Top soft house

I completed the cap for my co-worker a few weeks ago. She completed her chemotherapy just a few days before I finished the cap. I asked another staff to model it.
You can find the pattern here : chemo hat 
I like that the cap will hide her hair as she grows it back.
I have had this yarn in my stash for a few years, now. I must say that I like the DiVe Melanite. Too bad that it is discontinued.

I try to participate in the Komen Race for the Cure every other year. This year (my off year) I decided to participate anyway. You can see my donation page here








I am no back to working on the baby blanket that I have unraveled - now- six times.
I am using Berroco Comfort DK  and I have not been happy with the way the blanket has looked.
 This yarn is very soft. Almost too soft for the original pattern.

I have now abandoned my crochet hook and I picked up my afghan hook. So far, I am happy with the texture. Crossing my fingers.
Stay tuned.

Good Day Dear

I admit it.
I crochet and knit in public. 
My niece graduated a few weeks ago. I am sitting in the stands in 90 degree weather waiting for the ceremony to begin. You can see that I have already begun my knitting project. It was on my lap and make of acrylic.

Here I am walking with my newly graduated niece to meet the rest of the family. Note the bag of knitting for public display.

Yes, it sometimes puts my friends off. Fortunately, I also hear comments like "I am used to it."
I take my crochet and knitting just about everywhere.

I tend to drift off during meetings and trainings. I have found that if I keep my hands busy under the table, I can pay attention for longer periods. Sometimes memories of what I have learned or experienced become associated with the project that I created. I think the psychologists call that a memory trigger.
Sadly, there have been a few items that I have created with memories that I wanted out of my house.  Forcing me to give the item away.

I rarely put my knitting away to ease the discomfort of other people. I can craft in moving cars, trains, and while walking in the park. I can refuse any request to "Make me something" without dropping a stitch.  I can stop at anytime, too. It is not an addiction. I just choose to do it wherever I am.

I can sit and craft without complaint for almost an hour. Add in some beer or wine and I need to pull it back to 30 minutes.  Place chocolate in front of me and I am putting it away completely.

Available now on Xtranormal: Bunnies, Tiger Blood, and a Special Superstar

I can not believe that this is my first picture of the socks I am making. I am up to 5 inches. I have four more to go before I bug my knitting co-workers about turning the heel.

I am working on a new granny square blanket

I became interested in this design some time ago. I like the square withing a square design. I am thinking that I will use up all the yarn making these squares using tapestry technique. I hope that I haven't bit off more than I can chew. The technique may be overkill for this design but I it is certainly easier to change colors.

My coworker gave me a bunch of OLD acrylic yarn. Think Wintuk, Sayelle and Dupont.He found it in his mother's house when he prepared it for an estate sale. I gave the majority of the yarn to the Prayer Shawl ministry at the church.

The tulips have certainly lifted my mood this week.
There are so many; I love it.
I did some digging in my yard and discovered that I am infested with grub worms.
I have never seen so many in an 8 inch square foot of lawn. This means war! I have quite a bit of sedum that I would rather have as a front lawn. The grubs don't seem to bother the sedum.

The Peonies are getting ready

Grape Hyacinth

   I had forgotten that I planted these hyacinths in the yard last fall.
I am glad that I hadn't bothered to get the lawn mowed last week.

Finally, I saw this goose on my way to my car last night. You can't tell by the picture but the goose is paddle against the strong current.

.

Spotted on the Ottawa River

$139 Replica Watches! and other gifts

I have been completing projects for other people since the new year. More specifically for Other People's Kids. Other people's cute little girls.

I have not had an OPK post in some time. There was some blog fodder immediately after Giftmas but I lost the chance.

Hmm.

Actually, I need to rant.

If you remember, this winter I had surgery and Cousin L took advantage of my convalescence to drop off his kids (a few times).

Lil T and Trey enter my home and drop off their various Christmas toys from which they could not detach themselves while with me. Surprise Surprise.

Trey had his pocket gaming device and a book bag of action figures.  Lil T trails behind him carrying a box and dragging a barbie doll by its tangle hair.

I take the box from her and ask, "What's this." She informs me, "It's an Easy Bake Oven, Daddy said that you would help me with it."

"Did he......"

The box had not been opened at all. This man. This relative of mine. This father. Had made a promise to his little girl that I would help her bake her first cake.

I was honored and pissed at the same time.

Now, I had to include into our activities for the evening - bake time.

First thing that I do is check the box for the needed parts.

I asked Lil T if her father had packed a light bulb. She indicated that he had not.

Every former little girl (that was like me) knows that an Easy Bake Oven in NOT plug and bake.

Some set up is required.

Most importantly, a LIGHT BULB.

No one taught that to my single parent father Cousin L.

The toy did not require any old light bulb. It required a 100 Watt bulb.

Who has those anymore?

I certainly did not.

I checked the kitchen drawer where I keep all my extra bulbs.

YUP

All of them CFL

I checked all the light fixtures.

Nope. All of them CFL or lower wattage.

I read a few weeks ago that the Easy Bake Oven may go the way of the

Polaroid camera; if those hippy lawmakers have their way. This video explains it all

NBC News Video -- Easy Bake Oven vs. "The Lightbulb Police"
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

What I want you to understand is that I could not bear to look at the face of an 8 year old girl after I shared with her that I did not have the correct parts to operate her Easy Bake Oven. HER FIRST EASY BAKE OVEN.
I shake my fist at all those MALE lawmakers who fail to see the relationship between a 100 watt bulb and a future cook. 
And I shake my fist at my Cousin L for not warning me about the damn toy. (Well I did when it happened back in December)
So we donned our winter coats and boots to search for a 100 watt light bulb. While it snowed outside. On a cold winter day. And I had no cash on me. And my tank was 1/4 full. 
Sigh

Once we had the oven assembled with the correct parts, we made several cookie cakes. I was so exhausted from their fighting and baking cakes, that I let them eat their sweets on my bedspread. I was finding crumbs for days. But at least she has the memory of the first time. 
I am a wonderful person.

A few weeks ago, Facebook suggested that I stalk some of my sister's old photo albums. I happened upon the album titled "Easter." I obliged FB's command and clicked. How could I ignore it?
I was shocked,
Appalled,
Horrified,
To see my two year old niece using a plastic shopping bag to gather her Easter eggs back in 2010. I immediately called my sister to share my incredulity with her.
How could she permit this to not only happen but to commemorate it in a FB album. 
A shopping bag
The tumbleweeds of the Urban  city.
She laughed at me and suggested that I send her a basket for this year.
I did more than that.

I used a technique called "rag crochet." I cut 2.5 inch strips of nursery patterned fabric, joined the strips, and then crocheted the longer strips with a large sized hook. 
She loves it. I hear that she had already filled it "full of crap." 

 

Not long ago, Ambriel's ten year old daughter peeks around the corner. I ask her to come into the office. She looks at her hands and asks me if I would make for her a slouching beanie cap.

It had to be blue to match her coat. Again, I could not say no to that precious face.  After she looked up at me, that is.

 

She had been jealous because I had make a scarf for her little brother. I found the pattern in Crochet! magazine and had fun with itThis is the result. I had this Araucania Ulmo Multy yarn, that was mostly blue. I think the colors in the cotton yarn will make a great spring hat for her. .

Now that I have done three good deeds for three little girls, I am making a shawl to wear at work.
No matter the season, the office has the chill. I would rather avoid a space heater under my desk. I am making the 

Lightning Shawl by Frankie Brown in a variegated acrylic yarn. Another reason, why it is best not to have a space heater in the office.  My progress so far.

My HOAR ♥ bead marker is courtesy of SeeJayneKnits.

My Happy Holidays

My surgery has occurred. It took longer than anticipated due to my uncompromising nose. Dr. ENT informed my waiting friend, Rain, that there "had been a complication." I just know that she turned all shades of white at hearing that phrase. Dr. ENT and Rain had a 15 minute conversation about the complication and its impact on my recovery. Rain shared about 5 minutes of it with me.
She claimed that she did not want to upset me. A portion of the conversation dealt with treating complications from the treatment of the complication. She felt no need to bother me with those gory details. It was strange knowing that she knew more about this "complication" than I did.
Dr. ENT placed these torture implements into my nose. Click here to see them after use. Don't judge. You clicked the link. There was discomfort when he removed them. Not sure that I would describe it as painpain. Hmm. Maybe a pain of 2 for 2 seconds. I had these splints removed about five days after the surgery.
They created a lot of discomfort for me. A lot of snot. A lot of fears that I would stop breathing in my sleep and my nose would be clogged. Unfounded fears it seemed. The splints remained clog free.
The first five days were horrible but not awful. I had pain in my throat and nose. I could not talk for longer than a few minutes without my throat seizing. The next five days have been uncomfortable. I have drainage and heartburn. My throat is still sore. I keep hitting my nose. That hurts.
I bet you never really thought about the number of times you rub against your nose in one day, have you? I have quite a few times since the surgery. I expect the next five days to be more the same. I still can't open my mouth wide.
(you are nasty)
I can't blow my nose. I have sour stomach because of the drainage and I have a horrible, gross taste in my mouth
(you are so nasty)
I am going to stay at home and limit activity with the sour tummy and the whole leaking nose issue.
I have been working on several projects. The ruana is almost complete. Just a few more rows! Will post pictures. I have no batteries in my camera. I am hoping to pick some up tomorrow when I seek out half priced holiday and winter cards. 
I do not like to purchase strictly Christmas cards because they must be mailed by a certain date. I have missed that date a few times. Holiday cards and winter themed cards can be mailed as late as the first of the new year. I am so clever.

---

Remember the clown pants?
Here is a brief history:

I bought this baby yarn. I made a blanket out of it and began a pair of pants. The doctor determined that the baby would be male and my friends informed that gender rules preclude all baby clothing with any amount of pink. I continued to work on the pants. More babies were conceived, more males. I then learned from my sister that the blanket I made for her out of the yarn had felted. It was a 70/30 blend of wool and acrylic. I didn't  know.......I unraveled the clown pants.

Finally another friend announced she would be having a daughter. I pulled out this yarn and decided to make for her a felted bag. Voila!
Cute isn't it. The straps refused to felt to the exact same length. Very frustrating but I worked with it.

I have also been reading. I completed the latest:
Argeneau Vampire series by Lynsay Sands
Esther Diamond series by Laura Resnick
Amanda Feral series by Mark Henry
I wrote a review of the first book of the series here 
I am reading my first Cal Leandros novel by Rob Thurman after Amazon's repeated recommendations.
I will start my next Parasol protectorate novel by Gail Carriger. I was turned on to this author by a swap partner in my Vampire Valentine group on Ravelry.
and Crimson Moon novel before I go back to work.
I would like to say, I really like unapologetic monster characters. I also love strong female characters that kick vampire butt.
I am still waiting for those new releases from Kelsey Cole and Karen Marie Moning.

Oh
Thank you to all who wished me a speedy recovery and
Happy Holidays!

Multitasking

If you will recall, I use a rebounder for exercise. I used it to teach myself to knit and walk at the same time. It made my walks at the park more enjoyable.
Now, I am able to knit and bounce for quite some time. I decided that watching TV while knitting poorly used my time.I pulled my old music stand out of the attic and propped a book onto it.
I am a reading, knitting, bouncing fool.
I purchased this rebounder ages ago.It is worth paying for an expensive model. While I have not always used it, I have had numerous memberships at gyms, it remains in good shape. This one is a Nordak Rebounder.

I enjoy bouncing after work for a half hour or so. The ENT doctor ordered me to lose 50 lbs in order to avoid the Uvula Palatoplasty surgery. I gave myself 3 months. I have lost absolutely nothing.  How can I lose weight if I do not sleep well at night. The time of day when the body burns calories? How can I lose weight if I am tired all the time. How can I exercise everyday after work and make my crochet, knitting and sorority meetings? Argh.
I do not eat that much in calories. I know this because I track my calories on Calorie Count. It is a vicious stupid cycle. I do not want this surgery, but I must get some sleep.
I work-out almost daily for at least 30 minutes. When I am not in the mood to bounce, I have a power yoga DVD.I am still overweight.
I have added Vitamin D to my diet. I read that women do not get enough of the vitamin and its link to weight loss in several magazines and blogs this month. Still, I expect to have the surgery.

In anticipation, I want my bedroom to be very warm when I am in recovery. In my search for the drafts coming into my room, I caught sight of my cat. As you can see, the spot in front of the radiator is the warmest spot in the room.

I want to be alone with my yarn

I have been crafting.  I simply have failed to mention it.  I am still upset with myself for abandoning the tank top.  I had planned it to be a green with white trim top and I ran out of green.  I had sadness.  I did not have the heart to redesign it.  I will pick it up again in the Spring. It will be white with green.  I regret showing it to my roommate.  She probably thought that she would have worn it this summer. 

I began a scarf for Trey, since he asked for it. 
He has excitement for this scarf.  I am excited for him. I hope that I do not let him down.  When did needlecraft come with so much baggage?

I picked up a skein of yarn from See Jayne Knits for no reason than because I had some money.   This yarn is called Lumberjack.  I love it.  I have decided to make my first pair of socks out of it.
The latest issue of Crochet! arrived last week or so. 

I am back to working on my winter wrap.  I hope that I finish it in time.  The white spot is a piece of 8X11 sheet of paper.  It should give you an idea of just how massive it is.  And it is only 50% completed. I have transitioned to the second color. It will have three colors by the time I have it completed. 

dd

My stash.  this year, I removed it from under my bed and displayed it on the bookshelf.  I planned to discourage random yarn purchases by seeing my stash more often.  It has worked. I do not purchase nearly as much as in the past.  I love the clear bins. I can see everything. 

And here he is.  The gnome is making a statement about my landscaping.  His presence here tells me that he wants me to seed and water the front lawn. We are in a stalemate. 
 I composed a poem for him and all others who have asked me to do something about my lawn this summer.  (Dad, Uncle Curtis, Dude, Cousin L, co-worker, neighbors, etc)

I have no lawn.  

It will not grow

The lawn's not green

No reason to mow

It won't grow for rain

Not even for sun

The neighbors, they complain
What's to be done

It has fertilizer

It has seeds

Yet all that's there

Are some weeds

I have no lawn.  

It will not grow

The lawn's not green

No reason to mow

By the way
Green Eggs and Ham turned 50 this year

My new Sox

Several weeks ago, I attempted to create my first pair of socks.  I selected a pretty washable wool yarn. I pulled out my double points.  I cast on.
I went to my knitting group to work on the gauge.  The professional instructor explained me to that acquiring gauge would be difficult.  This was not a knitting class  but a group therefore she was not instructing me, she was assisting me.   She mumbled something about carrying a long tail because purl rows and knit rows have different tension.  
I did not understand her.

The gal sitting next to me whispered, "I would not do it if I were you. These people here are crazy about their socks.  I do not understand the attraction. They are addicted to making socks.  Do not become one of them. It looks too difficult to be enjoyable."
I continued with knitting and purling my rows.  I created a 2 inch swatch and asked if I could establish my gauge.  Several knitters said, "no" in unison. I needed a longer swatch for gauge.  I continued. It was boring.

Just as I approached 4 inches, the perfect length for setting gauge, the part-time instructor looks up from her knitting and yells at me. 
"Your gauge is going to be wrong. I told you that purl rows and screw up your gauge.  You have to start over."
Several other knitters agreed with her. 
I feel tears in my eyes.
I started yelling back.  "This is so stupid. Why is it so difficult to make socks?"
I heard more "I told you so's."
The gal sitting next to me whispers, "I warned you. Sock making is serious business."

By now, I am crying. 

I am crying because I tried to knit a pair of socks.

It was ridiculous. 

Then I hear a soft voice.  "Frizzy, I will make you a pair of socks. "

I gave to her my yarn and she has been working on MY socks for a few weeks.  I have not been to my knitting group in three weeks due to my vacation. On Wednesday, I hope to have my new socks.


In the interim, I begged members of Ravelry.com to make me a pair of socks.  And here they are

They fit like a glove.
I have been accused of begging for socks instead of making my own.  I assure you that my tears were real. Ask any member of Knit Knight.

I am going to attempt a pair of socks this winter.  Wish me luck.  I am thinking about using this book.

A Better Way

I have a new phone.  I hadn't planned on it.  My HTC Touch stopped behaving.  It would not ring when people called but if someone followed up a call with a text message the stupid phone would ring.  

Very strange.  And random.  I took it into the office and the attendant immediately ordered me a new phone.

I selected an Android phone. 

I downloaded Sudoku.  A wordsearch game.  And Zombie, run!

I have had the most fun with the zombie game.

The other day, I went to the metropark to walk.  To exercise.  I opened the game.  Selected my destination, GPS determined my location and then I start walking.  

Using the screen, I can see the zombies around the park trails.  I avoid them.

Of course, the GPS failed me when I walked under a heavy canopy of trees.  I had been walking for 30 minutes unmolested by zombies and suddenly, I had a blank screen.  

I found a clearing and stopped.  After a few tense minutes, I had my location and found that 20 zombies were coming for me.  I looked in front of me.  I looked in the back of me.  I looked up and I looked around.  Not for zombies........ per se..... I was trying to orient myself.  By the time I started running to get away from the zombies (that only existed on my screen) they were almost upon me.   Sadly, I ran right into them and they ate my brains.  

I played a second game and had a zombie follow me for a mile.  Strange thing is that I increased my pace while the zombie chased me as if it were really behind me.  

I have decided that playing Zombie, run while exercising outside is the best way to include aerobic activity into my routine.  

I finally gave the halter to LilT.  She reminded me that I have made her a "bunch of stuff"  but I have made nothing for her brother.  Well, we will see about that.  I am apparently giving her too much.  It would be best for me to make Trey the focus of my handmade gifts for the next few years.  She will be begging for more by the time I am done spoiling her brother. 

;;;;;

And the Easter lilies from the yard.  I collected these by buying the flowers for my grandmother then heading to her house after Easter.  Since I knew that she will just let them die, I take them from her and plant them in my yard. 

Finally, there has got to be a better way to stay cool this summer. AC is loud and expensive.  Water is overrated.  Vodka needs a chaser.  Being naked isn't always legal.  I need something new.

 I may have found something.    Flying dog brewery has some great beers.  I mean, when the box reads "Good People Drink Good Beer  - Hunter S. Thompson" you can't lose.   I like Old Scratch.       Next time I am getting the Raging Bitch Belgian style IPA. Now you do the same.