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

12/30/10

Up and Running

My new hard drive arrived yesterday. They over-nighted it to me. Sweet Hubby installed it when he got home from work. Since then I've spent much time reinstalling and updating my software, restoring my data files, and whatnot. I have one more program, The Print Shop by Broderbund, to reinstall but I seem to have misplaced the disks. So, since the version I have is probably a decade old anyway, I've ordered the latest version. It'll be here in a few days. I've lost a little bit of stuff permanently in this fiasco (because it has been 4 weeks since my last back up), but not as much as it could have been.  In the past 5 months I've had to reinstall 4 times. So far, everything is working great. My system is even a bit faster. Hopefully, this will be the last hard drive trouble I have for a long time. Please?

Yesterday we had a whomping snow storm. Dropped about 12 inches of new snow on us. Traffic was a snarled nightmare. The roads got really bad. Interstate 90 was actually closed between here and Spokane. Folks got stranded and had to stay in Coeur de'Alene for the night. Now we're going to have a few days of subzero temps. Mother Nature is making sure we remember it's winter here.

I seem to recall saying something about taking a picture of the coconut cake I made for Christmas Eve dinner.



Live long and prosper. \\//

12/28/10

Phooey!

I spent most of this morning on the phone with a Dell tech support guy. I started our relationship with "I think the hard drive is bad." But you know how tech support guys are. They have to go through their whole routine before they are willing to try your suggestion (Is there a test we can run to check the hard drive?") So I patiently went through two and a half hours of pushing buttons and reading what showed up on the screen as we went.

Finally, when nothing worked, including resetting the system to it's factory default condition (sob), I asked again if there was a test we could run to check the hard drive. We started the test.

Guess what? Yup! It's a bad hard drive.

Remember the problem I had when I first got Purple Dell? Yeah. The drive was bad then. They are sending me a new hard drive. I am expected to install it myself. HA HA HA! I am supposed to call a technician when the drive arrives and he will assist me over the phone.

Yeah. Right.

In the meantime I will be using Sweet Hubby's Ipad.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/27/10

Argh!

My computer downloaded a software update during the night and now it won't work. I am posting this with Sweet Hubbies iPad. The computer is trying to fix itself, but after waiting all day for it to finish, I'm losing hope. Let me just make this perfectly clear-I am very unhappy with Windows 7. It is way too incompatible with everything out there. It's the second time this has happened. I wish I knew which program updated and caused the problem. I'd be making a heated phone call or two. Sigh...

Christmas was good. On Christmas eve the Park's got together for dinner, as usual. Goodness, there was so much food I couldn't even try it all. Lots of conversation and laughter. Also some tears because we all miss Chet so much.

Christmas morning we got up early to Skype with Sarah and Frank. I wanted to watch them open the box with the sweaters in them. I think they were surprised. Both sweaters fit really well and they seem to be very happy with them. I got so lucky on the fit. I just went with my gut on size and measure and managed to guess correctly. Whew!

Santa gave me the complete DVD set of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. I am thrilled! I never got to see it very often when it was running on tv but I really liked what I did see. Now I get to watch it all, whenever I want to!

Santa also brought me a gift certificate for CDA Yarn and Fiber and chocolates. Yum, chocolates!

Christmas afternoon we went to our friends, Don and Phyllis's, for dinner and cards. We also played a game of Dominoes. A good time was had by all even though I didn't win.

Sunday I spent recovering from two days of too much. I worked on the blue sock. I'm glad I started it over. I like it much better now.

I probably won't post anything more until I can get Purple Dell working again. I am wishing I'd backed up the hard drive on Friday like I'd planned.

Live long and prosper.

12/25/10

Season Greeting






There is a poem that someone shared with me several years ago. I've posted it before, but it bears being posted again. I just found out yesterday that it was written by Nancy Massaroni

 The Knitters Christmas Eve

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me

There was unfinished knitting not under the tree.

The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care

’Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

But I had not finished the caps for their heads.

Dad was asleep—he was no help at all.

And the sweater for him was six sizes too small.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I put down my needles to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash.

Tripped over my yarn and fell down in my stash.

The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow

Reminded me how far I still had to go.

When out on the lawn I heard such a noise,

I was sure it would wake up both Dad and the boys.

And although I was tired and my brain a bit thick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nic.

Yet what I heard left me very perplex-ed

For nothing I heard was what I expect-ed.

"Move Rowan! Move Patons! Move Koigu and Clover!

Move Shelridge! Move Starmore! Move Spinrite! Move over!

Lopi, don’t circle around, just stand there in line.

Pay attention you sheep and you’ll work out just fine!

I know this is hard, as it’s just your first year,

But I’d hate to go back to 8 tiny reindeer."

I peered over the sill.What I saw was amazing!

Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing!

And then in a twinkle, I heard at the door

Santa’s big boots stomping on the porch floor.

I rose from my knees and got back on my feet.

As I turned around, St Nic I did meet.

He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe

And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.

A bright Fair Isle sweater he wore on his back,

And his toys were all stuffed in an Aran sack.

His hat was a wonder of bobbles and lace,

A beautiful frame for his rosy red face.

The scarf on his neck could have stretched for a mile,

And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.

On the back of his mitts was an intricate cable.

And suddenly on one I spotted a small label:

"S.C." in duplicate on the cuff.

So I asked, "Hey, Nic, did YOU knit all this stuff?"

He proudly replied, "Ho, ho, ho, yes I did.

I learned how to knit when I was a kid."

He was chubby and plump, a well-dressed old man,

And I laughed to myself, for I’d thought up a plan.

I flashed him a grin and jumped up in the air,

And the next thing he knew, he was tied to a chair.

He spoke not a word, but looked down in his lap

Where I had laid my needles and yarn for a cap.

He began then to knit, first one cap then two.

For the first time I thought I might really get through.

He put heels in the stockings and toes in some socks,

While I sat back drinking a scotch on the rocks.

Quickly like magic his needles they flew,

Good Grief! He was finished by two!

He sprang for his sleigh when I let him go free,

And over his shoulder he looked back at me.

I heard him explain as he sailed past the moon,


"Next year, start your knitting sometime around JUNE!"



12/24/10

A Bit of Glam

The last two pair of the Christmas gift mitts.


Owlings in Rust Brown Heather

Pattern: Owlings by Kerrie James
Size: Womens medium

Yarn: 
Content: 100% Superwash Merino

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 6.

Cast on: December 12, 2010
Bound off: December 16, 2010

Comments: I really love the stitch pattern in these mitts, but the pattern design itself ended up being changed. For one thing I do not like the way the thumb is done. Hands aren’t shaped that way. How hard would it have been to actually knit in a thumb gusset? Easy as pie, that’s how. So that’s what I did.

I also finished the top above the owls with 2 rows of 4x1 rib, 2 rows of 1x1 rib, then bound of in rib. I’m not sure why she wants the sewn bind off, except maybe so the beginning and end match? I didn’t need that. I wanted just a bit of a flair, and got it with the 1x1 rib.

The owls came to life when I added their golden eyes done with size 8 seed beads.



~~~~~~~~~~


'Emerald Mitts' in Denim Heather


Pattern: Emerald Fingerless Mittens by Lucy Sweetland
Size: Womens

Yarn: Vintage by Berroco in Denim Blue
Content:  50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 4.

Cast on: December 16, 2010
Bound off: December 20, 2010

Comments: What a beautiful design! I love it! I did adjust where the thumb gusset goes a bit. One of these days I'll knit a pattern as written. LOL!

I LOVE the yarn I used for these. It's so soft and absolutely delightful to work with. Knitted with size 4 needles makes it absolutely snuggly wuggly. I shall be using this yarn again.

Detail of the stitch pattern. Such a feminine design. It fits the receiver of these mitts perfectly.


~~~~~~~~~~

Wow! It's Christmas Eve. The last two months just flew by. All the presents are wrapped and under the tree, except the 6 plates of Bacon Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies Ruth and I made yesterday. I put those under the tree and they'll be mauled by 2 cats, then consumed by a very rascally Iggy. I don't wanna even think about how sick that Iggy would be after that. Ick! No, make that Double Ick!

Today I'm going to make a Waldorf salad, roast a large turkey breast, and bake a Coconut Cake for tonights family Christmas Eve dinner. My in-laws are pie people, for the most part. But I'm a cake person so I've decided to go with something I'll love, and hope to, maybe, make a couple of cake converts while I'm at it. I'm trying a new recipe that just sounds so good my mouth waters at the very thought. Sam Champions Coconut Cake, as featured on Good Morning America last week. It's a real pretty cake too. Looks all fluffy. Makes me think of snow. Here's hoping it turns out. I love cake, but I'm not so good at making them as I am pies (I should take a cake class). If it turns out right, I shall take pics. I'm even going to decorate it. I was thinking about silk flowers. (Ha! You actually thought I'd make Poinsettias out of frosting? I want this thing to NOT look like it's bleeding to death, and be edible!)

Now for some knitting talk. You know that sock I've been working on that I showed you on Wednesday? I frogged it. Yeah. Right down to the first loop of the cast on. I was not happy with the size of the sock. It was a very loose fit on me. I had visions of them gathering around my ankles and trying to slip inside my shoes. I needed to take it down a few stitches. I've got the ribbed cuff done already and I'm liking it so much better.

Well, I've got a lot of cooking to do, so I better get to it!

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/23/10

Simple and Grey

Simple and Grey
 

Pattern:  Jeff's Mitts by Lorraine Ehrlinger.
Size: Mens medium

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in dark Grey.
Content: 100% Superwash wool

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 6.

Cast on: December 7, 2010
Bound off: December 10, 2010

Comments: Very simple pattern. Well written. Fits the hand well. I'd recommend it for beginners.

12/22/10

WIP Wednesday 12/22/2010


 Today is WIP Wednesday. Here's the sock I'm working on now.




I started it before the Christmas knitting got into full swing. Now I'm gonna finish it. I'm making this pattern up as I go along. Trying to think of a clever name for it. It's a combination slip stitch and garter rib. Today I've been working on the gusset. I'm not real happy with it. I'm having problems with the 1st and 2nd stitches beside the gusset stitches being really loose despite my attempts to tighten them up. I think it's because the slip stitches are so close to the needle changes (going from needle 1 to needle 2 and vice versa).

Last week I stopped in Walmart briefly to pick up a couple things when my attention was drawn to the 'floral' dept. There were these roses, and I just had to have them.


Dark and light stripes in pink. Fortunately, they didn't cost much.


They remind me very much of the Hocus Pocus roses I got in April of 2008.


 I wish we could get roses like this to grow in our gardens. I've been trying to get a Hocus Pocus plant for 2 years. Unfortunately they are only available to the florist industry.


If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/21/10

Pink Mitts, Navy Mitts

Today we start with the Christmas gift mitts. I won't say who they're for, just in case the giftees read my blog.

Notwoven Fingerless Mitts

Pattern: Notwoven Fingerless Mitts by Zortified
Size: Womans

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy
Content: 100% Superwash Merino

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 6.

Cast on: December 10, 2010
Bound off: December 12, 2010

Comments: I love this pattern. The stitch pattern is fun to do and looks wonderful.


 ~~~~~~~~~~


220 Fingerless Mitts

Pattern: 220 Fingerless Mitts by Jessica Jensen
Size: Mens Medium

Yarn: The infamous neverending Navy Tweed
Content: Superwash wool/Acrylic blend

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 4.

Cast on: December 4, 2010
Bound off: December 6, 2010

Comments: 
This pattern is really good. I love the way it knits up. I thought it might be kind of cardboardy using size 4 needles with a worsted weight yarn but it isn't. It just feels snuggly and warm.



 ~~~~~~~~~~

I spent yesterday afternoon sewing 'eyes' on the owls of the Owling mitts. I used size 8 silver lined light topaz beads because owls should have bright gold sparkly eyes. They contrast wonderfully with the brown heather yarn.

I thought my fingers would enjoy a break from knitting last night. Nope. They were itching for the needles, so I dug out one of the socks I was working on before the mitt mania started. I am making them up as I go-in other words, designing my own. I really like the stitch pattern I'm using. It looks great. I think it might be unique too. I've not seen it in any socks before. I have seen it in a sweater though. I will definitely write it up as a free pattern next month.

I wanted to see the Lunar eclipse last night so bad. Stupid clouds didn't cooperate. While the earths shadow moved across the moon the clouds were dropping a very light snow on us. There was a brightish spot in the clouds where the moon was located, but they wouldn't let me see any more than that. Stupid clouds.

I've got Rathdrum Knitalong today. I'm looking forward to it. I've been trying to teach Ginger how to knit her first pair of socks. Socks are really very easy to make, but she seems to have convinced herself they should be harder. That kind of thinking makes it hard to teach someone something new. I'm determined to teach her though because I know that once she learns she's gonna love them. I can see 'sock addict' in her eyes, even though she doesn't know it's there yet. I'm hoping we'll make some progress today. I plan to sit next to her and give her extra attention.

Live long and prosper. \\//





12/20/10

Icosahedron

Today I'm posting my very first Icosahedron beaded bead. To give you an idea of it's size, it's in the bottom of a Margarita glass. I guess it's about the same as a quarter in diameter.


3 weeks ago I needed a little break from the knitting. I've been wanting to try making one of these for a long time.


 It's made with 4mm crystals, purple lined size 11 seed beads, and size 15 metallic silver seed beads.


It's right angle weave done with 2 needles. Also called cross weaving, it's something I've not done in a long time, and then it was only once. If you want to try making one of these there are two patterns that I recommend. I used them both.

Icosahedron Bead Ball

Disco Ball Beaded Bead

These patterns are both for purchase, but reasonably priced, and well written. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't one available for free on the web.

It's been cloudy and snowing off and on today. I was hoping the sky would clear so I could see the lunar eclipse tonight. :-( Rats!

Live long and prosper.\\//

12/19/10

Christmas Party Necklace

Finally! I got some time to set up the light box and take some pics. Todays post will be about the necklace  and matching bracelet I made to wear to the annual company party at Chief Architect (where Sweet Hubby works). Click on the pics for a larger view.

Necklace and Bracelet

I made some octahedron beaded beads and assembled them into a necklace.

Main Focal Bead

I used 6mm Czech black firepolish crystals, 4mm Czech black firepolish crystals, 4mm Chinese round red crystals,  3mm Czech red opaque firepolish crystals, 10mm AB Bicone Swarovski crystals, 8mm AB Bicone Swarovski Crystals, size 8 Japanese opaque black seed beads, size 11 Japanese brass lined clear seed beads, size 15 Czech opaque red Charlotte seed beads, 15mm Japanese gold-lined crystal seed beads, 5mm Czech black glass spacers, gold toggle clasps.

Secondary Focal Bead

I did some simple stringing for the matching bracelet.

Matching bracelet

I made a pair of dangle loop earrings too but I lost one the night I wore them, so I took the other one apart and put the beads away to be used for some other project. I don't have pierced ears, so dangle earrings don't stay on me for long. One of these days I should get my ears pierced.

It has been a weekend of chilly temps and light snow. Just enough snow to muck things up. I have been knitting some, and doing laundry and whatnot. I got the first of the last set of mitts done and I'm about 2/3rds of the way through the second mitt. I hope to finish that tonight. Then the Christmas knitting will be done. My goodness, what will I knit next? There are so many choices!

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/18/10

More Ramblings

I've been trying all week to get a moment to set up my light box and take pics of all the little finished items I've made the last couple weeks. Ha! Maybe this weekend? I am just too busy lately. I'll be glad when Christmas is here. Even though I enjoy it a lot, I will be happy to have things not be quite so hectic. I will also be happy to go back to knitting stuff that has no deadline.

So, I finished the knitting of the fingerless mitts in the previous post. I need to sew on beads for eyes. The cable pattern is Owls. You'll know what I mean when I get them done and take a picture. (Ha ha ha! I make myself laugh.)

I am just about done with the first mitt of the last pair. I'm loving the yarn I'm using too, which is Vintage Wool by Berroco. It is a wool/acrylic blend and extremely nice to work with. I'd like to make a sweater with it. I'm using a pattern called Emerald Fingerless Mitts, but I'm doing it in a denim blue heather rather than emerald green.

Our warm spell is over. It is snowing like crazy out. That's okay though. I finished my Christmas shopping on Thursday (YAY!). Everything I ordered online has arrived. Just about everything is wrapped and under the tree.

The box that sweet hubbies gift arrived in was HUGE! It was at least 5 feet long and 3 feet wide and 6 inches thick. I was not expecting that. I'm thinking to myself, as I hunt for the knife I use for opening boxes, 'I had no idea this thing was gonna be so big'. I cut the packing tape, opened the box, and was greeted by a contents of 75% packing paper, 25% box. Wow! I guess they wanted to really make sure it didn't get broken in shipping.

I'm gonna go finish that mitt now, and start the 2nd one.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/15/10

WIP Wednesday 12/14/2010




Still turning out fingerless mitts. I'm working on a pair for a friends Christmas gift.


I will probably finish this tonight. Then I have just one pair left, which I was going to make with the now infamous navy blue tweed. However, I'm kind of tired of working with that color, so today I bought a skein of denim blue heather to use instead.

I'm starting to get tired of making fingerless mitts. I'm glad the end is in sight.

Humorous question asked of me at Rathdrum Knitalong yesterday: "How much of that yarn do you have left?" referring, of course, to the navy blue tweed. The answer is I'm not sure. When I take another skein out of the bag, the skeins left seem to reproduce another. Perhaps it's magic yarn?

Last Monday morning I had some visitors. A few turkeys were in the front yard.


They hung out around my car for awhile pecking something out of the snow and ice.


 Eventually Tommy saw them and took off after them. They all flew away. Unfortunately, the ground is pretty icy there because there was a thin layer of water on top of it, so he couldn't stop when they flew away. You could tell he was trying to stop. Kind of like a cartoon. I thought for sure he was going to end up face first in a snow bank, but he lucked out and stopped just in time. I had a good laugh watching him though.

As for weather, it's been above freezing and raining like crazy. The snow is melting fast, which is just fine with us because we were starting to think we were gonna have to shovel off the roof. Now we won't have to thanks to the Pineapple Express that has blown into town.

Did some Christmas shopping today. Helped daughter Ruth pick out a gift for her father. I don't know why but I'm not nearly as enthusiastic about the whole shopping thing this year as I usually am. This is made harder by no one telling me what they want from Santa. I'm hearing way to much "sigh... I don't know."

If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.

Live long and prosper.\\//

12/12/10

Sunday Ramblings

I have been extremely busy of late. Somehow, though, I've managed to finish 3 pairs of fingerless mitts in the last few days. I have 2 more pair to go and I'll be done with the Christmas knitting. Photos will come later in the week.

I also made myself some new jewelry. Saturday night was the annual company Christmas party, so I made something new to wear with the black and red blouse I wore to the party, along with black velvet slacks. I made three Octahedral beaded beads in red, black, and gold. Then made them into a necklace. Then I made a bracelet and earrings to match. I managed to lose one of the earrings sometime between the party and home. I suspect it's lying in the parking lot at the hotel where the party was held. By now, buried in snow, or smashed flat and broken by someones car running over it. It's okay, I can make another one. I will post pics of the jewelry later this week too.

This evening I tried out Skype. What a cool thing! It's a program that lets you do video calls via the internet. You have to have an internet connection, a microphone, a web camera, and the program (which is free) installed on your computer. The person you want to call does too. It was very easy to set up. I could talk with Sarah and see her at the same time. Even though we're clear across the country from each other, we were able to show each other our current finished works, and works in progress. She also did a little video tour of the place they're staying at right now. It sure was good to see her and Frank. I'm sure we will have more of these video chat sessions. It was definitely better than just an ordinary phone call. Technology can be awesome.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/8/10

February Lady in Teal

I do not like taking pics of larger knitted items at this time of year. All my favorite places for photographing are covered in snow and ice. I'm terrible at indoor photography. This is the best I can do, so it will have to do.

The teal cardigan is done.

February Lady Sweater in Teal


Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted
Content:
100% superwash Wool
Color: SW36
 

Needles: Addi Turbo Circular size 8.
 
Cast on: October 8, 2010
Completed: December 6, 2010

Comments:
I am so pleased with how it's turned out. If it weren't being given away as a gift I'd enter it in the fair, it turned out that perfect. Not one mistake in it.

I love the pattern. I'm even thinking about knitting one of these for me. If I were to do it again, I would replace the row of yarn overs with a row of Make 1's because the little holes bug me. I keep wanting to weave a strand of ribbon through them. I think I've knit one too many baby sweaters in my life. However, this pattern is based on a baby pattern, now that I think about it. Hmm....

Live long and prosper.

12/4/10

Teal Cardigan Update

Yesterday at 2:27 pm Pacific time I stitched the last stitch of the Teal Cardigan.



It feels so good to have it done. Now I just need to sew on the buttons, block, and wash it. No pictures until I've done that.

I did not feel good the last couple days. I woke up Wednesday morning with the worst heartburn I've had since I was very preggers with the second daughter and ate a slice of watermelon. (I wanted to die that day.) It took 2 days to recover. This is the second time since I started taking the new meds that I've had heartburn like that. On both occasions, it was the morning after having pizza for dinner. This does not bode well. I did not have this problem on the other meds. So, do I give up pizza (which I love dearly), or go back to the old meds-which are not covered by our insurance and are expensive? This really sucks!

Back to knitting. I have at least 3 small knitting Christmas gift projects left to make. I'm gonna make 3 pairs of fingerless mitts. 2 of them for men.  I'm going to use some of the leftovers from the Navy Textured pullover for one manly pair.  I am short on manly colors in my yarn stash so I had to buy yarn. I've purchased a hank of charcoal grey heather Cascade 220 superwash for the other manly pair, and a gorgeous shade of heather deep-dark reddish brown super soft hand wash only merino wool for another pair (the recipient of these is female and responsible in the laundry department). I am fairly secure in the notion that I can get all of these done before Christmas.

Live long and prosper. \\//

12/1/10

It's Been a Great Day

This morning started earlier than usual. My husband got up extra early to move the mounds of new snow out of the way so we could get out today. I got up with him for moral support, and to make the coffee. It took him 3 hours. It was a lot of wet heavy snow. I'd say at least 8 inches. He was so sweet about it. He even cleaned off my car for me so I didn't have to. Now, isn't that a great guy? I shoveled off the back steps and made it easier for Tommy to go out and do his business. Let me tell you, the snow is heavy!

As it turned out, it warmed up and pretty much rained all day long. So the snow is melting, fast. However, tomorrow the temps are predicted to dip down into the 20's and teens. As my daughter, Ruth, put it "That figures. Warm up and get wet, then freeze solid." I'm thinking about gluing tacks on the bottom of my shoes. I am extra worried about slipping and falling this year. I feel like if I fall something will break. I don't know why I feel that way, but I do.

I got the most amazing email this morning informing me that I have won a prize for NaBloPoMo. Wow! Suddenly it was all worth it. I have won a weekly organizer from The Unconventional Librarian. I am so excited!

This afternoon was the December meeting for Knitwits. It's the meeting where Jan, our fearless leader, brings everything we've made for the year carefully organized and labeled in large plastic bags and the different organizations we donate them to come and pick it up. We get to see how much we made, as a group. Unfortunately, I got to the meeting a few minutes late (stupid red light took 10 minutes to go through due to the extremely large quantities of traffic today) so I didn't get everything in the following photos, but I got most of it.



Here's Ruth sitting at a table and knitting. She's hemmed in by a pile of things for the I Care agency. They work to prevent child abuse.


Lifecare Center (nursing home) got 7 bags of afghans/throws/shrugs. I talked to the gal that picked up for them. She explained that they wrap the items we've made and give them as gifts to the residents for Christmas. They are delivered to the residents by Santa Claus. She said many of their residents don't have family in the area or anyone to give them gifts, so this is really special for them. Made me warm and fuzzy all over knowing I'd helped with this, in a very small way.

I am half way through the second sleeve of the Teal cardigan. I should have it done soon. I've already got plans for the next projects. I even bought yarn for them today, and needles. I'm going to make fingerless mitts for some friends for Christmas. More details later.

Well, that's the news for today.

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/30/10

The Birds Have Returned

This morning there were 7 Magpies, 4 Flickers, and an undetermined number of Chickadees enjoying the Parkarosa bird buffet. The birds have returned. Around September they stopped coming to the feeder because there was plenty of food in the wild. Now, with 18 inches of snow covering all that food up, they're taking advantage of the free food provided by yours truly.

Speaking of snow, that's what it's doing right now. We've got winter storm warnings for today and tomorrow. That 6 to 9 inches I mentioned yesterday has grown to 6 to 10 inches. I hope they are greatly exaggerating because I need to go into Coeur d'Alene tomorrow. It's the Knitwits December meeting where all the stuff we made this year gets distributed. I don't want to miss that.

Yesterday Ruth and I put up the Christmas tree, and decorated it.


This year we have something new on the tree. Moose!


I found this strand of moose lights at a gift shop in the Buffalo Bill Historical Center while on our vacation last June. I had to have them.

This is the spiral rope necklace I'm working on for the beaded donut.


A close up.


Metallic purple and gold lined beads.

Wow! Today is the end of NaBloPoMo. 30 posts in 30 days. Somehow I managed it. It was fun, but I'll be glad to no longer be facing the pressure of coming up with something every single day. Things are returning to normal now. ;-)

Live long and prosper. \\//

11/29/10

A Sleeve is Born

So, as promised, a one armed cardigan.


 I have a complaint about the sleeve part of this pattern. It says to knit to desired length with no clue what that might be. Doesn't even mention what the designer herself chose as a length. The pictures show it as 3/4 length sleeves, so I measured on one of my blouses that have 3/4 length sleeves and went with that. That would be a total of 16 inches. It looks right to me. So if you're wondering, go with that. ;-)

Live long and prosper. \\//

29 down. Only 1 to go. Woot!

11/28/10

Ramblings

So, I finished the sleeve on the Teal Cardigan just a bit ago. I'll take pictures tomorrow. I hope the second sleeve doesn't take as long as this one did. I'd like to get it done by the end of the week. We'll see how it goes. After I get done posting this I'm starting the second sleeve.

We went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 movie last night. I really enjoyed it. It's very intense, dark, and sad. I know in the end it'll be a happy ending, having read the book.

Yesterday I started a beading project-the necklace to hang my beautiful beaded donut on. I've decided to keep it simple and started a spiral rope. It's the first beading stitch I learned, and it's still my favorite.

The snow has stopped falling. I'm so glad it did. Sweet Hubby gets a day off from moving snow out of the way. The weather reports say it starts back up tomorrow night. We're getting snow storm warnings and predictions of 6 to 9 inches for Spokane, WA. We typically get 2 to 3 times more snow than Spokane does, so it doesn't sound good. Sounds like a repeat of the week we just went through. I am thankful for my nice warm house full of knitting projects, beading stuff, cross stitch supplies and our 42inch screen TV. I'm also very very thankful for my Sweet Hubby who works so hard to make sure I can get out of the driveway should the need arrive.

Live long and prosper. \\//

28 down, 2 to go.

11/27/10

Will It Ever Stop?

It hasn't really stopped snowing since last Monday, when the storm moved into our area. Oh, we've had the ocassional short breaks, but then it starts right back up again. Last night it actually warmed up to freezing. We even got just a bit of rain, then it cooled of a couple degrees and turned back to snow.

I got up at 3:30am so I could say goodbye to Sarah and Frank. Sweet Hubby took them to the airport. They left here at 4am. I looked out the window to see how much snow had fallen since 11pm the night before. The snow was extra sticky and created quite a scene outside my window. The plum tree looked so pretty with the porch light reflecting off it and the sky still dark. I tried to take a pic of it. Here's what I got.


This is the kids getting into our pickup truck.


And now they're leaving for the airport.


I'm going to miss them so much. I am also very excited about them going on a life adventure. They're moving to Maynard, Massachusetts and starting a new life.

I went back to bed after they left. This morning, after I got up, I took more snow pictures in the back yard. The maple tree just outside the door.


Down the hill where the satellite dishes are.


Toward the north. That fir is seriously loaded with snow.


I did get a little beading done, and a few inches of Teal cardigan sleeve done. I also experimented with some background ideas for the blog for December. I know what I want to do, but I have no idea how to do it. I guess I'll be giving myself another html programming class.

Today we're going to go see the new Harry Potter movie, and dinner out somewhere. Probably Azteca, since we haven't been there in awhile and it's right next door to the theater. After all this American turkey dinner, a little Tex Mex sounds good.

Right now I'm watching Star Trek movies, knitting, and keeping warm.

Live long and prosper. \\//

27 down, 3 to go.