Happy dancer. 

Post-show. 

Center stage in the Grande Finale. 

Ta-daaah!

No, I didn't knit it, but I have been poking along with this idea for quite a while. Several years ago, I salvaged an entire ocotillo that had been sucker-punched by a monsoon. Much to my husband's chagrin, I brought it home (now that was a job--this is not exactly a small shrub) and have been noodling with the branches and wood off and on. (Note to non-desert dwellers, this baby is covered in sharp spines, but is not a cactus. The wood is incredibly hard.)

I have made a small fence/gate, used it as a trellis, and have heaps of it left. To make the earring holder, I de-spined, peeled, and varnished some of the smaller branches. It's held together with baling wire and copper wire.

I think it's actually prettier in person than here. Yay!

Knitting last night at Coffee Rush was fun. Eva is a hoot, and Pam is a maniac crocheter. It's nice, each time I go to a SNB group, there are different folks there. How wonderful.

I'm off to knit--finished one African-bound scarf and am working on number two. Bon soir!

I think I'm very happy with the way it turned out. 

I love the two-tone color on this piece. 

Mmmmm, ocotillo wood. 

A quick note

Currently knitting a scarf to be sent to Africa! Our SNB group got a request for knitted items which will wend their way to an orphanage in Africa. I figger I can probably get a couple of scarves done, and perhaps even a hat, too. Yay for donations! Good karma, warm fuzzies, global hugs.

Plotting and planning gifties for my SP. Want to get something in the mix soon, as she is geographically NOT my next-door neighbor. Also because I remember how exciting it is to have that mystery envelope/package/whatever pop onto your doorstep. That's it, I WILL have something in the mail by this weekend.

It's heating up here. I'm going to sit out back and see if I can't get my earring hanger put together. Photos soon.

Laugh!

The early bird

I'm trying a morning post today-how unusual! Planning to participate in the Worldwide Knit In Public Day tomorrow in some manner. May well hit my LYS for supplies to make a felted bag for a friend. It also helps that the fab Takhi purple yarn I used for my New Mexico friend's scarf is now on sale--I just bet I could felt it into something fabulous!

Marion is at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden day camp this summer--today they get to go on a (non-white-water) river run! I want to go to camp! They go birdwatching, study plants and animals and do science experiments (not on the animals, thankfully). Yesterday, they went to a pond on the Garden grounds and caught frogs! (Do you hear that, Jackie?) I want to be my own 7-year-old daughter, please.

Off to work now. New building is making progress. Maybe I'll post a photo, if my boss continues to be nice. We'll see, as mom says.

Happy Friday! Go knit tomorrow, everyone!

Ironwood blossoms in early Arizona summer sunset. 

Copper bracelet I made for (and modeled by) my mom. 

Ooops...

I tried to correct an error in my SP5 questionnaire post and half of it was eaten. I'm still a newbie in this blogging world. Will republish later. Hang in there Princess Caspian!

Let's try this again

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I prefer natural fibers, but acrylics aren't out of the question. Felt a very nice Caron acrylic last night, as a matter of fact.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

Crochet a bit, and tried a drop spindle recently and would love to try it again!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Cigarettes stink, animals are no problem.

4. How long have you been knitting?

A year and 3/4.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Not yet.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Mild scents, cotton, linen. Peppermint and citrus scents, non-overpowering vanilla, chocolate or cocoa.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes, and many a cavity to prove it!

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

I doodle with pencils, paints, and wonderful crayons. I garden and birdwatch and make birdfeeders. I make wire things; jewelry and small sculptures. I'm making an earring holder from ocotillo and baling wire.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

MP3s I dunno. CDs are no problem. I am a rock girl at heart (The Who, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Kinks, ELO, The Rolling Stones), but I'm a dabbler, and I love show tunes (Garland, Sinatra, Nat King Cole) and classical (ANY) and I am dipping a toe into new-ish sounds like Social Distortion, Green Day (YAY!), Gwen Stefani and Beck.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love Grey. All shades. I love greens and foresty colors; autumny ones like rusts and reds and rich browns. I cannot abide pinks.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a fabulous redheaded husband, an amazing nearly-eight-year-old-girlie, and a Welsh Springer Spaniel who is NOT a show dog.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

This is an easy one. To be as happy and healthy and as well-traveled as is humanly possible before I die. To stay with the same man forever. To watch my baby girl become a happy, confident, self-assured woman. To see George Bush Jr disappear.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I love wool, but it is not practical here in the desert. I want to start playing with silks and cottons, and SOON!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Slick, plasticky-feeling acrylics. Difficult, tiny novelty eyelash yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

I just finished my French Market Bag and I think I could really enjoy knitting more things for myself. I've given away almost everything I've made, and I've been happy to do so. I plan to continue giving, but it's nice to keep some around, too.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

So far, I've used a simple free pattern for a Fisherman's Rib scarf a couple of times with good results. The FMB came out much as I'd hope, too, and I'm looking into more felting projects.

17. What are you knitting right now?

A hat for a friend and I'm toying with a lace leaf pattern for a scarf. My last secret pal gave me some uber-soft alpaca yarn, and I really want to keep it!

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I made two for my girlie (see archive photos) and she liked them. I saw a very chic Scottsdale chick in a lacy one, but I don't know if they're ME.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I'm a convert, Addi Turbos are amazing, but I still love my wooden and bamboo straights.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo and wood whenever possible, please. They FEEL SOOOOO good!.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Not yet, but I know that's coming up.

22. How did you learn to knit?

Found a book in a wonderful local bookstore (where I used to work) and then asked my Mom to show me how. Thanks, MOM!

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a month. I've been really good about finishing what I start, so far.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Thompson and Thompsen ! I also love Bullwinkle. I'm a birder, so I love them all, but have a special fondness for raptors and wading birds like herons and egrets.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Easy question! Halloween, hands down.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Small wooden boxes, elephants, things with realistic leaf motifs on them.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None, but I'm thinking about Knitter's. It's a really nice, complete magazine.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I read almost anything; fiction, non-fiction, some sci-fi, so whatever looks good, I read.

What am I doing up at this hour?

Well, the French Market Bag is finis! I still love the colors, and overall, I'm quite pleased with it. Alison, thanks for your help with my transition to the bag body--couldn't have done it without you!

I did the base on circulars (now I'm an Addi Turbo addict), and I made the body 10" instead of 8". It really wasn't a difficult pattern.

The night before last, I put it through a 10-minute hot water wash and then let it dry, but it didn't seem quite tight enough. I will say, however, that the texture change in the initial wash was cool. I checked it every few minutes and the difference in picking up a mass of wet knitting at 6 minutes and the far-more-solid mass I handled 2 minutes later was amazing.

My dear, non-knitting husband agreed with me that it needed a bit more time in the water, so this evening, I nonchalantly popped it back in for 6 minutes and completely ignored it the whole time. Must be similar to what happens when you have your second child--I became very confident that it'd be fine, and indeed it is.

Take a look, photos are here!

French Market Bag, post-knitting and pre-felting. 

After I kissed it goodbye, I quickly tossed it into the machine with a towel. 

Washing... 

Is it felt yet? 

A randomized, double-blind study has proven that chocolate-covered pretzels DO indeed lower your blood pressure when you're felting. Especially if it's your initial attempt.

At the end of the wash cycle, a bubbly clot of felted bag... 

Rinse cycle--wow, stop-action photography! 

Welshie red and russet Brown Sheep make a nice color combo, no? 

It's drying! My first FO for ME!! 

Say Aaaaaaaaah! 

Voila! The French Market Bag with 2 of 4 handles complete. I think I may be felting this weekend...... and isn't that a flattering shot of the electrical outlet? Tres chic! 

A great picture of Tim. The personification of cool for so very many reasons. 

I think this is one of the finest pictures I've ever taken. This is the Reader family. They're so much fun. 

Homer. 

Marion and Mrs. Pennell, the world's finest kindergarten teacher. We love you, Mrs. Pennell! 

Here is the baby blanket. I learned many things by doing this without a pattern...but I think it turned out not too badly. 

This is the sad result of my 6" stockinette square bunny. Marion says she loves him anyway. 

What a Day!

Well.

Reasonable day at work, no doctors. Lots of tidying and relaxing. Chocolate B-day cake for a co-worker. Yum.

Some knitting accomplished on the French Market bag. I am happier and happier with my colour choices. (photo to follow soon). Am on the bag body in the main colour now. Russet. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

Seth called and asked me to fetch crabby childie from him at work. Off to Scottsdale with new truck stereo blaring the Kinks (Yay again). Childie is in better mood. (Double YAY.) Kisses to spousal unit and off to see if AZ Knitting and Needlepoint is open at 6-ish PM on a Thursday. Thinking that daughter would do better with chunky yarn for first project ala Lily and Lucy (Kiki and Steve's knitting offspring). Alas, shop is closed. Curses, foiled again.

Heading towards home on the reservation roads to avoid freeway hassles. Pulled over to watch a lovely egret hunting in a small body of water. (Boy, do they ever move slooooowly). As we near the previously washed-out bridge just south of McDowell, we are witness to a nasty car crash.

Small SUV in front of us containing 3 teenage girls (one pregnant, I later find out) is slammed by a woman who seemed to run a red light. Marion is wonderful, sitting calmly in the truck as I hop out to try to lend a hand. One girl has a couple of cuts on her head which are bleeding, but everyone seems ok. I grab some cloths out of the truck and try to help out as we await the paramedics. (This is indeed the one time that I regret being the only human without a cel phone.)

The police come and the medical personnel soon follow, and as everyone seems fine, we head home. I commend my girlie on her bravery and patience and she, in turn, urges me to sit down and take it easy. What a peach.

Another day, albeit a bit more exciting than I'd planned, comes to an end. Night all.

Happy Mother's Day!

I got to sleep late, breakfast in bed, flowers, brunch with the world's finest in-laws, knitting time, and time for long-overdue yard work. What about you?

What's up?

I attended my first Stitch-n-Bitch meeting last night, and I want to become a regular. Nice knitters, lovely projects, delightful chat. I finished the baby blanket (fanfare of trumpets, please!) and it found it's way to the handsome recipient today.

Started on the French Market Bag for ME (see it in the archives at http://www.knitty.com. I'm doing it in charcoal and a mulberry red. Yum.

Hugs to my wonderful not-a-secret-anymore pal, Kim. You've made the SP4 a blast, and I think I'm going to go for #5 if humanly possible.

Our new office is chugging right along. I still don't think it'll be ready by August, but I DID buy a tank-top style two-piece swimsuit just in case......

Au revoirs for now.

Long overdue praise

My delightful secret pal gifted me recently (well, a while ago) with a package full of FUN! A book of yummy desert recipes from a "Miss Daisy" (who looks as though she would be able to scrounge through a bachelor's fridge and whip up something delectable with whatever she discovered there), a beautiful hanging ornament with baubles and bottles and beads and twisting, viney coils, and the ultimate delight, two skeins of baby alpaca yarn in an aptly named shade of Moss. Don't know yet what they'll be, but you can bet your sweet patootie it's going to be something por moi!

Many thanks, you dear girl! I have no photo-posting program residing in my computer at present, but know that I am enjoying all the lovely gifties.

I have nearly finished the blasted baby blanket. I am thinking of putting together the pieces with a Sirdar denim/white yarn. I think it'll go pretty well with the Sirdar lavender, and mayhap give it a more masculine touch. I think Kaleb's daddy would appreciate that. Kaleb himself is growing at an astounding rate for a young man who came on the scene a few weeks early. Makes me remember Marion at that age.

Work is better, thank you. Our new office is taking shape rapidly--we have walls and bricks are starting to cover over them. I made a bet with our office manager that I really didn't think we'd be in by August. I felt so strongly about it, in fact, that I told her I'd wear a bikini to the first day we opened if it was in August. I'm torn now, because we really need the space, but I'm starting to hope that the monsoons this summer slow things down just a bit. Actually, I think we'll be in before the end of the year, which would be terrific.

My magnificent in-laws took off for a 10-day Mexican cruise today. They are slowly recovering from Tim's passing, and they're catching up on sleep like crazy. I love them so much. I'm really glad that they took some time to go away and just be. Seth's planning on re-doing some of the TV stuff in their house while they're gone--move things around a bit and get a satellite system installed (as we love ours). Marion and I plan to make sure that the pool doesn't get lonely. The water's at about 70 right now, which I think is great. I don't like swimming in water that feels like soup.

My folks take off soon for Italy and Switzerland! They're taking mom's cousin along, and I'm certain much hilarity will ensue, as it always does. They make a great travel trio.

I'm working on an earring holder. Can't stand having them all jumbled up in a box any longer. I've peeled some ocotillo branches which have dried and seasoned in the yard for a few years (much to my husband's chagrin), and I'm sealing them and wiring them together this evening. If I get the photo program back, and IF it looks anything like I hope it will, I'll post it.

Again, Belated but heartfelt thanks, secret pal. Hope you and yours are well.

P.S.

If anyone from the Stitch-n-Bitch group actually ventures in, I really do have photos of things I've knitted. Please check the archives for proof of knitt-ability. Thank you!

Yes, it's Monday (is there a pattern developing here?)

It's taken me a couple of weeks to get back in the knitting frame of mind, but I'm there. Reading "The Knitting Goddess" and reveling in the brioche stitch. I'm about halfway in the pieces for the baby blanket. It may not be perfect squares, but it's soft and purple and machine-washable, which I figure to be a distinct plus for a new mommy.

I also went and purchsed all the needed ingredients for the French Market bag from Knitty.com. YAY! Something for me! Decided on a sumptuous red and charcoal combo using brownsheep wool. /And my 7.5 year-old daughter who accompanied me on the shopping venture insisted on buying yarn and needles to make her teddy bear a scarf. YAY! Passing it along! She's much like me in that she frustrates easily if things don't go perfectly at first, but I think she'll do pretty well.

Am trying to come up with a nice parting giftie for my secret pal. Any suggestions? So far, I've sent a little knitted pouch with chocolate, a funnel scarf/cowl made of mohair, and a very enjoyable book.

We may be adding to the family with a small four-legged creature tomorrow, but then again, we may not....more on that story as it develops.

Wow! It's Wednesday!

I'm in a total knitting slump. I can't seem to get myself motivated to finish the baby blanket I want to give to a friend's daughter. I can't even get myself to go to the LYS for supplies for the bag I want to make for ME. AARGH!.

Tim's memorial service on Sunday was well-attended (60-70 people) and well-enjoyed. My in-laws are catching up on their rest and planning a cruise soon. (overdue and sure to be enjoyed) I miss Tim and think of him every day.

We are seriously into the planning stages of getting out of the US and heading up to Canada. My in-laws would certainly join us, and we'd be happy for their company. I have to do some more serious work on contacting folks in the BC area to find a job offer, but I don't really doubt that it could happen.

On a pleasant note, my honeysuckle is in bloom! It's the white variety, and I guess all the babying and pampering has paid off. There are a few white blooms and tons of buds ready to spring forth. YAY! I am planning on starting work on my gazebo this weekend. (We won't be heading up north for a while yet, and I want to make this summer bearable.)

That's about it for now. Working on finding a nice final giftie for my secret pal.

Monday again???

Yep, I'm afraid so. Allergies are attacking the females in our house; M and I are coughing, sneezing and sniffling up a storm. I'm still poking away at the baby blanket, but it's not really getting anywhere fast. Have switched my usual anniversary gift this year...Most times, I go out to the Boyce-Thompson arboretum with my sweetie and childie and buy lots of plants, but this year, I'm asking for a trip to my LYS for supplies for the French Market Bag featured in Knitty. (Sorry, I don't have the link thing down yet). If it works, it'll be the first thing I've made for me! And felted, too. Hmm, maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew... we'll see.

Work is ugly. I promised Seth I'd spend some time looking into Canadian immigration, and I almost have enough points to make it as a Skilled Worker. I just have to wrangle up a job offer and we should be able to go. My fab in-laws want to come, too, and we know folks with land outside Vancouver, so maybe I'll have a Canadian blog going sometime in the future! I LOVE what I've seen of Canada and also have found Canadian people to be delightful. We watch "The National" almost nightly for REAL news instead of the sensationalist garbage that we get fed in the US. And if Skippy starts up the draft, as it seems he will, I'm ready to go if Canada will have me/us.

Anyhow. Not much else to relate. The dog got a good haircut recently, so he doesn't have ptarmigan feet right now. I still miss my cat, but I'm not quite ready to bring another one home right now. Worked in the yard a bit this weekend, and I may even get some honeysuckle blooms this summer since we've had so much rain. That'd be nice. The wildflowers out front are starting to fade, and I've got to collect some of the lupine seed for next fall. Cleaning up in the summer is such a chore, but I really love the yard in spring (see earlier photos).

Thanks Secret Pal!!

Last week, while my computer was out having a wash and set, a mysterious package arrived....

It contained a wonderful book, "Zen and the Art of Knitting" and 2 fab CDs loaded with toothsome tunes for toe-tapping and yarn-twirling! I ingested the book very quickly (as I am wont to do) and have been enjoying the ear-candy frequently since its arrival. Muchas gracias, my southern belle of a pal! And also thanks for the sweet card and drawing--I'll get my camera up and going soon to uplink evidence of the lovely gifties. Kiss that young artist from me.

Life is slowly regaining normalcy. My in-laws are doing pretty well. They've planned a big celebration memorial get-together, and there should be a nice piece in one of the local papers on Tim this weekend. Things still feel weird, but that isn't surprising when you lose a family member.

I'm trying gamely to get a blanket done for a friend's grandbaby, and the New Mexico scarf flew away from me last weekend. Hope it's nested safely in AL-B-Q. Was happy to hear and see that the merino scarf made it to my cold-weather pal in time for her to utilize its fuzzy goodness. Found a great, easy-appearing stuffed bunny pattern, and have tried it, but mine came out looking a bit skewed. Marion likes it, even without ears, so I think she'll get the first attempt and I'll give it another go in a bit.

Did get my ophthalmology assignment done just prior to the computer going away, so that's a huge relief. Must remember that precious word, "NO", next time I am asked to contribute. GS cookie time is at an end, as well, and I'm lucky that my co-leader was the "cookie mom" so that I don't have to deal with the math. (aargh.)

Lots of endings, or so it feels. I'm feeling a little steadier this week, and will now go knit. Peace.

Tim Reader, I love you.

Tim is my dear brother-out-law who passed away this past Wednesday night. Never have you seen bluer eyes. Never have you seen a Shakespearean actor who so loved and understood the Bard. Never would you have had more fun at a Dead concert than with this sweet redhead. Never could there be a dearer friend/uncle. We'll miss him terribly, but know that the time was right. Tim, you're the best.

Yet another Monday

Well, it's a little better than last week, but not much. 6 out of 10 people in my office are out with the current plague. My brother-in-law is in hospital again. I'm behind on the ophthalmology project I volunteered for (and was to have finished by end o' February). My GS troop is barely limping along , and I'm not really interested in getting it back up to speed. And I miss my cat.

On the non-sucky side...Seth's back is better. It's not 8 trillion degrees here yet. I finished the merino giftie for my secret pal and will mail to her manana. And there is cold beer in the fridge and very appealing purpley Takhi yarn wanting to be an Albuquerque-bound scarf. Must think positively....must regain cockeyed optimism... just..need to.. keep that damn kryptonite AWAY FROM ME!!!!!

Crappy Monday

I am an animal person. I have not been without animals in my house for longer than I can remember. My sweet, near-toothless old cat Homer was found to have less than no kidney function today. (Expletive deleted). Our very kind vet gave him some fluids and sent him home for the night so that we could say goodbye to him and let Marion be with him for a bit, but tomorrow I have to take him back. I have only had to do this once before, and it SUCKS. I haven't been cat-less in 16 years, and I am NOT looking forward to it. He's a black and white tuxedo cat with big green eyes that look like grapes. He snores. He's one of the mellowest cats I've ever had. He's always been great with Marion, even when she was tiny and didn't know that tails and whiskers weren't really for pulling. He's gotten along with every other pet we've had and generally been a big, wonderful guy and I'm going to miss him terribly.