Snow has arrived

It's a little hard to get a good video from the balcony door, but here it is.  Our big winter storm that has caused many cancellations for colleges, universities, school buses and perhaps some businesses.

I am at home, decided to take a vacation day.  It's hard to run after a bus with my coughing spells.  

Not sure if my work office is closed, it's too early to call there.

I will do my Saturday chores today and enjoy the rest of the weekend doing what I enjoy.

Merlin went to check the snow, and was quite interested.  He even went around in the balcony.

Feels Like Friday but it's Thursday

May be because I left early from work today. 
I was fortunate to change my doctor's appointment from tomorrow to today, noon, if I made to the office before noon.  I was there ten minutes before.  (counts as positive)
I left the Center with new medication for my cough, which has been present since October last year. Some days awful, some not.  Today was the awful one. (counts as negative)

I changed the appointment in case tomorrow was going to be a no-go due to heavy snow fall. Weather people predicted some mean piles of snow.  I was not going to drive to work, was going to take the bus, which would have been somewhat aggravating for my cough. 

I came home, had lunch, and went to bed to finish a story that I had been reading lately.  I had a two hour nap which made me very happy.  Merlin came to take his nap with me, but had found another place later, since he was nowhere in sight when I woke up.  He has a few cat-nap (as per Sherri ) locations. 

I am on "vacation" tomorrow, nursing my cold with my new medication, and taking naps when ever the need arises. 

There is no snow coming down right now, but apparently tonight is the heavy fall.  I predict that all that snow will by-pass our area, it has happened. 

A friend of mine, Janet, has a beautiful art blog.  She is talented and oh, so creative.  Every time I look at her art, I want to take my sketch book and pencils and start drawing.  When I go to my "creative" bag, there
is always a knitting or crochet project on top, and there goes the urge to draw.  One of these days I will
toss all the other projects out of the way and do some serious drawing. But first I will finish my February socks. 

Merlin, the cat, likes to watch TV, Specially animal shows and lately the soccer games (football in my books)
Here he is watching the Spain vs. Uruguay game

Another mid week

This positive thinking is sometimes very hard, specially when there is no inspiration to be positive.
However, my hubby had a surprise for me in my lunch bag, and I got a smile in me.
I had forgotten to take my licorice and cough syrup with me to work, but when I opened my lunch
bag, both of them were in there.  Thank You!  You see, little things make me happy.

Creative Knitting magazine was offering a free pattern yesterday.  It's a Un-Biased Scarf, design by
Cheryl Beckerich..  the pattern is available free for a short period, I don't know for how long, but it seems to be free still today.

Of course I had to start knitting it.  I have nothing else to work on, tsk tsk what a joke.  I found a nice yarn, that I had bought in Finland a few years ago. It's Marks & Kattens Fame Trend
Here is the start of my scarf, and a coffee, too

I stopped at Tim Horton's this morning, bought a coffee for me, and a tea for a co-worker.  She didn't come in today, so the tea ended up on someone else's desk.

Tuesday already?

Sunday was a uneventful day.  Waited for the SuperBowl to start so I could watch something else.  I don't understand that game, and to be honest with you, don't want to understand it.

I knitted for a few rows, crocheted some 5" squares, and had a nap in the afternoon.  There was nothing
interesting going on.

Monday was different.  I wanted to go and get an x-ray done in a nearby health center, only to find that they
had moved.  I was late for work, about 15 minutes, which didn't worry me at all.  I've done more than 15 minutes extra time in my working days.

The day went by slowly, except when I had my lunch hour, it went too fast, I crocheted a few stitches and

came back to my office ten minutes early and finished a square.

Today is looking a lot better, I have sneezed and coughed for about 10 minutes so far, which is not a bad thing compared to that happening all day long, with 10 minute breaks.  (spoke too fast)

Look at this pretty crocheted hat, link is here.  I like Priscilla's patterns. I've not been too keen on crocheting hats, but that one looks way too interesting to ignore it.  Perhaps next winter.  Now I am busy knitting socks and crocheting squares and knitting cardigans and knitting and knitting and knitting....aaarrrrgggghhhhhh.

The socks?
It's the challenge feature for February 2013, knit socks and use yarn from stash.  My yarn is from stash, and don't know the brand of it.  I don't even remember where and when I bought it, but it's good for socks.
The challenge is posted in Ravelry.  I am to make these socks for me.  Ah, that might be a problem, since I don't really like using the socks that I have knitted, they are usually for gifts.
The yarn in these socks doesn't co-operate with the color changes, but since they are for me, it's a welcome
feature.  I like things that are a little bit off the wall.

Here is the link for the pattern

The more I think about those socks, the more I like them, for me.  

That thought will be my positive thinking for the day.  So far anything negative can go and fly a kite.

Saturday Morning

Of all the days in the week, I could have slept in, but didn't.  Not very pleased with my sleep fairy this morning.
I tried to call her back, but she was just smiling and faded away.  Merlin lifted his head, jumped close to my
face to see if I was awake.  I got up, and he followed me.

The coffee is brewing and Merlin and I are checking the morning schedule.  Looks like he is waiting for my
DH to show up from the bedroom.  It's a little bit out of the norm for Merlin, usually it's the DH who gets up
first.  I am allowing a sleep-in for him this morning.
There is very little food left for Merlin, which means a trip to Pet Smart.  We have a membership card for PS, for discounts, only.  Therefore I get Merlin's stuff in there Also, it's near my home, Canadian Tire and Future Shop, and  a huge parking lot, too.  Which is important. I very rarely go to Canadian Tire, and hubby is the one who goes to Future Shop.  If I go with him, I walk around bored.  Unless, of course
he's going to get me a new laptop, or something.

Other plans for today are still up in the air. 

Some friends were talking about a British TV Drama Series "Downton Abbey", and how wonderful the show is, etc. etc.  As I am quite easily influenced by someone else's recommendations, I had to get the DVD
for the first two series.  Didn't bother with the third one, since I wanted to make sure I like the show.  I ended up getting the third season, too, and spent a few hours last night watching it.  I know that the fourth
season is on TV (already?), as all the other ones were, but missed them on telly.  However, I want to finish the 3rd season, before the fourth, makes sense, right.

Knitting?  Oh, yes, I've done some scarves, some shawls and some starts for new projects.  My very favorite is a Wingspan shawl.  there is a pattern for it, but I improvised my shawl a little bit, and now it's
the one I like the most of my recent projects. Even though it's not in green shades.  It's blue, FPS.

Other projects, Lion for my cousin's Lion's Club show

 Market bag,

 Warm hat, with double brim to be doubly warm, this is for hubby.

There are many more, but right now the positive thought for today:  It's wonderful to be able to create art by knitting, and crocheting.  It's relaxing and brings joy.
I might come back today, after our Saturday shopping and chores. 

Friday Bright Moments

It was one of those mornings that I decided to go to WalMart before going to work.  Sometimes the morning
feels to be dragging on if I go to the office early.  This morning I wanted to be late.
I took my sweet time at WM, but managed to get out before 8.  In my desire to be late for work, I took
a long way and got stuck in traffic.  It was barely moving.  Oh, well, I didn't mind at all.  Finally when I
got to Don Mills, the traffic was smooth, Only to find a huge line-up on Sheppard Avenue.  At one
set of lights we moved maybe two or three cars at a time.  Five sets of lights before I was able to get thru.
I came to work five minutes before opening.  That was a good start.  My plan worked!

At WM I found exactly what I was looking for, some magazines and gifts for friends.  I also bought a heart
shaped plastic tray, and if my hubby doesn't do as I have hinted, I do it myself.  Fill it with yarn.  It's not a big
tray, but it is a Valentine Day tray.  I might have to wind the yarns to small balls, since all my red and pink (if I ever find it) are in big skeins, and only two of those might fit in the tray.  I saw this idea in FaceBook a few days ago: Giant Valentine Heart
I must buy some small cupcake paper cups, since my heart tray is small.

On a positive note for today, I have a hard time finding/thinking of anything negative to say, but that's not it,
it's the one pound that I had lost yesterday.  I have not found it yet, but saw some crumbles following it, and
they better reach the lost pound and not come back.  I have not notified the  missing item to the authorities,
and might not do that at all.  See my smile.

I might have mentioned that I have Kindle e-readers.  I have read many books since I got my smaller Kindle.
It's easier to handle than the one with a keyboard beneath the screen.  I was tempted to get the Kindle Paperwhite, but the brain knocked on the door, yelling, don't be stupid, you have two Kindles and  Kobo, and Kindle on your phone and Cloud Reader at work and At Home.  What do you need another one for?

I listened, and, no, I am not getting any more readers.  I have over or nearly 500 books in my Kindles and
as fast as I am able to read, I will never be able to read them all.  There are too many free books daily that
somehow end up in my little reader.

My latest reading is "Witches on Parole" by Debora Geary.
I also have the next two of the series.  First I have to finish this one.
It's light reading, no gory details, no mushy stuff, and romance, easy read.
I have read ten books written by Ed McBain, 87th Precinct Series, which I enjoyed way too much.
Tom Lowe's books are also enjoyable, I've read the four in Sean O'Brien Series, and after my witch cycle I might go back to 87th Precinct as there are several more in the series.

Later/tomorrow more

Morning Thoughts

It was a slightly gloomy morning weather when I was driving to work.  In some areas of the sky behind the clouds the sun was lurking, giving some hope for a sunnier day to come.
Took some pictures on the way to work:

I had to take a picture of Harvey's, one: the sky was beautiful, two: I used to drool over Harvey's hamburgers.  When I was going to university, on my way there, every time, I stopped at Harvey's and had
a hamburger and onion rings.  Those days are gone, no more onion rings for me.  At least until the next time.

In my very reasonable thinking, thinking about the positive and negative, I decided to do the negative
first since what I read last is going to stay in my mind better.

This morning I had a hard time to find my salt, I looked everywhere, and am still not sure if the salt I discovered is strong enough, but I found this:  I found a nice turtle neck sweater to wear to work.  I put it on, and it started an itch on my skin.  What The Heck, the material is acrylic, not wool.  Then I got really warm inside of the sweater and off it came.  I could not wear the dang sweater, and I was slightly upset.

On the positive side of things, I had lost a pound.  It's a good thing, It is.

Those two feelings are nothing miraculous to write about for this subject, but I am a simple person with simple joys and upsets. Anything that gives me a happy feeling is a good thing.
Oh, and I must say, the turtleneck sweater came first, and after that I decided to weigh myself.  That made me think that it's better to push the negative down with positive.

On this note, I will talk to you, if not later, then tomorrow.

Positive and Negative

A friend of mine mentioned that our friend is blogging one positive thought per day.  Of course I have to copy that idea, which I am going to TRY to do, too.

However, in my life there has to bee some salt with the sweetness, therefore I am trying to balance out
this thought with both, positive and negative.

The first one will be that I found several unfinished projects this morning, when looking for a special yarn.
And I did not get upset, which has been my reaction in the past. I consider that a very positive thing, as
I was quite excited in finding those projects.

The negative thing for today is that my pants are tight, which means another pound has crept into the area where the sitting device needs a comfortable wrapping.  Now it's not, and I feel pssd off.

I went to the dentist yesterday.  I have some caves where the surrounding teeth keep either storage for
food or keep some pieces hostage in there.  I had two of those dens closed with modern door material.
One more to go.  I like my dentist, she's funny, but not when I want to take a nap when she's working
on my teeth:  she and her technician talk too much and disturb my attempts to take a little snooze.

I am sure that the drilling would have been less painful than the needle the doctor poked into my mouth's
inner flesh.  Must remember to mention that next time.

We have a cat.  His name is Merlin.  He is almost white, but has lots of black markings, including one
right beside his nose.  That was then one that I noticed first when we were at the Animal Rescue Center
looking for a kitten to adopt.  There was a Calico kitten, which was really pretty, BUT, she hissed at me,
and I said, if that's how you want to be, go back to your cage.  Merlin was cuddly right away, but oh, so
timid, and skinny.  Now he is none of that, but he is not fat, and will never be too fat, he's going to be
a big one, lean and big.  He likes to sleep in the early evening, so he'll be alert at night, to play in our bed.

More thoughts tomorrow.

Sock Knitting is Addictive

Recently I made a promise to myself to make at least one pair of socks for my cousin's organization, in
Finland.  I made one pair on that day, another pair the second day and a third pair the following day.
Guess what, I started yet another pair.  These socks are not coming out as fast as the other ones.  Addicted or not, my mind is already on other projects.
I have been away from this blog world for a while, and to my horror the system was changed.  I recall seeing some notifications, but like my attention would have been focused on blogging at that time, so I forgot about it, and was hoping the changes would go away.  They didn't.

Therefore this post is only about those socks, because I want to see how this story comes out.

Well, I am not disappointed at all, I kind of like this new Blog better now.  At least the pictures look better.

The socks in the middle were done with Patons Kroy Socks Fx (?) yarn and there was no hope in my 

knitting world to get a matching pair.  I hope there is one or two little kids who have an 

open mind for being different.

The Teal color socks were made with Moda Dea Washable wool, and were the first pair.

I have been awfully busy with my knitting but not too busy with crocheting,

Other than squares for Heartmade Blessings organization.

It's time to start my work day.  More later. 

An hour lost

It's already 1:30 in the afternoon, but it does not feel like it. It will tomorrow morning, I am sure of it.

I managed to finish some squares, and they are ready for assemblers. I also finished the other

Izzy, African Comfort Doll.

March sneaked in

Moby Betta Fish is happy, I put a two-sided mirror outside his bowl, and now he's playing with the image, and sometimes going into hiding in his little house that I had put inside the bowl.

He is supposed to have one little food thing per day, but he is having nothing of that foolish rule.

He jumps up and down when he sees me taking the food container, sometimes getting so excited that he makes the water move so much that the food sails where he has to catch it. Sometimes he doesn't see it, and I have to show it with my finger, and he does follow my guide. He's not just a fish, he's a funny clown. Very difficult to take a good picture of him, as soon as he sees the camera, he thinks it's play time, or fighting time (he is a fighting fish), and moves constantly.

The latest one in my charity section is Izzy, African Comfort Doll, for ICross.ca.

The pattern text is very small in this web site, but there is a better pattern text here.

There is also a crochet pattern in that blog.

I have been busy knitting and crocheting I even made one drawing. How is that being creative every day? I think posting about it is harder than actually being busy with the needles, hooks, or pens.

It's Saturday and there are many chores that need done. I wanted to wish everyone a great weekend, and don't forget to change the clock in the morning. Losing one hour is not a good thing, when one is busy working or creating. (or doing dishes)

I do have pictures of crocheted squares in my Flickr album, if you want to see them.

Oscar Night

Watching the show, even though I am ready to go to sleep. I just want to find out it "The Help" gets any of the Oscars.

Octavia for supporting Actress

received her first Oscar.

While I am watching the show, I will work on another crocheted square.

These squares are my latest ones.

You can tell that I have tried to be creative every day.

That Octagon motif is supposed to be a start for a blanket. Well, like many other starts, it might end up being a start only.

Movies

The delivery person brought a package from Amazon.ca today.

Two movies: Paranormal Activity 3,

The Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, Part 1

I have seen Paranormal Activity 1, which was scary, because I did not realize it was a movie,

until after. I did not care for number 2, and certainly hope this number 3 is better than 2,

as I've heard it should be. Sometimes I don't agree with critics, though, so I will find out if I like it or not.

I have seen every Twilight movie this far, and can't wait to get home to see this Breaking Dawn, There is part 2 coming to theaters in March. I might even go and see it in the theater.

There was also a book in the package, "The Principles of Knitting" by June Hemmons Hiatt.

The book weighs a lot, at least 4 lbs, and has over 700 pages (including index and the other stuff).

My plan for tonight was to clear some of the stuff in the closet, but I might not have time, since two movies are tempting me to sit and watch.

WIPs

Let's see what is going on. That Tea-Cozy is lurking from my bag, and wants to get done. The other Sugar 'n Cream yarn, that I posted the other day, was a bit lighter in weight than the other yarns, so I selected the one that shows in the picture. This yarn is slightly heavier than the greens, but it has to do, not changing again, and I don't have fun colors in Lily yarns, other than solid ones.

I have this much already, and now I need to make another piece. It's like "second sock syndrome", when there is one sock done, and then MUST make another.

My recently started socks are now done two at a time. Only a few sock pairs are done one by one, and usually those don't get finished, at least very quickly. I have only two at a time socks on needles, but that will be another story. Right now I am in Crochet cycle, and have not done any knitting for days.

My Crovontuli shawl has been waiting for its turn patiently. Every time I look at it I want to

crochet a few more rows. This way it might get done by next year.

If you want the pattern it's in Ravelry, here.

I don't wear shawls as a rule, but I do like making them. Most of the shawls I have made have been given as gifts. I do keep some for myself, like this Damselfly shawl, designed

by Myra Wood.

It's precious and I will keep it forever, even if I don't wear it.

Let's see what else is going on. That Tea-Cozy is lurking from my bag, and wants to get done. I have this much already, and now I need to make another piece. It's like "second sock syndrome", when there is one sock done, and then MUST make another.

New Project

Are we surprised? This tea-cozy interests me. I am not a tea drinker, I drink coffee, but have several different size tea pots. I like my little red one, which I use when the wind blows that way.

Yes, I do drink tea, sometimes, but not as a rule. Tea gives me heart burn, except some herbal teas, which don't give me the same satisfaction as caffeine in tea and coffee does.

The yarns I am going to us are Lily Elite Cotton in Moss and Spearmint, Bernat Love Bug Baby Cotton in Doodle Bug Daisy, and Sugar 'n Cream in variegated turquoise, yellow, white, pink colors.

I am planning to work on this cozy a little bit at lunch, and then a little bit on a square for a teddy bear ghan, for HeartMade Blessings. The squares are 6" and pretty quick to make. I have tons of yarn that is suitable for a nice blankie for a little one.

I am very grateful for my gift of creativity.

Continuing my creativity tale

More squares done, this one is the latest. Also for Heartmade Blessings org.

I am really excited about a blog I found, its Homemade Obsessions

and there are many, many exciting patterns. The above link directs you to

Coraline, the doll from the movie. I love how Sharon Ojala has created her. She also has a pattern for the cat, and Wybie doll, too. Many Amigurumi patterns as well. I cannot wait to make that Coraline doll. The best part is that I have the yarns to make her. I have yarns everywhere.

My own creativity has been constant. Clearing stash mess, making more mess. I now walk around boxes and piles of "what am I going to do with this". I thought that my organization skills would be better (was I ever wrong) but I stand at the door of my stash room (my second bedroom, and there is a futon bed somewhere) and pray that everything would clear by magic.

I cannot find the wand, it's covered by all my hoarded yarns. Hoarding is now a word for nightmares. I don't like to think that I have a problem, but looks like I do. I am in denial, and as soon as I admit this obsession being a problem, then it's the beginning to ... what? buying more yarn?

Creativity comes with this mess, I find yarns I forgot I had, I find started forgotten projects, and my inspiration is running wild. However, I cannot do everything at once. I decided to make blankets, just to use all the wonderfully colorful yarns that are also mixed with some plain yarns.

Oh, this mess is sometimes like therapy. Getting depressed, and then excited, what else is there to find?

I have some new projects started, and perhaps will be able to finish some in the near future. Hopefully Coraline will be among the new ones I will be starting soon. I am sure of new projects, since I have Startitis Syndrome, which is another obsession that I should clearly look into fixing it. My startitis isn't only knitting, it also includes crocheting and sometimes even drawing.

I think I might read a book tonight.

CED February 9

I have been creative every day, honest! I just forgot to come here and tell you all about my days.

It's been hectic for a few days. I have decided to clear my stash room, sort the yarns and put them in proper bins, instead of plastic bags, and grocery shopping bags (the ones you pay 99 cents for, plus tax, hah). I have a huge pile of them now, since I dumped the yarns from those bags on the living room floor. I bought several jumbo size plastic tubs that are now too big for the room that does not have any extra space. My organizing skills are very limited and that is one of the reasons why I feel overwhelmed, frustrated and somewhat depressed. What have I been thinking of buying all this yarn?

My creativity has been sorting yarns in type of yarn piles, color sorting will come after. I have also sorted yarns that will go to my friend, who knits for a hospital gift store. My HeartMade Blessings yarns are in two different tubs. One is for red, white, blue and amethyst colors, the other is for other colours, but also for that same organization. They collect squares for comfort afghans that can be any color but black.

The picture shows three latest ones, going in the mail either today or tomorrow. I have one more square almost finished, and perhaps I'll wait for that one and then get all four out for mailing.

I also made a drawing! Yippee. It was so relaxing to do after my frustrating yarn sorting. I might even plan to do drawing as soon as I feel depressed about my stash.

CED February 3

I knitted the socks for my boss. She liked them. I used Patons Grace yarn, and the pattern is "Spindle Socks" by Anna Bell.

This square is for Marsha. She collects squares and assembles them to a nice blanket. Project Heartmade Blessings.

I might even draw something today.

My plans for tonight:

Finish one square that I started this morning

Work on Crovontuli Shawl, at least a few rows

Watch telly

dump more yarn on the living room floor

sort some of the yarn that is on that floor.

Enough for one night. Tomorrow is another day.

Creative February 1st, 2012

The theme for February in Creative Every Day Challenge is "Night". Of course it's optional, and

I have already opted mine to "morning" haha. I finished a 12" crocheted square this morning,

and sorted some yarns to take with me when we go out and he is driving. The white one was finished last night, and it goes to January challenge. All these are for HeartMade Blessings Charity.

Creative Every Day

Once again I joined the challenge Creative Every Day.

After reading that it didn't have to be ART, I decided that I am creative every day already.

Well, if I am lazy and watch telly all day, then my creativity might become questionable.

I have already done something today: crocheted a few rows on a charity square.

I just received my book from Amazon, and I hope it will inspire me as I expect.