Thursday, July 27, 2006

The road back

My friend Frank is out of ICU and making progress. I admit I was petrified about seeing him, but once I was by his bedside, he knew I was there and squeezed my hand with incredible strength...my fears subsided. Recovery will be slow and tedious, but Frank is in charge now and he will find his way back.

The mud pie is taking shape. Painters have been in and out touching up window moldings and repairing damage to drywall.
The pups are worn out because their activities have been restricted.

Rachel and Kevin returned from a fun time and successful exhibition in CA. Kevin's mom arrives tonight. They have a warm-up competition tomorrow, then we pack up this weekend and leave for Lake Placid International Ice Dance Championships on Aug 1.

Lots to do. Thoughts of Frank will carry us through. He is amazing.

I have a few days to think about a knitting/crochet project to take with me. Be back in touch when we return.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

Detour and Mudpies

Had an unexpected, heart breaking detour. My dear friend who is aggressively fighting melanoma and Parkinson's Disease suffered a stroke the other day that required emergency brain surgery. We spent the day with him and his family. This sweet man is hanging in there, making baby steps toward progress. Its too unbelievable. I love my friend so much. I want him here forever.

The house looks like a huge mud pie as they apply the different layers of stucco. Can't wait until this is over.

I haven't knit a stitch.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Inventory

I just splurged a little. I need to learn how to do the photos but that means I need to learn to use the other computers. Lately, I'm too brain dead for that. The show was small, but nice. Knitting still overpowers crochet. Lots of local vendors with handspun.

Here's my list:
Habu textiles www.habutextiles.com - 1494 yards of jet black super fine merino wool. Its on a cone, like a thread. I must have been nuts. Its screaming, " I want to be lace." Very scary!

Dzined "Onesies" 1 oz of wool/hemp blend in a variegated mauve, gold, green, denim blue...just to play. Also, 300 yds of Irish Linen in a mauve. I can probably get a nice lace scarf out of it. The owner was nice. Accountant by day, mom, knitter, spinner, dyer by night.

Skaska Designs..the Russian Orenburg Shawl place. My favorite stop. 1 skein of laceweight silk/yak in a gorgeous, shimmery
gray. 1675 yds with a pattern for an Orenburg Lace Triangle by Galina A. Khmeleva. I bumped into her in the ladies room..she is incredible. I definitely want to take a future class with Galina to take the fear out of my lace knitting.

Rachel bought some Schaefer Yarn from Adirondack Yarns, the shop from Lake Placid. We'll see Susan in a
few weeks when we are there for the competition. 100% pima cotton in the Shari Lewis colorway..purple, blue,
pink,orange, golden yellow, lime green for a textured tank top. Very colorful, very Rachel.

A pattern for a Persian Lamb Jacket using heavy mohair boucle. www.knowareland.com I didn't buy the mohair,
but the pattern is a simple, top down and would make a nice, warm, flumpfy jacket at a guage of 2.5 sts/inch. I've got lots of stash for that.

Also liked www.BWBA.com Buckwheat Bridge Angoras, but did not splurge.

So, today I will stare at my stuff, wind the skeins and look through some lace books. I do that
alot...look. Maybe I should actually considering doing!

Friday, July 14, 2006

off wandering

Let's just say its been a week of ups and downs. House stuff, costume crazies and sewing has inspired me to return to knitting. I'm going to disappear for part of the day and wander aimlessly at the Knit and Crochet Show Market.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

noisey Sunday

Its a not a typical, quiet Sunday morning. The workers are taking more windows out. The pups are safe at the kennel. Keeping them out of mischeif was exhausting.

Rachel came down with a fever, sore throat and GI upset. She's better today, but may need a check-up on Monday.

I started some sewing, but am a little rusty with the techniques. So far I have a skirt going and plan to cut out a pants pattern. Also have Kevin's boot covers ready to sew...but after I practice a little more.

No desire to knit lately. Off to sew.

Friday, July 07, 2006

In deep

We are deep into this house project. The weather has been ideal so they guys are making lots of progress. The next few days they will be working inside taking windows out, replacing flashing and reinstalling the windows correctly. The pups are completely out of wack. I keep cleaning out closets and tossing stuff.

Rachel and Kevin are working hard. Costume stuff is getting hairy. The kids will head to CA soon for a few days for a much needed change of scenery, skating in an exhibition and to celebrate Kevin's 21st birthday!

Knitting??? Crochet???? How about some sewing?. That's on my agenda. My weight loss is not happening, so I need to make some simple, comfy dresses for Lake Placid...that fit!

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Back up

The chimney is going back up, block by block. Seems the dreaded noise is over for now...until the next stage of this project gets underway. The weather has been cooperating.

My brain still feels like a bouncing ball. Can't settle down to decide on a project. Last night I walked into my knitting room, looked at two wicker baskets brimming with brightly, colored, assorted, scrap yarns and started to crochet a ripple afghan. Rachel was baking muffins when I came downstairs with my project and quickly decided this would be fun for her to do!! That's OK. Maybe I'll start another one, but in a knitted pattern. There is certainly enough yarn to go around!

Well, time to get moving.