Finite Incantato

I love knit-cations!!! I have finished several projects - a few that never even got added to the WIP list in the sidebar. I made Indy a new sweater. I crocheted two scarves for John for Christmas. I finished my Multnomah Shawl. I finished a second Textured Scarf, the Karabella 8 one. I blocked a couple of things. I am currently working on Michael's scarf and finishing the third Textured Scarf. I have been doing all of this knitting accompanied by several versions of A Christmas Carol/Scrooge, Angels & Demons and Lost Season 5. Knit on.

I am eating yummy cookies my Sister made for me - chocolate chip, oatmeal and peanut butter. I bought the Caramel Macchiato kit from Starbucks, all is right with my little world!! Munching and sipping away.

It's Cold ~ Starting to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

I finished one of the textured scarves (too small to be called a shawl) but I did not get to do any more knitting. I start vacation Monday. I have several things to block and ends to weave in. I also need to make two men's scarves. I don't do holiday knitting/crocheting because deadlines take the fun out of the process for me. But my boys are in need so I will whip up a quick crocheted scarf for John. Now Michael is special, I am planning to make him a really nice scarf. He is still wearing the one I made him 4 years ago and it's a little ratty. I am going to swatch Noro Kureyon tonight. I have four patterns I like (1) My So Called Scarf, (2) Cameo Faggot Stitch Scarf, (3) Gathered Scarf for Your Mother-in-Law, (4) and The One Row Scarf. All found on Ravelry for free.


Oh and here are some yummy recipes I am thinking about trying also.

Butterscotch Lace Cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (packed)
2 1/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp molasses, if desired
3 tbsp flour
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Add sugar to butter; pour over rolled oats. Let stand at room temperature overnight so oats absorb butter.
Heat oven to 375 degrees (quick mod.)
Mix remaining ingredients into oats.
Drop level teaspoonfuls of dough 2" apart on heavily greased baking sheet.
Bake only 12 cookies on a sheet.
Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until brown around edges.
Allow to remain on sheet a few minutes until firm, then immediately remove with spatula to cooling rack.

Makes 6 dozen cookies

NOTE: Do not make these cookies in hot, humid weather, as cookies absorb moisture from air and become limp.

tsp = teaspoon
tbsp = tablespoon

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Caramel Refrigerator Cookies

1/2 shortening (part butter or margarine)
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Mix shortening, sugar, egg, and vanilla thoroughly.
Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting.
Stir flour, soda, and salt together; stir in.
Form in roll 2 1/2" across.
Wrap in waxed paper. Chill until firm.

Heat oven to 400 degrees (mod. hot).
Cut in 1/8" slices. Place slices a little apart on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes 5 dozen cookies.

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Chocolate Crinkles

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 squares of unsweetened chocolate melted (4 oz)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup confectioner's sugar

Mix oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar.
Blend in one egg at a time untill well mixed. Add vanilla.
Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting.
Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oil mixture.
Chill several hours or overnight.

Heat oven to 350 degrees (Mod.)
Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into confectioners' sugar.
Roll in sugar; shape into balls.
Place about 2" apart on greased baking sheet.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake!

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Variation on a Textured Theme

The Textured Shawl by Olane
a free pattern on Ravelry

I have discovered a nifty little pattern that knits up very quickly. I love Karbella Aurora 8 yarn specifically for its stitch definition, so this pattern is prompting me to do some more stash busting. I chose two colors at random.

This is the original recipe. The wine colored yarn is extremely hard to photograph.
This one I am knitting in all garter stitch and textured stitches.

This third one is Argosy Cashmere Silk yarn I have been holding on to for awhile. I decided to move it from my "collection" to real life.

I cast all of these on Saturday. The last two I have completed 3 sections. The first one I have completed 6 sections (the photo is of the first 3 sections only). I will finish the wine colored one tonight, and possibly the blue one as well. Amazing.

Fiasco Supreme

I had a total fiasco last night on the Multnomah Shawl. Keep in mind I am on the feather and fan section, almost 400 stitches per row. What happened was, I went to slide the stitches on the right needle further up the needle/cable and they CAUGHT. The needle came out of a section of knitting and because the Socks That Rock yarn is slippery the stitches just popped out - running down the shawl for a few rows. I quickly grabbed my point protectors and stopped any further escapees. Then I grabbed a dpn and snagged all of the stitches I could see. Then I set the whole thing down and took a break. When the next commercial break came up in the Mentalist I pulled the lamp to the edge of the desk and took my glasses off. I am knitting this in Lenore which is black over dyed with burgundy. I discovered two more stitches that had fallen down. OKAY. I took a deep breath and tried to figure out how to determine which row the last saved stitch was on. I had to do this one at a time. The only saving grace was that I was in the K2Tog section of the feather and fan pattern, not the YO K1 section. It took about 30 minutes to get the section re-knit and I know at least one K2Tog is now an SSK, but I finished the row and put the whole thing away and went to bed.

What caused this fiasco more than anything else is the fact that the 337 stitch version needs to be knit on a longer cable than the original version. I just logged off of Knit Picks - I ordered both a 40" and a 47" 3.25 mm harmony needle. I love knitting shawls and I always need to knit the largest version. I have enjoyed this pattern so much I plan to knit a Stockinette version. I will need the longer cable for sure!!!!

So that's my tale of woe. I look forward to getting back to this project - as soon as my new needle arrives!!!

Multnomah Marathon

Whew, I finished another feather and fan repeat on the Multnomah last night. I am only get through the 4-row pattern repeat in 2-3 hours of knitting. It's a marathon of knitting. I think there are around 370 stitches per row now. It is taking forever to complete a knit and purl row. The pattern rows go really fast because of the K2togs and YOs. But those straight knit and purl rows, I gotta tell you - they are lonnnnngggggg.

I think I'll do a little Henry VIII tonight for a change of texture and color. My project area looks a little wierd with only two tote bags there now. The finished objects: 2 pairs of socks, 2 scarves and a converted cowl are all tucked away. I have to block the scarves this weekend. The left over yarn has been added to the stash basket. I am not casting on anything else until the Multnomah is finished. I will most likely pick H8 back up when the shawl is finished. Getting some UFOs chalked up was just the boost I needed to get my knitting MoJo back. Finishing the 52 Pair Plunge was a major accomplishment too!

Switching to Swatching!

OMG - the light bulb just finally came on. I listened to the Knit Picks Podcast Episode 123 just now and it was life altering. I have started - and knit quite a bit - with the Luscious Single Silk yarn, photos below. Neither project was a keeper. Although instead of frogging all of that Feather and Fan, I am going to sew on a button and crochet a button hole and make it a neck warmer. If only I had SWATCHED that yarn befor starting either project, I would have saved so much valuable knitting time. What was suggested by the designers is to not only swatch for Gauge, but also to see what the pattern will look like and how it will drap, etc. The problem with the first project - the eyelets were too big and airy. I wanted a warm cowl, no holes to let in the cold wind. The second pattern came out with some odd color pooling. If I had knit about six inches of both those patterns I would have saved myself hours of knitting - and frogging. Another great tip from Knit Picks. I will be knitting two swatches from now on, one for the gauge given in the pattern and another for a part of the finished project to see if I like the fabric.

I'm Tired

I went through all of my WIPs and quite a bit of my stash this weekend. I know I have the perfect yarn for some wrist warmers, mittens and the Frost Tapestry set in my stash. So I went stash diving. I ended up getting distracted by my works in progress. I figured since I would not be casting on anything new right away my time would be better spent knitting. The good news is I finished two scarves, added quite a bit to both socks and another scarf. I did find some "undocumented" sock yarn in my WIPs tote though.

I belonged to the Socks That Rock Rockin' Sock Club and the Wollmeise Sock Club, I did not add all of the yarn to my Ravelry Stash. Here they are - in order from left to right: STR Dragon Dance, STR Goody Goody, STR Muddy Autumn Rainbow, Wollmeise Okzident, Saami and Jultomte.

I added another 56 row repeat to my North Star Qiviut Scarf from the Arctic Lace Book.

I am about to turn the heel on my second STR Lapis Sock.
I am actually now working on the foot of the STR Gingerbread Dude 2nd sock.
I finished the Black Dimple Shale Scarf. I also finished the Tiger Eye neck warmer in Sundara Violet Over Black. The pictures came out horrible, I will take more pictures after I block the Tiger Eye scarf.
I fell down and bought the Addi Click set from The Loopy Ewe. They are awesome, I love BLUE cables.

Finished a Pair

I finished one Lapis sock and one Gingerbread Dude sock. I have completed half the cuff of the second GD sock and I will cast on the second Lapis sock tonight. I fell behind in my Manic Purl podcasts and (thankfully) missed the news about the Blue Moon Fiber Arts sale in November. I have a $25 Loopy Ewe Groupie bonus to spend. I just don't know what to buy. I keep popping over there looking around but I cannot make up my mind. Chrissy The Great also mentioned the new Twist Collective on her podcast and I found a gorgeous winter knitwear pattern I want desparately to make. But come on, I have a gazillion things on the needles. The pattern is called Frost Tapestry by Robin Melanson

It looks like a major time committment - soooo, it will probably end up in my never-ending queue. But isn't it lovely?!?!

Progress is Being Made

Multnomah Shawl - I am on the 3rd feather and fan repeat. Five more to go.


Feather & Fan Atomic #6 - I have mixed reviews on this one, I think it may end up being a Christmas prezzie for someone.


Lapis Sock - as usual I love all of the colors in this Blue Moon Fiber Arts colorway. I would buy solids in all of them - just gorgeous. I turned the heel and finished the gusset decreases last night. Then I put the sock away and started turning the heel on the Gingerbread Dude sock. I finished that one too late for photos.


I am starting to miss my sweaters. I signed up for the 2010 Ravelympics Starmore team, but if I finish the sweaters I have three other kits to choose from for the Olympics: the Leo Scarf, Seaweed Wrap and Lismore. I think I am going to work on H8 tonight for about 5 rows. I am on the neck decreases on Glenesk. I want to finish that off this weekend and "cut" the armhole steeks to start the sleeves. Not sure I have the nerve yet. We will see.

Replacement Project

The Feather and Fan pattern is a great fall back option. I love the Luscious Single Silk yarn and there are some amazing colors running through the Atomic #6 colorway. So I am making a scarf instead of the cowl.

Current WIPS

The Lenore is knitting up into a beautiful Multnomah.




















It's so wonderful to have socks on the needles again. They seem to be going super fast too. I am already turning the heel on the Lapis sock.

I ran into two problems with the Eyelet Cowl. The circumference was too small and the eyelets were too large for maximum warmth. I would only want a cowl for warmth and the holes were so large that a lot of air would undoubtedly get in. I frogged it. The yarn is wonderful though and I love the way it knits up. I am going to knit a feather and fan scarf instead. Depending on the length I end up with I might run a seam at the half way point to make a hood.

Blue Moon Cast On Crazy

I am doing a little Blue Moon Fiber Arts (BMFA), Socks That Rocks (STR) stash busting. I am up to two plastic totes of yarn from BMFA so . . .without further ado. Today I am casting on the following:
1. Socks - Gingerbread Dude colorway STR Medium weight
2. Socks - Lapis colorway STR Medium weight
3. Multnomah Shawl designed by Kate Flagg at http://helloknitty.net - Lenore STR Light/Fingering Weight
4. The Eyelet Cowl in Vogue Knitting Holiday 2009 ed.; Pages 58, 95 - Atomic #6 Luscious Single Silk (LSS)

I needed a break from Henry 8, I want a transportable project for the Thanksgiving week. It should be quiet at work and then there is the 4 day weekend. I needed some instant gratification projects, although the projects list on my sidebar looks ridiculously long now - whew.

I have received the following DVD collections to keep me company, now and during my recovery from surgery the first two weeks of December.
Rome - the complete series

Millennium - the complete series

Ironside - Season 1

Bones - Season 4

Dead Zone - Final Season

Pretender - Season 4

I have pre-ordered:
Tudors Season 3

Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince

Angels & Demons

Lost Seasons 4 & 5

H8 Moving Along

I have finished the first 88 rounds of the H8 Sweater. Very pretty. All done with 24 Season 7 and Dexter Season 3 as well. Both good TV series. Looking forward to the next season of each. I really need to cast on some socks. I need some instant knitting gratification!!! I bought some new books today, Knits for Barbie Doll by Nicky Epstein, The Knitted Rug by Donna Druchunas, More Big Girl Knits by Jillian Moreno and Amy Singer; and Zen and The Art of Knitting by Bernadette Murphy. There is one thing about getting new books, it makes for a very heavily italicized post 8-} cheers!

Lost It

I have lost my knitting mojo. I knit on my black merino dimple shale scarf all weekend, but I have not picked up the needles since Sunday. Have I lost my knitting mojo? Now is really not a good time for it. I am having another cyst removed from my right hand in a few short weeks - now is the time I need to be putting some stitches on the needles. Heavy sigh - hoping it comes back this weekend!!!!

Henry VIII Today

Glenesk Today

It's October

Did you know that 50% of my family was born in October? Even three of our God-children were born in October. Aren't we lucky all these balancing Libras in our lives??? I have been reading reading reading. I was reading 5 books at one time, I finished 3 and started another. You know how it is when one of your authors book comes out, you must start on it right away. I also mis-remembered my magazine renewals, and I am still getting Vogue Knitting - which I thought had surely expired and Simply Knitting. I am working on the Henry VIII sweater, but at 372 stitches in two color strands per round it is going pretty slow. I took a break from it over the weekend and added another couple of inches to my Dimple Shale scarf.

My poor sister, she is still off work with her broken foot. Have I mentioned how many people I know who keep falling down and hurting themselves? Mom - wrist, Sister - foot, friend Peggy - wrist & shoulder, friend Alma - arm, friend Alison - clavicle and other vital parts. I am being very careful these days!!!!

It has gotten wet and chilly, I feel like doing some Christmas shopping. Baby Aragon stopped by for a visit last Friday. He is beyond precious. OMG, he still has that new baby smell and he is soft and warm and OMG, don't you just love miniature people? As an added bonus his Daddy made Flan for Mom, delicioso. It is the best flan I have ever had, so carmelly. YUM!!!

I have been wearing my socks and sweaters, however I have decided to give two of my handmade sweaters to charity. One is the crocheted pullover in that beautiful multi blue yarn, just too hot. I am also getting rid of the grey nightmare Makes Tracks Cardigan, I remember burning the pattern? Someone will get some use out of them no doubt.

Got Socks!!

I found my Zauberball socks - YAY!



I finished the hemline of H8 - Chart A - I start the body today.

Zee Swatch

Henry's In The House

I finished my swatch and cast on Henry VIII. I am using the original chart A from Tudor Roses for my hemline and cuffs. I did not like the chart for the original sweater or the new one. Little boxes - not my thing. I took pictures of my swatch with the chart I am using, I will post pics tonight. I lost my Zauberball socks. I took pics of my finished projects, but I could not find them. Hmmmm. 50!! 'nuff said?!?

Well. . .

I received a reply from Virtual Yarns and they advise against converting Henry VIII to a cardigan. They feel it ruins the look of the pattern motifs. There is one on Ravelry and I rather like it, although I was planning to switch charts C & D so that what is currently the center - main pattern would appear on each side of the buttonband. The only consolation of not trying to make it a cardigan is that I can dive right in and start knitting. I wound every single hank of yarn into balls Saturday. I am so glad I bougth the electric ball winder!!!!! I cannot imagine having to wind over 30 balls of yarn by hand. I used the face mask I bought also. There were fine fibers all over my work table, laptop, desk, comforter, and the dress I was wearing. Thankfully I am no longer inhaling that - the mask kept it out of my nose and mouth. I found some hanks mislabeled. Two large hanks of Corncrake and three medium-small hanks of Calluna. It was the only Calluna in the kit, so I am confident I have the right amount there. But there were other hanks of Corncrake correctly tagged, I hope I have not received it instead of the amount of Golden Plover I should have gotten.

I had gone through all of the cardigans in Tudor Roses, and the Katherine of Aragon was the style I had chosen for the H8 Cardigan. Maybe after I finish the sweater I will knit it again as a cardigan in a different yarn. As if I don't have enough projects in my queue ;-}

I finally took pictures of my socks and wash cloth, I still have to post them. I cast on the swatch for H8 and got through row 6 of 37 rows. I am listening to a kind of depressing audiobook while I get the charts entered into excel, and knit the swatch. All the good guys keep getting killed.

Once my swatch is blocked and measured I will begin watching the Tudors Season I as I knit H8. I am really looking forward to it.

What?

I am being so indecisive. What's up with that? I always have a plan. There is one thing I know about me and it is that I get too hot in pullover sweaters. I am starting the Henry VIII KAL but I want to make a cardigan. I have very little experience altering patterns, and less than zero ideas on how to alter a fair isle pattern. So I am going to do two things, I am going to e-mail virtual yarns and ask their opinion on using the cardigan directions for the Glenesk with the charts for Henry VIII. Glenesk was originally a pullover. If they say, "what girl, are you crazy, that will never work" then I know I will have to ask the Ravelry experts what to do. There is a completed project on Ravelry that is a cardigan. Hopefully the knitter will be willing to share her knowledge.

The second thing I was going to do was take the directions for both sweaters and replace the numbers from Glenesk with the numbers from Henry VIII and see how far off the pattern charts fall. I have not looked at Henry VIII yet - wouldn't it be lovely if you cast on the same number of stitches, decreased at the same spots, started the armhole steeks in the same row? ? ? I am still winding yarn into balls. I will swatch this weekend, I am hoping the yarn knits smoothly with my new acrylic Knit Pick Zephyr needles. I love them.

I really wanted to finish Glenesk before starting Henry VIII (H8) so I could see how it all works. I have way too much left to knit, I want to be a part of the H8 KAL so I am going to have to cast on this weekend. Hmmm, just thinking, I also have the Lismore Kit, which is a cardigan too. I can look at those directions and see if they are basically the same as the Glenesk cardigan. If Virtual Yarn handles neckline decreases the same on both their patterns, then surely it would work with H8 - right ??!!?? Then all I would have to do is see where the chart patterns would fall on either side of the steeks.

Stieg Larrson's The Girl Who Played With Fire was an excellent follow-up to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I look forward to the third and last book in the series with great anticipation. It is such a tragedy that he has passed on and will never write another.

The Millennium Trilogy novels -- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, and Castles in the Sky (working English titles).

Samurai Sudoku is taking up a ridiculous amount of my time. I am hooked. I even solved two "Evil" ones. Check them out if you dare, the archives will provide you with puzzles from each level. www.Samurai-Sudoku.com Samurai sudoku puzzles consist of five overlapping sudoku grids. The standard sudoku rules apply to each 9 x 9 grid. Place digits from 1 to 9 in each empty cell. Every row, every column, and every 3 x 3 box should contain one of each digit.

I have got to get some pictures of my finished objects posted. My Ravelry projects list just looks silly with balls of yarns, or sock cuffs on finished projects instead of a pair of completed socks. Heavy sigh, so much to do, so little time.

Still Going

Not a lot to blog about. The Glenesk sweater is much of the same. I am working on the last 44 rows before the neck area. Decreasing in front for the V-neck of the cardigan and creating armhole steeks. But that is it. Just knitting and knitting. I have almost finished the Zauberball socks too. I have two KALs starting the 15th which I have not swatched for yet. Maybe I will get to that today. Every few days I add a couple of rows to the Adult Surprise Jacket - 30 more rows to go before the back flap.

My paperback copy of Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting arrived.

Not so exciting. Off to knit . . .ciao.

Oh Dear

I spotted a knitter out in the wild a couple of days ago. She was knitting a hat out of what looked like Noro Silk Garden, very pretty. I was so overwhelmed by actually spotting another knitter that I just started babbling at the poor woman. It turns out geographically she does not live far from me. She told me about another knit group in Pleasant Hill, I told her about the one in Antioch. I gave her my card with my Ravelry user name. Then I had to rush off to the vanpool. I have not been friended by her in Ravelry - I fear I scared the poor knitter to death being so enthusiastic about her hat and asking all those questions!! 8-/ Well at least I did'nt make her drop a stitch ;0

Swatch Patch and Cast On

I have been forced to set aside the Glenesk Sweater. It is in the mid 90's here and I must keep a fan running. Unfortunately the fine fibers on the Hebridean yarn is blowing in my eyes, nose and throat. Very unpleasant, so I have put that project away until the masks I ordered from Amazon arrive.

To keep up with things, I swatched the Adult version of the Baby Surprise Jacket (ASJ) that I am doing in a SF 49er theme. I was able to buy a patch on eBay and I already had the yarn in my stash. I joined the ASJ KAL beginning in September, even though I am already signed up for the AS Henry VIII Kal. SO, beginning the ASJ early is a bonus.

Truly Lovely

The Knit Picks Zephyr needles were released a little early, the end of July instead of early August. I know because I ordered them and they came today. What can I say, they are gorgeous. I have a set of acrylic crochet hooks that I love - although I did have to stop using the ones under a size J because I kept breaking them. So - of course I wanted the acrylic knitting needle tips!!!! DUH!!! You know I am going to have to break my monogamy and cast on something just to use these new needles. Yes Yes Yes!!!

I also ordered "almost" all of the new palette colors . These yarns are beautiful! I have some ideas in the back of my mind about creating a tapestry. We will see. I have one more Sipalu pattern to knit, then I will restock any of the palette colors from the two sampler kits that I may be running out of. I will have almost every colorway then. Once I have them all in hand, I will start designing my master piece. I also ordered 20 balls of the silver palette to knit another feather and fan wrap, this one for myself.

I have 5 more rows to knit on the body of the Glenesk before I delve into the armhole steeks and edge stitches. I don't really get that next step, but I will put a shout out to the folks on Ravelry if I get really stuck.

eta: I completely forgot to post - I finished the Wollmeise Candle Flame Scarf and it is truly lovely ;} cheers!

Another Pair

I finished another pair of socks. The Dream in Color Smooshy pair. I have so much yarn left over that I wish I had used this colorway for a larger project. I don't want another pair of socks, but I might be able to make a small bag out of the rest. For now it just goes back into the stash. I am really looking forward to the Zauerball socks, they are so pretty on the website. Crazy colors!!! I will be re-joining Glenesk this weekend. I bought 24 Season 7 DVD set to keep me company. Happy Knitting!!!

Knitting News

I finished my washcloth and the Duet socks. I went through all of my wips and found four or five swatches and kals that I had completely forgotten about. I frogged all but one of them. I reclaimed those needles and actually sorted and boxed up my circular needle collection. I put all the tips back where they belong and created a neat drawer for stitchmarkers. I highly recommend the book Pints and Purls: Portable Projects for the Sociable Knitter by Karida Collins and Libby Bruce - I want to knit almost everything in it. I got the Knit Picks Deep Sea lace sampler kits in Atoll and Riverstone with the Chinook shawl pattern. I cannot wait to knit those up. I watched Knitting Daily TV Sunday and found the best bag liner hookup www.bagsmith.com. I ordered a bunch of those and the straps. No more iCord for me, I am going to finish off my Sipalu bags at last. I am looking forward to trying the new Zephyr needles from Knit Picks. All I need are the tips, but I will take whatever comes in the set 8-}

I have not been on Ravelry forums in weeks, I have only been updating my projects. I am totally slacking on photos - again. So time consuming to take them, edit them, post them, yawn, and so on and so on. I need to be knitting. I have just a few more days of lollygagging on socks and such before I return to my Glenesk Cardigan. The plan is to finish it before starting Henry VII in September. That means being monogamous in August.

I think that just about catches me up, cheers.

I Love My Family

Wow I just attended the best family reunion ever!!!! It was our second one in St. Paul Minnesota. Exactly 10 years since we held one there before. It was wonderful. I shopped til' I dropped at the Mall of America. The meet and greet was unbelievable, the jazz quartet and my Cousin Libby did some music to die for. The food was yummy. Actually that can be a blanket statement - the food in the Embassy Suites breakfast buffet, Wollys Restaurant and the Bar was all delicious. The food at the picnic was oh so good!!! The kids had us doing Soul Train lines. I missed my cousin Carl and Carlton and Pat. I met tons of new Neals - hi Jessica. It was just FANTASTIC. My poor cousin Darin was mistaken for Justin Timberlake and snatched by some girls from a wedding reception across the hall - must have been the hat ;) I love my family - they make be feel apart of things, warm and loved. I miss them all so much this week. I miss their voices, their laughs, hugs, kisses and their stories. We have these reunions because we are spread all over the world, and I truly wish we were CLOSER geographically. Royce your mugs are on the way, Darryl don't hate me when you get hooked on the Samurai Sudoku puzzles I am sending you. Rest in peace Cousin Verna, we will miss you. I cannot wait to see you all again soon.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

OH MY DoG it's actually hot in San Francisco. My goodness, where did all this sunshine come from? The blessing is it will probably be foggy tomorrow. I finished two socks, not a pair mind you. I finished one Duet sock and one Smooshy sock. I want to cast on my Zauberball socks for the family reunion trip so I am trying to get these two pair done. What ever happened to. . . (pick anything from the WIP list in the sidebar 8-} )? Well since the Sea Socks cruise, seeing Louise and Lee's socks I have wanted to knit some more of my own gorgeous yarn stash. So I have two pair on the go and will cast on a third pair as soon as these needles are free. Oh yeah and the baby socks I knit to go with the BSJ went so fast it was like a sock tease. I have also volunteered to knit another Forest Canopy Shawl for the annual Arkansas Picnic in San Jose Auction. They are trying to raise money to keep the picnic going, so Mom has graciously given me (the yarn I had already absconded) her Cruise Planner skein of yarn to knit a shawl. Neither of us like/wear pink so it was going to be a knitted gift for someone. Now it will be a contribution to a worthy cause. I love knitting the FCS it goes so quickly. I made flip cards of the 8 row repeat and I know how to block them with the perfect peaks now.

I need to finish the last 16 rows of the body of the Glenesk Cardigan so I can start the armholes. I don't want to take all of the colors with me to Minnesota, but it would be the perfect project for that trip. Hmmm, I will have to give that some thought.

Beautiful Yarns and Tools

I had stopped photographing and adding to my stash in Ravelry. But I have some yarns that must be seen to be appreciated. I also bought new tools that are interesting and pretty to look at too.
Yarns From Germany:
Wollmeise True Love


Wollmeise Orient

Wollmeise Okzident

Wollmeise Blue Bell

Crazy Zauberball U-Boat
Crazy Zauberball Tropical Fish


Yarn From Alaska:
Qiviuk in Natural

Yarn Spun in Taiwan:
Panda Silk in Butterscotch

Yarn Form Peru:
Swish Worsted Allspice
Swish Bulky Adobo
Merino Style Fedora
Swish DK Grain Heather

Tools:
Lang Yarns Circular Sock Needles
Signature Arts Spiral Tipped Needles
Kollage Circular Square Needles