Tuesday, October 31, 2006

What scares you?




Not too much scares me, except for spiders.



eeeeewwwwww off my Royal!

I really like Halloween for this reason:


I have no problem consuming large amounts of sugar. My dentist loves this too.

November 15th will be my 1st year knitting anniversary. I used to be scared to put a project down, when I'd come back to it, I sometimes knit the wrong way. I once could not recognize the stitches I was working. I once didn't know what an FO was, or a WIP, or ssk, psso. I used to be scared that my projects would slide off the needles and I would put them back on wrong, which I sometimes did. I used to put stitch protectors on a WIP and seal it tighter than King Tut's tomb. I know! The exhibit was here for a while. Now I have 7 WIPs, not one with a stitch protector. I've done knits on straights, dpns and circs. I've learned a few cast ons and bind offs, felting and the carrying of colors. I've experienced more humility than great accomplishments, but never frustration. (Not really)
I've even learned to blog.

What is scary about knitting is how crabby I get if I can't at least a little every single day. I've yet to make anything truly noteworthy, but there are many, many things I intend to make. I finished a chemo cap crocheted no less for the local children's hospital. An LYS gave our knitting group yarn for these and since this particular yarn was of the cottony type, it was much easier to crochet it.



I also created a non-knit project ages ago that's a tradition at this time of year.



I have fond memories of this popsicle stick house. I neglected my family the whole weekend to complete this.

There still are, however, a few things that kind of scare me. Please remove any small or large for that matter, children from the room before viewing. You don't want them picking up bad habits.



Megan's room aaaahhhhhhhhhh As she saw me photographing this, she said, "you're gonna post that aren't you?" yeah baby-you learn fast!


Or how about the things that interest your teen these days?



OOOoooo Gerard! shhhh I like some of their music shhhhh
Seems like yesterday, it was all about disney and cartoons and coloring books. Now it's about being dissy, having car tunes and drawing sophisticated things. Scary how fast time goes by. And even more scary is the fact the both my children know how to use photoshop far far better than I. I give you a little child's play. No, not Chucky, but they do like that crapstuff.

Here is our Dolly, and this photo clearly shows a sweet, slobbery, never can get enough love of a dog. And that's exactly what she's always been like.



Here, brought to you by Photoshop, is what they've done to her.


Not so scary? Megan, my youngest, has proclaimed that she's too old to dress up any more. This year, we'll watch scary movies and give out candy in our jammies. And so help me jeebus, I'll never walk the neighborhood with one of these again!



It's also scary what we pay good money for. Meet Harm the bunny:

Legend has it that this bunny will tell the truth and nothing but. He has had many owners, no one of whom liked let alone loved him. He would sit in the room and make fun of his "owners" for all their imperfections and anger them to the point of ripping off his ears or tail. He would mysteriously find bits and pieces around the room and repair himself. I now find him in my room and every time he tells me "too much makeup clown!" or "what, you work for Hooter's now?" I just say OK Harm, I'll change. Amazing. And yes, he's mine.

Anyone see the move Twilight Zone? Well, ya see somethin' REALLY scary?



This is real, not photoshopped, and had I known I'd become a blogger, I would have taken lots more shots. This "moth" who I call the bat moth, was spotted on Florida's west coast by me while at a sales meeting for work. This creature was about 8 or 9 feet up on the wall & this is the best shot I got. This batmoth was about 4 inces wide, I kid you not. Now that's enough to send any knitter screaming.

I didn't leave Linus out for Halloween:



Photoshop me, and the stash gets it.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Can't even think of a title

What a soul, mind, spirit sucking week. Glad it's over, on to better days...trust me, that's all you need to know.


Not exactly the shade of blue I was going for, but since I have no sayso in sky matters, this is the best I can do. It's a nice 72 degrees though.
I didn't get much knitting done this week, also contributing to the very snarky me, but made a little progress on hats for Rabbitch. 3 done, 1 more on the needles.

The 2 little skeins are Knit Picks Ambrosia in Fog 80/20 Baby Alpaca/Cashmere oooooo for the corrected version of Totoro.
Toward the end of the week and largely contributing to dragging me out of where ever I was, are these:

From Knit Picks to make this. It's 100% Pima Cotton but it feels very silky. It's bulkier than I really like, but I do want to try it.
And the Knit Picks Bare a Fingering weight superwash 75/25 wool/nylon for this:

I'm nuts, but I'm going to try a little dyeing experiment. I went to lunch on Friday immediately after reading Crankygrrrrrl's blog, also a major contributor for lifting my spirits because of her meme. ~snif~ That was soooo nice of you! The Crankygrrrrrl furthermore taught me that we can dye yarn with Wilton's! and that's why I made a hasty retreat to Michael's to get some. You know how things can disappear as soon as YOU want to buy them?

I made this some time ago while waiting to find out what kind of baby was coming.
As you can see, I got the news. Now I can finish the afghan and make the Baby Bolero & Hat from One Skein. I'm behaving and actually have an almost completed swatch.
I'mout of my mindconfident I have time for this. This is for my long time dear friends Di & Terry who will become grandmothers again. Na na na na na, you are a gran-ny!
Now that knitting business is done, I give you silliness. Remember the welcome ducks?

They're ready for Halloween. Hope I will be too. Have a fun weekend all! Oh, one more, a photoshopped, no-duh, pic. An e-mail received a long time ago.

Ok, do I eat a banana or the cat's food?

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Saturdays and Sundays



The weather here continues to be hot. I've been feeling blah for the last week, you know, not sick enough to be sick, just enough to feel I'm trudging through everything. Thank heavens for B. He took care of all the stuff I'm not up to so I could knit. So, my better half gives you modest FOs and new WIP here.



Two hats completed for Rabbitchand a third to be started.
I've got to tell ya, these are my first REAL hats and I just love how quick they work up to completion! They make me feel like, well, a knitter. Also in the pic is a new WIP cast on for Firefly's Nap Blanket. She's hosting a KAL. Check out her patterns section, they're quite lovely and so is her writing!

Speaking of hats, remember that Top Down Bonnet I could not upload photos on? Well, scrap the the FO and decide to change it to a pillow, and viola! I give you an October Scary Knits Fest FO:


This is an adorable hat which taught me how to figure 8 cast on by none other than The Fabulous Wendy herself. This is a lesson learned newbies, if the designer says sportweight WOOL, and size 3 needles, DO NOT, use worsted weight ACRYLIC and size 4 needles and knit it in the smaller size to compensate. ACRYLIC does NOT BLOCK! I love giving folks something tolaugh their asses off smile about.

Speaking of something to smile about, these arrived on Friday and Saturday.






Dolly says, "I'm a denim people!"


And because I'm too weak to feel funny, I'll just leave you with a crocheted shawl I made last year in (I think Red Heart TLC), very soft and squshy.


We're off to see the in-laws for a birthday get-together. Our nephew turns 21 on Wednesday-Happy Birthday Jeff! We also celebrated my dearest sweetie pie's 12th birthday this past Wednesday. Happy Birthdaymy newly found blog fodderSweetheart. XOXOXO


Linus is bored by it all, he says "Just wake me when the new yarn comes."

Friday, October 20, 2006

Another meme for youyou

48 Things You Could Care Less About

1. FIRST NAME? Carol

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Monday or Tuesday over a news article

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Roast beef baby!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yep, I'm alright

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes, its name is blog

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? No and they were never removed either. Go figure

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Only from the ground. Afraid of heights

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Lucky Charms, they're magically delicious ya know

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they were tied, yes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes in a few ways

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Vanilla-over a banana, covered with hot fudge, wet walnuts and whipped cream

14. SHOE SIZE? 8-8 & 1/2

5. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I feel awkward in social situations, but it's just me

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My parents and my long lost friend Bridget

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I'd rather read it on thier blogs, cause I'm gonna read them anyway

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? jeans, blue t-shirt, no shoes

20. LAST THING YOU ATE? Chocolate pop tarts with milk

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? A stupid political commercial

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Green

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Moth balls (and don't ask how I got my nose between those tiny legs)

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My daughter Kate

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Eyes

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from? Absof-inglutely. (Look farmiliar Ann?)

27. FAVORITE DRINK? Coffee

28. FAVORITE SPORT? Knitting

29. EYE COLOR? Green/yellow no kidding

30. HAT SIZE? 20" by knitting measurements are there other sizing standards?

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No Progressive lenses w/built in astigmatism view. Lucky me huh?

32. FAVORITE FOOD? Steak and salad

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary baby!

35. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter, which is considered summer to anyone living north of South Carolina

36. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs

37. FAVORITE DESSERT? Never met a grain of sugar I didn't like

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I don't know

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? I don't know

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Denim People, Scarf Style and HTML for Dummies

41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE Pad? Don't use one

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? The Sopranos 3rd season 2nd episode

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Birds chirping, wind chimes, needles clicking

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES? Beatles - Although this is not a fair question

45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Not far, The Bahamas

46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Common sense if that's a talent-I'm told I'm a good cook and baker but that's love

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Phila, Pennsylvania

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Stolen from Ann


So the cat's out of the bag as it were. You know a little more about me.



One of Linus' favorite toys for a couple of days that is.



Dolly thinks if she's decked out a bit, I'll take her photo too. She's right.

Tonight, I knit! Hope you will too!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Random Wednesday






Carol was abducted by aliens

The aliens were attracted by the hypnotic nostrils of Carol
'What will your Headline be?' at QuizGalaxy.com



When I was hastily returned home, this is what I saw before I left for Monday night knitting with The girls.







A little knitting progress too!



Almost two hats for Rabbitch.
Don't laugh, for me, this is good progress. The pattern was generously shared for free by For the Love of Yarn.


Happy Wednesday...

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Thank You Norma!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Norma sent thisjust because I begged asked. Pear and ginger jam made in Vermont by Norma herself! Well, having made one of these helped.Now I have a dilemma, do I save it for Thanksgiving and show offshare it with my family? Those who think I may be a little obsessed with knitting? Those who look at me a little funny? Or, do I just open it already and scarf it downenjoy it now? Norma, I'm just waiting on your thank you, so look forward to a little EZ comin your way! I still have that beautiful skein of
  • Hello Yarn's Tough Sock 75/25 wool/nylon in Better Weather colorway. I wanna make damn sure I do it justice with a pair of socks than can actually be worn, by me preferably.

    I accidentally went on line an ordered sonething from DeStash
  • the deals are hard to resist, so I didn't.


    5 Skeins plus the better part of a 6th of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool 65/35 wool silk blend in the palest shade of olive(?) I'll wait patiently for it to tell me what it wants to be when it'a all knit up. I also bought something else cause jeeze ma, everyone ELSE is getting one!


    The pattern booklet for the famous Great American Aran Afghan.One of the squares therein is by the famous Susan who I know in a bloggerly way. First Place too! Thats gotta feel good.

    I even knit a little. I finished Toturo! Yet it refuses to be uploaded to Blogger. I even re-took the pic and re-started the PC, now Michelle will think I'm lying my butt offI'm buying blog time or something. Toturo WILL be posted damnit. Just don't know when. There is another hat on the needles for Rabbitch's Cause.



    The Pattern is Called Watch Me from here.

    I love the simplicity of the hat, but the top has a nice design going, even I may be able to handle this. This one will be for a child since I had to make the 1st one in the only chunky weight I had around and there isn't much there. This will give time to acquire some chunky weight or decide to play with the pattern & use a bulky weight. I hope to help keep a few heads in Canada warm. Did I mention there were prizes? Check out Rabbitch, all the info is there along with a really good rant or forty.
    One more project to start on soon from Firefly has me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Check her out, she's got quite a thing going on over there! I'm nuts for thinking I have this much time ready!
    Norma, did I say Thank you?

    Friday, October 13, 2006

    Bad Luck? Moi?



    Happy Friday the 13th!

    Wednesday, October 11, 2006

    Randumb Thursday

    How dumb is she?

    So dumb, she does a random Wednesday post on a Thursday
    So dumb, she sends her Birthday Swap Pal the gift, but left the birthday card at home. Nice first impression for my first swap.

    Well, she DID learn the figure 8 cast on




    But soooo dumb, she doesn't know left from center!


    The little black box is where the decreases SHOULD be.
  • Top Down Bonnet Pattern courtesy of Hello Yarn free patterns section. I didn't use Adrian's suggested yarn. That's why I'm being punished by the knitting knomes. I'm using Caron's Simply Soft, simply cause I had it in the right color and it probably won't get too cold here. It's also a one skeiner for the Lonesome Skein KAL. Sould have gone for the wool. This is a really soft and drapey yarn for an acrylic, but probably not good for a shaped hat.
  • Now I'm concerned about blocking, but good or bad, when it's done, I'll post it.

    So dum, she can't count
    The back CENTER decrease is 6 stitches too far to the left.
    It's not noticeable when on, but I know it's there and eventually, I'll have to knit another. Maybe I can adjust Kate's head. Knitters always find a way.

    Saturday, October 07, 2006

    Saturday Sky, a Lonesome Skein and Something Scary



    Forecast 89 degrees...shocking

    I joined
    because, no I do not have enough on my plate. This KAL is great fun and I am working on a project. Don't know why, but instead of doing really fun things like housework, grocery shopping and taking the car for a checkup, I decided on a stash dive for the KAL. And I did find a Lonesome Skein...



    Isn't it cute? Surely I can make something from this...then I realized I may be accumulating a little too much yarn.



    My friends, this is the oddball stuff I have and it's not even all of it. This represents only a fraction of the fiber that lives here. I think if I had to face my stash, all in one place, I may in fact realize where my retirement funds have gone. Of course if one has all that fiber, then it's safe to say one would also have to have an equal balance of projects to go with it. Right?







    There's no such thing as a fiber intervention is there?




    Good