Scarf and New Years Resolutions

I finished my Noro scarf. I love it!!



I became obsessed with knitting a hat so I went BACK to the LYS today (yes, that does mean I was there a few days ago visiting their sale) and got some Lamb's Pride to make a roll brim hat. The worst part is, this is my first knitted hat and I actually got nervous about making a hat that fit. Then I decided, I've made socks. Not just any socks but CUSTOM socks and a hat will be no problem. It's funny the things you think will trip you up.

This all leads me to my New Years Resolutions. I thought of making a joke one like I've done in the past and decided this year I will make real resolutions and do my very best to make sure I complete them. So, in an effort to keep track of myself, I'm posting them for the world to see.

In no particular order they are:

- To learn to knit cables. I stumbled on this pattern oh like everywhere I've gone on the internet so thought I'd give it a go (unless of course anyone has any better patterns or valid reasons I shouldn't try it first-such as poorly written pattern or whatnot) The Irish Hiking Scarf

- To at least try, if not master, some sort of color work. Maybe not Faire Isle (yet :) ) but intrelac? I think that's the word I'm looking for. Or, this goes hand in hand, learn how to read charts and feel comfortable with it. How's that for a poorly worded resolution? Maybe I should've just said, learn a new knitting technique!

-To have fewer works in progress going at once. I'm actually really good about this already - not having a large needle collection does help this out - but I want to get better. If I'm not going to finish something I'm just going to frog it. No sense in letting things just sit around half finished.

-I'm going to try to live a healthier lifestyle (note this does not involve the big "D" word those always fail). This includes things like drink more water, eat more fruits and veggies, try to keep an even better hold of my finances, keep up with old friends. It's a very wide ranging resolution to say the least but I hope phrasing it the way I have will help me not to break it 2 weeks into January.

I'm hoping my hat will be done this year and be my last finished project. If not, that's OK.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy New Year's Eve and I guess I'll see y'all next year!!

Nicole the Kind

Well, there are some advantages to going to a funeral first thing in the morning and not going back to work. Have I been knitting? No. Have I been shopping? No (although I did get a few groceries). What have I been doing with my free time today you ask? Well, besides napping, I've been playing in blogland. What do I have to show for this?

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Viscountess Nicole the Kind of Gallop Hophill Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Now, I think I'll go knit.

Knitting and Cats

I made this over the Christmas weekend. It's the Calorimetry headband from this issue of Knitty. I made it with Cascade Heathers yarn and rummaged through Mom's vast button box to find the right button, a "Buffalo Nickel". I did try to take a few pictures of it on, but they did not turn out so well.

My goal for today (besides going to the LYS to check out the sale. I need to get some yarn for my secret pal.) is to finish the Noro Silk Garden scarf. It's cold outside and I need to keep my little bare neck warm.

One last picture, my Bartholamew. He was just SO darn cute last night with 3 of his paws all curled up and this one stretched to the max, I couldn't let the photo op pass me by.

Christmas loot

As I said yesterday, it's good to have knitters in the family.



This is my knitting Christmas loot. I got a wonderful bag just the perfect size for socks or a scarf from my muggle (as Stephanie would say) step-Dad. He picked it out on his own so Mom's knitterly ideas are getting to him.

I got beautiful handmade stitch markers from my sister (a knitter).

From Mom I got the Stitch and Bitch calendar and a ball winder!! YEAH!!!! (of course it does benefit her too but that's OK still being swiftless, we may both need each other to wind some hanks).

Did you notice how great that picture is? (and how large it is? LOL) Well, being the best Mom and step-Dad EVER, I also got this



Yeah. I know. The camera is prettier than the box but it's hard to take a picture of the camera WITH the camera and well, I didn't want to use the other camera.

This is what Mom and I did a large part of Saturday, Sunday morning and during that "after presents, ate too much" afternoon on Christmas

Thank you, Secret Pal!

I got a very wonderful package from my Secret Pal on Saturday.



And that's not all, I got socks!!





that's the best close up picture I could get Saturday. They've got a beautiful design and are very comfortable. I wore them the rest of the day Saturday and even had to threaten my Mom because she wanted to steal them away from me. :)

Tomorrow (or later in the week since I do have to work tomorrow :( ) I'll do a Christmas update. Let's just say it's good to have knitters in the family!

Merry Christmas!

I saw on another blog's comments that the Goggle Logo was all "Christmas-ed up" and had to go look. And how cute is that? Kangaroo's knitting garland...

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas (or whatever winter holiday you "do")!!!

A Sock

This was going to be a "what do you do with one sock you're not sure you like enough to make the second sock?" post but after trying it on (on both feet) I do like it. OK, so I'm not so fond of the leg. My calves aren't tiny and I don't like the way the yarnovers look (and the ladders that I didn't really know where there. damn stretchy yarn!) but then I got to thinking, I'm not wearing the things with shorts, it would be with pants. Pants that COVER the leg. so I think they'll be ok. I'm posting then diligently casting on to hopefully avoid SSS.

And my friend who was totally floored that you could actually KNIT socks that fit, now wants to knit socks. :)

Christmas questions

My lovely SP9 hostess asked us these questions:

1) the oddest gift you have ever received (not asked for)

I suppose the oddest gift I got was the one year my Mom told my grandmother to buy me the Disney video "The Little Mermaid". The video I got? a National Geographic special on the duckbill platypus.

hmm, sitting here thinking about it, one year I did get a fiber optic bonsai tree. I do still have it if anyone wants pictures.

2) the oddest gift you ever asked for

Well, I don't think it's that odd but a lot of people had issues the year I asked for maglites (a specific brand of flash lights) for my birthday. This year I asked Mom for folding tables. I did ask for tires one year too...

3) the oddest gift you ever gave

a plastic jug for kerosene? I don't know... that one's kinda hard.

4) the worse gift you ever got

Oh, and I thought the last one was hard. I'm sure there were some doozies when I was a child but I can't remember any gift that made me go "O.M.G. I can't believe they gave THAT to me!" I guess I've gotten lucky in my adult years.


Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a picture of my Noro scarf... now if the weather would just be cooperate so I can WEAR it!

Wow

OK. I can't remember the last time my hair was this short. Well, OK, I can but it was shorter than it is and I was about 5.

Before:



After:



All the hair that was cut off. That's 12 inches. However, it's not 12 complete inches, some of it is shorter than the rest but thats OK. It will all be mailed off on Monday.



I do like it. I think my hair dresser was right though, it will take me about 2 weeks to really get used to it.

And while Mom and I were out and about we each bought 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden. It's lovely and I'm going to make myself a scarf to keep my now very bare neck warm. Well, if it ever gets cold that is.



The really strange thing about the Noro is that we found it at a funky little boutique downtown. She had a pattern for a diagonal scarf that she was giving away. I'm thinking thats what I'm going to make with the Noro. It is very simple and looked great worked up in the Noro.

happy tears

Have you ever loved anyone so much that their lives touch you in countless ways? I have a very very dear friend who most bizarrely, I've never met in person. We met online, on AOL on a message board no less, but I truly love this woman as if she were blood family. And not that weird family member you don't really want to claim but feel you should love, we're talking Favorite Aunt type family! Well, today her granddaughter was born and I'm just so happy for her and her daughter that I'm just sitting here crying.

I'm not one for posting other's information but since we know she's not in Virginia and since I'm not saying where she is, I'll give the stats (cuz really, who doesn't love baby stats?) Jasmine was born at 4:53 pm in their local time zone and weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and has a head full of brown hair. I could hear her squallin' over the phone. Grandma got to cut the cord and I'm not sure she's stopped crying since. Everyone is doing great.

I feel like a proud aunt or something. Now if I could just smooch on those little hands and toes...

odds and ends

Now, I realize I'm a little biased, but how could you NOT love this picture?? I have it on my desktop at work as wallpaper and several people have commented on it and are pleasantly surprised that it's my babies.

Now, onto knitting content. I was working on my sock at work and a friend who I am going to teach to knit after her shoulder heals up from surgery came by and asked what I was doing.

me - "knitting"

L - "but you've got 4 needles"

me, moving hands - "no, actually there are 5. But it's just knitting"

L - awed look

Eventually I did get her to not stress over it and that I wasn't going to make her try it and that it really was just two needles knitting at once like normal and 3 stitch holders. During this conversation several people commented that it would just be easier to buy socks. Well, yes but they just don't get it, and that's OK.

I'm getting a little nervous. Saturday is the big hair cut. I think it'll end up being shorter than what I think it will be so I'm trying to prepare myself for VERY short hair. I can't tell you how many times I've almost cancelled this appointment. Or at least postponed it.

Tonight, we had our work group Christmas dinner/present exchange at a local Mexican restaurant. We drew names and I got a iTunes gift card. Which I did ask for. I'm most happy about it and can't wait to spend it all.

Now, I'm off to knit on my socks.

bad picture monday

I was a busy girl on Saturday. I went to run a few errands then went up the mountain to hang out with mom. I felted a purse for my boss.




Mom and I sat around knitting and looking at knitting patterns and just visiting.

Yesterday, I was in the mood for a new project so I cast of for these. OK. I actually swatched and my yarn doesn't match the gauge for the yarn it calls for. I could've gone up a few needle sizes but I think that would've made for some very holey socks and I kinda like my socks warm. So, I got to looking about and found these. Gauge is good, yarn is a little odd to work with, pattern is super easy to remember and I'm working on socks. No, I haven't finished the other ones yet but, hell, its my yarn I'll do with it what I want! Luckily, I had the yarn it calls for on hand. Sometime this spring I bought it thinking I was going to make a steering wheel cover for my Dad (or socks) and well, socks it is.



It's not the best picture but there it is.

It's all Robin's fault

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

that's my tarot card. Robin posted her tarot card and well, I wanted to be one of the "cool kids" and do it too!

PS - I updated my links. I've been meaning to for a while but I finally did it!

Bartholamew and Ho Ho

OK, so these are VERY bad pictures but I don't have a scanner and don't know the next time I'll be up at Mom's (who has a scanner). And they were taken 10 yrs ago! So that means Bartholamew was about Pepper's age when he got to go see Santa! :)

Ho Ho

I have very little knitting content to share with you so I'll share some pictures of Pepper's first (and only) visit to see the Big Man, Santa Himself! Last year she was 7 mo old around Christmas and was still little and "shy" enough that I felt comfortable taking her out in public. If I tried that with Bartholamew, Santa wouldn't want to hold him when we got out of the carrier. Although, there is somewhere tucked away safely a picture from 8 or 9 yrs ago of Santa and Bartholamew (and me. That "Santa" wouldn't hold cats on his own. I think he may have been an imposter... I mean an assitant type. Not the REAL Santa). If I ever find it, I'll share it too. But Pepper and I went out to Petsmart last year and got there early enough to be the second or third in line. Thankfully, Mom came out for moral support. I took Pepper out of her carrier and held her until it was our turn to see Santa. All kinds of people came up to scritch her little head and oo and ah over the fact that MY cat would let me bring her out like this. She wasn't bothered by the dogs or anything. Although, as you can see, she did want to snuggle. Closely. There were a few techincal difficulties with the camera so Santa (being the smart man that he is) came out to say hi and let everyone get a good sniff of him before it was picture time. I really think this helped. So, there's the story, here are the pictures.



a bad picture of me and Pepper being all "hidden"



a not so bad picture of Mom except that her head is cut off but one of my favorite of all we took that day of Pepper



Pepper and Ho Ho. (do you see her holding on to his beard? I like to think she's giving him lovin' but I know better, her paw got stuck in all that fluffiness)



Hmm, what's that over there? those are some mighty big funny smelling cats! (Well, they were actually rescue grayhounds but don't tell Pepper)

And for my small amount of knitting content, I finished knitting the purse I'm giving as a present (to my boss. Who's leaving at the end of the year *pout*). All I need to do is felt it. Pictures of the final product will follow when it's done.

Also, the lady I taught to knit at work is speeding along wonderfully and is taking her knitting home this weekend to practice. YEAH! I also have a date set with another friend from work to teach her and her daughter possibly to knit. :)

So proud...

I finally got to sit down with my work friend today and taught her how to knit. I felt HORRIBLE though! I'd given her the book I taught myself with, some wool and needles to play with in case she felt like it over the Thanksgiving weekend and she sat down and got stuck... with the slip knot. I felt so bad. I've been making slip knots for SO long I didn't even think about it. But today we sat down at lunch and while she didn't catch on so fast to the long tail cast on (it's the only one I could pick up from reading the book) she got the cable cast on quickly (and I learned how to do it finally!) and then knit. I was so proud of her. She's unsteady with the needles (who wasn't?!?) and the stitches are not even but damn it, she's knitting!! The last half of our "class" all I was bascially doing was going "uh huh, yeah, you know what you do next, right! yup! you're doing great!" Of course there was some stitches that fell off the needles (am I the ONLY one who wants to type kneedles??) but I told her just stick 'em back on and keep going. Knitting is fun and I don't want her to stress over all the things we all did/do. She's doing great!

So, any one got any ideas on a cast on she might do better with (and I could learn too.. until lunch today, I could only do the long tail)? Any one have any hints for how to keep the damn needles in your hands? I already told her don't be afraid to use your thighs/armpits/whatever it takes to hold 'em still. Or just general teaching hints?

Sick at home

I guess sometimes being home sick with the stomach bug does have its advantages. I mean besides not being sick at work. I finished some stocking stuffers today. Well, I say finished I started them today too.



I'm not sure who all will get them but all in all they were very easy. A few weeks ago at AC Moore I picked up the ornaments and the yarn. I wanted something a little shiney/sparkley and most importantly cheap. They were having a great sale on Paton's Cha-Cha. I got the ornaments and yarn for less than $5 total. I got the idea from Mary's TNK group. The hardest part (besides keeping the yarn as being used for cat floss) was untangling the Cha-Cha. At one point in time, I cut it it was tangled so badly. I do like the more colorful yarn that Robin H used in hers but yet I like the solid white ones too. Its sort of like my yearly "struggle" with white or colored Christmas lights!

If you want to try this I'd recommend having a little crochet hook (or dpn) handy for reorganizing the yarn if needed and be careful putting your finger in the top of the ornaments. There were a few I had that were chipped and rough. I don't need a cut finger on top of the stomach ick.

For 6 ornaments it took a whole skein of Cha-Cha. I used some sharpies I had on hand to write Merry Christmas 2006. I wanted to write them all in silver but with the white yarn it didn't show up so well.

Now, go, make ornaments for all of your yarn friends (and maybe a few who just appreciate something pretty)!

Weekend Update

Here's a little weekend update. I've been knitting away on dishrags. I'd share pictures but some of these are presents. However, my hands did get a little sore from working with cotton so I started on a felted purse for my boss. It seems that I forget that cotton is stiff and unyielding until I get some good ol' wool on the needles. I love wool...

We've all taken a nap or two this weekend. Thankfully, there's no one here to take pictures of me while I'm sleeping.





Working backwards, Saturday Pepper was in a snuggly mood while she napped.



Hmm, I never really noticed how much my pajamas match my blankie...

Friday morning (and I mean EARLY morning! So early I was questioning what's left of my sanity early...) I went out to Radio Shack - NOT the one at the mall, I'm not that crazy - and bought my Christmas presents.



All I need to do now is install it in the truck and set up the subscription. Those may have to wait though since sometime this weekend I ALSO bought Christmas presents for my mom, step-dad and sister. (We're not going to discuss those though...)

turkey day

While there are too many things that I'm thankful for to list them all here, let me say I am thankful I learned how to knit. Its been very enjoyable for me.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Because I like pictures too...

Here's a dischloth I designed myself for some friends of mine for Christmas. I doubt they'll see it so I thought I'd share. It went very quickly and I'm right proud of it. :)



It's a simple square stitch cloth. I changed the colors every 10 rows and cast on maybe 36 stitches. In hindsite, I think I would've made it a little wider but all in all I like it.

I really miss daylight in the evening to take dishcloth pictures with. Flash just doesn't do justice for dishcloths. I know, there are the weekends but when I finish it on Tuesday and want to take a picture, I can't wait til Saturday.

Pictures

I got to feeling bad that theres been no pictures lately. So here ya go. :)

This is one of how long my hair is (and the top of my pj bottoms). The bottom of the tape measure is right at 10 inches. and because it's a little hard to tell, my left hand is at the top of my shoulder. It'll be short... and I have an appt 12/16...



I belong to a dishcloth knit along and this was October's Mid Month cloth... I thought it was cute and it's the only one I've ever guessed correctly what it was before the pattern was sadly very obvious!

various thoughts

First and foremost, I must tell y'all this important information, tomorrow at work (specifically at lunch since it's hard to answer phones and help customers while teaching) I'm going to teach a friend how to knit. OK, so I know it'll be the first lesson but I have faith in her. She'll pick it up like she was born to knit. I have some nice leftover wool to take to her, a pair of needles (I'd like to take some circs to her but all of my 7's are currently being used and the next size up I have is like 10. I taught myself how to knit on size 11 straights but I shouldn't do that to someone else...) and I have the book I used to teach myself how to knit. Well, OK, so I needed some phone advice from Mom but for the most part I got it on my own.

I'm so exicted. She was studiously watching me knit at lunch today and kept asking me questions. I dutifully answered them all. When she said "I'd like to learn how to knit", I said "I'd be happy to teach you" and unlike other's who go "oh" or whatever not really interested reply, she got excited. I asked her if she wanted me to bring stuff in tomorrow so she could play with it over the long weekend and she said yes. So, we're knitting tomorrow! Now, I must confess, I read the Yarn Harlot regularly. I'm aware she's trying to get knitters to take over the world. I've even been praised in a personal email from her for even *thinking* about taking a traveling sock picture. I feel it's important to do my part in her global "knitterly" plan. It's one addiction I'm happy to share!

Polly had mentioned in a comment that she'd like to go to a chili cook off. I thought I'd post this publicly in case anyone else thought the same thing. I know in my area they're poorly advertised but they are enjoyable. Go to one of the links I listed below, either the one for the ICS or CASI, or heck go to the Goat Gap site- she lists both "demoninations" and find one near you. Most all of them listed should be public. If you have any trouble or further questions, please feel free to ask... I'm happy to share (hmm, maybe I should've titled this - I'll share my addictions with you... :) )

Lastly, I'd like to give a little update on my hair length. Are you wondering what I'm talking about? Well, this blog started as a way to document my hair growth so I could cut it off and donate it to locks of love. You need 10 inches. I'm there. I met my goal a month earlier than I hoped. Now all I need to do is make an appointment. I promise to share pictures of the whole thing.

The (insert ominous music) VET

We all went to the vet today. For two of us, it's really not a big deal. However, Bartholamew does NOT like the vet. Ever since the little day trip he took about 10 yrs ago and came home fixed. Now, I can't blame him but he goes from mild mannered easy going luv bug to nasty ass heathen. Luckily, we have good vets. The one we normally go to calls herself "Aunt Connie" and talks sweet to him despite what he calls her. The vet we saw today, Dr Jessup, was just as kind and treated us well. On top of all the shots, Bartholamew has had a little licking his fur off problem. We got medicine for that today too. She thinks it's an inhaled allergy. Do you think the crazy people who make medicines HAVE cats? I don't. They don't have this in liquid or cream form, just pills. So I get to give my biggest baby pills. for 3 weeks...

But on the bright side, Bartholamew weighs a whopping 13 lbs 12 oz and is, other than the allergy, healthy. Pepper shockingly weighs 10 lbs 1 oz. I had no idea my little girl weighed so much. But she is also healthy and has a good body shape. Or something along those lines. Basically, neither of them is overweight. Which makes me happy. I want my babies to be healthy.

Package week

This is apparently the week for packages for me. It's almost like a mini Christmas!

Monday, I got a box from Dad. I have to take too much stuff when I go visit so I ship some down ahead of myself and then he ships it back up. And before you say anything, have you ever camped in the desert in the end of Oct/beginning of Nov? No? I thought not. You don't know what the weather will be like. It could be (and has been...) frigid cold one day and 90 the next. It makes it difficult to pack. So I ship down the heavy coat and long johns and well... shoes. Or more appropriately, boots and sandals.

So, Monday, I got that box. No pictures. It's nothing really to brag about. Just some dirty boots and heavy cold weather items. But it did come while I was home for lunch so I didn't even have to go back to the post office to get it!

Tuesday, I got my package from my secret pal. We've already discussed that one so I'll breeze by to today's package.

It's small... but like the items it it, it packs a punch!



Those are chili powder blends. Deadly Dudley and Champion Blend from All Things Chili. It's a great site with all kinds of great spices and chili blends. Super nice guy too! I've decided to get back in to competetively cooking chili. I'm still working on my spice stash but getting these is a nice start.

I'll leave you with a few chili links...

International Chili Society
Chili Appreciation Society International
The Goat Gap Gazette
A Bowl of Red
Mild Bill's Spices
Pendery's Spices

Thank you, Secret Pal!

I got my first package today from my secret pal! and it is WONDERFUL!!



Apparently, I wasn't opening the presents fast enough for Pepper...



Bartholamew gave his sniff of approval...



Now, here are the goods without any help from the cats...



I got two wonderful skeins of schoeller stahl Elfin. It's color #7, a orangy burnt sienna color. and it's a mohair blend. I almost just want to leave it unused so I can pet it and snuggle with it! :) However, I'm thinking it'd make a wonderful scarf and maybe wristwarmers or hat or something else... I just don't know yet what it will become.

I got 4 very beautiful wooden snowflake ornaments (at least one of those is going to work with me!)

There's a really cool DPN holder. It's got the cutest sheep on it and the zipper pull has a sheep head on one side and a sheep hiney on the other!

I got a sachet of bath confetti, a handful of tea bags and a very nice card.

You SO rock, secret pal!!!

Socktoberfest recap

I must confess, I did not get even one sock completed for Socktoberfest. I did knit on the one I've had going all summer long, but I didn't finish one. I'm not a very good Socktoberfest participant.

Mom and I went out to begin our holiday shopping today. It's called the Stocked Market where 100s of vendors come and set up a little shop inside the civic center. We had a great time but bought very few gifts...



However, I did get this cute little "bandana" for Pepper out of a $1 grab bag bin. She doesn't like it very much. Right after I took this picture she went running off to fight the almighty bandana to see if she could take it off. Trying not to laugh too hard, I did unvelcro it for her. At least she doesn't give me those "sleep with one eye open" stares that Bartholamew does if I try to dress him up.

Lastly, since it is Veterans' Day, I'd like to thank all the veterans who fought for everything I (we) have today; all those who are currently serving; and especially all of those who died in the line of service. On a personal note, I'd like to say a special thanks to both of my grandfathers, my grandmother, my blood uncle Joe, my chili uncle/dad Joe Willie, Larry, Bill, Alison, all the generations of my family who I never knew who served/died and lastly (but certainly not least), Daddy. Love y'all.

PS- Happy Birthday, Judy and Sarah!

vacation dishcloths

Wow, ok that last post was a long one. This one will probably be long too but is mostly pictures.

I took a bunch of dishcloths down to Texas with me as gifts for my friends and family. I pretty much got all of them done that I wanted to. Although some were done on site while otherwise being lazy.

A large handful of people got various colors of Texas:



Dad and Pat not only got a Texas but a Virginia:



I made a Colorado, South Dakota and Arkansas (however, I forgot to take a picture of Arkansas)





These were made for several other friends (and yes, that is an Alien Head):







These two I made on the flights down there and back home:





I got most of the patterns here. They were all easy to follow. I started another cloth with a cowboy hat on it but it's not done yet.

And that is what I knitted on my vacation. :)