Monday, November 19, 2007
New blog address
The blog has a new address. I figured it was best to make the move now, since I nearly dropped off the face of the Earth for a bit - see you there!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Observations from the road
When you are driving across the country - an atlas is your friend - try to have one before you get lost the first and second times.
When in doubt, spend the 20 bucks on 4 maps instead of the one for the next state you will enter after you get unlost.
No - you should not re-enter Illinios 4 hours after you left it the first time.
When you ask directions at a gas station - try one that isn't run down and in the middle of B. F. Egypt. Also, heading towards Memphis is a mistake, esp. if you want to head east instead of west.
When you plan on passing a truck and your mind says "no, wait a minute" and 2 seconds later you see a deer litterally flying across the road into the lane you would have been in had you started to pass the truck - you cannot deny a greater being looking out for you.
Highway 64 has an insane amount of dead deer in the lanes of traffic.
A 3 year old can and will stay awake until 2am on a car trip if he thinks he is going to get to watch another movie on the screen attatched to a seat in front of him "in a little while", so don't even try that lie to get him to be quiet.
It seems that the state of Alabama does not believe in things called "road signs" (Sorry if you)live there, but they were not to be found when needed. Also, even if you are 5 miles from the state border, it will take you an hour to find it.
Do not place bets on how many times ya'll can get lost - seriously lost. You will all be wrong, you will get lost at least twice as much as the highest number.
A soldier will want and ask many times about 3 things before leaving base: his ipod, his new laptop, and where is the nearest gas station to buy a Monster Energy Drink.
When in doubt, spend the 20 bucks on 4 maps instead of the one for the next state you will enter after you get unlost.
No - you should not re-enter Illinios 4 hours after you left it the first time.
When you ask directions at a gas station - try one that isn't run down and in the middle of B. F. Egypt. Also, heading towards Memphis is a mistake, esp. if you want to head east instead of west.
When you plan on passing a truck and your mind says "no, wait a minute" and 2 seconds later you see a deer litterally flying across the road into the lane you would have been in had you started to pass the truck - you cannot deny a greater being looking out for you.
Highway 64 has an insane amount of dead deer in the lanes of traffic.
A 3 year old can and will stay awake until 2am on a car trip if he thinks he is going to get to watch another movie on the screen attatched to a seat in front of him "in a little while", so don't even try that lie to get him to be quiet.
It seems that the state of Alabama does not believe in things called "road signs" (Sorry if you)live there, but they were not to be found when needed. Also, even if you are 5 miles from the state border, it will take you an hour to find it.
Do not place bets on how many times ya'll can get lost - seriously lost. You will all be wrong, you will get lost at least twice as much as the highest number.
A soldier will want and ask many times about 3 things before leaving base: his ipod, his new laptop, and where is the nearest gas station to buy a Monster Energy Drink.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Things That Make Me Smile
Titles are Overrated
I remembered my camera today. Yee haw!
I thought I had pictures of some knits in progress - but it seems I am imagining things. I do have a few yarny photos that we will get to in a minute.
First, while I was away a few weekends ago in the great northern woods, Mr. CH took the kids to a local zoo. I left the camera with them for the weekend. I finally got around to looking at the pictures. It seems that Little Miss got hold of the camera and took pictures of *very important things* like:
the back of her brother's head
an alien that must have stowed away when they left the zoo - I wonder if she has him stuffed under her bed
a masterpiece of a lego car
the great pumpkin on its way home
I love seeing the pictures Little Miss takes and seeing the world through her eyes. It also helps that, unlike when I was a child, it doesn't cost me tons of money to see the pictures.
I remember when I got my first camera and was allowed to take pictures. I was 9 or 10. It was not digital. My poor parents had to shell out LOTS of money for pictures that mostly contained my dad hangliding - up so high that he looked like a black dot in a vast blue sky. In the first 6 weeks that I had my camera I used 9 rolls of 36 exposure film - at least 162 black dots on blue sky.
So anyway, the yarny goodness.
See, I haven't bought any more yarn. Just skeins with assembly required - and they don't count; right?
There was this sweater. I couldn't leave it there. I wish I could get a closeup of the yarn for you, but the camera won't cooperate. It's really more like 6,000 pieces of white and black and grey cotton thread held together and not even twisted really. It is nightmare waiting to happen as I knit, I know. This yarn is like the bad boy on that Harley your mother warned you about. You fall in love, he causes trouble and breaks your heart, but you can never let him go. I'm sure that is what this will be, but I still can't stop myself from jumping off the cliff.
I sat down to disassemble the sweater. Here's a hint - start from the top! Work from the shoulder seams down. I don't even know how much time I wasted with the mess I created. One hour and 600 times repeating the words "NO, it isn't ready for you to unravel yet" finally left me with 1 back, 2 fronts, and two sleeves.
From there I put Little Miss to work as I wound up the yarn on my new niddy noddy. 1 front got me a low estimate of 170 yards. I will easily have 685 yards of this yarn. Not bad for $2.99!
(It also seems someone may have licked my camera lens - or maybe it's slime from the alien fogging things up!)
At least if it doesn't work out with the knitting it can be used for "old lady hair"!
I thought I had pictures of some knits in progress - but it seems I am imagining things. I do have a few yarny photos that we will get to in a minute.
First, while I was away a few weekends ago in the great northern woods, Mr. CH took the kids to a local zoo. I left the camera with them for the weekend. I finally got around to looking at the pictures. It seems that Little Miss got hold of the camera and took pictures of *very important things* like:
the back of her brother's head
an alien that must have stowed away when they left the zoo - I wonder if she has him stuffed under her bed
a masterpiece of a lego car
the great pumpkin on its way home
I love seeing the pictures Little Miss takes and seeing the world through her eyes. It also helps that, unlike when I was a child, it doesn't cost me tons of money to see the pictures.
I remember when I got my first camera and was allowed to take pictures. I was 9 or 10. It was not digital. My poor parents had to shell out LOTS of money for pictures that mostly contained my dad hangliding - up so high that he looked like a black dot in a vast blue sky. In the first 6 weeks that I had my camera I used 9 rolls of 36 exposure film - at least 162 black dots on blue sky.
So anyway, the yarny goodness.
See, I haven't bought any more yarn. Just skeins with assembly required - and they don't count; right?
There was this sweater. I couldn't leave it there. I wish I could get a closeup of the yarn for you, but the camera won't cooperate. It's really more like 6,000 pieces of white and black and grey cotton thread held together and not even twisted really. It is nightmare waiting to happen as I knit, I know. This yarn is like the bad boy on that Harley your mother warned you about. You fall in love, he causes trouble and breaks your heart, but you can never let him go. I'm sure that is what this will be, but I still can't stop myself from jumping off the cliff.
I sat down to disassemble the sweater. Here's a hint - start from the top! Work from the shoulder seams down. I don't even know how much time I wasted with the mess I created. One hour and 600 times repeating the words "NO, it isn't ready for you to unravel yet" finally left me with 1 back, 2 fronts, and two sleeves.
From there I put Little Miss to work as I wound up the yarn on my new niddy noddy. 1 front got me a low estimate of 170 yards. I will easily have 685 yards of this yarn. Not bad for $2.99!
(It also seems someone may have licked my camera lens - or maybe it's slime from the alien fogging things up!)
At least if it doesn't work out with the knitting it can be used for "old lady hair"!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Of Love and Heartache
Scene 1 - Knitter meets Math
Hello Math!
I seem to have never met you before. I am so sorry that I didn't notice you at the party yesterday. I was all excited about that celebrity Emerald that I failed to notice you in the corner.
Scene 2 - The Lesson
Math talks to Knitter in the background while the narrator talks.
Narrator -
You see fellow readers, our knitter has made a huge error. She was so excited about finding THE pattern for her COVETED yarn at the party - she overlooked the guest named Math. The astute among you will notice that this pattern calls for 1500 yards of yarn in the required size. You will also notice that our Knitter mentioned holding the yarn double to get gauge - 3 stitches per inch, versus a more likely 6 with The Yarn. Math explained to Knitter that if she takes the 1500 yards of yarn Knitter likely has and hold it double, this will take The Yarn's yardage down to 750 yards. A shortage of 750 yards.
Knitter falls to the ground sobbing upon hearing Math's point of view.
Scene 3 - Coping
Knitter peels herself up off the floor. Knitter contemplates purchasing more of The Yarn. Knitter weighs the cost of upcoming trip to see her nephew. Knitter goes to Plan B in hopes of a miracle because she is in love with Emerald now. Knitter formulates Plan C in her head.
To Be Continued
Hello Math!
I seem to have never met you before. I am so sorry that I didn't notice you at the party yesterday. I was all excited about that celebrity Emerald that I failed to notice you in the corner.
Scene 2 - The Lesson
Math talks to Knitter in the background while the narrator talks.
Narrator -
You see fellow readers, our knitter has made a huge error. She was so excited about finding THE pattern for her COVETED yarn at the party - she overlooked the guest named Math. The astute among you will notice that this pattern calls for 1500 yards of yarn in the required size. You will also notice that our Knitter mentioned holding the yarn double to get gauge - 3 stitches per inch, versus a more likely 6 with The Yarn. Math explained to Knitter that if she takes the 1500 yards of yarn Knitter likely has and hold it double, this will take The Yarn's yardage down to 750 yards. A shortage of 750 yards.
Knitter falls to the ground sobbing upon hearing Math's point of view.
Scene 3 - Coping
Knitter peels herself up off the floor. Knitter contemplates purchasing more of The Yarn. Knitter weighs the cost of upcoming trip to see her nephew. Knitter goes to Plan B in hopes of a miracle because she is in love with Emerald now. Knitter formulates Plan C in her head.
To Be Continued
2 for 1
Since I don't really want to edit the last post, but I must tell you something. You get another post today whoo hoo!
It seems that I have finally found the perfect pattern for my lovely, soft, sweet, delicious Alpaca yarn I bought at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool. Remember it?
I'm going to make Emerald!
I don't have quite enough yarn though. I'm a couple hundred or so yards short. (Let's all hope it's closer to the 100 than 300 count short!) In the months long search for the perfect pattern I have seen a few things knit up on Ravelry where the button band uses another color of yarn for accent. Now, what if I worked the sweet pink handspun I bought into the ribbed button band as well? Don't you think they make a nice pair?
And if worse comes to worse - because I don't really know off hand how many yards of the handspun I have either - I can find another brown yarn that goes with the alpaca to fishish it off.
What do you think? It's a raglan construction even - no sewing of seams people! Now - let's see if I can get guage with 2 strands together, cuz of course the yarn the pattern is written for is bulky. I shall keep thee posted. The ballwinder and I have a date tonight.
It seems that I have finally found the perfect pattern for my lovely, soft, sweet, delicious Alpaca yarn I bought at Wisconsin Sheep and Wool. Remember it?
I'm going to make Emerald!
I don't have quite enough yarn though. I'm a couple hundred or so yards short. (Let's all hope it's closer to the 100 than 300 count short!) In the months long search for the perfect pattern I have seen a few things knit up on Ravelry where the button band uses another color of yarn for accent. Now, what if I worked the sweet pink handspun I bought into the ribbed button band as well? Don't you think they make a nice pair?
And if worse comes to worse - because I don't really know off hand how many yards of the handspun I have either - I can find another brown yarn that goes with the alpaca to fishish it off.
What do you think? It's a raglan construction even - no sewing of seams people! Now - let's see if I can get guage with 2 strands together, cuz of course the yarn the pattern is written for is bulky. I shall keep thee posted. The ballwinder and I have a date tonight.
Don't believe what you hear...
The rumors going around town are not true. I am abiding by my yarn diet just fine, thank you very much. Remember, I have all the yarn I need - except some nice girly worsted yellow washable stuff - right at home in my stash. While it is true that I have gone into a yarn store, with the intention of buying yarn - I did not purchase any. Besides that, the kids need mittens - would I have bought the wool, it wouldn't have been a "yarn" purchase. It would have been a "winter clothing" purchase. So what if "some assembly" was required? (Fine, I bought the Ball Winder - it is a necessity and was only 34 bucks - cheaper than anywhere else I've seen them!)
Also, I will admit to desperately wanting to make it to the Troll's Cove to have a look around. It's the nearest thing to a yarn shop to my house. I will maybe even admit to aiming the car in it's direction on Sunday and then making a U-turn. And then maybe making ANOTHER U-turn after traveling 5 blocks, but then I quickly snapped out of it and went around the block to head in the opposite direction yet again. (It is times of indecision like this when you really wish you had out of state plates on your car!)
And fine, it is true that I searched far and wide to find a yarn shop in Wisconsin Rapids when I was there this weekend for training at the Girl Scout Camp. I didn't find one. And if I did, wouldn't that be considered "souvenir" yarn? I did find a Goodwill though. I may have bought a sweater that absolutely will not fit anyone in the family. It may have been made out of a nice wool and silk blend yarn. It just might happen to be some nice boyish blue colors. Yes, it even has decent seams, not surged seams where the yarn is cut up. What's your point? I picked up a sweater a few weeks ago that won't fit anyone either and I didn't hear anyone saying anything about that!!!!
In other news, Mr. CH made me a PVC niddy noddy this weekend. Well, kind of. I mean, I guess I went to Fleet Farm and bought the PVC and T's and drove back with it hanging out of the car window, and drew out the plan and measurements. He used the cutter thing though. Close enough. Now I can frog a few things that I need to start over.
He's gonna make me a swift when I get him plans too. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh ya - and Sock Wars? I am DEAD. Deader than a doornail! My plan of attack was thwarted by those things called family members and their obligations. Oh well - I got some wonderful soft alpaca purple socks out of the deal! When else do you get a full pair of socks for the work of less than one? :)
Also, I will admit to desperately wanting to make it to the Troll's Cove to have a look around. It's the nearest thing to a yarn shop to my house. I will maybe even admit to aiming the car in it's direction on Sunday and then making a U-turn. And then maybe making ANOTHER U-turn after traveling 5 blocks, but then I quickly snapped out of it and went around the block to head in the opposite direction yet again. (It is times of indecision like this when you really wish you had out of state plates on your car!)
And fine, it is true that I searched far and wide to find a yarn shop in Wisconsin Rapids when I was there this weekend for training at the Girl Scout Camp. I didn't find one. And if I did, wouldn't that be considered "souvenir" yarn? I did find a Goodwill though. I may have bought a sweater that absolutely will not fit anyone in the family. It may have been made out of a nice wool and silk blend yarn. It just might happen to be some nice boyish blue colors. Yes, it even has decent seams, not surged seams where the yarn is cut up. What's your point? I picked up a sweater a few weeks ago that won't fit anyone either and I didn't hear anyone saying anything about that!!!!
In other news, Mr. CH made me a PVC niddy noddy this weekend. Well, kind of. I mean, I guess I went to Fleet Farm and bought the PVC and T's and drove back with it hanging out of the car window, and drew out the plan and measurements. He used the cutter thing though. Close enough. Now I can frog a few things that I need to start over.
He's gonna make me a swift when I get him plans too. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh ya - and Sock Wars? I am DEAD. Deader than a doornail! My plan of attack was thwarted by those things called family members and their obligations. Oh well - I got some wonderful soft alpaca purple socks out of the deal! When else do you get a full pair of socks for the work of less than one? :)
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