Enough Already!

A serious case of shack fever is setting in.
I just finished mopping the kitchen floor, 'nuf said.

Even the doggies are getting restles.....

Snow Day!

We're stuck at home with about a foot of snow for our second day.
One is fun, two is BORING, three is going to be impossible.
Although it's beautiful, it kind of sucks.


The good news is there's a lot of christmas knitting happening.
The bad news is, not much else.
Good thing we have our "3 days, 3 ways" all figured out.
3 days of food, 3 days of water, 3 days of yarn.
At least I finished that 3 days of advanced pilates before we started
NORDIC BLAST 2008.


It's enough to turn you into a drinker, really.....

some christmas present knitting

I've been VERY busy. Trying to finish presents for my friends and clients and a couple for me too.

The blue scarf is "punch and judy" I really like it, but I hope I can steam out the curling edges.

I don't remember the name of the green one, but it was a free internet pattern and I made it with stash yarn, so that makes it even better. They're both presents for folks, so I'm trying really hard to keep the cat off of them while they dry.

The socks are the current rockin sock club offering. I made it this far in one day!

I'm loving the pattern and the yarn, the only bad thing is that they go so fast! They're really a fun knit.

I can hardly wait to join again next year and see what they have in store.

Check out my new mascot, Ida. Ida sheep was made by some nuns over at the priory. They needle felt and knit to raise funds and they make some really fun stuff.

She's been boxer tested and approved!

some set backs, some steps ahead

First, the good news. I won a blog contest.

The prize was this knitpicks bag and the noro.

The bag will be great for traveling, and the noro will make a great scarf.

The scarf in the picture is "branching out". The photo doesn't do it justice, but I think it's going to make a great christmas gift for my friend Denise. She doesn't read this blog, so it's safe to post here.

The sweater is from the Debbie Bliss mag. I'm loving it. I think it's going to be my favorite ever.

Now it just needs some buttons and it's all done.

On a down note, the advanced pilates training I was hoping to do in december is cancelled.

There's a different one the following week, though, so I decided to take advantage of the offer and do it. It means 4 long days of advanced pilates in portland, but it will leave me with only 2 workshops to finish and that will be nice.

I've been thinking about what to do with this blog. I just don't know. I know posting every day is a bit much for me, but I'm really thinking in 2009 to make a REAL commitment to post at least once per week. We'll see, the best laid plans........

what do you do when your bed isn't where you want it?

you sleep in it anyway

Or you find yourself some nice warm laundry.....

Either way, it's all good.

On the knitting front, I'm almost done with the Debbie Bliss sweater, it's been set aside for a while though in favor of christmas gift knitting. A couple of scarves for friends and some socks that are begging to be finished. I just keep finding more things I want to make, and Bea was no help today when she listed some yummy yarn on her destash, and it begged to come over to my house.

Like, just what I needed, more yarn.

Thanks, Bea!

I guess I should update.....

I just don't know where the time goes.

I think I'm doing good and the, WHAM!

It's 6 weeks later......

I just got back from yet more pilates training. Injuries and special populations this time. Sister is demonstrating exactly how I felt when I was done. Wiped out!

It was really hard. Lots of anatomy, lots of physical therapy stuff. I may have to take this one a couple of times before it sinks in.

I'm hoping to do some of the advanced work in december, but it's not looking good. Not enough folks are signed up. BAH! I don't want to drag this out forever.

In knitting news, I've got a back and a left front panel on the debbie bliss sweater. It's turning out very nice. I don't know when it'll get finished, though. Holiday knitting might get in the way.

I want to do a couple of scarves and some man-socks.

I've volunteered for a project at weight watchers that may involve a lot of waiting, so I may have some time there. (probably not)

It's been a yarny good week

I won a contest over on Bea's blog. She makes these really cute and useful bags. The picture doesn't do it justice, but I love the colors of this yarn. Perfect for fall. Thanks Bea! Love it!

It was also a shipping week for STR. Again, more fall colors. Love the pattern, love the yarn. I can hardly wait to get started.

It was a knitting week of fits and starts, though. I ended up completely frogging my flow tank because it was waaaaay too small. Some day I'm going to actually knit something that fits and comes out to the right size.

Maybe it'll be that cool sweater with the cables down the back.

The Tea at a good yarn was fun. Can you imagine knitting a wedding dress???? Some folks have way to much time on their hands. Some of the other patterns in the trunk show were doable though.

The next two weeks are going to be crazy busy with trainings for both pilates and weight watchers. Probably not much time to knit, but I plan on taking it with, just in case.

As you can see, sister is unimpressed with it all.

some pre-holiday and gift knitting and a gratuitous doggie pic

Kind of lost my knitting motivation there for a while.

The two baby blankies are for friends grandbabies, and the scarf for a special friend in Ohio.

Yes, I know, the blankies are (gasp!) acrylic. But I think it washes good and makes a good inexpensive gift that will last.

Pilates exam and gram took all of my energy, and they both happened at the same time.

Now I'm ready to pick up the serious knitting again and get back to studying for the big final exam.

I got my first certificate in the mail yesterday. That's kind of my motivation. That, and the fact that I'm going to another training in october, and I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The plan is to be finished with training and certified before the house gets too hot and heavy.

In knitting news, I'm expecting the next shipment of STR sock club, and a fun package soon from knitpicks so I can start that cool debbie bliss sweater with the cables down the backside.

Hopefully it won't make my butt look big.

I'm also excited to go to a "high tea" and grand opening of A GOOD YARN, the new store by debbie macomber. I'll have to take the camera.

I liked it SO much better when there were trees

The only good news is our house is getting closer.

I WANT a zeedonk

Aren't these guys cute? They're a cross between a zebra and a donkey.

ZEEDONK. I love that. I just love to say that.

We found them at the fair this weekend.

where, oh where, does the time go?

Sister wants to know......All of a sudden it's august. How did that happen?

July was such a month of upheaval, passing my stott pilates exam, something I've worked on for years, and the passing of gram after 96 years of life. High ups and low downs. Needless to say, not much knitting content to share.

I'm starting to think about christmas items, though.

I've got most of my master gardener hours in, I'll finish this weekend with a trip to the fair.

I REALLY want this garden, though, REALLY. Including the llamas.

Those folks ONLY spend 40-60 hours a week there, working the garden.

The house is coming along. We now have sewer laterals, and probably next week, conduits for the gas and electric. All this is very expensive, and not a stone turned yet.

We're just getting started!

I love reading the blogs of folks that post regularly. Now I just need to become one.

Test Success

This week was my STOTT level 1 mat and reformer test.
Rumor has it, I passed with flying colors, although I won't have the official
results for a couple of weeks. I'll be very happy when I finally get that certificate in my hand.

The project next door continues. It's now 6 acres of dirt and bulldozers.
Hard to imagine there were ever woods there.
At least we'll get sewer.

This has been a traumatic week

I've spent my whole week listening to THIS. The seven acres of woods next door being destroyed. I don't know why, but I find the whole thing extremely depressing. I guess it's the permanence of this. It will never be back. We've lived here for about 20 years, and truly enjoyed the quiet. All that's come to an end. I have to wonder why.... So some guy can make a ton of money, and in the end, we get 37 new neighbors. Is this the price of progress??

The good news in all of this is that we get to start planning for the new house. Now the question becomes can we afford it? Champagne taste.......

In knitting news.......

The watermelon jaywalkers are done. This was a pretty fast knit, started at the beach.

The first time I tried this pattern, I couldn't figure it out. This time it was easy.

What a difference a year makes.

I'll post a photo when blogger lets me.

Now, on to finish leafling before starting cleopatra's socks.

I'm starting to think about !GASP! Christmas, and what I'm going to make for friends and clients.

It's coming faster than we all want to think about.

30 days to the test........

Seriously, has it been nearly 2 months???

You know what they say about the best laid plans........

Last weekend, we packed up the doggies and headed to the beach. Our favorite place, the Oregon Coast, by Cape Meares,

Of course, the doggies love the beach, too! How could you not?

Unfortunately, not much news on the knitting front, some socks, a leafling half done. I don't think there's going to be too much knitting progress until after "THE BIG TEST" in July, then I'll have to start thinking about christmas and the like. YIKES!

We hope to meet with the new house contractor in June. The bulldozers still have not arrived, but they're expected any day.

I promise I'll try to update at least once per week. That was the original plan, right??

I admire those folks that can post daily and actually have something to say.......

The end of an era

See these nice woods..... They're currently our next door neighbor.

We recently found out they will be leaving us on May 1 to make room for 37 new houses. We've had such a quiet time living here for the past 20 years or so. Makes me kind of sad (in a lot of ways) to see it go.

The upside is, when the utilities are brought in, we can build our own new dream house. "Library" and all. I can hardly wait for that part.

Project Spectrum

Thanks to the BMFA folks for making this one easy. These were a pretty easy knit, they went fast, and, as you can see, they're boxer approved!

Here's a couple more FO's....Paws to Remember and Yoga hoodie

I actually don't have ANYTHING OTN right now. What's wrong with me.

Starting some socks for the trip to portland, knitting on the train, you know. Looking for the next big project. There's always socks to do.

Big Bird

This guy lives by the lake. Every time we take the doggies for a walk, there he is, hanging out on this old snag. Must be some good lunch there or something.

Garden Show and FO

Last weekend we went to the garden show in Seattle.

I've loved the show since I discovered it many years ago.

This year, it was a bit sparce. I don't know if it was the economy, or what, but a lot of the "really cool" new stuff just wasn't there.

I only spent $5. EXTRMELY unsusal for me. It was still fun, though, with lots of ideas for the new house.

On a knitting note, the acorn lace socks are done and blocked. These are from a fiber trends pattern and some yarn that came as a kit from ebay pretty cheaply. Couldn't tell you what the yarn was, but they worked out pretty good. The monkey socks are done too and on the blockers, as you can see, they're boxer approved. The yoga hoodie is blocking, we'll see.....

Now the challenge is to restrain myself on the train trip to portland, how much stash do I REALLY need????????

finally project 365/52 pic of the week

Spring is sprung.......

back in the land of the?

I know, I know, I've woefully neglected my blog, in spite of my new year's resolution to pay more attention to it.

But, I'm back, and with some good stuff too. A little "yarn therapy" from Madrona.....

As you can see, Cinnamon approves.

From top left to right, Kauni, EG (if it's good enought for the yarn harlot.....), fibertrends felted doggie toy pattern (couldn't resist), Peruvian tweed alpaca (man socks?), STR medium lolite and the "mystic sea" pattern, STR lightweight turquoise and the "trickle" pattern, and last but not least, STR dyer's choice, an interesting mix.

Don't know when I'll have time for any of these, but they DID make me feel good! I think I restrained myself quite nicely in light of the fact that the seattle flower show is next week and the train to portland to yarn shop in two weeks. Might have to have some more of that Kauni.

On the pilates front, the bulk of the training is done, one more big workshop to do, then a bunch of little ones and a whole bunch of hours. I made a commitment to myself to take the practical, though, by signing up for the test review workshop in june. Keeping fingers (and toes) crossed for a positive result.

Now, off to knit.

One down, two to go

Back from mat training, none the worse for the wear. This weekend was mostly lecture and basics. Next time all postural analysis. The last weekend is the killer, all intermediate. YIKES!

While hanging out in the hotel in Portland, I cast on and worked some monkeys all the way to the heel. I'm putting these aside now, they're going to be my traveling socks while I'm doing training. Socks make a great traveling project because they're small and they pack easily.

Today, I'll probably work on the dog paw shawl some, and maybe my yoga hoodie, which is knit all the way to the design now. I'm really hoping it fits, as it seems a bit small. Just can't seem to win with that size thing........

I also discovered a couple of places to explore next time I'm in portland. Powell's books and a seemingly fascinating yarn store called knit/purl.
More to come on that.

Project 365/52 and some knitting news

Booboo was very disapointed that sister was getting all the attention. He wanted his picture taken too. He just didn't see any reason to get out of bed for it.

In knitting news, the acorn lace socks are done, pics to follow. I've now cast on for the olive branch yoga hoodie, and I'm working on the first sleeve. This one has a lot of "mindless" knitting.

I'm still working on the dog paw scarf. Just the opposite, a lot of thinking knitting. I'm trying to get a row or two a day, but I have to do it when I can really concentrate or else I just end up taking it out.

Project 365/52

I can't resist, she's just SO darned cute!

She just HAS to be the picture of the week.

Got dog cookies?

FO Sand and shore

Finally, here is a completed Sand and Shore sweater. I started this last spring, and then put it away 'cause it was too hot to knit with alpaca in the summer. It's done in knitpicks alpaca. Very soft, great to knit with, but it came out a bit big. Don't ya hate that? Too much work into it now to tear it apart. It's going to be nice and warm.

Next up, Olive Branch Yoga hoodie and Nantucket Jacket.

I have to finish a couple of things first, though. They're the ones up there. Doggie paw scarf and the acorn lace socks that Cinnamon approves of.

Those should go quickly.

In an effort to post more often, I'm planning on joining a couple of rings. Most require that you post at least once per week, and I'm hoping that inspires me to be more up to date.

The first one is project 365/52. It involves posting a picture every week.

Here's the first pic.

This guy was working SO hard on that dead cherry tree. He's still hanging out back there, making himself a new home. Everytime I go out, he scolds me and the doggies at the top of his Pileated Woodpecker lungs for invading his space.

new year, new resolutions

I've never been much for new year's resolutions, but I think this year I'd like to try.
Maybe if I write them down here, I'll be able to follow through and get them done, so here goes....

1. Always have a project on the needles. I have lots of stash *and potential future stash, so this shouldn't be too hard.
2. Work on a way to sell some product. I LOVE to felt, but you can only have so many bags.
3. Practice pilates every day. Even if this means studying anatomy. October is the goal for my practical that I've set for myself, and it's closer than I'd like to think about.
4. Get back to doing cardio. I just have to force myself to put on the shoes and go.
5. Contribute to this blog at least once a week. I have it, I need to use it. (study html for dummies)

I think that's enough. The rest will come if I do these things.
I know, it's worked before and I can make it work now.
Happy New Year!

finished prosperous plum

Prosperous plum is finished and blocked.

Now I'm working on finishing sand and shore sweater.

I'm very proud of myself for finishing ALL of my Christmas knitting. It's done, packaged, labeled and ready to be gifted. :)

Pilates Training

I've been busy this week doing pilates training, so there' s not much knitting progress.
I did get my fishing organizer, it was a great thing to find on the porch after a long day of studying pilates. Of course, I had to dig in immediately and organize my needles.
This is great! It works well, holds all my circs and dp's, and doesn't take up a lot of space.
Next up, finishing prosperous plum, and a little christmas knitting. (in my spare time)

attempting to get a bit organized

My needles keep mulitplying and the system I have for storing them is not really working.
So, I went online this weekend to the bass pro shop and bought myself a little present
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_13318_100011010_100000000_100011000_CROSSSELL_PP_P2_2?hvarTarget=browse&hvarClassCode=11&hvarDept=100&cmid=PP_P2_2&pageView=image&hvarTextId=13318&hvarSubCode=10&jumpToPage=1&currentPage=0
who'd have thought that fishing gear would work well for knitting!
Just goes to show ya......
On another note, prosperous plum is about 85% done, just the straps and the stitching around the neck and armholes to finish.
Next up, the sweater that I started last spring. The front and back are done, sleeves left to go.
They take a bit of concentration, though, so maybe later, after the STOTT reformer training is all done.

Now THIS is cool

I won a contest!!
And it's a knitting contest, too.
Over on Barbara Delinsky's blog, I won the family knitting contest.
www.barbaradelinsky.com/blog
I can hardly wait to see my new yarn. This is very cool.
(pics to follow)
I also got into the 2008 Rockin' Sock club this week.
The first installment arrives in Feb. and I'm excited!
The newest IK arrived this week too.
All in all, it's been a red letter week!

just an update

Well, I started on "prosperous plum" for the second time.
The first got almost done, and, in spite of "getting gauge", came out large enough for me and both doggies. Off to the frog pond it went. I stewed on it a bit, did some christmas gift knitting, and now I'm back to it, and about 1/2 way done.
Pics to follow.
Also excited to get the message that the STR sock club is open for 2008.
Must be home at 10 am to get my sign up in!
Updates to follow.