Tangles

Actual knitting content today

I finished crocheting the Hexagon afghan, but had a bit of an incident after washing.  Repairs will need to be made but not right now and I don't want to talk about it, so there.

The 52 PairPlunge II started today.  The challenge is to make 52 pairs of sock in the next 12 months.  I won't make it unless I do lots of kid-sized socks for CIC.  My first sock of the challenge year is almost finished--picture to follow later today.  Sign-ups are now closed, but you can still play along for fun. This isn't a race, but a personal challenge thing.

I haven'te posted before, but I've been ordering yarn from Eat.Sleep.Knit for several months.  I found this online shop from an ad on Ravelry and things haven't been the same for my bank account since.  Erin is holding a very clever promotion called the Yarnathon.  Yards of yarn purchase are racked up and special little incentives and discounts doled out at set intervals.  Erin give great customer service and ships in record time.  You can also earn free yarn by linking to her site--but, I would link to Eat.Sleep.Knit even if extra yardage for the marathon wasn't involved.      

Secret Pal time again

I have signed up for the next round of the Secret Pal swap. Just finished updating my questionnaire and looking forward to getting my partner matchup.

I thought that the hexagon afghan would be finished today, but have decided that it needs to be at least one row wider. That means at least 11 more hex units need to be made up before I can call this one done. I'm not too happy about it, but will soldier onward and get this thing done soon. Here's a nifty new Ravelry tool to link you up to the project page for this afghan. Sorry if you aren't a member yet, but you should be if you are a yarn crafter!

Have I seen it all now?

I will admit to being surprised to see a stroller for cats. This woman was behind me in line at Petsmart this morning. She had two gorgeous white cats inside that contraption. I love my cats, but I draw the line at taking them shopping--sorry Oreo and Shorty, but I'm picking out the cat food without your assistance. I saw another woman with a little dog on a leash. She had this strapped to her chest:

Just a little slice of life here in the Real Orange County.

Yikes!

How can it be 2 months since my last post.  I really don't have any reason for the long absence.  I just haven't been in the right mood for posting, I guess.  I'm just going to start a list and hope that nothing important gets left out.

The Twist sweater is almost done.  The main body pieces are finished and waiting to be blocked and seamed.  I hope to get the blocking done this weekend.  I'm doing the collared version, so finishing shouldn't take long.

I started a pair of basic stockinette socks in a great yarn from Noelle's Noodles.  The colorway is a special edition designed for Eat.Sleep.Knit, one of my favorite yarn sellers.  I'm also working on a special top-secret project for my swap partner in the Loopy Ewe Swap.  The hexagon afghan is looking good--I'm about one third of the way finished.

I joined a knitting group!  We meet at a local Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shop on Tuesday nights.  It's been lots of fun getting know a nice group of knitting friends. 

At the end of this month, I'm taking a week of vacation.  My brother and part of his family will be visiting.  My vacation extends until June 2, which is the date for the Dodgers Stitch 'N Pitch night. 

The Project 365 photo series is going well, but I did forget to get one photo this year.  One oops in four months doesn't seem too bad, right?  Most of the other items on my 101 in 1001 list are stalled at about the same spot as the last update.

Thanks for hanging in there until the end of this long post.  I just have one more thing to put down on my list and it's a biggie--I'm getting a spinning wheel!  She's named Julia and you can read more about her right here.  This might be one of my crazier ideas.  My attempts at using a drop spindle and a Spindolyn have been less that successful, so I'm not sure what makes me think this will work.  I'm up to the challenge and determined to make some yarn, though, so wish me luck o.k?  UPS should deliver early next week and I will definitely post some photos.

Since I don't like to make a photoless blog post, here's a nice shot from Roger's Gardens last month:

Giant Catch-up Post

Did you think I disappeared again?  Apparently, I did.  I've been busy knitting and working and not much more.

I finished several charity projects in February.  Socks and vest for Children in Common, baby hats for afghans for Afghans and chemo cap going to Caps for the Cure. 

Still working on the Great American Afghan, the Hexagon Blanket and the Dream in Color cardigan.  I also joined a knitalong sponsored by The Loopy Ewe and started Twist in Dream in Color Classy.  This is a fun project!  I did make a cabling error last night and had to rip out 10 rows to make it right:

I also have the urge to make another Baby Surprise Jacket and wound some yarn last night.  I will use 2 shades of Classy for that one, too.  Just can't get enough Dream in Color.  In fact, I started a group on Ravelry for fans of DIC.  Sorry for the linkage if you aren't a member.

The 101 in 1001 list is coming along.  I just updated the official page to chart my progress.  One of my favorite things from the list is the Project 365 gallery.  I have taken a photo every day since January 1.  Sometimes it is just a quick shot of the parking lot when I get to work in the morning, but I'm trying to make them more interesting.

There must be a lot more to write about, but I can't remember the details.  My goal for the next few weeks is to post shorter, but more frequent updates.

Saturday check-in

Well, it's been too long again.  I've been knitting on a pair of Cookie A BFF socks this week.  The little cable pattern is really cute and pretty easy to work.

The yarn is Dream In Color Smooshy in the colorway In Vino Veritas. I love that yarn!

As you probably know, we've had a bit of rain the past few days.  Nothing to worry about here, but more is coming tonight and tomorrow. 

On the 101 in 1001 days front, I have updated the list with my progress on a couple of items.  The weight-loss plan is going great-I'm down 10 pounds since New Year's Day.  Most of the others will be gradually crossed off the list.

My plan for the weekend is to start BFF sock #2 and stay in out of the rain. 

Saturday, again

How did that week move so quickly!  I can't believe it's Saturday so soon.  Not that I'm complaining-things are very hectic at work and most nights are spent quietly knitting in the corner.

The cardigan is moving along nicely.  Almost time to start sleeves.  I received my first skeins of the new Dream in Color Smooshy yarn and that inspired me to make more pieces for the Hexagon Blanket.

The Project 365 album is coming along, too.  I took some shots of a spider web dripping with moisture from today's foggy morning.  Most of the rest of last week's photos are not that exciting-kinda like my life at times.

The 101 in 1001 list has a few updates.  5 pounds lost, $$ in the bank, calendar being looked at every day (I was not crazy about the 2007 calendar and stopped checking it more than once or twice a month to dump most of the pages) and book to plan a trip to Hawaii ordered.

Saturday

Happy Saturday!  Even though it was just 3 days of work, it sure seemed long.  So happy to see Saturday.  We had about an inch of rain last night and early this morning.  No problems and we sure needed the water.  Should be more coming tonight or tomorrow.

I've updated a few things on the 1001 list.  My weight loss is 4 pounds-yay!  I know it is mostly water weight and won't continue to come off so quickly, but still sounds good to me. 

I don't think there's been a post yet about my Great American Afghan project.  I started last week and have one square finished and two partials.  This is a fun project, but requires time for concentration.

Time to start the day--here are 2 cat photos from this morning:

Shorty drinking rain water from a stray plastic bag in the backyard.

Princess Oreo relaxing on her new pillow/throne.

New Year, New Me

So, today is the start of a new year.  I don't usually get too worked up about a new year, but something struck me this time.  I look forward to a year of improvement, physically and emotionally. 

This morning, I took a long walk at the Bolsa Chica wetlands and did some thinking about things to improve and what to get moving on.  Wish me luck. 

I will have a photo album of shots taken at the wetlands soon.  iPhoto isn't updating for some reason, but it will all work out eventually.  Everything's o.k. now, here's the link to the Bolsa Chica album.  Taking the optimistic route, I started another album of photos for the 365 challenge.  There were some photos taken in December as a test run, but this is the real thing.  Wish me luck, o.k?

Knitting-wise, I'm working on the Great American afghan project.  I haven't blogged about that one, but will in another post.

Happy New Year!!

Post holiday catch-up

Yes,  it's been a long time with no posting.  The holiday crunch really got to me this year.  I stressed over gift buying right up to the last minute, but everything turned out fine.

My brother, sister-in-law and two nephews were able to come across the country for Christmas for the first time in many years. We had fun, but they weren't able to stay as long as we all would have liked.  Pictures may be posted soon...

I'm starting back on my diet as of New Year's day--too much snacking on cookies and other carbs.  Losing weight is on my list of 101 Things in 1001 Days.  I wracked my brains for most of the evening to come up with a list of 101 things I want to do in the next 2.75 years.  Some things will be easy and a few may never happen, but I'm planning to have fun trying.

I've done my list as a separate page so the blog isn't clogged with such a long post.  Updates will happen as needed.