My Best Friend's a Dork

wraps

Thanks, Jennifer! She sent me a package full of goodies a few weeks ago.

Nate's socks are coming along. One done, the other cast on, but no pic yet.

I've finished a couple small wraps

Pattern: As You Like It by Jane Campbell. The red one as the pattern is written, the other with a lace edging.
Yarn: The red one- Koigu Mori, 2 skeins. The other- Ella Rae lace merino, 1 skein.

We are surviving summer vacation so far.  Jess is learning to weave, but Nate seems to have taken to it. Right now, we're at Spring Mill State Park, and she and Nate are poolside.

Why you see no knitting

Last year, I promised Jess we would redo her room and, of course I didn't get to it. This is how I've spent my summer vacation so far.

I'm also rehabbing some chairs, using Annie Modestte's chair pattern in Weekend knitting.

 

Now this [icture is right side up on my computer. Why it keeps loading sideways, I don't know.

Speaking of chairs, I found this one in the back without a seat. I plan to reupholster it as soon as I can get those tacks to budge.

Hmm. Another sideways one.  Well, I give up, y'all get the idea.

what?! pics...finally.

I know I promised pictures. I'm working on it, but the ol' camera just does not want to cooperate.  I was thinking that since I used my last check to buy a netbook, (And some of you were wondering why I'm suddenly showing up on facebook a lot more.) maybe this next one can cover a camera.  We'll have to see, Mama needs a new camera, but she also needs a new roof.

But, I am happy to say I am getting a new phone.  Here's what my phone SHOULD look like.

Here is what it DOES look like. The hinge broke over a month ago, and Verizon finally told me I could go ahead and get my new phone.  Now I'm just waiting for the FedEx man.

I finished Nate's gargantuan pullover. 

Pattern: none
Yarn: Bartlett yarns Glen Tweed 3 ply & Lopi

I have some other things That still need to be photographed. I also have a finished pair of socks, but I cannot show them until after they've been gifted. (They are a surprise.)

roller coaster

Hey folks! I just thought I would drop by the old blog and drop a quick line.  Last week, Jess had a day at Holiday World through school.  She had a blast.  that girl Loves her roller coasters. No pictures though. I didn't bother to take the camera,  being a Special Education day at the park, I could get into trouble posting photos that had any other kids in it. So, just imagine a 7 year old laughing and screaming her head off all day. (Yes, I did remember to bring the advil with me.)

Today was Jess' IEP meeting which came in at about an hour and a half. I believe that's the new record for shaortest IEP meeting that I've attended.

Jess will return to her home-district school, but will be in a new classroom like the one she is now.  Sounds like an ideal plan, if it is executed well.

Next post will have pictures. I promise

Right now we are spring cleaning at the house.  This also means I'm trying to finish all old kniting projects before casting on some new ones, which, of course, sucks all the fun out of it.

But, to keep me honest, a list of WIP:
1.  Nate's pullover hoodie
2.  Nate's merino socks.
3.  a pair of feather pluckin's
4.  a curved shawl from Victorian Lace Today
5. a travel checkers set

Oh, before things got crazy here,  Nate, Jess and I took a day trip to St. Louis...

...And you wouldn't believe who we ran into.

Carma and I are currently planning a weekend trip to St. Louis in the near future.

Sad

On Saturday, April 18th, my Aunt Sharon lost her battle with cancer.
On Friday, April 24th, Great Aunt Ida passed away.

We're now just trying to get back to normal. We're exhausted and grieving, and exhausted.

back to basics

So, Princess seems to have adjusted to her meds and is somewhat back to normal. We've just been pluggin' along. Nate still has a job, and we're making due.

Our washer broke a few months ago and we were all set to buy a new one last fall, and now we've thought that maybe we can just hold off.  I had been dragging our clothes out the the laundromat, which it seems that laundromats are few and far between around here, and we had been doing that for a while. The laundromat I go to, had recently raised its coin-op prices substantially and it has ticked me off.

So now, this is laundry day at our house.  Yes, I'm that stubborn.

There has been knitting  I made a Baby Surprise Jacket for my friend who is expecting girl number three in June.

 

Pattern: Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket
Yarn: Dream in Color's Classy in Pansy Go Lightly, a bit more than one skein.

The spring beauty is in full bloom in the yard.  I love it.

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

 

 

On Saturday April 25th at 9am (!!) I will be combining exercise with a worthy cause. A group of my coworkers and I will be walking 6 miles (!!!) to raise money for the March of Dimes. If you can find it in your means to do so I would appreciate your support. 

Hey, I may even try walking and knitting...

Kitty's Little Helper.

Have you ever not talked to someone in so long, that when you finally decided to call that person, you then face the dilemma of trying to catch them up on all that has transpired or to just start in with the now?

Our kitty, Princess was due for her yearly shots. While at the vet's, I mentioned that Princess is essentially grooming herself bald, and then pointed out all of her bald patches. She is now on medication to essentially, "chill her out" in hopes of breaking this habit.

I'm concerned. Now that Princess is on "the drugs" (which by the way is how I have been referring to it.) she has been staying out all night, and sleeping all day. I have even caught her with the neighbor cat in his basket. She's out of control. Nate did point out to me that she is a teenager in cat years. Then he started laughing at this completely absurd conversation we were having, and has been teasing me ever since.

I have been knitting, but apparently I have not been taking photos.  don't worry I will get on that.

 

Blech

I don't have a lot of knitting news that I can show you, hence the reason (well, one of them) that I have been MIA. Right now I am working on a Super Secret Knitting Project, otherwise known as Erin's Birthday Present. Yes, I am aware that her birthday was a month and a half ago. We have to chalk it up to the fact that I'm evidently a bad friend and a ridiculously slow knitter.

But as soon as the Super Secret Knitting Project is done and received by Erin I will be sure to post pictures (If I have iPhoto by then... souped up "old computer" still with i Photo) . I have to say I'm pretty proud (or will be when the stinking thing is finished).

In other knitting news. My fair city of Cedar Falls has a new(-ish, they opened in December) yarn shop. I'm over the moon about it. I have very little experience was a LYS, the previous shop is small and while the owner/ sole employee is a real sweetheart the hours for the shop don't really work with my work/life schedule. Plus it's small enough where I feel like if I go and hang out I'm in the way. Not so with this new shop. They are open 7 days a week AND open late on Thursdays. I'm starting to get over my fear of knitting in front of people, especially other people that also knit. (As Erin will attest I'm a dork). And I've learned a TON in just the 3 times I've visited. Granted 2 of those visits probably count as multiple visits, I was there so long. If the weather ever gets nicer I'm going to start walking down there from my apartment. I did that on one rare nice Saturday in the beginning of February. It's about 2 miles one way, so I figure I can rationalize to The Boy spending the day at the yarn shop (rather than helping out at the Lodge) if it's in conjunction with exercise. :)

After I finish the Super Secret Knitting Project I have a couple other projects that I am thinking about.

One of my coworkers is expecting and in the early stages (which means I have a lot of time, see comment about being a ridiculously slow knitter). So I was thinking a wee baby sweater might be in order. I have a pattern that includes BIG yarn and BIG needles so as long as I can get over my mental block about seaming (see comment about being a dork) I might be able to do it.

I also have the supplies to make myself a Sophie Bag. Or rather a modified version of the Sophie Bag. I'm thinking about making a buttonhole handle rather than a I-cord or beaded handle.

I also have a goal to go through my knitting "collection" and utilize Ravelry more with regards to that. While I was at the LYS the other day another woman there was looking into knitting a project where she wasn't sure if she had the proper needles. Pam, LYS worker/ instructor extraordinare, let the woman use the computer to pull up her profile on Ravelry. Lo and behold she did have the necessary needles. I never even thought to use this feature, especially in this way. This explains why I have a phenomenal number of needles. in mostly the same sizes (Honestly one person does not need this many size US 10 1/2!). I also want to put my yarn "collection" on there but I fear photographing my yarn in my dark apartment will make me not want to knit with any of it. This long winter and case of cabin fever does not need to bleed over into my hobby.

Seriously, will this winter ever end?