As one of my favorite poets says, "The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful..."
We can see the northernmost arms of tropical storm Dolly way off in the distance over the Gulf. The storm is too far away to cause us any grief, and so far the weather has been typical for Florida--hot. The surf is supposed to be pretty high today at 3 to 4 feet. I'm looking forward to good waves for boogie boarding.
The connection is very slow, so blogging must be kept to a minimum. More later!
You've got to have new flip flops for a trip to the beach. You'd think flip flops would be easy to come by this time of year. Nope. I wear a size 9, which, it seems, a lot of other women wear. I found black and red at Old Navy. I love Old Navy flip flops, but not in black or red. They're nice and squishy and the thingy that goes between your toes isn't very thick...important quality in a good flip flop. Well, anyway I was very disappointed in the selection of size 9 flip flops. Make that size 9 CHEAP flip flops. A pair shouldn't cost more than a gallon of gas. I have standards.
Beach knitting:
Question for my seven subscribers: what should I take to the beach to knit? Last year I worked on the Lorna's Laces socks. I really don't think I want to do socks this year, but I need something smallish. I'll take the Cabaret Raglan just because, but I need an official beach project. I'll be there over July 25th (think Christmas in July). Oh...and I just bought a new air conditioner/gas heat unit (ouch!!) so whatever I knit has to be something with yarn from my stash. That makes things interesting. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Beach reading:
World Without End by Ken Follett (about 1/2 way through with this, excellent so far!)
Pieceworks Magazine (pin cushion winners)
Knitter Universe (Summer 2008)
Unfortunately my best smutty beach novel is on loan...drat! (Dark Paradise by Tami Hoag)
Help! I need another book! Thoughts? Suggestions?
By the way...are there any good yarn shops in or near Panama City Beach? I know that about half way through the trip I'm going to need to get away from the testosterone!! Yarn will help.
I thought about posting fiber photos, but changed my mind. Enjoy the random shots of what's been happening lately.
Wakeboarding - Old Hickory Lake, June 2008
Drumfish caught by Zack (from shore) - Old Hickory Lake, June 2008
Zack just returned from two weeks at summer camp. Yes, TWO WEEKS! He's been away from home for a week at a time but has always been connected by phone or some other means. There was no phone contact, just letters and post cards. Separation anxiety (on my part) kicked in around day 3 and left on day 4. I bought new bedding. Then I went yarn shopping. I ate sushi, read a couple of good books and played with fiber. I had a great time at home and Zack had a great time at camp! Win win!
The Cabaret Raglan is coming along very nicely. I'm starting on the front lace panel. I got the Spring/Summer Vogue Knitting magazine, and I'm finding it hard to focus on the raglan. The blue cable and lace shell is calling...loudly...I'm thinking green bamboo blend. I digress. Back to the raglan...believe it or not, I've never followed a chart before, which is the main reason I wanted to knit this sweater. The chart is pretty simple and it makes sense. Charts always looked so scary and complicated before. I feel like I've turned a new knitting leaf! Bring on the lace!
The Mama C shetland wool is now plied and off the wheel. I tried a 2-ply, navaho-ply and 3-ply. The 2-ply was too wimpy and Navaho was too inconsistent. (Navaho is basically a three ply, but you do it with one strand of yarn in an over-exagerated crochet chain stitch motion.) I settled on a traditional three ply and it's lovely! I haven't counted the yardage yet, but I have 4 pretty decent sized skeins. I'd like to get a vest out of it.
On the Ashford right now is an experiment in wool and silk. I'm loving it! I don't know if it will remain a singles, or if I'll ply it with something. Right now it's about a DK to worsted weight. I don't want it much thicker, but I think I need a "binder" to keep it all nice and twisty.
Upcoming road trip: Panama City Beach! Get out the black socks and metal detector, here I come!
Sometimes I think I must be nuts. I spent my day at "Field Day 2008". More ham radio stuff. You can click the link if you are so inclined.
However, before you start feeling too sorry for me, I must confess a little secret. I left "KI4LMR" in the capable hands of the WCARES volunteers and went to Murfreesboro to pay a visit to the Knaughty Knitter. It was a good visit. I bought two bags of mixed fiber batts. They are killer gorgeous! When my batteries recharge, I'll post photos.
This was my first visit to Knaughty Knitter's shop (visited booths at numerous fiber events) and I could kick myself for not going sooner. The shop is a couple blocks off the town square and is in a small converted house. Three rooms of fiber!! This shop is the only one in the area that sells both yarn and spinning fiber. She has an awesome selection of both. I found myself fondling her huge selection of Lopi Lite until reality smacked me upside the head reminding me that it was 95 degrees outside. Knaughty Knitter is worth the drive...get a group together and make a day of it! (There are also some great new restaurants and shopping in the 'Boro.)
When I returned to Field Day, I found myself a nice patch of shade (very scarce!) and commenced to knitting on the Cabaret Raglan. Would someone please remind me to WRITE DOWN INCREASES AND DECREASES when I decide to be clever and alter a pattern to include waist shaping? I don't know why counting rows has become so difficult for me, but I've done a partial frog on this sweater FOUR times because I can't seem to count to seven. I am an idiot. I did get to the raglan decrease on the front, which means I start the pattern on the next row. No fair making bets on how many times I frog due to attention deficit while decreasing and working a pattern!
I just realized that I haven't mentioned that Zack is at camp. He is at a two-week resident camp and this is the longest I've ever gone without talking to him. It's very quiet around the house and the poor dog keeps checking his bedroom. He'll be home on the 4th, just in time for fireworks!
Believe it or not, there are times when I don't knit or spin during my down time. I read. I watch movies. I even watch TV. For some reason I'm totally hooked on CSI Miami. I can't explain it. Maybe it's all the pretty colors. We can discuss this later.
Tonight I want to tell you about the book I just finished, "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant. It's about Dinah, Jacob's only daughter. Most people know the story of Jacob and his sons, especially Joseph (and the coat of many colors). This book explores the lives of the women of that time. Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah, Dinah and other characters of the author's invention. Even though Dinah is just briefly mentioned in Genesis, her life comes alive in "The Red Tent." I found it difficult to put the book down. Find it. Read it!
This afternoon I started "World Without End" by Ken Follett. This is the sequel to "Pillars of the Earth", however I've been told that you don't need to read Pillars first. I read Pillars years ago...before it made Oprah's book list. Pillars is set in the Dark Ages as the great cathedrals of Europe are being built. Fantastic book! "World Without End" takes place 200 years later in the same village. I'm only 5 chapters into the book but already I'm enthralled!
Authors amaze me. As I sit here and struggle over typing out a few simple words about what is going on in my life, I can't help but be in awe of their talent. A well-written book is so satisifying that I find myself reading passages several times just for the enjoyment of it.
Update on the Cabaret Raglan. I've got to frog. DANG IT! An important lesson was learned here. Write down how often you increase and decrease, then count the rows carefully. I'm off by 4 rows and will need to trash about 3 inches of boring stockinette. Probably not enough to make a huge difference, but enough to bug the crap out of me. So...a'frogging I will go.
Go forth and read while I go forth and frog...ribbit...
There's been a lot of talk lately about what people in the U.S. are doing with their economic stimulus checks. When the rebate idea was first announced, I decided I would spend a little bit on my fiber habit. Defining "little bit" has proven difficult, but I believe I've come up with a plan. I signed up for a spinning class in September at the Appalachian Center for Craft. Want to join me? There is only room for 12 students. Go! Sign up! Now!
Speaking of joining me... Do you want to get together with a group of knitters during lunch? It's a great way to de-stress just bit during the week. If you work in downtown Nashville, there are a couple good knitting opportunities during lunch. A small group meets at Dunn's Coffee House (right beneath the L&C Tower) each Wednesday. Another group meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at the main branch of the public library. Check out the Nashville Ravelers group on Ravelry for more info.
Project update: all the shetland (Mama C) has been spun into singles, now I need to ply. While my thumb was sore, I predrafted some wool that I dyed a couple months ago.
I might spin it up next...maybe add a little sari silk. The Cabaret Raglan is coming along nicely. The back is done and I'm about 1/2 way finished with the front. I haven't made much progress on the Socks That Rock Terra Firma. They're just not as soft as I'd like. I'm trying...but...these have all the signs of being a colossal u.f.o. (un finished object).
Speaking of U.F.O.s, I have one that just might get the record on Ravelry. I'll have to dust it off and take photos. The 80s weren't terribly good for knitters.
Reader poll: what's your oldest U.F.O. and why did you abandon it? Anyone? Anyone?
It's been a rough week and I need to gripe a bit.
Have you ever encountered a person who looks for things to get mad about? I work with someone who isn't happy unless he's unhappy about something. Does that make sense? Life is too short to get ticked off about a quarter tank of gas in a rental car.
I work in an open cubicle area and one of my neighbors listens to country music and another listens to a melange of classic rock. Neither one uses headphones so I hear both radio stations at the same time. Why do they think I want to listen to their music? My head phones should give them a hint.
Someone once told me that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Trust me, there are stupid questions. I've had many this week.
I knit so I don't kill people. I'm not joking. I've made excellent progress on the Cabaret Raglan. Back is done, front is about 1/3. With the way things are going at work, I'll have it finished in a matter of days.
