For the Love of Chris

Most of yesterday afternoon and all of last evening, I was at a benefit for an incredible lady at work who has been battling cancer. I am amazed at how well she is handling it all.

The event had an incredible turn out and I can hardly wait to see what the net results of it are. There were three bands who played, dancing, spaghetti from La Gondola, beer of course, raffles and friends who traveled to attend.

All I can say what a great event and good fun for a great cause.

Bless you Chris.

Good Intentions

I really was psyched to do the Aran from Knitter's Almanac for January. But, it seems that other things have gotten in the way.

And I have been drooling over this Debbie Bliss design for sometime. Maybe it is because the yarn that I am using for my January Aran looks like it would be better suited to this than the January Aran.

So tonight, I am giving thought to casting on in the round with another new ball of yarn and seeing which I like working the most.

No reason why I can't use EZ's techniques in a Debbie Bliss design. Knitters Choice.

Maybe I Spoke Too Soon

Just a couple of days ago I was thinking Spring knitting. Tonight, I sit here with a cup of tea, my electric blanket and am listening to the wind kick up the vent over the stove.

We had a little snow today and the rest of the week it is suppose to get colder each day. So, I guess there is still plenty of time to knit on some Winter sweaters, or rather finish some.

Know What I'm Doing Today?

I'm thinking Spring. Yes, I know we have a lot of Winter left, but for Knitters, if you want to wear a sweater in season, you can't wait until it is here to start knitting for it.

I do have quite a few winter sweaters that I want to keep knitting on, but I think a Spring one is appropriate to be added to the knitting queue. And since I really am trying to knit on stash yarn this first half of the year, I think I'll go shopping in the yarn room and see what I can come up with.

I love shopping for yarn!

I Don't Get It

Sorry, but I just don't get those big cowls knitted out of a bulky yarn on big needles. I just don't get them.

So, I won't be knitting one. My opinion.

Love My Table

And most of all my new placemats courtesy of my good friend Norma.

I'm still not ready to actually use them, they are way too cool to cover with a plate.

I know I am suppose to use them...but for now I like looking at them.

The Height

I am sitting in my chair. Thermos of coffee to the left. Knitting to the right.
T.V. on.

Later, I'll venture to the treadmill. Take a shower.

Might venture to the yarn room to clean it up a bit.

Plan today other than treadmill? Knit. Get a thought going on what my Ravelympics project might be.

Thats it! Ahhhhh.

Day 1 of a 3 Day Weekend

I wish I could say I knitted this, but I didn't....Debbie from Knit Four Together did. But, I could not resist having my picture taken with it.

I should have taken Debbie's picture with it since she was the knitter. Didn't think about that. He's so darn cute...I think I might have to knit one just to have at my house.


We had a great day knitting yesterday at the shop. But, then we always do. It was a great start to a three day weekend.

Because I try to knit on yarn that I bought at the shop, I brought out Cusco from Cheryl Oberle's Knitted Jackets book to work on. I am kind of excited about working on it now.

Even knitted on it last night. Might have to be my Focus project for now.

Three Day Weekend

As a state employee, I get Monday off, which means a 3 Day weekend.

I like 3 day weekends especially when they end on a Monday. I like them even more when they are all mine. Home alone, no where to go, nothing I really have to do. Unless I don't get the laundry done tomorrow then there is that.

My plans for Monday? Knit. Work on the Yarn Room (it needs some serious work). Knit.

Yep, thats it. It's all about me on Monday....well and Martin of course.

Winter Knitting

I often wonder how RTW Designers come up with their ideas for knitware. More often than not, I wish I had the time to sit and try to knock them off in hand knit versions.

Maybe in my next life.

In the mean time, check out this website for some inspiration and possibilities.

http://www.olenazylak.com/

Groundhog Day

Just like the movie, I seem to be starting over every once in awhile. Today, was back to work after a three week vacation/sick week. It became evident yesterday and even more evident, this morning when I went to get dressed that I have must have spent most of that time sitting and eating, because the pants were definitely a little tight. My reminder that it is now time to get back on the Weight Watchers wagon and the exercise routine.

I'm saving the exercising for tomorrow, no really I am. But, started my Weight Watchers program again and am happy to report that Day 1 was a success....ate my veggies and fruit, stayed on points and drank my water.



The next thing I did was shut the t.v. off and left the laptop cover for one hour.
I wanted to do Elizabeth Zimmermann's Almanac this year and started the Aran on the first of January.

Working the Aran requires at least for me, a little bit of quiet.

It seemed to work for me tonight, I was on a roll and managed to get a few rows on it done. It is a slow go and I wanted to keep knitting on it, but also wanted to make sure to have some time to post and check a couple of blogs that I read on a daily basis.

This past weekend, the Mason Dixon blog steered me toward the Glamour article where it is the contention with the writer that if you get 7 1/2 hours of sleep a night, you can lose weight. I don't think that is going to work for me...I like staying up late too much and have to get up early in the morning, but for the time being, I am going to try and get a little more sleep.

I think that is why the bug got me...during my vacation, I had been staying up late and getting up way too early. Can't hurt to try.

Day 1...in my estimation was a success.

What A Guy!

Yesterday, the Tall Guy went shopping for groceries and look what he brought home. Is that a guy?! Somehow, he knew that I did not subscribe to this one....what are the chances?

Anyway, yesterday, the internet went out here right in the middle of the day! What a time for it to go down...so armed with my new magazine I sat in the rocker and actually read the whole magazine.

I don't really ever read a whole magazine. Mostly, I just look at the pictures and read only the articles that I really want to. But, yesterday, I actually read the articles....it was kind of a nice afternoon.

Normally, I don't buy Knit n Style, but rather look at it on the magazine rack to see if there is anything that I would want to knit out of it. This issue, actually, has a couple of designs that I might have to look at a little closer. And maybe the magazine as well.

It's One Degree

Or is that one degrees? Anyway, it's cold here in Central IL and since I am recuperating, I don't have to go outside today...bless the Tall Guy for going out to the store and taking such good care of me.

I hear that some parts of Florida might have freezing rain or light snow today. And the temperatures there are anything but Florida like! And that is the weather report for this hour. At least the sun is shining here!

Last night, I happened upon a series on Neflix that I can watch on my computer...Monarch on the Glen. It is quite good from the four episodes I watched last night, when I couldn't sleep.

The cough medicine I am taking is maybe supposed to make you drowsy. For me it had the opposite effect....made me wide awake. What can I say, I am weird.



I am making some slow progress on my Green Sweater, but it is great knitting while watching movies.

I need to measure Seedling that I knitted last Fall and see what the measurements are for it from the finished edge to the armhole. I like where it hits at the hip and want to duplicate that measurement for the Green Sweater.

There is a correction sheet posted to Ravelry from the first printing of the pattern, but I had already fudged with my figures for the cast on, needing an in between number for the hip cast on. I'll knit for awhile on it and then do some decreases to get it closer to the bust measurement I like.

So that is going to be my mode for the day, sit in my chair, knit and watch Monarch on the Glen on my laptop.

And see if I can make some progress on some knitting projects today.

Why, Thank You!

I am feeling better tonight. I went to the doctor this afternoon, who gave me a script for antibiotics and cough syrup with codene. He added a couple of other over the counter medicines which I have taken.

I might even get back to knitting tonight. I did not feel well enough to go see Franklin with Sue and Julie, and I am dissappointed for that, but content enough to sit inside this weekend while we get super cold temps outside and maybe get back to knitting. I haven't knitted much since last weekend. Thats when you know I am not feeling good when I don't knit!

Just been spending a lot of time on the computer and sitting it my chair, taking care of my farm and fish tank on Facebook --that thing can become addictive, but gave me just enough to do while not feeling well.

I was really dissappointed to read that one of my favorite yarn shops that I have read about, but never got to, hasn't paid a teacher for her services last year....that surprises me and I hope that was an over sight that will be corrected soon, cause that is quite disturbing to me.

Tomorrow rather than knitting in Dunlap, I'll be sitting cozily in my chair and knitting. You all keep warm.

Are You Tired?

Of these posts....felt better enough to go to work yesterday. Felt good until last night, took cough syrup, went to chair. Coughed all night long. The abs hurt, I've coughed so much. I may have to call the doctor and see if I can get in tomorrow. There is no way today, we're getting hit with snow getting there might be a tad difficult. I'm still going to try for work today.

Knitting is out for me tonight. And there is no way that I will make it to Chicago this weekend to see Franklin Habit. I hate that most of all as I was looking forward to it. I had even started doing laundry and laying some things out for the yarn room.

Okay, I'm going to stop now, I can sense that you have all had enough of my whining as well!

UPDATE==Have an appointment for tomorrow morning at the Doctor!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Tall Guy!

Day 2

Yep, took another sick day. Tomorrow, I gotta go back to work. Still have the cough that will not put up or shut up, so I'll have to deal with it.

We are suppose to get 4-6 inches of snow starting sometime tomorrow into Thursday. Then, it is going to get back to sub frigid temperatures and wind.

Friday afternoon, I am off to Chicago for WCKG and Franklin Habit. It is suppose to be a little warmer up there, but more snow...perfect weather for knitting, huh, better pack the boots and sweaters.

Bleccck!

I thought I could do it, but I'm staying home today. Have this dry cough and just feel like going back to bed. Not a good way to start the new year out is it?

Don't really even feel like knitting. Now, you know I don't feel so hot.

Finished!

It's time to go back to work tomorrow...just as I said before the holidays, this is just like when I was a kid and we had to go back to school after being off. I don't wanna go back!

But, before I go back, look what I finished on my Christmas vacation! I wish you could feel/see this in person. It is sooooo cool....no, really it is. It makes me giddy to feel it.

I can hardly wait to block it and get to wear it. I am taking it with me next weekend when I go to Chicago for a weekend with Windy City Knitting Guild and Franklin Habit. I hope he can help me take better pictures of it to convey the softness of these two yarns together.


The pattern is Knitting Pure and Simple Neckdown VNeck Cardigan. I really am starting to love working these patterns.

When you are done,and this is liberating to not have to sew any thing together. Ant they fit. Trying it on as I knit works, go figure.

It's Chili


No, really, we are knitting today at Knit 4 Together. It is currently 6 below. I'm taking Chili, Sue is bringing soup. Debbie is bringing tea.

Now, most days if it was 6 below I stay in and keep warm. But, it is Saturday and it is time to knit.

If you are in the area, come join us. The more the merrier and keeps the shop warm.

Happy New Year!

Time to start something new.


A year long adventure into the Knitter's Almanac. A different project a month....I can get into that...and I am vowing to use stash whenever possible. Not a resolution, mind you, a vow.








And the famous green sweater. I can imagine by Camp Time in July, we will have quite the progression of green sweaters to model.


Speaking of camp, hop on over to the Schoolhouse Press website. They are having workshops in Color Knitting and the EPS method. For those of you who want to have the time of your life, I definitely advise you to check these out. I wouldn't mind doing both of them myself!

Be Safe All! Enjoy your weekend, it's back to the cruel world for some of us...but first, lets knit!