Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Another Happy Meet Up....More Yarn Goodies....Fiber Yummies......Kitty Antics........

Saturday was a busy day here. I had an appointment first thing in the morning, so I had to miss out on the breakfast get together with some local Ravelry members, Kimberly, Carine, and Nancy. I met them, along with Jen, at EJ Yarns in Pawtucket. Sadly, the store is closing for good this Friday. It was my first time there, and, I fell in love with a few yarns. Somehow, I ended up acquiring enough Berroco Pleasure yarn for a sweater. It just felt so soft in my hands.....I couldn't leave it behind. The color is a nice deep red and I also picked up the four skeins of white next to it in the basket. Just in case I'm a bit short on the red. I plan to knit the sweater from the top down and if I'm short, the ribbing will be done in the white.

Also, finding it's way into my basket (with some encouragement from Kimberly) was enough Lana Borgosesia in a lilac shade for a pair of socks. Along with that was Baruffa in navy and white for one pair, and a burgundy with cream for a second pair. These yarns are solids which my stash really needed. Since I bought more than 10 skeins, I saved an additional 10% for a total of 60% off. (Total was $110 from about $275)

I ran by Manmade By Jonne for some of his hand dyed roving. I have been looking at it longingly for a while and just went for it. I had told him on Friday I would be back when I stopped by and ended up with some yummy wool, alpaca blended roving and a complementary color for my other roving I had at home.

Since I had to go to Stop & Shop, I decided to go to the Rte.2 store. Co-incidentally, Fabric Place just happens to be in the same plaza. I used my last $7 of the credit slip, plus $30 more. Enough said there.........

By the way, these yarn and fiber purchases are completely justified. After the computer trauma earlier in the week, I needed "sympathy shopping". That's my story and I'm sticking to it - no matter what.

Pooh had his stitches out today. No problems from the neutering. He was very good in the car for me. I was nervous to take him alone, but Pat was busy and not home. Now, I can take Pooh for car rides by myself and not worry. The cats are being their usual selves and cavorting all over the house.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Computer Woes..............Shortened Knit time............

Last night was a horrible night. I came home from work, turned on the computer, got ready to read my mail, and........wham!......My computer would not work. After trying to start the darn thing six times without success, I gave up.

I went to Weight Watchers and stayed for the meeting. I didn't lose or gain this week. That's o.k. New week started today, and hopefully, I will have a loss next week.

When I left there, I headed to Circuit City for help. The guys in the Firedog section of the computer area were great. They explained it sounded like my harddrive had crashed. It should not have been a surprise according to them, since my poor PC is about seven years old. I ended up with a new computer tower, which came with a new keyboard and mouse.

I came home and took the old PC cover off, blew it out with canned air, let it sit a bit, plugged it back in, hooked it up and prayed. No good..........It's still the same. My DH came home from work..........new PC is connected. Now the darn thing won't recognize any of my other equipment.

After work today, I'm back to Circuit City with the old PC so they can try to save my files. Especially my pictures, favorites, and knitting stuff. Also, the guy tonight told me to call tech support for my LAN connection. Finally, the modem is working, and, after 3 hours, I have drivers installed for the other equipment. Also, some of my favorites are saved again.

I do like this PC, but need to adjust to the differences between XP and Vista.

Thanks to my computer woes, knitting time suffered greatly today. I only worked on the sock for half an hour at lunchtime. I plan to make up for it tomorrow............

Time for bed........It's been an extremely long day..............

Sunday, August 19, 2007

"Accidental" Yarn Find and Purchase.....

My DH and I went to the indoor flea market in Woonsocket today. We try to stop by there about once a month or so. I've gotten some good deals from the owner. Once, I found a pile of vintage knitting needles and he let me purchase the whole pile for $2 . Another time, he had some great plastic drawer containers that roll. I had found these at Walmart previously for around $30. I got the tall one and big 3 drawer one for $8 total. Other finds have been just as good.
Today, however, he was not there. Instead, a woman I don't know was working. As I walked around the shop, I didn't think I would find anything worthwhile.

Suddenly, there it was....just sitting on the floor. It was a bag of yarn. Now, this is older yarn that obviously was some one's stash at one time. Inside the bag I found another bag with 10 skeins of a dark heathered purple wool, mohair, viscose blend. Also, several cotton skeins, a few other small hanks, and a skein of lace weight natural in need of re-winding. I ended up with all except the cotton.

I turned the corner, and peaking out from under the bottom shelf was another bag of yarn. It had a one Pounder skein of bright red poking it's way out and caught my attention. Inside the bag was a fair isle sweater someone had started. I have never done fair isle, but, the yarn drew me in. I ended up with about 10 small skeins of DK weight in various colors and 6 small skeins of the same yarn in a evergreen shade. I don't usually wear green, but, this will make a nice pair of socks, possibly. I left the big skein of red and a few others. The small skeins might work up as striped socks, if there is enough.

As I pass the table on the way to pay for this splurge, I see.....another bag of yarn. This time it's all alpaca - purple again. There's a partially knitted sweater front and back as well as 6 more skeins. After frogging the knitted part, there should be about 9 skeins to work with. The sales slip was in the bag and the person had paid about $70 just for this portion.

Now, I don't see anymore bags, so I'm heading to the woman to pay. I'm expecting to pay a considerable amount, since I have two good size bags now. Hold on now. The grand total.......... $4 ........... Yep......You read correctly ....... Four dollars for the whole thing!

It's still in the car until I get ready to wash it prior to introducing it to the resident stash........

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Oh No!...........More yarn.........

I decided to stop by Fabric Place and use my credit slip. There was a SnB being held, also. Since it was technically free thanks to the credit slip, Cascade 220 is now in my stash and entered into my Ravelry stash. It will become a Clapotis soon........

I refuse to acquire any more yarn or books.......That does not rule out fiber for spinning.......Hmmm..........Jonne's open late tomorrow night.........
Yarn Acquisitions, Knitting, and Library Thing.........

Sunday, at Sakonnet Purls, I met up with some Ravelry folks, Kimberly, Laura, Pam, and her friend, Kelly. We knit, talked, laughed, and had a great time together. Of course, it goes without mentioning some stash enhancement was also happening. I will only speak for myself on this. I bought a lot......I'm in love with the Malabrigo Lace yarns. I bought one skein of "Blue Surf," but plan to get a second one for the shawl I want to make with it. Also, I bought two skeins of "Floral". It matches my Maple leaf socks done in jessicaarts' Wildflower yarn! Also finding it's way into my hands was four more skeins of Claudia for socks. I went for "Oops" and "Freesia". I'm trying to veer from my usual purples, pinks, blues, and reds. The "Oops" is in that category.

When I came home, I had to check out Knit Picks sale. The book sale ends this week and I really wanted to add to my library. I placed an order for books only. No yarn. Yesterday, Monday, Knit Picks tempted me again. I ordered just books...and one skein of Bare lace weight. I might decide to play with a bit of dyeing or leave it natural. Don't know yet. Last night.....temptation struck again.......another order. This time, it's yarn and one more book.

New Hampshire and shopping will be on hold until later in the fall.........I told my husband I wanted to wait for the leaves to turn so I could see the foliage at the same time. In actuality, I need to pay the cards down a bit. They both had quite a work out this week ......... (He's paying for the yarn on that trip, but, I might find something else I want to buy)

I also finally entered several of my books into Library Thing. I think I have about half of them in now.......It's an ongoing project.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Yarn Shopping.......and Visiting Angel View Pet Cemetery

Whenever we go to Grafton, MA to the flea market we always pass a yarn store and I always tell my husband, one of these days I'm going to take a ride to check it out. Well, today he took me to it. It's called Knitting Pointers, but she doesn't have a web site. The owner Linda, is very pleasant and helpful.

I ended up with 2 skeins each of Claudia Handpainted yarn in "Passion Fruit" and "Just Plum". Now, I need to pick out the patterns for them. I also picked up Fiber Trends pattern for the Felt Clogs. I have been wanting to make these for a while. Now I have the pattern, I can check my stash for yarns and make myself a pair for winter. I plan to put the puffy paint on the bottom to prevent slipping. I have only hard wood and tile floors in my house. I am also thinking of making a pair for a friend. She is older and I don't know what to buy for her most of the time.

Also, Linda had a skein of "Dream In Color" yarn. This is a favorite of the Yarn Harlot. Let me say...........I want this yarn!!! This skein was her own personal one. She has a shipment due in soon. The colors are so vibrant and flow together so nicely..........And it's sock weight!!

Tomorrow........Sakonnet Purls trip.............

The Pet Cemetery visit was to gather info for the interment of our Babs. She's really slowing down now. When she gets up for laying on the floor or her blanket, she is limping. We think her hip is bothering her. She still gets around and perks up for food. Her vision is worse, too. I can tell because she doesn't come as close to get the food as she used to. Her perception seems to be off and she thinks she is closer than she actually is. I hope we have a bit more time, but, I fear the end is very near. My husband is going to have a hard time when it comes.............

Monday, August 06, 2007

Frog Pond Visitation.....and...Yarn Delivery!!

My Meida sock has been frogged.......it was way too small. I spent a good portion of the weekend working on them only to have them not fit over my foot past the arch. They looked a bit small, but, I figured my eyes were playing tricks on me (land of denial here). When DH tried to fit test them for me, he asked if I had someone else in mind for them. Yes, I suffer from fluid retention, and my feet swell. This is why I usually fit test them in the evenings. If they are o.k. when my feet are puffy, they will be perfect the rest of the time. Anyway, I have re-knit up to the fourth repeat of the pattern and plan to get the heel flap, heel turn, and gussets done tonight.

I was going to work on the MS3, but, I really want to finish one of these socks first. My Retro Rib sock is also waiting for completion. I'm at the gussets on that and after working them, I just need to finish the foot.

When I got home from work, there was a box sitting on my desk chair for me. It's my Lime n Violet order. Inside was two skeins of sock yarn. One skein is yummy shades of green with a bit of a purply blue mixed in. The other one is soft shades of pink with a hint of a smoky purple. I snuggled them a bit and put them on the desk in front of me just for gazing at. They're still there.......will put them away....soon.....


Off to knit now...........

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Knitting Socks, Meetings, Picking Blueberries.....

I cast on the Mieda Socks this past Wednesday in the Walnut colorway from LnV's store. At first I wasn't happy with the way the color was pooling. All the pink was on one side of the sock and the green on the other. After completing on repeat of the pattern, magically, the colors seemed to switch. Apparently, it's going to do this after each repeat. I'm on the fourth one and it's happened each time so far. It's very pretty now. This yarn is dyed in very soft colors and looks wonderful in this pattern. Very dainty.....kind of hard to be in my big feet - size 10s.

I'm also still working on the Retro Rib pattern I modified. That one's a bit boring to me right now, so I keep switching between the two socks.

Besides that, the MS3 is getting a little bit of attention. Clue 5 came out yesterday. I'm not going to say anything, so as not to spoil the mystery for others. The theme was also released. I'm still on Clue 2.........slow progress here........

Wednesday night was the meetup at Border's with Kimberly, Katy, and Susan. We had a lot of fun and plan to meet in two weeks again.

Today was blueberry picking at Rocky Point Blueberry Farm in Warwick. I got more than enough to last a while. It was so hot in the field I had to stop early because the heat was getting to me. Donna and I got there about 8:30 and the place was already busy. Many berries are still not ready, so there should be a few more weeks of picking this season. Maybe I will go back and get some more to freeze..........

Now, I'm just cooling down in the living room, and then need to make a potato salad and fruit salad for tomorrow's meal.......too hot to cook major items........