WIPs into FOs

The problem with going so long without posting (well, one of the problems) is that there is way too much to catch up on when you finally do post. So all the wonderful things you meant to talk about have to be discarded in favor of just hitting the highlights. Personally, I would love to gush about the little lamb sweater, or explain where the inspiration to sew patches came from. The problem is that I've managed to finish 11 items off my WIPs list, plus two more mini projects. Just showing the pictures for those will make a long enough post. So the story of how I accidentally cast on a project will have to wait for another day.

 My Long List of WIPs:

1. Cabled Casey cotton shawl - FINISHED.



I really love this shawl!

2.  Sampler Sock Blanket
3. Pink and gray baby sweater - FINISHED



This no longer fits the baby that I made it for, so I probably need to add another project (a toddler sweater) to my list. But I'm still really happy with this pattern, and the matching shoes are adorable. There's bound to be a baby in the future that I can give this to.

4. Plarn doormats
5. Earth colorway lace shawl with beads - not started yet
6. Striped toy- need this for Christmas
7. Candy print baby sweater - FINISHED (but I started a second one with the left-over yarn)



This knit up very quickly. I was able to use it as a baby shower gift, and was immediately invited to two more baby showers. I guess everyone liked it! (Even if the lady in the fabric store, when I was buying the buttons, thought that only "progressive, young mothers" would dare put a boy in a sweater that color -- white with teal, pink, and yellow confetti dots -- unlike her day "when mothers worried about boys looking like boys.")

8. Monster pants - this is a promised gift that hasn't been started yet
9. Ryan's arm warmers - he's already finished his tour of duty, sigh
10. Silver potato chip scarf
11. Black stocking socks - not started yet/need it for Christmas
    
12. Prayer shawl
13. Animal hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
14. Wheat wool hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
15. Sheep sweater - FINISHED



This is only the most wonderful sweater ever! And I've already received a picture of it being worn by the cutest baby boy ever! If I can get permission from his mom, I'll post that picture on the blog. (It's already posted on my refrigerator. LOL)

16. 12x12 square - not started and the deadline is approaching quickly!



I made the deadline. I didn't think I would, but I did. It wasn't entirely my fault, since I had to wait to get the yarn -- it could only be certain colors. But the important thing is that I turned it in when I was supposed to.

17. Pink chemo cap - FINISHED





I liked the construction of this hat. The cable was knit flat and seamed to form the brim. Then stitches are picked up to knit the rest of the cap.



18. Rose chemo cap - not started yet



This is another strangely constructed hat. The brim (ribbed) is knit flat along with the material that later forms the rose. Then you join and knit in the round. Finishing work includes the leaves (sewn on later) and the rose (tacked down into shape).

19. Skype socks in Jojo - not started yet
20. Modea baby hat
21. Woven towel sets - FINISHED





Woven towel set #1






Woven towel set #2. Both sets were done on the same warp.



22. Christmas towel sets - not started yet, but obviously needed for Christmas
23. Cari's yarn to be untangled
24. grey baby bib - FINISHED





Finishing this bib was a snap, once I realized it was possible to use my sewing machine to attach the patches. The idea of handsewing was the only reason this was in the WIPs pile for so long!



25. girly baby bib  - FINISHED



Did you know that actually sewing a button takes less than 5 minutes (including the time spent looking for a needle)? As opposed to avoiding sewing a button, which took well over a year!



26. lime shawlette - needs to be blocked
27. blue shawlette - needs to be blocked
28. February Lady Sweater
29. Mystery Shawl
30. Baby Bib with flower buttons - FINISHED



(See the comment for the bib above.)



31. French Press Slippers - need to seam and felt
32. Universal Tunic - not started yet
33. Aeolean Shawl
34. Kingdom Gloves - need it for Christmas
35. Handspun Peacock Shawl - yarn finished, need to knit
36. Baby Surprise Jacket - need to finish yarn and then knit
37. Handspun Brown Silk Shawl - need to spin and knit
38. Blue T-Shirt Sweater - not started yet
39. NYC Socks - started, but I'll probably frog and start over
40. Paula's drop spindle yarn

September Reading List

Books Read in September

167 - 01  Guilty Wives, by James Patterson (9/1)  AUDIOBOOK
168 - 02  The Playboy, by Carly Phillips (9/2)
169 - 03  Harvest Moon, by Robyn Carr (9/2)
170 - 04  Bring Me Home for Christmas, by Robyn Carr (9/4)
171 - 05  Something Missing, by Matthew Dicks (9/6) *After a slow start, I ended up loving this book. I swear I was on Martin's (the main character's) route many years ago. It would have explained so much!
172 - 06  Heart of Dixie, by Tami Hoag (9/7)
173 - 07  Feels Like Home, by Maggie Shayne (9/8)
174 - 08  Paper Roses,  by Amanda Cabot (9/10)
175 - 09  Married by Mistake, by Abby Gaines (9/11)
176 - 10  Homespun Bride,  by Jillian Hart (9/14)
177 - 11  The Magic of Handweaving: The Basics and Beyond, by Sigrid Piroch (9/16)
178 - 12  Blue Skies,  by Robyn Carr (9/16) 
179 - 13  Paradise Valley, by Robyn Carr (9/17)
180 - 14   Woodrose Mountain,  by RaeAnne Thayne (9/18)
181 - 15  The Best Defense, by Kate Wilhelm (9/20) AUDIOBOOK
182 - 16  That Summer Place, by Susan Wiggs (9/21)
183 - 17  Simply Irresistible, by Jill Shalvis  (9/23)
184 - 18  Whispering Rock, by Robyn Carr (9/25)
185 - 19  A Dirty Job, by Christopher Moore (9/27)
186 - 20  Love Me if You Dare, by Carly Phillips (9/28)
187 - 21  Heart of Texas Vol. 2, by Debbie Macomber (9/29)
188 - 22 The Ideal Man, by Julie Garwood (9/30)
189 - 23  Unfinished Business, by Nora Roberts (9/30)

I have added "The Magic of Handweaving" to my wishlist. I think it would be a tremendous reference in my fiber library. I wouldn't recommend it to a complete beginner, but it's great for someone like me who has done a few projects and is ready to step up. Piroch has included some really amazingly detailed  how-to photos.Unfortunately, some things are just glossed over and the reader is left to figure them out on her own. It's inconsistent, and at times frustrating. I enjoyed the inter spaced historical and cultural references, and the pictured examples of various weaving projects were inspiring.

The Official Count

Over on the Fiberistas board in Ravelry.com, we've started a special incentive for people (like me!) who have a bunch of WIPs. Anyone can join in. Just let us know how many unfinished projects you currently have. Then every time you finish a project, post it in that thread. Each project will get you one entry in the drawing at the end of the year. We're still working out what the prizes are -- I suggested a bag full of the projects I don't end up finishing, but that was quickly nixed. I'm sure we'll come up with some real, nice prizes.

I finished going through all my boxes and bags and hiding places, and I have a final count of my unfinished projects. I am counting projects that I haven't actually cast on, if I've bought the yarn AND have a specific pattern for it AND a recipient AND an occasion. In other words, if I should have already finished the project, even if I haven't cast on, then it's an unfinished project in my mind. (I also have a long list of queued projects - things I want to make "someday" that I either don't have the yarn for yet AND/OR I don't have someone specific to knit it for. Those queued projects were not included in the count.)

So are you ready for the final number?  I wasn't. I'm still not. I have friends who are monogamous knitters. I'm obviously a fiber slut, with 40 unfinished projects.

 UFOs

1. Cabled Casey cotton shawl
2.  Sampler Sock Blanket
3. Pink and gray baby sweater - only needs the buttons sewn on/baby has already outgrown it!
4. Plarn doormats
5. Earth colorway lace shawl with beads - not started yet
6. Striped toy- need this for Christmas
7. Candy print baby sweater - not started yet
8. Monster pants - this is a promised gift that hasn't been started yet
9. Ryan's arm warmers - he's already finished his tour of duty, sigh
10. Silver potato chip scarf
11. Black stocking socks - not started yet/need it for Christmas
    
12. Prayer shawl
13. Animal hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
14. Wheat wool hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
15. Sheep sweater - just needs to been seamed and button band knit
16. 12x12 square - not started and the deadline is approaching quickly!
17. Pink chemo cap - not started yet
18. Rose chemo cap - not started yet
19. Skype socks in Jojo - not started yet
20. Modea baby hat
21. Woven towel sets - just need to be hemmed & 1 dishcloth knit
22. Christmas towel sets - not started yet, but obviously needed for Christmas
23. Cari's yarn to be untangled
24. grey baby bib - only needs the button and patches sewn on
25. girly baby bib  - only needs a button
26. lime shawlette - needs to be blocked
27. blue shawlette - needs to be blocked
28. February Lady Sweater
29. Mystery Shawl
30. Baby Bib with flower buttons - only needs the buttons sewn on
31. French Press Slippers - need to seam and felt
32. Universal Tunic - not started yet
33. Aeolean Shawl
34. Kingdom Gloves - need it for Christmas
35. Handspun Peacock Shawl - yarn finished, need to knit
36. Baby Surprise Jacket - need to finish yarn and then knit
37. Handspun Brown Silk Shawl - need to spin and knit
38. Blue T-Shirt Sweater - not started yet
39. NYC Socks - started, but I'll probably frog and start over
40. Paula's drop spindle yarn

August Reading List

Books Read in August

135 - 01  Fifty Shades Darker, by E. L. James (8/1)
136 - 02  Fifty Shades Freed, by E. L. James (8/2)
137 - 03 The Sherbrook Twins, by Catherine Coulter (8/3)
138 - 04 Lyon's Gate, by Catherine Coulter (8/4)
139 - 05  8 Sandpiper Way, by Debbie Macomber (8/4)
140 - 06  A Cedar Cove Christmas, by Debbie Macomber (8/5)
141 - 07  92 Pacific Boulevard, by Debbie Macomber (8/5)
142 - 08  The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (8/9) *This is a must-read-over-and-over!
143 - 09  Wizards Daughter, by Catherine Coulter (8/12) *The first Coulter book I didn't like.
144 - 10  Forbidden Falls, by Robyn Carr (8/12)
145 - 11  Hired by the Cowboy, by Donna Alward (8/12)
146 - 12 The Billionaire Wins the Game, by Melody Anne (8/13)
147 - 13  Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck (8/15) *It's as good as I remember it being.
148 - 14  Moonlight Road, by Robyn Carr (8/16)
149 - 15  Fairy Tale, by Debbie Macomber (8/17) 
150 - 16  Bride for a Night, by Rosemary Rogers (8/19)
151 - 17  Chasing Fire, by Nora Roberts (8/19)
152 - 18  Eight Keys, by Suzanne LaFleur (8/19)
153 - 19  Convincing Alex, by Nora Roberts (8/20)
154 - 20  The Search, by Nora Roberts (8/21)
155 - 21  1022 Evergreen Place, by Debbie Macomber (8/21)
156 - 22  1105 Yakima Street, by Debbie Macomber (8/21) 
157 - 23  1225 Christmas Tree Lane, by Debbie Macomber (8/23)
158 - 24  Christmas in Cedar Cove, by Debbie Macomber (8/24)
159 - 25  Wild Man Creek, by Robyn Carr (8/25)
160 - 26  Hidden Summit, by Robyn Carr (8/26)
161 - 27  Dakota Born, by Debbie Macomber (8/26)
162 - 28  Buffalo Valley, by Debbie Macomber (8/26)
163 - 29  Be My Valentine, by Debbie Macomber (8/27) *This was one of those "why did I keep reading it?" books for me.
164 - 30  The Unsung Hero, by Alison Roberts (8/28)
165 - 31  Trust Me on This, by Jennifer Crusie (8/30)
166 - 32  Promise Canyon, by Robyn Carr (8/31)

I should just keep moving

I had planned this post out in my head, while walking on the treadmill. I was going to talk about getting into the habit of going to the gym, and how much fun I was having. I think that it might even become my newest obsession - even it it is just a tiny room with a few pieces of equipment the apartment complex provides. I was also going to lament over the fact that I have no idea of what I'm doing. Then I would brag that I have recently leveled up in Fitocracy. By the way, I now have a real-live friend on the site. Technically, everyone who posts on the site is alive. But one of my friends is someone I know off of the computer as well. This is wonderfully motivating, which is why I planned on suggesting that everyone join me on Fitocracy. Think of how much fun it would be to encourage each other, and to compete against each other on challenges. I also planned on bragging about my new sneakers (which is why I took a picture of my feet). New sneakers doesn't sound like much, but this is the first pair I've owned in over two years.

All in all, I had a long post planned. Unfortunately, I sat down for 15 minutes after getting back from the gym.I don't think I'll be doing anything, even something as easy as typing, a while. I hurt!

Apples to Apples

I don't know why, but I've been in the mood for a beer recently. The problem is, I just don't like beer. So I've settled for hard cider.

Cider is actually closer to being a wine, than a beer. It's made by pressing apples instead of grapes, but the yeast and fermentation is similar to the wine-making process. It's referred to as cider, by the way, in most countries. During prohibition Americans started making a non-alcoholic version of cider that became popular. The term "hard" was added to distinguish the non-alcoholic from the alcoholic variety. (I thought that was an interesting piece of trivia.)

My cider of choice is Angry Orchid, but I thought that might be because the grocery store carries that brand. So when I had the chance to go to the Wine Store, I picked up something different. It's Spire Mountain Draft Cider, made in Washington. It has a really great aroma, very applish with a light lemon. I could sniff it all night. The taste is slightly sweet and a bit tannic. (Do you use tannic to describe cider? Or should I just say that it has a little sour aftertaste.) It's easy to drink, and I find that I finish the bottle very quickly. I probably won't buy this brand again, though.

Maybe I should try to make my own hard cider.

A little fiber bling

I've gotten a reputation at work for never throwing out anything that can be reused or remade into something useful. It comes from my years at the ADT, where I was expected to come up with fun crafts and projects at very little cost. It's hard to stop looking at everything from the "save a penny" viewpoint, even though I'm in a much more affluent environment
So I get teased a lot by my volunteers. Today was a good example of that. We were working on mailing out the monthly newsletters, and managed to use up two rolls of closure stickers. Grace* held up empty cardboard tubes from the packages and asked me if I was going to paint them and turn them into bracelets. I gathered up all my dignity, and assured her that I had no intention of making them into painted bracelets.

Silly girl.

I took the tubes home, got out some of my hand spun yarn, and turned them into pretty fiber bracelets.

*I've come to realize that it's inevitable that I talk about my volunteers, since they play such a big role in my everyday work life. In order to preserve at least a little bit of their privacy, I've decided to give blog names to my everyday volunteers. (I'll have to wing it with the once-a-month volunteers, since there really are too many for me to keep track of.) I considered using Vol#1, Vol#2, etc but I couldn't decide who was my #1 volunteer. So I'm going with Faith, Hope, Charity, and Grace.

I love getting mail!

I only have 1 1/2 skeins left to knit on the cabled shawl!

Today turned out to be a very nice day. I've been struggling at work, between the lack of sleep (that's left me unable to focus and without any patience) and the diverse and unrealistic expectations that occur when you are working for a committee rather than a single boss. I could function despite the lack of sleep if I had only one person to answer to, since I wouldn't have to translate which "top priority" was actually a "top priority" and not simply a whim brought on by a random conversation in the grocery store. Similarly, if I could just get a good night's sleep, I would probably find the random instructions amusing rather than insulting. So far I've managed to keep in mind that this all shall pass, and rainbows will appear and butterflies will once again poop on my head. (I know that didn't really make sense, but I'm living on 2 hours of sleep a night.)

Anyway, despite my grumpy impatience, today turned out to be a very nice day. I received TWO thank you notes in the mail. Family members of two (of the three) memorial services I helped plan this month wrote to let me know that they appreciated my help. Both notes were very flattering, and sweet, and made me cry. One note (from the young boy's aunt and uncle) included gift cards for a night out -- totally unnecessary on their part, and unexpected, but greatly appreciated. What I really liked, though, was that I did my job well enough to have made a difference. When I worked at the ADT, I knew I was making a difference in people's lives. It's nice that even as just a church secretary, I can still do that.

Desperately in need of a fiber intervention

I sorted out my Works In Progress, and there are more than I realized. A lot more! I obviously have KADD (knitter's attention deficit disorder) with OS tendencies (obsessive startitis). Here is a list* of the projects I sorted out:

1. Cabled cotton shawl - this is what I'm actively working on, and that I carry in my pocketbook
2. Pink & gray baby sweater - only needs the buttons sewn on/baby has already outgrown it!
3. Plarn doormats
4. Earth colorway lace shawl with beads - not started yet
5. Striped toy- need this for Christmas
6. Candy print baby sweater - not started yet
7. Monster pants - this is a promised gift that hasn't been started yet
8. Ryan's arm warmers - he's already finished his tour of duty, sigh
9. Silver potato chip scarf
10. Black socks - not started yet
11. Prayer shawl
12. Animal hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
13. Wheat wool hat - not started yet/need it for Christmas
14. Sheep sweater - just needs to been seamed and button band knit
15. 12x12 square - not started and the deadline is approaching quickly!
16. Pink chemo cap - not started yet
17. Rose chemo cap - not started yet
18. Skype socks in Jojo - not started yet
19. Modea baby hat
20. Woven towel sets - just need to be hemmed & 1 dishcloth knit
21. Christmas towel sets - not started yet, but obviously needed for Christmas
22. Cari's yarn to be untangled
23. grey baby bib - only needs the button and patches sewn on
24. girly baby bib  - only needs a button
25. lime shawlette - needs to be blocked
26. blue shawlette - needs to be blocked

Some of the projects aren't exactly WIPs, since I haven't started them yet. But since they've been promised or are needed as gifts and I have already have the yarn and patterns, I should count them as projects to do before I can go out and find new knitting.

I'm going to need help. Please don't show me your wonderful project, or the yarn that you bought - I'm too easily tempted. It would also help if everyone refrained from getting pregnant, cancer, or engaged until I get caught up. Thank you.

*The list only includes the projects I've sorted out so far. There are two more Rubbermaid tubs that I've decided to ignore until this group is finished. And it doesn't take into account any of the Spinning In Progress projects. Yes, it's definitely KADD with strong OS tendencies.

July Reading List

Books Read in July

106 - 01  The Courtship, by Catherine Coulter (7/2)
107 - 02  Nice To Come Home To, by Rebecca Flowers (7/2) AUDIO
108 - 03 The Accidental Bride, by Denise Hunter (7/4)
109 - 04  44 Cranberry Point,  by Debbie Macomber (7/7)
110 - 05  Always Dakota, by Debbie Macomber (7/7)
111 - 06  Jenna's Cowboy, by Sharon Gillenwater (7/8)
112 - 07  Miss Match, by Erynn Mangum (7/11)
113 - 08  Heart of Texas Vol. 1, by Debbie Macomber (7/12)
114 - 09  Eclipse Bay, by Jayne Ann Krentz (7/13)
115 - 10  The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce (7/14)
116 - 11  In the Hands of the Goddess, by Tamora Pierce (7/14)
117 - 12  The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, by Tamora Pierce (7/14)
118 - 13  Lioness Rampant,  by Tamora Pierce (7/16)
119 - 14  Coraline,  by Neil Gaimen (7/17)
120 - 15  The Scottish Bride, by Catherine Coulter (7/21) 
121 - 16  50 Harbor Street, by Debbie Macomber (7/21) 
122 - 17  6 Ranier Drive, by Debbie Macomber (7/22)
123 - 18  Dawn in Eclipse Bay, by Jayne Ann Krentz (7/22)
124 - 19  The Bachelor,  by Carly Phillips (7/22)
125 - 20  Family Affair, by Debbie Macomber (7/23)  **What a waste of time this one was...
126 - 21  Wonderland Creek, by Lynn Austin  (7/24) **Loved this book!
127 - 22  Pendragon, by Catherine Coulter (7/25)
128 - 23  Matched, by Ally Condie (7/26)
129 - 24  Alice I Have Been, by Melanie Benjamin (7/29) **Much better than her other book.
130 - 25  Crossed, by Ally Condie (7/29)
132 - 26  A Lady of High Regard, by Tracie Patterson (7/30)
133 - 27  74 Seaside Avenue, by Debbie Macomber (7/30)
134 - 28  Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James (7/31) **Sigh. I wasn't going to give in...

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

 I have a garden, and I've very excited about it. Maybe it's not a real garden, but I think that plants in pots still count for something.

Saturday I had gone up to see mom, and we ended up buying plants. One of mom's tomato plants had died, and she wanted to replace it. My two hanging plants had died in that last cold snap, and I've been meaning to replace the flowers. And I know that the cold snap was back way back around February, but it honestly  hasn't seemed that long ago. Then last week I got a notice from the complex office stating that the lease regulates patios to be kept neat and free of trash. I don't think that they meant dead plants, and the office manager assured me that the notice went to everyone and wasn't meant for me specifically. But I thought that since we were at the nursery for mom, I should probably get the replacement plants.

I picked out some pretty begonia for the one pot, and pansies for the other. When we got into the vegetable section, though, I put the flowers back. Because herbs are almost as pretty, and ever so much more fun and practical.

So now I have a tomato plant. It's a Sweet and Neat Cherry tomato, and it's been bred to grow only 12" tall and then the vines cascade downward. I think it will work out great in the hanging basket.

I also bought some mint plants. I love fresh mint in my tea, especially in iced tea. Then I was thinking that it would also be nice to learn how to make mint juleps or mojitos. First, though, I need to learn how to harvest without killing the plants.

Originally I only meant to replace the plants in the two planters I had gotten for Christmas. But I couldn't resist the sweet basil, so mom gave me an old planter she had in her shed. I'm looking forward to making fresh pesto.

I bought the plants Saturday, so Sunday I needed to transplant them into my planters. While I was at it, I repotted two of my violets and started a new cutting.

And to think that I have always been the brown-thumbed member of my family of gardeners. Now I've got the requisite dirt under my fingernails!

Not being able to sleep is terrible. You have the misery of having partied all night...without the satisfaction. (Lynn Johnston)

I think I'm going to give up trying to sleep any more tonight. I managed about 2 hours, so that's something to be happy about.

I wonder if the neighbors would mind if I did the vacuuming? I feel like I should do housework, instead of something frivolous like reading a novel or weaving. Otherwise I might not make the effort to sleep tomorrow night.

Weekend Brunch

There's something about the weekend that has come to mean quiche to me. It's so easy to make, and so very yummy. I like to have one ready just in case company comes by. (Oh, how nice of you to stop in unexpectedly. I'm afraid all I have to offer you for lunch is a broccoli-and-ham quiche and maybe some chocolate chip scones for dessert.) Okay, I don't usually get unexpected company dropping in at lunch time. But maybe if people knew I had quiche, they would come over to see me.

Just in case you want the quiche, but it isn't enough of a bribe to come visit me, you can find the recipe on our Family Cooking blog.

Oh, is that my phone ringing?

I went to knit night, but I didn't stay long. And it will probably be a while before I go back. Which is a shame, because I really enjoy getting out and socializing with my friends. Or rather, I used to enjoy going to socialize with my friends. Lately, and tonight in particular, I've been isolated at that table. The table that nobody want to be stuck at, and not just because it's at the end of the row.

For knit night, we gather around a long row of small tables in the front of the coffee shop. Naturally, sitting at one of the center tables is best since that puts you in the middle of the action. That's where I feel I belong. It's where all the cool knitters (I know, it's a redundant description) sit. Instead, I've been finding myself stuck at the far-far-as-far-away-as-possible table. I think if a vote were to be taken, the table would be moved two stores over. And even then there would be a scramble to sit on the other side of the store away from it.

Just to be clear, the knitters are good people. And they would never intentionally snub someone, or tell someone that they weren't welcome in the group. But they're also human, and have normal self-preservation instincts. Which means that sometimes it becomes a matter of every knitter for themselves. I just don't have the patience that I once did. So tonight I found myself pretending to get a phone call (it's easy to fake hearing the phone ring when the other person is partially deaf). And then I lied* to my friends so that I could have a polite way of escaping. I don't know who became the next sacrifice once I left. I'm not sure I care right now - it is, after all, every knitter for themselves.

Luckily, the Saturday group (although composed of the very same people) is felt to be too cliquey and as such has been able to stick together at just the one table. So until things change, I'll be getting my fiber-fix on Saturdays instead of Thursdays.

*Editing to note that the lie mentioned was that I had to leave right away. The rest of my explanation was true. I might have been desperate enough to use it as an excuse, but I'm not so depraved that I would invent a relative's illness.

I'm getting too good at this.

Today was the third funeral we've had this month.

And to think that I thought it would be fun to have the pastor away for the summer.

Do I have the authority to deny any future vacation time for my boss?

Old enough to know a bargain

 

I went to the movies with a friend tonight, and when I bought my ticket the girl gave me the senior discount. I've never even been asked if I was a senior before this, and this girl just assumed that I qualified for it. Sigh. I can't decide whether I should be excited that I got away with a cheaper ticket, or depressed that I looked old enough not to be carded.

Oh yeah - the movie that we went to see?

Oh. Yeah!

True love by page 123, and all of life's problems solved by page 217.

I've managed to have a quiet weekend. I really needed a couple of quiet days, after just finishing an extremely stressful week, with another stressful week to look forward to. I did manage to do a little bit of housework and I completed some training for my new business, but mostly I just relaxed and escaped into the world of junk romances.

He was just a boy.

Yesterday I was asked when I was going to start updating my blog again. Today was probably not a good day to come back.

Today, I helped bury an 18-year old boy. He was loved by his mother and father, adored by his brother and sister, admired by his friends, and liked by just about everyone. There were over 400 people at the service. For many of them, the teenagers, this was the first time death was personal and real.

It was a senseless, unnecessary death. (And yes, any death of a child is senseless and unnecessary.) He was a good boy. He attended church with his family (most of the time). He even volunteered at the church on occasion. When his family needed him, he helped out. (And there were many times this past year that the family needed help - it's been a really rough year for them.)  He was also a normal teenager. He had fights with his mother and father, and with his siblings. He stayed out late with his friends. He drove fast. But he always came home.

Until this past weekend, when he couldn't come home anymore. He couldn't come home because he was riding too fast on his motorcycle and didn't survive the crash. And his mother will never be able to hug him, or tell him that it's going to be alright because it won't ever be alright again.

I had to help his mother plan the funeral service. I organized the music, and the scriptures, and helped sort out which photos to include on the service bulletin. I typed the sermon for the pastor. I coordinated the donations that their friends and neighbors gave to help pay for the expenses. And I held his mother's hand and cried with her.

The entire week, as I tried to do my job with love and compassion for the mother and father, all that kept running through my mind was thank God I never had to face this. Pray God that I never have to suffer this.

The funeral was today. I stayed late, finished up the paperwork and helped clean up the sanctuary. Tomorrow, my life will go back to it's regular routine. I'll probably sleep late, meet some friends at Starbucks, maybe complain about how unfair life is. His mom will wake up, only to remember that her son is dead. She'll know how unfair life is.

June Reading List

Books Read in June

091 - 01  16 Lighthouse Way, by Debbie Macomber (6/3)
092 - 02  11th Hour, by James Patterson (6/5)
093 - 03  The Heiress, by Catherine Coulter (6/8)
094 - 04  Mad Jack, by Catherine Coulter (6/10)
095 - 05  A Cowboy's Touch, by Denise Hunter (6/10)
096 - 06  Candlelight Wish, by Janice Bennett (6/10)
097 - 07  Wyatt: Return of the Cowboy, by Cathy McDavid (6/10)
098 - 08  Fools Rush In, by Janice Thompson (6/12)
099 - 09  Rainshadow Road, by Lisa Kleypas (6/14)
100 - 10  Change of Heart, by Fran Shaff (6/14)
101 - 11  204 Rosewood Lane, by Debbie Macomber (6/18)
102 - 12  The Fairy Godmother, by Mercedes Lackey (6/22)
103 - 13  311 Pelican Court, by Debbie Macomber (6/24)
104 - 14  First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones (6/28)
105 - 15  Again the Magic, by Lisa Kleypas (6/30)

We interrupt this dull day...

...for a brief daydream of sailing away from all the housework...

It's easy being green!

Today did not go the way I planned. It's the first day of the great KIP Hunt, and I was not able to get out to knit anywhere. I should be very disappointed.

Instead, I'm excited. I learned about a great line of natural products for my home and my health. They don't use any harsh chemicals, including sulphates, which means a healthier home with less stress on my fibromyalgia. Of course, they're also better for the environment in general.

If you're looking for a way to "go green" (both environmentally and financially), let me know and I'll be glad to give you more details.

2012's Great Gold Coast KIP Hunt

The third annual Great Gold Coast KIP Hunt starts on Saturday, and I've started training for the big event. Tuesday I spent time knitting at the public library. Today I went to the movies with a friend, and I was able to get a little KIP time at the theater. Too bad neither of these will count for the hunt.

Cotton balls and shawl cables

My Casey shawl is coming along nicely. I think I would have liked it to be a little wider, but I'm afraid that if I frog it and add any more width, I won't have enough yarn to make it long enough.

I'm almost ready for the next skein of yarn, so during my lunch break I took some time to wind a ball of the Tahki Cotton. I had to improvise for a swift by turning one of my office chairs over so that I could use the legs.

Cotton doesn't fluff up the way that wool does. I knew that, but I was still surprised to see it demonstrated. Normally when I wind a center-pull ball, the yarn fulls up and the ball closes in on itself. When I took the cotton ball off my nostepinne (disguised here as a toothbrush holder), the cotton yarn kept the open shape.

* ~ * ~ *

Blanket Update:

33 squares in 157 days
Total number of squares completed: 674

No cupcakes

When I was at the wine store, I picked up a cute little mini-bottle of Baileys Mint Chocolate with the intention of using it for cupcakes. Tonight I decided that I couldn't bake with it until I knew what it tasted like. I mean, that's just common sense. So I put a little bit in a shot glass to sip, and then poured a bit more on my ice cream. Unfortunately, there's none left for the cupcakes. It's a shame, too, because Baileys Mint Chocolate is very, very good.

Dr. McDreamy!

This week, my favorite thing is Grey's Anatomy. Thanks to the Roku that the kids gave me for mother's day, I've been spending a lot of time watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy. I decided to go back and watch the entire series, starting with the first season. It is every bit as wonderful as I remember it being.

May Reading List

Books Read in May

074 - 01 To Ride Pegasus, by Anne McCaffrey (5/1) 
075 - 02 Only Yours, by Susan Mallory (5/4)
076 - 03 The Knitting Diaries, by Macomber, Mallery and Skye (5/5) 
077 - 04 Baby, Come Home, by Stephanie Bond (5/5)
078 - 05 Baby, Drive South, by Stephanie Bond (5/6)
079 - 06 The Sherbrooke Bride, by Catherine Coulter (5/6) 
080 - 07 The Wary Widow, by Jerrica Knight-Catania (5/8)
081 - 08 Ape House, by Sara Gruen (5/9) AUDIOBOOK 
082 - 09 The Silent Girl, by Tess Gerritsen (5/17) 
083 -10 The Dead Cat Bounce, by Sarah Graves (5/19)
084 - 11 Baby, Don't Go, by Stephanie Bond (5/23) 
085 - 12 Ice Cold, by Tess Gerritsen (5/22)
086 - 13 Last Train to Paradise, by Les Standiford (5/25)
087 - 14 Girlchild, by Tupelo Hassman (5/26)
088 - 15 Star Island, by Carl Hiaasen (5/27)
089 - 16 Born in a Small Town, by Macomber, Corser, and  Johnson (5/28) 
090 - 17 The Hellion Bride, by Catherine Coulter (5/30)

Try, try again

I don't have any finished objects to report, unfortunately. The baby sweater is still waiting to be seamed. But I did go ahead and start my Casey shawl, using a Louet pattern and Tahki cotton classic yarn. When we were up in Orlando a few trips ago, I had seen a sample of this shawl and fell in love with it. Since I don't have a rectangular shawl, obviously a grievous oversight in my wardrobe, I decided I needed to knit one for myself.

Now that I've started, it seems like it's going to be an easy knit. I had some trouble getting started, though. I cast on using size 6 needles, and after finishing a full pattern repeat (12+ rows) I decided that the shawl wasn't going to be wide enough. My gauge was off, and a thin rectangular shawl is just a scarf. So I knit a pattern repeat using size 8 needles. This helped widen the shawl, but not enough. Plus I didn't like the drape of the fabric with the bigger needles. I asked for advice from my knitting group, and we all agreed that the smaller needles looked better. So I frogged the work I had done, and cast on again. This time I added 24 stitches so that the smaller needles would still give me the width I wanted. I'm several pattern repeats in, and I love it!

* ~ * ~ *

Blanket Update:

29 squares in 150 days
Total number of squares completed: 670

A fitness obsession

For the past couple of weeks, I've been trying to come up with something active I could obsess over. I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone that I tend to go overboard when I take an interest in something. Just look at the number of posts I've written on cupcakes and cookies, or look at the amount of yarn and fiber I have stashed. (Better yet, don't look at my yarn stash - I live in fear that someone is going to call Hoarders and report me.)

I am totally convinced that if I could get interested in some type of physical activity, I would obsess my way into being healthy and skinny. The problem is coming up with an active that is both interesting and practical.

Kayaking almost fits the bill. I already know that it's a lot of fun, and it would get me out on the water more often. I really do like boating. I also like fishing, and you can fish from a kayak. I almost had myself convinced to take up the sport. Then I found two problems with the idea. First of all, have you ever priced a kayak? It's not horrible, but it isn't something I can run out and buy in the next week or so. It's going to take a bit of time to be able to afford one. (Oh, to be rich and reckless.) And sure, I could start exercising in preparation for when I can get a kayak, but what fun is that? My second hesitation is the idea that most of my trips would have to be alone. Is it safe to kayak by yourself? Actually, the question is would I be safe kayaking alone? So I've decided to think a little more before I can allow kayaking to be an obsession.

Luckily, I may have just found an alternative. Fitocracy is a online game that gives you points for exercising. Some workouts earn more points than others, which is how it should be. There are also special quests that give you bonus points. You can play against yourself, or join different teams if you want to compete with others.

I've never been much of a gamer, but I think that I could get into this. The idea of playing a fitness game online amuses me.

Whatcha listening to?

At our knitting group, a friend and I got to talking about the different podcasts we listen to. Now that I'm commuting to work (my drive can be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour each way, depending on the whims of traffic), I've been listening to even more podcasts.

Some of my long-time favorites podcasts have ended. Meaghan of Stitch It! recently decided to spend more time with her family and less time recording. I've listened to her for so long that I felt like I was losing a friend when she made  the announcement. There have been a few other podcasts that have just faded off this past year.

Luckily, there are several new shows that I've found. And surprisingly, not all of them are knitting. Here's a brief summary of what's on my ipod. By the way, all of the podcasts can be found on itunes.

FIBER-RELATED:

The High Fiber Diet Podcast - This was the second podcast I've found, and by now I feel like Coggie and Sarge are members of my family. Lately there's been a bit of language that bothers me (I have my own little soapbox, and Sarge has gotten me up on it a few times), but I just can't let go. Family is family. Besides, Coggie is funny, informative, and I love her style.

Knit Obsession with Zknits - She's only putting out a show every month or so, but it's worth catching them when they come out.

Knitting Brooklyn - This is a brand-new podcast. She talks about knitting, spinning, and anything else that pops into her head. My big negative on this is that she refers too much to other podcasts - I don't listen to the same ones that she does and even if I did I'm not sure I want to hear her talk about them. I'd rather hear her own stuff. On the other hand,  I love that she's so close to where my daughter is - I recognize many of the places she talks about. So I may stick with it.

Knitting Pipeline - Paula talks about knitting, nature and bagpipes. Plus she actually met Elizabeth Zimmermann. (How cool is that?)

Subway Knits - A knitting podcast by a NYC teacher - how could I not love it?

Never Not Knitting - This is an extremely well-done knitting podcast by an extremely talented designer.

FIBER-FREE:

Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase - Although I didn't read her book, I've always enjoyed Betty's stories that she's collected while working as a flight attendant.

The Crush - This is one of my two wine podcasts. I've learned a lot from Whitney and Christina, although they do make me feel rather old and un-cool.

Escape Pod - Science fiction stories. Do I need to say anything else?

The Moth - This is always the first podcast I name when someone asks me for a recommendation. It's true stories, told by real people. Sometimes the people and stories are everyday tales, and sometimes they're incredibly amazing. I have a dream that someday I'm going to attend a live Moth event in NYC.

Pub Songs Podcast - It's all Irish/Celtic music, with a lot of geeky spoofed songs added in. It's wonderful. Plus Marc Gunn reminds me of one of my favorite cousins (Charlie) - I'm not sure why, but I think of Charlie every single time I listen to this podcast and it makes me smile.


Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me - I just started listening to this podcast. It's a public radio call-in show that's very funny and very up-to-date. I also get a kick out of hearing the technical advisor for the show is Robert Newhouse. I know it's (probably) not one of my relatives, but I still get a kick thinking it might be.

Wine for Normal People - Everything I know about wine, I learned from Elizabeth.

A little bit of knitting

I haven't made much progress with my knitting this week. Which is strange, since I feel like I've done nothing but knit. Well, knit and bake. Actually, I guess I've been busier baking and not-so-much with the knitting. Sigh.

The baby sweater just needs to be seamed, and then the button band added. Which basically means that I should have it ready by the time the child starts college.

I did manage to do a bunch of squares on the sock blanket. Fourteen squares is a bunch, isn't it?

Maybe next week I'll actually have some real knitting done. In the meantime, do you want a cupcake?

* ~ * ~ *

Blanket Update:

23 squares in 143 days
Total number of squares completed: 664
The goal is 1054 squares, so I've knit 63%!

A (self-) catered affair

I did it! The Volunteer Luncheon was a great success. I had 13 of my office volunteers show up, and they all seemed to enjoy the meal. I made ham and cheddar quiche with spinach salad for lunch, followed by cupcakes and cookies for dessert. I did all the cooking, and a friend from the church volunteered to assist as waitress. It was fun, and I think it is going to become an annual event.

I mean, I've been a little nuts (and obsessed) for the past week or so, but it was totally worth it.

The cupcakes turned out great, once I had the complete recipe for the lemonade ones. I also made chocolate coconut cupcakes. Originally I had planned on filling the chocolate ones with a creme filling, but I didn't have enough time thanks to the lemonade fiasco. But since nobody knew the chocolate cupcakes were supposed to be filled with creme, it didn't really matter that they weren't.

 

I was really pleased with my "cupcake stand." 

Yes, I think I did good. And I think I'm going to go get one of those leftover cookies...

Kitchen mailfunction. Or rather, Baker Malfunction.

I found what I thought sounded like a great recipe for Lemonade Cupcakes.  So I printed out the recipe, and decided to make them for the Volunteer Luncheon.

Unfortunately, I ended up with horribly dense, flat blobs instead of the light, airy lemony confections that I had hoped for. To be fair, they tasted really, really good. But  there is no way that I serve these at the luncheon.

I did think about turning them into a layered dessert, with a sweet cream pudding. But I don't have time to do that right now. So it's back to the drawing board, or rather internet, for more research.

And guess what. It's my own fault (sorta) that the cupcakes turned out the way they did. In my printed recipe, there is no mention of eggs. I had thought that was strange when I was making them, but figured I should trust in the recipe and follow it blindly. Bad decision. Because when you look at the original recipe posted online, there are eggs. Three of them, in fact. Somehow, when I printed the recipe that line was omitted off the bottom of the page.

Luckily I have enough ingredients to try this again.

Butterflies!

I've been busy making butterflies today.

 

Cookie butterflies.

 And fondant butterflies. This is actually the first time I've ever used fondant, so I'm very pleased with the way they've turned out. I'll be using them as decoration on the tops of the cupcakes.

Very pretty!

The countdown has begun

First I overslept. (It wasn't my fault. I was up most of the night because my neighbors were having a very loud party. Which I didn't complain about because it's the first time since I've moved in that they've been noisy. And I know that they can't say the same about me.)

Then I spent the afternoon (if you count the afternoon as lasting from lunch until well after dinnertime) with mom. First we met up with the Stuart knitting group. Afterwards, we went for a "quick" shopping trip looking for supplies.

When I got home, I couldn't resist trying to hook up the Roku that my children sent me for Mother's Day. (There's a long story involved, but I received the package today.) Even though there is only four steps involved (plug the unit into the TV, plug it into the wall, put batteries in the remote, and turn on the TV), I wasn't able to my new Roku to work. For a long-time geeky nerd, I'm not very talented when it comes to the television. I still can only watch movies on the dvd when my daughter is home. (Which is why they bought me a Roku. Since I can handle the computer so well, they thought hooking my TV into the internet would solve my problem and I would finally be able to watch shows alone.)

Finally, having outlasted all possible distractions, I started preparations for Tuesday's luncheon.

Sometimes you have to be careful what you ask for

Thanks to my wonderful daughter, I have a dining room table. I'm very excited. When we moved into the new apartment, I had to give up my big kitchen table. There just wasn't room for it, after I put the floor loom and my daughter's desk in the dining nook. And originally I thought I wouldn't miss having the table, since we did have a breakfast bar.

But I've found that I really do need a dining room table. It's very difficult to use my sewing machine sitting on the floor. Standing up at the kitchen counters makes rubber stamping cards and letters uncomfortable, and takes the fun out of it. Most of all, I miss sitting down to eat dinner with my daughter across from me. Balancing our plates on our laps in the living room in front of the (until recently, blank) television was awkward and uncomfortable.

So for the past month or so, my constant whine has been that I want a dining room table. Just a little one, nothing fancy or expensive. I'm not sure whether my daughter agreed with me or if she just wanted to shut me up, or perhaps (most likely) she really loves me and wanted to make me happy - but she bought us a dining room table. A friend  was getting new furniture, and Becka arranged to buy the table from her.

I love it! It's old. Really old. And it's been well loved, which makes it all the more special in my mind. It's very obvious to me that this table holds a lot of memories in it's bumps and scratches. It's just big enough for the two of us, and it fits perfectly into the little bit of space left over in the dining room nook. There is even a leaf, just in case I talk someone into coming over for dinner. (I'm making lasagna, any takers?)

There's only one, tiny little problem. She didn't get any chairs with the table. "But mom, you said you wanted a table. You never mentioned anything about chairs."

I told my mom this story, that my daughter bought me a table but no chairs. Before I could get any further, mom interrupted me with, "But Sandi, did you ever say you wanted chairs? All you've been saying is that you wanted a table." And this is why my daughter and my mother are best friends.

(Just to clarify --  my mother knew that, just like any sane adult, I wanted chairs to go with the table. Her response was an acknowledgement of the way my daughter thinks, and surprise at the fact that I didn't take that into consideration. If someone my daughter loves asks for something, she'll get it for them. And she'll get them exactly what they ask for.)

Wednesday's WIPs

 A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had finished the Mobius Lace Cowl that mom and I were doing as a knit-along. I finally have a picture of it. The more I look at it, and fondle it, the more I like it. Originally I had intended to give it away, but it's mine. I need to get a plain tee-shirt so that I can wear it to work.

Mom still hasn't managed to get her's cast on properly. We're going to try to get together this weekend to work on it. But I will resist the temptation to cast on a second cowl.

 The baby sweater is coming along nicely. If, that is, you consider ripping out and re-knitting a front panel nice. But I only have one more sleeve to knit, then I get to start seaming all the tiny, little pieces together. And then I get to weave in all the ends. Sigh. I really hate finishing work. I just keep telling myself how adorable the finished sweater will be, and how cute the child will be in it. I've gotten some recent pictures and he's growing quickly so I really need to get this sweater together soon.

The other night I was really tired. You know when you get over-tired and you're too restless to go to bed, you can't manage to sit still, but you're just so out of it that it isn't worth attempting anything? So I pulled out the sock blanket and did a couple of squares. I've really neglected it this year. I hadn't made it a goal to do a square a day, and as a result I just haven't done any. But there are now 9 squares I can claim for the year.

I have a beautiful brass towel holder that doesn't fit in my tiny apartment bathroom that I've been storing in my patio closet because I love it too much to give it up. (I don't know why I'm so attached to the thing, but there you have it.) I decided to put it out in the living room, and I've got the blanket draped over the top in order to display it. Then I used a wonderful idea I found through pintereshttp://pinterest.com/t and wound my little bits of sock yarn on clothespins. These are displayed in a basket on the bottom of the "Blanket Rack." I think it looks beautiful. It certainly adds color to the living room!

One thing that I did this week that I immediately regretted was to teach my cat to play with yarn. Honestly, I never thought she would pay any attention to my games. Missy is just about the laziest creature you'll ever find. She runs only to jump in your lap to be cuddled. Otherwise, she's content to use the power of her mind to get everyone to bring her whatever she wants. If something isn't within paws reach, she'll just ignore it. (Watching my daughter try to trick the cat into moving is hilarious!)

So I figured I would swing the ball of yarn past her, she'd bat it once, then ignore it as soon as it moved out of her reach. Nope. Missy has decided that yarn balls are the one game worth chasing after. Sigh. I have no one to blame but myself.

* ~ * ~ *

Blanket Update:

9 squares in 136 days

(Status: It's a good thing I decided against doing a square a day as a goal this year!)

Imagination is a wonderful thing!

This is my big thrift-store find - a cupcake display stand. Okay, I know it doesn't look like much more than a huge cup and glass tray. But picture it with cupcakes inside the glass, surrounded by cupcakes on the tray. Trust me, it's going to be great!

Moscato D'Asti Casa Sant'Orsola

I treated myself to this bottle of wine because it was on sale (just $7.99 at Total Wine this week). Even off sale it's only around $10, so it's a very affordable "splurge."

Moscato D'Asti is a sweet, sparkling wine. I don't know if it's true for all of the Moscato D'Asti wines, but this bottle comes from Italy. I like the bubbles, although the pop started me when I uncorked it.

I had trouble identifying any notes on my nose, especially at first when the wine was still very chilled. I blame that on my sinuses rather than it being too delicate a wine since the next night I was able to detect a fresh fruity scent with musty after notes of pineapple and mango. The taste is very sweet and bubbly, followed by fruit - peaches and slightly citrus. I did drink it by itself, as my dessert, although it would pair well with real desserts or fruit.

Although it was very sweet even for me, I'll probably get it again. I'm giving it three stars. (The third star is mostly because of the price.)

• 1 star = It was okay but nothing special
• 2 stars = It was good and I liked it
• 3 stars = It was good and I'd buy it again
• 4 stars = I really, really like it, enough to call it a favorite
• 5 stars = It's mine, all mine! And I don't want to share.

Grown don't mean nothing to a mother.

A child is a child.  They get bigger, older, but grown?  What's that suppose to mean?  In my heart it don't mean a thing.  (Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987)

Becka and PJ took me out to dinner for Mother's Day.  Keeping with family tradition (last year and this year, therefore making it a tradition), we went to a hibachi grill. We decided to try a local restaurant, Sawa Hibachi Steakhouse, based on recommendations on the Urban Spoon website. It was a great decision; we really enjoyed the food. 


Best of all, though, was the company. It's been difficult getting used to having adult children. I miss the fun of when they were younger and entirely mine, but I like seeing the adults they've become under my influence (good and bad.)