Wednesday, August 27, 2003
It truly is about the simple things in life. One of the IS guys from work was in our department today and noticed that my monitor was less than admirable on the resolution end of things. I had been wanting a flat screen monitor because it would be more ergonomically correct, but after Monday I found myself just grateful that it was the old clunky type of monitor that nobody would want to steal anyway. Yes we have had trouble with the flatscreens---they are now cabled so they are more difficult to steal.
Ah yes, Monday. I had an appointment and went to my knitting group late. I figured 45 minutes was better than nothing and besides it was the night free coffee and cookies were served. The group dispersed and off we went, Val (whom I give a ride home) and I. In the short amount of time that I was at the hospital for my meeting some one broke my passenger window and stole the stereo and cd player. Yuck. I hate dealing with that kind of stuff. But the thing that bothers me the most is that the third disc from the book on cd we were listening was in the cd player and was stolen as well. It would have to be a library book. I hope they take into account that we will be returning the first 2 discs. But since I had just put the third disc in, I can't even listen to the rest of the book. Grumble grr....rant over.
Got home last night to find my new issue of Knitter's and two yarn catalogs in the mail. Things are defintely looking up. And after several lacksadasical issues of Knitters, I can tell you that I was surprised to actually have an *I GOTTA KNIT THAT* reaction to something. There is a vest called the culd-de-sac vest that I am going to have to knit. I am hoping that I have something in my stash to use.
I am within 5 inches of finishing my triangle shawl! It is cool the way the lace edging binds off and blends in with the rest of the shawl. Plus I have several inches done on the Moonlight sweater for Hill top! That is going to go together nicely. Then I am going to have to sneak in that vest!
Ah yes, Monday. I had an appointment and went to my knitting group late. I figured 45 minutes was better than nothing and besides it was the night free coffee and cookies were served. The group dispersed and off we went, Val (whom I give a ride home) and I. In the short amount of time that I was at the hospital for my meeting some one broke my passenger window and stole the stereo and cd player. Yuck. I hate dealing with that kind of stuff. But the thing that bothers me the most is that the third disc from the book on cd we were listening was in the cd player and was stolen as well. It would have to be a library book. I hope they take into account that we will be returning the first 2 discs. But since I had just put the third disc in, I can't even listen to the rest of the book. Grumble grr....rant over.
Got home last night to find my new issue of Knitter's and two yarn catalogs in the mail. Things are defintely looking up. And after several lacksadasical issues of Knitters, I can tell you that I was surprised to actually have an *I GOTTA KNIT THAT* reaction to something. There is a vest called the culd-de-sac vest that I am going to have to knit. I am hoping that I have something in my stash to use.
I am within 5 inches of finishing my triangle shawl! It is cool the way the lace edging binds off and blends in with the rest of the shawl. Plus I have several inches done on the Moonlight sweater for Hill top! That is going to go together nicely. Then I am going to have to sneak in that vest!
Monday, August 25, 2003
Sigh, the weekend is over and it is back to work for real. Although I spent 8 1/2 hours at my place of employment, don't ask me what I got done. I was busy but with not much to show at the end. I hate that.
Knitting news. I am almost done with the shawl! The edging is going very quickly and I am excited to see what it is going to look like when blocked. It was kind of scary turning the corner with the edging, but it appears to have worked like it was suposed to. What a relief. Shannon nicely unraveled the heel on my pair of socks in process, so we will chalk that one up to the negative side of things. Oh, and I got my next project for Hill Top yarns! I am going to be doing "Moonlight" from the newest Rowan magazine. I would have liked to have done the Birch shawl from that issue, but it was already taken. Other things that I thought of (but can't remember the name of course) were the pretty striped sweater (kaffe faucett i think) and there were a couple of kid sweaters that looked like they would knit up pretty quickly. Needless to say they might be good stash reduction items! Moonlight is knit on 5.5 mm needles and Rowan Aran yarn so it should go quickley as well. I got to pick the color and it is the most beautiful dark blue with teal, purple and a couple of other color flecks. Reminds me of the my favourite crayons when I was a lass...Midnight Blue was always the first one to get used up then and I haven't lost my fondness for it over the years.
It is over 70 again today, and I believe that it either ties the record for the number of days in a row that it has been over 70 degrees or breaks it. One of the two, depending on whenever it was this weekend that I actually watched the news. It does cool down rather nicely at night now and there is a crispness to the air that signals fall's impending arrival. Today is our 13th wedding anniversary...hard to believe that it has been that long. We don't have anything planned, but we may farm out the bratlings Friday night so that we can go to the Mariner's game and not feel like we have to rush back.
Knitting news. I am almost done with the shawl! The edging is going very quickly and I am excited to see what it is going to look like when blocked. It was kind of scary turning the corner with the edging, but it appears to have worked like it was suposed to. What a relief. Shannon nicely unraveled the heel on my pair of socks in process, so we will chalk that one up to the negative side of things. Oh, and I got my next project for Hill Top yarns! I am going to be doing "Moonlight" from the newest Rowan magazine. I would have liked to have done the Birch shawl from that issue, but it was already taken. Other things that I thought of (but can't remember the name of course) were the pretty striped sweater (kaffe faucett i think) and there were a couple of kid sweaters that looked like they would knit up pretty quickly. Needless to say they might be good stash reduction items! Moonlight is knit on 5.5 mm needles and Rowan Aran yarn so it should go quickley as well. I got to pick the color and it is the most beautiful dark blue with teal, purple and a couple of other color flecks. Reminds me of the my favourite crayons when I was a lass...Midnight Blue was always the first one to get used up then and I haven't lost my fondness for it over the years.
It is over 70 again today, and I believe that it either ties the record for the number of days in a row that it has been over 70 degrees or breaks it. One of the two, depending on whenever it was this weekend that I actually watched the news. It does cool down rather nicely at night now and there is a crispness to the air that signals fall's impending arrival. Today is our 13th wedding anniversary...hard to believe that it has been that long. We don't have anything planned, but we may farm out the bratlings Friday night so that we can go to the Mariner's game and not feel like we have to rush back.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Well, it least it hasn't been longer than a few days. No more germ sharing for the bratlings. That was a particularly nasty bug and I hope I never see that one again.
Ever sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall just to drive your parental units crazy on a very long and boring road trip? The only thing different between that and binding off the stitches on my shawl is at least the lace pattern keeps it somewhat interesting. Although with an eight row repeat I may change my mind on that one before I finish the darn thing. But it is true, I am on the knitted on lace edging. I think the shawl is going to be very pretty, a deep orangish red, lightly varigated and very soft. The pattern i got through the Blackberryridge.com web site ~ the wool you order revised version Triangle Scarf/Square Shawl. It comes with both written and charted instructions. Naturally, the charted instructions are separate from the pamphlet and even more naturally, the two got separated almost before I took them out of the ziplock baggie they were in. Where the charted instructions are I have absolutely no idea. But then, I haven't had any problems with the written instructions or that might have been a bigger issue than it currently is.
Tonight is the Seattle Knitter's Guild meeting and we are having a tutorial of sorts on Domino Knitting. (there is a book out by that name , and darned if I can't remember the author) Anyway, that should be interesting. I know the concept, have even done it a bit, but like anything else new it just needs practice. Sort of like the rest of my life.
Ever sing 99 bottles of beer on the wall just to drive your parental units crazy on a very long and boring road trip? The only thing different between that and binding off the stitches on my shawl is at least the lace pattern keeps it somewhat interesting. Although with an eight row repeat I may change my mind on that one before I finish the darn thing. But it is true, I am on the knitted on lace edging. I think the shawl is going to be very pretty, a deep orangish red, lightly varigated and very soft. The pattern i got through the Blackberryridge.com web site ~ the wool you order revised version Triangle Scarf/Square Shawl. It comes with both written and charted instructions. Naturally, the charted instructions are separate from the pamphlet and even more naturally, the two got separated almost before I took them out of the ziplock baggie they were in. Where the charted instructions are I have absolutely no idea. But then, I haven't had any problems with the written instructions or that might have been a bigger issue than it currently is.
Tonight is the Seattle Knitter's Guild meeting and we are having a tutorial of sorts on Domino Knitting. (there is a book out by that name , and darned if I can't remember the author) Anyway, that should be interesting. I know the concept, have even done it a bit, but like anything else new it just needs practice. Sort of like the rest of my life.
Friday, August 15, 2003
No, I haven't figured out adding pics or anything. Too dadburn difficult with a splitting headache. But I did get a few more rows done on my shawl. Can anyone explain to me why when I apparently do everything according to the pattern, sometimes the stitch count just plain refuses to cooperate? I swear I ripped out one row 3 or 4 times, counted back and all that stuff and still came out wrong in the end. So I fudged it. Sue me.
I am headed off toward the eastside to meet up with gals from one of my yahoo groups tomorrow. I am so looking forward to a few hours of knitting buddies sans my children. Not that I don't love my kids, it is nice to have a break once and a while. Although I do have to go into work for a bit before hand because I missed part of Wednesday and yesterday due to the aforementioned headache. Might even grab my drop spindle if I get lucky in the morning and remember it.
There just aren't enough hours in the day for everything. Yesterday while home trying to get rid of my headache, my older daughter ran in briefly to grab her swimming suit. Her buddy that was with her commented on my apparent lack of housekeeping skills. Ouch. That hurt. But obviously the person of question does not have the same priorites as a depressed knitter. So there!
I am headed off toward the eastside to meet up with gals from one of my yahoo groups tomorrow. I am so looking forward to a few hours of knitting buddies sans my children. Not that I don't love my kids, it is nice to have a break once and a while. Although I do have to go into work for a bit before hand because I missed part of Wednesday and yesterday due to the aforementioned headache. Might even grab my drop spindle if I get lucky in the morning and remember it.
There just aren't enough hours in the day for everything. Yesterday while home trying to get rid of my headache, my older daughter ran in briefly to grab her swimming suit. Her buddy that was with her commented on my apparent lack of housekeeping skills. Ouch. That hurt. But obviously the person of question does not have the same priorites as a depressed knitter. So there!
Monday, August 11, 2003
Made it back from Washougal in one piece. Barely. But I did get about 20 rows done on my Zauberflote cardigan, which was amazing. I also got my shawl straightened out so that i can get going on that as well. I loved having all the time on the train to knit, and since the train was late on both the way down and the way back up I even got more time than I had anticipated. Yeah. I even avoided the temptation to visit the yarn shop down there, because I am trying very hard to destash. Talk about a tough urge to avoid.
I even got to keep a kid company on the way back up, just so that I wouldn't miss my own too much. Whew...I didn't realize 11 year old boys could talk so much. But then it was probably way past his bed time and he was definitely *not* tired. Yeah, right. Dennis and the girls met me at the train station even though it was really later that we first anticipated. After being away from them all weekend just tucking them into bed didn't seem quite long enough. Oh well.
Not much knitting content I am afraid. After getting back from the reunion party at two in the morning and then getting back up to go to mass yesterday morning, I am pretty tired. Not to mention the fact that I was up with Shannon while she was sick Friday night. Sometimes, ya just need a vacation from your vacation. But I did have much more fun than I thought that I would have, so I am very glad that I went. My goal for today is to start researching how to add pictures and stuff to this blog. That is, if I can stay awake when I get home tonight. That will take some work, especially since I slept through the knocking on the door when my carpool stopped by to pick me up this morning. Ugh.
I even got to keep a kid company on the way back up, just so that I wouldn't miss my own too much. Whew...I didn't realize 11 year old boys could talk so much. But then it was probably way past his bed time and he was definitely *not* tired. Yeah, right. Dennis and the girls met me at the train station even though it was really later that we first anticipated. After being away from them all weekend just tucking them into bed didn't seem quite long enough. Oh well.
Not much knitting content I am afraid. After getting back from the reunion party at two in the morning and then getting back up to go to mass yesterday morning, I am pretty tired. Not to mention the fact that I was up with Shannon while she was sick Friday night. Sometimes, ya just need a vacation from your vacation. But I did have much more fun than I thought that I would have, so I am very glad that I went. My goal for today is to start researching how to add pictures and stuff to this blog. That is, if I can stay awake when I get home tonight. That will take some work, especially since I slept through the knocking on the door when my carpool stopped by to pick me up this morning. Ugh.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Yeah, I had a visitor! Well, maybe I have had more than one, but I haven't heard about it. Thanks to Dot at fuzzydot.blogspot.com for the comments and yes I hope to get some pictures and other stuff on here eventually. I had thought about doing it today, but had a sick child instead. There went my plans for being driven down to my parents house this weekend! Oh wait...I forgot...the train is better! No whiny children, no cold doggie noses in my face, no snoring hubby (well, not too often anyway). Hours of uninterupted knitting bliss if I don't fall asleep in the seat! Meanwhile, why is it always mommy who gets to sit on the bathroom floor with the sick kid?
Thursday, August 07, 2003
Don't go into shock folks, it really is me more than once a week! I am not a figment of the cyberspace world, although after getting the kids ready this morning I am sure that they wish I was!
The package with the vest in it goes out in the mail today. That is, if I can fit in a trip to the post office between work and picking up Fiona on the way to the Vacation Bible School potluck for Shannon. Life just gets too busy. Next week Fiona's soccer starts and so begins the decent into the whirlwind life of school and kids. I love having the down time while the kids are in their respective sports practice because I ususally get lots of knitting done. But I do get tired of driving though.
If you have a moment, check out this site www.bugknits.com. The designs are just amazing. I love miniature stuff, but I am not sure at all if I dare attempt something like this. I probably will at some point just for the heck of it.
I worked on Zauberflote last night until I was having to rip out almost every stitch I put in because I was starting to fall asleep at the helm. At lunch today I am working on the orange triangle shawl. Sometime soon I need to figure out how to add real links and photos. Tomorrow we are taking a long drive to my parent's house in southwest Washington. Hopefully hubby can be cohorsed (i know that is spelled wrong) into driving so that I can get some serious headway on these projects.
And for those of you that have excess wool yarn on hand, there is always the mouse along that Wendy Johnson is sponsoring. Cute little mousies stuffed with catnip are arriving on her doorstep for a charity fundraiser for her local animal shelter. Wendyknits.net is the website and she has a couple of good patterns as well. My kitties loved theirs until the mice became little balls of felt. I found one this morning hiding under the chair with the dust bunnies.
The package with the vest in it goes out in the mail today. That is, if I can fit in a trip to the post office between work and picking up Fiona on the way to the Vacation Bible School potluck for Shannon. Life just gets too busy. Next week Fiona's soccer starts and so begins the decent into the whirlwind life of school and kids. I love having the down time while the kids are in their respective sports practice because I ususally get lots of knitting done. But I do get tired of driving though.
If you have a moment, check out this site www.bugknits.com. The designs are just amazing. I love miniature stuff, but I am not sure at all if I dare attempt something like this. I probably will at some point just for the heck of it.
I worked on Zauberflote last night until I was having to rip out almost every stitch I put in because I was starting to fall asleep at the helm. At lunch today I am working on the orange triangle shawl. Sometime soon I need to figure out how to add real links and photos. Tomorrow we are taking a long drive to my parent's house in southwest Washington. Hopefully hubby can be cohorsed (i know that is spelled wrong) into driving so that I can get some serious headway on these projects.
And for those of you that have excess wool yarn on hand, there is always the mouse along that Wendy Johnson is sponsoring. Cute little mousies stuffed with catnip are arriving on her doorstep for a charity fundraiser for her local animal shelter. Wendyknits.net is the website and she has a couple of good patterns as well. My kitties loved theirs until the mice became little balls of felt. I found one this morning hiding under the chair with the dust bunnies.
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
The vest from he** is finished. Blocked, it actually looks quite nice! I will pack it up and ship it out tonight and then I can breathe a big sigh of relief. As a reward, I pulled out some old projects last night and actually did a bit on both of them. The orange triangle shawl out of some stash yarn a couple of months ago is back as a WIP. Many thanks to my friend Tracie of midgeling.com fame for having an extra ball of that in her stash. So now I can make it the correct size! I also pulled out Zauberflote from Virtual Yarns. I am less than thrilled with the colors at the moment, but I have been assured that it will probably look just fine when it is done. It is browner than I thought, but maybe it is just more of a muted shade of purple than I originally thought from their website.
I wish that I could say that I am going home tonight and doing nothing but knitting. Alas, I have to go home and try and straighten out the mess that has accumulated durning this week of single parenting. To all the single parents out there, my hat is off to you. It is harder than one would think.
I wish that I could say that I am going home tonight and doing nothing but knitting. Alas, I have to go home and try and straighten out the mess that has accumulated durning this week of single parenting. To all the single parents out there, my hat is off to you. It is harder than one would think.
