I Learned a New Trick

And I feel extremely clever. Yesterday, I got around to spinning more of my Terminus BFL. So much more that I filled up my cute little spindle.
So I wound it off onto my waiting "bobbin" (it's actually the tube that Theraband comes on - I'm finding that my AT supplies are sturdier than TP rolls) and proceeded to watch a video on how to Navajo ply. Navajo plying is a method of making a single ply into a three ply finished yarn. Up until this point, I've only done 2-ply yarn. It was a bit rocky at first - those first few yards won't be knittable, but I go the hang of it. And I LOVE the result.I'll have to work on a getting good pics of the yarn itself when I get some more done. But seriously, I'm so proud of myself. And I love the result so much that I may never go back to 2-ply. The next step is the ply-on-the-fly technique, but baby steps...I had a director for this photo shoot. She's very helpful.I've made some knitting progress in the last week. Finished the fourth chart on the Hidcote Shawl last night. Started the second ball of yarn as well. Will have to switch to a longer needle in the near future.
I also finished the first chart on the Mystery sock. I'm showing it off because I'm not too sure that it will end up being gifted. I might possibly like them too much... Yeah, I'm a selfish knitter like that.
I love the way the leaves are floating along. And the orange is growing on me. Maybe because it's starting to feel like fall, and actually is officially fall today. Thoughts of pumpkins and apples and candy corns starting to dance in my head.

And last up, knitting friend Meagan gave me my birthday present Saturday night when she came over to make Christmas cards. (Yep, Christmas cards, she's much better about being on top of things than I am)
Miss Maddie was very upset that she was not allowed access to the outdoor shoot.

The Usual Shenanigans

It's a good day. Why is it a good day? Anyone who knows me, knows that Monday is not my favorite day of the week, but I make an exception every once in a while. Like today. Here's why. Let's start with Saturday. It started not so wonderfully - it rained, sometimes poured, for the entire Homecoming game. But we won. Happiness and elation though, later in the day after Iwas dry and warm again, when Notre Dame took it to Michigan.

Liz and I had decided, based on the weather radar map, that we weren't going to the Indians game. Of course, watching the little on TV that we did, it didn't rain at all. Stupid weather channel. But we had a good time at home anyway, ordered some Mama Roberto's, had a visit from Bridget and Kaylee, went and got some Coldstone. Mmmm Coldstone. Proceeded to watch OSU get embarassed by USC. I'm not an Ohio State fan, but there are two teams that I will absolutely root against, USC and Michigan. I am a fan of whoever those two teams are playing any given Saturday. Oh well. The Indians lost, btw.

Yesterday, was Mason's first birthday party. The pictures will speak for themselves. And let's just say, my nephews are very very similar in their love of cake.
Getting close to the downward spiral at this point....
And there it is. That's the money shot. What's even funnier, is that he kept doing this. To heck with these hands, let's cut out the middle man. Seriously, you do not want to get in between Mason and his food. Trust me.See what I mean? Even with a fork, Elliott can't stay neat with cake. So we had some cake shenanigans. More was to come though...

Onto THE game. That's right Steelers-Browns v. 1 2008. Ellie decided that we needed to "get our game face on". Need I say more?
Yep, game face = eye black strips and powder puff hair. And it was all downhill from there...

Note the intensity on Ellie's face. Click the picture to make it bigger for full effect.Check out that stiff arm. Yeah, we're that crazy. But look how cute we can be.
Yeah, crazy game day shenanigans, that's just how we roll. But the main reason that today is a good day... STEELERS WIN!!! It may not have been pretty, and I'm sure that I'm going to hear about how the Browns were robbed, and some elaborate conspiracy theory that would have had the Browns winning when I go to work later, but the bottom line is, Steelers win the 10th straight game against the Browns. Woot!

And because this is a knitting blog. I'll show you my knitting from yesterday. I started yet another Christmas present. So this will probably be the only photo you see of it until after it's gifted. It's using Hill Country Yarn's Superfine Superwash sock yarn in "Salmon".
And because I couldn't be knitting something orange while the the Steelers were playing the Browns, I pulled out the long neglected November Ruffle. Perfect football knitting. Got several inches done on it, and have several more to go before I get to the ruffle part.
Here's a pic trying to convey the scope of the piece. Doesn't really do it though. Oh well, when it's done and off the needles you'll understand.
See, 11.5 inches done. I think I have to get to 15 before the ruffle?! Have to dig out the pattern to be sure.
Don't you just love the tweedy effect? Can you tell I do? And the lusciousness of the alpaca....