Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Monitor Saga Continues...More Sock Knitting & Spinning

I guess my monitor doesn't want to be replaced yet.  The sunshine was bouncing off the snow in my front yard so I put the blind down and suddenly the monitor looked fine to me.  I guess it was just glare from all the white snow and sunshine making it look different.  Oh well.  It looks like my little shopping trip is put on hold for a while longer, which I don't mind.  :)

I managed to finish the re-do of the first Van Dyke sock.  Sock 2 will be started tonight.  I'm also busy trying to empty some more bobbins in order to prepare for the January bag of fiber for the first Project Stash Buster month.  It's some Spunky Eclectic  merino that has been sitting around for a while.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Post-Christmas Shopping By Necessity

It's finally happening. My monitor is giving up on me.  Even with the brightest setting, the color is very dull.  This means I get to go shopping for a new one in a few days.  Since the speakers are attached  to the sides, I'm getting those replaced, too. I've been wanting a flat, skinny monitor ever since they came out, but refused to toss the perfectly good one I've been using.  It's 8 years old, and was bought with my first computer back in 2001.  The screen is a flat one, but it's a big bubble type monitor.   I think it's served me well.

I'm heading over to check out some online store sites now.  :)

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas to All

It's a quiet night here.  Pat is watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" while I knit on my Spruce scarf a bit.  It's not going to be finished by tomorrow for the contest the designer, Susan Pandorf, is having.  Everyone votes for their favorite of the finished scarves and the winner gets all of next year's patterns as a prize. 

My Van Dyke sock also had to be ripped back below the gusset because it was just too long in the foot.  If I put it on so the toe fit properly, the heel was too high.  If I put it on so the heel fit properly, there was a flappy bit on the toe.  I'll finish them next month.

The menu is planned for tomorrow.  It's a simple meal of broiled scallops, baked smashed potatoes with cheese and topped with a little bacon and sour cream, carrots, broccoli, and rolls.  The pumpkin ginger snap mousse is making a return as well at the request of Pat and his brother.

Have a wonderful holiday everyone.  :)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Grazing Reindeer Family.... The Tree is Decorated

I had some reindeer visiting me tonight.  There's a lovely mama, papa, and three babies in my front lawn.  They will be there until after New Year's.  Oh, I forgot to mention they are very pretty lit up.  Santa is waving in the corner of the window to everyone as they walk by.   :)  It was spitting snow when I took the pictures.


Here's a close up.


  The Christmas tree is no longer naked.  It's a bit skimpy by my usual standards, but very pretty.  Some of the ornaments didn't show up in the picture.  That's Tiger in the window checking for any outside activity.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Parties, a Tough Week, an Angry Little Dog

Last Thursday evening, Dec. 9, was the Ocean State Knit and Crochet Guild annual Holiday Party.  Lots of yummy foods were consumed before the Yankee Swap commenced. Gifts were opened among much laughter and good fun. I did sample a little piece of fudge, but passed on all the other sweet desserts.

Sunday, Dec. 12, was the monthly gathering of the Happy Hands Fiber Arts Group in North Stonington. We are a very eclectic group so this was not a Holiday Party, just our regular get together.  We did bring munchies to share.  Again, it was all very delicious.  I didn't have any candy or cookies. 

While spinning on my Sonata, I was getting very nauseous with the wheel spinning around in my line of vision and very cold. By the time I left, I just wanted to get home.  The torrential rains didn't help with the hour plus drive.  At one point, I had to pull off the highway and sit for a bit.  I got home, put the dip and veggies I had brought in the fridge, put on a nightgown, and crawled into bed.  I stayed there for the rest of Sunday, and the majority of Monday and Tuesday.    I think it was some kind of bug.  I didn't touch my knitting at all.  Today, I'm feeling more myself. 

Right now, I need to deal with a very pissed off Pooh.  He is vocally demanding a cookie, which he will not be getting.  Then I will be climbing into my recliner to knit for a bit.

Update:  Pooh has yapped himself to exhaustion and is now sleeping next to Hanna.  He's been a brat all night.  I still love him though.  Pooh on the left and Hanna on the right.

Monday, December 06, 2010

Keeping a Tradition...and...The Naked Christmas Tree

Every year, it was traditional to start decorating the house on my mom's birthday which is tomorrow, December 7th.  I've missed doing this tradition a few years, but this year I am renewing it.  The tree was brought up from the basement, and the reindeer are waiting for the first visit to my front yard.  I bought them a couple years ago and just never put them out.  I'm not sure about decorating the fireplace.  That may just prove too much of a kitty temptation.

The last time I had my big Christmas tree decorated was 2005.  We had the rescue kittens which were in isolation from my other cats until they were old enough to be tested, so I put it up.  Since then it has been in storage in the basement.  Ever since their arrival, I've put a small table one up. Moving it into the front hall and putting it back when I got home every day from work was the only way I could think to keep it kitty proof. Even after retiring in 2007, I used the small one.  That year, I had a broken wrist and couldn't even handle that.  Pat had to help me.

Now the "kids" are 5 years old, I decided to try putting it up again this year. Tonight, in the setting up.  If no one climbs it or hides in it, I will put the lights on it tomorrow.  Then some ribbon garland, bows, and my angel on top in a couple more days.  I won't be putting any of my regular ornaments on it since they are all ceramic, spun glass, or crystal.  I do have some plastic candy canes and icicles I used on the small tree I can put on it.  That's it.  It will still be a little naked compared to my usual glittery tree I love.

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Project Stash Buster

The other day I was talking to my friend Monet on Plurk about sock clubs.  I  told her I plan to create my own "club" from my stash by bagging up a skein of yarn and a pattern for each month, label with the month, and knit them in order.  This got me to thinking of doing the same thing for a "fiber club". 

I posted about this in the Spinning in Rhode Island group on Ravelry.  So far, Monet, Sandi, and I are playing.   We start on January 1, 2011 in order to give everyone the rest of December to get the bags ready.  It was mentioned that it might be fun to add an incentive of a prize for the person who comes closest to spinning up all 12 months of bags. I'm hoping to get around 5 to 10 people to join us so we can turn it into a contest. If we make this a contest, a photo will have to be posted to show the 12 fiber bags and another to show the spun yarn at the end of the year.

I started the group for people who  spin, and are in RI, or nearby  CT or MA because there wasn't a spinning group on Ravelry for my state. If you are in the area, or want to hang out with us, come join the group and post to the "Project Stash Buster" thread.

We also have a friendly thread every month for a 4 ounce spin of your choice.  We encourage and share our progress in that one.  No prizes with that.