Calorimetry, how I love thee

I want to make one for each day of the week. And maybe for each month in the year. Or maybe...nah. But I do like it...a lot! I chose Jesse's Flames colors because I had some bobbins left from Zach's sleeves. It was a quick knit...took one evening of watching Monarch of the Glen...and I like the way it turned out. I have a small head so it's a bit big on me but fortunately the holes left from the short-rowing gave me options so I just used the next one up for a buttonhole.

We drew names for Christmas so I need to get started on mine. I've got my husband's baby sister and she's more of an earth-toned person (I don't think I've ever seen her in bold colors) so I'm thinking of the chocoloate brown sock yarn upstairs for a pair of cabled socks and a calorimetry in some kinds of neutral color. Her hair is blonde so maybe a brown as well.

Today is the long day for Zach's school so I plan on working on the Sabbatical Socks and the baby hat. I need to get busy at home on spinning so I may just do my knitting in the car for the next week or so. Or at the computer. I can't spin and read blogs at the same time.

I found out yesterday that the library is having a Knit In next month to knit things for the homeless shelter and the women's shelter. I'm seriously considering it in spite of that shy bug I have to deal with.

Speaking of bugs, I feel so much better. I didn't get as sick as I usually do with colds. I think part of it has to do with being healthier and part because I took vitamin C with echinacea and zinc lozenges. Something worked better anyway.

Off to get some work done.

TTFN

No, that's not a bald spot

This is what it looks like when I sit down to read blogs or surf the internet. The big Kahuna...aka Professor...(who is the boss of me if I haven't already mentioned it a hundred times) has to sit on my shoulder. When my sister was visiting this weekend he had to sit in my arms...not my lap...in my arms like a baby.

Nope...not spoiled a bit.

And that's just the light reflecting on the back of my head. My hair isn't very thin there. It's thin in the front. It didn't make a huge comeback after chemo.

I didn't knit that sweater that Professor is wearing in the picture. I got it on sale at StuffMart last year but I will be knitting a nifty new sweater soon. As soon as I finish (or, to be more precise start and finish) Calorimetry. I need a hat to wear here at home that doesn't flatten my hair (no that's not a bald spot.) My hair is thin, I'll grant you and my widdle ears get cold so I need a hat to wear during the day and maybe at night, too. I might need more of a cap for sleeping though.

Peg loves the socks so I will love them as well. I'm so fickle. Love, not love. Hate, not hate. Just tell me how to feel about socks and I will.

The baby bonnet I started a couple of days ago is going to be pretty thick and warm so I'm thinking of giving it to the food pantry* here instead of the Haiti project. It's mountainous there but I'm thinking it's not that cold. It does get mighty cold here, however. They keep asking for knitted/crocheted blankets but I'm not fond of knitting plain, ordinary blankets. Boring. Maybe a log cabin blanket but even that doesn't appeal to me right now.

*(Things to think about donating to a food pantry are hygiene items. People have basic needs other than food. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. I like to knit baby sweaters and socks and hats and things so that a baby can have at least one new thing. Just a PSA. And just my opinion.)

I'm almost done with Shae's Stor Rund Dug, the worsted version. I did a couple of rounds of double crochet, increasing evenly and now am making a bit of a ripple effect. I'm on the last round, I think. I don't think I will make crochet loops around. I think the ripple will make a nice edging. And it doesn't compete with the knitted lace design in the pattern portion of it. When it's done it will make a nice lap blanket but not one to sleep under.

I should get more done on the Opal socks, the baby bonnet and start Calorimetry tonight. I'll work on the Slytherin Crest bag tomorrow. I should be ready to line it by next weekend.

Did I mention I caved and kept the antenna? I figured out how to get more channels and while none of the network channels are clear, I can get PBS tolerably and listen to the news daily. There are a couple of Christian stations that are crystal clear and while TBN isn't my cuppa, Familynet has a knitting show on Monday afternoons...Shay someone or other, and lots of old, old shows from the fifties. Like the Loretta Young theater. That I think I will enjoy.

Off to knit and watch some dvds.

And no, that's not a bald spot. I told you it's the light reflecting off of my hair. I'm just sayin'.

TTFN

No knitting but lots of sneezing

How come when everyone else gets sick they see it as an opportunity to snuggle into bed and do lots of knitting. When I get sick I hate everything, even...dare I say it...knitting. I do not go gently into that good night. My bottom lip sticks out and I whine. I crab because there's nothing to do even though I finally have the time to do it. (Okay maybe not today because I had errands to run and get stuff for Tom to take up north on his ('nuther) mini-vacation.

'Scuse me.

Sneezed again.

I want pizza. And yes the diet has had some rough times this week. Nothing irreversible though and nothing drastic. Just maybe a few extra calories here and there. But not yonder. (Maybe that's a redneck thing, I don't know.) I digress. I want pizza but I won't eat pizza because 1) I don't have any here and don't feel like dragging my red nose out to StuffMart in the middle of the night and 2) it would take too long to make if from scratch during which time I would fall asleep and wake up to the smoke alarm going off as I burn the pizza.

So no pizza. I had a bowl of store brand rice chex instead. One cup of cereal and 1/2 cup of fat free milk.

I hate being a good girl.

My sister will be here tomorrow so I will try to work on the round purple thing (I don't feel like looking up the link or even remember what the blamed thing is called) tonight because I won't be able to work on it while she's here since her granddaughter will be the recipient of it come Christmas and she's coming with Peg.

I bought an antenna today. Those table top things that look like rabbit ears of old except they plug in and supposedly deliver more boost to the signal. HA! Not that I care. I didn't really miss television anyway but thought that Tom did. I managed to get three very fuzzy stations and Tom got up and walked away leaving the station on and the background noise got me very irritated and I may have said a word or two that can't be repeated here. I said may. So I packed it back in the box and will return it tomorrow.

I really do like not having network/cable television but I do like watching what I want when I want. I got Monarch of the Glen from the library today along with Northanger Abbey, which I have never seen, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn on audiobook. One of my favorite all time books. When I'm not quite so cranky again, I will curl up on the couch and watch my shows while knitting happily or (here's a thought) spinning again. I really need to get back to that.

Cookie says it's the full moon. Cranky is in the air and we must endure. But I can't get to her blog because typepad is refusing to let me open up any of their blogs so I think I'm going to go outside and flip off the moon.

'Scuse me.

Sneezed again. Twice.

Aw, heck. I'm going to bed.

TTFN

Casa de Cranky

I'm thinking of changing our last name to Cranky since everyone here is. Not because there is no television but because everyone seems to be coming down with a cold at the same time. And as the mom I never get to go to bed and just get better.

Sigh.

I've not gotten a lot of sleep the past couple of nights because of stopped up head/scratchy throat/runny nose stuff. My sister is coming up this weekend so tomorrow I have to make the house presentable (I'm not even trying for clean this time) get groceries, hit the library for my weekly fix of dvds and audiobooks.

Cranky.

But here are the belated WIPs

First...the fake one. It's a lovely shade of pink like the picture shows. I have't stuffed it yet because the fiberfill is upstairs and I'm cranky and don't want to walk up there and the rock that goes in it (so it "hangs" like the real one does) is downstairs and I'll get it when I get the load of clothes out of the dryer. Sometime this month....but definitely before the end of the year.



The Slytherin Crest Bag by Quietish is coming along but it's rippling despite having long strands. From what I read this is the nature of checkerboard. I hope it flattens out when I finish it.

I do not like this sock. It looks like camouflage to me. But it is wool and it is warm so if Peg doesn't want it, I will wear it.

But I'm not enjoying the knitting like I did the Monkeys and the Jays.

Stor Rund Dug, the worsted version. This I like very much but I had to bind off at 101 rounds because I didn't have any more room on the needles. I wasn't going to buy new needles or work with three circs so I'm finishing it off with crocheted edges. Right now, just double crochet and will end it with loops of some sort.

I started a bonnet and booties last night at 5 a.m. when I couldn't sleep. It's a 20 year old pattern so I don't know what book it used to be in. I think my sister tore it out of one of her magazines and gave it to me. Not a knitting mag though. Still, it's a fun knit so far. Very easy pattern to memorize. Heck, one of the lines is illegible now and I figured it out just by looking at the pattern. Although it says you should be an experienced knitter.

Hah!

This is a fun blog, Green as a Thistle. This reporter from, I think, Toronto, has pledged to do one new green thing every day for a year. Some of this stuff is over the top but it's still a very good read. I like looking for new and innovative things to do to a) save money and b) be a good steward of the earth God gave us.

But no way am I unplugging the stove and fridge. Nuh uh.

TTFN

Nothing to see here...

So I didn't get the pictures taken today. I'm hanging my head in shame.

There was a lot I didn't get done today but there was also a whole heck of a lot that I did get done.

Today was Winterize the House Day. I put plastic on the rest of the windows and doors and changed the curtains to blankets on some of the windows (I've never aspired to be in House Beautiful. Just don't want to be in Hovel of the Month), moved furniture away from the heating vents, made sure the cold air return was unblocked as well.

Then I looked up at the clock and it was almost time for Zach's school and I hadn't started supper yet.

I had taken a break or two reading blogs and Ravelry but didn't get to actually sit down until a short while ago. And when Tom leaves I have work to do upstairs which I can't do during the day because he's snoozing up there.

And no knitting whatsoever today...not even while Zach was in school because I had to run to the store and he was already done when I got back. Midterms, you know.

So I plan on getting me some fine knitting in tomorrow because Zach will be in school quite a bit of the day. Just me and Anne of Avonlea.

TTFN

No sock love

Sorry for the neglect. I'm getting used to Zach's new schedule and I've been busy working on Stor Rund Dug which is now off the needles. I couldn't take 30 more rows of it so I bound off at row 101. I was using two circular needles and still didn't have room. The dang thing kept slipping off the needles and trying to pick up yarn overs isn't my idea of fun. So I will finish up with crocheting. I did a round of double crochet and while not gorgeous, doesn't look bad at all. I tried to do a shell design but it clashed with the lovely lace already on it.

I'm not loving the socks. I went with plain vanilla because the color would compete with a texture pattern. I'll get pictures tomorrow but the green/white colorway comes out looking like camouflage and I'm pretty sure my sister isn't going to try to hide out in any European jungles. I may have to use the Baby Ull for her socks since she wants green and that's the only other thing I've got in green. I'm just not sure how baby yarn will hold up as socks. I'm not going to buy nylon to knit into it though. She'll be here this weekend so I'll let her decide.

I'm back where I was when I frogged the Slytherin Crest bag. Got a lot done today while listening to Anne of Avonlea. I went through three audiobooks before I found one I could listen to. Interview with a Vampire is a terrific book but the narrator had serious monotone problems. And Artemis Fowl had a great narrator (Nathaniel Parker...be still my heart) but I didn't like the story. Then I tried Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brien because I loved the movie and had read the first book before, but it just didn't hold my interest right now. It's still a good book and the narrator is great, but just not right now when I've got 10,239,423 things on my mind.

And yes, I counted.

So I happily knit while listening in the parking lot in the new truck which is not a bad place to spend some time. But I also decided to go for a walk and since Zach's college is right next to the high school, I walked over behind the parking lot and watched the game for a while. It was nice because I could still see and hear the announcer but I was far enough away from the roaring crowd.

Gosh, those guys look so little.

I've got a new project I need to start (heck, I've got more than one but only so many needles.) It's a delicate subject but since I've lost weight my prosthesis is a bit...um...large. So I need to either add more boobage to the right side or remove boobage from the left one. Knitty has a pattern for a fake one so I'm going to make me one. I know I could get a free prosthesis with my insurance but I only get so many of those and want to wait until I've lost all the weight (and after today that's not going to be any time soon...had a major diet meltdown today but I am back on the horse and riding again) before I get a new one. I thought about reconstruction but me and anesthesia aren't good friends and I don't willingly take medicine that makes me hurl for 2 hours straight. Nope, not me.

I'm doing very well without cable tv. We don't get local channels either so it's strictly dvds, tapes or the internet. The house is wonderfully quiet and I watch what I want when I want it. It's like I'm in charge or something.

I talked to my older son today who is in Sandy Eggo and he's doing okay so far. He's still a ways away from the fires but they are watching and he said that it's hard to be outside for any length of time because his eyes burn so badly. We used to live there so this feels personal.

I will definitely remember the people there in my evening and morning prayers. Along with everyone on my prayer list.

TTFN

I can't believe I cleaned house for the cable guy.

But I did. He's coming tomorrow at 8 a.m.-12 p.m. to cut off the tv portion of our cable (I'm keeping the high-speed internet, baby!) so I cleaned like a mad woman. I mean...I don't want him thinking I live like this all the time.

I've been taping things off of CharterOnDemand all day in preparation. I can get these from the library but it will hold me until I go back this week. I've also got SG-1 fourth season to watch and Interview with a Vampire to listen to. Not to mention my extensive opera collection my father-in-law left me. I don't need no stinkin' cable.

I started on the sabbatical socks last night but the pattern isn't self-striping like the lady told me (it's okay though...striping or not isn't a big deal for me) and the pattern I chose didn't work. I'm going with a 4X2 rib pattern. Simple enough but just enough something extra. I like how the colorway and pattern are working out.

I wore the Jays to church today and got very favorable reviews. I think I'll go along with popular opinion and keep them.

Well, back to knitting. Short entry, I know, but I'm tuckered out and I've got to get up early because the cable guy might show up on time tomorrow.

Stop laughing. He might. Stranger things have happened, you know.

TTFN

The Jays! Pant if you will.

Finished them last night and have been searching for another pattern for the Opal sock yarn. The Opals will be my sister's sabbatical socks for next year so I want them to be special. After all they will be traveling to St. Louis, Hungary, and Alaska.

I read on Ravelry that many people are having trouble getting their socks over the heel so I was a bit concerned but I had made an adjustment because I have wide feet and didn't decrease down smaller than the previous 19 sts per needle. They slide right on and feel so good. I don't know if I'm going to keep these but just in case I do, they fit me.

We made a decision today to cancel our cable tv next month. Truthfully, I watch more dvds and videos than what's on and what is on I can get on the internet. And there are so many audiobooks I want to "read" that I don't have time for. I thought Tom would be against it because he loves documentaries but he's all for it. I showed him the huge selection of documentaries they have at the library today, not to mention the ones we can request from interlibrary loan. I don't think we can pick up any stations locally because we're so far away from a major city. I have a powered antenna so we will see.

And Zach rarely watches tv on the tv anymore. He watches his stuff on the internet. It's a savings of about $50 a month with the package we have but it goes away next month so that would add $30 to our bill. So...in essence I'm saving $80. At this stage with a boy in college, every penny counts.

I just found out we have to pony up for next semester in November. I'm not ready!

I'm loving the Stor Rund Dug. It's going to be so beautiful (aside from the many mistakes I have creatively covered up instead of tinking back because each round takes a long time to knit and tinking isn't an option, sorry.) It won't really look good in picture form until it's off the needles. I still have a ways to go.

I'm about ready to start making more bears for Haiti. I need some projects that I can actually finish from time to time. I have tons of stash yarn that will make for colorful bears. I can make girl bears, too, with hair and everything. Well, maybe not everything.

I hope I find something soon. It's almost time for Torchwood. And yes, I will miss that but that's about the only thing I can't get at the library yet. But I figure the season will be over by the time we shut it off.

TTFN

TGIF

I'm thinking of requisitioning a new brain. One that actually works. Obviously this one has been used up and there are no more brain cells left.

So this is what happened. Zach had labs today and since this is the day we beat the checks to the bank deposit the miniscule paycheck in the bank, return the books/movies to the library and buy the groceries, I had a lot on my mind. We went to the bank first, swung by the library because Knitting with Balls was due back today and far be it for me to keep the next person in line waiting. Then we went to Wendy's where we ate off the value menu and listened to some person hacking and belching over their meal at the table next to us. Yummmm...

When that was done, I dropped Zach at his college and I walked over to NotStuffMart to get my prescriptions. A very brisk walk, I might add. I was wondering where my little terrier was and where the heck was the old lady on the bicycle with the tall pointy hat? Auntie Em, Auntie Em. Walking back to the car was easier with the wind at my back.

Then I settled in for some good knitting and the death of Dumbledore. I'm up to row 92 on Stor Rund Dug and it's much smoother knitting right now. (I did have to knit through tears for a while though.)

Two hours later, Zach was done and we drove over to StuffMart to get the groceries. I went in alone while Zach stayed out in the car. Because we now own two cars with all the insurance that goes along with this, I was being extra careful with my purchases and was patting myself on the back for my tightwadding as I walked to the car. Because I had a huge 40 pound bag of salt for the water softener I had to bend down to get it out from under the cart. My purse fell off my shoulder so I just set it on the ground. Zach, meanwhile, got out of the car and was helping put the groceries in the car. Here in this neck of the woods we get some bodacious winds year round and this was one of those days. So windy the trunk wouldn't stay open. As someone who has had the back of my head whacked on more than one occasion, I held the trunk open for Zach while he finished. When he was done he put the cart in the cart return and we drove off.

Do you see what is wrong with this picture so far?

We drove home during which time Dumbledore's funeral was taking place and I was concentrating on the homefromwork traffic (I don't dare call it rush hour in a town of 3000+ people.) I carry a lot of bags with me when I take Zach to school. On more than one occasion I have gotten there without my purse. (What's one more bag anyway?) I gathered up everything from the car and dropped it in the dining room. I looked down and didn't see my purse so I went out to the car to get it while Zach was bringing in the groceries. It wasn't in the back seat! Oh, nooooo. The last thing I remembered was setting it on the ground behind the car. And since I drove forward instead of backing out of my parking space...

I slammed the trunk down and told Zach what happened and raced back to StuffMart...which is about a 20 minute drive. The whole time I listened to the funeral and subsequent story while trying to calm the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. (And I admit there was a lot of frantic praying going on there, too.)

Finally, after what seemed like a week, I pulled into the parking space I was in about 50 minutes previously. Of course no purse. I ran into the store only to find a huge line at customer service. Grrrrrr... And me with no knitting.

My turn came and the woman who waited on me called someone else over to tell me that no, no purse had been turned in, sorry very much, nothing we can do about it.

I was in a panic. My prescriptions were in there. My checkbook, my credit cards, cash, pain pills. I was in tears. I saw the cart boys out in the parking lot and went over to talk to them. They, at least, were sympathetic and promised to look out for it.

I slouched back to the car and was surprised to see this blue truck pull up next to mine with my men in it, Zach holding my purse aloft. I danced ran to the truck and asked them where they found it, thinking someone just dropped it off at the house.

Wait for it....

It was in the dining room with my knitting bags right where I had left it when I brought everything in from the car.

I'm going to bed now. If anyone knows of a sale on brains, please let me know.

TTFN

Is this what knitpicking means?

I know I'm weird but I actually like sewing up seams and finishing projects. Maybe not all projects but most of them. Except when I have to pick the seam apart, which takes all day, and then reseam it. For some reason both sleeves of the Hooded Sweater ended up wonky on the shoulders and I had to pick them out. And believe me I do a good job hiding the ends so this was no easy task. But tomorrow when I want to look at it again, I will re-seam using better pinning and measuring.

But tonight...tonight I will be working on the Jays. I want to finish them so I can start some new socks. I've been good this week and haven't started a new project. Instead I've pulled UFOs out and worked on them. Still trying to work from the stash as much as possible, as well.

I'm going back to my regular diet tomorrow. I just can't stop feeling hungry or munching all day. Plus, I've started having massive hot flashes like I haven't had since I went through chemo and ended my relationship with my monthly home companion. I've been leary of soy and haven't been eating much of it but I guess a little bit is too much.

So...I feel like I'm starting over again. I don't want to get on the scales tomorrow. I know for sure I've picked up a couple of pounds and today was a binge day.

I'm taping Laughlin tonight but the bits I've seen of it remind me of a show I watched on BBCA. I can't think of the name of it but it was set in a casino and people kept bursting into song. I never got to watch more than the first episode because always I had meetings the night it was on and never got it taped but it looked good. This looks like the American version. But...Hugh Jackman and Lloyd Owens make it well worth watching.

I think everyone is gone to Rhinebeck this weekend. I wonder if blogland will be slow?

TTFN