That's How You Relax!

Last night Micha was resting on my lap. She was very relaxed and happy!

Please note the proof of knitting in the corner of the first picture.

Ciao

Fingernail Friday.

Halloween edition.

Happy Anniversary!

And Merry Christmas, Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Birthday! I got me a new toy!

A Lendrum Dt spinning wheel! Please note that my wheel has 3 protectors, 2 of which have laser beams for eyes. Hands off! You have been warned....

I tried to take a picture of the fiber I spun up, but my photography skills today seem to have abandoned me. Probably from the excitement of having a wheel!

The brown is shetland and the white is alpaca. The shetland was much easier to spin! Next I will be trying the pretty blue BFL I bought the other day.

I didn't buy a case for it. Budget you know. So I took a page out of the Japanese handbook and furoshiki'd the wheel when not in use. To keep cats and dust away.

It's a bedsheet I had tucked away that I never used until now.

I'm off to play.

Ciao

Pfooey!

I was zooming along on the colleague clog #2. I counted stitches and realized I had an extra one. So I frogged back a bit and recounted. Still extra? What the....? Wound up having to frog back to the beginning of the toe since I put an increase in the fondation row for the toe. No idea why, since it is supposed to be a plain knit row. At any rate, that is why the clog now looks like this again:

I decided to do something useful and so I turned this:

into this:

No one eats the "bread bums" in my house, so I save them up and make them into crumbs. It's a good way to feel productive.

I'll pick up the clog again today. It is pouring rain out and I don't want to leave the house. Hopefully it goes a bit more smoothly. There will be much counting of stitches today, I tell ya!

ciao

It's Another!

I present to you, the weekend's knitting progress. First up, another mitred square:

Second, another clog:

A colleague asked if I could knit up her mother a pair. She offered to pay me, but I figure that she could buy the yarn and that would do. After all, I'd be knitting anyways, right?

Lastly, Black Tomato:

The only pic that turned out was the headless one. Which wasn't headless on purpose. That's what you get when you take pictures of yourself with a timer, I guess!

That concludes our knitting progress for the weekend post. As you can see, a good bit of time was spent knitting. How about your weekend? What did you do?

Book S torage

Life in Abundance was bemoaning her nightstand pile o books. To make her feel better, I decided to show the world my stash of books. Bear in mind, the hubbunny and I both read alot. Unfortunately, we read completely different genres. i like Science fiction, fantasy and some horror. (Like Laurell K. Hamilton). He likes the classics like Tess by Thomas Hardy and comic books. Pleas excuse my lack of housekeeping skills. I'd rather be reading or knitting!

To start the tour, the main floor, living room/hallway

Next the bedroom or the Main Stash

And lastly, the guest room:

I probably missed the odd little stack of books that wind up in odd corners of our house. But I think that you get the idea....

Ciao

And then there were two

Clogs that is. Fiber Trends clogs.

As it turns out, I did not have enough yarn in those 2 skeins. The Lion Brand yarn does not have the same yardage as Paton's Classic. I know what brand I'm buying from now on. Not even sure how the Lions brand got into the stash. I was short 2 lousy rows. So I used some leftover purple wool I had. Might even have been the same dyelot as the first purple skein. No idea, the ballband was gone.

Now to sew them up and felt them!

Ciao

Why Cyber Sunday is Better than the Election

Why is Cyber Sunday better than the Canadian federal election?

1. You know exactly what you are voting for.
2. You get what you vote for.
3. There actually is a difference between the candidates.
4. The show ends.
5. You can tell who is lying.
6. Someone actually IS going to get a beatdown and won't be able to smooth talk their way out of it.
7. There is some entertainment value.

Before and After

I'm sure we all have some corner of our living space that looks like this:

I found a 50% coupon in our Michael's flyer, so off I went to remedy that. Tada!

One drawer for the knitting needle cases, one for little projects that are on the go and one for loose patterns!

On top, for decoration's sake of course, is the fishbowl.

With fibre in a lovely blue from KreativeKitties. It's blufaced leicester and I can't wait to spin it. Alas, first I must free up my spindle from the current batch of fibre....

Gotta go spin something.

Ciao

Fingernail Friday

A restrained design this week.

Happy Thanksgiving,eh?

Stay Late?

I was working at a store today that closes at 5pm. At 5:01pm the phone rang and the technician answered it for some reason. A client wanted us to stay open so she could fill her prescription. Not only did she want us to stay late, she wanted us to send a driver to pick up her prescription, bring it to us, fill it and then re-deliver it! It would have taken at least an hour. I said no, we are closed and I went home. I can't believe someone actually thought a store would stay open just for them. The amount of money paid in salary would have been 20 times the profit from her prescription. Not to mention the fact that the store would have to pay the driver for the deliveries. Also, the store has free prescription delivery. Not pick up. Argh. She wasn't too happy, but I was tired and ready to go home. (as a side note, the technician told me that the client doesn't work and does this sort of crap all the time)

This call came after a doctor's office called and accused us of witholding a cancer patient's medication. We pulled the prescription and the medication wasn't written on the damned prescription! How is that OUR fault? They didn't believe us. We had to fax the rx BACK to the doctor's office to prove it! Why on earth would we lie about that? They did not apologize when they discovered that the error was indeed theirs. Not that I expected any different....

In other news, Raven is fascinated with the recycle box.

Ciao

Black Tomato

Saturday I worked at a place with restricted internet. This means I had a fair bit of knitting time, as it wasn't very busy. Thus there was visible progress on my Black Tomato.

I have joined for in the round and am zooming along! Yippee!

ciao

While I Was Waiting

For the Knitpicks needle that is, I had to cast on something else. Since the mitred square thing is getting pretty old pretty quick. So, since winter IS approaching, I decided to knit myself a pair of the FiberTrends felted clogs. I got the sole done on the first one before the new needle showed up.

I grabbed the first 2 skeins from the stash that would felt. Oddly enough, the colours work together pretty well. Not that I was going to be picky for a pair of house slippers.

Whether that is enough for a pair, remains to be seen. I have small feet. There is more feltable wool in the stash. So slipper #2 might be more multicoloured. Time will tell.

I'm off to play with the Black Tomato.

Ciao

It's Here!

The replacement tip came from Knitpicks last night! Yay! Knitting will commence.

In other news,

I went fishing the other day and caught a big one!
Ciao

Ooooh!

Quad

Tired of seeing mitred squares yet? I am....So, I am going to show them to you anyway! Bwahaha. Okay, that's a pretty weak ebil laugh, but it's all I can muster right now.

I actually quite like the colours of the latest square:

I am a little peeved at my delivery person for the flyers in my area. normally, I get a bundle of flyers once a week. In this bundle is a flyer for Michael's craft store. With a coupon for 40% off stuff. I rarely use it, as I am not going to buy stuff jsut because it was cheap. This week, I could have used it. Naturally this is the week my delivery person fucked off. What do I need. you ask? See the following picture?

Blocking pins! I only have enough to do 3 squares at a time. Which means it is going to take weeks to block them out at that rate. So I need to get more pins. Just for giggles, I started blocking them yesterday. Even at 3 at a time, it'll mean those 3 are done, right? RIGHT???

At the moment I can't leave the house. I am waiting for the fridge repair guy to come by. Last week the temp in the fridge went up to 48 degrees. Correct temp for a fridge is 33-38F. (why yes, I have a thermometer in my fridge. Doesn't everyone?) We had to crank the thermostat in the fridge almost to the top setting to get it down to where it should be. It still hovers around 38. Not too high, but certainly almost too high. Anyway, when we bought the fridge, we got a package whereby we get a free service call once a year until 2012, I think it was. So this is my call. The irritating part is that the time window they gave for the service call was 8-4pm. So I had to make sure I was up and dressed (sweatpants is dressed, right?) and have my hearing aids in so I can hear the guy when he comes by. If he comes by this morning. When I am normally ,on my days off, still in my pj's and bathrobe, with uncombed hair and no hearing aids.

Sigh. The joys of adulthood.

ciao

Fingernail Friday

That's right! Time for the September 26th edition of Fingernail Friday!

Have a good weekend!

Filling Time

I did take some progress pictures of my Black Tomato before the needle disaster struck So, since there isn't a whole lot else going on, here they are!

I'm liking it. Which is why I'm irritated at the enforced delay.

God, grant me patience. And I want it right now.

ciao

Disaster Strikes!

I was working on my Black Tomato when disaster struck!

The wood needle pulled out of it's metal end! I saved the stitches, fortunately. Unfortunately, when I tried to Crazy Glue the tip back in, some glue must have gotten on the threads and now the tip does not screw into the cable. Knitpicks is sending me a new one. Yay! That does mean Tomato is on hold for the nonce. Boo.

I guess I should finish the hubbunny's boot liners then.....

Ciao

I am Square

Ta da! The latest square. Of 60. Sigh.....

I haven't taken a picture of the Black Tomato yet. At least, not a decent picture. By the time I have gotten home this week, the light is gone. Flash pics of black yarn=not so nice pictures. So y'all will have to wait. Ha! I'm a big tease.

Leaf Floating in the Pond

More accurately, the Leaf TankTop took a dip in the frog pond. I pulled it out to fix the decreases and realized that I didn't like the fabric. It was too dense for a tank top. So, it went from this:

To this:

I have some Berocco Denim Silk in the stash. I might try the Leaf Tank with that next time. But for the moment, I cast on for a second Tomato top from no Sheep for You. I wear the first one I made a lot, and there is enough of the yarn I just frogged for it, so that's what it will be. I had a couple of other ideas, but the swatch just wouldn't cooperate, so Tomato it is!

At the moment it is literally 2 rows, so, no pic of that yet. Maybe tomorrow, or the day after.....

Fingernail Friday

Today is our next installment of Fingernail Friday. Today we have a pretty, feminine design.
(with espresso cup, if you are wondering about the scale)

I'm Rich! I'm Rich!

I got this email today.

URGENT NOTIFICATION TO THE OWNER OF THIS EMAIL ADDRESSDear Internet User,We are pleased to inform you of the result of the E-LOTTERY NL. InternetPromotional Draws. All email addresses entered for this promotional draws wererandomly inputted from an internet resource database using the SynchronizedRandom Selection System (SRSS).Your email address was selected in the Category "A? with ReferenceNumber NL 80OS 9414 Batch Number: 444821545-NL/2008 and Ticket Number: PP 3812 /2008-03,and this qualifies you to be the recipient of the grand prize award sum of$2,500,000 (Two million, five hundred thousand dollars).The payout of this cash prize to you will be subject to the final validationsand satisfactory report that you are the bonafide owner of the winning emailaddress.In line with the governing rules of claim, you are required toestablish contact with your designated claims agent via email ortelephone withthe particulars below:Name: Mr. Robert WilliamsPhone: +31 64 544 9390Email: robertwilliams008@yahoo.cnYou are advised to call the Claims agent for confirmation or provide thefollowing information for processing the payment of your cash award.DATA PROFILENames:Telephone/Fax number:Nationality:Age:Occupation:Winning Reference Number:Failure to complete the claims of your cash prizeafter 14 days of this notice will result in the revision of award. Hence, youshould commence your claims process immediately, by contacting theclaims agent(Mr. Robert Williams) who would be guiding you through the Claims process.Congratulations on your Winning Prize and we look forward to completing yourpayout soon.Yours Faithfully,Dougherty MildredLottery Co-ordinator.N.BKINDLY RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL EITHER BY CONATCTING US VIA TELEPHONE OR SEND ANEMAIL TO robertwilliams008@yahoo.cn----------------------------------------------------------------This message was sent using Manhattan College Webmail.http://www.manhattan.edu

Riiiiight. The Netherlands want to give me money. And they use a Manhattan College Webmail address as their main server and a hotmail address as a contact number. This looks like it is on the up and up. I'll send them all my personal info right away. After all, I'm tired of having any money. (wait, I have money? From where?) I'll just let them have my money. (where am I getting this idea. Clearly I am delusional) Surely they wouldn't rip me off. It's a government, they don't rip people off. (okay, that's it. Clearly I have lost the 2 brain cells that I had that were still functioning. ) Wait, the Netherlands pays their lottery winnings in dollars? Cool, that will make the exchange easier. Wait, is that American dollars of Canadian? Hang on, the email is from Manhattan so it would be American dollars. Hmmm, how's their currency right now? Do I want it in American dollars? How many Canadian dollars would that be...l;ksdlkffhjjsp

Hi folks, my momma haz lost her mind, I haz bumped her off the computer and am sending her into the kitchen to open up a can of tuna for me.

~Raven

Yark!

Today at work, the technician called across the dispensary, "pharmacist, this one's for you. Line 1!"
Here is the conversation:

Me: Pharmacist speaking, how can I help you?
Person on the phone (PP): my crotch hurts.
Me: Pardon? (thinking I had heard it wrong)
PP: My crotch hurts.
Me: Ummmm, did you drop something on it?
PP:No, there's like,a bump, but I can't see it. I feel it.
Me: (thinking "ickyickyickyicky!!!!!") try putting some Polysporin on it. Sounds like you have a pimple or a cyst.
PP: I tried that but it made it worse.
Me: (thinking how does Polysporin make it worse? Don't want to know. REALLY don't want to know) Perhaps you should call your doctor and get them to look at it.
PP: I did , but they can't see me today. If I come in, can you...
Me: (Very hastily) No NO! That's okay. There's nothing else I ca do for you without getting a prescription from your doctor.
PP: Oh, okay. Bye.

I was so grossed out. Totally icked. I was ready to yark. So I thought I'd share it with all of you.

Hee!

Winter Prep

Damn it. Summer is pretty much over. Which means winter is coming. Which means that the boot liners I promised my hubbunny had better make an appearance soon. Unfortunately, the last time I made him a pair, I didn't keep notes. So I had to wing it.

Version 1:

The heel was too shallow and it looked too tight to me. So, version 2:

This appears to be a winner. So I wrote down what I did in my journal so I won't have to do that again!

I think I will felt up version 1, stuff it, add catnip and give it to Raven. Can't let the toy supply get low.

Thank you momma! I will leave the cones of yarnz alone for a little longer-Raven

I Didn't Quite Think it Through

Hmm, Fingernail Fridays only works if I got my nails done since the last one. Since I get my nails done every couple of weeks, it will be Alternate Fingernail Fridays, I think....Or I could just say I forgot. Oooh, look, shiny...

Raven is a little young to be this cynical, but hey, whatcha gonna do?

Mitred Company

So, my lonely multi-mitre has some company now. I am still way far away from any kind of completion on this project. It would help if life kept not throwing me curveballs to mess with my knitting time. Like food poisoning. However, such is life, I will perservere. Here's how far I have gotten:

I have not actually counted how many to do still. I'm afraid I might do something foolish like run out into the street with my metal dpns yelling "how many squares??? How many squares? HOW MANY SQUARES!!!!" and get all stabbity on the lawn. While that might get me into the psych ward for an evaluation and away from work, I suspect not much useful knitting would get done as they would probably sedate me to the eyeballs.

I probably ought to go knit some more squares now.

Ciao

Be Careful What You Wish For.....

You just might get it.

When asked what my plans for this Labour day weekend, my response was the same it usually is,"hopefully, not leaving the house at all". You see, I absolutely hate trying to shop or get anything done this weekend of the year. It's worse than the Christmas season. Why? Back to school. This is the weekend parents will be charging through the stores like maddened oxen trying to decide if they need the Doris the Exploder lunchbox or the Trashformers backpack. This is the weekend all the parents are trying to make Susie or Johnny decide what shoes they need for gym. This is the weekend the teenagers go out to buy their first day of school outfit.

Even the grocery store is a zoo. Parents trying to decide what to pack in their kids lunches swamp the store. This is complicated by the fact that there is huge recall on lunch meat due to a listeriosis outbreak in one of the larger meat packing plants in Ontario. Since many if not all schools are peanut free zones, that sharply reduces lunch options. I predict that there will be many sales of thermoses (thermi?) for soup today and tuna sandwiches tomorrow.

Then, just to put the icing on the cake, I live in a university town. This is also the weekend many proud but nervous parents are moving their beloved childer into dorms and rental housing. The area around the university is chaos. Fortunately, I don't live there. However, The Walmart and Zellers, will be worse as the parents run out to pick up the last few items they forgot to pack (can openers, toilet paper...) Alas, the only Walmart and Zellers in this town are around the corner from my house. Which means traffic is a disaster.

(This, by the way, is why my folks, after my first year of university, would pay a little extra to move in a day or 2 early. We would come up on the Wednesday or Thursday before Labour day,drop the boxes in the middle of the room and go home. Then, on Labour day, I would take the train in and spend a leisurely day unpacking. Much less stressful. )

Moving on. I have also in the past commented that I should lose a few pounds.

How is all this connected to "be careful what you wish for"?

Saturday morning. Early Saturday morning I woke up with gawdaful belly cramps. They continued unabated for a few hours. Then, dinner from the previous night made a reappearance. From, um, both ends. Yuck. I had/have food poisoning. Fortunately, over the last couple of days, I have gotten better. I don't have a fever, muscle aches or a headache. Which is something you have when you have listeriosis. I feel almost normal this morning (Monday). But for the last 2 days I have eaten almost nothing. Saturday I slept around the clock. Thank goodness for the hubbunny. He brought me water to drink. If I had to get out of bed and go down the stairs, I wouldn't have made it. That's how sick I was. Sunday,my diet consisted of water, 2 slices of bread, plain, 2 small bunches of grapes, a handful of rice with a dab of butter on it and 4 crackers. I weighed myself today and have lost 5 pounds. I'm sure most of that is simply being completley empty and slightly dehydrated. If I drink too much water, my delicate tummy rebels.

So I got my wishes. I stayed in all weekend. I didn't even get dressed. I lost some weight. I think the fates are rather cruel. Or at least, have a twisted sense of humour.

In closing,this is pretty much what my family did this weekend:

Sleep!