tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62042742690055927742009-11-14T15:46:16.286-08:00Blogging about life since 2000...Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.comBlogger644125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-58602860421757568232009-11-14T15:45:00.000-08:002009-11-14T15:46:16.298-08:00

It's been a really lazy kind of Saturday. Ummmm...I slept until NOON! I was shocked to turn over in bed and look at the clock. I swear my eyes bugged out at the time. I can't remember the last time I slept that late. I must have been tired? In my defense, I am still recovering from the whole swine flu thing. I still have a cough and lingering tired-ness. What have I been knitting on today? I

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-84213246964297621552009-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:002009-11-13T09:16:45.831-08:00

So, yesterday I wrote a post about my plans to rip out a sweater that I knitted two years ago, to recycle the yarn. It was a rather large, tunic length, cabled cardigan. It has been reduced to what you see in the above photograph. It took me ALL day to deconstruct the sweater. It was tedious work, but so worth it. Understanding sweater construction and reversing that order is helpful to know,

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-72137672813986460022009-11-12T08:59:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:01:38.881-08:00

I have decided to do something, recently, that may either be a genius idea or a really bad one. The jury is still out on that...I have decided to deconstruct a sweater. Why? Well, I want to recycle this yarn. I coveted this specific color of LB Wool Ease for over a year and, at the time, I was so excited to knit with it. I still adore the color and I want the yarn for another project. Two years

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-78404322337878943312009-11-11T15:53:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:03:54.526-08:00

It's been pouring rain for about 30 minutes. Before that...the sun was shining. We have really strange weather today. I am not complaining about the rain. I actually love the rain. It keeps everything nice and green. Speaking of keeping things green and around longer than they probably should... My mini-roses are STILL blooming on the front patio. Odd? The rest of my garden bit the dust back

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-4696756958359290862009-11-10T09:32:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:07:29.926-08:00

Since I was sick, sick, sick for all of last week, I did not knit at all. That is how you know I am ill...my knitting suffers. I am slowly getting back to my knitting projects. I figured I would share some progress photos this morning... So, the first project that sat in the bottom of my basket, needing to be worked on, is the Gathered Scarf. I started this scarf exactly a month ago and have

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-3328970593067145882009-11-09T14:07:00.000-08:002009-11-12T09:05:35.698-08:00

I have lost count. What is it now, Day 7? I am finally feeling more human. I am not 100% just yet, but much improved. I can, at least, function. I even began knitting again, last night. I haven't knitted a stitch the entire week of having this swine flu crap. Hannah went back to school today. Thank the gods! She was driving me nuts. I am feeling better too, but Hubby...not so much. He's still a

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-29873435756995280122009-11-07T12:45:00.000-08:002009-11-07T12:45:11.691-08:00

Swine flu Day 5 (for me)...I am still weak, sick and all that, but I am feeling a little better. I am over the fever and chills part of the flu, I think. I just have this awful cough. I can't sleep (it's been 48 hrs since I have slept) with the coughing, constantly. I lay down...cough. I sit up...cough some more. NOTHING helps! I am exhausted from just the coughing crap. The dry cough that begins

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-3825881928612242582009-11-05T08:26:00.000-08:002009-11-05T08:27:51.852-08:00

Well, I am still alive! That's a good thing. I still feel like death, though. The coughing is awful. My head aches and stomach muscles hurt from all of the coughing I have been doing. I go through periods of pouring sweat and then other times where I can't get warm. Cold down to my bones, shivering, chills, etc. I haven't felt improvement for me in the flu-department, just yet. Good news: Hannah,

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-83147498521812282512009-11-04T08:32:00.000-08:002009-11-04T08:37:35.538-08:00

Well, I can now safely say to everyone, avoid public gatherings of ALL kinds, if you have not had the H1N1 vaccine. My daughter, Hannah, did not get the flu from school, as I thought she would. I know exactly where she got it from. Han went to the Teen Night Halloween event last Friday night and so far, at least six other kids that were there that night, that I know of, are sick. Two with

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-6801870725310375662009-11-03T21:03:00.000-08:002009-11-03T21:03:58.259-08:00

My youngest daughter, Hannah, is sick. She has progressively gotten worse since Sunday afternoon. So, I kept her home from school today. She has a low-grade fever, cough, headache, sinus issues, aches, etc. The flu has finally come to visit us, it seems. Swine Flu? Most probably. Four kids that Hannah hung out with last Saturday/Halloween are now home sick from school and one has H1N1, or so I

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-78526861183523862212009-11-02T15:16:00.000-08:002009-11-02T15:18:16.211-08:00

I had a pretty busy weekend. Well, sort of...The kids had Halloween parties to attend and the getting ready was ridiculous. Both girls had slumber-type parties and Hubby and I were alone Saturday night. We should have enjoyed our time alone. After the busy day on Halloween, Hubby and I were in bed, asleep at 11pm. I am not kidding. We were both exhausted. What a party animal I was on Halloween

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-86716066974466229352009-10-30T09:59:00.000-07:002009-10-30T10:09:12.849-07:00

It's been a really odd morning around here. For one, I think my cat, Phinnegan, has lost his mind. He's been running around like a bandit for most of the morning. He's been dive-bombing the couch pillow as well. The final event that convinced me...? Well, I walked into the kitchen to get the last cup of coffee and Phinn usually follows me into the kitchen. Only this time, he came tearing after

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-85624135514191105832009-10-29T11:31:00.000-07:002009-10-29T11:33:05.464-07:00

It's positively gloomy outside today. I had to take outdoor photos of my Urban Bat Sweater in the rain. That was fun. I did it while shivering, cold. I have officially sent in my Urban Bat Sweater pattern and photos, this morning. It's out of my hands now. I can breathe a hug sigh of relief at having made the November 1st deadline with time to spare. I am immensely proud of my sweater design. It

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-57638087751914819122009-10-28T12:01:00.000-07:002009-10-28T18:41:01.577-07:00

Ta Da! My sweater design is finished! I finished the sweater this morning in another session of marathon knitting and sewing the pieces together. I have officially named it the Urban Bat Sweater. It's not exactly original, but you know what? I am SO tired. This sweater has been my obsession for more than two months. The knitting part only took me roughly three weeks. It took me time to create

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-26899474970536699412009-10-27T09:06:00.000-07:002009-10-27T09:06:26.611-07:00

I am working on the second sleeve of my sweater design, the Urban Bat Sweater. It doesn't matter which way you cut it, sleeves are freakin' annoying to knit. I can't pinpoint why I hate sleeve knitting so much. I just do. Even when the sleeve are different, it still bugs me. I am determined to finish the second sleeve today, sometime. This will give me a few days to edit my pattern and rewrite

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-60247644952736236322009-10-26T09:05:00.000-07:002009-10-26T09:05:47.857-07:00

It's a rainy morning here in Portland. Well, that's an understatement. The sky opened up and poured...Poor Han, waiting at the bus stop, probably has a wet morning ahead of her, at school. I told her to take the jacket with the hood, but does she listen? Heavy rain for the day, around here. I suppose we need the rainfall, but jeez, a little slower progression of rain might be a better idea. Oh

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-75085668667070823002009-10-23T10:23:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:25:52.907-07:00

I am so glad it's finally Friday! It's been a long week around Casa Lana. I am feeling better today. Maybe the "plague" will pass by me this time? Maybe my denial of being sick worked? I was just over-tired. I got mail yesterday. I ordered 4 skeins of sock yarn a few days ago, from Redheart.com. The yarn came really fast. Maybe I should order from that site more often. I used the standard USPS

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-19447373241170263322009-10-22T09:51:00.000-07:002009-10-22T09:51:58.856-07:00

Isn't that a pretty pie? Wow, that sounded naughty without even intending it to. Oh, get the mind out of the gutter! I baked a perfect Apple Pie, from scratch, last night. I am a picky pie-eater. Oh, shut up! Being diabetic makes my eating pies limited. I can't eat store bought pies. Too sweet, too much sugar and cinnamon. So, I tend to bake my own. Less sugar, I know what goes into it and I

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-91816305804912542412009-10-21T08:48:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:29:04.559-07:00

The sweater design progress is coming along. I am sick of knitting in black already, but I press on. All of my knitting and focus has been on THIS sweater for weeks. I have to get this one done and really soon. I have two weeks left in my deadline. I finished the back part of the sweater last night. Now I am going to be working on the front, from the armholes onward. This includes my bat

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-86228275287302518482009-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:002009-10-20T08:44:49.115-07:00

I apologize for not blogging since this weekend. Ooops! I've been kind of busy with real life things and sweater design knitting. I don't even have an photos to share this morning. No knitting progress pictures...Maybe later? The "real life" crap I am dealing with is the oldest child is still sick. As in home from school, sick. She has a pretty nasty virus and ear infection. SO FAR, no one else

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-53177060461947559422009-10-17T12:36:00.000-07:002009-10-17T12:36:55.534-07:00

Hubby bought me roses yesterday...Why? Well, yesterday was our oldest daughter's 18th birthday. Hubs said that since I did most of the work that I, at least, get some pretty roses out of the deal. Ah, sweet! Aren't the roses pretty? Pink roses are my favorite. Excuse the darkness in the photo. I had to use the flash, actually. It's so dark today. Portland is in the midst of the remnants of a

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-49719700709021132882009-10-16T09:22:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:28:29.195-07:00

I am supposed to be knitting on my "Bat Sweater" design. I was momentarily distracted by the need to knit a quickie hat. Not one to pass an urge...I did just that. I am not sure why I haven't knitted this hat before, it's disgustingly easy and quite chic. It's the Last Minute "Purled Beret from Wendy Bernard. I have really got to stop with the crappy, tired morning pictures of myself in the

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-25171245192007407492009-10-15T08:42:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:27:58.308-07:00

Wow, two post in one morning... I am currently in the midst of designing a sweater for a "Vampire Themed" knitting book. (Twilight, Buffy, True Blood, etc) I have finished typing up the 1st draft of my sweater pattern and I am now asking for a handful of test knitters. Are you interested?  Only the serious need apply, please! The sweater must be knitted and notes/photos submitted to me in a

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-71226737422412403522009-10-15T07:29:00.000-07:002009-10-15T08:45:06.789-07:00

Not much has been going on around here, this past week. Just the usual...daily stuff. I'm immersed in my sweater design knitting, domestic chores, etc. The kids are busy with school and sickness. Hubby is working a lot too. Really, it's all so boring. Skull numbing boring! Can you tell I have been antsy the past few days for some odd reason? I am keeping myself busy, this morning, with grocery

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204274269005592774.post-44065450753754127592009-10-13T21:48:00.000-07:002009-10-13T21:51:14.191-07:00

Well, the oldest child, Tae , came home from school today complaining about not feeling well. She looked awful. I felt her head...Yup, she has a fever. This is not good. So, I am keeping her home from school until further notice. I hope whatever she has will pass quickly...and without me getting it. I have heard there are a few cases of swine flu at the high school...but the school is not

Rilanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10966378388960437245noreply@blogger.com1