A wee bit ambitious!

I had a wonderful time at knitting group last night, lots of laughs. Our LYS was have a fantastic sale and I was able to purchase yarn for another sweater....yeah for me! I bought 10 skeins and only had about 80 yards to spare, so I thought it prudent to buy 2 more skeins....insurance is always the best policy.

I bought a beautiful knitting book on Tuesday and I had a bit of buyers remorse, especially, after I read one of the patterns and the initial cast on was 500 stitches. I literally thought, what the hell did I do. I put the book aside before the dry heaves started and continued to work on my current sweater. Several people are going to start one of the beautiful sweaters and I will watch and observe from my happy place and see how they do. All are extremely fabulous knitters, so my hopes for them is high. I need to get these 2 sweaters under my belt before I cast on 500 stitches. In the meantime, I have a beautiful book that I will look through whenever I feel like superwoman again!  :-)

Back on track!

Wow, the whole vacation thing threw me into a major funk. I really am a person who thrives on a schedule and all that unscheduled time messes with me. Yesterday after dropping Bryce at camp, I went directly to my LYS and all was right with the world again. Had a few laughs, got some knitting done, it was just what I needed.

I bought a fabulous book yesterday at my LYS, it is called, Knit, Swirl and it is such a beautiful book and I am dying to make one of these beautiful sweaters. My other sweater just yelled at me, what about me, you said you loved me too, despite the fact that you ripped half of me out last night...   :-P...! Sometimes I think I have ADD knitting and that really must stop.

Socks are on hold for a bit. The small needles are aggravating a nagging shoulder issue, so you see, I must concur this sweater for my shoulder is not bothered by bigger needles.

Lots to do today and frankly, not enough hours. It's Wednesday and that means Girls Knitting night and I am really missing my friends!

Knitting was in a bit of a funk.....

I have been totally off my game and schedule these past couple of weeks. I really seam to thrive on a schedule and summer does not lend itself well to that and neither does a week away. I went to bed Sunday night at 6:00 pm and woke up at 8:00 am on Monday....just a little tired!

Finally last night, the kitchen be damned, I sat down to reacquaint myself with my knitting. We spent a wonderful few hours together and progress was made.

Home at last!

We arrived safely back in MD around 5:30 last night and all was well on the flight despite the drunk lady that was on my last nerve as well as the rest of the plane. She felt the need to continue her binge on a 60 minute flight...sure hope somebody was picking her up and she wasn't driving.

I am looking at 2 suitcases that need attention and I am refusing at the moment to give it any. There were groceries to get and other things to do. At least I know 98% of it is clean.

The most knitting I got done while on vacation was on the plane ride home. My boys are outside as I type, tending to a garden that went nuts while we were away.

Waiting for me at home was a box from Signature Needles and inside were my size 3 circs, oh happy day! I must admit, I am exhausted and don't feel like doing anything but catching up on my DVR.

I will post pictures later of my new yarn and a special little gadget I got while on Cape Cod!

A yarn crawl.....!

It's Thursday and I was not really feeling any of the projects I took with me, so that mention it wasntime to go exploring. I had already had hubby take me by 2 yarn stores and they were mediocre at best and then I noticed that there was a NEW shop in East Sandwich and with son on the Vineyard I figured this was a perfect time to check it out. It turned out to be lovely, as was the woman working there and they happened to have a yarn I was dying to get on my needles....Tosh Light by Madeline Tosh. Needless to say, I was really happy. They are sitting here right beside me.....purr!

It is cool and damp here and I am happy I packed a sweater and socks! Going to make some lunch and attack my sweater for a bit. Not the one I am wearing but the one I am attempting to make....details!

Zero knitting....!

Well, vacation is half over and I guess I was somewhat delusional to think that I would get a ton of knitting done. I am looking down at a great big Zero, nada. I am trying not to be bummed out. I have seen all my nieces and nephews and that is a real treat. My niece Sara and I looked at some beautiful sock yarn on the IPad and man, I am loving this little gadget. I actually found a website that only stocks sock yarn....dangerous I tell you.

Tonight was knitting night at my LYS and I am missing my friends and I guess they were missing me too because I got a text from them....made my night. Looking forward to next week.

I am so tired and just want to go to bed. Vacations are always better in my mind than in my reality. :-p

A plane trip and a party!

We had a lovely trip to see family and attend a surprise birthday party. Fun and food was had by all. We are exhausted. We have been up since 4:30am and it's been non stop ever since. Looking forward to a somewhat relaxing week.

I was able to stitch an entire row of a sock on the plane. It's bedtime.

And away we go....!

It's that time of year again, family vacation time. Frankly, it's not much of a vacation for the one who had to think and pack everything and who has a migraine while doing it. Oh well, this too shall pass. My son is bored! I guess the packing and all is boring, oh well! He will be happy he has underwear and pajamas when he gets there because after a quick check of his bag, I noticed it was lacking these essential items. Hubby is on his own. I am trying to decide what knitting I will be taking. I think that I will take all three WIP's because I am on vacation and I love variety.

I did just ordered a pair of Signature Circular Needles, stiletto tip,d Size 3...free shipping! I can't wait for the 1 and 2's to come out.

Just remembered that I have to bring the dog to the kennel...more crap to do! Did I mention that we have to get up at some ungodly hour to catch a 8:15am flight. Those flights are always cheap, but getting up at O dark 30 makes me cranky. I am going to have to work in a nap at some point.

Isn't it lovely, isn't it wonderful!

Can you see me smiling from here? You could possibly, it's that big and I'm that happy. DH came home early from work yesterday and I was able to run, yes run, to my knitting group. I was having a rather crappy day and thought I was coming down with a cold....just allergies, thank goodness and my son was giving me a migraine and basically, I wanted to be anywhere but here. And I had spent most of the morning searching for a new sweater pattern...so time consuming.

So, I get to my favorite place, LYS, and Ellen, the owner says, "Michele, I have something for you" and hands me the ADDI CLICKS that I have been waiting for since January....boy, did I perk up!!!!

It was so worth the wait! After that wonderful surprise, I was talking with my friend Karen about the Pole pattern I was on the verge of scrapping and she said NO...just keep knitting and following the pattern and all will be well. I did, however, in my search of something else, find something else that I love too and that pattern is on it's way. Similar to what I am doing, but with a different stitch and I will be making that too! You should see my needles starting to smoke anytime....LOL! My favorite time to knit is when all are tucked into bed and the house is quiet. That is the beauty of summer, no alarm clocks and a child who can get his own breakfast, so I can knit at least until midnight, what a treat!

Socks are on hold for the moment. I have a cranky shoulder and the size 1 needles make it hurt even more, so I am on a break for a bit, but working on other wonderful things.

I can smell the banana blueberry bread in the oven....smells delish!

Frustration squared....

I just started this with a big sigh, guess that says alot. I had high hopes for this pattern that I was trying but the directions are a big wacky and now I am in flux, and I am tired. Summer vacation is a big adjustment for all.

My knitting friends say to scrap the crappy pattern and get another one with actual directions, but I so love the crappy pattern one...LOL!

Sent my son outside to mow something and to not hear MOM for at least 10 minutes and it's working. House looks like a bomb went off in it and I was excited that I paid $3.49 for gas....so sad.

I think I will go back to my cable scarf, for we get together wonderfully and it will not give me grief. Problem solved for now. Yawn, maybe a cat nap first....  :-)

And a dishcloth was born...

Day one of school vacation and there were errands to do. First stop, Game Stop, as our Wii power cable bit the dust during our last storm and there was no way I would survive the week without the power of Wii. Next stop, Ross for luggage and that was a success. Third stop, RMV......I could start swearing now, but what is the point. I will revisit them, another day.

Despite a beautiful day, Bryce wanted to get cozy and knit...okay, like I am going to say no? He gets out HIS yarn and gives me one to make a dishcloth and I think, sure, let's do it! I cast on and do the first row for him and he does row 2 and I do the same for me. I figure, surely, I will have some extremely mindless knitting for the rest of the day, but sadly, 2 rows in, he is tired and I am not allowed to zip along. I have to wait for him so we can be on the same row at the same time. I think my eyes crossed at this point and off to the TV I sent him and here is where I sit in front of the computer sucking down an iced coffee.

Before you know it, it will be dinner time and bedtime....AMEN!

A yarn tasting.....

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a Yarn Tasting at my LYS. No, we did not eat it, but we got to play with yarns that we, or at least I, had never used. I was surprised by several and liked them very much and maybe I will pick up some of the Hempathy for a project. It was a wonderful afternoon with great people and fantastic cupcakes that the owner made herself. If you've never treated yourself to a Yarn tasting, it really is a fantastic way to  try new yarns without a huge commitment.

Last night after everyone was in bed, I cast on the body of the sweater that I am making. I must have knit too late because and wrap and turn was not working out, and I can DO them, so I decided it was bedtime.

Hopefully I will get it out later and make some progress. Might have to wait until the house is quiet again now that school is out and I have major distractions.

Provisional cast on.....phewy!

It's not that I can't do it, it's that it looks like crap. I just want to say that this pattern is 10 pages and it includes some lovely photographs, but there really are just TOO MANY WORDS and it can distract from the goal of actually knitting the damn thing.

So, I sat down and read the whole thing over again and noticed that there is an alternative method, but it was hidden amongst some unnecessary print, to knit the circle separately then join! Ya, that totally seemed like a better idea with cleaner lines and joins. So, I will cast on again, minus the provisional part, and see where that leads. I am revising it for my own personal knitting ease so that I can just knit and rock and roll.

Hubby is watching hockey again and I want to throw myself onto a pair of needles to make it go away along with the channel surfing.....Aaarrrr!

Just keep knitting.....

I am doing the rain dance....

Holy cow, its like an oven out there. I am doing the rain dance so the garden will grow and I can stop playing musical sprinklers to keep things green. It's almost, almost, too hot to knit. I did a couple of rows in the scarf and emailed the lady who designed the sweater regarding the design and basically, I shouldn't do anything while PMSing because my brain just fogs up and nothing makes sense. Thank heavens for the Internet...even if it is slow...better than nothing.

I am putting together a very specific birthday wish list for the hubby and son...let's see how close they can get to getting at least ONE thing on it. Usually my birthday gifts somehow benefit others and that really makes me mad. I would never give a gift to someone that benefited me....but that is what makes me, me. I am venting on my blog and I really don't want it to become that...LOL!

Tomorrow is Bryce's last day of school and the house is littered with all the crap they send home with them. couldn't they throw it out there. I don't need his name tags plastered all over the house, I damn well know his name...UGH!

I am off to fondle some of my yarn from MDSW...it always takes me to my "happy place"!

Knitting with the ladies.....

So last night was knitting group and I just don't know what I would do without these women in my life!! I look forward to Wednesday nights so much. So, several of my friends were looking over the directions of my sweater patter and my dear friend Michelle who is a fantastic knitter, declared the directions, "one hot cray ass mess"...and then we all started laughing. She did pretty much sum it up! I think I will revisit that some other day when I crave a challenge. I do think that we figured it out however and I think that the designer could have done things differently, but I am no designer, thank goodness.

More later..!

The new sweater has me a bit perplexed...

I am always up for learning new things and that includes a provisional cast on. I am still trying to figure out why I am doing this. I am sure that once I get rolling, it will all be great. I actually think that I might have my friend Lynne look at the pattern and maybe we can tweak it. She is genious that way!!

Bryce is back to school, even if it is a half day, I'll take it. He is sure to be tired when he gets home, as he is not quite himself yet.

I am looking at our June calendar and there is writing all over it...busy month.

Still working on the beautiful scarf and loving it so much. The yarn itself is so wonderful...a silk/wool combination.

More later.

Oh, so little time....

My young man turned 8 on Friday. Seems like just yesterday I was rocking him and singing "our" song to him. Time is marching on and I love the person he is becoming...most days! There were lots of weekend fun planned, but nothing seemed to roll that way, so adjustments were made. Yesterday, little man was all out of sorts and being a mom, I knew something was up! With 4 days left of the school year and a perfect attendance record at hand, my little man had a fever and sore throat. Off to the MD we went, where he told the MD, I just need the "pink medicine", to which she replied, "you sure do".....STREP! Poor guy was on the couch all day, but demanding things from the couch all day....frankly, I am exhausted. I have a mere ONE precious day left before he becomes all mine for the summer and I have so much to do...well, you know, knit. We will see what the morning brings.

He's tucked into bed and dinner is over, so maybe I will do some cables. I have just got to say...DAMN, they are beautiful! I am doing it in Inca Gold and my, oh my, what a lovely yarn! May have to stash a serious amount of this heavenly fiber as it will no longer be available soon....I know, so sad!!!  :-(

Love me some cables!

I had no idea that cables could be so easy. Yesterday at my LYS we had a cable lesson and holy cow, I am so in love with them. Now I did mine in Inca Gold and the stitches just popped. My friend Angie, was doing hers in cashmere (so jealous) and hers were softer, and equally as lovely. I see some cashmere in my future...yummy! DH was completely impressed with my new skill, and rightly so. Now I see cables on socks and sweaters and just about everywhere. My cables are on a scarf.

As I look at ALL the project bags that ALL have something in them, I feel happy. I have bigger projects for when I feel like doing them, I have small projects, perfect for the on the go mom and I have medium projects that need quiet time and it all just thrills me to bits!

It has been a very busy week and I have another in front of me, but then school will be out and we can chill. My son Bryce is knitting a dishcloth for his Nana and he is doing a great job. I had him on a set of bamboo needles and he apparently thought my Addi circulars might be better...little stinker...and he was right. Going to have to put a lock on my knitting bag...LOL!

An observation and complete topic jump!

As I was driving home last night with a splitting migraine, I had some random thoughts in my head and one of them was that I was slowly heading into Peri-menopause and I thought about the three different phases, menstruation, Peri-menopause and menopause and it occurred to me that I saw a commonality in all these words. Do you? It's right there, amongst  all the various vowels and consonants......MEN. Well, despite the migraine, this did cause me to LOL in the car. Then I wondered what brilliant person named these phases...a man perhaps! I have not Googled the origin of the names, but you just know it was some smart ass guy who did have to suffer through ANY OF IT! You know who the stronger sex is! WOMEN!!!!

I'm just sayin'....

And the knitting begins....!

It was brought to my attention that I did not include the name of my sweater pattern in my last post, so here it is. The pattern name is POLE and it is by Joji Locatelli and it can be found on Ravelry. I am so loving the yarn and the pattern is a tad challenging, but had great directions, so I feel confident that this is doable! At the moment I am working on the back piece and I am basically knitting a rectangle, so no drama at the moment. If this comes out half as good as I think, I may make it in a bunch of colors, we shall see.

Made tiramesu for group last night and it was a big hit.

Have about a million things to do today and the house MUST look like I actually did something besides move things around. I did however on the drive home last night realize something funny and it will be a COMPLETE topic jump, but you all might find it amusing and I will share later after I do the million things.

To be continued.....