Hmmm......

Well you guys are more upset about this than I am.

Have I become immune to the rudeness of 20somethings? Do I now expect it? It's rare that I meet (note I am not saying ALL) male or female in that age group that considers that there are others living in the world.

Like the 20something that is living with his mother down the street and parks his truck in front of the only fire hydrant that would be used for this half of the circle. (yes police have been notified)

Or the ones that come into the shop and talk on their cell phones and throw their money at you? (Well okay, they're not the only ones, adults do the same)

And the gal who hired or had the Navy hire, this moving company. Does she care about the first impression her new neighbors have of her? I mean, all the neighbors who stopped to chat with me mentioned that SHE shoud be doing something about it.

And perhaps I've been on the BOD of our Homeowners Association too long. I now expect trashcans left in the front of the house, fences put up without approval, and so much more you wouldn't believe.

Enough for tonight. PBS is showing part 2 of "Jane Eyre" and I've got a pair of socks to finish.

But thank you for your concerns.

Circles

Thank you for your concerns Kim and Bess. I did call and leave a message on the non-800 number for the owner to contact me on Monday. Didn't think of BBB. The company is from New Jersey. Are there seperate BBB for each state? I'll have to research.

But I did get the last laugh.....The street I live on is a circle of twists and turns and circles within circles and only 2 actual exits, neither of which look like they would take you anywhere and if you're not really paying attention you even miss the street signs for the streets that take you to a main street.

Bailey and I were taking our late afternoon walk around the circle when the moving van left. They passed us 5 times! Around and around they went. I'm assuming they found their way out, as I didn't see them on this mornings walk.

But today is another day. My drive is cleared. The newspaper was on my front porch. I made over-night french toast for breakfast. And it's our second Fake Isle class. It's going to be a good day!

Faking the Isle

How's this for fake isle! Trendsetters "Tonalita" and Lana Borgosesia "Otto".

by whose clock?

At about 9:15 this morning a moving van pulled up in front of my house. "Ah!" I though. "The female half of my new neighbors is finally moving in."

When I realized the moving van was not going to well, move to upblock my driveway, I went out and spoke to a moving guy. Moving Guy said "we'll be done in hour and a half".

"That's fine" I thought. "I can wait a while before leaving the house to fill the car with gas, stop at the library to see if the new Oprah book is on the shelf, see if Target has those block things that can be used for blocking and go to the grocery store."

At 1:30, I knocked on my new neighbors door, said "Welcome!" and asked that the van please be pulled up about 3 feet into the appx 30 feet of open curb where no driveway or car will be blocked, so that I could be off on my day's excursion.

Reluctantly it was moved. And on my way was I.

When I returned about 1 hour later (I skipped Target), the moving van had been moved once again to block my driveway. Sigh.

So I parked my car across the street, carted my groceries and library book and DVD's across the street while stopping to talk to neighbors walking their dogs or out for a stroll on this nice Saturday afternoon.

On my last trip, I asked the Moving Guy to please knock on my door to let me know when they're ready to leave so I can move my car to my gargae he called me a bitch.

Here's a picture of the moving van. I don't think I'll use this company on my next move.

following a simple chart OR socializing....

....I can't do both at the same time it seems.

I'm showing a lovely group of ladies some stranded knitting techniques. We're using the "Fake Isle" hat from MagKnits. I've knit the hat once. Not difficult at all. Simple in fact. Why is it that I've knit the 6 rows of the second hat 5 times already?

It all began on Wednesday night at Ewe Knit Kits. It's social knitting night and after I had finished labeling all the new yarn from Dark Horse, helped the customers, I sat down with the group to knit and chat. 3 times I knit row4 of the chart and then gave up. I blamed the Hillary vs. Barack discussion. So put it away until another night.

Thursday night was my "But there's not a class" group. (Defined as: I want to knit a project with a group but there isn't a class offered. The projects include: tote bag, Flamingo, baby sweater, shawl/sweater/sock/baby sweater, felted tote and a scarf.) I can usually get a few rows of something done. Nope! Not only didn't I get the row knit, I dropped a stitch and there went the row below it!

So you would think I'd give up...oh no!...this morning at Barnes & Nobles I fixed row 3. I thought, markers for the repeats and I can enjoy the conversation....hahahahaha...I knit row 6 THREE times...around and around and around. I ignored ALL the markers! Fake Isle 2 and all of my markers have been banished to the Guilds tote bag until later tonight.

But I am contemplating two lace KAL's. Civil War Shawl and Sheep Shawl. Have the yarn, patterns and needles for either one. But then I want to knit another Pi. So much to knit so little time.

So Kiki...Bess suggests an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern. What do you think?

This will make you smile!

Here's Kiki with her shawl.

Using a drop spindle, she spun the roving into lace weight wool. Then added a few pattern repeats of my "Mary" to knit this beautiful shawl.



and another....

Kiki was my partner in yarn/fiber shopping this past year. We hit Maryland Sheep & Wool, the Fall Fiber Festival in Montpelier and Stitches East. She's now looking for her first easy Fair Isle sweater pattern. Anyone have a suggestion?

Two Sock Update

"Ms J" finished her heel directions for the Two Toe Up Socks on Magic Loop and I tested for her last night. Pattern worked out great! See.....

I didn't knit the foot long enough though. It's a bit snug. So I'll rip it out later today, add a few rows and reknit the heel. But boy was it EASY!

I'm RICH!!!!!!!!

So I open my email this morning and look at the news I received:

From: Peter Wallace, Esq. (For Trustees)
Managing Partner (Herbert & Wallace)
London - United Kingdom.

Notification of Bequest

On behalf of the Trustees and Executor of the estate of Late Engr. Gerhard
Wilhelm, I once again try to notify you as my earlier letter was returned
undelivered. I hereby attempt to reach you again by this same email address
on the WILL. I wish to notify you that late Engr. Gerhard Wilhelm made you a
beneficiary to his WILL. He left the sum of Five Million One Hundred
Thousand Dollars (USD$5,100.000.00) to you in the codicil and last testament
to his WILL.

This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in contact with you in the
past or simply you were referred to him by one of his numerous friends
abroad who wished you good. Engr. Gerhard Wilhelm until his death was a
former managing director and pioneer staff of a giant construction company.
He was a very generous individual who loved to give out. His great
philanthropy earned him numerous awards during his lifetime. Engr. Gerhard
Wilhelm died on the 9th day of September 2006 at the age of 92 years, and
his WILL is now ready for execution. According to him this money is to help
the poor and the needy.

Please if I reach you, as I am hopeful, endeavor to get back to me as soon
as possible to enable me conclude my job.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,
Peter Wallace, Esq.

Now I don't remember meeting Gerhard, but that's not to say we never crossed paths. And I was a bit confused because he considered me "poor and needy", but what the hay, for all that dough I'll be poor, needy and even destitute.

But alas...I was checking the Guild's emails, not mine....sigh...I guess I'm not rich at all....but good news for the Guild!! I'll contact the members and let them know right away....

Least you worry, dear readers, the email has been marked as spam and deleted, but it was fun to imagine all that money!

Socks that were rocking

The tempature was 75F, the house was clean enough, I could stand looking at the leaves in the back yard...it is January you know...so this is what I did on Saturday...

I sat on my patio, in my rocking chair.....

and these toes from Friday night .... (ignore the black blob on my lap, it's Bailey taking his nap before bedtime)

became these feet waiting for their heels....

And now dear kind, gentle, reader, I ask you to please sit before reading further....

you can use the other chair on the patio if you'd like...
(ignore the black blob digging through the leaves...it's Bailey looking for lizards)

I just called over to Ewe Knit Kits and asked Bobbie to please hold the Pink Trekking XXL yarn for me. I will pick it up on Tuesday. And just 1 skein please, not 2 or even 3, just 1, because it will be used for s o c k s, not a shawl or a scarf or other knitted item, but SOCKS!

And while I'm waiting to hear from dear "Ms. J" for the "heel" directions, (I'm testing her class handouts) I'm going to start another pair with the Fortissima Socka Color 1776 the one that gives you the idea of stars and stripes.

Other knitting did happen last night. I worked on the ribbing for a helmet liner. I've been knitting them about a year now for a friends son and his Army buddies over in Afghanastian.

On the tv was the first 2 discs from the BBC series The House of Eliott. I watched it when PBS first aired in the mid 90's (?). It's better than I remembered.

And tonight it's "Dr. Zhavago" with Omar Sharif.

And least you think all I do is sit and knit and watch tv...Bailey and I are off on our second walk around the block today. We usually get in 3 or 4. Adds up when the block is 1/2 mile around.

'tis done

Thank you for leaving those nice comments Kim! So just for you.....

The knitting is complete...


And all the ends tucked in and the seams sewn....



It's Plymouth Yarn Pattern NO26 simply called "VEST". Soooooo simple to knit, seam and wear. It's knit in Plymouth's Baby Alpaca "Grande" which comes in a bunch of colors. This is knit in 3 1/2 skeins.

Now the pattern is "one size fits most" size 40" chest. But it would be simple to add a few more stitches and make it larger.

Sock toes!

Thanks to "Miss J, Miss J" (not the ANTM dude-ette but a talented knitter and designer), I have toes for my "Two AT One Time Toe Up Socks on Magic Loop".



2005 KR Retreaters may recognise the yarn....there was enough on the trade table for quite a few of us to have a pair of socks.

What do you call it when you knock one domino and it causes a chain reaction? I don't know but take a look at this to see what happens when you tip a car part.....
Honda Accord Ad

In early August, a new pattern was delivered with a shipment from Plymouth Yarns. It sat in our "new patterns" binder being passed over for more hip and it patterns like cables and mitered squares.

In late November, Nancy, a co-yarn-seller, purchased the pattern and the suggested yarn because "my daughter might like it". A quick knit, Nancy brought in the finished Daughter-gift and hung it up so Ewe Knit Kits would have a sample....well.....

Everyone wanted, ne, HAD TO HAVE, the pattern and the yarn. So a call was placed to Plymouth and more patterns and yarn were ordered. Not enough! A "call me when it comes in" list was made. More copies and yarn ordered. The holidays came and went and still the call for the pattern and yarn were being heard. More copies and yarn ordered.

But, alas, Daughter received her gift and we no longer had a sample at Ewe Knit Kits and knitters were coming in from far and wide asking to see this most magnificiant knitted garment.

And so I accepted the request to knit a sample ....can you guess what this most magnificiant knitted garment might be?

The yarn:


After 2 hours of knitting.


I was concerned about the gauge...12 sts on US11...and how messy the stitches were looking...but after a call to Nancy we decided the pattern must have the wrong gauge and a bit of pulling and tugging put the stitches in place.

Here's where I am this morning. 3 hours watching "Grease" auditions and "Brothers & Sisters on tv.



Now I'm off to learn the turkish cast on so that I can knit two toe-up socks on magic loop.

KR Holiday Gift Exchange

I participated in the Knitters Review gift exchange this year. Jenn and I exchanged gifts and look at what I received.


Yarn and roving!

Check out her site to see her fabulous hand dyes. And hemp yarn. I'm looking forward to working with it. It feels a bit rough but Jenn tells me it softens as it's used.

Here's another picture of the handspun and roving to better see the colors.


Thanks Jenn!

Bailey and I discussed .... well I talked he pretended to listen.... whether or not he'd like to become a "Blog Dog". I explained to him that every dog or cat aspired to become one of those cute fuzzy animals blog-readers wanted to see. He said he'd try.....and I could get one quick picture.....



but then it was back to sleep.

The first three.....

Here are my first 3 scarves. In honor of the George Family siblings.....

My mother was raised in North Carolina. She moved to Virginia when she married my father. Each summer we would drive a bazillion hours in an un-airconditioned car for a weeks visit.

Mary is my mothers oldest sister. The first born. She was about 20 years my mother's senior. She's the one everyone ran to when they had "troubles". She took care of everyone. We stayed with her when we visited. You could walk a few blocks to downtown from her house. She once owned an antiques store. I fell in love with a little bank that looked like a dog. When you dropped in coins his ears and tongue wagged. She gave it to me. Her last job was in a cross stitch shop.

This scarf was designed with her in mind. A simple pattern that's knit in a soft yarn.



knit in 1 skein of Misti Alpaca Lace Wt.


George is the oldest son. Named after his father. My mother always speaks of him with a little awe in her voice. The big brother who left home before she was born and became "an important person in his job". I don't remember meeting him. I'm sure I did. There's a picture of my mother, father and me (at about 1 month of age) sitting on a swing in his yard.

From what I've heard about him I thought this scarf would honor his memory...the stitch fools you with it's complicated looks.




knit in Berroco "Ultra Alpaca"

Clarine LOVED fashion. She was always perfectly dressed and couifed in the latest style. She watched her carbs decades before it was fashionable.

Here's a shawl/scarf that will always be in style.



knit in Purled Llama "Concha"

So those are the first of the "George Family Scarfs and Shawls Patterns for Knitting". All are available at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.

It doesn't look like I can add more than one blog on Flickr. I did figure out a work around for the time being.

We had a fun Guild meeting tonight. Yes January 1. Why? Because we ALWAYS meet on the first Monday of the month! We kicked off a Vest Knit-Along. We're using a TKGA pattern. It's free to members. It should take most of the year to finish.

We also decided on instructors to bring in. One of our members will teach a cute sweater with hood that can be sized from doll to large man size. And we're inviting Edie Eckman to come in for the weekend. There's also 2 authors that we'll invite and hope to coordinate their visit with a LYS book signing.

And as usual at our first meeting of the year, we had a Yarn Sale! I stayed away from the tables...I need no more yarn! I did sell a few skeins though.

I think I'll run off and see if I can find some of the buttons I use to have.

Tomorrow I'll try posting pictures!

January 1 2007

It's time for my annual post....which I plan on making a weekly or more habit in 2007.

It will soon be 2 years...TWO YEARS....since I left a mortgage paying job to enjoy my life. And I am.

In 2005 I still had a severance payment every 2 weeks or so, so money wasn't a big concern. But I tracked every penny I spent. That's how I learned I can spend a bundle in Target and Barnes & Nobles! I continued to work parttime and that paid to increase my yarn and book stash.

In 2006 the big money stopped but I continued to track money spent or wanting to be spent, learned that not going into Target and B&N everytime I went grocery shopping doesn't stop the world, health insurance is expensive and the big lesson....I can live on a lot less than I had been.

2006 also brought the relationship I have with my mother and siblings to a new direction. I stepped away from the decision making for her and let my siblings handle it. My Sunday's have become much quieter without the phone ringing every 20 minutes questioning why I had chosen X over Y. My siblings now have to do the research, make the decision and carry it through.

In 2006 I jumped into knitting pattern design. I knew I wanted a "theme". But what? Working with knitters I saw the direction most were taking after the Years of Fluffy Scarves was into simple pattern work. So after a few false starts I decided on scarves and shawls. Thus was born "The George Family Book of Scarf and Shawl Patterns" (that's the title in my mind, nothing formal yet). In the works (with 3 published) are a collection of scarves/shawls designed with one of my mothers siblings in mind. I'll write more in another post about them.

This past November I was re-elected President of the local Guild

And because of a disagreement with a neighboring Home Owners Association, I'm STILL Secretary of my HOA.

I'm still working and teaching part time at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn.

Bailey, my very large Chihuahua, turned 13 in December. He and I are both turning grey at the same rate, but he sleeps more.

And I bought myself a digital camera for all of the holidays I usually buy myself a gift (birthday, Christmas, etc.) Now I must figure out how to use it!

I'm not sure how I'll use the blog now. Putting up pictures sounds like fun. I don't think Bailey will appear in many though. He usually turns his head or puts his ears back when his picture is being taken which gives him an "I'm bored" look.

So, here I go. Back into the world of blogging.