I got to go outside! It was wonderful! I knew it was there. I could smell it on the Aunties whenever they came inside. I was a little afraid at first. Auntie Flo and Auntie Cora like to tell horror stories—-like being carried off by eagles and eaten by bugs if you lay in the grass too long. I tried to keep busy and when I was tired, I laid on the back stoop.
After a few hours, Mom picked me up and brought me in. I was really sleepy.
I’m glad to be home. I had to stay until late Friday as I had something repaired and it wasn’t finished. Then I didn’t leave until Saturday morning due to the rain. It was bad enough going out in it during the day. I didn’t relish driving in the dark in the rain for two hours.
TWO DAYS LATER
I finally made it to DMV to renew my license. I didn’t take all that crap with me so it’s not ‘federally compliant’. It doesn’t have to be done until 2014, but my license is good until 2016. Maybe I’ll find it by then. Or maybe I won’t. Having worked for the feds for 30 some years and several administrations, I’ll wait and see. Oh. One more thing. I had to pay a late fee of $1.15. One dollar and fifteen cents!
I just finished my Mermaid Scarf. Sorry, but there will be no picture yet. My laptop and good camera aren’t talking again. I still need to steam it so it will look better tomorrow anyway. And I’ve started sewing my little quilt together. I don’t know why sewing little squares together is so enjoyable.
Tomorrow is Rue’s big day. He’s going to be tutored. The girls are all laughing at him.
I like the pattern. The hat fits well, but it’s a bit heavy. I may sell it. I had just enough yarn. I did not bother with the cables at the very top. Here again, they were very difficult to see in brown. It wasn’t worth the effort. I’ll probably make it again in another yarn. It is a very good-looking hat. It comes in three sizes and I think it would look good on anyone.
I have started another pair of socks, but haven’t taken a picture yet. I got a lot accomplished at the vet’s yesterday. It was time for Rue’s next shot. When I got there, the lot was very full. I considered going back home, but I managed to get into a corner. Besides, there was all that uninterrupted yarn time to think about and the other animal lovers. There all always so many interesting stories. These are Sussex County folks with a whole different outlook on life. I really have a great time. I love listening to them and sharing in their experiences. They are wonderful. Even the first time I came, I felt welcome. Here are people who feel the same way that I do and are happy to hear what you have to say.
When I got up this morning, the inside and outside temperatures were the same.
These guys seemed to think so. They’re checking out their favorite nesting spot.
The girls all went out, but Rue. He’s too little. Did I say little? He weighs 5 1/2 ponds and he’s not four months old yet. And, he hasn’t been tutored.
Poor Gus. He don’t get no respect.
Even the baby knows he’s a push-over.
Another hat. Pattern coming very soon.
The day after spending over $300 at BJ’s, the washer died. And, of course, it had a load of wet clothes in it. So off we go. I have very particular needs when it comes to washing machines. Out of thirty models, I narrowed my desires down to four in two minutes. I spent a minute getting to two and another getting it down to one model. I looked around for a salesperson or whatever they are called. He was still with the same couple. Jeez. Don’t these people know what they need? Don’t they know what they want? What is taking them so long? What is so hard about picking a washer? The man looked like a logger, yet he was the one looking. The mousey looking woman with him was just standing there. Sometimes I forget that these type of people still exist. I started rolling my eyes and shaking my head. The salesperson excused himself and came over to me. I picked his brain for a minute to make certain that the washer truly did everything that I wanted it to do. The sale was made. Next up. Delivery. There were none in the warehouse so it wouldn’t be deliverable until the 23rd. So we took the floor model. I got ten percent off. And delivery was the next morning. We were in and out in fifteen minutes. Then we went over to Wal-Mart and spent another $100.
Here’s Sweetums with his kitten. Aren’t they adorable?
I took the ribbing off my tam and made it a little more snug so it would sit better. I think I am finally satisfied. I’ll write it up before I forget what I did. I also need to write patterns for two more hats so look for some new pages.
The fit is good. It goes with my Stars sweater and my Eeyore jacket. What more do I want. Oh yeah. I love worms.
I started another hat. This one is orange. I actually own an orange coat. I am using the Sideways Grande Hat from Boutique Knits. My yarn seems to be bulkier than what they used. I’ve had to make a few changes. I should be finished in another day or two.
Flo is not at all happy about this.
I had to do it. I kept thinking about all that yarn in those cardboard boxes that I couldn’t see. I knew there was really good stuff in there. But I didn’t know what was where. I wound up filling fifteen clear containers. Sweetums was very helpful and even repositioned some of the shelves to efficiently accommodate the containers. I kept out yarn for four planned sweaters for 2011. The job took about three days. I was surprised at the amount of Colinette I had. Colinette anyone? I could make you such a deal!
I still need to organize the rolling carts. That’s where I plan to put all the smaller hanks and skeins. There are too many little drawers and not enough big ones. One section of twelve small drawers has become my new needle case.
I spent yesterday organizing my needles. When we were pulling out yarn, Sweetums found the rest of them. I knew I had more. I just didn’t know where. I dumped all of them onto the dining room table and arranged them according to size. First I did the circulars and then the double points. I managed to get most into their original plastic sleeves. I only had a few of each left over. Starting with the largest size, I looked at each one and determined which were worth keeping. I got rid of all the Pony Pearl(poor join, stiff wire, came apart) and most of the Susan Bates(kept the 11″ ones). I even have some Addi Turbo in there. I also added all my old metal double-pointed needles. I’m thinking about adding the large sizes since I haven’t used them in years. But. You never know.
I finally finished the cloche. I had to add the contrast band and flower. It didn’t look right without them. It fits well, coming down over my ears for those cold windy walks along the river. And I have almost finished the tam. Here, again, I had it half made and took it apart. I didn’t like the band. I should finish it tonight and might have a picture tomorrow, if I blog. Next up: an orange hat. But, wait a minute, I still have some of this yarn left. Maybe I’ll make a pair of mittens, too.
I would really like to finish the Side Slip Cloche. Really I would. Last night I ripped out the I-cord and started another. This morning I looked at what I had done and ripped it out again. I had to take Rue Boy to the vet so I took my knitting and decided to try something different. The office was pretty filled so I knew that I would have time to experiment. I think I came up with something useful and, hopefully, I will finish it tonight. I might even be able to start on the tam. Don’t hold your breath. ‘Cause I sure ain’t.
In case you’re wondering, Rue is a perfect little specimen of kittenness. He is working on turning into a cat and is twice as big as when I got him.
I started the scarf the same as the brim on size 9 so it would be looser. When it was long enough to fit around my neck, I joined another ball of yellow and needle and worked each stitch twice, putting one stitch on each needle. I then worked the pattern for about thee inches. It needs to be as long as it is wide. When it was long enough, I knit or purled two together to return to sixteen stitches. I reversed the ruffles by increasing rather than decreasing. It didn’t take long at all and I was finished in a few hours. I like these ascot type scarves, especially when I’m out walking. If I get too warm, they fit nicely in my pocket.
I have figured out what is wrong with the cloche. It looked like a big yellow blob on my head. I like the shape of it. It fits snuggly around my head and covers my ears. I tried a big flower. Cute, but no cigar. Finally, I realized that I needed to add a contrasting band. So I’m currently knitting an attached I-cord around the top of the brim. It should be finished tonight. I’m also thinking about making a tam for not so cold weather.
Trying to get a picture of Rue Boy when he is playing is very difficult. His favorite game is chase and he wears the girls out, especially Olive. She usually takes her naps in the basement where Rue can’t find her.
Up a Creek in Lower Slower Delaware 
