hats, dogs and yarny thoughts

I found the pattern here. Super quick to knit. I used the same yarn as the twisted cable mitts that I had knit previously using the hand spun yarn from the Farmer's Market. It turned out to be the perfect color for The Saint.

This picture shows the color more accurately...


Today I'll be parked on my favorite knitting chair finishing a baby hat for a co-worker's grandchild. My first baby hat and probably not my last. Found the pattern on Ravelry. Hopefully by the end of the day it will be complete and I'll have something else for show and tell.

The sun is shining brightly today, yay! Gives me a little extra energy. These dreary days really sap your ambition don't they? The Saint is off to get his "mystery meat" to make head cheese. A yearly ritual. Ew. Let me stop a minute and go wash my brain of that image...k, phew, that's better. I heard him on the phone taking orders for the mysterious loaves from family members yesterday. Glad to know it won't all be staying here ;-)

Let's look at some yarn!

I wound these up yesterday while Max was at the groomer doesn't she look lovely?

Oh, sorry, I get sidetracked very easily...back to the yarn...

I think I'll have my own little sock-a-palooza. Simple rib cuff on 2 circs I should be able to do a pair a week and have a nice new sock wardrobe by the end of the year, ROFL, ya, we all know I'll get sidetracked by 15 other projects along the way but it sounds good doesn't it?

I especially love the yarn in the middle...that's a cake of Yarn Love Scarlett O'Hara in Milk Chocolate, mmmm I picked it up at my favorite LYS. On the bottom is the TV Yarn that Amy sent me, hey Amy, for the Coffee Knitters Swap version 1, top of pic is the Claudia Hand Painted I purchased at the Michigan Fiber Fest down in Allegan.

Second pose of yarn... Don't you think they'll all look spiffy in my Mary Janes?
Socks without feet just don't have much photographic appeal :-)

No news about our friend Ron. We have to assume that since we haven't heard anything that his status is the same. Thank you for your kind words and thoughts this past week. Hopefully we'll get some better news soon.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who are inclined to celebrate the holiday. We're expecting about 11 here for fried turkey and roasted potatoes, mmm-mmm!

Thank You Veterans!

On this day, set aside to recognize our brave veterans I'd like to say THANK YOU!!! for my freedom to live and think as I please, where I please, and with whom I please.

And especially to my very own veteran...


Thanks, honey, for risking your life in the jungle, so far away from home, so many years ago.

Meet my new little friend

The Irish Hiking Scarf...(all the photos can be biggie-sized by giving them a click)


knitting with Philosopher's Wool that has a pretty high lanolin content and smells like it is barely removed from the sheep, lol. So for a few days I'll have "sheepy" hands. It isn't labeled so I have no idea what the color is other than heathered green. The above picture represents the color pretty well on my monitor. The wool is course with a few tiny bits of dried grass in it. The bits of grass make for some scratchiness but it looks very natural, lol. My tree-hugging, earth-girl, friend Deb asked if I was making it for her for Christmas, I'm giving that some serious thought, heh.

Since it's just practice the scratch isn't a big deal. I think my hands are getting immune to it as they don't seem to be complaining as much today as they did a couple days ago. I love this pattern. It's super simple with an 8 row repeat and the yarn I'm using is springy so it is making a very distinct cable and holding it's shape well.

Closer-up view with really crappy color...


In other news...I'm just about an inch from doing the toe decreases on my neopolitan Monkey.
I don't know why it's taking me so long to get these socks made. I love the yarn, the color of the yarn and the Monkey pattern...I just don't understand why I'm not working on them more. I think it's that darned ASJ blocking my progress, hee hee.

The rows on the ASJ are quite long now and a bit monotonous but I am plowing ahead in hopes of having a new sweater before Thanksgiving. I've made it to the neck opening rows so I really am making some good progress. I'm liking the color arrangement so far. Whatchu think?

Some of the boys from the "west side" got together at Chez B last night for Fish n' Spaghetti! A big THANKS goes to #2 daughter, Jaime for making the spaghetti, it was delish and Chef Wes, thanks for your contribution to the evening as well (wink-wink) A great time was had by all...notice the Temptations pose, ROFL.


There was, however, one missing...The Saint's very closest friend, Ron Clark was not able to attend the party as he is in a coma in a local hospital. He suffers from COPD and has had some serious medical challenges the past couple of weeks. When prayerful thoughts cross your mind in the next few days could you please add Ron to your list of recipients? His wife, their many children and grandchildren and the crew pictured above would really appreciate any help Ron can get in the good thoughts department. We're not ready to let our friend go yet, at 54 he's way too young, thanks for caring.

Malcom, The Saint and Ron in June '05 BFF!

Good-bye Peach Freeze...

Do you remember this little sweety? (click photos to biggie-size)

She's leaving tomorrow for a new home. I'm not sad. A co-worker visiting my home one evening saw it lying on the table and wanted to try it on.
It looked great on her and she said she would pay for the yarn and buy me a nice bottle of wine in exchange.
How could I pass up an offer like that?!

So I'll have some yarn money and she'll have a really cute Peach Freeze...doesn't get any better than that!

Well my friends, it's Sunday night and if you're a Food Network junkie like me, you know that means it's time for The Next Iron Chef competition. It's down to 2. And the one I picked from the beginning is one of them. I believe it's gonna be John Besh. He just has it all together in my opinion. This may not be a big deal to most of you but in my food and wine oriented world it's a pretty fascinating competition. If Food Network was the only channel my tv could get, it would be fine with me. lol The Saint may be a bit miffed, he'd have to watch all of his sports in the "boat barn", he he.

I've gotten a couple more stripes added to my ASJ and I'm pretty motivated to finish it since The Saint wants a new sweater before Spring, lol. I'll have to take out a bank loan to buy the yarn, ha ha! 2,320 yds of dk weight yarn. I would have liked to use Alpaca so he could feel the fabulousness of it but I just can't make that kind of investment for my first man-sweater :-)

I'll be making the Jersey Shore Weekender designed by Chris de Longpre with this yarn. It's a cotton/acrylic blend, the yarn that the pattern model was made with, but in a different color. A new adventure for the cold winter months.

This time change is kickin my butt. The dogs are all messed up too. I guess I better head for beddy-bye.

Everybody have a great week.

Oh, and Cass is having a contest to celebrate her 333rd post. Go check it out and tell her I sent you. There will be prizes!

FIADE booty, THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!!

What a fabulous box I found on my porch bursting with yarny goodness when we returned home from breakfast this morning!

See...

Heather A really spoiled me for the Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Exchange. She knitted 3 dishcloths and a couple of Tribbles aren't they so cute?!

TWO sets of fabulous stitch markers,

check out her Etsy store and a super selection of Peaches and Cream cotton in some great Fall colors to knit up some dishcloths for myself or someone special. If you biggie-size the photos by clicking on them you can see the chocolate color yarn in the upper left corner.

As if that weren't enough she included note pads a pen and magnets also in a brown/gold/orange color scheme (my current fav) and a very nice bar of Citrus Spice handmade soap from The Parsonage.
Sorry for the blurry pictures, old eyes and a camera that has hit the floor at least 3 times, well, you know...

Hey Santa! Ally needs a new camera *hint-hint* LOL

This swap was great fun. Spoiling and being spoiled at the same time is a great concept.

I guess I'd better get busy on my Pay It Forward items before the next holidays get here. hee

Happy Halloween!

I've been doing a little making it up as I go along knitting the past couple of nights.

The Saint wanted an "ear muffler" for those cold mornings when he has to be outside at work. What he requested was... "something like a head-band that will cover my ears".

This is what I came up with.









Whatchu think? Too comical? Great colors for Halloween, you say!

Actually, the company he works for has an orange logo...


I'm curious to hear what "the guys" think when he throws it on tomorrow morning and dares them to say anything, ROFL. Especially since he'd wear it even if he hated it just because I made it. I don't call him The Saint for nothin'.



I guess when you're 6'3" and 280 lbs you can wear whatever you want with no fear, he he.



But now it's late and about bedtime for my sleepy man...g'night honey. You don't have to model any more tonight, lol.


And here's another shot of that cute little Winston. It's pretty boring around here since he left. He's enjoying the view from his new living room window now. On a black leather chair. My daughter is more practical in her furniture selection than I...


Sam: Now that the little brat is gone I get the new toy, mwa-ha-ha-ha! This Loofa Dog is great! You should get one.

Keep on knittin!

Thanks and thank goodness with some FIADE, last edition, thrown in

Thanks a bunch for all the input about comment email addresses. It's great to hear from everyone. I'm being told that there is an extra box to put your email address in when you leave a comment but maybe not everyone is getting that. hmmm curious...

It's been a really busy week. We've been helping Rena and Chef Wes paint and move to their new place. It's so cute! This was taken at night but you'll get the idea...

Home Sweet Home

She won't be right down the street anymore but she'll be in a nice quiet neighborhood and the new neighbors that they've met seem to be very nice. There's a neighborhood watch so people are looking out for each other and that's a great thing to have in any neighborhood. So we got all the painting done inside that they wanted to do before moving in (the thank goodness part of this blog) and they finally got to spend the night on Wednesday. I know it seems like a never ending process but I've promised her that one day she'll look around and everything will be put away and life will be running along smoothly again. It's great how life works that way.

I haven't gotten much knitting done, wait, no, yes, I have made great progress on my Neopolitan Monkey. When did I have time to do that? I didn't go to City Knitting yesterday since Rena had to work and I was a good doobie and got some things done around home. I love that you can knit and do laundry at the same time, hee. And here we have it...


A little blurry but it's been a long day, my patience is limited and the sun is almost gone. I've turned the heel and done about 4 rows of the foot. I'm hoping to get most of the foot done this evening. So the ASJ is languishing for a bit but I'll get back too it soon. Since I have the mo going on this sock thing I'm gonna stick to it. The Monkey pattern is so interesting and once you get the hang of it, it's simple to knit. I did at one point the other night make the mistake of stopping and looking at the sock and saying to myself "this is really looking good" at which point I messed it up and had to tink back a row and a half. meh. Note to self: No admiring the sock before it is finished!

Winston (Rena's dog) has been spending the night with us since the big move started a week ago. He likes that he can play with Max and Sam when he feels the need. Mostly he likes to do this...


He's been extra happy to be here since The Saint and I rearranged the living room last night. Now the white leather (white?, were we crazy!) sofa is now in front of the living room window and he has exclusive access to the view of the street since Max and Sam aren't allowed on the furniture. I know they're cussin about it too. lol

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Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Exchange

How was your experience in the exchange? Did you enjoy the folks you met? Did you just love the cloth and goodies you received? Please share any thoughts, criticism, and things you loved!

I had a great time putting together the package I sent to Grace. It was fun having her as my partner since we had already met on the Lucky 13 Dishrag Tag team. I haven't received my package yet but have heard from my spoiler that it will be on the way shortly. I'll post some pics when it gets here. This was fun. I'd do it again.
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I'm off now to knit a bit and unwind in preparation for the work week that starts again tomorrow. bleh We'll have a new GM tomorrow, maybe a few things will be different around the place. Guess I won't be wearing jeans, lol.

Good thoughts go out to my friends in other parts of the country where they're not having the good fortune to enjoy a beautiful autumn day. Let's hope that Georgia gets the rain they need to relieve their water shortage and that the fires are put out quickly in Southern California. That whole fire situation is just too scary to me. We know we are so fortunate here in so many ways and count our blessings daily. Be careful out there!