Tuesday, January 31, 2006

So, it has been a while.

But I'm still trucking. I've just finished another sock--women size medium, and I'm about to knit another starfish. Using double points, and then circs, to knit a sock is no where near using single points. The way the fabric actually forms into a three dimensional object as you work is quite amazing, especially since they are seamless.

Anyway, I'm going to be putting up pictures soon, so keep checking back.

In baby news, the day care problem may have been taken care of.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Naked blogging?

For those who don't know me personally, I am an inside nudist. There, I've said it. I've come out of the closet about my inside nudity. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain. If I am home, and there are no guests, then I have on a pair of panties and nothing else. Unless it's cold, and then pants or a dress get put on. I don't like to put on a shirt because I'm still breastfeeding my daughter. I don't generally spread this nudity outside, even at the once in a blue moon festivals we go to. I just don't feel that comfortable being nude outside. It's bright, and sunburned nipples and other placed that have never seen sun are incredibly tender.

So what does all that mean really? Right now, as I type this, I am wearing nothing but a pair of panties. And now suddenly I want to make a reference to Pump Up The Volume, but there is no way I can wear a cock ring. If that bothers you, well, pretend I didn't make the post.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Hand cramps!

It isn't often that I knit or spin myself into a hand cramp. I still say that it was putting the flippers on that little turtle, but just to be safe, I took a 24 hour break from all fiber arts and typing. So that break is almost over, and I couldn't stand it any more.

I had to blog.

It's strange. I don't know what I did with at least fifteen minutes of my time a day before I started blogging. That would have been at least three cigarettes before I became pregnant, which is when I started blogging, so maybe that's it. For those not in the know, I quit cold turkey when my pregnancy test came back positive.

Which brings me to another topic I feel I have to talk about. Friends. Aimee, of She Who Reads, was there when I took my pregnancy test. She was there when I smoked my last cigarette. She was there when I got married. She was a friend of mine when I got together with my husband. She has been one of my best friends for years.

Aimee, I just wanted to let everyone know how wonderful you are, sister of my heart. And a shout out to Alexandra, the other sister of my heart, if you are reading this--Email me, call me, something! We don't have your phone number anymore. The baby sort of demolished our number list.

So, anyway, back to trying to compile those lost phone numbers again.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Stuff and babies

So stuff is that there is a pair of mittens and an afghan square to report. 35 more squares and I'll have an afghan. From what I've seen, each square counts toward the charity challenge, but I'll have to do a little investigating when I update my totals there.

In other news, I think the baby is either back to teething or is trying to do away with her morning nap. Is is horrible of me to want it to be the former and not the later?

It's not that I have to have that blessed two hour nap/knitting time, but I certainly desire it. Here follows a funny picture of my demon in blessings guise.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Stash cleaning and charity.

This is the entire stash.

That cream and brown thing off to the side is something that was given to me by my mum, as well as the rest of the acrylic in the charity bin (far right, top). The center top is for wool, and that fingering weight is going over to the charity side, probably, at least that hazard orange.

The fiber is in the bags, and center and center right bins are acrylic or cotton that is being saved for other projects.



Better picture of the charity yarn.

I made a decision that all of the yarn that I don't want, mostly acrylic, would go to charity, and for those paying attention to the ticker at the top, you may have the idea that I have lost my mind and decided to join a charity challenge.

I have. I am going to knit 100 projects for charity, and at least 25 of those will be going to the Dulaan project. I did want to talk just a moment about the Dulaan project. I think its very sad that cashmere comes from a place where poor people have to live in heating tunnels under cities.

This is the first pair of socks knit for the Dulaan project.
















Fiber stash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



B is for

This is a ball winder. The very one that one of the ladies at Main Street Yarn and Fiber in Watkinsville, GA gave to me. It doesn't look like much, but this has saved me from a wrist injury because of the yearly cleaning of the yarn stash. That is a separate posting because of other discussions.

Friday, January 20, 2006

Changes

Time to face some changes. I've started using Blogroller, and if you will look to your right, you will see a whole list of my favorite blogs. And for those paying attention, you will see an addition.

Mossy Cottage Knits is not only a rockin' blog, but also the home of the Dulaan Project. This is a charity for sending warm knits to Mongolia. There is a lot more info on their site, so CLICK the link.

A little bit later today, I'll be updating with pictures of the STASH. However, I am officially ending AKE day. Instead, Friday will be known as Picture Day hence forth.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Socks!!!

Yes, I'm knitting socks. On two needles, but socks none the less. I'll also be blogging the socks along with the yarn stashes and fiber stash of doom. All of this will be tomorrow, more than 15 minutes, though.

Body sabotage

I know that I need to loose weight. I'm not sure where I'm going to leave it, but I suppose that isn't important. I try to eat well, then my body rebels and says I need a sandwich or I'm going to throw up.

Why?

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

CONVERT TO FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTERISM!

Yes, a flying spaghetti monster did it! He created everything.

On a more serious note, the reasons for conversion are as follows:
-Flimsy moral standards.
-Every friday is a relgious holiday. If your work/school objects to that, demand your religious beliefs are respected and threaten to call the ACLU.
-Our heaven is WAY better. We've got a Stripper Factory AND a Beer Volcano.

This is a lovely website, which can be found here. Actually, its a great spoof on ID vs. creationism debate with the whole pirates vs. global temperature trends debate as well.

Blonde joke

My friend, Aimee, has found a really good blonde joke. It's at this link.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Knitting ...

... the other clog. Also, finishing my turtle, soon to be blogged here as well. I'm planning on making a big huge felted mobile to put in the car for the baby. As soon as its done, I'll blog that as well.

Also, major spinning being done. As soon as I finish this white wool I was given, I'm switching over to some blue wool that Ruth over at the yarn shop gave me.

Which brings me to the BALL WINDER. Ruth gave me a BALL WINDER this weekend just because I mention that I needed one and she had one that was on its way to ball winder heaven. It hasn't worn out yet, but it is on its way--the dreaded clicking noise has started.

In writing news, I've given up on my writer's block and I'm editing my novella from Nanowrimo. More news as that shapes up.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Hmm....fiber....

... ... Oh, I'm sorry, I kind of forgot. Yes, blogging. All right then. So the washer and dryer are ... ... arriving on ... fiber ... spinning ... Monday. Sorry, I just have to spin right now. I'll be posting my pictures of my new fiber stash soon along with my yarn stash.

Oh, and I just had this really great idea. One I'm sure that ... fiber ... no, must communicate! I'm going to go through my yarn stash and pick out the yarn that I have no idea why I have it, and I'm going to knit things for charity, like Project Linus, or one of the other ... must spin. Sorry, I have to go while I can still use a mouse.

Use a mouse? Hee hee hee.

Friday, January 13, 2006

Yarn Harlot Friday

Ah, you thought I would show my true harlotry ways by not blogging anything about AKE, well you are wrong.

Now settle with me as we open the holy writ. Ya RIGHT! Today's completely random nugget of wisdom is:
"If I am foolish enough to be arrogant about my knitting, I will
understands when it spontaneously bursts into flames."

Hmmm, yes she is wise. Uhm, so I taught myself fair isle this week. It is not really hard but fiddly. I don't know if I would do it again. No, I take that back it is completely fiddly and there is something in my engineering brain that cries out for it. But this is definitely the type of thing requires respect. I will respect the knitting of others more after this experience, and I will learn from it and not be so arrogant about my own. If I had done that maybe I wouldn't have had to rip the whole turtle shell out and start over.

Picture Friday

These are pictures of the shawl that I made Chris's grandmother. It is lovely, yes? The yarn is called Highland Thistle and is marketed under the Yarn Bee brand. Which you can only get at Hobby Lobby. The stuff is magnificent, because it is a two ply acrylic with a strand of eyelash plyed with it. My friend Aimee was kind enough to model for me.






These three things are things I've been working on in the last week. The starfish is going to be felted and stuffed. The fair isle circle thingy is the shell top of a turtle, which will also be felted when completed and stuffed.

And the last item is the hat. This is the less than 24 hour hat that is destined for Mikey, or for hubby's dad, I haven't decided yet. It might not go to anyone, because I think the cast on is too tight. But aren't the colors great?

In other news, Ruth, the proprietor of Main Street Yarn and Fiber in Watkinsville, was cleaning out some of their storage and found a lot of old fiber, stuff that's been discontinued. And she gave it too ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't just have stash, I have STASH. I love the kindness of strangers. Of course that didn't stop me from buying a couple of ounces of both soy silk and ingeo.

More later.

A correction is needed. Ruth gave me FIBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While it would have been nice if she had given me yarn, I think I prefer the gift of fiber.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Oh, my goddess, I think we are townies!

Hubby and I are both out of towners, coming to Athens, GA for college. Then we sort of stayed, but we weren't townies 'cause we hung out with college students then graduate school students. Now we have the baby, and as I was just emailing Dutch in answer to his question in his comment, we don't get to the same places at the same times anymore. In fact, one could say that we go to our old hangouts when the townies are there.

I've lived in Athens, GA since 1994 and never once considered myself a townie. Not that being a townie is wrong, just this is a self image evaluation. Compounded by the fact that hubby just stands there nodding his head knowingly.

Starfish and fair isle turtles...

... are next. One starfish is done, but I want to do one more, and then there is the fair isle turtle that I'm knitting on dpnts. Goddess save me, cause I can't knit those and do anything else. Same with the starfish if I wanted to start those. I suppose I could do another hat. They are really easy.

In other news, the baby is certifiable. She won't stick to any one sleeping schedule.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Mikey Hat done!

The hat is done, and it finished beautifully. There was a little tightness at the end, because I really need to finish this thing on dpnts, but all I have are short circs. And I was really suprised at the yarn, which is Jiffy Thick and Quick from Lions Brand. This stuff is acrylic, but it doesn't hurt my hands or make them feel scratched. The yarn is quite soft. I'll definitely be using it to make more hats, but probably not scarves--its not quite that soft.

Knitting forecast

Wow, I started on Mikey's hat last night, and I have to say that I love super bulky yarn. I have about eighteen rows, and I'm at about 6 1/2 inches from cast on. Just another inch and a half, and I'll be doing the hat shaping then the i cord piece de resistance. And I may have enough yarn left in the skein to do another hat. Woot!

In other news, the baby seems to be in a teething lull and is catching up on her sleep. Praise all the gods and goddesses.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Hats!!

So I've started a hat for my friend Mikey. I hope to finish it by the weekend. It is a quick hat. Sorry, but I'm busy writing, so I've got to go. Be back with pictures soon.

Oh, and Freesia has decided that I really am Mama instead of the floor, or her walker, or the computer. Yeah! I beat dada.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Podcast crazy, and Happy De-Lurking day

I finally broke down and learned how to use iTunes and went crazy. I have several podcasts that I'm listening to now, and there will eventually be a podcast link section.

In other news, I found out that today has been declared Annual De-Lurking Day, so:
Now, I know that I probably don't have a lot of people coming in and out. I don't know that for sure, and I don't want to know exactly how many people read my blog. If I did, I would put in a web counter.

That sort of thing reminds me more of my old blog, and I got a little obsessed. No more. However, if you would like to boost my ego, please leave a comment. Or even better, check out some of my articles at Associated Content and rate me there.

But that is just an ego boost that I don't need, so don't think I'm begging for feedback. I really don't like to read that kind of blog, and this isn't going to be that kind of blog.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

So, the weekend.

Went well, I thought. The shawl was well recieved, and I'm going to be buying more yarn for hats this coming week. However, the highlight of the weekend was our Xmas pressie.

A washing machine and dryer!
It is a combined present from several of the Smith family members and much needed. I love my in laws! Shawl pictures later.

Friday, January 06, 2006

ABC along and Friday things

Friday means three things. The ABC along, pictures of knitting(I can only be bothered to down load once a week), and AKE quotes.

ABC Along first.

A is for Atuin. Atuin is me.

I don't really like to take pictures of myself, but I thought I would try. This is me, or at least me taking my picture in a dirty mirror (blame the baby--she likes to lick her image). I don't have the best self image in the world, and I don't like to advertise what I look like. I will however explain the nick name.

A'tuin is the world turtle from Terry Pratchett's novels about the Discworld. My spirit animal is a turtle and I definitely qualify as taking the worries of the world on my shoulders. Some of my friends accused me of having a mommy complex before I even became a mother.

Next is a knitting picture. This is that poor lonely clog whose mate needs more yarn. It's huge isn't it?



I am assured that the thing just needs to be felted. We can only hope.

Now, for the Yarn Harlot portion of the post. Today's quotation from AKE is:

"I will resist the urge to hoard my favorite yarns forever, constantly
trying to determine whether the projects they are intended for are
'worthy.'"

I sort of have the opposite problem. People keep giving me acrylic yarn from that old afghan they never finished in the seventies. We are talking not pretty stuff. I'm thinking about making it up into an afghan or a lap rug for my mom. She likes that kind of stuff.

In other news, I have shown my own yarn harlotry this week. With a starfish. A felted starfish with these cute little short rows. So much better than the monstrosity that is the almost finished shawl for hubby's grandmother. That thing is getting blogged as soon as I'm done, so there should be another post tonight before we go running off to see hubby's folks.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Stuff and the thing

A lot of my posts are probably going to be titled that way. I just don't have a lot to post about. The baby is fine, but her sleeping schedule is swinging wildly and still hasn't settled down. I may have to start getting her up in the morning, and I'm not looking forward to it. But are what are ya supposed to do?

In other news, I did some drop spindling at our knitting group. Since this was very much in public at a Panera Bread, I thought I would get a lot more comment. I did get an older lady who was interested, but there wasn't a lot of people there, I guess. Ya, I know. I can be an secret attention whore.

Oh, I've almost finished the knitting project for hubby's grandma, which is good since we'll be seeing her this weekend.

O.K., here is where things get dicey. I have major writer's block at the moment. I feel completely... congested. Its all up there, but nothing is moving. I think I'm going to start the edit on my nanowrimo novella early, so that I can get that out of the way. I think that's why I'm blocked. I had planned to start it on 1/15, so of course I don't want to be involved in a huge project at the time.

So, that about it, not in a nut shell but close. How about you?

Monday, January 02, 2006

So a new year

So what? Groceries still had to be bought, house still has to be cleaned, and I'm still waiting for my supervisor to get back to me about work tomorrow.

On the upside, hubby has an interview with Walmart distribution in about two weeks. Cross you fingers and toes everyone.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Wow, why didn't I think of that?

So there is this news item over at bloggingbaby.com today over some a--hole who thought that biting a child would make her go to bed. You know that is right up there with shit for brains o.k. That's right up there with shaking a baby to make it go to sleep or slapping a baby to make it shut up. All three generally don't work.

Or maybe they do. Maybe that's why I didn't get to bed until 4 am this morning. I have to be spoiling my child to want to rock her and soothe her while she is in teething hell.

Do you ever have days when it feels like the average IQ of the planet just shed twenty points?

God, please help your children, before Goddess realizes what's going on. I don't want another flood.

A new year

So this is the new year. Well, I hope that the old wives tale about doing what you want to do at midnight ensures you will do more of that in the upcoming year is and is not true. I spent the evening nursing a teething baby and talking to my very good friend Aimee, aka She Who Reads. One I want to do, one I don't want to do.

As far as New Year's resolutions, I have managed not to follow behind my husband too much to today, and hope to do better in the future. Remember, I will trust my husband more. NO MATTER WHAT.