*Knit, Rip, Repeat*

It's been a while, again.

Well, it's been a while, again.  Life's like that, I guess.  There's been SO much that I've thought of blogging about didn't...at least not yet.  There's been celebrations, graduations, awards, knitting, flowers, garden stuff and work-related stress. Good news, bad news and everything inbetween. 

A brief taste of what's what of late:

C at his graduation:

   

K at her celebration:

Garden and flowers:

 

 Sampling of knitting and knitting friends:

      

(All details on the knitting can be found on Ravelry)

This posting thing takes WAY to long...I've only done this much and its already been almost an hour...

Till next time...

I'm still alive...so far

Yes, I agree it has been a long time since last I post.  There it is.  Next...

Life has been, well, "life".  Thanksgiving 2009 was amazing, love my family and all their quirks. Nathan, my youngest bro's youngest child has become an official member of our family, he is SO cute! K's birthday and then Christmas were great, also.  New Year's was cool, to see my older bro, who had a heart attack last New Years-ish at the youthful age of 43, was tops in my book...and the Margarita's at Lori's were fun! The Boston Wine Expo was a major success this year,lots of really good wines out there.

Work has been, well, work.  Some amazing people have died from their cancer and have left my heart feeling empty in places, other new people have come and help to make my work feel worthwhile.(grammar check...I'm not sure how to fix the previous statement.)  I've said this many times, I really love my job and what I do; it's not easy, but my job is not to save lifes but to help add "life" to lives while there is still "life".  At least that is how I see it.  Add comments, please, I value what you have to say. :)

On the home front, DH Mike is a treasure, I am truly blessed to have him. C and K are amazing.  C has been accepted to all 6 of his college choices, UNE with a $12,000/year scholarship and Springfield Colege with a $10,000/yr scholarship.  Quinnipiac University was "not able to accomodate " his Physician's Assistant application but said "yes" to the BS in Health Science request. This was the only disappointment for C.  He has decided on Springfield College (SC).  He will do amazingly well there! It seems to speak to all that C is.  The sports, the education, the environment/layout, the "spirit, mind, body" theme, the community service...and he'll get a nice scholarship also.  Huge Congratulations to him!  I am very, very proud! 

On the needles...well this year seems to prove the title of this blog very well.  Knit, Rip, Repeat.  Need I say more?  Everything I've started this year has needed to be significantly ripped and reknitted or frogged and restarted many times or both.  UGH!!! 

Here's the scoop:K's socks:

The first version of this sock, whick was to be a Christmas present for K, was too big!  The shoe is my size 7 LLBean Mary Janes.  Though her feet are a little bigger than mine, they are not monsterous!

Here are the new pair.  She loves them and they fit good.  The graft on the first sock of this pair was amazing! The best I've ever done! Lots of learning going on...

Next, I knitted the thrummed mittens; The first attempt was too small, mitten was strangling my hand!  It was looking very nice as you can see, but when I got past the thumb and tried it on, my hand was dieing!  So I frogged, changed the needles and and cast-on and they turned out 

amazing!  They are super warm and fit well.  Part of the problem was the pattern, the other part is my being a tight knitter.

Then the Beret: I started and restarted this project more times then I counted.

It's official, Red wine and Lace don't mix, not does water and lace...I'm starting to think that nothing goes well with lace, but I'm not undaunted. I love this beret, and look forward to making more...

Now for the latest project...the triangle scarf.  This was started a few days before we went to Aruba and "finished" on Saturday Feb 27 in Aruba.  I knitted like a fiend in Aruba and when I came home and I realized there were problems...the bind off was too tight and the gauge was off in a major way.  UGH!   Last night at a Friday Night Knit at The Yarn and Fiber Co. in Derry, I ripped back a large portion and restarted...to make up for my gauge issues.  I hope I'm done with this project soon, I love the colors and feel of the yarn, and am wanting to wear the scarf very soon.  Details on all the knitting projects can be found on my projects page in Ravlery.  If not a member, please join! 

Well, that is all I have to say, at least for now... I must go knit...I have a few more projects on needles that I've not talked about.  I'll save them for a later time.

FYI, I've joined Facebook, probably one of the last people on the face of the earth to do so... look me up and say, "Hi."

Till next time...

I'm still here...

  Dec. 4, 2009:

Okay, so I failed at the NaBloPoMo thing, but I'm not undaunted.  I still have things to say, and well, there you go.  Here's what I've been up to:  EB has moved to Canada, and I made these mitts for her:

When she saw my mitts , she said that she wanted a pair for herself, and because I can and she's a special person to everyone in the clinic, I made her these mitts. I started Nov 18, but by 11/22 morning I only had about 1/3 of one mitt completed.  So that day I did some serious knitting. Noro Kureyon, US 8, 2 circulars, a little more than half a skein each, Pattern: Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes.  I finished these with all the tails sewn in on Wednesday morning at 3am.  Gosh I was tired that day!! 

Tuesday, Nov 22, I started putting together the candy plates for the neighbors. Spiced nuts, "White Trash", fudge, some Lindt truffles and Ferrero chocolates.  One of our neighbors has a daughter who's allergic to nuts, so I made her family a special plate that was nut free.

White Trash...white chocolate covered Chex Cereal, pretzels, and nuts.  Yum!! 

Finished plate (nutty) for one of my neighbors.

Chocolate covered  pretzels.  I must work on my drizzle technique.  I've not the talent that K has. She does an most amazing job! 

 After arriving home on Wednesday from work, I delivered the plates, then got ready for the Thanksgiving festivities.  That night my sister, mother, K and I made all the usual fixings for the next days.  We had 13 for Thursday, 15 for Friday, and saw the movie "Blind Side".  GREAT movie!!  Everyone was gone by Saturday. 

On the needles:  Since finishing EB mitts I've been focused on finishing RSP #2.  To date I have 11 more inches till I'm completely done.  It'll happen this weekend, it has to.  Then a quick wash/block and off to  Orphan Foundation of America. 

Tomorrow:  Christmas decorating, knitting and more knitting.  K has a hoop game at 6:00, cool.

Till tomorrow...

Day 23, Charity starts at home...

I've been knitting for about 2 years now, maybe a little bit more then two years, and one of the most heart warming feelings I get come from giving my hand knit projects away.  Not just to anyone, but  knitted specifically for a person.  I feel that while I'm knitting the gift, I'm entangling good thoughts, warm wishes, prayers and love into each and every knit/purl stitch I make.  I envision the person using the object, whether a cloth or mitt, and feeling the same heart warming sensation I did while I was making the gift.  This year I decided to knit for the Red Scarf Project.  I was inspired by the concept of helping others who are trying to help themselves...the scarfs are for college students who have aged out of the foster system and are doing the college thing on their own.  They receive the scarves around Valentine's Day, along with a gift card and a note on encouragement.  How cool is that!  I hoped to send in 3 scarves but I think I'll be lucky to send in two.  Here they are:

Lisa's Corrugator (Ravelry link)

Pattern: Corrugator

This knit kept my brain entertained the entire time.  I love the drape and squishiness of this scarf.  I can't wait to make one for me. :)  I put fringe on the scarf, I love the way it contrasts with the straight ribs of the pattern.  Very fun and flirty. :)

Scarf number 2: Lisa's One Row Scarf

I'm about 40% done with this project...I find it a little boring, though I love the color, very sofisticated. I'm hoping the yarn blooms a bit in the  wash. 

Well there you have it.  I will tell you that the Red Scarf Project was hoping on receiving 3000 scarves this year, but only have about half that amount.  So go to the Red Scarf Project Link from above, pick out a pattern, grab your needles and yarn and get to work people!  We've got some knitting to do. :) 

Till tomorrow...

The celebration continues...

I feel SUPER excited about yesterday's State Championship win, I'm continuing the celebration into today.  Check out these sites...Nashua Telegraph, and Eagle Tribune, and this.  There are more articles on the game, but I didn't want to flaunt the win more than necessary. :) 

Let's try this... 

Hopefully the link above will show #23 on top of the pile just before the second half of the game.  That's my C!! :)

 

 

 

More pictures of the game...

 

 

 

 

Good sportsmenship...the shaking of the hands.

 

 

 

 

 

Personal trophies of the win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Names of the Salem Blue Devil Players...there's number #23! 

 

 

 

 

Amazing memories.

TIll tomorrow...

And the Winner is...

 

Salem Blue Devils !!!! 

YEAH! In honor of the Divison I State Championship win, enjoy this victory song by one of my favorite groups ever.

Salem High School (SHS) Blues Devil Football team had a less then winning season last year with a 4 to 6 record.  I don't even remember if we made it to the playoff.  But this is a different year, with many very good seniors taking the leadership roll and many more very good underclassmen for support. 

Before the season started, I was fund-raising for the team, going around to my neighbors looking for support for equipment and the like.  One neighbor jokingly said that he'd be very happy to sponsor the team if we went 10 and 0.  He didn't mention anything about the finals.  Well, the season ended with 9 consecutive wins and 1 loss.  The very last game of the season against Manchester Central, we got our *arses* handed to us in a 42 to 7 game.  All the other games we won by huge numbers, not the last one.  We had already clinched the first seed in the finals, so it was nice that the only thing hurt in the loss was our pride.

I have to tell you that I'm very happy for C and the team.  He's played 4 years of High School football and has made many fabulous memories becasue of his involvment.  To end his HS football playing career on such an amazing high like State Champions, is tops. :) :) Here are some pix of the game...

The weather was nice, with a temperature of upper 40s to low 50s. The breeze was cool and blustery at times. These boys were very much into the school spirit.

Who needs cheerleaders when you have these guys. :) 

They were very entertaining! Willling to pose for the picture.

Okay...the picture links all of a suddened stopped, thanks Typepad.  I was going to show you the T-Shirts commemorating the win and other pictures of the game but Typepad has other plans.  So, I'll just leave it at that.    What did you do on your Saturday?

Day 21...and counting...

Till tomorrow...

Day 20...Eye Candy Friday

This picture was taken two days ago, with the Nikon.  As the picture is taken, the camara makes a faint "beep" which scares the birds away, except for those that are more hungry than freighten. 

 

The picture came out blurry, I wonder why?  I thought I did everything correct, point, half depress the button, shoot...still more to learn.

Till tomorrow...

(WIP)s Wednesday...day 18

There has been a lot of knitting going on in this house...one can tell by the amount of dirt on the floors, and well, everywhere.  But hey, I knit to stay out of jail, so far so good, and to make warm and cool things.  Being a slow knitter with a hughmonguos knitting appetite, and to do list, I'm trying a few new strategies...multiple (WIP)s. I'm getting good at the long-tail cast on with all the new projects I've recently started.  I've also finished some  projects, scan down to other posts for details on the FOs.

Here's a little glimpse into the knitting addiction. Did I say addiction?  I did. (Freudian slip?)...More on this later.

This is my Quant,  using left over Wisdom Yarns Poems from Rose's Mitts.   There are mods, CO 15, no I-cord, going to use a button for the closure.  I like the way it's coming out, the technique/stitch is interesting, enough to keep my brain entertained.

 I makeing

This is the start of my very first vest...and my first official swatch.  The pattern calls for two sts per inch, I get 2.5 to 3.  Need to change the needle size from US 15 to a US 17, and re-swatch... bummer.

A person who I've cared for at work is leaving the country.  Her Visa is expiring, she has been out of work for about 3 months, running out of money...and needs to go home to Canada.  Hopefully she'll be able to continue treatment there...Today I showed her my mitts and headband, and she loved them.  I decided to make her a pair of the mitts and a matching headband, Calorimetry if I have time.  I really love the color of the Noro Kureyon, I hope she does too.

Her last day at the clinic is next Wednesday...I hope to be done in time.  I've about 4 to 5 other WIPs, you'll just have to check them out on Ravelry, or wait till tomorrow.

Till tomorrow...

 

t

Nothing always goes as planned...

Last night I did stay up till about 1:30am, I was outside for about 15 to 20  minutes watching for the meteors to start to fall.  Nothing.  I took some pictures of what I saw, beautiful night sky with the constellations Orion, Casseiopia and others twinkling next to the planet (I don't know which planet it is, but it is sweet.)  What appeared n my camara, I used the d90 was blank, dark and black.  Apparently I have a lot more learning to do to understand and figure out how to shoot shooting stars.  I think it is a lighting issue, an apperature thingy thing.  Safe the faint hum of RT 93 and my neighbors very bright front porch lights, last night was so nice, calm, quiet, and peaceful.

Tonight this is what we had for dinner:

good ol' pizza and beer. The Stella Artois is a very tasty Belgium beer, in the lager style.  Reminded me so much of Germany.  I lived there from 1978 to 1981, because my dad was in the Air Force. And when in Germany, one drinks the German beer, and I did, yes, I did.

Till tomorrow...

Day 17...tomorrow it's all about the knit.

Passing the time

Leonid Meteor showers tonight, are you up for the viewing?  I'm trying real hard to stay awake...I remember years, many years ago, I woke C and K up to view the meteors very early in the morning. Brrr, and it was cold, but fantastic.  If I see any I'll try to take pictures....in the mean time, I'll work on my Quant.  (Ravelry link, no picture yet, just good solid information.)

Till tomorrow...

Day 16 in a row!  BAM!