Life is Just Like That Sometimes

Well a lot has been going on around here really. I've wimped out on Ravelympics already. In fact, I haven't been able to focus on knitting much at all for a little bit, but I did get a little bit done.

I finished the sleeves for the B-Side Cardigan, but they're blocking right now. I also sewed up the shoulder seams and blocked the body of the sweater so I can pick up stitches for the collar now. Photos of that soon!

I also finished one of the Marina Labyrinth Socks. The second is Cast On.

As usual, my photos suck, so I do recommend checking this pattern out. I knit it for the Sock Knitters Anonymous February challenge and it's in the Underappreciated category. Although I normally don't favor a short0row heel, this one is not too bad really.



We don't exactly celebrate Valentine's Day. It's not that we flatly reject the idea of showing that person you love some appreciation, but shouldn't it be a bit all year long? And is buying me jewelry (I don't wear much anyway) or flowers or candy really what I want out of my relationship? My Darling Husband did make me dinner (the same dinner he made me on our very first date) and we spent the weekend together.

And today is his birthday. I'll be making one of his favorite dinners and a rhubarb pie to celebrate having him around another year. The real celebration is Sunday evening though.

I missed posting a lot of other stuff that happened while I was "out". Life is a rollercoaster. Remember that scene in Parenthood when Steve Martin can hear rollercoaster sounds when his life appears to be spinning out of control and he looks like he's going to puke? Yeah, it's safe to say that's us right now. We'll adjust though!

Nothin' to See Here

I'm gonna take a week or two off. I've been feeling really worn out. I'm not dead!

I'm done!

I finished my Kilkenny Shawl about ten minutes ago. I have an idea about the shawl pin, but we'll just see how that goes shall we?



I wasn't that sure if I loved the yarn with the pattern at first, but I found that I need to get a good chunk of pattern done before I can tell. It's still true. After I finished a few inches, I loved my squishy Jacob lamb fleece and yarn, and now it's sort of gone. So sad!

Close up!


Next I need to finish up the B-side before Ravelympics. I'm doing Charity Curling for my event, and I would rather not have a bunch of projects hanging over my head (that's why I have a good finish rate; they hang over my head). Happy Groundhog day.

I Still Hate People

Well only some people really.

but, I meant to write about this two weeks ago. I was admiring this coffee cup at B&N just over two weeks ago. I mean honestly, it's pink, it's purple and some of those daisy are shiny, hot pink foil. What's not to like about that? I coveted it and walked away. When we hit the truck, my husband went back and bought it for me.

Yes, my wildly overpriced, but pink, purple, shiny, daisy covered travel mug was bought for me just because i admired it.

I guess sometimes it pays to be part Magpie.



My Kilkenny is only about two inches from the ending border. Granted it's two inches of 330 stitches, but I'm getting very close now!

Pictures of Knitting

I haz them!



The Wildfoote colorway is Rhapsody. I believe I got this yarn at like 60% off from Little Knits.

I would love to show you more knitting, but I have been focusing on that Kilkenney Shawl pretty exclusively and it would just be a picture of a bigger shawl that looks exactly like the last one. I am up to 20 inches wide (out of 28 before the ending border) so I'm getting there now.

I did get some of the black alpaca that the Chief bought me before Christmas washed last night. I don't think I've ever had a fleece in the house that waited that long for washing before. Every time I look at this fiber drying on the floor of my laundry room, I can't stop thinking of the Gorilla soldiers from Planet of the Apes. Not really the nicest, softest, yarn related image. I want to blend some with black shetland that's been rattling around my stash for awhile. Later for that though!


(That VM pretty much falls out during carding so no worries. Alpaca just doesn't seem to hang onto the grass and chaff the way wool does)

And we have a new addition to our family!

Why yes, I do name inanimate objects! Thank you for noticing! Our old crockpot had a crack in it on Tuesday morning when I took it out of the sink to clean it. I was just beside myself. I've been a bit obsessed with crockpot cooking for awhile now and I only have one crockpot. That crack meant I had NO CROCKPOT. On the way home from work on Tuesday, The Chief picked up Lulu for me. She is very new fangled and has the locking, sealing lid for taking potluck things. We think she's pretty special. Her maiden voyage was potatoes and sausage for breakfast which I threw a pair of eggs on this morning for everybody. Another crockpot success!

It's the Same Old Story

You have these two friendly acquaintances, or maybe casual friends, and they have some kind of falling out. Let's call them L and U. So L starts saying horrible things to the entire world about U. U keeps mum and some of the people you all like are listening to the bad things that L is spewing (some of which you are 90% sure are not true.

When you really think about it, wouldn't it be better to stick with U? U is being respectful and not saying bad things even though you're pretty sure she's being backstabbed to death. Isn't it a safe bet that if L thinks you've done something wrong, she'll stab the shit out of you too? Why don't people see that? It's weird, man!

In other news, on my spinning goal, in short: I ROCK!

I have my first fleece completely picked and roughcarded. The second carding is only two batts in, but it's started. The problem really is that it's going to take four passes to blend thoroughly (poop). The good news is that it is HEAVENLY. I've processed a number of Jacob lamb fleeces before, but this one is like buttah. I will definitely be contacting this Shepherd for a sister of this lamb's fleece next year. (I'm up to my armpits in fleece, :P) I've also just finished the third bobbin of the fleece that is in the goal for spinning.

Picked jacob


Shetland lamb fleece being spun


OH my, Lola needs a dusting doesn't she?

I've tarted knitting a blueberry waffle sock with Wildfoote. The yarn is really so colorful that I didn't want to try a "real" pattern with it. I tried to knit the Naive Socks with this yarn and the pattern just got totally lost. Later for the Naives.

I got one more thing. I have opinions. I don't think that comes as a surprise to any readers of this little thing I call my blog. (i blame my parents who had the audacity to encourage their X chromosomed children to express themselves. I mean really wth) So, if people have different ideas than me, I am cool with that. I don't feel like the world has to agree with me. Why is it so many people on Ravelry freak out if you just express an opinion that doesn't match up with theirs. Have we really wussified this country so much that we have to have everybody agreeing with us to keep our self-esteem out of the toilet?

If you don't agree with my opinions, I'm not sorry. In fact, that's great. You have every right to your opinion, and I am happy to listen. (but please for the love of all that's holy, have some type of back-up or reason. It makes it so much more interesting to listen to) Buck up, little soldiers! I'm sure I'll say something offensive any minute!

Annie Was Right

She mentioned that the bag really needed bedazzling. The reason it's funny is because: A) I already had three big rhinestones on the back pocket, you know, just for fun. and 2) I had already bedazzled a bow on Conchita's creepy, purple head.



That's right, my bedazzling skills are 100% unrivaled!

Also, I have a goal regarding raw fleece. The people who need to know what it is, already know. I have the first fleece half picked. It's a yearling, Jacob fleece (Laila) plus a couple of handfuls of the first Jacob fleece I bought last year. That's right, HALF DONE picking.



**not part of the goal**
Last year I got some Cormo and I've been having a tough time gettint it really, really clean. There is like mud on the tips and I have done everything I know of. If I remove the tips (1/4 inch) it's super awesome. I took a few ounces and soaked it for TWO weeks and then scoured it in a teeny lingerie bag. And everybody says you can't card Cormo. I say, Bullshit!



No neps and dude, it is so soft, it's almost like you aren't touching anything. That's carded IN MY DRUM CARDER, but at like .01% normal speed. It's ridiculous how much trouble I'll go to to process an awesome fleece.

Also, have you ever been digging in your stash and something turned up that made you say, "WTF??!!"? Happened to me . . . this morning . . . a couple of times.