ACK!

Where did the year go?????

I can't believe the year is almost over. Between work, Christmas, and Lorelei, I haven't had a second to myself for ages. I spent the week before Christmas in Louisville and I'm getting ready to go to Austin as soon as the New Year's holiday is over. Oh yeah, and I've been sick for so long that I can't remember when it started.

I've knit about 8 rows on Cozy in the last 3 weeks. I knit half a heel flap on my second Jaywalker sock. Oh and I cast on for Lorelei's dad's second sock. And then stopped.

Hopefully, I'll have time soon to knit again. And time to use the new swift that I bought myself for Christmas.

Happy New Year's Blogland!

Belated Birthday Post

Here it is Thursday and I still haven't posted about Lorelei's 2nd birthday.

We had a party on Saturday. There was Elmo Cake, presents, balloons, and 4 loud preschoolers (Lorelei, 2 cousins, and L's best friend). Except for the cake decorating stress and the lost marker cap scavenger hunt, it was a really good day. But I have decided that I'm not making fancy cake again unless I take a cake decorating class first - even with only 4 colors, Elmo was difficult to decorate.

On Monday, Lorelei started a new preschool/daycare. She seems to be doing fine and the teachers all love her already, but she does miss her friends from the old daycare.

Knit-A-Thon!

I love Gilmore Girls! Last night's episode was all about a knit-a-thon to raise money to fix a local bridge - just the quirky kind of thing I expect from Stars Hollow. There were giant balls of yarn and giant knitting needles, yarn and swifts everywhere, and everyone was knitting. How great that one of my favorite shows brought two of my loves together - tv and knitting.

Thanksgiving update

I finally took pictures of all my WIPs, but it took so long to get them from the camera to the computer that one fo them is already an FO. So, let's get to the pictures.

This is the basic cable hat from Stitch 'N Bitch Nation. I actually finished this last night and wore it to work this morning. The pattern was pretty easy, though I added a couple of pattern repeats so that it covered more of my ears. I think I'm going to try to make one for Lorelei - if I take out one or two of the cables it should fit her. I used a little more than one ball of KnitPicks Swish in Red Pepper (the pattern as written would have taken one ball).


I decided to make Lorelei a baby blanket for her doll baby so that I could try out log cabin without a large commitment. I'm really not a fan of the picking up stitches. I think the blanket is now at aobut 9 inches and I need it to be at least 18. I'll still try to get it finished by Christmas, but I don't see myself doing any more log cabins.


Fetching from Knitty only needs a thumb and some ends woven in. These were pretty quick to knit, but I need to concentrate on the thumb and Lorelei hasn't given me much time to myself lately. I made these with cashmerino left over from Lorelei's dad's Irish Hiking scarf.

Finally, this is Cozy, also from Knitty. Almost all of this was done in the car when we drove to FL. I'm really liking this as my first real lace project since 1) it's worsted weight yarn, 2) it's rectangular so that every row has the same number of stitches, and 3) there are only 8 rows of the pattern, so once I got past the first 11 rows (3 rows of edge and 8 rows of pattern) I knew all I needed to know for the rest of the shawl.

That's it for now. I'll post a Lorelei update soon - only a little over a week until her birthday!

Pet Peeve #1

I was out of the office all day on Tuesday at a meeting, so I came in to work on Wednesday and there was a message on my voiccemail - "Hi Patty, ..."

I use Patricia at work, I use Trish at home, at no time do I encourage anyone to call my Patty. So why is it that people always think that it is acceptable to call me that????? And it's always people who don't know me very well. I might not get so irritated if it was used by someone close to me - I don't know, it doesn't happen.

Since Saturday Night Live, I'm not really fond of Pat, either.

Jedi in Training

I forgot to post about Lorelei's first Halloween (we didn't bother to dress her up last year).

Lorelei's dad picked out the Princess Leia outfit. I had to bribe her with candy to get it on her and we didn't do any trick-or-treating (we were stuck in traffic), but she discovered that candy is a good thing. Every day since I hear - "More candy?" Maybe next year we'll actually leave the house.

Wednesday

It's Wednesday. I've knit two rows since I got back from Florida. And those two rows may have been knit last Wed. I blame the non-sleeping, very active, almost 2 yo child living in my house. I think it's getting better. Lorelei slept through the night the last two nights. I was actually able to watch a couple hours of tv last night - thanks to Lorelei's dad.

While there hasn't been any knitting, I did get to work a little on updating my knitting notebook. It's almost like knitting, right?

I have a three day weekend coming up and no plans. So hopefully:

1. I will do some knitting
2. I will take pictures of my new WIPs. Cozy and fetching especially. I have a glove of fetching complete, I may be able to start and finish the other one this weekend.
3. I will get to clean off the DVR. I'm at 98% full and it's making me sad that I can't watch all the shows I want to.

Happy Election Eve!

I'm so happy that after tomorrow I never need to hear the word "macaca" ever again!

Don't forget to vote.

Almost 2

(NOTE: I started this post on Saturday, but Lorelei didn't let me finish it.)

Lorelei is now 23 months old (as of Friday). I haven't been writing much about Lorelei lately - probably because I can't keep up with all the new things she does and says every day.
But here are some highlights:

• We switched her crib to a big girl bed a couple of weeks ago. She hasn't fallen out of bed too many times (usually because she's playing) but she's been having trouble going to sleep. She's been going to sleep at 10pm, which is when I want to go to sleep so I haven't had much time to watch tv, knit, pay bills, or clean the house.
• Lorelei was playing "air piano" today. She loves to play her piano(s) and sing.
• Lorelei can sing her ABCs but she usually skips j-l. Of couse sometimes when she's in a hurry she skips D-Y.
• Lorelei can count to 2. 1,2. 1,2. 1,2. I guess we need to start working on 3.
• She knows the names of all the colors, but she almost never gets any correct. First everything was yellow, this week everything is red.
• Her new word is "later." As in see you later. I keep thinking of Dazed and Confused when the stoner guy keeps saying "check you later."

I'm boring

What Disney Ride Are You? Jungle Cruise You're boring, cheesy, and tame. You're the jungle cruise!!

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Back from the dead

Lorelei gave me the worst cold ever. It's been a week and I'm almost recovered.

But there has been no knitting. There has been nothing except sitting on the couch watching tv.

new shows I love: Studio 60, Heroes, Jericho, Justice, Standoff
new shows I like: 30 Rock (Tracy Morgan is awesome!), The Nine, Brothers and Sisters

I've been catching up on all my DVR watching, but I'm still a little behind. The Law and Orders are pretty good this year. There are a lot of new people, but the only one I really miss is Annabella Sciorra.

Anyway, I'm getting ready for a trip to FL next week. Yeah!

3:45AM

That is the time that Lorelei woke up this morning. Therefore - that is the time that Mommy woke up this morning. Now I admit - I did convince Lorelei's dad to wake up and play with her for a while so I could get another half hour of sleep, but it was not enough. I hope that she's sick because this will not work on a regular basis.

Anyway, I bought Spin to Knit yesterday and read half of it last night. So, of course I've already ordered a spindle this morning. And already I'm thinking, "if I bought a portable wheel, it would fold up and fit under the bed - right?" Maybe there's room in my little apartment for a spinning wheel.

Coming Soon: a review of this week's tv. Especially Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, and Lost. TV's been so good this week that there hasn't been much knitting.

Fall Knitting - Revised

• Cozy
• Log Cabin doll blanket for Lorelei
• Wristwarmers (two different versions)
• Socks (always)
• (maybe) Christmas presents

FO x 3

Yesterday was finishing day.

This is the Irish Hiking Scarf for Lorelei's Dad. This was my first attempt at cables and I think it turned out really well. Cables are fun. This was made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, which Lorelei's Dad picked out by himself. I have some left over that I think will be used for Fetching. I will probably make another one of these in the future when I get the urge to make another scarf.



My booga bag. I totally love this. This was my first attempt at felting and while not perfect, it's good enough. I love the colors of the Noro Kureyon. I think I have plenty of time to make some more of these for Christmas presents.

I also finished my Picovoli yesterday and am wearing it today. Sadly, the pictures are somewhere on Lorelei's Dad's computer so you'll just have to imagine how it looks. Except for the armholes that I made a little too tight (completely my fault), it is pretty comfortable. I think I may make another one of these with the picots (I didn't do the picots on this one), the next size up, and another color. I do like the color (and so does Lorelei - "pretty"), but variety is good.

So now I only have two socks OTN and the 1/2 inch of my Charlotte's web shawl. I need to make some baby presents and another dishcloth, but then I think it's on to wristwarmers. Or Christmas presents. Or something else.

Happy Blogiversary to the blog!

Saturday was the one year anniversary of the day I started the blog (of course it was months before I started posting regularly). Yeah, blog!

So the start of the new fall tv season has been taking up a lot of my free time.
New shows I love: Justice, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Standoff.
New shows I'm giving one more chance: Smith, Jericho.
New shows I'm still waiting for (or are waiting for me on my DVR): Brothers and Sisters, Ugly Betty, Heroes.
New shows I will never watch again: Vanished, Happy Hour.

With all this tv watching, I'm hoping to have several FOs to show you this week. They may include a Booga bag, an Irish HIking scarf, picovoli (finally), and who knows what else. The bag is currently blocking, the scarf has 10 more rows to go, pico needs some ends woven in.

Better late than never

I'm only two days late for Talk Like a Pirate Day.

My pirate name is:

Mad Charity Kidd

Every pirate is a little bit crazy. You, though, are more than just a little bit. Even though you're not always the traditional swaggering gallant, your steadiness and planning make you a fine, reliable pirate. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Summer of Socks Recap

Well, the Summer of Socks comes to a close today and I thought it would be a good time for a recap.

1. Finished the purple Opal socks (which I'm actually wearing today). Handknit wool socks ROCK!
2. Completed 1 and 1/4 blue Jaywalkers. I understand why everyone loves this pattern - it's easy to memorize and looks really cool. I'll definitely make more of these in the future.
3. Booties - I completed a pair of booties for my new nephew.
4. Lorelei's Dad's socks - I've finished about half the foot of the first sock.
5. Took the sock to Mount Vernon. It had a good time.
6. Frogged the Sock from Hell so that it can be reborn into something that I don't hate.
7. Bought Sensational Knitted Socks. I love, love, love this book. It's what I wished for when I learned to knit socks. I haven't used any of the patterns yet, but I have a couple picked out for future socks.
8. Got a replacement for my broken lantern moon DPN.

Not too bad for 3 months. My love of sock knitting has grown, my stash of sock yarn is slowly getting used, and I had fun. I don't think I'm going to join Socktoberfest this year, but that doesn't mean I won't be knitting socks.

KIP Day (aka Jury Duty)

I spent yesterday (morning) at jury duty. I started with the bottom of my booga bag finished and now have an almost complete bag.

I think I was the only one knitting yesterday, most likely because the jury summons included a scary note about security. But I made sure to bring the project with the #10.5 circs and I didn't have any problems - it might have been different if I had brought my sock project with its tiny, sharp needles.

I'm completely in love with Noro now. I love the funky, bright colors. I love the way the wool feels as I knit with it. I'm almost ready to make Lizard Ridge even though it would cost way too much money and I would never have the patience/time right now to make an afghan. But I LOVE Kureyon.

Fall Knitting Preview

So as Summer comes to a close, I'm finishing up/working on two pairs of socks, the Irish Hiking Scarf, and I still need to weave in the ends of my Picovoli (which I'm planning to wear next week). So what will I be knitting this Fall?

• More socks, of course. I have some Lorna's Laces and some KnitPicks Essential that are next on my list of socks.
• Booga bag - I bought the yarn for this art MS&W in May and I really want to start this.
• I started my Charlotte's web shawl, but I don't know if I'm really loving this. This may get shoved to the bottom of the basket until next summer.
• I'm thinking about making my first sweater. But I don't have a pattern picked out and I don't have any yarn for it. Stitches East is coming up in a couple of months - maybe I'll go and get inspired.
• Wrist warmers - at first I thought these were a little strange (I'm from Florida) but I'm starting to see the advantage to these.

So, what else do I need to add to my list? Maybe a hat for Lorelei?

Crush Your Head, Crush, Crush

Who knew that Saddam Hussein loved Kids in the Hall?