool Festival
May 9 and 10, 2009

9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Saturday

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday

Mothers Day Weekend

And while I was out there browsing around on the website I couldn't help but notice that the United Nations has declared that 2009 is the International Year of Natural Fibres! (click on the title in your preferred language) and I wanted to share this website with everyone. They have some interesting production figures on each of 15 natural fibers around the world and I figured you would be interesting in checking these out since you all love fiber!

Home Spun Hat

2008-12-02T04:49:00.004-06:00

Home Spun Hat
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

Here's the 2nd ever project that I've spun and knit. The hat pattern is from Knit to Spin. The fiber is from a couple of different sources. The purple is Coopworth and I got this when I got my drop spindle at Shepherd's Harvest last May (08). From the nice gentleman who has all those lovely drop spindles and who's wife (Stefania) spins. She dyed the wool. The chartruese is from Fiber Studio - Merino Top. I just sort of blended them as I was spinning...a little green a little purple...and there we have it.

I used my wheel to make this. Its a lot better than the orange headband I think! :-)

Ace Model's Peanuts New Coat

2008-12-02T04:43:00.001-06:00

DSCN2841
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

DF's sister requested a new dog coat to replace the original which she washed (and of course it shrunk) I wonder if it felted alot too? ...I haven't talked to her yet about it as I got the request via DF. It was handy that I just happened to have exactly enough to make another one just like the first one.

Ace is being very good about trying it on. I used her for the measurements originally. I think it should fit Peanut the Schitzu just fine.

The Last 2 Weeks in Review

2008-11-14T16:21:00.009-06:00

We have a new President-Elect!
I lost an old friend.
I found some new friends.
It snowed - it was beautiful.
It rained - ok we needed moisture in the ground going into winter...but it undid all the snowmaking the ski hills had accomplished.
I picked out new skis (actually in October - but they're ready to be picked up at the shop).
I made country style pork ribs and 'kraut in the oven. I really love it when the seasons change!
I got angry - yet again - at my weight loss plan - I'm debating on what to say about this.
I started a new knitting project.
DD has been to the brink of quitting school and back; last night she enrolled in 4 new classes for the next semester.

Lets see...what order to take these in -

How about Weight Watchers first... "You can eat whatever you want and lose weight"! Turns out...maybe not. I've been going to WW since June 3, 2006. In 2006 I lost 25 lbs....and then is sort of started to creep back on slowly...and then, BAM! This year I'm back to 8 lbs from my starting weight....and I don't mean the 6 lbs 3 ozs that I weighed when I came into the world. Over the course of about 4 or 5 weeks now I can lose about 5 lbs and then BAM! the next week its right back up. I am staying within my points. So this week - on Wednesday - after the normal few weeks of good progress in the correct direction - I was up 4.4 lbs again! I stayed within my points. So WTF?!!! I took my journal with me to the meeting and after sitting through the group meeting (and hearing once again, you can eat the foods you like) I approached the meeting leader and showed her my journal and asked her to give me some advice. Her advice: stop eating the carbs...oh, but increase fruits and vegetables (I'm eating 2-3 fruits and 2-3 veg servings a day now!)...oh, but be careful because they have carbs too. huh? so....I should do what exactly? Eat what I like and count the points (follow the WW flex plan) or do Atkins or South Beach? No...I have to find a balance, I was told. When you're over 40 blah blah blah...yeah yeah...whatever. Dammit. I don't eat that many f'ing carbs! Normally.

OMG - I am so frustrated! I also learned that I'm an anger eater! I went to our local bistro and had a burger and fries. I didn't feel guilty either...only way too full!

So...I guess I double down and try again. No other alternative...and don't say the E word. I'll get plenty of that if it snows!

My skis are ready at Pierce. They're my early Christmas present from DF. They are Nordica Firefox! Here's the new boots. I'm so psyched!!! and I hope to try them out SOOON! Come on....SNOW!

I picked up Fluffy's ashes on Tuesday...it wasn't too traumatic since I wasn't actually expecting them when I took Axel for his annual checkup and distemper shot...but there she was...ready to come home in her truly lovely urn. So she's home...and I still talk to her. Weird maybe, but somehow right.

New friends and a new knitting project are sort of linked...sort of. I'm taking a class at Knitter's Palette which is not only a good way to learn new techniques, its a great way to meet new people with which you already have something in common! The project is the Ivy League Vest by Eunny Jang highlighted in IWK Winter 2007 edition.

The yarn I'm using is Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool in Claret, Rosehip, Golden, Coffee Bean and Eggshell and the needles are u.s. #2's (which I need to get back to because its calling me...listen...can you hear it? or is that YOUR project calling to you?!? ;-) )

Shout out to both Pams and Darcy and Angela and ...geez, I'm sorry.... the lady with the purple yarn in her project whose name I can't remember!

I also attended the Friday Night SP-IT at Knitters Palette last Friday night. Pam had a large turnout once again and some different faces and names that I can link to Ravelry avatars and profiles!

DD is going to try to complete the coursework she needs to be able to transfer from Normandale to a 4 year college or University...even though she was complaining about homework and "work" work and life balance for the past month! I'm really happy that she's sticking with it and not giving up.

And last but definitely not least -I'm thrilled that history was made on November 4th. It feels good to finally have a leader who I can call My President. And I'm hopeful (even though my job went to India in 2006 and I'm making about 2/3 of what I was making and I've lost a LOT of money from my Mutual Funds in the last year) that we have taken the first steps in the right direction. We all need to go back to the basic ideas set forth when this country was born... we are not in this alone and that we have to work together to build hope and community - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! Imagine restoring our Constitution and Human Rights which have been run roughshod over for the past 7+ years! I'm just ecstatic at the prospects!

Peace and Brotherly Love to Y'All!

YES WE DID!!!

2008-11-04T22:59:00.003-06:00

Tears of Joy flow all over America tonight! Finally, a leader we can follow! JFK was president when I was in grade school and family and friend's families had his picture in their living rooms...he was loved and admired in our community in Iowa. Tonight I say thank you to Barack Obama for inspiring me and lifting us up as a nation so that we can move forward back to a leadership role in the world when it comes to human rights, ecology, and the pursuit of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness FOR ALL.

Democracy is not dead...it is alive and growing once again in the United States!

MN State Election Results

2008-11-04T09:34:00.001-06:00

Election Results

2008-11-04T09:33:00.001-06:00

Rest in Peace Fluffy

2008-11-03T20:28:00.004-06:00

Fluffy Smiling
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

One of my best friends crossed over the Rainbow Bridge today. She is sorely missed (sniff).

March 26 1996 - November 3 2008

Extra! Extra! Need More Yarn

2008-10-20T11:24:00.002-05:00

I finished the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ) for Riley in time for Angela and Todd's Baby Shower this weekend. Yay! Now, if only I had remembered to take a picture of it after I finished sewing on the little Peter Rabbit buttons......there would be a picture to post here. :-( I do have some in-progress pictures that I haven't uploaded from the camera yet, so I'll post those at a later time.

I'm also finished with the main part of the Extra! Extra! hat from the KnitScene mag - Fall 2006. I started working on the brim last night and catching up with missed shows from last week (House, Fringe) and then on to True Blood when I ran out of Touch Me. Dammit. Another $16 dollars to finish the thing....I started with 3 balls of Touch Me and 2 balls of cabled merino in a sport-weight. Lets see now... the cost of goods for this hat has just climbed to $82 - LOL...for a Hat. I guess I'm going to have to give it to her with the caveat that if she doesn't like it than she can just give it back and I'll wear it. :-)

I hope she likes it though. :-)

I spent part of my housecleaning time yesterday rewinding balls of yarn in my yarn basket as it was a mess! It was overflowing with half-used center pull skeins of Sugar N Cream cotton from the Great Absorba bathmat, some yarn from the sweater I made last summer (rust/black...maybe you recall it), the leftover bit from BSJ, leftovers from Ruffle Top Socks, Euroflax from the bags....and at the very bottom was the Noro silk-wool blend (several balls) that were the result of having frogged the shawl that one of the cats decided to chew a hole in...it must've tasted nummy or something. Now its full to the brim with neatly wound balls of leftovers. I suppose I should find some projects for it....or file it away in the correct stash drawers (by fiber content and weight). Yes, I'm somewhat "fastidious" that way.

After the ball winding fest and more dusting and vacuuming, it was off to see Bill Maher's film, Religulous. We enjoyed it tons! We especially liked the priest Bill spoke to outside of the Vatican. Although the part where the dude's hair almost caught fire when they were sitting around talking about the spirituality of cannabis stands out as pretty funny also. Actually, as I think about it - it was all pretty funny! Until you realize just how dangerous it is and how destructive it is and how many deaths can be attributed to it.

Ok...so I don't want to leave you on a downer there so back to knitting and stuff.

Upcoming Projects include:

I also found 3 skeins of yarn in my basket to make another pair of felted clogs...these were supposed to be made for one of my sons last year for Christmas. So a year late is ok,...its not like he was expecting them or anything. ;-)
Seems to me I also bought a ton of the Mooncake yarn at the Yarn Cafe's going out of business sale to make a few more pairs for some non-knitting friends.
I also have yarn on order from Pam at Knitter's Palette for the Butterfly from Knitscene (don't remember the issue...Spring 2007?) - I got off the fence and ordered tangerine!
I have enough sock yarn to make at least 13 or 14 pairs of socks....
Not to mention the catnip mice that I'm working on - 4 knitted so far and I want to do at least a dozen before I felt them.
I have Aran weight yarn for a vest
I need to rip a 3 button Henley tee that is like a 4x or 5x - that happened by accident. I think I was shooting for XL. The thing is it fits at the bottom dammit...but the sleeves and armholes are WAY too big. The other bummer is it was a top down design. :-S So I have to frog the whole thing.

I'm enjoying Honey Crisp season! I manage to eat one or 2 each day. I hope wherever you are, you have these wonderful apples available to you. They were developed here at the University of Minnesota. They're currently working on a blueberry that's the size of cherry and tastes like a wild blueberry! Those clever horticulturists!

Sorry there are no pictures with this post....I can't seem to coordinate pictures and text for whatever reason. Location Location Location. But stay tuned...there will be pictures...hopefully by the end of the week.

Cute Cat Photos

2008-09-30T19:10:00.006-05:00

I thought I'd drop some pictures of Dori in here since she's just too damn cute.

Meow

What can I say....

In the knitting arena, I'm knitting a secret item for DD for Christmas....so no pictures here for now. But its black and the yarn is Touch Me..... :-)

Also, knitting Nutkins....4 repeats of the pattern finished so far. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill - Foxy Lady colorway; knitting it on 2.5mm circulars (2 at once). I only have he cast on pix over on my Ravelry page so far, but the color is accurate. :-)

Looking for a sweater project - thinking about Butterfly (Knitscene Spring 2007). The sewing up part scares me a bit. If anyone out there has knit this please share your experiences with me!!!

Tuesday night - House is on and so is NCIS!!! I hate when they do that to me. Last night the 2nd episode (of the season) of Heroes was on and I'm still pondering if it jumped the shark or not. Its very confusing that the good guys are the bad guys an vice versa! So confused...

Other stuff I'm watching (while knitting) this season.... Fringe, True Blood, Lfe, Bones, ER, The Office, Stargate Atlantis. I'm interested in seeing Life on Mars when it premieres in October.

Nutkin - Great Beginning

2008-09-19T10:38:00.002-05:00

Nutkin - Great Beginning
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

My next knitting project is Nutkin by Knitzi in Cherry Tree Hill sockyarn, Foxy Lady colorway.

As you can see, I'm knitting both on 2 circulars, #1's. I'm also knitting from both ends of the ball...so far so good - no tangles. It can only get easier, right?

I've knitted the hemmed cuff and the first 10- row repeat of the pattern so far.

I LOVE the Cherry Tree Hill yarn...and I am expecting these to knit up a LOT faster than then Ruffle top socks since its not a K2P2 rib all the way dooooown..... :-)

Pouch Bag II Completed

2008-09-19T10:37:00.001-05:00

Pouch Bag II
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

This was crocheted with Euroflax Soapstone and Champage colorways.

Absorba I

2008-09-19T10:36:00.004-05:00

Absorba I
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

Here's The Great Bathmat. Since this was a stash-busting project (and I made a dent in the stash!) I used what I had and mixed and matched colors to come up with this pattern. It was really random but wanted to at least contrast light and dark or bright and muted colors. It really brightens up the white bathroom!

Absorba I

2008-09-19T10:35:00.004-05:00

Another Shot of Absorba

TGIF!

2008-09-12T12:29:00.003-05:00

Seems like just yesterday I updated this and yet the date on the last post was August 22nd! Time keeps moving on! The CPH has buttons and I wore it briefly last weekend yet its hot and sticky again this week so its back to shorts and tank tops for now.

I also kitchnered the toes on the Ruffle Top Socks on Wednesday night at Caribou. Another project completed.

I'm working on the Absorba Bathmat from the Mason-Dixon Ladies using some of my Sugar n'Cream stash (which is bountiful). Pictures later...promise!

I'm looking for the next project, perhaps something from Folk Vests (Cheryl Oberle). I have some blue/gray/black heather in a heavy worsted in my stash to use up.

The next socks on the list are Nutkin and I plan to use some stashed Cherry Tree Hill (Colorway: Foxy Lady). I think.

And the knitting dilemma of the week is what color of Classic Elite Bam Boo to order for Butterfly (KnitScene Spring 2007 arrow down to #8). I'm so torn....Antilles Aqua? Citrine? Cherise? Tangerine? Peacock?

I'm leaning toward Cherise. Or Peacock. But do I want a lighter color as its more of a summer top? Aqua? Tangerine? OMG I'm so confused about this one! I need to see it in person before I can decide.

Off to work some more! Hopefully I'll get some pictures uploaded this weekend of the new stuff.

WIP Update

2008-08-22T14:37:00.002-05:00

2 months ago I posted what's on the needles, et. al. I also noticed that I haven't posted any updates here for almost a whole month...yeah...I noticed it all month.

So, first the WIP -

The CPH is finished! I still have to find some buttons but that's not a real hindrance to wearing it! And since its freaking HOT today, its moot.
The ruffle top socks are still on the needles...I'm working on the gusset decreases and it sort of looks doubtful that I'll be done by end of the Olympics on Sunday!
I STILL have 4 mice to felt. I STILL want to knit about 8 more and felt them all at once.
I HAD some green Coopworth fiber but now its yarn. I haven't measured the WPI but it appears to be DK weight.
I finished a Pouch Bag in mostly EuroFlax Limestone and some other Flax-Merino blend that I had to get for the handles as one skein WASN'T enough. I keep this in my purse anduse this ALL the time when I'm shopping or running errands.
I bought 2 more skeins of EuroFlax in complementary colors (Soapstone and Champagne) and I'm about 2/3 finished with a second Pouch Bag.

August Books -

I finished reading The Rainmaker by John Grisham. I've never read any of his books although I really enjoyed some of the movies based on his books. I picked this book up to read when I was on the North Shore at the beginning of the month. It was handy, on the shelf in the townhouse we rented. I had taken Mrs. Dalloway to read but it was making me NUTS trying to cut through Virginia Woolf's "random stream of consciousness" writing style! So I started into The Rainmaker. I must've missed the movie when it came out in the 90s. I was just over at IMDB looking at the cast and I don't see Rudy's friend Booker in the movie. I hate when movies cut out characters like that!

I also finished Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers. I just love Lord Peter Wimsey and his droll sense of humor. What an extremely smart lady Dorothy L was! I think that some have been rather critical of her but I enjoy her books nonetheless!

I found a new easy-read, entertaining author - Christopher Moore - and also read A Dirty Job which is his latest book I believe. "At the moment when his wife Rachel unexpectedly dies in the hospital shortly after the birth of their first child (Sophie), Charlie becomes involved in a new sideline of retrieving the souls of the dying, so as to protect them from the forces of the underworld. "(Wikipedia) If you like fantasy, macabre and humor all wrapped up together, you will enjoy this book.

I'm currently reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I just started it Yesterday and so far I'm enjoying it. I'm not old enough to remember the Great Depression but my Mother used to talk about it. She had to leave school at 15 to help support her family when the market crashed in 1929. I feel like I almost know that period of time...almost. Anyway, I like the main character, Jacob, well enough so far.

As to the North Shore...we stayed on the shore in one of the Lutsen Resort Sea Villas. The weather was perfect! We spent a day on the Gunflint, saw some moose and tons and tons of MN wildflowers! Checked out the fire damage from last year on the Canadian side of the lake and some along the Gunflint. Hiked up Leveaux mtn one day (pant pant) - I'm glad the weather wasn't warmer! I think it was in the mid-70s all the while we were up there. We rented a tandem bike and rode some of the Gitchi-gami trail. That will be awesome when they get all the bits connected!!! And we've decided to NEVER do that tandem thing again. We both apparently have control issues! I've never been up there at this time of the year before, having mostly visited during the dead of winter to ski Lutsen Mtn. I was AMAZED at all the people. :-) Usually all the little shops look deserted when we're up there in the winter. And of course, we went to Papa Charlie's and had the best Bloody Mary's in MN. It was very weird sitting in the bar in sandals though...and not ski boots.

I missed Irish Fair earlier in the month which bummed me out. I hope I don't do that NEXT year. :-(

I suppose I really should upload some photos... I have some awesome shots of the moose we saw on the Gunflint Trail.

Future Sweater and More Spinning Wheel Pix

2008-07-25T18:32:00.008-05:00

Here's the latest fiber in my stash.

I bought some fiber at Detta's last weekend ... I think I will need about 2-3 lbs to make an XL sweater..... This Merino Top Multi in English Garden should be enough! Its only a couple of ounces shy of 3 lbs.

I'm going to keep practicing with other fiber until I'm sure of myself and I can spin a consistent single.

Here's some pictures of the Matchless flyer... note the double drive - I love the take up!

From the back...and the lazy kate.

Off to Spin and watch Dr. Who....

Schacht Matchless

2008-07-25T16:45:00.002-05:00

Schacht Matchless 015
Originally uploaded by ClickingSticks1

Rina and I went to Detta's Spindle last Saturday. This followed me home. Actually I buckled it into the seatbelt in the back seat of my car where it rode home in complete safety. Which means I can take it places and it will behave. I haven't tried out the strap yet. And I'm considering the cart for it. Its only 17 lbs - less than half the weight of a bag of dog food.

I was really thinking I would buy a niddy noddy and try out some wheels and think about it for a bit. But although I have tried over the years to know buy something on the spot (most notably, cars) it never works out that way.

She put it together for me and it was really great to be able to observe and learn from her.

She is really an awesome lady!

Rina had an idea that she wanted to spin some cat hair and mix it with some wool she purchased at the Shepherd's Harvest. Detta suggested she bring it along when she came out. So we also had a little lesson in carding cat and dog fur, blending it with wool, and spinning it!

So now I have my Matchless DT and some roving and a whole weekend ahead of me! :-)

WIPs

2008-06-27T11:27:00.004-05:00

I thought I'd better make a note of what's in progress and all....

The CPH is coming along nicely...I took a week off from knitting last week..no reason...just didn't knit for some reason. I am almost done with the 2nd sleeve and will be sewing the shoulders together and knitting the hood. Was there any erata for this? I think there was...I think I noted it in my pattern....I hope so.
The ruffle top socks are at the bottom of my knitting bag. No progress there.
I also have 4 mice to felt. I wanted to knit about 8 more and felt them all at once. But this spinning thing is distracting me.
I have some green Coopworth fiber that I'm trying to spin. I did 2 oz last Friday and I have 2 more oz to spin. Then I'm going to ply them. No clue what my WPI will be but I have to say that its turning out a lot more consistent than the Corriedale (my first attempts). It might be DK or worsted weight.

About the Fiber

I purchased the Coopworth roving, 4 oz of purple and 4 oz of green, from the same person I bought the driftwood spindle from. You probably know the gentleman. He's at the Shepherds Harvest every year. His wife is the fiber artist and they hale from St. Charles, IL. Now if I had their business card handy I could give you the link...here it is! http://www.stefania-spins.com/ So I had to start doing something with this because Ace kept ferreting it out and rolling around in it. I don't know why she likes this one so much and ignores the other roving I have. She must smell something on it that we mere humans cannot.

Perhaps there will be pictures of this handspun later in the weekend. ;-)

3 Weeks of stuff

2008-06-27T09:32:00.017-05:00

I see that its been 3 weeks since I've posted anything on this here blog. I need better blog time organization I guess. Part of it is that I work on 4 different computers and I never seem to have the pictures on the computer I'm working on when I have time to blog. And everyone likes pictures!

So today I find myself on the right computer at the right time! Hooray!

I have a new laptop with 3 usb ports for external junk. One on the right side for Mr Mouse and 2 stacked on the left right in front of the power plugin. If I'm plugged in, I can't fit the card reader into the slots on the left. So in order to plug in my external Promaster memory card reader I have to either run on battery power (unplug the power pack) or move the mouse to the left side. Nice design Dell! Well, then again, I could upgrade to a wireless mouse,eh? :-S

Here's one of the spindles that I bought at the Shepherd's Harvest last month in Lake Elmo, MN. I bought 2 spindles, an Ashford and this Driftwood Spindle. I started out with the Ashford spindle which is a medium weight spindle and I was having all kinds of trouble. Like it would spin for a half dozen rotations and then stop and go the other way. :-S Then I switched to this spindle. Its a heavier spindle (1.9 oz I think) and it keeps spinning for longer which allowed me to draft some fiber between twirls.

The headband was not knitted from the fiber that came from the spindle...That fiber is still on the spindle. :-)

This is the K2P1 headband that I knitted with the first handspun. Its 2 ply, one orange corriedale and the other single was natural merino.

Rina lent me her Louet Victoria spinning wheel to try out and gave me some instruction on how to do it. She's a very good teacher...extremely patient and thorough. The headband is made from the yarn that came from her spinning wheel. Its artisan of course...it goes from super bulky to gossamer thin.

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez - b. 6/6/1599

2008-06-06T07:04:00.008-05:00

Although its not one of his more famous works, I think you would agree...its a worthy subject. Now, as to symbolism of ideas represented in the painting, I haven't taken the time yet to analyze it. If you have studied this painting or have participated in discussions of the symbolism, I would enjoy reading your thoughts and comments!

Happy Birthday Diego!

In Knitting News -

I've finished the back, front panels and one sleeve of CPH. I also picked up the needles last night to make sure I still knew what I was doing with the Ruffle top socks who have been waiting patiently in the bottom of my knitting bag. I do still remember what I'm doing there thank goodness...and my gauge appears to be the same. I have about an inch and three quarters to go to the heel. I think I want to do a short row heel but haven't done that yet on the 2 circulars. I'll have to crack the book open and do some research.

Spinning!

Yes I've succumbed. I said I was going to wait before jumping into that end of the fiber pool...but I bought 2 high whorl spindles at the Shepherd's Harvest this year...and some roving. Struggling with the spindles! No surprise there. I wasn't feeling as gung-ho on spinning. Then my friend Rina let me try her Louet Victoria portable wheel...and it was clear that if I'm going to spin yarn I'm going to have to buy a wheel. Again, No surprise there, right?? Now all I have to do is figure out which wheel (head spinning here also) and how much $$ I can invest.

About that roving..... Ace Monkey Cat is enraptured with the Coopworth fiber! I have to put it in a steel vault to keep it away from her! She has shamelessly reveled in it on more than one occassion when I've left my big Vera Bradley bag open (which is where I'm keeping it). The last time she had her way with some of it she pulled the plastic bag with 8 oz or so of roving out of my knitting bag and ripped through the side to get it out onto the floor where she proceeded to spread it apart and wallowed in it.

I told her the first time I caught her deep inside my bag wrapped around a ball of roving that I'd buy her some of her own...but she is apparently impatient for that to happen and so is going to have her way with mine.

How can I blame her?! Its soft and squishy and smells marvelous! We are both hooked on fiber!

On the Needles this month

2008-04-24T19:57:00.008-05:00

Pattern: Ruffle-Top 2x2 ribbed socks
Needles: US Size 0, 16" and 24"
Yarn: Trekking XXL - Orange Stripe
Gauge: 8 st/in
Start Date: 4/1/08
End Date: In Progress

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie
Needles: US Size 6 & 8
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxary Tweed - Eggplant
Gauge: 4.25 st/in
Start Date:
End Date: In Progress

Close up of center back cables and bottom ribbing.

This is a really lovely yarn and I have Pam at Knitter's Palette to thank for suggesting it.

Calliope Shell in time for Spring

2008-04-24T19:04:00.011-05:00

I started this project in the winter of 2006/2007 and stopped last year when I realized it wouldn't be finished in time to wear last summer. I picked it up again this winter and finished it. I loved knitting with this yarn and I was thrilled with the finished, blocked product!

Armshaping on the Calliope Sleeveless Shell.

Full Front showing finished edge of the square neckline.

Full finished back of the sleeveless shell.

Pattern: Knit Picks Calliope Sleeveless Shell
Yarn: Nashua HandKnits Creative Focus cotton dk
Needles: US 1 and 2
gauge: Don't remember
Start date: 1/4/07
Finish date: 3/5/08

Less than a Month Away

2008-04-15T20:15:00.004-05:00

Just a quick not to say that its almost time for the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival here in the Twin Cities! We like to drive over to Washington County Fairgrounds for this becuase there's lots of roving, knitting tools, yarn, handmade soap, spinning wheels, drop spindles, spinning supplies, knitting friends, sheep, llamas, and demos! And Lots of Vendors!

Food and Gasoline Needs Cutting into Fiber Budget

2008-04-14T20:18:00.006-05:00

I can't believe how fast the cost of food has risen. In the past 4 or 5 months our grocery bill has risen 50%! That's insane!!!

I remember when I could fill up my gas tank for around $18 and now it costs me $45 to fill up.

And since I'm not really buying a lot of yarn these day because I'm spending more on food and gas I'm glad I have a goodly supply of sock yarn to keep me going for at least the next year or 2. Even so, (woman does not live by sock yarn alone) I did break down and buy some Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed at the Knitter's Palette last Wednesday. Eggplant. 17 Skeins. I cast on the Central Park Hoodie over the weekend. I've had this on my projects-to-do list for about a year I think. Anyway, its on the needles now.

Also on the needles - ruffle topped ribbed socks in Trekking XXL - Orange Stripe. 2 socks on 2 circs.

Stuff I've finished recently:

Ok...I realize this doesn't look finished. I got so excited about finishing it and trying it on that I completely skipped taking a finished shot and now its upstairs in my dresser and I'm sorta lazy about getting it out to take a picture of it. This is the reason I haven't posted anything lately but I figured, 'what the hell!' and here we are. There will be a completed picture on this site at some point in the future.

I knitted these on 2 circular needles.
It was my first pair of socks knitted at once.
It was an awesome feeling ot have both socks completed at the same time!!!

Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn.
US #5 16" and 24"

These are my best gussets ever! Check 'em out!

Pictures of new projects coming soon....LOL...along with a picture of the Lace Shell.

Nothing Newsworthy

2008-03-12T12:10:00.002-05:00

I haven't updated my page because there hasn't really been anything exciting or interesting to talk about. I have 2 projects (Same 2) on the needles - the Lime Calliope Shell and a pair of socks on 2 circuclars. Yes, 2 socks at once. This is the first pair so I am knitting with worsted to get the hang of it and understand the mechanics. Its really easy and I'm so happy that when I decrease for the toe(s) they will both be done at once.

They should have been finished in February but I haven't been knitting a lot lately. Alas, I'd better get going on that shell as it was supposed to be for LAST summer and I sure don't want it to stretch over another year! Cripes.

We did get up to Lutsen to ski over valentines/presidents day weekend. It was cold 2 of the 3 days we skied and the slopes were groomed but HARD. The last day was warmer and it snowed in the morning so those conditions greatly improved, however, the crowds also came to slopes in droves. At least when it was cold we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We spent this past Sunday at our local ski hill, Afton Alps, and the snow conditions were great and the temperature was perfect and the sun was out most of the afternoon (so we got a bit of sun also).

Its a gray day and it needs to rain and get it over with! I'm so glad we were able to enjoy the snow this weekend one last time. Now, on to Spring, dammit! The flock of robins in my front yard on Saturday morning looked at me as if it was MY fault that the snow still covered the lawns! The birds are here...bring on the worms!

Knitting Pix

2008-02-07T19:59:00.000-06:00

I've been knitting...really. I'm back working on the calliope shell in lime green nashua mercerized cotton. I started it last summer but then fall arrived and christmas knitting was more important.

Here's some pix of other stuff I've knitted recently!

Some socks I finished in the Fall...

Chevron - Sensational Knitted Socks

Travelers Stockings - Knitting on the Road

Betsy's Mitten....

...Stocking Cap and Dog Coat

Oh, Here's a pic of the back of the Calliope shell...after one repeat of the pattern

Here's My First Felted Clogs - after felting
(and Ace Toaster-Rider)

DF's Clogs

Jane's Prayer Shawl...in Antique Homespun
I knitted 2 others for the other sisters....different colors of Homespun (Prairie and Tuscan)

Other stuff I'm into this season...getting ready to go to Lutsen to ski with honey on Valentine's Day. We're staying at Bluefin Bay in the same or similar 1 br elite townhouse we stayed in last time - 3 yrs ago? OMG it WAS 3 yrs ago!

I'm listening to A Farewell to Arms on XM Sonic Theater every weekday at 3:30 on my ride home from work. Its a part of the Big Read which is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (http://www.nea.gov)/ It really makes the commute worth looking forward to. I bought The Sun also Rises on CD to listen to on the drive up to the North Shore and back next week. :-) I guess this is my Hemingway period...again. I also bought Duma Key by Stephen King when it came out....just need to finish up my Jane Haddam book (Hardscrabble Road) so I can start that one.

And in closing, some cute-as-hell cats!

Pi finds this situation deplorable...put down the damn camera and fill up my dish!

Ace is having some weird affair with the toaster

Stripey Ace Kitten

Happy 4706!

2008-02-07T19:12:00.000-06:00

Happy Chinese New Year !

I am a Monkey...
Very clever, but mischievous. Love a challenge and can wriggle out of difficult situations by thinking through difficult problems. Highly successful and well-liked.
I guess this fits pretty good actually. Although I'm not so sure about how successful I feel these days. I guess is all depends on how I look at it...I suppose I am, really.

DF is a Boar....
Honest, peace-loving and make good friends. Will try not to argue and rarely lose their temper. Love the good things in life and are very willing to share with others. Enjoy gossip and fall in love easily. Can be untidy people at home.
This describes him so well its sorta scary!

DD is a Rabbit...
Affectionate, gentle with strong family ties. Caring and hates conflict. Peace-makers with lots of friends. Dislike being the centre of attention and enjoy the good things of life.
Gentle?...hmm.... This is a mixed bag...the one thing is for sure...she doesn't like being the center of attention.

DS1 is a Dragon...
Confident, hardworking and always strive to be at the top. Full of energy, determined and will inspire other people. Don’t like routine and are excited by new projects. Show loyalty to friends, popular and fun-loving.
Well it falls apart here. The last statement is true...the rest? maybe its his alter-ego. Maybe he's hiding his light under a basket...he certainly COULD exhibit those traits...I think I may have even seen them a few times over the past 30 years.... hmmm

The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac and is looked upon as the luckiest of all the animals. Well he survived a pretty bizarre accident recently....I don't know if that was luck or if he has a faithful guardian angel.

DS2 is a Goat...
Elegant, artistic and good-natured. Inclined to worry too much. Peace-lovers who prefer to avoid disagreements. Others may put upon them, but they are stronger than they seem. Family is very important.
Totally fits him. Totally.

What is your Sign?
http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/

24 Questions about Christmas

2007-12-26T14:49:00.000-06:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Some things just are not wrap-able and require a pretty gift bag to make them look good!
2. Real or artificial tree? Again, Both...but this year we used the artificial one. My favorite was the tree we had in 2002 - flocked white and then adorned with white and blue lights and silver and blue glass ornaments. Awesome!
3. When do you put up the tree? If Artificial, it goes up on Thanksgiving weekend. If real, we wait until the first weekend in December.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually New Years day or the weekend after. However, my first Christmas out of my mother's house I left it up through Easter! LOL... An aluminum tree with 2 floodlights with color wheels on it....an awesome thing to keep you going through a cold, dark winter!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, when mixed with an exceptional rum. Unfortunately I don't need the calories so I forego that pleasure most years.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Guitar - age 13.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes and some of the figures were hand-painted by my Mom.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My oldest son. If only he had a life, wife, hobbies....something.
9. Easiest person to buy for? My daughter - maybe because she has some interests besides her job!
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? There've been a few...bad cologne, useless knick-knacks, clip-on earrings (??) Mostly these came from the sons and guided by their father.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - and I like real cards not photo cards.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Hmmm....that's a tough one. Albert Finney's Scrooge maybe? White Christmas and Its a Wonderful Life are right up there.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I start getting ideas. However, if I start early I end up spending a LOT MORE (exponentially more) than if I wait until the week before Christmas!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes. Regifting is ok if you already have one of whatever it is, its a nice gift and someone else might enjoy it.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chex Mix, Cookies, Dates and Nuts
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear usually - except for the blue ones on the flocked tree....again - freaking AWESOME!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Santa Baby - the Ertha Kitt version not Madonna's. Silver Bells - Johnny Mathis.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home...after 20 years of "going home to my mom's" for Christmas....there's nothing better than not having to fight a blizzard to sleep on an uncomfortable bed.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes. (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen...and Rudie the Reindeer with Rosacea). Note: I prefer Donner to Donder although some literature lists him as Donder...WTH?!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star this year; A blue spire on the flocked tree (awesome again); the Angel rested on a table top nearby this year....And HEY - I heard a funny song on Special XMas this year...from the Angel's perspective - Who put the Stump? by Bob Rivers....not for the prudish ;-)
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas Eve now that there are no little ones for which to play the game.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? This time of year and all year round - self-absorbed, rude people on the road, in the malls, at the grocery store. Would it kill people to smile and be kind to one another and use some freaking manners in public???
23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Just that one time so far....with the flocked tree in '02....and all the gift wrap was white, silver or pale blue.....I forgot to mention that. I like Santa's and snowmen and pressed tin and hand carved or hand-crafted ornaments the best on a green tree.
24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Bailey's Chocolate Mint Liquor.
:-D

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2007-12-24T08:40:00.000-06:00

Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and Happy 2008! Lets knit the world together in Peace and Harmony.

Cheers!

Ready for Christmas?

2007-12-17T19:35:00.000-06:00

So...I'm not ready for Christmas. I can't believe its only 8 days away! I have most of my gift knitting completed. I guess one of the sisters will have to wait for her shawl. Alas.

I just can't seem to get excited about the holiday. I feel like one of those dopes on the Hallmark channel in need of a Christmas inspiration/miracle. :-( DF did surprise me with a cute little (OMG HALLMARK) singing snowman today...so that made me smile...made me want to bake cookies...so maybe there's hope for Christmas spirit yet...

Sigh...

I did manage to get some shopping done last weekend and just ordered some more stuff from Barnes and Noble on-line for delivery before Christmas...

Sigh....

Oh, and I also managed to get to I am Legend. I love Will Smith...but I was not impressed by the creatures...they were sort of like the reapers in Blade 2 without the jaws....ho-hum. Maybe I should have gone to Alvin and the Chipmunks....

Well...that's about it for now...I better take some pictures of the shawls before I ship them off! Stay tuned for knitting pictures later in the week.

Golden Compass

2007-12-09T18:10:00.000-06:00

I went to see The Golden Compass today and enjoyed it tons! Also, Lyra sports some knitted stuff in many of the scenes. I wasn't especially fond of the knitted coat but loved both hats she wore!

I went out to the movie website and found a page where you can find your own Daemon.
First it came up with a Gibbon...but tonight...it has been decided that my Daemon is....

Ahhhh...The Holiday Frenzy Begins

2007-11-21T18:57:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

(picture of lost Turkey in next-door-neighbor's yard)

Every year I ponder just exactly what it is I'm thankful for. Some years (especially recently) I've had a hard time coming up with many things to be thankful for but this year I have many things for which to be grateful. The 3 biggest things this year are:

I have a new job and in another week I will be away from the cranky co-workers I've had to endure for the past year.
My daughter is finally in college!
Son #2 has been sober for over 5 months!

We are all gathering tomorrow around the dining room table and they will have to say what they are thankful for....(after all, there's no such thing as a free meal!). I'm interested to hear their perspectives....we have come a long way this year!

Everything is ready for the oven or nearly ready.

Menu

Turkey

Hot and Spicy Sausage Stuffing

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

(Baked Sweet Potato for me)

Gravy

Steamed Asparagus

Relish Tray

Veggie Tray

Cranberries

Pumpkin Pie w/whipped cream

Entertainment

Movie before Dinner: Live Free or Die Hard

Cards or Other Games after dinner

Now, just so you don't forget that this blog is about kniiting and pets....here's Ace Freeley keeping an eye on my felted clogs as they dry....You've heard the expression Riding the Range....she's Riding the Toaster.

Here's another shot of them after felting.

This next photo is the yarn that will become a pair of clogs hopefully in the next 2 weeks.

I don't know if I mentioned the Chevron socks at all. I had put them down for awhile when I got to the 2nd heel so I could knit a shawl. I hope to finish these this weekend and make good progress on either the Red and Gray clogs or the 3rd shawl. The shawls are for the SIL's. The next pair of clogs are for DD.

Although I mentioned a holiday frenzy in the title of the posting...it will be a knitting frenzy as I don't intend to support the local malls and department store chains this year. They can thank the oil companies and the trend to off-shore I.T. support for my lack of spending this holiday season. I used to be quite a contributor to their bottom line but they will have to play the game without me this year. I plan to just enjoy the season without the insanity of shopping.

Now bring on the Pi and Pumpkins

OMG! I found the camera!

2007-11-14T19:13:00.000-06:00

Ok...so last night I said,"Have you seen the camera?" and then had a wee moment of panic because I wanted to take some pictures and couldn't remember where I had it last or when!!! ....luckily I'm a creature of habit and I found it in the first place I looked...ok, the 2nd place...it wasn't in my yarn basket.

Here we have the Hat, Mittens and Dog Coat from Big Needle Knitting...

Close-up of the Mitten....

These were really quick and easy to knit since its Lamb's Pride Burly Spun.

And next we have the Pre-Felted Clogs....

Find the Cat in this photo!

So on to the felting!!! I sure hope this felt down to my size. I had to use size 15's in stead of the pattern's suggested 13's in order to get gauge. More pix to follow!

Time is the Enemy

2007-11-11T17:59:00.000-06:00

Look at what a girl has to put up with around here! But it is a good color on my don't you agree?

I wish I had time to do all the things I'd like to do! Like take pictures of my projects, post to my blog, update My Notebook in Ravelry, buy new shoes, bake some cookies, go to the movies and the list just goes on and on.

Sigh....

I did get a few projects listed in Ravelry finally!....although they are incomplete postings. I also need to figure out what my flickr pwd is...its been awhile since I've used it so I can get some pictures posted.

I paid some bills this afternoon...that should keep the wolves at bay for another couple of weeks.

I had a work meeting this morning at Keys on Raymond Ave where they have been serving gargantuan portions since the day the opened back in the 70's...I think it was 1972. I had to have the carmel roll...had to.

I got a pedicure yesterday...that was awesome! And had my gels re-whited. Again...me time.

I went to the Autumn Festival (Craft Extravaganza) at Canterbury Downs on Friday night after work. Bought a little snowman and a couple of tree ornaments, and some wintery/ski/snowshoe themed placemats, and a couple of handbags (one already holding one of my knitting projects).

What's on the needles? Felted Clogs...almost done with the 2nd one...then into the washer they will go...swisha swisha swisha.

Yarn: Cascade 220 wool, in purple for sole and cuff, red for instep

Needles: US 15

I have knitted 2 of the 3 healing shawls of the Sisters of DF. The LB Homespun in Tuscan, Antique and Priaire was originally going to be an afghan for his Mom...I bought it like 2 years ago I think...along with other yarn that did get made into an afghan for her. Each of the 3 colors is now becoming a healing shawl - one for each of her surviving daughters. 3 skeins each, and no fringe. Using the LB pattern...k3 p3.....across and then turn and P your K's and K your P's. Its a great project for watching a movie..even one with subtitles. Needle: 10.5 addi turbo circulars...

I have Sensational Knitted Sock - Chevron - on the needles. Tan/brown stripe

Yarn: Austermann Step

Needles: US 1

I am at heel #2. Its an afterthought heel...I don't like this type of heel...this is the first time I've tried it...and will probably be the last. If it was any other type of heel it would be finished now.

I recently finished the cabled hood, mittens and dog coat from Big Needle Knitting.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride Burly Spun - Tourquise; White Bulky yarn and Eyelash for trim.

Needles: US 13 and 15

The Chartreuse Calliope Shell that I started last spring is resting until after the holidays. I have one side finished...hope my gauge doesn't change when I pick it up to do the front.

Yarn: Doh...can't remember...its cotton tho...bought it in Woodbury at Knitting from the Heart. Will post it on Ravelry soon.

Needles: US 2 and 3

Project Pictures...coming soon!

Ok...they tend to be in a lot of my photos....but they are just so damn CUTE!

Summer Returns...?

2007-10-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

Tonight I'm making Kielbasa and Saurkraut. A traditional October meal that always tastes extra good on a cool fall evening accompanied by a cold German brew. I'm making it even though the AC is running and outside its in the 80s and as humid as the tropics!

I really do love Minnesota's quirky season transitions!

We spent last evening on the Avalon (paddleboat) on the St. Croix. It was an awesome night to dine and sip red wine on the upper deck. May make it an end of season tradition...of course, we can never be sure of the weather. Was great last night though...Although the colors have not peaked along the St. Croix yet. Maybe next weekend.

I'm getting ready to turn the heel (afterthought, my first!) on the Chevron sock I'm knitting....I'll post a picture of it next week...and I'll leave you with this sunset over Green Bay taken from Door County last July. Summer, it seems is not yet ready to go quietly into the good night....

Goodbye Summer....Hello Pumpkin Pancakes!

2007-09-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

Welcome! I've in the process of updating this here blog color scheme. I hope you find the colors and the layout a lot more soothing and relaxing. I know I do!

Its time to start thinking about harvest goodies like Pumpkins and Pumpkin Latte's and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins and Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pumpkin Scones....I'm feeling a little pumpkin spicy here. :-) Ohhhh, almost forgot my favorite....Pumpkin Pancakes at IHOP!

But where did summer go? What did I do this year? I better post a couple of pictures so I remember it for something...In July we were biking on the Munger Trail heading south out of Duluth....

In August we spent a weekend at my friend Kim's parents' cabin up in the Lakes District not too far from Mille Lacs. The cabin is on Clear Lake and it is evident by the first picture that we did not get much rain in central or northern Minnesota this year.

I did get a bit of knitting done at the cabin and was able to finish the raglan sweater at home in early September. Its too big...Weight Watchers works!

And the best FO of the season was those darn Travelers Stockings! Word of advice: Never, ever knit red sock yarn on red or magenta size #00 dpns. Unless you really feel like punishing yourself that way. But hurray! they are finished!

I bought myself some Paulaner Oktoberfest and plan to celebrate the end of this project! I now have some simpler projects on the needles. Chevron socks on 2 Circulars (from Sensational Socks) and a Prayer Shawl... K3P3K3P3.....

Cats and Mouse

2007-09-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

Here we have the Harbinger of Fall.....

"Thank God they saved me from that Big Fat Cat!"

Big Fat Cat doing her box thing...yep Dori still still likes small spaces... I found this shoe box half-chewed in my closet and brought it down to throw away...but not until she had one last catnap in it on the counter! :-S

Ace makes sure that my knitting is plenty furry!

My Best Friend...Piawacket and I have been friends for 11 years now. She sits by my side when I 'm knitting and sleeps at my side when I go to bed. And because she has some Siamese in her she talks to me all the time too. MeOW.

And Fluffy is the resident Weirdo...she mostly hangs out down in Chris' Art Room during the summer months. She comes up for food, and a good night ear scratching when I get into bed but then she dips off to her hidey-spot for the night. Once the season changes she will be hanging out again in the family room with us. She and Pi both came from Last Hope back in 1996.

On to Knitting stuff....

I had to pick up my sweater before I had a chance or thought to photograph it all blocked out because I had to lock up the dogs in the office in case the contractors decided to wander by. (I'll tell you the saga of the remodel another time...its a freaking LOOOONG story....Suffice it to say they have been here since last October!!!) Anyway, no blocking photos. I sewed the raglan seams last night and hope to get the neck stitches completed tonight...with any luck there will be a picture of it here yet this week. Until then...here's a picture of the yarn before the project began.

Autumn is just around the Corner

2007-09-03T11:25:00.000-05:00

It wasn't quite summer the last time I posted and now its only 3 weeks to the the Autumnal Equinox. I was driving to Target on Saturday and watching the joggers and dog walkers and bicylists and thinking how used to summer we become by the end of August. Seems we start to take it for granted even. Its at this time that the gardens and trees begin to look just a little weary and seem ready for a change. I love the changing of the seasosn; its in that small space of time when this change is poised that I feel renewed as nature reaffirms its dominance and control over all things great and small.

I'm also rejoicing because the Katia Mexico yarn tht I bought at Mary Lue's moving sale back in early spring has become a front, back and 2 sleeves of a sweater and is at this moment lying pinned to beach towels on my home office floor. I will be able to sew the raglan seams together later today and pick up some stitches for the neck edge and hopefully will resemble this...

Except in the Rust, Red, Brown and Black colorway....for Autumn.

Unfortunately, that has to wait as on this Labor Day I am working. :-S What the Hell! Oh, Well. I brought Traveler's Stocking #2 with me to keep me occupied during the slow periods today. Alas...its red yarn or magenta needles...Size 00 and I didn't bring my glasses! Its hard enough to get back into the groove with these socks after using sz 10 needles for the sweater....but the color and the size of the needles that the sock is on....Oy! I'm knitting from memory cuz I sure as heck can't really see what I'm doing!

Wondering what everyone else is knitting and if people have started their Christmas gift projects yet. I think I'm going to knit someone a hat and mittens with a matching dog sweater. I would love to do it in pink and white...but the dog is a boy...maybe something in a dusty apricot... :-)

I also wanted to try my hand at the Fiber Trends Felted slippers this year! Wonder how many pair I can make between now and christmas...

This November marks my 4th year knitting...I have to keep doing the math becuase it seems like I've been knitting for many years...but I picked up the needles for the first time on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, 2003 at Zandy's Yarn Shop in Burnsville! My spare time has never been boring or idle since that day!

Sorry about the lack of photos with this post but my camera is at home today and I figured since I had time on my hands here I had better let my friends in cyberspace know I'm still alive. Pictures to come later! The cats are being catty....Dori had her first mousy playmate of the season on Saturday evening! Scampering around in the kitchen under the table with it. I have a picture (in the camera) of the wee visitor in DF's hand after rescue and before he took him/her across the street and released it back into the wilds of the wooded area surrounding the pond.

So stay tuned for pictures of sweater being blocked, mouse, cats, dogs and other asundry stuff later in the week!

Happy Labor Day to you all!

Re-cap on the WWKIP ...

2007-06-15T18:17:00.000-05:00

I do not have any new pictures (Gasp) but I do have links to blogs with pictures from last weeks WWKIP at the Rose Gardens on the East side of Lake Harriet. Deb was there, and Cynthia, Christy, Rina (who at this moment is on a plane on her way to Japan to shop for Anime and Japanese fiber and knitting patterns!) , and Lisa, Megan photographing-gamer-woman, Amy, eKittie (still trying to remember your name...think think think cripes! - Loved your sweater...and your socks!) and husband(?), Addie, Sarah (a knitting blogger who doesn't blog about knitting), and Georgeann (who I worked with 10 years ago and hadn't seen since 1998!).

Did I get everyone? I think so... I don't know why I can't remember eKittie's name...could be the 2 beers...omg...I almost had it...that I had after work tonight. And Addie? I am so sorry but that doesn't seem right either...but that's what Cynthia had on her blog...so I went with it.

We had a perfect day for our get-together. Perfect! Tipper, Deepa, Katherine, Roxanne and all the others whowere there last year... I missed ya! Hope to see you in August (Sunday, 12th) on Harriet Island for the next Knit-In which coincides with Irish Fair!

Perhaps next year....for the WWKIP Day 2008, we should register ourselves on the WWKIP Day official site! Cynthia, You should post your pictures of the Rose Gardens and the knitters on the Flickr share.

Next time...pictures.

Don't Forget Saturday is WWKIP day

2007-06-06T19:05:00.000-05:00

Here's what's new and useful! I wore these at the movies weekend before last and they were GREAT. Kept my elbows toasty in the air conditioned theater when we went to see Shrek III.

Here's a closeup of the left one....

I may have mentioned there's a bit of cashmere mixed into these...really freaking comfy!!!

Of course when we went to see Mr Brooks last week it was cool and drippy outside so I wore a hoody to the movie but these babies will get plenty of wear this summer as temperatures outside go up and the Regal cranks the AC to full power. If you like suspense and you like Kevin Costner...you have to see Mr. Brooks. Talk about a freaky movie..and William Hurt plays a great alter-ego. Its campy in places, funny in others. Generally disturbing and yet I felt sorry for Mr. Brooks to a degree that is also sort of disturbing in itself. Good flick but not for the squeamish.

On to what's on the needles. I am fighting my dishcloth addiction (yes there is one on the needles but its at the bottom of my bag) and working on getting the Traveler's Stockings finished. Here's where I was yesterday morning...I devoted myself to them last night and this morning before work.

I have grown fond of the 6-6:30 am interval lately. I am ready for work...I have my coffee and my knitting and I can just sit and relax before the day turns into one issue after another at work. My job is extremely rewarding and can be extremely stressful. I have been in Information Technology for over 20 years and most of that time was spent in Research and Development, Software Design, Network Enginneering, Administration and Support. The past 7 months I have been working with a small IT Call Center to get it ready to grow into what it needs to be in order to support a growing HealthCare Organization in the Twin Cities. Its great...but we need more people! Hence the Stress...So my 30 minutes of blissful knitting is a much needed start to my day! I wish I had time to knit at lunchtime but I'm busy answering emails and communicating new processes and new issues to the call center staff and members of the IT Department. :-S

OK...enough of that .....back to what's on the needles. When I'm not knitting on the sock (or that dishcloth) I'm managing a row or two on my 2nd Caliope Shell. I bought the pattern on knitpicks a couple of years back. I knit one in KnitPicks Shine, color- cherry, for DF's sister and now I'm knitting one for Moi in this awesome apple green Nashua Mercerized DK weight cotton.

I've been knitting on this for a couple of weeks but you wouldn't know it from the picture because I've frogged the damn thing and started over...oh, I don't know...I think 4 or 5 times. I spent one night just casting it on over and over. It has a funky cast on called a Channel Island Cast on and I didn't want to waste a lot of yarn on an extra long tail so estimating the amount to start with was tough. I started out knitting for the Large (44") ....but after 2 repeats it looked absolutely gargantuan...so I ripped it. Then there was more casting on fun. Once I got the thing cast on again (this time for the Medium, or 40") I started knitting away and got 2 repeats into the body when it occurred to me (while in the shower) that the beginning and ending 8 stiches for the size 40 were different than for the 44 and I hadn't adjusted my knitting to use that chart! Damn Damn Damn! So one of my 30 minute morning intervals was used to thread a smaller needle into the garter stiches (theres a 4 row garter edge after the cast on) so I could rip it back to right before the chart pattern begins and thus avoid the cast on fun...

Anyway....its back on the needles. Its looking like the right size and I'm using the right chart for this size and all is right with this project...for now. Its a really fun pattern to knit so once the sock is finished I'll be happy to devote myself to this one full time and hopefully get it done by Independence Day. I hope.

Looking forward to the weekend (this week at work is busier than sh*t!). Saturday is going to be a really busy day (but in a good way) - Weight Watchers at 8:15, Breakfast at Jensen's Cafe and then WWKIP outing at Lake Harriet Rose Gardens from 11a-2p...then DF and I are going to have Smores and Beers with some friends in Hudson on Saturday night and I'm looking forward to seeing them! I think Good Friday we met some of them at Buffalo Wild Wings in Woodbury....but this time Angela Kay Knitter will be there and I haven't seen her and her DH since they got married and moved away. Geez, that's almost 2 years! Actually they moved to NC, came back for the wedding, then went back to NC and are now living in/near Chi-town...so closer and visit-able!

And I'll leave you with this thought....There ain't nothing like stretching out for some ZZZZ's on a slab of granite under the halogen lights with a nice pot of coffee to start your day!

Shepherd's Harvest

2007-05-15T19:32:00.000-05:00

Saturday Rina and I went to the Wool Festival and had an awesome time. I didn't overspend but did buy a couple of skeins of sock yarn, some sock blockers and handmade soaps (mmmm). We also ran into Christy and her friend Kim and daughter Emily. Besides wandering endlessly thru the 4 barns full of vendors, we watched the Stock Dog show in the outdoor arena, checked out some sheep shearing, had lunch at the 4H building, and wandered thru the Sheep, Goat and Llama barns. Rina bought a drop spindle and some roving (Coopworth, I believe). I may get sucked into spinning someday...just not ready to take on another obsession quite yet.

Back to the festival...the weather was absolutely gorgeous! Completely the opposite of last year...thank goodness! I managed to get a few pictures taken before my camera battery died...I didn't really plan that very well but here are a few of the photos I did manage to snap

One of these things is not like the others....

Waiting for Shearing..... they literally filled the pen in the morning

Sorry I don't have an "after" shot showing all the room in the pen later in the day after they were all coifed and cool. But there was considerable space in there with the newly sheared sheep.

We sat in the stands and watched Bill Gary and Mary Sullivan of Kensmuir, Working Stockdog Center in River Falls, WI work their Border Collies and answer questions about working herds of sheep and cattle with stock dogs. They even had a couple of the people in the stands down to work Bobby, one of their dogs. The dogs were amazing and fascinating to watch. Pure instinct, training and eagerness to work. Comical at times in their focus on those sheep!

Bill and his dog bringing the flock out into the arena ....

Mary and Bobby herding them into the pen

Wish I had more pictures to share but I'm not a photographer...Rina didn't bring her camera this year...although she IS a photographer. ;-) I think she brought it last year. At any rate, Christy had her's so I suspect you will find pictures over on her site this week.

Ramblings and UFOs

2007-05-08T18:49:00.000-05:00

This weekend is the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival which is held on at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Lake Elmo (MN)! I'm curious to know who out there is planning to go. I'm planning to go on Saturday. I don't need anything but I will be looking at homemade soap, sock shapers, and whatever else flirts with me to try to get me to take it home.

It rained last year...it might rain this year but at least it will be warm, unlike last year. So it will be good! And since its going to be warm I am NOT going to wear this....
But as you can see here...its finished in time. I purchased the yarn for this at last year's Wool Festival as I mentioned in an earlier blog. This picture doesn't show the true color of the garment. Its a darker charcoal gray than what is represented in the photo. Alas, I am not a photographer and do not own a fancy camera. I am extremely glad to be finished with it because I have so many other projects that are clamoring to jump in my bag!

Here's what shouted the loudest this week

Yes indeedy, I've cast on and started knitting the 2nd Traveller's Stocking (in red Koigu, starting out on size 0's, 2 circulars) finally! I think this was the sock of the month in October or November for the KOTR KAL. I'm glad to have taken the break from them and I am having fun with them again. Who knows...maybe someday I'll make another pair......riiiiight! Well maybe in the next life, ya never know.

And here is the beginning of the Arm Cosies that I'm knitting for those chilly movie matinees and the office refrigeration days...er, summer office environment. I'm using Classic Yarn's Cashsoft Aran which is a blend of "extra fine merino", microfiber and cashmere. This was some of the yarn that I picked up on my first visit to The Sheepy Yarn Shop in White Bear Lake. Rina and I were there collecting charms and hopping around the metro on the yarn shop crawl - 7 Jewels of the Twin Cities thing last year. The Koigu was also purchased that day at Needlework Unlimited.

So while I was sitting here a Pileated Woodpecker stopped to take a drink from the bird bath just feet from my window! The camera was right here but the damn memory card was stuck in the USB drive of my computer! I'm so bummed that I missed that photo op even though I suck at photography! It was a beautiful and rare site in the backyard. We have tons of birds but the pileated doesn't come around very often so it was a special treat.

This is the book I'm currently reading. DF started reading Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series after watching the show on cable this spring. The characters in the book have the same names and the plots are similar but that's about the end of the similarities. Murphy, the cop in the series, is blond and medium build in the book and she is dark and petite on the show. I can see why the change...I think I like the Murphy in the show better. Same with the watchdog from the White Council who hounds Harry (Dresden, the main character), in the book he's middle-aged and kind of heavier....and on the show he's a big hunk of a guy around, oh....28 or 30 maybe. Harry is a wizard-for-hire in Chicago and the Police Dept calls on him often to assist with bizarre, occult-type murders. So far I'm not sold on the book, I'm about half-way thru the first one. I'm just killing time until my other favorite authors release new books. But I could end up liking these...jury's still out.

Spidey 3 was ok. Bittersweet at the end once again. Dammit anyway. Looking forward not to Pirates and Shrek and Harry.

A Fluffy TTFN to y'all!

Now go back and tend to your knitting!

The Twin Cities is an awesome place to be a KNITTER

2007-04-25T19:07:00.000-05:00

Back to Sunday....Christy and I went to St. Peter as some of you know...and not only is there 1 really nice yarn shop in town...there are 2! I left out of my earlier post (because of Heroes on Monday night...and then didn't get back here on Tuesday due to not wanting to miss a minute of Hugh Laurie last night) that we proceeded from Mary Lue's just over over one block and up...to The Tangled Skein. The town's population is around 10.5K as of 2005 but they have 2 yarn shops...well for now...Mary Lue's is moving to Mankato in July after all....

(But isn't it awesome to be in the Twin Cities surrounded by so many wonderful yarn shops and Knitters!!??!!! Damn straight it is!)

Lori, one of the owners, was on hand at The Tangled Skein to assist and answer questions. There were a group of ladies learning to knit socks at the very large table in the middle of the shop and all the while a lovely April Shower fell on the countryside. They had an excellent selection of Noro and Rowan yarns to name just two...there were lots of other yarns like Lorna's Laces and Koigu... I got the chance to fondle the Rowan Calmer and fall in love with the idea of knitting with it. Unfortunately for me the only color they had enough of for my project was red...and I did a red cotton tank 2 years ago. But at least I know what it feels like now.

Nothing new happening this week. I'm up to the garter ridge on the tee I'm knitting...pictures to come in a week or so. Ace (I did NOT name her) has decided she loves to be in my spring knitting bag...she actually pushed the zippered case out of it first before curling up with the alpaca yarn for a snuggle.

Its good to be a knitter...or a cat living with a knitter...here in Minnesota.

Mary Lue's Sale and Hot Fuzz

2007-04-23T19:36:00.000-05:00

It rained yesterday - hooray! We sure did need it! Unfortunately, it was a Sunday...so now I'm wondering if its going to rain next Sunday... :-( They say it might...and weather is cyclic so we might be stuck with Rainy Sundays for awhile. That will give me the opportunity to get lots of knitting done and see all those movies that will be coming out in the next couple months! Biking and gardening will have to be balanced on Saturdays.

Yesterday Christy and I drove to St. Peter, MN to check out Mary Lue's moving sale. The store is a very adequately sized yarn shop but I overheard the shop lady say that they are going to be moving to a larger space in Mankato. I think this will be a very happy day for the people in Mankato as she has a nice selection of yarns! She had a HUGE selection of Encore (from DK to Bulky) so if you like Encore...head down there before the end of the sale and take advantage of the 30-40% off deals!

I picked up some Katia Mexico for 30% off along with a pattern for a sweater for next fall/winter. Saved myself $25. Here's the raw materials for said sweater.

I was really hoping to find something in a nice jazzy purple and she had some in the Art Yarns...but I needed 2 more balls than she had left...alas, I went for the autumn colors in the Mexico yarn...I'm itching to get started on it...but I have plenty o' time since I think it should be a 3 week project once I start.

I'm still working on the alpaca tee for shepherd's harvest in 3 weeks..should be done with it by then...and would like to wear it. Remember last year? It was cold and rainy that weekend. Year before it was nice....I'm hoping for nice this year.

These little side projects keep distracting me.

I absolutely love knitting and using these ball-band dishcloths! Here's the newest addition to my dishwashing cadre!..... Note how nicely the color matches the hand soap next to the sink. Dorky, I know.

Now on to our movie of the week. We went to The Reaping with Hilary Swank 2 weekends ago...fair. Last weekend we saw Perfect Stranger...less than fair...actually we were both disappointed in the performances rendered by each of the actors. This week we went to see Hot Fuzz and it was the best movie we've seen this month!. If you liked Sean of the Dead you HAVE to see Hot Fuzz. Completely different story line from Sean... but full of surprises both funny and freaked-out gruesome!

OMG - I was just informed that Heroes is starting! Guess that wraps it up for today. Check out Hot Fuzz if you like warped entertainment!

New Cat Pictures in next posting...

Happy Earth Day

2007-04-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Earth Day One and All... I remember where I was on April 22, 1970! It was a HUGE event. And everyone was excited about it. I was at Stephen Hempstead High School and it was a day of sit-ins (all ok'd and supported by the school!) and talks about how to take care of Good Ol' Mother Earth. It had been going to hell in a hand-cart up to that point without anyone giving a rat's butt and the organizers of this nationwide event weren't going to take it anymore.

Now we find ourselves in the situation where some government big wigs are once again turning a deaf ear and blind eye on our environment. However, now we have the EPA - which is here because of the culture of "HELL NO WE AREN'T GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE" that was prevalent in the 60s and 70s here in these United States.

So I would urge you all to continue to do your part...its the only Earth we have Peeps. Don't waste it.

And remember that Cotton, Wool, and Silk are all wonderfully natural resources that Mother Earth makes possible for knitters and crocheters to make into lovely handmade garments.

TGIF!

2007-04-20T19:31:00.000-05:00

OMG it was a freaking busy week at work this week. Busy is good until it reaches insane-busy..which is what it was on Monday and Tuesday...it was only ridiculously busy on Wednesday and we actually had short periods of time yesterday where we could think between each problem. I was actually able to read and respond to email today. So again I say TGIF!

Progress on the Alpaca-Merino blend tee shirt is consistent and I'm hoping to be done with it in a week or 2 at the most...will post pictures when its completed. That's all I have on the needles right now...next thing is to cast on for Travelers Stocking #2 (Nancy Bush - Knitting on the Road). I would also like to start a cotton tank top in chartreuse or orangey coral....

I'm going to St Peter on Sunday with a friend to Mary Lue's Yarn shop...or are we going to Mankato? Has she moved yet? Its moving I hear... I don't know when moving day is but we are going this weekend so I assume it hasn't moved quite yet...the website would have something posted, wouldn't ya think?

I also saw this really cute knitted tee on magknits.com and what caught my attention is that it has shaping through the mid-section so that it lends some shape to your shape! I've been looking for patterns like this and it just sorta jumped out at me and said - Try this! The designer knitted it with Rowan Calmer. Anyone out there knit with this cotton/acrylic blend? What's it like?

New Blogger!

2007-04-09T20:09:00.000-05:00

I just found out that my friend Angela has taken up knitting in earnest since she moved away from Minnesota and has JUST created her first blog!!! She is living in Illinois and I'm sure she would just love it if you check out her brand new blog at http://whatcantiknit.blogspot.com/.

As to my own blog, I'm having 2nd thoughts about the new blog design here.... Maybe I'll go back to the old template....I sorta like the nice clean lines though..... And I love ORANGE! Who'd o' thunk it!? I'm usually more of a chartruese person most of the time, sage greens, deep reds....orange is a complete departure for me.

Sorry there were no pictures of Travelers Stocking #1 in my downloads this time or even a picture of the tee I'm knitting......just cat pictures...

Mom....puh-lease go away!

Dori has taught Ace the finer points of getting hair all over the clean laundry....When Ace isn't busy playing in the kitchen sink.

A long time on the UFO list - they're finally finished!

2007-04-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

After 9 months!
...seriously, it was July when I started these ....

Behold - Pomatomous!
It wasn't that they were difficult. There were really a lot of fun to knit. Its just that all those damn dishcloths were getting in my way! And then the socks from KOTR....Unst, and then the Travellers Stocking (sock #2 not started yet)... Well, anyway these are now finished.. This was the Trekking yarn that I bought in Sturgeon Bay in July when it was a zillion degrees...and Lake Michigan was actually a nice temperature to swim in.

Ah...memories. We stayed at the White Lace Inn located in Sturgeon Bay which was awesome! The bed was comfy and the breakfasts were superb! We've decided that if we go back to Door County we would stay somewhere farther up the penninsula since we did a lot of driving up and down...and it would be easier if we stayed somewhere toward the middle...and there's no lack of quaint B&B's all over the place! But personally, if you like the Victorian B&B...the majority of them are in Sturgeon Bay.

Last summer we also went to Galena, IL...now there's a step back in time to the 19th Century for CERTAIN. The Civil War era is all around you there, from Grant's home to the restored Italianate architechture that covers almost the entire center of their community. Take the trolley tour for sure if you find yourself in downtown Galena.

So my latest knitting project (not the KOTR TS #2) is a simple knitted tee made from the alpaca-merino blend that I bought last May at the Shepherd's Harvest. Its a charcoal color and came from an Alpaca whose name is Maestro and resides on an Alpaca farm in Wisconsin, Blue Hills Alpacas and Fiber Mills.

The pattern is one that my (ex) mother-in-law had knitted for my then- 3yr- old daughter (aged 19 now). She used to work, knit and fix knitting @ 3 Kittens for many years. She and her husband moved to Arizona at least a decade ago. So when I asked for the pattern last year (I didn't knit when she lived here) she wasn't sure which one it was ...but it arrived in the mail a couple of months ago...on 3 Kittens Stationary...blasting from the 80's to today! I'm almost done with the front...sorry I'm a wee bit behind in photos... :-S
I think I'll wait to take any until I put the front and back together. Stay Tuned...

Bittersweet Sunny Days....the Last few days to ski!

2007-03-05T20:12:00.000-06:00

Well Friday was a better commute as it turned out ...and Saturday was a gorgeous day! I love all the new snow, and I plan to ski on Wednesday night instead of knitting! After all, it won't be around forever. :-)

Here's a little pictoral quiz - no prizes though...hadn't thought it out that far!
Where in the world is this?

Here's another vantage point if you don't recognize it from that one...

...one more hint...

Any ideas?

I don't have any pictures of this, but there is a very cute little Yarn Shop only a couple miles from where these pictures were taken. Its called Tall Tale Yarn and Basket Shop (no website that I know of) ... you have to pass the shop on the highway on your way to the Ski Resort. :-) And there's also an extremely interesting yarn shop chock full of yarn and supplies about an hour from there that you just have to visit called Playing With Yarn ...if you're near that part of the world.

Pomatomous sock # 2 progress....starting the 2nd repeat of the chart on the leg. :-) Going well this time with no dishcloths to cloud my vision and distract me!

Happy March Everyone!

Snow Snow Snow

2007-03-01T18:58:00.000-06:00

Where was this stuff 3 months ago! As long as the ski places are still open I guess I can't complain. Plus it was really pretty driving along Minnehaha Parkway tonight. Then I headed south on Cedar and joined a giant parking lot in front of the MOA. I guess it was good that we were only going 5 MPH because the road was covered with ice.

Just glad to be home without any mishaps. Hopefully tomorrow morning will be easier?? Ok, I can hope, right?

Anyway here's a cute cat picture

Oh to be a cat! I wonder if she would lay on a bed of nails?

Still Alive and Still Knitting

2007-02-22T19:29:00.000-06:00

Contrary to what you may have been thinking I am still alive and I am still knitting. I also changed jobs back in November and now I don't have any time during the day to think about the blog world. I used to have about 40 hours a week to devote to this stuff but now I'm actively engaged in my job. Funny but true.

I've just finished that 1st Traveller's Stocking and I've also finished Sock # 1 of Pomotamous. Now I have 2 x 2nd Sock Syndrome!!!

Last Friday night I sat down with my knitting books and magazines and made a list of all the projects I want to knit and put them in my notebook and prioritized them. The unfortunate reality is my stash and my project list don't overlap too much. Go figure. So now I have to decide if I knit from my stash....or buy more yarn....hahahahahha..... Guess we know which why I will probably lean there!

I have also lost touch with some of my favorite knitters. So now its off to read some blogs and try to reconnect!

Loot from the Yarn Shop Crawl

2006-12-02T15:54:00.000-06:00

Here's the stuff (tho I don't see the pattern for the Giant Felted Door Mitten that I got at Coldwater Collaborative) that I picked up from the Seven Jewels of the Knitting world a while back. I just got 2 of the 3 missing charms in the mail this week. I am only missing the Scissors now. Not sure which shop the scissors charm was from now... Anyone out there remember? I know its a scissors cuz Rina said so. She's missing that one too. We're thinking maybe its the Yarnery. Which is were I got the size 00 and 000 dpns. The 00 needles now have one of the Travelers Stockings (from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road) on them and the yarn is the red Koigu you see in the picture up there on the left, which I picked up at Needlework Unlimited. The other red yarn is from 3 Kittens (who's site must be undergoing a change) and its Cleckheaton Country 8 ply which will become a red stocking cap for Moi! The cashemere just to the right of the koigu will be arm warmers for cold summer air conditioned office days. I got that and the color wheel at Sheepy Yarn Shoppe. (Amazing that I remember any of this!) The locking katcha counter I got at Amazing Threads and the Sock yarn is that stuff with Aloe in it and that I got at Zandy's.

Last weekend I went to the 3 Kittens super huge sale and didn't by anything ...on sale, that is...I did manage to spend some cash on 10 skeins of Fortissima Socka! Some nice solids and heathers for "guy" socks. Pictures may come later...when I can find a place in my house to take pictures that ISN'T a mess.

Shoalwater Shawl - unblocked

2006-12-02T15:43:00.000-06:00

I finished the knitting and now it just needs to be blocked. The yarn is Noro Silk Garden Light. I only did 2 repeats of the pattern. I had enough yarn for about another half-repeat and maybe I should have used it all up but I stopped where they suggested to stop for the DK weight option. Its not nearly as big as I was hoping and its really light weight so its not going to be the winter warmer I was hoping it would be. However, the colors and the design are awesome and I think once its blocked it will be perfect for spring outings and for going to the movies with me in the summertime. :-)

Ace Freely, Kitchen Remodeling and Disaster Areas

2006-12-02T15:13:00.000-06:00

Some people have grandkids...I have a grandkitten. When DD returned to the nest a month ago she brought along her little baby, Ace Freely. She's about 7 months old I think. Ace and Dori are having an awesome time together running all through the house, galloping up and down the stairs and under beds and over sofas and around chairs. They love to wrestle and stalk each other. Dori is really happy to finally have a playmate! Those other 2 cats can be such grumpy old women with a kitten. Ace is also completely happy to have a great big house to prowl and run through since she spent most of her time up until now in a small apartment.

Their most favorite place to play right now is in the kitchen where there are no counters, cabinet doors or drawers to get in their way. They blast thru the penninsula and race through the dining room and living room up the stairs around the bedrooms, down the stairs, through the living room and dining room, back through the penninsula and into the family room where they fly up and over the sofa, across to the chair and hide behind the TV only to jump out at the chaser and then back into the kitchen cupboards.

They will have to invent a new game once the new cabinet doors and drawers and the new granite countertop is installed. I'm hoping that this is only about a week and a half away. HOPE HOPE HOPE!

Last week was the absolute worst part of the kitchen remodeling I think (again, I HOPE!). They scraped and resprayed the ceiling and finished the drywall stuff. Next week the cabinets, which were a very dark oak as you can see in the picture, will be painted a very soothing Almond Cream. The room is on the north side of the house and I'm hoping to brighten it up by going almost white on the cabinets. The counter will be dark and the appliances (currently Bisque) will be stainless. Also, added a ton of new lighting in the ceiling and under the cabinets.

In the meantime, my house is a disaster area. A friend who also recently remodeled her kitchen warned me that it would be tense...and that it would be a miracle to get through it without killing everyone. She was right. I'm really at the end of my rope with the mess and not having counters and having EVERYTHING in boxes. But last week was the worst when we had plastic up over all the doors and it was a major deal just to get through the house to the garage or the basement, since the kitchen is really the hub here like in most houses. So, I am really hoping this will be finished soon.

The cats were not very happy about being stuck in the basement all last week either. The first day or 2 it was fine but by Thursday they had had enough. So now they are back at it, running around and around and up and down....

You've heard of a fish bowl, right?

2006-11-05T15:39:00.000-06:00

Ok....here's a cat bowl! Well most of the time its a fruit bowl really, but Dori sits in absolutely anything she can get her furry little self into or on top of.

I haven't posted in a long, long time... Mostly because I left the dysfunctional job I had with that dysfunctional "BigTimeConsulting" company and I'm now working at HealthEast Care Systems. Which means I no longer have tons of time on my hands at work. And I'm loving my new position and the people I work with and the people I support at the HealthEast hospitals (Sts John and Joe, Bethesda and Woodwinds) and the 13 clinics.

I know I owe lots of pictures. I finished the Christmas stocking...mostly, and the Shawl (needs blocking) and I'm still working on the Traveler's Stockings and Pomatomous socks. Yes, I'm behind in my posting.

I did go with Anabel and Rina to 3 Kittens last Saturday, and bought 10 more skeins of sock yarn, none of it on sale of course. Didn't see anything on the porch that I really wanted and I seem to be drawn to sock yarn these days. That being said...I'm going to go knit!

Pictures to follow this week sometime...so check back around Saturday or so...

The Dogs

2006-11-05T15:06:00.000-06:00

This is Xena. She's 9 and a half. She is a very good dog. Other dogs tend to make her nervous and then she becomes Cujo. She's also very good at letting visitors at our door know that she's on duty. :-) Grrr Ruff! You can also see Fluffy jonesing to be outside. Alas, the birds do not appreciate her presence and so she remains on the other side of the screen.

Here's Axel...2 years old and still a puppy at heart. All 95 lbs of him. He is also a very good dog. His hangup is squirrels. He would so like to be able to climb the big cottonwoods in the back and get their fuzzy butts.

The Cats

2006-11-05T14:40:00.000-06:00

Fluffy

Midori...Dori for short

Piwacket...or Pi for short.

They are distinctly different in personality as well as color and shape. Fluffy and Pi will be 11 next spring and Dori will be 3. Hmm...geez time flies! All three came from Last Hope. Life is good for the kattens in my care. :-) And they all behave perfectly when I'm knitting.

How Frustrating

2006-10-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

If only the damn mail basket were larger! Or I was smaller...when did this thing SHRINK!??

Dori tried for about 15 minutes to get comfortable before she gave up in frustration. I've never seen a cat with such determination though. She would get up and turn around and then try facing the other way. Wish I had thought to take more pictures of this but I didn't think she'd try more than 2 positions. This was the best she could achieve, her front legs spilling out of the front, chest looking painfully uncomfortable, and her tail hanging over the side.

First Annual Treasure Hunt - Seven Knitting Jewels of the Twin Cities

2006-10-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

Ok...until today I wasn't really sure if I was going to do this...but I stopped at Zandy's on my way back from Chipotle at lunchtime and I got my first "jewel" and the pin and the map with my first stamp so now I have to finish this journey. Oh, I also bought a ball of that Austermann Step sock yarn "mit Aloe Vera oil und mit Jojoba oil". I'm gathering up Rina at 5:15 and away we're heading to Needlework Unlimited and then on to ColdWater Collaborative! I've never been to either of these shops. Next, if we have time, and I'm sure we will, we will head on up to Amazing Threads, by that time rush hour should be over! I don't know if we will have time tonight to get to A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe or not tonight. The shops are only open until 8PM tonight.

Then alas, I will have to take a break and won't get back to it until Sunday. But by then everything is pretty much up 35E on the east side so I'm thinking its totally doable.

Next purchase, or one of them... some solid Koigu for the Travellers' Stockings!

I'll close with this bit of eye candy and leave you to ponder what she tried to do next.

Dori Sits....everywhere

Let's Get Visual

2006-10-06T07:54:00.000-05:00

October Monthly Dishcloth

This is the finished October Monthly Dishcloth. This one was knitted on size 6's and its quite a bit smaller than any other cloth I've knitted. Just completed last evening during the Evening News. Meow!

Christmas Stocking

The Christmas Stocking was knit flat and then seemed in the back. The yarn is Cascade 220. This isn't finished yet as it needs some knitted holly leaves and berries on the side and little bells on the points of th cuff. I really wasn't sure what I was going to do with it once it was completed but now I'm thinking this will find its way into someone's Christmas basket with a bottle of wine tucked inside during the coming season.

Pomatomous Progressing...

The Pomatomous, as pictured here on Oct 5th, is about 1.7 repeats of the pattern. Since then I've finished the 2nd repeat and have started the next one. There will be 3 repeats on the leg and then I'll start the heel flap. This is such pretty yarn and the pattern is interesting. This is my favorite project at the momentt.

Old Shale Lace Scarf

Here you see apricot mohair, which was purchased at the Shepherd's Harvest, on size 11 needles becoming a scarf; the stitch is a type of Old Shale Lace . Note: it is about twice this size this morning. Very easy to knit.

Shoalwater Shawl as of Thursday afternoon, October 5th. I'm not rushing this, as you can see.
No progress was made on it again last night. Alas, there just isn't enough time in my day!

On Feathering an Empty Nest... with Wool and Cotton

2006-10-03T20:29:00.000-05:00

Some weeks are busier than others. This past week was one of those. Work has kept me occupied and "engaged" during the day. The evenings fly by as my needles click away on Pomatomous, Shoalwater, the latest monthly dishcloth (which I'm doing in bright orange) and a scarf which I just started this weekend. I finally wound the hank of green cascade 220 tonight that I need for the appliques for the Christmas Stocking. The Stocking is done and the tails are weaved in...all that's left are the holly leaves and the holly berries. I owe a picture here and to the Red Sock KAL!

The Scarf is a simple "old shale" lace pattern that I found somewhere on the world wide web (no clue anymore where). I'm knitting it with some mohair that I bought last spring at the Shepherd's Harvest. I started knitting it with a strand of the mohair and a strand of a complimentary wool/mohair bulky (also bought at the Harvest) but it was too tight and way too wide. So I ripped it and tried it with half the stitches...but the color of the wool/mohair blend was making it look rather drab and unhappy. I was unhappy with it. So I ripped it again and tried it with just the mohair...and voile! its awesome! Pictures will be forthcoming. I'm knitting this for a friend who says, "You never knit anything for me!" whine whine whine....but I've been planning this apricot mohair for her since I first saw it last spring....I just didn't know what I wanted to do with it exactly until I saw the pattern online. I figure I'll make a hat from the bulky for her. Its a hand-painted yarn that is sorta taupe and apricot so it will work with the scarf...At least I think it will. Hope it will.

Shoalwater (Noro Silk Garden DK) is going slowly but I try to knit at least 6 rows at a time when I pick it up. Its about 175 stitches across and growing. Pictures coming.

Pomatomous is going slowly, owing to all the other projects begging for my attention. I'm only halfway thru the 2nd repeat of the pattern on the leg. Its gorgeous! Pictures later, really...I promise.

They're a lot like children, these knitting projects. First one kid needs your attention and then the other one demands something. Hey, I wonder if this is my way of dealing with the empty nest syndrome... Not that this nest is exactly empty. There are the 2 dogs and 3 cats and one returned fledgling.

I'm a day behind on the dishcloth. We're getting 8 rows of the pattern each day so I've got 16 rows knitted. I have no idea what its going to be yet. I was working on Pomatomous earlier and now I'm here...so I guess I'll knit today's rows and tomorrow's tomorrow night and the weekly SNB.

I am behind in my photos but I'll get them up here soon. No, really! I will. Have a great week everyone!

Pomatomous Progress

2006-09-22T21:39:00.000-05:00

This is Pomatomous after 15 rows. I was planning on knitting more of this tonight but I picked up the S-Shawl and knitted a few rows of that instead. I might actually be able to knit a few rows tonight if I could ever pry myself from looking at yarn online. I suspect that the new poll results for the KOTR KAL for Oct/Nov will lean toward The Traveler's Stockings for the next KAL (which will begin October 1st) and if that's the case then I want to knit it in Koigu purple or red. Which pretty much means I have to find a shop around town that carries it or order it. Anyone know who carries KPM around the Twin Cities?

Other stuff on the needles besides Pomatomous and the Shoalwater Shawl - a Christmas Stocking that is almost finished. Problem is it was knitted flat and now I have the seam and edging and the bells and and the knitted holly leaf embellishment...and that's all really...I guess that's not so much of a problem........Ooooh, now I remember! There are 16 ends to weave in around the top because of the points on the cuff. :-S Before I can do the edging. Bummer.

FO post - Leafy - Part Deux

2006-09-22T21:34:00.000-05:00

Here's the finished mid-month Dishcloth from the monthly dishcloth knit-along. Isn't it purty?

Socktoberfest

2006-09-21T14:38:00.000-05:00

I think this is a really clever, fun little button graphic! I joined Socktoberfest since I figured, "hey...I'm knitting lots of socks these days and I absolutely love Octoberfest and BEER"...so when i saw this button (just one of many awesome selections for the button) I just had to join! My Pomatomous ribbing is finished, well on Sock #1 anyway, and I am dying to get going on the leg pattern. Will post a picture tomorrow on this weekend showing the progress.

Now, about The Black Dahlia (late but not forgotten) - I liked the movie a lot but the story of the murder of Elizabeth Short is really just a backdrop for a good portion of the movie. However, it does offer up one possible solution to the never-solved mystery of who killed her. A good mix of fact and fiction. We were entertained. It reminded DF and I of L.A. Confidential in some ways. Can't really say exactly why. Maybe it was the period, costuming and cinematography. Now, about the clothing. Scarlett Johansson wears some nice vintage-style sweaters in this; you know, like twinsets, etc. And I now know a lot more about zoot suits than I ever dreamed there was to know. Mostly because I was curious about the Zoot Suit Riots that they touch on at the beginning of the film. And then there's the lesbian bar scene...who knew! I wonder how much of that was realistic though, really. Then again, it was Hollywood....

Pomatomous Swatching and Other Rambling

2006-09-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

I did my gauge swatch last night for Pomatomous. Gauge is 8 stitches and 12 rows per inch. Cookie suggested US#2 so I started with those but was only getting 7.5 stitches 10.5 rows per inch. So I switched to #1's and that gave me the gauge I need for these socks. PLUS, (and I was wondering about this) the purl bumps on the inside are less bumpy with #1's so they will be more comfortable to wear. I'm using Trekking XXL again, same as Unst, but this isn't a jacquard stripe. The color is 51 - its Royal Blue and Kelly Green with a smidge of Turquoise for contrast. I think its going to be PERFECT for this pattern. Reminder, this is the yarn I got in July on our Door County trip. Bought in Sturgeon Bay....Tempataions was the name of the shop and it was over 100 degrees that day...in Doory County! A peninsula that is cooled by breezes from Green Bay and Lake Michigan. What a freaking hot summer we've had...but I digress.

So while I was creating this blue-green swatch it jumped out at me that this is almost exactly the color or my school uniform at Holy Ghost Parochial School back in Dubuque, IA. Sorta nostalgic now but by the time I graduated from 8th grade in 1970 I had begun to hate that wool, plaid, pleated, kelly and royal skirt! For one thing it had to be ironed every Sunday! For another, it was freaking HOT in that skirt in September...and in May and June! Iowa warms up faster than Minnesota and stays warmer longer.

I love the color though and these are going to get worn a lot. :-) Assuming they fit.

On other needles the mid-month dishcloth KAL has begun. I'm using SnC-yellow. And the pattern is some sort of lace. I've only knitted the 9 rows of Day 1's post. Still waiting for Day 2 to be posted.

The temperature dropped about 15 degrees since around 1am. No tornadoes on our side of town but I guess the NW side of the Twin Cities had a very scary night with some significant damage from the storm.

Today it remains gray and wet outside and we plan to go to the Regal to see The Black Dahlia. I thinkI first heard about this story back in the '70s when I think they made a TV movie about it. There are tons of websites out on the net devoted to the story.....Here, and here, and here and there's an entry at Wikapaedia, too. So as a fan of the mystery genre, in truth and fiction, I have to go check out this new telling of the tale.

Unst Details and the Weekend's here!

2006-09-15T13:08:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Unst, Knitting on the Road - Sock Patterns for the Traveling Knitter by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Trekking XXL, 75% Superwash wool, 25% Nylon. Made in Germany. Color 130
Needles: Combination of -
Addi Turbos US#1 - 2 circulars for the legs.
Alum DPNs US#1 for foot and toe.
Started: Mid-August
Completed: 9/14/06 during the rerun of last season's finale of ER.

So the reason I had to switch from the 2 circs was because I wasn't sure how to split up the stitches on the instep nicely to do the lace pattern when I did the first sock. And since my dpns are a true US 1 and the Addis are really US1.5, I had to repeat my method on sock number 2. It worked out fine. It gave me a chance to knit with the dpns again. When I got to the toe though....I was really wishing I was on the circs and not the spinning spikes that the dpns turned into.

I would most definitely use a solid color or something more subtle the next time I knit these. There was also discussion about the lace ribbing on the KAL. Some knitters chose to do a simple 1x1 ribbing for more stretchiness. I can see where that might be a big deal since these just fit over my heel. If my bones were bigger I'd have had to give these away for sure.

This morning before work, I picked up my Shoalwater Shawl (pattern from Fiber Trends - arrow down on the left side to find it) and added 4 rows. As I was knitting away I found a spot where they had tied the damn yarn together but at least I found it long before I got to it so I was able to untie it and splice it. I have a feeling we're gonna need our shawls this weekend here in Minnesota. Its about 80 and sunny today but its supposed to get cold and rainy overnight. I can't knit that fast...no way...I've only just finished row 48! LOL

Good baking weekend I'm thinking....and maybe a nice hearty stew with crusty white bread.
Tomorrow also brings the start of the mid-month Dishcloth Knit-A-Long! I haven't decided if I'm doing this one in red again or in yellow. I have more yellow than red...so that might be the deciding factor here. And I have to fit a movie in this weekend. I'm leaning toward The Black Dahlia but The Last Kiss is running a close 2nd.

FYI - Opening This Week:

Unst has Left the Needles

2006-09-15T12:54:00.000-05:00

Hurray! I have finished my first Nancy Bush Socks.
It actually only took me about a month I think.
Ok...maybe 5 weeks...but it was really fun to knit these!
I love the yarn...but the next lace socks I knit will be with a solid color so that the lace can take center stage.

Pointy

2006-09-08T16:26:00.000-05:00

The points on the Christmas Stocking were knitted separately and slid along the needle to wait until the grand joining. The picture is a few days old and I'm about 1/3 of the way down the leg now but I tend to lag behind in my picture-taking, preferring to knit rather than struggle with poor lighting. There's something to be said for setting up a photo spot in the house with a good side light and multiple backdrops. I think I'm on the verge of kicking it up a knotch (BAM!) on the obsessive knitting and blogging scale.

Leafy

2006-09-08T16:10:00.000-05:00

Here's my finished September Dishcloth. Of course! Its an Oak Leaf! Doh! It sure didn't look like a leaf as I was knitting it; it was totally mysterious. Funny how obvious it is now.

I'm thinking about knitting up a couple more in yellow and green to give as a gift.

The Illusionist and other Rainy Day Stuff

2006-09-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

Unst
The 1st Unst is Off the Needles! Of course it doesn't look like it here...this was yesterday morning's picture. I finished the toe while watching You've Got Mail yesterday afternoon. I haven't started Sock #2 yet because I started something else...

The Christmas Stocking
This is what it looked like when I brought it home from Zandy's Yarn Shop yesterday (where, btw, I haven't visited in ages! It was nice to see Zandy and feel those lovely sock yarns with jojoba and aloe!). Back to the sock - its going to be red with a white toe and heel and white i-cord along an 8-pointed cuff. Also, there will be embellishments in the form of forest green holly leaves adorning the side. I originally set out to find some Lion Chenille at JoAnn but all they carry is Thick N Quick which is no good for my project. So then I figured maybe some Lion Suede...dang, also bulky. I need worsted weight for this. The design was done by Nicky Epstein (hence the embellishments) and it specifically says Lion Chenille. Even Lion doesn't have the Ivory color available online, or anything else that approaches white, cream or beige. So I stopped in at Zandy's to see if she had Crystal Palace chenille in any colors that might approach red and forest green...but I guess I'm a little early in the season to expect holiday colors. Its still summer in the yarn shoppes. I decided to stop trying so hard and instead of chenille, I'm going to try to do it with Cascade 220. We'll see how this goes. I've knitted 5 of the 8 points for the cuff. My big push for getting this started now is that I've joined that Red-Sock-Knitalong you see...

Also OTN...The Monthly Dishcloth
I've also got 14 rows of the September Monthly Dishcloth knitted....and I have to do today's rows yet. I have no idea what it is going to look like yet. It will be some sort of Autumn/September theme...and it has a nice seed stitch border and I'm knitting it in red. That's all I know for sure at this point. I'd have a picture here for you to see but blogger is being mysterious about where the hell the picture is after uploading...it certainly isn't to the right where I told it to put it. Grrr. Ah, well.

Lastly, I'm playing with the Noro Silk Garden Lite and turning it ever-so-slowly into the Shoalwater Shawl. And I coulda used a shawl at the movies this afternoon!

At the Movies
Chris and I went to see The Illusionist today with Edward Norton. I had no idea what the film was going to be about. Actually, I thought we were going to see the remake of the horror, The Wickerman but Chris decided that we had to see The Illusionist instead. And I'm glad we diverted to this one. What a great relief NOT to be presented with yet another remake, repeat, rehash of something from the sixties, seventies or eighties! Paul Giamatti gave a very good performance as Chief Inspector Uhl and Edward Norton with a goattee...yummy. My god, even Paul Giamatti looks good in one! If you like period films and you're tired of the normal Hollywood fare...check out this film. You might be pleasantly mesmerized and entertained with a very good story.

Yellowjackets

2006-09-01T14:35:00.000-05:00

Rina asked why I called the little pests at the picnic "yellowjackets". Yellowjackets are wasps and not bees, first and foremost. Bees have better things to do with their time than hover around soda cans and garbage. Wasps on the other hand are indiscriminate feeders. They have no flowers to pollinate or honey to make. They are creepy little critters who can sting over and over again. Currently, its a battle of wits at our house between the bald-faced hornet and Chris. He's trying to keep them off the hummingbird feeder but its a losing battle. The hummingbirds have to fight the yellowjackets to get to the feeder. We have a wasp trap out there and it catches lots and lots of them during the week but still more of them show up to drain the sugar-water from the feeder. The good thing is that the hummingbirds can come out and feed when its raining...not so the evil wasps! And its supposed to rain this weekend. Which, incidently not only means the hummingbirds will be able to eat in peace...it means I will have more time to KNIT!

Knit-A-Longs

2006-08-31T08:55:00.000-05:00

Here's Unst #1 this morning. It was much easier to be objective yesterday at lunchtime when I was miles away from the sock. But (yeah, I started a sentence with 'but'; somewhere an English teacher is grimacing) last evening when I picked it up and looked at it I just couldn't do it. I have 3 more inches to knit before I decrease for the toe. I hope to finish this one by Saturday morning AND, since the weather is supposed to suck around here this weekend, I should be able to make great progress on Unst #2.

I'm such a wimp. But (again with the but?) I can always knit it in a solid color later, right?

Piawacket loves to knit....she loves to sit and talk and talk while the yarn loops and wriggles...I'm serious...she mewls and yips and purrs while I knit and we are both enjoying this time in her life. We've been together for 10 years this month! Fluffy, too. But Fluffy's more of a painting cat and spends a lot of her time in the art room downstairs with Chris.

Back to knitting, the September Dishcloth KAL starts tomorrow. I'm psyched! I'm gonna knit this one in red cotton. I am really enjoying this Monthly Dishcloth group. If you're looking for a diversion from your bigger more complex shawl or sweater projects, join the fun. We knit 2 dishcloths every month and there is "fun with knitting" every couple months and quarterly exchanges you can sign up for, etc. Its a groovy group. :-D

Pi Agrees - this just isn't copacetic

2006-08-30T12:49:00.000-05:00

The big froggy question looms again

2006-08-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

Here's Unst from a few days ago. As of last night, I'm almost finished with the gussets on sock #1 and I'm thinking that the yarn and the pattern aren't doing each other any favors. I love the pattern...but I'm thinking the yarn I'm using (Trekking XXL in green/purple/navy-white/yellow) isn't the right yarn for this sock. And I like the yarn...where its just being non-lacy-stockinette the striping pattern is showing off quite nicely. So now what has crept into the back of my mind is "Should I rip it?" Well, as all knitters learn, once that thought creeps in, it only gets stronger. So the question becomes....when will I rip it and not if. :-( How sad. Dang it anyway. Now I have to find a solid or tweed...tweed would be ok...sock yarn for this project. And find a simpler project for this Trekking. :-( I guess tonight at the weekly SnB I'll be frogging....followed by swatching...and then casting on yet again for UNST with,perhaps, some Lana Grossa Meilenweit Tweed.

Picnic in the Park

2006-08-29T10:52:00.000-05:00

The 2nd Annual Twin Cities PicKnit was held on Sunday at the Lake Harriet Rose Gardens. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for knitting and snacking in the park! Old friends and new gathered to stitch N bitch...but not much to bitch about on this fine day. Well, except maybe the yellowjackets, and even they left us alone once we all were busy tending to our knitting. What a beautiful backdrop for our very relaxed and much enjoyed get-together. I didn't take a head count but it seemed that there were around 2 dozen knitters present. It was great to get faces and voices to go with email and blogger identities. There was Tipper, and Chris and Christy and Rina and Deepa and Julie and Gwyneth and Roxanne and Becca and Kelle and Stephania and Betty and Laura and Beth and Deb and.....others who's names I can't recall because, lets face it, that's a lot of people to remember all at once, even if you aren't as old as dirt. And Gail was there for a brief moment with her hubby, Gary! And of course we were watched over and protected by Cotton who came along with Roxanne. I think its safe to say everyone had a pleasant time.