Stuff everywhere

In case you haven't guessed, I've been busy browsing Ravelry and now am on a blitz of what I own - books, yarn, UFO's, needles so that I can update my stash.

In doing so, let me just say - WOW! I have a lot more yarn and "stuff" than I thought. I wondering what I was thinking with some of the yarn; complete impulse buys. Some, is just plain ugly and others, I think I bought them just to fondle.

I'm hoping to have a couple pics of some finished objects later this week.

BTW, check out the schoolhouse press website (bottom right of the home page) and follow along with Meg as she knits a Christmas stocking for her grandson, Eli.

1,648 balls of yarn on the wall....

I'm on a self imposed work of UFO's week while waiting for Ravelry to finally accept me (I feel like I'm in high school) and then those pesky UFO's can bugger off and leave me alone to browse and find a few thousand more projects to cast on.

I was watching Grey's Anatomy the other day and they were talking about Dr. Mark Sloan and that his name was Man Whore. It popped into my mind that my title should be "Yarn Whore" because I promiscuously cast aside my projects for the sleek lines of a new project or the full and juicy balls of yarn. I've also been known to simply be disloyal to a project simply because I want to play with some new sticks. (Okay, now I'm getting carried away). I apparently was not in line for the Fidelity Gene when it came to yarn.

It bothers me that I'm not more loyal and devout in my fiber relationships. And so, I am working on this character flaw. Well, at least for the next couple of days.

You are #34362 on the list.

Ahhh! Patience is not a virtue I possess. There are 5790 people ahead of me on Ravelry. Which is good progress considering three weeks ago, there were over 13,000 people ahead of me. The only twisted pleasure I get from the antsy checker is that there are 9693 people behind me.

Meanwhile, I finished a hat for my son, have completed 1/3 of my quilt piecing and have stitched a pillow for Christmas decorations.

Maybe if I keep busy enough the time will pass faster.

Maybe I shouldn't check the Antsy checker on Ravelry every five minutes.

You decide.

Oh know, I'm doing it again!

The other day I got very frustrated with my knitting - I think I've talked about his before (but am too lazy to read my previous posts and check). Sometimes, I get too caught up in thinking my knitting should be perfect and literally shut down. This is how it starts..

I'm sat in my favorite chair happily knitting away thinking what a beautiful fall day it is and how I love the colors of the yarns I'm knitting and how they reflect the pretty fall colors. Then I glance a little closer at my work to admire the colors .. uh oh.. Doesn't the stitches look a little uneven? Do my stitches slant slightly to one side? Why do I always have to push the yarn and stitches so much around the needles? Is it me or does my knitting always lean forward on the circulars and will this create an uneven tension? What if I knit this whole hat and not like it? Not even enough to give to someone else? Did I swatch enough? Should I go up a needle? Should I go down a needle size? Maybe, I'm using circular needles that are too short in length? Maybe I should rip this out and start again?

And so it continues until I have worked myself up into quite a tizzy (?sp). Then I shut down on my knitting and mope around - wondering what non-knitters do with their hands when they watch TV?

Then I start to miss watching my hands knit and the feel of the yarn sliding through my fingers (of course, I only stopped knitting a couple of hours before I feel homesick for knitting). Next thing I know, I'm knitting away happily on a newly cast on hat, swearing to myself that I will just enjoy the knitting process because it's the process that I love. I am back in knitting heaven.

Wait a minute, does that stitch look twisted?

More from Camp

While attending Knitting Workshop, I wanted a mindless project to work on (of EZ's or Meg's) during the class. Included in our packet was a variation for the Very Warm Hat. I had some leftover Ultra Alpaca from a Baby Surprise Jacket, so decided to use that to whip a hat up. This is the result - I was barely done weaving the last end of the hat, when Caleb grabbed it from my hands, and pronounced it wonderful and that it suited him perfectly. He then sat in the hat while he did his piano practice. One side of the hat is knit using long-tail cast on, then you pick up in the back loop of the cast on and knit the other side. This is an incredibly warm hat and completely reversible. Here's a picture of the hat showing both sides.
And here's the hat showing Caleb's favorite side.And here's another sweater from camp in the Armenian sweater - It has the knit stitch on the front and purl stitch on the back. It is a great sweater, and this wouldn't usually appeal to me, but I loved it. I think this will be a big hit from the book.

Olive Branch

The Schoolhouse Knitting Workshop this weekend was wonderful. Loved it. One of the highlights was visiting the Schoolhouse office/warehouse which stands next to THE Schoolhouse (where Meg S. lives - picture above - isn't Wisconsin beautiful in the fall). It was a beautiful fall day, so the drive was lovely; of course, it was enhanced by the individuals I drove there with, Jen Braico (a fellow workshopper) and the amazing Joyce Williams. Joyce is so incredibly talented and just the funnest person to talk to. Joyce was the guest speaker on Saturday and showed the group her wonderful designs for the upcoming release of Armenian Knitting. Below is a poorly taken photo (Again, I forgot the camera so resorted to the Palm cellphone camera) of the Olive Branch (?Tree) Sweater. It looks like intarsia, but the light grey is caught throughout the entire sweater. Which makes for a very warm sweater and adds these wonderful tweedy peaks of the carried color. I know that seems a little strange, as we usually try to hide our carries, but in this type of knitting, yarn peaks are required.

Wait! I think there's a pulse!

Carrie K has been giving me a hard time about not posting - she's justified - seeing as the last time I posted was April 2007. Things were really rough for the Knittinbrit household, but we are a strong family and can get through anything together.

That's enough about that...

Well, I did attend Knitting Camp 2.0 in July, which was wonderful. I really enjoyed myself. Did quite a bit of stash enhancement and an amazing amount of knitting. Learned lots.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm off to a Knitting Workshop with Schoolhouse Press today. This is similar to camp, but for one less day. It also is more focused on a particular subject. This one is on the EPS system. Although familiar with it, my experience with Meg before was that she had more knowledge of knitting in her yarn wrapped pinkie than I did in my entire body. So, off to fun. The fun thing about the Workshop is that we take a road trip out to the Schoolhouse Press Offices and warehouse. Be still my beating credit cards.

Amy Detjen was at camp and she had just adopted the cutest little boy, who kept us entertained pretending he was a puppy. Joyce Williams was wonderful. I don't think she ever sleeps though. We would start at 8am and she'd be up knitting with us until 1am every night (morning??).

Although I haven't been blogging, I've been knitting up a storm. I'm hoping to finish the Mimbres Vest today or tomorrow and can cut it at Schoolhouse. I've also whipped up some Pomatomus (I can never be bothered to spell that right) socks - well, actually I have one almost finished, but am plodding my way through. I just finished knitting dd a Blue Sky Alpaca Kimono Jacket, which will be very cute if I ever get the neckband finished.

So, now I've got so much to do to get ready to go to Marshfield, but thought I'd post a pic from the top of a Mountain in the Uintah's. Our family went camping there this summer, went hiking, and then went off-road literally over the top of a mountain, where we had a picnic at the top. It was wonderful and a great time for our family.

Not Picture Perfect

I'm struggling with my phone. I have managed to screw up the online connection and am unable to email pictures from the phone camera. I was able to get one emailed before it died, so that you could at least have a peak at Chinatown. She did turn out rather nicely. I think next time, and for the record, I do plan on knitting another one (I already have the yarn and buttons), I would make a bigger size so that it was more more roomier.




Also, take a look at the Tess Designer Yarns website and look at the Crest of the Wave Scarf/Wrap pattern that I did for them. The picture turned out beautiful of the colors, but I have a better photo on my phone (if I could just access it) of the stitch pattern. I thought it turned out very nicely.

I received some more beautiful Petite Silk in two different colorway kits from her today and we're coming up with an idea for a pattern.

I've been working on the Meg Swansen "Eli Guernsey" and have been plodding along rather slowly since I reached the yoke. Do you find that sometimes you're more particular than others about how a project turns out? Sometimes I become almost too emotionally involved with my projects and spend more ripping them than knitting them.

I also have been playing around with some different embroidery and stitching. I decided to whip out a punch needle design that is coming along. I have no idea what I plan to do with the project afterwards, as it's not exactly the kind of thing I'd put up in my house, I just wanted to give it a try.

I've been a little flighty with my knitting. The weather seems to have me all confused. The beginning of last week, it was brutally cold and snowing, and I wouldn't let the kids out of the house without snow gear, and then today I would have let them out of the house in shorts. I find the fickleness of the weather shows itself in my knitting choices that day.

It feels like this post is rather disjointed and jumpy just like the weather. See, it shows up in my blogging also. Spring and Summer where are you?

I'm officially a Camper

My husband literally fell off his chair when I announced that I was officially a "camper". I'm far from the camping type with way too many squirmish non-camping ways about me. But this year I will be a camper, in the Meg Swansen Knitting Camp way. I just received my email to say that I was in (and my friend Linda-my roommate). I'm so excited. I read the newsletter about what we'll be doing and I think I may have danced around a little and air punched in excitement. I then read what we should take, and repeated above self-congratulatory exhibitions.

In reading the newsletter, I saw that we are supposed to make a nametag to wear during camp, so my mind is racing already with some ideas.

In hopeful anticipation of acceptance to camp, I had purchased some Guernsey wool in navy and am knitting the child's pattern from the latest wool gathering (and dvd). I'm loving it. I'm particularly enjoying this because I grew up close to the Channel Islands and visited there a few times. My parents owned a fish and chip shop and I would go to the Fish Market at the dock with my dad sometims and you would see the fishermen in their guernseys, so the connection to that is making it also quite fun.

I haven't posted in quite a while, so I'll give a little update on the knitting front.

I'm knitting away on the Icarus Shawl in Misti Alpaca in sage green. I started it last week and have been flying away (until the guernsey yarn showed up).

I bagged up tons of my other projects that were just staring at me making me feel very unmotivated to knit. The guilt of unfinished projects can really drag me down.

I have began a very thorough cleansing of the yarn department in my house. No, this time I'm getting it done.

I'm also going through the patterns and magazines and seeing which I want to keep, what I'm interested in knitting and what needs to be 86'd.

I ordered last Thursday at 11:30am the yarn, and dvd for the guernsey and it was here the next day. Now, I know I live close to Schoolhouse Press, but come on, that was impressive turn around. I remembered my mothers advice to always be grateful, and called and said thank you to them.

I'm registering for Stitches, but am definitely not taking the number of classes like last time. jae and Marji will agree, schedule overload last year. It's less than a month after camp, so I'm not sure that I'd want that full of a schedule again also.

Chinatown is completed, and shockingly for me, sewn together. I am in the process of weaving in ends and will then attach buttons. It looks great. I'm very pleased with it.

Any advice??

I've been having very sore joints of my hands lately, especially when my hands get cold, and then I can't seem to get them warm and they ache. Strangely the movement of knitting seems to help them, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice?

I'll try to snap a pic of the guernsey and post it shortly (I'm trying not to wake EB up from a nap - Marji knows how desperately I need EB to nap after our phone conversation on Saturday)


A couple of items for sale

Rowan Magazine #20 OOP $20 - SOLD
Rowan Magazine #22 OOP $20
Rowan Magazine #31 OOP $15 - SOLD

Email me at knittinbrit at charter dot net if interested

Quick Catch Up

Just a quick update on what's been going on. Sorry, I don't have any pics today but will get some together for next post.

1. Both hats were finished, worn by recipient and greatly appreciated. I don't think Declan has taken his off since I made it.
2. Steve used the hat when he went camping last weekend with Caleb. Yes, in the open, no tent, in minus 25 windchills. Apparently when you move to Wisconsin you become insane. I'm sure that I married someone more intelligent than that. They had a blast, although Caleb did manage to catch his snowpants on fire while trying to warm his behind against the fire. Fortunately, he has mastered the drop and roll technique.
3. I've completed the knitting of the sleeves, both front sides and back on Chinatown, and have started to seam it together. The project is set aside for this week as I've got a major deadline to complete before I can finish this. I'm really looking forward to it, it's beautiful. I highly recommend this knit.
4. One and a half socks have been knit in Cherry Tree Potluck yarn. I love this yarn. They were my travelling knitting project, hence the progress.
5. Enjoyed a couple days stay in the hospital after a cyst ruptured and was too drugged up to knit. Well, I self imposed that rule of no knitting, Publishafter I managed to knit an enormous knot in the front of Chinatown while in happy pain reduced land. Am feeling much better now, and have added yet another reason why I'm convinved that men have things so much easier than women.
6. I'm working on a project for Tess Designer yarns that I'm enjoying, although I'm going to have to knit fast to get it finished and shipped out in time. It's in 100% silk and a beautiful stole. I'll have to show pics once it's been sent off to the Stitches show. So, I plan on getting it finished and sent by Monday seeing as Stitches is the 22nd.

Hats Off to Me

Yes, Carrie K, I did cave in and whip out the hat for Steve. I modified it a little to make it more of a fit for his style.
I picked colors to match his snow gear. It's knit in Cascade Yarns Bollicine Dolly - 100% Merino. It feels so soft. I did the inside of the hat in black and changed the pattern around (refer to previous posts showing Dec's hat for comparison). He liked it.

Ethan was sick this weekend, so I didn't get any knitting done on Chinatown, as what freetime I had was in making a special dinner for Steve's birthday last night,getting Caleb's stuff together for his camp out at the School Forest and holding Ethan while he wimpered in my arms (poor baby).

E has double ear infections, but seems to be feeling a little better than he was. I plan on grabbing a book, sitting down and getting some knitting done this afternoon. Okay, I may throw in a batch of laundry or two, but otherwise it's knitting time.

I did a little bit of digging through one of the Stash Bins today. I'm always shocked at some of what I find in there, yarn that I bought thinking I couldn't live without it, only to shove it in the box and forget about it. It seems like such a waste to have this beautiful yarn just sitting there.

I'm posting some of it on Destash for Cash later. This is the first batch that's going up:



7 balls of Rowan 4 Ply Cotton - 50g 186yds Col SH118 Lot 2418 (olive green) mrsp $6.50 (45.50)
4 balls of Rowan 4 Ply Cotton - 50g 186 yds Colr white - 1 ball does not have label mrsp 6.50 (26.00)
2 balls of Rowan Fine Cotton Chenille 50g Dark Navy - 145 m - one ball does not have label
2 balls of Anny Blatt Angora Super - Blue Variegated116 yds mrsp 21.00 (42.00)
1 wound skeins Donegal Tweed Olive Green - may have been swatched with mrsp 10.99 (10.99)
2 wound skein Donegal Tween Dark Green - may have been swatched with MRSP 10.99 (21.98)
2 wound skeins Donegal Tweed Dark Blue - may have been swatched with MRSP 10.99 (21.98)
2 wound skeins Donegal Tweed Medium Blue - may have been swatched with MRSP 10.99 (21.98)
4 skeins Great Adirondack Frills yarn in Black Violet Colorway 100 yds each MRSP 10.00 (40.00)
1 wound skein Great Adirondack Frills yarn in black violet colorway - may have been swatched MRSP (10.00)


In total, this lot would be over $240 to purchase. I'm selling the lot for $100.00 plus actual postage. or will sell it individually for 50% of the MRSP.

I've gone back and forth with getting rid of some of this, but I feel a greater need to declutter and reduce the stash to only what I love. I keep feeling guilt when I look at it and quite honestly I've got other projects in mind that I'd like to knit, so I'm moving on.

There's No Dilly-"Dale-ying" Going On Here!

Quick Post! Here's a quick pic of the Dale Hat for Declan. I've just got the crown to do and sew down the hem, and weave in ends. It's always sounds like so much less work that it is.
I still haven't decided whether I'm going to attempt to get Steve's hat done for Saturday. I'm trying to be realistic about how long it would take. Although I did enjoy whipping up this hat, maybe it's because it was a small project. Besides, I'm anxious to get back to work on my Chinatown jacket. We'll see!

I couldn't help myself!

One of the reasons that I rarely post pictures is that my camera is never near by when I'm knitting and then I'm too lazy to download the pics from the camera, blah, blah, blah. Pitiful excuse - I know! However, yesterday afternoon as I was happily knitting away on Chinatown, I stopped to measure my progress on the armhole. I had to move my Treo out of the way so that I could lay it out. I was happily smiling away at my work and thinking how wonderful knitting was and maybe I should wander out to the street to find someone else to admire my handiwork, when I thought better of it and decided to snap a picture, you know, for posterity's sake. Now understand that I am never without my phone (Marji and Jae could tell you that from Stitches) and I often use it for snapping quick pic's of the kids and emailing them to my Mum and Dad. Why on earth, has it not occurred to me to take pictures of my knitting with this handy little device before. Any suggestions? Anyway, the point is... here are a couple pics of Chinatown. Isn't she pretty?
The cording was so easy and fun to do. Sometimes it's the simple things in knitting that impress me the most. Like turning the heel on a sock. My husband gets tired of having to clap and cheer at the amazing heel that appeared out of nowhere.


I doubt that I'll make a lot of progress today on this though, as yesterday I ran in to the yarn store with Caleb (11) to pick up the rest of the yarn for Chinatown and he fell in love with a hat that Beth (owner of Black Purl) had hung up. It was a Dale Hat from the 1999 Vail book. I'll snap a picture later and post it. Beth loves Caleb (what's not to love about a boy who a) has wanted to be James Bond since he was 4, b) is fascinated with politics and would actively debate winningly with most adults, if it was the polite thing to do; and c) has informed Beth that whenever she needs help she is to call him and he'll gladly help her wind yarn, take out the trash, attach photos to hundreds of patterns) ... and so, she gave it to him. Despite my protests. He loved it and proudly wore it into the house, which immediately prompted Declan to fall in love with it himself and ask me if I thought I'd be able to knit one for him by Saturday when he is going to the Polar Cub Scout Camp up north. Obviously, these kids have supernatural powers of persuasion (or just incredibly cute eyes) that made me say "well, I'm sure I could". So, today I stopped by the yarn store and grabbed some yarn for the hat to knit for Declan. He would like it knit in Chicago Bear colors (remember this is Wisconsin, and this could get the kid beat down at School, but he is very loyal and understands the price you pay to support greatness!!! Go Bears!) I been working on it this afternoon for a little while and I feel like I'm in the Knitting Olympics again.

P.S. Steve asked me to make him one today as well, so that he could have one to take Declan to the Polar Camp. I bought him a North Face one instead. I doubt he'll know the difference. I'm pretty sure that I couldn't knit two before Saturday - I have too much to do; besides, it's not like my name is Marina. She could whip out two fair isle hats in her sleep.

I'm It!

Marji tagged me so that I'd finally get a post on the blog for the new year. It worked!

Before I get, here are five things I've never revealed on my blog before (at least, I hope I haven't and I'm too lazy to go back and check, so forgive me if these are duplicates).

1. When I was 10 years old I was taken to the emergency room stuck in the splits. I was at a disco, and a nasty little boy thought it would be funny to push down suddenly and hard on my shoulders (sadistic little pratt) and see what would happen. Apparently, there is only so far that your legs should be able to go into the splits, my body freaked out and my muscles cramped up and I needed to be taken to the emergency room in the splits, where they gave me a muscle relaxer before I was able to resume a normal position. Conclusion: Music can influence your actions negatively. The song Fame was playing (obviously this was a fairly traumatic experience, so I recall it quite vividly) and I thought I was Irene Cara.

2. I've met Queen Elizabeth. Well, I've been in front of her (but that's closer than most), I'm sure it was more memorable for me than her. When I was 11 I was in a Majorette Band. Our team was pretty highly ranked in Southern England and we were invited to march at the Queens Birthday celebration that was being held at Windsor Castle. We stayed in the Barracks and performed the next day.

3. I've met Poirot (okay, David Suchet who plays Poirot). When I was in college in Torquay, England, I worked at the Pizza Hut Restaurant (it was more of a restaurant in england than a fast food place). He was one of my customers and was there with his family. He was very nice and polite and tipped well.

4. Although I grew up in England and didn't move to the states until I was married, I have no English accent (fortunately I don't have a wisconsin accent either). I didn't try to lose my accent, but I'm from a tourist town in England, the English Riveria (yes, we have one- fake palm tress and all) and it's a melting pot of people from all over the place, so I don't think it was ever the most defined of british accents. However, when I get nervous, angry, talk to my mum and dad, or meet someone for the first time, my english accent pops right out without trying to. As I relax, it disappears again. This can be a problem when having to give a presentation, as over the course of the speech my accent changes from british to american. It's very embarrassing, as people think I'm putting it on.

5. I love Cereal, and would happily eat it for every meal. BUT, only after I've nuked it in the microwave for a minute or so. Yes, we're talking cheerio's, rice crispies, frosted flakes, everything! It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer. I like my hot cereal. My favorite is 3 Weetabix loaded with sugar, with Vitamin D milk and some heavy whipping cream poured on top, nuked for 1 1/2 minutes. All soggy, warm, fatty and lovely. Obviously, I can't eat this every day else I'd be the size of Shamu, so I settle for usually heated cheerios or wheaties with some banana's on top.

Now, I'm supposed to tag 5 others, but am struggling to come up with five other people who haven't been tagged already (obviously I have a very small circle of internet friends). We'll see who I tag. I'm going to have to think about this one.

Update on what's been happening since last post.

The holidays were lovely and not too hectic. We didn't have the usual crowd of visitors from across the seas, so we enjoyed spending time together as a family. It was very nice and relaxing, although I was grateful for everyone to go back to school so I could have some peace and quiet.

I've knit about 3 pairs of socks, finished a scarf from the stash that was started years ago, have dabbled with a dale sweater that I need to finish, but am having a hard time being motivated with. I'm quite frantically knitting away on Chinatown (a design by Black Purl) right now in Cascade 220. I'm doing it a little different colors and different yarn. It looks great and is fast and easy to knit, so I'm able to read while knitting. The back is almost finished and I predict that I'll be done within the next 2 weeks as I need to keep plugging along on the sleeves for the Dale in Sisik that I started a couple of years ago.

I have decided to sell some of the stash and am going to begin posting it on Destash for Cash. So, keep an eye out.

Thanks Marji, for the push to get a post on here.

To end, here's a picture of the cute kids from Christmas.

Want vs. Need

I haven't posted any pictures for a long time. Here's one of the munchkins just before they ran out the door Trick or Treating.

I'm still digging through the stash and deciding what to do with it all. It's amazing how much we acummulate and then promptly forget about. As I opened one storage box of yarn, I could not even remember where some of the yarn came from. I'm sure that when I bought it I was sure that I couldn't live without it and envisioned myself casting on as soon as I got home. Not so. Some of the balls/skeins were lucky to have even received the attention of a swatch.

It all comes down to our perception of what we need and what we really just want.

Steve and I decided this year, that our kids were becoming too materialistic and seemed to appear as though they were "entitled" to tons of toys, gifts, presents. It's easy to want to give your children so much more than they need and then we wonder when they turned into Veruca Salt (remember Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). We came to the decision to limit their gifts this Christmas to three. They will receive their Santa gift (generally, the gift that is too large or awkward to wrap) and gifts from friends and family, plus their stockings, but we will only be purchasing them three gifts. One will be a gift of love (this could mean a toy that is something they really wanted or for the younger ones, something cuddly), a gift of learning (a toy to learn with, maybe educational, computer or dexterity related), and a gift of fun. There may end up a few extra gifts here or there, and we usually do one family gift (this year we were thinking of either a vacation somewhere the week after christmas or new snow shoes for all the family - we're still not decided). It's not that we couldn't afford to get them more, actually it's quite the opposite - because we COULD buy them more we feel we shouldn't. They initially were not overly fond of this idea, but we reminded them of the story of the Christ child and that three was enough for Him.

We felt this would help them not feel so overwhelmed on Christmas; would help them feel the spirit of the holiday a little more; would help us not be so frustrated at toys strewn throughout the house; but most importantly, they would learn to be content with less. Once we had presented the plan, the kids took to revising their christmas lists with no encouragement. The lists went from 3-4+pages to 5-6 items, with one marked as the most desired gift. We also have had them find 3 toys that are in good condition to donate.

Because we want them to learn to plan for things and save their money for things they desire rather than buy what they can't afford, we have a family meeting scheduled for January 1 where the kids are to present a larger priced item that they are interested in acquiring. They will then work out a plan to earn the money for it and the jobs/chores they will complete to earn the cash to pay for it. The gift of controlling desires/wants, and managing budget will be one of the most valuable gifts we can give them this year.

Now, if I could just find someone to help teach me that I don't NEED to have that extra skein of yarn to go with the 200+ others lurking around the house. It seems so much easier to teach them a skill that I don't possess. Maybe they'll also be receiving the gift of Hypocrisy this year.

Can't see the Forest for the Trees

Okay, I'm not dead, but had just fallen off the edge of the knitting blogland for a while. I've been incredibly busy, but haven't we all. Here's a quick update of what's being going on in the D household over the past 6 weeks.

• I had my Lasik Surgery! I can see. It was so easy and painless. I would strongly recommend this to anyone considering it. It was well worth it.
• Baby E caught a bad strain of Strep C (yes, usually it's found in animals - last time I checked I have no animals in my house, just children - maybe that's the same thing). He had a fever of 106F and they couldn't get an IV started on him - 9 tries. Poor kid! It also took 3 tries to get a catheter going and that caused more pain and discomfort for him over the next week than any high fever of ear and throat infection could of. This happened 3 days after having the lasik surgery, so I looked particularly strange, stood in the emergency room at 3am with sunglasses on, so that the bright lights in the ER wouldn't bother my eyes. He's doing great now, although he does have a fear of the doctor's office since those traumatic few days.
• Many PTO activities have taken place that I have organized - installation of climbing wall, book fair, Fall Festival, Blood Drive, purchasing DVD players for all the classrooms, bake sales. Along witht he ridiculous amount of drama that some mothers want to cause. Word for the wise: Avoid positions within the PTO like the plague. My kids love seeing around the school though and having me so involved, so that makes it worth it.
  
• Purchased a new site for dh's new clinic and started construction. Still trying to decide on what colors are best for dental offices. dh did look a little put off, when I suggested that it didn't matter what color the walls were, nobody actually liked going to the dentist office.
• I've been doing a big clean out of all the cupboards in this house - we have stuff stashed everywhere. I always get a big case of spring cleaning right before the holidays, as I know that more stuff will be entering the house.
• I'm preparing for some afterschool classes I'm teaching at the Elementary School, one of which starts today. I'm teaching teamwork and problem solving using the climbing wall with the 3rd-5th graders.
• Reading - I have been reading alot. I read Jean Plaidy's Victoria Victorious and highly recommend it. I then purchased the A&E/BBC mini series Victoria and Albert to watch - loved it. I read the Alchemist - I'm still trying to decide if I liked it or not. A bunch of fun quick reads - Richard Paul Evans Finding Noel, The Sunflower. Not the best literary works, but the reading equivalent of knitting a scarf or dishcloth for a fast fix.
  
• Knitting - has been rather limited, but has started to pick up again. I did whip out a bunch of dishcloths (I know, not the most interesting, but necessary, and it was nice to have a FO after an hour). The weather finally started to turn on us and I have been knitting some socks - which I'm thoroughly enjoying. The sock draw was looking pretty empty, and I've fallen in love with Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn (thanks to Marji - from a summer project colorswap) and have purchased some more skeins in different colorways. I've decided to try out some different sock patterns to experiment with.

I have noticed a recurring theme on many blogs that knitters are feeling a little overwhelmed with the stash they have and many yarns that they don't think they'll ever use. I have been feeling a strong need to basically start fresh and have been strongly considering eliminating all my stash and basically starting anew. I haven't knit like I normally do lately because I feel bogged down by this excessive stash. So watch for a huge cleanout in the next few days. I am considering combining it into 3 lots and getting rid of it.

Any thoughts? I feel like I can't see the forest for the trees. I can't get into a project for all the balls of yarn falling all over the place. We'll see!!!

To some of my favorite bloggers out there - missing you and hoping you're having a lovely holiday season.

Flying By..

Things I've done since posting last...

1. Attended three different meetings regarding various PTO activities.
2. Knit one block in Noro Kureyon for Lizard Ridge (loving it)
3. Watched one of the kids Pop Warner Football game
4. Ordered my thanksgiving turkey
5. Attended a cooking class
6. Attended a roundtable scout meeting
7. Missed a wedding - I'm an idiot what can I say - I wrote it on the calendar on the wrong day
8. Spent a few hours with the whole family at a corn maze and pumpkin farm - it was a blast
9. Took 3 kids to get their teeth cleaned
10. Started and almost finished an Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket
11. Bought some new clothes
12. Bought some new Le Creuset dishes for the kitchen
13. Viewed some building lots to buy
14. Signed papers on building a new office building
15. Cooked an amazing Pork Pot Roast with navy beans and dried cranberries (see cooking light issue - most recent)
16. Knit another ball on the Michael Kors Cable Tunic
17. Received the new Knitters Magazine and promptly gave it away, as it was complete crap.

I did more stuff, but having four kids plays with the mind so I don't recall what else I accomplished, but I'm sure that many loads of laundry were somehow involved.

Well, I'm off to cub scouts, I guess I better figure out what I'm doing with the boys tonight.

BTW, winter has arrived in the Northwoods. It snowed this afternoon for an hour or so. It didn't stick, but gave us a taste of what we can expect to see over the next few months.

Fuzzy

I had the pre-op appointment today for Lasik. So, that means that I can hardly see a bloody thing due to an over zealous application of dilation drops by the technician. So bad, that I couldn't knit. Once applying the drops they had me sit in a small room and watch some dull "informative" video about the procedure. "Perfect opportunity to sit and knit", I hear you say. I tried to knit. I tried, but my arms got tired of holding the knitting directly in front of my nose so that I could see the stitches. I couldn't see anything but a blurry distance with glasses and very close up without, and nothing in between.

You can tell the blurriness was bad, when control freak chef Kim, suggested that Caleb (10y) help chop the vegetables and read me the recipe for Clam Chowder. He was very helpful and it turned out lovely - we even adapted the recipe to use White Rice Flour, so that it was Gluten Free for Declan. Teamwork.

Steve just walked in the room laughing, as he saw me trying to type with my nose pressed against the glass of the computer. It's ridiculous! Although I am very excited at the prospect of not having glasses slide down my nose, non-poking of eyes while inserting contacts, and actually being able to see my hand in front of my face.

I did get some knitting done last night on the Kors Cabled Tunic. Did I mention I love this pattern and yarn? I'd like to knit on it tonight, but am certain I would screw it up with not being able to see what I was up to.

Fog Free Post

So, finally, a post without the haziness of my medicine in my system. I'm in a rush, but have realized that one of the reasons I stall on posting is because I feel the need to post these huge indept and extravagant blogs. Ain't Happening? Reality is.. I'm the mother of four young kids. So, short stumpy posts is what you're going to get. love it or leave it.

Anyway, point of the post is ... I finally decided on a new project and am in love. It's the Michael Kors Cabled Tunic from the fall Vogue Knitting. It's lovely and a pleasure to knit. I'm using Classic Elite's Wool Bam Boo in a silvery grey color, which I'm thoroughly enjoying knitting with. It glides through the fingers.

I checked out the new preview for Vogue Knitting Magazine yesterday and there are a few items I'm interested on knitting. Don't you find that's always the case? You can't find anything to knit (I know this never happens to Marji or Jae, but for some of us it does) and then once you start something, there's tons of projects trying to tempt you away.

Take the blanket in Noro on Knitty - Lizard Ridge. I'm fighting the urge to pick up some needles and start knitting this. I'm not sure I'll be able to resist much longer. I just don't know how to be monogamous to my knitting. I'm a dirty dirty yarn slut. There. I've said it. I'm the Meredith Gray of knitting (ref: Gray's Anatomy) However, I'm not ready for a 12-step program yet. I think I'm ready for a 12 project on the needles program, so am off to abandon my reserve and get nasty with some Noro.

note: See Marji - apparently it's not the meds that make me send out strange posts. I'm naturally that way.

Is it really better late than never?

You Deside! I'm late blogging. I'm really behind on blogging. Yet still only a shorty span of time to chat.

Quick TTP update:
Mum and Dad did visit
No blood was shed while they were here
All but Mum and Steve becuase ill with the flu - nasty
We took turns, as one was feel better the other would get sick.
I've cleaned up lots of vomit and still have never found the most effective way to handle it.
Kids are bag at school - all three of them this year, Calebs in 5th, Declan 3rd, and Madison Kindgergarten. They love it and are having agreat time. I'm their new PTO leader and it's going to be fun (I keep telling myself), but am looking forward to how the kids feel when they see me involved in their lives at school.

Now here's the big confession, I'm not really knitting anything. After stittches I became in such a funk that what I knit I have to love and so have stalled on everything. I've swuatched and played around and I need to nail it down to a project. This would be a good time to come up with suggestions. Names will be drawn from a hat for each realistic suggestion. Winner will get something fun that I haven't kicked up yet, but it will be cool.

Shout OUt to the following - Marji and Jae - my fun stitchers pals, I have recently abandoned you and am begging for our closeness to return.

Shout out to marina, carrie, deeann, and all the other buddies I've met online. I appreicate reading your blogs and you comments to mind.

SO to my Secret Pal - Amy Proto. The ladies amazing. I can't find the camera and want to get the phots uploaded of the last stash she sent me. It was, as usual, pefect.

I want to chat more and fill you in on what's beeng going on, but I doubt you really need the detaisl, just remember to wash your hands and brush your teeth afterthis read. Then you too, can avoik, the creeppy pedi bugs that are happily invading our lives.

Well, I'm a little out of it. The medicine kicked in fast today and I'm afraid if I continue I'll share private details with you and cry about it in the morning.

So until tomorrow - yes, I think that tomorrow is a realizatic goal - knit some more and email me with what you think the next project should be. Enter as many times as you want and get your name entered in the box with each suggestion