I'm So Blue

Well, I'm in a bit of a funk tonight. I had a wierd encounter on the bus on the way home, and it's bothering me probably way more than it should. I just wish I could talk it over with someone, I think that would make me feel better.

I'm also kinda bummed that I haven't heard from Dave. I wish he would send an e-mail or something. I sure hope the governor didn't have him arrested.

And I have to go to work tomorrow. Bleah. I'm hoping that I will get my weekend back soon , though. I'm getting help on Monday, so things should start getting better.

So I'm still knitting the first Sports Team sweater and it's boring knitting. All black. I think I'll post another "Oldie But Goodie" for your blog viewing pleasure.
Since I'm feeling kinda blue. This is the hooded version of the 5HBS (I think the hood adds an extra 1.5-2 hrs). I made this for friends of Dave's. He actually has pictures of it being inflicted upon the hapless child, who was none too happy about it, I can assure you! It was knit in TLC or Amore or one of those synthetic boucle yarns. It's very lightweight. A bit too limp for my taste, but it was for a southern baby so that's not necessarily a bad thing.

There's A Chill in the Air

It's Sweater Weather Baby! Doesn't every knitter's thoughts turn to sweaters, the making and the wearing of, when the weather turns colder? And there's only 86 days until Christmas--Hope I didn't frighten anyone.

I finished the second sleeve of my Sports Team sweater and started the back. All the stripey bits are done. I hope to finish up this weekend. No new picture (how exciting can you make a sleeve?) so I'll post a picture of a blast from the past. Since the thermometer's starting to dip I present this:

I made this set for a co-worker for her birthday. The yarn is Bernat's Galaxy in the Venus colorway. It is meant to match her pink coat (with grey/tan fur trim). The yarn was pretty much a perfect match. No pattern, I just worked them up as I went along.

The Boys and I watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Pretty good, not as good as the book. Older Son read the book (we got a special edition DVD that came with the book, cost 80 cents more). And is now tearing the house apart looking for The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. All we found was So Long and Thanks For All the Fish. I'll probably have to go out and buy them. Don't you hate having to re-buy something you know you already own?

The Governor should have come and gone in Anyang. Hopefully I'll hear from Dave in the next day or two about how everything went. Maybe he'll even have time now to send some pictures!

I Survived

Open House. What a night! I got there at 6:20 -- Open house started at 7:00, but we were allowed to sign up for Parent/Teacher conferences starting at 6:30. I was not the first parent there, but I did get all the prime conference times (I'm booked from 4:20 PM to 6:00 PM). I'm happy to report that I did not have to resort to physical violence at any time. Nor did Older Son have to fake a seizure to distract everyone so I could rush in and sign up (that was plan B). And what a workout! We figured that we went up (and then back down) at least 9 flights of stairs. It was up three flights to this class, back down 3 flights, down a hallway then back up 3 flights.

I Got Mail!
From my Pgh Secret Pal! When I sorted my mail today I found an envelope addressed to me and opened it up to find this:

It's the One Skein Wonder pattern from Glampyre. I'm sooo excited about it, I can't wait to start it! I've wanted the pattern for awhile now! Thank you so much Secret Pal! You made my week! Truly!

Here's the story about this pattern -- I've wanted to make something for my Evil Twin for awhile now, and hadn't found anything. ET works at a bank, and they have a very strict dress code, part of which is that she can't wear anything sleeveless. This is in South Florida. Sleeveless is the norm, and ET isn't a cover-up kinda gal, if you know what I mean. So I've been looking for a mini cardi, nothing fancy, and just enough to make her "legal". I was going to design one, but then saw the One Skein Wonder and it was perfect! Don't you just love it when you find the "perfect" pattern? And I love the idea of supporting a small designer. But it was a PayPal thing to buy it and I don't do PayPal, and it seemed like a royal pain to sign up for just this one purchase....Enter Secret Pal to the rescue! So, ET is getting three for Christmas -- Black, white, and camel. I'll do others for her on request.

And in Knitting News, I did some more on the first Sports Team Sweater.

That's the second sleeve. It's a bit curled up. And, at Open House tonight I saw Kelly from my Knitting Group, the bearer of the recipient of this very sweater! Turns out her step-daughter and Younger Son go to school together, and even know each other. How cool is that?

Update

On the stinky smell. I carried the garbage from the back porch out to the garage, and next day the smell was gone. So it either was the garbage (which is kinda wierd, because standing right next to the bag and even holding it at arm's length while carrying it out to the garage I couldn't smell anything) or the neighbors upwind had a really serious case of flatulence.

Darn!

Missed the beginning of my second favorite show! (House) Last night I missed my favorite show altogether (Medium). It's rough when you only watch three or four shows on TV a week...I just can't keep up.

So I finished sleeve one on my Devan cardigan and started sleeve two. Exciting, no? Especially when you consider that this is the first of two sweaters like this I'm making. This one being the smaller, the other will be in the largest size and will be for the big sister. And, I just realized I have to have these done by next Friday! Yikes! I may have to call the Knitter's Hotline!

In Other News

I got to talk to Dave twice today! Yeah! He called this morning and talked to me awhile at work, and then again this evening and got to talk to Older Son. (Younger Son was out at Youth Group and unfortunately missed the call.) He seems in a bit better spirits, the Governor's visit was delayed a day. They finally installed enough hardware that he was able to test his software part yesterday (actually, today, but it's tomorrow there right now.) Things worked surprisingly well, there were only a few minor problems. Now he just has to be careful he doesn't trample the Governor or his entourage in the hotel on his way to work tomorrow (cause Dave's staying in the nicest hotel Anyang has to offer, and where else would the Governor stay?) Let's all just hope the Governor doesn't want to discuss the project with the 'American'. Cause it's not like Dave can "blend in" or be inconspicuous or anything....

It Stinks

I mean that literally. Something outside my window really stinks and I have no idea what it is. I have no great burning desire to go and investigate, either. Isn't this what I got married for? I had to shut the window it was so bad. Maybe it's the garbage on the back porch -- I'll take it out by the garage tomorrow and see if that makes things better. Thing is, when I was outside at ground level I couldn't smell anything. It's just something that's wafting in on the second floor.

On the Lego front, Deep-Sea Lego Guy is still on the newell post upstairs, while his accomplice has disappeared. No doubt gone off to report to the others while Deep-Sea Lego Guy stands guard over the bathroom and environs.

I finished my first Devan sweater! Everyone at work was duly impressed (I finished sewing on the bus and spent part of my lunch working in the ends.) I have to get some buttons and then I'll post pics. I've got the fronts of my second one done and have started the first sleeve.

And finally, think kind thoughts for me on Wednesday night -- it's Back to School Night, I have to go meet all the kids' teachers. I must make an extra effort to leave work early (or at least on time) so I can get to the school by 6:30 (Back to School Night starts at 7) in order to sign up for the choice spots for parent-teacher conferences. Last year some of the teachers ran out of conference time! And for the others I was left with hours in between conferences. I'm going to be prepared this time! It'll be like Bargain Day at the department store -- I'll be running in and pushing other parents out of the way....

Sunday Times

So it's Sunday and I'm avoiding watching the Big Game (because every time I watch our team loses). We went out to the store and bought Season One of The Muppet Show. The kids are watching it right now. Older Son and I watched Soap earlier. Great TV back then....

On the Lego front, the Lego Guys moved to the newell post at the top of the stairs. I'm hoping
it's a brief stop over on their way back to the living room.

In Knitting News, look at this:
It's the Devan cardigan. With the first sleeve sewed in completely wrong. I'm in the process of picking it back out here. I did finish unpicking and managed to sew in both sleeves Friday night at Knitting Group. We all had a great time, and had a new visitor and someone else who said she'll be back in two weeks! Yay! But everyone noticed that I was not moving along like gangbusters on sewing those seams. Yeah, it's not one of my Favorite Things.

Doppleganger

So I was tooling around the 'net today looking for Shetland yarn for the making of Fair Isle stuff. And I found this site: She Ewe Knits. I was debating getting some Jamieson's (look at the shades. Impressive, no?) And it's a home based business, which I like. THEN, I clicked on the designs, and found this, the Windsor Waistcoat designed by Lorraine Condotta. I'll put it next to a picture of Older Son.

Freaky, no? I of course showed it to OS. He even thought it looked like him. What can I say, I bought the kit.

And in other Knitting News, I got my first Secret Pal Package! Woo HOO! It came yesterday but the Bad Boys tossed it onto the floor and I missed it when I rushed in and out of the house on my way to Knitting Group. Lookee what I got:

Sock yarn and a pattern for toe-up socks! When they saw it the Bad Boys changed their attitude. They're now vying to be the Boy Who Gets Those Socks. OS is next on the list for socks, but YS argued (with good merit) that he appreciates his handmade socks better. We'll see what happens....(The color would look better on OS, but then, he only ever wears black.)

And in our next installment of Legos Take Over the Earth... I awoke yesterday to find this:

Two Lego Guys on the back of the toilet. Look closely, one of them is wearing scuba gear. Should I be worried?

Reconnecting

Sorry about the lack of post. I had connectivity issues. My internet has been out since Sunday. I finally got it back up and running today. Yeah!

I spoke with Dave today, he called because he's going to be working day and night until the 28th (when the governor of Henan province is coming to inspect the mill), so will most likely be out of touch until after that. His musical cohort also showed up in China yesterday, but I'm sure that has nothing to do with his being busy....I think he may be having connectivity issues there as well, though. He's moved hotel rooms twice because his internet connection failed. I haven't gotten an email from him in almost a month...

And, I got a post card from my Pittsburgh Secret Pal! She's on vacation and wishes I was there. I wish I was there too! I should send something to my Secret Pal, I feel guilty now. I'll try to get to it this weekend...

On the home front, the Legos have taken over the living room. I won't go in there anymore for fear of bruised feet. Younger Son is supposedly cleaning them up, but everytime I look in they seem to be spreading out more....

In knitting news, I'm working on the second front of my first Sports Team cardigan. I finished up the knitting of the random stripes cardi and will spend tomorrow night at Knitting Group sewing it together since I can't work on the Sports Team because the giftee will be there.

And finally:
My sky for Sandy.

Weekend Adventures

Saturday morning I took my Pap and his friend Glen to get their hair cut.

Here's Pap sporting his new 'do. Doesn't he look handsome? And he's single too, ladies. (But he says he wants to stay that way).

I was going to go see Sara and her crew at her eldest's soccer game, but he stayed home because of an ear infection. I hope he's feeling better.

Then it was back home to go to work. (Bleah) When I got back I caught a few minutes of the new WB Buzz Bunny. I was unimpressed. But the kids seemed to like it, so maybe WB knows what they're doing.

Worked the rest of the day, I got home around 7 and picked up some Chinese food on the way home. Thought of Dave while we were eating our American Chinese food and wondered if he was eating Chinese American food. Turns out he was. He called this morning and we talked for a bit. It sure is nice to hear his voice! But Hon, next time you call we're not talking about money again -- it's too stressful and that's not what I want to talk about! Put it in an email!

So then I went to lunch with my MiL and SiL. And the kids. We had a great time, and the buffet was great Dave!

Younger Son didn't want his picture taken, but I finally caught him.

We had to have intensive negotiations with Older Son, though. But his aunt finally prevailed.



Knitting News!

I finished all the pieces of the Devan cardigan and started putting them together. The shoulders and fronts call for a three-needle bind-off. Now, I generally don't do three needle bind-offs because I view it as a cop-out on sewing a seam. But, I figured, I'll do it just this once. Well, I had more trouble with those 18 stitches....First I did it from the wrong side. Rip. Then I realized I'd dropped a stitch on the back. Rip. Then I found I'd dropped a stitch on the front. Sheesh. I've ripped and picked up for (hopefully) the last time. I'm counting the stitches this time. So why did I think this would be easier than the seam?

Here's my Girlie yarns. The Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn I found at the local discount yarn store for $4 a (100g) ball,

and the Kroy colors have been discontinued (at least according to the Ram Wools catalog) and so I got them for only $2.50 a (50g) ball. Can you see how good the colors look together? I'm psyched about it.

Oh, and my comments are fixed. I was getting e-mails from a blog reader and I kept wondering why she just didn't leave messages in the comments. So I finally checked. The settings were such that only the blogger (me) could post. Duh. But, in my defense, I distinctly remember setting that so that anyone could post. I reset it and while I was there I toggled something else and the setting went back to only allowing me to post. Apparently there's some kind of Blogger bug that resets this to locking everyoned else out whenever any kind of change is made to the comments settings. So anyone else out there using Blogger having comments issues (and I've seen a couple) this could be it!

Pictures!

YEAH! I have pictures! Here are the pics I took earlier. Scroll back if you need the context...

My books.....

Essentials sock yarn.

And the Palette. (Ooooh, look at all the pretty colors!) I got all of these from KnitPicks. I highly recommend them, service was excellent, delivery great, etc, etc.

And my Used to Be Current, Now Finished Project:

The Red, White, and Blues Socks. They're actually not completely finished, I'm finishing off the toe on the second. But I'll finish them tonight and give them to Sara's eldest tomorrow.

I Have a Bad Feeling About This....

I've been having a Bad Run of Luck lately. (I'm calling it Luck, because I don't really want to contemplate that maybe it's really Poor Judgement, or Lack of Good Sense, or just plain old Stupidity.) Ahem. It seems as though for the past several months everything I turn my hand to ends poorly. I've even started having dreams which consist solely of me dropping, smashing or in some other way inadvertently breaking things. It seems that whatever decision I make in whatever circumstance is The Wrong One. I've tried to rationalize and sort down to the bottom of it but I can't. So I've come to the conclusion that I'll just have to ride this wave of Bad Karma wherever it takes me, so there it is. But, life goes on, and I had to make a moderately Big Decision today (not huge, as these things go, but somewhat Important). I apparently was trying to delay it by procrastinating (which was again, The Wrong Thing To Do) and in sorting out why I did this (which is really unlike me*, generally I come to a decision fairly quickly and act maybe just a bit prematurely) I had the above epiphany about my Bad Run of Luck. Huh. Maybe that's why I was putting it off. Fear of Imminent Disaster. But the decision had to be made and it was, and now I'm stuck with it. Like I said, I have a bad feeling about this.

*Not that procrastinating is out of character for me. I do it alot, always to avoid things I don't want to do. But I had never done it in this venue before. I had always been fairly decisive. And, And, And, I honestly thought this was something I wanted to do. Until I caught myself procrastinating today!

Oh, well. On to Knitting! Yeah! I got my order from Ram Wools! I got some Kroy sock yarn in sadly discontinued colors, but the ones I got are a perfect match for the Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn in Bright Spring colorway. I got a green and a pink yarn which match the green and pink in the yarn. I'm planning on making a couple of girl colored Devan sweaters. (After I finish up the Sports Team ones). Someday when I can get pictures out of the camera, I'll post one and show how wonderfully the Kroy matches the Magic Stripes yarn. Really, it's just about perfect. Hmmm, maybe the Karma wave's on an upswing....

Well, 'cause I can't stand not having any pictures, here's a picture of a fortune I stole from somewhere on the web. Ok, it was from Justin. Those of you who know me and my rule for fortunes will understand why I think this is hilarious...

Dave's Travelogue, Episode IV

This was sent 8/25/05 and is Dave's impressions of Anyang, where he's working in China.


In the store they had a nice electric guitar for 500 yuan = $60. I bought it. It claims to be a fender Stratocaster, but I’m not so sure. I like it.

Yesterday they knocked down the building next to us.

Today the (ditch? chasm?) in front of our door became a lake. Dunno where the water came from, but it drained away before quitting time.

I always have to find a new path into and out of the mill. They dump scrap wherever. There are no reserved pathways.

Amazingly, they are building new buildings, yet they look old and dilapidated from day one.

The people are nice. The food tastes good. A lot of people stare at the white guy.

Another co-worker is about my height, weight, complexion, age, and hairline. All gringos look alike.

Dave

I Peaked Too Soon

I was having a fantastic day today until 6:00AM. Everything was going great. Late last night I decided to try my desktop one more time, and it worked great! McAfee deleted a file, and then I started it scanning. I fell asleep before it was done (it was very late) and when I woke up the computer was still running. Yea! That must have been the file that was causing all my problems! McAfee wanted me to turn off so it could complete an upgrade. No prob, I turned off the computer, and went for my morning walk. I felt great, energized and finished in record time. I even lost a pound! Today is shaping up to be great! Took my shower, got dressed and then turned on the computer. I wanted to get the firewall installed asap. And .... it froze. Same problem as before. Tried to start in safe mode, and now the screen display is all gorpy. Got to work and it just kept going. TWO big projects that were done have resurrected themselves and are sucking up my time, and my leg is suddenly all stiff and sore so I'm limping around. I peaked too soon, that's what it was.

And how about that Secret Pal? I've heard from mine and she/he has already found my first surprise! I feel like such a slacker. Ummm, sorry Secret Pal O' Mine. I thought about you today. Does that count? I've gotta get on the ball here! Don't wanna look bad. Gotta keep up!

I'm still knitting the Red, White, and Blues socks. Still no pics. I'll go grab some.
This is the first pattern I ever wrote. It's the Baby Jester Hat and you can link to the instructions here or here. The second pattern I wrote was for these:
Per Cent Socks
You can find that pattern here or here. (These particular socks were knit with my first ball of Opal.)
As you can see from these two pictures my color preferences can be a bit ummm extravagant, let's say. Ok, I got some pictures up so I don't feel like a total slacker. Tomorrow I'll try to pace myself......

Picture This

Dave's computer and my camera don't get along. I don't know why. Well, I kinda know why, I just don't know how to fix it. When I was installing the camera's software, the computer froze up, so now the files are probably corrupted somehow. I did finally get the drivers installed, and the computer doesn't think my camera is a scanner anymore, but now it won't let the camera download any pictures. It recognizes an event when I connect the camera and turn it on, but that's as far as it goes. It won't list any registered applications to get the pictures. Sheesh. Dave, if you're reading this and you know what the problem is, send an e-mail!

All that to say that I have no pictures. Well, I do have pictures. Lovely pictures, really. I just can't get them into the computer. Here, I'll hold the camera up to the screen so you can see them. The first is the red, white, and blues socks I'm knitting for Sara's oldest. They look mighty snazzy, all striped and patterned. I just turned the heel on the second sock and am now working on the gusset. Next, the Palette yarn I got from KnitPicks. It kinda looks like this , except neater and all the colors are nicely arranged in the box. Then, my Essential yarn in black to use with the Regia yarn I got last week, and finally my three new books. Sorry, I could only find pics of two:

The other is Knitting Fair Isle Mittens and Gloves. I think mittens and gloves will make a nice seasonal break from socks for bus knitting. And I have all that Palette yarn. Maybe a scarf, too....

Secret Pal Questionnaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)?
Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
--All the same to me -- I jokingly refer to myself as the "Knitting Hoi Ploi"

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
--Yes, and yes. I do both!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
--I have no allergies that I'm aware of, but my elder son is allergic to Tide detergent.

4. How long have you been knitting?
--Decades! Since I was 9, and that was, err, decades ago (more than 3!)

5. Do you have an Amazon, Knitpicks or other online wish list?
--Am I registered? No.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
--Clean scents, Linen or Cotton.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
--You bet! Cakes are a particular weakness.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
--Nothing anymore. Just the fiber pursuits.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
--Jazz. I'm also a big collector of Christmas music. No MP3s, tho.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
--White is my favorite color, but I wear mostly black and grey. No colors I really hate (everything goes with black, right?)

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
-- I'm currently married, but my husband is on a long term assignment in China for work. I have two sons. No pets.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
--My life dream is to have my own yarn/fiber shop. It's what I plan to do for my retirement, I'll start saving as soon as I get my kids through college.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
-- I don't really have a favorite. Hmmm. I like the self-patterning sock yarns alot.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
--No really strong dislikes. I'll knit with anything!

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
--Currently it's socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
--Socks and baby/childrens items.

17. What are you knitting right now?
--Socks and a baby sweater.

18. What do you think about ponchos?
--Great, I'm glad they finally came back in fashion!

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
--Circs. I knit on the bus alot, and don't want to put anyone's eye out.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
--Aluminum.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
--Absolutely!

22. How did you learn to knit?
--My sister taught me the basics when I was 9, I learned the rest from books/magazines. (Incidentally, my sister forgot how to knit).

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
--10 + years.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
--I can't think of anything, so I must not have one (how much of a favorite can it be if I can't think of it?)

25. What is your favorite holiday?
--Christmas

26. Is there anything that you collect?
--Vintage knitting magazines and Christmas cds.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
--Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, Spin-Off

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
--The Opinionated Knitter, by EZ.

Marx Got It Wrong

I'm blogging to you from my remote back-up blog station (Sara's kitchen). BOTH of my computers at home are now dead. I have hope for the desktop, I just have to find the time to get someone to look at it.

Knitting News

Knitting group was last night! Not as many people as last time, but still a good sized group! And fun was had by all. I forgot my camera, so no pics.

I'm knitting cotton socks for Sara's eldest. They're pretty wild, in red, white, and blues. Stripes and patterns. Will put up pics sometime when I have a camera and a connection.

Got a shipment of yarn and some books from KnitPicks. WOW! I took pics of the yarn, but forgot to bring my camera to my Remote Back-Up Blog Station (I wasn't thinking that far ahead) so can't show you now. I got the sampler box of their color wheel yarn (can't remember the name of the yarn, but you'll find it in their catalog) 3 intensities of each color + neutrals. I also got Sheila McGregor's Fairisle book, Latvian Mittens by Lisbeth Upitis, and Fairisle Mittens and Gloves. (I see some Fairisle work in my future). Pics sometime of all.

Miscellany

Dave's pay is still not sorted out. I sent him an email and asked him to look into it. Hopefully he will very soon. I realize how busy he is working 6 days a week, going home and making dinner, supervising the kids, doing laundry, mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, and taking care of his dad.....OH WAIT, that's ME. But really, Dave is working 6 days a week...

Been listening to some Simon & Garfunkel. Trying to figure out Sounds of Silence.
People talking without listening
And
The words of the Prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
It seemed that the song was saying something about popular culture.....suddenly it came to me. The Apprentice. Survivor. The Bachelor. Marx got it wrong. Inanity is the opiate of the masses.

I'm Back!

Well, we all made it home from our weekend adventure. We ended up leaving Saturday afternoon and got there just before dinner. We stopped for gas on the way and had a late lunch of sandwiches. It was different driving just by myself. Good and bad. Bad because I couldn't knit (I had to drive.) Good because we could stop at Dairy Queen for ice cream, and I didn't have to ask. Not that Dave would tell me we couldn't stop, but if he was there and driving, I'd have to ask him to stop. It was kinda nice just deciding to stop and then doing it. I had a Key Lime Pie Blizzard. Younger Son had a cone














And Older Son had a slushy (he's looking all Dark and Mysterious here) .

And, we saw THIS:

A life-size turkey. Wearing a hat. Hanging on the wall. Oh My. You can't see it, but the high chair is directly below the thing. Oh yeah, just what I want hanging over my baby...

We had a great time away, the weather was perfect. We walked to The Point.

And to The Cross

These sites may look surprisingly similar to you. They Are Not. They are Completely Different. Completely.

Younger Son went to the Rock Slide with his uncle. I couldn't go. I can't stand it. Too nerve-wracking for me. Imagine dozens of children (and not a few foolhardy adults) running around and sliding down a streambed of rocks as slick as ice. I'm surprised they're not lifeflighting kids out of there several times a week with broken bones. There truly must be a Special God for children. But YS survived, and I did too, tho I think I have a few more gray hairs...

The Sons played a very rowdy (as usual) game of spoons with their cousins and uncles. OS is bruised from diving over the table to grab spoons, but we're happy to report he only received minor cuts. Both boys lasted longer than I expected. OS was first runner-up.

Dave called while we were there, which was nice. He got to speak to a few of his brothers and sisters and his mom, which I'm sure was a treat for him.

I started on cotton socks in red, white, and blues. They're pretty wild looking. Maybe pics tomorrow.

All is Well

First, A Notice: Dave has notified me that he has turned in his expenses, so all is well.


A Busy Day today. Not just work-wise (which it always is), but for knitting. I finished my pink scarf. Yes, it is what it is. A gift for a beloved friend. I think I'll write a little "piece" to go with.

There were three of us working with yarn on the bus home today. Me, and two crocheters. We were all sitting in a row, too. A little boy told me he thought my scarf was ugly, (he much preferred the blue yarn the crocheter at the other end of the line was working on.) Then I asked him to feel it. He loved it then. He asked me to make him a sweater out of it for his birthday in two days. Except in blue. I didn't make any promises.

I also got to go to the yarn store at lunch. I bought a couple of skeins of this yarn, which will stripe in the colors of the Local Sports Team:

I will use it, along with some plain black I ordered from KnitPicks catalog (along with other stuff, more on that later) to make this sweater for a lucky newborn. And speaking of that sweater I'm currently making it in some Lion Brand Magic Stripes yarn in the Denim Stripe colorway. I love this yarn, and the local discount yarn place had it on sale for $4 a skein! I stocked up. You'll be seeing a bit of it. I may make a matching blanket.

I also started some socks for some boy. I have Sara's oldest in mind, but I didn't exactly have him to hand for measuring, so I guessed for the stitch count. They'll fit some boy, some time so I'll make them. They're cotton and surprisingly similar to the colorway above, execept I have to do the striping myself, the old fashioned way. I'm doing a "Not Really Random" stripe sequence which I will explain in a following post. You'll have to tune in next time for more details. Can you stand the suspense?

And, it will be a long wait. I'm leaving town tomorrow and paying way to much money for gas to travel to the scenic Laurel Highlands for the weekend. I'll be back Monday afternoon with pictures. (I hope!)

I See You

Dave sent an email and then called today to tell me that he can see my blog. Hurray! I don't have to move it! He can sneak in through his work network. But he wants me to stop saying unkind things about him in the blog. (Uh - I shouldn't have said that.)

But now I really do have to watch what I write. Sooo, no blogging about the state of Dave's musical equipment (Your brother has that! I'm sure of it!), or his collection of clothes from High School (I'm sure you took those to China with you, they must have lost them in the laundry!), and absolutely nothing about my new boyfriend (We're just friends, really!).

In Knitting News, I'm almost done with my Fluffy Pink Scarf. I should finish up tomorrow sometime. I don't think I'll take it on the bus, since I'm so close to being done. I'm thinking I'll start some cotton socks for Sara's boys, she won't knit them cotton socks. But I will, because I love them. I'm going to the yarn shop at lunch tomorrow to try and get some sock yarn in the local football team colors to make this sweater. I'll try to post a pic of the scarf tomorrow when it's complete. In the meantime, I present these:

I called this poncho design "Poncho Printemps" since I made them in the spring. There are two, they were made for twins and are ~ a size 2. (Good way to use up left-overs). They are meant to be worn as outerwear -- no big holes.

I liked the design so much I made another. This one is about a size 6, and I included the crochet hooks in the picture to provide a bit of scale. This was made for our God Daughter. (Notice the loop stitch border instead of fringe, I think it looks much neater, and used less yarn. I ran out on the second twin poncho and was a bit traumatized by it.)

I know the twins wore theirs, since their mother told me they did (I used to ride the bus with her. The ponchos were made as a result of a chance comment by her that she couldn't find any matching ponchos for them in the same size.) Don't know if the God Daughter ever wore hers. C & C -- let me know!