yarn makes me happy!

Goodbye and Thank you

2008-10-06T17:46:00.002-04:00

Previously on "yarn makes me happy!" the real-life drama:

1. I turned 50.
2. I had a mad-crazy end-of-the-school-year concert season and was incredibly stressed and a little angry.
3. Went to the shore.
4. Took daughter to college orientation two days later.
5. Went to a seminar one day later.
6. Went on vacation the day after I got back.
7. Prepared to take daughter to college.
8. Took daughter to college.
9. Missed other daughter's performance.
10. School began three days later.

I have not read my blogs regularly, I have slowed down on ravelry, forget plurk, and I am adamant about knitting every single day for my sanity.

When I realized I hadn't touched the blog since July 5, and that nobody noticed (including me! lol) I realized it was just not meant to be. It's not where my life is going and it's kind of silly to just leave this hanging here.

So if you ever read, thanks very much. Doubtful I'll ever meet any of you, because I can't go to the yarn festivals, or the get-togethers, or the camps and retreats and cruises and such, but I do very much love reading everyone's blogs. So that is one thing I promise to get back to.

Thank you very much to Stephanie, Ann and Kay, and the wonderful Sandy.

Happy Birthday USA!*

2008-07-05T15:27:00.002-04:00

What a great day it was! Sure, there were a few plops of rain, but that just made me appreciate the sunshine-y spots even more.

We went to a dear friend's home for a barbecue, and man, did they go all out! Everybody brought a dish as well, and I had some mighty tasty:

Chicken kabobs
Orzo salad with olives and tomatoes
Cole slaw with a sunrise of peppers on top
Classic potato salad
Cheeseburger with grilled onions
Pizza dip
Greek dip
Watermelon
Some fabulous thing that had a shortbread cookie crust, a cream-cheese-and-heavy-cream filling, and awesome strawberries on top
Chocolate chip blondie

And some Mike's hard Cranberry Lemonade mixed with seltzer and invited in a lime to add color.

Lots of talking, laughing, remember-when-ing, planning, and I even got to do some knitting. Not on socks! I'm using up the sock yarn bits this summer to make squares for a blanket, a la Kay so that I don't even have to look at them (which, to non-knitters, is always a pretty cool trick).

Then the rain got pretty serious, so we stayed home and watched the fireworks on the telly. (I usually watch it for the music.) I got so bummed about CBS' coverage of the Boston Pops, which I really look forward to - this year, they decided that the last 15 seconds of the 1812 overture was the only part necessary - and they talked over that part of it anyway!! Grrrrrr.

Other than that, however, I found myself thinking about the Declaration of Independence, and just what hutzpah it took to accomplish what they did and where we are. And I do one of my favorite things: what would Benjamin Franklin think of gun control? What would Thomas Jefferson think of immigration laws? What would John Adams have said about September 11? What would George Washington think of George Bush?

Hmmmm. Time to watch a little History Channel, I think. And knit sleeves.

*plus one

Squee!

2008-07-02T17:51:00.003-04:00

I'm on the sleeves! Everything is working out really well. (I had my fingers crossed so that the yarn gods don't get mad at my presumptiveness.)

So, I wanted to say something. Harlot and Canada. For heaven's sake, I cannot believe that some folks got riled up by a blog post about what makes Canada beloved to somebody. And how some folks got so riled up because politics and points of view were compared. Who really takes this stuff so much to heart? Why does it matter so much what one person posts on one blog on one day?

I say, go Canada! And while we're at it, go Scotland! No reason, I just like Scotland.

A smile, a tear, a new look at life

2008-05-31T18:31:00.002-04:00

You know it's coming. You prepare yourself, make all the necessary arrangements, and are consciously aware that it's going to happen. You are proud, you are a bit stressed, you anticipate it.

It happens, and you think "Wow. I didn't know how I would feel about it!"

On Wednesday, DD#1 had her final choir concert of high school. Our various choirs are *outstanding* (and I can say that because I'm a music teacher myself, not just a biased mom) and that night was no exception. One song left me sobbing, it was that beautiful.

When it was all over, I hugged my daughter amid the usual mayhem and caught myself thinking "This is never happening again. It's all done."

The next day, same daughter turned 18. I knew it was coming. Really, I did. I knew what all it implied. I still had a very difficult time actually saying the words, and when I got to work that day and somebody said "Good morning, how are you today?" I started crying. At 12:04 I looked at the clock - that's when she was born, and I was thereagain, holding her in my arms for the first time.

The next day, same daughter went to her Senior Prom. This same girl who I've been living with everyday was suddenly a different and beautiful young woman to me, cool and elegant in her upswept French chignon and her understated evening gown. As she posed for pictures, I kept blinking. As I looked at the camera's screen (hers, not mine, I still don't have one yet), she just didn't look like my daughter.

They all came here after the prom, where we served them a midnight breakfast feast that lasted till three in the morning. She still seemed so different to me.

Today, she and her friends are in Manhattan for the day. I've been reliving the images of the last few days in my mind, and knowing that my life is also going through a commencement: it is a beginning of a new life with an adult child who makes independent decisions and will move away from us both physically and mentally. She will come home, of course, and I may think that everything's the same, but it really won't be, will it? She is grown, she is going on to the next chapter in life and I find myself the interested observer instead of the major player.

That's good, isn't it?

Memorial Day: I'm at the top of the hill and gathering speed as I roll down

2008-05-26T21:28:00.002-04:00

So, as a music teacher, May is always Spring concert time. Getting ready for that is no picnic, what with rehearsing 100 recorder students, a 35 member beginner band, and a 40 member regular band, but it always turns out great and this year was no exception. So, being absolutely normal, I decided to triple my fun!

I'm the guest conductor for a regional select band, and we've been rehearsing every week for five weeks. The dress rehearsal and concert is in two weeks.

I decided to do a concert with my little second graders, and that's involving LOTS of rehearsals not to mention LOTS of patience.

We always throw a huge backyard barbecue for Memorial Day after attending the service in town, and that is a LOT of work. (Note to self: stop capitalizing "lots" or find a different word.) However, we eat leftovers all week so that's not too bad.

DD#1 and #2 chorus concert is this Wednesday, and it's a biggy. Last one for #1, my HS senior. Then she turns 18 on Thursday, and goes to her senior prom on Friday. (Guess who got tagged for hosting the afterparty? Yeah.)

Then we have all the end of year activities at the school where I teach as well as for my own kids, and you can pretty well imagine what the June calendar in my kitchen looks like. Then my baby *graduates*, for Pete's sake, and life as I know it changes forever.

But yes, I have been knitting. I cast on with Shibu Knits in this beautiful honey/amber colorway, and I want to eat these socks.

I have stalled on the sweater. I had to rip back 17 rows to start the V-neck shaping, and I did it! No problems! You can't tell where I ripped it back, it came out so well! Except. . . . . (cue the ominous music). . . . . . I forgot to heed those words "at the same time" and forgot to shape for the underarm opening. I just stared at it for a little while, then quietly put it aside and said "I don't think I can look at this any more right now." I will experiment with ripping down the 8-10 stitches. Can you do that on the edge? Will it work? Tune in next time!!!

Hope your June is less hectic than mine is sure to be, and I hope you paused to remember and thank today.

Yarn really DOES make me happy

2008-04-27T22:17:00.003-04:00

There has been a lot of knitting going on, but no photos. Why?

Why, indeed?

There are three working digital cameras in this house, and my two daughters obsessively control them all. I have GOT to get my own, and soon!

So I'll just fess up. I have made:

Twisted Rib Socks in Dream in Color, a beautiful twilight blue.
A Baby Surprise Jacket in white washable wool, with a navy blue applied i-cord. I know it did something wrong, even thought it came out okay, because the increases didn't look as nice and neat as all the pictures I've seen. However, the recipient absolutely loved it, so good.
Lorna's Laces socks in a pastel blue/salmon/green colourway for Donna.
A group effort afghan in shades of copper, cream, and chocolate for an auction.

Currently on the needles:

Socks That Rock in a greenish/blueish/whitish colourway that looks just like the water. It's from the club last year, and I did my own pattern of ribbing the top in knit 3, purl 1, then stopping the ribbing at the foot. I'm at the foot of the second sock.

Cascade 220 (not washable, sadly) in pink for a cardigan. YES, I found a pattern in the March 2008 Creative Knitting called Moss and Ribs cardigan. Back and left front is done, just started the right front.

I am going to start another BSJ with craptastic yarn just to get it all straight in my head. (Not an easy feat these days!)

Currently sucking up my time:
RAVELRY. Especially the Loopy Ewe group, the Yarn Harlot group, and the Radar.
SANDY'S KNITTING. Who knew I could get so interested in bathroom musings, movie listings, and Fig pictures? I'm worried every day that she'll forget to post!
EARNING A LIVING. DD#1 is off to college in the fall, and my salary will be paying for it. Spring Break was this week, and I really got used to being a stay-at-home mom again. *sigh*

Now, close your eyes and imagine everything with pictures. In living color!

Grumble, grumble, sigh

2008-03-16T21:18:00.001-04:00

Trying to find a V-neck cardigan pattern using my Cascade 220. I've searched Ravelry, Patons, and Berroco, and of course I can't find anything I like.

V-neck, not crew.

Cardigan, not pullover.

Sized to fit me, not a Barbie Doll.

And the search continues. . . .

I always wondered. . . .

2008-03-10T20:58:00.001-04:00

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you.

Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.

While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.

Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Yeah, I'm one of a kind, alright.

This is Not to Be Believed (But it Happened)

2008-02-11T20:21:00.000-05:00

So, I have a 17-year old daughter. She's awesome and never ceases to amaze me, but this time she made me speechless.

This daughter of mine, Snickerdoodle, saw my computer window open to The Harlot and while she was waiting for her sister (Tootsiedoodle) to get out of the bathroom, decided to read.

And she laughed.

And she was mesmerized by Stephanie's little leaves.

So I gave her my copy of The Secret Life of a Knitter and she was hysterical.

Now comes the best part.

My daughter, who won't even use the phone to order pizza because she doesn't like talking to people she doesn't know, WROTE TO MS. HARLOT. Sent her a long, comfortable, chatty, cozy email about the fact she lives with a Knitter (bless her heart, she doesn't realize I'm only a knitter) and she wants to get her mom some of the yarn described in her book in the chapter about Sinead's socks.

MS. HARLOT WROTE BACK. Told her about several soft and pettable yarns, and turned her over to the very capable (and enabling hands) of Sheri. Snickerdoodle couldn't understand how some yarn could be there some day and not there the next, or why there were more colors in stock one day and then 50 more the next. (Ah, little one, you will learn.)

So the one who describes herself as a never-knitter bought her mom for her birthday (yesterday) TWO skeins of Fleece Artist. One in midnight, and one in amethyst (my birthstone).

Really, do I deserve a child like this? Or wonderful kind people like Stephanie and Sheri in my life? And Fleece Artist?????

(And Stephanie, I totally love the fact that you said "fancy-arsed hand dyed" in your reply.)

I'm a lucky woman, indeed.

What is This Feeling?

2008-02-06T19:23:00.001-05:00

Good heavens, I feel so squoogy.

Another delightful package of goodness arrived today from Sheri and as I added the precious package to the other residents of the yarn bin, I had a twinge.

*looks over shoulder*

"Maybe I have enough sock yarn."

Please, someone talk me down off this ledge!

Sweater in the Round

2008-01-31T20:53:00.000-05:00

EZ and Ann Budd are clashing in my head. I'm knitting my first sweater, bottom up, in the round, with size 9 needles (after socks, they feel like tree trunks). It's a gorgeous shade of lilac and it's bulky, so it's going fairly quickly, but it's also going slowly. (Hey, it's Thursday. Nobody has to make sense on Thursday.) Yes, I know that when you ARE bulky you shouldn't WEAR bulky, but this will be so spectacular when it's done that nobody will even THINK the word.

Pictures would be nice, wouldn't they?

Yeah. A camera would be nice, too.

Well, the big birthday is coming up in 10 days, so maybe I'll treat myself to something cute and small. Read: not bulky.

Oh yes. Thank you, Stephanie!

Ravel my threads and call me tinked

2008-01-30T18:40:00.000-05:00

I have nothing to write about.

This blog was probably not a good idea, because I'm not an expert at knitting and I really didn't have any words of wisdom to share.

Blogger is not too nice to those of us with Apples/Macs, so there's another reason why this didn't work out.

I do hang out on Ravelry. I am woolizard.

I had a little bit of fun here, and thank all three of you who commented.

:-)

There is a Point of No Return

2007-10-22T19:18:00.000-04:00

(Cue the Music from "Phantom")

Really, what is the point? If I stand in a corner and whisper, what fun is that? If I don't even have time to gather my thoughts, and when I do they're not even coherent, why bother?

And if the party is so big that the same old same old stay insulated and cozy, then it's better to make room.

That is all.

Friday New and Old

2007-08-24T08:41:00.000-04:00

I'm trying toe-up socks again, only this time I'm using Judy's Magic Cast-On and *wow* is it easy and awesome!

This is resulting in more of a square toe than I'm used to, but I'm committed. Remember this yarn?

My failure was ripped and re-wound, and we're trying again, me and the yarn.

I looked back through my old posts to find this shot and I am surprised at how little I've blogged. I guess it's been difficult to write stuff when I'm so busy reading all the other blogs, that I had very little left! But my knitting is increasing in quantity, and hopefully I'll keep it up when school starts again (bah).

******

My mother-in-law died Wednesday night. Parkinson's Disease is another of those cruel, wasting, misunderstood illnesses that leaves you helpless and hopeless and just waiting for its victim to be released from its grip. Now my DH is an orphan like me, and its really sucky. My children will have no grandparents for graduations or weddings, which I find so sad.

*******

Hug the ones you love and have a great weekend.

Blogger's Delight

2007-08-21T18:38:00.000-04:00

Well.

You take a very good cause.

Add a really good pattern.

A rainy day, and you get this:

I am feeling the bloggy love.

Yawn, snuggle

2007-08-20T10:59:00.000-04:00

It's one of those grey, cool mornings that August brings around. Snickerdoodle and Tootsiedoodle are off to marching band camp, and I am glad to put these cuties on:

Knit Picks, I like your sock yarn! These are very cozy and what a fast knit!

I was very entertained by these, because the stripes of brown seemed to pop up when I least expected it. I love the blue, it's so deep.

Looky what I found out about myself:

Liz --

[noun]:

A person who laughs at anything (even this entry)

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

And you get to glimpse my messy computer table. Wow, the treats just never end here, eh?

Here's some cool stuff!

2007-08-14T13:05:00.001-04:00

So there it was, a hot steamy day, and when I got home, there were *two* packages on the porch. One said "Knit Picks" and one said "Loopy Ewe."

Heavens, which one do I open first???

Ohhhhhh, my books. Ones I have been panting after (especially in this heat!)

Three Elizabeth Zimmerman books which I intend to study intently; The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood; and Ann Budd's book of handy sweater patterns (love me some handy sweaters!!!)

Now, with trembling fingers, time to open the package from Sheri and see my very first Loopy Ewe order!

Dream in Color Smooshy - mmmmmm, there's no way I'm going to stop stroking this yarn. And I luvluvluv the deep color. As well, I'm loving the Fleece Artist - my first skein ever (yes, I'm a virgin!)

And here's the current sock (Knit Picks Memories Fly Fishing colorway) enjoying the beautiful summer afternoon. Hope you're doing the same!

Where Have I Been?

2007-08-09T12:13:00.000-04:00

1. University of Maryland, to check it out for Snickerdoodle.

2. Long Beach Island, New Jersey, for sunblock and fun.

3. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for Amish goodness.

4. Various barbecues and parties sprinkled along the horizon.

5. In my knitting chair, churning out socks.

6. Attending a Prayer-Shawl meeting, and ripping out the shawl four times before settling on its present form.

7. At Shea Stadium's STITCH N PITCH which was awesome, especially since the Mets beat the Braves. Woot!

8. Receiving my first Loopy Ewe order and loving it.

9. Receiving my KnitPicks book order and drooling.

10. Receiving my Lorna's Laces order from Sandra Singh and having a terrifying moment when I couldn't remember ordering this yarn!

11. Looking for the camera cord to upload all this summery goodness.

Later!

Happy Day

2007-07-22T13:56:00.000-04:00

Back from vacation (I'm glad; it was nice, but I really wanted to be home) and loving the new floors installed while we were gone. Hating the fact that all the furniture is all over the house and we can't put it back until Monday. erg.

Today DH and I said I our "I do" words nineteen years ago. Love you honey!

And now, the bad news:

Found you!
You signed up on July 4, 2007
You are #13795 on the list.
7344 people are ahead of you in line.
5684 people are behind you in line.
32% of the list has been invited so far.

This is the Ravelry wait. Ya know, maybe I *Don't* want to join! How will I ever find anyone??? :)

Pictures later this week.

Happy Random Wednesday! But this ain't all random!

2007-07-11T20:01:00.000-04:00

Daylily with baby fly, from the perennial daylily bed.

I am rather tired today, as I escorted Snickerdoodle, Tootsiedoodle, and three of their friends to the midnight showing of Harry Potter. We all loved it, but I think I'm done with the midnight movies. The next day's pill is too bitter to swallow. (Yeah, that's about my coherence level today!)

Impatiens and begonias in the flowerpot on the patio (with the lead pipe in the Library).

We leave for vacation on Saturday, and in my brilliance I scheduled new wood floors to be installed while we are gone. However, that necessitates moving all (and let me just repeat that for emphasis) *all* the bleepin' furniture out of the living room and dining room, receiving the shipment of wood on Friday morning, and still managing to get four people packed and ready to go.

Our dog, Missy, with her new toy.

That includes dropping off that cutie at the pet boarder/vacation/spa facility. Do I have time for this? Does it matter? It's vacation, I have to get ready to enjoy myself!!!

In the meantime, I finished these.

I'm sorry, I have mislaid the wrap so I can't tell you about the yarn; but it was okay to knit with, and I did this pair on two circular needles. Both ways have their advantages to me, so I'll never pick just one to stick with.

And now, may we have a moment of silence:

I tried, I really did. I finally posted some of my thoughts and concerns on the STR board, and I was somewhat consoled to find I'm not alone in my lack of wonderfullness with completing or understanding these patterns. Of course, it gives me such a case of the humbles when Wendy churns them out like magic and has no trouble, but why am I trying to compare myself with the DaVinci of knitting?

So this really pretty yarn is now becoming Nancy Bush's Simple Ribbed Socks. I'm back in my comfort zone, sadder, but wiser.

(I should have titled this Drama Wednesday.)

Woo Hoo Monday!

2007-07-02T19:37:00.000-04:00

Firstly, take a look-see here:

Stitch n pitch!

I'll be there on August 8th cheering on my beloved Mets and bringing my knitting! (My husband just can't believe it. He thinks he'll be sitting in a different section from me. Silly boy. Tootsiedoodle can't wait to bring her knitting, too!)

Now lookee over here:

I won a prize!

Claudia's MS ride was phenomenal in bringing the knitting power out to the world, and how lucky am I? I'm going to be able to dye my own sock yarn!

And for the final goodness, I went (for the first time) to the Container store today. Oh. My. Heavens. And trust me, it was heaven indeed. Go!

Houston, we have re-entry

2007-06-28T14:49:00.000-04:00

The last three weeks of school were just ridiculous. There are so many events to be crammed in, so many last things to attend to, so many concerts, performances, etc. Thank heavens for socks, otherwise there would have been no knitting.

These are for my friend Donna. Donna makes me laugh all the time. I have another friend named Donna who makes me laugh all the time, too, but I already made her socks. (Great Adirondack Sock Company in Peacock; Susan Bates dp needles size 1.)

This sock was supposed to be for me. I must have picked up the same size needles that I used for Donna's sock, because this baby just don't fit! I haven't decided if I'll rip this and re-knit, or whether I'll give her another pair of socks. My friend saw me knitting this and declared it the "Dunkin Donut" sock. (Brown Sheep Company Wildfoote in Sonatina; apparently the same damn needles.) I really like this yarn!!

I think it likes me, too.

My Rockin' Sock socks. Sorry Kate but I just couldn't have done the cabling. With my sexy plentiful ankles, there's no way those puppies would have sat on my legs without cutting off the blood to my heart. That's okay, I like the ribbing. What twitch over my left eye?

I absolutely l-u-r-v-e these socks! These are so soft and knit up so darn fast! I started them on a Thursday and left on a flight for Texas the next day; I finished the second one on the following Monday. What a delightful knit and thank heaven I used the correct sized needles! (Sweet Sheep yarn in Shark; size two Knit Picks needles.)

And after TootsieDoodle said "Do you ever knit anything besides socks?" I renewed my search on-line and in books. I had bought this yarn from Fricknits and every pattern I found using alpaca was chunky and bulky. I finally decided to hell with the yarn "recipe" and just found a pattern I liked. It's in Wendy's book and I know I've already made a mistake in the lace:

Can you see it? If you can, let me know where it is! I came out with the wrong count on two rows but I am so inexperienced with lace (like I've never done it before) that I don't know what I did.

So that's where I'm at. 'Sup with you?

Father's Day

2007-06-07T20:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Dad,

You gave me so much in my lifetime. I am sure that all my volunteer work, donations, and "How can I help?" attitude came from your altruistic genes. Sometimes I think you went out of your way to find ways to help, and yet nobody ever thought anything of it. You never looked for thanks, even waved away all signs of gratitude with a snort and a "what would you like to drink?"

*******

Dear Dad,

How lucky am I that I got your sense of humor? It's twisted, it's quick, sometimes it's downright snarky, but I always make people smile and I'm always thinking what a great gift I got from my dad! The folks I work with and my best buds always say they see you in me, and that it's a good thing.

********

Dear Dad,

Did I ever tell you just how beautiful Snickerdoodle looks in her pearl earrings that you bought for her? She wears them with her black concert dress and she looks so elegant! You always had a good eye for jewelry. You bought Mom the classiest, loveliest pieces and loved to surprise her with them. Luckily I married a man who believes in that too!

********

Dear Dad,

Someone mentioned Captain Kangaroo the other day, and I trotted out my trusty "Hey, my dad went to high school with Captain Kangaroo!" These days, I'm just grateful when I find someone who knows who the Captain is.

*********

Dear Dad,

There's a hundred more "Dear Dad" thoughts I have bottled up inside. I can't quite believe it's exactly one year ago today that I lost you. You were the person on earth that understood me the most, and our connection was so close. I feel such a sense of loss that I can't share those moments with you any longer, and that your love of learning has come to an end.

To quote from my favorite show, "Wicked,"

"So much of me
Is made of what I've learned from you.
You'll be with me,
Like a hand-print on my heart."

I miss you.

Love,
Liz

I'm not dead yet!*

2007-05-13T09:08:00.000-04:00

Yay, miss ewe! How did you know I was so stressed for blog material? That was so nice of you to write something I could lift without feeling guilty!

Mark with bold the things you have knit (or are knitting), with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest. (UNLESS OF COURSE YOU USE A MAC WHICH BLOGGER HATES AND SO I HAVE TO WRITE YES NO OR SOMEDAY - GRRRR)

Afghan - Y
I-cord - N
Garter stitch - Y
Knitting with metal wire - N
Shawl - N
Stockinette stitch - Y
Socks: top-down - Y
Socks: toe-up - Y
Knitting with camel yarn - N
Mittens: Cuff-up - Y
Mittens: Tip-down - N
Hat - Y
Knitting with silk - N
Moebius band knitting - N (and I have to say, I don't get the whole moebius thing. I'm weird.)
Participating in a KAL - N
Sweater - Y
Drop stitch patterns - Y
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - N
Slip stitch patterns - Y
Knitting with banana fiber yarn (wait, is this serious?) - N
Domino knitting (=modular knitting) - N
Twisted stitch patterns - Y
Knitting with bamboo yarn - Y
Two end knitting (I don't even know what this IS)
Charity knitting - Y
Knitting with soy yarn - N
Cardigan (zippy hoodie) - MAYBE
Toy/doll clothing - N
Knitting with circular needles - Y
Baby items - Y
Knitting with your own handspun yarn - N, and it will never happen, either!
Slippers - N
Graffiti knitting - N
Continental knitting - Y
Designing knitted garments - N
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran) - Y
Lace patterns - Y
Publishing a knitting book - HA HA
Scarf - Y
Teaching a child to knit - Y
American/English knitting - Y
Knitting to make money - N
Buttonholes - Y
Knitting with alpaca - Y
Fair Isle knitting - NOT YET
Norwegian knitting - N (drool)
Dying with plant colors - N
Knitting items for a wedding - N
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…) - Y
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars - Y
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn - Y
Knitting with dpns - Y
Holiday related knitting - Y
Teaching a male how to knit - N
Bobbles - EW!
Knitting for a living - Again, drool
Knitting with cotton - Y
Knitting smocking - N
Dying yarn - N
Steeks - N (whimper)
Knitting art - N
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously - No, but now my brain hurts
Fulling/felting - N
Knitting with wool - Y
Textured knitting - Y
Kitchener stitch - Y
Purses/bags - N
Knitting with beads - N
Swatching - Y
Long Tail CO - Y
Entrelac - N
Knitting and purling backwards - maybe unintentionally!
Machine knitting - N
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn - Y
Stuffed toys - N
Baby items - Y
Knitting with cashmere - N
Darning - Y
Jewelry - N
Knitting with synthetic yarn - Y
Writing a pattern - N
Gloves - N
Intarsia - N
Knitting with linen - N
Knitting for preemies - N
Tubular CO - N
Freeform knitting - N
Short rows - Y
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers - Y
Pillows - Y
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - Y
Rug - N
Knitting on a loom - N
Thrummed knitting - N
Knitting a gift - Y
Knitting for pets - N
Shrug/bolero/poncho - Y
Knitting with dog/cat hair - N
Hair accessories - N
Knitting in public - Y!!!!!

*Monty Python, I love you.

mo half fo

2007-04-30T19:01:00.000-04:00

It's Monday, and one half has been finished.

This is an ankle (ish) sock for my friend Donna, seen here reclining gracefully and enjoying the late afternoon sunshine that is so sweet today. The toe is a bit pointier than I had anticipated, even though I left twelve stitches on each needle for Kitchnering. But I spread it out on my hand and it seemed okay.

I like this yarn a lot. It's the thinnest sock yarn I've knit with yet, and I've never used size 0 (US) needles before. I'm amazed I haven't bent them into crochet hooks, they're so delicate!

I still haven't finished the Monsoon socks. I don't know why I don't like it, I just don't. I am looking forward to the new yarn that came, but not with that pattern. Plain socks make me smile, so plain they shall be.

Have a lovely week.

Random (i.e., no photos)

2007-04-25T17:16:00.000-04:00

1. I'll be getting my third crown in May (sympathies to Norma who'll be going through Number 1). Thanks for the good bone structure, Mom.

2. The forsythia have bloomed, and I should have planted the peas already, but we were away the whole (first) nice weekend we had. So we will have late peas. God knows about the potatoes.

3. Never wear a grey bra under a pink sweater.

4. My Snickerdoodle is out camping with her Biology class for the next three days. Almost all grown up yet can't stop playing in the mud.

5. I can't miss a Gilmore Girls re-run.

6. Some days I'm so drained when I get home from teaching I'd love to eat mashed potatoes and go to bed.

Wow, how'd that happen?

2007-04-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

After finishing the perfect sweater, I went back to the STR Monsoon socks, and I guess I just didn't want to have the yarn in my hands reflecting the morose weather outside. Needing a baby gift for next week, this happened:

Did a little more on the Monsoon, especially when there was darkened-theater knitting to be done. Yet I went through the boxes, found some of this:

and cast on for another sock. I am LOVING this. It's Greater Adirondack Yarn in the Soxie Heather color - it's like a colorful peacock in my hands! I'm using size 0 (US) needles, and it just feels right.

Not perfect

2007-04-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

It's finished!!

Here's the V-neck with seed stitch I opted for. The one side looks oogly, but I was so happy that it came together, I'll figure out what went wrong later:

Now here's a charming photo of my arm, apparently giving the closet a perfect punch with the perfect sleeve:

Don'tcha just LOVE that shiny bra action I've got going on? Do you think anybody at school today told me I was looking a bit glisteny around the breasticle area? No, of course not. Probably had spinach in my teeth, too.

Anyway, I'm happy to report that it's too big. YES, I swatched. YES, I followed protocol and kept measuring. YES, I blocked before I sewed, then blocked again. (And YES, Cascade 220 smells like wet hound while it's blocking.) It's just that, in my world, it's a giddy feeling when something's too big.

Anxiously awaiting the perfect sweater in the cardigan version! (hint hint Ann )

Some random for you Wednesday people.

1. Saw my first episode of HOUSE last night. Yeah, I'm marrying this show, it's *awesome*, where have I been?

2. We took a l-o-o-o-n-g drive to Ohio to visit The Ohio State University. Snickerdoodle is thinking of attending, so it was THE visit. She loved it. We did, too. But it's really far away. NINE hours of driving.

3. Junior prom is Friday night (yes, the 13th). She's very excited.

4. Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite reads.

5. Still using the Kodak. Eh.

Oh, yes, there's been knitting

2007-03-21T20:24:00.000-04:00

These are all the pieces I have so far of the perfect sweater; the back and two sleeves with a seed stitch border. I'm amazed because the border is not curling, but flipping up.

One sleeve top, one sleeve bottom. What's that? You can't tell the difference? Trust me. They're different. This is their cute-as-a-bug-curling-all-over-the-place-haven't-had-a-bath-yet portrait. I'll be using my SOAK for the first time with this baby, can't wait! Grapefruit scented!

This is the back. Okay, enough said.

This sad picture is the first time I've been a victim of the disappearing yarn. Every pair of socks I've knitted -- whoa.

Wait a minute.

I learned to knit socks last year, during the Olympics.

I've now knit NINE PAIRS. This is my tenth.

Wow.

I just needed to reflect on that for a minute.

Anyway, every pair of socks I've knitted I've had lots of yarn left over. This is the first time I've been betrayed, and I'm having a tough time accepting that they've broken my heart. See them languishing so devil-may-care on the hardworking back of the perfect-to-be sweater? No shame, I tell you. I'll have to rip everything out and re-knit, because that little bit is only enough for my big toe (without nail polish). grrrr . .. . . . . . .

And now, my own artistically phallic shot of the Socks That Rock club sock, posing gracefully on a Poland Spring water bottle, looking out over the melting snow in the backyard:

(still educating myself about a camera. Canon?)

What Keeps You Going?

2007-03-01T16:28:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had to take a sick day for a doctor's appointment. Yes, a whole day for one appointment, because the doctor only comes in on Wednesdays and he's only available between 9 and noon. I have a dentist's appointment Friday at 4. Gee, wouldn't it have been nice if I could have combined the two in one day? But the dentist doesn't work on Wednesdays, and I've been waiting four weeks for this appointment, anyway.

The appointment went fine, but I wondered how it could be that you could actually have a business and proclaim that you will only be "open" when it suits you. I guess when your Health Care Provider (everybody snicker now) decides who you get to see, you see them on their terms.

So I went back to work today, and I was so frustrated and angry and sad and depressed I wanted to cry. And scream. And throw a heavy black metal music stand through the windows.

I have concluded that this stressful job is doing a number on my health. Now, it's not fair to my husband to shoulder the entire burden of providing financial stability but it's not fair to me to become a raving lunatic capable only of staring at computer screens and television screens when I get home. I can't even concentrate on a book anymore, I keep reading the same paragraphs waiting for sense to sink in.

So I will be looking for another teaching job, but I'm sure I will have next to no luck. I know I'm a very good teacher, but that has nothing to do with it. How high on the salary scale, how far is the commute, how much am I willing to stay after school, etc.

I wish I had the power and position to say "I'm sorry, I'm only available for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, between the hours of 9:30 and 2:30" and have people calling ME a month in advance begging to see me.

So when you know it's impossible for the situation to change, and you have to just bear with it until something else can be done, what keeps you going? Besides the knitting. Give me something to focus on other than this rampant pity party I'm creating here.

(I'm secretly shopping for a camera. Talk to me about that, too!)

What Up?

2007-02-27T19:01:00.000-05:00

Even though it feels like it, I haven't actually been on another planet. February has been a blur of a month for me, and tomorrow it's over. What's up with that?

I went to Amish country in Pennsylvania with my girlfriends, which we do three times a year. It's a weekend of shopping, eating, and pretty much laughing our butts off. No, they don't knit. But they do bring the car to a screeching halt when I say "Look! A yarn shop!" They patiently wait in the car while I enter the new shrine and do my worship. This time out I bought (FINALLY) a yarn winder. Man oh man, it is SO worth it! I also bought Cascade 220 in a really wonderful pink color to make another perfect sweater when I finish this one.

Where are the pictures of said yarn and ball winder? Um, yeah. Dont' hold your breath. I'm tired of this camera and I'm trying to justify buying another one. I really can't just say "Hi, honey, your camera stinks and I want one to take really good close-ups of yarn." Don't even.

Then I went away the following weekend for a music teacher's conference. I had a really good time and the bonus was I got to see ROCKAPELLA. I love these guys, and they even did the Folger's commercial. Brought back tons of stuff (freebies, music, LOTS of good ideas) and I can't wait to plan all this new stuff out.

Now I'm off again tomorrow for a doctor's appointment. Loads of knitting time, both sock and sweater. Then I promise, blurry or not, there WILL be pictures.

Catching Up

2007-02-19T22:13:00.000-05:00

MOFO! (Monday Finished Objects)

2007-02-12T22:21:00.000-05:00

So here's the red socks finished in time for Valentine's Day. I've learned something.

I really don't like 2x2 ribbing, especially for the whole sock.

Happy BIrthday Mr. Lincoln!

Looky Looky!

2007-02-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

Birthdays are wonderful, I don't care how old I get. Knowing my family was making me feel special just made me feel even more special! Even though I'm fighting the bronchitis and sipping the codeine (which really makes me feel weird, but I know it's working) it was a wonderful day.

First, there was French toast made by HH (Handsome Hubby, also known as Handy Hubby - you'll see why in a minute) with hot tea while the teenagers slept. Gotta love the quality time.

Then, there is this which only needs the staining and sanding before it's done. He made it when I wasn't looking! (Well, that's not hard. I am knitting, after all!)

A lovely dinner, followed by presents. They were VERY excited to give me my card, which featured Captain Jack Sparrow (arrr) and music to "Pirates" which is the music I am currently rehearsing with my school band. That card is priceless.

There was also a lovely set of silver necklace, earrings, and bracelets. In our house, we are big believers in looking for a bargain, so part of the fun was hearing that they found an amazing sale of 65% off all silver jewelry. Gotta love their bragging rights.

And the one I was hoping for, the one I delayed starting The Perfect Sweater for:

Already labeled and ready to go. Gotta love the options.

Gotta love family.

Super Stash

2007-02-07T17:00:00.000-05:00

So I did the Super Bowl thing with the yarn and the sale and the freezing my a$$ off walking from the car to the shop. It was a thing I'd heard of for many years, and was curious to visit this particular yarn shop. It's taken me til today to say "OHMYGAWDWHATTHEHELLWASITHINKING!?"

So, because the shop was so tiny (2nd floor of a very old building), we had to wait out in the hallway in a snake line. This would have been okay if a) there was room for more than two people abreast in the hall, and b) I didn't feel like I wanted to know where all the fire escapes were. Am I stupid for waiting for an hour? Yeah, pretty much.

I guess it's a cute store. But there was one group of women (a group of three) who just rubbed me the wrong way. They were obviously looking for specific things, but they insisted on spreading out their coats, bags, and potential purchases all over the floor. Completely oblivious to anyone else needing floor space to, oh, I don't know, maybe WALK??? Then it was the whole Junior High routine - talk VERY loudly so not only does the whole store hear your conversation, but you've made conversation impossible for anyone else; then get in line behind one of them (the line also took 1/2 hour, even though I was the third one on line, because they HAND WROTE EVERY DAMN ORDER) and think "okay, I should be out pretty soon" when the other two members of this three-headed monster show up and chirp "thanks for holding our spot in line, babe!" and you know darn well they're not buying just a skein of Kid Silk Haze.

I knew exactly what I wanted. Ten skeins of Cascade 220. I have no idea if I got a good price or not. I don't know how much it is regularly, but I got 20% off. But I had to circumnavigate the "crew" who didn't respond to an "excuse me please" to try and even reach the spot on the wall where I could see it, but not touch it; I didn't really have a choice of color because the only thing they had 10 skeins of is what I took; and when I asked a shop worker for help she even had trouble finding where it was. I think it was a cute idea to have 20 - 50% and call them yard lines, and to have a room for the end zone. I might even have been persuaded to consider a knitting night there. But the clientelle I'm discussing (in a not-very-nice way) ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE.

Sorry. Never again.

Perspective

2007-02-04T08:28:00.000-05:00

It's amazing to me how perspective works.

Look at a window. It's a rectangle with glass and wood, and it opens and shuts. That doesn't change. (Well. Unless you decide to re-glaze or go for aluminum or what-all.) Depending on my mood or the time of day or where I sit, that window becomes a mirror, a heat source, a distraction, a picture.

My funk had me in deep grips. It affected everything I did and poorly, too. I couldn't summon a smile, couldn't care about my desk getting messy, couldn't care about a deadline creeping ever closer - just couldn't care. I thought for sure I could wait it out.

Have you ever had a medical pain or condition, and you held off calling the doctor because you thought, "surely it's going to start getting better tomorrow; I can wait." And you push yourself to wait and the pain is getting intense and it's reached it's peak but it's not going away and you cry "Whatever! Make me an appointment!" And sure enough, the day of your appointment arrives and the pain has lessened. In fact, you're starting to feel happy again.

Is it truly psychological? Or is it perspective? Subconciously are we thinking, "Now that I've handed it off to someone else, it's *their* problem and I can relax" so we metaphorically exhale and feel better for it? Is that a perspective of coming off the problem to the other side and feeling the burden lift from the soul?

I basically went to my principal on Friday and unloaded everything on him. He's a wonderful, warm, caring person, but I'm sure I had him flummoxed. (Cool word.) He's willing to do what I want, but he's convinced before he even begins that he won't get approval and that he'll look worse for asking for it. Had I not been in the grips, I might have said "I understand. I'll just have to suck it up." I might have said, "No, you have too much. Let me just see if I can get through this for another YEAR."

No, I held firm. I want this problem resolved because it's the best thing for the children I teach and for my mental health. I'm not going to suck up any more mess just because I don't want to make someone else uncomfortable. I want, I need, I asked.

Now that I'm on the other side of those feelings, it is positively amazing that I'm sleeping, I'm laughing, I have energy returned, and I'm happily writing lesson plans. I took my pain to the doctor and gave it into his hands, and now I can stop obsessing about "what should I do????"

If things don't work out, I have implied that I will look for a position elsewhere. It's not a threat, it's a realization that this is what I need to be healthy. And if I can't find another position, then I might go back to substitute teaching (although I think I'd rather slit my wrists). I don't know. I just don't feel the pressing need to obsess about that right now. It feels like I'll be okay.

And just so there's some knitting in here today, my LYS is having a Super Bowl Sale, and I'll be looking for Cascade 220 for THE PERFECT SWEATER . That's a later object, because my Fricknits wool has been earmarked for SERRANO . (Sorry for the shouting. Blogger doesn't like Mac, and won't let me bold, italicize, or underscore. That's the only way I can let you know there's a linky-dink.)

Avert Your (Reading) Eyes

2007-02-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

Really. You'll only end up being sorry. There's nothing to see here, and all you can hear is a sort of whimper. I'm really in a deep funk, and I've even lost the usual jolliness I get with my adorable little students. It's just not there, no matter how far down I reach into my bag of tricks.

There will be no details. I can't point to anything on a map. Rather, I could give you shopping lists out the wazzoo and all those things added up mean one enormous shopping cart overflowing with last straws for this camel's back. (Mix metaphors much, me?)

Red socks are on the heel flap. Big deal.

It's only 4:30 in the afternoon and I want to go to bed.

Monday Finished Object (aka MOFO)

2007-01-29T19:10:00.000-05:00

These will be saved for St. Patrick's Day. Now I'm working on red ones for Valentine's Day.

Why, yes, I *do* know February comes before March. Why do you ask?

Swag and such

2007-01-26T16:44:00.000-05:00

So I finished the dreaded second square, and it actually looks somewhat okay:

With the stunning backdrop of my white Gmac, and those ratty wires, who *wouldn't* love it??

I haven't seen anyone else's squares, yet. Can't wait, either. Oh, is that my nose getting longer??

And I got my ALPACA. I bought it from the ever wonderful Fricknits who was de-stashing. Ten luscious skeins, which now I have to find just the right pattern for. I'm very tempted to begin my first lace-ish shawl. The color is a soft, buttery yellow, and I think it would be gorgeous for a spring wrap. Now, if I only had some idea where *cough-knitty-cough* to find a shawl *cough-harlot-cough* pattern. . . .

I plan on staying in the house all weekend, finishing the sock, frogging the mitten (it's *still* too big!) and perusing my patterns. I will also make a giant pot of sauce, and maybe even beef stew. Mmmm. If you're good, you can have a recipe, 'kay?

Speaking of Kay, she's writing about turning 49. Honey, I'll be there in two weeks - wanna shop for support hose together?

Knitting as a Rescue Operation

2007-01-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

Yikes.

I've been having a health concern lately, and got an appointment to see someone official at 4 pm today. Like a good girl, I showed up 10 minutes early for paperwork, co-pay, and use the little girl's room (which looks remarkably like the little boy's room!).

Did I say 4:00 appointment?

Can you say 4:57 pm?????? I knew that you could.

Thank heavens I brought the sock with me. It poked out of my little bag just hanging off my wrist, made a great conversation starter during the blood-pressure routine, and it kept me company during the boring wait. I got quite a bit of it done. (How much? How about three-quarters of a leg? Yeah. That much.)

Well, that sock now has all sorts of good karma associated with it, because an EKG is thoroughly normal, everything sounds terrific, and the doctor is not at all concerned. At. All.

So, yeah. Green has always been one of my favorite colors, and now I know it has mysterious powers of healing, as well. Or is it the sock shape as a talisman? Or the needles acting as a reverse dream-catcher? Whatever.

Our family visit this weekend was really terrific. Not one tense moment for anyone, the food was fab, and DH and I are now the proud owners of a S'mores/Fondue Kit, plus graham crackers and marshmallows. What a great thing I'll be able to trot out for snowy days with the girls.

Hey, if you have a Wegman's Supermarket near you, I'll give you a tip: They have a jarred chocolate-raspberry dessert sauce that is WONDERFUL heated up and poured over chocolate pound cake. Whipped cream doesn't hurt, either. Ask me how I know.

The next square of matzoh will be worked on this week. Bet you can't wait for the photo!! Yeah, that's what I thought.

2007-01-19T19:39:00.000-05:00

Wow, that was the fastest week that ever was!

Well, I finished the first square of hell:

Really, doesn't this remind you of a giant rice cake? Or a matzoh?

And I only have to do two more!

But as a powerful antidote, I did finish:

And cast on for the second one. I took a picture, but it's so blurry it looks like it's moving on its own, and as far as I know, knitting doesn't do that.

I also cast on for a pair of mittens, but instead of 7 stitches to the inch, I got a healthy 6. Rip, rip, rip the chipmunks! (anybody know what I'm referring to????) Recast with a size two, which I didn't think was possible with Patons wool. These should be some toasty mitts!

This has been a really good week at school. All the lessons are going well, instrumental students are rounding that corner of self-confidence and getting happy with the sounds they produce, and two new kids want to sign up for learning an instrument. All-in-all, pretty darn good.

We're having family in tomorrow for a delayed Christmas celebration. On the menu: fruit and cheese platter for the nibbles, then ham, green beans, carrots, biscuits, mashed potatoes (DH insists), and chocolate cake for after. They haven't been to our home in three years, so this will be a nice change. And it looks to be cold enough for the fireplace!

Hope you all have a lurvely weekend.

It is, too, easy being green

2007-01-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

Well, yes, I did go a *bit* past two rounds. But you see, I was having my private fight with the demons known as (looks furtively over shoulder and whispers hoarsely) homespun.

Here's the state of the sock as she now exists:

This is a yarn that I bought in Lancaster County, PA; it's from Labadie Looms, and they have a nice rack in the middle of the store with all these hanks of handpainted sock yarn; it's a tiny bit rough while I'm working with it, but when it's washed, it is delightful for the foots.

Here she is again:

(Yeah, I'm so totally just trying to practice the photography stuff. It's a Kodak Easy Share. 'Nuff said.)

Thank you for the comments, whether thought or typed. It is the last chapter in the saga, and I was reluctant to put it out there. But this blogging? Always on my mind, like a little outlet to say what I have all mushed up inside of me in a somewhat straightforward way. And the best part is, there isn't a pair of eyes opposite mine getting that deer in the headlights look and praying I'll end this story as quickly as possible. The Hubby and the Girls are wonderful, but how patient do they need to be? It's my wound, I need to itch it in private. Well, semi-private.

So yeah, the homespun hell. Is there a more splitty, squeaky, unpleasant yarn out there? I kid you not, it took me ELEVEN freakin' tries to get a gague that wouldn't require knitting with two logs I pulled outta the woodpile. As it is, I'm using 10 1/2 US needles and I hate the result. I'll be interested to see if anyone else is having problems with this, or if they'll insist that the yarn is fine, it must be me. Then I'll KNOW they're lying!

It was nice to have a day off from school with the Girls; they're still off tomorrow while I go back. I love my job, but I really love staying home, too - makes for good knitting time. Those pesky people at school just don't understand that knitting time should really be worked into everyone's school schedule. Just think how happy we'd all be if we had a full 40-minute period for the solitude and serenity of knitting.

ah. . . . .

Closing Time

2007-01-12T18:28:00.000-05:00

That's what today was. Today was the closing on my father's house. My beloved father who passed away in June, and whom I desperately miss. Coincidentally, yesterday was the anniversary of my mother's death. This has not been an easy week for me, even though yarn still does make me happy.

By the way, the socks won. Of course they did. What do we turn to when we need that comfort food of wool? Those easy, familiar, friendly, not demanding or stress-making socks that fit into your bag and go with you everywhere and are like a comforting cup of tea. They are green. Ish. When I have more than two rounds on them, I'll take a photo.

Our knitting group at work is making blocks for an afghan to be raffled, and they chose the yarn I despise most in the world - the homespun. It is unbearable yarn to me, but it is for charity and who am I to belittle somebody's choice in life?

If you have a moment, could you just send an uplifting thought my way? You don't have to write anything. Just think it. It'll get here.

Thanks.

bleah

2007-01-11T16:44:00.000-05:00

It's one of those days, one of those feelings, one of those posts. I'll pause and look discretely the other way if you'd like to slip out of the blog before the whining starts.

I finished the scarf, and it's way too short for DH. He does have a rather large neck, but I thought the length would be fine for just tucking into the collar of the coat. I had each of the girls try it on, and they both thought it was nice and warm (also the perfect length) but after 20 seconds they both said "wow, this is itchy." Quickly followed by "Why don't YOU wear it, Mom?" Mom bought the same yarn in blue for herself, but now she's not going to make a scarf. Let's see, I think I need to find those wrist-warmer patterns.

School today was bleah, too. Difficult classes, kids were SO chatty and fell all over themselves interrupting. First and second grade are usually my bright spots, but today I just couldn't wait for them to be over.

There's a big issue involving my sister, and it would depress me MORE to go into it. Suffice it to say there isn't a nerve left in my body that she hasn't twanged.

And I'm using a Mac on Blogger, and I can't do bold, italic, or any other cutesy-poo stuff, so all my angst is being stifled into ordinary complaining, when clearly it is just so much more.

Now. Do I start another pair of socks, the wrist warmers in blue alpaca, or a cashmere scarf? Which one is more likely to make me happy? Hey, it's all yarn so it's all good. Eeny, meeny, miney, mo. . . .

. . . shiver. . . .

2007-01-09T22:52:00.000-05:00

Yay! We had sweater weather today! My neck forgot what it felt like to be encased in a turtleneck, much less be surrounded by a scarf - now it's happy. Well, as happy as a neck can be; I guess it has the potential for as much happiness as, say, my elbow.

So, the scarf? Eighteen inches. That's it. It's still grey, still soft, still ribbed. No photo needed. Plus, the fewer pictures I can do with the basic camera we have, the better. Close-ups? Ya gotta be kiddin' me!

And the lesson plans? Smooth sailing so far. All four grade levels are doing well, and I actually feel more organized now then when I do them week by week.

I better stop. I don't want anybody in the universe thinking I've had more than my share of nice things today and start mysteriously unravelling my scarf. Ouch.

Sixty-seven degrees and I'm knitting a scarf

2007-01-06T20:53:00.000-05:00

It's January 6th, Three Kings Day, and I'm wearing a T-shirt. Dudes, I *never* wear a T-shirt in January! I'm jonesing to get some sweater action going!

However, I have started DH's scarf.

I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca in color 6207, size US6 needles, in a reverse rib pattern. Mindless pattern, wonderful yarn, very soothing. A nice break from socks, and will be excellent during tomorrow's very long car ride.

Oh, we're up to number two (sox, that is)

2007-01-04T21:13:00.000-05:00

Hey, I did it. Finished the sox AND managed to do a picture.

The first sock (on the left) was great - loved the diagonal striping and the hits of yellow. But the mate? Not so much, matey. I wound the yarn so carefully and started in the same place as the first one, and I got mega pools of yellow stripes, like a raspberry bumble-bee. They're still kinda nice looking, but It's More Yellow, know what I mean?

Now I'm in a tizzy. Do I knit the wool scarf DH asked for? Or do I start something with the luscious Blueberry Cashmere I just got in the mail?

What to do, what to do......

Time for a cuppa, don'tcha think?

Oh, we're up to number one and the fun has just begun!

2007-01-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love January.

That new blank calendar. The tons of leftover food which means no frenetic "ohmygoshwhatwillwehavefordinnertonightlookslikeit'spastanomomnotagain!" The breathing space between the Holiday Concert and the solo/competition time in March.

Granted, I did not love January when the alarm went off at 6:15 this morning. But once I got to work, it was GO time! I got everything done that I wanted to accomplish, nothing threw a monkey wrench in my path, and it all just felt good.

That's why I don't make resolutions. January is a little gift that comes after the gift-giving season, when life is calm and I am enjoying the serenity of early winter evenings.

Why spoil that with a list that points out how rotten I am and what all needs fixing? Nope, not me.

And the second sock is almost done. Yep, January's good.

Mornings Become Electrified

2006-12-30T11:05:00.000-05:00

I've been working on lesson plans since 8:30 this morning, and I hear my second sock seductively calling me from the family room: "come play with me. I feel nice and soft, not like that hard keyboard you've been pounding."

My second cup of tea is kicking in, and I'm getting these plans to fall into place. I have several big units coming up, so I'm not doing the typical one-week lesson plan. This will be a large scope, general two month plan, broken down into pieces without specific dates, but ending up in the same place (we hope). Everytime I try to factor in a weekly time plan, there's holidays, assemblies, fire drills, lockdown drills, last-minute "oops my class can't come today" phone calls, and other such mayhem. When you only see your classes once a week, this doesn't make for smooth unit building!

In October we were off for two Mondays, then two of the classes had field trips. That means I only saw these classes ONCE during the entire month of October!

So I'm pretty charged up about this new way of writing the plans, and it's clearer for me, too - I'm not trying to balance out big pieces and hope (by luck) they all fall into place, but allowing myself some breathing room.

How pitiful is it that this is what's jazzing me on a Saturday morning???

Knit one, bump two

2006-12-29T17:23:00.000-05:00

A long car ride to visit a shut-in makes for good knitting, right? I did manage to finish one sock, even Kitchenering (is that a word???) the toes smoothly. BUT! Try to wind a new skein (using the turkey baster) on the lovely and charming Jericho Turnpike, LI Expressway service road, and local streets in Roslyn, and you end up with nothing more than spiderwebs.

Grrr.

It did get done, just not as neatly or quickly as I would have liked. The shut-in liked the completed sock, but was more interested in her cheeseburger happy meal. That was fine, she was happy, and I continued to rib the second sock.

My promise to myself is to learn to use DH's digicam and actually put a picture or two up here.

In the meanwhile, lesson plans are knocking away at the back of my head, and I think I have to spend a good amount of time at it tomorrow. I've got some good ideas, hope they work out okay and I can find all the materials I need instead of realizing as class is about to start that half my supplies are in the other school. That would be par for the course, but I really want to be more organized about myself!

It also feels really good that I've made my donations to the causes championed by Wendy and Ms. Harlot; it's impressive what two women and many knitters can accomplish.

Welcome to the home

2006-12-28T11:53:00.000-05:00

How long do you have to think about something before you do it? Apparently (in my case) ten months.

I didn't want to just jump on the blogging bandwagon without a lot of thought. Not that I thought millions of people would want to read my words (so they'd better be *darn* perfect!) but did I really want to put it all "out there" for anyone to read?

Clearly, I had (have?) some issues.

I'm not looking to get published. I'm not looking for a big return. I'm not looking to be an authority. (Okay, smarty-pants, what *are* you looking for?)

I want to write because time is moving pretty fast and it slows me down to write, think, and write some more about it. This is the upshot: I want a record of what goes on in here, because I can't remember it all and there's a lot to remember.

Just for the record: Married, two teenagers, teach music, knit, read, love movies, frustrated artist. Okay, that's going to be enough fodder for a while!