back - again..

Not sure if anyone reads blogs anymore.. with other social media, have they gone way of the dionosaur? Not sure.....However, they are required for secret pal swaps.. so i guess i'd better get back in the habit, no?

A real Hero

So last week in history marked a special event... Friday was National Obervance of POW/MIA - and as luck would have it.. i was within 4 feet of a true american hero on Friday...A POW, now aged 90.. survived the Bataan Death March & was a POW for 3 years.....and I was too chicken to tap him on the shoulder and say "hi"..... next time... i will and ask him to take my picture with me.... if you can.. buy a copy of Soldier Slave by James W. Parkinson and Lee Benson.... and grab a box of tissue...

SFS knitting

I've been trying really hard to keep up on my SFS knitting and have signed up for and got a mentor...i need that accountability... my local yarn shop does not carry the regulation yarn, so i either have to order a bag of 10 balls (not bad, realy), or order via SFS... so here we have my first "kit" - the yarn is no longer officially used, and I used some of it to warp my loom; the Lambs Pride (3 balls/greyish in color), i believe is still used, but cant recall if its for regulation socks or leisure socks.. and finally - a BBS or big black stock on the needles... sadly, this yarn is no longer used and it may become a pair of socks for me... SFS socks have a 12" leg - then the heal... and then the foot.. and why oh why do soldiers have such large feet... i think every knitter wishes she had married a man with small feet...ok. loom is being stupid; no official yarn for SFS, so back to baby sweater knitting today.

Staying on Track

Well, I've had the best of intentions, really I have...Life just continues to get in my way.
I requested and got a mentor for my Socks for Soldiers group - just to stay on track, be accountable and have someone to report in to. It's been a bust. My LYS did not have in stock the regulation yarn (Regia #124), but I can order it thru the SFS group. IF I can remember my password to my old email account, which I can't. Tried too many times to guess last night and it locked me out for 12 hours! CRAP!

I set aside a realy cute baby sweater (the peanut is due 10/17) to knit up a beanie cap for a friend's b-day. Going to buy buttons tonight and then its in the mail...

I'll post pictures tonight of my SFS stuff, and some baby stuff...its all on my laptop at home.

Bad Habits

I promised several times to be more frequent in my postings, but this time i mean it...i swear.. taking pics this weekend.. promise.

Weaving's AhhhHaaa momment

You know that real bummer part of dressing your loom (Ashford, ridgid heddle), when you've got your yarn all squared away and it's time to wrap it up on the beam...and you need someone to hold the ends while you wind it up?? Sometimes spouse is not around, or its like 11 at night and neighbors are not too keen about your knock on the door, "say, can you help me out with my loom?" Not a very good idea.... and then - as I watch the video for putting together my new Julia loom.... I see the nice lady wrapping up ALL BY HERSELF!! How is that possible you ask?? By doing this:

How stinking brilliant is that?? A simple weight at the end of your warp yarn!! This weight was taken off my antique circular sock knitting machine... but you could run over to your handy dandy Ace Hardware, buy yourself a big ole "S" hook and some big ole bolts and/or washers and spiffy just like that - you can dress your loom 24/7 with no help!! Whhhoo Hooo. This little bit of stuff (50/50 cotton/linen) will be a set of 3 wash clothes - using a cool technique to put little nubby loops in it, just like your run of the mill store type wash clothes and towels..

Lace Dress is DONE

Well, it has taken at least one year.. I found a picture taken Feb. 9, 2009 of just the skirt part being done...if nothing else, I am persistant.....I am happy with out it turned out...it fit, thank G*d...after ripping and decreasing needle sizes.. the recipient is a widget in size, can't tell from the pictures, but (and The Girl, if she reads this, don't be mad) but seriously, there are some 7th graders bigger than this 25 year old. If I were to dunk her in water, she'd maybe be 99lbs.. so, see, its a small dress and smaller than the original patttern's smallest size.. hence a year in the making... It's done and now on to other things.. Like that horrid Tree of Life afgan from Lion Brand, who they say has no errors in the pattern, so, I guess it's just vague and ambiguous then.... rat bastards...

Military Mail

OK, not sure who is in charge of processing military mail coming from overseas.... but last week I got a card from a military person, postmarked Jan 4th - well, that's reasonable... but today, January 25th.. I get a Christmas card from the same person, dated 12/15/09 and post marked December 24th...hmmmmmm.. governmental efficiency?? oxymoron?? you decide.

Stuff...

First, to avoid confusion to a family member whose blog i just posted to... I am not really crazy. This blog was created for the purpose of knitting exchanges, etc. Hence the rather one subject posting bits....I had to out myself to post on your blog...it's cute..

Second: To my friend who thought that weaving would be a good hobby - thinking a loom would not take up too much room, nearly causing me to pee my pants... I have pictures to post... stay tuned.. emailing them now from cell phone to email.....check back in a few min.

Yes, I am still here

Wow.. last post was in November? Seriously?? So, yes I've been knitting, but not making progress on too much of anything....still working on dress for The Girl. Should be done by Christmas....(ya right). Had to have Healtherly unknit one of my Socks for Soldiers helmet liners.. I did some Vicodin knitting last month and dropped stitches, added stitches and otherwise screwed up the last few rounds of the hat... it's back on the needles all proper like now. I've also made two beanie caps from a kit I got at a WINERY in Napa.. They use sheep in the vineyard to eat the weeds, sheer them, send the fleese to Yolo Mill Works and sell about 100 kits.. Whoo Hoo.. The first hat is on it's way to Iraq and the second, after our mailman tries it on for size, will soon follow. The real purpose of this post is to say "what amazing friends I have" In the last 7 - 10 days, I've taken about 8 or 9 boxes to the post office - all headed to Iraq.. Between me, my friend, debbie, and her neighbor, we've sent home made cookies, top ramen, etc and put a smile on over 30 soldiers faces... I am not tooting my own horn here.. it just amazes me that in such short order 3 people can get so much done! I'll take pictures of the "winerey hat" before it gets sent off.. promise.

A Real Miss America

Now this is what I'm talkin' about!! It's been ages, but here I am....leaving in a few hours for a confernece..but I promise to post when I get back.

Still here/still knittin'

No pics as my camera is not with me....I just ordered some stuff from Knit Picks... the Carmen Banana money kit and the Tidings of Joy ornement kit. Why? Who knows... I need that stuff like I need a hole in my head. Still working on dress for The Girl Child, still working on the Tree of Life blanket (curses - it's a Knit PIcks pattern and with the errors in it, I swore I'd nver buy another pattern from them again. but i just did, so kids: never say "never."

While in Vegas a month back or so, my dear SIL told me, after I used the term "smoots" that I could not say it, as I was not a member of "the Tribe." - well - hells bells. I got a book last week called "If You Can't Say Anything NIce, Say it In Yiddish" - we'll just have to see whose the boss after I learn some crafty little things to say to that little whipper snapper!! Love him to death, but don't tell me I can't say smoots!! See if he ever gets hand knitted socks from ME!!

i am knitting on a helmet liner for Socks for Soldiers; knitting on a sock for me (finished one, now doing the mate); still got the dress and the blanket, what else is new..

MY LOOM: I ordered a stand for my loom, it arrived and hubby said he'd pick it up while I was outof town - he forgot and now I have to get it tomorrow.

I am making a rug for our new bathroom... setting tile this week. my hope is to weave rug this weekend!! Whoo Hooo.

What's on the needles

Well, I've not fallen off the face of the earth - almost, but not just yet. I've been trying to knit thru the stash for some time now and at first decided to tackle big projects first, just to make a dent in the pile of yarn...but other projects call my name.. Here is what I am currently working on.. keeping in mind that socks never count - ie buying sock yarn is not adding to stash, knitting socks is not included in having "too many" projects on the needles..

Ok, Blogger is being really stupid, not loading pictures and I don't have time to wait.. Off to Knit Night. I'll post later.. but I am working on Lion Brand's Tree of Life Afgan, lots of errors in the pattern, which pisses me off...had to rip out about 4" of lace in the dress I am makin for The Girl Child..Interweave Knits, can't recall which issue.. and bum gloves for a friend. pattern is giving me fits: sl2tog, k1, psso - really? Why can't i remember how i did that.. pass what stitchover?? I don't understand. RANT RANT RANT, STOMPING FOOT..

Freedom Isn't Free

The 4th of July is not about BBQs or picnics or fireworks....it's about freedom - and it's not free. So tomorrow, as you eat your burgers and ribs and whatnot - be sure to thank a soldier for your freedom - not everyone gets to celebrate this weekend with family and friends...

Proper Thank You x 2

I received two packages recently. One from my friends at Socks for Soldiers. The basket from SFS is the one with the red, white and blue basket; the second is from my SP 13 Buddy. As you can see, I've been well spoiled of late. Can you see the green shawl in the top of the picture? That's a prayer shawl knit by one of the members of SFS....I've never had one knit something like this for me, because, thankfully, I've never in the past needed something like this. So the gift is very touching and yet bittersweet. The fiber from my SP13 buddy will come in handy. After hitting "save" on this post , I am off to our Spinning Guild meeting, where I will be shown how to use my Turkish drop spindle.. we shall see. I expect there to be cussing involved.. So, thank you both to my SP13 Buddy and to all the members of SFS for keeping me in prayer - for the kind words and just thinking good thoughts... I do appreciate it.

Thank you!!

First, to my SP13 buddy. Your box was waiting for me when I got home on Sunday. It must have arrived on Friday (I played hooky from work). I'll post proper pictures - I love all the fibery goodness!!

Second, but not least - the gift basket from my Socks For Soldiers family. WOW - I am humbled to say the least. I've never received a prayer shawl before - thank you - each and everyone of my knit-sibs! I'll take pictures and make a proper post.

I'm feeling really loved today - Thank you!

What's New

Well, just when I think it is possible for me to rip someones face off - the sheer fustration of things not getting done....that life smacks you upside the head. I received a call today from a lovely man - a local Veteran, who had read Blake's obituary in the local paper and not wanting to call me too soon, waited until today. This nice man, Stu, is a mover and shaker of sorts in our area, and has probably worked countless hours to make this happen: www.orovilleveteransmemorialpark.org - His call was to inform me that it would be their honor to include Blake in their Veterans' Memorial Wall. We chatted for a bit. We talked about Blue Star Moms and about Socks for Soldiers. He writes a weekly article for the local paper and links can be found at the above website. Give it a visit. He said he'd write an article about Blake, if I'd give him some information. I sent him links to YouTube and told him to check out the video.

This evening I read Yarn Harlets post about her daughter turning 15 - her youngest.. a great ditty about parenthood - but it made me a bit sad at all the things I'll never do: hold a child of Blake's; attend his wedding; the joy of a new house; the joyful return after deployment - just those simple things in life that we all celebrate in some way....and I try not to be too clingy to The Girl. and I try to be thankful for the "nots" - not shot, not in a far away land, not MIA, not POW, not scared.

And then greatful - for all his military buddies - past and future - who are willing to serve our country....now I need to go pick up my pointy sticks and knit some socks for SFS - my first pair since Blake died, but there are soliers out there without handknit socks and that's just criminal!!

I continue to be amazed at how wonderful our Army is to our family and the outreach of support from guys like Stu and other Veterans...God bless 'em all.

What is on and off the needles

What have I been knitting: Well, in no particular order and you'll be able to match up picture with "report":

1. The Girl's dress. This is an Interweave Knits pattern from the Summer 2008 magazine. I am to the point in the pattern where I need to cast on some stitches for the over-lap of the lacey top. No clue how to do that and my Yarn Yenta is snow bound for a few days.. Darn that snow!!

2. Socks for Soldiers: this is a cast on of a helmet liner and a finished one. The finished one was/is an official SFS cap and was gifted to my son, he wore it a few times before he passed away. The cap will be gifted to his Army buddy when he comes home on leave from Iraq in a few weeks.

3. Bum Glove. This is a KnitPicks pattern. I am making them for my "old" assistant, who left after 2.5 years for anther career field.. this is kinda like second sock syndrom, except this is not a sock (duh). They go really fast - the palm part of the hand takes the longest and the fingers can be done in a night of knitting.. so what's my hang up?? The urge to cast on something new... I hate that...

Ohh, the mailman delivered the Spring 2009 Interweave Knits today...but it snowed this morning so it's hard to think about spring when its flippin freezing outside... brrrrrr

Blogger is being stupid

I was going to post pictures of my current knitting projects. but blogger is being stupid....

What's On & Off The Needles

I've been knitting. . . .

Socks for Soldiers: I've completed (weeks ago) and finally turned in a helmet liner/beanie cap! I know I need to get back to knitting socks.. that's the Mission, but somehow socks seem so personal to me...

The Girl's Dress: I am pee my pants excited about this one - I am 1/2 inch away from being at the "natural waistline"... which means I have to modify the pattern a bit and not do a repeat...i'll double check my measurments tonight..

Fingerless Mit: I've completed one and now need to do it's mate. This is a pattern from Knit PIcks, I think......ya, pretty sure. I'll have to take pictures of the bum glove and the dress and post them...

SP 13: I did send package #2 and now need to get busy on package 3.. I am so not thinking straight, i can't even recall when the swap ends.... arrggg....