The Wheels on The Bus Go...

Round and Round, Round and Round.. The wheels on the bus go round and round all thru the day... That's what I am sitting here singing while knitting round and round on the foot of Sarah's new sock pattern that I'm test knitting - 55 rows worth (and on size zero's I'm wondering if I'm half way..) so, let's do some math (one of Sarah's favorite things) - 55 rows x 72 stitches.. um, let's see, carry the one, screw it -hang on - opening up my calculator.. ah, ok 3,960 stitches SO FAR... So FREAKING far.. I feel like I've been knitting this sock forever (when I started it on zeros just last Sunday - but had knit about 2 inches on ones realizing it was too loose)

I will say, however, I LOVE the pattern, I think its her best yet - (my biased opinion since I test knit the other 2 as well). The yarn is Jen's fabulous hand dyed softest stuff (thus the zeros) and its in a super wonderful eye loving colorway and will be kit up in the Peggy's Strands of Heaven sock club release coming later this month (http://strandsofheaven.com) - which Bridget (the owner) had better damn well be updating the site today (as she told me she was when I nagged her this am). The "goodie" along with this sock club release is a really neat Della Q silk drawstring project bag - way cool! I am HOPING beyond HOPE that I have this sock completed by Wednesday (at the latest) so I can move over to finish the other shop sample I'm working on... (and maybe the last sleeve of Bree's Bolero) - saying the "last" sleeve makes it sound like there are 9 of them - ha - ok - the OTHER sleeve may be more grammatically correct- but you know what I meant. I know you do.

Then, I really (unfortunately) need to finish BOTH sleeves (hmm.. I think I have a thing about sleeves these days) of the Gawd AWFUL yarn AG Doll robe. I get the shakes just THINKING about that yarn - maybe, just maybe, I'll have something else come up that I have to knit in a hurry to put that off - yea, that's the ticket..

Brriinnggg, hold on my phone - "Hi Bridget, what you need me to knit the Everlasting Bagstopper for a shop class and sample?" "Why YES, I think I can do that as soon as I finish this sock and other shop sample?"

Well, that just solved that problem, now didn't it.. Today is a good day!

PS - the microwave lady called me on the day of my last post stating that after she spoke with me Wed am - she twisted her ankle in their warehouse and hadn't been "in" since - Hmm.. I guess their business just SHUT DOWN and everyone had to go home because she wasn't there to schedule new customers, get orders ready to go, etc.. I'd hate to see what would happen if she was hit by the "proverbial" bus (not wishing any bad will here folks) - just making a point... Hrumph - Like I believe that stupid ass story.... She's making "so-called" special arrangements for me - to have it installed tomorrow MORNING - "special" - Hurrrmmph - If I ever treated my clients like this (when I had them) - I'd be unemployed - oh, wait, I am... Oh well, it was worth a shot...

A New Year A New Post..

And I promise to do better, Paige - (does that sound like deja vu)? I think I've said that before...

I had been knitting my fingers off before Christmas in between being sick to get "stuff" done and I'll be damned if I didn't take pics of 5 of the things... So, those will have to wait as I am at the mercy of the recipients to take photos...

But, here are the 2 "pencil vases" I made (slightly adjusted) from the Fiber Trends Vase pattern.. They're cute and Bree wanted them for her 2 favorite teachers. I made a 3rd one which I took down to Mom and Dad's to show Mom how to "felt". And again, I didn't take a picture - so, waiting for that one too! I also at the same time taught her how to make one, which she did while I was there to help. She'll send me a picture (someday) of that one too!

So, here are the 2 cuties:



The blue one is made with 2 strands of Lamb's Pride (one swirly color and one solid) and the red one is 2 strands of a mono-varigated Malabrigo (I love Malabrigo!!!!)....

I snapped this photo of my Brother being a goofball (thus the picture being publicized) of the hat I made using Jen's (Knitting Like Crazy - see link to the right) hand dyed superwash wool in Camouflage that I purchased from Peggy's (www.strandsofheaven.com). This yarn is one of the softest I've ever worked with, it was like my hands were getting lotion added to them as I knit the hat. Just a simple hunting hat which he infact is utilizing as we speak out hunting in Kansas - my SIL said she'd take a better picture of it when he returned.




I also completed this AG Tunic (knit for a future class at Peggy's). It's out of a Encore worsted yarn - fun to knit, fast and Bree loves it. I ended up making her one without the sleeves because it looks just like a tank top - I haven't taken a picture of that one as she has run off with it on her doll.




I still have all the inside Christmas decorations to take down.. which I dread because then it makes you realize that the "long" part of winter is still ahead.

My filly, Jessie, has been "lame" since the week before Christmas with an abcess (so we think/thought) but it has never reared its head yet and somedays she's as sound as a dollar (odd thing to say in this economy - but you know what I mean) and other days she is as lame as a 3 legged table (as my Barn Owner describes it). I'm thinking it was more of an ice bruise - as yesterday she was getting around much, much, much better on it - I was even tempted to ride her - but didn't. I wanted to wait for our farrier to come out to reset her but he was in a very bad accident. We don't know all the details yet, but the words, trampeled, crushed face and lost eye were in the description. How sad. Am thinking of you, Noel and your family.

My sinus' have/are going nuts as these weather swings are miserable. Just when you start getting over a headache, another front comes thru and whacks you again.

I'm working on an American Girl Doll Robe with some very icky yarn - cheap stuff - I hate it - but it is "robe-like" - bleck. Bree says she likes it so there you go.

I'm also working on a pair of Alpaca Boot Socks for my Brother (a Christmas present I started when we were in TN - had to measure him to get it right) and still have Bree's knee socks to finish. I'm to the point on her socks that I'm bored to death. The leg is SO long - all I think of when I work on them is "The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round" - sing along and don't be mad at me that the song gets stuck in your head. Join the club.

Just a simple update..

Figured since it is just after a holiday weekend, I'd update...

Not much to report.. I've been riding a 3 year old half sister to Bree's Mare trying to figure out if she's going to work for me. I like her and am working on get the vet scheduled to come out and check her out to insure she's all that I think she is. We tried to be on 'standby' over the weekend but that didn't work out, so now have to figure out when would be possible...

I finished my socks from Sarah's pattern - I think I wrote that already - LOL! I did take pics, just haven't downloaded them yet.

I am nearly finished with Bree's ankle socks out of Cherry Tree Hill using the Knitting At Noon pattern - I am REALLY liking the pattern. And the yarn looks swell too.

I picked up the yarn for Paige's Niece's baby booties that I'm going to knit using Sarah's Baby Claire pattern.

The "secret" project is moving along.

Tomorrow (Thursday) night, a group of us from our regular knitting group are going to LYS (the really friendly one) to take a free 2 hour workshop on Slip Stitch and Mosaic knitting - which I've never done. I'm looking forward to it to learn a new technique - but also VERY apprehensive as I think I'm going to want to jump right into a project to practice... Oy, the choices!

I'm also planning on my next project - I bought some very nice sock yarn that would look excellent in a pair of men's dress socks - so I think I will make them up for Bill.

A friend, Jen, (Knitting Like Crazy) - link is on my menu site (or will be momentarily) has dyed for me the most lucious pink and brown varigated sock yarn that will.. well... knock Bree's socks off - HA! (snuck that one in) - It will be awesome - Bree LOVES pink and brown combinations (remove the neon lime green from her closet and pink and brown become no 1) - and I saw on Jen's blog that she has some neat blue/turquoise and brown varigated yarn that I want as well - another Bree favorite! Jen's going to visit us next Tuesday at the knit group so, I'll get it from her then! Wahoo...

I also want to start (since Fall is coming) my felted clog pattern... I have to make a list of my project lineup - you know I just don't have a spreadsheet set up clearly for that - (note to self - git er done) - I simply must live up to my "spreadsheet queen" name you know...

Went to the library today to pick up a book I reserved - Janet Evanovich's latest "Lean Mean Thirteen" and I'm going to have to PACE myself - because I know I will curl up for the rest of the day (housework be damned) and read the WHOLE thing at once - (I must stay strong) - but, its OH OH OH so tempting...

Bailee goes to tomorrow for her grooming, I need to "pre-groom" her tonight - kind of like pre-cleaning before the cleaning lady comes (no, don't have a cleaning lady) - but you get the idea.

And Friday, I'm getting my hair groomed. I like the guy who cuts my hair (except when he butchers it or highlights it TOO much)- but, at $55 a pop (yes, yuppy-scumville prices) for a cut and style - I'm thinking Supercuts or Fantastic Sams is in my future - It's not like my hair does anything special - hell, it is so thin (past baby fine) that I don't think it would matter... I drag out getting it cut as LONG as possible (last time was in June before we went to Oklahoma - ha). And, it really doesn't matter these days with walking Bree to school and the humidity - It falls straight down in my face before I get to the end of the driveway. Then I end up trying to restyle 2 or more times throughout the day so it doesn't look like a mop (without much sucess I might add) if I go anywhere.

This Sunday is Bill and my 12th wedding anniversary - time has flown - he'll get a card - but never has the "need" or "want" for anything - heck for our 10th, I wanted him to pick out a new tv for the bedroom - we went to Best Buy and everything and he thought he saw a couple he liked but, wouldn't make a decision, and then decided that "we" didn't really need one. Or the time I bought him an XM radio receiver for his car (as his work was further away and he was going to be spending more time driving)- and I gave him a gift cert to pick out whether he wanted XM or Cirus - he said the regular radio was fine and returned it. So, I've learned NOT to try to buy him something. I know if he is out somewhere and sees something he wants, he'll buy it. (Just like I do) -

BUT, I did make a comment this weekend, that I wanted TWO (yes two) things.. I want one of those Ice Tea makers (I like ice tea instead of pop) and during the summer, make lots of sun tea - but harder to do when the weather changes - and I also want a blender designed specifically for crushing ice - as Bree and I have picked up a VERY expensive DAILY habit of a Starbuck's Frappucino (at $4 bucks a CUP) that nearly breaks the bank. So, I have a recipe to make them myself - but want a good ice crushing blender type thingie. So, even though it is TWO things - they're not BIG things..

Well, need to do some housework, before I curl up with either my book or sock knitting and totally lose my day -