Its not easy being Green

Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance.You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver.You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourbrainquiz/">What Color Is Your Brain?

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I've been wanting a cool picture for myself when I comment online and today I finally figured out how to do that. I have to post it here first....

Where did the summer go?

We are almost upon the Labor Day holidays. Wow, it seems just yesterday it was May and from my posts, it was just about the last post I have made. I made it onto http://www.ravelry.com/, my name is Angie, how original, I'm just not cleaver enough for anything more exciting. I have posted my finished Chevron Scarf and my in Progress Babette from Interweave Crochet, I am currently DCing around the edges of the blanket in an effort to use up the remainder of the yarn. Michael loves the blanket so it will become his, like the wand, the blanket chooses the baby. It made a good "on the go" project this summer and I am pleased with myself for keeping at it, I am traditionally not good at finishing. BTW, what is it about these magazines and their sizing issues? The Babette is pictured draped aluringly around a girl, making it appear as an ample blanket, but when I look at the pattern, it calls for Koigu (who wants to make a $300 blanket). At a fingering weight, it calls for a finished blanket that I would consider baby blanket sized. When I look again at the photo, the girl in the pic appears about 7 years old. Not fair, not fair! I am glad that I used WW yarn, it is large enough to cover my lap and that works for me. I love the Cotton fleece, I think I'd like a Wallaby from it, but would like to buy it a little cheaper than $8 a skein for a sweater my size. Knitting isn't a cheap hobby, is it? Or crochet either for that matter. More time, I simply need more time...

7 Things about me

This meme has been going around for a while. I haven't posted in a while and thought I should post on it even if no one reads my blog. So here we go, 7 unusual things about me.



1. I NEVER leave my house until my bed is made. I actually prefer the dishes done as well, but don't always get that. I do the dishes immediately after I finish eating.



2. I have food mixing issues. I would like one of those divided dishes as I don't like my food to touch. I generally eat one thing at a time and then go on to the next item. Some foods are ok to mix, potatoes and gravy for instance, but never potatoes, gravy and peas (YUCK). Biscuits, yes, biscuits and gravy, no way, you get the idea.



3. While I was born in IL and have lived here all of my life, I consider myself a dis-placed Southerner. I feel Southern in that I love Southern food (think Okra, fried chicken, collards) always like to make sure my guests are well fed and taken care of which I feel is the ultimate in southern, BUT unlike 99.9% of Southern women, I will constantly leave the house without makeup/lipstick/beautiful clothes. For some reason, I can't get the personal appearance part of the Southern-thing down. Paula Dean is my hero and I have eaten at The Lady and Sons twice. I loved Savanah and would go back in a heartbeat.



4. I am not very political. I am a registered Democrat married to a Republican. I find myself disillusioned by the Democrat's "leanings" and find myself siding more and more with the Republicans. I am not against Gays, but I am against abortion, I don't really care if the Dem's or Republicans are in power, but I wish that they would come out and fix things the way that each side always swears that they will when we elect them.



5. When I dream, I see myself thin. Why can I see myself thin, but can't make myself thin?



6. I have sewn and tailored my own clothes, I quilt, I knit, I crochet (basically I craft), but no one else in my family does. My grandmother wired my grandfathers shirt buttons on with left-over bread ties. I don't know if that had so much to do with her dislike of sewing as perhaps her dislike of Grandpa, but it is interesting. They don't understand my need to make things and also can't understand when I start projects and never finish them. It makes me feel wasteful.



7. I am the first one in my family to finish college. Blue collar family. It was their goal for me to go to college, but now that I have done it, I feel like an outcast of sorts, like they feel I'm smarter or better than them. Having a college education simply means, I spent the requisite hours in a classroom and earned a degree, not a huge accomplishment in my book, but an accomplishment none-the-less.

There are probably a lot more than 7 wierd things about me, but here they are.

An Ode to My Chair

Dave http://cabincove.com/, is shopping for a new chair for his new diggs. I was inspired to post about my knitting chair. Here it is in it's glory. http://www.flickr.com/photos/88424487@N00/503194810/in/photostream/
I love the fabric, it has fern leaves in relief on the fabric, not as good as the dotty chair http://www.masondixonknitting.com/archives/2007_05.html#002023 but it is my chair and I lurve it. It sleeps pretty good, too. :)

KIP - 4/21/07

We wanted to get to the BodyWorld2 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industrywww.msi.org and we consulted the calendar, today was the day. I let DS#1 drive all the way to Navy Pier and then we cabbed from there to Fogo De Chao for lunch, excellent and then walked back to Navy Pier, drove to the museum. I couldn't resist a KIP pic with the bronzes outside of Navy Pier. It was a good day and I needed it. Got a lot of knitting done in the car on the way up, in between driving instructions (he's 16-you know)

I love Socks!

I've been away from socks for a while, probably 6-9 months or so. I have cast on for the STR club sock and am working away on that. I learned about http://www.aswellyarnshop.com/cart/home.php, I already own the alien colorway and I had ordered the Exclamation colorway. It arrived on Friday and so Friday night, I wound it and cast on. I was having trouble with a stockinette toe, so I used the garter toe from the STR club sock and away I go. I am almost done with the 2 feet of the socks. Yea!

I kicked the Provisional Cast-On's *SS!

I have been afraid to start the STR club sock because I have never done a provisional cast on of any sort. I hemmed and hawed and hemmed and hawed. Tried to think of how to do the same sock differently. Who am I kidding, I'm not that experienced a knitter. This morning, I got up at 5am, the house was quiet, all the kiddies were sleeping peacefully and I grabbed my trusty crochet hook and as Nike says, "Just Did It"-well, you know what I mean. I started with some WW yarn and I thought that would make the stitches too big when I unzipped the provisional, so I got some sock yarn, but it was too similar to the club yarn and I accidentally started to unzip it before its time. I got some scrap STR in a very contrasty yarn, chained 38 instead of 34 like the pattern says (just for some un-zippage insurance) and away I went.

WHO was afraid of the Provisional cast-on? It was so easy-peasy, I can't believe I have procrastinated on this for so long!

Not exactly to plan

I had planned to see the Harlot in OakBrook, but Michael had a fever and I did what all mom's do, I stayed home to take care of my baby bird. Not a lot of knitting accomplished, but I did on Sunday night finish CHEVRON! I love it, and it fits beautifully. It was a mindless knit, but it seemed to go on forever and ever, now that it is done, it wasn't so bad, I'd like to make another in the heavyweight yarn. We'll see.

Status

Status on the current projects.

Cozy in Cables larger kid sweater for CIC knitting in Chocolate brown, body = done, 1 sleeve started (abt. 2")

Chevron Scarf = About 2" done, love it, but HATE, HATE, HATE all the purling, using STR Fairgrounds and Fire on the Mountain - Mediumweight

More Stripes Vest (Newest Knitty) = Swatched for (yes, it is a first for me), in Silk Garden 226 (my favorite colorway of SG), patiently waiting to be cast on. I plan to steek the armholes on this as well as the neck and I need to order the gansey DVD from Schoolhouse press http://www.schoolhousepress.com/videos.htm so that I have a handy tutorial for this. I've never knit a garment for myself and I have discovered the extent of my hatred/dislike for the dreaded purl stitch, so I'm going to attempt to do it in the round, what the heck? the pattern is written that way for the neckline, why not do the sleeves.

STR Club Sock - yarn wound into ball, patiently waiting for a quiet moment to interpret the directions for the club sock. I've never knit toe up.

Cabin Cove fingering weight in a purple/green/cream colorway that is desitned to become a forest path shawl. It is loverly as is all of Dave's yarn...

I have an acrylic hat in the wings needing just the decreases at the top and it is done.

I think Birch in KSH is dead, done, never to be resurrected. I have an error somewhere and I can't rip it back, I think it is destined for the burn pile, it was an interesting experiment, I don't think I"m ready for laceweight yet.

I have startitis. I'm hanging on bravely trying to finish the Chevron scarf before I start another project. I desperately need to finish the Cozy in Cables sweater, there are cold kids in Russia, you know...Will I triumph over Statitus? Stay tuned...

Wasted day

I've needed a win for several weeks. I'm working on a WW silk scarf that just doesn't want to be a scarf, I should have frogged it a long time ago, but what can 1 skein of WW silk become if not a scarf? I screwed up the simple Feather and Fan pattern, while knitting at my moms, I have to rip it back again! I have so many things on my plate that I want/need to make. DS#2 has had Rotavirus since Tuesday, thankfully it is mainly diarreah and only vomiting 1 night, but so I've gotten little sleep, although, DH has been taking the day shift while I work. My quilter called and it's my turn, I have about 5 quilts that need to be quilted, so on Sunday, like a good girl, I set to piecing backs for said quilts and etc. I found a quilt I thought I was done and spent about 3 hours trying to jerry-rig it to be done, nothing worked, the back that I pieced will be too short, I have enough fabric, but I just lacked the engineering ability to clearly see the solution. So I spent 3 hours doing something I didn't want to do - and then suddenly, I had a pitty attack. I seem to always be stuck doing the things I don't want to do, in fact, I spend so much time doing what needs to be done that I don't think I even know what I WANT to do anymore, I just keep swimming, doing what everyone expects me to do. I had a worrysome visit to the Dr. last week and need to go back for a follow-up and I am freaked about it, although I know in my head that it MAY be nothing, I'm just tired, and scared, this too, shall pass, right? Am I doing something wrong? Am I doing anything right? A Pitty party, that is what I need....and some sleep.

Help

Don't people have better things to do, I am glad I don't live in Conn! However, I'm sure there are just as many idiots in Illinois. Please go here http://www.scoutj.com/2007/02/20/pr0n-of-a-different-kind/, read and donate.

Shut up and Knit your Cabin Cove = Done

I love these mittens! I love their matchy-matchy-ness, I love their fit (snug), I LURV them! I think they have helped me grow as a knitter. The first one I thought was a little too snug in the wrist (I forgot to allow for my watch) and when I finished the 2nd one, I ripped the 1st one back and re-knit the cuff - Who's the boss of her knitting?

My current dilemma - what to knit next, sure, I have the Cozy in Cables to the neck and am ready to bind off those stitches and start the sleeves, sure I have Birch and it's Kid Silk Haze-ness that is 2/3 done and has been on the needles since 2005 when everyone else was knitting this EASY lace pattern. This KSH is kicking my *rse. I am considering burning it in a little ceremony in the driveway, I keep coming up off on my count, I think it is time to bury that project. I have shawl yarn for 2 shawls in the stash and I am cravin' me some shawl knitting. Perhaps the highland triangle from Cheryl Oberle's book or perhaps Maude and then there are those socks in the Raggi that is a heavier weight that will whip up quickly, but then there is the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino that I just purchased last week for fingerless mittens that I don't want to use for that, but perhaps, a simple hat???? I don't know where to start.

Isn't it Lovely?

I was surprised yesterday by the snow. I was out on Monday evening and didn't see the weather. When I got up it was misting snow and by the time I headed to work, it was a tad packed and I drove carefully, but then the sky let loose with a lovely, fluffy, soft picture perfect snow. The bonus of it being so cold, the DD#1 didn't even go out and mess it up on me so that I could take this loverly picture this am.

Driving around noon was treacherous, but as any good country woman would, I headed across the street to the grocery store for some provisions to make sure we are covered in case we get snowed in, yes, we are rural and sometimes we simply get snowed in, nothing to do about it but sit and knit - oh the horror!

I had the added stress of a new driver (6 months) loose behind the wheel which caused my blood pressure a little rise, but once I got my kidlets all safely tucked into the house for the evening, I was a very happy hen.

I am participating in a Swap-bot http://www.swap-bot.com/Winter Scarf kit swap. I am a newby there with no rating so I made sure to contact my partner right away and am working on her gift, but I haven't heard from my partner. Not a good sign.

Shut Up and Knit your Cabin Cove - progress

I think I am sooo clever. I have been wanting to try the Meg Swanson/EZ I-cord mittens from Meg's book - Handknitting http://www.amazon.com/Handknitting-Meg-Swansen/dp/0942018087/sr=8-2/qid=1170861228/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-7760038-5535641?ie=UTF8&s=books. Then the Cabin Cove a-long came around. I thought, great! I will knit fingerless mittens and use the i-cord technique to knit the partial fingers, but I want ribbing at the ends to prevent curling, that's ok, I'll p1k1 and then ladder up the extra one as a knit and all will be well. I scored some Kaleidoscope sock yarn from Dave - LOVE the colors, after consult with the fabulous Dave, I decided to split the ball and play all matchy matchy with the colors so that I could knit my mitts double thick and warm. I've never bothered to do this with my socks, I don't care if they are fraternal, but I was concerned that with the double strand the colors would get a bit muddled and I didn't want that. So I accomplished the winding off well, knitted the 8 initial fingers and away we go. Since this picture, I completed the first mitt and I am wearing it, a la Michael J*ckson and if I do say so myself, they are fabulous. I have lovely, warm Hermoine mittenshttp://knit4angie.blogspot.com/2007/01/hermoine-mittens-and-hat.html, but am always taking them off and then my hands are cold. I would have rather that the color not pooled quite so much, but I think they are loverly in their poolie-ness. The yarn is 75% Merino and 25% nylon, I haven't blocked this one yet as I am waiting for the pair .

BTW, just exactly WHO ordered this cold snap, it is downright rude! I know it is Central Illinois and all, but seriously. Actually, I laugh at this cold snap. Afterall, it is February 6, we only have at best 6 more weeks of this, I may not be a Canadian or a New Yorker, but I am made for this weather. Bring it ON!

Red Scarf Project

I know I've shown them before, but all wrapped up, they are just too cute.

I heard from my friend Katie last night that the ladies in the assisted living home that she is recreation director of have made 15 red scarves! That's just since January 2. I'm thankful that I spread the word to her, they are looking for yarn donations for hats/scarves for the Dulaan project.

I'm still knitting on the CIC Cozy in Cabled sweater. I have split for the front and have been stuck at 8" for...it seems like days. However, with that Lambs Pride Bulky, it is really a pleasant knit. Thank Goddess, I am not alergic to mohair.

Bejeweled = DONE

My 2nd Red Scarf for 2007 is done, done, done. It is a 2-fer, one for the Red Scarf Project ...why won't http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/red_scarf_project_2007/ and the Bejeweled knit-a-long sponsored by: http://lollygirl.com/blog/?p=569/ I used Brown Sheep superwash I believe it was a DK weight, it took FOREVER to knit and the yarn felt a tad scratchy, but once washed and blocked, it is soft and snuggly. I think it is the perfect length, I love them looped through as in the photo, especially because it is a sort of lacey scarf, I think it needs double thickness to be warm. I'm tempted to give it a "test drive" in our cold Illinois weather, but I'd best not. Please excuse the bad pic, it was a self portrait in the mirror, harder than it looks. I have 1+ balls of this yarn left and it will become fingerless mitts for me, as soon as I get the Cozy in Cables CIC sweater I am working on done.

Hermoine Mittens and Hat

I finished!

The Hermoine hat and the Hermoine mittens.

The Stats:

Misson Falls Wool

Burgundy/red colorway

December 2006 - about 2 weeks to complete

I used #5's for the mittens and I used a #7 for the hat, should have used #7's for both, but they are beautiful and I love them.

I hope the weather here in IL doesn't get cold enough to wear them... :)

What Tarot Card am I

This is me:

http://www.flarn.com/~warlock/tarot/winged/3.html

Interesting...