Blearyed eyed, oh yes.

Now that I have stopped laughing from the previous post, I can say I’m not thrilled to be awake this morning. Perhaps having a class at 10 is still too early in the morning for moi?

I have been up for 30 minutes and I already need a nap. Blech.  When I get home today, I have to do laundry, I have nothing to wear to school and that sucks.

I started a “panta” headband last night, but the yarn I’m using is a novelty yarn, so I think I’m going to deviate from the pattern and just make a straight headband out of the beginning ribbing on it.  It will still look beautiful because of the yarn, but if I followed the pattern it would be huge! So, I’ll deviate and it will still function and be gorgeous.

Now, I’m off, traffic is a bit much today I hear. Plus, I need a nosh before class.

It’s a tad bit bright outside.

I hate this time of year.  It’s literally daylight most of the day here now.  It was actually light out about 3am this morning and then glaringly bright by 6am!  Gah.  I have dark curtains and I had to even get up and shut the blinds too.  Gah.  At least today is the Solstice which means that by tomorrow, the days will start to shorten!  Yippee!!  It’s the downhill slide back towards my time of year!  Yippee!

I seriously have to go to the grocers today, I mean really.  It’s rather sad in my kitchen, LOL  So, I might as well bite the bullet and just do it and get it over with.  I just hate grocery shopping.  After that I have laundry and some serious knitting to do.  I have a Harry Potter Scarf to finish up (I’ve just finished the first “trapped bar” section and only have twenty more or so to go!  Each trapped bar section is 26 rows in length, so it’s quite a bit of knitting. I’m not doing the circular scarf, I’m doing a ribbed version, quicker knit and I hate that circular thing, I knitted forever on that thing!!!  Gah.  It’s a long tedious knit that’s for sure, but the scarf is gorgeous and extremely warm.

I guess I should get dressed and get moving before traffic builds up.  You have to time your trips here in between traffic build ups.  Ah, the joys of living in a city! LOL

I did NOTHING today!

Seriously, I did nothing!  I made toast, some tea, emptied the ice trays and played Sims all day.  I did get caught up on “The Starter Wife” on iTunes.  Oh my goddess, I love that show.  Yes, it’s somewhat like a soap opera, but, once I started watching it I was hooked.  I’ve never been a huge Debra Messing fan, but I’m totally loving her in this show.  It’s listed as a mini-series, but I would so love to see it made into a show!

Tomorrow is “stash” day.  I’m officially taking stock of what I have an officially cataloging it!  It’s going to be embarassing, I can tell you that much.  I’m pulling it all out from everywhere it’s hidden/stashed/stuffed and or wadded into and taking stock. Actually, I could start doing it right now, as I’m not the least bit sleepy and it’s still rather early in the evening (by my standards).  I’m just not sure I want to tackle it at this time of night.  With my luck, I’ll pull it out then get tired!  I can’t leave yarn out or Templar will have the equivalent of a “super bowl party” with it.  That dog adores fiber of any kind.

I did get some knitting done while watching the show.  Because I was watching it on my computer, there was just enough light coming from the monitor to knit by.  No need for a lamp on or anything.  My kind of evening.  No lights, no noise, just me, my computer, my pooches and my knitting.  It totally rocked!  I had popcorn and ice tea for dinner, it was just great.

Now, I’m off to see if there is a movie that can entice me or I just may toss on some meditation music and zone out for a bit.  I love sitting in the dark in the quiet and just letting my mind clear.  It feels so very wonderful.  Even the dogs zone out when I put the music on (and that’s saying alot for a sixteen week old puppy!).–or I could go for a Starbuck’s?  Hahahaha…wind down or wind up–choices, choices, choices?

The “Almost A Weasley Sweater

As soon as I get home from work, I’m going to post a picture of the thing so far.  Although it was supposed to be a “practice” piece, I think I might actually end up wearing it.  It would be great for the doggie park or for when I have to do  “rounds” in the evenings.  It’s definitely not my normal style as the yarn was actually supposed to originally have been a rug! Hahaha..yeah, it’s very striking! LOL

I’ll probably get some knitted on it tonight.  I have a few things on the Tivo to get caught up on and recorded, so that is always dedicated knitting time in my book.

I feel bad now that I made it into “the club” over on Ravelry, because there are literally over 6,000 more people waiting to get on.  So, in honor of them, I’m not discussing it here, yet.  I’ll wait till some of my buddies are there with me and then we can dish all about it.

It’s rather chilly here today.  I think P is doing up a pork roast tonight for dinner.  The great thing about me working on weekends…he cooks! Hooray!  I’ll do dinners during the week and he gets the weekends.  I’ll probably also end up baking again this week, although he’ll be gone most of it. 

We also need to put tyres on his little car.  I called for an estimate yesterday and it’s a grand total of 155.12..yeah, that’s for all four tyres too!  I was dying laughing over that.  My Jeep tyres were about that for just one!  Oh, how I love small cars, they save on gas and tyres.  So, the little car has an appointment next Saturday.  I would take it in before then, but I’m afraid to drive the thing…it has an unsyncronized transmission….don’t ask, it’s a bitch to drive though, although he does quite well with it?

School starts up on the 25th, I’m quite pleased about that.  Although, I’m going to have to miss the 10th, 11, 12, 13th and 16th…that might make a dent in my grade, but I’ll just take it with me.  Goddess knows, I’ll have plenty of time to study in the car, I can’t knit all the way to Ohio..I do have to take a break from it occasionally. My writing I’m not worried about as it’s online anyways.  I’ll just use the laptop in the car and muddle through as best I can.

It’s also someone’s birthday coming up in July….like on the 9th!  Ms. Lana!!!!  Yes, she will probably kill me for reminding everyone, but I like to make a big deal out of it.  She is one of my bestests friends and I think her birthday is sort of like a holiday!  She and I are going fabric shopping and she gets to pick out whatever she wants (yes, they have yarn there as well).  I was trying to branch out this year, as I ALWAYS get her yarn for her birthday.  I thought I would be new this year and get fabric? LOL  I also have a surprise for her as well, one that she doesn’t know about…and I’m keeping my mouth shut about it.  This year, IT’S REALLY GOING TO BE A SURPRISE!

As you can see, it’s rather quiet here at the office today.  I’m about ready to go out and make my rounds (again).  I like to walk through and see and be seen.  Plus, I hate when people leave trash around, it bugs me.  So, I figured I would walk around and pick up the major trash that is laying around.  Why are people such pigs?  Were they raised in a barn or it is that they feel it’s public area so someone else will get it?  What happens if there isn’t a someone else?  Sigh.  Oh, don’t get me started on cigarette butts….I would love to be able to trace dna through these things and make the owners eat the damned things.  Next question?  Why are smoker’s such pigs?  They leave the damned things everywhere and I don’t even want to hear they are biodegradeable…yes, but it takes a few years…do you want to look at them for that long?

Gainfully employed, yep that’s me!

Instead of starting my new job on the 22nd of the month, I’m starting my new job TOMORROW! As in less than 24 hours from now. I was totally unprepared for that, but okay.I have a ton of stuff planned out for today:

• clean out the fridge
• clean off my desk (it’s horrendous)
• bake yet another loaf of bread
• inventory the freezer
• inventory my pantry
•  polish our dining room table

• hoover
• steam clean the carpeting in the living room
• finish moving my ritual supplies to the new cabinet
• make egg salad for dinner (too hot to cook)

So, as you can see I have high ideals! How much of that will get done today, I have no idea, but I’ll give it my best try. I usually don’t start in on “chores” until about 2pm. T works till 4am, so we try to keep the house quiet till about that time. Plus, I’m just not a morning person at all and I usually don’t get moving till about that time. Hence, why I never have a class before 10am…I consider that early morning!On the broken ear front, it’s stopped hurting and now just itches. A good sign I think? The drops still bug the crap out of me, but they seem to be working somewhat. I have to go get my BP checked tomorrow…I’m supposed to get it checked weekly till the end of the month, blech. I have no idea? Apparently, they were not happy with my last one when I went in the other day. Oh well, it could be worse.I’m about 12″ inches into the “faux-Weasley” sweater. I’ve now remembered why I hate knitting sweaters, they are bloody boring. But, I’m soldiering on with it. I love the sweater pattern, so we will see.Now, I’m off to get dressed and go out to have lunch out! Naturally, there will be some KIP! I’m not ashamed, my yarn can see the light of day! Muahahaha**okay, so the whole list isn’t done yet, but at least I made a dent in it.  Can’t help it, P came home early today and it’s impossible to clean when someone else is around.  He’s off to Eastern Washington again next week, so I’ll steam then.**

Quiet Sundays are the best!

Today it’s been nothing but watching movies and knitting!  I have watched several movies and gotten a bit knitted on the sweater I’m attempting.  I’ve never knitted a sweater “not in the round”, so this will be interesting.  I have to admit, it’s way smaller to carry about.  I cast on for it yesterday (KIP at Noah’s, thank you).  I’m about seven inches into the front of it.  Not using any fancy yarn, just plain old Red Heart that I had stored.  I wanted to sort of do a “test” sweater first.  I figure it will be good to layer over a tshirt this winter, besides, I’m thinking it will soften up as it’s washed (with fabric softener added).  If it turns out well, I’m going to save up and get some “tweed” type yarn from Knit Picks and make a true Weasley Sweater.  I loved those sweaters in the movies, they just looked so warm and cozy.  One can always use a warm and cozy sweater, right?

I’m hoping to order some yarn from KP in order to start on Yule gifts, sometime near the end of July.  I need to get cracking on Yule knitting sometime in August I think.  That will give me plenty of time to get stuff knitted.

B is for Busy

Today was a rather busy day for me. My ear is feeling a tad bit better, so I only had to take four aleeve as opposed to six so far.

However, I did get a package in the mail, thanks Ann! I got

and

I think I might knit just about EVERYTHING in the Charmed Knits and quite a few things out of the Knit 2 Together.  I love when the mail person brings cool toys.

Today, I baked a loaf of bread.  Been awhile since I did that, so I figured why not.  It’s a rainy, cloudy, chilly day.  Might as well take advantage of the coolness.  Next up I baked a Devil’s Food Cake and made a creamy white frosting to top it with.

For dinner, we had an italian sausage dish.  You add diced tomatoes, balsamic vinegarette and onions, then serve over rotini pasta.  It was quite yummy.

See, I can cook, if I put my mind to it! LOL!  Not sure about tomorrow’s entree, I’ll think about that in the am.

I’m now off to knit on a “weasley sweater”.  It will look nothing like a weasley sweater due to my yarn choice, but I love the pattern, straight, simple and easy peasy.  The best kind of patterns.

Whoo Hoo, another pair done!

I finally finished the blue socks! Yes, I know, a picture is needed.  Well, I’ll have to do it tomorrow, as I’m not traipsing down stairs to get them and photo them and then do all the transferring and stuff! LOL!

I started another pair immediately, though.  This time with the pinkish yarn from the other day.  The Tofutsie yarn knits up lovely, I’m loving it!  I got past the toe increases to at least the straight knitting on the foot.  I always try to get past the toe before I stop.  I have to set goals for myself or it will never get finished.  And yes, I’m attempting a short row heel on this pair. Kind of nervous, kind of excited at the same time.

T and I had dinner at home tonight.  Chicken with au gratin potatoes.  Nothing overly fancy, but it was quite tasty actually.  Tomorrow is grocery shopping day around here. Actually, I could go right now but again, that would involve getting dressed and leaving the house.  Although, if I do go out, I could stop at Starbuck’s?  You know not even the thought of that will budge me.  I’m finally cool and I want it to stay that way, thank you. But Starbucks would be nice…I could do with an Italian soda..yummy.  No….not going to do it.

I have to seriously shop for a vet tomorrow and get the fur babies in. Maggie and Templar need shots and Templar needs um, well, you know “the operation”.  No puppies, please!  I’ll shop around tomorrow and get them in sometime next week.

Tomorrow starts the Wardrobe Refashion pledge (2 months). I’m very nervous about that, but I’m willing to give it a try.  I’m not as creative as everyone else on there, but I’m going to give it a try.  Gah…why do I do these things to myself?  Oh well, we all must step outside our comfort zones now and then.  This is the summer of that for me, I guess.

My first project is going to be a skirt.  Yep.  I don’t own one, so I figured why not, I could use one I guess. After that, I’m going to force Lana to sit down with me and we are going to design what can only be termed as the “perfect knitting bag”!  I’m horribly picky (like her) about my knitting bag.  It has to serve many masters, yarn, keys, cell, etc.  I have yet to find the perfect bag.  Oh, I have come close, but they cost more than my car insurance!  No really….there is one I have been lusting after for two years now…it is more than my  monthly car insurance payment!  That is just sad!  Actually that bag costs more than my monthly cell phone bill, or my directv bill,, or my internet bill!  For that much money, it had better be more than just “close to perfect”…it damned well better be perfect, inside and out!

So, it’s design your own time!  I’m going to get Lana in on it.   Between us, we can get rather creative.  It should prove interesting as she likes a smaller bag and I favor a larger one! Muahahaha…so it will come in two sizes, that’s all.

A whole lot a sock knitting!

Yep, my major contribution to humanity today was knitting on a sock.  Not only is it a sock, it’s the dreaded second sock to a pair!  I finished the first one up this morning and cast on for the second one.  I seriously have to do that or it will never get knitted. I’m up to the gusset on the second sock and am almost ready to start turning the heel.  This pattern totally zooms along.  I seriously think if I tried hard and started early in the morning (like 7am or so), I could actually knit an entire sock in one day…and that is with sock yarn on a size 2 needle.  See, why I totally adore socks, they are fast and easy and definitely satisfy my lust for quickie projects this summer.

I need a really good elastic type bind off though…anyone got some links for some?

Anyway, the highlight of my day was someone I met at the doggie park.  She works for KnitPicks!  It’s only one of my absolute fave places to buy yarn!  I was stunned when she walked over and asked about the toe of my sock.  Plus, she was excited to see I was doing my sock via magic loop, as she had just learned it.  We also chatted about the Knit Picks Options Needle Set (which I adore), and my bag.  It was rather funny as her husband recognized it right away!  Talk about a small world, huh?

Yesterday, I was the one person in the line that I hate.  The one that holds up the whole thing.  Why was I holding up the line?  I had to chat with the cashier about sock knitting, the new Interweave and the merits of the magic loop!  I swear sock knitters are coming out of the wood works lately.  Everyone is knitting socks right now!!!!!  Then I was perusing my Interweave last night while waiting on the dogs to “do their thing” in the grass, when a woman walked up and said she just got her issue but hadn’t had a chance to read it?  You mean there are knitters here in my apartments?  I was stunned!  Wow.  Wonder how many I will run into at school? LOL!

Templar found a buddy at the park today.  He’s still checking out the neighborhood when it comes to the dog park.  He’s a bit shy still and overhwhelmed when it comes to all the other dogs there.  But, today, he was romping and playing chase with a Dalmation puppy named Hank.  We were thrilled to see him romping about today.  Maggie is rather funny about it though, she never lets him get too far from her sight and will wander over if things get out of control too much.  It’s rather cute to watch.

I made a casserole type dish for dinner tonight.  I did up a fancy schmany pasta and cheese with ground beef added.  I did the bowtie pasta with a combination of mozzerella, cheddar and colby jack cheeses mixed with the ground beef.  I then added parmesan cheese over the top of it.  Talk about yummy!  I might add pesto next time to see how that goes?  I firmly believe that pesto makes everything taste better.

We also watched an old Robert Montgomery movie and a two hour epsiode on the mythology of Star Wars.  It was actually rather good and very informative.  I knew I kept seeing all that stuff in those movies.  I also watched the second Harry Potter movie tonight.  Since the book and the movie are out next month (oh my goddess, that is really soon!!!) I thought I would get caught back up as it has been awhile.  It’s still just as good as it was the day I saw it originally in the theatre!  I can actually claim I have seen all the Harry Potter movies in the theatre…it’s kind of cool to be able to say that.

I can’t believe that the last book will be forthcoming this next month.  I’m not sure if I’m totally ready for that or not?  I so love the books that I feel this last book will be like the loss of a dear friend.  Sigh.  As they say, all good things must come to an end, even my beloved Harry Potter series.  I’m just not ready yet though, even though I am going to have to be that’s for sure.

I watched the trailers for Ocean 13 today as well.  I love those movies and can watch them over and over and over.  I’m totally addicted to the whole “gang” of them.  The chemistry that is among the cast is amazing and still works.  A lot of people thought that Ocean’s 12 was not as good at the original one, but I beg to differ.  Yes, it was a sequel, but it still had merit and the magic that was among the cast.  Sometimes, you go to see the cast and not just the storyline.  In the next one, the storyline is as good as the cast.  I so cant’ wait to see it.

Now that I have rambled on and on and on…it’s time to go back to the sock and at least get to the heel turning part.  Once it’s turned, it’s the downhill slide from there!  I will turn the heel, knit a couple of rows and start on the 1×1 ribbing and cast off.  I think I’ll cast on a third pair once I’m done with this one.  Can’t help it, addicted to socks making.  This is all Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s fault…her and that sock of hers that traveled more than I have!  She is right though, the sock is a perfect project.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Today Lana and I went out for lunch.  We hit up Subway and Jamba Juice (which she had NEVER HAD!!!!).

It was nice to sit outside, gab and have lunch.  (yes, that is my go everywhere knitting bag sitting under the table.) We also stopped by our local super geek superstore (Fry’s Electronic’s) and she got one of her birthday presents early!  P and I got her a USB wireless adapter for her computer.  Hopefully, she will now be able to sit at her desk and do her new job.  She also knows about her other birthday gift because she has to do some planning for it.  I am going to take her to our local fabric superstore (Fabric Depot) and let her shop with a decent sized budget.

Notice how I frequent the  “super” type environments.  I love having an overly huge choice in stuff and the prices are usually pretty good.  I can’t help it, I love choices!  Why pick from two things when I can pick from thirty? LOL!

Other than that, P is home early from work.  He came home bearing brand new tools and a brand new FLUKE!  I almost fainted, I’ve never seen a brand new FLUKE (as in it still has the plastic protector over the screen!).  Oh my.  And the Craftsman tools…he has tons of them!!!  Oh my!  It was like Xmas, well almost, because they aren’t mine, but I still got to fondle them, which was just as nice.

Lana gave me a nifty cool felted bag, it was too “large” for her, but just right for me.  I’m going to make a lining for it with interfacing to give it some sturdiness.  I love it, it’s striped!  I know, it’s a geek thing, I love stripes on some things.

I picked up the new KNIT.1 and Creative Knitting today.  Yummy is all I have to say.  There are several things in the Creative Knitting and actually a couple in the KNIT.1 (like a grocery bag!).  I’m going to be finishing up my sock this week so a grocery bag is just at the top of my list!!!!  Bless Vicki Howell’s heart for this bag design.  I have a ton of cotton to use up, so it’s recyling at it’s finest. The only thing it’s crochet and that is one of my weaker areas.  It might, however, be good practice for me though.  I think I’ll give it a whirl when the times comes, what’s the worst thing that could happen….I mess it up and have to start over?