WeeBugKnits

I'm packing my bags....

I'm packing my bags. An island looking for tenants? Knitting is a good thing? A friend of mine at work e-mailed me the link to this story. The title in the subject line was "What Children!?" Sigh. I suspect that knitting for a cooperative wouldn't be in my best interest, judging from that shackley feeling that I get when I have to finish a project that has gone beyond my wanting to complete it.

At least it isnt yet another blogging day with a picture of my incomplete socks for my sock pal. I have 6 more rows of the pattern and then I get to start the toe decreases. At least the end is in sight. The socks themselves are wickedly soft and although my feet are very happy when I try them on, I think that it might be a while before I consider making another pair of socks out of alpaca.

Making progress

Gee these socks seem to be slow going. I really hope that my sock pal likes them. I have turned the heel and completed the gusset, and I think that I am now on the home stretch.

This is a new experience for me. Usually socks seem to just fly from beginning to end. However, I feel like I am struggling with this pair.

We are due for some rain tomorrow. Even without the weather report I could have guessed as much. The joints in my fingers are achy and I feel stiff most likely due the fact that I haven't had much chance to exercise this week. I have done very well on kid homework though. Now if I can just get them to actually turn their paperwork in.

Sweater Weather

Fall is the perfect time to wear sweaters. I look forward to this time of year, pulling my warm woolies out of summer storage and getting to know them all over again. Today I wore my Roscalie Cardigan, an Alice Starmore design from her out of print In the Hebrides pattern book. Certaintly made me a happy camperr at any rate.

Progress continues on my sock pal's sock. This morning I had the thought that I was ready to start the heel flap. Which I did, and only after I had actually turned the heel and started on picking up the gusset stitches did I discover that I actually was attempting to start the heel a bit a head of schedule. So it was back to the frog pond again.

At least the second sock is less likely to hide its face and is proud to show its cabley splendor.

I love cables. And even though the alpaca kind of makes these fuzzy, they still look wonderful. I may have to do this pattern again with a different yarn at some point. Although considering how long it has taken me to get this far, it might take awhile.

The update on the soccer game? Fiona was surprised to see Grandma and Papa there as we hadn't told her before hand. Her team won so they are now 2-1 for the season. The Liberty apples were stupendous. I certaintly hope we have a bigger crop next year.

Life and Liberty

Liberty apples that is. Two years ago we planted two dwarf apple trees. Last year the Akane apple tree yielded a bumper crop of about 6 apples. This year it produced none. The Liberty apple tree had about 6 apples on it at one point in time, but we lost some along the way. So here it is, the sum total of the Weebug apple crop this year.

Don't they look beautiful? I reckon that we will each get to sample half an apple after Fiona's soccer game this afternoon. And since Grandma and Papa will be there watching the game as well, they will get to share the wealth (so to speak). It is a perfect fall day for soccer, bright and sunny, with just the right nip in the air. We'll catch you later after the game and an apple update.

Sockapalooza 2

I was sitting at my desk at home this afternoon when there came a knock on the door. Imagine my surprise when I was handed a package by someone that was not with the US Postal Service. My sock pal had her package hand delivered. I knew that she reads my blog, but I had no idea that she lived in the same area of the country, nor that it was someone's blog that I read on a regular basis as well.

In fact, I have met Janell quite a few times in real life. Just take a look at these lovely socks. I have to admit, that my feet are very happy in them!

And just for grins, since she was so generous in sending the rest of the yarn (and since I am not at home and don't have the band with the information on it) Here is a close up of the yarn and the wonderful colors. It is perfect!

The grandparents are coming up this weekend and we are chock-full of kid activities. Hopefully I will have a good progress photo of the socks that I am making soon.

Just for Sandy

This picture is for Sandy. I almost never enter Blog Contests because I never win. But the weather has been so beautiful lately, that it wasn't much of a stretch to take a picture.

So here you go Sandy, enjoy this moment of Pacific Northwest Fall!

I am still on catch mode here, the beginning of school does that to me. At this rate I might get back into to schoolyear swing by the end of the year. I got a call from school today saying that Shannon had a migraine and I hadn't gotten the forms or the medicine turned in for them to be able to medicate her. I had this premonition this morning that I should have made sure that she had it to hand over, but was a bit preoccupied by the impending root canal finale. Whoops. I had been to work approximately 45 whole minutes before I got called to come pick her up.

I want to publicly thank Sharon over at the Stripey Tiger for being such a wonderful secret pal. I loved all the little giftees and notes she sent me and I am looking forward to keeping up with her blog.

The person that I was giving to was Efrat. I am planning on keeping up with her blog as well, something that I have for the most part done throughout all of the Secret Pal exchanges I have taken part in. It is fun to keep up with people who have generously touched my life.

Whew. What started out as a quick little post ended up a bit gabby without much of any knitting content. Oh well. I am now near the third repeat on my sock pal second sock. Cool. Once I get to the heel, I will be headed toward the finale!

In Progress

I am going to start working on some of these projects that seem to be lying around. First up is my Sockapalooza 2 socks that I started this summer and really had high hopes of having it done way before the deadline.

So much for that wonderful idea, the second sock is back side out in shame, embarassed that I have been so negligent. I wound the skein into a ball this time around, so any nasty tangles have been dealt with. I have e-mailed my sock pal and let her know that it is late and I shall get it done and in the mail as quick as I can.

It fits.

The scoop sweater fits perfectly. I bribed Zoe with some cat nip and she was ever so happy to vacate the sweater. I found the spool of dark blue thread exactly where it should have been for a change and I almost went into shock at that turn of events. I was so excited about getting the buttons sewn on that I mended one of the girls sweaters while I was at it. But I digress. Here is a picture of the end result.

I have got to say that this was one of the best patterns that I have worked from in quite some time. I don't believe that I encountered any errors, the directions were very clear and concise, and even better, I didn't run into yarn yardage problems either. I have one small ball of yarn left over. Bonne Marie, thanks for a wonderful knitting experience.

Here's the scoop.

I finished weaving in the ends of the Scoop du Jour cardigan this afternoon. Then it was a quick trip to Joanne's Fabric to find buttons. I found the sewing needles in the utility drawer under the microwave instead of in my sewing basket and I am still trying to locate the thread so that I can sew on the buttons.

But that is okay. I think I am going to have to figure out how to evict the cat first. Either that or by the time I locate the thread, she will be finished with this little kitty nap.

Loose ends and sp6

I mailed the final package to my sp5 yesterday. I started the second sock for my sockapalooza 2 pal yesterday. I also returned the overdue books to the library, but then you probably didn't need to know that bit of information.

I signed up for sp6 and here are the answers to the questionaire!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you? Yarn Snob, that’s me. I prefer natural fibers, but there are times that even Red Heart and Lion Brand have their uses

2. Do you spin? Crochet? I do spin, with both a drop spindle and a wheel. I have a Lendrum double treadle that I adore, and I am always searching for the perfect drop spindle.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.) I am fairly allergy free. I don’t like really heavy scents though.

4. How long have you been knitting? Good question. I don’t know the answer. I have been knitting as long as I can remember.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No, but I could create one!

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Citrus or herbal are nice.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Along with coffee, I love chocolate.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I also tat, crochet, have done embroidery and cross stitch, do some beading.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I am pretty eclectic. I like rock, folk, classical and even am learning to like jazz.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? I pretty much like all colors. Although at the moment I am kind of in an autumny mood.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
One husband, two girls (8 & 11), two dogs, two cats. DD #2 is campaigning for a hermit crab, but she has to stop sucking her thumb first.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Still trying to figure that one out.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? Depends. I love wool, lace weight and fingering weight, but sometimes I like aran weight, cotton or something else.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Ackrylic.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? socks, lace, fairisle.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks and shawls.

17. What are you knitting right now? Finishing up a pair of socks for the sock swap, the Scoop d’jour sweater, Shetland tea shawl.

18. What do you think about ponchos? They have their uses, especially for little kids.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Most of the time I prefer circular needles. Although I like dp’s for socks.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Depends on the fiber I am using.

21. Are you a sock knitter? yes

22. How did you learn to knit? I honestly don’t remember

23. How old is your oldest UFO? 13 or 14 years old.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
favorite animal would be a german shepherd

25. What is your favorite holiday? Any day I don’t have to go into work.

26. Is there anything that you collect? Besides the plentitude of dust bunnies? Nesting dolls, miniature things.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Cast On, Knitters, Interweave Knits, Creative Knitting.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
The second Knitting on the edge book.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another?? Not right at the moment, but that may change.

Last roses of summer

I was driving Shannon home last night from gymnastics practice and as I pulled up to the house it was 7:49 in the evening. Then it occured to me that it was dark already. Where did those long days of summer go? Probably off with the last roses of the summer.

I took this picture down in Washougal last weekend. On Monday my mom called and said that they had been nibbled on by the resident deer that frequent their property. There wasn't a single bloom left. Just like the long days of summer.

Rocky Re-entry

We seem to be having a bit of a rocky re-entry into this whole back to school thing. The children are horrified at the mere mention of homework, apparently they feel that simply sitting all day in class should be enough. Not that I blame them. A whole summer of doing whatever was fun, why spoil it with something like schoolwork for goodness sake.

And then there is the mommy who seems to be having a spate of technological idiocy this week. Nothing I try at work seems to actually work, I left my cell phone at the pediatrician's office this afternoon, and after taking the time to actually read the install instructions for my new i-pod before embarking on the procedure, can anyone tell me why my darn computer doesn't seem to recognize that it is connected? It worked the first time I had stuff to transfer over. Grrrumph.

On a knitting note, the Scoop Cardigan has all of it's major pieces completed and the side seams on the body stitched together. Tomorrow I will put in the sleeves and start picking up stitches for the button and neck bands. I tried to figure out how to take a picture of it, but was coming up blank. It basically looked like a piece of knitted garment that rolled pretty badly. I am also going to put the package in the mail for sp5 and then I can tell you who spoiled me so nicely.

A better shot

Since I don't have any pictures to show for my weekend, here is a better shot of the socks that I just finished for Shannon. For some reason or another, these turned out making me pretty happy, I think that it was that they such a cheery color.

I got lots of knitting done on my Scoop cardigan, but haven't taken the time to snap a picture. Next up is that I have to get my second sock done for my sock pal, as well as finding time to get the package in the mail for the person that I have been gifting for sp5. I don't know why I have such difficulties actually getting to the post office, but I need to work on that one. I supose that it couldn't have anything to do will being pulled too many directions at once would it?

They made it to school

Here it is, the documentation that you have been waiting for! Both girls on the front steps, ready for their first day of school last Wednesday.

Seems strange to be sending my kids off to school already, the summer just flew by and there just wasn't enough time to do every thing we wanted to do. I remember having my picture taken on the front steps of my family home every year for the first day of school, I wonder if I would have any luck scanning one of those pictures? May have to try that some day.

We are back down to Washougal again this weekend for the *Parental Maitenance* portion of my life. It really isn't as bad as it could be, after all both Grandma and Papa are in fairly good health, still mobile and still have most of their marbles. Except for the ones that I caused them to lose of course.

Last night I went to Weaving Works and spun for a few hours. Amazing what a little tuteledge will do for your spinning speed. Someone finally took pity on my frustrated pile of broken yarn and taught me how to adjust the wheel so that my roving felt like it was literally flying from my fingers. Weaving works is having a drop in spinning group once a month and it was fun to have three hours of solid spinning time in. Molly and Jessica were there and I got the chance to drool over Melinda'sv ery cool sweater.

See this? See the knot? These skeins of Cotton Rich by Cascade Yarns only have 80 yards in them. I sure hadn't gotten very far into this skein before I encounted a knot. How annoying. I now almost finished with the second front of Scoop D'Jour, and will most likely get some done on the sleeves on our way south. This has been a very fun sweater to knit, and the instructions are great.

Ruling out Rhinebeck

I had high hopes of attending Rhinebeck this year. Unfortunately it isn't going to happen. When the unexpected dental expenses started to mount up, and after two crowns, two fillings and then a root canal, I saw that any possibility of leaving town for fibery pleasure was slipping along with the balance of my checkbook. Complete bummer.

Have you checked out the new Knitty yet? This issue is definitely a keeper. I love Samus! I am going to have to take a serious look in my stash yarn to see if there is something that can be used.

We are reserving judgement

Evidentally Shannon has had a change of heart and second grade isn't exactly ruined. But we are reserving judgement on that opinion until she gets some homework. Then I am quite sure that things will change.

On to other things

I have been mentally kicking myself today for my comments about the temporary loss of my knitting spot Saturday night. After all, we still have our small, albiet very messy home. I haven't had to wade through sewage tainted water, nor have to entertain the seriousness of having lost everything. It was a trite and senseless comment and I apologize for my unthoughtfulness.

What is next on the agenda? I have a few projects that need to be finished up. I need to get my sp5 package out in the mail tomorrow, start the second sockapalooza sock started, finish a Christmas stocking from last year and have a gazillion other things that I want to do. I want to get back to my Shetland Tea Shawl that got cast aside for the baby blanket. But now that I have sort of run through my to do list, here is what I have done this weekend.

I finished the second sock for Shannon, she may not have brand new clothes for the first day of school on Wednesday, but she does have a brand new pair of socks. The sweater back is Scoop du Jour, and since it is knit on size 8 needles it seems to be flying off of them.

I am hoping that the above statement is not a forboding for the school year. It seems to be Shannon's mantra these days. And seeing as her comment about the second grade teacher she was assigned to was "My second grade is ruined", I have this feeling that we are in for a very interesting scholastic year.

blankies and booties

The baby blanket is done, the edging attached and a pair of baby booties complete. Now I am just waiting for the new arrival.

Here is a closer look.

I have been feeling rather blah. I think it is a combination of getting the kids ready to go back to school and the aftermath/continuing saga of the Katrina effects in the south. Last night I tried meeting up with Molly and Jessica at our regular Saturday night Starbucks place, only there was a couple of people who were so obnoxious and stinky that that none of us could stand it. It is pretty sad that we couldn't even find sanctuary in our regular spot.

sp gift

I am stealing a few moments before getting ready for work to share the wonderful package that my sp5 sent me. I will spare you the photo shot of the package peeking out behind the screen door on my front porch, I don't think that the world is ready for my paint deprived front steps.

My sp5 always does such a nice job wrapping her gifts, she even put ribbons on the little boxes of smarties that she gave the girls.

In addition to the Smarties for the girls, she gave me a package of TimTams, and I have got to say that I am totally in love with these cookies. Chocolate filling, chocolate cookies, chocolate covering. Yummy. I'll skip the vegemite and go straight for these anyday.

And lace yarn for more lace knitting, a funky scarf in the prettiest greens for me that she made herself and some gardening hand soap in a great little tin. Sp5 you have been the best!

Speaking of sp5, I need to get my package in the mail.

kats and life in general

I continue to be totally overwhelmed with the damage from Katrina in the New Orleans area. As I walked from work to the car yesterday afternoon into the bright almost autumn sun, I was struck by the wonderment of what a perfect weather we are having. Then I felt guiltyand helpless because of the intense devistation in the southern states of our country.

Shannon and I took advantage of both the weather and an hour while Fiona had soccer practice. We both jogged around the track for a bit, she played on the play equipment and practiced climbing a chain link fence (I wasn't too happy about that one) and watched Fiona and the rest of her team giggle their way through practice. The Ballard Soccer league brings in British coaches every year and it was fun to listen and watch. She reported that it was the best practice ever. She has also been playing goalie a bit this year and I have not seen a cartwheel in the goalie box yet. But then, it isn't during a game either.

I finished the edging on the blanket yesterday, and it is beautiful. I need to weave in my ends and block it. Then I need to get scooting on that second sock for my sock pal. Believe me, I really did start them early so that this wouldn't happen.

The kitties just want me to pay attention to them and them alone. They are such altruistic creatures.

keely

zoe

Oh, and I got my final SP5 present all the way from Australia. So I will be posting pictures of that tomorrow. The girls loved the Smarties! Thank you SP5!