I'm learning...

A little everyday, I swear, but there are other days where I make giant leaps in my knowledge. I feel as though yesterday as I was posting a pattern for the arrowhead blanket that I finally got put together sans pictures I made one such leap.

And what was this leap? I figured out how to hopefully share this pattern on Ravlery a little more reliably. Ravelry? I hear you ask. Yes, ravelry. It's a wonderful little place on the internet for the crafters amongst us. You can share pictures and details of your projects, queue future endeavors, and blog/forum post on some decidedly not craft related subjects, but often giggle worthy topics.

Back on track though. Previously I had shared two patterns that you may recall were posted here. One was a poncho style shawl, and the other a scarf. Both times I posted these to ravelry I had to link them to the related post here. Since they were embedded patterns, they sometimes didn't play well for folks. And there was a little issue with me not setting them up properly in the "share" settings, but let's not discuss that. There were also some downtime issues with Google Documents. Unfortunately I still have my patterns listed with Google Doc's so if there are such future downtime's, this will not fix that issue, but I'm hopeful.

Yesterday evening as I was posting yet another pattern, this one in fact

Or go here:
Google Docs Link


I discovered I could link directly, and after a couple positive feedbacks, I went ahead and replaced all my links on the other patterns. Told ya, learning.

As for what this pattern looks like, you may remember a couple posts ago I had spoke about it since I don't have pictures in the pattern.

 This is it. Just a little lap blanket that you can add to to make a larger one if so inclined.

Another Rule

If your going to play at a real life version of "The Hangover" and steal a penguin from Sea World after a night of drunken antics don't post pictures of it on Facebook. Are you really surprised you got caught and are facing charges? And then you dumped the poor feathered creatures in a canal?

I know, I'm so narrow minded. I am actually all for kids having drunken adventures of their own, God knows I've had a few, but I can honestly say I never stole someone else's property while drunk, much less a living breathing animal and then put it's life in danger. If you can't handle your liquor and black out and can't remember what you did, it's a sign to learn to stop sooner.

As for the rest of life, I promise, there will be updates soon.

Back to work with me, and let me leave you with a topic while I'm gone

This week will discuss things that we take as general rules in life. That's right, I want some feed back guys because this I think is going to become a reoccurring theme as I gain inspiration from activities of daily living. You know, like going to Wal-Mart? I'll start:

When you have a sore on your genitals, you should have it looked at by a physician who's job it is to assist you as a member of society in taming of such things. Do not flash it at people you find are employed in any random and obscure part of the medical field and ask them what you think!?!

Yeah, that's right, this has occurred to me. So tell me, what other truths do you feel should be shared with the general populace around you?

And, because I do love knitting, I did get another roar hat done this week for a co-workers kid because I simply have that much left over yarn. I also tore out the lap blanket i was making for work because it looked like some hideous 1972 afghan and re-knit it into this that I finished and blocked this morning.

Folded in quarters.

I'm going to call it the arrow head blanket. And I get to call it such things because I completely made it up out of my head. I may or may not actually right the darn thing out. Haven't decided yet.

And I have the yarn prepped for lap blanket number 2.

Sage in the Sweet Woodruff

But this alas, is as far as I've gotten. The idea now is to again do a center out but kind of a modified checkerboard using stockinette, reverse stockinette, and seed stitch so it looks something like one of those parquet wood floors. Just a thought, we'll see what the yarn says to me.

Have a great week guys,
Q.

Cool Story Bro.

I know I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel here but when this happened the other day the first thought as I giggled to myself was, "I have to put this on the blog".

So, we had our first late night knit gathering at Blooming Needle Yarn Shop this last Friday night. It was a lot of fun even if I didn't knit much. Got quite a bit of spinning done though. Anyway, we were all supposed to make a favorite dish and when I mentioned an apple pie I was told I couldn't just make one. Well, I only have one pie plate so this led me to go buy two deep dish pie plates that unfortunately, made my pies look a bit ugly (this is why there are no pie pics, but you all have seen that I can bake me some pie before), but they tasted wonderful.

Believe me, they were wonderful. Mainly, because I live LOT'S of cinnamon and I grind my nutmeg myself. Yes, I know, you're thinking, "You grind your nutmeg? Why on earth would you do that? I've seen it in the store pre-ground in those little nifty jars." Believe me, when you're using nutmeg, grinding your own makes a big difference. BIG difference.

So there I was with my spice mill. Ha, spice mill, makes me sound all fancy huh? Actually it's a coffee grinder someone gave me, but I don't drink coffee so the gift basket was broken up among others in the office and I took the grinder home to be used as a "spice mill". Anyway, the last time I used the spice mill and washed it out, something got jammed in that little hole that the push button of the lid fits into and turns on the grinder. So, I popped to whole nutmegs into the mill, plugged it in and Blam! that little bastard whirred up without the lid on and threw the nutmeg at me! It all happened so fast I took a nutmeg to the eye. Have you ever had nutmeg i the eye? In burnnnnnnsss.... Okay, enough with the obscure movie quotes. It didn't really burn. It did kinda smart there for a bit as I tried to continue cooking with a tearing eye due to blunt force trauma. But it was funny nonetheless. So, the lesson I learned was, put the damn lid on before plugging it in. Yes, it has a safety so it shouldn't come on, but you never know. Next time it may not be something as easy to deal with as a whole nutmeg.

Anyway, it's been a rather slow weekend as Bob wound down the process of packing up his mom, and I had knitterly duties (beginning class) to attend to. The dogs all got their baths and smell good again as I guard the furniture from them until they dry. In other words, a nice laid back Sunday.

Caught! Damn I hate being deaf in my old age!

Have to watch for squirrels...

Tucker still takes himself to the crate that isn't even his anymore. Once you have a comfy spot, you stick to it.

And we can't forget about Sullivan(dry's fast) and Smudge.

Hope you have a nicely relaxing Sunday as well.

Exhausted

That's how we all seem to be feeling as of late, But I did get a bit of spinning in this evening as I unwound from the days events (funeral was held today).

The Jacob fleece is lovely even though I keep mistreating it and tearing it. Which means I'm getting tired and need to call it a night for spinning.

It's a lovely grey in this light, though honestly out from under the Ott light it has more brown to it. I have some green merino roving that I think spun singly might ply beautifully with this. Still loving the new wheel.

Another dino hat is on the needles but that is all I have going in the knitting aspect of the fiber world since I go the Ginko Shoulderette Shawl done.

Pretty. The Shawl that is. Well, smudge is a cute cat to boot.

Got her all blocked out last night.

And by this morning she was dry.

This was a fun little pattern and can imagine using it in the future. I suggest anyone who wants to play with lace some more, to try it out. It's a fairly short laces pattern section but such lovely results.

Now, off to bed with me. My eyes are letting me know it's time to call it a day and we have A LOT to get through tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

Not quite an Easter Bonnet, but it's as close as I'll be getting.

Awful Damn Cute

Blurry, sorry...

Roar!!!

It's Later

And as I stated earlier, I'll speak a bit more on Bob's dad.

Bob's dad passed away this past Thursday morning. It wasn't unexpected. The family had gathered Wednesday night to meet with a second doctor to get a better idea of the situation. It was decided that per his fathers wishes and the way things were progressing, or not progressing as the case was, he would not want to be continued on the vent. So, that evening we took him off the vent and sedation.

After working ICU for 5 years, I myself have that certain cynicism that just because we can safe or prolong a life, doesn't mean we should. And I personally believe that when a loved one has made their wishes known, it's our responsibility as their family and friends, to honor those wishes even if they don't align with our own. When Bob's dad actually came around (I really didn't expect him to come out of the sedation that much) and refused even his oxygen stating he was done, and later that he wanted to die, I was glad for his children. I was glad because I feel as though hearing those words out of his mouth when he had obviously woke up and was with it enough to express his desires, took a weight off his kids shoulders.

It's one thing for someone to tell you they don't wish to have everything done when they healthy and sitting at home speaking to yo over a mug of coffee. Those relaxed times are easy to forget when their health deteriorates and you watch them fight for each breath because no matter what they said, the heart beats until it decides it's done and breath comes even with a raucous struggle until the heart gives in. It's terrifying to watch your loved ones go through that, and even more terrifying to decide for them that you are going to take steps to assure that happens. So for him to be awake, and fighting to breath, but yet confirming that he didn't want to go on, that he wanted the disease process to continue because even if we got him through this little crisis, the easy part, wasn't going to be easy, and he'd never be able to live his life the way he had been or wanted.

Hi children gave him the gift of loyalty to his last known wishes and the dignity of not being eeked through for weeks, or months on life support. In return, their father gave them the ease of mind in the knowledge that this was what he wanted.

Enough of that heavy stuff now. And just so you know, when it's my time, that's about all the heavy stuff I want said for me and if there is a funeral and you decide to go, nothing black and depressing. If you're going to wear a black number it better be a sexy little thing so you'll get noticed. A few after memorial service dates and may be a hook up or two would make me smile where ever I am.

So, let's talk knitting! I know that excited you... Okay, maybe not, but it excited me and since it's my blog, we're going to do what works for me.

I started the Ginko Shawl while sitting in the hospital. I have very little at this time to show you but there will be more to come I'm sure.

The yarn is Crystal Palace Panda Silk which is 60%wool, 35%bamboo and 5% silk blend. I was trying to go with something that would look like turning ginko leaves. Right now, the color reminds me of the birch's back home that turn beautiful golden and yellow patterns.

And I whipped this little bad boy off the needles last night.

I'm blocking the darn thing which you will rarely find me doing to a kids hat just because the brim keeps trying to roll past where it should. I'm fighting the urge to tack it down because I want it to be able to be rolled down as he grows a bit since it is spring after all. I've never used the Berroco Vintage yarn before so I don't know if that's aiding the unwanted roll. If so, oh well. I'm sure the Jensen Dork will love it.

Jensen for your information is in the process of potty training and thinks it's great fun to flash his T-Rex underwear and roar at his hapless flashing victims. I thought this was the perfect accessory when I found it while perusing hat patterns for my brothers Christmas gift. We all need a laugh once in a while, right?

And while we're discussing knitting, I mentioned I've been cleaning the man cave. Which, it's an odd man cave as you can see here.

It's full of knitting stuff, there's a sewing machine stashed away in a bin, but relax, on the opposite wall there is a flat screen television with surround sound, DVD changer and an X-Box. A man cave should reflect the man who uses it, no? There's also the exercise bike, and some other work out equipment.

Ignore the pull up bar being used as a hanger for freshly plied and washed yarn that is having it's twist set in.

Which came out well.

This is my first batch off the new wheel. I'm kinda happy with it. I don't know what color it will end up anytime soon.

And no, this room has not been redecorated since we bought the place and that picture... It was left along with the piano upstairs by the previous owner. Someday we may attack this room and the dream is to make it look like a poolhall with it's red brick fireplace on the other wall and maybe an actual pool table. But then where would I put my stash? Yes, that's right, all those plastic drawers you saw, that's all my cleaned out and organized stash. Don't be jealous, it won't last.