A sock and more

A sock on double pointed needles.

Ta da, two socks done on double pointed needles.

Look how nicely the pattern matches.

I do have to say that I am impressed.

And here are matching gloves:

well, actually, it is a glove . . . .

It is Lion Brand self-stripping sock yarn.  I have had it for years.  I think I'm in love. 

These are for Lindsey.  And the socks, by the way, fit!

And the socks are done too!

Bellamittens for Ravelympics

Great quote:

Life moves pretty fast. 

If you don't stop to look around once in a while,

you could miss it.

~Matthew Broderick as Ferris Buller in "Ferris Buller's Day Off."

Bellamittens for Ravelympics
Originally uploaded by mlj1954ohio

So, you see this. It is the WIP that I am going to finish for Ravelympics. I have to admit that I was impressed with how clever I was that I did remember to tag the cable with the size of the needle tip I was using. These are being made for Lindsey and the color is really more of a purple. I am on row 76 or 77 and need to finish this one and get the other one finished.

Lindsey went with Andrew to his Winter Formal on Sunday, February 14, 2010.  They had a great time. 

Aren't they cute.

On Monday, February 15, Lindsey and I went to Wooster College in Wooster, OH.  It is a very good school.  I think she would be happy there.  the student population is about 1,900.  It is a liberal arts college but has a partnership with a couple of other schools for the engineering which she desires to do.  We also met with the swimming and diving coaches. 

Later, much later, after dinner and after the discussion on the way home where she mentioned that she might want to go to Cincinnati or Akron . . . Andrew is interested in Akron and his brother goes to Cincinnati and he might want to go there too . . . we informed Lindz that whatever school she decides on it will not be the school that Andrew goes to.  Period.  WHAT?  WHY?  THAT's NOT FAIR.  As my husband pointed out to her, that the fact that she doesn't understand our reasoning is the main reason that we wouldn't allow.  STAMP!  POUT!  STAMP!  . . . mucho whispered conversations with Andrew.  Sigh (the sigh is mine).

Friday - lots of things happening - snow and Ravelympics

I woke up this morning to snow.  Again. 


Somewhere in this mess is my driveway.  Zachariah has a doctor's appointment at 10:15.  Lovely. 

On the upside, it has stopped snowing, the plows have gone up and down the street (we are blessed . . . our street has a bridge over a major interstate so we get the city plows, the county plows and the state plows).  It has also been salted.  The only issue is getting OUT.

Here is what my backyard looks like.  There is a pool there, somewhere.

The pool is just to the left of the shed.  The garden is just to the right of the shed.







Also, the Olympics start tonight and I have been lining up those things that I am going to be doing for Ravelympics which also begins tonight. 

I want to finish the BellaMittens first.  Here is a pic of the first one.  Note that the tips are missing from the cables.  BUT, you (and I) will happily note that I did tag the cables so that I know that I used a size 7 needle.

See the tag is right there.  The green thing is my row counter.  I am on the 79th row of this mitt and only have about 26 rows on this one and, oh yeah, the other one . . . I guess I should make two.

I am then going to make a hat.  The question is whether I will make Lindsey's hat (she wants a ear-flap hat).  I had made her a scarf last year and have enough yarn to make her a hat.  I had also promised another tobaggon hat to a friend's child. 

Snow, snow, snow

There is one good thing about snow,

it makes your lawn look as good as your neighbor's!

~Clyde Moore

An article from Forbes Magazine, dated February 5, states that:

"Our measures show that those in Cleveland experience the worst winter months. Located on the south shore of Lake Erie, the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has relatively mild summers but its winters require endurance. Cleveland gets hit by lake-effect snow, averaging almost 60 inches every winter and its frigid winters help produce an average annual temperature of only 50 degrees, 10 degrees below the 50-city average."

http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/05/weather-snow-storm-lifestyle-travel-winter-snowfall.html

This is of course, for major cities.  The important thing to note here is that we are followed by Boston and New York with Milwaukee coming in 4th.   Cleveland's stats are:

Average Annual Temperature: 49.6°F

Average Precipitation: 38.7 inches
Average Snowfall: 58.9 inches

The fun thing is that you can do anything with stats.  Our lows (like yesterday morning was 2 with a windchill that dropped it to 16 below) and in August, we often have weeks where the temp doesn't drop below 85.  Go figure.

I have to mention, however, that one of the things that Cleveland and its surrounding areas, do very well is clean up the snow.  We also sit on one of the largest salt mines in the world so the streets get scraped and salted. 

By the way, we did get dumped on over the weekend with about 10 inches in my yard.  There is also another storm heading our way and the weather gurus are anticipating another 4 to 8 inches, depending on where you live in conjunction to the Lake.

The upside is that it leaves for mucho knitting time.  You gotta find your happiness wherever you can find it!

Friday Fill In - February 5, 2010

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.

~ John Barrymore

1. I know I should go to bed early every evening, but there are books to be read and knitting to be done and I should exercise . . . .


2. January is the longest month and all  months should be no longer than 28 days.  Add another month is they have too.

3. You can't help but smile at babies.

4. Knitting socks; bring it on!

5. Where have you looked for happiness?

6. Patience is now available, in a medicine cabinet near you!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing because tomorrow my plans include Market Day volunteering (at 6:30), Lindsey's OMEA competition at 8:50, Zachariah's swimming at 9:45, Lindsey's swimming practice at 1:00, Mass (Lindsey is playing and I am an EM) at 4:30 and I suppose THEY will want to be fed and Sunday, I want to rest, but I will be having lunch with Janet and will be adding beads to Sarah's dress and I think I will be making Julia Child's Beef Bourguignon for dinner (I watched Julia and Julie and have to say that I have been wanting to make this ever since)!

Several Days at once

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.

~ Jennifer Yane

It has been a crazy week.  Crazy.  Zachariah was sick a couple of weeks ago.  There was a vicious flu that was going around and he got it with a passion, losing 5 pounds in one day.  He had been all the way up to 53 pounds and actually over the last two weeks has been down to as low as 46 and is finally back up to 48.  Sigh.  Anyway, Monday night he said "my ear hurts."  Okay.  So Dave and I talked about it and we decided that he needs to see the doctor.  I took him Tuesday afternoon.  No temperature.  No sore throat.  But both ears are badly infected, including the fact that the right one (not the one that hurt) was almost ready to rupture.  lovely.  On the other hand, sitting around at the doctor's and pharmacy and I took him to his favorite place in the world (the library), gave me mucho time to knit and I worked on and finished his cap (which I had started on Monday) and got most of one of the mittens done.  Of course, the yarn is bulky and the needles relatively large (size 7 for the ribbing and size 8 for the body).  Pics of the hat and mittens are below.  I am crocheting a scarf, lengthwise.  I find crocheting especially boring and doing short rows just make me crazed. 

I have almost finished Zachariah's scarf. I did finish his hat and mittens. Using my latest favorite yarn (Joann's Sensations . . . this is in denim).

I hate using dpns so I put off doing the final rows or so until I have to. The pic above doesn't have the cap nor the thumb done on the right mitten.

and here is where I am using the dpns to close up the thumb.

I have finished Janet's Lucy bag.  It is even felted.  Here is a pic of the unfelted bag:

The light green blob to the right is was to be a pocket.  It didn't shrink enough, so I am thinking about making it into a change purse to go along with the bag.

Of course, all of this needs to be done by Sunday.  Janet will be in Cleveland (coming from Dallas) and we are meeting for lunch.

This is another weekend coming up where we will be going from one place to another.  Market Day is Saturday morning (the 4th graders are to volunteer -- along with their parents -- we have to be there at 6:30 a.m.).  Lindsey has her OMEA (Ohio Music Educator's Association) competition at 8:50 a.m.  Zachariah has swimming at 9:45.  Lindsey has swim practice from 1 to 3.  We have 4:30 mass (Lindsey is playing the violin and I am an Eucharistic Minister).  Oh, and we are going to watch Groundhog Day on Saturday.  Gotta have some fun!