D.ark K.night

Totally worth blogging about at 1:02 a.m.! B.atman was totally worth going to the 9:45 p.m. show too! Chri.stian B.ale! Ooooo! Loved him the first time around, remembered why the second time around. I was skeptical at first about He.ath Leg.ers' performance as I thought they were bigging him up because he died.... but man, he gave an excellent last performance!! The hype wasn't for nuttin! We see another villain birthed and I can't wait for the third instalment - because things come in threes right?

Don't take my word for it - go see it!

Decloaking off the starboard bow...

Hola peeps. How goes it? Been a bit busy on this end what with trying to keep from putting a hurting on the guy who said he'd paint the kitchen in 12 days and now 9 weeks later (is it? about that) he's still not done. It takes a great degree of self control not to rip the guy a new one when he has caller id and won't take your calls (no we haven't paid him up front - only for what he's done so far) and comes when he wants and stays like an hour. I am quite proud of myself for not saying ONE bad word! Seriously, every now and then Ms. Potty Mouth breaks free - actually under circumstances similar to these - and when she's done there's a new understanding on the offender's part, satisfaction and shame on mine. So there's the silver lining in all this at least right? I can thank knitting for part of the ability to keep her in check... miles of stockinette (leaf tee raglan), miles and MILES of k2 p2 (a la drop stitch lace tank. Yes, I'm still working on it thank you very much) and now rows and rows of ribbing for the Deep V Argyle that I've just started would do that to ya.

Anyways, now that I've gotten the requisite griping off my chest, let's talk knitting. I've been kinda thinking about starting another lace project. The seasilk is caaaaaling me! But I really would love to get my WIPs off the needles and onto my blog! As I've just mentioned, I've started the Deep V Argyle. I'm knitting with WOOL y'all - in the tropics even! But it's not too bad actually. I'm using Debbie Bliss Rialto in black and sherbet... the sherbert is more yellow than I would have liked so I hope I don't look like a giant bumble bee when I'm done (argh! having flashbacks to my yellow and black striped graduation dress...) I plan to wear it when next I travel which will be soon. If I finish it in time. Did I mention the Pi shawl? I'm thinking of doing this... maybe it can be the other KAL on The Knitters of the Caribbean Group on ravelry. I'm telling you our group is growing! It's so wonderful to have new members join - all with the same basic connection - the Caribbean!

Ooo, has anyone watched Juno? Loved the handknits in this wonderful, touching, funny movie! If you haven't seen it put it on your list. I'm now into looking for handknits in every movie I watch! Very fun thing to do if you have zero other forms of entertainment! Yay!

Ok... now. Are there any Dr. Who fans out there? Did you catch the episode Midnight? FREAKY!!!! Those writers are good! This week I think the Dr. is supposed to die and Rose (who made a brief appearance in the television in Midnight and in the previous episodes as well) teams up with Donna who I don't really like btw (bring back Martha!!) and they save him. I hope it's not going to be scary like this past episode or the one where the shadows were eating people!

I'm tired. Off to bed with me. Have a great night everyone.

Wonderin'

Heeeelllloooooo... what's shaking people? How are things on your side of ye ole world? Way over here on my end things are ok. Been doing a little (and by little I mean half of a row here and a bit more there) knitting lately. I've been busy doing a bit of this and that. I'm thinking of starting the Pi Shawl by Elizabeth Zimmerman... if I do make a solid decision on it I may use that Jaeger Trinity that's been sitting in my stash lonely and unused ever since I bought it. I'm not sure why I want to knit this giant thing outside of the fact that it looks interesting. But will I use it? It may be too heavy to wear in this weather so maybe I can use it as something to keep me warm at night while laying on the sofa watching tv or something. Then in that case why not just knit a blanket and be done with it? As you can tell I'm still undecided.

One thing for sure that I will be making in the near future is the Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang. This is my foray into Fair Isle (remember it was in my list of to knits? You don't remember? That's ok). We're having a Fair Isle Kal on the Knitters of the Caribbean Group over on ravelry. If you're a member of ravelry, feel free to stop on by and say hi and better yet, join in on the KAL. The more the merrier!

So apart from not really knitting, I've been doing alot of thinking. Here are some of the things that's been on my mind:

1. How is it that a job that's supposed to take 12 days has somehow morphed into 5 weeks? Does anyone know where the good workers are hiding??

2. Who in the world gives driving licences to people who's main purpose in life to drive as recklessly and selfishly as possible? I'm talkin' to you Mr. who swung out of the intersection yesterday clearly ignoring the stop sign thereby nearly crashing in to our car that was occupied by my ENTIRE family (hubby, myself and the kids) and then laughed as you pulled away?

3. Why do people think that everyone who says they are a Christian really is a Christian because they say so? I can say that I am a cat but that doesn't make me one.

4. Why do people who are not Christian keep walking around saying they are Christian when they clearly are not? (I'm just a lot peeved at the Christian bashing I'm seeing over on ravelry)

5. How is it that my son has grown up so fast! He's now a yellow belt in Taekwondo. And how is it that my baby girl is no longer a baby?? She turns FOUR next month.

6. Why is it so hard to never weary of doing good? How do you brush yourself off and get going again knowing that history might repeat itself?

Anyways, I hope you are having more knitting sucess than I have. I was hoping to have more FO's by this time - 6 months into the year. Maybe I'll get some more inspiration and get cracking on new and exciting things!

Laters!

Comforting to know...

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A fleeting sense of accomplishment

Hey gang. I am so busy that it isn't even funny (it stopped being funny a few weeks ago when I realised the ever growing list of things for me to do was just that... ever growing. Being somewhat an over achiever I think I can do anything at anytime - heck even two at a time! Somewhere along the line I got someone's an*lrensive qualities... very useful when being a fiddler of numbers, not so much when juggling three or four things at once. I am well aware my current state of affairs is 100% my doing and at the end of it I will clap myself of the back for doing many jobs well done - that is if I get to the end of it in one piece! Anyways, this is supposed to be a drive by post as I've divided up all the available minutes between now and three a.m. and cannot divert from the plan or the world will fall apart as we know it (a little melodramatic but it's part of the panic mode I'm in).

Without further griping ado, here's Adamas. And she's stuck to the wall! Trowel plastic has a few applications and today it is to show off a finished knitted item. What do you think?

Adamas Blocking



Look ma, no hands!


My "signature" floor shot LOL!!


I'm sort of happy with it. I mean it's all light and airy and beautiful but it just looks smaller than other Adamas-es. I mean, I've blocked the snot out of her but I'm not sure it looks the same.

Specs:

Pattern - Adamas Shawl by Miriam Felton
Yarn - Knitpicks Shadow - Sunset
Yardage - 1 and a quarter (approx) skeins
Duration - 6 months

Overall feeling - a nice knit... very long as most shawls tend to be, good pattern and not a head scratcher.

Also as promised, a few pics of the Knitpicks Gloss yarn in Dolphin and Parsley. The parsley colourway is for socks for hubby. He's very excited to get a pair and we've found a pattern that he likes. So when things get back to a less hectic form of normal, he will get his socks. Oh and my Best of Interweave Knits Book. Not blown away by it but it's nice.

Knitpicks Gloss - Parsley



Knitpicks Gloss - Dolphin



Best of Interweave Knits



Ok, off with me now. By late next week I should be able to do more in depth blog stalking sessions. Until then, take care everyone!

It's that time of the year...

Just a quick question for you all... has anyone figured out how to add more hours to the day and require less sleep simultaneously? If you have, stop being an information hog and SHARE! I am indeed swamped - up the the eyeballs in stuff to do. The biggest thing on my plate right now is my upcoming exam. It's even more challenging than the last one if you can imagine (well, you might be able to imagine it if you're doing the same course that I am...)
Anyways, if you remember any of my previous posts that talk about exams you would remember that in order to keep myself from tearing my hair out in frustration, I knit to take the edge off. In that spirit, I'm pleased to announce that I've finished Adamas! Yes, and she's beautiful even in her rumply unblocked state. It feels sooooo good to finish it. I was beginning to doubt it would end! And you know what? I don't have any pics to show you as yet but I will soon. Also, I've FINALLY received my knitpicks order. I think I mentioned it sometime - some gloss sock yarn that I hoped to get before the second round of the Sock Penthalon started (guess that didn't happen), the Best of Interweave Knits book and a pair of knitpicks harmony needles. Between the company that deals with my shipments and customs held these items for almost a month and had the nerve to charge me USD$29 on top of it!!!!! GRRRRRRR!!! I'll post those pics as well as soon as they are taken.

Ok, unfortunately that's as much time as I've allowed myself to be on the pc for non-studying purposes. I hope everyone is keeping well and churning out those FO's like nobody's business!

Laters!

Promised yarn pics... and an elephant too

Hey y'all! I've been having a really nice Saturday - what about you guys? After the usual Saturday running around (except for the spin class which I didn't go to because I didn't sign up for it yet) we came home for a day of relaxation - which for me meant doing a whole lot of nothing. We threw the front door open (which is a big deal for me because of my aversion to bugs!) and decided on a course of action. The kids settled in for some painting (translated as a mess contained in one spot of the house!) which they happily took to. For some reason though, the water that is used to clean the brushes was of more interest at one point for them. Huh, go figure!

I on the other hand took some pics of the yarn I purchased sometime back. I actually went outside!

Here's the seasilk in rose:



And here's the nature's palette sock yarn:



I don't have a pic of my Adamas progress, but I can safely tell you she is growing! I'm now starting repeat 11 and am motivated knowing there are only 3 more of these repeats and then the border edge (I think!). I'm soon finished though!

The other thing we did today was to complete my daughter's project for school - land transportation. I decided on an elephant! I found cool site that gave simple instructions on how to make an elephant with some basic items.

Here's our version:



I think he turned out pretty ok. One problem though... this was to be made out of a box or paper! Gah!! If I don't find another elephant to make within the requirements then this blue fella will have to be submitted. Oh well! At least we tried!

After our elephant adventure, I went to bed to read the last few chapters for my assignment and promptly fell asleep! That's tax for you - an instant snoozer!

Continue to have a great day even though it's almost over!

Oh... p.s. Brooke finally went home! I was doing the football touchdown dance lol!

Ok what is it going to take to send Brooke home?

Poor Sayeesha, she just can't catch a break can she? I'm not her biggest fan BUT she's not as craptacular as Brooke! Have you noticed that when Sayeesha sounds good or bad they pick on her especially Randy. When Brooke stops not once but TWICE and starts over her songs, they butter it over and pat her on her awful mop of curls and says "there there you are human, you sound terrible but we won't say that even though all the listening public knows it!" GAH!!!! How has she made it through with those stupid pouts and terrible singing!!! Those three numbnuts are keeping her in the competition instead of telling it like it is and allowing our listening ears a much deserved rest!

Sayeesha is safe for now - but her number is soon up on this show! I guess if they can send home the likes of Melinda, Paris and Lakeisha then they can do anything!

*yes I am fully aware this is a television show and in now way impacts on my life in a meaningful way...*

The perils of being an eye-servant

So if you're a Barbadian you might know what an eye servant is - or if you read your bible in the KJV - you might come across this term. I've been so busy stopping by people's blogs and going where they lead me that I've ignored my own bloggy for a little bit. Anyways, I'm here now and with very little knitting content.

I'm so happy to report the landing of my skein of Seasilk in Rose and two hanks of Nature's palette sock yarn in a lovely green. I would have posted pics but I had to charge the batteries (don't you hate when you get out the camera to take a pic and snap the first shot and you get the message - Warning Battery Exhausted! - well I do!) and I didn't get back to it after that. Tomorrow maybe. I'm feeling kinda swamped with work and studies and a bevy of other things so I am also distracted. On the way to me as I type is another package of knitting goodies - from me to me. The Best of Interweave Knits, some harmony needles in size two - 47 inches (methinks), an extra cable of 40 inches and some sock yarn. Hubby has requested a pair of socks and a cardigan from brooklyntweed's site. I figured I'd start small with the socks and then check out the yarn etc that I need for his cardigan - I'm thinking one with a front zipper and long sleeves - maybe some cables? Anyways, we'll see what I come up with down the line.

So, speaking of hubby... let me say that I love him very much. I do. However, there are moments like tonight that I wonder if I could soundly throttle him and get away with it. Actually, I should take responsibility for what happened. It's my fault. I came home from the gym after having my butt run up and down by a very s-e-x-y Swedish instructor and feeling rather good about myself that I survived the class (ok it wasn't so bad but I did feel it!) and I asked him as he was on his way out to the store if he would get me something to eat. He asked what - I said I really don't know but we need something before I go shopping tomorrow. He goes out and sometime later comes home with his packages and a little something for me. I said "Thanks, hon!" opened the bag and what greets me? TWO brownies. Uh, thanks hon... he means well but BROWNIES????????????????????? I should have been more specific - nothing laced with butter, sugar, flour, and valued at about 7,000,000 calories!

Gah!

Have you ever had one of those mornings...

where you wake up at 6 a.m. to get to the gym for a spin class and on the way there have your car skid in a thin layer of hops spilled from the local brewery and then crash into the sidewalk? No? Must be only me then. Actually, it was me and quite a few other people who, in the attempt to get fit almost totalled our vehicles. One woman was feeling particularly stuntwomanish and actually jumped the curb while the car was skidding and landed perfectly in a parking spot. It would be funny if only it wasn't. It wasn't that terrifying for me as there weren't any cars coming towards me (Thank you Lord!) and so when the car lost the fight to the hops and decided to make friends with the curb I let it. Somewhere in the back of my mind I remember someone somewhere saying "don't smash your brakes when you're skidding" and so I didn't. The wheels weren't turning though so all I could do was hold on. Really, it wasn't that bad experiencing it - but somehow typing it out really brings home the seriousness of it all. In the end some people from the company - I can only assume were some management type persons, took the names of us who started our day a tad to excitedly and they promised to get back to us. We'll see.

So outside of that I've been doing some knitting recently and have fought off the urge - fairly succesfully - to cast on for something new. I do have a couple of projects in mind for the next cast on though... two hooded cardigans for my kids. The thought came up as we waited at the airport last night for hubby's flight from Jamaica to land - and it was COLD! Dana was actually up under my shirt (her head couldn't fit through the top with mine or she would have done it!) and Dylan had his arms pulled through his armholes under the shirt. It then occured to me that I should make these two shivering babies something warm for such an occasion or even for the event that we all take a family holiday together. My only problem is finding a nice hooded cardigan with a zippered or button down front with long sleeves. I've checked ravelry but I have not found anything to my liking as yet and ravelry keeps crapping out at page 35 of 60 in the kids section. If you have any suggestions I'll gladly entertain them.

Adamas is now starting repeat number 8 so I'm halfway there. Raglan leaf tee is coming along nicely and DSL is being treated rather poorly. I've made two delicious purchases from Vanessa's destash and I can't wait to get them. She always has such great stuff! Pics will follow (my niece just received a 7 mega pixel camera as a gift and I'm test driving it for her - well I will be once I get it out of the box) as soon as they land.

Ok, I'm off for now - a headache has secretly crept up on me and I think I need a rest in order to tackle the rest of the day... have a meeting at mid-day, have to go to work to do some pre-vacation finishing up, having lunch with a friend and her kids and maybe try to catch a movie tonight.

Have a great weekend people! And stay out of the hops!

Books n' beans

yawn Goodnight all... shoot, is it 10: 30 already? Today just sped by and left me in the dust. After watching Monk, two episodes of Walker Texas Rangers, going to the gym, making lunch, going for hubby and doing some minor grocery shopping I am kinda wiped. But I'm not complaining. The kids are on vacation so I didn't have to take them to school or pick them up today so it was like a mini vacation for me too. Well, vacation is a bit of a stretch seeing as I have an assignment due in what... 4 days! hmmm - what exactly am I doing here in that case??

Before I go on, I want to thank you guys for your kind words following my last post regarding the beagle that never was. I'm feeling alot better now and I can think of the situation without grinding my teeth or welling up even just a little. Thank you! You are wonderful.

On the knitting scene, I have another FO! I've finished the Jacobean socks from the penthatlon. What do you think? I'm still not sold on them - I know I used a yarn that wasn't suitable for the pattern, but once I got started it was hard to rip back
and start fresh with something new. I'm ready for round 2!

Socks


And I've finally received my books! one of the the things about living in the Caribbean is that some companies don't ship to Barbados and those who do will have to charge alot higher shipping fees for obvious reasons. Knitpicks falls in to the former category so I had them ship these lovelies to my cousin in New York who is understandably busy and wasn't able to ship them until March after receiving them in late January was it? Anyways, I'm thankful to her for doing it - she's a darling!

Here's Sensual Knits (not that you haven't seen the cover before or anything!):


And here's Wrap Style. I honestly only bought this book for the lovely Shetland Triangle but am so happy to discover other gorgeous knits in here that will wind up on my to do list for example Moon Beads and Wrapped in Tradition.


I have some more awesome books such as Vintage Knits and Knitting Nature scheduled for an impending purchase - along with some 47 inch US size 2 needles for my next sock showdown.

Ok, it's bedtime for me. I have an early morning spin class. So far I'm enjoying it but last Saturday was a bit of a struggle. All this working out (at least 4 times a week) and not a pound lost. Seriously! This morning that evil scale tricked me by telling me I was 5 pounds lighter than when I last weighed when in fact it's stupid battery was loose. It's now in the "Garage Sale" pile.

Night all!

Heartbroken

Some time last year I called the kennel club as I was looking to purchase a puppy for our family. I had done some research and thought that a beagle would make the perfect addition to our family. I was put in contact with a lady who had a beagle bitch and she told me that when the bitch had pups she would let me know. She did let me know and told me that around September they expected the pups to be born. When September rolled around she told me that the pregnancy wasn't viable and there were no puppies but she would let me know when they expected another litter. She called me sometime in December and told me that they expected pups in February or so and what was I interested in. I told her a male pup and when February rolled around she said the pups came and there were two males. She told me the price and said they would be ready in 6-8 weeks. Last week we made arrangements to go see the puppies today, after she sent me two emails of the darlings. We went today and I was instantly in love. We picked the sad eyed boy and talked alot about the care of beagles etc. She gave me a sheet and told me she'd write everything up so I wouldn't have to remember it all right away. She said that a judge was coming to see the pups next week and we would get sad eyes after Easter. This evening she called me - hours after we met and said that she wasn't going to sell the pup to us as she didn't think we were good candidates because (get this) we work and our yard isn't fenced in. He's a BEAGLE - he was going to be a house dog and he didn't have his last two shots so he couldn't go for walks anyways until late April. I said, "I see" and she started up saying "Don't be like that". I burst out in tears and bawled "I'm in tears here!" And I really was. So many things have disappointed me and upset me and caused me to teeter on the edge of depression and this was a faint light. Hubby is travelling at the end of the month and sad eyes was going to keep me company. We even went shopping for his little bed today.

I do think that her decision to not sell us Snoopy (yes, I had a name picked out and everything) was based on who we are. When she greeted us at the gate she said "Oh, you were the lady I met at the dog show", I said "yes" and she said "I thought you were someone else all along!"

All I know is that I'm so hurt by this - and thinking that it may or may not be because she thought I was someone else (or at least looked different) makes it worse. It's funny eh? I could hold it together when the workmen refuse to show up, when it seems as though this house will not get finished but something like this brings on the tears in a hot second.

: (

Orange sockie anyone?

Sunday was finishing day for Jacobean #1. Like I said before, I am not so keen on this sock mainly because of the yarn I used. I'm seeing other lovely versions in the group albums and am ever so slightly jealous. Maybe next pattern will be the one for me and I can beat that woman who knit her entire pair of socks in nine hours! Yeah, I think that's kinda funny too. Anyways, here it is:







What do you think? Can you see the pattern from the top down shot? Hubby says he really likes it and can see the diamond shape things as he calls them. I've finally cast on for sock #2 and should have some progress shots soon (if the rubber band around the camera holds). Adamas is growing nicely and I am more and more enamoured with it as it gets bigger. It's the leaf tee's turn to languish but not for long - I am loving that too! I must remember to check ravelry again to see any new pics of both projects. I'm kinda thinking about my next project after I get these off the needles but that's on the back burners as Personal and Corporate Taxation is taking up a good deal of my thinking time and I have an assignment due soon as well! Don't they realise I only JUST got the books? That ITA book is about 2000 pages BIG!

Ok, I'm off to bed now, I have some errands to run tomorrow and really should get up early to get them accomplished. Oh and I might be able to squeeze in a pic of my purple peppers I got from the agricultural show : ) Laters.

Holy Immortal Kiss Batman!

*kaff kaff* Hey guys *snort sniffle* I hope you're doing alot better than me. I got hit with the cold/ flu bug again. In fact all of us here at casa knittykitty has some form of runny nose, dry/wet cough, itchy eyes and an overall feeling of ickiness. The kids are mostly over it but hubby and I got hit at the same time and up to yesterday looked a sorry pair. Today is a bit better as I even went to work and had a meeting and all - now if I can get rid of this persistent coughing! My head feels like it's going to drop off any second. Blargh.

I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it but in addition to getting my surf on I enjoy a good television show. I'm hesitant about getting in to new shows because I really don't want to invest my time in a show that turns out crappy - case in point Desperate Housewives, Dawsons Creek and (eek) maybe even Grey's Anatomy. I've gone off that show cold turkey and I'm not even sure if I want to get involved again. Too many quirky attractive rambling oversexed interns! Anyways I might change my mind later who knows. Anyways, I kept seeing these ads for New Amsterdam and thought that it did look good and had an interesting concept to it. I watched it's premier and enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised to see it was on again tonight! And I was pleasantly surprised. In case you don't know the concept behind this show, it's about this guy Amsterdam who, due to the fact he tried to save a Native American woman from being killed, was given the "gift" of immortality. Only when he finds "the one" will he be able to die. He's been looking for her for 400 years! Anyways, so one of his past loves that he hoped was the one was an African American woman. Now this may not be so unusual but there was some full on hot and heavy romance going down - and from all camera angles too. In all my years watching tv I don't recall seeing an interracial romance portrayed (maybe I'm watching the wrong shows, or maybe it's the fact that here in Barbados we get but a fraction of the channels bigger countries get - either way you tell me.) not even in commercials - again I might be missing something. Anyways, it was refreshing to watch! Did anyone catch it?

As for knitting content, I have an almost finished Jacobean sock. One more repeat and it will be done. I have to confess that I'm not really feeling this sock. Yes, it is a beautiful design but it's not working so great with the carrot coloured yarn I bought some time back. I can barely make out the pattern on it but it's knitting up fairly quickly (by my standards anyways) and I'm almost done this one anyways. I have no hope of coming first for this pattern so there's no rush but I do wish I could enjoy it more! I have some craptastic pics of it taken with my phone camera but I'm too tired to share. My wips are keeping me busy as I make progress on them all - man monogamy was so much easier! Anyways, tomorrow God willing I shall share and maybe you can tell me what you think about the orange sockie?

Btw - did I tell you that I've started another course for the CGA? Tax this time - good times, good times! Let the "fun" begin! (again).

Nite all!

Happy Friday!

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before (I'm pretty sure I did) but I lov Fridays. I don't work on Fridays so I get to do things during the day that I obviously won't get to do while sitting at work. For example, go to the gym in the morning/ afternoon, go to the cafe and get a tall whatever-I'm-feeling-for and sit and leisurely enjoy it. Then I get to come home, flip on the tele and watch Monk and then mute it when Walker Texas Rangers come on, sit at my lappy and surf. Relax some more and then leisurely, without any pressure, get up and go for the kids. Of course my day can vary so much dependent on whatever project is going on with the house, or like next week is Agrofest here so I'll be going with Dana to the park on that outing... but all in all a very liberating feeling envelops me on Fridays. I feel like I don't have to work and I don't have a care in the world. Of course this feeling lasts as long as the sun is up and promptly fizzles as the sun slips below the horizon. Ah, that fleeting feeling of freedom! That's why I look forward to Fridays and I cherish them. Bliss.

SO this post won't be solely about me bragging about having Fridays off (if that's something to be seen as worth bragging about) - I do have some knitting content to share! I have made some progress on my Leaf Tee and I really couldn't show you how nicely it's working up, what with it bunched up on the needles and all - so I've done something I've never done before... I took the work off the needles onto a scrap piece of yarn and presto! A nice pic to share. Well... it wasn't really all for your benefit. See, I needed to accurately measure the upper arm area and couldn't do that with the work all smashed up on the needles. So I got my measurements (only 4 more inches or so to go I think) and got to show you how it's coming along. Multitasking y'all! So here she is:



I cannot wait for this to be done (hurry up Lisa!) as I can imagine myself in it with a cute pair of jeans (note to self - get a pair of cute jeans). As long as the camera cooperates, I'll be adding more pics of it.

Oh, and not to be outdone, here's a pic of the Adamas progress. Yes, I took her out of the basket. Her constant whimpering was getting on my nerves! I've just completed repeat 5 of 14 of Chart 2. I tell you the knitting on this is not hard but it is time consuming, as with every other lace project that has one zillion stitches in it! I'm loving it though and can picture myself in it at the movies or some such place. Here she is:



I also wanted to show you some yarn that I bought recenty and I think I mentioned in a previous post. Here are the Berroco Softwist in an uber deep blue. Got 7 of these in the stash. Nice to the touch but a real pill to wind into a ball. Then there is the Jaeger Trinity that I am thinking of making the Tangles Yoke Cardigan for my mother. If I get started now I bet I can finish by August. Heheh.

Berroco Softwist




Jaeger Trinity



Ok, I'm off for now - gotta go burn some fat! Laters!

Has this ever happened to you?

Ok, so I love to knit and I love to surf the web especially for things to knit. Of late I've realised that I'm kinda stuck in a strange place right between my two loves. I've been surfing the web for hours looking for knitting patterns, yarn and trolling knitting blogs. All the while my knitting has been inexcusably ignored! Look! Right over there - my Adamas shawl sits looking at me forlonely quietly wondering what it did to deserve such a fate that it is now suffering - stuffed unceremoneously into a knitting basket. Then the DSL tank - well you guys know what is happening with her... poor poor thing. Must be hard for her knowing she was so longed for and now sits (goodness - where did I leave that piece of knitting?) somewhere silenty crying for me to rescue her. And the sockies and the Leaf Tee - sheesh. I'm coming soon girls - momma is a tad busy right now looking for sock yarn for the upcoming Penathlon and yarn for the delicious patterns in the Interweave Knits Spring 2008 magazine, and maybe some more needles and a notions case or two... and just finishing up a blog post and rolling around in ravelry.

Umm... guys I'll be right back - there's some Socks That Rock yarn that's calling me. I'll be right back...

2 posts in one day? Maybe Rihanna will win a Grammy!

This is just to find out who'll be watching the Grammys tonight? I tell you, all of Barbados probably will be! Rihanna, who hails from our tiny island could make history tonight! She's performing so to me that's a giant clue that she will get at least one of the six she's nominated for. Good luck girl, I may not be your hugest fan musically, but I am proud of you for going out there and showing them how it's done... Caribbean style!

Progress pic

Hi all, I thought I'd drag my butt to the laptop and post a pic of the leaf tee I mentioned from my last post. I'm somewhat under the weather with a frog in my throat and a cough that won't quit. I sound like one of those scary voice overs for a monster from one of those B movies... talking with three voices all at once. The kids are getting over their yuckies (well I firmly suspect they are the reason I sound like I do and feel like I do. Gotta love 'em)

Anyways, here's the reason for this post... the beginnings of the Leaf Tee. This is a very easy pattern and the stockinette isn't so horrible but I am itching to start something small to break up the monotony. Maybe I should start something with the ten skeins of Jaeger Trinity I got off of yaiAnn's destash. Maybe I should just finish those socks I started the other day! But I keep digressing. Here's the progess shot:



The calmer is soft and knits up into a delicious fabric. I will enjoy wearing this tee!

In other knitting news, I've received a wonderful invite from the Sock Knitters Pentathlon on Ravelry and I'm stoked! Of course I'll be posting progress and finished object pics of my sockies. What fun! I've also ordered the Interweave Knits Spring 2008 and Winter 2007 issues from one of my favourite online vendors Knitty-Noddy. Evelyn is so friendly and helpful and she offers such great products on her site, you can't help but to keep going back for more!

What's next on my list today other than getting in some rows on the leaf tee? Well, there's some ironing to be done, the baking of a cake (the third request by hubby and kids), portioning out of trout fillets for the coming week's meals, looking over my son's homework and grabbing lunch at the inlaws (in no particular order whatsoever!) So much for Sunday being a day of rest!

Have a great day everyone!

Now that, folks, is a load off my back!

Hi everyone! Goodness, it's FEBRUARY ya'll! Didn't the year just start? At this rate, the year will be over in a New York minute!

So what's been shaking on my end? Lessee... oh yes. I PASSED my exam! And with a 73 people! I was so sure that I barely passed that I was pleasantly surprised when I passed the mark with some to spare. Thank you GOD! So now, I'm off to Personal and Corporate Taxes. I underestimated the last course and will not do so again with this one. So come March I will be back in the thick of things once more and will once again count on my knitting to keep things sane. Ok, what else? Hmmmmm... oh yes, I whacked my little toe on my right foot into the door like it belonged to someone I hate. The toe turned a light shade of purple and promptly offered up a giant bloodshot that extended from just past the tip of my toenail (what's left of it) and continued right under the nail. The left side of my foot still reminds me of what happened by throbbing painfully ever so often just to keep things fun. Next on my list was the gym. I rejoined after much careful consideration along with the fact that the new scale I purchased advised me that I was 12 pounds heavier than I thought. How could this be??? Well, I'm giving this another serious go. I've bought the colon cleanse, the coconut oil and dusted off my ratty shoes that hurts my flat feet like a mother. I'm eagerly awaiting the delivery of my new pair of Asics shoes that promise to bring sweet relief for the flat footed among us.

Knitting wise - I've purchased some Jaeger Trinity in a greyish colourway... about 10 skeins. In that purchase is Simple Knits for Little Cherubs and Simple Knits for Cherished Babies. I'm very excited to get these especially the books so that I can do a little baby/ older child knitting. Also purchased from another sale was 7 skeins of Berroco softwist in a deep blue and one skein of wildfoote sock yarn. And I'm still not satified! I'll be doing some ravelry/ blog trolling to see what yarn you guys are using and then get me some! I should get a pattern in mind first and then decide on the yarn no? One thing's for sure... I will be buying some Rowan Calmer! I've actually started a project with the much cherised rowan calmer. And what, dare you ask did I choose to use it for? Well this of course! I'm very excited about this project even though it is wrought with stockinette... the lace panel at least breaks up the monotony and it is knit in the round and top down, so I'm having fun. I would promise pics but you know the story of my piece o'crap camera.

Aside from this, my little girl has a cold and she's not having fun with it. She's blocked up and feverish at times but being very brave. She didn't go to school today and I'll have to play tomorrow by ear.

Well, I'm off to do some blog stalking - I'm sure I saw some yummy purchases out there that made me drool. Must.buy.more.yarn!

Later folks!

Testing... testing...

Good morning all! *yaaaaaaaaaaawn*. How's everyone doin'? It's FRIDAY! My day off... so to speak anyways. I usually end up doing one zillion things anyways but it's still nice not to have to go to the office at least one work day a week. Today, I have a few errands to run and I hope to complete them in good time and be back home for a little me time before I go back out to collect the kids.

So, I have a little pic to show you guys. Remember one of my last posts regarding the sock that was too big? Well I changed my mind and decided that I wanted the socks instead of gifting them to someone simply because they were too big for me! Why not just frog it and start over? Well, I did just that and instead of using the figure 8 cast on like I did the last time I used Judy's Magic Cast On and got a waaaay nicer toe than with the figure 8. I've cast on 48 stitches and am off again. I hope these won't be too tight now as the last ones were 64 stitches and too baggy. Anyways, here's my test pic using my Motorola Z3 phone camera (2 megapixels - I guess you can guess at the quality of the pic right now!)



I really need a new camera! I'll have to hop back over to Adrienne's blog and read up again on her suggestions for a camera and see if anything pops out at me. And I'll check amazon too.

Well people, I'm off to take the kids to school. Have a wonderful and blessed day ya'll!

Let the madness begin...

Any American Idol fans out there? (Sigh) the first episode of season seven showed tonight. Same ol' same ol'. I'm not sure if I read somewhere that there is a twist of some sort for this season. *yawn*. I have this love-hate relationship with AI. The same silly for tv "singing" gets old for me after about the first two or three episodes but I still watch anyways. I'm one of those people who can't stand to see when someone is getting embarrased so I spend alot of time with my hands in front of my eyes and my thumbs in my ears. I predict lots of sob stories and heartfelt auditions where "good" people are given a chance at stardom. I get drawn in and get committed to the show only to be disappointed and swear never to watch again when people like Mandisa, Paris and Chris Daughtry get booted from the show and people like Sanjaya get chance upon chance. See my problem?

In knitting news, I am making progress on my DSL - it's still eating skeins of yarn for lunch with no end in sight. This DSL is a tricky one. I'm telling you - the other day after knitting every free minute on it, I lined it up against the front portion and estimated another six plus inches to go. Yay! I thought. Tonight, after knitting on this thing for a few days, I'm still about six inches away from matching the front to the back. ARGHHHH! I'm also knitting a pair of simple toe up socks on two needles with my Regia yarn in crazy colour colourway. I have a sneaky suspicion that these might be too big for me. My feet are about a size 7.5 in regular and 8.5 in sneakers and this socky is swallowing my foot whole, and since I like snug sockies, these are now a designated gift. Which reminds me - I haven't mailed the scarf and mitten set as yet! Must get on that pronto. Adamas is lounging in my knitting basket just waiting for me to pick it back up again.

Also, I've finally listened to all of the knitpicks podcasts. I will tell you the truth, I wan't sure if I liked this podcast at first as I had been exposed to Brenda Dayne for far too long LOL and Kelley's style was a little too "scripted". But Kelley grew on me and I couldn't get enough. I downloaded the episodes and they kept me company at work. Kelley's style and her passion for knitting is infectious and now I look forward to hearing her and Xena every Friday.

Non-knitting news - It's election day here in Barbados. Wow, that time has really flown. Ours is a simple process as compared to the head scratching process that's US prolitics (I just don't understand how it works). The good thing about this election is that I may have a day off tomorrow if a particular party wins or Friday if the other party wins. It betters be tomorrow 'cause I already get Fridays off!

Anyways people, I am veray sleepy. Hopefully I will have some pics of my wips soon!

Later!

Lisa

Quiet knitting days here in Barbados

Goodnight from my sleepy island. It's after 10 here and I am in betwix and between. Lately, I've developed a feeling of restless expectancy and anticipation for the knitting new year. I have been steadily lurking on many blogs and would actually like to find some others to add to my growing list of blog favourites. I am feeling particulary inspired by the FOs that I've seen come off of some needles as Christmas gifts. Add to that a constant diet of the knitpicks podcast and you can begin to understand how I feel. There are some books that I have lined up to purchase and I am researching the yarns I will need to simultaneously aquire in order to ease the tension I feel building. This is one of the drawbacks of living on an island - access to things that others take for granted - especially if those things relate to knitting - can certainly put a cramp in a Caribbean girl's style, particularly when she wants to get her knitting on.

One of the many books that I have lined up is Sensual Knits. This books is absolutely stunning and it has styles that a plus sized person can knit and wear. As usual, I may come late to the party but I catch on real quick. Another book I am interested in is The Sweater Workshop. This is a book I had stashed in my knitpicks cart as a must purchase and Kelly Petkun in her podcast reinforced that decision by naming this a must have. I have been tinkering with some designs and I believe this book will help me accomplish one of my goals on creating my own designs. For me this is a big undertaking and I will tread with great care. Check me back in a few months.

Oh, I almost forgot! I have another FO - I don't have proof of it as the camera is currently playing the fool once again and I don't feel like wrangling with it tonight. Remember that mitten that was holding on to dear life to the scarf with it's ends all hanging out? (no? just read the previous post) Well, I've finished it's twin and I suspect that it might be just a wee bit shorter that the first one (nothing that a little stretching and pulling won't correct) and I'm happy with it. WIll I ever do mittens again? Yes, I think so. But this time I will attempt the convertible ones. I could have done that this time around but I really didn't feel like spending a terrible amount of time on these gifts... remember I'm feeling restless.

I also have been playing around with the idea of forming a knitting group here. People around here reserve knitting for old grammas and then still ask you - "What are you crocheting?" They call yarn wool. Everything is wool. Present them with a delectable skein of Lobster Pot Cashmere yarn and it will be promptly and unapologetically labelled wool. I learnt very quickly to NOT correct people when they say wool. It generally confuses them. But, oddly enough, I did meet a woman (my stand in hairdresser) who was able to correctly identify my work as knitting and she said that she used to knit all sorts of wonderful stuff. I must say that my efforts to get her back in the saddle were wasted as she's much too busy now for knitting. I was a little aghast as she did know what she was missing!! Anyways, I'm pretty sure my friend bajanknit will be there. I've already thought of a couple places that a group of women with needles could meet. The challenge now will be how to find these women. Surely there must be some other people on this island besides us two that love to knit and actively do so! Maybe there are some expats out there too that are sitting at home all lonely thinking that they have no one to knit with. Any suggestions on how to go about finding people will be greatly appreciated!

Anyways, I've rambled on long enough. I'll go now and see who has won the battle between Batali and Oliver and do a few more rows on my DSL - yes, that's right! I've been knitting on the DSL and I am confident that by the time it has swallowed the last few skeins of Pima Tencel, I will have a beautiful finished object to add to my first two for the year!

Later!

Happy New Year!

Ok, so I'm six days late but the sentiment is the same. I wish you and your families all the best for the new year.

How has the new year started for you all? So far so good on this end both knitting and otherwise. I am very hopeful for good and wonderful things for this year and beyond.

One of the things that has made my month so far is the arrival of this:



That's right people, hubby bought me a Jordana Paige bag for Christmas! I LOVE it! It is simply gorgeous and divine to touch. The tweed of the flap and the green of the back of the bag go well together and the inside is very spacious. I can see lots of books and projects going in there! I don't care what outfit I'm wearing, this is my new everywhere bag. It has space for my glasses, various cards and my cell phone. I'm in lurve. LOL!

Now here's FO #1 for the year - the wavy scarf from knitty.com:



Unfortunately, this scarf will not have the pleasure to be carried around in my new bag - and I'm glad too cause you know what? I HATE scarves!! This has been a time sucking project, and absolutely no offense to those who make scarves - in fact I applaud you, but I don't think I'll be doing another one of these anytime soon. Not that I would need to anyways because of where I live but if the feeling ever strikes me to make another scarf I will strike it back! And yes, that's a mitten holding on to dear life to the scarf with its ends not woven in. In a few minutes I plan to start mitten number two and send these gifts off the the hopefully very happy receipients.

There are a couple of things that I'm thinking of doing to the blog - just to freshen it up for the new year. Now if I can just figure out how to change the background and rearrange some things on here maybe I could actually do it.

Cheers people!

Shaking off the holiday blues

Hi all,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and while enjoying the gifts, also remembered the reason for the season - the birth of Jesus our Lord.

Things have been quiet on my end. Knitting wise, I've cast on for the Adamas shawl, wavy from knitty and am still plugging away on the DSL tank (are you tired of hearing me talk about this yet?). The wavy scarf is for my husband's aunt in New York. She's complaining of the cold and since I had the wavy partially started from last year's attempt for my visit to Canada, I decided I would finish it for her. I'm using the malabrigo in colourway brown sugar. I think I shall make either a hat or a pair of mittens for her daughter who's been so kind to us up to recently, sending in the kids' Christmas gifts that I sent to her address so she could mail them to me. I'm leaning more towards the hat as it's a quicker knit and I might not have enough yarn to do the mittens anyways (I was thinking along the lines of the convertible mittens I saw on knitty).

Looking back on the year, I realised I have not met some of my knitting goals - one of the main ones being learning fair isle/ intarsia. This still remains a goal of mine and will add it back to the list of "must accomplish in 2008". What about you? What are your goals knitting wise for the coming new year? Another one of mine will be to knit faster and to get more than three projects out for the year. I understand this will include letting go of my previous tendencies to knit monogamously and put more projects on the needles at one time - I've already started!

Here's the Adamas shawl. I am enjoying her thus far. I know this may take me more than a month but I'm chugging along faithfully:



And here's Wavy:


And finally, the DSL progress:


There's still what to do with my Rowan Calmer. I think I might wait a bit to cast on something special as I have once again come to the grim reality that is my size. We borrowed my BIL's camera to video record the kids opening their presents. One moment the camera was focused on their little happy faces, the next it panned very unflatteringly to my overweight form. I really need to do something about this. How to do it though when I am stoveless and ovenless? (that's a loooong story but at least the cupboards will be done soon enough for us to get those two coveted items - and you betcha I will be posting pics of them!) It will take a great deal of perseverance and commitment on my part (two things that I have sorely lacked in - up till now I daresay) to prepare our lunches elsewhere, pack em up and reheat them for the next day. But I must try as it will be very veray heartbreaking to knit up my beautiful calmer and it not fit. I guess that's why I'm kinda stuck on shawls for now. One size fits all!

Later!

I've been a bad girl this year...

or so someone thought as all I'm getting for Christmas this year is coal in my stocking. What a year. I'm actually kinda glad it's almost over. Even my knitting has suffered. I think that for the past twelve months I've managed to turn out TWO projects. I really don't know where the year has gone.
Knitting wise, for the new year, I hope to go through my stash and actually churn out more than two projects. I would love to start the new year off with my Rowan Calmer but I'm still looking for the right project for this.
Anyways, I can't think of anything else to say... I feel sucky so maybe saying nothing else is best.
Later.

Knitting and ting

Don't scratch your head too hard about the ting part of this blog post. It's 7:22 p.m. and I'm tired and stuffy and kinda wondering if its the end of the year yet. Right now, instead of sitting in front of the tv with the freshly cast on Jaywalker sock in hand, with my kids curled up at my side and the hubby putting around nearby, I am holed up in my son's bedroom trying to ignore the hammering and the whirring and the banging. In case you're wondering, it's not an easy task! One of these days when I can look back on this whole "building a house" experience without red pooling in my eyes, I just might tell you guys the long long tale. Right now, what I will say is that I'm finally getting kitchen cupboards. No, not replacing the old ones that were there, I'm getting kitchen cupboards - where there were none before. The guys promise it should take a week or so to get them done - not including spray painting them either. Sooo.... there's sawdust everywhere and the chairs are piled on top of one another in front of the tv. I'm not sure how long they will be here till tonight but I'm hoping they leave soon - AFTER they clean up. This coupled with the runny nose and apparent dripping in the back of my throat is not making for a very relaxing night. You know what would make me feel better? My just started jaywalker sock. But I can't get to it. Boo.

I can't think of anything else to write. The workmen are having a chat in between the ruckus.

*whimper*

Shhhh.... do you hear that?

It's the sound of a "free" woman. If you want to picture how I feel, cast your minds to those cheesy films where a woman is running in slow motion through an open field... hands flung wide, eyes closed and a big stupid grin on her face. Yah, that's me. I feel so free I feel like I should be doing something! (Yes, this is why I usually have so many things going at once - I don't like being un-busy!)See, tonight I sat my MA2 exam. How did I do? I'm not so sure. There's a whole question that got up off the page and smacked me in the face. My head spun and my ears rang. In the end I might have just written - RUBBISH across the page for that one and moved on. Maybe they will give me a few marks for writing my name. Anyways. I think I might be very close to the pass mark. I don't want to imagine the futile feeling of failing by 1 mark. I've heard it to happen.

Another thing that made me very happy today was my receiving my final SP package! Wow, is Ingrid a fab pal or what? Here's a run down of my goodies.

1. The absolutely beautiful Clementine. My pic does not do it justice! She did an awesome job on it and I am touched that she made it for me.

2. Two bars of scrumptious organic chocolate. I don't think I need to tell you folks that I wasted no time in getting to know them better. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

3. Two cute little Korknisse and some candy for my son. I tell you I have never seen anything so cute! He will love them!

4. A hair scrunchie for my daughter and candy. My daughter loves to dress up - I know this will get lots of use!

5. A beautiful handwritten card with a knitted design on the front. This was a really speacial touch.

Ingrid has been a lovely pal. She's been awesome about me being so busy sometimes I couldn't get back to her and she's just been so generous to me! Thank you Ingrid, you've made this a wonderful experience for me!

(PS - I may have to add more pics later - blogger isn't liking me loading so many pics at once!)

Of Quakes and Tremors!

So something very strange happened to me today. I was sitting at my desk working when I felt a gentle shaking of my chair. Now, if you can imagine it, it was like if someone snuck up behind me, all invisible-like, and started to shake the chair from the left to the right and back again. I kinda tensed up, furrowed my brow and convinced myself that I was imagining things. But the shaking got persistent and I then convinced myself that something supernatural was happening to me (ok. stop it now - quit that snickering!!!). But then the entire workstation began to move and my monitor began to dance. Oh crap, I thought, something is wrong with me! The room is shaking! Then the business manager in the other office yelled... is anyone else's desk moving? It didn't take me long people. I yanked the power cord from my new laptop, grabbed my bag and bolted for the door. I'm not sure how I got through it, whether I opened it or walked through it but I got through it. When we got to the door, the people across the hall were making a mad scramble down the shaking stairs. Fear gripped my heart as memories of the collapsed building catastrophe from late August sprang to mind. You see, back in August, half a building collapsed into an unstable cave in Britons Hill killing a family of five (a mother, father and their three children) and since there are caves all over the island that some buildings are constructed on, my fear was that this building was going to collapse!

Well, we made it outside and realised that there were other people outside at the adjoining clinic. Someone passed and asked if we felt that too. It was then I realised that it wasn't a case of an about to collapse building, but rather tremors from an earthquake. An EARTHQUAKE!!! Gosh, apparently the last time anyone felt a rockin' in Barbados like that was back in 1947. I finally got the courage to go back up the stairs for the rest of my stuff that I left in my haste to get out. I collected my past papers, my car keys and my shoes. I shut down the computer and got the heck out of dodge. Another thing that was equally scary was that the phone system was down across the island. I could not get through to my mother to find out if she and the kids were ok (no school today - THANK GOD!!)The system was jammed with people trying to do exactly what I was trying to do. I think that this is something the authorities need to look at. Well, I made my way to my mother's house, sucessfully beating the traffic jams that expectedly followed. When I got there, my daughter was sleeping - the little darling slept through it all. My son and my mother told me about how the chairs, fans, the tv, the ceiling light and every other thing in the place was shaking. My mother apparently grabbed my daughter and with my son in tow they had bolted outside to safety. Everyone was shook up! In the end, there was building damage and one person was trampled in town and had to get medical attention.

Unfortunately, the people of Martinique who bore the brunt of the quake were not so lucky. Lots of building damamge and one little girl was killed when a wall fell on her. Her seven year old sister is listed in critical condition.

My fear right now is that Barbados won't be prepared for a disaster. If today's tremors could shut down the island and cause the telephone system to go belly up, what would happen heaven forbid in a major disaster was to happen? Well right now, I still feel a little off kilter - like I'm dizzy or something but well past the initial shock. This is something that will be on the lips of Barbadians for a long time coming!

Swallowtail pics et al

Hi all... taking a few minutes to post a pic of the ST. I have one pic that I think is halfway decent but that's of the shawl unblocked. I should prolly retake the pic of it blocked so it will look better but really... I doubt anyone cares. I can't envision myself taking pics like b r o o k l y n t w e e d so there's really no point (can you tell I'm in one of those moods? It might have something to do with the fact that I've recently had a big fight with someone that should have known better, broke my favourite mug, got stopped by the po-po for not paying my road tax and had to pay for a new licence for hubby - all on ONE DAY mind you - not to mention I had a b*tch of a headache last night - so I'm a little sour/ dour/ pissed etc etc). Anyways, ST is finished and that's the most important thing knitwise right now. See pics above.

Also attached is a pic of the source of my headache last night. That thing on the plate my friends is a conkie. Conkies are "highly nutritious steamed pudding-like cornmeal treat that exist throughout Africa, the Caribbean, South America and Pacific countries where most of the ingredients are grown in abundance and constitute a large part of everyday cooking and nutrition." Conkies are a national treat traditionally made in November around our Independence Day - November 30 btw. They are made of gratered pumkin, coconut, sweet potato, egg, milk, raisins, shortening, margarine, injun corn, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and some cornmeal and its DARN delicious (did I just say darn? Yes, I did... kinda maxed out the naughty words I could say this weekend). The mixture is placed on a 8x8 square of banana leaf (that was previously cleaned and swinged on the fire). They are then stacked in a pot on top of the criss crossed ribs of the banana leaf and a little water and steamed for an hour. And then... voila! A little piece of Bajan heaven! Took long to do cause I had to go searching for the leaves (hubby but you get the idea) and prepare the ingredients BUT I got loads of help from my mother-in-law who's really REALLY good at these kinds of things.

Anyways, I'm going to wash the day away, then grab that same conkie up there with a cup of coffee, my module 7 and Heroes and settle in for some eating, drinking, revision and some time travel. Later!

Zee Swallowtail - she is done!

Drive by post...

Swallowtail is DONE!!! Less than a month! Wow, this is a first for me. This is just further proof that this is an easy knit... that and it is a smaller shawl especially in comparison to the DFS which reaches past my bum. I am looking forward to blocking this - I'm so eager to see it in its proper form!

Pics to follow...

Thar she grows!

*waves hi to everyone*

I hope this post finds everyone well... the weekend is here so please enjoy it whatever you do!

I have a progress pic of the Swallowtail to share. I am halfway through the Lily of the Valley Border 2 chart and the nupps are really slowing me down. I know others have posted alternatives to making the nupps, but I may be a purist when it comes to patterns... that or I'm afraid of messing it up by doing something different! Either way, Swallowtail (ST) and I are like best buds, everywhere I go she goes, to work, to the store... everywhere. You see, she's helping me keep my wits about me as the exam I am studying for (well, certain topics within it ex linear programming a.k.a. evil evil subject) is making me question my intelligence. So whenever the feeling comes over me to run naked screaming Maximize profits! Binding Constraints! Sensitivy Analysis! GAHHHHH!!! I whip her out and knit furiously (well as furiously as those interferring nupps let me!).

Well what about the DSL you say? Well, its there somewhere catching dust. I think it will be refreshing to pick it back up and finish it before the year is over. There are a few other projects that I will be starting soon. They are in no particular order, Little Lacy Top - I have the perfect yarn for this... the allhemp3 that was previously dedicated to the Laura Tee. That's right, I am going to frog her. Or rather ignore her and just use the other skeins to start the Little Lacy Top. Then there's the Trapeze Jacket and hopefully these mittens by Eunny Jang. Why in the world would I want mittens when I live in the tropics - a place some akin to a fiery furnace? Well, I might be travelling again to Canada in April and I will NOT be tricked again by those cruel cold bone chilling winds again! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahem... the last time I went I brought a storm. With the wind chill it was -30. All this extra layering of fat did NOTHING for me. I was shaking like a leaf. And no offense to North Americans, but I will not believe nary a one of you if you say that the weather is nice in April! Nice to you = hypothermia for me. But I digress LOL - if I go I will be prepared. The only question that remains, is will I be able to knit those mittens? I haven't ever done colourwork (well to that extent). Can KnittyKitty do it?

Stay tuned.

Pictures!

My hubby is a darling! He dug through the mountain of boxes and found the camera for me and let me know that I didn't need the software to get it running. So I plugged it in (it still had in batteries and all!) and voila! Pics. I know I promised more than these but these are all I can manage for now. Here's the 12 skeins of Rowan Calmer in sour. I know! LOVELY! Next is the progress on my Swallowtail Shawl. I am at repeat 10 of 14 of the Budding Lace 2 chart. I'm using the malabrigo lace in Pink Frost - also from my pal. I'm really enjoying this pattern so far! I would say that it would be good for a first time shawl maker. Very enjoyable so far!

In other non-kniting news, I'm winding down on my assignments. Actually submitted one today. Two more to go then I can study for my exam! My son's birthday is coming up soon so I have to do a little something for him. We plan to do some work on the house as well and get my bike up and running (it's still in the box) so I can get some exercise.

Anyways, I wish everyone a great week knitting and otherwise!

Seven radom facts - I've been tagged!

I've been tagged by Urban Knitrix!

Here are the rules:


1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here goes!

1. When I was a little girl, I used to believe that the walls and chairs and any inanimate object for that matter, was alive. So if I bumped into the wall by accident I would tell it sorry. Yeah... Enid Blyton messed me up but good.

2. Again, when I was a little girl, I was in love with Michael Jackson. Seriously, in love and faithful to the man. I would sit in the closet and sing his songs and dream of the day we could be together. Darn... if I knew then what I know now. Thank you Lord for not hooking us up!

3. Now, this one may seem pretty weird, but I promise it's true. I've had at least three dreams that have come true. Scene for scene... came true. No, I wasn't drinking or anything of the like. I also get bouts of deja vu... to the point I stop and I have to convince myself that I haven't been here (whereever here is at that
time) before and haven't done whatever before.

4. When I was young (do you see a pattern here?) we used to live in an upstairs and downstairs housing unit and as was the norm back then, I used to pretend that I had long hair by putting my towel over my head and tossing my head to and fro. Well, one day I did that... on the top of the stairs. I apparently missed the first step (damn long hair in my eyes!) and fell down the flight of stairs. Can't remember what happened next.

5. My husband says that I don't blink. I can watch a show that's really really interesting and only blink during commercials. I think he's exaggerating. I blink at least once during the show.

6. I like to watch tv with the sound off. I would just turn on the television and hit the mute button and be very content for hours.

7. I used to fantasize about living in a tree. I would look around and see if there were any trees large enough to carve a big hole out of. I would imagine how cozy it would be just living in there. Again, I blame Enid Blyton and her Enchanted Wood stories. Good thing I grew out of that (I think...) I don't think I'd get a good DSL connection out in the woods!

I have more but I'll keep it to seven. I don't want you all to think that I'm fruity or anything. Gotta go... Forensic Files should be on. I think I'll have it watch me.

Alicia, Koolbreeze, Shorty, Phyllis, Allegra and Becka

Thanks Sherry!

On the Swallowtail train...

I've officially cast on for the Swallowtail shawl. I received the Fall 2006 Interweave magazine, unraveled the delicious skein of malabrigio lace my super pal sent me in the swap and cast on last night. So far so good. The pattern and the yarn are going well together. I feel inspired if somewhat unfaithful to the DSL. I will take DSL to work tomorrow and squeeze in some knits and purls in the hopes of finishing it before my kids graduate in the near future. For some reason I feel energized by the shawl project. I can't really explain it but I'm psyched - actually I think its actually doing something other than k2 p2 over and over again without any apparent results. I'm so inspired that I am up at 1:11 a.m. blogging about feeling inspired. I'll have to add it to my ever growing list of pics to take.
In other news, SP11 is winding down. I am thinking of what to put together for my pal. So far I've been two for two. I really enjoyed this swap - both the giving and receiving. I can't wait to discover who my pal is!
Anyways, I think I need to get to bed. I'm tired but not... until next post!

Knitting... where's thy string?

Meh, thought that title would sound cool but maybe after I get a good night's sleep I will think otherwise. Anyways, it's the only thing my brain can come up with at ten past eleven at night. I'm torturing myself it seems... or maybe I'm subconciously trying to see how far I can push myself in the not gettin' any sleep department. Or, maybe, just maybe I've found another site just as addictive as ravelry. It's facebook. Yes, I've heard of it before, but once again I'm late to the party. Everyone and their grandmas are on there. It's cool finding people that I haven't seen in years. Some nice and others that reinforces the reason God didn't give us super special powers. Ah... but that's in the past right? So, why am I not in bed? Why am I up watching reruns of Forensic Files? Well, not watching but having it watch me while I tippity tap on the lappy? I really don't know. Hubby is down for the count and the kids went off to bed literally kicking and screaming some time ago. Well, I'm not sure. I've read some of the required reading for assignment 7 and just have to look at the notes tomorrow. But tomorrow is a little busy for me. I'm hoping to go see the iridologist (no I don't have an appointment but I'm hoping my good looks will get me in - that or maybe she won't be busy tomorrow!) and I have to go get some food to put in the fridge and pay some bills. Oh, did I mention that the kids have tomorrow off? I'll drop them by my mother and go my merry way to do my chores and then collect them later. They will not be happy about that. Ah well!

Tell me, has anyone been watching Heroes? Now, I became a serious fan during season one. Even used to do that little outburst that means "I did it!" that Hiro liked to chirp at the top of his voice. I was confused by the ending but thought nothing of it. Anyways, this new season has started rather shakily for me. It feels like two distinct groups of people are writing the stories. One group is writing the part with the mind reader, Dr. Suresh (can someone please give him a bath? Please?), Peter and Hiro. Another less motivated group seems to be writing the story lines of Mya the bloodeyed hero and her brother, Sylar (sp?) and the new hero New Orleans Muscle Mimic girl and her family. Now here are some of my problems. Generalizations. Race generalizations. Tell me why Mexicans are always portrayed as trying to get across the border? Can't they be seen just catching a plane FOR ONCE?? Tell me why Mya and her brother are so passionate and eager? Tell me why muscle mimic girl is always pursing her mouth like her ol' grammy and talking like she's uber religious? Why is it that her nephew has his hair plait and a bad attitide? Why is it that when miss mimic realises her powers (and oh so suddenly?) she goes and tests it out on um... jump rope??? I would be trying to see if I could knit intarsia, speak Japanese or fly a rocket. She choses jumprope (and why didn't the girl just invite her to join instead of wagging her head and barking at her?) Generalizations people! And why is Clare suddenly so annoying and dumb? And the story isn't meshing. How did Sylar get out that vast jungle and wind up in the path of eager Mya and company? Not making sense! And that little girl that mind reader and Dr. Sweaty seems to have kidnapped is so annoying. ARGGGGHHHHH!!!! I could go on but clearly I'm tired - I know this is just a show but I hate how different races are portrayed so STUPIDLY in shows and commercials!

Anyways, let's see if I can get some knitting content in here. I ordered 6 skeins of Knitpicks shadow in heather, vineyard and something else (yes I ordered it BEFORE Knitpicks announced their sale - grrrrr!) so I get to start the Adamas shawl. I also ordered Knitting Lace Triangles and the issue of Interweave Knits that has the Swallowtail shawl in it. I am excited even though I don't "sound" that way. I'm sleepy and won't go to bed. Maybe, I can get back into some serious knitting and maybe these upcoming projects will somehow propel me to knit faster and finish the DSL already! Sheesh.

I still can't find the camera... maybe I should buy a new one... with printer to boot. So I'll just add those knitting purchases to the list of will post pics.

Gnite. I think.

Of yarn and headaches...

Ugh... what a Sunday. Yesterday I planned on going to church today but today had other plans for me. Last night I went to bed with one of those kinds of headache/eye-ache combinations that makes you just wanna cry. I blame it on the sinuses. Might be sinuses might not be but my past experience says SINUSES. So I took two panadols when I awoke with the tv watching me and went back to sleep... secure in the knowledge that this will be all gone come morning. Morning came and it was still there, somehow empowered by the panadols I took. The entire upper right hand quandrant of my face hurt. The eye, the socket, the area above the eye right down to where my upper and lower jaw bones meet. I slept it off, and woke up with it still there. I lay motionless in the bed, turning only when necessary and it was stil there. At one point I thought the pain had gone (silly me) but when I inhaled it reminded me that it was STILL there. So this evening, I finally got some cataflam from the pharmacy and now I'm like a new woman.

I feel so much better that I can come on here and tell you all about the Knitpicks shadow that I bought in Vineyard and Heather. Adamas shawl here I come! Yes... if you are counting, that's two shawls on the to do list. I also ordered the book Knitting Lace Triangles and the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits edition. Turns out I didn't have that one in the pile. Hmmm.... I wonder how I was going to get the Swallowtail shawl done without it!

In other yarn news, as I mentioned, my awesome pal sent me TWELVE skeins of Rowan Calmer in sour and I promised pics as soon as I got internet connection. Seems I should have promised the pics after I got internet connection AND as soon as I found the camera and the software that goes with it! Seriously people, there are so many boxes in here and I was too lazy to label any of them (and at one point we were just throwing stuff in willy nilly just to get out by the end of month that labeling wasn't a real feasible option anyways)that now I cannot put my hand on either of them. Rest assured, they are twelve skeins of gorgeousness! When I/we get our act together and find the camera (among other things) I will post the long in coming pic.

Well, folks... if my guess is right tomorrow is Monday. AGAIN. I promised (before offending headache) to get all the pressing done (work clothes for hubby and myself and uniforms for both kiddies) for the week. I think I will only do the kids uniforms for the week and let hubby take care of ours for tomorrow.

Until next post! Happy knitting!

Thank God for days off... and for yarn to pet

It has been one of those weeks. We've sucessfully (and by successfully I mean with much toil and effort and hair ripping moments) moved from our apartment to our incomplete home. But we're here at least, amid the boxes and the chaos. We have come to the conclusion that the little apartment we lived in for the past five years had a black hole in there some where. There is no way we (and by we I mean me) could have accumulated all that stuff!!!!! There are things in there I haven't seen in years... things from my soap making days, candle making days and rubber stamping days. We will have a garage sale at some point in time but that would entail me going through those boxes. Since my days have changed and my only free day is Fridays, and this is my first Friday off... well let's just say it won't be happening today. On top of it all, I have weekly assignments to submit.

Thank God I have yummy yarn to pet. My knitting has been sorely neglected although I did get a chance to put in a row on the DSL tank during Grey's last night (oh and by the way, I hate George and Izzie). For comfort, I arranged my jaggerspun, BFL sock yarn and malabrigo lace around me and lovingly stroked their delicious softness. If I can't get to knit them now at least I can drool on them a little. I'm supposed to be getting a swift through a friend of mine through a co-op she's a member of. I may just have to use my hubby in the interim to help me unwind my malabrigo... the swallowtail shawl is calling me...

Did I mention that my other package had arrived from my wonderful pal? She (wait for it... she's amazing) sent me TWELVE skeins of Rowan Calmer. Yes people, TWELVE skeins!!! Since we don't have internet at home and I'm using someone else's lappy, it may be a few more days before I get to show them off to you! (And yes, they were in the yarn pile that was comforting me last night. Sigh... my pal is really awesome!

Well, I have to go for now... my reading for assignment 4 is calling me. NPVs and IRRs. I can't wait to get back to my other favorite abbreviations... yo, ssk, k2tog... until then people! Happy knitting!