You can *rent* movies in iTunes now. I'm excited. Can you tell?

Labels: misc

Wow. Dude. October. I'm not dead, really.
Sometimes I wish I could blog from a direct link to my head. I mean, it's not that I don't have things to say, it's just that I either don't have the time to say it or I get distracted (read: ditzy) and forget. And pictures? I've got pictures from going on two months that need to be uploaded, not just knitting either. Kidlet pictures that need to be added to her photo archives. See what I mean? Distracted.
I've been trying to design something, but it's slow going. I finished all the holiday socks, with more than enough time to spare, and now I'm just kinda working on other stuff. I made little girl a "gansey." (just a drop shoulder sweater with patterning on the upper half, not a true gansey.) She seems to like it, and it looks great with her kilt. I've got a pair of socks otn out of Dharmafey's Sir Didymus colorway. It works great - no pooling and really looks like the little guy! I'm knitting the last row of a pair of FT felted clogs for my mom, then I start on a hat for a friend to go snowboarding with. She's always used a store-bought hat (read: plastic) and was talking to me about how her ears were still cold in the hat. So I'm going to make her one. I asked her what she wants, and we sat down to browse Ravelry together. We've worked out that she wants pink and blue (pink to match her board, and blue to match her jacket, plus I'm adding black for contrast,) a beanie, with ponytail holes and a small brim. I've decided that the best way to make a really warm multicolor hat is to strand. So I'm going to do a basic stranded pattern, out of a superwash wool/mohair blend yarn, and I'm going to finish it completely, then steek for the pigtail holes, and knit a little tube for them to stick out. Now, let's see if I can get this done before she goes boarding this year. Wish me luck!
What is everyone else working on?

Labels: misc

My great-grandmother died two weeks ago, just three months shy of her 100th birthday. Everyone in my family called her Nanny. I don't think she had heard her given name in years. Nanny was a quilter. Everyone in the family has at least one quilt hand pieced, and maybe even hand quilted by Nanny. I even have a quilt top that needs backing and quilting. Nanny was my source of information on the "old days." The first time I heard about carding and spinning (cotton) I went to Nanny and asked. She dug out some old carders for me, and explained how they worked. When I was little, hopping across the US with my military father and mother, we would always come back home, where the rest of the family was. I would walk up the driveway from my grandmother's house to Nanny's. She let me (and usually Cousin J) in the garage door. We would procure a cookie from the jar in the kitchen, and go sit with her in the living room on her vinyl sofa. There was always a puzzle half worked on a card table in the corner of the room, and masses of family pictures on every flat surface. I swear, every time I walked up to her little house, I would ask about the little green dress hanging in the kitchen. I vaguely remember the story (remember, I *did* need to ask all the time) that she wore it as a little girl, but when I asked my aunt about the dress, she said it was a "holder." Of what, I don't know, but that dress and sitting with my cookie in her living room are what I think of when I think of Nanny. My daughter got to meet her great-great-grandmother, twice, and for that I'm thankful. I still haven't shed a tear over Nanny's passing, but I think that's because I know she had a full, happy life with her family. The family reunion was just a month before her death, so she got to see us all one last time. I just wanted to remember Nanny to someone else, and let my daughter know who that little old lady was in the pictures from when she was one.

Labels: misc

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! I did not get my books, but I did see my movie. I got a yummy dinner, and a new gadget for one of mine.
Now, I'm wondering if I can set something like this up at the new house.....
My first blogiversary is coming up in a few days. I'm thinking of maybe a contest, but I'm not sure what. Let me get back to everyone on that count.

Labels: misc

This blogging every day thing is kind of... well, I had the word a second ago, but it slipped. It just feels good, like I'm keeping myself a part of the world. I've tried to start a stitch group for moms of young kids in my area, but no one ever showed up. It's nice having somewhere to go, even if it's just a quick pop in like this one, where people understand my love of fiber!
Today I actually made it to the LYS, *with* my skein of Koigu. Unfortunately I was alone with MMT, and they were hella busy, so I didn't get it wound. I also *shock and amazement* DIDN'T spend any money!!! I was going to buy two balls of Austermann Step for the socks Cat Bordhi recently did on Knitty Gritty (btw - have you seen these?? So neat! I can't wait for the new book!!) but they were all out of it. She wasn't sure when it would be coming in, as it's been on order, but she was able to tell me that the new sensation, Superior, *will* be available in late August! Another thing I can't wait for!
I'm currently sitting in bed, knitting on MMT's Weasley and watching some of season 2 of Xena (baaad tv, but in a good way, like Bruce Cambpell!) on my laptop. I finished the sleeve and the collar earlier tonight, and I just picked up the stitches for the second sleeve. Would I be reviled if I say I'm actually *looking forward* to seaming it up? I've found I enjoy it, maybe it comes from sewing on the machine and hand stitching the finishing work.

Labels: misc, Weasley sweater

I've been meaning to steer people to trek's contest post for some time now, but I just keep forgetting! So, go, help her get 290 comments on a single post. That's double the original number of 145, which was passed pretty darn quickly. It's one post per customer, though, which is why it's taking longer to reach the new goal. If anyone reads here that doesn't read her blog, why not?!? Go over and leave a comment!

So, the closing on our house got pushed back to the original date - June 12th. Oh, well, it would have been nice to be in the new house by next Friday, but it's only two weeks out from there. Not that long in the scheme of things (everything inside me is screaming that is BS - that it's years and lifetimes away!)

I've got all but the last inch done on one sleeve of MMT's Weasley, with just one last sleeve and a collar to go the end is most definitely in sight! I may make a trip out to the LYS today to pick up a size 5 circ to do the collar. My Denise kit is packed away who knows where right now, and I don't want to wait 'til I find the box and unpack to finish the sweater.

I know I've mentioned I adore anything Google, and now that I'm working on the stash spreadsheet, I've got it on Google Docs. So if anyone is actually curious how much sock yarn I have, or what is planned for that alpaca I got at Aspen Ridge Alpacas, here ya go! (I'm putting a permanent link in the sidebar, too.)

And, just for fun:

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

You appear to be a Knitting Goddess. You are constantly giving and are unconcerned with reward, you simply want others to love knitting as much as you do. If someone wants to knit miles of novelty yarns, you are there for them. If someone wants to learn short row shaping, you can help. There are no taboos in knitting, only opportunities to grow. Everyone should have friend like you around if they want to learn to knit, and there's a good chance that your passion has rubbed off on a few others.http://marniemaclean.com
Take this quiz!








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Labels: house, misc, Weasley sweater

Can I create even one post that doesn't have to be edited? I guess I'm just a "fixer" at heart, there's always something to be done to make it better. The last few posts all have an "ETA" at the bottom. Jeez.....
I just wanted to respond to Jenean's comment about the Dobby picture - thanks for the word of Qte, but I don't believe that's Harry. That's Sir Hotting-ton himself, Lucius Malfoy. Like this Slytherin would post a picture of *that boy* unless she had to. :D

Labels: HSKS, misc

I'm giving ecto one last chance to win my heart. If this doesn't work it's uninstall city. Does anyone know of another good Blogger posting utility?

MMT is "helping" me type right now, so forgive any errors I miss correcting.

So, I'm a sheep. A joiner. A follower. Have you seen this? Scout's even doing it in the colorway I had her design for me. That's going to look luscious! I've decided I'm going to do it in Lisa Sousa Sock! but I haven't made the final decision on the colors. What do you think?

• LNV + Printemps
• LNV + VPR
• Spumoni + Printemps
• LNV + What-a-melon

I know I'm definitely ordering VPR, but if it's not in the cut for the scarf, oh well. It's purrrty, and it would look good just hanging on my wall! If I like the pattern enough (which I probably will) I'm going to make the MIL one for Christmas. Hmm, that reminds me - her b-day is coming up soon. Maybe I should finish her purse? It just needs about five minutes of knitting, seaming and lining. Oh, yeah, and a SEVERE blocking. The stitch pattern makes it tilt something fierce.

I'm planning on making the Horcrux socks in my Sunshine yarns Slytherin colorway. Maybe I should finish my Strawberry Quick sock first, though? Plus, I've got another RSC shipment coming in about a week. And I'm determined to actually knit the pattern and color that I'm sent - it's all about new experiences, right? I really don't want to get behind in RSC, but I don't want to wind up with yet another thing on the needles. Maybe I should be knitting and not blogging? Yeah, I think I'll go do that. Maybe MMT will "help" with that too?? :)

Hey - guess what didn't publish.....

Labels: misc