Babysitting and New Discoveries

    I know I've been lax and haven't written in a few days. But I was kind of busy. Wednesday, Kim H. thought that since it would be just the two of us for Stitch n Bitch, she proposed a road trip, not just breakfast. So we went to Out of the Loop yarn shop, a LYS down in the Fishkill area. I frequented this shop when we lived down that way.


   I found some absolutely luscious yarn that I had to buy, and of course I had to use it right away! I wound it up after I got home, and started my third Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmermann. It's so pretty! I will take photos another day.


    I babysat all day for little OG Thursday and today. It still amazes me that I get so freaking tired just hanging out with a 3 month old baby! It's not like I'm chasing him around or anything. He just lays there! Granted, it's awesome now that he is laughing and smiling.


    The other day, as I was reacquainting myself with the directions for the Pi Shawl, I was flipping through the book Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Almanac. This copy is special, as it was a gift from a friend. So there I was reading her stories, and something caught my eye. It was a little ditty about double knitting, and how it makes a light yet cozy blanket.


    Now, I have done some double knitting, and while it's do-able, it's not easy. But as I read her instructions, it occurred to me that she is talking about doing the whole thing with only ONE yarn strand. Every other time I've seen it, it's always with two strands of yarn. I read it, and couldn't wait to try it. I had some heavy-ish weight yarn and grabbed my size 11 bamboo circulars and set to work. And guess what? It works! I am making a small sample as she suggests, and it works!


    The resulting fabric is soft and extra cushiony just as she said! I will take photos soon, so you can see what I'm talking about. Can you blame me for being excited? I am bursting with plans to make a blanket for my favorite son-in-law, as well as a wee one for his son.

At least I'm knitting!

    I'm still under the weather today, but I did get out for Stitch n Bitch this morning. Since I got home, I've been in my house clothes, all wrapped up in my chair, sipping herbal teas with honey and knitting. I'm also watching the series Revolution on Netflix.


    Not much else will be going on today. I didn't even take anything out of the freezer for dinner. Later on I will be catching up on a few shows On Demand that I've missed, and maybe even take a nap. I had trouble sleeping last night.    

Four little things on my mind today

    The first being that I am coming down with something. It started right after I woke up from my nap early this afternoon. I took a nap because I didn't get much sleep last night. So after my nap, Hubs ran some errands, and I settled in to watch some telly.


   Shortly afterwards, my nose began to tickle, and then my throat joined in. I noticed that mucus production had begun in earnest. By 2:30, I took some of my favorite cold medicine. It's beginning to wear off at this point.


    I'm starting to really feel like crap. I'm going to go to Stitch n Bitch tomorrow anyway. I may not stay as long as usual, it will depend on how I'm feeling at the time.


    Second: Last Friday night I babysat for my grandkids so my son and daughter-in-law could have a date night. It was fun! Knowing my grandson Mason is fascinated my motorcycles, I had my Hubs ride his over when I went. Mason was so excited! I think Grandpa Mike is one of his favorite people now. He got to sit on it, and even start it and rev the engine a little.

    Third, even though I feel like crap, I got some knitting done today. Yay for me.

    And finally, I realized today that another Summer has passed that I didn't get to drive my Jeep down to Lake Peekskill and have a look around. I lived there until 1969, the Summer I turned 13. Ever since my kids were in high school, I wanted to take them there and show them where I lived for my formative years. I would like to see what's changed and what's the same, although after all these years there's probably nothing left I'd recognize.

Stitch n Bitch Report

    Here we are, with school back in session. That means it's time for Stitch n Bitch to resume our weekly get-togethers. We were originally going to meet last Friday, but we got a message that one of our group member's kids didn't start school until this week. So we delayed a week. They are in a different district than we are. It makes no difference to me, all my kids are all grown up.


    So Kim and I met this morning for a breakfast and some crafting. Cheryl didn't make it, we don't yet know why. Our beloved member Jan has moved to Portland, Oregon, and she is very much missed. I did less than a row on the Super Secret crochet project. Kim was in the middle of TINKing the bind off of a test knit, and she didn't want to do it during breakfast.


    The really sad part for me was that I sat there considering frogging the whole Super Secret project and starting a different one, with the same yarn. I think I'm just not feeling it any more.


    As for my reading the whole Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series (by Laurell K. Hamilton), I'm almost half done with the very latest one. Reading them all in a row has brought a question to my mind. I'm not going to mention it here, because it's rather explicit, but I am trying to decide if I should contact Ms. Hamilton personally. Really,   I am sad that I'm almost done reading it, but excited to crochet or knit again. Maybe the self imposed crafting break is nearly over. I will keep you all posted.   


     

Huzzah!

    I think I'm saved! Yesterday whilst digging through a stash pile, I found a WIP that I haven't seen in a good, long time. "Perfect!" I thought. "Now I have something to knit at the parade tomorrow!"


    It's a shawl, made with Lion Brand's now-discontinued Moonlight Mohair. I even have someone to give it to when it's done. One of the other karate moms wanted it, way back when I working on it at the karate school. It's a long rectangle wrap type shawl. And it's almost finished, as I was on the last skein of yarn that I had.
   

 

    This yarn is so pretty, with sparkles. But it's a bit too scratchy for my taste. I can't wait to see how it looks and feels after I wash it.

 

 

    P.S. My fellow Stitch n Bitchers Jan and Kim as well as myself, always knit as we watch the local parades every year. This will be the last parade for Jan, however, as she is moving this weekend to Portland, Oregon. I envy her so much! I spent time there with Hubs a few years ago, and it was awesome. I would love to go back. Now we know someone who lives there, and it gives Kim and me an excuse to go.

 

Stitch n Bitch and Other News

    This morning, we had our weekly get-together for Stitch n Bitch. All four of us were there. We had a nice breakfast, and got to work. Jan has been working on a hoodie for her son Sean, Kim has started a drop stitch summer sweater in a really cool thick and thin yarn. I am still working on Ozzy's cat bed. It's getting near the end, as I'm running out of yarn. I just have to make sure I have enough left to bind off. I think Cheryl must be too busy these days to have time to knit, I'm glad she finds the time to make it to group. Since her kids are no longer in Karate, this in the only time we get to see her!


    It was so hot yesterday, and it's going to be even hotter today. Last evening after it cooled off a bit, I put our whole house fan on. I love these things. They are big fans in the ceiling in the center of the house. When they're turned on,  they suck air in from outside through the open doors and windows. In the summer, I put it on early in the morning and suck cool air into the house before it gets hot. Then in the evening, after it cools off some, and it's still hot inside, I put it on again. This is assuming we aren't using the air conditioners yet. And we aren't. Yet.


   Anyway, while the fan was on last evening, I could smell my lilacs. That made me very happy. Even Hubs could smell them. I'm assuming it was Miss Kim I was smelling, as she's in the front yard, and I was sitting by the window at the front of the house.


    In other news, I got a call from my son today. He asked me to help out at their Karate tournament tomorrow. I get to "man" the table that sells the spectator bracelets. I did it last year, and it was lots of fun. You get to meet all kinds of people.


    I'm going to try and remember to bring my camera. Maybe I'll get to take some photos this time. But don't hold your breath, just in case.   

Living a spontaneous life

    I learned a long time ago, that when I made firm plans for anything, that something, somehow, would frack the whole thing up. So I try to live spontaneously. I know that there are certain things that you have to plan. Like Doctor appointments and stuff like that. But I try not to plan too many things. I like to do what comes along.


    As a side effect of this, sometimes there are times that you have to do many things in a single day. Yesterday was one of those days for me. It started out innocently enough, with the Stitch n Bitch ladies meeting for breakfast and knitting/crocheting.


    Thursday, I was supposed to go to my mom's and help her do some more packing for her move next week. I ended up not going, I really didn't feel well. So I told her I'd come on Friday, after Stitch n Bitch.


    Then I got a phone call, and had to squeeze a meeting in between these two things. After the meeting, I was to call mom, and I did some shopping for her. Mom took me over to see her new apartment. It is small, but beautifully finished, and she will be very happy there. In the end I finally got home, somehow, before Hubs got home from work. I was so tired, I went to bed without even writing a post for the day.


     As I am writing this, it doesn't seem like much to squeeze into a single day. But somehow, it was huge at the time. Considering that going to get the mail, or taking out the garbage, is usually the highlight of my day, doing that many things in one day, not to mention all the driving, was a lot to do. I drove from Hyde Park to Wappingers then to Fishkill, and back home again.


     But today, I am back to being spontaneous. I am going to lounge and then go out and run a few errands. I want to enjoy the beautiful Spring day.

Not just another Saturday night

    I got home late last night, so no post yesterday. Last evening, I attended my first Bar Mitzvah. It was a very interesting ceremony. The party afterwards was more for all the kids, but the adults had a great meal to eat!


    The photographer did a booming business.The ladies of our Stitch n Bitch group who attended had a group photo taken, and we each have a copy. We got one for our missing comrade-in-yarn also.


   Much to my surprise, my son had also been invited to the Bar Mitzvah too! Not only him, but the other karate instructors, and some of the students who are friends of the Bar Mitzvah boy, Sean. I didn't find out that Jesse was going until about a week before the event. I don't know why I was shocked, he's been teaching Sean karate longer than I've been friends with Sean's mom!


    It was a beautiful day yesterday, sunny and warm. The snow we got earlier in the week is now all gone. And again today, it's sunny and warm. It almost gives me hope that Spring is nearly here, for real. Hopefully the snow season is over, and I sincerely hope we don't get any Spring snow storms.


    I should mention that both Kim and I brought our knitting, but we didn't get to knit, it was just too darn dark in the party room.


    I would like to mention one last thing. I want a new pair of my favorite shoes, Dansko clogs. I intend to discuss this Hubs and get his approval in the next few days. Here is a photo of the pair I covet:

    I think they would look awesome with my Silver Cow Coach bag... Keep your fingers crossed!

Photo updates

     This morning, I was the only one for Stitch n Bitch. Jan had to work, Bonny had a sinus issue, Kim's Cherub is ill, and Cheryl had meetings. At first I was just going to go home, but I decided to go to Cranberry's for a cuppa coffee and a scone. I got a few rows of knitting done on Sara's sweater while I was there, which prompted me to take some photos once I got home.


     The progress on the sweater is not very visible, but it's joined now, and the raglans are almost done. After they're done, the sleeve stitches get put on scrap yarn, and the body gets completed. Here is how it looks right now:

    As I said, not much to look at. On the other hand, my cowl is all done, and very warm. I wore it today. I have to find an actual person to model it, so you can see how it looks when worn. Maybe later, I'll visit the karate school and see if one of my son's female students will volunteer to get her photo taken. Anyway, I took a photo of it on the floor, and here it is:

    I am quite pleased with how it came out, as there is no annoying interruption of color where the second skein was spit spliced with the first. It worked out perfectly!  This hasn't been bocked yet, and I may not block it. I'm not entirely sure that blocking would improve anything. If I get bored next week, perhaps I'll be inspired to block it.

P.S. I love spit splicing! No pesky ends to weave in!

WIP Photos, SnB report

    This morning, we had our Stitch n Bitch, the first one in three weeks. Last week, the weather was ominous, snow was coming down. The week before that, some of us had appointments that we couldn't change, so OFL (our fearless leader) decided to cancel.


    So this week we had some catching up to do. OFL is working a a gorgeous cardigan for a friend's birthday , Jan is still plugging away on her beaded lace shawl, and I brought two projects, but only worked on Sara's sweater. We had a good breakfast, and got down to knitting.


    Afterwards, OFL and I hit our local second hand store. I've been in there before, and was pleasantly surprised! They have so much stuff! Antiques, furniture, books, records, clothing and so much more! If you live anywhere near Hyde Park, I recommend stopping by.


    Now, for years, I've been searching for a leather coat for myself. I won't pay full price, so I've been looking in the Salvation Army, and Goodwill stores. I've had no luck so far. Until today, that is... I found an awesome leather coat today! It wasn't as inexpensive as Goodwill or SA, but still nowhere near full price. I left there a happy woman. Even Kim found a coat, and she looked awesome in it. She didn't want to pay the asking price, even though it was 25% off. So she asked, and they gave it to her for even less! She was happy too!


    And now for the promised photos! First up is a photo of the soft soft yarn that I'm using for the cowl:

    Here's a photo of my progress so far on the cowl:

    Next up is Sara's sweater, which you really can't see, because it's all curled up. But you can see the glorious color!

   And lastly, here is the yarn I chose for my own sweater. I hope the color comes out properly!

 
    Well, it's not too bad. I haven't started this one again yet, can't decide which size needle to use. I will probably go up to the size 9, and make a size small. But it starts out with the same number of stitches as the medium. So maybe I'll just stick with the medium. Who knows?

my adventures out in the cold

   My day started with my alarm going off 8:15, I set it so I wouldn't miss Stitch n Bitch again. Made it to Stitch n Bitch. It was really cold out...


    We had our breakfasts, and some quality knitting time. Then I remembered, after I got home, that I was supposed to go to Bonny's house after SnB. I put my coat back on and went to Bonny's.


    After I got home from there, I didn't put my house clothes back on, as I had to go to the mall in a few hours to pick up my paychecks. So I hung around, read some more, and actually finished The Iron Druid Chronicles book 3. I then promptly ordered book four for my nook, and began to read that one.


    Finally the time arrived for me to leave for the mall. I went down there, got my checks, then went to JCP to visit Bonny again. I remembered to stop at Joann Fabrics on the way home. My son had asked me to make another cat toy for their cat, and his new foster brother. I had searched every knitting/crochet bag I could find in my house, and couldn't find the flat plastic rings I knew I had left over from the last time I made the cat toy. I bought more rings.


    Then I could drive to the credit union and cash my checks, and do a little grocery shopping. A very little, as it turned out. I also stopped by the Karate school, and told my son about the rings, and showed him the new ones. He was pleased.


    Now I am home, and have changed back into my house clothes. The few groceries are put away. I am warm and comfortable again.

                                                              The End

sweater update w/ photo!

    My yarn holding finger is recuperating, so I'm taking it slowly. I have progressed pretty far, I think the body of the sweater is nearly complete. I'm waiting for Stitch n Bitch tomorrow, to ask my expert the best way to stop the whole frakking thing from rolling up. It's gotten to a pretty good length, and I don't want it rolling up to my waist.

   
    So here is the promised photo. I am very excited about it, I can't wait to finish it.

In which I forget what day it is.

    I am sick. I am tired all the time, and coughing my brains out. It was so bad this morning, I got up at about 8, and by 8:30 was headed back into bed. I totally forgot it was Friday, and I should have been getting ready for Stitch n Bitch.

  I was in bed until 11:00, and when I finally got up, I saw that I had a text message from my friend Bonny. She said she didn't know I was sick! I wondered how the heck she found out.... then remembered that I missed Stitch n Bitch.


    In the whole time I've been a member of that group, I've never missed a session. There was one session where I didn't feel so good, and left early, but I've never totally spaced about it completely!  I feel awful about it. I guess it just go to show how sick I really am.


    I've been on antibiotics for a couple of days now. I think I might be starting to feel better. Time will tell.

The Bucket Bag is Done!

    Hooray! As I type, the bucket bag is hanging off my spinning wheel, over the baseboard heating unit, to finish drying! I finished it this morning, felted it, then put it in the dryer, for two dry cycles. It's still pretty damp, hence the hanging over the heat. I'm hoping it will be dry by morning.


    I measured it this time, before felting. I will post measure it tomorrow and let you know how much it shrunk. Believe it or not, I think it was bigger, pre-felting, than the black one, and it's smaller, post felting! The black one was done with Paton's wool, and this one with Malabrigo. Quite a difference!


    I will also take photos tomorrow, so you can all see how it came out. I have no project for Stitch n Bitch tomorrow morning, so I will take the new bag, and shave it with a lint shaver, while the others knit and crochet. I like the finish it gives to my felting.


    I am finished with the pattern, too. I sent it to my friend to critique, and she says it's fine. Now I just have to decide what to do with it. For some reason I can't make it as a document on my laptop, so it's currently a draft for this blog. Fortunately, I am friends with a certain college professor who is head of her department in computer stuff. I will ask her advice in the morning. It may be for sale on etsy or Ravelry soon...

Stitch n Bitch Report

   This morning, we had our weekly get-together, but with a change of venue. We met this week at the Eveready Diner, to celebrate Jan's birthday. We had a lovely breakfast indeed.


    This week, there were five of us. Jan was working on her knitted beaded shawl, which is gorgeous now that it's large enough to see the pattern developing; Kim was working a second sock, Bonny happily crocheted away on an amigurumi (sp?) Christmas elf-looking thing. He was cute!


    Cheryl brought a project to work on, but had lost her place, and left her pattern home, so she just got to eat and chat. Me? I have been working on one side of the handle of the big purse, that's to be felted. This is, for sure, the boring part. But I shall persevere!


      

Preparing for Stitch n Bitch

    Today, I very nearly finished using all the yarn from conjoined twin #1 on twin #2. I made myself stop crocheting, and I sewed all then ends in. Then I crocheted a little more. I had plenty of time, since my charge napped for three whole hours today.


    I am saving my crocheting for tomorrow's Stitch n Bitch. After which, I will be traveling to a craft store to see if they have restocked my color of cotton yarn. Hopefully, they will have done so, so I can buy one more skein. That's all I need, one more skein.


    Even if that purchase doesn't work out, I will be making a trip to our local Bed, Bath and Beyond store, for king size fleece sheets. It's getting chilly enough at night these days for them. We sleep on flannel the other three seasons. Really. Even in the Summer. I need to buy new ones, because I can't find the bottom sheet from last years set. I have no idea where it is! The pillow cases I have, and the top sheet I have been using all along. But the bottom sheet has disappeared.


    Those of you who are regular readers may remember an early post, about Hubs and myself using separate covers on our bed. It was my defense mechanism against freezing to death. My beloved Hubs was, and still is, if given the opportunity, a terrible covers hog.


    I will keep you updated on the sheets, and the blanket too. Wish me luck at the craft store!

Stitch n Bitch Report!

    Today was our first official Stitch n Bitch session since June, and school let out for the summer. We had a blast, as usual. In attendance were myself, Kim (OFL), Jan and Cheryl. It was especially nice to see Cheryl, since she comes the furthest. All the kids got off to a good start on their respective school years.


   Kim is working on a sweater for her Cherub, a lacy, short sleeved, cropped cardigan. Jan is still working on her beaded shawl. I am almost finished with the pastel rainbow baby blanket. I was worried it wasn't going to be big enough. HA! I shouldn't have worried. I will measure it and have that number and a photo tomorrow!


    Cheryl cast on some cotton, and looked like she was working on a dishcloth or washcloth. It was a pretty colorway.


    We had breakfast first, then broke out the crafting, and got down to work. The nice ladies at Cranberry's told us how much they missed us this summer. Ah, but it's nice to get back into our regular routine!


    

Two things on my mind today.

    1. The baby blanket is close to being done, I'm currently on the blend of colors 5 and 6. But that is kind of off topic. I was wondering if anyone has any questions for me, consider the floor open. Ask away! If there is something I would rather not answer, I will let you know. So, go ahead and ask, I can't wait to hear what you come up with!


    2. I am really looking forward to tomorrow, it will be our first Stitch n Bitch session of the school year! Now that the kids are all back is school, we can resume our weekly breakfast sessions at Cranberry's!  Look for a report tomorrow evening!

Tah Dah! One Down, One to Go!

    And here it is, the promised photo of the first finished pot holder!

    I altered the pattern slightly, as it was too short, more a rectangle than a square. I added rows at the bottom and top,  as well as one in the jaw part, and one between the top of the nose and the start of the eyes.


    I am pleased with how it came out, and have already started the second one. Yesterday, when we were out, I had Hubs stop at A.C. Moore and I ran in and got a different color for the second one. I am keeping the bright pink for myself.


    I worked on the second one last night, when I couldn't sleep. I went in to bed, tossed and turned for an hour, then came back out and took a med. I sat here, watching TV and crocheting until I finally felt sleepy. I think I went back in about 2:30.


    If I didn't mention it before, this project comes from The Happy Hooker, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet, by Debbie Stoller. The actual potholders were designed by Kacy Fallon.


    I decided not to post photos of the second pot holder, to keep the color combo a secret, as my beloved daughter reads my blog...

I've Hit the Wall, Knitting Wise

    I sure have. I screwed up my lace stole project a few days ago, and haven't figured out yet where I went wrong. I haven't frogged it, I still have hope that either I can figure it out, or my friend the knitting expert can.


    In the meantime, I have been crocheting. I'm trying again to do the skull colorwork potholders, from the Stitch n Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker book. I tried once before to make these for my friend, but I wasn't happy with how it looked. Since then I have watched her make some, and decided to try again. So far, I am happy with how it looks. Even though I'm using my least favorite hook, the size G. This hook size, I consider my nemesis.


    So for now, I am crocheting. I will post photos of my progress. I am really not too happy that to make the potholder, I have to make two of these fracking things. Grrrr.

    And for a double Grrr, as I am looking at the photo, I see the eyes are off center, which means I have to frog the last row that I did. I didn't notice until I looked at the photo! Oh well, at least it's not a whole bunch of rows...


    Tattoo update!! It has now been 8 days since my tattoo, and the last little bit of crust has finally come off. It's still itchy, and I'm still lotioning the shit out of it. I know it seems early, but I have always healed quickly. I am told the color looks awesome. I can't see it myself without mirrors. I think I'll ask Hubs to take another photo of it.


    Crap, I see it's almost midnight. I better get my crap assembled and publish this, or it will show up with tomorrow's date!!