Knit wit...

 

This is the first time I've ever attempted to knit in the round with double pointed needles.

I would really like to know what sadomasochist devised this particular form of torture.

Making it Monday--Sky Scarf progress...

Having almost reached the end of January (!), I thought it was time to show the progress made thus far on the Sky Scarf.

I'm using six colors to represent:
clear sky - light blue
summer sky - medium blue
overcast - light gray
thunderstorm - charcoal gray
fog - white
clouds - lace-weight variagated white/gray

Most days I use a combination of the the variagated 'cloud' yarn with one of the other colors.  The charcoal gray sticks out like a sore thumb...or like a crash of thunder.  That darkest stripe you see represents a storm full of lightning and thunder which poured four and a half inches of rain on us. 

I decided to do a garter stitch border and the center in stockinette.  I'm not crazy about the look of carrying the unused colors up the side, but I may go back at the end and crochet around the whole thing as Lynne suggested.

It's a fun project.  It only takes a few minutes to knit each day's two rows (after I untangle the yarn).  I'll be showing each month's progress at month's end.

Patience rewarded...or...lost hope found...

Dear Kasey,

Do you remember all those times when you told me you didn't have the patience for crafts?  I thought that they must have switched babies in the hospital.  How could a child of mine not have the crafting gene?  But you look too much like me, so that was that.

Still, I pretty much coerced you into trying a little needlepoint kit trinket box once.  I think I had to end up finishing it.  You may have tried a tiny cross-stitch ornament another time, but it just wasn't something that seemed to interest you.

I finally gave up.  I treasured the little trinket box, thinking it would be the sole handcrafted effort of yours I would ever have.  And I thought that perhaps the gene had skipped a generation...and bided my time till I might have a granddaughter who showed the spark of shared passion.

But then you began decorating projects.  Painting furniture.  Painting rooms.  Making headboards.  I was so happy.  I could see that you had the gene after all...it just took a different path.

This Christmas was fabulous.  I love, love, love the wreath you made me and the stencilled piece you did for your dad.

And then today was the best day ever...long awaited and all but given up on.  A sewing lesson at your request!  You are awesome!  And you will probably surpass me in the end.  Because the one gene of mine that I'm happy to say you didn't get was the procrastination gene.  Oh my sweet, talented, productive girl.

Love, Mom

What I'm reading Wednesday...

photo credit: Amazon.com

I finished Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan last Wednesday evening after posting it that morning.  I actually locked up the office after work and curled up in a chair in the back room to read for an hour before starting the hour commute home.  Once on the road, I let my Kindle read aloud to me.  Then when I got home I finished reading the last couple of chapters.

It wasn't until after I finished the book that I logged on to the blog, and when I did, I found a very nice surprise in the post comments.  The author left a comment.  So since I couldn't find a way to leave a message via your blog, I am hoping that you, Kate Kerrigan, come across this post as you did the last one.  I want you to know that I enjoyed the story and characters very much and look forward to the second book being available here in the States.

And thank you for leaving your comment.  It was a fun surprise.

This week I'm reading Snow Mountain Passage by James D. Houston.  A novel based on the Donner Party.

And yes, that is a lame attempt at a snow-like background in the photo...it's late...it's quilt batting...and I'm a dork.  No disrespect intended to the actual members of the Donner Party, their struggles through the tragic events that befell them, or their descendants.

Taking the easy way...

I had intended to make a quiche for dinner tonight, but I didn't get home till about six.  So I rummaged through the freezer and found some meatballs from my last IKEA trip.  The pantry had instant mashed potatoes.  I made a simple white sauce and added a package of brown gravy mix to it.  Microwaved some frozen broccoli.  And opened a can of cranberry jelly to sub for lingonberry.

We were plating up dinner at six-thirty.

It is days like this that I wonder (guiltily) how my mother put a made-from-scratch dinner on the table every single night after a long day at work...and without a microwave or dishwasher.

I made this meal once for Caitlyn and Chloe when they were spending the night.  Caitlyn said that it was "very good, Grandma...just like at my school cafeteria."  Just what I've always aspired to be...the cafeteria lunch lady.

Carey isn't a fan of instant mashed potatoes, so no compliments forthcoming from him tonight.

Oh, well.  Tomorrow is another day.

Good Morning, Good Night...

I love vintage Little Golden Books.

photo credit: Champ & Mabel Collectibles

This was my favorite when I was little...two stories in one.  Good Morning was about a little boy who didn't like to get up in the morning.  Good Night was about a little girl who didn't like to go to bed at night.  I STRONGLY identified with both!  I love those sweet illustrations by Eloise Wilkin...especially the pictures of the little girl playing with her Noah's Ark in the middle of the night while everyone else was asleep...that was the reason I collected Noah's Arks for many years.  I would like to have a copy of this book...but this one is $35.

Anyway...

I'm sitting here not wanting to go to bed.  And normally on a Thursday night I wouldn't have to, as this is usually the beginning of my weekend.  But since I'm filling in for a co-worker tomorrow, I know I have to.  So I will.

I still won't want to get up in the morning though.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

photo credit: Amazon.com

Ellis Island by Kate Kerrigan...story of early 20th century immigration from Ireland to the United States.