Funny on a Friday

Pearls Before Swine by Stephen Pastis

The yarn that keeps on curling

Soothing sock, just what the doctor ordered! The yarn is the Artyarns supermerino, pink especially for spring. The pattern is the garter rib sock from Sensational Knitted Socks which was gifted to me by the wonderfully generous Terri! (happy Thursday, Terri!) If you don't have this book, you should seriously think of getting it. Well, not if you don't like knitting socks. You should WANT to knit socks. Then this book would be perfect for you. If you despise knitting socks, then perhaps we can find a better choice for you. You know?
The only thing about this yarn?

Curly Que not welcomed here. I dislike it when sock yarn kinks like that. But some of the best of the best are guilty of this infraction. (like koigu and socks that rock) I am forever letting it hang and spin. Doesn't help, just gives me something to do.
As I sat at Knit night with some wonderful, inspiring knitters (and not too shabby people either), I had barely finished the words "I have so much sock stash that I could knit for a year and not make a dent" and I had a NEW BOOK and sock yarn picked out.
It's kind of a sickness. But one I'll gladly keep!
~~~~
UPDATE TIME
Thank you for all of your good thoughts. Your support and knitterly thoughts sustained a whole family of worrieds on the day of my mother in law's second pacemaker insertion. The procedure was successful, no pokes or holes where they did not belong this time. Say it with me, knitters, PHEW!
Seriously, thank you. What would I do without you?
(God, I'm turning into a steaming pile of mush lately. What IS up with that???)
Go knit something. Nothing more to see here.....
:)

In the Pink or optimistic thinking

Artyarns supermerino in some type of colorway that is pink and lovely. I could find the other skein and read the label but...well, you know. I won't. Not right now. I'm busy typing.
I needed some simple and comforting knitting so I started a sock in pink. I needed that desperately. I have other things on the needles that are taking too much concentration. Sometimes a girl just needs to knit. Thinking is overrated. Sometimes.
My mother in law went in the hospital 2 weeks ago for a pacemaker insertion. No big deal, right? We've all known plenty of people who get them. Well, due to some anatomic anomolies, there was a puncture of a pulmonary vein and bleeding and scary times. She is still in the hospital, doing well, all healed from the puncture and is going in a second time for the pacemaker.
Send some good thoughts up, will you? And knit with me? Something simple will do!

American as apple pie?

Listen. I don't know how many times we are going to have to hash this out, Macaroni, tomato sauce and ground beef is hereby referred to as AMERICAN CHOP SUEY. :)
I had to put on my GOULASHES and wade through the comments at Norma's. This debate always cracks me up. I don't stew about it! No matter what it's called, it's dinner. And as a matter of fact, we are having it tonight. In honor of bloggers everywhere.
Call it goulash. Call it hash. Call it macaroni. Just call me to dinner.
Mitten Hash

Anemoi mittens (I still say ANEMONE) I decided that I would play with the colors a little bit and reverse them. Sort of a goulash type of mittens?

Testing bloglines

Scoundrels.

After all, a cardigan without buttons is like an afghan. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

So, let's get some close ups of those buttons, shall we? Is it wrong to love buttons so? Should my husband be jealous of intense button love? Finding the right buttons gives me great pleasure. These buttons are not just closure, they are a fashion accessory. A statement. I'm saying something, but of course (as discussed in the previous entry) not many people are listening. I know you are!

Let's begin at the top and work our way down.






And this button, way on the bottom, is a loaner button. I know. Who knew there could be such a thing? But there were 6 matching buttons, this sweater needing 7 so until a more suitable match can be found, this one will visit, courtesy of my favorite place, Yarns in the Farms.
It's not quite the right shade, but we won't tell him he's special. We want him to feel like part of the family, like he fits in without being different. He is a challenged button. And that's the way we like him.
There you have it! All the button talk I can eek out of a cardigan. I know that some of you will share the love right along with me.
And, if you'd like to see something funny and a bit on the scary side? Here's a picture of me trying to take a picture of the back of the sweater. I did not do so great getting the back but I got a priceless face. Christmas card anyone? And I would have SWORN to you that I could not be crosseyed if I tried.

~click for big, to get the full crosseyed effect
Cheese!
P.S. Thank you so much for all of your great comments on the cardigan! I'm sending you beauty pagent kisses! haha

Finished Sweater

Wearing a new sweater to work around all the muggles is like walking into the building like a beauty contestant winner but no one notices. I'm clutching at the proverbial bouquet of flowers, wearing my sash that says "Green Mountain Spinnery Sweater", waving the wave to my adoring fans but not one person notices.
Hrmph. My Crown is slipping!
:)
As you may have concluded, I finished the Green Mountain Spinnery Sweater. More than that, I found the perfect buttons. Buttons are for more than closure you know. (better pictures of the buttons another day)

Pattern: Knitting Pure and Simple neck down cardigan
Yarn: Green Mountain Mohair, colorway Moss
Needle size: US7
Buttons: Bonnie Maresh glass, purchased at my favorite place, Yarns in the Farms
Snowstorm provided by Mother Nature.

Note: bathroom mirror photo makes it appear that I am missing a front tooth. I assure you, this is not the case. Due to the snowstorm, the window is covered with, well, you know....snow. Snow on a window? Apparently makes me look like perhaps I need a dentist. :)
I love the sweater. I wish that it did not look like it doesn't fit very well because I feel like it fits like it was made for me.(you have to admit, THAT was quite a sentence!) I love it!
And...allow me one little Blowing of kisses while clutching my almost dead bouquet of flowers, will ya?

Happy and I know it

Can a sweater get impatient for buttons? Soon, my little buttonless friend. Soon.
I'm working on a "Things I like" list as suggested (ages ago) by Carrie. She's probably thought I have forgotten by now.
So.
Things I like!
~green sweaters getting ready to be worn
~surprise warm spring days
~the sun on my face
~the smell of line dried sheets
~the cold, crisp feeling of bright white sheets on my bed, year round
~cheddar cheese
~kitty meows
~amazing grace perfume
~a great glass of pinot noir
~the soft noise of my knitting needles rubbing together
~the crunching of autumn leaves under my feet
~the hush of the world during a snowstorm
~lilacs
~peonies growing in my yard
~spending time with fiber friends
~watching Brothers and Sisters
~listening to Pachelbel's canon in D. I could cry at the beauty
~laughing with my family
~squirrels running around my yard
~cold pizza
~settling in to watch a movie
~homemade granola and yogurt
~biting into a ripe, sweet pear (hmm. I must be hungry)
~making mittens
~wearing mittens
~daffodils singing their song to me
~getting cards from Norma that make me laugh my ass off
~friend's birthdays...Happy Birthday, Margene!
~long conversations with my kids
~short conversations with my kids
~cooking for people I love
~making lists of things I like! Thanks, Carrie for the suggestion!
Go ahead, try your own list!

Today is Monday and I am pooped

I was hoping to sit and write some kind of witty reparte. Or at the very least some kind of words. I guess I am technically fulfilling my wish, as these are words.
:)
I am feeling drained. I would like to go on the record as saying how much I hate Daylight Savings Time. It is kicking my ass. Jet lag has nothing on this.
After a busy weekend of running (most of it fun running) I am feeling a bit jangled and jittery and out of sorts. And bone tired. Having a full house with both college kids home is so wonderful and a bit exhausting for me at this time. It's not stopping me from loving every raucous filled moment, mind you. I will be going to bed early tonight though. Beauty sleep and all that.
I took a picture of Fig's paws for La's call for feet

and then I couldn't stop!

Blurry college feet playing hockey in the frozen next door neighbor's yard.
How about little baby hands? Nothing cuter than that!

Baby is not mine. She is a Bookish Baby!
Sweet Dreams. I have a date with my pillow!
P.S. I bought paper towels

P.S. Don't forget to buy paper towels

Paper goods. I forget to buy them. Not the essential kind. But the paper towels and the napkins. For some reason, I forget to buy them until we are rather desperate.
And I was. Desperate. This morning.
Today is trash day, otherwise known as Clean the Fridge Out day. The day I find things nestled comfortably in the back of the fridge conducting it's own science experiment. This week, I found Forgotten Turkey Barley Soup, approximate age: 2 weeks, perhaps 3. It was not fit for human consumption. Or even Human olfactory senses.
So, I grab the offending bowl that previously was known as Turkey Barley soup (herein TBS) and while I was there, the yogurt that is dated January and the mystery leftover. As I was standing up, the offending bowl that previously was known as TBS slid off of my stack and fell to the floor, the cover popping off and TBS also known as OB(offending bowl, remember?) spilled all over the floor. Fig looked at me with distain as I cried out "OH NO". I know. I said it. I couldn't help myself.
Once gotten over the shock of the disgusting brew that used to be TBS now slopped all over the floor, dangerously, slowly moving as a slime towards Fig's bowl my thoughts naturally turned to clean up. With a panicked look, Fig meowed, I'm sure to ask "what now?"
Paper goods would have been good to have at this point in my morning. But I did not have paper goods in my possession. Not a paper towel. Not a napkin. Only one measley sponge that is defenseless against this kind of mess.
Whattodowhattodowhattodo????
WWJD?
No. That did not help me.
One thing was for sure, despite my cries of woe, Andy was not rushing down the stairs to help this mess. I was on my own, with one little cat giving me the look.
I looked over at the cabinet, stuffed with cereals that people are not going to eat anymore (note to self: reevaluate cereal buying habits) and an idea formed. Ideas are sometimes born out of desperation. I ripped the Special K with Strawberries box into sheets.( I love Special K with Strawberries but I always forget about the box when it's not quite gone yet) With the large squares of cardboard, I scooped the OB that used to be known as TBS into a bowl, cleaning up as much of the goo as I could. Phew. Fig was looking a bit more calm now. But honestly, the floor was a bit...um..slimed. A good washing with the sponge and no one was the wiser.
I am traumatized. So is Fig.
Not one to admit Defeat, I am ready to admit to loving DeFeet. I post this here in response to La's call for Pet Feet. Late. Sure. But Feet nonetheless.

Fig "playing the piano" (coined by my kids many years ago) on an afghan, a wedding gift from a distant relative.

Winner, gratitude, floods and tiramisu

Well. How can a knitter thank other knitters for an outpouring like that one? Thank you, honestly, from the bottom of my real, not virtual heart. Please everyone, join hands and let's sing a rousing verse of "we are the world, we are the knitters"
What? The winner? Sure. I had 109 comments. Not all of which were bonafide comments (some were corrections and such). With the help of the handy dandy randomizer, found here: http://www.randomizer.org/form.htm it appears that NAT is the winner! How can we all not love Nat with a self portrait like that on her site? I love Nat. Do you?
But honestly, I am the winner here. 109 comments. My cup overfloweth. I have not even started emailing my thanks around. My weekend has been filled. Not a minute to knit or email.
Why? You ask?
2 visiting college kids. If you are able to read between the lines, this means MOUNTAINS of laundry around my home. Mt. Everest of laundry. I do believe that Derek has not one clean piece of clothing at school and this forced him to visit his parents one week before spring break. Even he has standards, apparently when it comes to how dirty is dirty.
Which is a good thing.
So, this weekend, filled with things like this:

A bit of snow, soon turned into this:

A lot of water in my driveway, where I usually park my car. I could not park here unless I had a canoe handy. The upside? We owned waterfront property there for a little while.

Fig did not know what to make of the pond that used to be the neighbor's yard!
But things got better when we had friends in for dinner and scattergories night.
Dinner was chicken curry, adapted from this recipe. I have changed the recipe. I'll share if anyone's interested.
And the piece d'resistance?

Tiramisu cupcakes! They were a huge hit and really not that hard to make. I encourage you to try the great recipe found HERE.
I omitted the marsala for the frosting because I did not have any, I couldn't make myself go out for some and I was fresh out of money. So I did without and it was delish anyway.
Also, instead of making the Espresso syrup with powdered espresso, I had Andy make me a cup of Espresso, fresh brewed, combined with the sugar, no additional water.
They are a bit TOO good, if you know what I mean?
The dryer just buzzed. Gotta run!

belated bloggiversary

4 years of blogging. And I almost forgot. So it is technically a belated blogiversary.
February 3, 2003 I entered this crazy internet world. I have been thinking and thinking of my words for today but in looking back to last year's, I do believe I will recycle/reuse, if you don't mind. These words, written February 3, 2006 are timeless. Please read them and know that every one of them is true today. And keep reading through because there is a knit picture at the end. A happy ending for sure! And a contest! Who doesn't love a yarn giveaway?

Frankly, blogging would be nothing without you. It would be a paper diary and I have never kept up with those for too long. 4 years ago, I envisioned my blog would contain my knitting history. No more, no less. What I've gotten was so much more.
Each and every one of you has enriched my life beyond my expectation. I have met so many people, in real life and in the words of emails. Some have come and gone, some have stuck around, ALL of you have made a difference. You have enriched my life. Listened when I needed to talk about something. Advised when I needed guidance. Cried with me as life strikes it's blows. Laughed about mundane everyday life. Celebrated my knitting successes and commiserated my knitting failures. Poked back when we needed to poke fun at ourselves. Shared recipes. Encouraged. Patted on the back. Held my hand, wiped my tears. And the laughs. We had lots of laughs.
This means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me.
So, thank you dear reader. I couldn't do it without you.
Shall we have a thank you contest?
Why YES, I think we shall!
Leave a bloggyversary comment and you'll be entered for one skein (not yet bought) yarn of underterminate origin. But even better, I will donate $20 in your name to Heifer International, my charity of choice. The drawing will be at random on March 3. Which is of course, my 4 year and 1 month bloggiversary.

Anemoi mitten

Thank you.