Salvation for the sock from Lavender Sheep

Well, back on track with Sugar-Free Socks due entirely to help from Yvonne, who totally rocks! So, now I can finish the wonderful cables, complete the second sock, block and wear my first pair of socks!

Ever hear the phrase, "When it rains, it pours?" I don't mean to complain, but this year, we've replaced a fridge, a washer, a water bed (with a regular bed. *sigh*), and now, a car??? I did not get the memo that said 2007 was to be the "year of replacement!" My husband called from town this morning to relate his adventure with the skid plate "skidding off" on our '91 Suburban. Granted, that's old for a Suburban, especially one with 270,000 miles. But, dang. We just got the bed. And the washer. Dang. This could seriously cut into my yarn habit if we have to replace much more. Looks like it's beans for a few more nights this month.

On a much more fun note, two evenings ago, while Yvonne was helping me, I found some terrific colors of Fixation for my next project - socks for my big sons! Of course, I had to get a bit of something for me, too. I wound up with some (a cone!) Peaches & Creme in the Sour Green Apple colorway for more dishcloths. Plus, a pattern that I'd been searching for: figheadh basic aran cap. All in all, a fabulous visit!

Sock woes may affect your DNA.

Things were progressing so well on the Sugar-Free Socks, and then, disaster: Somehow one of the two circulars that I'm using pulled out of it's snug little row. I love this Heirloom for it's springi-ness, but as soon as that needle was gone, whamm-o, so were the stitches. Running away, down row after row, looking for the party at the toes, I guess. This is a woeful situation.

So, I did the only thing I could: gathered up the ones that I could, and stuck the whole thing in "time-out" until further notice. I just can't face fixing it right now.

This might not have been the best time to take an internet test. But I did it anyway, so here's what my personal DNA looks like:


It took about 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire, and it was interesting. Not sure if the answers would be the same the second time around, when the sock will be hopefully back to its former glory. We shall see.

Things are hoppin'

Wow! I've been so crazy busy! I've had a great time in the last little march of days:
Started to learn a new thing: socks!
Went to Powell's for a brush with greatness - look for me about halfway down the post in my lovely coral sweater
Saw Harry in concert - be still my heart!
Watched a lovely young woman (and many, many of her closest friends and homies) graduate from high school - pictures will follow
Had an as always great massage in my friend's yurt - call her if your back is complaining, and remember to ask for a "corkscrew"

So, I'm actually looking forward to some down-time to get some knitting done. Hope it happens. I will keep you posted.

I have a blog?

Oh, yeah. I do have a blog, and while that doesn't mean that I'm supposed to post every day, it does mean (to me, at least) that if I'm gonna do it right, I need to pay it more attention than once a month! How was that for a run-on sentence?!?! So, back at it!

I've been busy with many things. To name a few: shower gifts, afghan squares, reading, seeing Pirates 3 - excellent, by the way, dying yarn, sewing 2 prom dresses (what was I thinking???), buying a new bed (what an ordeal!), and agreeing to work with my sis on Encore Performing Arts production of, "Grease." Not that all of that excuses my absences, but it does seem that I've been kind of busy, doesn't it? A little?

I've been really enjoying the knitting. I knitted a bib and washcloth for Sarah K., loomed 2 hats and a blanket for a nephew plus started a onesie for him, another washcloth for a friend expecting her third, finished Seraphina and sent it off, finished 2 Esther shawls for VT Shawl ministry and sent them off, finished another afghan square - I'm only one behind now! - and started the 4th, started a Sunny washcloth for my niece. Notice there is no mention of Forest Canopy or the Civil War Shawl. They are both in time-out. The next group starts on Civil War June 1, and I'm hoping to be "in that number." I've had a bit more experience knitting lace since March, so I'm hoping that helps. Yvonne is perplexed at my lack of progress on Forest Canopy. She has been chugging right along. Maybe if I bring my sorry 10 inches in and let it sit next to hers, some of her mojo will rub off on mine. Maybe spark it to behave? Oh, well. A time and place for everything.

I decided to not do costumes for this fall's musical, "Grease." I think it's time for other members of the community to dive into that great adventure! I had a blast doing "Annie" and "Into the Woods," but it's a lot of commitment. I'm ready to do something a little less intense - like be assistant to the director. Who just happens to be my blog-less sis. Hey, she has a life! No time for blogging. Anywhoo, I'm excited to work on this production, and things are coming together. Stay tuned!

About the new bed, last week I awoke to wet feet. No, I didn't have an accident, but our waterbed did. Hey, waterbeds are still around! Just not ours, alas. It went to that great american waterbed clearance in the sky dump. We were obligated to drive into the big city and lay on beds all over town for hours. It was not as restful as it sounds. Actually kind of embarrassing, and annoying as the salespeople try to carry on conversations with you as you are trying out the left side for 5 minutes, the right side for 5 minutes, then your back side - I mean, laying on your back for 5 minutes. Couldn't they see that we were trying to rest? We finally decide, plunk down way to much money, only to be told that the bed wouldn't be ready for a week! Arghh! So, back to our little town, to our house in the forest, and our slowly draining bed (it took 3 days!) to await our new place of rest. Guess where we rested that night? On the floor! It just isn't as fun now as it was when I was 9. My hips, with all their padding, still complained loudly! What is all that padding good for anyway? Hopefully, the new mattress won't give me such grief. It darned well better not!

Again, back to the work at hand. I will try to post again very soon!

P.S. - Thanks, Destiny, for finding me!

Finally some progress on the Civil War!

--- Shawl, that is. I'm pretty happy to say that I've gotten to row 10 without too much drama. It is tiny. Very, very tiny. One might even say, ~wispy~. As I told a fellow Civil War Shawl devotee, it feels like I'm knitting spiderwebs! But, it's also kind of fun. Something new!

Also have about 121-ish stitches of the 195-ish I'm headed toward on Forest Canopy. It's very pretty, but I really nead to pay attention. Lots of tinking, trying to find missing yo's. It will be worn for everyday, so, I'll see those missing stitches. Every day. Must tink to correct count. This, too can be fun. Just wish it wasn't every dang row!

Jewelry is on hiatus until next week.

Mood: Interwoven. Just, interwoven.

Busy, Busy, but not on what I should be

First, I am working on both knitting and jewelry. That said, none of it is what I'm supposed to be working on right now. Meaning, the Great Am. Afg., or Jayne Hats, or anything else over there in my WIP's.

What I am working very industriously on is the Forest Canopy Shawl - not terribly successfully - only had to completely frog it once, but numerous small fixes. Dang! If I could only learn to count!

Also, once again cleaning my jewelry bench up. This time in prep for picture day! Finally found my missing camera, the misplacing of which was really making me whine. So, now I can start taking photos of all my cool pieces to upload to the new website, which is still under construction. Whew!

So, until then, I leave you with this.



Really. I thought I looked more like Meryl Streep.



Well, maybe not.

A Plethora of Knitting, and Jewelry to come!

Well, I've done it again. My greedy knitting-eyes
have made me commit to not one, not two, but thr33 (that's 3 for you folks who don't read leet) KAL's. What was I thinking? This in addition to committing to do a jewelry trunk show in two weeks, and the continuing drama of website construction! Can you say, "overextended?" Better yet, will I ever be able to say, "Maybe soon, but right now I have other commitments. Yeah. I'd better work on that one.

To describe my new commitments:

1. Seraphina: Yes, she's chugging along, tho' still not even to row 20! Crocheting in Caron Simply Soft
   
2. 
   Great American Aran Afghan
   knitting this in Araucania Nature Wool. Just 40-ish rows into it.
   
3. The Civil War Shawl by Suzanne Pufpaff - just purchased the pattern (thanks for fast shipping and great instructions, Suzanne!) and 2 different yarns: Ornaghi Felati in Deep Sage from my lys, Knot Another Hat; and Jaggerspun Zephyr 2/18 lace weight in Indigo from Sarah's Yarns. Having never done lace before, I just couldn't decide on the yarn, so I guess I'll make 2!

So, what to do? Petition the Good Lord for more hours in the day? Expect my loving husband to give up one of his free days to do housework, so I can follow through on my commitments? Alas, these and other miracles (waking up 30 pounds lighter, etc.) will not occur. I must simply quit obsessing about the layout of my blog, quit eating HotTamales, and do KNIT! At least 3 hours a day! So, get knitting, Sarahcita!

Mood: kinda inspired ^_^