i'm a groopie

I spent the morning at the Council Delegate meeting. As of October 1st we will be Girl Scouts of Western Washington. 2 councils become one. A truly historic event, and I am proud that I was a part of it. I imagine it is a memory that I will share for many years to come.

When I arrived home there was a box from Loopy Ewe. I had ordered a pattern and 1 skein of Fleece Artist. This was a big box, not the size box that would fit my order. Yes, I am aware that this was order number 6 and that it contained my Loopy Groopy goodies, but this was a big box. I tore it open and WOW! I will not spoil the surprise, but I will encourage you to become a Groopie yourself ASAP. Be sure to tell 'em I sent you.

Oh and here is the Fleece Artist I ordered.

Oh my. The colorway is Mermaid. Fleece Artist is now my very favorite sock yarn. I have knit 2 pairs with Sea Wool, have 1 more skein of Sea Wool stashed and 2 skeins of Merino that are next in the queue. I still love Dream In Color Smooshy, but after holding the last 2 skeins of Fleece Artist, they are my very favorite!

Husband's socks have passed the gusset on sock #2. They need to get done by the end of weekend so that I can cast on the Fleece Artist my swap buddy sent.

oh my

I have not been doing much knitting the past few days. It has been all spinning all the time. I seem to be a bit obsessed and can feel myself sliding down the slippery slope that leads to dyeing.

Here are a couple of rovings that arrived this week.

I am not sure what this braid and next are made of. The bag says 62% Australian Merino Top. Well, what else is in there? I would really like to know. It is spinning up quite differently than the 100% wool I have worked with in the past. This has shorter fibers and wants a LOT of twist. It would be a nice learning tool, if I knew what I was learning.

This is what I have been working on. No before picture. It went right from mailbox to spindle.

I do need to get back to knitting. Especially the brown socks for Husband. Why? Because I need the needles so that I can start this.

Oh my. Can you believe those colors. It is Fleece Artist and was part of a music & yarn swap. Mariposa spoiled me with this beautiful yarn, a great cd and lots of goodies from Canada. I can not wait to get started.

Tomorrow may provide lots of knitting time. I will be heading south for a Girl Scout Council meeting. We will be voting to merge councils. It is a big deal. Lots of changes ahead for all of us.

Oh, and last but not least.

September's Spunky Eclectic fiber selection. Merino & Tencel. Beautiful. I need to practice with merino/tencel before I dare to spin this beauty.

baby knitting

A few days ago I was at a meeting and had the chance to try a new kind of tea. It was yummy and I went looking for it at the local grocery store. I found something similar, but a different brand. So that is what I have been drinking the past 2 days. This morning, as I was pouring hot water over the bag the tag fell into the pot. In fishing it out I see that it says "decaffeinated". ACK! How did I manage to do that? That explains so much about the past couple of days. I will be replacing it with the high octane variety at the earliest possible moment.

Last night one of Youngest Daughter's dance teachers told her she was pregnant. This is very exciting. Yeah, they get a new baby and all that, but for me it means that come spring I will be knitting wee baby things. Oh how I love knitting we baby things.

When my children were little I did not know how to knit. I did not know how to cook or clean either, but that is another post. So when people around me have babies it is very exciting.

Those of you who have little people running around your house probably do not get this. You enjoy making little sweaters for your children, blankies, socks and what not. Not imagining there will be a day when that cute little foot will grow to a size 12. And I do not mean toddler size 12, I mean big smelly man sized 12. Not only do socks for teenagers take a major time investment, there is always a 50/50 chance that they will throw them into the washer and dryer after the first wear. Knitting for young adults is not something to do lightly. 3/4 of my kids are teenagers, on their way off to college, one right after the other. I have years ahead of me before a teeny tiny little foot comes into the house. I am in that limbo stage. That limbo stage still needs babies to knit for. That is why those of us in it present you with handknit baby gifts above and beyond the call of duty. We can not help ourselves, be gentle with us.

stick a fork in 'em

They are done. The Mariner Socks that I did not want to knit.



The only reason I finished them now, instead of putting it off until the week before Hanukkah, is because they were my UFO for the Ravely group Pens and Needles challenge. I can not find the ball band, which is unfortunate because I hate this yarn and hope never to meet it again. The splitiest thing ever made. Bamboo has nothing on this stuff. The plus side is that Oldest Son is going to LOVE them.

Now that those are done I get to cast on this.


It is just 220, but the red is so red. They will become Log Cabin Socks for Husband's Hanukkah present. Gorgeous.

And spinning, do not forget the spinning.


MMMM Candy Corn.

what i did today :-(

Are you ready for the stupid thing I did today?

I finished spinning the DragonFibers Candy Corn. Really lovely fiber, can't wait to spin more. I spun it, wound it onto the niddy noddy and then put it into the sink for a soak. See anything missing here? Once in the sink I swished it around, pushed out the air bubbles and then walked away to let it rest. Anyone, anyone? I picked up the yarn , squeezed out the water and plopped in onto a towel. As I picked it up it hit me. I did not tie the skein before I took it off the niddy noddy!! AH! How could I be so stupid? Stupid, stupid , stupid! I did the best I could to straighten things out. It is resting. Me too.

To add insult to injury, I am ready to buy these, click to chose my size, no, not in my size. GGRR

pay it forward

Kinda like tag with shiny things.

"It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based on the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. You all know I’m already a PIF type of person. So here’s how it works. I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?!Please, be a PIF!"

I signed up on the Yarn Goddess blog as one of her three people. In return, I have promised to make a gift for the first three people who leave a comment on this blog. Those people, in return, then have to post on their blogs what I have just posted here and make a gift for the first three people who leave a comment on their blogs. It will just keep growing and going around. I thought it sounded terrific, so here it is! Please consider doing this. Your gifts for the people who comment on your blog do not have to be big or elaborate, but they do have to be hand-crafted and made with love. That's it! If you choose to do this, please go over to Whimsical Knitting and take one of the buttons for your blog so people know you're participating.

This is going to be fun.

avast ye matey's

This is how my day was suppose to flow...

Wake up at 5:30, write a little, knit a little. Wake up Oldest Daughter at 7. Orthodontist appt from 8 - 9. Come home and relax the day away.

This is my day as it unfolded...no flowing...

Wake up at 7 only because Youngest Daughter's alarm clock is buzzing. Shit. Wake up Oldest Daughter and put water on for tea. Give Oldest Daughter a super strength Motrin and head out to Orthodontist.

Today was braces day for Oldest Daughter. The braces were scheduled to take 1 hour to put on. 2 1/2 hours later she was ready to go home. Poor thing.

I take her home then head to the store for her requested ice cream flavor. While she has lunch, I manage to do a rack of dishes, and spring, sproing, 2! of her brackets pop off. I called Orthodontist to let him know we would be back when they reopened at 1.

Back at the orthodontist they commence trying to replace the hardware. Oldest Daughter's teeth are not a run of the mill braces case. Orthodontist is the finest, most experienced orthodontist in the Seattle Metro area. He has been practicing for 30 years and Oldest Daughter is the worst case he has ever seen! Anyway, they are back on, but will need further adjustment. She was in serious pain so they stopped for the day.

Back home I gave Oldest Daughter a Vicadin - left over from the 6 teeth Oral Surgeon pulled 2 weeks ago - and sent her to bed. Poor thing.

Then it was off to Costco to return/repurchase clothes Husband had picked out in the wrong sizes.

As I left for Costco I let everyone know that when I returned I would be "in for the day". My 4 favorite words in the whole English language. Those words let the rest of the house know that taxi service for the day has ended and any requests will have to be met with their own feet power.

Upon returning home, I began to relax. I put water on for tea then heard a rapping upon the front door. Opened the door to find my next door neighbor. She had blueprints in her hand and began asking if I was planning to attend the Architectural Design Board hearing at 7pm. Shit. Yes, I will be there. Better get dinner made.

The day before we closed on this house I was greeted with a piece of mail that told me the large wooded lot across the street was going condo. We fought hard for 3 1/2 years. We even won a couple of rounds. Tonight, it is done. Yeah, we may have some say over the details, but as fast as the developer can get the permits, construction will begin. Shit.

I need to get that bamboo planted along the side of the house and I may actually have put blinds on the back windows.

It is 10:15 and only now am I "in for the day".

Cross your fingers tomorrow is a bit smoother.

The only bright side is that I finished a sock and began another. No, not Mariner Sock. Mariner sock was worked on yesterday while in the waiting area of the doctor's office and through a dance lesson and before bed. It is taking the day off. Today was Smooshy day. Yeah! Smooshy.

spinning and goodies

This is the most beautiful thing I have ever knit.

What makes it so beautiful? The yarn was spun by me. This is the second yarn I had spun. It is my wrist distaff for spindle spinning. The first thing I spun is sitting on my desk. It makes me so happy to look at the little skein.

Now I am working on the Dragonfibers Candy Corn roving. It is spinning up nicely and I think there will be enogh for a pair of fingerless mitts.

Now for the goodies.

These are from Nytefalle Designs, they are sugar skull stitch markers. I am confident that no other knitter in my circle will have them. I love that they are handmade and unique. They do not photograph well at all, at least with my basic type camera, but she has good pics on her site.

This is from Messie. It is the perfect size for a pair of socks in progress. Nothing but good things to say about this bag. I will be ordering a couple more simple bags for myself and a deluxe version as part of Mother-In-Law's Christmas gift.



Finally, the Dragon Scarf kit from Morehouse.

The green is much darker than I expected. The instructions are a bit murky. It is going to take working it up to understand what they mean. Husband does not think Youngest Son will wear it. I think he is crazy. What 8 year old little boy wouldn't love a dragon scarf? I am at camp the last weekend of the month, this is the project I will take with me. I think it will work well for social knitting.


Tomorrow, sock progress and the gift card purchase from the LYS.

Happy Birthday Erin!

At this time, 18 years ago I was sitting on the living room couch in a state of mild panic. It was true, this baby was really going to born. Then what? I had read every book in print on pregnancy and childbirth. I was still not ready. I had never actually spent any time with children, what was I thinking?

All of that mattered not to you. You came along just the same. The first girl. Boy was that a big deal. You were a red head and cranky from the get go. Luckily for us all you calmed down after a few months.

You turned into a cute little red head who wore princess dresses and strapped on a sword. You could slay the dragon yourself, no prince required.

We all knew you were a smart one. Then you proved it by starting college at 16.

Now here we are, 18 years later. You are smart and beautiful and joy to be around. You do not suffer fools lightly or go quietly out into the world. What ever it is you decide to do with your life you will be damn good at.

I am thankful for everyday.

yippe & bummer

I just scored a cute little sock knitting bag from messie. No, this is not the bag I have saved for my September writing/knitting goal reward, that is bigger. This bag is similar to the GoKnit bags except the fabric is really cute. The Go Knits bags are a nice size and all, but at $20 and in obnoxious colors, they are not for me. Messie's sock bags range from $10.50 for the basic to $18.00 for the stand alone. Check it out.

I missed the last Loopy Ewe sneak up. I am very bummed. I have a $25.00 credit sitting in my Inbox and I had planned to buy some Wollmeise and Wendy's Making Tracks sock pattern. No. Maybe some more Dream In Color? No. Now the credit is just sitting there, lonely, forlorn, waiting for the day it can be useful.

All the tents are dry and packed. People picked some up yesterday, I would like to have the rest out of the garage by the weekend.

Actually, I do not care if they tents are in the garage, but Husband would appreciate his workspace to be free of Girl Scout stuff. Poor guy, he finds more Girl Scout stuff stacked in his workspace. He has offering to build shelves for me. I have resisted. I kept thinking it would only be there for a few weeks, that soon it would be going to someone else's house. Talk about denial. Just last week I agreed that shelves would be the best thing. As long as I am Day Camp Director I am stuck with bins and bins full of camp stuff. It is not going away.

Knitting pictures? Sure.

First up is Retro Rib for Husband.

LOVE Smooshy. The pattern was originally printed in Interweave Knits, you can now find it in Favorite Socks. This will be the third time I have knit the pattern. It will not be the last.

Next up. Roza's socks.

On the needles it has a circumference that looks like a toddler size sock.

It is really stretchy. If they are done in time they will be a birthday present for Youngest Daughter. If not, they will go into the back of the drawer and be given to her at a later date.

The yarn is Claudia Handpainted colorway Carousel. It was my very first Loopy Ewe purchase. What did I do before I found the Loopy Ewe? I think it was Tan that led me to them. THANK YOU TAN!

goals, old & new

My back is achy this morning. Probably has something to do with packing up 25 tents yesterday. Today I have another 25 staring me in the face. Why? Well, The 3 Day Breast Cancer walk happened in Seattle last weekend. The walk people used 1400 tents to house everyone. They then very generously donated the pink tents to Girl Scouts. The plan was to pick up the tents at a park south of Seattle and take them to a Girl Scout camp where they would be given out throughout the year as needed. Except, the tents were packed up wet! So yesterday morning I ( and many other volunteers) drove out to camp, shoved 50 tents into the back of the van, brought them home and commenced drying.


My yard looked like a tent farm! If you see a picture of me in the newspaper being led away in cuffs, it will be because Edmonds has a 2 tent per lot ordinance and my neighbors have reported us for stupid things in the past. Fucking neighbors.


Onto happier thoughts...


Let's revisit the summer goal list.

Finish the current design and submit. done
Begin work on a new design. done
Finish the Faux Russian Stole. ha! may never be done
Learn to spin. done and in love
Learn to spin well enough to be able to give hand spun to my fellow fiber fiends as holiday gifts. my spinning is coming along great, but there is not enough of it to give away, maybe next year.
Lose 10 pounds by getting more exercise. done and I would like to keep going
Weed the front flower garden. done
Pots and plants for the deck. double done

Allrighty then, that feels pretty good.

Now for fall goals..

Put some fall color and spring bulbs into the front flower garden.
Finish painting the shelves.
Finish all knitted holiday gifts.
Spinning wheel.

I signed up for a writing/knitting challenge through Pens & Needles. Pens & Needles is a group on Ravelry. Of course I tweaked the challenge to fit. My end of September goal is to finish a chapter on the non-fiction and finish the Mariner socks. My reward is a new knitting bag.

i'll deal with it later

I knew that I wanted to make Dragon Scarf's for 2 kids. I have been putting off ordering the kits becauce I am not that fond of the color choices they offer. Their dragons are solid green. In my mind a dragon is blue and green with some sparkle. So my grand idea was to order a kit, use the yarn provided for socks, and then buy some dragon colored yarn for the actual scaves. Only it turns out that the kit does not come with enough yarn to make a pair of saocks, I would have to order more, which wouldd make this particular pair of socks pencil out at $40+ dollars. No way! So I ordered the dark green dragon kit. Youngest Son will be happy with green and I will look for something with a little more pizzaz for Oldest Daughter.

Why does it cost $6 to ship a ball of yarn and a piece of paper? Thus adding 25% to the cost of said yarn and paper?

The afterthought heel came out just fine.

I used the instructions in the Twisted Sister Sock Workbook. They suggested picking up the sticthes for the heel using 2 circular needles at least 1 size smaller than what was used for the project. I knit the socks on size 1 DP's. I do not have size 1 or smaller circulars, so I picked it all up on the DP's. That made it much harder. If you are going to try this at home definitely use the circulars (if you can). Also, if you are of an age where it has become obvious that you need bifocals, but have been putting of the purchasing of bifocals because you are too busy to sit in the eye docs office, put down the sock in need of an afterthought heel until that doc visit. OY!

so sad

Husband broke my heart this evening. I have had the link to the Spinning Wheel Of My Dreams on my computer all week. I have showed all the kids, they are happy. Oldest Daughter even helped me answer the always asked, "Where will you put it?" question. Husband, he poo-pooed the whole thing, had many bad things to say about the design. I am so sad.

different stripes

Tan asked how I made the lace cuffs stripe. (see yesterday's pic) Well, I would love to present you with a mathematical formula, instead I will present the backside.





No stripes. Only part of the cuff is striped, the rest is random. No control, no scientific method.

Lately I have been going to bed with the rest of the household and getting up around 5:30 when Husband leaves for work. When I get up early and "work", it is accompanied by tea and followed by a productive day. When I stay up late and do the same thing it is usually accompanied by wine and followed by a headache.

So what work have I gotten done this week? Writing, no. Picked out the spinning wheel of my dreams, yes. Mostly I have become very familiar with Ravelry. Its more fun than a slumber party!

Next week will be better, yes, next week I will get real work done, yes, next week.

mmmm smooshy

Here are the completed Summer of Love Lace socks.

They are very cute and I would knit them again in a less busy yarn. These promptly went into the back of a drawer. Youngest Daughter seems to have inherited my Sasquatch feet so they will sit there until she is ready for them. Maybe next Hanukkah.

Yes, the kids expect hand knit socks for Hanukkah. This year two of them are getting socks and two Dragon Scarfs. They will all be happy.

Speaking of Hanukkah socks. I did manage to add a couple more sets of stripes to Oldest Sons Mariner Socks. If I sequester myself in the bedroom this morning I should be able to finish the toe today. Then it is afterthought heel time. Which I assure you has not been an afterthought during all this knitting. It is front and center in my mind.

While not hiding away knitting holiday socks I will cast on this.

This is the Cocoa Kisses from Dream in Color. Oh my, so lovely.
The socks will be for Husband. I will add a little stitch pattern, have not worked that out yet. A swatch or two is probably in order. Yes, he gets a new pair of socks, but I get to wrap my fingers in Smooshy!

mr postman

Look what the mailman brought me yesterday.

oops, you are probably not interested in the textbook shipment. What about this.

Dream In Color Smooshy.

Cocoa Kisses

Giant Peach

November Muse

Happy Forest

I took these pictures at 5AM, using a flash, so in real life they are a bit darker. SO yummy. Now I need to finish up the Summer of Love Lace sock so that I can cast on some Smooshy wonderfulness. Shouldn't take too long.

i should be sleeping

I received an email tonight from the Loopy Ewe, I have a $25.00 credit. Woo Hoo! Now I will wait patiently for the next sneak up and Wollmeise. I have not yet received my last order from Loopy Ewe, it does not matter, it is all Dream In Color and none of it is slated for a project. I really will work on that.

Last night we went to the Aquasox game. I brought the Mariner sock with me, but did not knit a single stitch. It never even made it out of the bag. I may be having some issues with these socks. First, it is very hard to knit a present for someone who is living in your house. Yes, he does get out, and I get out, but still, the whole timing thing is hard. Also, this sock is a plain ol' tube between a cuff and a toe. The stripes were fun at first, but now, I am bored. To top it off I know that at the end of this tube will be an after thought heel. ( I keep typing hell instead of heel, it must be a sign.) This is a new thing for me. The first time I try it may not give me the best results. Swatch you say? Yeah, a little practice is probably a good idea. UG, I hate the thought of practicing, I just want these socks to be done.

I really need to snap out of this. No need for my bored karma to be passed along with the socks.

Tomorrow is a trip to Fort Casey. My first thought was that the ferry traffic heading home will be awful. But I did not say anything. Everyone seems to be looking forward to the day out. Husband will make breakfast while I pack a lunch, it should be great fun.