It's official, Michael and I both are down with the swine flu.
Now we don't have to worry about getting the shot.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
New Arrival
We have a new member of the family.
Her name is Iris and she's a Pekingese. We adopted her from a rescue shelter and she's 2 years old. We have a second one on the way this weekend and Michael will probably pick her up on Saturday. I don't know what name he and David have decided on. I'll post a picture of her when she gets here.
So far Iris hasn't had an opportunity to "meet" the cats. I hope she and the cats will get along together. For the most part the dogs will be downstairs and the cats will be upstairs most of the time anyway.
Her name is Iris and she's a Pekingese. We adopted her from a rescue shelter and she's 2 years old. We have a second one on the way this weekend and Michael will probably pick her up on Saturday. I don't know what name he and David have decided on. I'll post a picture of her when she gets here.
So far Iris hasn't had an opportunity to "meet" the cats. I hope she and the cats will get along together. For the most part the dogs will be downstairs and the cats will be upstairs most of the time anyway.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Class with BrooklynTweed - Jared Flood
Today I took a class at the new Knitch location on aran sweater design and steeks with Jared Flood. It was a great class and there was so much great information presented that I had never encountered before. He talked about guage swatching for cables and adjusting for ease in the process of designing a sweater and how to use this information to make a sweater that fits your measurements. He also showed us how to do a crocheted steek. I've done a steek with machine stitching before cutting, but this was the first time I'd ever tried the crochet method. Great method and I look forward to using it in an upcoming cardigan.
Here are my swatch and steek samples from the class. This is a close up of the steeked edge on the back side.
He also showed us how to pick up and knit the button band. This is the same swatch after I knitted on the button band. It lays so nice a flat and the steek just folds right under and lays flat on the inside. This is the front side.
This is the back side of the sample. The steek flap had a little bit of a pucker to it, but he said this could be remedied by just using a smaller crochet hook to do the steek.
Of course I was a total knitting geek and asked Kim (the owner of Knitch) if I could keep one of the demo sheets from the class and she said I could if it was alright with Jared. I then asked Jared if he would autograph it. He probably thought I'm a nut, but he did sign if for me! :)
It was a fun class and he is an excellent instructor. If you have the chance, I can highly recommend the classes. Be warned... you better sign up quick. The classes were popular and filled quickly.
Here are my swatch and steek samples from the class. This is a close up of the steeked edge on the back side.
He also showed us how to pick up and knit the button band. This is the same swatch after I knitted on the button band. It lays so nice a flat and the steek just folds right under and lays flat on the inside. This is the front side.
This is the back side of the sample. The steek flap had a little bit of a pucker to it, but he said this could be remedied by just using a smaller crochet hook to do the steek.
Of course I was a total knitting geek and asked Kim (the owner of Knitch) if I could keep one of the demo sheets from the class and she said I could if it was alright with Jared. I then asked Jared if he would autograph it. He probably thought I'm a nut, but he did sign if for me! :)
It was a fun class and he is an excellent instructor. If you have the chance, I can highly recommend the classes. Be warned... you better sign up quick. The classes were popular and filled quickly.
Monday, August 17, 2009
short post
I finished the Herbert Niebling Jesien blanket. It ended up about 60" in diameter.
A couple of new kitty pictures too
Blanche in the kitchen window ledge
Dear Daddy,
Thanks for the wonderful Socks That Rock yarn pillow.
Love, Bob
A couple of new kitty pictures too
Blanche in the kitchen window ledge
Dear Daddy,
Thanks for the wonderful Socks That Rock yarn pillow.
Love, Bob
Friday, July 31, 2009
When you have a cat who won't be deterred
We have a container in the sink we use for throwing out cooking waste. It originally had a lid, but it broke off not long after we bought it. We had pork chops last night and I had thrown my pork chop bone in the container. As I did this, I thought for a brief moment that maybe I should put that bone in the regular trash can that has a lid and then foolishly and quickly dismissed it thinking he'd never stick his head in there.
Bob, my 17 pound red tabby cat, usually wakes me about 6:45 with his first morning plea for food. (He jumps on the bed right by my head to bounce me awake) This morning I thought he was sleeping in late since he didn't show up until about 7:45. (I feed them at 8:00.) This is what I was greeted with this morning...
It took me a minute to figure out what was going on. The scary thing is he could have really hurt himself. I actually considered letting him wear it for a while just as a lesson, but he couldn't drink water or go through the cat door to the litter box while he had it on. It wasn't tight around his neck, he just couldn't get his head back out without my help, but I also don't know how long it had been on there already. So I just took a picture, of course, and helped him get it off. Then found my pork chop bone picked clean in the middle of the kitchen floor. The power of the pork chop was just too much for him to resist! Hopefully he did learn a lesson and won't stick his head in there again in the future. Yeah... right... This reminds me of a cat my sister had named Tippin, he was a terror too and I often wonder if Bob is a descendant of the Tippin bloodline.
On to the knitting. I finished the AKG knit-a-long scarf. It turned out very nice.
I really like the beads that I chose for this scarf and the merino/tencel yarn from Webs worked out very nicely. The scarf is named after a character from Lord of the Rings. Galadriel the elf queen. That's a quarter in the blocking board next to it for scale. I also got lucky and won a prize in the completion drawing. It's hand dyed lace weight yarn. I haven't gotten it yet, but I'll post a pic when I do. Thanks Deborah!
I've also been working on a lap blanket using one of Herbert Niebling's patterns Jesien. I'm using up the leftover yarn from my chicken and Lou's vest. I had to buy more of the purple that I used in Lou's vest to have enough to finish. This is the so called "boiled-ass" phase as Janice of GA calls it. The center looks like a Jello mold to me. Hopefully I should get it finished this weekend.
This is the back side taken without a flash so the colors are a little off.
The next project is another Niebling pattern I'm making for Nancy in blue silk. Nancy found the yarn on Ebay and I think it's the perfect thing for a shawl. She picked out the pattern from the book Knitted Lace Designs by Herbert Niebling.
I'm off to Rusan's at lunchtime to meet up with some of my knitting buddies for sushi buffet! Mmmmm...
Bob, my 17 pound red tabby cat, usually wakes me about 6:45 with his first morning plea for food. (He jumps on the bed right by my head to bounce me awake) This morning I thought he was sleeping in late since he didn't show up until about 7:45. (I feed them at 8:00.) This is what I was greeted with this morning...
It took me a minute to figure out what was going on. The scary thing is he could have really hurt himself. I actually considered letting him wear it for a while just as a lesson, but he couldn't drink water or go through the cat door to the litter box while he had it on. It wasn't tight around his neck, he just couldn't get his head back out without my help, but I also don't know how long it had been on there already. So I just took a picture, of course, and helped him get it off. Then found my pork chop bone picked clean in the middle of the kitchen floor. The power of the pork chop was just too much for him to resist! Hopefully he did learn a lesson and won't stick his head in there again in the future. Yeah... right... This reminds me of a cat my sister had named Tippin, he was a terror too and I often wonder if Bob is a descendant of the Tippin bloodline.
On to the knitting. I finished the AKG knit-a-long scarf. It turned out very nice.
I really like the beads that I chose for this scarf and the merino/tencel yarn from Webs worked out very nicely. The scarf is named after a character from Lord of the Rings. Galadriel the elf queen. That's a quarter in the blocking board next to it for scale. I also got lucky and won a prize in the completion drawing. It's hand dyed lace weight yarn. I haven't gotten it yet, but I'll post a pic when I do. Thanks Deborah!
I've also been working on a lap blanket using one of Herbert Niebling's patterns Jesien. I'm using up the leftover yarn from my chicken and Lou's vest. I had to buy more of the purple that I used in Lou's vest to have enough to finish. This is the so called "boiled-ass" phase as Janice of GA calls it. The center looks like a Jello mold to me. Hopefully I should get it finished this weekend.
This is the back side taken without a flash so the colors are a little off.
The next project is another Niebling pattern I'm making for Nancy in blue silk. Nancy found the yarn on Ebay and I think it's the perfect thing for a shawl. She picked out the pattern from the book Knitted Lace Designs by Herbert Niebling.
I'm off to Rusan's at lunchtime to meet up with some of my knitting buddies for sushi buffet! Mmmmm...
Monday, June 29, 2009
part 1 of AKG KAL
I finished part 1 of the Atlanta Knitting Guild's knit-a-long last night. This isn't the best picture shot on the blocking table covered in gingham. I need to take pix with a solid background.
Now I have to find something else to knit on until the next clue comes out on Friday. I'll keep posting my progress until we finish the wrap.
I bought a couple of Herbet Niebling's lace patterns a couple of months ago and I think I'm going to try one of those using worsted weight and make a throw blanket for the bed. A couple of my friends are making the Girasole blanket. I plan on making that too someday. Thanks for the inspiration Jared (BrooklynTweed).
Now I have to find something else to knit on until the next clue comes out on Friday. I'll keep posting my progress until we finish the wrap.
I bought a couple of Herbet Niebling's lace patterns a couple of months ago and I think I'm going to try one of those using worsted weight and make a throw blanket for the bed. A couple of my friends are making the Girasole blanket. I plan on making that too someday. Thanks for the inspiration Jared (BrooklynTweed).
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
New FO (finished object)
I finished the Double Border scarf from Victorian Lace Today on Monday. It is about 48 inches long and 16 inches wide.
I really enjoyed this pattern and the way it is knit. You only get one border pattern chart and you alternate the pattern so when knitting an even row on one edge, you then knit an odd row on the other with a small reversible pattern in the middle. It's a little tricky getting the hang of it at first, but once you understand the way it's working it becomes very easy to follow.
I knit this using the handspun I made from the Lisa Souza roving I bought at Stitches South in April. I ended up with about 450 yards and used almost all of it on this scarf.
Next on the needles will be the knit-a-long mystery scarf designed by Deborah Fillmer aka the Nautical Knitter for the Atlanta Knitting Guild. It's totally supa-exclusive. We are so ready to get going on this!! I've done one swatch and I'm working on another with different yarn and beads. The first clue will be released this Friday. Here is the first swatch I made.
The first clue was originally slated to be released on the 19th and I was ready. I kept checking and checking and checking and I was about ready to send an email to the group asking what's going on. Then Lou told me, "Don't you remember, she moved it back a week to give everyone time to get their yarn and beads." I had read it and totally forgotten about it. I was just so pumped and ready to get started on it. Just 2 more days.
We had a birthday celebration at Knitch last Friday for our three June honorees Diana, Lou and Brett.
We had ice cream birthday cake and chocolate chip cookies to get our blood sugar going for all the great conversation and knitting. We always have a great time on Friday evenings, but it's always made better with sweets and libations! :) Here is Diana doing the honors and cutting the birthday cake. It was yummy!!
and now, a little rant...
Unfortunately, on the job front I am facing a pay reduction in the form of a one day furlough per pay period which translates to a 10% pay cut. We just got a 10% cost of living raise a couple of years ago because they were discontinuing all merit raises. Now it seems they are taking the cost of living raise back too. Of course they say it will only last as long as the economy is depressed, but I can assure you that will mean the entire 2009-10 fiscal year. At least it didn't come in the form of layoffs and we all still have a job. I was anticipating we would lose one of our part-time positions at our branch. Instead, all the part-time employees are retaining their job and all of their hours. Only the full-time employees are being furloughed. Harumpf. I know it's not the part-timers fault, but I feel like the middle man in this situation is being singled out. The management positions are paid by the State of Georgia, so of course they aren't getting furloughed either and retaining ALL of their hours. The County Commissioner doesn't want to raise property taxes in the county because it would mean a possible $150-$300 per year increase for each household in the county. Um, this is a whole he!! of a lot less of an impact as opposed to giving every full-time county employee a 10% pay cut of about 10 times that value isn't it! Why shouldn't the COUNTY RESIDENTS help to defray the COUNTY COSTS instead of just the employees!?! We are the ones providing the services to THEM! On top of that, our library positions are among the lowest paid in the Atlanta area already. They tell us that our salaries are competitive with other libraries in our area, but I have a feeling they are excluding Atlanta. Consider that our former branch manager at my library left to take a job in Atlanta, Gwinnett County (which is primarily the same job I have now) and got a $16,000 pay raise to boot. She was already making about $5,000 a year more than I was. I know I could probably get another job, but I have 15 years in on this one and I don't want to lose all that time in towards my retirement. I could take the money with me to another job, but I can't take the time and would be basically starting over. There is absolutely no value in job loyalty in this country any more.
Okay, that's my soapbox minute.
Back to the knitting... at least it helps with the anxiety. :)
I really enjoyed this pattern and the way it is knit. You only get one border pattern chart and you alternate the pattern so when knitting an even row on one edge, you then knit an odd row on the other with a small reversible pattern in the middle. It's a little tricky getting the hang of it at first, but once you understand the way it's working it becomes very easy to follow.
I knit this using the handspun I made from the Lisa Souza roving I bought at Stitches South in April. I ended up with about 450 yards and used almost all of it on this scarf.
Next on the needles will be the knit-a-long mystery scarf designed by Deborah Fillmer aka the Nautical Knitter for the Atlanta Knitting Guild. It's totally supa-exclusive. We are so ready to get going on this!! I've done one swatch and I'm working on another with different yarn and beads. The first clue will be released this Friday. Here is the first swatch I made.
The first clue was originally slated to be released on the 19th and I was ready. I kept checking and checking and checking and I was about ready to send an email to the group asking what's going on. Then Lou told me, "Don't you remember, she moved it back a week to give everyone time to get their yarn and beads." I had read it and totally forgotten about it. I was just so pumped and ready to get started on it. Just 2 more days.
We had a birthday celebration at Knitch last Friday for our three June honorees Diana, Lou and Brett.
We had ice cream birthday cake and chocolate chip cookies to get our blood sugar going for all the great conversation and knitting. We always have a great time on Friday evenings, but it's always made better with sweets and libations! :) Here is Diana doing the honors and cutting the birthday cake. It was yummy!!
and now, a little rant...
Unfortunately, on the job front I am facing a pay reduction in the form of a one day furlough per pay period which translates to a 10% pay cut. We just got a 10% cost of living raise a couple of years ago because they were discontinuing all merit raises. Now it seems they are taking the cost of living raise back too. Of course they say it will only last as long as the economy is depressed, but I can assure you that will mean the entire 2009-10 fiscal year. At least it didn't come in the form of layoffs and we all still have a job. I was anticipating we would lose one of our part-time positions at our branch. Instead, all the part-time employees are retaining their job and all of their hours. Only the full-time employees are being furloughed. Harumpf. I know it's not the part-timers fault, but I feel like the middle man in this situation is being singled out. The management positions are paid by the State of Georgia, so of course they aren't getting furloughed either and retaining ALL of their hours. The County Commissioner doesn't want to raise property taxes in the county because it would mean a possible $150-$300 per year increase for each household in the county. Um, this is a whole he!! of a lot less of an impact as opposed to giving every full-time county employee a 10% pay cut of about 10 times that value isn't it! Why shouldn't the COUNTY RESIDENTS help to defray the COUNTY COSTS instead of just the employees!?! We are the ones providing the services to THEM! On top of that, our library positions are among the lowest paid in the Atlanta area already. They tell us that our salaries are competitive with other libraries in our area, but I have a feeling they are excluding Atlanta. Consider that our former branch manager at my library left to take a job in Atlanta, Gwinnett County (which is primarily the same job I have now) and got a $16,000 pay raise to boot. She was already making about $5,000 a year more than I was. I know I could probably get another job, but I have 15 years in on this one and I don't want to lose all that time in towards my retirement. I could take the money with me to another job, but I can't take the time and would be basically starting over. There is absolutely no value in job loyalty in this country any more.
Okay, that's my soapbox minute.
Back to the knitting... at least it helps with the anxiety. :)
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