Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Ugly Hat



My daughter picked out some colors for a hat/scarf set she wanted. They are UGLY colors, a fact I mentioned to her many times during our shopping trip. However, she really wanted those colors, so I went ahead with the purchase.

After I started working on the hat, I was again repulsed by the combination and so my daughter and I had a discussion via email that went something like this:

Me: "Working on that hat for you. The colors are hideous. It looks like a
Charlie Brown hat. Wouldn't you rather do this with green/white? It would look sooooo much better... I love ya - even if you have questionable taste in colors!"

Her response: "I like it! lol"

Me: "I'm glad you do, 'cause you'll be the only one!"

Her: "...and I'll wear it in public! :)"

Me: "Just don't mention who made it. Really. :)"

Her: "...nah. I'll just say you made it and that I told you to."


My eyes are bleeding. Oh, the things we do for our children...

Monday, December 28, 2009

Cardio Cables

My friend Stephanie sent me an email today saying: "Get out your knitting needles. An afternoon of knitting can burn more than 500 calories (at a rate of about 100 an hour)". This totally made my day.

I'm seeing a whole new set of workout videos...

"Cardio Cables!"

"Now KNIT, knit, knit...and PURL! Lift those needles, ladies! Now take out your cable needle...cross that yarn!"

I think it could be a best-seller! Think of the workout outfits we could knit up...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Christmas Goose has Left the Building!

Christmas is over, the presents opened and the treats eaten. I actually finished the one UFO due yesterday but totally mangled the other, so I caught a nice after-Christmas sale to replace the item. Thank goodness for the post-Christmas sales!

My 19-year-old daughter has chosen the most gaudy-awful colors for a hat/scarf set she wants me to make - neon lime-green and black. I feel like we're back in the 80's with these colors! I'll do the project, but only under protest, and will be glad when she matures to like real colors!

Speaking of yarn, my friend Doris has made a New Year's Resolution to not buy yarn for 6 months and just use her stash. I don't think I could last that long, but I think I will try something more on the "use what I've got first before I buy more" line of thought. I've got too much stash (I know - I broke the cardinal knitter's sash rule and said it!), and so of course all the yarn stores around here are having absolutely fabulous sales today. I don't need anything, but it doesn't mean I'm not itching to get out there. We'll see how long I last...

Has anyone made any New Year's Resolutions yet? I'd love to hear them!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and I'm sitting here with not one but two UFO's. They're on the needles and ready to be finished. One is due Christmas morning and the other the day after Christmas. Why do I do this to myself?

Other plans today include baking more cookies (for kids and Santa) and maybe going to the mall later this evening to do some people-watching. Everyone scrambling around, frantically trying to find that last minute gift while I sit sipping some hot chocolate, feeling vastly superior because all my stuff was purchased and wrapped long ago. I'll be knitting, too, of course, scrambling around frantically trying to finish my UFO's. :) Oh, the things we set ourselves up for!

All my kids are home this year - I've got my Christmas wish. I hope all of you have a wonderful day tomorrow and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Saturday Stuff

My Saturday knitting group met at Linda's house yesterday. Linda is such a gracious hostess and we all had a wonderful time.

We have decided to do the techniques afghan and I've volunteered to do a cable pattern for one of the first patches. This means I will need to write a pattern, which is something I've never done before (yikes!). A little nervous about this and excited too. Doris will be doing a square for increases and decreases (making a pattern with the increasing and decreasing) - can't wait to see what she comes up with! (Can't wait to see what I come up with as well!) More on this project as it happens.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Update to the Update

I no longer have any followers on Twitter - so sad. Seems as soon as I started posting Tweets about baking cookies they all disappeared. I think the following I had was a case of mistaken identity - they're another "Jenlikesto..." and it's usually naughty things after that (do a Google search - you'll see what I mean). Anyway, this means I won't have to worry about keeping up Tweets along with posts. :) More time for knitting!!!

Twitter Update

Went to the Twitter site, remembered how to log on and found out that I have 7 followers, not just the 5 I mentioned before. Not bad for someone who never posted a tweet! Unfortunately, 3 of my "followers" were spam-bots for porn sites. They've now been blocked. Not sure who the others are, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I've sent a couple of Tweets and have added a link to this bog for Twitter. I don't know if I have enough time to do Tweeting on top of work, family, friends, knitting, and blogging, but we'll see. If nothing else I'll get some good porn sites!

Next up on Twitter: figuring out how to do mobile Tweets. Roll the music cue...

Twitter

I opened my email today and found out that 5 people are now following me on Twitter. Oh, crap! I had forgotten I started that. Now I have to go figure out how to send Tweets. Ever feel like you are back in school with a test in front of you that you didn't study for? Uh- huh, me too!

Some bad news - my cat wasn't selected to represent on the new yarn line. She's devastated, as any typical Diva should be. I told her she could do better and to wait for the movie offers, so now she's out sunning herself by the pool. If you run into her, please ask her for her autograph - it's make her feel so much better. :)

Off to go figure out this Tweeting stuff....

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Top Cat Model

I just entered one of my cats into a contest to see if I can get a yarn named after her. The cat's name: Little Miss Fuzzy-Butt. I just couldn't resist. My childish sense of humor won over. Come on - wouldn't that be a funny name for a yarn?

Yarn Market (http://yarnmarket.blogspot.com/) is holding a contest to name a new line of yarns that will be based on the colors of cats. These will 100% hand-dyed wool, and the winner of the contest gets a yarn named after their cat and a free skein of the there-mentioned yarn with a picture of their cat on the label. Too much fun, and way too much of a temptation for me. To see the information on the contest, please go to: http://yarnmarket.blogspot.com/2009/11/casting-call-for-pussycats-new-yarn.html.


I sent an email off to the contest and got a reply from Deborah Knight the next day. I have to admit that I didn't expect a response at all, let alone that quickly, so I was impressed. I can't wait to see the results of the contest - even if my cat doesn't make it all the way to the top!

Little Miss Fuzzy-Butt says "Vote for Me!" (Not really - she just says "Meow", which translates to "Feed Me!")


Sunday, December 13, 2009

Addding to the List

My goal this weekend was to finish the last of my Christmas projects. I did not do that. Instead, I have added to my list of projects. How did this happen? I got a new book - "Norwegian Handknits" - and I just have to make some mittens now!

This is a cute little book that not only has patterns but also has history and cultural background on Norwegian knitting as well. I like that in a book.

Too often we get caught up in patterns and overlook the how's and why's a particular style was developed. Most of the time it really doesn't matter - I just dig history. Other times it can make a big difference in how you knit up a garment, using one technique over another.

One of the things I learned so far from this book is that sweaters were considered underwear there. UNDERWEAR!!! Can you imagine? They'd wear a vest over the sweater and a coat on top of that. (Probably because it was butt-ugly cold and they had no central heat - just a dinky little fire going in a corner somewhere. Brrr! They should have moved to Hawaii.)

Remember kids, learning is cool. (Or warm, if you learn how to knit...)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It's COLD here. Really, really cold. Record cold. We are still seeing the remains of Monday's snowfall. This is CALIFORNIA!!! It's not supposed to get this cold, let alone SNOW.

I live in California for a variety of reasons, one of which is it doesn't snow here. EVER. That ideology was put to rest this past Monday with unprecedented snowfall in the region. Stockton and Lodi got hit with the white stuff, too. Insane...

I hate snow. I hate walking in it, driving in it, shoveling it, or even just looking at it at all. It's cold and wet and makes my behind numb when I land in it after slipping in it. It should be against the law.

I don't even own any decent winter coats. I just grab a fleece jacket or a nice colorful cardigan when I go outside. Why? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET THAT COLD HERE.

Usually.

Until Monday, anyway. :(

On the bright side, at least I can knit...if my fingers stop shaking long enough!

Brrr....

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Happy Birthday Linda!

Had a wonderful time today helping to celebrate a friend's birthday. I love getting a gift for a fellow knitter - they would rather get a handmade item than any store-bought thing because they know the thought and effort that goes into those items.

Lots of good food and conversation today as well. Happy Birthday, Linda!

Holiday Pressure

Holiday knitting starting to get done (part A, anyway...parts B and C get done only if A is complete...no pressure or anything...) I'm feeling the pressure...


I'm really trying to take the Holiday pressure off myself this year. We've all been sick, the house is not clean - let alone decorated - and I am way behind in my Christmas baking (as in I've bought the ingredients but haven't even taken anything out of the bags yet - they're still sitting on the counter).


Why do we do this? Do we take a perverse delight in tormenting ourselves? We dangle impossible goals in front of us like a carrot on a stick - and just guess who the donkey is. :)


Christmas to me is a time to share with friends and family. Of course I want things to be special, but I would rather spend time with my loved ones than running ragged trying to get everything perfect. Can I do it? The jury's still out on this one, folks...