New and 'improved' blogger

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late. I've been spending some time trying to improve the blog. I've been trying since November.

First I tried to go with a separate domain, which was proving to be a real PITA. I finally got it figured out yesterday after a couple of months of trying and now I find out that you have to be some kind of high~tech computer programmer to import your new (and improved) blogger posts to wordpress.

So I thought maybe going with the flow and staying with blogger was the answer. Well customizing a new template is making me cry in frustration. It took forever to get the header situated, but now the sidebar won't cooperate. Bloggers 'widget' are hampering me from just importing all the codes for my sidebar buttons and whatnot, but if I revert back to the 'old blogger' template I lose the ability to have categories. Categories is one of the reasons I went looking for another host.

The ideal situation would be to stay here, since now I can have my domain name point here, and my rings and KALs all point here. Not to mention it's free. Has anyone had success with this new platform?

I have not knit in two days messing around with this crap. I did dye some roving though. I'll have pics later this week because right now I have to step away from the computer.

A winter blast!!

That's what the news is saying. Welcome to southern TX winter I suppose. I don't know, but where I'm from 30 degree temps and a little freezing rain don't shut the city down. Not only are the boys home from school, but the hubby is at Blockbuster right now picking out some movies since the base was shut down as well.

All this whoopla is hampering my blog updates. The weather has been too crappy to get any good pics of what I've been up to. Not to mention how hard it is to take pictures of yarn and fiber when everyone is home.

I've been knitting. I finally finished my Madder Ribbed socks out of the Claudia's Handpaints yarn. I've started a pair for DH...the Gentleman's Plain Socks out of Vintage Socks using Mountain Colors Bearfoot. I have some other stuff going on too, and some (sort~of) knitting resolutions.

I've been spinning. I *heart* my wheel and spinning is so.much.fun! I've got lots to play with in loads of colors from The Spunky Eclectic, and I'm waiting on an order from Crown Mountain Farms. I still don't really have any idea about ratios and whatnot, but the stuff I'm producing looks like yarn so I'm happy. Maybe I should get a book.

I do have a picture for you all, though not fiber related.

How does this happen, really? After this picture was taken I found another sock~a black one. Maybe the dryer heard me bitching about laundry duty and decided to teach me a lesson?

weirdness

So tomorrow turned into next year but here it is!

1. I won't eat bananas. Not because I don't like the taste, but because I can't stand the texture of them. I love banana bread and muffins and stuff just not actual bananas. I don't even like unpeeling them for the baby.

2. I can't stand to eat meat off of a bone. Mostly chicken but spareribs are on my list too. I can do pork chops but prefer boneless. Boneless buffalo wing are the best.thing.ever.

3. I prefer to use a long tail cast on when I knit. Before you say 'wait, that's not weird'...the length of my tail tells me how well my project is going to go. If it's way too long I know in my heart I will (at some point) have to rip back and start over. If the length is just right it'll be smooth sailing! Luckily the more I knit the better I get at estimating how much yarn I'll need for casting on. Not to mention the more you knit the less (usually) you have to rip back anyways.

4. I cannot stand to have wet socks. Like of someone drips water on the floor in the kitchen and I walk through it? drives me nuts.

5. I would rather scrub a toilet than do laundry. Sorting then folding and putting away the family's clothing (and sheets and towels and whateverthehellelse) is my most hated household chore.

6. I'm a procrastinator and a perfectionist. Sometimes if I know I don't have the time to do something perfect I won't do it at all. But then I think about how it needs to be done and it'll hang over my head and I'll worry about it.

7. I watched both seasons of Flavor of Love, and I fully intend to watch I Love New York when it starts Monday. I'm pretty selective when it comes to my trash TV though. I don't care for stuff like The Bachelor, The Real World, Big Brother or Survivor, but I'll watch other crappage like Bridezilla, My Super Sweet 16, True Life and Dog the Bounty Hunter (hi Kim!).

How many was I supposed to have? I think it was seven.

I need to show you all some pictures but I haven't taken any yet! I've been doing laundry all day. Oh yeah, and watched Snakes on a Plane. So next time I'll tell all about my plans for 2007, and show y'all what I've been working on.

No sir I don't like it...

Ok, so I was coming on here to do my weird meme, but it took me so long to log on that I don't have time now. I am so through with blogger. I know lots of people use this platform with no issues but I guess it just doesn't like me or something. I know this is the reason I don't update as much as I could, because everytime I sit down to write a post I have a problem.

And now, with the 'new' blogger my header is cut off. No sir, I don't like it. Not one little bit. I'm still in the process of switching somewhere a little more user friendly.

Anyhow I'll be back this afternoon with my meme, and some other stuff too! Until then...

Hope you all had (and are having) a great holiday!

imagine creative picture here

because in my haste to get the Christmas gift scarves done for the boys teachers I forgot to take pictures! Here are the stats...

scarf #1: Opera scarf pattern, Elann's Baby Silk in Mulberry, US9s.
scarf #2: Vintage Velvet from Scarf Style, Classic Elite Waterlily in purple, US8s.

I'll give you a sec to create a vision in your mind.

Sorry it's been so long. The holiday season is taking it's toll on me. I'm still not done with my shopping, but the bulk of the important stuff is done so I can relax a little. I prefer to stay out of the stores, but the baby likes to shop until he drops


Another reason I've been MIA is because not one, but BOTH of my computers took a dump and we wound up having to buy a new one. Merry Christmas!! It came at a bad time, but our desktop was a dinosaur and it's probably the only way I was going to get anything new out of DH. In his world technology only advances when it comes to Playstations and John M@dden football. Anyway, he told me that this was one of my presents since I'm the only one in the house who was 'ready to hyperventilate from withdrawls'.

Wanna see what else I got for Christmas??

It's a Kromski Minstrel! I got it from Bubbie's Farm and I couldn't be happier with her service. The shipping was fast (and free), she sent some extras, and has even helped me out with an assembly problem already.

I don't really have a clue what I'm doing yet but I have managed to produce something that looks like yarn

so it's all good. I've been using double drive but will switch it over to scotch tension when I get a chance to compare the two. I need to get a book and maybe take a class so I can get the most out of my wheel.

The baby seems to think the wheel is a superhero tower, as I find all his little men hanging from various locations. He is completely fascinated by it, and has to touch it even if I tell him no. So, she (he? I haven't decided yet) has to live behind closed doors for now.

In other news I got my coffee swap package from Monica and I LOVE IT!

She sent me a hank of Cherry Tree Hill and one of Shaefer Anne, Holiday Blend coffee from Borders, creme brulee chocolate crackers from Lindt, some DPN keeper caps, a tiger tape measure, and a Y@nkee Candle tart that made everything smell great! She even included some goodies for Phoebe, who spend yesterday afternoon showing her new mouse some love :o) It all came packaged in a lunch box type tin that has sparkly kitties in all different girly colors. Girly is great because (as you may well know) Phoebe and I live in a house full of boys.

Thank you so much Monica! I hope you like your package as much as I do. This coffee swap was a great idea. I like that it wasn't secret, and that I got to know my pal over the course of the swap.

I'm knitting. Really I am! Now that I've finished the scarves, I started Shedir for DH. Yes I know I have like 50 projects going, but they are all big projects and I've never made a hat for the hubby. Not to mention I keep seing all these great manly versions of Shedir popping up everywhere. Hopefully I won't go blind from all the tiny cables and black (Crystal Palace Creme) yarn.

I've also been tagged by Janna for a meme. Since this has already been a long winded post I'll save that for tomorrow.

One last thing for anyone who is interested...Seaport Yarns is offering free priority shipping through today. They've got some stuff on sale, too.

Today is the first day of the winter break. The kids are off until January 2nd. May the force be with me.

Success!

It's the Asymmetrical Cable Hat from One Skein. He's been wearing it since I pulled it off the needles. Yes we're inside and he's in his PJs. Considering when he was little he'd pull off any hat placed on his head and throw it I consider this a small victory. Nowadays he's more interested on taking off his shoes and socks :o)

In the mood...

..for finishing!

My youngest sister's birthday is right around the corner and what better way to whip out a quick gift than to use three different yarns held together on US15s?

I based it on the Purl Scarf from LMKG, but didn't add any fringe or use any of the called for yarns. As for the yarns I used, well, the only label I have in front of me is the Plymouth Baby Alpaca Worsted. I also used some sparkly Feza yarn that came in one of the biggest balls I've ever seen, and some mohair that has something like a 450yd put~up. I've got enough to make a whole 'nother scarf, which is good since Christmas is coming and my SILs favorite color is blue :o)

Normally I wouldn't have given the sprakly, er...sparkly stuff a second glance and mohair is definitely not a favorite but together it works. I really like it! More than I thought I would actually.

I'm thinking that a FO was just what I needed to push me to finish my holiday knitting. I still have to finish a Swallowtail Shawl and a baby sweater for the boys teachers, a cabled scarf and some fetching for my middle sister, and figure out what to give the little one since she's getting a scarf for mer birthday. Add my SIL to that list and I'm going to be kind of busy for the next few weeks. The men folk (the BILs) will be getting gift cards or something.

I'm starting to feed my new hobby. No I didn't buy a wheel (lol), but I did but a new spindle and some fiber from The Spunky Eclectic. It seems as though bottom whorl is not my thing, as I'm having the worst time with the little spindle I got from Kid n Ewe. I like the Ashford but it's really heavy. Hopefully I'll like the Little Si.

In other news...I'm tired (hey, I didn't say it was breaking news), I need to start my holiday shopping and get my house decorated since my B&SIL are coming for Christmas. I got a coffeemaker AND a microwave. Oh, and Phoebe is coming home today!!

Some of you may remember way back when reading about my cat. Well when we came out from DC she stayed behind because it would have just been to difficult with the hotels and temporary housing and whatnot. My friend Donna was her foster mom for a few months (thank you Donna!!!) and I love her for helping me out. She's on a plane as I type, headed this way! Yay! I can't wait to see her :o)

Next time hopefully I'll have more FOs for you!

The littlest hank

Please excuse the blurry pic, not sure what happened.

Speaking of not being sure of what happened...how did this happen?? I'm discovering just how many types of spindles there are out there, all the pretty roving that's available...y'all know where this is going right?

Coffee maker, you're killin' me

Now? Now you decide you don't want to work? And with absolutely no warning. Thanks. Thanks a lot. Not only do I have to get a new microwave (the last one suffered some sort of trauma during the last move), but a new coffee maker as well. Just wanted to let you know that it's over between us. Even if you decide that you'd like to go back to producing coffee it'll be too late. The next time you see me I'll have a shiny new appliance in hand, maybe even one with a handy~dandy timer! You left me in my time of need. I'm so over you.

Proof that we went trick or treating...

I know it's a little blurry. Do you know how hard it is to get three boys to stand still long enough for a picture on the biggest candy day of the year? In the dark??

Proof that I've been knitting...

Yes, they don't match. I've been working on the mates though. Ok maybe not working on them, but I've been carrying them around in my new little bag. Wanna see?

Isn't it cute? I got it as a raffle prize at Kid n Ewe. Christine's mom makes them, so let her know if you'd like one of your very own! Not only is it good for sock projects, but it's perfect for carrying around what is fast becoming my newest habit...

Not sure why it's glowing like that, must be the way the sun was coming through the window.

I've been knitting on my Edie cardigan. I'm almost done with the back. I had to make some provisions for my larger gauge. Knitting math doesn't scare me nearly as much as it did when I first started :o)

Thanks for all your suggestions about how to handle comments. I've decided to move house, and have something in the works. I'll be here for a minute though...

Almost forgot! Look who's been knitting...

with Brooks Farm no less!!

Comments

Ok, I have another question for you all to think about while you are deciding if you want to knit with me. What's the best way to handle comments?

When I get comments I want to answer every single one. I get them emailed to me, but then if the commenter hasn't entered their email address into their blogger profile I can't reply. So then I say I'll do it in a minute because by now the baby is probably doing something he has no business doing. Then I forget. Then a week goes by and I figure the commenter probably forgot they ever commented in the first place!

So you see, I need a system. How about Haloscan? Or should I just move all together??

Care to knit with me?

Well we're back from Kid n' Ewe and a fun time was had by all. There was food and prizes and of course YARN! More about the outing and pictures of my haul (and boy did I score!) to come but for now I just have a question...

Would anyone care to knit this...

with me? It's the Edie Cardigan from the book Yarnplay. Leave me a comment or send me an email and we can get something started

A month??

Has it really been almost a month? Time flies when you're having fun I suppose. First off, Blogger hates me. There have been a couple of times when I've gone to post and I couldn't. Frustrating. Anyhow, I'm thinking of taking a friend up on his offer to help me move on over to wordpress.

Secondly, the cute kitty in my last post has got to go. My oldest son spend 2 days in the hospital last week after a particularly severe asthma attack. Now we've always known he's had asthma, had it since he was a baby, but it's never been this bad. He was on O2 for 2 days. Rewind about a month. We had him allergy tested and the results came back when he was in the hospital. He's got a pretty bad allergy to cats, which I find weird because he's been around them all his life and his asthma has never really been a *big* issue. We spoke with the Dr about it at his follow up and said if we want we can watch him closly and see if the cat sets him off (allergy wise). Since Phoebe the cat is the love of my life, the kitten has to go. Besides, I'm wondering if the kitten isn't causing a reaction that Phoebe never did?

*sigh* Anyone want a kitten??

I've got good news. I've been knitting AND I have pictures. However there is also some bad news...I can't find my camera. LOL! Since everyone is asleep and I don't want to chance a wake up by rustling around for it you guys will just have to wait until next time. I promise next time won't be another month. I WILL start posting more on a regular basis, especially if I move my blog.

For Soctoberfest I managed to finish 2 and a half socks. Too bad none of them match each other! I've also done a vest out of a Sirdar book, and Dumpling out of Rowan Babies. I've really got to finish some of this stuff I've started around here. Maybe that can be my New Year's resolution? I'd probaby be amazed at all the needles I own if I actually freed them all of their UFOs.

I've joined the Knitter's Coffee Swap and I'm pretty excited. I really like coffee. Coffee is right up there with yarn and chocolate :o) There are a few questions that were posted on the swap blog to make our partners' life a little easier so I'll go ahead and answer them here...

1. Whole bean or ground? ground. I would love a grinder of my very own!
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully loaded.
3. Regular or flavored? Depends on what I put in it. Flavored creamer? Regular. Half and Half? Bring on the flavor!
4. How do you drink your coffee? With cream and sugar.
5. Favorite coffee ever? I don't know that I have a favorite. A friend bought me some Godiva once and it was really good.
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Not really fussy but I just *can't* do instant.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Muffins or cookies.
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Bold flavor, but not too bold!
9. What treats do you enjoy with your coffee?
10. Yarn/fiber you love? Smooth natural fibers that will give you a good stitch definition. I also like cotton and acrylic blends.
11. Yarn/fiber you hate? Novelty, nubbly, synthetics.
12. What's on your needles? Oh all kinds of stuff...a sweater, some socks, another sweater...
13. Favorite colors? Anything that's not flourescent.
14. Allergies? smoke, pollen.
15. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Nope, just looking foward to getting something fun in the mail.

Kid n Ewe is this weekend. I'm pretty sure it's no MDS&W, or Rhinebeck for that matter, but I'm looking foward to it. The Brooks Farm folks are going to be there, and we're having a knitterly meet up with a lot of the same people from the Harlot's book signing back in July. So even though it's not one of the fancy~schmancy big name fiber festivals I will have a report for you complete with pictures on how it went.

Those of you that are off tomorrow, enjoy your long weekend. Get some knitting done and maybe have a beer :o)

Pretty irritated...

with blogger. I had a whole long post, and when I was done and hit 'publish' Blogger asked me to log in again. Of course everything was gone. I'm guessing this has something to do with the comversation I had with Janna and David tonight at Candlelight.

To summarize (since now I'm out of time), we adopted this guy...

much to the delight of this guy...

and I've been knitting.

Hi

I'm here. We've just moved into the house and things have been crazy. Yes, there was drama. Yes, I'll tell you about it. But now, I only have a few minutes while the alarm guy sets up our system. DH went to get the last of the stuff out of the apartment and I made the (selfless) decision to stay here until Mr. Alarm Guy was done.

There has been some knitting, though not as much as I would like. I haven't found all of my knitting books yet, but I've unpacked most of the stash. Boy was I happy to see my yarn!

Y'all have a great weekend :o)

Balls of gray

This post may be a bit random since it's been hard to organize my thoughts these past few days. My knitting has been random and sporadic as well. I've got way too many projects on the needles and I continue to start stuff. Maybe if we had some progress on the house situation I'd feel a little better.

We were supposed to close today at 4. We didn't. What pisses me off in this whole situation is just the lack of communication. Believe me, I understand that things happen. I just want to know what's going on and WHY it's going on. There were just way too many little things that should have been taken care of before today. I truly believe that we could have gotten it all done today if the right hand knew what the left was doing. Now we are scheduled to close on the same day that our household goods are to be delivered.

Enough of that. After a couple of glasses of wine (and some pizza) I'm much better able to deal then I was this afternoon. Now where was I? Oh, yeah, my knitting...

I've decided to measure DHs sweater progress by balls. I mean, what better way to track the progress of a 'Manly Sweater'? Two balls down, 13 (I think?) to go. This is slow going people. I think I'm going to have to mandate a certain number of rows a day or something. Perhaps a two ball a week minimum.

The Ballet Camisole is *this* close to being done, and I have all but lost interest. To the point, even, where I was thinking about ripping it. I don't know why.

I'm also working on Picovoli, , Orangina, the Child's Placket Neck Sweater, Sesame, a 5~hour Baby Sweater, and a pair of Jaywalkers. What's wrong with me? I might need an intervention.

Thanks for all the kind comments on my shawl! I really enjoyed knitting it, and fear I might also cast on for another lace project to add to the Mountain of projects that are in various stages of completion. I think someone asked how I liked the KnitPicks Gloss? I liked it a lot. I'm pretty sure I'll use it again. I hope they plan to broaden their color range.

Have any of you guys signed up for Socktoberfest? I have!

Flower Basket Shawl

That little crumpled pile in my last post is Evelyn Clark's FBS. These photos are the best I could do considering my 'help' was trying to grab the camera.

Oops! Baby fingers...


Hey! Get back here with that!


Okay, that's better.

Here are a couple of close~ups...

and here...


I used way less than 2 hanks of KnitPicks new Gloss in Dusk. I probably could have added another repeat, maybe even two. I followed the pattern as written and used Inox circs in a US7.

I'd call this a pretty easy pattern. It was really easy to identify any mistakes, and fix then without having to frog. Thank goodness because I was a rebel with no lifeline.

We have a meeting with our house builders today. I'm not a happy camper because they keep pushing our closing date back and, well, I'm in a one bedroom apt with three kids (and one husband). I've got to get up out of here. Yesterday I went to the office and heard the same song and dance about not wanting to skimp on quality for speed. Well they can kiss my a s s because I've seen no action in or around Chez Busy for the past couple of weeks. I told DH he has to do all the talking today since I'll be too busy biting my tongue.

We've also got not one but two flag football games later on today. The boys are super excited :o)

Impressed?

No? Okay, how about now?


Yeah, I'm not really either. Well be back though, after a bath and a good stretching!

Do you know what today is?!?

No, it's not my anniversary (remember that song?). Today is the day my husband has been waiting for. Maybe your husband has too? I've already been reminded of my mission for today about 3 times and I'm expecting a phone call any second. Today is the day I go to make my yearly contribution to John Madden's retirement fund...



Between the PS2, the NFL Sunday Ticket, and the boy playing flag football it's all football ALL the time at the Busy house. Someone hold me.

OutKast's new CD 'Idlewild' comes out today also. I'm looking foward to checking it out :o)

Can I get a minute?

Goodness! Has it really been two weeks since my last update? You'll have to forgive me. School has started and after getting up at the crack of dawn and getting the older boys out of the house..

first day of school

and explain to a certain someone why he can't go too...


I'm the one~woman entertainment show for the baby. By evening time I'm exhausted and my knitting is suffereing. Not to mention it's hot.as.hades. Maybe I'm a wimp, but for the love of pete could you throw a girl a breeze or something? I tell ya, both boys had flag football practice yesterday and I thought I was going to die. Yeah, yeah, so what I complained about the cold, rainy weather back in Maryland. Truth is I could use a raindrop or two right about now.

I have been knitting some though.

I'm at the point where I'm ready to separate the front and back. If I could ever get a minute I might actually finish. I just need a solid hour or so of knitting time. I've also started on what I fear is going to be a seriously boring knit.

That us there is the Manly Sweater (or Very Manly. Or whatever) from Stitch n Bitch. In gray without the stripes. Just miles and miles of ribbing.

*sigh*

But what can you do? At least I can take my time because I can guarantee he won't be wearing a wool sweater anytime soon :o) Oh, a note about the yarn...it's the new Swish superwash fron Knitpicks. So far so good. I swatched (Hi Amy!) and ran it through the washer and dryer on a ragular setting with some towels. Still looks great! It's nice to knit with too, although I'm not sure I'd want to use plastic needles.

I've also been shopping! When it's so hot you spend a bit more time online and then you start checking out yarn sales and before you know it there is no more room in the apartment to stash stuff (Luckily for me the house should be done by the end of the month!). So my 'to knit' list is growing. Maybe I'll update my sidebar this weekend with a list of stuff I have waiting in the wings?

Oh well, the boss is up from his nap and ready for action. Hope you all have a great weekend. We're going to see Monster House and attempt to stay cool.

Lots o' pics!

It's been a very knitterly few days around here! I got to see the Harlot, shop (and drink beer)at Hill Country Weavers, and rediscover some (old) yarn for new projects. First off, here's my Honeymoon Cami...

I gave you all most of the particulars in my last entry. It's very slinky and soft! I'm still on the hunt for the perfect bra ;o)

On to more exciting stuff~my trip to Austin this past weekend! It was my first time and it was hot (go figure). Seems like it would be a pretty cool place to hang out for an afternoon in, say, January when it's not stifling. Anywhoo, Jana, Mary, Amy, Claudine, Susan, Kim, Enid, Ken and I arrived early enough to sit right up front! Ken was super excited...

He was trying his hardest to get everyone to join in and do the wave with him, but we were all too busy knittng...

and taking pictures of each other knitting.

Stephanie took a picture of us all with her sock

and then she spoke to us for about an hour, answering questions at the end. She was great! So down to earth and everything she said was so true.

The book signing was held across the street at Hill Country Weavers, complete with beer and snacks. Really, does it get any better? After I got my books signed (one for me and one for a friend) I sneaked in for a pic...


After we all got our books signed it was time to do some shopping. I bought some Inox circs to try out (which I like, BTW), some Silky Wool and some Royal Silk...

Mary and I have decided on a mini KAL for Picovoli with the Silky Wool and I think I'm going to make a Counterpane bag from Handknit Holidays with the silk (yes, I bought more than one skein of each...LOL). I wonder how much $$ HCW weavers made on Saturday?

Then, after the shopping we walked on down to Guero's for lunch. Only about a block and a half away but in the heat felt like a couple of miles!

There we met up with a bunch of knitters (thanks Christine!) for margaritas, bloody marys, and (well in my case anyways) lots of cheese.

By the time I got home Saturday I was exhausted! Thanks Jana for driving and thanks to everyone else for making the weekend such a fun one :o)

The Queue
I'll talk more about the queue in my next entry, but the two projects that will be started right away are Picovoli and the Ballet Camisole, without the gathering. I plan to use Knitpicks Shine Sport in Sky that's been in my stash for a while for the camisole. And guess what? Amy, you'll be so proud...I swatched!!

Not only did I swatch, but I washed and dried it. Not to mention the extra durability testing the washed (and dried) swatch recieved from a certain little crazy person...

So now I know if anyone attacks me, scrunches up my camisole and tastes it while I'm wearing it I'll still look pretty good!