knittinggenes.blogspot.com

*walk! My Pedometer was over 5000 when I accidentally reset it.....oops. My walk was much lighter than yesterday. One day difference between a down coat, fingerless mitts, a cowl and a hat. Today I just wore my favorite sweatshirt: FIND LOVE ADOPT. *Royal Wedding. She looked beautiful, I thought. *knitting appointment with my new yarn! Barking Dog Yarns colorway: Haven. 100% merino. 8 ply. Subtle colors/ greys and lavendars.... *kitten or two. Carter and Noah are growing and more adorable all the time...somehow... They romp and roll and play together until they are so worn out they collapse together. This has been so fun. Coming to an end, next week. They will probably be big enough to get spay/neutered and adopted out! *Ballgame. Hope better spring eternal. Things are mighty awful for the Cubs lately. *nap with the window open *a COMMENT! (sneaky I know) What is beautiful about your day?

#3093 Isn't AL's baby blanket beautiful? I love it. Fit for royalty I say! It is very soft too. I've been a bit under the weather. I think I am better, and then feel off again. Fireman and I watched Waiting For Superman this afternoon. Very interesting, very sad in some respects. Tomorrow I'll be wedding watching after I get up. Finally, I am going to post my number of steps every day here on the blog. To shame myself into working out again. Gotta start somewhere!

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT> sorry. I had to. Its EVERYWHERE. Even on ETSY. WildSeaDesign's knitted golden tiara, (ETSY.com) I was a bit under the weather today, so I viewed more Television than normal. I dont' mind the Royal craziness. It beats coverage of mass murders, corporate cheating and gas prices. I've been knitting more TOAST fingerless mitts. I am using a patterning yarn with a decent sts/inch ratio. The last pair of fingerless I made are mine mine mine. I love to pull them up high on my hands. That is something I can't do with a thumb knitted into the design. This will be a gifty pair. I wonder if Kate the Bride will wear fingerless? My favorite part of the wedding watch, will be all the Kings horses. I Love horses. What will you knit during the Royal Wedding? (Grace, what TEA is appropriate for the big event?????)

Gift knitting is on my mind today. My friend Abby knit this hat. It is from the Itty Bitty baby hat book which I gave her for a milestone birthday! I love the sock yarn colors she used. She said she used size 6 or so needles to get her gauge and cast on 80 stitches. Adorable Abby. Momma Cat went back to the shelter today. She's done. She was a marvelous momma cat. SO attentive. She grew her babies very well. She tolerated endless pestering the last week, for sure. Julianne, here's to your forever home. I sent her with her knitted blanket, from Grace. I wanted her to have familiar smells the next few days. She'll be spayed by weeks end and available for some lucky family to adopt. I am officially not a foster failure.....(which means I kept the foster. ) However, the two adorable kittens are here for a while yet. Not big enough to go through spay/neueter yet. We, this household and my neighbors' households, are enjoying the heck out of their cuteness an...

When I started knitting I never imagined I'd start blogging. I have to thank blogger for making it so easy for me to start blogging. This easy, at your fingertip, medium was simply unimaginable when I was growing up. The only people who spoke to the masses were syndicated columnists. I have to thank Irisheyes Lynn for introducing me to knit blogs. I started with Yarn Harlot. I just revisited her blog and have added her to my daily reads again. Yarn Harlots easy voice reached through the computer and made me laugh more often than anything else. I was a writing major in college before I went to nursing school. Being able to blog is as easy as walking to me. I love to post, I love the comments, I love to read other's blogs. So I have to thank all of my pretend friends, as Fireman coined y'all a few years back. If no one read this blog I would have a lot of trouble getting a giddy as I do over it. ! I have thank a few really key people who turned me to knitting...

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT> Thank Ammelia, I got my book win today.! I'm thinking about my blog dedication for Monday....... I'd like to thank the Academy.....hah hah ha

Would you like to join me Monday? Who would you dedicate your blog to? You can dedicate that post on Monday, or the entire blog. It is all up to you! Since we spend so much time writing, and our blogs, are in some ways, our books, I wanted to take the time to dedicate mine. Please join me. Who do you dedicate your blog to? Any why??? Copy the lovely button made by Karen M. of: Musings of a (mostly ) Self -Taught Knitter, if you wish! (Karen also writes about Diabetes At Bittersweetdiabetes.com ) Just drag the image to your desktop and add it to your blog from there.... Invite your blog readers to join us. This is dedicated to the one...I love! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I finished the shawlette last night unexpectedly. I used only one of the two skiens of Claudia's Handpaint Cotton in Begonia. I made a mistake front and center, couldn't correct it and decided that was my sign from the knitting gods to stop. I sewed a button onto one tip and made a yarn loop on the other tip. I guess you really cant see this in either image. Point being, that you don't tie it. You simple button it behind your neck. I love this yarn. The nice thing about knitting in heavy old cotton is that you don't really have to block. This little ditty will help keep me warm in chilly chilly Chicago spring. I often wear v-neck tops and the chill down my jacket is noticeable. I think this little pink wind blocker will be fashionably practical. In other knit news. .....it seems there has been a little Easter knitting miracle. I took out the Mirror Mirror vest to show Karen this morning, and ......somehow the right amount of stitches were on the needle...

Who would you dedicate your blog to? I'd like to ask fellow bloggers to dedicate their post or their entire blog to someone on Monday April 25th. Dedicated to the ones we love.... I'll have a button available later for you to post on your blog it you wish. This is the Mirror Mirror Vest coming along. The fronts don't match right now. Time to rip out the right front. I can see why some people knit the fronts at the same time. I am beginning to understand reverse shaping if you can believe it! It has been a stretch for me. Karen has been great with the pattern write up. I'm reading the Happiness Project book and apparently we are happy when we acquire a new skill. I haven't acquired it yet...and I am not very happy trying. Here's looking forward to mastery of the vest and new found happiness! It took come serious psyching myself up to take the vest out again. Then I struggled with it last night. hmmmmm. MAYBE tonight I'll try again. If at fi...

This post is not for the faint of heart. An innocent discovery yesterday led to an evening of stress. It started out simply enough. Fireman said, "hey, what did you do to that mole on your shoulder, it's bleeding? " I looked closely in the mirror and gasped. I knew what it was the moment I glanced at it.......it was a tick. A crawly, bloody, disgusting TICK. I told Fireman he needed to help me stay calm. I was holding my breath and the psychosomatic itching began immediately. Yes my skin began to crawl......all of my skin began to crawl..... He got out the tweezers and removed it head and all.......I made him put it in a plastic bag. I was taking it to the doctor's office in the morning. I called Al. She told me the standard of care is a one time dose of Doxycillin to prevent Lyme disease. I started breathing again. I had time.... ANd then a funny thing happeneed, Fireman starting itching.... and we did the only thing any sane couple would do.......

Fuster is watching over my very simple shawlette in pink. I am up to 125 stitches since the original 7 cast on. I am enjoying the lazy easy pattern. So far the little cotton yarn is light enough not to cause me any wrist issues. Hooray. Allison is knitting an Oat Couture Heirloom baby Blanket for her friend's baby. Some like it complicated....that's my girl! She puts my knitting to shame. I know my little kerchief bandanna scarf will be great for spring. I know my way around E A S Y that is for sure. It is who I am and how I knit. As for Al, more power to her. The only thing that matters is that we are both knitting, and loving it. This much I know! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT> My dear friend Ann, is at www.abundanttrove.com. She creates lovely jewelry. She is taking orders for Mother's Day gifts until tomorrow. Check out her site. I love the heart silver necklace with the pearl......just saying....Fireman...hint hint

We roasted Romaine lettuce tonight. Seriously. We got the recipe from Seriouseats.com It was seriously good. Roasted on the grill for a few minutes. MMMMMMMM, topped with a lime vinaigrette with chipotle adobo sauce. I am seriously thinking of frogging my vest. OH Karen, I am only thinking about it. Do you know why I am stuck..... because I am supposed to attach a new ball of yarn to the other front side and begin. I am certain that it will forever show up as "That's where she joined the new yarn ball" . Seriously. I am AFRAID of this. I can't be serious, can I? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I'm casting on for another pair. Easy, Mindless, FUN! That's this Toast pattern from Leslie of A friend to Knit with,'s BLOG. How do you like your toast? With Jam? I love mine with butter and cinnamon sugar...... and I like it well toasted that is if it is white or wheat. IF it is pumpernickle, I must have butter and marmalade..... how about you? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

Grace you hit it on the head, right away. All of the rest of you, made me laugh! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

Okay let's play a little this morning. My sister taught me the acronym BAR. Do you know what it means?????? Have a go, give a guess. B.A.R. I'd tell you but, WAIT WAIT DONT TELL ME is a favorite show of mine. I got the bag for a small donation to the radio station. I love the cat motif I found on line recently. ON Ravelry. I plan to knit some fingerless TOAST with the cat on them. All things Kitty these days. so are you BAR this morning????

The light in the chicken coop was lovely this afternoon. I could have used a light layer of sunscreen whilst outside knitting with Lisa today. The light is at the end of the first TOAST tunnel. A light shawlette named : elefantenkringle is next on my personal queue. Candlelight is softer than any electric light. We had a light dinner of chicken salad with nuts, raisins and carrots. Cub baseball is under the lights tonight....I am so happy to have baseball back. There are far too many stoplights in our town. Do you watch Friday Night Lights? Can you recommend a light hand lotion for these still scratchy hands? Comments light up my life! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

Toast..... it is what I am knitting and what I feel like. Mondays are not safe for doing much. Straight knitting only, allowed. When you have a procedure with light sedation, they tell you as you leave: dont sign any documents, drive or make important decisions in the next 24 hours. That sums up Mondays for me, after working the weekend night program.....zzzzzzz oops, my head just hit the keyboard..... So what can you do when you are not too with it? Walking in a fog? Unsure why you left your toothbrush in the car? Well, you play with kittens....that is what I do. I can only stand staying in the kitten nursery for hours and hours on end. Something about kittens is irresistible. I'm still planning to give them all back. Ahhh cats.... the truest definition of calm. Do you want some new pictures of Carter and Noah??? Just ask! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I had some malabrigo from a friendly yarn swap a few years back. Katherine, I think you sent me the malabrigo that I knitted up into the baby hat. Pompom Bear hat is from BABY BEANIES Book by Amanda Keeys. Super simple knit, but it hurt my wrists...... Karen and Carol, here in town, are making lovely beaded bracelets and donating the proceeds to Japan's relief fund. They are asking for a 15 dollar donation. I asked for all blue beads, but they have many others if you wish. Email Karen at her blog: Knittraps.blogspot.com if you wish to order one. I asked for the cross bead in the center of mine, but there are other options. Here's a little Friday link love for you! bluegarter.org awesome knit blog with cute patterns Damson Simple Shawl Pattern It is made to drape around your shoulders. I must knit this. a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com The TOAST pattern came from this great site Awaytogarden.com I am smitten with her garden advice and great images. Swe...

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT> Change in plans....knitter's perogative and all that stuff. I am casting on for TOAST this afternoon. Using my Moose Manor lovely handpaint. Im using A-friend-to-knit-with's pattern called Toast. Very easy very mindless, yet awesome when finished. I choose this pattern for its ease, its likability in the gift option department, and for the needles I will use to knit them. Yup I am choosing a project based on the needles I want to work with next. Am I the only one who finds addi turbos too dang slick? I don't like them. Al loves them . I want to knit with double points right now. So it goes. I finally found a way to have fresh cut flowers in our home. The cats have had a long history of eating all flowers and live plants that come inside the door. Pottery Barn sells this vase...and I had to have it. Here's to flowers in my home again......yippee I love snapdragons. What cut flower do you love in your home?

Fireman is reading Kitchen Confidential. I am learning so much from him. He tells me all kinds of interesting tidbits from the book. No ordering fish on Mondays anymore.....Have you read this book? My neighbor Abby mailed me the peacock image. Isn't it amazing? Her granddaughter is in the foreground.....I haven't seen a peacock in years and years...have you? I am knitting a hat from the book Baby Beanies by Amanda Keeyes. I am sorry to say that the weight of the malabrigo yarn and the circular needle motion is causing some wrist pain. TIme to stop.....do you have an ache or pain today? I found a pattern in the new KNITTY that I want to knit. It has been a long while since I loved anything from Knitty. It is the neckerchief scarf. I am casting on with the gorgeous silk yarn that Major Knitter just sent to me. The pattern says guage is not of utmost importance in this pattern. I love those words. They may be my favorite words in a knit pattern. What are you fa...

I awoke from my post work slumber to a box from Major Jennifer...just because!!!! MajorKnitter and I have been pretend and real friends for awhile now. She's a go getter, as my dad would say. She's an organized and amazingly productive person! And she's an accomplished knitter. Go over to her blog for a fun treat anyday. Jennifer keeps it light, as I try to do here at irisheyes. Jennifer felt the need to send me knit treats! Meet Fuster. I named her that. She's one of many knit chickens that have emerged at Jennifer's house. Fireman taught me the nasty phrase that is simliar to fuster cluck. When he describes a call that went amuck, he uses this phrase. It is one of my favorites. Having practiced things at work over and over and over, you still cannot predict how life will go when you get a nasty situation in front of you. Sometimes it is a real fuster cluck and sheer fate takes over. She sent this beautiful bag from : Fibers Entwined an Esty store...

The finished tie, is presented to you tied. I will be sending it off to Zach this week. I loved this yarn. The tie will be great with a blue jean shirt or a black shirt. I never paid attention to how long ties are... They are over 50 inches long. That's a lot of going round and round on little double points. It was worth it. I am really happy with the outcome. The pattern was from KNIT TWO TOGETHER by Tracy Ullman. I may have to knit another tie for fireman. The images don't show that the tie is one long rectangle with no pointy end. The tie ends in a flat that is the same width as the rest of the tie. I never thought I'd knit a tie I never thought I'd even try But try and knit a tie and you may sigh and never every buy another kind of fabric tie. Father's Day gifts anyone? (Berocco Sox 1810 was the yarn I used. Someone put it in the swap box...who who who ??? I love it) I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT> I haven't quite started the shakes yet.... Hope my computer is better asap. No time to fix it today with work Knit News: Starting a darling baby hat. In Malabrigo Finished Zach's tie. My goodness Ties are long! Can't wait to show it to you all when computer is better Im a writing through another computer that is not at my home so I cannot load an image. Have a great weekend. The Eskimmi topic was about how to find time to knit. Let's just say I try to find time to not knit... Knitting comes first....often It is my sanity what can I say? I am most productive in the evenings when Watching TV with Fireman. How about YOU?