Knitting on the Lake 2008

This past weekend my friend Carol & I traveled from Northern VA to Clarksville VA and attended a 3 day Knitting Retreat. This is the lake from our room. The terrible thing is that this lake is at least 15ft lower than it should be. If this keeps up we will be Knitting at the crater!

The drive each way was nice and sunny and according to "Jack" Carol's GPS the drive was 3.5 hours each way. This is our room. Very nice size with a kitchen. Small patio out the back door where I took the shot of the lake. We arrived on Friday about 3:30. Settled into our room and registered with Robin. I've been "talking" with Robin for over 8 months and was only surprised by her southern accent. We both live in VA but those 3.5 hours sure make a difference. Around 5 o'clock Robin made dinner reservations for 15 at the Lake House Restaurant (built in 1890). It sits on the corner of the main street and you have to climb up the front steps that are way UP. Then we climbed way UP to the second floor to what once may have been a sitting room or bedroom. Here all 15 to 17 knitters sat at small tables. Tami & Norma were a pair. Their antics had tears coming down my eyes. Mary has some pictures on her site

Here is Norma taken by surprise by Tami in the bathroom.

This is Tami showing us a lamp from the bathroom.

It is a vase made into a lamp and she has one at home that she would like to do the same.

Dehydrate-Hydrate-Tami ordered a beer and water.

Here is Robin our wonderful host. See how close the bathroom is! There was a young pregnant gal from another room who kept coming in to use the BR. Mind you, there was another entrance outside of our room on the landing but she could only see the sign here and cut through.

The project I brought along with me was two socks on magic loop for the first time ever. Phyllis & Sally (below) wanted to learn. Thank goodness for Becky. Phyllis wanted to cast on and I did not know the proper way. I cheated by knitting one sock for about 1" and than started the other on another needle and than past in onto the same needle as the 1st sock. Anyhow, Becky was able to teach Phyllis the correct way to cast on. When we parted on Sunday afternoon, Phillis had about 2"+ of two socks going. Add to that, she loved the pattern for my Nine to Five Socks so I wrote down the pattern repeat for her and she was doing that for the first time.

Speaking of my Nine to Five Socks. I was making them for Robin for PIF. I was going to mail them to her but decided to gift them to her at the retreat. Every penny saved on shipping will go back into yarn. Here she is trying them on for the first time.

Robin C, Renny & Tami

Shawn, Carol, Phyllis, Sally and Clarine

Clarine & Shawn drove up from NC. It was also their first time and I hope we see them back next year. It was a very relaxing and fun weekend.

Carol and PatsyClarine, Shawn and Carol

Carol with her door prize

I was very lucky! My first door prize was this skein of Spirit Trail Fiberworks yarn

After the first round of drawings and based on the amount of door prizes, Robin would started over. My second door prize, stitchmarkers by Jennifer

At the end there were two "grand" prizes. All our tickets were put back in for the final drawing and my number came up a third time!! I have never been this lucky before.

Carol's stitch markers, the ones on the right were a door prize donated by Jennifer

I could not pass up on these stitch markers a a row counter.

We have already made our reservations for next year!

Another Preemie Cap

this makes my 3rd FO. I did not have fruit ala Robin so I'm using items I have on hand.

Cast on late last night for the Clapotis using my new Alpaca with a Twist-Fino! After 4 tries I set fino aside and used Simply Soft on Size 3. This helped getting the pattern down. SS is knitting up nicely but I'm not sure if I'll keep on with it. Tonight I'll check my stash. I've never used 2ply lace weight before and would like the FO to be something I would like to wear.

I'm trying to get something started that is a no brainer for the Knitting on the Lake coming up this weekend. If I hope to knit & not tink the whole weekend it must be simple. My mouth can not operate at the same time as my needles!!

1st two FO for 2008

Started the Nine to Five Socks Christmas Eve and finished 1/11/08.
Here is a picture of a baby hat that I made for the knitting retreat. Will probably try another one that can actually fit a preemie. Hope I can post a finished lined felted bag by the end of the day. I will be using my new Brother sewing machine. Hope I find it as easy to use as my old Singer.

Too Cute!!

This is a preemie hat Carol made. Took the picture at work yesterday morning at work.

Then I received this email from a friend. Names have been changed to protect the innocent

True story - happened last night.

B (my five year old) is in the shower and says "Oh my gosh, my balls are getting smaller". I'm hoping against hope he isn't talking about his "balls" but some toy he has in the shower. And I say, "What honey?" And he replies, "My balls, you know my nuts (the stuff they learn at school is amazing), are getting smaller". With the straightest mom face, I can muster, I say, "that's what happens when boys get cold". His solution -fill up a cup with hot water and pour it over his "balls" to see if they get bigger. To his disappointment, it didn't work. I then had to explain that once he dried off and put on his PJ's things would go back their "normal size". I'm not ready for boys....

Leaving you with me being mothered.

Happy New Year

remember 2000! The day everything was going to stop. I spent that New Years Eve with my best friend. If we were going to crash and burn we were going to do it together! This picture was taken before I got back into knitting and never thought I'd be knitting socks (those are store brought). I'm the one wearing the long johns, what was I thinking... What a difference 8 years make. I only made it to 10:30 last night and gave up.

Today I will finish sock one of my 9to5 socks, on the toe decrease now. Then I'll start the second one. Nice to have the day off. I hate having two Mondays in a row! Almost everyone will be back at work tomorrow. They will spend most of the day reading emails and trying to catch up. I will be asked a lot of questions. My answer will be, done or take care of or we need to talk about that. So for the next two days I will be going over business stuff that is in my past and in their present. So I'm looking forward to next Monday as we will all be on the same page. Such is life in the business world.

Got out of work yesterday at 2:00 so I took this opportunity to go to a new LYS. Nature's Yarns in Fairfax. They are carrying a different selection of yarn than other LYS. I could not resit picking up some more yarn. The first is Misty Mountain Farm-Jubilee Colorway: Crimson Tide. The second one is Alpaca with a Twist-Fino. This LYS covers the band with their label with bar code so I only have a number for the color 2001 but found it on their site Royal Velvet. I plan on starting something different to have it ready for a knitting retreat I am attending in three weeks. Happy dance!

and the date stamp on my camera is out of whack. I took all these pictures today. ah, date fixed. Computer is giving me fits as well as blogger. I leave you with this.

Pia likes to sleep on the table. Since I can't fight it I decided to give her something to sleep on. This is a very bad attempt at a baby blanket so it will make a nice kitty bed until I make her a felted one. Two seconds after I put it down, Sissy gets on it! Then Pia knowing it is hers, takes her place. A hiss, Sissy is content. Pia is pissed.

All I had to do is pet Sissy and down she goes. Pia is now a very happy fat cat.

I do not Cook!!

I am know for this. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you. KSee does not cook. I used to. I know how. But I just do not do it anymore. A bowl of cereal is my favorite dinner. Bring on the Kashi. OK, that takes care of my fiber but I have been very lacking in the protein. I have not owned a toaster for many years. I have a toaster oven that is my main stay (I have not turned on my regular oven in 17 years) and the thought was I could make toast in it when I wanted. Not. So when I saw this toaster and it could take care of both my want/need for toast and the protein issue I had to have it.this is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Pop in the English muffin and put a egg in select egg/toast and they are ready at the same time. Add a piece of cheese. Bacon would mean cooking. Never tried bacon in the microwave. I have an my own egg mcmuffin in minutes. Check this out here.

I'm sitting here at the computer on Christmas Eve when I heard my gate open, a quick knock on the door. I jumped up & went to the door just in time to see a guy in brown leaving on his appointed rounds. A package via UPS from my sister in New York. A quick explanation of my family. We are a very functioning dis-functional family. We send gifts when and if we want to. They are not expected and when received are a joy. My sister & I have more in common than we realized and that has become more apparent as we passed 50. I left home and got married when she was 13 so we really did not "grow" up in the "conventional" manner.

Last year her son Rob and DIL got her the Keurig coffee maker. Down here I was surfing the web trying to make a choice as to which one of these single cup coffee makers were the one to buy. Well, she brought me the one below. This year she sent me the K-Cup Carousel plus a new wallet with a gift certificate to buy coffee from Keurig. Lvoe you Sis. Now if her son's would get her a computer set up so she can read my blog! (that said for the benefit of Paul who can read this)

I turned the heel on my 9 to 5 socks last night. I'll post pictures tonight. More later...

A day off

This is the view I had at 7:30 this morning while making coffee (My date stamp was wrong! I thought I slept through a day) . I did a double take. Picked up my camera and went outside for another shot. This is the moon setting.

then I heard someone meowing and low and behold Big Boy was back. It was a short visit but breakfast was served.

Today I was scheduled to be at work but was lucky to ask for and get the day off. This extra time is really helping my knee get better. It also keeps me at home so I don't need to drive the jeep or spend money. I am more than lucky that my best friend's husband has this jeep that I could borrow. My car will probably not be ready till the end of the week. A month without my PT Cruiser. I so miss the ease of driving it as well as the CD player to listen to my books. Trying to get in & out of the jeep is like fitting in a sardine can. Even if my knee was OK I'd still have trouble. I'm not a small woman and it is comical to see how I need to get out.

The fingerless gloves were a hit with my boss.I think I can make another glove (I have 5 total completed) from this yarn but I have moved on to another sock. I decided to do the 9 to 5 pattern from Nicole. Yarn is Cherry Tree Hill-Sockittome- Colorway: African Grey. I started last Monday night on size 0 Addi 40" doing magic loop for the first time on socks. On Tuesday I went to the doctors for my knee follow-up, a 1:00 p.m. appointment. He did not see me until 2:30! I sure wish we could bill them for time lost. Anyhoo, I'm sitting there working on the cuff, purl 2 k4 with about 1" knitted & pulled the wrong needle! So now I'm trying to put the stitches back on the needle. I could hardly see the stitches and after about 4 tries I just ripped it all out. By the time I got in to see the doc I was back where I started when I arrived. I continued working the rest of the week and by Friday night was ready to start the leg pattern. When I started back up on Saturday I decided that the size 0 was making the pattern too small. So I once again ripped it out (I've got this part of knitting down pat!) This is where I am today

and once I finish this post I am tinking back because the heel flap is facing out the wrong way! Look closely near the needle. This is a learning curve I need to master.
Here is a picture of Pia in one of her favorite spots. I think she is like me, feeling like the young slim girl I used to be until you look in the mirror! So I present to you her picture when I adopted her in January of 2006.

I've spent some time on Raverly. Have you ever gone to Forums? Click on the radar tab. You can eavesdrop! How cool is that.

Enjoy you Christmas

Taking the cats for a Walk

Tossing Kitty and FO

as I sit here Sissy just tossed her dinner, she does this quite a bit. I read that Nicole has given her kitty Pepcid AC. I am going to try this. Just have to figure out the best way to get it into her.

I stayed home today to keep the knee up. While getting lunch I literally stuck to the floor at the cafe in our building and had a nano second of the most excruciating pain. It got worse as the afternoon went on. So today I propped the leg up on two pillows, plus a third to keep my butt from sliding down, with the heating pad to the back of my knee and the ice pack strapped to the front. Tried knitting for awhile but the best thing to do in this position is to sleep. So I did. Knee feels much better.

Here is what I have been able to get accomplished in the last 6 days. One and a half completed. Try as I might I could not get the pictures to show the true colors, which are very muted.

Yarn: Mountain Colors-Mountain Goat, 55% Mohair, 45% wool, 230 yards per skein, 100 grams, Hand-dyed Color way: Ewelea (I think) I could not find it in my web search. This yarn is mushy and glides off the needles. I love it. Finally broke my yarn diet and went to Uniqities

Needles: Susan Bates 31" circular size 7, using the Magic Loop method

Just a bit stir crazy

It must mean I'm getting better when I can say I can't wait to get back to work! I spent time keeping up with Robin, Megan, Sailing Knitter, Picperfic, Penny, Lynn, Rachel just to name a few. Whew, I've been everywhere. Warm and cold and enjoying every minute.

I was lucky to be up early to get yarn from Kaylee. You will find her here and here. See that last skein? This is now mine!

Check out Fleegle's cool booties pattern and check this 2 in 1 sock over at Yarn Rambles.

Once again I'll Pay it Forward

The Knitorious Mrs B has joined in with Pay it Forward. She is one of the knitters I have followed from my days of joining in the KVVS. Little did I know that one swap would add to my life. I have learned much more about knitting that I have in many a book. I have traveled far and wide. I found about Raverly!

Here is how it works! I'll send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange! I don't know what that gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week...LOL... but you will receive it within 365 days, that's a promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog...So for those of you who want to join this good yarn karma exchange, leave me a comment.
I tried this back in August and did not have anyone sign on. You can read about it here. I originally found about this from Megan.

Car update

Don't ask me how I did this but here is the damage to my PT Cruiser. They said 10 days to get all the parts in. I need all 4 tires & wheels, engine cradle and front bumper worked on. My knee is coming along. I can not wait to take a shower on Sunday. Have not touched my gloves all day. It is still early but I'm kinda down today. I think it is the effects of the surgery finally wearing off. Good news is that I can borrow my friends Jeep to get to work on Monday.

So little time

Yikes, it is already Hanukkah! I have many gifts finished but for the blocking and weaving in the ends. I just can't seemed to get in the groove. My gifts will get to family within the month as I am now recuperating for the rest of the week. I did receive my 1st Hanukkah gift from Laura BFF oldest daughter. I received this and this.

A lot going on this week. Last Saturday night I attended our company's holiday party on the Odyssey. Had a great time. Plus, there was a Christmas Floatila going on with the most fantistic displays. When we docked and I was heading home going to 395 South I ran over something that blew out all 4 tires and the oil pan (I think) will know more when the adjuster calls. I called Geico and they towed me & the car (on a flat bed) home I got home at 3:30 am. My car is in the shop waiting on the insurance adjuster to give them the go ahead. I called him yesterday to see what was up. I thought with the snow we had that he was probably busy with more claims. Not! He was is a class and his laptop was not working.

Sunday night I borrowed my BFF husbands Jeep. Went to work Monday to finish up all I could and got a laptop to work from home. Then I had surgery on my right knee Tuesday. I am so blessed to have great friends, neighbors and co-workers. I do not know how I would ever get though a day without them.

The doctor did not show up for the appointed time of 2:30, is a Doctor ever on time? Then there was major screw up on getting home but my dear neighbor was able to pick me up. Because everything was so delayed my original ride could not make it. Got home at 7:30. I think. The anesthesia did not really wear off until late last night. Right now my upper arm hurts from the automatic blood pressure cup. That sucker just does it thing. My throat is sore from the breathing tube as well as my tongue. Then my hip and stomach muscles hurt. I wonder what position I was in for this knee. You would think from the pain that I was splayed!

All in all I am doing well. All these side affects will fade away. I can walk and the knee itself does not hurt as it did before surgery. I do not take the dressing off until Sunday at which time I can shower. Well, I have to get my leg back up and on ice.



On the knitting front I have taken the pattern from the fingerless gloves I made here and am working a new pair on a size 8 31" needle and doing my first magic loop project. I have searched and downloaded so many fingerless glove patterns but my mind is just not up to cables, which most seem to be. I've taken pictures of my progress so when I'm done I'll share. With the help of these patterns I once again realized that patterns are a guide.