"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

7/29/09

Bye

Gone camping. Be back in a few.

Have a great weekend.

7/28/09

Thunder and Lightening!

Last night was quite the something. I got very little sleep because it was so noisy. Storms rolled down from Canada. I don't think I've ever seen so much lightening in one evening. It flashed constantly, and the thunder rolled and rolled over the house. I have always wanted to take pictures of lightening, so I grabbed my wonderful camera (did I mention I love my camera?) and gave it a try. I took a LOT of shots. Most came out either black, or bright white. But I got lucky 4 times. I am so thrilled! Here they are.






During the day, before the storms and the fun I spent my time planning and starting the execution of that plan. We are going camping again. We're leaving Wednesday and will be gone until Sunday afternoon. First I generated my basic camping list (a file on my computer) and printed it out. Then I added the modifications cos each camping trip has something a little different about it-like the menu.

Next, I went food shopping. Is it my imagination? Or have food prices skyrocketed over the last few months? The produce prices made my hair stand on end. A package of 12 slices of swiss cheese is now over $7.00. Urg!

I was getting all excited about potato chips being on sale 2 for $6. Then, all of a sudden I realized- that's $3 a bag-on sale! Wasn't it just recently I got them 2 for $3.00? Yikes!

And then there's the con jobs. Huh? On top of the chip bag it says "20% more free!". It's a 14.5 oz bag. Isn't that the usual size? Uh-oh!

We're having fahitas on this trip, so I needed a package of flour tortillas. How many tortillas are usually in a package? 10, right? And yet the package says "20% More FREE. 10 instead of 8!" Ummm...what? Okay you guys, I'm on to you!!!!

I hate grocery shopping.

I have been knitting since I finished the Mexican Waters Lattice socks. I frogged, then started over my Bayerische socks. I am on a roll too. I figured out how to do the stitch pattern without a cable needle and now I'm just speeding along. 4 more rows and I'll be starting a heel flap. Woot!


Yeah, that's a dirt stripe in there. I was in a place where I couldn't wash my hands, but I was too bored not to knit, so I went ahead. It will wash out, I can assure you. Just dust on the hands.

I love this pattern. Lots of twisted rib-one of my favorites. It's so cool looking. I intend to finish these in time to enter in the fair. They will be going with me on the camping trip.

Have a great day.

7/25/09

Blogathon Day 2009

Did you know that today is Blogathon Day 2009? I didn't either, until just a few minutes ago. I am not participating, so all can breath a big sigh of relief.

Ah, thanks for the breeze.

I don't have a lot to say today except I'm totally stoked at how well my new sock pattern is being received. I posted the PDF yesterday around 2:30 pm or so, entered it in the Ravelry library around 3pm and 126 downloads have occurred since then (as of 10:15am PDT), and counting. I didn't even do an announcement about it in the sock groups or anything. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the response.

Today is the annual company barbecue where Sweet Hubby works, so that is what we're doing today. I shall take my knitting. Free food. Woot!

Have a great day.

7/24/09

Mexican Waters Lattice Socks

They are all done, and the pattern is posted on my pattern blog.





Pattern:
Mexican Waters Lattice by me

Cast on:
January 18, 2009
Bound off:
July 23, 2009

Size:
Ladies Medium (9 to 10 inch foot)

Yarn:
Sock by Malabrigo

Needles:
Addi Turbo Circular size 2.

Comments:
They're knit from the top down on 2 circular needles. Would be easy to adjust to other methods though. The stitch pattern I used is Quilted Lattice from Barbara Walkers Treasury of Knitting Patterns Vol. 1. It's fairly easy to memorize and knits up fairly quickly.

I do want to make a comment on the yarn. This is probably the softest yarn I've ever made a pair of socks with. Time will tell if it holds up to the wear and tear that being my socks requires.


Happy sock knitting!

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7/23/09

A Hummingbird in the Hand

I was peacefully checking my email a bit ago. The door was open so the cool breeze could blow in the house and cool me off. A hummingbird buzzed in. Now, the last time this happened (yes, more than once) I was able to chase it to the open door with a broom and it flew out. But not this one. This one had a stubborn streak. It refused to fly in the direction I wanted it to. I ended up having to throw a dish towel over it, then grabbing it with my hand. I didn't want to do that cos I was afraid of breaking it's tiny little wings. I mean, a dish towel is mighty big when compared to the size of a hummingbird. I was as gentle as I could be.



My daughter took a picture of it for me just before I let it go.



Thankfully, it was not injured in any way and flew off quite happily.

The Parkarosa. Never a dull moment.

Which reminds me, while I was away at the Rathdrum Knitalong meeting Ruth caught the chipmunk and took it outside. It bit her in the process. It was absolutely terrified, oor little thing. Silly girl. Forgot to put on the leather gloves we have just for this purpose. She's okay. The bite was properly cleaned and swabbed in antibiotic ointment. It's healing nicely.

Have a great day.

7/21/09

A Chipmunk in the House

My daughters cat, Lindy, has turned into a serial killer.


She's been bringing in a steady supply of offerings to her momma for several days now. Some dead, some not. Mostly mice, occasionally a small bird. Last night she brought Ruth a mole. As soon as Ruth disposed of it, Lindy brought her a live chipmunk and let it go in Ruth's room. So now we have a chipmunk in the house because all human efforts to catch it have failed. Darn, those little buggers are fast!

I do not know what to do about this problem. I do not want a chipmunk skulking around in my house. I'm going to have a stern lecture with all the felines who live in this house and maybe later on one of them will present me with a dead chipmunk gift? I can only hope. sigh

Chenille was trying to compete with her a few days ago. I was finding a steady stream of rodents and small birds outside my bedroom door--all of them dead, thankfully. I think Chenille has finally got the message. Live offerings freak Mom out. Anyway, she has given up. No one can keep up with Lindy the killing machine.

Yesterday I finally gave in to how the day wanted to go, instead of making it go the way I wanted (some days just have to be done that way) and I got some beading done. I got the laundry done too, but I didn't take pics of that.

I have finished my 3rd set of beaded beads for the bead swap.


I made some smaller beads to go with one of the Scaph beads I made a few months or so ago, plus two beaded bead caps. I winged it on the beads. Made up my own thing here, no pattern. The finished size is 16mm. I covered some 12mm plastic pearls with Right Angle Weave. I think I'm starting to get a handle on this beaded bead designing thing.

I need to think of a snappy name for these for posting in my Beaders Showcase album. I'm tired of 'Lime and Lavender'.

The pattern for the bead caps is in the book Findings and Finishings by Sharon Bateman (and might I brag-she lives near me).

Still wanting to do something with pink crystals. Hmmm....... putting on thinking cap

I got a little bit more done on the Quilted Lattice sock too. The heel is turned. I found another mistake in the pattern while doing it. Aren't you glad I'm proofreading it? I've got the gusset picked up and am well on my way to getting the foot done. I'm fairly confident the rest of the pattern is right, but you never know. I am getting anxious to get this thing done now so I can post the pattern up for y'all.

This afternoon is the Rathdrum Knit Along group at the Rathdrum Library. Since I'm now running it, I guess I better go. I will take the sock along, though I don't know how much I'll get done on it. It will depend on who's there, and who needs help.

Have a good day.

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7/20/09

This Day is Not Going as Planned


So, now you know.

My lessons in drop down menus yesterday went well in that I learned a lot. However, I also learned there is no way to make a drop down menu wrap text, so I have abandoned all ideas to use them in the sidebar. You'd think one of those genius programmers would have figured it out by now. Instead, I created separate pages for the knitting and beading tutorials and have posted links in the sidebar to those pages. I'm trying to streamline the side bar just a bit.

I did some beading yesterday too, out on the deck. I'm working on my 3rd set of beaded beads for the swap.

I worked on my Quilted Lattice sock too. The heel flap is done, now I turn it.

It's going to be hot all week. I call these the dog days of summer when the heat is relentless and dries everything out in the woods around us. Soon the wildlife will come to my yard to eat my green, lush, flower beds. Phooey.

I've seen Big Mama (moose) with twins. Haven't managed to get a pic yet though. It's been ages since I've seen baby moose twins around here. They're so cute.

Have a good day.

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7/19/09

Drop Down Menu Test

Hi folks. I'm ejimucatin' myself today on the subject of creating drop down menu's, so if things look a little wonky in the side bar, you know why.

Have a good day.

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7/18/09

Pwned Big Time

I got Pwned at the gas station yesterday. In front of my daughter. It was embarrassing.

I have this bumper sticker on the back of my car.


While filling up my car with gas a man walked up to me, pointed at the sticker, and said "Did you know the man that wrote that song died last week?"

I was horrified, and expressed my dismay. Then he said "They had a real hard time burying him too. They put him in his casket, then his right leg went out, the pushed it back in, and his left leg went out..."

I asked a lady also filling her car with gas if I could kick him. Some guys just shouldn't be allowed out of their cage.

I've heard that joke before, and yet I fell for it hook line and sinker. He was pretty darn proud of himself.

Have a good weekend.


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7/17/09

Bull River Beading

Important things first! This was announced this morning on Facebook and Twitter by Paramount Home Entertainment:

"Finally we can tell you! OWN STAR TREK ON BLU-RAY & DVD NOV 17th!"





SWEET!





As promised, here are some pics of the beading projects I worked on during our camping trip.

I finished a new Octahedryl cluster.



I used some 8mm crackle glass bicones that I found in Hancock Fabrics, of all places. I also used size 8 hex beads in metallic gold, size 11 seed beads in white and brass lined transparent, and transparent brass lined size 15 seeds.


I used some Ocean Spray for the background.


After we got home I made these 4 beads to go with it, for this is a set for the bead swap I'm doing.


I've made this particular bead up myself, with no pattern. Kind of funky. Here's the whole set. I will call these the Bull River beads.


I also started working on a necklace for the gold and red Lunabead. I'm doing something in tubular twisted Ndebele for it.





7/16/09

Camping in Montana

Got a lot to catch up on, so this is gonna be a long post.

We returned from our camping trip on Sunday afternoon (I haven't felt like blogging). It was a very nice weekend. The weather cooperated, and I had fun. Here are some pics from the trip.

We camped on Bull River, which is in the Montana mountains.


Ruth and I took Tommy and Morgan for a walk along the river.


This is the valley that Bull River runs through.


One of our little mini side trips was to visit the Cabinet Gorge Dam


SIL Sue and her dog, Tripper. Tripper preferred to stay away from the edge of the viewing area because it was a long way down.


Ruth enjoyed the gorge from a geologist point of view. I learned quite a bit about it from her.


Our next side trip was to visit a Cabinet Mountains Cedar Grove. We Parks have a 'thing' for cedar groves.

Here's Ruth trying out the hollow middle of a tree.


Speaking of hollow tree middles. This one was really cool. Nathan is yelling "Hey, this is cool. Lets climb inside!" Ruth runs at the opportunity.


I took this picture by poking my camera inside a hole around the roots, pointing it up, and hitting the button. Yes, we had 4 people in there-plus a dog. Tommy was there too, though the camera didn't catch him. Cedar trees are BIG!

Of course, if you climb in, you usually have to climb back out. Nathan was first, but I missed him. Next was Ruth, Sue, then Sweet Hubby.


The size and beauty of these trees is very awe inspiring.


This was a spot between 2 logs thick with a carpet of Spring Beauties.


Sweet Hubby, his twin brother, Tripper, and Tommy-trying out a log.


Of course, Ruth found the big rock.


Tommy sez "Come on Mom, you're holding us up!"


We didn't take Morgan on the walk with us. This was his first camping trip as a blind little guy and being in the wild terrified him. So we parked in a nice shady place and left him in the truck. He was perfectly happy taking a nap while we were away. After we returned, I made him walk with us to the picnic table and let him explore new scents. We walked pretty slow. Having a blind dog is going to be quite an adjustment for both of us.

Now, that is some root ball!


Tripper posed for me while we ate a picnic lunch.


When we returned to camp, the boys chilled for a bit.


There were tons of Ocean Spray bushes blooming in the area. They are so pretty. This bee was working hard on Ocean Spray duty for the hive.


His little pollen sacks were just about bursting.


We ate good, as usual. The first night we had hamburger and hot dogs, potato salad, and fresh fruit. Second night was bar-b-cued steak with garlic mashed potatoes, salad, etc. This is Sue chopping lots and lots of garlic.


That's my bead box in front of her. I beaded, rather than knitted-even though I took my knitting with me. It was very hot and muggy. I just couldn't bring myself to put wool in my hands, even if it is Malabrigo. I will post what I beaded tomorrow.

The last night we had Chicken Marsala cooked in Sue's Dutch Oven, along with garlic bread, salad, and pasta.

Our camp site.


Dan and Sues' camp site next door.


All in all, a beautiful place to spend some camping time.


Have a good day.


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7/8/09

Extreme Knitting

I am going on our first camping trip of the summer, so I will not be blogging for a few days. I will leave you with this wonderful knitting video of a lady who knit over 1000 strands together, making a mattress of sorts. It's quite.....entertaining. Art, for arts sake.




Have a great weekend.


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7/6/09

Crystal Blues

I had a wonderful 4th of July. The Parks gathered at my sister in laws cabin on Twin Lakes for good food, fun, and lazing in the lake. I took my inflatable recliner and sat in it so my butt was submerged in water, cold drink in hand, for quite some time. It was HOT! Over 100F at my house (a few degrees cooler at the lake).

On the 5th I decided to bead. I've joined a beading swap again (I love me a good beading swap) and the subject is Beaded Beads. I have to make sets of 5 beads. Haven't decided how many sets I'm going to make yet. I guess it well depend on what I can get done between now and the deadline of the end of September.

The first set of 5 is done. A study in netting and peyote, I present Crystal Blues.



I perfected the pattern I did for Vanilla Creme. Well, it's not perfect yet, but it's darn close. Need to make one more little adjustment for perfection. For now, a spot of glue worked.


The 4 matching beads are done in single needle Right Angle Weave. I couldn't find a pattern that did this. They're all 2-needle Right Angle Weave, so I had to wing it. I like the results.

The complete set.


I need to get some more crystals if I'm gonna make anymore of these. My supply of large quantities of specific colors is limited. Well, all I've got left now is light topaz. Pink. I want pink. Hmmm, I see a trip to the bead store in my future.

Have a good day.


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7/4/09

Happy Independence Day

To All My Fellow Americans:

Happy Independence Day!





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7/3/09

Vanilla Creme

I've made a beaded bead. I'll be making a lot of them over the next couple months because I have joined a beaded bead swap. I need to make sets of 5 beads each. I plan to make more than one set.

This bead was created using a combination of netting and peyote.


I used 4mm bicone crystals, size 11 seed beads in 2 colors, and size 15 seed beads.


Inside is a glass bead that I think is 16mm, but I'm not sure. The package didn't have the size on it. I suppose I should stop being lazy and measure it. It fits, that's what's important.


The crystals really pick up the light.


Look what arrived in the mail from Paramount Pictures. Replacement disks for my Star Trek DVD's! Hurray!!! I is happy.


It's really really hot today. Over 90 degrees F. I'm not complaining though. I'm happy it isn't snowing.

Have a nice evening.

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