As you can see, my Harvest Cardigan is moving along, however slowly. You’re looking at the center-front, with the steek front and center, and I’m about halfway through the color pattern. I’m very happy with the way it looks but am still not enjoying the long floats between “panels” of color. Isn’t it pretty, though?

And, no, I have not ordered yarn for Sylvi. In case you were wondering.

You’ll be pleased to know that Chappy is still speaking to me. This is notable because he has a boo-boo behind his ear and apparently I was responsible. When I took him to the vet last week, I noticed that he had some fairly big mats under his ears–not uncommon–so Sunday or Monday, I got the scissors and carefully cut them out. (Really, it’s the only way.) Except–he’s out of the habit of holding STILL when I do this–I’ll tell him to hold still and he will … except for turning his head which, when trimming ear-fur, is tricky. I AM very careful, mind you, but still … apparently I nicked him with the scissors.

Not that he complained. In fact, I didn’t even notice until Wednesday at lunchtime, when I was giving him one, last pet before heading back to the office, and felt the scab under my fingertips. Poor Chappy! He very patiently put up with me putting some Neosporin cream on there–even though it really wasn’t that necessary since he was obviously healing just fine, but well, it’s a Mom Thing. Although, at some point on Thursday, with all the vigorous ear-scratching and greetings, and general enthusiasm (not to mention his own scratching at it), the scab came off altogether and got tangled in his fur, leaving the sore spot looking red and angry, so he got more Neosporin cream. (Thursday was not my fault, though. I’ve been very careful petting him near that ear since Wednesday.) Really, though, he’s fine, and except for its being a little itchy from time to time, it’s not bothering him at all, and he doesn’t seem to understand why I am making such a fuss (grin).

What else have I been doing? Well, thanks to a little help from James and Harry, all three of my blogs are completely current and on the latest version of Wordpress. My Knitting Scholar site, being the newest, was only a fraction out of date (something like version 2.6.3 instead of 2.6.5), but Punctuality Rules was using something like 2.2.2, and Chappysmom 2.3.1 … which made for an interesting variety of dashboards–every version looked (and acted) completely differently.

Well! I figured with the long weekend, this was a good chance to get everything current. Now, did you know that there’s a plugin you can download to automatically do the upgrades for you? Yeah, I did, too, but it didn’t want to work for Chappysmom. I had finally gotten my Punctuality Rules site current by using the “Fantastico” option on my cPanel, but when I tried that for this blog, it TOLD me it had done the update, but Wordpress was still under the impression I was using the old version … and I didn’t know what to do! I mean, I can tweak small amounts of HTML and I can decipher some CSS, but I am so NOT a programmer!

So, I sent an email to the penmen to ask them how much it would cost to do the updates for me–no design, no extra programming, just get it to the current version of Wordpress. Because I know them, and trust them, and I’ve got to tell you, they are an efficient team–they immediately figured out what I was doing wrong (which would have taken me forever, assuming I could figure it out at all) and had it upgraded and perfect within 15 minutes … I even offered James some of my handspun yarn as a thank you. (Because, he knits, you know.)

It’s such a NICE thing, to have everything current, you know?

Especially since I, um, upgraded my Punctuality Rules theme today. I decided to take advantage of the Black Friday offer of a discounted price for the Thesis theme, which I’ve had my eye on for a while.

So, I tweaked it a bit, but it’s still basically a two-column theme … it’s just that the sidebar is on the other side now (grin). Go take a look, won’t you? Tell me what you think?

And, for the record, yes, this really is a great theme. Lots of options. Good Forum for questions. And when/if I decide I really want to snazz it up and make it truly special, yes, I’ll probably ask James and Harry to do it for me. They’re talented (and nice) gents!

Oh, and one other thing–I finally (finally!) got around to announcing the contest winners over at Knitting Scholar. Now I just need to find shipping boxes to mail out the prizes.

Okay–I’ve got to enter my November reading list now …

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Turkey dinner, of course.

And, naturally, it’s obvious why Chappy so loves when we eat in the dining room. He has the best view in the house from his favorite spot … except that (from his point of view) it’s a littttttle too far away from the table.

He’s also very helpful about clean-up. Even after two and a half helpings of turkey, he STILL insisted on helping to clean the carving board.

What a guy, huh?

What else am I thankful for this year? With the world economy in the tank and so  many bad things happening that are beyond my control, I couldn’t be more thankful for my family. I often think Susan picked out our parents, because I can’t imagine having better ones.  I live with mine, as you know, and we get on wonderfully. Mom and I may squabble a bit from time to time (usually in the kitchen), but she is one of my best friends, and my Dad is the person I respect most in the whole world, and he always has been.

My sister and I may not be “best friends,” and we certainly get along better since we don’t live in the same house anymore, but I love and respect her, too. She’s a challenging person, my sister, but as the years go on, I find that–different though our personalities are–we have a lot more in common than we thought we did when we were kids. We’re both creative and practical, like to cook (though her cooking is way too low-fat for my taste), and both inherited a lot of the same traits from our parents. (Thanks, Dad, for the sense of direction, logic, and math abilities. Thanks, Mom, for the imagination, eye for photography, and love of words.) We have a lot more in common than we would have admitted 20 years ago, and when in need? We are always there for each other. The day my Katy was killed? My sister jumped in the car, leaving her in-laws and her kids at home (which, if you knew my sister, would know was huge), and drove an hour to get here, just so she could give me a hug.

My brother-in-law is one of the kindest men I know–he’ll do just about anything he possibly can for you, and is never happier than when he’s doing a favor for somebody. And if that person can even remotely be considered family? Even better. And he’s similiarly appreciative of anything you do for him. He’ll also happily and gratefully eat just about anything, making him a pleasure to have as a guest, any time. He helped me tear up the old wall-to-wall carpeting in my room six years ago, just because I couldn’t manage it on my own. And he installed Katy’s dog door for her on the day we picked her up at the airport, just so it would be ready for her–even though it took weeks before she was grown enough to get through it on her own.

My niece and nephew, I talk about all the time. My niece is 19 years old and a sophomore in college, and is fun, creative, and oh, so talented. Her energy levels flow back and forth from highs to lows, like those old wave machines people used to have on their desks–blue waves going back and forth, back and forth, just naturally following their rhythm. She’s bubbly and bouncy when she’s excited about something, but follows it with a crash and a nap later on, just to balance out. And yet–while I know they do happen–I’ve almost never seen her in a bad mood. At least with us, she’s always sunny–there may be the occasional cloud, but she’s a definite bright spot.

My nephew is 15, very tall, and very funny. I admit, I find it harder to relate to a teenage boy than to my niece (mostly because I was never a teenage boy), but he is such a nice (tall) young man. He’s better at saving his money than I ever was, and one of his favorite things to do when they visit us on a Sunday, is to go through the advertising circulars from the newspaper. He enjoys getting new gadgets (and showed off his new iPod Touch today), and loves to be outside. We all wish he lived a lot closer because he would practically shovel snow all the way from his house to ours if he could in the winter. And did I mention that he’s funny? And tall? He’s growing into an admirable young man, my nephew.

Of course, then there’s Chappy. I’m sure it’s no surprise that I adore that ball of fur. He is also funny, and nobody, but nobody, can put a smile on my face faster than he can. Even when I’m in a bad mood and don’t want to smile (which doesn’t happen often)–he can still make me smile despite myself. He’s smart and charming. Polite and patient in everything except his over-enthusiastic greetings and his eagerness to get out the front door for a walk. Every other door he waits at, but the front door? With his leash? Oh, noo …. “Wait” is a four-letter word. He’s charming and sweet–by far the sweetest dog we’ve ever had–and does whatever he can to keep me happy. If I’m getting upset over anything, he comes over and gives me a hug–literally. He’s a little, chocolate-covered ray of sunshine, just for me. (Well, okay, he makes the rest of the family smile, too, but he concentrates his efforts on me–probably because I’m the one in charge of his food.)

I am also, I hope you all know, thankful for YOU. Real-life friends and online friends. You’ve made knitting fun again. One of the reasons I’d stopped knitting back in the early 1990s was because I got lonely. The only local yarn shop around was focusing on knitting machines, and I had no friends at all who knit, and no way to get any yarn once that LYS closed, except for the Patternworks catalog. The internet and knitting blogs changed all of that. Who could help but be inspired?

And not just for the knitting. People blather on about the “internet community” all the time, but it’s true, it’s real. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of you, but even the ones who geography has made meeting impossible, I still consider friends. You are collectively funny, supportive, caring, and darn good company. So, thanks for all of you.

While I’m at this, I’ll say a word for a couple other things I’m thankful for–like, say, reading. As much as I love to knit, reading is and (I hope) will always be my favorite leisure activity. When I’m sick or tired or not feeling well, my first instinct is to curl up on my favorite chair with Chappy and a book. No television necessary. I read like I breathe, or eat–it’s just an absolute necessity and vital to my well-being. I don’t know what I’d do without books.

I’m also very appreciative of my job–especially these days. And while I’m trying hard to get this freelance business up and running (I am), I am grateful to have a job that I enjoy. I’ve been at Fulco for almost 18 years and love it. I also love the perks of being 4 miles from home, being able to come home at lunch to walk Chappy, and having 8:00-4:00 hours so that I have plenty of time at home in the evenings.

Thanks, everyone. For everything you do.

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Thankful // 8 Comments »

Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1863

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

By The President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward, Secretary of State

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone–whether you’re in the U.S. or not!

• Tags: General • Permalink:Thank You, Abraham Lincoln // Add Comment »

Just, you know, for the record–Sylvi, the coat I’m lusting after, is more or less the same shape as this camel coat of mine. More or less A-line, not particularly bulky, just simple. (And yes, this is an awful picture of me. I was tired.)

The length? My 8-petite coat is 36″ long. The Sylvi coat is 39″ long … so, yes, mine should be a little shorter. I’ll need to figure something out about that. Because, yes, I’m only 5′3″ and am vertically challenged.

Now, my gauge? Yes, my gauge has this, um, tendency to be loose. Which is why I’m actually thinking that maybe a yarn that’s closer to Aran weight rather than Bulky might be a better choice. Like, say, Cascade Eco … either the dyed, plus version, or the natural colors.  It comes in at 3.25-3.5 stitches to an inch which is just what the pattern calls for. AND, it’s one of the discountable yarns at Webs–which means, if I buy $60 worth, I can get 20% off. AND I would need four skeins which comes in at … yep. $60 even. So, it would cost me $48. AND since it’s not on final, this-yarn-has-been-discontinued closeout like the Riverstone and the Cascade 109 … I don’t feel like I need to rush.

But, yes, I DID buy the pattern. Because flesh is weak.

• Tags: General • Permalink:Coats // 11 Comments »

Okay, folks … I need pros and cons, please.

First, there’s Sylvi. A pattern which I can’t get out of my head.  (Lord, it’s just gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.)

But, it’s knit in bulky yarn–something I simply don’t have in my stash.

But, Webs is having closeout sales on two, great yarns: Riverstone Chunky and Cascade 109.

I’d need 10 skeins of the Riverstone (that’s $50) or 15 skeins of Cascade ($60) … certianly reasonable for such gorgeousness.

But, of course, I did just buy a big bagful of yarn on Saturday.

Did I mention that the Cascade is available in the same Burnt Orange that I bought in the 220 version on Saturday, and which is just a GREAT color … not to mention darn flattering with my hair?

But at the same time, money is scary tight.

Quick … what do YOU think I should do?

Oh, and I DID already buy a copy of the pattern. Because, well, I had to!

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Talk me Down? // 23 Comments »

First and most important? Chappy seems much more himself today.

So–Mom and I headed down to Wightman’s Farms for apple cider for Thanksgiving, and then went to Starbucks in Bernardsville for coffee before heading home. And while we were there, we saw these lovely ladies knitting … and, obviously, we struck up a conversation. This is Karen and Kathy, both fairly newish knitters, but they knit and sell hats to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer–isn’t that great? And so nice to make new, knitting friends, too.

We were having a nice time, and then they mentioned the reason they were there–the LYS in Bernardsville, the Knitting Lab, was closing and having a sale of up to 70% off their stock, but it didn’t open until 12:00.

You see where this is going, right? Because, yes, we followed them to the store.

And, do you know, they were having a GREAT sale. (That’s the problem with Going Out Of Business sales … the prices are great, but it means that the store isn’t going to be there long.) But, well, they WERE having a good sale, and they had Cascade 200 in that shade of green that my whole family adores, so …

Yeah, I bought a little. More like 14 skeins of it–7 of the green, 4 beige, and 3 in a gorgeous, rusty orange. Plus, on the recommendation of the owner, 4 skeins of matching kid mohair because she said when you knit it WITH the Cascade 220, it looks fabulous–and who was I to disagree? And all for $80.

I was planning on turning them into sweaters, but then I started thinking that this yarn would make a great afghan–something I keep meaning to make, but have never gotten around to doing. The main sticking point is that, well, how do you WASH a blanket made out of wool? Even if you gently spin it clean in the washing machine, it’s not like you can put it in the dryer, and who has the floor space to lay it flat to dry?

Also, while sitting and chatting at Starbucks, I finished my second sock. These were made out of Meillenweit and the colors are great, even if it was kind of “splitty” yarn to knit with. I just need to weave that last end in, and they’re ready to wear.

Also finished? The fingerless mitts I tested for Ruth. Remember last week, when I said I had run out of yarn an inch from the end of the second? Well, I went back to the first one, ripped out the ribbing, and then finished the leaf-section of the second one with the blue, and then added the coordinating brown as the ribbing on both of them. I had JUST the right amount to do the second thumb in blue–so they match, which is a great comfort. It was bugging me that they wouldn’t! And now they REALLY look like my Ingenue.

All in all, a great pattern, Ruth. I love the embossed leaf,I like the long cuff, and honestly, the fact that it almost completely hides my little finger is just because it’s so much shorter than my other fingers, not the fault of the mitt at all. (The other night, I was so chilly sitting here at the computer, that I put the one, completed one on because it was right next to the computer anyway, and then had trouble typing because my little finger kept “disappearing”! But, really, that’s ME, not the pattern.)

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go start a new pair of socks to stash in my purse. Or maybe knit a swatch out of Silky Wool so that I can test the steek thing before I go any further on my sweater. I’d much rather tear back the last 20 or so rows and then turn the whole thing into a cardigan than risk the entire thing unravelling on me when I cut it! I mean, it’s not superwash wool like Kristy’s, but it’s got silk in it, so … better safe than sorry, right? Although, there’s always the machine-stitching option–and, well, again, better than having the whole thing unravel… (Although, according to this thread on Ravelry, it seems like it should be okay.)

And, Karen and Kathy? It was great meeting you!

• Tags: Finished Knitting, Friends, General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Unexpected Knitting Adventure // 9 Comments »

Poor Chappy. You know how I said yesterday that he was kind of quiet, especially right after he woke up? Well, this morning, not only he was quiet, but he spit up some blood in his crate, at about 5:15. At which time I was sound asleep and, I hate to tell you, lost Mommy points by not dragging myself out of bed.(I was, however, properly sympathetic and concerned when I woke up properly at 6:45.) He paused before he ate his breakfast, too, though he DID eat it. But, well, even small amounts of blood aren’t good, so I took him to the vet this afternoon.

The verdict? The vet couldn’t find anything wrong. He asked if Chappy had coughed up the blood, or vomited it up, but we both agreed that at 5:15 in the morning, they sound pretty much the same. He told me, though, that if it had come up from his stomach, it would likely have looked more like coffee grounds, but since it was fresh and red, it was more likely from his throat or esophogas. (Who knew?) But, from what he could see of his throat, it looked normally pink, there was no flinching, wincing or other signs of discomfort. The vet couldn’t get him to cough, and Chappy was generally alert and cute throughout the exam.

In other words, he’s stoic and doesn’t give up much (any) information. So. The $85 diagnosis? Wait and see if this gets worse, doesn’t go away, if he seems to be in any pain, and then give us a call. Sigh.

Of course, I’m happy that he doesn’t seem miserably sick, but I’d still rather that there be something solid that could be fixed. And he has been more quiet than usual tonight. His weight has gone down a tiny bit, to 33.9 lbs, and I’ve been thinking lately that his coat seems less shiny than usual–but that could just be that he needs a haircut and a bath …

Anyway, he’s not at his best tonight, poor boy.

He was entertaining at the vet’s office, though. We got there and checked in, then sat down in the dog’s waiting area, and he was fine. Not thrilled to be there, but being good. Then, in one of the examination rooms, a dog (dogs?) started whimpering. Loudly. Unhappily. Frantically. Which made Chappy VERY concerned. He sat at attention, watching down the hallway with a concerned look on his face, and then looked at me and then headed for the door. I told him we had to wait until he’d seen the doctor, but he just looked so worried–not for himself, but for whatever was happening to that dog!

Then, while he was intently staring down the hallway, one of the exam room doors opened and a large man and a 100-lb dog came rushing out, with the man saying, “I’ve got to get him outside before he goes on the floor!” Except … they were heading right toward Chappy and, well, that dog was a lot bigger than he is, so he ducked away and hid behind my legs. When the man came back in a couple minutes later (without the dog) to pay his bill, Chappy wanted nothing to do with him.

So, by then, I was petting him to help him relax, and suddenly I felt his chest vibrating. He was growling … but at what? I turn my head to see what he’s staring at … It’s a poster on the wall of a Chihuahua on a scale. The picture (being a Chihuahua) is lifesize and it’s freaking Chappy out. He doesn’t LIKE dogs that don’t move. Statues and lifesize pictures of dogs are, in his opinion, in the poorest possible taste. We even have a portrait of HIM that my aunt painted 7 years ago, and every now and again, Chappy growls at it, too, until he decides that the non-moving dog is not a threat.

Oh, and according to the vet? This means that Chappy not only has excellent eyesight, but a good imagination.

Like, we didn’t know that!

Here’s an update on my sweater.

Obviously the body is going more slowly than the sleeves did, but it’s moving. That odd stripe up the center? That’s going to be the steek. Of course, in retrospect, I’m a little concerned that the Silky Wool won’t “grab” quite so well as the Shetland called for in the original pattern, and am thinking that maybe doing a wider steek might have been wiser. But, well …

I suppose that if I were really smart, I’d knit myself a swatch right now and test this before I knit the entire body, only to find it unravelling…

Saturday update: Well, he’s still a little quieter than usual, but Chappy is more like himself this morning. Obviously sleeping on the bed with his Mom made him feel better!

• Tags: Chappy, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:5:15 // 8 Comments »

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Lucky me, I got to be VERY popular with my co-workers yesterday. I was asked to bring in my camera and take photos for the company Christmas card. (Really, you can imagine how popular that made me!) I promised all the camera-shy people that my picture would be on the card, too, though–so I also brought in my camera’s remote, propped it up on my desk, and–voila.

My Interweave Knits came yesterday, and, well, eh.  Though the hooded scarf caught my eye. (You know how I love hoods.) It’s even got pockets at the ends of the scarf. And I like that tweed-like bag, too … and do its handles look familiar?

Anyway–Chappy woke up quiet today, a little clingy, but was fine. He even offered to write this blog post, wasn’t that nice of him?

• Tags: General • Permalink:Camera Shy // 5 Comments »

So, remember the 2 lbs of beautiful Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Cormo I got from my Spring Share?

And how light and fluffy it was?

And how really, really beautiful my first skein turned out to be?

Really, about the ONLY problem with the stuff is that 2 pounds of naturally colored cormo, no matter how stunningly gorgeous, can get a little boring to spin after a while.

Enter Jessica.  Owner of an Etsy shop of beautiful hand-dyed spinning fibers?

You see where this is going, right?

The hardest part, of course, was picking the color. Because, with all the possibilities to choose from, it got really, really hard! Obviously, I needed some inspiration.

Yep. That will do. Now it’s REALLY Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm fiber … down to the color!

Great job, Jessica! And, thank you!

(And, psst, she said that she’d be able to recreate this color, if anybody’s interested….)

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:REALLY Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Fiber // 7 Comments »

I mean, look at this…

I baked Chappy HOMEMADE biscuits (thanks to the book Paula sent us).

But then I made him sit and wait … and wait … and WAIT while I took picture after picture…

Can you see the drool on the floor?

He’s not the only one I baked for today, though. I made Mom some “Amish Cocoa Squares” from the Espresso-Love-person’s cookbook. (Table Talk–definitely a keeper. We’ve tried four of its recipes so far and they’re all good.)

I cooked streudel for Dad … although, it was a frozen one. I do NOT do streudel from scratch!

Not to mention banana bread. (Yes, I always bake it in a bundt pan–it cooks more evenly and looks prettier!)

I also worked on my test knitting for Ruth … and ran out of yarn about an inch from the end of the second mitt. This was leftover yarn from my Ingenue, and while I DO have another skein, I’m thinking that it would be silly to wind it into a ball just for the 10 yards or so I need to finish … so I think I’ll just finish the second mitt in the contrasting brown I used on the Ingenue anyway. I mean, I already know I like the colors together!

Okay, I have to go have a chat with Chappy. I mean, so I made him wait … I still made him HOMEMADE BISCUITS. How much trouble can I really be in??

• Tags: Baking, Chappy • Permalink:I’m a MEAN Mom! // 11 Comments »

Some dramatic sky for you–I took this while driving home from Jessica’s house a couple weeks ago. (Yes, I was driving; yes, I was very careful while I reached into my purse to get the camera; yes, I know I should have two hands on the wheel at all times; yes, I know my windshield was dirty.)

Otherwise? It’s been gray, foggy, rainy, and wet all day–except for about 3 minutes of sunshine after we left the bookstore. Because, yes, Mom and I went to the bookstore with my $15 gift card from my sister and my 20%-off-one-item certificate from Borders.com. The fact that I fell off the wagon and spent $89 on books is completely irrelevant, and yes, I know, too, that I’m supposed to be saving my money … but, hey, you’ve got to keep the economy ticking over, you know? The money’s not doing anybody any good just sitting in the bank. And, besides, I bought books for Mom and Dad, too.

In fact, when I’m in a bookstore, I like to browse alone. Having whoever I’m with wandering the aisles with me can be pleasantly social, but I can’t browse. So–I told Mom I’d buy her a book. (Talk about role-reversal–that’s what she used to tell me to get rid of me for a while!) After a little while, she came and found me and said, “That’s really nice, but it would be even nicer if you brought Dad home a book.” I looked at her and said, “Yes, I already thought of that, but I figured I’d wait until you’d picked out YOUR book, and then send you off to find one for Dad.”

Got to keep the “kids” busy, you know?

Let’s see–I was writing up a new set of Knitting Scholar interview questions yesterday, and then GMAIL ATE THEM. Did you know this? It’s possible to have an open draft and to have Google not only NOT save the changes, but to discard the whole thing? I actually just tried to recreate this so that I could explain it to you clearly, as a warning, but … I still don’t know how it happened. But I DO know I’m not the only one. So … just be careful when you write email drafts. You’re better off using GoogleDocs, or Word or Notepad, or SOMETHING else, just to be safe!

So, I got the extra fun of recreating about 25 interview questions … thank heaven I’d started by scrawling general ideas for questions in a notebook, and not by sitting in front of the computer, like I usually do! I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying doing these interviews. The reviews themselves are satisfying, but the interviews are just so much FUN! Hmm, I wonder what Meg Swansen is doing in the next couple of months?

And now … I’m helping Ruth out with some test knitting. (When’s the last time you heard me say THAT?) So … got to go!

• Tags: General, Sky • Permalink:Yes… // 2 Comments »

This Lladro has been waltzing on top of our dining room table for 20 years now.

Once upon a time, in 1988, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, my father bought this Lladro for my mother. A few weeks later, we threw my sister a wedding shower, where–how perfect!–this served as the centerpiece on the table.

Really, it’s had a special place in my heart ever since. It’s lovely, of course. And they seem so serene, and happy. And since my sister just celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, and my parents celebrated their 45th last month, well … I invited them to waltz over to my blog for the day.

You can almost hear the strains of Strauss, can’t you?

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• Tags: Eye-Candy Friday • Permalink:Waltzing // 2 Comments »

Not much to actually talk about tonight. It was a dark, dreary, wet day. Busy at work.

I’ve got two links for you.

First–my blog-crazy mother has started a second blog. (She is SO hooked on blogging.)

Through Jersey Eyes.

Go visit! Leave her a comment!

Second, there’s a really nice article on the MV Fiber Farm (and other fiber CSAs, because the idea is spreading) in the new Twist Collective. Hey, it’s worth clicking over just for the adorable photo.

And, you DID know that the new Twist is up, right? Look at the great cable on the back of the Sylvi coat. (Seriously. Great cable–it’s a flower!) Vivian is also lovely. And Gytha? I loved Gytha–so playful. Actually, there were a lot of things in there that I liked. I’m sure that comes as a big surprise, huh?

• Tags: General • Permalink:A Couple Links // 2 Comments »

Twenty years ago today, we welcomed my brother-in-law into the family.

That counts as a good day in my book!

Happy anniversary, sister!

• Tags: Family • Permalink:20 Years Ago Today // 3 Comments »

Hmm, I don’t know. It seems like something is missing…

… Don’t tell me … I’ll think of it …

Wait, I know! It’s the body of the sweater!

But, hey,  at least both sleeves are done. And the second one only took just over a week, which seems pretty speedy. I’m loving the colors, loving the pattern. The only thing I’m not liking is the 13-stitch float at the beginning and end of the color section, but, well …

And, my pretty MVFF Cormo? It really “bloomed” when I washed it, and ended up about 11 wpi–one of the thickest yarns I’ve done in a while. But I LOVE it. And it’s so light and airy, the skein was practically dry this morning–usually it takes a couple days for my skeins of yarn to dry.

Can I just tell you again how much I love, love, love this yarn?

Speaking of the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm, they’re moving today! The details are spelled out here. Susan and Patrick are opening a second farm, the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm, and for a series of reasons have decided to winter all the sheep and goats in New York state–which puts them about 3 and a half hours closer to us for a few months … no complaints, here!

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Something’s Missing // 3 Comments »

How pretty is this, huh? Remember my 2 lbs of Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Cormo? This is the first 4 oz, all spun up. About 240 yds, and so, so pretty. I mean, really pretty. The cormo is wonderfully fluffy and clean, and a beautiful creamy color. This is right off my skein-winder, and it’s drip-drying in the bathroom right now.

The challenging part? When I plied it, I didn’t get quite enough twist in it, but since I really didn’t decide that until I was halfway through the skein, I decided that I would finish the bobbin at the rate I was going, and then would re-ply a second time to add a little more twist. The problem? When I took the bobbin off the wheel, my Little Gem’s brake band broke.

So … first question. For those of you with spinning wheels (preferably Majacraft), what do you use for your brake band? Right now, I’ve got a length of leftover Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy doing its best, but who knows how long that will last? But, back to the story.

Well, I wanted to get this done, so what I decided to do was (gasp) use my Lendrum. My poor Lendrum hasn’t been used in, oh, about two years … since I got my Little Gem. So you can imagine its delight at getting to spin its wheel again. And it wasn’t until after I finished that that I tried to come up with another brake band for my Gem. Really, both wheels are happy, I think.

The tricky part is going to be … when I do the next bobbin, um, I really want the twist to match from skein to skein, so getting them the same with just one pass (I hope) might be a little more challenging.

Because, have I said how beautiful this yarn is, and how delighted I am with the way it feels and looks?

Okay–now, in other news, Chappy had a rough day.

I don’t just mean because of the lawn guys outside, blowing away autumn leaves for something like six hours. And, you know, a self-respecting watch dog simply must keep an eye on them … no matter how he feels.

Because … at 12:00, I come back to my desk and find a voicemail from Mom. An urgent, “Call me.” So I do, and she’s all worried–Chappy’s not putting any weight on his back left leg, and is panting like he’s in pain, I think you should call the vet.

So, I do, and the first appointment is 2:00. I make the appointment, call Mom, and “Can’t you get anything earlier? Now he’s throwing up, and he’s drooling a LOT.” Okay–I call the vet back, and they still don’t have any earlier appointments, but if it’s an emergency, they can get one of the vets to hold off leaving for lunch while we come over. Did he eat anything suspicious? Is his leg sore? I, of course, can’t answer these questions–I’m still at work! But then I remember that I can do a conference call, so I call home, get Mom on the phone with the vet, and she’s worried, so we all decide that yes, I’ll hurry home, get Chappy, and get him to the vet. I run and tell my boss and that I don’t know if I’ll be back after lunch or not, shut my computer down, and hurry home.

Where … I walk in the door and get greeted by a happy, tail-wagging Chappy. Sure, his back leg looks a little stiff as he leapt off his pillow to come running to the door, but he’s happy. His eyes are sparkling, he’s jumping up to say hello, he’s just delighted. Well, of course, I get that reaction every time I walk into a room (grin), so I try to calm him down–it could just be adrenalin, and I don’t want him to hurt himself any further. But, no … even after the “Mommy’s home” excitement dies down, he seem, well, like Chappy. Favoring his back leg a little, maybe, but more like it’s stiff than because it’s HURT.

So, right away, I call the vet and tell them that I don’t think we need that emergency visit. I’m not sure if they charge extra for that or not, but well, there’s no reason–with Chappy prancing around looking all happy and healthy–that the vet can’t go eat his lunch. We’ll just take that 2:00 appointment instead … Oh, it’s been taken? Okay, 2:30. I eat my lunch, give Chappy a few extra hugs, and head back to the office for at least one more hour of work … Except, really, he seems FINE. And, why pay for the vet visit if he’s perfectly healthy? Don’t get me wrong–he’s totally worth it–but, well, if it’s not necessary, um … why? So, we cancelled that, too.

All the while, both my parents are saying, “He really seemed sick an hour ago.” “I’ve never seen him drool like that before.” As if I wouldn’t believe them, that they were making it up (grin). But they are GOOD grandparents. Not only did they clean up the floor, but they both sat (or crouched) next to him as he curled up on his pillow in the kitchen, and massaged his leg for him. Wasn’t that nice of them? If his Mommy wasn’t there to make him feel better, at least his grandparents did an excellent job of pinch-hitting, huh? (Or, you know, so they claim.)

For the record, since I’ve been home from work, Chappy seems perfectly healthy. Once or twice, when he’s first gotten up after sleeping, that back leg has seemed just a little stiff–just like my right shoulder is stiff on some mornings when I wake up. We even pulled out the heating pad, just in case it helped. I mean, hey, it made us feel better!

• Tags: Chappy, Finished Spinning, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:False Alarm // 9 Comments »

First things first–who wants cake?

Are you sure? It was pretty tasty.

Maybe some coffee?

Mom even gave away some family crystal to my sister and brother-in-law for their 20th anniversary (on Wednesday). Mom used this as a candy dish when she was pregnant with my sister, and went through lots of sourballs to keep her stomach under control, so she figured my sister would appreciate this.

My niece and I both took pictures… she’s using my old 35mm Canon Rebel for the photography class she’s taking in college, and I, of course, am using my Nikon. (And, naturally, Mom and my sister were taking pictures, too–I just don’t have a PICTURE of them taking pictures…)

My niece also brought her sketch book from one of her drawing classes … wow, she’s talented. Her life-model sketches are fabulous, and how about this stripy self-portrait? Does anybody else look at that and think how nifty that would look in knitting?

No? Just me?

• Tags: Family • Permalink:It’s All About Family // 3 Comments »

Well, for the second Saturday in a row, Chappy got a ride in the car … but today’s was MUCH calmer.

Not to mention successful. Chappy got his rabies shot and is legal for three more years. I don’t know if I was the only one who complained to the mayor about not getting a postcard in the mail prior to our town’s Rabies Clinic last weekend, but they took action anyway. On Thursday, I got a letter in the mail listing all the other rabies clinics in the area for the next few weekends, as well as a couple low-cost options at Petco stores.

For those of you not in New Jersey, to get Chappy’s license in January, he MUST get the rabies vaccination by the end of this month. I believe (though am not positive) that this is true for most if not all of the state, since most towns that have the rabies clinics have them either in October or November–but not later than November. (And my town has a second one in May for cats.)

But, anyway, we went this morning for the 10:00 clinic and were the first ones on line, at 9:30–beating the second, third, and fourth people by all of about 30 seconds. By the time they started, there were 30-40 people on line behind us. And, luckily, at that point it was just barely misting. It’s actually raining now–we’re so glad we didn’t get drenched!

I’m sure none of you would be surprised to hear that Chappy behaved perfectly? He was friendly to his fellow queuers, behaved nicely with the vet, didn’t yelp, whimper, cringe, or otherwise complain about the shot, and he was perfect in the car. SUCH a good boy! He so deserves the sardines I put in the batch of Chappy Food I cooked when I got home.

Luckily, I didn’t get confused and add those to the birthday cake I was baking. Because, ew!

I promised you pictures of the yarn I got for my birthday. 600 yds of Superwash Merino from Briar Rose. It’s a dark color, so it’s hard to photograph. The darker of these two pictures is more accurate as to how it really looks, but the lighter one–where I used the flash–gives you a better idea of what colors are in there. It’s like a walk through the woods.

Oh, and some Saturday Sky for you. I took this a week ago on my way to work, but only just got it off my camera. I’ve noticed that my Canon Elph is starting to misbehave … do you suppose it’s sulking, because it’s not my favorite camera any more?

Oh, and here’s irony for you–the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes book I got for my birthday? The central idea is that you make a BIG batch of dough and keep it in the fridge, so that you can bake a fresh loaf as needed. The problem? Where, oh where, are we going to put such a big container of bread dough? Sure, we don’t always have a 5 lb pot roast sitting front and center (that’s for tomorrow’s family dinner), but, um, there’s really not much room in there… This could be a problem!

Okay … got to go and frost the cake!

• Tags: General, Sky • Permalink:Legal // 8 Comments »

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• Tags: Eye-Candy Friday • Permalink:Rafters // 3 Comments »

Wasn’t this nice? My sister stopped by for literally 5 minutes this morning on the way to the dentist, just to give me a hug and drop off three cupcakes. Wasn’t that nice of her?

We were saying that we couldn’t remember the last time she brought baked goods to the house–other than Italian bread–that wasn’t homemade. (My sister bakes a LOT of cookies!) I love cake and cupcakes, though–the more, the merrier–so these hit the spot.  Thank you so much, Patty! You’re the best big sister!

Of course, it’s sad that they’re gone already … I’m already looking forward to Grandma Cake on Sunday when the family comes for dinner.

I got a skein of Briar Rose yarn from Mom and Dad. (Gosh, I don’t know how she does it–every year at Rhinebeck she manages to sneak something past me.) (Although, now that I think about it, I DO remember looking at this yarn and handing it to her … it’s all coming back to me!)

And, I know the picture is a lousy one for the yarn–I’ll do better tomorrow in daylight. It’s really a deep, foresty, green and brown, but you’d never know it from that picture.

Also pictured, a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, which I’ve wanted for a while. A Borders bookstore gift card from my sister (dropped off with the cupcakes). And a DVD of Citizen Kane, which was quite a shock. I had mentioned recently that I’d never seen it, so Mom thoughtfully got me a copy. Of course, she didn’t realize that the reason I’d never seen it was because I was completely uninterested in it … but still, thoughtful, huh?

It’s been a rainy/drizzly day, so … no walk for Chappy. Mom and I went to Short Hills mall for the first time in a YEAR, mostly as someplace to go, and because I needed lipstick (grin). Chappy was very, very happy when we got home around 2:00, and we spent much of the rest of the afternoon on our chair in the dining room. I wanted to get some spinning done–it’s my Little Gem’s second birthday, you know–but never made it to the wheel. I’ll try to do that tonight. She should get to whirl and spin for her birthday, too, don’t you think?

Here’s an interesting little tidbit. We were talking about the weather forecast the other night and how unseasonal 66 degrees was (or was it? discussion ensued). I said something about thinking 66 is excellent, because of course, I was born in 1966, and then Mom commented about how she’s 66 … a nice juxtaposition, don’t you think?? But then it got better … Mom was born in 1942, and I just turned 42 today … what are the odds? The 42 and 66 thing happening like that? How cool is that, huh? And–better still–this same juxtaposition happened two years ago with my sister, when she turned 42 when Mom was 64 … only we didn’t realize until now…

• Tags: Family, General • Permalink:Birthday // 12 Comments »

Okay … birthday cake for everybody!

Not only is it my birthday, but it’s Vicky’s and Beth’s, too. Not to mention Kirsten’s husband. And Julie’s daughter (who has a brand new hat for her birthday–I know, because I made it myself).

Hope everybody has a good day!!

• Tags: General • Permalink:Celebrate! // 18 Comments »

How tired am I today? I pulled my knitting out at 8:00 and managed to struggle through three rows on my sleeve before putting it away and pulling out my book. Because, when I’m really tired, there’s nothing (other than sleep) that I’d rather do than read.

Because, um, no … even when tired, I can’t just sit and stare at the television. Unless I’m sick–but that’s different.

I’m tired, of course, because I stayed up watching the election returns last night. This is the drawback of being on the east coast–all the “live” stuff seems to happen late at night. Obama gave his victory speech at midnight, and while it was so, so worth staying up for … wasn’t it a great speech? But, I’ve been dragging all day.

Of course, I AM getting older, you know… I should really enjoy 41 while it lasts … Or maybe I’ll just go to bed…

• Tags: General • Permalink:Relief // 7 Comments »

Like lots of other people, I’m watching election returns tonight, but, how about a nice, knitting picture?

Sleeve #1 is now completely done, because not only is it knit, but all its ends are woven in. Sleeve #2 is making progress, and has all its ends (to date) woven in also.

You can also see that I’m using stitch markers to keep track of the increases. As much as I like the pretty, beaded stitch markers, these plastic “clip” ones are my go-to stitch markers because they’re just so darn versatile. I’m marking the increases as I make them, and I have “pending” increases lined up at the bottom, so that I know exactly how many I need to make–can’t lose count this way!

So, here’s Chappy’s crate with its cushy mattress and chin-resting bumpers around the edges, but he also gets a towel to snuggle into. I had taken it out on Monday to wash, but forgot to give him one last night, so the poor boy slept without a blanket all last night. As soon as I realized, naturally, I grabbed one of his towels from the linen closet and tossed it into the crate.

And, just as naturally, when Chappy walked into his crate later, he immediately tossed it OUT. But I don’t think he’s exactly opposed to the idea of using this towel, huh?

So. The election. You U.S. people DID vote, right?

It’s looking very encouraging for Obama right now, and can I just say how pleased I am about that? He comes across as smart, calm, thoughtful, personable, even-tempered … and that’s just so refreshing (especially after the last 8 years). I respect John McCain and admire his years of service, but I abhor the campaign he ran–nasty, scattered, uneven–and even worse, I did not like his VP pick.  I’m happy for Mr. McCain to continue to work in the Senate, I am grateful for all the work he’s done … but I want Obama to win. By a lot.

Without wanting to offend any of you Democrats out there (I’m a registered Independent, for the record), I confess that I’m a little worried about the thought of a Democratic President (yay!) with a House and a Senate that are ALSO both strongly Democratic (and with the House headed by Pelosi, a woman who scares me). The system has checks and balances built in for a reason, and while I like a lot of the things that the Democrats want to do, them running willy-nilly, unchecked is a frightening thought. My father is convinced that this means we’ll be a socialist country in four years, but, honestly, don’t ask me where he got that idea from. It won’t be THAT bad …but, still … worrying. But still–so happy this is looking so encouraging for Obama!

Now–for an interesting little juxtaposition. When there’s nothing “good” on television, Mom and I put in DVDs of tv shows on an ongoing, rotating basis. It takes us months to get through a single season of any series, because we’re only watching one episode every couple of weeks, and tonight–because we didn’t want to watch constant election returns–Quantum Leap was up. And tonight’s episode? Justice. The episode from 1965 when Sam leaps into a KKK member to prevent the lynching of a black man who is trying to get black men registered to vote. How incredibly appropriate. Not only is it an amazing episode, but it’s about not only voting RIGHTS for blacks, but about basic equality … And all this on the night when we elect (I hope) our first black President. Not just letting them vote, but … President. That’s huge. And that’s all pretty much in my lifetime. Okay, I wasn’t born until 1966, but still … Forty years ago, who would have expected that a black man would be in the running for (or the winner) President of the United States? That’s HUGE.

And, it will be so nice to have a President who can spontaneously use complete sentences (and pronounce “nuclear” correctly).

• Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:Biding // 4 Comments »

 You’re hearing it all over, but it bears repeating. A lot.

If you are, like me, a United States citizen, and you haven’t done the Early thing …

GO VOTE TOMORROW.
November 4th, 2008.

It’s important. Vital, even. Think about what’s been going on in the world lately, in the country–no matter who you vote for, your vote has never been more important.

Think about how close the last two presidential elections have been. The 2000 election was decided by something like 536 people. It came down to that few people.

• Never, ever think that your vote is not important.

• Never, ever take the ability to vote for granted.

• Never, ever decide that voting is unimportant.

If you don’t vote, you cede the right to make any complaints whatsoever about the government.

How important is this election?

Well, Starbucks is willing to give away a cup of brewed coffee to every, single person in the United States that votes tomorrow.  Considering they’re expecting record-breaking voter turnout, that’s a lot of coffee.

Go Vote!

Never underestimate the power of the people.

Oh, and I’m really sorry to hear about Barack Obama’s grandmother. Whether you plan to vote for the man or not, I’m so sorry that the one, remaining person who raised him passed away the day before the biggest day of his life.  It doesn’t matter how many friends and loved ones you gain as you live your life, there’s a special bond between you and the people who taught you the alphabet, and how to tie your shoe laces. And to lose her the day before the election? Whether he wins or he loses, I’m sorry for both of them that she won’t be here to see it. So many times you hear about grandparents that manage to hang on until just after a family wedding or a graduation … It just saddens me that she missed election day by such a short margin. Terrible timing, poor woman.

And, I wonder if, since Hawaii has Early Voting, if she was able to cast a vote for her grandson before she died? How satisfying must that have been?

What are You Waiting for?
Go Vote!

• Tags: General • Permalink:Get Out and Vote! // 4 Comments »

Hey, folks!

I’m having a contest over at Knitting Scholar, and you are all invited!

Now–the rules? You get entered if you post a link on your blog, and if someone says they came FROM your blog, you get extra chances to win, so–first, Spread the Word!

But, second–and this is just between you and me, okay?–If you say that you came from Chappysmom, I’ll give you MY chance to win. Because, of course, I’m not eligible to win my own contest, but because it’s YOU and we’re such good friends … if you enter the contest and say you heard about it HERE, I’ll automatically sign you up for two chances to win. THREE if you post a link on your own blog.

Really, I can’t be fairer than that, can I?

Go over to Knitting Scholar and enter to win! And then spread the word!

• Tags: General • Permalink:Knitting Scholar Contest! // 1 Comment »

SO much better. This color combination definitely works.

In fact, it worked so well, I’ve got the first sleeve completely finished. Except for weaving in ends, of course.

Now, let’s see, a few doggy things that came up in conversation yesterday. I just hope everybody finds their way here since I don’t have email addresses for everyone.

I cook for Chappy using a dogfood mix from Sojourner Farms. (Which, Anne, yes, is in Minnesota.) I’ve used this for both Chappy and Katy and have only good things to say about them. I use their traditional mix, which is oatmeal-based since I have no objection to my dog eating grains. (Some people avoid it.) The instructions are to simply add your own fresh, raw meat, vegetables, and water, and to soak it all overnight but I find the resulting mixture … unappetizing. So, what I do instead is combine the mix, the water, chicken, and yes, some veggies (or baby food!) in a big pot, bring it all to a boil, and then cover and turn off the heat. This cooks the chicken most of the way through so I’m not worrying about germs, and then I add raw beef cubes and put the whole thing in the fridge, so Chappy ends up with essentially porridge. Sometimes I’ll add extras like eggs, or oil, and he certainly gets bonuses in his food dish depending on what we eat. If there’s extra chicken after our supper but it’s not really enough for another meal for us, Chappy gets it.

Now, I know, a lot of dog owners think that commercial dog food is the only way to feed your dog, and I’m not going to try to convince anyone differently. My personal feeling, though? Commercial, all-in-one dog foods might be “scientifically formulated to meet your dog’s needs” but to me, it’s like my eating nothing but, say, breakfast bars ALL t