WoW....You can't get enough

toys...do you do the same? I keep buying what I think may be the next super toy for all my furry purries. When I was cleaning this weekend I unsurfaced most of these toys. They were everywhere under something. Stanley like being on the top shelf of the cat tree, Sissy loves her spinners, Pia liked the bird on the end of the stick (picked up on Saturday) and Zorro plays with none of them. I have caught him with the spinner but that is mainly to get Sissy's attention. They are good about using the scratching post by the bathroom and at the bottom of the cat tree.

I'm leaving you now to start on the increase after the 5th ridge of the BSJ. I am watching the movie Away from Her. It is a beautiful and sad story and one many that many of us have faced or will.

Be sure to go over the WoW and check out some of the other members. Robin has a cute post today. Have not had a chance to look at others yet as I have been most anxious to get to this 5th ridge. What a milestone!

Kick in the Arse

That is what my friend Carol did by helping me this Saturday. She came over and helped, well actually did the work, of getting the brackets up so a shelf could go over the LR window so I could hang my collection of stained and blown glass up. While I was cleaning up the area that had not seen the light of day in years Carol was in the kitchen washing the glass. Now that is a friend indeed. I made the star and the 4 rectangle stained glass. The other item were gifts or from glass trips & shows.This is what the LR area looked like when they started pulling up the carpet.



The next picture is after the bamboo floors were in. That opening is where I had the 2nd bedroom opened up to make my stained glass studio. Now it is not as bad as this but I have stopped doing stained glass and have added my knitting stuff to this room.

We took breaks in between and talked about alternate ways to arrange my furniture. (The consensus is that I have too much stuff!!) The breaks were self imposed as I get so sweaty and overheated. Then we went to a late lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. I had a delicious lump crab sandwich and Carol went to the salad bar.

Sunday morning I was up at 6:30 (thank you Sissy for letting me sleep in) and was on a role. I put in more cup hooks and got everything hung up. This will be Carol's first time see what she help do by getting that shelf up. As I showed her around all 1000 sq ft, I came across the very first stained glass panel I made when I took a class. It was made with my daughter in mind as she loves to sail but there was a crack in the body of the boat. So I hung it in the kitchen window. As I continued in glass for abut 8 years I did not use patterns. I made jewelry, music boxes all 3 dimensional with art glass & found objects. It has been hard getting "stuff" unpacked or hung up. I lost two walls that I used to have that held pictures and plates. Not the one where I took the wall out two others. Most of these things are still packed up. Having the floors installed in a overly furnished small 2BR 1 bath 1000 sq ft space was not easy. In addition to having the furniture I had to pack up everything. It would have been easier to move. The floor installers and painters were not happy. Move one side of a room over put the floor down, move it back and continue on. It took a week. The painters took 3 days.

I did start on the BSJ Friday night. I am at the 5 rows part to add in some stitches. The DVD is great. I'm not sure if I would have wrapped my brain around the written pattern. I hope to have pictures soon.

Whiskers on Wednesday

Oh, to be a cat and sleep so soundly. Zorro is the spot that Pia made. BTW, I have not found Pia sleeping here anymore so I guess it is now Zorro's spot.

Last Saturday I was doing a kitty check. I could not find Zorro. Then Sissy gave him up! Sleeping at the end of my coffee table.

Stanley has a better idea. His own spot high up.

Remember to stop by WoW and check out the cats that have their own web page.

Clapotis Finished

I am so glad this is over and done with. I have used up most of the yarn. This is where this will reside...at work on the back of my chair. I will be able to wear it when the AC in the office gets too cold. Even with my work sheet I still had trouble keeping attention.

I was finally able to get a few pictures of the Gold Finches. They are so fun to watch.

I am waiting for my Knit Picks order to arrive with the BSJ pattern. Tonight I am winding up the Hand spun Leicester Longwool & Alpaca 4 oz that my BFF brought back from WVA. It is so scratchy so I hope it will soften up once knit and wash. I am going to start the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf going up a needle size or two. As I looked at the skein closer I saw that it is spun very thin and thick (layman's term) With the different shades and texture I am hoping this pattern works out. If anyone has used this yarn and can tell me what to do I would appreciate it.

Whiskers on Wednesday

This is a short post. My camera battery went dead so the post I planned will have to wait for next week.
This is Zorro last night in Pia's spot!! After awhile I had to get him down. Pia is getting stressed. It started with the fleas and now she is loosing hair on her big, fluffy tail.
This is Sissy's new spot after dinner. This is the only window that lets the sun in and it only comes in at a angle as the sun sets. Smart girl!

Head on over the WoW! I am in the spotlight this week!! Monica you did a wonderful job.

Whiskers on Wednesday

Pia reading my pattern "see this? this is where you screwed up" Pia is always helping me knit.

"Hey, you don't need the instructions...you don't follow them too good"

Another Long, Lazy Weekend....

When I last left you I was debating on knitting up the Clapotis. After 5 tries to get to Row 14 with 17 stitches, one was when I decided to go up to size 9 needle. I am using yarn from a shrug I ripped out. Caron Simply Soft Shadows. 1) I wanted to use up something I has in my stash 2) I like to colorway. This is what I needed to do with the pattern so I could keep track. As I have mentioned before I have ADD when it comes to following a pattern. I will be knitting along and before I know it --I have done what? Which row? So this is my life saver. Thursday-- I was out of work at noon. You think you should do something special when you have extra time. So what do I do? I got a haircut. Short. Feels great, looks, short. I then went home and took a nap! Love afternoon naps. I get up everyday at 5:00 am and I start dropping around 3:30 pm. At work that only leaves me with an hour of work and a hour commute. During the week I do nothing that can't wait for the weekend then I knit and catch up on any TV that I have DVR. This weekend there were marathons of Twilight Zone, Law & Order, Clean Sweep. House Hunters.

Friday-- up early. Coffee and sat outside for a while and the Mocking Bird serenaded me. I stayed off the computer all day. Since it is now my Saturday, I vacuumed and straighten up the place. Knit on Clapppy. It is an easy pattern but you do need to pay attention. Took a nap and drove to my BFF for swim & Barbecue. When I arrived it started to rain so everything was moved inside. Pleasant evening with good food and company. I took Clappy with me and for the first time I sat and knit while everyone got caught up and the kids played around.

Saturday- hey I'm up! Coffee and that damn bird. Checked my email. Started laundry. Only one load this week. Where is my Sunday paper? Oh, it is Saturday. Move some things around to find what is where. I am looking for my gorilla Glue. I have a marble flower/birdbath and gorilla Glue should do the trick.

Sunday-- up at 4:30 thanks to Sissy then same routine. Still looking for the glue! Knit on Clappy on and off. Took an early nap. Worked in the garden cutting limbs and branches that are over the walkway. Filled up a lawn trash bag. Now I need to figure out what to do with the other side that is overgrown with ivy, strawberry vine and weeds!! Looks like the best way would be to take my hoe and start digging them out. Hoe is in the shed. Can't find the keys. I put them in a place I would know where they are. I have looked in all those places and can't find them any where. So I am putzing around. Knit a row or two of Clappy, hung the clock & the cross stitch, below, in the kitchen. I have not hung up anything since I had the whole place painted over two years ago. Oh, do you do this? I look at something that at one time I wanted and now I wonder how much it would be worth on EBay! Then I do a search and find out it is not worth giving up.

Monday- I took off an extra day. Morning wake up the same, Sissy the alarm clock. Today I am going to return some items. I do all my shopping to the right. I drove to the store furthest away. Made a left turn into Petsmart. Returned the flea stop since I did get Advantage. Picked up a thistle feeder for Goldfinch since I have seen them and they have fed here before. Also got another cat toy. Then next door to Michael's. Used my 40% off coupon from AC Moore and got Gorilla Glue, new cashier did not know how to ring in a competitor coupon. Bed Bath and Beyond is in between the two and brought two boxes of my K-Cups for my Kerurig using 2- 20% off coupons. I drive behind the shopping center to a service road to Walmart. This is my 2nd attempt to return the Belkin Starter Kit. It turned out I did not need it to play the MP3 player in the car. It took 45 min for them to figure out how to ring in an online return. This was after I wrote to walmart online and told them of my first return problem. On line service great. In store service- well they do not train. Stopped by Tuesday Morning for the last return, they are closed for restocking. Oh, Tippy's Taco right here so I picked up lunch/dinner. Did one last minute stop where I had to cross the highway! It is a nursery and I was hoping I could get two bird bath tops. Did not have. Picked up a new mat for the front door and Round up. I think I will zap some of those weeds since I can't find the key to the shed!This is the progress of Clappy so far. I think I knit two extra rows and skipped row 6 on the straight part. So now I need to figure out if I rip down and to where, so much for the chart.

Whiskers on Wednesday

I took this picture yesterday morning. A little switch out on their bowl positions as well as the other side of the room. When I got home Monday I had the dreaded invasion of ANTS. So I walk in and tear everything up, spray, but not before I try to follow their trail of entry (never did find the exact place), sweep, mop, twice. Wash everything. Meanwhile, everyone is watching and waiting in the next room wondering what the hell she is up to now. I am not a happy mama.

Every morning and evening I start with bowl #1 (the blue bowl). Every time I have 4 cats at the one bowl. I then put a handful into the next, and so forth. Pecking order, Pia, Zorro, Stanley then Sissy. Stanley is always at each bowl like he has never eaten before and won't get his share. Sissy knows the drill (girls are just smarter)

R to L: Zorro, Pia, Stanley, Sissy

Since this is my first official post for WOW (we won't count last weeks lame attempt) I am going to give you links to past posts to get to know all my furry purries. The Girls, Pia, Sissy, The Boys. A post of the boys father Big Boy

and lo and behold, their mother who I only was able to get a picture of yesterday morning while I had locked myself out of the house and the car. I left the keys on the computer keyboard and my Pela sliding doors do not need a key to lock up. Thank goodness my neighbor's husband was home. She is hoofing it to the bus stop, to the Metro to get to work in DC. A Metro ride to my work in Tysons Corner will not be ready until 2014 or later at which time I hope to be retired.

My Weekend wrap up

Yesterday I did nothing around the house. Sissy got me up around 5:30. I would have been up earlier if I had actually gotten up when she started her wake up ritual. So I watch TV and knitted up this cap. This hat is from the book 101 Designer one-skein Wonders. You can see the hat on the cover. The yarn is Moda Dea Sassy Stripes in Lucky colorway. This is the perfect yarn for a child.

I did not put the pompom as the designer did. I'm not a big fan of pompom's.

All day as I worked on it Sissy kept coming up and try to get my attention. So I would take breaks and comb her. What do I find? A flea!!!! So one if not both of the boys brought them into the house. So far I have found 4! I have checked Zorro who would be the most likely one to have passed it on but I can't find any on him. Now I have experience with fleas so I am looking for flea dirt. Nada. Stanley has been letting me give him a lot brush time too. He loves it. I also have not seen dirt on him. Both boys have white fur so you would think it would be easy. So I now need to give all 4 cats a flea bath. Pia should be easy. Zorro I think I can manage but neither Sissy or Stanley like being held. I have a plan in place and will wear several layers of long sleeved shirts. Do you think flea stuff at the neck will work without giving a bath? I don't think so. I would ask for help but I have 4 former sometimes still feral cats! They do not know other people. If you come into my house you will not see the girls. Zorro is the least fearful of people in the house but outside he keeps clear of the kids. The kids see me and tell me they see the cats and why can't they pet them. I have to tell them that they are wild and to stay away from them. They don't understand but it keeps the peace with the kids and the cats.

Does this fellow look like a flea carrier? I think so. I originally made this as a baby present but was not happy with it. So it is now the cats. Sissy got on it first but Zorro soon took it as his own.

Today I did the house work. I then went looking for something that I could put the hat on to take the pictures. I have a bag of stuffed animals and dolls but the hat was too big but while I was in my walk-in closet I pulled out some summer tops and tried them all on to see if they fit. They did but two did make it into the bag for one of the charities that picks up. So far I have three bags of cloths. I am slowly, key word here is slowly, getting things out of the house that I do not need. I have subscribed to Freecycle on Yahoo groups but so far the only thing I have posted was my Filter Queen vacuum. Two people wanted it but they did not follow through. I have two large pieces of Scan furniture that I posted on Craigs List but no takers. I have lowered the price twice. I'll probably try a third time but that will be the last time.

I had great success selling my audio books on EBay. I sold 29 books and made $400+ selling them at $8 and up including free shipping. I realize $300 after EBay & Pay Pal fees and shipping. I still have three bags of 37 books that did not sell. I'll try again later this summer.

Well, enough for now. I am going to get my next project together so I get something OTN. I am going to try Clapotis again. I want something I made to wear at work when the AC gets too cold. It is either too warm, too cold or just right. Plus, we are starting to think that the AC goes down around 3 in the afternoon. Then we have no air and it get stuffy. Our building is one of the older ones at Tysons Corner. If it isn't the AC it is the elevators.

George Carlin Talks About Stuff

Just one of my favorites!

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Here is something for Whiskers on Wednesday

Stimulus minus $79.79

OK, I went for the fun part first. So I have spent $79.79 total. After much searching the net and googling MP3 players good for audio books I found this. The Creative 2GB MuVo V100 MP3 Player, in Pink & the Belkin Tunecast II so I can listen in the car. I only listen to audio books in the car. I do not listen to music unless I do not have a book. I do not jog or go to the gym. After talking to people and reading the most important feature I needed was that the player keep my place in the book when I stopped. I started with comments I found that recommended this player then went to this site. That is how I found out about the Belkin as that had to be part of the package. I then went to this site for a review. I'll try it and if it does not meet my requirements for the books it will be an easy return to any Walmart. Since I listen in the car the Tunecast was most important. I was working backward in my search so I could find the right item to listen in the car. So that should be a keeper. I'll post a review when I get it and play with it.

Forever 9 to Five

I have just finished! I have been decreasing the toe for two days now! At the same time I realize that in just a few rows I will have nothing OTN! So I am going to figure that one out and pull all my felted bags out and start finishing them! I received my stimulus check on Friday. Here is a list of things I need to do with it, plus things I want to get

1. Get a MRI $150


2. Pay off Best Buy card $300


3. Get a new cell phone--free but I then need to get extra chargers. $30


4. Get a Blackberry for $49 and spend too much a month for bells & whistles I do not need.


5. MP3 Player to download audio books from the public library and save some money buying them. Need to learn and better understanding how that works.


6. Really want and Ipod


7. Need sundries; paper towels, TP, Brita water filters; --trip to COSTCO-that a good $100


8. Savings

I don't know how to cross out copy in blogger so I know that I am doing 1, 2, 7 & 8 for sure.

I have decided to join. Whiskers on Wednesday . Check it out. They are having a shout out contest!

I sure wish I could come out smaller!

Movies, TV & some knitting

Not much happening around here. Work & Sleep. I do get to sit in traffic for about 2 hours a day and I get to knit when I finally relax in front of the TV. Last night I watch Juno. Cute. Sunday it was Ratatouille. Again, cute movie. Can't wait for July when the cable shows start another season. Burn Notice, Law and Order Criminal Intent has started. I can watch any L&O show over and over. The Closer is also starting on 7/14.

I am now on the foot of my 9 to 5 sock. I should finish up this weekend. Then what to do? I have stacks of patterns I would like to try. I think I will get something simple on the needles and get to work on finishing up some of my felted bags. I have tried to cut my computer time down which has gotten me so behind in my blog reading. I keep track through Google reader and right now I have over 300 posts to catch up on. There are so many interesting people who blog and I have about 10 people I keep in touch with. Many I lurk, others are yarn shop blogs or how toos. Then when I read everyone has someone else that they post about and I follow that link and then get lost in reading. You all know the drill!

Our weather has been up & down. Storms come in fast then cool, then super hot. We have been very lucky and watching the floods along Iowa is just so overwhelming to see.

I leave you with a little movie. I was watching Zorro's tail and knew something was going to happen. the boy does not disappoint.

Knit, Knit, Kung Fu

I am still. slowly working on sock #2. Everything is so tight. Do not know if it is me or the yarn + needle.

It is hot here. No Winter, short spring and looks like we are going straight to summer. I am staying inside.

In the past 10 days I have attended one bridal shower and one baby shower. We have two more bridal showers coming up within the next month.

This past Saturday, I went to "Saturday at the Movies" a fundraiser for the Ashley Fister Cole Foundation and saw Kung Fu Panda. Cute but I would wait for it to come out on DVD.

Well, I'm not 62 but this sure tells you how I feel.

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.

Lazy Weekend

I spent a good part of Saturday in front of the TV, knitting on my sock. I came across two movies on IFC. The first was Ikiru and the other Umberto D.. Both were made in 1952, black & white, about lonely old men. They were both also sub titled. I found out that I could knit and know just when to look up for the conversation. I highly recommend both films.

I received a shipment from Knit Picks today. Friday or Saturday I received an email from Knit Picks that something on my wish list was in stock. I plan on making some baby caps from some of it. So... you know how it goes. I just had to add more to my cart. Two skeins of EssentialSolid in coral on sale. Then two books jumped in. 2-at-a-time Socks and Start Spinning. Carol had purchased both of these books and I really liked the book on spinning. Great pictures and breaks down the whole spinning process. I also added in a 24" Harmony Size 1 circular.

I am at the heel flap now of my 9 to 5 sock and should turn the heel tonight.

I will leave you with a video of Stanley. Please pay no mind to my kitty talk but that is what makes him do his antics. He was staring at this birdbath. Last year it was his favorite spot to spend a weekend morning. No sooner had I cleaned it out he took it over.



So I am going to leave you now and look through both books.

Much better

Don't you agree? I have dozens of patterns. I looked through Ravelry. So many new sock patterns are toe up. I haven't tried that yet. I always say the next pair.

What I look for in a pattern is how many stitches and row in the repeat. The Show-off Stranded Socks fits the bill but it really looks better in a variegated yarn. So I went back to a pattern I did for Robin's PIF socks. You work the pattern repeat over 4 stitches + 2 p, and 4 rows. With my beaded stitch counter it is a no brainer. I can set it down and and always tell were I'm at. I'm knitting 9 to 5 again.

Have mentioned how Sissy wakes me up by shredding my magazines. She does this when short of sitting on my face does not work. BUT when I hear the shedding she know I will get up and yell at her to stop. In trying to not set this bad habit in stone, I've been holding back on the reaction. Just leaves more damage. Usually it is the cover or the post-it notes I tab on the pages. There are a few babies past and coming up that I thought, gee, why not knot a present? So I wanted to do the BSJ but I have not brought the pattern. This EZ sweater was in last years Vogue Spring Summer issue. I had the page turned back and set it down...next morning this...

Today was a beautiful day as was the whole weekend. Here is Stanley enjoying some time out.

Nothing, Nada, Zip!

I finished my Graffiti (raverly link) socks last Saturday. Sunday I decided to make the tiny sock for the key chain sock blocker. Between laundry and cleaning I spent 5 hours, 5 effing hours. I could not turn the freekin' heel. The heel for goodness sake! I must have started over dozens of times. End of the night I put it away for another day.

Monday--

for the first time in over a year I had nothing, nada, zip! OTN. I went to work without my knitting. I felt venerable. What if I had to wait for something! I would not have anything to do while I waited. Wait, I don't have a doctors appointment, but my car could break down then what would I do! The day was busy at work. Got home and looked at my sock yarn. I selected my Dream in Color Smooshy in Spring Tickle. I started the k2p2 ribbing. Figured I'd settle on a pattern when I had that done. Here are my sock yarns

Tuesday--

What pattern to choose? I am doing Show-off Stranded Socks. I started off using my size 1 addi. I cast on 72 stitches. Going Magic loop. When I get to the pattern I was having trouble PSSO. Gotta love these abbreviations. So I ripped out.

Wednesday--

OK, I have now cast on 72 stitches on two size 2 susan bates. Working the rib back on.

Thursday--

I'm not loving this Smooshy. It is so much thicker than all the yarns I have been using for months. I keep knitting the rib. Too tired --I go to sleep early

Friday--

We got out of work at 2:00. My BFF had brain surgery on Wednesday. I was going to the hospital to visit when her husband called to say they were releasing her. Meet them at the house. Get this, she was in intensive care Wednesday & Thursday. They were going to move her to her own room on Thursday. They did not have one so out she goes. She is doing very well. On her weekend in WVA, they own a place up there, she brought a skein of Handspun Leicester Longwool & Alpaca 4 oz. She was told it was enough for a pair of socks. I don't think so this is very scratchy so I don't even think it will make a good scarf. I think I am going to wash & condition it first. She will like what I make with it. Got home and once again, too tired. Watch some TV asleep by 8.

Saturday--

This pattern is not working with this yarn

So I ripped it out.

I have started again. Will have enough to show tomorrow.