Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Some things ...

... are impossible to work on.
Tomorrow, the guy who is taking over the church books from me will be here at 8:00 ish and they are a mess. i don't even care - the work I spent over 3 hours doing in September in order to prepare a financial statement was not backed up on my disc and therefore I can either redo it or say *&$#%&* and just give him what is there.
I am very excited as I managed to put the borders on the charity quilt and I feel, considering that 6 or so different people, all with different sewing styles, have worked on it, it looks really good. Hopefully the rest think so to.
Knitting - I am loving my I love Gansey, but just so worried my swap partner won't. Confidence is a hard thing for me especially when it involves doing something that the other person also has the ability to do. Arrgghh.
Big gurlz socks and the secret stole are on hiatus as the quilt and the swap socks were priorities. The church books, well hopefully Gordon wants to work through them with me - he is retired so he has a little more time too! I've paid everything except the visiting pastors, cause I still don't know what or when they preached. Must remember that for tomorrow.
Halloween was fun - little gurl was a cute elephant (did not wear the 'head') and big gurl was a unicorn for trick or treating (same head deal). Little gurl's dad joined us and this was good as we walked over to Don and Diane's (the long way) and then had to walk back. Lots of goodies in the other room. Not even interested right now, but hey there's always tomorrow.
At work, we are in the midst of a book sale for our annual GCWCC (charity) campaign. I am the committee chair and actually feel pretty good about it. So today I got to work early and tomorrow I will go later (maybe work on the paperwork that I am not doing now).
Friday night, Shannon and her gurls are coming for a sleep over - here's hoping that the sewer doesn't decide to cause problems this time around!!! Shannon and I want to knit together, so that should be fun.
Sunday we have lunch at Grandma's as big gurl's dad is around.
Maybe Monday I can work at our life being back to normal?!?!?

Monday, October 29, 2007

Long Weekend?

Not in days but in hours. I mean, when you wake up feeling a little tired, but sure, you slept late and then glance at the clock and it is not even 7:00 am. Yuck. And what is it about a house of gurlz, that means if Mom is PMSing, then everyone is?
The dishes war was almost one, however there are new ones again so round 3 is already in the loss.
On the knitting front? Big gurl's socks are just under 3 inches in - magic loop method, two at a time. BUT unless some miraculous time shows up, they will not be completed for my October SAM4 socks. Oh well. The stole is at row 220 and I have charts to row 330. So, I am a little behind, however my goal is to only be on the last hint when a new hint is released, so I have to do 40 rows before Friday morning. I can do 20 (approximately) an evening (but nothing else gets done). The Harvest Sock, I Love Gansey is a gorgeous pattern, but the yarn and I are not getting along, so I may have to put everything else on hold while I finish it. The only other WIPs are the baby blanket and sweater that never were given to little gurl, the Moeibus head scarf and Sock #2 for Mom, however it is not started so I just have one single sock going on.
On the yarn front. I tried. But when it is grumpy Saturday and you arrive at the yarn store to discover it is 50-60% off everything, you look around. I have new yarn - some for my swap partner (cause you can buy more when it is on sale) and some (LOTS) for me. Just need some time.
The CRACKs in the house have been evaluated by contractor Keith and we have decided to repair and patch, and see what happens over the winter. So, my next day off (Nov 12th) will be spent fixing around the house.
No knitting was done Sunday, however some scrapbook paper destashing and some quilt planning went on along with major tidy clean in living room and some dinner with friends.
Must go now as it is 7:41 am and the big gurl is still asleep, the little gurl smells and I must get us all dressed and out of the house by 8:15 am at the latest or we will be late.
Major goal this week - GET THE CHURCH STUFF ORGANIZED, PACKED UP AND DELIVERED TO NEW TREASURER.
(but crafting must still occur)

P.S. On Saturday evening, big gurl and I did some card making/embossing stuff. I know why I enjoy doing this, and once the 'room' gets organized, will be able to pull out the stuff to do an occasional item. Have big plans for a handmade gift for my SP and swap partner, but not sure when the time will appear. of course if I hadn't spent a half hour just thinking about it, but actually did something I would already be started now wouldn't I?!?!?!?!?

Have a wonderful day!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

OH MY! Link to it here if you want to join
Thank you SP!
I am in on this in a big way.

Here is my Questionnaire:

Coffee
What are your favorite kinds of coffee?
I love dark roast coffee. Melitta and Van Houtten

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?
Although I prefer whole bean, I do not have a coffee grinder(looking for one in that new 'kitchen red' to match my coffee maker) so ground will have to do.

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee?
YES

Do you enjoy special blends?
YES

How do you take your coffee?
I take milk and sometimes whipped cream on top with sugar. Cream is taken when it is the only choice.

Decaf?
I love a nice flavored decaf in late afternoon and evenings.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?
Generally I drink coffee from a nice thick mug. When I have company, I will put out the matching cups and saucers.

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!
What is your favorite part of Winter?
I love snow. Watching it fall, romping in it, and taking the kids for a walk.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?
Christmas with a tree.

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?
I prefer a more Winter Theme, however we have and collect miniature ornaments and Angels.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?
Yes to all the above.

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?
Baileys laced coffee or hot chocolate with fresh baked cookies or cake.

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.
My favourite holiday memory was making a Snowman in the back yard with the gurls last winter. They were so helpful and he stayed for some time.

Yarn and Crafting
Do you Knit or Crochet?
I do both.

For how long?
20 plus years

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?
I work with all of the above but the plastic hooks are slowly being replaced. I love the circs and DPN more than the straights.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?
I prefer smaller projects like socks, hats, mitts as they don't take quite as long.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?
2 years ago I would never have said this, but primarily wool or wool cotton blends.

Do you spin or dye?
No

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else? Yes, cross stitch and sewing and pretend to do scrapbooking.

General

When is your birthday? December 2

Do you have any children? Yes - 2 girls

What are your favorite colors? Blues and Greens

Do you have any allergies? the furry kind - cats.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

100 posts - and some rules for me

This would have happened a lot sooner if I didn't have to go to work or parent or pay bills or sleep or eat or anything.
It's an interesting point in my life. (my computer is reading 4:56 pm and I just put the gurlz to bed and dinner was over and hour ago and - guess we are on Alberta time?)

What has been happening?
Thursday night, I turned off the computer to go to sleep and remembered the parcel that was in the mail. Because we had company coming for dinner, I just carried everything inside and started dinner. Did I wait until morning to open it? NOPE
Thank you SP. I have Scarf Style from Interweave Press. 3, maybe 7 projects picked out already. There is some gorgeous Knit Pick - just a minute must go find it and feel/I mean properly describe it for you.
ah hem: It is Knit Picks Shimmer, 70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Silk, in Turquoise Splendor. Gorgeous light to dark turquoise all in 2 skeins. I'm thinking perhaps a Scarf Style pattern or there are a couple cute ones in the Holiday Gifts by Interweave Knits. Glad I only picked up one as I see my pal picked one up for herself. You should see the bear in it - OI is it ever cute.
AH hem. Yes yes, back to the treasures from my SP. A gorgeous (handmade?) bracelet in gold and red hues. loverly!!!! Cookie Cutters in pumpkin and bat shapes (with stencil guides for decorating) which found themselves put to excellent use Saturday morning, when I realized the cake from Thursday was at the house we visited on Friday and not available for the company coming that morning. So I quick baked some cookies. (note - the dough for these cookies was patiently chilling out in the freezer since around April 29th, when it was found to be unnecessary for big gurlz birthday). There was some delightful Lindt Milk Chocolate for me (still is about half - what control) and Kinder Eggs for the gurlz (also still one each somewhere, however have not actually seen them so they may be no more).
Thank you so much my SP! You've really made me feel special.
And then..
On Friday, it was very foggy and gray on the way to work. I was feeling a little bit gray myself, until I saw the slice of a rainbow in the sky. In the midst of the gray and heavy clouds, there was just an inch sized slice of rainbow (bigger likely up close, but in my world it covered about and inch). Lifted me out of the doldrums a little.
I have knitted a little. The stole is at row 130 - I have to check now...no it is 143 - so I think it goes to 168 - 24 more rows. Not bad - I plan to get at least 10? done tonight.
Big gurl's socks are both cast on, but there is a bit of a design element issue as when i use provisional cast on, sometimes it creates "live loops" and sometimes just an edge to knit into. The first sock had the latter - and it looks like a seam line - lovely. The second has the former and it also looks lovely. one is ready to begin the gusset and the other is about an inch away. What to do ? I'm bettin I frog the first and go for the invisible seam (problem is it's all in the way I pick up my first row of loops into the chain and I never remember which is which. These socks may be returning to time out.
I finished my first ever pair of Fetchings (knitty) and I am disappointed. I have small hands so I only picked up one ball of the yarn and it was enough to make them , however I (for my personal brain wellbeing) need another inch of cable at the fingers. However I have about a yard of yarn left. But - the store where big gurl left her sweater The Needle Emporium has that colour (if not the dye lot) and I have to go back there sometime.
Mom's first sock is done and the second is waiting for the needle that the big gurls socks are on. (they are on two circs as I catch the second (or maybe the first) up to the other and then I will just use the extra long circ to do both at once).
I threw out the vest UFO from some time ago. I would have frogged but it was not froggable and kept catching and pulling. The yarn may turn into something from Scarf Style as I have enough.
The baby blanket and sweater that was supposed to be for little gurl are (hopefully) going to be completed for grandchild #10 for my parents (NO - NOT ME). The kids already going to get shafted as there is a big brother and sister involved. The Moeibus head scarf is progressing in inches - slow going as it it just a 2 by 2 rib with icord edging. Not the most exciting of works.
Big Gurl's quilt - well, I have to clean my room up again in order to work on it and there are a couple of other things pressing in too.
My Harvest Sock Swap - Love the I love Gansey pattern. however feeling a little meh about the colour as it is more oceanic than harvestic and so... however, maybe I could include some autumnal yarn in the package. I had brought a deep red that was kind of apple harvesty, however the yarn doesn't knit well (for me) to the pattern, so it is not suitable.
Anything else on the needles - not yet, but need to make a chapeau for the little gurl as she does not have a mommy made one and the big gurl could use a poncho with a little more warmth to it. This may be sewn rather than knitted.
What did I do today?
I went to a Craft show and sale. Wow, there is some lovely stuff out there. The one display of handknits was gorgeous - I felt guilty for not buying anything, but the one thing that really bowled me over was not my size. I got some construction paper and felt cutouts - fairytale for the paper and Christmas for the felt. Hopefully a good rainy day filler. A pair of earrings for Mom (I think) and some delightful dip mix that was just delicious.
Then I made some more awesome tomato sauce (from Finny Knits) and here we are.
What needs to be done?
1. The church books - organize and bind them up with a pretty bow for the new guy. Should be doing it now, however i have this thing about working on Sundays.
2. Clean house - not the sweep and dust but the throw things out and give away and organize.
3. Finish hint 2 and 3 of the stole.
4. Get that I love Gansey sock figured out. If the current one on the needles is not going to work, put it aside and try one of the other yarns. Denise shouldn't have to wait forever.
5. Fix up the bathroom, front wall, front yard and get the air conditioner out of the window... I may have to take a day or two off of work in order to really get at it.
6. Buy the new mattress and dishwasher. Just do it.
7. Stop spending money on yarn until next year. (only exception would be - tee hee already - the yarn for the Fetchings and if buying any for SP or swap pals and the Robyn's Nest month by month kits) and.... Okay - I solemnly swear to try really really really really really hard to use stash yarn (oh also doesn't count Lucky Lurker Club - already paid for; and Yarn Pirate - that is the sock club).
8. Make the Christmas gifts this year. (or use stuff purchased over the last 20 years to create gift packages or crafts for others to do).
9. Be a better more patient mother to my beautiful gurlz.

Well, I had best get busy cause there are a lot of things to be done.
may just pop over to a couple of favourite shops - I mean the yarn moratorium doesn't start until tomorrow ... right?

edited to add - I don't have the patience to figure out my camera right now. I have promised my Harvest Swap pal some pics of the yarn and socks, so I have to do it this week, but the pics are just not coming along. i promise lots of pics once I get everything back to normal.
I did figure out my screen so I don't have to scroll sideways through the blogs in order to read.
Baby Steps for me when it comes to technology.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

99 posts about me on the blog...

Wow!
Good thing I didn't stick to my post a day rule.
What have I learned in the last 99 posts and my venturing through blogland?
1. I am not alone - there are other mothers out there who feel the same way I do. Here is a prime example of what I mean. Mother who knows it all
2. Frogging is good and shows I learn from my mistakes. Even if I should have frogged the Firestarter right away instead of turning the heel and an inch.
3. A good yarn stash is essential for a balanced knitting/crochet life. Even if when you look at it for yarn it never has the right one for the pattern you want to do now.
4. WHO CARES WHAT OTHERS THINK!!!!! If you like the yarn and the pattern and you are making it for you, you can make purple Beanis or pigeon coloured socks. If it satisfies something within you creative genius, that is all that matters.
5. You can knit at home alone and still be linked to so many people. This is the ultimate. The Secret of the Stole Kal (for which hint 2 has stalled around row 115 as I now have the computer again); SAM4 well can 2 complete socks that don't match count - wait a minute don't even have that for October; Harvest Sock Swap - no need to worry about SSS as you only have to knit one (unless of course the pattern you give is also the pattern you receive - not my problem this time around!) and SP11 - I have the best pal and she seems to know just what to say and send to make my day and knowing, that something I sent someone, also makes their day is awesome.
6. It's okay to change the pattern or yarn or needles. Everyone has different tensions (for crafting and other things) and I have to figure out what works for me.
7. Just because someone has 3 or more books out for sale, does not mean that they don't still have to pay bills or fix problems or fly regular class or ... They are just people doing their job - which involves being paid for something they love!!
8. The housework does not get done if you knit for the evening or the weekend. This used to happen to me when I went to the library on Thursday night and checked out 4 new release novels with a 7 day loan rule and read them before the weekend was over. There is no housework fairy - or she doesn't live in our house.
9. Go to sleep when you are tired because a tired knitter makes mistakes and then has to fix them later (or refuses stubbornly to go to bed until the mistakes are fixed and causes all sorts of other problems).

That's all I have for now. The gurlz are well and I am well and now I must quick make some icing and then off to bed (cause the dishes don't run away if you don't wash them).

Thanks for all your support and comments and well, must find something special for someone.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Weeklong Absence

I am sorry I have not been here.
Actually that is not true, I have been here, but my #*&$%^&%$$$#$#% computer has not.
It is now fixed but lovely patterns and pictures and emails and links and...
You name it, it has departed for the nether land of computer world.
Arrgghh.
Knitting has been good - I am 1/3 of the way into hint 2 of the Secret of the Stole, 2/3 of the way through a pair of Fetchings and well, let's just say I have 3 separate socks on the needles, two of which have been to the frogpond and Firestarters, that will be visiting the frogpond.
I need to find my sites and my background settings and my brain and my ...
We are well and breathing, if not slightly stressed.
Does anyone know what website it was that gave a Nunavit windows setting?

Monday, October 8, 2007

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my family - and the new baby to come. Congrats middle brother and wife!!
I am thankful for wonderful gurlz. Especially like when they sleep on demand. Not happening right now.
I am thankful for Dad #1 and Dad #2. They both made extra time for their gurl this weekend.
I am thankful that hangovers don't last that long. You do eventually recover.
I am thankful that tomorrow I can go back to work and life can get back to normal.
(also thanks for dishwashers - not mine - and washing machines and driers and cars and ...)
Have a wonderful week.


ps - I am also thankful that frogging does not usually destroy the yarn.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Progress?


So the sock for me but maybe my sister has a turned heel and fits. I need to work about an inch or so more to ensure it will go up and over properly. If if does not, then I will frog, cause it won't fit sis either.
The SOTS starts tomorrow and I think I am going swatchless. I may force myself to complete the swatch before starting, but maybe not.
The pattern for my harvest sock swap partner is picked and I am just deciding on the right solid yarn - The Sweet Shop has some nice solids and semi solids that are appealing to me.
My baby will be 2 tomorrow. She is so beautiful - and crazy. Let me see if I can find a baby pic of her

Must go put the gurlz to bed. So I can have a few moments of silence. This pic was taken January 29(i think) 2006 after her baptism. Beautiful isn't she?

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

2nd pair of socks syndrome

So I am trying to make myself a second pair of socks.
The first try - vanilla with Marks & Katten, went to Mel (okay they are still here, but they are for Mel).
The 2nd try - own pattern, Skinny Duet, frogged, 3 times and currently on time out.
The 3rd try - Super Soxx, turned into a fingerless mitt and then was frogged as too tight.
The 4th try - Monkey socks in Yarn Oddity - too small and frogged (will happen someday)
The 5th try - going to Mom as she loves them and they fit her perfectly.
The 6th try - Firestarter in Pomtini. Unintentional editing occurred but given my interpretation of the measurements, appeared fine as my foot is much smaller than the measurements given (or was but is now a cm longer>!>!>!>). Anyways, I am plodding on until I turn the heel. I will see the size then - if it is just too snug - my sister will get them, if it is a lot too snug, they will be frogged. stupid that as there is only one that has been worked on and I still have another to go. partly due to the previous post about my mother and the fact that I am a starter of some things and perhaps not always completed (dishes, men, knitting, sewing, relationships) you get my drift.
Why not frog on Sunday? well I am afraid the yarn will not frog well which will mean a ruined skein and I have to frog the little gurlz sock so another frogging will feel like a flogging and I may give up knitting entirely to sew and crochet.
On a fun note, I bought the Simply Knitting due to the delightful knitted Noah's Ark by Alan Dart. Will I knit it? I don't know, I have a delightful Crocheted Noah's Ark Pattern and a knitted Creche (or is it crochet) that have never been started either.
So, if anyone out there has a desire for this magazine and the Noah's Ark Pattern, please let me know. There is a lovely stole in it that I would like to try, however, I have the SOTS to do.
Oh and I think I am close to 100 posts so - on my 100th post there will be something going on. What I don't know, cause I don't kno-ow much, but I know I love you-ou and that may be-e-e-e all I ne-ed to know! (couldn't resist that).
Off to bed with me now...