the last one

I swear, this is the last BSJ I'm going to knit. It's the stockinette version. I'm about six rows to go. Unfortunately, I ran out of yellow, so this is going to have green garter edging (I'll add some to the sleeves and neckline to counteract roll and balance the look). I'm so over this pattern now. I guess knitting 5 of anything will do that. (It's more than 5 since the light green one was more than half done when I found another ball of green which meant it didn't have to be green and cream.) A seaming party is needed to get these all finished up.

Then what do I knit? I've pretty much decided on Ariann for M-i-L's birthday, but I haven't gotten around to digging out the yarn and swatching. I am planning to cast on a pair of socks as soon as I get my yarn from Ruth. I'm hoping it comes by Saturday. That way I'll have portable knitting for a work trip Sunday/Monday.

Yeah, I'm taking another short work trip. This one's for an hour-long presentation. Normally, my boss goes to these things, but he's going to be at a different meeting. I'm a little bummed because I'm going to Toronto, the city of our Harlot, but won't even be leaving the airport (meeting and sleeping at an airport hotel).

Tonight or tomorrow (most likely tomorrow since LOST's season finale is tonight), I'm going to sew up a sleeve for my laptop using the leftover Michael Miller laminated cotton from my lunch bag. It's too much of a pain to have a laptop bag along with a purse and an overnight bag. This way, I can put the laptop in the overnight bag. (I can also use it with a tote for carrying to and from the office.)

We had a good Memorial Day weekend. Saturday B and I went to the park in the morning and that night we had dinner with the in-laws and M-i-L's mom and dad who are visiting. Sunday, we went to church and then to a BBQ at M-i-L's cousin's house. B had tons of fun there playing with little cousins (including going into the wading pool with his shoes on). Monday, we went to the town parade and then to the pool and then dinner at M-i-L and F-i-L's. Whew we were busy. Didn't help that I overindulged in sun and champagne at the BBQ and went to bed right after B.

The great-grands head out to OH tomorrow, so we're all going out to dinner tonight. B's going to be sad to see them go. He's really attached to his great-grandpa.

for the first time in over three months

I ordered yarn today.

This is coming to live with me. It was dyed by Ruth over at Knitting on Impulse. (I hope she doesn't mind that I borrowed her picture.) To make it up to her, I'll say that you must, must go buy something from her. She's got yarn, notecards of her fabulous nature photos, and jewelry and handknit items at her shop. I love her stuff and would love to go to Whistler to support her at one of the events at which she participates.

She's got an amazing eye for color and is so creative with a variety of media. I really want to buy some of her jewelry some day. If you don't read her, you should!

In other news, I'm taking a slight detour with BSJ #5. I don't think I have enough yarn to complete it, so I'm going to try to stockinette stitch it. Instructions can be found here. I'll report back on Monday.

I'm so looking forward to this three day weekend. My office is closing at three, so I get a head start! Tomorrow, we're going to the park in the morning and then to our favorite fish and chips place for dinner. (M-i-L's parents are visiting from SC and Great Grammy loves to go back to Kearny for fish and chips.) Sunday we're going to M-i-L's cousin's annual bbq and picnic. Monday, we're hoping to try out our pool passes for the first time. Since they're forecasting 80 and sunny, I think we'll be good to go! The weather's looking to be a treat for the whole weekend.
A safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend to all my American friends (and a good weekend even if you aren't in the US)!

overheard this morning

"Baby brother can't stand my stool."

Well, dude, since you don't have a baby brother, no he can't stand on your stool.

you can't please all the people all the time.

As I've noticed at a couple of blogs I read, at some point we learn that we just can't please everyone. I'm dealing with someone like that at work, and although we've been bending over backwards and I've been breaking procedure to expedite things, we just don't do things as well as she can. Makes me wonder why they decided to not just do it themselves...

Anyway. BSJ #4 will be getting its buttonholes tonight and I'll cast off. Then, I'll cast on for BSJ #5. I imagine this little jag of mine is getting boring. Sorry about that. BSJ #4 does make a good model though.

I'm thinking, thinking, thinking about M-i-L's birthday sweater. I've got three months, but I don't want to be rushing and stressing like I did over F-i-L's this year (and I need to make sure to make a bigger size than I think is appropriate). I really want to knit out of stash, but I'm not coming up with anything other than a white Ariann. Problem is, I've already knit M-i-L a white sweater. I really need to dig through the bins and see what else I can come up with. (But, don't be surprised if I cast on for a white Ariann for M-i-L.)

just another Monday

I've not got much to say. We had a nice weekend. Weather Saturday morning was fabulous. I finally put together B's soccer goal (gift from my parents a couple of Christmases ago). The little girl from next door, aka Shan-na and "my friend", came over and played for a couple of hours until lunch. Then we went to a church BBQ. Sunday was church, board games, and me making scampi for dinner. Oh, and I cleaned the main floor of the house while B was napping and hubby mowed. I really should do that more often. It's nice to have a dining room table that looks like a table instead of a pile of crap.

B's been really sweet. We've been chatting a lot at bedtime. Telling little stories and things. He's been super cooperative.

Not much sewing or crafting was done. I am nearly done BSJ #4, the all cream version. Next will be the yellow and green version (with cream if there's any left). Then I'll be done with the Shine sport.

I really, really want to do some sewing. I've got lots of plans for summer dresses and I really want to start one. I'm not sure I want to get into that involved a project in the evenings, but I have been planning on an apron since I made my sister's two summers ago.

BYO

Here in NJ (although, I'm not in NJ this exact minute), we have a lot of restaurants that are BYO. NJ limits the number of establishments that can have liquor licenses (certain # of licenses per a certain # of people which I could probably google, but I'm sure you care less than I do). The licenses can be very difficult to obtain and very expensive. A lot of smaller restaurants simply forgo a liquor license, but NJ allows you to BYO (we usually bring wine or beer, but people also bring spirits). Bringing beer to the fish and chips place is easy. We have four different coolers (we love to tailgate, and apparently I love parens). I've been embarrassed recently when we bring a bottle of wine. Something about hubby lugging our favorite vinos around in a plastic bag has a low class hint to it. Well, we are low class no more. I sewed up a little solution to our problem.

I got the fabric at fabric.com back in March for $3.49 a yard. I only bought the one yard because that's usually enough for a couple of totes. The tote on the left is a little big. It was supposed to neatly handle two 750 mL bottles for those evenings when we go out with others. But the bottles swim in this thing. I didn't have any on hand to test with, but I might be able to put two 1.5 L bottles in it, party time! At the very least, I can put some sort of ice pack in when we're drinking white. The smaller one snugly fits a 750 mL bottle, for when it's just the two of us. (Well, sometimes we bring wine when B is with us, but he still prefers unfermented juices.)

The totes are pretty basic, just lined rectangles. The handles are more of the lightweight webbing I had (silly me, bags are lined in black with brown handles). I was really lazy with these. Last summer I made a wine bottle gift bag for M-i-L and put a round bottom on it, giving a much nicer shape. I may need to improve my design and do a smaller, two bottle tote. I do have a bit of fabric left.

Fabala's sock

I finished the drawstring bag for my Nano last night. So far, it works pretty well.

Funny thing about this gift. Last week, Hubby was talking about going shopping and I said I didn't really need anything (because I don't), but that I would love an ipod Nano. He off-handedly stated that I could use his old Dell DJ. I was a bit put off by that and when he came home from shopping he asked if we had a lot of wrapping paper, because he bought something big, I was really stumped. So, of course, it was all just a ruse to make sure I was really surprised (and I was, even after I saw the charge on our bank account that was about the right amount). It was nice to get what I wanted without knowing it was coming!

Today's our 8th wedding anniversary. We don't do gifts for it, mostly because it's so close to Mother's Day and then Father's Day isn't that far off. But, Hubby cancelled my return to the gym and my cooking of dinner so we'll all go out. (My foot is healed and I can wear shoes again.) Of course, with the money we spent on food and wine this weekend, we did plenty of celebrating. Honestly, one of the reasons I married him was because we have so much fun together and really feed into each other's irresponsibility ;)

If I remember, I'll try to post the poem I wrote for our wedding from home tonight. I don't have a copy of the final draft on this machine.

On another note, B says he wants a baby at our house, a baby brother. Ruh roh.

cold, wet and wonderful!

Let me just say that the weather was just complete and utter crap all weekend. We barely spent an hour outside all weekend, but it was still great. Friday, Hubby and I met on the train and drove down to N Wildwood in the rain. Dinner at the Lobster House with champagne. Saturday, I got to sleep in past 8:30 (that never happens when B is around). We went out for breakfast, took our time getting ready and hit our favorite winery (not that we've been to the others in the area) for a tasting. After that we wandered the shopping district in Cape May and had a late lunch. Then a nap at the condo and a late dinner at JP Prime. We slept in again yesterday and had a late breakfast and tried to sit on the beach, but it was just too cold and windy. So we packed up and headed home after lunch. Dinner with M-i-L and F-i-L and B was great. B was so excited to see us. I got the best cuddles and hugs and kisses. B made me a cute little basket at school and Hubby bought me this:

Her name is Fabala, after the main character in Wicked (otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West). Mainly because they're both green and don't like water. I spent last night loading her up. The pink behind her is going to be a little drawstring case.

I have to say I only had very mild guilt about being away from B for most of Mother's Day and that started when Hubby said he felt bad that B wouldn't have his mom at church yesterday. Of course, yesterday was Pentecost so the birthday party for the church (red balloons and noise makers) made up for my not being there!

brown bagging it

I try to bring a lunch to work most days. My office is in SoHo and every deli and restaurant around us has become so expensive in the 12 years I've worked here. Seriously, the cheapest lunch I get is $8. Usually, I bring a frozen entree, a can of soda, and two pieces of fruit. Usually, I just use a plastic shopping bag and stuff it into my work bag. However, since I got a big orange purse for Christmas, that holds my necessaries including a small knitting project and my camera, I've not been carrying a larger tote to work and have had to carry my lunch separately. Nothing's so classy as carrying a plastic grocery store bag with your purse! I did use some plain gift bags, but they fall apart quickly. I had thought of buying some vinyl but nothing struck my fancy; then I saw that some stores carry laminated cottons in cool prints. Sign me up for that. A Michael Miller Daisy print came to live with me in March. Last night, it became this.

It's a little big for most days, but I could carry my knitting project in it if I wanted to carry a smaller purse. Hubby thought the fabric looked like wallpaper, because it's laminated. He thought the finished project looked really cute.

I had planned to do handles from the same fabric, but screwed up the first attempt and then realized that some lightweight webbing I had matched really well. (The webbing was used to tie up a comforter I bought at Target a while ago, no plastic bag there.)

I have some left, maybe enough to do a more tradional sized lunch bag, to carry in a larger tote if I ever go back to that.

I've got the sewing bug! I really, really want to make a double-bottle wine bag tonight. I'm a little conflicted though. I think Hubby feels lonely when I'm crafting in the office and he's in the tv room all alone. But, he does get me to himself all weekend, since we're going dow the shore for our anniversary.

buttons galore

I brought in my button purchases to share with you. I know, I'm tres exciting.


From L to R: stars for the green and yellow BSJ I posted recently (BSJ #1), I have 8; plain white for BSJ #2, which I haven't posted but which is cream, yellow and green; and little sailboats for BSJ #4 which exists only in my mind (will be mostly cream with minimal amounts of white), I only found 4 of these.


I was thinking of using the teddy bears for a BSJ, but we'll see. I might just save them for something else (I have 8). The red ones are for a future me project; I have 6.

I finished this last night. It was over half done from Christmas-time. It's going to my little sister. She bought the fabric two years ago. I hated the fabric. It's a loose weave and the fibers shed like no one's business. It's really hard to cut, too. I have some in burgundies to make myself a bag. I think I'm going to go with a more simple tote.

Tonight, since I have 12 1/2 yds of fabric showing up at my house, I complete that skirt. Fortunately, I don't have to install a zipper. Unfortunately, I can't just slap on the binding tape like I thought. It's too narrow to be an elastic waistband.

user error

Well, I figured out what was wrong with my sewing machine.

Me!

Sewing machines do not work well when one does not them properly!

BSJ, buttons, and stash

BSJ #3 is moving along nicely. I should be binding off for the collar tonight. The green's a bit off in this pic. It's more sour apple than the cool mint shown here. Knitpicks shows it very accurately (according to my monitor and under these fluorescent lights).

I went to Joann's this weekend and bought a lot of buttons. I was good, I only bought buttons and some binding tape for a skirt that needs a waistband, a zipper and a hem. Usually when I got to Joann's or any other craft store, I buy at least $40 more than what I went in for. I was going to sit here and list what buttons I bought, but that's no fun. I'll take some pics tonight.

Just remembered, I have the buttons for this one with me! Too cute. I wish I could have found more than four, but that's all I saw.

The place was a madhouse. They were having some sort of fabric sale.

Speaking of fabric. I'm going to be in trouble tomorrow if I don't get home before Hubby. I bought 12 1/2 yds of fabric to make myself two dresses. Since my sewing machince still doesn't work, I'm going to be in trouble.

I've been so good about not stashing yarn for the last three months, but I've bought 32 yds of fabric since mid-March. Granted, 7 yds was ordered to re-cover our dining room chairs, a couple of yards are for totes (1/2 yd of laminated cotton for a lunch bag and 1 yd for a wine bottle tote), the rest is supposed to be clothing for me. I haven't finished sewing a piece of clothing in almost a year.

If my sewing machine is not up and running an churning out clothes by Labor Day, I'm going to start selling off my fabric stash.

apple green and manos

Here's BSJ #3, all in apple green, hanging out with the swatch for my Manos vest. The lace is simply cell stitch from the stitch a day calendar. I've cast off stitches for the scoop neckline, but I'm not sure I like and I put it down during LOST last night.

I really wanted to do drop garter stitch (where you wrap 2-3 times on one row), but I couldn't get it to work in the swatch. Each time I did it, the rows got narrower on the left-hand side.

I had to rip it all out Wednesday night and start over. When one knits a gauge swatch, one should really measure the gauge before determining how many stitches to cast on. I took it off the needles and found I had over 50 stitches more than I needed!

manos vest

My manos I bought in January (one of only two yarn purchases in 2008) is going to become a longish vest like the one Ruth did last year. (Not the same gauge or the same stitch pattern, but the right shape.) I'm going to wind it and cast-on today. Forget that I started BSJ #3 last night (just a cast on row). Or that I've got a pullover for B that I started in March and haven't touched in weeks. Nope. I want to knit this vest now. It's going to Summer round here soon. I need a wool vest.

home alone

Well, not really. The plumber's here to fix some pooling water around our toilet (I think the in-take pipe or whatever it's called is leaking) and the leaking from our fixtures in the tub. I'm such a geek, I want to be upstairs watching him, but I think that would be uncomfortable for both of us. Besides, if Molly doesn't stop carrying on, I may have to take her out. (She hates it when people are in the house and she can't be with them, especially people who ring the doorbell.)

My foot's getting better, the edges of the wound looked different this morning and it looked slightly smaller. Of course, I was cooking last night for the first time since I burned my foot and I managed to scald my stomach while pouring the water off the pasta. Don't ask, I really don't know how the water came up out of the sink. Probably had something to do with the dishes in it. I told Hubby I may have to give up cooking (either that or keep the sink empty). Fortunately, the burn on my stomach's really minor. It's not much worse than a sunburn, really. Considering how little sun that part of my body gets (I've been a one piece girl since college), I'd probably do more damage with sun exposure.

After the plumber leaves, I'm going to call Dell customer support. Our PC's not booted right for months, even after restoring it and re-installing Windows XP. I was going to just replace the tower, but then Dell called late last week to ask if I wanted to re-new the extended warranty. I said I didn't even remember buying it. I have free in-home service until 5/11. If the computer gets fixed, I may re-up.

I don't know that I like that noise that just came down the stairs....

I haven't told you about my foot

If you're squeamish, you may want to skip this post.

Yesterday and this morning were perfect hand knit sock weather, cool, rainy, gray. Unfortunately, I couldn't wear handknit socks because I'm stuck in sandals. I can't wear anything over the top of the arch of my foot. Last Thursday, I was microwaving some chicken thighs with barbecue sauce. When I took the splatter guard off the dish, some of the steaming hot sauce fell on my barefoot. When I wiped the sauce off my foot, the top layer of skin came off. I'm not in too much pain, but I can't apply pressure or it hurts. I think it's a deep, second-degree burn. It's probably the size of a nickel.

I'm not really sure how long this thing is going to take to heal. It's been five days so far and it looks pretty much the same as it did Friday night. (I am keeping it covered with a bandage and keeping a close eye out for any signs of infection.) I might have to put the wool socks away until Fall as I might be in sandals for quite some time. Fortunately, my office building turned the heat back on today so my toesies aren't as cold as they were yesterday! My other regret, besides cool weather and not being able to wear my socks, is that I can't wear a sneaker and am not going to the "gym" again. I went twice last week after taking time off for my sprained ankle.

Ironically, the same day, my Hippie brother in law stepped on a nail and needed a tetanus shot.

the last few days

I've been diligently knitting on BSJ #2. I'm two rows from the buttonholes, which means I'll be casting of for BSJ #3 soon. I'm going to knit BSJs until I run out of Knit Picks Shine Sport in these four colors (bought last year for the crochet baby blanket).

I still haven't finished the shamrock socks. Just the heel to go on the second one. Maybe tonight. I think I've started it. If I were less lazy, I'd go look in my purse.

In other news, I've made my son a bit of a fusspot, although that's not quite the right word. Last night after dinner, he wanted to help me get his bedtime snack together. I thought he had to pee, but he kept saying no. After we finished making his chocolate milk, I said okay, let's go potty. But, he'd reached the point of not being able to hold it anymore. I didn't get upset. I just told him to go up to the bathroom and get undressed for his bath. I was a bit brusque when he didn't move, but I told him over and over that I wasn't made and there was no reason to be upset. Then in the bath, he tells me he has to poop. So, he gets out and puts his SpongeBob potty seat on the toilet (I don't know why he still insists on this at home, he doesn't use one anywhere else) and doesn't quite make it all the way before he has a touch of diarrhea. Poor guy. He was kept saying over and over "I pooped on my potty seat." I explained it was fine and went about wiping up and I really don't think I reacted at all. Then, this morning, Molly spilled his chocolate milk (he's on a bit of a binge) while trying to eat his bagel. Hubby and I did a pretty good job of not reacting (although Hubby did try to have a teaching moment about keeping cups away from the edge of the table). He had a fit. At one point he screamed at her "look what you did."

That was a dagger right to my heart.

That was me coming out of his mouth.

Long story short, I made him this way.

How do I fix it?

BSJ pic, finally

Lovely in the morning light. I sure hope the mom I'm giving it to likes the colors. Hubby likes it, but they're his HS colors.

I tried to get a pic of BSJ #2, but none came out right.

I'm very unhappy with my green striped socks. Not only does sock 2 have more stitches, the gauge also got huge on me. I'm not sure how. I cast on the day after I finished the frist one. I'm working on the heel of sock 1. My unhappiness is making it so going, either that or it's from being tired staying up till nearly 1 finishing Duma Key the other night.

I'm so glad I finished the book, nothing will distract me from LOST tonight.

I'd like to take a nap

I've been staying up late reading Stephen King's Duma Key. I pick it up for "a little reading" before bedtime and wind up going to bed later than I should. (Only by about a half our or 45 minutes, but I usually only give myself 6 1/2 hours most nights to begin with.)

I'd really like to just sit down and plow through it, but that's not going to happen this week.

I've mostly finished my first BSJ. It just needs the shoulder seam and end weaving. I do think I'll put an edge around it, though. Maybe just a single crochet. I've cast on for my second BSJ. It's losing out against the book, though. I need to find some really cute buttons. I also need to take some pictures.

I had to rip out and re-knit the toe on the second shamrock sock. I was nearly done the decreases when I realized I had an uneven number on the needles. Seems when I was casting on a 6:30 in the morning at Newark airport, I cast on four too many stitches. I asked Hubby if he thought I should just adjust or reknit the whole sock. He said, adjust. So, one sock's going to be wider than the other. Good for my swollen ankle.

The Echoing Green

I'm getting lame. Going to Poet's corner for my post titles. But, it is national poetry month. I'm not familiar with this one by William Blake. I wonder what my old 18th century lit prof would have thought of this one. He always said one should read "The Lamb" sarcastically, because really, Blake was not that simple.

Shamrock sock 2 is half-way between heel and toe. I'm nearly done the 22 sets of decreases for the BSJ (I think it's 22).

I'd really rather not be here today. There's some ongoing stuff I have to deal with as the manager of this group and that make me want to be a peon. I just don't want to deal.

We had a somewhat difficult morning. B was slow getting out of bed, but pretty cooperative until time to put on a coat and go. He wanted a coat, he didn't know which coat, he said he didn't want a coat, I lost my mind. Seriously, hubby was going to bring every B coat he could find to the car with him. Of course, it's currently 73 degrees F, so why does he need a coat? He wouldn't leave without one. We went through the same thing last Spring. Then the buses were all messed up (even the dispatcher and driver agreed to that) and then the subways were delayed and I was an hour late. Day's getting better, though.