Enter the French Canadian house elf or she who keeps to the shadows.

For a week now I have been in Mankato. My sister Heidi's Day care provider had surgery for ovarian cancer and is starting chemo therapy and this created a need for someone to help out providing care for Connor. Here I am and if you know me, you know I do not do housework. When I come to Mankato I am followed by a French Canadian house elf who takes care of those undesirable house hold duties from the shadows, I may admit to the occasional load of laundry or floor sweeping but the little French Canadian creature is quite busy.

I tried to be organized when preparing for my trip here, however the best laid plans can fail; I forgot my KNITTING! No one, not even I could believe it, thank God for Mary Lues. I picked up some needles and a small bit of yarn. Saturday Heidi, Connor and a couple of the boys made a trip to run a few errands in the cities and pick up my knitting.

The house elf has been busy, while I share Connor duties, he likes to be chased, starting to work on potty training, uses his finger to shoot people and does a very dramatic death scene at times. He was introduced to the fun of squirt guns yesterday and got a bit wet. Connor is not so gentle with dogs, we need to help Bella stay out of his grasp so she is not crushed. The other day I went up stairs, the dogs normally follow me everywhere but failed to follow me up that time, Connor grabbed Bella, Heidi heard the jingling of Sadie's tags on her collar, she went into the hall to see Sadie dancing around Connor who had a tight grasp on Bella and she told him to put her down. Needless to say Connor dropped Bella and both dogs ran for all they were worth up the stairs to find me.

The house elf has been washing dishes, doing some laundry and sweeping floors. Heidi loves the little
French Canadian elf and hopes it sticks around, I am sure she will stay around as long as I am here. Heidi's glasses were getting a lime build up and the house elf went off the deep end this morning, pulled all the glasses out of the cupboard to soak them in lemon juice dishwater, most of the lime build up came off, another soaking should do it, the little elf is quite happy with herself.

I got a dose of nature yesterday and was brutally reminded that outside cats hunt and not just mice; poor little birdie soldiers are now in heaven. He is not my cat so I will no get away with putting a collar with a bell on him.

I am working on a top down raglan sweater for Connor, a pair of socks and my lace sweater. Tia finished a narrow scarf that I seamed into a mobius for her today, and she is working on a lace scarf as well. Heidi is finishing her mohair sweater.

May all your stitching trails be happy ones.

Stitchinghermit

We are home!

We got home yesterday from our knitting retreat, I have not yet rated our yearly get away, although some have given it a C- for drama, none of which was caused by our youngest cabin mate a 17 year old.
I awaited this retreat with great anticipation all year. Knitting, knitting and more knitting with great friends and companions. Tia and Heidi came up on Wednesday and we left for Bug Beehive Resort in Paynesville on Thursday about noon after a stop at Target to shop for swimsuits to take advantage of the on site pool.
Our retreat was at first threatened by health matters, a husband slipping and falling at work, going to the hospital the night before, one of our group in the hospital herself, a chemo treatment for one and I was up all night with a sick puppy, who fortunately was recovering before I left. Our members husband went home to be watched by his daughter, he was insistent our group member come to the retreat and our other member was released from the hospital in time to come as well.
We took the long way and went through St. Cloud. Bonnie's Spinning Wheel was our first stop where I found a cute knitting bag (needed another one of those like a hole in the head) more stitch markers and we were off to Grubber's where I found a cute pattern to make a baby sweater for donation and a skein of yarn in turquoise.
Heidi, Tia and I checked in and were situated in the cabin in time for the three other Thursday night campers arrived. it was taco salad for dinner, first episode of drama was a missing bag that not only held sundries, it held knitting! This was found, it had been erroneously placed in the wrong room. Two of our group went for an evening swim and the knitting was on!
Friday, Lisa made an awesome quiche for breakfast with latte's. It was Tia's Birthday, Heidi and I took her in to New London for lunch and some shopping, she had finished a cell phone cozy Thursday night which she needed a button for. We stopped at the local knit shop, Uniquely Knit, Tia found a great scarf pattern to go with the yarn that Monica had given her the night before and I found some yarn to make an Oscar the Grouch hat for Connor.
When we returned to the resort more group members had arrived and by night we were all in attendance along with the next mishap, a missing purse.After a few phone calls this item was located and was being delivered by Tamara, the last of our group to come up. More knitting, soup and chili for dinner and more knitting with wine, good conversation and fun.
I was enjoying the company of everyone, Tamara shared a Clickity Sticks pattern designed by her daughter. I did get start the cast on started, but want to finish Oscar first.
Friday night brought the a bigger issue, one of our chemo ladies could not find her meds, she was sure she had them. More phone calls and her husband was delivering the left behind medications. Smaller troubles paled in comparison to this.
Saturday was more good food, fun and another trip to New London, this time with coupons! I came back with a fun skein of yarn to make Connor a pair of socks to match his Oscar hat. That night I graphed Kimberly's cowl which took a while to remember the Kitchener in rib, but finally got it! yeah me! I kept Tia going on her scarf and Heidi made progress on her sweater, she obtained the making for two more projects. yarn to make the scarf Tia had begun and a yarn a pattern for another sweater. Go Heidi, go!
We were the second car to leave on Sunday and took 55 through Buffalo home. I was happy to see everyone enjoy Tia's company and she theirs although she is a bit shy when she first meets people. I am already excited to go back next year, we are going to make sure no one is off for spring break, a lot of parents and their kids in the pool and the adults behaved worse than the kids. I feel it ended far too soon, but it is nice to get home to my little poodles who were beside themselves with happiness to see me, little Abella practically talked for 15 minutes and Sadie could not get enough hugs and I enjoyed the evening with Tazsmonn.


Happy Stitching Trails and remember to drink responsibly or you may have to frog a good project.
Stitchinghermit

Tuesday Musings

Prompted by my cousin I went to the Dr for a quick mole and skin tag check, she would nag me until I went. Traffic was not as bad as I had anticipated and I was about 20 minutes early instead of the requested 10, it all worked out well though because I was finished before my appointment time and all is well!
I am going knitting at Linden Hills with Kimberly and then out to Diner with my cousin and friend Jill, for her Birthday. Good thing I had the appointment so I can say Yes I went, and yes I am fine.

I think I am half way up the back of my lace blouse, in about four rows I work the increase shaping. Getting a bit excited, looking forward to finishing the back and getting on to a sleeve or the front.
I began the "Cowl for the Catwalk" a couple of false starts and needle sizes later, I will be picking up the correct needles today and re-starting. Gauges are great, but I need to make sure I'm using SIZE 19 and NOT 19mm, BIG difference in size and gauge.

Entertainment news today, the new list for dancing with the stars is out, still won't watch it. I just cannot get into shows in that venue, the do not even grow on me. Maybe you have to have some voyeuristic tendencies to like shows of that nature.I really tend to like the sitcoms and some of the law enforcement type shows, but still there is a limit to how much of that I can watch. Maybe its all based in some weird formula for background noise? who knows. Apparently Ralph Maccio will be on Dancing with the stars this season, who knew he is 50? I have trouble believing how old some of these people are and how some of them surpassed me in age.

enough of this, there is knitting afoot! I need to prepare to leave, Kimberly will be here soon.

Happy stitching trails and yarn overs too.

Stitchinghermit

Apparently Chivalry is alive and well!

I am back in the job market and went to meet with my vocational rehab counselor, as I was walking up to the building, purse in one hand and coffee in the other a guy near the door (who had started to light a cigarette) walked over and opened the door for me to go in. I was a bit startled, but before I could thank him he said "Don't worry, chivalry is not dead, it's still alive." All I could do was laugh. It was nice to be the recipient of a nice and thoughtful act.
I have greater hopes, the two women i met with today seem to have a cohesive process and are enthusiastic about what they do, I have to say I am excited, I have a few things to send them via email, another meeting next week and we should be quite set.

I had a great time at knitting last night, Lisa and I talked about patterns in the Knitters Guild knitting magazine and I saw some great patterns Sara printed off Ravelry. Kathy and Jenny came to my rescue with needles and now I have my neck band in my pink tee, just need to finish running in ends and seam it up.
I have not done the second row of my Vintage lace blouse yet, I am not sure what I will work on today just yet, but as soon at I am finished sending the information I owe to the Vocational people I will get on it all.
I picked up season one of The Big Bang Theory this past weekend, I began watching some episodes yesterday, it is so funny! I just love it.
Have to get on sending docs I owe and pick up the projects.

Happy stitching trails to all and may you receive a bit of that chivalry that is alive and kicking out there.

Life in the North of the lower 48

Good morning,

I have been up for hours, had a quick errand this morning, shoveled to get out of the driveway, but now need to shovel my way back in (yup, plow went through). NOT excited about this so I am practicing enjoyable and constructive procrastination by spending some time at a coffee shop, playing on the internet while waiting for the yarn shop to open.
I checked out Ravelry, Facebook and now I am blogging along. Third cup of coffee, should be buzzing and shaking along here soon.
Looking forward to our knitters retreat next month, Lisa is such a wonderful organizer, setting up the cabins and and scheduling people for meals and setting up roommates, getting the attendees list together. I have gone through my stash and have a big tote of yarns for the white elephant dice game.
well, time to start packing up and moseying along to the yarn shop.

Happy stitching trails, see ya soon.
Stitchinghermit

Remember me?

It has been a while and I have been busy, not even knitting at times. I competed and A+computer certification and I did a temp gig installing some printers and now I am break-fixing Dell computers. This is fun at times, tiring at times and the driving is always crazy! Good experience, I have a few Dell certifications now and have learned more. On the top of the list is, this is good experience and I am continuing to learn.
Today's fix was for the city of Red Wing.
I have been looking forward to the knitting retreat, there are a few people from last year who are unable to make it; a few names have been thrown in for replacements.
I have so many things on needles, I am trying to finish my classic elite cotton bamboo tee. and unfortunately I continue to add projects of varying degrees of skill and time consumption. A recent addition to my queue is a project that evolved from Kathy, Jenny and I drinking the same kool-aid as Sara Jane at Linden Hills. This project is the Hemlock Ring afghan from Jarrod Floods Brooklyn Tweed. You can find it on Ravelry.com and follow the link to the free pattern on the Rainey sisters web site.
The Hemlock Ring throw is Jarrod's adaptation of the doily. I am using a lovely Claret, Jenny is going to be using a lovely green and I believe Kathy's will be Purple if she does not talk herself out of it. Gotta love those spontaneous Monkey see monkey do projects. I have just begun the feather and fan pattern of this throw and could have it finished soon, and may begin more as Christmas gifts for the coming season. I know, we just got done with all that.
Linden Hills will be starting another challenge soon, this one is likely to be lace, which will be a blessing for me. I have a few lace tops in my queue to knit with yarns from there, a couple are going to be a delicious cashmere yarn productions.I still have a fair isle jacket and the Faery Ring cardigan to make as well.
I am playing with a shawl design using Claudia hand paints lace. The pattern has some form to it, but needs some work yet.
Today I will be knitting during lunch with friends, I have not seen them in a little while. This job tends to interfere with Wednesday night knitting, but the contract is up on February 5th and I am looking forward to its end, there is some talk they want to extend, but the environments are not conducive to good health for me and for a while I was running a bit ragged and having asthma and other lung and health issues.
Tazsmonn is doing all right, more H vac classes and he may become Chief steward and attend the training later this month. The dogs are well, Sadie is my good little buddy and Abella is a busy girl, playing with her toys and getting into trouble.


For now, keep your needles in the yarn and Happy stitches to all.

Turkey! and Yarn

I love turkey and stuffing! Of course there was a stuffing taste test, had to make sure it turned out. 
I became one of the many Holiday travelers, driving to Mankato for a perfect day of family and festivities. We went to the store last night to pick up the last of the items we needed to make our feast. stuffing was created while drinking a bit of wine; apparently if you keep topping off the glass before it gets empty, you are still on your first glass. I however cannot drink like that anymore, perhaps age catches up with me.
my sweet doggies are happy, Abella enjoys a good row of teasing the cat, Mr. Custard. With all the children there is much to scavenge under the table and they get lots of cuddles.
I am making homemade mashed potatoes with gravy and it is my first attempt at making candied yams myself; we are having an evening feast, me thinks twas the wine that put us behind. I am not much for candied yams, but last night when we were talking about what we needed to buy at the store, Julies oldest son piped up saying "Oh, you got to get the orange potatoes" so when a cute little five year old is so enthused about sweet potatoes, I can't resist.
Julie is Zack's fiancee, she brought her kids. Julie has recently learned to crochet and was making a blanket. I watched and decided she was driving me CRAZY! she said it was a single crochet and it seemed to be taking forever! As I watched I realized, this is not a single crochet, it's a slip stitch. Ok, things had to change at that point, I taught her the single and double crochet, we frogged the little bit of a blanket she had going and it will now be a double crochet blanket. I had a bit of a skein of (sorry guys, I know friends don't let friends knit with it) purple homespun in my trunk and she is working on a double crochet hat. I may need to find her a good yarn shop near Alexandria, she says there is just Walmart and JoAnns. HA! Bellissima Yarns opens in two days (November 27th) in Alexandria. Can we find yarn or what. She may have a limited income and will need to be frugal, but nothing beats good yarn and I showed her knitpicks as well. One more convert for the dark side.

Ok, low battery and not close enough to a plug, soo.
Happy stitching trails and Turkey day if you partake.
Stitchinghermit