Dulcinea's Windmill

Stage 1 is done -

2012-01-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

as of an hour ago, i am officially done with chemo. i survived all 4 rounds. i'm planning on going to the mall tonight and treating myself to something i probably don't need, paid for with money i probably don't have.

and i don't care.

so i get to 'heal' for 2-3 weeks, then i have 5-6 weeks of radiation therapy, then 5-6 weeks to 'heal', and then i start the regularly scheduled scans to make sure it doesn't come back.

but for today, i'm done.

cleaning binge

2011-12-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

ok, so since the maids were here on thursday, friday i rented a rug doctor.

saturday, my son and i moved furniture, vacuumed (again) and rug doctor'd every room.

until the vacuum decided not to suck anymore. so we got a new one.

a dyson.

i like my vacuum cleaner!

and the rooms are nice and clean, and smell so nice and clean..

now i need son to move his mattress and box spring OFF of my bed so i can go to bed tonight.... cause otherwise, i'm sleeping on the couch, and i'm thinking that's not such a great thing.

but it's nice to have a really clean place, in time for having both my kids home for the holiday.

oh, and my son? got accepted into college today.

it's a good day.

halfway done

2011-12-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

this chemo went easier than most of the others. started on time, ended on time, only had to try once to get the IV started........

and then, after i got home, "the maids" (in menomonie falls) arrived.

five of them.

and courtesy of "cleaning for a reason" (.org if you're looking for them), they cleaned my apartment. dusted. vacuumed. kitchen, bathroom. they even went through all the open 12 packs, organized them, took out trash... they were the most lovely people i've met in a long time. (barring my knitting buddies who keep me going week by week)

this was a fabulous experience.

and they're coming back next month to do it again. every month for 4 months total.
i can't say it makes it worth getting cancer...... but boy, it makes it a little easier.

round 2 of chemo - i will not be beat!

2011-12-15T04:12:00.000-08:00

i'm already dreading chemo today - even though it's a short shot (only 2 hours or so). first part of round 2 was last week. i was delayed an hour seeing the doctor - he had to admit a patient into the hospital. unfortunately, in his line of work, this happens quite frequently (usually just before my appointment)

then chemo was another hour delayed. not really sure why. no one said. so i was there from 9am until 5pm again. makes for a very long day....

people tell me that i'll get through this with the strength of the people around me. my daughter goes to chemo with me, when she can gt home from college. other than that, the strength of the people around me is my friend lois. she decided i WOULD NOT be going to chemo alone, and you don't argue with lois!

she and i are both less than impressed with the chemo nurses - i had heard such wonderful things about them, expected this to be an experience when they were calming, caring, sharing, and talked me through the whole thing.

what i got was a whole different ball game. i went into the chemo suite the first time, red folder clutched in hand, went to the front desk, older nurse wants to know what i'm there for.

seriously? isn't this the chemo place?

doesn't welcome me, doesn't introduce herself, tells me to take a chair anywhere...... and then ignored us for about the next 45 minutes.

chemo started over an hour late that day, while this nurse started her complaints about how i wasn't in the system, i was on paper, because i'm part of a clinical trial, and she's so overworked because there's only her (there was pretty much only me too, though)....

and the whole day went like that. never told me what drugs she was putting in, or what they were for, or what it might feel like...... still no name tag, still hasn't introduced herself......

then there was that little episode where we were up to the clinical trial drug (avastin) - she comes over and asks how tall i am.... i tell her 5'2, 5'3, depends on how tall i'm standing, and the person measuring me......... she apparently has me down as 5'9".......... and 162 pounds (i weigh about 130 right now)

and this is the person plugging these drugs into my arm? really?

in all, i was there for 8-1/2 hours, till it was after hours, and by her attitude, it was clear she was wanting to go home.... finally at the end i challenged her and asked who she was.

she might have gotten the message, the next time i went, she had name tags one.

and last time, when i saw my doctor and told him that someone needed to talk to that nurse, he told me she wasn't working back there anymore.

in the back corner was a whole stack of what appeared to be DVDs - we had no idea what they were, or were for.... lois went poking around, and apparently there are some mini-DVD players back there too. who knew? no one ever mentioned them to us.

there are 2 baskets there that are for chemo hats...... and again, lois went looking. each basket had 1 very sad looking hat.

by the next time (last week), Lois had marshaled all of her/our knitting/crocheting forces (our knitting group as well as her other groups) and brought a dozen hats to the suite for the baskets. the 2 patients who we saw there were thrilled, and took home a new hat each.

she has at least 2 or 3 more hats to take today.

and ya know? the nurses pretty much ignored the whole thing. not a thank you. not a "wow, that was nice of you"..... nothing.

so seriously - if anyone's still reading this, and i haven't bored you to tears, if you were so inclined to make a chemo hat for the baskets for the other patients, it would be wonderfuol. so far, i've been pretty luck, i'm 4 weeks into this, and my hair hasn't fallen out. some people, more knowledgeable than i (and more hairless, might i add) say that if it hssn't fallen out by now, it probably won't.

i won't get rid of the hats and scarves i collected, just yet.

so we'll see. today is the halfway mark. i can do this.

on a happier note, the american cancer society provides a service to people like me, going through cancer treatment. they're sending cleaning ladies to help clean the apartment.

seriously. they're going to clean my apartment.

and they'll be coming once a month for 4 months.

so a huge thank you to the people out there who might have contributed to "cleaning for a reason", and to "the maids" in menomonie falls.... with the help of all of them, my apartment is getting cleaned.

guess i better put away all the knitting projects!

Round 1 Part 2

2011-11-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

I guess it was ok - i didn't even blog about it.

I'm done with the first round of chemo - had the balance of it on black friday, and then went shopping.

only bad effects, so far, seem to be that my arm is sore from the IV's of chemicals (may have to let them do it on the right arm next time)... and a bit of queasiness.

not too bad.

1 round down, 3 to go.

It's a Conspiracy

2011-11-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

That's the only possible explanation.

I lead a relatively invisible life. really, i do. i didn't evern think anyone ever read my blog.

apparently, i was wrong.

on all counts.

and so many lovely people have stopped by here, or sent me messages.......

and sent me cards.

every day. cards. in the mail.

so if you sent one, you should see it here - and i thank you, for reminding me that people care.

it helps.

Chemo - Round 1 Part 1

2011-11-17T16:23:00.000-08:00

and ya know? it wasn't so bad. slow, yes. boring, yes.

we got started an hour late, that i was just sitting around, because they had to do all the record keeping for the clinical trial - i qualified, and was randomized into the group that DOES get the additional drug.

an hour of fluids.
then anti-nausea drugs
then gemzar
then cisplatin
then avastin, with more fluids.

by the time i got done, they had pumped 3 liters of fluids into me.
that's in addition to the 2 liters or so that i had been drinking all day, because they keep telling you that you have to drink a LOT of fluids to flush it all out of your system and protect your kidneys.

and in the middle of all these fluids, they give me lasix.

it's a diuretic.

seriously? like i didn't already have to pee every 12 minutes??

but it's ok. so far, i don't feel any different, though we'll see how it goes over the next couple of days.

and i have round 1 part 2 next friday.

with any luck, it'll be as much a non-event as today was..... i hope.

if you count bags of drugs, i'm 3/16's of the way through.

that's not bad.

act 2 in this surreal play...

2011-11-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

ok. 2 days till chemo. 36 hours or so, actually.

thursday morning, i'll show up at the nice oncology alliance, and let them plug me in. saline, to flush the kidneys. some meds to kill the nausea. hopefully, no puking. an hour of cisplatin. that's the heavy metal one. makes everything taste metallic. then 1/2 hour of gemzar. that one's the easy one, or so they tell me.

then, if i'm randomized into that 'arm', another 90 minutes of avastin, to keep the tumors that don't actually exist from growing a circulation (read blood vessels) network.

it'll be late afternoon before i'm done.

and the go home, and go back to work the next day, as though i'm not waiting for my entire body to explode from all the chemicals.

the bills are enough to make you puke.... you get sort of fatalistic about this stuff - the 5 days in the hospital was almost 56 grand. the surgery (as a separate line item) was another 12 grand and change.

daily x-rays, 41 bucks a pop.

shoot, i definitely picked the wrong career path!

but so far, i'm ok. gained back what i lost in the hospital, weight wise.....

prescriptions filled, and ready to be needed. let's hope i don't need 'em!

with me luck, if you're reading this far......

a giftcard for my nook?

2011-11-07T17:05:00.001-08:00

I’m entering to win a $100 BN gift card from Cheap e-Reads, my favorite site for FREE and CHEAP nook books! You can enter to win here: http://wp.me/p1GUx8-W3

Updates

2011-11-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Ok - so today, I had my follow up with the surgeon. I actually started working again this past Monday, but working from home - things like the nearly hour long drive each way are still problematic.

so according to my surgeon - my oxygen levels are at 97-98%, which is quite good. the incisions are healing nicely, which is also good. the remaining lobe of the lung has expanded to nearly the full size already, which is also good.

and there is this ring of metal clips, which are apparently to assist when i get to the radiation for the chest wall involvement.

so all in all, it's all good. he says i'm doing better than many patients at this point in the post-surgical timeline, and it's all good.

and unless i have any issues with the continued healing of the incisions (which can be affected by the chemo), he doesn't need to see me anymore.

next stop, oncologist on the 15th.

Did You Know....

2011-10-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

there there is actually a Lung Cancer Awareness month?

it's in November.

I didn't know that, either.

and apparently, the governor made it official in my state 2 years ago.

Please take the time to make this official in your state as well?
http://www.lungcanceralliance.org/involved/lcam_proclamationmap.html

while I appreciate the efforts of the Susan G Komen foundation, and everything they do to raise Breast Cancer awareness....... Lung Cancer needs a cure, too.

thank you.

2 days and counting

2011-10-04T04:49:00.001-07:00

ok, we're on the final run-down, i guess - i'm so ready to have this over with.

work - all transitioned. what a lovely bunch of people. i've only been there 8 months... yesterday, i told my manager that if it was ok with her, i thought i'd work from home today (instead of in the office) - i was already working from home tomorrow... and she agreed. honestly, it's getting a little tough to be all cheerful and sunny, as though this is no big deal.....

next thing i know, she's inviting me out to lunch (and i thought i was in trouble for something and thought her timing really sucked) - then i hear other people talking about lunch........

turns out, i screwed up everyone's plans. they had planned on all taking me out to lunch today - and i messed it up by working from home. so they (in less than an hour) got the ENTIRE DIGITAL DEPARTMENT out for lunch at this restaurant......

i wanted to cry, when i realized it was for me. seriously? my last job, they would have blamed me for getting cancer, and then fired me as soon as they could without getting sued.

so i have all the legal papers ready. done. all that's left is getting the bill from the lawyer, and paying it. yeah....... another bill.

pretty much everything here is as much as i can do - mostly cleaned and straightened up... the last knitting project that i need to send out is done and blocking, i'll run that to the post office tomorrow....

got the special shower scrub stuff, need to do that tomorrow night and thursday morning.....

still have to get typed and cross-matched, i can do that today or tomorrow - and they give me my lovely hospital bracelet... probably do that today and get that over with

tomorrow pick up stepmom at the airport...... i have no idea how to thank her for what she's doing - i mean, she isn't my mom, i'm not her kid...... except she is, and i am. and without hesitation, she agreed to come here and deal with the fall out from this mess that, with certainty, i caused by being a smoker.

i have no idea how you thank someone for coming to take charge in crisis like this. she didn't need this, she didn't deserve to have this handed to her.... and she volunteered for it. amazing.

and thursday is it. plug in the IV, put me to sleep, wake me up when it's over, folks. seriously - let's get this over with - the waiting is the worst part.... it's like when you get told "go to your room and wait till your father gets home" - so you sit there, dreading it, and making it even worse in your head.......

ah well..... 2 more days. by this time on thursday, i'll be getting ready to leave for the hospital, to put it all into their hands, and be done.

wish me luck!

This is very strange

2011-10-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

I've really procrastinated with this one. i've debated is this a good idea, bad idea, it won't matter because no one actually reads my blog........

so this is really for me. if you're there, reading this, you're welcome along for the ride. but i am doing this one for me.

i have cancer. lung cancer, to be precise.

and in 5 days, i'm going to go have surgery, and they're going to remove a lobe of my lung, in the hopes that they will remove all the cancer.

i don't know if i'll be having chemotherapy or not. at this moment, if it is offered, i'm inclined to go through it - if there's even 1 cancer cell that is there, and isn't dead, i could go through this again and again.

and i'm scared.

it's all pretty surreal.... i actually feel as fine as i ever do....... i look the same, feel the same, gained some weight that does not make me happy......

and then they tell me i have cancer.

it's all so weird.

so if anyone is reading this? quit smoking. quit today. i quit 20 days ago, 2 days after they diagnosed me.

oh, and one more thing?

just breathe

Enter to Win a Nook Simple Touch Reader!

2011-09-16T13:50:00.001-07:00

I’m entering to win a Nook Simple Touch Reader from Cheap e-Reads, my favorite site for FREE and CHEAP nook books! You can enter to win here: http://the-cheap.net

In Memory of my Mother

2011-01-24T06:49:00.000-08:00

Helen Paula Finke Schlesinger Leblang
10/12/1930 - 1/8/2011
rest in peace, Mom

this was sort of fun

2010-03-08T15:38:00.001-08:00

visited 23 states (46%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

and once again, my blog sues me for support

2009-10-11T04:39:00.000-07:00

It's been crazy - the work stuff, the home stuff, the kid going to college stuff, the kid who plays football stuff...

For daughter going to college, we made a sweater

and a market bag

I made some socks, that sort of looked like these

and these

and these

and a sweater for my stepmom for xmas, that's nearly done - just have to block the sleeves, seam it all up, and do the ribbing around the v-neck. i hope she likes it!

I also have some shawl work done - at leasts one shawl.... but i never got to taking some pictures........

Blocking 101, a Tutorial

2009-05-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm on Ravelry - in case you didn't know. Every time I see a post asking for instructions how to block out the knitting, I post the same tutorial.

Today, someone asked if I had this on line, so they could link to it - so here it is.

BLOCKING 101

1. soak knitted shawl in cold water for 20-30 minutes. go raid your stash and plan your next project... you know you want to!
2. squeeze water out of soggy shawl - do not wring or twist, just squeeze and squeeze. change your mind on next project and look over at your stash.
3. lay big towel on the floor. chase away the cats. lay soggy shawl on towel, sort of spread out (no pulling). roll it up like a jellyroll.
4. step on one end of rolled up towel, and side step from one end to the other, so that you've stepped on all surfaces. now do it from the other end back to the beginning.
5. unroll towel, and take damp, soggy shawl out of it.
6. sling shawl over your shoulder, and go put away those piles of yarn on the spare bed (or whatever blocking surface you are using... i use the spare bed in my craft room, or my own bed (larger) if it's early in the day.
7. spread out damp shawl in the right shape. admire it. shoo the cats away. go find your pins (preferably rust free)
8. spread out one of the long ends (either the shoulder span on a triangle, or the long edge of rectangular). pin it out.
9. start pinning at the opposite end now - in a triangle, pull gently (or not so gently) on the bottom point until you like the size and how the lace looks, and pin it.
10. alternating sides, smooth out the shawl from center to edge, and pin the edges. if the edge has points, plan on using a pin for every point.
11. go take a break and go stash diving again.
12. in 1/2 hour or so, come back to the shawl, and start smoothing from the center - by now, you can probably remove the pins that are on the straight sides (no points), it'll pretty much keep it's shape and size. smooth from center to edges.
13. Check regularly (every hour or so) and admire. Do not dislocate shoulder by patting yourself on the back too vigorously.
14. go cast on some other project and come back in a couple of hours - it should be dry.
15. remove any remaining pins, grab your digital camera, and go outside (assuming it's daylight and not raining/snowing/sleeting) and take some artistic nature shots of shawl draped on fence, bush, or small child (as long as they're not eating something sticky)

ok, you're done.

time flies

2009-01-28T16:44:00.000-08:00

i have no idea what happened. I've been knitting. working. doing my usual lunatic single mom thing.

and lost 3 months, somehow!

so let's see. daughter is finishing high school, has applied to some colleges, and we're waiting to hear - she's already been accepted to one, so we know she's going to college - now, it's just a question of which one.

son is finishing up 9th grade. got his bottom braces on, so now when he talks, i see metal all over the place. i feel stupidly proud that i'm able to do this for him.... something that so many kids take for granted, to me, this is a big deal. his mouth will be gorgeous when we get done.... not to mention uber expensive. he better get a great job, and make a ton of money. he owes me.

job goes well - still working on the new websites, but at least now, people are finally giving me the content... i've done my job, they should please to do theirs, as well.

and knitting....... i've been knitting and knitting.......

so let's share, shall we?

the thing I'm most proud of - this v-neck. the pattern was in french. my friend perle translated it for me. i love this sweater!

I made a baby sweater for my assistant at work. actually, she hasn't assisted a whole lot, which is disappointing... but she IS having a baby.

I finished my mom's sweater in time for xmas...

and made some socks...

so i'm working on dickinson, which is sort of death by cables....
and i'll leave you all with this one.

death by yarn.

MIA

2008-10-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

ok, i know i've been MIA for a while. let's just say, on a personal level, things haven't gone too smoothly for a while now....

but i never give up hope that things will get better. they sort of have to, i think.

news on the family front - daughter is a senior in high school, and filling out college applications. her grades are mostly A's, which is lovely to see... and it'll help with the whole financial aid thing, we hope.

son is a freshman, plays football, and got braces over the summer. at his parent teacher conferences, all the teachers said how wonderful he is, and his lowest grade was a B+. mom is pleased.

on the knitting front...... let's see.

i finally finished the striped socks - yay me!

I traded, on ravelry, for a skein of the Noro Kureyon sock yarn, and made a shawl out of that:

Daughter and I went to the WI Sheep & Fiber festival, and I purchased some yummy cotton/rayon laceweight from Creatively Dyed - and I made a shawl out of that, as well:

let's see, what else...........
huh. did I show off my ene's scarf, made with bare laceweight that I dyed up myself? that came out pretty nicely too!

I'm still working on my mom's sweater - up to seaming all the parts into one sweater, then pick up the button band... hard to stay motivated on that one though, sorry mom!

and my newest project, started last monday, is a KAL for a shawl by a raveler named Pangea - it's a fingering weight, and i'm making it purple for son's football games (since I have 3 more years of football to go to)

I guess that's all for now - now I feel like i'm all caught up, and bored all of you with my knitting. i feel the need to cast on something new, since i finished my socks, and pangea doesn't release the next clue till tomorrow..... hmm, what to make, what to make? I bought some seacell laceweight, i think that one needs to be roadtested!

things I've been working on

2008-08-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

not much to report, except my various craftiness - school starts in 2 weeks, football practices start tomorrow... did you know that someone actually makes a mouthguard specifically for kids with braces? who'da thunk it??

anyway... i'm making another pair of toe up socks, 2 at a time, magic loop.... i love the idea of it, and i think if i keep practicing, i'll get better at it...

and then, 2 days ago, one of my mystery shawl KAL's started... this one's a challenge - i thought i was pretty good at the lace thing, but have never tried to knit something as fine as this yarn! it's like knitting with carpet thread...
but the first clue is done, beads and all

and that's life in the not so big city this week - maybe by next week, i'll have pictures of mom's cardigan (back and one of the fronts is done)

i'm not a political person

2008-08-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

generally, i won't discuss politics with anyone - it's just not worth the fight...

but my son called me in to see this tonight, and it's pretty funny - anyone remember rick astley?

Barack Roll

and if you don't want to get political, listen to mother

YAY!!

2008-08-08T21:06:00.003-07:00

I finished the ene's scarf! it's blocking all over the spare bed - I'll try to get photos tomorrow in the sun - the ones with the light in the room were disasterous (and really really blurry)

endings and beginnings

2008-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

i finished my son's socks. purple and black stripes. they're kind of funky - he seems to like them. that's the ending part.

beginnings..... my baby got braces today. for the first time, he smiles and shows his teeth.

go figure.

mini socks!

2008-08-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

my son actually agreed to me making him socks - once I found this pattern.
because it's only half a sock, it only took a day - one down, one to go!

they're fun to make, because they go so quickly!

YAY!! I finished something!

2008-08-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the Goddess Knits Mystery KAL for ages and ages..... though realistically, it's only been about six weeks. I finally finished it this morning, grafted the edges of the edging, and it's blocking..... all over my bed. it needs to be dry by tonight!

long time, no blog

2008-07-25T16:54:00.000-07:00

wow... couple of weeks already. ok, so what's been going on...

i finished the sweater for the yarn company. can't show it, because they haven't had their sample show yet. didn't take pictures, anyway, since it was a top secret project. but they're paying me in yarn, which is pretty cool.

speaking of which, i need to stop buying any yarn.... LOL, it's getting a bit embarrassing... i have more yarn than i can knit up in a handful of years... so stash busting, here i come.

my anniversary KAL is coming along - just finished row 66 of 96 for the 4th clue. then just have to do the edging... that's going to take me ages. it's too big to be able to spread out, so the next picture i'll be able to post will be when it's blocking, or fully blocked. it's gorgeous. i love malabrigo. it feels so nice to work with, and the colors are amazing... i have blue, and green/white.... oh, and purple white that i traded for.

then there's my ene's scarf.... now that i have that one under control, i'm really enjoying working on it, even though i keep putting it aside for other things, like the sweater, and the KAL. but i finished the first repeat of chart 3, and the rows get a little shorter each row, which means it'll go faster and faster, once i get back onto it.

someone came up with a chart to calculate how far along i am on the round shawl - i'm just barely at the 64% mark, but i'm there. ene, i'm at the 55% mark, as shown by this cool chart someone else came up with, to calculate how much you've done on triangular shawls - and that one works out by how many rows in the total pattern, and if it's top down or point up. very cool.

my son is getting braces. he needs them BIG TIME. i juggled the budget for a while, and worked out how i can do it. i'm sort of proud of that. and he's so excited, because his bite is the one thing he's really self conscious about. so yay for braces.

and that's all - i have a seriously huge project going on at work, going to single handedly rearchitect 16 websites... really cool stuff.... it's nice to be appreciated.

and that's all the news that's fit to print for now. back when i actually have some pictures to show off!

too cute

2008-07-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

my niece and my son and a very large hamburger

progress, of a sort

2008-07-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this week has been a bit hectic - great big project at work that I'm in charge of - it's the work I love to do, but this is gonna be HUGE!

on the knitting front.... i ended up frogging casablanca - just wasn't feeling the love.

i finished chart 2 of the ene's scarf, but that's mostly been sitting this week,

i finished clue 3 of the goddess knits KAL - i'm loving this one, love the feel of the malabrigo, though i'd like to not have to tink as much!

and the sweater - i finally got the back done, the front done, and have rejoined the 2 pieces to work some 5" or so on the shoulder, then I can bind off 2/3 of the stitches and just have the sleeve again - this sweater absolutely positively has to have a chart to keep track of rows, increases and decreases, or it's a disaster - good thing i'm methodical that way. no pictures, though, because i think the owner wants it all on the QT. I just hope they like it!

win a few, lose a few

2008-06-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

i got clue 2 for one of the KALs. truth? it's just not doing it for me. I'm not feeling the love.

so i frogged it. life is too short to knit something you don't love.

on the other hand, i not only finished the chart 2 for the ene's scarf, i finally took pictures! because it starts at the long edge and comes to a point, it still too long to really spread out on the needle to see the lacework, but i'm feeling the love on this one!

and the knitting goes on

2008-06-23T06:18:00.000-07:00

I have too many things on the needles. that's all there is to it.

1. I started Ene's Scarf from Scarf Style on WWKIP day - i'm using some laceweight that I dyed up myself in peacock blue/lavender/old rose. My intention was that it be peacock colors. It isn't. It is, however, more like stained glass colors, and I like it. I just finished chart 1 last night.

2. I'm in the Goddess Knits Anniversary Mystery Shawl KAL - clue 2 came out Saturday, I finished the clue Saturday. I'm using Malabrigo laceweight in a color they call saphire-garnet, which is really purple and green. i'm loving it.

3. I'm in another mystery shawl KAL, called Casablanca - clue 1 came out Friday, I finished the clue Friday. That one's getting knitted up in Knit Picks Shimmer lace yarn, in a color called Sherry - it's really pretty.

4. And as if that wasn't enough, I agreed to test-knit a sweater for some friends... in light fingering yarn. right now, i'm on rows that are 250 stitches from end to end, and the rows just feel endless. On the other hand, as I go from one colorway blending into the next one, the colors are coming out really interesting (and pretty).

it's going to be a week of lots of knitting, with nothing getting finished. Not too sure how I feel about that. I like finishing things.

yay!! I finally finished something!

2008-06-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

this is my shetland garden shawl - I'm pretty pleased with it. started may 1, finished june 19.

huh

2008-06-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

so i'm working on this shetland garden shawl... loving the pattern, it's intuitive, has a nice rhythm, really well written

until i got to row 156.

and frogged it.

and knitted it.

and frogged it.

and knitted it.

and frogged it yet again.

turns out i dropped a YO back on row 155.

time to knit row 156.

again....

sivia...... i don't do your patterns justice!

another sock warrior

2008-06-15T03:13:00.000-07:00

I had the best time yesterday! First, I met another sock warrior, Sandy, who was born out here, but moved to Sweden! To me, this sounds like such a cool thing to do.... but when you talk to sandy, life is fairly 'normal' there - just in a different language!

and she gifted me with some amazing yarn!

then, for WWKIP day, i joined up with with some initters who were by my local library.... and since i was waiting to hear from the designer of the shawl i was working on (so couldn't work on that), I started ene's scarf with some yarn i dyed up myself in peacock blue/lavender/old rose.

and the best part of all is that it didn't rain until after i was home again.... i'm so tired of rain!

ok!

2008-06-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

things I've finished -

my toe up, magic loop, 2 at a time socks!

my french market bag (needs to be felted)

clearing the needles

2008-06-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm getting there.

Karan got her socks, and apparently likes them - of course, i have no memory of what patten i used for the lace.... once of the ones from my book. LOL, i hope she posts a pictures so i can see what i did (i think it might have been the big diamonds)

finished the french market bag - it just needs to be felted. it'll be interesting to see how much smaller it gets, because right now, it's huge!

chocolate cherry socks... i'm FINALLY up to the final ribbing at the top of the cuff, and then they're done. i'm glad. i need to be able to work on something else..... but they're nearly done. my goal for today is to do laundry, felt the bag, and finish the socks.

then, all i have left on the needles is my poor, neglected shetland shawl...... i want to get back to that!

i really need to FINISH something!

2008-06-05T03:51:00.000-07:00

so i've put the socks aside for the moment (as i'm on the home stretch) and gone back to my french market bag... 2 handle pieces done, 2 to go, then graft and felt.

i can do this!

THEN i'll finish the socks.

then get back on the shawl.

did i mention i joined 2 lace shawl KALs? i'm clearly a glutton for punishment.

past the heel and up the legs

2008-06-01T13:45:00.001-07:00

that's where i am on the toe up socks. this is still pretty cool.

the book is frighteningly chatty - it takes like 17 PAGES to turn the heels, which is just insanity. once you get it, though, it's a pretty ingenious method - just plan on having a ton of small stitch markers (the no snag pony tail elastics work really well, just get the small ones)

so now, i'm on the leg part - i think the heels seem a little pointy, like i probably calculated too many short rows.... so i think i'll work out my own formula, and try that the next pair.

but i'm happy with these.... and yeah, i'll be glad when they're done - i feel the need to work on something different, which is warring with the need to finish these.

i need to learn to knit with my feet.

teaching an old dog new tricks

2008-05-27T05:00:00.001-07:00

this is so cool. i'm actually knitting socks, 2 at a time (no second sock syndrome), toe up (no toe seam to graft) on one circular needle! (magic loop).

and i can see this is going to be great... the shawl KAL that i've joined, it's a circular shawl, and instead of having to putz with DPNs and all that, i'll just do it magic circle. one needle, start to finish!

i ordered some malabrigo lace yarn last night - kind of peacock colors... and it was a couple of dollars (per skein) cheaper than webs. YAY!

pictures soon - i'm so happy with this whole 2 at a time thing, i may never knit socks the old way again!

pictures!!

wow, almost a month

2008-05-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

ok, so let's see what's been going on....

on the needles, i have the french market bag, in icelandic lopi wool... i need to do about 4 more inches and then the handles.

i also have a lace shawl designed by sivia, that got stalled out, too.

because i was in sock wars. it was run less than efficiently, which is a pity, and even though i'm a fast knitter, i got killed off in the first salvo - it isn't how fast you are, it's how fast your assassin is. i had a fast assassin. but it was a ton of fun, and i made some new friends.

one of them, we met up today and did a raid on the yarn store in burlington...
check this out:

and this is us 3 dead warriors - Andrea, Gracie and me

and to my ex, if he should stumble across this? Thank you for sending that nonsense to my attorney - you saved me the trouble of it.

chart C is done too

2008-05-07T03:01:00.001-07:00

not sure if i just need to pay better attention, or if i'm just not as good at this as i thought i was..... had to frog back 4 rows at one point, then had problems with another row...... so now, i knit a row, count the stitches, then purl/lace back and count the stitches again......

at least i catch problems fast that way (unless i suddenly lose the ability to count, of course)

And chart B

2008-05-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

And I'm about halfway through chart C.

Sock wars starts Friday - I'm ready, got a whole box of sock yarn... loathe to use the tofutsies, though, because it's pretty expensive stuff and the chances of me being the last knitter standing it pretty much nil.

But i'm thinking about it.

out with the old, in with the new

2008-05-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

seems like i'm giving away some of the shawls, even as i'm knitting a new one!

the koolaid one will go to my stepmom for mother's day. my mom doesn't wear them, though for her b'day i'll end up making her a sweater... that's what she'd like.

so here's the new shawl i'm working - yarn dyed by me.

this is chart A. they go up to G. but hey, it's a start!

a prayer for april

2008-04-26T16:51:00.000-07:00

not the month. a person. a friend of a friend. she's very ill. i agreed to make a prayer shawl for her, through a mutual friend of ours. I'll be sending her this shawl.

so any one who reads this, who has the faith of prayer.... please join me in sending prayers of love, well being, and peace of heart to april.

thanks.

a koolaid shawl!

2008-04-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

it's done - and it's funny, it looked SO scrunched up when it was done, but not blocked.

blocking is magic. that's all there is to it.

so i'm off to the post office - benny lost his arm before he got back to his home in new york, so he's all fixed now.

then i need to finish the big thing for the knitter's swap, get the medium thing made, the smalls should be easy - i will probably knock them out today, just to get them done... i'm usually one of the first to send out swap packages, i think i'll end up being one of the last! and it goes to norway, which will take a little time - sorry henriette....

on frogging and quitting

2008-04-21T18:46:00.000-07:00

i'm not a quitter. at least, i don't think i am.

i started a KAL about 4 weeks ago - dyed up my own yarn for it, the whole thing.

i've tried to do clue 4 nine times.

ripped it out 9 times.

i'm done. i frogged the entire thing tonight. i re-wound the yarn, for use in some other project (no sense in wasting 880 yards of fingering weight)

i'll figure out something else to do with the yarn. i am SO not enjoying the pattern, it's no longer worth it to me.

so i quit.

and ya know? i think it was the right thing to do, this time. not always. but this time? yup.

i'm turning 50

2008-04-17T19:36:00.001-07:00

yuk.

it sounds so old!

my daughter spun me some yarn - that was pretty cool. first time ever.

so i think i want to run away for my b'day.

i don't do idle

2008-04-13T08:04:00.001-07:00

so i had to start something new.

i had this fingering weight merino yarn that i dyed with koolaid, and it came out an awesome blue-green (that's blue raspberry and lime)

but what to do with it? It was only 440 yards, which wasn't enough for the tuscany.... aha, swallowtail shawl. says it uses 437 yards. i can do this. it looks like a fairly small shawl, but i can always block the heck out of it!

here's what it looks like with the beginning chart, and 3 repeats of the second chart... i'm really liking this one, and SO happy I finally figured out what to make with my koolaid yarn!

tuscany done!

2008-04-13T06:10:00.000-07:00

i love this pattern - it's a simple set of repeats, so it's supremely portable, and on laceweight, the whole thing fit into a gallon sized plastic bag to carry along.

the yarn was dyed for me by a craftster member in Germany, which means the color will never be replicated....

and i'm done. it's blocking, and it's done. yay me!

definitely a yarny day!

2008-04-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

it's dreary out there.

but in here, it's a yarny beautiful day - in a craftster swap, my friend amanda was perusing my wists, and saw that i really wanted some of those old time wooden soda crates for yarn cubbies. and she found some on ebay!

check this out, is this too cool? i just rearranged things in my craftroom, so that these are on the top of a dresser, and i have other yarn boxes (sport weights, and sock yarns) on top of those - it looks like i have my very own private yarn store!! WOO HOO!!

huh - too much time gone by

2008-04-09T02:52:00.001-07:00

now i know it's been a hectic, busy week. i haven't posted anything in all that time.

updates on the crafting - Benny the monbkey is done. i hope alie likes him. she apparently liked the purse with 'stuff' that i sent to be there ON her b'day... 5 year olds can't be expected to understand that i'm making this thing for your b'day but it isn't done yet.

on the mystery stole - i finished clue 2. still not sure i like *this* yarn with *this* pattern.... but i keep reminding myself that the handpainted merino, flower basket shawl worked out really well. so here's the end of clue 2, and clue 3 comes out today - 5 clues in total.

and i'm still working on tuscany - up to the 11th repeat, which i think is the original size, but i have more yarn, i'll keep going - i tend to like the shawls to be bigger. this one might be for my stepmom. depends on if it's done in time.

i guess that's all for now....

sundays are for sluggards

2008-03-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

at least, i feel like a slug. of course, if i take a step back, i'm working on benny the monkey for alie, and need that done by around my b'day for her.

I'm working on a new mystery shawl, and finished clue 1 on friday (the clues come out on wednesdays).

i'm working on the tuscany shawl, and am pretty much back to where i was when i frogged the entire thing - at least this time, i'm not irritated by errors!

and then there was the felted bag. i think i liked it better with doubled worsted, instead of this bulky wool/mohair blend - this one feels a little shaggy... on the other hand, i won't worry if it gets shaggy cause it started out that way! but it's done! yay!

mystic light KAL

2008-03-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

so i finished clue 1 tonight - i really mangled the last 3 rows multiple times, it seemed like i was going backwards there for a while, as i had to frog yet another row.

but it's done,and i like it - i was worried that the yarn was a bit too busy, and would distract from the pattern (which is really quite nice) - and it might well be. but in the pictures, you can see the colors AND you can see the pattern.

lace and cables is an amazing combination, by the way - if i ever get a creative juice and try to design my own, i'll have to hold that thought. cables and lace. lace and cables. it's nice!

so i made a claim

2008-03-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

in the ongoing wish swap - and dyed some yarn for the recipient. and i really hoped that she would like the colors (dark to pale purple)

and according to the USPS site, it was delivered yesterday.

and she's gone till tuesday, which means she's received, but she hasn't.

anyway, here's the yarn... i hope she likes it.

on my own crafting front, i'm working on the felted flower bag, this time for me - i loved the one I sent to superhooker in a swap last year, and always wanted one for me. the body, handles, vines, and leaves are finished, and i'm on flower number 5 out of 6. i should be able to felt all the pieces this week, and hopefully put it together by next week.

i think i'm getting burned out on the swaps.... i received a disappointing package in a swap that was really supposed to be a high quality one, and for now, it just seems more rewarding to make things for myself - at least i know that i worked really hard on it, ya know?

i'm not a total slug!

2008-03-18T17:09:00.001-07:00

about 2 weeks ago, i agreed todo a personal swap with another craftster member - her aunt makes these amazing stained glass tiles, and she was going to have one made for me that had a dragonfly.

i promised to make a crochet hook roll.

and procrastinated an awful lot.

tonight, i said enough is enough. and made it. no pictures, of course, because that would have been TOO organized!

but it's done, packed up, addressed (shoot, forgot a note)... well, it's going to the post office tomorrow.

yay, me!

secret of the stole is done!!

2008-03-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

wow. 9 clues, 2 months... and it's blocking across an entire bed!! i'm thinking i need to get 1 panel of the foamy insulation for a blocking board - cause if i keep doing big projects like this, the bed isn't big enough!

2 months, and i still like it. good thing, huh? it would have been nice to be one of the lucky people who won a prize, but really - the designer shared this pattern with us, as well as clues and puzzles... so for 2 months, i got to belong to something cool. i can live with that!

not to mention the stole, which is awesome - check this out....

LMAO!!

2008-03-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

I'm a glutton for punishment.

there's going to be a new sock wars. everyone gets a target, and a pattern. you knit the socks and send them to your target. they get assasinated, and have to send you the info on their target, and their unfinished socks.

unless you get assassinated by whoever has you in their sights.... in which case you get a pair of socks, you're dead, and you send your unfinished socks and target info to the person who killed you off.

it's bizarre. my daughter did it last year. she got assassinated. i don't know who got the socks she had been working on. on the other hand, i got the socks she received. they were purple. i like them.

this is gonna be funny!

wanna take part? membership is a measly $2, they take paypal, here's the site
Sock Wars III

i think i'm finally getting my fill of lace for a while

2008-03-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

i did the merino painted wool shawl. then i've got the SOTS-ii, which has the last clue coming out in 3 days - that's clue 9, which means i've been working on that one for 2 months.

and for in between the clues, i started the tuscay shawl, in a hand painted laceweight from Javede.

i finally got a little tired of lace. or maybe the tuscany is just getting tedious (which i suspect is closer to the truth) - so i needed something that was fun and not lace.

so i finally cast on for the felted flower bag i made heather last year in the IYP - this time, this one's for me. very cool. i ordered the brown sheep (or whatever it is) bulky wool for the body of the bag... feels VERY luxurious, it's a wool/mohair blend. very soft - a little fluffy puffy. ok, it'll end up just being felted when i wash and dry it... but it'll be great. maybe i'll have it done by my b'day, that would be pretty cool.

these are links to the one i made last year - mine will be substantially the same, though i'll post pix when it's done:

one side of the bag
the other side of the bag

this new one, it's a different blue wool, i suspect it's going to be nicer - and the greens may be different, i have so many colors in my stash!

or not

2008-03-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

i frogged the whole thing this morning. ya know how you see 1 error, and you say ok, i can live with that. and you see another error, and you say no prob, i can fix that?

strike 3, and it's time to frog.

but i'm not working on a whole lot else at this point, so i'll just start again. at least i'm familiar with the pattern, and know the trouble spots to pay attention.

that was a lot of knitting, though.......

and the tuscany marches along

2008-03-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

I realized that it might be nice to have a progress picture of the tuscany - i'm really liking the yarn for this one...

not a bad week!

2008-03-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

my shoulder gets better - still real achy and all, and the doc wants one more shot at PT before i go back to work... but this is so much better than it was, before!

i made a pair of socks for leah - i'm so pitiably late on her b'day package, it's a miracle she hasn't yelled at me... and i figured she needed a pair of 'real' socks... i've apparently become a sock snob, too!

been working on tuscany, in the yarn that Javede dyed for me...

and obviously, i need to take some pictures of all of this.

i finished clue 8 of SOTS-ii... hard to believe that i've been working on this for 2 MONTHS!! and sort of strange to have it be coming to an end next week.... this project/group/KAL has been my companion for 2 months......

so i did what any self-respecting knitter would do! found another lace KAL that picks up fairly soon after this one ends... and this new one has cables, which i like!

anyway, here's my clue 8 - it's now so big that i cannot get it all into one picture and have ANY detail show!

new projects and indecision

2008-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

LOL, i needed a new project. Leah, my adopted sister (i adopted her), sent me the book with the tuscany shawl in it... and i've been wanting to make that for ages and ages....

small problem figuring out what wool to use, as you can see....... (i removed this from ravelry cause it was too bloggy for there)

3/2 - cast on (using some fabulous wool i had dyed with koolade yarn, blues and greens). this appears to be something repetitious, so i should be able to just move along on it

3/2 - realized that the koolade yarn is only 440 yards (compared it to my bare yarn that still had labels.. love the weight, just not enough yardage)... so going to dye up some other laceweight in turquoise and green, and when that's dry, use that.

3/2 - i'm so decisive today - I have a great variegated blues laceweight that was dyed for me by Javede in a personal swap ages ago - and never knew the right project for it. Let's see, this needs 820 yards, and I have 880 yards (compared it to my other bare weight yarn to make sure) - so we're off and running, and i'm FINALLY past the halfway mark of the first 16 row chart! (couple of false starts in there)

LOL!! and i dyed up the green/turquoise, so that's hanging to dry - 1760 yards, so that's enough to make any number of wonderful shawls (or 2 of the tuscany)

LOL!! ok, so i'm finally working on this.... and i decided that leah needs to have a handknit pair of socks... so went into my sock stash and picked out yarn for that - she'll get the sock of doom, cause the yarn is real pretty just as it is!

desperately seeking a new project!

2008-03-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

isn't it funny, the closer i get to the end of a project, the slower i go? i don't know if it's just me or if loads of people are like that... honestly, i could have had this done last night... but procrastinated.

on the other hand, i wasn't going to give myself permission to start anything new until i finished this one!

so there you have it. my carolyn sweater.

project details: i made this in a medium, based on the measurements in the pattern - the small just seemed as thought it would have been snug. i should have made the small. either i'm a whole lot smaller than i realize, or the measurements were way off. i didn't bother measuring my finished sweater, what's the point?

the wool was the peruvian wool called for, from the elann site. 6 of the main color, 5 of the second color.

i'm pretty sure i knit right about on gauge - i ordered precisely the amount of wool called for in the sweater - did NOT get an extra skein of either color, which i don't recommend doing, by the way - it gets a bit stressful... as i was doing the front edging/placket, i got the 6 rows, did the button holes, and the pattern calls for 2 more rows of the navy, and i'm looking at this really small ball of yarn... ok, so i do one more row, because if i'm 1 row short (which was looking pretty likely), it won't be really noticeable. do that row, and i still have this small ball of navy - so i arm stretch measured it (1 arm span is about a yard, give or take) and i have about 10 yards left. 360 inches, roughly. and i have about that many stitches. hmmm, an inch a stitch? what's the worst that happens, i have to rip out the last row because i don't have quite enough? (now you see why you should always get an extra skein, especially of the main color!)

anyway, i got that last row in. with about 2 yards to spare. huh. had about half a skein of the green left, btw.

the wooden buttons were from a personal swap with a lovely lady in Iceland - so they're authentic Icelandic buttons... she sent a packet of them that was just the right size button and just the right number of buttons. of course, if i break one of the buttons, i have to replace them all.

here she be - now i need to start something else....

oh, and please ignore the hand print on the mirror - that was apparently my teenage son's contribution, and he'll be cleaning mirrors today!

and my other project

2008-03-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

I've also been working on the carolyn cardigan from knitty.com - i fell in love with the sweater, and have wanted to make it since the pattern came out.

this morning, i attached the raglan portion of the sleeves, and am now ready to pick up stitches to do the front edging/placket - then it's just side seams and done - holey moley, it might be done before the weekend is over! YAY!!

Secret of the Stole - II

2008-03-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

Ok! I finished clue 7 - only 2 more clues to go. I'm using Knitpicks Shadow, had 3 skeins, and started skein #3 at the exact middle of clue 7 - so i think i'm good for yardage as well.

The titles for each clue are all Jimmy Buffet songs, I got that much worked out. The sub-clue, the parts that go into the crossword puzzle, I'm pretty sure i have them all right - there's quite a bit of discussion about clue 6, trying to make fruitcakes and "looks pretty, smells sweet" play nicely together, and i'm not so sure they're supposed to. I need clue 9 to intersect clue 6 to be sure what the answer is, though I think i have it. LOL, i think i know the answer to next week's clue already too, based on the number of letters, the 1 letter that is already filled in, and the suppositions I've made so far.

ok then - possible answers for clue 6.

7 letters, second letter is an A, "6. FRUITCAKE: smells so sweet & looks so lovely"
Bananas (banana bread, smells and looks good)
Raisins (generally found in fruitcake)
Cabbage (crossword dictionary came up with this one)
Daisies (ditto)
Walnuts (fruitcake is someone who's nuts?)
Caramel (different crossword dictionary)
darling (ditto)

those are my options, depending on what happens in clue 9

ok, enough babbling... clue 7 is done, i can go back to my cardigan, my shoulder is sore and stiff but i keep doing all the exercises in the hopes that it will start to feel like it belongs to the rest of me!

to all you moms, soon to be moms, someday moms, and those who HAVE a mom

2008-02-29T04:47:00.001-08:00

my stepmom sent this to me - it's a quick listen, nothing the kids can't hear (actually, it's nothing the kids haven't already heard a million times)

The Mom Song It's a link, click it!

and more progress

2008-02-28T18:00:00.000-08:00

surgery was 3 days ago - i started PT today, and can at least move my arm some, though it's still very limited.

finished the second sleeve of my cardigan - i find that i can sit quietly and knit, because i don't move my arm much... it's all in the wrists and hands.

of course, then i have to go do my exercises, which remind me that my arm is NOT all better yet!

but it will be.... and i'll have a cardigan to wear, and only 3 more clues for the mystery stole......

Progress ...

2008-02-26T05:03:00.000-08:00

well, i survived. surgery was yesterday morning, though it was late afternoon before they let me come home - apparently i don't so anesthesia as well as i used to.

pain pills, on the other hand, are a wonderful thing - even though i break them in half!

so today, not even 24 hours later, i managed to knit 1-1/2 rows of the second sleeve (you know you're a craftster when ....), then i got my arm out of the sling, did my passive pendulum exercises (lean on a table and swing your whole body till it gets the arm moving in circles) - and then even managed to get my arm through a sleeve so the sling is on the outside, instead of under my sweatshirt.

probably a whole lot more than any of you cared to know, sorry bout that. this is my affirmation that things WILL be ok.

to my wonderful friends who sent text messages, PMs and other assorted good wishes, i thank you all. hopefully each day will be a bit better!

YAY!

2008-02-23T20:04:00.001-08:00

I finished my clue 6 with time to spare... now we'll hope that I can knit again by next friday when clue 7 comes out... I'm loving the shape of this stole, see how the one side swoops out a little bit, i'm thinking center back, jut a wee bit longer than the rest. I really like this pattern!

Let's see what else I can get done and off my list before monday morning!

OH, and that's Spike, my youngest cat, checking out the goods... I think he approves.

counting down...

2008-02-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

ok, so clue 6 came out yesterday. I'm pretty sure i'll have it done by tomorrow. maybe tonight, even. I've had such good luck keeping up in this KAL, i hate to see it all go down the tubes because of my shoulder.

nervous? who's nervous? i have a list of things i'd like to get done by tomorrow night, so i can deal with being in a sling for a while on monday and moving forward. and the BIG hope is that i can use my arm by friday, when clue 7 comes out.

Nautical Knitter, DK, (isn't that sad, i don't even know your name!) - see what you've done to me? i love this KAL, i'm loving the stole, and i do NOT want to fall behind because of arthroscopy. what's a little arthroscopy between friends, anyway?

yeah, i'm nervous. i keep telling myself, it'll be ok. let's hope i'm right.

on the other needles, i still have the carolyn sweater. at thia point, i've finished the back, the 2 fronts, and i am nearing the beginning of the raglan shaping on the first sleeve... that one, i'm not stressing over, because there's nothing to 'keep up' with. i just do it when i want to. which is most of the time i'm not working on the stole. LOL, face it, i'm hopeless addicted to knitting things.... at least they're pretty, and useful things though!

so that's it for now... 2:41 on a saturday, i have maybe 20 rows left of the clue for the stole? no idea.... but it's getting there. pictures when i get this clue done.

knitting

2008-02-18T04:35:00.000-08:00

well, i haven't done a whole ton on the cardigan lately - between the new computer on wednesday night, setting it up, then the new computer on friday night to replace the new computer from wednesday night

and getting my car fixed, the door latch (driver side) stopped working....

i'm not having a whole lot of real good luck lately, it HAS to get better!

but I finished clue 5 of my mystery stole... it's pretty. i can't get a handle on what the final shape is yet, though I guess if i assume totally symmetrical, that might not be too far off - this is clue 5, out of 9 clues, so i'm finally past the half way mark!

now i can work on my cardigan again!

and the computer bites the dust

2008-02-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

yup. i got it wednesday night. i made the recovery discs on thursday. friday morning, the cd drive wouldn't work. the motor wouldn't turn off.

packed it up, took it back, they confirmed that it was, indeed, psycho.... and gave me a whole new computer.

so last night,i spend the entire evening putting the NEW new computer up and running.... this one seems to be ok. got my basic programs installed again.

bought an enclosure for the old hard drive, to try to salvage the files on there (all those patterns.... )

wrong connectors. can't hook the hard drive up to the enclosure.

so that goes back tomorrow, and we'll try one more time...
and the worst case, i lose the files. that'll teach me!

so today, i've been working on clue 5 of the secret of the stole. this is still the thinnest yarn i've worked with, though i'm getting more comfortable working with it... i'm about halfway through, would still love to get the clue done by tomorrow, so i can be done with that for the week and get back to the cardigan.

time pressure... one more week till they fix my shoulder... i don't look forward to a sling, but i sure do look forward to it not hurting all the time...

getting back to 'normal'?

2008-02-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

been a very strange couple of weeks. one of the things was my computer. it failed. miserably. held back to repeat booting up 101. failed again.

i'm a computer pro. do you think i backed up my stuff regularly? do you think i thought to make the flippin' recovery discs?

yeah, right.

so i have a working computer over there now (points over shoulder) - and once i get all my stuff in working order, my work laptop will get a well-deserved rest (i hate this keyboard anyway)

right now.... i'm making the recovery discs. 3 discs in all. first things first.

who said you can't teach an old broad new tricks??

of course, this means i didn't get ANY knitting done last night. my poor cardigan must be feeling neglected!

cardigan

2008-02-10T17:01:00.000-08:00

looks like i'll be alternating between my 2 primary projects - Secret of the Stole-II, and the carolyn cardigan.

I finished the clue for this week on the stole yesterday. Friday, i had cast on the cardigan, and tonight i finished the back. onto the front pieces now...

strange week

2008-02-09T19:05:00.000-08:00

wow, what a week it's been. routine testing before having my shoulder fixed, and it looked like i was really REALLY ill. thankfully, i'm not. so now, we'll get the shoulder fixed.

on the needles... i have the carolyn cardigan from knitty.com - pictures once there's something to see - still in the middle of the back, about 23 stripes into it.

clue 4 of the secret of the stole came out yesterday - and i actually managed to finish it tonight!

oh, and i'm working really really hard on not smoking - from about a pack a day (that's 20 in a pack for you non-smokers, though i was actually smoking about 15-17 per day), i'm now down to 2-3 a day. all in a week. thank the powers that be for knitting... it makes it easier to not smoke!

what's up on the needles

2008-02-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

ok, so it's been a really stressful week. and knitting is my therapy. each friday, i get the next clue for the SOTSii, but that's done by sunday - so what shall i work on...

so i really debated between the felted flowered bag i want to make, and this striped sweater from knitty... and i decided i need a wearable..

it'll take me a while... but that's ok - there's something really rewarding about finishing something like a sweater, and then wrapping it around you - sort of like giving yourself a hug...

this is the Carolyn cardigan from knitty.com (check the archives) - i've gotten more done tonight, i think i'm on stripe number 7 by now

And the Secret of the Stole is Still a Secret

2008-02-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

I've just finished clue 3 of the SOTS-II - not sure I have the answers to the clues yet, need the crossing words to see which one is the right one - but i admit to cheating a little, and googling the combination of the 3 likely words so far, to see if I can get a handle on the theme.

I can't.

Anyway, here's my progress...

Geezer Blanket

2008-01-31T05:34:00.000-08:00

I'm really proud of this blanket - Rox, my unsuspecting recipient had it on her secret Santa wishlist, and didn't get it for xmas.

On the other hand, I had enough blanket yarn (translation: acrylic) to make the entire blanket out of my stash! And I'm pretty proud of it.

If anyone wants one of their own (no, i'm not offering to make it), the pattern is free on Lion Brand site, called 8-color Vanna's Choice!

Rox, I'm really glad you like it!

Secret of the Stole - II

2008-01-27T06:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I finished my clue 2 today - so far, i'm finding that if i start it friday night, i can be done by early sunday - so makes it easy to keep up. not sure what happens after they fix my shoulder... we'll see

here's my completed clue 2:

The shoe dropped

2008-01-24T14:51:00.000-08:00

So yesterday, the orthopedist tells me that I have a choice - I can learn to live with a constantly aching shoulder, or I can have arthroscopic surgery to fix it.

And if I opt to learn to live with it, it'll keep getting worse, and I'll end up having to have the surgery anyway.

LOL, some choice!

But how many people do YOU know who schedule their surgery around their crafting?

So it won't happen till after I'm done with the swap package I'm working on (nope, can't say who it's for, and can't say what's in it, in case they're peeking) - and if i can finish the socks i'm working on, that would be a bonus.

Hmmm, wonder if i can learn to knit with my feet?

it must have - it's 2 degrees below zero today

2008-01-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

and that's the warmest it's been all day - it was 10 below when i woke up.

ok,so i can't blog about the big thing i'm making for the geezer swap, in case my recipient sees the blog - so no dropping secrets there!

i've put aside my widdershins socks for the moment, because i'm working on the big thing for the geezer swap (nope, still not telling... i'll blog it once she gets it) -

but on yahoo groups, there's another mystery KAL - i joined one a while ago, joined it in about week 4, and had no hopes of catching up - but i love the concept. here's the first part of the pattern. start knitting. no, you can't have a picture, and no, we're not going to tell you what it looks like. trust us. just knit. and each week, another clue came out. when it was done, i have to admit, i really liked it!

so now, there's "secret of the stole ii" - and the first clue came out yesterday, when i had to work all day, and then had to go to an appreciation dinner last night (though it's always nice to be appreciated)

so i got home around 9:30, and cast on. and did about 10 rows? something like that.... just finished it - the first clue that is... 54 rows. this is knit in knitpicks shadow in campfire colorway (1.99 on clearance, so i had bought 3 skeins)... and my amazing addi turbo size 4 circular needle that leah sent me for xmas!

next clue doesn't come out till next friday, so i guess i can go back to working on my one big thing for the geezer swap - tomorrow i think we get partners for the FOC swap, too.... better get busy!

hell hath finally frozen over

2008-01-07T15:13:00.001-08:00

not only are we getting tornados in january (toto, I don't think we're in kansas anymore)... the afghan I started in 2002 (as in FIVE years ago) is finally done!!

so there I sat, with absolutely NOTHING on the needles. SACRILEGE, i tell ya!

so I started some toe-up socks - I've only ever made the one pair of socks, and they weren't so bad..... so i'm doing a pair that are toe-up, sock yarn, size ONE needles... oh, with cables, just to keep things interesting. I'm either very brave, or really really dumb.

No, don't tell me which you think I am, unless it's the brave!

too cute

2008-01-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

for one of the ongoing wish swaps on crafter, I claimed KittyVegas for some baby cowboy booties - and I have to admit, they came out really cute!

she wanted dallas cowboy colors - so here we go

finishing things

2008-01-01T09:23:00.003-08:00

I used to be the queen of the unfinished project - probably all of my knitter and crocheter friends know exactly what I'm talking about!

anyway, i started this little goody right before xmas, and finished it on new year's day! what shall i work on next?

Play it Forward

2007-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

It's Pay it forward time. Thanks to Samsara from
http://samsaradesigns.blogspot.com/ , and Ducky from http://www.freewebs.com/dragonflyducky/myblog.htm , I get to play too!

Heres how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don't know what the gift will be yet, or when it will be sent....maybe this month or next month, but it will be sent within six months, and that's a promise!
What YOU, the recipient must do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. I will send internationally, so all you need to do is make sure that I can contact you for your address.
Let's spread some cheer!

On a Roll

2007-12-26T16:15:00.000-08:00

I seem to be in a make things and finish them mode

here's my flower basket shawl, from the interweave pattern which is apparently no longer available on the internet - it's blocking on the spare bed, which is a twin/single - and it takes up most of the bed!

currently, i'm working on the puffy sleeve pirate-y looking jacket in the spring 2006 knit.1

Merry Xmas!

2007-12-24T15:31:00.001-08:00

to the wonderful friends who have posted here, to my blog... for your encouragement, and friendship, I thank you

Merry Xmas!

i'm impossibly proud of myself

2007-12-23T14:57:00.001-08:00

look what I made!

so what was I afraid of?

2007-12-22T16:56:00.000-08:00

I can knit. Actually, I knit pretty well. There isn't much I can't knit.

except socks. i've had this stupid fear of socks forever... i love handknitted socks, and i got it into my head that i couldn't do socks.

dumb. really dumb.

the other day, in a craftster swap, I received some self-patterning, self-striping sock yarn and an intro to socks book from the lovely annchen, in sweden.

so this morning, with nothing on my needles, i decided to give it a go. i hate being afraid of things, would much rather face the fear and get over it.

and get over it, i did! check it out... by now, i'm nearly up to the toes on the first sock!

apparently, i can knit socks! how cool is that?

Having friends is a wondrous thing

2007-12-20T03:21:00.000-08:00

I've been having a tough time lately. Seems like for ages, actually, though on a calendar, it's probably only the last 2 years. Because of things out of my control, life has been pretty miserable, and it felt like it got a whole lot worse about a month ago.

Feeling pretty overwhelmed, by time and finances, I asked some friends of mine to please call a moratorium on the xmas crafting and sending of presents to each other.

my friend kerstin, bless her heart, ignored me. totally, completely, and i love her for it. she sent me this box for xmas (ok, i was a naughty child and opened it, but hey, hanukkah was over.... like a couple of weeks ago?)

and she made me socks. and send me some more homemade soap (to which i'm completely addicted, i'll never buy soap again). and she found this shawl pin that's a dragonfly, because i love dragonflies and have a mountain of lace weight yarn and plan on making shawls. a LOT of shawls.

and devil dogs. she can't even EAT them, and she sent me boxes of devil dogs.

kerstin, you're a wonderful person in my book. you took care of me when i wasn't even able to dig my way out to take care of myself. you have my love and friendship for your selfless act. thank you so much.

so what do i do now?

2007-12-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

i finished the pirate bag. it's in the washer, hopefully felting nicely - i'll pull and stretch it, then throw it in the dryer, and post pictures when it's done.

so what do i work on now? LOL, i've been jamming on xmas presents so much, i don't know... probably the shawl i've been poking at - that's the only thing on the needles right now....

all my packages that needed to be mailed out went out yesterday - i actually feel organized, and not terribly stressed this xmas - granted, i kept it low key, but i always have to do that anyway - life just doesn't permit extravegant holidays.

son was easy - he wanted one big thing. ok, done. daughter said this pirate bag was the only thing she wanted....

parents are done. brothers are done. niece is done. best friend is done. there are a couple of other really good supportive friends i want to 'do' for, but that'll wait till after xmas - i'm trying really hard to not get stressed.

'tis the season

2007-12-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

ok, i feel much better about the holidays now - i've had these piles of things, stacks of things, and i knew i had to pack up the boxes and send them on their way - at least the ones for my immediate family.

had to.

and of course, kept putting it off.

i have a stack of packages now, all addressed, taped up, and i only forgot the card in one of them! not bad, i think!

so tomorrow morning, off to the post office - 6 packages, 2 envelopes, get them all out of here and i don't have to think about them anymore!

still knitting xmas present, though - the one last thing that will probably take me right up till xmas eve.... but i'm getting there - maybe 3 more rounds, and then the handles....

and if my shoulder holds out, i may get it done in time for xmas

i hope

... but I'm not a total slug

2007-12-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

I've been procrastinating outrageously on the duplicate stitch for these mitts - and I promised them to Leah like....... a year ago? LOL, so then I promised them for xmas.

and I'm trying really really hard to finish up everything i need done for xmas, just in case the shoulder is rotator cuff and needs surgical intervention.

so i just finished the duplicate stitchery on the first of the 2 mitts....

YAY me!!

Update - 6:30 pm - they're done!! I finished the charting on the second mitt, and they're DONE!!

I'm apparently allergic

2007-12-07T03:37:00.001-08:00

to the dye they use for x-rays.

some fun.

be back when i stop itching.

Finally Finished the Wings!

2007-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

I started the Allete wings for my niece, back in October? and really just dragged my feet on the last steps - stitch up the channel, stick the wire in there, make the straps and be DONE with it!

so this morning, I'm working on non-knitted things... apparently, the ache in my shoulder that's increased for the past 7 months may be a complete tear of the rotator cuff.... hmmm injury by knitting? LOL!!

anyway, I finished the wings - yay me!

ok, on to the next unfinished symphony.... this is my weekend to FINISH things, so i can start more stuff!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm really not the sort of person who gets all preachy about what I'm thankful for...

It's just not my style.

In the past week, I've been aware of things that I AM thankful for...

I'm thankful for Leah, Kerstin, Adrienne and Cheryl - even though I've never been able to sit and have a cup of coffee with them, or give them a hug, they're my friend-net - they listen to me, encourage me, spoil me at times, and for some unknown reason appear to love me even when I feel pretty unloveable.

I'm thankful for Josh - he allows me to be a (sometimes) less than perfect mother, and loves me anyway. Sometimes, he even takes out the trash!

I'm thankful that Ariel is in a safe place - while I may not understand her choices, at least she's somewhere where she appears to be safe and cared for. Sometimes, that's all you can do.

I'm thankful that my parents are still with me - despite some pretty serious illnesses, they're all alive for me to call today, to say i love them.

I'm thankful for my brother Avram - while we're probably worlds apart (i'm nearly old enough to be his mother), he's a good hearted person (now, if he would only stop calling me 'hun')

I'm thankful for the people I work with - they put up with me, they encourage me, they teach me to do my job better, and they even appreciate my show and tell when I bring in things I've made to show.

I have much to be thankful for.

Apparently it's been a long COUPLE of weeks!

2007-11-21T16:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, so let's see. I'm now a certified web developer. Yay me!

I finished the knitting for the snowball's chance fingerless mitts, just need to do the duplicate stitching everywhere.

I still haven't finished off the wings - shame on me.

I'm working on a pirate's booty bag - I think I like it.

And now I have a 4 day weekend... happy thanksgiving, everyone.

what am i thankful for....... i'm thankful for the child that says "i love you mom" to me.

think i'll call my parents, and tell 'em i love 'em.

Been a long week.

2007-11-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

I've been taking classes since November 1, to get certified as a Web Developer. I know, i know, i'm already certifiable!

So i've been taking classes all day, every day - after today, I only need one more class for my certification!

on the football front, I've made a DVD slide show movie for the boys...... 563 pictures, with 9 or 10 songs as background music.... i need them done by this Sunday, for the end of the season party.

as of this morning, I've burned 19 copies.

on the knitting front, i'm about halfway through the second mitt for leah - then i have to go back and do the embroidery.

ok, class is starting....

I finished my shrug!!

2007-11-03T08:22:00.000-07:00

HOLY SMOKES, it's DONE!!

My daughter bought the wool for a project, then decided it was the wrong color and the wrong wool...... so mommy, will you buy me something else, and i'll give you this yarn.

it's really pretty wool... all sorts of shades of blues, from aqua to almost a purply blue - nearly impossible to get pictures of me wearing the shrug AND taking the pictures...... and kindly ignore the spots on the mirror. time to clean them again!

Being a knitting needle addict

2007-10-30T17:37:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed how many knitting needles i have! ok, the DPNs, i counted individual needles, so a set is either 4 or 5... but some sizes, i have 17??

well....... all i have left are my circs now... i've done the long needles, the dpns, and the crochet hooks.... had a bit of trouble till i could find my needle gauge.... all needles should have what size they are engraved on them!!

speaking of which.... signatureneedlearts.com - they custom make knitting needles. you can pick the size, the length, 3 different points, and 3 different end caps.. then they engrave the size, the length and point into the side of the needle. i love those needles. the price scares me a little bit... but seriously, if i was going to treat myself, i can see buying 1 pair in the size i use most often...... once i figure out what size i use most often, that it.

still working on the shrug - i've got 3" of the 6" of ribbing..... i was so worried that i wouldn't have enough yarn, it looks like i'll actually have some left over - not sure if it'll be enough to actually make something (i'm thinking calorimetry or something similar?)

we'll see.... i still have to finish alie's wings too - got the wire, just need to sit down and do it - but first, i really want to finish this shrug. i make so many things for so many other people, i need to have made something for me. the shrug is it.

i guess.