Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sad nose
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Infestations
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Christmas
This year, I'm knitting one for my husband. The intarsia didn't frighten me, but it has slowed me down. I've knitted and frogged the dancing people twice now. They look pretty decent although not as wonderful as Mom's. I've got quite a bit of knitting to do before Santa arrives.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Holiday Excitement
Peace on earth, good will to man. My fingers are crossed that it stays that way until after New Year's Eve when the planets return to their natural paths and my family settles back into their normal ways.
But if life offers too much normal, be suspicious. Be very suspicious.
Yesterday, after talking and knitting with a friend, I drove home. My husband hadn't returned from work. The house was chilly and the kitten was super excited. She was so excited she jumped out the back window and jumped back in the house. Since this had never happened before, I was slow to process what was happening. I felt certain that my husband must have started some odd project around the house that required leaving the back window open and the storm window hanging off of the frame at an odd angle.
About the time that the older cat strolled past the window to look in and greet me, I started to wonder what the hell hubby was thinking. He wasn't in the office, but the desk drawers were open and doors were open. "What a slob," I thought. I picked up my cell phone to call him, but he didn't answer.
Then I had another, more alarming thought and dialed 911. The nice dispatcher answered, and I told him someone had broken into our home. I couldn't explain why the computer, the tv, the radios were still here, but they were. The sensible dispatcher tried to convince me to wait in the front yard for the police while I babbled about my indoor cats who were currently delighted to be roaming wild outdoors. Finally, I heard what I was saying and agreed to go outside.
The police were very nice and thorough. After looking around, we did discover that a bicycle and camera were missing. The police supposed that the burglars were interrupted and had to leave. Several hours later, my husband noticed that his laptop and an air compressor his father built for him were missing. The air compressor is the only thing that cannot be replaced. I felt so grateful not to have been at home, and that no one was hurt.
The lingering questions are what bother me. Before the 80 pound air compressor was discovered to be missing, it looked as if the thief wanted easily portable items. We cracked jokes about how you know you live in a bad neighborhood -- the burglar has to steal the getaway bike. A day later it seems as if it were much more intentional and carefully planned. These items were in specific places in our house, and not much rummaging went into retrieving them. Did the person know us?
But these are the sorts of questions that are likely to remain unanswered. I'm trying to focus on being grateful that no one was hurt, and that the missing items are inconsequential. People have asked whether I feel afraid or whether I sleep well. I'm not having any troubles with fear or sleep. I don' t think this was violent or malicious -- simply unsettling.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Spinning
I, on the other hand, struggled to keep the wheel going. Even when the wheel did spin, it changed directions when I wasn't looking. This spinning business could take some practice. I'm intrigued and inclined to keep trying.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Spinning
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Since cats are all about visible damage, it is in the middle of the living room. Hardly noticeable, right? I like to think of it as an art installation. Notice the lifelike kitten at the top.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
October slipped by so quickly I feel cheated. 'Tis the season for big projects at work. Plus, I threw in some travel and a nasty sinus infection. It didn't leave much time for knitting and blogging and talking with friends.
But now we've arrived at Halloween. It might seem like a single day, but really, it is a day of many decisions. Will this be the year I actually do NanoWrimo? It starts tomorrow. Will this be the year I get Christmas shopping finished so that December can actually be enjoyed? Will my house be cleaned before holiday guests begin to arrive? November is a high-stakes month in the personal goals department.
I might just decide to make November a month for knitting and blogging and talking with friends. And savoring the season. I wonder if we have any candy corn.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
State of the Sock
Solution: purchase Panda Wool from Twist and cast on for Floral Lace Anklets -- a pattern in the Lace Style book by Pam Allen and Ann Budd. The anklet pattern is by Evelyn Clark.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Denial
Thank goodness for a wonderful doctor. He send me home with decongestants, antibiotics, and orders to stay in bed! He didn't have to twist my arm on that one. I love a good nap. Hopefully my voice will be back by Monday, and I'll be knitting again soon.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
More socks
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Migration
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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Knitting, work, and -- what else? -- cats!
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Bamboozle baby booties and hat in p-i-n-k! After two years of knitting, someone finally produced a baby girl. Just so I could knit something pink. It's my favorite color this year.
I love my work. It challenges and inspires me. But today? It was a DAY. Please send back the normal work place I love.
Work Haiku
You make me crazy;
you deliver solvency;
can I go home now?
And cats. Norah Cat exhibited signs of pending fertility, so she went to the vet this morning and mewed pitifully all the way there. I'm absolutely committed to spaying and neutering, but in the back of my mind I was thinking of junior high and adolescence. It wouldn't have been a good time to say "Welcome to womanhood. Please leave your working parts at the door."
Norah isn't traumatized at all. She's home and playing with a toy mouse. Atticus Cat, on the other hand, is disgusted. He enjoyed the day alone and thought the chit was out of his life for good.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Yarn Harlot
Sitting in the auditorium with fellow knitters was equally delightful. Knitters are spicy, welcoming, kind, and shocking. Who would have thought that was possible?
Friday, September 14, 2007
New Projects
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Conundrum
Four skeins of Crystal Pink Bamboozle yarn are sitting on my bookcase just begging to be baby clothes. They've been there for weeks, and I still cannot decide what to make. I fear that I have contracted the dreaded knitters block.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Anything to make you happy
I tried saying it to myself. The answer? I want to be stronger. For the first time in many, many months, I went to the gym and spent 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer. It felt good. It felt really good. I want to go back tomorrow.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Little Knits
Today? Lunch with a different friend. We brown-bagged to keep our choices healthy. Then we knitted. We knitted a whole bunch.
This is the meaning of life -- I'm sure of it. Lunch with friends, knitting and reading.
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Monday, August 20, 2007
Love the Mason-Dixon Knitting
The first knitting epiphany was a jumble of thoughts: finishing projects is satisfying; children are small; therefore finishing a knitted project for a child would be more satisfying than knitting for an adult. The size of the child and the size of the knitter count when determining the quantity of satisfaction.
A five-year-old child's knitted garment is the equivalent satisfaction factor of X. A newborn's clothing, being ever so much smaller, rates a satisfaction factor of approximately 7X -- the purest ectasy possible when knitting. Imagine the equisite satisfaction and near instant gratification of a newborn's baby bootie. A full-grown adult's sweater would be X/5 or 0.2X. Being well-rounded and fluffy of figure, the satisfaction factor of knitting a garment for myself is X/7.
As you can plainly see, 7x > X/7. Therefore, knitting babies clothes is better.
Here's the rub (and the second epiphany). Kids grow quickly. If you cannot knit quickly enough or get it in the mail with appropriate haste, the joy is lost. Just multiply your satisfaction factor by 0.
A quick analysis reveals that even a sweater knitted for myself at X/7 is far more satisfying than 7X(0). If you're going to make this gamble, knowing full well that the returns are great, then clear your calendars and pull out your knitting needles. You'll have to sprint for that finish line.
The inevitable cat picture: Norah with her litter mates.
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Sunday, August 19, 2007
Brand new and busy
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Monday, July 30, 2007
Dear Sock Drawer
You know I love you dearly, but you have become so messy. A drawer filled with black socks should have enough matching black socks to provide one week's worth of foot coverings. The lacy navy sock and dotted black sock you threw at me this morning was inexcusable. This is a wake up call. Please organize yourself or I may be forced to do it myself. Don't make me come in there.
You might be thinking that you're out of danger because I procrastinate, but you'd be wrong. It might be the moon, the planets, or even the water; I'm on a completion kick. Just this week, I've finished three craft projects -- if you must know, it was the monkey socks, nephew's sweater, and napkins. The house is getting cleaner by the minute and you're next on my list.
Consider yourself warned.
Sincerely
Sally Knitz
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Loose ends
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After beginning several knitting projects and finishing none, I decided that I needed to see progress, to see completion. Cross one thing off the list: Monkey socks.
They were fun to knit, quick and look harder to make than they actually are. They feel very soft and comfortable on the foot too.
Back to that in progress list. Next! Husband's Christmas stocking or nephew's sweater?
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Knitting books
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Goodbye to an old friend
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Crazy days
This was very good news since most of the weekend was spent at the emergency vet with our kitty. He's really sick, and it is hard to watch. The good news is that since Monday morning his been at the regular vet's office on a heating pad and with an IV. And yes, I love that cat far more than I should. Husband and I went to visit him today. He had a feeble purr for us as we scratched him under the chin. We need many good thoughts for Mr. Kitty.
Ordinarily, I would have unburdened myself to my sister, but (see above) she was busy. Another good friend stepped up to fill the void on Sunday. We went to lunch, shopping, and the bookstore. And I got an invitation to the Harry Potter movie and a Harry Potter book signing party on Friday evening. Very exciting. Is it Friday yet?
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Not so much knitting
Since the sock wasn't finished, I did the next happiest thing. I took the almost-finished sock to work and made everyone pet and admire it. Oh yes I did.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Knit one, purl one; hurry, hurry, hurry!
It's true that you are more enchanting than any sock I've ever knitted. Your pattern is complex enough to fascinate and simple enough to learn. Yet my dear sock-to-be, you are not becoming a sock quickly enough. If only you had a sense of urgency.
Yours,
Sally Knitz
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Gotta Know
Monday, July 9, 2007
Yarn Treasures
Two skeins are a lovely blue, tan, brown self-striping soy wool blend from Patons. Perhaps the Booga Bag is this yarn's destiny. If only it had bamboo handles.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Little Kid Stuff
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Friday, July 6, 2007
Play hard
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Thursday, July 5, 2007
Rainbows
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Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Monday, July 2, 2007
Sunday morning
However, this rainy day was very pleasant. I met an old friend for coffee. We talked and talked and went back to her house. Then we rolled up our pants and walked barefoot in the garden (with mud squishing up between our toes) and picked beans. Her husband met us at the back door with towels after we'd rinsed our feet with the garden hose. Then I snuggled with her kids, drank tea, and we talked more. Now that's my kind of rainy day.