Happy (almost) New Year!

I'm at home, cuz I generally like to stay close to the abode on this night. It's cold, and there will be lots of drunks on the road, I'll stay home with Air Farce and knitting and maybe a glass of wine.

I hope Christmas was good to all of you, it was kind to me (and I can't wait to spend my gift certificate over at Make One!) and I got to see most of my family and most especially the joy on my son's face as he opened his presents.

Right now I'm debating sticking with the projects I have on the needles, or starting the jazz kit I had bought. I wasn't going to make it to the boxing day sale, so I bought it before it disappeared.

Ah well, I'll read the pattern and decide though I'll probably stick with the socks I am working on. The Velociraptor is in bed (earlier than he has been for most of the past week) and hopefully he drops off right away. We shall see.

I've made a couple of small resolutions, I'm not big on them because it's too easy to break them but it's stuff I need to work on anyway and I want to continue to work on for 2008. No diet resolutions (not when the last time I weighed myself I was 5 pounds less than what the doctor weighed me at, which was ten pounds less than the last time I weighed myself. I don't think I need to resolve since I wasn't aiming for weight loss anyway, just better eating habits. ;) ) these ones involve organizing and personal life.

But now I'm rambling and Air Farce is on and I'm missing it, so enjoy your evening and may 2008 be an awesome year for you all.

Christmas Eve

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring..

except for the crazy knitter who hadn't finished her knitting.

Actually, that's a lie. I finished almost all of it, and the tea cozy that isn't done is almost done and won't take long (just needs another 1/4 of it and the i-cords.. easy peasy) and won't be gifted until after Christmas anyway.

I finished some finger puppets, I don't think I'll get to the rest but I can make them later. He got a couple for now at least, and so did his friends. These ones:



(Don't mind the dust, you know, you never realize how dusty your desk has gotten until you snap a picture with flash..)

They all love them, and the adults thought they were cute too.

But now it's time for coffee and breakfast, to make a few Christmas cards with Velociraptor (who is VERY antsy for Santa to arrive).

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

3 Sleeps to Christmas

I'm done my Christmas shopping, but one present isn't here yet. Fedex messed up, badly, and my package should be delivered on Monday (a month to the day that it shipped.. yes, I ordered this in NOVEMBER). I hope it will be, but if not this means I have to go get something for backup. My coffee maker broke also, and I CANNOT live without coffee, so I have to go to Walmart to get a new one.

Oy. Why did it have to be NOW? Seriously? And actually, it didn't break so much as Mom forgot to add water and turned it on and now it won't work.

In other news, my cousin's bag is done.



And I need to get some crochet hooks. Metal ones, so I can do some of these finger puppets for stocking stuffers. I'm not sure why I had plastic ones, but they are very bendy and catch the yarn so bad. And I'm about 50% done my Grandma's tea cozy (we won't see here until a couple days after Christmas, so I have time). That's it though, no more to do since I pared back my list.

My friend loved her purse, she immediately called her mother to brag and tell her she couldn't have it lol.

Oh well. I'd better go take a dose of cold fx (guys at work had colds, and were passing it around.. I KNEW I'd get it when the first guy showed up with it and I kinda feel it but not right now) and eat an orange and then stop somewhere for a coffee.

7 Sleeps to Christmas

And I have yet to felt (well, full) the bags. I got the second one done tonight, and I am nervous.

I won't felt until tomorrow, it's a little late right now to get the washing machine going when I have to be up early. I'll take before and after pictures and keep my fingers crossed that it works, because otherwise I don't know what I will do.

At all.

One purse is a gift that I'm giving on Thursday.

EEP! I hope she'll like it. Otherwise no handknit socks for her birthday.

8 Sleeps to Christmas

And so the countdown continues..

This Thursday I'm to meet my BFF for supper and exchange presents. I have most of her stuff done, except for..

Her purse

I'm halfway done, I think if I drop in a movie and knit I can maybe finish it today, if not then I'll have to finish it tomorrow because I'll need to felt it Wednesday so it can be done and dried by morning (meeting after work, no time to come home and then go out again).

So what am I putting on? A quintessential Christmas movie.

Die Hard 2.

But for some Christmas spirit, here's our little Christmas tree.



We set it up on Sunday.

And just to show I am getting some stuff done, this was sent off to the East Coast yesterday. Here's hoping it gets there on time, Mom sent it regular post.

13 sleeps to Christmas

That's what I tell my son when I tuck him into bed at night. He's 3, and he's not all sure on the Santa thing (he's just this big guy who dresses in red and is only around at Christmas) but he knows that he'll be getting loads of loot.

Why? Because not only is it Christmas but he is turning 4. It's a big day for him!

And I am still working on my Christmas knitting. I have a couple things done, a couple need last touches (felting, sewing). Now that I'm done school, done my final project and I don't have to worry about exams I can concentrate on my knitting. I really clipped back on my initial list. I always do this, because I overestimate myself and underestimate my procrastination skills.

Things are moving along, we'll see how far I get.. and some pictures. :)

Procrastinating..

Found when doing some back reading on some blogs (I will do some homework shortly, I promise).

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (in progress)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL (couple in progress)
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies) (knit a few dishcloths and am working on tea cozies)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning (Grandma taught me how)
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

I'm kinda annoyed I had to skip knitting group last night. Okay, I suppose I didn't have to but what with it being the first big snow and the crappy roads and my having to take transit for at least one more winter, AND being stuck on a bus for three hours sitting on Glenmore that morning (okay, the full three hours wasn't on Glenmore, it was only half of it.. the rest was spent on another bus and train..) I was not up to doing anything more but going home (which took me two hours), heating some french onion soup, making a pot of tea and going to bed soon after Velociraptor.

This week is taking a chunk out of me. I'll be happy once class and driving lessons are done, then I can handle Christmas and hopefully things will look up in the new year.

ETA: My blog design is borked, I need a new one but I suck with css and I don't have time or inclination to search through premade ones to find one I can live with. Oy.

Retreat and Christmas knitting musings..

The retreat was a total blast. The bus ride out was fun, got to meet some people and knit and drink and we made it out there without any hitches. Friday was basically check in, supper (a lovely buffet at Cilantro and more drinking, then we could do what we wanted which for me involved going to the outdoor hot tub for a bit (in the snow!) and then back to my room to attempt to light the fire (didn't work), read a bit and then to sleep.

I almost overslept, but the people below me banged around a bit so I woke up (forgot to turn on my alarm before I went to sleep). We had breakfast, then a class with Annie and lunch and more class/sessions and knitting and about 4 most of us scattered. I was so tired for some reason so I ended up starting a fire (yay!) knitting a bit in my room and then falling asleep for an hour. That evening was a sit down dinner, again at Cilantro, where I learned a way to tell what was the bread plate and my drink in a formal setting. I also learned some new things with my camera, and how to say bad words in sign language. A very informative dinner. ;) After supper was a PJ party in the lodge, with lots of Baileys and hot chocolate and a really cute bartender.

Sunday was easy going. Up by 9, packed and checked out by 10ish and then brunch buffet at 11. We all then hung out for a few hours until the bus came. I decided to walk to the bus instead of taking the shuttle across the bridge, and of course on my way I managed to slip and fall down a small set of stairs as it had snowed off and on all weekend and, being right by the lake, it was a wet snow and so got icy. Then a ride back to Calgary, and a new friend got me a ride home with her sister in law and her.

It was great. :) Wish it could've been longer actually.

I also got a bunch of pictures! Mostly of the scenery, but it was great.

Now that I'm back and recovered from the drinking (seriously, dropped shortly after my son did most of this week I was amazingly tired still) and I am now pondering my Christmas knitting. Taking stock of truly where I am, how much I can do, and can I do it all?

We shall see.

The list so far:
3 felted purses - one knit, needs felting
1 pair fingerless gloves - not started
1 hat - almost done
4 tea cozies - one started
2 or 3 sets of finger puppets, crocheted - not yet started

32 days to knit/crochet them in. I was trying to finish socks, but with the others I've decided bus time will be better spent on quicker projects and the socks can be saved for the February birthday (same person, just a couple months later).

And two of the cozies must be mailed out to Nova Scotia from Alberta. EEP!

Will I make it? Do I have time?

I dunno but I've got my mug of Christmas tea, my new dvd set of Heroes season 1 (which I got for my birthday!) and one set of needles and a big ball of alpaca. Maybe I can bang off one, or most of, a purse tonight before I need to sleep because tomorrow will have little knitting time. My bro is coming down, and I have picture plans, family dinner and driving lessons. Plus I need to find time somewhere to work hard on my final project, barely started and due in less than two weeks.

Insane? Yup, that's me.

Weekend Retreat Prep

So I sit amid the wreckage of my plotting what to pack and I am going crazy.

I'm not worried about the clothing, or the packing itself. I was a Girl Guide, I can PACK. That's fine. I even have snacks.

It's the 'what and how much knitting do I bring?' that I'm snagging on. It's only three days, lots of knitting time to be had but not my first inclination to pack one of each project and sort it out when I get there.

I know I want to bring my lace, for while I'm out there. Maybe I can finish up a clue or two of Mystic Waters. We'll be doing a scarf as our project out there, so no scarf brought. I must bring socks. Debating bringing a new skein and working on the Synesthesia Socks or just motoring on with the basic socks I have on the needles as my bus project. Do I want to bring the sweater I've got going? Naw.. I'm stalled there, totally. Even vaguely pondering frogging, being so ambivalent towards it means it would be bad for a trip. I should also bring at least one Christmas project. I have the hat nearly done, so that can stay at home. It'll hold until I get home unless I finish it tonight after I pack. Probably bring the first tea kozy or perhaps the convertible gloves? Those are smallish. I could even bring enough for two tea kozies, a couple extra skeins won't be too much.

*ponders*

I think that might be it. The kozy, socks, the shawl. That should be plenty, with enough variety to keep a flibbertigibbet like me from growing bored with what I have to work on. Make sure to tuck them into different bags, plus the scissors, the measuring tape, the needles. *ponders* I'll have to wind a skein at the store. Tuck all my patterns I need into those see through coloured report covers I discovered at the dollar store.

Oh! And can't forget my book.

And yes, I'm evil. I haven't been putting all my stash up on Ravelry. I have a bunch of Noro I ordered online, and some lace weight I'm working on mystic waters with, and some new sock yarn I JUST bought, and I have more lace weight on the way because I couldn't pass up some of the knitpicks sale/clearance stuff. And a bunch of stuff for mittens. Lots. Lots and lots.

Well better go finish sorting things out and then packing them away.

Remembrance Day

On this remembrance day, I find myself thinking not of the homework I need to do but of other things. More important things.

I think of my cousin, the one who is currently serving in Bosnia with the Army. My other cousin, his younger brother, who will will probably go into the military also and be deployed who knows where.

I think of my father and uncle, who served in the navy and army also when they were younger.

I think of my Grandfather who join the air force but WWII ended before he could be shipped out.

I think of my Great-grandma who was just a girl when her and her family emmigrated from Germany, either just before or just after the start of WWI.

I think of the men and women who died then, and who are out there now.

And I pray for them and the people who are torn by war.

I won't forget.

What have I been up to?

These:


And this:



(Start of the Mystic Waters shawl, I joined the KAL on a whim and now I want to find the time to knit!)

And learning how to link to photos from flickr.

I've also been busy with school and work and learning to drive, plus completing halloween costumes (he was a jester.. okay, same as last year but I finished the hat this year! Next year I'll have to make something else..) and going trick or treating and already plotting what I'm doing with my weekends for the next two months.

Seriously, I'm practically booked to the new year and it's barely the first week of November. But the retreat is coming up! A fortnight from now, I will be sitting in a lodge in the mountains with lots of other knitters and relaxing. Yay!

It's so sweet..

Amy and Sandra got married!

I'm so happy for them. :)

Check out their pictures (linked from Amy's blog)

You've got mail!

Specifically.. packages.

Okay, not many. But I got a few. I went a little wild you see. I ordered Romantic Hand Knits and an abacus counter (THIS oneand some of those GORGEOUS stitch markers that hug the needles from from HIDEandSHEEP (I got my order in before they showed up on Lime and Violet though. HA!)

Last week I got some Noro Kureyon. Gorgeous colours.

Then what did I do? I spent more. I blame my Mom though, she's an enabler. I showed her the yarn and what I was going to do as gifts (and for us!) and she said oh so innocently "Can you buy more of this? Make one for my Mom and other sister?" How could I say no? Especially when she's helping to pay. ;)

Then I joined up the Mystic Watrs KAL. How could I not with a description like this?

Have you ever found yourself staring into a deep ocean pondering the mysteries beneath the surface?
Or swam in a dark lake at sunset?
Do you feel the lightness of the summer rain?
Water has many forms and faces, and yet they are all the same - simple H2O.

Presented in an original design, this triangular shawl show some of the many faces of water.

The laciest thing I've made is the montego bay scarf (as yet unfinished.. it'll be done by next spring lol) but this called to me. And I must've had a premonition cuz those stitch markers? Are the size of the needles called for in the pattern (of course I may have to go up or down a size, but let me have my moment..).

So of course I had to order some lace weight, from knitpicks. And while I was at it, looking at the needles and realized I didn't have any in the size called for.. and then mentally calculated what I've been paying for just in needles.. and slipped and fell, clicking on the options set (not the harmony though).

And I had to buy enough yarn for mittens for the men in my life.

So I'm going to hope that my review is good this year, and gets me a raise, just to pay for all this! Or maybe I'll be using my gain share to pay for it. That's what I did last time I went on a splurge like this. This will keep me busy for ages!

Oh, and that bag I am working on? Well, I have yet to felt it (still) but I found some really cute buttons at Make1. One of which will go for this purse, and a couple for future purses (one for me, and one for BFF for Christmas).

Mittens..

I think I'm starting to hate them. I've knit two mittens, in an attempt to make the mouse mittens for Velociraptor but I keep running into problems.

You see, when I followed the pattern exact, needles and all, I ended up with a mitten for a baby. Not the 3-5 year old that the pattern said (or maybe my almost 4 year old has huge hands.. both I think). Obviously my gauge was way off, so I went up 3 needle sizes and followed exact and I ended up with a mitten that just fit him. As in, it's nice for now but since he's at that age where he just grows suddenly I'd be making a new pair by Christmas.

So I guess I'd better do my math and make another mitten, slightly bigger. I'm also tempted to buy a set of dpn's just cuz I have a bunch floating around but only in certain sizes, A wider range would be nice rather than this constant grab a pair when I need another size. Cheaper on the pocketbook too.

I have mostly finished at least one project also. It's the squatty sidekick purse, which I still need to felt and then find my copy of Interweave Felt to get how to make the button. Not sure where I left it *sighs* Gotta clean up around here. I've never been miss happy homemaker, though when I'm not working I can keep a pretty nice house. The rest of the time it's like a tornado hit.

My socks!

I know I said I'd post them but I got distracted. But I have socks, see?



Thank goodness, because I've been wearing them this weekend. Nice and cozy while it's cold and rainy outside.

Now I'm working on finishing a felted purse, I'm also way behind on where I wanted to be for my hoodie *winces* and I started mittens for my son, but they were WAY too small on the recommended needle size.. I think I knit really tight, or something, so I gotta up the size and do those. And I have a few other things on the needles as always.

But I have one finished item.

ETA: And I can't quite get my template to work, so maybe I need to find another one. *sighs*

FO!

I finished my socks, in the jitterbug! It's late though and 6am comes early, so I'll post a picture tomorrow.

My toes are so cosy now!

But now, sleep.

Lots to do!

So many things going on, and I'm already looking ahead.

As the forecast calls for snow I've decided I really must finish my plain socks so I can start my son's mittens (no more putting off, I could probably finish them tonight while I was Merlin which I borrowed from the library), I've joined a holiday KAL/CAL (which took me too long to realize the KAL/CAL meant Knit/Crochet ALong) to get started early this year (I have a bunch on my plate, though most is relatively small), I want to try and finish my sweater, which the pace I'm going I'm not (I have about 3 inches on the front left panel and two months to do the rest of it and the second, which is all the front, sleeves and hood) and..

I'm tempted to join the Halloween mystery shawl. Even though I might not ever wear a shawl. But a Halloween shawl! Actually might be good to wear around the house and when handing out candy.. no. I shall refrain. Maybe when I have less to do I'll try one of the mystery shawl things going around. They won't just all disappear that quickly I think anyway.

ETA: Looking at the cost of the reccomended yarn has put an end to that idea. Yeouch.

ETA2: Okay, found one a little more palatable for cost. But still.. no.. not enough time, too much to knit and other things to do.

I can't be the only person to get ideas this way can I?

Last night, as I was drifting off, it occured to me.

A pattern idea. Using stuff I already know.

Thankfully I keep a notebook by my bed, because my mind finds just as I am drifting off to be the ideal time to insert ideas in my head, which I often forget if I don't write down. This one I wrote down.. but I haven't forgotten.

It's a good idea I think.

I'm looking around at similar patterns and don't see the exact same idea there.. so I think I shall work on it next and if it works out I'll share.

A cool September day

On this day, my mind turns to warm knits. It's definitely September, cold, chilly and grey. I even heard the dreaded word on the news last night!

Snow.

Not for us, but for the west of us, in the mountains.

I've got lots of things on my needles though, so I'm actually making progress on the second sock out of Jitterbug that I started ages ago (linoleum floors, they're quite chilly and I'm wearing my slippers but they are kinda heavy for the weather yet so I look at the one and a half socks and think.. 'Those would be perfect to wear..' so I'm working on finishing the foot). But I'm also pondering what to do for winter knits.

Velociraptor will be getting a pair of mouse mittens for winter, and I'm thinking Mom needs an Irish hiking scarf and a nice hat made out of Misti Alpaca (in the light blue to match her jacket). Those will knit up fast. Maybe one for Dad for Christmas too.

I'm also slowly making progress on the cardigan, thanks for the tip of colouring in the squares Gina that did help and it at least looks right now, though it is slow going. Once I hit my stride it'll move faster though.

I'm also pondering a Here and There Cables scarf from Scarf Style, which my friend showed to me when she was here on Wednesday. So I'll have to find something to make that out of. But that isn't an immediate concern, I have a scarf already so it can wait.

I'm also eyeing some finger puppet patterns as presents for Christmas. With all the toy recalls I'm leery of what I will buy for Velociraptor, he might like finger puppets and they can easily travel with me on the bus. (They're crochet too, so I'll get to learn to read crochet patterns since I only ever did what Grandma told me or made up as I went along!)

Lots to do, lots to plan and hope I have time for. But for now while my boy has his nap I'm knitting socks and watching a romantic movie. It's been a nice week off for me, but soon it'll be back to the usual grind.

ETA: and I just discovered (remembered?) I had 5 balls of Patons Shetland Chunky in a very nice blue-grey colourway. Enough for 2 Irish Hiking scarves, or one and other stuff. Since I don't have enough of the Misti maybe I'll make one for Mom out of this, it's still blue just a darker blue than the other..

I don't think I like charts..

Today I have started, and frogged back, the start of the front left panel of A Cardigan For Arwen 4 times. The first time I realized I was reading the chart wrong, the other times once I got going it just looks wrong like nothing is really lining up as it should.

One more attempt tonight, then I'll go work on something else before I drive myself betty. But this time I photocopied the charts and am writing in k, p etc on the darn squares. Maybe that will work better.

Things are moving again!

Last post was just a tad self pitying.

Things are moving, albeit crazily at times.

Got things straightened out with the college (I hope, I really want this to be my last class for diploma, then maybe I can get a slightly better paying job).

Got the sock moving again, I managed to finally get around the heel with the tutorial from Cosmic Pluto Knits! and lots of patience and audiobooks on the bus. I added a couple more rounds and then did it and the heel fits fine.

Here's my big foot in it:



Now I just need to find some time to work on the sweater. At least the classroom portion of driver's ed is almost done, so that'll be two nights a week back to myself again. Maybe I can get some rearranging done and then manage sit down time with some dvd's (I STILL have yet to watch all of Buffy and Angel) and work on the sweater.

Oh! And at least one completed sweater :D

Life goes on.. whether I want it to or not.

Sooo update.

Knitting? Not so much. I keep trying to do a short row heel on the Saturday socks, and it's not working so well. I've ripped back a few times, searched and printed off several tutorials and am working on it again. I swear, if this doesn't seem to be working this time I shall just do as the pattern says. Thing is, I want to try and do a reasonable short row heel, and just see if it would work for my feet (big feet, I think it might end up not working for this pattern.. high arches you see).

I've also decided I need to do my Arwen cardigan before the retreat. And I've stalled as I realized I'm adding length to it because I am TALL. I need to add at least an inch to the sleeve and an inch to the body so it'll fit nice. Been going over my calculations and praying it's right.. and then I never have time to knit because..

I'm taking driving lessons. I don't think knitting and driving work together at the same time. And I've been doing stuff around the home and doing crazy things.

Oh, and I'm going back to school to, so I can just get this diploma done and have that be DONE.

Maybe I'll get more knitting done when driving lessons are done and I can go back to Stitch n Bitch night every so often.. I was getting comfy there.

So much to do! Not enough time!

Maybe I need some lessons in time management?

Maybe this is good for something after all..

Yesterday was such a nice day I took my son to the park.. and I twisted my ankle.

So today I've been sitting with ice on it, up on a pillow.. and getting some knitting done. Browsing on Ravelry also gave me a little push to work on my Cardigan For Arwen, so I'm now just over halfway done the back panel. As I was working I also realized.. I'm going to have to adjust. eep!

What? Well I'm going to make it longer, so it actually stops at the small of my back like it's supposed to, not above my kidneys like it almost would be if I followed the pattern exact (I can hear Grandma's voice in my head 'You'll catch a chill and get sick!') I'm going to have to add on to the sleeves too, make them a little longer so it actually covers my wrists.

This is going to be fun, I did measurings and math.. I just hope it works out right. *bites nails*

Ravelry

I made it! I'm one of the cool kids now!

Is it bad that when I checked my email at work and found my invite I [i]immediately[/i] signed up and then proceeded to spend the rest of my day hanging out there when I had a spare minute?

It can't be bad that when I got home I wanted to run to my stash and start taking pictures of absolutely [i]everything[/i] to put up, right?

Right?

I'm not addicted I tell you!

ps I joined the second sock group, because it called to me.

Nothing to see here, move along..

Nope, still no knitting happening. Well, maybe tonight. I think I'll pull out the sock and work on the heel while watching Hell's Kitchen taped from last night and Top Chef from a bit ago.

I should do some knitting, especially since a look at the Make1 blog shows new yarn and gives me urges to go and buy Buy BUY!

Except I have plenty of yarn, several projects on the needles and even a spindle with some roving while I attempt to teach myself to spin. I have a decent stash, I can't buy more until I finish a few projects (and have a little more money, that's not earmarked for things like a car next year when I get my license.. yes I'm an adult, I just never felt the pressing need for a car and license until recently).

No yarn, no nothing.. I'll have to figure a way to get in and out of Make1 without buying anything since I need to put more money down on the retreat. I haven't had a decent vacation in ages. No relatives, nothing, just me.. relaxing.. Actually, I've never had that. I've been on retreats before as a teen though, and summer camp would be the closest to away without family. I can't wait, but I keep reminded myself to enjoy the summer and November will arrive soon enough. (I even booked that Friday off see how excited I am?)

But see? Nothing to see here. Maybe I'll finish that second sock soon.

Wow, most of a month gone by..

And I've done nothing.

Well, not nothing nothing, but not much of note. Mostly I've been trying to keep cool, playing with the new computer, reading (currently - you guessed it - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), working, and getting stuff together for driving lessons (next month!).

So not much knitting has been happening. A row here and there, and that's about it. I really should work on it if I want the scarf done before summer ends and to do my sweater before it gets cool again (though it doesn't feel like it will at all right now, just like in winter it seems like the cold will never end and summer will never return).

Ah well.

I'm going to go curl up in front of my fan for another chapter of Harry Potter and then try to get some sleep. But just for fun, here's this!

You Are Psyche!

Eternally in search of purpose and insight. You're curious and creative with a total sense of wonder. Totally empathetic, you pick up on other's moods easily. Just be sure to pamper yourself as well!

What Goddess Are You?

Happy Canada Day!

Wow, today has been fun.

We went down to Prince's Island for some of the festivities, made puppets, had lunch, wandered around, ate some ice cream and splashed in the splash pool (I was SOAKED!).

Probably won't get to the fireworks. After 4 hours of chasing around an excited velociraptor I'm pooped. So I'm going to pop in a good action flick while he naps and lay down and hope I don't go down for the count too!

Thankfully I have tomorrow off, so I can recover from today.

Mmm yarn

That was great. I made it to the store (and I was first in line, don't listen to the people who showed up and then left again for breakfast ;) ). Chatted with some wonderful people and bought up some really cute yarn.

I even managed to stay ON BUDGET and not go totally crazy. I think the reason I was able to, was because I knew that I have enough for 2 sweaters at home and that is enough. For now. Until they are knitted up.

I did do a silly thing though. I bought a spindle, and some roving.. and I don't know how to spin. And watching the video I found on YouTube and reading the instructions and I'm all nervous. So I may just have to go take that spinning class. :p

But I got some more cute sock yarn, and some worsted weight. Enough for two of those Squatty Sidekick bags on Knitting Daily, in different colours. I think one for me and one for my cousin (for Christmas.. planning ahead, see?).

I also took a bit of a walk around Bridgeland, and since it's so nice I think that when Velociraptor wakes up we may just have to go check out all the noise at the Greek festival. I have a hankering for some spanakopita and ouzo.

More yarn (soon)!

Or there will be, and soon.

Make1's Solstice sale is this weekend and I plan to be down there by shortly after 9 if the buses co-operate. *grins* I'm going on a dive for sock yarn and maaaaaybe some roving.

Just a little.

And a drop spindle.

Just a small one.

But mostly sock yarn. I'm also pondering something to make my aunt for Christmas (I may as well get it now and start soon, knowing what a flibbertigibbet I am).

The Montego Bay scarf is coming along, slowly but surely. I tucked it into the pocket on my chair and forgot to take it all last week on the bus though, so I'd better pull it out and tuck it back in my monster of a purse.

Then tomorrow night I'm finally going to get out. Now I just need to convince my friend that she really does want to go to the grand opening of the new bar in the city (I put our names on the list to get in the door, I know what I want to wear, I WANT TO GO DANCING DAMNIT! It's been too long, the clubs are always crowded and expensive and stuff but it's been a year. I want to work off some energy and dance with a few cute guys before I return to my everyday single mom self. I don't cut loose enough.)

I'll try to get pictures of the Chill Chaser. It's really cute, and Velociraptor loves it, but currently it is WAY too hot to wear jackets of any kind. Summer certainly is here. He was wearing it the other week though, when it was cooler.

And I know I'm a day late, but Happy Solstice everyone.

WWKIP Day

Yup, that is apparently tomorrow. You never really hear anything about it (at least not where I go). knitting in public is what I do though. I knit whenever, I bring it to keep me busy on the bus and in lines etc.

And since I will be out and about anyway, I shall have my knitting with me. So if tomorrow you come across a tall woman dressed quite casually with a turquoise knit pouch attached to her belt and a bright orange rolling shopping bag dragged behind.. that'll be me.

I'm hitting the Farmer's Market. I haven't been all winter and I want to see what is showing up there currently for fruits (if any). Plus I have a real craving for tzatsiki and pita bread, and the best place I've found is at the market. That and the Greek Festival (in two weeks, so I will be found there on the Sunday since that is the same weekend as Make One's Solstice sale where I plan to be on the Saturday).

Maybe the yarn lady will be at the market? She's not there all the time, but from time to time she shows up with yarn (and roving, and knitted items). One of the stalls also has recycled sari silk yarn, and I get a craving whenever I pass by, but I manage to stop myself because it sheds. Shedding drives me batty. :p Some I can live with, but too much.. ick.

25 dollars and a short time later..

and the corner where I tossed my bags of yarn/knitting supplies/books/projects on the go is now ten times more organized.

I just picked up a 3 drawer cart at Walmart, sorted my knitting out into it and voila! It looks SO much better than the brown paper bags of yarn and odds and ends and stacks of books I had sitting there.

I also worked on Velociraptor's sweater last night, so I'd better do some work on it tonight and then it ought to be done. My sewing might need some work though, it's really different to sew knitted pieces together than it is to sew cloth. Have to concentrate more to make it look nice and even. But I only have to sew the side together and the hood together and on and then.. done!

That's about all the knitting content I got right now lol.

In other randomness, this video is quite beautiful.



And now I must be off to mow my weeds and make supper.

May.. now with extra snow!

It snowed today, and I dislike it when it snows like this. I had to stumble out of bed, shivering my butt off, and go dig out my winter gear (packed away the past weekend). Brrr.

This was the view out my window this morning:



and this was right beside my house.





It broke the light right off the light standard, but that and the tree appear to be the only casualties. Unlike other places in town (and not that far from myself either).

So I needed a summery project, said screw it, and started this:



I might need to figure something else for pictures. These are rather big. They'll just stay this way for now though.

Oh! And for the seven utterly random factoids meme.. I rememberd an eighth. How I could forget, I don't know.

I am a character in a novel. A published novel. If you pick up EE Knight's Valentine's Rising (book four of Vampire Earth) you will find a character by the name of Arsie/RC.

That is me! Not pulling legs or nothing, he wrote me in. :)

Busy as a bee

is what it seems like lately.

So much to do, plus it's so nice out I don't want to be inside and my friends want to get out, as does my son. And it's hard to take knitting on a hike up to Stewart Canyon by Lake Minnewanka!

So no real knitting has been done in awhile, nor finishing either (the sweater will be done soon, I guess I'm just dragging on it because.. well, I don't know why. I guess I don't quite want it to be done).

But, Gina fingered me in this meme so I figured I'd do it and here goes.

7 Utterly Random Factoids About Me:

1) I seem to have inherited somehow a crafty gene and can do a variety of crafts (huge surprise there, I know). I may not be wonderful at them, but I can do the basics in many. Lots of this was gleaned from Grandma, Aunt's, Friends of the family, Guides and Mom. I have all sorts of samples of my works kicking around (or long since disappeared) and was complimented on my small even stitches and suggested I take up quilting (by hand). I refused, as I rather enjoyed my cross-stitch at the time (another craft put on hold until little boys learn sharp needles = pain)

2) Paleontology has been my dream since I was small. How small? I'd say I was 4 or 5 when I first saw a dinosaur exhibit at a museum (in BC!) and I was hooked. Over the years I had plastic models, books, tons of those crafty kids books where you did stuff like trace a map of the world in a certain way to create Pangaea or Gondwana. And, to be quite honest, it still is my dream. I see it as put on slow for the moment though.

3) The previous one leads into the next one. In grade 4, I won first place in the science fair when I did my project on, you guessed it, dinosaurs.

4) This one is also led into from the paleontology love.. I got to go on a behind the scenes tour at the Royal Alberta Museum and got to hold this Wooly Mammoth Tooth. It was a wonderful day.

5) All scars and major injuries were caused by really silly things. Not even silly things that are amusing or just childhood craziness.. I mean really.. really.. silly things, like I broke my collarbone by falling off a swivel chair and I have scars from a parrot, helium tank, fridge and grocery cart. Need I say more? I was fairly clumsy as a kid, but especially during my teenage years. I blame it on getting so tall, so fast. I'm not as clumsy anymore. Thank goodness.

6) In grade 9 we had something called a 'Turkey Trot' at school, where we walked or ran around the field (1.something km) after telling our guess of how long we thought it would take us to the teachers (who wrote it down). We started all at once and at the ending line a teacher told us our time and we went in to give it to the original teachers. Well, I was the one closest to my guess for my grade.. and I won a frozen turkey to bring home. If I had gone with my gut number, I would've been exactly on but I gave a slightly different number (that matched the girls I was planning on walking with) instead.

7) I have been on both coasts of Canada (and traveled a fair bit in Alberta and the East coast), but nowhere between Alberta and Nova Scotia except for a few hours in an airport in Ontario.

I tag.. whoever wants to do this.

Oh, and I picked up the newest Interweave Knits today (at the news store I pass on the way home), and am extremely excited to discover a pattern for a gorgeous scarf using the Handmaiden Sea Silk.. of which I happen to have a skein that I bought awhile ago, in the amount needed for this pattern. I started the scarf pattern that came with it, stalled out and just left it while I did other things despite LOVING the yarn. But now I know what to do with it.

Is this where the excitement of stash shopping comes in? I've never truly done it before!

Finally! A finished sock!

Or not..

I finished a sock. I truly did. Thing is, once I finished the kitchener stitch and tried it on I realized.. it's too small.

Ok, not TOO too small, just my feet are big (since I am 6'1, and inherited high arches and wide feet from my Mother).

So that got ripped out and frogged back to where I started the toe decreases, so I can add.. oh, say another couple centimeters. I could have worn it, but the heel (specifically the BACK of the heel) was pulled under my foot and it was pretty stretched out. I figure a couple of centimeters, then the decreases and the heel will sit properly and it won't drive me batty.

Then I just have to knit the next one.

Once I've got them done, I will post a picture of them. I have to show off finished socks!

Oh, and I bought some new sock yarn. Didn't get to the store for stitch n' bitch (and thus missed out on the Oceanwind) but when I went the next night I got some real nice stuff that they haven't put out front yet. Or hadn't really planned on.

I already wound it into a ball, and it's such a pretty blue (they had some wonderful greens and a rust and reds there too, but I kept myself to one skein). I'll get the name later, I left it downstairs in my bag and I'm a little lazy at the moment (considering I should already be asleep..) but it's nice. I like it, and I'm looking around for a pattern to use with it. Maybe this one?

But now I'd better get some sleep.

Spring has finally sprung! (I think)

Last week was just crazy.

Between the snow/sleet for 3 days making everything mucky, studying like mad for the final exam yesterday and no time to do anything knitterly I'm amazed I survived.

Thankfully it's warmed up now though, no more snow on the ground (except in the odd small patch in very shady areas), the final exam is done (won't get marks back for a few days so I'm all nerves about that) and.. I have lots more time for knitterly things.

Well, more than I did before.

So I'm working diligently at the Chill Chaser. In the 24 hours since I finished my exam, I have finished the button band and the button holes and now all that remains is all the sewing. Thankfully, I don't mind sewing by hand. I even have a stuffed toy that I made that way (it was a kit, in junior high, but I took it home to cut it out and got bored so when the next class came around it just needed to be stuffed and finished).

So it should be done soon, which will make Velociraptor happy. Me happy too, because then I can start on the project for myself. Or, work on it rather. I did start it, but I haven't gotten very far (only a couple of inches along the back) because I want to get the other done first.

And it'll be perfect weather for him to wear it.

Easter

Joyous Easter to all out there in blog-land.

It's a low-key event in our household. A little chocolate, a new stuffed animal or two and a quiet day spent with family.

May it be a good one.

Me + extra money + yarn = crazy

When I've got extra money (like, say.. my tax return) do not let me loose in the yarn store.

Yeah, I wandered over to Make1 the day I got my tax return since I had also seen on their blog that they had this new yarn from Sublime, an Angora Merino in DK weight that is ohhh so soft. It looked so yummy in their picture that I just had to check it out.

So of course I went over, and ended up spending lots of money since I bought enough for a cardigan, and needles for it (because I buy as I go and I knew I didn't have that size at home yet). You see me and.. uhm the one I talked to at the store (I'm so bad with names, forgive me) figured that it would work beautifully for the Dollar and a Half Cardigan in Spring Interweave. I also bought yarn to make this for my uncle, whose birthday is coming up. Actually the guy who designed it looks a little like him, only younger heh.

And of course I bought a new bag, by a local designer. It was just so cute and spring-like that I didn't want to put it down. So I didn't.

I was shaking when I bought the stuff lol. It was like a yarn fix. That happen to other people? Or maybe it's just because I was spending so much. I was shaking like that when I bought myself a a Jone New York suit (because it was the only one I could find that fit me right at the time.. but worth it).

I really really want to start on one of my sweaters, but I promised to finish my son's before I start on one of mine. That way I'm not distracted and he'll get his sweater before he grows out of it lol.

You figure I could finish most of it this weekend? I only have the top of the second sleeve and the hood to knit (I finished all the decreases last night during Top Chef, we're a season behind up here). I figure finish the sleeve and watch a movie tonight and knit.. then I can block it and do the finishing in the evenings (when not doing homework of course). Hmm need some buttons too.

Pictures!

Yes, I got pictures. Gina bugged me, so I did it lol.

I must admit why I probably don't put pictures up is I'm not that confident in my photography skills. Sometimes I manage to get some really nice shots but mostly I think they're not that great. (Remind me to find some from the summer I went hiking in the rocky mountains and scan for you. That was an amazing summer camp, very tough for me but I learned some things about myself. I know I have one already scanned somewhere, but I should find another one or two that I thought were good from that and other, easier, camps.) I do realize that even good photographers don't take great pictures all the time, but I don't like to admit that they can be fallible too. ;)

Buuuut on to the photos.

As per usual, the crimson sheet backdrop. Really, it's the best place I have to take pics that's not covered in paper or toys. I must get better organized. Working on that.. slowly.

The much talked about Chill Chaser.

Front and sleeves:


Back:


Obviously it is not blocked yet. I planned to get it all together before I did that, because I don't think I'll have the patience to knit while parts of it block. Once it's blocked I'll want to finish it right away. For those curious, the yarn is Rowan Cashsoft Aran in Kale (main colour) and Burst (obviously the contrast colour, which is also what I plan to do my seater out of). I have a thing for the rowan cashsoft. I love it.

What else? Well, the Pithy Hat for one. Which really, I should just finish it. It's practically done, just needs a couple more rows I figure then finish it up which is the work of a minute. Why haven't I? Because I'm nervous. Wondering how it will look on me, if it will work, or if it will just end up on my 'not a good look for me' pile of hats (hats don't usually look good on me).

The model is my penguin, Sigmund, and yes it is a little blurry.





Love the colours though. This is that Lorna's Laces I was talking about. I could really fall in love with this yarn too, though it takes a harder hit on my pocketbook.

March.. March.. March..

That's March for you.

We've had gorgeous weather, gorgeous enough to wear just my hoodie and go on an afternoon trip to the zoo this past weekend, just like quite a few others! Thankfully we have passes so we bypassed the loooooong lineup.

Then we got a huge dump of snow the next day, requiring bundling up again. That's March here. We go from winter to spring (even summer!) weather in such a short time. Thankfully it's still nice out, not crappy winter weather but the kind of winter weather that you just want to run around and play in.

Today I am home because my son had a doctor's appointment. Nothing major, just a checkup. I figured since I had to take him in I might as well take the day and go do some other things (like get our eyes checked and just hang out before I have class).

Since he's napping I'm at loose ends, so I figured I'd pop on and do an update. Chill Chaser is slowly coming along. I will get pictures, sometime. It's not that hard, just I'm such a flibbertigibbet that it takes me forever. Honestly, if I sat down and did it I'm sure I'd be finished knitting by the weekend and then have only finishing to do. I'd have been finished ages ago if I just sat and did it.

So maybe I'll do that. While he naps I'll pop on Pretender and finish up this sleeve before starting on the hood.

I got mail!

Wow..

So, I just got my Namaste bag. This thing is GREAT!

It's big. Bigger than I thought it would be (for some reason that always happens).

Inside is split in half lengthwise by a zippered pocket, with another zippered pocket at the back (like most purses) and 3 open top pockets of varying size. Two flapped pockets at the front, then another in the top part you fold over. It's deep and can seriously carry everything. I can fit my knitting and accoutrements ie pattern and notions, mp3 player, gameboy, book, wallet.. everything. I'm thinking of throwing it all in there tomorrow and just carrying my lunch kit and it instead of the whole backpack like I usually do. Just to try it out. Heck, maybe I can fit my lunch kit in there too!

Well worth the $110 I paid when you take into account the exchange rate, quick shipping and customs fee (I probably wouldn't get it cheaper if I went to the LYS that carries it.. I'm not even sure where that one is though, nor how to get to it on the buses).

Scout's Swag was great also. Sent it off right away (and so polite about it.. note to self, email her your thanks).

Working on the Pithy Hat pattern. It's coming along really nicely, so I can't wait to finish it.

Knitting and Faith

Faith Lessons from Knitting.

I'm not much one for faith. Somewhere along the way between childhood and adulthood I lost a lot of that wonder and peace that having faith can give. But sometimes I find it again in the oddest of places.

Knitting is one of them (as is yoga, church, a circle, many places..)

Go, read. There's lessons even in our humble knitting.

It feels like spring!

Not quite yet obviously, but the Chinook has been bumping the temperature up and the wind for once isn't too cold.

So of course I want something to celebrate. What am I making? The Pithy Hat using a skein of Shepherd's Worsted from Lorna's Laces in the beautiful Black Purl colourway.

The Chill Chaser is still coming along nicely, I plan to have that done before spring truly arrives.

And ten of course I shall start on my Sweater for Arwen and maybe after that a little naked man (and some clothes for him) and a strawberry tea cozy.

Lots of things to do, so I think I'm going to take the last bit of free time today to watch Pretender and knit before Velociraptor wakes up from his nap. Oh, and he really loves the Lorna's Laces. He wanted to run off with it and play with it when I brought it home! Was holding it to his cheek and just smiling. He's a great kid. Maybe I should teach him how to knit?

Is 3 too early to learn?

Tendonitis, knitting, shopping and other random thoughts

Yeah, I hate that stuff. I managed to strain my wrist last September at a Dropkick Murphy's concert while fending off crowd-surfers in the mosh pit (man that was SUCH a blast, I wish I could've gone to Billy Talent and done the same..) and ever since then my wrist likes to act up.

I'm also on the computer most of the day at work, and I'm an internet junkie at home (when I can spare time between life of course) but even the jelly wrist rest for my mouse pad doesn't help a whole lot (don't have one for the keyboard, awkward to put one on my set-up and how I type).

So as I knit tonight I can feel my wrist hurting just a little, the precursor to possibly more hurting and icing and taking motrin while sticking it in a brace to immobilize it. And no knitting.

You really don't realize how much you use your wrist in everyday actions until you stick it in a brace. Knitting becomes a very awkward thing when you have to keep your wrist straight. Try doing it if you don't believe me.

But, it seems to be fine again for the moment and I've finished the front panels of Chill Chaser (sorry, no pics.. I really will get around to taking them, some day) and have got a few inches on the first sleeve. When I work on it, it really goes fast. I'm just such a flibbertigibbet that I don't work on it much (since I also have those socks that I'm still working on, and I really ought to finish the Ravenclaw scarf in time for the last Harry Potter book). I'll find time. Somewhere.

My son is really excited about the sweater though, when I pull it out to knit he wants to sit next to me and hold the ball of yarn. Which is really cute, but doesn't work so well when he holds it tight enough that I can't pull more yarn out to keep knitting. It seems to be turning out good so far though *knocks on wood* and soon as I do the rest of the knitting I'll be doing the blocking and finishing.

I've never had to seam a knitted item in my life. Thankfully, I've got books to help me.

In other news, I did a crazy thing. I saw the Namaste bag on Subway Knitter and I bought it (in chocolate, not there, elsewhere, as I heard some not good things about their shipping of bagsand found better reviews at Scout's Swag). I must've been feverish. I really do not need another bag (knitting or otherwise). I don't know what has happened to me, but me.. the tomboy, the hater of shopping, has started a collection of bags and purses.

Now I must admit, I haven't taken it too far. All the purses and bags in my posession I do use on a regular basis. Purses get rotated as the mood and occasion strikes, bigger bags and totes get used to store knitting and books, or other things (for example I have the huge ugly straw looking bag that hangs on a hook on the back of my door to hold all my bandannas and belts and the like) but if I keep going like this I will be buying tiny useless bags that I will not use.

Someone needs to stop me!

Or distract me with yarn.

But now, now is the time to go rest my wrist, drink a lot of water and pack away my knitting. The bus has been emptier lately on the way to work, so I can sit and knit! I've also gotten a few more audiobooks (the first three Dresden Files) and grabbed some radio shows (The Shadow, Roy Rogers, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) to listen to. In some ways I really will miss my bus time when I finally get my license and a car.

Shopping..

No, I do NOT need a new bag, no matter how tempting 25% off of a Zelda tote from Offhand Designs may be.

I have plenty of tote bags that I've co-opted for knitting purposes and work just fine once I toss my notions in a small bag from a set of Winnie the Pooh zipped travel/make up bags that I used to use for my stationary..

*slaps hands* I don't need it, money can stay in my pocket.

I'm about halfway done the Chill Chaser, I need to finish the last quarter of the front, the sleeves and the hood. Will get photos whenever I get around to taking some..

Frogging..

I haven't been finding much time for knitting since I got back. Keeping up with a busy 3 y/o and working full time doesn't leave me a lot of time for ME and to be honest I don't feel like pulling the needles out on the bus lately. In the mornings it's crowded. So crowded that it's very awkward to knit with needles and elbows and everything.

And then lately by the time I am heading home, despite the bus being less crowded, I really honestly just want to veg and marshall my resources for herding cats.

And of course when I do get a chance to knit I realize.. whoops I was reading/doing the pattern wrong and thus the back panel that I was so proud to have finished? Well I need to tear it back to the start of the decreases and start over again.

Not until after I finish the right front panel though (another reason why I don't knit on the bus.. balancing a pattern, plus purse, backpack and knitting and trying to concentrate on the proper decreases does not mix well). So of course the panel is taking longer. I have a couple videos out from the store though (Mrs Henderson Presents and The Lake House), and the plan is to watch them tomorrow and Saturday, so I'll have knitting time then.

Oh, and what else eats into knitting time? Currently I'm taking a night class so I can finish my college diploma (this one, then one more and I've got it!). Started Wednesday, and I need to pay attention there so knitting in class is out.

Crazy!

Happy New Year!

Okay, so I'm a little late. I'm not a flibbertigibbet for nothing y'know!

I was away for a bit, but now I'm back and I got some knitting done while away. I finished the whole back panel of Chill Chaser (I just realized they have a website, so THAT is the sweater I'm making for my son) and have gotten a start on the right front panel. The colours I'm using are a dark grey and the contrast trim is actually the red colour I'm going to make my hoodie out of.

If I keep going at a healthy clip, I may even get it done while he still fits it. Actually, I should. He's long and lean but not bulky so the 3/4T size that I cast on for should fit just fine for the next little while. I'd been holding up the piece to his back as I knit to get an idea if I needed to go up a size or not, and he's all excited about it.

Every time I get him to 'come stand here and let Mommy hold this up to you' he goes 'My sweater!' and gets all hyper. I'll give progress pics when I get a chance to dig out the camera from the trip and find a place to photo from.

I did get one hat done (which my brother tells me will sit in his truck until it gets cold enough to freeze his ears and then he'll use it) and the fingerless gloves which were well recieved. One hat didn't get finished though, ah well. I got him other stuff he liked.

I've also crossed off several things from my wish list! I now have a knitting needle case (well, I can cross off the straight needle case...) and another large bag to store my knitting at home and carry between upstairs and down. I fnally got a copy of Stitch & Bitch and Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter which had me in stitches and tears alternately. I plan to read it again soon, and buy more of her books. I also got two seasons of Pretender to watch while knitting! Now I've gotten plenty to keep my hands busy, and plenty to keep my thoughts busy too (hopefully not so much that I distract myself from one or the other..)

But now is the time to relax and bask at home in the joy of being at home, so I'm going to go hang out and do some more knitting. See how far I can get on this piece..