Wishes for 2007 and Blogaversary!

DS1’s Scarf, based on Shedir from Knitty.com

On the Eve of the New Year, I’m wishing you all a Year Full of Health, Happiness and Love.  Be safe tonight and celebrate!

The new blog is moved – new blog for a new year and just in time for my 2nd Blogaversary!  Yep, I started this blog two years ago New Years Day.  Easy to remember.  It’s been an amazing two years filled with so many new experiences and connections and special friendships – some of you I’ve been lucky enough to meet, some not, but all treasured friends.  I really find it hard to describe the sense of community I’ve found here, in this blogging world.  I’ve reached out and been received with open arms and I hope I’ve extended myself in that way, as well.  Thanks so much for making it such a memorable two years. 

On the knitty side of things – I did try to take photo’s this morning and only ended up with one good one in the lot – an artsy shot of my DS1’s scarf.  The yarn is Jaeger Matchmaker Merino, 4 skeins.    The pattern is adapted from the same pattern I used for DS2’s hat – Shedir, from Knitty’s Breast Cancer Awarness suppliment.  I just adapted the cable repeat, using it three times and bordered on each side with garter stitches – always slipping the first stitch of a row, purlwise.  If you’d like more info just contact me.  And use bigger yarn – and bigger needles – or it’s going to take you weeks!

I’m throught all the decreases and increases on Ariann and have an inch more to knit before I cast on for some sleeves – I always get nervous when I’m knitting a pattern and wondering how the heck I’m going to have room to insert the next two buttonholes – but I have faith in the pattern and especially it’s writer!  I was able to find the perfect buttons for the sweater while yarnshopping with the peeps the other day, so it’s all over ‘cept the sleeves – well, and then the raglan shaping, neckline and collar, but you know what I mean. 

I should get my arse clothed and get down to the store – we have a party to go to and I’m bringing appy’s – and over course left the shopping to the last minute.  What a way to send 2006 out!

2006 – The Year In Knits

 Dan’s Hat, 2006

I thought it might be fun to look back over this past year and see how much I’ve accomplished knitting-wise.   I might not be one of the most prolific knitters around, but considering all this past year had going on, I don’t think I’ve done to badly. 

Knitting Accomplishments of 2006

Sophie Bag

Blue Ridge Jacket

Margaux Tank

White Shetland Triangle

Black Shetland Triangle

Sonnet cardy

Daisy baby sweater

Diamond Fantasy Shawl

Picovoli

Basic Shell Tank Top

Something Ripped

Something Red

Dan’s Cabled Hat

Tim’s Cabled Scarf

5 pairs of socks

4 Warsh clothes

Not too bad.  And I’ve only 4 unfinished knits to speak of:

 Scoop Du Jour which is mostly done but a spring sweater

Ribby Shell which I’m still unsure I’ll finish or rip

Icarus which was put off for unexpected Christmas knits

Arwen, which I’ve betrayed for Ariann. 

I’m still trying to figure out why wordpress isn’t giving me the right format to upload photo’s in – so far I’ve no luck from my forum post – everyone seems to think I don’t understand how to upload – that’s not it.  I don’t have the upload box in my write post page.  There is no box.  Therefore,  I cannot upload within WP.  But I’m using Photobucket and we’ll see how huge the photo comes out.  And Flickr, etsy and most of the internet has been wonky today at best.  I’m almost done cutting and pasting 2006’s blog entries.  I will lose the comments – or they won’t transfer over, but I still have them in Haloscan so they’re not totally lost.  I just want my content over here.  And the internet has not cooperated today much – sloooooow as a snail. 

I can’t say I’m not looking forward to 2007.  While 2006 wasn’t a totally bad year – it did have it’s share of downs and I’ll be looking forward to a more productive, less dramatic 2007 for our family.  And maybe a little snow soon?

A New Home

Well, I’m moving in here at wordpress.  So far, I really like it here – thanks Jeanne!!!  I’m having to cut and paste all my blog entries – but that’s ok – I’ll put up with it in order to have a better place to blog.  Now if only I could find the little box that supposed to be on this page where I’m typing right now, that is supposed to let me upload photo’s without hosting them elsewhere (where did I put that?) I’d be happier.  It seems like it should be there, like the FAQ’s say, but Idon’t have it. Or I had it and lost it.  Or someone forgot to give it to me?  I did get spoiled by being able to just upload a photo without having to go upload it somewhere else and then upload it again – help?  Jeanne?  Anyone?  Bueller? 

 Ok, so no pictures but I had a frickin fantastic time with Jeanne and Laurie today.  We met at Jeanne’s and hopped in the car to ride down to the Wooly Lamb in Pennington, NJ.  We had a great time and we all bought, get this, various shades of Cascade 220 in the same brown/rust color!  We are just so BFF!  I’ve been there before and just love that shop – they have soooo much yarn and they are so nice – no pestering, just pleasant and ready to help you when you need it.  I think I infected Jeanne with the Ariann bug – did you start it yet, Jeanne??  You know you want to.  Then we opted to hit the Cracker Barrel for lunch – oh boy.  And I didn’t make a pig out of myself – took half my mean home – I haven’t eaten real food in days since I was sick over Christmas – sinus infection/upper resperatory hell and have actually lost weight over the holiday – I know.  Not what I’m supposed to be doing, but I can use it.  Anywho, after lunch we sat and knit at Jeanne’s beautiful house for a little while.  It was just a great day – I needed that girls, so thank you. 

I’ve finished DS1 scarf and have cast on and knit at least 8 inches on Ariann – I’m so in love with this sweater and it’s just coming out so nice.  And now I’m hooked on Cascade 220 – I don’t know why I didn’t know I loved this yarn so much – it’s so soft and the colors are just so nice – the stitches are knitting up so perfectly – you know it’s the yarn and not me.  I’m just really loving it.  And looking forward to wearing it – the stitch pattern really is a lot nicer in person that the photo’s show it to be.  And easy to memorize – have I said how much I love this pattern – I’m not sure we hooked Laurie into knitting it yet, but I think we’re close….

Hopefully, I will figure out the photo issue and be able to post some catch up pics tomorrow….bueller?

Merry, Happy, Joy

First, let me just say I wish you all a Merry, Happy, Joyous Holiday however you celebrate – be well!!

That’s a bad photo of the DS1 scarf, three skeins in. Oy. A slow knit, she is. But I’m picking up speed and finishing it before the New Year is rung in is looking good. If I can remember to take photo’s when I have the good light, I will have more over the next few days – yarn photo’s, FO’s etc. I would really like to take a photo of the fastest box of yarn – I ordered 10 skeins of Cascade 220 on thursday from WEBS and received the box yesterday! Followed by an email notification that it will be delivered on the 26th. Santa strikes again! I’m sure he just took that box out of the UPS truck and left it on the doorstep for me, don’t you?

DS1 is home, the tree shall be decorated – we waited for him – and the presents shall be wrapped and placed. We are ready – and it’s nice to have a day in between to just get things wrapped up – like food shopping. I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be. And I’m calm about it and looking forward to spending time with my family.

Weirdness

*sigh* we are going to get rain………….I still wish for some of this for Christmas…….*sigh*

Well, I’ve been tagged by Jeanne, so here are 6 Weird Things About Me…….

1. Don’t touch my feet.

You can’t touch my feet – I can’t breath. I mean this.

2. I’m a bit intuitive.

I’ve had more than a few times in my life where I’ve had “bad feelings” or dates in my head that turned out to be ‘events’. My family takes me very seriously when I say I have a bad feeling – we all wait to see what will happen – rarely does the feeling just pass. And it could last for awhile. Unfortunately, they don’t call it a bad feeling for nothing. On the up side – I knew my oldest would be born on December 15th. My DH would like me to be able to pick lottery numbers like that.

3. I don’t like clowns.

Remember the movie Poltergeist? Well, that clown doll was my Nightmare when I was little. My DH and I were dating when that movie came out and when I saw that doll I said “ohhh, this is gonna be baaaaddd”.

4. I collect Snowmen.

But that’s not weird. I leave them out all year long – that may be a tich weird to some.

5. I have Appliance OCD.

I cannot leave the house without checking the iron, the coffeemaker etc. I’m better than I used to be – I didn’t used to be able to go to sleep without checking for the blinking light on the fire detector – I’m better now -

6. I will only eat Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup when I am sick.

Do not try to give me anything else. I just won’t eat it. My mother always gave me Campbell’s and it just works. I’ll eat other soups, don’t get me wrong, but not when I’m sick. And don’t try to trick me either. Even in my worst fever induced fog – I can tell. Ask my husband.

Well, there it is. I think everyone on the blog circuit has done this. If you haven’t – tag, you’re it.

Five Months of Bills

I have that particular version of the 12 days of Christmas song floating through my head – that song just cracks me up! I wish it was cold enough for us to have one of these in the fireplace – but it was almost 60 degree’s today!!! WTF? Hello??? If I wanted to have mild winters, I would move to mild-winter-ville. I do not. I want WINTER. I want Snow. I want Ice. I want big bulky sweaters and warm snuggly socks. For goodness sake, I want to be able to wear my new winter coat!!! I want a White Christmas.

Thanks to all for the warm Birthday Wishes for DS1 – he was truely touched and said my blog post and your wishes to him were “better than any card” We pick him up Friday after his last final for his WINTER break (did anyone hear that – I said Winter break?)

I have been knitting on his scarf and only on his scarf. I have touched the sock yarn. I have contemplated getting the winder out and winding said sock yarn into a yarn ball to start a pair of socks, you know, for when I can just pull out the scarf and pattern and I just need something to be able to knit on? But I’m too guilty. It feels wrong. Knit on a Christmas gift for my son………or socks for myself? That is just wrong.

Went to a wonderful Holiday Knitting Meetup Saturday – lovely group of ladies, lovely time. I was lucky enough to get three balls of Noro Silk Garden in the grab bag – photo to follow, along with photo’s of the scarf and the pile of finished knits pre-scarf. I heard scuttle about a yarn crawl coming up soon…………something to look forward to. And I will not be making any yarn resolutions. Nope. Not me. I have few vices. And yarn is one of them. I will not give the yarn up. The buying of the yarn. The shopping for the yarn. The covetting of the yarn. I will not give it up. I will, on the other hand, try to give up, say, some food. Yes. I could go on a food diet. That would make more sense for me. And in that same vein, I would be giving up some yarn, say if I was knitting a smaller size sweater for myself. So, it could be a double-sided-diet of sorts. I will fully support the yarn industry in 2007. Not the Donut industry.

Happy Birthday!!!

19 years ago today, I was watching a snowstorm from my hospital room, counting snowflakes along with contractions. After a scary c-section, ending 28 hours of labor, my husband and I had been given the most amazing gift – our first baby boy. He’s not a baby anymore – he’s a funny, serious, hardworking, determined, beautiful young man that we are so proud of, and who’s taught us more than we could have possibly taught him – Happy Birthday Bub! We can’t wait to see you tonight and start celebrating!

Oh, and that scarf that you want mom to knit – it’s going soooooooooooooo slowwwwwwww – many cables. Many. CABLES. You like cables. I’m glad. Good thing it’s not for your birthday!

If We Can’t Have Snow…..

….Then at least we can have Snowmen……….Now at the shop………..plus lot’s of new pins and stitchmarkers, perfect for stocking stuffers!

I think I’m switched to the new beta version of Blogger. I’m not sure since it said it couldn’t move my blog, try again later, but then it was moved? I don’t know. Anyway, I was hoping for a better blocking feature – you know, for those pesky stalkers we can get from time to time. Thankfully, I’ve only ever had one or two of those!

Knitting photo’s tomorrow – hopefully of a finished beanie – and the start of DS1 special request scarf – I knew I didn’t really want to make a Forbes Forest Scarf in Jaeger Matchmaker merino for myself, I just knew it.

A Christmas Gift

Remember that beautiful roving I mentioned ordering from Susie at To Knit, Perchance to Dream? Well, it arrived just the other day. I’ve been trying to get home early enough to take a photo in natural light, but it’s just not happening for me this week. Anyway……..here it is. Isn’t it just gorgeous????

Hang on! That’s not just roving -that is an awesome skein of matching SOCK yarn!!!!!! A wonderful, generous surprise from Susie. I just can’t thank her enough. You should go, right now and see what she has up today – some gorgeous Heather laceweight that is just to die for and some more beautiful roving – this stuff is going to be heaven to spin. Thank you, Thank you Susie, for a wonderful Christmas gift – I’m honored. These are definitely going to be on my needles just as soon as DS2’s socks are done. And that will be soooooon! I’ve also cast on for another scarf. This one definitely needs a photo in good light, so I’ll save that for another day.

I’m thinking I’m right at the cast off stage for Arwens back – I’ll be measuring that up and possibly casting on for one of the fronts tonight – keep your fingers crossed. Tonight is Grey’s so hopefully I can keep my eyes open to knit and watch it. So much going on this week at work, that I can’t really elaborate on in this blog – but it’s been a week. The full moon just added to the hyper stuff going on at work and we’ve got people going and coming. I haven’t even put a dent in my Christmas shopping but intend to this weekend via the internet. DS1 is coming home and we really need to get some info from him on what’s on his list this year. DS2 wants a really expensive software program – he might be finished in one click of the mouse! I have half a mind to tell hubby that we’ll go shopping for each other after the holidays! Wouldn’t that be something different? And I’m trying to get a few scarves and donations knit up for the holidays – no pressure, eh?

I’ve been fighting off a cold and migraines this week and powering through the fibro – no medicine for it right now and I’m leery of starting another so soon after the side affects of the last two. I’ll be doing a lot of research on helpful treatments for this, besides medication. My body just doesn’t take to it.

I’ve a few new idea’s floating around in my head for Shawl pins and I’m hoping to hammer them out this weekend too – boy, I better get busy!

Post and Ping: Ok, courtesy of Knitnana, I’m Posting This and Pinging Here -to see how fast a meme gets around our blogosphere – now, Post and Ping on!

Nuttin

First Before we get to that photo, let me just say the weather the other night? Tornado warnings? Severe thunderstorms? Wind? Massive Rains? Well, we had nuttin. Really. We did have wind, we did have rain. My DH said he saw lightning way in the distance on the drive home. But us? Nada. Not that I wanted a Tornado, mind you. But heck. We had the Emergency Broadcast System going off like gangbusters. I was thinking we should go to the storm shelter (we don’t have one) and hunker down for all the alerts the weather service was putting out. I hear folks a little north of us did indeed have some damage, so I’m thankful for things like the Emergency Broadcast System – but what a way to scare the bleep outta you!

Remember this? The Sockthatshallnotbenamed.
The sock that tumbled down the front stairs with me at the beginning of the summer? Here it is in all it’s stupid glory. Really, I did not like this sock. I guess I associated the fall with the sock – even though I know it’s not the socks fault. It’s not like it tripped me, or pushed me down those stairs. But after picking all the wood mulch out of it, it just left a bad mojo with me.

We talked about this sock – I didn’t want to knit the second sock. I’ve never not knit the second sock. NEVER. But I went with it, decided the sock shall be alone. You all said I could, so I thought I was OK.

Started: June 21, 2006
Finished: October 28 2006

Four months to finish that sock. It was made with Cascade fixation, which is hard on your hands to begin with. But I’ve never taken so blasted long to finish a sock before. I. Just. Hated. That. Sock.

Hey!!!! What the heck is this……………………………
Well, folks, that’s a PAIR of Socksthatshallnotbenamed. Yes. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the strength the let that sock just be a singleton. But here’s the kicker.

Started: November 23, 2006(Thankgiving Day)
Finished November 26, 2006

No, you’re not seeing things -What took me MONTHS to do on the first sock, too mere days on the second. I just wanted it DONE. I really was doubting my ability to quickly knit a sock. So on Monday I cast on for a pair for DS – and finished the first sock Tuesday – short socks but he’s got a size 11 foot, so he makes up for it there. Whew. It’s not me. It was the yarn, the fall down the stairs, the bad knitting mojo associated with it. They are done. I can move on. I’ve got Sock Closure.

Now, my friend Roxanne of Zen Garden is having a SALE!!!! On both her etsy shop and her web site - 10% off and she’s got gorgeous YARN – so soft and lovely – you really must go and give a look around – I promise you won’t be disappointed. I have a skein of her wonderful yarn and it’s some of the softest stuff on earth.

In Spinning news – oh, I’m sorry, you didn’t know there’d be spinning news – I’ve finally got my wheel out, polished and oiled up – lubed, so to speak – and spun some of the wonderful chocolate brown alpaca I bought from a local farm two summers ago. I’ve got some lovely roving coming my way from Susie and I wanted to at least get a skein or two of this done before I dive into her lucious fiber. And now, I need to go find where the heck I put that forth bobbin. Really. How does one lose a Bobbin?

It’s been a good week – busy, but good – I had a full work week – we haven’t really had a lot of them in November with Teachers Convention and Thanksgiving so it’s pretty surprising to have to go a full week – such a shock to the system. I had a lovely Dinner with my knitty peep. I enabled another gal at work who crochets to buy one of the Namaste bags. The etsy shop has been brisk (thanks!!), and I’ll be listing more stitchmarkers and pins today. I sometimes feel like I should be doing so much more getting that little shop “out there”, but it’s been travelling around by word of mouth just fine – I love it when customers tell me how they found me and for all of you who’ve referred someone to me, pointed them in my direction, posted my work on your own blogs, worn my work to your knitting meetings – I thank you !! I’m honored and very grateful.