tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-280035432024-03-13T14:52:57.567-04:00The Nimble KnitterLife is like a ball of yarn, you can knit it into whatever you want.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-46190314948192490632010-05-30T09:10:00.001-04:002010-05-30T09:15:13.191-04:00Keeping Score<br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/51696408@N00/4652178043/'><img src='http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4652178043_884446c2e0_m.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />This is one of our roses that I shot in honor of Macro May.<br /><br />One of the things that influenced Doug and I when we decided to buy the iPad was our love of minor league baseball. The first app we purchased was ESPN iScore Baseball, though when I researched it before the 3G iPad was released it didn't have the ESPN moniker.<br /><br />I'll admit right here and now that I find baseball to be a little slow and boring. I prefer to sit at the games and knit or do crosswords while I watch. I have a short attention span. So one of the things that I learned to do, with Doug's help, was to keep score. We bought scorebooks and I kept score. It forced me to learn about the game and, more importantly at the time, to pay attention to the game. I say "at the time" because we used to sit on the first base side in the bleachers where a foul ball could be life threatening. If I was reading or knitting or whatever and not paying attention, I could get smacked in the head with a foul ball before Doug could dive in front of me.<br /><br />I liked keeping score but when we started sitting in the box seats behind home plate (and behind the netting) it became harder to see what was happening on the field. I didn't have to worry about foul balls anymore so gradually I went back to reading, knitting and crosswords. <br /><br />The iPad and iScore has changed all that. Now we take turns scoring (I score the visitors and Doug scores the Suns) and I am having to learn all over again how to score a game. What's worse is that now it seems to go so fast that I can't always keep up. <br /><br />We attracted some attention when we first showed up at the game with our iPad and started keeping score. The Suns assistant manager Joel wanted to know more about it and sat with us for a while to see how it worked. He later downloaded the iPhone version and messed with it enough to see the potential. He now sees to it that the starting lineups are emailed to me before game time so we don't have to waste time setting that up.<br /><br />One of the scouts who are always there came over and asked about it also. I hoped he checked it out some more because I know it could make his life easier.<br /><br />I sometimes sit at home and watch baseball on tv now so I can practice scoring. Before the iPad I considered that to be akin to watching paint dry but know I'm so busy trying to figure out what happened that I can't keep up. This has turned out to be so much fun that I really look forward to games. I'd like to be able to score every play exactly right but I think it will be a while before I reach that level, if ever.<br /><br />So for now the knitting stays home and I'm getting things done a little more slowly but they are getting done. I finished Eva last weekend but I haven't worked in the ends or blocked it yet. I'm almost done with the India Stole, less than 100 rows left with each one being two stitches shorter than the last. When it's done I'm going back the Evenstar shawl. So despite the attraction of the iPad and the rush of baseball, I'm still getting some knitting done. Just a little more slowly.<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-49577625639054715432010-05-26T09:00:00.001-04:002010-05-26T09:00:40.775-04:00Don't Let That Furry Face Fool You!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://www.flickr.com/photos/51696408@N00/4641943278/'><img src='http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4641943278_d960c5f66d_m.jpg' border='0' width='246' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />My friend is waging a war to save her vegetables from the aggressions of an insidious invader known as the groundhog. They know no boundaries, recognize no form of legitimate government authority, show no mercy, and take no prisoners.<br /><br />According to her latest update, hogs invaded her home base and destroyed her romaine while she was away performing a humanitarian mission. Later she discovered that the enemy had also destroyed her crop of kale and established a base of operations nearby. She has been forced to call in air strikes on their underground facilities. It's unknown at this time whether the air strikes were effective. These subterranean saboteurs often have a network of burrows which allow them to elude attack and escape all capture attempts.<br /><br />The battle is ongoing with the weather favoring both sides and neither camp likely to yield at this time. Stay tuned for updates. <br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-276501035459264552010-05-05T16:31:00.001-04:002010-05-05T16:31:09.342-04:00I took the plungeWe purchased an iPad. It's a 32G wifi 3G model which means that I can get to the internet from just about anywhere. I wanted an iPhone ever since my friend Janis got one a couple years ago and I had my hubby convinced that I should get one when our current contract was up for renewal. I knew about the iPad but figured there was no way i was ever going to talk the hubster into one of those. But then my friend Sarah said that I could get a 3G iPad and just get a plain phone.<br /><br />I told Doug and he didn't reject it out-of-hand so I thought I might have a chance. I just kept chipping away at his wall of resistance but my big break came when he went to a work meeting and saw someone using one in person. He stayed after the meeting and talked to the guy about it and I think he was sold.<br /><br />The release date for the 3g was April 30 (my birthday) and we made arrangements to leave work early and head over to the next town to purchase one from Best Buy so we could get the Geek Squad coverage. When we got there we were number 17 in line but they only had 15 iPads! They recommended that I get in line anyway just in case and I am so glad that I took their advice. Two people ahead of me left when they said they didn't have any 16G's. So we got the one we wanted and it was the last one they had.<br /><br />I love this thing!! I've been finding apps for all the things we need to do including this app, BlogPress, that allows me to post to my BlogSpot blog. For some reason, I can't post to it in Safari. There are so many apps but the best one so far is iScore Baseball that we're learning to use to keep score at the Hagerstown Suns games.<br /><br />Of course there's still knitting going on but it's taken a backseat this week. Friends and I went to Maryland Sheep & Wool on Saturday but I only bought one skein of silk lace weight from Spirit Trail Fiber Works and two remnants of Koigu. I have apps to buy! I can't be wasting money on yarn!<br /><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=W%20Washington%20St,Hagerstown,United%20States%4039.643519%2C-77.722786&z=10'>W Washington St,Hagerstown,United States</a></p>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-58045709284158890082010-03-09T14:53:00.004-05:002010-03-09T15:09:07.219-05:00Warming UpJust a quick post to prove that I'm still alive. It's warming up around these parts and we've had a few sunny days to melt most of the snow piles. The ground in our yard is mostly bare now except in areas of extreme shadiness.<br /><br />I've been working on the India Stole most of the time and I'm about a third of the way through the second half. It's moving right along even though it doesn't seem like I get to work on it very much. I'm thinking it's going to be really beautiful when it's done.<br /><br />I'm also working on the Evenstar Shawl (part of the Lord of the Rings Series by Susan Pandorf). Clues come out every other Friday and since it's still in it's infancy it's quite easy to finish a clue before the next one comes out. We've finished Clue #2 and are awaiting #3 which will come out this Friday. Here's a photo I took after I finished Clue #1.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/4379547900/" title="evenstar1 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4379547900_a05755796c.jpg" alt="evenstar1" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />It appears that I'm going to have surgery on my left shoulder very soon so the knitting will be on hold for a while. I somehow partially tore my rotator cuff and need to get it fixed and rahabed in time for mowing this spring. I hope the doctor can fit me in soon.<br /><br />The start of our local minor league season is only a month away and we're looking forward to that as we do each spring. Here's hoping that we get a break and have some warm weather for our first home stand.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-38478373299844070932010-02-19T14:45:00.007-05:002010-02-19T15:44:09.887-05:00Oh, My Aching Head!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwLzjUpI/AAAAAAAAAgg/ELxlZ75iU8U/s1600-h/snowsculpter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwLzjUpI/AAAAAAAAAgg/ELxlZ75iU8U/s320/snowsculpter1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440050110503539346" border="0" /></a><br />Sinuses, do we really need them? Must we have these holes in our faces that fill up with gunk and ache so badly? I got a sinus infection last week. It really put a damper on my activities over the weekend. I took a sick day on Monday and managed to snag a doctor appointment. She listened to me explain that it felt like my upper teeth on the left side were being pushed out of my jaw against their will. Now I'm on antibiotics and sinus meds.<br /><br />It hurt so bad I didn't even feel like knitting. That's when I know I'm really si....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG POST FOR THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I just now received a phone call from someone wanting to verify the model number of the photocopier in our office. Now my momma didn't raise any fools and I didn't just fall of the turnip truck yesterday so I told the dude that I know he's participating in a scam and that he should be ashamed of himself. He says "this is not a scam" and then hangs up on me. Way to protest your innocence there, Buddy.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If you ever get one of these calls, don't give them any information. They will send you supplies for the copier that you didn't order and then bill you or even worse just bill you without sending you anything.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">WE NOW RETURN YOU TO THE BLOG POST ALREADY IN PROGRESS...</span><br /><br />...ck; I loose interest in doing the things I love.<br /><br />The snow from last week is still hanging around. Here are some photos of the lacey remnants along our driveway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwnIptLI/AAAAAAAAAgw/FTArJB4yaUw/s1600-h/snowsculpter3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwnIptLI/AAAAAAAAAgw/FTArJB4yaUw/s320/snowsculpter3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440050117839795378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwcdBZcI/AAAAAAAAAgo/8QahZJ9-e0I/s1600-h/snowsculpter2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wwcdBZcI/AAAAAAAAAgo/8QahZJ9-e0I/s320/snowsculpter2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440050114972444098" border="0" /></a><br />I did force myself to knit a little over the weekend but the only thing that kept me going was this beautiful Malabrigo Twist yarn. The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-amanda-hat">The Amanda Hat</a> (Ravelry link) and I think I did something wrong on the crown. It's a little small. I may open it back up and rip out the crown and add some extra rows between the decrease rows. I really like it though. It fits good around my tiny head and should stay one better when I'm shoveling. Not that I want to do anymore shoveling. I've had enough of that to last me quite some time. But I found that the various hats I've knitted don't stay in place during hard manual labor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wxMkvfII/AAAAAAAAAg4/aJfeWZKQKY0/s1600-h/Ivelvetgrapeshat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S37wxMkvfII/AAAAAAAAAg4/aJfeWZKQKY0/s320/Ivelvetgrapeshat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440050127889726594" border="0" /></a><br />Meanwhile, I've started the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/evenstar-mystery-shawl-kal">Evenstar Mystery Shawl KAL</a>, a pi shawl inspired by Arwen's necklace that she gave to Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings. When I finished my first and only pi shawl last summer (Girasole by Jarad Flood) I was fairly certain that I wouldn't be doing another pi shawl any time soon. I'm just not fond of round shawls. But Susan Pandorf's motif for this shawl was so lovely and I'm such a sucker for all things LotR that I immediately signed up. I commissioned Nicole at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NoTwoSnowflakes">No Two Snowflakes</a> to custom dye 1800 yards of lace-weight silk for me and purchased 3000 beads.<br /><br />The first clue was released Friday night but I didn't start it until Tuesday evening because of the pain in my head and mouth. I didn't even look at the pattern. It hurt just to think about a circular cast-on in 100% silk lace-weight. When I did started it I remembered one of the reasons that I don't care for pi shawls - the circular cast-on. I tried 3 different methods and after starting over at least 10 times and having to cut off the worn-out end of my yarn, I settled on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q1SFTOOWg4&feature=player_embedded">Emily Ocher's</a> method. Now I'm almost done with the first clue. No photo yet.<br /><br />I'm using a the recommended needle size, US#3 and it's producing a looser, more open lace than I usually allow. I've decided to continue with this needle size though because I want this shawl to be large. I'll get used to the openness, I guess.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-5889730161896567522010-02-09T08:58:00.006-05:002010-02-09T09:47:33.056-05:00Bad Things, Man!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FqD6-CwrI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/k7hPq8F4aWE/s1600-h/100209sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FqD6-CwrI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/k7hPq8F4aWE/s320/100209sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436242840814535346" border="0" /></a>This <span style="font-style: italic;">sun pillar</span> phenomenon is get out of hand around here. This morning was the brightest, reddest one yet. I think it means something really bad is coming. Something like another 6-10 inches of snow on top of the 24" we got over the weekend. Here in the Desert of Maryland we're just not equipped to deal with these amounts of snowfall.<br /><br />Here's what it looked like around here on Saturday morning.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseudKUkI/AAAAAAAAAfg/I3nF13SMTM4/s1600-h/100203sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseudKUkI/AAAAAAAAAfg/I3nF13SMTM4/s320/100203sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436245500335116866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunrise</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FsfMuHopI/AAAAAAAAAfw/qSvGqOKK5gc/s1600-h/100206y2knit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FsfMuHopI/AAAAAAAAAfw/qSvGqOKK5gc/s320/100206y2knit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436245508459307666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">This is my LYS </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.y2knit.net/">Y2Knit</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> in Funkstown</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseyTcBJI/AAAAAAAAAfo/lJn73J3jcJ0/s1600-h/100206gate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseyTcBJI/AAAAAAAAAfo/lJn73J3jcJ0/s320/100206gate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436245501368075410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Barn yard gate</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseTvviDI/AAAAAAAAAfY/_9B_YqACbO8/s1600-h/100203_house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FseTvviDI/AAAAAAAAAfY/_9B_YqACbO8/s320/100203_house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436245493165295666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our poor shrubbery ("nothing too expensive")</span><br /></div><br />Sunday the sun came out but it was in the single digits so not much melting occurred.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtVHHbX1I/AAAAAAAAAgI/DlqvP2S_MpY/s1600-h/100207casa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtVHHbX1I/AAAAAAAAAgI/DlqvP2S_MpY/s320/100207casa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436246434667781970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking up the driveway to chez Artz</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtU8ftNBI/AAAAAAAAAgA/63NJQMxjIIg/s1600-h/100207aspar3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtU8ftNBI/AAAAAAAAAgA/63NJQMxjIIg/s320/100207aspar3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436246431816823826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Rime ice on the asparagus</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtUsnZLBI/AAAAAAAAAf4/oq7SXcCX7ko/s1600-h/100207sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtUsnZLBI/AAAAAAAAAf4/oq7SXcCX7ko/s320/100207sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436246427554098194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking down the driveway</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtVlZcLeI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/kTopYYXsGSE/s1600-h/100207sunset.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FtVlZcLeI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/kTopYYXsGSE/s320/100207sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436246442796396002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our hemlocks at sunset</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I realize that this amount of snowfall is normal in other parts of the country but it's pretty unusual here. Schools and colleges are closed; Federal Govt. is closed, local govt. is on liberal leave. Most of my coworkers made it in yesterday and today and our county government is functioning normally. Our Highways Dept. employees have done a heroic job getting the roads open and now they have to start over again with very little rest.<br /><br />We have had a few weather related deaths in the area, mostly due to the fact that rescue crews couldn't get to the victims in time. This despite the concerted efforts of the state and county road crews and private individuals with plows and loaders. It's so frustrating for the rescue workers who try so hard to get to the victims but are thwarted by the weather conditions.<br /><br />I think most of the residents for Washington County are ready for spring. I know I am.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FzN_LvvjI/AAAAAAAAAgY/sZY6NZKaisA/s1600-h/100207cats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S3FzN_LvvjI/AAAAAAAAAgY/sZY6NZKaisA/s320/100207cats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436252909349092914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-34910280867903157312010-02-03T09:12:00.003-05:002010-02-03T09:40:38.828-05:00Another Beautiful Snowy Morning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4327968610_6d6c7dc4d8_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4327968610_6d6c7dc4d8_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This morning's sunrise was beautiful in a different sort of way. Snow and fog blanketed the area and it was a little dark yet for good photos. We cleaned off the cars (someday we hope to have a garage) and by then it was light enough to take photos without the flash. They're still a little dark but they capture to eerie beauty well, I think.<br /><br />Here's the shrubbery in front of the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4327968606_7574b46bd0_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2739/4327968606_7574b46bd0_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Notice the snow crusted on the neighbor's chain link fence in this picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4327968558_296a3af769_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4327968558_296a3af769_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />More snowy trees and fog in our front yard.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4327968582_034183325b_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4327968582_034183325b_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This one is in the alley I walk down every morning and evening from the parking deck to my office and back. I think it's a pear but I could be wrong. I like how snow is clinging to every little branch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4327236293_d658469c55_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4327236293_d658469c55_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I am continuing to knit in the evenings, primarily on the India Stole. I'm almost half done and the rows are getting shorter as I approach the point. I think it's beautiful but the yarn is kind of clingy and I think it would have been better made with silk. But then I think just about every thing looks better made of silk.<br /><br />I've been having a lot of pain in my left shoulder lately and had an x-ray on Wednesday and an MRI on Monday. I haven't heard the results of the MRI yet but the Dr. called about the x-ray and said it showed a significant amount of <span style="font-weight: bold;">ARTHRITIS</span>! I go see an orthopedist tomorrow; I suppose he'll tell me, "You're old, get used to it."Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-55068798031230473382010-01-26T11:36:00.012-05:002010-01-26T13:14:30.548-05:00Look What I Did!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18aTMZ0MkI/AAAAAAAAAeg/0UryziyU-eA/s1600-h/cars_1001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18aTMZ0MkI/AAAAAAAAAeg/0UryziyU-eA/s320/cars_1001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431088592681448002" border="0" /></a><br />I wreaked both our cars! See those right-rear bumpers? See how they match? I did that all by myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18egX2UU2I/AAAAAAAAAeo/bFzu0yrEaCU/s1600-h/devo_1001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18egX2UU2I/AAAAAAAAAeo/bFzu0yrEaCU/s320/devo_1001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431093217138594658" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18es5bbwrI/AAAAAAAAAew/QmoH3BvWX7s/s1600-h/forest_1001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18es5bbwrI/AAAAAAAAAew/QmoH3BvWX7s/s320/forest_1001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431093432311071410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It was a dark and stormy night. The rain was coming down in buckets. I parked the blue car in the turn-around and forgot about it. Later I hopped into the gold car slapped it in reverse, completely forgetting that I had parked the blue car in the turn-around, and backed right into it. I turned the gold car around so the headlights were shining on the back of the blue car and got out in the pouring rain and stood there wondering how I could be such an idiot.<br /><br />The blue one is in the shop right now being fixed and the gold one goes in tomorrow. It's the first time I've ever been the cause of an accident. I've never had a ticket or a warning or even a stern look and then I wreak both our cars in our own driveway. I had to explain it to our insurance rep and the guy at the body shop. It was so-o-o embarrassing.<br /><br />On the plus side, both cars were still drivable and no one was hurt.<br /><br />On Saturday afternoon I spotted a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_dog">sundog</a> while Doug and I were out and about and he pulled into a parking lot so I could snap a photo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18fL3F43AI/AAAAAAAAAe4/qrE88lcfxmo/s1600-h/sundog_100123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18fL3F43AI/AAAAAAAAAe4/qrE88lcfxmo/s320/sundog_100123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431093964259777538" border="0" /></a><br />At first there was only one on the right or north side of the sun but later one appeared on the south side and though they made a good attempt to connect, they didn't quite make it.<br /><br />This morning there was another <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pillar">sun pillar</a>. The clouds were just right for a beautiful shot. I went back in the house and got the camera so I could capture this scene. It kind of reminds me of the view of Mount Doom from Minas Tirith.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18fMNzHB5I/AAAAAAAAAfA/Fgm-7xUobf0/s1600-h/sunrise_100126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S18fMNzHB5I/AAAAAAAAAfA/Fgm-7xUobf0/s320/sunrise_100126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431093970355029906" border="0" /></a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-90173644443667060772010-01-11T13:38:00.006-05:002010-01-11T15:05:34.146-05:00Adios, 2009!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5vq47EaI/AAAAAAAAAd4/tFS-QQwyDdg/s1600-h/red_bar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5vq47EaI/AAAAAAAAAd4/tFS-QQwyDdg/s320/red_bar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425564035971748258" border="0" /></a><br />Boy, am I glad that 2008 and 2009 are over. Those will be remembered as "the cancer years" here at chez Artz. I hope they're the last. I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions. I never do because I'm not good at following through on things like that.<br /><br />We had a lot of snowy weather here over the holidays and it's been really cold and windy most of the time. I took the photo above Friday morning from the front of our house. There's a scientific term for that bar of light going straight up from the rising (in this case) or setting sun but it escapes me at the moment. I've seen several of them this winter so it must not be a truly rare phenomena.<br /><br />The photo below shows our driveway on December 17th, the day after we received 16-18 inches of snow. We don't often get such large snow events here in Washington County. In fact we don't often get much precip at all. We refer to this area as the desert of Maryland. The rain and snow usually go east or west of us but seldom make into the Great Hagerstown Valley. Last summer was also an exception and I guess it just carried on into winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5wj_vDMI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/iBnMRX93WgE/s1600-h/our_house5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5wj_vDMI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/iBnMRX93WgE/s320/our_house5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425564051301141698" border="0" /></a><br />It was certainly beautiful, both while falling and the day after. This is a cedar along our driveway. I took lots of photos during the storm and the day after. You can see more on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/">Flickr</a>. Fortunately I don't have to go out and work in this kind of weather. I'm sure I'd sing a different song all together if that were the case.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5wFvgT4I/AAAAAAAAAeI/rPjzue0XWr4/s1600-h/cedar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5wFvgT4I/AAAAAAAAAeI/rPjzue0XWr4/s320/cedar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425564043180003202" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the snow piled on the shrubbery in front of our house the morning after. It was breathtaking. It was a very light and fluffy snow because of the extreme cold and therefore didn't cause any power outages in our area. And it shoveled easily. We don't do a lot of shoveling because we have all-wheel-drive Subarus and don't have much trouble making it up and down our driveway despite the little hill we have to go up to get to the house. So we only shovel paths to the cars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5v9Toz5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/9RrmrrgCexk/s1600-h/our_house3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0t5v9Toz5I/AAAAAAAAAeA/9RrmrrgCexk/s320/our_house3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425564040915636114" border="0" /></a><br />In knitting news, I joined the 10 Shawls in 2010 group on Ravelry. My first shawl is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kimmy/india-stole">India Stole</a> by Sylvie Beez. I'm using Perchance to Knit Lace in the Lagoon colorway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4257043874_6accb8fa59_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 400px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4257043874_6accb8fa59_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I'm not going to obsess over getting all 10 done. My queue is pretty ambitious so I'll do what I can and be satisfied with what I get done. I've also been watching "<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/cranford/index.html">Cranford</a>" and "<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/cranford2/index.html">Return to Cranford</a>" on PBS Masterpeice Classics and enjoying it immensely. What an amazing cast!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0uDcLTW3OI/AAAAAAAAAeY/L7D1TDBlz2Y/s1600-h/poster_cranford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/S0uDcLTW3OI/AAAAAAAAAeY/L7D1TDBlz2Y/s320/poster_cranford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425574696191450338" border="0" /></a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-41705898836971341172009-12-23T09:50:00.004-05:002009-12-23T10:12:47.334-05:00In which I FINALLY reclaim some Christmas spirit...In October I had it in spades. My emotional self was ready to get the decorations out but my common sense told me I was crazy so I let it go. I traditionally decorate the week of Thanksgiving and I told myself I could wait. But when Thanksgiving rolled around my Christmas spirit was nowhere to be found.<br /><br />I blame it on deluge of Christmas hype that starts in late October/early November. By Thanksgiving I was sick of Christmas. We carried our artificial tree up to the living room and there it stands - naked. It's now December 23 and I don't see myself putting anything on that tree this year. If it wasn't for the 16 inches of snow on the ground I would have carried it back to the basement. The indoor stairs are a little narrow for the tree to maneuver so we carry it up through the yard and in the front door. I guess we'll just plug it in and look at the lights.<br /><br />Doug has been concerned by my total inability to get with the spirit. I'm a little confused myself. We haven't decorated in 2 years and I was really looking forward to it this year, right up until it came time to do it, that is. Last year I was finishing up my chemo and didn't have the energy to decorate and the year before that we spent Christmas in Santa Fe with Doug's sister and her family. Since we weren't going to be home, I didn't decorate very much.<br /><br />Last night I finally did my Christmas cards (yes, I know, you don't have to say it) and all of the sudden I felt the tiniest flutter of "something" in my heart. I got up and found the scotch tape and hung the cards we've received on the pillars in the living room. It looked so nice. I still don't hold out any hope for the tree but I believe that I'll put up the garlands and hang the wreath on the door when I get home today. Doug will be so surprised when he gets home!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-7331350484930753562009-12-03T13:12:00.002-05:002009-12-03T13:36:31.248-05:00News or Entertainment?This morning on the Today show they lead off with the couple who crashed the state dinner party, Tiger Woods, and the Jackson Brothers. It's strange, you know, because I thought WE ARE AT WAR! I realize that they can't show the serious stuff all the time but really, to lead off with those stories trivializes the struggles of the men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.<br /><br />Am I wrong in thinking this way? Have I missed something along the way? When did the Today Show become an extension of Entertainment Tonight? For a society that is so focused on the media and instant access to the latest information about everything under the sun, it's really hard to find the news.<br /><br />I listen to NPR (WYPR out of Baltimore) in the car on the way to and from work everyday and it has become my only real source for hard news. The fact that I have a 10 minute commute doesn't allow much time but I really do get more from those two 10 minutes sessions then I do for a whole half-hour of TV news or from our local newspaper. The paper focuses almost exclusively on local news with only one page devoted to world <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> national news. That's both on one page.<br /><br />It seems that we can't handle the cold, hard facts anymore. We must be entertained or our attention wanders. I don't think it's really true but the media seems to think that we Americans have the attention span of a fruit fly and that if they don't wrap the facts in a sugary coating and then jamb them down our throats at the speed of light they'll lose us.<br /><br />"Twenty-six people were killed in a roadside bombing in Iraq yesterday...oh look, a chicken!"<br /><br />Come on, do we really have NADD (national attention deficit disorder)?Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-69350719255072345312009-11-30T11:16:00.003-05:002009-11-30T11:55:50.807-05:00Time to Get Back on this HorseI been absent far too long and life is much to short to waste.<br /><br />Summer and Fall recap: We had a great summer! In July we met family in Cape Cod and spent a week together. It was the first time there for all of us so it was all new and no one was bored. I have a lot of great photos but none are available right now so they will have to come later.<br /><br />In early November we took Joyce to Buffalo to see cousin Junior. It was the first time I had ever been there but it was such a quick trip that I didn't get to see much. I didn't see the city, the lake or the falls. That will all have to wait for another trip with more time and better weather.<br /><br />I've been knitting steadily all this time and finished a number of projects.<br /><br />In June I finished the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kimmy/aeolian-shawl">Aeolian Shawl</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3660919234_c28a475908_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3660919234_c28a475908_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3660121299_b77e7558b9_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3660121299_b77e7558b9_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then I made <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kimmy/girasole">Girasole</a> as a shawl. I haven't blocked it yet but here's a partial photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3798057628_99d5669306_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3798057628_99d5669306_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />While I was working on this shawl I started and finished a smaller shawl project, The <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kimmy/feather-duster">Feather Duster Shawl</a>. This one was small and quick. I don't have a finished photo of it either (I'm really slacking in the photo department) but here's a partial:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3798057648_177e6f7735_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 203px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3798057648_177e6f7735_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I started another Curved Shawl with Diamond Edging from Victorian Lace Today for a friend and I really need to get back to work on it. But I been busy making slouchy berets and cowls for myself and friends. Right now I'm working on the second mitt of a pair for DH. They're the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://y2knit.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_11&products_id=183">Flip Top Mitts</a> by Susan Wolcott of Y2Knit. They work up so fast I may have to make a pair for myself.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-17505090617239563402009-06-09T14:55:00.008-04:002009-06-09T16:17:43.545-04:00Hello, It's Me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3467567075_6698e76dbc_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3467567075_6698e76dbc_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, it's been awhile. I missed my third blogiversary, my birthday, all kinds of things. No regrets though, because I've been busy. Doug and I have been mowing on the evenings and weekends, when weather permits. Looks like we're about to have a thunderstorm here any minute.<br /><br />I've started Zumba! It's been 4 weeks (eight classes) and I can really tell a difference in my movement and energy level. After months of little or no energy and therefore little or no activity I'm finally moving again. Of course, I can just barely walk to the car after class and don't even think of asking me to do anything when I get home but I'm taking baby steps.<br /><br />I had a check up with my oncologist yesterday and after a very thorough exam she said everything seems fine. I'm scheduled for a mammo next month. I've been putting it off because of lingering tenderness in the incision area, but I guess I'll just have to bear up and get it done.<br /><br />My hair is coming back like crazy! It's very fine baby hair, mostly white, but some darker strands are coming in finally. I can't say I'm thrilled to have to shave my legs again but it's pretty sparse so I'm not complaining.<br /><br />And of course, I've been knitting. I didn't get to go to MD Sheep and Wool this year because of a wedding in the family (honestly, what were they thinking?) but I made a list and my wonderful friends went on a treasure hunt and found almost all of it. They also bought a few wonderful things that weren't on the list that they knew I'd like. I've got great friends!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3611920282_0810dfc650_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3611920282_0810dfc650_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I've bought more yarn since. In fact, I've been on a little spree but it's over now. I've got one more order coming and I'm done for a while. The center photo on the top row of the mosaic below is the Midnight Rainbow/Harlot's Peacock from Perchance to Knit that I ordered from the <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com">Loopy Ewe</a> to made a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/girasole">Girasole</a> (Rav Link) shawl. I've wanted it for a long time and since Sheri was offering a 20% discount to those of us buying yarn to join the Girasole KAL, well I had to buy it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3611128633_76f5b08f19_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3611128633_76f5b08f19_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We bought a Canon Rebel Xsi DSLR for our anniversay and I'm slowing learning how to use it. All of the photos about were taken with the new camera. I'll post a photo of my new hair later.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-61626787318956228902009-03-19T08:00:00.004-04:002009-03-19T08:22:52.717-04:00In Heaven There Is No Beer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/ScI33u91kSI/AAAAAAAAAdk/-BMZMSdgYYU/s1600-h/1-colour_w3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_OK5uZEhsjAU/ScI33u91kSI/AAAAAAAAAdk/-BMZMSdgYYU/s320/1-colour_w3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314871940890333474" border="0" /></a><br />Turns out that's not necessarily true. On <a href="http://www.history.com/minisite.do?mini_id=54036">The Universe</a> (History Channel) the other night they talked about huge clouds of alcohol floating about in the galaxy and how prevalent they are. Some are larger then our <a href="http://www.physorg.com/news63346824.html">entire solar system</a>. Though technically not beer, this is the kind of alcohol we drink.<br /><br />Why am I talking about beer? Because shortly before my last radiation treatment I started craving beer. I have never been a beer drinker (or any kind of drinker for that matter). I drink less then 10 beers a year on average. But all at once I had to have beer, any kind of beer. I dreamed about beer. I longed for beer while I was a work. I drank beer before noon on the weekends. I sent my hubby out on late night beer runs. In the past month or so I have probably drank 5 six packs. That may not sound like a lot to some but it's unprecedented for me.<br /><br />I told my oncologist about this craving and she thought it was very funny. She said it was nothing to be alarmed about. I guess my body is just screaming for yeast. I know that it's the yeastiness of the beer that attracts me. I'm hoping now that my treatments are finished, this madness will end. I thinks it's tapering off a little already. I meant to drink a beer last night, I thought about while I was a Charity Knitting at <a href="http://www.y2knit.net/">Y2Kint</a>, but I forgot about it when I got home.<br /><br />So the next time you raise a glass, think of me and rest assured that if you didn't want that beer I would definitely drink it for you.<br /><br />Cheers!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-56573612184492020552008-12-24T09:38:00.005-05:002008-12-24T10:28:14.922-05:00Happy HolidaysHi, everyone. I wanted to post a project update and wish everyone a happy holiday (whatever that holiday maybe) and a happy new year. I've been knitting every free moment and have finished a shawl and started a couple of new projects. You know me, one is never enough.<br /><br />I finished the Baltic Blossoms Shawl for my step-mother. It's blocked and all I have to do is weave in the ends. I asked Sarah to model it for me but the camera batteries were dead and then later she was busy so here are pictures of it without a human for scale.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3128407099_b4580a3cc7_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/3128407099_b4580a3cc7_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I really love this shawl and will hate to have to gift it but I can always make another one, right? <a href="http://nimble-knitter.blogspot.com/2008/11/im-still-going.html">This was quite a journey from beginning to end.</a> But I won out in the end and finished it. The yarn is so pretty. Here's the stats:<br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kimmy/baltic-blossoms-lace-shawl">Baltic Blossoms Lace Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark</a><br />Yarn: Spirit Trail Fiberworks Atropos Bombyx Silk in a one-of-a-kind colorway<br />Needles: #2 Knitpicks Harmony<br />Mods: I added 5 repeats to the body of the shawl and made the rest according to the pattern. I pinned out the points as scallops instead of points. I like that look better. I love nupps!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/3129236358_976f921a0d_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3204/3129236358_976f921a0d_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile I've started a scarf from Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. It's the kimono shawl but I cut the repeats from 10 to 6 so it's a little narrower. I'm wondering though if I should have cut them to 4 because it's still pretty wide and I only have 654 yards. I sure hate to rip it out now because I have over 2 feet of it done. I'm using Handmaiden Sea Silk 150g in Ivory. I've long covetted this colorway and finally scored a skein thanks to a generous gift from my wonderful MIL.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3133311852_13d2259edc_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3133311852_13d2259edc_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is a boring knit but the yarn is so yummy that it keeps me going. In fact I think it's slowing me down because I keep stopping to admire and fondle. I worked on it at the <a href="http://www.ramsheadtavern.com/annapolis/">Ram's Head Tavern</a> in Annapolis last Friday while we drank a couple of beers and waited to see the <a href="http://www.baconbros.com/site.php">Bacon Brothers.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3132487579_351beb3d87_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3132487579_351beb3d87_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm also working on a scarf from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush out of Filatura di Crosa Superior. I can't remember the name of the pattern right at the moment and I haven't photographed it yet. It's going fast but the Kimono Shawl is my first priority.<br /><br />That's about it for knitting right now. I have to wrap up some presents tonight and we're ready for Christmas. We going to relatives tomorrow and the LYS is having a Boxing Day Knit-In so I'll probably go to that for a while. I don't intend to do any shopping on the day after.<br /><br />Monday will be my last chemo treatment and I'll be so glad to get it over with. Thank goodness it fell after Christmas. Then I start radiation sometime after the first of the year.<br /><br />I hope you all have great holidays and enjoy it however you see fit. Happy New Year, y'all!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-23614866021267635272008-12-04T14:55:00.001-05:002008-12-04T14:57:52.415-05:00<a style="background: rgb(0, 0, 0) url(http://www.bunkbeds.net/velociraptor/img/badge.jpg) no-repeat scroll 0pt 0pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; display: block; width: 322px; height: 157px; text-align: center; padding-top: 150px; text-decoration: none; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; font-size: 30px; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);" href="http://www.bunkbeds.net/velociraptor/"> <span style="display: none;">I could survive for</span> 1 minute, 9 seconds </a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-39751293324161429792008-11-25T12:53:00.005-05:002008-11-25T15:09:11.862-05:00I'm still going...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2999616263_66e66c87eb_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2999616263_66e66c87eb_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I can't believe it's been over a month since my last update. I've been knitting like crazy so I have a lot to talk about.<br /><br />I've been on a lace kick lately. I finished the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swallowtail-shawl">Swallowtail</a> and gifted it to my lovely co-worker. I really enjoyed this knit. The pattern is well written and easy to follow and the yarn I used, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/handmaiden-fine-yarn-sea-silk">Handmaiden Sea Silk</a>, is just beyond words. I think it's the perfect yarn for this pattern. It was a true pleasure to knit with and I wish I could afford to make more projects with it but it's a bit pricey for my budget. This photo shows the actual color of the yarn much better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2999616347_c0c4423a33_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2999616347_c0c4423a33_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This put me on a path to nupp central. I purchased an online pattern that features nupps, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baltic-blossoms-lace-shawl">Baltic Blossoms by Evelyn A. Clark</a> and started it right away. I started it using <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/filatura-di-crosa-superior">Filatura di Crosa Superior</a> of which I have 660 yards. This yarn is my most cherished possession and I didn't want to waste it. The small version of the shawl would have left me with 200 yards, not enough to do much with but not enough to knit the larger size. I did the body of the shawl before I finally made up my mind that I just couldn't live with the thought of wasting those 200 yards. So I ripped it out and started over using <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/spirit-trail-fiberworks-atropos--100-bombyx-silk-laceweight">Spirit Trail Fiberworks Bombyx Silk Atropos</a>. I have 500 yards of this so I did the body for the smaller size but I also went down a needle size. After knitting 9 repeats of the body and the first two lily of the valley charts I decided that the shawl would be too small. So I ripped out the LOV charts and added 5 more repeats of the the body pattern for a total of 14 repeats. With the smaller needle size I'm hoping that 500 yards will be enough to finish this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/3003481122_2984bd128e_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/3003481122_2984bd128e_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here's what it looked like before I ripped out the LOV charts. I ripped it back to the where the first lifeline is shown but unfortunately I had already removed the lifeline (I know, I'm an idiot). So I had a lot of fun trying to pick up all those stitches in SILK yarn but I eventually succeeded. I'm now back to where the first lifeline is shown but with 5 extra repeats of the body pattern. I'm ready to start the first lily of the valley chart. I'll have to do some major improvisation if I don't have enough yarn to finish this because the colorway was one of a kind.<br /><br />Meanwhile, my friends and I went to Stitches East for three wonderful fun-filled days! I took two classes and really enjoyed them both but especially the Cable Variations class taught by Melissa Leapman. She is a really good teacher and kept the class moving even if it meant leaving some folks behind. The class description clearly indicated that it wasn't for beginners. I felt so sorry for the lady who sat beside me. She didn't know what an SSK was! She didn't even really get started on any of the examples before she had to quit and move on to the next one. I think she was in tears at one point. No one should ever cry over knitting. That's just wrong in so many ways.<br /><br />I made some purchases at the market preview Thursday night. I bought a skein of gorgeous tencel laceweight Almaza from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/just-our-yarn-almaza">Just Our Yarn</a>. Yes, that's the real color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3024344891_7e051c4047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3024344891_7e051c4047.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />It's seems to be a very fine lace weight, perhaps closer to cobweb. I just couldn't resist the color and shine.<br /><br />I bought two skeins of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jojoland-harmony">Jojoland Harmony</a>, which is also a very fine lace weight. I'm into bright colors right now. Maybe it's because of the gray/brown yarn I'm working with right now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/3025173406_e0b600b5df_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/3025173406_e0b600b5df_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't worked with either of these yarns so I hope they will lend themselves to an enjoyable knitting experience.<br /><br />I hung around the Windy Valley Muskox booth a little too long and ended up buying two balls of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/windy-valley-muskox-golden-crown-suri-alpaca">Golden Crown Suri Alpaca</a> with the intention of making some sort of lacy scarf. They also had gorgeous pima cotton and beads to make a beaded scarf so I bought that as well. I forgot to take a photo of the cotton but here's the alpaca. I've started a scarf that I'll talk about later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/3024344757_a4470b6ea2_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/3024344757_a4470b6ea2_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My hubby wants a scarf made from muskox but he's going to have to cough up the cash for that yarn because it's not coming out of my budget. It's nice but there's too many other yarns I'd like to have.<br /><br />Let's see, what else did I buy? Oh yeah, I bought a skein of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/creatively-dyed-yarn-beaches">Creatively Dyed Beaches</a> sock yarn. Probably won't make socks out of it though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3024344781_8c5dce7cef_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3024344781_8c5dce7cef_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I also bought a couple books I've been planning to get. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/it-itches/"><span style="font-style: italic;">It Itches</span></a><span> by Franklin Habit and <span style="font-style: italic;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596680539/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=2597409167&ref=pd_sl_41h8cph1k8_e">Knitted Lace of Estonia</a> </span>by Nancy Bush. I have <span style="font-style: italic;">A Gathering of Lace</span> on my list but I'm saving it for my Christmas list.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3024344919_ef830a681d_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3024344919_ef830a681d_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I cast on for the Lily of the Valley scarf using the Suri Alpaca from Windy Valley Muskox and I'm working on it off and on. Here's a progress shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3059144794_af23243b6d_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3059144794_af23243b6d_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This yarn feels so luxurious and decadent that it's hard to describe. It has a cool, silky feel and a fuzzy softness both at the same time even though I think those tactile sensations contradict one another. It also stretches a lot. I hope it blocks okay.<br /><br />Somewhere in the the midst of all that I bought a skein of Malabrigo Worsted from Susan at Y2Knit and made another <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-better-bucket">Better Bucket</a> for me, since Hubby took off with the first one I made. I haven't blocked it yet and it's way too big for my hairless head but it fits over my head wraps and really keeps the cold off my bare head. The colorway it Noviembre, which suits it fine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3059215312_1a85c07c7f_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 223px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3059215312_1a85c07c7f_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I had my fourth chemo treatment last Monday and spent the week on the couch too tired to even knit. No nausea, for which I'm so thankful, but extreme fatigue and weakness. This week I'm doing better. I only worked half a day yesterday but I'm fine today. Two more treatments and I'm done with chemo. My exams have been good. No new lumps in evidence so we just continue to treat all the side effects of the chemo and hope for the best. I've had to go on insulin and blood pressure meds but hopefully once the poisons are out of my body, I'll be able to go off those. I have to admit that I'm enjoying the hair loss. Bath time lasts about 5 minutes now because there's nothing to shampoo or shave. My eyebrows are getting sparse but may actually make it through without completely disappearing. My lashes are hanging in there too but I've read that they will be the very last hair to go.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-40906769683250153072008-10-14T09:53:00.004-04:002008-10-14T11:12:10.697-04:00New Projects<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2941010513/" title="swallowtail2 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2941010513_01329a8d8c_m.jpg" alt="swallowtail2" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><br /></div>I have about six projects on the needles right now. I'm working on <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/clementine-shawlette">The Clementine Shawlette</a> in some amazing hand painted fingering weight merino with sterling silver that was given to me by a dear friend. I'm also making a pair of socks using some <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.limenviolet.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=28">Intention Yarn</a> by Lime & Violet using the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nutkin">Nutkin</a> pattern by Beth LaPensee that was giving to me by another great friend. Yet another friend (I know, I'm so lucky) gave me some Blue Heron Chenille that I haven't found the right pattern for yet but I'm looking. I don't have photos of any of these projects and I haven't added them to Ravelry either.<br /><br />I've also started <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/print-o-the-wave-stole">Print O' The Wave</a> by Eunny Yang out of some gorgeous Penthouse Silk by Neightborhood Fiber Company that I bought a couple of years ago. I started several projects with this yarn but none stuck until now. I've got about 8 inches of the center panel finished and was going pretty strong on it until the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/">Loopy Ewe</a> got in a shipment of <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/browse/yarns/hand-maiden/sea-silk/hm-sea-silk-moss/">Handmaiden Sea Silk</a>. I've been waiting a long time for some Ivory Sea Silk and there it was in my cart at last. That's when I saw the Moss color. Out flew the Ivory, in went the Moss and that was that. I had been saving my money for Stitches East in November but a skein of Sea Silk might be impossible to find there so I wasn't taking a chance. It came a couple of weeks ago and I fondled it and sniffed it and let it sit on the coffee table for weeks knowing that I wanted to make the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swallowtail-shawl">Swallowtail Shawl</a> but that I had so many things going right now that I just couldn't start another one.<br /><br />You know where I'm going with this of course. On Sunday I finaly wound the skein and dug out the Fall 2006 issue of Interweave Knits and started. It's going really fast because this isn't really a "laceweight" yarn.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2941863302/" title="swallowtail1 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2941863302_da96db9d85_m.jpg" alt="swallowtail1" width="240" height="180" /></a></span><br /></div><br />I'm always working on baby socks and have a pair done. I'm working on matching handsies to go with these socks because I had a request for a set.<br /><br />I've had two chemo treatments now, one-third of the way done, whew! This one left me tired, so tired. But I can't complain because I can handle tired just fine. I'm back at work this week and next week and then it'll be time for my third treatment. Friends and family are taking such great care of me. How will I ever repay everyone's kindness?Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-10783790488577286362008-10-02T08:19:00.005-04:002008-10-02T09:12:29.397-04:00Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - Part II<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2907310178/" title="before1 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 0pt 0px 10px 10pt; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2907310178_e9e36ce1e2_m.jpg" alt="before1" width="240" height="180" /></a>I went to my beautician to have my remaining hair buzzed off last night. Here's a front view of the hair that was left after my first chemo treatment. It was driving me nuts under my hats. It was itchy and being pressed down in unnatural directions was making my scalp hurt.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2906463715/" title="before2 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2906463715_a7e883b9d3_m.jpg" alt="before2" width="240" height="180" /></a>Here's the back view. Lovely, isn't it?<br /><br />First Linda Sue gave me a Mohawk because, really, how many opportunities does a straight-laced, white bread girl like me get to see herself in a Mohawk? It would have looked better if my hair had been thicker but of course it wasn't or we wouldn't be doing this in the first place.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2906463723/" title="mohawk by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 0pt 0px 10px 10pt; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2906463723_b1511dd45f_m.jpg" alt="mohawk" width="240" height="180" /></a>Next she shaved off the top of the Mohawk and left me with some weird Hare Krishna type look.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2907310208/" title="going by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2907310208_c3da9e7072_m.jpg" alt="going" width="240" height="180" /></a><br />Then she really got down to the job at hand and shaved it using a series of blades until there was just stubble left. The stubble is like velcro and sticks to all my hats and scarves. It should soon fall out though because my next chemo is on Monday.<br /><br />After a lot of buzzing I finally ended up with the look I was after. I give you - Uncle Fester. Some black shadow around the eye and a black coat and I'm ready for Halloween.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2907310216/" title="gone by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2907310216_b923c0235e_m.jpg" alt="gone" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then we really got silly and Linda Sue gave me a wig that I could use if I wanted but it's really not me. Wouldn't you agree?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2907310224/" title="i-don't-think-so by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2907310224_d408113ec3_m.jpg" alt="i-don't-think-so" width="240" height="180" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I'm going to order a wig from her that fits me better and looks more like my own hair. I know, I know, what's the fun in that?<br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-61557206197606378442008-09-29T10:26:00.006-04:002008-09-29T11:27:50.123-04:00Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2899163008_9ca1c47533_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2899163008_9ca1c47533_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I took this photo on Friday, September 26th. On Saturday the 27th my hair started to come out. It was day 13 since the start of my Chemo so I was expecting it. Everything I heard and read said to expect the hair loss to begin 10-14 day after my first treatment. What I wasn't expecting was that it would take so long to come out. Despite diligent efforts on my part to "comb it out" with my fingers there's still a good bit left. Today I wore a turban to work for the first time though because what's left is so sparse and ugly. I took the photo below this morning. I'm going to need more headgear. I plan to stop at a local medical supply store and see what they have. The turban that I'm wearing today was a gift from the local Breast Cancer Awareness chapter. They gave me two turbans and sleeping cap. I really can't say enough good things about BCA and all the help and assistance that they offer.<br /><br />The lumpectomy went very well. Little pain and no nausea from the anesthesia. I told every staffer who came in contact with me that general anesthesia makes me sick and they went out of their way to make sure that didn't happen this time. I had a pill, a shot and a patch. There was no staples or stitches, just steri-strips. All-in-all, the most pain free surgery and recovery I've ever had.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2899162976_657234337b_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2899162976_657234337b_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The pathology report was good and bad. The good news was that it hadn't spread to my lymph nodes. The sentinel node biopsy was clear. The margins were clear as well except that the tumor was very close to the surface of my breast. To get completely clear margins, the surgeon would have had to make a hole in my breast and she opted not to do that. Radiation will kill any cells that were left in that area.<br /><br />The bad news was that it was <a href="http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/index.html">triple negative</a>. No positive cells were found. This means that the cancer has a higher chance of recurring and that it can recur in areas other than the breast. Triple negative cancers are also more aggresive and mine was rated grade three, which is the most aggressive.<br /><br />I had my first chemo treatment on September 15th. They're giving me Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Taxotere. It took 6 hours for all the meds to drip into my vein. I didn't get sick but had headaches and "chemo brain" for the first few days. Chemo brain is dizziness, disorintation and short term memory loss. I couldn't believe how it affected me! I was looking under the sink for clean spoons instead of in the dishwasher at one point. Scary stuff!<br /><br />Next chemo - October 6th. One of my friends is taking me this time (hubby went last time) and she's a knitter too so we should have a great time. They told me that it should take an hour less this time because now that they know I'm not allergic to the meds they can let them drip in a little faster.<br /><br />But the knitting goes on. I just can't knit lace or anything complicated that first week after chemo. I'm working on Eunny's Print O'the Wave stole and various socks right now.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-79117436750230353672008-08-21T09:03:00.003-04:002008-08-21T10:57:37.944-04:00It comes down to this...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2784222666_c6e98f71e4_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2784222666_c6e98f71e4_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><ul><li>On July 28th I found a lump in my left breast</li><li>On July 30th I had a mammogram and sonogram</li><li>On July 31th I had a biopsy</li><li>On August 4th I found out that I have an <a href="http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/idc/index.jsp">Invasive Ductal Carcinoma</a>.</li><li>On August 8th I had an MRI</li><li>On August 12th I met my Radiation Oncologist and discussed treatment options</li><li>On August 13th I met with my surgeon to schedule the surgery</li><li>On August 26th I'll have a lumpectomy.</li><li>Sometime after that, if all goes well, I'll have radiation (<a href="http://www.mammosite.com/breast-lumpectomy/whatis-mammosite.cfm">MammoSite RTS</a>) twice a day for five days (if there's not enough healthy tissue left I'll have seven weeks of conventional radiation)<br /></li><li>Sometime after that, I'll start chemo.</li></ul>That's my life right now. I'll go for hours and forget all about it and then something reminds me that, oh yeah, I have breast cancer. When it's on my mind I can't concentrate on anything else. Work is getting to be joke right now but I think my boss and coworkers understand. I have a lot of stuff to get done before I leave next week but I just can't muster up enough brain cells to think about them right now. Time is running out though and I must force myself to concentrate on the tasks at hand for a little while.<br /><br />My boss is okay with me working from home while I'm off. I'm taking my laptop home and there will be a spare one on my desk for those days when I feel like coming to work. I'll officially be on sick leave (because my employer doesn't have a "work from home policy" in place) but at least I won't have to come back to a mountain of work. I'm the only one here who can do my job (webmaster) so except for emergency postings that will be done by one of my coworkers following my written documentation, everything else will sit and wait for me to get to it.<br /><br />I think I have a good attitude. My friends say I'm taking it very well. I haven't had any breakdowns, though I came close when I found out the the tumor is most likely <a href="http://www.tnbcfoundation.org/index.html">triple negative</a>. The surgeon said that the biopsy only samples a very small portion of the tumor and the pathology report after the surgery may show that there are some positive hormone receptors in the much larger sample that is examined. If there's even one positive cell in the sample then I'll receive the hormone treatments. Otherwise, I'll just have the radiation and chemo and then wait. I couldn't have regular breast cancer, oh no, I had to have triple negative breast cancer. But I'm not complaining because there are worse kinds of breast cancer and worse kinds to cancer in general. Breast cancer is highly treatable these days.<br /><br />And by the way, all you ladies out there who are reading this and saying to yourselves that you don't have anything to worry about because there's no history of breast cancer in your family should <span style="font-weight: bold;">WAKE UP AND DO YOUR BREAST EXAM RIGHT NOW</span> (unless you're at work, of course) because the only history in my family was a great-aunt on my father's side.<br /><br />I never thought of getting breast cancer for that very reason although I did do my exams. You see, cancer has cut quite a swath through my family, but not breast cancer. My mother and her mother both died of colon cancer and I have regular colonoscopies because of that. My father died of lung and brain cancer, and my half sister (dad's daughter) has kidney cancer. Everyone who didn't die of cancer died of heart disease. So breast cancer took me by surprise.<br /><br />Fortunately for me, I have a fantastic husband, great friends and coworkers, a wonderful local breast cancer awareness program and good medical facilities very close by. I'm more curious than scared at this point.<br /><br />My wonderful sister-in-law from Santa Fe sent me a beautiful Zuni horse fetish that I've been wearing in my bra. According to my research "the horse is an animal of freedom and the horse fetish has the power of healing, strength and safe movement". I'm knitting a pouch for him right now that I can fasten to my bra so I don't have to keep feeling myself to make sure he's still there. I've named him Victor (the Lone Ranger's nephew's horse's name, from <span style="font-style: italic;">A Christmas Story</span>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2783369981_e8b1e004f0_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2783369981_e8b1e004f0_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />He's my constant companion now and probably will be for the rest of my life. Isn't he beautiful? I think he's carved from marble with veins of pyrite. Thank you, Robin, for sending him to me.<br /><br />He's posing with my latest pair of baby socks. They're Koigu and the pattern is Miriam Felton's Infant to Toddler Sized Socks. We've given away all we had so I've been working on these when I get the chance and hope to complete some more while I'm off from work. So, that's how it stands right now. I'll update the blog again after the surgery but I don't want this to turn into a "breast cancer blog". It's all about the knitting!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-80275980803851040772008-07-28T11:59:00.007-04:002008-07-28T13:18:43.623-04:00Curved Shawl Finished<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2710000241/" title="curved_shawl12 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3247/2710000241_b92f0b5771.jpg" alt="curved_shawl12" width="200" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />My friend and co-worker Karen was kind enough to model the shawl for me today so that I could post photos of the finished object. Here are the details and a blow-by-blow description of the knitting.<br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-curved-shawl-with-diamond-edging"></a><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-curved-shawl-with-diamond-edging">A Curved Shawl with Diamond Edging</a> from Victorian Lace Today<br />Yarn: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/yubina-laceweight-cashmere">Yubina Laceweight</a> 100% Cashmere, approx. 300-400 yds.<br />Needles: started on a size 2 Addi Turbo Lace then switched to Knitpicks Harmony<br /><br /><p>6/12/08: This is a pretty easy knit once you get started. It would be easier still if I had Knitpicks Harmony needles in this size. The metal ones are a little too slippery. I’ll have to place an order soon.</p> <p>I’m putting in lifelines after every 12 row chart repeat right now. As it gets wider I may do it every six rows.</p> <p>6/18/08: I’m on the 22nd 4-row repeat and the pattern calls for 42 so I’m over halfway through with the body. Yeah! Still loving the knitting and have a hard time putting it down. I’m knitting much more slowly then I normally would though because the needles are so slick. I think I’ll breakdown and order the KnitPicks Harmonys in size 2.</p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2710000209/" title="curved_shawl11 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2710000209_5351e2f794.jpg" alt="curved_shawl11" width="200" /></a></div> <p>6/30/08: I have about 35 4-row repeats done now - closing in on 42 very quickly. I did order the Harmony needles and now I’m moving much faster but the rows are getting very long. I can’t wait to start the border because I’ve signed up for another KAL on the Victorian Lace Today group that starts tomorrow.</p> <p>7/2/08: 11 more rows to go on the center panel.</p> <p>7/8/08: I have 6 repeats of the border done! It took me several tries to figure out how to attach it to the center panel. It was awkward to knit it onto the big panel and not twist it at the beginning. Then I decided to do it just like the Harebell Fichu and I picked up all the edge loops of the center panel onto my circular needle. This made it very easy to keep the border straight and now I’m sailing along. I think it’ll go quickly if I can just stick with it and not let myself get distracted.</p> <p>7/21/08: I have about 4 more diamonds to complete and it’s done. I bought 500 extra-long pins yesterday at Joann’s because I knew I didn’t have enough to pin this out.<br /></p> <p>7/22/08: Finished last night. The pattern miraculously worked out, ending on the last row of the chart just like I had planned it that way. Since I inadvertently skipped a row on at least two repeats this is truly amazing. I’ll wait until Sat. to soak and pin. I have a feeling this process will involve hours of back-breaking work but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.</p> <p>7/28/08: Blocked it on Saturday. It dried really fast. I put 3 pins in each diamond on the border and ran blocking wires through the picot on the neck edge. I am so happy with how it turned out. I would make this pattern again. It took less than one 500yd ball. I would say between 300 and 400 yards.</p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2710000029/" title="curved_shawl8 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2710000029_5c053e5b4d.jpg" alt="curved_shawl8" width="200" /></a></div>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-67662894734268253892008-05-22T09:18:00.003-04:002008-05-22T11:31:08.766-04:00Sock Knitting Continues...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2513874386_41dc6cc5e3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2513874386_41dc6cc5e3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I finished another pair of adult socks. These are Pillars of Fire from <a href="http://www.theloopyewe.com/">the Loopy Ewe</a> Sock Club Summer 2008. The yarn is <a href="http://www.rohrspatzundwollmeise.de/flash_content/rohrspatzundwollmeise.html">Wollmeise Sockenwolle 100% Superwash</a> and if you haven't experienced this yarn I suggest you run, don't walk, to your computer and try to find a skein. It's not real easy to find though so think of it as big game hunting, big yarn hunting. The Loopy Ewe carries it but it's usually sold out. The lady who dyes the yarn is in Germany and does all the work herself I think, so it's thin on the ground.<br /><br />If you go to her website you'll see that she shares it with her husband who's in the wrought iron business. I love that combination, iron and wool. It's like a place near here called <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/itstheclamsname/352921534/in/set-644624/">Rudy's Welding Service and Cold Beer</a> (seriously, go look at the photo, I love the description under it).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2513874418_e5b9784db2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2015/2513874418_e5b9784db2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />But back to the socks. I wound the yarn the night it arrived and started the next day. I don't usually jump right on sock club kits when they arrive. I've got some from last year still in my stash. But I've been trying to get some Wollmeise for a while and when I saw it in the kit I started screaming "Wollmeise, Wollmeise!" (you have to pity my poor husband and cats). I bought a skein last year from the Loopy Ewe but I didn't like the colorway (Drachenblut) and recently traded it to aliseknits (Ravelry ID) for some leftover sock yarn to make baby socks. This yarn, on the other hand, is gorgeous. It's also called Pillars of Fire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2513874406_5df3373cf6_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2400/2513874406_5df3373cf6_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Now that these are done, I can go back to the Green Appletini socks from the spring sock club kit. This is another one that I started right away because the yarn is so pretty. It's by <a href="http://www.yarntini.net/store/">Yarntini</a> and it's 50/50 merino/tencel, one of my favorite combinations. I have one finished and another ready for the gusset.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2513199711_19276fce8b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2513199711_19276fce8b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2513199725_6462ec49a4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2513199725_6462ec49a4.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The gusset worked out very nice and the short row heel is my favorite. It knits up quickly and looks very neat when finished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2514024664_060cf3194b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/2514024664_060cf3194b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Isn't the yarn beautiful? The tencel gives it a little shine. And how about those tight little cables? Aren't they cute? They're only four stitches so they're easy to do without a cable needle. Sheri at the Loopy Ewe really does a great job putting these sock club kits together. She has excellent taste in yarn!<br /><br />In other news, my friends and I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and we had a blast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/2513291915_c92fe91053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/2513291915_c92fe91053.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The Action photo taken before we left from my house. My poor, long suffering husband took these two photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2514116536_d18c0da791.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2514116536_d18c0da791.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Normal pose. We are, from left to right, Janis, Me, Marge, Audrey, Terry, and Jane. WE ARE KNITTERS!.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-11455483918936397612008-05-12T14:15:00.003-04:002008-05-12T14:24:16.732-04:002nd BlogiversaryTwo years ago today I wrote my first blog post. Creating this blog opened up a world I didn't know existed. I have friends all over the country that I've never met because of this blog. I feel privileged to be part of the knit-blogging community and always feel more than a little pride when I tell people that I have a blog.<br /><br />Thanks to the readers (you know who are are) for visiting even though the updates have been thin on the ground lately. I hope to do a post about the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival latter this week so stay tuned.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28003543.post-31113125595759670392008-04-21T13:14:00.005-04:002008-04-21T14:59:28.501-04:00Spring FeverI've been very busy knitting this spring but just not in the mood to blog. I don't know why I keep up this blog. I don't think that anyone reads it and I don't really know why they would want to. I have nothing witty or interesting to say. Just the same old stuff.<br /><br />What have I knit?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2347748721_64fba38bfa_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/2347748721_64fba38bfa_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2378237800_884d3cfc02_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 10pt 10pt 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2241/2378237800_884d3cfc02_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well, I knit Miss Dashwood, Katja, and these ribbed soakers all from Kraemer Yarns Little Lehigh Pebbles. Katja and Miss Dashwood are from Knitty. I found the soaker pattern while cruising on Ravelry and don't know where it came from.<br /><br />These were knitted as a gift for one of our favorite waitresses at the Waffle House who is due in mid-May. They were very quick and easy to knit except for Miss Dashwood (the hat). I found it a bit of a challenge where the brim joins the hat but I think it was mostly due to the non-elasticity of the yarn I was using.<br /><br />I also knit an alpaca baby jacket (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/b13-3-jacket-socks-soft-toy-and-blanket-in-alpaca">b13-3 Jacket, socks, soft toy and blanket in Alpaca </a> by DROPS design) using <a href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/home.php">Classic Elite Alpaca Sox</a> in the Oatmeal Melange colorway. This is the cutest little thing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2216672562_fa90bba7bd_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 10pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2216672562_fa90bba7bd_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/2215878651_8f4c218c8e_m.jpg"><img style="margin: 10pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/2215878651_8f4c218c8e_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I left the crochet edging off because it was for a little boy and I thought that might make it look a little too feminine. I knit the <a href="http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_baby_bell_bottoms.html">Baby Bell Bottoms by Alison Hansel</a> out of<br />Cascade Yarns Cherub Collection DK to go with the jacket. These were made for a friend who had her little boy a couple of weeks ago.<br /><br />I made numerous pair of baby socks using <a href="http://mimknits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=68&products_id=189">Miriam Felton Baby to Toddler Sized Socks</a> pattern to give away and I did indeed give them all away and am making more. I didn't keep track but I estimate that I've given away a couple dozen pair by now. Here are photos of just a couple of the<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2378237972/" title="baby_tofutsies by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 10pt 10px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2378237972_d8a3d22e67_m.jpg" alt="baby_tofutsies" height="193" width="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2378238028/" title="baby_rainbow_black by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/2378238028_5b8b6be97d_m.jpg" alt="baby_rainbow_black" height="180" width="240" /></a>them. I ordered more Moo Cards to attach to them in case the mothers have any questions about care or materials. I love making these socks and always carry them in my purse as my portable knitting. So far no one has turned me down when I ask them if they will accept a pair of socks for their new baby. It was all my husband's idea to start giving them away to strangers as an act of kindness.<br /><br />I've completed a couple pair of adult socks as well. One pair was made for one of my co-workers, Harold. He's an avid fisherman and when I came across a skien of yarn from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5087261">Woolly Boully</a> called "Fishing with my Father" I knew they were for Harold.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2379333235/" title="harold2 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2379333235_e47f3ec61b_m.jpg" alt="harold2" height="221" width="240" /></a><br />Socks for Harold<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5087261">Woolly Boully Softie Sock</a><br />100% Merino<br />Colorway: Fishing With My Father<br />Purchased From The Loopy Ewe<br />Pattern: my usual toe-up on #1 circs<br />I can't remember where the leg pattern came from. K3, YO, K3, SSK then reverse for the other leg, K2tog, K3, YO, K3.<br /><br />This is Harold modeling the socks. I wanted to get a detail of the heel and the leg portion. I'm making a pair for me out of Claudia Handpaints with this same pattern.<br /><br />Let's see, what else have I knit and not blogged about? Oh yeah, I just finished "<a href="http://www.make1yarns.com/patterns/ABetterBucket.pdf">A Better Bucket</a>" by Amy Swenson. Talk about quick... I started Thursday and finished Saturday without even really trying. I've got to get a button or a big pin to put on it for decoration.<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimble-knitter/2431782508/" title="bucket3 by dulcimer100, on Flickr"><img style="margin: 10pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2189/2431782508_a880778e89_m.jpg" alt="bucket3" height="180" width="240" /></a><br /><br />I'm buying the yarn to make another one of these for another waitress at the Waffle House who is graduating from college soon and moving out into the working world. I know she rides horses and this is a very warm hat. I wish I had made mine last fall. Now I have to wait months to wear it. The brim is double thick Malabrigo Worsted Weight Merino Wool right over your ears where you need the extra warmth. I may get some wear out of it at the baseball games for the next few weeks until it really warms up once and for all.<br /><br />That's about it for now. I started "<a href="http://thriftyknitter.com/?p=219">The Woodland Shawl</a>" out of Dream In Color Smooshy in the Flamingo Pie colorway on Sunday but I don't have any pics yet. Enjoy the spring weather because it'll be hotter than Hades out there soon enough.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08882293867150429309noreply@blogger.com3