Lizzie's Loose Ends

Sanders Statement on Deficit Proposals - Newsroom: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont)

2011-07-26T05:40:00.000-07:00

Sanders Statement on Deficit Proposals - Newsroom: U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont)

Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered a prime-time speech and congressional leaders offered competing deficit-reduction proposals:

"The issue with regard to deficit reduction is pretty clear. Either we make devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education and the needs of working families or we ask the wealthiest people in our country and the largest corporations, most of whom are doing extremely well, to give up some of their tax breaks and help us move toward a balanced budget. In my view, it is immoral and bad economics to balance the budget on the backs of the weak and vulnerable. The Republicans must compromise."

Celebrate!

2011-06-14T07:14:00.002-07:00

Internet Special! It's Flag Day! 10% of all red, white, and/or blue yarns! Come join us at Grandma's Spinning Wheel for some fun fibery chatter and a cuppa!

President Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate

2011-04-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Just in case you needed to see it....again....
Obama Foodorama: White House Releases President Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate

2009-12-15T05:39:00.002-07:00

autism reality from Alex Plank on Vimeo.

Clover is giving away a bunch of free circulars! Enter Daily!

Knitting Books

2009-12-13T06:06:00.002-07:00

If one goes to Google Books and types in Knitting in the search engine, a list of hundreds of knitting books will come up. If one clicks on the "Limited Preview" link on the left side, a list of books will come up that one can view, cover to cover. Included in my short perusal of this list is Knitting Without Tears, by Elizabeth Zimmerman, Stitch 'n' Bitch, Mary Thomas's Book of Knitting Patterns, 2-At-A-Time Socks: The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle, by Melissa Morgan-Oakes and hundreds more, including knitting fiction. Many are vintage, many current. What a find!

Looking at this book, Exercises in Knitting by Cornelia Mee, I find that the patterns call for knitting and seaming. Seam being another word for purl. Once I figured that out, the patterns make sense and would be fun to try.

I find it interesting the sock patterns from the late 1800s and early 1900s often have a seam stitch, a purled stitch in the stockinette, in the center back, so the hand knitted socks have the same appearance as machine knitted socks that were indeed seamed up the back.

Ode to the unknown knitter

2009-12-11T06:30:00.006-07:00

Earlier in the week I went out for coffee with Eldest Daughter and Youngest Son. We ended up at the local gently used store and I found the most beautiful hand knit sweater! The workmanship is superb, ends woven in almost invisibly, good tension throughout all the patterning. It's a zippered cardigan and fits me like a glove. Toasty warm. The zipper was sewn in by hand perfectly and can't be seen when it's closed up. Please take the time to click on the pics so you can see the patterns up close.

I don't know why it ended up in the used clothing store and was on sale for $6, but I'm certainly thrilled it was. To the unknown knitter, I don't know if this sweater was appreciated and loved by the recipient, but it certainly is now. It's totally treasured and loved. I washed it, rinsed it with hair conditioner and blocked it. It's so totally soft and snuggy. I am sure it was dry cleaned previously and if that's why it ended up on sale for me to find, how sad that the original owner didn't know how to take care of it and bring out all of it's soft warmth. Unknown knitter, know you are truly appreciated and the sweater is well loved and petted often.

DL's kids have been sick so she was housebound until yesterday. We met with BFF, F, for coffee and knitting. Enjoyed my morning walk much more than thinking about doing my morning walk. I am always trying to justify not doing it, but feel so good once I do.....

Team Harry

2009-12-08T04:23:00.002-07:00

Some one asked me recently if I'd gotten into the Twilight Saga thing. This is pretty much my answer! (Click to embiggen!)

This looks like a fun project after the holiday madness...or Christmas Day....

Oh, this looks like another great project. Maybe this could be a bus riding project....

It's getting colder and mostly wetter. So glad I have all these warm socks (which I've taken to wearing in bed at night), scarves, hats that I've made over the years and really had no where to wear them. Not needed when just running out to the car, but now that I'm taking the bus and walking....warm woolies are wonderful!

Pocket Mittens

2009-12-06T06:32:00.002-07:00

Spent Saturday making these mittens for my Eldest Granddaughter's birthday. We stand outside in the cold mornings waiting for the bus. Thus the mittens. But these have a twist. There is a little pocket on the right palm for her bus fare. Despite the fact the change could fall out, I think these will work, as she carries her lunch box in her right hand which will provide the pressure necessary to keep the change in the pocket until the bus comes. Her Tia is making her a lanyard for her bus card. The pocket was easy to make and details on my Ravelry page.

Going off to knit with an "old" knitting friend, G, from my past, today. Not sure if DL will join us or not. We're going to yet another local bookstore as it's closer to G's house. And Barnes and Noble has Starbucks coffee which I'm afraid has become my drug of choice. It's still cold, about 39 degrees this morning. I'm glad I won't be out walking in it till around noon.

I spent the entire day knitting, listening to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. TV just isn't interesting and my DVR is filling up with all my usual shows. Oh well, I'll get around to them eventually!

Handmade Stocking

2009-12-04T05:53:00.002-07:00

I'm thinking today will be an "at home" day after taking granddaughter to school and my walk. They are supposed to come turn on the furnace today. Not that we'll use it much, but all the cold air coming in through the evaporative cooler will be blocked.

I meant to CO granddaughter's mittens last night, but Youngest Son asked me to extend the cuffs on his fingerless gloves, so I got one just about finished.

Cold

2009-12-03T05:26:00.002-07:00

It's finally started staying cold around here. Especially in a house with no heat! We haven't had them come over and turn it on, but even if they did we can hardly afford to use it. We're not freezing...it's just chilly in the house in the mornings. Everyone is sleeping better because of the cold, though.

Yesterday was spent doing household stuff....groceries, cleaning, rearranging furniture, laundry.... Very little knitting was accomplished! Today will be more "normal." Back to taking the bus, meeting DL for coffee and stuff like that. Like my routines!

I finished the scalloped socks for Youngest Daughter, have one of the socks done (minus toe) for son and have an inch or so of the eight inches of leg on the other one done. Won't put the toes on till he gets here to try them on. Next plan is to CO mittens for Eldest Granddaughter. I have an idea to put a little pocket in one for her bus fare. The pocket will have an opening on the outside of the mitten, but will be on the inside. That way as she holds on to her lunch box, she'll be gripping the money, too and it won't fall out on our walk to the bus stop. We'll see if it works out in reality as well as it does in my head! ;)

Twenty-five best places to find free knitting patterns.

Santa Made an Early Delivery

2009-12-01T05:44:00.003-07:00

My dear friend, DL, bought me a new phone for Christmas! Although DL and I see each other almost every day, we still text each other alot in the evenings. This is a super duper texting phone. What even makes it super duper special is she has a brand new one, too! Hers looks like this one, and mine is burgundy. I got it all turned on, switched over from my other phone, and charged up. Then played and played with it to see all the features I could readily find. Soon I'll even read the manual to see what other cool things it does. It took awhile to get used to the placement of things on the keyboard, but, boy howdy, can one text so much faster!

Yesterday DL and I dropped off the seven hats we made for an employee at a local used book store. He requested them last week when he chatted with us while we paid for a knitting book. Today we go back to collect the cash! Christmas money!

Sock knitting has advanced. One of the scallop socks is done, the other leg started. One of the legs on my TN son's socks is finished, just waiting to be bound off.

We had a wonderful lunch at C's house yesterday. Cuban style chicken and rice with veggies, lots of coffee and pumpkin pie. Oh, and much knitting, too! C's finished off her first hat and will be heading out to get more supplies to make her hubby a pair of house socks! She's bound and determined to join us in our sock knitting frenzy! Eldest Daughter joined us for lunch and then we ran errands and everyone ended up here for leftover turkey, rice and veggies.

Found another "old" knitting friend, G, on Facebook yesterday. We've known each other since before her oldest daughter was born. Said daughter is now a mother herself. Anyway, G facilitates yet another knitting group at another coffee shop on Saturday evenings. Although I hesitate to bus it to that one, I'm trying to figure out how to add it to my knitting adventures. I'm hoping G will come for coffee Sunday at the mall bookstore along with A and DL. They'll get along well! We're all just a little different than most so understand each other better than most!

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-11-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sunday at the mall

2009-11-30T03:31:00.006-07:00

Had an amazing time at the local bookstore yesterday and met yet another new knitting friend, A. She was the third "stranger" that approached me and wanted to join me or us in our knitting! (Of course, none of them are "strangers" anymore!) In fact friend, C and her hubby are having us over for a "Cuban" lunch today. A is working on the Shalom Cardigan. Isn't it gorgeous?

What's really interesting is the new friend, A, was supposed to meet up with a knitting group that never showed up. She said it was the most fortunate misfortune. As we discussed our lives and occupations, etc., it turns out she teaches one of my grandsons. How destined a meeting is that? Thank you, Universe, for sending another person into my life that shares so many common interests!

Of course, DL was there, too, and she CO another pair of socks while we were there. She just finished a gorgeous pair of lace socks for one of the teachers at her kids' school. I was finishing up my grandson's mittens! They are already on their way to him, so no new "FO" pics.

It's been raining, so I got to wear my clear rain boots yesterday to show off my tie-dye socks! A lady came up and asked me some serious questions about sock construction and you could see she was totally overwhelmed by the "magic" of it. Socks are way cool.

Nice and cold today. Raining again. Glad we have umbrellas. Let's see if I chicken out and take the bus or walk as usual in the rain....Update on facebook later!

Weekend

2009-11-29T05:58:00.003-07:00

Took a nice long walk in the morning down to Starbucks and had coffee and did some knitting. While I was there, Youngest Daughter called and invited me out with Eldest Daughter and all the kidlings. The girls put in job aps at Pier 1, and then we went to Olive Garden for lunch. It was fantastic. Had soup (Pasta e Fagioli) and salad with ice tea. The kids were well behaved and it's so nice to see my daughters laughing and getting along. (Long story for some other day.)

Consequently I didn't get the knitting done I'd planned. I am about one third the way through Eldest Grandson's second mitten. I'm hoping a long day of knitting at the mall bookstore with new knitting friends will solve that problem. I had promised them to him before school in the morning....

It's been raining this morning...so I'm thinking when I walk up to the mall, I can wear my clear rain boots to show off my hand knit socks.....

Had an unexpected stroke of good luck yesterday. I was searching through the "stacks" of audio books available via my public library and found the MP3 recording of the newest Diana Gabaldon book, An Echo in the Bone. I read it when it came out in September, but now am doubly enjoying my morning walks listening to it, too!

Socks!

2009-11-28T04:51:00.003-07:00

I really love knitting socks. So much so that I tend to not work on other things.... These are for my Youngest Daughter for Christmas. Again, I'm using my variation of Personal Footprints. Mine are done heel up, and yes, eventually, I write down the recipe to share. Details on these socks are on Ravelry. Since I started taking my "happy pills" I've relaxed enough I can do stitch patterns on socks without frogging more than I knit. I managed to do the entire foot pattern on these without having to frog more than a couple sts here and there. In the past, I'd frog inches of socks to try and do even the simplest stitch patterns.

Today I must discipline myself to work on the other mitten for my oldest grandson. I must get it finished and to him before he has to wait for the bus Monday morning. One would think that mittens would be just as fun as socks...after all they are just a sock with no heel and a thumb instead.... Somehow it just doesn't quite fit the bill, though....

Remember me "suggesting" you vote for Chloe and Lulu as names for the sheep stitch markers at Chicken Scratches? Well, thanks to those that did. I won! And the very specialist thing about them is they glow in the dark! I wanted them as a gift to my knitting bud for Christmas!

Mitten amidst the turkey

2009-11-27T04:54:00.002-07:00

Finished up another flip top mitten. This one is a bit different as it has a nice flap to tuck into the opening to insure no wind can slide in their when wearing the mitten closed.I'm happy with how it turned out and have CO it's mate getting about half way done yesterday between making bread, and other miscellaneous holiday prep.

Had a very nice day with BFF, F, and his hubby, B. Just talking, knitting, drinking coffee, and preparing Thanksgiving dinner. The rolls turned out beautifully as did the loaf of bread. Nice and crusty with a soft, soft, center. Best bread I've done in years. Think my grandmother was standing over my shoulder reminding me of every trick she taught me. F kept say, "The recipe says....." and I kept smiling and did it by memory. "It's a feel...you just know when there is enough flour and the texture is smooth!"

Baking bread is one of the links to my maternal lineage. When Grandma came to visit, she'd always make at least two batches of bread and we learned to slice the bread right out of the oven without burning our fingers or tongues. The butter melted into the bread it was so hot. Can't beat that on a cold wintery day when the wind is howling and the snow flying in every direction. It was pretty good yesterday, too, with temps in the 60s and the AC on!!

It's all a matter of perspective: "You know, there are certain days that remind me of why I ran for this office," President Obama said. "And then there are moments like this--where I pardon a turkey and send it to Disneyland."

More to be thankful for...

2009-11-26T05:45:00.003-07:00

Things have been busy but normal lately. Lots of walking, lots of WiiFit+, lots of coffee, laughter, knits and purls with my knitting friends. I'm so very excited! My new knitting buddy belongs to a group that has just started to meet (this Sunday afternoon being the first time) at the local mall bookstore. The one that's a good walk and a short bus ride from my house. Anyway she invited me to join them on Sunday! Of course I invited my other knitting buddies so we are going to make an afternoon of it, knitting, chatting, sharing... Oh and I'm sure laughter and coffee will also be involved! The group was meeting in the evening, but that just never worked out for me or apparently some of the others! Yeah for new knitting buds!

Met Eldest Daughter for coffee in the morning. We walked some errands, caught some buses, and eventually picked up the grands from school. It was a nice day!

Finally got grandson to try on the mitten. Good thing I did...or it would have been way too long for him. So a bit of frogging on that, do the top and the mitten and it'll be finished. Then just to make the mates for the finished ones.

Socks for TN son are progressing. Only have about two inches left on the first leg. When I finish the second leg, I'll let them rest till he can try them on. Socks for Youngest Daughter are progressing, too. Finally paid attention to what I was doing, frogged back to the beginning of the lace pattern and "began agin, Finnegan". Got quite a few repeats done after dinner before bed.

Had a semi full house last night. All the regulars plus my son and my autistic grandson, K. K spent the night with us, too, and like many of us on the spectrum, doesn't sleep much (his father, of course, being the exception to that rule). I carefully and quietly came down this morning for my internet fix and K was already awake (5:00 AM) and ready for the day to start.

I'm off to my BFF, F's house early this morning to make bread and help with the cooking. We'll have a great, quiet day of which I am very thankful for. The rest of my family will be at their dad's house....lots of noise, lots of food. They will be thankful for all of that!

Go vote for the stitch marker sheep. I like Lulu and Chloe best....hint hint!

Perfect Day Yarns has a contest, too!

Namaste Knitting Bag giveaway!

Contest!!!

2009-11-25T06:11:00.002-07:00

Name the sheep stitch marker and win!

Just a quick note

2009-11-24T05:22:00.003-07:00

I've been knitting quickly, trying to get some gifts finished. Socks for my son have the toes put on scrap yarn and the legs started. I'll have him try them on when they get here just to make sure they're long enough.

CO a pair of socks for Youngest Daughter for Christmas as well as keeping her 4.0 average this semester! Yeah for her! One foot print is done, second one CO yesterday.

Working on mittens for the grandsons...need to be tried on before I continue.

Life goes on as usual. Lots of friends, lots of coffee, lots of knitting. Can't ask for much more. We named out little knitting group "Ewe Wish" cuz "you wish you were here!" :) We have a little white sheep that sits in the center of the table during our knits, purls and coffee!

Enjoying my walks in the morning again. So glad the cold I had is gone and I can breath deeply again without coughing.

Looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my BFF, F and his hubby. Going up to their house early to make bread and get it baked before the bird goes in. I'll probably gain five pounds just breathing in all the wonderful holiday kitchen air!

Stress...or lack thereof

2009-11-20T04:08:00.004-07:00

Found this definition today: "stress is the confusion created when the mind overrides the body's desire to choke the living shit out of some asshole who desperately deserves it". Interestingly enough, I don't have this desire anymore! Maybe it's the cooler weather that's arrived since Halloween?

This is eldest granddaughter on our bus ride to school yesterday. DL gave her a pair of circulars and she is going to town on them! Although they are too big to make a hat, she's making a neck warmer and lovin' every minute of it! Circulars are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier than straights!I finished up the scarf for DIL. Although she knows what she's getting, no pictures till after Christmas! There have to be some surprises. Work is progressing on TN son's socks. Still my "on the bus" knitting.

While out running errands yesterday, a clerk approached us and asked us to make six beanie style hats for his family for Christmas. As it turns out, I had a couple stashed away that met the color requirements and have started another one. Although I'm not fond of knitting for pay, the holidays are coming and well.....

Picked up some yarn for grandsons' mittens. Joansie shared a great pattern with me. I love the technique for the flap as it gives some overlap to keep the hands warm. So many things to make!!!

There's a group on Ravlery, Odd Socks, that is having a round robin next year. We'll be split up into groups of five. Each of us will start a pair of socks, toes or cuffs. Then we'll send them on to the next person who will add some of the foot or leg. On to the next person for foot and heel and so on till they come home to the owner to finish up either cuff or toe. Each person can do whatever they want as far as color, stitch pattern, style, etc., and the socks are NOT to match each other. I think it's going to be great fun. DL, my local knitting buddy, is going to join in on it, too. We're gonna have fun!

Did a lot of walking yesterday. Either I am completely over my cold, OR I was correct and I have been over dressed the last few days. I eliminated a couple of layers, mainly the silk undershirt, and walked comfortable for about 2.5 miles yesterday. Not all in one fell swoop. The first walk is just over a mile. Then a bus ride. Then another walk of just under a mile and a bus ride. Then another walk of about half a mile. Then COFFEE and knitting.

Today is my doctor appointment. After a walk, I'll meet up with BFF, F for coffee, running errands and the visit. It'll again, be a great day.

Hat Done!

2009-11-19T05:16:00.004-07:00

Finished up my TN grandson's Christmas hat yesterday while sippin' coffee and knitting with my friends, C, DL, and F. We kept our corner of the place hoppin' and productive and all the sudden it was 1:00 pm! C worked on her hat, DL worked on a beautiful pair of lace socks, and F continued working on his afghan, bound and determined it will be on his bed keeping him warm this winter!

I started looking at mitten patterns or actually flip top mitten techniques to fulfill the requests from my grandsons. I think the easiest will be to pick up sts across the knuckles of a handwarmer and knit the mitten top in the round. Anyone else got any ideas?

I'm almost finished with my DIL's scarf. Probably two more evenings of knitting and that Christmas present will be ready to wash, block and wrap. Been working on my son's socks on the bus and for most of my "out of the house" knitting. I guess I've got about two move inches before the toe decreases and then the legs to finish. Of course he likes tall socks so that could take forever! Fortunately I don't have to have them done by Thanksgiving to ship out in time for Christmas as they will be HERE for Christmas!!!! Yeah!

Been having a difficult time walking in the morning. I thought it was cuz I was still sick and spiking a fever in the mornings....but to be perfectly honest, after much thought, I think I was over dressed! Wanting to be bundled up for the wait at the bus stop influenced too many layers of warmth that made me uncomfortable once my natural body heat elevated from walking. So, today, I'll opt for a little chill at the bus stop and see if I can pick up my walking again.

The bus schedule changed without tell me! Seriously, can you imagine? ;) So we need to leave a bit earlier in the mornings now so I don't feel so rushed getting to my coffee dates and my knitting. Today is a quiet coffee day. Just DL and I. F is "grounded" cuz his hubby is going out to play to day, and C is preparing for a wedding she's attending on Saturday.

Lots of your friends want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

Hats, mittens and more to come

2009-11-18T06:03:00.005-07:00

Starting my Holiday Knitting at the last minute (which is unusual for me), here is the hat for my Tennessee grandson. Knitting bud, C, needed to learn how to knit in the round, so we both started hats on Monday. I'm ready to start the decreases on this one. Then I-cord will be added to the flaps. Socks and scarf for Tennessee family have been started, too.

Got the wish list from my newly transplanted grandsons last night. Mittens...the flip top kind, for waiting for the bus in the mornings.

Youngest Daughter picked up an additional 32 permanent hours, so she's up to 42 hours a week again. Whew! Just in time to avert disaster! Eldest Daughter is pursuing educational leads and getting ducks all lined up for spring semester registration. Everyone is moving forward.

I'm sleeping much, much, much better again. DL pointed out that a lot of stress left my life in October and perhaps that was the explanation. I'd have to agree. Weird thing about stress. I didn't even know it was there till it was gone. Another weird thing is that stress can disguise itself as "good times." I thought the changes in my life since late August were all good. Turns out I'd fallen into the same snare that high school presented. Trying to fit in with the popular crowd, even though their beliefs, actions, attitudes and habits were not at all what I was. So, don't be too hard on your kids if they succumb to peer pressure. Even us "old" folks still do it.

Met knitting bud, DL, for coffee, knitting, and errands yesterday. We had to go out to the DMV to register her vehicle. Whoa! It was empty. Seriously empty. She "signed in" and they called her number in less than 4 seconds. When she asked the clerk why so few customers, his answer, a very common one these days, "The economy." It's getting harder for everyone.Off for my walk, coffee and knitting with my buds this morning! Next hat lesson for C! Tomorrow my BFF and I head out to my doctor appointment to reassess my progress and medications.

Just a quick post

2009-11-17T05:48:00.002-07:00

While teaching my new knitting buddy how to knit in the round, I also started a hat for my grandson. After about four hours, what I had envisioned and what was happening were not even close. Frogging ensued. CO again, and am liking the ear flap hat much more now. Pics after next installment.

Feeling much better today. Can almost measure the improvement each day. Will add some exercise back into my routine today as well as my walk. The coffee and knitting with my BFF, DL. Had way too much fun chatting and knitting with knitting bud, C, yesterday. We have a lot in common, only 6 years apart in age and having lived through the same history. It's funny when a hole is created in your life all the wonderful things that rush in to fill it: My Eldest daughter and grandsons returning from Hawaii, a new knitting coffee addict buddy who thinks I should get hooked on Espresso. I'm sleeping better than I have in weeks and weeks.

Felt like a real knitter yesterday, all bundled up for the 50 degree heat with hand knit socks, hat, handwarmers, and scarf. Toasty!

Monday morning ketchup

2009-11-16T05:02:00.003-07:00

My internet was down all day yesterday. Seems the booster burned out. However, the cable guy appeared at dinner time, replaced it, and all is working perfectly again.

So, I watched movies yesterday. HP and Transformers. And knitted. I finished up the toe on second foot print, opened up and began the leg. These are going to be so totally warm! Two strands of sock yarn except the toes and heels which is sport weight sock yarn. And lots of fun to make...just doin' whatever come to mind!

Youngest of the two returning grandsons came over to play yesterday. They had a great time playing with friends outside while I knitted. The boys start school today at a public elementary school near their home. Next year the two of them and my eldest granddaughter will move to another campus of the Montessori school. They will be one grade apart, so see each other daily but not too much of each other. Perfect scenario. Youngest granddaughter has one more year of special ed for her speech delay and then we'll see.

Other good news in the family. Son and DIL called the other night to tell me they are coming home for Christmas! It'll be the first time in years all my kids and grandkids have been in the same place. I am so very excited! It was going to be another surprise for me...them just showing up and knocking at the door. But fortunately, the cat got let out the bag so we can prepare for the visit. One surprise of returning kids "out of nowhere" is enough for a year.

However, my year of selfish knitting is a bit embarrassing now. Choosing to just knit what I wanted to and not making sure the gifts got done had put me in a position of panic. Perhaps everyone will get a coupon to make a wish with for some knitted item.... We'll see. Money is short everywhere so I'm sure all will understand. I was asked to make a hat for TN grandson, and I've picked an Earflap Hat for him using the generator. Hmmm wouldn't these be nice for everyone to open first thing Christmas morning?

I had lost a bunch of my medication due to an unfortunate lack of judgment, but managed to convince the VA pharmacy it was really important to authorize an early refill of the scrip. They did and my meds arrived Saturday. Whew! Now I'm back on track and have learned yet one more valuable lesson. Funny how we keep learning no matter how many years have passed.

Time to get ready for my day. Off to coffee this morning with my knitting pals, life is just too good!

Bits and Pieces

2009-11-14T05:45:00.006-07:00

Despite the hanging on of this cold, laryngitis, and cotton brain, I'm feeling very good today. I look forward to a quite weekend with my granddaughters while their mom, unfortunately, is working from 9 am to 9 pm both days. I'll use my energy this morning to get the house picked up, do laundry and figure out a crockpot dinner (I bought split peas yesterday!) and then relax and knit the rest of the day. Hoping my knitting buddy will swing by for ice tea today, but she doesn't drive and it all depends on her hubby's plans for the day. Dozed and knit yesterday. I'm making a pair of Dobby Socks for myself. Using up this and that balls of sock yarn. This pair is a stash buster as I'm using sport weight sock yarn or two strands of regular sock yarn. They will be nice and toasty for my morning walks once the temperature goes down a bit more. Dobby Socks are fun. When the knitting gets boring, it's time to change colors, throw in a bit of texture or a stitch pattern. I've been using a variation of Cat Bordhi's Houdini socks and info she shares in Personal Footprints. However, instead of starting at the toe, these are started at the heel.

Dark Chocolate: Findings showed “chocolate therapy” lowered high hormone levels. So experts suggest stressed out workers would benefit long-term from daily consumption of chocolate. They recommend 40 grams a day. A whole candy bar, nice! Researchers believe flavanols in chocolate, which help prevent artery inflammation, are also responsible for the reduction in mental stress. --everydiet That would be five of the Hershey miniatures at 230 calories. That is just about a half a meal's worth of my calories. YMMV. Maybe after I loose another 20-30 lbs and am on "maintenance" I can afford that many calories. Right now, eating that would raise my stress levels!

Overeating and Dieting linked to Drug Addiction In my experience it's reversible, too. Once one gets "addicted" to healthy eating, the desire for junk foods and empty calories disappears. Of course having a "death sentence" of diabetes hanging over one's head like the sword of Damocles helps!

Slash and Burn

2009-11-13T04:28:00.002-07:00

I remember learning years ago in elementary school about this agricultural technique. Over the years it's evolved into a methodology I use for many things.

At times in my life I have too much stuff. I start packing things and storing them, or better yet giving them away. It's important to remove things that are not contributing to my enjoyment of life. It takes a certain mind set to accomplish this...a distancing from whatever I'm trying to remove. I have to objectively look at the category of items and decide if I'm ever going to use them, seriously, again. Some things I can't let go of and I accept that. Others, it really isn't hard to boot out the door.

A long time ago I learned that life is short enough that what surrounds you should be contributing to your happiness. Those additions to your life should make you smile, not cringe. When you start making excuses not to be around something that was once precious, it's really okay to remove it from your world.

In the discipline of knitting, this happens when we finally decide, without regret or guilt that we are never going to finish that sweater and we either frog it to pieces or give it to someone else to do as they wish. It's really very liberating and suddenly the yarn we hated to catch sight of becomes a new inspiration for our knitting.

Some things we commit to for the long haul. Marriages (at least that's the hope), children, pets. These things all cause us stress, but we've committed to that amount of stress in our lives. Hopefully we walked in with our eyes open and agreed to all of the potential good and not so good things that are part of those relationships. Sometimes it doesn't work, but we try and try harder with these areas of our lives because we've made a very public commitment.

Friends, acquaintances, co-workers...that's another whole story. Of course we enter those relationships with the highest of hopes and commitments, really wanting them to work. When they don't though, when one finds oneself making excuses not to go to work, avoiding social locations because one doesn't want to chance running into a particular someone, or worse, start looking for a new job because the person in the next cubical just makes your ulcer bleed, it truly is time to move on. Some things just can't be fixed.

What pushes us to those points is so very different from person to person, relationship to relationship. I recently went out on a blind date and it was made very clear to the gentleman that I didn't want cigarette smoke around me. The first thing he did when getting into the vehicle was light up. I understand he was nervous, but hey, he knew smoking around me was a deal breaker. There was no future. He, apparently was willing to risk that, and the risk didn't pay off.

Life is just too short to not have the things, places and people around you that make you happy. Some we aren't given a choice on, but on all those extras in our lives we can choose to be around or not be around, make good choices. If it makes your stomach tighten up, get away from it. If you don't come away from the encounter with a lighter step and a song in your heart, don't go back.Knitters often say, "Life is too short to knit with yukky yarn." It's true. No matter what your own individual definition of yukky yarn is.

A Pair Finished and a Pair Cast On

2009-11-12T04:35:00.004-07:00

These are my Witch Socks. I received a skein of red and a skein of white sport weight "sock" yarn (90% merino, 10% nylon) for my birthday. I dyed half the white yarn black and thus was born the color patterning for these socks.I used a variation of Cat Bordhi's Houdini Socks and Personal Footprints. These particular socks were knit heel up. Collaborating on a recipe for them so keep an eye open!

And I finally managed to get two socks on one circ started. I didn't CO both socks at the same time. Did about eight rows of one toe/heel and then moved them to DPNs to hold. Then did about eight rows of the second toe/heel. Moved the first one back on the circ and voilà! Two socks on one circ. Because this pair of socks will be scrap socks, this method will help me make them identical and use up each excess ball of yarn as I go.

I really love riding the bus with my granddaughter in the mornings. It gives me knitting and quiet time to begin my day. After walking her to school, I walk at least a mile and a half before I start the rest of my day. I'll hate when the heat comes back next summer and I have to walk at dawn or roast....but for now, it's wonderful.

Coffee is the nectar of the gods

2009-11-11T16:18:00.002-07:00

Went out for coffee with my BFFs today. Knitted on socks and had great fun. A lady, just starting to knit again, came over to ask me to help her learn. Such a strange turn around from a few weeks ago when I was invisible.

At any rate, I'm excited about finding another knitting friend and know I will enjoy sharing with her, too.

I've been working on socks, and finished another pair today. Pics as soon as they are dry.

Great news on the home front. My Eldest Daughter and my grandsons moved home from Hawaii! They arrived as part of a surprise party for my Youngest Daughter on Tuesday. Surprised is an understatement. We have some good times together already and I'm so happy they are home.

Youngest Daughter had her appendix out on Friday night. She was feeling lousy all day and around dinner time I decided she needed to see a doctor. By midnight she was asleep and minus one appendix. She's fine though, was home by Sunday and back at school on Monday! Laproscopic surgery is amazing.

Tie Dye Socks!

2009-11-03T04:56:00.001-07:00

Halloween Pics from TN

2009-11-03T04:17:00.001-07:00

Go Look Again!

2009-10-21T04:00:00.001-07:00

Another yummy yarn giveaway!

Go Look!

2009-10-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

Yummy! Yarn Giveaway!

Good Job, Mr. President!

2009-10-16T05:12:00.003-07:00

Explaining hate speech to a fourth grader!

Can you say, "Obsession?"

2009-10-10T03:30:00.005-07:00

Yes, another Personal Footprint sock from Cat Bordhi's wonderful idea. This is from one of the skeins of yarn I received for my birthday, Autumnal Equinox. L did a great job of dyeing as the repeats don't immediately catch your eye, no striping, no pooling. I did a bit of a pattern on these. Rnd 1: K1, K2tog, YO to three sts at the end of N1, YO, K2tog, K1. Repeat on N2. Rnd 2: K even. It makes for a nice set of "racing strips" up the side of the foot.

Congratulations, Mr. President! "The Norwegian Nobel Committee lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation but recognized initiatives that have yet to bear fruit: reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, easing American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthening the U.S. role in combating climate change. 'Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future,' said Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Committee."
"And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century," President Barack Obama.

Personal Footprints

2009-10-09T03:37:00.002-07:00

Finished up a pair of socks based on Cat Bordhi's Personal Footprints. Left over yarn from my two most sock recent projects. The more I work with this concept of sock making, the more I like it! More information on Ravlery.

Scrunchie Hand Warmers

2009-10-08T04:28:00.003-07:00

Pattern: Scrunchie Hand Warmers from 101 Designer On-Skein Wonders. I used leftover yarns...the cuff is silk, the rest is sock yarns. They are very warm,but a bit too big for me. The will probably go on to the Reservation as no one besides me would wear orange!

Google is not a synonym for "research." ---Dan Brown

Kate and Edith, Two

2009-10-07T05:01:00.002-07:00

My friends A and L, gave me this gorgeous hand dyed yarn for my birthday. L is the master dyer. The colors are bright and true and I just adore every skein. What's especially nice is it's sport weight "sock" yarn, superwash merino and nylon! Nice thick socks that knit up even faster!

L and A also took me out for breakfast at a wonderfully quaint little restaurant. It was a wonderful birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-10-06T04:51:00.000-07:00

Socks Done!!!

2009-09-28T03:49:00.006-07:00

Finished the Blue & Purple socks. Information on them on Ravelry. I'm very happy with the results. Cat Bordhi's little hint on how to make the transition from heel/foot to leg to avoid holes was fantastic. That tidbit can be found on the videos I mentioned in yesterday's post.

I started out as a true blue, cuff down, DPN sock knitter. Didn't think there was any need to do it any other way as that just work perfectly and why fix somethin' that ain't broke! Then I tried afterthought heels. Okay, they work nicely, too. Magic Loop changed my sock knitting life, and I haven't even missed my DPNs. Toe up was still too much of a hassle until I finally mastered Judy Becker's Magic Cast On. For now, toe up, Houdini Socks are my preferred way of making socks. I love the way the heel fits, how professional the toe looks and how much easier it is to fit socks to others.

My friend, A, gave me a ball of green ww wool yarn she's not fond of to make Mittnz. Didn't use it for that, so CO a pair of wool house socks last night. Although just the toe is finished, they feel warm already. They will be donated to our next blitz, Feetz.

Again, Rachel has described my life completely. Please read!

Are they not just the nicest looking couple?

Finished Socks

2009-09-27T05:49:00.006-07:00

I finished up my BFF, F's socks yesterday. (It's hard to take pictures of white socks!) I would have done them earlier, but I was house sitting for a friend and forgot to bring them with. That and I picked up the newest Diana Gabaldon book, An Echo in the Bone, on Tuesday, and all bets were off till I finished reading it. The house sitting, dog walking "job" was perfect. I was basically holed up in her apartment with my book for two days. Information about the socks is on Ravlery.

I'm still working on the Blue and Purple socks. I have the first one finished and am ready to start the leg on the second. They are Houdini Socks. Cat Bordhi had come out with a book that has enhanced the basic concept of the Houdini Socks, entitled Personal Footprints for Insouciant Knitters. She also has created six videos to explain the technique and how to begin your socks. I used the idea of the life lines to mark the rows where the leg starts and am impressed. When I get some help tracing my foot, I'll use it to make another pair. This really makes it easy to knit socks for absent feet....the ones living in, say, Hawaii or Tennessee.

My friend, A, introduced me to this blog/feed, My Life is Average. It's fantastic. There are a ton of tiny posts a day, but about 80% of them are guaranteed to make you chuckle, belly laugh or somewhere in between. It's a good way to start your day.

Invisibility

2009-09-22T05:40:00.004-07:00

I've been on a mild anti-depressant for about a month now. My nutritionist believes the whole theory behind cortisol and anxiety making it difficult to loose middle of the body fat. She and I agreed that reducing anxiety in my life would be a good thing on many different levels.

And it has. I am happier. The chemicals have taken the edge of anxiety producing situations. I have less discomfort related to being out of the house, taking the bus to the mall and so on. It's been nice. And I've started loosing weight again. All the weight I have to loose is between my neck and knees. I have here to for unknown muscle definition in my arms and legs, and carry little extra weight in my face and neck. (Loose skin, yes, fat, no.)

That would spell success on a variety of levels.

Something else has happened that I'd not bargained for.

Yesterday, my friend, A, and I were sitting next to each other in Starbucks as we generally do on Monday after the kids are dropped off and school, knitting socks, drinking the nectar of the gods, and catching up on the weekend. A little old lady walked over to my friend and said, "Oh you're making socks. From the toe up!" A said, Yes," showed her the sock as I bent over and dug out my most recently finished pair and held them out for examination, too.

It was like a scene out of a ghost movie. I was the ghost. This little old knitter chatted with A about her sock and totally ignored me, my outstretched hand with brightly striped socks, like, well, I was invisible.

No, I don't think the antidepressants made me invisible. And yes, this has happened before. What's different is this time I felt it. Previously, I expected to be treated this way, either ignored or bullied. It was normal for me. And I just blew it off. Welcome to my world. Yesterday, however, now that my little happy pills secrete wonderful chemicals in my brain, I felt it. It hurt. As I sat knitting last night, I cried because that little old knitter lady deliberately ignored me. She went out of her way to speak to A, no more than two feet away from me, and just as precisely chose to pretend I didn't exist. And I felt it.

Which makes me think about whether I want to continue with these magic pills.

On a happier note, there is knitting, too!
These are a compilation of a couple of patterns. The construction comes from Cat Bordhi's Houdini Socks. The stitch pattern is from Joansie's standby, Blueberry Waffle Socks. The yarn is hand dyed. I wondered what would happen if one dyed half a hank one color and half another. Not much. It's okay, and might be a big more exciting if the colors weren't so closely related..... They are still pretty, just nothing to write home to mom about.

Knitting Done and Gone

2009-09-20T05:35:00.003-07:00

My BFF, F recently had a birthday and I promised him a pair of hand made socks. He'd been reluctant because he just "doesn't think I can wear colored socks." So, here are his white socks ready to try on before I do the toes. His foot is the same size around as mine, but just a bit shorter. So once I get these finished I'll have his "sock recipe" so I can teach him how to make them! He, like me, is a pretty much a small project person, although both of us have done long term projects.Because I needed an "on the go" project, and because a friend was making her first pair of toe up socks, I decided to join the fun! Yipes Stripes! Details for these on Ravelry. Both socks use Judy's Magic Cast On. One has a short row heel. My first and most likely the last, and the other is a Cat Bordhi Houdini Sock. Both heels fit equally as well as they are based on the concept of "a heel is the same thing as a toe." A couple of my knitting friends don't have small project bags. I have two I purchased from a, sadly no longer in business, vendor on etsy. I knew how, in theory, to make the regular flat bottomed bag, like the yellow one here. It was just a matter of digging out the sewing machine and playing with it a bit. The one I really wanted to make was the twisted one. I had made larger versions of this for my daughters years ago and the pattern I'd used was no longer on line. So, I played with this and that and eventually figured out how to do it again. I just think it's such an interesting design which makes it no more useful than the simple one, but....it's unique. Both bags are fully lined and will have clips added to them so I can hook them on my purse, belt loop or whatever. So now I have two new small project bags! Keep tuned in, because I eventually may have these for sale....

I've been cleaning up my knitting corner and have frogged a few projects that are never going to get finished. Which freed up some yarn and space to CO a new project: Garter Stitch Loop-Through Scarf from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders. It's fun to do up until the 16 inches of garter stitch...but it's a good small project for watching TV or having coffee at knitting group! I have been itching to make a hat so maybe I'll get one started today....

Gryffindor Speckle Done!

2009-09-13T03:55:00.002-07:00

Project Details. It was a fun knit, although I'd do it in one piece next time. It was no fun seaming up the sides with yarn carried up the seams. It is a fantastic slip stitch pattern, though.

In Memorium

2009-09-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Mittnz Done!

2009-09-07T05:30:00.003-07:00

Here are my nine pairs of mittnz for the Native American Support "9 in '09" Mittnz Drive. These will be mailed off at the end of the month along with hundreds of other mittnz from other knitters to arrive in time to keep hands warm on the reservation in South Dakota. This is a picture of my mother standing on the Cheyenne River Reservation with the 140 acres she was awarded for being a Lakota and registered at the rez when she was born in the background.You can see how desolate the land is and when the temperatures fall to sub-zero along with the wind chill, mittnz are a necessity.

I finished up the first of the Scrunchie Hand Warmers from Designer One Skein Wonders. Longer than any handwarmers I've ever made and very, very warm!

Eight Down, One to Go

2009-09-05T03:46:00.003-07:00

Here's my eight pair of mittens for the rez. Ninth pair has been CO and I'm about 2.5 inches into it. They are handwarmers with a bit of a pattern, Scrunchie Hand Warmers from 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders. Aren't they so cool looking?

Sharing is not just for kindergarteners

2009-09-03T04:42:00.006-07:00

"When we were children our parents and others talked about the importance of sharing. Such a simple act, but many of us have forgotten that lesson. We have to have our own “fill in the blank” and the sad part is so many of those items are used infrequently so the practice becomes extremely wasteful at a time when waste is a luxury we can ill-afford.

So what is sharing in the adult context? Sharing is re-use. Sharing is love-me-downs (formerly hand-me-downs). Sharing is one lawn mower for five or six lawns or better still neighborhood garden plots on those lawns. Re-gifting is sharing. Sharing is efficiency, conservation, simple and green all rolled into one. And sharing is not always about things–stories and joy are also good to share!

See what you can share today." -New Dream Blog

Mittnz pair #7 of my 9 is finished. Interestingly enough, this silk wool blend yarn is some that a kind knitter on-line shared with me, and now in turn I'm sharing it with a baby on the Cheyenne River Reservation to help keep his or her little fingers warm when the wind chill hits 70 below, or the family can't afford to heat their home. The BSJ model for the class I was teaching is done. I finished off the I cord bind off and crocheted the seams shut last night during class. Now it's just time to find buttons! I used almost three skeins of Merino Frappe along with odds and ends of sock yarn. It's nice and thick and will be very warm for some baby out on the plains of South Dakota.

Knittin' Mittnz

2009-09-02T05:45:00.004-07:00

The bug has finally bitten and I'm knittin' mittnz! These are pairs 5 and 6. The first mitten of pair 7 is finished. That means at minimum two more pair before the end of the month. Last September when the bug bit, I sequestered myself in my room and made around 50 pair. Not gonna happen this year. But I will get at least my pledge of 9 pair and perhaps a few more. These are baby mitts rather than full fledged mittens with thumbs.

The BSJ is done except for the I-Cord bind off, sewing the seams, and adding the buttons. All the "knitting" is done. Tonight is class #3 of4 so I'm right on schedule...one step ahead of my fastest student.

I've worked a bit on my scrap raglan cardigan (would that be a scraplan or a scraglan?) Past the sleeves, into the body with another 8-10 inches to go, I think. It's fun as I'm finding single skeins of funky stuff to put in it.

Started a pair of socks for my BFF and had to frog them as they looked way to big. Have to check the needle size and see if I'm using the same one I did for the pair he tried on for fitting purposes. They are a quick knit as he doesn't want a long leg! Yeah!!!!

It must have been a heck of a reunion!

2009-08-30T05:17:00.003-07:00

This is my scrap sweater. A simple raglan pattern and I'm using a ball of this and a ball of that from my stash. Mostly bulky or heavy worsted weight yarns including some of my early handspun stuff. I'm about six inches down from the arm holes so, got a bit more to do on that body before starting the sleeves. It's fun to work on even if I'm not fond of using larger than a size 8 needle!

Spend most of the day yesterday in front of the TV knitting and watching Ted Kennedy's funeral and burial. Very moving and so very different from the structured and almost choreographed funeral for Jack.

Ketchup

2009-08-20T05:44:00.005-07:00

Some FOs and WIPs.
This is the One Day Beret I started last week. It would have been a one day project if I could count! All the modifications and info is on Ravelry. I'll need to make another one for my daughter.This is another BSJ. I am teaching a class at my LYS, starting last night, and I knitted the first section to stay one class ahead of the students. One is a very new knitter and the other an experienced knitter that just needed someone to walk her through the pattern the first time. I'm using a strand of fuzzy dk yarn and a strand of sock yarn. I think it's coming out nicely. Makes most of the bright sock yarns more "pastelly". This is my Confetti Sweater. It's a simple Top Down Raglan Cardi. I'm using bits and pieces of yarn I found in my stash. Most are heavy ww to bulky. Some boucle and chenille, too, to add texture and interest. I'm almost ready to put the sleeves on a stitch holder to continue the body of the sweater. I'm enjoying it and have found that specialty yarns are much easier to knit with than to crochet with.
We're all adjusting to the first week of school, setting schedules and all that stuff.

Their cold hands, your warm heart

2009-08-17T03:56:00.005-07:00

Can you help us out? We need some more mittnz. Warm hand coverings. Hand made or purchased. Brand new or gently used. Please read this article. These are the people I knit for, the Native Americans in central South Dakota, the Cheyenne River Reservation. Can you please help a little? Every item helps. If you don't like to make mittens, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, slippers, blankets....anything will help. Let me know when you are ready to ship and I'll send you the mailing address. Please...winter is almost upon the Great Plains. It's in the mid-40s to mid-50s there at night already. In a few short weeks, it'll start getting cold. And by January the wind chill will make it dangerous.

Where the Wild Things Are. October 16.

I have at least one student for my Baby Surprise Jacket class starting on Wednesday, so I thought I should get moving on starting a sample for the class. I'll knit it as far as the first lesson goes so the student gets an idea of what it looks like. I figure if I stay one step ahead, I'll be okay! With that said, my One Day Beret has been put on hold till I finish up this weeks work on the BSJ.

Spent yesterday afternoon at Borders knitting with a friend from the knitting group. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon. Both of us were talking too much and ending up tinking quite a bit of our knitting. Oh well, if one is going to make a mistake, a mistake made in the company of a friend is the best!

Blue Beret

2009-08-16T06:09:00.005-07:00

While viewing reading through my blogroll yesterday, someone had finished this One Day Beret. As I've been working on a Magic Loop center start for in the round projects, I thought this would be a good place to use that recently acquired talent. I'm using Red Heart Ocean and US5 needles. Hope to finish it up today.

Easily a one day knit if you don’t have to frog it twice because you can’t keep track of increases….
Used Magic Loop CO and found it soooooooo much easier than using DPNs.
After the second or third increases I switched to YO instead of Kfb.
Increased until there were 16 sts in each wedge
Added a round of YO, K2tog to mark the transition from the increases to knitting st st evenly.

From Kathy's blog. Too cute for words.

On friendship and autism

2009-08-15T05:16:00.006-07:00

I occasionally write about living with my disability, Asperger's Syndrome. Today, I'd like you to go to Rachel's Blog and read about a bad day. This is how we feel, when the hope of having family and friends try to understand who we are, how it feels and accept us anyway, fails. Many of you will not bother to go read it, and some of those who do, will end up angry at me for putting this issue into your lives. The anger will be directed at me and whatever relationship I had with you will be gone. If I'm lucky, it'll all happen without a direct confrontation. I'll just quit hearing from you. (Don't worry, I won't keep IMing, I'm used to it.) When I'm not lucky, it'll happen with a great display of fireworks and ravaging words of anger.

There is a certain percentage of the population that hone in on those of us that are different and treat us in the most horrendous ways (understand, as I do, that my description of horrendous is how it makes me feel inside, not something most of the world would define as horrendous. Most people would say I'm overreacting. But trust me, that's how it feels...horrendous). They don't have to even know us. We are often the ones that are referred to as people that have "victim" tattooed on our foreheads, we emit some energy that triggers a violent (verbal to physical) response in others. When these people are confronted and really think about why they reacted that way, they can't give a reason. But the anger is there, the agitation, the drive to remove our genes from the gene pool.

We have these people, whom I call Genetic Bullies (they, having a gene for cleansing the species of weaklings), are in our families, (which are the hardest for us to deal with because we have this silly dream that family members love you no matter what), they are in our acquaintances, in our working world, and in our social environments. They "know" they shouldn't or can't act upon this rage inside them in a civilized world, but it doesn't diminish their reactions to us. The smart ones begin subtle campaigns to have us removed from their familial contacts, work environment, and social area. It makes it near impossible to keep a job. Getting the jobs are not too hard, keeping them is a whole 'nother story.

When it's happened so many times in one's life, one can safely say it's not a paranoid delusion. It's a reality. And it affects how we interact with our world. I've met a knitter, new to our knitting group and we seem to fit together like a handshake. Yet, I'm so tempted to change my name, phone number and disappear because it's the first time in 6 or 7 years I've extended myself past my immediate living environment. My past attempts have not survived and didn't end well.

You see, we don't have casual friends. Generally the people groups, as far as emotional commitment, are slight acquaintances or BFF. Nothing in between. And when you are a BFF, it's a total commitment on our part. Sort of a "love at first sight" thing. When those fall apart it's unbelievably painful. And the next time a person appears in our world we run, because the pain of it ending badly is too much to bear.

Unlike the popular hype, people on the autistic spectrum crave human company. We may not want to be right in the conversation, but we love being around people. There is a term for children, generally preschoolers, who like to play near others but not with them. It's called parallel play. Two kids will both be playing house, but it's like they are next door neighbors, each doing their own thing without interacting with each other, perfectly content to be near but not interacting. Lots of autistics feel this way. "In the world but not of it." Sometimes, however, we do find someone we'd like to be with. Kids rush into the relationship and bounce back from the rebuffs many times before they begin to be wary. By the time one reaches 50 it's easier just not to attempt the relationship. Lonely, but much safer.

It's really easy to understand!

2009-08-13T06:38:00.005-07:00

From the White House. Please spend the time to look through this!!! It's vital to your health.

Read Homespun Dreamings to get a summary of the proposed health care changes that isn't based in fear. The last eight years have been all about making the American people, heck, the people of the world afraid. Afraid of everything that is new, unique or a different color.

The loud disruptors of the Town Hall meetings across the country are refusing, to the best of their ability, to allow anyone to explain why fear isn't necessary any more. It really is okay to pull your head out of the sand and see that the sky is, indeed, NOT falling. I know it's hard to give up fear. We've been counseled to hold on to it for so long, if we let go, what do we have?

We have a chance for a better life, to return to the old values of helping each other out, and making sure that those of us not in the prime of our life have the help we need.

Check out Helen's acerbic comments.

Today, as we steer a new course at the United Nations, our guiding principles are clear: We value the UN as a vehicle for advancing U.S. policies and universal rights. We work for change from within rather than criticizing from the sidelines. We stand strong in defense of America’s interests and values, but we don’t dissent just to be contrary. We listen to states great and small. We build coalitions. We meet our responsibilities. We pay our bills. We push for real reform. And we remember that, in an interconnected world, what’s good for others is often good for America as well.--Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

Benjamin Franklin said, “The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.”

..the summer of my discontent...

2009-08-12T05:28:00.003-07:00

I have not been able to settle into a enjoyable project. Everything I start just doesn't feel good. This hat is the latest attempt at trying to find something. All this ribbing, what was I thinking? And....it's supposed to fit an adult. This won't even fit the 4-year-old. The pattern: Blue Hills at Knitty.com I used bulky yarn and I admit the needle was a bit smaller than called for, but I don't think it could make it go from a one-size-fits-all adult to a possibly two year old? Oh well...some baby on the reservation will have a warm head and neck!

This is my next attempt...and I'm liking it a bit more. It's based on this Easy Top Down Raglan. As always, I'm adding my twist to everything. I did the first inch or so in seed stitch, the switched to garter for a bit more and now am doing st st. The yarns are a conglomeration of different bulky and heavy worsted stuff I had in my stash. A little bit of this and a little bit of that. Many don't have labels at all, so I'll treat it as regular wool when washing. At this point I'm thinking once the yoke is done I'll switch to a solid color, but who knows where my mine will be at that point and even if I'll get that far.

It Ain't Easy Bein' Green

2009-08-09T07:38:00.005-07:00

I crocheted this quick corset thingie for Eldest Granddaughter as a "back to school" gift. It's generally too warm during the day for a full sweater, but this, made of two strands of sock yarn will keep her snuggly. We're thinking of getting several different colors of yarn, matching different shirts to weave through the top openings and tie in a bow in front.Spent an hour this morning trying to figure out how to make this blanket. It truly is a stash buster! Triple crochet all the way around! However it'll make a great baby blanket to go with the Boheme I just finished. My youngest daughter will be making it, though, not me. I'm making these booties to go with the Boheme.I'm thinking of making a few of these for one of the teachers at Oldest Granddaughter's school. She collects fish and has been the teacher for three of my six school age grand kids. We're hoping the fourth of them will start with her next year. These little fishies are cute, too.

Both Sides

2009-08-08T05:27:00.002-07:00

If you've been watching the news, I'm sure you're aware of all the people disrupting town hall meetings organized by members of Congress explaining what exactly is in the Health Reform legislation at this point to their constituents. The disruptors make a lot of noise and will not allow the information to be disseminated to those that want to listen. Many times they are not even members of the constituency involved in the meeting. There are organizations all over the internet with information on how to disrupt these town halls for the sake of being disruptive and spreading fear. The same fear we've lived with for the last eight years under the Republican White House.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

So listen to "the rest of the story..."

Boheme

2009-08-06T08:27:00.003-07:00

This is Boheme. There's another baby showing up this fall, so I'm getting this done. It's a quick easy knit. I'm using Lion Brand Cotton Ease cuz it's what I had in my stash. It'll be fun shopping for buttons.

Fairy Dress and more...

2009-08-04T05:58:00.004-07:00

Isn't this gorgeous? I found it while perusing a copy of Creative Knitting at the local Borders. I'm thinking of it in a cotton with defined stripe changes rather than the flowing changes pictured here. It looks pretty straight forward in the knitting..... I would have liked it in the Crystal Palace new aran weight Mochi Plus, but I think I'm cured of that particular yarn.... (see below).I received this wonderful gift of yarn from an on-line knitter, Barbara P. Thanks so much....yummy stuff comin' from this gift! It's time to go back to school soon, so I've started some projects for my granddaughters. This is the youngest's new dress. She'll only wear sleeveless sun dresses (regardless of the weather) and if we're lucky we can get a pair of leggings underneath them. I didn't want to knit a whole dress, so I thought this would be cute.

And these are the ruined socks. I think I'll split the down the front of the leg so my granddaughter can put them on as house socks.....or I'll send them on to the rez for the same purpose.

I sent an e-mail to the company and the answer was to send me two balls of my choice of any of their yarns and "We do our best to avoid this kind of misunderstanding with the care instructions on the Mini Mochi label that say to machine wash gentle cycle with cool water and mild soap and to dry flat."

My response was. "I still don't think superwash should full like this. I know you feel giving your washing instructions should absolve you from the mismanagement of the socks on the knitter's part, but it really doesn't. I've knit over 70 pairs of socks. All from superwash sock yarns from various companies. This is the only yarn that has fulled to a point of uselessness. That is not what superwash is. I don't know where the failure in the manufacturing occurred, but I do know that there wasn't enough QC on your end. And we won't even go into the amount of knots in the yarn." I requested two balls of Panda Silk, color 4002.

I am so angry!

2009-08-02T09:23:00.005-07:00

My Diagon Alley Rainbow socks fulled. They fulled alot. From a Large Woman's size to a Medium Child's size.

Crystal Palace's Mini Mochi Sock Yarn Fulls!!!!! Oh, it's marketed as superwash merino but it isn't. It fulled. Alot. I'm so upset. I loved those socks and was counting the days till it cooled down enough I could wear them. Now I can't get them on my feet.

Weaving those Loose Ends....

2009-08-02T06:08:00.003-07:00

First I weave the yarn back and forth through the purl loops.Then I turn and pierce the woven in yarn on the first loop of the tail on the bottom. Piercing insures the yarn will have a difficult time unweaving itself.
Continue piercing the bottom loops of the tail working back towards where you started.
Once four or five loops have been pierced, pull the yarn all the way through and clip the ends, leaving about 1/4 inch of yarn. Give a slight tug and the ends will disappear into the tail.
This works especially well with superwash and non-wool yarns that can't slightly felt with use.

Mittnz 09

2009-08-01T04:36:00.003-07:00

The deadline of "9 in 09" is creeping up on us. So I spend my knitting time at knitting group working on my first top down mitten. I used Judy's Magic Cast On, (and interestingly enough, a new group member introduced herself yesterday, recently moving to the desert from Portland, Oregon, and is a friend of Judy Becker!) I'm using leftover Mini Mochi from my Diagon Alley Rainbow Socks.
Other than, "because I can" (and I do respect that reason) why would one knit a chair (cover)? I can only see how it would slip and slide when one seated one's butt down on it.... And it would definitely be a stash buster!

Small Change: "For instance, the authors suggest substituting one glass of water for a soft drink at each meal. Projected savings: 50,000 calories and $500 annually. Another easy change: walk to a further bus stop rather than the stop closest to my home. Projected benefit: I could walk an additional 150 miles in one year with a small adjustment in my route." -from Wise Bread. And the clichés: Every little bit helps; One step at a time....

You know it's hot when.....

2009-07-28T04:45:00.003-07:00

PARAbnormal
We got a new evaporative cooler yesterday. So, it's only 80 at 5:00 am today instead of 87... It feels a lot cooler than that, as it was 95 at 5:00 pm last night when we sat down to dinner (cold chicken salad) when the new cooler was just finally up and running. The nice thing is that it's quiet. Very quiet. In fact it was so quiet that when I was upstairs in the bathroom, I thought I heard water just barely running at a whisper, when indeed, it was the cooler itself. Of course we two high speed fans in the downstairs just to keep the air circulating, so it's far less than quiet in the house even at 5 am. There is no chugging and clanking now. It's a good thing.

In the month of July, to this point, we have had 20 out of 27 days over 100 degrees and the other seven in the 90s.
In June we had ten days over 100, 19 days at 90-99, and 1 day less than 90 degrees.
In May, 8 days over 100 degrees, 18 in the 90s, 4 in the 80s and one in the 60s.
Since the first of May: 38 days over 100 degrees, 44 days in the 90s, and 6 days at 89 or less.

It's hot here.

If your cooler breaks, knit a hat

2009-07-27T06:03:00.004-07:00

We don't have central AC. Just evaporative cooling. Which works fine in the desert if the humidity is low....and of course if it works at all.... It went out on Saturday, and 100 degree heat with no cooler is not considered an emergency by the apartment complex. So I sat in my room and knit a hat. Nothing complicated...88 stitch cast on, rolled brim, and some color work thrown in. I like the decreases, tho, which are knit to within four sts of your decrease. K2tog, YO, K2tog. My BFF would complain about the holes and his head is freezing, but for the majority of us, it's just enough of a design to be cute!

So, the never ending put down of knitters that use acrylic yarns has again risen to the surface. I was told that my inability to afford as much wool yarn as I would like is not that acrylic is less expensive, it's that I don't know how to budget my discretionary money. My income is less than $500 and from that I have to pay two major bills, my son's allowance, feed my animals, and then, if there is money left over, or I save for a couple of months, I can buy yarn.

Now, I knit to keep my hands busy. It's not a choice, it's a necessity, called stimming, related to my autism. I knit alot...hours on end sometimes. I go through a lot of yarn. If I, as this person seemed to think I should, use only wool yarn, I just plain couldn't afford to knit. And that's not gonna happen. Acrylic yarn provides me with the opportunity to knit alot, afford to do that knitting, and keeps lots of people on the Cheyenne River Reservation, Eagle Butte, SD, warmer. People just never realized others are bad off in this economy and those of us that were bad off before are now worse off...

Diagon Alley Rainbows

2009-07-26T04:04:00.003-07:00

Pattern: If You Know Where to Go
Yarn: Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, Color 101, 2 skeins
Needles: US2
Modifications: Dawn Brocco's Afterthought heel and Round Toe used so the color patterning wouldn't be disrupted
The yarn was a bit splitty and I had to cut and fix the color repetitions due to a knot in one skein
Ravelry

Mystery Project, Part I

2009-07-25T05:22:00.003-07:00

From Thimble.
I finished the first part of the Mystery Project yesterday morning. After seeing the speedy knitters' finished hat, I decided I didn't like the length of it 7 inches before the decreases. So I frogged back one pattern repeat and did the decreases. It fits my 8 year old granddaughter, but would stretch to a teen and small adult size. I used Red Heart ww with size 8 needles.

Spinning again

2009-07-24T06:15:00.005-07:00

This is some American Top I had and had dyed years ago, back when I first starting spinning. I realized I wasn't enjoying spinning what I had on the wheel, so I changed to something easier to get back in the groove, as it were.I've had to reteach myself to spin, as I didn't have energy or muscles when I learned and now I do. Slowing down my treadling to match my drafting or speeding up my drafting has been my quest the last few days. Although this isn't a balanced single by any means, it's usable yarn for hats or scarves, mittens or slippers.

This is the alpaca I scored at the Renaissance Festival some years ago. It's got lots of guide hairs in it still. I'm hoping washing and blocking will help.

I moved the spinning wheel up to my room, and if I sit in front of the AC, it's comfortable to spin. Hanging around with the knitting groups at my LYS is diversifying my interests.... I just need to keep from creating deadlines for myself. Silly as it may sound to you "normal" people, if I start branching out with my hobbies, I start to feel guilty for the projects not being worked on. Now, snoring WIPs of all the same area don't bother me, but knitting instead of spinning or crocheting instead of knitting does make me feel guilty. There is no rhyme or reason for this, it just is me. I'm hoping if I can keep myself from obsessing over one craft, I'll be able to do more. Retraining and old mind with OCD tendancies is a hard thing to do. And spending money on learning a new craft and then abandoning it is even worse.... Welcome to my world.

With that said, I'm sorta keeping up with my Mystery Project over on KnitBabySurprise. It's a hat and I just need to do the decreases. The second half of the project starts up tomorrow, I think.

Today the knitting group is having a pot luck at the store. Should be a tasty day!

2009-07-22T05:29:00.003-07:00

Some of us are doing a Mystery project over at KnitBabySurprise. Here's the outcome of the first day of knitting.

Wednesdays are my busy days. Pottery in the morning and knitting group in the evening. And today is BFFs birthday, so we are going out for diner to celebrate.

Spend your cleaning supply money on yarn instead!

July 20, 1969

2009-07-21T05:15:00.003-07:00

Ben & Jerry's Does It Again

2009-07-20T05:52:00.002-07:00

I wonder if there is somewhere I could get the empty carton without the ice cream?????

Knitting progresses. The Square Shawl is about 20 inches across, too big to photograph without taking it off the needles. Or buying longer ones.... I did try to put a lace pattern in it, screwed it up, frogged the lace back to the lifeline, and continued on.

EZ is Getting EZer

2009-07-19T05:13:00.005-07:00

I got one sleeve of the Tomten about half done and decided I didn't like the method I'd used, so I frogged it all and put down the Tomten for the day...and am seriously considering leaving it as a vest.

However, that didn't mean I'd quit knitting. I started yet another EZ project: Square Shawl (February). The pattern is in both Knitter's Almanac and Knitting Workshop (available from Schoolhouse Press). I adapted it to a Magic Loop CO which is easier, IMHO, than trying to use four DPNs. EZ warns that knitting just st st will get boring and invites the knitter to insert lace patterns. So far, all I've been brave enough to do is add some YO, K2tgs and some rounds of purls to create garter stitch ridges. Maybe I'll sit down and figure out a motif or something..... Anyway, it's fun and pretty much mindless knitting with enough increases to break up the monotony.

PARAAbnormal

Baby Bear Rib Warmer FO

2009-07-18T04:23:00.006-07:00

I finished it! and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be! Maybe I am beginning to understand EZ. Pattern: Baby Bear Rib Warmer
Yarn: Icky stuff from my stash okay for bear, not for a human
Needles: US5

I cast on a tiny Tomten Jacket yesterday. To make it doll sized, I just divided all the numbers in the pattern by two. So far, so good.

Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap is much more versatile than I thought!

Baby Bear Rib Warmer

2009-07-17T04:25:00.004-07:00

I'm starting to speak EZ! I guess it just takes a certain amount of working with an EZ pattern to start to understand her language. Now, I'm not fluent in EZ yet, but getting there.This is the Baby Bear Rib Warmer, a scaled down version of the Rib Warmer. Unlike the BSJ, whose shaping is done with increases and decreases, all the shaping on the Rib Warmer is done with short rows. Following these directions, using a provisional cast-on, it again is basically knit in one piece and folds into the vest. Ingenious women, EZ and her daughter Meg Swanson!

I've tried several times to start this, but just didn't speak enough EZ to master it. This time with the help of the pictures on EZ Knitalong, I was able to play with it enough, trust EZ enough to figure it out. It's not finished yet, and there are more EZ instructions to decipher, but I'm confident I'll figure it out.

This one would fit a preemie or small full term baby, but the yarn is some scratchy stuff from my early on-line yarn buying days (can you say pig in a poke?). I may dye it when I'm done, but I'm sure it'll fit Teddy just fine and he won't complain about scratchiness at all!

I'm not much of a spindle spinner....but these Tilt-a-Whorl almost make me think about taking up the hobby again! And they are green---recycled stuff!

If Knitman isn't on reading list...remedy that. Funny, funny stuff along with some of the most gorgeous socks in the world...oh and some good puppy shorts on occasion!

Bamboo yarn is wonderful...soft and just a pleasant experience to work with. And, bamboo may be the new wonder plant for the planet.

One of the gals at our knitting group is making the Chevron Lace Cardigan for herself. It's such a pretty one, and my daughter was recently gifted with ten skeins of cotton so I think she's going to make it for herself. I may have to make one, too.

Some mythbusting on Autism. A must read.

BSJ#3 is Done!

2009-07-15T03:24:00.005-07:00

Teddy and I would like to present BSJ#3!Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket
Yarn: 4 balls (360 yards, 200 g) Crystal Palace Bamboozle
Needles: US 5
I cord BO around front and bottom. Shoulder seam is crocheted slip st. EZ's decreases, YO used for increases.
Although Bamboozle is not particularly fun to knit with, very splitty, it is soft and washes up nicely into a thicker fabric. Although considered to be a WW and suggesting US8 needles, I find the 5's make a very nice firm fabric that still is drapey enough to be attractive. It's still a good point to know that Crystal Palace's Panda Cotton, is the same as Bamboozle but is much less expensive and is sold in bigger balls.

A long neglected project was resurrected after finishing up the BSJ--Diagon Alley Rainbows! I had finished the first one back in May, but I really don't like making socks with patterns in them, even though I keep trying to enjoy it. So, they got slid into the "I'm pretending they don't exist" pile. However, in honor of the new Harry Potter movie we are going to see today, I decided to bite the bullet and finish them. I made a bit of progress yesterday...finished the leg, put in the waste yarn for the afterthought heel and got about an inch done of the foot. To be perfectly honest, I may only do half the foot in pattern (it'll be covered up by my shoes, so who really cares?) so I can make them into FOs!Pattern: If You Know Where to Go
Yarn: Crystal Palace Mini Mochi
Needles: US2
Modifications: Afterthought heel so the color patterning of the yarn won't be interrupted. Interesting thing about the dyeing of the yarn, the color patterning isn't consistent throughout the skein. I assumed the same color pattern would repeat, it doesn't so even if matching socks were the desired outcome, it's not gonna happen...not that I think matching socks are a necessity!

Speaking of Harry Potter, it looks we got the Vatican's Seal of Approval!

Still BSJing

2009-07-14T05:24:00.004-07:00

On the home stretch on the current BSJ. I'm in the midst of the I-cord cast off but am running out of yarn. Will have to run over to LYS today to pick up one more ball to finish of the I cord and do the seaming.
These are the buttons I got for the second BSJ. It's all finished up now, ready to pack away to send to the reservation in the fall!
There hasn't been much else going on around here lately. It's hot...been over a hundred for several days now. That's not so bad as long as the humidity stays low, but that's not happening much either as we're in our "monsoon" season.

However, tomorrow will be a reward in a nice air conditioned theater to go watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!!! We had an interesting discussion last night about when the Levicorpus spell was introduced, and an argument ensued about whether a particular scene was in the movie or the book. Seeing we've all ~~read~~ memorized the books, sometimes it's hard for us to tell! We did decide that knowing those book details allowed us to fill in cracks and crevices in the movie storyline to make it a more complete story. The books are too big and with directors and screenplay writers feeling they have to add their two pence....well, the movies are good stories as are the books, but there just isn't enough movie for each book. Glad to know they are making Deathly Hallows into two movies. We just can't decide where episode one should end and episode two begin!

BSJ Addict

2009-07-12T05:15:00.004-07:00

My BSJ#2 is finished, washed and blocked! I have four of the five buttons I need for it, so will take another pic once they are all purchased and sewn on. I did an I-cord bind off around the front and bottom edges. I had used a provisional crochet CO so, also did an I cord bind off around the sleeves and across the shoulders and back to seam it together at the same time. Loop I-cord button closures. Size US8 needles with bulky yarn, Aarlan Sportiwo. More pictures and information on Ravelry. And this is BSJ#3. This will be the store sample for my LYS and the class I'm going to teach shortly. There has been a lot of interest in the knitting groups so we should have a bunch of BSJ/EZ converts soon! The yarn for this one is Crystal Palace's Bamboozle, a bamboo/cotton blend. It's very soft, a bit slick, bright colors that don't fade but a bit splitty. Size US5 needles makes a nice fabric that's not too firm, but holds it's shape well. More pics and information on Ravlery.Some thoughts about our reluctance to frog....

Only three more wake ups till Harry Potter!

Oldest Grandsons

2009-07-10T04:47:00.002-07:00

My grandsons in Hawaii! They finally got a computer and now we can exchange e-mails and pictures!
I'm on the final states of my BSJ#2, the button band. Pics tomorrow!

Friday knitting group today.

Mud Pies is Fun!

2009-07-08T12:47:00.003-07:00

My first three attempts ever to throw pots. I did one more but didn't get a pic of it yet! It was just way too much fun!Clay comes in 50 lb boxes. I lifted one. It was heavy. I was overwhelmed to think that that is how much weight I've lost. Life is good.

Beef--it's NOT what's for dinner anymore

2009-07-08T05:27:00.003-07:00

Food activists feel this is not enough: The only progressive piece of Food Safety reform that has occurred in the Obama era, to date, is a ban on downer cows being allowed to be slaughtered and put into the food chain. Downer cows aren't cattle with depressive disorders, BTW, they're cattle that are too ill to walk the slaughtering line. Yep, before President Obama took office, sick cows were routinely winding up on dinner plates, both here at home and abroad. I'm astounded that this reform had to be made. As I said before, who needs terrorists when we have the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Today is 7/8/9

Pots and Yarn

2009-07-07T05:43:00.004-07:00

Knitting progresses on BSJ#2. I'm into the increases now, almost to the end of them. It's still a big sweater.... But boy, will it be snuggy warm! Should keep out those cold, cold winds on the plains of South Dakota!

Spending some time with BFF today. He's taking his car in for preventive maintenance so we'll go out for coffee and/or breakfast while the mechanic is earning his daily bread.

Tomorrow BFF and I embark on a new hobby. Well, new for me....pottery. BFF took classes several years ago and has since purchased a pottery wheel. But, with no place to fire finished products... So we are taking classes at the local Pottery Co-op. This is a brand new adventure for me. I did a bit of slab work and the infamous pinch pots in high school some, oh, 40 years ago or so, but never have used a wheel. I like clay and think this will be loads of fun. Hey, mudpies appeal to everyone at some point in their lives. They are kinda like a brand new box of Crayola Crayons and a big pile of clean, empty paper. Who can resist?

What do you think? New Dream Blog: Periods and Spaces

This is as scary as the baby Allie McBeal used to see.....

BSJ#2

2009-07-06T04:40:00.004-07:00

I CO a second BSJ yesterday, although not from the yarn my LYS gave me. I wanted to try a couple modifications first before I decide if the LYS sample will be knitted as EZ wrote the pattern, or with modifications....At this point, I did a provisional cast on (green), and changed the decreases to K2tog, K1, K2tog. I started out with adding four sts to the CO number and put an I-cord edging on both of the selvages. However, that creates different looks on each edge, so frogged that and resorted to the provisional CO with the idea of, when it comes time to sew the seams, doing an I-cord bind off while picking up a st from the front to make an attractive seam that matches the I-cord bind off I'll be doing on the front and lower edges. It'll also allow either cuffs to be made or an I-cord bind off at the edge of the sleeves.

If you haven't made a BSJ, it's hard to explain where these edgings all end up, but the CO edge is the back of the yoke and runs along the back of the sleeves and neck. The selvages run across the top front of the sweater and match the CO edge to be seamed. The BO edge is around the bottom and up the fronts....See, it's worth making one just to see how it all folds up into a beautiful sweater! Not only is it fascinating to watch it fold up, but one has to wonder at the mind that could conceive the idea of it all....

BSJ Completed

2009-07-04T20:37:00.004-07:00

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Miscellaneous wool light ww yarn from my stash
I-Cord Bind Off, Attached I-Cord to neck edge
Needles: US5
Size: 18 in around chest, 13 in length, about 3-6 month old
CO: July 1, BO: July 4

Pattern available at:

This BSJ will be sent to the Cheyenne River Reservation in SD. I'll be CO another one today with Crystal Palace Bamboozle (Carib Blue, Seascape, Royal Blue, and Fern) for the sample for my LYS. With luck I'll have it done by Wednesday night.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Yarn

2009-07-03T05:15:00.007-07:00

I spent the afternoon knitting in AC comfort at my LYS, Grandma's Spinning Wheel, in the midst of another knitting group. This one is nice and noisy, bordering on X rated and I enjoyed myself immensely. This is a pic of our fearless LYS owner, Vicky pledging her allegiance to the freedom of fiber everywhere!

I took my BSJ (pics to come) with me to work on. It surprises me how many people have never heard of it or of Elizabeth Zimmerman for that matter. Guess us nerdy web knitters are the ones sharing all the information! However, with that said, there seems to be interest in learning how to make it, so I'm going to teach a four part work shop on it in the fall. We also discussed teaching the Magic Loop method and Magic Loop socks, so those will go on the schedule, too. Could be too much fun!

If you're looking for a good movie to celebrate our freedom to be comfortable in an air conditioned theater, take the family to see "UP!" It's just way fun! You'll laugh, you'll cry, and laugh some more.

Windy knitting....very cool.

Confession

2009-07-01T06:50:00.006-07:00

Well, I CO my BSJ for the KAL. About four times.... I started out with some fingering weight cotton. Pretty, but I don't think there was enough. Then I tried it with some sock yarn. Pretty, plenty of left over balls of sock yarn, but I really didn't want to knit with small stuff. So then I found some light ww wool, and that was the winning combination.

I frogged one, in addition to being the wrong yarn, because I couldn't get the decreases to line up correctly (hint watch the videos for the easiest method I've come across so far). That's the four attempts. And I did one of those dumb things...read the instructions...to see EZ's suggestion on increases that make less visual impact on garter stitch. So, I'm proceeding with more confidence on this BSJ than I have with any of my previous attempts. And I'm having fun tracking down all the odd balls of wool to use in it. Cleaning up the stash! It's such a boring knit, all garter stitch and such, that without some color changes it would just be way to brain dead.

Tonight is knitting group and I'll take the BSJ along for my project.
Some quotes from Helen:

If you’re Michael Jackson’s father now is not the time to be enjoying the limelight.
You can’t be Pro-Life and Pro-War at the same time. If one of these dispositions has to be in your cadre, then pick one and live with the consequences.
You can’t deny the right to marry to some and then cheat on your spouse. The right to happily marry belongs to all no mater how unhappy it makes you.
You can’t tolerate the atrocities of one President for eight years and then assign the consequences to one who follows. From this day forward everything was Reagan’s fault.
The Christian Right should be forced to spend a week in Iran. May the best radicals win.
The Real Housewives should actually be housewives.

If you don't read Margaret and Helen, please add them to your Reader. Great wit and insight from a couple of very bright and quick ladies!

Starbucks has given me a reason to spend money there on more than just plain old coffee (yes, surprisingly, you can get just black coffee at Starbucks!)! "Saving customers 7 billion calories per year, equaling nearly 5 million pounds of fat by using 2% over whole milk as the standard in all beverages and setting nutrition “guardrails” for new products to be less than 500 calories."

Where's the beef....

2009-06-29T05:05:00.008-07:00

Avoid Beef like the plague.... What's scary is recalls of life threatening foods is voluntary. The manufacturer, JBS Swift Beef Company in this case isn't legally responsible to notify the public or follow through to pull items from the freezers of stores, homes, or institutions. What's up with that! JBS Swift Beef Company refuses to release the list of where this life threatening beef was sent, and is within their legal rights to do so.... Who needs terrorists when you have food manufacturers?

A Baby Surprise Jacket before it's folded into the jacket. More information about the BSJ. The link for the KAL is in the last post. I've received comments and e-mails asking for it, so now you know! There is a compilation of all kinds of BSJ information on Ravelry at the BSJ Wiki Page. There's a series of six videos to help with the BSJ. These are great! Make sure you have them bookmarked when you start working on your BSJ so you can refresh your memory on how to do some of the techniques as EZ wrote them. In the long run, this will help you interpret other EZ patterns.

Someone asked me where to find the pattern:

Pattern from SchoolhousePress
Knitting Workshop, book has the pattern
Opinionated Knitter, book has the pattern
The Yarnery, pattern comes with kit
Knitter’s Magazine, Issue 56, Fall 1999, #6652 (out of print, try eBay)
Your local yarn store

BSJ

2009-06-28T04:58:00.006-07:00

Baby Surprise Jacket. It's one of those knitting icons from Elizabeth Zimmerman. It can be made from a solid, with planned stripes of any size, or with variegated yarn. By changing the size of the yarn and the size of the needles, the size of the jacket is decided.
Yarn / US needles / Size

Fingering / 2 or 3 /Newborn

Sport / 4 or 5 / 6 mos

DK / 6 or 7 / 9 mos

WW / 8 or 9 / about 1 year

Chunky /10 or 10.5 / Toddler

There are a couple of KALs on Ravelry: A seamless BSJ starting July 1st and a regular one starting July 4th. I plan on doing one of them. Wanna play? I made one a couple years ago, but have been itching to make another....

Yarn Storming-Share your stash

2009-06-27T17:48:00.003-07:00

Yarn Storming : Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm | Hudson Valley Fiber Farm

On Ravlery, too

Knitting!!!!

2009-06-27T05:01:00.006-07:00

Last night I finished up the vest I was working on. I'm very pleased with how it looks. Will send a pic on to DIL to see if she'd like it for Youngest Grandson. If not, it'll hang around here till the winter to see if Youngest Granddaughter will wear it (highly unlikely) and then go off to the Cheyenne River Reservation.
Pattern: Kangaroo Vest, by Hannah Fettig, from Closely Knit: Handmade Gifts for the Ones You Love
Yarn: Red Heart Acrylic
Needles: US5
Modifications: Knit it in the round until underarm shaping.
A relatively easy pattern to follow, although I had to write out the armhole shaping row by row to keep track of everything. I think it would be fun to knit in a smaller yarn for a newborn size.

For those that rely on Nestle pre-made dough for their cookies, can I interest you in a couple good recipes? If you make them up in bulk, you can freeze the dough, or better yet, freeze it in little balls. Then you can pop them onto the cookie sheet and bake just a minute or so longer than usual.... Now this is not a healthy thing at all, if eaten in bulk, but if you're gonna eat chocolate chip cookies, please make your own rather than risk e.coli contamination. Not to mention the cost per cooky is a lot less than premade stuff.

It's so nice to see happiness at the White House. After so many years of fear mongering....

President Obama Dunks Senior Staff from White House on Vimeo.

Personal Responsibility of Health Care

2009-06-26T05:27:00.006-07:00

So, the President was on ABC talking about the health care reforms he's working on. A couple of thoughts. He talked about preventative measures each of us must take in order to stay healthy, therefore not needing as much doctor time/medication/expensive tests, etc. Good idea. But why was there a commercial immediately after that segment with a dozen people shoving greasy Big Macs in their mouths?

Nutrition Facts - McDonald’s Big Mac.

Calories - 540
Calories from Fat - 260
Total Fat - 29 grams
Carbs - 45 grams
Saturated Fat - 10 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1040 milligrams
Protein - 25 grams

Don't get me wrong, I think anyone that wants to should be able to eat whatever they want. However, the nutrient content of a this kind of meal, especially if it's eaten daily or several times a week, does nothing to promote health. In order to gain a pound a week, one must add 500 calories daily to one's diet...or 3,500 in seven days time. Ah, that's one Big Mac a day.... Or to loose one pound a week, the reverse is true and that's still one Big Mac a day. About 50% of these calories are from fats, 18% Protein and 33 % carbs. A healthy ratio is around 50% carbs, 25% each fat and protein.

Anyway...another thought occurred. What would happen if insurance companies, whether they are state, private or federal, increased co-payments for people that refused to try and change their health? Many of the diseases we face, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc., can often be controlled by diet and exercise or at least the amount of medication can be decreased.

If an overweight individual with these three diseases were to change their eating plan, add 30 minutes of exercise 3-5 times a week, the amount of medication could drastically be reduced or even eliminated. Multiply that by several hundred thousand Americans and look how much money we could save in health care. Now if you don't want to change your lifestyle, that's fine. But your co-pay for your medication will go up. Your choice.

Freeing up that money, would minimize the burden on those that can't control their diseases by simple measures like those outlined above....those with cancer, thyroid issues, etc.

Personal responsibility. Why should I change when there is a pill I can take?

Just a thought....

Mrs Obama agrees: In the same way she spoke out against low-nutrition processed and fast foods during a recent visit to Bancroft Elementary School, Mrs. Obama hit on this theme again. Mrs. Obama came to this awareness a few years ago, when the family pediatrician pointed out that daughters Sasha and Malia were both at risk for food-created disease such as diabetes and obesity, due to weight gain. "We were eating a lot of easy, fast foods, and I saw it starting to take a toll on my kids' health," Mrs. Obama said.

Mrs. Obama said the family began eliminating processed food and adding fruits and vegetables to their diet, and started to cook more and eat out less. Mrs. Obama stressed that "little, incremental changes" like walking more and limiting soda consumption are critical for personal health as well as health care reform, for her own family as well as everyone else who eats.

In advance of the President's Wednesday Health Care Town Hall in the White House, Mrs. Obama is stressing the fact that no matter what government does to promote health, personal food choice--and personal food education--becomes a critical issue, at the end of the day. "Government can't do it all," Mrs. Obama said.

Eliminating low-nutrition and processed foods from every one's daily diet is the most logical place to begin. "Those things will eliminate obesity and cut down on costs. I mean, we're spending about $120 billion additional a year on our health care system as a result of these sort of chronic illnesses that you see that are connected to obesity. We already know that," Mrs. Obama said.

I do realize it's a long shot. As my BFF says, "People will change their religion before they'll change their diet."

Miscellaneous

2009-06-25T05:11:00.004-07:00

Knitting group last night. I was a little late, settled down and realized I'd forgotten my pattern....yarn, check, needles, check, pattern....oops. So I did what any good knitter would do, bought new needles and yarn and played. I picked up some Brown Sheep Cotton Fine. A fingering yarn with cotton and wool. I used the Cotton Fleece for baby pants and liked it, and wonder how well this would work for socks.... I'm thinking a pair of shorties for Youngest Daughter.

Knitting group was fun. Two knitters pretty much dominated the conversation with each other and not about stuff any of us had a clue on, for the first hour. Then one left and the other quieted down so the rest of us could talk knitting socks, using Magic Loop, and such. Two ladies were spinning and the whir of the wheels was a nice comforting noise and reminded me yet again, I need to get my spinning wheel down, cleaned off and see if I remember how to spin. All in all, it was a fun evening.

The knitting I forgot to take is the Kangaroo Vest in Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig. Pictures coming soon. I decided to knit it in the round and have finished the bottom half, divided and I'm in the midst of the armhole shaping on the back. I'm using Red Heart Acrylic so it will be last forever and be easy to care for. Important when knitting for little boys with busy moms!

I got the book from the library. I'm amazed at how many new knitting books are on the shelf each time I visit. And it's a double bonus if I go to a different branch as there are more books at each one! One of my favorites from the last visit is Knitting Beyond the Edge by Nicky Epstein. What great cuffs, collars, necklines, corners, edges and closures. I guess it's time to go to Borders and see if I can find Knitting On the Edge and Knitting Over the Edge, too!

Ah....the infamous Candy Bar Diet......
What's next, electronic food? Electronic cigarettes.

Need something read to you? Just cut and past and voila!

Now it's lead....

2009-06-24T04:21:00.005-07:00

More "garbage" about the White House Salad Garden. Seriously people, get a life! As was said yesterday, how can such a small plot of land be so threatening to so many people....

Bees, Smoke, Knitting, and Cell Phones

2009-06-23T05:25:00.004-07:00

Did you know in addition to the garden at the White House, there is a Beehive, too? How cool is that?

Is it possible that big business doesn't own as much of the country as they used to?
Despite the influence of the credit card industry, we passed a law to protect consumers from unfair rate hikes and abusive fees. Despite the influence of banks and lenders, we passed a law to protect homeowners from mortgage fraud. Despite the influence of the defense industry, we passed a law to protect taxpayers from waste and abuse in defense contracting. And today, despite decades of lobbying and advertising by the tobacco industry, we've passed a law to help protect the next generation of Americans from growing up with a deadly habit that so many of our generation have lived with.-Barrack ObamaKnitting is happening....I've frogged and restarted yet another baby thing...this time a vest. Still working on the athletic socks for Third Son....plus all the other gently snoring items. I still don't feel settled in since returning home. No routine established as Youngest Daughter's hours change with the ring of the phone.

We did save $300 yesterday. I had a really nice Motorola Razor phone that got water damaged quite awhile ago. After income taxes came back this year, we paid our $50 to the insurance company in late March, got the new phone via FedEx, sent the old phone back, activated the new phone, took the new phone back to the store as it didn't work. They replaced it and everything was great. Till a bill showed up on our phone statement for $300 for the phone! Carrier said the insurance company never received the phone. We couldn't remember if we FedExed it or erroneously dropped in a mail box. So we were prepared to pay for the $300.

I had to get a paper copy of our bill at the phone store and the gentleman advised me not to pay for the phone until everything was settled. "It happens all the time, and generally it's not the customer's error." He gave me the serial number of the "lost" phone.

Yesterday, Youngest Daughter called the insurance company. Myrtle said, "Oh, yes, we have the phone, received it in early April." Next was the fight between the carrier and the insurance agency on who was billing us for the lost phone. Myrtle said they'd just bill our credit card. Carrier said they can't do that, and if we bill for a lost phone it's a standard $175, not $300. Another call to insurance company and Kaitlyn assured us that the paper work would be submitted to carrier so they could remove the $300 from our bill. Let's hope she's right.

It pays to fight back sometimes! One has to wonder if it was a simple clerical error, or as the carrier employee said, "This happens all the time," and it's a way for the carrier to make some extra money. Yes, I am cynical, and don't trust big business at all....

Victory!

2009-06-22T08:10:00.005-07:00

I weigh less than 200 lbs! This is the lowest I can remember in 27 years!

From Obama Foodarama about the kitchen garden the First Lady and school children planted: "It's curiouser and curiouser that a tiny patch of veggies is threatening to some people. On the other hand, everything the Obamas do is open to criticism, right? This one's a particularly brilliant example of stupidity, however."

Knittin' and Stuff....

2009-06-21T04:56:00.006-07:00

In between computer issues, I have been doing some fiber work! I'm still working on the Athletic Socks for 3rd Son. He requested some shortie socks when I was visiting. The pink line is for the afterthought heel. Another extended family member is having a baby this summer. I 'm crocheting this half blanket/shawl with the idea of giving it to her. It's a kind of "have to" gift, or so I'm convincing myself. It may end up going the reservation.... (Why yes, I do have mixed feelings about giving her a gift, why do you ask?)

This is 3rd Grandson, son of 2nd Son. Had yet another computer "emergency" yesterday. With one hard drive being fried, we just unplugged it and plugged in the other really big hard drive and loaded Windows onto it. All went well, but the big hard drive was partitioned and everything was being loaded into the tiny area of it.

In a very brave move on my part, I downloaded a free program, EASEUS, and moved the partition! Then reinstalled everything I'd downloaded earlier and it works very well. Whew! I'm also going to be more strict with myself in uploading pictures to Photobucket.

I need a good program for editing photos offline. Any ideas?

President Obama Speaks About Fatherhood from White House on Vimeo.

Computer Update

2009-06-19T14:47:00.002-07:00

Somehow, over night my hard drive was completely corrupted or erased. BFF was able to reload Windows onto another hard drive and everything is up and running, except it's not the same... and everything I had on my computer is lost. Annoying but not devastating.

I can't get the window in my browser to fit on the screen. All the text is just a bit too big. The "View" option on the tool bar doesn't help. I really hate when, too view a page I have to use the nav bar at the bottom. My tool bars are just a bit higher than they were so I have less page to look at....

Nothing I can't live with...just it's not the same. However, I'm super thankful to have a computer at all. For awhile there it looked like junk was all I had sitting on my desk.

I'm grateful, too that the wireless wasn't affected and that the Wii has internet capabilities.

Computer Crashed

2009-06-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

BFF fixed computer yesterday. Now it won't load. Thank goodness for wireless & the Wii!!!!!! Slow to use, but not having Internet withdrawal [sp?].

Charity Knitting - Being of Service

2009-06-18T04:53:00.000-07:00

Chicken Stitches is having a contest with service in mind....

I finally got the Hexie blanket washed and ready for mailing. Today I search for a box and with luck, tomorrow it will be heading to the Reservation with the hope it'll be including in an upcoming auction there. I received more Hexies while I was on vacation, so today I hope to pull all those out, lay out another blanket and start joining them.Some of you may know I homeschooled all six of my kids. In actuality, I unschooled them. John Holt started this trend in Growing Without Schooling. My philosophy is that people will learn what they need to know when they need to know it. My youngest daughter, at almost 28, decided she needed her GED in order to persue an educational path. She took her pretests over the last two weeks, and without any prep at all, no classes, no study guides, just walked in off the street and took the tests, she passed them all with the lowest score at 510 and the highest score a perfect 800. "Approximately 68 percent of all graduating high school seniors earn scores between 400 and 600 on the GED standard score scale. Only 2 percent of graduating high school seniors earn scores lower than 300 or higher than 700." I'm proud!

If you have someone in your life that has Asperger's Syndrome please go read The Waiting Game on Rachel's blog. She describes what an afternoon for us is like.

Bits and Pieces

2009-06-17T04:34:00.001-07:00

Brand new on-line magazine with knitting patterns for kids! Petite Purls.

Just joined Twitter. I'm LizzieK8 there, too. On the Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) show last night, it was stated that much of the information we're getting out of Iran is via Twitter because the old folks in the continuing Iranian government just don't know about it...too "new fangled" for them. I think we've passed an era where media black outs will work effectively anymore. I read this morning that the information we received about Tiananmen Square in 1986 came from a fax machine. Joansie told me about this one over at 2bKrafty!

Check out this bike.... Enter to win one! Think of all the yarn you could put in that carrier....and get some exercise, too!

Vacation Pics

2009-06-15T05:48:00.000-07:00

This is a vine that appears to be taking over TN. It grows up everything, trees, buildings, fences, lightpoles.... I saw huge areas covered by it on our drive to Chattanooga. I thought it was kudzu but doesn't match pics I found. Anyone have any idea what it is? As always, click for a larger image.These are two different kinds of jellyfish we saw at the Tennessee Aquarium.
This is a view from on top of Lookout Mountain. We took the Incline Railway to get up there. It's a small car on tracks that goes up a 72.7 degree incline. It's true...

"And on a clear day...On a clear day...
You can see forever...
And ever...
And ever...
And ever more. . ."

Progress Pics

2009-06-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a couple of pics. As of the second pic, I've lost about 40 pounds. (The green t-shirt is a mens size XXL and the black t-shirt is a womans size XL.) I have hit a plateau, and am not currently loosing, but not gaining either. I'm doing several things to get past the "running and not getting anywhere" phase. I am varying the kind and amount of physical activity I do, when I do those activities, and the number of calories I eat per day. I use a random number generator to help me keep on the up and up, not avoiding the exercising I like less, and not eating more calories "cuz I can." I'm still loosing and gaining the same two pounds, but eventually, so "they" say, the randomness will keep my body guessing and get past the routine it settled into the last four months. I do have to say, though, the days I get more calories than I'd been eating daily for the last several months, are nice! You have no idea how good a strip of bacon is when you haven't had one for months. (Yes, I do eat turky bacon and it's good, but it's not, as my son calls it, pig bacon.)

It was a long trip home yesterday. I generally try to get my flights out in the morning, but this one was an evening flight, going west, which seems to make it even longer. We were really tired by the time we got to our beds last night. It was, however, uneventful. So, I didn't do any KIPing. I read and slept on the flights, and we only had a short layovers. I did work on the Athletic Socks for Third Son on the way to the airport, though.