Tangled and Warped

Well that didn't work out too well...

2006-03-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

I don't know what happened to blogspot but it appears to have been unceremoniously dumped into the big blackhole.

So I've moved yet again to

http://witchypoo.wordpress.com/

Moving...

2005-04-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

I'm in the process of moving my blog to

http://witchypooh.myblogsite.com/

I'll keep this link up for a bit until I get stuff moved.

TGIF Maybe?

2005-04-08T10:26:00.000-04:00

I'm so glad this week is over. For some reason it's been a really long week at work. Spring had finally sprung here, and the temps were actually close to 70 this past week. Maybe I just have spring fever? Or maybe it's the time change? I actually have little green things sprouting in the garden!

I am a bit depressed thinking I'm going to have to frog what I've done on the Filigree Jacket so far. Better now than later I guess. I just hate having to cast on those 256 stitches and starting all over again. Although using markers helps me count, for some strange reason I have such a hard time counting and keeping track.

I've also agreed to let my 13 year old daughter have a sleepover tonight. What was I thinking! I'm just hoping it's warm enough so I can put them all in the backroom and shut the door. I'll probably just hide in my room, in my jammies, with a cuppa tea and my knitting.

I just ordered 2 new books At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much by the Yarn Harlot (one of my favorite bloggers). She's doing a book tour and will be coming to Willow Books in Acton on May 11th, I hope I can get over there to meet her in person and get the book autographed.

I also ordered The Knitting Experience: Book 2 the Purl Stitch by Sally Melville. Barnes and Nobel is having a craft book sale and I couldn't resist. I loved the first book (Knit Stitch). The patterns were so simple yet beautiful. I'm still working on the Einstein Coat... one of these days, I'll finish it.

What Kind of Needles Quiz

2005-04-06T14:17:00.000-04:00

You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Judy Collins Weekend :)

2005-04-04T14:17:00.001-04:00

I was a slug most of this past weekend. It was grey, and raining nasty buckets all day long on Saturday.

I literally sat on my couch watching movies with my daughter, and knit until I finally was forced to get up and get dressed.

Saturday night, there was a Judy Collins Concert, in my town! We are celebrating our 350th birthday and this was one of the fund raisers. Judy was just fabulous! She opened with some of her old standards. Both Sides Now, Someday Soon, Who Knows Where the Time Goes, Cats in the Cradle, Leaving on a Jet Plane/Country Road medley (that was great!), City of New Orleans, Send in the Clouds, a couple of new songs from her new soon to be released CD. It was just and incredible concert. Especially in such a small intimate venue as the middle school auditorium. The place probably seats a max. of 300 and it was packed.

So, I am glad I got my butt up and out for this. It was a wonderful experience that I will always cherish.

And even though I knit all day Saturday, I have nothing to show for it! For some reason I just couldn't get this really simple TWO line pattern and I just keep messing up on the 6th and 8th rows. DUH! I've ripped it out so many times now, you would think I wouldn't keep making the same damn mistake.

2005-03-31T16:41:00.000-05:00

English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 92% Intermediate, 81% Advanced, and 76% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!

Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!

For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 75% on Beginner

You scored higher than 29% on Intermediate

You scored higher than 12% on Advanced

You scored higher than 58% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid

2005-03-31T16:22:00.000-05:00

Sirdar Pattern 5968 - Denim Ultra

I love this pattern. Maybe I'll do this up quickly before I start the Filigree Lace Jacket. I know I have the yarn in my stash in the faded denim blue color. I wonder how this would look if I increased the size and did it up in double knit Lambs Pride then felted it.... ohhhh I think I like that. I have to stop coming up with all these projects!

Finished Projects :)

2005-03-30T12:58:00.000-05:00

I finished Clapotis Number 2 last night (well finished in the sense that I'm done knitting) - I still need to weave in the ends and block it. I have to say I really liked knitting with the Filatura Di Crosa MilleFili Fine Cotton Colorway No. 281. It's a beautiful polished cotton and the colorway came out beautiful (I'll try to post pics soon).

I really think I want to knit the Filigree Lace Jacket - the pattern seems fairly simple and straight forward and the lace stitch pattern is really easy. Now I just need to decide what I want to knit it out of. I have some Jo Sharp Wool in black in my stash, I also have some blue faced leicester yarn in a natural Ecru that I could also dye. Of course I could also use it as an excuse to buy more yarn too. I'm just looking for an excuse to buy some Alchemy Lone Star although it's almost impossible to pick a colorway they are all so beautiful. One of these days!

2005-03-26T19:54:00.000-05:00

clear clogs from payless

My Favorite Knitting Books

2005-03-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

For Basics and Techniques:

Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller

This is a really fun, hip book for beginners

The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch: Inspiration and Instruction, Vol. 1 by Sally Melville

This is a great book for beginners who want to knit something other than scarves or dishclothes.

Reader's Digest Knitter's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting by Montse Stanley

This is a really great reference book for techniques.

Interweave's Compendium of Finishing Techniques: Crochet, Embroidery, Knitting, Knotting, Weaving by Naomi McEneely

Great for getting that finish look so your knitting looks handmade, not homemade.

Sweater Design in Plain English by Maggie Righetti

Great references if you want to adapt patterns or start designing your own sweaters.

Scarves and Shawls

Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet by Pam Allen

Beautiful shawls and scarves.

Little Box of Scarves by Melissa Matthay

I love this - the patterns are on individual cards so that you can just carry it with you in your project back and not have to drag a book around with you.

Shawls and Scarves (The Best of Knitter's Series) by Nancy J. Thomas (Editor)

More beautiful scarves and shawls.

Mittens and Socks

Knit Mittens!: 15 Cool Patterns to Keep You Warm by Robin Hansen

Easy and fun mittens

Queen Kahuna's Crazy Heels and Toes by Mary Ann Beattie

This in not a pattern book, it's a technique book for knitting both socks at the same time on two circular needles, you can only get it from her website and it's worth every penny. The technique is easy and fun. Once you learn to knit socks this way you will never do it any other way regardless of the pattern. No more second sock syndrome, no more fraternal pairs where the two socks only sort of match. This is the best book for socks. It's easy to understand if you are a visual learner the photos are excellent.

The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook: Dyeing, Painting, Spinning, Designing, Knitting by Lynne Vogel

Fun book for socks and dyeing techniques. Very fun book.

Miscellaneous Techniques and Beautiful Patterns

Shadow Knitting by Vivian Hoxbro

I first did the Illusion Alien Scarf from the SnB book and this got me into the Shadow or Illusion knitting. Very fun and some really nice patterns.

Knitter's Stash: Favorite Patterns from America's Yarn Shops by Barbara Albright (Editor)

Great variety of patterns. I really want to make one of those felted cottage tea cozies.

Handpaint Country: A Knitter's Journey by Cheryl Potter

This is just a beautiful book - I originally bought it for myself but my sister is also a fiber artist, and weaver by trade, who also dyes her own yarns, so I had to give it to her, but only with visitation priviledges.

Glorious Knits by Kaffe Fassett

It was because of him I first learned to knit - one day I'll make that coat.

Folk Bags: 30 Knitting Patterns and Tales from around the World by Vicki Square

Fun bag patterns to knit and felt.

Next Project?

2005-03-25T12:16:00.000-05:00

Ok, so maybe I got up on my high horse yesterday, but it was something that need to be said. We just need to be kinder to each other.

I forgot to add my obligatory knitting so here ya go. I'm heading down the home stretch of my clapotis, into the decrease rows. I'm not sure it's going to be long enough... but I am hoping that once it's blocked it will be. (keep your toes and fingers crossed).

So since I'm getting close to finishing this project, it's time to start thinking about the next one right? I have some socks, but now that the weather is starting to warm up a bit, I think I want to do something other than socks, scarves or shawls. This is what I found on White Lies Designs, isn't it pretty? I just ordered the pattern. I love her designs - especially for larger sizes.

Pretty?

The Empress

2005-03-25T11:50:00.001-05:00

The Empress Card from Robin Wood Tarot - I just love that she's spinning.

She's the matriarch, the mother of the tarot. She is compassionate and nurturing. The one the teaches you and takes care of you.

She is strong, a rock, someone you can lean on in times of trouble and uncertainty.

2005-03-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

Rocky Boy

2005-03-25T11:49:00.000-05:00

Spirit

Group Dynamics or the trials and tribulations of an Internet Group

2005-03-24T15:45:00.000-05:00

Perhaps I could start a new career in internet anthropology. LOL! Having been a participant on the internet before it was the internet and known as ARPANET. Back when the only access was through scientific, government industries or academia, you know back during when dinosaurs roamed the earth!? It has been quite interesting to see the changes that have occurred since the masses were first unleashed on to the "net" via prodigy, followed quickly by Compuserver and eventually the floodgates opened with it all became AOL.

Now I'm not saying that life on the net was better back in the "good old days", or that there weren't flame wars, or personality conflicts, etc. Some of the best flames I've every witnessed and experienced were back in the newsgroup days. Misc.kids would get quite heated over disposable or cloth diapers, SAH or Working Moms. I think I still bear the scorch marks, and surely inflicted a few of my own.

But the one thing we did have, was a sense of rules, or net etiquette. Some of these rules were spelled out from group to group, others were implied, but for the most part there was civility and the discourse was interesting most of the time.

There was a sense of community with the various groups. Each catered to a general or specific interest, so most of the exchanges were on topic. Many of my closest friends were formed from our initial contact through a group online and now we are friends almost 20 years.

After several years online it became apparent that there were distinct cycles to every group, they ebb and flow and eventually either get new blood or just fade away and die out. It's inevitable. It's basic group dynamics of which there are specific stages.

It seems that the more and more people that have access to the net, from various socio-economic and education backgrounds, the faster that group dynamic seems to cycle through the stages.

But this is not a complaint, just an observation. After a recent rise and fall of a special interest group (no names - but they know who they are). There just seems to be too much noise, and the noise seems to be too needy and demanding at times, and much too often unkind and cliqueish.

I think we have lost the etiquette piece. I think some of are too sensitive or often read into the words on the screen their own interpretation or feelings. Most of these eruptions are pure misunderstandings that if either side just stepped back, waited 24 hours before responding AND thought objectively how what they were sending would be perceived, a lot of this nonsense would be avoided.

So remember the next time you read something that gets your back up, and just before you hit that sizzling send button please remember that there is a human on the other end of that communication which appears is too easily forgotten by many of us

Please check out the rules of Net Etiquette for more details on how to behave like a grownup online.

There really are some things more important than knitting.

2005-03-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

I'm sending a couple of files to friends today. One is a blank format for a Living Will. The other is the link to your States form for a durable power of attorney for health care or disability.

As has most of the country, I've been following the Terri Shiavo case. For me, it was a wakeup to make sure that my wishes are clearly written down and that I have specified *exactly* who I wish to make decisions for me if I reach a point when I can't make them for myself.

The forms are very easy to fill out--they required your name and address and the names and addresses of your choicen agents who will speak for you when you no longer can.

The Living Will form doesn't make as strong a statement about appointing an agent, but it makes it perfectly clear that I would not want to be kept alive if I were essentially dead. The Durable Power of Attorney specifically states who would make decisions for me if I were physically incapacitated.

The state-specific forms can be found here. If you want a formatted Word document, you have to pay for it. The document text is available, though, and you can cut and paste the text into a document yourself.

To *execute* these documents, all you need to do is have them notarized. Many companies have notaries employed; almost any bank will have one as well.

I wish good health to everyone, but in the event that something tragic happens, keep the government out of my business, and away from my body. I'll make special arrangements with those of you (you know who you are) who will help me end my suffering if need be. I firmly believe that we all have the power and right to chose the time of our death to end needless suffering and eliminate any unnecessary burdens both emotionally and financially on our loved ones.

This case had succinctly pointed out the potential travasty that can occur when people don't talk to their family and friends about their wishes in an open and sincere way, then record them in legal documentation.

Weekend update...

2005-03-21T17:04:00.000-05:00

Well it was an interesting weekend. My friend Alicia had called me to see if I could meet she and her sister for a drink at the new restaurant in town. We just met at the bar and I brought my tarot cards to read. There were a couple of guys at the bar, buying us cocktails so I read their cards too.

It was fun, but being a cheap drunk, 2 dirty Absolute Martinis and I was done.

Saturday, my DD begged for me to take her and two friends to the Mall... I guess that allowance was burning a hole in her pocket... Literally, when she got to mall, she had managed to lose it somewhere in the car. Oh well, I'm trying to teach her responsibility, but it sure is painful for both of us.

The good thing, was that after I did my errands, I got to sit in the food court with my cuppa java and knit on my clapotis #2 for a bit. It's coming out nicely. I'll try to get some pics posted soon.

After the mall, we all went to the movies (my treat!) to see Robots. It was cute.

Then home to bed - I was beat.

Then Sunday DD confesses to me that someone had taken her gym stuff (her only pair of sweats and sneakers) and that she had been missing them for over a week, that she thinks some mean girl took them (I doubt it, knowing how nasty those sneakers smelled) or threw them out (probably for the same reason... smelly sneakers). Sooooo, you couldn't have mentioned this YESTERDAY when we were AT the MALL!? Sheesh! So after making her do all kinds of nasty chores, cat box cleaning, toilet bowl cleaning, empty dishwasher cleaning, etc. I relented and took her BACK to the mall, found some sweats on sale... ok, but she had to have specific sneakers, Converse Chucks, Black with Flames on the sides. Exactly the same as the missing ones, because those were her "signature shoes". Eight shoe store later, we can find the shoes, just not in her size. We did have an opportunity to order them at the 1st store we went to, but noooooooo, she would have none of that. So by the eighth store there is no friggin way I'm going all the way back to the first store at this point, I'm outta here.

So bitch, bitch, bitch all the way home....

I couldn't wait to get dinner done and over with and take myself to bed with my knitting.

Now I'm off to my T'ai Chi class, to see if I can find my balance.

Another fun quiz

2005-03-21T09:16:00.000-05:00

Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

Problems with Hello posting pics

2005-03-18T13:16:00.000-05:00

This is a test

I haven't been able to figure out why I haven't been able to post my images from my homepc but now is appears to be working with my work PC.... I guess I'll try again later

Finding Balance

2005-03-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

I started taking Tai Chi and I think I'm really going to like this. I really need to bring some balance back into my life. I'm so overweight - never lost it after Grace was born, but now that she's thirteen I can't blame it on baby fat anymore. LOL! So I needed something to start moving again. My knees and feet have been killing me, so I figured Tai Chi would be nice slow movements putting little strain on my body. I had no idea it could be so strenuous as well, but strenuous in a good way. Non-aerobic, more isometric, but you can still build up a good sweat.

The other thing I need to do it get back to my tarot cards. I really miss reading them for people. I love the tarot, they are like opening a door so you can actually see clearly. It's like the storyline suddenly starts to make sense. I'm a bit rusty, but I'm looking forward to doing some readings for friends tonight.

My favorite tarot cards are still Robin Wood's Tarot. They are so beautiful and so easy to read. If, anyone is considering learning tarot, I would highly recommend this deck.

But anyway, I'm really looking forward to tonight.

I'm working away on Clappy #2 and have dropped 4 stitches so far, it's looking good. I would post a pic but for some reason I'm having a problem posting pics through the Hello server, so I just need some time to figure it out.

I'm also thinking that I need to make a felted bag to hold my tarot cards as well.

More later...

Clappy No.2

2005-03-14T13:49:00.000-05:00

Filatura Di Crosa MilleFili Fine Cotton Colorway No. 281

I really love this colorway - it's so bright and the clappy is coming out great. I'm about 1/2 through the increase section and I still have quite a bit of the first skein (136 yds) to go. I really hope I can get a shawl out of this.

2005-03-11T18:34:00.000-05:00

Yarns for Clappy #2 and for Red Socks

Ok I caved in. I found the $25 gift certificate my sister gave me at Christmas for my local yarn shop (The Woolpack - see links).

So of course it was burning a hole in my wallet! I really wanted to do another Clapotis but, this time I wanted to do a light cotton shawl for summer. I found this gorgeous cotton, Millefili Fine in this beautiful variegated cotton. This picture just doesn't do it justice.

Then of course I had to find RED yarn for the KnitRedKnitAlong! I didn't want to be left behind! Well, I ended up spending more than the gift certificate of course. That's how they suck you in!

Startitis...

2005-03-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

Well this past weekend didn't really go well. I was waiting for my daughter (for an hour and a half) so I sat there knitting contentedly on my Clapotis #2. This one I was doing in a worsted weight NZ wool, that was a lovely deep purple and midnight blue variegated. I continued knitting on it Saturday morning and had reached the dropping stitches portion of the pattern. But I had errands to do, and housework too. Oh to be rich enough to pay someone else to do the work so I could sit on my butt and knit all day. But alas I had to do the drudgery myself and figured that the faster I could finish up, the quicker I could get back to my knitting.

So, upon returning to the 'Clappy' I got to the point where I dropped my 5th stitch and lo and behold I see I had made a big old boo-boo about 7 inches back. Feh!# Any way, I couldn't think straight and was not only peeved at myself but didn't want to tink back, nor did I want to try to pick up stitches having just dropped 5 of them, so I just looked at for a bit then frogged the whole damn shawl back.

I was so mad at myself and too tired to restart the Clappy, I just dug through the stash and came up with some cotton and started knitting a dishcloth. I haven't knit dishcloths is years, but it was therapeutic I must say. Or as Kitt for Knit Chick put it "Aren't dishcloths the greatest pout reliever"... I guess they are! LOL!

So I just finished up the dishcloth. Now I need to start something else. Although I guess I really should start working on my Einstein coat as there really isn't much more of the last body piece to knit then it's just the sleeves and finishing. It would be nice to be have for Spring.

Speaking of Spring... it's SNOWING again and temps are supposed to drop in to the single digits again by tomorrow. I'm really done with this weather, between the crappy winter weather and the snarky teen I want to run away from home. Preferably somewhere warm with cabana boys that bring umbrella drinks to me on the beach.

Speaking of beaches and running away. Someone sent this to me today and it made me smile, in spite of the nasty weather outside.

Subject: NO NURSING HOME FOR ME!

About two years ago my wife and I were on a cruise through the western Mediterranean aboard a Princess liner. At dinner we noticed an elderly lady sitting alone along the rail of the grand stairway in the main dining room. I noticed that all the staff, ship officers, waiters, busboys, etc. All seemed very familiar with this lady.
I asked our waiter who the lady was, expecting to be told she owned the line, but he said he only knew that she had been on board for the last four cruises, back to back. As we left the dining room one evening, I caught her eye and stopped to say hello.
We chatted and I said, "I understand you've been on this ship for the last four cruises." She replied, "Yes, that's true." I stated, "I don't understand" and she replied without a pause, "It's cheaper than a nursing home."

So, there will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old and feeble, I am going to get on a Princess cruise ship. The average cost for a nursing home is $200 a day.
I have checked on reservations at Princess and I can get a long term discount and
senior discount price of $135 per day. That leaves $65 a day for:
1. Gratuities which will only be $10 per day.

2. I will have as many as 10 meals a day if I can waddle to the restaurant or I can have room service (which means I can have breakfast in bed every day of the week.)
3. Princess has as many as three swimming pools, a workout room, free washers and dryers and shows every night.

4. They have free toothpaste, razors, soap and shampoo.

5. They will even treat you like a customer, not a patient. An extra $5 worth of tips will have the entire staff scrambling to help you.

6. I will get to meet new people every 7 to 14 days.

7. TV broken? Light bulb need changing? Need to have the mattress replaced? No problem! They will fix everything and apologize for your inconvenience.
8. Clean sheets and towels every day and you don't even have to ask for them.

9. If you fall in the nursing home and break a hip, you are on Medicare. If you fall and break a hip on the Princess ship, they will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

Now hold on for the best! Do you want to see South America, the Panama Canal, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Asia or name where you want to go? Princess will have a ship ready to go. So don't look for me in a nursing home, just call shore to ship.
P.S.: And don't forget, when you die, they just dump you over the side at no charge!

I guess I like this idea :) Not to mention that now that I have the nursing home situation all settled and no longer have to worry about my kid picking out a place for me, I guess I can be a bitch right back at her now. LOL!

Back to startitis...

I've been wondering, how other people pick their patterns, is the style the color of the yarn, the kind of yarn, or something else?

And once you do pick out the pattern to knit do you always use the suggest yarn? So you always do it exactly as show, even down to the same color?

I'm not sure what draws me to a particular pattern, sometimes it's any of the above, or the ease of the pattern, I'm not sure exactly. But I do know that I hardly ever use the yarn suggested (although almost always I do it in the same weight) and I rarely if ever do the project in the same color, and I would be just as happy if all the patterns were only shown in black and white.

Well I guess that's it for now, I really have to get back to doing some 'real' work. BTW, if you haven't checked out Stitchy McYarnpants March 3rd blog entry - do it! But I will warn you not to have and liquid in your mouth at the time, you will spew it all over your computer screen. It's just hilarious. Enjoy.

White Lies Designs

2005-03-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

Check out these beautiful knitting patterns in ample sizes.

Joan McGowan-Michael does beautiful things.

It is spring yet?

2005-03-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

If it would just get a little warmer. I'm so sick of this cold weather. I'm just thankful in MA it's not gloomy and at least the sun is out. I just wish is was warmer.

I got some knitting down on Clapotis #2 last night, while I was watching West Wing. I'm still not sure why I still watch this and if it weren't for Jimmy Smits being added to the cast I probably would have stopped watching a long time ago. It's just not as good as the first 3 seasons.

This was also the first morning of our (me and my daughter) new arrangement. She's now responsible for getting her own ass out of bed and on the bus in the morning. I will no longer nag, in fact I will no longer say a word (other than answer questions). If she misses the bus, and I have to drive her causing me to be late to work, then she loses her computer and phone privileges for the evening (which has also been cut way back). She actually did manage to catch the bus as it came back around (she has 2 attempts to catch it) and I didn't have to harp or nag once and it was my first pleasant morning in a long time.

We negotiated some other changes (thank the Therapist who can at the very least mediate these discussions) so I think once she starts taking some responsibility and we both have some control over our own lives we will both start being happier. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Yarn Diet?

2005-03-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

I really, really, really need to go on a yarn diet :) I have yarn stashed in bins everywhere.

I finished that scarf (I'll call it my addiction scarf) so of course being the addict I am I had to start another project even though it was already 10pm at night.

So, I'm digging through my stash and came up with this beautiful dark blues and purple varigated wool in worsted weight. I probalby have enough to knit a sweater (over 1100 yards at least). So I decided to make it into a Clapotis Shawl. What is it with the Clapotis - it's like an addiction on top of an addiction!

The best thing was that starting the clapotis this time was painless, it all made sense now.

In like a lion?

2005-03-01T13:56:00.000-05:00

Let's just hope the old adage is true, because I could really use an early spring this year and have March go out like a lamb!

We didn't get the 12 inches predicted (thank the Gods) only a mere 6. At least it wasn't enough to call another snow day, only a 2 hour delay. Especially since the kid was home all last week for winter break. Yet, I wish I had a day off just to sit and knit.

I've been so busy with the redecorating of my daughters room, I had little time to really start any more projects.

Although I will now admit that I am a full fledged knit-aholic.

Last Friday I was on my way to pick up the daughter from her electric bass lesson. This requires me to sit in a dark subterranean waiting room for 45 minutes. So I usually knit. As I'm on my way I realize I didn't grab my knitting bag on the way out of the house that morning. YIKES! So I whip into Michael's Craft store that's on the way to run in and purchase a couple of skeins for a scarf and some cheapie needles. I think I need to keep an emergency stash and needles in my car at all times now.

So I am working on that scarf. I'm knitting it lengthwise for a change. It's a Mode Dea and Bling Bling combined in these really pretty pinks and reds. I guess I'll just give it a friend since there is just so many scarves one girl can use right? Although it's almost as bad a shoes now.

I still love my clapotis and wear that almost every day. I guess I'm going to have to make another one soon. This time I think I'll make the shawl size (If I even dare think of buying more yarn!) Maybe I can use that big skein of Cherry Tree Hill Oceania I got in the Gypsy Rose colorway. It's a beautiful merino wool with a boucle twist and a strand of glittery lurex running through it. It's what I knit my shawl in. There is about 1440 yds in the skein so that should be plenty for the Clapotis shawl.

2005-02-24T19:50:00.000-05:00

Rocky - Hiding behind the Christmas Tree

Here is a picture of the elusive Mr. Rocky. That spot on the end of his nose is shaped like a heart. He always looks like a dear caught in the head lights, but he really is a sweet boy.

Spirit Kitty

2005-02-24T19:49:00.001-05:00

Spirit - The old lady

She really is an old lady. She sounds like a 3 pack a day smoker saying Maaaaaaaargge when she meows. LOL! And she is so mean to poor Mr. Rocky boy.

Clapotis Fini

2005-02-24T19:49:00.000-05:00

Clapotis Fini!

It's done! I did the standard Clapotis pattern. I used Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino in the Indian Summer colorway. I used size 6 needles. It drapes beautifully. I ended up using about 1 1/2 skeins so I think I have enough to make another one.

Blogthings - You Are From the Sun

2005-02-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

You Are From the Sun

Of all your friends, you're the shining star.
You're dramatic - loving attention and the spotlight.
You're a totally entertainer and the life of the party.
Watch out! The Sun can be stubborn, demanding, and flirty.
Overall, you're a great leader and great friend. The very best!

What Planet Are You From?

I'm just checking out these bloggy things.

Oh what a beautiful morning....

2005-02-16T11:29:00.000-05:00

And it really is! Just a hint of what's to come once spring really gets here. It's about 50F today but getting cloudy. Let's just hope we get rain before the deep freeze comes back.

I'm so sick of winter and snow. It seems like this is the longest time of the year. So it's nice to have a warm sunny day right in the middle of this dreary time of year.

So, since I just joined the kitty knits ring I guess I should tell you a bit more about my kitties.

When my daughter was 2 1/2 I took in a beautiful calicao named Jen-Jen from a woman at work, who also happened to be a spiritualist. We clicked and she trusted me with her sweetest cat Jen-Jen. Unfortunately she had come down with horrible ashma and had to get rid of her beloved cats - all 5 of them. After having Jen-Jen for a few months, she came back to me - there was one cat left and could I help her find a home... so you can guess what happened - instead of one cat, we ended up with two. Jen-Jen and Spirit. Both Calicaos and both sweet docile things that only moved off the couch to eat, poo or move to one of our beds. Jen-Jen attached herself to me, and Spirit attached herself to my daughter.

Jen-Jen was a very fat cat when we got her, and inspite of any diet or attempts to get her to exercise she remained a very fat cat. I'm not really sure how old she was when we got her, but we had her for about 5 more years before she passed away.

So of course poor Spirit was sad not to have a buddy, and after a period of mourning I got the chance to obtain a lavender point siamese, she turned out to just be a white cat with beautiful blue eyes, no points and we named her Sky. Anyway typical of white cats she was a bit psycho but attached herself to my daughter and Spirit (the old lady) moved onto my bed at night.

Unfortunately when she was a little more than 2 years old she had a seizure or brain hemmorage when we were not home and I found her dead in the basement. This was so sad... not only was our beloved Sky gone, but it also happened on my daughter's 10th birthday - and 5 days before Christmas. We were all very sad.

At this point I didn't think I wanted to get another kitty, Spirit was getting older and content to just sleep on my bed, but my daughter kept searching all the online shelters where she eventually found Rocky.

Oh! big decision.... do we get a boy cat? There had never been a man around the house.

So that weekend we went up to the Nashua Animal Shelter to see what they had, and poor Rocky was cowering in his cage. He looked so sweet too. He's a tuxedo kitty with a white face and an little black heart right on the end of his nose. They let us have him in a private room and he just let my daughter carry him like a baby. He is just so gentle. So we brought him home that day.

Spirit was not happy, but she is also a big whimp, yet she managed to scare poor Rocky right into the basement. After a few days it also became apparent that poor Rocky had been misused, and probably abused. He was so submissive and very skittish. So he lived in the basement for almost 6 months. Every evening when we got home, Grace would go down and coax him out of one of his hiding spots and bring him upstairs so we could feed him. Then she would pet and love him and he would be fine until Spirit hissed and then back to the basement he would run.

Well that's been about 2 years. Rocky is still a very skittish cat and doesn't come to anyone but my daughter and he never comes out when there is company. But he will occasionally allow me to pet him. He's become a very sweet and funny boy.... even though he does get into my yarns.

I'll have Grace take some photos - although I would bet money it will be of them snoozing!

As for knitting. Last night I did manage to get some more work down on my Clapotis scarf. And in the process of doing some picking up I found a project bag with socks that I started last fall for my nephew that I was going to give him for Christmas, I guess I better get to work on those! LOL!

Twisted and blue

2005-02-15T14:48:00.000-05:00

Work sucks... did I mention how much I HATE my job. Especially when you end up doing somebody else job on top of yours cuz they are too damn lazy to do theres....

Good now that I got that done and out of the way.

There have been a lot of things going on. My daughter is going for a psych eval tomorrow, on one hand I hope it is something like depression or bipolar so that she can take medication to help her feel better, on the other hand I will be said if it's depression or bipolar and she has to take medications to get through this. But something has to give. I finally went into her inner sanctum with a snow shovel and removed (I can't tell you how) many jumbo garbage bags of filth, and half as many again filled with clothing and bedding to be sorted, cleaned or tossed. The bed has to go too. Which means buying a new mattress, full-size this time, which means all new sheets/blankets/etc. She's been busy prepping the walls because I told her she could paint it.... just not black. She's leaning towards a maroon/burgandy red. She says she wants it to be gothic elegant. Ok....

As for knitting, I'm working on the Clapotis Scarf/Shawl that is all the buzz. I've ripped the damn think out a dozen times or more. I've just started the dropping stitches part and some how my count is off.... but I kept with the patterns so I'm just going with the flow. I just can't frog it right now, but may end up doing that once I'm done. It's not the easiest pattern to follow, but it's actually easy and fun to knit once you get the hang of it.

The colors are just beautiful Cherry Tree Hill Merino sock yarn in the Indian Summer colorway. Very yummy.

Well that's it for now I may come back and delete this but I didn't want anyone who might be checking this to think I've abandoned my blog.

Super Bowl, Super Sale Sunday... ya gotta love it!

2005-02-07T14:03:00.000-05:00

So did everyone survive Super bowl Sunday?

I went to the LYS SuperB Sale this Sunday. I arrived at 10am - and was already 4th in line and the shop didn't open until noon - feh... I had my daughter (the snarky, nasty teenager from hell) with me, so rather than listen to her bitch'n we walked up the street and found a diner open so I stuffed her full of pancakes.

We got back to the store around 11ish and the line was now about 35 people deep - yikes! By the time the store opened the line was out the door and half way around the block. The wait wasn't long at all, there were lots of nice people with the same obsession to chat with. This sale was also at a new location, so I wasn't familiar with the location of all the stuff I wanted. Talk about your adventures in yarn shopping! My sister (the weaver) who couldn't join me on this trek because she was busy, had asked me to grab every ribbon yarn I could find. Ok....

So I did get into the store with the first wave and with my daughter (I also got TWO! bags marked %39 off!) What a deal! I grabbed 4 skeins of the Cherry Tree Hill Ribbon, about 5-6 skeins of the Colinette Merino Ribbon Tagelletti (I think it's called) and some other assorted ribbons for Sis.

For me...

3 skeins beautiful Cherry Tree Hill Supersock In Indian Summer for my Clapotis Shawl. One skein of CTH DK Silk Merino in a pretty pink colorway I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. I splurged on some lovely hand dyed Impressions Yarn in this bright yellow/orange/sunset like colors. I got another skein of the Cherry Tree Hill Oceania in Gypsy Rose to make another shawl. I also got some Mission Falls 1824 Wool for some hats. And a Skein each of Colinette Giotto in Cezanne and in Raspberry, Colinette Isis in Cezanne, and several skeins of Manos Del Uruguay in a lovely raspberry variegated and plain for making another felted bag.

And I saved over $300! LOL.

I am now officially not allowed to buy any more yarn for any reason, at least not until the next sale!

When I got home I didn't know what to start first, so I decided to just enjoy then so I wound several of the hanks into balls for now. I think I'm finally getting the hang of winding balls on my Nostepinde. Not to mention it's mindless work that I can do while watching a football game.

Tangled up and blue

2005-02-04T16:25:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I've been finishing of a lot of my projects, and only have 2 left on the needles - my Einstein Coat and an alpaca hat that I'm not sure I'm going to continue on or frog. So I was looking for a new project to start last night, because I need to have something going that travels well, and the coat project is just getting too big to haul around.

There has been so much chatter about the Clapotis Scarf/Shawl so I went online to take a look at it again and I really love the pattern. So I picked up some yarn out of the stash just do kind of test out the pattern and lo and behold I find I've been knitting incorrectly all these years! Can you believe it! I didn't know if I should laugh or cry over it. And I can't believe that after knitting for 20+ years I hadn't figured this out sooner.

Apparently I've been knitting in the back of the stitch and tossing the yarn backwards all along. My stitches always look neat and weren't twisted in anyway. But wouldn't you know this totally surprised me and somewhat depressed me. Sigh....

I did however start another scarf - a mock cable rib.

Now at first I just figured well that's that - I'll never do the Clapotis :( it was either that of try to retrain myself to break the habit and learn a new way to knit. Then I thought - heck if I'm going to do that, then maybe I'll sign up for a class at my LYS and learn how to knit continental! Why not! It's never too late to learn new tricks! Besides any excuse to get out of the house for a few hours of scheduled knitting can't be bad.

And I do have to send out a special thanks to the Knit-Chicks online who let me whine about this this morning. They are a great bunch of chicks and we are having lots of fun and getting lots of encouragement from each other.

And then wonder of wonders I realized that this weekend was Super Bowl weekend! Yahoo... not that I'm not rooting for our Patriots, but I'm just not a big football fan. What is REALLY good though about Super Bowl Sunday is the yarn sale at another LYS - and besides if I am going to take the plunge and retrain myself to knit correctly I might as well be knitting something I like... a lot... which also means that I'll just HAVE to find the perfect yarn to knit it in. Right!? Ok, so this sounds like I'm rationalizing... who cares as long as I have an excuse to buy more yarn. Speaking of that, I'd better start making a list of other projects I want to do, just in case I find the perfect yarn that begs me to take it home with me.

Well that's the emotional roller-coaster ride for now.

Have a great weekend!

Finished Projects!

2005-02-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

This is a quickie bagI knit from some leftover Lambs Pride and felted.

I had all this left over Lambs Pride worsted yarn and when I saw the free Booga Bag instructions, I thought this would be a great quick project. I modified the original pattern because I wanted a wider bag for my projects. This was also the first time I knit I-cord which turned out to be very easy with 2 (size 10) dp needles. I ran it through two cycles of hot wash in front loading machine, I probably could have run it though again but I liked the size after the second cycle.

2005-02-02T19:37:00.000-05:00

These are my latest socks - the yarn was handpainted by my sister.

I can't believe I finished these so fast - well fast for me. I'm really getting the hang of the Queen's technique and this time I felt really comfortable modifying the stitch counts and the fit is fantastic! I really love doing both toe up socks at the same time on the 2 addi turbo circulars (size 1s). This time I also tried the slip stitch heel starting about half way into the gusset increases and they are really comfortable.

As I mentioned in an earlier post - the yarn is a lovely merino (I think - I'll have to check again with my sister) that was hand-dyed. It's more of a DK weight so they are thick and warm :) Which is really nice for the cold winter we are having here in New England.

I've got blisters on my fingers!!!

2005-01-27T16:56:00.000-05:00

Sometimes those little addi turbos really hurt! I've been knitting a pair of socks on my addi turbos (size 1s) and boy do my fingers hurt. I've been using this beautifully hand-dyed yarn that my sister created but it's a bit thicker than my usual sock yarns, I think it's DK weight actually. But the colors are beautiful, blues, greens, burgundy, and purple). They are really becoming lovely but thick socks, and in the process I've developed this sore/blister/callous on my left index finger. I've had to wear a band-aid just to knit because it hurts so much.

I wonder if I should look for a quilters thimble to start wearing on that finger.

I'll post pics when the project is completed.

knitting-chicks and other yahoo knitting groups that I love

2005-01-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

These are my two favorite yahoo knitting groups. There are lots of really nice, friendly and very helpful people on these lists. I will warn you however, that the knitlist does generate a lot of mail.

So if you are looking for advice, help or just want to share your knitting experiences this is the place to be.

Knitlist

Knitting Chicks

More Socks

2005-01-19T15:36:00.000-05:00

There is something addictive about knitting socks. Not to mention that once you wear a pair of hand knit socks, especially if they are knit with a luscious yarn, you just don't want to put anything else on your feet.

My sister gave me some lovely yarn (merino I think) that she hand dyed - she needs a pair of socks knit from it for photos, apparently she's putting together sock kits to sell. I'm assuming (and hoping) that I get to keep the socks after the photos are taken.

So the Einstein Coat is on the back burner, along with the shawl, hat and scarf projects in progress. Oh well. It's so cold here in Massachusetts I'm definitely motivated to knit another pair of socks and the Queen Kahuna method works up pretty quickly.

2005-01-14T11:44:00.000-05:00

My shawl

This is one of the first shawls I knit. I used a very pretty Cherry Hill Wool blend with a bit of glitter. I think the colorway was called Spanish Moss if I remember correctly and it was knit on size 17 needles.

I made up this simple pattern myself which you can use any weight yarn, with any size needle (the larger the needle the more lacy and open the pattern). It's also just straight knitting (garter stitch). Basically you start with an odd number of stitches, I started with 3 here. then you just increase one stitch at the beginning of each row until you either run out of yarn or think it's big enough. And if you like fringe be sure to save enough yarn for the fringe. You could even crochet an edge if you like. I get more compliments on this shawl too.

The photo does not show the color well, I really need to get that digital camera out and replace all the photos in this blog soon. So far I've just been using my Palm Pilot with no flash.

Projects in Progress

2005-01-13T10:44:00.000-05:00

My Hand dyed Merino Wool Silk Blend Socks

The merino/silk yarn is called Silken Ivory from Henry's Attic. My sister, the weaver, who has been hand dying for years, spent a day teaching me how to hand dye yarns. This was one of my first attempts. See some of the other yarns I dyed that became scarves in previous posts.

This photo really doesn't do the colors justice, nor can you see the sheen in the yarn from the silk and I cannot begin to describe just how luxurious this yarn feels. It looks like I just might have enough to make two pairs!

The method I am using is from Queen Kahuna's Crazy Heels and Toes book, two socks on two circular needles, toe up method.

Other projects that are currently on the needles are:

The Einstein Coat (from The Knit Stitch book by Sally Melville)
I'm doing the coat in Debbie Bliss Merino and Cotton blend in a Navy Blue and I'm about 2/3rds of the way done.
Another Shawl( I'll post more on that later)
A simple scarf in a cream colored alpaca

I love the hand dyeing process, but with the chemicals I wouldn't dare do it any place but outdoors. Since I am limited to only dyeing during the better months (note I live in the Northeast) I think I want to try some kool-aid dyeing soon. Definitely when the next order of my favorite Silken Ivory comes in!

My first socks

2005-01-06T12:58:00.000-05:00

These are the first pair of socks I knitted using the Queen Kahuna method of two socks on two circulars toe up. They came out great!

It's snowing

2005-01-06T11:51:00.000-05:00

I guess that's no surprise, after all it's winter and I am in New England. I really wish I didn't have to work and that I could sit all day with a cat in my lap and a knitting project in my hands. Too bad they won't pay me to do that so I guess I need to find a way to become independently wealthy.

I went to see my friend with Leukemia last night. She looks fine, just tired from all the chemo. She has quite a head of hair so I will be surprised if she actually does go bald from this. But just in case she had had her hairdresser come to the hospital and cut it all very short, it looks really cute.

It was good to just sit and chat for a few hours, even if I did have to wear a face mask and try to knit with latex gloves on. LOL! She had a couple of projects there with her, she's a beginner and just learning to purl, but I showed her my "The Knit Stitch Book" and she was quite impressed with all the neat stuff you can make just knitting. I think she's going to start an afghan for her daughter.

Speaking of daughters.... are you sure we can't kill them? Having a thirteen year old is really a trial sometimes. They are just so snarky and deceitful and melodramatic. I know this phase will too pass, but I would take the terrible twos any day over this nonsense. I guess I'll just keep chanting "this too will pass" over and over until I start to believe it.

Oh I found a photo of one of the first pairs of socks that I knit and I will post it soon.

It's been a long winter already

2005-01-05T14:09:00.000-05:00

Over the holidaze I found out that a very dear friend of mine has Leukemia. She and I met online when we were pregnant over 13 years ago. Our daughters were born one month apart and because we live close to each other we started getting together when our girls were only a couple of months old. I fear for her, I fear for her daughter, but I need to be strong and positive. Please let this have a good outcome. She's strong and healthy otherwise so I have no doubt that she can get through this, I just can't let her see any outside doubts either.

Since she's stuck in the hospital for about 6 weeks undergoing chemotherapy, and since she sort of knits, I thought she might want to make an afghan for her daughter, so I'm going in to see her tonight so we can plan it out. I think she needs to keep busy and she needs to feel productive and she needs to make some tangible connection for her daughter. The afghan should be a good way to accomplish this. Knitting for therapy... I think we all do this is some way or another. I feel compelled to knit, at least during the coldest six months of the year. It's a zen thing I guess.

I started on my Einstein Coat. I'm taking that with me to show her. I'm using a lovely Merino Wool and Cotton blend in a dark denim blue color. So far so good, with each stitch I can meditate a 'get well' for my friend.

If you happen upon this please send some positive healing energy out to her. Thanks.

More yarn?

2004-12-27T13:29:00.000-05:00

Like I needed more yarn in my stash! But how could someone resist a road trip with my sister to western Mass. to WEBS annual after Christmas, 25% off sale. We headed out about 9:45 am - it was really cold and a some snow flurries. I almost got nabbed speeding, but the officer was nice and let me go with just a warning. I guess a car of middle aged woman on a shopping trip isn't a big threat so he let me go with a warning. I put the cruise control on after that!

We got to WEBs about 11:45am and the flurries had just started, but the parking lot was pretty full already. First we head to the bargain room, I grabbed 2 bags of 10 balls each of Jo Sharp Cotton Wool blend it a lovely dark blue. Then I found some lovely Jo Sharp wool in black - this will be great for the Shadow or Illusion knitting that I want to do. My sister got me a book for Christmas and it has a beautiful jacket in there I would love to make. Toss that into my basket. Now I realize that I need a shopping cart, this little basket is already filled and I haven't even gone into the main store or into the back room yet!

Find a shopping cart and dump it all in. I then find some beautiful merino wool that is so soft, and natural so I grab that to do some more hand dying with my sister! Now I'm on a roll. I found some lovely hand dyed sock yarn so I need a few skeins for socks. Then some lovely soft yarn, for Dena's chemo caps. Oh and that absolutely positively expensive specialty yarn for a scarf for me. Way too much, even at 25% off. Then another bag of a beautiful mohair that will make a couple of gorgeous shawls. Not too bad. Well I spent way too much but I got lots of lovely yarns to add to my already too big stash.

By the time we got out of there - it was after 2pm and the snow was flying. So we headed home and got back just as the roads started getting slippery. So those flurries have now turned into a projection of 6 to 8 inches of snow. I guess I know what I'm going to be doing. Now what should I start on? Too many choices!

It can snow for the rest of the winter. I just put some chicken and veggies in the crockpot, some nice music is playing. I could sit her and knit for the rest of the winter.

2004-12-21T19:27:00.000-05:00

This is a scarf that I knit for my mom for Christmas. It's just a simple scalloped pattern and is done with Alpaca Wool that I hand dyed.

2004-12-21T19:25:00.000-05:00

This is just a simple scarf done in a garter stitch and made from Jo-Ann Fabric generic brand "Confetti" boucle in a varigated purple

2004-12-21T19:23:00.000-05:00

This is a lacy ascot pattern that I did with some merino wool that I hand dyed

Scarves

2004-12-21T19:07:00.000-05:00

Well after spiraling into a deep depression after the elections. I've been keeping busy knitting. It's my meditation/zen thing. I've actually managed to complete a few projects, but somehow I still managed to have lots of projects to be finished.

I can't believe the holidays are here already. It seems like Thanksgiving was just last week, the time has just flown by.

I'll post some pics of the recent projects.

Archetype Analysis

2004-10-13T14:19:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting article that a friend sent to me.

http://www.herowithin.com/HeroTranceCampaign.html

I've read Jung and have a deep interest and understanding of archetypes and how they relate to our lives. Tarot is all about archetypes and the cycle from birth to death and all the stages in between. I find it really fascinating.

It's as if we (the US) have reverted to a belligerent teen phase particularly in our government. We are the adolescent, the bully, the Heirophant -only seeing things in black and white and like the Devil - so consumed with greed that we don't see that we have what we need right in our hands now, but we are so hyper focused we can't see beyond our own noses. I just hope that this phase has finally peaked and we are now
evolving and moving to a new point in the circle. I fear that we are going to be entering another dark age, The moon and the Hermit, hopefully we will be doing some reflection upon where we've been and not just surviving.

The author makes excellent points regarding the media and it's coverage of our daily lives and the events that impact them. We no longer have a free and impartial media, and that my friends means we no longer have the very foundation of our democracy. The FCC has become so partisan, so deregulated, that it's a winner take all, and the sad thing is we have allowed this to happen.

No longer can we trust the media as it is today to give us the true facts to let the people decide what the truth is. But there is a light in this bleak tunnel, and that's the Internet. Bloggers are the unforeseen fluke, for they are the ones that put the chance back into the mix, they are the Fates of our time. There is nothing more powerful then a networked group of minds who seek the truth and put it out there to expose the pap we're being fed by the mainstream. They are Fool and the Magician who don't see the limitations, only the potential that anything is possible.

This is a really telling and interesting article, enjoy.

Newbie

2004-10-06T13:33:00.000-04:00

I'm new to blogging so this is a test of the Emerging Blogcasting System. This will be filled with my political ramblings, knitting projects and general adventures of Life, the Universe and Everything (else).