Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Settling In

My new dog seems to be adapting well.  Life on a farm isn't fazing her at all
I did decide to change her name to something I would use, so instead of Isabelle or Izzy, she is now Lizzie Bell. 
These pictures were taken after a long romp behind the barn, sniffing and chasing barn cats.  That's the only way I could keep her still long enough to shoot these.
Quiet and gentle, loving and funny, close on my heels, especially at the door.  My little Lizzie.
This weekend, vet check, and then groomer in another week. 

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Dreaded Sewing Up

Front....check.
Back....check.
Left and right bra cuppy things....check.
Part are knit, only some i-cord and crochet chains left.   So, its time to sew.
While screwing up my courage, I decided to  make Sandra a matching ram, to atone for the slow completion time.


Friday, August 26, 2011

Farewell Friend

My FaceBook friends have already heard the sad news.  But I want to post something here as well.  That is the unhappy fact that my dear little dog, Gilbert the Wonder Dog is no more.

He started ailing last Sunday, and when he wouldn't even eat ice cream from Hubby, I knew I had to get him to vet.  On Monday I was able to get an afternoon appointment, and skipped Spin Guild to come home and get him.  He met me at the door, somewhat unsteadily, and returned to the bedroom, where he lay next to the bed.  An hour later, as I looked for him to get ready to take him to the vet, we found him under the bed, already gone. 
Gilbert Armenus Hagen 8 Dec 2002 to 22 August 2011
He has been my bitty buddy for over 8 years.  I miss him terribly.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Fifth Annual Christy Day

It has been a busy weekend, and I am bushed. But I will try to catch up here, if Blogger allows me.  (Dial-up, you know.) This past Friday, Mary and I headed to St. Joseph to for the 5th straight year to help Christy get her classroom together for the first day of school.  This time we were joined by Kris, whose daughter is Christy's house-mate/landlady.
As usual, she had her list or chores waiting on the board.
Hmmmm.  It gets longer every year.
We plowed through the list and got all but one item done, and that wasn't done only because she forgot the pencil sharpenter. 
We even hit a few yard sales while on our lunch break.  I found some cedar blocks for my wool room, and Christy found a rug for her room.  A great time was had by all, and I can hardly wait for next year.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Cotton Candy Revisited

I am always thrilled when I get a comment from someone I don't know.  My simple blathering?
But it happened again.  This time with a pattern request for the Cotton Candy Shawl.  And while one request isn't an overwhelming crush, I will try to write it up this week.  And while this blog will not allow me to post the chart, I'll also see if I can put the chart on Ravelry.
And thanks for asking!
(Sorry for the poor picture.  It's all I had on my phone.)


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Bogie Night

I am still reveling in Turner Classic Movies' Summer Under the Stars.  And this 24 hour period belongs to Humphrey Bogart.
As I sat knitting (brown tunic for Flo's granddaughter) and watching The Maltese Falcon, I looked up the cast list on my smart phone.  (I'll admit it, I'm a geek.)
All the times I've watched this film and I had never noticed that one of my new favorite stars, Walter Houston appeared in it.  Maybe it was because I've just recently became his fan.  (Try to catch him in "Dodsworth.")
And that is one of the things I love about old movies.  You never know just when one of your friends will appear.
Oh, in case you were wondering, Walter Houston is Captain Jackoby--the man who falls into Sam Spade's office, carrying the battered bundle containing the Falcon.
Next up: Saraha, a tank warfare film.  And not a woman on the screen.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Latest Finished Object--Betty's Purple Triangle

I finished this last Friday, but was unable to post, as my husband was waiting for a phone call, and in the land of dial-up, that means no internet for a while.
Gertrude once again graciously agreed to pose.

Long and lovely.  I think it grew much as the lace was added, but it looked good on everyone who tried it on at Spin Guild today. 
Now I have a week or so to work on other projects, until my next Betty project. 
So--on to the tunic for Flo's granddaughter, Sandra..  I managed to finish the front and one bra cup last night, and if I sign off now, should finsh the second before bed tonight.
Soo.......so long for this time.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Turned the Corner

Last night I turned the corner on the lace for this project. 
In looking at the lace, and the sharp angle, I decided some short rows were in order.  As I finished the last row of the lace, I added a wedge of garter stitches.  As I knit back to the center, I shortened each row by 2 stitches.  After only 2 remained, I reversed the process, until I was back to 12 stitches.
I think it blends in nicely.


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Out of the Hole

Well I managed to climb out of that black hole. 
Turner Classic Movies had 24 hours of Lucille Ball movies yesterday, and Hubby mostly slept in front of AC.  That meant lots of knitting time. 
It was about an 80 inch wing span before lace.
I started and frogged lace last night.  I decided loopy mohair boucle and charted knitting every row was not going to get done in time.
So found a new lace chart and am flying.  Of course there are a bajillion pattern repeats to get through.
So the pressure is on!


Friday, August 5, 2011

The Black Hole of Knitting

Yup, that's where I am.
Stuck in the knitting black hole.
I knit and measure, knit and measure.  The,distance from center back to end of row stays stuck at 30 to 32 inches for half the "wingspan". After spreading it on the bed for an official measurement, I just got 30.
Sigh.
I MUST start the lace by sometime Monday to have it ready for Betty and the Michigan Fiber Festival.
Wish me luck


Monday, August 1, 2011

First Sideways Sock

While I have been dutifully knitting on my commissioned knitting, the Purple Triangle, I just had to finishe the sock I started from my new favorite book, the Knit One Knit All I mentioned about a week ago.





I ended up having to buy a skein of coordinating solid for the toe, but I love this sock.  As you can see I have already cast on the second.  I finished this sock in less than a week, and when you consider I did a lot of working on the shawl, I was quite impressed with the speed of this pattern.  Kroy Sock FX is the yarn, with Brown Sheep Wildfoote for the toe. 
I took it for "Show and Tell" as spin guild today.   Show and Tell is one of the best parts of the get together.  Noting formal.  We just bring our latest FO and share and inspire each other.  "Other Linda" had a crocheted sun that played "You Are My Sunshine" for a certain new grandson of hers



My, or rather Betty's, Purple Shawl is growing along. I have to go to 433 stitches along what will be the two lower sides. Then I can start the lace. And just over two weeks. Yikes! I don't think there will be much blogging going on for a while.
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