December 16, 2010
It was 19 degrees when I got up. By the time I was finally ready to go, it was up to 25. I don’t think it’s been up to freezing the last few days. I got out a turtleneck, sweatshirt and jeans. After I was dressed, I realized I should put on my silk long johns. Off comes my jeans and my handknit double-knit socks. I started to pull up the long johns and they caught on my poor too-dry skin. Out comes the body cream. Now my long johns are kind of stuck to my legs. Then I decide that my heels feel awful so they get lathered with foot gunk. Well, I can’t possibly put on my nice handmade wool double-knit socks now, can I? I dug out a pair of my old Orton socks. While I had the body cream out, I figured I might as well do my arms, so off comes the turtleneck and sweatshirt. Half an hour later, I’m finally ready to go. By this time, Sweetums has fallen asleep and the dog has died from utter frustration, but I drag them out anyway. I sure as shit wasn’t going to let all this preparation go to waste.
There was no wind so we walked down to the river. I was able to sit out on the pier for several minutes. It was so beautiful and so wondrously quiet. The sky was completely overcast. It looked and felt like snow was coming. We saw the first flakes while we were walking back and now we have about an inch on the ground.
Today’s lesson: As the outside temperature decreases, the number of pee balls in the litter pan increases.
I’ve made decent progress on my hat, although, I am not certain in what direction. I’m just letting it talk to me. I hope it knows what it is talking about.
Tags: Flo, mitered hat, morning walk, pee balls, wondrouosly quiet
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Stuff | Comments Off on Getting Ready to go for a Walk
December 14, 2010
And guess what? I have a sinus infection. Whoopee shit. So what else is new. I got a prescription. Doctor asked if I had a flu shot. I said no. He asked if I wanted one. I said no. He asked if I had the flu. I said I’ve never had the flu or a flu shot. He told me to drink plenty of fluids and eat yogurt twice a day. There was no, “You should have a flu shot!” in a condescending tone. This guy is kind of cool for a man doctor. And I was good. I didn’t ask how to drink something that is not a fluid.
Well, I lied. I didn’t start a hat to match my sweater, but I have an excuse. I decided to make the hat on the cover of Boutique Knits. It calls for size 5 needles which I don’t have in Signature Art Needles. I ordered 5’s and 6’s and the holder for DPNs. So anyway, I’m making a mitered hat with my left-over orange and green yarn from socks. I was about a third along when I decided to make the shawls. Now, I’ve changed my mind. Instead of starting at the band, I’m starting at the top and working down. It’s so much more interesting.
Tags: mitered hat. Signature Art Needles, no flu shot. Boutique Knits, sinus infection
Posted in Knitting, Stuff | Comments Off on So I Went to the Doctor
December 14, 2010
I don’t have half a headache or a whole headache. It’s definitely 3/4ths. Once again my sinuses are full of green goop that I could use to seal any cracks that there might be in the concrete. It has put me in the loveliest of moods. So after a couple of weeks of this, I called the GP for an appointment for tomorrow. I had all ready decided that it was time to do some shopping. I was hoping that the smow flurries would keep some people home. I probably should have stayed home and called that radiology place in PA (the x-ray was done locally) and explain to them that they charged my insurance twice and I am not about to pay them $7 just because they are idiots and can’t read. Going shopping and being nice to sales people seemed like more of a challenge.
I headed over to Rehoboth and the outlets. I thought about the yarn shop there and then remembered that I have been there twice and never bought anything. When I go to a yarn shop, I like to buy something, especially around here. They are too few and far between. Both times I could find nothing that I was the least bit interested in. I decided not to try again. I didn’t want to get depressed too.
My first stop was the Fossil store. I hate this place. I always buy something. And they had several great looking handbags at half price. All I wanted was a wallet for my daughter. I found a wallet, wristlet and coin purse in red leather with little circles sewn on them so I got all three. I also bought two handbags. I’ll probably give her one for her birthday. It’s in February and who wants to shop then.
Next, I stopped at a gift shop that always has lots of unique things. I didn’t have much luck this year and I only found a Christmas ornament and a pin. By this time, I was getting hungry and I really had to pee. I stopped at a place that had a nice restroom so I figured I might as well eat there, too. I got a chicken BLT. It wasn’t bad, but everything was piled in the middle and I had to rearrange it. It also had cheese and pickles on it which I thought was strange. The pickles were really good which was a surprise. I ate them separately. The tomatoes had to be removed. I think they were made out of styrofoam. You’d think I would learn after all these years. They also had good coleslaw so I forgave them for the other stuff.
Here’s my third shawl. I put that pattern to good use. I have decided to make a hat and gloves to go with my stars sweater next. I have a lot of the yellow left. Maybe I’ll make a scarf, too. I don’t know. Scarves can get boring.
Tags: a place to pee, Fossil, insurance, Leafprints, shopping, snot, x-ray
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting | Comments Off on 3/4ths a Headache
December 12, 2010
I should have had them both finished a week ago. Instead I found two more skeins of the yarn–blue and light aqua. What do I do? Add it on, of course. I had finished the blue one so I had to undo the bind-off. I managed to do this without losing any stitches. Then, when I was knitting along, I forgot about stopping to check on how much was left. I found myself having to unknit two rows and wasting an hour. Bummer.
See the light edge. I am not sure that I like it, but it’s staying. I have used up all of this yarn which was my main objective. I think that this was the best use for this yarn. It would not have made a very good garment. It does wash and iron nicely–always good for gifts. I forgot to take a picture of the blue one. Maybe tomorrow. I’m not promising.
Tags: Leafprints shawl, unknit
Posted in Knitting | 1 Comment »
December 9, 2010
It was 21 degrees when I got up this morning. Except for one small corner, the creek was completely covered in ice. The geese were not happy and left deposits on everyone’s lawn. I had to break down and wear a coat this morning. A turtleneck, corduroy shirt and heavy sweater weren’t doing the job. My having to wear a coat on my walk means that winter has come to Lower Slower Delaware. It was very beautiful sitting out on the pier on the river. There wasn’t much wind so I didn’t freeze over. I was also treated to a small tug pushing a barge with an enormous pile of sand. It came very close to the pier.
Flo kept running in and out, trying to find the door into summer. She finally gave up and proceeded to get into as much trouble as possible. Of course, she said she didn’t do it, but I have proof.
Maybe I should knit her a body suit. It would have to cover her ears and tail, but leave a place open to pee. She prefers to go outside and will go in the sink if we are not fast enough. This cat is such a pain in the butt, it’s a wonder that I keep her. She’s just a little tabby cat.
Tags: bad Flo, cold, ice on the creek, pee in the sink, sand, tugboat
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Stuff | Comments Off on Ice on the Creek
December 3, 2010
I was only looking for one piece of paper. And everything sort of just mushroomed. I knew that what I was searching was in a particular tote bag. I found the paper and so much more. There were an awful lot of patterns in there and A LOT of loose needles. The patterns didn’t bother me. It was the needles. I started searching for needles everywhere. And, now, two days later, I am finally getting them organized. But, you know, in the back of my mind, I know there are more lurking somewhere, waiting to appear at the least inopportune moment. 
Sweetums is so proud of himself. He has been able to get the Christmas cactus to bloom again. I had to show it.
Tags: Christmas cactus, knitting needles
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, Stuff | Comments Off on Trying to Organize
December 1, 2010
I took these around 3PM. We had several hours of steady rain last night and this morning. At least it wasn’t snow. It would have to be about 30 degrees cooler. Every time there is a good rain, it overflows my neighbors’ bulkheads and theirs are newer than mine. I guess this is why we have to have flood insurance. Of course if our house ever was flooded so would the entire Delmarva peninsula. And when was the last time that happened? I also find it interesting that we have only been required to carry flood insurance since Katrina! I will be so glad when we pay off this house.
Tags: bulkheads, flood insurance, Katrina, rain
Posted in Stuff | Comments Off on A Really High Tide
November 30, 2010
I had such a good time making the first one that I decided to make another. This time I found a cotton/viscose blend in a DK weight in my stash. I used my size 7 circular Signature Art Needle. It worked great. There was not the catching problem that usually goes with this type of yarn. The needle was smooth. The cable was smooth. The join was smooth. What more do you want? Actually, what I want is more sizes. But, I can wait. They’re worth it.
I knit until I almost ran out of yarn. Luckily, it was at the end of a leaf. I had three small skeins that were 110 yards each. Then I found four more in a beautiful aqua/turquoise/teal so I started another one. 
When I came to the end of the first skein I decided to stripe it, changing colors every other row. I had two light and two dark skeins. It’ll have to do.
I’ve been working on a personal tag for a bag I am giving my daughter. I’ve had the front for a while and I finally got around to making the back with her first name. I put magnetic snaps on the strap because I’ve never used them before. If you’re lucky, I’ll have a picture of the completed project tomorrow. Then, maybe, I can start a Christmas table runner. I need to do something to get me in the mood.
Nothing gets Cora in the mood, except, maybe, food. See that poor flower in the hanging basket outside? They all died the other night when it got below freezing for the first time. Can winter be far behind? It is so hard to believe that I was in North Dakota a month ago.
Tags: circular Signature art needle, Cora, cotton/viscose, Laurel Burch tag, Leafprints shawl
Posted in Family and Friends, Knitting, my pets, Sewing | Comments Off on Leafprints Shawl 2
November 25, 2010
I thought that this was an easy pattern. I should say here that I have been knitting for about 55 years so you can give me the fish-eye. The others at knitting group certainly do. There are charts to follow, but if you prefer your directions written out, they are there also. This makes the pattern four pages long instead of two. It is very well written and an advanced beginner could follow it. My goodness! I have finally figured out what an “advanced beginner” is. I have often wondered.
Tags: advanced beginner, Anne Hanson, Kollage, Leafprints Shawleete
Posted in Knitting | Comments Off on Leafprints Shawlette by Anne Hanson
November 22, 2010
I was busy. I didn’t feel like it. I had a little cold. I was too grumpy. Take your pick. Or, pick them all. And now for some good news.
The new kitchen cabinets have been fixed and reinstalled. Sweetums has all ready taken all the hanging pots and pans down and put them away in drawers. However, he needs to learn that the heaviest ones do not need to go in the bottom drawers. He also took down the ugly, dirty rack. No one is in danger of getting hit anymore. The next thing on our list is taking down the wall. I hope it is in Frank’s repertoire.
The tunic is finished. I need to wash it again before sending it off. I love this pattern. It’s so great for winter. I also loving having both my machines up and running at the same time. Making this garment took so much less time than the others that I have made. Sewing is fun again.
Tags: new kitchen cabinets, Sweetums, tunic pattern
Posted in Family and Friends, Sewing | Comments Off on It’s Been a Week
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 