Daylight "Savings"

My patootie. I feel like I've already run out of time to do the stuff I have to do this morning.

"Do you want me to file your taxes Mom? Or do the dishes? Oh, wait! Lemme just chase this squirrel for a sec...!! Eeeeheeheeheeheeeeeeheee! Hi Squirrel! Hi!!"

Windsor Waistcoat, I love you. I spent hours and hours yesterday working on you, and yet, I feel you haven't grown much... *sigh* When will you reach your armhole steeks? Soon? I hope so, because my wrist hurts. But, you're so pretty!

Must stop talking to my knitting. I did work on WW yesterday quite a bit; I probably managed around 20 rounds. Not bad, considering colour changes, cats and a really good episode of Law & Order I hadn't seen.

I'm maybe...7 or so rounds to the armhole steeks? Pretty good. And I'm on the last repeat of the front of my lovely Genevieve. Then, it's on to the sleeves, which are short. Wow, I'm amazed at how many people love it in Ravelry! Actually, no - I'm not. Fiddlesticks Knitting patterns...what can I say? She makes it easy. But, I'm amazed I actually had the chance to do any knitting this past week. Work has been quite...full, of late. I get in at 7:30am, and next thing I know, it's time to go home. There were days that I don't quite remember...

Anyway, I'll take the stress of work any day over the stress of a sick cat.

So! Despite it all, my plan to clear out some WIP's is working out well. Shhhhh...no jinxing though!

"I hear people wondered why I didn't pose for pictures last week. Well, there are days when a girl just doesn't want to be photographed, you know? I'm looking pretty content here though, don't you think? I call it my Greta "I vont to be alone" Garbo pose."

"I love you, man."

"Uh huh. You too, Gandalf."

"Sorry I lunged at you when you got back from the vet. I thought you were someone else. Hey! It's looking better now! Not so freakish."

"Whatev. It's not like I can see it. I thought you were going to go explore the world with Yoko?"

"Naw, I decided I'd be no good at fending for myself. Besides, she called me a Momma's Boy, because I asked her it Mom could come too. You know, to feed us and stuff. Hey, do you think we look fat from this angle?"

"Pffft. No! Fat. Please."

All is well with the boys now. Back to being the best of friends. Now to just get those stitches out of Atticus' back...

Oy.

I really had a theme planned for this post. I was going to give my progress reports for various projects I have on the go...blah blah blah.

But, I kind of got sidetracked. See, sometime late last year, Lorraine started on about my stash, and how it should go into Ravelry. I think it started sometime after she had come over for a visit, and saw my newly "organized" stash central.

Looks daunting, huh? I do have plans to reorganize it all, somewhat. And, it is looking slightly more "organized" since I took this picture.

I decided that I'd start with the visible yarn, the ones I could see without having to rifle through everything. That was easy enough.

Then I thought I'd list all the heavyweights - the Jamieson's, Virtual Yarns stuff not in kits (2 and 3-ply), old AS yarns, and the "bulk" all-purpose stuff like the Patons Classic Wool and Cascade 220. And wouldn't you know it - I have A LOT more than I thought I did. Including a whole whack of 3-ply Hebridean in Mara and 2-ply in Selkie that I can use for something else. (Why did I get the Mara in the first place? Oh yeah, I think it was for another Sand Dance.) I have yarn for Sand Dance (listed in kit form), with completely different colours...

See? It never ends. AND I haven't listed all of the "remnants" of old projects either, and some have a lot of yarn leftover.

Most of this stuff has been accumulating over the years. Whether or not it ends up getting used is another thing.

Oh, and I keep remembering all of the stuff I know I have, but still haven't gotten too! Some various Debbie Bliss, more Rowan stuff, and I haven't even touched the cotton... Or the Fleece Artist. Or the Fiddlesticks Knitting Country Silk. Oh, and I just remembered some more Cascade 220! A bunch more Shelridge Farm. Oh! And a pile of Briggs and Little.

My head hurts. I'm up to 56 stashed entries in Ravelry. I'm betting it'll get to 75. Not including sock yarn.

Oy.

Lorraine will be entertained for a long while to come.

Oh, and by the way. Speaking of stash enhancement. Fiddlesticks Knitting has two new designs out. Just sayin'.

Someone has just taken up residence on my lap, using my left arm as a head-rest.

"...lalalalala... Who's "Chucky"? My name's not "Chucky" Mom, it's Gandalf."

Maybe it's a simple coincidence, but Gandalf turns into a terror with every full moon. Then, just as soon as it starts, it ends. I've nicknamed him "Chucky" during these episodes. During his check-up last weekend, the vet mentioned that he had a bit of a heart murmur (but not to worry). Judging by his antics of late, I doubt it bothers him.

And his silliness is contagious.

"Hey, what's the big deal? You should be happy I'm getting some cardio and boxer-cise without having to go to a gym. What's that? Oh, you mean we shouldn't be running around early in the morning? When it's still dark out? Why not??"

This apartment is not my own.

Oh, and by the way. Did you know you can organize your queue in Ravelry now? Maybe you always could, but I just discovered the option.

I have 35 Starmore projects queued.

Oy.

Lost and Found!

Yay! I found my mittens! And would you believe they were in the ONE place I didn't think to look. (No, really? That never happens.) In the laundry bag. Don't ask me how. Or when. ('Cause that would be admitting to the last time I, uh, did laundry...)

They're back in their rightful spot now. Phew! Yesterday was a cold one - when I went out in the morning it was -12C. So, I pulled out my beloved chullo and Norwegian mittens! So, hey! The wind really goes through those mitts at first, but once you hands heat up, you feel NOTHING. They warm the hands up nicely. And the chullo? I still love her. Light as a feather and warm. *sigh* Ah the wonders of knitting never cease.

So, I have some updates. I'm still working on my Christmas knitting (go to Ravelry, look me up and you'll see one of my stealth knitting projects), but I'm also working on other things too. Because I can.

Mmmmm...my lovely Cabled Cricket sweater from Debbie Bliss. Coming along nicely, with the front and back completed, and a good start done on the first sleeve.

"Nice work Mom... So, when's it gonna be finished? I can see myself rolling around in this..."

No time soon! But, I'm not bored of Fulmar at all. I just find the gansey yarn (AS' Scottish Fleet) a little tough on the hands. Some days I can manage 15-16 rows, other times it's only around 6. But that's OK - I knew from the start she would be a long-term project. Gandalf does like the Scottish Fleet yarn, and Atticus has developped the annoying habit of chomping on the stitch markers as I'm knitting along. Such a good boy...

I plug away at Laleli on the weekends. However, I did learn last week that watching Daniel Craig in "Casino Royale" while trying to knit Fair Isle? Not always a good thing. Tends to get a little...distracting. But, I've started on the V-neck decreases, and I'm still in love with the beautiful design and colours... Ah Fair Isle! I luvs you.

And what else...? Oh, my stealth knitting project! I finally found the magic one, thanks to a suggestion from Lorraine, but of course I can't post anything about it. So you'll have to check it out on Ravelry. I've also completed a bunch of catnip mice for the Annex Cat Rescue, which my friend Raven stuffed for me at work on Thursday. Not a chance I can do any of the stuffing or stitching up of the mice at home! The Captain gave me a catnip toy for the guys yesterday. I thought it would be OK - it didn't smell as strong as the stuff Raven had provided. I was wrong...it's catnip... Anarchy and destruction soon ensued, with Mae in a catatonic state for the next several hours. They're still rolling around on the floor, over the spot they demolished the catnip toy yesterday. That stuff is SO BANNED in this house!

"Atticus, what's up with Mae?"

"What do you mean? Oh, the food?"

"Uh huh...Why she eating so much? I hardly had a chance to get any supper last night, she was scarfing back the cat chow like it was going out of style! Is it a girl-cat thing?"

"I think it's just a Mae thing...well...you've seen her with the catnip?"

"Oooooh...OK. So it's the catnip makes her get the munchies? Wow. I thought it just made her loopy."

"Which is why we can't have any more of it in the house, otherwise we'll never get anything to eat!"

"Gotcha! Man, Mae's weird sometimes..."

Ravelry Intervention May Be Required

Have you noticed?! Judging by what I've been reading - I'm not the only one who'll require a sit down and talk to regarding Ravelry.

Sweet, sweet Ravelry...

*sigh*

I do consider it time well spent. After all, it's helping me plan my knitting future (a good thing), and it also allows me to air my dirty WIP laundry. Also a very good thing...

Delores. We've officially kissed and made up. I have found some of the colours I need to keep soldiering on, and seeing her again makes me realize how much I missed her. I love Fair Isle.

(By the way - have you seen Marina's latest? Elephants? Beautiful! And of course - yours truly (I really have to say - I looked like poop warmed over that day...) modelling the very lovely and stylish Guinevere, the latest addition to Lorraine's Twisted Traditions line.)

Gandalf helps me show off the nearly completed back of the "Cricket Cabled Sweater" from Debbie Bliss. I've finally decided that this design is the keeper to use the Woolie Silk from Fleece Artist. The original design I had hoped to make turned out to not have the most flattering shape for a short person. But the yarn is soooo lovely, and the colour so warm that I couldn't bear to stash it away. The little cables are perfect.

This is the back and the left side of the Caped Cardigan that I'm making using Cascade 220 in a deep red. A very easy and quick knit, I usually work on it while commuting.

And why not knit socks while commuting? Isn't that what I used to do?? Well, yes it is. And why am I not? Oh, that would be because I somehow managed to LOSE MY KNITTING BAG on the way home from the train station last week. I'm pretty sure it fell out of my bag, which was overstuffed with my laptop, work stuff, lunch bag, stuff I had picked up at the drugstore, and other crap. It was stuffed in on top of everything else, and I hadn't been able to zip my backpack up. So, it was resting precariously on top of everything else, with the flap only partially closed. When I got home - it was gone... :( Slipped out, and when I retraced my steps I couldn't find it. In it was the sock yarn I was using - Lorna's Laces, my 2.25mm needles, and everything else that goes with it. And the only half decent knitting bag I have! I have a tendency to just use whatever I have laying around - even shopping bags if that's all that's available... Oh well. All that say - I'm knitting Caped Crusader on the train home now.

(Gandalf is out for the count on my lap right now - so funny, he's snoring with his mouth open, sleeping on his back...hee hee!)

In other cool news - have you seen AS' "Oregon" in the new VK? I for one am pretty happy about it! Something else to add to the queue. And, as luck would have it - you can also pick it up from Anne at She Ewe Knits. She's put together the yarn packs, and is offering it at a special price until the end of November! Have a peek at her blog, you'll see her swatch. I for one am sold... (Fair Isle...love...a few paragraphs up...remember?). I'm not even going to TRY to resist this one. Really, there's no point.

"This Ravelry thing has to stop. Sit down Mom. Sit. Down. OK. I'm going to have to monitor your activity, because it's cutting into Atticus-time, and that's not a good thing. And no "buts" lady! Can't you control yourself? I mean, all I hear is "ooooo", and "aaah", and then click click. Another "Favourite" is added to the list, or another "Add to My Queue". I mean, c'mon..."

"Yes, but I'm meeting a lot of new people and..."

"Who are just as addicted! Mom, what if you forget to feed us in time? It won't be pretty..."