Wound Too Tight

This is a hoot!

2008-10-06T21:57:00.000-04:00

Things are getting done…

2008-10-06T15:42:00.002-04:00

28Thirty is finished. It blocked nicely and now needs it's buttons sewn on. Maybe I'll do that during tomorrow night's debate.

VCU Hat is finished, and another has been started… and almost finished… in reverse colors. I really like this Ribbed Hat pattern. It's fast and fits well for a wide variety of head sizes.

And I finished yet another Seagull Century ride. This time the weather was spectacular! There must have been a bajillion riders! I felt great! These were taken at the finish. Don'tcha just love the do-rag? I had serious "helmet hair".

September 17

2008-09-17T20:25:00.002-04:00

I feel like I've been away forever! I've been busy… DS going back to college the first week in August, my birthday was August 8 - and I treated myself to an Offhand Designs Zelda Grand in Pansy. Love it!

My sister is hanging on, with her husband home. I think they've now realized how long this recovery process is going to be. Basically it's a lifestyle change. Things will never be the way they were. They did get to the Redskins game though, - twice! They are season ticket holders and die-hard 'Skins fans, so this was a milestone of sorts - getting back to tailgating and the game. And some of his colleagues have been picking him up and taking him to a few board meetings in the evenings. All of these things show what remarkable progress he has made, but he still needs the wheelchair, and his eyes still won't open. So we hang on.

I've been sewing - making tote bags to add to my etsy shop.

This one I'm keeping for myself.

I've also made progress on three of the projects I had hoped to finish during the Olympics. Flirty Tank ran into some pattern issues - my pattern was missing 6 rows of instruction. I was set back a couple of weeks as I attempted to get in touch with Y2Knit. That got resolved finally with my calling them on the phone. Pattern fixed.

28Thirty now has sleeves. I'm knitting them using the two circular method. I may even finish that one and be able to wear it soon. What a concept!

And the little Everlasting Bagstopper is maybe 3/4 finished. That one resides in my Emergency Knitting Bag by Illiane. It's a good "sit at the field hockey game" project.

DD finished her driving "Behind the Wheel" course in mid August. Which means she now has her license to drive. We managed to put her off til now to add her to our policy, which meant we didn't let her drive by herself until two nights ago. I think we may allow her to drive to field hockey practices (two miles away at the school) a few times a week. She's a good, careful driver, but people here in the DC area are crazy behind the wheel. I'm in no hurry to have her on any kind or highway.

We did buy a little black used VW Bug so she won't be driving my car. DH bought a used silver one a year and a half ago to commute in (attempt to save gas). We now have a fleet of two. They're cute!

And on the cycling front - I have two rides coming up real soon - the Rappahannock River Ride in Tidewater Virginia on the 26th and the Seagull Century in Salisbury MD on the 4th of October. Both are long ones - although I think I'll opt for the 65 mile route in Tidewater. As opposed to the 124 mile option. Just don't think I want to do two hundred milers on back-to-back weekends. I am looking forward to the "girl's weekend" aspect of both, though. We always have a great time.

The Fall craft show season in here again, and I think I may get back in to it. I sell my beaded jewelry at them. I didn't go to any last year. We were going to see DS run in his cross-country races and they inevitably fell on the dates of the shows. So I didn't sell many earrings last year. I kind of missed it.

I really don't know where August and September have gone… maybe it had to do with the fact that DD started Field Hockey with two-a-day practices on August 5. That was pretty much like going back to school already. And we didn't go to the beach this year. We spent a good amount putting in the new windows, but it was primarily a schedule issue. DD could not be away from the field hockey thing. Ahhh - high school sports…

Anyway, I am now looking forward to the fall, and knitting, and riding in cooler weather, and routine.

I'm Up for WIP Wednesday!

2008-07-23T18:53:00.003-04:00

Should be done real soon… Riiiiigghhht.

But maybe it'll go faster now that it has a friend…

Isn't it cool?! It's a Yarn Bowl from the Knit Witch. I've been stalking her site, waiting for one in pinks to appear, and one did last week! It's Bowl # 201. I love it! It's so cool to knit from! The little ball just spins, and spins…

Oh, it's the the Flirty Tank from Y2K in Gedifra Topas.

Who's Been Eating My Porridge?…

2008-07-20T13:23:00.002-04:00

MMMM… not too hot, not too cold… said goldipillar…

Actually, it was eating my parsley. C said to kill it, but I had to find it on the internet first. Glad I did.

This Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar will metamorphose into a beautiful large black butterfly with tails and yellow spots.

I looked it up on whatsthatbug.com. It may have my parsley for now.

More Garden shots. The tomatoes have taken off, as have the cukes. Zucchini are taking their sweet time, but I'm pretty sure they will soon be abundant. I transplanted the two bell pepper plants. They were being crowded out by the crazy cucumbers.

"Red Pear" tomatoes

Bees in the cucumbers. I've never seen so many honeybees!

"Black Like Tula" tomatoes.

"Hillbilly" tomato.

Can't wait til they ripen! There is nothing better than summer tomatoes!

Reverse Yarn Pr0n

2008-07-11T11:36:00.002-04:00

This is what I'm doing today:

This is why:

This is one of my early knits. A few years ago, I splurged on one skein of Colinette Mohair in the Dusk color, and set out to knit a feather and fan scarf. I did notice a knot in the middle of the skein, but kept going. It has bothered me ever since.

I had a "Two-faced" scarf.

Well, I've finally mustered the courage to frog it. It being mohair and all…

It's going not so bad.

Maybe I'll try it again, this time alternating the two different colors. I have half a mind to send the whole thing to Colinette. But I suppose I have lived and learned. It is hand dyed/painted after all.

And it is beautiful yarn.

A Mystery

2008-07-06T00:16:00.003-04:00

I have no clue…

This was one of many balls of yarn in a bag at the thrift store. I was intrigued, you can't open the bag to touch the yarn, but I could see that it was chain stitched, and looked to be a painted or dyed yarn. I haven't done a burn test yet, but I don't think acrylics would color like this. I unwound the tight ball and wound it on my niddy noddy. Looks like there are 46 yards/80 grams. It's bright primary colors. Now I'm on a mission - to find out what it is.

Friday…

2008-06-27T10:44:00.002-04:00

How does this happen?!

Friday just sneaks up on me. EVERY week!

And I ask myself… what DID you do all week?

Well…

This week I was at my sister's twice, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Tuesday I wound up staying and takling with her when she got home at 9:30. I stayed til 12:15 am. We just talked and drank wine… well - she drank wine. I had one glass - had to drive home. It was so nice to just sit and talk to her.

Her husband is making more progress. He had another surgical procedure two weeks ago to repair a tear in the dura - membrane surrounding the brain - which he ruptured when he fell. They put his bone flap back in at this time as well. Hopefully to prevent another injury of this type, should he fall again. He was readmitted to Nat. Rehab Hospital and is being reassessed all over again. We had hoped he could be discharged to home this week, but it looks like a few more weeks now.

Wednesday, I took the morning off and did a long ride. My riding buddy and I rode to Georgetown, had coffee and stopped in to Stitch DC, looking for the Petal Tank pattern. No luck. I'll have to order it from WEBS, I guess. Then we rode around Hain's Point and stopped in Old Town Alexandria for lunch at Chipotle. Had to check Knit Happens for the pattern. Nope. It was a gorgeous day. A little hot, but a good 30 mile ride.

I started an Everlasting Bagstopper in pink Fibranatura Flax. I love how this stuff knits up. It's a little rough, and I'll wait and see if it softens up, but for the bag, it's perfect.

I'm heading to the mountains this weekend. A Mom's weekend away at a friend's house at Bryce Resort in VA. 6 ladies in a cabin in the woods. I plan to knit, read by the pool and drink wine and watch movies.

Oh, the windows came in. We are replacing all 20 windows in our 37 yr old house. BY OURSELVES. I think it's a good thing I am leaving DH home this weekend to do the first few windows without me "hovering". Wish him luck.

Can't wait!

Happy Knitting!

YPF

2008-06-20T17:21:00.000-04:00

KPPPM

MMMMMM

GardenAlong 1.0

2008-06-19T14:36:00.006-04:00

Well, with thanks to Norma, here it is:

The raised beds are begining to look like a real garden. The tomatoes are beginning to blossom and so are the zucchini. These are all Heirloom tomatoes, grown from seed by my youngest brother. We can always count on him for the best tomatoes every summer.

Notice my attempt at an irrigation system - a coiled soaker hose. Hey, whatever works!

"Limmony", "Red Pear", "Hillbilly" and "Brandywine"

The fifth tomato is "Black Like Tula" and the peppers are Red Bell and Big Bertha - a great pepper for stuffing.

Then there are the lavender and basil plants, a summer staple around here.

Mosaic of Me

2008-06-15T21:44:00.004-04:00

Stolen from Wildpeculiarjoy

1. Andi Peek-a-Boo, 2. Prosciutto Mint Wrapped Figs With Goat Cheese Dipping Sauce, 3. Happy Girls Under a Rainbow, 4. Pawnee Pink Sherbert Sunset, 5. Cary Grant 1934, 6. Manna, 7. VIRGIN GORDA, B.V.I, CARIBBEAN, 8. Castles on the Beach, 9. Cadaqués, 10. "Norouz" is coming!..., 11. 050717081948 A, 12. hi5

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Ocean

2008-06-13T13:46:00.002-04:00

How I wish I were there now.

This is a ball of the Suri Dream in Ocean that I acquired as a destash. 5 balls. Should make a nice little cardigan.

I've been on a sort of a quest to replace a mohair cardigan I had a long time ago - and DH accidentally shrunk to minuscule proportions. This was a cute little 50's style "cropped" cardigan I picked up in a thrift shop. Lord knows how old it was, but it was really cute! Maybe I should be looking through vintage patterns…

I have found that I can knit with the splint on my thumb, and with #2s and beads. So I guess all will be good with the world. Typing is a little rough. I'm back to hunt and peck, because my fingers won't go where I want them. Can't figure that one out, it's not like I type with my thumb…

Well, this is a fine mess

2008-06-11T13:03:00.004-04:00

I've gotten myself into…

Now, you should know, I did this sometime in mid-March, and I did have it looked at. But I had it looked at by my chiropractor, who told me he didn't think it was broken.

Well… it was.

Is.

It remained sore with limited range of motion so I saw an orthopedist this morning and an Xray confirmed it. I Haven't tried to knit yet. And it is my left hand. I'm right handed. We'll see.

COMING SOON!

2008-06-06T22:34:00.002-04:00

Example number one…

Handmade Knitting Bags - Designer fabrics, 12 x 17 x 5, 11" drop handles to fit comfortably over the shoulder or in the hand, fully lined with lots of interior pockets, magnetic snap closure and feet.

Stay tuned! Coming soon to a new etsy shop!

Yarn and needles not included. :)

Mountain Goat

2008-05-31T12:23:00.002-04:00

Don't ya just want to roll around in it? It's soooo soft and squishy…

Weekly Update

2008-05-30T22:05:00.002-04:00

Or, It must be Friday again!

I've almost finished Lorelei - I'm on the upper front and it's looking good!

Here's a flat view of the back:

I also decided that the double circular method is best for the sleeves of 28Thirty. I'm halfway down the first sleeve. And I found buttons! 9 little round deep blue buttons. They'll be perfect for this sweater. I went to Uniquities' Memorial Day sale last weekend and found the buttons, replaced my Brittany dpns (size 2) which DD had sat upon and broken - they now come in sets of 6! - and I bought 4 skeins of Mountain Colors Mountain Goat in Ladyslipper. Can't. Resist. Sale. Yarn. Photos tomorrow.

Summertime, and the livin' is easy…

2008-05-23T23:31:00.002-04:00

I wish!

Not too bad, though. BIL is now at a respected rehab hospital and making progress. He still has not opened his eyes, and at 7 weeks post-op, they're beginning to get a little concerned. He is still on target for a late June release to outpatient rehab. He really wants to get home! And we all really want for him to be at home, even though it will mean a whole new set of obstacles. They live in a 1932 brick Tudor with beautiful, but narrow doorways. He'll most likely be living in the living room for some time. But it will be so good to have him out of hospitals!

DS is home from college and he actually found a job! Or rather, the job found him. A neighbor asked if he was back and looking for work on morning last week. He more or less stumbled into this job where he is "babysitting" drywall contractors as they repair walls damaged in the flooding we had around here a couple of weeks ago. $15 an hour AND they're providing him a security clearance. After the crew is finished, he'll move into a "role playing" position as this company trains interrogators, and he will pretend to be an interrogatee. Cool, huh?

DD turned 16 on Tuesday. We took her and 10 of her girlfriends to dinner at Chadwick's in Old Town Alexandria on Friday last week to celebrate. This instead of the "over the top" sweet sixteen party thing that seems to be "the thing" We (DS, DH and I) sat downstairs, of course, and everyone had a really nice time. And their dinner bill was under $200. Not bad for dinner for 11. The challenge was in ferrying all of them from our home to the restaurant and back. DS, DH and I all drove separately - as chauffeurs. It worked out beautifully! And she was very happy, which of course was the object.

And I won yarn!

Fanciepants celebrated her 100th blog post and I commented and won this…

Actually, 9 balls of this. Gedifra Topas, cotton, poly and acrylic. It will become either a "Something Blushy" or a Flirty Tank

.

I also helped Cosmicpluto destash a little…

Snow White, isn't it beautiful?! Merino and silk. 490 yards or it.

I have finished the bottom tube portion of Lorelei, and will begin the contrast stripe and top portion tomorrow.

28Thirty has a bit of a right sleeve… I can't seem to find a comfortable method for knitting the sleeves. They're done in the round, and one circular is too tight, the large loop method doesn't feel right. I think I'll try the two-circ method next.

And I have added two, that's right, TWO new bags to my collection. I ordered a Namaste Everyday in Black and a Namaste Jetsetter in Dusty Rose. I love them both! I'm beginning to understand the need for attractive knitting bags, as I am away from home so much more now. Rather than carry a purse and a knitting bag, these do double duty rather nicely! Although, I am still selling the Namaste Executive in Raspberry that I bought last year. It' a little large and unwieldy for me, as I'm only 5' tall.

I am so looking forward to this long weekend. We are staying put. Hoping to enjoy the projected beautiful weather right here at home. Maybe get a long bike ride in, some knitting, some cooking… I wish everyone a memorable Memorial Day holiday.

Happy Knitting

Friday FO

2008-05-02T16:41:00.002-04:00

Isn't it cute!?

The little Exploring Stripes bag. It's little, but will hold a cell phone and small wallet.

And there has been progress on 28Thirty

I'm ready to attack the sleeves. Actually, it'll be nice to have something other than straight stockinette to knit, as the sleeves have the purl row every 6 rows.

Next up will be this:

I know, but I have so many UFOs! But I really have an urge to knit with Noro…

On other fronts, BIL is medically stable and we are looking into post-acute care facilities that will take patients with a tracheostomy. His recovery is slow, but he was sidelined by two bouts of double pneumonia and hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). We are now 5.5 weeks post surgery, and I think the stress is finally getting to my sister. I suppose you really never know how much you can take til you're in the thick of things. We've all adapted to new schedules of picking kids up and making sure there's dinner on the table, but summer's coming, and things will be a lot different when the kids are out of school.

My biking buddies and I rode the "Wild Goose Chase" with the Terry Bike folks on Sunday the 27th in Cambridge MD. OMG. I don't think the weather could have been much worse! AND there were no potties on the route. That's right ladies – 400 people, 64 miles and NO POTTIES. So we had merciless headwinds, rain, cold and no potties. I know, I sound obsessed with this little detail, but seriously, we're talking swamp, marsh, snakes, ticks, other "wildlifes". Would you want to "find a bush"?

DS comes home at the end of next week. One year down. I can't believe he's finished his freshman year already! And I'm sure the next 4 months will fly by as well. His housing for next year starts on August 1.

And DD turns 16 in 18 days. I'd like to make it special without going over the top. So many of her friends have had "Sweet Sixteen" mini galas. I'm sorry, I just don't get into that. Maybe a nice pendant from Tiffany's – she had a couple on her Christmas list that Santa did not find, or the Longchamp bag she's been drooling over?

How have my kids grown up so fast?

It's 5 O'clock Somewhere…

2008-04-24T18:02:00.003-04:00

Yarntini Time!

I snagged some this week from Woolgirl. It's a luscious Zinfandel, and I think it may become Hearts for Heidi.

Mmmmm.

Grab it while you can…

2008-04-16T19:47:00.002-04:00

Time, that is.

DH is sailing tonight and DD is at a track meet, so I'm on my own. Free time, wow.
And I actually got out for a ride this morning. It's been another week since I've been out on my bike and today was gorgeous!

I thought I'd take the time now to document… My First Yarn Reclamation Project!

I picked up an American Eagle Outfitter turtleneck sweater, size M, at Goodwill for 5 bucks. It's a really soft and pretty yellow knit. It was nicely constructed, so I figured I would take a stab at frogging - a whole sweater!

69% wool, 19% angora rabbit hair, 12% nylon. Doesn't it look soft? I started with the collar, then the side and sleeve seams. It was well put together.

And about an hour and a half later…

300 grams of YARN! I've actually ordered myself a Lendrum niddy noddy and will skein the yarn, soak it and then try and figure out how much yardage I have. I've already done that with a two yard section and it wraps at 10-11 wraps per inch.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to knit. :)

Just How Did it Get to be April?

2008-04-11T11:12:00.002-04:00

I swear, I've even forgotten what day it is. It's Friday. Right?

My Brother in law had been making fairly good progress following his brain surgery, but contracted double pneumonia last weekend and that has unfortunately derailed the progress. He has in fact regressed a bit. He is still intubated and in a coma like state. The doctors plan to do a tracheotomy to get him off the ventilator and administer meds to aid in waking him. We have hope.

Last weekend we drove down to Williamsburg to see DS run in a track meet at William & Mary University. What a beautiful campus! And we wound up spending the night in the very same hotel that we spent our so very pleasant "Evacuation from Hurricane - Bonnie" time. Unfortunately, it hasn't changed much in ten years. Still a dive - but walking distance to Colonial Williamsburg's center. And we had dinner, just the two of us, at the Kings Arms Tavern. The most amazing meal I have had in quite some time! We both had the "Cook’s Mixed Grill", "The Cook’s Selection of Meats, Game, and Seafood Venison, Rabbit, Duck, Vegetables, and Bacon Lardoons served with the appropriate good Sauce, Potatoes, and seasonal Vegetables". We added a bottle of a Prince Michel Cabernet, a Virginia wine and had a fabulous meal in the colonial tradition.

On Saturday we headed back north, stopping in Richmond to take DS and his girlfriend out for lunch. We walked around Carytown, along Cary street in Richmond. It's a wonderful stretch of funky shops and restaurants and of course, I ducked in to the Yarn Lounge! I bought a skein of this:

Pagewood Farm Hand Dyed Sock Yarn - Denali in Really Red. The beads came from Bangles and Beads. They, and the yarn are for this:

Exploring Stripes by Holly Webb

And two skeins of Lamb's Pride Worsted - in VCU colors gold and black - for a hat for DS.

There is so much going on, I need to compartmentalize my thinking. While we were away last weekend, DD, who was supposed to be staying with a friend, decided to have a little "gathering" at our house. Needless to say, she left a few too many "clues" and is grounded for a month. Just what I need now. I guess I was an idiot to trust a 15 yr old. This was the first time we've left any of the kids home for an overnight - and not with a grandparent.

Oh, and on the way home from my sister's house last night, my car was acting strangely - it's a 2000 Ford Taurus wagon, which I LOVE! I immediately changed course and headed to the dealer for service - and long story short - I now have to look for a new car. :(

It needs a new transmission. (among several other things totaling over $5000)

It's not worth what the new transmission would cost.

I am so bummed.

And there has been knitting

2008-03-28T15:46:00.002-04:00

I cast on for the 28thirty on March 20. Finished the collar section over the weekend and much of the upper body on the 25th - the day of the surgery. I have separated the sleeves and am now heading down the body.

The Rowanspun Tweed is nice to knit with, and I hope it will get a little softer after wetblocking.

I decided to go for the small and it was a good thing I double checked the pattern. The smallest is an XS. I almost went down that road. It would definitely been too small. As it is, I think it will grow a little.

Anyone care to guess who might have been here?

Maybe one of these?

They've never bothered with yarn before, much less yarn inside sealed ziploc bags.

Must have been the cashmere/silk blend. Those were balls of Laines du Nord Cashsilk, and they didn't snag the yarn - amazing.

They (the yarn) have now been put in a safer spot.

Behind Bars.

Breathe

2008-03-28T15:36:00.002-04:00

Easter had special meaning for us this year. We all got together to celebrate with my sister and her family on the eve of the surgery.

He went in Monday for placement of a shunt to relieve pressure on the brain.

The surgery was Tuesday and was successful. Now begins the long road to recovery. The surgery itself was 14 hours long, and included a "cardiac stand-still". He was responding appropriately to painful stimuli and will be weaned slowly from the anesthesia over a period of several days.

So far, so good. We feel that every day without incident is a giant step toward a good recovery. Brain aneurysms are very tricky things.

Curly Mo is Done!

2008-03-20T13:34:00.002-04:00

I actually finished something!

Well, I do still have to sew in all the ends… but it's finished! And it fits! Yay!

Now I have to resist the urge to cast on for something new. I have so many other WIPs, I can't possibly be thinking of something new?! Can I?!

HA.

I woke up with a headache this morning. One of those, "my vision isn't quite right" headaches. I feel almost guilty for even having a headache, with all that my sister and her husband are going through. He is at home, waiting for his surgery, which will be done on the 25th. Perhaps I should cast on for something new. Mindless knitting will be done at length next week. We are expecting a 7-10 day period following the procedure where he will be heavily sedated and intubated while they monitor his brain for something called vasospasms. Spasms in the vascular system inside the brain. These can resemble stroke. Scary.

More later. Tomorrow is YPF. I have more yarn.

Wow.

2008-03-16T23:53:00.002-04:00

I have been a little distracted lately. My last post was March 5.

That night my sister's husband went to the ER with a bad headache. They did a CT scan and gave him meds and sent him home. The next morning, they called him to come back in. They did MRIs and MRAs and admitted him to ICU.

He has a basilar tip aneurysm and will have to undergo brain surgery on the 25th of this month. The delay is to assemble the surgical team, a difficult one because they also plan to do a heart bypass to relieve pressure in the brain during the procedure. It has not burst, which is one good thing, but it has to be clipped with a titanium clamp by way of a craniotomy.

Unbelievable. Scary as hell. Sobering. I could go on…

My sister and her husband are both 45 years old, with three kids, house in the DC suburbs, a business, and a large extended local family, thank God. It will be a long road ahead even if the surgery goes without complications. I have done a LOT of research on Brain Aneurysms and Surgical Procedures in the last several days.

And I have done a LOT of knitting while sitting with my sister in various waiting rooms.

And in the car. Our son was home for Spring Break last week. Not great timing, but it was really good to spend time with him. We drove down to Richmond on Friday to see him run in an invitational track meet. He ran the 5000K. No records broken, but it was a decent run for him. Then we took him out for dinner. We went to Comfort. Incredible food, funky old city building. I highly recommend it if you're ever in Richmond, VA.

Did some thrift shopping in the past couple of weeks as well. I scored a huge bag of yarn for $4 at the Village Thrift that included 8 balls of red Lion Microspun, two balls of purple and one of lime. There were also 4 large skeins of red acrylic without labels. I need to find a home for those. And there were two skeins of a bulky spun wool yarn, varigated blues. I have no idea what they are. Both 45 gram skeins. Any ideas?

Then yesterday I found a really cool box-o-yarn. Circa 1979. Softball.

The idea was to turn the ball on its side inside the box and knit from the box, thus keeping your yarn "clean". Cool. Plus it's a pretty pink. Looks a lot like the unidentified cotton I got last year at the same Goodwill. But this stuff is a teeny bit heavier in weight and darker pink.

Prayers for J & J…

Happy knitting