Unravelled

NEW BABY

2007-06-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

NOOOOO, not that kind! Posting pictures of puppies instead of kntitting. This is Jasper, Jasper is a 10 week old American Bulldog, who belongs to my brother. He is so cute and sooooo big. "L" my youngest asked me to take pictures during the visit because he didn't join us. When we came home he asked if I had taken pictures of the puppy. I pulled up this picture on the computer and after a long pause he looked at me and said "That's a puppy? ohhhh." Obviously not the puppy he was expecting, I think he thought I was pulling his leg.

I have been knitting, just not as much. I have been crankier than usual, I'm positive those two are not a coincidence. I have finished a cro-knitted baby blanket, I'm 3/4 of the way through a sport weight baby shawl in cream yarn I bought while on my yarn crawl in Seattle, a pair of socks (that I didn't take a picture of) a great sock ended up the in the ~~Fuckit~~ Froggit Basket, and an EZ February Baby Sweater sits unfinished.

Until next time.

What happens in Seattle...

2007-03-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

....Stays in Seattle! Hahaha, kidding!

I am finally getting around to showing you the yarn that I smuggled out of Seattle ( I may have told a little white one when I filled out my customs declaration) and into my home ( I may also have told a little white one there too).

The colours are not that true here, sorry.

Lorette & Kris picked me up at my hotel our Yarnadventure started at a great little shop with an awesome name, So Much Yarn... Not wanting get to carried away at the first shop I didn't purchase alot. However, it was here I purchased the yarn to mark my trip to Seattle. Hand-Dyed, sock yarn in a self-striping Seattle Seahawks colourway by Caryn's Creations. I was so glad I bought this, I love the colours, which are more grey/blue, navy and lime green than the picture suggests.

On to The Fiber Gallery where we got a great parking spot, it was meant to be! If you go to Lorette's March 19th post you will find some photos of this shop, as well as me wearing my completed Starsky cardigan. I may have purchased "some" Lorna's Laces here. Best part of that was shopping by "proxy" for a friend of mine, the Jeans colourway I bought is misisng from the photo above and I must admit I almost didn't want to give it up.

We went to lunch, then on to bigger and better things, Weaving Works. This shop was my favourite shop of the trip. I could see a recipe for bank account disaster if I should ever decide to relocate to Seattle. Cascade superwash 220, KOIGU, two skiens of natural color Kona Superwash found their way into my basket. All in all I had the best time, and I am very happy with the yarn I brought home.

Lorette and Kris were fabulous hosts, Lorette scouted out yarn shops and their directions. She did a fine job of keeping me out of any bad yarn shops. Kris graciously provided our transportation, and did a fine job navigating the narrowist streets I have ever seen. Thank you girls, I hope to come back again.
Oh and whats worse than forgetting your camera? Not taking any pictures with the camera in your purse! I did take one picture, but I am an asshat photographer and it didn't turn out. Agghhhh!!!!!

Seattle in Review

2007-03-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

My time in Seattle was fantastic! There are so many things I didn't get a chance to do. I really want to make it back there someday. I think it is a perfect family trip I know my family would really enjoy it. I stayed a block away from the Space Needle / Seattle Center, which was a great location for me. I cruised on the monorail and did some shopping in the area where the monorail stops. I also walked to Pike Place Market but unfortunately it was late and it was RAINING to hard to get a feel for it. Enjoy the photo journal! (Now you should be able to click on the photo's to make them larger, however blogger has hexed me on this issue so I will cross my fingers)

My artsy fartsy attempt of the Space Needle

Look wayyy up.

If you're in Seattle you have to watch Grey's no?. The sock and I missed it on Thursday, but we hooked up with the "gang" Friday on the net.

My favorite shot, The ferris wheel in Seattle Center.

Can't forget the Carousel.

The monorail coming through the EMP - Experience Music Project building

I took the monorail to help get me here Pike Place Market.

Room with a View

2007-03-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

I made it to Seattle, where my Starsky will have it's debut. Well that's a lie, but a debut that will be photographed.

I have will have some great blog fodder for you, I am meeting fellow knitters for the first time here in Seattle, and we are doing a Seattle yarn crawl. I am starving, so I give the 411 soon.

Starsky

2007-02-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on the last piece of Starsky, but I can see the light. I can't wait to get this cardigan completed so that I can wear it. So far this is my progress.

Back, 2 sleeves, left front, beginning of right front.

A few rows were accomplished last night at KnitNite. We have moved our KnitNite to Wednesday and moved our location to a local knitting store. The knitting store is conveniently located(or not, if your one of those people who likes to save money) in the lower level of my office building. Our commited knitters attended KnitNite on Valentine's day, we are a dedicated group! I may have purchased more yarn (not one of those people), so that when the urge strikes I can knit Neoknits Green Apple , and 4 balls of sock yarn to knit a new sock pattern.

Would you believe, a women new to our group, set a goal to use all the yarn from her stash BEFORE she purchased any new yarn! I know I couldn't believe it either. Yet there she sat. knitting a baby blanket with new yarn. Abracadabra, stash be gone! OMG, a wonder of our time, I'm sure. I will leave you to ponder the thought of tackling your stash. I got hives just thinking about it.

Love is a Fairground

2007-02-12T21:38:00.000-08:00

Thank you Cara, I Love It!

That is a so soft skein of Socks that Rock in Fairgrounds colourway, and one of January One's great yarn notecards.

This is the fabulous gift I won from Cara of January One and her STR Virgin post. What a pick me up at the end of a long day.

That Cara is such an enabler! I was first drawn to Cara's blog for her fantastic pictures, (oh and the banner that changes everytime you click was pretty cool too), so I was just as thrilled to have received one of her notecards.

Stay tuned for a Starsky update, not quite done but close.

January G-One

2007-02-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Holy heck where did January go! The blogging activity suggests that I have not been knitting, but I have. I joined Knit'n lit's It's not a gift. My project is Starsky from Knitty and so far I have completed the back and both sleeves. Currently I am stalled on the first front as my brain needs a moment(or two) to tackle keeping track of the cable pattern and the decrease on each edge, "X" amount of rows, but not corresponding rows. See how confusing! I hope to get to that this weekend, maybe blocking phots for next week?

Not only have I been knitting but I have been winning! Winning yarn is the best feeling ever. I won Socks that Rock yarn from the blogfamous Cara of January One "Calling all Virgins" post. Thank you Cara and Blue Moon You know how to rock a virgins world! I'll let you know when it arrives.

I must confess I have found another hobby, I am only in the fledgling stages of quilting,but I love it. I discovered that while I truly destested sewing (the bad Ragedy Ann nightie experience back in Grade 8)I love quilting. I have almost finished a practice quilt top for L (my almost 6 year old), using his favourite blankies. It is by no means a work of art, but it was fun and my boy LOVES it. Practice, practice!

Happy New Year

2007-01-03T23:47:00.000-08:00

Blogging has commenced for the year lets see how well I make out. I have asked Knit 'n Lit Jenn to add me to the list of It's Not a Gift KAL'ers. I started Knitty's Starsky pattern a while ago and I would really love to get it finished. The back is almost complete so it should go quickly, if only I could get rid of that pain in my neck! No really, not the kids, but a real pain in my neck! I finally went to a chiropractor today after a week and change waiting for it to get better. So far so good, I go back again the next two days and then again next week.

I decided to clean up some of the FO's around the house for the beginning of 2007. I rang in the New Year with this languishing FO, the Six Sense Sock. Love this sock, the bad sock mojo that came with it, not so much! Yes crappy picture, not easy taking great pictures of your lower extremities. This was knit with DGB Confetti colour #36110 for those inquiring minds, I'm wishing now I would have bought more in that colourway.

I did say I was going to provide photos of the other recent FO, however, again crappy photo, need more light for the next photo shoot. Coming soon. It may have until the weekend.

For all the other World Junior Hockey Fans out there, how much do you love
TSN Broadband! I'll be the crazy lady hootin' and holler'n at her desk on January 5th for the Gold Medal Game, Canada vs. Russia
12:30pm et/9:30am pt

Funny after the shoot out between Canada & USA one of the commentators made a comment about the "Collective Canadian Cardiac Arrest" I felt that was a very accurate description.

CAN-A-DA! CAN-A-DA!

Christmas UN- Fortune Cookie

2006-12-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

My Fortune Cookie told me:
Sheep will begin to unsettle you.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Found at Susan's blog, my fortune sounds most unfortunate for a knitter!

Christmas was surprisingly low key, and unrushed. All the presents were wrapped and the food bought, decorations decored, and house cleaned by Friday night. I even finished 3 lingering WIP's on Saturday. One of which I got to wear for Christmas dinner. (pictures of that later).

Merry HoHo

2006-12-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

My family at our local rink for a company get together.

Well it seems life gets in the way of blogging, just like work gets in the way of my knitting! I still knit, still have a job and still have a life, well some would beg to differ (damn muggles) I wish I blogged through the last couple of months to keep track of it all. Ahh well, there's always the new year.

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

CRR 2006

2006-09-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday this was the setting for a race.

The Cannery Road Race that my husband and my son K took part in.

K did great and placed 3rd.

G did awesome, he placed 1st in the 10Km for his division, and 2nd overall.

Take a look below at the great medals that they give out to the winners. This year was a plastic boat, and last year was a great plastic fish.

Brainy Lady

2006-09-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Trying to keep up with the regular posting, so here's my brain test. Who even knew I had a brain!

Your Brain is 60% Female, 40% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and femaleYou are both sensitive and savvyRational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headedBut you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Tieing the Knoose, I mean the Knot

2006-09-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems the I managed to fall off planet at some point, happy to say I have returned. I hope to get back to regular posting and regular knitting. I haven't been doing alot of knitting, and I have been scouring my patterns, magazines and the internet for inspiration. That isn't always a good thing, now I want to make everything. Since it has been so long I won't try and remember what I have been doing in my blogging absence. But I will start with the one thing that marked the summer of 2006 for our family.

The youngest of my brothers got married on August 19th and the wedding was exceptional. The bride was to goregous for words, and a really great addition to the family. Great for us maybe not so great for her. *snicker, snicker* she may be rethinking her I do's! LOL.

I cried like you wouldn't believe, before, during, and after the ceremony and again at the reception. My brother and I are three years apart and as much as we fought during our childhood,teenage, and even our adult years I guess he kinda grew on me! I was really surprised at how emotional I got, well not really, but damn I didn't think I would cry that much. All of our immediate family and all of the bride's immediate family were in attendance. I didn't get as many photos with the digital camera as I liked but I will show you those I love.

My brother the Groom

The male half of the wedding party, All 3 of my brothers and my son's K&L

The ring bear/pillow guy, L

The deed's done let's getta out here.

MR. & MRS.

Mother Trucker

2006-07-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

JessaLu was interested in our new vechicle so here is a picture I grabbed from the web. I have not yet taken a picture of it, come to think of it I haven't used the camera in eons! This our first brand new truck, we have owned two others, but they have been used. Just yesterday a friend was enjoying the "new car" smell. This will make our upcoming road trip a little more enjoyable. We are extremely happy with it, it had exactly what we were looking for. Good thing because this is it for a long time!

Before this very substantial purchase I was trying to talk my husband into a trailer. I think that I will eventually wear him down and hopefully we can manage a used trailer before next camping season. Because after tenting a few weeks ago my husband now agrees that tenting is not for us! And JessaLu, the earplugs made camping more enjoyable, because when you sleep in a tent that squirrel who was so cute the night before is not so cute chattering at 4:30 am when the sun comes up. Nor for that matter is the freakin' crow caaaaaaaa-ing for the zillionth time in the tree above your tent. Don't get me wrong I love nature, just not when I'm sleeping with it!

Shit Happens

2006-07-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Yes I am sure you have all expired waiting for pictures, those of you that still check back here that is. It seems time has a way of getting lost these past few months. Seeing as you have already expired I guess there isn't any rush for a picture. HA! I still don't have one.

Many things have happened, most I have forgotten I'm sure. So the few things I can remember:

I purchased an IPOD nano, and became a member of Audible (which I love btw) Plugged in to a great book with some sock knitting, what better way to tune out the world?

I had my laptop repaired and my pictures recovered. KAAAAA CHING! Funny how I said I would be extremely grateful if I could just get my pictures back, however it still stung when I learned that my files in the MY DOCUMENTS weren't recovered. Oh well!

We had a fantastic camping trip the Canada long weekend. Pomtini's + sun, friends, lake = fun camping and
tent + earplugs = better sleep!

We purchased a new vehicle.

We leave next week for a two week holiday, so I probably won't be around to often, so please for those of you who value your life, don't hold your breath waiting for another post! LOL

Have you turned blue yet?

2006-06-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

I hope you weren't holding your breath for a picture of finished socka socks! If so keep holding! Work obligations are keeping me busier than normal (cutting into my blogging time) and besides that MY LAPTOP'S' HARDRIVE KAPUTTTTTT!!!!!!! I don't have the final diagnosis, but it's not good. I was and still am upset I still don't know if I will get all (or any) of my pictures recovered from the hard drive. Some good news though the techy told me they finally recovered files from MY DOCUMENTS which include every freakin knitting pattern known to man from the internet and otherwise!!!

So even though I am blogging I don't have the ususal get up and go. So cross your fingers and hope for the best. I must have made the knitting gods unhappy, I lost my knit mojo, I've hardly knit a stitch for weeks.

Stay tuned

2006-06-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I had every intention of having a fantastic SockapalOOOza photo shoot here and posted for the Tuesday update. However, the forces of evil have conspired against me. As you see (or not see rather) there is not a sock in sight. That is because along with my internet being fritzy my camera and co-worker are a tad fritzy too. Well OK the camera wasn't but the co-worker definately is! ;-) Oh and a big "How old are you now, how old are you now...you look like a monkey and act like one too" to the very same fritzy co-worker! He's an eligible bachelor no less. Anywhooooo, the socks. The socks arrived alive and well, and were awaiting my arrival home at the end of a busy week of almost breaking bones, cutting fingers, and business schmoozing. I have to say they were well worth the wait, the socks are perfect, the yarn and pattern are exactly what I would have picked if I were making socks for myself. And even better yet they fit too, bonus! ! Along with my socks, came they leftover Lornas Laces and some verrry soft green sock yarn that I think I already have plans for. Thank you Felica, you did a great job, I hope you get the whole witness protection thing under control. ;-)

Bits and Bites

2006-05-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a good friends birthday and I was able to complete her birthday socks on time. I love to knit socks for her, she loves them. I made a personalized sock band for her and away they went.

Another picture I found while looking for bloggable stuff was this fantastic picture my co-worker took of a local eagle. Cranky looking thing, maybe he forgot to sweep the nest out!

The seaplane picture was taken today, YUCK. Today is cold and wet. I look forward to warmer weather soon. I will pray to mother nature as my son does. "Muser Nature please bring me some SUN!

And the last picture is a beautiful Kiri Shawl knit by my friend S, in a gorgeous Kid Silk Haze. While the shawl is fabulous the picture is not. Hey I'm a knitter, not a photographer!

Oh and late last week I received an email from my sock pal (whom I believe is blogless) that she is indeed in the witness protection program (hence the bloglessness) and was in fear for her life that particluar week because Mickey Blue Eyes was at the local diner out in the sticks, askin' questions.

So she has since been relocated, and the socks are on their way. I hope Shifty Jackie Santoro hasn't tracked that package to me cause, I'll sing like a songbird, take the socks and Fuggeddaboutit!

SKEINS

2006-05-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after seeing something on someone's blog, a blog I can't remember, (so helpful I know) I of course had to drop everything and make 1, well more like some. First I skeined up the yarn. Next I used some specialized tools, HA!, a ring, cable need and a crochet hook, some tape, some cardboard, Harlot's new book, and felt pen or two. Twist, turn use said tools for purposes not intended (nothing dodgy) and...drumroll please..... VOILA!!!!! Mini hank keychains.

So adorable, the one you see with the S.A.B.L.E. keytag I gave to my ~~enabler~~ knit partner from K.A. who has a serious stash and who just happened to have a birthday earlier this week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Shelly!

Socka..disa..pointed

2006-05-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Update below.
Well it seems I have the crappiest luck of all. I finished my sockpal socks and sent them out 1 day late (due to puking child), I even sent them priority post so I could track the package, and so she would get them sooner. I have tracked the package and see that she in fact received them, but still I have not heard that they indeed made it to the proper recipient. If that isn't bad enough, I have not heard from my sock pal. No, "Hey, I lopped my finger off and couldn't knit for a while your socks are going to be late.", or "I slipped and fell and couldn't get up", "My dog ate your sock and I had to knit another". Really at this point any explaination would be nice. Did I mention I'm impatient? Really impatient. Or that I'm the type of person who if told to finish and ship out by May 2nd, that I'm going to do everything humanly possible to do that so my sock pal isn't dissapointed, type of person And if something really did come up, like I am in the witness protection program and the mob has found out my alter identity and are after me, I would let my sock pal know! Just sayin' Anywho thought a rant might make me feel better, seeing as how the stuff I ordered to make me feel better has yet either! BAHHHHHHHHH.

Well, a long weekend is coming maybe the extra day might improve my disposition. Maybe. Probably not.

Update: I just heard via e-mail by that my sockpal received her socks. "I got the whole package and I love the socks! I'm sorry I didn't write to you about it but my life is really chaotic right now. The colours are just right for me, the chocolate was eaten immediately and the lamb is on my shelves. Thanks for being such a great sock pal! " Pheeww OK I feel much better, I was thinking my socks were out there on someone else's feet. Best of all she liked the socks. My mood has been restored. Have a great weekend.

Relay for Life

2006-05-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Just a heads up to let you know that the Canadian Cancer Society is organizing the Relay for Life on May 27 from 10 am to 10pm teams will run, walk, stroll around a track. A celebration of survival and a tribute to the lives of loved ones who have been touched by cancer. Twelve hours of fun, friendship and fundraising to beat cancer. Communities from coast to coast, taking up the fight. Find a Relay for Life in your community and show your support,help make cancer history.

My team is walking in support Barb, my friend and former co-worker, who is currently fighting brain cancer. We also walk in support of her husband, her sons, her family, and friends. If you would like to make a general donation to the Relay for Life, visit Here, or to support our team, visit here Barb.com's Army. Lastly, if you would like to pledge me in the Walk for Life copy and paste this link to your browser because the link I'm leaving on blogger is not working, GAHHHH here it is Michelle's pledge page:
http://www.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=147650&u=147650-124867715&e=580127550
I finished all the hats, and was able to drop them off to Barb last night. Here they are stacked before being packed away in bright orange, red, turqoise and pink hat box,which of course I forgot to take pictures of. Fantastic really take my word for it. They hats looked great on her, and I hope to knit a few more, I think two I knit maybe a little big.

(*edited to fix my pledge link)

Relax, and Enjoy

2006-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my boys did a fabulous job of letting me do nothing all day. First gifts were given, coffee was presented. Next on the intinerary...relax on the deck with coffee, jammies, and sun. After lunch walk with the dog, alone, while the kids played in the yard. Home, relax and knit, watch a few taped shows in a quiet house. Up next bbq'd dinner, yumm homemade hamburgers with ketchup and mustard alien faces. Finally knit some more and watch Grey's of course. An uneventful, quiet day was had and appreciated by me.

Here is what I received. My husband did a fine job of picking out the cards for the boys to draw and colour in. And the Gift for you envelope held a gift certificate of a store my husband saw me coming out of a three days before Mother's Day. He went back and asked the store owner if I had looked at anything. (click on the pics and hopefully blogger will let you open them bigger so you can read them)

I will miss these little gifts when my youngest no longer makes them at school. The poem on his handprint picture made me cry just a little bit.

Your Special Day

2006-05-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

How many of you wished for yarn?

Waiting Patiently

2006-05-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hell who am kidding! I'm the most impatient person in the world, especially when it is in anticipation of yarn. Well to be more exact socks knit for me. I enjoyed the Sockapaloooza sock exchange, and at last check the tracking number says that my sockpal received her socks on Monday. Alas, no word yet about either socks sent or socks coming. Send some sock wishes my way. Heh wouldn't it be funny if I wound up being my own sock savoir! Funny and truely pathetic! Don't I know it.

Anywho, a tiny bit of gardening has been going on around here. Well maybe not exactly gardening, more like preparation for gardening. I have weeded the front garden that currently holds "Aunty Tracy" our transplated Rhododen something something and an overative chive plant. Exciting I know, contain yourself. My husband has added some steer poop and compost to the dirt, excuse me soil, and my sweet garden awaits it's fate. This was exactly as far as I got last year.

In case you think I have forgotten how to knit I did mange to whip up 4 hats for a friend, and I am working on a 5th. The Lace Edged Hat in bright pink possibly to large,the Blanche Hat in light pink, my favorite, the Bucket Up in light blue, a little shallow, but we'll see. and sample of the No Hair Day Hat I did mine in a light brown/blonde looks great but I haven't a picture yet. Last but not least the Shedir hat from Knitty's Breast Cancer Awareness special issue. Love the pattern, but the yarn not so much, not for this pattern anyway but it will be OK, no picture yet.

This and That and another WIP

2006-05-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

*edited again to fix my unclickable picture problem, one can hope it worked.*

Well the posting has been close to non-exsisting, my knitting has not. Although I have been knitting, nothing much has been accomplished. It seems I have a case of startitis. Thankfully, I have restrained from casting on for everything that has caught my fancy, and I tell you ALOT has caught my fancy. I have bought yarn, and cruised for patterns, I started another a pair of socks, and a Kiri shawl, I picked up my crocheted blanket again. Truth be told I only chose the blanket because I wanted to knit so many things I didn't know where to start, so the crochet blanket served it's time. The Purple People Eater is almost complete (that's an old picture BTW). So the WIP list grows, and the languishing projects languish longer.

Here is the downfall of having a yarn store downstairs from your place of work. My friend also fills in for the yarn shop owner on occasion, and this was the conversation: "Hi Michelle, she just got in the yarn I was talking about, bring the pattern I gotta knit it now!" "Alright I'll be right down" When all I can think while grabbing my wallet and running out the door is "BRING A GURNEY WE HAVE A KNITTER DOWN, SHE'S MUST HAVE GONE INTO A MOHAIR INDUCED COMA, PUSH 100 GRAMS OF MERINO SOCK YARN AND CHECK HER VITALS AGAIN!" Really a friends gotta do what a friends gotta do. Ok, so it was less dramatic than that, but dramatic is way more fun. Of course some of that lace weight mohair/silk made it's way home for me to cast on for Kiri immediately, friends support friend remember.

Last but not least the Sockapaloooza socks will be making their way to their new owner tomorrow. Can't wait to see where mine come from.

Sockapaloooza Socks

2006-04-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

My sockpal socks are done, though I am happy with them now, it took a long time for me to feel the love. I hope that she likes them, they are very spring like.

That darn Easter bunny was up to his tricks again. I think the bun has a sock feetish, (LOL, I left my typo in, fitting no?) but I guess with feet that big who wouldn't! Apparently not put off by the fact they didn't fit his feet he found another use for them. Lets just before thankful he doesn't have two of something else! ;-)

My baby is FIVE

2006-04-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

This is "LT" half his life ago (2 1/2)

This is him now.

In that first shot I was trying to take a picture of our dog, in the second before I took the picture he crouched right in front of me with that big goofy grin of his. "LT" still loves the camera . That first shot of him has always been my favourite. Happy 5th Birthday Baby, we love you and thank our good fortune for the shear joy and humour you bring to our lives. MWAH.

That Bunny Has the Sixth Sense

2006-04-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Easter bunny made an appearance at our house. He just about hopped away with my new sock WIP, but not before I got a picture. Those socks are the start of Susan's great pattern (check out her April 2 post) the Sixth Sense Socks for the Sixth Sense Knit Along. The yarn is a self stripping in blues and greys by DGB Confetti. I have never attempted a short-row heel so if you here any cursing that would be me, I apologize in advance. Here's a close up of the the six stitch, six row repeat, sixth sense sox. Say that six times fast.

Happy Easter

ARRRGH Matey, we have sock progress

2006-04-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was "L's" birthday party, he turns 5 on Easter Sunday, so we had an early birthday celebration. We had a great turn out, well great if you enjoy 18 children under 5. That wasn't a typo I really did say 18! We hade the children walk the plank, a treasure toss, and a treasure chest pinata. I've never held a party for this many children before but all went wall, with only two incidents both involving my pirate, of course.

I decorated the cake above using a Pirates Lego set, plastic gold coins, Hershey's almond and toffee chocolate "treasure chests" and graham crackers for sand and dyed sugar for water. I was very happy with how it turned out and the kids loved it.

This cosutme was really great, it is a cinderalla costume one side of the costume for when she scrubs floors, and when you turn it inside out it's a beautiful gown, to wear with her glass slippers. And the delinquent mother that I am I don't have a digital picture of my own children dressed up. My digital camera didn't like the lighting in the gymnasium.

And last but not least my sockapaloooza socks are almost complete, I am on the homestretch of the second sock. This picture is of the first sock but I have marked with the blue line where I am at on the second one. While I am not completely satisfied with them, they are growing on me.

Men knit!

2006-03-28T21:14:00.000-08:00

Wow twice in one day, in a month were I've only posted what.. twice! But I just happened to come across this article and thought I'd share.

Picking up the Needles

Distraction

2006-03-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

A quick drive by blog to let you know thatI am indeed still part of this blogging, knitting world. Life has been getting in the way, along with a little bit of the winter doldrums. The weather here has finally come around, the snow has melted and gone and we have been getting some much needed sun. So to distract you from the fact I have little time to post about the recent goings on around here I present to you a fantastic picture taken by my co-worker yesterday.

The local fisherman were feeding the eagles some fish scraps when my co-worker took this picutre. Enjoy.

(Edited to try a futz it so you can enlarge the picture by clicking on it, blogger hates me and my pictures!)

Blogging Block

2006-03-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

Its seems that while I have bloggable bits, photo's , stash enhancement, and even a secret to share I still had blogging block. Maybe it's post traumatic olympic knitting syndrome?

I meet with a decent size knitting group every Thursday at a local coffee shop/yarn shop. We agreed before Christmas that we would have our christmas party late in January. Well, January quickly turned into February, and February eased into March. So, this past Saturday we had our Christmas in March party. We had some great laughs and drank Belini's, and Pina Colada's, yum. Everyone knit but me, I bought yarn, instead. We'll get to that later, it's part of the secret. Not only can our group knit apparently we can cook too! Our potluck was delicious. S took this picture of me wearing my Butterfly at the shindig.

I brought broccoli salad.

Now this is where the secret comes in, I bought the purple yarn is 3 shades of wool on the right to make a version of Carolyn's blanket on the left.

Now the big secret, I'm a h**ker. Thats right, (NOOOOO not that kind that stands on the corner) the afghan is crocheted. It's a plaid crocheted afghan changing colours every row and incorporating ends into the fringe.

Here is my progress so far.

The rest for another day.

Sockapaloooza progress

2006-03-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

Quick update on the sock in progress. I still don't know if this is going to be "the" sockapaloooza sock. I will complete this sock, then start another and then decide which I will send away to my sock pal. My sock pal requested washable socks so I think the next sock I test will be a Regia sock as well.

Golden Butterfly

2006-02-26T00:27:00.000-08:00

Looks as though Michelle had enough left in the tank to for a gold medal finish in this down to the wire cardigan final. Geez, I must be tired I am talking in the third person.

I'd like to thank my family for all there support, without them I wouldn't..hahahaha right who am I kidding, there the first to sabatoge my knitting mojo. Sick kid here, sick kid there, WHAT? you want dinner again tonight, who know these little people ate so much as so often!

Well it seems I did manage to pull it off. I did in fact finish what I set out to do. I don't think I could make it a monthly occurance, needing sleep an all. Here she is in all her golden glory, Knitting Olympic Gold Medalist...

Butterfly

And because I haven't had proper sleep in a few days and I really look the worse for I wear, I am not modeling. It turned out much larger than I expected, because I wanted the body of the cardigan shorter than the original I shortened those pieces by 2 inches, and because I heard of the issue of too long sleeves from others who have knit it, I shortened those 2 inches also and it's still too long, I would hate to have seen how big it would have been if I hadn't altered it. Well I must rest up for the closing ceremonies.

Congratulations to all the other Team Canada members!

Fly Fly Butterfly

2006-02-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

Alright no pictures today, but close your eyes and imagine two sleeves completed and waiting for a soak. A delicate soak I might add this Kureyon thinks it's gone to Mexico on vacation cause it's RELAXIN'. Anyyywho, sleeves...check, shoulder seams seamed...check, ends woven in on all pieces..check, pick up for collar....check.

I have emailed Jane Ellison the designer twice about two minor errors and she has been very gracious. She probably just wishes I would go away and quit being such a pain in the arse. LOL.

I was sooooo happy for our Olympians today, what a wonderful medal day. I was crushed listening to the mens hockey team on the radio with their loss to Russia. SHIT sums it up I think.

Way to go to our KO gold medalists!

Sockapaloooza in progress

2006-02-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

Indeed will slogging away on Sleeve Island I had other things on my mind. And finally decided that I would knit my pals socks with these two yarns, Regia Multi Effeckt in light and dark grey with some specks of blue and brown and Regia Mini Ringel in dark brown, bright blue, yellow, green and orange. I wanted the sock for my pal to be more than just a nice yarn, or a sock with a pattern. I nixed the pattern sock because of time constraints but still wanted something different. Your thinking right those two color and pattern choices together yeah that's different all right, are you crazy? Here's the result:

The sock is a technique I was shown by a fellow knitter, I have know idea if it is in a pattern book somewhere, all I know is it is commited to memory and I incorporate it into my standard sock pattern. The basics you choose a self stripping and a Jacquard and knit 1 row alternately resulting in the above. The best results always seem to come from mixing two colour choices that you would never think to put together. Many from our knitting group have done socks in this fashion and it is always such a surprise. Now I'm not so sure if I will complete these for my pal or choose two different yarns in the same technique, I'm not sold on the the colours of this particular match up. Hey, drop me a comment let me know what you think.

Olympic Update-Day 11

2006-02-20T12:18:00.000-08:00

I am well on my way. I think I have a good chance at a podium finish. This weekend I got both sleeves to about 2/3? complete.
I blocked the back and fronts, to prepare for the sewing of the shoulder seams to complete the collar. Wow, talk about prepared. Thankfully, after reading many posts from other bloggers who have knit Butterfly I took 2 inches off the length. And after a light blocking, meaning no streach to the length it came out still longer than I expected, but workable. The Noro really grows after being washed. I had already planned to take length off the sleeves so I don't have to fold them up. So the plan is to finish the sleeves today or tomorrow. Sew up the the shoulder and knit the collar on Wednesday. Sew the sleeves on Thursday, side seams Friday. Finishing touches for Saturday. Wear for closing ceremonies on Sunday.

I thought I would post the gold medal finish for an unofficial participant of our Knitting Olympics. My bestest knitting bud completed her Rogue on Sunday. Ladies and gents thats a complete sweater in 9 days with the world still rotating and life going on in the meantime. S you deserve the medal, congratulations. (I never asked if I could post this so I won't divulge any names. I know you are thinking, you won't give out her name, but it's ok to post her picture! LOL )

Biathlete

2006-02-18T20:26:00.000-08:00

Today another beautiful day, another day torn between knitting and spending some time outside with the family in the sun for a walk to the beach. No need to be torn I changed to the Biathalon, knitting and walking (as much as I wanted it to be knitting and shooting :) Thats my white jersey sticking out of my jacket. And for the Butterfly update, those are two sleeves ont he needles. The back is complete.

Photo courtesy of "L"

edited to add click hereto see larger picture blogger doesn't like when I upload using the largest picture size?

We spent a few hours on the beach, running around in the sand and checking out tidal pools. Ok, ok I didn't run but the kids and the dogs did, isn't knitting and walking enough?

Also,these two items, the Laplumato Shawl , and the Odessa hat without beads have been gifted along with the finally felted Fuzzy feet (sorry I forget to take pictures of them felted) I hope they bring the recepient much comfort in the coming weeks. I wish her all my best , and will be thinking of her.

Doesn't Griffin make a great Vanna White?

Olympic Update Day ??? I've lost count

2006-02-16T11:39:00.000-08:00

Wow so much to tell you, I think a photo review is in order.

First we have End of Day 5:

Still working on the back

End of Day 6:

Back almost complete

For V-Day (which btw is not a big deal at our house) the boys picked these:

These were completely closed until I put them in warm water then BAM! instant bloom.

My dog Griffin, and his "lady" friend, had puppies on Saturday. This is Brindle with her puppies 2 girls and 2 boys.

"L" (my 4 yr old) wanted to learn this:

He is surprisingly dextorious and already has the hang of it, except of course the wrapping of the yarn. On the way to daycare this morning he asked when we go home can we knit? My heart was mush!

And yesterday K found out he made the school basketball team! Way to go K!

Then to top it all off this came in the mail yesterday:

Wahooo, CAN-A-DA, CAN-A-DA! And the size I ordered fits my office chair perfectly.

Olympic Late Night - Day 4

2006-02-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry late post, I was too tired last night. End of day four progress, the back
9 1/2 ", and just my luck the noro has so many knots tied in and they didn't continue with the same colour repeats, I see now there is a lot of blue.

I took this today while walking the dog at the waterfront during my lunch hour.

Olympic Late Night- Day 3

2006-02-13T00:09:00.000-08:00

Day 3
Prelim Round Official Result:

Michelle still seems to be on track even after waking up feeling no better than the day before. She does seemed to have recovered nicely from the poorly scheduled 4 year old birthday party she had to attend this afternoon. And surprised us when she made up some time while out at a fundraising basketball auction. Who knew you could bid, eat, talk, joke crudely, and knit and still be olympic material baby!

Breaking news... A injured knitted has pulled herself from the knitting olympics and Team Canada has arranged for her replacement, she will be arriving....
OK no knitter was injured but my friend has unofficially joined the olympics and has been knitting with us since Friday. She is knitting her 4th Rogue and needs to set an Olympic record, she has to work out of town for a couple days so she will need to make up for lost time. What was she thinking, working during the Olympics! Anyway please welcome her and I hope to post her progress if she'll let me.

Olympic Late_ Night Day 2

2006-02-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

Athlete: Michelle D.
Sport: Cardigan

Recap Day 1
Preliminary Round Official Result:
Michelle seems to have suffered a bit on her time due a cold. Michelle hopes to recover that time tomorrow.

Day 2
Prelim Round Official result:
It seems Michelle has made a comeback after suffering yesterday from a cold contracted 5 days before the start of the games. Michelle seems to have battled back and is making good progress, completing day two with a completed left front 0f her Butterfly cardigan. We will be keeping a close eye on Michelle to see if she has indeed recovered from her cold.

Official Cast On

2006-02-11T22:54:00.000-08:00

On Friday, the official cast on time of 2pm, coincided with a sunny day (of which we have had few lately) and 2 kids home from school. What does a true olympic knitter do? Move venues of course. Olympic venue for the cardigan event moved outdoors due to good weather. This picture was kindly provided by "L" my four year old photographer. Sorry he's booked right up till September, after the wedding season. If I get him taking pictures of yarn he will be in contention with Zib as the most sought after yarnographer.
So difficult as it was :-) I managed to make the best of it and cast-on at 2:55pm PST.
Go Team Canada! Oh and no dogs contributed to the knitting, that would be cheating.

Italian Post

2006-02-10T19:20:00.000-08:00

My blah day got better, sooooo much better. This was waiting for me when I got home on Wednesday. Such happy tissue wrap isn't it?

This was sent to me from the generous Wendy of Zibibboisgood in exchange for Kraft Dinner and some other goodies. It is a beautiful silk in deep purple, the picture doesn't do the colour justice. Thank you Wendy for the wonderful silk, and the effort it took to get it here. Wendy has had some issues with the Black Hole of the Italian Post, so she had this directly sent from HipKnits in the UK. Which by the way was super quick it was post dated Jan 31 and to my door way up here in the north of Canada on Feb 8.

Blah

2006-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

Having a cold, self induced deadlines and housework does not make for a productive knitter.

I finished the shawl and the last slipper, started a hat (Grumperina's Odessa for Magknits), clipped and washed the dog, 9 loads of laundry, yeah I sound like a pig but I missed ONE laundry day. I also stripped all the beds and don't forget all of the towels used for swimming days. Dusted, vacuumed and washed the floors. (Our house is mainly tile and wood floor, this makes for lots of washable floor space.) Dammit who wanted a bigger house? Oh yeah that was me, dumbass. Of course the decision for a larger home was made BEFORE I knit, and had a second child! Insert Rod Stewart's voice here "I wish that I knew what I know now..."

Before Friday, HAHAHAHA, I need to finish the hat, felt the slippers, wash both shawl and hat and send away, swatch for Butterfly (my Olympic ~~insanity~~ er project.), andmake a decision on a pattern and yarn to use for my sock pal. Under control right?

Last night I went to watch a local b-ball game and and watched the opening ceremonies to the local tournament both were fantastic. Tonight is event night at my son's school, tomorrow is Knit night, Saturday I'm volunteering for our local chocolate festival, really who could pass that up! Sunday "L" has a birthday party and Sunday night I have a loonie auction to go to. Under control right?

I think I need to place a call to that Harlot women, she can talk me down from this insanity no?

Really though, I look forward of all the events, hopefully next week is a bit more relaxed.

LaPlumAto

2006-02-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

I received difficult news this weekend about a friend, and once the news sunk in I knew I needed to knit something. I decided on a fuzzy, happy yarn combo in a quick and easy pattern shawl pattern found at cosmicpluto knits. I am only using the first 3 rows of the pattern and I am knitting and changing yarn willy nilly, until I like how it looks. Here she is is so far, with all her yarn buddies.

edited: to enlarge photos
Here is LaPlumAto by herself.

Her name LaPlumAto is a combination of the names of the yarns I used. LaPlaya the mulicolored cotton, Pluma the light blue mohair-ish yarn and the ever so soft Rosato in the darker blue. Here name is so Spanish I am thinking of the beautiful sun and sandy beaches of Mexico while I knit it. It helps me to knit this in hopes that I can provide some comfort through this difficult time. Please send your thoughts to my friend and her family, she needs them.

Team Canada Knits

2006-01-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

If you wanna be a part of Team Canada leave a comment on the new knit-a-long’s website, and Kelly will add you. Registration is open until February 9th. It looks like the Team Canada has taken on a life of it's own and there will be alot of great things going on over there. So warm up those needles and start training it looks like the competition will be tight. A big thank you to Kelly.

The Harlot's knitting has become so big I wonder if the Gold Medalists for the 2006 Knitting Olympics will be picking up the large corporate sponsors for the 2010 Olympics. Just imaginge the sponsor possiblities!

Still knitting felted clogs for my husband and I, and slowly making a dent in the second ball of yarn for the Irish Hiking Scarf.

Last night we attened a Family Night at "K's" school, and at the end of the hour door prizes are drawn. Since they started these family nights a few years back our family has apparently inherited a very large horse shoe. The first year they held 6 Family Nights and we one 5 out of 6 times and sometimes winning one or more prizes in an evening. Last night the we won not 1, not 2, but 3 prizes. My husband's name was the only one not drawn from our family. There was a Scholastic book bag that I tried desperately to trade "L" my prize of a t-shirt for. He wasn't having any of it, damn woulda made a great knitting bag. And a tub of peanut butter cookie dough. I best be going out to buy myself a lottery ticket while the horse shoe is still you know where!

Have a great weekend, maybe my camera will make it of the bottom of my knitting bag sometime soon.

Insert Title Here

2006-01-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

The weekend was verry wet and drab, but there was knitting. I finished knitting a pair of felted slippers for myself. I need to finish another pair for myself and two pair for my husband. That way I can get ahead and not have to make another pair for either of us for a while. We are both a little hard on our slippers, I will have to show you a picture of our poor pathetic slippers. I needed to take a break though because my wrist was very sore from the larger needles and yarn I guess. Of course taking a break, means knitting on my Irish Hiking Scarf.

Nadine asked if the Olympic photo below was the piece I would be knitting for the Knitting Olympics. Indeed it is, the pattern is Butterfly from Noro Knits by Jane Ellison, both yarn and book were a wonderful gift 2 birthdays ago.

And just in case the Knitting Olympics weren't enought for me I signed up for Alison's Sockapalooozalast night. My first sock exchange, I'm looking forward to getting a sock pal and putting my sock stash to good use.

On the Road to Gold

2006-01-20T12:28:00.000-08:00

Team: Cannabis, I mean Canada
Event: Cardigan
Coach: Jane Ellison, Butterfly

Who could resist olympic knitting? Like the Harlot I have never been much for playing sports, but I have become an Olympic junkie, waking up or staying up all hours to watch events. Foregoing sleep for my olympic fix. My husband is a little perturbed about it all, asking why I can't be this dedicated to hockey. It's all hockey all the time at our house. I have been known to be a little bitchy about it on occasion, and will refuse any conversations that start with "that was a stupid call" or "that was a dumbass pass, what the hell was he thinking?", "did you see that hon, look, look" Insert rolling eyes here and "Hon, I really don't care", or "Ssshhh I'm counting stitches". Sorry I digress.

So for my Olmpic feat, I have decided to knit something from my stash. That alone is an Olympic challege NO? Keeping with the self imposed yarn diet, not buying yarn to participate for such a special event, at least it should be up for consideration to carry the flag! While the pattern might not be challenging, it will be a challege for me to complete it in the time alotted. Especially since it involves sewing up, and we all know how I love to sew things up.

Weeks End

2006-01-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

Still lying low, and I know your hanging on my every word! Well wait no more, I got the swift! The ball winder has taken up with him already, Floozie! Both have settled into their new home on the ends of my desk in my downstairs office. An office door with a lock! Bliss, sheer bliss. I can lock myself in and wind and wind till my hearts content (or when the children have fallen asleep from pure exhaustion from calling my name for hours on end without a reply) which ever comes first.

Week in review:

These are now finished and waiting to be worn.

A few games of Jenga of were lost *blush* to a four yr old.

These Land of Nod cinnamon buns were prepared and baked and ate.

And a Irish Hiking scarf (minus a cable repeat) was started using Bernat Denim from the stash, which is wonderfully soft.

Winder Love

2006-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Little knitting has been accomplished, to much time on the computer, and more sleep needed. Maybe I have post traumatic knitting syndrome, I here it's bad after the holiday insanity.

Despite the lack of knitting I don't have a lack of projects I want to start. I think I have added four to six more to the running list in my head.

I don't believe my camera has made it off it's cradle since Jan 1 either.

My future should be shaping up next week though, my yarn swift, should be making it's way to me as we speak. Oh, I can't wait, what a day that will be. I will be able to break my wool winder out of it's box to introduce it to it's mate. Really isn't a wool winder without a swift like a pbj sandwhich without the jam. So I haven't used it yet, that would be wrong :) I thought about getting my handy husband to make me a swift, but I couldn't have bought the materials or spared the time it would have taken him to make one (he doesn't see my pain of having a wool winder without a swift) for the price I found the swift online. Even better I will be able to wind yarn INTO skeins for the purpose of dyeing. Like I need another addiction! Send good snail mail thoughts my way for a fast and speedy union of winder and swift.

I got nothing!

2006-01-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Nothing going on, brain function is at a minimum. I completed one sock and will move on to the next one today, maybe tomorrow. I knit a few repeats on the Flower Basket Shawl, but other than that I been doing nuttin'. This is exactly how I feel.

Ringin' in the New Year

2006-01-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

Just me and my Fleece Artist Merino, oh and my husband. Once I started I couldn't stop (knitting that is), I think yarn gets better with age. This has been in my stash for some time, one of those what are you going to make with it moments? when you say, "I don't know I will think of something" or "I don't know, but it's pretty and I don't want anyone else to have it. " Alright, alright I confess I am terribly selfish, I wanted it for myself. And what d'ya know I found something to make out it for myself, socks. I know I go wild and crazy on occasion :)

How do we spend the day in Northern B.C.on New Year's Day? Your dying to know aren't you? Tailgating and ATV'n of course. The best man from our wedding was visiting and out we went with his family and friends for a few hours, bombing around in the mud. We were at one of our old high school party haunts at the base of the mountain. It was fun and my boys had a blast. We had hot chocolate and a fire, and our fireman friend tried to convince the boys that you could start a fire with potato chips, in a pinch. "Look see they burn." PYRO!

I've been thinking about the 2006 knitting season. You know we have to prepare, just like professional athletes no? I'm going to stick to a strict training schedule of socks, throw in Butterfly from Noro, mix it up with some felted slippers. Then WHAM! go in hard after spring training with the Dale of Norway St Moritz for ~~my husband~~ me. See I said I was selfish ;)

On the days before and after Christmas...

2005-12-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

...my true love gave to me: 1 visitng MIL, 2 kids jacked up on Christmas, 3 nights of wrapping, Fouuurrrr flu "bugged" people(including me).

(edited to add: please make sure you're comfy, grab a coffee and a snack and maybe some champagne you might be here awhile)

Yes, it's all over for another year. Thankfully no one was sick until Christmas night after all the festivities were done. Well except for that incident on the day before Christmas Eve when we were all dressed and ready to go out after the kids went to bed and I narrowly missed being puked on.
Christmas Eve is always my favorite time, and this year was no different. The kids are allowed to open 1 gift each, always the same thing, a new pair of Jammies, and 1 mutual gift (usually a new christmas book, this year the Polar Express DVD). "L" was superhero superman with a velcro cape, and "K" a "pirate" of the carribean with his skull pants. We watched for the first time The Polar Express, and then read the four or five Christmas books we have acquired over the years. They boys put out Grandma "Faraways" almond cookies and some "nog negg" for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer, then off to bed after tracking Santa with Norad. This by the way is very cool for the kids, my kids loved it,

Christmas morning was good, and funny, not always the reaction you expect. When the boys came downstairs and both had bright shiny new red bikes under the tree (unwrapped of course) my oldest was taken right away and my youngest seem not to notice. Even though it was what he talked about most of the summer and right up to christmas about getting a new bike. Instead it was "Mom, what's in this big box?" "I don't know bud, do you see anything else intresting?" "UUMMMM" glances at bike, "Yeah but what's in this big box, is it for me?" "Look "L" I think Santa brought you this." "Yeah, but what's in this big box?" One track mind. He didn't warm up to the bike until yesterday when I convinced him that he could ride it without the upturned training wheels attached. (He wouldn't let us take his training wheels off his old bike when he didn't need them anymore, but allowed us to flip them up out of the way making them useless. The training wheels didn't get installed on then new bike.)

Christmas dinner, which did not include turkey, but stuffed roasted chicken, was fantastic. I made the chicken, and veggies, and a Rum Cake, hell knows we all should have rum for the holidays. My mom made the stuffing and gravy and my MIL made a fantastic and gigantic pecan pie. Dinner included, my mom and dad (divorced but still civil even pleasant to each other) my oldest brother and his gf, and my MIL and my family. Great fun was had by all after dinner when "L" passed around the POP ROCKS he got in his stocking, discussion of said POP ROCKS and its uses not to be mentioned here!

I received a beautiful family ring from my husband and sons, and the best knitting gift of all time was a ball winder from my best knitting friend Shelly. Isn't it great to have someone who knows what's going to turn your crank(pun intended) Thanks Shelly.

Well the insanity is not yet over, we still have not decided if we will attend the New Years party we put of going to every year. It seems like getting prepared for one night out with friends right after Christmas is like organizing a major play, a production of monstrous sets and cast. Usually I'm all for it before Christmas, when we get the RSVP invitation, but come Boxing Day it's "Hon, do you wanna go, or should you just cook up your seafood dinner while I lounge in my flannel jammies and knit a row or two?) It so easy to stay home, but sometimes easy isn't always best, that's what I tell my kids,. Maybe I should take my own advice, and go out and buy a new dress for me and a new shirt and pants for my husband. Who am I kidding, I could buy some pretty nice yarn with all that money. Who's going to be there for me later when I'm down? Those people I got dressed up with and drank champagne or yarn, precious yarn?

Well it looks as though I have spun a yarn, I think I outdid myself. If you are still reading I commend you for your persistance. Lord knows I would have bought yarn and sat on the couch and knit by now.

Happy New Year fellow bloggers and knitters, I thank you for coming and hanging out with me.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and your families all the best for the holidays.

Drumroll please

2005-12-15T10:44:00.000-08:00

Without further ado (cause god knows it took long enough) let me introduce to you, the completed, the one , the only (that I'll make) MMMMMMMust Have Cardigan.

Yes, finally it is done, and while it took along time, only because I shunned it now and again, I truly enjoyed making this sweater. That doesn't mean I didn't frog it oh no no no! I liked the pattern, the Peruvian highland wool in Ruby delightful, those buttons (which the jury is still out on) are from a friend, hand cut and drilled deer antler buttons. Please feel free to give your opinion on the buttons. I am very happy with how this sweater turned out, I am extremely proud of myself for stepping back now and again so that I didn't rush it. I took my time (lots of time) knitting, taking it back when a mistake was made, being patient with the sewing up. I think my Mom will be thrilled to bits to finally open this up on Christmas day.

And on the heels of the Must Have Cardigan, the quick and easy Mohair mitts knit from Fleece rtist Mohair and Blue Face Leicester. Gotta love a quick knit. I don't know who these will be for but they will make a great ~~oopps I forgot about you~~ last minute gift.

On Tuesday we got to watch "K" (that's him sandwiched between the girls) narrate The Night Before Christmas with interludes of different Christmas songs, sung by his classmates. My son is normally very shy and nervous, but put him on the stage to sing or read and he beams. One of his parts was to read " on dasher, on dancer on comet on cupid..." and he managed to get it all out. Me, my tongue gets tied trying to read it at home to the kids, nevermind putting me on stage in front of the whole school. One more christmas concert tomorrow, a basketball tournement this weekend, frantic last minute shopping for all the things I thought I bought, MIL to arrive and before you know it Santa will be here. Better get a move on.

Stat Checker & Panta Coveter

2005-12-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today I was checking my stats, I like to know where people are visiting my blog from and I also like to know how they found my site. Today I had a visitor, and am such goof, I was so excited to see my blog referred to on a non-knitting site. All it took was this:

"Where: Blogs are everywhere and can be about anything. Use Google Blog Search to find one on just about anything. Here are just a few:
Unravelled — Knitting...."

on a library blog about blogging. There it was Unravelled - Knitting, doesnt take much to excite me does it.

More finished objects to come soon. The elusive Must Have will hopefully be making an appearance soon. And if I wasn't swamped enough, I came upon a quick knit for christmas while visiting Zib, that I must make for the girls in my life. Well I'm sure it would be a quick knit if I didn't want to make four of them. I may be pushing my luck and pass into "IT". You all know what "IT" is don't you? Crafster is where the pattern can found on the Panta thread the, pattern translation can be found on pages 2 and 4 and there are many great variations on the pattern. I dare you go take a peek.

It's a Wrap

2005-12-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to buying a longsleeved v-neck to wear under my pink wrappy cardigan. It is very comforable, and warm but sheds like you wouldn't believe. The pattern called for ribbon as a closure and I opted to use a pin instead However, the pins are a bit fidley so I may just add the ribbon after all. Not till after Christmas of course. I am hoping with wear the sweater will lose most of the hairness, but if it doesn't I may have to invest in shares for the lint roller.

Another finished item, my husbands Peruvian earflap. I am extremely happy with how it turned out and even though he has seen it, he still wants me to wrap it and put it under the tree. He is a difficult person to buy for and this originally was a christmas gift, what a good sport.

Like everyone else life is a bit hectic. So blogging is few and far between.

Doctor's Orders.

2005-12-11T01:44:00.000-08:00

I wanna shout it from the rooftops, I have high speed internet service at home. My doctor prescribed it! Well really, no he didn't but he would if he knew my pressure went through the roof every time I tried to us our dial - up! Mind you if I tried to shout now it would be less dramatic, I have laryngitis!

Knitting you ask, well yes I am being a good girl and trying to get my finishing done. Oh joy oh bliss I love the finishing up stage. HA!

Peruvian WIP

2005-12-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

The peruvian Ch'ullo Hat is almost completed, only ends to weave in, lining to whip stitch and a little light steaming and it'll be done. I also finished my dad's Tuffy socks this weekend. This weekend was Breakfast with Santa and a short winter parade. "L" had his picture taken with Santa, but "K" wasn't interested, he was very relieved when I didn't insist on humiliating him, just to get a shot for Grandma. So the hat is almost done, the MHC cardigan banished to the bathroom, yet to be steamed and buttoned and a pair of mohair mitts next on the needles. And on Saturday morning we woke up to our first real snow. I let Griffin our 9 month old shitzu/bichon out for a his morning jaunt and in a few minutes called him back in. Because my hair was standing on end and it was cold I stode behind the door when I opened. When I turned around to wipe his paws this is what greeted me. Do you think he had fun?

Santa came early

2005-12-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

And he brought me this. All I want for Christmas is a new LYS, a new LYS. Imagine my shock when my mother asked if I'd heard about the new yarn shop that was opening, and I hadn't. She said, "I thought you of all people would know". Imagine me passing out when she told me where it was opening." It supposed to be right downstairs in your office building". So of course I had dial up my best knitting pal (several times, I couldn't get the number right, I was so excited) and tell her the good news. After what seemed like an eternity I finally got it out of my mother that the women was trying to open up for December, and of course I made a hasty departure to go and check it out. Lo and behold, (I think I heard angels, Hallelujah, hallelujah) right before my wondering eyes did appear a new LYS owner and eight shelves of yarn gear. Ok that last part was lame and I don't know how many shelves, annywho. I am torn, I am very excited that there is a yarn store downstairs from my office, but I might have to get the HR department to forward my pay cheques downtstairs. Dangerous. The owner is very pleasant and receptive, she is starting out slow and once she know's what people are intrested in, she will start expanding. I'm sure she thought I was a total crazy person when I found that the store was open, first after babbling like an idiot then phoning my girlfriend immediately to say "GUESS WHERE I AM!!!" and then taking pictures of the place. K, well I am a little crazy but that's beside the point.

I have a FO that never even made it to the work in progress list. Here is a picture of the NON-ITCHY! earflap hat I whipped up for my son. He likes it enough, but still wants a purple hat, his favourite colour it puple. So I've convinced him a few blue stripes might be ok. I explained I really don't have a problem with him wearing purple, but the little boys in his class might. I'm sure he would be crushed. WHAT! purple isn't a "boy" colour. I'll just tell him to say "Purple's the new blue, where have you been?"

This weekend will be our City's winterfest. So breakfast with Santa in the morning with the Parade to follow, then off to son K's badmiton tournement. I think sleep and knitting will be in order for Sunday wouldn't want to over do it! ;)

Mr. Sandman

2005-11-29T08:55:00.000-08:00

Mr. Sandman, bring me a seam.

Make them the cutest seams that I've ever seen

Give me two seams like invisible and kitchner

Then tell me that my seamless nights are over

Sandman, I’m so alone

Don’t have no seams to call my own

Please turn on your magic seam beam
Mr. Sandman, bring me a seeeeeam.

Well the Must Have Cardigan's seam dream came true this weekend. The Sandman brought seams. Whether or not they are "the cutest seams that I've ever seen" is still up for dicussion. Now all thats left is the steaming of the seams and some button action. Pheww, I think my finishing patience has been stretched this week, so much that I gave myself a reprieve and cast on for some boot socks for my Dad. I love socks, socks are my soul mate of knitting. No pattern needed, its all upstairs, portable, gratifying and best of all very little seaming.

Well you might have noticed, there are no pictures yet. I know what your thinking," HA she didn't seam those projects, where's the proof. Take my word for it K. After seaming, both projects got sent to the naughty corner with their noses to the wall. I didn't want to look at them, seaming makes me cranky. Go figure.

Anywho, more than seams were accomplished this past few days like this. A 1000 piece winter scene puzzle. And to avoid anymore torment from my four year old about when we were putting up our Christmas decorations, I finished 3/4 of that too. The garland and lights the skating rink and village, and a wreath or two, check.

Progress Made

2005-11-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I managed to complete my Fuzzy Wrappy Cardigan. I finished sewing up the dreadful piece of knitwork and crocheted the wrappy edge. I love the look of the Patons Divine but for someone who hates the process of finishing up Divine is definately not going to win me over in that catagory. I am extremely happy with the fit and now just have to find the perfect pin to close it up. The pattern calls for a ribbon, but nahhhh, that means more sewing. Picture to come once it's had a bath, and shed some of it's hair so that when I take it off it doesn't look like I've been wrestling with a cat.

Last night was our groups Knit Night, coffee,dessert and the company was great. Many from our group are doing their Christmas knitting, so alot of Fuzzy Feet and Felted Slippers on the neddles. I finished up my ~~hellish~~ lovely Wrappy cardigan I made good work of fondling all the yarn with visions of new projects dancing in my head. The Fleece Artist Merino in a gorgeous red/pink and a rich brown and grey mix. Then I cheated on the Fleece Artist with the sport weight in a deep chocolate brown,green,blue. Oohhh, it would have looked so nice in my basket by the fireplace. But the in the end I showed great restraint and it was enough to dream and I decided that if it was there next week it was meant to be.

Since my last post I have started a new project, the Peru Alapca Earflap hat for my husband. The picture is of the three colours of Alpaca he lugged home (on cones) all the way home from his soccer trip to Peru. I also have two auctions ending this weekend for Dale of Norway Olympic patterns so wish me luck and hope I win the auction. This is all to divert my attention away from the Must Have Cardigan that only needs to be put together. I've banished it so long now I forget how much I have left to do, I think half a sleeve and side seams. Maybe this weekend.

Photo Shoot

2005-11-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

(Click me, I'm cute)
Yesterday after updating the sidebar, I discovered I hadn't taken pictures of several of my finished objects. So after dinner "L" helped me track down those knits and the photo shoot commenced. I think "L" has a knack for this picture taking stuff, at four he may already know what he wants to be when he grows up. "How you say dat? A Tographer?" Close.

After taking pictures of our family of hats (I made these earflap hats last year for my family)"L" thought it would look great to wear them all. Notice my felted cookie monster gloves on his hands. What a ham! Upon closer inspection of this picture I realized that it looked like he was wearing a Doulbe D knitted bra!

So I have added some more FO's to the Gallery but unfortunately Flickr has told me, "Whoa! You have used up 100% of your uploads for this month! Dangnabit!" That's ok I will have something intresting to add next month.

Updates

2005-11-21T12:25:00.000-08:00

Well the MHC is still seamless. Yes, it sat untouched all of Sunday while I was being a domestic goddess. OK, well maybe not goddess maybe a queen or princess. There was laundry, and bball practice, and groceries to buy and put away, floors to be vacuumed. You get the picture. I did however, have time to cast on for my husband's Peru alpaca ear flap hat. No picture yet.

I also updated my sidebar ever so slightly, I have removed those items I have finished and opened up a gallery, with some old and new items.

P.S. Thank you to those that commented I appreciate the compliments and I love to hear from those that read.

Seaming Seams

2005-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am finally making a dent in the seaming of the Must Have. Why is it taking so long, simply because when I learned to knit, I never thought ahead. I didn't realize there would come a day when I would have to sew. I love to knit, but detest sewing up. acck, patoooe. Sorry to all those sewers out there. I've already decided that when the socks I knit get holes that I must trash them and knit more. Logical for the sewing challenged, more knitting less sewing.

Earlier this week my husband, after throwing a load of laundry in, says to me in an off hand way. "Oh, hey I was looking at one of your magazines." I immediately stop what I'm doing, I am in shock. (The only magazines I own are knitting related, you see my surprise) "I think I saw something that I might like." And off he goes to retrieve said magazine, while I sit in rapt attention. He's taking an interest, not like when I had to force him to just TRY the socks I knit for him. He comes back flipping through my newest Knitters mag, and says " Yeah this one, I like it." hands it to me and back off to the laundry room. I'm thinking a hat, but a hat it was not. NO NO NO my man has some knitting taste, the magazine lay open to the ad for the new Dale of Norway Torino Olympic sweater.
http://www.beaellisknitwear.com/images/enlarged/torino2006.jpg

What's a girl to do after a request like that? Hunt down every online shop to see where I can get the pattern of course, and my mind is whirling with yarn choices. The truth is I'm just scared he's going to change his mind, better get it on the needles ASAP.

Finito

2005-11-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

The picture of the finished Vogue Vest. This was a great quick project. Well, quick if you used the same yarn and needles called for, not AS quick when you change those and don't check gauge. Annnnnnyways, I love this vest, it's perfect for work. I wore it today with a pink shirt, and on the weekend with a striped shirt in different shades of purple so it's definately versatile. You might notice the armhole and shoulder edges are rolling a bit, I'm going to try and fix that. But overall I am very happy with this vest. *click the photo for a better look.

Yarn Prizes

2005-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

What can be better than that? UMMMM, Nothing! I received my prize yesterday. Generously donated by Anne, from the Give a Little campaign for Katrina Relief. Not only did she send the yarn described in the prize, but a handmade soy candle that smelled so delicious I couldn't keep my nose out of it. Pearberry was the scent and the tin was beautifully decorated with seaglass and decorative wire. Anne, the extra skein of Canadian wool you sent along is now happy to be "home" in it's country of origin, and we both thank you. What a great ending to a day that started out a little shaky.

Rest In Peace Copper

2005-11-12T11:01:00.000-08:00

It is with great sadness I announce the passing of our guinea pig Copper. He was a member of our family for four years, we will miss that famous squeak. Predeceased by his friend Jersey the long haired guinea pig. He was laid to rest in the backyard beside his best buddy this afternoon. R.I.P. Copper, my boys say you are welcome in pet heaven and have wrapped you in your special blankie for the journey.

This afternoon was a difficult day for the boys and probably harder for me. That's the problem with having pets, they die. As much as all that chomping on the metal water bottle annoyed the heck out of us, the quiet now reminds us that he is gone, My husband even said "How sad, no more squeaking EVERY time I walk in the room." (At least someone acknowledged my husbands comings and goings)

The Long and Short of it.

2005-11-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

It's going to be a long weekend, short on knitting. This weekend another tournement, this time Taekwondo. We spent 4 1/2 hours there today, Kendal was testing for his #7 GUP (yellow with green stripe)First was Pomsee, then Sparring and finally kicking he did well in all, and I was very surprised at how well he broke his board. Tomorrow is competition, so I should be able to make a good dent in the sock kntitting department. I hope to finish picking and sewing the button band on the MHC on Sunday. I do have an FO, my Vogue Vest is done and I wore it today, I love it. There's a few things I could have changed if I would have actually thought the pattern through, but I like it just the same. Hopefully I will have picture to show on Monday. My next project in the line up will have to be my husbands earflap hat, made with the Alpaca he brought me back from his trip to Peru last November. I will have a full report on Monday about how flat my ass was from sitting on the hard bleachers of the Civic Center. I'm kidding, a full update on knitting news and otherwise.

Less is More?

2005-11-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

One could hope that less is more, because I got less knitting done last night. I had to take back about 5 inches of knitting on the piece I showed yesterday, which will eventually become this (without the stripes), from VOGUE knitting Winter 2004/05.

The stars must not have been aligned, or I didn't hold my tongue right because this piece of knitting was much to big after the ribbing. Because it certainly had nothing to do with the fact that I used different yarn, different needles and didn't check gauge. Gauge, schmage! We must soldier on so instead of ripping out all that hand cramping ribbing I decreased enough after the ribbing at the start of the stocking stitch to make it less "poofish". I know I lost you at poofish, these technical terms are difficult to dicipher, my apologies.

On the finishing front: NONE, NADA, ZIP.

Pressure Tactics

2005-11-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

Resulted in this, no not the finished object as demanded, but a new WIP. The pattern is from a previous Vogue Knitting Mag. I think from winter 2004, I am knitting this from yarn I had in the stash, amazing I know. It is a cotton blend and very soft, and very heavy, it will be perfect for the office with a white collared shirt underneath. While I love the look and feel of the yarn, it is difficult on my hands to knit with. It was supposed to be knit flat but I am knitting it in the round due to the inches of ribbing and st. stitch. and less sewing up. We all know where the sewing up leads.... D E N I A L !!!

Well it seems that I don't respond well to pressure, I'll do what I want when I want damnknit! I think that I put a little to much on my " to do" list, not to mention that I forgot I would be spending most of the weekend away from the house. My son had a mid-season minor basketball tournement, they came in 6th. There are only 6 teams in his division, but they played very well, and the team received the Most Sportsmanlike Team award. I played bball in elementary school, but never in highschool. I actually thought I didn't like bball, until this weekend when I realized of all the sports/activities we've watched this is my favorite. So much warmer than watching hockey or skating. BRRRR. All that sitting on the bleachers did not result in the finishing I was hoping, but what a comprise.

Frappin' Unravelled

2005-11-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

If your visiting, please come and add yourself to my Frappr Map powered by Google. I'd love to know where your visiting from.
http://www.frappr.com/unravelled
The Knitty Board has started one for their members http://www.frappr.com/knitty, and thought it would be neat additiion to my blog. So please humour me, don't be shy.

This weekend may very well result in some finished objects. But hey I'm not promising anything, just saying. I may even get to updating my sidebar. Maybe if I create a pressure situation I may actually get it down. It's a test, lets see if I pass.

Productivity

2005-11-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Well as predicted, not much knitting, well more like no knitting was accomplished this past weekend. But I was productive, housework (blehhhh) productive. I spent a long time spring cleaning our bedroom and ensuite. I took everything out except clothing in closet and dresser. I cleaned from top to bottom and nothing went back in that wasn't clean or junked out. The following day was left to vacumming and washing floors. I need to be remined why I insisted on buying a larger home.

Then of course Halloween pumpkin carving and trick or treating sucked up more knitting time. I must admit we had fun. The boys decided they would rather have a more difficult pumpkin design then to carve themselves. So they cleaned I carved.

Then gearing up to brave the weather and go trick or treating. Kendal the Ninja looked more like a sumo wrestler before we but the belt and muscles on. He had all his winter clothes under his costume. After our house to house we went and watched the fireworks then home straight to bed, Mom was tired!

Some knitting was accomplished and believe it our not, the Must Have Cardi pieces have finished, wahhhooooooo! Only blocking,button bands,sewing up left. I finished one sock and cast on for the other, and I am one sleeve away from another FO, the Wrappy cardi. It may just be a seaming party for me this weekend.

Help when you need it most.

2005-10-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

I found yet another blog to read,thank you toKnit One Chick Too for leaving a comment here on my blog so that I could find you. And just to make you feel better I will make it a point to never mention that in the 80's you harboured romantic feelings for Bill Gates. I'll be our little secret. While I visited KnitOneChicToo, she made mention she had called the Yarn Harlot's Help Line. I have to confess I did try to call the number before, but instead of S "O" S, I keyed in S "zero" S and didn't realize until now. DOhhhh. Very funny go call now, 1-877-SOS-KNIT.(toll free in Canada and the US)

It has been a very productive knitting week, which will make way for a very unproductive knitting weekend. I will now have to "put on" what I was putting off all week while I knit. House cleaning denial, I wonder if there's a toll free number for that? I am nearly done the last piece for the Must Have Cardi, I need to finish the sleeves for the Wrap Cardi and put together, I'm almost to the toe decrease for brown "tweedy" socks and I knit 10 rows on my Flower Basket Shawl.

No new knitting pictures to speak of, so a picture taken at my birthday dinner. Lyndon had Dino Nuggets and "smiley" fries, perfect match no? And notice the "fancy" shirt, he has to wear this to every important dinner. He said to me that day "Mom, can you flatten (iron) my fancy shirt?" The shirt was a gift from his uncle from the Dominincan and was on the smallish side when he got it. So our friend Steve who is particulary great a picking out "fancy" shirts will have to take him shopping when he outgrows this one.

"...you look like a monkey..."

2005-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday yesterday, and I had a fantastic day. I received many great gifts, I was served coffee in bed by my four year old butler. (I knew I had kids for a reason.) I had a breakfast of pancakes and sausages, and dinner out with family and friends. Thanks for a great birtday.
One of the great gifts and card I received. If you can read the card it says "Thursday already, where does time go?" It just happens that our Knitting Night is on Thursday every week.

And I took full advantage of my day of leisure and finished one front of the Divine Wrap and knit and tinked on my FBS (which I have yet to take a picture of).

Michelle, the 80's called they want Jason Bateman Back

2005-10-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Jason Bateman

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

I couldn't resist this quiz, come on who could resist those dimples! But I have to admit I love him in Arrested Development . I thought for sure I was coming up with Micheal J. Fox. I had a momentary lapse of good judgement and nearly posted a picture of myself from the 80's. This on the day before my birthday, not a good idea. It could only cause me (and you) pain.

Harlot Radio

2005-10-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

I think that is the next step, when knitting can have it's very own radio station. Sit back, knit and listen all day, all night to 100.0 KNIT-FM. Featuring"music" from the most famous knitter's around, the soothing click clack of needles. Featuring segments from knitters' all over the world. Stay up to date with local knitting events in your area, bringing you all the late breaking knitting news. I digress, I'm sorry I think I may have caught what the Yarn Harlot has:

"All of this, this incredible stunning whirl of fantasy around me was dragging me down the path to my dreamworld and I was becoming more convinced by the moment that I was asleep... creating a world where knitters rule supreme and everyone not only cares about that but agrees that it's a good idea...an invented reality where knitting finally gets its dues and stands firm and proud in bookshops, auditoriums, radio stations...all places where humans gather and bow to yarn and it's wonders.."

If you haven't already gone to check out her radio spot listen here. (Scroll to Oct 21 Knitting is Hot) Unfortunately, it will be the closest I ever get to hearing her, because I'm sure she won't be flying to my neck of the woods any time soon. We take what we can get.

Ponder the thought people, all knit, all the time, just saying.

Fickle

2005-10-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Last night while shopping at the grocery store I picked up the lastest copy of Vogue Knitting and inside was a Patons pull out booklet. So it seems that the the pink Devine. (A purchase for which I am extremely happy about never getting around to making!) will be made into the quick and easy Wrap Cardigan. I know you're thinking, what about those socks you just started, or the Must have cardigan front that has been so patient. I say in my best Mikey Blue Eyes voice "Forget about it". So maybe on Monday I could really have a FO, miracles do happen ya know.

Moon & Socks

2005-10-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

This morning on the way to the sitter's house we had a glorious "moonrise". Yes that's the moon at 8 am, bootiful isn't it.

And here is the sock I started last night. This sock yarn was brought back from a friends trip, I have never knit with it before but was pleasantly surprised. The yarn, Scheepjes Invicta Extra is soft and I love the color. Well, as much as you could love a brown sock, my husband is on the reserved side when it comes to socks. The brown yarn has a black and white strand twisted in to give it a tweed look.

I'm a WINNER!

2005-10-17T14:19:00.000-07:00

When I opened my e-mail this morning I had a fabulous surprise, the Subject read "PRIZE" and the message read " You have won a prize. Please forward your address and we'll send it along.Thanks for your support, Margene and Susan" of Give A Little . What a great way to start a Monday morning. And a great big thank you to Anne C. for the donation of my prize, 5 skeins of Classic Elite Star in "milk" chocolate brown. Can't wait.

In knitterly news, I finshed one front of the Must Have and I have started the second front which is the last piece, then I can block sew and knit the button and collar. Wahoooo. I finsihed the sport weight socks for hubby, and tried to start the Silk corset, but it came to it's demise. That's the for the best, I need to finish off the Must have first. I am now casting on for another brown pair of socks for my hubby.

Dodgeball Knitting

2005-10-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

I found a mosiac knitting tutorial over at Zib's In her walk through she states "If you can knit a stitch you can knit mosiac...". Immediately my son's new mantra "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball" rattled through my brain. The movie Dodgeball is on the movie channel about every other few hours this month. I have heard it alot in the last week or so. Let's just hope he doesn't test this little theory on his four year old brother! Speaking of dodgeball knitting, I am dodging actual knititng content because who really needs to see a picture of a partially finished pair of navy blue socks. That's what I thought. So one can only hope I get that sweater finished soon so I can show you I really do knit.

Lyndon stopping to smell the roses.

I give thanks to... Hot chocolate

2005-10-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

On Thanksgiving afternoon we headed out for a bike ride, our usual waterfront ride. We thought that the rain would hold off, it didn't. We took shelter and had a bite to eat. Then off we went into the rainset. (that would be the opposite of a sunset). During a discussion about living in a rainforest type region our four year piped up and said Auntie Lynn lives in a sunforest! She lives in the Okanagon where it is very sunny. Makes sense, very logical no? Anywho, everyone was game for a mug of hot chocolate to warm our freezing fingers, especially when it comes with sprinkles.

I did get some knitting done this weekend but sorry no pictures today. I finished the clown cotton socks and knit about 20 rows on the FBS, and almost completed one front of the Must Have Cardigan. One down, one to go. I also cast on for another pair of socks for my husband, these will be done in a sport weight yarn so they should be quick. Lots knit but it doesn't make for exciting photograpy. If only I could get those socks to dance then maybe I might have something.

I leave you with a picture of Griffin, Lyndon took over the dogs spot and "locked" him in. I can tell by the look on his face he's thinking "OH NO I've been hotwheeled"

Better late than Never

2005-10-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Seeing as how it is already Friday I thought that I should share the previous weekends events, before this weekend passes me by. My photo journal of "What I did Last Weekend"

The sceneary photos are along the highway from my home town to Terrace, following the Skeena River. Please note that only bugs were harmed in the taking of these photos.

On Sunday the whole Fam Dam went down to "The Beach" (see previous post for an explanation) to eat our "Picnic" (again previously posted) Look at those faces they're loving it.

Our two other boys were having a hoot too. Barnes the yellow lab loves to swim in the ocean, Griffin the girly boy, not so much!

Wait don't leave yet there's more, this is our son Lyndon, practising for when he runs away and joins the circus. Currently he working on taming our Lion dog Griffin. Click to enlarge the pics.

This weather for this long turkey holiday doesn't look as promising, but we'll manage. I'll try and come up some knitting content soon. Just as soon as a learn how, becaase apparently all I know who to do is un-knit!!! Bahhhh that's a whole other post! Anywho, have a great weekend,Happy Thanksgiving. Or as my son likes to say Gobble, Gobble!

Italian Men

2005-10-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city girl with a small town heart
Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome
Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand
And gorgeous Italian men - could life get any better?
What City Do You Belong in?

Because I forget my camera yet again I will humour you with the Quiz of the week. Roma here I come!

MONDAY

2005-10-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

Creative title, I know. Not much to blather about. I was sick this weekend, joining the other sickies of the household. I did manage to make some progress on my MHC and I am almost finished my sleeves. I can see the boat approaching to take me away from Sleeve Island. Yesterday was a beautiful day and we got out to walk the dogs and had a picnic with the kids down at "the beach". Really it's just the rocky shore at low tide, but hey whatever they wanna call it. The picnic consisted of home made banana bread, and some tortilla and salsa, but hey whatever I wanna call a "picnic" is fine with them. I hope to share some pictures tomorrow, I forgot the camera on the charger at home. Well I better get that signal fire lit so they don't cruise by and miss me. Wait I think it sees me already!

Booty-licioius

2005-09-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have actual knitting content. While it seems I have been knitting, progress is slow when you jump around to 3, 4, sometimes 5 different projects. These are a gift for someone I know who is expecting her first child in early October .Theses booties are just so darned cute, bet you can't make just one pair!

I picked up yet another distraction yesterday, from my local grocery store. The sixth book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon , A Breath of Snow and Ashes. It has been awhile since I read the fifth novel The Fiery Cross, so I will re-read that first. So if im absent from the blog you know where I will be, curled up in a corner, maybe even the bathtub (it's a great place to hide from the kids) pouring over close to 2000 pages.

Knitting projects in the works, I hope to update the sidebar soon. I am still on sleeve island with my MHC, Clown sock just about done, FBS 1 chart complete now on to the 2nd. With the yarn for the corset being lugged around just in case I need to start something else.

Off to try and read and knit and the same time, HA! I can't chew gum and walk at the same time, but hell it's worth a try.

Truth be told.

2005-09-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

All right the truth is out Kay had the right answer. Kay your IT, I will post to your blog. Really you guys an extra toe! This game was a hoot. Thanks for playing.

For the blog game going on at the knitty board, my Four truths and a lie revealed.

1. My freshwater turtle turned up, alive after living in the ocean for 6 months.
TRUE - We cleaned the turtles tank one day, and let him roam the room as usual. We lived right on a breakwater where the ocean at high tide was under my porch stairs. Waldo got out somehow and 6 months later a guy on the boat docked below was shouting "No friggin way that's a turtle!" His buddy thought he was smoking crack. I of course ran down to find Waldo alive although not well, the salt water had eaten a hole in his shell.
2. I previously worked at a secluded fish farm with one other person for weeks on end.
TRUE - This fish farm was accessible by boat (a very long trip) or by seaplane and planted in a bay on the ocean. My longest stint our there was 5 weeks.

3. I was born with an extra toe on my right foot.
FALSE - But I so had you going! LOL

4. I was once stranded on the ocean with no sight of land.
TRUE - Going to aforementioned fish farm, both boats enroute broke down, with a storm blowing up. We also endend up in American waters, not good. We manged to make a new drive belt out of duck tape and hump our way to the fish farm. This trip was supposed to take 5 hours it took us 14. I have yet to tell my mother this ever happend.
5. As a child I had my tongue frozen to a sign post.
TRUE - Not only did I do this once, but twice yeah I was a dumb kid with a wicked older brother.

Tell the truth, you can't lie.

2005-09-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

For the blog game going on at the knitty board, my Four truths and a lie:
1. My freshwater turtle turned up, alive after living in the ocean for 6 months.
2. I previously worked at a secluded fish farm with one other person for weeks on end.
3. I was born with an extra toe on my right foot.
4. I was once stranded on the ocean with no sight of land.
5. As a child I had my tongue frozen to a sign post.

Remember anything is possible ;)

Show your sky day

2005-09-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

After picking up my son from his sitter, this graced the sky over our beautiful city for well over an hour. It is also our city's namesake. "The city of rainbow's" So for Sandy over at Sandy's Knitting from my sky to yours.

Knitter's in sheeps clothing.

2005-09-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

All the productivity I talked about last post was shopping related. I found the best jammies ever, they screamed, begged and pleaded for me to buy them. Intially I thought what a perfect gift for my best knitting co-hort. What could be a better present than flannel jammies? (Besides yarn of course.) Well let me tell you there is something better, these!

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

...two, two, two chicks in one! I found a second pair!

When I purchased these they were going to be a part of her Christmas present but how can one hold back, these just had to be gifted. I couldn't resist, Christmas is tooo far away. It was worth it, can you tell? Look at those smiles. And just when our husbands thought we had already lost our everlovingminds, we decided we should wear them to our Knit Night Thursday. I think after this Thursday it should be mandatory that all our Thursday Knit Knitters wear jammies.

Last night we also said good-bye to my brother, he left this morning. It's amazing how easily you can slip back into the brother/sister relationship. It's like he never left. There is 9 years between him and I, so I was the pesky little sister. I'm sure he thinks I haven't changed.

Additional Pictures

2005-09-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I couldn't edit the previous post. So here are my boys in all their glory at the Cannery Road Race on Saturday.

Forgive me Father...

2005-09-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

..for I have sinned, it has been 4 days since my last post. Wow, time flies. While I have felt extremely productive, I have no productivity to produce. Go figure. I am nearing completion on a knitted gift, just some finishing touches. Yes, I am still on sleeve island, the boat should be around to pick me up in a few weeks, if I'm lucky. I swatched for the corset, but I moved on to the FBS because of an off hand comment from my mother's friend about my hand-dyed yarn. I'm fickle, I'm married, I don't need another long term commitment, just a little flirtation is good. Last but never least a sock, a sock with second sock gauge syndrome*.

*Second Sock Gauge Syndrome - Often referred to as SSGS. a condition that causes the second sock to be knit at a tighter gauge despite using the same number of stitches and the same size needles. Tests to knit the sock directly after finishing the first have not proved to be beneficial. More test knitting is needed, thus more sock yarn shopping must ensue before this disease can be conquered.

This weekend was a runners weekend, runners being my son"K" and husband. Son "L" and I are just there for their for moral support, to hold clothing items, and take pictures. Saturday was spent at the Cannery Road Race where my son came 3rd in the 1Km Fun Run. for his efforts he received a cookie medal attached by string licorce. (photo of said medal not available, it came to an unfateful end seconds after being awarded). Meaning, "L" ate it. My husband came 4th in the 10K for his age group and 6th overall. Way to go boys!

Sunday we took part in the the 25th Terry Fox Run. The four of us biked the run together. Everyone who registered received a Commemorative coin, and we bought the boys a t-shirt. We had a great time, and will definately be there for the years to come. Rest in Peace Terry.

Ho Humming along

2005-09-15T15:18:00.000-07:00

Well it seems that I have been super busy doing nothing. I keep finding other things to distract me from knitting. Why? I don't know, maybe it was the lack of knitting projects on the needles. I needed to find more. I don't really need to start anthing new. Little progress has been made on any of my projects so nothing to show. I did swatch for my corset in the Elann Baby Silk. Yummm.

My brother is here to visit for a week, and I have learned he has started a tatoo that will go all the way down and around his arm, and he wants to eventually do the other arm too. He designed and drew the tatoo himself and it's pretty nice. I'm not so sure I like the whole arm tatoo idea though. It's his body though so what I think doesn't matter. I have knit night tonight so if any knitting gets done I'll fill you in. Mostly I just talk and eat. So I leave you with a picture taken from my office window. Come on be jealous, I know you wanna.

Namesake

2005-09-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

My Must Have Cardigan sleeves (till death do us part will now be called MHC) are soon to be, as my blog namesake states, Unravelled! How'd I know that my blog name would be soo appropriate? A hunch, I think not.

I was two sleeves in and two balls gone when I thought "Dude shouldn't these be longer for a whole ball of yarn!" I look in my project bag and find some lonely addi's, undressed and floating about. Hmmm, I get the needle checker out, 4.5mm. I look at my sleeves in progress, aren't those supposed to be 4.5mm? Insert foul word here. I had forgotten to change my needles after the cuffs, I was being so careful not to screw up the two sleeves on one circular needle that I knit merrily away on the 4mm! I have knit and re-knit this pattern so many times that I should have 3 completed cardigan by now. All my own stupidty of course. So to momentarily avoid undoing I made up an Excel chart (that I have not a clue how to put up here) in hopes that I might actally get this right. And to torture myself further a progress photo of my soon to be unravelled sleeves. At least now I can correct all those mistakes I made in the double moss stitch during increasing.

Hamburger Face

2005-09-10T20:40:00.000-07:00

Whenever we have hamburgers for dinner my son asks for Ketchup eyes and “mouse”, and Mustard nose. In case you were wondering what we eat up here in the north, mouse is not on the menu. “Mouse” is the 4 year old version of “mouth” for those who don’t have children. “And mommy you’re going to do it right, cause Daddy makes an UGLY hamburger face!” All right that’s one hamburger face coming up hold the UGLY.

Last night I was all dressed up with nowhere to go so I thought I would take a FO picture of my silk shrug. Well if not having anywhere to go wasn't bad enough, my camera was dead. I knew what I had to do, I marched into my room changed into the flannel and headed to the couch to knit. What was I thinking, going out on a Friday night when I could be snuggled up on the couch with my flannel and my pup and some great knitting? I did get the picture of me modeling my silk shrug today. It was knit from fleece artist silk, using an adaptation of the shrugs from Knitter’s. I’m still not sure if I will ever wear it, but damn isn’t it pretty!

Yarn fondling

2005-09-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

"The package" arrived today, the package containing the Peruvian Collection Baby Silk. I immediatly ripped open the box, slipped the yarn out of it plastic, and ahem fondled it. Until I remember, oh no, this beautiful bounty was not all for me and I had just fondled someone elses yarn. I'm thinking I just broke rule #2 of the knitters code, One must NEVER fondle anothers yarn until the owner fondles it first. Well shit, now what'll I do? Screw the rule, I broke it already and she'll never know, take it all out and fondle it freely I say.

Ok, now that I have recovered from the silk encounter, I think this might be just the yarn I need for the pattern I bought yesterday. I have no restraint. I will be swatching tonight, with the baby silk doubled to see what I come up with. I would be swatching right now, but damn I left my needles at home today. The pattern is the Corset Tank from Annie Modesitt, and has been added to my ever growing list of want-to knits.

Knitty is Here

2005-09-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

The Knitty Fall issue is up. I have only glanced at the patterns but already have my eye on Ella a triangular shawl, knit with HandMaiden, Lady Godiva. I see a knit-along in the very near future, NO? I know just the person who will be knititng along with me because she needs another shawl in her pile of finished objects. *wink, wink* Maybe said person will see this before she goes to the LYS and heads home.

Really, you knit socks?

2005-09-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

The boy I spoke of earlier is the younger of my two children, he is 4. He was still not feeling well, so off to the doctor’s office to get his test results and have a rash he developed examined. When the doctor finished doctoring, he spied the socks poking out of my purse and asked what I was knitting. “Really, you knit socks? I love wool socks” I snickered wondering if I knit him socks could I barter less time in the waiting room. It was confirmed the boy does have strep, but not an allergic reaction, he gave me a different RX for antibiotics “just in case” with a recommendation to stay home until his throat feels better.

I worked a few rows on my socks at the doctor’s office, and when we returned home I attempted to work on the sleeves of the Must Have. However, playing nurse had me up and down more times than Mary’s pants at a picnic, that I soon gave up.

So when you can’t knit, what else do you do? You think about it! In the line up of future knits, Angelina, pattern from White Lies Designs purchased from Elann. I will use the coveted alpaca my husband trekked all over Peru for (that's his story anyway). He was under some pressure for this wool quest. We had an agreement, I was happy for him to go as long as he got off that return flight with wool, alpaca to be specific. That man done good, he brought me home three large cones of fine alpaca in three colours. He wasn’t sure what colour to get so he bought them all, at a bargain no less. My heart swelled, and the corny quote from Jerry McGuire came to mind “You complete me”. It was the fibre talking, I cant be held responsible for corny movie quotes.

Knitter's Unite

2005-09-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already been to Give A Little , go and visit , the generosity is astounding. I donated the money for a future yarn purchase to the Canadian Red Cross . Keep up the good work Margene and Susan.

I have finished the back of the Must Have Cardigan, and I have cast on for the sleeves. I am attempting to knit both sleeves simultaneously for the first time. We’ll see. The current sock project hasn’t been touched in over a week, but I brought it along when I visited the E.R. with the boy . The good news: we were in and out of the E.R. in 20 minutes. The bad news: the boy has strep throat. Worse news: I never even got the socks out of my purse.

A big shout out to my friend on the road. Visit that new yarn shop for me, I give you permission to be an enabler. Pick up something for me, if it shouts Michelle or even whispers, your thoughtfulness will be reimbursed. Travel safe.