It's been a Hellova couple of weeks


My doctor changed my blood pressure medication. And gave me samples of allergy medication that wouldn't conflict with the BP meds. Well, the allergy stuff may not conflict with the BP stuff but the package lied about the "non-drowsy" part!! I've been utterly exhausted. I've been able to go back to bed TWO hours after getting up . . . . and sleep soundly for another 3 or 4 hours!! If I don't take the allergy stuff, I cough up a lung - but, in the end, I found something else that lets me breathe without putting me to sleep. Allegra is the winner. What a time I've had!!!

So now that I can stay awake long enough to knit, roll the drums, clash the cymbals, ARVIK is back on the needles!! It's been such a cold spring - what Spring??? - that I decided I had to have some WOOL around me to keep me warm! From the three balls above, I intend to reknit Arvik! Of course, Arvik is a little bigger than this photo at the moment, I think I'm now up to 5 triple increases called Legal Loopholes, invented by Medrith Glover. Legal Loopholes add extra width in the front & back without increasing the sleeve width. This means a raglan sweater for a larger body or bigger bust can be adjusted to add width where it's needed without getting armholes that drop to the waist!!! In the end, Arvik will have seed stitch borders, cuffs & bottom. I'm not sure if I'll put on a seed collar on it or not yet so I just did a few rows of ribbing ,which will be hidden under the collar, if I knit one, to start it off. I'm still planning on using my ladybug buttons on the front but I suspect they'll just be for decoration.

My Danish Working Shawl is DONE!! I even wore it to work last week in the cold warehouse. Worked like a charm. The ends are so long, I didn't even have to put ties on them to tie them in back. I may crochet short ones just to make it easier to untie when I want to take it off. Cozy as it is though, I think I'm still a sweater person in my heart. So, I'm seriously thinking of spinning up some more of this delicious wool - Black Sheep mill ends from The Sheep Shed - dyeing it with my 'Mother Mackenzie's' Dye Kit in Magenta & Cyan & knitting up one of the Kimonos in the "Knitted Kimonos" book that I just had to buy last year. There's some lovely kimono style jackets in there & two that I really want to make. No, Gail, I'm not into long flowing sleeves but the textured kimonos really turn me on, especially the red lacy one on the cover of the book.


And I've finished the Baby Surprise Jacket. As I said before, I wish I'd made one before making this one for someone else. But I finished it & now just have to crochet the trim & sleeves. I thought about knitting up a bonnet to match but the colors are in such long blocks that I'm afraid the bonnet will look silly in only one or two of the colors. But, I'll knit it up anyway just to see what it looks like.

I was considering knitting up the Adult Surprise Jacket for myself but I saw a couple of other options that interest me a little more while still showing off wildly colored leftover yarns. I decided I must have a sweatshirt of some kind to throw into the car for those cool evenings so the Purple Wonderful Wallaby is also still on my list to Things To Do.

Is it ME?? or Is It Chilly Outside???


Just a little greenery to cheer everyone up. No flowers, no pollen, no fruiting bodies, Just green. I couldn't keep anything alive in this coconut fibre lined basket so I planted a hen & chicks with a little Sedum to keep her company a few years ago. Since then, the Sedum has crawled into everything & Mom has repopulated the whole back yard! They never die. You can't over or under water them. They survive flood, snow, hail storm, heat wave & wind storm. This one hangs in her basket under the stairs, beside the door to my basement suite, next to the wind chimes. She's a great place to lay my socks when I shoot them.

I've been coughing up half a lung in the mornings lately - nope, ain't a smoker - I suspect it's probably a combination of allergies, new BP meds, dust mites, mold & the new yarn I've been playing with. I notice my nose runs, I sneeze a lot & wheeze when I'm knitting with the Kauni yarn. It has a lovely blend of colors but it's a little rustic & puts tiny fibres into the air as you work with it. I have the same problem with other "rustic" yarns, linen, hemp, some dyes too, anything over processed or plant based except for cottons. No problems with fleece, silks, minimally processed or smooth yarns. Kind of weird, eh?? Remember Phentex??? My nose seizes up at the memory . . .And Yeah, I was the kid, with hay fever so bad my eyes were almost closed, who insisted on driving the haymow anyway because I loved the smell . . .
So, I've been working on the infamous Baby Surprise Jacket designed by EZ herself. What a neat bit of architecture it is! What a pain in the *#% it's been! Stupid me, I didn't look closely enough at the yarn before I began. It's a little thick & thin in places which doesn't look so good when you're striving for perfection in the wrong needle size! I started off with my 3.75mm Denise needles - just because I love them. Didn't like the overall texture - I had thin spots which I didn't like very much. So I frogged it. And went down a size or two to 3.25mm needles - liked it much better overall. Was almost to the neck shaping & contemplating adding a hood to it when I realized one of my increase rows looked odd. Bloody hell!! I'd moved over a stitch when I did increases on one side so I frogged it back almost halfway . . . . . So, now it's straightened out & I'm carefully making my way back to the neck. Grrrrrrrr . . . . .

And I'm finally on the last ball of handspun for Danish Working Shawl!! Looking forward to the end & finally being able to wear it! I love the color and the texture. I really like the yarn I spun out of the ovoid mill ends from The Sheep Shed. This wool is NOT over processed. It's smooth, silky & just spins itself. After washing, the yarn is springy with a spongey feel that makes you want to wrap yourself up in it like a big hug. I think I'd love a garter stitch jacket in this wool.

And waddayuknow??? Not a sock to be seen. Nothing on the sock needles! Nadda. Zilch. Zip. Not even a baby sock. It must be the end of the world.

Spring has Finally Sprung


My Clematis is trying very hard to make up for lost time. Since the weather's been so cold, it hasn't put on the early spring show of flashy flowers it normally does but as you can see, the big, fat, furry buds are just bursting out all over!! The bud in the middle is an inch & a half long . . . .
Now, if the weather stays warm, it should look like the picture on the left which is from last year!


I've been trying to learn the Twisted German Cast-On. I've watched the movies on YouTube. I've watched several animated examples. Do you think I can do it?? NO! I'm missing something in the translation & my attempt is NOT working. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. And I'm frustrated. I decided I want a stretchier top on my socks - especially those I'm knitting for the BT's dad who's a diabetic. Since his ankles sometimes swell, he needs a little more room - just in case. And I can't figure out how to do this technique!! I suppose I'll have to dig out the Queen's Crazy Heels & Toes book & see if SHE has a stretchier cast-on.

Haven't started any socks this week but I did finish the Gluttony socks - my way. I tried my best to overlap & alternate the colors for a couple of inches so they flowed a little better. I really like the result & I learned about sock yarn that I'd never have used. I think there's just enough left-overs to knit a pair of newborn socks for the Afghan project too. I really enjoyed getting the first Deadly Sins package - I can't wait for the second one which is already in the mail!!!


I offered to knit the Baby Surprise Sweater last week. It's in the Kauni yarn now carried by my LYS, Knitopia, in Langley. The yarn comes in 150 gm balls which are varregated & it's not easy to tell what colors are hidden in the ball!! Since I knit from the centre, I started off with yellow which gradually turned to green - I have no idea what other colors are in there but the outer most color is a rich burnt sienna. I guess the adventure is in the knitting!! LOL The Baby Surprise Sweater is an easy knit as long as you keep track of where you are. I'm knitting this one on 3.75mm or US 5 circs to get the gauge of 6 stitches to the inch. And, I'm using my Denise needles again. I love the Denise needles!! I love the way I can just pop off the end, attach another piece of cable & pop the end back on. My hands appreciate the lightness of them too.

Still working on my Danish Working Shawl. I thought I'd use up ALL the splotchy dyed yarn & make it a bit bigger so I have one ball & a bit left to go. I figure I might as well use all the yarn since I'll never be able to match the dye job again! If I get the time to knit this week, I may even finish it off.
And then, I have plans to finish my Arvik sweater at last. Poor Arvik. It's been pulled apart at least twice but I do believe I've figured out exactly what I want this time. It's still TOP DOWN using the Legal Loopholes shaping for the raglans but I want to curve the front neck around more like a crew neck than drop it straight down from the LL Henley type shaping. I'm too big in the bust for the straight drop & the sweater always works its way to the outside rather than hang with a more closed look. This only emphasizes my already large bust!!
Did I mention that I bought Ladybug buttons for it?? I thought the red bug buttons would look great on the shades-of-grey sweater & aren't they FUN????

BLACK

What is it about BLACK that sucks the cat hair out of the air??
And you don't even have to have a cat. I'm not stupid, I know all about clothes brushes - oh, I've got the one with the sticky tape that you peel off & I've got one with a sticky surface that you rinse off. I've even got a folding sticky brush in the car for all the hair that attacks as you try to get from the house to the car!! Nothing really works. Not in the 'burbs anyway . . . I'm thinking black is the color of the city - I'll bet smog & air conditioning clean the cat hair out of the air so those people can wear it. I suspect the kids who love black sleep all day & go out at nite do it to avoid the hair that sticks to their clothes! And what is the point of this ranting?? I bought three pairs of pants on sale last year that I can't wear because they literally suck cat hair right out of the air! They have hair & I've never had them on!!!!
And people ask me why I wear sweats!!


Knitting content??? Well, I have been busy this week but not too busy to knit. I've made a lot of progress on my Gluttony socks & I'm about to start the toe shaping. I decided if I have to reknit them, I'm gonna do it MY WAY. I didn't bother with a pattern but I did overlap the colors somewhat so there's no demarkation line where one color ends & the next begins - I think they're really pretty!! As I said before, I'd never have bought this handpainted merino before this Seven Deadly S(p)ins group but I like the result. These socks are mine to wear & enjoy!! I've had notification that the second package is on the way already!! I can't wait.


The Danish Working Shawl is well on it's way too. I've started the second big ball - second skein of four - & this shawl could be HUGE if I used all the yarn! If I had it to do again, I think I'd double the yarn & work with slightly larger needles. But, this one should do just what I wanted it to do & keep me warm without getting in the way of anything. I've never wanted or used a shawl before but I think this will be great to snuggle in especially when I'm sitting outside in the evening & just want something light to wrap around my shoulders. One thing about this shawl - it's given me more ideas about things to knit with handspun. I love the sponginess & springiness of handspun! I love it's softness as I knit. I love the fact that I made this yarn & dyed it myself - GAWD, I sound like a commercial for handspun!

And on to other things - I volunteered to make the Baby Surprise Jacket. Now, this is something I've been eye-balling for a while & I wanted to knit one up from odds & ends of sock yarns to see what everyone's been talking about. I understand there's people out there who churn these things out like a factory. And there's even an adult version too. So, like I've got nothing else to do, I volunteered because it gives me permission to knit when I should be working . . . . . . LOL
So, I had to drop all the other projects & start the Jacket last nite. I found some old Scheepsjwool Luzerne - my old fav in wool & acylic - & cast on. The only real thing I found you have to do with this pattern is remember which side you did the decreases on & exactly where they are. It's not that apparent in the first couple of rows!!! Other than that, it's dead simple!! This might be a great project to pack around when I'm off to drink Tea at Starbucks . . . . .

Back to Knitting & Spinning!!


The paperwork pile has diminished somewhat although about a dozen of the perpetually late entries are still to show up & the business stuff has only begun. Hopefully all this work will help me buy a NEW portable wheel!! pant pant I've sent my newer Country Spinner off to be viewed & hopefully purchased, by a newby spinner. It spins anything from silk thread to heavy Cowichan style singles very nicely - it spins much better than the old Mud Valley clone - I would've preferred to use it, BUT, my my old one is too persnicketty to sic on anyone. So, I kept the old one. And I've had it since the early 70s, so we understand each other! And I can still pack it fairly easily to any Spin-In while the other is really hard to get into my little car.

But, I haven't been spinning. I've been knitting! Yes, Gail & Karen, I am actually turning yarn into something useful - well, other than socks. I saw the Danish Working Shawl in the latest issue of Spin off & thought - "That's just what I need!" so, I decided to cast it on the needles that day. I found FOUR balls of my splotch dyed handspun in the end & just started on the second ball - if I use it all, this will be huge. You can really see the color variation here too. Here I've been concerned about having enough yarn to knit up something for myself but with this shawl, I've come to realize that I DON'T need a huge amount. Handspun goes a looooooong way! I noticed that with the Arvik sweater too - when I frogged it, I had three largish balls for the whole sweater. And I knit it with two strands.

Haven't done much on my Gluttony socks other than reknit the ribbing after frogging them as you can see in the picture. But, as I said before, I should've followed my own numbers from the beginning on this one. They won't take much time to reknit, I just wanted to get the shawl going until it's too big to haul around comfortably whereupon it will stay home by the TV & the socks will come visiting with me.

Last nite, my Starbuck's buddies, Steve & Kelly, arrived with a huge pot that someone had abandoned in the park across from their house. Kelly walks his dog - aka, the Dirty Little Dawg - several times a day in the park which is a semi wild gully park with a salmon spawning creek at the bottom. The boys're always hauling crap out of there. Anyway, they arrived with this huge, heavy pot of BAMBOO. Since I'm not much of a photographer, you don't really get the scale of this pot. The guys figure it weighs about 150 pounds & it took two of them to get it into the truck!!! Now I've been saying for a while that I'm going to get several big tubs & plant bamboo in them as a forest on the side of my patio to keep the kids from cutting thru. So, when the boys saw this, they brought it over to my house. It may take an axe to split it up but I figure we should get at least four big tubs planted! Now, if I wasn't planning on moving this summer, I'd get a big box about 8 feet long & 2 feet wide built & plant the bamboo in that!! I love to hear the wind rustling thru bamboo & grasses. I'm such a fern, vine & grass person . . . . .

Ahhhhhhhhhhh . . . . Tax Season


Well, I haven't had much time for anything but paperwork for the last week or so. At a couple of points, I've had two printers going at the same time & was still printing about 10 returns behind what I've actually done!! Tractor feed printers are sloooooooow but cheap to operate. Ink Jets are fast but expensive. What do you do?????


Haven't had much knitting time either, but I did have time to FROG. I thought my Gluttony socks were just a little big - but often socks can look a little big until you get past the heel shaping & actually get to try them on. The pattern for Gluttony had several errors in it so I chose to just knit them simply & let the handpainted yarn show off. They started off with 76 stitches which seemed like an awful lot to me since I normally use 68 for women's socks - well, 69 but I knit the first & last stitches together . . . so 76 seemed like an awful lot. But, I hadn't used this particular yarn before - superwash merino tightly twisted - so I went with the pattern recommendations. I frogged the socks on Wednesday. They were only to the heel shaping & the Wednesday Nite Nitting Gang agreed with me that they just were too big. I've only got the ribbing done at this point but I like them better already. With any luck, I'll get them finished before the next Deadly S(p)in package arrives early in May!!


Remember this?????
Seeing as how I needed something mindless but still wanted to knit on my breaks, I started a Danish Working Shawl - yeah, I know, I know, I'm not the shawl type - but it caught my fancy, it doesn't take much yarn & I wanted something light & warm for work!! My poor printer overheats from printing all day so I have the window in the office wide open to keep it cool . . . & I'm cold! I had those three big, fat skeins of koolaid dyed splotchy yarn that was begging to be used for something . . . . so I cast on for the shawl. It's a fast & easy knit - a couple of yarn over increases on each end as well as in the middle give it it's shape. Other than that, it's simple Garter stitch. I can understand why this shape is so popular in many places in the world - it's fast, it's easy, you can use any type of yarn in any color AND you don't have to measure, shape or even be a good knitter!! And one pattern can be sized up or down to fit anyone. You just keep knitting until it's the right size! This one has strings attached - or ICord - to each end so it can be crossed in front, wrapped around the waist & tied in back. You can tie it on top of the back point or under. Keeps the body warm & the arms free to work. It may just be the perfect office wear.

I've been busy knitting socks again

So, Mother's Day approaches rapidly. My own mother only calls when someone in the family dies so I've adopted & been adopted by the BT's family. That doesn't mean I'm off the list when it comes to remembering all the Important Days though. Especially since I started knitting socks again. They just KNOW they'll get socks on the Important Days. And, well, what DO you buy the Parents Who Have Everything for those events???? Yeah, we all could use a new car or a trip to Tahiti but we're talking about the LITTLE events like Mother's Day - I mean, could YOU afford to buy your Mom a new car?? I thought not. So, we're back to socks.

I truly ENJOY knitting socks. They're fast, fun & easy to take anywhere. I started knitting socks for practical reasons - I've had cold feet most of my life. And now I don't. But, you can get too many socks - you should see my basket!! So I branched out. I'm slowly filling the BT's basket - I think he has a dozen now, his mom must have a dozen by now & his dad is getting there. Once everybody has a drawer full, I may start knitting fingerless gloves!
This is my last pair of Mexiko socks. I got half a bag of Mexiko on sale for a terrific price when the Chocolate Shop in Chilliwack closed. I'm truly sick of Mexiko in this colorway. I think I made a pair in one of the Denim colorways that was really nice but I haven't done anything else but THIS one since. I found the last two balls & these will go to the BT's MOM for Mother's Day. I know she's got a short pair which she really likes so I thought I'd knit her up a longer pair for those cold days when the wind blows up your pants.

And just to make things really good - I've even finished the 'girly' socks for the BT's Dad - his term, not mine - for Father's Day, well in advance of the event!! I bought this Confetti with the BT's Dad in mind because it's much paler than my usual choices. I really liked the softer colors in the ball. His Dad's taste runs to the MANLY colors of black, brown & navy - but, at least he's more adventurous than his son who wouldn't wear anything that wasn't WHITE COTTON until I knit HIM socks!!! I've introduced patterned socks to both of them which are more adventurous than they really like but neither have given them back - his Dad says they're under his pants so what does it matter??? But, I know he'd like some a little plainer. That's why I chose this 'calmer' yarn for him. Well . . . . it's calm to ME!

Now I have time to finish my Gluttony Socks. Remember them?? Well, I'm down to the K1S1 heel & I'm shaping the gusset stitches. There was a pattern included with the Gluttony Socks but after the 4th correction was published, I decided to just knit them in all their colorful glory in my usual simple fashion with the Queen's heel that I so love. I think they're beautiful! And I've already been notified that the next SINful package is being readied for shipping at the beginning of May!! I am soooooo glad I signed up for this - it really is a treat to look forward to!!!

Happy Birthday to ME!


This has been Birthday Week. The BT had his on the 12th & mine is on the 16th. Until I met him, I never bothered much with my birthday - hey, I'm the one who forgot about her own 30th birthday & went off on a caretaker job for a week or so. My friends were really pissed because somebody, in an Instant of Insanity, thought they'd plan a surprise party complete with the requisite male stripper!! And then they couldn't find me . . . . But, I digress - everyone found me THIS week.


The Wednesday Nite Nitting Gang made sure I was coming & brought cake! Thank you Kathy. Gail slipped a little something dyed in Neon Pinks & Chocolate - above - into my knitting bag & Karen blessed me with another lovely set of handmade stitch markers - you can NEVER have too many of those!! Inside each of the black beads is a tiny little pink rose - they're sooooo pretty!

I got some of this very same roving a couple of years ago from Gail for my birthday. I spun it up right away but never made anything out of it since there wasn't enough to really do anything but socks, a hat or scarf. It's much too pretty for socks & I don't really wear hats or scarves so I hung the two skeins up as art! I really liked the colorway & was only recently - like Tuesday when my hands were freezing cold at work AGAIN - that I started thinking about making some fingerless gloves with it when I suddenly got MORE for my birthday!! I think I might actually have enough for a working shawl - especially if I knit it on slightly bigger needles!! Karen recommends a Faroese shawl which is fitted to the shoulders so it won't fall off. And, no, your eyes don't deceive you - there's a little turquoise in one skein - I think it was already ON the bobbin & ended up coming off in the skein when I wasn't looking. I kind of liked it there, so I just left it.

Thursday Nite, I got another big surprise. The BT called me on Wednesday to go out to dinner for my birthday but I said no, it was Nitting Nite!! So he called again on Thursday & we trotted out to dinner. Apparently he got a couple of KEG cards for HIS birthday & thought it only fitting that WE should celebrate together. So, we scarfed down Prime Rib & garlic mashed spuds & washed it all down with beer. We were so stuffed we could barely walk out the door. It was a hellova birthday.

I was surprised


Yesterday was the BT's 50th birthday.
You all know how the usual 50th goes - it turns into a big drunk with morning-after consequences. Well, this one started on Friday nite with the arrival of buddies from out of town - with BEER. He called close to midnite to tell me his place was full of people with sleeping bags & BEER. I called yesterday around suppertime to ask if he was hungry but his local buddies were picking him up to party at the Cloverdale Legion. I've been there on MY birthday & the shooters don't stop coming . . . . . . I did remind him that if he needed a ride home to just call & I'd get him. I've always had this pact with friends & their kids - if they call, I pick em up! At 8:50 the phone rang. He asked me to pick him up. You could tell he'd had a few but he said he was tired of the party, the booze & the drunks & would I please come & get him. I did.
My BT has finally grown up.

How the Time Flies . . .


I've been soooooo busy but not too busy to do a little shopping. I filled up my old van last week & the gas was still pumping after it hit $100. I freaked out, turned it off & got away from there as quickly as I could. I decided the Van Must Go. So I put the word out to all my buddies on Monday that I was in the market for something a little cheaper to feed. And I informed the Guy who wanted my Van that he better make space because I've filled it up for the very last time!! On Wednesday I looked at another Van but a smaller one - mmmmmm. On Thursday I called a bunch of guys on Craigslist. Had my eye on a Jetta or a Toyota. I tended to look at all the ones under $500 . . . . On Friday I went to see this Mazda & bought it on the spot. And dropped off the Van to the Guy - with most of a tank of gas. I should've driven the silly thing for another week or so till the gas was low but I found the Mazda. Oh well . . .



I also did some other shopping - I fell in love with this purple Marble yarn. Yeah, it's acrylic but I wanted acrylic for it's washability. I'm making the Wonderful Wallaby with this Marble -and suddenly everything I'm buying is some shade of purple. Dunno what's going on. Menopause??? While in the store slobbering over the Marble, I spotted this sock yarn in the bin - the dark parts are all deep purple!! Well, gee, it just got up & followed me home!! Honest to Gawd!!


And Gail, I went down to Knitopia before work today & put some money down on that Majacraft spinner I was admiring before I found another reason why I shouldn't. Now that I've got a smaller car, I really DO need a folding wheel!!

Oh I just love Weird Things

I'm not a shopper as a rule - oh, I love the Big home improvement stores & Really Big Plant stores & quite often cruise the aisles of office supply stores but I'm not a Mall Rat. I don't shop as recreation. But, this morning I went to Wal-Mart. I figured if I had to go there, I might just as well have a good look around & see if there was anything else I needed. In the 'craft' department I found Nut Beads. Not sure what I'll use them for but I think the "acorn" type on the left might work well as Toggles. The Rings at the top are extremely light while the big nuts on the right are heavy. I just couldn't leave them behind!


While there, I also found some discontinued items that also looked quite interesting. The stars are plain silver while the rectangles are antique looking. And I splurged on a bag of Ladybug buttons for a sweater. If I ever get the Arvik sweater finished, they'll look great on it's mottled grey.

And I've been working on socks this week - not much time to really do anything else since it's tax season. I've started on the second color in my Gluttony socks & am just starting the gusset increases for the heel. I wound the four skeins into 4 balls so I'm doing the by guess & by golly method of dividing the yarn between the two socks. The yarn is a tightly twisted super wash merino in four colorways. I didn't use the pattern that came with the yarn since it has quite a few errors in it & I didn't really like it anyway. I think the yarn is beautiful enough without a pattern & look forward to wearing these socks when they're done.

At the same time, I've been working on the pale Confetti socks which I'd earmarked for the BT's dad. He wasn't quite sure if he liked it or not when I first started them but decided they weren't quite as 'girly' when I got a couple of inches knitted.

I've decided to move

Yup, it's true. I've definitely decided I have to move. I need the space you see. Every time I want to start a project or decide I NEED to start a project, the stuff I want is in the bin at the bottom of the stack - and there's nowhere to stack the stack so I can get into the bottom bin for the stuff I want.

I need at least a THREE bedroom place or a TWO bedroom one with an enclosed garage. And that ain't here. Oh, I played with the idea of renting the space once occupied by the BT - it comes with an extra bathroom that I don't need but does have a huge room with a big walk-in closet. That would be enough space to spread out all the STASH & it's accoutrements. But it's cold all the time around here - good for stash but bad for ME.
And why do I need THREE bedrooms??? Well, I need one to sleep & hang clothes in. One to fill with stash. And one to use as the Working office. One must work to pay for stash, you know.

So, I have to move.

I want outside laundry tubs to wash wool & a clothesline to hang dyed skeins. And a garden to grow dye plants. A proper compost box & two rain barrels too. Hanging baskets & a big front porch for my rocker. Gawd, Maw Kettle comes to Surrey!! Can you just see it all?? I might even take up macrame again - Holy Seventies Batman!!!

My living room is the stash room at present. I don't have room for anything but one chair because it's taken up with books, spinning wheels, stash bins, baskets of stash & stacking shelves of stash. I know there's even a table in there somewhere but it's covered with stash. The office closet is full of mohair. I think there's still a fleece or two in a bag under my bed. They've probably had twins by now. I'm afraid to look . . .

Winter is baaaaack!


I woke up to snow flakes flying thru the open bedroom window & landing on my face this morning. I had to get up to get a better look!! Gee, I can't remember seeing snow this late in the year around here! I got a cup of tea & commuted to my home office in time to watch HUGE flakes coming down - the cat kept flying around her fuzzy window-sill bed to try & catch them from inside - what a hoot.

I did go outside to take a picture of the falling snow but it just didn't work out. But, while I was there I got a shot of my favorite pot of flowers blooming away while it snowed. The winter Pansies are growing in the same pot as the rhubarb while the pot behind sports a head of some creeping perennial ground cover that caught my fancy last year.


I finished the scrappy socks for the BT on Tuesday. Well - I still have to bind-off the toes but, essentially, they're done. I was going to put pink toes on them but found I'd used all the pink in a Christmas project - bummer!!! - so I was forced to use my very last ball of blue instead. I didn't make it to Fibre Fest this year as planned & I usually load up on the solid colors for toes when I'm there, so I guess that's why I don't have any.


In the meantime, I started a new pair of socks - hey, the sock basket is empty except for the Mexiko socks!! I wanted something quiet for a change - not everyone wants bright or flashy ones. I actually thought this pair would be nice for a man but men seem to think these are nice 'girly' colors. Oooops. That's what I get for buying something 'quiet'! So, I'm not sure who these will be for - the BT's mom might end up with them - she likes everything I knit. And the BT's dad will get something that isn't so 'girly'. I think I have a ball of camel shit brown & snotty yellow that should be 'manly' enough . . .

It's a Good Friday

It seems the storm with it's hail, snow showers & high winds, has passed over us. All of this cold weather hasn't discouraged the rhubarb or the winter Pansies though. And, my Clematis has huge shoots popping out all over the old stems!! But, it does make me want to spend more time knitting.

I finally received my first package from the Seven Deadly Spins club!! Now, when I first joined up, I thought it was a SPINNING thing BUT, apparently it's more of a KNITTING thing. Not a biggie, and the first SIN is GLUTTONY.
So, they sent a package with a Gluttony of color! Each of these skeins is a different color & the pattern is designed to create a simple patterned sock in graduated colors. The yarn is handpainted superwash merino.

Also included in the package were little sock needle protectors!! And a sock stretcher with handpainted yarn to knit the sock!! And a big bag of wildly colored Jelly Bellies!! What great fun! I've never signed up for any of these things before but I think I'm gonna change my ways.

I've just started the gussets for the BT's last pair of the splotchy Confetti socks. I found all those little leftover balls & figured I had more than enough to knit another pair with them. He does love that yarn! And there's always a place in everyone's life for mindless knitting projects . . . . . Oh, and in the left corner, on the socks, are the latest stitch markers created by the Oh So Talented, Karen Bonter (spinquilt.blogspot.com)!! I use her markers in every project - they're so much sexier than rubber bands!!!

It was NOT a good weekend . . .


I'd been looking forward to the First Annual Spinning Retreat hosted by our Guild - although most of the work was actually done by Doris!! I hadn't been feeling too perky the week before but I was determined to go Hell or High Water. The event was held at the Timberline Dude Ranch,in Maple Ridge, in the Lodge, which is spread over three floors. Beds on the top floor - yeah, haul all the stuff up there huffing & puffing because we had to supply pillows, towels & bedding as well as the usual clothes & toiletries. The dining room was on the main floor - nice & bright with big windows to look at the wildlife looking back at us. And our work room was downstairs - yup, lug all the spinners, bins, books, fibre etc downstairs & NO bathroom on that floor.
The place was rustic but warm, dry & the food was good. Tea & coffee - some of the best decaf I've ever tasted - were hot & ready constantly but you had to go up & down those damned stairs all the time!
And then, on to bed. I'm just not built for wooden bunks with 3" mattresses. I thought I was going to die on the first morning - I ended up in tears with shooting pains down both legs. Doris, bless her beautiful, generous soul, hauled another mattress into the room for me. I slept much better the next night but still had to crawl up & down those stairs with shooting pain down my left leg.
Other than that, we had a good time & were locked up with two Vendors who brought lots of lovely fibre - & planted their wares between us & the exit!! Grrrrr . . . . I missed the Spindling workshop taught by Jeff, one of the vendors. Two more workshops in Beading & Plying for Color were offered on the Saturday & Sunday.
We got door prizes of sock yarns from Knitopia & Designer circular needle holders by Doris in the picture on the left. I planned on giving a pair of Mexiko socks in the Gift Exchange - but as you can see on the right, they didn't get finished . . . guess the sock basket gets another offering! But I got 3 cute Sheepy ornaments in the gift exchange! Oh, I did buy some fibre even though I swore I wouldn't - Lynne had dyed some that I just couldn't resist - it's pictured at the top along with a ball of neon pink that I just had to have ever since Karen beat me to the last one at Desert Mesa!! And I bought myself a NEW Majacraft spinner. I can't believe I did that!
The pain in my leg is almost gone thanks to drugs, vodka, a soft bed, lots of walking & NO stairs. Thank gawd.

And it's still light outside


Since I keep checking everyone else's blog for updates, I guess I'd better update my own!! Ahhh, tax season has curtailed my extra-curricular activities somewhat but I do get to catch up on all my regular clients' lives . . . I could write a book!!


It looks like I may still have a chance to get that two bedroom duplex I was told about LAST summer. Apparently the tenant is not a good one & the old folks are sick of her antics. Her loss, my gain??? I go to talk to them tomorrow morning - who knows??? I really hate the thought of the effort of moving but I'm sure I'll be better off in the long run - 10 years in a suite with landlords who don't want to do repairs properly is enough.

I might be able to get a cat door installed!! And a back porch built with lattice for the flowers. And my own yard & garden! I want rain barrels, composters & raised beds. I can grow dye flowers again & the rhubarb will be happy next to a compost box. Part of the yard is damp & shady apparently, so I'll fill it with native ferns. I'll bet I dream about gardening tonite. I don't want to get too excited but . . . .


And the BT goes for Mediation with ICBC tomorrow. I sincerely hope it all gets settled tomorrow because I broke a filling this afternoon & need to pay the dentist.


My gift socks still need the second heel turned - I can see me finishing them on the trip over to Maple Ridge!! Hey, I'm really looking forward to the spinning weekend away from all the crap & stress. I can hardly wait!!


My Ginny sweater body is now finished except for the borders. I have one sleeve to finish & then I get out the crochet hook to finish the edges - I've decided NOT to pick up & knit the fronts, bottom & collar as directed in the pattern. I've decided instead, to crochet the entire fronts & bottom in a couple of rows of single crochet - hope it looks okay - & then pick up & knit the collar since I want a big shirt style collar. THEN, I have to finish Arvik. It's on the needles but I decided to finish Ginny since it was farther along after I frogged poor Arvik the first time. Booo Hooo no sweater again this winter!!

Well, didja do it??

Didja remember to change your clocks??? Do you know how MANY clocks I had to change???

I HAD intended to go to FibreFest on Saturday after all - but work got in the way. I ended up in Langley doing data entry for the day instead, sigh. It's probably for the best since next weekend I'm off to our Guild's first Spinning Retreat! We are hoping this will be an annual event - much thanx to DORIS for doing all the work!!!! It's nice to get away for the weekend & just shop & relax.

In the meantime, it's Tax Season. Need I say more?? They're piling up on my desk since my printer gave up the ghost the other day & my old tractor-feed - which is the one I REALLY need - is costing an arm & a leg to feed with paper!!! Gone are the days when I could buy damaged boxes at $15. Now I have to cough up $62 for the same box!!! Between paper, gas & Program costs, I've had to raise my prices. So far all my clients have just laughed . . . . but it cuts into my fibre money - whine, snivel, sob!!!

Speaking of fibre, I'm hauling a tub of old packages of Buffalo wool - there must be 40 of them - to the Retreat. I just can't use them anymore. They put off so much fibre into the air that I can't breathe if I try. I know some people still knit the sweaters - if I do, I'll use good wool that I've spun myself!!!! This stuff is overprocessed!! But it should make great felting fibre or be good for slippers - I just don't care. It's free & will be out of here!!

I still have white, blue & brown that I reclaimed from a whole pile of sleeves that someone donated to Value Village. The wool is soft & silky & was processed minimally. Someone was manufacturing sweaters & these became surplus. I unravelled the sleeves & saved the yarn in big balls. At one time, I started a sweater for a friend with it but it soon grew so heavy that I couldn't work with it anymore!! I considered spinning it as a finer yarn & it might go to the retreat with me.
Maybe it should be my summer project . . . . . maybe I'll dye the wool first with my new "Mother McKenzie" dyes. I want to knit a 'Wonderful Wallaby' for a friend going to camp to work & this might be the very potential yarn. Ohhhhhh - I see a summer project coming up!

I've been asked to knit infant socks for a baby gift. The BT's lawyer is off on maternity leave with her new baby. Since he doesn't know what it is or how big it is . . . just like a man . . . he asked for socks. Good thing I have tons of leftovers & who doesn't need socks for a new baby!! I'm just not sure how big 6 month old feet generally are - But the good thing about babies - they grow!
I see the sun is struggling to poke thru the clouds today - yesterday was gorgeous in the afternoon & I was indoors working - I swear, if it actually gets warm & nice, I'm going OUT.

I've been so busy


I figured out today why I haven't read my emails, written on my blog, worked on any projects & not done my dishes - I've been working 70 hour weeks for the past two weeks!! I've been exhausted & only seem to get to bed, get up, take a shower, eat brekkie & head out the door to start it all over again!! I've been working as a Receptionist as well as doing my regular jobs for the past two weeks. I will have more respect for a Receptionist in the future.


Now, back to my old life!! You don't realize how you enjoy your leisure time until you don't have any! Whilst enjoying some of it, I looked thru all the leftover bags, rounded up all the old black/white Confetti bits & started on the last pair of Confetti socks in this color for the BT. I was quite amazed at how many leftovers I found but he'll be happy with another pair in the end - even if they have pink toes . . . . .


And then I dug out the LAST TWO BALLS of Mexiko to knit a pair of socks for a gift I need shortly. Stoooooopidly I pulled half a ball of yarn out before I found the color sequence I needed to match the first sock to the second - I have no idea why I bothered doing that with THIS pair of socks since I almost never bother with any other . . . . anyway, I was just starting the heel gussets when I realized the socks were not looking all that similar. It took me a while but I suddenly realized one of the damn balls of yarn was wound backwards from the other! I'd ripped one out before I realized what the problem was & then ripped the other out in a fit of pique. Now I'm reknitting them both & don't care how they come out. I should've known better . . . .

I won two balls of OPAL 6ply yarn!! I got FISH & TIGER from the Rainforest collection. Very yummy & very thick!!! Boy, when you're used to Fingering . . . . . . but, I think they'll both be very nice as WINTER socks for next year. No, Virginia, I am NOT gifting anyone with my winnings - these are for ME. I may have to buy bigger shoes or wear my sandals with them but they're all for Moi!!