Saturday's to do list and a Contest

So, my to do list for Saturday was long and well, impossible for little old me. Here are the details:
1.Do the laundry -I did 6 loads yesterday (ran out of hanging room) 3 loads this morning, and there are still 2 (plus the clothes from yesterday and today) to do yet. However I put away all of my dry clothing from yesterday and the clothes from the gurlz are folded for putting in the drawer. We won't speak of the loads that came out of the dryer and are warming my floor.
2. Clean the storage portion of the basement - well, I was able to move a few things, but unfortunately, there were not enough hours in the day (and too many other things on the list)
3. Clean the kitchen - the kitchen was done for about an hour - stove even moved and cleaned inside and behind. I've given up on the dishes. The gurlz had two bite brownies (homemade) and the floor was a mess again (also the reason the dishes are in the negatives again)
4. Finish those church books. whatever - I still have 6 days before my self imposed deadline
5. Play with the gurlz - I did a little and let them outside on their own. They weren't asking me and I really didn't sit down that long to knit.
6. Knit a little - I finished Hint 4 for SoTS and am almost ready to turn the heel on big gurlz sock and have started the leg on little gurlz.
7. Finish boxing up my SP11 package and my Harvest Sock Swap package. Uhm, as soon as I am done here. That will be done (minus the homemade item that didn't quite work) C'est la vie.
8. Go to a friend's for demonstration and some wine and cheese. This was done. I enjoyed myself, but realize that I can't do that too often as I am tired in the morning and the gurlz are well rested. Also, the big gurl told me the boys just wanted to play on the computer -even when they were awake and I don't like that. Perhaps from now on just one of them at a time and no computer, even for videos until the gurlz are in bed.
9. Refix the front steps - This is going to require completely new steps as I looked at them this morning and it's like the wood is just evaporating /rotting from day to day. Oh, the name of the saw is a Circular Saw. (no i didn't remember, I saw one in the flyer.
10. I have to rewrite the secret project and get it emailed off - WHATEVER.

Not on the list - clean the living room and computer room and move construction materials until time for use, the bathroom, bake favourite brownies and for today - just have a restful day (with church at 10:00 am and then straight down to drop big gurl at Christmas party with Grandma and little gurl for afternoon with Daddy and then home, to do nothing I didn't want too (fold laundry on bed, hand some others up, feed myself, knit lots) and then little gurl came home and over to Grandma's for dinner and then home put gurlz to bed.

I had it in mind to do some groceries (sans gurlz) and maybe some Christmas shopping or clothes for me, but I didn't. I'm glad I didn't. Besides, there is always tomorrow for all that stuff.

The Contest
Nothing crazy, and you have until 12:01 am, December 2nd to do this but it may be the 3rd before you actually hear who won.
How does your craft (knitting crochet etc) make you feel? Do different stages stress you out? How about finishing?
WHAT - she's getting older and crazy!!!
Let me explain. I recently re-taught one of my best friends to knit. It stresses her out, yet she is enjoying what she is doing. She's hit the point where she knows it doesn't matter if it is perfect or not, but still she wants it to be just so.
For myself, I don't get stressed about it, unless, it is for someone else (example: single sock that is for someone else and she will make the mate) with knowledge and you want it to be right and fair and of they are 6 and just really really want one or your ultra finicky mother (not that she is bad, just sees all the negatives and...)
If I am not happy with it, I frog it (firestarter inch up the leg and 1st I love Gansey), set it aside for frogging(hat for nephew which is just wrong) or just set it aside(Mom's second pair of socks). With regards to the finishing - there is the little gurlz baby sweater all pieces knitted and ready to go - since August of 2005 - she's 2 years and almost 2 months.
If i feel myself getting stressed about something (without reason - no deadline etc - can you tell I may not participate in sock swap again) I either walk away from it or finish it all up. I've learned to walk away cause I will have to redo it anyways.
Your answer can be simple or long, but let me know.










Just Kidding.

REAL CONTEST: tell me your favourite yarn weight and if you have/use stitch markers, how you store them.

(told you it would be easy)
Affectionately,
the Brat

Long Weekend is over!!!!!!!!

yeah! I get to go to work tomorrow. I am so happy.
Yes I am crazy, but the gurlz were getting on my nerves and the house gets dirtier and dirtier.
Crap - laundry in washer needs to be dealt with and the dishes are still soaking.
But - my yarn skeins have been wound. I am happy to report that by the 5th skein, I was no longer spending more time untangling (three hours yesterday) than it will take to actually knit with the yarn. I even rolled up the Kid Seta that has been UFO'ing around the house.
I random knit today. I mean it. Saturday night I went to cast on for another pair of socks, but ran into all sorts of issues (baby blankie on necessary circ, unable to cast on properly, computer shut down before figuring out Judy's magic cast on, indecisive pattern picking, ball needing to be divided before starting... Whatever. So I brought up all the UFO's and needles I had and when I went to the BBQ (that wasn't) I took along my MOEIBUS to work on. I got a couple more inches done on it. I also got a couple inches done on the fuzzy garter stitch scarf. And one big row on the baby blankie that will probably go to the Little Gurlz firstborn child. Funny that, I really enjoy knitting it and the pattern is still in my head, but just can't get to finishing it. I think it is because I have half a skein unworked and a second skein that should really be done too. It's depressing when you can't see the end of the tunnel.
I learned something very important on Sunday and used grade 6 math. I still can't figure out why Finny thinks knitting doesn't involve math.
But back to my knowledge. I was making this recipe as recommended by the Woof Nanny and after crushing the chocolate wafers I had, I measured them. I had 2 1/4 cups so I figured I would make 1 1/2 times the recipe. That worked well as it would fit a 9x13 pan which is a common potluck dish size and use up more of the unnecessary food stash in the house. But there was the 1/3 cup of sugar. What is half of a 1/3 - my head always goes a quarter or tries to break it down into tablespoons. When I though long enough it seemed to be 2/12ths which makes 1/6th. But I wrote it out

• 1/2 x 1/3 = 1/6 Okay good but now I needed to add that to the 1/3 I already had.
• 1/6 + 1/3 = ??? Need to change the denominators.
• 1/6 + 2/6 = 3/6 WHAT!!!! That means 1 1/2 thirds is a half !!!!!!!!

HURRAY!!!! Life finally makes sense. Perfect measurements everytime!!!! I even called my mother on this one. She was the same way. For all you non-baker/cook people thppllt I stick my tongue out at you cause this is a huge deal. NO more guessing I am not going to forget this.

But back to Finny knits comments about no math. It's all about the numbers. I discovered that Saturday as I worked out the number of stitches needed based on Dad's shoe size and the needle size and the yarn weight and...

My head hurts. I am going to go do something constructive (laundry cause the dishes can wait for the maid)and then I think I will go to bed. (the 3 hour nap this afternoon only took the edge off my total exhaustion from detangling a 400 yard skein until 1:00 am - yes there must have been at least two knots (just written as notes) and they are frustrating).

Sunday, Bloody Sunday

There are a number of songs out there with 'Sunday' in the title that are running through my head right now. That is one and there is the Johnny Cash one - Another Sunday going down or something like that. I'm not thinking too many Holy songs unless you count a recurring 'Alleluia - with various other parts just cause we all lived to tell the tale.
Today was one of those days. Not that anything terribly horrible happened but, well there was blood and screaming and crying and dirt and paint and dogs and friends and whining and knitting and baking and cleaning and laundry and dirty diapers and dirty faces and ...
The blood is probably the big thing - It's around 7:00 pm and I am getting the little gurl naked for bath time - I think she was naked, when a thud or thump and screaming. Naked gurl deserted as I go looking for screaming gurl. She is in a weird heap on top of toys with blood on her face and coming from her mouth. (brain goes - oh God she's breathing she's screaming, she's bleeding the teeth the blood) Honey it's okay mommy's here come in the bathroom (drip goes the blood) and Mommy will get you a cold cloth and is it just your mouth or does something else hurt. - naked gurl is still standing where she was left, but with diaper in hand for mommy to put away - she goes in the tub cause then I know where she is. The cup of water I was drinking and a baby washcloth combine for cold compress number 1 - i think number 10 or so is still on the chin cause bleeding not stopped at last check.
The damage - big gash in tongue - Thank you God that tongues heal so quickly!!! one of the teeth was bleeding, but it seems okay. There is a small gash in the side of her chin - I really can't comprehend how it got there, but there it is. It won't completely stop bleeding, So the big gurl is lying on the couch, fast asleep, with a wet cloth on it cause for some reason she knows what stitches are and she doesn't want one! We will see when I put her to bed how it is doing. She tripped over the pillow that is at their reading corner and smashed into the second from the bottom shelf. OUCH! But except for the above mentioned injuries, there is nothing else to report.
The screaming/crying yelling stuff - both gurlz had nasty tantrums today. The big one didn't' sleep long enough this morning ( E is an early riser and was ready to go before 7:00 am) (I was up with the little one at this point anyways, but usually the big one sleeps an hour or so longer on Sundays) We were at the park and she had to go pee. There is no place to pee. So after she had played an additional half hour or so, the whining got bad and away home we went. I made her walk, because I know that riding in a wagon would not work and there were three kidz, not just two and there is only room for two in the wagon. She cried and screamed all the way home (two blocks). We get home and she goes in the house and stands there - I carried/dragged her to the washroom and got her on without any accidents. She proceeded to cry another 15 minutes or so, then retreated fro some quiet time in her room (on her own) and then came up to whine some more that E wouldn't leave her alone and only her sister is nice to her and... I told her to go rest in my bed and be quiet. She did. Then she came up and the three of them played outside (paint water and sunshine - what more could they need).
At one point, E and the big gurl hollered - that the little gurl was all black mouthed from eating the paint and brush. So i brought her in and tried to clean her up (while also trying to finish the lunch). She started screaming and well didn't stop until Mel and K arrived for E. Mel got her to sleep and that was the end of that. We all had good naps.
The rest of the day was pretty good - housework is always there and some needed doing. The baking was banana chocolate chip cupcakes for the kids and Oatmeal cake (the one mom always made) because there was oatmeal left from breakfast.
The knitting I am so excited about. I started with my kitty yarn (spindle cat studios - posted previously) my ADDI circulars #1 and began the toe of my socks. I just want to say I love this kind of knitting!! The socks are exactly the same. They will be done at the same time. And now that I understand the flow of the pieces. it's going very quickly. (okay only 2.25 inches, but you know what else I did today already). I am going to try very hard not to buy any more yarn. Sock yarn does count (I have enough right now for 4 pairs at least. Of course that means I have to avoid all these fabulous sock yarn dyers and ....
I WILL BE STRONG.

Regarding the ongoing missing parcel issue - need to find out if the customs # means anything and where I can find out. Of course, i am afraid to look up the other parcels that are coming registered for fear they went walking also. I am not a very trusting person.

About the yarn I'm knitting with - it's like a walk down memory lane. The first cats I can remember on our farm were 'Tammy' and 'Tommy'. Tommy was a black and white tomcat. Tammy was mainly white with black and brown spots. As I knit the yarn there are times when that exact colour is there. Love this. (very much afraid socks will be too small and will have to frog and start over. 2.25 inches not long enough to check. Also need to figure in some simple increases- thinking that if I do two every 2 inches (or so) it will shape up okay. The Knitty formula i am following doesn't really mention increases. Will have to see.)
Need to knit some more and check out the chin.
Have a great week.

Baking !!!

Just a quick note.
Mixed up cookie dough - chocolate cream cheese sugar cookies! Yum! Recipe will turn into fishy shaped delightfuls tomorrow (fishy theme b-day party).
See my new link, cause I joined the 'A Year in Bread, Come Bake with us' group! So excited.
Going to make homemade pizza crust for B-day girl. Course will need to find just right sauce as she is slightly picky. Figure pizza can go in oven while lasagna is resting!

Dishes - still waging the war on those.
housework - well now I will have these great bread recipes to work with!!!!
Sleep - yeah yeah, tired whatever!