Decisions, decisions

I've decided to set aside Spring Shawl Surprice and finish Mystic Waters first. I'm making stupid mistakes (because I can't count to 3) and getting frustrated. So I'll finish Mystic Waters then do SSS then we'll see. I have yarns coming for two more stitch alongs... One will be Mystic Light, a companion to Mystic Waters, this one being fire. I had purchased some yarn but then read more of Anna's view so changed to a color called Pale Fire. I'll post photos when it arrives (late next week?).

This past week I went to a Tuesday night Knit group at a coffee shop downtown. First of all, I'll have to remember not to drink cappuccino after 6 pm. I was wired until 4 am. Secondly, I met some very interesting people. Only one "knitter" other than myself showed up but the shop is quite a gathering place and a very eclectic group was there. There was an interest in knitting expressed by one man who sews now and wanted to know how much I'd charge him to knit a ski cap. He said he could do a little crochet so I told him he could find oodles of patterns free on the internet and YouTube has loads of video how-tos. Lots of questions that showed thought and curiosity. I loved it! Back in 2 weeks for more and I'm so looking forward to it.

I was told today that I've been tagged so I guess I'll have to find out for what and answer that one in another entry.
PK has declared war on the bottom step and now jumps over that step on her way upstairs. Considering she fell off that step while trying to be cute - and doing well at that - I can understand her frustration with that step. I'll see if I can get a photo or two of her attacking the step - it's really funny to watch.

Enjoy!

SSS Clue 1

I've finally completed clue 1 of the Spring Shawl Surprice. Today Clue 2 was released so I have more knitting to do today. I know I've made some goofs in the center section but I believe I've found what my problem has been so will just continue. It seems to be a busy enough pattern that the errors won't show.















I have one photo of the whole thing and another of the detail. The yarn is Zephyr 2/18 which is a wool/silk blend and I'm stitching on 3mm needles.

I'm going back to knitting now along with sipping some tea.

New Year, New Starts

Welcome to 2008. We actually had some snow last night. Enough to turn cars white - but mostly gone by early morning - at least in the sunny areas. I got a raspberry (aka Bronx Cheer) from DD when I called her. She lives quite north of me - and has no snow. Youngest DGS really, really wants snow but he's been disappointed most of this winter.

I think my most favorite gift this holiday season was a conversation with my youngest GD. She talked and talked and even sang a bit to me. For a child with autism who has been mostly silent for 5 years, this brought tears to my eyes.

Most people make resolutions as to what they want to accomplish in the new year - mostly being behavioral changes. Well I'm so tired of breaking those resolutions that I'm not making any. No, I'm not resolving to make no resolutions - I just skipped the whole thing.

I did make a new start for the new year. Spring Shawl Surprice (the spelling is the designer's) had the first clue released at midnight designer time. I'm knitting it in Jaggerspun Zephyr in Cinnabar on 3 mm needles.

I'm at about row 10 out of 50. A few fellow knitters have finished the clue and their photos show this to be an interesting knit.

The designer is the same lady who designed Secret of the Chrysopholis (spelling is mine and may or may not be correct).

I'll post another photo when I finish the clue.

I've renamed the cat to PK from Angel Eyes. She actually seems to respond to this name a bit. C is the one who came up with the name - even before he met her. One thing interesting about her is a medallion or prism on her head.
She also does seem to have the M on her forehead. My MIL says this indicates a cat who can be a good mouser. The best mouser I had was black with a white bib - no M visible on her at all.

I'm also fascinated with PK's eyes. In the following photo, you can almost see me in her pupils. She's adjusting quite well to her new forever home and is becoming quite a talker.

My new housemate

I have a new resident in my condo. Her name - as delivered to me is Angel Eyes. This is a temporary name as to me, Angel Eyes was the bad in Good, Bad and Ugly. This lady is too pretty for that.

Her eyes are an awesome green - more emerald than is showing here. This photo is the one which made me very interested in meeting her. It was taken by feralcatfriend and I want her to have the credit for the photo. I'll post more when Angel is more settled and less shy.

I've always said I'm a sucker for green eyes - and C always thought it was him......... that'll learn him!

I finished the felted bag for DDIL and one for DGD too. I forgot to get the photos first.

Mystic Waters is still on the needles and I'm almost finished with chart C. Five more charts and I'll be finished with that beauty.

So, from my home to yours - Have a very Happy New Year!
This is the 2nd time I've gotten these orchids to bloom - and I've had them almost 8 years. There are now a total of 7 blooms. I'm on week 2 of the blooming.

They are dendrobium orchids from Lowe's. Apparently they need to be outside during the summer and until the temp drops to around 40 at night. Then they can come in and will make buds.

Tis the season

So why has it been in the 70's for the past 3 days? Oh well, I can be jolly in spite of the warm weather. I went to the main Library today to get a library card and start browsing and loved the lights in the city as I was going home.

Knitting has been interesting. I've started the fuscia blossoms for the Market Tote. They are hard on my hands so I still have 2 inside petals on the first one. Then two more flowers, felt and done. Hopefully done by Christmas.

Mystic Waters has released the final clue - and I'm on the second. Should finish clue 2 and start clue 3 tomorrow.

Celtic Tote is on the sidelines for a bit. Since it is for me, I guess I can wait a bit for it. Also on the sidelines are Autumn Rose, Fair Isle Pullover, and the silver shawl for the daughter.

Next is to find gifties for granddaughter 1 who has a birthday the 22nd with Christmas right after. Grandson 1 is all set. Grandkiddles 3-5 will probably have late gifts from me as I'm making them. They are the only grandkids on their Dad's side so won't be short of presents.

So wishing you and yours all the joy of the season. Enjoy!

Oops and other words

Well, I had my Mystic Waters in a bag while I was going out of town. I had stopped in the middle of a row - first mistake. Then I started to take the knitting out of the bag - without looking -- second mistake. Tugging was the final mistake. All sorts of stitches fell off needles and unzipped themselves. After saying oops and other words not to be mentioned here, I ended up finishing the oops and unraveling the whole thing and starting again.

Almost done with chart A. I seriously doubt I'll be ready for the next installment (6?) when it comes out on Wednesday. I'm so glad I'm enjoying this knitting!

No, I Didn't...

...fall off the face of the earth, tho' I may have teetered on the edge a bit. : )

A quick summary of knitting follows:
1. Frogged Secret of the Stole as I wasn't enjoying the knit very much. This isn't really my style of knitting. I can and do admire the work others have done on the Stole.
2. Started Mystic Waters. I'm still slogging through Clue 2 (Clue 5 was released this week) but things may perk up a bit on the knitting front with this one.














Please note the color isn't quite as turquoise-y

3. Began the Celtic tote from Interweave Knits Winter 2007.
This shows one of the two cables on the front and back of the purse/tote. It will be outlined by a reddish brown yarn and then felted slightly. This curls a lot and I couldn't find pins to pin it out. If you can keep your wits about, it is a fairly quick knit.









I've also been doing a bit of work on Autumn Rose by Eunny Jang. I'm still working on the ribbing so won't post photos until I get into the pattern work. This is a fair isle style pullover with a beautiful deep scooped neckline. I've seen others finished work, including one on a woman shaped like I am (fluffy), and it looked wonderful on her - so I'm hopeful!

Last week was Thanksgiving here in the US. Thursday was quiet but on Friday DS and his family arrived - along with the two newest members, a Maltese puppy and a Shi Tsu puppy. They were very well behaved. The two grandkiddles went to the TN Aquarium with DH and myself and had a good time.

Saturday DH and I drove around, including going up Lookout Mountain. Folks, if you like windy, curvy, narrow roads with awesome views, the drive up the mountain is for you. I'm "nervous" about heights and only held the car on the road twice. I didn't look off the edge much, but didn't freak out. Yeah for me!

It was cloudy and had a few sprinkles but still a wonderful view from the Point (a National Park). I love the sign on the edge of the cliff. For those who are not students of the Civil War, the Battle of Chattanooga was basically won by default. The Confederacy had left the mountain so no one was there when a few Union soldiers climbed the bluff to the top. There was a fight and about 900 soldiers died and 3,000 were injured or missing, mostly from NY and IL. That isn't much if you look at other battles, such as Battle of Stones River about 100 miles NW of here where between 23,000 and 26,000 died and the river ran red with blood.















I grew up in New England where Fife and Drum Corps and the Revolutionary War were important to residents. Here in the south, the Civil War is much more a part of life with re-enactments being fairly common. I still love listening to Fife and Drum units!

I'm trying once again to post more often. Hopefully I can save enough time in my life to fit this in. Otherwise I'll have to post daily goals and whether they are met or not.