Progress on the blanket

Blogger ate my posting last night as it must have had a hiccough - all looked quirky in its appearance so I should have known better. So.... you get a shortened version of what I did last night.

• had to untangle a mess in the skein - so now have a nice ball
• almost finished the melon/salmon row
• listened to Renee Fleming sing on Great Performances while I knitted.
  

  
  

Santa

I Will Sing couldn't explain why Santa was at one of their local Episcopal Churches, but this Santa made a one day stop at our bazaar. He attracted enough business to top the 5000 mark(ok, I gave the bearded guy way too much credit on that one). A third of it goes outside of the community (Episcopal Relief and Development being one of the ones), inside the local community (Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels are two examples) and then the other third will remain within the church community to continue vital ministries within.
Every year, the day before, we swear we will never do another one, but how can we not when so many ministries are impacted in a positive manner.

Progress on the blanket

There is indeed progress on this blanket as every 38 rows, the color changes. I won't pretend that I will get this much done when school kicks in tomorrow, but it is nice to see some headway made on it, since have a few more to do.
Pattern is from Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - I am using size 6 instead of size 4 - of course it will make it bigger, but I couldn't see doing it on size 4 with the sport yarn I had. So far I have a lavender, a spring green and now a salmon that is just being introduced. Next will be a light pink, as the baby will be a girl! Grandma K wanted bright colors so she got 'em. (Don't know if she is reading my blog right now or not - will find out).

I do have a sock on the needle, but not quite ready to post it. I am using size 1 needles (2 circulars) and I seem to be knitting tightly. This is an assignment sock as I am working on one and a friend is working on another and it is self patterning/striping - her's seems to be pooling colors very differently than mine so we shall see the difference when I get a little further along!

By the way, Happy New Year for the liturgically inclined. I believe this is the very earliest that Advent can fall.

Out of the mouth of babes

Phone rings.....

Hello?

Mama (8 year old speaking)

Yes?

Can I stay and eat lunch with M & N ?

Have you been invited??

Let me go check..........

Little life lesson taught over the phone before 8 YO goes to find out if she has been invited...

All cooped up with a wave and a smile

Two of my favorite cutie patooties - no telling where this is except their mother has some agrarian pinings.... and she puts them in with the chickens. (Sooz, you can't spin yarn with chicken feathers).


I say Davis is in practice for politics with a wave and smile like this. Mary G isn't so sure.

Post Thanksgiving

Things have settled down as several of the children have gone and others are keeping busy by playing golf and working. Today, I spent some of the day knitting and actually made progress on a baby blanket for a friend's grandchild to be. This is the stage we are at this moment:

The pattern comes from Debbie Macomber's book Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - her book has 11 nice baby afghans (and some can be blankets for adults also) so I am working on a 2nd pattern. It's easy to memorize- I am using size 6 needles (it calls for 4, but I changed that) - my Denise needles are making a slower go than I would like, so I have ordered some Addi turbos to get it moving. The yarn is just not sliding on the cords. I am using a Lion Brand Baby Soft and th is is going to be a multi colored blanket as I am nearing a color change. Stay tuned for the next color!! This aboe is a nice soft purply/lavender color, not quite true to what the yarn appears. Perhaps an outside photo is in order as temps are in the 70s today.
In addition, I finished a sock except for the kitchener stitch for the toe. Look at these socks carefully and tell me the difference in the two.

Thanksgiving Evening

Oh, the evening is drawing nigh, and several folks have called it an evening. Went to visit husband's grandmother in the nursing home and all the residents were in the dining area, ready for their supper. We took some apple pie and cheese as it is her favorite.

TV was blaring the Black Entertainment Channel with rap music going. I know those octogenarians chose that station....... choosing that channel is like me choosing the news channel for preschoolers.. here are the folks raised on big band music. Don't think their tastes will change that drastically.

On another note, we reached 81 degrees and we had to tap the AC on this evening to get some cooler air circulating. Thought all of the northern readers would enjoy reading that.

Working on a baby blanket right now and trying to get it long enough to merit a picture. Pattern is easy to do, just slow on size 6 needles - think I need to change to Addi's to make the yarn slide a little more easily.

Thanksgiving

All five our our children are here - and that happens rarely. With blended families and diverse ages, I am not sure if it has actually happened but just a few times. WE went to the downtown gazebo and took a group picture. We even were coordinated and seemed somewhat together. I THINK we might have a family Christmas card!

Today's menu was:
Turkey breast
Spiral ham
cornbread dressing
broccoli casserole
green bean casserole (at several folks request - first for me at Thanksgiving)
sweet potato casserole (#2 daughter made this)
watergate salad (no marshmallows - cottage cheese instead)
apple pie
pumpkin pie
pickled tomatoes
black olives (at 8 year old request)
cranberry
chutney with hot mango chutney and cranberry and now sure what else (friend Sooz made it - great on turkey - was Southern Living recipes)
celery stuffed with pimento cheese

Several casualties found around the house - snoozin' and snorin' and general slothfulness due to overconsumption.

Tonight's meal for moi.... turkey sandwich on WHITE bread (unusual these days) and REAL Coca cola - fully leaded, fully charged. It's a nostalgia thing.....

Kid Lit Meme

RevGalPals throws out another meme to us - and I think I will tag some folks on this one.

• Earliest book you remember (read to you or by you) I know my parents must have read to me, but I don't remember it. I remember as a child looking a books on factual information - rocks, birds, etc. I remember distinctly 1st grade readers also. First book in school I remember being read to me was in 3rd grade - The Lion's Paw by Robb White. I loved that book. It's out of print and is about orphans confiscating (stealing?) a boat and navigating around Florida in search of a shell. Does anyone remember this book? Do you have a copy of it?
• I would be remiss if I did not mention that my 3rd grade Sunday School teacher read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (Interesting how both these books have the word "Lion" in the title.
• Picture Book you would like to climb into - The Mitten by Jan Brett - all you knitters out there - this is a knit alert! Knitter in book!
• Favorite series of books (then or now) - The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
• Character you would most like to meet
• Last childhood book you re-read (for yourself or to someone) - not a fair question to a preschool teacher. I read children's books all of the time. However, last book I read for ME that was a children's book was Because of Winn Dixie AND Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo - if you have not read any of her books, they are quite good and I recommend them. The latter of the two won the Newbery Medal.

Hmmm, I think I will tag these folks - Norma, Jess, Ellen, Naomi, and Stephanie.

Let the memeing (ooh is there such a word?)

Most apropro knitting to the extreme

Ever since the summer, I have wanted to participate in extreme knitting. I saw folks knitting in caves, on swinging bridges, in scuba gear, as well as liturgical vestments. Extreme knitting seemed to elude me. Well today I may have accomplished it and where the socks fit, knit it.

In my little ziploc bag, I had the sock that was suffering from SSS (2nd sock syndrome). Don't you think that knitting a sock is most appropriate while in a podiatrist's office? Waiting seems to be the name of the game at a doctor's office, and today was typical. However, the sock in its infancy was otn and ready to participate to the extreme.

I spare you the rest of the procedure in pictures as they would be just as delightful as the toenail fungus commercial on television. I will say I am glad it is over and I should not have the problem in ingrown toe nails again.
I am not even positive who I should check with to see if this qualifies so if someone remembers, I will make an entry.
Tomorrow is our church bazaar. I knitted an Advent scarf, along with a few other items. I feel like I have a little bit of my slate cleaned off now. I have felt tense this week hoping I got everything done.

Knit Unto Others

A Knit along for the next two weeks (Nov. 15-30) to knit for your favorite charity:

Find out more here.

Use your inside voices please

I say it practically every day at school. Some little ones have their volumn level up too high and need a reminder that they do not need to yell to get someone's attention.

Well, a store owner also decided to remind the little ones (and I can't help to think the adults also) that it was important to use their "inside voices" in his eating establishment. And parents got miffed and offended. Read it in its entirety in the New York Times
At Center of a Clash, Rowdy Children in Coffee Shops

The owner of A Taste of Heaven, Dan McCauley, said he posted the sign - at child level, with playful handprints - in the hope of quieting his tin-ceilinged cafe, where toddlers have been known to sprawl between tables and hurl themselves at display cases for sport.

My goodness - a gentle reminder and folks get their noses bent out of shape. If only we had to worry about more important things.....

No zip in frappr and no place to call home

Ok, folks, I have succumbed to the trend of creating a Frappr map(where in the world (no pun intended) did that name from?) However, somehow when I try to put my zip in there to add my name to a map, it tells me I have an invalid zip code. Ok, I know I have a "new" zip code - its about 3 or 4 years old and I occasionally have to plug in the old zip code so an order or info can be processed through. I tried that, no go. Frappr likes none of my zip codes - not the old one, not the one across town, not the ones for the post office boxes only. So I have no home on a Frappr map unless someone has a solution. Sure I can place any ol' zip, but doesn't that defeat the purpose?
Here's my link to the map:

On another note, we are still in air conditioning mode - but that should change this evening with a cool front coming through. Where we live, we have been known to run the a/c at some point every month. Welcome to the south. We knit with wool just to pretend we need it 5 days out of the year.

Felted inside boots - Voila!

Yesterday evening, I finished the boots. And here they are:

I used Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Bulky Weight Yarn, and the embroidery I used some OLD Elsa Williams Tapestry Yarn I had from some stash. I used the pattern from Cat Bordhi's book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: a Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns
It went through the washing machine cycle twice to get the desired effect. After 24 hours, they are still a little damp. A quicker project than socks since they were on size 11 needles. Those of you that would like to try socks might want to try something like this since it is quicker and bigger, easier on the eyes and felting is MUCH more forgiving for any boo boos made along the way. I promise..
By they way, I did a whimsical design on there and fully intended for them NOT to match - that way if someone is wondering which should be their left shoe and right shoe, one has a loop, the other doesn't!
Come to our bazaar - they will be there :)

Knitting in the world of education

They have found that knitting is education worthy. But we all knew that!

http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev100.shtml

I just want to know who keeps count of the knitting needles.

Knitting, Felting, using 2 circulars

I am furiously working on bazaar projects for our church bazaar. I completed the icords for the Booga UGA purse and need to felt them.

Last night I began a inside boot using a pattern from Cat Bordhi's book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: a Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns . Notice it is 12 inches long and will swallow my foot. Once felted it should be where a size 8-9 felted boot. Twill see if I followed the directions correctly.

I also got a tiny notion to embellish it, so I decorated the top of the foot with this:

Now I need to get a move on with the second boot or I will be selling this to a one footed person.

Wizard of Oz is being shown on TBS over and over again - they are celebrating their new digitized version of the movie. I still don't like the wicked witch, but I am brave enough to stay in the room now. I still get that scared feeling when they mantra "Lion Tigers and Bears, oh my is being said.

Does anyone remember the knitter on the movie???

I've been tagged by a knitting meme

Jess tagged me, and I now become part of the tag team....

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?

Hmmm... I guess I don't really have a favorite - sometimes it is the one I am knitting -- probably a better question would be what yarn I DON'T like - I just tried knitting with a chenille yarn that was some stash that someone had donated and I couldn't get it to look right.
don't really like the novelty yarns.

I do like Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock as Jess does.
Wool-Ease is pleasant also. No yarn snob am I....

The worst thing you've ever knit?
If it is bad, I rip it out and take it out of its misery.
Each and every project is a learning experience. If I have knit a "worst thing", I haven't gotten there yet. But you will know when I do it.

Most valuable knitting technique?
I just learned a different cast on that makes my work a little quicker at the beginning.

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
I noticed Jess likes Madli - I guess I need to get to a higher level of knit wisdom since I tried it several times... I am assuming she is referring to the Madli shawl - I will get back to it sometime.
I enjoyed the challenge of the Branching out scarf from Knitty.com. I loved the way it turned out. It now lives in Ireland with Kate..

Best knit book or magazine?
Of all the ones I have received in the mail, I do like Creative Knitting magazine. It's mainline, it really isn't cutting edge in the knitting world, but it speaks my language. It also makes me feel good when it says that a pattern is intermediate to advanced, that I could really do it -- other magazines, when it says it is advanced, it means it - and it "ain't" in my ballpark.
As one member of my church said, as in reference to my literary tastes.... oh you have such plebeian taste.... YUP, I do... but I like it.

Favorite Book?
Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book has to be in there for its value in being a reference. I am also charmed by: 50 Baby Bootees to Knit - who can resist those cute cute bootees?

If you look at my knitting books though, I guess my absolute favorite favorite favorite book right now is:

Folk Shawls: 25 Knitting Patterns and Tales from Around the World - I don't think there is a shawl in there that I don't like.

Your favorite knitwear designer?

Oh... I am not there yet... I do know that Nancy Bush does create interesting sock patterns.

Your favorite knit blogs?
Well, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Harlot, but I will share a few that are lesser known...
Mason Dixon Knitting
Sandy Knits Just delightful

On the zanier more bizarre side:
http://electricbiscuitonline.blogspot.com/

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
I haven't gotten there yet. I think I am failing this meme.... I did wear one sock for a couple of hours since I haven't completed a set once. I was quite proud of the fact I completed one. My husband didn't understand that one, but neither did I.

HMMMM... Who should I tag?
How about Ellen, Emily, and Sandy and Stephanie Sits and Knits and Tina (last two are newest members of the Blog ring "Knitting Episcopalians" -- are there any other knitters who are Episcopalian that would like to join this ring?

Booga uga

Tuesday evening.....
The of the booga uga bag is completed - as you can see in the photo, it's back and red. And... it's a true black and red, not washed out as the photo might indicate. Yarns used were Lamb's Pride Bulky and some red yarn I had in my stash.
It's for our church our church bazaar, in black and red, by request of a parishioner and possible purchaser.....


Wednesday afternoon.....
I take the Booga uga Booga bag out to the deck to get a better look. It has a halo of fuzz around it that reminds me of the commercial of those chimney swifts who have soot breath (have you seen that commercial?? I really watch little tv, but that one caught my eye... just don't remember what the commercial is about).

The effort to have little diamonds didn't have the impact it did in its prefelt state, so that is in vain. However, if you are a UGA fan or a DAWG, you might like the color combination (and actually is quite nice).

Here is my question:

The handles are icords. Should they be:

Katrina??? Read on...

Two homeschooling teens took a tour of the Gulf Coast and were there eyes opened. Their blog opened MY eyes reminding me that it "ain't over."

http://rebelution.blogspot.com/2005/11/out-of-sight-out-of-mind-continuing.html

Where has this week gone? And Fair Friday Five

This week has flown by and before I knew it, Friday arrived. It's been a whooooosh kind of week and it's been blur. Life slowed down for me to finish this sock. It's my first sock to be completed using two circular needles and I must say it is a LOT easier than using 4-5 double pointed. I am a convert to this method.

The sock yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in the colorway Safari and I used size 2 circulars.

And........ Fall is slowly creeping into this part of the world and I found a little bit of Fallish colors in the back of the school I believe it is Virginia Creeper growing up this tree. Just enough color to know it is fall in "these here parts".

Fair Friday Five is particularly apropro with some of us gathering to work on "Gifts in a Jar" tomorrow morning at the church. Soups and cookies are in order for the day and we hope to wipe out a "mess" of them so we have some goodies to sell.

1) Favorite thing about Church Fairs
I love the anticipation of it opening and watching the community come in - it's like "I saw this last year too"

2) Best Item Ever at a Church Fair
My "saint" would create the most beautiful hand made dolls - one year she did Princess Diana in her wedding gown. It was stunning. The doll in this posting was made to look like my daughter - she had a dress just like that. (I refrain from showing her bloomers and slip - this is a family friendly blog.) Note the shoes are made from leather from purses. Hair is made of dmc thread. Maybe one day I will share her undergarments....
border on dress was the same that I usedon her dress as was the material. I treasure the dolls she made for my kids.

3) Opinion of cotton dishcloths, that staple of Church Fairs everywhere
I am making them. Don't usually like the color combinations, but they do seem be popular. Think we will make gift baskets with some cloths and soup in a jar as a basket gift

4) Major Lunch Offering at your fair or the last fair you attended
Wonderful chicken salad with chunks of chicken, pecans and grapes and celery. YUM!

5) Worst Item Ever at a Church Fair. Oh I have seen some of the white elephants that were questionable as to whether they should have been there. Also some bridge table cloths made from vintage 60's double knit were hideous.

Every year we swear we will never do another bazaar. This year, I think we will mean what we say....