01 March 2006
Yes, I'm back
I'm home. I got in at midnight, home by 1 a.m., in bed around 2. I'm bushed people. Yet I did work today. I must be crazy.
The trip was great. Now that I'm home I'm cold, because it was, like, 70 degrees every day there. And on Tuesday, when it rained a bit, it was still warmer than it is here. Alicia, my best friend, looks great, especially only 1 month after having a baby. She's amazing. 4 kids. Not easy. The new baby is so handsome, he's my new boyfriend. And yes, there's pictures, I've just been too tired to download them. And Alicia took a lot too, so I'll post what she sends me when I get them. The kids (from now on refered to as things # 1 through 4) are brilliant, all of them. Thing #2 (her eldest son) was getting over a cold, but he's just the most amazing 3 year old I've ever met. How many of you know a 3 year old who can actually hit a thrown baseball, and we're talking that he can connect, hit it straight, and FAR. He can also throw a football - spiral and everything, and catch one too. And tell you all about dinosaurs, and count, and he can do almost the whole alphabet in sign language. Plus he's just cute. Thing #1 is too smart for her own good. I did start teaching her how to knit. We got her a book/kit at Barnes and Noble on Monday night, and I showed her a few things. By Tuesday morning before school she was casting on, on her own. Thing #3 is jealous of her new baby brother, and tries on a fairly regular basis to "take him out." But she's still a charmer. And is using sign language to tell you what she wants, and she's not even 2 yet. (They hired a lady, who I met and really like, to come in 3 days a week in the mornings to help Alicia get everyone off to school and stuff, and this lady is teaching #3 sign language.) I mean, hell, its only possible to do so much when breast feeding and that kid eats like every 1/2 hour!
I did get quite a bit of knitting done this trip. I'm almost finished with a pair of Bearfoot Mountain Colors socks, I just have to put in the afterthought heels. And I started another pair of toe-up 2 socks on 2 circulars with afterthought heels in Lorna's Laces Jungle Stripe on the plane home. I have decided to name these socks, The Socks that Barney Shat. You'll understand when I post pictures.
I came to the realization that I have seen more movies while travelling than I have at home. So I've decided to start Sarah's Unplanned Travelling Movie Review. I'll use a set of 5 double-points to rate. Never mind what size! Recently seen: Cinderella Man (on the bus-twice to New York) and Walk the Line (to and from Las Vegas). Originally I hadn't planned on seeing either of these movies. I don't like Russel Crowe or Joaquin Phoenix. But I give them both 5 DPs. I haven't stopped singing Johnny Cash songs yet! Needless to say, Walk the Line made me realize EXACTLY what I want for my birthday - the entire Johnny Cash (and Johnny Cash/June Carter) collection on CD, and an I-Pod. I'll go into further filmular detail tomorrow, when I'm not cross-eyed with jetlag.
Must sleep again. Now.
23:40 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Film , Knitting , Leisure , Travel | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this
22 February 2006
This I have decided
1) Most importantly, that by the end of this year I will have enough hand-knit socks that I will never have to wear store bought socks again. Now, this doesn't mean that I need to knit them all, so any sock-knitting fairies out there....get to work.
2) I am going to make enough money this year to be able to afford a house-keeper to come in at least once a month to clean that which I don't want to.
3) I'm going to lose some weight. Just some. I'm not fooling myself.
4) I WILL get myself onto a yarn diet. At some point.
5) My sewing machine will come back out of hiding and actually get used.
These are the important decisions I have made. Life-changing aren't they?
In doggie-dog news. Sydney and I went to the canine cardiologist today (Conan stayed at Camp Auntie-Peggy). Our Sydney guy's ticker is status quo, which is better than the other options, and he is ok for anesthesia if needed. He's such a good boy with this cardiologist, just lies there and lets her take an EKG, while I pet his nose and talk to him. This means that by this time next week he will have at least one less tooth in his mouth, maybe more. I kind of wish they made doggie dentures, because the thought of his poor toothless smiley mouth just makes me want to cry. But it should also help his cough, so I guess its for the best. Oh yeah, and he lost some more weight! Our Sydney-potamus now weighs 24lbs and losing! Yay Sydney!
22:25 Posted in Doggie-poo , Knitting , work | Permalink | Comments (8) | Email this
20 February 2006
A Quick Shout-Out to My Peeps
Ladies Whose Knitting Style Sucks (and we know who we are, don't we - hopefully I didn't leave anybody out), it was so great meeting all of you tonight, even if I did show up late. Really, I was under a dog. Lolly, next time you have to stay longer dammit!
Can't wait until the next one!
P.S. See this post on Eunny's blog if you want to know what I'm talking about.
23:03 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
16 February 2006
Oh Holy Snot!
I'm so tired its not even describeable. And I don't think that's a word. I've spent most of the beginning of the year out of town at trade shows. Most recently I was at Toy Fair, in New York this past Monday. Yes, up to NY and back to Baltimore in the same day. Why? Because of this.
That's my front yard. Sunday. Wanna see the back yard? I love my back yard. It's like a little piece of heaven. And here it is covered in snow.
Good thing I had finished these.
I made them from some handspun I bought from Lynnell at Yarn Rescue. Just a quick toe up and afterthought heel from worsted weight. I actually wrote down what I did, so I'll post a pattern. Yeah, I promise. I'll get to the damn ducky mittens too.
So anyway, because of the damn snow, I didn't get up to NY on Sunday. Missed the clown parade, my favorite part of Toy Fair. Poo. But I did finish another pair of socks out of Vesper Sock Yarn in Aquamelon. And I re-started a pair of Jaywalkers in Socks that Rock, Queen Rock. I'm not sure I like them though.
Now, there's been a lot going on in the news. I'm choosing not to comment on our esteemed Vice Accident shooting someone, or the completely odd opening ceremonies at the Olympics. Its just too much. But on the home front, Conan is now pneumonia free. And Sydney has developed an abcess on one of his teeth. And he only has like 6 left! The worst of it is that it is in one of his eye-teeth, where the root goes into his sinus cavity, which is why he is so sneezy, and the infection can affect his heart. So I have to go back to the doggy cardiologist with him as soon as I can. There's $400. Then they'll probably have to pull his poor doggy tooth, hoping we can avoid anesthesia, because of how it could affect his little oversized ticker. God knows how much that'll be. I'm thinking of taking up a collection.
This is what he thinks of it all. 
Sweet Sydney-potomus.
23:05 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this
31 January 2006
I've got no title for this one....
Conan and Sydney have decided to celebrate the Mistake of the Union's (hey, did you see that they give his bio in Spanish too?) State of the Funyun Address by having a mutual hump fest. Everyone watch out, when they chase each other, nothing's safe. Fortunately, they only hump each other. I have decided not to comment on the State of the Funion, because it will only serve to get me in a tizzy. I will say that I spent a lot of time asking the television why he wasn't talking about here as opposed to over there, how he intends to pay for what he just said, and what world are we talking about again? And then Conan and Sydney decided it was time to go out and take a crap. Very apropos.
Here's a little bit of previously promised sock porn.
I did this using Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes and Heels. I highly recommend this book. I'm currently working on another pair using Vesper sock yarn in Aqua-melon. I think I'm going to try an afterthought heel this time.
On an even more exciting note....I got my 1st Secret Pal gift yesterday!!!! Here are a few of the before shots. 
Action shots to come later.
Funny thing, I've actually been wanting one of those sheep tape measures for like, forever. I'd talk about what I'm preparing for my SP, but I'm not sure if she reads my blog....I'll take pics before I send it out and post them after the whole Secret Pal thing is over.
Now, let me see.....there has actually been quite a bit going on. At the Washington Gift Show, I ran into 2 yarn stores and a yarn distributor. The most exciting of which was Aylin, of Aylin's Woolgatherer. I'm such a fiber groupie, I knew who she was and had a small conniption when I met her. She invited me to a retreat in June. I'd love to go, but I'm not certain I'll be able to afford it. Then, this past Sunday at the New York International Gift Fair, I met Lexie Barnes! Do I ever love her stuff!!!
In closing, Conan's pneumonia seems to be on the mend. Here's some pictures of the boys I stole the other day.
Same bed, same day, same nap. Some sweetness.
22:15 Posted in Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
20 January 2006
I COULD tell you where I've been
And what I've been up to. But the most important thing is that I've finished the Crusoe socks! They look great, but I haven't taken pics of them yet. I can say though, that you must, must, must get some Fleece Artist Merino Sock Yarn! Talk about happy feet people! I didn't want to take the suckers off. So I went and bought some more. Tee hee.
Well, I didn't get to knit with Heather in Crap-lanta, but we did get to dinner. With my father and one of our sales managers (who I forgot to warn Heather is a bit of eye-candy). All in all, it was a good trip, but exhausting. And now we're preparing for the Washington Gift Show. Or as I like to call it, The Dilly in Chantilly. No, I don't really call it that, I REALLY call it torture. But its gotta be done. The dogs and I spent the night at my parents last night and I went in today to help set up the show. It starts on Sunday and goes until Wednesday, and though I will be hauling my knitting with me, I doubt that much'll get done. And don't expect to hear from me until I don't know when, because then I have to go to New York for the day next Sunday. That's the New York International Gift Fair.
If you think I have a glamourous life, I might snort, and snot may come out of my nose. So don't say it.
22:01 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
12 January 2006
On the positive side....
The washing machine guy came today and its not broken. Aaaand, Conan's crap-a-palooza seems to have stopped, though if you heard his stomach you'd be worried too.
At the same time, now my father is going to Atlanta too. And we're sharing a room.
So that leaves me at, what knitting to bring with me. Should I bring the Crusoe sock and maybe get its mate done too? Or do I bring my Queen Kahuna socks that I'm trying? Or do I start a whole new project?
At least Heather will be down there too. Maybe we can sneak off and knit. I hope. Gawd, do I hope.....
23:18 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
11 January 2006
I'm sorry Secret Pal! I'm sorry!
I am so sorry Secret Pal! I'm going to give you the answers to the Secret Pal 7 Questionnaire just as soon as I explain why I haven't already done them. Oy. First you'll probably laugh, but then you'll want to cry.
Here goes my week:
On Friday I was in a car accident. Actually, I was hit. It was a low impact thing, no one was hurt. I was in the left lane, advancing to turn, and the guy in the center lane decided he needed to be in my lane, where I was, but he didn't look before he turned. So he got my car on the passenger side, from the front all the way to the back.
I had to drive up to Ft. Washington, PA with my father to go to the Philadelphia Gift Show (which OBVIOUSLY isn't actually in Philly, but who's really paying attention) on Saturday. We came back the same day, so its a looooong day, with just me and dad, which usually leads to some sort of unpleasant fireworks. Fortunately there really weren't any, which is odd, considering I had a headache that had been around for days AND I got my period.
I spent Sunday doing paperwork that I had been putting off.
Monday, I was supposed to go to some customers, but I never made it out of the house. I was on the phone with the company I lease my car from, and the insurance people all day. I have to go to the Geico insurance adjuster NEXT WEEK. Sheesh. That and I had to get plane tickets and a hotel room so I can fly to Atlanta this weekend for the Atlanta Gift Show. Yes, I could've booked earlier, but my father didn't make his mind up until late last week that I was definitely going. It'll be Saturday to Sunday, but now I've lost yet another weekend. And there's basically trade shows every week from now until mid February, so I don't know when I'll see another.
Yesterday, I was everywhere, trying to make up for Monday. Which wasn't so bad. I just didn't get time to go to the grocery store, but hell, that'll wait.
Today. Today's the kicker. We went to bed late last night, I've been struggling with the Crusoe Socks. Had to frog them once, and I had finally casted back on with 60 stitches yesterday and started again. I'm using Fleece Artist merino for this and she originally used Koigu, so either Koigu is much stretchier than I give it credit for, or she has teeny tiny feet, because 40-44 stitches never made it past my toes when I tried to try the first go on. Anyhoo, we went to bed around 1:30 am and I was woken up by Conan around 4:30 am. Usually this means he just wants to get off the bed and get a drink of water. Well, around 5:30 am I was awoken to a horrific smell and an upset Conan. He had had an ass-splosion on the bed (he's done that only once before, both times I didn't get up when he tried to get me to, and both times he didn't mean it). So of course I get up, take EVERYTHING off the bed, clean clean clean the floor and take the dogs out. I start the washer and that's when I notice, WATER COMING FROM UNDER THE WASHING MACHINE. That's not good. So I check the hoses, I look everywhere, hoping its coming from the back, or something, because UNDER is never good. Nope, its coming from under the washer and its a fairly good amount of water. So I finally find someone who can come out tomorrow to look at it. Just the "diagnosis" is going to cost me almost $100. And on top of it all, I think to myself, oh self, maybe I should move the basket of clean laundry off of the floor and out of the way of the potential water. So I do, but somehow manage to poke myself in the eye with my laundry. So now my eye hurts too. Geez. And Conan has started coughing on top of everything, and he's a bit out of it, so I'm even more worried about him. I'll be sleeping light tonight, huh?
On the upside, I DID get that paperwork done finally, and faxed off to the people it needed to go to. But I didn't get to go to the post office, which I desperately need to do. And I still haven't sent off the crappy 2006 Pattern a Day Calendar that I promised to swap with this woman on the Knitlist. I received the handspun yarn she swapped for it today. Crap. So, now I have to do that tomorrow too.
So anyway, hopefully you are only on the laughing stage.
Now I'll post the SP7 stuff.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
Yes. I admit it. I've been known to use acrylic stuff, but I much prefer natural fibers. Blends are ok, but more wool than nylon/acrylic/poly-crap please.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Yes. I do both, though mostly I knit. But I have a wheel and once in a while I'll spin something. Just not recently.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Storage? What's that? Actually I have a Circular Solution and a Double Point Solution, and my straights are kept everywhere and in some needle rolls.
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been seriously knitting for about a year now. I'd consider myself to be of an intermediate skill level.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
You bet yer bippy I do. Here.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Coffee. But I love white gardenia too.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Too much so. I'm trying to cut down. Momma's gotta diet. But you can't go wrong with chocolate. Or chocolate covered coffee beans....mmm. I also like Goldenberg's Peanut Chews. But who doesn't?
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Not much. I can fix things, and once in a blue moon I'll make a card or something, but mainly its fiber stuff.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have an MP3 player and I'll listen to just about anything. I haven't been listening to much music right now.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love green. But if its bright or has a sparkly thing running through it, I'm hooked.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm single, with 2 fur children. Conan and Sydney. Both boys.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Anything but ponchos.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
ALPACA ALPACA ALPACA. Did you get that? I'm in love with handpainted and/or handspun stuff.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Polyester. Rayon. Man made goo.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Socks and lace. This week.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Anything. I haven't found one that I don't like to knit yet. But I haven't tried everything, so I also don't have a favorite either.
17. What are you knitting right now?
3 pairs of socks and a lace shawl. Don't ask. Just know that I'm going to stick to Queen Kahuna's way of doing things, or I'm using dps from now on.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YES. I. DO. The more useful the better, because I like to show them off.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circs.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Give me my addis. Otherwise I'll use my Denise set, thank you.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both, but I'm looking to upgrade to a wood swift and a jumbo winder.
22. How did you learn to knit?
When I was about 6. My mother and my grandmother. But I had no concentration then, so I was never any good.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I guess about 6 months. Maybe longer. Its the Bevin Tank.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I like my dogs. Otherwise, armadillos.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween, or the 4th of July.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Armadillos.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Interweave, Vogue Knitting
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
I want Big Girls Knit when it comes out. And I want to add Elizabeth Zimmerman to my knitting library.
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I want to start doing intarsia and fair isle.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I wear a 7 1/2 to 8 shoe. I have an almost 9" ankle, and the same with the ball of my foot. I have better measurements someplace.....
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
March 18th.
There you go Secret Pal! Hope that helps. Now stop crying about my day and get back to knitting!
21:40 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting , work | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
06 January 2006
Thrum, they told me. Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum.
00:45 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
27 December 2005
Wow
Now that the "HOLIDAYS" are pretty much over, and almost all of my gift knitting is done, I'm at a loss as to what to do next. I've got yarn piled all over my living room (amongst other places....) waiting to me knit into things for ME, and I can't decide what to do first! What a painful quandary.
00:36 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this
20 December 2005
I made a mitten!
I've knit mittens before, but this time I made my own pattern!
But first, and editorial side note. No. A grammatical side note. There is a local store that advertises on tv and one of the lines that they use is (announcers voice here - kinda like the one that goes, Sunday, Sunday, Sundayyyyy, you know? anyway...) "there's over fifty thousand dozen items on sale!" And they flash 50,000 dozen on the screen. What the eff? There's no such thing as fifty thousand dozen. Thats like twelvety. Or a bazillion. It just doesn't exist! I've done the math too. Fifty thousand dozen is 600,000. Are they trying to say that they have six hundred thousand items on sale? Monkeys could've written that script better.
Ok. Now that's done, here's my mitten. its a duck. Or its gonna be.
I have to put eyes on it. And weave in the ends. And then knit up the mate. And finish writing up the pattern for it. And then adapt it to fit 2 baby sizes, a toddler, and 2- 5 year olds. I think this is probably the toddler size. Nevertheless, I'm proud of me. If you don't like it, well, you can just suck it. I'm gonna be a pattern designer, like Wendy! (If only. I wish I had her talent. And the time to do it....)
And I made some Trader Joe's vanilla cake. Mmmm.
00:00 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this
19 December 2005
On Politics and....purling maybe?
First of all, did you see Dub-yah on the teevee tonite? Is it just me or was it maybe a marionette? And who wrote that speech? A collective group of kindergardeners? We went to war, shoot-em-up. Guns go boom. Bang, bang, we try to kill bad bad people. So sorry, so sad, they hurt your kid, big boo-boo, not coming home. I wasn't lying! They told me there was bad stuff! I'm sorry (insert little kid pouty face here).
Ok, now that that's over...
Even though I don't have to do all of those gifts that I thought I had to, I still haven't had much me-knitting time, oddly. Though I have bought a lot of yarn. Mainly hand-spun stuff. I think I'm singularly funding a college education for a certain someone's baby. I'm not saying who, because she hasn't really anounced it, but her site is one of my links. And that's the only hint I'm giving. Really.
Meanwhile, I'm knitting mittens for my mother, a hat for dad, pop-up paws for Christine, and 4 baby-size pairs of duckie-mittens for some baby cousins. And spinning up some yarn for Heather. Its ok, she already knows. But the big news is.....wait for it.....I signed up for Secret Pal 7! Yay me and my lazy ass! Its about time huh? 'Course now I'm going to have to choose a button....opinions please.
00:08 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
09 December 2005
Wait a cotton-pickin' minute here!
Was no one going to tell me?!? Do you mean that all of the knitting I've been doing, working my fingers to the bone, developing yarn callouses, was for nothing!?!
Out of all that holiday knitting I've been doing, you remember the list....
4 hats (Tychus) one for each teenage male cousin
2 scarves (Flora) for the female cousins
2 pairs of kitten mittens for my baby cousins
3 bath mitts for my Aunt and 2 cousins
4 pairs of pop-up paws for my uncle, 2 cousins and my father
a binary scarf for my brother and a shawl (Glampyre's City Shawl) for his girlfriend
and something for my mother
of which I have finished...
3 1/2 hats
1 1/2 scarves
no mitts, no mittens
1 1/2 pairs of pop up paws
an entire binary scarf and a shawl
nothing for my mother, yet
I really only had to knit...
1 pair of pop-up paws
a binary scarf and shawl
and something for my mother
Because after umpteen years my cousin is going out of town for the holidays. And so are my Aunt and Uncle, and my other cousins!
I could've been knitting for me dammit!
00:22 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
30 November 2005
Ohhhh...I dare you to try living inside my head....
Its freaky. I realized I do a whole lot of my best thinking in the shower. This morning I decided that I would now like to be referred to as Mother Superi-Yarn Whore. If you think that's blasphemous or insulting then you should probably be reading another blog. I also realized today that I don't insult easily, but I do amuse easily. You don't want to be on my cell-phone speed dial while I'm driving. Because, man, I see some funny shit while I'm driving. If you DO want to be one of the people that I call when I see weird shit, then e-mail me your cell phone # and I'll make sure to call you.
Ok. Knitting. A lot of it I can't show or talk about right now, because some of the people who are getting knit presents read this. But I can show you the beginnings of Unca Jer's Christmas Socks.
I don't know if you can make it out, but that there's a Tubular Cast-On people! See it, love it, envy it. Maybe I'll post a tutorial about it. Maybe not. I'm kinda lazy that way. We're knitting a bit of love (and dog hair) into each and every little stitch. And I mean little. I knit the cuffs with 0's and the sock is being knit with 1's. I may be blind by Christmas. By the way, Unca Jer is Auntie Peg's husband. He's also my resident man-stuff hero. He helps me take care of all the things that require upper body strength. And disposes of things that are even too disgusting and scary for me to handle (not dog poop).
Also, I finally received my prize yarn from Natasha Fialkov . Of course it was while I had no internet access. Any knitting done during that period was cranky-knitting, so I can't really be responsible for outcome. Knitting with thsi yarn initially resulted in a few froggings, but the results, after a few attempts at wrist warmers, ended up with this. I was going to try and design my own, but I chickened out. Why mess with a good thing? Mine's a little pointy at the top, but you can't tell when its on my head. I have dubbed it the "I Dream of Jeannie Hat". It did result in something absolutely amazing. Pictures of me! I took a few "self portraits". Don't make fun of me, its me without makeup or a bra. I call this my Blair Witch 
series.
Art-say huh?
She sent me some other yarn. Its purple. I'm going to knit it up into flowers and then make a pin for a customer/friend of mine. And maybe one for you too Heather. Crap. Now it can't be a Christmas present. I ruined the surprise.00:30 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
16 November 2005
Got me a map whoozie too.
If you love any and all things fiber related, give me a shout!
http://www.frappr.com/fiberfreaks
Don't leave me here out in the cold people.
22:15 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
14 November 2005
Great blocking scarves batman!
Well, now that my mother's birthday is over and I've given her her present, I can now post some gratuitous knitting pictures.
Its Heart from the Knitty Fall 2004 surprise. I used a handspun, hand dyed yarn that I bought off of E-bay. They plied it with little seed beads. Kinda hard to see with pictures from my crappy camera. Here's another.
I blocked it at the same time as I blocked my scarf/wrap from Morehouse Merino. The one I bought at MDS$W. I've been wearing it more scarf-ly, but either way, I love it.
Behold, my great blocking wall of wool....
The Morehouse wrap went all the way around the durn thing.
Before I leave you for the evening, I thought you might like a picture of Conan's girlfriend, Molly.
Yes, she's a lab. Conan's nose comes just perfectly up to her butt.
22:02 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
12 November 2005
I lied, no gratuitous knitting pictures today.
But I did learn a couple of things.
I am a bad person. How do I know? I tagged Wendy the other day and her responses made me want to cry.
I also learned that my leaf blower is missing a VERY important attachment. You know, the one that looks like Ty Pennington topless, and knows what he is doing with a leaf blower? Personally, I'd spring for the deluxe, which would be the one that says things like, "Hey babe, I'll take care of that, you go knit" or "I'm off to work babe, you just relax and knit, and hey, do you want to meet at the yarn store before dinner?"
But, since leaf blowers are just an extension of something that most guys use to write their name in the snow with, I don't think that model will be available soon.
Poo.
18:38 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
11 November 2005
Like a bad chain letter.....
I've decided who I am going to inflict the tagging torture on next......
Weaselrina...ma chere....your turn. And maybe Wendy too....bwaahahahahahahaha!
Gratuitous knitting pictures later.
21:59 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
10 November 2005
Oy Vey
So Melissa tagged me. Thanks love. At least its only 20 things about me. So, here goes. Hopefully no one will bitch slap me if I do this wrong....
1. My middle name is Ariel. Yes, like The Little Mermaid.
2. I have 2 dogs, Conan and Sydney. They are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and I love them like they are my babies.
3. I don't think I'm ever going to have kids. I'm not sure I'm happy about this.
4. I'm single. Sometimes painfully so. At the moment I'm not even dating. Ergo, my blog is mainly about the dogs (see #2) and my knitting.
5. I am up for blind dates. They should be intelligent (college educated - with degree, helps) and gainfully employed.
6. I am a bitch, an elitist and highly opinionated. I'm also fiercely loyal and love my friends and family unconditionally.
7. I like naps.
8. I used to be fluent in French. I still understand it fluently, and I am reasonably conversational, but nothing like I used to be.
9. I used to be a ballerina. I danced from the time I was about 4 until I was in my early 20's. Not professionally, but I wanted to. I loved dancing and I also did modern, tap, jazz, and anything else you put in front of me. I could usually pick up a new dance in about 10 minutes. I got a scholarship to college for Modern dance.
10. I wear a 34G bra. Which also explains why I never danced professionally.
11. I wore contact lenses or glasses until I was 29. Then I got lazer correction. Best thing I ever did.
12. I know a little about a lot of things, but not a lot about one thing in particular. They call that jack of all trades, master of none, don't they?
13. I like camping, the mountains, trees, dirt.....real roughing it. Hiking up the side of a mountain with everything on your back. Dirt under your nails.
14. I vote based on one political plank. Abortion. If you're against it, I'm against you.
15. At the same time, I'm very conservative about other things. Mainly my money.
16. I hate bad spelling and poor grammar. Bad spelling far outweighs the poor grammar. The only person I excuse from the bad spelling is my best friend.
17. My best friend and I met in hebrew school when we were 10.
18. I just bought 2 Blythe dolls.
19. I bought my house 3 years ago this month. On my own. And I wouldn't be able to afford it if I were going to buy it today. I guess thats a good thing. I've named the house Beaux Reves (missing certain french accent marks here....). It means happy dreams. Nothing bad ever happens here. Really.
20. I used to be a lot wilder. I used to drink every night, smoke, party with musicians....I've got stories. But they're mainly for my grandkids. Oddly, my 30's are so far the best years of my life.
How's that?
Now...who to inflict this pain upon next? I'll figure that out tomorrow.
00:00 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
09 November 2005
A Yarn Harlot Moment....
True story. It happened about 2 weeks ago and I remembered it as I was reading The Harlot tonite and just had to post.
Picture me, with my Pi shawl wrapped elegantly around my neck as I saunter into my doctor's office, sock project bag in hand. Everyone in the waiting room oohs and ahs at the mass of lace yumminess enveloping my torso. Even the receptionist (whose name I will not divulge to protect the ignorant) comes out from behind her desk to admire.
"Did you purl that?" she asks.
"Well, I did knit it" I reply, almost incredulously (yeah, big word).
"What's that, like purl one, purl two?" she asks.
"Actually, its entirely knit," I reply, "its a big circle, so I didn't purl at all."
"I can crochet," she goes on to tell me "But I never was any good at purling."
I sit down to wait, taking my sock out of the bag. She goes back to her desk and everything seems to go back to normal.
"What are you making now?"
"A sock." I reply.
"Oh, are you purling that too?"
I swear I looked around to see if there was a hidden camera.
00:41 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this
07 November 2005
What the !?!
The following from the Michael's website: This knitted dog sweater, made from Fancy Fur and Microspun yarn, is so adorable, you'll want one for yourself. Have the most stylish dog in town with this bright and colorful sweater.
Now the picture, are you sure you're ready for it?
Poor doggie.
I'm just sayin'.
10:13 Posted in Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
06 November 2005
Have you SEEN the new Knit 1?!?
I'm doing this because it hasn't made it to You Knit What? or Threadbared yet. But have you seen the new Knit 1? I think I bought this issue partially for the laughs. From the oversized silver muff, to the button-on sleeves. Holy shit. Here are some pictures I pulled from their website.
I call this first one, I've got a doily hanging from my crotch.
This next one I just call plain butt ugly.
This here is the man-version of the button-on sleeves, or as I like to call it Federline Yo. (That's a blatant Saturday Night Live reference.) Really I call it, these are not MY sleeves.
I kind of wish they'd post more of the hideous patterns online so I could show more.
This one I call, I've got something in my hair and I can't get it out!
And last, but certainly not least, the Tribble Necklace.
There's like two, maybe 3 things in this whole issue that I'll knit. Otherwise I'm just going to sit and laugh, and laugh, and laugh......
00:35 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
26 October 2005
I call this a blog-bituary
Dear Readers, on the morning of Monday (or maybe Tuesday, I don't remember now. Such trauma...) my favorite black sweater met its maker (actually it really just met the trash can). It was the perfect sweater, a simple black ribbed turtleneck. Boxy, yet drapey and clingy in the right spots. Comfortable, but dressy enough to put on with a suit. And now it is gone.
Alas. Farewell my favorite, perfect black sweater. Farewell. It seems like I only bought you yesterday, and now you are gone. There will never be another like you. I wore you often and you faithfully repaid me by draping perfectly, keeping me warm. You were my fall-back when other outfits wouldn't work. Your ribbing and boxiness were perfectly matched to your turtle-neck while being heavy enough to keep me warm in the winter, but carry into the spring. OH WOE FAVORITE BLACK SWEATER, WHAT SHALL I DO WITHOUT YOU!?! Imagine my terror in finding the small, yet unrepairable hole, right over my boob. At first I thought it was just lint, or dog hair, but upon further examination my worst fears were realized. An un-mendable hole. I fought back tears, cursing wildly. The dogs looking at me with a mixture of fear, compassion, and confusion. I pushed on, finding another outfit to wear to go see customers. But life will never be the same.
I will try to knit another, I know you would want me to move on, but will it ever compare?
(On a lighter note, I have discovered that Sydney likes to hoard treats. I've been finding them under area rugs and low-lying shelves.)
OH SWEATER, SWEATER!!! WE HARDLY KNEW YE!
23:55 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
18 October 2005
Auntie Sarah Wants You!
Auntie Sarah (that's me!) wants you for her Army of Knitters! Are you up to it? I'm recruiting for my army. We shall go into battle armed with our knitting needles, our superb pattern altering skills, and our whits, and we will poke the shit out of people we don't like. And, if you need more to tempt you.....we have balls!
Of yarn.
23:54 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
15 October 2005
Are you ready? It's been a while since I posted!
This one's a no pic-er!
I had to go out of town last weekend. Left on Saturday, came back Tuesday night. Mind you, it was for business, so don't say you're jealous when I tell you it was to go to Las Vegas. There was a trade show, for scrapbooking, that I had to attend. And I had to leave the boys behind. But I did get to stay with my best friend and her husband and 3.3 kids (the .3 is for the baby boy to be - and I saw the ultrasound. Its DEFINITELY a boy! He made sure that they knew...yup, he flashed 'em). Their new house is in Henderson, NV, in this great neighborhood, and they are surrounded by parks and stuff. Very suburban. And they're like 10 minutes from UNLV where her husband teaches. So they're like 10 minutes from The Strip. Which is convenient for not a whole lot. I've discovered that I have no desire to gamble. And believe me, I had plenty of opportunity. I didn't check, but I think there are even slot machines in the bathrooms at the airport.
Anyway, I took a few pictures, the kids were showing me their halloween costumes, and then the batteries in the digital camera died. So I'll have to wait for her to e-mail me theirs. DD#1 is going to be a cowgirl, DS (soon to be DS#1) is going to be a pirate. And DD#2 is too young to care. I had a great time, its nice just to spend time with them. And we went out to eat at some great places.
The big breakthrough that happened while I was away is that Conan and Sydney now spend time with each other, they sleep next to each other or on top of each other and stuff, whereas before they would be in the same room, but wouldn't be closer than 4' apart. I don't know if the dog-sitter, yes the dog-sitter, had anything to do with it.
I was on the plane all day on both Saturday and Tuesday. I didn't bring books, just knitting. I discovered that with 2 naps on the way to LV I can knit 3 baby booties (I'm doing the ones from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, in alpaca - for the soon to be baby and some others). And I can almost finish one Tychus, with 3 naps on the way back.
Of course, now that I'm back I'm trying to get out from under work and knitting. So I'll have to post more later. Maybe by then I'll have some pictures, huh?
23:50 Posted in Doggie-poo , Knitting , Travel , work | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
04 October 2005
What's that blocking on the board?
Why, 'tis the Swirly!
Wanna see it bigger? 
Tah dah! I did it with two borders actually. First I did a row of knit, 2 of purl, 3 of knit, and then I did 4 rows of seed stitch. I like the way it came out. And it's plenty big. Wheeee!
21:05 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
27 September 2005
I have an illness.
They say the first step is to admit you have a problem, right?
Just an unassuming, ordinary white bag.
But as you get closer....wait, it looks like there's something inside!
What could it be?
Upon deeper investigation.....
I have a sickness.
So, I was stood up for my first appointment today. An hour and a half drive from Baltimore to Hockessin, Delaware, almost to the line of Pennsylvania. And we made the appointment just a few days ago. So what do I do, with like 4 hours on my hands before my next appointment? I go to the only yarn store in northern Delaware, Stitches With Style. I like it there. Can't you tell?
In my defense, it was ALL on sale. The Henry's Attic was $7 each and the Noro (a silk and wool blend, but not Silk Garden) was $7.50 each, and the magazines were all half off. Of course I still spent the boys' college education....
No treat money for a while.....
23:43 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
25 September 2005
This post has yarny goodness. And dogs.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PICTURES MAY CAUSE SPONTANEOUS DROOLING AND THE INTENSE DESIRE TO EITHER LICK OR CARESS THE COMPUTER SCREEN. Caution is advised.
Mmmmm......yumminess.
I got bored with the ribbing on Sprout on Saturday night and cast on for the Melody's Shawl that I bought at MDS&W. The colorway is ZESTY...as you can see. 840 yards of yarny goodness. I think I'm going to have to limit myself to only one Morehouse purchase a year, else I lose the house.
As I promised the other night, here is a picture of the yarn that I bought to make Madeline. Brace yourselves.
Here's another. 
Just in case it wasn't enough. Chocolate-y.
Lest you think I am ignoring the fur-kids, here is a picture of Yin and Yang.
We went for a walk this evening. The 3 of us. Actually it was a walk and a carry. Sydney and I walked, and his highness, senor stubborn, was carried. Can't get Conan to walk on a leash. Unless we're in another state. I'm not kidding.
Back to knitting. Ever notice how a project gets done quicker if there is more than one going at the same time? That's why I started the Morehouse shawl. Now I've only got about 1 inch to go on Sprout's ribbing and I'll be able to sew up. Ah, the power of multitasking.
Political side note: I can't remember which congressman I saw on tv this morning proposing that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting be cut in order to come up with money to fund beady-eyes' agenda. But I can say this. If it happens, you can expect me to collect every piece of dog doo in the yard, and I mean EVERY, and I will be mailing it to your office. In a box. (Our Sydney is a prolific pooper.)
Warning given.
23:35 Posted in Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
22 September 2005
Ok. So I may never pass creative writing....
I swear I think about blogging more than I actually do it. I have all of this great crap floating around in my head, but it likes to flitter away while I knit instead of blog. And I have no idea whatsoever which one should take precedence. You tell me. I had this great post all ready last night, I had typed it up and uploaded some pictures, and then I accidentally hit the wrong button and *poof* there it went into computer Never-Never land. I actually thought about crying. So I'll try to start again.
By the way, I am collecting patterns for baby boys. That's right, Auntie Sarah's Swirly of Love, which is currently OTN, but only being sporadically worked on until Sprout is finished (mainly its become my travel project, because I can stuff it into a bag, so it goes with me to doctors offices and such), will be going to a baby boy. 
I think I mentioned before that my best friend, yup the one who just moved to Las Vegas, is percolating baby #4. Who woulda thunk it? Look closely, you can see the gorgeous detail. I hid a little heart in there, but the picture is so blindingly red, that I don't think you'll be able to find it. I promise I'll have it done by the time I go out to Las Vegas next month.
And then here I am, with only fur-children, and nothing on the horizon. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys 
, but do I really have to say it? And as much as people say "Oh, you're only 30-whatever, you have plenty of time," or "there's nothing wrong with being a single woman over 30," its bullshit. They all jump to conclusions or look at you funny. I really don't mean to go on a self-pity thing, but for all of the rest of us out there you know what I mean. I kind of brought this one on myself tonight. I was reading the 2 blogs that I need to get my daily fix from, Knit and Tonic and Stitch Marker. Wendy and Larissa, I love you guys, but after reading about Girlfriend (I need one of her so I can knit cool stuff!) and Sebastian (just the babiest of babes), I really feel like I'm missing something. That, and you guys write so well, it well, makes me realize why I never got far in creative writing.
Ok. Back to random knitting. Almost done with 2nd side of Sprout (you may know sprout as Orangina. My Orangina #2 actually). I was going to take a picture of the big pile of yarn that will become Madeline, but the batteries in my digital camera died. I know! How very convenient! But its the truth. So I will have to post that gratuitous yarn pic later.
Meanwhile, I got an e-mail from Nick and Vivi and the kids yesterday. They made it to France ok and the kids are enrolled in school for about a month. 
Apparently, our Nina is the most popular girl in town! I am told that many of the boys have already declared their love for her and all the girls are inviting her to parties. (Nina is the one in the bottom, right-hand corner)
Wish I was there.
I'll close with some pictures of my fur-children. I have no life. Just knitting and my boys.
Conan Sydney
21:45 Posted in Blog , Doggie-poo , Knitting | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
17 September 2005
My stash is not the issue....
Its the projects I need to do with it.
For the holidays:
Flora, I believe, for all of the female members of my family who are over the age of 5 and also not my mother. So thats about 5 of 'em.
I'm thinking either manly mitts or tychus, or something along those lines for the corresponding males, who are also not my brother or father. So that would be 7.
I think for the little kids I'm going to do something along the lines of these if I can get my hands on a pattern. Otherwise I'll fake it.
For my brother and dad, this. In a dark color with the message in glow-in-the-dark yarn that I found. But maybe a differend message for my dad.
My mother has been ga-ga over the socks I've been knitting, so I might do her up another pair or two. Or a lace wrap maybe, because she is so impressed about the Pi Shawl I did.
I have to completely re-think the gifts for my best friend and her family. I don't know if they'll actually need scarves, mittens, hats, etc. in Las Vegas. Errrrr.
I still have to finish Auntie Sarah's Swirly of Love, also known as the pinwheel baby blanket, for her, because she's pregnant with baby #4. Its bright red, Cascade Superwash. The baby's not due until January, but I'll be out there visiting next month, so I should get it done before I go, shouldn't I?
I'm almost done with the first side of Sprout, so thats not too bad.
I need to finish the pair of sparkly ankle-socks I'm knitting for my mom.
And at some point, I should seam up and finish my best friend's birthday sweater shouldn't I, considering that her birthday WAS in June.
And these are the presents (except for Sprout, that's for me). Not the projects I want to do for myself.
In the meantime, I want to be a paranoid dictator too! Life is so unfair. (By the way, definitely look at page 3 of the transcript, then you'll see what I'm talking about.)
01:10 Posted in Knitting | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
13 September 2005
Pictorial updates
I promised pictures...so here they are...
Meet Sprout. Sprout is my 2nd attempt at Orangina. In green, obviously. This time I'm doing the large, I think. Whichever one it is that you cast on 130 stitches for.
Here's a close-up. Look ma, no lifelines!
Not too much focus either. Sorry.
Here's a picture of my Pi Shawl.
Can ya see it?
Here's another.
While I'm thinking about it, does anyone out there in blog-land have a good idea