Where I Had Coffee This Morning

In my rocker sitting there watching my yarn. The white storage cabinet is all of the WIPS,well not all of the WIPS, but alot of them.

In the corner behind it, is my knitting DVD and videos. The shelves have my knitting figurine collection.

My books have all been dusted off and catalogged. I just need to get them into my database.

I have my stitched pictures on the wall.

And I got the guys to move my fold up table into the room. Now, when I get ready to block, I can unfold it and leave it to dry for however long it takes.
I have new blinds on the windows that still needs to be replaced.

My chair is close enough to the yarn that I can reach out and touch it. I even have been know to talk to it! Like, how did I get so much? Or, you guys can't have a whole bin to yourselves.

There are several bins that are rather full. I sorted it according to Brand ie Encore and then other bins have baby yarns, spring yarns, cotton for dishcloths, sock yarn. Somewhere I have more sock yarn, but I havn't found it yet.

Maybe it's best if I don't find it....I think there is enough there to start my own yarn shop! Please tell me that is what everyone says.

I'm pleased with the new room, even if it hasn't been painted yet and the doors still need stripped and the closet needs cleaned. There will be time for that in the winter!

So Much For What I Intended To Do Yesterday

All I was going to do yesterday, is go into the room and clean around the baseboards. Clean out the windows. Vacuum the floor.


Then, my intentions were to knit on a couple of projects that are needing attention before camp.


If you remember from my previous posts, I was going to start with the closet and get it nice and fixed up and then down the road re-paint the room. I figured with all of that it would be late summer, early fall before I was ready to move in.


Well, once in the room, I got a little itchy to move in. I opened the closet and then shut it and decided if I have to wait to move in until it is all nice and painted that would drive me batty. I was ready NOW to start getting my knitting stuff all in one spot instead of in six different rooms on two levels.


Then the tall guy encouraged me to go to Menards with him. And while there, I looked and tons of paint chips and brought lots home with me. They did not have the mesh cubes that I wanted. Then the tall guy, hey, lets try Lowes and see if they have what you want! Nope, so I said heck lets go to Target in Peoria, I know they have the cubes cause Norma gave me the ad a couple of weeks ago.

And the rest is almost history! With his encouragement and help late last night he helped me them together. Today, I finally finished the room for now. Pics and blog about today's adventure then!

Things I Want To Accomplish This Weekend

In between watching the Cards (hopefully) beat Boston, the Olympic Trials and the IRL race, I have several things I would like to accomplish this weekend.

First I am going in to Baby Boy A's old room (now to be known as PJKnits Central until I can decide if it is the yarn room or the knitting room )and do a little cleaning. That room is going to be a big project because I am going to start with the closet and work my way out. Nothing has been done to it in about 30 years (the closet that is) and it will take me awhile. That and I have pre-camp stuff to do.

But, in the meantime, I want to store some yarn and a chair that has been overflowing a corner of the living room for sometime. But back to the weekend list.

I started my Kauni late last night. I would like to at least get the ribbing done this weekend and start working on the body.

Sometime ago, I started it, but for some reason ripped it out. It has been sitting downstairs with the needles attached to it with about a dozen cast on stitches. I am not sure if I did a gauge swatch or not with it. I sure hope I did?!
Next up for the weekend, is to see just where I am at on my Around the Bend Jacket that has had the two pieces finished for more than a year. But, when I went to icord it up, the two did not match very well.

Then, I saw some things at the shoulder join that I thought could have been done better, so I started ripping out. I hope to get this accomplished so I can get some help with at camp or from Char and Linda who are working on it too.

Thats my Want To List for the weekend, just a couple of things....oh there are more but lets be real here now!

Just In Case

You didn't know, it is the first day of Summer. And the longest day of the year! We picnicked today at lunch here at work and I got a little bit of sun on the arms.

It was too hot to knit in the sun (I'm kind of wimpy like that), but it was a great social time. It is quiet today here at the College, I hope I can keep out of trouble this afternoon.

Char and I are already contemplating what we are taking to Camp in LESS than three weeks. We are a case! But,hey thats the way we are!

Eeek! Three Weeks Til Camp!

I cannot believe it. In just three short weeks, we will be heading for camp. I have so much I wanted to do after last years camp. How did a year go by so fast? Heck, how did life go by so fast?

I have several things on my almost daily revised list that I want to have completed by camp.

My Mythical Beast - not sure that is going to happen
My Shawl
A Tank that I have been working on for several weeks
My Around the Bend Jacket ripped back aways
The Kauni at least started past the rib
The Sunrise Jacket - cause it is always cold in the room

Then there is the list of what I am taking with me to work on:
The Gansey
The New Zealand Sweater
Cinnamon Bark

I need to NOT sleep as much. And knit more. Eeek Three Weeks, It's gonna be so much fun.

As If

As if I did not already have tons on the needles, I couldn't resist. I needed to start a new shawl. So I picked the first one in the Gathering of Lace Book. The more I look at this book, the more I want to knit more out of it. I'm seriously thinking about working my way through it.


So, I ordered my yarn from Meg. The colors on the screen can be deceiving. I thought this would be lighter.

The color reminds me of a handspun that I made a sweater for Baby Boy A some years ago.


I don't mind the color so much. I have a game plan on the knitting of it. According to the instructions, you knit on it until you have used half of your yarn up.

My plan is by the weekend, to have one of the three balls knitted up. I'll make that plan if all goes well and I pay attention while knitting on it!

I'm Still Not Sold

This is my lunch time project. Since it has turned nice outside, we have been eating outside and then walking so there has not been much time to work on it. But, still I plod along.

I've ripped it back to the first rib more times then I want to remember.

I have changed needle sizes, I have decreased less stitches,I have decreased more stitches and then decreased differently and back again.

I really like the way the stripes are looking on the first section but not so much on the second rib. The whole time I keep thinking the yarn would be neat in another sweater.

Oy, will this sweater ever be finished?

It's Back To Work

It was a long week. I never cleaned so much in my life and sweated quite a bit too. The kids have a great house and it is right off of the main artery that leads you everywhere. I know, I did a bit of exploring in between my chores!

There are four yarn shops relatively close by. I got to three of them: Stash, Rainbow Fibers and Yarns To Go. They all could have done major damage to the pocketbook, but I was a good little knitter.

My greatest find? The Bass Pro Shop only two short blocks from my hotel. I got a new smaller version of my worm bag to hold my Harmony needles.



I love it!

Today Is KIP Day

Knit in Public! I was planning on going over to Morton to KIP, but too many things need to be caught up here at home. Baby Boy A just arrived from Memphis (he has to work a few days here and do some clear up paperwork at the prison). I'm slowly clearing my desk of bills and mail. My couch still has my knitting bags from the Memphis trip on it waiting to be unpacked. I did not even knit yesterday at all. I do however feel rested!

My new toy has kept me quite busy.

For Norma --this one is not for you, keep looking for something else in a smartphone.

There were times yesterday when I wanted to throw it across the room. And I am sure when I get my bill, I'll want to re think it! But, for today, I like it a little more than I did yesterday.

There still are a butt load of things that I want to do with it, but for now, a shower and some knitting is calling me.

Enjoy KIP day. I'll be KIP (knitting in private).

We're Home

I'm tired (we left Memphis at 3:30 a.m.) I have things to report. I'll bore you tomorrow, but for today I'm back!

Memphis

Tomorrow morning, very very early, I am on my way to Memphis to clean Baby Boy A and his new bride's house. The rest of the family follows on Tuesday with the UHaul. I have the back end of the Jeep filled with cleaning supplies, a fan, shop vac and a chair to sit on.

The back seat will have my knitting (LOTS of Knitting) for the evenings. On the front seat, will be all of my directions. The Memphis Group over on Ravelry were a wealth of information, and I hope to take in about three shops down there before everyone else comes down.

See you back here next Fridy with a report. Until then, keep knitting! I will be.

One Warm Sweater

This is my New Zealand sweater from two yarns mixed together, Brown Sheep and Diakieto Fino. I discovered last weekend as I knit on it before the wedding, this is going to be one warm sweater.

It did not seem like it would be when it was just the garter hem, but the more I knit on it the more substantial it is getting. It is DEFINITELY going to be one of the warm ones. It will be great for wearing out without a jacket. You know when winter comes back!

Look What I Got

I've been talkin about these for months. So, last week amongst all the pre- wedding stuff, I decided I deserved them.

Well, maybe I didn't deserve them, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.


Did I need them all, no, but I bought them anyway. I used them last night for a new project that I am doing my gauge swatch on. And I was pleased that I bought them for myself.

Now, I just have to decide if I want to order the binder to put them in or add them to my worm bag collection so they are all together. What is anyone else doing?

It Was Hormones


Because I work at a medical college, I have my unofficial MD (mother degree) and I have diagnosed the last few days as not a funk, but hormones.

These are pictures of what Baby Boy A left for us to contend with. All of this needs to be taken care of before his father-in-law arrives with the truck to move him next Tuesday! I must have went in there six or seven times and just could not figure out where to start. Thank goodness Baby Boy B is on it and will do some of it. He seems to know what some of it is. Some is going to go in a surprise box and Baby Boy A can figure out what to do with it when he gets it in Memphis!



His room in the future (notice I did not say near future) is going to be the Yarn Room. It is going to take alot of work on my part, but I am looking forward to having all my "stuff" in one place. I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow, it is back to knitting!

I Was In A Funk

Operative word - WAS. It started yesterday, at brunch, when I felt alone. My oldest no longer looked to me to keep him in conversation, he now had a wife. It continued into last night, when we were finally home and there was only three of us to sit down to dinner. I really wasn't ready for that! The funk kept going into the night and this morning. Tomorrow, I will show you why the funk is gone!!! That and hormones.

But for this post, here is the rest of the pictures that I have on my camera that turned out fairly decent for posting.
The best man (Baby Boy B) who made a very funny but yet very emotional best man speech, except that he forgot to toast the couple...still it he did a good job.




The ring bearer, my great nephew who was so damn cute!







My dancin partners for the evening. My legs and feet still ache today, but it was all worth it!

I'm Back!!!

After a rocky start to Friday if my mom would even make it to the wedding (she did and it was better that she came down on Saturday with my cousin, bless him; the near by tornados during the rehearsal (that had the Father disappearing right after, he was back for the wedding) and the torrential rains we put up with on Friday night, the wedding day was beautiful if but a tad hot!



It was a happy day with a few tears, but finally we have a daughter in our family. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but on the inside as well.
The next day or two, I'll have a few pictures to show, but not a whole lot since the light bulb did not go off until we are the reception that I should give my camera to someone else to take pictures.

And I did promise that we would be back to knitting content this week!

And You Thought I Was Gone!

Which means that the Blog would not have any more pre-wedding discussion. Well, that is partially true.

Yesterday was a busy day at work with the Retirement Party pre and post set up and clean up. But, I still managed to get over to Morton to pick up some yarn they had ordered for me. But, I'll blog about that next week. I promise, after the wrap up post on the wedding next week, it will be back to knitting content. I have alot of I am keeping for posts.

A co-worker who happens to be leaving today for other employment, wished me well yesterday and told me to go home last night and get all those little things done, like last minute laundry and packing and she said "no knitting". Huh, she just does not understand does she?

This morning I just have to finish packing which will include my knitting....after all it is about an hour and half away....The tall guy is making me breakfast AND I am still trying to figure what clothes to take for the rehearsal tonight (black pants with something- I have several options) and Sunday brunch at the Inn.

Have a good weekend all, I'll blog when we get back.

There Is No Time

This is the start of a busy day which will just keep on snowballing. Originally, I was going to take today off too. But, a good friend is retiring today and I am one of several doing a retirement party for her and one other at work. That and Baby Boy A has to be in Springfield for dance lessons at 11 am, so there is really no need for mom to stay home and help him pack.

Suffice it to say, he did not get all of his packing done here, so next week after we return will be a week of shuffling through all of the leftovers and getting it packed up.

So, until, we return from the wedding, there is just not time to blog, hardly enough time to knit, so I'll return next week with a wedding report for all.

I know you will be glad to hear the end of it and onto Knit Camp.....40 some days away.

What Is Going On?

Should I get the sweaters back out? I actually had to turn the heat on last night, I just could not get warm....and here I was running around with my sandals on last night after my pedicure.

46.6 °F / 8.1 °C
Mostly Cloudy

It Was A Good Day of Knitting

I accomplished what I wanted to.
I wanted to get my Wool Peddler's Shawl to the lace portion of the pattern, which I did. Now, it is going back to time out, because it became evident to me that it is going to require my attention when knitting it. And there are other things that I want to do before camp gets here.
My other project for yesterday was to get my New Zealand Sweater past the garter hem and one skein of the black yarn used up.

This is going to be what I will take with to knit on next weekend in between the wedding activities.

Today, the NCIS Marathon is on so in between laundry, I'll sit and do a little knitting or rather tearing out of the Round the Bend Jacket.

It's Going To Be A Great Knitting Day

If the rain holds out for Indianapolis, I will sit in my favorite chair and knit while watching the race. I'm not really rooting for anyone specific this year, but I love to watch the race, and it is a good time to knit for me.


And then, mid afternoon, the Cardinals are playing and so I'll have another couple of good hours of t.v. and knitting time.

I have a movie for tonight to watch. So, I guess, basically, I am going to be nice and lazy today. The calm before a full week of pre-wedding/retirement party activities. Unfortunately, it is not me who is retiring!

This Is Funny!

And oh so typical....I am going 2 hours away for Baby Boy A's fiancee's medical school graduation. I don't have to drive. The tall guy is. And I have three projects in my knitting bag to work on! And of course, my socks that are always in the back seat.

Think I have enough for a four hour tour?

My Fairy Yarn Mother

I have my own personal shopper. Isn't that nice?! My friend and fellow radical knitter, Norma shops for me if I need it. See, she is retired and I still have to work. So, when I had an epiphany on Sunday (after I had been to the yarn shop on Saturday) that a set of Denise Needles would be a great gift for a medical student who is graduating on Saturday and who knits and who just happens to be almost my daughter-in-law. And after I realized that I have absolutely no time to go and get them, unless I didn't (not a chance) go to dinner before knitting on Thursday.

So, I emailed my FYM and she said she would shop for me. So, I thought yarn for a scarf would be nice to include in the bag. Only problem is.....I'm not sure I am giving both of them to her....I kind of like the one on the right, just don't don't know what for.

Thanks Norma!

You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Or otherwise, Linda, when you don't call your friends and tell them that you are going to the yarn shop, you will be discovered! You thought you would just slip in and out and no one would be the wiser, huh? Well, I caught ya or did you catch me?

What is worse, being discovered with an arm full of yarn or having a "friend" who has a blog that you just know is going to have to spill it for you? Sorry Linda, but I just had to.....I still smile and chuckle when I think about it.

Imagine my surprise when I looked up yesterday while I was over in Morton picking up a set of Denise needles for a gift and there was Linda heading right for me. What a hoot.
Lucky for me Ewe-nique Yarns only had the pattern and not the yarn for this cool vest. But, Debbie told me they had just ordered some and it should be in a week or so. Double lucky for me that I am pretty well tied up the next 3 - 4 weekends so I won't be able to go yarn shopping for it!

I was on a mission before I stumbled upon Linda, but, I couldn't miss checking out a little side to side baby sweater they had displayed out my favorite colors...so I had to pick it up the yarn and buttons, heh, it was only one skein!!!!

What a beautiful day yesterday was and today looks to be just as good! Without the yarn shopping excursion....

Good News

Baby Boy A found out yesterday that he will be transferred to Forest City Arkansas. It is about 45 minutes from Memphis where they will be living, BUT he will keep all of his benefits that he now has AND most of all will maybe only have to spend a week here tops working before he has to report.

Good news for them, good news for me and my yarn room!

Two weeks til Wedding!!!! Where did the time go?

Places You Should Go

Besides my blog of course. But, below are some of my favorites for internet surfing for knitting. They always inspire me and I learn oh so much. And then there are times they just plain get me in trouble....

http://techknitting.blogspot.com/

http://theraineysisters.com/

http://fibernating.blogspot.com/

http://zimmermaniacs.blogspot.com/

http://knitaddict.pahdoco.com/

http://www.sailingknitter.blogspot.com/

http://www.stashandburn.com/

http://www.ravelry.com

#29

No, not #29 in the project list! It is pattern #29 in the booklet. This little tank will not be a quick knit that is for sure. It uses slip stitches every two rows and they are slipped either with the yarn in front or in back which is a little time consuming.

I probably should have used yellow as the blips because it would go with a jacket I have, but I just kind of thought the green was a nice accent.

Yarn and pattern is one of those that I bought last Saturday over at Ewe-nique Yarns in Morton. Wow, is all I can say about there new store. Loads of room to wander the yarn bins. Go stop by if you are in the vicinity and tell them that Penny sent you!

Sunrise

I thought I would start off the next few blog posts with my mounting number of WIPS. And what better to start off with then the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I like it! I just hope it fits. My gauge is on. The measurements are on. But, when laid out it sure looks narrow. But, again the pattern says fitted and that is what I am going for.

The jacket is being knitted out of Cascade 220 Handpaint. The perfect colors for denim. It seems I am going on that track lately....trying to find sweaters that go with Friday casual day and are comfy too.

Even though tomorrow's entry is not specifically geared for denim, it did catch my regular color combos....Caribe Blue and Lime.

And You Thought I Was Done

With the wedding shopping, huh? Got the dress, got the jewelry, picked the shoes?
So, now I'm wearing funky sox and trying to stretch the shoes out a bit.

Went on a purse shopping excursion and bought one in silver and one in gold.



Surprisingly enough the silver goes with the shoes. The two blend and it definitely goes with the jewelry. The gold I am keeping for fun!

Tomorrow - Friends don't let Friends shop in yarn stores together!

Happy Mother's Day

Realistcally, this will probably be the last Mother's Day for about three to five years that the boys will pose for a picture like this with me. It's kind of sad as I sit here tonight thinking how we have had 25 Mother's Days together. But enough of that! Look what they surprised me with. Who would a thunk it?


I love it. I have bitched and moaned enough about our old sweeper, that the boys bought me a new one for Mother's Day. And does this think pick up?! It just amazes me how much dust is in the carpet in so small of an area!

What a great day it was today! Even though it is cool and quite rainy at times, it has been a great Mother's Day.

Now, I am off to sit and do some knitting and watch a movie or two.

I Gotta New Book

I love it! I want to make almost everything in it! This is NOT good. Especially since I am off to Morton in about an hour. This could be serious.

I think I have an illness!

There is no hope. Aren't my LYSes glad?

Venting

They have lost three in a row. And to the Brewers who have lost 6 straight! Izzy has blown 5 straight saves. Come on guys, what are you trying to do to me?



The Cub fans at work and the Cardinal fans have a contest. Which ever team finishes the lowest in the standings at the end of the regular season has to wear the opposing teams shirts all day long!

I know it is early, but we gotta start winning some games! It plays havoc with my stitch tension when they lose a game!

Look What I Found

It amazes me to go through a tub and find a long lost WIP. I can hardly wait to move into the Yarn Room later this Summer. Just imagine the finds!

Probably during my first or second time at camp, I picked up this gray Alpaca from Joslyn's. I did not know what I was going to do with it, but LOVED the feel of it. I can remember one summer in route to St Louis for a CARDINAL game, knitting on it in the car.

From Folk Shawls, it is the Wool Peddler's Shawl. For now, it is a really idiot knitting piece, so I can take it with me to knit night and work on it. And if I get it done in time for Camp, it will add some warmth to a sometimes cool room.

Wonder what else is buried in a tub?

I'm Torn


While searching for an old WIP, I found this yarn. Ah ha, I said, it would be perfect for a Baby Surprise Jacket.

Then, I found this in progress. I vaguely remember it, but who I was I knitting it for? It doesn't really matter because whomever it was for is probably at least in high school by now.
For a moment, I gave thought to continuing to knit on it and give it to my friend at work who researched my mythical beast for me. She has granddaughters that could probably wear it. And Gail is the recepient of several old sweaters that I have knit and cast off to her. She wears them so proudly and it makes me feel good.

But, then, wouldn't this be so cute in a Baby Surprise? I have never actually knit a whole one and this would be a good start. I see another project started in my future, but....I would also elimnating a WIP so it really is just an exchange. Right!?

This Is All You Get

I bought the yarn for my Mythical Beast Contest entry. With a little help from my lunch buddies, I think I have an idea. Now, all I have to do is put it to needles. That could be the hardest part.

Stay tuned!

Kiri

I knew when I saw the yarn that I wanted to do something form it. I knew that I had a pattern that called for it at home. So, I bought one ball (I'm doing alot of this right now). I brought it home and searched Ravelry. Sure enough, I had the pattern and this is the yarn it is done in down to the color I believe.

I'm having fun with it. Even though it is suppose to be a eacy lace pattern, it requires me to shut the t.v. off and kind of concentrate on it. The yarn is Rowan Kid Silk Haze and I love it. Did I say that already?

Yarn Shopping

It's time again! To go out and do a little yarn shopping. It's going to rain today, and what better way to spend a few hours. Well, yes, I could stay in and knit, but there have been a couple of things on my mind that I want to check out. And I have discovered that if I do not act on them, I won't be with a darn in my knitting.

First, I am heading out to Knit 4 Together to check out some patterns for a first sweater. Not necesssarily for me, but there has been that thought percolating for sometime that I want to see about.

Then, over to Ewe-nique Yarn, because my lunch buddies turned me onto a possibility for the Mythical Beast Contest and I want to see if the yarn that I am thinking of can be found there. Gail, one of the library research staff, searched for some details for me and the rest of the table helped me come up with some possibilities to add to it. And then the tall guy gave me yet another idea on how to incorporate it. I nixed his idea, but came up with an alternative.

Then, I came home and googled it. Low and behold someone has sort of came up with the idea in the form of a pattern several years ago. Who would have thunk that was possible? But, that is not making me stop.....I think I might give it a whirl, if not just for fun!