Let me introduce you to the Excedrin Sock!

Thank you, Genia for your answers to my silly quetions yesterday. Check her out at http://www.geniaknits.blogspot.com/

And again, thanks to all who have spoken kind, nurturing words to me in the last couple of days about being a Mom/person. If I were to list you all, well, it would be a long list! Thanks, I needed that! Every day it gets easier. Acceptance is a wonderful thing.:)

This is what I was working on last night.

Yup, the celtic cable sock in solid opal yarn. I dub thee, "THE EXCEDRIN SOCKS!" Yes, that's right, I must be sure to have plenty of excedrin coursing through my veins when tackling this challenging pattern. Because if I don't have a headache when I start, I WILL be getting on soon. When I start knitting tonight, I have to rip a row out. I have an extra stitch at the end of the row! DANG! This is the most challenging knitting I have done so far. I wonder if I'm up to it???

So, it's Friday! What could be better than that? I'll tell you. It's Friday, the sun is shining and it's supposed to be a great day! Enjoy!

disclaimer

Guess what?? It snowed last night. Not a lot. Just a covering. but it snowed! Drat it! (But still that kid in me loves looking out the window at it.......)

So, I want you to know that despite all of my complaining about my Mom yesterday, I love her. I have accepted WHO she is a long time ago. I do not like to live in the past, it is not healthy. But living far away helps <wicked grin>

This weekend I watched three movies! Two with Mom. One at home. Mom and I watched Sweet Home Alabama, which I liked very much. I am a sucker for the romantic comedy. It made me laugh and it made me cry. We watched Hart's War. This was very good. About a POW camp in WWII. A great movie about bravery and honor. The third movie was Saving Grace. I loved this movie! I just love a quirky story! If you haven't seen it, you should (only if you are not offended by drug use). Grace is a middle aged woman whose husband commits suicide leaving her in financial ruin. She resorts to growing Marijuana. Some of the scenes are hilariosly funny! And I knit. I cast on and knit about 5 rows of the back of Inishmaan. I won't show you because it looks just like the front ribbing, which you can gaze at in my pictures section if you feel the need.

Have a good Monday.

The day after

Well, I return yet again from the work Saturday for my Mom. She got bad news on her broken ankle. It is not healing. It has been six LLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG weeks and it is not healing. The doctor said for her to start adding gradual pressure on the foot (not full weight) to hopefully encourage healing. He said, it will do one of three things. It will either do nothing, heal or snap. ewwww. If it does not show signs of healing in the next month, she will have to endure bone grafts. eeeeewwwww. BUT, it seemed to me that she was doing better. She was cranky as all get out. And that, people is a good sign that my Mom is returning to herself. My mom is a very opinionated, prejudiced, crass, overbearing kinda woman. Hey, she's my Mom..I love her. But that might give you some insight on why I live one and a half hours away from her. It is funny how THIS apple really did fall far from the tree. My personal opinion is that either I was adopted and never told or I was switched in the nursery.

Every week I sit down with Mom to watch a movie after running like the proverbial chicken with it's head cut off all day . I rent and bring one every week. She is a movie lover. And I will pull out my knitting. She always shakes her head, and says, in a disgusted tone of voice, "I can't believe you do that!" or "I tried knitting once, and I hated it! You actually like it?" or something to that effect. And every week I tell her, Yes, I love it. I look forward to it. I have showed her Inishmaan and she said, "hhhmmmmpppphhh. We'll see if you finish it." <sigh>

So, my point in telling you all of this? I dunno really. Just a kinda interesting knitting story. And I'm trying really hard to learn from the lessons my Mother has taught me. I hope I can be a more supportive mother to my kids. I think I am succeeding. But you know, we all send our kids to therapy somehow. It's our jobs! :)

I got a little knitted on the bumblebee sock. I have put aside the excedrin sock for now. *&%$^#?&%^ thing! And I plan to cast on the back of Inishmaan today.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

the art of getting high

Not much knitting last night. The excedrin socks are turning into the tranquilizer sock. blech. And not much to say today. Heading to my Mom's again, and I have a stiff neck. What could be better than that? Do you think that stiff necks are a symptom of one's week? I do.

So, I give you this. Fig getting high on catnip. Yes, he indulges in the weed from time to time.

This photo shoot shows Fig getting high, being spacey and sleeping it off. I did not show him getting the munchies after the cat nap. And, you'll be glad to know.....since we have gotten rid of the snow piles in the yard, his new pasttime is rolling in the dirt. Yup, he comes inside looking quite sad with ground up leaves, sticks and dirt clinging to his previously nice, soft, shiny fur. Scheez. It's like having a three year old all over again. Oh, except for the getting high part. We did not encourage that in our kids.:)

game show time!

Hello and welcome to

Silly Question time, here at Sandys Knitting!'

And, thanks for joining us. Okay, the first question is this. Do "Increase" and "Make 1" mean the same thing in knitting?

(pause for Jeapardy-type music)

The final question is worth double the brownie points. How on earth do you keep track of your progress in a complicated pattern? You know the kind that you can't get the rhythym of no matter what? The kind, well, like this....

Okay, thanks for playing...... Silly Question time! Tune in next time for more silly questions from Sandy!

It is the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days. Thanks, I needed that! Spring in a vase!

I did not intend to knit last night, but I had to watch American Idol. Yup, I'm addicted to that show. Now you know. And I just can't sit there doing nothing. So, I got started on the celtic cable socks of the above photo. Oh, this is the third time I start them. (See the second silly question if you are wondering...) The ribbing is done. Try and Try again. So, I LOVE Clay on American Idol! Can that kid sing! Oh, I melt when he sings. GO CLAY! I love his funky, scrawny, hair raising look! He is so UN-american idol. I guess that's what I love about him. do you watch?

Derek looked better to me yesterday, he didn't look quite so shell-shocked (if I can use that term while the country is at war). He will be fine. He will be a stronger person. But, oh, it really does hurt to grow up! Blast it! Thanks to all who said kind words to me. It is appreciated more than you know! You guys are the greatest! The true American Idols!

Parenting is hard on the heart

Some days it is difficult being a parent. I'm sure you know all the trials and tribulations that go along with being parent to teenagers. All paling in comarison to when your child hurts. Derek, 16 years old and a Junior at Beverly High School has been trying out for the varsity baseball team. He got cut yesterday and in fact was told that he can't play JV either. Now you should know that Derek has been playing ball since he could hold one. I'm not kidding. As a baby, he threw a ball back and forth with his dad. He IS baseball. He has always dreamed of playing on the varsity BHS team. He has always been chosen for the all star teams in the city. He was sent to play on the Williamsport team (the world series of little leaue), he played Freshman and JV baseball at BHS. So, this year, he saw his dream within reach. He practically slept in his BHS baseball hat. It meant a lot to him. And he is crushed. I think it is truly harder on me. My heart hurts seeing him hurt. As a parent, you know what is in store for your kids. Life sucks sometimes. We all know that we have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, hold our head high and march on. But what a lesson. To see him hurting, hurts me. We really did not see this coming. We should have prepared him for the possibility of being cut from the team. But, frankly, it never dawned on anyone that knows Derek. Growing up IS hard to do, and it's even harder for me to stand by while they get knocked around. I cried a few tears last night (in private, I would never do that in front of him), I cooked his favorite dinner (which he couldn't eat), I hugged him (well, that's just downright embarrassing) and I reminded him that he is still the same wonderful person he was the day before, who has great friends who still like him just as much. And I told him that now he can start drivers ed and go for his license. Hey, gotta sweeten the pot somehow!

So, today, the sun comes up, life goes on even though my heart (and his) feels sore. blech.

And to elaborate a bit on the llama pattern on yesterday's blog, I purchased it from http://fourseasonsknitting.com. It is in Canada, so the pattern is very cheap in US dollars and the shipping was super fast! They have a lot of unusual patterns. You should browse around their site. It's fun.

Thanks for listening.

Inishmaan and llamas

I have been working on the neck shaping on Inishmaan. Kind of exciting for me, since it's my first time! Gee I hope I did it right! Take a look..

and a closeup of the neck shaping.

I have to say, I'm loving it!

What is it about the mind that just won't stop thinking of knitting projects! Here is something I'm dreaming up..

Yup, knitted llamas! Who knew?? Of course wouldn't it be perfect using llama or alpaca yarn? And wouldn't you know it, Cascade carries a line of yarn called Pastaza (sounds like a yummy pasta dish) that would be perfect to make these cute creatures. Why knit a llama? You may be rightfully thinking at this time. Well, Bethany happens to LOVE llamas! And when you see a pattern like this one, how can you resist? It's her fault! So, I guess I'll be giving the boys over at http://threadbearfiberarts.com/ a jingle, who just so happen to carry this great yarn. Coincidence? I think not! Things seem to be falling right into line for me. How about you?

bruised pride

Well, yesterday I was leaning forward to open the door to the back hall to get to the clothes dryer, and my foot caught on something in the massive piles of laundry sitting on the floor around the washer, so I pitched forward a little and bumped my forehead on the microwave cart. OUCH! It hurt! A lot! I got over it! But, I started thinking , geez I hope it doesn't bruise and look horrible. You know, those woman that go into work all battered and bruised looking and you say, "oH, what happened to you?" And she says, "I tripped and fell, bumped my head/eye/arm/leg/whatever." and you are thinking "YA RIGHT! Tell me another one!" and you walk away thinking, that bastard of her husband! Okay, well, I hoped that wouldn't be me! Because, REALLY! I hit my head on the microwave cart while tripping! HONEST! Okay, but good news.....although it hurts, alot, it is undetectable to the human eye! My husband's reputation is safe! :)

My computer went on a field trip this weekend! On Saturday, my son went to a LAN party. (that is local area network for those who are not as computer savvy as he, like me!). Him and his friend both packed up the computers, lock, stock and barrel and headed off for Keene NH very early Saturday morning. Well, early for him, not for me. (8:00 am, if you're wondering....) There were about 65 others with their computers and they had game tournaments all day long. Hey, whatever floats your boat! My eyes would have felt like they were burning in their sockets, but he seemed to enjoy it! So, I have a traveling computer! It seems to have enjoyed it's little vacation very much!

Got only a small amount of knitting on Inishmaan done. It is exciting seeing the neck shape emerge! I hope to sit 'n knit tonight!

I've got the fever.....

Felting fever, that is...... I finished the funky fuzzy feet. They came out great! They felted MUCH quicker than the kureyon yarn did. Here's a look.

The above pictures are before and after felting. They really look great! The Ranier heather (the purple color) is everything and more that people have been raving about! And here's a close up of the colors! I think the pink and the dark blue really pull colors out of the felted yarn! My observations....these slippers are narrower than the kureyon ones. http://sandysknitting.blog-city.com/files/2797/p/t/DSC01069.JPG The cascade 220 yarn is not as heavy as the kureyon. So, that makes sense. Next pair, I would make the ankle higher. And the toe is a little pointy. I wonder what I could do about that? I am in awe at the color change that occurs in the felting process! Such fun! These are a gift, by the way for my friends' daughter Megan. She is the same age as my son, 16 and a budding knitter. She will love these! I am planning to give them to her as an early birthday gift so she can bring them on the band trip to Maryland, where she will spend time with her friends knitting on the bus.

Thank goodness it's Friday!

I had intended to show

I had intended to show you pictures of yesterday's mail call. But somehow that seems trivial today. I have had a lump in my stomach since yesterday waiting for the "war" to begin. Last night, seeing 8:00 pm come and go was excruciating. I am more upset about the state of the world than even my conciousness knows. All I can think about are the poor people being bombed. Not the terrorists, or Saddam and cronies, but the people of Iraq. The women,men and children trying to live their lives as we are.

All I can say today is God bless us everyone!

I'll be back later. Pray, if you do.

Mail call

Okay, it's about an hour after my previous entry, and I have decided to get on with it. Live my life. And my life includes knitting. (Oh, I'm still praying.....)

HERE is what I got at yesterday's mail call......

on the left is a wonderful package from the boys at http://threadbearfiberarts.com. Cascade 220 in celery and butter. Kind of tasty, non? And the pattern that it will all become. Two handled project bag. Oh, fun! On the right is the Stranded newsletters I ordered. Very interesting! And a nice note about feeling special when you receive your order. Presentation is everything. And I have to tell you that both orders came specially wrapped. Lots of TLC came with them. There is even a package of forget me not seeds with the newsletter. AND, brittany number 1 needles for sock making. I love those needles!

Okay, that's it for now. Oh, that has to be it for a while. A yarn diet for me. My hands must keep busy. Very busy!

Adventures of funky feet

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Andy!

He is 44 years old today. (oh, my goodness, I better get shopping today! ) You know some years, you just can't wait to get out there and shop, with all the wonderful ideas that you have. Then....other years, I got nothing! boring. guess I'll have to spice it up a bit........hmmm.

I don't know how well, you can see this, but I cut a lilac twig and brought it in to see if I could force that to bloom. My scientific hypothesis is that the leaves will bloom, but not the flowers. We'll see.

Drum roll please...... this is the surprise I teased you with. This is a pair of fuzzy feet (well, technically it is a fuzzy FOOT right now) It is made out of the mahvelous cascade 220. YES, ROB! The RANIER HEATHER!!! How could I resist trying it out????? I added a stripe of pink and a stripe of blue. I can't wait to see how they felt together! I will (hopefully) get started on the other foot today. I dub these, funky feet!

Have a good day. It's my husband's birthday. Have a drink for him today. Celebrate like it's your birthday today!

the day after

The day after the big birthday celebration for my husband. It really is not fair that a person has to work on their birthday! Here's a look...

Take a look around our party table. In the front are the presents. Yes, wrapped in newspaper. Hey, we are a thrifty bunch! (It's Andy's favorite wrappings!). To the left is shrimp and cocktail sauce to start with. Then you see the main course! Yes! Filet mignon. Cooked to perfection on the grill. Mashed potatoes, peas. And homemade cheese breadsticks. It was enjoyed by all. Heart healthy it wasn't! Taste bud delight it was! Bethany ate her dinner a little later than us. Here she is (in front of the tv, of course)

Did you ever feel like you are being watched? Fig was later offered a taste and he snubbed his nose at it! Spoiled cat! Snubbing filet mignon? Lots of starving cats in Afghanistan would love to be offered filet mignon!

And can you stand one more picture?

Here's the birthday boy himself. Andy with his ice cream cake. And that's my father in law, or part of him. I hope Andy made a wish!

So, it ended up to be a nice evening. I got the cuff done on the next funky foot! I CAN'T WAIT TO FELT THEM! And, yes, Chris, I am weak! That ranier heather was calling me since I opened the box! I have to say, the cascade 220 is a delight to work with!

drinking of the green!

Well, happy St. Patrick's day to ya! With a name like Hurley, I have to give the day at least a glancing nod. (although the only part of me that is Irish is my ring finger. My husband, and of course my kids.) We had our Irish meal yesterday as it fit into the schedule better. Corned beef and cabbage, what else? And here is what we have to drink everyyear ....

Yup, green milk. It's now a Hurley tradition. Your taste buds do expect to taste mint, but it's just milk.

Monday again. boo hoo! Why do the weekend go so fast? It's nice to have people around the blogs again! The weekend was like a ghost town around here. Hmmmm, does everyone have a life?

I'm knitting on my secret. Oh, you're going to love it! I do! Soon.....very soon.

Today is shaping up to be extrememly busy. Derek starts baseball tryouts today (he's trying out for varsity this year), and it's hubby's bowling night. Me? I have to plan for hubby's birthday tomorrow. I am very uninspired this year. What am I going to get him. Time is running out! I don't suppose he'll want some new fabulous yarn? No? hmmmmm.....party pooper!

Wear some green today.

shhhhh, it's a secret!

Well, today was moving day! No not my home, my computer! For Christmas we got a new, spacious, roomy hard drive for our computer. But for one reason or another, we just installed it and had two hard drives going. Easier, you know. Well, the small hard drive just got overcrowded and very annoying and Derek finally installed windows to the NEW hard drive. Which spurred me on to make it a habitable place to live! So all morning I have been fiddling and installing. So, here I am, in my new spacious digs. Room to spread out and relax! Maybe even room to install the game of Sims that I love so well.

What do you think of these colors? Well, I'm going to keep this one under my hat for a couple of days. Yes, a secret! Let me get knitting so you can see! Stay tuned!

Big band mania!

There is something very unsettling about revealing a picture of myself. It leaves me feeling very insecure! Weird, huh?

I went to bed sooooo early last night. Sleeping by about 8:30! zzzzzzzzzzzz........ thanks, I needed that! No knitting for me last night then.

Okay, I really love the music of the 40's. YOu know, big band music. Actually I started really enjoying it when my son was in the jazz band with the high school. They played big band and I fell in love! What sound! What energy! So, anywho.....last night (early,of course since my night ended at about 8:00) I heard of a singer named Michael Buble (he's french canadien, so that's not Bubble, it's "Bubb-lay" actually I think it's more like "Boob-lay", but, well, whatever!) check him out...http://www.michaelbuble.com/home.php. His voice is like Frank Sinatra! Buttah! See if his tunes get your foot tapping! And! He's not too shabby to look at! ooohhh laa laa! Go download some of his music and join me in the big band sound! It makes me happy!

It's Saturday! That must mean that I am heading to my Mom's to help out! Man! I could use someone around here to help out! (not bitter, just really, really anxious to have that ankle HEAL already!!!!!!!)

So, I fell in love with a celery! Curious?

Speechless

Oh My Goodness! How could it be?????? I really don't have anything to say today! wahhhhh!!! Did you ever have a day that you could be perfectly happy staring aimlessly at the wall? No thought process going on. Just staring. Crickets just chirping, where before there were thoughts and ideas! Maybe caffeine will help? I hope so... No quiz, no contest, no content today. hhhmmmm... I'll check back with you later. Maybe something wonderful and stupendous will happen to me today. Hey, you never know! Every day has that possibility!

Go knit something. wish I was.

Okay, in lieu of something to say, I give you this......ME!! (self portrait) take me, or leave me. No baubles, no belly showing (thank the lord), no poufy hair, just me and my turtleneck. Without further ado.....

It's kinda hard to take a decent picture of yourself with your arm sticking straight out in front of your body and nobody to yell, "Say cheese!".

So there.

Speechless

Oh My Goodness! How could it be?????? I really don't have anything to say today! wahhhhh!!! Did you ever have a day that you could be perfectly happy staring aimlessly at the wall? No thought process going on. Just staring. Crickets just chirping, where before there were thoughts and ideas! Maybe caffeine will help? I hope so... No quiz, no contest, no content today. hhhmmmm... I'll check back with you later. Maybe something wonderful and stupendous will happen to me today. Hey, you never know! Every day has that possibility!

Go knit something. wish I was.

Okay, in lieu of something to say, I give you this......ME!! (self portrait) take me, or leave me. No baubles, no belly showing (thank the lord), no poufy hair, just me and my turtleneck. Without further ado.....

It's kinda hard to take a decent picture of yourself with your arm sticking straight out in front of your body and nobody to yell, "Say cheese!".

So there.

Button, button, who's got a button????

I DO! I DO!! See it there on the left? Go ahead, steal it, put it on your blog! And a very BIG thank you to Chris http://chrisknits.blog-city.com/ for surprising me with it! I have not the foggiest idea how on earth she did it. I wouldn't even know where to begin. Thank you, Chris!

Fuzzy Feet are finished. Want to see them?

I am actually standing out in the snow this morning taking a picture in the natural light. Neighbors (and husband) must think I am crazy! (and maybe I am......)They are fraternal twins. Not identical, as you can see. each slipper took exactly one skein of Noro, so there was no playing with which stripe would be first. (I like the one on the left better. Don't tell the one on the right!) So, last night, they go into the washer and I stand and wait, all excited. Leaning over the washer. Waiting, like a kid on Christmas morning. Every couple of minutes I stop the washer and fish them out. Nope, needs more time. I do this for a while and then I realized that a watched pot never boils. So, I got busy doing something. Came back in a while, and they were fuzzy! Yippee! I love how they fuzzed! But, they did not shrink as much as I wanted them to. Any ideas? Maybe I just knitted them too big. The right one is bigger than the left. I even put that one on the heat register overnight thinking that when it dried it would shrink more. Do you think I need to submerge them again in hot water? Or do you think it's the yarn that I used (Noro Kureyon). That Ranier Heather Cascade 220 is sitting there calling me. Rob has emphatically encouraged using this yarn. hmmm.....we'll see....

packages and peace

Don't you love it when the postman stops and gives you a package? Here's what was in yesterday's mail.

I guess I had kind of a theme when I ordered the two, eh? There are some really great, inspiring sweaters in The Alice Starmore. I seem to be one of her biggest fans. The Debbie Bliss book is my attempt to find sweaters other than Alice Starmore. Because I am a beginner knitter, I don't even know where to start looking. I liked the Debbie Bliss book. But I was not bowled over by any of the patterns. A lot of them had garter stitch (is that the one that shows the purl stitches on the right side??) I do not like that look. (Only my personal opinion.....And most of the sweaters are made for the little people of the world. Only in size small or medium. Guess I'll have to keep going to weight watchers for that book. ha ha... So, I feel quite happy that I did not pay full price for the debbie bliss book (I bought it used). But I guess you never know when inspiration will hit. So, knitting friends, I am looking for patterns that are aran, lots of texture. I love cables. And I am looking to branch myself out and learn fair isle. Any suggestions? How do you find patterns without buying tons and tons of books? Just wondering...

On a very serious note.....When I was a little girl, my biggest, darkest fear was nuclear war. You know it didn't help with the bomb drills when we would hide under the desks. That did not last long, I believe it was only in first grade. But it left an impression. I have to say that in the last ten years, or so, I have not even given nuclear war a thought. I felt safe (pre Sept. 11th, that is...) Clinton was a peacemaker (oh, yes, among many other things, but we won't get into politics). The Berlin wall came down, nuclear weapons were being disarmed. The world felt good. I have to admit that the fear of nuclear war is back. Oh bother...In the immortal words of Rodney King, "Can't we just all get along?"

Let there be peace on earth....please

Come on get happy!

Here's another look at the forsythia twigs. They are fully in bloom, and even starting to grow leaves at the top!

Aren't they beautiful? And today the weather is supposed to be gorgeous! (Okay, it may rain...) but it's supposed to be in the upper 40's! UPPER 40'S?????? DO YOU KNOW THAT IS LIKE IN THE 60'S???? Or at least it feels it when you've had such cold. I plan to enjoy every minute of today. Hey, you do the same, okay? Go knit something. Go cut some forsythias! I'm serious. Or maybe I should cut some lilac branches. hmmmm.....is that too ambitious? Lilacs are my favorite flower! I wish someone would invent one to bloom all summer.

Make your day glorious! Do something to make you happy!

the hurley home

I guess I've got the Monday blues. My eyes and body want to go back to bed. I woke up with a headache, which is never a good sign. And my house is a wreck. How does it get so bad so quickly? I surveyed yesterday when I decided that the dust bunnies could stay a little longer, and all of a sudden it looks like we've held a rock concert here in the living room. Debris is spewed everywhere! (okay, I exaggerate a bit, but you get my drift) Do you ever wonder how long your family would live like that? Would teenagers ever actually notice that the house is, how shall we say, a pit?? I submit that they will only notice if :

1. their eating schedule was thrown off, for example, no clean dishes or groceries.

2. they can't see the computer screen because of various stuff piled on the desk perched precariously in front of the screen because there is no other place to put it.

3. If their exact place to sit (where they plant roots on the couch or chair) has lots of stuff on it. Well, on second thought, that won't bother them, they would just sweep it onto the growing pile that is the floor!

4. so, scratch numbers 2 and 3. They will just add to the floor.

5. So, they would only notice if there was nothing to eat. I would have like to say that they would notice if they did not have clean clothes, but, shortly after noticing, they would reach down to the floor that is their hamper and pick out the least dirty of the clothes.

So, I guess when I get home from work today, I will be picking up a bit.

Oh wait, the only other time they would notice is when they cannot find the remote. Ahhh, that's a big one. When they reach down into the couch cushions, they will come up with many, many various missing items. Maybe they will finally pick out the remote.

So, there you have it. My loving family. They could live in filth and be happy. Maybe I'll just knit through it all. so there...

Sandy

disclaimer....the above is written with the tongue firmly implanted in cheek. Please read with a sense of humor. ( I have to say that in case any of my darling family members read this.......don't want crabby family members.......:)

oh, by the way, I started a pair of socks in opal bumblebee. I ordered them in curiosity. I did not like anyone's pictures of them, but everyone says how much they love the bumblebee. I have to say that I like the yarn a lot better in person. Still stewing over Inishmaan.

Twigs in bloom!

Well, looky here..... Forsythia Twigs in bloom! I guess it IS possibe that spring could be on its way. So, all you people who think you can't make things grow, go cut some forysthia twigs from your yard and put them into some warm water. They really are a breath of much needed fresh air around here!

I seem to be stuck in the Inishmaan pattern to start the collar. It's really ticking me off. Ms. Starmore puts some funky words into her pattern that make me challenge what I know is true. I'm not sure where to go next. Does anyone care to help me decipher?

I'm feeling tired and a tad grumpy this morning. I got home very late last night from my Mom's. I did a lot of cleaning and did not leave there until after midnight. That gets me home at about 1:20am. blech. Way too late for me. So much cleaning yesterday and it needs to be done here too. Yah, well, those dust bunnies are going to have to wait til another day. They get a reprieve. A stay of execution. Enjoy your time dust bunnies. Your days are numbered!

ahhhh, that's better!

The fuzzy feet have been re-fuzzied (thanks to Rob and Chris for sage advice) and they now fit much better. I am very happy with them now. I was quite nervous to leave them in the washer too long. I didn't want them to get *agitated*. Bad joke, sorry. I'm giddy because of the weekend! The pattern said to check them every couple of minutes. And I did. For many, many minutes. Then I started to think that they should be done, so I took them out. And I wasn't happy with them. Unaware that I can re-felt them. the second time, they stayed in the washer for a long long time before they were allowed to come out. One of them spent longer than the other because it was bigger. Knitting problem. Can't seem to get two exactly alike! hhummmph. So, my lesson of the day was to leave it alone. Let it enjoy the process. It's a good thing!

I'm about to start the collar on Inishmaan. How exciting!

I'm traveling out to my Mom's today. I thought Bethany would be able to come with me, but she has to babysit. No company for me on the ride out there. Poor Mom, still in lots of pain and can't get around very well. She is very handicapped right now. Maybe we should get her one of those service monkeys!! I'd still have to clean up (hey, if a monkey can do that, I"M getting one!) but the monkey would be able to get her things that she needs. hmmmmm. I wonder if she'd go for it?? NO! If and when they are able to clean up the house, I'm in!

Happy Saturday!

sandys knitting button by Chris

Fuzzy Foot

This is the one fuzzy foot almost done. I just have to Kirchener the tip closed. Wow! Is it big! I know that it will shrink, but somehow it feels wrong as I am knitting it! ha ha! The yarn is Noro Kureyon (thanks, Mattie for the tip to use this yarn!) It is in a wonderful brown. I hate to tell you that when I started it, Bethany told me it looked like the "poop sock" hhhmmmph! Teenagers!!! She informed me last night that it no longer looked like the poop sock. What a relief! I do like the colors to have some kind of NICE name though. Noro has dubbed this one 55! Kind of unimaginative! So, I'm trying to think of a name (besides the poop thing). Any ideas? I do love how fast they work up. Poor dear sister in law, Cheryl still has one cold foot while I get sidetracked into fuzzy feet!

And for the bragging category.......Here is a picture of my wonderful children and my wonderful nephews! Some really nice kids! From the left, nephew Dan, daughter Bethany, nephew Steve and son Derek. And not one of them wearing knitted anything! And that's how they'd like to keep it (or so I'm informed by my kids!)

To answer a question from Tiffany, http://knittingiamaprincessdamnit.blogspot.com/ , the needles that I am using for Fuzzy feet (and shown in the photo of yesterday) are Brittany needles. I got them at http://www.fncyarn.com/, Fiber Nooks and Crannies. Brittany needles are great! I have a couple of pairs and really enjoy the feel of them. And the sound (yesterday's blog).

If loving yarn is wrong, I don't want to be right!!

I got a yarn sample card from Black Water Abbey Yarns http://abbeyyarns.com/ and they are especially yummy. I am going to have to find a way to knit faster! I have so many projects in my head! My hands can't keep up!

Now I know why people are so in love with fuzzy feet! http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/PATTfuzzyfeet.html (here's the link if you don't know what they are and want to know.......) They work up sooooo fast! Instant gratification! I am almost done the second. I expect to be felting tonight! Wish me luck! Thanks to Tiffany for felting tips! Then I must get back to Inishmaan and the poor Denmark toe for dear sister in law (with one cold foot!)

Fig is not impressed with all the fuzzy feeting going on around here! This is what he said when the weatherman started talking about snow again! Oh no!

Is it Thursday??? finally!

Have you listened to your knitting?

Look what I had waiting for me when I got home from work yesterday! Don't you love when that happens??? My needles for the fuzzy feet.....you know what that means! I started fuzzy feet! I'll give a picture tomorrow. ( I forgot it upstairs, and I'm way too lazy this morning to go ALL the way up there to get it!) The yarn on the left is part of the sock of the month club. It is opal crocodile! Cool! And the one on the right is opal bumblebee! Oh, such fun waiting for me! I really need to stop buying for a while though. I can't possibly get all these projects done and go to work each day too! Hey, somethings got to go! Not gonna be the knitting! ha ha! Guess I'll have to hope for a lottery win. The only prob with that is that you actually have to play the lottery to win. Chances are slim that someone will come knocking on my door, and say, "Sandy, you are now independently wealthy! Here, take all this money!" Not gonna happen. So, off to work I go. Someone's gotta support this yarn habit! :)

Yes, I started fuzzy feet. How could I not? I love using different needles in knitting! Of course, the feel of the yarn and needles are half the fun, but have you noticed the sound of knitting? I love the sound of different yarns on different needles. The addi turbo needles make a distinct clicking sound. The susanne bates make a louder clicking sound. But the Brittany needles and yarn make a shooshing sound. It is very satisfying! Open your senses to knitting.

Is it my imagination, or are the buds on the forsythia twigs getting bigger??? I'm not sure yet if it is wishful thinking and hopeful optimism or fact. I'll let you know..

Hope springs eternal, or the tale of the twigs

Did you miss me yesterday? That was the first day I didn't blog. I thought about you though. I actually slept late......9:00. then I had to get busy on finishing the Denmark sock that was being given to my sister in law, Cheryl yesterday. I got them done. They were received wonderfully! She loved them.

Here they are on her feet! They are nice, except for one tiny thing........For some reason, when I put the stitches onto 4 needles (as per pattern) and started decreasing, the decreases ended up at the front and the back of the sock, instead of the sides. So, I now have one sock to fix and she has one sock. A lot of good one sock does her. hmph. (HI Cheryl!) So, tonight, you know what I'll be doing. A toe. Again.

And in the hope springs eternal category, I give you this... What??? you don't know what that is??? It is forsythia twigs cut from the bush outside. I read in the local paper's gardening column that you can force the flowers indoors. So, I say, prove it! The tale of the twigs has begun. I'll let you know if it works. I am desperate to see some sign of life outdoors. So desperate, that I will actually chop them off and bring them indoors! ha ha

How was your weekend? Boy they go by fast, don't they? I sure could use one more day this weekend. Please??? Okay, Okay, I'll go to work. blech.

Go forsythia twigs!!!!!!!!

Won't you have a spot of tea?

Happy March! Could that be spring around the corner? I'll believe it when I see it! Well, it's Saturday morning and Andy has to work, so I don't get the heavenly smell of roasting and perking coffee. So, I decided to make some tea for myself.

It is Raspberry Earl Grey tea. YUM! It has it's own heavenly raspberry aroma. Too bad the picture isn't scratch n sniff! On New Year's Eve a couple of years ago, (like every New Year's Eve) my family went into Boston for the early evening festivities. It was bitterly cold, so while the kids and hubby skated at the Frog Pond, my friend and I went to Newbury Street to a place called Tealuxe. And there I had my introduction to great tea! I came home and got online and found them at http://tealuxe.com. My kids then bought me the wonderful Brown Betty teapot that you see here and I bought many kinds of tea, raspberry earl grey being my fav. Making tea from a teabag is sufficient. But isn't it wonderful to splurge and do it up once in a while? The tea leaves are so interesting. They really bloom when steeped! So, won't you have some tea with me?

I worked like a mad woman last night on the Denmark sock. I need to give it as a gift tomorrow. Almost done. Need to finish the foot and then the toe. I think I can, I think I can. I'll show you tomorrow the MATCHED PAIR!! Whoo hooo, almost another finished item!

I ordered some bigger needles to start some Fuzzy feet. I'm thinking to use the Noro yarn that I have. It's in pretty shades of brown. It's in my photo album if you don't remember what it looks like. I would link you to it, if I could figure out how, dang it. Sometimes computers frustrate me.

I'm heading out soon to my Mom's for the day for my weekly work day. She still is in a lot of pain and cannot get around. She's really feeling down, with many many months of recovery ahead of her.

And on a happier note. It is Andy's Aunt's birthday today. Happy 85th Birthday, Aunt Olive!

Enjoy.