Spotty at best

So I forgot I had a blog on this site.  Oh memory of mine you play such tricks on me.

Tree Ornament - Ball

So I've decided that it's about time I started posting some of my knitting & crocheting patterns.

First up:

Picture to come (battery is charging)

Tree Ornament - Ball

I made them out of left over sock yarn and gave them as Christmas presents.

You'll need:
DK or sock yarn
3.75mm Circular or DPN needles
Darning needle
2 inch diameter Christmas ball ornament with removable hanger top

Pattern:

CO 5 sts and join in the round.

1. M1 in every stitch.

2. M1 in every stitch.


3. K row

4. *K1, M1* repeat to end

5. K row

Knit 12 rows

18. *k1, k2tog* repeat to end (20 sts)

19. K row

Insert 2" diameter christmas ball (with hanger top off) into tube so that the "stem" comes out of the hole at the cast on.

20. K2tog to end (10 sts)

21. K2tog to end (5 sts)

Pull yarn through the 5 sts tightening and finish. Put hanger top back on ball and add ribbon.

The first real snow fall 2007

Monday, Nov. 26/07

Halloween Pictures

My husband as The Bride of Frankenstein.



Hubby & the kids. And me.

Bang! Bang!

Another sockwars victim falls. I am dead.

Finished!

The shawl wove on my triangle loom is finished.

Update

I haven't posted on here in ages, ah the fun of being a narco.

Well the house is coming along thanks to my new livingroom window;
and holding Dh's birthday party. The livingroom is almost tidy. I have to clean off my computer desk again and sort through all the junk I tossed on it from the rest of the room.
My god I'm a pack rat.

I also have built my triangular loom and have almost completed my first piece. A shawl for myself. I just have to finish tightening the bottom up.Here's some close ups:



Gorgeous isn't it. I have learned one very important thing about weaving on this loom. Don't use flat yarn if you are obsessive like I am. The main reason it's taking so long is because I'm actually going through it and untwisting any little flaw. Next time I'm using plain old plied yarn, in fact I have the yarn and my next one is a gift for someone.

Well I'm going back to it now.

On the needles - pictures

Baby blanket - modular

Lace cardigan

Stash busting Granny square afhgan

My Hidden Rooms

For years I have had dreams where we are in a new house and after moving in and being there for a few days I find a hidden room. These rooms always have things in them that the last tenant has left behind probably because this is a room that has been forgotten or they just didn't want the contents. But these things are always fascinating to me.

I found another one last night.

It was behind a couple of closets. I noticed through a hole a life size painted cut out of Goofy & Donald Duck. So I decided to venture back to see what was there. I found a room about 5x4 that was apparently used for toy storage because the toys were still there.

There were 2 doll houses one small tin one and a large wooden one (both furnished), puzzles, books, toy cars and more that I didn't really look at. Beside the large doll house there is a short hallway with a door on the left wall, hanging on the wall before that door are about 15 or so handmade dolls for the doll house, some cloth & yarn some porcelain. The door lead to an old bathroom, larger than the one that is in the house but for some reason the tub has been removed and the window covered over. Out the window is the backyard, why I don't know there is an extra window on the back of my new house I don't know, but being the typical woman I started planning the bathrooms make over. My dream ended with me trying to figure out where I was going to get a claw foot tub to go in it.

I'll have to jot down the other rooms from my dreams. There has been the fully furnished Victorian ladies study in an attic off of an already found large empty room. The entire apartment that apparently was mine but I had forgotten about (how do you forget an apartment). And the series of underground rooms under our semi shared with my husbands best friends semi.

What these dreams mean, who knows.

New York - Waaaa

Man I would love to be in NYC tomorrow. Yarnharlot is launching her book at FIT tomorrow and it is turning into this huge event. She is hoping to fill (and possibly excede) the 750 seats to represent knitters. There are way to many people in the world who don't realize just how many knitters there are out there. Frankly it's sad.

Confessions of a Narcoleptic Mom

This is a little piece I found in one of my notebooks when I was cleaning up. I'm posting it for all those people out there that live with this disorder.

Confessions of a Narcoleptic Mom

There's so much to write about... My feelings that I'm letting my kids down, followed by the reality that on average I'm doing what I can. The fact that I love the people around me but at the same time they irritate the hell out of me. The fact that my job gets all my energy & my home spirals deeper into hell every day. And then there is this feeling that I'm trapped in my body & by my body (& brain). Some days I wonder if going off my meds would make others have to deal with my disorder, my illness, my defect because they would then see what it is that I'm living with every single second that I breath in this world. Now it's not pity that I want, no, it's some degree of understanding & yes damn it help because my life is difficult. However because I look normal nobody gets it!

Wristlets - my pattern

Wristlets with thumb hole.

Yarn: Sport weight or DK
Needles: Set of 4 3.75mm/US5 double pointed needles (set of 4 or 5) or circulars, your choice.


Wristlets
CO 48. Work 8 rnds of 2x2 ribbing.

Rnd 1: k4, p2, C4F, p2, C4F, p2, C4F, p2, k24
Rnd 2-6: k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k24
Rnd 7-42: repeat rnds 1 through 6
Rnd 43: k4, p2, C4F, p2, C4F, p2, C4F, p2, k24, turn
Rnd 44: p24, k2, p4, k2, p4, k2, p4, k2, p4, turn
Rnd 45: k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k4, p2, k24, turn
Rnd 46: repeat rnd 44
Rnd 47: repeat rnd 45
Rnd 48: repeat rnd 44
Rnd 49: repeat rnd 43
Rnd 50-55 repeat rnds 44-49.

Work 8 rnds of 2x2 ribbing. Bind off.

It's Over!

The christmas shopping season is over! Finally! It's not that it was horrible it's that it never seems to end. Sale after sale, cranky customers, messy people - really would it kill you to put it back where you found it.

Now maybe I can claim my house back. I'm seriously considering using my christmas money to go to the laundry mat and catch up. There's probably somewhere around a dozen loads. My dad made a comment about having to much clothing, what he doesn't realise is that isn't really the case. I just haven't gotten any of the summer clothes washed and packed, they're still laying in piles everywhere.

But I want yarn too. Decisions, decisions.

So I think my favorite present wasn't really a present for me. My mom got a new flat monitor for her computer so I got the hand me down. It's brighter and so much bigger than mine. Yay!

For christmas I got an accessory pack for my gameboy, a stuffed penguin, a heart christmas ornament, earrings, $25, Tracy Ulman's knitting book Knit Together, a full set of bamboo knitting needles, two Diana Krall CDs and the Knitting Pattern-A-Day 2007 calendar.

The kids got quite a bit but the MIL finally slowed down, she didn't buy nearly as much as she usually does. Everything should actually fit this year.

Well I better go get a load in the washer now that the dishwasher has finished.

In Memory

For Duty Calls
(In Memory of Count Sarnac Kir)
Catherine of Eoforwic (c) 2006

The trumpets sound, throughout the halls,
He does not come, for Duty calls.
Seek now him not, for he's not found,
He's gone ahead, for Duty calls.

The pipes, they cry, echo the walls,
He answers not, for Duty calls.
Hail now him not, for this is why:
He heard the Song, for Duty calls.

As strong he stood, then sudden falls,
Although he fights, for Duty calls.
We left him not, we never could,
He travelled on, for Duty calls.

He served as Khan, white mammoth bawls,
His humour served, for Duty calls.
It harmed him not, as crown passed on,
He tread the path, for Duty calls.

T'is not the end, for though voice drawls,
His mem'ry lives, for Duty calls.
Forget him not, forever, friend,
His Game is Ours, for Duty calls.

Farewell to a great man

Count Sarnac passed away yesterday Dec. 4/06

I did not know him well but he is the first King I remember. Until Sarnac took the thrown I did not pay attention to the royalty of Ealdormere, my kingdom. But he filled that crown. I still remember his vigil - dishes. His was the first knighting I witnessed and I will never forget the slap that he took with pride, it echoed, it like the man he was left an imprint.

We need to live every moment. You never know when it could all be over.

Finally

It's finally starting to feel like christmas. There's snow on the ground, people are shopping, carols are on the radio, gifts being ordered & wrapped.

Getting in the christmas mood is hard for me some years, working at the mall kind of kills it. But the mood has finally hit so today I'm going to pull out my control jourmal and check those fly missions.

So yes we have snow, about 3 inches, and of course everyone has forgotten how to drive in it. My truck tends to spin the tires when pulling away from the corner so I take it slow and make sure no one is coming.

Well some arse behind me today was honking his horn at me. Wouldn't you think that if someone lets a car turn before them and waits for the plow to go across that maybe just maybe there's a reason for it.

I'm tempted to put a sign on the back of the truck: "This truck slides & skids. Be patient or at least stick around when I hit the ditch." Do you think that would work?

Recent Adventures in Knitting

So since Nov. 2nd

Completed:

• 3 pairs of wristlets
• a cable knit toque for hubby

Currently on the needles:

• a pair of socks for me
• a crochet shawl that I want to wear to hubby's work party - luckily the party is probably going to be in January
• a test baby sweater - I'm trying to knit it as one so that I don't have to sew any of it together. So far not a problem the sleeves however maybe a different story. We'll see.

Need to make for christmas

• 2 pairs of wristlets
• a matching hat & scarf
• a knitted doll
  
• maybe a knitted stocking or two - hubby & I need new ones
• maybe knitted ornaments - always makes for nice gifts
  

The Ups & Downs of my vacation week: part 2

Wednesday cont...

So anyway I mentioned to my friends while we were working that I really want to get rid of the couch (it's 30yrs old) and go to two love seats instead. Well later that night my one friend phones me to let me know she's found two matching loveseats, do I want to go see them?

Thursday Oct 26th

Drop the kids at school & off I go to KW to look at two loveseats. They were fabulous and are now residing in my livingroom - they look great! I spent the rest of the day lounging on the couch watching bad tv and knitting. And then took the kids out to work for the little halloween thing they had.

Friday Oct 27th

I went into work in the morning to check on a couple of thing and then left again. Ran some errands, cleaned a little and sat to knit.

Later in the afternoon my mom phoned with some bad news. My uncle (my dad's brother) had died. I was in shock and kinda lost after that.

At 5 o'clock I picked up hubby and we went to KW for dinner & shopping for halloween stuff. We ended up finding knitting needles and books for the kids but no costume stuff. I did my best to block out the thoughts of my uncle, I just wasn't ready to deal with it.

I did manage to finish dd7's 2 pairs of knitted socks. She loves them.

Saturday Oct 28th

I spent the day with the kids. We went to the farmers market, got our pumpkins and fresh baked cookies. We then went home and spent our time doing crafts and watching halloween specials.

That evening we went to a friends for supper, a visit and to play games. It was a nice distraction and a fun evening.

Sunday Oct 29th

We slept in, sat around watching tv and knitting. I finished one wristlet for my daughter's friend and started the next. Stayed up to late watching movies but didn't care. I was still upset and numb at the same time.

Monday Oct 30th

The funeral was strange in many ways. First off my uncle looks a lot like my dad. It was creepy. I couldn't get close in fact I eventually left the "family viewing room" cause it was just weirding me out. Then there was the music choices. They brought him into "I've got friends in low places." What? That song is now going to be really weird for me.

After all of the funeral stuff we went back to Mom & Dad's, picked up my truck from the garage and they took us out for supper at East Side's. It was nice we had a long dinner & gabbed for about 2hrs. It was a good way to finish an awkward day.

Tuesday Oct 31st - Our 10th Anniversary

Not exactly the ideal anniversary but it was still fun. I spent most of the day fetching candy, decorating, finishing costumes and carving pumpkins. Mike took the kids out trick or treating, I handed out candy and watched Practical Magic. Once the kids got home they poured through thier stash and gave us the stuff they don't like. Not a bad haul actually. We let them stay up late (no school the next day) and watched more movies. Not a bad night at all.

Oh and I got the DVD release set of figures for the Corpse Bride as my anniversary gift. I had them up before the first kids were at the door. lol

And holidays over back to work.

The Ups & Downs of my vacation week

I just completed a much deserved week off from work and I'll admit going back yesterday was hard.

So....

Wed Oct 25: Flyfest at my house

After getting the kids off to school and running to the store for supplies two of my fellow flybabies came over and we attacked my front entrance & livingroom. I know 3 people to clean - why would I need that. Well first off check out flylady and you'll understand a little of it and secondly because even though I take medication for my narcolepsy it doesn't make me "normal". My medication keeps me awake but it doesn't give me a great deal of energy. Think about the last time you had the flu and what you felt like the day after. That is an average day of energy for me. Think of how much you can get done on that day. Now think of only getting that done everyday. What would your house look like?

So needless to say I'm very lucky to have a group of ladies that are willing to put up with my mess and help me out of it. They know I love them.

The two rooms got cleaned, we sorted out stuff to give away (mostly kids shoes) and enjoyed lunch & a good gab session. A fabulous day.

to be continued.......

Spitting Nails (bitch session)

So my employer is running a new service for the holidays and it's big, really big. Myself and my service team went to a company training session yesterday to learn our new job. Everytime a new responsibility or essentail need was brought up I could see all the problems this was going to create for me with the rest of the management team back at work. Enough so that it was apparently showing on my face and got called upon to tell them what was going through my head. They reassured me that these things wouldn't be an issue because this is the direction that the company is going and that it must be supported.

So today I went to work and answered a few of the questions they had without telling them a lot because I didn't want to create issues before the unit manager is on board. Well it went exactly like I thought it would and I am so sick of hearing "Well that's just not possible.", "That's not realistic.", "We're not going to be able to do that here.", "You have to remember......" and much much more.

The day went exactly as I thought it would. The support for this program is just not there and I'm afraid it won't be no matter what is said by those at head office.