Still here....

Did you know that the busiest real estate season is from the beginning of March until the end of June? It's true. Most people think it's Summer, but it's really Spring. So I'm crazy busy and not much knitting is getting accomplished. I am helping my sister with socks though. So that's something at least. The other night we sat together and I showed her how to work in the round with 4 needles. When I left she was working on the ribbing. Last night, she turned the heel and got to the short rows and I had to walk her through that... on the phone. Try explaining that on the phone! There was no way I was going to proceed to tell her how to pick up the stitches after that. I think we'll have to get together tonight. In person. One thing is for sure. Once you complete that process for the first time, there's no turning back. Sock knitting is by far the most addictive.

We are now getting into the season where you can't figure out what to wear. I stood in front of my closet for 20 minutes this morning deciding. Wool seems too wintry. Summer clothes don't cut it. And the in-between stuff is not real plentiful in my closet. I'm a wool person. My winter clothes are WARM. I think I need to shop. Maybe I'll go to New York City to shop tomorrow. Yeah. I think I will. Ok.. it's not really such a spur of the moment decision. I'm off to New York with my daughters tomorrow to just have fun for the weekend. And I'll definitely be going here:


purl : about us

Watch for stash enhancements next week!

Knitting Knews

This is the Tofutsies sock yarn. Cute socks for Colin waiting to be made. The needles were purchased for the project below. The Estonia Garden shawl is coming along. Slowly but surely. I'm anxious to try out the new needles with it. I definitely needed a pointier tip. I'd like to say I'm enjoying the lace knitting process but I'm really not. Well actually it's not the lace knitting itself that I'm not enjoying, it's the fine yarn. It's just too tedious to work with. You really have to hang on tight to the needles because the yarn isn't heavy enough to hold onto them for you like in most knitting. If that makes any sense. I think I can say with some certainty that this will be my last lace weight project. But I do love the look of it.

I met a friend of mine after my class yesterday at Juniata College. She wanted me to teach her 8 year old daughter to knit. I got her started on a ribbed scarf. K2,P2 in a chunky yarn on size 11 needles. She picked it up right away. Smart little girl. The only problem is, when she makes a mistake, she won't be able to fix it and I'm 30 miles away... and WAY too busy to be going back and forth to help her. So that sort of stinks.

So I guess now I try to get caught up with my work after being gone a few days. Lovely.

Work work work...

That's been what it's all about lately. People think that summer is the busy real estate time but it's really late winter, early spring. So, right now, I'm just trying to keep it all together. And, to top it off, I leave today for another two-day class which I really can't afford right now time-wise.

I have new yarn, but no photo cord here to show you. It's Tofutsies from South West Trading Company. Sock yarn...superwash wool, soysilk, cotton, and Chitin. It's supposed to be naturally antibacterial. I thought they would be great socks for Colin. Chitin is fiber from shrimp and crab shells! It's made in China and it feels wonderful. Check it out somewhere... Maybe here... my LYS.

I also got new Skacel needles for my lace project. Hopefully they will be pointy enough. I was having trouble with that. What I'd really like is a super pointy circular for that. The Denise needles are pointy enough but the lace weight yarn gets hung up in the connection.

Photos the end of the week. I promise! Knit on.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

For all you Irish out there, or those of you who are just Irish for today, here's a recipe to impress:

Cooks.com - Recipe - Corned Beef And Cabbage

This recipe was originally published in Bon Appetit Magazine in the early 80's (maybe even late 70's). I found it online the other day with no mention of where they got it. It's exactly the same... same wording, same measurements, same everything. I've been making this recipe for over 20 years. If you like corned beef and cabbage, you haven't lived until you taste it this way.

Ah Yes...

Working with the public. Don't cha love it? Well, today, not so much. But we won't go there. Just trust me. It isn't pretty.

I'm tired of all my projects and I want to start a new one. But I won't. I must finish something. I still haven't even picked up Meghan's sweater since I went for help. I just know it will frustrate me all over again. But if I don't pick it up soon, I'll really forget what I'm supposed to TRY to do and I'll be back to square one with that.

I'm loving the new sock yarn I bought (post below). It's so soft. I'll definitely buy more of that. They are coming out with one that has the Neapolitan Ice Cream colors. That should be fun. Nothing like ice cream socks.

I didn't get to see Idol last night but I read about it online this morning. I did see it the night before. I didn't like the fact that they all had to sing Diana Ross songs. They just weren't right for so many of them. But I guess when you're a professional entertainer, you should to be able to do it all. Here's what I don't understand though. The judges have a habit of telling the contestants.. "That was just so average. You didn't take the song and make it yours." Then, when they do sing a song their way, they get criticized and told that they didn't need to rearrange the song, that the original arrangement of the song should be left alone. That's a bit of a contradiction. They either can or they can't, should or they shouldn't. Which is it? Seems like a "damned if you do and damned if you don't " sort of situation to me.

Well, back to the world of real estate. And, today, it's a crazy world. I wish you could get paid to knit.

New Sock Yarn

Great new yarn dyed by Shelley can be found at my LYS .

It's super soft merino superwash. Feels great. I had to laugh when I got this home and

wound it into a ball. It's the exact same colorway as the koigu I bought at PURL in NYC last year. If nothing else I'm consistent.

My mother is 80 years old today. She got out of the hospital just in the nick of time for her surprise birthday bash. We almost celebrated without her which would have been very bad. It was a bad Weight Watchers weekend for me. I fell WAY off the wagon. But, hey, your mother only turns 80 once, right?

Finally! Socks!

It took a while but these are finally complete just in time for my mother's birthday. They sort of match. It's close anyhow. She has been admiring them as I knit them not knowing they were for her. I think the doctors are springing her from the hospital later this afternoon so I guess the surprise 80th birthday bash is back on. Phew!
















This pile of interesting looking stuff is shea butter. Wow did I ever get a great deal on this. I found a "butter buy" on one of the soap lists and took advantage of it. That is where someone puts it out there to the members of the list to order, then she takes it upon herself to collect your money, buy in major bulk, then separates the orders out, and mails it to you when it arrives at her house. If you're buying 100 lbs. of it or more, imagine how much less expensive it is. I was lucky to get in on this one. This is a wonderful additive to my soaps. And at a fraction of the normal price. I'm going to try to make soap on Sunday, if all goes as planned with my life.
But these days, you just don't know.

Knitting Chatter....

Ok.. so I love the new issue of Knitty.com. Some cute things. They read my mind with those fingerless gloves with a more masculine twist. My son saw the ones I made for myself (Fetching) and he commented that he really liked them. So I took off on a mission to find a more suitable pattern for him and never found one I really liked, until this issue came up with Dashing. So that was cool.

I also liked a lot of the patterns in the Spring Issue of Interweave Knits. But they all definitely fall into the category of too many projects, too little time. So I don't think I'll be going there with any of them any time soon.

Still waiting for Kathy at Kathy's Kreations to call me and let me know my Noro came in. I'm itching to start another Lady Eleanor. I love that pattern from Scarf Style.

Ok, so now I'm off to the hospital to visit my mother. Yes, you heard me correctly.

Not much to report...

I know. I 've been a bad blogger. But I have nothing to show. The socks are nearly finished. I'll finish them tonight. Then I really, really need to figure that lace sweater out. I did go for help, and she showed me what I need to do next, but I just don't know...

I'd love to just be working on the lace shawl. I was really cooking on that thing until I cast on for Meghan's sweater. I can never leave well enough alone!

I bought some nice sock yarn on Saturday. Hand dyed merino by a local artist.... Shelley! It's beautiful. Photos and info on that later in the week.

Right now, I'm off to school for a few days in State College. And, yes, I'm going to miss my THIRD knitting night at Barnes and Noble. I haven't been able to make one yet.

Crazy Hair

Is it really that crazy? I don't think so. My DH is asking why all the sudden do I have crazy hair? Granted, it's longer than it's been in 15 years, but crazy? I think not. Ok, so I put a little of that wax stuff in there. Change is good right?

On to knitting news. There is none.

On to TV news. There is none.

On to grandchild news. So glad you asked. Colin is doing the cutest thing now. When you ask him, where's crazy man?, he swings his arms around and turns his head all around and starts yelling like a crazy man. It's so cute. I'm pretty sure that all this "crazy man" talk is what started the "crazy hair" discussion. Whatever.

Have a good day.

PS... excuse the crazy wallpaper.

Weekend Update

just because I don't have that much time to knit doesn't mean that I can't still dream about it. I got this book with my Barnes and Noble gift cert. for Valentine's Day. There are some cute things in here... but mainly this:
















I just love the little I-cord strings on the waist and sleeves. (I'm not sure what purpose the lego thing in the corner is supposed to serve ????? )


So on to television news which seems to be the center of my existence these days. Grey's Anatomy. Hmmmn. I don't know folks. That was just a little bit too whacked out for my taste. But I still love it, don't get me wrong. I don't mind trailing off periodically into a little fantasy world but that was just ridiculous. And then, she's dead one minute and yuckking it up with Christina the next. Pa-lease. At the very least she should have been sick for a little while or something. She wakes up and they start chatting about Christina's engagement. Yeah.

The Oscars. I thought Ellen did a good job hosting. She's a hoot. Other than that, it was kind of boring. I guess no one wanted to be on that worst dressed list so everyone is totally glammed out.. that takes all the fun out of it doesn't it?? But, having said that, I hated Jennifer Lopez's dress.

I started Weight Watchers again on Saturday. Had to. Feeling extremely sloppy these days. And I think I'll start a Yoga program too. And weight training. In my spare time. Ha!

(edited: the book is "Inspired Cable Knits" by Fiona Ellis. Blogger somehow make that photo disappear.)

Very Little to Report....

This is the sock so far. I'll finish this first one tonight I'm sure. I love the colors.

On to American Idol... Yep, upon hearing Lakisha, I agree with Simon, everyone else might as well pack their bags. That girl can belt it out. I just hope America cuts her some slack about her weight. That could be the only thing that ends up killing her, and that would be a shame. She's got the talent and the sob story. I think she's a shoe in. I also thought Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks were very good but not good enough to beat out Lakisha. That Jordin Sparks should keep at it if she loses. She's got the looks and the voice. As for the guys the other night, I liked Blake. But those guys don't have a chance with these three girls in the running. In other TV news, tonight is Grey's. I'm so psyched.

Weekend Stuff

Meghan's sweater is kicking my butt once again. I understand the decrease instructions but it's the "keeping to pattern" all the while decreasing that's getting me. This is where you have to be able to "read" the lace pattern and just know where to start on the next row to keep to pattern. I can't do that. So I've been trying to count backwards taking the decreases into account and that was working for a while but then that got too difficult with all the decreases on both sides. Grrrrrr.... I guess I'll go for help.

And out of the soap pot yesterday, I made this for St. Patrick's Day. I'm really disappointed in the fragrance oil I used. It smells wonderful in the bottle but I can hardly smell it at all in the soap. And I skipped the gel stage too which is supposed to be better for holding the scent. Oh well, at least it will be pretty and great for the skin.

I spent a good part of the afternoon yesterday re-potting plants that were in planters sent to us upon the death of my father. I think I have about 15 plants in separate pots now and that only put a small dent in it. I have so much more to do. I hate to see them all die all crushed together in those planters. I also pressed some of the sunflowers from the grandchildren's bouquet to give to them as a keepsake. My Dad grew sunflowers for the kids every year when they were little to see who's would be the tallest. He would have loved to start that tradition again for the great-grandchildren. Maybe we'll just have to do it for him this summer.

Colin having fun at Giorgio's 1st birthday party....

I think we might have to get him one of these things!

Rest

It's snowing and I'm tired and I'd just like to go back to Sea Island.

I'm not just tired. I'm exhausted. Mostly mentally but I'd say that's the worst kind of exhaustion.

I'd like to grab my sister and just take off. But it doesn't work that way. It should. It really should.

New Socks

To be honest, I don't even know what this yarn is. I took the band off and threw it in my knitting basket. It's nice though. I know that it is a 75% wool and 25% nylon blend. I'll give these to my mother for her birthday in March.

All of my soap is cured and ready to go except for the baby soap which needs a little more time to become hard. The baby soap is made with only olive and avocado oils and it takes longer for those. I had intended to have it all wrapped for Valentine's Day but that never happened. Hopefully I can work on that tonight.

We're getting lots of snow. I guess it's about time. But without an S.U.V., it's a pretty big pain in the butt.

Moving forward....

Thank you to all of my knitting friends for the words of kindness and encouragement on the loss of my father. Believe me, it helps to know people care.

In the days and months and hopefully years to come, we will honor my father by taking very good care of my mother.

The knitting needles may slow to a more moderate pace now as more important things take over the spare time in my days.

But that is what you do. You take care of the people you love.

You wouldn't want it any other way.

Life 101

You would have liked my Dad. He was funny. He made us laugh every time we talked to him. He was famous for the one liner. Quick wit.

But funny was just a small part of who he was. He was without a doubt the hardest worker I've ever seen in my life. His philosophy was that if you were going to pay him to do a job, he was going to give you 110% for the money. And he did. My work ethic is for sure a true testament to being raised by him and my mother who was also a very loyal, devoted, and hard working employee.

He was a devoted father and grandfather. He never missed a sporting event. He was our biggest fan. He believed in us. He thought we were the best even when we weren't.

He took care of my mother. He stepped up to the plate when the roles needed to be reversed. He cooked and cleaned and ran errands after years and years of being the pampered one.

Our children are devastated. Their children will never know him which is so sad.

Really. You would have liked my dad.

I'm going to miss him so much.

My Dad
October 14th, 1927 - February 7, 2007

New Beginnings

Our office celebrated the grand opening of our new Howard Hanna franchise (although they prefer to call them "branchises") on Wednesday night. We had a big bash. I sent myself flowers for my desk. (seriously, I did) In keeping with the green and gold theme, this is what they came up with. I like the Bells of Ireland. I guess some people think they're weird. But I liked it.

We gave each guest a piggy bank. They're cute. They arrived the day before the party. I was really sweating that one out. I was picturing myself delivering 300 of these after the fact. That was close!

So, hey, Pittsburghers... if you want to sell, let me know and I'll hook you up with a good agent!

My dad is about the same. I'm still staying with my mother although my sister is going to go tonight and I'll have one night in my own bed which is nice. Cate is coming home. There will be knitting. I'm almost finished with the koigu socks for MOI. I'm still stuck on Meghan's sweater. Today is her 4th birthday, by the way. So happy birthday Meghan! Oddly enough, today is also the birthday of my other niece's sixth child, Shane. He is one today. Ground Hog Day babies both.

Happy weekend. Knit on.

No Knitting News

Crazy is the only word for life right now. Work is crazy and home is crazy.

Father is in the hospital. Father takes care of mother. Family taking care of mother and visiting Father in the hospital while trying to work and hold it all together.

I guess this is the time we give back to them for giving so much to us.

I did order some Noro Kureyon with my gift Cert. from Kathy's Kreations in Ligonier. I'll make another Lady Eleanor shawl with that some day. It took me since August to figure out what I wanted with that certificate and I finally made up my mind. Entrelac is really fun for those of you who may not have tried it yet.