Hey, look a post with a picture, or two

Just for Rae, here's '80s watermelon and it's companion Crockett's t-shirts. I can't wait to play more with these neon dyes. Not sure I need too many pairs of neon socks, but there are always hats and gloves and mittens, right?

We had a good trip to VT. My favorite part? Someone else playing Hi-Ho Cherry-O and CandyLand with the B.

My second favorite part? Seeing Dad wear his Kirk every single day we were there. He absolutely adores it and I imagine he'll completely wear it out.

It's the best zipper install I've ever done. It's a little small for him, but I wasn't expecting him to wear it over a sweatshirt, and he's put on a few pounds since he's been home on disability (neck injury leading to some nerve issues).

Just a quick FO report. Kirk from Rowan 36, knit in Zucchini Polar. I used about 7 skeins. Followed the pattern to the letter (including needle size), except I may have shortened it a bit (Dad's shorter than me).

I'm doing better. The meds have kicked in. So far, I've had some minor itching and hives, but I think daily Claritin is keeping it down. Hubby keeps pushing me to stop taking the fluoxetine and get something else from the doctor. I don't want to go back to where I was a few weeks ago. Just ask B how much easier it is to deal with mommy lately.

Reconciliation

I sat down with Bounce (formerly known as Billy's Birthday Sweater, which is just too much to keep typing) last night. I re-set to the first row of the chart, rewound my six center-pull butterflies, and started knitting again. I'm meticulously counting the number of blue stitches and ecru stitches and marking off each row as I knit it. I'm also keeping the post it (the really, really big ones which fits nicely over this chart) over the rows above where I am (Sally says it's good so you see where your yarn is coming from, Annie Modesitt also talks about it here). We're happily working together toward the same ends. I can't believe I just said ends. Those will be fun when it comes time.

Question: I already mentioned that I'm duplicate stitching the seams of the balls (using only the charts that look like baseballs), and I was toying with the idea of using some red to do the duplicate stitching. What do you think?

So far, and I'm probably shooting myself in the foot, it's been pretty easy to stay away from my usual yarn pushers. Of course, it's only been three weeks (and my last purchase only arrived the other day). I have been doing some other shopping. My shoes came yesterday, and I'm very happy with them. Although, I think I have to return the green suede loafers, they're a little tight. I like them way too much to wind up not wearing them. Good thing Zappos has free-shipping both ways! I love that. With a full-time job, a two hour commute each day, and a kid, I don't have time to go shopping much. This way I order, two days later I have the shoes, and if they don't fit or I don't like them, I can send them back.

I had also ordered a new zipper for Kirk. That came yesterday with a nice, big box of t-pins and some orang snips which B really, really wanted. Um, no. I may be a lax mom, but I am not letting him play with those.

Now, I need to go schedule his three-year physical (forms for daycare, doncha know) and call that camera-repair store that doesn't respond to its own online estimate request form. Not to mention doing my actual job.

Thanks for the encouragement on the Pinwheel. If I didn't have deadline knitting, I probably would have cast on last night.

things to do before the family arrive Friday

Finish dad's Kirk. I got the shoulders seamed last night and have knit up most of the collar. Just a couple more rows, then it's off to sleeve set in and side seams. And I have to put in the zipper.

Finish up another ballband dishcloth for mom, that way I'll have two under the tree for her. I can finish up the balls of yarn over the weekend.

Clean the house.

The guestroom needs to be cleared out and tidied up as does the office where my sis and b-i-l will sleep. I'm kind of happy the other sister's not coming. I'd have to figure out where she could sleep.

I need to put away Christmas gifts and organize B's toys.

Floors need vacuuming and mopping and surfaces need to be dusted.

Bathroom needs a scour.

We're caught up on laundry and dishes, but the clutter, oh the clutter is horrible.

I realized why m-i-l wanted to take B to her house yesterday and today, my house is chaos. I'm uncomfortable in it!

I also need to wrapt the gifts for our exchange on Saturday morning. Gifts for people who aren't going to be here Saturday can be wrapped later in the weekend (so long as they're finished before they head back to VT on Monday).

All this must be done while being a SAHM tomorrow and Friday. (I need to find out what the planned arrival time is on Friday.)

Fortunately, hubby is off on Friday as well and can run errands and B interference.

Gee, aren't you glad you stopped by?

Not sure if I'll be posting again before Tuesday. I may try to get online Monday after they all leave.

mittens

Got the first mitten done and cast on for number 2. Not much knitting done at home last night. I still want to felt these before the weekend, but I've got to clean out the guest room. Furnace guy is coming to service the furnace and to check on some radiators that don't work well.

Gee, maybe I should get around to seaming Kirk. I'm sure he's dry by now.

Kirking out

Kirk's on the blocking board. I finished the second sleeve as my train pulled into my station last night. I had just enough yarn in the seventh ball for a six inch end on sleeve 2. I'll probably use just a smidge of ball 8 for the neckband. Gee, just taking a couple of inches out of the length really cut down on the yarn requirements. Rowan said I'd need 9 to make this size. I hope to be seaming by the weekend.

Speaking of the train, why do you have to make me let you out of the seat 5 minutes before we even hit the station. Can't you wait? Do you really need to get to your car that quickly?

I brought the rest of my Carrot swirl yarn in today. I'm making some dirt-simple mittens. It's going to be cold tomorrow!

sleevage

I started a sleeve last night. I didn't get very far. Too tired and doped out on antihistamines (massive itch episode last night), to think about increases and how long the sleeves need to be and yada yada yada. I did some math this morning and figure if I do increases every fourth row (aka, every other right side row), I'll get the required width and not make my dad look like he's a little kid dressing up in his father's sweater. I'm hoping to have the knitting done by the end of next week so I can block and seam next weekend. I don't think it's too ambitious, the back took a week and the fronts only took about six days. Today is day 14 of this knit. If I finish it next weekend I'll be nearly 3 weeks early! That's a switch.

I'll try to see if I can post a picture of any sleeve progress tonight or tomorrow.

pictures from home

I downloaded the recent pictures from my memory card.

Here's where I was with Dad's zucchini this morning. See the problem?

I ripped with the ladies at lunch, had to rip again on the train, but did manage to finish off the right front. I'll be heading for sleeve island durin CSI: tonight.


My knitting group at work is doing a secret santa. We picked names today. I've already got my gift ordered. No, I didn't buy yarn.

froggin' the zucchini

I have to rip out about 4 inches of Ddad's sweater. Don't feel bad for me. It's inches after the armhole shaping and it is only a couple of rows per inch. If only I could follow the simple cabling directions for this sweater. Oh well, it will be a quick fix. I should still have the left front done tonight. I'd show you a picture, but I'm at work and photos don't like to post for me here.

I'm wearing my recently finished Chickami with my CeCe today. I'd show you that but ditto the part about the pictures.

One thing to note. It's gotten much easier dressing Billy lately. For some reason he's been insisting on socks first (and we've been quickly picking a pair) and then the rest goes pretty smoothly. I know, it's going to blow up in my face tomorrow.

pictures

Not sure if anyone saw the misdated post yesterday. I was able to finally upload one measly photo. Here's the quick hat I did. I think the problem is not with Blogger but with me because I can't upload to flickr either. I guess I'll just have to start blogging from home.

So, Dad's birthday sweater is going along swimmingly. I'm knitting it in Rowan Polar (zucchini is the color). The pattern is Kirk from Rowan 38 or something. (I linked to it a while back.) The Polar is very loosely spun and sheds like my dog, but it makes such a yummy, smooshy fabric, I'm loving the knitting. I sure hope dad likes it. So far in a week and three days, I've finished the back and the right front. I cast on for the left front last night and hope to have it finished by the weekend.