Knitting · totally awesome sister

Can’t Knit Now…

Jen5 Comments

Even more shocking this weekend than a lack of knitting progress, was a lack of any knitting at all. You see, Saturday, I was busy with this:

Isn’t it sleek and beautiful? I’ve had my old machine since 2000, so this new laptop is an absolute SCREAMER!! I spent the better part of Saturday night and Sunday morning setting it up, but there’s still more to do. It’s amazing how much stuff accumulates on a computer in eight years. Luckily, it’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t take up a lot of 3 dimensional space.

Finally, I took a break from my nifty new laptop and went with Mr. Interrupted and my Totally Awesome Sister over to our local library where Michael Whelan was giving a talk. He has been my favorite SciFi/Fantasy artist for as long as I can remember, so the lecture was a real treat. And the new stuff he has been working on is absolutely amazing. We bought a few of his prints that I can’t wait to have framed and displayed.

What’s that? You don’t believe for a minute that I didn’t knit at all? How well the blog knows me. I did finish the scarf for my TAS while at the WW meeting on Saturday. Here she is modeling it.

Isn’t she haute?

Knitting

Shocking!

Jen5 Comments

There has been a surprising lack of progress being made on the knitting front (hence all the random posts about things not related to knitting). But people out there have been getting shit done and I have been feeling the pressure of binding off my first project of the new year. That isn’t going to happen, people, partly because I am slightly bored with the projects I’m working on.

socks for ezra

Socks for EZ-E. I decided to do an afterthought heel (as discussed recently over at the YH) so right now this project is just knitting, around and around until they are the right length.

furry scarf

A furry scarf to go with the hat I am making for my Totally Awesome Sister. It’s plain garter stitch, back and forth back and forth, until I run out of yarn.

isaac's sweater

Lastly, a sweater for I-6. I’ve finished the shaping and am now just going around and around in stockinette stitch until it’s long enough. Also I really don’t like this yarn.

Anyone sensing a trend here?

On the upside, I found these at a new-to-the-area supermarket the other day.

I can’t tell you how tickled I was. Would you like a Jelly Baby? Hah!

life

Waking up to Snow

Jen4 Comments

Have a great day everyone! :-)

TKGA

Master’s Monday 2

Jen3 Comments

This week, I worked on my seed stitch swatch (again), using the combination knitting style suggested by Divine Bird and my Dear Friend Jen.

I’m unhappy. It’s still got holes. (Also, it is kind of sloppy where I was adjusting to the new-and-awkward-to-me technique.) *sigh* I am going to try knitting up yet another swatch, using my preferred knitting method (continental), and see if wet blocking (as Marlene suggested) doesn’t help it. Wish me luck!

life

The Birds

Jen4 Comments

Some phenomena are impossible to document with a crappy digital camera, but I’ve wanted to blog about this for weeks. The area where I live has become a gathering place for all the crows for miles (I mean, thousands) around come to roost at night. Last year, the massive roost was about a mile from where I live and for about an hour or so before dark, we could hear them calling as they picked their favorite perches on which to settle down for the night. This year, the roost is in our yard and all along the street where we live. Every evening, as the light begins to fade and darkness starts to take hold, the skies are literally filled with crows as they stream in from all over. All the tree tops I can see are thick with the large black birds, noisily calling to one another, as they settle down for the night. It really is a beautiful sight and it fills me with awe and appreciation for nature every evening. I only wish I could get a better picture of it.

Update 1/13/08: I found a great link on the subject.

cute kids

My 2-year-old’s hilarious speech impediment

Jen8 Comments

What I am about to share with you is the absolute truth. I am not exaggerating or making it up. I swear to God I am not kidding about this.

E2 cannot say cracker properly. I’m okay with this as he is only 2, and it really does make for some interesting kitchen chatter. Also, it causes us adults to collapse on the floor into fits of giggles every time he asks for a cracker. So, here I am sitting here at my computer, checking email, etc. and Mr. Interrupted is in the kitchen, feeding the wolves children their after dinner snack. E2 enthusiastically cheerfully chimes in with his vote: “I want f*ckers! I want cheese and f*ckers!”

cute kids · random

Snippet

Jen2 Comments

I recently overheard a certain 6 year old say, while getting into bed and giggling uncontrollably, “Don’t go near the carnies*, dad! They’ll take all your money!”

*(I hope I haven’t offended any carnival workers, but it was darned funny!)

Uncategorized

Master’s Monday Returns

Jen4 Comments

As I promised myself back in July, I hauled out the stuff for my TKGA’s Master Knitter (level 1) course and knitted up a seed stitch swatch. It sucked, so I knitted up another one. That one sucked too.

seedstitchswatchattempts

See the holes? Not good. I am knitting with Cascade 220 on 4 mm needles. Any readers out there really good at seed stitch? I could really use some advice.

yarn

Friends That Rock

Jen7 Comments

Today I joined the ABC-along on Ravelry. The idea is to post a meaningful-to-the-photographer photo every other week that corresponds with the assigned letter of the alphabet for that week. I offer for “A”

the Amaryllis blossom at my friend Dawn’s house. We spend at least one afternoon at her house per week. The boys play while we knit together. Well, at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. Some days (like today) we spend more time mediating arguments and disagreements between our four boys than actually knitting, but we still have fun.

Speaking of fun and my friend Dawn, look what she gave me today:

Blue Moon Fiber Arts’ Socks That Rock in the Xmas Rock colorway. Isn’t it awesome? This my very first skein of STR. I love love love this yarn and can’t wait to knit with it. It’s soft and squishy and gorgeous. Thank you so much, Dawn!

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Upon Reflection

Jen5 Comments

Back in January of 2007, I posted my New Year’s Resolutions. With the exception of the yoga, I think I did fairly well. I wrote, a lot–174 blog posts and a 50,000 word novel. And I knitted–a lot. Based on the success of last years resolutions, I present you with NYR08.

1. More reading/better writing. Being surrounded by language is essential for good writing and, since my ultimate goal is to improve my writing, that means more reading. Perhaps I will feature a reading list in my sidebar. I want to be funnier in my writing, too. My NaNo was dark and kind of depressing. So I am going to strive this year to infuse my writing (and my life) with a bit more humor and silliness. Also, I will endeavor for better story telling on my blog. Yes, I posted 174 times, but a good portion of those posts (especially recently) read like crappy newspaper stories. I would like to thank all those who have continued to read my blog in spite of all the drek I’ve posted.

2. More Yoga. I know I resolved to do more yoga last year, but if I don’t put it out there, I won’t do it. I’m going to shoot for two sessions a week.

3. More Knitting. In 2008, I would like to tackle color-work, like this, perhaps. Also, I would like to attempt lace knitting. Maybe something like this. Lastly, part of me feels like I’m not truly a Knitter until I’ve knitted an adult-sized sweater. So this is on my list, too.

I’d like to leave you with my favorite moment from my favorite TV show this year. In the best ever Doctor Who episode, Blink, the Doctor explains the true nature of Time.

“People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a non linear, non subjective viewpoint, it’s more like a big ball of wibblely wobbly timey wimey… stuff.”

Happy New Year, everybody!