Recovery

Well it has been done. My hand surgery was yesterday afternoon. Ligament and tendon repair of the right thumb. See pics below.











Needless to say I am done knitting or crocheting for a while, as a functional leftie I am not, LOL.





Other updates, way behind in updating. Had awonderful Thanksgiving up at my Mom's in No-Cal. ended up with a total of 9 for dinner, with the family and guest(Danny wonderful new friend visitng from England). We all had a great week visiting. Sunset shot from Mom's backyard.


ok i am done, one hand and vicodin, is about done me in....will try to update more later. Have some wonderful family pics from Thanksgiving, souviner yarn....

Happy Holidays

Love jen

Travel and updates

Been over a month since the last update and
I have had a bit going on :P.

Lets see.....

Day tripped to Rhinebeck on
October 18 with some lovely ladies from my knitting group, Twisted Stichters, Holly, Karen and Carol, meet up with Ann later that morning. I had a wonderful time!!! Meet Diane from Creatively Dyed Yarns, had a scrumptious chicken pot pie and delicious mini apple crumb pie.

So much to see and do there!! Hit Autumn House Farms as one of my first must see and shop booths, and spent most of my budget there as intended for this:

First is Sagamore in Crabshack (shades of an olivey green blended with white). This is a cotton, rayon, linen DK weight.

Next is Summer Ice, rayon/silk blend, in Spruce:

and last Sea Island Tweed, a cotton/silk blend in Barnaget Bay:

I went by The Fold to check out the BMFA offerings as they would not be at Stitches East this year. Found three skeins of Rare Gems that needed a new home and just as
I reached the register saw a mill end in a lovely light blue/white color that wanted to come home with me as well.

Picked up some Icelandic Roving in a natual gray color and a new SPindle by Jesh:

I had a wonderful day, the weather was just chilly enough to be happy in the crocheted sweater I had. Some back ground on this sweater. This was my first "real" wool project. The wool came from Ireland, picked up by my Mother in law on her trip to said place several years ago(thinking around 1996-7) I didn't know how to knit then, I was a basic crocheter and found a pattern I liked and hooked away, pieced it together and was very unhappy. It was stiff, itchy, did not fit well at all. So into the closet it went. It cs since out a few time since, again not really thrilled so back into storage it went. As the years passed, I learned to knit and expanded my horizons beyond acrylic into more natural fibers, but still the sweater was, meh.

Then, epiphany, the Friday before I was to leave for Rhinebeck, I thought, what would happen if I took that sweater washed it and blocked it!!! Well duh!

Then we had Halloween.

Joey went as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

The Haul:

Updates and stuff

Updates and the like...

Secret Pal 12 went really well. Received my final box from Lindsey of Tennessee:

Another box of wonderful goodies, with wooden stitch markers and a great pair of yarn ball earrings with lots of great smellies and candies! thank you so much Lindsey!!

Joey and I went to the Alma Park for National Alpaca Farm Day

Had a great time, Meeting Rose and her family and learning a bit about spinning from LauraKathleen.

Handspun alpaca in a lovely color from alpaca at Alma Park, going into a cowl for moi!

Died in Hat Attack II. Took a while almost 4 weeks and 2 assasins. Died in pink and blue with some tasty chocolate and a hank of yarn to soften the death blow.

Finished a Clapotis, wonderfully easily and turned out great. pics up on my Rav projects page. Started a second using some Brooks farm Willow i picked up at Maryland Sheep and Wool this spring and it is coming along nicely. Stitch marker handmade courtsey of Lindsey!!

In a bit of a sock rut lately. Havent been in the mood and made a major booboo and the Raven pair I am working on currently. I think those will rest until I get some of the mojo back for socks.

Putting some time in on my Wolmeise shawl about 75% finished and coming along great as well, just time consuming the purl row back.

Getting ready for some trips. Day trip to Rhinebeck on Saturday with my knit group, mostly window shopping, checking out the spinning wheels(Christmas hint hint check with A for more details hint hint) in reverse order of preference:

The Hitchhiker

The Schact Ladybug

and a Kromski Minstrel

Next trip will be an overnighter for Stitches in MD. Taking one sock design class on Saturday and check out some favorite vendors, before heading home.

Big trip for Thanksgiving 7 days in NoCal with the Mom and family (sis, kids, Glen, etc).

Somebody Loves Me!!!

We are on vacation this week. Went to the beach on Monday.
Mom(me) and Joe

Dad and joe

Cutie!!



Tuesday my Dear Sweet Loving Husband was feeling crafty!! And this come out of the workshop!!



I has me a swift!!!! First wind was with StormMoonKnits Twilight Sock in 30 Days if Night.

Then play time with the Geo Trax.
The Dragon of Traxville!!!



In other news, knitting a little slow the past few days, thumb is bothering me agian. Hate to whine and complain, saw the orthopedist, had another steriod injection into the base of the thumb, uh ouch! MRI shows arthritis and partial tears of two of the tendons. If the steroid injection doesn't help, next will be surgery. oh yeah.

Ah well life goes on, hopefully be in form for Hat Attack in 2 weeks.

Ravalympics, Secret Pal question and swapiness!!!

In no particular order....

For this years Summer olympics, I joined the Ravalympics and decided to Tri-athalon. My chosen events were the Sock Put, the Hat Dash and the Cowl Jump.

I have to date medaled in the:

Cowl Jump with Ilean, using Celestial Worsted in Concerning the Hobbits by StormMoonKnits

<-----My medal !!

The Hat Dash The Amanda Hat in Berreco Peruvia

<----------My other Medal!!!

Onto wonderful swappiness!!!

Thursday arrived home with a package from my super wonderful Secret Pal!!

Theme BLUE

Overall picture click to flickr for notes. But A wonderful knitting journal, A lamenated pocket knitting guide, A to do list note pad(on the fridge!) a beautiful skein of Regia in shades of blue, some Soak, Absoulutely positively gorgeous cobalt flower stitch markers and earrings(close up below), the cutest knitter socks!!(close up below), garment labels, a notion bag, new tape measure(needed that!) DPN holders(just got some more orginazition is good!) a little note book for my notions bag. All lovely stuff!! Thank You Secret Pal I love it all!!!111!!

Secret Pal Question #10: What Olympic event would best describe you knitting/knitting style?

I have been thinking about this one. Not really sure what event. My knitting style, slow and steady most of the time with an occasional project at a sprint. don't know what event that would be, any one knows please let me know, lol.

And another Secret pal update, have a package or two on there way to my pal this week. Hope she likes...

Secret Pal question catch up and Life Catch Up

Been a little behind in my posting, haven't been feeling very chatty the last two weeks. but thanks to my Secret Pal :0)(Thank you) I am catching a up a bit tonight!

Week #8

What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening? Anything grilled. Usually a nice steak, occasionally chicken or pork chops. Up until this summer was using this wonderful bbq sauce left over from my family re-union in Arkansas. Great little bbq place just down the hill from the B&B we stay in may be in Winslow, not sure though. Pit BBQ. Sauce is truely the best I have ever had, mild with a nice bite of flavors, finally used up the last of the quart in June, sigh.

Week #9
In many communities, "the fair" is a great place to visit and spend
time with your family. It's also where many have entered one product
or another (jams, cakes, even knitting)...

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair?
Would you ever consider it? Nope never entered and never really considered, I guess I don't consider myself "good" enough yet.

I do enjoy going to the fairs, state and county , local events, and looking at the art exhibits and seeing the entries.

A little more update. I am entered into the Ravelympics for the Summer games. I am competing in the Hat Dash, The Amanda Hat. The Sock Put with Fruit Loops and The Cowl Jump with Ilean. All projects are posted on my projects page and I will post to the blog when completed.
Summer of socks goes on, Completed 3 pairs so far for that and a total of 7 pairs for 52 pair plunge and have 2 pairs currently on the needles, the fruit loops in appletini(Yarntini) and Reina(WoolGirl pattern yarn by Mama Llama).
Been lagging behind on the knitting a bit, getting the pain back in my right thumb and wrist. will be calling the orthopedist tomorrow for an appointment and see what he has to say this time. Hopefully can get by with just another steroid shot, fingers arthritically crossed, lol., IsMas knitting is falling behind.
2 more weeks and I have the week off with Joey. Hoping for a beach trip, he had been asking all summer to go and this will be the week if the weather cooperates!

Will be sending out my 2nd and final Secret Pal 12 package tomorrow as well. I enjoyed finding what I hope will be the right specials for her. Hope I didn't go overboard on the sweets though, I did put a couple of things back in the end, lol.

Hmmm. OH!! Official note, effective 2 weeks ago Joey is officially Potty Trained!!! No more diapers/pull ups!!! Still working on not flushing all 50 KanDoo wipes at the same visit though *frown*, LOL!

yarn diet is holding fairly well, 2 skeins gifted to me(swap and Mom) Mom sent me some Sock Ease from Oklahoma, now back burnered to decide which pattern to knit. and I did buy 1 skein of KP Essential in Jester to make Joey some socks, I havent decided whether to rip back the toes on the first couple of pair from this year that he has already outgrown. Kid is wearing a 10.5 kid shoe already, eek. that is 2 shoe sizes since spring. Clothes are holding, buying large 4-5T just to make sure we make through to winter at least. Pant shopping in a couple of weeks when the back to school sales start.

Question of the Week #7

What is(are) your favorite place(s) to knit? Right now the glider rocker next to the front window and fireplace. I just set this up this past summer and have enjoyed it immensely. When Fall/Winter comes and we start using the fireplace more, I think it will be even more perfect. Kind of a dream kind of thing. knitting in the chair next to the fireplace and (maybe) watch it snow outside, sigh....

What supplies (besides yarn & needles) make the setting perfect for knitting? something to drink, tea(hot or iced), water, maybe a nibbley snack that wont stain the yarn to bad, ie no nacho doritos, but kettle corn popcorn works well, lol. I keep my kit with me(spare needles, tape measure, scissors, stitch markers etc....) Occasionaly my ipod, sometimes the TV othertimes(after Joe is in bed) enjoy the quiet.

Week 6 question

Questions #6 What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
If you’d like to share a story…Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.

Hmmm, last vacation type trip I took, was to Maryland Sheep and Wool, so I wasn't worried about getting caught without enough to do, lol. What did go with me was 2 pairs of SIP's(Monkeys and Shady's) and an easy shawl I am still working on. It worked out fairly well as I wasnt driving so was able to get a lot of work done on the socks, 1 of which actually turned into a fingerless glove. SIP's talk you know..... and these said thumb gusset when the time came to turn for the heel, I really tried to talk her/it out of it, but the glove/sock was insistant and so a glove they became(these would be the Shady's in my Rav Project folder).

I don't know if it is possible to pack to much knitting. I am sure though, there are signficant others out there who would disagree quite voraciously diasagree with this. Mine has. You know the comments, so do you really need the extra bag of...... stuff(being polite in my pharasing, lol). I have learned to pack light over the years. I hate checking bags on those quick 1-2 day business trips, and after I started to knit it has become harder. You never know what you will be in the mood to work on, right? And have to bring at least one project in cast the urge to cast on wont pass and the other project(s) just aren't working and who knows if there will be a LYS convinient to where you are staying to help solve the dilema.....
Well now I pre-check for LYS's before the trip and take at least 2 projects, a sock and something else and maybe a skein of yarn for another pair of socks........in case you just can't wait, lol....

SEcret PaL package today!!

It all started with a box and a lovely card with a pink knitted scarf and a theme.









My dearest son hepled Mommy open each wrapped item, Lot's of lovely goodies, some Tasty Cherry tic Tacs, a needle threader some cute sock point protecters(red), a gorgeously soft skein of Cascade Heritage in Red









A set of red and silver handmade stitch markers and a very pretty pair of red agate earrings

A sock knit book Knit Socks! that has been on my wish list for a while, already have a couple earmarked . A notebook and pen in red!! Set of 2 DPN WIP tubes!!! already in use with the hello Kitty socks with no more needles poking out of the bag adn worry about snapping with transport is down!! and all wrapped up in red tissue paper!!

Here is Joe with the haul!!!

Thank you so much Secret Pal!!! I love my superbly wonderful Red package!!!!

Secret Pal Question Week #5

1) Where is your favorite place to go for vacation/holiday? anywhere quiet where I can sit and relax and be with family. Favorite locations to date. B&B in Winslow, AR and visiting my Mom and family in Northern California.

2) Where is one place you’d like to go? Ireland

sECRET pAL Question of the Week #4 and an update

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? Probably a good all purpose stock yarn like Cascade 220.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without? Right now at this moment, what could/would be termed as sock yarn. That is my passion at the moment. I collect it when I can, knit it, may even try crochet with it someday.....and the indie dyers and the colors and so many patterns to try....oh my!

In other news I sent out a package to my secret pal!!! Just a small one I really hope she likes it. My main concern is I sent it from a preferred on line retailer that didn't have a gift ship option so I left it in the comments, eek, they are usually super good about any customer preferences and requests and I didn't get any questions back, so..... I cross my fingers and wait to see if and when she gets.

I have pair #4 d one for 52 Pair plunge and the first pair for Summer of Soks 2008. A Christmas Story by White Oak Studios in TV Sock. Colorway is based on the movie, think bunny suit and lamps,lol... these were a toe up pattern with a short row heel and turned out pretty good for the first complete toe up pair. Have the next toe up pair ONT as we speak, Summer 2008 Sock (rav link) by Wendy Knits designed for Summer of Socks 2008 and is being knit in Irish Dreams colorway from Spunky Ecletic via WoolGirl 2007 Sock club.

I have also cast on for the February Lady Sweater(Rav Link) based on the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby sweater pattern of similar name, but a kind soul went a did the math for us and posted it to Rav!!. Cast on in Ultra Alpaca in Forest Heather.

Happy Canda Day to all those Canadians who celebrated yesterday!! and if I don't post before Friday Happy 4th of July!!!!

SP 12 Question of the week #3

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

This is a difficult one. As you can see from my post below I have more than an adequate amount of sock yarn by most standards. Probably more than some LYS carry, but I know, I know I don't have the most sock yarn out there..... and of course sock yarn really doesn't count as stash, LOL. The remainder of my yarn stores is actually a little on the light side. I do have a fair amount of cotton for dishclothes and the like and some acrylic various stuff/colors from my early crochet days and for baby blankets. The balance after that though really only fills up 1 small plastic container about 16" deep and 14" wide. Other than sock yarn I pretty much only buy larger amounts (sweater and blanket etc...) for intended projects to work on. Can never seem to justify spending that much money without knowing what I will use it for. Sock yarn don't have that problem *grin*

in spinning news

I have decided to post up my first drop spindle efforts, Laura's is much better looking than mine on her pretty new wheel....

This is a little of my very first attempts before i completely figured out drafting and the park method.


then this still a spin in progress on my Bosworth after I starting to figure out drafting a little more consistantly....



should of done the penny thing, but hindsite being what it is, next batch I take pics of I will.

Still have over a pound of roving to work with so.... Trying to do at least 15-20mins a day to keep up practice and get better.