"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

3/31/08

Jaywalkers: Stamp 'Em Done

The new bird was at the feeder again this morning. He let me get fairly close to him so I was able to get a really good look at him. He is definitely a Red Crossbill. I am SO excited! I've heard they live around here but have never actually seen one cos they tend to hide in the trees. I wonder if there's a mate around, or if he's just passing through? He's quite brave, and aggressive! While he had the feeder he wouldn't let anyone else on it to eat.

Finished my Pink Jaywalkers just in time for March. I love these socks. They shout Spring at me. I need that right now.


Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina

Yarn: Fearless Fibers 100% Classic Merino sock yarn in Peppermint colorway. I also added a a strand of light pink 2/24 100% Acrylic machine knitting yarn to the heels and toes for reinforcement. (Having 4 knitting machines, I’ve got a lot of mk yarn around.)

Needles: Size 2 Addi Turbo Lace Circulars.


Comments: Use a size 2 needle instead of a size one. The fit is much better. I LOVE this pattern. It was a lot of fun.

Chenille definitely approves. She took quite a nap on them. In fact, she's sleeping on them now.


They must be really comfortable.

Initially, I thought I'd finished them Saturday night. Then I went to block the second sock, in preparation for photographing them, and that's when I noticed. I'd forgotten to put the reinforcement thread in the toe of the first sock. So, Sunday I ripped out said toe and fixed it.

I have stash enhancement. Wouldn't this make a great tail for a Mermaid?


It's a bulky gauge yarn though, so I'll have to make some adjustments. I'm working on Filbert right now-he's Ferdinan's younger brother.

Rumor has it we're supposed to get weather in the 50's later this week, with sunshine. I'll believe it when I see it.

Dear Snow Fates:
Reason number 3 for moving to Australia: Where else on earth can you see something like this?

Australian Platypus

My daughter will help you pack.


Have a great day.

3/30/08

Lets Add Insult to Injury, Shall We?

The grand total for yesterdays snow storm is 18 inches. They did plow the road out front, but it was hours before the plow came by. The news said Coeur d'Alene got 12 inches of new snow. Wow! On March 29th.

I did not go to Spin In. I have not missed a Spin In in years. I am a very unhappy camper. If you can't get your car out of the driveway though, you can't go anywhere.

So, can't go anywhere, the snow is coming down like crazy, what's a person to do? Sweet Hubby (can I take that Sweet part back?) decided we should do the taxes. Talk about adding insult to injury! I was already feeling bad enough missing Spin In. But that's what we did. The taxes. Only to find out we have to pay this year-big time. Yesterday, all in all, was a lousy day.

There were two bright spots in the day.

1) I got my Jaywalkers done. Oooo, I love them. Will take pictures to post tomorrow.

2) An unusual bird came to my feeders. Most of the birds I'm feeding right now are Oregon Juncos, Black Capped Chickadees, Red Breasted Nuthatches, and Robins. This one, though, I've never seen before. It was very bright in yesterdays dreary grey environs. I've taken pics. They're a little blurry cos I had the telephoto all the way out, and the darn camera wanted to focus on the snow flakes (stupid camera!) so I was fighting it a bit. (If you knew how far away from me this bird was, you'd be impressed.)



That's an Oregon Junco crowding into the 3rd pic.


Unfortunately, the bird book I use for identifying belongs to daughter Ruth and this year she took it with her to college. So I have no idea what this bird is. At first I thought it might be a female Western Tanager cos we get them around here on rare occasions, but it doesn't have bands on its wings, and the beak is all wrong. It's about 5 to 6 inches long, maybe a tad larger. Anyone know what this is? It's here today too. I better go to the book store this week and get me a bird book!

Assuming I'll be able to get out of the driveway.

Have a great day.

ETA:
Hmmm, I think I may have found it.

Red Crossbill

3/29/08

Sob.....

According to the calendar, today is March 29th. MARCH 29TH!

As I write this, it's about 20 minutes to 8 am. There is a foot of new snow on the ground that fell overnight, and it's still coming down like crazy. I have the tv on. I'm watching the news on KXLY. The big story is the snow. But, at the moment, they're doing a story on proper fertilization of your spring lawn.

HA!

I opened the front door at 6:30 this morning to let the boys out to do their business. This is the sight that greeted us.



It's so deep they couldn't go out. I tried the back door first. When you are only 16 inches tall, and most of you is skinny legs, well....Tommy tried. He got stuck before he got to the bottom of the steps. I had to rescue him. So I thought it would be not so bad at the front. Usually, it isn't. Sigh.

It's drifting really bad. The boys refuse to go outside at the moment. Sweet Hubby is sleeping and refusing to wake up (I know he's faking it). I have no idea where the snow shovels are. I'm hoping they don't decide to use the floor.

I was planning on going to the annual Spin In today. It's being held in Coeur d'Alene at the fair grounds. A whole day of spinning, knitting, and fun fun fun. That's my car on the other side of hubbies pick up truck.


This is the driveway, with the front porch railing to give you a perspective on depth.


Of course, the real problem is the street out front. Will they even plow today?

WHAAAAAAAA.....!!!!!

*****************************

Now, back to the regularly scheduled post. Yesterday afternoon, as the temps dropped and the sky darkened, I heard Chenille come through the doggy door. She had a new toy in her mouth. Apparently she decided it was too cold outside to play with it and was planning on playing with it indoors. I turned, and looked, just as she let a mouse loose in the living room. Aw man. Just what I needed. Not.

I was surprised at how quick I was to react. So fast I surprised Chenille. I grabbed one of my purple fuzzy slippers, turned it sole side up, and used it like a cup to trap the mouse. Then I grabbed a sock that was lying on the floor nearby and used it to pick up the mouse. Then I grabbed my camera. All this so fast the poor little thing didn't have a chance to know what was happening.

Chenille's new toy.


I donned my boots, took a stroll outside (it wasn't snowing yet), then let it go in the woods. When I got back in the house Chenille got a huge piece of my mind. (Aren't those little pink toes just the cutest?)

***************************

Oh phooey! It's supposed to snow all day and tomorrow too. I'm sorry Marguerite. If there was anything I could do about this I would.

I'm about ready to give up on the Spin In. Sob..

***************************

Dear Snow Fates,

Reason number 2 for moving to Australia: Wouldn't this place look cool with snow on top?



Sweet Hubby says he'll help you pack too.

I suppose it's not politically correct to drown my sorrows in a bottle of Rum at 8am.

I hope you have a better day than I'm gonna have.

Off to find the snow shovel....



ETA 8:34 am.

Sweet Hubby says I can't go to Spin In. They are having accidents all over on the roads. It's so slick people are doing 360 spinouts on the freeway doing 5 miles per hour.

THIS SUCKS!!!!!

3/28/08

The Case for Global Warming-Fails

Okay, I've decided I am that mean. This is what greeted me yesterday morning when I got up.


Our driveway

This Junco was huddled under the edge of the roof of the feeder, trying to stay out of the snow. Poor little guy.


We got about 2 inches of snow. Later in the afternoon, it warmed up and melted all the new snow. We are not making headway on the old snow though. I took these two pics this morning. Some areas are deep, some areas are completely melted-like directly under the pine trees. My poor birch and plum, though. Sigh...



This fenced area is my veggie garden. Double sigh....



I did go into Coeur d'Alene yesterday. They don't have nearly as much snow as we do. It amazes me how different our weather is from everyone else's around.

I did have a wonderful lunch with my friends. Sally liked the earrings. I am pleased.

Dear Snow Fates:

Reason 1 for moving to Australia. Really cute Koala's.


I'll help you pack.

Have a great day.

3/27/08

WOW! Entry for March

Time for the monthly WOW! Sock Club entry from my stash.



The last time I was in Harmony Yarns I picked this up. I'm not familiar with Pagewood Farms sock yarns. I've been wanting to try a sock yarn with bamboo in it, though, and this stuff has that-and, of course, it's in shades of purple, the color name being Prism. It's 70% Merino, 20% Bamboo, and 10% Nylon. It's a 4oz skein with 450 yards. What I don't know is if it's Superwash wool. It doesn't say on the label, and their web site is totally useless for finding that out. I guess I will email them.

I'm planning on trying the Pomatomus pattern, which was written by Cookie A and can be found on Knitty.

I did not get much done on the Jaywalker last night. I unknit almost just as much as I knit. I think all this snow has discombobulated me. You know, there were actually school closures and delays this morning? They aren't plowing the roads cos they already put all the equipment away for the year. (So get the #%$^%$ equipment back out!) It's driving me CRAZY!


Dear Snow Fates,

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ,PLEASE MOVE ON DOWN TO AUSTRALIA.

Have a good day.

3/26/08

WIP Wednesday 3/26/08



I have 3 WIPs and a FO to show today.

1) Pink Jaywalkers. I've turned the heel and started the gussett. I should have these done before the end of the week.



2) I'm making a pink peyote ribbon to embellish a pink quartz cab I beaded last year.



3) This WIP was started this morning. I've planted tomato seeds.


To be honest, the way things are going (it's snowing as I write this), I'm not sure if we'll be able to have a garden this year. Last year we planted seeds, but it was so cold and rainy during the first 3rd of the summer that all they did was rot in the ground. So we didn't really have a veggie garden. Just the tomato plants in pots on the deck. I suppose, if nothing else, these little babies can be on the deck.

I've planted Oregon Spring tomato. I've not heard of this variety before, but it claims to be ready in 55 days. Our tomato growing season is incredibly short, so these may have a chance.

Now, the FO. For those not in the know, that means Finished Object.

In protest of the lingering winter, I've made a pair of very spring like earrings for my friend Sally. It's her birthday this week. These are brick stitch Daffodils in size 11 seed beads.


They're about an inch in diameter. I think they are adorable. I hope she does too. I will find out tomorrow when I see her at lunch. I found the pattern on the internet. It's free and can be found here:



Oh rats, it's still snowing.


Hey Snow Fates!!! You're wanted down in Australia!!!!


It's supposed to be getting on to winter down there.

Have a good day.

3/24/08

Easter Fun

I had an awesome Easter!

First of all, I ended up not having to work my tail off for the usual annual fancy breakfast for sweet hubby. Oh, I'd planned and shopped for it. However, after having my first cup of coffee, I went to use the 'ladies' room and when I came back out, ready to start cooking, Sweet Hubby had fried himself a couple eggs and was eating them with toast. I was both ticked off and relieved. I didn't say anything to him about it. Wouldn't have changed things and would have made him feel bad. I just quietly dug out a couple pieces of cold pizza leftover from the night before and ate that for breakfast. We'll have the 'Easter' breakfast for dinner in a couple days.

I worked some more on the book, and watched another Sci Fi B movie-The Black Hole. Ah yes, wonderful plot. Some scientists in St. Louis, MS perform some kind of experiment that creates a black hole in the middle of the city which begins to slowly suck the city in one block at a time and releases an electro-magnetic monster that travels up and down the power lines zapping people to death. How sweet it is!

I baked a strawberry pie (which turned out absolutely perfect!) and made a Waldorf Salad. Then off to BIL Chet's house we went. I had a blast. One thing for sure, my husbands family is a lot of fun. As usual, we had great food up the wazoo, and fantastic conversation.

There was also a new puppy. Niece Heidi acquired the little cutie just a few days before. She's not got a name yet, but she's part Blue Heeler and part Border Collie, black and white with freckles, and about 7 weeks old. Just a tiny little thing, but so sweet, full of personality, and very smart. We took to each other right away. She spent most of the evening sleeping in my arms. I didn't take my camera with me. Wish I had now.

Unfortunately, we could not play our usual game of Easter Softball. It is a tradition that on Easter Sunday, after the Easter meal, we have an Easter Softball game. This year the diamond is buried under a foot of snow. None of us wanted to shovel.

We are all quite distressed over the amount of snow there is still left. I realize Easter was a couple weeks early this year, but still, if it was two weeks later, there would still have been too much snow to play softball. There's no way it's all going to be gone by then. Usually by now the Butter Cups have bloomed, the Shooting Stars, Spring Beauties, and Yellow Cups are in bloom on the hill behind Chet's house, and my crocuses bright little faces are lighting up our world. There is over 3 feet of snow on top of my crocuses right now. It's feeling quite oppressive. Sweet Hubby talked about even feeling a little claustrophobic over the whole issue.

One of our topics of discussion is our Moose problem. The moose have not been bothering me and Sweet Hubby cos they're all over on the other end of the Parkarosa, hanging out around the creek, where the rest of the family lives. No doubt, we've got a serious problem. Fish and Game could care less. At this point, we do not know what to do-that is legal anyway.

After we got home last night I was sitting in the hug, watching the news, and I noticed Silver was paying a lot of unnecessary attention to the bottom shelf where I keep my beads in the dining room. Then Tommy started sniffing around. He wouldn't leave it alone! Kept sticking his head in between the plastic containers. What? I finally investigated.

A mouse! There was a mouse hiding amongst my beads!! I donned leather gloves, got a stick, and went to war. Unfortunately, we lost, at least, for the night. It managed to get under the couch, and then up inside the couch. So we had to give up (I am unwilling to tear apart my new couch for a mouse). I gave the cats a lecture about earning their keep, and went to bed. It took a long time for Tommy to calm down and go to sleep. He wanted that mouse.

This morning, after getting up, I went into the kitchen to make the morning juice (coffee) and noticed BOTH cats staring at a corner. Just sitting there, staring. There, trapped in plain sight, was the mouse. Again I donned the leather gloves, pounced, and released it outside in the woods-away from the house. It's a sad sad day when I'm better at catching a mouse than the cats.

Last, but not least, there is a blog I like to visit on occasion called The Rainey Sisters. It is written by two very young and very very talented knitters. They have just posted a new free PDF pattern on their blog that is absolutely gorgeous!

The name of this sweater is Joan of Arc. It's done in fingering weight yarn, so it's not for the feint of heart. Oh, but how pretty! Click on the links and check it out.

Have a great day!

3/23/08

Sunday Ramblings II

Wishing you a Happy Easter!

Our Easter plans are to go to my brother-in-law Chet's house for a family potluck dinner. I'm making strawberry pie and Waldorf salad for the occasion.

I was going to post a bunch of pics I took last Friday. It snowed. I mean, it SNOWED! All day. Five (5) inches! Sweet Hubby had to plow the driveway when he got home from work.

On the second day of spring!

However, when I sat down and looked at the photos, they were so depressing I decided to forget it. Y'all don't need a bunch of colorless pics of snow falling. Yeah, I said colorless. If not for the fact that Sweet Hubby's tractor is blue, I'd have thought I had accidentally set my camera on the black & white setting. I can't inflict that kind of color deprivation on my readers. I'm not that cruel.

Yesterday I worked on the book all day. Sweet Hubby had to go to work (installing new servers for the company) so I put on the Sci Fi channel and worked on a new design. Got it drawn, charted, strung, and knit all in one day. Darn, but it turned out perfect! Exactly what I had in my minds eye. Sometimes I so impress myself.

Book anxiety is working on me though. What if I go to all this work and no one wants to publish it? Is there really a market for a book full of nothin' but beaded knit amulet patterns??? Then I think about my trip to Barnes and Noble last weekend and the truly pathetic set of knitting books they had on the shelves, and I get a little more confident. I mean, if this is what they're willing to publish, my book will be a shoe in! I swear, if I see one more book of 'easy' patterns to knit, I'm gonna throw up! As an experienced knitter, I am sorely disappointed in what 's out there right now. They ain't writing for someone like me. I need something new, something challenging, something inspiring! Sigh.....

The Sci Fi channel was not disappointing. They had a wonderful selection of 'B' movies on. I love B movies. Yesterday I saw movies about a Rock Monster attacking a little eastern European village full of weirdos (saved by the handsome blond American college kid), a giant squid protecting a sunken treasure in what looked like Puget Sound (I missed where they were actually supposed to be), the Lochness monster with a nest full of babies in Oregon (they did not explain how it got to Oregon), and some sort of swamp creature that looked like a slimy cross between a human and a nasty tree that liked to suck the blood out of people-The Man Thing. With fare like that, no one has to suffer a boring Saturday!

Have a great holiday!

3/21/08

The Irony is Not Lost on Me

Yesterday, and today for that matter, I was not feeling well. I've developed a very annoying cough and general acheyness all over. Most of all, my eyes hurt. So I didn't do much in the way of house cleaning, like I'd planned, or knitting, or beading. Instead, I spent quite some time working on the book-writing the patterns for two finished designs and rewriting part of a third pattern that I'd totally screwed up (thanks to my proofreader/test knitter Joey for finding that!). I also puttered on Ravelry, and surfed the web.

I was Googling something (I wish I could remember what it was) and quite accidentally ran across my name on another blog. As it turns out, last October I entered a contest on Romancing the Yarn and won. Now, I hardly ever enter blog contests. When I do, I usually remember I have and check to see if I've won. Actually, if I enter a contest, I add that blog to my Bloglines feed, if it isn't already on it, so I can keep track of what's happening, but at the time I entered this contest, I didn't have Bloglines yet.

I totally spaced this contest. I couldn't even remember what the contest was about so I did some research to find out. As it turns out, Romancing the Yarn had a month long drawing for sock yarn. Every day a new winner. I think, when I entered that contest, I misunderstood that part, checked the first day, didn't see my name, and forgot about it.

I emailed Barb, one of the blog owners. She didn't have a time limit on the contest. She was happy to hear from me. She's sending me sock yarn. How sweet is that?

I've added the blog to my Bloglines. It's really very interesting, which is probably why I was reading it at the time of the contest.

Have a good day.

3/20/08

Belina the Mermaid

Say Hello to Belina!

Belina is a north Idahoan freshwater Mermaid. Thus, the fur. She needs it to stay warm in the winter because most of our lakes freeze over completely (the big ones don't, but the edges of them do). The water gets pretty cold.


This is Belina's back side. She's cute all the way around.


Pattern: Mermaid from Knitted and Felted Toys by Zoe Halstead

Yarn: Unknown 100% Worsted weight acrylic in peach and brown, Bernat Softee Baby in Bongo Blue, NY Yarns Fluff Print in #84 Hot Pink.

Needles: Size 5-24 inch circular Addi Turbo.

Comments: This pattern is fun, but I did make some changes.
  • Instead of DK and size 3 needles, I used worsted yarn, and size 5 needles.
  • I used safety craft eyes instead of embroidery.
  • I knit her a nose using short rowing. The pattern has you embroidering a straight line. Now I ask you, what kind of nose is that? A non-nose, that's what. Here's how I made her nose.

In the Head shaping instructions, there is the line that says “Beg with a p row, work 21 rows in st st”. At row 11 of this 21 rows knit as follows:


P27, wrap and turn, Knit 4, wrap and turn, P3, wrap and turn, K2, wrap and turn, P3, wrap and turn, K4, wrap and turn, P23.

Continue on with row 12 as written in pattern.


If I do this pattern again, I will figure out how to do the head/body and tail all in one piece because I did not like sewing the tail to the body. It was hard for me to get it centered correctly. As it is, she's still a bit kaliwonkas, but the child who receives her won't notice.

Got up to new snow this morning. In fact, as I write this, it's still snowing. Sweet Hubby tried to blame it on Chenille. Now I ask you, how is it the cats fault? We all know it's HIS fault. He's the one who toyed with the feelings of the Snow Fates. Silly boy.

Have a great day, oh yes, and Happy First Day of Spring!


Would someone please mention to the Snow Fates that it's spring now?

3/19/08

WIP Wednesday 3/19/08



I finished the first pink Jaywalker and cast on the second one last night.


Still lovin' the color and the pattern.

Have a great day.

3/18/08

I Love My New Shirt

I got something in the mail this week. A new T-shirt.


Here's a close up of the front. Is that not so COOL!?!


Someone posted on Ravelry about it. I had to have one. If you have to have one too, you can get ordering info from City Knitting. They have tote bags too.

I took another photo of Ferdinan.


Popped into Bead It on my way home from bead group today to see if anyone has signed up for my Dutch Spiral class to be held on Thursday. No takers. Sigh... It's really slow at the store this month. Tax time. The bane of all needlework/craft stores. Gayle did request a branch fringe class though. Cool! I had no class ideas for April. This will do perfectly. I love to make branch fringe.

I have a snow story. Sweet Hubby is showing definite signs of being absolutely SICK of snow. He actually shoveled it all off the deck over the weekend so we can start using it again. Waiting for it to melt was going to take too long. Sunday night he mentioned that he almost got out the snow blower and blew all the snow out of the yard. The whole yard. I laughed at him (though secretly wishing he'd done it). What a silly idea. I know it's really unusual to have this much snow after the mid point of March, but lets not go overboard.

Monday morning I got up, opened the back door to let the boys out, and there was 2 inches of brand-spanking-new snow on the ground. I told him it was his fault.

Have a great day.

3/17/08

In Case You've Been Wondering

This is what an unassembled Mermaid looks like. All the pieces are done. Now I have to block her and sew her together.

Belina the Mermaid


Here's the happy couple, Frank and Sarah. On Saturday evening we went out to dinner to celebrate their engagement. They have not set a date for the wedding yet. One step at a time!


Last Friday, if you'll remember, Ruth and I went to a rock and gem show. I brought home treasures to add to my bead stash. I took pic to share with you.

This is a cabochon made of Lake Superior Agate with Sagenite inclusions in it. The Sagenite is the vertical red tubes. The owner found it in Michigan. This is a real treasure, and I got it for a steal. I think I may have broke his heart when I bought it. But, my opinion is, if you don't want to sell it, don't put it up for sale.


This cab is made of Charoite. Charoite comes from Siberia, Russia. According to my rock book, it only comes from one place, and it's kind of rare. Unfortunately, the glorious iridescence in this stone does not show up in the pic.


The fellow who sold this to me was pretty funny. A retired teacher, when I asked him what it was, he said "Who says Coochi coochi?. It's Coochi coochi I-T-E." For those of you too young to know, Charo says Coochi coochi. She's a singer/dancer. I think she still does a show in Vegas, but I'm not sure about that.

My third find is this beautiful Rhodochrosite cab. I just love the zigzag stripes in this one.


And, since I was in the mood for taking pictures. Here's Grandkitty Lindy. She came along when Ruth came home for spring break, and promptly established her dominance over all the sweet sleeping spots in the house. She says "I'm the Queen! Worship my greatness!"


This is Grandkitty Meadowlark, being heart meltingly sweet as usual. He was saying "I love you gwamma."


I have heard from Marguerite, so the contest is officially over.

Have a great day.

3/15/08

The Next Contest Winner

I never did hear from lanne, so we've drawn another name from the hat. The new winner is:

Marguerite!

Congratulations! You have 4 days to contact me by email with your snail mail address so I can send your prize to you. Please email me at:

thebeadknitterATyahooDOTcom

If I don't hear from Marguerite, then I will eat the chocolate and the jam myself, knit the sock yarn into socks for me, give the stitch markers to a knitting friend, and forget about having contests.

*********************

Now, for the really really really really BIG NEWS!

I got a call from daughter Sarah yesterday morning. Frank asked her to MARRY HIM!!!!!! She said yes.

HURRAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(and the clouds parted, the sun shone, and a chorus of angels began to sing "ALLELUHIA...")

[Insert picture of me doing the happy dance here.]

Can you tell I'm happy? I adore Frank. He treats my daughter the way a mother wants a young man to treat her daughter-with respect, kindness, tenderness, love, and respect. Yes, I said respect twice, cos that's what is lacking most in men toward women in our society. It's what I noticed about Frank first time I met him. He's a wonderful young man and I am thrilled to have him join our family. He's just nutty enough that he'll fit right in too. My daughter picked a keeper.

Oh wow! We've got a wedding to plan.

Yesterday afternoon I took daughter Ruth to a Rock and Gem show in Spokane. She being a Geology major and all, and me in the market for new cabochons. On the way we stopped at The Red Robin and had Banzai Burgers. There is no other reason to go there than the Banzai Burger. It's the best burger in the universe! You really ought to try it.

At the show we learned new things about rocks, and spent way too much money. I got 3 new cabs, Ruth got a tiger carved from a piece of Tiger Eye, and a couple fossils. She's really interested in fossils right now. Maybe a budding archeologist? Hmm.

On the way home we stopped at Barnes and Noble (both being book addicts) and spent too much more money. We picked up a Bride magazine for Sarah (heh heh!) and various books. I'll talk more about them another day. We thoroughly enjoyed our outing together.

In knitting news, I have started a new toy. Not a Gnome. I know,
really unexpected. But yesterday I bought this new toy knits book called Knitted and Felted Toys by Zoe Halstead. It has the most adorable toy patterns. I couldn't wait 2 hours to cast on for the Mermaid. I've already got her tail done.

Well, that's all the news for now. Have a great day.

3/14/08

Ummm...Ouch!

Yesterday I had something happen to me that has never happened before.

I laughed too much.

I didn't know a person could do that. But, they can. Let me tell you, it's painful. Here's what happened.

After I finished yesterdays post I went off to read some of the various blogs I like. I ended up on Crazy Aunt Purl, reading some back posts cos I missed a few. Her February 28th post was the culprit. It's about misheard song lyrics. If you need a really good laugh, I'd recommend reading it. But don't stop with the post----read the comments. They get funnier and funnier.

Warning, may cause extreme pain, but it's all very much worth it.

I laughed so hard and so long. I went through a dozen Kleenexes wiping the tears off my face, and just about coughed my lungs out from the asthma attack it brought on. My daughter thought I'd completely lost my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

A couple hours later we (daughter Ruth and me) went to the grocery store and that's when it started. All those abdominal muscles that I used laughing, and my diaphram-which I use for breathing, started cramping up. I mean, serious - charley - horse - time. I couldn't even stand up straight I was in so much agony. I actually started to cry, and thought I was gonna pass out the pain was so intense! Needless to say, daughter and store clerks got pretty concerned. I didn't want to go to hospital. I knew exactly what was wrong. They helped me find the stuff on my list, rushed me through the checkout, told me to get personal with my heating pad, and took me home (daughter drove). I took pain killers, cuddled up to my heating pad, and eventually things started to calm down. I ended up taking a nap.

I learned 3 things from this experience.

1) The gals at the Steins IGA really care a lot about me. (Warm fuzzies!)

2) I'm not the only one who heard those lyrics wrong.

and most importantly:

3) You CAN laugh too much.

Who would have thought.

Have a funny day.

3/13/08

Ferdinan

I have not heard from the winner of my contest yet. I am surprised by that. It is bothering me somewhat too. Especially since a couple days ago I tracked down a way to send her an email and did so. If I don't hear from her by Saturday morning, I will have my daughter draw another name. (Amazingly, I have NOT eaten the chocolate bar yet.)


Ladies and Gents, I present to you Ferdinan!


A close up of his face. I used 6mm craft eyes, and I put a bit of blush on his nose and cheeks so they glow a bit.



Pattern: Yuletide Gnomes by Alan Dart

Yarns: Unknown brands of worsted weight 100% acrylic in tan, purple, and peach. 1 skein Dark Horse Yarns Lovely Lash in color #102, 1 skein Sensations Cello in white.

Needles: Size 5-24 inch Addi Turbo Lace Circulars, Size 10-24 inch Addi Turbo Circular.

Comments: I love love love this pattern. Can't get enough Gnomes. I knit the size small, but instead of using sport yarn and size 3 needles, I used worsted yarn and a size 5 needle. I followed the instructions as written. He came out 18 inches tall from the tip of his hat to the bottom of his feet.

For the beard, I had to make some adjustments. I used the same needles as the pattern suggested. I had to double strand the fur to get gauge as it was. Here is the beard pattern as I knit it:

With size 10 needles and fur yarn, cast on 3 stitches.
  • Knit 2 rows of stockinette.
  • -Increase 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the next row.
  • -Knit 3 rows.
  • Repeat the last 4 rows 5 more times. There will be 15 stitches.
  • Increase 1 stitch at the beginning and end of the next row.
  • Purl the next row.
  • Cast on 7 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows. (31 stitches)
  • Stockinette stitch for 6 rows.
  • Bind off.
I did a bit of embellishment to his hat. I embroidered a sort of broken line that spirals around and around his hat using 1 strand of the purple worsted. I also added laces to his boots.

Changes I'd make: I think the size medium would have been a better choice. I'm not happy with the length of the arms and legs. They need to be a bit longer.

We need a good rain. My eyes are still driving me crazy, and now my skin itches too. I'm getting my annual little itchy rashes on my arms. I'm taking meds, which is keeping it to a minimum, but still. The itching is DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!!!

I'm off to have a close personal relationship with a tube of Hydracortizone cream.

Have a great day.

3/12/08

WIP Wednesday 3/12/08




I started this yesterday at bead group.


It's a strap for another book project. The amulet is kind of heavy cos there's lots of beads on it, so I'm going to use a little bit thicker strap. I'm doing 3-bead netting with silver lined light topaz size 11's and transparent pale pink Delicas.

The only knitting WIP's are the Jaywalkers and the Margaret Tudor-but I've made no progress on them so why bother taking pics? Not that I didn't try to make some progress. I worked on the Jaywalker last night, but my eyes were really tired and aching. Apparently I couldn't see what I was doing. So I ended up frogging everything I knit. Back to where I was when I got home from bead group. Sigh....

I am thinking maybe I will put Margaret Tudor away for awhile-in hibernation. I just don't feel like making a sweater. I want to make little projects (gnomes). I'm really enjoying them right now. So, MT is "in the closet".

I'm having a lot of trouble with my eyes this week. They're aching, weeping, oozing, and generally feeling like my lids are made of extra coarse sand paper. It's really hard to do any crafting when they feel like that. I think it's snow mold. I'm allergic to mold. The snow is melting pretty quickly now and bare ground is showing all over the area-covered with a whitish stuff, which is mold that formed under the snow. We had some big wind yesterday, which picked up the mold and now it's floating in the air.

We are getting patches of bare ground here in the yard too. Under the trees mostly. The snow level is down to about a foot, except right around the house where it all got piled up from blowing out the driveway/walking areas and shoveling the roof.

I finished Ferdinan. He'll be posted tomorrow.

Have a good day.

3/9/08

Sunday Ramblings

It is a gorgeous sunny day today, so Sweet Hubby, Ruthie, and 'the family' have all gone skiing. The SciFi channel is having a Tinman marathon. I didn't get to see the series when it was first shown, so I'm spending the day chillin' and knittin' and watchin'.

Yesterday Sweet Hubby dug out my bird feeders for me. The small one that was hanging in the tree is fine. I've filled it and hung it in the maple tree in the back yard. The feeder that was on a post though is toast. I spread the seed around on the snow by it and the birdies are eating it up.

I did see something this morning that I was not expecting. A Robin.


The first one. Needless to say, I got really excited! Seeing a Robin is a BIG deal around here. It means spring is very close. Wow, they're early this year. I'm gonna take that as a good omen.

I have an FO for this weekend. It's the latest design for my book.


This picture has been removed.


I finished knitting the amulet last summer. I decided such a special bag deserved an extra special strap, so I took on the gradation challenge in tubular peyote. It took me a looooooooong time to make that strap. It's nice to have it done, and I'm really glad I chose it. It sets off the bag perfectly.

I guess I should have taken pics of WIP Ferdinan, but I think I'll finish him up first.

Have a great day!

3/8/08

And the Winner Is

The entries are written on slips of paper.



The entries are tossed in Sweet Hubbies hat.



Ruthie draws a name.



The winner!
laane


Laane, you have 7 days to email me your mailing address (March 15, 2008). If I do not hear from you by then, you will forfeit your prize and another name will be drawn. Send your address to:

thebeadknitterATyahooDOTcom

of course, replacing the capital letters with the appropriate symbol.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!


Have a great day.