Monday, April 28, 2008

FO Report

It's time for a Finished Object Report, as I've not had one in a little while.

I finished this sweater for Mom's 88th birthday this month, and she says she loves it. The yarn is Rowan's Summer Tweed "Rush," an oatmeal-colored Aran-weight mixture of 70% silk and 30% cotton. I used a pattern from Rowan's pattern book, which I purchased at the same time I got the yarn...in 2000, on a trip to Scotland with Missy M. The yarn is a lovely color, but it's rough on the fingers...had to keep the hand cream handy on this one! I actually completed the knitting in early 2004 (as my "recovery project" following surgery), but I had put the pieces aside until I got around to blocking and sewing. Well, I finally got in the mood (!) to f-i-n-i-s-h it earlier this year [after my New Year's inventory of unfinished objects (UFO's)]...and following a great Finishing Techniques class I took late last year at Knit and Caboodle. When she saw the finished sweater, Mom said she really, really wanted this one. As it didn't have any wool (she's allergic), the match was made in knitter's heaven, don't you think? I got a pretty button at Knitch on a recent trip to Atlanta for the single buttonhole (I added that, as the pattern didn't call for one). Mom wore it with a lovely ice-blue mock turtleneck tee, and she and the sweater looked beautiful. Take the picture!

Another FO for the books is this afghan (left) that I made for my cousin's recent wedding in AZ. Like they'll need an afghan in Phoenix! Oh well...it's the thought that counts, right? I had checked out their selections online to get an idea of their colors, and red and beige seemed to be a theme. So, I used three colors of Red Heart worsted weight yarn: aran (an off-white), linen, and burgundy. As I've said before, this pattern is one of my all-time favorites, as the afghan is knit on size US10.5's in strips which are easy to travel with. So, some of these strips were knit on trips to ATL...some on trips to doctors' offices, etc...and a couple on our trip to Ireland. A well-traveled project, wouldn't you agree?

And, last but certainly not least, meet Miss Candice Bunny. I adapted a Berroco pattern and made her for Missy M's Easter Basket, using some Linen worsted weight yarn for the main color, and adding some Moda Dea's Dream (soft and fuzzy) yarn in pink (for the ears) and white (for the paw-pads and tail). I used some Fun Fur yarn in "Cotton Candy" which became her scarf. Black buttons for eyes and some pink DMC thread for her nose...and voila! One of a kind, for sure!! Missy M makes the cute, cute, cutest knitted bears for others, so I wanted to knit something for her.

Oh, and I almost forgot this little project I completed (left). I took a class last year on a trip to ATL at my favorite out-of-town "local" yarn shop, The Yarn Garden in Lawrenceville, GA. We got Tube Crochet Learning kits from Beads East and learned how to crochet a beaded bracelet. I had just attended an excellent STL Guild meeting on knitting with beads, so the timing was perfect. Although I am a self-taught crocheter (sp?), with a little guidance and the right crochet hook (#10 steel - a teeny-tiny little thing), my bracelet turned out pretty well for a first effort...I like it. The beauty of this is that I can make bracelets to fit my pudgy wrists...yee-haw! I bought a couple more kits which I look forward to working on for summer projects...beads are cool, in more ways than one!

Also finished on my recent trip to Louisville...a pair of Powder Blue socks in Panda Cotton for Mom for Mother's Day. I got some pretty buttons while I was in AZ that I'm using as embellishments...as soon as I get those sewn on, I'll snap a photo.

So, what's on the needles right now? I'm working on another afghan...for another cousin's upcoming wedding. The couple is also in AZ, but what the heck? I've got a tradition going here!

I'm also starting another pair of socks with some Maizy yarn (mostly made of corn fibers). I bought this yarn last year at The Yarn Garden in Lawrenceville. It's a pretty varigated yarn in browns, teals, and a soft peachy-pink.

And, I'm eager to get started on that shawl-collared cardigan for Mr. T. I take the yarn out and pet it on (nearly) a daily basis...it's so soft! But, if the weather ever turns warm...and stays that way...it will likely be too hot to work with. Of course, since we had sleet earlier today...with a frost warning for tonight...I shouldn't be too worried about it being too warm, huh?

Time to get the sticks clicking!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

A Tribute to Charley

He was found wandering in Cordova, TN, by the (then) West Tennessee Basset Rescue group...about the same time that Missy M (who lived in an apartment in Cordova then) was hoping to find just the right dog to come live with her. It had to be a special dog...one that could be happy being quiet while M studied, or who could be relaxed enough to stay alone while she was at work (sometimes late). She had already tried an adoption with Elmo...who turned out to have many issues, including severe separation anxiety, and who needed to be in a multi-dog household...and naturally, she was a bit leery of going that route again. Still, the Basset Rescue lady was persuasive: "just take him on a two week trial period." And, so...a fantastic relationship was born. Charley was everything that Missy M had hoped for...and then some...and they were a perfect pair.

Charley loved rawhide chew-bones...almost too much at times...and he knew exactly where his treats were kept. He was an "inside dog," and he never wanted to be outside for too long...he did his business and was ready to come inside...now! Still, he was always ready to go get the pizza...or get Chinese...and he understood what those words meant, too. He hated thunderstorms...hated them. He loved his purple blankie...especially if it was in a certain position on M's bed. Other than getting up on the bed at night, he didn't jump on the furniture...never seemed comfortable on a sofa or chair, even if you put him there. He loved his dinner...was usually a member of the clean bowl club...in record time. He was a regular camel about water...lap, lap, lap. He had the longest tongue you could imagine...and he would sometimes let the very tip-end of it peep out of his mouth when he was asleep. He was so cute!

They had about 2 1/2 years together, enjoying each other's company and enriching each other's lives. Then, just as suddenly as he had come into her life, he was taken from it. Charley crossed over the Rainbow Bridge early last Thursday morning, a month or so after he had dislocated his neck and shoulder. The emotions of having to say goodbye are still raw and right on the surface...and the tears are still flowing. This is the most difficult part of opening your heart to a pet...when they are gone, there is such a huge hole that has to heal.

Dear Charley, we are all better off for having known you. You will certainly be missed.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Where in the World is...?

Did you ever play that game, Where in the World is Waldo? He's my hero!!

So, here I am, in a most unlikely spot, at the Grand Canyon! I went to AZ last weekend for the wedding of my first-cousin-once-removed...and since I was in the same state with one of the "wonders of the world"...and since I had my camera with me...well, it was only natural to change my plans a wee bit and GO!

I was inspired by a friend, who was visiting with us recently as she and her husband were making a move across the country from one coast to the other. She was driving their car and left our house, intent upon driving to the Canyon. I thought..."how exciting!" Then I thought..."you nut, you're going to AZ later on this month...you too could see the Canyon, with just a couple of changes in your plans." And, that's exactly what happened.

I got there the afternoon before (Sunday) and scoped out Mather Point (not too far from the South Rim entrance, where the above pic was taken), which was supposed to be a great place to view the sunrise over the Canyon. I checked the sunrise time (on the Park's excellent website) and left a 5:00 a.m. wake-up call (which didn't come until 5:10). Fortunately, I had trouble sleeping, so I got up even earlier...got dressed in the warmest clothes that I'd brought...grabbed my clapotis shawl that Missy M had knitted for me, and that I had worn to the wedding...and headed to the Point to catch the sunrise...without that first cup of coffee, I might add. Here's the photo I took as the sun peeked into the Canyon:

And here I am, freezing my ears off...swathed in the shawl that I was thanking heaven for at that moment, taking a self-snapped pic, just to prove I was there at sunrise (over my right ear). Oh my goodness, it was cold! In the twenties, someone said. Snow was still visible in spots. Brrr! Then, I hopped in the car to dash back to the hotel for that coffee and breakfast, a hot shower, pack my bag, and hot-foot it back to the Phoenix airport. Made it...with "plenty" of time to spare! It was a fun weekend, all the way around.


I hadn't been to AZ in a long, long time, and I remembered very little other than the high number of cactii...and the low number of big trees (like oaks). That much hasn't changed, except there were fewer cactii...and they were further out from the "city." And, there certainly is a lot more "city" than in 1965!

I had mapped out a before-the-wedding, Saturday morning yarn shop crawl, but instead of visiting 3 shops, I made it to two...and an Indian reservation. Blame it on Google Maps...I did! Still, I found the most bea-u-ti-ful baby alpaca-blend yarn called Highlander from Alpaca With a Twist, in a rich red tweed called Tartan Red for Mr. T's Shawl-collared Sweater. Found this yarn at Arizona Knitting and Needlepoint in Scottsdale (photo to left). I went all the way to AZ to buy a yarn that is from Georgetown, IN! I've already swatched it and love, love, love the way it is knitting up. I also bought some lovely sunshine-yellow lace-weight yarn at Fiber Factory in Mesa.

Still, I have to say that the most fun was had at the wedding reception, and then the brunch on Sunday. I enjoyed a wonderful time with cousins that I so rarely get to see. [It certainly helped at the reception that I was receiving text messages from home on the score of the Final Four games (Memphis beat UCLA...oh happy day!)] I wish the bride and groom all the very best...and I am glad that I got the opportunity to share in their joy.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

The Wettest March in Over 6 Decades

"It's raining, it's pouring..." Yep, that's what we've been singing around here lately. Yesterday, I had my doubts about whether we'd ever get a break in the weather: rain, thunderstorms, more rain, wind, more rain, hail, more rain, lightening, more rain, tornado warnings, and still more rain. It spoiled opening day for the Cardinals...postponed until today. The fountain on the deck is at the tippy-top, ready to overflow if another drop falls. The pond is so full, that I can look out of the kitchen door and see the fish swimming about (!)...but, unfortunately, the level will drop back down due to some itty, bitty hole in the liner that we need to repair. Fortunately, we seem to have graduated to partly cloudy today...only a slight chance of precip today and tomorrow. Fingers crossed...toes, too!

All of this rain reminds me of our recent trip to Ireland. I thought I'd post a couple of collages that I created from the mountain of photos we took. The one on the right is of scenes that we loved: the sea between the mainland and the Blasket Islands, the River Nore in County Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher (center), and sheep...lots of sheep...all over Ireland!

The collage to the left is of us, of course...having a good time on our trip. And we did...have a great time!

Of course, we are still feeling GREAT, as we are celebrating around our house: the Memphis Tigers are in the Final Four!!! Go Tigers Go! It's been a long time (1985) since we made it this far, and we are thoroughly enjoying the moment. We play UCLA on Saturday, April 5th...about the same time I'll be attending the wedding of a cousin in AZ. Hmmmm....I wonder if I slip out to find a TV, if they will even miss me? Do you suppose I could slip a web-enabled cell phone inside?? We'll see...

I've been working on another afghan for another cousin's upcoming wedding (on July 4th). The pattern is imprinted into my brain, as I have been knitting these afghans for years...and years...and years. The first one I made was for Mom in either 1978 or '79, from a Bernat kit, and I liked it so much that I kept the instructions... and have used them over and over. As I've said before, the afghan is knit using US 10's, on worsted weight yarn (I use acrylic, because you certainly want an afghan to be easy-care and washable) in 7-8 strips (depending on how many color combinations are desired) then joined together (I like to crochet them together now, since I learned how; I used to sew them together...and hated that part of the project). I can easily work on a strip on long trips or short breaks. I can almost do this pattern without looking...but not quite. I was knitting away, while the Tigers were beating up on Texas last Saturday, completely engrossed in the game...and I realized that I'd made one of those mistakes that just keeps compounding itself. Oops! Had to take out about 18 rows to straighten out the problem.

I'm eager for major league baseball season to get here, since I can turn on a game without getting too involved (I find most of a baseball game to be b-o-r-i-n-g) and knit something that requires more concentration...a more intricate pattern, etc. I can't seem to do that with college basketball...or college football, either. I do think that the Stitch 'n Pitch folks are really onto a great idea...:)

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