A Week

As a reader of several blogs I always wondered if I had time to read them how come they don't always post everyday and now I realize that it take longer than you think about what your posting and then editing it and in my case even longer since I have a tendency to write in one long never ending sentence.  So my new goal is to post daily 1 to help my scheduling of my day in general and so that I post what I want even if it is only the weather report but around here there is always something going on so lack of material should not be a problem.  Since last posting when I finished Jordyn's handbag I have started one of the 3 hoodies I am making for one of my brothers kids I am over half way done with the first and I have been working on the red satin dress with a black and white checkered pinafore apron did a fitting on the dress itself yesterday and all is good so today the plan is to put the collar and sleeves on and maybe cut off for hemming but I will probably leave the hemming for tomorrow then do the pinafore apron.  Yesterday when I was doing the fitting they asked me to make 3 more pinafore aprons these will be red and white checked all 4 pieces need done in about 2 weeks.  The last few days have been pretty rough since #3 daughter Jordyn was put on home/hospital care she has been doing homework regularly but when I asked about her work I had the feeling that she was procrastinating a bit turns out she has been doing it quite a bit for a couple of reasons 1 easy while at home to say I will do it later and then she has been dealing with quite a bit of pain from the knee problem and she has been skipping her clean up in her room.  Today ended up being the end of the end we had a conversation with her about the school work and she has picked up that task pretty good but then today dad went into her room and the mess he found was more than he could ignore any longer he had been asking her to be sure and clean up a bit everyday and she said she was and turns out no work at all in her room has been done.  He took her TV, computer, new SLR camera and she can use computer for homework but only around us so we are sure what she is doing  I really hate having to police her this way but hopefully she will get it all taken care of quickly and in the process learn to take care of business regularly (so much easier).  I have always been lucky enough with my kids that they didn't require much in the way of timeouts or punishments ask them to do or not do something that has usually been the end of it, some reminding but overall not a big deal.  However this time I know she is really overwhelmed with school from home the knee problems and coping with all the extra from these problems but there is only so much slack that can be allowed and I know in my heart that it is what is right for her but so hard for me to follow through being so tough.  My girls have always been so good and done so well I really wish I could take her pain from her.  I have to have the faith that all we are doing will work out the way we plan.  Till I know I will keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep knitting because that way at least I can show progress in something. Happy Knitting to all.

Another 1 Done

 Well done a few days later than planned but Jordyn's new purse is done.  The pattern is from "BAGS THAT ROCK" knitting on the road with Kelley Deal and yarn in Wool of the Andes Bulky color Galaxy from Knitpicks.  the bag it self is knitted in a rectangle and felted and then stitch up the sides and then pick up stitches around the top and knit a K2P2 rib.  Excuse the picture still having problems with the camera and so having to use phone camera and some don't come out to clearly.  So now going to start 3 zip up hoodies for 2 of my nieces and 1 nephew, picked up the yarn for these at Stitches West from Webs, I picked up some of their Valley Yarns in a DK superwash in basically a navy blue.  I am also working on the socks for Tylar and they are a lace pattern that I have been working on while out but it is to slow going so I think I will work on them mostly while home or only if going to be somewhere else for quite a while.  The basic rib socks I was working on for Brian ended up a bit to mismatched and so I am going to take both out to an even point and knit 2 at 1 time for them for whatever reason lately when I try and knit one sock at a time they do not come out even, even though I log how many rows and count them on each I am missing something so for now I am just going to knit 2 at once, then you don't have to deal with 2nd sock syndrome.  I also need to start looking into a new hat pattern for the yarns that I got for Chicken Bone she needs more than the 2 I have made her so far not nearly enough to give her plenty of options in style and color.  Brian's 2nd day off and so we have been just relaxing and not doing much more than watching TV and talking, knitting and just pretty much nothing.  Spending time with the kids and the husband what more nicer.

Great Day for Knitting ?

Yesterday was a bust left to do non grocery errands and thought it would take me a few hours I left before noon and got home about 7pm how ridiculous is that,  never thought it would take multiple stops to try and find new lamp shades ended up going to 8 different places how screwy is that, and I bought 2 each of 2 different styles and I don't think I like either one I think they are all going back, so back to square one.  As a result of my day moving down the road of the big black hole, I came home sat down to knit and passed out in my chair till about 1am got up and moved to bed just before Brian came home and went right back to sleep.  I did have 2 good parts Chicken Bone got her hat and loved it and I got my newest box of goodies from Knitpicks and my other box from The Loopy Ewe is on its way so I think I have everything I need for my plans for the next few months.  We'll see how it all goes.  Today should be better new storm came in last night and have nothing planned for out of the house today except Jordyn has physical therapy this afternoon.  So after doing a few household chores I am headed to my chair for some family time with Brian he is off for the next few days, some catch up on TV shows and my Knitting.

Blindsided

Well don't I feel ridiculous went for the yearly eye exam and was excited and ready, need new glasses current ones are really scratched not sure how since after spending over 20 years as a working Optician I think I have my glasses care just a bit ingrained never clean the glasses with kleenex or paper products and such. I always get them wet and use an appropriate cleaning cloth, really don't see those habits disappearing after this many years but with the old pair the lenses were already replace once due to the scratches and the 2nd pair has ended up completely scratched also.  But the bigger issue today was not realizing that they were going to dilate my eyes really hate them doing that. gives me a headache and sometimes makes me sick to my stomach usually plan on not doing anything after the exam because the problems.  But did have a funny encounter with the Dr. during the exam (her husband and mine work in the E.R. together) she is a crocheter and we have had conversations in the past about our current projects and I was telling her about Stitches West  I attended a couple weeks back and so when I got home I was telling Brian about our oohhs and ahhs about different yarns and our current projects I had mine with me a new pair of socks I am working on and she was working on a cape but the other piece she had I do need to call her back and ask what it was going to be but she was working it in the round and it looked like stockinette stitch only crocheted and I had never seen crochet look like that so I asked her about it and she showed me how to do it but I have never seen the technique done before looked amazing.  Funnier part was my husband was at work before hers and as soon as her husband came in he mentioned to Brian to keep my yarn addiction away from his wife.  I called him back and told him that his wife could have more expensive habits than nice yarn, and think of the end results.  Today I got out a felted piece that I did before Christmas so I could start the finish work it will be a new hand bag for #3 daughter Jordyn  made it out of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky Hand Dyed in the color galaxy which is  varigated purples. the bag itself it a simple felted rectangle and then has a ribbed top on it that folds over like a turtleneck.  Here is the picture of the bag and the start of the ribbing on the top hopefully I will finish it tomorrow.  That is of course depending on how quickly I get through the rest of my day I have shopping to do tomorrow that is not grocery related fabric to try and find the stuff for the costume I agreed to make for the production of Pinocchio satin my "favorite" to work with and then I have a few other things to pick up.  Then I also have to contend with Aunties calls about her knitting for the day she is such an accomplished crocheter I am wondering about her learning crochet vs. her learning curve in knitting I am having so much fun helping her,  but I have not been on the phone with someone so many times a day since I was young and in love you know how you used to make so many calls to who ever you liked so much, makes me laugh thinking back hope I am helping her more than teaching bad habits but it is so much fun to help someone who wants to learn so much.  And of course instead of going shopping tomorrow I would rather snuggle in because the rain is supposed to start up again and then rain through the weekend.

Knitting Weather

Well here in Northern California we have had quite a time with weather, of course it is nothing like what the East Coast has been dealing with but for us it has been quite a ride tomorrow will be a big dangerous day with black ice in the morning and that very rarely occurs around here.  I am from Tucson, Arizona and there black ice is something that you deal with periodically every year so I have a hard time remembering that around here most have no clue what to watch for or how to handle it.  But because of the weather I decided to get a couple of quick errands done first thing this morning while we had a short clearing of weather and then went home and got dinner done early so everyone could make their plate whenever they were ready, then I sat down to spend the rest of my day knitting. Currently taking a break now and not sure I should call it a break from knitting because I have been interrupted so many times I have not gotten much done.  With everyone staying home and not venturing out due to weather I cannot figure out why everyone and their Uncle is choosing to call me today,  don't they realize I have other plans for the day.  I received my newest Loopy Ewe order finally got my camera back from my Aunt and went to go take pictures of my Stitches West and Loopy Ewe purchases but camera battery dead (of course par for the day).  I also do sewing and embroidery etc. but I have been concentrating on knitting for quite some time now and have only been sewing when I had to but I got a call today from the local dance teacher who all 3 girls took lessons from for over 15 years and acted as costume designer for most of those years but I cut back once the girls were not dancing regularly anymore but I got the call today for a costume out of red satin with a peter pan color and a black and white checked pinafore apron I am so hoping I can find a pattern close to what I need because I have no desire to design the pattern and then sew the dress together so cross your fingers that I find something close a few alterations to pattern I don't mind.  So more on this later so I guess I will head back to the sock for the husband I did a toe up sock and hopefully finish up the foot part tonight and then start the gusset and heel tomorrow and we'll see how far I get tomorrow maybe done because the leg is just a simple rib pattern for this pair.  The temperature on the back porch is like 29degrees so gonna be a cold night so I think I will snuggle in with my sock and something good to watch on tv or read a book I am in the middle of also such a nice way to spend the rest of my evening.

Finished Hat

Well I I finally finished Chicken Bone's hat for such a relatively simple pattern for some reason I had problems nothing I didn't figure out but I have not ripped something out so many time since I was doing my first lace project a few years back but ultimately I got it done and I really like the way it turned out I was not sure about it while knitting it up because until its done the brim looks like this floppy mess and I didn't quite understand how the final instructions where going to fix it just could not see the end result in my minds eye but as the saying goes I trusted the process and it did come out fine the only change I made was I had to add more length  to the crown because it was going to be to shallow for where I wanted it to sit on her head the hat need to come down lower since she is wearing them since she has no hair.  Started a new pair of sock for daughter #2 Tylar but then remembered that I had made a sock for Brian and other things got in the way so I am going back to finish the 2nd sock   for this pair it goes great with his Sapphire scrubs for work.  He loves the socks I make him because his scrubs are barely long enough and so his white socks really stand out but other colored store bought socks are not long enough and so I make his longer like athlete socks, on anyone else they would be thigh high since he is so tall about 6' 5" and it takes a bit  longer to make them but it definately shows off the great yarns I use  for them.  Happy Knitting to All

Stitches west

Well its been a week since I last posted several good reason's why I didn't, but to be honest the first is because the incident with the other family member who blamed me for something they didn't like happening really bothered me the darling dear husband was the one who started it but of course they wouldn't dare approach him and blame him. although my darling Brian called the other family members husband and explained what happened and all explanations seemed to be all worked out and accepted and Brian told them that he expected the other family member to call me and apologize,  glad I didn't hold my breath waiting didn't really expect the apology but I really hoped that I would get it, I am known in my family as the pacifier I used to be willing to do ANYTHING to keep everyone happy then a few years ago I had to much of my self buried and things need to change I still try to do what I can but I no longer lose myself while helping others and if they don't like how things are going I also have to learn to live with that and it is really hard for me but I refuse to no longer be pushed into a corner worried about what everyone else thinks.  But now on to my better things I had planned on attending Stitches West on Saturday wished I could have had the whole weekend but I got Saturday and I took my Auntie with me and we did the cattle run on Saturday morning and for any of you that have been there everyone is so polite while waiting for the doors to open and once they do it is like a controlled cattle run and then a free for all
But as I checked out Heatherly from Intwined it is amazing how much her life has changed in the last year just since she had her husband make some tweeks to a program because she didn't like how it worked and now she has a product that is FABULOUS, saw Jordana Paige's new  bag and especially like her new style did not see her myself which was sad Love, Love, Love her she is so smart and such a sweetheart.  I left my camera with my Auntie she is supposed to bring it to me tomorrow and I will post pics of what I bought.  Got some DK weight to make 3 matching hoodies for 2 nieces and 1 nephew who live out of state and also got 4 new sock yarns, Cookie A's new book and an few other odds and ends and the biggest deal was I purchased the pattern for the beanie from Love Story and had it autographed by Ali MacGraw and had my picture taken with her she is still beautiful.  The movie "Love Story" came out in 1970 I was 9 yrs old and I remember how much everyone just loved her and of course every female I knew who saw the movie was in tears just remembering it.  So that was my Saturday and today is Tuesday, husband had the last 6 days off and so we have really just laid low we had originally planned to get some work done but with the weather just kept raining to much so ended up being a very relaxing time I have been trying to finish another hat for Chicken Bone I have finished the crown and have determined I need to take it out and make it deeper  I tried it on and I know she doesn't have any hair but I still think it feels to short so time for a bunch of ripping luckily it is a bulky weight so it should knit back up quickly.   That was the other yarn I bought I got 2 more skeins for hats for Chicken Bone one is a purple grey color and the other is green and blue I can't wait to see how they knit up.  Well now that I am past the asshats members of my family I am moving on.   I have been asked to check in to the possibilities of teaching a learn to knit class,  think I will start with a scarf with a bit more than just garter stitch.  I am so excited maybe getting something so fun started in this town we are so small not a lot happens so anything to draw people out is a good thing around here.  So for today my favorite ending is very appropriate.  Happy Knitting to all