Purling Oaks

Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln*

Hai!

I've sipped and savored my first one and a half cups of coffee this morning.  Now to start working the keyboard.....

Here's a bit of catching up.....

Way back in January....but less than a month ago...I met up with Nora and some new-to-me friends in Watertown, Wisconsin, for a few hours of talking knitting, yarns, shoes, spinning and other things that knitters talk about when gathered.  It was a cold, sunny, and lovely day.  I brought along my spinning wheel since my ability to knit correctly and talk while making sense at the same time is challenged at times.  Nora described the day with more photos and details here.  Speaking of Nora....

She took to it quite well.  I know that our work to create a wheel spinner is not finished yet but we are so much closer after that day in January.  

Just a few days later in Washington, D.C., I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Angie (aka Lori-Angela) for a long lunch at a sandwich place just a block from my office.  She was visiting our capital city from western Canada with her husband who had the handy excuse of a convention to come to visit.  We share a name and, in fact, our husbands share a name, which is fun to mull.  She's a very productive knitter and I'm not, but we didn't let that stop us.  We had a lovely visit and a nice discussion of knitting-relating stuff and of transitions (which we're both experiencing).  The time went too quickly.  It was so nice to meet another "virtual" friend and have her materialize in real-time.  

 

I'm contemplating ripping Williamsro.  The time that it has been tucked away has moved me to different sweater likes for myself, although I still love the pattern, just not for me.  I'm considering a top-down cardigan, probably Laura Chau's pattern here and probably with the yarn from Williamsro although I do so love Noro Silk Garden.  My plan is developing.  I had considered using the yarn I won in the NMO funds drive over at our Stacey's (looks like I'm too late for a page linky) but the gauge I'm getting won't give me the quick (at least in my mind) or faster knit that a heavier weight than Silky Wool will give, although I love that yarn, too.  Yup, I did a gauge swatch.  I'll do another with Cash Iroha, maybe today on the drive north.

We're taking a day trip up to visit with my mom and family to celebrate her birthday, that was this past week Tuesday.  Happy Birthday, Mom!   I'm looking forward to our visit and better sign off to get myself ready to go.

 

Have a good weekend!

 

*This was the first thing that came to mind for a title.  Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow to get a project started and finished.  

Satisfying and not so.....

The travel gods and goddesses were feeling generous today!  I was able to change my flights and get home at a decent hour rather than midnight.  I've been in DC this week and I'll be going back next week.  All work-related but I'm helping instruct a course so it is a change of pace, interesting, and satisfying. 

What's not so satisfying?  This sleeve of Williamsro (Ravelry link) that I worked on this week. 

(Sorry about the photography...it is dark here and I had to lighten the exposure to have something to blog about.)  I took Williamsro on the road to try to make some progress and I did.  Sort of.  Anyway, there are at least three mistakes in the last fourth of the sleeve, so I'll be frogging back.  One mistake and I might have just ignored it, but three is just too many for even me.  So look quickly blogless Aunt Jane and Stacey, here's knitting......since this is occasionally a knitting blog.  After I redo the sleeve, I'll start on the brown portion of the back.  This should be a fairly quick knit.......if I spent any time with it. 

The last several weeks I have been dealing with stress by just spending more time reading blogs and surfing.  I don't even have a sock on the needles.  Silly, I know.  (Not so satisfying)

Now, for a nice relaxing part of the blog...............

A welcome-home fire in the fireplace.  It is 46 degrees right now and a fire is a nice condiment for the night.  DH has some picadillo (with raisins and green olives) warming up and the rice is almost ready.  Yum.  (Yes, that translates as satisfying.)  Have a good night all.

Sunday sock undate.

There is just not much blog-able stuff going on here.  I've been knitting a little on Williamsro and I ripped a sock.  As noted earlier, I lost two needles from a sock and just wasn't up to picking up stitches.  The last time sock stitches had to be picked up, Stacey was nearby and able to save my sock.  However, she is in Texas and I'm a good thousand or more miles north in Wisconsin.  This time it just got ripped.  Sorry, Cookie, no sock pics this time.  This lovely yarn is the yarn I won from Joan.  I'll be starting again, probably using Cookie's short-row sock pattern.  When I'll start is up for debate.  The non-blog-able stuff is distracting me though, really, knitting should relieve stress.

A lovely surprise arrived this week's mail.  Deborah sent me a Pay It Forward gift.  It is a gorgeous bag and will be a well-used bag here at Purling Oaks.  She did a wonderful job making this bag.  It is  lined with a purple/pink fabric.  I really needed another sock project bag (see above...needles lost due to the lack of a project bag.) and this is a very classy bag, indeed.

Just look at the cool zipper pull! 
Thank you for the lovely bag, Deborah.  (and the reminder to proceed with my own PIF projects.)

I made it to Curves three times this week.  I'm down another pound.  Making myself have a smaller "footprint" is progressing slower than I originally planned.  However, I'm making progress, so I'm still satisfied that my efforts are moving me the way I want to go.  I know the additional exercise is helping me cope with the work-stress I'm encountering.

Have a good week, everyone.  I mean that.

Now, that is a good oyster!

Actual knitting has taken place this week.  Yes, stop the presses, I knit this week.  I finished the first sleeve (main color only) of Williamsro and I'll be casting on for sleeve two momentarily.  I also have a sock started that needs to be frogged and restarted.  The needles slipped out of two sides of the sock.  It was a bit big anyway.  :D

We had grilled oysters last weekend.  DH was the genius cook.  I thought they were great and he said they were "fandamntastic."  Lots of chopped vegies with butter, dry sherry, and a splash of rum on top of the little guys then tucked in the grill with the cover on so they get flavored with the smoke.  YUM.   

You can bet I'll ask him to include this dish in our meal planning again.  DH is always willing to try a new dish or a new way of preparing a favorite meal.  I've tried many new foods that I may not have tried without his influence.  I feel quite fortunate. 

The home improvement projects are progressing.  The tile was installed in the addition this week.  I am really pleased with the way it looks.  Selecting flooring, et cetera, is/was tough!  The empty corner that we are looking at will (pretty soon) be where the wood stove will sit.  Trim and door installation is in process right now.  The second step of light fixtures and related work is about one-third complete.  The studio is not yet ready for occupation.  (No, Cookie, the pole has not been installed yet.)

Squirrelly--or is it me?

Although my ancient Safari and TypePad are conspiring to eat my posts, I'm going to post, despite the crabbiness. Now, deep breath *in* and *out* and *in* and *out.* There.

This photo was taken only with my 3x zoom. We have our squirrel bird feeders located close to the house to minimize bird/window collisions. It gives us many opportunities to observe birds, squirrels and the occasional raccoon up-close and personal. Yes, Purling Oaks has a squirrel theme lately. Is there a problem?

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I'm still recovering from the cold virus. (You think?) Yesterday I burned a number of Iron Chef episodes to DVDs from our DVR where they've been residing for about 10 months for the oldest. FoodTV was airing the episodes for the past several years but have stopped showing the original Japanese series. DH and I really enjoy the original series and (are you listening episode-owners?) we would love to buy a commercial-free set of episodes. I also took the time to clean out my Williamsro knitting bag that also has served for a carry-all. Charging cords for the new and old mobile phoes, charging card for the Ninetendo DS Lite, sock needles, straight needles-sizes 10, 10.5, and 11; hygiene products, pattern, Koigu fingerless mitts, Handwoven magazine, Cash Iroha yarn (brown)-four cakes + two used (yarn worked double), two skeins of Blossom, and the Willliamsro sleeve in process. How did that all fit in there?

Last day of 2007

Today has been pretty productive from my point of view especially since I'm still on "vacation." I divided and froze 13 servings of bean and vegetable soup. I'm almost through with laundering the flannel bedding. DH came down with a cold a few days ago and I am hoping freshly laundered flannel will help him sleep better. I found some new tires on sale for the Jeep and scheduled a time to have them installed (I think *install* is the right word.) I knit several rows on Williamsro. Oh, and checked work email. I've also been gazing out the window. The deer are much more visible in the woods with the heavy snow cover.

Here is a Williamsro progress shot
and White Dot checking out the koosh-factor of the first Williamsro sleeve in progress.
I'm enjoying the pattern and the yarn (Noro's Cash Iroha) although I've come across one knot so far. The color is fairly true in these photos.

No resolutions for me this new year--I never keep them anyway. I just hope to face the challenges of the new year with grace and to recognize and embrace the joys that life brings. I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Hey lady! Where's the seed?

The snow arrived this morning about seven o'clock this morning and continued to fall all day. I think we received about four or five inches of additional snow today. The birds and squirrels visited the bird animal feeders all day. I think these cardinals were wondering if I was going to come outside to top off the feeders this afternoon.

On this day of snowy leisure, I cast-on (again) for Williamsro. This time I used size 11 (US) needles (one size down from the pattern's suggested needle size) and I'm close enough to gauge that I'm going to continue on with my sleeve swatch sleeve.

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Perhaps most everyone that wants to participate in Pay It Foward has all ready found their spot.......but, just in case, I would like to offer up that I still have two openings for my PIF, if you are interested. I'm not worried about filling the slots as I'm planning to present crafty gifts to two folks (with blogs or not) who won't suspect expect it, so I'll be able to fulfill my voluntary obligation during the year.

Sunday siftings

Today was a productive day without a lot to show for it. Well, I could photograph my dresser drawers that I inspected, organized and tossed appropriately worn-out garments. But, I'll spare you. I laundered, picked up piles of stuff around the house and put those piles of stuff in their proper places. The kitchen counter is now visable! I unpacked and repacked my suitcase. I fixed the TV in the bedroom so the satellite feed comes through. (How I did that is a mystery....I'm just happy it is working.) In general, it was a day of catching up and organizing.

I read blogs, today, as well. There is a lot of secret knitting happening. Well, folks, there is no secret knitting happening at Purling Oaks this year. My knitting speed and time have to increase before anybody will see knitting gifts. Perhaps I'll start in June if I'm going to gift any knitting next year. So, dear family members and friends reading my blog........, we should both be glad no knitted items were on anybody's wish list this year. *g*

Speaking of knitting, TanyaTho on ravelry invited me to an informal KAL for Williamsro. This KAL will keep me motivated to keep on knitting. I didn't re-start Williamsro today but it is in my take-along bag of knitting so I'll be working on it this week. I hope to make some decent progress on this sweater in December so I'll be able to finish it during my Christmas vacation. Thanks, Tanya!

Here's another photo from the past week of me with my DB. It was a good vacation.

Very relaxed knitting

I had some time to knit a bit more on my sleeve swatch for Williamsro. After I did the first cable crossing, it seemed a bit more lace-like than this cardigan should. So, I thought that I perhaps should measure my gauge. I am usually a control-knitter, but my guage is off a quarter-inch over four inches (at least), indicating that I've relaxed a bit. (And the fabric is rather loose.) At this rate, I'll run out of yarn way before the sweater is finished....and I have extra.
So, I'll switch out my US 13 needles for US 11 and see what happens next.

Of course, I have no size US 11 needles in the house. Looks like I'll have to venture into Madison for a LYS excursion. I had planned to go to the Wisconsin Spin-In today with my SIL, however, her BIL is visiting this weekend and I have to travel to Dallas, Texas, on Sunday. So, no WISPININ this year. However, Madison is *much* closer, so I'll just take a *quick* trip there. *g*

It is certainly Autumn again here with the cooler temperatures. We were forecast for a possible light frost last night. I was surprised to see this rose in the garden this time of year. Well, I'm actually surprised to see roses in my garden at any time of the year but that's a whole other issue.
Because of the frost advisory, I cut the flower and it is now brightening my kitchen.

Williamsro versus Weavette!

The Baby Kimono is almost finished! Here it is pre-blocking: And after blocking but still drying:
As soon as it is dry, I'll seam and add closures. I'm still not quite sure what I want to do for closures. I have ribbon but it isn't too girlie. I may make a run to Jo-Ann Fabrics tomorrow.

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So, with the kimono off the needles, I was free of knitting projects...............for about two hours. I cast-on for Williamsro. I've chosen Noro Cash Iroha in a dark brown for the main color and the 'border' yarn will be Noro Blossom which is a multi-color yarn, primarily in earthtones. Both yarns are held double and the cardigan will be knit essentially in bulky weight, though it doesn't *look* like a bulky yarn. This sweater is my first using charts and cables so I'm looking forward to working with them. I definitely need to wrap my brain around the charts.

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I joined the Square Deal Weave-A-Long this week. I was sucked in after clicking on the link at Stacey's blog. Then I saw all the cool and innovative things you could make with yarn and a small loom and I acquired a new obsession. Oh heck, what's one more? Of course, 4x4 looms are sold out everywhere but ebay. However, I was able to buy a 2x6 and a 4x6 loom from Brigitte at Bahr Creek Llamas & Fiber. I ordered them Friday and they came today! Whoo hoooo!! Now, that is outstanding....from both customer service and immediate gratification perspectives. I did mention obsession, didn't I? *ahem* I may have found a loom or two on that auction site, as well. But they aren't here yet.

Now, I have to launch into the week one pattern of the WAL. Really, go look at Jana's site. She made the coolest knitting project bag with loom squares.