Back from vacay

Yep, we are back. Actually we have been back for a couple of days. We went to Japan for 16 days. It was great, but it is good to be home. I am working on the most picture intensive post that I have ever done. A little darling is learning about Japan in school, so I want to give her lots of info. We took almost 400 pictures with the digital camera alone. I don't know how many rolls of film DH shot.

Anyway, on to some serious stuff...

Wisconsin, I LOVE you!!! Let's keep the Obama train rolling, okay? Now, if I can ask for an early birthday present (it would only be 5 days early)...Texas & Ohio, you have to come through for us. We need you to finish her off.

Do you knit, crochet or cross stitch? And love Obama? Well, lookie here for a chart of the logo: (linky thing isn't working, sorry) http://justjenean.blogspot.com/2008/01/obama-afghan-chart.html. This is from my Ravelry group, but can be used for cross stitch as well. Would look so sweet over one made into a bookmark.

Here is another pattern http://knitcircus.typepad.com/knitcircus/2008/02/yes-we-can.html, this one is a "Yes We Can" hat. I love it!

And I wouldn't be a very good Obama supporter if I didn't share this letter http://www.well.com/~dkline/Why%20Obama.pdf with you all. Courtesy of Posie http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/. This embodies exactly how I feel. Although I wasn't even born in the 1960's, I identify with how he put his feelings and thoughts down on paper. Well written indeed.



Until next time.

Peace.

Knitting for The Lord of the Rings

Okay, first it was my elvish slippers. Remember them? Yeah, very elf-like if you look at them from the side. Is it a coincidence that I didn't photograph them from the side? No.

So, today I tackled another one of my 2008 goals...sock knitting. I was knitting like a woman possessed, double pointed needles flying everywhere. They are done! And already in the mail to their recipient (boy isn't she lucky, mwhahaha?!?).
Aren't they beautimus? I think so. I used a bit less than 2 skiens of Knit Picks Swish Superwash in the Bordeaux color, size 3 double pointed needles, and this free pattern.

Now, they look okay for the most part like that, right? Here's the rub (a top down pic for you)...

Who the eff am I knitting for? The cast of The Lord of the Rings? Seriously. Why can't my projects turn out semi-normal?

Deece, I hope that you start showing off the knitting soon! Freakish sock knitters unite!

Namaste.

First Christmas and knitting goodness

Baby Tree Hugger's First Christmas

"You mean we open these now?"

"And I have to wear this thing?"

"Blocks. Mmm, I love blocks."
"Mom! You aren't going to blog this are you?!"
"I love presents from The Land of Nod."

"And I really love my new scoot around."

So, remember that post earlier in the month about the socks of doom? The ones that I didn't really have a pattern for, let alone have any experience in sock knitting? Yeah, they got frogged. Instead, I knit some slippers for said hard to buy for lady. I used this free pattern. 2 skeins of Knit Picks Main Line yarn, a couple of buttons and voila! Slippers. I dare not show you a side view...they really look elvish (as in elf-like, not Elvis-like), but I am hoping that they fit the lady's smaller feet. I can get them on my size 9 clod-hoppers, so we should be good. Lesson learned: How to M1 increase and I suck at making pom-poms. Hence the buttons.

Another present was this crocheted granny square throw. Made from 4 cones of Peaches N Cream cotton yarn. 2 in Ecru, 2 in Peppercorn ombre. I am embarrassed to admit it, but I started the granny squares 2 years ago, then started seaming them together and got thoroughly fed up with the seaming and put it aside. I decided that this would be the year that it got finished.
Simple granny squares, with a single crochet border (twice around). Easy peasy. Anyone want some left over granny squares? I have a handful of them and nothing planned for them. Let me know.
Another day, another Ball Band Dishcloth. This is for the knit along on Ravelry. I need to make a pile of these things by April.

As if that weren't enough, I started a sweater for Baby Tree Hugger. It is from the Not So Baby Yoda free pattern. I am using Berocco Touche in a green apple color. I actually did a gauge swatch on this and am crossing my fingers that it fits him for a few months since we will need in for our trip to Japan in a few months.

The back is complete in one day. I started on the left front side now and a bit nervous when it comes to the right front...it just says to reverse for shaping. Keep your fingers crossed that I do it right!
Peace.

The End!!

And it is none too soon. NaBloPoMo ends tonight. Thank you, Jeebus! I am butt-assed tired of posting every single day. Once I hit "Publish Post", I can sit back and relax for the weekend. And check the prize list to see if I won for sticking it out the whole month.

Today is Family Friday. I don't have any fun pictures to show. I don't have anything especially witty to comment about. Why, you ask? Because the monster formerly known as Connor is teething. *cue fingernails on blackboard sound* Oh yeah. My day started before 5 am today. My personal favorite part of the day has to be watching him sit on the floor wailing. We are talking inconsolable, people. Until I pick him up. Then the world is right. But my arms and back are revolting. I give him homeopathic teething tablets before bed and say eleventy billion prayers that he sleeps for 9 hours straight. I have Tylenol in the back up supply, but I am leery of giving it to him...I don't take any medication and don't want him to take any either if it isn't absolutely necessary.

So, that is that. Fun times, fun times.

I have been tagged by the duo over at Secret Leaves. I secretly love doing meme's. Shh, don't tell everyone though, okay? I wish I were witty like Cass to come up with a twist on the meme, but alas, I am not. It is all I can do to think of 7 Things that I haven't previously told you. But, I will give it a shot.

1. I can wiggle my ears.
2. My second toe is longer than my big toe.
3. I can bend my fingers back really far. Really far.
4. I can bend my thumb joint back(the one below your nail) so that my thumb makes an upside down "L" shape.
   
5. I can't bring myself to eat anything that has fallen on the floor in my house. But I will stand by and watch as my son drops a piece of something, picks it up and puts it in his mouth.
   
6. I still have a scar on my tongue from when I was a super genius and had it pierced. Twice. I am smart like that.
7. I can't sneak up on anyone. My ankles crack and pop when I walk and it is really loud.
   

So, what does this prove? That I am a genetic mutant and a bad mother.

I tag the fellow NaBloPoMo-er's that I can think of off of the top of my head. Kendra and
Chiloe.

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I finished the dropped yarn over scarf today. It is way scratchy though. I don't know if I can gift it in good conscience.

I am dying to start either socks or a bag. Or both. I am thinking of doing the Squatty Sidekick or the French Market Bag. I will be using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Red shades. I am totally leaning towards the FMB. It will be a gift, so I had better cast on soon!

Peace.

WIP's and a FO

Since I totally flaked out on posting my Works In Progress yesterday, so I will bore you with them show them to you today. Cause NaBloPoMo is sucking the creative energy out of my head, thank God there is only one more dayI am nice like that.

First- the shawl...I have made a few more progress rows...I anticipate having it finished next week. It looks pretty much the same as before, so I didn't picture it again.

Second - The dropped yarn over scarf. I anticipate having this one done by next Thursday as well. I have made it to the second ball of yarn.

Third - The Irish Hiking Scarf. I love this pattern, this yarn, and this scarf. At first I was a bit intimidated, but now I have the pattern memorized and it is easy peasy. If anyone wants to try cables, but is unsure, do it! Try the Irish Hiking Scarf.


On to the Finished Object. Singular tense here. One lonesome dishcloth. Using the Grandmother's Favorite pattern, Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in the Mistletoe colorway.


I recently found Phoe. Go check out her page. I will wait. You won't be sorry.

Okay, back? See her amazing knitting? Yeah, she is very prolific and often offers her knitted items for free to her readers. A couple of weeks ago, she had some yarn available for adoption and I jumped on the chance to try Opal sock yarn. It is the Owl colorway and she sent this coordinating pattern with it. And the cutest bracelet. I can't get a decent picture of the bracelet at night, but trust me, it is cute. And it is on my wrist as I type this. Thank you, Phoe! Your Saipan package should be arriving soon.

I am almost counting the rows on the simple scarf and the shawl so that I can be done with them and finally cast on a pair of socks. Eeep! And a felted bag. Double eeep! I have start-itis bad.

If you are searching for the world's biggest yarn stash, look no further. No, I am not showing pictures of my deep freezer again. Are you sitting down? Okay, look here. That could qualify as a shop, not a residence.

Did I mention that tomorrow is the last day of NaBloPoMo? Not a moment too soon, either. I plan on taking the weekend off. Then I plan on posting every other day.

Peace.

Mondays are boring

Not much to report here today. I am in a "state" mentally. I have a lot going on upstairs. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Much re-evaluation happening around these parts. All dealing with personal relationships and my response to them. Because I can't change the way others think, I have to figure out how to change myself and accept things / people for what /whom they are. And learn to let go of the things that I couldn't / can't change.

Anyway.

If you knit or crochet and would like to support the troops, I recommend you check out this site:

Knitted (or crocheted) Helmet liners

From my understanding, the helmets are issued without liners and metal helmets are kinda chilly. They ask that you use wool yarn to make the liner, and you can't get much cheaper (without sacrificing quality) than Knit Picks Wool of the Andes yarn. They recommend using Cascade 220, which I have heard just as many good things about, I just have never had any in my hot little hands to try out. *someday*

We watched "A Christmas Story" tonight. My favorite Christmas movie of all time. I was so born in the wrong generation.

Peace.

Knitting, Baby and Houses.

Since I missed WIP Wednesday, FO Thursday and today is Family Friday, I am combining them into today's post.

WIP Wednesday would have been:

The shawl. It is endless garter stitch right now. I do a few rows and feel like I am making zero progress. I put it around my shoulders one day and it is too small, so I put it around Connor and it was ginormous, so I think that I have about a dozen or so more rows to go before it is "tween" sized.

I started a new scarf. Mom gave this yarn to me in March when we were home to have Connor baptized. I have 3 cakes of it. I have no idea what it is made of, how much there is, I only have a vague idea that the 3 strands together make it a light-ish worsted weight. Just a simple pattern, really. And it is free! I have an idea of the recipient, but I am not 100% set on her. We will see when it is all done, then I will know for sure.

Did I say that I started a new scarf? Well, I lied, I actually started two new scarves. This one is one that I have been obsessing about (it is free too!). I have been so anxious to cast on for it. Truthfully, I casted on for it when I met Deece last Saturday for coffee. But with all of the yakking and coffee drinking, I didn't get but two rows done. And I figured that somehow messed them up, so I ripped them out and restarted.

I am so proud of myself, I am cable-ing!!! I never thought that I would be able to do it, they always looked so intimidating, but with the awesome cable video tutorials at Knittinghelp.com, I got it down! I am cable-ing, y'all! This one is using Knit Picks Andean Silk (Wool, Alpaca and Silk) in Navy. I adore this yarn. I would love to have more eventually.

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FO Thursday would have been...

I finished two more dishcloths this week. I did another Palm Tree cloth. I need to make more of these, but green cotton is hard to find here. I guess that some people will be getting different colors of palm trees.

I also did a Grid Pattern dishcloth. It was easy for the most part. Kind of boring. I have decided that I really enjoy doing the picture dishcloths the most. I found a free pattern for a Coast Guard cloth (other military branches available as well) on this site.

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Family Friday

Connor is taking a few hesitant steps on his own!!! I can't hardly believe it. He has been walking while holding on to one of our hands for quite a few weeks now, but in the last couple of days, he will be holding on to the furniture and take a couple of steps on his own without holding anything. It is so cute. And so nerve racking! I am watching him like a hawk because I don't want him to face plant on the tile floor.

This is from Thanksgiving, when we were down at the Ranch.

Back to the housing in Juneau. It all boils down to a few things that are scaring me shitless about buying such an expensive house. It isn't that we can't afford it, because we can. But what if DH makes Chief and we have to move in 2 years? I don't want to be stuck with two house payments and end up having to go back to work and put the kids in daycare. The second thing is that I hate debt. Hate hate hate it. I enjoy not having credit card debt, car loan debt, etc. We do have our timeshare debt and my paltry student loan (why don't I just pay it off already?), but that is it. And a giant mortgage is a huge step. House prices are crazy. Where we are from, you can get a pretty nice house for 100-150k. So, to me 250k for 2 or 3 bedrooms on a subdivision lot is a stretch.

Mondays are Domestic

The sheets are changed, the bathroom linens are changed, and laundry is in the washer. I have to hang it up soon, because it will take two days to dry if it continues to rain like it is. I am so glad that our clothes lines are under the porch though, that way I can wash no matter if it is raining or not. Dryer be damned (if we had one that is).

I found some pictures on my hard drive today of quilts, so I thought I would share them.

But first,I have a few more dishcloth patterns.

This week's Knit Along pattern is Nubbins Nouv. Does not look that great to me, and looks more complicated than I want to tackle, so I am just going to do the alternate Nubbins Dishcloth.

And since this week is Thanksgiving, I also wanted to share this dishcloth pattern: Gary The Gobbler. Isn't it just so appropriate?!?! Have fun with it and if you do knit it, I would love to see pictures. I am going to dig through my stash and see if I have any colors that would work well for it and cast on once I am done with Palm Tree #2.

On with the quilts...

This is made with 1930's reproduction fabrics, just pieced together and tied with perle cotton to match the squares. I made this and a little 14"x14" pillow cover to match for Mom for Christmas in 2005. It was at the foot of the hospital (hospice) bed when she died. Even though we don't need quilts, I had to bring it home with me. It is bigger than crib size, but smaller than a twin size.

While we were at home in September, I had to go to the thrift shops. Did I ever mention that I love to thrift shop? Oh, I did? Okay. This little tied quilt was sitting on a hanger just waiting for me to find it. It is similar in size to the one above that I made. It does need a new layer of batting in the middle though. I couldn't pass it up, it was only $2.50. It makes me sad to see hand made things in thrift shops going for so cheap. I think of the price of materials and the time that someone put into it...

So there you have it. That is all I have for today. I have to get this posted since we just had a 2 hour power outage and I don't want it to happen again and be out of NaBloPoMo. Plus, I have a grumplestiltskin baby to get to bed.

Peace.

Clean Up Sunday

I have come across a few fun knitting patterns recently and wanted to share. Gayle I hope that you like some of these! Click on the name to be taken to the site...

"Born To Knit" dishcloth / washcloth

"Knit On" dishcloth / washcloth

Little Luxury Baby Kimono Sweater I think that I am going to use the Apple Green Berocco yarn from my recent eBay win to make Connor a little sweater. We are going to Japan in a few months and it will be cold. It is a cute wrap style sweater, perfect for wiggly babies. You have to register with the Lion Brand website to view the pattern, which I highly recommend. There are hundreds of patterns on the Lion Brand website, plus they have started doing podcasts.

Norberta the Dragon

Baby Feet washcloth Wouldn't this be cute to give as a shower present with a basket of Burt's Bees Baby Bee products? I would have loved it.

Christmas Bell, Canadian Maple Leaf, Waving Frog, Daffodils, Swan, Watering Can, Little Chick, plus lots of other holiday cloths I signed up to edit these patterns for Ravelry, so I need to put a few into my queue.

Pink Ribbon Socks These can be made in any color to support your particular cause, yellow for our troops, etc.

I have tons more links, I think that I will post some more throughout the week. (Deece, I haven't forgotten about the links to the knitted & crocheted playfood either!)

Since I don't have any cool pictures of my own to show, I think that I will share some that I found on Ravelry. Of knitting tattoos. *snort*

Nice and simple:If I were to get this one, I would make it no bigger than a guitar pick and have the yarn loop around so that it makes a little pink ribbon symbol (of course I would):

Peace.