tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25001165712840814672024-02-18T21:09:03.636-08:00Wilde Thyme KnitsJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-65849867337693840522009-09-21T10:04:00.001-07:002010-03-17T11:21:02.584-07:00Import Export<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6m4005SmpwmmFC6o-hPYNPjOlHX_ZeWA2KHNcBLavpPtHXq7wA3AgSqHCN1j68qIrYDyLAwsMjP1mFzrj7C6xjmSTK3rLV4xKWUTXb_K-3vT26pY6Pjj89Mh4JLo8wtEHm_Zqi4sIBw/s1600-h/small.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383974046392595858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6m4005SmpwmmFC6o-hPYNPjOlHX_ZeWA2KHNcBLavpPtHXq7wA3AgSqHCN1j68qIrYDyLAwsMjP1mFzrj7C6xjmSTK3rLV4xKWUTXb_K-3vT26pY6Pjj89Mh4JLo8wtEHm_Zqi4sIBw/s400/small.JPG" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">I've moved to <a href="http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com">www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com</a></span></i></b></div><div><br /><div>Now I don't usually profess to be much of a techie, but in recent days I've been confronted by some serious work on the computer front. Right now, I am feeling hugely proud of myself, because despite the fact that I've had the house to get shipshape after three months of kids at home, food to cook, soccer games to attend and knitting to see to, I have achieved the impossible!</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>I have exported my blog to another address.</strong></div><br /><div></div><div>It's a long story actually. About a year ago, not long after I started writing Wilde Thyme Knits, I had a major catastrophe......I accidently DELETED my blog! I know....pretty dumb really, but what can I say? It takes just one slip of the finger and life can never be the same again.</div><br /><div></div><div>I wrote to Blogger....... I wrote to Blogger again.....I joined the throngs of people begging Blogger to PLEASE retrieve their beloved blogs.</div><br /><div></div><div>Nothing. Not even a "Tweet" to say they'd received my pleading missive (and let's face it, they have intimate connections with Twitter, so a small microblog would not have been too much to ask.) Still nothing. I resigned myself to starting again with another url and have been saddled with a "TER" on the end of "KNIT" ever since. I've checked back with Blogger periodically over the past year, just in case I could get them to acknowledge my existence, but again nothing.</div><br /><div></div><div>During a recent sojourn into Blogland, I made the discovery that Blogger was permitting access to old addresses again. Aside from the fact that by now I'd forgotten which e-mail ID and password I'd used to set up my original account, what I did discover was that I could now create a new blog attached to my old Expat blog account using my original url <a href="http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com/">http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><div>My life was complete.</div><br /><div></div><div>This weekend I bravely created the new blog, exported the old to my desktop and then imported it from there to the new site. Can you believe it? I was holding my breath, I can tell you. A year's worth of work was on the line after all. But I did it! The only problem was that none of the features transferred with the posts, so I've spent several hours rebuilding parts of the site. This has also given me the opportunity for a bit of a face lift, so I've changed to a new template too.</div><br /><div></div><div>My new found techie abilities saw me multi tasking on the way home from walking The Little Guy to school this morning too. As my text inbox on my cell phone was so full that it couldn't take any more messages, I decided to delete during the ten minute stroll back up the hill. I walked and deleted, crossed roads and deleted, all the while making this "ding dong" noise as each one of the 90 texts got erased from my inbox. (Talk about cleaning up! I've gone into over drive.) The final text was deleted just as I reached my front door.</div><br /><div></div><div>So I've cleaned up, sorted out and am settling into a new blogging home now. Please come over and join me. Leave a comment to let me know you've arrived or join my Google followers. The kettle's on, the welcome's warm, I'd love to see you.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com/">http://www.wildethymeknits.blogspot.com/</a></div><div> </div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-36232945975155395922009-09-16T10:05:00.000-07:002009-09-16T11:37:12.952-07:00Round Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tklkQUMOH6WQzGZ_xHNd9ZDdMXb6_Fb8BIJPSoN1dxjGVwD1mjOvSAuMa6Wsub7Ytd8M7TdATgDNUYNXN1fpIAaY4O94CKdL5uFltMQtrxnxyJ9R37MkOzncw4FOMHKHwg3NXY4uDkM/s1600-h/DSCF5892.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382118511936914738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tklkQUMOH6WQzGZ_xHNd9ZDdMXb6_Fb8BIJPSoN1dxjGVwD1mjOvSAuMa6Wsub7Ytd8M7TdATgDNUYNXN1fpIAaY4O94CKdL5uFltMQtrxnxyJ9R37MkOzncw4FOMHKHwg3NXY4uDkM/s400/DSCF5892.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Well, I finally managed to set a side a little time yesterday to finish some items. Now that my home is finally kid-free and guest-free, I took a small break from the clearing up and sat down to face the <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/06/sats-stress-swatch.html">Lacy Top</a> that I'd almost forgotten about in my WIP's basket. With summer almost over now, I decided that I really should face the dreaded sewing stage on this cotton item. After all, we are only talking about 2 underarm seams and a few ends to sew in. Not exactly a mammoth task.</div><div><br /></div><div>I lay the piece out on the table and prepared to bite the bullet. With my High Schoolers sneezing and snorting behind me (they've been off sick and it's only the first week!) I picked up my needle and scissors and got started.</div><div><br /></div><div>Boy, do I HATE sewing seams. Even when I do the glorious invisible seams that give you a great sense of satisfaction as you draw up the thread and watch the knitted stitches slide together as if they totally belong that way. For some reason, I just hate having to sew after all that knitting. The only needle I want my garments to see is a knitting needle.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the fact that the Lacy Top is a top down construction, the pattern requires you to cast <em>on</em> over the cast <em>off</em> stitches of the arm holes, thus requiring seaming at the end. How I wished that I'd just picked up and avoided the sewing entirely.</div><div><br /></div><div>I know, it's pathetic!.....Two little underarm seams.......and I'm making so much fuss.</div><div><br /></div><div>I walked to pick up The Little Guy from school inbetween armholes, hoping that the fresh air would improve my mood. No luck. What can I say? I just don't like sewing. Thankfully, I've finished and am now blocking the top. Hopefully I'll get to wear it as an early autumn piece, layered over the top of a plain T-shirt.</div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382118120883555538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJidXdxpONQP7GakQznZ65eCWEnBY4dUd37U-9e-TnTMOPTC8LXPF46ds1sAC5KskSweqOq9X4FDhaMcevUtPxhOBAlAY4AcDvmpROLv8ZF2qPowdvd4_ovBUhDz4mG3L-rcUt8vrsCc/s400/DSCF5895.JPG" /><br /><div></div>Another project that I made a decision on is the <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/06/still-into-lace.html">lace curtain</a>. What was I thinking??? Loved the idea.......but the <em>time</em>, my friends, I just don't have enough of it! As much as I hate to admit that "The Husband" was right all along and will delight in my defeat, I JUST CAN'T DO IT ANY MORE!<br />In an effort to streamline my projects, I decided to abandon my dreams of lightweight English lace floating in the summer breeze and settle for a piece of heavyweight US lace that the previous owner of my house left behind! One small strip is perfect hanging from a cafe curtain rod in the downstairs bathroom and has the added bonus of keeping more of that NW chill out when winter arrives.<br /><div></div><div>Finally, I just popped over to <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2009/09/ez-was-here.html">Jared Flood's</a> blog and caught this terrific piece about an original EZ cardigan that he's been lucky enough to be asked to photograph. Following my own recent Elizabeth Zimmermann encounters, I can recommend it as an encouraging read.</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-46573839460610162842009-09-15T09:35:00.000-07:002009-09-15T18:04:23.795-07:00For Want Of A Zipper........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFobfHjQQ6WAsmRJtjAfGmVNeJdMwLWAnjcUbmcig1_o5-KVLZb6EwD0R3tG3UixP0R9z7YnUbFTuu9O_rViV5ACHSOzGo8fR22Hlb5s59b38kxTqevbV8IVwsEENsxzqZWEdqjKYfes8/s1600-h/DSCF5887.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381740096956352882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFobfHjQQ6WAsmRJtjAfGmVNeJdMwLWAnjcUbmcig1_o5-KVLZb6EwD0R3tG3UixP0R9z7YnUbFTuu9O_rViV5ACHSOzGo8fR22Hlb5s59b38kxTqevbV8IVwsEENsxzqZWEdqjKYfes8/s400/DSCF5887.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div>................the race was lost.</div><br /><div>Yes, despite my best efforts, I just couldn't manage to get that "Tomten" jacket finished in time for my parents departure back to the UK at 5pm on Sunday night. With the weekend packed full of events like 'The Little Guy's' first soccer game of the season and a tourist trip to the local <a href="http://glaciercaves.com/html/bigfou_1.HTM">Ice Caves</a>, I just ran out of time.</div><br /><div>I did try hard. I knit the final border up the front and around the hood on Friday night, which made a superb finish. My plan then was to sew in all the ends, stitch up the sleeve seams and then put in the 16" zipper. The problem was, I only had a 10" zip in my stash (it's a <em>zip</em> because I bought it in England and that's what we call them there.)</div><br /><div>After Saturday morning's soccer game, I raced to my LYS in the vague hope that my friend might have a secret supply of zippers hidden away somewhere. No luck. Even the swift round of phonecalls she made to local quilting stores along my proposed route to the ice caves that afternoon, proved fruitless. Looking at my schedule, there was just no way that I could fit in a drive to the city, just to pick up a zipper and then get said zipper stitched correctly into the garment.</div><br /><div>I gave up.</div><br /><div><em>The jacket is rather on the large side, so there's plenty of growing room knitted into it</em>, I reasoned. <em>There really is no rush to get it off to my niece.</em> Pride was also beginning to take over. <em>Did I really want to rush the finishing touches on this project? Haste would only raise the odds of making a gargantuan mistake at the last hurdle. Did I really want to risk that?</em></div><br /><div>The answer was <em>"No!"</em></div><br /><div>So where is the "Tomten" now? Sitting in my basket of WIP's. After all, when the pressure's off, what's a knitter to do?</div><br /><div>Why, cast on for something new ofcourse. =)</div><br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381739535316056914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc93TaaUoTrX82SixpFAe7MJh_XbhvUc89WTzRRCbuHY7ocqVwvR0R4OrIC-aRFwntAgcDzfNj5xUZyu0YCyzqsrlBuG7VtNzXBJO3KSlzHDDDfcT6VrTo9QAxhElrl3pivenFxPVD1Sk/s400/DSCF5870.JPG" /> </div></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;">PS. If you're in the UK, check out BBC2 at 8.45pm on Wed 16th Sept and see my cousin, James Bumpass, boning an oxtail on </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mvg4m"><span style="font-size:78%;">"Masterchef!"</span></a></p><p></p>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-1826565269169326312009-09-11T10:15:00.000-07:002009-09-13T22:09:20.555-07:00A Poor Craftsman Always Blames His Tools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVozm6qcWnfL54g_CCK2J4_vUGUFofmdcYFlszgtf52EldePt9XcAEq6Z9gIyvxkwnTWodN-CKd2QcyZrlvUXG74Rz-zjV7fynnNULHkNYh5MjaUnCEkhVLFMrxvoVYeqGkc_3dQK7Hc/s1600-h/DSCF2542.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380269406675753362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVozm6qcWnfL54g_CCK2J4_vUGUFofmdcYFlszgtf52EldePt9XcAEq6Z9gIyvxkwnTWodN-CKd2QcyZrlvUXG74Rz-zjV7fynnNULHkNYh5MjaUnCEkhVLFMrxvoVYeqGkc_3dQK7Hc/s400/DSCF2542.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div>I came across this article this morning from one of my favourite financial blogs,<a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/09/11/should-you-buy-it-a-flowchart-for-evaluating-potential-purchases/"> "Get Rich Slowly.</a>" It talks about how to evaluate potential purchases and encourages us to think about our needs versus our wants. The author is building a new home, which will require a new kitchen. Or will it?</div><br /><div>Having come across an article by food writer Mark Bittman entitled, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/weekinreview/14bittman.html?_r=1">"So Your Kitchen Is Tiny. So What?" </a>it led her to question her reasons for wanting fancy new kitchen appliances. Do the appliances make the cook or is the art of cooking just that; an ability no matter how good your tools are?</div><br /><div>Bittman, who writes The Minimalist column in<em> The New York Times</em>, describes in this article how he makes do with only <em>42 square feet of kitchen space.</em> He writes:</div><br /><br /><div></div><div><em>[Chefs and food writers] know that when it comes to kitchens, size and equipment don’t count nearly as much as devotion, passion, common sense and, of course, experience.<br />To pretend otherwise — to spend tens of thousands of dollars or more on a kitchen before learning how to cook, as is sadly common — is to fall into the same kind of silly consumerism that leads people to believe that an expensive gym membership will get them into shape or the right bed will improve their sex life. As runners run and writers write, cooks cook, under pretty much any circumstance. </em></div><br /><div>This got me thinking about knitting (just to make a change.) Are we really only as good as the quality of the tools we use or is the fact that we <em>can </em>knit really the most important thing?</div><br /><div>Last week I attended the first ever meeting of our local <a href="http://www.snohomishknittersguild.org/">Knitter's Guild</a>. It was a wonderful evening and one of the funniest parts was the game, <em>"Can You Knit With This?"</em> Knitters were asked to delve into a brown paper carrier bag and pluck out two regular household items to knit with. What a riot! In the space of 3 minutes our valiant volunteers created fabric using everything from a wooden spoon to a whisk!</div><br /><div>Frankly, I think this proves that true skill will prevail no matter what the circumstances. A real artist can create in any situation and it is the act of <em>doing</em> that is fundamental to developing that skill. </div><br /><div>Now, I'm not advocating that you grab the turkey baster from the kitchen and set to with gusto, but don't let the quality of your tools and yarn stop you from creating wonderful objects. After all "sticks and string" really are all you need to create beautiful works of knitted art.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div><em><span style="font-size:78%;">PS: I'm on the last sleeve!</span></em></div><div></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-89673855599373181992009-09-09T11:20:00.000-07:002009-09-09T12:07:24.050-07:00A Race Against Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDWteFKkzUMSHXd90f7mG7ZzNDS2wROltf5lmAN9S4c2Tx-1rGovlqpqpopH2Ss4Roal-YAI-66YF26gw52inzPocM_rpy1nPl0j0bfN-hQ3anyipIAZgJemNvNM0c8CoH-JB7w2iq5g/s1600-h/DSCF5806.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379543762403941458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDWteFKkzUMSHXd90f7mG7ZzNDS2wROltf5lmAN9S4c2Tx-1rGovlqpqpopH2Ss4Roal-YAI-66YF26gw52inzPocM_rpy1nPl0j0bfN-hQ3anyipIAZgJemNvNM0c8CoH-JB7w2iq5g/s400/DSCF5806.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Pattern:</strong> "Tomten" by Elizabeth Zimmermann</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Materials:</strong> Plymouth Encore</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Needles:</strong> US 8</span></div><br /><div>I don't know how it happens, but somehow I always manage to turn a nice gentle knitting project into a race against time. Maybe I just have this deep desire to add spice to a simple project or perhaps I just get a kick out of self-imposed deadlines? Who knows. What I do know is that my glorious garter stitch project, which was supposed to lead me gently, in a 'California cruisin' style into the autumn, has suddenly become a race against time to complete. Maybe it's just because I'm on the homeward stretch, always the time when interest starts to wane and I can easily end up with an eternal 'Work-In-Progress' (WIP)! Or perhaps it's because my parents are returning to England on Sunday and I really don't want to have to post the Tomten jacket to my niece?</div><br /><div>Whatever the reason, I am now knitting like a woman possessed. I knitted the hood last weekend in between trips out with the family and sat grafting it late on Sunday night while watching a DVD of <a href="http://www.chihuly.com/">Dale Chihuly's </a>fantastic Glass Art. I followed EZ's Kitchener tips in her book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Without-Tears-Easy-Follow/dp/0684135051">Knitting Without Tears," </a>but I know that "<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html">Knitty" </a>and "<a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/05/easier-way-to-kitchener-stitch-also.html">TechKnitting"</a> also have great articles on this easy sewing technique. (Video Tutorial at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jIzwO5Nv4">You Tube</a>.)</div><br /><div>So far, I have resisted the urge to alter Elizabeth's pattern. I wanted to stay true to her original jackets, the ones she knitted for her own children back in the '60's. You can see pictures in her book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Opinionated-Knitter-Elizabeth-Zimmermann/dp/0942018265">"The Opinionated Knitter" </a>along with a reprint of the origional newsletter that she published.</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379543284082365426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZOb_qF-RxipDSYXRCm7Oa9krzm_Zt_1jIlpiONQWR47mlUrT1V5psUcYu2VcGe36sY2mWfHwXFFOR6lORmM5qfCj-3E5A2gCESxww4B9bJZcP6GRI2vMpF25aGBshWRfavnpR78fj9g/s400/DSCF5810.JPG" /><br /><br /><div>Now I'm on the sleeves. </div><br /><div>One child went back to school today, the others go tomorrow and with soccer practice tonight, I think I have a rainy date with the car and my Ipod later today. Should be able to make some headway........I hope.</div><div> </div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-33888618664345494002009-09-04T10:22:00.001-07:002009-09-04T10:47:56.768-07:00A Knitter's Note<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgOWtJQTb1ZdMjxOlWqYUEQtwvygYwzOjfDYGX7RayQsjI9KGNEtCQytavV_2ZN-KCZSOKgLzpIX_DDDEMEM5VyTj4GbvNlv5eceMVPUHqSQTw6blDkQDswhm-9yBnjCKJF-Bzpofz_w/s1600-h/DSCF5635.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377668542808467602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgOWtJQTb1ZdMjxOlWqYUEQtwvygYwzOjfDYGX7RayQsjI9KGNEtCQytavV_2ZN-KCZSOKgLzpIX_DDDEMEM5VyTj4GbvNlv5eceMVPUHqSQTw6blDkQDswhm-9yBnjCKJF-Bzpofz_w/s400/DSCF5635.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Pattern:</strong> 'Tomten' by Elizabeth Zimmermann<br /><strong>Materials:</strong> Plymouth Encore</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Needles: </strong>US 8</span><br /><br /></div><div>I write a lot of notes. I am always afraid that I'll forget something and so my house is littered with bits of paper decorated with my semi-legible scrawl. I have lists of groceries, a general daily 'To-Do' list and a liberal sprinkling of reminders to clean out the cat's litter tray, pay the bills or drive the kids to an event. In fact I really should write myself a note as a reminder to put my son to bed at a decent time (or actually 'at all!') Last night, I forgot and he was up until <strong>I</strong> went to bed. Not a very good omen when school is about to start back next week!</div><div><br />My life also consists of knitting notes. Sometimes I run out of row counters and so I revert to scraps of paper marked with roman numeral chicken scrawl. It's extremely effective and has served me well for 35 years. As long as I remember to put the note back into the knitting bag at the end of my session, I'm good.</div><div><br />It is not surprising then that I have had to write myself a rather large <em>'Note To Self'</em> just so that I don't forget that I now have a man downstairs! Yes, having barged in on several important business calls during the past few days, I have reverted to the 'visual reminder' method of mental prompting that I know works so well with me. My <em>note</em> is kingsized and is working like a dream.</div><div><br />I've also taken advantage of a few moments in the car at soccer practice working on 'Tomten.' Despite the blazing sunshine, I was determined to make headway on the hood and spent a peaceful 45 mins knitting in the heat. In fact, I feel that I really owe EZ a knitter's note. I'll send it as a prayer, I think. It's very simple really. It'll just say:</div><div><br />"Thanks!"</div><div><br /><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377668328865397650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6axQ0UTsFnkyOFF7rPMxgn2mrvWjX4UCPmoarJYEZ4dEhqZt8MDN1s5bTA0nio94jusA7jGVQ4yxi9PsyayD06dueach0641Gcs9YPKmSm5iv7M4pXBwkOVCRs7MG9Pkb6aDgUfZE80/s400/DSCF5670.JPG" />Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-76952925584473573602009-09-02T07:02:00.000-07:002009-09-02T07:02:00.304-07:00Ready For Change?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U93SFWH8xCqTrjaYsA4NS07rsiQYxZD8DTA1NBXCqSVx3Q4VXdHuDqrFDgQWX7yN-WdpcPLwnuK0eI-wSxJisJTuqo4xbj7zJB3PFcKiddr2oa_SfC0NKtxujeQFu-WhgoXduZUSzJI/s1600-h/DSCF5668.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376742034708229906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5U93SFWH8xCqTrjaYsA4NS07rsiQYxZD8DTA1NBXCqSVx3Q4VXdHuDqrFDgQWX7yN-WdpcPLwnuK0eI-wSxJisJTuqo4xbj7zJB3PFcKiddr2oa_SfC0NKtxujeQFu-WhgoXduZUSzJI/s400/DSCF5668.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Pattern:</strong>"Tomten" by Elizabeth Zimmermann</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Materials:</strong>Yarn: Plymouth Encore</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>Needles:</strong> US 8</span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><div align="left"><br /></span></div><br />I have a man in my garage! <div align="left"> </div><br /><div></div><div>Yes, along with the three children lurking somewhere in the bedrooms and the visiting parents in the garden, I now have a husband working in my garage! In the absense of a home office, poor P.A. has been forced to take up residence in the only other quiet spot in the house...his beloved garage workshop. </div><br /><div></div><div>The start of September has seen several changes here at Wilde Thyme including the slow disintegration of the job that brought us to America. With the lease up on his company's offices, working from home has just kind of happened, but for how long we don't know. Naturally we are "down" but by no means are we "out" yet. Let's face it, we are British and that stiff upper lip is alive and well and living at our house!! For want of a better analogy: "The show's not over until the fat lady sings!"</div><br /><div></div><div>So with fortitude we have launched ourselves into our new routine. I can no longer go in and out of my house via the garage, but must now remember to take the front door key with me to lock and unlock the main door. This could well leave me searching my pockets, handbag and the car glove compartment on a regular basis, but I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. <em>Nipping</em> out to the grocery store today though meant moving the truck, then my car, then replacing the truck, before I could drive my parents out. This was <em>after </em>I'd been on a hunt for P.A.'s keys. Reaching the freezer also caused a small hiccup as well. It now supports a fax machine so I'm going to have to get myself slightly more organised when it comes to defrosting things.</div><br /><div></div><div>Thank goodness for "Tomten". I've been taking EZ's advice and have been 'knitting through all crisis.' Yesterday I took my knitting to my daughter's pediatrician's office. I'd just settled down to start, when the doctor walked in to see us. Thankfully she's a fellow knitter and was quite happy for me to continue with my garter stitch while we all talked. I managed several rows on one of the fronts while we discussed vaccination charts and medical insurance.</div><br /><div></div><div>In fact, I really am going great guns on this project. I'm almost looking forward to the day I get trapped in the car by rain at soccer practice. Just imagine it, an entire hour out of 'the mad house', alone with my knitting! Now that's a change I'm ready for. </div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-334666964603386102009-08-31T07:24:00.000-07:002009-08-31T07:24:00.294-07:00Knitting With Confidence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9di0isHRUPWPivcNiiPFynUzpPcMX87dmg1LAcQzP42yTlgzjEgP32Jg5JcvSDOPag8rKwIFTbgssL_OOYXloz0GDiH_tpVGeiLcUJ728XLGPkfP2s4yKxTcdP1a6g-nPDEZWjun6XI/s1600-h/DSCF5634.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375953677523449122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9di0isHRUPWPivcNiiPFynUzpPcMX87dmg1LAcQzP42yTlgzjEgP32Jg5JcvSDOPag8rKwIFTbgssL_OOYXloz0GDiH_tpVGeiLcUJ728XLGPkfP2s4yKxTcdP1a6g-nPDEZWjun6XI/s400/DSCF5634.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Today is the end of the month and it is D Day for us. As well as having house guests from England at this stressful time in our lives, I am racing around organizing physicals for the children in case I end up without a doctor and doing all those things that one normally does to try to prevent major fallout.</div><br /><div>I am also, I'm very happy to say, knitting again!!</div><br /><div>Yes, EZ has been my saviour. Cracking open Elizabeth Zimmermann's book to research her "Tomten" pattern has got me back up and running in the knitting department. The pattern is perfect as a social project. Its simplicity lends itself perfectly to those occasions when you want something to work on but need to have your wits about you to converse with fellow knitters or your mother!</div><br /><div>I leapt into my stash this weekend and pulled out several skeins of Plymouth Encore, an acrylic/wool blend, in a gentle shade of pink that will make a perfect warm winter jacket for a little girl. I'm using size US 8 needles and coming up with a gauge of 4sts per inch. After one false start when I swear the item could have stretched to fit around me(!) I have now cast on 104sts and am merrily producing pink garter stitch while my mum brings me up to date on all the news back in "Ol Blighty."</div><br /><div>As to the rest of life? EZ even has an answer for that. She says: "Knit on with confidence and hope, through all crisis."</div><br /><div></div><div>Sounds like good advice to me.</div></div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375953104273401026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY00GMIpRrbS5rgu2XX-2uw7bH2JAIqhwx6tjBxQUvqG2MTEAcARrOR5RPFtMOsrM7Izkzb2_HhVTKzApvupDiVwPpFbvxSK-64xQsdhZYRYIgMqt0gqTHrSw12ehpYDHW5bsZM0FrV_A/s400/DSCF5636.JPG" /></p></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-46273214272390193782009-08-26T06:28:00.000-07:002009-08-26T14:16:14.802-07:00EZ To The Rescue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEYQ3Fc8fv6KKKyMbMNUAqRqs5jGlnNE2ZhUO_4j_tFFOzNUiskPnCKeJO-l-q7NYUZW9SyWx2UaH_-s7Qebo_ZMAxtwClU8JWzw6aU7RU3xMYc5j8il-nIh1fhFhI7a0uILkh-YQJFI/s1600-h/DSCF5630.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374383391007463938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEYQ3Fc8fv6KKKyMbMNUAqRqs5jGlnNE2ZhUO_4j_tFFOzNUiskPnCKeJO-l-q7NYUZW9SyWx2UaH_-s7Qebo_ZMAxtwClU8JWzw6aU7RU3xMYc5j8il-nIh1fhFhI7a0uILkh-YQJFI/s400/DSCF5630.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Not last night, but the night before, it rained. It's been so long since I heard rain, that I woke up wondering what on earth the noise was! The garden was almost gasping in relief at finally having a good refreshing downpour, but I didn't feel quite the same. Along with it came some early morning mist and the smell of Autumn, just in time to remind us that it's nearly the end of summer.</div><br /><div>My thoughts are slowly creeping towards soup, pumpkins and woolly socks now that I can feel that nip in the air at the start and end of each day. Deep down I'm hoping that, along with it all, my knitting mojo will return.</div><br /><div>In an effort to kickstart my knitting spirit again, I decided this week that a new project might be just the thing to get me going. Not that I don't have enough Works-In-Progress (WIPs) right now, but somehow I just don't want to pick any of them up. Perhaps a goodly dose of EZ might be in order? I turned to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Zimmermann">Elizabeth Zimmermann's</a> "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Without-Tears-Easy-Follow/dp/0684135051">Knitting Without Tears"</a> which seemed like a promising title at least. What I had in mind was her well known "Tomten" - simple, stressless and practical. With plenty of new little girls in the family to receive the jacket, knitting '<em>for'</em> someone wasn't going to be an issue so I continued my research. </div><br /><div>Elizabeth was a delight. Her soothing voice rose out of the pages of her book, inspiring me with their eaze. I spent time on Ravelry looking at other people's versions too (what a wonderful resource that is) and am now about to select yarn. With our job situation now at "Red Alert" I shall be stash diving and hoping for the best with whatever I find there.</div><br /><div>Wish me luck.</div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-90074589023226372282009-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:002009-08-19T09:08:25.171-07:00A Relegated Knitter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf3_P41mLUqLS70Vdvhw0LvrlgcPq0lIfHEPVbEmZgi9vpGpOS3a8dZFoKF3kxf4LJZoRaBXj7aDKptJCPWigXodyA3S0Dj_GwO6ue55Cnf2fvc7JUV61AAsJymCynSaastv_4968SJw/s1600-h/DSCF3876-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371701604364434162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSf3_P41mLUqLS70Vdvhw0LvrlgcPq0lIfHEPVbEmZgi9vpGpOS3a8dZFoKF3kxf4LJZoRaBXj7aDKptJCPWigXodyA3S0Dj_GwO6ue55Cnf2fvc7JUV61AAsJymCynSaastv_4968SJw/s400/DSCF3876-1.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Have you ever been out knit? You know, someone else nearby is constantly managing to create the most wonderful things and you're struggling to even pick up the needles. To start with it's mildly irritating, but after a few weeks it REALLY begins to grate.</div><br /><div></div><div>Such is my situation now. For all of my good intentions, I managed only about an hour of free knitting time during my vacation. It just wasn't that kind of holiday. In fact, I was so pathetic that I couldn't even get my act together enough to knit in the car as we drove to Canada. In my haste to get everyone and everything safely stashed in the vehicle, I completely forgot to throw my knitting on to the front seat. Halfway to Vancouver, I turned round to see that DD2 was knitting on a fushia pink winter hat and grinning like the cat who got the cream!</div><br /><div></div><div>So much for being a knitter with a capital "K". This summer I've turned into a pathetic excuse for a knitter. A knitter who is definitely a knitter with a small "k" and should really be considered a "nitter" with no "k" at all! If I was a soccer team I definitely wouldn't be first division material and would now have almost certainly been dropped from the division and perhaps even <em>relegated</em> to the bottom of the league. Yes, <em>relegation</em> is my new calling.</div><br /><div></div><div>In fact, my only saving grace was that I did have the forethought to pack my knitting bag where I could find it for the return journey. What a godsend that turned out to be. Friday night at the US/Canadian border is no picnic, I can tell you. I was relieved to have the scarf to knit and the latest copy of "Interweave Knits" to browse through while we sat in line. Eventually, I decided to take pictures of the beautiful garden at the border, a decision that very nearly resulted in me getting left behind. I was just heading back to our vehicle when they waved our block of cars on to the front of the line. I rarely run in public (and for good reason) but the prospect of being left in Canada with no passport and no money was enough for me to attempt to emulate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt">Usain Bolt</a>, much to the amusement of my fellow travellers!</div><div></div><div>We waited over two hours just to have the pleasure of showing our green cards to a stern border patrolman, who asked whether we'd bought anything and got hit by one of P.A's "Er, wells?" This was not the time for a laid back, contemplative "Er, well?" His suspicion aroused, the border guard ducked his head back in time to hear that DD1 had "just bought a few clothes." Now anyone with half a brain would know that purchasing anything up there would have been pretty pointless. The clothing was so small that I could have dressed a doll with it and there wasn't a yarn store within miles of downtown (I did google them.) Add to that the fact that everything cost a lot more than it does here at home and you get my point. Unless they happened to be selling Quivit nextdoor to my hotel, then I wasn't going to be tempted by much.</div><br /><div></div><div>In California last week, I managed an hour on my Kid's Keyhole Scarf. I console myself with the fact that it was the most complicated part, as I managed to make the 'keyhole' part while I was there. Still, I am definitely fodder for the "Knitter Relegation Squad" when it comes to airline travel. Yes, I confess, I was intimidated by airline security and so I packed my knitting in my suitcase. I like to travel light too, which means that I check my tiny, roll along suitcase and then watch the rest of my fellow travellers trying to shove theirs into the overhead lockers. It's actually rather amusing. Here in the US you can bring a handbag <strong><em>and</em></strong> a small case on to the plane. As a European, I'm used to travelling with a lot greater luggage restriction and frankly, the hassle of trying to fight other people for that locker space is just not worth it. While they're wrestling with their hand luggage, I have usually left the plane and am cruising into the terminal to retrieve my roll along from the baggage carousel. I arrive at my destination a whole lot calmer and less dishevelled.</div><br /><div></div><div>Still, I haven't mastered the art yet of aeroplane knitting. What are the rules? How do you get needles and stitch holders past airport security? Do you just use bamboo for airline travel and are socks out of the question because the needles are so small and sharp?</div><br /><div></div><div>To avoid relegation, I think I need to know!</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-3494910394421643832009-08-01T06:44:00.000-07:002009-08-01T07:23:11.439-07:00Vacation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbWSIKbZLc8deuGL9lUDTxhK0Q_9iFOWqTzb0LIcbcK-Oaf63KzUDejaKoFTII37gZXWy2Bw_RBSAauaWGKyWhcSUdUaCvEE4392OFw723c2XQiC0G4-leLBPdDZ6Jjol2vZV6bfFwPE/s1600-h/DSCF5000.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364999598302946546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbWSIKbZLc8deuGL9lUDTxhK0Q_9iFOWqTzb0LIcbcK-Oaf63KzUDejaKoFTII37gZXWy2Bw_RBSAauaWGKyWhcSUdUaCvEE4392OFw723c2XQiC0G4-leLBPdDZ6Jjol2vZV6bfFwPE/s400/DSCF5000.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Yes, I finally managed some knitting! Last night I kissed the family goodbye and grabbed my bag to go and meet with some knitting friends for a few hours. Initially it took me a while to remember what I was knitting, how far I'd come and if I could actually talk and knit at the same time. I was pleased to discover that I haven't lost the art of either! Indeed it's just like riding a bike - once you've learned, you never forget.</div><br /><div></div><div>My delightful little project bag (handmade by my MIL) proved to contain the dear little grey Keyhole Scarf that I started aeons ago. It was honestly good to kick back and knit a little on something that didn't take a lot of brain power or energy. After weeks of decorating, driving kids all over the county, watering a parched veggie bed twice a day and mopping up cat pee (don't ask!), I was glad to escape and chill over the needles.</div><br /><div></div><div>I am hoping to do more, although as I've finally planned a few days away (for the first time in 2yrs) I suspect that laundry and packing will take over my life this weekend. We're heading over the border to Canada on Monday followed next Saturday by a whistle stop trip to California for DD1 and I. I'm going to be busy.</div><br /><div></div><div>Packing for five is no joke either. When the kids were small we resembled an army on military manoeuvres whenever we all left town! Now we no longer have to take half a hundred weight of nappies (diapers) with us, things have improved, although teenage girls on tour are not to be messed with, especially in the clothes department. When we were first married, P.A. used to complain that I took so much stuff when I travelled. Oh, how times have changed. Now I gladly leave the kitchen sink behind and can makedo with what commonly passes here in the US for hand luggage. Instead the girls have taken up my space in the trunk of the car with<em> 'goodness only knows what.</em>' Thank goodness we have a minivan!</div><br /><div></div><div>Even if the girls do manage to do their own washing these days, it's pretty inevitable that we'll all need to use the laundry machine at the same time. Perhaps if I'm really quick, I could get a load or two on before they start jostling for the 'casual/permanent press' button? Do you think 6.30am is a totally unreasonable time to start the machine? Hmmmm, maybe I'll just chill with those needles and enjoy the quiet for a little longer.</div><br /><div></div><div>See you soon!</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-23993128103198383492009-07-27T09:03:00.000-07:002009-07-27T09:33:22.080-07:00Summer Projects<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0oK-NOaWom3rTSkhw-QtwqPCux7bRl2YoWxOHP38edWU0eyN5eiJHDm5jFKg3LtYgZPSqJHoOd9kHObZBHrUtmLVV-4YZzKJ6h1k3eN-CcEhvnQSow5Gd9qRzF4JLY761M4r26bKeVo/s1600-h/DSCF4932.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363177397110138034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0oK-NOaWom3rTSkhw-QtwqPCux7bRl2YoWxOHP38edWU0eyN5eiJHDm5jFKg3LtYgZPSqJHoOd9kHObZBHrUtmLVV-4YZzKJ6h1k3eN-CcEhvnQSow5Gd9qRzF4JLY761M4r26bKeVo/s400/DSCF4932.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div>Well my projects this summer have not been of the knitting variety. Sad to say, I have not picked up my needles for over a week. It is all because I have needed to work on that 'To Do' list that I planned at the beginning of the year. Starting to paint our house has been this year's major project. You see, we think that it hasn't been done since it was built 16yrs ago! </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>You can imagine what condition the walls are in by now. Thankfully nothing is peeling, but they really are so dry that just one whiff of emulsion and they cry out for attention. To say they are thirsty is an understatement.</div><br /><div>So this week, while my girls were away, I tackled the last of the kids bedrooms. DD2 was the lucky recipient, after all, I just couldn't pass up the chance of having a spare room to put all her stuff into and no one to rehouse in someone elses room during the process. It was a golden opportunity.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363177181301094050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnjMQiV8PFRikN-UPiIDEGS4XpssBVWw6whtN5v1m0VnV_Bn5BpZJo7DLQtxt9gUUZCshK2zDoJlcc5NkyetOQJ5KvC_3Whp4vuecv9c3Edaq1vcMnDWQUKOEmkDL3F6FaV0oZwlBnhc/s400/DSCF4931.JPG" /><br /><div>It was also hard work. The walls were full of pin holes that had to be filled and sanded. Then the entire room (including the closet) was daubed with basecoat and finally, several days later, I started painting the ceiling. It was backbreaking work even with my trusty roller taped with duct tape to the top of a mop handle. By the end of the day my legs ached from running up and down the ladder and the stairs. My feet were also so sore from walking barefoot on plastic, that I swear I was going lame. By Saturday I enlisted P.A's help to paint the final two walls green.</div><br /><div>Yesterday we started moving the furniture back in. It was just like doing a Makeover TV show as we counted down the hours until the girls would arrive home. Such a shame that they arrived back from New Orleans in the early hours of the morning, so I haven't seen them yet. Still, I know DD2 will love it. At last her American bedroom is truly hers and <em>I</em> can tick another project off that giant list!</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363175580604091666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOAGS97cruQ7B1KKRsHW5NSMPGat36fCfUYwwNhK49_D6Q_KblmttGvjpPq4eEbGBQgg-4CQEec8LOMoNcbYrlM7pnJIe_cv8esa3hkH-PFSwPL_darPbPFZ9MYPen83YRks_1Me3RcE/s400/DSCF4966.JPG" /> </div></div></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-57348277713720082822009-07-20T07:05:00.001-07:002009-07-20T07:43:31.587-07:00Six<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINa9fpYdUmfcX4ju2Qk9GAMavBCHWUXBdLvM6cCmGlenrvnsx5yMTE8B86Rx-JJqdU8c2imZhP2311yDcAB6ewko6mtAW5PRixrtbYA5iWOkSHghVarQslTtcgN0uXJq-wZdWZXhgcZ4/s1600-h/DSCF4835.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360552099797029698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINa9fpYdUmfcX4ju2Qk9GAMavBCHWUXBdLvM6cCmGlenrvnsx5yMTE8B86Rx-JJqdU8c2imZhP2311yDcAB6ewko6mtAW5PRixrtbYA5iWOkSHghVarQslTtcgN0uXJq-wZdWZXhgcZ4/s400/DSCF4835.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I actually managed to knit six rows on the Swallowtail Shawl this Saturday. I know it was only six rows, but as the project is starting to grow more now, those six rows take longer than they did before. I'm still religiously ticking them off on my "Swallowtail Shawl Mileage Sheet" and hoping and praying that I maintain the correct stitch count, but hey, IT WAS SIX WHOLE ROWS!</div><br /><div></div><div>My main issue is having the energy to knit at the end of the day. I could really do with the calming presence of my knitting, but most of the time I'm too wiped to do more than fall into bed in a state of exhaustion. Consequently six rows really was a major achievement. Six rows meant setting aside an hour on a deck chair in the sun listening to my iPod and cutting everyone else out for that time. Six rows meant ignoring the cries of "Muuumm?" as they tried to find me and six rows meant ignoring P.A waving from the pool as he tried to draw attention to the fact that it was now 80 degrees and he'd actually got into it!!</div><br /><div></div><div>DD2 is coveting my progress. She hit an issue again so her yarn is back in the corner of the room in a tangled heap. She's trying to pursuade me to redo it for her (she keeps ending up with too many stitches), but so far I have not succumbed to her butt-licking declarations of "You know you love me, Mum" or "I'm your favourite daughter and I love you soooo much!"</div><br /><div></div><div>Thankfully I've been too busy keeping control of our burgeoning vegetable garden to be sweet-talked into someone elses lace project. The weather has been unbelievably hot this year and so watering has been a big job. The plants on my front deck are beginning to get away from me now. It's just so hot there and we're all getting too lazy to contort ourselves to water the hanging tomatoes and strawberries. The white onions in the container have been wonderful though. Every time I need one to go in the dinner, I just pop outside the front door and pull it fresh out of the soil.</div><br /><div></div><div>Meanwhile, the zucchini (courgettes to my fellow Brits) are taking over! I've had at least ten already (yes, more than six) and I only have two plants. They are coming on so thick and fast that my stomach can't keep up with the pace of production! This weekend I resorted to chopping, blanching and freezing some to use at a later date in soups, stews and quiches. After all, you <em>can</em> have too much of a good thing and I really don't want to become sick of the sight of them by the end of the summer. I'm also on the lookout for any new zucchini recipes, so if you have a good one you don't mind passing on, I am your grateful recipient.</div><br /><div></div><div>Now, I wonder if I have time to knit another six rows before everyone else gets up today? The benefit of waking before six every day (yes, there actually is an upside) is that I can sneak in a few uninterrupted stitches during the most peaceful part of the day.</div><br /><div></div><div>Ahh, bliss.</div><div> </div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-41870623683650371652009-07-18T08:47:00.000-07:002009-07-18T09:44:52.437-07:00Driver's Ed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReEIZfIUydxFB9sd6S8MTRUMS3me0ujX3wx4085cXhjhQiuIio9ezDTBUWMo7fp621atYBTdsX_fEsG5d0rVAk9UEc0Cb-kYyFGJed-oVfLBLsZ8vwcf6baVO-qv4ApbuCR4i_Z_EKFA/s1600-h/England+Flag.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359840525772125138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReEIZfIUydxFB9sd6S8MTRUMS3me0ujX3wx4085cXhjhQiuIio9ezDTBUWMo7fp621atYBTdsX_fEsG5d0rVAk9UEc0Cb-kYyFGJed-oVfLBLsZ8vwcf6baVO-qv4ApbuCR4i_Z_EKFA/s400/England+Flag.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well, I still haven't had time to pick up the needles. There have just been too many other projects going on that require my attention. It's not easy. Summer is the time for birthdays in our house, so there has been cake baking, parties, outings and ofcourse the ongoing experience known here as Driver's Ed.</div><br /><div></div><div>The latter has been quite enlightening. It's our first time. We're complete novices, so as usual DD1 has been the guinea pig. We've experienced the usual 'foreigner-in-a-foreign-land' unspoken rules. You know, all those things that you're just supposed to<em> </em>just<em> know. </em>The main unspoken truth was that as soon as your child <em>gets</em> their permit you can put them behind the wheel.</div><br /><div></div><div>No one mentioned that at the DOL. No one mentioned that at the parent's evening. Even the insurance company (whom we had to pester to know whether they would accept our foreign driving experience as part of the 5yrs that the parent has to have been driving) didn't mention it. We were supposed to <em>just know</em>. Consequently DD1 arrived at class having had a quick lesson in a car park from yours truly the night before and was required to drive around town on her first day! Scary! Once I'd got over the shock that my child had survived to tell the tale, all I could think was, "Thank goodness it's an automatic."</div><br /><div></div><div>Thankfully she has succeeded and 4 weeks later has passed Driver's Ed. </div><div> </div><div>Her father and I are now also fully trained in the art of teaching teenagers to drive. We no longer grip the passenger seat as she takes a corner too hard or involuntarily lean in towards her, eyes round with fear, as she passes a line of parked cars. Our feet have stopped trying to brake as she tailgates the car in front and our hands no longer sit in our laps clenched into sweaty balls. Indeed you could say that we are now graduates of "Passenger's Ed"!!</div><br /><div></div><div>The arguments were also few and far between. For once our authority and superior experience were accepted without question. The realisation that passing meant <em>'sucking up to the olds in a big way'</em> led to relative peace and harmony inside the vehicle. In fact, we now have 5 more months of potential behaviour modification powers before she takes her test. This should be good for some SERIOUS help at home. Success is, after all, still dependent on enough practice and that in turn is determined by us.</div><br /><div></div><div>Ah, what it is to have power!</div><div> </div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-17655327557060293232009-07-15T10:09:00.000-07:002009-07-15T11:38:45.409-07:00Lipstick<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznLXBRoCBoDxijUcw7cpNPpYJSnI32mZ83qf8N32o6Cu2hNlXROrg9Nvq18eVOaPrpIahMGBxLn6D6i1L7PCy77IBbkOcfxnm2p_RCJn0AhowBIektiXlPZAJUpRAulJlJWg7llUu8Vg/s1600-h/DSCF4605.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ3Seuv5h2ikmopib77gZRfWc-eXqFkxIfZphH41GDkkIvJ37sT9FJ8QBS0y_iUr2oTcmmlaZRh5KSnvnjvVObj7j-IFRy8t7vh_sd3ZheBnjEDfhOtbwdgL55zgx712tHH-6UtS6cIo/s1600-h/DSCF4610.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358754415268267730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ3Seuv5h2ikmopib77gZRfWc-eXqFkxIfZphH41GDkkIvJ37sT9FJ8QBS0y_iUr2oTcmmlaZRh5KSnvnjvVObj7j-IFRy8t7vh_sd3ZheBnjEDfhOtbwdgL55zgx712tHH-6UtS6cIo/s400/DSCF4610.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I always know when life has spiralled out of control because I start leaving the house without putting on any lipstick. Don't get me wrong I'm not a vermillion lipped diva with a Marilyn-style pout, but I do normally manage to at least slap on some lipgloss before I race out of the door in the mornings.</div><br /><div>Recently I've been jumping into the car in a mild state of undress. I've managed to make sure that I've had my clothes on (although I will confess to having looked down to check that I am actually wearing trousers and not my P.J's!), but my lips have been totally naked.</div><br /><div>Now I'm one of those people whose face looks instantly transformed by a quick swipe with a pale pink stick of Cover Girl (or whatever I happen to have open.) I instantly look 'dressed' when my lips are coloured, no matter how little other make-up I've used. I usually manage a spot of eyeliner and some mascara too, but the lips just seem to 'do it.'</div><br /><div>Sadly, I have now become so busy that nakedness has been the order of the day in the lip department. I am achieving things, so it's not all bad, but I'm beginning to look like the wreck of the Hesparus in the process! It's my fault really. This is what happens when you have 3 children instead of the standard 2.2 or whatever the latest government statistic is. It's only when you finally hold number 3 in your arms that you realise that you just relegated number 1 to the crook of your leg when it comes to the heirachy of family hugs. Suddenly two arms are no longer enough and when they all want a cuddle at the same time, you have to learn to hug one of them with your leg!</div><br /><div>Granted my oldest two are now beyond the age of competitive hugging, but they make up for it in other ways. They're quite happy to wait until I'm available before they claim their cuddle, but when it comes to hogging all their parent's attention, teens and American culture conspire to turn the tables on younger siblings. Suddenly 'the nipper' is forced back into his/her rightful place as 3rd in line to the Mamma Bear and the Mamma Bear knows it. She longs to spend time with number 3, but preparing number 1 for life in the big, wide world takes all her time.</div><br /><div>This is the point I have reached now. I've made great headway this summer; The Little Guy has a newly painted room, DD1 is becoming a 'good' driver and both girls are about to leap out into the world alone next week on a trip of a lifetime to the <a href="http://archive.elca.org/youth/gathering_theme.html">National Lutheran Youth Gathering </a>in New Orleans. But I miss spending one on one time with my son.</div><br /><div>This past year with two kids in High School was so busy that I felt he was becoming overlooked. I longed for the summer, so that we could hang out together, but the demands of a High School Senior are encroaching on our time. Knitting has been all but forgotten in the chaos of life, but as much as it pains me to sideline my obsession, I don't really mind. Finding time for The Little Guy is the most important thing right now.</div><br /><div></div><div>To that end we've borrowed a book from the library called "Lunch Money" by Andrew Clements. I'm reading it to him. We're finding quiet places to go in the house or the garden, where we can just sunggle and read. Hopefully it'll give us that time together that we both crave.</div><div></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-32907110355582059762009-07-09T08:47:00.000-07:002009-07-09T09:07:35.387-07:00We Have Growth<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356491569730101730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTpvrh1IyoDMZH8OBUYyae-v1Ck0EUxZk5AlPMnSIEqs1OhHnhGekDxuNQm9l830HUSXq-PmCuDpm8UhCP0jGESqz-lR2_55-3BrER4YlNAHQNU8akBu9vSvXb4dYoQwKcZa-9x5LwS4/s400/DSCF4655.JPG" /><br /><div><div><div>Well, the chart is working for me. Slowly but surely I am seeing growth in this project and I'm maintaining my stitches. Sometimes I find that I miscount because one of the YOs has got wrapped around the next stitch, so the best solution I've found is to count my stitches as I purl the even rows. I've also put an extra marker on each end to denote the two knit stitches that make the top edge of the shawl. Just having one on the right side row was not working for me. When I purled back, I'd just forget when I'd got to the edge and P2 instead of K2.(sigh)</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356491024212645170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDc5lvMBvrUTcOmrWs9B_te7KTPgZBbZA2wdBpE4KnXaM5TsvxHvIp9fl9hF_hGBpMSEhHLSo9P_1-L-X_Gt_WT757PuSLEbW-agcUcHl34_4DTPMYX8Nj7Z0PO9z7qfpBeUfX-RJvhM/s400/DSCF4561.JPG" /><br /><div>The best thing though is that DD2 has been inspired to start again. Seeing my 4 inches of work now, she has been motivated to pick up her needles again and crack on with her green version. She's using a smaller needle though (which doesn't bode well in my opinion) but she's managed to get to the start of the Budding Lace repeats.</div><br /><div>What's amazed me though, is that she's decided to '<em>put in a lifeline'</em> to prevent herself having to rip the whole thing out yet again if she makes a mistake! She googled <a href="http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/lifeline.shtm">'lifelines'</a> and has worked out what to do. Honestly, she's making me feel totally reckless jogging on as I am, without a safety net!</div><br /><div>Anyway, time will tell. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get to the end of the 14 repeats (I'm halfway!!) and then may be I'll consider a lifeline too before I start the Lilly Of The Valley pattern. With all those nupps to do, it sounds like a good idea to me.</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356491664601226130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik5YvDl441Ec8fk4YlsT3SNxT9gueOIW60o8XQ-Vl-CFBu0xWutWCEBd89EBPjqbA8GL2bv3LHhylKKFLLo4w9ynoRQ3pnWLWvbE8bBbdqygC83B4OALifHhoedhBUZwJ9_Da8OfWvnkQ/s400/DSCF4653.JPG" /></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-53410570539849460172009-07-06T10:21:00.000-07:002009-07-06T13:07:03.572-07:00Seeing Red<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0W1OBtHdPn8bM4Ezg1-1JwTEGOMNZWez_E2ihvLaNVzUU1x7XcsPgDCzac538Q6xkm5yOBkjf13xoO7x564kXu8aTNy8j-gMF5EOHNx1w1ohM4DvMbJBmMGvJ_APoJ_2QxDok066sJM/s1600-h/DSCF4551-2.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355439011643857202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0W1OBtHdPn8bM4Ezg1-1JwTEGOMNZWez_E2ihvLaNVzUU1x7XcsPgDCzac538Q6xkm5yOBkjf13xoO7x564kXu8aTNy8j-gMF5EOHNx1w1ohM4DvMbJBmMGvJ_APoJ_2QxDok066sJM/s400/DSCF4551-2.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><em>It seems that I've fallen into a summer schedule whether I intended to or not. Please check back regularly for updates which I will post 'as and when' (but at least once a week.) Although summer should be a time of R&R (don't worry, I have penciled in some time for that), mine has turned into an onslaught of Driving and DIY.</em> </div><br /><div>Well, my wonderful weekend of knitting really was a weekend of knitting but wasn't so wonderful. I enjoyed a couple of hours on Saturday starting off my Swallowtail Shawl. DD2 on the other hand, spent her time ripping back her first attempt. With increasing frustration, she has declared her Knit Picks Shadow a 'no-go' yarn and thrown the whole project into the corner of her room in disgust.</div><br /><div>She'd been doing fine, but then realised that she had too many stitches and when she tried to frog back, the rather delicate, fuzzy yarn got so knotted up that it broke....several times. Patience was not in her vocabulary and, eyeing my small piece of work, she warned me that the going might get tough.</div><br /><div>It did.</div><br /><div>On Sunday, I went back to my two inches of work only to discover that I too had created way too many stitches on my second lot of 6 rows in the Budding Lace Pattern. Determined to be more patient than my offspring, I frogged back to row 6 and attempted to start again. Two rows in and I again had too many stitches.</div><br /><div>I went to Ravelry.</div><br /><div>Reading the comments listed for the Swallowtail Shawl written by fellow Ravellers, I found Kim at "<a href="http://musingraccoon.wordpress.com/">Musings Of The Fuzzy Kind"</a>. Having sat there doing the math trying to work out how many stitches I should have after each pattern row, I discovered that Kim has already done the job. She has made a PDF called <a href="http://musingraccoon.wordpress.com/2009/05/22/the-swallowtail-mileage-sheet/">"The Swallowtail Mileage Sheet" </a>which lists the number of stitches for each row for the entire 14 repeats of the Budding Lace Pattern. Invaluable!</div><br /><div>Despite trying to frog delicately back, I eventually decided that I'd actually done so little that I might as well just rip out the whole thing and start again. So I did. Late last night I reached the second repeat of the Budding Lace Pattern.....<strong>and made the same mistakes over again.</strong> In complete and utter frustration, I turned to the chart to see if that would shed more light on the issue than the written instructions. And do you know what? It did!</div><br /><div>Just before I went to bed, the penny dropped. From studying the chart, I realised that I'd been repeating the entire section between the stars instead of just the 6-stitch repeat! That was how I was ending up with too many stitches.</div><br /><div>Duh! Dunderhead!!</div><br /><div>There is now a chance that I <em>will</em> get beyond the first repeat of this lace shawl and who knows, maybe once I do, I'll persuade DD2 to take the journey with me again.</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355438433361745026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeCk7udF80fGEAXGf25R8wMmnicNX0bgC9QqzRgv2xt-6Uaj8UFBKM81-i1JvJtmWlDdcfkN0P7eB_SRc79kOlmuLESRza0L62r18-cEBWLX0lwRNFvwvIyBVhhLMpmYZTORJw1Af8Vw/s400/DSCF4582.JPG" /></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-4691713129476988352009-07-04T17:24:00.001-07:002009-07-04T17:28:55.682-07:00Happy 4th of July!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JkYI2ALZ9WnAQWEZ576var8wq6oHPqmoQ7M1arCwo2mtorOsXaiK3CtAb_Zl0VtT7cabbDK-rWGbuxvir6QYjkk-aYjaGHQTpfXG7Yo0nJUXRIqTyAcEXdRLYgAjLFmBjUa7G6fvP2c/s1600-h/DSCF4585.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354765720087536178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JkYI2ALZ9WnAQWEZ576var8wq6oHPqmoQ7M1arCwo2mtorOsXaiK3CtAb_Zl0VtT7cabbDK-rWGbuxvir6QYjkk-aYjaGHQTpfXG7Yo0nJUXRIqTyAcEXdRLYgAjLFmBjUa7G6fvP2c/s400/DSCF4585.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Pattern</span>:</em> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Swallowtail Lace Shawl - Evelyn Clark</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow - Hot Rod</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><br />Time for sticks and string.....at last!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-34998602226739486252009-06-29T10:27:00.000-07:002009-06-29T12:19:48.315-07:00Size Matters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03OKhmSdIP2-O-2BvgiPuIi2Pc9u3sUJV9OIe-2ES7GjtZ1nXUVpARkJOBKk4cZK2-TzDcs8XT8mjnThijsDfd0gQXEw3KAtCtRpACSOfmfYzP5YpemsyKayF58gs58rV6kvdvvwQBxg/s1600-h/DSCF4580.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352829798501629538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03OKhmSdIP2-O-2BvgiPuIi2Pc9u3sUJV9OIe-2ES7GjtZ1nXUVpARkJOBKk4cZK2-TzDcs8XT8mjnThijsDfd0gQXEw3KAtCtRpACSOfmfYzP5YpemsyKayF58gs58rV6kvdvvwQBxg/s400/DSCF4580.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Well, I finally managed to pick up the sticks and string again yesterday after a whole week of D.I.Y. It was a blessed relief I can tell you. I have done enough filling, sanding, priming and painting to last me, oh, several weeks at least. As if the world knew how much I needed the respite, the sun came out as well. I spent the afternoon sitting on the back deck listening to <a href="http://sticksandstring.org/?page=About">David Reidy</a> on my iPod and working on a sample <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kids-keyhole-scarf">Kid's Keyhole Scarf</a> that I started a couple of months ago.</div><br /><div></div><div>I also managed to finish the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/african-hope-hat">African Hope Hat</a> that has been wandering around with me for months hidden in my purse. <em>(There hereby follows a major lesson!)</em> Now I really must insist that you NEVER, repeat NEVER leave a purse project in your handbag for months at a time. It would seem that it is absolutely imperative to gauge that your work sees the light of day on a regular basis.</div><br /><div></div><div>You see, after I'd excitedly sewn in the ends of my project and stepped back to admire it, it just didn't look quite right. For one thing, I hadn't been measuring properly (couldn't always find the tape measure) and as I'd only managed the odd round here and there inbetween picking up a kid from an activity, there was just no continuity. The pattern looked continuous (and is indeed correct)..........but the gauge is totally off!</div><br /><div></div><div>The hat is child-sized.</div><br /><div></div><div>I can only surmise that my tension (in every sense of the word) was so 'up-the-swany' that the hat turned out smaller than I'd intended. I guess that's what you get when you have way too many W.I.P's. Still, it won't be wasted. As the hat was originally designed as a charity project, I shall just put it away until such a time as a charity needs it.</div><br /><div></div><div>Still, I'd really better get a handle on this 'creating some more F.O's thing.' If hibernation <em>always</em> leads to gauge issues, there are a variety of items that I could end up having trouble with, a sweater for P.A. for one. I don't think he'd be too happy if I claimed "expansion of his girth" rather than "reduction in my gauge" as the reason for problems with fit!</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-23575749049476306212009-06-24T09:59:00.000-07:002009-06-24T10:39:43.801-07:00I'd Love To Knit, But....................<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLD2j1NTbxKfSffDC8gc-9HKdqIcTNnRgGRnoO-SdWAnN9-MWSPtcDgwqRmoCDO_L9cZmGoFdqzegN-dG4FxrwxB9bkJRFxLv4Svx_mMfedRtm3Co0IhoAuFOE1FLrkEVTGDqpRWMGzgs/s1600-h/DSCF4570.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350948010076415714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLD2j1NTbxKfSffDC8gc-9HKdqIcTNnRgGRnoO-SdWAnN9-MWSPtcDgwqRmoCDO_L9cZmGoFdqzegN-dG4FxrwxB9bkJRFxLv4Svx_mMfedRtm3Co0IhoAuFOE1FLrkEVTGDqpRWMGzgs/s400/DSCF4570.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Now I know that this is the same picture that I posted on Monday, but don't worry, you're not having a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)">Groundhog Day</a> experience. It <em>is</em> the same picture because, to put it simply,<em> I have not knitted a stitch since Sunday!</em></div><br /><div></div><div>I know, it's beyond comprehension isn't it. How on earth am I managing to survive, you're thinking? Well, I have to tell you, I'M HANGING ON BY A THREAD! (excuse the pun.)</div><br /><div></div><div>The withdrawal symptoms started yesterday. I swear that I was shaking uncontrollably as I got out of the car in the afternoon, although that could have had something to do with my 'car-crazed' teen who was driving. This first week of Driver's Ed has completely taken over my life. Never have I needed to knit so much and yet never have I been so strapped for time.</div><br /><div></div><div>To relieve my stress, I've been compelled to paint The Little Guy's bedroom. This project is coming along famously, it's just the assortment of toys and trash that his room has disgorged that's the problem. Climbing over an extra nightstand, three boxes of stuffed animals and a model aeroplane to get into my bed every night does nothing to quieten the mind at the end of a long day. I fall asleep aching and exhausted dreaming of traffic cones and kids in diapers driving high speed vehicles.</div><br /><div></div><div>Fully aware of my present state of mind, DD2 has wisely suggested that we wait until the painting is done before we begin our Swallowtail Shawl KAL. Thank goodness someone is talking sense right now. It's certainly uplifting to have a pal who understands your pain; someone who <em>doesn't</em> Cast On in front of you; someone who is sensitive enough to take their own knitting to a babysitting gig and afterwards refrain from proudly showing you how much they've accomplished. </div><div></div><div>Although she's only been knitting for a year, DD2's become an amazingly astute knitter. Somehow she just seems to <em>know </em>when to usher me up to my room, place my knitting bag at my feet and say;</div><br /><div></div><div>"Here, Mum. Knit!"</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-29750856199498883812009-06-22T10:12:00.000-07:002009-06-22T13:04:04.377-07:00Top Gear<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBpEVuwbZcPwFR3EDlOcIyve_R0i4HIgcgJsI007w9WrJ2YFurTI0i9D_05K9hSA6ax8TsUgYbB4yTrwWzBmm__DSRp0YZ8I2-KVYaqdngPlVqdtycqyubIMc7CfkQyEsj6jeShK4I4Q/s1600-h/DSCF4570.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350229070093833106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBpEVuwbZcPwFR3EDlOcIyve_R0i4HIgcgJsI007w9WrJ2YFurTI0i9D_05K9hSA6ax8TsUgYbB4yTrwWzBmm__DSRp0YZ8I2-KVYaqdngPlVqdtycqyubIMc7CfkQyEsj6jeShK4I4Q/s400/DSCF4570.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I wouldn't exactly characterize my knitting life as being in top gear right now, unless ofcourse you're referring to something you wear on your head. Hats I can do, or rather one hat in particular, my African Hope Hat. This hat has been sitting in my handbag for what feels like centuries. It goes everywhere with me, so it is close at hand should the need or opportunity strike for me to execute a quick k5, k2tog. Yes, at any given moment during the past few months, I have been ready to get that crown shaping done. I just haven't. In fact I don't think I've worked on it at all since the time I lost P.A. in Home Depot and retired to the truck to knit, knowing he'd turn up eventually.</div><br /><div></div><div>So last night I pulled this forgotten project out and knit a few rounds while I watched the first episode in the new season of the cult British car show "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/">Top Gear</a>." The excitement was palpable as we all settled back to watch the 'grown up' versions of our heros tackling a myriad of mighty road vehicles. (Check out the "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1S_VgkVTI">You Tube</a>" commercials for a look at the kid versions of Jeremy, Richard, James and The Stig.)</div><br /><div></div><div>Indeed a return to our favourite car show was just what I needed ten minutes after having given my eldest child her <em>first</em> driving lesson! Thank goodness the download took most of the day (I believe fans <a href="http://www.finalgear.com/news/2009/06/21/server-troubles-fixed/">crashed the server</a>)and we were able to squeeze in her lesson <em>before</em> our family broadcast. The sight of Jeremy racing around an airfield in a gorgeous looking white <a href="http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=17831">Lotus Evora </a>would have been asking for trouble from a car-crazed teen. I fear that my large white Dodge minivan is not quite as sprightly, although I have to say that you <em>can</em> 'turn it on a dime!'</div><br /><div></div><div>So it was with great delight that I returned to the calming effects of some decrease shaping, even if I didn't manage more than about four rounds in an hour (did I mention how much I love the cinematography in this show?) The shock of seeing <a href="http://www.michael-schumacher.de/?lang=uk">Michael Schumacher </a>on the interview couch dressed in white leathers and white helmet left my knitting hanging from my armchair though. I suppose that even a seven times Formula One world champ has to do something in retirement, but I remain unconvinced that he could possibly be our "tame racing driver". As far as I'm concerned, the question still remains:</div><br /><div></div><div>Who is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stig"><strong>The Stig</strong>?</a></div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-76694494897444223842009-06-18T08:24:00.000-07:002009-06-18T08:55:34.308-07:00D-Day<strong><em>Hours remaining........2hrs 00mins</em></strong><br /><strong><em></em></strong><br />The hours are ebbing away and I'm still surrounded by lists. Some things have been ticked off in a very positive fashion, but the fish is still swimming around in its bowl of green slime. P.A. casually remarked on it for the first time, today of all days. He was lucky to live, probably because he wisely chose to comment when I was not holding knitting needles.<br /><br />I have just under two hours to orient myself before the children descend for the summer vacation. My main focus this year is to "get my house in order." I've only lived here for 4yrs but the place still looks like it belongs to someone else. That's the one problem with moving around. After a while you're almost afraid to put your mark on a place in case you have to leave again. Now is the time though, to lay claim to my home so decorating it is my way of telling the world that "THIS KNITTER IS NOT MOVING!" Let's face it, the stash is well hidden around the house now, a sure sign of 'permanent residence!'<br /><br />So along will teaching DD1 to drive (anyone got a knitting pattern for a crash hat!) and knitting a shawl with DD2, I have hopes of painting some rooms in my house and making cushion covers out of the material that I bought <em>last</em> summer. Naturally I have probably overestimated the length of this summer holiday. When you're looking at it from the beginning, it always seems as if you have acres of time ahead of you, but I live in hope.<br /><br />In the "getting my house in order" vein, I could also <em>complete</em> some knitting projects. I have an African Hope Hat sitting in my purse that just needs the crown shaping finishing. I also have a Kid's Keyhole Scarf on the needles that should probably take its place in the handbag and we just won't mention the Norwegian sweater I started for P.A. about 7yrs ago! Time to get things sorted I think. Now where's that cup of coffee? I must just check out those amazing lace scarves in the latest edition of <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/index.php">Knitty</a>!<br /><br /><strong><em>Hours remaining........1hr 40mins</em></strong>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-32953684522778710452009-06-17T08:18:00.000-07:002009-06-17T09:14:12.193-07:00Still Into Lace<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS4qDOIwOMec4qVjiPW2jX74YwFBVPtUm6serEBBZbPQzT2EQUhDk02iSwqqRPO_br5GizJ1hFicUfeJSEI8TskEKXl6W7W_XVAKmi9wIUUYJDaliKHcv-8ec6KPLAfzAvHLCV-r-ENk/s1600-h/DSCF4558-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348328759916373666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS4qDOIwOMec4qVjiPW2jX74YwFBVPtUm6serEBBZbPQzT2EQUhDk02iSwqqRPO_br5GizJ1hFicUfeJSEI8TskEKXl6W7W_XVAKmi9wIUUYJDaliKHcv-8ec6KPLAfzAvHLCV-r-ENk/s400/DSCF4558-1.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><strong><em>Hours Remaining........ 25hrs 00mins</em></strong></div><br /><div>It's all go. I haven't wanted to pick up my needles for the past 24hrs. I must be ill. I <em>need</em> to pick up my needles if only for the meditative therapy, but I just can't face it right now. Maybe I need to start a garter stitch scarf or something? An eco wool blanket like <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/">The Yarn Harlot's</a> making might do the trick I suppose, although a garter stitch blanket does seem rather a large project to undertake when I'm (hopefully) just in a rut.</div><br /><div>Maybe it's too much lace, after all I have just knitted my Lace Ribbed Top (photos to come when I stand still long enough to get someone to take some.) It's turned out great I can tell, because DD2 has already suggested that if it doesn't fit me she'll have it! Honestly, if she can't get her hands on my yarn before it's made, she'll try to afterwards. I'm thinking of having a T-shirt printed with "Hands Off My Hanks!" emblazoned on it.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348328505772456978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzUjS7tX36W-4bd8POQUWVKoCFGeoV1NivyY7cTKmQHz8wtdmxRPwyGhwHiAcWIYlLW-T-AqCXD8mgoEJfipFkedLYbFyeTXlitt6KfUiokuimAbJOJiTHlCxKQNRxl7mj2-CtssGxms/s400/DSCF4557-1.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348328254245748594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8DBLYzEMVBJRKUtFWaKu1ucqPNxkTikqmKqhwHrc3N9VLFXvAjv_UadKvKA34iRqIu_jQoh-cGwJoBgEy3bPVmBrYlP062j091vbMPjUtEyJBIcOqJ-5UMkbGpT0cp6qnfZfRR3bDPA/s400/DSCF4559-1.JPG" /><br /><div>Anyway, we do have growth in the bathroom curtain department. I am seriously wishing that I'd cast on about half as many stitches when I began, as the window is not very wide and I could have got away with a lot less. I've been tempted to frog, but then I think of <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/05/dreaming-impossible-dream.html">my night </a>with Daniel Craig and the will to continue returns. There are just too many memories wrapped up in this now. I also have the most enormous ball of yarn to use so I need to really make a dent in it if only to reduce the need for future storage.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348327465341531842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_gX3tvauoRVctdwpNmxWAKruRsw2qgV4ibUrVhhmolmFANRIlNrbSeOSkMTsgI9tpfWrIO2cmxESIkT7uqSlxtAQfZd6V3oqwzcDdMXJ7JVSzDm5rEyO53cegiT6_L8AP6plQC67ZIo/s400/DSCF4552-1.JPG" /><br /><div>DD2 and I are also planning our first summer Knit-A-Long (KAL). We are hoping to tackle Evelyn Clark's <a href="http://www.evelynclarkdesigns.com/pdf/Swallowtail.pdf">Swallowtail Lace Shawl</a>. Feel free to join us if you want to, but I warn you we're slow! In preparation we have raided our stash and come up with some Knit Picks Shadow which we have wound ready to go. I will be using a deep red colour called "Hot Rod" and SusieLusie (DD2) is going for the "Spring Green". Let's hope we'll both still be into lace when (if) we finish.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348327879566376706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qSLDH9TwoVN9DSEp_HHpZ2jsiQ8fUBA8-LJF98t6IQRBw-r5xzH-7RdIabVgdujH7AXrOEExBsnq5b0osXfoP1Y8eFoZ4MBZBAJbPpM9jlTC99y5Y_y4VqTcoulvfGyZUbPh6f3dhU4/s400/DSCF4562.JPG" /><br /><div><strong><em>Hours remaining........24hrs 30 mins</em></strong></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-6570095534574198992009-06-15T09:19:00.000-07:002009-06-15T10:33:44.581-07:00The Countdown Lists<em><strong>Hours remaining........72hrs 30mins</strong></em><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>It's the last week of school. In a few days the children will be descending on the home front for an entire THREE months. It feels a bit like countdown at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Canaveral">Cape Canaveral </a>before a rocket launch. <em>They</em> are counting the days (hours) until they're free; I'm counting the days that I have left to get things done before I find myself in a war zone every day. It's an interesting dicotomy.</div><br /><div>I'm making lists. There are lists of errands to be run, lists of people to see and lists of projects to be started. Then ofcourse there is the "Summer List", the one with all the projects on it that I hope to complete while the children are home. This could turn out to be the most challenging of all of the lists, but hey, I'm an optimist! (at least I am at this end of the summer vacation.) By the time August arrives, I'll have realised that I was hoping to attain the impossible and have accepted defeat over at least half of it.</div><br /><div>So, in an effort to update you on the projects happening here at Wilde Thyme right now, here's a few pics:<br /></div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347601196101239762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXneEDetWu5ADtmMmfe5YmUgiCsk0vmfouPz2SGtf1JO_MLTbGEd2PV_llPKtA37_UMzuwjXYXQvjF3W7h8w5mlohJuvVmQ8b-A7Yvujk1uNJIF_XPZEKBlQKq83Pa3IRF_yLFe059Vk/s400/DSCF4533.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347600853853421154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jeX8j0jvAwvxZ9K8UpFNjN4RjrbLcNhkplpTQ3L6PAHXXFbD5uywasBDPmY7We-YOVZ2x_-k8rj02D2dlrRNJHswn-4iA3wc6ZzKb8TcOgBbSYWhXa0-A8oMMwHhOpn_bSuhdzJZFhM/s400/DSCF4529.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347600197700036674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8AP-KVEQb7xfXTyQ7AnjwY0SegIKrMKrcQNtpNYyIvx2M8mUBF65v0X26QeTV3RAOUNLB9F7FzB7AXGNrt1Fz7fY_ZWAPYVmgb6HlfE1xZVxTTQj5WVybwKw4yHMOPEAbahyphenhyphenS9l9U9o/s400/DSCF4526.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347600607163913074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9vnlqWfN2ydGFhV6_6wlGLFd2y2F1jk5-WSaA5JQDHO08SiNN_yz1c_t1KoICRuOE_i4mLmw2xlqQ_IjXNIhUpK08FYhqbswpQX5HA4afjjouRTpxcqjVY-1snYYpVs4RZbJ9aiICSU/s400/DSCF4530.JPG" /><br /><div>The garden's growing like mad. We've had more than 20 days without rain here in the NW and everything has been growing wildly. We're picking snap peas daily (and fighting over who gets to eat them), we've had fresh cilantro, Italian parsley and chives in our food recently and the potatoes are growing so fast that I'm running out of soil to cover them with.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347601778274277106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz9a1UCEuBxUVGPZjvbWYxyRUv60RSbSOABevwfS__mQZJm4eg1DG2QenYTwayNSM2S0L2OZ30Mq6yC-IHmLNyz_f023AJDW26iCt282NvXLkaVZ2h5K5Oxfj_vm6Io22EAQITE53iXg/s400/DSCF4546.JPG" /><br /><div>After my recent <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/06/feelin-hot.html">see-through skirt</a> experience, these arrived in the mail from my MIL. Isn't she sweet. In an effort to protect my modesty, she headed off to M&S and bought me two petticoats. She's priceless!</div><br /><div>On the knitting front, I'VE FINISHED MY <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/06/sats-stress-swatch.html">LACY TOP</a>! Just got to seam under the arms and block. I did run out of yarn, so I had to unravel the swatch when I got to the sleeves. I divided the yarn in two and had enough to make each one about an inch, rather than three inches long under the arms. Hopefully it'll look ok and won't make my shoulders look any bigger than nature intended.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347604351532066818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoF_gG60nJQDMI7BfS5JOG7EYUORrP_MZCh2wFekE5eMR5NBomjjfDkS7IHOiDaPOLSHeQexBcWDOsDjaC0mEpyUj-EFMw4A_VYOrXa9N_k0USR27JscUk6XzZflNXiqQRmHax35195mc/s400/DSCF4540.JPG" /><br /><div>WWKIP day went well too. It was gloriously sunny and we sat outside <a href="http://www.mainstreetyarn.com/">Main Street Yarn </a>in Mill Creek knitting, spinning and chatting. There were knitters of all ages there, which was a wonderful testament to the appeal of our craft.</div><br /><div>Well, got to get back to the list now. It's telling me that the rabbits haven't been fed yet today and that the fish is on its last legs (well fins) because it can't see through the dark green water it's living in. Looks like my injured back has returned to age 43 just in time.</div><br /><div><strong><em>Hours remaining........ 72hrs 00mins</em></strong></div></div></div></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2500116571284081467.post-43721283173754155822009-06-12T07:42:00.001-07:002009-06-12T08:55:29.658-07:00The Weekend Starts Here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y23ryaOWMfyUaoqsLTNmcrpro_bBf2zTNheJA06VyRkeiqjZeqOjAOpAj4VJ21F_9RcgSKBurwEq5COn8Y8EH5r5W54FfkY4-GtYRksJvOM5TkJ6to41doXASGq3IDuvzDmN02uU2fk/s1600-h/Oliver.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346468152466429810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Y23ryaOWMfyUaoqsLTNmcrpro_bBf2zTNheJA06VyRkeiqjZeqOjAOpAj4VJ21F_9RcgSKBurwEq5COn8Y8EH5r5W54FfkY4-GtYRksJvOM5TkJ6to41doXASGq3IDuvzDmN02uU2fk/s400/Oliver.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>......and it's a busy one. My son needs one of our pets to arrive at school by 12 noon today so that he can present it in the Pet Parade. Oliver's giving me his "if-you-think-I'm-getting-in-that-car-one-more-time-this-week-you're-crazy" look, so I think he's out of bounds. It's just not worth the hissing and the scratches, not to mention the trauma when he encounters the other kids dogs! (that's <em>my</em> trauma not his ofcourse.)</div><br /><div>The rabbits are......not to be parted. One could pine without the other and that could lead to all kinds of social and jealousy issues once they're reintroduced to each other. Again, way too much hassle. Trying to carry them both in one crate would also be a problem as, naturally, I have a bad back this week (I'm now about <a href="http://wildethymeknitter.blogspot.com/2009/06/knitting-extreme-sport.html">63 not 93</a>, so things are improving.)</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346468470452620802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzmiz-LRTLZJl48FdZ6NwgaxBQWebHpAzhev_8kf0hxNmaBgM2x58LU6l0AidcHMaLcV1Du4VzfCOXP4TJE6oko1pF3Imb7a67COxYx0V4asp312M_71FcbHtBk6pegX9aLhQ0wYD-kk/s400/DSCF4534.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>I have even considered the fish as an alternative. She's a Beta so no social problems there - she simply doesn't get on with anyone. How a 10yr old could carry her in a pet parade is another matter though. The risk of water and fish splashing on to the concrete is way too high in my estimation and I don't relish the prospect of having to perform CPR on a Beta, especially in front of a lot of impressionable elementary school children.</div><br /><div>So, I think the only solution here is to go for the stuffed version of Oliver presented in the kitty crate. No potential issues for either child or pet in this scenario..........I hope. Honestly, sometimes I think that schools come up with these ideas just to make parent's lives more difficult. My son is sulking and for the first time ever I'm actually wishing that we had a hamster! C'est la vie.</div><br /><div>I also have my first HS graduation to attend tonight (clothes need ironing, food for the kids needs preparing, balloons and flowers need to be bought and ofcourse, I really must remember to <em>write</em> in the card!) Making space for coffee and some therapeutic handknitting sounds like a must, doesn't it. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Thankfully, there's "World Wide Knit In Public Day" (WWKIP) tomorrow and I'm hoping to be hanging out on the streets for a few hours with my bathroom curtain...........and lots of other knitters and outside a LYS, just in case you thought I'd be wandering the streets wrapped in a plastic shower curtain. I <em>am</em> still working on the lace curtain for my downstairs bathroom and I'll be bringing that along.</div><br /><div>So I'm ignoring the mess at home today, focusing on the essentials and trying very hard to glide elegantly from one thing to another. I suspect though, that the harried looking woman with the crazy hair carrying a stuffed cat that you may come across in the grocery store, well that'll probably be me!</div><div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16184747724881173335noreply@blogger.com2