Hat Completed :)

I just finished the hat for my sweet son and I think he'll be pleased! I know it will keep him warm and toasty as he walks the boys, everyday.. The wind can howl but I doubt very much if he'll feel the cold.

It's so great having a digital camera to take a picture immediately when I'm finished knitting. Instant gratification, that's for me! :) Until next time, I'll leave you with this verse.

"Laugh and the world laughs with you;
Weep and you weep alone;
For the sad old earth
Must borrow its mirth,
It has trouble enough of its own."
Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ahhh, Relaxing!

Yes, this is what my little sweeties usually do while I'm knitting. They are on my lap at the bottom of my feet and my DH had to turn the one around a little so her profile would show up.....it's not the clearest picture I've ever taken, but it's a cute one anyhow.

I see that the paragraph I wanted to put in at the end of last week's post never made it, so I'll put it at the end of this one. A little inspiration never hurt anyone, in my humble opinion. I'm working on finishing up the Mt. Colors sock and I'm also about halfway through the new hat for my son. Both are looking good so far and when I finish them, I'll take a picture. Then I have to buckle down and begin the mates for the Opal sock and the sock named above. I don't really enjoy knitting second socks but what can you do? The sheep socks have had to take a back seat for now, because I'm knitting too many at once.

I have managed not to pick up my Manos cardigan once in the past week, nor the Aran baby blanket. Could the reason I started 3 pair of socks at once be that I'm trying to avoid the inevitable? It wouldn't surprise me because when it comes to "knitting avoidance", I'm one of the best, LOL.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, with a headache and general malaise so I'll keep this brief and leave you with a few thoughts, as promised..........until next time, be well, be safe, and above all, be happy!

"There ain't no use in growlin'
And grumblin' all the time,
When music's ringin' everywhere
And everything's a rhyme.
Just keep on smilin' cheerfully
If hope is nearly gone,
And bristle up and grit your teeth
And keep on keepin' on."

Anonymous

One Down & One To Go

Here's the first sock using Opal yarn. I've never knit socks using Opal before but people seem to rave about the comfort and the fact that they wear like iron, so I'll have to see for myself.

I'm still plugging along on the toe up sock and can't believe how many times I've ripped out the short row heel! Is it me or are there at least 3 different interpretations of how to short row a heel that is deep enough and still looks good with no holes? Finally today, I managed to get it done and while it's not looking exactly like I want it to, it's acceptable for my first heel knit using short rows. Now it's on to the leg portion and when I'm finished I'll post a picture. You might think you're seeing the same sock because it's in red also, but with many other colors splashed in, and it's a DK yarn.

In between, I'm starting a cap for my son who requested one when he saw the one I made for my nephew. I'm going to swatch with Cleckheaton Merino supreme, Green Mt. Green from Green Mt. Spinnery, and GGH's Aspen and see which one I think he'll like best. After all, he needs to keep those ears warm when walking the "boys" (the dogs :).

If there is any time left in the day, I'll work on at least one of my UFO's because, after all I do have to clean, cook, sleep, etc. and these things tend to crimp into my knitting time badly, to say nothing of computer time. I'm sure you can all feel my pain, LOL.

I'll leave you with the last verse of a poem which addresses the need to just keep going, so until we meet again, knit on!

"There ain't no use in growlin' And grumblin' all the time, When music's ringin' everywhere And everything's a rhyme. Just keep on smilin' cheerfully If hope is nearly gone, And bristle up and grit your teeth And keep on keepin' on." Anonymous

Happy Valentine's Day

Here are a couple of cuties to start off your Valentine weekend. :) I wish you all a great day however you choose to spend it.

I've changed my page around a bit.....am I the only one that tires of the same template? I don't know what it is, but maybe it's that I've added some graphics and didn't think they went so great with my previous one, or could it just be that I like the idea of being able to pick from different looks? In any case, this is the result and so far, I'm liking it! I know I couldn't have put on a single button or animation without help from my online friends, Mary Anne and Sharon! Thank you so much....who knew there was so much involved.....I didn't!

I'm making progress on the toe up sock (Mountain colors) but I had some trouble with the short row heel since this is my first pair of toe ups. I completed the heel section yesterday but there was a gaping hole on one side and try as I might to fix it, I could not get it right because the double wraps got in my way, LOL. So, I ripped it back and will try again later today. I haven't worked one stitch on 2 of my UFO's because I keep going for the socks, but I will either succeed with this short row heel or scream, throw them back in my basket and finally pick up a bigger item, such as the Manos cardigan.

The Opal sock is down to the foot area now and I'm knitting these on dpns cuff down so no problems here. I can't wait to see how these socks feel and wear because so many sock lovers swear by Opal yarn.

As I post this it's snowing quite heavily, (yea!!) and it's lovely to behold so on that note, I'll leave you with this thought:
"Winter is come in earnest and the snow in dazzling splendour..
spreads a white world all calm....Fancy's pliant eye
delighted, sees a vast romance displayed."

John Clare

A Knapsack, Yes! :)

Here it is....the long overdue completed knapsack....what do you think? This is only the second time I've felted anything and it turned out well. I had to put it in the hot water for 3 runs to complete it. Then with the help of my DH we put the gromets in which was a bit of a struggle because the holes which I had knit in for them wanted to meld with their neighbors so it was some tugging and pulling but we got all 10 in. Then it dryed and I attached the strap so I can carry it over my shoulder, or use as a backpack. I love it and realize now that I should have finished it ages ago.

I FINALLY managed to get some links and buttons on my blog and wouldn't have been able to do without the fantastic help from my KR pal, Sharon.....thanks so much for your willingness and hand holding. :)


I made one of these socks quite awhile ago and finally got around to knitting the mate. They were originally for my daughter but she didn't seem too keen on the color, so I will gladly take over where she left off. I use Aurora 8 and it is so great to knit with....wonderful stitch definition and comfy as can be on my feet.

I'm still working on the Opal and Mt. Color socks, and soon perhaps I'll get something on my blog that shows my completion level on the projects I'm working on. Sharon has this on hers and I think it's a neat idea. This way whenever I look at it I can remind myself that I need to get with my knitting on a certain thing that might not be getting anywhere. Heaven knows I have some old UFO's and this is a little nudge toward finishing them. :)

I am continuing to lose weight even if it is at a snails pace, LOL. Better SLOW than NO will have to be my new motto. Time flies by and a year has passed by, so if I can lose a good amount of weight in 2006, I'll be a happy, "little" camper!

I love blogging so much more than I thought I would and really enjoy reading many of yours. It's inspiring to see what you're working on and enjoy your different styles of writing. Till next time knitters, blog on!

Regards, Laura

Weather & Knitting

These two pictures give you a fairly nice contrast of what is happening with our weather here and what should be happening, since after all, it is SUPPOSED to be winter time. However, for those of you who absolutely love the warm, spring like weather, I offer you this early taste of spring and summer with the picture taken from our deck in late September. The sky is glorious, no doubt about that and while I don't mind cool spring like weather, I really detest high heat and humidity. My fav is the picture with the snow.........snugged in with a hot cup of tea, a fire blazing in the hearth, and naturally, my knitting. :)
I'm finishing up the foot of the Opal socks I'm knitting and should be finished by next week at the latest, after which I'll post a picture. I've never knit socks using Opal and everyone raves about this yarn for it's comfort and wearability, so I'm anxious to see for myself. Trouble is, I'll only have one sock when I finish.........why oh why didn't I remember to knit the second sock first and avoid this frustration? (wink)
Also on my last row of squares for the entrelac knapsack. It is turning out so gorgeous that I almost hate to felt it, but that's what I need to do if I'm going to use it to carry things with me. I'm so proud of learning this technique because it's a tricky one and takes major concentration until one gets the hang of it. I put it down for quite a long time and when I attempted to get started again, I had to re-learn all over. That'll teach me to keep on with only one or two projects at a time so that I not only finish them, but I remember where I am and how I'm doing it!
I just got a new printer, scanner, etc. and it does great things so I have to play around with it and learn how to use it to it's full capacity and then I can scan some of my real photos as well as put some here online and in my photo album online. It's neat to get a new piece of equipment for the computer but at the same time it reminds me how little I really know.....it's a constant learning experience but keeps me thinking which is always a good thing.
I'll sign off for now and wish all of you peace, joy, and good knitting.

Another Record Breaker!

I've been furiously knitting the Opal sock (one at a time) and I just turned the heel so I should be finished some time next week and when I do I'll post a pic here. Also plugging along on the entrelac bag. I guess I should just put the socks down and finish the gosh darned thing once and for all. I know I'll be happy when I do so, onward. :)
I haven't been doing much reading but I should get back to the 4th in a series of books I began by Jan Karon, the Mitford Series books. I find these books so wholesome and uplifting whenever I pick them up. It feels like I'm being transported to Mitford and having breakfast at the Grille with Percy and Father Tim.

I was looking at Miss Wooly Knits blog earlier today and I'm always so impressed with her pictures and little icons, let alone her knitted things such as the beautiful scarf she just finished. I couldn't help buy ooh and ahh over the little wooden cubbies her husband made for her to store and categorize her yarns and color schemes. I love organizing things but alas, I have no cubbies for my yarns and even if I did, my two cats would have a field day jumping up and snagging each and every skein one at a time..........it would be a circus for them and what a good time they'd have, LOL.
Nothing else new to mention so I will say so long for now and remember to take care and knit on!