Whining

I am a little irritated today. Today is my telecommute day, which would have been great since it was so cold; however, I came into the office for a meeting in with a person from DC. Now it appears as though she is not going to show, though it may be due to the weather, who knows. I could be in my jammies at home taking a nap for lunch instead of sitting here snuffling. I hate it when things interrupt my telecommute day, almost as much as when they interrupt my lieu day. I am going to lunch. . . .

Later
I am still working on the black scarf with the lace diamond chain; the yarn is not as bad as I expected it to be, so that is a good thing. I have a feeling it will take me a while to finish, just because I am tired at night lately. It is probably the time of year, dark and gloomy night is going to make a person tired sooner I guess. I am also working on the Dr Who scarf, but it is sooooo boring. DD2 is so lucky that I love her. :-)

Remember here when I complained about the warm weather (not actual complaining, that is what today’s post is for) well I should have kept quiet because yesterday’s high was 16˚ and today’s is supposed to be 23˚, it was 3˚ when I left for work this morning. Those numbers just shouldn’t be on the thermometer because it is too cold to breath. I have had to close my bedroom window finally; it is just too cold to have it open even a little bit. This morning I had on snow boots, a coat, and gloves; and I needed long johns too (and a nose cover too, my nose is burning from breathing the cold air.) My poor car is very unhappy with the morning cold.

I am done whining and complaining for now. I am going to go home, plop my butt in the chair, and knit until I fall asleep.

Have a happy and productive day!

Manic Monday, Some Knitting and A Question

What gives you hope? Children usually give me hope, and reading the good things people do for others gives me hope. Knowing that a better future is right around the corner gives me hope.

How often do you get your haircut? Describe your worst haircut. I don’t have a set time for a haircut, I get one when I have a coupon or my hair is driving me nuts, whichever is sooner. My worst haircut was a combo haircut and perm, when I was done; I looked just like my grandmother, even though I was only 39. It was awful

What's your most treasured piece of jewelry? Why? I have some emerald earrings and a necklace that my daughter gave me (which is why they are my most treasured pieces.)

I found a stitch for the black scarf I am making for DD1, I was browsing in my “Field Guide to Knitting” and found the Diamond Lace chain and I think it will be perfect. It is simple, and perfect for running down the middle of the scarf, plus I don’t have to fuss with a chart on this one, which will make it quicker. I am using Caron’s Simply Soft so it can thrown in the washer and dryer, this will make the problem of dog and cat hair easier to deal with.

You know, I really love working with fine wool and blends, but with all the animals in my house, it is just too hard to take care of the yarn and then to use it afterwards. When I made J’s scarf it was so full of hair that I took it outside and shook it, but the yarn could not go in the washer and dryer, so the hair was pretty much knit into the scarf. However, T’s scarf was with washable wool and a wool blend, when it was done I threw the darn thing into the washer and dryer (gently and lightly) and it came out beautifully. How do others deal with that issue? Do you have a room where animals are not allowed to go for knitting? Alternatively, do you just ignore the hair and pretend like it is not there?

Have a wonderful day!

Another One Done & a Contest

I finished the one for DD1’s boyfriend, T, last night and it is laid out being blocked right now. I also started two more, one is a Dr. Who scarf (see the picture) but I refuse to use a garter stitch for the whole thing, that is just
toooooo much to expect from a person :-), so I am mixing garter, stockinette, and seed stitches along with the colors. We also picked out different colors, as DD2 does not like the colors used in this one. And since nothing has to match, I can do the stitches as I feel or when I get tired of them. I also started a black scarf with no special pattern requested. I am going back to the stitch dictionary again for this one, though the first few rows have been the seed stitch.

I thought I was just about done with scarves, but now I have had a request for a couple more. I guess as long as my hands are busy it is okay to knit them. I will have to dig out a stitch dictionary to find a different way to make them, I am sick of the ones I have made so far.

My alpaca scarf that I have not yet start is going to be in the December is for Stephanie scarf pattern (you can see it here) that was suggested by LilChickadee. I am bound and determined to learn how to use graphs and this scarf will require it. I bet it takes me all summer to finish it, lololol.

Vickie is having a contest, you can enter here. she has some wonderful items she is giving away and will put you in the mood for Valentine's Day, :-) Please tell her I sent you.

I hope you are having a great weekend.

A Contest and a Hawk

There is a contest at While Tangerine Dream for a Nacho Poncho and a Manos del Uruguay kettle dyed skein. The poncho is way cute. Go here to enter and please tell her I sent you.


As you know, we have a small, 7lb. Chihuahua we call Lola (and Loopy). When I put her outside I always stay out with her due to the possibility of hawks and foxes. The lady who sold us this place warned me that she had had both in her yard when she put her dog out. Because of this I stay out with her (or at least keep her within eye sight, after all it is a very tiny backyard) no matter how many rock she has to sniff. Well, evidently my lazy ass daughter (aka DD2) is not so diligent, even though she knew that predators were a possibility in our fenced yard. This morning
she put Lola outside and came into the house to take care of business. When she got back out, there was a hawk sitting in the tree eyeing the dog. This of course meant that she had to come screaming into the house to wake me up and tell me that she wanted a gun kept by the door. I told her she was crazy, all she had to do was stay out there with her, and that killing hawks was against the law. She is now going to get a BB gun (that she is paying for) to scare the hawks off with, but in my mind it is just as easy to stand there. Isn't it funny how adult (she is 23) children can sometimes be as crazy as when they were small children? At what age do they grow up enough to be able to say, "I'm done!" Do you think that will ever happen?

Friday Fillins

1. Oh, I am so tired of this darn sinus infection!

2. Sometimes it is fun to make changes, big and little.

3. During television shows, I either knit or read.

4. ??? (I was thinking WTF, but. . .); are you kidding me???

5. Right now I'd like to be in bed and asleep (or on a beach where the sun is baking me).

6. My IPod is my favorite gadget.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to baking a cake for J’s birthday and sleeping, tomorrow my plans include nothing but knitting and Sunday, I want to clean up around the house and do some work (from my office)!

Knitting and WOW

I gave J his scarf last night, aka The Darn scarf, and he put it on and wrapped it around his neck a zillion times. It was the perfect size for him and looks as though it will keep him warm. I am back to working on the scarf for DD1’s boyfriend. I dug out my Knitpicks number 11 needles and things are moving right along.

I am now tired of scarves and want to start a pair of fingerless gloves that have a sort of flip top for DD1, though who knows how long they will take me to finish. Nevertheless, I need to make a scarf for DD2 and me, as the cold weather here is not finished, even if it is supposed to be 63 today, so I am not yet through with scarves (but they sure can be boring). I cannot decide on a pattern for my alpaca (and no one has suggested one yet, hint, hint.)

My kitties are lying on my bed soaking up the sun (and filing my bed with cat hair) as I type. They always act so innocent during the day, however by night they are evil creatures, kind of like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have a permanent Goodwill box in my loft that we add stuff to as we come across more stuff and it is currently half-full. Well, last night the “Evil Three” decided they needed to go through it to make sure I was not throwing anything of theirs out, so the little buggers tipped it over and spread the stuff all over the loft. There were sheets in the box and they have them all unfolded and nasty looking, so I will be washing them before they go to Goodwill. I wonder what makes cats so curious (nosy) that they want to go through a box like that, they have toys and things to play with, but they still have more fun tearing up things they are not supposed to get into. The “Evil Three” manage to get into something every single night.

I hope everyone is having a great and productive day.

DONE

The Darn Scarf is DONE. I ended up using 4 skeins of the Elann Highland Chunky Oatmeal Heather, 2 skeins of the Chocolate and 1 of the Chestnut. The picture to the right is how much yarn was left of the last skein when I decided enough was enough when it reached 98 inches long and both ends matched. It is now being blocked one half at a time, as the animals love to run wild and there is no place that is long enough to do the whole thing at one time and to keep the animals off of it.

I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions for adding to the other cast-on end of the scarf. I started by picking up the stitches on the cast on end, however it left a bump in the scarf which I didn’t like the feel of. So I put in a life line about 2 inches down from the cast on end, and cut the cast on row off. I then cleaned up the end, picking out all the junk and until there was one clean row and picked up my 30 stitches and kept on going until both ends of the scarf matched.


Now I can finish of the other scarf (the one for DD1’s boyfriend) once I gather up all the yarn and buy a new set of needles. My silly cats like to pick the yarn up in their mouths and carry it all over the house as you can see by these pictures. And then Lola (the Chihuahua) likes to help them out by chewing on the ends of the bamboo circulars. Of course, these are the circulars that are covered with the blue dye from the yarn, so I guess she did me a favor? Don’t ya love the 4 legged children in our lives?


NOTE-
It is warmer here than it is in GA, what is wrong with this picture?
Weather »


Today
HI 64°F | LO 29°F
Tomorrow
HI 69°F | LO 29°FLittleton, CO (change)10 day forecast »

HELP! and a Contest

I need help. Remember that Darn Scarf that was too short? I added the additional colors on the left side of the scarf. Unfortunately, the person I am knitting the scarf for is very symmetrical and sort of anal,(and it would drive him nuts if both ends don’t match) so I want to add the same stripes on the other end (the cast-on edge). How do I do that, there has to be a way and I know that someone must know how to do it. If you could even suggest where to go to find the information I would appreciate it. Thanks to everyone in advance!

Contest
There is a contest at Frugal and Fabulous and she is giving away a pair of KN Chenille lounge socks which are great. Go here to enter and please tell her I sent you.

Jane from JANE4Girls is also having a giveaway. She is giving away hotSACKS to a lucky reader. Go here to enter and please tell her I sent you.

Have a great weekend!

Friday Fill Ins

1. Enough with the inauguration and balls, etc, (BTW, how much is all this hullaboo costing me?).

2. Sleeping too much causes me to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving chocolate.

4. Sometimes everything (and sometimes nothing)makes me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to Key West next week.

6. Nothing has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing nothing but vegging, and of course some knitting, tomorrow my plans include washing my car, inside and out (it is supposed to be in the 50s) and running some errands and Sunday, I want to paint a chest that sits in my living room and does not match the furniture (it is currently orange and the furniture is burgundy and gray)!

Contest and yarn

There is a contest at Elevenses and it is about books, which is okay as all knitters read or listen to audiobooks (how's is that for a generalization?). Alll you have to do is tell Justine who your favorite literary character is (if you are lucky enough to be able to single out a single character, I wasn't.) Anyway, go here to enter and please tell her where you heard about the contest. :-)

I have fallen in love with one of the new colors for the darn scarf. It is a chocolate brown and looks so wonderful, it makes me think of a wonderful smooth chocolate. It looks great with the other colors in the darn scarf, I would take a picture, however I know that I cannot do it justice.

Have a wonderful day!