3 weeks later

My intentions are good with regard to blogging...really. But for the past 3 weeks, I haven't been near the computer except to respond to email if needed.

My Mother was here for the first two weeks. We had so much to say to each other. She hasn't been able to stay at my house in many years as a trip to California was difficult for her (she is 86). Oklahoma is a much easier trip from Texas where she lives.

It was a wonderful visit. She had Thanksgiving meal with us. Helped us decorate for Christmas.




She even considered bowling with us on league night but decided to watch instead as the logistics of walking cane and sending the ball down the lane was daunting. :)

She and my mother-in-law met for the first time. Gary and I have been married for 27 years but never managed to get the two together before. Very special. (And did I remember to get pictures? Of course not! geesh)

We also managed to get together with her younger brother and his wife (my uncle and aunt) whom she hasn't seen in probably 10 years. We had to meet at the hospital as their younger son (my cousin) had a heart attack and was admitted for observation and testing. (He's out and doing well now)


I drove her home last weekend. But no need to feel sad! We will be visiting her for Christmas. There is something to love about the move to Oklahoma...family!

While she was here, I found a little time to knit in the evenings. And it's for me! The Shipwreck Shawl on Knitty. ummm...yeah....I'm thinking about the last season of Lost. Is it February 2nd yet??



For the past few days, I have had last minute knitting to do for my to-be-released Leisure Arts publication. A couple of additional projects to round out the booklet. Yarn and looms have taken over my dining room table...



...but should be cleaned up (finished!) by the weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing the end results!

So...did you even miss me? ;)

A break from knitting...

...and playing with pictures. :D


The deadline is looming and I'm gonna make it! Yippee skippee

Just knittin'

Nothing exciting around here...just knittin' - on the loom and the needles. Hope to have some pictures to show as soon as I get the pictures downloaded. (lazy)

I plan to cast on for a Sensational Socks book KAL on Ravelry...trying to pacify sock knitting addiction (maybe it will help me to keep my hands out of the chocolate).

For fun -

In pursuing a friend's blog, I saw this blogthing. While I'm not always up at sunrise (ok, rarely), the remaining description is fairly accurate IMO. I do love life as it is since I'm really lucky to have the family and friends that I have. They are really tolerate of me (lol that's lucky!!)

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Making stitch markers

What a great idea! I never thought of using lever back earring wires...



...to make beaded stitch markers that can do the job of these...




Find the instructions here.

Knitting Daily

Since everything I've worked on this year (so far) has been for publication somewhere, I haven't been able to show pictures of what I'm knitting. So blogging has been about whatever I think of...sometimes having nothing to do with knitting. (What? You didn't notice?) Regardless, I am knitting daily.

And speaking of Knitting Daily, have you signed up for the Interweave newsletter yet? Yes, I'm speaking to loom knitters also. While the newsletter is about needle knitting, the techniques can apply to loom knits also. It will be done a little differently but with a little imagination you can apply the techniques to the loom. Most recently has been how to pick up stitches. Check it out.

Back to knitting.

Cartoon Stock

New design

Not Grandma's Cable Hat is up at my re-vamped website.


I do have a variation of this for loom knit...just need to proof the pattern. And you thought all I did for the past 6 months was sell a house, move from California to Oklahoma, and buy a house. (tsk, tsk)

Ready for more...

....more yarn, more books, more knitting...

Knitting up a few dishcloths must have been just what I needed as a warm up to start bigger projects. I'm itching to knit a sweater. But this time the sweater won't be for a book or for a sample knit...I've decided I need to have special "ME" projects to work on. Not only will Oklahoma be colder then California (so says DH) but it's good therapy during the move (hehe good excuse for buying yarn.)

I saw this pattern in April's Simply Knitting


and just love it! It's a simple knit with basket weave type of pattern. And since the pattern calls for a bulky weight yarn, it's a quick knit. Perfect project for the days in July while the packers are boxing up household goods, while the movers are taking everything out, and for the days during the drive to Oklahoma City in the RV.

As any good knitter knows, you never have just the right yarn in just the right amount. I had to shop for yarn (oh the agony....not!). Off to Knit Picks website I went. And dropped some Wool of the Andes into my cart.

While shopping for the right yarn for this pattern, I saw Shimmer. Oh. My. Hand dyed baby alpaca and silk blend? I can't resist! Plus I really should have a special project for August house hunting, right? I see a lace shawl in my future. So I ordered two hanks.

Of course special yarn deserves special pattern, right? And since Knit Picks is having a book sale (40% off until August 8th), I ordered Wrapped In Comfort by Alison Jeppson Hyde.


Then I saw the great price on Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters and snagged a copy since it's on my wish list anyway (and I'm a sucker for a book sale).
This move is starting to look good to me. ;-)

Why....

....do I watch sad movies when I'm depressed? Do you? Seems like we'd pop a wonderfully hilarious movie into the DVD player instead to cheer us up. But no.

Instead I watched Philadelphia today (we're home with a stomach bug and not in the mood to be happy).

I did start a simple, no-brainer sock pattern with discontinued (and inexpensive) Magic Stripes.

I have no mental capacity for anything past a k2, p2, and do not want to blow it with a better yarn.

Feel sorry for me yet?