To clear thing up before I start this blog post: I did not SERIOUSLY think I had cancer. Just that niggling part of your brain that reads too much WebMD and watches too much House. I had some serious pain and bloating in my abdomen. I am now thinking it's stress. If I internalise too much, stress turns physical and mental. This is why I have a blog (or several). That quote on my side bar is no joke, "This words I write, keep me from total madness"
Yesterday was Veterans Day. Most of my family are Vets--if I could I would give them all hugs. My grandfather, my father, my step fa ther, my mother, and my two brothers (are they vets if they are still active duty?) Without their and all that went before them and worked with them: our country would not enjoy the freedom or prosperity it has today (times might be tough, but it could always be worse).
One of my favourite writers, Laurell K Hamilton, has her own personal blog. I love it. As a writer myself (writer's block not with standing), her blog encourages me. Today, her post was just spot on and just reaffirmed, that I really want to go to St. Louis and meet her. After the emotional firestorm that was this weekend: it's what I needed to hear. It's also good to know that I am not alone.
Because, I've been hiding from my blog (no more I assure you), I haven't been able to tell funny kid stories. On the Micci front: currently he's obsessed with two things (well he's actually obsesses with many things, Bakugan being one of them, but this story is not about toys) setting his room A/C at 60 degrees (Fahrenheit!!!) and stealing and hiding my bras. The A/C thing was sort of understandable a few months ago. Now? It's just nuts! And it was NEVER okay--it's expensive. I tried to explain this to Micci. A/C at 60 means HIGH CPS bill. High CPS bill means NO Christmas presents. Smart arse responded with, that's okay Santa can still bring me presents. Oh yeah! Well, Santa doesn't give presents to energy hogs!! Sigh. Bhat! And my bras...we have been dealing with this for MONTHS!! He was good over the summer, but a few days ago he's started back up. I keep my bras hanging on my closet door (easily accessible) and when they are missing? All I need to do is yell into the house, "Micci, bring me my bras!!!! Being the observant Birdy, I always notice this when I am half naked, just from the shower. I am trying to break him of this, not because I don't want him to have bras, I just don't want him to have MINE. I told him when we are at the Dollar Store next he can buy his own. Shrug. I think he just wants something of mine. That or he enjoys me yelling at him.
I mentioned, I think, that I cleaned up my bedroom. No pictures of the actual bedroom part yet, because while it is clean, it's just ugly. No nice bed spread set, ugly, bedside tables. No pictures...I need to decorate. I really want to break out my sewing machine after the holiday. But, I do have pictures of my book shelves and CD storage.
Yeah, I need more book shelves. That tall one on the left, is stacked two deep and two tall with paper backs. And ya know what, I still feel that I don't have enough books.
This is where I keep my CDs...I have no idea how many I have, but I must have at least a hundred--maybe even two hundred. If you could zoom, you would be shocked at the spectrum of my music tastes. The only thing I don't have: Death Metal. (Jamey has the country--his paltry collection joined mine when we married). I love music. I wish life was like movies and we had a soundtrack to keep us company...at the very least it would give us a heads up when life goes on it's ups and downs. I am still listening to a lot of Mika. But lately (because I can get to my CD collection), I have been listening to whatever takes my fancy. A bit of U2, a little Sinatra, a dash of Enya, a smidge of Bach.
If ya go to my knitting blog, I took pictures of my yarn stash. If y'all are into that. Grin.
Yes, I agree. I do need a better organisation system for my books and Cds.
My sister Kim is here. It's been really nice spending sisterly time with her. She's 12 years younger than I so our relationship has always been a mother/daughter one. Now that we are both adults I am trying for a sister/sister relationship. So far it's great. She's giving me great help...and no mom I am not treating her like a servant/slave...and I really appreciate her being here.
We had big family drama today. Last night after Jamey and i had a rare date night (thank you Kim!), Mic told me his leg hurt. I saw two spider bites that were really inflamed and hard. I gave him some benedryl...and put him to bed. It was bothering him some more today...but now it was HOT, hard and twice as big as before. Shit. We gave him more benedryl, a double dose and we went off to Anne's house to house sit for a few hours. Well, when she got back we had a "convocation" of Mommies and we all decided it was time to take Mic to the doctor. Poor kid has an infection and on top of that he was over due for some shots so I decided since he was already in pain--might as well get it over with. Poor kid was on the couch all evening moaning about the pain in his leg and in his arm. To be fair to me--he refused all offers of ibuprofen.
Otherwise I have been busy with knitterly stuff (and not really blogging about that either--yes yes bad blogger). I've been stuck in a mire of unfinished projects that seem frozen in time. It's an illusion I know but still--it's the perception. I also have been trying to make some knitting tutorial videos. And Mom amazingly, the house is staying somewhat clean.
I'll leave you with an entertaining video.
Yesterday, we all went swimming with Anne and Seth. And this is Jamey playing toss the boy with Seth.
I am enjoying Twitter. It's an exercise in being concise and witty. (Because all the popular blog kids are...) But I found out that J.'s cell phone can't twitter--poot (it's the cell phone I'll inherit when/if we upgrade). Now even more than ever I am jonesing for an iPhone, or a Treo, or Blackberry. I am much more witty when I am doing errands. Yes, I ought to jot it down in my notebook--but dang it I lost it...I actually bought a new one with bees on it and everything. I don't think it ever made it out of the shopping bag before I misplaced it.
For those of you that don't also read my knitting blog, Birdy's Knits, I have opened up a booth at a local craft mall (to get real world sales in addition to my shop's sales.) about two months ago. Sold nothing until I checked yesterday, sold TWO swiffer cloths! Woot! Now if I could just sell the other pretty things...I'd be even more stoked. Putting yourself out creatively is such a ballsy, naked move. You are asking complete strangers to like things you have created. It's incredibly difficult not to take it to heart and wonder what is the point? But you know me: Birdwell has an ego and although a small part is disheartened--between the ego and the optimism--I'm confident I'll be famouz one of these days. Grin. The occasional sale helps too. Luckily, my dual use stitch markers (they double as earrings too) are burning up in my knitting circle. I feel like a crack dealer for knitters. Yeah sparkling pretty things for your knitting is knitting crack. Heck at the retreat, I was doing deals in the street!
LOL, I just realised I was supposed to be extolling the virtues of being concise. Yes, once again the wordy bastard in me ran all over this blog once again. Well I have twitter for being concise and Dubh Croi for being wordy.
This is a quickie. Happy Cinco De Mayo. Went to the zoo Friday and took lot's more pics...but that means I have lot's of editing. I'll get to it. Vomiting ran rampant in the Birdwell household. Speaking of which the name change I desperately want: $218. WTF! Yikes! Thonk!
Here's to me blogging again sometime this week. Just wanted to let y'all know that I am not dead.
What else have I been doing? I am just knitting: for moooney so I can afford my name change. I just wish there was a bulk discount.
It is a lovely quiet day. Mic is at a friend's house on a play date. So it's just me and Lorelei--just the girls.
I've got lot's planned. I need to do a LOT of work for Birdy's Knits--writing patterns and such. I also have some tidying up I want to do. It's nice to have one part of my wild equation out elsewhere. (Without Micci Lori has scant need to scream.) And Mic is having LOADS of fun without me.
Not totally sure of Lorelei enjoys the praise or the ick factor. But that girl is forever fake burping just so she can say "excuse me."
Drives me nuts.
Sorry I've been so quiet, been feeling headachy and PMSy--so any blogging time went to Birdy's Knits. This week we start soccer practise--it's going to be some ride--twice a week!
It was Micci's birthday yesterday--his SIXTH birthday. Like an idiot I forgot to bring our camera to his party. Luckily, my friend brought hers--once she downloads them I'll post some here. He had a dinosaur birthday as per his request, we got a awesome roaring dinosaur cake (complete with a volcano and lava pit), with dinosaur gift bags and decorations--complete with dinosaur noses for the guests. Half our guests couldn't make it at the last minute since the mom came down with the flu. Nothing is worse than we Mom gets sick.
I myself can relate, since Saturday I came down with an allergy induced sinus infection (I blame cleaning--I kicked up too much dust). Luckily I was only laid up in bed Saturday and felt better Sunday for Mic's party. Being sick put me seriously behind in my knitting--with my head feeling like it was 50 pounds and dizziness when I sat up: knitting just wasn't in the cards.
In just two days I ran through two boxes of tissues and now I am resorting to rolls of toilet paper. I am constantly amazed just how much snot the human head can produce.
My friend Anne took Micci on a playdate with her grandson. I've got 3 hours of scream free cleaning/knitting time (I still have that second sock to finish). Although Lorelei is the source of the screaming, guess who the instigator is? Lori was upset at first--but then I gave her a few slices of the cinnamon raisin bread I bought last night to make up for having to spend the afternoon with me. Of course when she realised that I wasn't letting her eat the whole loaf she did have a teeny fit. LOL
This week has been one big BLAH...the girly hormones kicked my arse this week. On Monday night Anne (along with aforementioned grandson) suggested we go on a picnic then to the museum on Tuesday. We saw the Our Body: The Universe Within exhibit and let the kids run around the HEB Science Treehouse. By 3 I was exhausted and desperately seeking a couch to collapse upon. We left shortly after--4ish or 5ish...I always forget my watch, and went to Cheesy Jane's for shakes and onion rings. But we did stop in the museum gift shop where i scored two hypodermic shaped ones. Awesome. One is for me and the other is for my combat medic brother. AND they write in red ink!
I spent Wednesday recovering from Tuesday.
Aunt Flo finally came on Thursday so I was feeling better, but still tired. But laundry got done--well I've got Mount Everest right now, so I was able to manage three loads. And a cleaner kitchen. The kids decided that evening to make chocolate milk. They are both trying to be "bigger" kids and independent, especially Lorelei. Well Lorelei thought it would just be easier, cutting out the middle man, to put the chocolate sauce directly into milk jug. Sigh, so I got to go on a late night trip to the store to get more milk (which led me to also buy some raisin cinnamon bread).
Today, I am hoping to get a lot more cleaned up and finish this second sock!! I am so tired of this sock!
Finally got the server issues worked out over at Birdy's Knits. Whew! Luckily people are there over the weekend to fix this stuff.
My brother is here again...now all ties are finally severed from his ex-wife and doesn't have to worry about her not making car payments. Yea! I also fixed his sweater...as much as I could. Looks good.
My sock is well...I ripped and ripped...and I've re-knitted about three increase rows. Maybe I'll finish it someday. LOL Anyhoo--all knitting can get whooshed back to Birdy's Knits. And this blog can get back to poking fun at my mom, my kids, my husband, and my life.
Let's all pretend we are frogs and rrrrrppppppiiiiitttt!!! Sob.
Yes, the heart socks are too big--a good inch unstretched too big. I had a bad feeling for a a day that these were too big, but I had hoped the heel would work it out...nope. I want this to be worn and fit nicely this year. So I tried it on Mic.
And they are obviously waaay to big. But guess what?!?!
They fit me just fine!
Just dandy!! But they aren't supposed to.
Now the toe is too short for me--but after all they ARE toddler socks. So a frogging I will go...all the way down to just above the 3rd heart repeat. I had so much fun knitting the arch increase and the heel--and I will have fun knitting it all_over_again!
So we finally figured out what the hell is going on between Blogger and my Birdy's Knits blog. I am guessing sometime between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday night the hosting company I use for Birdy's Knits changed servers and set the FTP to Active FTP--which doesn't work with Blogger...ARGH. Of course we didn't figure this out until today and who knows if they'll be working tomorrow. I am hoping I am not the only one using blogger having this issue with the hosting and they'll rectify it soon.
Getting my own server looks better and better all the time. Care to chip in to the pot? LOL.
So welcome regular readers of Birdy's Knits to Dubh Croi (my dark heart). I left my camera at Anne's house where we had a fantastic Eat and Knit Pot Luck last night; 13 people rocking for 6 hours--yeeeyahh!! So no pics until Monday evening. The heart socks are coming along awesome and I am working the back of the heel and ooo it looks freakin' awesome!
When I do get the camera back--I took some pictures of my mom's very very thoughtful gift to my brother, but ya know I have to be honest--there were some fit issues...my brother wears medium t-shirts and my mom made this sweater about a 3XL. Girls, my single. SWEET brother, put the vest on immediately, loves it and had me "fix" it so he could wear it without too much flappage. Mom, you know I love you and respect you and thank you for teaching me to knit, but I am going to have use this as an example of why gauge matters.
I make many of the same resolutions year after year...I dare to call them goals. Resolutions always seem to be easier to break than goals. Goals, for me, are more permanent and have annotated plans attached to them. Being raised LDS, goal setting is introduced and taught early and often. The idea stunk in...the application not always--goals for me end up in the same bin a resolutions: the I'll Get On It Tomorrow Bin.
Now, I am 30. I cannot deny (despite having two kids, two cats, and a mortgage) that I am an adult and I need to actually accomplish the goals I set for myself. (I can hear my Mom saying, "About time!!")
With out further ado (and procrastinating and grand standing), my 2008 GOALS!:
1. De-clutter my home (and keep it that way) 2. Organise my life: education, business, hobbies, head of house duties 3. Use my blog as a way to improve my writing rather than a verbal vomit vessel 4. See other knitters knit and showcase my knit patterns
I found two awesome sites this morning that I think I will find quite helpful. First, Unclutterer (found via Slashfood)and great tool from Good Housekeeping (found on Unclutterer) called 30 Minute Clutter Solution. Together with the Housebook I created last year and a dash (or more) of discipline and do believe I can clear my space this year.
As for this blog: my faithful readers (I heart you all) know I have been writing (sometimes I think this word is applied rather loosely) here for nearly 8 years and I have despaired at my lack of readership growth. Obviously the straight journal approach is not working. Not only that, but I feel that I am not exercising my writing muscle except for making sure there aren't any typos (even that I fail miserably)--so I am going to try to write in an essay format. I'll still share personal stories and anecdotes, but without the verbal vomit (my new favourite phrase).
I really, really want to feel the personal satisfaction of seeing other's knit up my original knitting designs. Still after all these years, P and Q: I want to be famouz.
Does Battlestar Galactica give any one else the willies? It's so intense I always come away unnerved. Don't get me wrong I LOVE the show--it's fantastic, just whew intense.
On to other things: I had planned to clean today. Yeah, planned, I knitted instead. But I HAD to I got gifts to finish. I also played on Ravelry, but it's work...really. I got a knit business after all...
Today was so much FUN! Birdy's Knits was having technical issues this morning. Only thing that kept my head from exploding as my knitting. But, all is fine and no one was harmed.
In other head exploding events, Kimmy is 18 years old--my baby sister is an adult! How did that happen? I remember her, clear as day, being Lorelei's age. Not only that but in THREE WEEKS I will be THIRTY!! 30. Three zero.
I'll be buying my self something special: a penny whistle.
Well my craft show was yesterday--and I sold TWO bracelets!! But alas--with only one hour of sleep and spending the entire day at the show and sleeping when we got home--I didn't blog.
I got a ton of compliments on my bracelets--however they were also unique. I love unique things but I think I am a minority. I think I might have more success on line. and next time I'll be making Teddy Sweaters to sell.
I am actually glad to take a knitting break--I have a blister from all that knitting. So cleaning will be my thang today.
Oh we also have a new kitty, Gina. Phil's divorce is a done deal, he's in the barracks and so we have his cat until he gets his own place again. So far no kitty fights to the deal--just a litle hissing.
Craft show is tomorrow and I have knitted so much I am getting a sore on one of my fingers. I think I'll be glad that I don't need to be knitting--especially on weeny teeny needles with tiny thread. Here's a sample of what I am knitting--I have a few more patterns...a total of 6 patterns...and I am working on my 16th bracelet.
I would take pictures of my inventory--but alas--I have once again lost my camera. I am ALWAYS losing it. I think this is why I should never have a cell phone-I'd just lose the thing. Although...unlike my camera I could always call the cell phone.
I am nervous about the show. I am hoping everyone has a good time and the kids behave themselves. Tomorrow is also the second day of the Kid N' Ewe fiber festival--I want to GO. But it also takes away from the potential clientale. I need people to buy some patterns too.
Last night I was counting my Chicken before the eggs were hatched. I figured if I sell everything I put out on the Craft Show on Saturday I could make enough money to make a house payment. My first thought: oooo just think how much yarn I could buy!!!!!!! Since then I have been cycling between I am a godess and well sell everything to I am a hack and will sell nothing. In my godess mood I have been making lists on what I would buy. Yarn well duh that is a given. But what else? Pay up my student loan (that would be smart), or buy a new computer--which might mean just a new hard drive since the computer itself seems just fine...but I would like to buy new programmes!!!!, or reinvest it--which I could fudge to mean NEW programmes--of course beads and clasps, but also knitting software, image editing software.
Any advice?? Know some great inexpensive software. Nothing too fancy, but still wonderful...
I am also tryig to decide if I should park my knitting blog at blogspot were it is right now (inactive--waiting for a grand entrance- or host it at my server. Inane details that I am hung up on.
More questions for my readers: what would make this blog more interesting...still at a loss for my low readership and shy commenters. Also: what to do with a 3 year old who is constipated but refuses prunes??
I am suprised that I haven't thrown my bead box across the room and gouged out my eyes with my size 0 needles. I have been doing little else but knitting bracelets using tiny needles and teeny thread. I've gotten 13 bracelets done...my goal is 20. So I would have to knit 2 a day till Frida night...hmmm. Sleep...
I was looking through my soon to be launched website, making mental notes of the pages thatneed to be completed, and god I miss my software!! I miss my photo software, my FTP software and my HTML editing software...it was all perfect all easy. Now--I just want to bash my head repeatedly into the wall. I desperately want my new website up--but I don't see how with my lack of software...even if I can get new software learning it well enough to get the few remaining pages up and photos edited.
WHINE!!!
I know, shut up already.
I could say that life will return to it's normal leisurely pace. HA! It's nearl Christmas! I got gifts to knit and a house to prepare for a new kitty. Phil is finally getting his divorce and is moving into the barracks...so Gina needs a place to stay. When Phil passed through on his way to AZ, his cat did fine with Kittenhead...mostly Gina hid under my bed the entire time.
I think it'll all be great blog fodder. Heaven's knows that Kittenhead is so sedate he makes a fungus seem downright hyperactive.
I got a lot done toward the launching of my new web site today (not that anythign will replace this site--something completely dedicated to my knitting--YES I AM that obsessed.) I still have so much work to do, I feel like crawling under my bed and hiding. But that won't get this mother launched.
For those interested, right before my computer DIED, I created a yahoo group for my new knitting business. It's basically an announcement group. I totally forgot about it in the ensuing chaos. Now that dust has settled, I figured it was time to open up the group to any one that is interested in news about Birdy's Knits, both the new website and blog and the knit wear line.
Please join up--make me feel loved. By signing up--you'll get first crack of the new website, blog, and store.
I've also been knitting like a fiend for the craft show on Saturday. I can see lot's of late night in my future. I unfortunately got some new library books today--I WILL resist the urge to read!!.(I just wish I could read and knit at the same time).
I've been knitting up a storm in prepartion for my craft show--so I am struggling to be interesting.
So I will turn to the news that is particularily interesting/concerning to me.
Poor Baby Grace. A little girl that same age as Lorelei--the fact that she's blond and blue eyed like Lori just makes it even worse. Nevermind--it's the same age I was when I was kidnapped. I easily could have been lost forever and it amazes me that I was let go. Some one had a plan for me and it didn't include sexual slavery or death. It's a mind fuck that's for sure.
Pakistan. Holy crap. Our key ally...great just great. 500 hundred activists arrested. Supreme Justices hauled off. And people think Bush is evil? Thank god for our system of government.
Writers Strike. I bit inconsequental with all the other hateful things going on--but dude I need my get away from the real world. I need my Heroes and Late Night TV. I read too fast to get lost in books for long. They already put the Heroes spin off on hold...
November always wants me to pull my hair out and hide under my blankets. THe holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is weeks away--Christmas is less than 2 months away. AND everything is happening right now. This year is no different.
Oh well.
I desperately want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I hate that I don't write as much or as well as I used to. I figure NaBloPoMo will hopefully inspire me--get me writing better or something.
I am betting on "something."
I have my Crafy Show on Saturday--I also want my new website up too. Not to mention Christmas Knitting. ARGH.
I am hoping Phil can come down for Thanksgiving--he's actually finally getting divorced. He's so tired, so stressed out I just want to be there for him.
I had all these ideas for the first day of NaBloPoMo...and ya know all those are gone. Poof. That is why I need an iTouch...I need to BLOG any time anywhere.
Halloween was a success--lot's of candy and lot's of ooohs and aaaaawwws over the kiddoes costumes. Today we hit the post-halloween sales for costumes for the dress up chest. After all you can't have too many princess outfits for a little girl. Suprisinly, Jamey was the one that bought the discounted candy. Usually it's me that's hittin' the sugar.
I have ten days till my craft fair (I am selling my knitting patterns and knitted beaded bracelets)--I have A LOT more to finish. I also would prefer to have my new web site by then. We shall see.
Maybe tomorrow I'll be brillant--or at the very least remember my brillance.
Between hormones and being sick...I've been rather indisposed and not inclined to post anything. Hell, I have barely knitted anything in weeks.
I also found that getting a heinous sinus infection while in the midsts of raging PMS attack is ALMOST like a nervous breakdown. (Rather, what I think one would be). What a relief it was to start my period--"THAT'S why I have been acting like a crazy person!!" I really ought to start tracking my periods again so I am not constantly caught unawares.
This past weekend I went up to Austin with some friends to KNIT!! I found knitters HEAVEN. If Webs (a hanger sized fortress of yarn) is Mecca, the Hill Country Weavers in S. Austin, is HEAVEN. It's a largish house but it's STUFFED to the gills with yarn--all sorts of beautiful yarn. SO much yarn if you are allergic to wool it will overwhelm you and leave you near anaphylatic shock. (Poor poor Vicki). I took a few pictures...I haven't been able to figure out Jamey's photo editing software. Besides finding heaven, I spent the entire day knitting and chatting with old friends.
I didn't get sick until Monday evening--when I FELT something coming on...then WHOOSH Tuesday I was a snotty, coughing mess, Wednesday was better because now I had drugs--but still spent most of the day in bed, today I still cough up a lung every few minutes and I didn't get out of bed till noon. I feel like I could tackle the house. Yeah in-laws are coming Sunday--being sick did not come at a good time. Oh well.
Kids have only a touch of cough and runny nose--so they've been taking advantage of me.
We also found out that to recover the data out of my broken hard drive will cost hundreds of dollars. Sigh. Luckily, the knitting patterns I needed I can recover elsewhere or re-tpe them from hard copy. The real loss is all the children's pictures. We plan to save up the money and recover the data eventually. Thank god for Flickr...many of my knitting pics were already uploaded.
Since I am in a whirl wind of cleaning plus visitors next week--I may be scarce again.
I think I am rather attached and dependent on my computer. The entire weekend I felt horrible and depressed. I_didn't_even_knit. Yeah, I know...it was that bad.
Every day I realised something else I lost. I am still hoping that when we go to a computer place on Friday they will be able to recover the data. Heck they can recover deleted files from criminals why couldn't they recover knit patterns, recipes, and children's photographs.
I am hoping to sit down relax and knit while watching Heroes.
Good news I cleaned my living room AND got Mic to clean his room.
I've been knitting like a mad person this week. Word came that my friend's best friend was due for her baby on the 21st (it was a surprise to us all, believe me) and the shower was this weekend. So I started knitting a hat and a pair of booties. I am a very slow knitter so it took me about 4 days to knit everything up (a new born hat and booties are exceptionally small). They were so small they fit Lorelei's dolly and she was very upset that I gave them away. So I am making another set for her dolly. Mic also has an order for a pink set for his dolly. And I'm sure all of Lorelei's other dollies will need to be outfitted as well.
Thursday came and I was just turning the heel on the second set, when L. called. M. is in the hospital dilated 5 centimeters! A.S. was born at 7.22 pm right around the time when I finally finished his bootie. L. and her husband took me to see in the new baby last night...oh he was so precious. I got several deep whiffs of his gorgeous new baby smell and my uterus did flip flop a few times...hmm. New babies are fantastic...old babies are great too...at least until they get to be 2 and then it's not so cute. More like bit of cuteness in the midst of sass and mess. It's the small bit of cuteness that gets parents through that sea of sass and mess.
Most lace knitters are smart they put "life lines" every pattern repeat so when they make a mistake or drop stitches they have a life line to go back to. Since I am Birdwell and have an ego, I don't use line lifes...so when I drop a stitch then it's time for lace surgery.
First step, after the panic is to immediately put all the stitches back onto the needle, so no more stitch run away. If you look closely I did miss a few--put those on safety pins. Once all the stitches are back on the needle--take a breath. You don't need to fix it right then--the important thing is that the mess doesn't get any worse. Wait until you have some quiet and time. I actually waited till the next evening when the kids were passed out.
Next get out your tools. A pillow, pins, a few double pointed needles, a small crochet hook, patience, perservence, and the PATTERN. Pin the lace to the pillow where the trouble spot is.
Slip the affected area onto a double pointed needle. Spread the lace out and look at it. Compare it to the pattern find out where you are and what was dropped. You can put SSK and K2tog back by pulling a ladder through the two loops (left wise for k2tog and rightwise for ssk) using a crochet hook. You can also re-create YO from the ladders as well, by slipping the ladder over the needle like a YO.
The arrows show you ladders hiding behind a stitch. Use your crochet hook and pull the ladders through the knit stitches (slipping crochet hook through the front of the stitch and pulling the ladder through). You might need to use multiple double pointed needles to attack different sections of the knitted piece.
After you think you are done, put the stitches back onto one double point needle. Make sure all the stitches are picked up, comparing it to the pattern and looking for yarn stranded behind stitches.
Slip the stitches make onto the regular needle and continue knitting.
All fixed and you can't tell where I dropped all those stitches.
On the otherside: I realise that I should have taken pictures of me reconstructing k2togs...well next time--I will keep them in mind...because there will always be a next time.
I am trying not to be lonely and reach for the phone. I am a big girl and I should enjoy a quiet night (for once) by my self. Jamey is in Houston on a business trip. Both kids are already asleep (hopefully for the night). I also feel kinda sick. I'm waiting for Jamey's sinus infection to hit me--it sorta did, but I just feel queasy most of the time. Not enough to actually put me to bed, but enough to be annoying and ruin a perfectly good meal.
We all trooped out of the house first thing this morning (to drop Jamey off to catch the bus with all the other HEB SA region Deli managers) and we didn't get home till 3.30. We ran all sorts of errands and about 2 hours after we came home both kids crashed. Funny last night the kids didn't crash till 11.30--so I guess the secret is to run run run them around town.
I had broken a sock needle last night--so I took the opportunity to go to Yarn Barn and pick up a brand new spankin' new set, and a great new sock book, New Pathways For Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi. Then off we went to the Library (hours of fun and trying to get the kids from running and shouting), then to McDonald's for lunch (oh we went there for breakfast too) more hours of fun. Finally off to the craft store for t-shirts for their ABC Club thingy and HEB for some food.
Yeah, now that I wrote all that down, I am not surprised that the kids are so tired.
I've been feeling ambivalent toward my blog lately. I've been blogging for so long and sometimes I wonder if I should give up already. I haven't grown my readership much...but I do have a small but loyal readership--so what if it's never over 20 a day. But they're my friends and family and until they me I am boring and need to close up shop; I'll blog inanely to the end.
Lorelei was in underwear all day yesterday and all night last night! We were at the Silver Stars game (we are now officially a playoff contender no matter what happens here after!!) and she stayed dry and even tinkled on a big grown up potty. I happened to just buy a mega pack of diapers for her too--here's hoping I just wasted 15 bucks!!
On the knitting front I finished clue #3 on my Mystery Stole 3. The theme has been revealed as Swan Lake. Melanie had recommended using White or Black or some other comparable color...I started gathering supplies late...so white, black, cream, gold was nowhere to be seen...so I bought the Sea Foam--it's a greyish blue...I think the color will work excellently. I am dreading the long slog that is clue 4--an expanse of the same knit motif...but clue 5 has short rows and FEATHERS.
Speaking of which the short row heels on my socks are no longer kicking my butt. I expect no more road bumps to my finishing of the second sock of the never-ending sock!
I am feeling horribly horribly crabby. All I want to do is hide under the bed...and sleep sounds really awesome too. I also want to throw away the socks I am working on--short rows are kicking my ass right now. Grrr. This mode hit me out of nowhere at around 3.30 pm yesterday--and it has survived two cat naps and fitful sleep last night.
In the midst of my crabbiness--I realised in less than two months Lorelei will be three. Yes, THREE! How did that happen? She is getting so big--and soon she'll be... Nope, I won't even think it.
We have a Silver Stars game tonight--that'll be interesting. Crowds and idiots--it'll be a cakewalk, I am sure. I am also aggravated because now that my socks are giving me problems I have no mindless knitting to take with me to the game.
I blame stupid girly hormones. I hate stupid girly hormones!
I had a quiet weekend-Jamey worked so mostly it was me and the kids. I finally was able to get Micci to clean his room. He did an excellent job and did it by himself--I came around toward the end and picked up trash. Next is Lorelei's room--that's going to be me picking up her room with her putting a few dollies away. So next is really the living room--getting all the toys out of that room.
Phil and Ashley (we think) are moving to Arizona and my Mom is helping them. So they should be passing our way next week. It'll be interesting to say the least--the last time Phil and Ashley came our plumbing went to hell. I am seriously considering posting signs on proper toilet usage and providing a HEB grocery bag for all non human waste JUST to make sure my pipes don't get over stuffed again (with 2 rolls of toilet paper and a sanitary napkin). They are planning on spending the day to hang out with the kids. It'll be interesting.
I dropped some stitches while transporting my MS3 on Friday...8 rows right in the middle of a lace motif. For the non-knitters read--that was bad very very bad--most knitters would have ripped the rows back all the way to the dropped stitch because knitting up k2tog and yo is difficult. I took our my tools and set about painstakingly pinning and separating and worked myself back up backwards...and now no one can tell there was every a problem. It's immensely rewarding--I should have taken some pictures---but I was in the moment and wanted to get it finished.
On Friday we met up with some friends that we haven't been able to see in a while--I was worried it would be awkward. But it turned out alright and our kids had fun. I am hoping to get together again before school starts--when everyone schedules go nuts.
I just deleted a post I was writing that was full of self pity and way too much introspection and a wee bit whiny. You can thank me now for coming to my senses.
I finished Clue #2 on my Mystery Stole 3 last night--pictures forthcoming. I know I keep saying how much I love this project--I just wanted to make sure y'all know it. Grin. I wish I could take a picture to really show off the beading--it's gorgeous.
Today was Jamey's day off so we did some errands and stopped off at Lakeshore Learning Store. Mic loves their catalog--he calls it his Dream Book. I got some things for his first year of "official" homeschool: an awesome font program to make hand writing exercises (plus loads of other things), a teacher organiser, a writing workbook, and a beginning reading workbook. I want to get a ton of other stuff, but I need to do some more planning. I wish we had a basement or a spare room--I would LOVE to put up posters and maps for the kids, but we have no wall space. (I am afraid to put up stuff in Mic's room in case he and Lorelei tear it down when they are playing in their room. I might be able to trust Mic now...perhaps.
Onward.
Mic loves pictures of dogs with things on their heads. Luckily my favourite blog, takes funny pictures of her dog everyday. Today we were surfing her back pictures and we came upon Mr. Studious, a picture of a dog reading a paper (check it out it's totally cute). Micci of course thought it was totally silly and funny. So I asked him, "Do you think it's a dog with man's hands or a man with a dog's head?" After a moment, Mic replied, "A man with a dog's head!" LOL
In case you were wondering, NO San Antonio hasn't sunk into the aquifer yet. Luckily, there's limestone between us and all that cavernous water.
But man it feels like we are sinking--it's so wet and so muggy--half the time I feel like I am swimming. Thankfully my area hasn't flooded and my heart goes out to all those who ARE actually swimming.
Many many knitters (about 6000) world-wide are knitting on a Knit Along (KAL) called Mystery Stole 3--we are given pattern clues every Friday, usually about 50 pattern rows at a time. I normally hate a bandwagon (or at least admitting to it), but it IS a free lace pattern and I don't normally say no to FREE. So I signed up, but I wasn't all in a tizzy to buy my yarn and beads and start the thing. I really don't like knitting something I don't know what it'll look like, my time and yarn money are too precious. But on vacation (the one time I had access to internet while in D.C.) I saw the beginnings of the stole and I was HOOKED. Here is a flickr photo pool of various MS3s in various stages.
The very next day I bought yarn at Knit Happens--refer to previous blog entry for my adventures there. Where I promptly bought yarn and needles.
They were out of the white or black recommended for the stole, so after tossing aside a icky brown, I picked out a grey blue yarn. It's Misti Alpaca, 2 ply 50g/437 yards, in color way Sea Mist (7120). This yarn so far is heavenly! It changes colors depending on the light. I also picked up Add Turbo Lace needles in 3.5 mm (US4). Expensive, YES, but very very worth the price tag....knitting with them is fantastic! I also picked up beads at A.C. Moore in a clear iridescent color.
This is clue number 1 finished. I didn't expect it to start out like a triangle. Isn't it breathtaking? I love the loops and scrolls. I love how the stole changes colors depending on the light. Right now it looks grey (it's storming right now so no light except my table lamp), by sunlight it's blue.
My camera can not take very good close ups, so forgive the fuzziness, but you can make out the beads. The beads really set sparkle with this yarn.
I am over half way through clue number 2 right now...a bit behind...clue 4 was released this past Friday (it was a double clue since HP came out and where not having a clue released this upcoming Friday). I am hoping to catch up with the pack.
I am using Crazy Aunt Purl's caption technique--I really like it and I may be using it in the future (esp. since I don't take the best pictures). I figured I'll tell my yarn crawl stories before I spill the beans about the total vacation. I hit 3 yarn shops while on vacation---it pays to do your research first...maps are handy. I should have taken my own advice and printed out a few maps. Oh well...next year, I'll know better.
Myrtle Beach: Knitting Up A Storm
I was a total idiot and didn't take pictures of Knitting Up A Storm (no webwsite), even though I lugged in my camera. You would never know I had at one time wanted to be a filmmaker and owned a blog for 7 years. So instead you get this pic of my sock on the beach...my sock had a good vacation too.
The owner (I totally forgot her name) was extremely helpful and super nice. She didn't mind at all that I had to wonder around aimlessly for a bit and didn't mind my chatter. The store is large, she had just moved to this location (she's been around for about 3 years), so she hasn't yet had a chance to really fill up the store with yarn yumminess.
I really agonised what to buy--silk had my heart, but I was afraid of ruining it--even though it was so so soft. But I put the artsilk back...poot. I also was fondling some jitterbug sock yarn---but I put that back too (although I am regretting it...I liked the colors but I didn't want stripes and I was afraid it would stripe)I ended up getting about 800 yards of rose colored laceweight, Alpaca Twist Fino. I also bought bamboo DPNS in size one--yep for more socks!
I really enjoyed this store and I am looking forward to going back to it next year (let's hope I remember to take pictures next time).
Washington, D.C.: Knit Happens
Actually Knit Happens is in Alexandria, Virginia--in old town. Very cute locale.
Just after I took this picture of all that yummy yarn, I was spotted by this gal--the one in the middle, I think is was the owner, Kristine (Update: This is Elspeth and she has a delightful blog. I found her blog by pure accident in a comment by Nicole in response to a post from Go Knit In Your Hat) She offered to take my picture. She asked if I had a blog. The problem with my blog is the horrendously long internet address (I am planning to rectify this) which is NOT easy to tell people without a business cards.
Knit Happens is a really cool, small store, packed with yarn. Oh I was in hog heaven. Once again I was fondling the silk. The day before I looked up the MS3 Clue #1 picture and I HAD to start it ASAP. So I was on a mission: lace weight and Addi Turbo Lace needles. Because over 6000 knitters are participating in the KAL, there was NO white, offwhite, ivory, cream, black, or navy lace weight in the store. At first I picked out a brown--but I couldn't see myself working with brown yarn, so I picked up 3 skeins of Misti Alpaca in Sea Mist.
Kristine (or the blond one) Elspeth renamed me Madam Clapotis when she saw me struggling to reach some lace weight. I liked that. One of the other gals (I think the gal on the right--if you clicked on that link above), helped me pick out the Sea Mist--since there was only one small sad skein of white lace left.
After picking up my Addi Turbo in size 4, 24 inch circulars, we were out of that store--before I bought anything else and broke my bank. When we got home I realised that not only was the circ too short, but the join was very rough. I begged my Mom to go back and see if she could exchange it. She was 5 minutes too late, but thankfully they opened up for her, their computers were already shut down so I couldn't get the longer circ, but I did get a replacement needle. THANK YOU!! I can't wait to visit the store again when I visit my parents next summer.
Hoodwinked in Falls Church!
After Knit Happens we stopped at the Noodle Company for lunch--YUMMO! And as I rounded the car after we parked I saw this:
Oh joy another yarn shop!!?! Joy joy!
NO! A clothing store--pfft--what a fraud! What a complete and utter letdown--I was totally jipped.
Staunton, Virginia: On The Lamb
On The Lamb was my favourite yarn shop. When I left that building I felt like I had left a big hug.
I didn't get a decent picture of the front, so you have to imagine it. It was a remodeled home (perfect!!), the first floor was the shop; the second floor was apartments: imagine living above a yarn shop. I bet the tenants don't even appreciate it. Could you IMAGINE a knitter living above a yarn store: yep it would be a very poor knitter, but ooo they would have such a great stash!!! And it has a bay window (I LOVE bay windows).
This is the first room (off the hall that you walk into). I met Angel and she is awesome. She walked me around the shop told me about all the yarns. Showed me a finished Swallowtail Shawl (it's the yellow shawl on the chair) and admired my Clapotis (and how can you wear that on this hot day!!? Cotton baby cotton).
I would LOVE to sit in those chairs and just knit at the bay window! I wondered around a bit and Jamey let me spend a lot here: so I brought home some cute sock yarn (pink TOFUsises), two hanks of blue lace weight Malabrigo and yet another Addi Turbo lace circs--this time in 32 inches). I am NOT sure what the blue lace weight will be, but oh it will be so soft and beautiful. The socks will be my own pattern (presumably) after I finish the never-ending socks.
I am SO glad I bought two pairs of Addis even though they were 32 dollars combined--they are HEAVEN!! I am sure every time I mention my lace knitting I will be waxing poetic about the wonders of the Addi.
We were on a time crunch too...I hated that--because I could have spent ages at the store talking to Angel and Joe, the owner. I totally felt at ease...which I why I took tons of pictures. Angel also put Kisses in my bag too...what is better than yarn--yup chocolate!
Joe is actually from the Texas area. His family is H.B. Zachery here in Texas...a huge construction company--we see their signs everywhere. I had a great chat with him. I am hoping when we go to VA next year on vacation I can go to their knitting night. Jamey was actually very miffed at me because I spent too long chatting and we had to be back at the house to meet his sister.
When I left, I really did feel like I had left a huge hug--even though there was no actual hugging. This store has SUCH a great vibe to it. I feel so sorry for my SIL and MIL that don't knit--they are missing out on such a wonderful store and great people.
Flashin' My Stash. I didn't mention my stop at A.C. Moore---it's a craft store--so not technically the yumminess of a yarn store will all their natural fibre goodness. I did pick up some more cotton (they were on sale) for some cloths and such. The Marble is a really pretty variegated yarn with a interesting green twist--not sure what it's gonna be but it's gonna be pretty.
I've editing maybe 10 vacation pictures--out of 200 hundred. Yeah baby I am on a roll. And I have yet to compose any travel-log.
But my MS3 looks awesome and I even got over that horrid hump that was row 65. I also have made good progress on my mystery sock (it's a mystery until later).
Bee Fields was released yesterday...I have been salivating this pattern when it was just swatches. But the Knitting Bunnies got to me first...so in addition to those rascals (some of which have deadlines)--I have 2 lacey things on the needles. No more room for the Bees!
Have I mentioned I love Addi Turbo Lace circular needles? They're expensive---$15.95...but wow---it's like good sex. Smooth and satisfying. This might be why I can't put down these lace shawls.
I guess I am trying to say--I'll be finished with the pics someday--maybe--and
Thursday--all of a sudden I felt so much better. I think I was right--women problems...sigh...hormones are so frustrating.
Last night was wonderful! My Spurs won the NBA Championship for the 4th time!! And true to form the awesome citizen's of San Antonio conducted themselves fantastically during our in to the wee hours of the morning street party. The police chief (a new guy from Phoenix) said that the only problems they had was convincing people to stop hanging out of their car windows. Grin. Yeah that's our big problem.
I am so proud of Tony Parker too--I am a huge fan and it was so neat to see him get the MVP trophy. Eva was so cute snapping photo's of him--you would think a big Hollywood star would need snap shots. (See, here in S.A. our Spurs and their families are like OUR families--they're not super stars--they are super guys.)
I also finished my my secret project and I am crossing my fingers and toes, but I will let my breath out. I am fully expecting a rejection letter. But it's a good experience. Whew.
So between that and the Spurs winning, I got no sleep last night. BUT I did finally delete all my email spam--all 14,000...yes---fourteen thousand. A typical month see me getting about 4,000 spams. That does not include the hundreds and hundreds of emails that I want (yahoo groups and friends).
We leave for Myrtle Beach in exactly a week--a week of beach fun (and I found a yarn shop in N. Myrtle Beach--grin) and then a week with my in-laws (and the vastness that is their family) and a couple days with my family. For the first time in years, my entire family will be in the same place at the same time. Phil will probably be deployed soon after to Iraq. He's in intel (back office) so he won't be shooting at anyone, but still there's roadside bombs, suicide bombs, and snipers. I wonder if my other brother is jealous. Craig has been itching to be deployed (he's a medic) and so far he hasn't, whereas Phil's already been to Afghanistan. But I don't mind--Craig WILL be in the thick of things--so him working in an ER in S. Carolina is fine with me. It scares me to think of the horrors Craig will see when he does go to Iraq. I wonder what it'll do to him.
Eck, I've been feeling out of sorts. That pretty much sums up everything right now.
That and the phrase, "I am going to..." I am going to cleanup the house. I am going to redesign my blog. I am going to design a whole NEW website. I am going to open up a Knit Wear design shop. I am going to teach Micci to read. I am going to fully potty train Lorelei and say goodbye to diapers.
Sometimes I think I try to juggle too much. This weekend I was feeling pretty down. I am good at a lot of things. My cup over-floweth. I can write well. I am smart. I am creative. I can cross stitch well. I can knit well. I can design well (both web and knit). Eh, but I can not do any of those things superbly. I feel so freaking average. Birdwell is NOT average. Or this is what I tell myself. I constantly run away from the idea that I might just be average.
I am in the depths of "what is the point?" It's NOT a good place to be mired in. Not_at_all.
In the midst of these duldrums, I did manage to get something done and it was done veyr nicely, thank you very much.
I present the Clapotis.
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: 3 skeins Sinfonia, colorway: Matizado Bosque. Sport weight mercenized cotton.
Needles: Denise Interchangebles in size 8
Modification: I mirror-twisted the knit stitches on either side of the drop stitch on every row. I also purled the drop stitch in order to free myself of stitch markers. I knitted three extra repeats on the straight section.
Resource: Project Notes from Needles and Hooks and Jamye (not My Jamey obviously) for the yarn inspiration--she started the entire Clapotis Fever that spread through my knit group.
Time: May 15-June 10 2007
I really love how the pooling settled. Fantastic. I loved knitting this wrap. It was so much fun and super super easy. I haven't been able to wear it out, but I keep trying it on and prancing in front of the mirror. I plan to take another pic of it with me eating a croissant (see pattern for the why). In any case it'll be a great vacation wrap.
Speaking of which--vacation is coming up in a little over a week. We have the laptop with the wireless so if we find a hot spot, I might be able to blog a bit. I even found a yarn shop in Myrtle Beach--I am totally dragging Jamey to it.
With this mood hanging over me--vacation will certainly be interesting.
Most days Jamey checks the mail--of course he gets first shot at the mail. Every time I get a new Knit Picks catalog, I have to wait my turn to flip through it. Most people would toss the yarn pr0n at their knitter spouse. Not my hubby, I have to wrassle him for it.
You'd think he's the one obsessed with yarn. AND you'd think he would be more willing to let me buy from said catalog. Sigh.
To be fair, I am the one that reads FHM when Jamey had the free subscription--I really liked the insane articles.
On the knitting front: I am finally decreasing my clapotis (I added a few repeats). Picture time!.
I just started...so small.
More progress, I believe I just started the straight section.
I really love how the variegation worked out. It's like I planned it. This is going to be a beautiful wrap.
I'll be sure to post specs, since I knitted it to suit my needs (I HATE long term use of stitch markers--they're natty little things, always getting in the way). I am hoping to have this finished definitely before vacation--be nice if it's done by next week. I am toying with knitting up a new one during vacation--because I am that obsessed.
