sweater is done

More news and pictures to be posted soon.

December already

Buddy taking a nap

Stinky ( aka- Bad Kitty)

Yesterday we had snow so put on my boots and I crossed over the bridge to take a picture of our house from the NY side. The river has more ice today and is now completely white.

Knitting has been making Fingerless Mitts from my Stash. Finally attempted the The Fetching mitts with one done already. I was not completely sure about the directions for the Picot Bind off though . I would like to make a couple pairs more and a few hats to add to Christmas gifts. My sweater is still not put together because my knitting class was cancelled last week.



more mitts

Wow- November flew by. Snow is here and Christmas on its way and I am prepared. The tree is up and the Christmas photo cards are ordered- but have to buy these stamps before I mail them. Most of my shopping done and all wrapped. This is without going to hardly any stores. The Internet had made it so easy especially because the nearest mall is an hour away.

elf yourself

This is so funny! this is the Boy, me and some pugs...

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1123868505



and my daughter and her boyfriend and 2 friends
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1123227975

SUnday 11/25 Bad Kitty- Snow and UFO's

Bad Kitty

Stinky might need a name change. The Boy has been repeatedly calling him BAD KITTY. He has been very naughty lately. I mean I can take his waking me up at 4:30 am with his taping and biting . Even the trimming of all my African Violets has been tolerated but now he has been using his claws on the furniture and rugs.

First Snow ! This is what I woke up to last Monday . The schools up here were even closed for the whole day. It was beautiful !

My ufo's are getting more attention. Mason Dixon Log Cabin Blanket is almost done. I am just weaving in all those pieces and then will have to remove many pugs hairs that have attached themselves to this project Ivstarted over a year ago. Once that is done I will post a picture.( if I can find the charger to my camera...I have yet to locate it )

My Karabella sweater is on hold till Thursday night so my knitting teacher can show me how I should sew it together plus the very last 5 rows of the pattern for the 2nd shoulder did not make sense as I redid it several times . Maybe a mistake in the pattern? Karabella has no sections for corrections on the website so I need to ask her along with how to finish it off. So basically it is done except for several rows around each section to make the collar.

I am starting a pair of Wendy Johnson's fingerless mitts tonight to give as a gift and at the same time using up extra Keltic yarn from my Kalamazoo sweater. Speaking of the Kalamazoo- the d%$# thing does not fit anyone in my family. I thought it would fit my D-IL as she has a very big chest with small arms and shoulders. It landed right under the chest and looked even worse on her than me. My son suggested I tear it all out and reuse the yarn. That sounds painful to me.

survived Thanksgiving

The day is over and everyone is gone. So much shopping, preparation and work and people eating everything within one hour.. I am exhausted and ready to just sit and enjoy Grey's. I am even too tired to knit.Just a sink full of wine glasses and some other stuff to be washed tomorrow. The turkey turned out fantastic. That little red thing popped out and it was just right moist. My kids helped with the mashed potatoes and appetizers plus cleaning up afterwards. It was great having my kids here along with their pugs too. We had a total of 5 pugs here today. Too busy with food to get any good pictures.

My daughter brought this dessert ...oh my it was a hit ....pumpkin trifle.

Making Thanksgiving Dinner

How did I ever do all this when I worked with the kids home?

I am cooking for10 tomorrow and dinner should be served around 2. Cooking and entertaining stresses me out unless I am( rarely) in the entertaining mood. Unfortunately- I am not in it this week. I am hiding at this computer to avoid going in the kitchen again.

Self talk is not helping.".Relax you have time" and "No one will go in those rooms right?" If the pies don't turn out today- I will have time to buy new ones tonight?None will care if their clothes are full of pug hairs if they sit on he couch- right?
Why is this so stressful?

1. First of all - I blame it on partially my mother.

We rarely had company to dinner and when she did she turned into someone not nice.

2. I feel like I can't control it - most everything has to be done in the last few hours .Although I already set the tables yesterday and made the pies today and of course all that shopping.You have to be wonder cook to get it synchronized to be served while it is still hot.

3. This kitchen ADD has made me feel like I am running in circles . I start to get one pan and then realize the salt shaker might be empty and then where is the electric carving knife.?

4. Why can't I just relax and enjoy the turkey and friends?

5. As I am writing this I realize that this is the first year my daughter has not been here to help . She kept me on task and it was not work with her around. I miss her so much even though we talk every day.! She will be coming to dinner so she will be a great help in the kitchen and with serving food.

oh no! another hobby- inkle loom

Inkle loom workshop 11/19/2007

Inkle Weaving by Daryl Lancaster




A wonderful workshop on inkle looms was presented yesterday by my Spinning Guild. I only signed up because my friend Nora did. Weaving looked way too complicated for me with all those threads going every which way.It is a miracle I even learned how to knit using one strand of yarn. But, after this very clear and easy to follow workshop- my interest is peaked. I even bought the inkle loom. It is an Ashford Inklette.

Here is the loom and her handbook with clear instructions and perfect visuals for a slow learning like myself. I choose 3 colors and had 25 strands going on this pattern.
I was so excited about the process even though it is not done perfectly. I need to beat( push down with the shuttle) Are you impressed? This will make the ends less noticeable and it smoother overall..

I came home full of confidence to start another. Maybe too confident because I messed up after I got this far. Thank goodness this didn't happen in the workshop!Still it would make a good bookmark so that is ok.

Now the uses for these include bookmarks, belts, trim on jackets. .any more ideas?

still at it/ sleeping pets/Sopranos end

This afternoon I watched the final disc of the Sopranos. All the excitement, sex and and violent stuff going on did not keep any of the pets awake . But- for me it was the end. I have watched the complete series using Netflix starting this summer. I did not peak ahead to find out about the ending- if you call it that? It just left me hanging and not knowing what was going to happen to Tony. Right before the end Meadow is frantically looking for a parking spot that she has to keep backing in and out of. It made viewers suspect she would walk in late to the dinner while a shooting was taking place. Instead -as the suspicious looking guy you think may be the shooter goes into the bathroom - it just ends..
You don't know if he is shot or if the guy was not a shooter at all. That's it! You do realize by this time Tony is an evil and manipulative sicko . The writers for this show were truly amazing and talented. This ending did leave an opening for further episodes in the futrue.

Molly in the bed

Stinky on the couch
Buddy in front of the fire.

look closer that the sleeves...

I am still knitting the Karabella pattern sweater.. One and a half sleeves to go and then some work on the neck line. This pattern just called out at me when browsing the Interweave magazine.But, the more I study the pattern and the ad- I realize the blond modeling the sweater would look good in anything. The sleeves look like they may be to baggy for me while the model has her arms poised in a way that I did not notice .. Now I am having my doubts (serious one). I am searching for the next sweater pattern already. The pattern needs to be simple and easy to knit with limited sewing needed.

Ravelry stuff came/ Fetching

These came yesterday . They were ordered this summer before my new tight budget.

Buttons and t- shirt from Ravelry. I ordered an x -large for the T-shirt which now looks like a very good idea. The shirt looks small and it is not preshrunk cotton. I may give it to my sister for Christmas or save it for my knitting cruise.

I am still working on the sweater. Now -I am at left front panel and then on to sleeves. It may be a week or so to get this done.Can't get distracted with any other projects !!! But, Fetching is calling me .http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html .

CactusNeedles has done a beautiful pair http://cactusneedlles.blogspot.com/2007/09/some-instant-gratification.html These instant kntting gratification projects are for me..

photos of Kalamazoo/Stinky

Stinky, who was abandoned on our road this summer was originally going to be a garage kitty. Then I convinced Boy he would be a basement kitty. Eventually- Stinky moved upstairs but still went outside during the day. But last week the Boy saw him on the main road down from our house plus a neighbor told him that she almost ran him over. Stinky is now officially an upstairs and indoor kitty. The Boy loves Stinky as much as I do!
Now the problem is that he has been used to running, playing and hunting outside. That helped use up that kitten energy. As a result of being inside my furniture and legs are getting a few marks when he gets in one of his full of it moods. The pugs are cautious walking around corners as he may be ready to pounce on them. He has several toys to keep him entertained . This one is a scratch pad that has catnip you sprinkle over. Stinky fell in love with the catnip. He did not use it to scratch but rather to sleep on and to rub his body.

now knitting stuff....

Here it is with no button. The color is off.
Dark photo but the color is more like this..

with button color should be darker...




These photos are not very good. It looks better in real life..But- not sure if I like the fit yet.
The shoulders seem funny where it is almost hanging off the edge of them. Then the front has excess material that hangs . If only I had a chest it would bring it up.


so I will have D try it on to see if she likes it.


%#@!&* So much $ and time (:


The Karabella Superwash Merino Loose Jacket sweater has the back and one front done. I pray this one is not too small

11/03/07

I finished the http://www.berroco.com/264.268/268/268_kalamazoo_pv.html. This is my very first finished adult sweater/ garment. To be honest- it is not totally finished. Putting it together was stressing me out especially with those caps that have to be sewn in sleeves. So I traded 2 balls of roving in exchange for my friend putting it together.

Now I am not sure how this will look or fit. It looks awful on a one petite friend but wonderful on a heavier member. This is the opposite of what I expected. So if it does not fit - one more Christmas present for D- in law.



The knitting sub group of the spinning guild met today. These are the same people in my Thursday night group. We have decided to go on a knitting cruise next October with the Embraceable Ewe Shop in Hamburg , New York. Erin, the owner, is the person who runs the summer knitting camp in Bradford Pa. It is this onehttp://www.ncl.com/nclweb/booking/cruisedetails.html?packageId=1262729 which leaves from New York. The main problem is that it gets back the Sat of Rhinebeck but we all decided we can deal with just going Sunday next year. Erin does not plan to teach classes but rather just gather and find the yarn shops at each of the stops we make. Over 90 knitters have signed up for this trip. I had to come home and kiss up to the Boy before telling him about another trip I am going on without him. All the other knitters were saying , I have to ask first. I never ask and he is pretty good about it. But- It justifies his going to Alaska for 3 weeks of salmon fishing or golf in the middle of the winter.
Now I really have to get on a stricter budget. 50$ was the deposit needed for this trip so I can handle it for now. NO more shopping and use that stash........

Got mail

This was ordered this book from Amazon in August so I was happy to finally see it yesterday. I browsed through the pages and think I am going to love this book. It appears to be explained very clearly and you start with making baby socks. Lots of diagrams and pictures to help a visual learning like me. After my wip 's are done I hope to try it out. . These markers go with Cat Bordhi's method. I ordered them from an Etsy site that Wendyknits wrote about. It is from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=28680&section_id=5014552 Addi is supposed to be making them to go along with this book.

This is a trip Boy and I are taking to replace the cancelled Africa trip. This is a week before the Knitting cruise. Retirement is so much fun!

Idenity theft

Help%$#@ it happened again! Today when I checked my debit/checking balance at Bank of America it was 289$ overdrawn. I looked closer and found 8 charges posted from yesterday and today that are not mine.This makes me so angry and invaded again..My Capital One was used illegally just last May. That just got all straightened out. But- this is even worse because it has my direct deposits and all my banking in it. Many of my bills are automatically paid using this account. Some of the charges are:

Union Telcard AllNC

IDTUtah

Prepaid Telecom OKL

Yahoo Voice 8666-562-7228 CA

Bharti AirTel ( Usa) LT NY

Are they phone card purchases?

SO... now my checking account is empty and my debit card is cancelled. I need to get to a Bank of America office first thing Monday to make sense of all of this. Bank of America said I can get a temporary card but no cash is coming in until 10/31.

WHY did this happen?

I use this debit card like cash for almost everything from MacDonald's, gas and Internet shopping. Maybe I should use cash more instead of the debit card?

Chilly Fall Has arrived

Brrrrr - it was below 40 degrees last night Everyone is cuddling up to get warm here. The Boy is bringing in wood today for the wood stove. The heat stays off as long as possible.

The Pugs know what to do to conserve heat..

Handspun Baby Hat/ Pug shots/Kalamazoo progress

Molly, Peek-A-Boo and Magoo
Stinky and Molly

Buddy needs a dentist

Kalamazoo progress


Hand spun Baby Hat
(Not the best picture as the purple and pink rows look off ..It is still wet )




I bought this Cool-Aid dyed hand spun and pattern at Rhinebeck. One is done and is adorable. Two hats will go to my 54 year( really) old friend who has 1 year old twins. How big are 1 year old heads? It was such a long time ago that mine were babies.I love doing these quick projects that give me instant gratification.





Have to get back to this because when we meet for Thursday Knitting group I don't want to be behind.

Perfect Rhinebeck Weekend

Rhinebeck Activities

Admired many yarn producers

Got some books signed by The Yarn Harlot

Have the Mason Dixon already but took their photo
and

Just love Clara Parkes new book ( Knitter's Review)The Knitter's Book of Yarn

The Sheep and I

plenty of pumpkins

Trip there admired all ranges of reds...


and

glorious golds

What a perfect weekend! The wool shopping, two days of browsing and limited hours of sleep have totally wiped me out but it was well worth it.

The trip north in the Mini was quick and beautiful. My sister and I talked nonstop the whole way only to pause briefly in between the chatter to rave about the glorious fall foliage.

It is amazing that so many people come to this Sheep and Wool Festival. Traffic was backed up coming and going both days but much worse on Saturday. Attending both days was less stressful because we could wander at a slower pace. Last year I rushed around afraid I would miss something.

I did not buy a wheel but my sister did ! After trying several she had to decide between the Hitch hiker and the Dt Lendrum. The Hitch Hiker salesman was extremely helpful and patient. But, because she needs a main wheel -not just for traveling -she went with the Lendrum. Bending over and having some back issues was the main reason. Also,when viewing the Sheep to Shawl spinners the majority of them had Lendrums. Last night when we arrived home - the first thing we did was unpack her wheel and set it up. We spun a bit while the Red Sox beat the Indians. At first my sister tried spinning with the free roving they gave her along with the wheel. I don't know what it is was but it was too soft and smooth for beginning spinners. Switching to some gray Icelandic roving from my stash quickly solved the problems.



The only negative part of the trip is that I missed out on the Ravlery party. I saw some knitters with Ravlery buttons and T- shirts that must have come from the party. But, no way I would missed going to visit out my daughter Sat night to help her with her new house. Some painting and several trips to Home Depot were accomplished . Buying your first house is such a big deal .