Saturday, November 29, 2008

Okay, I'll keep it short and to the point.....

Catching up:

Hubby's wool hunting socks (pair #6 )

River Rapids Socks (pair #7)


The "secret" knitting project. I knit a Prayer Shawl for my mom who is recovering from open heart surgery as well as dealing with the death of her husband. I can't be there right now, so I knit her a hug.

AND....

I couldn't put it off any longer. I have begun spinning! Like I have all this spare time, NOT!
This is the first of my spinning. A superwash merino wool.

Here it is plied, it's so nice and squishy, ready to be knit.



I just had to see how it would knit up, so I started knitting a 1x1 rib scarf (both sides look the same). Don't know if I'll keep going, or if I'll rip it out, find out how many yards I have, and look for something special to knit with this.
Yesterday I went and tried out a Babe Spinning Wheel. It is okay, just not the most attractive wheel. I've also thought of a HitchHiker, and just found Heavenly Handspinning wheels.
There is a fiber fair next weekend, so I'm hoping there will be used spinning wheels for sale or at least wheels I can try.
Too many decisions!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Baby, it's could outside

Okay, short and to the point -- it is warmer in Alaska!

That is so not right!!!!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Quick Update.

I have been phoning my mom several times a week; she sounds to be on the mend and is getting excellent care from her SIL (my "step-aunt").

Hubby took his new hand knit wool socks with him hunting; he tells me they are very warm (socks # 6).

It has been cold enough for me to wear the 100% merino wool socks I knit for myself -- they are warm and cozy and NOT scratchy at all!

The River Rapids Socks are almost finished -- I'm working on the last row before I bind off. These will be my 7th pair of socks since May, putting me ahead of schedule as these are will be my "November socks" with my goal of a year of socks (or one pair a month).

I've been knitting something for someone special -- this person does check in here once and a while, so I'll write more after he/she has received the item.

I had started my candy-cane socks a bit ago. The silk/wool blend is sooooo soft and smooth. No superwash, so I'll have to make sure they don't get into the laundry hamper and get felted in the washing machine. With my gift finished, I will be able to spend all my knitting time on these socks and will have them completed in plenty of time for wear during the month of December.

I will be flying home over the Holidays. I was able to get 7 additional days off. Not an easy feat for a teachers as, even though we do have more days 'off' than most other jobs, we don't get to choose those days. I was granted two days to take care of my mom, and 5 "funeral days".

The flight from here to Anchorage is over 6 hours, so I should be able to get some knitting done on the plane. I am thinking I'll knit some "Alaska socks" from yarn I will purchase while I am there. I am thinking I'll knit them with a snow-flake lace pattern (after I find that pattern!).

I'll post pictures of my River Rapids socks as soon as they are done, as well as Hubby's hunting socks and progress on my candy-cane socks. A picture and more details of my gift item will be posted after he/she has received it.

Knit on!
FJ

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Difficult Weeks

The past several weeks, have been very difficult for my family.

In the early morning hours of November 5, 2008, my step-dad lost his battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. His death happened only a few short hours after my mom had returned home from the hospital after having open heart surgery.

The ensuing days have been rather bumpy. The stress of trying to arrange a funeral so soon after a major surgery has proven to be just too much for my mother. She's doing well now, but all plans for a memorial have been put on hold until after she has had a chance to recover and heal.

Please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers that she is able to have an easy and complete recovery, and is able to have comfort during her grieving process. Although I lost a man who's been more of a father to me than my own father, please also keep his children in your thoughts and prayers too as they deal with the death of their dad.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Guilt Free Knitting, or KIP while waiting

This morning, bright and early, I took my car in to have the snow tires put on. Hubby was stressing about how we'd get the car down there, and then pick it up. I told him no problem, I'd make it for early Saturday, sit in their waiting room and knit. So, that was what I was up to this morning. KIP in the waiting room of the tire store.

All that is left on Hubby's boot socks is the toe decrease. I want him to try them on one last time before I begin the decrease, so, until he comes home later today, they are as far as I can go on them. This is the same pattern I did the famous "Merlot socks" -- I chose to not do the contrasting yarn. I knit both of our pairs of socks out of 100% superwash merino wool which I dyed myself.

It took me only 30 or so minutes to get to where I wanted to stop on his socks, so I pulled out my River Rapids socks (which I almost didn't bring) and worked on them for the remainder of my time in the waiting room.

As I pulled out of the parking lot I realized how enjoyable that wait was. One hour of knitting, guilt free. I was able to sit and knit, without thinking "I really should be doing _______ . (Fill in the blank with any number of things I should be doing: laundry, scrubbing bathrooms, barn chores, vacuuming/mopping the floors, etc.)

And now, what am I doing? Typing on my blog when I should be working on my weekend chore list!

Guilt Free Knitting, or KIP

This morning, bright and early, I took my car in to have the snow tires put on. Hubby was stressing about how we'd get the car down there, and then pick it up. I told him no problem, I'd make it for early Saturday, sit in their waiting room and knit. So, that was what I was up to this morning. KIP in the waiting room of the tire store.

All that is left on Hubby's boot socks is the toe decrease. I want him to try them on one last time before I begin the decrease, so, until he comes home later today, they are as far as I can go on them. This is the same pattern I did the famous "Merlot socks" -- I chose to not do the contrasting yarn. I knit both of our pairs of socks out of 100% superwash merino wool which I dyed myself.

It took me only 30 or so minutes to get to where I wanted to stop on his socks, so I pulled out my River Rapids socks (which I almost didn't bring) and worked on them for the remainder of my time in the waiting room.

As I pulled out of the parking lot I realized how enjoyable that wait was. One hour of knitting, guilt free. I was able to sit and knit, without thinking "I really should be doing _______ . (Fill in the blank with any number of things I should be doing: laundry, scrubbing bathrooms, barn chores, vacuuming/mopping the floors, etc.)

And now, what am I doing? Typing on my blog when I should be working on my weekend chore list!