knittinggenes.blogspot.com

  Today is the last day of May.  May ends. June begins.   Here are 10 ways I'm finishing May: *My shawl is nearly finished. I'm working on the border.  I've changed it up a bit from the directions but it's easier for me this way.  *The air conditioners are in place. I can spend the day without it but I must have cool to sleep.  *I'm waiting for some Knitpicks sock yarn. I ordered the old fashioned way...with a check.  This ought to eliminate any hacking issues they haven't worked out.  *Today is day 8 without Coca cola.  This is a huge deal for me.  "How do you feel?" Troy asks, and I say,  "Like I want a COKE"  *Here's to A Coke free June..... Yes this means a soda free June.  Coke is the only soda I would drink.... oh that's past tense..... perhaps that is a good sign *I am preparing for Zach's graduation. (Al is getting her Bachelors the same day...!)  I have a new dress...

Who doesn't love a new link?  Or some new info? *Our foot doctor suggests these soothing oils for your feet: Tea Tree Oil  Peppermint Oil Mineral Ice Anarca Gel Voltaren Gel  (my feet are killin me!) *I love all books by Anne Lamott: Help Thanks Wow, 3 Essential Prayers is her new one.  *If you're looking for some cooking try: Ourladyofsecondhelpings.com and *thepluckyknitter.com has some gorgeous yarns to look at, to ponder, to ...buy   Happy Thursday.  

  My sister got her MACH this weekend in Agility. She has a great German Shepard,. Quetzal. (rhymes with Pretzel) Dog lovers will recognize this amazing accomplishment.  She also got a Mach on her last Gordon Setter who is now passed.  She's my sister the veterinarian.  I'm proud.  I've been wanting to get a dog/or puppy for awhile now.  Fireman is not in the same camp.  I think I am in love with the thought of a dog/puppy.  There were so many dogs at the Memorial Day parade.   Alas, it takes two to get a dog in this house.  It is not fun if everyone is not on board.  I am making a list of 100 reasons not to get a dog.  I have to convince myself.  On my days off a dog would be wonderful, but the reality is that I work 3 days a week.  Those 3 days don't work with a dog...... I will have to get my dog JOY from your blogs and your dogs..... We love rice krispie treats in this house.  My secret ...

It's all about the shawl    Y'all The yarn is set, you see, It was not happy thinking  it was a sock to be. Now that I know it's wishes I can knit on cheerfully.  It's very very blue and it reminds me of the Lake I Pick it up to knit it and I don't fear the mistakes     It's an ordinary Tuesday and that's just fine by me, are you knitting? are you writing  keep on going, happ-i-ly.  

  Our town holds a Memorial Day Parade and Service each year.  It was cold enough to wear my red/white/blue scarf today.   Our Friend and Vietnam Vet, Larry is partaking in a Memorial Day service for a friend of his who died in the war.  Now, years after Vietnam, his family was notified that a TOOTH that belonged to their soldier was recovered in Vietnam.  The tooth has been accompanied by US soldiers to his hometown.  This is all that family has of his body.  How wonderful that he is being honored with this tiny fragment of his body, in memory of his soul.   There is some knitting going on during the Holiday weekend.  The sock was not to be.  I must have ripped it back to the cuff 5 times trying to get the pattern I wanted right.   Then it hit me. This yarn needed to be a shawl.... after all. NO wonder it was not co-operating with me.  Mizzle is the name of the pattern, Free on Ravelry .  I'm knitting and ...

  I want this pony.......Friend Karen is amused by such projects...she's working on one for me. I have always wanted a pony.  However, that is not our topic for today.  I would love to answer some of your questions.   * An number of you have asked how I got Beatles to walk on a leash.  The answer: very slowly.   It took about a month of patience to get him to the outside point.  I'm no expert. I googled it and watched how others have succeeded.  First off, he's a mellow mellow fellow.  I doubt my other cats would do this.  You start by purchasing a good vest.  Ours has velcro and a clip for the leash.  I found it on line somewhere.  Ours is called TSA Fast Pass.  I don't know why... They suggest you just lay it on top of him for the first few days and give him treats.  Let him smell it etc. Then you put it on him loosely and give him treats and tell him how amazing and handsome he looks.   Y...

A time for Beatles to roll in the fresh cut grass A time for glorious flowering irises    A time for American flags of all shapes and sizes   and a time for cold pasta salads and grilling.  Not to mention: porch knitting car trip knitting picnic knitting vacation knitting sitting in the car with the windows rolled down knitting dock knitting pier knitting beach knitting lawn chair knitting hammock knitting  pontoon boat knitting and even firework knitting.... Happy SUMMERTIME we deserve this!

Sue is very imposing as she greets you at Chicago's Field Museum.   Did you know she was discovered in the Black Hills of South Dakota?   She lived about 65 million years ago.   Numbers like those boggle this brain.   We ate lunch with Sue today.   Why is it that museums are so very interesting when one is not counting children's heads every ten seconds while chaperoning?      Topic two without a  segway:  Al requested some dishcloths in Beach colors.  I think this colorway will do.   Simple garter, simple crochet edge. You could say I'm in training.. oh yeah Ladies,  I'm doing the Dishrag Tag again this summer.  Emily at Yarn Miracle just announced she'll host the event yet again for all of us to enjoy.   If you never have, it is crazy fun. 

The new mint M and M's are dark chocolate fantastic.  Anti-oxidants it is.....   THe Manos wants to become a basket to hold yarn....how very functional and how very green.    The impatients always win out on my north facing porch.  It's easy to have a green thumb when you stop fighting your plant choices.   Other greens in my day:  Green with envy over Kathryn's pink fingerless over at Comfort Zone Green cilantro is coming up in my herb garden today Guacamole wins out over salsa for me every time   Green Goddess dressing is an old time favorite on my salad greens and finally Green Acres is the place for me....... (and there is a fun contest for yarn and books going on at http://bookwyrmknits.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/contest-time/#comment-6627_) Go on over to Bookwyrmknits.wordpress and enter to win)

Luke : All right, I'll give it a try.  Yoda : No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.  So goes my new lace sock.  Do or do not, there is no try.   So I'm doing.   And I'm loving.  Casbah will be socks.  Outnumbered but not out voted, because I am the boss of the knitting.  (and I get to vote early and often)  (What Do you today?)

  The Casbah is calling my name.   So here's my dilemma.  Should I knit a pair of amazing socks with the Casbah or should I knit a pair of long fingerless gloves with it?  Please chime in.    Beatles loves to be in the yard now that the warm weather is here.  My pretend dog.......   Discovered these goldfish treats at the store the other day......the best part is you get 52 pieces for 4.5 grams fat.  It is a mix of graham,  chocolate and tiny white marshmallow fishies.  They are just okay.... I'm crazy for marshmallows lately.....My pretend dessert.....

  I'm in a chatty mood today.  If you want the short version it is:  *Sock finish.  Lorna's laces Rust heels and toes.   *Crabtree in it's glory *Adorable Garden Cakes at 3 Tarts Bakery  *********************************** If you are up for the long version, thanks and here goes! The socks are adorable and will be a child's gift.  I worked a round toe and loved how it finished.   I copied one of you, (Sorry who was it?) who matched cuff, heels and toes in solids lately.   While I love the effect, it means I ultimately have more ends to weave in.  I prefer to knit socks in one long continuous strand. It is magical to me that way.  Then, of course, I only have the start and finish ends to weave in.  Am I lazy or what? I've been encouraged to write some poems for children and I'm working on it.  Poetry is more my way than stories.  I'm completely bragging but Zach got a poem published in a Chicago pu...

  *I have startitis.  I've never had it before.   * I think part of the affliction is you don't care that you have it. :) * I will finish Lorna's socks today before I cast on  anew with above Misti Alpaca. Now for the Panic:    *A moth flew from family room where I store my yarn  yesterday and I panicked the rest of the day.  *I don't see damage.  I put those skeins in a plastic bag and threw it in the hot car.  It is supposed to kill any moths.  *There are millions of moths in Chicago summer. How can I win this battle?  I hear lavender is a natural repellent. I wont do Moth balls.   *Last year I had A moth and went sort of crazy about it.   *I think I called this to me.  I was fretting about moths last week and didn't even see any.  *My cats are supposed to be on moth control.  *I swear I dont have a dirty home.   *I feel like one must feel if their kids gets he...

Score...one for me.  Al sent me this most awesome bag for Mother's day!!!!! Lynn posts from SIMPLE WOMAN 's Daybook  prompts and I enjoy her posts .... So I'm a following your lead Lynn! *Outside my window- The lilacs are blooming and my neighbor told me to cut as many as I please! *I am thinking- I need to go to bed right now and nap before my shift starts.    *I am thankful for a Dear friend Donna's sur prise phone call this morning.  *In the kitchen,  there is a box of ghiradelli brownie mix that will not get baked today as planned. *I am going- to bed, oops I already said that. *I am hearing - a cardinal singing, a sparrow chirping, and fireman digging in the garden.  *I am looking forward to - thunderstorm season.  Favorite quote of the day:  Take the best of the best and the hell with the rest. (a vet said this with regards to breeding dogs today)

  The baby poncho in progress is pictured above. I found a bag of koigu in the closet.  (it had been a baby sweater that AL frogged a few years back.)   I'm knitting the koigu with a pink skein of Lorna's Laces that Irisheyes Lynn gave me.  It will be darling when finished, but the double strands are wearing on my wrist.  I need my hands/wrists/fingers to stay in the Pink. Therefore, the poncho is on hold.  Zachary gave me these gorgeous flowers for Mother's Day.   The pinks are my favorite.  Someone named Pink has a song about learning to love again.   Fireman likes it so I googled it, and I like it too.  I like that the guy from the band FUN is singing the duet with Pink.   Pop Culture....It escapes me sometimes.  I try to keep up.  There are some wonderful new artists in our world.   What's Pink in your world today? I 

  Everything is blooming at once around here.   Usually things bloom in an orderly sort of succession in Chicago.  This year it seems to be all at once. The show is fantastic wherever I look.... In my knit world, I have knit both heel flaps on the lorna's socks.  There will be porch knitting today.. Has anyone placed a KnitPicks order since their debacle?  I got their catalog yesterday and am tempted.  Perhaps I should write a check and put it in the mail, the old fashioned way-  (the debacle had to do with credit cards that were used to order being hacked...this caused many issues for fellow knitters.  I escaped unscathed but am wise to it now. )

lornas laces socks side by side One sock two sock Cupcakes and frosting. Flowers and cards Thunder and Lightening Comments and Emails Sandals and pedicures  (C'mon what's your pair today?)

I hope my children remember me telling them :  BE GOOD TO YOU.  If we can't be good to ourselves as Mom's we can't show our children how to be great parents someday.  If we can't be good to ourselves, then we can't show our children the importance of self-care.  If we can't be good to ourselves, then we can't teach them how to combat burnout.   "Be nice to you or Be good To You"  is something I tell my family and my dear friends when they are having a rough day.  Be as nice to you as you would be to a friend in the same spot.  Here are5 Ways to Be Nice to YOU! *By Yarn...  we spend less on yarn than a round of golf, and we end up with something lasting.   *Shut it all out and Shut if all off. Sometimes 10 minutes of quiet can change your mindset.  Sit on your porch, sit by a stream,  shut the radio off in the car,  or shut of the TV for a bit.  Quiet is soothing in my...

I am delighted to show you my FO.  This baby came off my needles last night, while the Bulls lost game 2 in the playoffs.  The Pattern is Savory Knitting's  Lilac Wine.  Since I knit it up in navy/creme I'll call it Blueberry Wine.... She used 359 yards of sportweight yarn I used 363 yards of Superwash Merino. Chunky.  Ella Rae Lace Merino  color 879. At 23.00 a skien this is a 69.00 dollar  cowl.   This would make a great great gift.  It would also delight me to wear it , throughout next fall and winter.   Guess what?  It is mine.   Channon, you'll be happy to know I have already decided it will look lovely with a creme colored turtle neck top.  This was a very easy knit up in simple ribbed stitches in the round.  It did wear on my hands a bit but not nearly as much as the baby ponchos did.   I would love to knit another for a gift sometime after my wrists an...

*The easiest way for me to get inspired is to visit my Local Knit shop.  Three Bags Full in Northbrook has some beautiful samples on display.  This is Winnowing by Flood in the Yarn Flaxen.  The pattern in available on Ravelry for a small sum.  "It' s a lot of knitting" was Kathy S's comment on the process.  I think it is stunning....somedays I want a lot of knitting... most days that is!   * A very close second way is to meet up with knit friends and see what they are working on.    * Touching the yarns at shops usually surprises me.  If I like how it feels I'm usually sold.   * Switching up colors inspires me. Purple and Aqua are so IN this year.  This purple top is knit in the Berrocco skeins hung above the neckline.    * Same yarn, totally different look above.  It inspires me for the drape of it.  Drape inspires me!  * Buying some sale yarn always inspires me.  The Lor...