All the February projects are finished on time, and there are two days left in the month. Woohoo! So, today and tomorrow lunch/evening will be blanket-square knitting, which makes me feel good. Then Saturday I tackle into that 2nd pink sock (yes, I am knitting *mostly* pink socks - for me. You may now giggle if you like).
That's the knitting update - the rest of life is being life... work is very busy right now, and I somehow pulled my IT band at the gym yesterday so it's VERY sore and I didn't work out today. Will try for tomorrow, and I'm scheduled for a 3-mile walk on Saturday. I think the trick may be some extra stretching and perhaps epsom salts baths after my long walk. Hoping to spend some quality time in the kitchen this weekend too, get some big-batch cooking and baking done, and Friday night we're taking my paladin and Dad's out for our Epic Mount quest! Woohoo! AND - tomorrow is the end of February. Yay for the end of February!
Happy weekend early!
Feb 28, 2008
Feb 23, 2008
Palindrome and getting back on track
Hey there hi there ho there, it's the weekend and there is knitting! First up, FO pictures of Neill's Palindrome, which he likes very much (yay!):
Again, a million thanks to Kraftie for her lovely handspun, which made the pattern really work up beautifully.
Next, I'm pretty well on track with the "schedule" for February - I did a whole one of Erika's slippers this morning and have the other one underway (frogged the original in LB Homespun, restarted in Patons Shetland Chunky), and Peter's first boot sock is heel turned and almost done the gusset, ready to get the foot rolling. Should be done in plenty of time for the slipper and sock classes, respectively.
The rest of February knitting is going to be blanket squares, and there's a reason why. Yesterday morning I dropped off another batch of blankets to the shelter, and one of the young men waiting outside (for breakfast, I believe) engaged me in a brief conversation:
"Good morning miss, bringing more blankets?" (he remembered me from a previous delivery)
"Yes, a few."
"Oh, I hope I get one this time..."
(Sound of my heart breaking)
It cannot be overstated how much these blankets (hell, ANY blankets) are needed, and more, how much they are APPRECIATED. So this weekend in addition to knitting more squares, I will be doing a linen-cupboard purge to pull out some extra 'commercial' blankets that we don't use/need, and they will go along with the next delivery. There's still a lot of winter left.
Again, a million thanks to Kraftie for her lovely handspun, which made the pattern really work up beautifully.
Next, I'm pretty well on track with the "schedule" for February - I did a whole one of Erika's slippers this morning and have the other one underway (frogged the original in LB Homespun, restarted in Patons Shetland Chunky), and Peter's first boot sock is heel turned and almost done the gusset, ready to get the foot rolling. Should be done in plenty of time for the slipper and sock classes, respectively.
The rest of February knitting is going to be blanket squares, and there's a reason why. Yesterday morning I dropped off another batch of blankets to the shelter, and one of the young men waiting outside (for breakfast, I believe) engaged me in a brief conversation:
"Good morning miss, bringing more blankets?" (he remembered me from a previous delivery)
"Yes, a few."
"Oh, I hope I get one this time..."
(Sound of my heart breaking)
It cannot be overstated how much these blankets (hell, ANY blankets) are needed, and more, how much they are APPRECIATED. So this weekend in addition to knitting more squares, I will be doing a linen-cupboard purge to pull out some extra 'commercial' blankets that we don't use/need, and they will go along with the next delivery. There's still a lot of winter left.
Feb 20, 2008
It's alive!
Ok, I've managed to survive a whole day in the office and ready to head out for my sock class tonight. I even felt like eating real food today. All better!
Feb 16, 2008
Blargh...
Ok, I went to bed 8 hours ago feeling absolutely FINE. I've woken up with the BLARGH on me - can't breathe, drippy nose, sore throat, everything hurts, including my eyes to look at the computer. Crap crap crap. I may have to cancel going to the birthday party, I absolutely cannot make a cake, and I feel like curling up under a blankie and just sleeping all day.
Not fair - to be sick on a long weekend? - totally not fair. Everytime I sneeze it puts my back into spasm. OWIE!!!
I'm done.
Not fair - to be sick on a long weekend? - totally not fair. Everytime I sneeze it puts my back into spasm. OWIE!!!
I'm done.
Feb 15, 2008
The list is getting out of hand...
Ok so I'm sitting here tweaking format and updating sidebar and so forth and I see that my project list is growing daily. Which is normal of course for a knitter (hell, for a HUMAN - we're walking to-do lists, aren't we?). However, I fear it may be getting out of control. And since I like things to be reasonably well-organized, I am going to set a *gasp* SCHEDULE for the projects I've committed to, to date. So, here we go, starting from today - I am being good and setting only 2 per month (except for this month, which has 2 classes running and a scarf emergency). Anything above that will be a bonus!
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY
- Complete Neill's Palindrome by 02/23/08
- From MP:2008 list, complete Slippers for Erika by 02/26/08 - class
- Complete Peter's Boot Sock #1 by 02/27/08 - class
- From MP:2008 list, complete My Tequila Sunrise Sock #2 by 03/15/08.
- If sock class @ Michaels or school board is a go, complete Peter's Boot Sock #2 by end of class - if not, complete by 03/31/08.
- From MP:2008 list, complete My Cotton Sweater by 04/15/08.
- From MP: 2008 list, complete Mom's Mother's Day Socks by 04/30/08.
- From MP:2008 list, complete My Globe Sock #2 by 05/15/08.
- Complete Golden Snitch Hat #1 (for Potterfiend) by 05/31/08. If, as anticipated, this is a quick knit, complete Golden Snitch Hat #2 (for Yumi) also.
- Complete Dad's Cardigan revised by Father's Day (date?)
- From MP:2008 list, complete My Wednesday's Cardigan by 06/30/08.
- Complete Carole's Shawl by her birthday (August).
- From MP:2008 list, START Michelle's shawl. Finish in September.
- Complete Michelle's Shawl by 09/30/08.
- Complete Carole's Sweater by 09/30/08.
- From MP:2008 list, complete Peter's Mega Boot sock #2 by 10/31/08. This sock will probably take a whole month.
- IF the sock does not take all month, complete Basic Cable for me by 10/31/08.
- From MP: 2008 list, complete Yumi's Fleece Artist Shawl.
- From MP: 2008 list, complete Angel for Donna.
- Complete Lilac Socks for Yumi by Yumi's birthday.
- Start Peter's EPS sweater.
Happy half-price chocolate day!
EDIT: New template. Like it? Hate it? Comment please!
Yes, it's the day after Valentine's, when you can buy twice the love-expressions for half the price. I may pick up a box of chocolates on the way home, not out of any romantic impulse but just so we have some in the house. :D
Things have been hectic this past week and the weekend is shaping up busy too, so grabbing a few minutes to update. Work's been crazy - one of our two co-managers quit last Friday so all this week it's been "what happened?" questions coming at me, over and over and over... here's a representative conversation:
Them: "Where'd he go?"
Me: (with a shrug) "Away."
Them: "He didn't say?"
Me: "No, he did not share that information with any of us."
Them: "Well, why did he leave?"
Me: "Why does anyone leave a job? He wasn't happy."
Them: "Why not?"
Me: "You'd have to ask him."
About 30 times this week I've had that time-wasting chat. I should have just posted a sign. *sigh* This too shall pass.
In other news, a dear friend and co-worker has gone in for surgery to remove what might possibly be a cancerous growth on his thyroid. So, in good knitterly response, I'm knitting him a Palindrome, out of the lovely handspun Kraftie sent me during SP10 last year. (Kraftie, if you're reading, what's the fiber content on that? It's deliciously sproingy and the stripes are coming out beautifully, I'll post pictures when it's done.) I just finished the first of three skeins, and I'm calculating it will come out to about 6 1/2 feet long x about 4.5" wide - a bit narrow, but long enough to wrap around a couple times. That's doing the pattern as written with 40 stitches on 5.5mm needles. It's pretty without being girly and I think he will like it very much.
Happy things - my niece and mom both have birthdays this month, so we're doing a family birthday party tomorrow, to which I will bring cake. I'm thinking marble cake with some pink and green springy-type colours for the frosting. And lots more knitting on the Palindrome.
Also this week I've had class #2 with both my Knitting 101 and Sock-knitting students, and they're both good groups - a couple of the ladies are struggling a bit but they're all determined and patient and very, very nice. I will miss having students when I stop teaching in April but will LOVE having all my evenings free to spend with Peter again. Speaking of whom, I started him a new pair of socks - the Hunter's Socks from Freshisle Fibers, in Marian's own hand-dyed Suffolk wool. They will have pale yellow (almost oatmeal-y) legs with mid-yellow feet - the Coreopsis 3-skein dye progression that I bought oh so long ago - finally it's getting turned into something! (well, 2/3 of it anyway). The darkest yellow I will hold in reserve for something else - probably a hat. The Suffolk wool is SO warm, and really lovely and fluffy once it's gone through the wash/dry cycle a couple of times. Hm, I bet it would cable beautifully... maybe I'll make myself a "Basic Cable" - I've been meaning to. Add it to the list!
Have a great weekend - pictures and things Sunday or Monday (yay long weekend!)
Yes, it's the day after Valentine's, when you can buy twice the love-expressions for half the price. I may pick up a box of chocolates on the way home, not out of any romantic impulse but just so we have some in the house. :D
Things have been hectic this past week and the weekend is shaping up busy too, so grabbing a few minutes to update. Work's been crazy - one of our two co-managers quit last Friday so all this week it's been "what happened?" questions coming at me, over and over and over... here's a representative conversation:
Them: "Where'd he go?"
Me: (with a shrug) "Away."
Them: "He didn't say?"
Me: "No, he did not share that information with any of us."
Them: "Well, why did he leave?"
Me: "Why does anyone leave a job? He wasn't happy."
Them: "Why not?"
Me: "You'd have to ask him."
About 30 times this week I've had that time-wasting chat. I should have just posted a sign. *sigh* This too shall pass.
In other news, a dear friend and co-worker has gone in for surgery to remove what might possibly be a cancerous growth on his thyroid. So, in good knitterly response, I'm knitting him a Palindrome, out of the lovely handspun Kraftie sent me during SP10 last year. (Kraftie, if you're reading, what's the fiber content on that? It's deliciously sproingy and the stripes are coming out beautifully, I'll post pictures when it's done.) I just finished the first of three skeins, and I'm calculating it will come out to about 6 1/2 feet long x about 4.5" wide - a bit narrow, but long enough to wrap around a couple times. That's doing the pattern as written with 40 stitches on 5.5mm needles. It's pretty without being girly and I think he will like it very much.
Happy things - my niece and mom both have birthdays this month, so we're doing a family birthday party tomorrow, to which I will bring cake. I'm thinking marble cake with some pink and green springy-type colours for the frosting. And lots more knitting on the Palindrome.
Also this week I've had class #2 with both my Knitting 101 and Sock-knitting students, and they're both good groups - a couple of the ladies are struggling a bit but they're all determined and patient and very, very nice. I will miss having students when I stop teaching in April but will LOVE having all my evenings free to spend with Peter again. Speaking of whom, I started him a new pair of socks - the Hunter's Socks from Freshisle Fibers, in Marian's own hand-dyed Suffolk wool. They will have pale yellow (almost oatmeal-y) legs with mid-yellow feet - the Coreopsis 3-skein dye progression that I bought oh so long ago - finally it's getting turned into something! (well, 2/3 of it anyway). The darkest yellow I will hold in reserve for something else - probably a hat. The Suffolk wool is SO warm, and really lovely and fluffy once it's gone through the wash/dry cycle a couple of times. Hm, I bet it would cable beautifully... maybe I'll make myself a "Basic Cable" - I've been meaning to. Add it to the list!
Have a great weekend - pictures and things Sunday or Monday (yay long weekend!)
Feb 7, 2008
Insomnia meme
Yes, I'm not sleepy - again. However, Yumi has provided me with entertainment. Yay! She says this:
1. Go to photobucket.com.
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Only use the first good answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. You can only answer in picture form.
What is your first name?
What kind of car do you have?
Where did you go to school?
Who's your best friend?
Favourite colour?
Celebrity crush?
Favourite song?
Favourite movie?
Favourite clothing line?
Favourite vacation destination?
Favourite dessert?
Favourite letter?
Biggest fear?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Who do you love most?
Fave accessory?
A word to describe yourself?
1. Go to photobucket.com.
2. Type in your answer for each question into the PhotoBucket search bar.
3. Only use the first good answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. You can only answer in picture form.
What is your first name?
What kind of car do you have?
Where did you go to school?
Who's your best friend?
Favourite colour?
Celebrity crush?
Favourite song?
Favourite movie?
Favourite clothing line?
Favourite vacation destination?
Favourite dessert?
Favourite letter?
Biggest fear?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Who do you love most?
Fave accessory?
A word to describe yourself?
Feb 5, 2008
Knitter down!
So I'm working merrily away this afternoon, reach for my calculator, and hear this "pop". Ow - my hand hurts! Put hand on mouse - hand REALLY hurts. go to clinic, sit around (Little Mermaid movie, start to finish), doctor confirms a "minor" sprain of the right hand. Rest it at least 48 hours. No typing (this is all being done left handed), no mousing, no KNITTING!
The kicker? I'm teaching a sock class tomorrow night. Going to be interesting talking my students through the "join, being careful not to twist, " etc. However, I will do as I'm told because if I don't it will hurt for longer. Argh.
On the bright side, at least I don't drive a standard. Gripping the gear shift would be brutal. And I have a good book-in-progress, Ken Follett's "The Third Twin" so I at least won't go insane for not knitting or playing WoW for a couple of days.
So, how was YOUR Tuesday?
The kicker? I'm teaching a sock class tomorrow night. Going to be interesting talking my students through the "join, being careful not to twist, " etc. However, I will do as I'm told because if I don't it will hurt for longer. Argh.
On the bright side, at least I don't drive a standard. Gripping the gear shift would be brutal. And I have a good book-in-progress, Ken Follett's "The Third Twin" so I at least won't go insane for not knitting or playing WoW for a couple of days.
So, how was YOUR Tuesday?
Feb 4, 2008
A few days late
Ok so I missed the silent poetry reading thingy on the weekend, but I just now wrote a poem. I used to do this a lot (teen angst, mid-20s angst), then just - stopped. Anyway:
It's getting past the point of going to sleep, that
Space
Between night and morning gets narrower each second
I stare at this screen
And read other people's thoughts
To avoid my own
Monday thoughts.
Karen Carpenter sang rainy days and Mondays always get me down;
She nailed it.
I feel the edge of Holly Golightly's Mean Reds
Creeping up -
There's that shiver -
But maybe I'm just cold because I'm tired
And I'm late for bed.
It's getting past the point of going to sleep, that
Space
Between night and morning gets narrower each second
I stare at this screen
And read other people's thoughts
To avoid my own
Monday thoughts.
Karen Carpenter sang rainy days and Mondays always get me down;
She nailed it.
I feel the edge of Holly Golightly's Mean Reds
Creeping up -
There's that shiver -
But maybe I'm just cold because I'm tired
And I'm late for bed.
Feb 3, 2008
It's February!
I admit it, I sort of missed Groundhog day. The past week at work was ... well, sometimes work gets - interesting? - and you can't talk about it. Plus it was busy, and I had only a 4-day week because of being on course Monday. One great thing I learned in this course:
Q Quit
T Taking
I It
P Personally
This has now become my office motto, because to be honest I am the QUEEN of taking stuff personally - my work, my coworkers, my company are all very important to me and I take things to heart. Trying to not do that so much. The theory was tested a few times this week, let me tell you!
Ok, so work is - work. Home is good. Peter and I are working out the numbers and timelines for a move in the Spring; it's time to get out of the Park (and away from the idiot landlord), and into something a little more convenient to our respective workplaces. And where the front porch won't collapse when you step on it. Etc. Been knitting steadily on blanket squares and this week took a batch of blankets down to one of the local shelters, where they were VERY glad to have them. Felt good. Also over 1/2 way done the shawl for Sandra's mom, which is AHEAD of schedule - yay me! - mostly because yesterday I spent a goodly amount of time just sittin' and knittin'. And reading, too - I've read two books this week, haven't done that in ages.
Tomorrow night I start my school board class of beginner knitting and Wednesday night I start my sock class, and those both run for 4 weeks. So for February I'm going to be pretty much hibernating on the weekends (except this coming Saturday, which is HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA and we'll be spending at B&K's).
Today - Peter is making homemade scratch pancakes for breakfast, then I'm going to start a batch of bread and get some chicken stew in the slow cooker before I get my course materials together and laundry away, etc. Good domestic-y stuff. Yesterday was mostly rest, did get out for groceries and some library-time with my niece (term paper hell, poor kid), so today is about gettin' er done.
I hope your weekend is going well!
Q Quit
T Taking
I It
P Personally
This has now become my office motto, because to be honest I am the QUEEN of taking stuff personally - my work, my coworkers, my company are all very important to me and I take things to heart. Trying to not do that so much. The theory was tested a few times this week, let me tell you!
Ok, so work is - work. Home is good. Peter and I are working out the numbers and timelines for a move in the Spring; it's time to get out of the Park (and away from the idiot landlord), and into something a little more convenient to our respective workplaces. And where the front porch won't collapse when you step on it. Etc. Been knitting steadily on blanket squares and this week took a batch of blankets down to one of the local shelters, where they were VERY glad to have them. Felt good. Also over 1/2 way done the shawl for Sandra's mom, which is AHEAD of schedule - yay me! - mostly because yesterday I spent a goodly amount of time just sittin' and knittin'. And reading, too - I've read two books this week, haven't done that in ages.
Tomorrow night I start my school board class of beginner knitting and Wednesday night I start my sock class, and those both run for 4 weeks. So for February I'm going to be pretty much hibernating on the weekends (except this coming Saturday, which is HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA and we'll be spending at B&K's).
Today - Peter is making homemade scratch pancakes for breakfast, then I'm going to start a batch of bread and get some chicken stew in the slow cooker before I get my course materials together and laundry away, etc. Good domestic-y stuff. Yesterday was mostly rest, did get out for groceries and some library-time with my niece (term paper hell, poor kid), so today is about gettin' er done.
I hope your weekend is going well!
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