Tap...Tap...Tap

Six years.  SIX YEARS!  Wow it's been almost six years since I have posted anything here.  It has been so long, I almost forgot how to log in...yikes!

Sorry.  Really, I am sorry.  I know, I have slacked.  I didn't plan on it, but you know, life...it happens.  Where I slacked here, I made up for in other areas.  For example, I was part of my kids PTO for 8 years.  In addition to that I was also on the board for a few of their extracurricular activities.  In fact, I am still heavily involved with one of our local youth sports programs.  One of the biggest changes for me was I went back to work.  That was probably the hardest part of maintaining this little blog of mine here.  In fact, with me going back to work, I wasn't able to knit nearly as much as I would have liked to.  Which in turn means I wasn't designing either.  To be honest, I missed it.  I missed knitting, designing, and blogging.

But now I'm back....

Second Time Around

Puppyhood has proven to be a bit more trying than the first time, twelve years ago. I am starting to think that with Pebs we got lucky. Very lucky. Training Pebelles was hard for me since she was the first dog I had ever had, so it was more me than her. When we would teach her not to do something once, that was it. She wouldn't do that particular thing again. Unlike Duchess who we are constantly correcting on the same issues over and over. With the exception of stuffed animals, Pebs wasn't big on chewing things that were not intended for her, like clothes or worse yet WIPs. That's right. A few months ago I was working on something and left it on the coffee table. When I came back there was yarn all over the house. The only thing that saved her was that the actual project wasn't harmed, only the ball of yarn, or what was left of it. What was supposed to be a long sleeve, ended up being a vest.

I should have learned from that experience not to leave anything on the coffee table. You know, like coffee. Honestly, I never thought that I wouldn't be able to leave coffee on the coffee table. I didn't think that Duchess, a dog, would drink a cup o' joe. I left a cup of coffee on the table and walked away to finish something upstairs. When I got back, the cup was completely empty, except for one piece of dog hair she left in it to let me know that she decided to share with me. Had she not left that little piece of her, I would have thought I drank the entire cup and forgot about it.

The fact the boys love her more than anything and I love them more than anything, keeps her here.

I have been doing a lot of knitting and even crochet. Unlike the 2008 Holiday season, where I was completely organized and had the majority of projects done weeks before Thanksgiving. This year was the complete opposite. I think I only had one project done before the holiday season, if that. I was able to complete at least ten projects that were to be gifted during that time, five of them were crocheted. In the bunch were six scarves and four pair of socks.

Unfortunately, during the mayhem of it all, I didn't photograph any of them. Fortunately, I was able to finish this

right before she was old enough to cause any harm.

I call them Honeycomb Kid. They were designed for Three Irish Girls Sock Yarnista Club. I love, love, love the colorway and like always, their yarn is a joy to work with. If you like the pattern, you can go here to purchase the pattern.

Best Laid Plan

Ever have plans for something, really good plans too, only to not have them go through? The better question is if you ever have had a list and plan for lets say a hundred things and only complete two of them? It seems as though that has been the story of my life for the last year. I make a list (usually mental) of things that I want and or need to do and I prioritize the list. Of course blogging is on the list, unfortunately it has been one of the items that has not been on top of the list. Other things that are on the list (that have yet to be done) include cleaning my baseboards and windows, going through the closet, re-doing my garden (though I wonder if I can really call it a garden, if technically it is nothing but overgrown weeds, rose bushes, and shrubs), you get the idea though.

Most of my time this last year has been spent volunteering for various things that my boys are involved in. And though I have had a lot to say, I'm not sure that you want to hear about things that are not knitting/craft related. Another thing I'm not sure about is whether or not you like to read posts without pictures. I know what I like and I try to give what I like to receive. I love when blogs have pics and since I have not been taking as many pics lately, I have been hesitant to post. I don't know, I just feel as though, there has been a lot on my plate and I have seemed to justify to myself why I haven't posted. I still check on many blogs frequently, I just haven't been giving back.

One of the (many) reasons is we have recently had a new addition to our family.

Obviously, she is not of the human kind, but the canine kind. Her name is Duchess. We are not sure of her exact breed as she was abandoned on the side of the road with four of her siblings. The wife of Hubby's co-worker saw them be abandoned and well, the rest I guess you could say is history. The vet thinks Sheppard/Terrier/Chihuahua mix, though I can honestly say I don't think think there is any chihuahua. The pic above was taken the day we got her home and she weighed in at a whopping 3.8 lbs. That was about five weeks ago. Today she weighs closer to 12 lbs.

If only someone could have reminded me the part about how hard the house training process was going to be...UHG!!!!

My Faux Sense of Perception

Oh my gosh! I didn't realize that it has been almost two months since my last post. Wow, how time flies when things are going on. It is really funny how I thought that once both of the boys were in school, I would have more time to do the things that I want to do. It seems as though the more they are out of the house, the more I have to do. Though, much of this is self induced and it drives Hubby crazy.

The fact that I am busy is not what drives Hubby crazy so much, but the fact I keep adding more and more for myself to do. I won't bore you with the details because let's face it, we are all busy. My day may seem like a walk in the park to some, while to others it may seem as though I shouldn't be able to keep my head afloat. It's all about perspective or should I say perception? And let's face it, this is just my perspective of the situation. Is it right or wrong. I don't think it is. Everyone sees things the way they see it.

The good thing about all of this stuff going on is that it really has given me a chance to work on my time management skills. Something I have always lacked. It has also forced me to be a bit more organized. I like to think that I have always been organized, but lets face it, I could always get better.

Even though I have been busier than ever, I still have found some time to knit and have even dabbled with some crochet. Finished photos will come relatively soon (the key word being relative).

Here is one of the projects I had been working on during my little hiatus:

They were designed for The Three Irish Girls Sock Yarnista Club. The yarn was a pure joy to knit with! If you like the pattern, you can find it here.

As for all of the projects I have that need to be finished before Christmas. I think I have a hold on that. I have most of them completed. I think I have only three or four left. I don't know if I am going to finish before Christmas, but hopefully I will not add any other things to the list of things for me to do.

That was then

How many times has this happened to you? Someone finds out you knit and the next words out of their mouth is...

..."Will you make me..."
..."I want you to knit me..."

I find this happens quite often. Some of the time, I tell people if I have time I will make them whatever it is they are asking. And more often I tell people I don't have the time, but if they want me to teach them to knit, I would be more than happy.

Unfortunately most of the time it is family members who expect knitted items whenever they see something they like and know I can make it.

About six months or so ago my mom told me to make asked me to make her a mobius. At the time I told her I didn't have the time and I would make it when I can. Well that was then.

I finally had time to make the mobius for her.

I will probably give it to her for her birthday next month (if I don't forget I have it and get her something else).

I am really curious though, do a lot of people ask you to knit or make things for them when they find out you knit/craft. And if they do, how do you handle it?

One is more than enough

It's still not here. Fall that is. For a couple of days after my last post, I honestly thought that it was working. The weather started cooling and I actually put on long sleeves in the morning while I was walking the kiddos to school.

It is now a couple of days into "Fall" and I am still wearing shorts and tank tops, with no need for knit caps or socks...yet.

This is a pic of one of the things I had worked on over the summer. It is China Doll from Interweave Crochet Spring 2008.

It is actually finished but I don't have a pic of me in it. So that is all you get.

Oh, I almost forgot. I was at the dentist with Big Monkey a couple of weeks ago and as usual, I was knitting in the room while he was having work done. The dentist who was working on Big Monkey is relatively new to us since he has only been with the practice for a few months noticed that I was knitting and asked what I was knitting. I told him it was a sock, to which he replied, "For a set or are you making just one?"

What I wanted to say was, "Usually when I wear socks I like to wear one on each foot, just like my shoes. Doesn't everyone?" Though I didn't dare because for all I know my sarcasm wouldn't have been taken to so kindly and then I would have pissed off the person who was working on my son.

If I Make it....

...fall and winter will come.

At least that is what I am hoping. The weather over here has been in the high 80s and 90s. I am so over the heat and can not wait until we get fall weather. Not So Cal fall/winter weather either, I want it so I can wear my hat without busting a sweat by the time I get to my front door. The chances of that happening are pretty slim, so I guess I will just wait until snowboarding season.

Inspiration

Inspiration (in-spe-ra-shen) n. 1. stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level. b. The condition of being so stimulated. 2. One that inspires. 3. Something that is inspired.

Inspire (in-spir) v. 1. To fill with noble or reverent emotion; exalt. 2. To stimulate to creativity or action. 3. To elicit or create in another.

Lack of the above is why I have been out for so long. I have still been knitting and have even done a bit of crochet while I have been gone. Though I have had the lack of inspiration to blog about it for a couple of reasons. One being that some of the things that have been made I have to keep a lid on for now. The other is because I have to keep a lid on things. I have no less than six FO's that I would love to share but can't. That's right six, maybe even ten.

The summer has been super busy with the kids. This past spring was the first season that Big Monkey played kid pitched baseball. I was the team mom, which kept me busy scorekeeping during the games. It was a fantastic season! Their team won their division championships. During the same time he decided that he wanted to also play flag football. That is in addition to all of the activities that Little Monkey, Hubby, and I are involved in. I think at one point in the last few months we counted ten games within one week.

There were times when I wanted to blog, but because of the lack of craft content didn't. I'm hoping with the kids going back to school next week, I will be able to be a little more dedicated to blogging. That's right both of the kids are going back to school. For the first time ever both of my kids will be at the same school. Little Monkey will be there for half day and Big Monkey for full day. I can't wait, though I am a bit sad at the same time. Where did the time go? It seems like it was yesterday that they were brought home from the hospital.

With the kids going back to school, I'm hoping there will be a bit more time for some of this:

and maybe just maybe, I'll be a little more inspired.

I do, I do...

...still exist, that is. I never have the intentions of staying away from this here blog for so long. I know you've heard that from me probably a gazillion times if not more from me, but it is true. I really don't like to stay away for that long, but life as it is has other things in store for me.

I guess it doesn't help that the kiddos are signed up for a million and one activities. Each time they ask to sign up for something else, I initially tell them no, but then end up changing my mind and letting them, which means that I have that much more on my plate. Though I am not complaining or anything like that. Afterall, this is what I signed up for and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Remember when I made these last year?

I finally put the pattern together and now have the pattern available for you.

The pattern is called Twist and Shout and is made from the toe up, but don't worry if toe-ups are not your style. The pattern can easily be adapted to be worked from the top down. The pattern includes the written stitch pattern as well as a chart. They're made on US 3/3.25, so they knit up pretty quickly.

If you are so inclined, give Twist and Shout a try. I think you'll like them.

To purchase Twist and Shout, click on the button.

Finally...

...I have some knitting content to post. The last couple of weeks have been so crazy. I had been sick with a very bad sinus infection for at least a week before I decided to go to the doctors. When I did I was given some antibiotics and a few days later I was better.

I probably should have gone to the doctors much sooner than I did, it's just that things were so busy over here I hardly had the time. Big Monkey is playing baseball as well as football right now and so between games and practices and all of the other stuff, I didn't have time to take better care of myself.

Funny thing is, if I would have taken better care of myself, things probably wouldn't have gotten to the point they did. It's a vicious cycle, I tell ya.

Anyway, because I was so sick and busy at the same time, I did not have much knitting content to post about. And I'm pretty sure you didn't want to hear about all of the interesting things that happen to come from me while I am ill (if you know what I mean).

The important part is I am better now and hopefully will be better focused and consistent on things (this blog included). I was able to go for my first jog since this whole thing hit me yesterday and I felt pretty good.

So for now I will leave you with this.

Warm Hands

About two weeks ago Big Monkey had his first baseball game of the season. This is his first year of Pinto, which means that this is the first time the kids are playing a little more closely to the rules of baseball. Last year all the kids that were playing would bat each inning regardless of outs and there was no official score for the game.

Now that he has moved up to the next level, we are required to have an official scorekeeper for each of the games. Seeing that hiring a scorekeeper for our home games would add a couple of hundred dollars to the team bill, I agreed to do the job. What I did not realize at the time was how cold those night games would be. I mean, I knew that it would be cold, but I didn't think that my hands would be that cold. At the end of the evening I could barely hold my pencil it was so cold.

The next day I decided that I would cast on for these:

They are a heavily modified version of the fingerless mitts from IK's Fall 2005 issue. Click on the pictures for more details. They are so comfy and fit perfectly. The best part, I finished them just in time for his second night game. Now I am able to stay a little warmer during the games and able to hold my pencil without it being all funky.

Granny Square Baby Blankie

I never realized how quickly I would finish the Granny Square Baby Blankie until I was actually done. I mean, I had read somewhere that crocheting was faster than knitting, but I took that with a grain of salt. Afterall, everyone does their crafting at different paces. And for all I knew the person who wrote that crocheting was faster than knitting could have been a super speedy crocheter and just a so-so knitter.

Anywhoo, I finished the entire blanket in less that a week, edging and all. The only thing I didn't realize, or should I say forgot, was the fact that crochet uses up so much more yarn. Not bad if you want to destash.

Enough of the rambling. Here is what the finished blanket looks like.

I really enjoyed the quickness and almost instant gratification of crochet and even have a couple of things in the queue that are for crochet. But the next few things I make are going to be with needles and yarn.

Houston, we have some Granny Squares

I first learned how to crochet many years ago when my age was still in the single digits. Though I don't know if you can exactly call what I was doing crochet, unless you consider a chain of stitches a mile and a half long crochet.

I have always loved the look of the granny square but for some reason, I could not figure out how to do one. It wasn't for the lack of trying either. I just had some type of mental block which prohibited my hands from completing one.

About a month ago I was talking with one of my girlfriends, a crocheter, about how much I wanted to make a granny square and the difficulties I was having. During the conversation she said the granny square is all about counting. At that moment something clicked. Last night I finally decided to give it another try.

I'm thinking it is going to become a blanket for my best friend's baby, she is due in the next couple of months.

Look what I found

When I first learned to knit, I did what I think many people did. Made scarves. I think I made about six scarves and a blanket before I really dove into knitting and made my first pair of socks which were knit flat and seamed up the back.

Back then it didn't even dawn on me to take a picture of the socks or of any of my finished work for that matter. Heck, at the time it never even occurred to me to use the internet as a tool to learn more about knitting. And blog...what the heck was that?

Now don't get the impression that I have been knitting for decades or anything like that, I have only been knitting for about five years, seriously knitting for maybe four. When I first learned how to knit it never dawned on me that this here internet would be such an integral part of my knitting. Back then all I would use the computer for was email and the occasional shopping. My how times have changed.

Why am I being so nostalgic? Well this weekend as I was helping the kids clean their toy room I came across one of the first scarves I made.

I don't think I made it for myself as the scarf is much shorter than my arm span. Since it was in the toy room, I'm thinking I made it for Big Monkey.

tap...tap...anyone here?

Wow, I never had any intentions of being away for so long. Things had been quite busy and interesting after my last post. Next thing I know it's been over a month. During that month, I finished a pair of socks for my Grandmother, which I forgot to take pictures of before giving them to her...typical me.

Other than the socks, not a whole lot of knitting had been going on here as the kids were home from school on winter break for three weeks and they have just returned yesterday. So, I am hoping that I can resume to things as normal.

I did however manage to dye some yarn.

It's being worked into some socks for my friend Camille.

Yummy!

So, so sorry. I didn't realize that it had been so long since my last post. I have been knitting, it's just I haven't been able to post pics in fear that someone who is on the receiving end would see. So soon I am hoping to have some FO's to show...but no promises.

There is something that I want to show.

I won this from Heather from the Fall Ravelry Running Challenge. The pic doesn't do the yarn justice. It is such a gorgeous deep red. It's so beautiful I almost want to eat it.

I still have at least two pairs of socks that I need to finish before the holidays....wish me luck.

It could be worse

Things sure have been interesting around here.

Yesterday I had kept Little Monkey home from school for what I thought was the stomach flu. Turns out he has Scarlett Fever. That's right Scarlett Fever or Strep-Throat with a rash. I so know what he is going through.

Good thing though, the Dr. said we don't have to cancel Thanksgiving this year. Although, I wonder what would happen if I had to call everyone (about 30 people) and tell them we couldn't have it here this year. I'm sure they would all find another place to congregate, though I would miss having all of them.

Enough about that. I have a FO for all of you.

click on pic for more info

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Where my Stitches

I'm just a little excited and wanted to share.

Woohoo! I know, I'm a dork, but I know where my stitches at.

it's all I have

First let me start off by saying thank you to all of you who held us in your thoughts during the fires. The smoke has cleared and things are back to normal...whatever that is.

I have however still been knitting.

This was taken a couple of weeks ago, but it's all I have to show. I can't tell you how much I love love love the colorway, I think it's perfect for these socks too.

I should be done with them within the next couple of days, but you know I'm not going to hold my breath.

Fire

Just a quick little post. As you may have heard Southern California is pretty much up in smoke. One of the fires are about a mile from our house, but we are not in imminent danger. The news is saying that the fires may not be contained until Halloween and that three of the fires may merge to make one huge fire. I hope that is not the case.

Here are a few pics from the "Magic" fire as seen from our house.

Thank you to all of the firefighters!