Hooray for holidays!

Three day weekend! I am enjoying my leisurely breakfast this morning. You would think that I would have been really productive this weekend, but I have been plagued by that kind of "creative ADD" that hits me pretty often. I have worked on the Twinkleberry socks...(well, untangling the yarn that I managed to tangle), an afghan for my dad, and a new project with some Artyarns mohair/silk. The problem is that I spent more time looking for what pattern I want to use on the mohair than I have spent on actually making it.

...so...I don't have much progress on anything. I do have a baby bonnet that I finished last week. Take a look.



It is not my best photography by far, but you can see the basic work. I love the way the alternating yarn overs make the border look like a row of netting where it attaches to the back. This is for a co-worker of my DH. She found out that she is having a girl, and I immediately had to do something girly. Since most of my knitting is for me, my mom and my sister, I don't get to do girly stuff that much. I don't like to wear it, but it sure is fun to knit. This design came from the book Blanket, Hats, and Booties to Knit and Crochet by Kristin Spurklund. It was very easy to follow. My picture does not do the design justice.

Time for me to get back to my day off. It's a hard life, isn't it? I should be cleaning the house, so I'll at least do dishes and a load of laundry. Other than that? I'll be reading the Keri Arthur novel The Darkest Kiss and I'll be knitting! Woohoo!

Cocoa needed equal time, so he posed for a kitty shot.

I guess I played and knitted most of the day today. I made progress on the socks that I am knitting for my mom. The first one was a little too short. It fit me, so I know she needs another 1/2 inch. I have posted a picture for you to see. I found the pattern on-line, and I actually used the yarn that it suggests. That might be a first for me!

This is where I found the pattern: http://www.knitzi.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=80&products_id=234
I also thought I'd introduce you to another of my babies. He is our newest adoption. He wandered into our yard about a week after Hurricane Ike, and he looked like he hadn't eaten since then. We named him Dexter because he was being ditzy and a little confused one day. My husband called him "You little Poindexter." I thought it was the perfect name for a dog belonging to two nerds. Plus, the nick-name possibilities are endless...

A Little Project

Since I haven't been able to knit (much less DO) anything in the last day or so, I've included a cute picture of MG. Last year I taught the crochet club at our school. I made up this little purse as an example to show the students what we were going to make at one of the meetings. MG became so fascinated with the purse that I put it around his neck.

He seemed to LOVE it. He pranced around showing it off to the others fur kids, and he modeled it for us even though he hates the camera! (The flash is too bright for his little eyes.) It was the greatest success I've ever had with a 15 minute project. It just goes to show that everyone loves handmade items if it is the right project for the person (er, dog.) Unfortunately, the students were less than enthusiastic about it.

In the picture, you can catch a glimpse of Cocoa, our chocolate point Siamese cat. (His original mistress gave him the name, and I didn't have the heart to change it to something from TV or cars, like I usually pick.) Cocoa doesn't really like the dogs, so he likes to hide behind the baby gate that we used when he first came to stay with us. He is the only cat I know who can't (or at least won't) jump over a two foot fence. He likes having the guest suite all to himself.

I caught the most recent cold that is going around and it went straight to my chest, so I won't be posting much today. Pictures will have to wait until I am up and moving again. At least I can post from the laptop while reclining on the couch.

Today's knitting/sanity session involves socks for my mom. I found a great free pattern, and it even uses the same yarn that I am using. That almost never happens. I am always having to calculate a gauge change or change needle sizes because I can't manage to make a pattern as it is written. This one, though, is a simple but pretty lace pattern for a nice stretchy sock. I am using Regia yarn that is silk and wool! It is incredibly soft. I'll add a link to the pattern and a picture of the project when I finally move from the couch, which I'm not planning on doing today. Maybe it was a bad day to start the blog, but you have to start somewhere.

The dogs are enjoying the company. First the two little ones had a stand-off to see which one ranked highest. The winner (the minpin, of course) had the honor of sitting in the middle of my chest. Since I can't breathe well today, that didn't last long. Big dog (Maxey, the sheltie mix) is just happy to have a human in the house. She doesn't have to go berserk and climb onto every kitchen counter when someone is home. I wish she knew that she didn't need to do it even when we're NOT home.
Time to call the dr. and the pharmacy...Here's hoping that no one else has this (but knowing that many more probably do).