I've been lazy

There is nothing exciting to report.

I am starting new projects every day, and nothing gets finished. My latest is a lacy patterned sock (I don't put socks, because I might only make one). I also, thanks to Sherri, started fiddling with my cro-tat hook. Made a few rings, all separate. I might imagine that they are for something important.

I started a cabbage soup diet on Monday, last week, have lost 10 lbs. I like the diet so much, that I am on my second week, although improvised a little bit. This is supposed to be a "normal" week, in eating, that is, so I decided that playing around with the cabbage soup menu, I will make this week close to "normal". Then nobody can say that "you are not supposed to do two weeks in a row" Well, I'm not...really. For instance, this day would be veggies and soup, I am having veggies, fruits and soup, tomorrow the same.

I am so glad that our Thanksgiving Day is way past, so I don't have to make excuses not to eat something like mashed potatoes on Thursday. I can eat cabbage soup.

What is on my list for Christmas to do? I don't want to think about it. A poncho, a pair (notice: pair) of socks, scarf, and a vest. Poncho is crocheted, all the rest knitted. I have started all but socks and the scarf. The socks are not lacy, they are NORMAL.

Of course I have trillion little things in between to do, you know, like snowflakes, scrumbles, paisleys, and whatnots. I refuse to make washcloths, although that might not be such a bad idea. They are fast to make. Hmmm. I might make one or two, just to make extra packages under the tree. I am so clever.

Have you ever noticed that the more expensive cars don't have the luxury of signals working.

Shawl for sis done

Finally! How long did it take? and this is not even the original pattern.

I started with a crochet pattern, did something else in between, and finally knitted it.

I've used Red Heart Symphony as main color (think twice before using it, it's nice, but a murder to frog) and the stripes and tassels are Lion Brand Homespun.

The pattern came from here:

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/party_stolette.html

I am not going to frog the crocheted shawl I started, I am going to use it as stuffing for a pillow, if I ever make one.

It is such a relief to have this done that I think I go and knit some legwarmers for our grand daughter.

Another paisley

Here is the one I made last night.

It is Thursday, and I am ready to go home, but have until 4 thirty until that happens.

Tonight is a telly night for me. There is a CSI, Without a Trace, and then at midnight Everwood. I might even get some knitting done. Tomorrow is a day off from work, it's our Remembrance Day. I have already lost one Poppy flower. I will get another one on the way home tonight.

I started to knit the sweater from Melville's book, Colors, from page 188. I had 7 different balls of yarn on the table, most of the time tangled up, although I should know, as an experienced knitter, that you are supposed to make sure the yarns stay in order. HAHAH, if anything ever is in order in my life it would be a miracle.

I had knitted six rows of this pattern, including the hem garter stitches. Then I decided that it would be way easier to make the panels separately and then just sew them together. None of this seven balls of yarn floating around everywhere. I don't remember the trick how to keep them in order. I know how to handle the bobbins easily, but the whole skeins, com'n. Too much trying to be organized. Not my cup of coffee.

You guessed it, I frogged the whole thing, and feel a lot better now. I might even do something else with the yarn. I made too many swatches already for that sweater, I am kind of tired of the pattern now. Maybe I should just invent something and be happy.

I decided, once again, that I will finish the shawl for my sister, and get done with it. Please, let me do it tonight. I need to get rid of the stooopid shawl. If someone EVER wants me to make something with RH Symphony, slap me silly.

Knitting away - but what?

In the picture: Sally Melville's Einstein Coat.

Someone has to tell me to get organized.
After I finished the socks, BOTH of them,
I have not been able to work on one item only.
Oh, well, I made a few paisleys for exchange
program in one of my crochet groups. They
actually are quite nice. I believe I made about
nine of them in a short time. So, does that count?

Coming to work this morning took half longer than
normally. At one point, being frustrated on the heavy
traffic, I decided to be brave and drive on the diamond
lane, like so many others. After all, the police is still
on their whatever. I am waiting patiently for the light
to change, so I can floor it to the next intersection.
Instead, I started feeling guilty, and I turned to a side
street and felt like a good traffic citizen. Sure enough,
after getting back on the main street, there was a police
cruiser with lights flashing. One woman was stopped.
I don't know what she did, but I vaguely recall her being
on the diamond lane in front of me earlier. Not really
sure, but to make myself feel like a good girl I think she
was stopped for being on the diamond lane, and I wasn't,
because I was a good girl.

Are you totally bored yet? My aim is to do just that.

I have nothing intelligent stored for this morning. Ok,
don't say IT!!!

Knitting? I bought Sally Melville's book "Colors". and now
I have a problem deciding if I want to make the pullover from
page 188, orIF I want to make the Einstein Coat from another
book of Melville's.

I still have my sister's shawl to make (third attempt), and it
just doesn't interest me one bit. I am truly fortunate that I
made some Christmas gifts in the summer. If I didn't, I would
be panicking.

That's another thing, Christmas. Can't we put a rule to everyone:
no gifts for anyone else but kids, under 13, actually, these days
10 would be my max. Anyone older than that is not a kid any more.

Well, take a look around you.

Then the families and friends would get together for a meal, and for a good
time, none of this "what did you get? how much was it, where did you
buy it" bulllllss...you know what I mean. But my world does not have
those rules, so I must either buy stuff, or make stuff. I hate it (buying). I don't
personally want to receive anything. Ok, if someone wants to give me
a gift certificate to Michaels or Lewiscraft, or JoAnns (in the state of
New York...I go there sometimes) I will accept that. But, please, do not
give me useless stuff. I want YARN, can't people understand that?
Just because I have one room full of yarn, doesn't mean that I don't need
more. Right? Say yes.

WOW, I got the paisleys posted

Here are some of the paisleys I have made recently. I made more, but isn't this enough for now?

Slow time, no?

It's been a while, again, that I haven't been talking to myself. It would be easier to write from my car, because I talk constantly there. when I am alone. I am very nice to other drivers. I tell
them how to drive and ask often where they did their driver's test.

I have been knitting a lot lately. Started an Aran cardigan for the granddaughter. Did about 6 inches, and put it aside to start knitting a scarf for my sister, since I totally screwedup the stole I was crocheting for her. I have no idea who's been messing with my crocheting, but somehow I got a wrong size hook, after weeks of the work sitting in another bag. I made about 5-7 inches with the wrong size hook, and boy, was it ever noticeable. Have you ever tried to frog Symphony yarn (made by RH). Good luck. Fortunately I have lots of it, don't know why, so I started KNITTING the dang shawl I am now so fed up with the shawl/stole, whatever, that I dream of throwing it in the garbage. Who wants to finish it for me. Actually, the knitting one is looking pretty snazzy. I started with 3 sts, add one in the beg. of every row. Make tw rounds with Homespun after 20 rows of Symphony. Nice music. Looks good. I am not going to post a picture here.

My fingers are aching, but I am not whining. I'm not a drinker.

Socks socks

done, if you remember, I had a pattern from "Creative Knitting", this was in September,

anyhoo, the socks are now done.

What else is going on the hooks

While I am knitting, and messing up with the stitches, I have also been crocheting.

I have done a few Paisleys. These are for exchange in one of my crochet group.

They work up nicely and fast. I still want to make one more black and white, for my friend.

These are the ones I have done and sent out already.

I also bought some wool yarn at the Creative Sewing and Needlecraft Festival, last weekend, and plan to make a felted bag. But that is another story for later.

Ok, where are the pictures? going to try later.

Aaaaah, there they are. Took three tries.

Bye for now, gotta go to work

Poncho is coming nicely

Although I had a little mishap there after the 18th row. Me and my pattern reading! Sheesh.

I ignored the line where it said, increase on every even row.

I was happily knitting and reached the 24th row and wondered when in the heck I have to increase for the sides. I kept reading and checking for M1's, but there were none. Only then I noticed the little line about removing the markers, and increasing.

Oh, shooot, I had to increase quickly, was in a hurry, so that I wouldn't lose anything, and increased in the next few rows to cath up.

I am now on the 30th row, and with the correct amount of stitches. Total amount of rows is 185 and 480 stitches. I should have not checked, now I feel totally overwhelmed.

I have never been good at following patterns. Perhaps that is why I have slipped my stitches to freeform.

Now I have done it

I spent a small fortune on yarn to make this poncho:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/klsu-desertPoncho.html

I just need to pray that I will make it, eventually. So far I've knitted four rows, which is a good
sign considering that I started after 10 pm.

This morning I ran to another WalMart to get more of the darker yarn, since yesterday's WalMart didn't have enough.

I hope I can justify this whim. Well, what can I say? Nada.

The coat is finished

except the sleeves are too long, and I want to put buttons on it. There are no buttonholes, so I guess it's either the frog closing or snaps.
I have been bying yarn left and right. Got some wool for a tote bag, which is going to be felted.
Bought some Lion Suede, to make the poncho that is a new pattern for Lion Brand.

Making socks for Christmas, for some people, and hats, and some other stuff.

Here is a picture of the coat, back and front or front and back.

Ouch! Middle of October

What happened?

Well, first of all, I want to say that I don't know any people who I could use to boost my image. I was just reading a message, in one of my crochet groups, where this one person was boasting how she hangs around with "these people, and they all have some common way of talking" and then se talks to us, and we are supposed to understand what she means.

I must snicker a bit. When someone blasts about something and completely critisizes something, and then someone else, innocently, puts their own opinion, which isn't even remotely close to the critic's opinion, and the the first person has to explain why she said it. Why explain, if that was her honest opinion, why explain? Who cares, if someone doesn't get it. But don't come and explain how important your friends are and what they are, who cares, again, it was YOUR opinion, not theirs. or was it? Did you get together with your important buddies, and their important spouses and laughed at the item you thought nothing of.

ok, this is it, I got it out of my system, and now I can get back to my simple little life. Without any High Society Friends, who are, IMHO no better than anyone else.

shuddup

One sock down one more to go

wow, one sock done. It looks very nice.

I still have to investigate the Kitchener stitch a little bit better. I am not too happy how I finished it, but fortunately it doesn't show in the picture. I hid it well, didn't I.

So, Myra, I love the sock. Who is going to do the other one?

Pink Thing done

Finally. Ok, it's still missing some decoration and the ribbon in the waist, somewhere, and one snap button in the back, but the crocheting part is done. I also noticed that the bodice tends to stretch more than I would like; it's the stitch and the cotton yarn.

Well, the main thing is that the dress will be ok at the birthday party.

When did I start this one? Must have been in the spring.

Socks and the Pink Thing

The Pink Think was ignored last night. The sock was on the go. I got to the heel and had to finish it. I did, and now I can continue with the PT.

Would she become one?

She went and checked the firemen/women in a mall, on the weekend, and being such a cutie they gave her the helmet. Does she look good or what? (don't comment "what", LOL)

Socks again?

I am in the middle of trying to get the dress for our granddaughter done, by Friday. What did I do today, when I got home? I started knitting a sock. Ignoring the guilt producing looks from the holes of the pink dress. The dress has lots of holes, it's a shell pattern, so there should be holes, and all those holes are full of "the look", what the heck are you doing? FINISH ME FIRST, are you stoooopid, you don't have too much time left. Put that sock away, right now.

Fortunately I had to cook dinner, so I wasn't able to start on the Pink Thing immediately.

The sock? It is in "Creative Knitting" magazine, November 2005 issue. Page 68. The socks on the magazine were made using Lion Brand yarns. Well, do you think that my Michaels would have those yarns...nope. So, I went to Lewiscraft, got Paton's Kroy Socks in Jacquards, Paton's Decor in Aran and Claret. I am loving the combo. I have knitted 20 rows already...sssshhhh, don't tell the Pink Thing.

The picture is of the Lion Brand Yarn made socks.

I promise not to post anything else before I have the PT done.

A Gift

Looki, what I received from my friend Pat. This bag came all the way from Idaho. I love it.
It has all my colors and it is a hand made unique bag made just for me!!!!!

Happy dancing.

Around the neck

I finished the scarf I started knitting, using the idea from Martha's Scarf. Of course, mine is different. I didn't want anybody to think I was copying HER scarf. I have never ever been a fan of Martha's, but I hate to admit that this scarf of hers is very nice. Wondering who designed it originally.
Wonder no more, the designer is Barbara Breiter and here is the link for the original scarf:

http://knitting.about.com/library/nmarthascarf.htm

My creation has four different yarns, it's knitted also, but the sections don't roll in like in Martha's scarf. Have to check the pattern how it's done. Oh, who cares. mine is loooonngggerrrr. Yah. The shades are more or less green, except the furry yarn which is light brown. In the picture it looks rusty brown, but I couldn't get the right shade to show up.

I think, which is dangerous, but I still like the other scarf better. Maybe I will sit down properly, not watch tv while knitting, and read the pattern. Unlike this creation I made. Well, I have to do SOMETHING when watching a movie. I don't crochet well, when my eyes are on a movie, I can knit whatever, though. So, I was watching a movie, JLo was in it, and she was wearing a yummy poncho. I had seen the pattern in the web, and then of course wanted to see the movie.

The JLO poncho has too many holes to my liking, I am not a holy person. don't worry, I am not going to discuss religion here. Only to say that I do go to church...sometimes, don't ask how often, though. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/cjif-monsterInLawPoncho.html

Yes, the JLO poncho looked good on HER. Then again, I think she is a person that anything looks good on her. I am sure, if I was in that movie wearing THAT poncho, nobody would have posted a pattern in the web. Not that I am really ugly or anything, but I am not famous.
Actually, there was another poncho, someone else wearing, but I've returned the movie already, and not going to spend money just to see the other poncho. It was pretty, I didn't recognize the actress...haha, I was looking at the poncho, not her. DUH.

Back to the scarf. I will give it as a gift to someone, if there are no suitable persons in my family here, then I give it as a gift in my crochet group Christmas Party. We have a no-name gift exchange. I think a KNITTED scarf would be an excellent gift at a CROCHET group party, don'thya think!!!

Oh, well, I am sure my sister would take it, if I sent it to her. Her neck is a bit longer than mine (at least 1 cm) My neck is too short for a scarf. I would look like a pine cone in it. HAHAHAA (I typed that slowly, so you would know how hard I laughed)

This is what our GD thinks

of gramma NOT needing more yarn.

I like listing things

and now the list of the day:
made a birthday cake for hubby
made green tomato chow chow...four jars
had a two hour nap

What kind of a list is that?

Last night we went for dinner at Casey's. I had Chicken Caesadilla and onion rings. All was good, but could not eat it all. Hubby had fish, and my son and his wife had something, but didn't register, what.
Granddaughter had what ever were in the little plastic containers her parents brought from home.

I have not knitted or crocheted one stitch today, as of now. I am planning to go and see what is on top of the WIP pile. My inspiration is on vacation today, and if it doesn't come any time soon, I will just read my new book. Sounds good to me.

The picture, btw, is of our gd, having a ball last night at the restaurant.

We were supposed to go today either to Kitchener, for the "knitting Frolic", or Niagara Falls, just to spend the day, or go anywhere...not stay at home.

Well, wouldn't you know, hubby couldn't get his computer going. It was almost dead. He sat at his computer, swore and worried, what had happened. I spent my time in the kitchen and wouldn't dare talk to him. I heard a few OMGs and some other expressions, which I refuse type in this blog. You all now what I mean. After a lenghty time, he walked by and had a smile on his face. He had figured out what was wrong! The mother hardrive had gotten loose and didn't connect. How that happened, is beyond comprehension. The computer was working fine last night, and this morning it had had a heart attack. What a morning. Next thing then was the big banging headache for him. I knew by then that we will be spending the day at home.

It has been a wonderful, pleasant day ever since the computer decided to work, and I think everyone needs a day of laziness once in a while. Although, I would have loved to go to that Knitting Frolic.. but who needs more yarn, not me.

the next picture is for that last comment

Not in a good mood

And, I don't think it's going to change to better any time soon. The boss is still here, and it's Friday afternoon, and only threethirty.

I am attaching a picture here, because I feel like it.

I love that little man. My boss bought it from me, for the Tsunami relief. She still has it displayed in her office.

My invisible friend tells me to make another one, just like this one. I might just do that, one of these days.

This little guy's name is, btw, Ahti, the Guardian Spirit of Waters. If that isn't a great name then I don't know what is.

so, why am I in a bad mood? because I feel like it.

I feel like a lot of things. Gotta deal with it.

Where did the week go?

The purple doll has eyes and mouth now. She doesn't look too pleased. She's so vain.

I am sure she is going to complain, and look even more miserable when I give her a hairdo. She doesn't know what's in for her, hahahahha.

Went to our knitting meeting last night. We have a great bunch of knitters and crocheters there.
It's so amazing to see how both of us unite. There are no knitting snobs there, and if there were, they would NOT DARE show it, because most of us are just normal sensible clickers.

I won in the raffle, picked the book "A Good Yarn" by Debbie Macomber. I have read the first two words. Sheesh, I am at work, what do you expect? Do some reading at company time? Not me, only when I take breaks, like right now. since I am not smoking any more, I can take my cigarette break by checking my e-mail and such. No, I don't feel guilty..... back to work.

Purple doll

Here is the alien looking doll. She is going to be looking fantastic when I finish her, tomorrow, maybe tonight.

Little Comfort Bear

Ach, that little bear looks like a little kitten that was just pulled out of a gutter.

hmph.

I knitted a doll. She has the head, body, limbs, and hanging yarn ends. That's about it. She is sort of funny looking purple colored alien. I will finish her hopefully tonight.

I can't believe myself. I did practically nothing else today. I have so many projects to be finished by the end of the month, and all I did was a bear and a half finished doll.

What's the matter with me?

The little bear

Made a little bear, called Comfort Bear. Got the instructions from Noreen Crone-Findlay's site.

I need to make more, and perhaps attach to some of the ghan squares I am making for the Hurricane Katrina Relief program.

What's cooking

I forgot to tell you that I made Green Tomato chowchow yesterday.
Guess what hubby is making now! He is making deep fried cauliflower balls. Smells cauliflowerly. First he boiled the cauliflower, then he made something in the frying pan, looked like onions, flour, I added sugar, I'm sure there was salt and pepper also, since he made me taste the dough, and asked if it had enough salt. Next thing he did he added the cauliflower to that mix and mixed them well, now he is making the balls, and frying them in oil. Yummy.

I started knitting a sweater for Valen, and it's so big that it probably fits Valen's mommy. Waiting for her to call me back to give the measurements for both.

That's it for now, if I remember something else, then I write again.

Harborfront visit

So, today we went to the harborfront. Just for fun, it was early, and we figured that it was easy to get parking right in the Harborfront Centre area, and this is what happened.

We walked, watched some old men playing with their remote controllable boats, watched boats on the lake, people walking and blue sky.

We walked by the artists' booths, I even bought a mood ring. The ring has some flowers on it, it's pretty, and stays blue all the time. I am sure it will never be anything else on my finger but blue. The ring was only five bucks, and it was pretty, I had to buy it.

We took a lot of pictures of flowers. We had lunch at one restaurant's patio. And took some more pictures.

I'm not in a mood to write, sorry.

Laborday weekend

Started on Friday afternoon to crochet squares for Katrina Relief programs. I managed to make 9 before Saturday. I had two already made for my crochet group's Warming Families program.

I mailed the squares to Jackie, who is collecting them, assembling them and sending them to someone over somewhere else, who then in turn distributes the blankets to people who needs them. That is a lot of people. How devastating.

I try to be thankful for what I have.

I will be making more squares next week.

List of things to do

These are WIP items:

1. Stole for my sister
2. Cabled vest for hubby
3. Pink Dress for Ella
4. Scarf/lapghan whichever makes nicer logo for Johnny
5. Poncho for Ella
6. FF Coat for the show
7. FF vest for the show
8. Scrumble for FF group challenge

These are Items to make before Christmas:

1. Sweater for Valen (actually for May, 2006)
2. Shawl for Stefi (actually for April, 2006)
3. Knitted/Crocheted hat for Bill
4. Knitted/Crocheted scarf for Bill
5. Snowflakes for the office gang
6. more to come as I remember what I am supposed to make and to whom

So Far I have made:

1. Shawl for Janet
2. Shawl, which is going to look like poncho, for Sarah
3. Blanket for Ella
4. Poncho for Amy
5. Stole for Mrs. Woooo
6. Socks for me?

I think I have to do something about being so lazy at nights.

Do I want to knit a scarf?

I think I have now lost my mind. I want to knit Martha's scarf. The one in the picture.
Actually, I kind of like it, too bad it has that name. It's not that it's Martha's scarf, I like it, but I like it because what it is.
I might even find some brown shaded yarns in my stash. For sure.

First I must finish my sister's stole, she's already bugging me about it, and I only started last week. Gimme a break. I wanted to do the red poncho first. And another mini poncho for Ella.

Ok, back to work

Poncho done

I finished the red poncho on Sunday at 10 pm, after about 12 hrs working on it. I think I was working on it steadily from 4 to 9, with a few breaks, like checking the e-mail and other important things.

Some of my buddies were on IM, but I didn't want to stop, I was determined to finish the poncho quickly, because I hate making ponchos.

I am pretty impressed with myself, I have actually finished a lot of stuff in the last two months.

Couple of doilies, two shawls, one stole and a poncho, oh, and don't forget the pair of socks, and little coasters, and squares.....oooh, my, I have ACTUALLY finished what I have started. Ok, ok, I didn't include the ones that I have started in between all those finished items. there are quite a few of them, but who counts.

Poncho making

Using RH TLC Amore Red Velvet, making a poncho for my DIL. I really didn't want to make a poncho for anyone, but I wanted to make something, and might as well make what she wants, not what I want. The picture is after 18 rows. I have spent 5 hours, not continuous, and one skein. I started last night. Well the first skein finished at the end of 17th row. I am writing all this down, so I will know when someone asks. Oh, and the pattern is from Maggie's Crochet "Matha's Coming Home Poncho".............AAAAAAAAAAAAWK, but that was the easiest, fastest looking poncho that had the right hook size. Well, that's what I thought, I am not sure that my 23 rows (as per pattern) is going to be enough for my DIL's tall being. I just have to be creative at the end, don't I?

I NEVER thought I would make this poncho, NEVER. I am not sure if I forgive myself.

Oh, my sister's stole is on the waiting for inspiration basket. I don't think I should make anything simple to make something fast. I am so bored with the stitch I am using for my sister's stole.

What did I do today?

I don't really know. I wanted to go and get some yarn for the stole I am making for my sister.
Not the same color, different, to make some flowers on the edges. I saw many shades of the Symphony yarn, but all of a sudden lost interest. I decided to make the flowers with the same color as the stole. Then I started looking for Bernat's Satin yarn, but couldn't see it anywhere. I realized that there was an other aisle full of yarns, what a relief. I was at Zellers, btw. Oh, now I could see the Bernat's Satin, but the colors didn't do a thing for me. I almost gave up by now. I just was NOT in the mood for yarn. As if this ever happens, yes it does, trust me.

I had talked to my DIL yesterday of the Christmas gift for her. I had asked if she was seriously wanting a PONCHO for Christmas, and she said yes. I was going to make a shawl for her. then, not wanting to make just anything I asked what color she wanted, and after a few minutes she came up with rasberry red.

I found RH TLC Amore in Red Velvet, and decided that all rasberries should be that color. I bought four skeins. 170 g each. I am sure I have enough, if not, then I am out of luck, because that was all they had, and I don't feel like running around looking for more. The yarn is very similar to RH Plush, not as thick, maybe, but very similar. This is going to be one nice red poncho. Yup.

I crocheted quite a bit of my sister's stole in the car, when we were driving around, trying to figure out where we wanted to go. I was happy, I had the yarn, so I didn't need to go anywhere else. We ended up at Loblaws, which is a grocery store. Then came home.

I had a three hour nap, and hope that I can sleep tonight when I am supposed to sleep.

that's all for now.

I frogged the shawl

I had made about 10 cm of this knitted shawl for my sis. Using RH Symphony, River blue yarn.

Well, actually, I didn't frog it yet, I just cut the yarn (have you ever tried to frog RH Symphony yarn???), and started crocheting with size 6.5 mm hook. WOW, I have sworn that size 5 mm is my maximum . Not any more. this one goes very smoothly. I am making a granite stitch, the pattern is here:
http://fuzzygalore.biz/patterns/granite.shtml

now, due to my rebellous nature, I had to change it a bit. I am using 49 sts + 2, and making a shawl, not a poncho. I just did two rows of it, and love it much better than the knitted one. At least I don't have to think while making this one. Well, when do I ever think anyway. I can see my hubby making faces already, heheheh.

The boss, boss' s son and boss's assssisstant (love all those essses) have gone home. There are only four of us in the office. I am by myself here at the back. I think the rest of them are either chatting in the front, with the new girl, or working on something that doesn't make any noise, like filing or something. We still have 45 minutes to go, but I am sure I will let those three leave early. Aren't I nice?

I am now going to do some real work, so I don't feel guilty for the past 30 minutes when I was testing my yarn with crochet hook. I really don't feel bad, because I came 45 minutes early to work.

Correction to yarn color

The RH yarn is not Juniper or Jupiter, it's River Blue.

http://www.yarns-and.com/RedHeart/RHsymphony.htm

Coaster whim

Almost forgot. I took a picture of all five coasters I have managed to make this week.
One is for a birthday gift for a lady who started on Monday, and dared to have her birthday
a day before. We are having a cup cake and cards for her, and then of course one of the
coasters (the yellow one).

One woman in the office saw them and selected the other yellow coaster. So now I have
three left. I might give them away or whatevvver.

Petroleum Blue Yarn

On the way home from work, I stopped at Lewiscraft. Bought Allure and Bernat's Berella. Allure is midnight blue, and Berella is variegated blues. I drove home, quite happily, until
I came closer to Zellers, and I told myself that I will not be happy if I don't check what Zellers
has.

Ah, I found six balls of Red Heart Symphony in "perfect" petroleum color, it's called Juniper, or Jupiter, as if it was important now. The color in the picture isn't exactly right, but with my
photoshop ability we are lucky to get a picture at all.

The other picture is of the surprise hubby had for me. I think he read my mind that I want to
go on a diet.

Believe me, but the skein of yarn is the same one in both pictures. I was playing with my photoshop, and well, I didn't ask hubby's help. Oh, you just have to imagine the color, or go to the store and look, that will be fine with me.

Petroleum Blue

I was chatting with my sister, on IM, and she now wants a petroleum blue shawl to cover her shoulders when she's wearing her jeans dress.
What the heck is petroleum blue? I searched the web, and got two TOTALLY different shades of blue. Who wants gasoline blue, gasoline is expensive enough already, and now to wear it, too????
She said it's like oil blue, or gasoline blue, very fashionable in Europe now. Yeah, now I need the yarn in PETROLEUM BLUE thank you very much. WHERE????? which yarn????

I told her that she can have a black one.

Wearing my necklace again

I love the necklace Carol sent me. I am wearing it again. Hopefully someone will take a picture
of me today. I have my camera with me, so I can take a picture of the birthday boy when he
eats the cake

Coasters

I think that sometimes a person has to do something simple, to keep the sanity. I am not sure, if I was able to keep my sanity, but I made 5 coasters in two nights. These are the ones I made last night. Oh, I could have made more in one night, but there is the cooking, the e-mail, the tv, and whatelsenot.

And what's with the map on my table. That is my placemat. I am a little nut when it comes to maps. I want to know where places are. I love world Atlas. The problem is that I don't remember all the names, so I would not be a good candidate for Jeopardy.

That's it for now.

Happy Birthday, Sherri

Today is my friend Sherri's birthday. Happy B-Day!
I got a small gift for her, today, while looking for a baseball bat for Paul.
It's a tiny thing, but I know Sherri wants it. Not telling.
I also have a ball of yarn for her, but she knows about it already.
I was going to give it to her regardless, but this Birthday Stuff came
in handy, so it can be a b-d gift. Maybe not. Once she's moved and
all the boxes are organized in her new place, she can have the yarn.

I am not going to disturb her today, she's busy getting ready for her
move.

Anyhoooo, Happy Birthday, Sherri!!!!

The night is better

After my negative morning, the day started going much better. I even got a lot of work done.
My previous assistant, who was let go, still haunts me. We find notes and folders that don't make any sense. Did she hide things on purpose, trying to get me in trouble, so she could get
my job faster, faster than if I was to retire.
Oh, well, she's gone.

The parcel has arrived in California, and that was a big relief.

Tomorrow is the boss' son's birthday party at the office, or lunch, but we make it a party. One girl insisted that we should have booze. half the people don't drink, me included, and the other half will get their own coolers. I don't care, as long as I get my coffee.

The young man is a baseball player in his free time, and also plays poker a lot, and worked in our office for the summer. I went to the mall after work, looking for a key-ring with a baseball bat and ball to stick on the cake, no such luck. I found a teddy bear posing as an All Star player. So I got that instead. Too big for the cake, though. He's going to love it. NOT, but I don't care, if he doesn't care for it, if he ever has kids they will like it. I bought it to bug him. hahahha.

Besides, tomorrow is his last day at work, and off he goes back to university. I hope he takes the bear with him, so his buddies can tease him. HAHAHHAAAAAAA, I am so nice. He's always trying to be this sarcastic smartalec, rude, sob, ironic, smartypant, but I know that deep down he's a teddybear, I think, maybe not, but one can hope. He's only 20, he can still change????

Oh, shaaaat, I think I promised to crochet a doily for him, for his bd-gift, and he promised to take it to his dorm at the university, he promised, with the most sarcastic, ironic, cynicist voice he could muster. AS IF. So, as if I was gonna make him a doily. NOPE. He gets a teddybear instead. wooohoooohoohooo. I would take a picture of it, but left it in the car. Why should I keep taking stuff back and forth? I left the card and the poker napkins in the car, too. If you want to see them, go to the store, they have some left.

Today is NOT my day

First of all, this is my PITA cat, Sir Oliver.

So, I was going to wear a "groovy" 60's skirt today. It has been hanging in the closet for a few years. I don't think I ever wore it.
So, this morning I decided to wear the dang skirt, and guess what,
the elastic was gone from the waistband. The skirt now resides in
the garbage bag, which I have to take out tonight, and there is no
way I am going to fix the waistband. I don't sew or do alterations.

Then, finally I was ready to leave for work. I could not find my car keys. I searched everywhere, even the pockets of the pants I wore yesterday. No dice. I had to empty my poor handbag and there were the keys. Not in the proper pocket for the keys. I have two small pockets, one for the phone, and the other for the keys. Who put my keys inside the bag?

I was sure that I had left the keys in the car, hubby already gone for work, and I didn't feel like going down to check the car, in case it wasn't there, if I had left the keys inside. I was mildly panicking. I don't blame me.

Ok, so I finally was able to leave. Decided to treat myself to a MacDonald bacon and egg mcmuffin. At the door I said "good morning" to an old man, who was sitting by the doorway, having a coffee and donut. He was delighted that I did that, and when I left the mall, he wished me a good day, and I did too, to him, of course. That was a nice event.

First I went to the bank machine, only to find out that I had miniscule amount of money in the checking account. I had one outstanding cheque for more than was in the bank.

I am not in the good mood.

Then, at work, I started checking my Avon account. I was so happy that I had paid the account already.
For some idiotic reason I checked the account balance, and I owed them almost 50 bucks. I had paid for the previous invoice, not the most recent. DUH!!!!

This is not going well.

I also found out that a parcel I sent to California on the 15th has not arrived as yet. The post office guy told me that it should be there in about 5 business days. I paid for airfare.

This day better turn around and start over again.

If you think that these are minor annoyances, go ahead, but enough of these little drops will fill my cupeth, and drive me nutshet.

I am wearing, this is one bright spot in my life right now, wearing the necklace I got from my friend, Carol, and it looks wonderful on me. (of course I left the camera at home, so nobody is going to take a picture of me at work)

Another picture

I love this picture. It was a gloomy day, it started raining shortly after this trip.

This park is in a valley near my home.

Watching tv and other stuff

This picture has nothing to do what I am about to talk about. It was taken in a nearby park, called Edwards Gardens.

You will not guess what I am watching right now, so I will tell, "the Orange County Choppers". They are building a bike for the police in tonight's episode... I like Mikey, he's almost cute.
I hope he wears long pants in the winter time. As if it was any of my business what he was
wearing. I don't have to look at his bare legs, do I now?

Sometimes I wonder why I do this blog thing. I have Life Journal program, but I don't remember to write anything there. I used to be quite active in writing, but then crocheting took
over all my other activities. I also have almost as many journal books as I have yarn, well not quite, but relatively speaking, yes. If we count the unused pages on those journals, then the blank pages would equal to the amount of unused yarn and thread I have. I love buying journals, notebooks, pens and cases to carry all that. I think I really want to be a student. I wasn't a very good student, when I was supposed to be, and now that I don't have time or the money to be one, I pretend, and buy stuff. Staples and Grand & Toy are my favorite stores, after yarn stores, oooops, I almost goofed there.

Oh, I do get nice notebooks and stuff from Zellers (going to be Target one of these days).

How did I get here? On a bike? The bike is done, and it's beautiful, if you can say that about a bike. Hmmm. Yes you can.

Want to see another picture? First I have to get rid of this page, publish it, and then come back, to be able to put the next picture in the right place. I think.

Great gift from my friend Carol

Look at the beautiful crocheted bead necklace which arrived today.

I will be wearing it tomorrow at work. I love the necklace.

I also received Prudence Mapstone's newest book on purses.
Oh, what an inspiration. Going to be busy tonight, checking the book.

Stole done

The designer is Darla Sims. I used black Bernat's Satin yarn. My hook was size 6 mm, took a while to get used to that size.

Another for today

I have blocked most of my contacts on msn messenger, hahah. Don't feel like talking to
anyone.

I started, I think yesterday, or day before, who knows, a stole for Mrs. Wooooooo. for christmas.
Is christmas spelled with capital c? if so, why?

back to the stole...btw, this is MY BLOG, so I can make as many mistakes as I want.

yeah, I have done 50 inches already. Aiming for 65 inches plus the fringe. Who ever designed the stole has instructed the fringes be crocheted. Go ahead, designer, I am going to cut the yarn, and tie them to the ends.

I am in a bad mood today, have you noticed? 18 minutes and we go home.

Tired of complaints

If I hear one more complaint about "I'm so tired, my FIL annoys me, I am so sick, I don't feel good, we have no money, etc etc etc"

I will scream.

Deal with it, I don't want to hear it, I have enough on my plate, there is no room for your stuff.

I am being self-centered right now, but DEAL WITH IT.

Second Batwing Shawl

Is now done. And I seriously think that this is it for my career in Batwing Shawl land.
It's time to move to other lands.

Pictures show two different views, as you can tell

picture

of the gals. Swiped from Sherri's blog. Roseanne, Drea, Maggie, Pirk, Violet in the back, in the front: Rose, Dawn and Sherri

Trip to Listowel

Personal log, watching too much of those Voyagers et al.

We met at the gas station in the corner of Yonge and York Mills. Seven in the morning. Rosey, Sherri, Maggie and I were ready for the road. Traffic wasn't bad, ok, only at one section of the 401 there was a few too many cars, but the slowdown didn't last very long, and off we went merrily.

Got off the correct exit, heheh, but later on noticed that we were on the rong road. Turned around and around, back to the original road, where we went wrong, in exiting, or rather not exiting. That was our first sight seeing tour of suburbs of Kitchener. Tralalaa, we were traveling merrily and the girls in the back seat were investigating crochet magazines, and the front girls were either listening or ignoring, but excited in getting to the yarn sale.

OOOPs, we came to a T-intersection, which was not really marked in our map. we turned rigt, but then Maggie said that she thinks we should go to left. Another Uwie, and left we went, and went and went, until Maggie decided that we should ask directions. This is, according to Maggie:
"we are in trouble". fortunately two wonderful Amish persons, the man, gave us directions to Listowel, and off we went, relieved that we were, after all on the right road.

There were lots of different yarns, in the tent. As I went in, my excitement slowly diminished, and I just stared at the yarns. I picked some Grace cotton, walked to the next selection, picked up some lavender cotton, two packets, to make something for my granddaughter. Picked some Astra yarn, walked around, more or less lost and very distracted. I went back to the lavender cotton section, put one of the packets away, took a light yellow packet.

Ok, if I am going to explain all the different turns and twists in that tent, this is going to be too long, so I stop here, only to tell that I went back once more, and got some other kind of yarn, and one more time to get yellow Grace cotton. I bought nothing inside the store, which was right beside the tent.

We had lunch at Diane Sweets, in the downtown area. Dawn joined us and we enjoyed the food very much. I had a Western sandwich, a salad, and French Fries. One of the best WS I have had recently.

We took a different route returning home. Hwy 9 was supposed to take us directly to hwy 400. Well, I think it would have, if we stayed on hwy 9. First I turned south too early, and had to make a Uwie, which started looking like professional U-driving for me by then, heheh. I also made another too early right turn and had to make yet another, you know what, hmph.

Finally we got the right road, at least the sign said "Toronto", it was hwy 27. Soutbound we went until we hit hwy 407. I was happy, a fast road finally.

Maggie was the first one to go home with her new stash, and then Roseanne, who lives downtown. I was nervous about the rush hour traffic, but considering the time and the area, it was a piece of cake. Off got Rosey, and Sherri and I headed towards her home. We took a sideway and the traffic was wonderful. After leaving Sherri, I thought I might have a heavy traffic ahead of me, but I was wrong. I was at home within 15 minutes from Sherri's place.
Now I'm tired.

Sunday panics

I just remembered that we have a crochet guild meeting in a week. AAAWK, I must do the 8" square, 12" square that I promised Sherri, in the last meeting, and then I must make two 6" flower squares for out little exchange program. AAAAWK, and I thought that today I finish the second batwing shawl, and work on hubby's knitted vest.

Where do I find the time?

Here, somewhere, where ever it lands, is a picture of one of the flower squares I have made for an exchange. One or two, pictures.

Now, there are two, ok. I was looking at the pictures in my files, and realized that I have finished something. I tend to think that all I have is UFOs. Well, can't be sitting here all day, have work to do.

Living with me

Isn't the easiest lifestyle.

Once again I have changed my mind. Do I ever stick to one idea? No, I guess not.

I started a blue sock on Sunday. Made about 6 cm ribbing, k1,p1, got tired of it and
changed to stockinet. I did 6 rows of blue, three rows of soft white. Oh, and then I
decided that the sock was going to be too big for anyone in my family. Frogging took
way less time than making those rows.

Then I decided that I could find a pattern in the web for that size yarn and suitable
size needles. So I did, and started. Now I want to make a scarf, using the same yarn.

Do I frog the 12 rows I've done, or do I make a pair of socks. I am not sure if I have
enough of that blue to make a scarf, toque, and socks. Guess what. I will frog this one
and design a nice scarf. I already have an idea in my head. The trick is to get on the
pattern and create it.

End of the Sock saga

My left arm aches, my left hand fingers ache, but the pair of socks is DONE!!!!

It will be a while before I make another pair of socks. Not my cup of tea, and besides,
I don't really drink tea. so that should be "coffee", oh well, you know what I mean.

At least I made one pair, and that is a good thing.

The First Sock is Done

I knitted a sock. I was going to make a pair as a Christmas present for someone, butI got tired of knitting around and around, so I decided it was a perfect fit for me, and I truly believe that the first socks I will ever make should be kept for myself. If I change my mind, I will send the socks to my sister or niece, it's very cold over there.

Now, I must knit the second sock, so that this one will not be lonely. I certainly wouldn't mind having one kind of a sock in one foot and one other kind in other foot, but my feet might not like that, who knows. I promise to make the other one, just to get practice on this new adventure in sock knitting. This sock looks weird, really.

The heel thing

This is the first attempt, if I remember correctly, of a sock.

Not bad, if I may say so myself. Looks weird, though, but maybe

it's supposed to look weird. I wonder who is the lucky person to get the socks. LOL

The sock is growing

I thought that the beginning part of the sock would look better on my wrist than continuing for the whole thing.

Then I decided that I wanted to see, how I managed the heel part of the sock. I continued, and
here is the result:

Socks coming up or not

My my, another change in plans. This time it's socks. I must be nuts. I never even finished the purple shawl yet. I made one feeble scrumble today at lunch. Why did I start knitting socks?
I really must be nuts.

I went to the locker room, checked the two top boxes and wept. There are so many nice yans, and I forgot all about them.

So, I took Berella Platinum yarn out from the box. I wonder if they still make this yarn.
After dinner I started knitting. I have a strange feeling that one of the needles is bigger than the other 4. Or, I have a few thinner needles, I don't know. Of course I forgot where I put the chart where I can measure the needle sizes, or I am too lazy to look for it.

I also remember, slowly, why I don't knit too much. My fingers are already starting to complain, and the top of my left hand is aching a bit. However, I am determined to make at least one pair of socks for someone for Christmas.

more scrumbles

Here are some of those scrumbles for my FF coat.

aaaah, I want to see the coat done.

FreeFormish thoughts

This morning I decided to continue with my freeform coat, which I started at least a year ago. I don't even remember now.

I have made several pieces and then put them in a box, and made some more scrumbles and put them in a box. Every once in a while I will put the pieces together and hope they will just jump
on their own to form a coat. No such luck.

I'm still not comfortable with this blog thingy, look where the picture went, I wanted it above this line.

Wasted a day, sort of

Didn't do much of anything today (Monday, Aug. 1), but wind yarn. This is for an exchange, and I finally got all yarn sorted and put in little plastic bags.

I don't think I crocheted at all. Most of the day was watching some idiotic movies, and playing cards on the computer. I am somewhat frustrated that I didn't get anything done. Anything?
I sorted some of my freeform scrumbles, put them in the bag to take to work tomorrow, in case I feel like working on them at lunch time. Lately I haven't done any crocheting at work.

Oh, I forgot, I did some rows on the purple batwing shawl...HOW could I forget?

It's almost 3 am. Tuesday morning, and I can't sleep.

Here is a picture of a doll who shows how I feel right now