Horseshoe Lace

Pattern: Horseshoe Lace Socks, not yet available from Kollage Yarns
Yarn: Kollage Yarns Luscious in colorway Rosetta -- 2 50g hanks
Needle: 40" 2.5mm Addi Turbo
Mods: None, it was a sample/test knit (unless you count the fact that I knit them magic loop rather than on DPs -- didn't stop me from spotting a problem knitters would run into doing it on DPs, so there)

I thoroughly enjoyed both the yarn (a cotton/nylon blend) and the pattern. Had a little issue at first with the heel, but that got sorted and the rest was smooth sailing. Socks are on their way back home today.

The Baby Sweater is also done, but it's in the dryer right now, so no pics (later). Then I need to do a button hunt for the sweater and the three bibs. Photos of all completely completed before they head off to their destination will be forthcoming.

Have started a new Swiffer cover (the larger size for the Wet Jet), this time in white with the same ombre I used on the baby sweater (173, Spring Meadows). Not a very exciting in progress shot, so no pics there, either.

On a personal note: one of the reasons I haven't blogged this week is that I started training Monday for a new job. It's part time, work I can do from home, and all proprietary and confidential-like. Like, even amongst ourselves, we refer to the client as "The Client". Very clandestine. Guess this is one gig you won't find me doing out at the local coffee shop.

Note to my mother and brother who've decided from reading the blog that I knit a lot: Have you noticed how small most of my recent projects have been? Wait until I start on a sweater for me (which I hope to do soon).

And I leave you with a final shot of the horseshoe lace socks, auditioning for a Dali painting:

Lots of Heels

The Horseshoe Lace test/sample knit sock has reached its heel:

The color here is about as true as I've been able to photograph yet.

I had actually worked most of the heel when I realized that a) I'd missed something in the directions, and b) the way it was originally designed was going to make some serious holes (cotton isn't quite as forgiving as wool there). Heel has been frogged and Anastasia and I are brainstorming (and testing) other options.

Happy Sock has also almost reached the heeling stage:

Please note: my ankles aren't really that big, it's just the angle, honest.

So, in the next little bit there will be some short-rowing at casa likelyyarns.

There's also most of a baby sweater:

Sleeves are done -- just need to finish the body.

The astute might notice that this isn't actually the sweater I showed Monday. I frogged that sweater 'cuz I decided I really wanted seed stitch bands rather than garter stitch. I also added some stitches, so I would guess this means it really isn't so much the Made With Love Sweater I had originally started.

Pause to note that pre-teen girls are just plain mean (and their parents are sometimes no better). It's school bus time here, and there are a number of pre-teen girls on our little street. While they were walking from the bus stop to their houses, two of the girls stole another's bag and her glasses. The bag wound up in our recycling bin, the glasses were given to a small boy to run away with. Now, the parents are outside, able to see all of this, and no one has done a thing.

Back to our regularly scheduled knitting. Okay, the knitting is really over. How about some explanation as to why there hasn't been a lot of knitting.

Here: http://www.casasadobesucc.org/

That's what I've been doing with most of my day. I inherited this website when we moved here because they learned that I had some experience. Unfortunately, with the host they've chosen, experience is actually a detriment. So much of the appearance of the site is controlled by "skins" I can't edit. And while there is a style sheet which I can, it doesn't always override the "hard-wired" portions of the template. And I can't find an explanation for what all the elements in the style sheet are anywhere -- and I so love reading the page source to find out. Anyway, it is at least better than what I inherited which was a largely static page with nothing to bring anyone back.

Close to Home, Again

Last year, Close to Home (the comic) had a great one proposing a reality TV show "So You Think You Can Knit?". This Sunday they touched on knitting again.

I have started the sample socks for Kollage and am so far loving them (both the pattern and the yarn).

Really, the color is all wrong in the picture. Yesterday's photo of the yarn was much closer to the lovely, mauve-y pink that it really is. I do hope to get a true photo of the color before the socks leave here.

And with that, I must head off -- busy day planned, probably not a lot of knitting time.

Bibbage

Don't even know if that's a word, but it seems to describe this:

Pattern: Baby Bib o'Love from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Top to bottom: Peaches n Creme #159, pink lilacs; Rowan Handknit Cotton #263, bleached; and Rowan Denim #225
Needle: #6 (you can see this coming, right?) Brittany walnut
Mods: Peaches n Creme bib is knit over 35 stitches with 8-stitch straps; the other two are per the pattern.

In the photo above, the Denim bib (the first knit) has been washed and dried. I love this yarn. This ball was a singleton (a sample, I believe), and the bib was the perfect project to use almost all of it. Now that Tucson Yarn is carrying some RYC yarns, perhaps they'll be able to special order me some Denim. Of course, this is what my fingers looked like when I finished the knitting:

The other two bibs have not been washed yet. They'll just go in with a load of laundry tomorrow on laundry day -- the Denim I actually washed by hand in the sink (didn't take a picture of my fingernails after all that hand agitation) and then dried with a load of towels.

These bibs are part of a virtual baby shower the folks in the Queer Revelry group over at Ravelry are putting together for a special little girl and her family. Many thanks to WonderMike (of Yknit) for coordinating it.

Also for the same little girl is this:

It's a top-down baby sweater, shaping (but not the hearts) borrowed from the Made With Love Sweater at MagKnits. Yarn is Peaches n Creme #173, Spring Meadows.

And just because cotton seems to be a theme in my knitting all around these days, this bundle of loveliness arrived in the mail today:
(Note to the folks at Kollage: there is plastic under the yarn, honest)

Two skeins of Luscious in the new colorway Rosetta. Color not completely accurate here -- it's really a very pretty pink with just a hint of mauve. Alas, this is not to keep, but to test knit some socks that'll have to be returned. Have permission to blog and Ravel the project in process, however, so I will.

Oh, and what am I porting these days?

Simple toe-up sock, 2x2 rib on top of foot and (eventually) the leg. Expecting a short-row heel when I get there. Yarn is Regia Ringel Color #5048, purchased at WEBS forever ago when it came in on closeout. Look Ma, not cotton.

PS. The Daisy Socks about which I was waffling have been frogged. There are better projects for the yarn and better yarn for that pattern.

PPS. Heard from my mother today that, now that the excitement of the Princess Barbie is over, the Babe is a hit, and E has named her Elana after a friend from dance class.

Mystery Revealed

Now that the birthday has passed (and I was able to get some sleep last night), I can show off one of my mystery projects:

Pattern: Babe from Knitted Babes by Claire Garland
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft 4-ply, a little less than half a 50-gram ball
Needle: 40" 2.5mm Inox circular, magic loop style for the Babe
Mods: Knit the Babe in the round, 'cuz all that seaming seems just silly.

She also, of course, had a couple of items of clothing:

A sundress, based on the pattern for the slip-on dress in the book, but not followed exactly. Yarn is a random sample ball of a mercerized cotton. I modified the pattern in the book by adding more rows to the skirt part of the dress, doing the second decrease row at K1, K2tog all the way around, and making the shoulder straps a little longer.

What happened when I followed the pattern as written?

The thing turned out more tunic-length than dress, and it was very tight. Now, I have to say that I have never checked gauge when making Babes or clothes for them, so the problem is most likely all with me -- though I really do want to know how a dress that is 19 stitches around is supposed to fit a doll that is 36 stitches around, even if the dress was knit on a size larger needle. [BTW: that yarn is also a sample, this one a cotton/rayon.]

For beach wear, there is a bathing suit:
(another cotton sample yarn)

And for après swim or chilly evenings, a hoodie:
(a 2/7 lambswool/alpaca millend from WEBS)

She also had sandals:

but one of the cats decided they'd make a great toy, and one of them is well hidden somewhere in the house. So, the sandals never made it to Maine for the birthday.

I'd like to say she was a hit, but to be perfectly honest, the first gift E opened was the only thing she REALLY wanted (provided by my parents -- the overindulgent grandparents of 1), a Princess Barbie, and that kinda spoiled it for the rest of the gifts. My mother liked her, though.

Before the two new babes made their trips northeast, I took some family portraits:

AND, the Tidal Wave 2 socks are done.

Sorry for the weird look, but the light is very strange in the house this morning.

Pattern: Tidal Wave Socks (pdf link) by Deby Lake
Yarn: SWTC TOFUtsies #727, significantly less than a full ball -- I am once again amazed at the quantity of yarn on these balls, I could make another pair of socks from what's left (34g, according to my kitchen scale). Hmmm, perhaps I will make a pair for E.
Needle: KnitPicks Harmony 32" 2.5mm (Sigh, I am in love with this needle -- I think I need to buy a bunch more.)
Mods: Made the ribbing a little longer and did 6 pattern repeats on the legs.

Once again, I am in love with the yarn and the finished product. Having made a vow to myself (after a TOFUtsies buying binge) that I will not buy any more yarn made from food or feed crops (bamboo, here I come), I will make sure to thoroughly enjoy knitting with and wearing the remainder of my TOFUtsies stash (a quick check on Ravelry will show just how much pleasure I have left).

Oh, and the piano scarf has found a new life as a keyboard cover in Marilyn's teaching studio. Apparently, it's a hit with the kids.

PS. I have decided that one of the cheapest legal forms of entertainment is giving a dog a wad of peanut butter. Try it some time.

I Have Nothing To Say

Ever have one of those days? I haven't been able to get to sleep for the past three nights, so I'm definitely feeling the sleep deprivation. Last night I even broke into the dog's supply of benadryl, but even that didn't help.

Anyhoo, sorry, not much exciting to report. I HAVE decided not to frog the Daisy Socks just yet because I'm kinda intrigued by them looking at the pic from yesterday's post. Not sure what I'm seeing the pic that I'm not seeing in real life, but we'll go with it for now. And I'm awaiting yarn from Kollage so I can begin a test knit project for Anastasia (of Yarn Cocktails and Candy). That'll be fun.

Enough of my boring rambling, now the Queen has something to show you:

Lucy's not the only one who's shedding bucketloads right now. I just love the change of seasons. I'm starting to wonder if it's time to invest in a Furminator.

I Hate it When This Happens!

Last night, innocently trying to find the end of the ball so I can start a test knit project, and there it is: yarn barf (in two pieces, no less). Good grief.

Oh, well, the test knitting went fairly well after that:

This will mostly likely hit the frog pond later today since I'm not sure I'm liking the combo of the stitch pattern and the yarn, but I've knit enough to do the editing needed for the pattern and sent the edits to the designer (Ravelry link). I do like the pattern, so will probably make it for real out of some better-suited yarn. Perhaps for my niece (who hates having anything on her feet but lives in Maine where footwear is essential for at least a couple months of each year). [Shout out: Happy Birthday E!]

And lest you think I'm lying about the Tidal Waves:

I do love this pattern -- so fast. Most of the leg of #2 was knit yesterday during what may be one of the most ridiculous meetings I've ever attended. It's not worth re-hashing here, but suffice it to say I'm glad I've resigned from that committee.

Oh dear, look how late it is! Must off to shower before my piano lesson today.

Waaaay to Much Time

Those folks over at Google have waaaay too much time on their hands, methinks. Witness this, and this, and this, oh, and the new scratch 'n sniff feature over at Google Books.

Oh, just found one more.

I have always hated April Fool's Day, but this (and NPR's annual spoof story), at least gives me something to enjoy. The story about exploding maple trees will always have a special place in my heart.

ETA: With the exception of the scratch 'n sniff, these pages should probably all still be available after April 1

Obligatory knitting content: The first Tidal Wave is done -- second is on its way. Tonight I cast-on for a test knitting project. I hope to have pics of both soon.

PS. This is where I found the Queen this morning:

There's clean laundry under her, and it's all on top of the dryer. Cats, honestly!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It can save more than the environment. Case in point, these:

Handy, dandy handmade covers for my Swiffers (dry and the Wet Jet). Total cost for the two: approx $2.25, a savings of goodness knows how much over the at least two disposable cloths each I was using per week before. Now to find a solution that will replace the floor cleaning fluid for the Wet Jet.... Any ideas?

Pattern: Skull Charms Reusable Swiffer Cover
Yarn: Peaches 'n Creme, black (MC) and 168, the imaginatively named "shades of green" (CC) -- a little less than a ball of each for the two
Needle: Brittany walnut (yeah, the beautifully turned ones they're not making anymore) #7 -- note a pattern lately in my needle usage?
Mods: None for the dry Swiffer cover. For the cover for the Wet Jet, I did three full repeats of the 12-row pattern to make it wide enough to fit.

Here's a pic showing the "pockets" at the end which hold it on:

Just love these!

In other RRR news, M and I found this at the thrift store today:

Yep, a handmade Irish fisherman sweater. And it was dirt cheap 'cuz, frankly, who'd WANT one of these here?! We had a chilly winter this year, and I can't remember a single moment when I would have been tempted to put this on (and I've been cold since about birth).

Anyhoo, that's about 31 ounces of prime Irish wool (checked the seams, and it looks completely re-claimable) or a really beautiful sweater for someone who'd like it. [Sweater measures about 48" at the underarm.] I couldn't leave it in the store but, honestly, don't really have a use for it myself. So, anyone wanna make an offer (trade preferred) for it?

Oh, and this should add credence to its claim of being handmade:

Note the boo boo in the cable on the sleeve.

Emergency Babe Done

Here she is. Done and ready to be shipped off tomorrow for the auction.

Pattern: Babe from Knitted Babes by Claire Garland
Yarn: RYC Cashsoft 4-ply for Babe; SWTC TOFUtsies for sundress
Needles: Inox 40" 2.5mm for Babe; some old aluminum #3s for sundress
Other: felt, embroidery floss
Mods: Let's see: knit the Babe in the round (will never knit one flat again) with Kitchenered scalp; legs and arms are picked up from the body and knit in i-cord; dress is an improvised pattern (see below).

Oh, and to keep her neck from flopping, I came up with a great solution: I put a short emery board (the kind you use for your nails) in her. It's abrasive enough that it won't move around in the stuffing, stiff enough to keep her neck from flopping, and still soft enough that it will break or bend before causing any harm. Also, if it does break or bend, there aren't any splinters like you'd get with a craft stick.

In other knitting news, I delivered the piano scarf this morning. It was a hit. When I left Marilyn with it in the choir loft, it was draped across the organ console, and she was moving her head all around watching the keyboard appear and disappear. When I took her daughter (who wanted to know what the scarf's "magic" was) up to see it later, she, too, was entertained. So glad when people are as delighted with things as I am. It was meant to tickle and amuse, and so it did.

Tidal Wave sock #1 is just about ready for Dr. Kitchener, but my next "big" project (that would be "big" as in it's my at home project, not big as in it has any size to it) is a Swiffer Cover. Yipeee! Two of my favorite things: knitting and reducing trash. With any luck, this one'll be done before it's time to clean the floors on Tuesday.

Pattern for Babe Sundress

Yarn: SWTC TOFUtsies
Needle: US3
Gauge: approx 8sts=1" in stockinette

Cast on 70 stitches. Knit 4 rows. Switch to stockinette (starting with a K row) and work even for 3", ending with a WS row.

The remainder of the dress is worked in garter stitch (knit every row).

Decrease row: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * until 1 stitch remains, K1 (47 stitches)
Next row: K
Decrease row: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * until 2 stitches remain, K2 (32 stitches)
Knit 9 rows even, ending with a WS row
Cast off 6 stitches at beginning of next two rows (20 stitches)
Cast off 3 stitches at beginning of next two rows (14 stitches)
(these two rows form back waist)
Work 10 rows garter stitch, ending with a WS row
K4, bind off middle 6 stitches, K4

Continuing to work only on last 4 stitches, work 11 more ridges garter stitch and bind off.

Rejoin yarn to 4 remaining stitches and work 11 ridges garter stitch, bind off.

Finishing: sew back seam; sew straps to back waist; weave in ends; block if desired

Piano Illusion Scarf

This one was a really fun knit. Watching the illusion develop made the mostly-garter-stitch-but-still-have-to-pay-attention knitting significantly less of a chore. I'm sure Marilyn (who I know loves funky socks) will appreciate it.

Pattern: Counterpoint Scarf by Jennifer Crawford (from whom I also borrowed the idea of photographing it ON the keyboard
Yarn: Peaches 'n Creme Cotton in white and black; just about 1.5 balls of black and probably an equal amount of white (we buy that by the cone) for a 4+ octave scarf which blocked out to just about 5'
Needles: #5 Brittany Walnut (I LOVE those needles)
Mods: I don't think I finished it the way the pattern said: I basically just made the end look like the beginning.

And if she doesn't wear it as a scarf, perhaps a table runner:

In other knitting news: the first Tidal Wave sock is just about to the toe. No new photos, sorry. I can say, however, that I am LOVING the Harmony needle. The cable is soft and the tips really do feel like glass. I don't think I realized just how much I was enjoying this needle or how much nicer it was than my former standby sock needle until I had to use said needle yesterday to work on an emergency project.

Emergency project?! Yes, the school where M used to teach is having its annual fundraising auction next month (the one for which Mr. Penguin was felted last year), and she got an email from one of the parent coordinators wishing that they had such an item this year. I figured I don't have time to felt an animal in time to get it there for pre-auction viewing, but I can whip out a Knitted Babe in a couple of days, right?

So, yesterday afternoon, I cast on for a Babe (this one'll only have one outfit). The body's done and stuffed, and I've picked up the stitches for the first arm (among the mods this time around are knitting the body in the round, picking up stitches for the arms and legs, and doing the arms and legs in i-cord). Will post photos when she's a little more decent.

Speaking of that, I should stop writing and get back to the knitting. Wish me luck!

They're DONE!

The grey socks are DONE!

Pattern: Generic top-down sock, 68 stitches with 2x2 rib at the cuff and a slip-stitch heel.
Yarn: Mega Boots Stretch Softcolor #505
Needle: Inox 2.5mm 40" circular, magic loop style

This is the second pair of socks I've attempted with Mega Boots Stretch (the first I've finished), and I'm really not sure I like the yarn. It's very splitty and very fuzzy which can make it difficult to work with. But the socks are done, and as soon as I find someone in a colder clime with size 8 (women's) feet or smaller, they will have a home.

But now it's on to the next sock project:

A new pair of Tidal Wave Socks (pdf link) from the pattern by Deby Lake. It's TOFUtsies #727. And, of course, they're being knit on my new KnitPicks Harmony circular (32" 2.5mm). I am in love with the needle so far.

I love this pattern and this yarn. The pattern is a simple but interesting lace that's perfect for on-the-go knitting. The yarn is soft (and even softer when it's been washed a couple dozen times as my other pair of Tidal Waves have been), not at all itchy, and it holds up beautifully to wear and washing. I know there are those who really don't like it at all, but I am certainly not one of them.

And last, I had to share this little episode in our house last night. Monday morning is trash time in the neighborhood, so Sunday evening M empties all the trash cans and the litter boxes that need it so she can put out the trash barrel before we go to bed. Last night, when she emptied the smaller litter box, she came back in to find this:

That's our little K-Man settling himself in to the litter box. He loves to curl up in small spaces, but the litter box?! Fortunately, we use liners, so the box itself was clean, but still. He appeared ready to take a nap:

Quickie

I'm just soo tickled with this I had to share:

Sorry the photo's a bit blurry, but you can see what it is, right? When I found the pattern (through Ravelry) I knew I had to make one for M because she's a candy corn freak. Okay, not the most Easter-ish of Easter presents, but she gave me ballpark snacks (we're off to a game after church today), so we're having a completely non-traditional Easter in the Old Pueblo.

Pattern: Knitted Candy Corn Illusion Cloth from Rhonda White (I could spend forever on her site)
Yarn: Peaches n' Creme in White, Black, Yellow, and Orange (I'm too lazy right now to walk the 20 steps to the loom room to find the color numbers)
Needles: #7 Brittany walnut (the ones with the beautiful turnings they don't make anymore)

Cast on and bound off last evening (with time to spare to knit some more on the piano scarf).

M teased me about being so tickled with this, but she doesn't have a leg to stand on considering the number of dishcloths she's made (and been equally tickled with) since I showed her the dishcloth site.

In other knitting news: the piano scarf is half done, having just reached three octaves long. No new photos yet.

Now, let's see if I can get that darn grey sock done today so I can start something else and use my new KnitPicks Harmony needle. My mother called last night and told me just how much she's loving knitting on hers and suggested that I fondle mine for a bit as motivation to get the grey sock done (I have, and it worked). [Lest you think my family is totally nuts: she did not call to tell me to fondle a knitting needle; it just came up.]

Been Away So Long....

Really, I've been knitting [some of it super-secret, which is a bummer 'cuz I really like the finished product -- oh well, in a couple of months...] I just haven't been writing about it. I've also been playing, or more correctly, watching other people play at Tucson Electric Park (I <3 Spring Training!).

So, the knitting. I finished Mystery Project #1 which will be delivered to its intended recipient by April 2nd, after which I will post photos here. For the curious, here is a link to details on Ravelry.

Then there was that super-secret Mystery Project #2. Can't give any details (sorry, not even on Ravelry) for now, but here's a peek:

That's it -- the rest will have to wait until the pattern is published.

But here's some knitting I can show off:

Just a black and white striped scarf, right? Of course not:

I saw the pattern and knew I had to make it for Marilyn, my piano teacher who also happens to be our church's organist and the wife of M's Senior Pastor.

I am loving the knitting, and can't help but turn it sideways every few rows to admire the growing keyboard (I've finished only one octave so far). I think I may become addicted to illusion knitting very quickly.

In other knitting news, the darn grey socks are almost done. Here's a pic of #1 as it stood Wednesday afternoon:

Since then I've finished #1 and am about to turn the heel on #2, and I can't wait to have them done. Why am I so anxious to finish? Well, it could be that I'm sick of grey; it could be that I'm not really liking how splitty the yarn is; it could be that I am completely bored with all that tiny stockinette. Yes, it could be any of those things, but what it really is that I finally bought myself a Knit Picks Harmony wood 2.5mm circ for sock knitting and I really, REALLY want to use it.

And yes, since you asked, my toenails ARE fluorescent pink, and I DO drink far too much Diet Coke (though right now I'm enjoying a Diet Barq's).

Oh, and now that they've finally made it available on its own, I've ordered me a copy of the Morehouse Farms Alligator Scarf pattern. Oh how I wish they did online delivery of patterns (yeah, like I need to start another project right now, but I like instant gratification).

Tucson Ribbed T

Here it is!



Pattern: Bob by Jamie Cook-Jacques
Yarn: Reynolds Tucson #24, it wound up taking about 6 balls
Needles: WEBS Hard Bamboo Interchangeable Circ #8
Mods: Made the sleeves 1" longer than the pattern called for.

I love how this turned out. The yarn is very soft, the sweater is very comfortable. It'll make for perfect wearing for the next couple of months while it's both hot and cool at the same time (only in the desert).

Next project has to remain secret for a little while, but the details are over on Ravelry (along with some new photos).

Recipe For a Cheap Date

Friday night is date night around here. Lately that has meant dinner -- either at home or at our favorite Mexican place -- then a wander about the Foothills Mall, followed by coffee and desert somewhere. Yes, we're wild and crazy.

Yesterday was a little different:

• M finds expiring gift certificate for a free medium specialty pizza at a local gourmet pizza place we've yet to try out. Total cost for dinner: $3.00 for soda
• Cold Stone Creamery coupon means two ice creams for $5.00
• Stop by the video store to pick up a movie (My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- can you believe M's never seen it?) and discover that it's free movie weekend. Total cost for entertainment: $0.00

Bringing the grand total cost of our cheap date night to $8 plus tax. Under $10 for dinner, ice cream, and movie for 2. Gotta love it.

Coming soon: elegant date night for two on the cheap (cash in credit card reward points for Melting Pot gift cards).

Yeah, yeah, I know I owe the blog a picture and details on the finished Tucson Ribbed T. It's coming, really -- gotta cut all those pesky ends off and photo it.

100 Things

It has come to my attention that since my move to the grand Southwest (I'm not trying to rub it in or anything, but it's pushing 80 here today, and I had to put the shades back on the family room window 'cuz it was HOT!), some of the 100 things were no longer valid, so here's a current, updated version.

Also, I'm still feeling a bit under the weather after whatever knocked me out last weekend, so I don't feel like taking pics. Tucson ribbed T is done and washed and ready for photo-ing. Have started work on a secret (until April) project I'm loving (details at Ravelry).

But here goes -- 100 (or so) things:

1. My favorite vegetable is brussels sprouts


2. My second favorite is asparagus


3. With the exception of <2 years of my early childhood, I have never lived outside New England


4. I made the 2nd biggest leap of faith in my life when I left New England for the wilds of Arizona -- and so far I'm loving it


5. I really don't like the cold


6. AT ALL


7. Though I do love sledding


8. I've never been downhill skiing


9. And I don't ever plan to


10. I once ran over my own leg with a lawn tractor (don't ask me how)


11. I am afraid of the dark


12. I am also slightly claustrophobic


13. Ouija boards do not "work" when I'm in the room


14. My favorite sport to watch on TV is football


15. My favorite sport to watch in person is hockey


16. The only sport I've ever come close to being good at is tennis


17. I can't play any more because I have carpal tunnel in both wrists


18. And no ACL in my left knee


19. I always knew I would be a pastor's wife


20. I always knew I would never have children


21. I learned to knit when I was five years old


22. I learned to crochet shortly thereafter


23. While my mother knits (and taught me to knit) English, she sent me to my aunt to learn to knit continental because she thought it would be faster


24. I now knit some sort of combination knitting


25. I didn't know until recently that that's what it is called


26. A few years ago I lost 70+ pounds


27. I have gained about 20 of it back


28. While I would love to be a size 8 again, I am coming to terms with 12


29. I quit smoking without going through any withdrawal


30. I eat a banana every day


31. Some irrational part of me thinks that if I don't I will die


32. I never had training wheels -- before my father could get them on my first two-wheeler, I got on and took off without wobbling or falling


33. This astounds me because I'm one of the most clumsy people I know


34. Everyone in my immediate family graduated from high schools whose colors were black and orange


35. I hate black and orange


36. I don't have a favorite color


37. But if I did it would be green (or red, or purple, or pink... you get the point)


38. It would never be blue


39. I could best be described as a libertarian


40. I currently live in my dream house


41. Unfortunately, we don't own it


42. But you should see the view


43. I didn't want a dog because they need to be taken for walks during blizzards


44. Now that I live in Tucson, this isn't a concern


45. Though now heat stroke and rattlesnakes are


46. We adopted one anyway


47. I love him and can't imagine life without him


48. And I've discovered snow isn't half as bad as cold and wind


49. I am still a cat person


50. We also have 2 cats


51. Our baby boy cat was seized from an abusive home by DSS


52. He has finally lost his fear of the appliances (except the vacuum)


53. He's still not sure about strangers, though he's incredibly curious about everything


54. And for some reason, he seems completely unfrightened by children, even the really loud, active ones


55. Don't tell my parents, but all those times they couldn't find Scott and me at church we were up in the belfry


56. It had the best view in town


57. Sometimes I yearn to preach


58. I could never be a church pastor because once a year I would have to lead worship from a chancel filled with Easter lilies, and that just might kill me -- literally


59. If it pollinates, chances are I'm allergic to it


60. I am far more physically fit than I look


61. I work out nearly every day


62. I LOVE to work out


63. I don't believe in the death penalty


64. I love it when someone else cooks me breakfast


65. Numbers (NOT the book of the Bible) don't always make sense to me


66. Come to think of it, Numbers (the book of the Bible) doesn't always make sense either


67. I have always preferred the company of men


68. If I were still single and he asked, I would probably marry JD


69. Not that he'd ask


70. And I can't really imagine me as an Army Officer's wife


71. M says it's probably a lot like being a pastor's wife


72. I am an INTP


73. I wish we had more lesbian friends, but...


74. I am intimidated by many lesbians, and...


75. I find many others way too angry to be around.


76. I don't understand the reluctance/fear most people seem to have about dating/marrying/having sex with an ordained person


77. It pains me to watch our single clergy friends struggle with this


78. My favorite book of the Bible is Philippians


79. Don't tell my wife or his, but I have just the tiniest crush on the minister who married us


80. I changed my mind about college majors because I was afraid of the particle accelerator


81. Yeah, I know in my mind it's not dangerous


82. I chose my college major because it had the fewest in-subject requirements


83. Yes, I took full advantage of the breadth of a liberal arts education


84. I have been told on multiple occasions that I am "too smart"


85. I still don't understand what people mean by that


86. I know what they mean by "too intense," and I own it


87. My dream job is homemaker


88. With a sideline as a freelance writer/editor


89. It's taken me years to be able to admit that


90. I am one of the most honest people I know


91. Honest in that fairly transparent, motives up front, what-you-see-is-what-you-get sort of way


92. NOT honest in that rude-in-the-name-of-honesty way (see this commentary by Stephanie -- it's #3, the big question)


93. Sometimes this gets me in trouble in interpersonal relationships because I behave as if other people are just as honest


94. No matter how much evidence I've seen that they aren't, I am still usually blindsided by other people's duplicitousness


95. I am a process knitter


96. And once I've figured out the process, projects can languish


97. I fell in love with weaving the first night of my first ever weaving class


98. I bought a loom shortly thereafter


99. As with knitting and crochet, I am nearly fearless when it comes to weaving projects


100. I've wanted a workshop for ages, and now that I have it, I don't use a lot it because I miss M too much when I'm up there


101. I have had a compulsion to write since I was old enough to do so


102. I never thought I would like ballroom dancing


103. After marrying a ballroom dancer, I find I love it


104. But I think I really only love dancing with M


105. I passed the Jeopardy test once


106. But I didn't get on the show

Spring Fever!

Today we packed snacks, water, sunblock, hats, a camera and the dog into the car and headed to Picacho Peak State Park for the day. It was glorious (sunny, temps in the mid-70s), and the poppies are in bloom, so the mountain was gorgeous.

Just some views of the day:





That last pic is of the "skeleton" of a saguaro cactus (yes, they're trees, and their internal structure is wood). That lumpy thing on the front is the remains of a bird's nest:

When the woodpecker (often a Gila woodpecker or a gilded flicker) is building its nest, it first drills down into the soft flesh of the cactus. Then it leaves for a while, during which time the cactus heals over the wound by creating a nice solid nest for the bird. Then he returns to find a mate and raise a family. When the cactus dies and the soft flesh all rots away, you're left with the wooden skeleton and the bird nests.

Oh, the woodpecker will usually only stay in the nest for a season or two before something else (another bird, a snake, whatever) takes over.

And Pupper would like to tell you that he climbed a mountain and everyone at the park thought he was just adorable. Here is is enjoying a well-deserved rest in the shade:

Really, our ancient, arthritic dog bounded up the hill (no, not the high peak, just a lower overlook) like a puppy. Down was a little more cautious, but, then again, it was for the Mommies, too.

Progress continues on the newly-discovered Tucson Ribbed T. Am anxious to finish and wear it (if it still fits). But now I'm off to rest a bit. After spending the entire weekend in bed with what we feared was the flu when I woke up with incredible joint pain at 2:30 Saturday morning -- but I never had a fever, and today I've just got a lingering sore throat and a bit of exhaustion -- I don't think I should push it too much.

PS. Last night we got tickets to next Monday afternoon's ST game between the Rockies and the D'backs. Second row behind first base. We're looking forward to it.

Lookee What I Found!

So, after frogging the plum sweater and despairing the loss of my mojo, I decided to organize the needles -- finally -- they've been a disaster since we moved.

While going through the stash box where most of the needles lived during the move, I found a WIP I had completely forgotten about. Completely! I must have started it about two years ago and put it aside goodness knows why.

So, I give you, The Tucson Ribbed T:

The pattern is Bob from the Spring '03 Knitty. I cannot for the life of me explain why it is I put this down. The pattern is simple, the outcome is a flattering, comfortable T (if the comments on Ravelry are any indication), and I really like the yarn I'm using. Guess this poor sweater was simply a victim of WIP-overload at some point. Perhaps I started it when I was going through a bout of startitis -- it strikes every once in a while.

Anyhoo, why "Tucson Ribbed T"?

Don't even know how long this one's been discontinued, but it ain't even on Yarndex. I do love the saguaro for the "t" on the label, tho.

So, I have a project, and so far it hasn't bitten me. I have split for the raglan decreases and almost finished the front. Just the back raglan and the sleeves left to knit, so this one should be done well before it's too warm to wear it.

Frogged!

So, the Cable Waist Cardigan has been frogged. The 8-ply cotton on the mondo cone just wasn't working right with the cables. Bummer. I will find something else for both yarn and pattern, however, so no despair. Well, not much.

I've heard others talk about losing knitting mojo, but I don't think I've ever experienced it -- until now. See, I have also had to tear out Rita's Scarf three times now. You'd think this one would be easy: I've made this scarf before; it's just a simple garter stitch. This one ain't rocket science, and still I can't seem to get it to work.

Luckily, my sock is still behaving itself. I'm almost to the heel, and I'm thinking of using the modified heel that Wendy used on her Temptation Top-Down Socks (pdf link to pattern). Maybe I shouldn't press my luck?

Right now the sock is the only (non-hibernating) project on the needles (well, there's the Dr. Who Scarf which I've never blogged [Ravelry link]). Perhaps I need to take some time and celebrate my near-WIP-less-ness. There are all those needles that need organizing, and story deadlines fast approaching, and that pile from my latest trip to the library just mocking me from the floor next to the desk (note to self: must get some sort of bookshelf-like thing for next to the desk). When I am ready to return to the knitting, it will always be there waiting for me.

Or, I could just haul out one of the warps I have stashed. Yes, I tend to wind scarf- and stole-sized warps in batches and store them for future weaving needs (I've never had a good place to keep the warping board always available, so it makes sense to wind multiple warps when I have it out). You think knitting and washing a gauge swatch interferes with getting to the "good stuff" -- what about winding a warp and dressing the loom? Though there are those (LB, for one) who enjoy that part best of all -- takes all types. Okay, I DO enjoy dressing the loom, but winding warps can be tedious.

For now, I think I'm going to take the dog for a walk and then crawl back into bed with a book. I haven't slept well this week for some reason (hmmmmm, could that have something to do with the missing mojo?), and they eyes are feeling droopy.