Getting it done

During this, the darkest month, some knitters and I had made an agreement to get some unfinished objects over the finish line.  This post, unfortunately, is not one of those items, but it is still a finished item and I’m really rather enamored with it.  Really, it’s got everything you could want.  Noro Silk Garden Lite, (colours 2034 & 2037 – 1 skein of each), garter stitch, cool striping, double think and wicked warm, and most importantly, it’s finished and I can wear it on the bus on Monday morning.  Boo rah!

Want to make one for yourself?  Okay, here you go, do this:

5.0 mm needles

2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden Lite or, you know, whatever you that that’s soft & pretty

Cast on 33 stitches.  Why 33?  I like the number 3.  You can use a provisional cast on and graft the two ends together later or you can do a plain cast on and just sew that baby together when you get to the end.  Whatever you prefer.  I was lazy and sort of forgot to do a provisional cast on and ended up having to sew the ends together at the end.  No biggy.

Knit in garter stitch changing colours every second row.  Carry the colour not in use up the side.  Knit until you are almost out of yarn.  Then you can either cast off and sew the ends together or you can graft the ends together.  Whichever you did or did not plan ahead for.    You now have a longish circular scarf.  Fold it over on itself and pull over your little noggin’.  See, how easy was that?  I think these babies would be great for gift knitting.

Now, I really should get working on those other things I was going to finish this January.  What?  It’s the 31st?  Hmmmm, that’s okay, we decided to run the getting it done theme through February too.  Phew eh?

A piece of advice

If you ever meet my husband, don’t ask him for a cocktail.  If you do, he will say this:

“One day Peter the penis was walking to town.”

That is all.  You have been warned.

Hey! You know what we haven’t done in awhile?

*SQOD! (Skytrain quote of the day!)  Actually, this one wasn’t on Skytrain proper, but I was on a Greater Vancouver Transit Authority vehicle.  One of those little community buses.  In my neighbourhood, think of a big van full of crackheads and really grumpy yuppies.  We are a neighbourhood in flux.

Anyway, I’m on this little ‘community bus’ and there are three teenage girls sitting somewhere behind me talking about their friend who is pregnant and blah, blah, blah.  They start discussing how they will raise their kids and be so much cooler than their parents and blah, blah, blah.  Then, this golden nugget of wisdom from one of them:

‘Umm, yeah, so as long as I don’t have a daughter who is a total slut of a son who is gay I don’t care what they are.”

The 30 something woman beside me and I both just bust out laughing.  So brilliant.  Remember when YOU had all the answers?  Sometimes I miss those days.  Usually when I’ve been drinking, mind you.

I’ll also give you a quick taste of what Mr. Mailman brought me today:

I have to go do my homework (now who’s 17?) so I’ll have to tell you about it tomorrow.  I did put some notes on the pici though if you want to get a bit of details.

The Poppa continues to improve and be grumpy.  I’m sure it’s all those internet good feeling vibes from you guys.  You rock!  Thank you so much, it’s really meant so much to me.

*For those of you who don’t live in southern British Columbia, Skytrain is our local sort of mass rapid transit train thingy.  The name, Skytrain, if my aged brain remembers correctly, was chosen in a contest from thousands!!! (dozens?) of entries.  Most of the train is elevated, sort of close to the sky, I guess?

On the mend

Thanks for all your well wishes guys!  Y’all are so sweet.    The Poppa is slowly on the mend.  He’s off life support, out of ICU, and in a regular ward now.  The doctor says he’s getting better so, really, it’s all good news.  Now he just needs to rest and beat this pneumonia.  We just keep nagging him to eat all the food they give him (whether he likes it or not!) and to get well enough that he can go home to his beloved dogs.  At least he’s finally considering retirement now.  I think at almost 73 it might be time to take it a bit easier.  Workaholics!

Not much else going on really.  Plenty of knitting for reduction of stress levels.  You know how it is.  I did go and write two exams for a couple of permanent work positions with my old department.  I’ve been offered another one year contract at the department where I’m on assignment but I’m not sure if that’s okay enough for me to sleep at night.  You know what I mean?  I’ve got to stop watching the news and reading the papers again.  It makes me get all nervous and fearful about the ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY!  At least that’s how I feel they are saying it.  Fear mongerers, the lot of them.  I’m sure another one year contract would be fine and then I’d probably get rolled over to indeterminate but there’s this little voice in the back of my head saying,”What about 13 months from now?  Will we still be able to buy yarn and books and chocolate?”  Yes, it really does say that.    I’m a simple woman with simple tastes.

Speaking of which, I’m going to go have a Crispy Crunch and knit a bit.  Keep warm and take care everyone!

Life. It’s what’s happens when you’re making other plans!

Hey y’all.  Sorry for being MIA.  My dad got very sick all of a sudden on Tuesday and he’s been in the hospital ever since.  He was on life support for the first 2 and 1/2 days, which is just about the scariest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.  Luckily he doesn’t remember any of that.  He’s getting better now, slowly.  Breathing on his own and able to sit up for a few minutes at a time and such, returning to his title of world’s crankiest man.     It turned out to be a nasty case of pneumonia and that was putting out infection to the rest of his body so he’s still got some fighting to do.

Okay, that’s about it for today.  I have to take the cat to the cute vet for bloodwork and then it’s back out to the hospital for some visitin’!  Keep on knitting.

Drumroll please

Here I am actually wearing a finished object:

Ta Da!  I love this sweater.  I’ve worn it at least four times since I finished it.  This shot was taken after last weeks yarn store sale.  We needed some coffee/tea/sustenance to help us carry home our weighty bags of yarny goodness.  Bit of a double chin there that I need to work on.  I keep waiting for the snow to get melted so I can start walking/running again.  I want to go in the Vancouver Sun Run again this year but not in the shape I’m currently in.  I’d fall over and pass out!  Okay, gotta go make some dinner & clean the cat box.  Don’t you wish you were me?  Oh yeah!  You know you do.

And later, I’m watching tv and knitting on that darn sock that never seems to grow.  It will be completed!

Hey, let’s talk about Christmas presents!

I finally got to see my mom and dad (Hi mom and dad!  Love you!) this last Sunday and we had out very belated Christmas/New Years visit.  With all the snow over December and the early part of January we just could never get to there house.  It was making me sad because I had actually completed gifts for them!  They were even completed before Christmas!  Can you imagine?  No?  Me either, but it’s true.

First up was a neckwarmer for the Momma:

That’s the Garnstudio neckwarmer in Dream in Color Smooshy colourway Petal Shower #310 – scroll down a bit on that last link.  Very soft and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.  I might make one for me.  The stick pin is from Designs by Romi.  Very pretty and every so girly.

Then I made the Poppa this:

Hey look!  There’s snow in the background!  Grumble grumble grumble.  Stuff is still there too!  Anyway, I used the Jesse’s Christmas Hat pattern and I knit it in Naturally Merino Fine 10 ply.  Nice yarn!  Super soft and good stitch definition.  Sadly, it seems to be discontinued.  Just so you know, dad totally didn’t get ripped off by only getting a had.  He also got smoked oysters and some little crackers to eat them on so he’s fine!

What’s that?  Did I finally finish the sock for the in-laws.  Ummm, yeah, so not yeat.  I’m getting there, I swear.  Just not at a very fast pace apparently.

Are you #$%)#$(@ kidding me?

It’s doing it again!  Someone make it stop!

In far more positive news, I went to the semi annual sale at Three Bags Full today.  What?  More Noro?  Oh I couldn’t possible!  Well, maybe just 15 then. 

Wanna see something cool?*

*Note*  Coolness is in the eye of the beholder.  When I saw this I actually made a little gaspy noise way back in my throat I was so excited.  I’m also pretty sure that Heather and Kath will be just as smitten by it as I.  The rest of you?  Not so sure.

Anyway, just as further proof that wonderful things come from stationery stores, I give you the totally organized flash card system!  Oh sure, I hear you out there!  What’s the big deal about flashcards?  Look at these bad boys!

Fabulous yet still offensive neon cards!

and the piece de resistance – an organizer!  With little dividers and tiny sticky labels!  I’m in ecstasy here.

Huh, not so exciting for you?  Bummer.

In other news, I knit the spousal unit a hat.  A Thorpe hat to be exact.

I made it bigger than called for then gave it a tiny bit of felting.  Then I had to line it with fleece because apparently ‘wool is itchy’.  Poppy cock I say!  Anyway, sewing that lining in there was a treat and a half.  Now I remember why I knit and not sew.  Anyway, it turned out pretty good and boy is it warm!  Sorry, he wouldn’t model it for you.  The styrofoam head with have to do.

As an added bonus, the weather has finally turned and I haven’t had to shovel the driveway in two whole days.  It’s a miracle.  Happy Wednesday all. 

Happy New Year?

Woke up to this:

That is another six inches of snow.  We are not amused.  Post-shoveling and I am completely beat.  If you need me I shall be on the couch, knitting and maybe a bit of snoozing.  Luckily we bought way to much Chinese food last night so tonight’s dinner is also taken care of.  Mmmmmmm, Kung Pao chicken is my friend.

Here’s to 2009 kids.  Hope everyone has a great year!