2nd Forest Canopy

Blocking does wonders....
finally... one project done


I am addicted..to lace..At 2 am this lovely shawl was finished after a marathon day of knitting. Dh does not get it.. Even with only 5 hours of sleep my thoughts were on blocking this right away this am. Can you believe only one skein fo Knit Picks Gloss was needed for this?. This yarn was lovely to knit with and very reasonably priced!



I was not sure where to place beads so I only added them on the border. 2ndtime around the pattern is making more sense and reading the knitting skills are improving.



Now must return to SLow Bee and Goodess Mystery Kals

final fitting and wedding details

I am off to Albany this am to spend 2 days with my daughter.Tomorrow is the final fitting for her wedding dress.My dress may be altered if she can .The top is a bit too big but maybe a super xxxx padded will do the trick?
Other plans have to be discussed. My daughter and I are planners and list makers.WE have this long email list where is we think of something even minute we add it to the growing list.I have my separate list going about the house itself where the wedding will take place.The Boy and I have been busy cleaning , gardening and sprucing up the place. Next week we meet with the dj and caterers. It is getting closer to August 16th!

little bit of lace

clue 2 done of Goddess Anniversary Shawl .The picture does not show how pretty it really is because of being circular and can't spread out till I stitch to longer needle. Looks like a big hole there?
another Forest Canopy started

another gap on left? Thank goodness for blocking!

lace lunatic

Can you believe I have 3 different lace shawl projects going on at same time? Am I crazy???
Here is Stinky on my Slow Bee 1 after clue 3 done. I got up to answer phone and came back to find him sleeping on it. This one has not been worked on this week. I will get to it but need to get the other ones going first. I will finish this because It is so pretty but not really a slow bee - it takes forever to do one row. The second Clue for Goddess Knits Anniversary shawl is half done. This one moves much faster and easier to do with no purling and no beads. Another Forest Canopy in Knit Picks Bare Gloss started for some reason this week too...




see the beads in this photos....
Peaky likes to sleep on top of Molly. This is a one pug bed but she just piles on...
These pets and their sleeping habits keep me laughing...

Last two days we stained our decks. My whole body is hurting..but the deck really looks good..

Knitter's Day out and KIP Day

Knit in Public at lys shop in Narrowsburg was fantastic. . It was filled with diverse knitters , food, drinks and Chris has rearranged the shop to make it more welcoming . She is young and full of energy and new ideas! I wish her much success with getting this shop going again. It has been practically dying last year and rumors of it closing have been floating around.. I don't do shrugs but signed up for her class on June 29th and will make it for a gift .

On Sept 19 I will be going here.http://www.knittersdayout.org/ I went the past 2 years with my sister who lives in Lancaster PA. It is a cheap weekend with 2 classes lunch and a vendors market.

On the front clue 3 of Slow Bee has one more row to go. Thinking of stopping and starting Goddess Knit Anniversary Shawl so I can follow along to just get started for first clue as this is a circular and sounds confusing.

Lace Panic

Yikes I planned to be done with Clue 3 by today before Clue 6 came out but I am still plugging along on it..The heat , serious house cleaning and today not feeling well has put me further behind. I know it is not a race but I really really want to have this shawl done so I can't start another one. Slow Bee 2 has started along with Goddess Knit free one. I am trying to look at each pattern and follow all the discussions so when I can start I will understand .
Tomorrow is Knit in Public Day at my local yarn shop in Narrowsburg Ny. I am looking forward to it. My spinning group is going to an alpaca farm to demonstrate . Unless I feel better -I am not going.

.

Too hot/ Bridal Shower

My D' Liz's Bridal Shower this past Sunday
Liz and I are on the left.

The Brides Maids I am hiding in the bedroom with Molly as I type this. This is the only room that has a make shift AC in it. Thanks goodness for the wireless router put in a few weeks ago so there is something to actually do in the bedroom along with knitting. But- the heat has made the Slow Bee Lace even slower. Hard to concentrate in this heat.



I actually cleaned all morning as the thought of the wedding being here in 2 months as started to hit me. 2 bathrooms took all morning long. The curtains, the walls, drawers etc were cleaned thoroughly. Then we replaced a screen that the dogs had ripped with pet screen. That took forever as I was the helper to DH. Now I am staying in this AC room for next few hours to recover and dry up.



Speaking of weddings. I went back to WW last night so the dress fits. I feel like I gained a lot but according to them only a pound so gotta get back on track. Not doing so good though as I bought one of their snack boxes last night and ate the whole thing already ( 12 points is 2 meals!) This heat makes salads look blah and chocolate tempting.



My D's bridal shower with her Albany friends was last Sunday. She was so beautiful that day. It is unbelievable how fast she has grown up into a mature and responsible women. To me- me is the perfect daughter and friend whom I love more than I could ever imagine possible.

on to clue 3!!!!

Clue 2 done!
Hard to spread out with my circular that is too short..longer one ordered!
Did find time to take all 4 pugs out today. Usually it is in shifts of 2 so one doesn't sneak away .
Can you see who is peaking out from inside screaming " Let me play too?"

Just completed Clue 2 of Slow Bee Mystery Shawl..Just in time for clue 5 to arrive.I am hoping only one more clue after this but looks like most of my yarn still on the cone. This lace is very addictive so I may have to alternate to to other mindless projects .Otherwise nothing gets done around here.

Books, ticks, clue 2 almost done Slow Bee

Ticks are invading us! Yuk

Buddy and Stinky share a bed..

Gave my hands a break and read an excellent book my daughter gave me.

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Elephants-Novel-Sara-Gruen/dp/1565124995

It was an easy read that held my attention. The story is thought provoking and made me think of my father and his condition at the nursing home. Sort of made me very sad but had a happy but unrealistic ending.

Damn we are getting invaded by ticks. The pugs go out and those ugly suckers are pouncing on them. These suckers disgust me and I found 2 crawling on me this week already. Of course, now I worry about Lyme Disease. ( I use Frontline each month faithfully but not sure how long it takes for it to kill them off when they first jump on them)

Clue 2 only has 4 more rows to go on Slow Bee Mystery. Then I am starting Design 1 for Clue 3 of slow Bee. Things are going a lot more smoother lace- wise this week. I don't know if these clues are easier or I have learned more.

Goddess's Knits Kal starts June 14 and Slow bee 2 in June but I can't see beyond this shawl.

spring on the Delaware

I love this time of year and all that is popping up in our yard by the river. The weather has been perfect last few days -Sunny but not real hot.



This is an adorable black squirrel that has been playing in our yard last few days. sorry ...When I try to get closer shot- it runs.

Clue1 done- Slow Bee Shawl

Shawl and had a lace spat for a few days.

I was not liking it with so much concentration but still constant mistakes after recounting and trying to figure out what was wrong constantly.(ssshhh I did a lot of fudging) It was shunned for one day and when I returned mistakes calmed down. I know it is not a race but would be happier if progress improved. Many hours have been spent on this - No kidding -my pace might average 2 rows an hour with all the rechecking and fixing.

It is a lace learning experience.

...here are some things I have learned by mistakes

• Keep careful track of what rows you are on. NOW I mark it on the charts and on a post it note right before I start a purl row.

• Get one of those magnetic boards and enlarge the chart!
  



• Be careful of those yarn overs when you go to purl they can be stuck together with another stitch




• Give up when your eyes twitch and hands start throbbing.




• Keep the beads and shawl in a bag so Stinky can't get to them..yes Stinky loves beads and lace.




• next time use bigger beads. Small ones one are shredding the yarn with crochet hook




• Don't use Crystal Palace circulars because lace gets stuck at the joint and it very annoying.




• never attempt to do lace while watching TV- not even the purl rows




• use Ravelry forum for help




• It is good to be behind because everyone else can tell you what to do or find mistakes.



• Beads are fun and are helpful for keeping track of where you are.

Stinky- a bird lover!

Spring time is so exciting here with new blooms and birds arriving.

here are a few of the birds that Stinky gets to see..

Can't see to catch a shot of a huge wood pecker,, an eagle flying overhead and male bright red cardinals . Yesterday my son saw an eagle swoop down to a baby duck in the river.

Rose breasted grosbeak
Indigo blue bunting

indigo blue bunting ( this is my favorite!)
yellow finch

rose breasted grosbeak


purple finch
purple finch ( but looks red!)

wood pecker

Slow slow Bee

If this is a Slow going group- I need a snail group. Clue 2 has been out since last Friday and I am only half done with Clue 1. It is not that I have not been working on it either. Going away this weekend and a sinus infection may have hindered progress but adding beads and recounting along with my slow "throwing "knitting method is making this even SLOWer. . But slow and steady is fine - although going faster would make it easier on my eyes and hands .

Clue 1

Stinky loves to sleep on his scratch box

My wee sock and purchases

Winter Clove Spinning Retreat was a good time . Claudia was super organized and everything was perfect including the other interesting participant's. What a beautiful setting for the retreat at the quaint Winter Clove Inn!
What puts a slight damper on these situations is my hearing loss which makes it very stressful .Forget being able to carry on a conversation when it is a large group in a big room or a noisy dining area so most of the time I sit there not talking to anyone. Hearing the instructions were even more stressful. Claudia did have a nice visual packet that helped follow what was going on and my friends are patient about helping me. Hearing loss sucks but vision loss would be much worse not being able to read , knit or drive.

Enough whining...

This wee sock (in picture way above) is a sample of what yarn spun..white, green, pink and purple were carded together to make this color. The purple was a mohair blend that made the yarn softer and flexible. Notice a new book and Lucy Neatby's DVD on Double knitting were added to my stash.

Spinning Weekend

whew....I am packed and ready to go for my spinning guild weekend . Between knitting, spinning wheel and supplies, wine and a few clothes not much room left in car .The theme for the weekend is learning how to spin sock yarn but mine will be secretly turned into shawl yarn. I have bins of lovely sock yarn that are waiting for my number two needles but my stash of shawl yarn is limited but quickly getting sufficient. Added to this my spinning skills are really lacking so this yarn will not be consistent enough for socks.

I am moving along at a tortoise pace on the Slow Bee shawl with only half of clue 1 done. Clue 2 is out today but will be waiting and then all the comments and explanations will be there to read. Not much will be accomplished this weekend as total concentration is needed for this with no wine and chatting at same time. My camera is packed so no pictures of it but it is so impressive . Doing this KAL makes me realize I have moved up in my knitting level. I am officially no longer an advanced beginner! maybe now classified as an daring intermediate with much more to learn..

My new Dell Inspiron came last night. Most the night was spent setting it up along with a wireless router. DH was impressed that I figured this all out as he does not have the patience but the LinkSYS router has step by step directions that were very helpful. The test will be if it works this weekend at this resort that offers free wireless.

Mother's Day Weekend/wedding details? Slow Bee

Mother's Day gifts for myself!



Whew the weekend flew by! Friday I drove up to Albany and stopped by the shop in Cohoes. The people were friendly and pleasant but nothing hit my eye to buy . Then I shadowed my daughter as she registered for at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Invites for her Albany area bridal shower(shhh) are out so this needed to be done.

While using her computer this weekend a short cut to my blog is there so I must be cautious about surprise stuff.

Sat. we went to this shop in Saratoga. Oh- this place is fantastic with such a variety of yarns and classy projects . I browsed for over an hour while my daughter patiently sat. Could have browsed more but spent way too much already. Lunch was spent on a sidewalk cafes where we people watched, chatted and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Then the rest of the day more wedding details accomplished with flower vases, ribbons and candles purchased for wedding tables.

Stinky gives his approval

Liz and I toke her wedding invitation to get weighed at post office in order to get the stamps. The envelope is a larger size so finding pretty stamps was harder. She had to take the Forever stamps for the response cards beucas eof no pretty choices with prices changing today but decided on 2 of a pretty pink heart stamp for the invites . Total cost of each invite is about $1.50! They did not have enough so she will have to go back and get the rest.

I printed off the fist clue of Slow Bee while at my daughter's but could not get to it till late last night after visiting with my mother in Middletown most of the day. It is a good thing because got to read all the comments first and see people's pictures to help me understand . yes- This is going to be a challenge for me but I am totally excited about it. A few rows were started last night but my eyes and body were pooped so I am off to it now for a short period while DH is out and I can concentrate.