Holy Blazes!

June 21, 2008

Holy Blazes!

I got my hair cut and colored today. When I picked up my Mamacita at the airport last week, she mentioned that my "hair looks awful"...thanks Mom. I missed you too. But I was in bad need of a cut and color and I'm very happy with it. These are the Embossed Leaves Socks that I finished, they are for Mamacita. Perhaps she'll let me wear them some time. I really enjoyed this pattern. It took me 4 days to finish, not knitting non-stop, so it was a pretty quick knit.
I immediately started another pair of socks called Waving Lace Socks from the Favorite Socks book. It's the cover socks and this is a fun pair to knit too. I think it was so worth getting this book, there are many sock patterns I'm interested in knitting and so far, the two pairs I have made are a success.

We are roasting here people. It was 100 degrees in the shade of our patio at about 3 pm. Last night while watching the 11 pm news, they were saying that it was still in the 90's in some cities at that time! I slept with the windows open and the ceiling fan blaring. There is not a lot of relief during the day. I think our neighbor who is in her 80's was going to go stay at her daughter's house today, because they have AC. I'm glad, because I was worried about her. I went to her house the other day to help her with something and was in her house for 5 minutes and left dripping wet. She had a stationary fan near her chair but it wasn't on. I told Mom I worried about her.

I'm going to Las Vegas on Monday! It's a quick trip. Four of us girls are going for the night and Tuesday a.m. we'll see The View! Then we're headed home, so a quick trip but it'll be nice to get away.

Embossed Leaves

June 16, 2008

Embossed Leaves

Here's my Embossed Leaves sock I'm working on...

I think this is my first time knitting with Shibuiknits yarn and I really love it. It has a really tight twist and it doesn't split. It has a really soft and lovely feel being that it's 100% Merino but it's superwash and so it can be washed and dried flat.

Dad's Day

June 15, 2008

Dad's Day

Happy Father's Day to you and all the Dad's you are celebrating today. I picked up Gary this morning after getting some flowers and some fluorescent paint. We went over to the cemetery and after asking for help finding my Dad's grave, we did find it and I marked it. Now I'll have to go often to keep it marked until we get his headstone. Long story, why it's not there yet, but it will be soon. We felt better finding the grave. There were a lot of people at the cemetery.
Then after the cemetery we went to the bird sanctuary near our house and what a find, we had a nice little walk on a paved walkway, saw wildflowers in bloom, heard the birds chirping, saw lots of fat little lizards, and squirrels. It was nice. This is Miss Queenie! My friend Susan's cat and I fell in love with her. She is just an adorable sweetie Manx, with a cute little stubby tail. And she has a milk mustache, it's the cutest marking I've seen. Anyway, I wanted to take her home with me, but I'm sure they'd miss her too much and she's helping Susan recuperate from a broken leg.

I'm finished one of the Bayerische socks but I'm having really back one sock syndrome. The pattern is enjoyable but quite detailed and I just couldn't cast on the 2nd sock. I needed a diversion, so I started another pair of socks! It's Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks by Interweave book. I'm enjoying the knitting and and it's going quick. I think I'll finish this pair and then the 2nd Bayerische.

Friday's Feast, etc.

June 13, 2008

Friday's Feast, etc.

Appetizer
Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?
Optimist. But I do have my moments, like today, I'm feeling a little down and pessimistic.

Soup
What is your favorite color of ink to write with?
Black. Fine point.

Salad
How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?

I don't like manicures because they file my nails weird and the polish chips off in 3 days. I do my own fingernails. Pedicures~I don't go often enough, but I love to go get my feet done and the polish does last.

Main Course
Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?

Online, no. I wouldn't sign up probably because I'm not so trusting that you can actually win something without it being a scam.

Dessert
In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?

The Garden Room. It's our TV/lounge room. The laptop is on the side of the couch.

Here is Henry, enjoying some catnip and lounging.And here is my Tommy boy and look, I got a picture of him with his eyes open!
Here is the sock I'm working on. It's called Bayerische and it's been very satisfying to knit. Very detailed, but after awhile, you get in a rhythm. It's not really difficult, but I'd say challenging and having a challenge in knitting is sometimes very satisfying. And here are my new clear Skechers Cali Surfer Girl shoes. I love them! They are a sock knitters dream and surprisingly, they are comfortable too.

Look what my Saucy Pal sent me!

June 7, 2008

Look what my Saucy Pal sent me!

I'm a lucky gal, I received my Saucy Spring Swap package just a bit ago. I had just written about wondering when I'd get my package, and there it was. My Mamacita teased me because the mailman brought her a couple packages and she teased that it must be for me b/c she thinks I spend too much on getting packages. Ya, well, I may, but I don't go to Marshall's every day and spend money and it's kind of the same thing. So anyway...I got the package and knew it was from my Pal and could tell her, that this was a GIFT, a swap, and I didn't order anything. So there.

My package came from Lisa in Washington and I cannot find a link to a blog, so sorry about that. Look what she sent me.

The socks are just lovely and they fit perfectly. She also sent a Mary Engelbreit writing pad and some french vanilla soap. The knitting is lovely and I love the colors. Thank you Lisa!

I have a FO...

I have a FO...

I finished these Firestarter socks last night and after having to try and knit them on 3 different sets of needles, I found the right gauge and they are now done. It only took me 6 months, with the other projects interrupting.

Whatcha think?

The details:

Pattern: Firestarter by Yarnissima

Yarn: Mountain Irises Sock and Shawl yarn by Francis Patrick Yarn Sales

Needles: Size US0 16" circulars

I love them! So happy with them. This is my 5th pair started and completed this year. I think my next pair of socks is going to be the Bayerische. Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait to get into the cables but not using the cable needle which the Firestarter introduced me to.

I got my Saucy Spring swap socks in the mail, actually 3 days early before the deadline. So there! Mitchypoo did something early! I did not procrastinate and give myself anxiety. Yeah me! So I should have a package coming with my pair of socks...I can't wait to see them. I've never had a pair of socks made for me before.

Have you heard the news? Knit picks has something very intriguing available. I already placed my order and it's started to be talked about all over the blogosphere and Ravelry. I think it just became available within this last week to order. It's called Sock Blanks and it's a knit piece of fabric, double knit, and white/plain and then you can purchase dyes or use your own or use kool aid to dye the yarn and create your own sock yarn in your very own custom colors and patterns. I purchased green and pink dye to create a Knitting and Losing colorway, similar to my blog colors. I love pink and green together. I cannot wait to dye. And then you knit socks 2 at a time from the fabric. It's similar to the recent offering of Flat Feet which is already dyed, but frankly it's more affordable and I love that I can dye my own, and create the colors I want. So much for my moratorium on not spending money on yarn... I've improved, but I haven't totally reformed I guess.

I had a talk with my boss yesterday and it made me very nervous but it was something that had to be done. And I did well expressing my views and we'll see what happens. I went to work knowing that if I had this talk he'd either listen to me or get mad and fire me, not that it'd be justified, but you never know. So I still have a job.

Friday's Feast, etc.

June 6, 2008

Friday's Feast, etc.

Appetizer
When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup?

I like it straight from the bottle or can. My mother drinks it with a straw which grosses me out b/c you get all that air when you drink.

Soup
What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch?

Hell's Kitchen, Gray's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives.

Salad
Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant.

Just one? I think of some artists as brilliant, one that comes to mind is Monet. He was brilliant and before his time.

Main Course
Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas?

Absolutely and to save my sanity, I'd love to have a 4 day work week.

Dessert
If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself?

I do call myself this, Queen of Quite A Lot!

June 3, 2008

It's been a while since I've posted, over a week which is a long time for me. I just haven't been feeling it lately. Not sure why. It's almost my 3 year blogiversary and I'm now questioning the time I devote to this. It does take some time to program certain things, and to download and upload pics, to write a post and edit. And maybe what I'm questioning is the value I place on posting. I've found myself dissapointed when it feels like no one is reading. And then I say that I'm not doing this for readers (although I love you, my online friends) I'm doing this for me.

So anyway... this is what we did Memorial Day weekend.

I have to give you the recipe because these ribs were so great and simple to make! And the credit for the recipe goes to Mrs. Koretoff, my best bud's Mamacita. This is a keeper.

BBQ Ribs

Par boil the ribs in a large pot of boiling water. When they come back to a boil, boil for 10-15 minutes. Take out and drain.

In a bowl, mix 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce and 1/2 bottle of teriyaki Baste and Glaze, not teriyaki sauce.

Preheat oven to 375. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, put a little oil on the foil. Then baste ribs with the teriyaki/bbq sauce mix. Cook covered for 1 hour. The last 15 minutes, baste again and take off tin foil cover.

Very simple and fall off the bone tender.

We also made great new potatoes...here's the recipe that we got from Giada Di Laurentiis and Everyday Italian. Click here for the recipe.

Are these not beautiful roses?! They are from Mamacita's garden, she very much loves her roses and when my Aunt Angie was out she helped her prune and feed all the roses and they are now just exploding with roses. It's so fun to come home and see what is blooming, what has changed.

And now for some knitting...

This is a clapotis shawl I made using Francis Patrick Worsted in the Red Rocks color way. I love the color variations. I still have to weave the ends in and now it's too warm to wear, but I have put it on at night while veging, it's like a soft comfy blanket that comforts you.This is a pair of socks I did for the Spring Saucy Swap and will be getting in the mail today to my partner. I hope she likes them and I hope they fit, she seems to have a small foot.

And this is another clapotis, but in a smaller version. It's between a scarf and a shawl. I used Malabrigo Worsted in the Cuarzo colorway. I had been given 2 skeins in a swap about 2 years ago and wanted to find the perfect project for it, and this was it but then I really needed another skein so I found it online and these great people found a skein that matched really really well. I wish I could remember where I got it because they were great.

And I'm also working on socks again, a pair of Firestarters using Francis Patrick sock yarn and I love this yarn so much but had trouble finding the gauge, so this 3rd attempt is really working out.