Sunday, December 21, 2008

Holy #$@#! It's Cold

This is the reason why we moved away from Rochester, MN.

Today: Windy conditions and snow showers. Significant blowing and drifting snow. Dangerous wind chills approaching -35F. High 1F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Tonight: Bitterly cold. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Dangerous wind chills may approach -30F. Low -12F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Inspired


I've never been so inspired to knit a shawl until now. I don't wear shawls but when I saw this one I knew I had to make it. I am fascinated by it. I have to make those stitches. It's definitely the engineer/geek in me that is driving me to make it. It's just so geometric. I'm convinced that the above Wollmeise will be perfect for it. What do you think?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Almost done!

I set a goal this year to be done with my Xmas shopping by Dec. 1 so I could just knit, craft, and cook the remainder of the month...no pressure. I didn't hit the goal perfectly but by Wednesday I will be done. YEAH ME! Earlier in November I canned all my holiday knitting and now I can knit without pressure. Knitted gifts will be extras. If I finish they will be given at Xmas otherwise they will be a "just cause" gift later.


In between my shopping, I found time to make this guy. The kids have officially named him Sven Vanderhoodle. Quick and fun other than all the sewing up....not my favorite thing to do. But he was worth it.

Lastly I was tagged by my friend Serena to list 7 things I love. I've gone beyond the obvious of friends, family and my dogs.

1. I love homemade mac and cheese on a cold day.
2. I love watching my husband taking something simple and "teching" it out.
3. I love laughing so hard you cry.
4. I love that my entire family enjoys geocaching and that the kids beg every day to do some more.
5. I love white frosted Xmas cookies. (can you tell I'm hungry?)
6. I love to pet yarn...especially Malabrigo.
7. I love curling up on the couch with my husband and yarn (of course). Xmas tree lit and fireplace going.

One extra....this weekend I bought Pictionary for us all to play. I did not buy the kids version even though I have a 9 year old. We let her decide if she could draw a word or not. We didn't expect much from her...and then she amazed us all. She was fabulous at it. And if you didn't guess what she was writing and then she told you what it was you were shocked you didn't get it. Her drawings were simple. And after she drew the picture sometimes she just sat there wondering how stupid you were. One of our favorites that my husband did not guess was Red Meat. She drew a blob with a circle (bone) in the middle and then drew a cow. Makes perfect sense, right?! This caused me to do number 3 above. I love that kid!

Friday, November 21, 2008

It's Snowing!

It's November in North Carolina and it's snowing! Actually it's stopped now but thats okay. What a great gift to wake up to. Having been a northerner all my life I shouldn't be so excited but snow is something special here. I love that it is that way. We all stepped outside at 6:30am to feel the snow fall on us. It wasn't the same old get up and get ready kind of morning. We were all smiling.

I've been Xmas shopping all week and today is going to be a stay at home in my sweats kind of day. I have lots of knitting I want to do and some internet shopping in mind. Plus, I just received the new Interweave Knits magazine. I'm off to make myself a latte and cuddle up with my computer and magazine.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Cold Hands

I finished up a few knit items that had to be done and now I'm free to knit whatever I want. My hands are cold so I think Fetching is in order as well as Through the Loops new mitten pattern Reykjavik. Both will give me instant gratification and warm hands.

The item that had to be finished was Clapotis. I love it! I love Malabrigo Silky and it only took 3.5 skeins to make it. I have plans to make a skinnier version in some new yarn I purchased. We'll have to see when I get to that.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Girls Weekend

I escaped this last weekend to Vermont for a long girls weekend. A much needed vacation. My flights were great. The food was great. Burlington warmed up for my arrival...63 degrees in November! It was nice to visit and see old friends. I learned a lot this trip...

What I learned this last weekend in Vermont...

1. Extreme ping pong can be dangerous.
2. Geocaching is fun and is now my new hobby.
3. You can burn your finger if the battery cap is not on.
4. Not having children is very good for your chest.
5. Running uphill = hitchhiking
6. The MamaMia soundtrack really riles women up.
7. The "flagshop" is very busy on a Sunday afternooon.


I'm sure I learned more...and I apologize to those reading this who have no idea what the heck I'm talking about...but those who do will appreciate this.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Possibilities

I am happy/grateful that I woke up today and was able to show my girls that anybody of any sex or race can be whatever they want to be. We have a African-American President-elect and North Carolina voted in their first female govenor. Anything is possible girls....anything.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Day of Recovery



Today I am recovering from taking 12 girl scouts (age 7-10) camping this weekend. It was just a simple 24 hour camp however, it was really 25 hours because of day light savings time. I don't know what possessed us to take them on that particular day but we did. There is nothing like 12 girls (plus the other 15 that were in our cabin area) all awake at 5:30am. Thank heaven for my coffee press/mug. This was my camping/early morning friend. I highly recommend you get one. Thank you Caribou!

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Weekend

It was just a busy mom kinda weekend. Shuffled kids around most of it but did pause a bit Saturday night for a few (maybe more) of these.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Out of the mouth of babes

Last night I finished these socks. DD#2 immediately tried them on. Then she said, "Mom. Is this a star toe? I don't care for the star toe. Can you make another pair with the regular toe?" 9 years old and knows what a star toe is. I'm so proud! Today she asked if I could teach her how to make a wee sock. I said she did not know how to knit in the round. She said, "Mom, I know you could teach me." Doubly proud.

IMG_1545

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Vacation


We were finally able to take a quick but needed vacation. We escaped to Blowing Rock. A town right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of N. Carolina. The colors were almost peak. It was beautiful. We visited a 100 year old apple orchard, a winery, went to an Oktoberfest, did some hiking, did lots of driving on the parkway, and took the kids to a small amusement park called Tweetsie Railroad. We went to their Ghost Train night and scared the pants of the girls. The final thing my family did (I didn't) was cross Grandfather Bridge (last photo). This is a swinging bridge built over a gap a mile up Grandfather Mountain. I'm scared of heights and while I wanted to do it with my family I just couldn't. I sat and watched them with my heart racing. Completely irrational...however, I was not the only one. I watched a lot of men and women take a few steps out on it and turn right back around. So me and "my people" hung out waiting for our love ones to come back. All in all a great relaxing weekend. No one wanted to come home. Even the girls asked if we could move there.



Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Haunted House




They worked together. No arguing. Only ate a few pieces of the candy. Then slowly disappeared behind the counter. Spooky I tell you....SPOOKY!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Socktoberfest

I don't need to knit more socks. I already have 2 pair going. However, when Through the Loops said she was hosting a Mystery Sock KAL, I couldn't resist. It's part of Socktoberfest. A month of knitting socks. Why not participate? When am I not knitting socks? I'm making the socks in Socks that Rock colorway Incredible Shrinking Violet.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

ARGHHH!!!

Have you ever had one of those people in your lives who just doesn't listen? Goes about their lives making decisions that affect you and not telling you? Only hears what they want to hear....what benefits them? I do and right about now my head could just pop! What is worse is that this is in regards to a volunteer position. I don't even have to do this #$%@! ARGGGHHH! (Just one of those days)

Sunday, September 28, 2008

You have got to love sock blockers. I have just bought my first set and they really do a great job of showing off a sock.



Yarn: Shibui Sock
Colorway: Kiwi
Needles: 1.5 Addi Turbo
Pattern: Waving Lace from Interweave Favorite Socks

Friday, September 26, 2008

Shalom

I love it when something works out...no problems.


Pattern:Shalom Cardigan
Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky Tweeds
Needles: 10.5 Addi Turbo
Button: Purchased at Yarnbirds in Raleigh, NC.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Faster Faster!

Must knit faster! I'm having a knitting complex today. I feel like I am a slow knitter. I know by nature that I am slow because I'm a thrower. I've tried knitting continental and combination but it looks like crap. I know I need to practice more but what item am I willing to practice on that can look like crap when it's done?

Ravelry and the blog world are to blame for my complex. I am amazed daily by how much some people can knit. One blogger I follow can't simply make 1 of something (socks, hats, scarfs...) she has to make 3 or more of it. And she makes 3+ in one week! Melissa Morgan-Oakes said that she can finish a pair of socks (2 at-a-time) in 1.5 days. I wan't to be able to do that! WAAAAA.....

Well back to my slow, slow, slow knitting.

Monday, September 22, 2008

2 At a Time


This weekend, a couple of friends and I drove 3+ hours north to Virginia to take Melissa Morgan-Oakes 2-At-a-Time sock class. I learned how to do 2 at a time on one 40" circular needle. I don't have single sock syndrome but I have had a couple of stockinette socks that didn't turn out to be the same size so I was hoping this would help correct that. The class was great. Melissa was very down to earth and a great teacher. If you ever get a chance to take a class with her, you should.

The weekend was a nice escape from the house. A long car ride that allowed me to knit for 3 hours on the way there, see a part Virginia I've not seen before, and see a part of North Carolina where I'm sure they have had or still do hold witch trials. Have you ever driven through an area that for no reason what-so-ever, gives you the heebeegeebees? I have no idea where we were but I was glad it was day-light. You didn't see many people but when you did they were all at one persons house. Town BBQ....maybe? Town lynching....maybe?

As for what's on the needles...I am working on a Waving Lace Sock from Interweave's Favorite Sock book, a Clapotis in Malabrigo Silky, a Noro Silk Garden cardigan, and I just started the Twilight pattern from 2-at-a-Time so I could get the technique down in my head. It is definitely fall.....lots of knitting....

Monday, September 15, 2008

Friday, September 12, 2008

We have a winner!

Congratulations to Janet of Twisted Knitter! She is the blogiversary winner. She will be receiving the following skein of PippiKneeSocks yarn, minus the frogs of course.



On another note...it is destash time. Too much yarn, too many sock clubs and now I've preordered the Addi clicks. I have a bunch of yarn up for destash on Ravelry and later today or tomorrow there will be some Addi needles for sale. Please check it out.

Lastly, if you aren't on Ravelry you should be if for no other reason than the following: If you are a Ravelry member and you log in all the needles you have, you can text a message to Ravelry asking if you have a certain needle size. It will text you back with that information! How many times have you been at your LYS wondering if you have a certain size needle? Go here for directions. Once again Ravelry proves how wonderful it is.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Contest time!

Okay, I am a fan of useless knowledge. And since most of my blogging has been useless knowledge, I've decided to give away a skein of PippiKneeSocks sock yarn to a person who can correctly answer the following 3 questions.

1. Who invented the first knitting machine?
2. Where was Elizabeth Zimmerman born?
3. What is the term for a sweater in Australia?

Please send all responses to fallsknit at yahoo dot com by Sept. 11th. All correct answers will be put into a hat and a winner drawn on Friday, Sept. 12.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Tropical Storm Hanna

Nothing major happened here with Tropical Storm Hanna. About 5 inches of rain and a little bit of wind. We fortunately live on high ground with no chance of flooding. The rain however did provide time for the following.


A little bit of cookies, tea and knitting for me.


A little bit of down time with your buddy.

On another note...I've recently had my first blogiversary. I can't believe I made it a whole year. To celebrate, on Monday I will hold a contest to win some new sock yarn from PippiKneeSocks. Come back then and tell your friends.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

It's Official...I'm Addicted

So, I just recently finished up my last pair of socks for Summer of Socks 2008 and I said to myself, "Thank god that's over, I think I'm sock'd out". I merrily went on my way finishing up other knitting like Helena, my neverending Chevron Scarf, and I've started my scarf for the Red Scarf Project. Now I sit here, completely out of my mind, thinking "Hmmmm, I think I need to start some more socks". Am I crazy? I must be addicted. I have a Ravelry queue full of sweaters and afghans I want to make. (Nevermind there are 30 sock patterns in there as well) Why more socks? I tell myself "Just start a nice pair of plain janes socks. You have enough sock yarn. You have too much sock yarn". Maybe that's it. Guilt from having so much yarn. I need to get over that. I'm just stashing for the future when maybe I won't be able to buy any. I need to go look at other peoples stashes on Ravelry. That'll show me how small my stash is.

Maybe with all the finishing I'm doing I'm gearing up for startitis. Socks, a sweater and an afghan...Sounds like the start of fall.

Here are the last pair of SOS08 socks. Lime in Violet superwash with nylon in the colorway Candyland.



Here is Helena from Knitty Summer08 in Bollycine Dolly merino.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Oh the Silence

It is both sadness and happiness that I feel today.

Sad watching my now middle schooler, head off to her first day of school (younger sister started a few weeks ago). Happy that I could go to the grocery store in peace.

Sad that I am now the mom of a 6th grader and 4th grader. Happy that there is no bickering over who is watching what and on what couch today.

Sad that I remember being scared when I sent my first born on the bus for the first time in Kindergarten. Happy that my first born headed off to middle school excited not scared.

Sad that it is now too quiet at home. Happy that they'll both be home in a couple of hours to tell me all about their days.

Friday, August 15, 2008

You Gotta Love Him

After reading Meliabella's questions to her husband on her blog, I decided to subject my husband to the same thing. He played along nicely and those of you who know him will not be surprised at all by a few of his responses.

What is your favorite thing about my knitting? It makes you happy and you are passionate about it.

What is your least favorite thing about my knitting? Less time with me. Used to play cards/games more often. Now you knit at night and I'm a lump and we don't interact the same. (he failed to mention the nights he is working)

What is something I have knitted, that you recall as good? your socks are all good.

Do you think knitters have an expensive hobby? no (he fails to mention that he has a full wood working shop in the garage...if that ain't expensive I don't know what is)

Do you have a stash of any kind? no stash but a nice package (i agree)

Have I ever embarrassed you, knitting in public? no (how about has he ever embarrassed me in public?)

Do you know my favorite kind of yarn? something on loopy loo (that is Loopy Ewe...he better get it right...half of my Xmas list is to be found there)

Do you mind my wanting to stop at knit shops wherever we go? no (no problem as long as the next stop is a brewpub)

Do you understand the importance of a swatch? yes (I'm pretty sure he thinks we are talking about a watch)

Do you think the house would be cleaner if I didn't knit? christ, that's the same kind of question like..should I change my hair or am I fat. My answer is I'm happy w/ the cleanliness of our house as it is so you may as well keep up the knitting. (wonderful, politically correct answer)

Friday, August 8, 2008

None of us are free until ALL of us are free

I'm not very political but what is going on is just wrong. During the Olympics, knit prayerfully in honor of those in Tibet.

Please visit these sites for more information.
International Campaign for Tibet
Student for a Free Tibet

Thank you to Pippi and PoMo golightly for reminding us all!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Summer of Knitting

I have been doing a lot of knitting this summer. Lot's of socks. I decided to participate in the Summer of Socks 2008 because I have lots of sock yarn to burn and what better way then to do it with your peers. I am by far not keeping up with the others but it is keeping me moving along.

Socks are also the perfect summer knitting. I would like to say that I've been knitting everywhere on our many summer vacations but that is not the case. The farthest my knitting has been from home is the neighborhood pool. DH was tied up with work the beginning of the summer and then in mid-July he had knee surgery. It's been a long 3 weeks for me and him. He's been housebound and had to have everyone wait on him hand and foot. While in the beginning he was soaking it up, now he is very restless. Just this weekend he went to the pool and is now back to tinkering in his woodshop. No golf for him for awhile but hopefully I can keep him busy with the list of things I want him to make.

So back to knitting. Here is a mosaic of what I have been up to. Details are of course on Ravelry (fallsknit).

My creation

Friday, July 25, 2008

And then there was two...




Meet Lily. Henry's new sister. He is very much in love with her already. He doesn't mind sharing his toys, his owners, or anything else for that matter. She is 18 months and we are her second owners. She is a fabulous dog and we feel lucky to have her.

Lily is a lady. She prances instead of pouncing. She greets you nicely instead of jumping on you. She doesn't pee on my bushes, like someone else we know. And she lets Henry be the boss...at least most of the time. A true lady.

On another note. The blog disappeared for a while after a minor glitch involving me deleting my blog instead of the other one my daughter and I were working on. I thought what the heck, I haven't done much with it lately, but now I miss it. I feel left out with out one. So I'm back. More knitting stuff coming. There's been a lot of knitting.