My partner in crime

I certainly have no shortage of desired new projects hanging around. Lately I've been very good in staying focused on finishing my projects and NOT starting another. I'm about 1/4 of the way done on Alan's 2nd sleeve and was looking forward to getting it done, blocked, and put away. However, a small package arrived from my partner in crime the other day. It contained small bits of various colors needed for the Interweave Knits Floral Felted Bag. I fondled the colors and oohed and aaahed at them. All I needed was to get the background color. No biggie. But, could I resist? For the moment, yes. I found the background color I wanted and that was it. I just had to cast on. My intentions were good but it was just calling for me. I have been feeling very knitty lately.

One down, one to go

.....sleeves, that is. One more sleeve and I'm finished with Alan! I just finished the ribbing and am now working on the sleeve and have started the increases. I am always surprised at how quickly sleeves go.

On the school scene, my baby started 8th grade yesterday. He came home excited about one of his new teachers, his science teacher. It always makes me happy when he likes one of his teachers. Maybe there's hope for him yet??!

I plan on enjoying my last week-and-a-half of my summer before school starts on September 7. I'm only taking 2 classes, one of which is done on the internet. I'm starting at ground zero so I'm starting off with English 1A and Introductory Algebra. Betcha I'm the oldest one in the class! Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to finishing Alan. I need to get going on the Oregon again. Don't know why, but it's lost it's "umph" for me. Maybe because I know I have to go back and re-do the front and neck bands? I'm looking forward to starting my Rogue, though. I'm doing it in Jamieson's Aran chartreuse color. Yummy.

My daily therapy

You know the saying - you can't please everyone. Well, that certainly holds true for me at work. I just can't seem to get everything done at a pace that is satisfactory for everyone. By lunch I have turned into a beast. Fortunately I can close my office door, eat my lunch and knit a few rounds of whatever I have thrown into my bag. Right now it is a pair of socks knit from yarn from my stash - Fortissima Colori in color 545. They're knit on Clover Takumi 2.25 mm.

This is one reason why I love knitting. It calms me - it soothes the savage beast in me.

My new sweetheart

I finished my Sweetheart hat! The design is by Anne Featonby. I knit it in Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift in colors Crimson (525) and Shetland Black (101).



This hat was SO much fun to knit! It would be a great project for someone wanting to try their hand at fair isle. It was a great project as a break from my Oregon Cardigan and my husband's Alan aran.

Well, back to the aran. Thanks Anne for a great pattern!

Let's all say, "Awwwww"

Okay, I admit it. I'm a proud Aunt. Around the 4th of July I taught my niece to knit. I didn't hear much more about it and thought she had given up. However, to my surprise she decided to make a little blankie for their new puppy. Today my sister-in-law, Kris, brought her girls Elizabeth and Katylee to my work and we had lunch. During lunch I showed Elizabeth how to cast off. Did I remember to bring the digital? Yepper! Miss this opportunity? NEVER!

Here is Elizabeth proudly showing her knitting. Sister Katylee is in the background modeling her Cheshire Cat grin. Mom is hiding on the left. She thought she missed the camera - sorry Kris!



I think she did a spectacular job! It got me thinking about the very first thing I knitted. I knitted this awful dishcloth out of cotton. I wanted to think of something that could be used and wouldn't turn in to this dust bunny collector shoved under my bed. I made a dishcloth. Elizabeth made a puppy blankie. We all started with something. What did YOU start with?

Couldn't resist

Yup. Another quiz. Being that I married a Scotsman, I figured this was the closest to finding out how Scottish I am. If anyone knows of a Scottish quiz, I'd be happy to take that one too!





Jolly good, wot! Anyone for tennis? That'll be ten ponies, guv. You're the epitome of everything that is english. Yey :) Hoist that Union Jack!

How British are you?

this quiz was made by alanna

What kind of sheep are YOU?

Which flock do you follow?

this quiz was made by alanna

What is it?

What weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces and has no arms?




Why, Alan's Alan, of course. I just cast on the first sleeve. Hopefully it won't take too long to get this finished. For those who don't know, this is an unnamed Dale of Norway pattern. So, I gave it a name. Alan.

My next textured project is Rogue! It's of Jamieson's Aran in the chartreuse color. This baby is gonna be mine - all mine!

As you can see from the top left of my blog, I'm feeling rather accomplished today. I have managed to get the basic blog necessities up and running. All the bells and whistles will follow, such as a new header at the top and my works in progress completion section. I learned a lot about HTML and spent nearly an entire day learning as I went. Of course, I would be a horrible person if I did not extend a sincere thank-you to all of you fellow bloggers who gave me help. Thanks Jen for the lesson on how to center. Hey! When you're just learning something as rudimentary as centering it's a BIG deal!

I finished the El Tigre socks and have cast on another pair in Opal, one of their millions of colors. Another thing I need to do is to get all of my links back up that link to my finished projects.

That's about it for tonight. The picture for tomorrow night will be one of the Oregon in progress.

Here's another close up of Alan's Alan for the road....



Tomorrow is Monday. Try to have a good one!

You've come to the right place!

Yes. It looks different. My old blog was having problems. Some posts were not showing up and my graphics were all askew.

It will take some time but I will get all of my surf ring buttons back up. Please bear with me.

Thanks!

Blog catch up

I'm still here. I've been busy knitting and working. I have managed to get quite a bit done on Alan's Alan. I've finished El Tigre socks and have cast on another pair.

Also, I'm working on Estonian Lace scarf from zephyr in the ruby color.

Pictures will be posted this weekend. I promise. Until then, use your imagination.

2 steps forward, 1 step back

That's what I'm doing with my Oregon. I picked up the stitches for the sleeves and just didn't like the fact that the "v" was pointing the opposite way as the rest of the sweater. So, I frogged it and cast on for the sleeve to be knit from the cuff up. I'm happier doing it this way as I can then knit the facing for finishing off the sleeves much like I do when I do Dale sweaters.

Also, I am going to have to frog the bands as well. I need to pick up the back of the neck stitches and knit up about an inch and then do the bands again. The back of the neck is much too low. This is my plan. Whether or not it will work remains to be seen.

I'm watching some buttons on e-bay that will just be perfect with this. See?

I know, I know!

It's been a long time since I've blogged. Sorry. I've been busy having a life. :-)

I got the front bands of Oregon done and the back neck looks awful. I picked up the stitches of the first sleeve and all seems to be going well with that. I've been asking for help on from the KBTH group regarding suggestions for the neck band, but so far no responses. Anyone else have suggestions or problems with the back of the neck being low? If so, please contact me!

This post will have to do until I have more time.

Potpourri Blog

So, where did I leave off? Oh yes, last weekend my husband was discharged from the hospital just in time to get us home, showered, dressed, and to my daughter's graduation from UC Santa Cruz.

While sitting in the hospital with my husband I managed to finish my Fiona bag, which was my birthday present to myself. I followed the pattern, but I changed a few things. I didn't make the cell phone pocket as long as my cell phone is a really small one. Also, I lined the inside of the bag as well. Here you can see a photo of the outside and the inside. I didn't feel like dumping my purse, so pardon a peek at the contents inside.






Didya see the cute sheep pin above the flap?

Fortunately this weekend has been a lot more sane than the last two weekends. I have had a nice time working on my Oregon Cardigan. The colors are magnificent!!



I only have about another 3 inches and the body is finished.

Well, that's about it to bring my blog up to date. Of course, Alan still is in the basket waiting patiently. I'm having too much fun on the Oregon to stop!

My, how time flies!

Wowzer! Lemme see where do I start?

Last I had written, my husband was in a bike accident. We returned to the doctor to check up on his fractures and they found cellulitis in the opposite leg. Of course, straight to a hospital bed he went with mucho IV antibiotics on board. He wasn't a happy camper but once he realized this could spread to the point of losing his leg I think he seemed a little more compliant. I guess the given nickname of "Peg Leg Pete" didn't seem so funny anymore.

The hospital sprung him merely hours before my daughter's graduation from UC Santa Cruz. We rushed home, showered and dressed and zipped on down highway 17 and over the mountains. I can't believe she's all grown.

While spending time in the hospital with him I made myself a Fiona bag. This was intended to be a birthday present to myself, but with the accident it was slow going. I made the cell phone pouch on the side not as tall as my flip phone is much smaller. I lined my bag as well.

I was so glad that he got home because that meant I could pick up the Oregon Cardigan I've been trying to work on.

I will post pictures of my finished Fiona and progress on Oregon in the next few days.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yep. It's my birthday. My age? I'm 29 and I have some Enron stock for sale too.

My hubby was in a bike accident yesterday and broke his patella and has numerous scrapes and cuts. I've spent a nice afternoon reading through my birthday presents.... books! Here is what my family has given me for my birthday. They're all WONDERFUL additions to my library.








I have been working on the Oregon this afternoon and it's nice to just be able to knit. I took today and tomorrow off work to enjoy a nice few days of doing whatever I please.

Alan bought the ingredients to make an incredible chocolate cake. He insists on going into the kitchen to make it for me. However, the orthopedist said that he is to be non-weight bearing and to keep his leg straight. The brace keeps it straight, however, standing in the kitchen making a cake is NOT considered non-weight bearing. Of course, we won't mention the elbow he can't move or the fingers that have been crushed and have bandages on them.

So, I'm off to make my birthday cake. Quickly. Before my husband decides to be more noncompliant than he already is.

I'm such a happy birthday girl!!

Four Sons

Roger.
Charles.
Maynard.
Marlowe.

Those were my Grandma and Grandpa Ray's four sons. I don't remember my Grandma and Grandpa Ray as they both were gone before I was born. However, I have pictures of them and stories retold by my family.

The Rays were a close family and Grandma and Grandpa loved their boys! Being a mother of 3, I can only imagine the emotions when their four boys served in World War II. Yes, all four. They all returned home safely.

Major Roger Ray, served in England and France as a pilot on a Martin Marauder B-28 bomber. He completed 62 missions. He held several well-deserved medals and citations, among them the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded May 11, 1944, the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters.

Sgt. Maynard Ray was a radio operator with the 20th Air Force ground to plane radio communications with B-29 Superforts. He had been stationed on Timon in the Pacific area.

Sgt. Marlowe Ray (my father) was stationed at Yusku, Japan before occupation forces. He was discharged November 24, 1947 and recalled into service March 1951. He was with MacArthur's First Calvalry on his first hitch. He was then stationed at Topeka, Kansas, 90th Maintenance Squadron, Forbes AFB, Topeka, Kansas. My mother joined him and found a clerical job at the base.

Captain Charles Ray, Jr. entered the service as an air cadet February 1943 at Creighton University, Omaha Nebraska. In 1944 he received his wings. For a short time he was stationed at Romulus Field and was sent overseas in June of 1944. He served in the Air Transport Command and flew a Curtiss Commander C-46.



My dad, Marlowe Ray



Roger Ray and Maynard Ray



Charles Ray, Jr.

Boy a lot has changed. Where there were B-28 bombers and C-46s, we now have B1 bombers, DC-10s, and 747s. Hand-written letters to home that sometimes took weeks to arrive have been replaced with the internet and e-mail.

Technology has changed the way we live and the way we fight wars. But the love families have for their loved ones has never changed. It's important to remember the service men and women who gave their lives so you and I can continue to enjoy the freedom that we enjoy in America. However, we need to remember there are other sons and daughters who are currently fighting for our country too.

In honor of Memorial Day, it is to the four Ray boys that I dedicate this blog post.

Ragna swatch and photos

I finished the Ragna swatch today in the Black Water Abbey yarn in rust color. The pattern says to use size 8 needle which I did in the pink heather. The fabric was.... eh.... and when I washed it I was greatly disappointed. It bloomed and I lost some of the detail in the side cables, although the plait still looked okay.

I did the swatch today in rust on size 7 needles and after washing it still bloomed a bit but I think the tighter gauge kept a lot of the detail lost on size 8 needles. The fabric is perfect and the gauge is right on the money. Before on size 8 it was a tad off, but I would have been quite happy having it a bit bigger.

Here is the swatch I did today:



Nice, huh? I think this is a winner for Elsebeth Lavold's Ragna!

Now.... on to the Oregon. I am pleased with its progress and it's moving along quite nicely. As noted earlier I put down Alan for a while as I needed a change. I was ready for some color again. Here it is:



And to show you the color that is totally amazing to me, here is a close up. These are the colors that attracted me to Oregon the first time I saw it:



That's about it for now!

I'm still here!

I haven't blogged in quite a while so here's a catch-up post.

I finished the front of the Alan sweater and it's turning out very well! I have started on the back. Getting rather bored with it, so have put it aside and picked up Oregon again last night. It's amazing how many different colors there are in this sweater and how many different subtle shades of the same color there are.

I received several one ounce skeins of Black Water Abbey Yarn to swatch with. I swatched the pink heather using size 8 needles for Elsebeth Lavold's Ragna sweater. I just about got gauge, perhaps a little bigger. I washed it and was disappointed that I lost a little of the stitch definition in the smaller cables. The plaits, however, turned out really nice. The color of this yarn is incredible! Today I am going to do the same swatch but this time in Black Water Abbey Yarn color Rust. I will do it on size 7 needles this time. I just love that sweater so I'm determined to go through my stash and find the yarn that will work the best for it.

Still working on Mom's Bedjacket. After I get Mom's Bedjacket and Alan done I will cast on for my sister's Abalone sweater. However, none of this is in stone and these plans could change at any time!

I will post pictures of the above progress when I can.

You are a Dubliner.


What's your Inner European?
brought to you by Quizilla

Weekend update

I managed to begin the front of Alan's sweater this weekend. It certainly is different going back and forth instead of around on the circular. I figure I'll be done with this in no time!

This weekend was the annual Osugi Birthday Bash. Jennifer and Sydney's parents, Kim and Richard, throw this incredible birthday party for their girls. They are 2 years apart and Jennifer turned 7 and Sydney 5. As usual, there was a ton of most excellent food. If you leave this party hungry it's your own fault! We won't mention the birthday cake. This cake is ohmigosh incredible. We loved it so much that we had the same bakery make our wedding cake.

We arrived at the party today and like every year I quickly scan the masses of kids for Sydney and Jennifer. Unfortunately we only get to see them once a year so it's a challenge to find them as they have grown! Each year they have the coolest toys for the kids to play with and this year it was bubbles. Oodles and oodles of little toys that produce millions o'bubbles. Of course, I have to remind myself that I'm the adult and I just watch the kids. But I get to have fun by taking pictures of them.

Tonight I'm not going to put up a picture of one of the cats doing a cutsie belly-up shot or of a sweater in progress. I have something that is much more adorable.... Sydney (left) and Jennifer today at their party.