What Next?

Well, I made lunch time trip to Knit Wits to see what wonderful things they had. It had been a while since I had been there. Here is what I found. What am I going to do with it, you say. Since many others in SSK have been working on shawls, I thought I would give it a shot.

Mary and I have decided to to the Clapatis and I think this would look great for that. You really can't see it but it also has some green in it. I am anxious to wind it to see what it look like out of the hank.

Not sure when I will get started on the Clapatis but it is not like I don't have enough things going. On the lacy shell I am ready to start binding off for the arm holes then finish the top part. I have not had a lot of time to knit the last week or so due to trying to get yard stuff and house stuff done. Unfortunately, I am slowing down and cannot multi-task the way I used to.

After returning from Stitches I am going to have to tighten my belt and and stop spending so much money on knitting. I think with the potential purchases I may be making at Stitches I should truly not need to purchase any more yarn for this year. Will have to wait and see if this is the case.

I have discovered that I really must pay more attention to the maintenance of my car. I have neglected to have the brakes done and find that I do need them now, pretty badly. You know how it is when it seems to be working OK sometimes things get overlooked. I went to Sears and thought I would have them done there. Let me tell you it was a very slow evening at the mall. Automotive at Sears was not busy at all so I thought this would be a slam dunk.

Na Na! I was told that the cost could be $150-$1400. After an hour of analyzing they condition of the pad and rotors the figure I heard was $852. This was a no sale. I had them put the brakes back together to be done another day. This car has over 90,000 miles. I am not excited about spending that much when the dealer quoted $189 each for front and back. So...hiho...hiho off to the dealer I go.

It has been a month for such things. Since I am in the midst of high dollar dental work to the tune of $1,000. This was very unexpected.

Hopefully, once the car thing and dental thing are done the money going out can slow down.

Is it Friday yet?

You Knit What for Dogs

I am cannot believe anyone would actually make this much less put it on their poor dog. It is a Lion Brand kit to boot. For anyone interested it is 50% off. What a waste of time? No self-respecting dog would voluntarily put this thing on. The model looks pretty humiliated.

I have not been doing a lot of knitting this week. I am still trying to get caught up on my outside work. Hope to get that done this weekend so I can get back to some intense knitting.

I am lining up projects to do while I am on vacation. I think the main one will probably be the clapotis. I need to get the yarn picked out and bought probably this next week.

I am really excited...I finally got my wireless to work. After a process of elimination I found the setting that needed to be changed. Did some other hocus pocus which has helped to run faster so I am 2 for 2.

I am so ready for a weekend. I hope to get a lot done. I had been moving very slow recently and not feeling 100%. I had a little bit of a headache the other day but had nothing with me to take so one of my friends had some Aleve. I had forgotten how much I love Aleve. I felt so much better after taking it. Evidently, my arthritis was causing me pain that I did not key in on. I guess I was consumed by the pain cycle and did not realize it. Now I am taking the Aleve prior to retiring and I have been sleeping much better and not waking up in pain. I used to do that and for some reason stopped. I guess I was feeling so well that I stopped. I know now not to do that. Here is to better living through chemistry.

Preparing for Travel

It seem I have a bit of traveling to do this summer. My long awaited trim to Cape Hatteras is looming in the very new future. I am starting to count the days. I can picture myself lounging on the beach listening to the surf roll in. Hope there are no hurricanes thinking about getting fired up by then. My track record in recent years has not been good for long range planning of vacation anywhere place there could be a hurricane.

My last experience was the cruise to Cozumel that was supposed to leave from New Orleans the day Katrina stuck. I have yet to have the heart to reschedule. That trip had been planned since April. Wouldn't you know I would pick the wrong day for a cruise.

That is why I have been excited about this trip but not too exuberant. I do not want to tempt fate. Anyway I was checking the TSA regulations with regard to knitting needles, etc. Since it is not likely that I am going to a trip with no knitting. Here is what I found.

Transporting Knitting Needles & Needlepoint

Knitting needles are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage. However, there is a possibility that the needles can be perceived as a possible weapon by one of our Security Officers. Our Security Officers have the authority to determine if an item could be used as a weapon and may not allow said item to pass through security. We recommend the following when bring knitting needles on an airplane:

1. Circular knitting needles are recommended to be less than 31 inches in total length
2. We recommend that the needles be made of bamboo or plastic (Not Metal)
   Scissors must have blunt points In case a Security Officer does not allow your knitting tools through security it is recommended that you carry a self addressed envelope so that you can mail your tools back to yourself as opposed to surrendering them at the security check point.
3. As a precautionary measure we recommend that you carry a crochet hook with yarn to save the work you have already done in case your knitting tools are surrendered at the checkpoint
4. Most of the items needed to pursue a Needlepoint project are permitted in your carry-on baggage or checked baggage with the exception of circular thread cutters or any cutter with a blade contained inside. These items cannot be taken through a security checkpoint. They must go in your checked baggage.

I am not sure why these regulations apply to both carry-on and checked but I am sure it made since at the time to the ones making the rules. I can just visualize a knitter going off because or a dropped stitch or mistake and stabbing someone with an Addi. We are a pretty dangerous bunch.

This is something to consider for those going to Stitches Midwest 2007. I will probably definitely buy some needles while there. It make me wonder why the would not add yarn to the list of items not allowed. Some of us are so creative that we could probably fashion a weapon out of a wool nylon blend that could be deadly. Ooops! Now I have done it. They may be monitoring my blog and now they will know that there is that possibility.

On second thought naaaa, I think I am save. Why would they want to read about knitting anyway. I am sure they have better things to do.

New Camera

Last night I broke down and bought a new digital camera (pictured above). I have had my old one for a long time. Close to when digitals first came to be. It is bulky and heavy and while it does take fairly good pictures, I just wanted to have something new and more advanced.

The new camera was purchased at Nebraska Furniture Mart. They always seem to have pretty good deals on most things, althought as with anything you need to know your pricing. They do not always have the best prices.

Will take some pictures tomorrow of WIPs to see now they come out and do some experimenting with features....so stay tuned.

My Weekend in a Nut Shell

Took my mother to Branson yesterday to shop a little (bought very little) and have lunch. Rather than shopping at the outlet malls (many to choose from) we chose to go to the new Branson Landing which is build along the water front in downtown Branson (down the street from Dick's 5&10). It is a nice venue if you do not have a mall close by but there is no shop there that you would not visit if you did. Nothing really original or unique. With in the area there is a Hilton hotel so if you were vacationing it would probably be a nice place to stay.

The real bite was there is a parking garage that was free when I was there when it opened it first opened. Well, the free is no more. They are cashing in on every car that parks at least $2.00 up to $8.00 if you loose your ticket per car.

The whole thing is a pain because you get a ticket with a code that you have to punch into get out of the garage then you have to put money in before the gate will raise. As you can imagine, it is a big CF trying to get out. Cars back up and people get impatient.

In addition to the kid and parents were rude. There is a trolley that runs down the middle of the shopping area. So I was trying to get Mom on and into a seat when some rude kid nearly bowls her over to get in the seat. I asked if we might sit there since I had been waiting and the mother mouthed off that they were loading to and needed a seat. Begrudgingly she made the kid move. Then getting off a kid in the back of the trolley was jockeying for position with another kid (both unsupervised) and nearly knocked Mom over. I was close to jerking a knot is his tail when the driver reprimanded him. I think he had had enough of these kids too.

If that was not enough, on the way back to the house this guy on a motorcycle was riding next to me and decides to pull in front of me. He almost clipped the front of my car then flips me a off behind his helmet. So of course I had to send one back at him. Mom asked what that was for and I told her he deserved on in return because I was not doing anything to menace him. Boy, what a jerk!

Today we will go to visit Dad's grave in the Veteran's cemetery. There is to be a ceremony conducted by the Korean War Veterans with a rifle salute. My brother will participating in the rifle salute. Following that Mom will be coming home with me for the week for a visit with family.

Well, that is my weekend so far......

Long Weekend

I am with my mother this holiday weekend. It has been raining on and off all since I arrived. This is a good thing since there has not been much rain here for some time. Southern Missouri unlike the Kansas City area has not been getting all the rains this season. As a matter of fact, it has been a long time since there has been enough rain here to make the creek flow that runs next to the property. Nice for a change.

As I sit here typing this I hear the spring time country sounds. Loud but also peaceful.

I got to see the new addition to the family. Her name is Babe. She is a mix probably lab and something else, approximately 10 weeks old. She is a very sweet girl who has big feet to grow into. What beautiful eyes she has.

She is a very quite puppy. No hyper at all or barky. Her favorite thing so far is eating and sleeping. Mostly sleeping. I think she is a night dog. She likes to sleep in the day time and comes alive after the sun goes down. She is already mostly potty trained, does not some into the house uninvited and pays attention very well. One big plus is she likes her aunty.

Tomorrow we are off shopping. Not sure where or what for as yet but what the heck who needs a reason to shop. May decide to do the outlets. Sometimes they have pretty good sales on holiday weekend.

What a Day! ! !

I, unlike my friend Chelle, did not have the day off today. My day started off with me finding a puddle of oil on the garage floor under my car. It has been in need of some maintenance that I have been putting off for a while. Well today was D-day for the maintenance. I had to drop the car off at the shop to have it checked out. Especially since I am going to be doing a little traveling this weekend.

The verdict turned out to be that there was nothing leaking so the mechanic was not sure where the puddle came from. So I just had the maintenance done. I got off very cheap at $400. The car is a 2002 Buick Regal with nearly 90,000 miles and the only thing I have had to do is change the oil, new battery, and tires. Not bad for 5 years.

I had been giving some thought to buying a new car with better mileage but I am over that now. Even though I am spending $200 a month for gas it is still cheaper than a new car payment.

I have a good start on the lace bottom shell. I am glad to be doing the mindless stockinette part. As mentioned I am using Red Heart Luster Sheen which is pretty nice to knit with. It does split a little but not as much as the LB Microspun.

I am not usually a blue person but I do like this blue since it is a little darker. Besides it was this blue or white as a choice and I did not want to do white. I would have had it completely dirty by the time I got it completed. I am looking forward to seeing this complete I think I am going t like it. If I really like it a lot I may do another in a different yarn.

Do overs in Process

OK. I got a grip and finished knitting the yellow sweater. All that is left is the binding off and assembly. I am glad now that I had to redo the back. I was able to fix the flaw that had been bothering me so I guess there was a reason that I made the mistake. I had a short row that probably was not visible to anyone else but me. You know how it is the you know it and it bothers you it needs to be fixed. I feel much better now that it is corrected. Now I can go on to wear the sweater and be happy with it.

As for the shell lace border. I did end up frogging it back also. I only had to go back 5 rows which does not sound like much but with it is 5 x 300 it adds up. I am ready now to focus on it and redoing these 5 rows and moving on to the mineless 80 rows of stockinette. Onward and up ward.

I think this is the last thing I am making specifically for Stitches. This is good because I need to spend more time on my yard than on my knitting for a time.

What was I thinking?

This is the lace for the bottom of the shell. I am almost done with the 23 rows x 300 stitches (knitted in the round) and now I see a bad patch that starts 5 rows down. I am going to attempt to fix this situation but if not I will have to frog it. Hope not.

Once I fix this minor thing it will be all stockinette for a while and with any luck I will not screw that part up.

I may need to slow down on my knitting for just a little while. I am making to many mistakes lately.

I thought I was going to finish the never ending yelllow sweater tonight so I was matching the fronup with the back to see how it was coming and noticed that I missed an armhole decrease on the back, which just will not do. This means taht I will have to from the back and redo it. I already did that on the front. I usually focus better than this.

All is no lost though. I will just have to take a deep breath and focus on one thing at a time. I need to get the yellow sweater done so I am putting the shell aside until I am finished.

What a Fun Day

I am in St. Louis this weekend to be with my friend Nancy and her family. Her youngest daughter graduated from high school so we had a party for her today. It was nice to be with them on this happy occassion.

Seems like only yesterday she was just a little red headed girl and how she has turned into a beautiful young woman. How time does fly. One minute they are small and in what seems like the blink of an eye they are grown. As you can tell I am feeling really old.

Another fun thing...I got to she my friends first granddaughter today. She is a beaut. She looks just like her mother did when she was a baby.

These are the friends I am going to spend my vacation this summer with at Cape Hatteras. We will all have much time to play with this little girl. I can hardly wait to see her on the beach.

The Tofutsies Project

The picture does not do it justice. The patterning is very interesting in that the cuff is shaded while the gusset and instep are striped. I love the feeling of the fabric. I used size 1 needles as usual but my gadge was a little smaller than normal so it was necessary to add a couple more stitched to get the desired fit.

The skein is wrapped very tightly so after completing the first sock the skein is just starting to loosen up. Since these are anklets, I can probably get two pair out of this one.

I like working with the yarn for the most part but it does split easily so you do have to pay closer attention to it because of that. The end produce is definitely worth it.

I am having a really wierd week at the office. My computer has decided to rebelle. I was in the middle of editing a document when all of a sudden my keyboard stopped working and the mouse when haywire. Fortunately, I had saved the stuff I was working on on a flash drive so I did have something to work with. I called our help desk to report it and got no assistance by the end of the day so I called again yesterday morning. Finally, I got someone to come help. This person was not sure what to do so took my computer to the shop and I have not seen it since. The fix should have taken maybe 10 minutes if they new what they were doing. No telling now when it will return to my desk. I do have another one to use for the time being but it is not the same. I hope I have it back soon.

Also, the guy that I have been working with on this documentation has been tied up for a while and finally had time to work with me yesterday but since I did not have my computer with the software I need, I was not able to get the work done. Is it Friday yet? I want to trade this week in.

What I Did on My Day Off

I took the day off Friday to get the paperwork completed for the mortgage payoff. Did you know that in most states everything is not official until the release of mortage is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds? I found this out when I received the papers from the mortage company. It cost $24 to get the job done.

Since I was in Independence anyway, I had to stop by Knit Craft and found the wonderful yarn on the left in the sale bin for $3 per skein and got the brightly colored Trekking 135 (I think Chelle has some of this).



After the trip to Knit Craft I went to have lunch at Ophelia's which is on the corner. Ophelia resides in the building that used to be Osco (a.k.a Skaggs/Katz). It was such a treat. I had a lovely Blackened Scallop Spinach salad, which was devine. They serve warm bread with an oil/baslamic vinegar dip. OMG was that wonderful.

Since I was heading north already, I made my way up to Liberty to the shop there and on the 50% off shelf found the Artful Yarns Fable (top right) which is 85%pima cotton, 15% silk. It looks gold in the picture but is acually pink, rose, yellow, and green. Lastly, There were two skeins of Regia. They are the same color but different lots which to me make not difference what so ever. Each is going to be on a different foot so I don't think it make a difference.

I had such a good day. I just reminds me of what a wonderful time I can have when I semi-retire in approx 5 years if all goes well. If I can be good and save my pennys I can live comfortable.

In the Bag

I decided that I wanted an small bag to have for evening at Stitches so I did this one yesterday out of the One Skein Wonders book. It will be felted soon and embellished with probably some funky felted flowers. I think it will be really cute. May make a larger version at some point. It was a really quick knit.

As you can see my big baby Gracie is very interested in the ribbon scarf. She has watched just about every stitch as it progressed.

Gracie likes to keep up with the latest projects and usually ends up lay all over them just to give them a little inspection. She is usually very thorough. If necessary there might even be a nap included at no extra charge.

I had thought of putting some fringe on this but I think that I like it as it is. Fringe can be kind of fussy some time.

There is another scarf I am think of doing that is crocheted. I have been so involved with knitting that I have not done any crochet for some time. Might be fun for a change.

Stay tuned for the finished flelting and any other new thing I may want to throw in.

Big Green Socks

Finally, here are the guy socks. The turn out to be a perfect fit. He love them. They were for my friend Daron.

We played poker last night at a fun raiser for Pee Wee football. I was hoping that these would be lucky socks for him but unfortunately this was not to be. Even so the poker was a lot of fun. I lasted about an hour longer than he did but alas I was downed by 3 aces and 2 8's over my 3 aces and 2 3's. Of course I went all in...with 3 aces how could I not.

Oh well, it was for the kids and it was much better than having them come to my door with candy bars and making me feel bad for not buying them. I have adopted a strict policy now that I do not buy from kids at the door anymore. I used to buy from them all but the last couple of times I did and had to pay up front the merchandise never showed up at my door. The other reason is that I feel if you want your kid to play ball, cheer lead, whatever, I do not want to pay for it. You need to pony up the extra money for them to participate in that activity.


As you can see I have changed my template. Not sure I like not having more color but have not finished tweaking it yet. I like the stretched format I am think of other things I can do to spruce it up and will do so as time permits. Let me know what you think and if you have suggestions.

Finally Blogger let me upload these pictures. I have had them ready to show you for a while. Thanks Blogger for cooperating this time....please remember how you did this so we can do it again this easily next time.

Here is the Criss Cross scarf I am working on. It is simple yet looks complicated. The first 66 rows are a combination of garter stitch and seed stitch that are then divided into strips of 5 stitches each that follow the same stitch patterns. When done with it is back to putting everything together to create the part that goes around the next. Once again you do the split for the strips and repeat as the others then when they are completed you weave then. To finish up you put them stitches back together again and mirror the 66 rows from the beginning. I am about 50% done with it.

Ah...the big bag. Here it is in all its glory. I have not felted it because, can you believe I am not sure it is deep enough. I think I may finish it off with a darker trip so the BO's may be coming out. I want to do some more pockets too before the grand felting. I think it is going to turn out great.

And now for my newest favorite. This is the scarf I am doing in the Lion Brand Incredible. The colors really to not show well her but the are beautiful. I really like the gold, teal, and cranberry. The Incredible is not my favorite to work with but I like the affect so it is worth it. The only thing I really do not like is the way it twists.

The guy socks are done washed and ready to give to the recipient. I am playing in a Texas Hold'm fund raiser tonight to raise only for little league football. The guy who is receiving the socks will be there and I am betting (pun intended) that these will be his lucky socks. I am anxious to see how they fit and how much he likes then. I think he is expecting something very wild but I think he will be surprised at how tame they are.

Once again, I have started another pair of socks. I am using the Tofutsie that I got in Columbia at Hill Creek. I am finding it interesting to knit with. I for the most part like the feel of it but it does split easily. More on this next time.

A Little Bit of Progress

So here is the back of the yellow sweater. Yes, I finally got it going. I did this last night so it is going pretty fast. I love how the Mirco Spun feels but I still and not thrilled with how it knits. You really have to watch it for splitting. The good thing is that if you need to fix a stitch it works really well to drop down many row to fix it. The fabric heals very well. All you have to do is smooth the stitches out and you can't even tell that you dropped the stitch.

I wanted to post a cople more pictures but blogger would not cooperate. I have the big tote bag read to felt. It is going to be pretty big. I am anxious to see now it felts. Will probably do the felting this week some time.

and I have started a scarf from Lion Brand Incredible Copper Penny. Very pretty but I am not sure I like knitting with it. I have not done a ribbon before. It tends to twist pretty badly. This make it a much slower knit for me.

These are all my things for Stitches. Hope to have several more things done by then.

Inventory Time

I have decided that I am going to make a list of the projects I want to compelte for Stitches. I want to think about the level of effort to complete each then I can prioritize them. Maybe that will help me get them done.

Here is what I have decided so far.

1. Yellow Sweater-WIP The front is yet to be completed.
2. Criss Cross Scarf-WIP 50% done
3. Felted Tote-WIP (almost ready to felt) 95% don
4. Clapotis-I have been wanting to do one for a while
5. Another Short Sleeve Sweater
6. Felted Evening bag-In the One Skein Wonders
7. Socks-Maybe using the Tofootie I got at Hill Creek

I think this completely doable. The first three should be done very soon. The socks and evening bag should be quick knits. The Clapotis and other sweater could be project for my trip to Cape Hatteras. I think I am going to have a lot of knitting time there.

At the office I do not have a cubicle. Where the contractors sit is a bull pin so we have 6 of us in the same area. As you might guess there is no privacy. It is like being in a fish bowl. Now that the weather has turned nice I have been going to Dean and Deluca's at lunch to get a salad then sitting in the park. It is nice to get away from the office for a while where it is quiet. I sit and knit for a bit then back to work. It makes a nice break in the day.

What have I been working on?

Here is my lates new thing I am working. The number of my WIPs is growing. This one will be a quicky. I have decided to do a felted tote to take to Stitches. I think it is going to be very interesting. I am using Lion Brands Landscape which is wool and acrylic. The neat things is when it felts the acrylic of course does not. The result creates a nubby texture to the fabric. I did a booga bag in this yarn that I really liked. I have two different shades of the same color family so it will be striped. I am anxious to get it completed and felted. That is the thing I love about felting, the end product has so many possiblities.




Also on my WIP list is the yellow sweater. I have the back and sleeves completed and will start on the front probably tomorrow. Should have it completed very soon so I can put it together. I hope to get another sweater done to before Stitches. I have some yarn that was originally purchased for another sweater but once I got it started I did not like the pattern. I think this is a frog situation to be used for something I will like better.



My focus right now is to get some things made to have for Stitches. I would like to have something for each day to wear. I know there are going to be many interesting things to see there.

In my wandering through bloggs I ran across this collar. I immediately thought of my friend Chelle. She loves to do freeform and I think this is the ultimate freemform project. Any number of varieties of leaves could be included. The novelty yarns add such a flair. It is called the Indian Summer Color http://www.magknits.com/Jan07/patterns/indiansummer.htm . I think it would be fun to make but not sure I would wear it.

What's new? Not Much

Yesterday was a very exciting day. I wrote the big check to pay off my house. It is all mine now (as soon as I get the deed and cancled mortgage). I was so moved with I dropped the check in the mail. It was such an accomplishment. Something I did by myself. I have now been in this house for 20 years. I never dreamt that this time would come.

When I bought my house I looked at it as an investment and that I would be here only a couple of years then move on to somewhere else. You know how it is you start out and go day-to-day. All of a sudden you turn around and it is 20 years later.

My plan is to be totally debt free by the end of the year. I think this is doable. All this is to position myself to semi-retire by the time I am 60. That is 5 mor years. Hope I can make it. Wish me luck.

I really have not have much going on lately. I am almost totally recovered from my recent illnes. The problem is that I have been going to work then coming home and going to sleep. Now that I am much better I am trying get myself out and doing something after I get home.

I and my friends Chelle and Mary have started a Woman In Training program throught St. Lukes East Hospital. It is a training program to ready us to do a 5K walk. Last night is was rainy and cool but we walked anyway. My goal was a mile but I did not make it the full mile. I did do 1/2 though. This is good for me since I have been sick and also have not been doing a lot of walking this winter. I am going to make more of an effort to get out after work for longer walks so that I can work up to the 3 mile total goal. I know that this will happen one step at a time. I have complete confidence. This is a good thing.

Since I have been sleeping so much I have not been knitting very much in the last few weeks. I am still working on the guy socks for my friend. I am waiting for foot measurements to complete them. I now have two socks with no toes. When I do get the measurements I can finish them up.

I have the back and one sleeve done for my yellow sweater. I will start working this week on the rest of the sweater to get it completed. I like this pattern and will probably make another out of a different yarn. Maybe KnitPicks Shine Sport. I like the feel of he Lion Brand Microspun but it is difficult to knit with.

I think my next endeavor will be a shawl. I think I might need one to take to Sticthes. You never know, even in the summer, what the temp will be in hotels.

Back from the Near Dead

This has been a miserable week for me. I started out last Friday with really bad allergies then ended up getting much worse as the weekend went on. By Monday, I finally made it to the doctor only to find that I had a pretty bad lung infection. No pneumonia though nearly as bad. Evidently, I inhaled some pollen which got into my lungs to cause the infection. I am on my second round or Zpak with steriod inhaler, my regular albuteral inhaler, steriod nasal spray and antihistamine. Also, strict instructions that I could go to work but then home to rest. No major activities like cleaning, lifting, pushing or pulling anything. Mostly, I just came home and went to sleep. I think I am finally caught up on sleep now.

Yes, I am feeling much better. I have most of the congestion out of my head and am breathing much better now. The cough is pretty bad so I still have a ways to go to get back to nornal. Should be in good shape by next weekend.

Since I have been doing all of this sleeping needless to say I have not been knitting. Although I can knit without looking at it I have not learned to knit in my sleep yet so I am behind. I started the Fiber Trends clogs last weekend but felt so bad that I have not worked on them so I am behind. Will make another attempt today to get the first one done. I hope to have pictures of the finished product soon so stay tuned.