Still here but lost in a row boat with 1 oar

Hello to anyone who is still out there. I have not visited my blog friends is months. I am going to keep this short. I lost my knitting muse. I cast on a pair of socks on 1/1/10 so I could start the new year on the right foot.

On 5/21, my Supervisor and I who complied the whole of the "Production" department were given immediate notice that our services were no longer needed "due to restructuring of the Production function within ****** company.

I have never not had a job. The market out there sucks. You can not believe the job requirements. It looks like every job want a Bachelors degree to just answer the phones. In addition to the over done job descriptions, high school & college graduates are in the running because they are all level entry so many companies are going to take advantage of that for the summer months. I have over 30 years of experience which does not seem to count for much right now. I've been applying for jobs that I am over qualified for but that is OK, I could deal with less stress right now.

The upside to being home this long is that I have cleaned out my garden and going through closets and drawers. I have already made two trips to Goodwill. I have taken pictures of Barbie's and other collectibles to put up on Ebay. Then there is a collection of 'vintage' that I will try on Etsy.These garden pictures were taken back in May. Since then the landscapers cut everything back so the management company can fix the soffit, roof & gutters. If I had not "been home" I would not have know I had a problem. So that was an upside of not working. I was going to take these into work like I do every year but before I had a chance I did not have the job.

The cats love having me home. I have taken dozen of pictures of them. They are such clowns. Sissy in particular loves having me home to the point where I am more than ready not be be at home. I spend 6-8 hours searching for jobs on many different sites and she is right next to me looking for attention. She is doing things that she never did before.

Zorro eating out of Pia's bowl. Took this one so you could see how big she is.Here is Stanley on the bottom shelf of my gardening bench. This is one place he spends a lot of time staying cool in the afternoons
This was taken in the morning. This was as close as I could get. I took one move forward and he left this spot.

We all know how our furry friends like boxes. Zorro had been curled up sleeping but by the time I got the camera he sat up. Then he left.
Within seconds Sissy got it. She stayed awhile then she took off, she just could not help herself to find out what Zorro saw in the box. She & Zorro are pals. The are the frick & frack of my kitty brood.
Every morning I open the front door and the morning sun comes in. Sissy & Pia grab a spot. This spot has become Pia's main spot. Here is my fat cat in all her glory. No shame here.

Have to go now, job search continues. I will do better in posting, it might also help me talk to adults.

WoW-Sissy

Here is Sissy in Stanley's bed. It was the 2nd time I found her there.

I took this picture of my roses and peonies this past Saturday. I cut off most of the Peonies because of the rain we has Saturday night. I knew they would be goners. Today I still have roses and more peonies. Wild weather, late snow, very hot August weather, lots of rain and now cold mornings...this is the best show of my roses than I ever had.
This is just one in a beautiful cobalt blue vase I own. Since there was no sun and I could not bring the flowers into the house, ants, I could not get a good vantage point to show the vase/flower combo. They are still sitting on my patio along with others that broke that as sitting in a bucket. Definitely the cool weather is helping keep these going.

Killer Weed

What is this? I went through all my garden books,searched on-line and did not find a picture. I have now cut them down so the pods won't open. With the rain these grew to 3'. If the rain didn't stop they could have turned into Jack's bean stalk. Although, I would hate to see poor Jack with prickly things stuck all over him, LOL.

I picked up the lawn paper bags when I was at Safeway last Monday. They are the cheapest and best way to recycle yard stuff. I will fill up a bag later when it is cooler. We are having beautiful weather again today. Breezy and sunny. The neighborhood kids have not come out yet to make me close up the house and Zorro is behaving himself by not clawing in the screen on the patio door.

This is the only Lilac's that I cut off my bush. This is a 18 year old plant and only blooms every other year. 2007 the landscapers cut it back. Which is OK to do but then you have to wait two seasons for flowers. I hope they leave it alone this year.

Least we forget why I started this blog, here is another purchase fro Jimmy Beans Wool. This is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Limited Edition April 2009 Robin's Eggs. Thank goodness I did not like the other months colors. The colors just grab me and before I know it I hit the purchase button.

I have pulled out all my spring and summer clothes and moved back the fall/winter to the walk in closet. I have quite a stack of clothes to try on and I believe most will go to charity.

Edit: why is it that some pictures you can make bigger and others not?

Busy Saturday--Sunday off to a bad start

I was up at 5 and weeding by 6 am. The horrible prickly weed that has taken over a part of my garden will require digging out. So I cut them down so the buds would not bloom.

1:32 a.m. Sunday--I woke up with a Charlie horse in my right calf. I laid there flexing and stretching my leg. Pain is terrible. Finally had to get up and walk it off. that is working but muscle still wants to cease up. While I was shopping yesterday my left foot was cramping. Completely twisted my toes.

Back to that weed. I am searching the net and not finding out what it is. OK, leaving to look in my garden books. More later. 2:05 a.m--later! my left calf wants to cramp.
2:17-I'm now drinking coffee and I will be up for awhile. Watching last episode of CSI-NY. Baby just born. Wandered over to Ravelry. Took a couple of Va1l1um. Thank goodness it is Sunday.
OK posting this, more posts to follow...

What a difference a week makes!

These pictures were taken last weekend 11/8. Here is what my Burning bush looked like a week after I took the pictures of my scarf & new yarn.

This is what it looks like today.
My Crape Myrtles were beautiful on 11/8

and today!Here is my latest knitting project. I saw the pattern on Rachel's site. This is only my third cable project the others were simple baby caps. It is taking me forever to do these because I am doing a lot of start and stops. Sometimes just too tired in the evenings.

The next two pictures show the true color. Notice the funky thumb. For the life of me I could not wrap my brain around the increases. I think it had something to do with a pattern that was translated. They are simply called Fingerless Gloves-Stulpen Rav link.

See how terrible it is? I increased too many stitches at one time. The directions read: Approximately half way through the chart start with the thumb gusset increases, for that increase eight times in every third round one st after st 58 and before st 1. Knit all the thumb sts in stockinette st. 3 rds after last increase put the thumb sts on a stitch holder and cast on two new sts. Duh! I have done thumbs before but this sure got me confused.
On the electronic front my DVD player lived it's life programed at the factory. So I ordered a new one here. I was delivered Friday just as I was leaving. Well, I hooked it up today. Pretty easy. Set the clock, the FM radio & have sound coming out when I put a DVD in but no picture. It is a pretty simple hook up so I have no idea why I'm not getting a picture. I have been watching all the shows I had recorded on my cable box DVR all weekend but took a break to see if I could set the DVD up. As I was doing this I noticed that my cable channels were not coming up. So called for tech help, unplugged to re-boot yada yada. Now I have nothing on the HDTV cable box. The one in the bedroom works (not high def) and the Internet works, so now I have no tv to watch. As I was straighting up my coffee table I found my portable dvd. I only got it to watch knitting videos, like Lucy Neatby two socks vids and the BSJ. Once I finish this post I am going to watch a movie and work on the other glove. Lets give a thumbs up if I get the darn thing correct this time.

Wonderful PIF!

I received my PIF gift from The Knitorious Mrs B. This is my very first hand knit wash cloth. What a surprise to receive a package in my mail box that was not junk mail. Mrs B also sent me tea for a good cuppa and a darling little flower candle. Thank you so very much!!

I am still working on the first sock of my 9 to 5 pattern. I am knitting this really tight. I think it is the yarn that is dictating this. I have used the same needle size and pattern for Robin's sock am I know it was not like this. I have about 20 rows to finish the tow and then cast on the second.

Two weeks ago I started posting and selling some of my many audio books. You can find me as seller kseeglass here if your interested in audio books. I could not drive without a book. In the Metro Washington DC area and traveling on the Beltway it is what keeps me sane.

Here are some pictures from my garden. This is my Clematis Jackmanii purple. It is not doing as well this year as years past but it sure is pretty. Some of the blooms are as big as my hand spread out.

My Columbine is incredible! This is the largest it has ever been and it has been blooming for weeks and does not look like it is going away anytime soon.

The video is just what it sounded like Saturday morning. I was the only person around and awake in the neighborhood. No kids! But that damn Mockingbird or is it a Blue Jay? goes on for hours at a time. Non-stop. He sits at the very top of the Weeping Willow.

Happy Mother's Day

to all the mother's out there. Mine called me yesterday. We don't talk so it was a surprise. I will leave that subject alone.

I have completed sock 1 of graffiti and will start the heel flap today for the 2nd one.

Garden

We have had rain for three days now. It looks like today may turn out to be a nice one. Every year the rain crushes my peonies and this year is no exception. It also took one of my climbing rose bushes down. I plan on going out today and trying the rose up to the wall. I sure hope I can do it without too much damage to myself. The climbers can also get the better of me! This is the one peonie that I have braced up.

This was the 1st to bloom and was laying on the ground. Peonies are so heavy that I always cut them off and soak them head down in a bucket to get rid of the ants. I than can bring them in the house and take some to work. I did run this one under water and left it in the bud vase in the kitchen yesterday and returned later to find ants everywhere! So an hour later with every surface once again cleaned of ants, I was able to bring the flower to my computer.

This is the 2nd peonie with part of the rose bush crushing it.

My Columbine held up beautifully. When the blooms are spent and I can collect the seeds I am going to give it a try to get more of this beautiful plant.

New Neighbors

Earlier in the week, leaving for work I came across these two. We have a lot of kids so my neighborhood is not the place to start a family but I think these too will. I'll be on the lookout for the babies.

Dinner time at Casa KSee

What would be knitting without Contests

Head on over to (Not So) Cynical Knitting Gal she is having a caption contest and make sure you tell her I sent you! Deadline May 15th.

Abigail of 1870 Pearl is having a comment contest. This blog was a great find as she writes beautifully. Unlike me, I leave the pictures to do the talking. Deadline end of May. For the life of me I'm still learning how to embed links to a picture when in a post. So follow my link above.

Peaceful Knitter is looking for inspiration and ideas for using up more of my stash. Leave her a comment to help her out and you could be a winner of some Knit Picks Shimmer! Oh, I could be a winner too!!

Almost done...

Monday at work is done!

My graffiti sock #1 is almost done. I was going to ribbed all the way but figured I'd add a twist. Mock twisted cable. Should be able to start 2nd sock by Friday. Doing these on one 24" addi is working out well.

My 1st spindle, my friend Carol brought this for me at MS&W. Perfect for a 1st spindle. Now I really need to bone up.

My Garden

I have to say this has to be the best flower picture I have ever taken!

I hope to see the rest in bloom tomorrow

What I brought with a 40% off coupon at Michael's. Well, I just had to use the coupon, don't you know. Then Carol got her project ready for a cruise she is taking mid-month. She was going to do two on one 40# for the 1st time. Well, this bag is perfect! I don't remember the yarn but it is just beautiful and perfect colors for a cruise.

Kitty update

Zorro is doing better. He is walking on all feet now and is jonesing to go out! I am keeping him in for another week, if I don't loose the battle. He is one quick and cagey kitty. Stanley wants out too but he is OK sleeping in.

My big fat Pia jumped up to entrainment unit via the kitty tree. This is only the 2nd time she did this. 1st time I grabbed the camera she jumped down.

Watch this space tomorrow. I have a great video to share with you all. I need to see if I can learn to edit.

Rocky Road Sock 2 down and down

I took the day off Friday to get my PT Cruiser serviced-- oil changed, state inspection and checked out the AC. That was $235.00! Since I was only 5 miles from a LYS, I decided to FINALLY make it to Knit Happens in Old Town Alexandria. I finally found where they were but finding parking was a bitch, plus I did not have any cash on me. So I went down the street to Trader Joe's so I could 1) get some food 2) pee 3) get cash back in case I had to pay for parking in a lot. After several turns around the block I got a metered space and then only had enough change for 36 minutes! I walked up a block and had to make it a quick visit. I made the circuit around the shop and ended up in the sock room. I could not put down this skein of Misti Alpaca Sock yarn in Miriam- it is to dye for!!

When I got home I searched online and found this swatch. My skein looks just like the picture above, much lighter than the swatch.Saturday morning I worked in my garden, using a pitch fork to turn the soil to get out weeds and a vinca plant that is taking over. I left piles to dry out so I could save as much soil as I could. Sunday I would finish up. Work up Sunday to rain and it has been raining all day today and they are calling for more tomorrow.

This is my Columbine. It will have light yellow flowers. This plant seems so tender but it does not die back in the winter. Go figure.
This is a close up of my Japanese Red Maple. I brought this for $3.00 about 15 years ago. What did I have to lose? It is about 5' high and is beautiful.

I have been working on Rocky Road sock #2 all last week. I had to tink back quite a few times after I turn the heel. As I worked the decreases I would keep knitting the k2.p2 on the bottom, tink back to where I messed up. Then I couldn't remember if I had decreased the last two stitches so I tried to see if I did. Then I couldn't figure it out so I tinked back another row, then another. I spent my knitting time Saturday getting back on track. Yesterday I was finally at even stitches on each needle. Well, I showed the sock to my friend Carol this morning at work and look what I found.
This is a MF dropped stitch. No nice way to say it. This sucks big time. So I frogged that GD thing. So here I am tonight. I will try and get it back on the needles tonight. I hope, the stitches are so tiny.
I will leave you with a picture of Stanley watching me work in the garden Saturday.

Now excuse me while I go fix the damned sock!!

FO-Chain Melody Socks

I finished these up Sunday night. I used my new Kitchener Stitch dog tags to finish up the toes and they came out perfect. Which I purchased at The Loopy Ewe. This also the first time using my sock blocker to show off my socks. Just figured out that this is my third pair for this year. When I posted I'm Loopy I did not include the picture of my purchase. (I know I did, I sure but?) So for your viewing pleasure.

I woke up yesterday morning tired and by the time I got home from work I was a walking zombie. I went through some magazines and was asleep at 8:00. I did wind up my Rocky Road yarn. I was going to knit up the Clapotis but after receiving this yarn I am going to knit another pair of socks. These will be done 1 at a time with 40" addi as I am not going to take the time to split it up to knit two at a time.

Yarn: Knits Picks Gloss; Colorway: Woodland Sage; needle 40" #1 addi; Pattern: Nicole Hindes Chain Melody and on Ravelry

My Cherry Trees this evening