Pardon Me...

While I blow the dust off this blog...

I'll be back tomorrow with knitting news.

Promise.

Random Thoughts from a Slacker Blog Owner

I was reminded yesterday that I used to blog. So here I am blowing off the dust and starting up yet again.

Can I wish you all a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year? My feeling is that since it's still January and I've not blogged yet this year it's still legal.

I'm still knitting even though I've not been blogging. I have lots of pictures to post of past projects and I'm getting ready to begin a knit a long with the girls at Adirondack Yarns for the Great American Aran Afghan. Very psyched to be getting a little push on this one. I've been wanting to knit it for years and haven't. Accountability is a great motivator for me. Want to join in the fun?

I started working at school for an hour and a half each day back in September. I leaned over to cut meatloaf for a Kindergarten student last week and she told me I should cover my armpit. I was thankful I had shaved.

I have discovered Kindle for Droid. I'm exhausted from staying up all night reading. I've really missed it. So far I've read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and I just downloaded The Girl who Played with Fire last night. If you've not jumped on the bandwagon for this series I highly suggest you do.

S.E.X. with Ewe

The Loopy Ewe, that is...Baby in Pansy Golightly

Starry in Green Lantern

Smooshy in Malibu Sail

Drum Roll Please...

I promised I'd draw a winner today for the Namaste Clutch and I did. artfulstarfish dat be u!!!

A huge thanks to Robyn for helping me figure out how to post my little photo from random.org. I swear I shouldn't be allowed near technology these days.

And last but not least, I'd like to wish my daddy a very happy 61st birthday today! Even though he drives me crazy some days, he still lets the sun out every morning and hangs the moon every night.

Movie Night

I took the girls to see Sex and the City 2 last night. Dan's girlfriend couldn't wait to see it, Darcie didn't want to see it but went because she likes Dan's girlfriend, and I was just excited to get out of the house. Verdict? We all loved it and are really hoping there will be a SATC3. If you get the chance...go see it!

Cables in Cotton

We're having a heat wave. The air conditioning doesn't seem to be able to keep up. The pool isn't opened yet. I barely want to knit but I have managed a little work on the Cable-Eight. And maybe a sock or two. How much longer until fall?

Clubbin'

March Sock Yarn from The Loopy Ewe

May Sock Yarn from The Loopy Ewe

Sock Lite Yarn from The Loopy Ewe

I scored the March and May sock yarn kits from The Loopy Ewe on Ravelry and I'm so glad I did. I already filed the patterns and took care of the goodies so I didn't get to photo them but they are great!

The Sock Lite kit was the consolation package for those of us who wanted to join the sock club but weren't chosen. While I'm still a little sad for not making it in, I am thrilled to have gotten the chance at this kit. It is amazing! String Theory Caper. Yum!

Oh My...

Madelinetosh Tosh Sock.

From top to bottom: Stovepipe, Vermillion, and Celadon.

Excuse me while I wipe up the drool.

Fishy Fishy Fishy Foo

This is Goldie. She belongs to Dailaesse. She swims back and forth like this begging to be fed as soon as someone walks in to Dailaesse's room. Bran thinks he has her trained but Dailaesse and I know it's the other way around. She begged for an hour straight last night and Bran fed her off and on the entire time. Who do you think is smarter, Bran or Goldie?

Jay Walking

This first sock was done weeks ago and the other is half way there. I really love this pattern and yarn! The yarn is Online Holiday Color 1002. I'm not sure if it's something that's still available or not. A quick search didn't turn up any stores that had it. Sue did have it at the store about 3 years ago. Yes, that's how long ago I started these. About time I finished them, don't you think?

Today's English Lesson

Dan came home sometime last week and told me he had learned a new acronym.

I was quite impressed when he told me what an acronym was and couldn't wait to hear what it was.

FINALS

F*ck
I
Never
Learned
Sh*t

Obviously not. He was quite disappointed when I asked where the A was.

I'm so glad he graduates this year.

That Was Random

Dailaesse: Mama, you smell good like turkey.

Me: ???

Dailaesse: I love corned beef!

Me: ???

It's a slipper! It's a sock! It's a slipper sock!

Back over the winter a sweet little old lady came in to Sue's looking for some bed socks. She wanted them to be wool and was hoping she would find some already made at the store. When she didn't find them she wondered if we might know someone who would knit her some. I went searching through Ravelry and came up with something somewhat close to what she described and started knitting. She loved them! If you're interested, you can find the details here.

Wanna Win?

I have a Namaste Mini Clutch (photo straight from their site) that's been hanging around the house for some time now. I ordered it thinking I could use it as a wallet. The problem is that I keep way too much stuff in my wallet because I don't typically carry bags. Well, I carry my knitting bags but I don't like to drag them through the stores with me when I'm shopping. So this was just a little too small for what I needed. It's brand new. Never used. If you'd like to have this awesome clutch just drop me a note in the comments for this post and tell me so. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you on Tuesday, June 1st when I draw a winner.

We Have A Winner

Dailaesse and I took a little stroll over to Random.org this afternoon to plug in some numbers so we could get a winner for the buddy and yarn. I have no idea how everyone else manages to get the picture from their screen into their blog posts. I couldn't make it happen. The best I can do is to copy the info from the PDF I created from the page and past it below. Some days I just can't win.

True Random Number
Generator
Min: 1
Max: 3
Generate
Result:
2

Anywho, we went from the first entry to the last and Leslie was numero dos. It's already posted and I hope she enjoys it! :-) Stay tuned because soon I'll be posting a contest for a Namaste Small Clutch. And this one is brandy dandy new!

Knit Along With Me

I'm hosting a knit along with Adirondack Yarns for a super cute linen cardigan. The yarn is Maggi's Linen and it has the nicest drape. Perfect for summer knitting! The pattern will be a mystery but if you prefer to see it before committing to the purchase please let me know and I'll send a link to you. You just have to promise to keep it a secret for all those who love the thrill of a good mystery! ;-)

We have a thread on Ravelry if you are a member there. If not, here are the specs:

SIZES: XS(S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: Chest: 33(37, 40, 44, 48, 51, 55) inches Length: 18(18, 18, 20, 20, 23, 23) inches

PRICES (includes priority shipping in the US):
XS & S - $48
M & L - $64
1X & 2X - $72
3X - $88

COLORS:

You can reach Sue by calling 518-523-9230 or by emailing her to order.

Suggested needle size is a 24” or longer US 8 (5.00mm) circular.

Start date? How about the first clue (which will include gauge info) will go out next Friday, 5/21?

Snug Like A Shrug

Dailaesse was bored one night and started looking through patterns. She saw this one and asked if I could knit it for her. She picked out a skein of Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool (if you've never knit with this you should really try it, great yarn at a great price!) at Adirondack Yarns and we were off to the races.

I decided if I was going to put my time and effort in to a hand knit that I was going to make it worth my while. So I lengthened the sleeves as well as the lace portion of the bottom. And it still only took one skein. I know she doesn't looked completely thrilled with it (this picture was taken just before heading out to church one evening when she would have rather stayed home to play) but trust me, she is. She really loves it since she chose the pattern and the yarn. It's gotten lots of wear which makes me quite happy too.

One Mitten, Two Mitten

Pink Mitten, Blue MittenAnd a Thorpe. Just as she requested. She didn't want to put them away at the end of winter. I worked the set in Lamb's Pride Worsted. Thorpe was worked double stranded throughout.

Topping Supreme

This is the beginning of my Cable-Eight Top. I'm working it in Universal Supreme Cotton. I love this pattern! It's so easy to memorize and there isn't even any shaping to deal with although I think I will alter the neck some as I don't like anything tight against my neck. I will probably just make a slight v. We'll see when I get there. This is the back so I still have time to think. Not as much time as it looks though because that little bit of progress up there was what I accomplished Saturday evening just before bed. I knocked out a couple more repeats yesterday so it has more than doubled. July 1st shouldn't be any problem at all.

I love the feel of the yarn. It's so soft and really doesn't feel much like cotton at all. Do you feel the but coming? BUT, I've found so far (and since you hold 2 strands together throughout I can't say for sure if it's just one skein or both) 8 spots where just several plies of the yarn have been knotted together as well as 1 full-fledged knot. I can't even begin to tell you how much that annoys me. I'm hoping it's just one skein and the rest will be better to work with.

Mother's Day

Wishing every mom a day filled with love, laughter, and lots of knitting in your underwear! ;-)