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I'm in an undoing mood. I'm unsubscribing to many online merchants. I'm deleting all kinds of images that need to go ba bye. and I'm ready to frog the pink shawl.... If I don't like it now, I won't like it later. I can tell while I am knitting whether it is good enough to keep going. I planned on frogging this earlier in the week. I should have! OH well. I also frogged the bunny hat I thought I would knit. Is anything safe? Oh yeah! All my blog friends are safe. The lace water colored scarf/stole is safe. Are you undoing?

(The happy ending in this story is especially heart-warming. The Velveteen Rabbit lived happily ever after once he became real. The boy became an adult yet never forgot his special rabbit. The rabbit learned to appreciate that becoming real can take a lifetime, and it did involve getting hurt. Becoming real doesn't happen to people who.. "break easily, or have sharp edges or who have to be carefully kept." One must endure and be patient.) That was taken from a book review of the Velveteen Rabbit, that I found on line this morning. I got to meet Donna Boucher of Quiet Life blog fame. She invited me to meet her and her darling daughters at yesterday's first Cub game . (Double header) What happened when we met was just magical to me. I told little Katie , "Your mom is a gas!" (Katie covered her sweet mouth and threw open her amazing and beautiful eyes and said she'd never heard that expression before) I hope you all have had th...

I got up off my arse last night and took this image. Because Franklin Habit says you must practice practice practice and pixels are free. The light seemed right. Getting up off my arse after working two overnight shifts and then only sleeping 4 hours requires supreme effort. I debated the actual motion invovled for a full five minutes.. ....and then, because I have always been a good student, I moved. Glad I did. This is my bunny splurge from last week's Folk and Fiber Fair. I frogged it this morning. Guess what? If you have to frog, frog with angora. You get to feel the yarny goodness again through your fingers as you rip. In fact, because it cost so dang much, I suggest you frog something first and then enjoy the sensory goodness all over again. Today is going to be an amazing day.....I can't wait to tell you about it...tomorrow!

I found these two sayings at Chicago Bagel Authority last week. Loved them both. Selective memory is what keeps womenfolk having babies... The moment I had a contraction with Zach, memories of Al's labor came flooding back.... The sniveling rule applies to me. I got a little snivelly last week with no electricity. I can get snivelly on Monday nights after the workend....life is too short to be snivelly. My workend finished this morning with an amazing gift: The baby I've followed since March when she was born, started coo ing and smiling purposefully at me. Big, toothless grins. I'd forgotten the joy of when a baby begins to smile after weeks of baby blobness....Thanks baby N., you rock! Haven't had time to knit since last Thursday what with Franklin's class, and the workend. I'm itching to pick up the needles now...... Did I tell you I splurged and bought bunny yarn at the Fiber fest..... you know the saying: You only live once~

St. Vitus, dance. I've decided to call the end of the week my workends. Time to head to work tonight and put my Nurse hat on. What a week is was at our house: *Power was out from Tuesday night's storm to Friday afternoon... Yes, I am done feeling Amish. *Zach was home a few nighs......so great to see him *I went to Franklin Habit's photography class at Midwest Folk and Fiber yesterday. He kept my attention for 3 hours. I vow to follow his advice and bring you better images on the blog. *Went to Ravinia and heard KD Lang and the Sis Boom Bang with neighbors Thursday night. *On Thursday I got bit by a cat named BOB, at the shelter. I also cut myself prepping bagels on the same finger as the bite. Why is this relevant? Well, over at Handeyecrafts.wordpress.com I was honored to be mentioned. K. kindly wrote some sweet things about me and listed St. Vitus the saint of dancers as the saint she'd pick to protect me. I investigated this a bit. Seems t...

Still out of juice...am at library working on computer. New kitten names; Becky (beckham) Sir Paul Beatles Tea Crumpet Picadilly

Meet my new sheep. A cellphone charm. Makes me feel young...... Power out for 20 hours now. No biggie. No one in our house is on a ventilator thank God. I am at my local library writing this post. The storms brought cool breezes that refreshed the whole house. The library patrons are a bit testy. The man next to me is asking the folks at the end of the line of tables to start playing different music on their computer. He asked me if I had any requests, I ignored him. My answer would have been the song, "See you at your heartattack" which doesn't exist. People are so easily disturbed. Geez. I love to say "see you at your heartattack" when someone cuts me off in the car etc. The lack of power has allowed me lots of lace knitting on WISP. The wonderful thing about the pattern is that every 10th row you do 6 rows of garter. A built in safety! If, I mean , When I make a mistake, I rip back a few rows to the garter and breathe deeply again! I had...

My most malicious moth, motionless, made his mark. My mind meandered.....maybe more might multiply.... "Mean and Mighty Moth!" I muttered, "MOVE!" "May moonlit mice move in and masticate... May many more meet your merry mindless mini-kin folk." May mean Morning Doves munch your mothy wings. My Malabrigo means more to me than m and m's. More than meat, Mars bars, martini's, marmalade, and Merlot. Millions more.... so move Maverick...MOVE...or meet your Maker.."

The color of this Ella Rae extra fine merino is like delicious water....The color is 106. I call it British Virgin Islands Color. Fireman and I honeymooned a loooooong time ago at Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda. This yarn is the colors of tropical waters. The Wisp patterni is a ravelry Freebie. I am leaving out the eyelets holes on the sides of the stole/scarf from the original pattern. I am a wimp. I'd have to do something every 5th row in adddition to my 9 and 6 row repeats... maybe next time. Now that I see the progression of the pattern I think I could have eyelets too, but I am oh so fine without them now. What follows is the Pippa kittens update: Surprise. Looks like we have 5 boys and a girl. Big Ben is not a boy....time to rename her! Even Little Beatrice is a boy....time to rename him. Tea and Crumpet are both boys, and their names can stick. Picadilly is a boy and that can stick. Eugenie is a boy as well..... So, any one want to throw some boy n...

There could be a meeting of pretend friends coming up! Kathryn from TX is coming up for a wedding. She sent me the lovely blue wool yarn in the image you see. She knows my color that is for sure. Wish us luck. We are hoping to meet, eye to eye, needles to needles , heart to heart later next week! The Kerry Gold car pulled up next to us in the grocery parking lot this week. I do love their cheese. My neice is name Kerry Ann, so I love the cheese even more. What is it about BUGS that makes adverising so darn cute? Pippa is devoted to the kittens. They are over 2 weeks old now. She is protective of them. No neighbor kids can visit until momma is done and at the shelter....Fireman hasn't gone back into the cattery since last Saturday! Pippa likes me, but I feed her every time I go in the room. She is inhaling food, trying to grow her kittens. Little Bea is still very little. I am rooting for her. If she makes it, I will want a hand in her very special forever home........

*Ran into Les at 3 Bags Full this morning. I enjoyed chatting with her and Lynette and a new knit friend, Wendy. Les was wearing a great wrap in corals and had made matching earrings. I should have taken her picture too. I did snap a quick shot of her new Stephen West shawl . She is using a multi STR with the off white koigu. Isn't it pretty? Les, like everyone you ask, says West patterns are wonderful and easy. I must knit one. I thought Les said it was called SPECTRUM but I cannot find the pattern under that name. Anyone recognize it? That's how things are here at My Yarn Garden, sometimes....incomplete information.... *I'm finishing the 'this will never be a shawl', skydive scarf this afternoon. Then I am casting on for a STOLE in the same lace...ahem...pattern. The color of my new yarn is intoxicating.....wait til you see it. Perfectly summery. I've given up potato chips until mid august. Today was a difficult difficult no chip day..... se...

I cannot believe I am knitting lace. Redundant I know. Huge apologies. I just can't stand it. I even fixed a mistake last night. You all know I am a very enthusiastic AVERAGE knitter who takes little to no risks when I knit. I cannot believe I am almost finished with the scarf. Next up: I am going to knit the Stole in the same pattern. I will be over at 3 Bags Full tomorrow finding some fingering weight yarn that I love. I think I need about 600 yards. Any suggestions??? Pippa's kittens are two weeks old tomorrow. There is a very little funny looking one. Did I already tell you about this little fighter? My great vet, Dr. Preiser looked her over and called her a Poor Doer. She is encouraged that she has made it this far. She is fiesty. Her fur is weird. Her skull is significantly smaller than the other kittens. I have to root for the underdog....undercat I mean. I feel she has her very best chance right where she is with her natural mom and her siblings. I ...

I don't recommend the watermelons yet........ I tasted some recently and it just wasn't right yet.... What I will recommend to knit by, are some movies I've watched of late. All documentaries, my friends, my favorite kind. Waiting For Superman is a insightful look at America's school systems. Anyone with a child in school might learn from it. Anyone who votes might appreciate the information too. A bit sad, but I do believe we have to acknowledge problems exist before we can successfully fix them. Funny how every politician in America puts education on their agenda and a movie comes along like this and points out how serious our troubles are. If half the poliiticians worked half as hard as they say they will on education things would be better. I do believe family invovlement is key to education success but the System could do much better as well. Dad's in Heaven With Nixon is a fascinating story of a family. I was spellbound by it's simpl...

What do hormones and my finished green suede shawl have to do with one another? Nothing.... but I did get your attention didn't I? We will talk of the power of hormones in paragraph...hang on. I finished the shawlette for Karen. I do need to take Franklin's class. I feel the images I give you to view just don't really depict the item. The shawl is soft. I am potato chip knitting and have already begun one in pink/coral. Just like Carol did. Carol, my hero! So hormones. Well, let us just say that one should never ever underestimate the power of the female hormones. Pippa, sort of, went after Fireman Saturday night. She just doesn't like him. So odd. Everyone likes Fireman. What's not to like? I climbed into bed with him after my shift to a muffled, "Im not going in there again... She scratched me something fierce." Pippa has hormones, and lots of them right now. It is her job to protect and feed and grow those 6 kittens right now. I...

There is a very little kitten, but it is hanging in there. I keep telling myself to let it be. Nature knows best. Im going to call her Beatrice, Bea, let it Bea, if she is a girl. Pippa is warming up to us so nicely. I finished one suede shawl in green. Im giving it to Karen R. She loved the color. I've started another in a pink/coral shade. To finish the other, I added 10 stitches to both sides of the shawlette as the yarn came to an end. I knitted about 4 rows straight then. IT gave it nice WINGS to tie. Karen helped me with the WING plan. :) she is a great teacher. Happy Weekend. Me and the radio jockeys and air traffic controllers, and firemen and policemen, and Race horse trainers, and doctors, and dispatchers, and all the other night shift workers are beginning our strange shift work. It is nice to think I am not alone up in the wee hours of the night. It is also nice that the sun comes up before 5 now and it makes the long night seem so short!

*I'm so happy knititng this lace pattern. Again, it is Skydive Stole or Scarf Pattern. Katherine sent it to me foreverago, to get me started on lace. Gretchin Rubin of The HAPPINESS PROJECT book talks about how learning a new skill can really boost your happiness. I can vouch for that! I am happy just thinking about this scarf.... *I overbooked myself this week with activity. My mom needed my time and it was the least I could do for her. Yet, here it is Friday and Im starting work tomorrow night. Where did this week go? Here are my Time eaters: (I'm working on being aware of them) *traffic I spent much more than my average time in the car this week. Driving cuts into my time.....otherwise I get to knit! *unavoidable obligations: again, my mom needed me this week. She's a doll. The least I can do. *Highlights put in my hair. UGH I hate the time the process takes.....but blondes do have more fun.. *Waiting in doctor's offices. Radar had a ne...

A particulary pretty patch of peonies persistently presents itself periodically during peak production season. I pictured a picture on the post of these particular peonies. Because I am playful and pawky, when peaceful, not pell-melled, I promised myself this project. The peony's purpose was as poultice for the gods wounds since perpituity. Peony perfume permeates places in its proximity. Peonies are prized and propogated. From pale to purple pink this plot of peonies plop their popular buds, proximal to the proprietor's place. Their polychromatic presence brings people to the pasture to pause.... Peonies. Prose. perfect...

One of my favorite lines in one of my favorite movies, is spoken when the evil Baronness tells the handsome Capt. Von Trapp, that somewhere out there, there's a young lady who will never...be a nun. Well, here is a start that will never be a shawl.... Al started this shawl a few years ago. She got mad at it.. It has been stuffed in the bottom of a large hawaiin print bag in my closet. I had this dream that I was knitting lace the other night. I really was reading a chart and knitting something very much like the shown shawl. (say that ten times fast, shown shawl, shown shawl...I can barely type it right) I woke up laughing at myself Me? Knit Lace again? I have succeeded only twice in my knit life. Once I knit a pair of lace socks for Al. Once I knit a lovely lace pink scarf for our friend Gee. Then I gave up. So something in my subconscious was telling me LACE LACE LACE. Perhaps the heft of my sister's blanket was actually the culprit. So I found that ...

* My sister loves her blanket. It arrived for her birthday. She left me a long long thank you voicemail that I saved. Do you save voicemails, just because....? *I'm continuing to knit the suede shawlette. *I ordered more Suede, in a blush color. Potato chip knitting on tap here... another Suede Shawlette will follow. *Pippa is trusting us a bit more- All 6 kittens present and accounted for . *DO you subscribe to KnittingParadise.com? What do you think of it? *If I could change one thing about my knitting today, it would be: I'd give up some nap time to knit But I cannot. Must nap before working tonight. I dreamt the other night, that I was actually succedding in knitting a lace shawl... oh stop laughing all of you!

Sometimes you just need to change views..... Yesterday Karen, Carol, Joany and I went to Joany B's Condo on Lake Michigan in the city. 40 floors up. We had a ball. The Lake was amazingly colored and Joany assures us the colors are constantly in flux. We knitted, we had Bloody's and we watched the views...including Mr Speedo with his dumbbells..... and yes we did get some knitting done while we gawked. and laughed... have you changed scenery lately???

New foster, I named her Pippa, arrived wednesday. Big as two houses. She delivered 6 lovely kittens yesterday afternoon while I watched...amazed... She was a pro. Complete from kitten one to kitten 6 in 2/1/2 hours. ALl are thriving this morning. I slept all night...... (yes they will all have ROYAL family names..he heeee) HAPpy Friday

Fair and square Georgi of toknitandwrite.blogspot.com wins the Shawl Pin. All of your entries were great. I feel like I have great recipe resources, pattern resources and book resources for a fabulous summer. Thanks to you all for entering. Georgi send me your address, please and the pin will be on its way.

All I had to do was touch Carol's suede shawl last week and I knew what I was finally going to do with the green suede in my stash.....The pattern is a modified Reclamation scarf. When Pam left a comment on the contest blog about Reclamation scarves, I was intrigued. After a few moments I realized it is basically what I am knitting anyhow. So basically, this means I invented the same pattern as someone else without knowing what I was making up. You'd think that would give my confidence a big boost. Well, hee hee. It did. I thought, well, finally I am doing something that could have been a real pattern, because it ALREADY is! Validation....a great thing. My knitting confidence is never high, folks. I absolutely depend on a perfectly written pattern or I am paralyzed and give up. This really narrows one's knit ups. So soft suede shawlette it is. If I recall, Katherine you sent me this yarn in a acrylic or nothing swap way back. I love how soft it is. I kno...