One More Time! (I Think)

Here is a picture of some baby caps I've been knitting and yes, crocheting too. I used leftover yarns to make these and really like the way they turned out. Funny thing is, I have crocheted for years but never made too many wearable items, mostly baby blankets, coasters, potholders, etc. but I loved crocheting this hat.....I've come to find out that I miss my crocheting and so I'm on a bit of a tangent right now. I've crocheted several coasters, one turning out nicer than the next one and so on. When I get about 8 or so finished, I'll post a picture for those of you who may like to see them.

Yes, it's happened again.....I've changed my blog layout and colors.....but I have a good reason this time (well, besides the usual which is I get kind of sick of it and have to change it around a bit, :). My good friend, K., after reading my former blog layout, said that she found it difficult to read with the dark colors, so naturally :) I went in and made some good looking changes which took awhile. Trouble was I hit the "delete all edits" button instead of the "preview" and poof, they were gone! Now since I wasn't about to go all through it again, I wisely went to bed and decided to begin again today with a brand new key (sorry, Melanie). My knitting links have faded into the sunset for now, but have no fears, when I have a little more time, I'll get them back on board. Also lost my "Easter egg" and my sweet little birds, but not for good. I think it's safe to say that I'm driven, ever since I began finding out how to make changes here, I've wanted to keep going and changes are NOT something I usually like so much.....go figure!

This is all due to the very able help of Mary Anne, who was the sole reason I began blogging in the first place, being so impressed with her lovely blog and heartfelt writing, and Sharon, who really got me up and runnin', I tell you no lie. She so kindly helped me on so many initial "how to's" and I am indebted to both of these great knitters for their tireless help.

So, till next time, dear knitters, be well, be happy, and knit on!

Finished Opal Socks

All finished my second sock using Opal for the first time. It is nice to knit with and although they look pink in the picture for some reason, they are a red and white speckled color....jazzy, just the way I like socks to be. I used size 2 dpns and cast on 76 stitches, then decreased down the calf area to 60 sts and sailed along.

I haven't really worked on the 2 on 2 circular socks much at all in the past couple of weeks. I think I will have to concentrate on working on the baby blanket and trying to get closer to finishing it. Also, I need to face the fact that the Manos cotton cardigan is calling me from the closet just about every day! I hear it saying, "hey, I'm still in here and I'm not going away, so I suggest that you pick me up and resume knitting me, girlfriend!" :) Yes, some of my knitting projects nag me quite a bit.....it's constant nag, nag, nag!

I'll keep it short today since I still have lots to do and have to leave room to watch Villanova win today...yeah. I hope they make it to the final four and we get to see them win the whole thing....NCAA champs! On that note, I'll say bye for now and wish you a lovely week ahead with much happiness, health, and good knitting.

"When duty comes a-knocking at your gate,
Welcome him in, for if you bid him wait,
He will depart only to come once more
And bring seven other duties to your door."
Edwin Markham

Choices, Choices

I think I finally have my blog page the way I want it.....I've been messing around with the template, the fonts, sizes, colors, etc. for about a month now. It's amazing but one change leads to another and another, much like re-decorating. You start out thinking you'll just do one thing and then when the rest of the room doesn't look right with the new object, you have to change several things. The difference is that I find the computer changes fascinating and I really like playing around and seeing what works and what doesn't. My husband is beginning to think I've really gone "techie" though, so this is it for now. Hope you enjoy what you see.
On the knitting front, not much has been accomplished lately because we've been really busy with some projects and in my spare time, I've been "in the template", so to speak.....enough of that, cause a girl's gotta' knit, after all. I have worked on my second Opal sock and it's about 3/4 finished. The Aran baby blanket continues to grow very, very slowly.
Our anniversary dinner was wonderful! We had a romantic atmosphere and the most delicious food and wine too. My sweet husband gave me a gorgeous pair of earrings (since I believe a girl can never have too many earrings or diamonds, for that matter, LOL). The waitress was even kind enough to bring us 2 glasses of champagne for an anniversary toast after dinner.
I'll keep it short today and wish you all a great week and as always, knit on!
"Give your worries the skid! There are sunny days coming, succeeding the blue, and bees will be humming, making honey for you! Your heart will be singing the merriest tune, while April is bringing a May and a June!" Griffith Alexander

A Good Model

Here we have our sweet boy modeling a teddy bear sweater and the caption should read, "kindly remove this ill fitting garment immediately or there WILL be consequences"! I knit this a couple of years ago and just came upon the picture. He wasn't a very happy camper and when I put it on him. He literally just flopped right down and refused to move until it was taken off. Oh well, I guess some models area bit tempramental, and he's no exceptionI knit another baby cap but it turned out so small that it's going to have to be for a preemie. I used the cream colored blue faced leicester and knit it in a knit 3, purl 1 combination. 

I'm closing in on the second Opal sock having just finished up turning the heel and picking up the side stitches. Then to work on the 2 on 2 circulars with the Rowan wool-cotton. I'm anxious to try the heels on them because I've tried socks on circs before, but when I got to the heel area, everything went from good to bad to worse and I wound up ripping them out, so we'll see what happens this time. I'll post pictures later.

I'm thinking of making a couple of gifts for my son and daughter-in-law (who is more like a daughter to me), but haven't decided on exactly what to make yet. One has a birthday in April and one in June, so I have some time, but need to get moving on the April gift so that I don't feel crunched when the time gets closer. I won't be able to post any pictures until I give each one their gift because they occasionally read my blog.....they think I've gone "techie" on them, with a blog, so they check my progress every now and then. :)

Today is DH and my anniversary and we're going out tonight to a lovely restaurant with a romantic atmosphere, delicious food and a great wine selection too which never hurts. :) So, I will sign off and wish all of you a wonderful weekend......be safe, be happy, and knit on!

Spring is Springing!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day in the neighborhood, so.. Just a momentary digression back to my Mr. Roger's days....loved that man! :) It is quite a bit warmer here today with promises of 70's for the weekend, which isn't half bad, even for a tried and true winter lover such as myself!

I finally made it to our local knitting group this morning after much procrastinating. The group meets at 10 a.m. and that's just a tad too early for me to do the things I like to do in the morning and get dressed, etc. I would love it in the afternoon, but I'm one of the minority on that issue, so I only go now and then. Today's group had some interesting things on their needles such as a chenille throw which was just plain luscious. Also a few pair of great looking socks using different patterns, and one gal was even working on her needlepoint, which was kind of interesting because I've only done one thing in needlepoint and vowed never again. I didn't have the patience for the length of time it took to complete, but today I was intrigued seeing her lovely work. No, I cannot get into another craft or I'll wind up staying up all night to work on both things and that would never do.

I'm plugging away on the baby blanket and making a snail's progress, but better a snail's than none at all. Also knitting my second Opal sock, and my 2 pair at the same time on circulars using the Rowan wool-cotton, which is great to knit with. I'm doing fine now but I hope the heel and gusset area doesn't give me fits when I come to them, not after all this knitting of two at a time.

I took this personality test and gotta' love it because I've always been a fan of Kermie, old boy! :) I too believe, "it ain't easy being green", not in this world today, my friends. So, I'll keep it short and sweet for today and bid you adieu.....be safe, be happy, and above all, knit on.

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone knows it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

"Here's a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And whatever sky's above me,
Here's a heart for every fate."
Lord Byron

"March" On!

Here is my version of the Apple Hat.....I was inspired to knit one by looking at the lovely picture on Miss Wooly Knits blog.
I loved the way her hat turned out and decided to try one in some of the yarn I have leftover in my stash. This is Cascade's Quattro and it's great to knit with....wonderful, soft feel but good stitch definition along with the softness.

I plan to knit some baby caps for charity during Lent and this is my first one. The next one is on the needles now and it's a K3, P2 combo using a cream colored bluefaced Leicester. Talk about the ultimate in softness.......I have quite a bit of this yarn and it would make a great sweater, a lovely lacey scarf, and warm, toasty mittens too.......ahh, so many ideas and so little hours in a day.

I'm trying to begin my walking on a daily basis because I NEED to and let me tell you, "it ain't easy", at least not for me. I would much rather be knitting, but it's a must and I have to really push myself to take the time. I find it incredibly boring and I keep looking at my watch to see if it's over yet. :) However, afterward I do feel so much better even after the first day, which by the way, was yesterday. Any motivational tips would be much appreciated.....JennyRaye has already been kind enough to offer some ideas. I wish I had a bike to ride but gave those away when we moved. I know, I know. I could buy another one, right?

This weekend is supposed to be in the 70's and I'm sure this is wonderful news for all you spring and summer lovers. It will be nice to be able to get out though, even if I'm a fall and winter lover myself. March is a good month since this is the month of DH and my anniversary and we always enjoy it. Till next time, be well, be happy, and knit on.

A Tea Party with Friends

What better way to start off the month of March than by having a few friends get together for tea, although some look more relaxed than others, I think! :)

It's hard to believe that today is Ash Wednesday already which can only mean than Easter can't be far behind. That's good news for all you spring lovers out there, I know. It's a lovely sunny day out there now, so I'd say that March did not come in like a lion this year, but I still hope it goes out like a lamb.

A couple of updates to report on the knitting front.....I decided to frog the sheep socks which I may have already mentioned in a previous post, it's hard to say since my mind goes in about 100 different directions at once. I just didn't care for the puckering here and there on the sheep and frankly the socks would be too heavy to wear with shoes, so I think I'll use the yarn for something else because the colors are great and it's nice to knit with.....perhaps a multi colored scarf.

Also, I've decided to cash in my chips on the Mt. Colors toe up socks as well! Shocking, I know, but what I discovered as I was knitting furiously along, was that I wouldn't have nearly enough yarn left for the second sock, which just wouldn't do! So, the way I look at the above 2 projects is that all the knitting I did was a learning experience and not a waste of time. It seems there's always something new for me to learn as I go along in my knitting adventures.

Yes, I finally picked up the baby blanket in the hopes that some little angel will be covered with it in the future. It's too late for my sweet little granddaughter who is a year and a half already! The blankie will have to be put aside for the next cherub to be born, but it will be a lovely gift because it's as soft as a cloud. I'm using Shelridge Farms merino and it's wonderful to knit with. The reason it's taken me so long is that the Aran patterning seems to take just about forever, LOL. I knit and I knit and does it grow.....absolutely NOT. :) Here's a picture of it with my able bodied assistant, most likely saying something like, "can I have a nap in peace, pulllleeese."


I will say goodbye for now as I go and get some cleaning (UGH) done, and then decide what's for dinner, so until next time, be happy and knit on!

"Four things a man must learn to do
If he would make his record true:
To think without confusion clearly;
To love his fellow-men sincerely;
To act from honest motives purely;
To trust in God and Heaven securely."
Henry Van Dyke