The joys and pains of moving...

So moving, at any time of year, is not easy. No change is. It's also a lot of work. Doing it during the holiday season, well, adds some special challenges.

This is the first Christmas since mom died that I've felt "Christmasy," and with the move, there isn't alot I can do about it until I get some things put away. We've downsized significantly, so that is taking some thought and time.

The cats love the new place, and clearly are enjoying the boxes!

Downsizing is so freeing. Stuff is a weight around ones shoulders, for sure. And the smaller, stairless house is just what my fibromyalgic body needs. I am so grateful for the provision of this home.

What, TWO YEARS later???

I haven't been here in forever. Time to get myself back into my writing groove, I think...

My knitting is continuing. I'm currently working on two active projects, and have one "hibernating." It's my Log Cabin Moderne afghan...it's big enough that working on it in the summer is just not appealing...

The active projects are some convertible mitts for Josh, the blue and green project to the left. It's a pattern taken from an old knitting book, "Mens Mittens" by Jaeger Handknits. I'm usin an Opal sock yarn that he chose.

I'm also working on a"Mara" shawl. I'm in LOVE with the yarn for that one. It's Tosh DK, and like all of Madeline Tosh's yarns, it's beautifully dyed and marvelously squooshy soft! It's a lovely red, "Tart."

I've taken up spinning since last posting. LOVE that. I began on an Ashford Scholar, Minerva, that I bought from one of the girls in my SnB group. For my last birthday, the man bought me a Kromski Sonata, and I am totally in love with her. I named her Wanda, and she allows me to spin with far less pain. I'll need to get a nice photo of her for the blog.

The latest...

So my son is off to do his thing as a roadie for Invisible Children, and since his district isn't anywhere cold, I knitted him a "sock" for his cell phone:

The pattern is free, I found it through Ravelry, the link to Smariek Knits' blog is the caption for this photo. I used leftover sock yarn from my Oak Ribbed socks. It's Regia Stretch color, I think it knitted up wonderfully in this pattern.






Four-Rib Braid I Touch Sock Pattern


I also knitted him a case for the camera he bought to document his trip:

This pattern was also free, and found through Ravelry. Doing the math for sizing took a bit of time, but from start to finish, the whole thing only took maybe 2 hours. For this one, I used leftover yarn from Josh's Camo Earflap hat. It's Red Heart in the "Woodsy" colorway. He picked the button out of my tin of my Grandma's old buttons, so he's got a camera covered in love!!! The link to the blog is also on the caption for this photo!




Free "recipe" for camera case

Currently, I am knitting a ruana for Char, to barter for haircuts, and deciding what to cast on next...I have an 2 purses that need finishing and am still working on my Log Cabin Afghan...it's simply too hot here to have it on my lap right now!!!

If you're curious about Invisible Children, I linked to them at the top of the post. If you want to follow Josh on his adventure, check out his blog: http://www.dailyleaps.blogspot.com/!

Gratuitous Cat Cuteness!

In the spirit of NOT having to title an entry with the word "overdue," I'vd simply decided to share some feline adorableness:

Sweet, sleepy Frosty

"Uh, excuse me, but could I bathe in PRIVATE????"

Come, on, you KNOW they're cute!!

The Really, REALLY overdue post...

Okay, so this time it's been nearly a year!!!

Facebook, the devourer of time, sort of took over my online life...I'm seriously considering dialing that back, if not off, and returning to the "simplicity" of the blog form of self-publication. It's just much less time consuming. No gaming and constant live chatting....though I love having gotten in touch with some folks from back in the day!

My knitting life has been fairly steady, I've finished lots of projects since my last post...

Oak Ribbed Sock from Nancy Bush's "Knitting Vintage Socks"

Lichen Ribbed Sock, also from KVS

Currently, I've got these on the needles:

Waving Lace Sock from "Favorite Socks" (Interweave Press)

I'm really enjoying this sock, I'm doing it with Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dye yarn, in the Bordeaux colorway. I love this lace pattern, it's simple enough to remember, and you can find where you are in the pattern without too much trouble. Yet it's varied enough to be interesting to knit, especially since the two previous pairs wer just basic ribbed patterns. Those two were done in two different colorways of Regia Stretch sock yarn. I LOVE the Regia for wear and tear, it holds up excellently, and washes very well. The stretch factor is really nice, they have great memory and don't end up sagging when you wear them. I have two more colorways in my stash!

And miracle of miracles, neither is blue!!!

In my kitty life, sweet Beasley crossed the Rainbow Bridge to pet heaven 2 days after Christmas. He went in his sleep, after 19 long years. He was ready, and now is with my mom and his! He's missed, he added so much humor to my life. The two remaining boys are doing very well, though they've been tussling with one another more often since Beas passed. I suppose it has something to do with pecking order.

Miss Zoe is still my sweet, lovable pup, a clown as always! She's finally finished (fingers crossed!) shedding her coat out, so hopefully I won't be sweeping up hairballs the size of elephants again for a while. I swear, she should be bald!!! It's never been so much before. I think it was the strange weather as summer came on this year, lots of ups and downs in temps, which is strange for Arizona. It's usually just a steady climb to blistering heat!

Hope all is well with any and all who "stop by" to read this...with my lax posting schedule, I'm sure you are fewer and farther between.

The really overdue post!!!

Okay, it's been literally months since my last post. Life is like that sometimes. I guess I need to see if I've been kicked off any of my blog rings!

Let's see, since my last post, I've done some knitting, I made these cabled socks:

I got the pattern through Ravelry. They're called Naive Socks by SpillyJane. (PDF pattern here) My pics probably don't do my socks justice, as they were taken with my phone, still a problem. I knitted them in Opal Prisma on size 2's. The next time I do the pattern-and I will probably do it again-I would do the leg portion on 3's, as the cables really tighten up the leg and reduce elasticity.

I am really pleased with the result, though!

I also made another cat bed-the Kitty Pi from Wendy Knits. Milo has claimed it as his and sleeps in it EVERY day. Seriously. Definitely the most used cat thing I've ever knitted. The other cats haven't had a chance to lay in it even once.

Kitty Pi pre-felt-Notice Mr. Milo already staking his claim...Mi says, "My kitteh Pi!"

Blocking-I used a Tupperware cake carrier and a bunch of towels.

Look at the face!! This was taken about a minute after I finished blocking, and wanted a photo of the bed. There was no way I'd get the pic without the cat! A "Milo Pie!"

I used Paton's Classic Merino, double stranded, Worn Denim and Wedgewood colorways on size 11's. It took 1 skeins of each, and was just short of enough. Fortunately I had some in my leftovers to finish the last row or so. The eyelash was a skein from my stash-Berroco Zoom in brown.

Well, it's off to the Saturday morning Stitch n' Bitch!!!

Kitty Knits-a knitter's book review

I have the privilege of being a stop on Donna Druchunas' blog tour for her latest book, Kitty Knits. Donna is the author of another book I admire, Arctic Lace, as well as others. The book is nicely put together, with projects for cat lovers, as well as the cats themselves. I love the variety of skill level available, as well as the variety of knitting styles. Like Donna, I love all sorts of knitting, from lace to felting! There are lots of pictures, clear instructions, and even cat poetry!!! I was hoping to interview Donna herself here, but it didn't work out. She did some Q & A on some of the other stops on her blog tour-links to those are on her webpage.

Here's Donna, with her cats, Dee Dee and Uno:

In my previous post, I mentioned the first project I completed from Kitty Knits, the Felted Catnip mouse. It's a hit, and so fun and easy, I'll be making another-especially since Milo and Frosty are both in love with it.

Milo and the Mouse!

Frosty loves it, too...clearly I'll be making another!

The second project I made from the book is the Bull's Eye Cat bed. It's one of 3 different cat beds in the book, all of which are really adorable! This one most closely resembled a commercial bed that the boys all love, so I chose it. Since it's been on the chair-even before finishing it, it's been occupied regularly! It's worked in the round, in 2 pieces, and stuffed with some batting! It's a fairly simple pattern, good for learning increases and knitting in the round. Again I substituted the called-for yarn with something from my stash. I used up the RH acrylic from the bass hat project, but did buy the novelty yarn. The bed is definitely a hit with the boys, all three have used it, though Frosty uses it most. It sets off his blue eyes nicely!!!!

Early stages-notice Milo already checking it out!

Here it is just prior to stuffing

Stuffed and Finished!

Occupied!!!!

My next project from the book, though, will have to be for me-the Peruvian Cat Lace Scarf!! Beautiful.

I definitely enjoyed the book, and would recommend it! Thanks to Donna, and to her publisher, Martingale and Company, for allowing me to preview the book!!!