Friday Felines

Friday Felines are brought to you via inspiration from the Delusional Knitter.

So here is Zeus, and let me tell you that he likes alpaca just as much as I do.

I dug out a jumble of alpaca from the stash (at least 4 tangled skeins) and started pulling them apart in preparation for winding. Then Zeus joined me on the couch to make sure I was doing it right. Well, after a trip to the kitchen for tea, I found him sound asleep on top of it all. And who am I to disturb him? I managed to get one skein balled up but don't have the heart to pull another one from under him.

Gamine

Look what I just got:

Isn't it pretty? It's Gamine from Lachesis & Co. I really, really like Tori's designs. Now I only have to decide what yarn to use. It is the year of Surmounting the stash, after all.

P.S. Yes, I admit I may have to ignore some of those projects currently on the needles. Shhhh. Don't tell them.

The Year of Surmounting the Stash

Kind of like a yarn diet but better.

Revelations of a Delusional Knitter is the leader in this grand adventure.

I have way too many projects on the needles and a major job will be to simply get them all in one place and come face to face with them all at once and set priorities. Like that 20 year old sweater that still needs sleeves. Or the 2010 Olympic sweater that needs sleeves. Or a shrug from a knit-along (I forget how long ago that was). Or the woolly long-janies. Or the fair isle knee highs....

I should stop there.

I want all those in the finished pile this year. As well as another couple sweaters, a vest for mother, a couple pairs of socks for each family member (yes, my stash can accommodate all that), a blanket worthy of being entered in the Exhibition in August...I want to win this year, damn it!

Oh yes, almost forgot the crocheted granny-square blankets I have started (a half-dozen at last count!)

And, and and... I may have bought a sweater's worth of wool in an after-Christmas sale for hubby.

But I don't have a problem.

The Eve of a New Year

So another year is almost done. In some parts of the world it's been done for hours. I wonder what it looks like on the flip side? From where I sit, I can hear unknown bodies setting off fireworks. Are they celebrating the end of the old year or getting a start on the new, I wonder?
My day consisted of wrapping up some issues so they don't follow me into the new year, and that may not have made me pleasant to be around today. I tried to be utterly selfish and concentrate on me, me, me but the guilt of putting me ahead of others kept getting the best of me. I hope to work on that in the new year. I don't make resolutions but I try to come up with a workable game plan. All about responsibility and accountability and basically becoming a better human being. That can't be all bad, right?
So what's your plan for the new year?

Over the Hill Ain't So Bad

Seriously. Ever since I turned 40 last year, my birthdays have been treating me better and better.

Case in point: today was a pretty stellar birthday, with hubby taking me out to my favourite place for lunch (Union Street Cafe in Berwick, NS. If you haven't been, you don't know what you're missing. Their lunch buffets are always absolutely delicious!), Then there was the trip to my favourite store, the Gaspereau Valley Fibres where I finally got some blocking wires, and yarn. Good yarn: Fleece Artist sock or mitten kit and a skein of Seasilk. So shiny... And he even cooked supper. I'm a pasta girl, so that's what he made with some chicken and veggies. Yummy! (Even if he's not so fond of pasta himself!)

I am choosing not to count against hubby and youngest child the fact that they woke me up early to gloat over their team beating my Senators last night; they even tried to serve me coffee in a Bruins mug. This might have had something to do with the amount of cheering and gloating I was doing last night when my team was beating theirs into the second period. After that they went to bed and I alone stayed up long enough for the score to be tied. Anyway, there will be plenty more hockey games in the future... Can't win them all.

I am also choosing to be compassionate in reflecting on the fact that Thomas (my son's cat) threw up on my bed again. After two and a half days of washing comforters and sheets, it was time to call the vet. After an exam and poking around in "the evidence", the vet proclaimed that he would recover soon enough (round worms) and sent me home with a double dose of 4 pills. If I wasn't so relieved I would have cried! Thomas doesn't take kindly to anyone shoving a pill down his throat, so you can imagine what a treat it was for me to administer 4 of them! And to have to do it again in 10 days. Ah, it's done. All my fingers are accounted for and I didn't require any sutures.

All in all, a great day.

Oh yes. Yesterday marked the beginning of another NANOWRIMO. I started making character notes last night. Haven't written a word towards my count yet today. But the night is still young. Cheers.

Maritime Handspinners' Retreat 2011

Almost Time

I thought this day would never get here. I waited and waited. Patiently. Don't laugh. I am capable of patient, even if more often I hope/desire instant gratification. I mean, I wouldn't be a knitter if I wasn't capable of patience, right??

Anyway, I'm not talking about knitting, yet. It's time for the Spinning Retreat at the Old Orchard Inn this weekend! Woot!! I'm excited. Can't you tell? Ha! I've never been to one of these before but it's going to be great, I just know it. I'm planning on coming home to sleep in my own bed at night but a bit of extra driving doesn't seem like much of a sacrifice. My wheel is ready to go; I'm just contemplating which fibre to bring with me. Something easy that won't give me grief when I keep stopping to gawk at what everyone else is spinning? Or something more challenging, so other, more experienced spinners can give me tips and suggestions for a better learning experience? One thing I really want to learn this weekend is to Navaho ply. Ohhh, I'm so excited!

So now about the knitting. Yesterday I cast off from my latest blanket. It's a big (very) square based on the Barn Raising Quilt by Larissa Brown . It was originally designed as a fundraising project back in 2009 for Doctors Without Borders. It's super-simple, the single block. I just kept going and knitting until I ran out of yarn (and space on my needles) that I was stash busting. It's lap blanket size, and I intend on adding some sort of knitted on lace edging to make it lay flat. Because I used worsted/bulky yarn, the center has a bigger whole than you would get if you were using sock yarn so I plan on attaching a flower of sorts to cover it. Big plans. Photos when the whole thing is finished.

Since I wasn't in the mood to go digging for the pattern for that lace edging, I started knitting the very simple Prohibition Shawl. I'm about halfway done. I'm using Red Heart Cozy Wool, which is 70% acrylic(gasp)/30% wool which will make it machine washable, on size 9mm needles. It's cushy and drapey. And it's a stunning raspberry red. Not something the Prohibitionists would have approved of, but then again it's my shawl. (If I wasn't so mature and of that certain age, I'd stick my tongue out.) It's going to be lovely. I just have to think up what yarn to use for the I-cord trim. I'm not going to buy any fur yarn, just so we're clear on that! I do have this fluffy white yarn but that would scream Mrs. Claus a bit too loud. Maybe something in a brown or black with some texture. Yeah, that sounds good. Again, photo to follow.

Hey, did you notice the absence of photos on this blog? Yes, me too. Lazy. Must fix that! So here's a snap shot I took this morning. Enjoy your weekend!

Snortworthy!

I feel it is my duty to introduce you to a blog you may or may not have come across: Murrmurrs. I found her by way of Holly. Thanks Holly! This woman is a gem!! I snorted, more than once. If you need a laugh, a good belly-shaking laugh, and I recommend everyone should engage in such a laugh at least once a day for the good of your health, go visit Murr.

Happy Thanksgiving! (Turkey is in the browning stage. Yummy-to-be!)

False Sense of Comfort

It was so beautiful and warm in Nova Scotia today that it almost makes you forget those freezing temperatures yesterday. Apparently these unseasonably glorious temperatures are supposed to stick around for a couple more days but I won't hold my breath.

Technically an exercise in stash busting, I started knitting another blanket as well as continuing to work my granny square blankets. One can never have too many wool blankets. Especially since the ones in the linen closet are now in use on various beds.

I haven't cast on any socks for the son or a scarf yet. Can't seem to get that mojo going. I think he'll be getting an Irish Hiking Scarf. It's an interesting, good looking, and easy pattern.

What's on your needles?

Baby, It's Cold Outside

And suddenly there is a Demand (yes, with a capital D) for wool knits by my first born. He might have mentioned in passing last week that he needs wool socks because it's going to be winter soon and he's outgrown most of his other pair. Today when he came home from school, soggy and cold, the need turned to demand. As in "how fast can you knit me a scarf and some socks in blue and gold (the school colours)? Tomorrow?" He looked so cold and so hopeful. And obviously delusional.

Looks like I might have to pause the mitten knitting for now (I finished another pair this morning) to fill his order. Not by tomorrow, no matter how desperate and hopeful he is. I love that kid. Tomorrow I go stash diving. There might be something in there in the desired colours.