Random Friday

There used to be themes/topics for days of the week back in the heyday of the knitbloggers.  Yes, the WIP Wednesday, the Saturday Sky, Tuesdays are for Socks, Ten on Tuesday, (I think that one might have become controversial, but I missed out on why it was, and I think I might go back and see if I can find the topics for those ten lists and redo them here) FOAD Thursday, (it's probably perilous for me to bring back that one) and a bunch of others I missed or don't remember, and I make no guarantees of being correct with the ones I just listed.  Anyway, I came in after the height of it all, but before the tail end of those days, I never really was part of the crowd, and most of them have stopped blogging altogether as far as I can tell, so I'm probably safe from the shunning if I'm doing random on a wrong day.  I might search about and see if I can find more knitbloggers and connect.  Then again, I might not.  Sigh.  I better get to the random before this turns into what qualifies as a cohesive topic around here.

• I've been having some photo difficulties and figured out the camera setting that needed fixing.  I hate the occasions where my pictures have been off, but I'll just move on from it as I can.  My photos may not be as bad as they were with the problem, but they probably still won't be very good.  I mean, the problem I identified has nothing to do with how bad the color was off in the picture I took of the mittens I started this week. 
• The storm damage home repair woes continue, and they took an upsetting turn this morning.  We've been done wrong by a company, and it puts us in an even more difficult spot than we were before, and we were already in a tough spot.  I cried a lot over this today, and could easily start crying if I think about it much.  We're going to try to move forward as best as we can.  If you need a roofing recommendation, I may not be able to tell you who to use, but I can definitely tell you who to avoid.  
• Our trip to The Magic City was productive.  We didn't get all the answers we hoped to have, but we have a plan to get more answers.  The cardiologist we saw listened to us and is working to get the best outcome possible.  He discontinued a medicine that could become troublesome, ordered tests, and is working on a plan.  
• Are you watching Days of Our Lives?  Yeah, it took a big turn this week, and I don't mind seeing how this storyline plays out, although it was a bit jarring when I realized it wasn't just a one-off episode.  What got me was hearing about the long hiatus and everyone being released from their contracts.  Stephen Colbert could have spoken of it a bit more gently and given more information, (yes, that's how I learned of this) but that would not have worked with his monologue.  However, it did send me to the computer to try and get more information while simultaneously avoiding spoilers.  I know that they have episodes to air for many months, but the idea of the show possibly going away sometime next year was pretty upsetting to me.  
• I found a bit of lace in need of repair.  I must tell you that when I first spotted it, I really did think of just chucking it and knitting a new one, but: 

1.  I really do have enough lace shawls that I do not need to re-knit and replace this one.
2.  It is a shawl with a bit of an in-joke (the pattern is The Sheep Shawl, but I knit it out of alpaca).
3.  Today is not the day to make big decisions like that.  
4.  This will be good practice for repairing broken lace that I might face in the future. 
5.  Speaking of knitting a lace shawl again, where is my Creatures of the Reef shawl?
   
           

Happy Thanksgiving!

It may not be original to say that Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of mine because of the focus on thankfulness, but it's true.  And I have so many reasons to be thankful, and thinking about them makes me feel even more thankful.  I'm not going to list them all, but I'll name a few, and I'm starting with you.  I suppose if I were a better writer, I might be able to express how and how much the connections, relationships, and inspirations I've had from blogging have added to my life.

I'm thankful for my family, and writing about that is even more challenging and complicated than writing about blogging.  I had a wonderful time with them today.  I had hoped to get more photos, but this was it.  These three occupied most of my time today--in fact, it was someone else's turn to come home with us, much to the sadness of the two others. 

I'm thankful for all of the quiet hobbies I've explored that keep me company, give me comfort, provide an outlet, and engage my mind.  I closed out the evening drawing animals with my niece, listening to the Hamilton soundtrack together.  A couple songs in, and she was wondering what this music was from, and that she needs to tell her mom about it.  It might not last long, but right now, if I ask her, "What's your name, man?" she responds, "Alexander Hamilton."         

Little Bits Here and There

It certainly has been a bit since I checked in here.  Actually, that's not true; I have been here several times, though I have nothing but half-hearted, barely started drafts to show for it.  Life has been challenging.  There's been the personal stuff that isn't particularly interesting or unique, but it still takes its toll.  Then there's the big stuff happening in the world that has been rather a lot to process, but there are many people fighting the good fight, and we each do what we can.  So that's us caught up then, eh?  Yeah, this is why I have so many discarded drafts.  Perhaps we should move on to something I have made.  Yes, that's probably best.  

I set a Ravelry goal of knitting sixty things this year.  While that seems rather ambitious, and in some ways it is, it is not as unrealistic as it might seem.  I planned to knit a teeny-tiny-mochimochiland item each week.  I even had a blogging plan to go with it, but you can see how well I did with that.  Anyway, some weeks I have knit none, and some weeks I have knit more than a couple, so it is all working pretty well.  This summer I knit these from the Doggie Treats collection.

If only I were making as much progress on my Goodreads goal.  

But wait, there's more!  I've been knitting for the community project--The Knit Ball Pit!  You can see in the picture above the first one I knit, but it needs decorating.  I hope to contribute many more for the children.      

Stars in My Eyes

That sounds a lot nicer than saying I see the charts for Celestarium in my sleep, doesn't it?  It is also a better topic than my recent navel-gazing.  I've been trying to figure out what I want to do about blogging.  Short answer--I want the experience to be better, so I am going to work to do better.  That starts with being more active, and if that means shorter posts and more in-progress photos, so be it.  You can also look forward to the return of my reading and commenting.  I have checked in here and there and keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers.  

Anyway, we were talking about Celestarium, right?  Well, that is something nice to talk about, because I have finished the body of shawl.  That's right, I have beaded my last bead.  I got out a pile of lace books and looked at edgings until I found the one I think I want to use.  It is from Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller, and Wave Lace seems like it should be nice.    

Feeling Like a Champion

After taking some time to diagnose the problem with my computer, gathering the confidence to order the part, and then finding the courage to tackle the repair, I am back. It feels good to figure out a problem and then fix it myself. It also feels good to return to blogging. Blogging is a weird thing, I often have very different thoughts about it, and yet, here I am. I could have kept up better while my computer was down, but stepping back from it was helpful. It even gave me the opportunity to build up a bit of blog fodder to help me as I work my way back into it. That is not to say you will be subjected to every baby bib and burp cloth I have sewn lately, but I do have them, and if I come up short for a photo to go along with a post, you just might get to see them.

Sewing is not all that I have done. I was social once for a little bit, and that was mighty nice. It allowed me to vent a bit. It was mostly just a little unnecessary family drama that will be just fine. I was super tired when I learned of it and am glad that I have time to prepare before I really have to deal with it. You know, it is one of those times when one is called upon to be the bigger person and do the right thing when it seems pretty pointless. Well, besides the fact that doing the right thing is right. I am still looking for ways to squeeze more positive and joy out of the situation, because there are still some opportunities for that. Well, that is my hope, anyway.

Oh, but let us get back to the social bit. It was not all about me dumping my stress out all over the place. It was also a good time of catching up with one another, and even discussing things that were not me. I like that the best. Helen had recently returned from family vacation, and she brought back these lovely gifties. I love my new mug and socks. Thank you, Helen! Those are not the only fabulous prizes I have received lately, but they will wait for another post.

Just Us Chickens

Happy Halloween! I am back and it is not a trick. Then again, I would not be so bold to declare my return as a treat, either, so there you have it. I know it has been a while, and sometimes I considered not coming back. Blogging is more than a little bit weird to me when I think about it too much, but it is still good to take the time to reflect upon it. Perhaps it is not so great to think about it when I am lonely and not able to stay in touch with the many wonderful people that I have in my life because of the knitblog world. You have brought so much to my life. I have missed you all so much, and am looking forward to catching up as best as I can.

Along with my decision to return to blogging is the decision to do it big. While this little chicken is cute, (I love my new Teeny-Tiny Mochimochi book) being a chicken is not so cute, so I am playing NaBloPoMo. I figure that is a good way to get my blogging muscles back in shape. However, this is not the year for NaKniSweMo, for me, but I think I will go with NaFiSweMo. I am putting out a call to knitters near and far to join me in finishing a sweater. I am sure that I am not the only one who has a partial sweater waiting for its time.

Blog Trouble

Blogger is having temporary troubles. We will see if I can get this post to publish. In the meantime, I am watching wool dry and and have some finishing tasks that require attention.

Hope your week is going well!

Sweetness

The gardening is coming along. Not only did the lavender plant produce its first bloom, but kept growing enough so that I could make a lavender wand. I could not find ribbon, so I used crochet cotton to weave it instead. The wonderful fragrance has filled the living room as it has dried. After cutting the stems to make the first wand, the plant shot out some more, so I think I will be able to make another this week.

Speaking of sweetness, Sara chose me for a Beautiful Blogger Award. I am humbled and speechless. Thank you, Sara. Now, I am supposed to list ten things about me that you do not know, but I am not going to because I cannot think of any. Instead, I will try to catch up on reading, commenting, and email.

UM...Broken-ish

Yep, the comments are broken for now. I am working on fixing it.

UM
Harm :: Self
If :: Then
On my own :: Again
She said :: That's What
Illegal :: Sick Bird
Broke :: FixIt
It’s a :: Long Story
Chatting :: Gabbing
Cottage :: Cheese
Podcast :: Not So Much

If you read this far, you get to know that it is time to crawl around in the living room to pin out a giant something and let it dry.

Detracting from Fancy

I do not normally feel fancy, but I did for a moment because I bought a tea set.  Then, I tried to fix my comments and felt decidedly un-fancy.  I may have broken the interwebs about forty-seven times.  Now I think I have a solution, but am unsure of how I like it.  Changes, eh?  I think I might just give the rest of my day to looking at tea cozy patterns or the sunflowers and zombiez.  Wait, I had a plan to take care of winter.  I really should get on that; it's getting wild out there.

UM...Blogiversary

It feels odd for me to celebrate my blogiversary, but five years feels like too much of a milestone to not acknowledge it, at least. Thank you for being a part of my life and letting me into yours.

I think that in the future, I will call Groundhog Day my blogiversary because it is a much more significant day, and worthier of celebration. Of course, I may not get back around to taking note of the blogiversary until the tenth, if I am still doing this in five years.

Speaking of the blog, I have to change my commenting system, as Haloscan is ending. I am disappointed, as I liked that format well enough, and it has served me well for over nine hundred comments. On to the next thing, eh?

UMFurniture :: Table
Beauty :: Beast
Sip :: Hot
Block :: Head
Forehead :: Palm
Championship :: Bowling
Hurl :: Chuck
Whip :: Crack
Destruction :: Total
Leather :: Pants

My New November

Maybe it is just the joy of getting back that hour with the return of standard time, but I have decided to do NaBloPoMo again this year. However, I have not decided to do NaKniSweMo. I enjoyed participating last time, and was excited to be making something for my sister. However, the list of things I want to knit right now is very long, and there are not any sweaters trying to jump to the head of the line, so I will let that challenge be for another year.

This looks to be a busy month. The full moon is tomorrow, and later there will be a Friday the 13th. My sister is buying a house, and moving day is toward the end of the month. That is exciting.

Before we jump to far into the new month, I will share three tidbits from the last day of October--two good, and one unfortunate.

1. I stood in line for one of the games with my sister and nephew at a Fall festival. Two teenagers approach to replenish a candy bowl. They declared what I am doing to me neat, and that I am smart to have brought something to pass the time.

2. At the same Fall Festival, I walked and knit, and a boy of about eight dressed as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi approaches me. He states, "You're knitting. How do you do that?" I stretched out my arms to show what I was doing. "Oh, I thought you went like this," he said while wildly moving his hands up and down. "I want to knit," he states. I tell him that he is certainly old enough and if he wants to learn, he certainly can. His mother, worried that I am being bothered, pulls him aside and begins listing the people in the family she thinks might know and be able to help.

3. At the mall for trick-or-treating at stores, we pass a group of costumed and decorated people. One individual catches our eye. She is wearing jeans and a half-shirt, is possibly with child (but possibly not), and has some animal painted on her abdomen. There are no pictures because it would have been too terrible.

I Might Take That Bet

I won this gorgeous skein of yarn from Becky. She included a cute card with a nice note. In it, she wrote that she has a skein of this yarn, but bets that I will knit mine first. I have been lovingly petting the new yarn and thinking of what I would like to knit with it, but I believe it will have to wait. I think I am preparing to move into serious gift-knitting mode, with a side of UFO-finishing.

I am excited about some of the presents I want to make. Thinking about them sometimes makes me wonder about the possibility of family members who may have found the blog, but are keeping quiet about it. If that is happening, (beyond the one who was told about this space) people might find their gift-y surprises rather unsurprising. Of course, I could always keep the projects secret until after I give the gifts, but that is decidedly unappealing.

Another option would be doubling up the knitting and spinning so that I have more content for the blog. Yeah, that is not going to happen. I could have enough of a challenge finishing gifts in time. I am still considering the significance of a piece of information we received this week. The son was filling us in on the happenings of his life, (not a normal occurrence) and within this conversation, Bruce asked him whether things are getting serious with the girlfriend. For the first time ever about any relationship, the son replied in the affirmative. It makes me wonder whether she could be making her way onto the knit-gift-list sometime soon.

It also makes me want to stick my head in the fiber bin and breathe in the soothing wool fumes. Then I could calmly make a list of gifts I want to make, along with a schedule for completing them. Either that or I could sift through books, patterns, and Ravelry for the perfect pattern to use with my new yarn.

Feed Me!

The feed troubles are getting on my nerves a bit. I was so busy with my routine that I missed that some friends' feeds were having problems. When I first thought about it, I hoped they were enjoying wonderful life adventures and did not have time to blog. So oblivious was I, that I did not notice that my feed was broken. It looks like it still is.

It's weird. I have been blogging for over four years now. When I started, I did not know what I was doing or what I hoped to get out of the experience. Then I reached out and found my place. I feel honored that people read what I post, but by far, get more out of what others are writing. With the broken feed, it is almost like being back at the beginning of my blogging. I say almost because it is different. It feels pointless and lonely now without you all. I hope everything is fixed by the time I post this.

It is a good thing I have my knitting. I have been working on a Swallowtail Shawl. It is a tiny one, and I think it is going to be for me. It is tiny because I used my handspun. It was this skein's third chance at becoming something besides a skein of yarn. I made yardage miscalculation after spinning it, and that is why other patterns have not worked, and why I thought this one would. I am not entirely disappointed that I have had to frog this yarn twice already. I like knitting with it, and I love the colors.

Anyway, I decided to knit the budding lace repeat until I had about half of the yarn left, and then I moved on to the Lily of the Valley charts. I put in a lifeline after the budding lace in case I had enough yarn left at the end to rip back and add more repeats of that lace. I tell you, I am enjoying this yarn.

Then my knitting came to a standstill. It was a combination of an odd wrist pain and a surprise out-of-town guest. The wrist pain had me a bit worried, and I did not pick up the needles lest I aggravate it. After a very long day, I decided to try, and it turns out that knitting does not bother the wrist. Brushing my teeth or fishing change out of my pocket was difficult, but not knitting. I wish I had known that earlier. Wednesday was definitely a day that needed the comforts of knitting. As far as that situation goes, I will just say that I now wish what would have been a bad April Fool's joke had been a joke.

Too Late, Hot Plate! Buh-Bye, Oh-8!

I have no wonderful, witty way to wrap up the year. In fact, I am having a bit of trouble trying to remember just what happened. I am not going to risk pulling a mental muscle attempting to recall. It was either a year that flew by, or one that lasted forever. I think it might be the latter.

I believe I finished between 35 and 40 knits this year. I suppose that is not too bad. There were a few things left unfinished, some things I never got around to knitting, and some knits returned to stash.

I have quite enjoyed reading all the eloquent and touching send-offs of this year, and ushering in of the new one. That brings me to one of the best parts of this year--the blogging. No, I do not mean my blogging. My blogging quite lacks in quality. Still, I have had some fun with it. Reading what you all have written has been much more entertaining.

Then there have been the comments. They are what make the blogging experience come to life. When you invite me to comment, you let me into your world. I cannot express how much I appreciate the ones you have made here. You have offered me encouragement and comfort in difficult times, and you have joined in with cheerful celebrations during the good. I have enjoyed the greater connections and relationships with other bloggers this year. You are wonderful.

Bye, Summer!

Happy Fall! I did quite well with my summer knitting goals. I still feel like I had a miss on knitting with handspun because I did not finish anything with it. I tried my two-ply Corriedale out with a pattern, but it was not a match. I have a couple of other ideas with that yarn, so all is definitely not lost.

I have an attraction/repulsion thing with Feedjit, but finally caved and added it. We will see how long it lasts. I had to do something different. Blogger annoyed the stew out of me last week eating posts and mangling them.

I have yet to get a good picture of the finished Noro Shetland Triangle, so today you get to see the back of the unblocked shawl with a fabulous, feline photography assistant.

Spring Things

I do not give much thought to the change of seasons. Much of this is due to our weather. We can have a run of days where the temperatures are in the seventies in the middle of December and then snow the next day. Falling leaves could mean autumn, or that there was a hiccup in calculating and using defoliant on a nearby cotton field. However, I have read many posts written about the new season, and when I read Mim's request, I decided to think about my favorite sign of Spring. I no longer look for the first robin to announce that winter is leaving. Instead, I eagerly anticipate the blooming of the violets.

Sew Little Time

I need only increase one more time and knit some plain rows before setting the body of the TYC aside and none too soon. Knit Picks informs me that my order has shipped. Maybe it is time to grab the tape measure to see if my plan is working before I get too far ahead of myself. Let us also not forget, there is the matter of putting the body on waste yarn to check that other issue of fit. Anyway, I am ready to begin the sleeves. The rounds on those sleeves will seem so short compared to the long rows I have been knitting on the main part of the cardigan.

Prepare yourself for the excitement that is my contribution to ABC-Along 2008. All it took was a little encouragement, and I decided to go for it. I hope to have fun with this, and maybe give a jumpstart to the positive, creative part of my brain.

Before I get going on any other knitting, I have to attach buttons to a baby sweater. The shower is tomorrow. Ack!

Moving Forward

Well, I did not make it out Monday to be with my Skanks. It was part time and transportation, and part nerves. I will go next time. I should not be nervous about it. I did make it out Tuesday afternoon for the NAKG time, and managed to get a few rows on the TYC done. I received a challenge to have much to show on the TYC at the end of the month. I am not sure how successful I will be with that.

I received a note from Knit Picks. They are sorry that their warehouse/shipping move has taken longer than anticipated. They also regret that the changes have affected my order. I take this to mean that I have a long wait. This is not a big deal. I have so much to work on right now. Maybe I will get more done on that TYC.

Speaking of the TYC, I am past the garter rib! The color is way off in this picture, but it is the best I can get tonight. I am going to make some changes on the increases in the plain stockinette portion of the body. Since my stitch gauge is off, my row gauge is also not matching that stated in the pattern. I am paying more attention to my tape measure and schematic to continue knitting this cardigan. I hope it works out. It would be wonderful to have this garment finished up to the point when it is time to work the cable chart by the time my Knit Picks order arrives. That would greatly increase my chances for a timely finish. Whatever happens, this is great practice for my EPS FIYC.

I am thinking about joining the ABC-Along 2008. It might be fun. I have passed over some other -alongs because I did not feel up to the pressure, but this might be a good match for me.

Speaking of -alongs, I could show you more of my NaSpiMoMo results if I could take a decent picture. It is purple. It does not feel too nice to me. It may not all be me. I was not super thrilled with the fiber as I spun it. I have more of this Romney/Mohair blend. Maybe I can do better with it later. I still have the option of treating the yarn harshly in hopes of improving it. Maybe I will try that if I have trouble sleeping tonight.

Unashamed

I confess myself unashamed of my love of badges. When I read about these the other day, I just had to scoop up the ones that I had earned. I will also admit that I have never listened to a podcast. It is nothing against them, but I just never have, and may never do so. Still, you never know where life will take you. I hope to earn more badges, but for now, this is a good start.

First off, I have the "Proselytize Knitting" badge for spreading Knit. I am most likely to be heard lauding Knit in waiting situations of all sorts. I do enjoy when the opportunity presents itself for the Skanky Knitters to share Knit with someone who wanders too close to our sphere, and is sucked in for a short presentation. Each Skank pipes up with another positive quality of knitting, and the potential new knitter is completely caught off guard and bewildered.

This brings me to the "I Can Be an Asshole When it Comes to Knitting" badge. This may have happened when spreading Knit to someone who did not care, or someone who called my knitting crochet. There is also the infamous "Pomatomus Pronunciation Incident." I also suppose that I have knit at inappropriate times or places.

Qualifying for the "I Will Impress You With My Math Prowess" badge was easy. I often disagree with yarn choices, and even more often cannot afford the suggested yarn in patterns. I substitute the yarns all the time. I can handle the basics of knitty math. I have detected and compensated for errors in patterns and patterns that could use a bit of help.

Becoming a recipient of the "I Will Crush You With My Math Prowess" badge is not pretty. I can apply the more complicated maths to knitting. It is just a bit painful to watch for those more gifted at math. Still, I can do it, and I claim my badge.


I have earned my "MacGyver" badge (Level I) from activities such as changing bamboo skewers into knitting needles, transforming toothpicks into cable needles, and using coffee stirrer straws as stitch holders.


My "MacGyver" badge (Level II) was earned when we used yarn to tie the remote oil filter to the car when it had been knocked loose by a person and then a poorly designed speed bump. It was able to get us home.


The "Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention" (Level I) badge came about as a result of the Knitting Olympics. I developed a case of psychosomatic carpal tunnel syndrome. I cannot explain it much more plainly than this. If I think about knitting induced repetitive motion injuries, the pain comes on, and will not abate until I can distract myself with some other stupid obsession. The medical attention I sought was all courtesy of Google and knitting magazines.

Here we have the "I've Knit Items With No Practical Application" badge. Each time I knit something for certain people, I earn this badge. You know the type of people of which I speak.


I know that this badge could be revoked, because I am ashamed to admit that in my knitting past I earned the "Inordinately Fond of Novelty Yarn" badge. It was a phase. I put the yarn to good use. I do not know if I will experience a relapse.


Speaking of inordinate fondness and badges, I have joined a number of groups over on Ravelry (I am sarahkc) just to have the badges. I have not participated much in the groups, but I wanted the badges. Ravelry is nice. I think others get more use of it than I do, and perhaps I will get more use of it in the future. I will tell you that it gave me a nice feeling when I logged in the day after I accepted my invitation and saw that people had claimed me as a friend. It was the kind of encouragement that I needed that day, and I draw upon the memory when I feel like a loser. I suppose this makes me a bit of a dork and a loser, but I proclaim it a good thing.