Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry Christmas

Well, Christmas has come and gone! This year, Christmas was bittersweet. My dad was admitted to the hospital on December 23rd. However, he came home on the 26th. We were a little sad that he couldn't spend Christmas eve or Christmas day with us, but we were glad he came home in such a short time. He ended up having pneumonia and it was a good thing he was in the hospital. He really looks so much better, in fact, better than he has been in a few months. I think in the end it was good for him. My mom ended up spending most of those days with him, and while I don't blame her, it was alot for her to sit there all day. At least he is home now, and hopefully, they will both rest.

My kids were both happy with their presents. They usually are but I always think I might be buying them things I want them to have instead of what they might really want. My husband is still not feeling too good with his leg, but is getting a little better each day.

I finished all the baking and knitting and cooking and was pretty calm for Christmas dinner. I was even able to get to the hospital before everyone came over.

Well, I just bought some Patons wool to make Jess some wrist warmers. She loved the socks I made her and when I mentioned I was going to make the wrist warmers and my son said she wouldn't like them, she told me she actually saw them in a store and when she went back to get them they were sold out. I love knitting things for people when I know they like them and appreciate them.

Monday, December 8, 2008

December already?

Well, almost 2 months have gone by. I really need to keep this blog up more often. Well, I have done so much in the last two months. I was planning on finishing my GAAA since I wasn't making Christmas gifts. Well, that went by the wayside! I ended up making my son 1 pair of socks and I am planning on making him another. He goes through these socks like crazy but I am glad he likes them. He also asked me to make his girlfriend a pair too which I already finished using The Unique Sheep's Footprints. I followed Phyl Lagerman's Twilled Rib socks pattern. I really like the way that pattern comes out, especially with the Footprints. I also finished making aunt a pair of socks in worsted weight since she is always cold. In addtion, I made my dad wrist warmers. He is 92 and really his hands are always cold. I hope the wrist warmers help to keep him warm. I made them with 100% wool so they should do the trick.

As a result, I haven't worked on my GAAA. I currently have 18 squares completed and 12 of them blocked. I am almost finished the 19th square which is going to be plain like the Susan Rainey sweater block and then instead of putting on a sweater, I am going to use an i-cord to put on either our initials or the year I finally complete it. I need another block that incorporates both colors of my yarn because that is what I want to use for the corners. As soon as I find a way to knit that block, all 20 of my blocks will be completed. More of that to come.

On top of all of this, I finished my Christmas shopping and everything is wrapped and it's only December 8th! WOW I think this is a first. The only thing I have left to do is work on my son's 2nd pair of socks. If I don't finish them for Christmas, I can just give them to him whenever. At least I finished 1 pair for him.

For knitting, I am testing William's Hat for Laura at The Unique Sheep. It's a cute cable hat. Now that my Christmas knitting is almost finished I have time to test knit this hat.

Now, I seriously need to start baking my Christmas cookies. I plan on doing that this weekend.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Fall days

Well, fall has finally hit. It's just beautiful. I love the change of seasons and I love fall best of all! Since I last wrote, I finished the Republic Hat for one of my knitting buddies. I gave it to her for her birthday and it not only fit her perfect but she loved it. I was so glad. I also am working on socks for myself. My husband bought me some of the new Patons stretch yarn so I am making some socks out of it. So far, they aren't coming out too bad. I just have gotten used to the Unique Sheep yarn which is just lovely. I am really getting spoiled.

I have also been working on squares for the Great American Aran Afghan. I currently have 18 squares completed and only need 2 more to complete the 20 I planned on making. I went to a class to learn to block and begin to put the square together. It was fun and I learned alot. So, I currently have 4 squares blocked and this weekend I am hoping to block some more. Once I get the next 4 blocked, I think I am going to start sewing them together. I am hoping to have the afghan finished by Christmas. I am planning to make the last two squares different than what the book shows. I think I am going to make plain squares like the back of the sweater square and then make I cords for our family initial for one block and the 08 for the year on the other block. I hope this looks OK, it was a suggestion from someone in the blocking class and I really like the idea.

Well, back to some knitting. I currently am working the GAAA, the stretch socks and my nephew's afghan. Alot of work!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Nuttin much happenin

I haven't posted since there is nothing much going on. I have tested again for the Unique Sheep a sock that will be for the LOTR club. They turned out just beautiful. I also started a cabled afghan for my nephew and new niece. They just got engaged, so hopefully I will have it finished before they get married!

My dad is still doing as well as can be expected from a 92 year old. Other than that, I have been busy knitting and just leading a very normal life.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

One Year, WOW!

I can't believe it's been a year since I started this blog. So much has happened in the last year. I have had my hips replaced which was the biggest thing that happened to me. Now looking back, it seems like so long ago that I was in the hospital and it will be a year in October.

I have knitted tons of things this year. Mostly baby sweaters, because so many people I know are having grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. I have also started being a test knitter for The Unique Sheep. This has been so much fun and I am knitting really cool stuff. I thought it might seem like a job and I would not like knitting something because I had to, but so far (I have only knit two items), I like knitting something different.

This past year I also got to see the Yarn Harlot in person. She is amazing. I read her blog as often as I can and she keeps me in stitches (pun intended).

My dad had some close calls this last year too. He is now 92 years old and still going as strong as can be expected. He was very weak this past summer, but these past few days he has finally started saying he is feeling a little stronger. That is such a good sign. I hope he continues to get stronger each day.

Well, on my needles right now I have socks (my most favorite thing to knit). I got the yarn from the Unique Sheep. It is Footprints in the color Sinful. It is so soft and great to work with. So far, every yarn I have used from their shop is amazingly soft and doesn't split at all and the completed projects beautiful.

So, I am going to sign off now to take my husband to get tubes put in his ears since he is getting so many ear infections and has so much fluid. Hopefully, he will hear better and the infections will stop. Then onto the garden center to buy flowers for a new garden we are putting in and I am also hoping they have plum tomatoes so I can jar some tomato puree.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

WOW

Time does fly. I have been busy test knitting a throw for the Unique Sheep and it came out absolutely lovely. Hopefully, I am asked to do more test knitting. It was fun and I wouldn't make a throw for myself so it was nice to knit something different.

I am also in the process of knitting a baby sweater for another co-worker's daughter who is having a baby girl in October. I seem to be stuck on making the February baby sweater for them. So far, I have made a yellow, white and I am now working on a pink one! I just love this pattern and the sweater comes out so cute.

The summer seems to be flying by and my favorite time of year is coming up, Fall. I love how it can be warm during the day and so cool at night. I am thinking of making the Poonam sweater for myself for this winter, but I have so much baby yarn I wanted to get rid of some of that stash first. Well, I still have time before I make any decisions.

Monday, June 16, 2008

WWKIP YEAH!

Saturday was knit in public day. I went to my LYS to knit in the morning since I had my son's 25th birthday party scheduled in the afternoon. I am still working on the Great American Aran Afghan and currently completing my 15th square. Only 5 more to go!

I am getting ready to test knit a lace afghan for The Unique Sheep. I can't wait to get that started. Good Luck Laura on your upcoming wedding.

Well, the update on my dad is that he is still in pain, but I think he is slowly improving. He still doesn't feel it, but I think he sometimes moves a little more confidently than other times, so that must be a little improvement. I know it's a slow road to recovery, and at 92 years old it must feel like the pain is never going to go away. Hopefully, he will get past this.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Getting Better!

Well, my dad had a doctor appointment yesterday and it went well. He was actually able to get down the steps and walkway to the car and get to the doctors. That is a great accomplishment because he really has trouble walking. Thank God it was a good day!

On a knitting note, I finished the Cabled baby sweater from a LionBrand Pattern and I am working on the hat. I think instead of making the booties from the pattern, I think I will try one of Ann Budd's Better than booties pattern. They look like fun!

I don't know what's next on the horizon for knitting. Next week (June 14th) is the Square of the Month class for the Great American Aran Afghan. I have 14 completed squares. Only 6 more to go! I can't wait to see the FO. I know I will complete the booties way before next week's class and I don't have anything else to work on. Maybe I will make a bunch of baby socks/booties to give away to church at Christmastime.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Rain....Rain

Well, it's raining again. We have had some nice days in between, but it's been alot of rain. Dad is still frail and can hardly walk. Hopefully he gets his strength back soon.

I finished the baby cable sweater. It was a little boring because I didn't realize it was all garter stitch. It came out really cute though. I also made a baby hat with a curly edging. It came too small so I will give it to a hospital and maybe it will fit a preemie.

Nothing else to report. I changed my hours to 10 hour days at work. I will be off every Friday, and work from home Monday's and Wednesday's. The only problem is that on Tuesday's and Thursday's I go to aquasize and it will be a little hectic to get to class on time. If it turns out to be a problem, I can always change my days to work at home. I am carpooling with a friend so I end up only driving to work one day a week, which is the reason I picked this schedule. Well, only time will tell to see if it all works out.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Another great weekend!

Aside from the fact that it was another weekend of partial rain, it was really fun. Since my dad is home from the hospital, my mom had a little get together for him. It was good to see him in his own environment. His sister is visiting from Florida and he was happy to spend some time with her.

On Sunday, we went to the Philadelphia Free Library Festival. I was so excited to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka Yarn Harlot. She was so funny she had the whole audience laughing, even non-knitters. Afterwards, my husband said she is so right when she said people say they don't knit because they don't have time, and they might be saying this to you while you are both waiting for a plane. It's so true, knitters just use time more wisely. For instance, most knitters will knit while waiting for doctors appointments or kids to finish dance class. It's just a useful way of passing time.

At the end of her speech, Stephanie signs her books and takes pictures. It was so much fun. She even held my sock while I held her! How exciting. She was so personable and down to earth. I really liked her just from reading her books and blog, and now after I met her, I even like her more.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Great Weekend!

This weekend we spent Friday and Saturday in Lancaster and had a blast! Our 30th anniversary will be the 20th of May and we just wanted to do something for us for a change. My dad is still in the hospital and hopefully will be home soon. He is still hardly walking, but we will just have to manage. We are just so blessed that he is still with us at 92 years old and still is very sharp. He loves his computer and working on photoshop. Maybe working on the computer will brighten him up a little when he gets home.

Anyway, we spent Friday at the Green Dragon farmers market. We went to the auction and for the first time actually bidded on some plants. It was exciting and we had so much fun. Needless to say we came home with lots of plants!

On Saturday morning, our first stop was at Labadie Looms. I googled yarn shops before we left and this was the closest store we would be near. I am so glad I stopped in. I met Beverly and she actually took the time to show me how to cast on to knit toe up socks. I usually make socks from the cuff down and but I think I am going to try to make my next pair from the toe up. I also have the best husband who paitently waited until we were through. He is really the best!

We drove around Lancaster after leaving the yarn store. The scenery was just so beautiful, even though it was a little cloudy. We ended up going to the store near the Shady Maple to buy bulk foods. We bought lots of bread flour to make pizza's and bread.

We also went to Black Creek Nursery in East Earl. It was our last stop and we bought our vegetable plants. We just have a few more herbs to buy and then we will be set for the summer. I love this time of year.

Monday, April 21, 2008

calming down

Things have certainly calmed down since my last post. My dad is doing so much better than he was, and is getting stronger every day. It's amazing and I hope I have that much ambition if I ever get to 92 years old. He is slowing starting to get strength in his legs and is walking using a walker only at therapy. In his room he is still in the wheelchair or in bed, with a nurses assistant. It is even getting better getting my mom back and forth to rehab. I have been sending out emails and everyone is helping out. It's amazing how things bring people closer.

I finished my second February baby sweater, plus a hat and booties to match. They are adorable and I can't wait until the Miller baby is born to give them the outfit. I am now starting a pair of socks for myself using up some stash. I need to get rid of some yarn before I can buy anymore.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Stressed!!!!

Since I last wrote, my dad has been in bed and is in so much pain he can't move. It is so hard to see him so frail. We finally convinced him to go to the hospital and called 911 on Monday morning. Since then, he has been admitted and had a bone scan. They are pumping him up with morphine, so now we are not sure how much he tells us is true. No matter how early someone can get to the hospital, we always seem to miss the doctors. Hopefully, we can find out in the next few days what the results of the tests were. He does have arthritis, and hopefully they can control the pain.

Needless to say, I haven't been knitting the February Baby sweater I started because I don't want hospital germs on it. I have completed another square from the Great American Aran Afghan (that makes 12 complete). I just started another one at the hospital on Monday.

Hopefully, my next post will bring better news.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Too Cold!!

Well, I went to the Phillies game and it was too cold to knit! It was not just too cold, it was freezing! So, I brought the February Baby sweater to start, and ended up watching the game instead. It was not that great of a game, they lost. We left early because it was so cold.

I started the baby sweater after we got home from the game. I am doing two buttonholes this time, instead of snaps. I am just starting the pattern. This should go pretty fast, and I just love this pattern. This time, along with making a matching hat, I am going to make booties too.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

What to do!

Since my last post, I have completed the binary cable hat for my husband and I am working on socks for a co-worker. I have one sock completed and the second on the needle. I am planning to finish this sock in the next few days. My dilemma is, what to do next? I have plenty of projects in my queue at Ravelry, I just don't know what I feel like working on next. We have tickets to the Phillies baseball game on Saturday, so I am planning to take a project. Since there will be alot of distractions, I hope to take something I can make without alot of thought or counting. That leaves out working on the aran afghan squares! I was thinking of starting the double knitted baby blanket. The problem with that is that I don't have the yarn in my stash and I have to find time to buy it before Saturday. Well, I guess time will tell and my next post will reveal my next project.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

February Baby Sweater finished!

Well, I finished the socks and have since worn them twice. They wash nicely and all the complaining I did (to myself) while I was making these socks were in vain. Even though I felt the yarn split very easily, the socks are so comfy and I love them. Thank you Grumperina!

The very next day I cast on the February Baby Sweater. I finished it on Saturday, March 8th. I also finished a matching hat last night! I just love how this sweater came out. It is so cute and was not complicated at all. I thought it was going to be hard, but I just followed Elizabeth's pithy directions and I was fine. I know I will be making more of these sweaters.

Now, onto my next project. I think I am going to make a hat for my DH. I made him mittens (my first try at that) and he loved them. He wanted them in case it snowed he thought they would be warm for shoveling snow. Well, we didn't get enough snow to shovel! Maybe next year. But I have some yarn left and he needs a new hat. I am thinking of making the Binary Cable hat from Firefairy. I got the pattern on Ravelry and it's very DH. His old hat needs to hit the trashbin, but I know that won't be happening until he gets a new one.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Still Trekking

Well, it's almost 2 weeks and I am still working on the Jaywalker socks. I definitely thought I would be finished by now, but I never worked with yarn this fine before. I am almost finished, working on the second toe today, so I should be able to wear them by tomorrow. I am planning on starting EZs February baby sweater next. Not for anyone special, just because I think it's so pretty and I think it will be a challenge for me.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

To the Frog Pond!

Well, I was so excited with my new Trekking XXL yarn! I couldn't wait to cast on the Simply Love socks for February. I managed to make almost 3/4 of the sock and wasn't loving it at all. I don't think the yarn was the right choice for this pattern. I couldn't see the hearts, unless I was doing something wrong. Anyhoo, I frogged those socks and started them again making Grumperina's Jaywalker socks. I originally started making them with size 1 bamboo needles but I felt like the needles were going to break in my hands so I went and bought size 1 metal. I am loving the way these are looking. I am now 3/4 finished the first sock and can't wait to try it on!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

New Yarn YEAH!

Well, in the past few weeks, I finished baby mittens (I almost love knitting mittens as much as socks!), and a helmetliner for the marines. The Marine website is trying to get 100 helmetliners donated for the month of February. My lunch knitting buddies and I decided to make one each and send them off. I finished mine and I am thinking of making another one. In the meantime, I got some Trekking XXL yarn and started the February socks from the sockamania KAL. I never worked with yarn this fine before. I am working them from the top down, so I have 1 inch finished of the ribbing. So far, they look OK. Hopefully, they will turn out OK. This is my first time changing a pattern. I am going to not only work from the top down instead of toe up, I have to reverse the chart for the hearts. This is my challenge for February!

Monday, January 28, 2008

Always something new!

Well, I am always learning something new! I recently knitted my first pair of mittens and I loved knitting them almost as much as socks. But of course, you can use socks all year 'round. I am already on my second pair of mittens. I will have to post some pictures. I also finished another square for my aran afghan. I am not very happy with how it came out. It doesn't look quite like the picture in the book. But, I really wasn't crazy about this square anyway, so I am keeping it as is. I have already completed 10 squares so I am halfway finished. I have to post those pictures also, as soon as I take some.

I went to visit Elizabeth (my knitting teacher) on Saturday. She is 92 years old and still going strong. She fell in December so her sons found an assisted living place for her. It is really nice and after 1 month she really enjoys being there. They do all sorts of crafts and activities. She finished a sweater for one of her sons. It really came out nice. I hope to one day be able to knit without a pattern too! I am still a little leary of going out at night in the winter (afraid of ice) so as soon as the weather gets nicer, I am going to go back to visiting her every week to knit with her. We both looked forward to those visits.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Good to be working

Well, it's been a little over a week since I went back to work part time. It really has been good to see everyone again and get back into the thick of things. I am still in therapy 3 times a week, and getting stronger every day. Going back to work was bittersweet. I have less time for knitting, but I get to knit with my knitting buddies at work every day at lunch. It's so much better to knit with friends!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Back to work?

Well, my dr. never really said I could go back to work, but he didn't say I couldn't either. His assistant left it up to me. I am going to attempt those steps (I really am dreading it). If it wasn't for the steps, I really wouldn't be worried. I am still a little stiff, but I am walking fairly well with a cane.

On a knitting note, I made my first pair of mittens! My husband wanted them so they will keep his hands warm while he is shoveling snow. I am really pleased on how they came out.

I am now working on a pair of socks for myself. These are my favorite things to knit, but I think mittens could come close! They are fast and so comfy to wear.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New Year!

Well, it's a new year. It's been so long since I last posted. I have made lots of things while I was recuperating from my surgery. Scarves, a prayer throw, lots of socks, and I am working in between on the great american aran afghan. These last 11 weeks have gone by so fast! I can't wait until my doctors appointment next week to see if I can return to work. I can't imagine going back to work, it's a bittersweet thing. I want to go back, but I am also enjoying so much knitting time!