Helping Hand

We're all hearing about the wild fires in San Diego and of how many folks are losing their homes, their memories, everything. Offer a helping hand by joining me in making 8 inch squares to be joined with love into blankets for these people. Any machine-washable non-allergenic yarn (say...that Red Heart stuff in the back of your stash?) is perfect. It'll be quick, easy and while it makes you feel warm inside, you'll be helping make someone else feel warm all over. Check the Ravelry Group or go straight to their new blog San Diego Wild Fire Blankets here on blogspot.com. It's a good thing to do.

Better a Turtle Than a Frog

Sorry about the slightly blurry pic but it's the best Puddha Kitty and I could manage today. Yes, that's my Secret of the Stole he's sprawled on. And yes, he's making it clear to me that I've done enough on it for now. No matter that I'm only on row 201 and the next Hint is released tomorrow. No matter that I really was on a roll and wanted to keep going for a bit. But...he was probably right. I needed the "cat love" session more than I needed to reach a nearly impossible goal set by myself for myself. Aack, it's all good...I'll get there and maybe by next week, I'll even be caught up. (Snort) At least, maybe only if next week is a little better than this week has been.
Let's see...first there were the 5 days of headache/migraine (yes, it dances on that line called pain in my head and all because of that stupid neck and back injury). Then there were the DR appointments which resulted in a case of "we found some boob rocks"...again. Yippee. It was so much fun last time too. (Sigh) And to top things off is the "Cold from Hell" that my Dear Daughter graciously shared with me. The mass doses of echineacia and vitamins didn't even slow it down. (Sniff) Well, things could always get worse. At least the telephone folks came out - after 2 weeks - to look at the pole clipped neatly off at it's base by (I'm assuming) a drunk driver (either that or one lucky son of a bit#h). So I have a land-line telephone again but now I realize how quiet it was without the sales people calling.
In other knitting news...Janet (of the infamous "now she wants a poncho") stopped by last night, exclaimed with awe how lovely my stole is so I caved and told her how I had fought with 9 cast-ons to do one for her. Guess what. Now she wants it anyway. Good news is she'll wait for it. Bad news is she still wants a poncho too. Also, I've made progress on the Colorado Lynne sweater...finished the back and it's now resting comfortably on it's stitch holder in a new tote bag. I cast on the front earlier but only managed 2 rows before letting it rest. Gotta find my cable needles before I get the ribbing done and it should be smooth sailing from there. And that's all the news that's fit to print. For now anyway.

No Title Needed

In case this doesn't make any sense, read the last part of the previous post.
Now, break time. I'm off to the Library. A few months ago, I saw this book on lace work...

Lace Knitting is Fun. Not.

Completed. In my own twisted way, of course but Hint 2 of The Secret of the Stole is done. Just in time for Hint 3. Seriously. Just as I clicked to add my photo and post to the Group that I had finally finished the 2nd Hint, my email alerted and poof! There was Hint 3. Waiting. Mocking. Pointing at me...the World's Worst Lace Knitter. Oh, and the World's Slowest Knitter too. Aack, it's all good. Sorta.
I've made many mistakes in here but I guess that's not too awfully bad because of all the right things I'm doing. Like learning. And paying attention. And trying new ways of doing things. And exercising my patience. And cleaning the medicine cabinet looking for Valium. (Just kidding but it's a thought!) I've gotten so bad that last night, while slicing smoked sausage for dinner, I was counting my slices! If I had tried to pass that slipped sausage over, I would have quit right there and then. With the butcher knife in my hand, onions flying, spices running amuck - not a pretty picture.
So this morning I'm all full of positive thinking. I have joined the Mystic Waters Shawl KAL but purely as a lurker. Well, if I can ever get the freakin' swatch done, I might at least post that and do a quiet sort of intro. I really tried this morning. My DD brought me a set of the new Addi Turbo Lace circs and I even put out a treat for myself when I got the first repeat of the pattern done. HA! I couldn't get past the first row of garter! I am seriously thinking I need to try learning a new way to knit. I simply cannot feel the yarn (thread!) in either hand (too much damage from injuries) and have to look with my eyes for my fingers. Maybe if I try a more Continental style? And of course, I'm so stubborn that I'll learn with this teensy crap instead of pulling out some worsted from the ole stash. Sigh. Sometimes it sucks to be me. LOL? Being OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is not easy. Once that idea or task is in my head, it will happen or I'll die trying. Grrr. But for now, I'm going to go do something I know I'm good at. Like cleaning the cat boxes. I can sweep and mop too. Yeah. That'll work.

Hint 1 of the Secret of the Stole Complete!

The Bad News is that the Old Man whacked out his back again. His surgery in late Feb. was immensely helpful in relieving pain and enabling movement. But a few days ago, he walked HARD into an immoveable object at work and jarred a couple of bad vertebrae out of place. Today, he was unable to get up to even think about leaving the house for work so he's been home with me and the critters. Of course, I was focused on knitting the Secret of the Stole and must express gratitude for an understanding Doctor and narcotic pain killers. Vicodan is our Friend.
The Good News is that while he was off in his codeine-based fog, I was finishing the last 8 rows (again!) of Hint One. Here's a close-up of the left point. I really like this yarn - even though it's a bit stiff, it's got lovely colors all through it. (It would make a great winter sweater!) The beads are barely visible but I like it. And at this point, that's all that counts.
And here's a full project shot. I see two possible "oopses" and two definite oopses. BUT...I'm not ripping it out again and the two definites can be tidied up with sewing skills. (You wouldn't know they were there if I hadn't just told you!) Before the next hint is released, I must do row 84 anyway and will check it more closely then. Now, I just had to photograph it and put it away for a day or two. If you know what I mean! (And yes, many of you do know what I mean!)
And now, since he's finally somewhat comfortable in his "Papa Chair", and Hint 1 is truely and really finished...I'm going to curl up in my own "Mama Bear Chair" next to him, listen to him breathe, (always a concern with narcotics that are respiratory depressants) and calmly work on my Colorado Lynne sweater.

Secret of the Stole Progress

Wink Wink - I started my version of the Secret of the Stole 9 times just to make sure it was correct. Yeah, right! But at least I know it's ok now. Notice I didn't say "right" because I'm just not sure - that's a lack of confidence showing, huh. It's all good - I'm learning SO much! Look, you can see my notes to myself...like writing down exactly where I put in the latest lifeline. Oh, and using a lifeline too!
Sometimes progress ain't pretty. Here, I've had to seperate the 2 points (which I was doing at the same time on one needle) as I had dropped a stitch on the right one. I also stuck tape with a big "R" on the right one as well as put stitch markers on the right side of my work so as to better keep track of what was what. 2 points, 2 bags of balls of yarn, 2 sets of needles, 2 cats watching and not enough notes. Learning is happening here again.
Almost there. This pic shows today's current status. I've joined the 2 points and am making solid progress towards the end of the first hint. I'm ready to do row 71 and this first hint goes through row 85, I think it is. Since I'm caught up on outside chores (and it's looking like rain again), after posting with the Group, I'll settle down to finish this up. Since I'll soon be working on this again, I didn't want to put it onto wire - so it's a bit scrunched up. But I've compared it with some of the awesome work of the more experienced lace knitters on the Group and I really think it's right. Humph...who'da thought. (Notes to self: Continue to use ruler, work in baby steps across the row, use pen as arrow pointer for those steps, count everything, count tricky stuff twice - even to the last 2, insert more lifelines, ignore the phone, cats, significant other, anatomical functions, fire, etc.)

October's New Treasure

I've found new treasure! Well, truthfully? I found this a couple weeks ago but wasn't able to actually farm it out until today. It's a Utility Cart - Timothy Lawrence the Lawn Tractor has a new play buddy. I'm just tickled. Now, all the stuff I was dragging around by hand, smacking myself in the glasses with tree branches and huffing and puffing with the wheelbarrow...I'm cartin' it now!
And look...it dumps too! It's pretty solid steel - needs a serious episode with the wire brush and some "slow down the rust" shaker can paint but check it out: It's got 14 inch sides, a pull-out tailgate and a cantilever dump system. The hitch pin is ridiculously easy to do and un-do and the tongue of the hitch is solid as can be. You can just color me happy.
The Old Man got the new belt on the lawn tractor yesterday and I finally blazed a path from the front of the property to the back. Here's Freaky Kitty waiting for the curious mousies to come out and explore. You can see how high all the brush is - it might take me a while but eventually, I'll have this property tamed. And who knows what else I find out there! (The utilty cart was back in this brush about 100 feet behind where Freaky Kitty is sitting).

Rippit - Rippit All Out

Ass deep in the Frogging Pond again. Sigh. I spend entirely too much time in there. At least I have proof that I AM able to follow a pattern and that I CAN use a chart and that I can even do modified lace work. I'm just an easily distracted idiot who worries too much about saving electricity and therefore knits in the dark. And now this after all I went through this morning just to get started. Sigh.
There I was, happily following the chart; marking off my rows, counting my stitches and, in general, having a grand ole time. In comes the Old Man; in a rush; "Hi Honey I love you can you do this for me and I'm in a hurry". Silly me doesn't finish her row, doesn't mark where she was but instead, thought: "I'm doing so well, I will know exactly where I'm at and it's all gonna be good". Yeah. Right. I skipped a WS row and didn't even notice until 20 or so rows later. It's like this...it was too cold to knit outside and it's not too bright inside this house. But the trade of electrcial use is the heating pad for the overhead light. So the first half of my work; albeit beautiful work, (done with a warm back), is right side on right side. But the last half is wrong side on right side. I had even put in a lifeline but it was 3 rows below my flip act. And I know myself...there's no way I could tink and friggle my way back to it without losing it all anyway.
Confession time: I have never been able to frog row by row and am pretty good at screwing up a stitch by stitch tink routine too. I have to rip it all out and start over. At least I try to learn something along the way. Number 2: I've never - seriously - never - followed a pattern. Of any kind. At all. Never ever. Yeah sure, I look at em and note the finished sizing...taught to sew as a kid, that all makes sense. But the patterns themselves always baffled me. I just figured out how to get to the finished product my own way. But it's time I learned, doncha think? Number 3: I've never even looked at a chart before this KAL. And I'm making myself do it now cold turkey.
So...there you have it...all my secrets. It seemed appropriate to share all this now...in our shared "Secret". Forgive me? Understand me? Support me? Or laugh at me - right along with me?!?

First Hint for the Secret of the Stole!

This is what I'm supposed to be doing...sorting and organizing all of these sockets for one of our many tool boxes. Sneakers; our "antique" dog of 17 years, agrees and is patiently waiting for me to join her on the floor. In the mean-time, she's helping by mixing up the 3/8 inch drive with the 1/4 inch drive and making sure the metric and standard ones are all well blended - again. Sigh.
But THIS is what I HAVE been doing. 3 computers, 3 printers, 3 hours. That's what it took to get the first Hint from the Secret of the Stole KAL. I have a friend who is deep into Astrology and she warned me that with Mercury going retrograde that communications would be challenged for a while. Boy howdy, she wasn't kidding! I had computers on top of printers, side by side with other computers on top of printers...how could it not communicate with what it is sitting on top of?!? Grrrr....my printer said out of black ink - put in new black ink. Then it said, oh no...we need yellow and light cyan too. Well, my DD had every color but yellow. OK...hmmm...took the laptop upstairs to plug into her printer - error. Printer not responding. Hmmm....it's a MacBook Pro so I re-booted from Mac OS to Windows...downloaded the Acrobat Reader I needed and it STILL wouldn't work. Dragged the monster downstairs - not supposed to be doing that with my back just now getting better but hey, a girl's gotta get her knitting info! Plugged it in - no go. Back upstairs for the Teen Beast's printer - drug it downstairs, rummaged for a USB cable; the only one I could find was exactly 14 inches long. Balancing the printer precariously on top of the old Windows tower, I finally, Freakin' FINALLY - after 3 hours - got the charts and instructions printed out!
I got the first hint! So now...I've brewed a fresh pot of coffee, am going to set up the ole heating pad right here in my desk chair and grab the first project bag. I want to stay near the computer as there's been maybe 7 digest's sent out from this Group and each one has a question answered for me or an explanation I needed. I swear, with the exception of an earthquake, I am gonna sit right here until I've got some sort of progress made on at least one of the stoles! (At least I got a few rows done on the Colorado sweater while waiting on error messages and the like).

So Far Behind...

I'm so far behind, I think I'm back in 1st place!
Actually, with this, our first storm of the season still hanging around...the focus is starting to shift indoors. I'm thinking it's the shift that's making me feel behind and somewhat out of sorts.
OK, to begin the "catching up": note the Progress Bars have been adjusted. The Baby Blanket That Won't End will be gift-wrapped today - so it's gone from the list.
The Moebius Cowl is now in hibernation - maybe permanently. I've just lost my "go get em" on that project. Perhaps it's the consistent frogging of that lovely yarn I'm quietly bemoaning. The Socks suffered a direct hit from Cat Mischeif a few days ago. Puddha didn't mean it, I think he thought he was helping. But...the sock is no more. Had to frog it out completely and have just cast it back on...no real work on it yet.
Newly cast-on and loving it is this shawl-collar pullover from the mag Knit N Style. I'm doing it in an indestructible machine-wash blend as it's destined to become a chore sweater. I simply love - and always have - shawl collars on pullover sweaters. And since my injuries a few years ago, it seems I can never keep my neck and shoulders warm enough. This pattern fits the bill perfectly.I had finished all my UFO's and had sorted and carried up to the fiber room all my "stuff" in anticipation of the first clue for The Secret of the Stole KAL. Alas, I couldn't stand the wait and cast on this sweater. I'm hoping I'll be able to make time to work on it in-between keeping up with the release of clues for the SotS as I'll hate to see it languish until New Year's Eve.
In other fiber news, I got my invite to Ravelry! OMG...this is an OCD person's dreamland! I have spent many hours already just cruising around - absorbing, exploring and filling out information. Now that I'm "in", I've had to get serious about organization of the fiber room and all my tools, supplies and stash. For those of you still on the waiting list, now is the time to get those pics taken and uploaded to flickr.com. Now is the time to hunt down those rogue needles lazying about in UFO's and jot down their vitals. Gather your patterns into one place...like, a binder or something. Organize, list and document! Oh, and go get the web browser FireFox. Ravelry was and is designed for it and besides, the "other guys" not only leave you vulnerable to hacksters, they act a bit odd with it. It's so worth it to use the FireFox.
Since the stater went out on the Jetta last week, the "outside project" focus shifted from the wood pile to auto mechanics. This became one of those tasks that soon rocketed out of my skill kit. The Old Man busted his fanny - night after night - re-building fuel and ignition parts to work with the new starter and just last night, we got her running again. For an 18 year old car with over 500,000 miles on her, she still runs pretty good. (I'll snap a pic of her when it stops raining - I think you'll be surprised by how good she looks for her age).
As far as the wood pile goes...it's going too quickly! With the sudden drop of temps during this storm and trying to work on Betty the Jetty in the cold and rain...we've had the wood stove going most nights. Sure am gonna have to get better at slower burning for more efficient heating.
OK...cat on lap (Freaky Kitty), rain on the slider but have stuff to do. More - and pics - soon as something's done!