February Lady Sweater, River City Knitters and Coordinated Colors

Saturday, February 28, we had a charity-wear-your-pjs-knit-in for our Guild meeting. You can imagine! Ok, picture in your mind a public library. Next, pajama clad knitters with knitting paraphernalia, trooping into a public library... got that image ... well, you're almost there then! Some folks came out totally decked in pajamas, others arrived decorously clad in goin' to meetin' clothing. We were an unusual ensemble this month!

Unbeknownst to me, several other members of RCK were also knitting the February Lady Sweater! I was wearing mine. Oh, didn't I mention yet that I

FINISHED HER?

I received lots of positive comments (thank you all!). Five of us, I think, were posed for a photo - 2 completed projects and three WIPs. RC, one of the group who is a professional photographer, took some photographs.


After the meeting Chris and I headed east toward Newport News and Yorktown. Destination? Coordinated Colors! I had not been by to see Sherri and her wonderful array of yarns in a while, and I wanted to buy some specific yarn for the Regional Yarn Swap (Ravelry). The day was overcast but it had not started to rain when we hit the road, but as we passed out of the metro area, it started as a drizzle. As we headed east, we went into it. Evidently the rain was coming west as we were driving east. I spent about an hour wandering about the shop touching yarn and reading labels. I purchased 2 different yarns for my swappee and some other schtuff. I don't want to say too much b/c I have not mailed the package yet. It is still in the assembly stage. CC has such a variety of yarns it is difficult to choose among them! Please go see the shop in person or if you can't, you can always call or email to see if they carry what you are looking for. They ship...! Also, Sherri was working up her own little March Madness sale while I was there!

Below is an addition -- River City Knitters in PJs & street clothes - all bearing February Lady Sweaters:

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Spring is coming --> I am sure it is!

That is what this photo says to me.

If you are unfamiliar with her work and/or you love doxies, you need to check out Terry Pond's artwork. I hope she doesn't mind me posting this photo - it does contain her copyright info and I am including a link to her website, www.wiener-dog.com.

I wanted to find a good one of Tico, the Bad, to post today, but I did not have one handy right now. I will post about the speed limit enforcing little fella another time. The lil darlin'.

KnitKnote:
I am soooooo close to completing my February Lady - right on time I might add. It was my own personal challenge to complete her this month. I am down to the bottom few repeats of lace pattern, then the garter border, and I do not have enough yarn. Yes, you read it right, I have to wait for the nice folks at Cestari to mail me one (1) skein of yarn!!!

FYI, Cestari Sheep & Land Co. is having its Wool Fair the weekend of April 25-26, 2009. Last year they had demonstrations by the Virginia Percheron Draft Horse Association, animals for petting, wool and food to nurture whichever need you had at a particular moment, and lots of other interesting things to do and see. I will post more when I get the brochure they are working up as I type.

Homespun Yarn Party - Savage, MD, March 15, 2009

Click on the link at the top of my right sidebar to see all the details about this unique event - I am hoping I can find a way to get up there for it!

I love how cool this yarn looks!

Terrific Tuesday

It seems that all I blog about is my February lady sweater, but that is where my efforts have been lately. She is coming along nicely - one sleeve is done and I have one to finish (almost done there too). Once that is done, I can go back and finish the bottom edge. I was afraid that I'd run out of yarn (oblique reference to my not having the latest version of the pattern, doggone it), so I decided to do the sleeves and go back to the bottom! Here's her most recent photo:

Since this was taken, I have done about 3 or 4 more inches on the left sleeve. :) yeay!

On another fibery note, I ran across a deal and could not resist - look at this skein - lovely, eh? I bought Kaleidoscope's last 3 skeins for a steal and then was able to get 2 more from the producer. I have enough for a good size project when I decide how to best show it off!


Today is Tuesday, actually Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday, but it is also knit night - I hope nothing comes up that will interfere with my attending. It seems that about all I can manage lately is every other or every third week... I miss the folks!

Also, today is Jane's birthday - go by and wish her a happy one, ok? Her post today talks about some meetings she's been to lately and about getting to meet Marc Brown, author of the wonderful Arthur books that spun into a great PBS cartoon series. We loved Arthur in my house and I still do (although the almost 17 yo man-child would probably not admit it).
Just for fun, here's a pic for you!

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Hi, I'm Joe, the dachshund. As you can see, I am a handsome fella and my mommy adores me. I don't know quite why she got Jetta for me; Jetta wears me out! Have you tried to keep up with somebody one-16th your age? Whew! She's cute, though, and warm so I guess it's ok. She snuggles good.

A guy I met at a dachshund meet-up in December had emergency back surgery yesterday - please send Mikey your thoughts and prayers - he's gonna need 'em, I am afraid. I got mom to post the photo below - you can see Mikey's mom talking with folks about the "chip shot" (we're not talking golf here). [Mom got me and Jetta one that day.] That's Mikey under the table by his mom's feet (don't you love his cool coat? Mom forgot to put ours on that day; boy was it chilly! ) Oh, and by the way, that"s me again with the red collar walking along at the bottom of the photo! I do have a striking physique, don't I?

Wow - time flies!

Time does fly when you're at home with your foot in a temporary cast and you can't walk without crutches.

How, you ask, can time fly when you're stuck at home and can't walk around? Well, first, due to the pain and swelling, you have meds from the doctor. Second, you knit. You knit a lot when you're awake! Below is a photo of the progress made on my February Lady. I am so looking forward to finishing it up so I can wear it this spring.

I like this lace pattern - it goes quickly and mistakes are easy to spot, thereby making fixing them quick and painless too!

Post updated: 3:32 pm - what have you done to yourself now, Cathy? is a question I have received a lot lately! Good question. If you may recall, on January 6, I sprained my right ankle/foot - I stepped off a curb onto Main Street near my office only to step directly onto the side of a pothole (City of Richmond needs to work on these - might just be the subject of another post) and I went ... down...! Fast, wham, onto my bottom, but not before I'd twisted my foot but good. Last week (Feb 2-6) I'd worn a real shoe to work each day - woo hoo! Monday morning (Feb. 9) one of the dogs woke me up to go outside for a potty break early. It was still dark. Moving around the bedroom, I tripped over one of the 2 black dogs and I went ... down...! Fast, wham, onto my bottom, but not without a little shriek and not without twisting my foot again but good! I went back to Patient First since they'd x-rayed the foot the last time and would have something to compare with. They put me in a temporary fiberglass cast with instructions to go to an ortho doc on or before the 12th. On the 12th I was seen at the ortho group who advised that while they don't think it's broken, it is definitely sprained again and I need to wear a big ole black walking boot for about four weeks.... The bone in question is on the top of my foot and inside so if there is any change other than for the better, they'll see me in four weeks. Sigh. Now you have the rest of the story!

If it's Tuesday, this must be ...

Belgium would be the response if this were a 1960's movie starring Suzanne Pleshette, but this is not a '60's movie, and I am definitely not in Belgium, although we did have a nice dusting of snow overnight! Jetta was thrilled and ran all around like a little nut, not having seen such a wonder before; the other dogs just looked outside and tried to do the back-up thing.... oh, no, not me, I'm not going out there! (especially Joe, the dachshund - low carriage there and all). I wish I had taken a photo, but I did not. I lost track of time and had to hurry to catch the latest express bus to work (yesterday I missed the last express morning bus and had to take the local...). I ramble (sorry!).

Tonight is Knit Night - I so enjoy going and have made so few over the last few months. We meet at Ukrops now instead of Barnes & Noble; they allow us to use their "celebration room" if it is not booked by a paying customer - which is really nice of them. It is also nice to meet there because if you work downtown like me and don't have time to get home, cook / eat dinner before going out, you can get something relatively healthy already prepared and eat prior to knitting with the group. If you are unfamiliar with our local super market chain, you can click the above link and become envious that Ukrops is not in your area!

Knitting update: I finished George's MDDS (which I named Woody after the yarn used) and gave it to him on Sunday - he was thrilled... I was really touched that he had asked Chris if I would make him a scarf (in manly colors). He allowed that it was sufficiently manly when I presented it to him. Here's a photo of it hanging out of my Fred Duncan market basket (on left):


And next to Woody above is a photo of C's mom's MDDS (warning: tangent coming). Oma's scarf is knitted with yarn she gave to me. This yarn was purchased either by her or by her mother for a project that was never started; it was all bagged up together, all the colors, ready to become ... something for someone. I thought it would be nice if it really did become something, so I knit her scarf with it. I think she liked my intent.

Anyway, progress continues on my February Lady Sweater (aka Blackberry Twist sweater): I am almost done with the yoke - Yeah!

Happy Knitting all ---

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Happy Dogs on Thursday!

While I don't have any new photos to post of my babies, I learned today that my baby-baby (Jetta, who is 7 months old) has 2 new siblings... evidently, her mamma Pepper Ann thought that because she was nursing she could not conceive (old wives' tale you know)! I thought everyone knew that was false.

And, while I do not have a photo of the 2 week old pups, I do have a 1 day old photo of Jetta and her litter mates. Aren't they sweet? Jetta is the one in the foreground with the pointy marking on her left, front shoulder.


On the knitting front, I have been making progress on two of the three current projects: my Blackberry Twist February Lady Sweater and George's Wood Scarf (done in multi-directional diagonal pattern). If you're on Ravelry, look 'em up!

River City Knitters Guild Meeting

Saturday was our monthly guild meeting.

It is SOOO nice to see folks at the meetings ... I wish we could get together more often and knit together... some of the folks come to my Tuesday night group and others have invited me to attend their knit nights... I guess that is the best we can do, we working, knitting, mommy-friends!

Sharon, our president, shared knitted Valentine ideas including a cute scarf / necklace type item with knitted hearts strung together on an i-cord. The below photo gives you the idea, but Sharon's was knitted with 'fluffy' yarn that had a halo and she used different shades of red and pink!

Jan. 27, 2009: I have edited this post to upload a photo of Sharon wearing the Heart Scarf she knitted -->










*thank you to JW from RCK for use of photo of Sharon

10 things that I like that begin with an 's' **

1. Spaghetti - I mean, it's pasta, right?! what's not to like!

2. Summertime - kids are out of school, folks can dress business casual, time to go away for a week (or a day or two) ... aahhh ... I can feel the sun now, not too hot, and very little humidity... (I must be on vacation b/c I know I am not describing a summer day in central Virginia!)

3. Sliding boards that propel one into a swimming pool... (I am detecting a theme here)

4. Salad - I love salad and I love a good salad bar! When I was in college (many many years ago), the closest (and least expensive) salad bar was out 29N - the Wendy's across from Fashion Square Mall ... we'd pile in a car on any given Sunday and have the salad bar - it was all you could eat (not that mamby-pamby term they use now, "all you care to eat")! I tried to find a photo of a 1980's vintage Wendy's Salad Bar, but since they died out in fast food restaurants a while back (I guess because of sanitary reasons), it is near impossible to locate one, darn it!

5. Sleep-overs! Even now, I love when I have overnight company or when I go to someone else's house... breakfast is just better with a crowd!

6. Scary movies ... not slasher movies, but suspenseful, tense movies ... where you know there is someone lurking, but he is just out of camera range and the heroine should know he's there, but she doesn't, and we do and ....!!!

7. Seagram's Seven --- oh, baby, a good 7 and 7 on a warm day (or a cool day)(or any day for that matter)



8. Slippers... they just feel soo good on chilly toes - they just say, 'hello, make yourself at home!'





9. Syrah, Petite Syrah - un vino molto bene!





10. Seaweed. Yes, seaweed. If there is seaweed, then there is ocean. If there is ocean, then there is relaxation. Waves lapping (or crashing upon) the shore. Breeze - not a land breeze (which brings flies) but a nice cooling breeze. Lazy days and nights spent with friends and family, singing, playing music, cards, whatever seems right at the time.



**OH! and if you want to play along, like I did with Chan, please leave me a comment that you'd like a letter to write about.

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It is cold in central Virginia... when we have many nights in a row at freezing or below, it is cold in central Virginia!

That said, this morning I was greeted by the sight of Lady (elderly border collie and maybe corgi mix who never gets 'in' anything even resembling an enclosure) was inside Tico's medium sized kennel box and Tico (photo to left; who doesn't usually like to get 'in' anything such as an enclosure - always a fight to get him into his own box much less anyone else's) was inside the CAT's (yes, feline variety) carpeted kitty-condo (picture in your mind a rectangular stand - the top part is a lookout area with short sides for hanging out on; the middle part is a platform with a kitty-toy on a string hanging down; the bottom section is enclosed on all sides except for one so said feline can presumably hide and pounce on some unsuspecting creature). It kinda looks like the one below, but the center part is open and the toy is suspended inside the open part, not outside the condo.

I wish I had a camera handy b/c I am not sure I will see either of these sights again!

Interviewed by Chanknits

Okay, Chan says:

1. You have a houseful of pets. If you could add another species to your household (no worries about vet bills or special food or...), what and why? I will also assume that the county won't have any problems with another species too! I would love to have some alpacas - they are so cute, have the sweetest faces and they produce loverly wool.

2. Surprise! You get to have an all-expense paid vacation home anywhere in the USA. (And the time off to use it, free airfare, whatever...) Where would it be? I would like to have a little house/cabin/cottage that is not too far from where I really live ... it would be in the woods with water running through it, ponded on it or situated near the ocean or bay. I enjoy the mountains, so perhaps a mountain cabin, with amenities of course, like a 'real' home - with a pretty field stone fireplace, a self-stocking woodbox, a wrap around porch - one part screened in, one part al fresco.

3. You're a single mom. What one trait of yours to you wish your son DIDN'T have? Tom seems to have the knack of getting himself in trouble when he did not intend to... I too can sometimes not think something through enough and end up coming out short... ;)

4. Where do you see yourself in ten years? In 10 years, I would like to be in a stable, committed relationship with a kind, loving, understanding man. I would like to be living in a different house - one with a little bit of wiggle room around it, not in a planned development. I am happy to be working, but would like to perhaps be working at my profession part time and at a passion part time (passion could be knitting, weaving or anything else creative). I also want to be financially stable - I am not a greedy woman and I have said that many times before. I just want to be comfortable and not have to think out (and over-think) every purchase I make.

5. You've been awarded a grant for your favorite non-profit. What lucky organization gets the funds, and why? I would give my grant to an organization that works with needy children as well as animals - rehab through furry-love? I don't know the name of it, but I am sure there is one or two or ten out there somewhere.