Sunday, January 27, 2008

I had help!


Pumpkin came in from the snow to help me finish these socks. The yarn is Rio de la Plata from Uruguay....nice to knit with. The pattern is the Tidal Wave again - easy peasy to memorize. I made these for a friend of REI girl. REI Girl has been going through the typical January depressive episode - pretty difficult this time. REI friend has been there and has been very appreciated. Since we've had real winter weather recently - I thought warm socks were a good thank you! REI Girl is doing much much better - I think we are through the worst of it - but it's been a scary few weeks to say the least. Huge crys and adjusted meds seem to be working. Good - I need a good nights sleep!

This snow arrived today - hurray - we finally got some here instead of just Bend. It's pretty wet so I'm sure tomorrows drive to work will be exciting to say the least. I have to admit that I love it - next place I live will have to have more! Everyone has been complaining about how cold it's been... -2 in the mornings last week. It just makes me feel old because I start telling stories about when I moved here in 1972 - we had -25! Now that's cold. I also remember a winter when the kids were little that there was snow on the ground - Thanksgiving thru March - it was great. I can feel global warming. It's definitely changed in my lifetime!
So now I'm going to work on a scarf (the angora one) for me - or maybe it will be put away for gifting later....I'm going to be prepared for next Christmas - yea right!
Good week all!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I am on a roll


Three things completed in 4 days - oh my gosh this is a record. They were all almost finished anyway. These are STR medium weight - it think the color is Metomorphis? Something like that. Pattern is Tidal Wave. I did cast on 56 stitches since the yarn is thicker than called for - worked out fine. These were my Weight Watcher socks - since I'm not going anymore I decided to finish them...I know - but I just can't afford the meetings anymore - but promise I am still on the program. Since I don't own a scale I don't know for sure if I've lost more - but clothes are fitting better - must mean something!

So tonight it's clean up my knitting area - put all the ball ends away, sort the patterns and choose a new scarf for that Pink Angora/Wool blend. Since it has been soooo cold - I should try to finish it quickly so I can use it this winter!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

One More Down - Hurray!

Another off the needles! REI Girl gave this yarn to me for Christmas - to knit something to match the jacket all the kids gave me (The Jacket is the Red-Orange color). So Convertible mittens it was - the yarn is Alpaca sock weight - so these are really comfy. Almost wish I'd done a scarf because I've got a lot left - hummm what can I find to go with it?

Now I only have three UFO's left to go - the question is will I work on them or start something else? I'll go investigate my knitting basket and see what I can find!
So this picture isn't really about the Swan family (Mom, Dad and Cygnet) that has taken up residence at the Ranch - but if you look at the raft of Canada Geese and the last one on the left - a case of identity crisis - this little Snow Goose has been hanging out with the Canadians for a few weeks now - never quite in the group - but not leaving their bunch! Poor guy I think he must be lost! Good place to be lost that's for sure.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Need I say any more! Whew!!


I can't believe I did it! Steeks, facings - the works - it's finished!


The next project - a scarf of some kind. The pictures don't do the color justice - but with the Angora it is soooo soft.

And the mittens are one thumb shy of finished also. I had a total fiber day!!

Friday, January 11, 2008

Life is good! I’m loving working full time (love the paycheck even more!), the job is fun, challenging and I know I’m making a difference. The boss reminds me of that often – it is so nice to hear that you are appreciated! But I have been so busy I’ve hardly knit a stitch – actually I didn’t knit a stitch for three days as I had a huge project to get finished – of course all spur of the moment and unexpected. But it got completed and presented to the powers that be – if all goes well we will be back in the “preservation ranch” business. Which means a long time job – yea.

Speaking of jobs – REI girl (I’ve decided to rename the kids – Morgan is “The Geek”, Molly is “REI Girl” and Marianne is “College Girl” – silly isn’t it!) – she is expecting to be hired full-time. Her interviewees told her it was the ‘best interview’ they’d ever done and ‘would she be around for at least 6 months?’ All this is a huge boost to her self esteem – something is finally really working out for her. As they say “you are only as happy as your unhappiest child” – so I am happy happy happy! She will be able to keep her apartment, keep busy and work on her life! If she wants to go back to school (I think she does) she can take a few classes in the evening next fall. This could really work out for her and I’m so pleased for her – even if it doesn’t , the comments from her bosses were terrific!

I braved the icy roads last night and went to dinner at The Geeks – REI Girl was there too. It was so nice just to spend a little time with the ‘big kids’ – that doesn’t happen very often so it was very special. We’ve had real winter weather recently – actually Bend and the Cascades has had winter weather – Redmond which is only 15 miles away has escaped most of it – unfortunately because I love the snow.

Not the Ice which really coated the highway last night – but studs and four wheel drive get me most places! But I do hate the ice – I’m actually more worried about the other guy who’s not paying attention and who thinks because he drives a big SUV he can go anywhere! The weatherman says another storm is lined up for the weekend.

Great - I will just hole up and knit. I plan to finish the Norgi sweater – just have to put it all together. Picture when I’m finished. Also since I haven’t been going to Weight Watchers I can finish those socks – picture then too. Have been working on the mittens and am on the palm of the second one – yes pictures will be coming soon. I’ve got future projects in mind too – Central Park Hoodie for College Girl. I was going to do it in Brown Sheep Lambs Pride – but was thinking if I could find a good ‘washable’ that might be better for her – any suggestions? I’m afraid it would get tossed into the dorm laundry! I also want to do another scarf or something for me – the kids gave me a new jacket for Christmas and I don’t have a thing to go with it – darn – just what I need – another excuse to buy yarn…maybe I should look at the stash first! Oh I just remembered I have some really pretty pink something I got last summer – it has lots of other colors in it that might work with my jacket. Oh dear another project. Oh fun – I can use the swift!! I am so easily entertained!

Well I’ve got enough wood split and plenty of fiber projects to keep me busy - so the weekend looks great. Hope all of yours is the same.

Remind me to blog about the books I’ve just read – “This I Believe” and “Eat, Pray, Love” – both wonderful – oh yea- “Knit Lit too”

Thursday, January 03, 2008

You Are a Christmas Sweater!

Over the top, colorful, and totally flashy.
You're not afraid to be a little tacky.


I've always wanted to knit a Christmas sweater - maybe next year - yea right!