A little whiny

Can I complain?

What’s that you ask?  That’s my mailbox.  Well, that was my mailbox – before the plow hit it.   And I think that just tells you what kind of week this has been.   I looked out of my front door today and said to Larry – hey, where is the mailbox?    It was about 3 feet from where it normally is – full of yesterday’s mail (we didn’t get mail today because…well, I guess because we don’t have a mailbox).    And see that white stuff?  See how high it is on my mailbox post?  Its been snowing here since yesterday morning – and I’ve been in my house since Wednesday when I worked from home.    And Tuesday?  Hit a deer on the way to work (the deer, my car and I are all fine) and it was snowing/icing on the way home Tuesday night so it was just a long commute kind of day.    Did I mention that its been snowing since yesterday morning – and it’s still freaking snowing?  We had a bit of sun this afternoon – I have never been so happy to see the sun!  But it’s snowing again, and I just think its going to snow forever.  And you know how people go crazy when they call for snow and rush to the store and buy milk/bread/eggs because they will be snowed in forever? You know how you always make fun of that?   I always laugh about it – and now I’m out of milk/bread/eggs and I think we are going to have to eat Penny for dinner (but I do have vodka for my martini so I guess its ok ).    Sorry to be whiny – but if this snow doesn’t stop, and if I don’t get out of this house soon, I think I just may lose my mind (although I’m very grateful that I’m able to work from home and don’t have to worry about commuting in this snow!)

I do, however, have a little something to make me feel better.

I wish you could feel how nice this is.  This is Wandering Cat alpaca laceweight.    I bought this a while ago – I tried to find the perfect project for this last summer but just couldn’t find it.  I sadly put the yarn back in my stash.  But the other day I saw a pattern on Cosmicpluto Knits and the yarn immediately popped into my head and I knew I had finally found the right pattern for it.    I’m using it doubled and I love how the colors are coming together – and its so soft and silky – and apparently it is going to be winter forever, so a nice warm hat is just what I need from both a knitting and a wearing perspective. 

The only thing I’m not sure about is the size…the pattern called for a US 2.5 needle, but I’m using a US 2 – simply because I don’t have a 2.5.   I didn’t think it would matter that much (this is the reason I don’t knit sweaters – I always think needle size doesn’t matter) – but this seems sort of small

And the wine bottle is for scale (I’m having a martini, remember?) – it was the first thing I had at hand.  I think it will be ok once its off the needles (it’s very stretchy) but I’m loving knitting this too much to stop so if it’s too small then I’m just going to have to find someone with a small head to give it to.     I know I’m being a little delusional – but isn’t that part of being a knitter?

I’ve been thinking about my blog lately, and whether or not I wanted to continue to do it.   I’ve been doing it for a while, and I wondered if it was time to stop – sometimes it is  hard to find things to post when sleeping on the train takes precedence over knitting on the train.  But then I thought about all of the people I’ve “met” through it – I love Ravelry but I think blogging lets me be myself more – and get to know others more.  It also it helps me document my life (knitting and otherwise) and I enjoy going back sometimes to see what has happened.  And blogging inspires me (knitting and otherwise)  – I love reading other people’s blogs and love the input I get from mine.  So I think I’ll keep on going – but I probably need to finish a little more projects to blog!    When I was thinking about quitting I went back to my first post - and I realized my blogiversary is coming up!  Four years – wow!  So I think I’m going to have a contest-  I’m not sure what or how I’m going to ask you to enter but there just may be some special yarn that might be up for grabs!  And maybe something else.  So check back!

Well, its Friday night, and I have my knitting and my martini – and a fire in the fireplace and some buffalo wings on the way (Penny is safe for now).  I hope you have a wonderful weekend – and that its sunny where you are!   And thanks for listening to the whine!

California break

I took a little break from winter and it was so hard to come back…

California was beautiful – they have had a lot of rain recently and everything was green – I’ve never seen it so pretty.   And it was so warm and sunny with flowers everywhere.   I wore light clothes, had lunch outside, knit outside, drank wine outside, and it was just so nice.   And when I was coming home, and flying into Newark, the plane broke through the clouds, and I looked out the window and saw the grey sky, white snow and total absence of color – and I just wanted the plane to turn around and take me back.   It was completely depressing and all day I couldn’t help but think about how nice it would be to live somewhere that is beautiful and warm and sunny all year round.    But I am grateful for the little break, and can’t wait for the weather to turn here!

It was very good to spend time with my mother; she’s had a very rough time of it lately, and needed some help and some company.   We spent the time getting her a little more organized, and cleaning things out.  It really made me conscoius that I need to go through my house and get rid of things I don’t need or use anymore – we just have too much clutter in our lives and I think we are going to work on it this year.    But I did enjoy being with her, and we spent a lot of quiet time talking and knitting (and eating chocolate) and I was sad to leave.  But I think she’s going to visit us this spring, and spend a long visit here – it is hard to have her be so far away normally – but it’s very hard when I know she needs help and when she needs a little company.  Or when she needs another knitter go to yarn shopping with.

Because I have to admit we did a little bit of that.

Isn’t that beautiful?  Filatura Di Crosa Golden Line Superior.  A cashmere/silk blend.    It is so soft, and so beautiful.  But its not mine!    My mother goes to church every day, and one of her fellow church goers knit a scarf for her.    She wanted to knit something to give back to the woman -something special and lacy.   So we went to find just the perfect yarn – and I think this is it.  We shopped at her local yarn store – Yarn Lady - this store has been in the area for a long time, but recently went through a change of ownership and location.   And I think both are changes for the better.  I had been to this yarn store numerous times in the past, but never really liked it – too many synthetic yarns, too expensive.  But the new shop (in a smaller store) had really nice yarns and a great layout and I think most of the yarns were reasonably priced.    They had so many samples and it was very tempting to buy more (in fact, my mother was tempted to buy a pattern/yarn to make an entralac sweater!).      She picked this yarn because they had a sample shawl knit up – so soft and pretty.   She asked me to make it for her because she can’t knit with lighter weight yarn any longer and I was happy to say yes!  In fact, I’m kicking myself in the ass about not picking up a skein for me!    So as soon as I’m done with my current project I’ll cast on something for her (although I suppose I have time since its spring there now).    I was thinking about a Fishtail Lace Scarf - but I need to look a little bit more to make sure I find just the right pattern for this yarn.

I had a long day today – first day back from a break is always hard, and I didn’t sleep well because I was in California just long enough to get messed up on time zones.  But I came home tonight to my family, and my pets (including the bad dog Penny who ripped off the bathroom wallpaper while I was gone – bad dog!) and a little treat that came in the mail to cheer me up…

Woolen Rabbit Oasis - a blend of silk and camel!  Isnt’ that gorgeous?  Check out the link of a better picture of the color – the colorway is Pumpkin Patch and its just amazing in person.     375 yards and enough to make my sister a shawl – I saw the color and just had to get it for her.    I got this yarn on Lorraine’s recommendation- Lorraine always has amazing taste in yarn, and when she said it was nice, I had to try it.    And I’m so glad I did – I can’t wait to use it.  I also got the Knitters Hand Cream and I love it already – my hands get so dry in this terrible winter weather.    Thanks, Lorraine!    I have used Woolen Rabbit yarn before – and she’s an amazing dyer – next up on my list to try is Kashmir - I just can’t decide on color – Cherry Bomb?  Cape Cod Blues?  Oh Ruby?  Too many choices…

I did a lot of knitting while I was at my Mom’s and I’m just about done with the 5th repeat of Citron.  I was going to stop there (that’s all the pattern calls for) but Kim just finished one and said it was a little small – and that maybe a couple more repeats would be best.  I have the yarn, so I think I’ll do seven.  I’m loving the yarn and the pattern – but damn – those rows with 444+ stitches take a long time!    I also finished one of Larry’s sock, and I’m half way down the foot of the other so I should have the pair done next week.    I love having so much knitting time!

OK, off to knit and watch the Olympics – have a great Friday!

Springtime Bandit

Just in the nick of time….

I finished the Springtime Bandit shawl in time to wrap it, put it in a suitcase and bring it  to my mother as a Valentine’s Day gift (we’ll forget that I initially said it was her birthday gift).    It took way longer than it should have, but its done now, and I think its sort of pretty!

Pattern:  Springtime Bandit
Yarn:  Malabrigo Sock,  Velvet Grapes colorway
Started:  December 27, 2009
Finished:  February 5, 2010

This really is a nice pattern -  I don’t think my pictures do it justice.  The pattern is very well written, easy to follow and an interesting knit – and very easy.  I love the edging – its just the best part of the whole thing -  and overall, I really enjoyed knitting this. For some reason, a shawl that should have taken two weeks took me about 6.  It was no fault of the pattern – but it was just my level of focus  – I wasn’t knitting as much in January, and when I was I worked on too many different things.  But all in all, this was a very good knit and I liked it so much I already bought the yarn for another (worsted weight yarn this time!).

I used Malabrigo Sock for this and absolutely love the yarn – I think it is amazing yarn and perfect for shawls.  I love the feel of it – both while I was knitting and after I blocked it.  But – I sort of wish I had not used such a varigated colorway for the shawl.  I think the pattern gets a little lost in it, and it would be better in a solid or semi-solid.    But up close the colors are so pretty, and I think my mother will love it.  Anyway, the Malabrigo Sock is a great yarn, and I just love everything about it.    I don’t think I’ve hit a bad Malabrigo yarn yet!

As I said above, I am going to visit my mother  – I leave tomorrow morning.    She lives in California, and its such a hardship to leave New Jersey in the winter and go spend 5 days in warm sunny Southern California – especially after the 15″ of snow we got yesterday.    Its just me going – Larry and the kids are all staying home, and it will be nice to have some one on one time with her.    I still need to pack – its hard for me to imagine what I need to bring and what 70 degrees feels like!   I am very happy to leave my big coat, boots, mittens, hats and scarves here though!

As far as knitting – I’m bringing the Citron shawl (almost up to the fifth repeat – I’m planning on doing 7 and its just flying!) and probably my commute socks too (just in case I need two projects).    I think I’ll have lots of knitting time, and hopefully I’ll have a finished Citron by the time I come home.  The Madelinetosh Prairie is amazing yarn – I will definitely be getting more!   

Yesterday was Dan’s birthday – he turned 25!  I can’t believe that one of my kids is that old (I had him when I was 10 of course!).    His birthday was a little bit of a non-starter though – his work did close because of the snow we got so he had the day off – but we weren’t able to give him the gift we bought him because Fedex couldn’t deliver.  But we had a nice dinner and Larry made him a delicious cake (it really is good – seems like a weird recipe but it was delicous!).   Happy Birthday, Dan – and that’s it – I’m not counting higher than 25!

OK, I think I’m going to go catch up on my blog reading and take a nap (such a hard life!)! 

Penny thinks that she would like to come to California with me….

Have a great weekend!

Winding yarn

Sometimes it’s so easy to wind yarn into one nice ball and sometimes….

you end up with three small balls.  Is there anything more annoying?    I’m not very patient about this kind of thing, and usually Larry will wind my yarn for me (yes, he really is a great guy) because at the first hint of a problem, I am ready to throw the yarn out (I will admit to being a little dramatic sometimes).   But Larry has a cold today, so I thought that I’d do it for myself   – but I had to go get him to help me finally because the minute I cut the tie, the skein exploded and I had a mess on my hands.  At least it wasn’t laceweight.   So we ended up cutting the yarn to get the tangle (and the second and third tangles) out.  But I got through it, and now I’m ready to start a new project – Citron.  The yarn is Madelinetosh Prairie.  It is gorgeous – black with the occasional hint of blue.  Perfect for this shawl – and its one of the 12 projects I put aside for this year, so I’m pretty happy with it.

I finished the Springtime Bandit shawl last night, and I’ll block it this weekend so pictures next week.  I am going to see my mother next weekend and will give it to her then – I love it, and really hope she does too!

I buy a lot of my online yarn at the Loopy Ewe, and I belong to the Loopy Groupie on Ravelry.  There have been some posts recently about the Valentine’s Day kit the store puts out, and I was lucky enough to be working from home on Wednesday when the kits were posted – I was working but had the browser open on Larry’s computer to check it occasionally.   I saw the kit get posted, I ordered it as quickly as I could – and it was mine!  And it got here on Friday (really – I can’t recommend this store enough – amazing yarn, and the fastest shipping that I’ve ever seen).  

I love this kit!  It came with yarn, a project bag from 3AM Enhancements, and a little post it note holder (with post it notes) for my knitting notion bag.

The yarn is Fiesta Baby Boom and the colorway is Chocolate Strawberry Ganache.  

Doesn’t that look just like what you’d think that colorway would be?  It is so soft, and so pretty – and I love it.  I’m not sure what to do with it  – socks would be nice, but I’m wondering if a scarf wouldn’t take show off the amazing colorway.  So pretty!

And look at this cute little bag….

It really is so pretty, and very well made.  Fully lined, and seems really sturdy.  And cute – its tiny – just enough for a sock project.  Perfect for commuting!

I’m pretty pleased with it, and I’m very glad that this happened on a day that I was able to get to it before it sold out.  It made my day, and getting it on a Friday was just the perfect way to end the week.

We got a little snow here today – not as much as they were hyping up all week (why do people get so hysterical about snow?) but enough that I decided to stay in, and just take a snow day.  So I’m going to knit, watch movies, and relax.   Aren’t snow days fun?

Have a good weekend!