my holiday self portrait

No matter what holiday/family gathering or any event that requires photos. I'm always more comfortable behind the lens, than in front.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas!
Happy Chanukah!
Happy Kwanzaa!

on being a bad blogger...

I know, I haven't been paying much attention to the blog these past few weeks. I can try and blame it on the season, (only 13 more days til Christmas), my health (the 2nd bout of antibiotics seems to be working), the dogs (Em requires meds 4-6 times a day and Mandy is rejecting the sutures from her spay, she's ok, but she has the oddest bumps on her belly), work (defies description, but the atmosphere at the workplace is turning me into a cross between a scrooge and a grinch and I'm not very happy). On the other hand, at least I'm knitting. Unfortunately no pictures for now, (I lost 1 of the rechargeable battiers to my camera, and therefore it is currently non-functional).

As for my knitting, I've got half a repeat left to go on my Kristina bag, two repeats left on the Gryffindor scarf (an easy knit but the 2x2 ribbing lulls me to sleep everytime I pick it up), and some assorted knitted holiday gifts. Oh and I need to thank my sister's MIL, Judy, for the goodies, She brought me some Birch bark from her backyard in Wilbraham, MA. (Virginia is not known for beautiful birch trees.) I've been wanting to start working with natural dyes, and apparently birch bark gives a lovely purply color... I also need to thank her for a beaded bag pattern. I can't wait to start it, WIth this pattern pre-strung beads are not a necessity, but each bead is placed on the stitch individually. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out.

Stay safe, stay warm and enjoy the season. Happy Knitting!

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If you need a last minute holiday gift, how about a t-shirt... all proceeds benefit Heifer International and will go toward the purchase of a Kntting Basket (four wool producing animals for a family in need...)

and now in black...


and NEW...

t-shirts...

so check out the STORE

time to knit...

After a non stop week of food, family and lots of fun, I'm finally able to show that I'm knitting. But first I'd like to thank the lovely Lolly for being such a wonderful host for the Socktober KAL. Although I have yet to finish my pair of socks. I've got one...



I was one the lucky winners of the Socktober goodies, and I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful skein of Mountain Colors yarn, perfect for another pair of socks, some lovely scented soap and a beautiful cooper bookmark.


I just love the pagoda detail. Thank you so much Lolly!


As for my knitting, I'm getting ready to start my second Socktober sock, but I've been a bit distracted my the Kristina bag. It's my first bit of multi stranded color work, and so far so good. but it's a bit wonky in places. Hopefully It'll all even out once it's felted.




Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish the Gryffindor scarf in time for the new Harry Potter movie, but I was able to knit before the movie started. The kids and I loved this movie and we're quite ready for Book 7 and Movie 5. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Anyway I hope you have a wonderful week...Happy Knitting!

being thankful...

For the blessings bestowed upon our home and on our family,
For all the days we've had together and all the days to come,

For the joys and sorrows that bind us ever closer,

For the trials we've overcome,

And for teaching us that we can do no great things,

Only small things with great love...

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving!



busy busy busy

I'm so busy I can't think straight. Extra hours at work are starting to kill me and I only wish that there were more hours in the day so I can sleep, (and knit),

Oh and there's something else keeping me busy...

Mandy,
she's definitely a blue-collared dog...

Sunday shopping

Apparently the dogs didn't realize that it was Daylight Savings Time, and woke me at 6 am. The amount of early morning sunshine confused me, so no chance to go back to sleep. Pretty good though, as I had signed up for a 9 am lace knitting class at Knit Happens. Flying on the beltway is beautiful thing on Sunday morning. No traffic. no worries, enough time to arrive for class.

Unfortunately, no class. Annie Modesitt had to cancel due to illness. Hopefully she'll feel better soon, and that the store will be able to reschedule the classes. At least we were able to shop away our morning. I came away with Koigu, Kid Silk, patterns from Rowan and Black Sheep.

With one more day of October, my goal is to finish a Socktober sock. Just a bit more. Hopefully I'll be able to knit at work tomorrow. Well, at least I'll be wearing a knitting project. The gryffindor scarf. (still not complete, and only 18 days until the new HP movie. I guess I have a deadline.) A tie, a wand, a cauldron and a cape/robe will supplement my ordinary work attire. I'm thinking of adding this to my ID badge, not bad, eh?
Hope you all have a Happy Halloween!

meet my new man

he just loves my socks...
and he's very strong...
(look very closely, he's flexing those biceps)

this sock is a little big for him,

but it looks great as a hat!

It's Socktober!

I've joined Lolly's October-Sock knit along. I tried to make socks a couple months ago, but I couldn't get my fingers to work the tiny needles. With the lure of Socktoberfest I thought I'd try again. On my last attempt, I used some Knit Picks Simple Stripes yarn, which proved to be uninspiring as the sock was soon forgotten. This time, there's a deadline (presumably the end of October) and some inspiring Lorna's Laces sock yarn in a lovely purply pink colorway. I've been attempting the 2 socks on 2 circulars method, but between the twisting of the yarn, the needles, (and my brain). It's taken 3 attempts the get these foot coverings started properly. The first attempt left me in a tangled mess. On the Second attempt, I picked up US1 and US2 needles and started knitting. Unfortunately I only noticed when I realized that one side of the sock was easier to knit than the other, and that my tension and gauge got all wonky. So here we are on my Third attempt on Socktober's socks. I have enough to cover my toes...


After a week of hiding, the Sun made a very welcome appearance this past weekend. Perfect for Klaralaund and hanging out with the doggies.


Em-Em interrupts Mandy's attempt to get airborne

Have a great week and Happy Knitting!

waiting for sunshine

It's been gray and rainy the past few days and I've been waiting to take pictures of my new sweater. It was supposed to be my late winter/early spring sweater. The pieces had been knit but I didn't put it together in last weekend. Finally I have an an FO! It's a great sweater for fall.

Pattern: Klaralund by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #34
Needles: US8

I still have my reservations about the stripes, I'm not sure I like the garter stitch stripe across the chest...

a blessed afternoon

In the past few weeks, i've noticed that my knitting blog has an extreme lack of knitting content. Not any more! Well, I've finally finshed my "easter" sweater. Klaralund. I'll try to post some photos tomorrow.

Today is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. So I hauled my two doggies, out to church to mingle with the other dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, and hamsters, for a special pet blessing. Many thanks to St. Michael's Church for blessing my furry family.

Wednesday as Monday...

Ah well, my long weekend is nearly over, and I'll return to work tomorrow in a Monday state of mind...

I've been quite busy this past weekend, as usual not with my knitting. My long weekend was originally planned as a trip to Atlantic City for Stitches East, but as other obligations arose, I had to cancel my trip north for the yarn fest. Today was the first day I've been able to sit down and knit and get caught up on my 304 unread blogline feeds. Y'all are busy people!

So here's who joined me on the deck today...


Mandy, the new Interweave Crochet magazine, the gryffindor scarf, and my iBook. If any of my neighbors are reading, please secure your wireless networks. The airport card picked up the signals, and some of y'all don't have protected networks.

I'm still here...

and I'm still knitting...sometimes...

What is it about September? Between work, classes, the dogs, the house, the family, its all so overwhelming at times. Unfortunately , I had to cancel my trip to Stitches East. Converging familial schedules seems to have put my world out of whack. Ah well, I don't really need new yarn anyway...oh but I really do, but I'll not dwell on it.. or at least I'll try.

In knitting news, Gryffindor grows.

Albeit slowly. I'm still working my way through continental style. I like it. The stitches seems a little tighter, more uniform, less wonky. My purl technique needs a little work though. I do some sort of throwing movement, (not a true picking maneuver) with the yarn in my left hand when I purl. It feels a little unnatural, but hopefully it'll get easier with time. As I knit a little tighter, I think I need to clear out my WIP's. I defintely don't want my gauge to change in the middle of a project. That could be a knitting nightmare.

While we're on the subject of nightmares. What about frogging Kid SiIk Haze? A veritable knitting nightmare. But I think I've found something worse. Recovering a ball of KSH that had been previously ravaged by the dog.I tried. But in the end, I really couldn't do it. So now I have this...what lies above the dangling circles of KSH is a huge knotted mess. So scary, there won't be any pictures of it. (I forgot to photograph it.) Am I paranoid, or does the beaded scarf hate me?

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Have you seen the total over a Give a Little. Over $85,000!! ! Amazing!! So many generous knitters with very big hearts...

every little bit helps

so let's all give a little...Thanks to Susan and Margene...


don't forget the animals...

it's been a while...

Well I finally have a few minutes to post. Work has been hectic...huge project with deadlines and lots of overtime. The dog sare happy, most of the time. And I truly forgot how much attention puppies really need. Whoa, am I tired!

I need to send a very special thank you to my secret pal. She sent a wonderful package I received in the mail today. The book, Simple Knits with a Twist. I'll soon have to start adding other types of materials to my stash: wire, ribbon, tulle, rope. Thank you once again for being such a wonderful pal.

And thanks to all of you for the wonderful comments on my shawl. I've had a very slow knitting summer, so I'm pretty happy that I actually finished something. I've decided to devote Septemeber to finishing up my WIPs. I know I've said it before, but hopefully I'll get it done.

If any of y'all were in the middle of the storm, I hope you and your families are safe. And I hope the rest of the hurricane season, is a mild one

the continental gryffindor

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments about my pup. Mandy should be blushing by all the attention, especially from the strangers that come up to us from off the street. I think it has something to do with the ears...

So far she's been quite a handful. Pretty good, most of the time.

As for my knitting, I've decided to change the way I knit. I want to pick, not throw. I want to knit intarsia and fair isle. I want to knit faster. Unfortunately my fingers aren't very cooperative, but what I've got so far, I like. A ribbed Harry Potter blanket scarf.


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Here it is. Finally.

Pattern: Perfect Pie Shawl by Veronik Avery in Weekend Knitting
Yarn: Dyed Dreams Merino/Mohair Blend (from MDS&W)
Needles: US 10.5


backlit

close up

keeping busy...

as always, and as usual, not with my knitting. Although I did finish my shawl, it's blocked and ready to be photographed. Yay! I've also started some new projects, a purse like ipod holder, an atypical Harry Potter scarf, and the beginning of some felted bags, which I just may use as Holiday presents. I'm working my way through the stash, so hopefully soon I can indulge in some new fibers soon.

I can't believe Fall is just around the corner. If I weren't buying school supplies, I would've been shocked at the geese I saw today. Flying south in their V- formation. Gosh, it must be cold somewhere. Or maybe they're just practicing. My knowledge of birds and their migratory patterns are somewhat limited.

Oh and there's some thing else that's been keeping me busy...

meet Mandy, my new purling puppy...

* * * * * * *

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who has ordered from our Cafe Press Store. We really appreciate it!

got gauge?

We all know how important it is to get gauge for a knitting project. Well now you can get the merchandise. All profits will go toward the purchase of a Knitting Basket at Heifer International. Not bad, eh? Many thanks to Cara for all of her help.

So grab a button, and get some stuff...

almost an FO

Almost. Hopefully, I'll have enough yarn to finish this thing. I've calculated the amount of yarn needed, but I don't know if I'll make it. I've a got a gauge swatch that I'm prepared to rip, just in case I need a little bit more. So I'm pressently in the midst of anxiety knitting. I bought only one skein. Hand dyed from MDS&W. Very unlikely I'll find another. Hindsight is horrible...

I'm still a bit tired from the weekend. I've been dealing with a sick doggie. Let's just say it's been an somewhat of an explosive weekend. Not much fun. Although finding the half eaten carcasses of several cicadas, saved us from a trip to Pet ER. I forgot there are still some of the bugs that come out every year.

Michele has tagged me for the idiosyncrasy meme. As soon as I narrow down my list, I just may share them with you all. Just promise you'll still come back if I scare you...

Many many thanks to Julie for the beautiful crane origami fold...

that's my almost FO in the background...
It has certainly brightened up my day...and it's inspired me to learn origami...Thank you!
seated crane with jasmine blossoms

keeping cool...

It's looks as though most of the country is experiencing this heat wave in one form or another. Well, me and my frizzy hair have found that it is possible to knit through this humidity as long as we are seated directly in front on the air conditioning vent (which is conveniently right underneath the desk.) There are also a vornado-type fans which provide the lovely swirling air currents. Em-Em has decided that the best place to be is directly in front of the swirling vortex of air. Now, bits of Em-Em are floating and swirling about the room, but I suppose that's why we have swifters and lint brushes. Have you ever seen the book on Knittng with Dog hair? I can't even imagine wanting to knit with the doggy bits.

As for my projects, I've got the shawl, the tempting, the assorted scarves, half a sock, and some other things that are occupying way too much space in the knitting basket. Do I still get to call them WIP's even If I have no clue as to when (or if) the progress will continue?

the half blood prince...

We had an awesome Friday evening while waiting for the HBP. It's always wonderful to see so many people excited about books. The store created some sort of Harry Potter scavenger hunt, so it seemed as though children were running around in circles. So while the god-kids and the cousins joined the others in the circling, I found a quiet spot in military history and knit. I've made some headway on the shawl, but as my weekend was entirely devoted to Harry Potter, I didn't get much accomplished.

...no worries, NO SPOILERS here...but I couldn't resist this...

'...I was merely reading the Muggle magazines,' said Dumbledore. 'I do love knitting patterns.'

- J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(p.73 US)

knitting til Midnight...

As an ardent Harry Potter Fan, I've been anxiously awaiting this book since I finished reading Book 5. So I'll be in line at Borders with my gang (the god kids and the cousins), knitting while waiting til midnight.

As for my knitting, I finally started a shawl. Using the Dyed Dreams yarn I picked up at MDS&W. I'm a bit concerned about the color, as my bamboo needles and cable have taken on a bit of the yarn's essence. They're turning purple. I just hope my fingers don't turn purple as well. So far,so good, although I've made a few errors design enhancements, I think I can live with them.

It's been a good week for surprises. My Secret Pal gifted me with this...
<
a wonderful knitting book, yummy teas, maple syrup, and a cute little pedicure set...thank you! thank you Secret Pal!

I also received a lovely card from Michele. Very thoughtful, very sweet, and it brightened up my day entirely.

I hope you all have a great weekend. With the new Harry Potter and some knitting it should be a good one...

Congratulations Mei Xiang!

Health and Happiness to the newest addition at the National Zoo!!

a pic from my last zoo expedition...

chasing bumblebees...

in the garden...


To go along with my yarn diet, I'm clearing out the WIP's. I completed the Byzanz Scarf, finally.

and Misty Garden from Scarf Style.


I hope you are all safe and well. Have a wonderful weekend!

a very sad day...

peace and prayers to the Londoners...

the good...the bad...the ugly...

the good...
the AC is back on, and now I'm cold...
the bad...
the 4 digit repair bill
the good...
the functional car in the driveway...
the bad...
the four digit repair bill to put it there...
the ugly...
the current state of my knitting. WIP's everywhere, not an FO in sight...
the good...
a conscious effort to finish the WIP's and to use yarn from the stash...
the bad...
no more new yarn for a while...
and the VERY good...
the lovely origami fold that Maryellen sent...

A wonderful RAOK! Thank you!