Houston, There may Be A Problem

What do you think?

Do you consider this a problem? Just (well, most) of my knitting bags hanging out waiting for the projects inside to be finished. Kinda scary when I see it in pictures. Does it look like this at your house (please tell me it does!).

It seems lately that I am starting more than I have finished. I have a sweater for my son on the needles. It's a boring 6x2 rib for a six foot guy so needless to say I have other projects too. I am working on the November Ruffle in grey. It too is a bit monotonous however I'm almost done and it is beautiful. It will be so warm as I am using Cascade and an alpaca yarn. Looks like I may need it this winter. And I did finish a hat for M although it is too small so I'm doing another. It's called Running Horse Hat.

The one I am working on now is made with Sheep Shop Yarn and isn't so fuzzy. I like it better as the horses and patterns are crisper. Plus I think this one will fit. I'll post pictures when I am done which should be in the next few days. And then there are some forlorn socks and other things hiding that I am sure will suprise me when I find them!

The decorating continues here. The dining room is painted, well almost. The trim needs to be finished and I have to choose a color for inside the china hutch. The color is called Winter Garden and I really love how it came out. But it is lighter and now I don't think I can do yellow in the kitchen. Paint chips are hanging all over my walls in the kitchen in the hopes of finding something I like. So far a taupe color is winning out. Any suggestions? The new dining room fixture is up and again it was a good choice. The room looks so different now. And I have to confess that while I love the orange door it may change once again. I found a new color that I thik is "the one". It's called Carmelized Orange. Seems to be just what I was looking for. So another try. Not sure how to sneak this by the husband!

The weather here has been outstanding. I've been out taking picutes and playing more with the camera. A few good shots and some "interesting" ones.

The dog-


And here is a little path in fall glory that I think I may enlarge and frame. I think it's really pretty,

I hope the weather holds out for this weekend. It's Rhinebeck!!!! My friend Wendy and I head to down to western MA to my parents house Friday night and then we hop on the Webs bus for our day at Rhinebeck. I went for the first time last year and loved it. So much to see it can be overwhelming, but in a good way. I am so looking forward to it. Should be lots of good pictures and goodies to share when I get back (I know, don't hold your breath). Stay tuned.....

This Should Come As No Suprise

For those of you who read this (and there aren't that many) this should come as no suprise. I've been trying to update the house. Slowly rooms are being painted. We are on the dining room now, soon to hopefully move into the kitchen. But this weekend I decided I needed to paint the front door of the house. It's been a shade of pink for a very long time. We have a grey house with white trim and black shutters. It was pretty but it's everywhere. So many grey houses have pink doors. I've been known to watch my share of the "how to dress" shows and know that grey/black/white, they are all neutrals. And you can put anything with a neutral, right? Can you see where this is going? Oh yeah, it's orange! I had those little paint chips all over the door trying to see if I thought orange would work. I thought it just might. So I chose "Tiger Stripe" and off I painted. It was ORANGE, so orange you couldd probably see it at your house, where ever you may be. I tried to convince myself and my hubby that it was all good. Nope, this morning it was still a neon orange. I love orange but it was just too much. So back to the paint chips. Back to Home Depot and home with "Summer Heat". I like it. It has more black in it which really tones it down as opposed to the yellowy orange I painted over. Might be a winner, I'll have to see. But with the pretty rust mums by the door and the pumpkins on the steps I'm liking it. What do you think?

On the knitting front I finished a few projects. The February Lady sweater is done and I've worn it a few times. It gets comments everywhere. I love it, it fits well and looks really nice. I would make it again, in fact I know I will.

February Lady Sweater

Cascade 220

I also finished a scarf in Blue Heron Rayon Metallic. The colorway is Bluegrass. I love this yarn. I can't wait for more to show up at Butterfly Yarns. We have been waiting with needles poised for it to come in. We've all come to start calling it fondly the "Blue Heroin"!

Projects right now are the Running Horses Hat from Ravelry. Making it for M out of some lucious alpaca. I am using it for my class project on learning how to trap yarn in colorwork at Butterfly Yarns. I'm a slow student and hopefully can master the process so I will have a pretty hat for M. I also started a very boring brown sweater for the eldest son. Just a 6x2 rib. It's a good mindless project. I think there are also some socks around here too.

I bought a book seen on another blog I read. It's this book on making bread in 5 minutes. That is after you do the initial prep and it doesn't count the baking time. But as I love bread almost as much as I love orange I'm giving it a try. I have my first starter batch almost ready for the fridge. It's not sourdough although the concept is similiar. I'll let you know how it comes out.

I also have the new Mason-Dixon: Knitting Outside the Lines waiting for me to curl up with. I'm looking forward to a nice cup of tea and maybe some warm bread and a quiet afternoon. Soon, very soon.

Anyone heading to Rhinebeck? I signed up for the WEBS trip however I didn't get on the bus :( I am planning on heading to my parents Friday and then to Rhinebeck from there for the day. I had such fun last year and the yarn........oh boy. My Monday Night Knitting buddy is going too. She hasn't been before so it will be fun to hang out with her. Going to get some wine too this year!

Well, it's time for a second coat of orange paint. See you soon.

September Is Here

September has arrived and with it some cooler evening and nights while the days are warm and dry. I live for this time of year. Not to mention K is happily ensconced back at school. It's amazing how our food bill goes down and the house stays neat! I miss all the boys but I do admit I'm not having any empty nest feelings.

Labor Day came and went. It was actually a pretty peaceful weekend not much running around. We spent a large part of Labor Day up in Newburyport. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, warm with a breeze. I love it there, lots of little shops, good food and the ocean. A few pictures to spark your interest. I've been playing with the camera to try and get some "pretty" pictures. I'm hoping to take a photography class this fall to learn about lighting and composition. In the meantime try not to get too tired of my experiments!














We drove home on backroads, it felt like when you used to take those Sunday rides with your parents. It was fun to look at the ocean and the pretty houses alomg the way. We got to stop at one of the farm stands on the way home. Meet Buffy!

Obviously Buffy is the resident buffalo. I always think it's so funny to see him/her there, I just don't expect a buffalo to be living so close to the ocean and at a farm stand. What was even funnier this time was that in the pen with Buffy was a llama (or was it an alpaca, I can never keep them straight). Couldn't get a good picture of them together. I wonder if they sell any yarn??? They did sell some really delicious corn though, I could have had a dozen all by myself!

On the knitting front I bailed out on my shawl for the Knitting Olympics. This week I plan to spend some time playing with it without the pressure of a deadline. I'm hoping I will find that groove lace knitters seem to be in when one with their knitting. I have been doing some "lace" with my February Lady Sweater. This knit I am totally enjoying. The yarn feels right and looks right in the pattern. I'm done the body and working on the sleeves. I hope to have it done soon to wear as the weather takes on that cool edge. Here she is swinging in the breeze, not a care in the world! Today I spent some time cleaning out my knitting area. Found a "few" unfinished projects and some yarn I forgot I had. I'm sure there is a lot more of forgotten yarn around. I am trying to use from what I already have but I get so tempted when I see something new.

I'll leave with my final picture. I think it sums up the coming month. Enjoy!

I Knew This Was A Bad Idea

I'm usually not one for knitalongs or other types of knitting together. I like doing my own thing on my own time. Same reason I don't join a bookclub even though I love to read. So why oh why did I think joining the Olympic Knitting group was a good idea? And an even better question, just what was I thinking when I picked the Flower Basket Shawl in LACEWEIGHT??!! I have now officially ripped back more than I have knitted. I can see it might be a beautiful thing when (make that if) it ever gets done. But it's taking everything I have to keep at it. Maybe that's what it takes to be a true Olympian. I think I should have signed up to be on the alternate team, you know, the one who waits in the wings at home, just in case. I'm going to keep working on it but I think to like it I'm going to need to work on it without the pressure of a deadline. My guess is that unless a miracle occurs there won't be any medal in this corner. Here's a picture of where it stands right now, pitifull!

I've been finding so many "other" things calling my name I think in avoidance of the shawl. I have some really cute socks called Farfalle Socks from Orinda5. I saw her knitting them on her blog and was silently stalking to see if she would publish the pattern. She did, you can find it on Ravelry or her blog. They really work up nicely and farfalle is my favorite pasta!

I also boought some Cascade 220 in a really pretty orangey/peachy colorway (no suprise there) yesterday. I was planning on a Knitting Pure and Simple cardigan but somehow the February Lady sweater seems to be calling out to the yarn. I have plenty to make the sweater so I think that will be in the works pretty darn soon. I just have to go wind up some yarn to start.

It's hard to believe that the summer is winding down. K heads back to school in two weeks. He's had a busy summer working and making lots of money to support his habits at school. He's been down to Patriot's training camp a number of times and even got to go to the first pre-season game (too bad they lost). But now it's time to go through the mess he brought home and figure out what goes back as well what is needed. I know we need sheets (note to moms of boys- when they go off to college buy one pair of sheets, not really expensive ones as these guys don't bother to wash them and they STINK. Throw away and repeat each semester or each year depending on the complaints of the roommates!) and some basics but I think otherwise things are good. We'll see what list of things he comes up with.

Have you looked out your windows lately, I mean when it's not raining? This is what I noticed today-

Can you see it? The leaves are starting to turn. Yikes, fall is closer that I thought!

Off to check out some fridges to replace the twenty year old model in our kitchen. Time to update and in case you hadn't heard, no sales tax this weekend in MA. Have a good one.

False Start

No pictures. Alas I got bigger than my britches and decided to try and get in a few more rows. Yup, you guessed it. Screwed up, tinked back, dropped a few stitches. Now it's back to the begining. But a true athlete never gives up. Maybe tomorrow some pictures, including a lifeline!

Ready, Set..........Knit

Are you knitting for the Olympics yet? I cast on my lace Flower Basket Shawl this morning. I'm going to need all the cheers and support from the sidelines on this one. I'm a little cocky right now as I am up to row 20 without a lifeline. Only because I felt I had to bring it to work to cast on and forgot about the lifeline. So, should I continue or hold up until I get it home? Only time will tell.

More later...I'm at work, remember!

Returned

Back from the unreal city they call Vegas. All I can say is WOW! They aren't kidding when they say it's a city that never sleeps. There are people everywhere, all the time. Constant noise. Hot, I mean really hot. It's a big fantasy land for adults.I guess I can say I've been. Will I go back? Well I think there are other places I would rather go. A few pictures of the sites.

I didn't get much knitting done. I pulled out my sock on the plane only to find that my needle had broken. I don't know how, it was in my carry on bag and not overly packed. But there it was, broken, so that project was a bust. I of course had another project in my luggage and I managed to get in a bit of it during some of the conference. But when not actually in sessions we were at the pool and since it was so hot most of the time we spent in the water. So not much knitting there either. I made some progress on my BYOB. I will say that between the cotton yarn and the seemingly endless seed stitch this is not one of my favorite knits. It is pretty though and very practical so I'll get to finishing it soon.

When I returned I did find a package from my Sock Yarn from Your Stash (3) swap partner. It was some package! A Stitch and Pitch tote bag, a ladybug project bag filled with tools, a ladybug mitten pattern, stationary, yummy treats and tea. The yarn I recieved was from Pagewood Farms, a beautiful colorway called Crayon, bamboo/merino blend. Oh so pretty. I'm looking forward to knitting with it. This swap has been so much fun. I've "met" great people and received unbelievable packages. I'm thinking I may do round 5, if there is one. Check out the group on Ravelry.

Looks like I'm knitting up some sweaters for the greyhounds soon. A knitting buddy sent me the link to these sweaters and I think they are so cute. Awaiting word on what colors will suit Peaches and Zip and then I'll get started. Can't have cold puppies this winter!

Quickie!

A quick post about my quick project. Last week found me looking for a new project. I wanted something fairly quick and easy. I had bought yarn at WEBS for the Lucy Bag (scroll down a bit to see the pattern)and I decided to give it a go. Nice easy project with great results. I started just a week ago and today it's sitting outside enjoying the sun and drying. I think this as well as some of the other patterns from Two Old Bags will make great Christmas presents.

I made it in Cascade 220 in a deep red, the picture is pretty true to the color. I like the results. Now I need to pick another one or two fairly simple projects for the upcoming plane ride/conference. Socks will be one, not sure of the other. I'm positive I can find plenty to choose from!

Vet2B is on his second week of his rotation here. I'll be sad to see him go, I'm not sure when we'll see each other for a while. We haven't been able to spend a bunch of time together as he has been at the clinic long hours and exhausted with the heat and work. I'm thinking large animals may be not his thing. He does enjoy the small animals and teaching pet parents so I think that is what he will end up doing. Time will tell. M is loving her new job at the Seeing Eye Dog Foundation. She can't wait to get to work every day, a very good thing!

Off to pack. I have to try and get organized, I have to be one of the world's worst packers. I never think I have enough clothes. I'm trying to be thoughtful about what I bring and mix and match so fewer clothes end up in the suitcase. I'm off early Wednesday morning. You all have a good week and I'll be back soon!

Cruisin' Along

Things are moving along these days. The summer is going well, a few humid days, alot of rain but overall enjoyable. The flowers in my yard are enjoying the weather so far, just take a look-


My widow boxes are going crazy and the hydrangea is out of control (in a good way). Don't you just love my "birds of a feather" garden stake? I couldn't resist them at the garden center. Flowers are blooming everywhere. It really is pretty. On the agenda for the rest of the weekend is taking our little fountain on the deck and moving it to the garden area surrounding the deck. I think it will look better there.


In the knitting world M's shawl is complete. I really am proud of it. I can't believe I was afraid to start it. I sent M some pictures and she loves it too, yippee! I can't wait to see it on her. M moves to NJ tomorrow to start a new job so she and vet2b will be separated until the wedding. She's excited but I know they will miss each other. However the good news is that if all goes well it looks like they will settle in the NJ area when vet2b graduates and that means they will only be 3-4 hours away. So good luck M as you start the new job!! Here's a look at the blocked shawl.

I also finished a baby sweater and some socks. My fingers seem to be moving right along these days. The projects that were overwhelming me in their bags hanging all over the house are finally being completed. Only a matter of time until it starts all over again. Meanwhile I'm into trying to finish up projects started that are on the needles.

The sweater is Helena from Knitty. I did it in the Sheep Shop 3 yarn, purples. The socks are called Order from Chaos from Fearless Fibers. Great pattern . They were done in yarn hand dyed by Kim at Butterfly Yarns. She is doing some awesome colors!

Guess that's it for the knitting news. Heading off to the airport to pick up vet2b who will be with us for the next two weeks doing one of his rotations. Almost like old times 2 out of the three boys home. It will be fun to spend some time with him. Then it's off to Las Vegas for my conference. What better place to discuss breasts! See you when I get back, maybe sooner !

It's Done!

I can't believe it but I finished the shawl for M for the wedding. It ended up not being as bad as I thought it would be, I don't know why I kept putting it off. It's blocking and I know I'll have to block it again in side sections but just take a look. It looks huge and a darker blue than it really is, it's just the picture. I hope M loves it!

In Progress

My life as well as my knitting. I've been trying to figure out the new computer and how to find and post my pictures. We'll give it a go and see what happens. I've been working on a proposal to reconfigure my job. A business person I'm not! I'm hoping what I have done will convince those that need convincing. We'll see how that goes in the next few weeks.

I finally stopped procrastinating on the wedding shawlette for M. I have ripped back more than any other project. Luckily the yarn is holding up well and I think, make that I hope, that I finally have figured out the rythm of the pattern. Here's an in progress photo.

The Summer Shawlette in Sunshine Yarn's Sunsilk (Powder)

I'm hoping that when it's done it will be perfect. Isn't that what you want in a garment for a wedding? The blue fabric underneath the shawl in progress is the wedding color, remember Penn State blue and white? I think the shawl will bring the blue in gently and complement things well. I hope M loves it.

I'm also working on a scarf in Blue Heron's Metallic Rayon in the Blue Grass colorway. I am LOVING this yarn. It is so smooth and luxurious feeling. All of their colors are beautiful. This one has a hint of gold in the fibers. I'm usually not a sparkly person but this is just soo pretty. I bought another skein in the Melon colorway, no sparkle but just as beautiful. I'm hoping to make the Flower Basket shawl or the Candle Flame shawl with it when other projects are done (see last post) are completed.

Kim over at Butterfly Yarns has been delving into some dyeing. Seems everything she does comes out beautifully. I got her to part with one of her first skeins of wool/tencel sock yarn last night. The colors are just so pretty and summery. Not sure exactly what pattern I'll use this for. Right now I think I'll just sit and appreciate it. She was so good to part with it. You can look at my picture Kim if you miss it. I'll treat it well!

Excuses, excuses...

Really, we bought a new computer and my husband has everything all over the place and things aren't hooked up and talking to each other. At least that is what he tells me! That and the fact that work is driving me bonkers has kept me from blogging. But I have been knitting.

I finally finished the Everlasting BagStopper from Knitty. By finishing I mean I finally put the ribbon on for handles. I love it! Be forewarned, the sucker s..t..r..e..t..c..h..e..s!!

I also finished some baby sweaters for some of my co-workers and their upcoming babies. I love both of them.

The one on the left is the Seamless Kimono. Made from Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo. The pattern is extremely well written and works up like a charm. The yarn is scrumptious. I think I will be making more of these for future babies. There is also a Kimono version that wraps with a tie. The right hand sweater is the Yarni Lace Baby cardigan. While I love the outcome I have to say the pattern wasn't as well written. There were a few errors that made me crazy. I also changed the sleeve so that the pattern just goes down the center rather than all the way around. I think I like it better and it was much easier to deal with the decreases that way. It is cute though, don't you think? The author of the pattern was quick to respond to questions which is great but I think a few more rounds of test knitting might have been helpful. This one is made of sock yarn from Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm that I got at New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.

I did finish the shawl for M from the yarn that I bought when we went out to visit them in Minnesota. That's not the wedding shawl but a plain basic garter one that she loved. I forgot a picture (or if I did take one it's somewhere in one of these computers hiding). She loved it as did her mom, sister, and grandmother. Hmm, do I take that as a hint?

So I need to finish the wedding shawl because we are under the year mark now and you know how time flies. I also have my own shawl to finish. I'm working on another baby sweater, Helena, from the new Knitty. It's 3/4 of the way done. I'm using Sheep Shop three in a soft purple colorway. Very nice. And my new passion is Blue Heron Yarns. Oh My!! The colors and feel, pure luxury. I have a feather and fan scarf on the needles now and eventually I will make the Flower Basket Shawl with it.

Which leads me to the upcoming projects. I finally put yarn and patterns together for things I need to get moving on. As you can see the pile is daunting. I need to stop throwing in projects and get cracking on the pile. How to stay focused? And just in case you hadn't thought about this for a while, Christmas is just a little over six months away. Yikes!!!!

Awesome Swap

I just received an awesome package from my swap partner in Arizona. We participated in the "Sock Yarn from Your Stash" swap on Ravelry. Essentially you send your partner a skein or two of sock yarn in your stash along with other goodies according to their questionaire. I got sooo very lucky, check it out-Lots and lots of chocolate (yum), chai tea, a ladybug tape measure, Zen Yarn Garden yarn in the colorway Almond Branches (too pretty to part with, don't know how she did), and a lovely bracelet with a ladybug in the center. My partner just outdid herself! Round two is under way, I didn't sign up but I will for round three. Such fun!

My knitting is all over the place, not working on the things I should be doing and starting new projects. Par for the course for me. Buying yarn and more yarn, I need to get myself under control (right). Well let's see what happens!

What I've Been Doing When I Could Have Been Knitting

Well, I've been enjoying nature. The lilacs in my yard are finally starting to bloom. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy the lovely aroma if it doesn't rain all week!

Today I planted the window boxes and various pots around the yard and on the deck. Here's my new favorite pot, can you see why?I just love ladybugs!

And we planted a tree! A few years our neighbor put up a fence. I decided it was a great backdrop for a new tree. Due to circumstances it waited. This weekend we were looking at what was out there in one of the big nurseries near us. I loved this Pagoda Dogwood but at $150.00 it was a bit much. Cool leaves though and a flower about now with fruit later for the birds. Oh well. Then I saw a River Birch that I also liked. More reasonable and I almost liked it better, almost! So we passed and decided to keep looking. Today we went to another nursery. Just to poke around, no intention of buying. There, off in a little corner was a Pagoda Dogwood. Now it wasn't as big as the original one but it was a good size. We looked at it and then my husbamd looked at the price....$30.00!!! Yup. I stood guard and off he went for a cart, lickety split. We made sure to talk to one of the nursery guys though. We wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with our little tree. Nope, it was just, are you ready, last year's tree! Overall healthy but an old model. Our lucky day. We gently put her in the car and off we drove to her new home. She was so thankful, I just know it. Since it will rain tonight we (by that I mean my husband) dug her a nice hole. Isn't she pretty?Grow little tree, grow

I also spent some time with K this week watching him ride and jump. Have to admit it was a little scary for me but he looked great and did a good job. I can't believe this is the same kid who used to be so afraid of horses. Now he wants to make them his career. Tomorrow he turns 20, no more teenagers in my house. I can't believe my boys are all men, and if I do say so myself, decent, wonderful ones at that. Happy birthday K!

Keith and his buddy Quill sharing a laugh

Back to some knitting now that most of the plants are in the ground. A new baby sweater is on the needles and then all those languishing projects that I keep plugging along on. Hopefully knitting pictures in the next post.

Day in NH

We didn't need the boat after all. Today turned out to be a beautiful spring day just right for a drive to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. What a great day. Cute animals, unbelievable yarn, and yummy food. Honestly it can't get much better than that.

Aren't these guys too cute? They were friendly and so curious. Some of them had had their coats shorn and they looked like they were wearing cordorouy suits. I could have taken them all home but they just wouldn't have fit in the car. It would have been fun though cruising down 93 with their little heads sticking up through the sun roof!!

This poor guy looked like he just got out of bed! Don't know why he was having such a bad hair day but I think he got the most attention because of it. He (or she) reminded me of K on an early morning!

There was yarn everywhere. It always makes me a little crazy because I get overwhelmed fast. Should I buy this now or do I wait and maybe see something else I like better? Will I be able to find it again if I don't buy it now but want it later? Oh, the pressure. I was so busy looking I forgot to take too many pictures but it looked like this everywhere.

I managed to find some really pretty yarn from some places I hadn't seen before. Sock yarn, some lucious alpaca, and a sweater worth of organic cotton that feels like butter.

The three large cakes are the cotton from Decadent Fibers, the dark brown in front is alpaca from Sweet Maple Alpacas (Lydia donated her coat for the yarn) and the multi cakes are sock yarn from ellens half pint farm.

All in all it was a great day. Good company, beautiful animals and fiber, celebrity sightings (Grumperina and Guido), and food, lamb(sorry guys) and the best apple crisp!

Just one picture of a finished object, the garter shawl for M. The picture doesn't show how pretty the yarn is but you can see a little of the sparkle. The sparkle comes from a strand of KidSilk Night and it's held with one skein of another yarn but I can't find the ball band. Trust me, it's pretty. I've been looking for a horse or greyhound shawl pin but so far no luck. If anyone knows of a source let me know.