Snow day begins...with dogs!

The weather persons are predicting between 4" and 1 foot of snow/sleet/manna from the heavens in the next 24 hours.

Driveway salted...check.

Bird Feeder filled...check.

Milk & bread in house...check.

Dogs fed, pottied, and exhausted from playing...check.

Candles and lighters set out...check.

Soda & DingDongs hidden in the house...check.

Where have I been?

I've been under the weather.

A vicious bout of chest cold/bronchitis. High temp. Missed work.

So I go back to work yesterday, coughing like I'm going to bring up a lung. I did not cough up a lung. I am pretty sure I coughed up a jellyfish, though.

Aren't you glad I shared?

Tiny knit handbag

What got into me?! I finished all the body parts of the cocoa buddy, and was thinking how much I dreaded sewing it together. So make a tiny handbag. It may end up on the Christmas tree of tiny knits. If you want to make one, here's how:



On 2 dpn's, cast on 20.

(K1, slip 1 purlwise) across row, turn.

Repeat row 10 times.

Carefully remove needle, and gently open tube.

Place live stitches on 2 dpn's.

Turn tube inside out so that knit stitches show.

Bind off.

Knit 4 stitch I-cord about 24 stitches long.

Stitch inside purse edge.


I'm sure it could be made more easily another way, but opening the tube feels like magic.

Another single sock slowly grows

This was last week. Cute colors, like rainbow sherbet.

And now, about 4 1/2 inches along. I'm going for a 5" k2p2 cuff.

I made a discovery about my sock knitting. I thought these socks were being knitted on size 2 needles. Nope. They are 0's. All my double points are actually two sizes smaller than I thought. No wonder all my socks are firm and dense.

Dog on Thursday Flashback

It's hard to remember just how little Gus was when he came to live with me. This was his first day, all tuckered out. Now he weighs 9 1/2 lbs. Then? I don't remember. When I picked him up he would curl into a ball. It looked like I was holding a tribble. He's still such a baby, and so unlike the other dogs. If a car backfires, 2 dogs bark and one comes running to get between my feet. He still curls when I pick him up but now he tries to maneuver onto his back to get a tummy rub at the same time.

Super Secret Swap Scramble

A preview of my cocoa swap pal's new buddy. Some assemble required. At this point you can't tell how flipping adorable it will be. Trust me. I've seen a picture.

This weeks topic:What is the most 'random' memory you have from your childhood? I know it's not knitting content, but I love learning about the little quirks and interesting things about people!

My first thought was that when I was very young, I wanted to be a hermit when I grew up. And live in a cave.

How to Help Fledglings

I've taken needles and yarn and a book to another convert at work. We don't have much time for lessons, which is why I give them each a magazine or inexpensive book with basics in it. This leaves me wondering how I can better help them. While I am an adequate knitter, maybe I'm not in the best position to teach them. At this point we're all still casting on and doing knit stitches. Binding off has been demonstrated, but not yet attempted. So far no one has ventured to purl.

My thought is that I could knit small swatches to demonstrate stockingnet, garter, rib, etc. I wouldn't want to knit a copy for everyone, but I could photograph them with brief descriptions. Maybe trimmed to index cards on a ring.

I was searching stitches and realized how little I know. I've never heard of Andalusian stitch or roman stitch. So many simple ways to look different. My goal should be to knit swatches for my OWN education. A swatch a day would be quite an undertaking for someone as lazy as me. I think I'll go knit the first one right now.

A Poem for Dogs on Thursday

EVERY DAY FOR EVERY DOG

Mondays dog is fair of snout,
Tuesdays dog will never pout,
Wednesdays pup is dog-eat-dog,
Thursdays dog is on a blog,
Fridays dog is squirmy and wiggly,
Saturdays dog antics make me feel giggly,
And the dog you find on the Sabbath day
is loving and happy and good all day.

First I forgot it was Thursday. So I picked up the camera to track down a beastie for a picture. Yuck, they need baths and a good brushing. No photo. Can't think of anything to write. I'm sitting here thinking "dogs on thursday, dogs on thursday..." & that poem about mondays child gets stuck in my head. O.K. So I'll google the poem with dogs and see if there is a dog version. Nope. We need a dog day poem, don't we? The hard part for me was rhyming blog. And I only went with blog because I couldn't rhyme "on the web".

January Knitting & Cocoa Swap Update

COCOA SWAP TOPIC OF THE WEEK

Now that we're in the thick of 'Winter'... has your knitting changed to match the season? Are you moving on from dishcloths, and tank tops to afghans, hats and mittens? Has your yarn changed from silk or cotton to wool, superwash or heavier cottons?


My knitting has changed. Not from autumn to winter, but from Christmas to post-giving-season. I was waiting until after the gift knits to start some just-for-me projects. Right now I'm 5 kitchener stitches away from one sock. I started another while waiting for my car to be serviced this morning.
I finished this little sweater as my January contribution to next Christmas' tiny tree of knitting.

I'd also like to work on my gift box. Actually it's a large plastic tote. When I worked in retail, anytime I saw something crazy cheap on clearance, I would buy it and put it in the gift box. During the year we would "shop the box" for birthdays & such. At Christmas I dumped the box and tried to find a home for anything left over.

New Word - Scrumbles

There's a new group on Ravelry making scrumbles. Wha huh? So I google the word and the first place I look is the Urban Dictionary. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scrumble&defid=1028272

Yeah....that isn't it.

It's the crazy-quilt equivalent of crochet & knitting. Check this out. http://www.eject.com.au/e-motive/prudence/whatis.htm

And look at this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonrhythm/98056599/

What a terribly dangerous discovery to make when I'm this close(-----------) to finishing a first sock.

I have Enabled.

Yep, that's me. amateur enable. I often knit at lunch or break while at work. A young man, Jaimee asked me to teach him. Today I took in some cheap acrylic needles and yarn for him. (At this point what he doesn't yet know won't hurt him.) I also loaned him Knitting for Dummies. After work we learned to cast on with a long tail and do a knit stitch. Another young man, Kyle, came to watch and was mesmerized. He gets his "yarn crack sample" tomorrow. It was so much fun seeing their reactions to making a stitch. For them it was like learning a magician's secret.

Jill's Dogs on Thursday

My sister Jill wanted me to post her dogs this Thursday. These are crops from Christmas pictures. It's not that her kids aren't cute, it's just that I can't post her foster kids pictures online.



Lucy and shy little Maddie. People-wise Maddie is timid. Sheltie-wise she's Boss Hog.

The twins, Lucy and Ricky. "Hey Lucy, you got some splaining to do!" I'll admit these are very sweet dogs, but...don't they look like they could rip your throat out in this picture?

Check out the crazy huge amount of presents donated to the 4 foster kids. Way too much. They got tired before they could open them all.

Cocoa Enthusiastic

Here's a really good and simple cocoa recipe from Everyday Food. The solid chocolate really makes a difference.

http://www.pbs.org/everydayfood/recipes/steamy_hotchocolate.html

And here is a chocolate swirl yarn by aspenmoonarts on Etsy. Lovely.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7255548

My New Year's Resolutions for 2008

1. Stop being a week late. Or at least be closer to "on time".

2. Knit daily, even if it is only a token moment to keep this resolution.

3. Take more pictures.

4. Work overtime at least once a month.

5. Use overtime pay against debt.

6. Brush the dogs. Bathe them if they stink too much to sleep in the bed.

7. Knit something for Christmas each month. No matter how tiny.

8. Eat breakfast. Or drink breakfast. Basically, consume something before 9am.

9. Go somewhere educational/fun each month. I've lived here 3 years and still haven't visited the mastodon state park. If the mastodons found time to visit last time they were here, why can't I?

My Cocoa Swap Q&A

Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug?I like dark chocolatey mixes with water in a wide mug.
2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? Marshmallows- vanilla or chocolate.

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors? I like wool and sock yarns right now, in earthy colors like brown/olive/tan.
2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)? Both, but I rarely crochet anymore.
3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new? I like the feel of bamboo because the stitches are less likely to slip and they warm up in my hands.
4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions?Not really, I make do as needed.
5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)?Stitch markers.
6. What is your favorite 'quick knit/crochet' pattern (quick gratification)Ball-band dishcloth, ball-band baby blanket, ball-band scarf, etc.

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter? watch movies in bed
2. What is your favorite animal? dogs & sheep
3. Do you get the 'winter blahs'? no
4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? I enjoy being lazy.
5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? gardening
6. What are your favorite treat? gummy candy
7. What is your favorite board game? Mad Gab
8. Do you have any children (furry or human)? 3 dogs
9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? I'm allergic to pine trees. Please don't send me one.