Sun is Shining!

Woo hoo, the sun is shining!  Of course its also 20 degrees, but the sun is shining. It has been so grey and dark lately that I turn on every light in my office in order to not get depressed.

Lindsey had violin lessons last evening as opposed to tonight.  Tonight she has a swim meet.  Usually, I knit while she is having her lessons.  I didn't knit last evening.  I frogged.  I frogged Zachariah mitten (note, I said mitten not mittens . . . almost had it finished but can't find the pattern, duh and only had one done).  I frogged my sampler scarf.  It seemed the best thing to do since I didn't like it.  It is a beautiful color and yarn (Knitpicks Andean Silk in Cranberry) but not enough really to do a scarf.  I can do a pair of fetchings and considering the fact that my office is usually around 64 degrees when I arrive in the morning, it would be a good thing . . . I do have a space heater but as soon as I turn it off the temp starts plummeting.  Or maybe I'll make a cowl. 

A friend pointed out the cloths by Kris Patay at KrisKnits.  Seriously, you all should check out her stuff and her blog.  She is an incredible artist.  I think I am going to make her heart cloth for valentine's day for Sarah and Kyle. 

The swim season for Lindsey is winding down.  I can hardly wait.  They have a meet tonight and one on Saturday and two next week.  That is it until the Sectionals which start on February 14.  Now, she has spent months swimming.  Months.  Most times, it was two hours a day for six days a week.  Over Christmas break, they swam four hours a day, every day, except for Christmas and New Year and on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, they only swam two hours.  And so, what is her concern, part of her hopes that she doesn't make sectionals because Andrew invited her to his school's winter formal and it is on February 14.  She is one of the top swimmers on her team and she is an idiot. 

Sock KAL

I have never finished a sock.  But Rachels Knitting Room is doing a sock KAL.  Right now we are working on the leg. 

Want to see how far I've gotten.

Oh, and the little notes on the sock show the beginning of the row (the pink marker) and the row counter (the white marker).  When you get to the white marker, you move it over one more stitch.  By moving the white marker each row, you can count the stitches between the pink and the white and know exactly how many rows you have knit.  This is good for lots of things not just socks.  My Mom would do it for sweaters.  Just by adding a "different" stitch marker and moving it every row. 

The yarn is Lorna's Lace, Shepherd Sport (100% superwash wool), Color No. 16, called Pioneer.  It is being knit on size 4 (U.S.).  Very nice yarn.

German or long-tail cast on

If you have ever wanted to know how to do a long-tail (or German) cast on, you need to check out this YouTube blurb by David from Knit Like a Man.com.

Seriously, check this out.

A contest at Knit Purl Gurl

Knit Kit Jewelry is the brain child of Joyce Goodman, designer, artist, knitter, and art jeweler. Joyce wanted a way to mesh her love of knitting and art jewelry to create simple, gorgeous kits for others to enjoy these mediums. And so Knit Kit Jewelry was born.


These interesting and beautiful kits allow knitters to explore new avenues in knitting. So even if you've NEVER created jewelry before, all you need are the basic knitting skills to create a gorgeous piece of your own.

Each bracelet kit comes complete with pattern, basic instructions for knitting with wire, wire, and clasps. All you need are your own knitting needles to get started. The wire that comes with each kit is copper coated for a comfortable experience and is available in a wide array of stunning colors, allowing the knitter to make each piece his/her own. As pictured above (left to right), there are three bracelet kits available: Buckle Bracelet, Ruched Cuff, and Regal Cuff.

If you want to enter Knit Purl Gurl's contest go here. 

And while I wish you luck, I hope I win!  LOL.

What a way to start the new year

I started off this year with a bang.  Our first day back to work went well.  Budgets, budgets and other budgeting issues (all having to be done by the 15th and having several office administrators putting things off to the last minute like, oh, I don't know, their budgets).

After lunch on the 4th, I didn't feel too well.  We were getting lots of snow and I got home right after Dave, Lindsey and Zachariah.  Of course, the first question out of everyone's mouth was "what's for dinner."  Sigh.  So, we had left overs.  We had crackers and cheese, potstickers, kielbasi.  I went to bed by 9:30 (the last one to hit the sack) and woke up at 2:00 in pain.  Turns out I had to have my gall bladder removed but because I had sooooo many gall stones and a couple had blocked my pancreas, I was also suffering from pancreatitis and was severely dyhydrated.  I ended up not having surgery until that Thursday.  I go back to work this coming Tuesday. 

So, I knit and frogged and reknit and organized my knitting patterns and some yarn.  The one thing that I did finish was baby booties for Erich and Caity's baby. 

These were made with Bernat's Baby Jacquard.  I had already finished the sweater and cap but didn't get a picture of the cap.  The baby shower was the Saturday after my surgery and while I had plans on going, I decided that I just couldn't which meant that I had time to make the slippers. 

Since we were celebrating Zachariah's 9th birthday today, I had until today (or actually last night) to get the booties done.  The pattern I used came from Megan Mills. 

And here are some pictures from Zachariah's birthday . . .  except for the pictures of Zachariah, Zachariah took the pictures. 

He is into music so we had a musical cake.

Adn we also got the drums to go with the Wii and Lindsey and Andrew put them together:

And Zachariah had to blow the candles:

Caity and Erich have another little girl, Ava, who just turned two.   She is very cute and funny and got very, very tired.

And this is my youngest sister, who is Erich's Mom and Ava's grandmother.  She would love to knit except that she goes nuts with the patterns that are K, P, K2T, PSSO . . . so she either crochets or rewrites patterns so that everything is all spelled out.  We laugh.  This picture doesn't do Jeanne justice.  She is incredibly pretty. 

And this is my other younger sister . . . she also knits but does more crocheting because she does lots of afghans and such.

Over Jacquie's left shoulder is one of my older sisters.  She is a knitting, spinning, plying, dyeing fiend.  She sat and almost finished a sock during the party.  She is a show-off. 

And here is Mary (Jacquie's youngest daughter . . . her kids are 29, 27, 25 and 7 . . . and you thought I was nuts with kids that are 23, 15 and 9), and MacKenzie (who is 4-1/2 and Hayden, who just turned 3).  MacKenzie and Hayden are Jacquie's grandchildren. 

New Year, New Day, New Baby knitting.

Winter is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and for a talk beside a fire:

it is the time for home.

~ Edith Sitwell

Winter has arrived in Cleveland and it is when I discover that I can go for DAYS without ever leaving the house.  I spent much of Saturday and Sunday, sewing, cleaning, knitting, snuggling and playing board games with the kids.  I could have done the same today but, alas, bills have to be paid and so the layers of clothing were donned and the weather braved.  When I got out of the van this morning at the train, it was 15 degrees and there was about 4" of snow.  Brrrrr.

So, what did I work on this weekend.  I started and finished (except for blocking and snaps), the baby sweater for Erich and Caity's baby.

The colors pooled more than I would have liked but, it is still lovely, very soft and an easy knit.  I am making a cap and booties too.  The baby shower is Saturday.  The upside is that Lindsey has two swim meets this week which leaves me with mucho knitting time!

Happy 2010

Wishing everyone a blessed, joyous and peaceful New Year. 

We are spending this afternoon and evening together as a family (against my 15 year old daughter's wishes).  Her boyfriend is going to come over in the evening and his parents will be picking him up after the "ball drops." 

We have spent every New Year's Day, except once, with good friends.  They get the odd years, we get the even years so they will be coming to our home tomorrow.  We will be enjoying Chicken Satay, sauerkraut balls, potstickers, cocktail meatballs, pineapple and kielbasi, fresh vegetable, cheese/crackers, wine, coffee, cheesecake, and whatever Betty and Dean bring to the table.  LOL.  The guys usually go for a long walk after dinner. 

In 2009, I got a lot more knitting finished than I had in the past.  I embraced the joy of making knitted cloths (go figure), finished a shawl for me, several pairs of "fetching," a scarf for Lindsey, a beaded scarf for my friend, Wendy, another small scarf (again for me), hmmmm, slippers for a variety of individuals, hats/scarves for Kyle's daughters, and that might be it.  Most of it was made from my stash (not that you can tell) or from gifted yarns.  For 2010, my first goal is to make a sweater for Caity and Erich's baby girl.  The baby shower is January 9.  I think I need to get started.  I didn't have any yarn suitable in the stash so I stopped at Joann's yesterday and got some Bernat Baby Jacquards Yarn in Spearmint Candy

I think it will make up a very pretty little sweater.  I also got some yellow for the cuffs and bindings. 

2009 brought changes to our extended family with three weddings (Amy and Ron in June, Michael and Kary in July and Erich and Caity in December).  2010 will be bringing changes to our immediate family with Sarah and Kyle's wedding on May 22.  Kyle is a wonderful guy and brings three darling little girls to the family.  The girls are 8, 6 and 5.   His family owns a huge working farm west of our home.  Right now, they work 3,200 acres and have two pig barns which produce about 10,000 pigs per year.  Sarah and Kyle want a country/western themed wedding with a little bit of sparkle.  It will be challenge.  The fun part is that we are having it at the Huron County Fairgrounds and we get to do all the decorating.  Leaves us wide open for a variety of options.  We bought lots of blue/white LED lights and blue/silver ornaments right after Christmas. 

Anyway, I wish everyone a beautiful and safe New Year!

Erich and Caity.

My nephew Erich and his bride Caity. 

He proposed to her at an Indians game the summer of 2008. 

He wanted his brothers to be there for his wedding.  His oldest brother. Tommy, is in the Navy, stationed in Pensacola.

His younger brother, Ryan, is in the Air Force, stationed in Oklahoma City, but recently in Venezuela. 

All the plans were in place, leaves were approved, Tommy got home on Thursday, December 17, in time for the wedding on Friday, December 18.

Unfortunately, Ryan's leave was post-poned until Monday, December 21.

Erich and Caity were married on Friday, December 18.

They are beautiful.  Young.  In love . . . . and exceptionally happy.

Oh, and the baby is due on February 18. 

Erich is also scheduled to ship out to Afghanistan in May.  Sigh. 

Pray, pray, pray that this ends.


oh, yes, and if anyone is counting, this is the third wedding in our family since the end of June!

Swim team Christmas celebration

The swim team . . . over Christmas break, they are doing two a days . . . morning practice from 9:00 to 11:00 and afternoon practice from 4:00 to 6:00.  On Monday, they (most of the team . . . 22 girls in all), came to my house for breakfast/lunch/Christmas celebration.  They also did a "sock" exchange.  Not hand-knit socks, but they had a blast nevertheless. 

At one point, my family room looked like a "mosh pit."

This is my daughter, Lindsey, with her best friend, Jessica.  They are both Juniors.  She and Jessica are perfect counterparts.  They both have great senses of humor, don't take themselves too seriously and are natural leaders.  They care alot about the underclasswomen and make sure that everyone is included.  Plus, they are both good, solid swimmers.

Some of the freshmen . . . About fifteen minutes later, they were all sleeping.  I had to wake them up to get them to their afternoon practice.

Arghhh.

Swimming, swimmers and other fun stuff

Okay, so if you haven't ever had a swimmer, runner, jogger, ice skater, dancer, hockey player, etc., you wouldn't probably understand this post. 

My darling 15 year old has upped the ante on her swimming this year.  She made a commitment early in the summer and asked if she would be able to do some more serious training for swim team.  This commitment meant that every morning, six days a week, from the beginning of July until school started in mid-August, Lindsey swam from 6:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m., followed by upwards of 45 minutes of "dry land" workouts.  Once school started, she did workouts from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., followed by upwards of 45 minutes of dry land workouts. 

As they say, the proof is in the pudding.  Last week, she won two firsts and two seconds.  On Friday, the 400 Free Relay team that she is on broke the school's record at 4:06.87.  Today, she won a first in her 500 and two seconds in the 100 free style and 200 free relay.  Totally awesome.  The 500 is her "thing."  Her goal is to get under 6 minutes and, actually, she wants to break the school record this year, which means she needs to get it under 5:25.20.  Totally doable.

I have to tell you, however, I was timing during the meet tonight.  I was not timing her lane which was a good thing.  She was lapping the other swimmers.  She started strong and stayed strong.  And, after hugging her bestest swimming buddy, she fell into my arms.  You know there are just some times when it is good to be on the deck and not in the stands.

Message from Santa

Check this out:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/691c9269a6498b53246d63666c7e2816

I need my Mom

Okay, so there I am driving Lindsey around as we had to hit a variety of stores.  One of which was Joann's.  And it struck me.  I need my Mom.  She would be able to tell me to not stress, everything would be fine, and I could bring the dress and beads and fabric and we would just sit down and get it done . . . just like that. 

Instead, my daughter thinks I'm nuts.  Because, being the totally insane person that I am, I got all teary eyed.  Seriously.  I looked at her and said "I don't think I can do magical things to Sarah's dress" and she, being the kind and considerate and incredibly normal 15 year old looked at me and laughed.  She laughed.  Out loud.

The reason she laughed is because I made her dress for homecoming.  It was a Vogue pattern.  But she wanted it sort of almost like the pattern, but a little different, please mom, you can do it for me . . . And the end result was that the dress is about 12 inches (seriously) less full than the pattern called for, it wasn't supposed to be a halter and because she is a swimming fiend, I waited until the Sunday before to put it all together.  She is solid muscle which is a strange combination for swimmers.  She and her swimming buddies (and these are serious swimmers) have the most strangest of complaints.  Their waists get bigger during the swim season . . . I have explained to her that it isn't that their waists get bigger but their waist to hip ratio changes, and, of course, they end up with the buff arms and shapely legs.

The end result, however, was this: 

So, after pulling this off, I guess I can do the beading and fabric replacement and hemming for Sarah's dress.  Does anyone want to come over for the day and we can hang out and get it done?

so much to do so little time

I am going to a fundraiser this evening.

I want to take my knitting.

My daughter will frown.

Do I care?

wedding dress

My 23 year old daughter has found her wedding dress.  I have to say that more than once today, my eyes filled with tears, and if it wasn't for Jessica, I would have ended up making a mess of myself.

Sarah ended up with a beautiful dress that cost substantially less than would have otherwise cost us.  She ended up with a wonderful dress that with, a little added "stuff" by Mom, will be an absolutely perfect dress.  AND, it cost, DRUM ROLL PLEASE . . . $134!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How cool is that.  Of course, I will probably spend another $50 in making it "perfect.."

Be the kind of woman

One of my Whoduknit pals had the following quote on an email.  I think it is my new favorite theme and am thinking about putting it on a bag, a mug and a t-shirt (even though I don't wear t-shirts).

Be the kind of woman

that when your feet hit the floor each morning,

the devil says "Oh crap, She's up!"

thinking about it . . .

One of the things I like about knit groups (both the online kind and the brick/mortar kind) is the encouragement and ideas that everyone is willing to share. 

For example, Jane mentioned her love of wool and how she made a beautiful beret, which when wet, grew too big so she felted it a bit.  Ta da . . . instead of having to redo, she solved what could have been a hideous problem with a simple technique and has a beautiful hat, which is probably also a tad warmer because of the mini-felting.  I, on the other hand, would have thrown the silly thing across the room!

Last night at the knit group at Book and Bean (Berea, Ohio by Baldwin Wallace College), we do a lot  of sharing and feeling up each others' yarn.  There is always someone that has a question or an issue or concern about how to do something.  We schlep finished stuff to share, tell each other about good buys and when a new knitting product (like KnitPicks Zephyr needles) come out, whomever succombs first to a purchase is more than happy to let everyone test drive it!

Speaking of yarn (was I speaking of yarn), I was thinking about an idea this morning.  I remember my Mom and Grandma buying yarn at The May Company or Zayre's.  I don't know what kinds there were there but probably less than what is at WalMart.  They would have both loved the kinds and varieties available now.  I know they would have both been enthralled with self-striping yarns and silk and cashmere.  I can also see my Grandma laughing over the idea of intentionally shrinking wool.  I remember her giving my Mom a sweater that had gotten shrunk so that my Mom could use the sweater as a warm liner for a jacket.  My Mom cut off the panels (fronts and back) and sewed these panels to the lining of the jacket that she made for my Dad. 

And sometimes when I am knitting and, especially if I am wearing my Mom's wedding ring, I see her hands and can pretend that she is there. 

Whoduknit Halloween Swap

This week was rather hideous.  My son had the flu.   I was scheduled for my mammogram, which I slept through . . . not the mammogram but the appointment.  My van stopped working (something with the computer which is fortunate since it only cost $158 rather than another $1,100 which I spent on it two weeks ago . . . oh, and the air-conditioning still doesn't work). 

But, today, I came into work.  And found this on my desk:

It is my package from Claire, my Whoduknit Trick or Treat Swap person.  It is totally awesome and you wouldn't believe the great stuff she jammed into this box and, frankly, these pictures don't do her justice:

The beautiful varigated yarn on the right is Plymouth Yarn Mushishi (95% wool, 5% silk) and, yes, it is as big as it looks with a whopping 491 yards.  I'm thinking about just drapping it around my neck.  It is luscious!

There was also a pattern from Plymouth Yarn using the Mushishi and will make fingerless Gloves, leggings and hat.  Along with the knitting needles to use to make it (Clover bamboo cables)

The other skein of brown yarn is 217 yards of Berroco Vintage wool.  It is very soft and warm and the color is more like a dark chocolate.  There was a book of patterns to use the Vintage wool . . . and the right size knitting needles to make any of the hats in the book.

There were also two crochet magazines

I have already identified a couple of things I want to make from each . . . Did you know that you could crochet socks?!?!?!?!?  Woo hoo!

There is also a book called "Caterd Halloween" by Isis Crawford and last, but not least, FIVE Heath Bars.  I will pace myself and make them last at least through Halloween . . . I promise, maybe!

blogging and knitting and other silly stuff

I just realized this morning that I have not posted ANYTHING in quite awhile.  Now I realize that most of the stuff is junk and only relevant to me . . . but . . . whatever.

Frankly, I've been busy. 

The last week of September, I was in Deerborn, MI for a Great Lakes Relocation conference.  It was a very good conference.  The best speaker was a guy who loves tax and makes it interesting.  I know, how weird is that!  Anyway, his name is David Oltman and his company is Orion Mobility (http://www.orionmobility.com/).  Seriously, this guy is great and if you are even ever slightly interested in tax stuff, go to one of his conferences.  I am not a fan of taxes but I would spend time listening to David.  I don't think its necessarily the subject but maybe that it is fun and interesting to listen to someone who is passionate about what he does and what he knows.

The conference was at the Deerborn Inn (worth the trip).  We had dinner at the Henry Ford Museum (also worth the trip . . . even though we didn't have lots of time there).  The other highlight of the trip was spending time with some really good people.  We had dinner on Tuesday night at a place called Giovanni's (330 S. Oakwood Boulevard http://www.giovannisristorante.com/).  FABULOUS dinner with a really, really good waiter and great company.  What incredible fun!

The second week of October I was in Chicago at the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council conference.  It was at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.  I had a room on the 28th floor with views of the river leading to Navy Pier.  The view from my room in the middle of the day, zoomed in:

and here is the pic of the river from my room on Wednesday morning, as the sun was rising (I don't sleep well in hotels and usually get up incredibly, ridiculously early:

Chicago is one of those places that once you get downtown, you can really enjoy the city.  It is the getting to/from downtown that is a royal pain.  Nevertheless, the conference was excellent.  I spent mucho time eating (not good for the diet since most of the time the menu was pre-ordained and I didn't have choices).  However, the food was really good. 

The good thing about these meetings is that it gives me an opportunity to really sit down and talk with some of the service providers we use, see what their competition is using and, there is a really good meeting which is corporate benchmarking.  At the corporate benchmarking, the service providers are not allowed to participate.  Therefore, there is some really solid, in-depth discussions among my peers about how they are handling issues and concerns.  Very good stuff.

I did get some knitting done.  Since I was flying to Chicago, I took yarn and patterns for cloths.  Completed one.  I always over pack.

I have also started on slipper/socks for Lindsey.  But she tried them on Wednesday and informed me that they were way too big.  The pattern is a Drops design (http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=0&d_id=512&lang=us).  It is knit with two strands of yarn and goes rather quickly. 

However, because I frogged the whole thing, I decided to start working on the hats for Kyle's daughters.  I finished one and have started on another.  It is a simple pattern (84 stitches (on size 5 U.S.) with one inch of ribbing and after five or six inches of stockinette, you start decreasing).  I am using Sensations Rainbow Classic from Joann's (http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp;jsessionid=B2FYHZXZMT1DOP4SY5CFAFJ50LD3OUPU?CATID=cat3053&PRODID=prd53701).  Each skein is between 450 and 650 yards.  HUGE skeins.  So the girls are getting hats and scarves.  I'll probably crochet the scarves because it will be faster. 

I also finished Zachariah's hat and scarf. 

Friday Fill In - October 2, 2009

1. I have a history of laughing hysterically at inappropriate times (did you all see Grey's Anatomy at George's funeral . . . . that would be me).




2. A foreign language is something I wish I knew.



3. I'm eating (or recently ate) oatmeal with raisons and dried cranberries.



4. Lots of rain on the road today.



5. So that's it, that's life.



6. Sleeping for a couple of hours is better than nothing!



7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to driving to Port Clinton, tomorrow my plans include relaxing in Port Clinton and Sunday, I want to return from Port Clinton and go to a clambake!  And if you want to see where we will be in Port Clinton, go here.  It is really roughing it . . . no dishwasher, no microwave.

I am torn . . . seriously

WEBS through Knit Purl Girl is having a contest to give away a Bamboo Interchangable needle set.  So, the question to myself was do I tell everyone or keep it to myself.  If I tell, I am increasing the competition for the set, but by telling, I get an additional entry.  Decisions, decisions.

Well, since I posted this, I guess I decided to let the cat out of the bag.