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?

Bad Luck? Moi?

Happy Friday the 13th!

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 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

Eye Candy Friday

I have Monday off. So I feel rather silly today.

There's been very little knitting going on around here lately, and

Michelle won't put up with underachievers, so I humbly show the little bit of what I knit.



The Top Down Hat from

Hello Yarn It doesn't look like much I know, it was my 1st attempt at a figure 8 cast on and only took me about 8 tries to get it right. Maybe the 1st person to discover this clever method figured 8 times trying before casting on would do it. It was way awkward, but once I got it, I kinda felt a little full of myself.

Adrian rescued me after the 7th try. Thanks Adrian! So here's a close up of the top where the cast on was worked:





Linus is in the background, ignoring me. Did I mention I'm also working on my photography skills? I'd also like to introduce you to another one of my little childlike habits joys to play with.



A gift from my SIL when we moved into our house about 517 19 years ago. You'll be seeing these on special occasions. Tomorrow, I hope to have a decent Saturday sky pic along with a larger hat and possibly more

Forest Canopy Lace Hey, if you're gonna dream, dream big...

As Random as it Gets

Like numbers? This will blow you away!

Here is a math trick so unbelievable that it will stump you.


1. Grab a calculator. (you won't be able to do this one in your head)
2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area code)
3. Multiply by 80
4. Add 1
5. Multiply by 250
6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
7. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
8. Subtract 250
9. Divide number by 2
Do you recognize the answer?

Saturday Sky and Then Some

So this is the sunshine state? yick...followed by much sunshine and 80 something heat.

Today is Linus' 11th birthday, and what kind of mom would I be if I didn't acknowledge it! Happy Birthday, Linus your highness!



That's him perched on the back of the chair completely uninterested and yes, it's broken. He is gonna be pissed when we get a new one. Even Dolly the wonder dog got dressed up for the occasion.



Disclaimer: No animals were harmed in the making of this post. But they were slightly humiliated.

I joined in what looks to be the most perfect KAL for me! And anyone for that matter who wants to bust some stash. Check out the

Lonesome Skein KAL

I'm playin in the stash already. My first project is going to be for Kate who wants the Toturo Hat from

Hello Yarn

Adrian was kind enough to reply immediately to my email when I was failing repeatedly on the figure 8 cast on. When I tackle something new, sometimes it takes at least a few tries to get a feel for it. I find putting it down for a while till the "little knitting voice" says, it's time now. I love a knitting epiphany! One good thing about being new at it, there's so many yet to come! And in this case, darling Kate gets a hat from it. Kate's pretty creative herself, I always thought, how can I have kids that do not want to knit? There's yarn and supplies everywhere, until I realized this IS her knitting:


This was drawn with a black ink pen and colored pencils. Not bad Kate OXOXOXOX

10 Things, 2 GiveBacks and a Shawl

10 Knittery Things You Didn't Know About Me - An invitation from

Grumperina

1. I've be dying to learn how to knit for years, many years & finally taught myself how last November. I was thrilled & have lots of time to make up for.

2. I'm very self-conscious about the things I make due to the fact that I'm a severe perfectionist.

3. ANY and EVERY chance I get to acquire books, magazines, yarn and "supplies" for knitting, I WILL do it - Even if it means not getting new clothes or (be still my leather lovin heart) shoes.

4. Much housework has been neglected due to knitting and blogging (without guilt of course)

5. By nature I'm a "just go for it" person, but when it comes to knitting, I'm a little trepidatious about doing something new (like lace OMG) but I'm doing it anyway.

6. I love wearing cotton garments (I do live in Florida ya know) I don't much like knitting with cotton. Even when I squish 2 clean socks together from the dryer, it makes my skin crawl & that ain't pretty.

7. I'm not a packrat, but when it comes to hoarding knitting books and especially yarn, let's just say - I'm up for any game of my stash is bigger than your stash. Although I wouldn't be on the top of the mountain, I'd see me alot of valley below.

8. I'm not a 1 project grrl. Or even a 3 project grrl.

9. I get really cranky if I don't touch any knitting within 48 hrs

10. I still like to crochet. I've been doing it for 40 years and my mom taught me how. It led me to learn knitting alot faster than if I never did. I don't have my mom anymore, but I have her legacy of crochet.


whew! I didn't realize how ravin mad I am about knitting...nexxxxtttttt your turn!


I did finish 2 things for giving back. The 1st of many I hope red scarf for the Red Scarf Project (in the sidebar). And a Chemo Cap for a hospital. These items go to our Grand Poobahs of our kntting group, and they get them to the right parties.




I did start on the

Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl

. I see folks cranking these out 1 and 2 a week. Not THIS grrl! I'm sloooow. It's a shawl easy for even the 1st time lace knitter (me), and it does look tiny right now, but I feel another addiction coming on!





So,

Michelle

hang in there, the Leaf Lace is gonna be keeping you warm one of these days.

Help! Does anyone have some

Katia Jamaica

lying around?

Elizabeth

can use some. I'm gonna send her some just because her birthday is coming.

Are You Talkin to Me?

OK

Michelle

you're on...

Saturday Sky

From the south,




to the east, it's all different here. For years I've been trying to forceentice my girls to try on a craft, ANY craft. It's not like there isn't a dozen or so mediums aound here. Since Meg is in 6th grade and has art class, she HAD to do this:






A yarn project...The funny thing is, she didn't flinch as I grabbed it and photographed it knowing it would be added to the blog. Note to kids: Nothing creative is sacred around here any more! I think they're getting it. It's just a matter of training the neighbors not to snicker when they see me in my PJs photgraphing the sky, my flowers and stuff I bring out of the house.

There's been little knitting going on here, but I did manage a chemo cap for the cousin of one the girls in my Monday night knitting group.





I do have to start on some things and get photos posted before Michelle starts complaining gently reminding me that I need new photos on the blog.
Where would I be without ya? Probably not knitting or blogging.

I am going to attempt a button of my own today. I figure, if we blog it, we're comitted to it. Even if we don't but have a seemingly good excuse why we didn't.

Have a terrific weekend all! I have to catch up on reading some blogs.

E C F The 1st

Late bloomer this year, but always worth the wait. Happy Friday!

Hooome, Home on the range...

Yes I am...for 2 days that is. So I can work on creating a button, and hopefully, some knitting. I finished the red scarf and need to block it, it goes to my knitting group for the Red Scarf Project (over in the sidebar). I started the Mary Poppins scarf that I found

here

. And this is the meager progress I made so far:



As you can see, it's the perfect scarf for Florida, so I may keep it for me. I'm using a worsted weight yarn I bought long ago simply because I liked the colors. Ya never know what and when something from the stash will call out to you. Besides the

Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl

I told

Michelle

I was going to start, I also bought this to make

this

.



Lots and lots of Wildflower D.K. from Plymouth yarn. It's a DK weight 51% cotton/49% acrylic yarn and holy crap, there's alot of it. But I did promise both my daughters an afghan and I must deliver. They both chose their own. I have to photograph the other, it should be quicker to make as it's crocheted. Michelle, I AM ready to start the shawl now, this is what I bought





I'll be using the Knit Picks Shadow in the Jewels colorway. A really nice fingering weight and for me, a first. It's the dark blue looking one, although a few colors radiate from it. My photos do not do these yarns justice, so check out Knit Picks over in the sidebar for a much better look. I also have to make a Chemo Cap for someone and then the

Toturo Hat

by eldest daughter's request. I'm not over extending myself...right? Hey boss! May have a couple more days off?

Saturday Sky

AM






PM

Have you stripped lately?

Stop that! I'm talkin fabric here. Finally, a use for all that fabric that's accumulated over the years. I'm making 1" strips for the Tailgate Rag Rug in

Ann and Kay's book.

And whatever else may come to mind.



Also an almost FO for The Red Scarf Project, over in the sidebar. Just deciding on an edging. It's made with yarn that's cottony and silky in your basic stockinette stitch. The label was long ago lost.



The crocheted baby blankie is waiting for its edging too. I need to know what kind of baby is going to be be using it before I can add the color, then a matching sweater can be made too. I may be getting a little ambitious on the projects here. It's that job and those kids that keep calling me mom and all.

Michelle

thinks it's good idea to have a shawl stitch n' bitch and I agreed. Anyone like to join us? We're new at it, so it would be exciting to have experienced knitters holding our handsinspiration from seasoned knitters. Michelle, if I'm not speaking for you here, I'll fly up there so you can slap me one. Then we can go have that beer.

Shake, Rattle and Roll?

When you live in Florida, you certainly don't expect to read the morning news and see this:

So I checked into the story at our local

NBC news. We're accustomed to at least a week's warning with a hurricane. Note to mother nature: WE DON'T DO EARTHQUAKES HERE. Ah please?

Just makes me feel rather sheepish.

Saturday Sky

This was taken about 5 weeks ago, but it was Saturday. Today's photo would render a grey square.

Honey, I blew up the blog

Michelle,

This post is dedicated to you. And no, I didn't do it on purpose. While at work today, I noticed a button did not have the proper link attached, so after adding the link to the button, I pushed the Destroy everything you've built for the last 5 months button. Didn't know I had that one. I tell you, it's the knitting godess. She's paid a few visits before, but not with such force. All because my

next project

is to be altered slightly. Not the pattern, I was just going to use a slightly heavier yarn and larger needles. I just bought the Denise needle set and the Knit Picks Options set last month. Also bought these: The knitting godess may think I'm getting carried away, so don't tell her I have one more box coming next week. I'm still working on getting the rest of the buttons back up and at work we don't get days off for blog repair. Have a fiberlisious day!

Say Hello to ma lita frien

An FO I dug up and refused to put away undone. Senor Salsa is from an older crochet mag I have.


I love stuff that's useful around the house, he's supposed to hide your hot sauce.

When you're my age, you hide your Pepto Bismol in it.

Happy Knitting!