knittinggenes.blogspot.com

  My watermelon Knitpicks Sock yarn will not wait. I'm casting on today.   Apparently there is more to making a great cake than the great pans.  I LOVE my Pampered Chef cake pans.  I made the white cake from a mix, and the frosting, (Key lime) from a  can.   It was O-----kay.   Do you have a frosting recipe from scratch that can't be beat? Update: no root canal just yet!  Trialing temporary crown for a month. :)  Did you know the dentist gave me my old crown with the gold fill and told me to take it to a jeweler. He said I'd get about 20 bucks for it? Was he kidding me? Have you ever?? I've renamed the foster kitty: Magpie just didnt fit.   Her name is Y'all. (Y'all come here...Y'all so sweet...Y'all  gonna make it)  That's All All Ya'll 

This is Magpie. Or Pie. Or Wiz as Zach wants to call her. She's staying with us to grow a bit.  She has very little vision.  They cannot see any retina's.   Tank is enamored with her. Beatles is NOT.   This is the Simple Ridges Shawlette unfinished. See the lifeline I had to put in it; it is not even lace but I felt better with a lifeline.     Those addi turbos and I do NOT get along at all. I just don't like them in my hands.  I don't like wooden circs either.   The yarn was gifted to me: Manos I have to crochet the edges yet.  Then I will try for better pictures.  UP next: Socks again.   Summertime socks in watermelon from Knit Picks I was going to try to save it for our road trip, but I can't wait.  It is that pretty.  Anything you can't wait for today???

There are a whole lot of MAYBE's in my life right now. Maybe is a challenge for me.  I like to know one way or another.  I am a planner.  It is good for me to practice living with uncertainty.   I was amazed at how many of you don't plan ahead with your hotels on road trips. Fireman was THRILLED that you all agree with him....go with the flow.   So I'm embracing Maybe.   *Maybe I will be working today; Maybe I will not be working today.  Such is the life of the luxurious float nurse.  *Maybe I will have a root canal tomorrow- Maybe just a crown removal, drilling and crown replacement.  (TMI?) Maybe I'll get it all done at the dentist, maybe I'll end up at the endodontist's office.  *Maybe I'll make grilled pork tenderloin Friday for friends, or maybe I"ll do shish- ka- bob.  *Maybe I will Finish the Simple Ridges Shawl before I cast on for watermelon socks and Maybe I will give in to startitis.   How do you handle Maybe?

  Nothing but winners this morning!   WE KANE WE SHAW WE CRAWFORD! Thanks Dee for the immediate email when we won the Stanley Cup last night !!!! Here are the winners of my Comment Giveaway: Caroline Of Karolineknits won the Hawks visor!   Nancy Kay of High Plains Footprints won the Summery stitch markers! and Finally :the gorgeous Malabrigo Sock yarn goes to  Lynn (and Hemi) at Never a Dull Moment.   Please email me your current addresses asap. I have the goodies plus some other fun things to mail out to you.  (harpnut@gmail.com) A question to finish this post:  Do you wing it on a road trip or do you make reservations and stick to a plan?

  It is your last chance to enter the contest for the malabrigo sock yarn below.  It is so lovely I want to keep it.  You have to enter your comment on the post with the shirtless man to qualify... The pedi socks are complete.  One looks bigger because I tried it on.... I did a modified round toe that really suits my fat foot.  If anyone is interested in MY FAT TOE instructions, just let me know.   I think  my screen hummingbirds are cute.   Friend Sharon  brought them to me last night.  They are sold in a pair and there is a magnet one each one so they stick together on your screen.  She said she found them at target.  Sharon also remembered Beatles Birthday.  She brought over 3 gorgeous feathers from a friend's birds.  One blue and yellow feather is at least a foot long.  Bea and Tank smell that feather like you and I would smell a steak after a lifetime of hamburger.  Then they chase it around and carry it all over the house.   Oh and Happy Supermoon! 

  Our garden contrast...   Backyard Beatles Nicole's Contest Prizes for ME! Bookwyrmknits.wordpress. I also won a pattern from Ellen at Theellenreport.blogspot.com I chose the AUGUSTINE shawlette pattern for my prize.  (Check out their blogs.....good fun.)  I'm a kid....I LOVED the Mickey Mouse pen and keychain.   The misti Alpaca prize yarn is so soft  I want to just carry it around all day.. but it is going to be fingerless mitts for sure when I knit it up.  NOW for my blog contest: You have until tomorrow, Monday evening, to enter.   May I just say the the Stitch marker prizes are adorable.... the Yarn prize is so nice I want to keep it: Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Abril the most gorgeous purples you can imagine.  and I'm off to find the last prize for the third winner: that Blackhawks fever prize. 

  I've been playing around on Picmonkey again. These very candid shots were taken last week while I was knitting with friends.  We love to knit out on the patio in good weather.      Meg is a bit washed out in this image, but I wanted to show you her knitting.  You can really see her lace work when Picmonkey was applied.  Meg is making a lace sweater.    (in my dreams)  PicMonkey is free enough.  I can play around with images without buying any additional products.  I love me some FREE... What's your favorite FREEBIE these days?

Just a little eye candy to announce my CONTEST giveaway. You don't win him.  I don t even know who he is but he's on my friend's locker in our locker room.... but now that I have your attention..... In honor of  you you you who read the posts and comment on the blog and make me feel so lucky to know you and you could win: One of 3 prizes.  There will be 3 winners. Yippeee!! Prizes will include: STITCH Markers....for all you lace folk.  They are adorable.  I will post the prizes each day over the next 3 days. YARN: Sock yarn because its summer folks and I'm all about sock knitting and  A Chicago Blackhawks prize.... because we are after all in Chicago!!! Just leave a comment on this post and only this post.  Entries are due by Monday June 24th when I go to bed.  (Usually 930 Chicago time...hee hee I am early to bed) Le t me know if your a lurker, lurkers have a place here too.  

  *How can my neighbor's Goat's Beard be doing so much better than mine? (oops thou shalt not covet thy neighbors plants)    *I am working on my own round toe instructions. (Does this make me a designer?)  *Why does it take so long to plan and cook dinner, yet we eat in about 5 minutes?  *Why does the hummingbird visit my feeder some nights and not others?   *Do the Blackhawks keep winning because I go to bed before the games are over? *and finally, why haven't I seen any fireflies this summer? 

  Have you seen the new cycling US Postage Stamps? I love the way the artist captured the different cyclists.  I had to buy them given Fireman's love of cycling. (Are you Knitting to the Tour De France? The Tour de Fleece as they say in the knit world? I never have....but I might this year.   Fireman starts everyday of the month long race watching the events on cable.   It is a summer tradition.  Even though lots of them are cheaters..... we still watch...) This amazing chalk art was created in California  recently.   This dog was my favorite  creation of the event.   In my tiny world,  art consists of stick figures, and lots of knitting.  Zach has inherited my uncle and my sister's art gene. Maybe I can get him to let me take a picture of his sketches.. I got the only D of my school life in art.   (and I tried, I really did!)  Haha.  Now I think it is very funny.  If only I could have written the art with words.... but i

I am knitting Footlets with the Lakeshore  Knitpicks Sockyarn.  Yesterday:  Pondered what to do with old single socks. Felt twinge of pain around my heart. Realized I am emotionally connected to each sock I knit no matter how long ago. Recalled how I wanted to turn a heel on my bucket list.  Rationalized that single socks in drawer are no longer a pair.  Contemplated keeping all single socks. Imagined those socks in my casket someday. Imagined family/friends shaking their heads and rolling their eyes instead of Kneeling prayerfully beside me.  Felt icky thinking about death.   Made decision to think only about  sock death.  Also realized they cover your feet up in that casket.  Imagined socks in my hands instead of a rosary. Made second decision to get off the coffin topic!   Made mental note that Huck's ashes are going in that casket someday, hopefully a long long day from now. Realized socks and Huck will be great companions

A funny think happened on the way to my second Mizzle....... I decided to knit socks instead.  The pull of a pair of socks is strong especially with this Knitpicks sock yarn.   My goodness it nearly bounces when you knit with it. It's Stroll Handpaint.   I'm knitting a pattern from Al's Knitted SOCKS book.    On the summer front: We are having success with our hummingbird feeder and we are ridiculously thrilled about it.  4 times since June 1 we have seen a female come to the feeder.  Last night we saw her drink from it.  Beatles absolutely adores his cat tunnel out in the yard.   Fireman admitted, last night,  that when he saw it first, he thought it was a complete waste of money. He says he is amazed at how Beatles loves to be out in it.  (score one for me!) I've lost track of how many days its been without a Coke.   We are close to the month mark.  The hardest time I had was this weekend at  graduation lunch at the SMOKEHOUSE in the cit

  To all the fathers, grandfathers, uncles and men who have filled the role of Father, Happy Father's Day.  Not every father is perfect, not every mother is perfect.  A father who TRIES to be a wonderful father is far more precious than a father who thinks he can be wonderful without thought or reflection.   "DO as I say not as I do" was heard at our home growing up.   That's the easy way to be a father.  A father who is a model by his actions speaks clearly to his children on two levels.   I am blessed that Fireman is such a Father.  Here's to all the Dad's, including mine,  who have gotten us out of a pickle more than once: And here's our favorite pickle recipe: From Sue Wolfy RN 8 cups unwaxed pickles or cucumbers 2 cups onions if you wish 1T salt 1 c. vinegar 1 and 1/14 cup sugar Cut the peppers and onions as thick or thin as you wish. Sprinkle the salt over the pickles  and let them rest 5 minutes.  

Zach graduated today- DePaul University's  Class of 2013.  He graduated with honors and we're proud.   We were privileged to have Carlotta Walls LaNier as our Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipient.  Carlotta is one of the Little Rock Nine. Hearing her speak of the hatred she endured while going to school in Arkansas, and the way it changed her ordinary life, was empowering.   We were thrilled when she took the podium.   We are also thrilled for Al.   Allison also graduated today with her Bachelor's completion.  She is an RN BSN now!!!!!!   Al took a different path than many of her local classmates;  She  followed her heart and she's happy for it.  It was not easy to keep going while she worked night shifts and was exhausted, but she got her bachelors degree from University of Illinois.  She also graduated nursing school with honors.  So we are very proud here at Irisheyes today.  On our way home on the expressway we saw a boat being towed a

  Outside my window- Fireman is cleaning the bbq grill.   I am thinking- this kitten baby will knock your socks off.  She's being bottled by the vet at the shelter.  Repeat after me: I will not bottle kittens. I will not bottle kittens.  I might bottle kittens.. In the kitchen -we are out of milk.  I am wearing a new shade of nail polish: Opi 57 or lavandar.  I am creating -a book of things I will learn to sew someday, and this Ruffled Tote is in it.  I am going- to ride my bike today.  I really really am I am wondering- how I got so lucky as to win Bookwyrms book give-a-way.  !!! I am reading -Real SIMPLE magazine.  Maybe this should be the Real Simple Woman's Daybook entry.  I am hoping- the pulmonologist can help Fireman with his cough.   I am looking forward to- more Blackhawks games and the Stanley CUP! I am hearing-how to fix your hair for summer on a TV segment.  Messy fishtails are apparently in.. Around the house- the

  Not my clematis-   Not my peony- -- But this IS my new knit picks Stroll handpaint in the color way: Lakeview.  Let Mizzle Shawl number 2 begin!  I parkway picked 3 white chairs for the porch yesterday.  They needed some bleach but they are fine for a party.   Have you parkway picked? Dumpster dived? Treasured some trash?

  This heron was blending in beautifully when we spotted him  yesterday.  They are easily the largest birds in this area.  The smallest bird, a hummingbird!, flew to our feeder at 7pm last night.  We are thrilled.  We are hoping to keep a few all summer long instead of just spotting the migrating hummies in September.   I changed up my knitting; the poncho really hurts my hands with its double strands of yarn.  These are a child's fingerless mitts.  I read on Ravelry about someone who liked to suck his thumb, and hated mittens because of it.   Hence the invention of the child's finger free, thumb sucking, mitts.  Really, we knitters, we think of everything! Still waiting on my Knitpicks yarn.... Still coughing a bit, but I'm much better Still not drinking any Coke and you?

http://socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm

#1    Sockknitters.com gives a Heels by Numbers Chart that I find fabulous.  Find your correct cast on number and it gives you the heel turn perfectly.   #2  I think I must make some new kitty beds for our house.  I know how to make these, but what to stuff them with???   #3 Rosalyn started a senility supplement this week.  Senelife. We actually see an improvement in her behavior.  #4  I am still waiting for my Knitpicks order.  I sent them an old fashioned check.  This  really delayed the delivery.  However,  I won't have any hacking issues this way... hopefully it arrives tomorrow.  #5  Have you seen the new postage stamps with Bicycles on them?  I had to buy them for Fireman.  #6  Finally, my favorite Farmer's Market is back for the season. If you live near me, it is the Northfield farmers market on Happ across from New Trier HS.  There were radishes everywhere, strawberries and asparagus too. Happy Sunday!  Im so happy to be off

  Given the fact that I have come down with a head cold, which co-incided with my week off of work, (dang dang dang it!) I did not have the confidence to cast on anew last night.   You have all been so wise about the joys of not knitting monogamously.  Thanks to you, I had the baby poncho sitting there just waiting for me to carry on with it .  The increases are overwith and now I shall knit in the round until the bottom border.  I try not to let colds get me down.  I figure we all get about 3 a year. If we live to be a hundred we spend nearly a year of our lives blowing our noses.  Cure for the common cold......wouldn't that be awesome?   What's your cure for the common cold ?

I love horses.  I love to watch them move and I love to watch them stand.  If you do PINTEREST you'll see I have a shetland pony board.   The irony is that I am not very calm atop a horse.   If I win the lottery, I will buy a horse. It will be a retired Police Horse. I want a spook proof horse.  Karen created this adorable horse for me. She crocheted him.   He's the new mascot here at Irisheyes.  So far he's a dream.  He hasnt' pooped in the house at all.  I do not give him oats because I read signs on the stables that say "NO Oats".   I call him Kbear because of Karen's email address.  Yup, I'm a kid.  Yup I'm thrilled to have my own pony. Thanks Karen......I love him.   Are you still a kid?

Here's my Mizzle finish.  I modified the ribbed border a bit .  I used size 3 Clover needles for the entire knit up.  Yarn: Casbah Color: is just a number.....but I'd call it Virgin Islands Pattern: Free on Ravelry  I need to block it.   Im going to give it to my friend Ann in Texas.  Today ...I'm casting on another Mizzle Shawl because I love this pattern.