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Showing posts from November, 2014

Squares .....

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  This gorgeous hawk filled the square of my lens this morning. I was lucky to catch him taking off in flight.    Since I am still double knitting a scarf and garter knitting the Trap, and I don't have much progress to show, I"ll be a square Knit To Be Square looks like a fine book.  Do you have to sew all those squares together or is it a pick up and knit situation?     This little crib blanket is at Three Bags Full on display. I love how orderly the squares are, and yet the little block colors really pop out.  Maybe I should start with a hat.....I love this one.  Have you tied the mitered square patterns? Pros? Cons??

Black Friday Post

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  My friend Donna, (of Quiet Life blog) knitted these blue mittens for me.  They are soft, fuzzy and they fit perfectly.  I was tearful accepting them on Wednesday.  Donna and her girls met Fireman and I for a bit.  Donna's seams are invisible.  Absolutely perfect. Oh Donna, I love ya!  I frogged my Trap.  Decided to knit it all up in garter this time. Too much of the yarn is hiding in the rolling effect of stockinette stitch for this one.  Our kitchen smelled amazing yesterday. While the foster kittens got no turkey,  the smell of the turkey must have made them sleepy. My own cats got a bit of the bird and loved it.  So its Black Friday. I'll be home.  Knitting. Reading. Showing the kittens to a friend's sister who has Downs Syndrome.  The kittens adoption fell through :( Say a little prayer we find them a good home.  I don't like bringing them back to the kitten room to wait and wait and wait.. because they are Black.

Thankful and Traptastik

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Over the river and through the woods, and all that. There was just enough snow across the farm fields to brighten our car ride yesterday.  I love riding in the country and getting away from the city. I'm thankful for Fireman who drives while I knit.     Meet Zara...   Because I had to cast on another Trap Scarf.  I really am going to have to rename this blog: Traptasktic Times..... The foster kittens met the laser light last night. Here they are thinking, "Where did that moving dot go?" They are so darn adorable.  So much to be Thankful for this year. Top of the list: Retirement If I don't get a chance to post again later,  I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Gobble gobble

My Favorite Pumpkin Dessert

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  Double knitting: takes twice as long to make progress. Must. Be. Patient.    Yesterday's snowfall: sure beats rain New cell phone cover: Cat and Mouse My favorite easy peasy Thanksgiving dessert: P ALLEN SMITH"S Food & Recipes Garden Home Lifestyle Marge Says Garden Home Partners Videos Grow & Go Together 1-2-3 Done Events eNewsletter Gooey Pumpkin Cake No time for homemade pumpkin pie? This recipe is a super quick alternative. You basically dump everything into a cake pan and bake! The result is a gooey, pumpkin pie bottom layer with a rich, buttery topping. Not very cake like, but it sure is good. Share this recipe Print this recipe Ingredients 1 can pumpkin puree (15 oz.) 1 can evaporate milk (12 oz.) 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground clove 1 package yellow cake mix (18.25 oz) 1 1/2 cup chopped pecans 3/4 cup melted butter Instructions Combine the p

So Very Thankful

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  L'est you think I was kidding.  The Christmas cookies remain untouched in the freezer.     In this Thanksgiving week, I am very thankful to my psychiatrist. I found out he studied at University of Toledo. Their colors:  navy and gold.   Guess who's getting  Trap scarf?  I've been waiting to give this to just the right person.  He's a humble person.  He says to give the Glory to God.  Well, I do, but I still think I can thank him too.  For those of you who don't know, I struggle with Depression. I still have a hard time sharing that, which is so silly. I'm here to say: Hang in there if you are depressed. Get help. I thank GOD for my medications.  I look at it this way: If my pancreas gave out and  I needed insulin, I wouldn't hesitate to get medication.  The brain is just another organ that needs balancing in some of us. **** Life can be so dark, which is why I love to keep my blog light.  And I'm so thankful

Duct Tape

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  Double the fun when then kittens are ready to play!  These two are just so lovely.  They even let us cut their nails last night without any fuss.  We may have an adopter which would make me very happy.  Black kittens and cats tend to sit at the shelter and take forever to be adopted out.  Keep your knit fingers crossed for me ladies.   I'd love them to have a home by the end of the week! Lynn's adopting Bonk and Fixie , now Teddy and Mr Whiskers was a dream come true.... I hope the same for this dynamic duo! ******   It took me three more tries to get the double knitting under way. The above is with sock yarn and its a bit too fiddly. I do like the way the black is zigzagging along.  On a bigger needle, with sport weight, the Liberty Wool is behaving very nicely.  So double knit scarf it will be.   ****** We watched the first episode of Six Feet Under the series, at a friend's recommendation.  I did NOT like it.  Too graphic, too

Knit Plans

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  Al plans to knit this baby blanket for her friend Casey. Casey is having a girl so it will be pink.  I received my Micheals yarn in the mail yesterday. I started a small something yesterday. It is so very soft but also very thin Ultra fine.  I may have to double the yarn to really get anywhere with this.... Time will tell.. Seems its all about the Turkey plans these days. I myself love that bird. In my family, growing up, we all pulled the skin off the cooked turkey and savored it before it was carved. This seems sacrilege to those I share the story with now. That's how we did though. We all fought for the skin. Mmmmmm so good and so bad for you

Double Knitting Double the Fun

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  All of you who said you wanted to try double knitting, I have this to say to you: Do it!   It is very fun.  I love to knit and not to purl, so you slip all the purl stitches.  You knit and you slip on both sides.  Is that not enticing?  I'm planning on finishing another coaster today.   I'd like to knit a set of four for my Doctor for Thanksgiving.  I see him Monday so I'm under a little deadline.   Double is the word of the day here....so I give you Westely and Humpedink.  So so cute cute.  Here Kitty kitty.  Laugh laugh snort snort COmment comment?

Gift Knitting

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  I learned a new knit skill this week.  Double knitting is my new passion. While sitting with the kittens I was  thumbing through a knit book in Al's room, and came across the coasters.  (The Book: More Last Minute Knitted Gifts)  I tried it with the help of a YouTUBE video and I'm hooked.  I'm knitting coasters...yippee.  As you can see the work is the same on both sides. I may have to make a scarf this way...... Its very fun.  If I can master it, you can! Now I can knit 4 coasters for a set and a gift.  For those who desire a more complicated knit,  there are these darling Stocking Sets for sale at 3 Bags.  I said I wasn't going to gift knit.. I say this every year....

Picture of a Picture

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This is a picture of a phone picture.  It is the best I could do this morning. My girl, in her Rosarian sweater.  Knitted in Cosabi yarn. Knitty Spring 2014 pattern.  She says if she made it again, she'd decrease the amount of stitches before the ribbing so it pulls in tight at the waist.  She said she'd make the ribbing longer too.  Sigh, I love my girl.  She's going to have a fun day.  She's hosting a baby shower for a friend/pharmacist.  I have been "in" on all the planning....it's going to be a fun day for the mom-to-be and the LADIES who attend.  Al could always look at a pattern and decide how to make it HERS.  I can only see what the pattern photo shows... Nice Finish Al!

Finishes on Monday

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  My little hat is finished complete with Pom Pom.  I made the pom around my hand ... I wound it so tight my fingers starting turning colors... note to self: You don't have to wind so tightly.  My Magic Circle Vest is finished.  Lest you think it is a Chirstmas tree skirt, let me explain.  I do think the yarn from the sheep and wool festival wanted to be this vest.   Hilarity ensued when I could not figure out how to put it on. Thank Goodness Fireman is not geometrically challenged like me.  I'll try to get someone to snap a shot of it on me later.  Fun, easy pattern.  Lots of stitch markers and increasing on alternate 3 rd and 4th rows with row counter.  I've had the pattern about ten years and finally made the vest.  Time for a new knit cast on..... hmmmmm I don't know what's next.  After knitting on size 101/2s for that vest, I want to go back to little needles for a bit.   Our local Holiday Fair ended this weekend at t

Fill in the blank...

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  Outside my window: there is fresh snow  I'm hearing: fireman jump rope in the living room I am planning: to finish my Circle Vest today I am hoping: Al's holiday schedule works out I am amazed: at these painted rocks. How cool!  I am reading: The Empress of Dirt's blog.  These are her rocks. 

Products I Love

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  Yellow rose love.  Just looking at them makes me happy.  They are still fresh and lovely from the party Wednesday.  My girlfriend got them at Sams Club.    I'm in love with my Green Mountain Spinnery wool.  Kid Mohair and Fine Wool, with that slippery feel to it.  I'm on row 40 of 60ish.   The rows keep growing, so the finish is not in sight. I'm not knitting another thing until this is successfully finished.    Before I go on to other product love I have to show you  Dink, (Humperdink) .  This kitten only wants you to hold him.  He is as snuggly as Beatles was as a kitten.   Westley is still more independent and the Playful hunter.  I have the humidifier going in their room and their colds are  improving. ***** Okay.  My biggest greatest new product find is the  Coobie Bra.  I am very picky about bras.  I LOVE these. They are beyond comfortable.  I don't feel like I'm wearing a bra and yet they give great sup

Kittens and Elephants

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  My job is to get these boys beefed up.  They have little sneezes, kitty colds. No nasty colored stuff, just clear but cats do not eat well when their respiratory/nose olfactory systems are messed up.    Humperdink is an amazing smuggler.  He purrs and rubs his face all over you.  Westley is the hunter.   They make me laugh.  Someones' going to have two great kittens.     Kathy S's daughter knit this elephant. She was proudly showing it at 3 Bags the other day.  Pretty darn cute.   I'm three skeins into my circle wrap.   I'm sticking with this one. Do you know I don't like to purl? Well, I don't.  So I only did the garter in the round for the first dozen rows.  I'll to the garter in the round for the last dozen rows too. In the meantime its all knit in the round!  Finally, I dislike going to the Michaels store so very much that I placed my order on the phone today. It's worth the 6  bucks to have it deliver

Gobsmacked...

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  Yesterday there was a retirement luncheon in my honor. My locker partner, Anne, crocheted this amazing shawl for me.  I was overwhelmed by this gift.  It is the softest thing in the world.   She told me she used an acrylic: Michael's Wool -like Loops N Threads. I'm going to have to buy the store out.  Baby blankets will be amazing in this yarn. ..etc Some of our nurses and respiratory therapists go to China to teach in a NICU there.  Paula brought this knit bag......half way round the globe to me.  They flew in the night before the party and came anyhow.  Isn't it gorgeous? The embroidery is hand stitched.    I did not want a party but I'm glad they insisted. It felt like closure in the best way. I have been privileged to work beside many amazing women. And there is snow on the rooftops and lawns this morning.. for the times they are a changing!

Fuzz and Love

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 I've    Sent my swap pal two skeins of Rowan. Gave Kat from KnittinintheSun the bottom black color.    The knit shop has these pretty hats knit up in that Rowan. They have that beautiful fuzz to them and will be very HOT and fashionable!   Upstairs, the foster kittens are settling in. Dink, (Humperdink) is a snuggler. Westley loves to play with toys.  They make me laugh!   Dink's eyes are more golden than Westley's.  What's not to love? They use their box, they are quiet as mice, and they sleep through the night.   What's making you laugh?