au revoir, mon amis

Terri finally answered the burning question of what Granny Clampett called her home brew/moonshine/medicine. What?? It wasn't burning for you? It was for me. Here's Terri's answer, "Didn't Granny call it her "rheumatiz medicine"? Good fer what ails ya." Thank you, tv addict Terri for coming to my rescue. :)

In knitting news, there is none. Maybe you've noticed with my stalling subjects. booze, M&M's (is anyone but me singing that song??), computer mice, weirdo dreams. All just stalling tactics, not wanting to tell you the truth of the matter is that not one stitch of knitting has been going on. Lots of reading. Lots of contemplation. That, my friends, always leads me to trouble.

So, I have been invited on an impromptu girls weekend to my friend's lake house in Freedom, NH. What can a girl do? I'm going. Bethany and I will be leaving sometime around dinner time and will spend 1 or 2, depending on our moods, glorious nights lakeside. What will I do? Read, silly. And swim. And maybe even knit. I plan to teach my friend's daughter (age 17) to knit socks. She has been wanting to learn for awhile, and this will be the perfect time. And I will bring the frog pond with me. That's right, I can smooch 2 will take the ride with me and I'm going to rip it if it kills me. And it may.

Happy weekend, I hope you miss me. I mean, don't miss me! heehee

Sing with me...

People at work had a cookout yesterday afternoon. First of all, let me tell you that I'm not much of a drinker. It's not that I am against it, it just makes me have a hot flash. Or rather, lots of hot flashes all at the same time. It is not pleasant, I'd rather have diet coke, thankyou. One woman takes out a bottle with lemonadey looking liquid. I have learned in my life, when around a drinking crowd that lemonade is never what it appears to be. This, she explained, was limoncello. Being a big fan of cooking shows, I had heard of it, knowing that it is a homemade Italian drink. She gave out shot sized cups of it. It was wonderful. Tangy and sweet, but at the same time, you knew you were drinking something alcoholic. I could have downed the whole cup and asked for more. It was very pleasant tasting. Good sense came over me, though. Thank goodness. I gave away half of the little cup and was soon glad I did. I could feel that my face was heating up, meaning that it was turning a very bright, vibrant shade of red, a bead of sweat started forming on my lip. Then it really started. I'll save you the gory details, but let's just say, someone turned up the heat! Two sips! Geez... So, I head home. Hubby takes one look at me and is immediately wondering what the heck is going on. Oh, honey, it's nothing, I'm just drinking while at work now. Nothing to be concerned about! :) Remember Granny Clampett? Remember how she made moonshine?

But she called it medicine? I can't remember exactly her term for it.. do you? I think she had limoncello in that jug! It has a "healthy" quality to it. Really. Want to make some? Go ahead. Try it! Not me, though. I'll stick with the country time lemonade! Maybe even the pink kind!

Let's talk M&M, the wrapper. No, not eminem, the rapper. There is a new commercial for the groovy summer M&M's. The song that the groovy green M&M sings has become the song of my summer. Go here and listen to it. http://global.mms.com/us/groovy/sendlove/ I am singing the song all day long. I try to have singalongs, but nobody wants to. Ready? You can win cash every summer for the rest of your life......

mice and bees........oh my!

We got a new mouse last night, thanks to Derek's new job. Computer mouse, that is. Not the furry, squeeky kind. He likes to splurge on things now that he has a steady source of income. I was not even aware that something was wrong with the last mouse! It makes me feel all clumsy this morning. There is a certain adjustment time to any new computer schtuff. I'm mourning the last mouse. I loved it well. It was so sudden!

The bumblebee sock is endangered again. I just can't seem to get it right. It now seems too small. Stinking bumblebees. Does anyone else knit with opal? How many cast on stitches do you use to knit a sock? I tried 72 before, too baggy. This time I tried 60, too small. So, they were the papa bear and the mama bear. Now I need the baby bear socks. JUST RIGHT! Well, just to be obvious, it will be between 60 and 72 stitches. DER. I just wish I could figure it out before I get a lot of progress done on the sock. I will pay my final respects to the sock tonight and start the ripping process. I give that job to Bethany, who seems to enjoy it a little too much! I can't bear to watch.

I have not ripped the 5 inches out of the I can smooch 2 tank yet. It's painful and I've avoided it for awhile. Maybe tonight. Maybe.

Dream a little dream with me

I had a dream the other night and it has stuck with me so I'm going to share it with you.

In the dream....Kerstin needed to be picked up from her weekend in the Berkshires, so naturally, she called me. As I picked her up, she had on a pair of sweatpants that were bright, neon green with Oscar the grouch on them, and they were too small for her. A lovely site. She was driving at this point and drove me back to Gardner, my hometown. (weird, because I haven't lived there in over 20 years!). As we were driving down the steep hill to where my house was, the Beverly High School band was marching up the hill. (WHAT??) I was screaming at her to pull over, my kids are in that band and I"d like to watch them. She kept driving down the middle of the street, with the band members leaping out of the way. (I guess she was in a hurry to get rid of me!!)

Boy, the imagination is an amusing thing, isn't it? Who wants to just lay there and sleep all night when you can be entertained like that?

And with that wonderful, somewhat disturbing story, I'll leave you with.....Peony in bloom!

Bumblebee Part Deux

Yesterday Kim revealed her system of keeping track of her rows. I thought I'd follow suit and reveal here, for the first time, my method of keeping track of my rows. I cannot seem to keep them in my head and I don't like how the row counters work. This is my method, works for me..

Not a great picture, but it is a sticky yellow memo sheet, with the order of the cables on the left and on the right, the hash marks keeping track of the row count. This is the professional system I am using for Inishmaan. :)

This is what I started over the weekend.

Bumblebee socks, part deux. For those of you who may not remember (which in reality, is EVERYONE) I started these a couple of months ago and ended up ripping them out because they were too slouchy. These seem better. We'll see. I have only used the opal yarn with a pattern, using a 72 stitch cast on. This has no pattern, I just wanted the bumblebee stripes to be the focus of the sock and 72 stitches ended up too large. I am using 60 stitches now. Hopefully, they will fit better! I trimmed down the suki handles. Suki is scheduled for a photo shoot later today so I can get the info into the suki knit along site. FINALLY! And I did not start the ripping process on the I can smooch 2 tank. It has to simmer a bit before I can take action. It just breaks my heart!

Hope your weekend was fantabulous! Around here in blog land on the weekends, if you listen hard enough, I swear you can hear crickets chirping. That is how little people are here. Really. Happy Monday!

acknowledgement

Just a quick hello to all my new "friends" over at Knitflame!

The thorns of life

I got a little carried away knitting on the I can smooch 2 tank.

I was not paying attention, knitting my little fingers off, and LOOK! It's way too long. The armholes are not even half way done yet. Dang! I've got to rip out at least 5 inches. Double Dang! I hate that!

I have so much to say about the current HOT topic regarding the Queen of England. (If you do not know what I am talking about, read yesterday's post with comments.) But I will refrain from saying MOST of it. However, I will say that it is really unfair to make such a sweeping judgement of the people of one nation....ANY NATION.. I quote from Mary Helen's comment, spelling mistakes left in place, "Why do Americans so often think whole world follows their systems? Oh, of course, i forgot, becus\ase they are the best. Of course." While it is true that some Americans do think that they are superior to all, it is truely unfair to paint all Americans with the same ignorant statement. I have never said or implied that I was better than anyone else. EVER. And anyone that says that I did, is a liar. And not a friend of mine. I am truely offended. And I am willing and able to learn anything that anyone is so gracious to teach me about their country. I am eager to learn.

The thing that I love about blogging is having met so many friends from so many walks of life. As a housewife and mother from New England, it is unlikely that I would have stumbled across all the wonderful people that I have so far. I thank you all for having touched my life. Some times there are thorns. They only hurt for a little while.....

unexpected surprises

Look what was in my mailbox yesterday.

Yes, that's right a rainbow troll. Cute, isn't he? and this..

This is some great yarn! I have never even HEARD of this and it is heavenly! So soft! These fine surprise gifts come from Chris! Chris, I can't tell you how much this little guy has made me smile! He will sit with me at my computer to remind me of kindness. Life is funny, isn't it? Some days, some act of kindness comes out of the blue and really makes your day. This really made MY day, Chris. And for that I thank you! I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I appreciate it so much! (do I have to knit you a pair of socks now with the yarn????ha ha)

I got a tongue lashing and I'd like to call your attention to it! Look here. A nice putting in my place by someone named Mary Helen. so there...

I sometimes am very wasteful. I fight this impulse, but it overwhelms me at times. I told you that I have a copy of the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. However, I bought the new edition yesterday. Why?? I love the bigger paperback editions of books. They are so much easier to read. Easier to hold. I don't know, I just like them better than the small paperbacks. So, now I have two copies. Would anyone like to have one? (no silly, not the new one...) Let me know, and I'll mail it off to you! Nothing like a good book sharing to perk up a day!

bow for the queen

Okay, look. I fancy myself a fairly educated person. I went to college, I read and try to keep learning as an adullt! But there is something puzzling me. Maybe you can clear things up for me. You see, Pioneer Melissa has mentioned (many, many times:) about the queen. She lives in Canada. I thought she was bluffing, dreaming. But it has come to my attention that there really IS a queen in Canada. AND it is the SAME queen as England. Now, here is where I am confused. For one thing, how could I have gone 41 years without knowing that Canada has a queen???? And that the Queen of England is the Queen of Canada???? Does this make Canada and England related?? I need to know! This is no light matter! My family hails from Canada, New Brunswick to be exact. NOBODY in my whole existance remembers to mention that there is a QUEEN??? What kind of conspiracy cover up is going on here? 'splain yourself, PM!

Poor Tiffany, asks ME, the swatchless QUEEN a swatch question. So, I pose her question here to you. Please help her figure this one out. The Ucan2 tank states, "Gauge: 16sts/22rows over 4 inches (4/5.5)". What in the queen's creation does the (4/5.5) mean?? Hey, it just dawned on me that Tiffany is a Princess. Is she in on the conspiracy?? I think she lives in Canada too. rats.

Has everyone always known this and not told me?? What else don't I know that you do? speak up!

good book day

Yesterday, Oprah announced that she is starting up her book club again. While I did not like every book she had chosen in her previous book club, I adored some of the books. Her new choice is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite books of all times by my absolute favorite author! East of Eden by John Steinbeck! If you have not read this book and are looking for a summer book, buy it now. After she announced on her show the title of the book, I went upstairs to my book shelf, found my old copy of the book, dusted it off and plan to read it again.

And with the excitement of the 5th Harry Potter book coming out this week, I found a fun link to find out what house in Hogwartz you would be assigned to. Would the sorting hat put you into Griffindor, or the dreaded Slytherin?? Go find out! http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/personalization/pp_gryffindor.html click on "Hogwartz, enroll and be sorted". I was assigned to Griffindor! phew! I'm a little worried, though, as Bethany got into Slytherin. The sorting hat must have heard her "old people" comment!

I was a little distressed to hear that a main character will be killed off in the new book. I hope it's not Ron Weasley or Hermione. How could she??

I have to admit that I have not finished the 4th book yet. So, I'll get busy reading that one because Bethany the Slytherin will get to the 5th book first! So, my summer reading plate is full. How about yours? Oh, when will I find the time to knit too?? Something's got to give.....I guess it'll be lots of pizza delivery for the family!

Board the tour bus

Here's your ticket, please move to the back of the bus so that everyone will have a place to sit.

Okay. I think everyone is here, we can begin. Welcome to the bus tour of Sandy's walking route of Beverly, Massachusetts.

As you can see from the sign, Beverly is the home of George Washington's Naval Base. Located on the coast of Massachusetts, it is neighbors with the famous witch town, Salem.

As we start our journey, we go down Beverlys main st, Cabot Street.

Downtown Beverly is an eclectic mix of small businesses and shoppes. The embracing of the art college has brought a plethora of new, funky businesses into town, such as the Atomic coffee shop, Kame, the Japanese restaurant and a vegetarian restaurant.

As we continue down Cabot Street we come to City Hall and the Police station, nestled closely to each other.

And here, on your right, most likely the highlight of this trip, not a half a mile from Sandy's home, is the best shop in town.

The Abbot Yarn Shoppe. A staple in downtown Beverly for many years, they offer a wide variety of yarn choices and support all in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. They are usually closed during Sandy's walk, but it doesn't matter as just passing by brings the joy of yarn through the walls.

Now we head on down towards the beach. Here are 3 shots spanning Beverly Harbor.

As you can see, at the left of the harbor, the pristine image is somewhat clouded by a big water rig. They are laying down pipes for natural gas and thankfully are only passing through.

A little further down, here is the beach of Dane Street Beach. At low tide, you can see that our coastline is quite rocky so be sure to wear your beach shoes while taking a dip! You will need them!

As we leave the beach behind us, we come to Beverly Common. The gazebo and gardens set a nice relaxing mood to sit on one of the many benches to relax. In the distance, you can see the Beverly Public Library.

what a pretty time of day to be finishing up our tour. Dusk surely has a way of making the everyday magical, doesn't it? Look at the gazebo in the shadows, pretty isn;t it?

As we near Sandy's home, we see Dane Street church, which is just across the street from her home.

And as we round the back of the church, we can take a peek at the Hurley home. Yes, that's right, there it is, Sandy's home. See it back there? It's actually red, white and blue. Unintentional, of course!

see it, red roof?

Well, thank you for joining us for the Beverly tour! I hope you get to visit someday in person!

short 'n sweet

Here's the I can Smooch 2 tank in progress. It's going fast and fun. The double F. That's good. Darling, darling Bethany informed me that it was, and I quote, "old people's colors!!!" Now, that's just wrong. Talk about bursting my bubble! Young whippersnapper! I threatened to make it for her, then. She wrinkled her nose. Hrmph!

I hope a happpy father's day was had by all! Are all the dad's happy today?? better be!

Mind over matter

What's a girl to do after she has finished the sock project??

Here is it, the beginning of I can smooch 2! Yes, it looks exactly like smooch right now, but I don't intend to do the , er, risque, plunging neckline of smooch. My boobs actually like to stay INSIDE the shirt! Funny that!

Now, color is a funny thing, isn't it? When I bought these colors, I was convinced that it was a khaki color and a light green color. The name of the "green" yarn was Iceberg. My mind took that word, thought of iceberg lettuce and made the yarn green. Now, last night, I'm knitting away with the nagging thought that this yarn is blue. baby blue. sky blue. pale blue. Take your pick, but it's not green. I say out loud, "You know, this yarn is not iceberg in color. Iceberg is green like lettuce". And my darling Bethany, in all of her 15 year wisdom, says, (accompanied by a sigh) "Iceberg is also ICE! Which is BLUE!" another sigh. Then a sigh from me. Hmmmm..I never thought of it that way. I was thinking lettuce, my brain believed lettuce and my eyes went along for the ride. It's not green, folks. I'm still adjusting. But wouldn't a light green have been lovely?

here's a closer look..

something is rotten in Denmark!

Looky, here! These are the official debut of the Missouri Denmark socks! Not too shabby! I love the look and feel of these socks. You know that blissful place that you go when you have finished something? And I'm sitting there with the socks on my feet, gazing lovingly at them? Wow...It's the falling in love phase. Wonderful, right? And then, a couple of minutes later, I gaze down and something is not right. What is it about them? I can't quite put my finger on it. Nah, they're fine, it's my imagination. glance down again. Nope. It's there. I spy with my little eye........THIS......

Something is rotten in Denmark. A DROPPED STITCH!! Everyone, please scream with me. LOUDLY! I feel faint! What's a girl to do?? Anyone? Is there a way to anchor the stitch so I don't have to take the whole derned thing out? Please? Speak up, I have a problem to be solved.

Sigh....

It's a Thursday thing

Can a girl have too many buttons? I submit that I cannot. Do you see what happens when I can't make a decision? I use them all. It's all about ME, baby! :) They look kinda pretty sitting up there, don't they?

Today, I have no real knitting content. Everything is status quo. Which is not really a bad thing. I'm still knitting on the Missouri River Blues sock. I have not started the tank. yet. I feel it coming on me though. So, I thought I'd share this little ditty with you. It has quite a catchy tune. It comes highly recommended by my kids. They listen to this when they want to have a laugh. I have to warn you, though, like peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, this song WILL stick in your brain. You've been warned.....

http://etrata.home.attbi.com/flash/banana.swf

googling

Leah and Chris did a googlism. They are fun and I haven't done it in a while, so I revisited. Go ahead, try it......www.googlism.com. You type in your name (or anything really) and it searches google for something to say about you.Here's the googlism of Sandy. There is a disgusting one on there, so don't read that. Do not complain to me that you are damaged after reading it. I warned you. But I'd like to clear something up right here and now. I am not dead. (it says so right there on googlism). It is a hoax. My favorite still is, "sandy is the seashore and sandy is the sea sandy is the clear blue sky or so it seems to me ".

But put in the work knitting, and it has some interesting things to say. Like this....."knitting is described at one point as a comfort to the soul". Looks like this will add up to some kind of fun!

I'd like to thank Tiffany for making me some great looking buttons. What a surprise! She used the flowers from my "garden" as the background! Take a look at them!

Which one do you like?? I can't decide! I love them all! Thank you, Tiffany!

song for the day

"The road is long.....With many a winding turn, that leads us to who...knows where. who knows where? But I 'm strong, strong enough to care....." Righteous brothers

Remember this song? I woke up with it firmly entrenched in my brain this morning. Do I have a radio station playing in my head or something? So, I decided to give in and download it from Kazaa. I'm listening to it right now. I think my brain may be trying to give me some kind of message. I think I'll start listening.

I have not started the I can smooch 2 tank. YET. I worked on the missouri river blues sock. I'm just about done the heel. The tank knit along is a funny one, with a lot of subgroups. It's like charting a family tree!

First, there are the tank girls. Check them out at Alison's site. Then a branch formed of not so skimpy tank girls. check them out at Chris's site. And then another shoot started. Tiffany and I want to do the Ucan2 tank, so we're the u2 girls. So, there are 3 branches of the same tree, the same, but different. So, I"m a tank girl, a not so skimpy tank girl and a Ucan2 tank girl. That's a lot of tanking for one day!

thoughts for a Monday morning

I started the mate to the missouri river blues sock. I will try to get that done before casting on for the I Can smooch 2 tank! I'm never sure where the knitting will lead me. I am powerless over it. My hands just go where they are told. Sometimes my mind is not even aware that I have the plan. Kinda scary, huh? I hope this only happens in knitting! (gasp! Oh the horror of what could happen??)

Did anyone else have a boring Saturday night like me and end up watching the new Carrie movie on tv? I was so disappointed in the ending! I saw the original Carrie movie when I was in high school and the part at the end where Carrie reaches her hand through the grave still gives me goosebumps! It scared the bejebus out of me! They changed it! Carrie runs off to live somewhere else in the new version. I'm sure to set up a Carrie Returns. blech. They should not mess with good endings!

It's Monday, I'm sleepy as heck and this house is a wreck today. Was there a party and I didn't know? awww...have a good Monday!

Tank talk

Tanks. Talk is rampant about tanks. I've been dreaming of tanks. Dream no more! I've got a plan, which is even better than a dream! Tiffany and I are going to knit the Ucan2 tank, wonderful pattern courtesy of chicknits. Chris is also knitting a tank. In our effort to knit a not so itty bitty tank, I believe a tank knit along is born. Who's in? Knit a tank, a shell, heck...knit whatever you want! It's informal, just knit something summery!

Here's my tank yarn....

Rowan all season's cotton, which I have had a hankering for, for some time. the colors are iceberg and jersey. Kind of a lettuce pullover. So, I plan to begin with the Ucan2 shell pattern, while adding the bottom edge of smooch (from Rowan) and add stripes. So, what does that become? Besides a mess? Well, something I like to think of as I can smooch 2.

So, there you have it. A tank is born.

Blow me over with a feather!

Well, I am marking my calendar. The Peeps Fun Bus is coming To Boston July 21-27th!

How cool is that??

Tanks a bunch!

Okay, thanks alot Tank Girls! You know who you are! I have startitis. I am itching to start a summer project. I'm talking COTTON baby! But what?? That really is the question. I'm not sure I want to do a tank. I'm not fond of myself in itty bitty tanks. (And believe me some of those tanks were ITTY BITTY BITTY!) I repeat, but what?? I have been thinking "SHELL" Okay. Where do I begin looking? Well, I could have faith that the new Knitty, which I have heard whispers of being revealed this week. I hope it's true) I guess a visit to the LYS would be in store. Looking on line for a pattern is like searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack. I really must get a cotton project going. Tanks a lot, tank girls. You've lit the fire in my mind. I LOVE IT!

Well, this is a funny turn of events! I paused in the writing action to check some of my regulars, and Chris has written almost the same thing. She is starting a tank! Hmmmm.....Tankitis is rampant!

Thank you Pioneer Melissa for giving me food for thought yesterday. I am still pondering a response and will get back to you on that one. Perfect timing, I'd say.

Now taking suggestions for shell knitting.......

And a very happy Birthday to my nephew Dan! (yesterday was his 11th birthday!) happy Birthday Dan!

Here comes the sun....

Blurry and over all crappy as this picture may be.....THERE IT IS! Sunshine and blue skies baby! All day long! WHHOOHHOOO!! I guess I couldn't take a good picture today. The excitement of the nice weather just had me shaking!

Isn't it funny how some days you wake up with something in your head? Your eyes aren't even open yet, head is still on the pillow and your mind's first thought is something weird?? Yesterday, My mind started singing the Beatles song, Eleanor Rigby. Now, you may not think this is strange, but I did not even conciously know that I knew the song Eleanor Rigby! Never mind even knowing the words! Weird. Of course, it was firmly entrenched in the brain all day long. Later on, more Beatles songs joined in the lonely party. A hard day's night, and 8 days a week made an appearance! It was Beatles singalong day in my head! Too bad you couldn't have joined me!

I found this site for knitted comfort dolls. This charity includes these hand knitted dolls in with medical supplies shipped to Africa. The poorest of poor afflicted with aids. I think I'll check out the pattern more closely and see what I can do.

surprise finished object

Last night I put the tank thoughts aside (for now.....) and knit happily away on the Missouri River Blues sock. You know that time when the family is fed and happy, dishes are done, laundry is swooshing, and you can successfully ignore all the other household chores begging to be done? That is where I was. Blissful knitting time. And knit I did. Mindless of where I was going. All of a sudden, my mind becomes alert and realizes that the sock is looking a little long. Time to start the toe decreases. I have to admit that it is probably about 2 rows too long, but it will shrink in a little. I have never been surprised by the end of a project. It really feels as if it was sprung on me. Like a surprise party. A surprise sock! I usually have in my mind a time line of knitting. When it will be done. I did not even think of that with this sock. Of course, it technically isn't done until it has a mate and is on a foot. So, it will languish for a while in the knitting basket. I hope the second sock goes as fast! I did give it a test wear for the rest of the evening. It's a great sock. The mountain colors is a wonderful wool for the foot! It looks and feels marvy!

I will have to take a picture outside in the sunshine so you can see the real beauty of the yarn. That is if the sun ever comes out. Someday.......

ramblings of a happy knitter

Well, did you miss me yesterday? No? well.....okay.

As some of you know, I attended the Knitsmith's knitting group last night. I'd like to say THANK YOU! to all the wonderful women I met for making me feel so welcomed! I wish I could remember all of your names.....my memory is slipping nowadays! I have never been part of such a creative group. It was a wonderful feeling to sit there surrounded by such talented knitters, having easy conversations and being inspired all at the same time. It really is the epitome of the warm, fuzzy, feeling!

As I set off for the drive, I have to admit to feeling nervous. My stomach had butterflies. I had never gone to ANY knitting group before, never mind one that is 40 minutes from my home. I set out in hurricane type weather, which cleared fairly rapidly. Thank you for that, Mother nature! As I arrived in Brookline, I was amazed at the energy of the place. People were bustling around, many just out enjoying the non rainy time. There was so much for a small city girl like me to look at. So many stores, so little time! When I arrived at the Knitsmiths, suki in hand, my stomach did a roll. Kerstin and I recognized each other immediately, PHEW! In no time, I felt as if I had known her and all the women for a long time. I will describe Kerstin to you with the three W's. Warm, witty, and wonderful. No murdering. Maybe next time. It was great to meet Alison. In fact, it was a little surreal to meet the women behind the blogs. I had gotten to know them in a one dimensional world, by only words, and here they were in flesh and blood. I have to say, I like them even better in person.

That's Johanna on the left. She is one of the tank girls, working on Smoochie too. She is a wonderful knitter and such a sweetie! Next is Alison. She is wearing her regia sweater designed by herself! BRAVO! She started a tank too last night. She is wonderful beyond words! And Kerstin......yes, she is a tank girl. A couple of times over. I saw Pagan daisy in person, sans Charmin. Yes, she's wonderful too! . And me. blah, blah.. I wish I had gotten a picture of the whole group, but as the newbie, I was a little hesitant to start snapping pictures like I had a press pass or something. The Knitting Paparazzi has arrived!!! And the rest of you, nameless are in my happy memories! I hope to go back. I think I'm welcomed. I didn't do anything TOO embarassing. This time.

I worked on the Missouri River Blues sock. Want a peek?

My hat is off to everyone there who could knit without looking at their hands. I have trouble even talking and knitting at the same time! I want to grow up to be just like them!

It was a happy night.

Origami Boulders?????

I knit some on my Missouri River Blues sock last night. Yes, another riproaring Friday night in the Hurley household! Between that and watching Funniest Home Videos, I could hardly contain myself!

In lieu of anything knitting, here is a link I think you will like. I think I shall put this in the "Now, I have seen everything" category. Yes, that's right. The Origami Boulder Company. Very funny. Be sure to read to the end where the FAQ's are. Read the boulder haiku.

English blanket, toupee and handles. All in one place!

I have a guest knitter today, from all the way across the pond. I'd like to introduce you to Leah's Knitting. How Leah found me and my blog is a mystery that will probably never be solved, but she got badgered into knitting. Here is her result. The start of her blanket. That is her cat Chili. I will put her funny comments on what the cat is actually doing into a small quiz, that can be found on the left. See if you can guess. So, Leah has cats, she dabbles in knitting and she obviously has a stash of yarn and needles, although no circulars apparently. She's a good person, as far as I can tell. Now, Kerstin, send the poor woman a poem! So, Leah, I hope we haven't traumatized you too much. And I sincerely hope that you will be a student at the Knitting classes that we are all willing to give away so you will keep up the knitting. Maybe even make some headway on the scarves that you've promised your family, eh?

I finished the toupee last night. Want a peek? Okay, here I am, modeling it for you.

I am such a bear in the mornings. This techno hair yarn wins the prize for "Weirdest stuff that is called yarn" category. It is not fun to work with. Any stitch that is dropped becomes part of the knitted hair void, never to be heard from again. The only hope that you have is to pick up some kind of gathered together yarn that resembles a stitch (not) and keep knitting. So, there are small holes and bunches in it. It is not my most proud moment of knitting, that's for sure. But I think I look rather smashing as a brunette, don't you?

And, would someone please play a drum roll? Here's the finished suki. Handles and all.

The professional photographer has taken the day off, so the picture is a tad on the crappy side. Can you see the handles? Well, you'll just have to trust me that they are there. They are the dark green color. I think I'll schedule another photo shoot later today. I hope Suki is free for it! My one thought of something I would do different, is to not make the handles so danged long. I wonder if I could cut them and sew them on again? What do you think?

Okay, that's it for today. That's enough, don't you think?