A Knitting Fool.....

Mugshot Monday seems to have taken a back seat?  I have been a little under the weather with a wee cold and the SF has been busy.....working, working out, cleaning...you name it....OH!  And plowing snow!



See how he's holding his rear leg.  That's his leg that has pins in it.  Seems that the cold goes right up his little chicken wing into the pins and turns him into TRIPOD.



Men and their toys!

What I have been busy doing is knitting/crocheting.

I am crocheting a blanket for the trailer and making good progress considering it will be a queen size when I'm done.  I've determined that it actually serves as a blanket when crocheting because I lay it across my lap as I'm working on it.  Ernie thinks it's great as well.  He's forever trying to crawl onto my lap to sit on top of it.  The other night I found myself sitting at an uncomfortable 30 degree angle because he'd parked his cuteness on top of it and I didn't want to disturb him.  Instead, I contorted my decrepit back to work around him.  He certainly has my number.

I have continued my KAL with my friend, Jolene, and our socks, Salor.  It's a bit slow as I am finding the dark wool a bit difficult to work with at night.  Despite the recent addition of bifocals and an OTTlite, it appears that I am beyond help.  Therefore, I am restricted to daylight hours for working on this beautiful sock.  I am down to the toe on sock #1.

My final project is also a KAL with my friend Chris who resides in Chicago.  We met through Ravelry coming on two years now.  A kind comment from her on my ravatar (a photo of Ernie, of course) has blossomed into a wonderful friendship.

We are knitting a doll named Poppy .  I'm sure I will find someone to gift her to.  She is knit from the head down in one piece.  If you know me, I can't stand sewing in ends.  (Just ask the SF.  He had to listen to me belly-ache about the recent hat I crocheted that had some 50+ ends!)  The daunting task of sewing in ends on my blanket (already at 48 ends) is enough to overwhelm anyone so the promise of just a few draws me to this adorable little girl.  I haven't decide on any colours for her coif, as yet, nor her dress.  I keep perusing the 346 Poppies already posted online.

I haven't completely ignored my camera.  Here is my trusty knitting sidekick in all of his cuteness.

Suddenly I am feeling a nap coming on.....hmmmmm.

11,111 in 2011 - The Man Hat II

Another contribution to my knitting goal. This is the second time I have knit this pattern. Check it out here. I knit this with the remainder of the same ball of wool but changed the stitch I used and the needle size which resulted in a completely different colour pooling. The wonders of wool.

11,111 Yards in 2011

I have added another goal to 2011.  Knit 11,111 Yards in 2011.  You'll notice a progress bar on the sidebar to track my progress.

Of course, the peanut gallery's comment was, "Why not 11,000 kms on the treadmill?"  My thoughts....why set myself a goal that I KNOW that I'll never achieve.  Knitting is so much more fun that running on a treadmill.  Besides, I happen to have suffered another Kimism last night.  As usual, I was distracted from the task at hand, emptying the dishwasher, by something riveting on the internet...probably some knitting.  The way I look at it, I was actually multi-tasking.  While I was waiting for the kettle to boil for our evening tea, I decided to empty the dishwasher but only got the top half emptied before my tea was ready and then retired to the couch completely forgetting about the bottom shelf.  That was, until, the SF went to put his spoon into the dishwasher.

"Did you not finish emptying the dishwasher?", he says, with a hint of disdain.  My response, "Oh, Sh*$", jump up from the couch and start my retreat to the kitchen.  I don't even make it to the end of the couch when I slam my baby toe into the battery pack from my laptop and feel a crack, followed by a bevy of, "Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"  I'm surprised I could actually bend over to grab my toe, as my back also happens to be out of service from a slip I suffered over the weekend.  Seems the steps outside are a little icy.  Seems one pain made me forget the other....for a few moments anyway.

Anywhoooo, when I woke up this morning, my little piggy looks about the size of my big piggy and is a rainbow of red, black, blue, purple and green.  Thanks, once again, Mum.  (She knows what I mean.  Believe me!)

Here is my first completed project..... the Faux Flap Heel Sock 

A free toe-up sock pattern designed by Brie.  A really quick knit (once I figured out my math and gauge?!)

2.37% down....97.63% to go.....Check back tomorrow for my second project.

Kimism

What is a Kimism you ask?  Well, let me just give you an example.  I've been saving this one for you.  I haven't even shared this with my husband as I wanted to avoid the rolling eyes which is generally accompanied with a sympathetic, yet somewhat exasperated, "Oh, Kim".

Remember back a bit when Itchy and I did our wool dying project. 

Well, before you can skein your wool it has to be completely dry or there is a risk of mould developing in the fibres....or something like that.  I hung mine in the shower to dry but as we live in a very humid climate, 12 hours later it was still wet so I decided to put it out on the clothes line  You know?  The clothesline my loving husband hung for me at one point in the Summer.    It stretches from the upper deck of our house across the driveway and makes its return trip from around a tree in the forest beside our yard.  I figured the wool would dry quickly as it was a warm yet breezy day.

From time to time, I glanced out to check its status and noticed the wool was drifting down the line toward the trees.  I hadn't used any clothes pins to hold it in place because I didn't want to damage it so I would occasionally haul the line in and re-adjust it.  Well, I must have gotten busy doing something (distracted, as usual) and suddenly noticed that the breezy had turned into gale force wind (slight exaggeration).  I ran for the window to find my wool of many colours tangled in the trees, and the SF who just happened to be in the back yard perched on his John Deere, completely oblivious to my plight.

I headed to the deck to pull in the line.  Argh!  At some point I must have forgotten to straighten the line out.  You know there is that thingamajiggy that joins the line and hinders it from making a full rotation on the clothesline.  It's either hampered by the tree at the other end or the other what'sit wheely thingy.  Well that sucker was not in a good place as I only had feet to go before I ran out of line.  With each hopeful tug, my heart dropped because the wind would push my rainbow shaded locks back into the trees.  I look to the SF riding his JD intently willing him to come to my rescue, but to no avail. 

Time for a Macgyver moment.  Since the line is probably 10' or 12' off the ground there is no way I can reach it by hand, even if I stand on my tippy-toes.  Then it dawns on me, a broom might work.  I fetch one and return to the scene of the crime.  (Look over shoulder at the SF.  NOPE.  Still not paying attention).  And then I go for it.  I extend my arm as far as it will go, holding the broom handle with the tips of my fingers and standing on my tippy-toes.  SH%$  Just short.  Okay, in doing my math I would say I have underestimated the height of the line.  If I am 5'7", add 2' for my arms and a broom that is about 4' and the wool hanging down about another 3'....let's adjust that to 15', give or take, above the ground.  At least from where I was standing, buried in the trees.  Let's rethink this.  Wait!  I've got it!  While prepping the deck for painting, I used the extendable broom the SF bought to clean the trailer.  That should do it!

Back I go.  (SF?  Still not giving me the time of day).  I add a couple of feet to the length, probably not enough because in hind-sight, I was still standing on my tippy-toes when there was plenty of length remaining available to me.  Regardless, I was able to gently pluck the wool from the tree and began sliding it back toward the house.  Unfortunately the wind was not cooperating.  For every foot I moved the wool, the wind would blow it back 6".  (SF?  WTF?)  It was slow going.  After a good minute or so, the end was within sight.  A couple more feet to go, a quick dash back up to the deck to retrieve it and I should be GTG (good to go, people).

At this point my arms, having been unnaturally over my head for longer than they are meant to be, are on fire.  The SF is still ignoring me and the sun is blinding me.  I'm not sure which is worse?  But the finish line is oh, so close so I give it my all when all of a sudden, the damn wind gives a mighty hurricane level gust and the wool wraps itself into the bristles of the broom.  With every twist of the handle, I entangle the wool further and panic sets in.  Now I seriously look to the SF to come to my aid.  Nope.  In fact, he's now bouncing to the beat of whatever his ipod is feeding into his ears.  In vain, I try to free the broom from its captor and, at the same time, will the SF to get off the damn tractor to help me.  If you've ever had long hair and tangled it into a brush....?  Well that was what I was up against.  The pain in my arms is now searing and I've induced a hot flash accompanied with a bit of a panic attack.  Trying to maintain the broom in one hand, I wait for the SF to round the corner.   He'll be heading straight for me.  He's bound to see me.  NOT!  In fact, now, I swear to God, he's playing the air-drums using the gas pedal as the pedal on his base drum and the steering wheel as his toms.  (Must be listening to RUSH!)

I guess I'm on my own here.  So I think.  WWJD?  (What would Jesus do)  NAAAH!  If I leave the broom hanging from the wool and run up to the deck to try and pull it in, I not only take the risk of damaging my wool with the broom's weight, I may fall over the rail as it is still troublingly far away from reach.  At this point, my arms have gone numb.  I swear there is so little blood pumping through them that amputation is certainly going to be required.  A calm comes over me as I face my reality.  I take a few deep breaths and try to think rationally.  Just like getting your hair snaggled in the teeth of a brush, the only way out (besides cutting a hunk out) is the same way it entwined itself.  Just reverse the twist, add a couple of jiggles, patiently wait for the wind to make up its mind which direction it wants to blow and....VOILA!  Free!  Phew!

I drop the broom and make the dash up to the deck where I rescue my masterpiece and, once again, confirm the SF's status.  Yep, still not paying any attention, whatsoever.  I consider leaving the damn broom in the middle of the yard, but then he'll surely question what I was up to.  I can hear the exasperated "Oh, Kim" already.  Instead, I just return the broom to its rightful place and with a self-indignant 'harumph', I can't help the smile that overcomes me.  I count my blessings. I'm just all the better for him not knowing....YET. 

So THAT is a Kimism.  They happen every day around here.

1.1.11

1.1.11 - How could it get any better?  Happy New Year to you all!  And of course, with a new year and a new decade, this week will be all about resolutions, goals, and a bit of reflection on the past year.

Here goes........my top (20) Eleven Resolutions (to break)

Let's just get the two obvious ones out of the way and then we'll get on with it, shall we?

1. Get Active – try and do at least one physical activity each day, even if it is just walking the dogs.


2. Eat Healthier....and less – hopefully a by-product of this will be that I lose some weight.

3. Get Healthy. What do I mean? Take better care of myself. I seem to take better care of my dogs than I do of myself. Oh, and don’t be so hard on myself!

4. Get a job.

5. Be a better wife, daughter, sister, doggy mama, friend, student of life... Just be a better person. Take the time to reach out to my loved ones more often. Be kind. Be thoughtful. Have patience. Practice random acts of kindness. Smile more. Laugh more.

6. Take a course....any course, really. Do at least one thoughtful thing that will make the SF’s day a little brighter/easier.

7. Get Organized! This poses a challenge to my hoarding tendencies and my attention deficit. If I can spend an hour a day organizing, I should be well prepared for a garage sale come Spring. Let’s set a goal of May 1st, shall we. Perhaps some neighbours (hint, hint) may want to hold a neighbourhood garage sale. Considered yourselves notified. More details to come.

8. Watch less TV and spend less time mindlessly surfing the Internet.

9. Read more – fiction or non-fiction.

10. Knitting....this is a definite multi-part resolution which I shall address further over the next couple of days. To get started I shall (try to) commit to the following:

a. Do not start any new knitting projects until you have finished the ONE started. This will commence once I finish the current 4....5.....6.....uh...I actually don't know how many I do have started. But I WILL NOT start another project until I get the one's done that are kicking about the house. Good thing I cast your socks on yesterday T!

b. Organize stash, needles, gadgets.

c. To Be Continued....

11. Stop Procrastinating - Which means I really should get off my arse and go take the dogs for a walk before it gets too late. Does this mean I need to get out of my PJ’s? It is only 2:20 pm after all. Just about time to put them back on.  Ahhhh....maybe I'll start this all tomorrow.  I'm feeling a nap coming on.

(I have been gazing out the window as I’ve been typing and have seen 4 people jog past our fairly rural home. Must be everyone else pursuing their resolutions as well.)

I actually have several more resolutions on my mind but I’ll quit while I’m ahead, perhaps I should have gone for 2011 instead of 11?

So, anyone care to share their resolutions?

More Christmas Knitting....

As promised, a few shots of my hubby with his new Christmas toque on....

watching the Canada vs Russia game on Boxing Day.

The pattern, if interested can be found here.

A Happy Man....

With Happy Feet

 

Someone is looking for a toady scrub with those new socks. He figures since knitting them was a team effort, that he should reap some of the glory.

You Thought I Was Kidding, Right?

I told you he gets closer and closer.

Seriously?  This knitting is exhausting work.

Take Note....

A knitter covered in loose strands of wool usually indicates some frogging (ripping out your knitting) has taken place.  (Excuse the pornography.  This shot gives new meaning to the term "blue balls".  And, as some of you may know, when Ernie actually did have a set, he only had one visible externally therefore this photo is true to form.

Where was I...Heel Flap done.  Check.  Heel Turn done.  Check.  Gusset...in progress....frogged.....in progress!

Geez....I must have been a really good girl this year because either he's JUST watching TV or I got a lot more presents than he indicated....probably more than I deserve but I was a pretty good girl this year.

Despite My Best Efforts

...this Christmas is becoming reminscent of last. Not because I am knitting the Christmas Sock but because the SF is downstairs wrapping his presents. Apparently I am not the only procrastinator. Thank goodness for gift bags!

Sock progress.  Cuff done.  Check.  Leg done.  Check.  Heel Flap...in progress....

Everyone needs a trusty knitting companion like mine.  He gets closer and closer until he has me pinned into the corner of the couch and I can't move without crushing him.  What would I do without him.

How To Get Out Of Making Dinner.



Lonesome Sock

How to get out of making dinner.....threaten that his sock won't be done for Christmas and endure the guilt trip associated with him making dinner after working a full day.



One hour down....cuff done.

Dinner's calling.  Must eat!

Bah! Humbug!

As a majority of the population does, at least I'm hoping, I have procrastinated on one of my gifts.  If I recall, I was in the same position last year?!  This time around I thought I would have a little fun with it.  Of course it is a knitting gift.  I think last Christmas Eve the SF and I were in separate ends of the house while I knitted away and he sat by his lonesome.  Actually, I think he was wrapping presents.  This year, I started knitting them in front of him.  They were, in actuality, a last minute request on his part.  He wanted a pair of ankle socks to wear around the house.  Our friend T refers to these as bed socks.   I searched my patterns and extremely large stash, made my selections, gained approval and cast-on.  One sock down.  One to go.

I currently have 7 hours until Christmas arrives...... let the countdown begin.  Did I mention I still have dinner to make, dishes to do, dogs to play with......

Regardless, casting on...  updating soon.

That 70s Show.

Itchy and I have been scratching....okay, itching, to take on a project reminiscent of decades past....The 70s. While I was but a youth, Itchy was most-likely in her prime. Ah yes, I can picture her now, arms flailing in the air dancing around an impromptu bon-fire. Beads dripping from her neck, a hand strung crown of daisies sitting precariously upon her long flowing locks. A fringed suede vest is worn upon a tie dyed t-shirt emblazoned with rings of brilliant colours. A metal PEACE sign strung on a leather lace care freely hangs around her neck. In case the emblem around her neck goes unnoticed, she also has one on her belt buckle which holds up the bell bottoms jeans that hug her hips. And of course, she has an anklet of bells that jingle with each step her bare feet take. The faint scent of patchouli (that is patchouli I’m smelling, isn’t it?) wafts through the air with the sway of her arms as her and her hippy pals sing Kumbaya. Sorry Itchy, I don’t think sparkle dust was invented in the 70s.



Me, I was probably home watching the Brady Bunch or listening to my Donny Osmond music on the record player. Not to say that I didn’t have bell bottoms, but I was far too young to be dancing around in a field of daisies to the likes of Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Dylan, or CCR. I can, however, clearly imagine my pal Itchy there. Hell, I don’t think it would take much convincing for her to partake in such frivolity in the year 2010. Some things never change.


So what nonsense did Itchy and I get in to....well it relates to her years gone by t-shirt. We decided to experiment and combine our love of wool with our love of bold colours and put our hand to dying. But of course we couldn’t take the easy route and use regular store bought dye. Nope. We opted to try Kool-Aid. Turns out that both of us have wondered about such a project for years and decided to tackle it together.

Itchy came over with her wool, syringes to be used for application and her imagination, of course. She also brought along a WIP (work in progress). A pair of thrummed socks. For those who aren’t aware, thrummed items are made by knitting in the usual style, but every couple of stitches you knit a piece of roving (a small bundle of fibre) in with your fabric.

This is roving

The end result is a pair of extremely warm, very thick socks or mittens. In the North, the Inuit were/are known to put a large clump of muskox down in their gloves to keep their hands warm. The principle is the same. Anyway, as Itchy and I were chatting away, her knitting project must have fallen off the back of the couch because the next thing I know, Ernie is rounding the corner of the island in our kitchen with Itchy’s sock in his mouth. The sock is still mounted on her double-pointed needles and a tail of yarn dragging behind him. And isn’t he proud of himself.....

Not the best picture but between me rushing to grab my camera, laughing my ass off AND drawing Itchy’s attention to the little klepto, I was a little shaky. I was able to wrestle it away from him and return it to her with only the slightest amount of Ernie drool appearing on the fibres. Let’s face it, Ernie could do pretty much anything and Itchy would forgive him. The sun rises and sets by that dog and her own mob of hooligans and pretty much every other neighbour’s menagerie. Let’s just say he was lucky Itchy was so kind-hearted because he could have been in big trouble. Even the sun shine’s on a dog’s ass, is all I have to say.


Let’s get on with the show. Several days before hand, we found a few sets of instructions online detailing how to dye with Kool-Aid and then drove all over Charlottetown trying to find an assortment of colours. Who knew Kool Aid would prove to be so elusive?


Then we set up our plastic cups and carefully measured the correct ratio of water to the Kool-Aid powder setting off a cornucopia of aromas which induced a few more wholesome memories of the 70s. Since we seem to be very limited for types of Kool-Aid in PEI (we could only find 6 flavours and there are...well check this link out), we resorted to using Jello. Note to self, next time use sugar free. It turns out that you activate the STICKY factor when it gets wet. Sticky and wool don’t mix well. Also, if you are slow to use your dye, it starts to turn into Jello. Hmm? Who knew? Gelatinous Jello and wool don’t mix so well either. Lastly, if you use the product that contains sugar, the colour seems to be more diluted. Sugar free is more concentrated. With each cup that we made, we attempted to carefully place its corresponding package in front so that we wouldn’t get confused later on. However, there came a time when one concoction got away from its packaging so I bravely (stupidly) took a sip from the cup. (As any survivor of Jonestown will tell you, “DON’T DRINK THE KOOLAID!!!!”) Let me forewarn any other idiot that might attempt to discern the colour of Kool Aid by taking a sip of straight Kool Aid without the benefit of sugar. Just because you might be able to SMELL the flavour doesn’t mean you can taste it. NARSTY!


Once we had our rainbow assembled, we decided to do a colour test. Isn’t it pretty?

We also did a few combinations of colours because we weren’t quite satisfied with some of the colours that were generated.


We washed our wool in warm soapy water and then stretched it out on top of a plastic bag on the countertop and set to work. While I fiercely applied my dye using a chunkier effect, blending one stripe of colour into the next, Itchy daintily sprayed and sprinkled her wool with careful consideration.

Geez...can you tell which one is which?

Once we were satisfied with our respective application, we set to cooking our yarn. Itchy finished hers off in the microwave while I did mine in the steamer basket of a double-boiler. The end result. Itchy’s colours subtly blended together while mine came out looking like something a Rastafarian would wear upon their head. When her husband politely asked what I intended to make with mine, I threatened I was going to knit him a tie-dyed sweater. Perhaps it would cause him to reflect upon his time spent in the 70s.


TO BE CONTINUED.....

411.5 Hours - Not exactly what you would call a productive day.

A bit of a reprieve – while E is officially off work, he has to go in for the next 3 days for some training so the task master is not present to observe my work habits. I did, however, reassemble the dining room and gave it a good cleaning which was an official item on the to-do list. I just need to finish accessorizing it and also need to get or make some window coverings although I do love to have the windows open and have nature floating in. The dining room is the showcase to our bird feeders so Ernie and I can often be found glued to the window watching the birds and squirrels. I'll post some pictures at a later date.

I did a bit more seed planting, some taping in prep for painting tomorrow, a bit of tidying up and then went over to the neighbour’s house for a coffee date. I spent an hour or so there chatting of our love for our furry children, gardening and life in general, then home to make dinner.

I did get a call from my mom who was calling to tell me that their plans to come for a visit have been delayed once again as my dad is dealing with a health "issue". Remember that story yesterday about my dad's housecoat? Well, remember, I said I was young when I made it. A teenager, in fact. Ironically her and my dad were chatting about that very housecoat yesterday and she hadn't even read my blog yet. While I don't remember it, she said that I had an emotional meltdown on Christmas Eve because I hadn't finished it in time for Christmas. Funny, I don't remember that but it sure sounds like me. Remember the 3 knitting projects I was trying to get done for E for Christmas this year. I still have one left to complete.

Well, I'm off to get some bills,etc. sorted and then get a bit of knitting (no, not his project) done. I'm working on a shawl....I'm trying to use up some of my stash WITHOUT replacing it.

See you tomorrow.

Canada vs Russia...

As much as I LOVE HOCKEY...these games are freaking me out so I needed a diversion....a little Olympic knitting....

What are you all doing to avoid...GOAL!!!!!! 4-1!!!!!!.......actually watching? GO CANADA GO!!!! Come to think of it, I need to take on a knitting project that doesn't require so much visual attention so I quit missing the goals. Thank goodness for hitting reverse on the PVR. PVR to the rescue...plantholder....replay maker!