Gave birth?

The garden is growing like crazy. I think the catnip and the spearmint, on either end of the L" are competing to meet in the middle. If that happens it will take out everything in its path.The oregano might have a lot to say about it anyway.



The herb pot is coming along nicely. We have used some of the basil already. I have some in my green smoothy today.



The kale and the romaine are crowding out the chard. I have some kale and chard in my smoothy too.



I feel like I gave birth over the weekend to my Nermal Thermal. Now I honestly have no clue what it is like to deliver a real baby thankfully and yes there wasn't any blood or pain involved. Well wait there was some wrist and hand pain when I knitted for too long on the size 3 needles with the fingering weight yarn. Does it count?

I started this sucker on January 17, 2010 and finished knitting the last stitch and sewing together on 6/5/11. This project was so awesome. Never once did I doubt I would finish. Never once did I want to throw in the towel. There have been so many projects over the years that I just dreaded the thought of how much time it would take to finish them. Never once did I feel that way. Once I did text Molly to tell her that she gets a medal for knitting this twice.






I am traveling to San Francisco this week, where it has been in the 50's day and night, and I am taking this along for the trip.

Finished Objects & More YARN!

I have finally finished Blanket # 1. I am going to be donating it to Choices: Eliminating Domestic Violence. I used up a bunch of the stash (from my Grammy and mom ~ Grammy would be happy) yarn on this baby. I found that I had a serious case of ADD working on this hence the many color changes. It kept me focused. I started it in November 2008 and finished it yesterday. Not bad I say....


I found some cute daisy buttons for the bibs. Washed them up this morning and they are drying as I type this. I will be able to give them to Abby and baby very soon!


Went with some friends to The Great Lakes Fiber Show a couple weekends ago. It was a beautiful day and lots of yarn to be bought! I was excited to find the Naughty Knitter pin and had to buy it for Molly since she has used that photo in her blog/event invite before. I was so happy Knitting Notions was at the fest. Last fall I purchased one of her shawl pins and found that I needed another one for the Suzie Hoodie. I picked up this dark one to go with it.


This yarn was $10. It was a bag full of yarn and I can use it to make felted items. I can even practice dying with it.


Here is the prize of the day! My very first Briar Rose. Ohhhh MY! 2,500 yards of Alpaca lace weight! My arm was falling off yesterday winding this sucker. Just ask Kristie and Jimmy since they had to listen to me whine the whole winding way!


What is the swatch you say?

Tomorrow Heather and I are having a cast on party. We are finally making our Leaf and Trellis stoles. I will be using the Briar Rose. DROOL!



After the Fiber Fest we had lunch at The Barn Restaurant and then found LYS called Calla Lily Yarn & Gifts. It was there I found this amazing sock yarn.



Check out this link to see how this exact colorway has been knit up already. I am very very excited about this and can't wait to finish the pair of socks I am currently working on. I think a very simple stockinette or 2x2 rib sock is all I need to let the colors sing.

Sunshine on a cloudy day....

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

So yesterday started out cloudy and damp. I put on my Sunshine socks and sang "I got sunshine on a cloudy day" all morning at work. Those socks are amazing. :-)

Alpaca...

Aren't they cute?


Here is a naked alpaca!


I met up with Julane and Kristie at the Alpaca Fest over the weekend. That is Kristie knitting with size 50 knitting needles.

That is a very serious look of concentration Kristie. I really wanted a set of those needles but not for $50 bucks.


I bought two hanks of super soft alpaca. I can't stop petting that yarn.


After the Alpaca we went back to my place for lunch and knitting. Here is Julane working on a secret Christmas gift.


I finished my Sunshine socks while hanging out with the ladies.


This week I have been working on my second Clapotis. I really love this yarn and pattern together. Must get it done so I can wrap up on cool evenings by the fire.

Weekend FO # 2 Finished

Slinky Ribs Finished

I love how the Slinky Ribs turned out. Very very soft and springy. Thank you Molly for letting me raid your button stash. They are perfect.

Not ready yet.....

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

As we speak the blocked Suzie is drying on the bed in the spare room. I was a bit impatient this morning and tested to see if it was dry. I really wanted to wear it today. I am having dinner with a knitting friend and I soooooooo wanted to show it off. Oh well it was still damp. Perhaps tomorrow!

Proofed?

I finished two knitted objects last week. I finished the Suzie Hoodie. I don't have FO pictures to share with you right now. I deliberately knit this jacket down a size from my current size. So now the HARD work is to begin of loosing a size so that I can enjoy this knit. I may take some pictures of it hanging so you can see how awesome this knit is. I am tickled with the cable and construction of this garment. Stay tuned....

I also finished these socks. I cast these socks on to kill two birds with one stone. I wanted to be reacquainted with 2 socks at a time on one circular and to knit something for a gift. I think they will be nice and toasty once they are blocked to the feet of the recipient.


Heather and Kristie came by Saturday for knitting and movies.



Kiki decided Heather's project made a comfy bed to rest in while Poo stood guard.


Poo at the vet. He had already had his blood drawn and was ready to get out of dodge. His glucose levels are lower than the vet would like so they called me this morning and reduced his dose. YEAH!

So Jimmy and I went to Hooters for lunch the other day. I ordered a Killian's and got proofed. HAHAHAHA