Catchin Up!

I keep waiting to post until I can post pictures.  Well if I don't post anyway there is going to be so much to post about it will take forever.  So, when I get around to uploading pictures to my computer there will be a "picture catchin up" post.

The trip to Florida was WONDERFUL!!!  I can't think of a better place to go to get rid of 6 years of pain and suffering (oh ya for HB also LOL!).  HB is almost as good as new.  He went from "no hope" to "a world of opportunities", from "you will just have to live with the pain" to "pain-free".  It is truly a miracle!!!  After all of the heart-breaking news we have received about his condition over the past two years his condition now, after a one and a half hour surgery, is nothing short of a miracle.  Words cannot express the gratitude I feel.  If I had just won an academy award I would be saying, "I'd like to thank God, the internet, all of the wonderful staff at Laser Spine Institute, Bernard (one of the shuttle drivers) at the Westin Inn, the staff of the Westin Inn, the helpful and kind flight attendants, the Florida TSA security people, HB's ex-worker's comp insurance company for being so terrible and forcing us to settle (if we hadn't he wouldn't have been eligible for the surgery at LSI), and my boss for hiring me for a job with a business that just happened to have the insurance carrier that LSI accepted."  Without all of these people HB would not be where he is today.

Ok, I gotta stop before I get my keyboard all wet and soggy.  I will post pictures of one of the most beautiful places on earth--Tampa Florida--and THE most beautiful, comfortable, relaxing, amazing hotel's I've ever stayed in when I get the pictures uploaded from the camera.  We will be going back there someday--soon!--for a vacation with the kids.  Everyone should visit Florida at least once in their lives.

On with the knitting update:  I have gone and started what I said I would never make another one of.  Yep!  you guessed it!  I got a wild hare and started an afghan for my in-laws for Christmas. 

I know what you are saying, "Don't you remember that gigantic pink thing for The Daughter and how you swore it was the biggest black hole you've ever worked on?  What about all that ranting and raving you did because it just WOULDN'T GET FINISHED?  Are you CRAZY!?" 

Me:  But, you see, this afghan is different!  There are only 24 squares to knit then you just sew them together and TADA! instant afghan. 

You:  "What?  What did you say?  Did you say you had to sew?  Don't you HATE sewing stuff up?"

Me:  Ummmm, yaaaaaa........but it's only 24 squares......it will be really easy right?  I just knit at least two squares a month, three for a couple of the months, then in November sew all the squares.  It should be ok.  I have all year to get it done.

(Check back with me in June to see how I'm doing or if I've buried it deep in some closet somewhere.)

I don't know what was wrong with me this weekend, but I couldn't start enough new projects.  Apparently it isn't enough to have 6 other UFO's or WIP's laying around.  I started the March AND April Sockamania designs, another tie for PB, two new sweaters, and the hat I was supposed to make for The Daughter for Christmas but didn't quite get to it--good thing the temperatures are still in the single digits or low double digits here!  I was like a kid in a candy factory where I could run from place to place sampling everything.  As I looked over the disaster area this morning I marved that I didn't have a hangover from all the "new yarn fumes"!  It was all terribly fun!!!  Now I have to dig deep inside myself, find my self control, and commit to finishing everything before starting anything new!!!  Except maybe for those off-white lace gloves out of that luscious alpaca silk from Misti Alpaca's I bought a little while back--that yarn is so delicious I want to fill the bathtub with it, dive in, and roll around in it naked!!!  (HB is rolling on the floor laughing at that!) 

Anyway, with all of that out of my system....you should be up to date.  Pictures will follow, not of me rolling in the yarn (LOL!), but of Florida and all my new projects.

Happy Knitting!!  And if any of you have been told there is no hope out there JUST KEEP LOOKING!!  Somewhere is the answer! and people waiting to help you.

Look What I Can Do!

I am capable of self control! After my last post/confessional, I buckled down and told myself, "Self! It is time to get some of these projects completed!" (What really happened was my husband brought home several new knitting magazines and books for me from Washington with some GREAT projects in them that I can't wait to start, but know I won't let myself start until some of the WIP disaster is cleaned up).

So, I managed to finish this plain pair of socks that have been kicking around for a month or so. They aren't anything fancy, but HEY! they are done! and checked off my list.Next was my Sockamania sock project for April. They are fancy and I love them! So will my BFF. They are for her birthday--in December. Checked off!
Next, and I just finished this today, is THE scarlet, silk scarf. I L-O-V-E it! And it's mine mine mine! I will post the pattern for it later this week on here so you can make one for YOU!
Here it is on me, and a nice close-up of the lace detail. The yarn is so wonderful and soft! I do believe that this yarn is the nicest silk yarn I have ever found. Gorgeous color and top quality!
And finally, I finished these earlier this month but haven't posted the picture of them yet. They were supposed to be the February Sockamania sock project, but with all of my other projects it took me until this month to finish them.
See! I can be dedicated. I am not just a "Starter", I am also a "Finisher"! Now, I am off to go finish another pair of socks that have been "almost finished" for a month or so. Nothing new can be started yet! I have that pair to finish, a tall pair of men's socks to finish, a "thigh-high" pair I started in December to finish, the Sockamania March pair to finish, this really cute "Christmas-ie" pair to finish, the "Tiger's Eye" scarf to finish, etc., etc., etc................................Oh man! I may never get to start anything new at this rate!

Monday's Reflection

I am sure that I am not the only Knitter out there who has done this.

The kido's left for school this morning and as I walked back into the house I looked around and noticed that every surface of my living room had at least one partially knit project lying on it. I recall working on three different projects yesterday afternoon and evening--which were all laying across the couch, four projects and all of their patterns completely cover the end table, three projects in two bags in front of the couch, four more projects stuck between the couch and the end table--not counting the two spinning projects also stuck there, three more projects protruding from the decorative "pickling crock" in the corner, etc. etc. etc.

Well, imagine how embarrassed I was to suddenly realize that I have been on a "new project" bender for the last few weeks. I began to organize some of the mess and uncovered several other UFO's dating all the way back to last summer before we moved. Oh the shame! I don't know how this could have happened. I am usually pretty good at keeping my WIP's to a minimum and only one or two UFO's.

I think I know how I got all of my current WIP's--it was that clandestine trip to one of THE nicest yarn shops I have ever been to in my life (and it's right over the mountain from me!!). They have the most amazing selection of the finest yarns produced today. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! So of course I bought yarn!!! I promised myself I would not start any projects with it though until my current projects were completely finished. But that naughty, scarlet colored 100% silk that is so soft and divine kept whispering to me all night long. (Yes, I have my "special" yarn stash located in my bedroom) We are talking about a yarn that is so wonderful you want it to be with you even when you go to the post office, you dream about it at night, and check on it (touch and pet it) everytime you walk through the room. I couldn't help myself--apparently!--I had to cast on that "Lacey Hearts" scarf. It is THE perfect yarn for the project.

Just as soon as I got about 1/4th of the way through it the other fingering weight silk blend yarn began to seduce me. "You still haven't found the perfect pattern for me yet. You know how I look like tigers eye when the suns rays shine down on me. Don't you love me? Don't you want to touch me? You took out that little scarlet number right away, now what about me?" The next thing I knew a "Tigers Eye" lace scarf pattern was laying on my printer and the yarn was wound into a center pull ball and 30 stitches were cast on. Sooooo lovely to look at, so soft to touch! Can't wait to wear it!!!!!

Drunken with silk fumes, I found myself casting on for two more pairs (in addition to the four pairs that I have been working on) of socks--one with some GORGEOUS yarn from Lornas Laces (and who can resist her yarn?!!!) and the other with a beautiful charcoal yarn (because Father's Day is just around the corner).

With all of this going on, I got a yarn order in for a customer on Saturday that contained an extra "sample" yarn--Oooooo pretty........................soft..................................fluffy alpaca!!! Then an order of some close out yarns (I got 440 yards of sock yarn for $3.25!!!!!!!!) showed up today. Realizing that I have a friends birthday coming up next week I started looking through a summer lace issue of some knitting magazine I picked up somewhere while still under the influence of those silk fumes. Then it all hit me. WHAT AM I DOING!!! Am I really considering casting on ANOTHER project--a lace project that I am thinking I will have done in a week!!!!!

I went outside for a breath of fresh air, at this point, to hopefully clear my head a little. Now that I am feeling better I am going to attempt to resist the temptation to knit something for my friend and just send a card and flowers. Then turn my attention to organizing this disaster.

NO NEW PROJECTS FOR ME THANKS! I HAVE PLENTY TO DO ALREADY!

PS: If you have found yourself in a similar predicament stay away from Ravely!!! I get in trouble everytime I sign in! I find some GREAT pattern and the next thing I know I have cast on for it!!!!

PSS: I will post WIP and hopefully FO pictures next time--HoneyBunny took the camera with him on his trip.

WIP's and the Podcast

My story that is featured on the YarnCraft podcast came out this week and you can listen to it here. I found myself feeling nervous and getting sweaty palms as they introduced it. To think that people all over the world could listen to something I wrote, wow!

Now for the WIP's I promised Monday to post Wednesday, but took off on a joy ride with HoneyBunny instead. First, the mittens I started last night. Now, I already have way to much to do, but these mittens have been harassing me for months to start them. Telling me, "I knit up REALLY fast. I have thrums, which you know you've wanted to try forever. You could make the smallest pair for the neighbors daughter. Etc., etc." So, the lure of a quick and easy project hooked me finally and I found myself half way through this mitten before I even realized that I had cast on. Now I have to make me and my son a pair for our walks to the bus stop in the morning. They will be PERFECT! Who ever thought of thrums should win the nobel peace prize or something. WOW! If you don't have a pair of mittens or socks that feature these little items YOU SHOULD! They are the ultimate for warmth!

Second are the Sockamania socks for November. These will be for the daughter for Christmas. I LOVE this pattern. It is officially my new most favorite sock pattern. I am making them out of SWTC's Tofutsies yarn. I don't like pink, but I really like the color pattern of this yarn!

Third project that I am working on this week is the shawl that I started a month ago or so. Now that I have the lace pattern figured out it is going much faster. I really like it! In fact, I am having a hard time deciding whether it should be "Merry Christmas to me" or someone else.

Next, I worked on these the other night when I had had enough of all the other projects and got past the place for the inserted heel and started the foot. Three more inches and a toe then put in the heel and the first of this pair will be done. If I would just sit down and work on them instead of the other 20 projects I am making they would have been done a long time ago. They are for me, though, and I feel like I am savoring every minute of them. They are the most beautiful pair of socks I have made in a long time.

And FINALLY, the last project that I have been working on this week--in fact they are the project I took on my joy ride Wednesday--are the pants for the daughter. Yes, I know they are very GREEN! She loves to wear grass green and looks good in it and even requested that these be this color. So, there they are. I altered the pattern so that the front and back of the leg is knit at the same time. Otherwise there are four leg pieces and you know what that means--hours of handsewn seams. I HATE sewing up seams, especially when things can be knit in the round. I would knit these in the round completely, but I still haven't figured out how to make the crotch area turn out right if I do. Two seams are better than four!

Whew! At least I am not getting bored with any of the projects. There is plenty of variety!

Happy Crazy Knitting!

P. S. Only 39 (40 if you want to count Christmas Day) knitting days until Christmas!

Fun Stuff!

I knew my daughter had it in her to be crafty although she swears she's not! (Teenagers just hate to admit that they are anything like their relatives!) But she made this absolutely adorable tote bag yesterday. I promptly confiscated it for my own. I love it! it is so cute and she did a great job! I didn't know she even knew how to do applique, but there it is, a jack-o-lantern appliqued on the front of this cute bag. I am so proud of her!
This week's WIP's look a lot like the last couple of week's WIP's. The afghan is slowly getting finished. In fact I have a goal to have it done in two weeks--that is if I don't find another project to start instead. The October Sockamania project is half done and I have started the other sock now (the orange yarn project). And, I just couldn't help myself, I cast on for a pair of socks out of my swap yarn from Hege. There are many more WIP's sitting here on my desk, but none that I am working on this week. I took a poll for the Knitting Daily blog to see how many UFO's I had and discovered that I really need to get busy finishing some projects. I am so ashamed that I would even consider casting on another project with that number of unfinished projects laying around.

Finally, my order from KnitPicks got here, after spending all week last week in a "sortation center" in Denver. I am thrilled!!!to have it. The Selbvotter book is everything I every dreamed it could be. I love knitting, I love ethnic knitting, I love historical knitting articles, I love to read about knitting--especially historical, ethnic/cultural, well researched knitting books/articles that end with patterns for what you have been reading about. This is all of that!!!! If you are thinking about getting it, DON'T HESITATE ANY LONGER! It is fantastic and I am sure the afghan can wait until I have a few pairs of mittens and gloves made.

The white yarn in the order is to finish the afghan (someday) and the black is for HoneyBunny's special request hat--which is half done as of this morning.

All the fun I can handle for today!

Happy Knitting!

This Weeks WIP's

I missed my Wednesday WIP reporting so here it is today.

I finished spinning that wool yarn that I was planning to make the hooded sweater out of. Unfortunately there isn't enough of the brown. I still haven't figured out how to take a pile of fluff and figure out exactly how much of it I will need for a particular project. I either end up with way too much or too little. I know there is a way to figure it out, but I prefer the spinning "by the seat of my pants" approach where you just spin and hope you get what you want. I love the color that this yarn turned out! I will have to spin some off-white to go with it so that I have enough for my project.
I tried to promise myself not to start another project before I finished some others but I saw this shawl and all self control went out the window. Now I find myself working on it INSTEAD of the other projects. It is made from a DK weight yarn on US size 10 1/2 needles so it is coming along pretty fast. It is for some unsuspecting soul for Christmas. I can't say her name because it's a secret. I hope she will like it--what do you think--do you think she will?

And last--although not the only other WIP I have--is my socks for Sockamania. I wanted to make them pumpkin orange in honor of October. I have NOTHING that they will match and I am not fond of wearing this color, but I love the pattern. Note the little cable detail along the leg. They look great on!

The daughter's afghan is more than halfway finished. I am on the decreases and so the more I work on it the faster it seems to be going. It is going to be HUGE! and incredibly warm. It is a great project to work on in the early mornings and in the evening because it keeps me warm. I will post the picture of it when it is finished.

My yarn from Hege should be here any day. I can't wait to see it! Plus my (Christmas project) order should be here anyday as well. I can't believe I ordered yarn and books thinking that between now and December 25th I would be able to make that much stuff. Oh well, what doesn't get done I can give next year! I HAVE to make the one project for this Christmas no matter what--it's for HoneyBunny and it is a special request. More details later. In the mean time,

"Tend to your Knitting!"

Somebody Stop Me!

Please tell me that I am not the only knitter that is thinking that she can start now and handknit a Christmas gift for each of her family and friends. I honestly found myself looking at and ordering a large amount of yarn for Christmas gift projects. Who am I kidding? At this point I will be lucky if I finish the WIP's I have right now by Christmas! Not only was I ordering yarn and patterns, but I was digging in the stash (of books and yarn), like some kind of gofer or mouse, and actually putting yarn with patterns and saying to myself, "Oh! I'll make that for......and I 'll make this for..... and that would be perfect for......" I woke up this morning and looked around at the PILES of yarn and patterns that I dug up yesterday and buried my head back in the covers. Now that the madness has subsided a little I have a huge mess to clean up. At least I didn't cast on a few of the ideas, then the mess would be worse. You know what? The whole thing makes me feel like a little bird at "nesting" time--flittering and fluttering around, surrounding myself with bits of paper and string and sticks!!!!!!

Blogger is having problems so I will have to post my Halloween decor pictures later.

Happy Knitting!

Wonderful Wednesday

HoneyBunny invited me to go for a ride with him today for work. I love to go with him when ever I get the opportunity. I get to knit and sight see, and nothing pleases him more than to have me along for company when he is driving all day.

This is what the mouth of the canyon looks like that we drove through. Huge granite cliffs topped by red sandstone, lots of pinion pine trees and sage brush. This is my favorite canyon in the world!

This is the house that they are paving the driveway for. We decided that it is a log mansion, not cabin. It is absolutely beautiful!
The house sits at the bottom of this amazing little valley.

More of the view of the canyon drive.

I had a wonderful time and took a bunch of pictures of all of the fall colors. I love this canyon!


Ok. So, here are this weeks WIP's. This is a sock that I fully intend to finish in the next few weeks. I actually started it last winter and somehow it got shoved to the bottom of the UFO pile. It resurfaced when I finished those two black hole projects. So, now it has been promoted from UFO to WIP.

This is the Turkish sock that I have been working on--and off-- for the last couple of months. I absolutely love it and wish I had nothing to do but work on it until it was finished. Unfortunately, the daughter's afghan has sucked up a huge chunk of my knitting time. I am half way finished with it now. I may have it done before Christmas after all. For now it remains a WIP.

There you have it. I have decorated for Halloween and will post the pictures next time with pictures of my progress on the October Sockamania sock.

Happy Knitting!

WIP--it Wednesday

So, not much has changed in the WIP area. I don't think I have knit one row on the daughters afghan (I do hope I get it done before Christmas!). However, I did finish the September Sockamania Socks. So that is a good thing.

They turned out really nice. My son has already confiscated them and is running around the house in them. I think he just said something about wearing them to school tomorrow. I have plenty of yarn left over and have some sock ideas I am going to try out. If they turn out well, I will post the pattern in my etsy store and a picture here.

It has been a very long day so this is going to have to be short. More later.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wednesday's WIP's

I have been surfing around the web looking at other knitting blogs and have really enjoyed seeing what other knitters are working on right now so I thought I would show off what I currently have on my needles (at least the ones that are sitting here on my desk in the way).

This is the pair of socks that I am making for the Sockamania KAL for September. I am afraid that the daughter thinks these are going to end up hers, but she is in for a surprise because I really like how they are turning out--plus I wear more brown than she does. These will also appear on the SAMKAL 4 blog site for September.

This is the blanket that I mentioned was for my daughters birthday. It is really pretty and EXTREMELY soft. I am combining KnitPicks Crayon and Suri for the main part and then the eyelash is KnitPicks Butterfly Kisses. It will be wonderful and warm when it's done--hopefully before Christmas.

So, that's what I am working on right now. There are more, but these two are the most pressing projects, as far as what needs to be done ASAP!

Happy Knitting!