Clogs and Cell Cozy

The finished clogs on the feet of their very happy recipients, who declined to have their faces in a photo. My Grandmas love them, and say that they are very warm and cozy, as well as comfortable. Of course, the fun of felting those led to the things below.




Look, 3 finished objects in one day! The third one isn't portrayed because it's an inital failed attempt at an iPod nano cozy. It is now a very nice coaster. But the one on the left is a little cell phone cozy for me, and on the right is the nano cozy for my sister. I wrote down the pattern, if anyone is interested, although I will construct it differently next time.

Igloos

The igloo in progress. That's Dad and Uncle Dimitri lifting a block to put it on top of the others. I suppose igloo is really a misnomer, since it ends up looking more like a beehive. However, we love to do it and Grandpa likes how nice it looks outside their house.



The rather monstrous snow rabbit I made out of three left-over snowballs from the igloo-making. He's kinda scary looking, so he's now become the rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ("What's it going to do, nibble our bums?")



The finished igloo, with a red floodlight inside, along with the snowman and snow rabbit.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Well folks, that's all she wrote (not literally, of course). I finished all my gifts, and they're all wrapped, albeit not under the tree at the moment. I can't find the handmade labels I made for my Grandmas. Oh well. Tomorrow I find out why Uncle Dimitri was always trying to talk to Sean, since they were "contacts" for my Christmas present. I'm very curious to find out what it is! Or even who it's from! My entire family seems to know.

Pictures of ALL the gifts tomorrow, hopefully on their recipients, also hopefully pictures of the traditional igloo-building (we always build an igloo, every year for the last 16 (!) years). Hopefully it doesn't melt and fall down though, like it did a couple years ago when it was above zero C and RAINED on Boxing Day! It's supposed to be 1C today, but hopefully it'll survive. If it stays a little warm then gets cold again it will be super solid, since it'll freeze to itself.

Happy Christmas!

A post

Hello everyone! I hope your Christmas knitting/planning is going well, mine is going VERY pretty well (trying not to anger the knitting gods). Right now I'm blocking a pair of felted clogs, and am in the process of felting the others. That means that all I have left is to sew up the waistband of the jammies, and finish the hat (another 5" of 4x4 rib, plus decreases) and I'm DONE!

Life has been good since coming home, yesterday Sean left for Winnipeg and he's getting immunizations today (Ew!) but I only have some sympathy for him, since I got dental work done yesterday. You see....

When I was about 2, I fell coming down some cast-iron stairs, and completely drove my front left tooth up into the gum. That not only killed the baby tooth (which did come back down), but it permanently damaged the adult tooth, so it looked weird and white and yellow. My Dad fixed it awhile ago with a porcelain cap, but after bleaching my teeth the cap looked funny, so I had it fixed with newer material in a lighter colour. However, the freezing went a little funny, and it's still lingering in my upper lip. This means I'm smiling slightly crooked on the left side. Hopefully it gets completely better!

I also got my hair cut today, and boy does it look better than it did. The old cut had too many layers and too much length for my baby-fine hair, and this one just looks so pretty! Plus it's much easier to do.

Hopefully I can put up some pictures tonight of my clogs and possibly of my sister and I dressed up, since she's going out to the Snowball dance at the High School tonight and wants me to get dressed up for pictures with her. Good thing I got my hair and teeth done!

Hey, just a post to let you know I won't be posting as much for awhile, as I'm back in Dryden. I have LOTS of knitting to do, but I finished one slipper, it's not felted yet. I should be able to finish the other two in time. I hope so!

Winter Storm Imminent

Well, my exam may get cancelled. We are in the middle of a HUGE winter storm, and I'll tell you it's freezing in here since our windows don't have weatherstripping. I think the last time anything was done to our windows was 1908. At any rate, I'm a little frustrated about this - if it gets postponed, according to the calendar I'm going to have to stay here until like Monday or Tuesday to write it. I think. The Lakehead Calendar is crappy and obscure, I guess that gives them more loophole room. Yes, I'm cranky.

Still haven't gotten any more knitting done yet, although I cast on the the second hat of three. I sincerely hope that knitted clogs go faster.

"Money money money..."

All right, my friend Robin and I have an idea for a very small business venture for me. I need extra money, but it's too difficult to find/hold a job during the school year. However, I sew very well and was thinking about making custom pyjama bottoms that come with a matching pillow or softie (like a stuffed animal), and for extra time matching felted clogs. Also for extra, you could get a matching t-shirt with a design printed on. Would you, or anyone you know buy something like that? I wouldn't charge too much, mostly material and postage with a little bit for labour.

Please, let me know what you think! I have tried posting on ebay before, but ebay is just so huge now that you need to be a big seller with a store to make much headway in something that's "ordinary". I'm trying mostly word-of-mouth right now, to see if I can generate any interest. If there's enough, I might try posting on ebay, or getting an etsy.com store. I can also post pictures of my "work" as well. I am an experienced sewer now, as a worked as a seamstress all last summer!

Christmas presents are coming along, the pyjamas are being sewn, although I almost tossed them across the room yesterday when I messed up the interfacing. Twice. And I've been knitting on Mrs. Beeton (which I ALSO messed up a bunch of times, I think it was the before-sudafed headache and the after-sudafed medicine-head), instead of my hats *blush*. Oh well, I think if I work hard I can get it all done.

Hello all!

Yay for only ONE exam left, plus my last two went very well so that makes me happy. I actually finished both of them in about 40-45 minutes, meaning I had to sit in the examination room for 20 minutes until I could leave. I can now vouch for you that it takes the letters from at least 8 of the advertising signs in Lakehead's gym to complete the alphabet. Special thanks to "Sylvan Learning Center" and "Moxies". I don't know why they have that rule, it drives me crazy. Plus, they only enforce it in the gym, not when you write in a classroom or lecture hall.

I have now cast on for Mrs. Beeton, although threading my 11/0 beads onto the fingering weight yarn was an exercise in patience and the limits of my sanity. The biggest problem is that the fuzz from the merino was gumming up the works. I ended up switching to beads with slightly larger holes, then trimming the end of the yarn to within an inch (more like .1 mm) of it's structural integrity, then coating the end in varnish to make a needle. An HOUR later, and the beads for the first warmer were strung on. Sheesh.

Last night, I noticed that I had an angry red spot on top of my left second toe that really hurt, and that I took to be a blister. However, this morning it is angrier looking, and I now have a matching one below it, and one on my knee. Suggestions? They look kinda like chicken pox, but I already had that, and plus I only have 3 so far. *shrugs* my body does STRANGE things sometimes.

So I gave in and knitted one thing from the new knitty, a little pocket creature. Pictures will follow, once I stop studying.....

I hate studying, and this exam is particularly hard to study for because although the subject material is not that difficult, I really don't know what to expect from this exam. It is, thankfully, only a 30% exam, a midterm actually. I just don't know if I've studied enough or not. The class has an insane amount of reading, and yet it's really just a repetition of what we learn in lecture. At worst, if I do really bad on this exam, I can still do well in the class, because I know I won't get 0 on it, lol.

Cross your fingers!

Good and Bad

The good news: The new Knitty is out.

The bad news: I want to knit these things:

Kate
*Pocket Creatures
Tempting II
*Festive
Tubey
Chaos
Pomatomus
Thuja
*Mrs. Beeton

Do we see a problem? These are at odds with my Christmas presents. I did finish another one last night, but as it wasn't on the list to begin with, it doesn't count. However I did buy some gifts yesterday, so that's a few more off my list. I still have go out and get some more stuff to finish things off. I can't knit on the PJ's in particular until I get more red thread, because I'm all out from sewing Sean's Quidditch robe. It took a LOT of thread.

I think I might cast on Mrs. Beeton. Just a present to me, you know? OK? OK.

FO'S!!!!

I have items crossed off the Christmas List! Isn't that exciting? If you want to see them you can click their links (the crossed-off items in the sidebar) BUT be warned: you may be receiving these very items! Don't click if you don't want to see!

Linz! Here's the answers to your questions:

1) Still feeling nasty, although this cold/flu/whatever is like riding a roller coaster. One moment (like right now) I'll be feeling OKish, then in half an hour I feel very, very bad again, with fever and chills and such. I may be taking advil or dayquil to get through my exam tomorrow morning.

2) My concert - I ended up not singing *cries*. I was very VERY sick on Thursday night, and my teacher sent me home. I wasn't even nervous, I was that sick. Well, I was nervous I'd pass out on stage...but that's a different thing. And you're doing the Messiah recits? That's wicked! I LOVE them, they're probably my favourite piece of music I've ever learned. Next semester I'm learning the "Rejoice" aria.

3) Sean's knitting is sadly stalled. Partly because we have exams and final projects and such due, and partly because he's considering frogging his progress and restarting it as a 1x1 rib scarf to be more correct. Keep clamouring for his knits though, and he'll get guilted into knitting more! I know you can do it!

And to everyone who loved MY scarf, thanks, I love it too! It turned out so very nice. It's nice and warm, now that it's proper winter weather and -20C.

Well, my computer blew up again. And I mean it died. IT DIED. It so completely died that I need a whole new hard drive for it. This seriously cut into Friday night and yesterday morning as we tried to fix it, to no avail. However, today is a day of studying since I have Anthropology tomorrow morning at 9AM. Then Classical Mythology at 1PM on Thursday. Not too bad, but lots of memorization for the latter. I also have Canadian Literature, but that's not until Dec 15.

In knitting, not much has been done because I was taken down hardcore by a virus. I'm getting back into it, and yet another project should be done fairly soon. I've finished one thing on my list so far, but 3 others are near completion. That leaves me with (lets see, multiply by the days, carry the 4...) about 3 items left. I think I can do it.

Things I want for Christmas:

-A snowboard and boots
-New winter boots
-Money (for said boots, lift passes, etc.)

All I can think of for now. I'll come up with more later, I'm sure.

Very little posting due to final essays, final concerts, final exams, and the like coming up. However today is the last day of classes so both posting and knitting content should increase.

I've been sick, so Sean rented the first 2 discs of the 1st season of Lost. Wow, is it addicting. We're trying to decide if it's more economical to rent the last discs (since each one is a seperate rental) or to buy the set - hard to say because we're not sure if we'll watch it again.

Still knitting, the hat is mostly done (although fairly big, it worries me a bit) and the scarf is about 1/3 done. I'm trying to motivate myself to work on my essay, and it's totally not working right now. This wicked sinus-infection/allergy thing is taking it's toll on my resolve and my singing voice, which I simply cannot allow it to do (the recital is on DECEMBER 1. That's only, like a WEEK AWAY). Right now I'm completely lacking two notes that are required in two of my songs. Poof, gone. The G and A above high C are just missing entirely. Hopefully they will return in time for the recital.

It snowed here, and has stayed (and hopefully should remain). We got about 10-15cm on Tuesday night, which fell in a very lovely fashion over the frozen ice and slush that had been the weekend's snowfall, so that we had a skating rink you couldn't actually see. Fun! But the snow is gorgeous, and we just went and got Sean a Crazy Carpet so we can go out sliding.

Anton's birthday is coming up, and I have two things for him, a book (Magyk) and a little Star Wars Lego set. I think he'll be very, very happy.

I also have two packages to mail off, to Elizabeth in Prauge and Mary B. in the States, the bracelet she won from Tricoteuses Sans Frontieres.

Oh, and I have to go find a costume for my recital. Anyone know where in Thunder Bay I can find a 1700's maid/peasant costume? Anyone? Bueller?

POA Gryffindor Scarf and Hatmione

Here's the long-awaited (or maybe I'm over-estimating my popularity) picture of the scarf and hat. Blocking it really made a wonderful difference, the stitches settled in and now it lies flat instead of bulging out into a tube. Of course, as I noted below, now I know that the damned scarf is 1x1 rib instead of a tube, but oh well. Mine is double-thick and warm.

You can also see the hat, but it's a little small since I cut the ribbing in half, so I'm going to add ribbing again to the bottom.

Pattern details:

Gryffindor Scarf
Pattern from Atypically Knit, modified to 12 instead of 14 stripes.
Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in "Hollyberry" and "Daffodil"
Needles: 16" US 9 circulars

Hermione Hat (2)
Pattern from Atypically Knit
Yarn: Cascade 220 in "Ruby"
Needles: 12" US 6 Circulars

If you want to see the start of one of my holiday gifts, head over to "Who wouldn't love a Handknitted gift?"

This movie (Goblet of Fire, of course) was awesome for knitted things! There were so many, I can't remember them all! I'm thinking of going again on Tuesday (it's only 4.00 at Famous Players on Tuesdays here) and trying to scribble things down. Things I noticed:

-Gosh DARN IT ALL the house scarves really are 1x1 rib in sportweight, and there are a few closeups of the scarves to let us count the number of rows. I didn't catch the number of MC between the bars, but the bars are definitely 4 rows.

-The Gryffindor gold in the house scarves is flecked or heathered, not a straight gold. It seems to have grey in it.

-Neville, Seamus, and Dean are all wearing the same scarf at the second task. If you look carefully, it may actually be a Hogwarts scarf, since it seemed to be navy or black with stripes of green, grey, red, and yellow (I think, I was too busy watching the task to pay too much attention!)

-Ron's wearing a new Weasly sweater that has an "R" applique that seems to be either suede or velvet.

There's also many other nice sweaters and things! I didn't catch everything though, so if anyone is going again, or going for the first time, check it out!

Here's the Gryff scarf blocking. I've already worn it, but it needed to be blocked. More posts later once my comp is all clean and I have some homework done.

The movie was great, go see it.

My computer died. More posts once everything has been reloaded.

Well, the POA scarf is ALMOST done. I really mean it! I finished the last set of trapped bars (I only did 12 repeats, although after the premiere I may add the other two) last night, and today I'll finish the last burgundy block and add the fringe. I'm excited, it seems really nice, and quite soft. I'd definitely use the wool again (Wool of the Andes from Knitpicks) although I wouldn't want it for something next to delicate skin (say a sweater meant to be worn directly next to your skin, as opposed to a over-sweater). It had quite even stitches, although a very few got a bit of a funny twist to them, and it was easy to splice together. It also comes in TONS of colours, and they ship quite cheaply. I'm definitely going to buy more yarn from them in times to come!

There will be pictures forthcoming, probably tonight, and also pictures of the hat. I'm hoping that we can get outside to take them - the apartment building doesn't have any green space whatsoever, it's a building and a parking lot - so we have to go to a park for pictures. There's also NO SNOW here yet.

I've joined Alison's Holiday Gift Knit-Along. Family, be warned! If you look there you may run into pictures of your gifts, and you wouldn't want that, now would you?

Lest we forget...

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

- John McCrae, 1915

I wish it would snow.

Now, I know there are lots of Canadians out there saying "You're crazy!", but frankly, I prefer snow and -2C to freezing rain/sleet/rain and 4C. It's icky wet and cold here, most unpleasant. If it were snowing, at least we could enjoy the arrival of winter.

And I could wear my new hat.

Hatmione update

It fits!!!! I washed it and blocked it and it fits!!! I think it's because I actually COULD block wool, so I knit it on smaller needles (US 6 instead of 7) and cut the amount of ribbing in half, then when I blocked it it was just the perfect size! Yay! Pictures when it's all done.

OK, so now the reason I haven't been posting is because I HAVEN'T been knitting, I'm almost done another Hatmione, hopefully this one will fit me (I've knit it 3 times now! None have fit!! I have a very small head, and for some reason I couldn't get the row gauge small enough without having the cirumference be such that my hat would fit one of the cats). I'm also working on the POA scarf still, it's longer. It's just before the 6th repeat, I think I'll get it done in time for the movie. My hat will be done too, maybe I even get the mittens knit!

I'm also on the lookout for a new woolen coat. I have a wonderful Columbia coat, and my Mom's wonderful parka, but the parka is too warm if it's less than -20, and the Columbia isn't really dressy. The one I have now is from Le Chateau, and it's really too big for me. It also doesn't suit me that well, since it's double breasted, and the heavy wool hood drives me nuts. I found a bunch of nice ones at the mall yesterday. There was a gorgeous jewel-tone turquoise one at the Gap ($180), a nice grey one with a pretty floral silk lining at SmartSet ($140), and a nice black one at Le Chateau ($140). I'm not sure what to do about it yet, especially since money really is tight, and I'm not sure I should buy a coat anyway. It's just that the one I have is really too big, it doesn't look great and it's next to impossible to comfortably wear my backpack with it.

And the cat just puked on the only carpet in the whole apartment.
Nice.

The pumpkin Sean and I carved! It's a KISS pumpking, the idea just hit me out of the blue. I think it turned out pretty neat, although we saw some impressive ones when we were out trick-or-treating with my little cousins (well, they were. We weren't).

Sorry for not posting. Things have been somewhat insane here, although I have gotten some knitting time in. The scarf is up to 4 repeats of trapped bars, and is already INSANELY long. I don't know if I'll put all the repeats in that are supposed to be there! I readjusted the number of CO sts and the number of rows to make it proportional, but it still seems huge. I mean, I like big scarves, but this is a little overwhelming.

In good news, my hair has returned mostly to blonde, now it just looks a little strawberry-like. When I first dyed it (no pictures, sorry Linz!) it didn't go red but instead very orangish (I should really learn, hey Ang?), but at least I'd done it before Hallowe'en and it looked appropriate.

Speaking of Hallowe'en...we made a really cool pumpkin, it's got a face from KISS. However, I can't get the image to upload for some reason. I don't know why.

A must see

The Exorcist in 30 Seconds and Re-enacted by Bunnies"

Feeling calmer...

All right.

I'm feeling a little less shell-shocked right now, especially since we went grocery shopping and I found things like gluten-free bread, pizza crust, and waffles. Right now I'm mostly living off pre-packaged stuff, since I don't really know how to cook gluten-free yet. I'm kinda holding off on buying cookbooks because even though the doctor said she's fairly sure I'm celiac (I have all the symptoms, my blood tests say I do), the only way to be truly certain is a biopsy (which we're not sure if I'll be doing yet, the doc has to find out). The books are really expensive, and I'll obviously buy them once I know for sure. I'm not in denial, I promise. I haven't consumed anything with gluten since yesterday morning, since I found out.

So, to answer a few questions from my readers (I still giggle maniacally at the thought that I have readers):

Angela, I'd love some recipes (although you already know that, since I'm talking to you on MSN!)

Elizabeth, I went to the doctor and stated "I'm tired of being sick and tired! I keep losing weight! I'm exhausted all the time! I constantly feel like I'm going to throw up! Help!", and she listened to me, thought I was absolutely right, and sent me for bloodtests for vitamin amounts, iron, and celiac testing. I came up positive with the antibodies, meaning my immune system is indeed making antibodies to gluten.

Up next: carving the pumpkin, sewing Sean's Quidditch robes, camping, decorating Iris and Dimitri's, and trick-or-treating with the kids!

So I just found out why I've been sick and tired for so long - I have Celiac disease.

I just went shopping for an entirely new pantry with all rice and corn ingredients, ironically, the things I thought for years that were actually what was causing my stomach problems.

No more pizza. No more pasta. No more cookies, cake, muffins, bread, pitas....

None.

Man, I had one of those days. It wasn't a bad day for me, in terms of events, but oy the people I met (or didn't!). My accompianist (sp?) didn't show up, and that really burns me up because poor Tellie is ill and we've missed two classes. My voice class is an hour after my last class on Tuesday, which meant that I had to wait an hour for an accompianist that didn't show up. I had to stop at Superstore and pick up sun-dried tomatoes, and while waiting in the 12-item-and-under line, the lady behind me is super impatient, has a good 30 items in her cart, and tries to push slowly in front of me in line. I seriously thought she was just going to step in front and take my spot! It's not like a I had lots of things - two containers of sun-dried tomatoes and two of pocky. Then the car next to me in the parking lot had whipped in really fast and had parked crooked with their wheels turned making it really hard for me to get out. On the drive home, I was behind a car doing 20 km/h UNDER the speed limit. I don't mind people that drive just or just under the limit, but 20 km/h? Finally, a customer at the store below us had parked so that we could just BARELY squeak bye to park.

OY!

In good news though I got my gorgeous socks from Melanie (in Edmonton too, did you know I used to go to U of A for three years? Planning on moving back soon too!). Thanks, they fit just right! Sean wants to know if your BF is a gamer, since he like the +1 Hat ;)

These are the beautiful socks I got from my pal (ironically, they are the same colour as the socks I got from sockapalooza from Linz) ;). They fit like a dream, are soft and non-itchy, and just bootiful. Thanks so much Melanie!

All work and no play...

We have a LOT of work to do, Sean and I. He has a ton of homework, and I mean a TON, because he's got either 6 or 7 classes this semester. I have some too, mostly a bunch of reading. However, my ContempCanLit class has a LOT of work for just a half-year course. 2 small essays, a large reading journal, an in-class essay, a large term paper, and a Christmas exam. That's actually more work than most of my 3rd year science classes last year! However, it's not hard work like those were, it's mostly "grunt" work.

There's also lots of housework to do, I'm doing laundry, then there's dishes. There's floors to vacuum and wash, bathrooms to clean, tables and desks that really need to be tidied...plus, I REALLY need to meal plan. I'm never inspired when I look through the cupboards. I'm going to set up a permanent grocery list, then keep it in a plastic sheath on the fridge, and just check off the things I need with a dry-erase marker. I may even laminate it if I can figure out where to do it (maybe the campus print shop?).

I am slightly less burdened with school at the moment, but for a not-good reason. My voice teacher got appendicitis and is in the hospital! She won't be back next week, but maybe the week after. Poor Tellie! I'm trying to think of something I can do to make her feel better.

Have you seen the new knitty surprises! I LOVE them all, particularly the Yorick scarf. It's all I can do to keep from pulling a harlot and tossing my Gryffindor scarf aside to make one. One thing that helps - I don't have white wool, only white yarn. Besides, I have a bunch of stuff to start working on for Christmas after this anyway, not to mention finishing mine, Sean's, and my cousing Sean-Patrick's Hallowe'en costumes. Sheesh.

My Gryffindor scarf! I'm up past the third set of trapped bars, so I have 11 left to go. It's actually going fairly quickly, if I knit LOTS I may be able to wear my for Hallowe'en. I also dyed my hair red, so I might have to masquerade as Ginny instead of Hermione this Hallowe'en!

The start of Sean's Gryffindor scarf! He has pretty tight guage, I think it's the way he holds the yarn and needles. I'll try and take a pic of him knitting to show you ;) He's a very fast learner though, he MAY be done without help for Nov. 17. Not Hallowe'en though, I don't think.

You are 'Latin'. Even among obsolete skills, the
tongue of the ancient Romans is a real
anachronism. With its profusion of different
cases and conjugations, Latin is more than a
language; it is a whole different way of
thinking about things.

You are very classy, meaning that you value the
classics. You value old things, good things
which have stood the test of time. You value
things which have been proven worthy and
valuable, even if no one else these days sees
them that way. Your life is touched by a
certain 'pietas', or piety; perhaps you are
even a Stoic. Nonetheless, you have a certain
fascination with the grotesque and the profane.
Also, the modern world rejects you like a bad
transplant. Your problem is that Latin has
been obsolete for a long time.


What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well, the Gryffindor scarf is coming along, although I had to do a few gauge adjustments. I did swatch, and got gauge in the swatch, but in circular it's a little larger so I had to a) rip out 24 rows at 90 stitches and reknit it as 72 stitches b) rip back the trapped bars when I realised they were too thick as well. However, I got the yarn yesterday, and so far have made it into the first set of trapped bars, including setbacks.

I haven't started teaching Sean yet (I will, it's just this is midterm week), but he sort of knows how to do knit stitch, and I'm going to cast on and start it for him, so it shouldn't be too bad.

It's weird, this afternoon my stomach was bothering me, and I felt really sick. Awhile after getting home it got really bad, and I had a fever. Now? No fever OR stomach ache. I love being me sometimes :P

Well, it WAS the knitpicks yarn in the package, so I've now got lots of balls of Wool of the Andes in Hollyberrry and Daffodil. The colours are just perfect, phew! It's also fairly soft, although it sheds just a bit on my fingers. I may give it a soak in conditioner too, when it's all knitted up.

Tonight, Sean learns how to knit!

Back from Thanksgiving, it was a good time! I came back to find a note from Canada Post that a package was waiting for me to pick up, so I'm pretty sure it's the knitpicks yarn, and I'll be able to start our Gryffindor scarves. I don't know if we'll get them done in time for Hallowe'en, but hopefully they'll be in time for the movie release.

Hope everyone else had a good Thanksgiving! What were you thankful for?

Still waiting for the knitpicks yarn, I despair of it arriving in time for us to complete our scarves. However, There's a lot of motivation to knit scarves right now. We have 46 km/hr winds right now, and it's 6C. It's been pouring rain (we already got 30mm, supposed to get 30 more), and it's supposed to turn to snow. There's no heat in our apartment building, so we're freezing to death.

The only knitting I've been working on is the second clown sock. I knit on it during anthropology, because I find it hard to focus since it's MOSTLY a repeat of geology/biology/palaeontology. However, it isn't completely a repeat, and if I'm not knitting I miss a bunch of stuff because my mind keeps wandering. The knitting is straight stockinette, so I can easily pay attention to the prof, and I can write notes as well. I'd do it in some of my other classes, but they're not big enough for it not to bother the prof or my classmates.

I need to go re-wet my hair and blowdry it, so it looks passable under a toque.

Thanksgiving weekend in 3 days, including today :D

Thanks for all your wonderfully kind comments everyone! I've had to temporarily stop knitting on the mittens, because the Classic Merino on size 6's is very tight, and I was getting a very bad cramp in my left wrist. Since I don't want to develop "The Claw" I switched back to something at loose gauge, my Rogue sweater. Don't worry, I don't have SSS (second sock syndrome) as of right now, I usually put a project or two in between socks so that that doesn't happen. I really like the colours of my clown sock, so I'm guaranteed to finish it. However, the other ball of yarn (also Regia Ringel Clown) will become top-down, with eye-of-partridge heel, since I've wanted to try that for awhile.

The only truly abandoned WIP's I have are the VK top and Clapotis. I have no intention of finishing clapotis, because I've realised that the big reason I want to make it is because the pattern picture is in such pretty yarn. Plus, I NEVER wear wraps. It's hard for me to remember to wear my poncho even, and I LOVE it! The VK top is stalled because it's no longer hot out, and the back got something red and sticky spilled on it, so I've stuffed it away and tried to forget about it. Also, the watermelon socks are halted for now because they also are a little stiff to work with, so I decided to work on things I actually have ambition for.

After the clown socks are finished I'm going to make one of three things: my candy floss mittens, watermelon socks, or Clown socks: the second.

The mitten so far! The pattern seems to be working quite well, and the stitch definition is really nice in the Classic Merino. However, I think I may write another version for fingering-sock weight wool to make more delicate mittens as well. Delicate mittens are often worthless here in Canada (unless you live in Vancouver/Victoria), but they look nice for special occasions.

This is the thumb gusset from the side, you can sort of see the second piece of k2 ribbing appearing out of nowhere next to the full piece of ribbing. It looks a little weird to me, but I'm going to finish the mitt and see.

The thumb gusset again. You can see it from the middle here. The cable is centered over the thumb, with the pattern building out as I increase.

Clown Stripe Socks

I did finish the one sock, it's the first time I've done a toe-up pattern. I used the figure of eight cast-on, which I quite liked. I wasn't quite so fond of the short-row heel though, I wish I could figure out how to use a heel flap with toe-ups. Anyone know how? I also had to re-knit the sock once. I didn't check guage for once in my life, and the knitting gods got me for it. I did the complete heel before bowing to the fact that it was much, much to big for me. I ended up making the child's medium size instead of the woman's small. That's two sizes different!

Going from knitting to Knitting...

So I've decided to try my hand at desiging a pattern. I hope it works, I'm a little worried about it.

I'm taking the Rib and Cable socks from the Fall 2005 IK, and making them into worsted-weight mittens, with a gusseted thumb. Yes, it's hard, thanks for asking :D

I just spent a long time working out how to make the pattern run evenly over the thumb and gusset, I've centered the thumb over one of the cables. I have it all written out, from bottom rib to where the decreases start at the top, and I haven't tried either that or the thumb yet. We'll see how it goes. I wanted a gusseted thumb instead of an afterthought thumb, although I may regret that decision because frankly, afterthoughts are much, much easier. Trust me on this one. Especially when you're trying to draft your own pattern. Oh well, I hope it goes well! If you're curious, this is what I have so far.


Patons Classic Merino
US 4 and 6 DPN

Sl 2 CNF: slip next two stitches to cable needle, hold to front
k2 CN: k2 off the cable needle

The | symbol denotes the marker placement, simply slip the marker when you come to it.

On size US 4, CO 40 st, join without twisting.
Knit in *k1, p1* ribbing for 3�
Switch to US 6
Increase row: *k4, m1*

Start mitten

1: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*
2: k4, p2, k2, p2, pm, m1, k4, m1, pm, p2, k2, p2,*k4, p2, k2, p2*
3: k4, p2, k2, p2|p1, k4, p1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
4: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p1, k4, p1, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
5: k4, p2, k2, p2|p2, k4, p2|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
6: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p2, k4, p2, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
7: k4, p2, k2, p2|k1, p2, k4, p2, k1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
8: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k1, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
9: Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2CN, p2, k2, p2|k2, p2, sl 2 CNF, k2, k2CN, p2, k2|p2, k2, p2, *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*
10: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
11: k4, p2, k2, p2|p1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
12: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p1, m1pp2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
13: k4, p2, k2, p2|p2, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p2|, slip stitches between markers onto stitch holder, p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
14: k4, p2, k2, p2, cast on 4, p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
15: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
16: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
17: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*

Continue in pattern below until mitten reaches top of pinky.
Rows 1-7: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
Row 8: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*

Dale of Norway Sweaters I would make if I had money-time-less sanity:


Besseggen


Lofthus


Bergsdalen


Peace


Bardonecchia

The only problem? The idea of knitting one of these kinda makes me want to spork my eyes out.

Here's my answers to Tiffany's contest for her leftover hand-painted sock yarn.

- favorite fall book to read: I like reading Harry Potter, since I first read it in the fall. Plus, all but one movie have come out in the fall-winter!

- favorite fall soup to eat: my Mom's potato leek soup - Mom, please e-mail me that recipe, by the way.

- favorite fall stew to eat: Beef Burgundy, ie a rich beef stew with a wine base, with turnips and carrots and potatoes. Either that or the beef and Guiness stew from O'Beirne's pub in Edmonton. It's the first time I've ever loved mushrooms.

- favorite healthy muffin recipe: blueberry! From the Betty Crocker Red Book.

- favorite fall tree: I think Tamaracks are really neat, since they're deciduous confiers. Really! To quote my favourite guidebook "As a deciduous conifer, tamarack is somewhat of an ecological puzzle since it sucessfully lives in what is normally considered an evergreen world". I also like Moose Maple* though, since it turns red (the only native tree that does up here).

# favorite fall knit: Mittens, socks, and ponchos. They're needed for warmth!


*um, what mountains? I don't see any mountains here. Or in Manitoba or Saskatchewan, for that matter (In fact, Saskatchewan mountain is a great example of an oxymoron)

I'm finally starting to feel better, but haven't done any more knitting. I just bought some Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry and Daffodil for Sean and I to make POA scarves. Yes, SEAN and I. Since I told him I wouldn't be able to knit TWO scarves that long before Nov 17, he decided that I could teach him to knit. After all, it's just straight knit stitch, around and around and around and around and around...

I have to wait for the wool to get here still, and I'm totally excited to start them. I think I'll start some other socks right now though.

There has been inconsistent posting, since this bad cold turned into a sinus infection - of the really nasty kind, where it causes a wicked cough all night and makes your teeth feel like they're going to pop out of their sockets. The only knitting I've done is on Sean's scarf, which is looking exactly the same, only longer.

I got some lovely presents from Sean for my birthday:

Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy DVD
Phantom of the Opera DVD
Foxtrotus Maximus (Fox Trot Collection)
60-day pass to World of Warcraft

I've already read the book, very funny. The first movie was good too, although it was kind of foggy because I have this terrible cold. I'm waiting to watch Phantom until I can sing along (I've already seen it though and loved it).

Why is it that only one nostril is plugged at a time when you have a cold? And only one ear is ever plugged at a time? Poor Sean is having to take care of me - I had to leave class early today because no one could hear the professor over me coughing. I also coughed all last night keeping him awake. He doesn't mind though, as long as he gets some sleep.

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes everyone :) My birthDAY didn't get any better, really, but the next day was fun. We went out and played pool, Sean and Laura bought me a *few* birthday shots, then we went back to our place and played Mario Party 6. Yesterday I felt fine (really! I didn't have all THAT much and I drank lots of water), mailed off my socks to my sockapal, and went out for dinner with my Grandparents on my Mom's side and my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Anton (6) and Olivia (3) made me some presents, very cute drawings and cards.

I have plans today too, although they will need to be assisted by DayQuil. Sean and I both have colds. Mine had appeared to be getting better, but attacked again last night and today with a vengence. We're both trying to stave off strep throat/ear infections with the DayQuil. Anyway, Sean's going to go out to get my bday presents (he couldn't decide what to get) and pick up more DayQuil (because there's only enough for one of us, so he's getting that dose, then buying more to bring back to me). Tonight we're going out to dinner again with my grandparents and aunt and uncle (no cousins), then we'll probably rent a movie or something. Depending on how we feel we may go out, but I doubt it.

Oh, and my watermelon socks are being made with a pattern out of "Socks Socks Socks", although I had thought my idea was a totally original one. I was going to space-dye the yarn by hand (still thought the idea was original) until I bought "Yarns to Dye For" to give me a leg up on what I was doing. What did I find there? Instuctions for how to space dye watermelon sweater and socks! However, I modified them. Instead of having equal widths of green, white, and pink, mine will be a large amount of pink, small amount of white, and moderate amount of green to look more watermelon-like.

Sockapal2za Socks

Finished socks! Yay! They turned out really nice, my Mom really loves them. They've been washed and are blocking on hanger sock blockers, and will be sent out tomorrow.

Gull Wings Lace sock pattern from "Socks Socks Socks" by Elaine Rowley.
"Sockotta" yarn, in varigated Blue-Green-Red-Purple

Now I'm working on the Alien Ilusion Scarf and my Watermelon Socks.

Birthday Blues

I've discovered that a birthday doesn't feel like a birthday (not even a regular day) if you don't have plans. Not necessarily plans for that day, since I can live with not celebrating my birthday ON my birthday, but plans in general.

Sean has a cold and is not feeling well, and Laura is feeling homesick and wants to go home for the weekend. I tried to make plans for Friday, but we're not sure yet. I'm surprised by how crappy I feel over this. After all, it's just a birthday, and it's not a "big" one either, like 18 or 21 or anything. Besides, with all the horrors going on in the world right now should I really be whining about this?

Tough. I'm going to anyway. This sucks! No family party this year, even, because I haven't been able to get back to Dryden. Maybe if I MAKE some party plans it'll make me more happy and excited. I'll try to find a free weekend to go home, and hopefully Laura will get back to me tonight about Friday. And maybe Sean will feel better this evening.

Have accomplished another 10%. Only 15% to go. Almost done. Hopefully will be done in time for Sept 15, but I don't think I'll knit on it tomorrow because...

It's my birthday tomorrow! Happy Birthday to me.
(I'll be 22).

Karlie has left the blog because she is frantically knitting on her sockapal2za socks. We would like to inform you that the second sock is about 75% done. She has gotten a small ways past the gusset and hopes very much to have them finished on time.

Thank you for listening.

What Angela and I did on a very rainy, disappointing Saturday. We were supposed to go to Dryden, to visit everyonoe and show Angela camp, but just outside of Thunder Bay the car started making scary shakes and squeaks, so we returned it and brought it to the dealership the next day ($175 to fix it - $50 for the part in the wheel assembly, $125!!!! for the one hour labour). Since it was pouring, and I mean pouring, out, Ang and I dyed some wool. The chunky candy floss coloured ball will be lovikka mittens (I may just eke out enough), the yarn is recycled from a Salvation Army sweater and hand-painted with kool-aid grape, ice blue lemonade, and solar strawberry starfruit. The watermelon ball is Briggs and Little Sport, carefully space-dyed in a 40 ft long skein to stripe like watermelon - using lemon-lime and solar strawberry starfruit koolaid, while leaving a small amount white (for the rind). I can't WAIT to start knitting it up, but first I have to finish my sockapal2za socks!

It's the return of Rogue! This is a picture of the side cabling - once again I've made a mistake cabling, I miscrossed a few stitches at the bottom left. That's OK though, it's not very noticeable so I'm leaving it right where it is. I really like this sweater, because the stockinette sections are nice and quick, but the cabling keeps you going and stops you from being bored. Plus, I have the most gorgeous yarn imagineable. The yarn really isn't this colour, it's a deep, deep purple. I don't know why it's so washed out, since this is a natural light photo. Oh well!

This is the pocket on Rogue, it turned out pretty well. I was desperately worried about picking up the stitches to knit across behind it, but it turned out OK. So far, so good!

This is lovely soft alpaca yarn Angela brought me, from a farm outside of Edmonton. It's a dark, dark chocolate-y brown, and I may make mittens for Sean out of it, although I don't know if I can let it go.

Rogue is Back

Ang is here, and we're having fun doing lots of knitting and torturing Kyp (the white and grey cat). She's knitting on a nice black sweater, and I've picked up Rogue again, in the same yarn. Ang convinced me that it was not, in fact, too small, and so I'm working on it again. I also want to make girl from auntie's new pattern, the zippered cardi. It looks so cute! If I can handle the cabling on Rogue, I'm sure I can handle it in the cardi.

The socks are at the heel turn, I haven't worked on them in a few days because I keep forgetting the pattern book in the car, and I'm scared to heel turn without it. They should be done on time though, hopefully. I have a few weeks left still.

I will be posting pictures here of the work I've done on TSS (The Second Sock). I'm up to the heel flap, which I couldn't work on yesterday because I needed the instructions. I have lots of time now though because...

I fainted at work yesterday. After a long few hours in the ER it was determined I'm suffering from "exhaustion". So I had to quit work at the Fort early (although Amanda is still wanting to rehire me next year) and take the week off Chapters as well. Perfect timing, if it had to happen, because Angela is here for the week (yay!). We're going to have a great time knitting and such.

Sean is back, yay! With presents from Lush, and Disney World. I missed him an absolutely insane amount, and thankfully he missed me at least that much too.

Jenny, my friend from Winnipeg, is here too. Yay! We are doing much girly things and she's met Sean and very much likes him.

Finally, my parents got to meet Yarn Harlot and they're SOOOOO lucky. And I got mentioned on her blog. Oh my goodness I think I might go faint now, on the way to Kakabeka Falls.

Here's a very fuzzy picture of the scarf I'm making for Sean. It's k3p1 ribbing, which is actually working rather wonderfully with the boucle yarn. It looks elegant, and unboring. It about matches garter stitch in speed too, since garter stitch goes fast, but pulls together more.

Scarfmark

Sean's scarfmark! It took quite a long time to make, despite the diminuitive size. It's made on size 2 (I think) needles, using crochet cotton. You can see it on my copy of HBP, proudly the Canadian version - Ancient Forest-Friendly paper!

These are the cutest sheets ever.

IT'S THE FIRST SOCKAPAL2ZA SOCK! Yay! It's looking good, I think. The gullwing pattern came out really nicely. I hope it fits my pal, she seems to have the same foot measurements as me, and it fits me perfectly. It also didn't do any silly pooling things, I think because the colour repeats are very short. I guess it's time to start the second!

The sock on my foot. For some reason, this angle makes my ankle look huge, but it isn't.

OK, there hasn't been new posts for awhile because Tuesday and Wednesday I worked 12.5 hours, and my house is a WRECK and I'm exhausted. However I got to have a wonderful dinner with Iris and Dimitri and the kids, and we had pizza and saskatoon pie (freaky, because I'd been craving pizza all day and had no ingredients to make it myself, and no money to buy extra groceries - no worries Mom, I'm not starving at all, I just don't have pizza stuff).

Anyway, I'm trying to finish the first sock tonight while watching Fellowship of the Ring. Tomorrow I'm practicing piano, getting some shirts to work at Chapters (dress shirts or polos, must have collars, only blue or black, with no pattern whatsoever), and cleaning house.

Bed early tonight. Very VERY tired.

Well, today was better than yesterday. I got 80 on my last psych test, so I've got an 83 average so far, with 20% of my mark still to find out from the Critical Thinking Assignment. I finished my habitant dress at work so I got to wear a pretty new dress, and Sean called (yay! so good to talk to him!) and we sorted out the rent.

Of course, not everything is hunky-dory. The Italian Cultural Festival is still going on, and apparently no one there needs to sleep, and I have noise blasting in again. I guess it'll be another night with earplugs.

*yawn*

Karma again...

So Karma is smacking me upside the head for having such a good couple of days (amazing thrift store fines, 89 on my psych test, Sean called from Fort Lauderdale, got the Chapters job).

I couldn't sleep last night. Then, I realise that Sean didn't leave me a cheque or his bank info for the rent, so I had to call Mom to bail me out until he gets home. I HATE THAT! I want to be able to stand on my own two feet, and I just can't. I also have a makeup Psych test to do, and the only day available is tomorrow evening. So I have 5 chapters of Psych to study and learn tonight.

The cats stole my glasses (they fell off the nighttable last night, and I saw them on the shelf. This morning they're not even in the bedroom, no idea where they are.)

The Italian cultural festival is going on outside my window, making it
a) hard to study
b) really tempting (no, I'm not going. I'm too cranky to go, and too busy)

I have to work from 9:45 AM to 9:30 PM Tuesday and Wednesday - Now the evening stuff is for Chapters so I completely don't mind, and I still like working at the Fort...but still. I'm going to have to eat Fast Food or something since I only have ten minutes once I finish the commute back to TBay after the Fort until I have to be at Chapters. It also leaves no extra time for more unpacking.

Tuesday night I have my second English assignment due, so I'm going to have to finish it up tomorrow. After the Psych test.

I'm gonna NEED the psych test. It'll prove I'm crazy.

I also got these at the thrift store, that is the glass vases (they're those green bottle glass that was popular in the 70's) and ALL the grey plastic straights. I already had the coloured straights and dpn's. The vases were 99 cents each as well, and the needles - at least 20 SETS of needles, 5 bucks. Craziness, I tell you. I've been dropping in on the thrift stores fairly regularly in hopes of finding needles, and they never have any. Well, this was the mother lode. They must have just had a major drop off. The only problem is that most of them are in British sizing, and I've lost my needle-size gauge (Wal-Mart was out) so I don't know their actual sizes for now. I also don't know what size dpn's I have, but once I find/get a needle guage I'm going to use nail polish to paint stripes on them so I know what size they are. Red is for 1's, pink is for 5's, then I'll use the stripes like roman numerals. The saucer is to hold stitch markers and row counters and the like.

Look at the board games I got at Sally Ann and Value Village! 99 cents apiece, and both have ALL the pieces and are in mint condition! I think it's just swell ;)

Got the job!

Yayyyyyyy!!! I got the job at Chapters!! I'm very excited. I'm also VERY tired because I swept, vacuumed, and washed floors, as well as cleaning out the cat box and cleaning the bathroom. Tomorrow I have to write my second-last psychology test and clean the kitchen.

I also have to make a POA Gryffindor tie, since the beaver ball is coming up. That's a costume dinner dance that Fort William holds every year, and this year it's Heroes and Villans, I'm going as Hermione.

The lovely Erin> from the yahoo group HPKnit has let me post the pattern for a pygmy puff here. It works just great!

Pygmy Puff Pattern!

Need pink or purple yarn, she used Berroco Plush, I used Bernat PingPong, and two strands of eyelash.
Three size "E" beads, two eye colour, one nose colour.
Sewing Thread + Needle

Size 4 (3.5mm) straight (or two dpn)

CO 9 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 6 stitches. Turn (leave 3)
Row 2: Knit 3 stitches. Turn (leave 3)
Row 3: Knit 5 stitches. Turn (leave 1)
Row 4: Knit 7 stitches. Turn (leave 1)
Row 5: Knit to end.
Row 6: Knit to end.

Repeat rows 1-6 five more times. Bind off, leaving a long tail. Use a
running stitch to close the top. Seam down the back and turn right-
side out. Stuff firmly with polyfill and close the bottom with
another running stitch. Add a face with beads. Weave all yarn ends
into the ball. Brush the yarn to bring up a "halo" if you like.

See hers at her blog, see mine here, on July 27 2005.

This is the dressing gown I made tonight. I LOVE it, it turned out so pretty! It's a pale rose pink material with a large burgundy line-drawn pattern of roses. I used dark rose satin blanket binding to edge it and use as a tie. It's so bootiful!

Florida Presents, Part 1

Thanks Linz, I'm happy with the way the socks too :D I hope to finish the first one tonight (of course, now that I've stated that, it likely won't be finished until at LEAST two weeks when Sean is back from Florida since I've just asked for karma to smakc me). Also, if you want to make a pygmy puff, I'll ask the wonderful lady who wrote out the pattern on the yahoo group if I can post it here (with due credit to her, of course). They're SO much fun and so cute. I've had requests from people for them already!

I dropped Sean off at the airport at quarter after five, he promised to bring back a Tinkerbell t-shirt, or other Tinkerbell item - although when I talk to him on the phone I might ask for a cheshire cat one instead! He also is going to bring things from this quilt store his Mom wants to go to.

Yay! Although I'll miss him while he's gone, very much.

Pygmy Puff

It's a pygmy puff! Isn't it absolutely adorable? The pattern is Erin's from the HPKnit yahoo group. I knit it using a strand of Bernat PingPong in bright pink, Bernat Eyelash in "Wink", and Red Heart Foxy in a purple variegated colour. The beads are size "E" seed beads, sewed on afterwards. The loop at the top is for hanging, although right now she's guarding the top of our TV, between the stereo speakers.

I found the sockapal2za sock! Yay! It's going well, I've got the lace pattern memorized which makes everything MUCH faster to work. I like how the lace pattern is really starting to look like lace (imagine that).

Chapters Interview

I have a second interview, one-on-one, tomorrow! Yay! I hope it goes well. I'm not sure what to wear though, since I already wore one of my really nice "interview" outfits.

I also feel MUCH better for having taken two days off work. I still have the wicked sore throat, but I don't feel like I was hit by a truck.

In the move, unfortunately, my sockapal2za socks have disappeared. I have confidence they'll turn up eventually, but at the moment I can't knit on them which upsets me. I'd really gotten into a groove with them and now I'm afraid they won't be done on time.

No pygmy puff yet, hopefully soon. Today we have to unpack some more stuff before Sean goes to Florida, and I have to try driving again with my knee. We'll see how that goes over!

Strep Throat

I have a really nasty case of strep throat, and judging from Amanda's "Don't come to work! We don't want it!" I'm the new typhoid Mary.

I'm spending my time, therefore, catching up on schoolwork and I will be knitting a Pygmy Puff (see Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince).

I did still have my Chapters interview today, and I think it went very well. In fact, they're not hiring for August but instead for September-December. Therefore, I'd easily be able to handle the job. I should find out at the end of this week if I get a second interview.

My throat hurts.

Sean's going for doughnuts. Mmmmmm.....doughnuts....

Sorry for the lack of posts, hazards of moving. It is very hot again, at least in the apartment, and I'm still feeling lousy. I did dishes and cleaned up the bedroom, I think I'll clean some more before collapsing.

Chapters called, I have an interview on Tuesday to work for them 3 evenings and one weekend day during the summer, then during the school year. I don't know if I want to give up one weekend day though, I work very hard at the Fort, then with all that extra work AND doing two courses AND with friends coming...

We need money though. A lot. I'll talk to Sean and see what he says. I have a feeling he'll think "No", since I'm only JUST starting to get back on my feet with my health issues (this throat thingy doesn't count).

If I give up the work this summer, I think the fall-winter employment opportunity is gone too, which bites because that I could handle.

Never was there a more tale of woe...

No, my love life is fine. Fantastic actually, we're very happy with the new apartment.

My tale of woe is something else. As my readers ( *giggle snort* I really do have readers! At least 4! E., Ang, Mom, and Linz) will know, I busted up my knee at work this summer, and so haven't been able to work. However, it's getting better and they took me off crutches so I can go back to work now.

Wait for it.

My family has had a really, really terrible chest cold, more like influenza really. My sister got it, then gave it to my Mom. No worries, because I live 400 km away right? Well remember that wedding? For 2 nights we slept in the same room, were in the same van, and sat next to one another. I heard from them on Saturday that Dad started coming down with it. I'm starting to sweat a little, but think "OK, we'll bump up the Vitamin C and down some echinacea".

I have a sore throat.
And my left tonsil has really disgusting grey lumps on it. It looks like it's molding.

God help me.

It's too hot here to do anything. It's 43C. Anyone who thinks Canada is always cold should think again.

*melts*

A quick note to say THANK YOU to the Harlot for the socks. I love them, and would be wearing them right now, except that it's 35C.

It's too hot.

Warning! Wedding Picture Intensive!

Well, I'm finally back from Alberta. I'm so sorry to all my Edmonton friends that I didn't get to make it out there :( I really wanted to, but we didn't have time. I flew out Thursday evening, and got back Sunday evening, just enough time for the wedding essentially. It was a beautiful wedding, with many pictures below. I caught the bouquet! I also had time to work on the sockapal2za socks, with a couple pictures below as well.

Angela, if you're reading this, I'm sending you an e-mail pronto about visiting (yay!), just so we can catch up some more and confirm. Jenny, same to you. I know that Ang is probably busy with work and Jenny at Ann Arbour, but I've been terribly negligent in correspondence (with Elizabeth too, of course, but I get to MSN chat with you a little more).

Hope everyone's summer is going well!

Oh yes, one more thing. It is SCORCHING here. SCORCHING. With the humidity it's about 40C. Our apartment is on the top floor and has no cross breeze and no air conditioning. We may go out and water fight later.

This is a slightly fuzzy picture of my first sockapal2za sock! I've got it over my hand so you can see the lace pattern stretched out. It's Gull Wings from "Socks socks socks". The yarn is really pretty and soft.

The sock, unstretched. It is very stretchy! I'm glad, because I was worried at first that it was too small, but I think it will be OK.

Ahh, yes. The view of Waterton Lakes National Park. It certainly was beautiful there, and we saw a grizzly and many mule deer.

The maid of honour, Donna. She's holding Heather's bouquet for the ring exchange.

"You may now kiss the bride". It's a beautiful picture!

The happy couple, Chad and Heather. Heather's dress was beautiful. It wrapped around one side, defining her waist, and above the wrap there was sequin and beadwork. Her hair was curled and left down. Instead of throwing rice, we blew bubbles.

The wedding party, after the wedding. I love the colour of the bridesmaids dresses, they're sort of a medium green, somewhere between sage and olive. They're a little "blued" in this picture because of the lighting in the shade. The bouquet is calla lilies in pink and cream, with baby roses in cream, tipped with pink. And I caught it!

In order from left: Aunt Iris, Olivia, Becky, and Mom (Gloria). We're dancing at the reception. Olivia has a habit of holding people's index fingers, or pinkies. I guess because her hands are so small.

Here's Olivia and I dancing. Isn't she cute? She danced more than everyone there. Becky danced almost as much, and despite my bad knee I probably came in third.

Again, no posting for awile. Things have been busy, we got back from Minneapolis on Monday (I got food poisoning Sunday so we had to overnight in Duluth) and now we're moving like crazy to get my stuff out of my apartment into our new two bedroom (same building). Sean's stuff doesn't need to go until next week.

I'm also going to Calgary this weekend for my cousin's wedding, lots of pictures sure to follow from that (I forgot to take nearly any in Minneapolis).

Back Sunday - and progress has started on the sockpal2za, no worries sockapal. They're Sockotta yarn (45% cotton, 40% superwash wool, 15% nylon) in colour 18, which is varigated red-green-blue-purple, and is spun with a white thread as well. I'm using the "Gull Wing" socks from "Socks, socks, socks". I should have enough to make me socks too! Plus, the yarn is from the Minnesota trip, making it extra special.

Knitting guru...

You appear to be a Knitting Guru. You love knitting
and do it all the time. While finishing a piece
is the plan, you still love the process, and
can't imagine a day going by without giving
some time to your yarn. Packing for vacation
involves leaving ample space for the stash and
supplies. It can be hard to tell where the yarn
ends and you begin.
http://marniemaclean.com


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I will be gone this weekend in Minneapolis, but don't worry, I bought a t-shirt from Roots that says "I (Roots beaver picture) Canada". It's cute and red. It's funny, because when you look at it you read it as "I heart/love Canada" even though it's really "I beaver Canada". I'll be wearing it on Canada Day.

Here's Sean (my Grandpa in the background) out at my Grandparent's this weekend. We had a weiner roast, and a lovely time. This is right before we found out he'd been charred to a crisp in the sun, although we'd only been out for an hour or so in the sun that afternoon. He hadn't looked burned then either. It was almost 5 hours later when suddenly - bing! - he went beet red over the shoulders and chest. He's still sore right now.

Here's the front of my VK tank. It's a little fuzzy, which I hadn't noticed before. The instructions were challenging for me, because the part for the crossed top didn't make much sense. Also, I've never done short rows before.

River Rapids Socks

I've decided to make my sockapal2za's socks in Sock Bugs River Rapids, using the Regia below. I just love the colours! They're awfully bright, but hopefully my sockapal2za pal will like it. She said to surprise her, and her favourite colours are the same as mine. I guess I'll find out, huh?

Actually, now that I think about it, I might wait before casting on for a few days. I adore the colours they've used in the example, and we're going to Minneapolis for a the weekend so I'll be able to get my hands on other sock wool. Maybe I can find something more river-y. What I might do is cast on, but keep the socks in the Regia for me, and make they socks for my sock pal in another yarn.

Dryden was good, Sean and I had a lovely time enjoying the sauna and lake. We saw funnel clouds on the way home though, quite frightening! It was very close by, and we were worried we'd be caught by it, but it dissapated again right away so everything turned out fine after all.

Gone to Dryden for the weekend to escape the heat at camp...

I may knit, I may (k)not. We'll see!

Knitting

I started Sean's socks (men's sock pattern that starts with 72 stitches. Oy.) and Mom's shawl. The colour and texture of the mohair is simply divine, and has stood up to it's 6 (Ok fine, 8) froggings very well. I didn't really like the garter-stitch pattern I'd found because it didn't show the texture and colour very well. So I invented my own. (Sshh, don't tell anyone it's based on a dishcloth!) It mostly worked OK, the ripping was because I tried to get fancy with a lace pattern in the middle. I finally gave that up and it's working much better.

I have my appointment with the "bone doctor" tomorrow. I've never been so excited to have a doctor's appointment before! I'm hoping they'll figure out what's up with the knee exactly. I ended up having to go back to the ER on Monday after work when my knee started sounding like it contained rice krispies. They think there's tendon-muscle stuff going on as well, and my knee is hurting a rather astonishing amount for just one knee.

On the left, a mohair-acrylic blend to make a shawl for my Mom (provided she approves the yarn/colourway - leave me a message Mom, I'm stuck at home until Sunday!) in a blue-greyish purple-green colourway, and a metallic pink yarn for a sweater I'm planning.

Sock yarn! On the left, for socks for Sean (does the Sweater Curse count for socks and scarves too?), on the right socks for me and my sock buddy (I got two balls).