A Close One

Wow. That's all I will say about last night's game. Very glad that my Steeler's Monkey socks were complete and being worn to give a little mojo to Jeff Reed. Yikes. Here they are:Wonderfully warm and comfy. Gotta love hand-knitted socks. And when I finished them on Sunday night, I started theseThe pattern is "Simply Ginny", in the Grinchy Socks that Rock. Digging them so far.Had a crazy day at work. 3 minutes into the girl's BB game, an opposing player landed funny and dislocated her knee. Squad called, they took her away. She was the calmest, best athlete I've ever dealt with- especially considering the severity of the injury. And then a little later on, one of my girls was bitten. That's right, I typed B-I-T-T-E-N. Someone totally pulled a Mike Tyson during a basketball game. And then we won by more than 40 points. Craziness I tell you.

A while ago I was tagged by my cousin Laura. I've never done the blog tag thing so here goes. Something about 6 random things, I won't be tagging anyone because I don't know anyone who blogs to tag who hasn't been tagged, so if you'd like to play along, consider yourself tagged.

1. My favorite book is "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas. I had to read it for freshman English and loved it. I read it at least once a year.

2. I don't like when dogs try to lick me. Can't handle the slobber - probably another reason it's good that I'll never get a dog. I can tolerate the hand licking to a small extent, but NOT the face. Gross.

3. I hate decorating the Christmas tree. For a good long time, I have been responsible for putting the lights up, and the last few years it has fallen to me to do all of it. I think that if other people would help, I might not get so frustrated and stressed out. But, as it is, I am expected to remember the exact placement of all 5 children's assorted ornaments, and if I forget where one goes, or leave one off, I get ripped. And then I stress out. Bad holiday stress. And then there's the fact that I have to take the tree down again - and that's just depressing.

4. I can't wear nail polish. I pick it off within hours of it drying. And then I end up gouging out my nails in my attempts to get all of it off. I think the longest I've been able to go is like a day.

5. I have a problem walking out of a craft store empty handed. And Target. Always have to pick something up. Most of you understand the craft store bit - between my knitting, beading and scrapbooking, but Target? I can't explain it.

6. I love the Food Network Challenge shows. Doesn't matter what kind of challenge - fruit displays, extreme cakes, benihana - love them. Will watch them multiple times. Good tv.

Turkey Buzz

Happy Black Friday everyone! Hope that all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know that I did. I'll keep it short today, I know everyone is busy with shopping and such. And I have to get some things done before I go into work. On the docket: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. A Paula Deen recipe. Have made a bunch of her gooey butter cakes, never this pumpkin version. Mom wants it for the party tonight. Yep, we're having a party. A kind of everyone-come-see-Tommy-while-you-still-have-a-chance, party. Sadly I cannot be present for said shindig. Basketball game tonight. And tomorrow night. Yuck.

Okay, so onto happier things. I finally got around to sewing buttons onto Elliott's BSJ, and gave it to them yesterday. Yay. Haven't touched SotS or the Steeler's socks since last post. So I'm still 6 rows from being done with clue 5 and the final clue came out today. It's all good, it'll get done when it gets done. The socks will get some attention this weekend. Probably Sunday night, since we've got Nutcracker tix for Sunday afternoon!!!

I have begun my Christmas knitting. This is the first year that I am attempting to knit any gifts. Can't show you any pics of the one I've started already, it's a surprise. But last night after the turkey had been devoured and pumpkin pie eaten, I started working on the sweater ornaments. Here's the first attempt:It's from a Paton's booklet. I'm not in love with it at all the raglans don't look even and there are a crazy number of seams to sew in. Here's the second attempt:Much better. So bloody cute. It's the mini sweater pattern from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" and it really did take just the 2 hours that the book claimed. So I think that I will use up some sock yarn for a few of these, as well as bump up the needle size in order to use the red yarn pictured in the first one (I've got some green like that as well). So cute. Some mini stockings and mittens and hats might be worked up as well.

No Puppies for Me

Alright, so my puppy-sitting duties are complete. And what did I learn from the situation? That I will never ever get a dog. It doesn't matter how cute and cuddly they appear. No dog, I never realized how tied to their schedule you have to be. I couldn't just hang out and do whatever, I had to get home to let him out. Don't get me wrong, Seamus is a pretty good dog, but cats are a million times easier to take care of. All this I learned in only 5 days.

Very terrible cold plaguing everyone in this house. I haven't had a voice since Thursday. Busy weekend of hockey, basketball, and watching football while snuggly warm. That is the best way, in my opinion. Sure, playoffs would've been great - but it wintry mixed for most of last weekend. Football in wintry mix, not so much fun. Had plenty of time to get some knitting done -yay.

Alright, first up, Mason's blanket is completed. Done. And any other term in any other foreign language that means complete. Here it is in use: Not exactly how I had pictured it, way back in August, but it's done and it's great

Made some major headway with the SotS. Will probably finish clue 5 tonight! Whoa. The last time SotS made an appearance I had just finished clue 3. Yay for me. Never mind that clue 7 came out on Friday. It's seriously getting huge now. I'll add the kitty picture to give you some scale. I'm worried how big it's going to turn out being, this is completely unblocked. Yikes.And I got going a little on the second Steeler sock. Made it through the heel flap today during Kaylee's nap. I'm hoping to finish the pair before next Monday. MNF vs. the 0-10 Dolphins, Gotta show some Steeler love! Especially after the disaster yesterday. And now, for the prettiness. I found a grouping of sock yarn on Etsy a few weeks ago, titled "The Cracker of Nuts". Now, if you know me, you'll know why I couldn't resist. They're sooo soo soo pretty. From dkKnits on Etsy, go check her stuff out, it's fab. From left to right "The Cracker of Nuts," "The Mouse King," "Clara's New Shoes," and "The Sugarplum Fairy." I can't wait to go see the Nutcracker this year. Once upon a time when I was young, there was a Cleveland Ballet. And then it went away to San Jose. And now we've got the San Jose Ballet performing the Nutcracker in Cleveland this year, our Nutcracker. The last few years has been the Cincinnati Ballet, and it was beautiful, but this is the Nutcracker of my youth, my first ballet, and still my favorite.

Back

So I have returned from my brief sojourn to NJ. A bunch has happened since my last post. My brother Tommy, the Marine, came home on Wednesday. It's been a year and a half since he's been home so it's great to see him. Tommy and I went out to Perry so that he could meet his nephews (that's right he's been gone since before Elliott was born) on Thursday.

Sadly, my volleyball team lost on Thursday - 16-14 was the final score in Game 5 - talk about a heart breaker. And then, my football team lost 23-0 on Friday. I don't know what happened exactly - I'm sure I'll hear about it today when I get to work. In some happy news, the Steelers made a come back and beat the Browns yesterday. Would have been a GREAT game to be at, but I wouldn't have traded meeting my beautiful niece for season's tickets.

And that brings me to this weekend. No problems getting to Newark. The rest of Friday was spent playing with Charlie and listening to Sarah periodically scream (she has an excellent set of lungs). Saturday, Ellie and I took Charlie to Gymboree - we had a puker, and a bloody lip, and one meltdown. Otherwise, it was great. Then it was nap time, so that when he woke up we could have his birthday party. I think that the pictures say it all about the party.

Sunday brought the baptism. I won't say anything about the ceremony itself - I was unable to pay much attention to the deacon, much as I tried. But Sarah was beautiful. Tom and Ellie didn't have much to do, but they make great godparents.

So now I'm back home. This week may not see many posts, I'm puppy sitting at Bridget's this week. But I'll do my best. And onto some knitting. Not too much to report. I frogged my Steelers sock after last post. Spent the whole MNF game (which was fantastic) working on a new one, using the Monkey pattern. Forgot how much I love this pattern. And last night on the flight back, I finished all but the grafting and sewing bits. Thank you TSA for not allowing scissors. Here it is:And waiting for me when we got back late last night... a box from KnitPicks. Which had Palette yarn in shades of blue for some Fair Isle mittens:
And some Wool of the Andes for some worsted Fair Isle mittens from a great book that Ellie got for me - thanks a bunch Ellie!
It also contained "Knitter's Almanac" by Elizabeth Zimmermann - can't wait to make a February sweater, and a magnetic chart holder for my lace patterns. I've done part of Mason's border, will probably finish today or tomorrow, and then it's Steelers socks and SotS, until I'm a bit more caught up with the stole. I don't like being so far behind.

Monday, Again

How is it Monday already? I feel like the last couple of weeks have just flown by. I don't know where my weekends go - wait, I work on the weekends. Oh well. It's playoff fever in my world right now. My football team won, and so did my volleyball team. VB plays on Thursday in the state semi-finals, if they win, finals on Saturday. FB plays Friday night. I will be at none of theses events. Because I am a horrible athletic trainer. I chose instead to go on vacation for the weekend. Yeah, just ask my boss. In truth, I am on my way to NJ for Miss Sarah's christening. Otherwise, I'd be at as much as possible.

On to some knitting. I finished the Odessa hat on Friday night, stayed up a little late, but I was so close to being done, I just had to. Here it is.

I can already vouch for the comfort and warmth, I wore it to hockey yesterday, and it was much less scratchy on my forehead than my Columbia hat is.

I progressed on my Steelers sock - have I mentioned that I am not particularly fond of short row heels? I don't know why but one side always has little holes where the decreases are. I could handle it if was even and on both sides, that's fixable, but on one side? I just don't get it.

These will be worked on tonight - Steelers v. Ravens, 8:30. Can't wait.

And I picked up my SotS again. Finished clue 3 and did a few rows of clue 4. Still doesn't look like much.

And, I've taken a vow that I will not cast on for any new projects until Mason's blanket is done. I did a few inches last week, I'm so close to being done with the middle part, and then I just have to do a large crochet border and it's done. I just don't have any motivation to pick it up. Don't know why, so therefore, nothing new until it's done.

P.S. Elizabeth did in fact get the Steelers/Browns tickets for next Sunday. Because that's how my life works.

The One with Lots of Pictures

Happy Belated Halloween! Sorry that I missed that day - was busy with work. No candy passing out for me - I went instead to the regional volleyball game for my girls - nail-biter, I tell ya. Went to five games - I hate fifth games, they only go to 15, so if either team manages to get up a couple points - it's so hard come back. But they won! Sadly, their next game is at the same time as the playoff football game this Saturday, so I'll be at football and not volleyball. Busy week, seeing as basketball and hockey started this week too. First hockey games for me this Sunday - Yippee! (read the sarcasm that is actually there).

So onward to the photos. These are of the jewelry that I made this weekend - I was feeling crafty on Sunday, and in need of some instant gratification. Was also in a purple mood obviously.

And on to some knitting. I made some mittens this week - in like 2 days. They were so crazy fast, and they're going to be so warm. Just in time for this weekend.
And here is the new and improved Odessa hat. I ripped back last night and re-cast on and decided to use bigger beads, 1) so you could actually see them, and 2) so that they could actually go easily onto the hat itself. I was so tired of fighting with those other little pink beads.
This is how far I've gotten on my poor, neglected Steelers sock. Will finish quickly though. At least it's not as neglected as the Secret of the Stole.
Okay, here's the interesting ones. Here's Flore, finished to the point that I didn't sew in the ends, and didn't yet tack down the petals like they're supposed to be.

And now, let's see if anyone can figure out what's wrong with this picture? Hmmmmm??? I'm thinking....

Maybe it's a bit too big for the sweet little 15 month old that it's supposed to be for. Hmmmm.

And now for a new, larger photo of Miss Sarah. Lucky Ellie got to go visit for an extended weekend.

And if this isn't the best costume I saw this year... C4 as Dash! (the exclamation point is necessary for correct pronunciation of the name.)