Happy Weekend!

It is the weekend, finally. The last few days has been busy-- but I did get a little knitting done. I took the afternoon off on Thurs to get the car fixed (new struts, tires, etc). What turned out to be an estimated 3 hour job took 5 hrs! Needless to say, I did get a bit of knitting done-- but I really did not want to see that shawl again for a few days... Friday I got up early (the dogs don't seem to understand the concept of vacation day and sleep in!) and set out to get a lot accomplished. I wanted to knit a bit this morning (watching tv waiting for the McCain VP announcement), but really did not want to face that dropped shawl again. Sometimes I swear I can hear the yarn calling me-- usually it is the natural fibers that call the loudest. During a LYS visit, I purchased a pattern and yarn for a wonderful mohair shawl/poncho by Kristen (Waves of Mohair #P05105). I figured this would be fairly easy, just knit, purls and a few yo/ktogs. Working with Mohair alone is a bit interesting-- I have to remind myself not to grip to tightly. So, here is a picture of the started project. The yarn is Artful Yarns Portrait (color 202)-- it does not show up well in the photo, but is a wonderful blend of different shads of purples, blues, greens and golds. If you are interested, the pattern by Kristen can be found on line at http://www.styledbykristin.com/

Peaches are in right now and I have a wonderful farmer stand not too far away. I decided to try a little canning this year (it has been a few years-- mainly pickles then). I set off to the stand to get the peaches on Friday-- I also need to get a few bags for friends to be delivered on Saturday. Canning went well, I put down 12 pints and 2 quarts of sliced peaches (in apple juice) and 12 jelly jars of peach preserves (sugar free), but boy was it tiring-- not enough burners on the stove to keep everything going. I hope they all seal! I will be hitting the tomato sauce on Sunday!

It's almost the weekend (for me at least!)

Goodness, already a couple of days between posts, not a good start is it? But I have a good excuse-- really. OK, not really-- I fell asleep early after a couple of really sleepless nights. We have a couple of projects at work that I am trying to get done so that I can finally take a long weekend. I hate it when those little things invade your thoughts at 2AM! Luckily, I stopped at the local book store to pick up a pattern book (more on that one later!), and picked up Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book "Cast Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting". What a hoot! I would recommend this little darling if: 1) you are a knitter, 2) you live with/are close friends with a knitter and/or 3) you need a gift for a knitter. She is hilarious-- approaching the subject of knitting and knitters as your tour guide though the wonderful and quirky land of fiber (the people, the customs and the culture). I think the dogs think I am crazy after the many LOL moments (at 3AM). (Needless to say, such fits a laughter with said dogs is not a good idea since they think it must be time to get up and play!).

So if you are looking for a good read or a really nice present (gift basket with the book and your knitters favorite yarn & notions or a gift card to the Local Yarn Shop (LYS) would be a suggestion), check out the book. I also enjoy reading SPM's blog- check out at http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/. I will link her blog to my favorites (maybe with a button when I figure out how to do that!) later one. [Oh, another funny thing happened as I was getting the YH link: I stopped to read her entry on an encounter with the subway mother-- what a riot. Oh, look free patterns-- oooooh, pretty lace Snowdrop Shaw-- must download now!-- I think it is a disease!).

The First Post!

Well, here we go. My first blog and first post (yay for me!). I am sure that I will violate all kinds of blogging rules, so please be kind. I have been knitting on-and-off for a couple of years (more off than on), mainly just knit scarves. About this time last year I decided to pick up the needles again and have not looked back.

To start things off, here my first attempt at a non-scarf. I am a fan of Vickie Howell's Knitty Gritty (DIY and HGTV). (BTW: DIY, could you please sacrifice one of the million home improvement/sale/gardening shows for one craft show-- even if it is back on a 5AM-- I won't complain, I promise!). On one particular show, Vickie had members of the Souza Family show a really cool Camo Hat-- I thought, yes, I can make that! What I didn't realize it used both dpns and circular needles-- boy, for my first non-scarf I really went for the tools! Well, after panic subsided, I started right in. I will admit, I had to frog a few times, but over all, the hat came out OK-- but the ear flaps could use some work. I changed the color from camouflage to a dark gray with light gray trim. I can't remember the brand of yarn-- maybe Lion Brand? Not too bad for my first round thing! And yes, I am using a planter to model the hat!

If you like this hat, you can get the pattern from the book "Knitty Gritty Knits" by Vickie Howell or at DIY web site (http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dkng).