I not only completed the Narvik sweater, which I made longer and added button holes for buttons, I have been finishing a few other things. I stitched together the Narvik, sewed linings for two purses and I am working on the Birch shawl pattern using free yarn from the Rowan Retrospective event at the Textile Center. The yarn is four balls of Kidsilk Aura which is 82 yard as compared to the over 200 yards on the regular kidsilk balls of yarn, so I altered the pattern, I cast on 109 stitches and I believe that I can make it with the four balls since the shawl will be smaller and the pattern called for 3 balls of the regular Kidsilk. Finger Crossed.
I had wanted to complete the Narvik Sweater and wear it to the event, but at the eleventh hour I needed to steam and seam as it were. My pink rowan cable sweater was the ticket and my picture may be in the textile center newsletter. Not really a like my own picture person, but I let this one slide.
Kathy, Jenny and I went to the Rowan event together on Friday, then we took a yarn shop road trip on Saturday. We visited the Doll house in Owatonna, found Smitten with Knitting in Waseca closed, so continued to Mankato to have Lunch with one of my sisters after visiting Mary Lue's in Mankato. After lunch it was The Tangled Skein in St. Peter and then home again. The route is a nice little day trip and was fun, Kathy found an out of print Rowan book I found the baby moc-a-sock pattern and Jenny found a Rowan book as well.
My red cable sweater is still waiting for me to finish the sleeves, and I am working on sock two of a pair of toddler socks.
Keeping busy, keeping the doggies company and knitting away.
Happy Stitches and keep your needles flying through the fiber.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Narvik progress and updates
It is 11:30 and I am half way up the last piece of the sweater, the second front piece. Thanks to Chris R. The intuitive cabling is going well, and the pattern is pretty much in my head, which makes the whole thing go faster.
With time of the essence, I will be steam blocking the pieces to get them together; keeping my fingers crossed.
So what am I doing blogging when I have so many stitches to manage by this evening? Have to take a break, more coffee, a few bites of vanilla yogurt, Tylenol for the tension headache and back to work.
My next break will hold a shower and such. I can do it, I can do it.
Abella has used the potty patch again, yeah! Sadie is still not convinced it is the thing to use, but we will not forgo potty outings, just not walks today.
Have to grab the Tylenol and get back to work.
Happy Stitches all.
With time of the essence, I will be steam blocking the pieces to get them together; keeping my fingers crossed.
So what am I doing blogging when I have so many stitches to manage by this evening? Have to take a break, more coffee, a few bites of vanilla yogurt, Tylenol for the tension headache and back to work.
My next break will hold a shower and such. I can do it, I can do it.
Abella has used the potty patch again, yeah! Sadie is still not convinced it is the thing to use, but we will not forgo potty outings, just not walks today.
Have to grab the Tylenol and get back to work.
Happy Stitches all.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Air Traffic and take a kid to work
If you have been listening to the news lately, and depending on which source you are hearing, seeing and or reading, you may have caught the reports of two kids directing air traffic.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=7308043
One can extrapolate from any knowledge of the situation that there were dangers. That being said, think for a moment about the concept of take your kid to work and what it was meant to do and be. It began in the 1970's as take your daughter to work day, it was a way to teach daughters they could do anything. Some would argue that, it is a relic that needs to be eliminated and only reminds people without kids, of how annoying kids can be to people. Yes, this is a feminist relic, it has been expanded to boys because they began to underachieve and as a person without kids I need to say, yes, overhaul but do not cancel.
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/23/take-your-child-to-work-day-should-be-cancelled/
This is my small humble opinion and many will disagree, this is their right. I can say that, in my opinion, the day needs to be overhauled; it has become an opportunity to find ways in which we can enrich and stimulate children in a positive way.
According to NBC there were two kids, both closely supervised and afforded the opportunity to view how their parent works in a hands on exercise.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/CHILDS-PLAY-AT-JFK-86174177.html
Safe? Probably not. Unique? yes! and speaking for myself (yet again), I learn better hands on.
Think for a moment on the opportunities to enrich with such learning experiences for the future of this country, all personal bitterness and politics aside, this is one thing we should unite on, is a way in which we could take an idea from our past and recreate it in to a better tool, that teaches children some hands on ways in which they can see their futures as well as try new experiences.
I hear it, and yes, this could be expensive, it could be a tax write off for some large corporations that could be seen as far more positive than let's give ourselves big bonuses.
Are you asking if I have any ideas, or am I all talk? Maybe both. Seriously, I have been putting thought into this.
Old equipment could be donated, simulations could be set up and in controlled environments, people could volunteer time and children could try, hands on to do things that would stimulate their minds to dream of things we did not, and at the same time ethics, social conscience and community to name a few things can be instilled in our future generations as opposed to selfish, self entitled negativity, anger, and violence that we see so much of today and lets not leave out self image factors. Let us look at getting rid of the ideas of "do unto others before they do unto you", "Look out for number one", and any of the other social negativism that have been instilled in the growing, upcoming generations for the last three decades.
Truly this is an opportunity for learning and generating ideas, yes, thank God nothing bad happened, the adults involved were there, they were coaching and it helped to lighten some very stressful jobs, there is a lot to be said for the psychological benefits there.
I just keep asking myself, why is it that we look at the worst and do not look at the positive opportunities involved in the situations that come along in life? Lets start now and turn this into the opportunity it can be, to put new ideas out there to enlighten, motivate and energize children and our future.
Let's put these air traffic people back to work and see what they have learned and what ideas they may have.
Oh, yeah. This is a knitting blog and to that end, I am six inches from completing the back of my Narvik sweater and I need 21 more inches on the last front piece.
http://www.colourway.co.uk/rowan/rb42/rb42.htm
Back to knitting, and as always..........
Happy Stitches.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=7308043
One can extrapolate from any knowledge of the situation that there were dangers. That being said, think for a moment about the concept of take your kid to work and what it was meant to do and be. It began in the 1970's as take your daughter to work day, it was a way to teach daughters they could do anything. Some would argue that, it is a relic that needs to be eliminated and only reminds people without kids, of how annoying kids can be to people. Yes, this is a feminist relic, it has been expanded to boys because they began to underachieve and as a person without kids I need to say, yes, overhaul but do not cancel.
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/04/23/take-your-child-to-work-day-should-be-cancelled/
This is my small humble opinion and many will disagree, this is their right. I can say that, in my opinion, the day needs to be overhauled; it has become an opportunity to find ways in which we can enrich and stimulate children in a positive way.
According to NBC there were two kids, both closely supervised and afforded the opportunity to view how their parent works in a hands on exercise.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/CHILDS-PLAY-AT-JFK-86174177.html
Safe? Probably not. Unique? yes! and speaking for myself (yet again), I learn better hands on.
Think for a moment on the opportunities to enrich with such learning experiences for the future of this country, all personal bitterness and politics aside, this is one thing we should unite on, is a way in which we could take an idea from our past and recreate it in to a better tool, that teaches children some hands on ways in which they can see their futures as well as try new experiences.
I hear it, and yes, this could be expensive, it could be a tax write off for some large corporations that could be seen as far more positive than let's give ourselves big bonuses.
Are you asking if I have any ideas, or am I all talk? Maybe both. Seriously, I have been putting thought into this.
Old equipment could be donated, simulations could be set up and in controlled environments, people could volunteer time and children could try, hands on to do things that would stimulate their minds to dream of things we did not, and at the same time ethics, social conscience and community to name a few things can be instilled in our future generations as opposed to selfish, self entitled negativity, anger, and violence that we see so much of today and lets not leave out self image factors. Let us look at getting rid of the ideas of "do unto others before they do unto you", "Look out for number one", and any of the other social negativism that have been instilled in the growing, upcoming generations for the last three decades.
Truly this is an opportunity for learning and generating ideas, yes, thank God nothing bad happened, the adults involved were there, they were coaching and it helped to lighten some very stressful jobs, there is a lot to be said for the psychological benefits there.
I just keep asking myself, why is it that we look at the worst and do not look at the positive opportunities involved in the situations that come along in life? Lets start now and turn this into the opportunity it can be, to put new ideas out there to enlighten, motivate and energize children and our future.
Let's put these air traffic people back to work and see what they have learned and what ideas they may have.
Oh, yeah. This is a knitting blog and to that end, I am six inches from completing the back of my Narvik sweater and I need 21 more inches on the last front piece.
http://www.colourway.co.uk/rowan/rb42/rb42.htm
Back to knitting, and as always..........
Happy Stitches.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Run down
So here I am, sitting with little pup crawling up my shoulder, using one of my sisters computers because my notebook is in the shop (Microsoft failure), writing a brief update.
Jenny and I went on an adventure a couple of weekends ago, we drove to Owatonna to the Doll house, pictures were taken, yarn was touched and more will be written later, about this and Smitten with Knitting.
I have been in Mankato for about a week and will return to the cities some time tomorrow, Bella has a vet appointment. I am not sure I will be going to any knitting or crochet groups when I get back, as the people around me have been getting sick. So far I am ok but feel a bit stuffy today.
It is a lay low day today and we will watch movies; we begin with Angels and Demons.
Making progress on eh Red cable and Narvik, one sleeve on the way to being finished.
Will up date soon.
Happy Stitches
Jenny and I went on an adventure a couple of weekends ago, we drove to Owatonna to the Doll house, pictures were taken, yarn was touched and more will be written later, about this and Smitten with Knitting.
I have been in Mankato for about a week and will return to the cities some time tomorrow, Bella has a vet appointment. I am not sure I will be going to any knitting or crochet groups when I get back, as the people around me have been getting sick. So far I am ok but feel a bit stuffy today.
It is a lay low day today and we will watch movies; we begin with Angels and Demons.
Making progress on eh Red cable and Narvik, one sleeve on the way to being finished.
Will up date soon.
Happy Stitches
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Politics and Knitting (not that they go together)
Knitting in groups, one may find that the conversations can run quite a gammit, reaching out to current events, social affairs and politics. Knitting groups as many knitters know, can be very ecclectic and diverse.
For me, I thrive in the environment and my relationship with DH can attest to my drive for intelligent and factual conversation.
One thing that we sometimes do not get about our fellow Americans, is that we tend to hear a lot of parroting of information where people have not checked thier facts.
Another thing I find that makes my head shake, is how anyone who is poor in this country could be Republican.
How is it that we need to check even foreign news to get a better view of what is happening in our own country.
Thomas Frank, an american writer and Journalist thinks that US voters have become blind where thier real interests are concerned.
"It's like a French revolution in reverse in which the workers come pouring down the street screaming more power to the aristocracy."
I have always shaken my head when I hear people in working class and in moderate to low income espousing the value of the Republican party. For more information on this topic and other information, follow that link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8474611.stm
I have been catching bits of the televised capital sessions and I have to say something about wages and how things are going inthis country.
Yes in these times we all need to tighten our belts. Trickel down economic theory is just that, theory. I caught a bit of a sesson on the Minnesota bonding bill and to negate a law in order to pay workers less in these economic times is in my opinion, the wrong answer.
We pay for what we get, however, in a time when taxpayers and businesses (this began before the hard economic times, if you will remember, budgets have long been tried to be balanced on the backs of workers along with company bottom lines). If Governments and companies truly want to cut costs and lower wages, They have to start at the top, before they get to the working class.
Cut out bonuses for five years, do not give the governors, presidents or auditors raises until the crisis is over; STOP vicitimizing the American workers for heavens sake. Dear aristocracy, put your money where your mouth is!
Knitting is going very well. I have completed the front and back of my Red Dolce' cable sweater and I am working on the sleeves and making good progress. I am sewing shoulders tonight, then picking up and knitting the neck.
Finished or not, this weekend I am picking up the rest of the yarn for my gray Rowan cable Narvik sweater and finishing that by March 5th. so I can wear it to the Rowan show at the Textile Center for the Knitters Guild. I am very excited and looking forward to this.
Puppy Patrol
Bella has gained a few ounces and keeps Sadie quite active, they play quite a bit and Sadie actually chews rawhide at home now. For a bit we were not getting a lot of sleep, but now Bella is sleeping better at night so we all are. Yeah!
Happy Knitting Everyone
For me, I thrive in the environment and my relationship with DH can attest to my drive for intelligent and factual conversation.
One thing that we sometimes do not get about our fellow Americans, is that we tend to hear a lot of parroting of information where people have not checked thier facts.
Another thing I find that makes my head shake, is how anyone who is poor in this country could be Republican.
How is it that we need to check even foreign news to get a better view of what is happening in our own country.
Thomas Frank, an american writer and Journalist thinks that US voters have become blind where thier real interests are concerned.
"It's like a French revolution in reverse in which the workers come pouring down the street screaming more power to the aristocracy."
I have always shaken my head when I hear people in working class and in moderate to low income espousing the value of the Republican party. For more information on this topic and other information, follow that link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8474611.stm
I have been catching bits of the televised capital sessions and I have to say something about wages and how things are going inthis country.
Yes in these times we all need to tighten our belts. Trickel down economic theory is just that, theory. I caught a bit of a sesson on the Minnesota bonding bill and to negate a law in order to pay workers less in these economic times is in my opinion, the wrong answer.
We pay for what we get, however, in a time when taxpayers and businesses (this began before the hard economic times, if you will remember, budgets have long been tried to be balanced on the backs of workers along with company bottom lines). If Governments and companies truly want to cut costs and lower wages, They have to start at the top, before they get to the working class.
Cut out bonuses for five years, do not give the governors, presidents or auditors raises until the crisis is over; STOP vicitimizing the American workers for heavens sake. Dear aristocracy, put your money where your mouth is!
Knitting is going very well. I have completed the front and back of my Red Dolce' cable sweater and I am working on the sleeves and making good progress. I am sewing shoulders tonight, then picking up and knitting the neck.
Finished or not, this weekend I am picking up the rest of the yarn for my gray Rowan cable Narvik sweater and finishing that by March 5th. so I can wear it to the Rowan show at the Textile Center for the Knitters Guild. I am very excited and looking forward to this.
Puppy Patrol
Bella has gained a few ounces and keeps Sadie quite active, they play quite a bit and Sadie actually chews rawhide at home now. For a bit we were not getting a lot of sleep, but now Bella is sleeping better at night so we all are. Yeah!
Happy Knitting Everyone
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Life on the knit and a frustration with bobbles.
Today Kimberly, Mary and I went to knitters palette, I bought the new Piece work magazine, which is the 4th Annual historic Knitting issue. The articles speak a bit about the rich knitting history in England and Jewish Lithuania. There is something lovely about historic patterns and the ladies who made them, such as Miss Money; a bit of a question as to who she was. The nostalgia is warming, even though I get a bit lost in the curious way they used to write patterns in those early times and written patterns were not common.
I thought I would begin a pair of socks which I purchased the pattern and yarn for a couple of months ago. Start them I did and don't you know, I am feeling that the little baubles that make the cherries are more frustration than I need right now. Back to the stash bin for that project, it will hibernate for a bit, or longer.
Miss Bella is fitting in well, quite perky and of course energetic as she is a puppy. Bella has no fear, seems to think she is a much larger dog than she is, because she is definitely not intimidated by larger dogs and chases down cats that have more than ten pounds on her. Bella seems to fly when she leaps or flings herself forward. A trim was definitely in order for this little hair ball and she looks more like a dog than something you would find Whoville in.
Sadie looks out for Bella, still gets annoyed when chewed on too much by her, but they get on well.
I am trying to finish the back of my red cable sweater, I am almost at the point where I can shape the shoulders, measuring in the morning to see where I am at. The rest of my yarn for this sweater needs to be wound yet, so I am going to work on getting that done this week as well as work on the Rowan Narvik sweater I began. I am adding length to the Narvik as it is a cropped cardigan and that will not do on me, would look quite hideous.
So cherry socks aside for now, onward to finis my red sweater and Narvik by March 5th. Just in time for the Rowan's 30 year retrospective traveling show at the Textile Center. As a bonus I will have two new cool sweaters to wear to the retreat our knitting group has going on, thanks to Lisa for finding a place and organizing it; I am really looking forward to this, I want to take a complicated project and an easy one. Imagine, sixteen knitters all tucked away in a couple of cabins, knitting and perhaps some wine.
I thought I would begin a pair of socks which I purchased the pattern and yarn for a couple of months ago. Start them I did and don't you know, I am feeling that the little baubles that make the cherries are more frustration than I need right now. Back to the stash bin for that project, it will hibernate for a bit, or longer.
Miss Bella is fitting in well, quite perky and of course energetic as she is a puppy. Bella has no fear, seems to think she is a much larger dog than she is, because she is definitely not intimidated by larger dogs and chases down cats that have more than ten pounds on her. Bella seems to fly when she leaps or flings herself forward. A trim was definitely in order for this little hair ball and she looks more like a dog than something you would find Whoville in.
Sadie looks out for Bella, still gets annoyed when chewed on too much by her, but they get on well.
I am trying to finish the back of my red cable sweater, I am almost at the point where I can shape the shoulders, measuring in the morning to see where I am at. The rest of my yarn for this sweater needs to be wound yet, so I am going to work on getting that done this week as well as work on the Rowan Narvik sweater I began. I am adding length to the Narvik as it is a cropped cardigan and that will not do on me, would look quite hideous.
So cherry socks aside for now, onward to finis my red sweater and Narvik by March 5th. Just in time for the Rowan's 30 year retrospective traveling show at the Textile Center. As a bonus I will have two new cool sweaters to wear to the retreat our knitting group has going on, thanks to Lisa for finding a place and organizing it; I am really looking forward to this, I want to take a complicated project and an easy one. Imagine, sixteen knitters all tucked away in a couple of cabins, knitting and perhaps some wine.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Abella Ami
Yesterday I drove up to Little Falls to pick up our new little family edition. A spunky little puff of fur and such as she is that I at some point began to call Abella, or Bella for short and decided on Abella Ami at some point, which means beautiful friend in French.
Bella is four months old, and was a litter runt, who was given away to my friend Binky's mom, who then after two weeks had her fill of house training and was tired of cleaning up messes. She is less than two pounds, spunky, loves to play, does chew and is apricot in color.
Binky and I thought Bella would be a good companion for my little peanut Sadie, who likes friends and has been spending her mornings alone while I am in class. Sadie was very excited when she first saw Bella, who tried to cower from Sadie's sniffing, then rolled over on her back in submission.
I was a bit worried, Bella's diet had consisted of milk and cat food as she did not like her own food, and I was not successful in getting her to eat or drink most of the evening.
Since it was craft night at my friends house, Bella came with Sadie and I to craft night and meet the rest of the pack.
We carefully introduced the dogs, Copper, a more dominant male beagle, Rocco, The less dominant male Corgi and Gatto the Main coon male cat who seemed to feel that the little puff of fur was not significant enough to acknowledge. After a while Bella was running around checking stuff out and scurrying the edges of walls and furniture like a rodent, but would not eat or drink anything, did chew and lick a soft treat, but only chewed it to pieces and did not eat it. Each time there was a potty break Bella was taken along to observe, but seemed to not understand why we wanted her to be on the cold ground outside.
After dinner and our visit Sadie, Bella and I went to Petco, where we talked to the dog trainer and got advice on food and such. It seems as though, due to poor diet, Bella is loosing her hair and is flesh and bone under all that hair; I got a discount on the food, which I was grateful for. I found Bella a little mint t-shirt and jacket at Petco on clearance for+ .99 cents each. She was wearing one of Sadie's smaller sweatshirts that is now too tight on Sadie and is too big for Bella except that it kind of works with all the hair.
My goals for the rest of the night were to 1. get Bella to eat something, 2. get Bella to drink something. and 3. hopefully have a successful potty episode outside without accidents.
I am happy to report that, Bella ate some wet puppy food and without accidents has had three, successful outdoor potty episodes, I am concerned that I have not seen her drink, but the wet food has moisture and I am going to mix it with warm water to get her more fluid and because it is not complete nutrition, there is the dry puppy food and all of Sadie's food that she has been eating.
Sadie sleeps on the bed at night, we went to bed and took Bella with us. Bella was not ready to settle down, to her it was time to play and eat, since our bed is a king size and is high from the floor, and little Bella has no fear of jumping off cliffs as I discovered (she flumps on the wood floor and scurries off), we kenneled little Bella for the night and then we all slept well.
This morning when DH got up, Bella of course started mini barking, which started Sadie barking, which meant I was up for the day at 5 a.m., nope not used to that! DH lets Bella out of the kennel and she immediately scuttles off and I have to chase her down so we can all go outside, where she successfully pottied. Yeah! First she watches what Sadie does then does the same.
Needless to say, Bella is kenneled for her own safety during the day, because she has no fear and she is so small.
Our cat Sasha, just looks at Bella, hisses loudly and runs upstairs, she dislikes Bella's scurrying, barks and mop like look, so pretty much everything.
A note on knitting:
I have divided for the the arms on my Red cable sweater and I am working up the back. Yeah!
Happy stitches
Bella is four months old, and was a litter runt, who was given away to my friend Binky's mom, who then after two weeks had her fill of house training and was tired of cleaning up messes. She is less than two pounds, spunky, loves to play, does chew and is apricot in color.
Binky and I thought Bella would be a good companion for my little peanut Sadie, who likes friends and has been spending her mornings alone while I am in class. Sadie was very excited when she first saw Bella, who tried to cower from Sadie's sniffing, then rolled over on her back in submission.
I was a bit worried, Bella's diet had consisted of milk and cat food as she did not like her own food, and I was not successful in getting her to eat or drink most of the evening.
Since it was craft night at my friends house, Bella came with Sadie and I to craft night and meet the rest of the pack.
We carefully introduced the dogs, Copper, a more dominant male beagle, Rocco, The less dominant male Corgi and Gatto the Main coon male cat who seemed to feel that the little puff of fur was not significant enough to acknowledge. After a while Bella was running around checking stuff out and scurrying the edges of walls and furniture like a rodent, but would not eat or drink anything, did chew and lick a soft treat, but only chewed it to pieces and did not eat it. Each time there was a potty break Bella was taken along to observe, but seemed to not understand why we wanted her to be on the cold ground outside.
After dinner and our visit Sadie, Bella and I went to Petco, where we talked to the dog trainer and got advice on food and such. It seems as though, due to poor diet, Bella is loosing her hair and is flesh and bone under all that hair; I got a discount on the food, which I was grateful for. I found Bella a little mint t-shirt and jacket at Petco on clearance for+ .99 cents each. She was wearing one of Sadie's smaller sweatshirts that is now too tight on Sadie and is too big for Bella except that it kind of works with all the hair.
My goals for the rest of the night were to 1. get Bella to eat something, 2. get Bella to drink something. and 3. hopefully have a successful potty episode outside without accidents.
I am happy to report that, Bella ate some wet puppy food and without accidents has had three, successful outdoor potty episodes, I am concerned that I have not seen her drink, but the wet food has moisture and I am going to mix it with warm water to get her more fluid and because it is not complete nutrition, there is the dry puppy food and all of Sadie's food that she has been eating.
Sadie sleeps on the bed at night, we went to bed and took Bella with us. Bella was not ready to settle down, to her it was time to play and eat, since our bed is a king size and is high from the floor, and little Bella has no fear of jumping off cliffs as I discovered (she flumps on the wood floor and scurries off), we kenneled little Bella for the night and then we all slept well.
This morning when DH got up, Bella of course started mini barking, which started Sadie barking, which meant I was up for the day at 5 a.m., nope not used to that! DH lets Bella out of the kennel and she immediately scuttles off and I have to chase her down so we can all go outside, where she successfully pottied. Yeah! First she watches what Sadie does then does the same.
Needless to say, Bella is kenneled for her own safety during the day, because she has no fear and she is so small.
Our cat Sasha, just looks at Bella, hisses loudly and runs upstairs, she dislikes Bella's scurrying, barks and mop like look, so pretty much everything.
A note on knitting:
I have divided for the the arms on my Red cable sweater and I am working up the back. Yeah!
Happy stitches
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)