tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288867492024-03-13T04:15:09.462-06:00Re-born KnitterOn a good day I knit more than I un-knit...Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-26985950652275820862010-05-14T08:53:00.008-06:002010-05-14T09:47:02.059-06:00Chicken Soup Friday<div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABKeOlrPtv9FIp_L1FtjLssF9eWPNE-kIfASxIau38oYQIp88lF8PY7WUrRyyVBbigQhJy7R74-1b0orMEEcJXeGUJe7zQWwTZfH5Uim5sXpBBbfElWn2qipmzbf-2VXttr5I3g/s1600/chicken+soup+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471147381043727138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABKeOlrPtv9FIp_L1FtjLssF9eWPNE-kIfASxIau38oYQIp88lF8PY7WUrRyyVBbigQhJy7R74-1b0orMEEcJXeGUJe7zQWwTZfH5Uim5sXpBBbfElWn2qipmzbf-2VXttr5I3g/s320/chicken+soup+001.JPG" /></a><br />So, last week was Chicken Broth...Now for the soup. (Doesn't it look delicious?) After you've made the broth, refrigerated it overnight and skimmed off the fat, making the soup is easy. Bring the broth to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Add any or all of the following: a chopped onion, chopped celery, diced carrots. One ingredient my family loves is a can of diced tomates (including the juice). Cook until the raw veggies are done, then add diced chicken, any frozen or canned veggies you like (green beans, peas, corn?) and bring back to a boil - you may need to turn up the heat. Now add your pasta and cook until the pasta is al dente. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat, serve, eat, enjoy. </div><div><div><div></div><div> </div><div>One of the neatest things about making your own soup is that the amounts of ingredients are not that important...I usually use one onion, 3 or 4 stalks of celery, a couple cups of diced carrots, 2 to 3 cups cooked chicken, a cup or so of frozen veggies, a can of canned veggies... You get the idea. Same thing with the pasta - depending on what kind I use and how much broth I started with, I might add more or less. Sometimes I use a 14 oz. can of diced tomatoes, sometimes I use a 28 oz. can. Every batch of soup ends up being a little bit different, but they're all delicious. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471145470191820386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikSKd1GGvVD5nEhrZZ4H5slUjTYj_51LC37Uf38sz-ARLgmqAHgjluCx9azmCB-MLJ6umUomB0H-nQ2rCDlF9i58AbiNR7PULdIvsn0pdxHO3Q9jehLZMzkSRKLhuxzWPHWWegw/s320/right+twisted+001.JPG" /><br /><div>Knitting? Yes knitting has been done (un-knitting, too). I finished the right "<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTtwisted.php">Twisted</a>" sock. What can I say? I feel like I just completed a marathon. I'm a fairly experienced knitter, and have knit probably over twenty pairs of socks - employing quite a few different techniques. But these socks...not for the faint of heart! I think this is the first time I've used one of <a href="http://www.knitanon.com/blog/">Cookie A</a>.'s patterns. I wonder if they're all this involved/challenging. I learned some new stuff/techniques, and I really like the finished product. If I could change all the un-knitting I did to knitting there would probably be enough stitches for a third sock. And guess what? I'm already thinking about making another pair!!! But not right away.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471145795813048738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANxOl088I7neeOnKNs4SleZpnr4G7pNlQC8ziw-dUAcnfzDqqVNDRp_tr6ZRCix4uK4wlEcJN3YYrB2VsZNNJXUEXcGiCXUNzqqUO6nBvM8KgXPWm6zsHqF-QVk2i3pmVjKzX1Q/s320/right+twisted+002.JPG" /></div><div></div><br /><div>Here's a pic showing the way the right and left sock "twist" in different directions. I had to pin them to the bed because they were pretty curly. (No, I don't generally block my socks.) One odd thing about working these socks...the right sock ended up being about 3/4 inch longer than the left sock. (Unfortunate, because my left foot is bigger than my right foot.) Don't know where or how I screwed up, but I'm not ripping these babies, no sirree! </div><div></div><br /><div>And finally, the backyard bird feeders have been busy, busy. A California Quail showed up the other day (but didn't stay long), and Lazuli Buntings have been regular visitors for about a week now. They usually stop by our Treasure Valley for a couple weeks in the spring and then migrate to higher elevations (as weather permits) for nesting. Lots of black birds - Red Winged, Yellow Headed, Brewer's, Brown Headed Cow Birds. And a few Gold Finches, plus the House Finches and the House Sparrows.<br /><br /></div>(I uploaded an image of a Lazuli Bunting, but could not (COULD NOT!!!!) move it down here to this end of the post.) If anyone reads this and knows how to manage images in blogger, let me know. I've searched in blogger help, etc. and have yet to find any answers. FRUSTRATION.<br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-19667511659967171492010-05-07T08:43:00.009-06:002010-05-07T16:59:25.774-06:00Home made chicken stock/broth<div>Making chicken soup from scratch (get it? from "scratch"...chicken soup?) is so easy. But it does take a little time. Although it is very easy, there's a lot of explaining to do, so today I'm only going to address the broth issue. Next week - soup. Making the stock takes a good chunk of one day - it takes several hours. Then you refrigerate it over night so you can easily skim off the fat (which rises to the top of the broth). I'm not posting a picture of the broth because...well...chicken broth is not particularily photogenic. (But I have a yummy pic of chicken soup for next week!)</div><div></div><br /><div>Here's how I do it. You need chicken bones/pieces, water, 6 or 8 peppercorns, a celery rib or two (cut into three or four pieces per rib), an onion (peeled and quartered), and a carrot or two (scrubbed and cut into a couple or three pieces). The veggies are optional - last time I made stock I didn't have any carrots so no carrots in that batch. Also, you could use a couple or three T. of dried minced onion if you wanted to, in place of the whole onion. And, if you wanted to, you could leave the veggies out altogether. I think they add flavor so I always put some in. </div><div></div><br /><div>Chicken pieces? Last time I made stock here's what I used - the leftover carcass of the whole chicken that I roasted last Friday. I refrigerated it after Friday night's dinner and on Saturday, I removed the leftover chicken meat and returned the meat to the fridge. (I put it in one of those plastic container things with a lid but you could put it in a baggie). I put the carcass into my big stock pot and added the veggies. I also used a package of chicken legs that I had in the freezer (I think there were about 8 legs...). If I had had leftover chicken meat in the freezer, or if there had been lots more chicken meat on the carcass, I wouldn't have used the chicken legs. The amount of chicken meat needed for your soup is variable - depending on your taste and what your family likes, you can use a little or a lot. I usually use around 2 to 3 cups of meat. If you need to cook and use "new" chicken pieces (as I did), the trick is to just leave them in the broth long enough to cook them. When their meat is done, remove them from the broth and when they are cool enough to handle, remove the meat (add it to your cache in the fridge) and return the bones and skin to the stock pot.</div><br /><div></div><div>Chicken bones and skin and a long simmer are what make for a deep chicken flavor in the broth. When I buy a whole chicken for frying, I save the backs and the wing tips (freeze them) for making stock. Over time and before you know it, you've got enough saved "pieces parts" to make broth. And/or I use a leftover carcass. Any combination works fine. I also cut-off and save chicken meat after we've had fried chicken or other chicken dishes where all the pieces didn't get eaten. (You know...after the leftover chicken has languished for a couple of days in the fridge and it's obvious that no one is going to eat that last thigh... I'll take the meat off the bone, bag it and freeze it and I'll add the bone and skin to the frozen bones/skin I've already got collecting in the freezer.)</div><br /><div></div><div>As the broth simmers, check it now and again to be sure that your water isn't getting too low. You want the broth to "cook down" so that the chicken flavor gets concentrated, but you don't want to end up with only a couple cups of broth, or *horrors* a burned pot of chicken yuk.</div><br /><div></div><div>When the broth has simmered at least three or four hours (even longer is OK as long as you're keeping an eye on the liquid). Strain it, cool it and then refrigerate it. I just pour mine through one of my colanders, but you could use a wire mesh strainer if you wanted to. All the chicken sludge left in the strainer? Throw it away.</div><div></div><br /><div>The next day, after you've skimmed off the fat, you can either use the broth/stock to make soup or as the base for chicken pot pie or anything else your heart desires, or you can freeze it for use later.</div><br /><div></div><div>Question: Why would anyone go to all the trouble to make broth from scratch instead of buying canned chicken stock at the store? It's cheaper! It's almost free. And it makes your house smell so good!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662638450579938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQikREXYt8A4foKCrUbWVWBqDvQ-taR3-nblaaYqCmNjhYFUqxgugCWKokXleTKW31oAp6DrJTS0fmHNqzeubhSTG_CFLmItRM4JcOCEOde3gYr24sX1mtXi2uPj4GeH4D8HEeQ/s320/chicken+soup+005.JPG" /></div><div></div><div>Knitting... During my long absence from blog-land I knit several pairs of socks. This one is knit from Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn in the "Dusk" color, and is my cobbled-together sock pattern. It's a toe-up sock (Judy's Magic Cast-on), knit on two circular needles, with a Priscilla Gibson Roberts heel (in garter stitch) and the lacy pattern on the front is out of one of Barbara Walker's books - it is called Double Herringbone Mesh.</div><br /><div></div><div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-63634582696577730692010-05-04T11:25:00.009-06:002010-05-06T13:35:43.079-06:00Tip Tuesday(I apologize! I started this post on Tuesday, but here it is Thursday - Maybe I should re-name the post "T[h]<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ip</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Thursdy</span>" instead of "Tip Tuesday"!)<br /><br /><div><div><div>These notions of mine probably don't really qualify as "tips", but they're things I've learned over the years that make knitting easier for me. </div><br /><div></div><div>So...stitch markers. At some point after I took up knitting again, I became aware of all the pretty markers you can buy or make and for a while I used those instead of my old plastic ring markers. But...the down-side to both of those types of markers (in my humble opinion) is that they both have this propensity for jumping off the needles right when you're trying to slip them from the left needle to the right needle, and even worse, some of them *poof* disappear once they hit the floor. Over time, my supply of stitch markers had dwindled. I don't think I thought up the idea of making little markers using odd bits of yarn but I began using those. When I began to try lace knitting, those bulky yarn markers were a pain, so I began making them using crochet thread. Now I use crochet thread markers in nearly every project that calls for markers. Easy as pie to make - cut a length of crochet thread about six or seven inches long, fold it in half and then tie an over-hand knot fairly close to the fold. Trim off the excess thread and viola, you have a stitch marker. </div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468237685474784162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazLtzpKRvuiWxXvUKjTEzJF0cDeJMtTFQEV9MCVZ4fImVXekRM8CqIT34EtQbJLvMTEOspfMkW0kNDkgcq9boTCsqH15Ps9_z3ACuIclwpJUuuxOYTIKlpVTOWKjWt7vgdQ5TlA/s320/yellow+headed+blackbirdsw+002.JPG" /><br /><div>Some patterns call for markers that denote different areas or patterns within each row or round - and if all the markers look the same it can be confusing. In this case you can make markers from different colors of crochet thread, or you can just use multiple markers, i.e. one marker for the first marker of the round, two markers for the second marker, etc. (This last method only works well for up to three markers...after that it gets ridiculous.)<br /></div><br /><div>If one of the markers manages to jump off the needle, they don't usually go very far - they tend to stick to the knitting, or to your clothes. And if they do make it to the floor, they don't roll and bounce the way plastic/decorative markers do. Nope, they're not very pretty, but they do the job. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a completely different subject, there were a couple of "new" birds at my feeders this morning - Yellow headed black birds! I've seen this kind of bird before, but not for many, many years. What a nice surprise. (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Embiggen</span> picture if you can to actually see those yellow heads.)</div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468237975533881922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYT56MkOQZv_IUin2rucij7CPWHVYn54KQMkV9IJZvo0EFcbzGig60HfgUas1CgqSPz97wPniXcKKLz1ayX_hWw15Qm7wfxaqeTbxvZ19sNrHy_ZZaDY2r0FNa6yXBAyZZahNZiA/s320/yellow+headed+blackbirdsw+001.JPG" /><br /><div></div><div>And finally, (I'm tempting fate here) here's the heel flap of my second Twisted sock. The first pic shows the heel flap from the right side of the sock. Second pic shows it from the wrong side. (Actually these socks are reversible so there's technically no right or wrong side.) I love the texture on these heel flaps!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468239279180181074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6N1NFggkHz5Vt_RBEcj-2WG4hMtYkK7p5bwMpTCt0U_UltiGj-0n_8x4WBwxWDPhZxOvwYj_5l0iNVGxsBxMOGpzcbaT5fOWvKET7_6rJiNrVTQQIOOhSTA76nED7j3PpvLgV0w/s320/twisted+heel+flap+004.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468238736326451474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhJ0fV5SA6lMRFvplIgdTBZ_NehUxIutBXixmLPFXxAFV3xP4PRqtrUpagHdELWuYiOVCQTtwq19oDX6ddO4hCX_w_ICHSBOjQRY9MhMYOt7yBwLHDG4AMXDVbS_mLxTkdPSVAg/s320/twisted+heel+flap+001.JPG" /></div></div></div><br /><p></p>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-35143803943017696772010-05-03T06:59:00.005-06:002010-05-04T07:11:14.692-06:00Memory MondayBack in the summer of 1959 Mother and and I moved from Tacoma WA to Baker OR, her home-town. We moved in with her mother - my Grandma - and one of her sisters - my Aunt Hilma. In the fall, I began attending Jr. High school and one of my classes was Home Ec. I don't remember the teacher's name, but I do have a visual image of her stored away in my brain...She was a little grey-haired woman who wore glasses. I towered over her and probably out-weighed her by fifty pounds. One thing I remember learning in her class was that the cloth one used in a sewing project was correctly referred to as "fabric", not "material".<br /><br /><br />I know we did a variety of cooking projects and sewing projects, but the only project I actually remember is that we made gathered skirts. (The last thing I wanted to wear was a gathered skirt. I did not need a waist-band to accentuate my non-waist, nor three yards of fabric - or was it four yards?- to add bulk to my silhouette!) Anyway, we learned to gather using the longest stitch on the sewing machine, and we learned how to make a sewed-on waist band. I don't remember if we made buttonholes or used some other method to fasten.<br /><br /><br />At school we had nice electric sewing machines. At home I had the use of Grandma's treadle sewing machine. Straight stitches all the way. At school we cooked on electric stoves. At home Grandma cooked on an old wood-fire cook stove (which also heated the North end of the house). In the summer when the weather was really hot, Grandma often cooked early in the day. But when the cherries were ripe she canned cherries, and when the raspberries came on she made jelly, and when Aunt Jean's garden yielded produce, there was my Grandma in that hot old kitchen canning pickles or green beans or whatever there was to be preserved. She baked bread at least once a week and on Sundays there was almost always a pot roast and scalloped potatoes. Her cherry pies were legendary.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467036667788925490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm7NF2U_vcdz0L5-dMAMl4NGQbqWx7gR0uaVSs4Bux-S26feDCmlaupoJQZVA8Af-aPY53lv7dKptLRrCCeE73v-mSiZwcStqwqaBiidJUMcB_jAbgXS3UMxjftcZfL6hWxfYGw/s320/view+from+my+window+002.JPG" /><br />Knitting...Last fall I stitched this Rose Trellis Lace scarf. I charted the pattern, using the instructions in one of Barbara Walker's books. The yarn is a lace weight part-mohair blend leftover from a long-ago scarf I made for my dear Aunt Chris. I think this pattern is one of my favorite lace patterns. Looking back over my pattern notes I see that I cast-on with a size 8 needle and then knitted the piece with a size 6.Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-17823229197331113132010-05-02T11:08:00.004-06:002010-05-02T11:46:06.924-06:00Karma?<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466725670713931458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj70yRA97PD92oDw8a9lTKn5F8CYLvkRIoZTx2XjXpKuhmUbGJG7xw7J5GiC5vfj_Ti7-y9a_mh88kJnFI9Kh5Hjw2KycYr5h-abijdHQEyOtGI-8hWDn7MJuJZdPdEn8QAp1HDg/s320/view+from+my+window+005.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwtmPHYhy4TBXEcd-XrPKnbtBNmUadwhdMizaTIhLXYUA4Fsc4QoK6kRs2A6Pe4nS6nLgFBjG-YTpGSnmlJGDEPHLOe3iB9TZffhyJiaVLDlep8j_WaLkoBkN-LpMOXgejGOvhQ/s1600/view+from+my+window+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466725427686075394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwtmPHYhy4TBXEcd-XrPKnbtBNmUadwhdMizaTIhLXYUA4Fsc4QoK6kRs2A6Pe4nS6nLgFBjG-YTpGSnmlJGDEPHLOe3iB9TZffhyJiaVLDlep8j_WaLkoBkN-LpMOXgejGOvhQ/s320/view+from+my+window+004.JPG" /></a><br /><div>So maybe bragging about progress on the Twisted socks isn't what does me in, it's just mentioning them - after blogging about them the other day, I got hit by the cosmic un-knitting whammy. Yesterday I was happily knitting along when I noticed this little nubbin of a stitch about 3/4 of an inch down from the working needle. Horrors! It was a dropped run-away stitch! The pattern of the twisted rib is such that you would notice right away if you had dropped a stitch - so I know that it happened in the row just previous to the one on the needle...and it had already run a fair distance. I immediately tried to repair the damage using a crochet hook, but this particular yarn is tempermental and that didn't work worth crap. (Actually I already knew that the crochet-fix-it-idea was a lot cause [I had ample experience with "fixing" on the first sock - see previous post], but I had to try - anything to avoid frogging...) Ended up inserting one of those little split-ring stitch markers in the stitch so it couldn't run any farther, and - you guessed it, spent most of the rest of the day unknitting - and again this morning. </div><br /><div>The yarn - Bamboo and Ewe is tempermental in that it is both fibery and slippery at the same time. When you go to fix problems using a crochet hook, you inevitable pick up stray fibers - causing even more problems, and yet the stitches gladly (eagerly) slip or run away if given half a chance. In spite of which I do really like the knitted fabric made from this yarn.</div><br /><div>Above are a couple pictures of a triangle neck scarf I made from it earlier this year (sorry the scarf is a bit rumpled - it's been folded up in a drawer for a while). I got the idea from one of Katherine Misegades' <a href="http://katherinemisegades.wordpress.com/2007/05/05/patricias-scarf%e2%80%932/">patterns</a>, but ended up creating my own pattern. Learned a great deal... The original lace pine tree is from one of Barbara Walker's books, and I fiddled around with it to make three different sizes of pine trees. I could have/should have just stayed with the original size. Also, wish I had put more stockinette between/above/below the lace pine trees. I think it would have been visually less confusing and aesthetically more pleasing. I like the size of the triangle just fine - but could have used fewer pine lace thingies. Also, the front ties ended up being a bit too long for my taste. I keep thinking that I'll go back, rip out the last repeat of the design on each tie and re-knit the garter stitch borders. Someday.</div><br /><div>I knit it from the tip of the triangle to the shoulder decreases, then put one of the sides on a stitch holder while I continued with the working side. After finishing it, I came back, picked up the stitches-on-hold and knit that side. </div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-67273899045196119732010-04-30T11:11:00.008-06:002010-04-30T18:26:16.329-06:00Food Friday<div><div>It's been a long time since I was here. A lot has changed in my little world since last summer. But knitting is still going on... More about that in a minute.<br /></div><div>I'm going to try and do a "Food Friday" every week. Today it's about Roast Chicken with fennel, lemon and potatoes. This is my take on a recipe I first found through a TV program - can't remember which one, sorry. Here's my version:</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466086889559293138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A_Kiz4FUhKP4YRoG1n6GyShwXA74bPM-epFzSP5Ee0yRjnMMOhU8yjeK3XtQeUF93JHwbtXSolRlD_G3Qx7YqfAphB6XxTsnXe-Plp0CKljICUgSGKTQnqMMWsTHAI_-3odfPw/s320/fennel+chix+and+twisted+socks+006.JPG" /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Roast Chicken with fennel, lemon and potatoes</strong></div><div></div><div>Preheat oven to 400 degrees</div><br /><div>Wash a whole chicken with running cold water, remove any giblets and trim away any excess fat.</div><br /><div>Place chicken, breast-side-up in a rimmed baking sheet (grease or spray it first)</div><div>Cut 2 fennel bulbs in quarters length-wise. Trim away the core at base of each quarter. Arrange fennel pieces around the chicken.</div><div>Cut 2 lemons in quarters. Place one or two lemon pieces inside chicken cavity. Arrange the rest of the lemon pieces around the chicken.</div><div>Scrub six to eight medium potatoes and cut into quarters. Arrange them in the pan with the lemon and fennel pieces. (I most often use plain ol' Idaho potatoes, but reds or Yukon Golds are delicious, too.)</div><div>Drizzle olive oil over the chicken et. al. (2 to 3 T)</div><div>Sprinkle with Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.</div><div>Bake/roast in oven about an hour or until chicken is done - test by piercing thigh with sharp knife or fork - juices should run clear. Or cut into thickest part of breast - there should be no pink showing and juices should be clear.<br /></div><div>Serve with a salad or your favorite green veggie. Delicious!<br /></div><div>For some reason, I don't like left-over chicken reheated. (I don't mind it cold, though...) I usually strip the carcass after the meal, dice or cube any leftover meat and either freeze it or refrigerate it for sandwiches, chicken salad or soup or whatever. I usually save the bones/skin for making chicken stock. Maybe next week's "Food Friday" will be home-made chicken noodle soup. It's so much easier than you might think. And, no I don't make my own noodles - but the home-made chicken stock is just so good!...<br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466088237985076130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERIDvNjpj_W-WzL9aX3KLVLckh4svoZuMoss89kXZ9c9lbxKDQdDFlln0UqCWAVrO4uxgAdZPrjhFf5phHbDSgDUVk-rCKcKO4rRcnuO0X2NsZ9XnChtIFJZiHQigiX0eP3rkZw/s320/fennel+chix+and+twisted+socks+002.JPG" /><br /><div>OK. Knitting. I don't even know where to begin. Guess I'll start with a current WIP - "<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTtwisted.php">Twisted</a>" socks from a recent Knitty. I started these on April 7 and whizzed through the leg and heel of the first sock. Made the mistake of bragging to a knitter friend (he's "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Bugzen">Bugzen</a>" on Ravelry) that I was so proud of myself - no unknitting or mistakes. Yup, you guessed it...I got past the heel and had to rip back not once, not twice, not thrice but four freakin' times. And when I got to the toe??!!!?? Oh, my gosh - what a mess! I had been knitting on two circs (my favorite method for socks) but realized after throughly trashing the toe that I needed to switch to dpns and trade out the plastic-ring stitch markers for crochet-thread markers and even then it was dicey for those last few rows. You're supposed to decrease to 8 stitches and then cut the yarn and thread it through those last stitches. I think I got down to 12 stitches and Just. Couldn't. Do. It. Any. More. so I threaded througth 12 and the toe looks fine and I'm not gonna worry about it.</div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466088441452088610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIWU7ga2I7W2TL_iS7GAKz5zDbYeGn3IGmH5W-nKRfP7RegsBUAZ2NR1YLJ1NJbmOKWgjhbHDf3nwRmxZa-huZWevWEaWjZ8JPJQOy0sj5HgZDDY1rkTOLNmPyqA2n9Qg0n4ngw/s320/fennel+chix+and+twisted+socks+004.JPG" /></div><div>The yarn is Bamboo and Ewe by Sensations and I made the largest size - yup, I have humongous feet. I haven't used this yarn for socks before - in fact it's yarn that was leftover after I made a scarf (of sorts). I'll blog about that sometime soon.<br /><br /><div>I'm now about three fourths the way down the leg on the second sock. But I'm not going to mention/brag that so far things are going well. No sirree! I learned my lesson!<br /></div><div>Before I go for now, one of the things that has changed for me since last summer is that I recently moved from Boise to Star - a small rural community a few miles from Boise. I'm very isolated out here and have to depend on my two adult children for transpo anywhere. I'm lonely (watch out! pity party looming). If anyone out there reads this and knows of any knitters in the Star/Eagle area, let me know. I'd love to join a knitting group or help start one.</div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-29061126853362927892009-07-18T14:03:00.005-06:002009-07-18T16:48:00.751-06:00Cranberry SocksWell, the cranberry socks are coming along. I'm knitting them on size 1 needles and am just about two pattern repeats past the toe. I'm thinking the pattern will pop more when I get a few more repeats knitted. I used Judy's Magic Cast-on for the toe, but changed it up a bit - on the increase rounds I did K1, P1, Kfb at the beginning of each needle and ended each needle with Kfb, P1, K1. I like the way it looks.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359934973702131650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh0hOnluBy5S2SLO3rt2S9Z2U6uHBnn2vU7slKZ1ydi7Gn1qRn6wFA5JJEoIbJHJRMyYSDaOf-sCH3QJQkG18vTvPD-H0gqreeFwxXH6pVXp9PBy0ccJinp01SMlpQ-7DOtnpYQ/s320/Cranberry+Socks+n+GITP+003.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Miss Bunny agreed to model the sock-hat - Next time there will be enough of the pattern over the instep to show it to better advantage. (My apologies re/the date stamp...)</p><p>Be sure to check out <a href="http://sewfunquilts-sewmeow.blogspot.com/">http://sewfunquilts-sewmeow.blogspot.com/</a> for her giveaways - especially if you're a quilter. Yummy goodness! in a fabric-y sort of way. :-) And, I think today is the last day, so be quick!</p>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-88420109960161880162009-07-14T17:06:00.006-06:002009-07-15T10:22:04.181-06:00...And the Time Warp continues...Sheesh! Can't believe another month has whizzed past. And, um, my last post...the one dated in June? I forgot to actually publish it until just yesterday. I kept thinking "I've got to get some pics to go with that post and then get it published!" But the days turned into weeks (overnight or so it seemed) and the weeks turned into a month so finally yesterday I just published it without any pics. <div><div></div><br /><div>In the meantime I finished the Rivulets socks (I've re-named them the "Re-Rivulets" socks since I re-worked the lacy pattern), and here's a couple pics of the finished pair. Sorry about the incorrect dates on the photos - the camera ran out of batteries again and of course, I forgot to re-set the date. The yarn color is more accurate in the top photo.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358721062010597746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcKGjHbedfaYRLBLdjN11ODgDFi0rUXbhl1C-l_QkT4vgcRfAOXVxyKGHIpYmbrISU3564OHlDaaDQy9grvqpUpwTGgUVD4nqLSEcvF6_Pqr0WYu3HG1CyBvwwzMwhJ1LwiaLtw/s320/Hexies+and+Re-Rivulets+Socks+005.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358721379952214978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUF4BEz09Q-PB6YXDoaMzgzEVxx21fm755DHVAeHXFuRBiqDx9EJ5EfwpzAL-GG91S01sNyBd-OeodTHdmZ3FKNbKiDVmL3cRHMIG6Ez3Gd54SyWnRi0UIWALSm2tie4uhqIaiBg/s320/Hexies+and+Re-Rivulets+Socks+009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>Still working along on the Orenburg scarf... it's a few inches longer than it was last time, and I haven't worked at all on DD's sweater. Hard to work on a winter sweater in the heat of summer! I went thru my stash the other day, hoping for inspiration as to a new knitting project, but, alas, no light-bulb moment. Don't know what I'm going to tackle next.</div><div></div><br /><div>We had a chicken tragedy about a week ago. Very sad. Lucille (her pic is up in the sidebar) had figured out how to flap over the short little picket fence that divides the chicken/garden side of the back-yard from the "regular" side of the back yard. I could usually lure her back into her side of the yard by offering her peas from the garden, but one day she was being all totally independent, and wouldn't be lured, so I left her on the wrong side of the fence, thinking that she would flap back over when she was ready. Later, when she tried to do so, she managed to get her poor head stuck between two of the pickets and died. I cried for two days and even writing about it now makes my eyes well up. In the big picture, I know that Lucille's death is a small event, but ... crap. I hate it when things like this happen.</div><div> </div><div>An update re/ my next project. I have some cranberry colored sock yarn and have begun working on the pattern for a pair of cranberry socks. (I love Barbara Walker's pattern books! - there's no way I could even begin to figure -out a lace pattern from scratch!) Hopefully, cast-on happens today and there'll be a pic or two in the next couple of days.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-80791305027141365962009-06-17T05:57:00.005-06:002009-07-14T09:49:32.708-06:00Long time no we...How can it be June 17th already????? "Doo doo doo doo" (Twilight Zone theme music) It's a time warp this time of year.<br /><br /><br />But...knitting has been accomplished...a little bit. I finished the Dusk socks; I'm further along (several inches worth) with the Orenberg Lace Scarf, the first sleeve of DD's sweater has made it up to the sleeve-cap decreases (and has only been re-knit twice), I've cast on and got two inches past the heel on <a href="http://wendyknits.net/">Wendy's Rivulet socks </a>(click on "free patterns" near the top of her blog-screen) - but didn't like the lace pattern expanded as it was for the large size - so frogged it back to nuttin', reworked the pattern, cast-on again and am barely past the toe. Sheesh - you'd think I might have noticed that I didn't like the expanded large pattern before I turned the heel at least...but no. Just a word or two about Wendy...She is one of the most influential people in my life when it comes to knitting... I heart Wendy.<br /><br /><br />Remember how I said I was looking forward to doing a "Judy's Magic Cast-On" toe, but doing it in garter stitch? Well, I'm still going to pursue that notion on some future pair of socks, but when I got "sucked-in" to the Rivulet socks I decided that I didn't want a garter stitch toe, (or heel either for that matter), but I did spend a day or so figuring out a heel alternative. I love the way Wendy's heels (at least those that I've knit so far) look. But I hate, Hate, HATE the wrap-and-turn part of that kind of heel. Actually, it's the "Pick-up-the-wrap-and-knit-it-with-the-stitch-it-wraps" part that drives me bonkers. I don't know if it's because of eye-sight problems, or just an old fashioned mental block, but that part of the heel (only eight stitches or so of the whole thing!) makes me break out in cold sweats! I invariably get one of those crucial stitches fouled up somehow and am reduced to a blubbering blob while I try to frog back and repair the damage...<br /><br /><br />So, I think I've mentioned before how much I like <em>knitting</em> the Priscilla Gibson-Roberts type heel - (Google Priscilla's Dream Socks and read the little box on the right side of page 1 to see an explanation of her yarn-over technique with no holes) but I like the <em>looks</em> of the Wendy-type heel (and they fit my feet just fine)... I figured out how to use PGR's special stitch instead of a wrap and turn stitch to fill-in the hole you'd get if you didn't use one or the other - and the test heel I made with scrap yarn turned out lookin' fine. It wasn't all that hard! I know this kind of thing is old hat to experienced knitters (I'm not one of them, more's the pity) but for me, this was a super WOW accomplishment.<br /><br /><br />And I've been stitchin' on my two WIP quilt tops. I have plenty to keep me occupied and you might think that would keep me from launching off on other projects, but (again) no. A dear friend mentioned a couple of weeks ago that she needed some way to organize and store her knitting needles, so what did I do? I piped right up and said, "Hey, I'll make you one of those fabric jelly-roll things for your needle storage." I just got her cute little bag of all-things-knitting-needle-related stuff yesterday and spent part of the morning sketching out a holder for her DPs. I'm thinking that her single points will get their own holder and I'm not sure what I'll do with her circs. (Unlike some of us knitters she only has a "reasonable" amount of knitting needles - Me? If there was such a thing as a jelly-roll type holder for all my needles, it would have to have its own zip-code!Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-69532294442163220342009-05-19T15:04:00.008-06:002009-05-19T15:51:02.305-06:00Life in the Treasure Valley of Idaho<div>Yes, this is my knitting blog. But honestly...I'm at a point in all my projects that it's just same-o, same-o. I'm turning the heel on the second dusk sock - but if you saw the first one, you've seen the second one. (Scroll back a few posts and you can see it if you've forgotten.) I'm up to the armhole decreases on the first sleeve of DD's sweater - but it's just plain stockinette. Nothing to get excited about. The Orenberg scarf is maybe a few inches longer than it was last time I included a pic. And, frankly, I haven't crocheted even a smidgen more on the Sassy Sack handle. Ho Hum.<br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So let us put knitting (and crocheting) aside and speak of other things. Like, the weather. A week ago tomorrow morning we had a freeze warning right down here in the city. Yesterday we had a record high temp of 95 (beating the former record of 93 set in 1954 I believe). Today's morning low was 71. Tomorrow's predicted high is 68. It all kind of makes your head spin, doesn't it? I love Idaho.</div><br /><br /><div>I spent a good part of yesterday sitting in the shade and working on the aforementioned sleeve (my idiot-knitting project at present). DS let the chickens out and I thoroughly enjoyed their company. At one point, Lucille had pressing business inside the coop and DS took this darling picture. She's inside the coop, roosting on (in?) the favorite nesting box. Isn't she just the cutest thing?</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337653326678253522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8GTFQm16nS5jJdkZ9siwb6IUgZjlA7ODaKYu0wuv2Pr3T8rMl8P3J06GW6B-WdLMsvkpj8cPxZMgHFyzEdkgoDPY6HNHERdnmPeq_LSXD1PU-JnCEZckomrh4Hhf5Yx5aK4VPQ/s320/Lucille+001.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>DS made three little windows - one for each of the nesting boxes. In the winter he slides in a solid panel to cut down on the draftiness. But in warm weather he slides in the screen-doors so the chickens can look out and we can look in, and the coop gets some ventilation. The silly chickens all like the one box furthest to the left as you look at this view. We've never found an egg in either of the other two boxes.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337649322239216994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyx3Ml83O0JH5-x0kAlthZKPDgRR-5KxVj17Risq1u9mnp_xUv2yUWD2P_s_ocKB1aMrnAxheHNrNVn7686Aj7vxEG6BWOrew5Ot28QdQJjR0CUXMbjfql7zNAI5jP7rWn6akNJg/s320/Lucille+003.JPG" border="0" /> Here's a "front" view of the coop and the pen. I have teased DS unmercifully about the Taj Majal he built for the chickens, and reminded him yesterday that he still hasn't come up with a hot tub spa, nor has he installed their wide-screen TV with cable. (He reminded me that I never did get around to knitting them shawls or booties this past winter...)<br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337649681017009218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIToAFg0Odxk8BttZP4FTVSavgOWJkvLm_SsRp6ZdbO-jZnCjgQlxJsErdfoa1J6uZY0q6oBl-dhEAYueM7jMKW0J8mPpWaKzLirgz8pYc8RJUEHFHubBuUB4ZmAD6BGhYHSD_w/s320/Lucille+002.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><div>This view (below) is from the far end of the chicken run, showing the ramp (on the right) leading up into the coop. When we let the chickens out into the yard, we leave the door to the chicken run open so that the chickens can go back into their run/coop whenever they want to, and it's not unusual to have one of the cats go exploring up the ramp and into the coop. One time we had a cat in the coop while one of the girls was on the nest laying an egg. I expected a confrontation of some sort but the cat exited the premises leisurely a short time later.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337651247732570754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA6dlmfwq5bX-i3Y2Dw2qOd8-oFaTdNy-NuvNOeK5OW030qHoqjxC0nBxEfrIll38VA1VMsp_cqyrKSTBFehQvkQcuu010rlsOCKVX63-YaDfdDRSzjf7fyEUdchSfxjdlp6exA/s320/Lucille+008.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />This morning I worked outside and weeded part of a "suicide" strip along the drive-way where we have some of our rose bushes planted. I'm thinking of planting nasturtiums and/or moss roses there. Pansies, Johnny-Jump-Ups and sweet alyssum would be pretty along there, too. Maybe I'll plant some of each. I call that area a "suicide" strip because it tends to get foot traffic off the drive-way and also, in the summer time it's hard to keep it adequately watered - the concrete driveway just sucks the moisture out of the soil next to it.<br /><br />Maybe I'll have some knitting to share next time I post. Or maybe...who knows. Happy days, happy days. Can you believe this coming weekend of Memorial Day weekend???<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-1200988069984311142009-05-09T09:03:00.005-06:002009-05-09T10:07:45.551-06:00One Sock Done<div><div><br /><div>Finally, something accomplished (knitting-wise)! I've been so distracted by <a href="http://hexagonquilt-along2.blogspot.com/2009/04/finally.html">hexagons</a> and <a href="http://rebornquilter.blogspot.com/">DD's quilt blocks</a>, that knitting has been somewhat neglected...along with house-work and other "chores". But I did finish the first Dusk sock, see?<br /></div><div>The toe construction on this pair of socks is <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html">"Judy's Magic Cast-On"</a> and is a stockinette type toe...but when I got to the heel, I did a garter stitch "Priscilla Gibson-Roberts" heel. (If you're not familiar with PGR, just google her - there are several good tutorials regarding her heel and toe technique - the only change I make for my garter stitch adaptation is that when I turn my sock to work the next row of the heel/toe, I knit the stitches instead of purl them.) Next pair of socks I'm going to use Judy's cast-on method again, but am going to try changing it up to garter stitch. Maybe the anticipation of trying that modified start-up will encourage me to get this second sock done. (I'm especially prone to second-sock syndrome!)</div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7vYcg9iT5vCUDwyQ-6ziyCuZ-6cbXiBrfMAreAK2e0saA9dJU70peXYW7UDVROvjy0k79AyfcWxcTmUop2VoIqUJDISI5nFGNakXfyuoRxfx1KZLNvYw4RTiTMxH7N0TDu5b8w/s1600-h/LaceProgress&QuiltingBlocks+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333854943924550722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7vYcg9iT5vCUDwyQ-6ziyCuZ-6cbXiBrfMAreAK2e0saA9dJU70peXYW7UDVROvjy0k79AyfcWxcTmUop2VoIqUJDISI5nFGNakXfyuoRxfx1KZLNvYw4RTiTMxH7N0TDu5b8w/s320/LaceProgress&QuiltingBlocks+009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNmrlf6iBGXJn6H-0_sgRDYG7BtSoPGlNhvI8xxbqDFKmrcO9GPKyUgPf9eDzGy2An8SnLQjgjG1uGSx0JdwIXJ-yXTbt0E-LyRi2bPtLCVC2g99J4CwAEbDHzMf_8oB0kL_UXQ/s1600-h/LaceProgress&QuiltingBlocks+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333855352244823218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNmrlf6iBGXJn6H-0_sgRDYG7BtSoPGlNhvI8xxbqDFKmrcO9GPKyUgPf9eDzGy2An8SnLQjgjG1uGSx0JdwIXJ-yXTbt0E-LyRi2bPtLCVC2g99J4CwAEbDHzMf_8oB0kL_UXQ/s320/LaceProgress&QuiltingBlocks+011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>And I've made some progress on the Orenberg scarf. I've learned something about knitting lace with lace-weight yarn - USE LIFELINES! Before I began using lifelines, my biggest problem with this lace-weight was that when I made a mistake and attempted to frog back to fix it, I ended up creating more problems than I was trying to fix, and got into such a muddle that I always had to rip back to ground zero. Now that I've finally embraced lifelines, the most I have to rip back is just a few rows. One of my AHA! moments with lifelines was when I switched from regular straight needles to a circular needle...I could not insert a lifeline to save my soul when using regular needles! But with circs, you just slide all the live stitches onto the cable and it's easy to thread the lifeline through those stitches because they're loose. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333855749050762114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUGTOfV2CejiRQeXGAOhGFM0nJpCsEMY-ayorpLZbzyFjlBNbR3c8LgNP34qavwAR38JXe7xSS0iOfcZvOpfp9yH8vORn9MpWATqHfyed5C9PdHlR3v2oo_h8FNSpXvlDPYNomQ/s320/LaceProgress&QuiltingBlocks+002.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><br /><div>So... if you're struggling with lace and you're knitting with regular straight needles, switch to a circular needle. To insert a lifeline, thread a blunt-tipped tapestry needle with pearl cotton or a heavy crochet thread, slide your stitches to the cable part of your circular needle, and thread your lifeline through the stitches, leaving a generous tail on both sides of the live stitches. Then, when you have knit the next few rows and are ready to create the next lifeline, just pull out your former lifeline and re-do in the current row. (I actually keep two lifelines - I'm so paranoid! - so I remove the oldest lifeline to thread through the "new" row.) Also, be sure to mark (on your chart) which row you've used for the lifeline. That way, if you have to rip back, you'll know right where you are.</div><div> </div><div>Just umpty-jillion pattern repeats to go...</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-59603869660794435162009-04-22T09:07:00.013-06:002009-05-17T11:45:54.659-06:00Annual Time Warp<div align="left">There's some magically evil thing that happens this time of year - every year! Time somehow speeds up and rips past at such a fantastical speed! Outside, the weeds (and grass) grow so fast that when you get up each morning and look outside, you are astonished to see that the just-weeded garden is (again) swamped with weeds and the lawn is now a meadow. Inside, you just can't ignore all the calling-out from projects and wanna-be projects that have slumbered peacefully for most of the winter. And the dust bunnies are multiplying at an alarming rate - far faster than usual. Not to mention the sticky place growing larger and stickier on the kitchen floor.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">After the ennui of Winter, Spring wants so much...weed this, prune that, knit on your wips, cast-on for this and this and this, piece (patchwork) this, no this, finish that. On and on. Overwhelmed I am!</div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">In spite of all the distractions, I have made a few rows progress on the Knit Picks Dusk socks -</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327950509301683298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1u9uA4ZAHHAkjvQzHyyHXyAuN8FHiDdKbVGQ-3bRoRcZWJ1Xr5ET0p045yZaK-_dsD2uUZVIpAmwNt_XloVQbfQb3j23h0mvA01mrhpILoBJzIC66SaeHdW6xEKM3Cmfzy3Ztw/s320/Better+pics+dusk+socks+002.JPG" border="0" /> <em>Oh, hilarious! Finally remembered to "fix" the date stamp on the camera and I got the year wrong!<br /></em>As you can see, I did a Priscilla Gibson-Roberts heel - in garter stitch, so it doesn't match the toe, but I figure "Who Cares?" Not me.</div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327950758378182258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eFDKNeRFz8FB0mHqpHJJOOq4W7dlVZ3SEhd0Yc_-h_e2EIb4SiGczhX8insePJxkcpmN9sMemNQD6s9dQXFqWtcPwSU51P3a4c4hXKONTbKCba_omnUBhFhW2HkExJgOinNCig/s320/Better+pics+dusk+socks+004.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">And, here's a top view showing the lace pattern winding it's way up the foot onto the leg. Sorry about the perspective - it's wonky.<br /></p><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Made a couple of potholders for my across-the-street neighbors who generously gave me a large bag of yeast (they belong to CostCo). The largest size of yeast I can buy in the local stores is the jar - far smaller than the bag, and we go through yeast pretty quickly.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_lCN2PXKDauTLm72ydTYKHUGdNPd_TwNi61yl1xnn_8AZNMsw18eH0Te3qj_RBEV9NeIJ_02c8vo0dBdwAuGmaFrbXibUHTNLPZgFQkcUUxg1nkzBETh5Zn89VQND6OAU-ln1A/s1600-h/Chicks&Doug'sPotholders+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327942119933884082" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_lCN2PXKDauTLm72ydTYKHUGdNPd_TwNi61yl1xnn_8AZNMsw18eH0Te3qj_RBEV9NeIJ_02c8vo0dBdwAuGmaFrbXibUHTNLPZgFQkcUUxg1nkzBETh5Zn89VQND6OAU-ln1A/s320/Chicks&Doug'sPotholders+006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Pot holders for Doug and Rosemary -<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left">The chickens are deliriously happy with the weather and have been outside every day. Outside their coop, that is. Two of them - Henrietta and Penelope tolerate my petting them. Lucille? Not so much.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDzL-znvN9TrorIBziuZ7LZ88l_06hnKU-gqvyJCzxRND7eSadEPo0edRKI0qnhgwidlZ0RBowP8UeFJYLJLi0Hv54IS7pqOv9QKfVxIiTxnJgAS2f28BdJqXipYlK8OTv2eZkg/s1600-h/Chicks&Doug'sPotholders+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327943142730678434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 223px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDzL-znvN9TrorIBziuZ7LZ88l_06hnKU-gqvyJCzxRND7eSadEPo0edRKI0qnhgwidlZ0RBowP8UeFJYLJLi0Hv54IS7pqOv9QKfVxIiTxnJgAS2f28BdJqXipYlK8OTv2eZkg/s320/Chicks&Doug'sPotholders+001.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">That's Penelope on the right and Henrietta on the left.<br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327943612489276866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCXJ5c38y_wIMdc4vNASAhCnRwT4CvJ7TQCzlg2Q7Xu8-2j0EuzBBmnWsxbKTSV6V32ijXv9G3quiG2rH8uCO_mQiYMfTcZYsPgcjQ9iAn31rhYUZq6UZ_NVik87a0rT7cinOZQ/s320/Chicks&Doug'sPotholders+002.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">And, this is Lucille. Isn't she pretty?<br /></p><br /><br /><br />As I've mentioned previously, my knitting time has been seriously impacted by my re-kindled passion for patchwork and quilting. And this poor blog has "suffered", too. So...I've begun (just barely) a quilting blog <a href="http://rebornquilter.blogspot.com/">here</a> -- will try to keep my knitting here and my quilting/patchwork there. I briefly tried WordPress but ran into all kinds of problems I couldn't solve, so came back to blogger.Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-52970247490132909432009-04-14T13:18:00.010-06:002009-04-14T13:56:12.911-06:00Patchwork...and not much knitting<div><div>One day last week I was taking something out of the oven, using one of the patchwork pot-holders I made years ago, and I almost got burned because the poor old potholder was so shabby and threadbare. I decided maybe it was time I made some new ones, and that is just what I have been doing... Digging through my fabric stash (I don't really have very much) reminded me that DD once expressed her desire to have a quilt made by me, so I've started that as well.<br /><div><div><div><div></div><br /><div>Here's a shabby old potholder - </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324635362206445922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs57hZsU7tlsB-3cYZOCqHMUbc78D196P_vc0Jr8tpIZzCeE_pM2dBDWUMBIlAUE38B6tKiftEGRRShIyz1sG_7U8Jj8sAQp_F9nm7JZDx6VKwwg67mn8CLA2G46gXOjEUXmuX2w/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+008.JPG" border="0" /> (Sorry, I forgot to fix the date-thingy on the camera...)<br /><br /><div>Here's some new ones -</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0XytxPGoBcC1Gcc79awQN7FOCzp2sjCgGMz3TgCc2ZQuAfFRW9gZlQfzMw6S8JPbH4q5EtlUK5gPbC8Xysup_gQ2TLj96RE2BxfnUMsVMWUy3AaD12TU_kIeQC1AUsx7WHjS7A/s1600-h/Potholders+%26+Mina+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324635626308108402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0XytxPGoBcC1Gcc79awQN7FOCzp2sjCgGMz3TgCc2ZQuAfFRW9gZlQfzMw6S8JPbH4q5EtlUK5gPbC8Xysup_gQ2TLj96RE2BxfnUMsVMWUy3AaD12TU_kIeQC1AUsx7WHjS7A/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+006.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5jCHjUQw56KbmcNi9vppKMvmA2P6uHqwpzjpnBlrxyAShtQ0eZVCw_CnSAq0sFzE9jfcEwKSaXG4xeR7eCtzW_VpOAdy9pzkFFBx2xGbmL1w7ZTHYBry0_nIRYZ8G6G_CLYZ4g/s1600-h/Potholders+%26+Mina+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324635925591485314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5jCHjUQw56KbmcNi9vppKMvmA2P6uHqwpzjpnBlrxyAShtQ0eZVCw_CnSAq0sFzE9jfcEwKSaXG4xeR7eCtzW_VpOAdy9pzkFFBx2xGbmL1w7ZTHYBry0_nIRYZ8G6G_CLYZ4g/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324636375404705618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1PPk25nijS65A1xBEPAVCHBYDMDIOQcFY7PjhqDmmx5AtxcI4Vkz9k-0Yk1WQ-9C_AMkCcNYMBCKwLLdYGp2jLpa9CBm0XU1PxwOWQ2sq_2pPxPQsuduv1CsaVf_0ba8XTVziQ/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+011.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>And here's two 15" quilt blocks - Geese in the Pond is the pattern name.</div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVc3uZBVEX8Pj2vyZOnD8uNmFfBAsOc7_YfS3nFNTdKvSRGe_qr1nNhEJLjHhzR3fNd8T2qqKThMKAEGB25ZJdezqywNakrvARD2iMWaqj2AqTaqalltSKzCn-jRL44W-Na3QZg/s1600-h/Potholders+%26+Mina+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324637124381879906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVc3uZBVEX8Pj2vyZOnD8uNmFfBAsOc7_YfS3nFNTdKvSRGe_qr1nNhEJLjHhzR3fNd8T2qqKThMKAEGB25ZJdezqywNakrvARD2iMWaqj2AqTaqalltSKzCn-jRL44W-Na3QZg/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+009.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZglrIKh5hKV0DJnT84g2nP9gx29N9hO0sWmR1OQaZSebviiGVO4j_hhonxjRxMo3Dw0vwQMxR_lMqEiXDXudTcQ2Kn73v3by3EGEQ-g3X0qjLs4br1d3LHGxCOLtuVM-f39qL7g/s1600-h/Potholders+%26+Mina+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324637465689949746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZglrIKh5hKV0DJnT84g2nP9gx29N9hO0sWmR1OQaZSebviiGVO4j_hhonxjRxMo3Dw0vwQMxR_lMqEiXDXudTcQ2Kn73v3by3EGEQ-g3X0qjLs4br1d3LHGxCOLtuVM-f39qL7g/s320/Potholders+%26+Mina+010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>This is basically a scrap quilt. I might "need" to purchase a couple fat quarters in a yellow print (I think the greens cry out for yellow and I just don't have any pretty yellow in my stash).</div><div></div><div> </div><div>Knitting? Well, not much progress...I did turn the heel on the Dusk sock and make a bit of headway up the leg. And I have managed a few inches on the first sleeve of DD's sweater. It's my "idiot" knitting at present...just stockinette stitch with a few increases along the sides. I've been working on it when I go outside to chicken-sit (say that 6 times fast), but the weather has been pretty severe so time outside has been hard to come by.<br /><br />In spite of the cold, windy, wet Spring weather, the peach tree has begun to bloom and the plum tree out back is gorgeous - all white and lacy. Sweet peas are up (about 2 1/2"!) and today DS thinned out the lettuce, spinach and radishes and gave the thinnings to the chickens. Boy, were they ever enthusiastic about those little seedlings!</div></div></div></div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-83310517946561270142009-04-06T10:41:00.011-06:002009-04-06T11:53:58.984-06:00Monday, Gorgeous MondayIt's supposed to get up to 67 degrees today and 73 tomorrow!!! Then, rain on Wednesday. But who cares? I live for today and today the weather is glorious! Our forsythia is blooming, along with some early tulips and all the rose bushes are showing all kinds of new growth, even the ones that I pruned back to nubbins. (Yes, I still have to get those other bushes pruned - before they take over the whole block!) <div><div> </div><div align="left">To make matters even more wonderful, the house is full of the fragrance of home-made bread. Actually, home-made Po' Boys for our French Dip Sandwiches (tonight's dinner). Using up some Bar-B-Qued steak that DS fixed last night.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321634320061135186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7KvxYaHEDx7vNHwwXTIKg4O_gHUfYu6UxR-amUlLWpIYn0du_DQgsVmtcNA9P2JCG6jJeZT9XSsbJn28OqzPJFQ9EGjIl_p_JmOmF_z85OEJ6DR5Vs8Zu3ItwO9MHw29fMR5iQ/s320/Po'BoysEtc+002.JPG" border="0" /> There's been more knitting goin' on! As I may have mentioned, with DD's sweater in no hurry to get finished (it won't really be "needed" until next Fall), I felt the need to get some other things on needles. Actually, I already had one WIP on needles, but I had forgotten all about it (it's from years and YEARS ago!) until I was digging through my yarn stash (for Ravelry). Here it is:<br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321620460889053346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rUT3PAnCWR5cgME8g2s-3iPwiRLUgAaunrZOhY_jIcxhj5Bs7aAQouNeAm3glM2JYv-_9LRYvgGRFzU-GgL44z8bmjyXBe-scB6ecpoWTgrwcOc3cvnHwKh6ufmRFHPyzsEvMw/s320/BkYrdMina&KnitProjects+004.JPG" border="0" /></div><p align="center">(You can see I've got the date stamp on the camera fouled up again)</p><p align="left">This project is from the Summer 1998 issue of Interweave Knits. It's supposed to have a rectangular crocheted base but for some reason I substituted a round knitted base. It was completed up through the middle of the darker blue section - now I've completed the knitting (except for the I-cord draw-string) and am working on the crocheted straps. </p><p align="center">Here's a close up of the crocheted eyelet section at the top of the bag - for some reason I just love the look of it...</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321622568053318322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc43FnTM0v9AcFWw3NByR_u_bf7FX4iAiCEsMuVTNXcTu-GEIJrJfThDVqt4qZ4FyoB9ZMAKSW33EULOQCqlsQ-heZEBPAs_C5JFYHdwXceHA7dyDL0LRQhbVM4Sx1iCu5WpEYiw/s320/BkYrdMina&KnitProjects+005.JPG" border="0" /> (I'm a miserable photographer! That's the camera strap on the right.)<br /><br /><p align="left">This project in IK actually has two bags/purses and I made the other one years ago and really like it - except I made the crocheted straps as directed and they are too long (they stretch-out quite a bit). I know I could re-do but a knot strategically positioned in the straps works fine...</p><p align="left">Here's a pic of that first bag/purse. It holds my portable quilting supplies so when I go to my friend Jan's house to quilt I'm all set. Finger cots...check, quilting thread...check, baby powder...check, needles...check, thimble...check. You get the idea.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321635478319242818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhQrw6G8E6xQ0CXPedMEOWN643KYzjO4eZOQJuMH6KFXZwtEMQsUZ7wRFf5W2cKsXj3SjQY-8FWaxjRFLpb4AAJAnYsDVqpt974qnXBvwMY7MOeRoGCkY8_G8xWf9ngo0pcrNXg/s320/Po'BoysEtc+001.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>A "new" WIP - lace. You know, I've been kicking myself because "I can't knit lace" - but that's not it at all. After all, Pookie's Shrug and The Bean's Shrug are both all lace, and the Purple Fountain Lace socks were lace (duh). It's just that lace weight YARN gives me fits. I found a pattern for a scarf (in one of those old IK's-staff-all knit-their-take on some theme - in this case scarfs) that didn't look to be too complicated. It's garter stitch lace, it isn't too big and the pattern is all knit stitches, yarn-overs, and K2togs. You'd think I could handle that, right? Well ... would you believe this is my third try? Yep, ripped it back to nuttin' twice.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321626247664614338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNicfYuqArCHq9A8YwEIBoOyuAweNf4pp0r5fDTfTmEZvfANjkcZOoXp2wyIjTzXq8SU_h0vAEetAXthwAfNsjX8fv4HaR62EI5y3-AW9BEAL_25adEbpq3jX8CL6GuF3pO7Arw/s320/BkYrdMina&KnitProjects+007.JPG" border="0" />Sorry it's so blurry. I tried to stretch it out using "paper-weights) to show the pattern...The yarn is Knit Pick's Alpaca Cloud in the Iris color-way. I just can't justify spending money on new lace weight yarn until I prove to myself that I can knit with the stuff. But my heart is yearning for red. Or bright spring green. Or vivid aqua. Oh dear.<br /><br /><div></div><div>And lastly, a sock in progress. My own pattern (using Barbara Walker's patterns for the lace)...</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321636031601982194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qE8_9Y0mh6zf9M1OOd1qoFvktUYy6DqKK2ji5VRmCd-mu8Y3W_xRz9Jmr1sao9j0yW2eH2k7qGu7u083dKPEVWEDSn8LkdgAPlvNnSu1M36OySbbzhDExIAk4GrbMhBzKtiZAg/s320/BkYrdMina&KnitProjects+008.JPG" border="0" />The yarn is Knit Pick's Essential (I think) in the Dusk colorway.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I loved the cover of the next-to-last Knit Pick's catalog. Which inspired me to take this pic:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321636721599044754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi028Mytk-_s_z62bp1RlDMsse0JEYu0xhKzVKhGIjn5c4gOTqCf8Lm7_HlM7NZNz6wDGvSymtf-dY4yRwLxuCdQBFt6wKGoozd0zaKcoLNvz0okipiTmAJgL1yYZeegCi5yxNczQ/s320/Po'BoysEtc+003.JPG" border="0" />I'm hoping to need a larger sock-drawer soon.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-14710587578246790432009-03-20T12:21:00.008-06:002009-03-20T13:01:08.565-06:00Woo Hoo!<div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="left">Happy dance! It's the first day of spring! And it actually feels like Spring here in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. Some of our little wild violets are blooming out front - they smell so sweet! I still haven't gotten outside to prune the rest of our roses...I keep looking for growth on the ones I already pruned (none that I can see so far), but the giant, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">un</span>-pruned roses are showing all kinds of new growth.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left">Also GREAT BIG Happy Dance - I got The Bean's Shrug finished last night.<br /></p><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315337860297322258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrLMjcMIz6nW2w4PmP81HTKtHHloodqNMfj7KoGcUHX65O9Sul0gQJzGlgJuWJGEWlfVQLf1a4cn7M0u09IEaFxKe0H_-deUZeXM3uA3936Z0EiCXiRa-g-2CjIEWimim-93Bjw/s320/Mina's+Shrug+002.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center">Elfin Lace - on the arms...</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315338613047515794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDp5QwKpi-ghkBftmZNVc47v1WpVdqcRyEpXrkknK39m1ZSkCQzRF3jPQnv7skGulQIRpzHJ68WvZlCNf5YA2vj-7hpbf4RRz1YybigPb26dxEiOKpfl5U_NeJToHbiqu69Bnzw/s320/Mina's+Shrug+005.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> Mrs. Montague's Lace on the back.<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315338827812298530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikd1kZpLOMj9yfAiSFMh_vLBbkeiQ-GLFmsXLfsAFQuoNRt1kspl-MsYP5iuNdRJj7m29hQfPljaY9lEPVAznBZQU46MgxuQe-pS5jkuoFT8Ak5omOB6adcwSSFZUbFfeDV6WRoQ/s320/Mina's+Shrug+001.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> The Shrug really doesn't "go" with this shirt, but oh well!<br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><br /><br /><p align="left">I've also made a little bit more progress with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DD's</span> sweater back...<br /><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315345057256012818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAS-SfBvlVrJZ81jPoQM3EY36Tj_-Z_bsPoV1ue2LhqaSNIeaInW3bY_0q4WQlb1HwDsjQhVfR7YMx9MM4VZcoVFe3GeTU6BsdcbCcWxMo4moJGcxzDZPUP_7Kf0Pz1aN0yU5MA/s320/4more+yarn%26HJsweater+back+008.JPG" border="0" /><br />And, another GREAT BIG WOO <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HOO</span> - since I've only got one <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">WIP</span> going right now, that must mean that I can start something else! (After all, DD won't need this sweater til next fall, right? What a happy thought!</p><p>Now, what's it gonna be? I have quite a bit of sock yarn and I can always use socks. But I keep thinking about lace...and something earthy in garter stitch. Or...</p><p>Oh, dear.</p><p>Finally, DS gets home this afternoon after being gone all week. What's for dinner? Home-made bread Brat roll-ups. (like hot-dog roll-ups, but with Brats instead). And Green Beans. Yum!<br /> </p>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-106351083598149742009-03-16T13:38:00.005-06:002009-03-16T18:54:36.661-06:00There's been knitting going on...<div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center">How can a whole week have flown past since I last posted? It's a time warp, I tell you. Guess that's what happens when one stays busy.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313951911337831234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPqupAJaZ9ifUPYla_43-QPUnYTaKmw1JezseBwbGzgfuiyM9n_Wr46VfmZ4miJpiEnWAXbsYyXNrGth0Roo_d1uAZGPpBA3qCc4q8yi53wESr0Hgw1sKzMuIQ23nLrceN4u1FQ/s320/Mina+and+Yarn+001.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">Showing the bottom...</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313951582000870018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKi6AGlbdCDQ9PVKxr1kjgDj1L0qmyy3KkTkImm6pQEnx2R6B8DA0xp5mD-cDdhVG41PMqH2LZ228EVNNl1nckL3fSVipyVUuGNoYKbMgTX_Tq9lPxyUrYVjlRa7nIWpnvoe5aw/s320/Holly's+Sweater+002.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Showing both the fronts.<br /><br /></p><br /><br />I have completed<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"> bot</span>h fronts on DD's sweater-in-the-making. The first one involved much frogging and re-knitting. Despite having measured gauge (on the idiot shawl I started with this yarn) I got about a third of the first front done when I realized that I was getting different gauge than<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"> I thou</span>ght. So, RIPPPPP... Then I got to the second section of the front and didn't like it. Not<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">. One. </span>Bit. So, RIPPPPP again. I liked the reverse of that section so I re-knit it wrong-side-to so to speak. Then I got to the armhole decreases and almost up to the neckline decreases when I decided that the armhole just wasn't quite right, so (y<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ou guess</span>ed it), RIPPPPPP... and I re-knit that section. The second front went much quicker because I had worked out the problems on the first front. I am now about one fourth the way on the back and it should go OK because it's just like the f<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ron</span>ts only back-ier.<br /><br /><br /><br />A nice surprise this past week. Back-story: I used to be the p<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">roud ow</span>ner of a Bernina 830 sewing machine. I'd had it for at least twenty years and loved it. About a year ago I got it out to do some mending and it wouldn't work. Like, it had been turned to stone. So I took it to the little shop where I bought it so many years ago and left it there for Scott to fix. Scott called some weeks later (he had a BIG back-log of sewing-machines-waiting-for-repair) - long story short, it was going to cost a bundle to order the needed parts because Bernie was so old, and he offered me a nice big fat tr<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ade-in</span> on a new Ja<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nome. </span>(What's a Janome? I wondered) - He had s<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">topped c</span>arrying Berninas. So the Curmudgeon and I went to the sho<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">p and </span>I tried a Janome and I fell in love with it and we ended up buying it (for a fract<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">ion of </span>what the Bernina had cost us all those years ago). Not very long after that the Curmudgeon died and I had other things besides sewing on my mind.<br /><br />Now to last week. DS was gearing up for several weeks out of town with his job (home on weekends) and he realized that<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"> he did</span>n't have enough changes of clothes to survive a week without a washing machine. But, he did have several pairs of jeans that he had ripped out in the crotch, or that needed belt loops re-attached, or whose pockets were ripp<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ing off</span>. My old Bernina didn't do denim - at least not where multi-thickness seams were involved, but I dec<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ided t</span>o try the Janome. Amazing! This little sewing machine just ate up those seams and all the jeans got mended in jig time. What a nice thing.<br /><br /><br />I'm about a third of the way through "Ursula, Under" and loving it. What a neat book.<br /><br /><br />One last thing...I have an ancient Crock Pot and I want to find some truly delicious recipes to make with it. I've always really liked the idea of crock pots - but sadly, never found any recipes that we liked well enough to make a second time. If you read this and have any suggestions, please pass them along to me.Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-10416942854865108502009-03-09T08:41:00.011-06:002009-03-09T15:39:53.560-06:00Monday, Monday<div><div><div>So...I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frogged</span> the shawl and have started a sweater for DD. She's very picky about her clothes...not so much about how they look, but about how they fit and feel. So I've taken measurements from a sweater she wears a lot and am trying to re-create it, hoping that it will feel "right" and fit her, too. I'm trying to throw in some of my own personal design touches so it won't seem like such a blatant copy. Working with yarn at this gauge is amazing - it knits up so fast! When I get a bit more done on it I'll post some pics.<br /></div><br /><div>And yes, I'm still working on The Bean's Shrug. You know how I am about starting new projects. I love the starting so much more than the finishing!</div><br /><div></div><div>In addition to knitting today, I need to haul out a whole bunch of re-cycles, gather all the household trash, do laundry, bake bread and figure out what's for dinner. That last one could be very simple. As a good friend once said, "Toast is a hot meal." (And toast made from homemade bread is a gourmet hot meal!) </div><div></div><br /><br /><div align="center">LATER</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Well, I haven't done everything on my "list" today, but I've made good headway. The Bread...</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311304430372191954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J9_XHQAJ9FW2MzqSYGh8ySuHvz2Da1CWwokIWBszVyD5YrAQIPgiS8Nw6pne0SzdtzqxIHSZnKZDfNQGOKWs2pUIc0-eC7Lp2x3P2pSwxiSe-CNX1Myei9Eo46sZpw-05SU4-A/s320/Bread+001.JPG" border="0" /> is in the oven. Can you smell it? I think we'll have cheese omelets and homemade bread toast for dinner.<br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">In a totally unrelated corner of my life, I have begun to read <a href="http://www.curledup.com/ursulaun.htm">Ursula, Under</a> by Ingrid Hill. Recommended by DD - in fact, she bought it for me along with a copy of <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=FiIXot_e10sC&dq=The+secret+life+of+bees&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=toe1SdfyLZKWsQO6zeCUAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPP1,M1">The Secret Life of Bees</a> by Sue Monk Kidd. And, I have a copy of Anne of Green Gables waiting in the wings. (I'm probably one of the few people my age living in America who has never read A.of G.G.!) What fun, to have three amazing books waiting to be read.</div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">I recently re-connected with an awesome knitter (through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Facebook</span> of all things!) and if you're on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravelry</span>, check out her knitting. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MaureeninFargo</span>. She is amazing! When I grow up I want to be her.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Finally....</div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311305524264438386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-xzvD9h0ZfVC_LrrQI5cuGkl8TuGpvnmRejg872aFsTW0tOquo0iO55ZrWggQjOtOJYtRi4i4S3Up5N4VlEH97fafWwMkQS8AtLCc6UQ8MWZbpd8sqWkU61d7qLev93tra-oiw/s320/Bread+002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"></div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-34960986328096348122009-03-07T07:53:00.012-07:002009-03-07T09:09:13.227-07:00BirdsFirst of all, there's not a lot of news on the knitting front. I've been in frog land, ripping and re-knitting a section on The Bean's Shrug three times now (aarrugggghhh). Nothing as bad as the <a href="http://yarnharlot.ca/blog/">Harlot's</a> tale of woe (see her March 6 entry), but gee whiz - why couldn't I get it right the first time? Also cast on (Bad Grandma! Bad, bad, bad!) for a very plain rectangular shawl with some Lion Brand Homespun that was given to me several years ago...I really like having some "idiot knitting" (very plain and simple and either doesn't require a pattern, or is SO idiot-simple that even I can remember what to do) - hence the casting on of said shawl. But two things: first, this yarn is driving me slightly bonky - it's so filament-y and fuzzy that I constantly have to undo and re-do stitches just to get rid of those extra strands that hitched onto to the just-knitted stitch, and shouldn't have (extra credit if you understood that) and second, DD just about did back-flips when she saw the yarn (colorway "<a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/yarnInfo.cgi?yarnPage=1419041&start=15">Quartz</a>") - she loves it! So now I'm thinking maybe I ought to find a sweater or vest pattern for the yarn and make something she can wear. Hmmmmm.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Birds. Yes, I love birds. Yesterday I looked out our living room window and our big Ash tree out back was full of these:</div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310462900232287394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XTjHI1AyM-rKWVf1wNpeO8NvDw0wGC5VeJnEOtzzhrGn8AWoxbVNitj5g81iD2fUJ6Pkj-T2XplAMCQoh8D7UepHcmJn6bEd9Y6EoLUuVKBgJijCIy-3jvq1f9nxJDgP8hhK5w/s320/0703_AmericanRobin.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">American Robin<br /></p><p align="center">I counted 28 at one time! And they were all facing the house, their big red chests looking like ornaments in the bare branches. I didn't even try to take a picture...I just sat there and enjoyed the scene.</p><p align="center">And...<br /></p><br />A couple of weekends ago, Pookie looked out the same window at the same tree and said "Grandma, look at that bird!" We looked up the bird in the "Birds of Idaho Field Guide" by Stan Tekiela and found out that we had a Downy Woodpecker in our tree. I have seen Downys in our tree on several occasions. They're beautiful little guys.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310465813351877858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-sXQbQ72kCIOC7wFA2FGKXH9EbUS9HABXBXKSCpjxWSzg7zl0Bazw1aE7_BLjucAH1rvRCr1E5g-ZufmDslBKy9brgjlPushWdOgvlVZuH0TGms-3Mx6sUD14VbJqTa8Fw4BUg/s320/downey+woodpecker.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">And...</div><br /><div align="left">Several days ago I spotted a "new" bird at our feeders out front. We regularily see house sparrows, house finches, Juncos, and chickadees - and they all pretty much stick to our regular bird-seed feeders or ground feeding, but this new little bird was at the thistle-seed feeder and was much smaller than the other birds. I think it was a Pine Siskin like this one.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310466030913625250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYzASYxPOqX6MbA8xa9dPSmhTvmcxs2gb8srL_0X4wvW6axiaVhdlEW9fLa5nBvn0rZsOsaeeXozMUrk4D0XsJhbMGLIfQrXQbnhdHYjidYu_KQgy5Mi75h2LiKRGEteOVH6PlQ/s320/Pine+Siskin.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Pine Siskin<br /><br />And, finally - I love this pic! Emailed to me by a dear friend... </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310474667235128002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhsXCnBPo7bEJhEfbMaYRicxvqBmb_7S-w7WtKAHF2PfVzagE300VNWbcvn04LaNU1oecX8ki7BWs6NF1AECBq9QsOE27oCdqfnn9ARjWJFS5E7gGMPLS0-kbFGTiNDzV8c6hMbg/s320/Babka's+Eggs.jpg" border="0" />Babka's Eggs<br /></p><br /><br /><br />She says that since all the roosters were "dispatched" (by one of her Chicken Lady Friends), her remaining hens are super happy girls. Aren't those eggs just gorgeous!Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-19146359486538621632009-02-28T07:18:00.012-07:002009-03-01T19:17:08.408-07:00They're Shrugs - not Shawlettes<div><div><div>Just the other day I saw a pattern (somewhere?) for a Shrug, and it had sleeves with a shawl type piece across the back. It was constructed like the "Shawlette" I knit(ed) for Pookie and the one I'm knitting for The Bean. So now I know. They're Shrugs.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308406180361214674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTp_u7eVFT1wl5AXfBI21OGnpL7JdvBjAfJWy07h1PFzKkrv-PjhkGppdoannH1wfvlKJ5JBE-AiwurV824rSxJdlT3RF4pwAr9pkli3ON1juxwcBbR-Kk_17PJ3qb7_651-fNQ/s320/Pookie's+shawl+002.JPG" border="0" /> Pookie - all smiles - with a few of her beloved animals.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308406620770247954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4QFpST4Q3x_3TBo5crOYjtW4cxBajuOwX1-cf0Y0VvoQJ7a45UD78ra5fNQEfZoX-vPLA_etAm5MX2DnZ28_BVet4mMOdYNv6Dl6ExxgoigkvP-6l8nnHFoxEDtO5_lK6MS32g/s320/Pookie's+shawl+008.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Part of the back and sleeve.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Bean's Shrug? Progress is being made. I'm past the center back portion and about two inches along on sleeve number 2. (Yes, I did finish the Purple Fountain Lace Socks.)<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Apropos of nothing, one of my favorite things are "Bird Trees". The Curmudgeon and I always called them that. A "Bird Tree" is a large bush or a small tree where a flock of birds has gathered and they all begin to chirp and shout at each other. (The McLaughlin Group on PBS sometimes remind me of Bird Trees - the talking heads on said program all talking and shouting at once... But, Bird Trees are much nicer and the birds probably make more sense than the talking heads.) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also apropos of nothing, I heard a profound statement this morning on <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/">Religion and News Weekly </a>(PBS). <a href="http://forrestchurch.com/">Forrest Church </a>was speaking in an interview with Bob Abernethy and said "The opposite of love is fear." Without thinking much about it, I would have said that the opposite of love is hate. But, I think he's right - it's fear. And then, fear begets hate. It might be helpful to remember that those who hate us most likely fear us. Hmmmm.<br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Recently a friend of mine (a very wise woman whom I love deeply) also said something profound. I can't quote her verbatim, but the essence of her thought was this: Isn't it strange that religious fundamentalists (of every stripe) tend to be anything but fundamental in their words and actions? Every major religion (that I know of, anyway) preaches love, forgiveness, service, acceptance, non-judgment of others to name a few of their fundamental beliefs. Yet, "Fundamentalists" often preach hatred, retribution, exclusion, etc., and are super judgmental of anyone different from themselves or who disagree with them. Another hmmmmm...</div><br /><div><br />And here's something that I think is hilarious. The Bean's sixth grade classroom has been the recent home to an incubator complete with fertile chicken eggs. Recently, the eggs hatched and the kids in the class got to name the chicks. One little yellow chick was named "Omelet". Don't know why, but my funny bone gets tickled every time I think about it.<br /><br />And lastly, Clem takes a breather.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308408351940337954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzv7QhIk_aRsKBF2qYw2tKEvM7_dQ2fbe5YtDFuSvc0dQgmk3n1F0gfPahyphenhypheno5bFAz9rz_Uym8CAzrPF1i4vs-pKkUsHxONUeoT-N0RmCO9zeayV3rL4okkrdxYWL-aluS0x_proA/s320/Pookie's+shawl+009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-23176623108445197562009-02-25T12:04:00.006-07:002009-02-25T12:42:28.143-07:00And the Frogs were heard in the land(Did you hear them? Rip-it, rip-it, rip-it...)<br /><br />Yes, I did it. I frogged the Fair Isle sock all the way. It was a good thing. I could tell that I was not going to be happy with that sock! Sometimes when I make knitting mistakes I just let them go - I know they're not gonna bother me. But other times, I know they're going to make me nuts and the only thing to do is go back and fix them. In this case, I had messed up not once, not twice, but several times on the heel and the heel was driving me CRAZY (as I may have said before), and there were other issues going on, and, well, ripping was the only solution. I'll probably try these socks again someday, but in the meantime I'm finishing the second purple Fountain Lace sock and then I AM GOING TO FINISH The Bean's Shawlette. Honest.<br /><br /><br />I debated thismorning about going outside to prune another rose bush. Or ... making cookies. The cookies won. (The Bean will be so happy when she gets home from school!) Also on today's agenda: homemade Beef and Vegetable Soup (recipe from this season of <a href="http://www.americastestkitchen.com/">America's Test Kitchen</a>) and maybe homemade crusty French Bread. I haven't made French Bread in years, but I make and bake "regular" bread about twice a week. The aroma of baking bread...one of my favorite things on earth.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306817970393121378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsX8ZP1-guqkLoBK9LHRFHHUlsTW6sqVouBl-l0vtoXh7WdpNNOTI2C0nTsyjY7Rxrz4OjnmvVP_0AoExY4MOm0NR98aFVRln92x36YEvLv5h8FTHrvo_tCVc36OL9dVrGeKCdQ/s320/Chicken+and+Cookies+002.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p>(Hey, didja notice? I got the date stamp thing fixed on my camera. Yesterday afternoon I was complaining about the date thing to DS and he gave me one of those looks. You know, the kind of look that says "Oh, you poor pitiful thing. You are so totally clueless!) "You just go into the menu, Mom, and use the arrows to navigate around and re-set the date." Me - "There's a menu?"<br /></p><p>Another favorite thing - our Chickens! Yesterday afternoon DS was out back cleaning out the garden beds and he let the chickens out to forage. They were so happy. </p><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306818384506534450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHRWSwPXUW4FCGFUJRCldmtqtO9Jwf1Km_gJYcDTKy_WpICwNvaQA2duWy8iAOVaf67mjRjXLcdwbFOjdiio6iEUQjZasCoPTVKPbJfaCVuUO6lqzZeyzLaUgsVDJawwN0yqWrg/s320/Chicken+and+Cookies+001.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>This is Penelope, one of our three hens. I wish you could click on her image to embiggen the pic, but I seem to have lost the ability to make that feature work in my blog. Chickens are so cool. My grandma and my Aunt Jean both had chickens when I was a child and some of my favorite memories are the times I helped feed those chickens and gathered eggs. My dear Curmudgeon's family had chickens when he was a boy and one of his chores was to clean out the chicken coop. He ended up hating chickens and wouldn't even entertain the notion of having them during our time together. (He's really missing out now. DS does all the clean-up, and with only three hens it isn't such a terrible task. And we get fresh free-range eggs. Scrumptious!)<br /><br /></p>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-55984310278213431692009-02-24T15:03:00.006-07:002009-02-24T15:27:50.473-07:00Feels like Spring! Did you hear a frog???<div>It is achingly beautiful outside today! I worked out front and pruned three of our huge, overgrown rose bushes. Here's a pic showing one of several left to prune, and an "after" pic showing a couple that I pruned today. None of our roses have been pruned in several years. The Curmudgeon used to love doing the dead-heading details during the summer months, but he wasn't so big on doing the big winter cut back stuff. I hope I haven't killed them!<br /></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306489165834088562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nAdeoWKn-0ZAIxCLAqNITQmKdCTYZZNYiLNsyuF3VjnF1niHI0viTLE4gY6xeglrkbEArHVRZ79wGGptNmDD01bmSdCnDmcu8okVbQ3S5MW08aFn7kdNAMZtRLUwDojUAKg6mQ/s320/Pruning+Roses+%26+Fair+Isle+Socks+003.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306489556492929442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJgZLQ9D6ZzyT4dTcjNHTWWAQyWpds_pTNoul55NynuNLZBay95_FQiYt3_82cCO2PAhhXunAnLft1jxnIohWsvTD2K-ABIxsmzY4rR9GnsN9Z1-ZUxijiUrWSzpDTYRs2KM8Kg/s320/Pruning+Roses+%26+Fair+Isle+Socks+001.JPG" border="0" /><br /></p><div>My plan is to dig out all the grass and weeds around each bush and maybe plant annuals around the roses. But then...that's been my plan for at least six years. Who knows if I'll get it done this spring.</div><br /><div>This is my little dog, Clem (short for Clemson). He hates it when I go outside and don't let him come along. So his little nose is out of joint from being relegated to the house while I was out side this morning.</div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306490731943506194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe25Or_fVI9b1jiDdYdgyZE37lwoG9OBaTNHzwJRnA86DOGxCj9TnUD4BSKETA8JLtLfcTt5HEQjxdJWmBdCyHX8UYLu_grIGm0nJ1FpM2gyYeXic29ZWnjNFVqPL32XoaoaoGhg/s320/Pruning+Roses+%26+Fair+Isle+Socks+007.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>He'll forgive me soon though, because after finishing this post I'm going to go out to the back yard and engage in some chicken-watching (our three hens just fascinate me and they're almost as good as meditation when it comes to calming the heart). Clem thinks the chickens might be good play-mates, but they're not very cooperative in that department.</p><br /><p>Knitting? This is supposed to be a knitting blog, after all. I'm about to rip out the Fair Isle socks. (I'm sure I heard a frog just now.) The heel is driving me CRAZY! And, although the sock <strong>looks</strong> plenty big, it's really hard to pull over my heel - stranded knitting isn't as stretchy as stockinette or ribbing. I'm thinking I might do-over: add a pattern repeat going around the leg, lengthen the leg and try a Priscilla Gibson-Roberts heel in garter stitch. I know that will mess up the beautiful heel pattern that Katherine Misegades charted for this sock, but...hey, sometimes you just have to give a sock another chance at life, and if that means simplifying things, well then you do what you have to do.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306493480948304930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCRkDPqJVNPfFSJBTbLJZlRIb4s93-DNzhPCtcrqkq40BbHlGALfGOzmAujbtJsojI6sBMxps4xRhkumhEQHT3kr2zYcX58Fs5X2vFmGprUfd7sBgZaji8nRrCjMRkpi6HHK0Tg/s320/Pruning+Roses+%26+Fair+Isle+Socks+005.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p></p>That's it for now. Out I go to commune with chickens :-)<br /><p><br /></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-74979472981032756972009-02-18T14:23:00.008-07:002009-02-18T14:50:22.666-07:00True Confession Time<div><div>The Purple Fountain Lace Socks? Well, they're not the only new WIP I've begun while needing to finish The Bean's Shawlette... I also cast on for some Fair Isle Socks (yes, I know! I really am BAD!!). Not once, but twice. The first time, I began with an inch of 1 x 1 ribbing as called for in the pattern, but it looked so wonky that I ripped it out and started again, this time with a braided edge that I liked from some long-ago mittens. (Speaking of ribbing...I love the way my 2 x 2 ribbing looks, but every time I do 1 x 1 ribbing it looks like crap! Why is that, I wonder.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304253969110408386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvq0VsL9Pd2vYYFzHemnpa7alnGjX8-7PzzyJ1t9JlenE_ke25UCsvVP7WdGPnfoZAoMNvAhoKzrJ2k7yjSoiEew2Qo58uUAoiRJ59bFQMXSj-yGlGNkT3_wQmCzX05uLIRkt70g/s320/TongueRiverSocks+002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Here's a pic of the first couple of inches or so. The pattern is from "The Tongue River Farm Sock Collection" found <a href="http://www.icelandicsheep.com/Patterns.htm">here</a>, and the wool is Icelandic Wool found <a href="http://www.icelandicsheep.com/Sock_yarn.htm">here</a>. I love knitting with this wool - It's springy and earthy and very appealing. It also felts like crazy. How do I know? I knit another pair of socks with this yarn several years ago and my Darling Curmudgeon accidentally washed them - and dried them! They were never the same!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have knit a few stranded projects in my time, but I'd be the first to admit that I don't have a lot of expertise in this type of knitting. However, I found a stranded knitting technique <a href="http://www.philosopherswool.com/Pages/Twohandedvideo.htm">here </a>that I really like. Why? First, the yarn doesn't get all twisted (which drives me crazy) and second, I have more even tension with this technique: the floats on the back are only carried over a maximum of two stitches at any time, so there's less possibility of having extra loose floats or extra tight floats. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304254499272484034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGZW7M-AXuv6rG7RwX8wzYFtR8rZhaaa-WaHsHXU5K9qGithh_AvdNWKY6H-XTg2bhnllKUor_T5wLUmBsx6RJDlWFTXUDTMHMOutjp3uCyVl_V_fx2qf1jhXHaiVSVeUGPTY0w/s320/TongueRiverSocks+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I finished the first Purple Fountain Lace sock and only have a few inches to go on the second one but I'm such a WIP whore that I couldn't even finish before I schlepped off to the Fair Isle socks.</div><div> </div><div>As for the Shawlette? I'm going to pick it up and actually knit a bit on it soon, I promise!</div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-35491102817064207852009-02-16T09:45:00.019-07:002009-02-16T13:25:10.538-07:00Some knitting in spite of everything<div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="left">This past Christmas was low budget. Without the Curmudgeon's income, there was/is no extra $$ for much of anything. So I did what frugal knitters do. DS and DD and I agreed that we wouldn't spend any money on each other and that we would just focus on the two grandchildren. I found yarn in my stash (oh, thank heaven for little stashes!) to knit hats for each of the girls and also knit a "shawlette" for the youngest one. Actually it was supposed to be for The Bean (oldest), but in spite of all my efforts it turned out too small, so I gave it to Pookie (youngest). When she comes to stay with us next weekend, I'll try to remember to have her Dad pack it with her stuff so I can get a picture. I did start another shawlette for The Bean and am a little over half way done, but I've been working on other projects...I'm so easily lured away from WIPs to start other WIPs. Anyway, here are a few pics of hats.<br /></div><div> </div><div align="center">The Bean's Hat, Side View<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303440084353360290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0R74DDN-0QmvARhybcWZlW21yVq7weN_goe_5uDwXA1LOL9M6p4BFwWQcND5uVMSn1qTV_eZmcNFCihyphenhyphenRTxkqjX1QMskyL9TKaiq2VSxzO6BiK9QkwudTGlZQ9gxrrPei1XDLA/s320/Katie+004.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">Same Girl, Same Hat, Front </div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303464786174171090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6inBlYOQyNUBuXpUEivtofFLyFhxnnV4V_JxtXj-AU_KTBlOEIfokW_QUBen_odzwGLahj-NeYOPdXH1zDO5Oh0yY-pTUnAHKv_9oXOIxOIVlbh7pb7cKsiJZDAgLhjBJ-iIkw/s320/Katie+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><p>(By the way, I have no idea why the date stamp on the pics says January 6 of '06... these pics were taken just the other day...why is my camera smarter than I am?)<br /><br />The Bean had seen a pic of a similar hat in a catalog from Limited Too (?) or some other tweenie catalog and wanted one just like it. This one isn't "just like it", but similar enough that The Bean was very pleased. </p><p>And here's Pookie's hat.<br /></p></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303465302255610898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofcGueOfjk4glIh-k5hhv9QGoQk8PW8FpwV-gPMrVygZIh4anU5CYgFHS0JSHp2X1gVtg5angNC27fYDqVD0UFlbtbfOjCdEBqBsRaKJ8kiW3jOOS5BYlIv_mv1lYxCT6v8ehLQ/s320/Pookie'sHat&PurpleSocks&Shawlette+002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303492280771552178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTci9lxE44vILEFwZNCGgYXJTg1zQhg022KdZr2lOXldr1onDvs6rt1yLKEq2XI8uaPWNPdlh0Y7I1jusvCxl8hahOd9AYAE-RXgr_yJRJjQWbfWCpNOg2pc-ddWTVQshA0ZmCw/s320/Pookie'sHat&PurpleSocks&Shawlette+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>Back to the shawlette for just a second. I don't know what to call it - maybe it's a shrug? I don't know. Basically it's a shawl with sleeves. (I've sewn the one sleeve so maybe you can see what the heck I'm talking about...You start at the wrist, knitting flat (not in the round), </div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303460963027893762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWhdZkyF6imJJnUtgfFvuQxN0v7FP-BHWP5oNILwjN-oj9rMIxot3Apb5Gv9HXqiWTUsTgRYCIyx_WvZ7Ku6b0IEN7hoTC9aHrEmSbjyi2JfIbWTCyFWP0zp2ZNalfwQqafwFpQ/s320/Pookie'sHat&PurpleSocks&Shawlette+004.JPG" border="0" /> then increase a few stitches along the arms to make the sleeve,<br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303461313684283250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs_fgBEVgxCpnUsUKrCoONyA8xmsgJNqVVVQ50MEN7NAxGKxFNhL0kBrWbz8RmaFOWcie0KkKJYjZDlE21OynmK4d4mZXJDixx26bZXN4MRoZG-z2WOe-8xxdt3kKrSO7zaDfIg/s320/Pookie'sHat&PurpleSocks&Shawlette+005.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div> </div><div>and knit across the back <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303461646304540434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjbKmotYJcNGFzFmp3nMidvek4akY5BcT01cz9IamJZzPpgFet4S6WYOqu493KbbrGd7gX9sBxq2fU2OcwSD_HkvVcq7x5Rva-1xP4WWmwTZHYN8wzjSbX6g3NMeGi7W0ylKGIw/s320/Pookie'sHat&PurpleSocks&Shawlette+006.JPG" border="0" /> <div>and then reverse the process for the other arm. (I haven't gotten that far yet.) After you're done knitting, you sew seams from each wrist (end) of the shawl up the arm to create sleeves, leaving the portion from the upper arms and across the back open so it acts and feels like a shawl. Again, The Bean had seen a picture in a (knitting) catalog and thought it was really cute, hence my attempt at knitting one for her.<br /></div><div>And what has lured me away? (Bad Grandma!) Socks, of course. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303463084568251522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6AgvPj07jgMSp6FTHEdo6qLi8AdB2f_6GOCzb2Cf0Ph3bk_TRW6T5mgYsb_WIdzvYTS0DnbX9XKaeec_Jvq8GdAqBbk0VvRNbaxe_4Jw5Tjv_GQ6YbNL6jXeh_KqLSs8ftT5HNg/s320/Katie+006.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303463764091326834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeROEYscz9bPsBJq8ojuerFd1wosC2-6HJfu-RSVGxphLs2CeI0ck1BxMlMmemhIJ4pXW-fvboPYjuCvZQLuz6n6Z_onDCTFQO6PNPtCsn5sprhjCTUC0Ye43eP8qPJBiSJ1uZAA/s320/Katie+005.JPG" border="0" />I'm working them toe-up, using <a href="http://www.persistentillusion.com/blogblog/techniques/magic-cast-on/magic-cast-on-2">Judy's Magic Cast </a>on and following <a href="http://media.wendyknits.net/media/toe-upsockswithadifference.pdf">Wendy's generic toe-up sock with gusset</a>, but making the socks my own by incorporating Fountain Lace and Double Eyelet Cable (from Barbara Walker's books). This is only my second time knitting this type of toe-up sock...I swore I wouldn't use this type of construction again as I sweated through the first pair - but then when they were finished and I wore them, I fell in love with the fit and comfort. So, I've used it again with these purple socks (and still had problems along the way) but I persevered and am now past the heel and working on the leg of the second sock. The problems, by the way are because of ME, not Wendy's pattern. It is superb, as all her patterns are. It's the "knitting the stitch together with the stitch that wraps it" that seems to be my big challenge. Don't know what my problem is...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-32785619990455896452009-02-13T12:51:00.006-07:002009-03-07T09:17:14.866-07:00GriefIt's been so long since I've posted I've mostly forgotten how.<br /><br /><br /><br />First, sad news about my dear one. Last April my darling Curmudgeon had a heart event in his sleep, and even though the EMTs did finally get a heart rhythm back, he didn't ever "wake up". It's been about 10 months since he died and I still feel as though I'm on an emotional roller-coaster. Those five stages of grief? What no one tells you is that you don't necessarily move/progress through them smoothly, transitioning from one stage to the next. For me, it's been (and still is) a hodge-podge of profound grief one day, ballistic anger the next day and "calm" acceptance another day. And on and on.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302372723953407138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0KzOqkBeVjlzxZxmsWc9Mp9tT8LCfYr8d7jE5rpFTEm_EanDoXloc4zliRjnXYKYamYmSKGR1WwBwIr3ueCncuMZmdPjQfJajm9Xi2VrbtOZ9Y2niJJYZya6O7ANy01xAP8Zcw/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br />This pic was joyfully discovered in my camera's memory after he died. I don't think I took it - maybe The Bean or DS/DD snapped it. As I look at his face in this tableau, he looks worried or maybe in pain. He also looks more haggard than he looked when awake. We used to tease him unmercifully about falling asleep anywhere, any time, and if any of the cats had access...well, they regarded him as heated furniture.<br /><br />While he was in the hospital (connected to all kinds of machines in the hours before he actually was un-plugged and subsequently "died" for real) the cardiologist told us that his heart was only functioning at about 60% and that it had most probably been that way for a period of several years. Now, of course, we're all so sorry that we teased him for falling asleep anywhere anytime... Poor guy! He needed it. And, we're all still amazed at how hard he worked, how much he got done in spite of 40% less output from his heart.<br /><br /><br /><br />And, despite his haggard, pained look, I'm so glad I have this picture of him with his beloved cats.<br /><br />I'm planning on posting again soon - and with knitting content. Yes, there has been some knitting.Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886749.post-34470358810776875812008-01-20T14:31:00.000-07:002008-12-09T17:00:02.105-07:00A Brighter World and New Projects<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihocssSE1p1wAtNFAQ1HPKG0cn4THippeNRMZSgIJz3w1C3BRUtipiRpgy949qP8_hUhiN7IdZ1v65AOkop__59KDtWyjnO7DObFqStpLstm-yXzKp_q_SshCnEuLojxDM-mz4Zg/s1600-h/piratehat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157676343724102962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihocssSE1p1wAtNFAQ1HPKG0cn4THippeNRMZSgIJz3w1C3BRUtipiRpgy949qP8_hUhiN7IdZ1v65AOkop__59KDtWyjnO7DObFqStpLstm-yXzKp_q_SshCnEuLojxDM-mz4Zg/s320/piratehat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAccCs12v6nz5RqpCI04gt29UZfU1kQUUZihDIUw9d7qOY0f1NEfVJcI_p2PrcGO8r-LWBW7sz2cEQdPU-JEfHQ5oLcsvVMBtc9Lz3a-FJtGMaZ9NmDT9dmFPS-UejgimKknULTg/s1600-h/SeaMineralMitttens.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157675209852736802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAccCs12v6nz5RqpCI04gt29UZfU1kQUUZihDIUw9d7qOY0f1NEfVJcI_p2PrcGO8r-LWBW7sz2cEQdPU-JEfHQ5oLcsvVMBtc9Lz3a-FJtGMaZ9NmDT9dmFPS-UejgimKknULTg/s320/SeaMineralMitttens.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Firstly, my cataract surgery last Tuesday went smoothly and I was amazed at how different the world looked, even as DH drove me home after the procedure. If I shut my left eye and looked out of my right eye (the eye that had just been operated on) everything looked "clean" and already distance vision was improved. On the other hand, looking only through my left eye, the world appeared yellow-ish, as if there were a yellow filter over that eye.</div><div></div><br /><div>The next day, at my one-day check-up, I was able to see 20-30 through my right eye, and the Dr. was very pleased with how good my eye looked. I asked him about the color change between the two eyes and he said that cataracts are yellow, so looking through a cataract is just like having a yellow filter. A-ha! Later that same day I was out back with Clem and saw twigs (!) on our big ash tree! I haven't seen twigs (except close-up) for years... I go to see my regular eye-doctor in two days and if all looks well, we may be able to schedule the second cataract surgery for two or three weeks off. I can't wait!!!!</div><div></div><br /><div>Knitting:</div><div>Last week I ordered yarn for two projects... The Pirate Hat yarn came already, but the needles aren't here yet - rats! The pattern can be found <a href="http://helloyarn.com/wp/?p=252">here</a> - thanks to Adrian Bazilia at Hello Yarn! for sharing it. The mittens are called Sea Mineral Mittens - I first saw them <a href="http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=50">here</a>, and the pattern is free on Ravelry. I ordered KP's Palette yarn in a colorway similar to Nanette's. (Her <a href="http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, by the way, is chock full of information about stranded knitting, gloves, mittens - and she has several highly-reviewed booklets and pamphlets for sale - check it out.)</div><div> </div><div>I'm still (still!) working on the ribbing for the first Anne sock, and have done most of one repeat of the snowflake pattern for my Snowflake Shawl. (Not anything to brag about, as the pattern is only eight rows - but each repeat of the pattern increases the stitch count on the needle by eight stitches...I don't even know how many stitches are on the needle right now, but it seems like a lot.)</div><div> </div><div>It snowed again last night, and today is all drippy and sloppy. I'm not going to complain too much, though, because we're supposed to get an Arctic blast out of Canada this coming week, with night-time temps in the teens. Brrrrr!</div><div><br /><br /><br /> </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Knitting Grannyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029896417899337235noreply@blogger.com1