I've fallen off the face of the earth...

It seems that I have completely fallen off the face of the earth, but I really haven't, I promise. I've been working on many knitting projects, including Sock Madness 2008. I actually made it through 2 of the rounds (just barely on the second round, I think that I was the VERY last person to finish the Reversai socks.)

The top socks are the Reversai socks done in Hill Country yarns Sweet Feet and the bottom socks are the Zombie socks in Opal Hagebutte--I thought that they looked a little like freaky zombies, you know, decomposing and looking pretty gross (not that I feel that the colorway is at all gross, I thought that it fit the pattern nicely.)

After getting knocked out of Sock Madness 2, I ventured on with, yep, you guessed it, MORE socks. They are just so perfect to knit, especially this time of year, when it is getting HOT! (We aren't to the Robin Williams from "Good Morning Vietnam" just yet--you know "It's hot, damn hot, we're talking Africa hot" --but it will be here before we know it.)

I finally got down to using some Yarn Pirate merino sock in the lovely Dogwood colorway. I made the SWTC Tidal Wave pattern, but it really didn't mesh very well with the yarn color choice. Frogging should have occurred, but forget it, that wasn't happening. These were made with the newest favorite size needle--Knitpicks 2.25mm needles.

The next pair of socks in the queue were the Waving Lace socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks book made out of Sundara Yarns sock yarn. These were done in Sour Apple from the Seasons yarn club summer edition. I thought they turned out rather well.

At the risk of being TOO predictable, I started on MORE socks! I finally began a pair of socks with Pagewood Farm hand dyed sock yarn Bamboo Blend in the Prism colorway from the Knitter's Luxury sock club that I received at the first of the year. They seem to be moving relatively quickly--but they have one little fiddly part--a left twist (knit into the BACK of the second stitch on the needle, don't drop it off the needle and then knit into the front of the first stitch.) I'm not too sure about the yarn just yet. It is a beautiful color and is just as soft as could be imagined, but it seems to be just a tad loosely spun. Hopefully, it won't have any issues with holding up.

Well, as Porky Pig would say, "That's all folks!"

I'll try not to let it be quite so long between posts now.

Ouch! Falling off the yarn wagon (or Damn! That hurt!)

Well, I'm certainly glad that I didn't give up buying yarn for Lent, because I would have failed MISERABLY!!! I really was trying to be good, as I have enough yarn in my stash to open my own yarn store--really. I have most assuredly achieved SABLE (stable aquistion beyond life expectancy) as the Yarn Harlot put it. However, none of the recently acquired yarns (beyond my yarn clubs; and we all know SOCK YARN DOESN'T COUNT!) were sock yarns. Oh, don't get me wrong, I looked, ususally quite lovingly, at the newest yarns on my favorite websites; occasionally even going so far as to put a skein or two (or five) into my shopping cart, but then I would exercise my willpower and close the window without completing the purchase. But the other day, I snapped. WEBS had some close-out Araucania Nature wool in a lovely teal; and I'll be darned if a sweater's worth didn't just jump into my cart! Along with some soysilk/merino roving! And my fingers just entered my credit card number of their own accord (yep, there is definately something to that muscle memory thing--my fingers remember that better than they remember how to play the flute (which I have done for far more years than I care to think about.)


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Originally uploaded by fu2x818

Araucania Nature Wool

Then, a day or so later, I was looking at the Little Knits website and MORE yarn hopped into the cart (of course, all of this yarn did have my favorite four letter word attached to it--SALE!) At Little Knits, even more yarn jumped into my cart. This time it was Atacama Alpaca in the red/pink/fuschia colorway--and it was 2 bags of it (keep in mind--still on sale, BIG TIME). And that wasn't all, some Fleece Artist Kid Aran hopped in with it! And the same thing happened again; my fingers just entered the credit card number without me making them do it. (I'm really not sure that I could actually tell someone the number without a keypad for my fingers to type it on--it's the same with my debit card PIN number.)

The following day I just happened to look on DiscountYarnSale.com (someone had mentioned the Hill Country Yarn sock of the month club and I hadn't looked there lately--you would think that I would learn...) Now, I'm not sure that many people have checked out this website but most of their yarns are sold by the bag. Not so great if you are making a small item, but pretty good if you are making a sweater with long sleeves and a longer overall length. Well, I hadn't checked it out lately, as I was saying, and I discovered that they carried Malabrigo--all of the Malabrigo line, in all of the colors. I believe that they probably have to order them from the company, as they say that there is a 3-4 week ship date, but not too bad. So there some Malabrigo worsted AND laceweight jumped in the cart. (Laceweight is sold 5 to a bag; worsted is 10 per bag) I have come to the conclusion that I am just a junkie at heart, only not about drugs--I'm a pure-T fiber addict. Shall we start a 12 step program for it? Of course, I really don't mind the high that I get when I plunge my fingers into some lovely merino or bamboo or silk or... you get the picture. Oh, and the colors!!! You can keep your drab, dull browns and beiges--give me eye popping colors any day.

Along that time also my last Woolgirl sock club shipment came in. Now, this doesn't really count because it wasn't something that I ordered recently--and it is SOCK yarn! (and sock yarn doesn't count, remember?) It is beautiful and perfect for Valentine's Day.

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Originally uploaded by fu2x818

Oh well, so much for yarn diets (or, as Garfield the Cat would say, "Diet is Die with a T".) I'll try to do better. Now, if I could just figure out how to knit all of the time, I would be happy!

Huh?

I was driving through town the other night and I noticed one of the local church's signs--you know, the fancy lit up kind that can flash whatever they want. Not the old fashioned sort that my traditional church has where one has to go outside, in the elements and actually change the words by hand. Well, in big red lights it reads "English Second Language classes Thursday 7:00", which is really no big deal until you think about it. Okay, if one needs to learn english as a SECOND language, one would assume that they don't already READ english. How about a novel idea--write it in SPANISH so that the people who need to learn english as a second language might be able to read it! (I single spanish out as we have a large number of hispanics in this area and very few other immigrants. We do have some businesses in the area from outside of the U.S. but they can probably speak english better than I can.) If that doesn't get a big "DOH", I don't know what would.

On the yarny front, I just finished spinning and plying some lovely blue/green merino superwash fiber into a 2 ply approximately DK weight yarn. I was really worried about how it felt, as it seemed rough and "cord like" but once it was soaked in some nice warm water (and swatted against the side of the tub to try to even out the twist) it really softened up. Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do with it. I may try my hand at making some handspun socks. After all, how hard could it be?

I Love Ravelry!

I just have to jump on the bandwagon with everyone else about this wonderful site--Ravelry! When I joined back in July of 2007, it was still pretty new, although I had been hearing about it on all of the podcasts. Since then, it has exploded in numbers--and it is still in beta stage. I cannot imagine how big it is going to be once it goes public.
I have met some wonderful people on it and it is so nice to be able to see what other people are doing with their yarns and what patterns are popular. I'm so glad that Casey and Jess started this site (and I have put my money where my mouth is; I have donated to Ravelry and have bought a t-shirt and buttons.)
The only problem with Ravelry is how it manages to aggravate the serious case of "startitis" that I have. I see some beautiful projects that people have done and I just want to follow suit. And that is nothing to compare with how bad the stash has gotten after reading and seeing some of the yarns that are out in the whole, big, wide world of fiber. Prior to Ravelry and podcasts, I had never even heard of Wollmeise, but honey, let me tell you, a monster was created when I first laid eyes on a photograph of Wollmeise.
Now, if I could just figure out how to make more hours in the day so that I could knit, spin, and play with Ravelry (oh yeah, and I guess work, and eat, and sleep...)

Kids, Can't live with 'em. Pass the beer nuts!

This is a bloom off of a pitcher plant that we have had for a couple of years. And I can't get an african violet to bloom?

The title of today's post is a paraphrase of Norm's famous line from Cheers--"Women! Can't live with 'em. Pass the beer nuts." What a great show. Why don't they write them like that anymore? Oh wait, nobody's writing ANYTHING for television right now so it's all CRAP!

For everyone that doesn't know me (and that would be pretty much EVERYONE) I have two darling daughters; that is, they are darling when they are fast asleep! Dramaqueen is the older of my children and she is eleven--going on either twenty-two or two, depending on which way the wind blows in the next five minutes. Bless her heart (and I am from the South, so imagine that being said with the greatest of southern drawls) she can be the sweetest, most loving child in the world when she is in a good mood, but, like the weather in Scotland, wait five minutes and it'll be totally different. One never knows what may set her off (is my hair right? did I find the right shirt to wear? don't mess with my hair! I can't find my shoes! My hair is fine! My sister is making too much noise while eating her ice cream!) Well, you get the picture.

The aggravating thing about the child is that she is very bright, but you would NEVER know it because she NEVER, EVER learns from her mistakes.

Munchkin is nine years old and is her sister's polar opposite. She is relatively calm (unless pushed to being a screaming banshee by her sister) and it would suit her just fine to be left alone to play her Nintendo DS or listen to her Ipod. In fact, when her sister is not around, you would never even know that she was around.

Believe me, I am not one of those mothers that feel that their darling progeny is perfect. In fact, I strongly adhere to the Rosanne Barr philosphy of "This is why some animals eat their young!" or Bill Cosby's dictum "I brought you into this world and I can take you out!" Do not, however, translate my philosophy to mean that I do not love my children. I would gladly step between them and harm any day, (but I would probably have to do that because they won't listen to me!)

They have not a clue what the expression "please be quiet" or "shh" means even when said repeatedly and at greater volumes every time it is repeated. AND THEN, they have the audacity to look hurt and stunned when my husband or myself finally has to resort to that most horrible of phrases--(and this will most likely get me an explicit rating) SHUT UP! I know, I know, go ahead and call the Department of Social Services as we have scarred our children's delicate psyches for life.

Just today, they were both hounding me for cell phones of their own. (SOAP BOX ALERT) Now, I realize that in some instances, it can be a prudent thing for children to have access to a cell phone, but mine go to school, then go to an afterschool program at the local YMCA. Once a week they have bell choir practice--and that is pretty much it! Please tell me why a child needs a cell phone? Aren't there generally enough people around with a phone that they could use if absolutely necessary? (end of soap box alert)

As far as the crafting bug goes, I was going to be so good for a while and I was not going to buy anything else for a time. (Note: this was not an actual New Year's resolution--I don't do that) I was just not going to get anything except the clubs that I am already in (and those don't count, really) THEN I received an email from Christine of The Dyepot announcing that she had some 1lb packs of mixed fibers that she was selling. DRATS!! Foiled again! So a couple of pounds just jumped into my cart. I really don't know how that happened, Honest!! So now, I guess I really need to get my Ashford Kiwi moving so that I can spin up some of the Other fiber I have. Oh yeah, and along with the fiber, I also purchased some more knitting books (I have more than the local library as it stands--of course, in the Emerald City, that ain't saying much.) Oh well, bless me Father, for I have sinned. I guess I need to say five Elizabeth Zimmerman's and 2 Barbara Walker's.

This is the beginning...

Well, here goes nothing. I have been reading blogs for quite some time now; some are good, some are not so great, some are cute, informative, sad, downright laugh your butt off funny. But they all have one thing in common--they are a creative way to get words off your chest. The modern version of the old fashioned journal or diary, with one teensy little difference...they are posted on the 'net so that all the world can see them if they enter the right name.

This past year (okay, more like 14 months) has been a period of time that I, quite frankly, would just like to forget (does anyone have a little pill for that? Anyone?) To start with, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2006--so that kind of screwed up THAT Christmas (which you may find out on down the line is my FAVORITE time of the year.) He had surgery in January 2007 to remove his pancreas and some surrounding tissue (otherwise known as a "whipple procedure") Rather nasty surgery, to say the least. Started chemo after the surgery, developed a chemo related lung problem, and died on July 20, 2007.

Okay, so surely things will start getting better we all thought. Well, I'm not sure which one of us pissed off the gods of Karma, but we sure did it up right. In December 2007, the VERY SAME WEEKEND as the one my father was diagnosed with cancer the year before, my husband's sister was told us that she had breast cancer and my father-in-law went into the hospital and was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer. Now, for the vast majority of people out there that don't know about this nasty little change in some normally very nice little cells--THIS IS A BAD ONE!! It makes most other cancers quiver in their boots. There is virtually nothing that can be done, except get your affairs in order FAST!! He spent a couple of weeks in the hospital and then was transferred to our Hospice House. (An awesome and awe-inspiring group of people if you don't know about it.)
He was in the Hospice House from before Christmas until his passing from this world on the morning of January 10, 2008. The most truly inspiring part of the whole thing was his grace--he went gracefully, without feeling sorry for himself, and thinking only about all of those around him. This man was the very definition of a GREAT MAN. How many other men can be a national leader in the robotics world, but they have to make sure that they were home on Sundays because they taught 3 year old Sunday School for 40 years (yep, you read that right--40 years.) He embodied the teachings of Jesus so much that some children thought that Jesus was bald headed. (If you had known this man, you would have thought so too.)

My two daddies

Well, we thought that the karma gods were done with the family for a little while--sister-in-law's surgery went well and she is starting chemo to make sure that everything is gone (none was found in the lymph nodes, thank God). We thought we were free and clear, until we find out that one of my husband's cousins lost his restaurant to a fire the other night. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to start living better.

Oh, something else I left out of all of this--I am a KNITTER! I knit in my spare time. I knit in my NOT SO spare time. If I'm not knitting, I'm spinning. If I'm not knitting or spinning, I'm thinking about it (even when I'm at work) I am for all intents and purposes ADDICTED TO FIBER!!!

I'm sure that there is a twelve step program out there for me and that the first step in recognizing that there is a problem is to admit that you have one, but I DON'T WANT TO!! So, I won't.

On my needles right now are a couple (read: too many) things. I have a pair of Wollmeise socks going (Okay, I'm only on the first one, so it isn't technically a pair (yet) in the colorway Poison No. 5

I also have Bordello socks in Fleece Artist Sea Wool in the colorway Marine
The Bordello pattern is a VERY close cousin to the Jaywalker pattern.

Also on the needles is the Lady Eleanor entrelac shawl from Scarf Style in Noro Korchoran.

And that is all that I'm admitting to right now.

Well, I guess that is all for my rant today. Hopefully, I'll continue with this (maybe I can do this instead of trolling the online yarn stores for even MORE stash.) My dear husband would truly appreciate that (as would the bank account.)