Thursday, September 28, 2006
Bring out the gardening clogs.
I haven't had any time for knitting lately (which is probably a good thing since I've lost my knitting mojo). The temperatures are cooling off, so I can finally venture out of my air-conditioned ice palace. I don't really go outside during hell (excuse me, I mean summer), and I start looking forward to autumn in May. Now is the time to do all those things that other people do in the summer.
Like gardening!
Lately, I've been enjoying the feeling of dirt in my hands just as much as I usually enjoy yarn on my fingers (was that a collective gasp I just heard?), so I've been embracing my inner gardener this week. I've spent most of my free time prepping my flower beds for fall plantings. And also taking pictures, because my roses?
Apparently, they like autumn as much as I do.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Hmmph.
"It's good for you that Rick will accept Lion Brand garments. Personally, I never accept hand-knits made with anything less than 100% cashmere. Now fetch me some Fancy Feast, human."Monday, September 25, 2006
The yarn is always...greener?
I'm afraid I have a case of the knitting blahs. It's strange, because I have a catalog--in books and online and in To Knit Lists--of enough knitting patterns to keep me busy for a lifetime. But none of them are grabbing me right now. Usually when this happens, all it takes is a quick trip to the yarn store, because a new yarn will call out to me and decide what needs to be knit. Unfortunately, this trip to the yarn store is OFF LIMITS right now because I just bought a new car and um, haven't bought the tags yet because I'm waiting for my paycheck! (Who knew that the tags didn't come with the car? Oh yeah. That would be everyone but me, because I've never bought a car before. Whoops!)
This means that I need to knit from The Stash. The Stash always looks fine to me when I'm already knitting something. Now that I have nothing on the needles, nothing in The Stash looks knit-worthy. Kinda the equivalent of standing in front of a closet full of clothes and pouting about having nothing to wear, I guess.
I want new yarn!
I was bemoaning my current lack of motivation to my husband last night. In his infinite patience and kindness, Rick listened to my spoiled whining and then said a remarkable thing. He said, "You could knit something for me in Lion Brand."
You can discern a few things from this comment. First off, I must talk about Lion Brand disparagingly, despite the fact that I knit with it every so often and am interested in trying out some Microspun. Second, Rick would willingly accept a gift knitted with a yarn I speak badly of, just to help me buy new yarn and not break the bank. Third, and possibly most important, my husband is actually listening when I rant and rave about yarn!
What a guy!
This means that I need to knit from The Stash. The Stash always looks fine to me when I'm already knitting something. Now that I have nothing on the needles, nothing in The Stash looks knit-worthy. Kinda the equivalent of standing in front of a closet full of clothes and pouting about having nothing to wear, I guess.
I want new yarn!
I was bemoaning my current lack of motivation to my husband last night. In his infinite patience and kindness, Rick listened to my spoiled whining and then said a remarkable thing. He said, "You could knit something for me in Lion Brand."
You can discern a few things from this comment. First off, I must talk about Lion Brand disparagingly, despite the fact that I knit with it every so often and am interested in trying out some Microspun. Second, Rick would willingly accept a gift knitted with a yarn I speak badly of, just to help me buy new yarn and not break the bank. Third, and possibly most important, my husband is actually listening when I rant and rave about yarn!
What a guy!
Friday, September 22, 2006
Wicked.
Earlier this week, my grandma told Rick, "I make a really wicked peach cobbler."
My grandma rocks.
My grandma rocks.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Maybe it was the sock I started last February?
I haven't knit on anything in over a week. Instead, I have spent a lot of time stressing (cause that's what I do best) over buying a new car. After finally taking the plunge and deciding on the Toyota Prius, it was time to clean out my beloved Dodge Shadow (the only car I have ever owned, lovingly known as Little Squatty) one last time.
To my surprise, I found a lost row counter under one of the seats:
I can't remember what I was knitting on when this counter went missing. All I know is, I sure didn't get very far! :)
To my surprise, I found a lost row counter under one of the seats:
I can't remember what I was knitting on when this counter went missing. All I know is, I sure didn't get very far! :)
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Go Rick!
Hey, everybody! I just wanted to let folks know that my husband has started a blog of his own (yay, Rick!). He's currently using it to document his training for climbing Mt. McKinley next summer. So, if any of y'all are interested in seeing what goes into training for a month-long climb on a 20,000-ft glaciated mountain, or if you'd like to give my husband a little hello and encouragement, or if you'd just like to see a picture of MY NEW CAR, head over to Just Another Day!
And just because I love these pictures, here are some photos of Rick that were taken by Nanda a few weeks or months ago (sorry, but my memory is failing--I'm all of twenty-eight now, you know!):
And just because I love these pictures, here are some photos of Rick that were taken by Nanda a few weeks or months ago (sorry, but my memory is failing--I'm all of twenty-eight now, you know!):
Maybe we should call him the Prairie Climber!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Self-Portrait with a Finished Object
It's easy to watch football when you have big, chunky knitting to occupy you. I spent the Saturday before last with the family, watching OU play...um...some other team. To be honest, I didn't watch the game so much as I knit-watched the game. Which is to say, I watched my knitting more often than the game, until a family member would scare the shit out of me by randomly shouting, "Go! Go! Go!" at the top of his/her lungs, bringing me back to reality. Anyhow, I finished half of the scarf during the game and completed the rest (including some fringe) last week.And just to be official about it...
Pattern: No pattern, really. 14 stitches of 1x1 rib 'til you have just enough yarn for fringe.
Yarn: Reynolds Blizzard, 2 balls.
Needles: US size 17 plastic needles. I hate these needles, as I do all of my plastic needles, but come on. I can cope with all the plastic needles in the world if they give me an FO in four hours.
Comments: I don't usually like knitting with big yarn and big needles, but I would happily knit this scarf again. Even Rickus, who has never understood the desire to smoosh one's face into a big bunch of yarn, readily admitted that Reynolds Blizzard is soft. As someone who frequently fondles yarn, let me just tell you, it is SO much more than just soft. It's like buttah.
Friday, September 15, 2006
The Razor's Edge
Pattern: Razor Cami, from ohmystars.net
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly, in aquamarine, 3 balls
Needles: US size 5, 16" circulars
Comments: This pattern is addictive. As some other Razor-cami knitter said on some other blog (I don't remember who, sorry!), the lace pattern is easy enough that you can tell where you are when you pick up your knitting, but complicated enough to keep you interested. I could have knit on the body of this thing for forever, it was so fun. The straps, however....Well, the straps were what kept me from finishing this tank a week ago.
The problems I had were 100% my own fault (as usual), since I decided to blatantly disregard the pattern. I decided early on in the strap-making process that I didn't care for the five-stitch-wide, 1x1 rib that the pattern calls for. I tried a three-stitch 1x1 rib and didn't like it either. I finally found The One when I knit an I-cord. A long time ago I read somewhere that for an I-cord strap, you should do one strap on the front and one on the back and connect them together at the shoulder. I attempted this the only way I knew how, with a three-needle bind-off. While I have used it successfully on a little girl's sweater, this time the bind-off left a globular mass on each shoulder. Not at all what I was going for. Unwilling (as usual) to frog my work, I taught myself Kitchener stitch and quickly learned that I absolutely hate it, as it left even larger globular masses on my shoulders.
Nine attempts and fifteen stress pimples later, it finally hit me. I could just make the I-cords long enough and stitch them just inside the back edging. Such an obvious solution, it's a little embarrassing to admit I didn't think of it sooner. Really, ya'll. Making mountains out of molehills is a talent, right?
But enough about strap issues! Here's a shot of the back:
And here's a detail of the pattern:
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Are you in the mood for Italian? How 'bout Chinese? Indian???
Rick and I eat out quite frequently. This wasn't always the case. When we first started living together, we cooked a lot. I fondly remember spending time in the kitchen listening to Sinatra, getting buzzed on cheap-ass Lambrusco, and experimenting with new dishes.
Since that time, I've gone back to school, we've had opposing work schedules, and Rick has gone in and out of various training regimens for mountain-climbing. We've gotten out of the habit of cooking every night. We no longer cook so much as we heat up pre-cooked meals. And if we don't feel like doing that...let's go out tonight!
On Sunday, I requested that we go to Pearl's Lakeside. We had a mighty good cajun meal before I came home and began my week's paperwork. So mighty good, in fact, that the tab was twice what we usually pay at any given restaurant. Shocked at the bill, I immediately said, "Let's not eat out the rest of the week," and Rick agreed.
But this morning I started thinking about tonight's dinner. I thought to myself, "We should go out tonight! After all, we've gone all week without eating out." At which point I remembered that today is only Wednesday.
Yup. I had just given myself a congratulatory slap on the back for not eating out in THREE WHOLE DAYS. Doesn't my willpower just amaze you?
Since that time, I've gone back to school, we've had opposing work schedules, and Rick has gone in and out of various training regimens for mountain-climbing. We've gotten out of the habit of cooking every night. We no longer cook so much as we heat up pre-cooked meals. And if we don't feel like doing that...let's go out tonight!
On Sunday, I requested that we go to Pearl's Lakeside. We had a mighty good cajun meal before I came home and began my week's paperwork. So mighty good, in fact, that the tab was twice what we usually pay at any given restaurant. Shocked at the bill, I immediately said, "Let's not eat out the rest of the week," and Rick agreed.
But this morning I started thinking about tonight's dinner. I thought to myself, "We should go out tonight! After all, we've gone all week without eating out." At which point I remembered that today is only Wednesday.
Yup. I had just given myself a congratulatory slap on the back for not eating out in THREE WHOLE DAYS. Doesn't my willpower just amaze you?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Yeehaw!
I got to knit today! Not only did I knit, but I have two newly finished objects to show for it! Two! Eat your hearts out, knit-bloggers! The Prairie Knitta has officially completed her FIFTH and SIXTH finished objects of the year!
Wait. I'd better not announce that so loudly. The Knit Blog Police might arrest me for not meeting my FO quota. And they might even kick me out if I mention that HALFof my six FO's are scarves.
Whoops!
(Pictures to follow sometime soon. Now to decide which of my stash yarns would make a good pair of Fetchings.)
Wait. I'd better not announce that so loudly. The Knit Blog Police might arrest me for not meeting my FO quota. And they might even kick me out if I mention that HALFof my six FO's are scarves.
Whoops!
(Pictures to follow sometime soon. Now to decide which of my stash yarns would make a good pair of Fetchings.)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Self-Portrait while doing paperwork!
My nursing paperwork is due every Monday. The one downside to (pretty much) managing myself at work is that I often don't get started on it until Sunday night.
Typical student.
Typical student.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Statistics Schmatistics!
Lost: Season 2: Disc 1 is here! I love you, Netflix!
(This post could alternatively be titled: Another night in which I do not finish the Razor Cami. Because, really, y'all. I just cannot knit while watching Lost.)
(This post could alternatively be titled: Another night in which I do not finish the Razor Cami. Because, really, y'all. I just cannot knit while watching Lost.)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
This has been a public service announcement.
So. Three weeks into the new semester, it's now obvious that I will have to drop my Statistics course. Math and I have never been BFF's or anything, but I don't think we can even be aquaintances anymore. Never, in my scariest dreams of what Statistics would be like (and believe me, lots of people put the scare in me), did I imagine that I would need to spend 40 hours a week just getting homework done.
I learned (at least) two lessons from this experience. If you're trying to increase your grade point average from a 1.7 (which you earned as a ridiculous 18-year-old-valedictorian-gone-wild) to something a nursing program will accept, don't enroll in Statistics, particularly since it's not even a required course. And if you do make such a silly mistake, make sure you drop out in the second week of class so you can get your money back.
Because you could knit a couple sweaters with luxury yarn with that money.
I learned (at least) two lessons from this experience. If you're trying to increase your grade point average from a 1.7 (which you earned as a ridiculous 18-year-old-valedictorian-gone-wild) to something a nursing program will accept, don't enroll in Statistics, particularly since it's not even a required course. And if you do make such a silly mistake, make sure you drop out in the second week of class so you can get your money back.
Because you could knit a couple sweaters with luxury yarn with that money.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Shiva wants to rock and roll all night...
Just like her hero. 
