Time Flies...

Wow, so it was June last time I posted... what happened there?

I think it was a phase where I was processing a lot of things... lots to think about but not a lot to write about. My old computer went Kaput so there was that. My camera wasn't working properly, took a while to figure out my son had borrowed it and messed up the settings. You know... stuff.

Oh well, new year, new start... onward ho!

So what's new? Well... lets see... I had a birthday, I'm getting to the point where I choose not to mention my actual age, ever. Twice recently, I've mentioned that I have a 16 year-old & got the response," Your son is HOW OLD??" I'll take that as a complement. I'm more than old enough to have a 16-year-old son, several friends in my age range are Grandparents (hopefully not me any time soon).


Ginger and Simba are both doing well.Ginger turned 12 in November, she's getting to be an old lady with her little gray paws and snout.


Simba is fitting in well with our little family, he's in remarkably good shape for an older cat. He's a bit of a clutz though, constantly knocking things over... he is a big guy. He is a social guy too, loves attention... they both do. I don't know what I would do without the pair of them, they make me laugh every day. Im really glad I bought light colour chairs...Simba loves them!

Speaking of big guys, the boy is closing in on 6'3" and size 13 extra wide feet... no socks in his future, nope. He dwarfs me. When did that happen?


Still loving the knitting... knitting, reading and coffee... the three things I can't live without. I was so sad when Calgary Farmer's Market closed at the Currie Barracks... it was such a great location and going there was a part of my weekly routine. I look forward to checking out the new market when it opens.

My stash is under control... for now. Budgetary constraints forced me to scale back. I finished some projects... nothing spectacular... a cowl for a friend and a shawl for me. Both from the same yarn, Fleece Artist Big Merino. I love the yarn and these were both quick and satisfying projects.

Cherry Garcia Cowl

Mistaken Rib Shawl

I do finish things once in a while.

And that's it for now... I will try to be a better blogger.

It's Raining Again...

If I wanted to live in Vancouver... I'd move back there. What I love most about Calgary is the sun. That gorgeous, endless clear blue sky. And where the heck is it I'd like to know!?

It's time to be outside canoing and biking and I'm doing neither, I'm still doing winter activities (aka:knitting and reading) not a bad thing but honestly.

I got a lovely present to brighten my week last week. This terrific little package showed up on my doorstep. Made my day! In this package (covered by Ginger's long flapping ear and pointy little snout) is a tin of Ginger flavoured Altoids. Those who know me know I love ginger, in cookies, cakes, tea, candied or pickled, in marinades you name it... I even love it in nosy weiner dog form :-D. These mints are addictive! I can't get enough. So strong and gingery... Yum!

A while ago I mentioned The Happiness Project. Gretchen Rubin talks about writing your 12 Personal Commandments for Happiness. Here are mine.

1: Be Me

2: Embrace the Joy of Now

3: Sing Every Day

4: Do Nice Things for Others

5: Laugh

6: Be Polite and Be Fair

7: Just Do It

8: Don't be Afraid to Fail

9: Be Nice... to Everyone

10: Leave the Past in the Past

11: Never Pass Up the Opportunity to do Something New

12: Be Unapologetically Green

It's a good book,... heck it's a good blog too... check it out!

The Animals love the Mo...

Oh yes they do!

I needed a quick fix project and I found one. This easy mohair shawl, I'm going to keep going until I run out of mo... that's it. If, that is, I can get Simba and Ginger to leave it alone! Now if it would just stop raining so I can go canoeing.

What to Do...

When you have a three day weekend... every weekend SCORE! I've gone down to a 4 day work week for the Summer at least. It's perfect, LOVE it. I never quite seem to be on top of all the things I love to/have to do. Usually it's the HAVE TOs that suffer most. I really don't HAVE TO have a clean fridge... do I? Do I HAVE TO mow the lawn EVERY week? I will have to make some minor financial cut backs to do this/fewer fancy coffees, fewer pizza nights. but that's easy, one day of work less a week=one less latte, & one more night I can make a scratch dinner, one less magazine purchase/one more day I can go to the library instead. But the idea of a whole extra day... heaven.

And here's some more heaven: Prairie Rose, I can't get over how well written this is... I'm use to being totally confuzzled by lace but I seriously love this!

Last Saturday, I took a course and started this: ten stitch blanket. Sorted out my corner issues at home. My secret to all difficult tasks in life is if I can draw it... I can do it. I even got the top mark in high school geometry (and I was some kind of hopeless at Math) simply because I could draw it. The corner issues were simply sorted with a diagram 1st half of corner: SIIIIIIIIW Wrap towards the Slip 2nd half of corner: SWIIIIIIII Wrap Away from the Slip. I draw this when I do a corner and check off the knit stitches as I wrap them. SO EASY!!

And finally a question: does this happen when you knit? I sit, critter's descend on me.

The dog and cat are waging a cold war but they appear to have achieved detente as long as they don't look at each other, they can share a chair and nobody needs to die.

An Undertaking...

If ever there was one. I am trying to clean up my stash, pare it down to what I really love, get rid of what I don't. As I go, I am sorting everything into sealed zip-locks, labeling it and storing it in large clear storage bags. See the big blue bag, that's all being destashed, by the time I'm done, there should be two blue bags full. Most I am hoping to take to the guild garage sale to sell, It's also on my trade/sell page in Ravelry. I've never done this before so I'm not entirely sure about pricing, I know what each thing is worth retail... it doesn't seem fair to mark full price but I'm not giving it away either, I've made up lots that I'm not breaking up. I'm trying to be fair. We'll see... any hints, comments, personal stories of de-stashing trauma etc are welcome!

I worked on Mara and Roibos last week, Mara is painfully slow now, one row is somewhere 800+ stitches of 2x2 ribbing but it's also almost finished.

Also, we have a new addition in our home... Simba! We are his forever foster home. Simba is 15-years-old, he was abandoned in a basement suite by his former owner. No one is going to take on a 15-year-old cat, he wouldn't stand a chance at the humane society. The rescue agency asked me to be his foster owner, they can't keep him in the shelter because of his age, he would have a high chance of developing breathing problems. They'll help out with basic vet bills, I just have to provide a comfortable home for the old boy. Ginger is none too pleased, Simba is none too pleased either, he hasn't touched his food. They need time. For now, Simba is living in the bathroom. The door is open but there is a barricade to keep Ginger out.

Ginger Phone Home...

My little Ginger has been very poorly lately, she picked up a bug and had to spend some more time at the Vets. She hasn’t been eating at all, she’s been running a fever and she has been one sad, sad little doxie. But last night she turned the corner.

I know this because she called to tell me so. Ginger loves my cel. "The dog ate my cel phone" is an excuse I have actually had to use. Even when it's not ringing she will dig it out of my purse or pocket. Up until this morning, she has been too ill to even bark when it rings much less make any effort to go after it. But this morning… while I was in the bathroom… she somehow managed to use my cel phone to call my home phone. She called me. I picked up the home phone to general snarfling and no voice. After I hung up, I checked the caller ID and it was my cel. I went in the bedroom and sure enough, it was her. MADE MY DAY!

Ginger does not approve...

And Nor do I... Snow in October... not a dusting either. Yuck.

Luckily she has a warm place to curl up. Not looking pleased by my disturbance is she?

So it's amazing what happens when you have somethin' to give and don't use the C word... the search engines don't pick it up. Which suits me. So unless someone else has some ideas quick there is only one entry and she gets da prize... people?

Also, it's too cold to do anything BUT knit although eventually, I do have to go to work so here is proof that I do work on my projects and not just start and heartlessly abandon them...

Wisp...

Mara...

Meret...

All fast, all lovely yarns and all progressing nicely.

Stay Warm!

Things I've been meaning to do...

Blog mostly, it's not that I don't have stuff to say... it's that I never seem to get around to saying it.

I find that when I'm really up... or really down... the words just aren't there. The good news is I'm really up these days, getting things done around the house. I love my new walls and baseboards, it feels like a brand new home, and I am loving the new furniture I got! Even the dog likes it.

Speaking of the dog... since Ginger had her surgery she's found new energy and she's turned into a little brat!! She's also turning into a little piglet.. those rocks in her bladder must've made her feel full all the time but now she's loving her food again (and here I was convinced she had a "delicate appetite").

I'm working on a couple of scarves, some socks and just about ready to get back to some sweaters.


I picked up enough stash for both a worsted and lace weight Wicked. How wicked is that?


I'm especially enjoying this scarf... an excellent use of sock yarn if I do say so.

Brrrrrrr... good day to stay in

And Blog! I am trying to blog, life keeps getting in the way.

So the fireman thing, didn't work out. Nice guy though. Now I'll NEVER get to ride in the ladder truck... Darn!

I LOVED the comment about making the Hanger a sweater... now WHY didn't I think of that? A chunky, all acrylic, extra, extra large "Cosby Sweater" (imagine Jack Black and John Cusack in High Fidelity) in the most heinous colours imaginable with moth holes, thank you Cyn (which means at least one of the heinous colours will have to be wool). It makes me smile just thinking about it!

The Boy turned 14, 14!!! He's an eating, sleeping, growing machine. Very nearly taller than me and considerably broader through the shoulders. I no longer live with a child but a rugby thug, "the Crusher". How did that happen? When did that happen? I want my baby back!! We celebrated by rockin' out with Guitar Hero 3 and going to the Keg for dinner. Three words: Rare Prime Rib. Yum!

Look, I'm FINALLY done the lace insert on my SKB. I loved the lace but I'm glad to be back onto plain knitting. By the time I get to the sleeves, I'll be ready for the lace again.

I needed a break from all the lace going on, so I started a pair of Maine Morning Mitts. Something quick and relatively painless to give me a mental break.

Speaking of lace. I'm still working on Gigi. The yarn and pattern are quite perfect for one another. A fortuitous combination. Again, I am not always mentally up for this baby, but I'm still thoroughly enjoying it.

Don't know why my brain is feeling so taxed these days but it is. Thinking feels like a lot of work. Maybe I just shouldn't think too much... WWGD... what would Ginger do? It's a dogs life around here for sure. She doesn't look like her brain is taxed. Although considering what a little pin head she has, there's not much brain there to tax. Love her though! She makes me smile every day.

More yarn treats for me... in addition to the Shibui and Heather previously mentioned, some Mountain Colours Barefoot and Koigu mmmmmm precious Koigu. Must...Stop...Buying...Sock Yarn. In fact, yarn buying is what I gave up for Lent. Hold me to it!! That's all for now.

Happy Day

Friday, day off, picked up my November Sock Kit at the LYS, sat and knitted for a bit and drank tea with the girls. It's so cold out -19C ALL I want to do is drink hot things, snuggle under blankets and knit. I am proud to say I have resisted the on-line shopping urge that occasionally strikes along with a raging case of cabin fever. I had a raft of yummy sock yarn in my cart and I JUST SAID NO.

After all, I still have to pay for my new Tri-focals (yes you heard me: over $900 of, "Oh boy, you ARE getting old!!").

All Ginger wants to do is snuggle in the furry warmth of her new bed. Look at that face!

Can't really post what I'm working on, but I'm making it with this. Tilli Tomas Ruby Wine. I will say, it's going well so far.

My first attempt at lace went to its intended recipient. A fun, fast and easy project and I would make it again. Slanted Eyelet Scarf in Tilli Tomas Glampyre.

Go with the 'Fro…

So I picked the boy up from camp after work on Friday. A week of fun in the sun canoeing, swimming, doing archery…I swear he grew while he was gone. His hair grew too. The camp counsellors nicknamed him "Curly 'Fro Man" which I find amusing and a significant improvement over "Gasmask" which was his nickname 2 Summers ago (don't ask). He doesn't seem to mind, he told me, "The girls at camp seemed to really like my hair". It's hard not to smile at it, dark brown and ridiculously curly (I swear he never had hair this curly before) and he has green eyes and tiny freckles and after a week at camp, a killer tan. I missed him.

I had planned a relaxing week of knitting, dropping by the LYS, Raveling and of course working. Well, my two days off were consumed by dealing with the car. Still no news from the insurance company. I was waiting on the loaner for the start of the week so no trip to the LYS. I've done a bit of raveling… a bit of knitting too but the week was over before I knew it.

I finished my jay socks. I cast them off as ankle socks because they were so mismatched. I'll know better for next time.


I wanted to start a clapotis, seduced by the sheer number of them out there. I'm having trouble getting the pattern going but I think it's because I am a combination knitter that my stitches are wonky and I'm just not quite getting it. I am planning to take a series of knit what you want classes in the fall. May be I'll save clapotis for then.

The never ending wrap… well it's still never ending. I am trying to think of it as a value added project. The longer it takes to knit, the greater the entertainment value and lower the cost. Three balls of laceweight silk/mohair and a set of circulars x 4 years or more of knitting entertainment I guess it is good value for the money spent. Shut up out there, it's a positive spin OK! I show people and all they say is, "Well the yarn is really lovely." I know they are thinking, "Is she insane! At the rate she's going she'll be in her grave before she gets through the first ball".

And… did you know… my dog thinks she's a prOn star.

Progress…

So I knit the gauge swatch for my Jitterbug socks. It swatched great and at 6 stitches per inch on #3 dpns… I think I'm in love. Compared to the Lorna's Laces ones I am working on now 8.5 stitches per inch on #1-1/2 dpns. That's 48 stitches per round as opposed to 64. Wow. Wow. Once again I will do both concurrently toe up using Amy's Universal Toe Up pattern from Knitty. I might play with some ribbing this time or not. Doing two toe ups at once keeps me motivated in several ways.

• You can try them on
• You get the hardest part over at the beginning
• They progress apace
• If you swap back and forth then they should be finished at the same time, no second sock!
• Did I mention you can try them on?
  

No bad fit surprises. The only tricky part is the short row toes and heels but I like the way they both look and fit as opposed to a heel flap, aesthetically, to me anyway, short row toes and heels look better. Other than that, my knitting is Booooring! I am focused on finishing stuff so there isn't much to see. I want to take a spinning class at Make1 but they only offer it Saturdays… when I'm at work.


In other news, this is something that doesn't make it into the blog… the real source of my stress… the stuff that is nearly too painful to talk about. The boy struggles with school. He's ADHD, he has learning disabilities. School overwhelms him. He sometimes has massive anxiety attacks and refuses to go. Sometimes he does go but once we're there he just can't get out of the car. Every week is a crap shoot, some weeks are fine some are anything but, he has missed more school than he should have and the whole sorry mess breaks my heart.


Nothing I tried seemed to work, nothing until this week. The boy LOVES to cook. He wanted to make a REAL Black Forrest Cake. So I promised him that provided he had a full good week at school, I'd teach him my Mom's secret (it's not really a secret, a chocolate cake mix, cherry pie filling with a little kirsch mixed in and whipping cream with chocolate shavings on top). Last week, every time he started to go off track I just kept repeating… you can do it… Keep your eye on the prize… x more days to Black Forrest Cake Sunday! One more day and I pick up the secret ingredients… No fights, no threats, no taking stuff away, no tears, no begging. And it worked!! We're already talking about next weekend--Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake Sunday. I am not a baker and neither of us needs the calories but if it works…he can bake or cook anything he wants to every Sunday provided only that he has a good week and goes to school every day.

Oh, and the Hanger has called, a few times. He misses me… he misses my body… and who wouldn't…Angelina Joile is my boob twin ;-D…he wants to see me, I miss him too but I'm holding the line. I told him he can call me, we might even go to a hockey game this week but we can't go back to the way things were. He has to figure out what he wants. I got off the fence… now it's his turn. We'll see. I'm doing OK though, it feels good to have taken that deep breath and told him the truth. Even if nothing comes of it, even if he goes away. I told him we get what we settle for and that's true. There is a great line in the Movie, "Failure to Launch" when she says to the guy, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life having Fun? Or do you want to spend it with me?".