And Not a Word More

Blue Aran is longer and that's all I'm gonna say about that.

Pounce, Pounce, Pounce

I just like the word.
The product on the other hand is different than I thought it would be. I expected a little linen bag with a talc-y powder. I got a box. The cover has a stopper in the center for the powder to be poured into. The underside of the cover has a terrycloth material. The bottom of the box just works as storage for this powder that, once released into the atomosphere, is everywhere. Did it work on my personally cut stencil? No. Well, sorta. But I will adjust the stencil to make it work better. Laser cut stencils would be perfect for this product. I think I may go through my stencil collection to see if any of them would be a good quilting border. I need to step up the pace on this quilt project. It got downright nippy last night.
The Blue Aran continues to lengthen and I have a next-project broiling in my brain. Since I had such fun with the zipper cardi I'm toying with a zipper vest. I work in one of those quaint old buildings that takes forever to warm up and with the energy issue I'm sure it's not going to be any better this winter. I'll be ready for battle. Fingerless mitts are on the docket too. I should be a sight sitting at my desk come December!

Multi Talent

I knew when Andrew was a kitten that he had a love of all things crafty. He also knows quality from, well, non-quality. Sock yarn isn't safe and he will rewind a hank if he feels it's not just right. I'm sure he feels I need the challenge. Well duh!, put it where he can't get it. Easy for you to say, he's eaten through bags, opened storage bins (I had to block them with full containers of litter, empty buckets were a waste of time)untied canvas bag handles tied into knots. He is a master. Don't even insult him with a skein of acrylic yarn. Won't even give it sniff. Just look at that face. All business that one.

Here he is marking my quilt top. I guess my markings were not up to his expertise-so noted.

He has offered several times to hold the quilt and the ruler down. I was unaware that chewing on the hanging button was part of the correct process. I can't say it helped draw a straight line but who says it has to be straight? He also feels the amount of cat hair now on the quilt will only make it warmer.

With all this help and guidance I shouldn't have any concerns about keeping warm this winter-regardless of the price of fuel. The sweater not only has 100% merino but 100% cat hair knitted right in. Mmmmmm. Toasty.
The daisies were positively glowing last evening. Their days are numbered. I may have created another inner monster with this bead introduction. I'm not a jewelry wearer but I don't think that should stop me from creating, should it? No! [I became a nail technician and didn't (and still don't) give a hoot about nails. It was a lucrative 2nd job, I was good at it but it burned me out.] I think the world needs another jewelry designer....

Shhh! Don't Tell!

I threw all caution and fear to the wind and ditched the quilting hoop. I wasn't getting the quality stitches I desired. No matter how loose I had it in the hoop I did a better job without it using my left hand/fingers in assistance. I know there are no knitting police so I'm hoping there are no quilting police. For those who swear by quilting hoops and frames-if it works for you-have at it. I cut my stencil this weekend. It wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be and I don't like the plastic fumes (which I'm sure are as toxic as radiation) and the ending result would not be acceptible if I were using the stencil for wall painting. I will be looking for 'pounce' to apply to my quilt as the pattern is too busy to use a pencil and trace around. Laziness kicking in there I guess.
I visited WEBs Bead Store and made myself a pair of earrings. That's a fun place and I'll be visiting again. WEBs Yarn Store was having a lovely sale to celebrate NO SALES TAX day but I didn't go too crazy. The place was packed and for some reason, every child in the store was lying on the floor. The last time I was there a woman of physically mature status did the same thing because she wasn't being waited on fast enough for her satisfaction. You know, the kind of person that needs alot of attention. Mentally she was behaving worse than a 2 year old.
Lunch at Paul & Elizabeth's rounded out the day. AND NO RAIN/THUNDERSTORMS. Shocking!

Every Bit of Progress is Somethin'

A tiny bit of the other sleeve emerged yesterday and a tiny bit of quilting was done. Summer is winding down in Western Massachusetts, you can feel it. Some of the maples are beginning to turn though we won't have stupendous color until the 2nd week in October. These maples are just over achievers. I have very young squirrels playing outside my office window that should probably start thinking about storage. Maybe they know I'll bring them something when snow hits the ground like I did for their folks. I consider it payment for a spring and summer of entertainment.
A whole evening to myself! Waahoo! Oops, now I said it and the forces that throw crap at me will kick into gear. I'll probably have to go to the composting dump to get rid of grass clippings or something as revolting.

A Change In The Weather

A bit cooler in Western Massachusetts this morning. Gives some hope to the woolies I've been creating that their time to be worn is approaching. Tuesday(yesterday) is a 12 hour work-day so I have no progress report-to report. The first sleeve on Aran Blue (isn't that original!) is complete and the second sleeve stitches have been picked up. End of report. See, told you there was nothing. Tonight, however, I'm itchin' to do some knittin'and quiltin'. What's that quote? "Busy hands...." Hmmm, I'll have to Google it.

Weekend Warrior

I work with my hands all the time. Apparently working the muscles in the same direction. Except for NOW. Hand quilting uses hand a finger muscles that have not been used for knitting and daily life. Pinching the needle to pull it through the fabric gave me a sore nail bed. Seriously. It's fine now and didn't stop me from quilting one bit. I just kept saying, "wow, this is making my thumb nail sore." Dope. So far, so good. Working on my stitch consistency and getting alot of help from the boys. Andrew thinks the quilt in the hoop is something for him to lay on, until it falls off the frame and dumps him. Beau likes the tent it makes for him to lay underneath. Happiness for everyone.

On the knitting front the aran is buzzing right along. With all the rain and thunderstorms and Olympic viewing fiber manipulation is the only thing getting done.
I'm not a big watcher of the Summer Olympics. It's the heat factor so if I am going to watch it usually has something to do with swimming. The whole behind the scenes stuff with gymnastics has turned me off of that. What really happens to these children when they don't perform as expected? I shudder at the thought. But don't mind me, I'll just sit here, knitting and quilting. GO TEAM USA!

Miscellany

Have you ever worked with a yarn that you just can't get enough of? I've worked with alot of Cascade 220 but this has to be my favorite. I think it's called skyblue heather. I tried to check on Webs site but it was taking too long and we all know I have the patience of an amoeba's flea. Continuing on, I love the color, the weight and the halo and I haven't even blocked it yet. This particular pattern is killer on the hands but I just couldn't put it down this weekend. Front and back are done to the underarm. I forsee purveying more of this wool for another project.

I went to Michaels and bought a stencil cutter for my quilt project. I'll be doing some maple leaf collecting for the quilting design.
I also purchased a quilting thimble. It resembles a guitar pick 'cept worn upside down for quilting.
My tennis injury has healed--good thing, I have another lesson tonight, if it stops showering. At the moment the sun is shining and we have rain coming in sideways. Never dull weatherwise in New England.
And Manny-best of luck to you in LA. All I'm gonna say.

Toys

This is a fun widget. Kay showed it to me and found it here.

Tennis led to a personal injury last night. I airballed a serve and tweeked the tendon in my arm. Now I'm all whiney and it hurts when I do that. Pretty funny airballing a serve though. Had me giggling...Whoosh! We played two against the instructor and LOST. EVERY. GAME. Apparently 3 lessons may not be enough to hit the tennis circuit with the chance of any success.

With my injury I didn't progress on my knitting either so basically I have nothing to share! Maybe tomorrow.

Tennis Anyone?

I'm progressing positively with my tennis game. If I could get more of my serves OVER the net it would be better for my game. And if my opponents are keeping track all they need to do is force me to use my backhand and they're guaranteed points in their favor, but I'm not discouraged. The Williams sisters have nothing to fear-yet.
A new knitting project has arisen due to not being able to find one of my sweaters. My aran has hidden itself so I won't carry out the threat of removing the neckline for a redo. I also said rude things about the wool always looking dingy no matter how many times I soak it so it's feeling abused I'm sure. I made up the pattern myself featuring honecomb, rope and crab cables which all conveniently twist on the same row and will reuse said pattern for my new sweater. Instead of traditional off-white I'm using a blue heather Cascade 220. I didn't bother to take a pic of two rows, I'll save that for later. The two sweaters will look different (if the orginal ever shows up again.) due to the fact that the original was knit from the bottom up and the new one is being constructed from the top down. Only the crabby cables will be the tell.
With all these finished socks and sweaters I'm looking forward to cooler weather. Not that I want summer to end just yet but a week of day temps in the 70's and nights in the 50's wouldn't be so bad would it? It could even thunderstorm every 6 hours like it has been if it wants. I did spot a red maple leaf this morning-a little reminder of what is to come.

What I did on My Summer Vacation

A week away! Nothing planned so anything my little heart desired and weather permitting I did.

This was a double rainbow. Much prettier in real time, you can barely see it here.

A pair of socks with broken rib stitch pattern. Yarn-Plymouth Happy Feet. This pattern stitch can take up a bit of yardage-looks harmless enough though I'm glad I didn't start the pattern from the toe, the calf bit would have been too short for me.
Did some sewing and turned this into:
this! And if you look very closely to the glider in the background you will see Andrew lounging. My cats nap outside. How odd. They had a rather harrowing experience with a young german shepard on the loose. Andrew's tail never looked so big around before. Practically angora! It's all good, mom was there to shoo the offending pooch away. Back to the quilt, it started as a wall hanging. It now fits across a full size bed. My gameplan is to hand quilt maple leaves on the patches and a linear design along the borders. That'll take a while!
I'm happy to report that my bike still functions and we made it halfway on the bike path before we had to high-tail it back home due to --ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM. I know, hard to believe. I thought my legs were made of sawdust when I got off but relatively no muscle soreness. Tennis also went well and have another lesson tonight. Oh, I almost forgot!

Fireworks for the Christmas in July celebration held by the Boat Club at Barton's Cove. A view from my front porch, how convenient!

And that's how I spent my summer vacation.

Missed Wednesday, It's Thursday

Not that Wednesday was extraordinarily unruly but time got away as usual.

Today is mom's birthday.

Andrew helped her open her present-that cat can smell sock yarn a mile away. As a new sock knitter she was very excited. There's no photo cuz she was in her jammies and well, we have a rule at chez Miss Sandra, if your hair looks like you combed it with your pillow there will be NO photos.

I did zap a couple of my w.i.p. I swear this camera is on auto-blur.

Meet zip up cardi. When zipped to the top it will have a stand up turtleneck. I still need to get the proper length zipper. One thing bothers me. The colors are bright, summery, perfect for warm weather wear. What's bothering me is that it's worsted weight wool. Not perfect for warm weather wear. Is it going to look odd in the fall & winter? Apparently I think so. It fits perfect. No jog joins thanks to several websites and Ravelry tips on the subject. I'm one of those -NO WEARING WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY kinda New England gals. I'll just have to get over it or find a pair of white ski pants and make a fashion statement. Not like I've never done THAT before! Bev-stop laughing, I can hear you.

For some cosmic reason I made extra wide hem facings and it made quite a difference on how the sleeves and bottom hem hang. Good for me!

After reading Brooklyn Tweeds blog on tubular cast on I was quite intrigued so I investigated more. Definitely will give that a shot the next time I do a "bottom up" sweater.

I have to get everything cleaned up in the office today before I escape for a week. I am so looking forward to it I can't tell you.

Tuesday

I'm going on vacation next week and I'm trying to do a weeks worth of stuff in 4 days. I know I'm forgetting something. Not that the town will shut down or anything but the residents always feel so inconvenienced on a daily basis that I really don't wish to listen to additional whining when I get back. I haven't given a thought about what I want to do on my vacation. Just anxious to stay away from the job. I did sign up for tennis lessons that will start during my vacation. Why an over 40 knitting spinster with 2 cats would want to take up tennis is beyond me. I will take to it like I did golf and downhill skiing. I don't golf in the heat, rain, I have nothing to wear or whatever other excuse I can come up with. My lack of athletic enthusiasm shocks me to be quite frank because it's what I lived for prior to the knitting obsession. My car trunk holds all my sports equipment and clothing. I live in "outdoor recreation valley", bike path, cove for boating/fishing, hiking trails, cross country skiing...it's embarrassing! The fact that I have all this and I prefer to sit on my beehind manipulating wool--never would have crossed my mind 20 years ago. I have a school friend who just completed hiking 160 miles on the Long Trail in 16 days with her son and all I could think of was: "I couldn't go THAT long without full bathroom services." The visual of my hair without its daily shampoo/blow dry ritual...Heck, I couldn't go a day at this point. (well I could but don't WANT to. Oh my, this isn't helping.) I've got a whole week to tune up my 10-speed and hit that bike trail. Do you know where this bike has been? When I bought it I had it rigged with every bag available and rode it constantly. I used to travel to Galilee RI and get on the ferry to bike around Block Island. I would pack up my art supplies when I was in college and trek from Turners to Greenfield--EVERY DAY! (I hated taking public transportation that much.) Now where did I put my helmet?

Monday

I have crochet steeked the jacket and bought a zipper but I think it's going to be too short. The zipper that is. The Jacket is not fitted so I don't need to consider zipper bulges. And the steeks came out beautiful.

Progress

(this post will make no sense if you don't read the last one-just warning you.)
Now I have 3 shrubs shorter than the rest so we've kicked goofy looking front facade up another notch. Lawn maintenance was the order of the long holiday weekend in my neighborhood. Not a day went by without someone crankin' up the lawnmower or weed wacker to shatter the silence. Even the kid next door (30 year old that acts about 12) who allows the grass to grow 8" before doing a mow got his licks in late yesterday evening. Haying is more the word for it. But anyhoo...
My current Large project is a cardigan with a challenge: a zipper front. Why that strikes fear into me I do not know. I conquered cotton steeks for pity sakes! And if the zipper thing turns into a fiasco I can always do a button band. There, that should calm things.
It's kitty flea drop application time and the boys HATE it! It's the only time they run away from me and hide. I've never had any problem with my other cats. Beau walks around after the treatment squinting his eyes as if I put acid on him and the fumes are too strong for him to open them normal. Yes, I've checked the skin to make sure it's NOT burning them and it's fine. There must be a smell to it that I can't perceive but they can. I try to reason with them about the whole lack of flea business but has anyone had any success reasoning with a cat? They get over it, so do I.
I need to go buy a zipper.

Never ceases to amaze me. With all the cushions, rugs and a cat condo, the porch rail at 3" wide with one claw in the screen for support is the best sort of nap. Yes, Beau is sound asleep. I caught his head as it rolled off the rail but couldn't grab the camera AND cat to get that photo.

He woke up enough to readjust and allow me to go back to whatever menial thing I was doing.

Primarily it's sock knitting and sweating. There, my life in a nutshell. Every time I attempt to do something extraordinary outside like shrubbery trimming or weeding, the sky turns black, thunder rolls, I put away my toys and go inside. My front facade looks rather goofy with one shrub 6" shorter than the rest. Hard to tell what was trimmed on the rhododendrum but, there you go. I have 4 more to do. I have been a victim of weather.

What?! Another Storm?

Okay, we had a wacky snow filled winter. Now we are being pounded with thunderstorms and though I love them, they're causing damage. We're talking power outages (three hours yesterday) Trees down. House on fire. No, not mine but the next street over. NOT GOOD. Repeat of storms again today. So dark you can't knit. We've had 2 and another just announced over the weather radio. Oh, let's add flooding today. Geesh!

In between storms I finished Happy Feet #12Started Happy Feet #1. I do like this sock yarn. The socks are heavier but my gauge is the same.

During a break in the weather Beau was consumed by the garden ivy.

Then laid on his back to sun himself. Odd cat...

...while Andrew stayed in this position for a couple hours just waiting for a bird to suddenly drop out. It never happened. In fact, we have babies. Cheep! Cheep!

Beau took up the position and went one step further. Climbed up the door casing, grabbed the birdhouse with a paw on each side and stuck his nose in. (a picture would have been better but for the sake of the the birds I ran over to peel him off.)Took all my strength to wrench that cat off the bird house. No one was hurt. Well, maybe the boys pride as I shortened their leads to stop that from happening again. I'm no fun.

Rut, Indecision, Inspiration

I don't know if it's a rut or indecision. I've got stash but no inspiration. I've started oodles of projects that begin as vests or sweaters just to frog them the next day. What to do? I've not been in this predicament in ages! The only saving grace is a sock-in-process in a new yarn for me called Plymouth Happy Feet color #12. (insert photo that doesn't exist here. You can log onto WEBS and search Happy Feet, though I must say my hanks have less yellow and more green/red in them.)
I have an appointment in the Northampton area today so a stop in to WEBS will be the therapy I need for sure. If for nothing else to pick up more Happy Feet yarn. I'm feeling better already!

Southern Belle I Ain't

90's
Humid
Whining
Nova Scotia's looking just fine right now. They have to be cooler, you can't get more north east coast. No, I don't want a geography lesson so save it. Yes, you can add crabby to whiney.
Though I can't pictorially prove it at the moment I did finish Turtle Dove. No idea if it fits as I refuse to try on a wool worsted long sleeve turtleneck sweater. I'm funny like that. I have a "before blocking" pic but the humidity is refusing to upload it.
I have a mood adjuster outside my office window. Mr. & Mrs. Grey Squirrel are out collecting snacks and Baby Grey is testing his mother's patience. She says something to him and he scoots back up the tree. Red Squirrel is doodling around doing what red squirrels do. Pleasantly amusing.
Well, until I can upload pics I guess that's all I have to say about that. Keep cool ya'll on the east coast!

Update: Here is Turtle Dove in it's unblocked state. Resembles thermal underwear don' it?

Pattern: Top Down Drop Shoulder Double Broken Rib Mock Turtleneck

Gauge: 4.5 spi 6.75 rpi

Needles: U.S.8 circulars, 32"

Material: Casacade 220 Grey Heather, White

It Makes a Mother Worry

When you send your little one outside to play first thing in the morning you've already taken the precautions to ensure their safety as best you can. You check on them often to see what they're up to. When you go to the door and find your little one is nowhere to be seen your heart immediately slams into your throat. You throw on whatever is close and fly out the door. Not in the yard, not in either one of the neighbors yards. You look up in trees because it's a possibility given their nature. You walk the neighborhood calling their name intently scanning yards and open garages. You probably look like a stalker but who cares, my little one is not safe any more. Trying to be logical is laughable. What were they wearing? What color are their eyes? What interests them?

After two hours of walking the neighborhood you head for the house to call the police. As you get to the door you look over and there sits your little one, pleased as punch with himself on the neighbor's front walk. The brick on your heart lifts. If you call to him he'll run in the other direction. Play it smart. Get a treat. Damn! he's out of sight again. Go to the open garage. Offer the treat. Darn if he doesn't come from behind you. Grab him, give a big hug and tell him what a naughty boy he was for leaving the yard.

Andrew snapped his lead this morning. Not only was he loose but he was wearing a harness, leash and 6ft of rope lead attached to the leash with metal connectors. I was more afraid he would get all that extra baggage caught and be stuck somewhere I couldn't reach him.

When he showed himself he was wearing nothing but the fur he was born with. Someone in the 'hood has a harness and rope and won't know why or how. I would hope no one would release his harness and just let him free. I prefer to think he Houdini'd out of it. My baby is in the house and just itchin' to go back outside. I locked him and his brother in tight and went to work. Breathing a sigh of relief.

I may have another gray hair.