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Monday, November 26, 2007
New Project Idea?I'm currently knitting S a hot-water-bottle cozy. Nothing exciting, but with the temperatures dipping, it's necessary.But I'm trying to think of another project to put on the needles - something mostly mindless, but no socks or scarves. Add in the added requirement that it be from stash if possible, and I've got quite a quandry... So I'm currently thinking the Union Square Market Pullover from Interweave, Fall 2005... and for yarn, I'm thinking the recycled cashmere...  I originally bought 3 XL cashmere sweaters on super-sale. I used some of the yarn from one of the cream sweaters to knit Elizabeth I, but I have all of the blue, plus a full sweater in the cream plus the leftovers from Elizabeth, so I should have PLENTY of yardage. Currently, I'm trying to figure out a color combination - I like the blue as-is, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of blue with cream accents for the Union Square pullover. Maybe dye some cashmere brown (paying close attention to the dye amounts so I can re-create if necessary?) Dye the cream into 2 colors and let the blue hang out for the next project? It figures - I think of a project, and then can't decide about colors - even with a huge mound of cream colored cashmere just begging for the dye pot. Any color suggestions? Labels: Union Square Market Pullover 0 comments || # Sunday, November 18, 2007 What a Week!S and I spent nearly all day yesterday looking at houses and neighborhoods and thinking and discussing. With a decision this big, it's so hard to know... Plus, I'm coming off of quite the week at work. It's not that there is anything wrong with the job or the people or the environment, but I am in the position of knowing that this, specifically, is most definitely not what I want to do for the rest of my life... but after 6 weeks, one can hardly walk away and feel as if one has given it a fair shot. So I am trying to muddle through, and do the best I can without sacrificing everything else in my life... but trying to keep a positive attitude each day is a challenge. And without a positive attitude, there is no way I can make it through the year plus that I have promised myself I would give this job. SIGH. In the meantime, there is much cuteness chez-Musing. Here is an example of what bed-time looks like each night, and an excellent illustration of why we needed to buy a king-sized bed...  And here is an illustration of what happens when you sit down. Be warned - get the remote, your drink, and anything else you might need BEFORE you sit down... the animals are firmly in charge, and they don't appreciate being disturbed!  And for no apparent reason - beautiful fall flowers I bought at TJ's. They last forever, and they are simply stunning...   Oh, right. This was supposed to be a knitting blog. Well, here are a couple of finished objects... Baby socks - same 2 pairs that I made for my mom to send to France. These are emergency socks for the next time I need a baby gift at short notice.  And the rest of the finished socks are Christmas gifts, so I won't write much about them, and the pictures will be behind the link. If you are related to me by blood or marriage, don't click!! Finished Socks 1 Finished Socks 2 Finished Socks 3 Labels: Baby Gifts, Socks 0 comments || # Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Cleaning Up the SidebarI was noticing that my sidebar has been getting a little cluttered recently, what with all of the finished objects that haven't been properly written up - so over the next few days, I'll try to work my way through all of them! Debbie Bliss Silk Shrug Pattern: from Debbie Bliss Pure Silk Collection Yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in Black Notes: I had quite the challenge with knitting this, as the lace patterning and the decreases/shaping made for a serious challenge. I ultimately charted every single row on excel and crossed off as I went. This project marinated in an almost-complete stage for AGES because I couldn't face the prospect of sewing black silk without an Ott light... and then I just couldn't face the seaming period! But once I finally finished everything, I've found it is the perfect jacket to go with fancy dresses that just need a little something!  Tangled Yoke Yarn: acrylic/merino from School Products - dyed by me! Pattern: Tangled Yoke Cardigan from Interweave Knits, F2007 Notes: LOVE this sweater! I modified it slightly - I knit the sleeves flat and seamed, and I knit the body in 3 pieces to the yoke, and then joined. I prefer the extra structure of the seams to keep everything together. My gauge was not 100% right, but everything seemed to work out in the end with only a few small adjustments. Labels: Silk Shrug, tangled yoke 0 comments || # Friday, November 09, 2007 Poor Doggy!!Rebekah is having a contest to help raise money for a poor, sweet little doggy who was locked in an empty house for 6 weeks with no food or water. He only has a 30% chance of survival, and the shelter needs to raise money to pay for the extra care they have to give this poor little guy!Please GO HERE, donate, and enter the contest. 0 comments || # Wednesday, November 07, 2007 Happy November 7 Day!Four years ago, I took a chance and went on a date with a guy I met on match.com. In hindsight, things have worked out pretty well...Happy November 7 Day, Sweetie! 0 comments || # Tuesday, November 06, 2007 CampingAs promised, I've got some camping pictures! We headed up to Shenandoah National Park, and were pleasantly surprised to see that the fall foliage, while not exactly at peak, was still pretty spectacular.  After setting up camp, we headed a bit further down Skyline Drive to mile 59.5, and took a lovely hike. According to our trail guide, it was a smidge over 5 miles, and should have taken about 3 hours and 30 minutes round trip. We were back at the car about 1 hour and 45 minutes later thanks to a certain three-legged dog who has 2 speeds - fast and faster. I thought I was going to pass out during a couple of particularly strenuous uphill sections! The hike was particularly interesting because it led us past 2 sets of ruins - the first was the remains of a small stone church, circa 1904, and a few other buildings.    At the end of the trail (it was an out-and-back), we found ourselves in an old cemetary - most of the markers were illegible, although a couple were more modern and could still be read. The most recent burial dated to the 1940s, but most were pre-1900.  After a VERY fast 2.5 mile return trip that left S and I gasping for breath, Abby got her reward - a dingo donut! After running for over 5 miles, we figured we could cheat on her diet a little bit.  A cold front came through overnight, and strong winds gave us a crystal-clear sky. We could see the Milky Way, and I even saw a shooting star! Unfortunately, it was also VERY cold when the wind gusted, so we weren't too tempted to stay stargazing! Since we knew it was supposed to be cold overnight, I had brought my old down comforter to keep Abby warm. I think she liked it... she was so warm under the comforter that both S and I had to stop giving her snuggles because she was making us too hot! It was still chilly the next morning, so Abby and I kept warm in the car while S finished packing up...  And on our way out, we made one last stop to play in the meadow. I think Abby would have dug up the entire field if we had let her - those moles are lucky S and I got so cold that we had to carry her away!  On our way out of the meadow, I happened to catch these beautiful deer enjoying the early morning...  And when we got home, Cricket volunteered to supervise the laundry pile. Apparently she's trying to teach me to put the hand-wash sweaters INTO the hand-wash hamper. If I'm lazy and only manage to put them NEAR the hamper, Cricket will assume that I would like for her to sleep in the big fuzzy wooly pile. SIGH.  Labels: Camping 0 comments || # Monday, November 05, 2007 Playing Catch-UpI finally got around to downloading the photos from my camera, and I realized that I hadn't taken one single picture of the 2 pairs of baby socks I completed. Of course, since I was in a rush to get them to my mom so she could include them in the "welcome baby" package she was sending to the new parents in France, I've already mailed them off. All is not lost, however, as I am currently making 2 more pairs to keep in a drawer for those "oh goodness, I didn't know you were expecting" moments, and I'll make sure to take some pictures then.This weekend, S and I went camping - it was a trip we had planned to coincide with the bar results. I figured it would either be a celebratory trip, or a chance to distract myself... luckily, it was the former! It was definitely getting chilly, but the leaves were beautiful and it was a perfect weekend. I'm saving the pictures for the next post, though .... (ooo, cliffhanger, I know!) Well, since there aren't any pictures of knitting, or any pictures of camping, or any pictures of S and I getting sloshed on Friday with the celebratory bottle of Asti Spumanti I brought home, what ARE there pictures of? Like you even had to ask!  Here, Abby demonstrates that she and Cricket have been sharing secrets, including the patented kitty strategy of "lie on the papers until they pet you."  Meanwhile, Cricket (red circle) has been hard at work - she takes her "Bird Supervisor" role very seriously!  When they aren't hard at work watching birds or weighing down papers, Abby and Cricket assist in the blocking process. Abby just supervises, but Cricket periodically checks to see if the sweater is dry...  Can you believe that Cricket wouldn't ever get on the same couch as Abby?  Down comforter - 1. Abby - 0.  Down comforter - 2. Abby - 0.  Most spoiled doggy ever.  What S couldn't eat because "the doggy was too cute to move." Abby evenutally realized that there was bacon in the room and consented to move in exchange for a nibble.  We have 3 couches in our apartment. Notice who's sitting on the floor...  And finally - proof that we did, in fact, manage to carve a pumpkin in time for Halloween! Thanks so much for all of the congrats - I'm so excited that I never have to take a test like that again! Labels: Henry VIII 0 comments || # Friday, November 02, 2007 WOOOOOT!!!!I'm still waiting for the official, hold-in-my-hands paper notification, but according to the website, I passed the bar!WOOOOOT!!!!! 0 comments || # |
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