string theory

What a disappointment

2012-01-18T00:48:00.001-08:00

I recieved an email yesterday from Michaels, lauding the Copic pen system. So I thought I'd check them out while out and about today. They did not have them. Come on, guys. If you are going to place something prominently in your national ad, make sure your stores carry them!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-20T05:13:00.000-08:00

As Winter Solstice approaches, we are thinking back on an eventful and tumultuous year.

We started with grandsons in the house, who have now moved back to Tucson. They are sorely missed. Here's hoping they like the gifts we sent. Sorry, no socks this year, guys, Mimi was just too busy.

I started school, and it taking a good deal of my time. I'll be finished with my BSN in September 2012, so the work will be worth it.

We added Tazhia to our household, who with Pandora makes two members of the four-footed-mafia. They are running the show, regardless of what we think . Catnip and gooshy for all.

My mom visited in the spring. It was a fast visit, but fun. We had lefse and did the driving tour of North Portland. Next time, we take our time. Yes, there will be a next time. I'm sure of it.

Squirrel Nutz on Ravelry was started. At present four pattens are available, with several more on the way. Included in that count is Abundant Sole: Sock Knitting for the Gauge Impaired, due out in ebook and paperback formats in Spring 2012.

And we launched Cognition Pressworks, the publishing company run by my hubs for the self-publishing of both of our projects. He's writing daily. It's wonderful to see him so happy and involved.

Here's hoping the best days of last year are the worst days of next year. Peace, Love, Joy to all. Enjoy the holiday of your choosing (or not). We have a carpet picnic planned for Solstice, and I'm working X-mas and New Year's. Hugs.

What a fun Day!!!

2011-12-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

A coworker was nice enough to trade a shift with me so I could be off yesterday. The Bear and I attended a class in silver clay work at Twisted, and had a lot of fun. We also made some pieces to be seen later. Then we went to Guardian and played DCC with James and Kasi. Again, a lot of fun and laughter. Our sleep schedule is all screwed up, but so worth it. One more night of work tonight and then four days off. I've finished my paper for school, and only have two weeks to go, then a two week break before the next class starts. One year to go!!!

Living Outside the Norm

2011-11-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

It has come to my attention that I may be living too far outside the norm. I eat a vegetarian diet, spin yarn, write, read actual books, value education for the sake of learning, work at night, don't drink/smoke/party, and I believe that animals have rights. Sorry for being so weird, America.

Sock Shorthand Cards

2011-10-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

Get the pdf file for free

New Sock Knitting Tool

2011-10-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

What do you get if you take a page of business cards that can be printed at home and a package of business card sized laminates, and MS Word? Sock Shorthand Cards I'll attach a link as soon as I can beat blogspot into submission. Print 'em off, flip the page over, print again - 20 double sided cards for you to write basic sock info for your favorite feet. Laminate them to make them more sturdy. Stick them in you project bags, so you don't have to keep doing the math.

Two Down, Eight to Go

2011-10-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Just finished my second class on my journey to finish my BSN. Cultural Diversity proved to be an interesting class, but I'm glad it's over. Just waiting for my scores on my final and class project. Advanced Composition starts next week. On to writing papers..... in the mean time, I'm knitting like a fiend. New sections of my book are up on Abundant Sole. Enjoy!!

Welcome Lilly

2011-09-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

We have a new granddaughter at Chez Squirrel. Her name is Lilly Allison, and she made her grand entrance on Sept 27th. Mom and baby are doing well, and are home. Also getting in on the fun is Dad and big sister Maddie. Here's to hoping for a long beautiful life, full of dreams, success, happiness, and fun!

And on it goes

2011-09-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

So fall is getting here, I hope. It's just been too hot lately. I haven't posted since SS11, have I? Well, the second day was a blast, but I was sick as a dog by the time I got home. So sick that I didn't go back on Saturday. Apparently, I'm more allergic to mohair than I remembered.

What have I been up to since then? Well, knitting, of course. And school. I've started back for my BSN. Oh and I've been working on my book. I'd love some feedback. Chapters are being posted periodically at Abundant Sole. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Sock Summit - Day one

2011-07-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

It was a less than normal Thursday as we started Sock Summit. I was fortunate enough to get a slot in Judith Mackenzie's Gentle Art of Spinning Socks. One problem, my drive band had been brutally mauled by a small someone who shall remain nameless. Cute, but nameless. So I decided to take spindles. Well, Judith offered me the use of her wheel. Wow! She worked with us as a group and each of us individually. I made sock yarn!!! We also played with combs, hackles, silk (3 kinds), blends, blending, twist, tension. I'm in love with making sock yarn. And I made some! One problem, I forgot to take pictures. Maybe I'll get that part right today. I'm back for more.

Lunch was with Emma, she was a kid in a candy shop. After class we hit the market place. She's never been to something like this before. We had a blast. BTW - Gothsocks sold out in less than an hour.

Also, I seem to have caught a cold, it's improving since I got some sleep, but I feel like crap. Two classes today - Morphing Cables and Hizsocks. Lunch with Lorain. Fun, Fun, Fun.

Patience

2011-07-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Taken from Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter
"To get real results you need to put in the hook hours. In his recent book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell gives what he calls the 10,000 hour rule. It seems it takes that many hours to get good at anything--doctor, lawyer, animator, musical composer. "Success has to do with deliberate practice," says Gladwell, "Practice must be focused, determined, and in an environment where there's feedback." Steve and I agreed that we should never stop honouring those who take the time and trouble to get good at what they do."

It's all about practice, patience and compassion.

Steampunk Journal - Part 1

2011-06-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

I'm trying something out for a project I'm working on. I'm doing a Steampunk swap on Ravelry and want to create a Steamed Journal.

Supplies:
Moleskine Journal - blank pages - 8x5inches
acrylic paint
stamp of choice
sandpaper

1) rough up the cover of the journal to allow the paint to stick better and to give the journal a weathered look

2) mix your acrylic paint to the color you desire. use a foam brush to apply the paint to the stamp

3) apply the stamp to the journal. i positioned mine offset
4) let this dry

Flood Gates

2011-03-26T01:21:00.000-07:00

Seems I've gotten over my fears about publishing. Designs are flowing out of the ether. I just can't seem to knit them fast enough.

Circumambulate has been a long time in coming. Today was appropriate, all things considered.

Third Sock Syndrome (TSS)

2011-02-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

Most sockknitters are familiar with the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome (S3). This occurs when we have been enchanted by a pattern, chosen the perfect yarn, and knit the first sock (with or without notes - your choice). What happens next depends on the knitter. A second sock should be knit for this to be a pair. Now, if you are knitting for someone with only one foot, bravo, you are done. If you don't mind unmatched socks (the thought has occurred to me more than once), good for you. If you are like me and want to wear matching socks because that is how you were raised, then you have a bit of work to do. If you can catch the momentum of the bind off, often times you can get somewhere on that second sock.

Once you start designing socks, it is a bit different story. The first sock is the prototype and hopefully you have taken thorough notes so that a pattern can be written. The second sock is to check the pattern. Voila! You have a pair of socks. If you ever want to wear these precious beauties, you must knit a third sock, as a sample of the work, just in case you need it in the future.

Having recently stepped into the designing arena, I have been beset by TSS. Fortunately, I am designing socks that I want to wear and want to knit. So it's just time consuming. Besides, I'm so short that I can get 3 socks out of a 100g skein of yarn. Good thing I'm not fond of knee highs.

Here's the latest. Solitary (in editing and test knitting).

Soon to be followed by Circumambulation. (in the design stage).

Try again

2011-02-08T19:26:00.000-08:00

It's here. No, really. I know it's here.

PSSST...

2011-02-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

The new project is up and running. Ready, set, GO!

Going off early...

2011-01-24T05:17:00.000-08:00

Yep, published my pattern yesterday. Insomnia is a wonderful tool. Meet Verdant.

This toe up sock has an increase toe, a wedge heel and a garter stitch bind off. It works well in variegated as well as solid colors. One 100 gram skein will make a pair of socks. The pattern can easily be modified for size by changing the gauge.

You can get it here.

Lookit!

2011-01-22T23:58:00.000-08:00

My first pattern is fast approaching completion. I’m hoping to publish it on Ravelry in February. In the mean time, meet Verdant.

This is a toe up sock, with a little bit of cabling, and a little bit of lace. It is made for a women’s medium foot at a gauge of 7 stitches to the inch, but is easily resized by using a different gauge.

It is being test knit as I type, and I must say I am happy with the results.

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T01:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been so long. Hope this makes you smile as I ponder a way to do all of the things I want to do this year.

It's been interesting

2010-07-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

So, the Southern Contingent moved in a month ago. It's been going well, all things considered. We're developing a routine, the kids have their own agendas. I'm back to knitting. Finished a shawl today. Pics to come. We went to the Children's Museum for J's birthday, and caught colds. I guess I was due for one.

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

2010-05-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

And it's about darned time. All I want is a nap. A looooooonnngggg nap. We switched to the day life. Ummmm, being up while the sun shines is a bit boring. There's a glare on the TV. I think it's called fusion. Scary.

On the brighter side, the kitchen is clean, groceries bought, and beans soaking. Tomorrow laundry and packing.

Oh, and we got a 'potty-gram' today. Seem J decided the week of the train trip was the perfect time to potty train himself. So he got to call Mimi and Grampa to tell them. He is so proud of himself. We are too. See you soon, J.

Done with drama....

2010-05-14T04:34:00.001-07:00

There has been too much drama lately. I'm sick of it and I am done with it.

Brief recap: Zoot died, stressful days at work, reorganizing the house for the combining of familes, dealing with my mom (or rather, refusing to deal with her), and now S says I don't want to see her while I'm down south. In short, DONE.

BTW: I think I'm allergic to Advantage. I keep breaking out in hives on my arms after I cuddle or brush the cat. Not good.

Oh Zoot of the Mighty Spots,

2010-04-20T00:47:00.000-07:00

my tiny lion; already I miss you,

My bed is too big now and my lap has grown cold.

Thank you my friend for the joy you brought to my life.

The tiny little light guiding me through the midnight of my soul;

The heaviest of anchors when all else was lost, adrift upon a desperate sea.

In a darkened wood you were the little white shadow ever next to me.

You taught me how to trust, how to love unreservedly;

And at the end of all… to act bravely, with grace and dignity.

Be now at peace my love.

Be free from your pain.

Sleep now my friend,

Knowing that you have saved me.

Leave behind the cloudy days and the rain.

Go now to the endless Summer of Golden Elysium.

Run fast and far upon those sun dappled fields.

Go now to a hero’s rest.

Zoot Whisperfoot

1993 to 2010

(posted on behalf of my darling Hubster)

Startitis strikes again

2010-04-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

My stress level can be gauged by the number of projects I start. My ADHD kicks in, and I way overestimate the reality of what life demands in comparison to my available knitting time.So, as a measurement, I give you the following projects started in the last couple of weeks (in no particular order):

Socks for my hubby, STR Scum Bubbles - need ends woven and they are done.Percy Shawl in Natural Malabrigo Sock - this one really needs to be finished before I leave for Tucson in May. Small hands and white yarn are a bad combination.

Socks for my hubby, in STR color unknown
LaLa Simple Shawl, Malabrigo Sock Archangel
My socks, STR, color unknown, not the laffy taffy wrappers, yet another sign of stress
Andrea's Shawl, in Malabrigo Sock, Deep Chocolate and Tiziano Red
I'd rather be starting this. I picked up the Travelling sweater pattern and Woobu in Jasper today. I had the yarn left skeined, because then I would have to ball it up, and might feel guilty about the other projects that I should finish first.

So, how do you deal with startitis. I still need to start Jakes blanket, maybe for the trip, it should make a great travel project, mindless knitting. mmmmmmmmm.

Welcome Kayleb

2010-03-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hello World. Please join House Squirl in welcoming Kayleb Lawrence to the planet. He was born today at 10:03 am, 6 lbs 9 oz, 19 inches of perfection. Mom and baby doing well. Daddy needs some sleep. Brother getting used to the idea.

2010-03-28T21:34:00.001-07:00

Baby coming, tonight!!!!

Okay, now you can have the baby...

2010-03-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

I finished his blankie. Just have to block it tonight.

Here is my Seraphim:

And those socks I promised? The yarn was so dark that the pattern didn't show well. Must do again.

12 rows to go...

2010-03-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

and Seraphim is finished. The emergency yarn arrived today. Thank you Eat Sleep Knit. I ordered that yarn in the middle of the night a couple of days ago and it arrived today!!! Now I can finish my shawl. We just won't pay any attention to the baby shawl I'm supposed to be working on. The baby is coming whether I finish or not. Plug gone, contractions started, just not timeable yet. It's only a matter of time.

Hey Em, Can Kayleb come out and play yet?????

Project issues

2010-03-08T08:33:00.000-08:00

I've been underestimating the amount of yarn needed for a given project lately. Not just once, but many times. What sucks is I'm on a lace shawl kick. Yep, the punk chick is knitting lace again. So sue me. I like 'em.

Wellllllll, I'm almost through the second skein for Seraphim, in Malabrigo sock Impressionist Sky. I only have 30 rows to go. But the skein is looking a bit small. Time to rip out a couple of stitches, measure the yarn used, calculate the amount of yardage to go with a generous bind off, weigh the skein, and..... discover that I am about 200 yards short. What? Again? Okay so, let's just reinforce what I've been saying all along. I'm a loose knitter. There I've said it. So I went hunting last night. Hooray! Found a skein, ordered it. It should be here by week's end, I hope.

Next post: my own sock pattern.

Trying something new

2010-03-03T02:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'll admit I've been posting sporadically lately. To be frank, I've been a bit depressed. The last year had just been too hard. Two surgeries, cancer, work crap, the move that didn't happen crap, mom crap. Sometimes it's just too much. So I've decided to try something different. I'll log in every few days and post something good that happened. We'll see how it goes. Maybe this will help...

The Strangest Move

2010-02-17T01:22:00.000-08:00

So, we were supposed to move to a house from the apartment yesterday. We went over Sunday night to do the inspection, and found mold. I had trouble breathing. Once the list of defects in the place exceeded the alloted space to write them down, we decided this was a big mistake. After 9 hours of fretting, we talked to the manager of our apartment complex, resigned a lease, terminated the lease on the house and changed gears. The movers were scheduled for Tuesday morning, so we let them come, but we moved stuff to a storage unit a few miles away. Not too bad, I think. It was weird, though, we were packing and unpacking at the same time, trying to get this together. I think we got it. What we ended up with is a bunch of boxes that still need to be unpacked, and two empty bedrooms. Here comes the family!!!!

I also cast on Seraphim. The stress got me. Oh, well.

Knitting Olympics 2010

2010-02-12T01:40:00.000-08:00

It's long been the tradition of the Olympics that the participating countries suspend hostilities against other countries for the duration of the games. In the spirit of the tradition, I will not be participating this year, as the USA is presently engaged in hostile actions in several countries. Please do not miscontrue this as a commentary on the right or wrong-ness of the actions themselves, simply as a traditionalist with some integrity.

Besides, we are moving this week and for it to truly be a challenge for me as a knitter, I would have to execute a 3 skein shawl. In reality, I'll be lucky to knit one row.

Commencement

2010-01-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

- a beginning, the first step, a start

We got approved for the house!!! The bear and I are moving in a couple of weeks. We found a house here in PDX with 3 bedrooms, sun porch, basement, garage, tiny attic, and most importantly, a yard. There will be a garden. There will be a washer and dryer. There will be space for 2 small boys to run.

Small boys? Did I say small boys? Yes. Yes, I did. Our household is expanding. My sister, E, and her hubster N, and their two wee ones are moving in with us to join households. Those of you who know me personally know this relationship is a bit more than I am letting on, however, I digress. They are arriving at the end of May. My goal is to have our stuff settled by then, so that they have space to move in as well.

In the mean time, this does not mean that the knitting has stopped. It hasn't even slowed down. See, babies don't wait until Mimi can find time to knit. Nothing finished this week, but I'm getting close.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your tape guns!!!

BTW - if you see Lib, give her a hug. She could use it right now. And maybe some chocolate chip cookies and mac'n'cheese.

SnuzzleBunny Sighting

2010-01-07T20:37:00.000-08:00

I finally remembered to take a picture of something I finished. Meet the Snuzzle Bunny.

Humility, I have it

2009-12-21T05:03:00.000-08:00

So, remember me bragging about being finished with Yule knitting? Yeah, so do I. Well I wasn't. Found that out last week. Slammed my way through a ____________ just in time to mail them out later today. Fortunately, it is a family tradition that gifts do not arrive on time.

Don't Ask

2009-11-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

If one more clerk asks me if I had a nice Thanksgiving, I may scream. I slept on Thanksgiving Day. I worked the night before, and then again that night. My hospital decided to not serve the staff T-day dinner this year. So I did not have the traditional feast. I missed it, thank you very much. To make things worse, life got thrown in my face, so I forgot to make the pie I promised my hubby. Sorry, honey.

I then got on a plane after work Friday morning to go to Tucson for a baby shower on Saturday. I had not planned to go, but there I was. My sister flaked, she decided a few days before that she needed to go to Texas instead of the baby shower. It was a family shower. Apparently family does not trump her desires. She flaked, I rode in and helped with the shower.

It was a nice visit. We had fun. I spent time with my grandkids. Yep, all three. Okay, so two of them are in utero. I still got to see them, or at least their very pregnant mothers.
(That's Madelynn on the left, and Kayleb on the right. Oh, and their mothers S and Em, respectively)

There was the expectant father. So thrilled about being at a baby shower. The only guy there.

And time with Mister Perfect. (I don't care what anyone else calls him, grandsons are perfect).

Yes, I've been knitting. Not finished anything, but I have been knitting. Anyone know where to get another skein of Malabrigo sock in the colorway Abril? I don't think I have enough.

Home again, Home again, Jiggety Jog

2009-11-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

okay, maybe not so much jogging. But I am home, RAI and it's accompanying isolation over. I get to sleep in my own bed with hubby tonight (had to sleep in the recliner the last two). I'm back on my meds. Slowly feeling better. Need to go shopping soon. Like this morning. We're out of everything, and I ate so much pasta with tomato sauce when I was LID that the thought of it now makes me queasy. I'm thinking chow mein, myself. We'll see.

Final scan is Monday morning. Right now, it all looks good. Real good. I'm happy.

The knitting has begun. I'm reduxing the Hecate stole from Badcat Designs into a cardigan. I'll post info and photos soon. I'm hoping to turn it into a how-to pattern. Wish me luck. In a couple of weeks, I can resume baby knitting. Can't risk and radiation for the little ones. Should be safe in two weeks.

Oh, and I need to be studying. PCCN in about a month. So if you don't hear much from me, it's because I'm brushing up on textbook nursing so I can pass this test. Again, wish me luck

Mayonaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

2009-11-08T20:44:00.001-08:00

Stolen from another site:

When things in your life seem Almost too much to handle, When 24 Hours in a day is not enough, Remember the mayonnaise jar And 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class And had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, He picked up a very large And empty mayonnaise jar And proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students If the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles And poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls. He then asked The students again If the jar was full.. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand And poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded With an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table And poured the entire contents Into the jar, effectively filling the Empty space between the sand. The students laughed. Now," said the professor, As the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that This jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - Family, children, health, Friends, and favorite passions -- Things that if everything else was lost And only they remained, Your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- The small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," He continued, "there is no room for The pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time And energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for The things that are Important to you. So... Pay attention to the things That are critical to your happiness. Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time To clean the house And fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first -- The things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand And inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked". It just goes to show you that no matter how full Your life may Seem, there's always room for A couple of cups of coffee with a friend." - author unknown, stolen from Ravelry

Are you sick of Thyca yet? I know I am

2009-11-05T20:14:00.000-08:00

Quick update. I go in for RAI on Tuesday. Right now is am so hypothyroid that it is not even funny. Periorbital edema, myxedema, joint aches, muscle aches, asthma exacerbation, nausea, constipation, fatigue, malaise, depression, no interest in food/knitting/anything. Making breakfast knocks me down for an hour. Headaches, neck hurts. Tired all of the time. The end is in sight. But I'm supposed to work for the next 4 days. Send me energy please, I'm fresh out.

To Your Health!

2009-10-28T21:27:00.000-07:00

Join us on a journey..... a journey of food and health. You control the pepper, you control the garlic.

Okay, hokey, but you get the idea. Life right now is tied up in food. Due to the RAI coming up in a couple of weeks, we are now officially on a low iodine diet (LID). Theory, starve any thyroid cells remaining in the body of iodine and make them crave it by not taking thyroid supplements. Take RAI, and the cells 'drink the koolaid'. Conclusion, irradication of all remaining thyroid cells in the body, thereby taking the cancer with them. Yippeeee!

Not as easy as it sounds. No-no's include iodized salt (read preprocessed foods), egg yolks, all dairy and dairy derived products, soy and soy derived products, seaweed and seaweed derived products, potatoe peels, certain beans, molasses. You get the idea. Grocery shopping sucks, meals must be planned, no fast food, no eating out, no quick lunches. Much whining has ensued, Bear has held up well. He's even joined the trip. We're learning about health, simplicity, and diet. We may keep this up after LID is over. It's actually been a nice change.

What do we eat? Humus, black beans, garbanzo beans, brown rice, and lots of veggies. I spend one day a week cooking to have the basics on hand for meals. Black beans and garbanzo beans are cooked, vacuum sealed and in the freezer, ready to use. Frozen corn and peas, fresh potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and onions on hand. Pasta on hand. Canned tomato sauce, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes in the pantry, all no salt. With these we can make curry, pasta dish, humus, vegtable soup, vegetable stew, and black bean salsa. Not too bad, huh? BTW, Frito-Lays says that their snack chips are made with non-iodized salt. Score!!

Thought I'd share my 30-minute curry recipe with you. It makes enough for 2 for 2 meals (YMMV).

30-minute Curry

ingredients:
rice
4 large red potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 package green peas, frozen
1 can no salt diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
4 cloves garlic
1 small red or yellow onion
1/2 package baby carrots, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable stock in a jar
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon plain salt
pepper to taste

Start rice in rice maker. In a wok, coat the bottom with olive oil, and over a medium heat sweat the garlic and onion until translucent. Add the vegetable stock and curry powder. Cook for a minute. Add the potatoes, and cook for a minute. Add the tomatoes, juice and all. Add in the other ingredients. Add one can of water. Bring to a boil. Turn down to a fast simmer and let cook until the rice is done. It should thicken on it's own. If it does not, add one teaspoon of arrow root to 1/4 water and add to simmering mixture, stirring constantly until it is the thickness you want. Tweak the flavors as you see fit.

We cook our own garbanzos, to avoid the iodized salt, but you can use canned, just drain and rinse before adding to pot.

Humus

ingredients:
3 cups garbanzo beans
4 cloves garlic
lemon juice
1Tablespoon vegetable stock in a jar
pepper to taste
1Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon plain salt

In a food processor, combine the garbanzos, oil, spices, salt, stock and lemon juice. Begin to pulverize. It may stick to the sides, begin adding water a little bit at a time until the consistency you like is acheived. Takes a few minutes, but it is well worth the trouble. Again, canned beans may be used in place of fresh cooked.

Knitting is in progress, but it is mostly gift knitting right now, so I can't show you. Soon, soon.

Enjoy!!!

It's Here!!!!!

2009-10-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

Now I just need tea, and a clean house, then I can open the box. Anyone else buying this line?

Now that the shock has worn off...

2009-10-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

we can resume something approximating our previous lives.

I do, in fact, have cancer. It is thyroid cancer. Good news: curable. Bad news: mets to the lymph nodes. Surgery is over. The thyroid is gone. Cytomel is not so bad. Calcium levels have stabilized, meaning that the parathyroids are kicking back in. Incision looks good and is healing well. Now we are getting ready for RAI (radioactive iodine) therapy. This will involve a few days of isolation, hopefully at the hospital. Strict isolation. In the mean time, I have started the low iodine diet: no iodized salt, no dairy (equipment is cleaned with iodine), no egg yolks, no seafood or seafood products. I am cooking beans in advance, so I can freeze them and have the ready to eat. I have made instant vegetable broth. This is fabulous stuff. It's even pretty. The recipe made over 6 pints. Used 1 tablespoon at a time, this could last for a while. It took about 45 minutes of actual work, and overnight to salf ferment. Basically with this diet, I cannot eat preprocessed foods, as I cannot positively identify whether the salt has iodine in it.

Why low iodine? Well, thyroid cells need iodine to do their job. So the theory is, go off you thyroid meds and restrict iodine as much as possible. The cells will be starving for iodine. Take the radioactive stuff, and whammo, the leftover thyroid cells drink the koolaid. With any luck, this will eliminate the chances of further tumors. From there on out, it will be managing thyroid meds and occaisional scans to ensure no recurrence. Keep your fingers crossed for me. If you want a real challenge, join me on the journey of this insane diet. It should be interesting. At the very least, read the labels of everything you buy at the store. Think about what is in your food. Mentally try to eliminate salt, dairy, eggs, and seafood ingredients. It's not easy, let me tell you.

On to brighter things:
We have a seen a video of grandchild #3 (sex as of yet undetermined). Baby looks great and is moving a lot. Long legs. Big ears (don't know where they came from ;) Knitting for this baby is waiting for identification.

We have pictures of grandchild #2 (due in Feb). Her name is Madelynn, although her parents aren't spelling it the same way yet. I'm sure they'll figure it out. Knitting for this baby has started. Baby surprise jacket needs buttons. Blanket done. Hat in the wings. Will post pictures soon.

I've had startitis lately. I spun the yarn for my first hanspun pair of socks. It came out a beautiful dusty rose. The fiber is merino from Sunset fibers. It was a dream to spin. Knitting up well. Also begun are the Butterfly Wings shawl from Goddess Knits, in Malabrigo Sock Abril and the Knitting Bag from Knitpicks. I also resurected a pair of socks in a Sivia Harding pattern. One done, one to go. Maybe that's tonight's project, while I cook. Although, I really should work on the shawl, as the temperature has dropped 30 degrees in a month and it is now cold when I come home from work in the mornings.

Speaking of work, I'm a charge nurse now. Translate: ringmaster of a 2-3 ring circus. We have another term for it at work. It's not bad. Not what I wanted to do, but in nursing, things don't always go our way. I am riding my bike, though. it gets me home so much faster than taking the bus.

Talk to you soon

BTW, if you order beneficial nematodes to help with the organic gardening, they are not the larvae that you think they will be. You will recieve a box of ladybugs, live frickin' lady bugs. Just sayin'.

Terrible Lie

2009-08-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

Quick apology: sorry to all the medical-type people out there who may read this. Don't take it personally.

It turns out, we have all been fed a terrible lie. I don't drink, smoke, or take drugs. I eat a vegan diet (for the most part, there is still the occaisional ice cream issue) and work out fairly regularly (I count riding to/from the MAX or walking the same to be exercise - and I do it at least 3 days a week, plus all the trips to the store, etc). It seems that no matter what we do to take care of ourselves, we still get cancer. Apparently, my thyroid biopsy came back as highly suspicious. So I see a surgeon next week and we'll take it from there. Something else to be removed, I guess. This sucks.

I really want a cheeseburger, fries and a large milkshake right now. Really. Or maybe some mac 'n cheese with ketchup.

A sock knitter is born

2009-07-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

This is L. She is a friend of mine from work.

This is her first sock. It took a year to knit. She was having issues and kept ripping it out. We finally figured out that she was knitting wayyyyyyy outside the box. Like twisted stitches and knitting on the inside of the sock, not the outside. No wonder she couldn't make the heel work. Well, anyhow, she persevered, and did it!!!! And she did cast on a new pair immediately. They are working much more smoothly. Three cheers for L!!!!

A Big Sigh of Relief

2009-07-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

My little brother (okay, not so little anymore, but you get the point) is home from Iraq today!!! This was at least his 2nd tour. He needs shoulder surgery, then back surgery. But he's home. Surgery sucks, but he's home. He's home. HE'S HOME!!!!! (Please join me in a moment of silence to pray for those still there and in other areas of conflict) Now for the Snoopy dance!!!

I can still keep up.........

2009-07-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, still a Punk Rock Girl. Got up yesterday at 12:30pm to rent a car and drive Hubster and I to Seattle to see GREEN DAY!!! Opening night of the tour. OMFG!!! They rocked. Just rocked. I love going to concerts. It's interesting to see the emphasis an artist puts on their own lyrics and how they present them. If you get the chance - GO! My present fave from the Breakdown is '21 Guns'. Lots of possible interpretations. I get this one right now - a ballad commiserating with the down trodden, the returning vets, the lost and forsaken, with a call to revolution that does not involve guns. We can do this peacefully. The only winning move is not to play.

Yes, I did knit at the concert. I worked on my Lavalette out of STR Silkie in Tanzanite from my stash. Our usher's mom runs a yarn shop in Seattle. We talked about knitting. She admitted to knowing how, but not much more. More knitters need to come out of the yarn closet. Pick up your needles people!!!

If we keep adding people, I'll never finish...

2009-06-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

the Yule knitting, that is. Okay, so the score so far is 4.5 pairs out of 7 done. Yep, over half-way to Yule done. People at work are whining over not having their stethcozies yet. Well, their going to have to wait a while longer... We've added more people to the family. What you ask, one addition in April and one in May wasn't enough? How can we possible add more people if this generation has all married and the next it too young yet (here that boys?) to procreate? Why we get pregnant!!!!! Yep, it's what my family does best. Wed all you want, we'll make more. S and B are due in Feb, and now E and N are due in Feb/March. Baby knitting!!!!!!! Where's my angora?

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

We're back. Sorry to anyone we didn't see. We underestimated how hard it would be to travel without adequate pain control.

This trip was rough. Mom was in the hospital. I had to step in as mother of the bride. Things were a bit disorganized. But in three days we made this happen:

I've been informed that you 'can't fire family', even if they do forget the flowers.

We also got to play with this little boy, for hours on end. Joy!!!!!!

No knitting accomplished, but who cares?

Where I finally catch the Clap...

2009-05-20T00:28:00.001-07:00

I mean Clapotis, of course. Where did your brain go?

So this is what Clapotis looks like in Malabrigo sock, Violeta Africana.

I like the way this yarn knit up. It used a mere 153 grams (about 1.5 skeins) and yeilded a wrap that is 22 in wide and 84 inches long on a side of the parallelogram. While I do not appreciate MalSock for socks (no body), I love it for shawls.

Blocking is a dream with this stuff. It's like a 2-dollar whore, you get it wet and it just lays down. (apologies to anyone that is offended). It is just so easy to block and has a wonderful drape. I wonder if this is because this yarn is spun woolen, whereas most sock yarns are spun worsted. Hmmmm.....

Now on the needles: Desert Sun in MS Botticelli Red, Jeanie in Smooshy Dusty Aura, various socks and Juno Regina out of the rest of the MS in the Violeta colorway.

My new fashion statement, in case you haven't figured it out, involved lace shawls and wraps. I just can't get enough right now.

Would you like cheese with that Whine?

2009-05-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, I just got the email from Sock Summit. If you haven't, please check you in box. The registration date has been set. Tuesday, May 26 starting at 10 am PDT. Now, let's forget for a moment that I usually sleep days. This is a day I won't be sleeping. Why? Simple, I'm leaving for Tucson that day.

Here is the basic itinerary:
- work until 0630 - telemetry, no less - makes you hear beeping for days - I'll be getting up at 4:30 pm Monday night
- head home, shower, finish packing
- back to hospital for 0900 doctor's appointment - they don't really want to see me, but as long as I am on restricted duty I am required by the hospital to see the doc every 30 days. I'll be in Tucson that day, so we're doing it early
- home to register for Sock Summit, unless the appointment runs over, in which case, my computer goes to the doc with me, I can log on to the hospital's wireless there
- take cats to boarding - yes, boarding. Most people leave their cats at home, unfortunately, ours are not that well behaved. We have a 17 year old crotchety old lady and a 9 month old, fifteen pound kitten. They play, then they fight, then the go in time out. If someone isn't there with them they may kill each other. The answer: boarding
- leave the house by 1400 (2pm) to catch the MAX to the airport to be there 2 hours before our 1700 (5pm) flight - at least we don't have to get off the plane until Tucson
- land in Tucson at 2200 (10 pm) - pick up car and drive to airport

Did you see sleep in there? Yeah, me either. Cat naps (pun intended) I guess.

See you at the Summit!!!

Procrastination..... It's making me wait....

2009-05-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

Bad song reference, huh? Anyone else see a bottle of ketchup in their head? I thought so. I loved that song until the commercial....

So, I'm supposed to be doing several things:
- finishing sock monkeys
- cleaning house
- gift sock knitting

What I'm doing instead:
- knit Clapotis out of Malabrigo sock - fantastic - must get more of this stuff - it's got a wonderful drape and its perfect for wraps and shawls, not so great for socks, IMHO, not enough body - will post pics when I finish blocking
- bought yarn for Jeannie - wanted Malabrigo again, but had trouble finding the right color - settled for (gasp!) Smooshie - I know, what was I thinking, aren't I the poster child for BMFA? and what on earth am I doing buying the yarn called for in the pattern? I'll let you know when I come to my senses
- watching trash movies - it helps the knitting

As far and the Sockarama promise, it'll have to wait for another day. I'm in a shawl mood right now.

And if anyone knows where to get three skeins of Malabrigo Sock in Velvet Grapes, please let me know. Thanks.

Flying Monkeys

2009-05-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

Be Warned:

It finally happened. I got some flying monkeys!!

First, you take the Funkey Sock Monkey pattern from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. (This is the small version - Muddy Bottom Breakdown and an unknown leftover colorway).

Then you add wings. I used the pattern for the ears from Ysolda's Elijah.

Aren't monkey butts great?

Emma and Sarah, you get to stop reading here. I mean it.

Finally, the shawls are done and wrapped, ready to go into the mail.

First we have S's shawl, Aeolian from Knitty, in a lovely blueberry La Barufa merino lace weight with aquamarine beads. This shawl took about 3 weeks to knit. I did not finish it in time for the wedding. I hope she likes it.

Finally, after several months of work, we have E's shawl. It is the Veil of Isis from BadCat Designs, knit out of Zephyr with clear beads. It was originally ivory in color, but I dyed it very light sage green, at E's request.

Next post: Sockarama, baby

PS: Never underestimate the importance of estrogen. Just let me say WOW! I feel human for the first time in months.

Driving in Portland

2009-04-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

So, hubby and I were on our way to the Hawthorne District from the Lloyd Center the other day. I was driving (I always drive, too many reasons - one of which is, in fact, that I am a bit of a control freak - thank you). For those who have never driven through Laurelhurst, click the link to get the whole picture, it can be maddening. Fortunately, I knew approximately where I was headed. Hubby did not. I was making some interesting street choices when he pipes up:

Hubby: Do you actually know where you are going, or are you picking streets at random?

Me: Why do you say that?

Hubby: That last turn was a bit too casual.

Me: Oh. (laughter until I was crying, still driving, mind you)

Sometimes the Heavy Metal theory of driving is appropriate. You know your perspective is %$&^-ed, so just drive like you are sober. Better yet, the Star Wars theory of driving, just fly casual.

Good news, we got where we were going. And I didn't pee my pants.

Now if I can just find the new camera (yes, new, hubby dropped the old one with the telescoping lens out and now it won't even turn on). Sigh.

Let's play a game....

2009-03-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

where we pretend that we are going to avoid the infamous 'IT' by starting Yule knitting early. Now I know what you are thinking (insert hubby's hysterical laughter here), yeah, right. No, really. Let's start now. I have 7 adults (immediate family only) and two children to knit for. That's 8 adult socks, 6 monster socks (you know who you are) and 4 little socks to knit. Plus packaging and extras to obtain and kids toys to make. Plus the wedding shawls to finish, baby blanket to make, and sock monkeys to finish. No stress here.

Let the insanity begin.

a hug for Mom

2009-03-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, if any of you are related to me, do not tell Mom. This is a surprise. If you are Mom, OOPS!

I've knit her a hug. I can't be there in person next week, so I'm sending the next best thing.

Pink, because she loves pink and well, she's fighting breast cancer. Alpaca, specfically Shibui Knits Baby Alpaca, 3.5 skeins to be exact. The pattern is Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style. I simply inserted a lace pattern (cats paws) every other tier and increased the cast on number to 63 stitches to accommodate the lace. I love it. I hope she does too. Hopefully it will keep her warm after surgery and remind her that her oldest daughter loves her very much.

Now off to the post office to get it there in time.

Preparing to embrace the Crone

2009-03-06T02:26:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's what I'm doing. For those outside the loop, I am in the midst of experiencing my final menstrual cycle. Sorry if that's too much info, but it's the truth. They have been so bad for so long, that I have finally scheduled myself for surgery in just under two weeks. A couple weeks of discomfort, several months of no lifting (which means restricted duty at work, as I won't be able to lift patients), and voila!, no more girl stuff. I will still get the bitchies, but if my mom is any gauge on that score, well.....

During the down time, I will be knitting up a storm. Three weeks of not being able to much of anything, include going to work. I am already lining up the projects. And then I go back to work, to do mostly chart audits and such. Or as my supervisor put it, 'she's my bitch'. Gotta love a job where the people you work with are real, not pretending to be nice and PC. I love the people I work with, I really do. And the fact that they will let me work restricted duty is a definite plus.

Mom is doing well. She's decided to kick the 'Big Ugly'. Her lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection is scheduled the same day as my surgery. E will stay with her and take her home. At least she gets to go home. Not me, two days in the hospital. Have you seen what they feed vegans???? I'll be taking my own food.

I'm hurrying to finish a pink Lady Eleanor for Mom. I want to get it to her in time for her op, so I can send her a big hug. She'll need it. I know I will.

So if anyone has any suggestions on welcoming the Crone into one's life, I'm all ears. Aside from knitting the Hecate shawl (purple with silver beads), I'm at a complete loss. Thanks, M

2009-02-19T03:16:00.001-08:00

I lost a couple of days this week. Mom has breast cancer, or as we prefer to call it 'The Big Ugly'. It's a bit much right now.

Knitting Update

2009-01-30T02:48:00.000-08:00

Veil of Isis for wedding - 6 of 8 repeats finished. Deadline: Late May - I think I'll make it
J's socks - 25% complete. Deadline: late May
Hecate - not even started. Deadline: late May - must have something to prevent the impending sunburn.
Hypoteneuse - started, finally got a gauge I like. Deadline - none for now

More to come....

Here we go again!!!

2009-01-19T22:14:00.000-08:00

Apparently it's wedding season. During the holidays, we found out one of our coworkers is getting married. Happiness!!! We all scrambled to take the day off work. I'm knitting socks for the happy couple using their wedding colors. I've taken my name off the list of people to be off that weekend, because last night I found out I need the next weekend off because,.........

E is getting married!!! Yep, you remember the baby from the post a couple of years ago. You know, the one who had the baby and made me a (shhhh) grandmother, or more properly Mimi. Well she is gettin' hitched to the guy she loves. I'm so excited. So 5 months to plan a wedding, or as she says, a Celtic wedding. Whatever that means. I'm knitting the Veil of Isis for her. Don't tell her. It's a surprise!

Back to knitting.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T20:57:00.000-08:00

Yule knitting is done, and almost all delivered. The last bit gets dropped off tomorrow. There was this whole snow thing....

Here's the tally:
angora socks for Mom
DIC Shrug for Em
hat and mittend for Jake
socks for honey and me
socks for S&M
hats for J (for after the brain surgery)

Now I'm knitting for me. I've started the Pentagon sweater from Knitting Nature by Norah G. I'm changing it up a bit by knitting the body in a rib instead of stockinette. It think it will fit the curves better. I'll let you know. Oh, and the yarn showed up today for my Diamonds jacket from Knitpicks. Auburn yarn. It's going to be yummy, I just know it.

First, I need to cast on Nate's socks. He's Em's guy and I just learned his birthday is the 2nd. Yep, like the day after tomorrow. I think they're going to be late. It's not my fault he's got size 13 feet and lives 1500 miles away. (okay, maybe the distance part is my fault..)

BRRRRRR (or How 3" of snow can shut down a city)

2008-12-16T07:47:00.000-08:00

So while I was sleeping on Sunday it snowed. A bit. Like 2-3". Not bad, unless you live in the Portland Metropolitan area. This is enough to shut the city down for at least one day. Totally. I still went to work that night, without the legally required chains. I didn't know, and fortunately, I didn't get caught. Now I know to check the ODOT site during inclement weather. Now I have chains in my truck. Now I'm staying home as much as humanly possible, because, Baby, it's cold outside. Good for knitting, bad for pretty much anything else you might have in mind. Oh, yeah, and it means the heater is now turned on. Household temperatures in the 60's, not too bad. Temps in the 50's, wrong, very, very wrong.

Head Banging and other such adult things

2008-11-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

Well it's anniversary week here at Snuzzleheim. Eleven years ago we were handfasted (several years before the legal marriage thing). An ancient Celtic (and Nothern European) tradition, handfasting is a marriage that lasts for a year and a day. After that time, the couple has the choice of continuing the relationship or walking away (I know, very watered down, but work with me here). Annually, Hubby and I recommit our handfasting and celebrate our anniversary by tacking on a day each year. We are up to eleven days. What do you do, you might ask. Very little housework and lots of play. For example:

Metallica - fantastic concert. Warm up acts not so great (I knit the foot and heel of a sock during them). However the main act was fan-freaking-tastic. Only managed 2 inches of the leg. I cried through a couple of songs. My eardrum is still sore, and I must be getting old because my neck was stiff the next day. By the way, I don't recommend headbanging while working with size 0 knitting needles, someone could lose an eye....

Here's the sock
STR in Fred Flintstone

Capital steps - Hilarious. Best way to spend election night.

Cleaned my office - stressful, but productive. My new computer should ship any day and school starts soon. I'll need to be able to find the top of my desk.

Rearranged the house. And I do mean house. Now I have a spot for my indoor garden. (Which is distinctly different than Hubby's garden.)

Worked on a new sock pattern. After 4 tries, I finally got something I like. Now to finish, photo, write and publish. Give me a couple of weeks. It will be up on Ravelry.

Can we fast forward through the holidays, cuz their stressing me out a bit. Perhaps I should make a list, and plan this whole thing we call holiday knitting....

I was swallowed by my office...

2008-11-01T02:49:00.001-07:00

no really. It jumped right out and swallowed me whole. Tonight hubby helped me excavate. It was a wreck. Still is. At least I can walk across the room now.

Hubby says this room is a mess because the rest of my life is so structured/scheduled/orderly that I need a space to say " Nope, not gonna do it, not gonna clean it, I get to make a mess". I'll take that. I'll try to post again soon. Many WIP's including a - ssshhhh - book. Yep, sock book. Patterns and all.

OFFF report

2008-09-29T16:24:00.000-07:00

I took the weekend off to go to OFFF. Well worth the trip!! My first thought, I didn't bring enough money. About 20 oz of wool, 4 skeins of sock yarn and a new spindle later, I decided to head back to Portland to meet Mimm to go to the Quilt Expo. Wow! Too much for one day. I'll post pics soon, I hope.

Hat Attack and other stuff

2008-09-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

Hat Attack started this week. As I did in Sock Wars I, my weapon was mailed the very next day (let's all hear it for night shifters!!). Unfortunately, I've discovered I am allergic to Therapi. Let's all hope I'm killed off soon, before the yarn gets me.

I'm desperately searching for my Scarf Style book. I want to knit something out of it with the other 2 skeins of Knitters Without Borders. Other 2 skeins you ask? Yes, well, there's an interesting story behind my getting away from the Yarn Harlot's visit to Portland in April with 3 (yes, 3) skeins of this limited edition yarn. You see, I was sitting there, minding my own business, and bought my 1 skein, like a good girl. But the bad girl in me wanted more. She discovered that the lady sitting next to me was not going to buy any. Bad girl talked nice new knitter into purchasing one for her (I paid for the yarn, of course). Then, during the night, a lovely announcement was made, stating that there was still more yarn, and if we wanted to purchase another skein we could, so I did. Three, one became socks, but the other 2 I want to make into a body-less sleeve and neck scarf for riding my bike in the cooler weather.

Does anyone know where I put my book?

Hat Attack

2008-09-16T18:08:00.001-07:00

started today. The pattern in straight forward enough, but i suspect my asasain is here in PDX. Could mean doom. must keep knitting. Now if i could just stop coughing...

Oops...

2008-09-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm back. Didja miss me? I've been knitting, but not taking pictures. OOPS.

Recipe time at String Theory. We were talking about jelly making the other night. One of the guys tells me about this jelly he makes from wine. Wine. Weird. He says buy the cheap stuff. Hey, I lived in Wine Country for over 10 years. If you won't drink it, don't cook with it. So I tried the jelly. Pretty good. Definitely not for anyone with alcohol issues. I'm not sure it's technically possible to cook out all of the alcohol.

Want to make some? Here's how:

Ingredients:
wine - one bottle - 750 ml - pour one glass of wine to steady your nerves, the other 550 ml goes in the pot
sugar - 3 1/2 cups - what's jelly without sugar?
certo - one packet - or one box of sure-jel , your choice
jars - 4 cups worth - I bought cute little one cup jars - gifts and all...

Place wine in pan. Bring to boil for 5 minutes. Pour out of pan and into measuring cup, you need 2 cups of reduced wine. Return wine to pan, add sugar. Bring back to full rolling boil. Cook at boil for one minute. Add pectin/certo/sure-jel. Return to boil, cook at boil for one minute. Pour into jars, wiping the edges free of jelly when you are done. Process as usual. I just tighten my lids, turn the jars upside down for 5 minutes and then turn right side up. Never had a problem with my jelly.

Serve with fancy crackers, toast, cheese, whatever.

Enjoy!!!

Poor Mom

2008-06-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

My mom has a broken wrist. On the first day of her vacation, she obsessively cleaned the house, then the garage, where she promptly slipped in the water she was cleaning up and injured her paw. It's the dominant one. So, the quilting and learning a new piano piece are right out. As are driving, picking up the grandbaby (toddler), writing, mousing, cooking, cleaning, drying oneself off, and well just use your imagination. Actually, try not using your dominant hand for one hour of regular life. It's a real eye opener. I don't envy her. We find out sometime next week if she needs surgery. I may be taking another trip to Tucson. We'll see.....

The week in socks

2008-06-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

First, we saw Rush play in Vancouver, WA. Fantastic show, Neil Peartt is still a god. That man can make drums sing, I swear! While there, and in transit to and from, I worked on these socks for my Hubby. They are the much maligned Motley Hue from BMFA . Plain ribbed sock, for his pleasure.

I finished a pair of Gypsum, also from BMFA. Plain vanilla sock pattern with a knife edge hem, knit from the toe up. I like the striping that some of these yarns provide, and a plain sock just shows so well.

And finally, a pair of Rivendell, that I have been working on for several weeks, again in BMFA, this time it's Tanzanite. I really like the detail of this pattern and can hardly wait for the book to come out. I hope Amazon gets it soon.

Here's a close up of the leg/cuff. Just wonderful.

Getting ready to take the Plunge

2008-05-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

Needles poised, time set aside, first pair chosen, yarn wound,and ready to go. Tonight begins the 52 Pair Plunge. I (along with a multitude of other knitters) am going to attempt to knit a pair of socks a week all year. I'm adding a Flicker to the sidebar so that you can see what I've accomplished . Wish me luck
.

New obsession alert

2008-05-17T02:15:00.001-07:00

It's not my fault, really. I've discovered temari. If you haven't tried it, you should:

it's embroidery on a sphere. first you mark the geometry of the sphere, separating it into sections, then you begin stitching.

What I've been up to (photo intense)

2008-05-08T21:58:00.000-07:00

Well, first there was the Yarn Harlot's visit to PDX. I participated in the scavenger hunt:

I saw my friend TJ there. Yes, that's me in the picture, sporting my newly finished sweater. The colored stripes are leftover sock yarn. I figure the sweater will always match my socks. Wait until you see the next incarnation of this theme.

Of course, there is always the obligatory sock knitting. I'm up to about a pair a week now. I've committed to the 52 pair plunge, so watch for one pair a week for a year starting in June.

I found a t-shirt with my new identity.

And this week, Birthday Yarn. It's Birthday Week here at Snuzzleheim. Both of our days are this week, so we celebrate for a week. We only do that which is neccessary to sustain ourselves. And we get gifts. I got yarn. Yes, it's hot pink, get over it. I wear pink, somtimes, occaisionally. Okay, so this will totally clash with anything I own. SCORE.

Tonight I start knitting pasties....

New Blog - New Day

2008-05-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Well, blogspot won't let me on my previous blog: stringattack, because I moved and my old email address is dead. So I'll try again. For old posts go to stringattack.blogspot.com.