And It Is Done

I am knitting slower this year.  This is only Finished Object #2 for 2017 but it is done and delivered.  With the movies that have been on, I was able to make a push and got it done.

   

The second sleeve went well, although I kept having to think back when my mind absolutely would not purl in the first garter stitch round.  But eventually it all worked out.

 

Do you remember the dilemma about weather to knit the pocket in place or separately?  I sort of did both.  I fused the bottom by picking up stitches just above the garter stitch and knitting away.  I still had to sew them down but at least I knew the positioning was even.

And did my favorite teenage granddaughter like it?

 

I think so, complete with the contrasting pockets she requested.  

And so ends the Christmas knitting for 2016.  Now back to baby blankets.  And (oops) I may have cast on a thing or two.

Hello Again

Perhaps I should have made it my goal to dial back my postings.  I certainly seem to have don that this month.  But I have excuses, really I do.

On the 16th I had my first colonoscopy and in preparation for that a friend advised me to eat light, so the actual "cleaning out" prep would be easier.  I did and it was, but still not fun.  I hardly got any sleep the night before.  I didn't dare knit, but got lots of reading done.  My latest kick has been mysteries in an old series, "Mrs. Bradley."

I then proceeded to get a tremendous cold, and bailed on all activities for a day.  It was mostly spent sleeping and helped a lot.  The next day was spent with a box of Kleenex in hand, and a bucket for the used ones close by at all times.

Unfortunately not a lot of knitting was done during that time.  But I have finished the first sleeve on the Graceful Harvest Cardigan, and made a good start on the second.  

With the return of NASCAR now there will be prime knitting time every week.  The race format has changed some this year, and of course I need to learn to identify all the new sponsors and paint schemes.  The sweater is brainless enough for that.  I just need to keep track of decrease rows.

 

This past week there were several small races.  But tomorrow is the biggy: the Daytona 500.  This sleeve should grow quite a bit then.

 

I think I have a solution to my low knitting output.  And it's a grand one.

I have been trying to remain faithful to one project at a time.  And I still want to concentrate on finishing my Works in Progress.  But while reading the Mason Dixon Knitters blog post, I discovered why.  I need more projects.  

No, really!

I think this is giving me an excuse to wind up some yarn and cast on something more brainless for travel.  The sweater is way to large for easy travel knitting.  And if I had something smaller, I probably would have grabbed it for on the go.

Yup, I may need to spend some time tonight winding yarn.

Yum

Mmmm. Bread pudding. I love bread pudding.

And hey: bread, milk, eggs, raisins...sounds like a balanced meal to me.

Baking and racing, knitting and a little reading. It's a good day, even if the NASCAR season ends in a couple hours.

 

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Chilling With The Critters

Just a typical Sunday afternoon: knitting, NASCAR, and a few animals.

Lewie on the footstool and Lizzie on the floor, feeling a bit subdued after her thwarted attempt to play with a chicken, and both managing to sit quietly for a while. The only reason Lewie is here, is because Leo had already claimed my shoulder.

(Non race fans, feel free to skip this paragraph.). The race was a rain delay from last night, but went quickly. Lots of the Chasers (championship finalists) had trouble so it is still anyone's to win. Of course, Talledega is in this tier, and that is usually a wreck fest.

Montgomery has been taking good care of the girls.

I went looking for them earlier. They had wandered to the front lawn. When I called, they all came running. Unfortunately they do not understand Lizzie's exuberant need to play. Monty started chasing Lizzy the second time she tried. I think she will avoid them now.

Didn't seem to bother the girls much at all. But they do stick close to Montgomery.

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Let's Go Racing!

Finally, at long last, official points competition is back in NASCAR! Did you know I am a bit of a race fan?

Not long now before the green flag waves. Just prayer, anthem and engines starting. I am so ready.

It will be an interesting season. My current favorite Brad Keselowski is here. For the first time I am even happy to see Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick. (Although I still haven't forgiven him for stealing that Daytona 500 win from my man Mark Martin.)

So, let the race begin for another year.

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Games and Races.

Great day for sports in the farmhouse.

The Detroit Lions actually won their second game in a row today. And while I don't watch football (I have a friend who shoots me the score while I give her race updates), I do appreciate the fact that both of these last two games haven't been high scoring games. My Scoreboard Cowl isn't growing quite as fast as it was previously.

The knitting goes easier with the majority of the cowl folded up into a plastic bag. I can manage the three skeins much better without the length of the cowl getting all wrapped up in it.

The other sporting event, more near and dear to my heart was the NASCAR finals. My favorite driver was out of the running for the championship, but up until about 10 laps left, was leading the pack. Then a caution hit. He ended up third, and since Brad couldn't win the championship, I am glad Kyle did.

What a comeback it was too, after missing the first couple months of the season with both a broken leg on one side and a broken foot on the other. I am happy with the outcome of the season.

Now how long till the Daytona 500?

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NASCAR haiku?

Fields of forty-three

Speeding, crashing,need to win

Checker flag crowns one.

Yes, NASCAR haiku. Some days, you can do anything!

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Disbelief! As NASCAR Comes to a Close

Only one more race in the NASCAR season. I cannot believe that one of the four finalists for the championship hasn't won a single race all year. Harvick, Hamlin, Lugano, and .....Newman? Really?

After last week, I am glad Jeff didn't make it, but feel sorry for Brad. So, who will I cheer for next week? I guess Lugano, then Harvick. (I never thought I would be on Harvick's side. Ever since he snatched the Daytona 500 from my man Mark Martin he has been my least favorite driver.) Just one more week though for this year.

The race came right down to the end before knowing who would advance to the final four still eligible for the championship. So to was a great race.

But really, a finalist who never won a race all year? With a new points system and chase format specifically designed to favor wins?

What a strange season this has been.

Oh, there has been knitting too. And snow.

 

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Typically Michigan

I make no excuses about the fact I like this winter.  Even this past winter was okay by me. 

Spring has always been highly rated in my opinion.  I am not a fan of mud and sloppy driveways.   

Last week, we almost got to one of the nice parts of spring.  The weather was finally warm enough for no coats.  At least for me.  Hubby wore a sweatshirt, to my short sleeves on Saturday.  And with sandals, no socks in my Berkis.  The pasture, hay-fields and drive had dried off and the sun was shining.

By evening it was a different story.

Rain, wind, rain, lightening, thunder.  And did I mention rain?  

The power never flickered, but the Dish went out a couple times, very briefly, causing me to miss the end of Nascar.  

We were not an area that had the tremendous straight line winds that caused a lot of power outages and down trees.  But we did get rain.

The above picture is of the hay-field, as well as the one below.  It also includes the corner of the drive by the barn.

The pasture picked up some too.

And just to put it in perspective.  This crock pot liner was empty that morning. and the next morning, it looked like this.

And this morning?  Just a couple inches of snow.   Typical Michigan.

Nearing the End of the Duchess

Last Sunday's rain delay in Daytona that was briefly interrupted by the Daytona 500 (Yea Junior!) provided me time to finish the last sleeve and pick up over 350 stitches around the fronts and neck of the Duchess of Cambridge cardigan.  I have over half of the 3 1/2 inch border done.
Perhaps by tomorrow I can cast off.  Then I can return to the SWestie Shawl, as well as other WIPs (Works in Progress) as I contemplate new projects.

I have a semi-stealth project in mind.  I can probably post pictures, but won't mention who it is for, once that is begun.  For now, I'll just say February Baby Sweater.  And maybe a blankie to go with it.
Once I spend time on the shawl again, I will think about casting on.
I wonder what the weather report is in Phoenix this weekend come race time?

Let's Go Racing

At long last, NASCAR is back. Not the regular season but the first race: the free-wheeling, free-for-all called the Sprint Unlimited. I am ready. My knitting is at hand and ready to go.

But the one dark spot is that for the first time since I have followed the racing, my man Mark is not here. Mark Martin has once again retired. He tried before, and that didn't take. But it seems this time that he means it. He is at least off the track. Hope he enjoys retirement. At least it was his decision.

So now, who will be my main driver to root for? I really don't know. I picked Brad Keselowski as my driver on my NASCAR app, mostly because he is from Michigan. But Tony is back, Kyle seems less intense, Jimmy is on a roll, and there is always Jr. I like all of them, and more.

Today I may have Brad, but the position of favorite driver is up for grabs. Now excuse me. The flag will drop soon.

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Crafting in Movies

While watching an old movie today, (A Majority of One with Alec Guinness as a Japanese businessman and Rosalind Russell as a Yiddish mother), I noticed Rosalind crocheting. Recently, while enjoying the 1939 version of The Women, I spotted her knitting while at the fashion show.

And of course Bette Davis was also a movie crafter. She was knitting in Now Voyager and crocheting in The Letter. And there were probably other actors and movies that I have forgotten.

I love catching glimpses of my crafts in old movies. I sometimes wonder if that was in the script or if the actresses added that bit of magic on their own. I haven't caught anyone using a spinning wheel yet though; I'll have to watch closer.

In knitting news I have joined the sleeves, and started the garter stitch placket on the Best Bud's Baby's Sweater. I should be at the dividing point soon. I hope to get to the hood by tomorrow. With a good movie tonight (Lawrence of Arabia....still part of Alec Guinness day.) and the NASCAR race tomorrow (Poconos!) I should get plenty of knitting done.

And maybe I can find time to work on my seat pads, using my humungus new hook.

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Second Part, Just Like the First

I have finished the second half of the babies and bears cardigan.  Although I probably should not call them halves.  There is still a bit of knitting to be done.
The back panel is next.  Then hood and edging all around.  Easy peasy.
Well, except for the back panel that has to be grafted to the other side.
But on the brighter, non-knitting front, I hope to soon be off dial-up and on wireless.  NCATS, the county technology services is coming to s3e if we can get a signal on Monday.  They say I should be able to get a signal, so here's hoping.  Maybe I can start blogging via laptop again, or at least with the iPad.
And now, back to knitting and NASCAR.  It is the All-star race tonight.

Knitting and NASCAR

The Daytona 500 is almost ready for opening ceremonies.  I can hardly wait.
The picture below shows some of the progress on my Rustic Shawl Collar Cardigan.  I actually have knitted to ten inches now.  I hope to join the sleeves in another week.
I really love this yarn. The brown Shetland and white lambs wool give an irregular color patterning.  A nice tweedy blend.  It was fun to spin and equally fun to knit.  I hope there is at least a couple of skeins left.  I would like to gift them to the friend and knitter who gifted me with the lambs fleece to blend with my Shetland.
And one brief editorial comment.
When did the National Anthem stop  sung at sporting events and becone a performance?  Even if hard to sing, I loved when everyone knew the words and sang along.

Blurred Lines

Another NASCAR season is beginning. 
And while I really have enjoyed all the Sunday afternoon movies these past three months, I can't wait for the season to begin for real. 
There is just one problem.  At the beginning of the season ending Homestead race, our television went crazy.  The picture shown below is an actual photo of the screen.  The top quarter or less is fine.  The bottom third of the screen is totally blurry.  And in between, is a jumpy wavy picture. 
With black and white movies, it isn't too bad.  But watching color shows is much worse.  Headache inducing.
Luckily, the race ticker is at the top of the screen, but other items we would like to see, like weather alerts, and names of speakers usually is at the bottom. 
I think a new TV may be in the near future.

The Closing

I haven't posted much this past summer about the recently ended NASCAR season.  But.....wow! 
I suppose I shouldn't have been quite so surprised.  After all Jimmie was not the champ last year, Tony was.  That 2011 race, ending in a points tie was great. 
but this year Jimmie was back with a vengeance.   But I do think it was nice to have a Michigan guy win the championship.
Now I need to watch for the banquet to be televised.  And wait for next season.

Plying Catch Up

As I mentioned earlier, I had a bit of spinning waiting to be plied.  So today, I sat down with my NASCAR buddies (Yea Junior!!) and plied up a storm.  

I showed you the full bobbins I had.  Some light pink/beige I got from Yarn and a Tale at West Branch a couple years or more ago.  I can't remember the fiber--Corridale perhaps.  I'll have to look for the tag in my spinning guild bag  The green is from Sassy Red Ewe, raised and dyed by her as well.  I think I had 2 pounds of it.  There is was another three bobbins on the lazy kate of the green, but two were partials.  It made a total of 14 bobbins ready to ply.

The lone red bobbin is some more overdyed Islandic; the last of two pounds I purchased several years ago. And then there is the gray.  That is some of my Jacob wool.  A friend from church gave me three bags full of Jacob fleeces.  Well actually more than that, but I found other owners for some of it.  I ended up with 13 pounds, before cleaning.  I finished spinning the small bag, but more than two thirds is still left to spin.
And by the end of the race, this is what I had:

 Five, count them Five empty bobbins.  Granted two were the partial greens that were on the kate, but I emptied them.  I also got two large and one baby of the pink/beige and two large green skeins.  I already had three skeins of the green.  And with two full and two partial green bobbins left, I thinking sweater quantity.

 I originally bought this to try to spin for socks.  This is way too soft and light colored for that.  I could make a scarf or hat of it.  Perhaps even mittens.  I will have to think on it, as this is all I have of this color.  It was some of the wool I unearth when organizing the wool room this summer.  I love finding things I've buried and forgotten.  It is approximately worsted weight.  I am never very good at the wraps-per-inch, but that is what it looks like.

This green I am also loving.  Softer than I thought it would be when spun, a lofty worsted weight.  It will be a great sweater.
And I have bobbins for Spin Guild tomorrow again.

The Rain Must Fall

And fall it did. After waiting and waiting, no race today. Drat.
And while I probably will have to have my NASCAR app playing in my ear during spinning guild tomorrow if they race (weather doesn't look good then either), the weekend wasn't an entire wash.
In the last two days I finished two (2!) WIPs! I managed to finish Sporto yesterday. And I didn't want to pick up Evelyn's cardigan to knit during the race--too much counting to watch for decreases. So I dug out a vest I made over a year ago, but that needed adjustments. I shortened the armholes and re-stitched. They go fast with super bulky yarn.
Another finished project!
Pictures of my Jeweled Sporto will be taken during Show & Tell tomorrow at spinning. But for now here is Gertrude and my so called Burly Quick Vest. Just not too quick.

Now, to look at the Misty Blue Cardi.

WOW!

What a finish to the NASCAR season!  Carl and Tony had me on the edge of my seat through the whole race.   With all Tony's smack talking all week, I knew he was confident.  And he pulled it off.
I couldn't even knit the last 30 laps.  I was afraid my gauge would suffer. 
You know, in the time since I've been watching NASCAR, I've only seen 2 champions: Tony twice and 5 time Jimmy. 
What a ride!

Go Busch?

I can't believe I am saying that for this coming NASCAR race. While I am still rooting for Mark Martin all the way, I want even more to stop Kevin Harvick. He has become a bully, pushing anyone around who gets in his way. I never forgave him for winning the Dayton 500 a few years ago when Mark had been leading for quite a while. But his actions lately have been over the top, and he doesn't care! I really want him to get spun out of the race and even the Chase. . Kurt Busch is hot on his heels, and since Kyle became a truck team owner, he has been quite bearable this year. Much more mature. I would prefer anyone but Harvick in the lead
I want Harvick out of the Chase so so badly, I will even cheer for Kyle Busch.
I can't believe I said that.