Spinning Retreat

Road trip to Lancaster Pa area for a spinning retreat 1/18-1/20

My 3 knitting buddies and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon. Curious to see how will 4 wheels, suitcases and knitting bags will fit in Nora's SUV? I am excited! My sister will meet us there.

Snow please stop!!!

Going to try to finish the BSJ tonight.

BSJ

This is how it looks as knitting it. Still have to do several rows and button holes plus collar.

It is such a surprise that it turns into a sweater!

I wanted to experiment with stripes. Not sure of the color combination but I had this yarn in my stash . The yarn is Tweed Cascade 220 and used size 8 Harmony needles. I broke another Harmony with this and doing the M1 with the Harmony was tedious as the points were not sharp enough to catch the yarn. I would use Options with next ones. I just glued the Harmony back into the casing with Gorilla glue.

The Baby Surprise Jacket is moving along after several frogging events.. Everyone says it is such an easy pattern but somehow my stitch count gets off. Maybe forgetting to increase on one side and not the other is the problem?. I found two mistakes in the back last night that I never noticed before too. When I dropped a stitch I picked it up the wrong way as it looks like a purl in the middle of all the knits. I am not going back again!

Knitting Irish Hiking/BSJ/Kale Soup

Three projects going at same time with knitting. The Irish Hiking Scarf had to be frogged when I realized it was too wide and would run out of yarn. So I started that all over and took out one cable section to make it narrower. I just hope it does not look too narrow and less masculine now. Maybe I can block the alpaca to make it wider? Not sure if alpaca will block?

My other project is the Baby Surprise Jacket. My knitting group is doing it together. It is the famous Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern . But, if I didn't have the DVD and the notes from the BSJ group I would never have be able to figure it out. EZ's patterns are not clear enough for me as I am just starting to see the whole picture and understand the knitting process.



The other project is the baby sweater I started last week from Cabin Creek. This is taking longer than I expected because of the fingering weight yarn.



Another goal of 2008 is to cook more as to save more $ and to eat healthier. My cooking skills are very weak. My kids even used to call me Microwave MaMa. We were on the run so much with all the activities and with teaching.
Every week at Wegmans the chef, Carmen , demonstrates a new recipe. Last week he suggested using a digital thermometer to check meat as I tend to overcook everything just like my mother did. Well- I got one this week and made perfect steaks and chicken this weekend. It is the kind you hook up to the meat with a probe and has a cord with a gadget to regulate on the kitchen counter.

I am experimenting more. For example,I made a delicious Portuguese Kale This I will make again. I used spicy chicken sausage, fat free broth and drained the beans to make it even less fattening.

Good news!!!Ilost a few pounds this week !

Resolutions 2008

These are my resolutions for 2008:

1.Get Healthy

Getting healthier is my primary goal . These last few months some serious health issues been faced.. For the first time- I felt old .Not moving enough and eating too many comfort foods just aggravated the problems. Plus- We are going on this adventure trip to the Amazon and Galapagos next month where one needs to be able to hike and canoe.This is my plan:

• no more candy , junk or processed foods
• joined Weight Watchers and using the core plan where I eat only healthy foods with more fish , fruits and veggies.( lost 3 pounds last week)
• no more diet soda - water instead of the 4-5 cans I was drinking a day
• Do a Pilate's, walking or fit tape each morning.

2. Use up my Stash

This has been ongoing past two months. I have improved but still need to use more up before purchasing more. My closets are full of very nice sock yarn and kits that could be used. Staying away from yarn shops and ordering on line is a must. The Stitch'Beach cruise that I go on Feb 27th has something called Yarn Tastings. Damn-I suspect that means yarn sales. Luckily , the supplies for the classes were included in the fees.

3.Save money for the wedding

I looked at my Microsoft money expense report this morning and tried to figure out why I am always broke.Gee- These trips might be the culprit! But they are all paid for so now I need to get down to business and figure out ways to cut out more expenses. Last month food costs about $550 and gas was $422. Maybe the food can be cut more but gas I can't help.It was really even more because a few times I paid cash. Good news is I did not charge a single item this holiday so that is probably the reason for the last few months. This month is shot too as the Mini needs 4 new tires for another 800.... So I will just watch and not do the impulse shopping ( knitting most of the time) and be more aware of my spending. My favorite grocery store ,Wegmans ,has a senior discount of 5 % on Tuesday so go then and try to stay away from the center of the store.

Wedding plans/ Harmony Options

Got this nice email Knit Picks...I love Knit Picks!

Their needles are the greatest. The Harmony seem sharper and better for lace projects while the Options are good for projects that don't need sharper points . That is all I need and use anymore. I love their catalogs too. Once I use up some of my stash I think I will try out some of the reasonable priced yarns. I am going to be on an even stricter budget with the wedding coming up.

Dear Kathleen,
I am sorry that your needle broke. Please let me know which size it was and I will send out a replacement to you.
Sincerely, Georgianna Customer Service

My daughter has decided to get married up here on the river on August 16th. We have a perfect location for a wedding . Only problem is we both stressing about the planning and details trying to keep the costs down. She and I( both being teachers) have this thing about getting things organized right away ( maybe slightly obsessive) and in perfectly in place before the event. Sometimes it is a curse!

My son's wedding.....was here 2 years ago. This time should be easier- right?

2008 first knitting/ Stinky's present/ Harmony snapped

My sister made this for

Stinky

It is his favorite toy

Now my knitting...

Irish Hiking Scarf



Here is what I am working on :http://www.helloyarn.com/irishhikingcarf.htm. My son asked me to make him a black scarf with cables out of something soft like alpaca. This pattern is free found on Ravelry.What a great resource for patterns and info..! I had noticed it before but did not know how easy cables were then. Not sure how the cables will show up with baby alpaca and it has to be masculine looking .


My other project started is the Buttons Cardigan #606 . I bought this pattern at Stitches from Cabin Fever.

Baby Buttons Cardigan # 606
It is a top down baby sweater and pretty easy.I keep making some mistakes and have to go back but it is not the pattern's fault as the directions are so very clear. This is a perfect pattern for beginners. I am an advanced beginner. The portion in the picture is the collar of the baby sweater.

I was using my new Harmony Options needles with this sweater and the needle just snapped off. I have not heard back from KnitPicks . Their ad said they are in the middle of a big move so maybe I will hear soon. With my hearing loss I avoid the phone as much as possible but will use my Cap Tel Phone if needed.

Happy New Year in Winter Wonderland!

warning: mucho photos ahead

Stinky's favorite spot checking out the snow and birds

Buddy at Christmas


!2/31/07 our yard

Utopia hat fits perfectly on my daughter

She wore it all weekend

Peek-A Boo 12/31/07


Magoo 12/31/07

Molly 12/31/07

View from deck 12/31/07

We got snow!

Happy New Year

We woke up to this

2007 coming to an end...Dd got engaged!.

Almost 2008. Another year gone by ....as you get older as it goes by faster and faster.
Another wedding coming up this 2008. MY DD got engaged at Christmas.

Almost all my UFOs are done but can't figure out what to start next. Looked at my very full stash but nothing is saying "knit me next". Going to knitting group tonight so maybe something will get me excited here. My goal is to use the stash before I buy anymore. I know this knitting Cruise in Feb will be selling yarn so I will wait till then.

Happy Holidays to all

Both my kids stayed over last night and will be here for Christmas Eve. It is wonderful to see them. We played Wii last night and my arm is aching form playing tennis and bowling but such fun..'
Pretty soon the ham will go in the oven. The smell of the mince meat pie baking is making it smell like Christmas

long time no blog

Log Cabin Mason Dixon is almost done. I am adding one more strip and have many ends to weave in yet. I plan on giving this to my Dad who is still in a nursing home. He is always cold and always sleeping in bed..

Stinky is still going for the needles and in trouble.

These are my favorite things I have knitted this past few weeks. The hat is made for bits of stash yarn using a the pattern I got from Cloverleaf Farms Hat kit purchased at Maryland Sheep and Wool. Along side it is a Fetching mitt I am making to match .

This is the finished unblocked so so Karabella Sweater..

more pairs Wendy Knits fingerless mitts

This is the original hat kit from Cloverleaf ( the blue one)

I like it so much I am keeping it!

This is the Utopia Hat free from Smariek that my blog pal (Cactusneedles) shared with me along with her Fetchings. It is a lot of work for me as my experience with cables is limited. The cable design is beautiful and it is worth the concentration it takes.My concern is that it might be too small. But- if it is will give it away .

Been very blog less lately and not sure why. Mostly because my camera needs to be recharged to get some photos. This weather can be a reason too as we have been bombarded with snow and ice storms and it is all very depressing to me. My energy level is null...

Knitting continues though.. I knit everyday but wish my progress was quicker. I see on many blogs where these sweater and socks seem to be done in a few days.

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.