Fall!

I love fall. The changing leaves, the crispness in the air, wearing wool sweaters once again. Apple pies, pumpkin pies, hearty stews, the ability to cook in the kitchen without melting. I am so glad to be done with summer (but I'm sure by the time new years rolls around, I'll be bitching about how cold it is and that I want to move to Hawaii) and I can tell that fall is coming, the cats are covering their nose with their tails, I feel the need to bake, and the most overwhelming thing is it's cold! Since it's changing into fall, I thought I would do a change. I got my hair done the other day, and I had strawberry blond reddy highlights put in.

LOOK!it's me!
I also got a brighter blue in the back (you can't see it when my hair is down, but when it's up you can). It's somewhat darker then my eyeliner.
And in knitting news, I finished a sock!

I'll be casting on for the other one tonight so I don't get SSS. Which I think I have on my mom's Jaywalkers. They were supposed to be done for Mothers day, but I kinda got sidetracked. I'm going to try and finish them soon so maybe she can wear them at rhinebeck! Which is about 3 weeks away. gulp

Some knitting, crocheting and spinning.

Life is so hectic, so I haven't had time to blog. A while ago, I said that my grandfather had a stroke. Well, we were told all along that he probably would never be able to go home again. Then about 2 week ago, the rehab place where he's at, said that they wanted to do a home evaluation. This came a day after we were told, yet again, that he would need to go into an assisted living home. So, that's what we did last week. It didn't go so great. More to the point, he didn't do well. And he can't understand that even though a few things need fixing (carpeting needs to be tacked down, another banister needs to be put in) why he can't go home. He leans to the right (and since my mother knows how much I abhor that song, every time she says to the right, she sings the damn song) and can hardly walk up the steps. Right now, the rehab is showing him use a cane instead of a walker so he can maneuver better. And then in about a week, we have to find a place for him to live until he gets better. So that is whats been going on. Rather boring huh?
I haven't had much time to knit, but I did manage to knit the Foliage hat. I love this hat. the pattern was great and very easy to follow. It's a pretty quick knit and I bet you could have it done in a weekend. I won the yarn (which is yummy) at Stitches east last year. It's Mmmmmmalabrigo in red.

I did knit a bit on a sock. I'm on the gusset now. And yes, that is magic loop. I know I use 2 circs, but I when I cast on, it was the nearest needle in the right size.

After I finished my Autumn leaves hat, I realized that I didn't have any crochet WIP's, so I went and dug in my Stash, and came out with a skein of Paton's Wool in Good earth. I decided to do one of those tiny very long scarves. Using an H, or 5.00mm I did a single crochet. This is what I have so far. So fally!

I have been SPINNING! On my spindle. The roving is from Flawful Fibers and it's Corriedale in the color Coma Garden.

How pretty is that?! I love how it looks like a Monet painting. I'm thinking about making a scarf out of it. Maybe the Yarn Harlot's One row hand spun scarf? Or perhaps My so called scarf? I'll have to wait and see what it looks like knit up.
That's it for now. I did make shortbread last week. Want some?

September??

No! Already? I won't believe it. Change it. I still have a gift to knit for last Christmas. I refuse for it to be September. *taps foot, waits for time to reverse* No huh? Guess I should knit more then.
Speaking of, I finished my Ravelympics bag on time!!!


The pattern is Felted Fair Isle bag by Pam Allen and the yarn is Cascade 220. I did change how the handles go on. The way the pattern had me doing it, I felt that it wouldn't hold. So I just did little tabs at the bottom of the i-cord and then (my mom) sewed them on. I'm not that good at sewing.
I love it! I'm going to make a coin purse and a cell phone carrier sometime soon. I was thinking of making the cell phone carrier in the top design, the yellow and black. And the coin purse in the V and + design, which I think even though it was the hardest one, is my favorite.
After casting off the bag, I went and cast on for a sock (of course). I had this pattern all picked out, easy, mostly k2,p2 with one row requiring me to use my brain. So after trying to knit the damn pattern 7 times (frogging and knitting frogging and knitting, I did this for an entire day) I decided to knit a garter ribbing. I have no idea why the pattern wasn't working. But I really like how the garter ribbing is turning out in the yarn. It's Happy Feet, color 9. I love how fally it looks.


I was planning on knitting this rather quickly, then I decided that I'll knit a sweater, hat and booties for my father's friend, who just had a baby. Mason, weighing in at 9 pounds, 10 ounces. For the sweater, I got Cotton Kisses. It's a VERY adorable kit with everything you need to make a baby sweater. Yarn, 2 patterns and buttons. I'm not too sure I like the yarn though. If you drop a stitch, it's very hard to pick up. We'll see how it works out. I've finished the back and have the front and sleeves yet to do. I'm knitting the 12 month cardigan.

I did FINALLY finish my granny blankie that I've been knitting for almost a year. I have to get a FO pic as soon as I find a place that's big enough to lay it down.
I'm going to try and finish some UFO's this month. Like my sweater, my father's balaclava, my mom's jaywalkers and maybe even my cat bag. So here's hoping!
And Desi is doing great! He has a cold, but he's getting over it. He's SO big now! Asta loves him so much. It's so cute how they play together. He's learning how to be bad from Miss Marple, who is looking so healthy! Here's Asta and Desire sleeping. How cute are they?

I've been tagged for the 6 quirky things meme by Erqsome.
The rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged me
2) Mention the rules
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself
4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them
5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged


The meme:
1. Somehow, I most always wind up picking up the second book in a series to read first.
2. I've had fake nails for years and I got so sick of them so I took them off this month.
3. I'm addicted to tote bags.
4. I'm double jointed.
5. I have high insteps and have a hard time finding shoes.
6. I have Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis

So, I'm tagging:
Beth
Susan
Lista
Robin
Heather
Nicola
So, I have a summer cold. Which is awful. All I'm doing is sleeping all day and then knitting my ravelympics bag for a little bit and sleeping again. I think I'm doing ok with my bag. I'm on row 65 out of 78. I have to knit the icords and felt it and then it's done. I'm thinking I might even finish ahead of time! Which finishing anything BEFORE I'm supposed to is a small miracle.

The game is on!

I started my Felted Fair Isle bag for the ravelympics. I've never done fair isle before, and I really like it! This is the bag yesterday!

And this is it tonight.

Pretty huh? Oh and see the little kitty in the bag? That's Desire, Dezi for short. Our newest kitty! Last Monday, my mom went outside to walk Asta and there were these two kitties! Which is so weird because the night before my parents were talking about how there are no outside kitties anymore. then BOOM! we have them.

So, my mom comes in the house screaming "OMG OMG OMG OMG! KITTY! KITTY! KITTY!" (not the letters OMG, Oh my god) we go out and see these two little kitties. I go in to get ready to go get my hair done and a few minutes later, mom comes in the house with a TEENY TINY kitty. He could hardly walk, since he was so little and underfed. In under 5 minutes, he had a name and a Vet appointment in a few hours. He had ear mites, fleas and worms, which is normal for an outside kitty. It's been a week and he's already grown! He loves playing with yarn (I see a big problem with that) and running and chasing things! It's amazing how much he's grown in a week. The cutest thing? Asta Adopted him! She barks if one of the cats tries eat his food or if she thinks the cats might hurt him. Isn't that ADORABLE?!?! I think I should explain about Dezi's name. A few months ago, my father said that the next cat we found, he wanted named desire. As in A StreetCAT named desire. I think it's so perfect for him.

Other than the bag, I haven't knit a thing! I did finish my scarf, pics to come soon. I have 1 and a half edges to finish on my HUGE granny square blanket, I started my second O sock, which I have the picot edging done, and half a repeat done. I need two repeats before I can do the heel. I did....... wait for it.... WAIT..... You ready?

SPIN!!! On my spindle! It looks ok for my first time. I think. I already ordered more roving! I think I might have a new addiction!

I did that in a day.I should have been knitting my bag, but I was having so much FUN! this week, I might try one of my mom's wheels.

I was tagged by emmus, so I'll try and do that in the next few days!

Catch-up!

Sorry about not blogging. There's been so much going on. Like,

A tree fell thru the house

The tree is gone now, but there are still holes in the ceiling. It was right next to where I sit in the family room.. Very scary. I was up in my bedroom when it happened watching the hail (yes there was hail) and lighting. No one was hurt, thank God. My hermit crabs got a dusting from the roof stuff, but they're ok. The animals were freaked out but ok. My parents cats (Autumn, Mouse and Lassie) all hid for a day. While mine (Sherlock, Miss Marple and Asta) all refused to leave my side for the rest of the night. It was very cute.

My knee. It still hurts. And since it's sprained (twisted whatever) I injury it more since it's weak. I slipped on a bag (that ironically I used to ice my knee) and twisted my knee and sprained my ankle. On my other foot. I am so good at doing things like that. Now, I'm on crutches and basically sitting around knitting and crocheting all day. Which I love, but I really want to get out and do stuff.

My grandfather had another stroke. It happened on Monday. We still don't know how bad it is, but as of now, he can't talk and has lost his balance a few times walking. He can mumble and stuff and he doesn't know my mom's name. He's going to be in the hospital for a week or more going to rehab. In fact, if he wasn't going to be going to rehab, they would have sent him home by now. Can you believe that? Not even a day after having a stroke, you would be sent home? That's awful. So if you could, please send some good thoughts his way.

Oh and since my mom took him to the ER, she took my car since hers was being worked on. And she had to use the valet. Who put HUGE freaking dent and scratch in my car. We're trying to get them to pay for the repair. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Since I've been sitting and knitting a lot more, I have a few FO's to show you:
My Baby Cable Rib socks

Knit in STR Spring fling. Look at that pooling! So cool!

Strawberry Fields Forever

still have to felt it. Felting means walking down to the basement, which I haven't been able to do.

Isn't Miss Marple a great model?

And a pair of Fingerless gloves named Ktb38 Hobo Mitts by Landolista.

Pretty huh? I made the pattern up, so just in case someone wants to make them, here it is. I used Moda Silk 'n Wool blend but you can use any worsted weight yarn.

On size 8's cast on 3o stitches. Join in the round, being careful not to twist it. Place marker. *knit 4 purl 2* around until it measures 4 inches, or however long you want it. For the thumb, knit in patt to the last 6 stitches. Bind off these 6 stitches. Continue and then when you get to the bound off stitches, cast on 6. Continue in pattern until it reaches 6 inches (or whatever you want). Bind off in pattern. Weave in ends.

It's so easy, and I made mine in a few hours. I hope that if you make them, you like them.

I'm going to making a purse (Felted Fair Isle bag) for the Ravelympics, so I'm trying to finish up a few UFO's before it starts. I finished one of my O's socks. It was my first time doing a short row heel, so it's a bit wonky.

I need to do some decreases on my sleeve, and then just knit the neck and seam and I have a sweater! I'm very excited.

I had to frog the toe of my mom's Jaywalkers. When I was doing the toe, I was really tired and didn't get the pattern, so I just did it my way. WAY to short. So I'm going to try again soon.

I was bad and did cast on one thing. A basic seed stitch scarf. Here's Miss Marple modeling again (I try and get Asta and Sherlock to model, but they don't like it.)

That's it for now.

No cupcakes yet!

You know how you think "I'm going to do this and it's going to be great!"? Well, that's what I thought about the cupcakes. I have everything I need to make them. But a few days after the polls closed, a propane (or as Carry says proPAIN) kneed me. I never get the cool injuries. I went and I saw the PA (yes, that PA there was no one else) and he said "Oh you just banged it". And that was it. This was about 2 weeks ago. It still hurts and it feels hotter than my other knee. I had an appointment with the Doctor today. Then I went to get X-rays on my knee. I was told it wasn't broken, so that's good. I might need to get shots to bring the swelling down.

Want to know why a propain tank kneed me? I was chasing after my new cat, Miss Marple. Heather's sister had this cat hanging around her house and didn't want to give it to a shelter so she asked her is she wanted it. Heather already has an a cat (Zuzu who is SOOOOOO cute) so then she asked if I wanted it. I said yes. Oh and if you go to Heather's blog, she has some kittens that need homes. This is Miss Marple Isn't she adorable? And she fits in great with everyone else.

I'm almost done knitting my little strawberry purse. It's been put on hold for a bit to knit some secret knitting things, but I am going to finish it very soon. I have one half already done, but I don't have a pic of that. This is just as I was getting into knitting the green ( or the stem)

Love the pattern. And it's just adorable.

On Ravelry, Gemnah and I started a group for a knit-along for the Seascape Stole. It's going to a lot of fun, so come join us! You don't have to knit it, you can be a cheerleader!