Archive for April, 2009

Gloves are Finished

April 28, 2009

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I used a six needle instead of a seven and I still had to reduce the number of stitches.  I’m not very happy with them, but they are warm and I’ll make use of them.  I liked the charts.  Some of the symbols were strange and the descriptions were bizarre.  The increases were poor and would have left holes in my work if I hadn’t done them my way. 

It wasn’t as hot today and there was a breeze.  The air conditioning repairman won’t be here until tomorrow.  By then, it won’t matter.  Olive was really hoping for some cool breezes, but they were outside and she was inside.p1020321

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I started this post yesterday, but the Internet kept going and coming and doing it’s best to drive me crazy.

I started a little scarf to match the Bella Mittens I gave Jenn.  I had most of a ball left over.  I have several skinny little matching scarves.  These are much easier to find when I’ve got a hole in my gloves, mitten or hat then rooting through a box of leftover yarn.  It also keeps me from putting it into another project and later regretting it.  I’m hard on gloves. p1010797

I used 10 1/2 needle and cast on 18 stitches.  The first and last three stitches are garter stitch with the single big cable going up the middle.  It should be about three feet when I’m finished.

The MD Sheep and Wool Festival is this weekend.  It looks like it may rain on Saturday, but that won’t keep the people away.  I’ll be there both days.  I always have a good time even though I don”t buy much anymore.  I will be stopping at Signature Needle Art .  I’m so glad they are coming.  I love their needles.  Do you want me to pick up anything for you?  Drop me a line and I will see what I can do.  I am a senile old woman so your chances are 50/50.

I Washed My Socks

April 26, 2009

There will be no restaurant critique this week.   We didn’t go out last night and our neighbor was too tired to on Thursday.   We will probably only go out every other week during the warmer months.

It was unusually hot today so I decided it was time for the annual washing of my socks.  A couple didn’t get washed.  I need to repair them which I hate to do so it’ll be a while.  Maybe they’ll get washed next year.  I’m not rushing into these repairs.  I deliberately hung them on the clothesline.  It seemed the perfect opportunity for a photo op.

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Olive was pretty hot today.  She wanted to go out, but it was too hot for her.  She spent the day sleeping in her bowl on the dining table under the ceiling fan.  She’s still a baby.042109-001

Once the sun went down, she went out.  She’s been running in and out.  We probably won’t be able to get her in until midnight.

Thursday, I decided to go shopping in Rehoboth and Lewes.  I hadn’t been over that way for a while and I didn’t dare go over the weekend.  I rode down to the beach at Lewes.  It’s always so pretty there, but it was really windy making it hard for me to walk.  At least I remembered my camera this time. 042109-024

Lewes Cape May Ferry

Lewes Cape May Ferry

We should take the ferry over to Cape May for the day some time soon.  Well, maybe next Autumn.  
I stopped at Ginger Moon and bought this ball of yarn.  I hadn’t seen it before.  042109-025It should make a fun pair of socks.  I got some other stuff for a purse. 
I never got over to the new yarn shop at Rehoboth Beach.  I got some stuff at the Disney and did some looking,  but it was getting late.  I might go back next week if there’s a cold or rainy day.

Shipping Rates

April 22, 2009

I spent a couple of hours researching a product this afternoon.  I found one at a good price with “free shipping”.  I started the buying procedure.  They said shipping would be $10.95 to Delaware.  It was coming from Georgia.  I could understand it if I lived in Alaska.  I assume you have to live across the street from them to get free shipping!  So, you know where I’m buying it?  Walmart.  I’m using ‘the ship to store’ method.  It’s no big deal.  I go there every week anyway.  Ask me if I’m pissed.  All that work for nothing.

There won’t be any tea towel pictures today.  I used the wrong towel so I’m making another.  It’s a good thing I know more than one guy named John.  Actually, I’m making about five more.  I keep getting more ideas.

p1020278 Poor Zipper was out in the rain this afternoon.  It rained all morning and then the sun came out shortly after noon.  We decided to go shopping and Zip decided to go out.  Well, while we were out, it started raining again.  It was really pouring by the time we got home, but we have a garage and can go directly into the house from it.  Doug immediately opened the back door and in zipped Zip.  He was NOT happy!  He grabbed a towel and dried him off as best he could.  Zip’s pretty good about that. He is a very clean boy.  He also lets you comb him.  And, of course, he loves the attention!  He is such a big baby.

April Rain

April 21, 2009

I’m really getting sick of it.  It has been raining all day and it’s going to continue for a few more days.  So I embroidered some tea towels for a friend.  She always has something to say and I want to show her that I really appreciate it.  I’ll take a picture tomorrow.

I finished one glove at knitting group yesterday.  The thumb and little finger look demented.  I’ll  finish this pair, but I don’t think Ill make another.  I much prefer to use sock yarn for gloves, or maybe DK.

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Look at what my daughter gave for taking her to Hopkins and back on Thursday.  I love it.  And, it looks great on my mantel!041909-0241

I was so glad that the weather had improved that day.  Johns Hopkins Hospital has been a work in progress for the sixty odd years that I have been going there and, I assume, even earlier.  I wouldn’t want to go there in the pouring rain, especially with rush hour traffic coming and going. 

I can’t help but think about how much it has changed since I used to go to Wilmer Clinic when I was little.  I used to sit by the bottom of the staircase and try to count the number of times it turned.  I’d make myself dizzy.  I didn’t like going there.  My eyes always hurt afterward, but it worked.  That’s what really mattered.

Maybe I’ll talk more about Hopkins tomorrow.

Suicide Bridge Restaurant

April 19, 2009

We always try to go in April.  If we wait any longer, the placewill be filled with ACH!! tourists.  They have a great buffet on Fridays.  As usual, everything was fabulous–steamed shrimp, crab imperial, barbecued ribs, prime beef, turkey, oyster fritters, fried oysters, fried scallops, ham, raw oysters. There were king crab legs which none of us ate.   I don’t know why those things are even served around here.  Soups were asparagus and cream of crab.  They had rolls and salad fixings,even beets thatwere almost as good as Algyer’s.  We tried to eat some of everything.  Nothing came up short of our expectations.  We were stuffed, but happy.  I forgot dessert–little cheesecakes that melted in your mouth.

Crossing the Bay

April 18, 2009

It rained the whole way back o Reisterstown on Wednesday.  It was about the windiest day that I have ever seen when on the bay bridge.  I really had to hold on to the steering wheel.  It wasn’t as bad as the time it snowed.  Now that really sucked.  Having an Ipod for these trips is so great.  I subscribe to some pod-casts and I always make certain I have a few hours worth before I head out.  I tried the Knit Picks pod-casts, but the way that Kelly talks makes me want to scream.  I love listening to Jenny and Nicole from Stash and Burn.  I feel like they are riding along with me making the trip so much more enjoyable.

I got up at 6AM on Thursday to take Jenn to Hopkins.  I had to eat some breakfast and stop for gas before going over to pick up Jenn and Kevin.  She asked if  I wanted to take her vehicle, but it’s bigger than mine and I knew I would be driving in rush hour traffic and I’d rather do that in my own van. 

I’m pretty tired.  I’ll report more on this next time.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

April 15, 2009

When it’s raining and chilly, I want to hibernate.  Doug made a fire so that helps.  I was going to work on the lining for the handbag.   I managed to cut a bottom out of fiberboard.  I got out the silk to iron and cut out, but that’s as far as it went.  We needed to go shopping.  When we got back, this is what I found.

041309-001So I did some embroidery.  I’ll show you when I get back.  I’ve been jumping around today from one thing to another.  I’ll be glad when Jenn’s surgery is over.  I’ve packed three different knitting projects to take with me to Hopkins.

The Tea Towels are Finished

April 14, 2009

I am very happy with the way they  turned out.  And they didn’t cost much more than a card.  Well, they did take time to make, but it was time well spent.

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My daughter called this evening.  She asked me tot take her to Hopkins on Thursday.  She’s having out-patient surgery so I’ll be leaving here sometime Wednesday.  I hope to work on the handbag tomorrow so I can give it to her.

This Week’s Dining Experience Didn’t Happen

April 12, 2009

We didn’t go anywhere last night.  Last Sunday, I went to Red Lobster with girlfriends.  I would have preferred to go elsewhere, but it wasn’t my turn to pick.  I had baked fish and I couldn’t tell you what the others had. It was OK.  Wednesday morning, we went to IHOP and had omelets.  They were good.  The place is clean and bright and the manager is not above helping the waitresses.

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I am starting to like these gloves.  I’m using a size smaller needle, but it still seems a bit too big.  I’ve onlygot three and a half inches to go on my sweater, so I may actually get it finished before too long.

I washed, dried AND ironed two dozen tea towels this morning.  Friends are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary so I thought I would embroider some tea towels.  I didn’t know which ones to get so I got them all.  I figured I’ll use them sooner or later.

Sunny Day

April 10, 2009

Normally, i would be getting ready to go out to eat, but the neighbors are away for a few days.  I thought I would blog while the chicken is in the oven.  I hope it turns out.  I am not the best cook. 

I spent the afternoon on the deck knitting.  I pulled out a sweater that I haven’t worked on in mouths.  After an hour, I realized why.  The thing is heavy and hard on my hands.  The stars drive me crzy.  There’s no set pattern that I can remember so progress has been slow.  I’ll try to work on it between other projects in an effort to get it finished, especially since the sleeves have been made. 041009-010