As we grow older, things change. Boobs - sag (a little). Butt - droops (a little). Sleep gets interrupted more for small-hour nature calls. More sleep feels like less. And migraines - mutate.
I have suffered from migraines since my mid-teens, and every few years they change form. Once in my late 20s I had a migraine that manifested as a burning sensation down the right side of my head, like someone had poured boiling water in my ear. But generally, I get what I call "icepicks" - sudden sharp pain behind the right temple (always the right side) that stabs into my brain and then (after dosing with Tylenol 1's or in severe cases, Mersyndol), recedes to a manageable throb. Unpleasant, but manageable. Unless I wake up with one, in which case I say "to hell with you", pop 2 Mersyndol, call the office and go back to bed. But generally if they hit during the daytime, I can deal.
Yesterday morning, I had an icepick hit me about 8:00 a.m. (I start work at 7:30, yesterday I was up with the chickens and at my desk at 7:00). I popped a couple T1's and went about my morning. By 10:30 the icepick was sharper, not duller, and I was annoyed (also, I was PO'd about the complete two hours I had just wasted on an AutoCAD file that had to be reversed and redone). Popped another pair of T1's, had a snack, kept working. 1:00 - lunch break. Too tired to go anywhere or do anything (yay codeine), I sat quietly at my desk and knit on my sock for Peter (also for my class, I have to get to the toe decrease by Tuesday night so I can teach toe decreases and Kitchenering). I knit with my eyes closed for awhile, just enjoying the lack of computer glare and the feel of the stitches moving smoothly along.
Opened my eyes. Blink. Fuzzy on the right. What? Wool lint in my eye maybe? Rubbed eyes. Still fuzzy. MORE fuzzy. What the heck...? Huh? Ow. Ow ow ow ow OW! Icepick stabbing from behind the temple THROUGH the front of the fuzzy eye. Oh crud, not good. "Uh, boss... my right eye's gone fuzzy and my head hurts." "Oh, you're getting a migraine." "No, I've had a migraine all morning, this is something else." "No, it's a migraine, that's what happens to me." Note: he's a man and therefore his opinion of migraines is suspect. I know they get them (Dad, for instance, gets the "cluster" form, which are evil), but generally they don't know squat about migraine, in my experience. "Well, I've never had one like this befo - excuse me!" Ran to bathroom, yakked. Oh crap, not at ALL good. Light starting to hurt. Oh Crap. This is what they call a "classic" migraine, the kind my sister and Mom have had in the past. Oh. Crap.
This is me leaving my office (stopping at pharmacy for Mersyndol), and driving VERY carefully home with sunglasses on, squinting and "owie ow"-ing all the way. Home, blinds closed, cold cloth on forehead/eyes, heat pack on back (I'm also freezing at this point, which is a weird thing for a migraine, but whatever). Pop 2 Mersyndol. Lie there, waiting to die or for drugs to work. Drugs not working but feeling sleepy. Eat toast, drink water, go to bed. Peter checks in on me at 8 p.m. - more water and Mersyndol. Finally find real sleep, wake up headache-free but hungover at 6 a.m.
And this is what happens when we get older. Our stinkin' migraines mutate. This particular breed I have decided to call "Fred the Bastard" (if you can name it, you can tame it is my philosophy). Fred and I are going to pay a visit to Dr. B. on Monday and get some of those fast-acting Fred-killers, because I categorically CANNOT just stop in the middle of my workday for a migraine. Nope nope nope. And I certainly can't drive home (again) with one, that's dangerous and painful. [sidenote: Peter was up to his ass, literally, in concrete yesterday so coming to fetch me was not an option, although he would have had I asked. In retrospect, I should have had someone from work drive me home. I won't do it again.]
The upside is, I got pretty well-rested last night. The downside is, I think this is related to weather - I do get headaches from low-pressure systems and we've been having a bunch pass through here lately (like right now, and I can feel another stinkin' icepick forming as I type). My sister, bless her heart, basically rolls into a fetal ball of pain when thunderstorms roll in. I don't want that to happen to me. But it might, because I'm growing older. Dammit.
I need to knit a hat now. That, I can control. In theory.
Jun 22, 2007
Jun 17, 2007
16,000 words
Or, sixteen pictures. Yes, this is a catch-up post so it may be (will be) a little long, just to get the (bad) pictures in. Things have been pretty busy of late (yeah, who's not, right?) but I have been knitting! Here's everything recently finished or live, in no particular order:
Socks for Peter, in James C. Brett "Marble", colourway MT3. These are acrylic self-striping and very soft. I have about 1/3 of a ball left over from the first sock so I will probably make something gift-y with the leftovers from the two balls, later. 2nd sock is just past the gusset - it's been hot lately so sock-knitting is suitable for the weather, even if the socks aren't!
Stitch markers from my Secret Pal in Ohio. Bad picture, they are cute little teal beaded guys. Love 'em, especially as I plan to knit some lace this summer.
The Karma Chameleon Clapotis, resurrected. Increase section done, straight section underway. Yarn is Red Heart Soft, colourway "autumn" I think? Red/Gold/Green. This is "Pay attention!" knitting, so is moving along slowly.
The Wednesday's Cardigan. Remember this one? It's the Patons Rumor chunky yarn, knit in one piece. I want the sweater but have lost enthusiasm for the actual knitting. This may, sadly, wait until cooler weather, which defeats its whole raison d'etre. Meh.
Sock for me, Patons Classic Merino, "Rosewood" colourway. This is the sock I was working on the day of the wedding and it hasn't garnered much attention since. Again, it's too hot for the actual socks, plus I just started teaching the sock class this past Tuesday so I had to start a new sock to teach the class.
The new sock - also Patons Classic Merino, "Denim Marl" colourway. This pair will be for Peter also - apparently he only gets blue socks. :) I'm tempted to cast on the second one to guarantee the pair will be finished quicker (you know, at the same time?) but I don't want to intimidate my students. By the way, LOVING the teaching. I've got great students, fun and enthusiastic and reasonably patient when they make mistakes and have to rip out.
Which reminds me, I've taken on another teaching assignment! I'm going to be teaching a five-week "Learn to Knit" course starting in September, for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board! They contacted the program lady at Michaels about a teacher and she hooked me up with them. And then after new year's, a 10-week program! Woohoo! I'm very excited about this, I'm finding that the teaching is making me learn new things and really THINK about my knitting more, and I love that "OH!" moment that the students get when things are working for them. I always wanted to be a teacher, who knew it would be knitting instead of English lit?
A Feather and Fan dishcloth, for a class I'll be teaching in July - "Introduction to lace knitting". Admittedly, a poor introduction, because I learned doing this sample that knitting feather and fan in cotton on 4mm needles is not really fun for the hands. However, it does cover the basics.
Another gift from my Secret Pal - a very cute hardcover notebook. So girly! I love it, it's almost too cute to use.
From SP again - three skeins of KnitPicks "Shadow", which are NOT purple as in the picture, but rather a gorgeous rust-burgundy colour, almost exactly the shade of my Olympic Shawl. Very very pretty and I'm looking forward to knitting it up.
Time for dye fun! KnitPicks "Bare" from SP, in sockweight. Also included was...
Kool-Aid for dying. Sweet!
See that white blob on the white stripe? That's a frog on a loose windowscreen, in a thunderstorm.
Here he is again, as a dark blob on a grey stripe (no flash). This was an eight-minute torrential downpour - how else does a frog get on the window? I thought the Plagues were starting. Anyway, I pulled him in via a clever margarine-tub-and-lid manuever, and kept him safe from the flash flood. Then, released him out the back door...
Onto the steps. The little green-grey blob, that's him. I can tell you the cats wanted to go out and "play" with him but when I opened the door they were more interested in keeping their feet dry. Wussy kitties!
More class knitting - little Christmas ornaments for my "Christmas in July" classes. My first experience with i-cord (for the wreaths) and I can see how addictive it is. The bells were fun, they have a neat trick for self-shaping. The wee socks were a bit fiddly but very cute. Each ornament takes from a half-hour to an hour - I can see making a bunch more of these for gifts this Christmas after the class.
Summer class knitting - it's a camp set! Basket-weave facecloth and soap sack. Cute and fun but I don't recommend knitting two sets in one day - murder on the hands. Cotton's great but why does it hurt me? Speaking of which, I've had a jumbo ball of Bernat Handicrafter in pink variegated go AWOL - it's got to be in the house here somewhere but it's hiding from me. Bugger.
Let's see, what else has been happening? Oh yeah, we've had a total heat wave the past week and, true to form, it's knocked my stomach out of whack. Yesterday I had a wicked IBS attack around lunchtime that pretty much eliminated any chance of doing anything for the afternoon and evening. Which meant missing Bundy's promotion BBQ - phooey! I had made pies and everything (which Peter delivered, bless him), but I wanted to GO, and see people, and have fun. As it was I watched a bunch of movies and knit socks and ornaments. Not quite the plan for my Saturday.
I've also started on a correspondence course for the summer, the next module in my Construction Management certificate. Need to carve out a couple hours a week for that, fortunately it's paper based so I can read in the backyard and keep an eye on the garden. The veggies are coming along, pretty much everything's up and the tomato plants have flowers (which, I believe, means they will have fruit, yes?). We're not the most attentive gardeners but it's fun watching things grow.
And today is Father's Day. Which means BBQ for the family around 5:00, which means we need to do some cleaning. I can say that for entertaining, at least it keeps your house tidy! And a few other Sunday chores to attend to. But first, another cup of tea and a few more blogs to read. I've been behind in other people's lives as well as my own!
Have a great week everyone.
Socks for Peter, in James C. Brett "Marble", colourway MT3. These are acrylic self-striping and very soft. I have about 1/3 of a ball left over from the first sock so I will probably make something gift-y with the leftovers from the two balls, later. 2nd sock is just past the gusset - it's been hot lately so sock-knitting is suitable for the weather, even if the socks aren't!
Stitch markers from my Secret Pal in Ohio. Bad picture, they are cute little teal beaded guys. Love 'em, especially as I plan to knit some lace this summer.
The Karma Chameleon Clapotis, resurrected. Increase section done, straight section underway. Yarn is Red Heart Soft, colourway "autumn" I think? Red/Gold/Green. This is "Pay attention!" knitting, so is moving along slowly.
The Wednesday's Cardigan. Remember this one? It's the Patons Rumor chunky yarn, knit in one piece. I want the sweater but have lost enthusiasm for the actual knitting. This may, sadly, wait until cooler weather, which defeats its whole raison d'etre. Meh.
Sock for me, Patons Classic Merino, "Rosewood" colourway. This is the sock I was working on the day of the wedding and it hasn't garnered much attention since. Again, it's too hot for the actual socks, plus I just started teaching the sock class this past Tuesday so I had to start a new sock to teach the class.
The new sock - also Patons Classic Merino, "Denim Marl" colourway. This pair will be for Peter also - apparently he only gets blue socks. :) I'm tempted to cast on the second one to guarantee the pair will be finished quicker (you know, at the same time?) but I don't want to intimidate my students. By the way, LOVING the teaching. I've got great students, fun and enthusiastic and reasonably patient when they make mistakes and have to rip out.Which reminds me, I've taken on another teaching assignment! I'm going to be teaching a five-week "Learn to Knit" course starting in September, for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board! They contacted the program lady at Michaels about a teacher and she hooked me up with them. And then after new year's, a 10-week program! Woohoo! I'm very excited about this, I'm finding that the teaching is making me learn new things and really THINK about my knitting more, and I love that "OH!" moment that the students get when things are working for them. I always wanted to be a teacher, who knew it would be knitting instead of English lit?
A Feather and Fan dishcloth, for a class I'll be teaching in July - "Introduction to lace knitting". Admittedly, a poor introduction, because I learned doing this sample that knitting feather and fan in cotton on 4mm needles is not really fun for the hands. However, it does cover the basics.
Another gift from my Secret Pal - a very cute hardcover notebook. So girly! I love it, it's almost too cute to use.
From SP again - three skeins of KnitPicks "Shadow", which are NOT purple as in the picture, but rather a gorgeous rust-burgundy colour, almost exactly the shade of my Olympic Shawl. Very very pretty and I'm looking forward to knitting it up. 
Time for dye fun! KnitPicks "Bare" from SP, in sockweight. Also included was...
Kool-Aid for dying. Sweet! 
See that white blob on the white stripe? That's a frog on a loose windowscreen, in a thunderstorm. 
Here he is again, as a dark blob on a grey stripe (no flash). This was an eight-minute torrential downpour - how else does a frog get on the window? I thought the Plagues were starting. Anyway, I pulled him in via a clever margarine-tub-and-lid manuever, and kept him safe from the flash flood. Then, released him out the back door...
Onto the steps. The little green-grey blob, that's him. I can tell you the cats wanted to go out and "play" with him but when I opened the door they were more interested in keeping their feet dry. Wussy kitties!
More class knitting - little Christmas ornaments for my "Christmas in July" classes. My first experience with i-cord (for the wreaths) and I can see how addictive it is. The bells were fun, they have a neat trick for self-shaping. The wee socks were a bit fiddly but very cute. Each ornament takes from a half-hour to an hour - I can see making a bunch more of these for gifts this Christmas after the class.
Summer class knitting - it's a camp set! Basket-weave facecloth and soap sack. Cute and fun but I don't recommend knitting two sets in one day - murder on the hands. Cotton's great but why does it hurt me? Speaking of which, I've had a jumbo ball of Bernat Handicrafter in pink variegated go AWOL - it's got to be in the house here somewhere but it's hiding from me. Bugger.Let's see, what else has been happening? Oh yeah, we've had a total heat wave the past week and, true to form, it's knocked my stomach out of whack. Yesterday I had a wicked IBS attack around lunchtime that pretty much eliminated any chance of doing anything for the afternoon and evening. Which meant missing Bundy's promotion BBQ - phooey! I had made pies and everything (which Peter delivered, bless him), but I wanted to GO, and see people, and have fun. As it was I watched a bunch of movies and knit socks and ornaments. Not quite the plan for my Saturday.
I've also started on a correspondence course for the summer, the next module in my Construction Management certificate. Need to carve out a couple hours a week for that, fortunately it's paper based so I can read in the backyard and keep an eye on the garden. The veggies are coming along, pretty much everything's up and the tomato plants have flowers (which, I believe, means they will have fruit, yes?). We're not the most attentive gardeners but it's fun watching things grow.
And today is Father's Day. Which means BBQ for the family around 5:00, which means we need to do some cleaning. I can say that for entertaining, at least it keeps your house tidy! And a few other Sunday chores to attend to. But first, another cup of tea and a few more blogs to read. I've been behind in other people's lives as well as my own!
Have a great week everyone.
Jun 12, 2007
I'm still here!
Geez, as soon as I commit to a schedule everything goes right out the window. I've been INSANELY busy, really. But -
Secret Pal in Ohio - got the package Friday - you TOTALLY ROCK!!! Thank you a million times.
(everyone else, I will post pictures of the goodies as soon as I unearth my camera from the Desk o'Doom here)
Knitting - mostly class samples right now, again, pictures soon.
Work - crazy. Like 6-hours-overtime-on-a-Sunday, when I should have been soaking up sunshine in the garden crazy. Argh.
Everything else - about normal.
And I'm tired, and if you can believe it, sitting here crocheting. Which I really have no interest in doing, but it's faster than I-cord (marginally) and I need a really long cord for a class sample which has to go in to the store for Thursday. Actually, I need two. Blast and dang.
Pictures and goodies and knitting love by the end of the week, I promise! Love you all!
Secret Pal in Ohio - got the package Friday - you TOTALLY ROCK!!! Thank you a million times.
(everyone else, I will post pictures of the goodies as soon as I unearth my camera from the Desk o'Doom here)
Knitting - mostly class samples right now, again, pictures soon.
Work - crazy. Like 6-hours-overtime-on-a-Sunday, when I should have been soaking up sunshine in the garden crazy. Argh.
Everything else - about normal.
And I'm tired, and if you can believe it, sitting here crocheting. Which I really have no interest in doing, but it's faster than I-cord (marginally) and I need a really long cord for a class sample which has to go in to the store for Thursday. Actually, I need two. Blast and dang.
Pictures and goodies and knitting love by the end of the week, I promise! Love you all!
Jun 4, 2007
Apparently, Sundays are for sleeping!
Yes, it's Monday night. Yesterday was all about sleep - sleeping late, napping, and then going to bed early and being completely unable to sleep at all. Oops! Which meant that today was also about sleep, and since I called in sick I took full advantage. Napped 'til nearly noon and then watched a string of movies on cable. Wholly indulgent. I also made some more progress on my Clapotis, which is now back to where it was when I frogged it in irritation last summer. I've been taking a small break from socks as I'll be teaching a three-week sock class starting next week, so lots of sock-knitting coming up.
And I should recap last week, but honestly it's kind of faded in my mind. I'll do my best. Last weekend when we put the garden in, I wrenched my back. Monday went to the doctor, who said, "What did you do to yourself?", put me on heavy-duty drugs and wrote a referral for massage therapy. Wednesday went for the massage which helped the low back immeasurably and also fixed a lot of my upper back/shoulder/neck issues (which are chronic - for work I either sit at a computer or in the car, and for recreation I either read or knit!). Have another appointment for that again on this Wednesday coming.
Saturday was faboo. We were up early to prep for the Hockey Night in the Trailer Park party at our place, did some cleaning and food-ing and yard (almost said YARN) work. Set up the firepit in the back yard and had a test-drive pit BBQ for lunch. Sat in the sunshine with a good book. All wonderful. Then people arrived - lots of people! Neighbours and friends (friendly neighbours) - lots of food and festivity and then the Game. Which, if you follow hockey, you know was Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and you know Ottawa won. Seeing as how we live in Ottawa, this was a Good Thing. But, being up 'til after midnight is not something I do often anymore, which led to the sleeping-all-day Sunday. Closing the loop of this post, so to speak.
I think I'm turning into more of a balanced person. Normally I would be guilt-wracked for taking a sick day when really I'm just tired. Today, no guilt. No email-checking on the Blackberry. No worries. Everything will still be there tomorrow and I had a pretty darn good day of doing not so much. Tomorrow I will do much - really, because I can imagine what's landed on my desk and to-do list and I also have my Knitting 101 class tomorrow night with two new students! I'm very excited about that. And it's June, and my garden is growing and my hubby made me dinner. Life is Good. Now, go Sens Go!
And I should recap last week, but honestly it's kind of faded in my mind. I'll do my best. Last weekend when we put the garden in, I wrenched my back. Monday went to the doctor, who said, "What did you do to yourself?", put me on heavy-duty drugs and wrote a referral for massage therapy. Wednesday went for the massage which helped the low back immeasurably and also fixed a lot of my upper back/shoulder/neck issues (which are chronic - for work I either sit at a computer or in the car, and for recreation I either read or knit!). Have another appointment for that again on this Wednesday coming.
Saturday was faboo. We were up early to prep for the Hockey Night in the Trailer Park party at our place, did some cleaning and food-ing and yard (almost said YARN) work. Set up the firepit in the back yard and had a test-drive pit BBQ for lunch. Sat in the sunshine with a good book. All wonderful. Then people arrived - lots of people! Neighbours and friends (friendly neighbours) - lots of food and festivity and then the Game. Which, if you follow hockey, you know was Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, and you know Ottawa won. Seeing as how we live in Ottawa, this was a Good Thing. But, being up 'til after midnight is not something I do often anymore, which led to the sleeping-all-day Sunday. Closing the loop of this post, so to speak.
I think I'm turning into more of a balanced person. Normally I would be guilt-wracked for taking a sick day when really I'm just tired. Today, no guilt. No email-checking on the Blackberry. No worries. Everything will still be there tomorrow and I had a pretty darn good day of doing not so much. Tomorrow I will do much - really, because I can imagine what's landed on my desk and to-do list and I also have my Knitting 101 class tomorrow night with two new students! I'm very excited about that. And it's June, and my garden is growing and my hubby made me dinner. Life is Good. Now, go Sens Go!
May 27, 2007
Sundays are for blogging
In the same vein as the Harlot's "Tuesdays are for Spinning", I am going to try really hard to establish Sunday as a regular blog-update day - some weeks I get every day in and some weeks not at all - I need to be more consistent with a lot of things in my life (hello, can we say laundry?) and I'm trying to get some structure back now that "the event" is over and things are getting (back to?) normal.
So, a week-in-review update, with no pictures because although most of my house is tidy, my desk is not and I can't find my camera.
Sunday last: married. You heard. Moving on. :)
Monday: Victoria Day (observed, it should really have been Thursday but then we don't get a long weekend). Slept late, took naps, went to bed early. Really a perfect day off. No knitting.
Tuesday: back to work. CHAOS! My job is complete chaos. Trying to catch up with things and just get a handle on what the heck is going on, and when, and why I'm getting yelled at for it. Also answered a lot of "how was the wedding" questions, accepted congratulations, and confused people by changing my last name on email and voicemail. (I had an email asking if my voicemail was me - how fun is that?) No knitting.
Wednesday: uh, more work. That's about it. Still no knitting.
Thursday: still more work. Oh, and the car decided to have a transmission "incident" midafternoon - we were having a minor one-day heat wave (30 celsius plus humidex) and car didn't like it. Fortunately I was 10 minutes away from my mechanic at the time and his shop is air-conditioned (car isn't, at the moment). They did something, it's fixed, but needs "looking at - soon." I totally cannot afford car repairs right now. Argh. Still no knitting, although I had a sock in my bag at the mechanic's - read a trashy mag instead.
Friday: Work, but at a much less frenetic pace. Organized for the week to come, cleared most of the clutter into manageable piles, and was out the door promptly at 1:00 as we are now on our summer hours and I get Friday afternoons off! Woohoo! Errands and then home to a quiet evening. Again with the no knitting. Started to worry that I haven't knit in nearly a week!
Saturday: GARDEN TIME!!! Up at the crack of dawn (or thereabouts), to the nursery, to the other nursery, to the hardware store (for watering implements and assorted garden gadgets), to home where we planted:
1) Tomatoes. Three varieties.
2) Purple cabbage.
3) Bell peppers.
4) Potatoes.
5) Beets (beetroot for the Brits).
6) Radishes.
7) Cucumbers.
8) Snow peas.
9) Snapdragons (not edible, but pretty and planted).
We also moved a few rosebushes and things around to make room for all the veggies, and Peter discovered that his Mom had the startings of an herb garden so I will put the rest of the herbs in there (we'd been waffling on where to put the herb garden anyway). Then, we came inside, ate HUGE sandwiches and watched movies. AND - I knit! I had to, I was relaxed and ready and just could not sit and watch three movies without knitting. Worked on the Wednesday's cardigan and then dug out my Karma Chameleon Clapotis (abandoned in disgust last summer) and restarted it (after a full two hours untangling the bag-o-yarn that it had become). Felt good, REAL good to be just knitting away on whatever, whenever again.
Today: wedding-present shopping! See, our lovely guests were mighty generous with the 50/50 draw and cash gifts tucked into cards as well. We bought a really nice patio set (COMFY chairs!) and a Dyson "animal" vaccuum cleaner (remember, we have two cats and I'm allergic to them, poor fuzzybutts). Apologies for linking to places with prices; I know it's tacky but it's also easy.
And then we came home and had naps and baked bread and had a nice quiet Sunday. The end.
So, a week-in-review update, with no pictures because although most of my house is tidy, my desk is not and I can't find my camera.
Sunday last: married. You heard. Moving on. :)
Monday: Victoria Day (observed, it should really have been Thursday but then we don't get a long weekend). Slept late, took naps, went to bed early. Really a perfect day off. No knitting.
Tuesday: back to work. CHAOS! My job is complete chaos. Trying to catch up with things and just get a handle on what the heck is going on, and when, and why I'm getting yelled at for it. Also answered a lot of "how was the wedding" questions, accepted congratulations, and confused people by changing my last name on email and voicemail. (I had an email asking if my voicemail was me - how fun is that?) No knitting.
Wednesday: uh, more work. That's about it. Still no knitting.
Thursday: still more work. Oh, and the car decided to have a transmission "incident" midafternoon - we were having a minor one-day heat wave (30 celsius plus humidex) and car didn't like it. Fortunately I was 10 minutes away from my mechanic at the time and his shop is air-conditioned (car isn't, at the moment). They did something, it's fixed, but needs "looking at - soon." I totally cannot afford car repairs right now. Argh. Still no knitting, although I had a sock in my bag at the mechanic's - read a trashy mag instead.
Friday: Work, but at a much less frenetic pace. Organized for the week to come, cleared most of the clutter into manageable piles, and was out the door promptly at 1:00 as we are now on our summer hours and I get Friday afternoons off! Woohoo! Errands and then home to a quiet evening. Again with the no knitting. Started to worry that I haven't knit in nearly a week!
Saturday: GARDEN TIME!!! Up at the crack of dawn (or thereabouts), to the nursery, to the other nursery, to the hardware store (for watering implements and assorted garden gadgets), to home where we planted:
1) Tomatoes. Three varieties.
2) Purple cabbage.
3) Bell peppers.
4) Potatoes.
5) Beets (beetroot for the Brits).
6) Radishes.
7) Cucumbers.
8) Snow peas.
9) Snapdragons (not edible, but pretty and planted).
We also moved a few rosebushes and things around to make room for all the veggies, and Peter discovered that his Mom had the startings of an herb garden so I will put the rest of the herbs in there (we'd been waffling on where to put the herb garden anyway). Then, we came inside, ate HUGE sandwiches and watched movies. AND - I knit! I had to, I was relaxed and ready and just could not sit and watch three movies without knitting. Worked on the Wednesday's cardigan and then dug out my Karma Chameleon Clapotis (abandoned in disgust last summer) and restarted it (after a full two hours untangling the bag-o-yarn that it had become). Felt good, REAL good to be just knitting away on whatever, whenever again.
Today: wedding-present shopping! See, our lovely guests were mighty generous with the 50/50 draw and cash gifts tucked into cards as well. We bought a really nice patio set (COMFY chairs!) and a Dyson "animal" vaccuum cleaner (remember, we have two cats and I'm allergic to them, poor fuzzybutts). Apologies for linking to places with prices; I know it's tacky but it's also easy.
And then we came home and had naps and baked bread and had a nice quiet Sunday. The end.
May 22, 2007
Married!
Wow, two days married and I'm still grinning like an idiot. :) This will be a brief post because I tried to write out everything I thought and felt about the day and well... just couldn't. But I did promise pictures! So here is a picture of Peter and I, just after the ceremony, going away for a quiet moment before the reception:
And here is a "group hug" / "team photo" of the whole kit and caboodle (except our officiant Al, who had to leave early, darn it!)
It was a wonderful, incredible, joyous day and everything I had hoped for. See all those smiles? There's a whole lotta love in that room. I am so lucky.
And here is a "group hug" / "team photo" of the whole kit and caboodle (except our officiant Al, who had to leave early, darn it!)
It was a wonderful, incredible, joyous day and everything I had hoped for. See all those smiles? There's a whole lotta love in that room. I am so lucky.
May 19, 2007
T-1, or - deck building day
Yes, it's tradition don't you know to build a patio deck in your back yard the day before you marry! Well, what the heck, we need the deck and it's a beautiful day. There's so much going on right now my head is spinning (not least of which, my sister and her kids arrived from out East last night at 11:00 and SURPRISE! - three more for the wedding. They'd better have a late lunch because there are no extra fajitas.)
Was visiting Yumi's blog this morning and found pictures of me:
and the chapel for the wedding tomorrow.
Thanks Yumi! I've had a pretty insane week and I needed a moment of tranquility... these pictures are it.
So today, we build a deck, then Gloria and Dylan and I are going to have lunch at Cora's and see Shrek the Third - yes, I will miss what may be the last Sens game of this series (if they win) but I don't see Gloria often and hockey is always there. Fortuitously, the Wings lost their last game, so tomorrow's game is non-critical. Still, they should win now. No screwing around.
Last night we watched Pan's Labyrinth - a good film, a dark film but well made and intriguing. Some violent bits but nothing too over the top. It would have been nice to know in advance that the film was in Spanish with English subtitles, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. However, I messed up my #2 blue sock heel and had to frog it back to zero - subtitles and heel-turning are apparently a bad combination for me. Ah well.
Have a great long weekend everyone - next post will be from married me!
Was visiting Yumi's blog this morning and found pictures of me:
and the chapel for the wedding tomorrow.
Thanks Yumi! I've had a pretty insane week and I needed a moment of tranquility... these pictures are it.
So today, we build a deck, then Gloria and Dylan and I are going to have lunch at Cora's and see Shrek the Third - yes, I will miss what may be the last Sens game of this series (if they win) but I don't see Gloria often and hockey is always there. Fortuitously, the Wings lost their last game, so tomorrow's game is non-critical. Still, they should win now. No screwing around.
Last night we watched Pan's Labyrinth - a good film, a dark film but well made and intriguing. Some violent bits but nothing too over the top. It would have been nice to know in advance that the film was in Spanish with English subtitles, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. However, I messed up my #2 blue sock heel and had to frog it back to zero - subtitles and heel-turning are apparently a bad combination for me. Ah well.
Have a great long weekend everyone - next post will be from married me!
May 15, 2007
This is not a real post
It's another meme, 'cuz Tess was sneaky and tagged me in hers. Bad Tess, giving me work to do five days before my wedding! :) So:
Eight things about me
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.
8 Random (but oddly connected) Facts about Kit
1. I hate to eat fruit, but love fruit smoothies.
2. I feel much less guilty about buying Starbucks lattes or Booster Juice smoothies when I remember I used to spend more per day on cigarettes, and don't anymore.
3. At least twice a year, I still get a powerful urge to smoke. But I don't.
4. At least twice a year, I go through my closet and purge clothes I don't wear or that don't fit or that are just plain dead. I'd rather wear the same pants three days a week than three different pairs I don't feel comfortable in.
5. I have totally come to terms with "comfort" as my personal sense of style.
6. Yes, I do wear socks with sandals - but only hand-knit ones I've made myself.
7. I have to be knitting at least two things for other people for every one thing I make myself or I feel INSANELY guilty.
8. I am getting better at being honest with people when I just don't have the energy to go out and do stuff. Rather than make a lame excuse I will phone them and say, "I don't feel like it tonight, I'm going to bed but I love you and will see you soon." People are generally understanding of that, and if they're not, why on earth would I spend time with them anyway?
Ok, that's eight. Done like dinner - oh crap, I need to eat dinner. Um, tagging eight people... do eight people read this thing? um... Yumi, Lori, Alison, SP!, Tess (tag-back, ha!), and anyone else that feels like it.
Time for dinner and then Happy Hippie Hat part II!
Eight things about me
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.
8 Random (but oddly connected) Facts about Kit
1. I hate to eat fruit, but love fruit smoothies.
2. I feel much less guilty about buying Starbucks lattes or Booster Juice smoothies when I remember I used to spend more per day on cigarettes, and don't anymore.
3. At least twice a year, I still get a powerful urge to smoke. But I don't.
4. At least twice a year, I go through my closet and purge clothes I don't wear or that don't fit or that are just plain dead. I'd rather wear the same pants three days a week than three different pairs I don't feel comfortable in.
5. I have totally come to terms with "comfort" as my personal sense of style.
6. Yes, I do wear socks with sandals - but only hand-knit ones I've made myself.
7. I have to be knitting at least two things for other people for every one thing I make myself or I feel INSANELY guilty.
8. I am getting better at being honest with people when I just don't have the energy to go out and do stuff. Rather than make a lame excuse I will phone them and say, "I don't feel like it tonight, I'm going to bed but I love you and will see you soon." People are generally understanding of that, and if they're not, why on earth would I spend time with them anyway?
Ok, that's eight. Done like dinner - oh crap, I need to eat dinner. Um, tagging eight people... do eight people read this thing? um... Yumi, Lori, Alison, SP!, Tess (tag-back, ha!), and anyone else that feels like it.
Time for dinner and then Happy Hippie Hat part II!
May 13, 2007
Seven days from now...
We'll be into the second set of the Crowd show (R&B and dancing) part of the wedding. We'll have chicken wings and veggie trays and I'm SURE my eye makeup will be raccoon-ing. And I will be - married.
Ok, if you're here for the knitting, you will have to indulge my marital obsession for just a few more days. At the moment all I can knit are socks (hey! I cast on the "Rosewood" - looks like cherry-chocolate-swirl ice cream. Yum.) and even at that, I'm having difficulty with things like turning heels and decreasing toes the right way. I'm NOT nervous, just - preoccupied, especially with the weather (current forecast: massive rainstorm on Wednesday followed by hot and sunny through to Sunday. Please God, keep that one!). And details, details - everyone is offering to help but I don't know what I need help WITH! But - it will all be good and beautiful and, as I'm told, go by in a big ol' blur anyway.
Meanwhile, we had Mother's Day at the folks' place with the folks (of course) and sis and niece. BBQ and wedding chat (of course) and general family-time-goodness. I brought tulips fresh-cut from our garden, which Mom loved, and she was wearing the Fleece Artist socks I knit for her too. Yay me! And, I had a call from my daughter, who is super-excited about coming up for the wedding (she arrives Thursday), which made the day even better.
Now, I'm home and bathed (oh, I love my tub!) and thinking about bed. Actually, I'm thinking about curried cashew nuts, but I don't have the makings for it so I will have to settle for reading the recipe again and putting the makings on the grocery list for the weekend. I had some of these at Tara's the other night and they are ever-so-good and addictive as hell.
This week is going to fly, and I have obligations every single evening:
Monday: meet with Al, our officiant, to finalize ceremony stuff.
Tuesday: teach Part 2 of my Happy Hippie Hat class.
Wednesday: SnB Bridgehead. I so need a night with the girls to just KNIT!
Thursday: pick up daughter at airport, get groceries.
Friday: uh... well, Friday evening we don't have plans, as such. But I'm sure we will, by then!
So there may not be any more blogging this week. And I promise PROMISE that after the wedding we will return to regular knit-talk, mostly. Maybe one picture, if any turn out decently.
Oh, and before I forget: yes, I am getting married wearing a hockey jersey. But for the first part of the ceremony I will be wearing my "rabbit tracks" from Alison (scroll to Dec. 7 and Dec. 2 for story and picture), because I think you can never have too many hugs on your wedding day, and that will be a long-distance hug of the highest magnitude. :)
This time next week, I'm gonna be married. Wow and wow again. Life is sweet.
Ok, if you're here for the knitting, you will have to indulge my marital obsession for just a few more days. At the moment all I can knit are socks (hey! I cast on the "Rosewood" - looks like cherry-chocolate-swirl ice cream. Yum.) and even at that, I'm having difficulty with things like turning heels and decreasing toes the right way. I'm NOT nervous, just - preoccupied, especially with the weather (current forecast: massive rainstorm on Wednesday followed by hot and sunny through to Sunday. Please God, keep that one!). And details, details - everyone is offering to help but I don't know what I need help WITH! But - it will all be good and beautiful and, as I'm told, go by in a big ol' blur anyway.
Meanwhile, we had Mother's Day at the folks' place with the folks (of course) and sis and niece. BBQ and wedding chat (of course) and general family-time-goodness. I brought tulips fresh-cut from our garden, which Mom loved, and she was wearing the Fleece Artist socks I knit for her too. Yay me! And, I had a call from my daughter, who is super-excited about coming up for the wedding (she arrives Thursday), which made the day even better.
Now, I'm home and bathed (oh, I love my tub!) and thinking about bed. Actually, I'm thinking about curried cashew nuts, but I don't have the makings for it so I will have to settle for reading the recipe again and putting the makings on the grocery list for the weekend. I had some of these at Tara's the other night and they are ever-so-good and addictive as hell.
This week is going to fly, and I have obligations every single evening:
Monday: meet with Al, our officiant, to finalize ceremony stuff.
Tuesday: teach Part 2 of my Happy Hippie Hat class.
Wednesday: SnB Bridgehead. I so need a night with the girls to just KNIT!
Thursday: pick up daughter at airport, get groceries.
Friday: uh... well, Friday evening we don't have plans, as such. But I'm sure we will, by then!
So there may not be any more blogging this week. And I promise PROMISE that after the wedding we will return to regular knit-talk, mostly. Maybe one picture, if any turn out decently.
Oh, and before I forget: yes, I am getting married wearing a hockey jersey. But for the first part of the ceremony I will be wearing my "rabbit tracks" from Alison (scroll to Dec. 7 and Dec. 2 for story and picture), because I think you can never have too many hugs on your wedding day, and that will be a long-distance hug of the highest magnitude. :)
This time next week, I'm gonna be married. Wow and wow again. Life is sweet.
May 12, 2007
Saturday, in the Park
Don't know who wrote that song, and I'm pretty sure they weren't singing about sitting indoors watching "A League of Their Own" whilst knitting socks. But that was a big chunk of my day. Here is the result:
(No, I didn't knit ALL that during one movie. Finished 'em all though!) From left to right: sock for me in Patons Classic Merino Wool, "Wedgewood" colourway - this is sock 1 of the pair, I've been too busy to knit much lately! 2nd from left is a "teaching sock" in six colours of Patons Astra, the six colours representing the six "steps" in the sock-knitting process. And on the right-hand side are a pair of teaching socks in eeny-weeny size (honestly they wouldn't even fit a baby, but they do demonstrate the process fairly well I think!)
These will be my store samples for the June sock class series; I have 2 confirmed and one interested student so I'm getting pysched for that. However I'm also very busy with wedding last-minute-y stuff (a week tomorrow!) and that is starting to push other things to the back of my mind. Go figure.
Smells like my pie is done - cherry pie to take to dinner at Sandy & Dan's and then over to Bundy & Kid's for hockey. Can we stretch one pie to two social events? I hope so, I'm too tired to make another and it's getting late. Serves me right for napping all morning... I woke up at 7:30 (it's saturday!) and read for about two hours, and then suddenly it was noon and I had a kitty on my lap. Kitty on lap makes for instant nappage, apparently. :)
Edit: No B&K trip last night - so SO tired, we had dinner and then I just came home and fell into bed before the 2nd period of the hockey game started. So Yumi gets another Pie-O-You!
(No, I didn't knit ALL that during one movie. Finished 'em all though!) From left to right: sock for me in Patons Classic Merino Wool, "Wedgewood" colourway - this is sock 1 of the pair, I've been too busy to knit much lately! 2nd from left is a "teaching sock" in six colours of Patons Astra, the six colours representing the six "steps" in the sock-knitting process. And on the right-hand side are a pair of teaching socks in eeny-weeny size (honestly they wouldn't even fit a baby, but they do demonstrate the process fairly well I think!)These will be my store samples for the June sock class series; I have 2 confirmed and one interested student so I'm getting pysched for that. However I'm also very busy with wedding last-minute-y stuff (a week tomorrow!) and that is starting to push other things to the back of my mind. Go figure.
Smells like my pie is done - cherry pie to take to dinner at Sandy & Dan's and then over to Bundy & Kid's for hockey. Can we stretch one pie to two social events? I hope so, I'm too tired to make another and it's getting late. Serves me right for napping all morning... I woke up at 7:30 (it's saturday!) and read for about two hours, and then suddenly it was noon and I had a kitty on my lap. Kitty on lap makes for instant nappage, apparently. :)
Edit: No B&K trip last night - so SO tired, we had dinner and then I just came home and fell into bed before the 2nd period of the hockey game started. So Yumi gets another Pie-O-You!
May 7, 2007
Teaching again!
Went into the store tonight to check if anyone had signed up for my Hippie Hat class and there was a lady signing her daughter up at that very moment! Which was very cool, because if I had been five minutes earlier or she had been five minutes later, the class would have been cancelled (24 hours prior + no students = no class). BUT - I have a student, so the Hippie Hat class goes forward. Neat! So tonight I need to finalize the pattern (thanks again to all who provided suggestions) and pack up my little bag o' goodies for tomorrow evening. Yay paid knitting time!
After a very busy but oh-so-productive weekend of landscaping (pictures later, they're on Peter's camera), we have a lovely back yard and a much smaller pile of dirt. We still need to move about 1.5 cubic yards of earth, filling in little spots here and there. Hoping to get to that Wednesday evening, if I don't have to work too late. WORK - augh! Let's just say the crazy train is heading my way from both directions and I'm tied to the tracks. It's going to be a Fugly week, but what can you do? Gotta work. The upside is, the week will FLY by and then I can play in my dirt some more. And knit and watch hockey. And totally NOT stress about the wedding, which is now in 13 days (never mind the counter, I think it's in a different time zone than I am). I'm not stressed, just tired of people asking me if I'm stressed. Or nervous. Or, "so, still have time to run, you know!" Got that one this morning, to which I replied, "Nope. We bought plants together. That's a commitment." Why is it people feel the need to antagonize you about your wedding ENDLESSLY, right up until the moment? It's like going up to a pregnant lady and saying, "So, those feet sure are swollen. Sure you don't want to reconsider?" Or poke her in the belly or say "how many days now? Gee, aren't you NERVOUS?" Gods, people - it's a wedding, I'm not going to the moon. It's a party to celebrate me and my honey and our nearest and dearest.
Sorry, just a little annoyance there. I'm fine, really. Have to go finish my pattern notes now. G'night all.
After a very busy but oh-so-productive weekend of landscaping (pictures later, they're on Peter's camera), we have a lovely back yard and a much smaller pile of dirt. We still need to move about 1.5 cubic yards of earth, filling in little spots here and there. Hoping to get to that Wednesday evening, if I don't have to work too late. WORK - augh! Let's just say the crazy train is heading my way from both directions and I'm tied to the tracks. It's going to be a Fugly week, but what can you do? Gotta work. The upside is, the week will FLY by and then I can play in my dirt some more. And knit and watch hockey. And totally NOT stress about the wedding, which is now in 13 days (never mind the counter, I think it's in a different time zone than I am). I'm not stressed, just tired of people asking me if I'm stressed. Or nervous. Or, "so, still have time to run, you know!" Got that one this morning, to which I replied, "Nope. We bought plants together. That's a commitment." Why is it people feel the need to antagonize you about your wedding ENDLESSLY, right up until the moment? It's like going up to a pregnant lady and saying, "So, those feet sure are swollen. Sure you don't want to reconsider?" Or poke her in the belly or say "how many days now? Gee, aren't you NERVOUS?" Gods, people - it's a wedding, I'm not going to the moon. It's a party to celebrate me and my honey and our nearest and dearest.
Sorry, just a little annoyance there. I'm fine, really. Have to go finish my pattern notes now. G'night all.
May 6, 2007
Two weeks and counting...
It's Sunday morning, two weeks before the wedding. Peter's up early (as usual) and I've slept in a bit (as usual) and now we're getting ready to tackle Phase II of the landscaping project. Phase I was yesterday - actually, we started Friday evening - where we moved a little over half of 8 cubic yards of topdressing soil into our backyard from our driveway. Our backyard resembled a bit of a moonscape - all dips and hollows and high spots and very poor drainage. Now it's well on it's way to being a reasonably level, reasonably smooth blank canvas of rich soil on which we can impose beauty. We hope.
Today's plan calls for moving the rest of the dirt, bringing in a pile of rocks for the retaining wall and pathway, and planting a few things. I've got pansies to go in the front, and daylilies (in abundance!) which we dug up from beside the composter (where they were THRIVING, I can tell you!) and are going to put in around an ugly standpipe that the landlord whacked into the middle of our front yard last year. Hopefully the daylilies will disguise it fairly well.
Then we will seed the back yard with a mix of grass and white clover - as Peter says, "let 'em fight it out, something will grow!" There is a corner reserved for a large bed of flowers/shrubs/whatnot. There is a sunny spot (by the composter!) for my herb garden. And finally, there is the LARGE vegetable garden. But that will be a project for another week - still too cold for getting veggies in the ground. We had -1 windchill last night.
And knitting? The upshot of all this earth-y business is that I knit for about - 2 hours? yesterday. Finished the first pair of store socks and started the second. This evening I will have to knit a lot, and tomorrow evening as well, because I have to get these samples in ASAP. But first, more dirt.
And what does all this have to do with the wedding, you might ask? I think it's obvious. We're building and beautifying our home, together. Working in harmonious tandem to achieve common goals. NOT having dirt fights (Yet!). And sharing in those quiet moments where we both sit in chairs, on a freshly-raked bed of topdressing soil, in the sunshine, and say "It Is Good."
Happy Sunday all!
Today's plan calls for moving the rest of the dirt, bringing in a pile of rocks for the retaining wall and pathway, and planting a few things. I've got pansies to go in the front, and daylilies (in abundance!) which we dug up from beside the composter (where they were THRIVING, I can tell you!) and are going to put in around an ugly standpipe that the landlord whacked into the middle of our front yard last year. Hopefully the daylilies will disguise it fairly well.
Then we will seed the back yard with a mix of grass and white clover - as Peter says, "let 'em fight it out, something will grow!" There is a corner reserved for a large bed of flowers/shrubs/whatnot. There is a sunny spot (by the composter!) for my herb garden. And finally, there is the LARGE vegetable garden. But that will be a project for another week - still too cold for getting veggies in the ground. We had -1 windchill last night.
And knitting? The upshot of all this earth-y business is that I knit for about - 2 hours? yesterday. Finished the first pair of store socks and started the second. This evening I will have to knit a lot, and tomorrow evening as well, because I have to get these samples in ASAP. But first, more dirt.
And what does all this have to do with the wedding, you might ask? I think it's obvious. We're building and beautifying our home, together. Working in harmonious tandem to achieve common goals. NOT having dirt fights (Yet!). And sharing in those quiet moments where we both sit in chairs, on a freshly-raked bed of topdressing soil, in the sunshine, and say "It Is Good."
Happy Sunday all!
May 3, 2007
Thursday? Whoa!
This week went by too fast. Today started off wonky (forgot my tea, left stuff in trunk of car, new light for desk lamp didn't fit, stupid people asking stupid questions, pants didn't fit)...
and then got oogy (pants didn't fit, every food choice tasted wrong and made for upset stomach, head ache and back ache)...
and ended up good (bought pants that do fit, came home to Peter doing dishes, have an evening of relaxed knitting ahead).
This weekend we're sticking close to home and getting serious yardwork done. As in, 10 cubic yards of topsoil getting dumped in the driveway and then trucked around back in wheelbarrows and raked over the backyard to even out all the humps and hollows. Assuming of course that we can get the dirt delivered tomorrow (kind of a last-minute plan, oops!). If not, screw it - I'll knit and go golfing. :) Either way I'm getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine this weekend - may have to run a long cable/extension cord outside to watch the Detroit game Saturday afternoon!
Still working on blue sock #1 - pink sock #1 has not yet been started but I have to be good and finish the store sample socks before I go back to my socks. Darn it. :) Pictures of store socks soon.
OH! And, I got together 90% of the goodies to send to my Secret Pal - she's overseas from me so I'm doing 1 big package instead of several smaller ones. Got to get that in the mail next week. Mmm. Secret goodies. I will take pictures to post AFTER SP10 is over so you all can witness my selflessness in sending away stuff I really REALLY wanted to keep for myself. Ah well, it'll teach me humility or something.
and then got oogy (pants didn't fit, every food choice tasted wrong and made for upset stomach, head ache and back ache)...
and ended up good (bought pants that do fit, came home to Peter doing dishes, have an evening of relaxed knitting ahead).
This weekend we're sticking close to home and getting serious yardwork done. As in, 10 cubic yards of topsoil getting dumped in the driveway and then trucked around back in wheelbarrows and raked over the backyard to even out all the humps and hollows. Assuming of course that we can get the dirt delivered tomorrow (kind of a last-minute plan, oops!). If not, screw it - I'll knit and go golfing. :) Either way I'm getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine this weekend - may have to run a long cable/extension cord outside to watch the Detroit game Saturday afternoon!
Still working on blue sock #1 - pink sock #1 has not yet been started but I have to be good and finish the store sample socks before I go back to my socks. Darn it. :) Pictures of store socks soon.
OH! And, I got together 90% of the goodies to send to my Secret Pal - she's overseas from me so I'm doing 1 big package instead of several smaller ones. Got to get that in the mail next week. Mmm. Secret goodies. I will take pictures to post AFTER SP10 is over so you all can witness my selflessness in sending away stuff I really REALLY wanted to keep for myself. Ah well, it'll teach me humility or something.
May 1, 2007
Teaching is fun
Especially when your students are patient and relaxed and really want to learn. We had fun tonight - I had fun, even though I was nervous and trying to figure out the "must know" stuff from the "good to know" stuff. They (my peeps!) had fun and both are willing to learn more about knitting. A class of two was a good start - I think I might have had trouble with more, but now I know how to teach the knitting, not just do the knitting. And that's pretty dang cool.
Apr 30, 2007
A good Monday
Today was a Good Monday. Those are a pretty rare thing, Mondays being what they are, but this was a good one. I got things accomplished at work (the "to-do" list shrinks daily - woohoo!), I had a lovely BBQ dinner with Peter, I had a good chat with Gloria on the phone (my daughter - she's 14 today. My heavens, time flies!) AND - I got presents!
This was in the mailbox today from my Secret Pal (who, I know now, is in Ohio. Ohio rocks!) A really pretty stripey purple card with a nice note in it, some absofreakinglutely decadent chocolate - Lindt Excellence "Extreme Mint" dark chocolate - I broke my "no chocolate after noon" rule for a square (!). And, be still my heart, Socks that Rock sock yarn. In a stunning colourway called "Puck's Mischief." Here's a close-up:
I had to laugh when I saw the name - I had a roommate many moons ago who went by the nickname Puck, and she was indeed full of mischief. And I think some good medication. ;p Anyway, the yarn is GORGEOUS and I can't decide if I should cast it on right away or save it to knit on my birthday or some auspicious occasion. Because odds are good, this will be the only Socks that Rock that I ever get, since it's hard to come by. And golly-dang, it's PRETTY! So, many many thanks to my lovely Ohio Secret Pal - you totally made my Monday. But wait - there's more!
I finished the first pair of Patons Classic stripey-socks, the "Forest" colourway. Look at my socks!
They're kind of camo-coloured without being camo-patterened. Definite stripage happening, and they are SO comfy. The camera angle makes my feet look huge and Peter's (bare) feet look small, but that's strictly a camera thing. Here's a close-up:
The ribbing is stretchy and just snug enough. Super comfort. And I love the way the stripes widen as you go over the heel flap - can you see it? Maybe try this pic:
You know, it's not easy to take pictures of the bottom of your own foot. I need to do more yoga, apparently! Sock #1 of the blue pair is past the heel turn and gusset, ready to "zoom down the foot" as the ladies say (or I said, and they thought was cute - don't remember, it was a knitgroup thing). Will probably cast on the first pink sock tonight during the game to keep the momentum rolling.
So, tonight is Game 3 of the Ottawa/New Jersey series and while I'm not a raving Sens fan, they are my "#3 team" after Detroit and Montreal, so we'll listen to the game. I am a raving "Dean and Gord" fan - they're the guys who do the game broadcasts on the Team 1200 (Ottawa sports radio) and they are IMO the best play-by-play and colour-man combo working in hockey today. Really, they're awesome. We usually watch the game on CBC but mute the sound and listen to the good broadcast. :)
But first, I have to assemble my class notes for tomorrow night. So looking forward to it - and hoping I can actually successfully communicate how to knit to more than one person at a time. Although at present there are only 2 students (my peeps!) so it shouldn't be too difficult. Gloria wants to learn too when she comes up for the wedding, so that will be good training for my teaching kids to knit class later this summer.
Wow, what a great Monday. OH! Almost forgot, Peter's eye is much better. He took the patch off this morning and had a quiet day at home and it's much better, though still a little bloodshot at the corner and with an odd yellow tinge that I think is from the dye the doctor dropped in to find the "foreign matter." Vaguely jaundiced-looking, makes him look all mean and stuff. Which is funny, because when I told the guys at work about having to take Peter to the hospital for his eye, one of them said, "why, what happened to his eye?" And I replied (JOKING!) "Well, you know, he just wouldn't listen to me...(!)" That's a joke, people, I do not abuse my soon-to-be hubby. Fun and games. And now, responsibility time. Got to make up my handouts! Wish me luck for tomorrow night, even with a friendly class I'm a bit nervous still.
(Can you believe it? Socks that Rock! For me!)
This was in the mailbox today from my Secret Pal (who, I know now, is in Ohio. Ohio rocks!) A really pretty stripey purple card with a nice note in it, some absofreakinglutely decadent chocolate - Lindt Excellence "Extreme Mint" dark chocolate - I broke my "no chocolate after noon" rule for a square (!). And, be still my heart, Socks that Rock sock yarn. In a stunning colourway called "Puck's Mischief." Here's a close-up:
I had to laugh when I saw the name - I had a roommate many moons ago who went by the nickname Puck, and she was indeed full of mischief. And I think some good medication. ;p Anyway, the yarn is GORGEOUS and I can't decide if I should cast it on right away or save it to knit on my birthday or some auspicious occasion. Because odds are good, this will be the only Socks that Rock that I ever get, since it's hard to come by. And golly-dang, it's PRETTY! So, many many thanks to my lovely Ohio Secret Pal - you totally made my Monday. But wait - there's more!I finished the first pair of Patons Classic stripey-socks, the "Forest" colourway. Look at my socks!
They're kind of camo-coloured without being camo-patterened. Definite stripage happening, and they are SO comfy. The camera angle makes my feet look huge and Peter's (bare) feet look small, but that's strictly a camera thing. Here's a close-up:
The ribbing is stretchy and just snug enough. Super comfort. And I love the way the stripes widen as you go over the heel flap - can you see it? Maybe try this pic:
You know, it's not easy to take pictures of the bottom of your own foot. I need to do more yoga, apparently! Sock #1 of the blue pair is past the heel turn and gusset, ready to "zoom down the foot" as the ladies say (or I said, and they thought was cute - don't remember, it was a knitgroup thing). Will probably cast on the first pink sock tonight during the game to keep the momentum rolling.So, tonight is Game 3 of the Ottawa/New Jersey series and while I'm not a raving Sens fan, they are my "#3 team" after Detroit and Montreal, so we'll listen to the game. I am a raving "Dean and Gord" fan - they're the guys who do the game broadcasts on the Team 1200 (Ottawa sports radio) and they are IMO the best play-by-play and colour-man combo working in hockey today. Really, they're awesome. We usually watch the game on CBC but mute the sound and listen to the good broadcast. :)
But first, I have to assemble my class notes for tomorrow night. So looking forward to it - and hoping I can actually successfully communicate how to knit to more than one person at a time. Although at present there are only 2 students (my peeps!) so it shouldn't be too difficult. Gloria wants to learn too when she comes up for the wedding, so that will be good training for my teaching kids to knit class later this summer.
Wow, what a great Monday. OH! Almost forgot, Peter's eye is much better. He took the patch off this morning and had a quiet day at home and it's much better, though still a little bloodshot at the corner and with an odd yellow tinge that I think is from the dye the doctor dropped in to find the "foreign matter." Vaguely jaundiced-looking, makes him look all mean and stuff. Which is funny, because when I told the guys at work about having to take Peter to the hospital for his eye, one of them said, "why, what happened to his eye?" And I replied (JOKING!) "Well, you know, he just wouldn't listen to me...(!)" That's a joke, people, I do not abuse my soon-to-be hubby. Fun and games. And now, responsibility time. Got to make up my handouts! Wish me luck for tomorrow night, even with a friendly class I'm a bit nervous still.
(Can you believe it? Socks that Rock! For me!)
Apr 29, 2007
In three weeks...
In three weeks from now (8:26 p.m. Eastern time), I'll be a married person, halfway through the "dance" part of the reception, possibly eating chicken wings and veggie sticks. That is the coolest thought I've had today. The rest of the day was Sunday stuff - laundry, John Wayne movies, knit on a sock, take Peter to the hospital... oh, right... that's not NORMAL Sunday stuff!
Yeah, the Boy got some crud in his eye (either melamine dust from a cabinet or insulation from an attic, or both - joys of contracting!) and it was all scratchy and red yesterday. So we flushed it with drops and bottled water and it felt a little better but not great. So off we went this morning to the hospital where, after a blessedly short wait (about 1-2" of worsted-weight sock) the doctor dug out the crud with a Q-tip, put in some drops to "Freeze the pupil" (eek!), and put a gauze patch on it for 24 hours. So Peter's a pirate for a day - cranky pirate because he can't play video games even though he'll be home all day tomorrow. He can watch tv as long as he doesn't move his head around, but mostly he's been napping and listening to podcasts of "Texas gun nut radio". Whatever floats your boat, sez me - it keeps him entertained.
So that made today less-than-productive for me, but I did get a few things done: three loads of washing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner cooked (or at least reheated!), wedding guest list and budget finalized (woohoo! under budget!), vows/ceremony revised and sent to the officiant, and even a few inches of sock. Was planning to do up my class notes for Tuesday night but they'll have to wait for tomorrow - I'm wiped out. Mostly because last night was GIRLS' NIGHT OUT!
Yes, I had a "bachelorette" party last night - me and Yumi and Amanda and Lyndsey had girly drinks and listened to The Crowd and made fun of weird people and were generally silly and fun. I think I only mentioned Peter two or three times, so that's pretty successful right? Although it was very VERY weird being out at a Crowd show without him. But it was a warm-up for the wedding, they've got the setlist nailed down and are sounding fab (sadly, the key Obnoxious Dancing Horn will not be at the wedding, but I'm sure they'll manage to be wonderful anyway!) Yumi dropped me off home again about 12:30, which for me is about two hours past bedtime. Then Yumi was naughty and went and did something massively unsafe and silly for which she shall be scolded (ok, this is the scolding). But we did have fun fun fun and I thank my girls for that. Also for the Starbucks gift card. Mm. Soy Latte!
In knitting, well, things have been all about socks this week. Sample socks for the store (very cute, but not totally done yet so no photo). Worsted-weight socks for me in Patons Classic wool, as follows:
"Forest" - one done, one almost at the toe decrease.
"Wedgewood" - one at the heel, ready to turn.
"Rosewood" - still in the ball, will be casting on once "Forest" are done. All three pair are standard sock recipe (cast on 40 stitches on 4mm needles, 2x2 rib for 2", knit plain for 4", turn heel, plain foot to base of toes, toe decrease, kitchener, done). I can't wait to show pictures but I want a complete pair before I do. You know how variegated yarns can be with knitting socks - pooling, weird stuff, etc. These are so very cool. They are (oh, crap, I'll just tell you) - very very nearly self-striping. And look awesome. And so SO comfy.
I honestly think I could knit socks of this wool in every colour and wear nothing else (although I do love the eeny-weeny sock yarns, they're so pretty - but these are SO FAST!). And, I get a whole pair out of one ball of yarn (with some left over, so I'm going to accumulate some variegateds and some solids and have some fun with mix-n-match, eventually. Heck, I might even knit a couple pair for Peter, although his feet are bigger and he likes his socks longer. He's been hinting a wee bit this week whenever I make him admire MY socks. So once these three pair (and the store samples) are done, I will knit him some socks. Because by then, if my math is correct, he'll be my HUSBAND!
Me - married to Peter. Still loving the sound of that. You should see the silly-ass grin on my face as I even type it. *sigh* Ok, must go put away all that clean laundry and help my temporarily half-blind boy to bed. Life is Good.
Yeah, the Boy got some crud in his eye (either melamine dust from a cabinet or insulation from an attic, or both - joys of contracting!) and it was all scratchy and red yesterday. So we flushed it with drops and bottled water and it felt a little better but not great. So off we went this morning to the hospital where, after a blessedly short wait (about 1-2" of worsted-weight sock) the doctor dug out the crud with a Q-tip, put in some drops to "Freeze the pupil" (eek!), and put a gauze patch on it for 24 hours. So Peter's a pirate for a day - cranky pirate because he can't play video games even though he'll be home all day tomorrow. He can watch tv as long as he doesn't move his head around, but mostly he's been napping and listening to podcasts of "Texas gun nut radio". Whatever floats your boat, sez me - it keeps him entertained.
So that made today less-than-productive for me, but I did get a few things done: three loads of washing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner cooked (or at least reheated!), wedding guest list and budget finalized (woohoo! under budget!), vows/ceremony revised and sent to the officiant, and even a few inches of sock. Was planning to do up my class notes for Tuesday night but they'll have to wait for tomorrow - I'm wiped out. Mostly because last night was GIRLS' NIGHT OUT!
Yes, I had a "bachelorette" party last night - me and Yumi and Amanda and Lyndsey had girly drinks and listened to The Crowd and made fun of weird people and were generally silly and fun. I think I only mentioned Peter two or three times, so that's pretty successful right? Although it was very VERY weird being out at a Crowd show without him. But it was a warm-up for the wedding, they've got the setlist nailed down and are sounding fab (sadly, the key Obnoxious Dancing Horn will not be at the wedding, but I'm sure they'll manage to be wonderful anyway!) Yumi dropped me off home again about 12:30, which for me is about two hours past bedtime. Then Yumi was naughty and went and did something massively unsafe and silly for which she shall be scolded (ok, this is the scolding). But we did have fun fun fun and I thank my girls for that. Also for the Starbucks gift card. Mm. Soy Latte!
In knitting, well, things have been all about socks this week. Sample socks for the store (very cute, but not totally done yet so no photo). Worsted-weight socks for me in Patons Classic wool, as follows:
"Forest" - one done, one almost at the toe decrease.
"Wedgewood" - one at the heel, ready to turn.
"Rosewood" - still in the ball, will be casting on once "Forest" are done. All three pair are standard sock recipe (cast on 40 stitches on 4mm needles, 2x2 rib for 2", knit plain for 4", turn heel, plain foot to base of toes, toe decrease, kitchener, done). I can't wait to show pictures but I want a complete pair before I do. You know how variegated yarns can be with knitting socks - pooling, weird stuff, etc. These are so very cool. They are (oh, crap, I'll just tell you) - very very nearly self-striping. And look awesome. And so SO comfy.I honestly think I could knit socks of this wool in every colour and wear nothing else (although I do love the eeny-weeny sock yarns, they're so pretty - but these are SO FAST!). And, I get a whole pair out of one ball of yarn (with some left over, so I'm going to accumulate some variegateds and some solids and have some fun with mix-n-match, eventually. Heck, I might even knit a couple pair for Peter, although his feet are bigger and he likes his socks longer. He's been hinting a wee bit this week whenever I make him admire MY socks. So once these three pair (and the store samples) are done, I will knit him some socks. Because by then, if my math is correct, he'll be my HUSBAND!
Me - married to Peter. Still loving the sound of that. You should see the silly-ass grin on my face as I even type it. *sigh* Ok, must go put away all that clean laundry and help my temporarily half-blind boy to bed. Life is Good.
Apr 24, 2007
Why my friends are the best...
Yumi and N8an are going to take my Knitting 101 class next week. Which is incredibly sweet of them and means that the class will indeed take place (no customers, no class!), so the store folks who want to attend can do so also. I'm figuring I'll probably have between 4 and 6 including "my peeps". (oh gods, I just imagined Yumi and N8an as little marshmallow chickens!)
So now I have to put together my "why knitting is fun and you should do it every day" intro speech and some kind of a basic learn-to-knit lesson plan. You'd think I would do this before actually offering the class, but apparently I am bass-ackwards in this regard. Is anyone surprised?
I also have 24 hours to prepare my June class offerings and about a week and a half to knit up the samples for those. Which will be (drumroll please... socks!). I'm taking an idea I saw in a sock pattern and knitting the sample socks in several colours, one colour for each "step" of the sock so the students can see how it breaks down. And for teaching purposes we're going to use worsted-weight (or maybe chunky!) because knitting your very first sock in actual sock yarn I think would make a person lose faith... they take a really long time on the wee needles.
I'm looking forward to the classes - hoping for some sign-ups for the hat and coffee cozy still, but I won't sweat it too much if there's no interest for the first month. Gotta do more promotions, that's for sure! I've also decided that in July (see, planning ahead now, good me!) I'm going to do a "Kids Can Knit Camp" on Friday afternoons. It'll be a boost in traffic for the store (I hope) and will also improve my teaching skills. Although I have been told that kids learn to knit FAR more easily than adults. We shall see.
Now, my own knitting! Finished a sock in Patons Classic Wool and cast on for the second to go with my new Earth Shoes. I want LOTS of socks to wear with these sandals, they are so so so SO comfy! Still working on the Tequila Sunrise sock #1. Still avoiding seaming up Peter's sweater (gotta be done for the wedding!). And 3/4 done on the Wedding Afghan, which I confirmed last night is going to look PERFECT in the boys' living room. Yay! AND - I'm into the body of my Rumor cardigan, which is looking more and more like a weird alien and less like a sweater with every row. I am persevering with optimism.
Oh, and Sunday we cleaned up the backyard and garden. We have grandiose plans for that - it was such a lovely day to be outdoors and we started thinking what we wanted to do and what we could afford to do (time and money), and I think once we get rolling it's going to be lovely. I already have a comfy outdoor chair under a tree for shady knitting time. :)
And now, back to work. I've been super-busy lately (what else is new?) so I'm blogging at lunchtime because I'm just too dang tired in the evenings to sit in front of the computer. But I just finished my chicken tikka masala and now must do a few more things before my meeting in 45 minutes. Have a terrific day all!
So now I have to put together my "why knitting is fun and you should do it every day" intro speech and some kind of a basic learn-to-knit lesson plan. You'd think I would do this before actually offering the class, but apparently I am bass-ackwards in this regard. Is anyone surprised?
I also have 24 hours to prepare my June class offerings and about a week and a half to knit up the samples for those. Which will be (drumroll please... socks!). I'm taking an idea I saw in a sock pattern and knitting the sample socks in several colours, one colour for each "step" of the sock so the students can see how it breaks down. And for teaching purposes we're going to use worsted-weight (or maybe chunky!) because knitting your very first sock in actual sock yarn I think would make a person lose faith... they take a really long time on the wee needles.
I'm looking forward to the classes - hoping for some sign-ups for the hat and coffee cozy still, but I won't sweat it too much if there's no interest for the first month. Gotta do more promotions, that's for sure! I've also decided that in July (see, planning ahead now, good me!) I'm going to do a "Kids Can Knit Camp" on Friday afternoons. It'll be a boost in traffic for the store (I hope) and will also improve my teaching skills. Although I have been told that kids learn to knit FAR more easily than adults. We shall see.
Now, my own knitting! Finished a sock in Patons Classic Wool and cast on for the second to go with my new Earth Shoes. I want LOTS of socks to wear with these sandals, they are so so so SO comfy! Still working on the Tequila Sunrise sock #1. Still avoiding seaming up Peter's sweater (gotta be done for the wedding!). And 3/4 done on the Wedding Afghan, which I confirmed last night is going to look PERFECT in the boys' living room. Yay! AND - I'm into the body of my Rumor cardigan, which is looking more and more like a weird alien and less like a sweater with every row. I am persevering with optimism.
Oh, and Sunday we cleaned up the backyard and garden. We have grandiose plans for that - it was such a lovely day to be outdoors and we started thinking what we wanted to do and what we could afford to do (time and money), and I think once we get rolling it's going to be lovely. I already have a comfy outdoor chair under a tree for shady knitting time. :)
And now, back to work. I've been super-busy lately (what else is new?) so I'm blogging at lunchtime because I'm just too dang tired in the evenings to sit in front of the computer. But I just finished my chicken tikka masala and now must do a few more things before my meeting in 45 minutes. Have a terrific day all!
Apr 19, 2007
And the week flies by...
Work has been busy this week and even though today was gloriously, truly, springlike, I'm still mighty-tired. However - good news! Saw the doc for the annual physical and she pronounced me in "very good" health. Two caveats: (1) I "should" lose about 10 lbs. (2) I "shouldn't" eat chocolate after noon if I want to fall asleep easily at night.
You know, these are manageable bits of advice. Yay! To celebrate, I bought me a new mauvey-pink t-shirt to wear to work tomorrow (because Fridays are ALL about good boobie t-shirts) and some Patons Classic Wool to make socks. Socks to wear with sandals, because it's now short pants season, and I got the most CUSHY sandals at Wal-Mart - they're called "Earth Shoes" and they are super, super comfy. Plus they show off handknit socks well. So I need more socks. Now.
And, even as I type this, the Sens are locking up their Round One playoff victory, so everyone should be happy at the office tomorrow. Woohoo!
You know, these are manageable bits of advice. Yay! To celebrate, I bought me a new mauvey-pink t-shirt to wear to work tomorrow (because Fridays are ALL about good boobie t-shirts) and some Patons Classic Wool to make socks. Socks to wear with sandals, because it's now short pants season, and I got the most CUSHY sandals at Wal-Mart - they're called "Earth Shoes" and they are super, super comfy. Plus they show off handknit socks well. So I need more socks. Now.
And, even as I type this, the Sens are locking up their Round One playoff victory, so everyone should be happy at the office tomorrow. Woohoo!
Apr 16, 2007
Each one teach... several?
Ok, I really need to start using Peter's camera for blog-photos. Mine just doesn't like any kind of artificial lighting, flash or no flash. This slightly (ok, very) fuzzy photo is my second "class project" for my Michael's classes - the Cabled Coffee Cozy.
The idea is to introduce two concepts - knitting in the round on double-pointed needles AND knitting cables - in one manageable project. It took me about an hour and a half to knit, so 2 x 2 hour classes should be okay for teaching it, I think.
I picked up my schedule and it looks like I'll be teaching weekly on Tuesday evenings - the coordinator suggested it would be good for me to have a set time for my classes so I can build a following (ha! I'm a cult!). I'm hoping to alternate easier knits with more advanced stuff each month; I will be giving Knitting 101 every month as an intro and then a couple of project/technique classes over the rest of the weeks.
It's a little daunting (me? teach knitting? I'm still "intermediate" myself!) but I'm pretty psyched about it. The hitch is going to be coming up with new classes every month, and I need to have them ready five weeks in advance - so I need to be planning for June... NOW! And, honestly, one little "eek" - I have to knit samples of everything for the classes. And because I "sell" these classes on the strength of the samples, they have to be PERFECT and interesting and only use yarns from the store (of course!).
If anyone has suggestions for what might make good summertime knitting projects that would be teachable in a 3 or 4-hour class, please let me know! I've got a few ideas - how do these sound?
And now, I have samples to knit. For tomorrow. Hey, there's another class: "How to knit to a deadline!"
The idea is to introduce two concepts - knitting in the round on double-pointed needles AND knitting cables - in one manageable project. It took me about an hour and a half to knit, so 2 x 2 hour classes should be okay for teaching it, I think.I picked up my schedule and it looks like I'll be teaching weekly on Tuesday evenings - the coordinator suggested it would be good for me to have a set time for my classes so I can build a following (ha! I'm a cult!). I'm hoping to alternate easier knits with more advanced stuff each month; I will be giving Knitting 101 every month as an intro and then a couple of project/technique classes over the rest of the weeks.
It's a little daunting (me? teach knitting? I'm still "intermediate" myself!) but I'm pretty psyched about it. The hitch is going to be coming up with new classes every month, and I need to have them ready five weeks in advance - so I need to be planning for June... NOW! And, honestly, one little "eek" - I have to knit samples of everything for the classes. And because I "sell" these classes on the strength of the samples, they have to be PERFECT and interesting and only use yarns from the store (of course!).
If anyone has suggestions for what might make good summertime knitting projects that would be teachable in a 3 or 4-hour class, please let me know! I've got a few ideas - how do these sound?
- Summer camp set of washcloth and soap bag (one 3-hour class)
- Summer "sock series" where each step (ha ha) is taught weekly, (four 2-hour classes)
- Introduction to lace (probably a washcloth or scarf, one 3-hour class)
- Knitting 201 - "thinking outside the square" - shaping techniques (I need a project for that, or could swatches work?)
And now, I have samples to knit. For tomorrow. Hey, there's another class: "How to knit to a deadline!"
Apr 14, 2007
Not so good, Al...
So today was exam day, and well... I choked. Not from lack of study as I'd feared but more from overstudying... everything ran together in my head and I couldn't make any sense of it. Damn. Not how I wanted to end the semester but I'm not going to beat myself up over it - it's only school after all, which is supposed to be for my own edification and enjoyment. C'est la vie. And now I can give Yumi back her books. *grin*
The day wasn't a total loss however - I finished mom's second sock and dug my Tequila Sunrise socks out of the WIP bin - first TS sock now past the heel:
I also made two chocolate cakes and a batch of black-forest-style cupcakes (I took a picture of one cake, but it came out blurry, so no cake pictures). Tonight we had Dad's birthday party - he's 60, I still can't wrap my head around that one! Food and fun and I bring the dessert. I'm sensing a pattern to our social life, lately... ah well. The girls (cats) were not at all impressed that we were going out AGAIN for the evening. Squeeky was most annoyed at having to interrupt her nap so I could sit on the bed to get dressed:
And poor old Moosh was just confused because her dinner schedule was screwed up:
You'll notice the girls are messy eaters. Keeping up with cat-food crumbs is a daily chore, I'm afraid. Ah well, they give back in love. Have I mentioned that I never liked cats much before we inherited these two? It's true. But - when someone needs you, you gain an inexplicable affection for them. Or at least the urge to keep them quiet. ;p
Tomorrow is Sunday - JOY!. We have a few minor house-chores planned and then I need to do some knitting for work (how cool is that? I'm loving that concept!) and general get-ready-for-the-week-ahead stuff. It's going to be a busy one in the evenings so I need to get the house / food in order tomorrow so we can keep things running smoothly. Plus, there's a rumour of THREE back-to-back playoff hockey games tomorrow. I don't even care who's playing, that's a helluvalot of knitting time!
The day wasn't a total loss however - I finished mom's second sock and dug my Tequila Sunrise socks out of the WIP bin - first TS sock now past the heel:
I also made two chocolate cakes and a batch of black-forest-style cupcakes (I took a picture of one cake, but it came out blurry, so no cake pictures). Tonight we had Dad's birthday party - he's 60, I still can't wrap my head around that one! Food and fun and I bring the dessert. I'm sensing a pattern to our social life, lately... ah well. The girls (cats) were not at all impressed that we were going out AGAIN for the evening. Squeeky was most annoyed at having to interrupt her nap so I could sit on the bed to get dressed:
And poor old Moosh was just confused because her dinner schedule was screwed up:
You'll notice the girls are messy eaters. Keeping up with cat-food crumbs is a daily chore, I'm afraid. Ah well, they give back in love. Have I mentioned that I never liked cats much before we inherited these two? It's true. But - when someone needs you, you gain an inexplicable affection for them. Or at least the urge to keep them quiet. ;pTomorrow is Sunday - JOY!. We have a few minor house-chores planned and then I need to do some knitting for work (how cool is that? I'm loving that concept!) and general get-ready-for-the-week-ahead stuff. It's going to be a busy one in the evenings so I need to get the house / food in order tomorrow so we can keep things running smoothly. Plus, there's a rumour of THREE back-to-back playoff hockey games tomorrow. I don't even care who's playing, that's a helluvalot of knitting time!
Apr 13, 2007
Procrastiknitting
Or, how I nearly completed a sock today when I should have been studying (*cringe*). I slept late, made a mountain of pancakes (Peter was home today, too), and dove into the rest of the Roman satires I had to read for my class. You know, I always thought satire was - funny. These, not so much. In fact I fell asleep several times reading Juvenal. But I did finish them all... although in honesty I doubt I will retain a word of it. Fortunately that's only a small part of the exam.
Then, after a deep-fried lunch (Peter really REALLY loves the deep fryer I got him for his birthday), we watched "Patton" on tv. That's a 3.5 hour movie on the AMC channel. That's a LOT of knitting time. Got to within half an inch of the toe decrease on mom's second sock, and put another foot or so on the Wedding Afghan. Also noodling around with my next design (!) for class, because I talked to the coordinator last night and I need to provide samples within the next week. I know what I want it to look like, I just have to figure out how to do it. That will be Sunday, probably most of the day between laundry loads.
And now it's nearly 8 and to be honest, I'm tired. Sit-on-butt days which should be restorative somehow leave me more drained than active days. The upside is, I'm still in my pyjamas from this morning so I can just fall back into bed. And the exam isn't until 2 tomorrow afternoon so I can sleep in again. :) Because really, if I don't know it by now, cramming in the morning isn't going to help. I just have to rely on my combined powers of recall and bulls*** to get me through.
Then, after a deep-fried lunch (Peter really REALLY loves the deep fryer I got him for his birthday), we watched "Patton" on tv. That's a 3.5 hour movie on the AMC channel. That's a LOT of knitting time. Got to within half an inch of the toe decrease on mom's second sock, and put another foot or so on the Wedding Afghan. Also noodling around with my next design (!) for class, because I talked to the coordinator last night and I need to provide samples within the next week. I know what I want it to look like, I just have to figure out how to do it. That will be Sunday, probably most of the day between laundry loads.
And now it's nearly 8 and to be honest, I'm tired. Sit-on-butt days which should be restorative somehow leave me more drained than active days. The upside is, I'm still in my pyjamas from this morning so I can just fall back into bed. And the exam isn't until 2 tomorrow afternoon so I can sleep in again. :) Because really, if I don't know it by now, cramming in the morning isn't going to help. I just have to rely on my combined powers of recall and bulls*** to get me through.
Apr 12, 2007
Even the internet gives me an A-
Just found this on someone's blog, so tried it out. A-minus. Crap. Got an A-minus on my first semester paper too. Dunno about 2nd semester. A-minus on exam would be good, all things considered. Ok, stop blogging and go to bed.
| Your Vocabulary Score: A- |
 Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary! You must be quite an erudite person. |
Better late than never...
Ok, so I didn't get to this on Monday. I was studying! I've been studying all week to prepare for my Greek/Roman lit. exam on Saturday, but tonight I'm taking a sanity break and catching up on knitblogging.
Remember I told you Peter found a llama farm/wool shop? He took me there on Saturday. This is what I got:
It's called "Mainly Mohair", and is a 70% Mohair/30% Merino wool blend in a luscious pale green that does not show up well in this picture at all. (I really REALLY need a better camera). 380 yards, comes with a pattern for a rib scarf on 6mm needles, the weight is about a worsted. Slick and soft. I'm thinking something lacy... dunno. Maybe one of Alison's patterns, once I get her book this summer.
The farm/shop is called Hidden Touch Natural Yarns. They have gorgeous natural alpaca yarn in a variety of weights, mohair, blends, kits, hand-dyed, and also sell hand-knit socks and mitts and things. I met the handknitter, absolutely charming lady who was making thrummed mitts. I will have to get a thrummed mit kit in the future. I will also have to get some of the alpaca sock yarn in the yummy natural dark brown appropriately called "truffle." We did not visit with the fuzzies (they have llamas, goats and alpacas on the farm) because we were heading to my parents' place but I was absolutely stunned at the selection of goodies. And considering the size of the operation and quality of product, the prices are reasonable - that ball of "Mainly Mohair" was $34 (CDN). Not at all out of line, to my way of thinking.
Anyway, that was our little adventure. I am planning to go back soon to get a small something to send to my Secret Pal - I'm making up a package for her of all-Canadian goodies, since she's in another country. Have to make a good impression, right?
Ok, now I need to go have a bath and then to bed. Much MUCH reading to do tomorrow and I need to bake a cake for Dad's birthday party on Saturday. Goodnight, good people!
Remember I told you Peter found a llama farm/wool shop? He took me there on Saturday. This is what I got:
It's called "Mainly Mohair", and is a 70% Mohair/30% Merino wool blend in a luscious pale green that does not show up well in this picture at all. (I really REALLY need a better camera). 380 yards, comes with a pattern for a rib scarf on 6mm needles, the weight is about a worsted. Slick and soft. I'm thinking something lacy... dunno. Maybe one of Alison's patterns, once I get her book this summer.The farm/shop is called Hidden Touch Natural Yarns. They have gorgeous natural alpaca yarn in a variety of weights, mohair, blends, kits, hand-dyed, and also sell hand-knit socks and mitts and things. I met the handknitter, absolutely charming lady who was making thrummed mitts. I will have to get a thrummed mit kit in the future. I will also have to get some of the alpaca sock yarn in the yummy natural dark brown appropriately called "truffle." We did not visit with the fuzzies (they have llamas, goats and alpacas on the farm) because we were heading to my parents' place but I was absolutely stunned at the selection of goodies. And considering the size of the operation and quality of product, the prices are reasonable - that ball of "Mainly Mohair" was $34 (CDN). Not at all out of line, to my way of thinking.
Anyway, that was our little adventure. I am planning to go back soon to get a small something to send to my Secret Pal - I'm making up a package for her of all-Canadian goodies, since she's in another country. Have to make a good impression, right?
Ok, now I need to go have a bath and then to bed. Much MUCH reading to do tomorrow and I need to bake a cake for Dad's birthday party on Saturday. Goodnight, good people!
Apr 9, 2007
Monday midday mini-post: movie review
Happy Easter Monday!
I'm back in the office today and needed a little brain break, so here's a quick review of The Pursuit of Happyness, which we watched last night. In short: didn't like it. Depressing, sad, morose movie. And though you know that things will get better (you saw the commercial, right?), they don't until about the last three minutes of the movie. And then, it feels so artificial and predictable. Bleah.
Now, normally I like Will Smith as an actor, but here he is playing essentially himself - a man who works hard to provide for his son, whom he loves. The love for the son is the core of the movie - and sorry, it ain't acting! It's just him and his son. Meh. Not impressive, really. And the whole thing just sucks you lower and lower into despair along with him... it's emotionally manipulative, and I don't care for that in movies. Sandy cried through half of it. I just felt angry.
One bright point though - the real Chris Gardner makes a cameo and I spotted him correctly. Yay me. But overall, unless you feel the need to feel either (A) better about yourself, or (B) guilty as hell for the joy in your life by witnessing someone else's misery, I'd pass on this movie.
Review of the llama-farm-store tonight. Have a good rest of the day!
I'm back in the office today and needed a little brain break, so here's a quick review of The Pursuit of Happyness, which we watched last night. In short: didn't like it. Depressing, sad, morose movie. And though you know that things will get better (you saw the commercial, right?), they don't until about the last three minutes of the movie. And then, it feels so artificial and predictable. Bleah.
Now, normally I like Will Smith as an actor, but here he is playing essentially himself - a man who works hard to provide for his son, whom he loves. The love for the son is the core of the movie - and sorry, it ain't acting! It's just him and his son. Meh. Not impressive, really. And the whole thing just sucks you lower and lower into despair along with him... it's emotionally manipulative, and I don't care for that in movies. Sandy cried through half of it. I just felt angry.
One bright point though - the real Chris Gardner makes a cameo and I spotted him correctly. Yay me. But overall, unless you feel the need to feel either (A) better about yourself, or (B) guilty as hell for the joy in your life by witnessing someone else's misery, I'd pass on this movie.
Review of the llama-farm-store tonight. Have a good rest of the day!
Apr 8, 2007
Easter Sunday WIPs
No knitting today - no time! This weekend has been crazy-busy but very pleasant too. Here's a recap:
Friday - up early and tore into the walk-in closet. Everything out, about 1/2 of it (and some other things) back in. Closet is actually walk-in-able now - heck, we could comfortably seat four around a small table in there. Nice! And, contents are 90% clothing or clothing-related items. This is Good. Of course, that means that the Other Stuff that came out is strewn around the living room, dining room, etc. but we're working away on that. Oh, and baked a batch of Amish bread rolls, a carrot cake, and gingersnaps. Closet took most of the day, quick shower and then over to Bundy & Kid's for...
Friday night - dinner (BundyBundles, aka chicken cordon bleu) with Yumi's Sunshine Carrots and rice and my homemade bread rolls and carrot cake, with gingersnaps for snacking. Watched Trailer Park Boys: the Movie - freaking hilarious but, well, full of profanity and sex and drugs and drinking... well, we loved it, it was entertaining. "Bacon, bacon, bacon!" Knit on mom's sock and the wedding afghan.
Saturday - up early again, finished off (most) of the closet stuff and some other tidying, then over to Mom & Dad's for tv-golf, Eragon movie, and the Habs vs. Leafs game. Eragon was a fun little fantasy-type movie, dragons and heroes and bad guys, etc. A pretty blatant Star Wars rip-off in terms of plotline, actually, but the reliable evilness of John Malkovich as the king and Robert Carlyle as his wizard-henchman made it fun. And, of course, Jeremy Irons in the Obi-Wan Kenobi/mentor role. Jeremy Irons, wow I love him.
Chicken wraps and salad for dinner, along with more of my gingersnaps and carrot cake (hint: if you're spending the weekend visiting people, make stuff in big batches that divide easily!) The hockey game was a nailbiter from start to finish - sadly, our Habs couldn't pull out the win and are now out of the playoffs. Boo. Knit on the wedding afghan and the Wednesday's Cardigan. Got home VERY late and fell into bed with excruciating backache - combination of all that cleaning/lugging of stuff and a less-than-optimal tv-watching couch at the folks' place.
Sunday - slept in to (woohoo!) 8:30 and then over to Sandy & Dan's for Easter Dim Sum breakfast. Everyone's feeding us this weekend! Back still aching so home for a chair-nap after breakfast; caught Amadeus on the History channel and dozed off and on through that whilst Peter went back to B&K's to pick up the futon and install the taps we didn't get to on Friday. Then more baking, which lead to:
On the left: raspberry-ginger chocolate tarts. On the right: from-scratch lemon meringue pie. Both favourites of Sandy & Dan, who are feeding us dinner in about an hour. Turkey with all the fixin's. Mmm. Then after an early dinner we're coming back home to watch The Pursuit of Happyness and fall into bed, because I have to work tomorrow, unfortunately. But it's been a really great weekend!
EDIT: Forgot to tell you about the side-trip to the llama farm and wool shop on Saturday. But, it deserves its own post and I left my goodies in the car so - tomorrow, ok?
Friday - up early and tore into the walk-in closet. Everything out, about 1/2 of it (and some other things) back in. Closet is actually walk-in-able now - heck, we could comfortably seat four around a small table in there. Nice! And, contents are 90% clothing or clothing-related items. This is Good. Of course, that means that the Other Stuff that came out is strewn around the living room, dining room, etc. but we're working away on that. Oh, and baked a batch of Amish bread rolls, a carrot cake, and gingersnaps. Closet took most of the day, quick shower and then over to Bundy & Kid's for...
Friday night - dinner (BundyBundles, aka chicken cordon bleu) with Yumi's Sunshine Carrots and rice and my homemade bread rolls and carrot cake, with gingersnaps for snacking. Watched Trailer Park Boys: the Movie - freaking hilarious but, well, full of profanity and sex and drugs and drinking... well, we loved it, it was entertaining. "Bacon, bacon, bacon!" Knit on mom's sock and the wedding afghan.
Saturday - up early again, finished off (most) of the closet stuff and some other tidying, then over to Mom & Dad's for tv-golf, Eragon movie, and the Habs vs. Leafs game. Eragon was a fun little fantasy-type movie, dragons and heroes and bad guys, etc. A pretty blatant Star Wars rip-off in terms of plotline, actually, but the reliable evilness of John Malkovich as the king and Robert Carlyle as his wizard-henchman made it fun. And, of course, Jeremy Irons in the Obi-Wan Kenobi/mentor role. Jeremy Irons, wow I love him.
Chicken wraps and salad for dinner, along with more of my gingersnaps and carrot cake (hint: if you're spending the weekend visiting people, make stuff in big batches that divide easily!) The hockey game was a nailbiter from start to finish - sadly, our Habs couldn't pull out the win and are now out of the playoffs. Boo. Knit on the wedding afghan and the Wednesday's Cardigan. Got home VERY late and fell into bed with excruciating backache - combination of all that cleaning/lugging of stuff and a less-than-optimal tv-watching couch at the folks' place.
Sunday - slept in to (woohoo!) 8:30 and then over to Sandy & Dan's for Easter Dim Sum breakfast. Everyone's feeding us this weekend! Back still aching so home for a chair-nap after breakfast; caught Amadeus on the History channel and dozed off and on through that whilst Peter went back to B&K's to pick up the futon and install the taps we didn't get to on Friday. Then more baking, which lead to:
On the left: raspberry-ginger chocolate tarts. On the right: from-scratch lemon meringue pie. Both favourites of Sandy & Dan, who are feeding us dinner in about an hour. Turkey with all the fixin's. Mmm. Then after an early dinner we're coming back home to watch The Pursuit of Happyness and fall into bed, because I have to work tomorrow, unfortunately. But it's been a really great weekend!EDIT: Forgot to tell you about the side-trip to the llama farm and wool shop on Saturday. But, it deserves its own post and I left my goodies in the car so - tomorrow, ok?
Apr 6, 2007
Easter Weekend WIPs
Why on earth, you may well wonder, am I up and blogging at 7:43 a.m. on Good Friday morning? Well, I had planned to get up eight-ish and do some spring cleaning and baking but Squeeky decided I needed to wake up earlier. She decided this by using my face as a launching pad to jump up on the headboard - ever been woken by a cat's back nails dragging across your (closed) eyes? Not fun. Fortunately no damage other than a first-skin-layer scratch (yes, I cleaned it and put Polysporin on it right away). But since I was up anyway... here's what I'm working on (other than housecleaning and visits) this weekend:
You could call this the small, medium, large, extra large approach to knitting! First up, Mom's mother's day socks (#2 woohoo!), in Fleece Artist Nova Sock, on 2.25 mm needles. Cast this one on Wednesday night and got nearly to end of the ribbing, then got a couple inches of leg done whilst at the Yarn Forward sit'n'knit yesterday afternoon/evening. Hi Yvonne! Yvonne was there, also making Fleece Artist socks, using Magic Loop - it looks neat, I may have to learn that eventually.
Then we have Crunchy Granola Hat - child size prototype - in Bernat Handicrafter Cotton on 6mm needles. The pattern does seem to work as well in cotton as it does in acrylic and wool and hemp - of course, I don't like knitting cotton as much but because this is a loose gauge it's not too hard on the hands. To make it kid-size I've cut the cast-on stitches by half and am reducing the pattern repeats by half before starting the decreases. I think that should work. Cute in pink, no?
Third, I finally - finally! - got the ribbing/increase figured out for the Wednesday's Cardigan. Here's about 1/3 of a sleeve (which, incidentally, is most of a ball of yarn). Patons Rumor on 7mm needles. This is going to be SO warm and soft to wear in the office over t-shirts and golf shirts this summer. And not just on Wednesday, either!
And last but most huge, the Wedding Afghan. (N8an if you're reading this, try to act surprised when I give it to you guys!). This is one strand Patons Shetland Chunky and two strands Patons Divine held together, knit on 15mm needles. One. Stitch. To. The. Inch. It takes four balls of each for the pattern and I'm now into the 2nd ball of each. I can say one thing, a person would never be cold with this thrown over them! Which of course makes me want to get'er done while we're still having our cold-ish spell. I don't want to be knitting this when it's more than 10 degrees (celsius) above zero!
So my plan for the weekend is to rotate among these projects and maybe get a couple of things finished. We've got double-feature movie night tonight at B&K's, then Masters golf on TV, another movie, and a hockey game at mom & dad's tomorrow afternoon/evening. Lots and lots of knitting time. Which leaves today and Sunday for chores - ample time for an attack on the walk-in closet/clothing storage area of our bedroom and a seasonal changeover on the front porch. And then next week, I have to be good and study for my Greek/Roman lit. exam in the evenings, which means limited knitting time (an hour a night, max). So I'd better get off my tuckus and get rolling here!
Have a great long weekend everyone!
You could call this the small, medium, large, extra large approach to knitting! First up, Mom's mother's day socks (#2 woohoo!), in Fleece Artist Nova Sock, on 2.25 mm needles. Cast this one on Wednesday night and got nearly to end of the ribbing, then got a couple inches of leg done whilst at the Yarn Forward sit'n'knit yesterday afternoon/evening. Hi Yvonne! Yvonne was there, also making Fleece Artist socks, using Magic Loop - it looks neat, I may have to learn that eventually.
Then we have Crunchy Granola Hat - child size prototype - in Bernat Handicrafter Cotton on 6mm needles. The pattern does seem to work as well in cotton as it does in acrylic and wool and hemp - of course, I don't like knitting cotton as much but because this is a loose gauge it's not too hard on the hands. To make it kid-size I've cut the cast-on stitches by half and am reducing the pattern repeats by half before starting the decreases. I think that should work. Cute in pink, no?
Third, I finally - finally! - got the ribbing/increase figured out for the Wednesday's Cardigan. Here's about 1/3 of a sleeve (which, incidentally, is most of a ball of yarn). Patons Rumor on 7mm needles. This is going to be SO warm and soft to wear in the office over t-shirts and golf shirts this summer. And not just on Wednesday, either!
And last but most huge, the Wedding Afghan. (N8an if you're reading this, try to act surprised when I give it to you guys!). This is one strand Patons Shetland Chunky and two strands Patons Divine held together, knit on 15mm needles. One. Stitch. To. The. Inch. It takes four balls of each for the pattern and I'm now into the 2nd ball of each. I can say one thing, a person would never be cold with this thrown over them! Which of course makes me want to get'er done while we're still having our cold-ish spell. I don't want to be knitting this when it's more than 10 degrees (celsius) above zero!
So my plan for the weekend is to rotate among these projects and maybe get a couple of things finished. We've got double-feature movie night tonight at B&K's, then Masters golf on TV, another movie, and a hockey game at mom & dad's tomorrow afternoon/evening. Lots and lots of knitting time. Which leaves today and Sunday for chores - ample time for an attack on the walk-in closet/clothing storage area of our bedroom and a seasonal changeover on the front porch. And then next week, I have to be good and study for my Greek/Roman lit. exam in the evenings, which means limited knitting time (an hour a night, max). So I'd better get off my tuckus and get rolling here!
Have a great long weekend everyone!
Apr 3, 2007
Hats galore!
Wow, what a great response I've had from people who want to try knitting my silly little hippie hat. :) I've been trying to keep up with emails but so busy at work this week I'm just dead when I get home.
Tonight we watched "The Good Shepherd" - great flick, a little confusing in spots but really solid acting and good writing. I'm starting to like Matt Damon now that he does movies without that retard Ben Affleck! LONG movie though. LONG.
Sorry, hat stuff. Right! Here's the pattern in full, it seems to be bug-free enough for general consumption. Share and enjoy! If you do make it please drop me a comment so I can come see how yours looks!
Tonight we watched "The Good Shepherd" - great flick, a little confusing in spots but really solid acting and good writing. I'm starting to like Matt Damon now that he does movies without that retard Ben Affleck! LONG movie though. LONG.
Sorry, hat stuff. Right! Here's the pattern in full, it seems to be bug-free enough for general consumption. Share and enjoy! If you do make it please drop me a comment so I can come see how yours looks!
"Crunchy Granola-Eating Hippie Hat"
© 2006 by Kathy Thurber
Approx. 120m worsted weight yarn
6mm straight knitting needles
Darning needle (yarn needle)
To fit average adult head – gauge is not essential to this project.
Instructions:
Cast on 84 stitches.
Repeat Row 1 five more times (total six rows of K2P2 ribbing).
- Knit 4 rows garter stitch (knit every stitch).
- Knit 1 row double-wrap garter stitch (wrap yarn twice on every stitch).
- On following row, knit only one loop of each stitch, dropping the extra wrap.
- Knit 3 rows garter stitch (knit every stitch).
- Repeat steps 2-4.
Decrease Row #4: *K1, K2Tog. (repeat from * to end of row) – 28 stitches remaining.
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