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Showing posts from November, 2012

PIckles Is Finished

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She's done!   *Pickles vest in Noro.   *Very quick knit up. *Toddler size  *Need to find white long sleeve shirt to go under it.  *Amazingly easy instructions. *Bottom Line: Noro hurt my wrist.  So guess who finally got an Iphone?   ME!!!! I was due for an upgrade and got it for a dollar.  My old phone was so out of date, the young man who transferred the data said he'd NEVER seen one like it.  I offered it up to the Smithsonian.... So How do I do instagram all you techies??

Thumbs Up Thumbs Down

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 Thumbs down for the pop out scones.  They taste just like crescent rolls with blueberries not like real scones.... Thumbs UP for the noro work.  I'm making Pickles Plain Vest for a one year old I know and love.  I hope to finish today.  Thumbs Up ! for the simple pattern writing.  If all her patterns are this clear and easy...I'm finding more of them.  I 'd actually like to convert this one to adult size...I wonder if it would work??

When the Knitter goes without hand knits....

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  I went without any handknits, yesterday.   Fireman and I wanted to  see the Kindlemarket downtown, In Chicago.  The Bean looked so beautiful above the ice rink in Millennium Park.  Let me tell you it was cold!  I wore my new winter parka from last year's supersale and it was wonderful.  I decided however that  I could knit a hat to go with it, as the hood is very large.  I then changed my mind and told Fireman I was going to knit a Baklava instead.  Headed into the wind on the long trek back to Union Station, my face was a freezing.   The German Market was charming charming charming.  The crafts were amazing and pricey.   The image on the top of the blog site is from one of the vendors.   We were headed for a special lunch, so we did not partake in the food at the Market.   I have to say I nearly snatched a bite of a potato pancake from a woman while she looked away, but I restrained myself.  They were also selling beer, brats, stollen, pretzels, and somethin

The Ice Man

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The ICE yarn company image above looks very wintery to me.  Last night I knit to a NOVA documentary about the IceMan.  Otzi is his given name.   I was fascinated.  Having just met the mummies of Mexico, I was even more taken with the story of Otzi.  (pronounce it like Footsie, without the F) There's all kinds of speculation about how he died.   Here are a few things I learned about old men... haha ha.. I mean a very old man.. *Otzi had heart disease.  Yup.  He was a workout man, who had to hunt for his  Ibex Dinners.  He ate grains related to corn also.  Yet Doctors and scientists discovered that he was only 40 and had heart disease.. I say: BRING ON THE BUTTER.  It's hopeless...... Otzi had milk allergies.  Otzi had arthiritis from Lyme disease. Seriously this is fascinating to me.  As I knit with Noro last night pondering all things Otzi, the Nova  production focused on how Otzi died.  The big mystery.   Well I'll just give you

I Get BUy with a Little Help From My BLOG Friends

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  Above, my new work bag from AL.  It is insulated.  The owls are because I love owls and because of working night shift...naturally. I love it. So does everyone else at work.  Someone at Al's work, Children of the Kings Daughter's Hospital, makes them.... Saturday night as I was dripping wet from the shower, Fireman knocked on the bathroom door.... "Hurry I hear an owl in the yard!" It was a great horned.  I was thrilled.   We have not had one in our yard in years and years.  We could not see it, but we stood on the back porch, my hair dripping, listening to it call to another in the far far away night...... Zach has a new place he posts his pictures: http://500px.com/zbphotog IF you'd like a look at his journey through Mexico the past few months, go and enjoy.  Zach you have a wonderful eye for beauty. (Of course, he lives with 3 girls in Mexico and dates another....sort of like Three's Company)   So blog buddies, Fireman and I hav

Late to the Party....Again...

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I just fell in love with Noro.  I think it is lovely as a table decoration....oh that's right I am supposed to knit with it.   Everyone swears it softens up beautifully.  I'm not revealing what I'm knitting with it yet...but I'll tell you this much:  Something told me it was time to knit on straights again.  I felt like knitting on straights.   The great thing about being late to this party is that the NORO I wanted is all on sale at Mosaic Yarn Studio.   Santa needs to get over there and pick up more NORO to put under our tree.  Side notes: My Holiday goal is the same as last year: Only purchase items that include FREE shipping.  This is just a game I play ..... My Holiday goal is to stay on the Nordic Track .....this is not a game I play.....it is my favorite time of year; COOKIE time.  I must offset the cookie intake.   My Holiday knits are finished.  This year I knit enough early on to have the gifts I planned all finished.  I'm giving 4 knit gif

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU

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  Hope your Tom was as delicious as ours.    I finished the Drop Stitch Cowl this morning.  I only had ends to weave in.  This is SpiderWomanknits pattern On Ravelry.   I did not use super bulky yarn.  It is a bit short, but for a loose lovely cowl and occasional head cover it is good.   I used some expensive Ela Rae Chunky Merino; (two skeins) . This yarn is soft and spongy.   The Cowl is a gift to Zach's girlfriend Ale, in Mexico.  It will be just right for cooler nights in Leon.  I hope she loves it. She told me orange was one of her favorite colors....  She was so sweet and her family so welcoming to us that I wanted to thank her.  The results of my Thanksgiving poll were tallied.  The winner by a landslide, for favorite eats, was Stuffing or Dressing as some say.  Hope you enjoyed the day.  I'm so thankful for knit pals and all the free patterns on Ravelry.

What Day is IT???

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First things first: AL painted their bedroom last week.  I love it.  I know we are odd here at Irisheyes, due to our work schedules..... so we cooked Tom Turkey yesterday.  I went to the grocery store at 11 am. and the turkey and sides were on the table at 6pm.  Just Fireman and I and the clowder. That's the term for multiple cats..... You know what?  It is so easy to cook Thanksgiving dinner if you don't have to clean the house.... that's the ticket.  It took me 52 years to get that straight.   The turkey was moist and delish.  I am not a vegetarian this week or Christmas week.  Today: Leftovers Tomorrow: Turkey at my dear neighbors......she's having a gluten free dairy free Thanksgiving......seriously. Friday: Dinner at my Sister In Laws house.  I am gifting that cute boy hat in fall colors to little Jaxon on Friday.   In between: lots of knitting.   and lots of thankfulness!  I have so very much to be thankful for.  Not

A Week of Thanksgiving....

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 Here we go: I'm thankful for three amigos in the image below...... Zachary, Alejandra and Helen.   If this is the youth of our tomorrows we are in good hands.   They are all that youth should be: excited about life, embracing different cultures, and ready to take on the world. I am thankful for the opportunity to knit a gift for Alejandra.  She will be the recipient of the Drop Stitch Cowl.  Yarn: Ella Rae Lace merino Chunky.  Pattern: free on Ravelry: Spiderwomanknits Abi gregorio Connors. Helen is learning to knit.  I think I'll send her some yarn.....she was most appreciative and awed at my last sock in progress.  She had that, Mind blowing look on her face...when she learned the yarn did all the color change and pattern work for you. Happy Thanksgiving Three Amigos....

Recipe for Squirrel Stew

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Dear Honda Rhonda I am so sorry.  I accidentally left the back window open about 2 inches last night... There MAY have been an old McDonalds' bag in the front seat with an overlooked french fry or two inside. Some critter, I suspect, the SQUIRREL part of the Rodent family. chewed you up inside.  (and spit you out inside too)  I found a recipe for crock pot Squirrel stew..... just google allrecipes and it comes right up. It is a good thing your interior is the very same color as duct tape.... I'm so so sorry ......

Beginning Middle and ENd

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Today began beautifully.   I was up to go to the shelter and assist with Spays and Neuters.  The bad news: Someone dumped  a litter of feral kittens off including an adorable Siamese ? mix The good news: Thanks to another foster, they are all socialized beautifully now and have adoptions pending.   This is also very good news for Fireman, because that little Siamese female kitten would have fit oh so perfectly in my new purse..... In the middle of my day,  that is,  late this afternoon.... I got to around to knitting the rest of this toddler hat.  It is for my newest great nephew, Jaxon.  He's going on 2.   I decided to try out my new pompom maker.  You see, I cannot make a pom to save my keester.  Kathy who knits with me a few times a month told me I would be oh so successful with a Pom Maker from the craft shop.   She makes awesome pom poms.  She is southern gal and she knows her way around a lot things, including All Y'alls and all things Georgia. But, As you

Alls Well that Ends Well

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These socks are off the needles and on my feet.  I ended up reknitting one of the heels and not the other.  They are after all just for me.  If they were a gift I would have done it differently.   Do you knit differently for others than for yourself?   I live in fear that my gift knits will unravel at the first wearing.   This pair involved some yarn changes, joins and ends to weave in.  I like socks for many reasons, but one is the thrill of knitting something with just one long piece of yarn.   Al is reading GONE GIRL.  She loves it. I cannot recall which one of you suggested it.  Who who who?? Finally Fireman was on a late night alarm yesterday.  A woman's life line alarm had gone off.   They entered her home and followed the blue oxygen tubing.  She wasn't answering their calls.  It would seem she had passed away and they were as shocked as she when they touched her shoulder and she jumped up.   She hadnt called them.  She felt fine.  Yet her Lifeline alarm had go

Learning Curves

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  This nuthatch makes my day whenever it comes around.  I learned quickly from a friend who BIRDS as they say, that if you want interesting birds you have to feed nuts.  So I feed suet with nuts and the birdfeeder also holds a nut mixture.   I loved the movie THE BIG YEAR, mostly for its scenery.     This pair of socks has been slower than usual due to my learning curve..... I learned that I love the concept of an afterthought heel.  I learned that I don't like the way the heel pulls at the foot as if it wants a gusset there... I don't like the pointy heel.   This means I am ripping out the heel. I will knit a round toe finish in the heel instead.  Live and learn.  It may end up being my new favorite way to make socks..but I shouldn't get ahead of myself here.  I did successfully knit the Kitchener method thanks to Katherine, of Comfort Zone blog.   Wahoo.  I CAN do it.  It was not as hard as I was making it out to be.... imagine that.   Finally I learned tod

New Week New Start

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I - Started a new hat in fall colors this weekend.  It is going to be a very quick knit up.  Should finish the socks if I can only put my mind to it.  Now will I put my mind to it???  Jury's still out ... Took care of two Indian babies this weekend who looked the same, weighed the same, had the same glucose numbers and both pulled out their IV's.....thank GOd they had different names.   Went to our local Christmas Craft Fair last week and it was all the same, and still kind of fun.  I had to go without Al and its our TRADITION to go together....a friend went along to ease the sting...it wasn't the same, but it was still good.   Heard from both my kiddos this morning via email...life is good! What's up with your new week?

The Lion Lays Down with the Lamb

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Last night we witnessed the brothers, Tank and Beatles, snuggling together.  This is a first in our house.  I had hoped from the start that these young boy cats would be buddies; it took 3 months and a chill in the air , and it is now a reality.     These sheep were the only ones we saw in Mexico.  Thanks to my zoom I can show them to you.   It is the workend and I don't mind a bit.  I work with great people. It is fun to return to work and tell them about my trip.   On the knit front, I am finishing the second toe of the grey based socks I've been showing you. The after thought heels will be worked sometime around Tuesday when the workend fatigue has been slept off.    By the way, sweet Katherine sent me a dog tag styled Kitchener tag.   I think I can I think I can I think I can.... I'm wishing you a cozy weekend.   What are your plans?

Mexican Knitting

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Zach's host mother in Mexico is a knitter!! She was knitting this adorable sweater in pink for her granddaughter.  She's very good.  She also showed me this knitting board. I don't get it.  Have you seen this before?  My limited Spanish vocabulary was lacking when she described this to me.    So life is slowly getting back to normal: Fireman shaved off his Mexican trip mustache.  It was a Movember thing but it drove him too crazy.  He's clean shaven again as of yesterday.   I am working on the I-movie from the trip.  I've got all the photos edited.  Now I need the right music ...... I'm thinking HOME , by Phillip Phillips OR  A song we sang in the back of the cab one night.  Alejandra loves to sing and wanted me to sing with her....to an oldie on the radio  (I"D Love YOu TO WANT ME, By Lobos)  The cats are Delighted that we are home.  Rozzy is not feeling great again....poor girl.  The radiators are warm, though, and she loves to sit on t

I'll Bet You Didnt Know....

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  I bet you didn't know:  All of the yarn I found in the tiny yarn shop in Michuacan, was acrylic.... I asked, in good Spanish too, where the alpaca was and they had none.  It is too expensive there and none of them can afford to knit with it.   I bet you didn't know: You can marinate salmon in Bloody Mary Mix for a great tasting  dinner.   I bet you didn't know: Leon is the leather capital of Mexico.   I splurged and bought a new leather purse.  I really wanted to buy a new pair of nurse shoes. I love clogs and need a new pair.  The only shoes for nurses were ugly there... The next bet you didn't know.... is a bit morbid for some...you may wish to skip it Im warning you, you may want to stop here.. The smallest mummy in the world is in Guanojuato Mexico. It is a little PREMIE boy who is about 24 weeks gestation.  The cool thing is these mummies were buried and something in the soil there mummified them naturally.  I loved this little guy.....I ex

WE Have a Shawl Pin WINNER!

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 More from Mexico trip in a momentito, but first: Katherine of Comfort Zone won the Shawl Pin fair and square. Number generator picked #8,and that was Katherine's comment.  Since there are no losers on this blog, I will be sending a little something to the last number picked by number generator as well: So Nancy Kay you win as well! Above are little sugar candy coffins.  The string on the candy toy makes the skull in the window of the candy go in and out...Can you see that??  I'm all for candy in heaven....how about you? Al sent this adorable Happy Fall dishcloth to me.  It will not be used for intended purpose; it is too pretty to use.  I was clowning around with Zach on his birthday.  We took a long but interesting trip to Michoucan, for an amazing Day of the Dead gathering.  There are 8 islands in a tiny town with a lake.  People come from everywhere and ride boats to the islands to pray for those buried there.  They literally light up the night with candles at the

COMFORT ZONE.. to borrow a phrase

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  TO borrow a blog title from Katherine, I've been out of my COMFORT ZONE.  This year we traveled more than we have ever done in our entire lives.  This trip, last week, was  to visit Zach who is studying abroad in Mexico this semester through DePaul.  Pictured: his adorable girlfriend Alejandra or Ale.  She never stops smiling.  She is joyous, she is generous and she stole our hearts... Zach is completely bilingual now and I am so proud.  Fireman speaks no Spanish and I have some command of the language ...but it is rough at best.  My verb  conjugations leave a lot to be desired.  Still the people of Mexico were so gracious to us.  They helped me with words I needed, and they greeted us with honest open arms.   I had fun trying to speak Spanish with everyone.  My little brain was oh so tired because I had to then translate back to Fireman so he would not be left out.  There is so much to tell.. This is my Catrina doll...she is THE symbol of all that is good and happy

Shawl We????

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Let"s have a contest Shawl We? This lovely wooden Shawl pin and stick can be yours.... Leave me a comment between now and November 6th, Election Day. No politics please!  You must leave the comment on this particular post.  You must tell me what your very favorite food is on your Thanksgiving plate.  I am very thankful for you all who read this humble blog, so let's have a Thanksgiving contest for fun.  

Sister Mary Beatles

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Bea is like a limp noodle in this image.  It is so hard to get him worked up........ I could NEVER EVER do this to Rozzy or Tank.  Bea is just so relaxed. I wonder if he is like this because he was literally Born in this house..  He was handled and held and cuddled by the whole neighborhood as a tiny half haired funny looking kitten.  He sure is the Ugly Duckling/White Swan now. He just adores being held and stroked and hugged.  I think Huck whispers in his ear. So here he is playing whatever as I tied the white wrap around him.  He also LOVEs to wear his velcro vest and go out on the leash in the back yard with me. Beatles, Bea, Bea Bug, Bea Bugalicious.....it's all the same.  He's the cutest black cat I've ever known.... and he wanted some post time.

November Grey's

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November greys are sure to follow Halloween.  I'm knitting another pair of socks, with some gray in them.  The colored yarn was a gift from Channon, and I've a good amount left from the beret I have already knitted up in it.   The cuff, the heels and the toes will be Koigu grey.   Let's be really honest here.  This cast on, when completed will make 6 finished pairs of socks this year . I Have two other partial pairs, but they don't count yet.  That goal of 13 in 2012 is not looking good.  Meh.  I don' t think I mind. ..... The other two pair IF finished bring me to 8.   My last pair of socks, the beige and brown stripe child's socks, had a little problem.  The second sock is near done but I fudged the toe finish.   I am going to have to spend some time reworking the toe.   Why do I get antsy at the end?  My hands nearly shake when there are only a few little stitches left on the needles.  I gave up on Kitchener long ago.  The three needle bind off find