6/28/07

Hot enough for everyone? This over 100 heat index is just too much. Thank goodness the A/C is working.

I chose my Tour de France KAL (http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/) project. I am going to do the Kauni Cardigan. (http://www.ruths.dk/kauni%20regnbue%20engelsk.pdf). This is a stretch, but it does have yellow and green in the yarn so it meets the requirements for the KAL. I am going for the green jersey which means I want to finish the sweater during the Tour. It isn't as hard as it looks. The yarn is striped and you use 2 skeins starting at different places and it does all the color changing by itself. It is a fairly simple pattern so it should be doable. Of course, how long I spent on the OBX will have and impact on whether it gets finished or not.

I have been catching up on the Lime n Violet podcasts. They are a hoot. If you have an iPod, or even if you just listen on your computer. They are well worth the listen. One of my very favorite knitting podcasts. My very favorite is Brenda Dayne of Cast On. Even Lime n Violet call her St Brenda!!!

Got three skeins of sock yarn this week. One from Red Bird Knits, it is a kit for a mitered square cuff sock, my new Socks that Rock sock kit, it is gorgeous as usual. And my Spunky Eclectic yarn, it is also awesome.

Other than that, not much has happened since yesterday. I did spend 30 minutes running/walking on the treadmill. So glad I don't have to go out in this heat. Besides it is easier to run on the treadmill because it paces me. I try to run too fast when I am outside and then I run out of steam.

Chat later.
Susan

6/27/07

I did a post yesterday, but it hasn't been picked up on Blogger or Bloglines. I am doing this post to try to make that one post. Who knows what the deal is. If I look at it on Blogger (from my side) it says it is posted, but it doesn't show up anywhere.

Had my applique bee yesterday. Got 3 more Dear Jane blocks done. Then went to the grocery store and by my parent's to see how they were. Their AC quit yesterday with it 94 degrees!!! Guy got it fixed about 9PM. Hopefully all is well this morning. Need to call and check.

Today is cleaning house and washing clothes. After today, hopefully I can get back to some fun stuff!!!

I also have to get back on the exercise wagon. I do so well when I stay on track, but once the habit is changed even slightly, I struggle.

Chat later
Susan

6/25/07

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost amonth since I updated. Life really has been busy. The twins were playing in their little league baseball tournaments. That meant we were at the ballfield every night for 2 weeks. Plus they had started swim team so I was taking them to morning practices and attending 2 swim meets a week. Now baseball is over, so only swim team left.

Then I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for 10 days. That was a lot of fun. I go back in 3 weeks. Hopefully the moisture has returned to my skin by then. Right now I feel and look a little like leather. I used lots of sunscreen and moisturizer, but still very dried out. I exfoliated from head to toe today. That was a big help.

Got some work done on my Split Neck Tee (Knitting Pure and Simple). They body is finished, now I have to do the sleeves and finish the neck.

Started the Prosperous Plum Tank. It is moving fast. I am using the Candy Apple Red Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep.

Also, got 10 more blocks of Dear Jane made. That gets me to about 50 of 169 so they are going well. Hope to work on them somemore this weekend.

Got a lot of reading done while sitting on the beach. I didn't take the JFK book, it is just too big and heavy. It is an "at home" read. Probably mostly in bed so I don't have to hold the book. I did read Carolina Isle by Jude Deveraux, really quick read. Very enjoyable as a lite read. I also started Sumerhouse by her, but not far enough into that one to know how it is.

I read all of The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I would not have even picked this up except that so many blogs were talking about how good it was. It really is good. Not sure how historically accurate it is, but it was an excellent read. I want to get some of her other books.

I have to figure out my project for the Tour de France KAL. (http://tdfkal.blogspot.com/). I watch the Tour every year, so need to pick my project. Not sure which jersey I am going for yet.

Didn't get much exercise in while I was gone. Now I have to get back on track. The arm is better so I can get back to work.

Pictures of some of these projects soon.

Chat later
Susan

5/30/07

This is about 40 of my Dear Jane blocks. I have been having some tendonitis problem with my right (dominant) arm this week, so have been sewing instead of knitting. When I look at these in the picture, there are several that I amy redo because there isn't enough contrast.

Hello, I am the dirty white dog, Macklin. Notice my front feet. I have been out looking for moles again.

Started reading "Friday Night Knitting Club". It is good, but a little slow. I am over half way through. I can see where it would be a good movie. It is interesting, to me, since it is written from the standpoint of a knitting store owner. Not sure which book is next. I haven't picked it out yet, but it won't be long before I have to decide. I ordered the new Kennedy assasination (ok, I can't spell) book by Vincent Bugliosi (of Charles Manson fame). I didn't read the write up well. When the box arrived from Amazon, I thought it must be several books, but it was only ONE book. It is 1,700 pages long!!!! And hardcover, so it takes a crane to move it.

Went to my sister's pool on Sunday and Monday of the Memorial Day weekend. Monday I spent a little too much time on my stomach. Somehow when you are laying on a float in the pool, it doesn't seem like long. I am a french fry on the back side. Between that and the messed up right arm, I am a mess.

Have done a very little knitting on my Sasha skirt. I had hoped to wear it on the next trip to the Outer Banks, but it depends on how the arm recovers. I have one and a half ruffle left to do. It is looking very cute. Wonder how it will look on my hips!?!?!

Chat later

Susan

5/22/07

Beach Update:
Had a great weekend at the beach. It was rainy, windy and COLD on Friday, but we were inside so that was no big deal. The other days were gorgeous. I didn't want to come back home. I mostly hand quilted. It is easier to do there, because I don't have 3 puppies curled up on it there. I did get 3 applique blocks for the Dear Jane quilt done.

Comment Responses:
Civil War Shawl took 20 skeins of Knit Picks Gloss. I have part of the last one left.

Scotty dogs are little dolls. They each have their own personalities. I find the boys to be more "lovey" than the girls. The girls are very bossy. They are very confident dogs. They are very sure they are always right.

Well off to unpack and wash the dirty clothes from the weekend. I am hoping to go back this weekend too!!!

Chat later
Susan

5/17/07

This is Macklin. He is a West Highland White Terrior. He loves to play in the rain and the mud. Can't you tell? He is one of the 3 puppies that allow me to live in their house. The other two are Scotties. They are hard to get a cute picture of, because they are so black. Mack thinks he is the cutest anyway!!! Although sometimes he is so dirty, I think he is trying to be black like the Scotties.

Thanks for all the comments on my shawl.

I am almost packed for the beach, just have to finish the laundry to I have enough clean underwear to wear!!! ;-)

Chat later

Susan

5/16/07

Here are two pictures of my completed Civil War Shawl. They were taken at night so they are a little dark, but isn't it GORGEOUS!!! It has taken a while to knit but I LOVE IT!!! It was worth every stitch. The dog hiding beside me is Chelsea. My Scotty dog who is afraid of her own shadow.

I plan to take it on my Quilting Retreat weekend with me. I will be wearing my shawl, even if it is 100 degrees!!! It needs to be shown off!!!

Got 5 blocks of my Dear Jane quilt done yesterday. Also, prepped about 15 of the applique blocks to work on over the retreat weekend. I am not going to lug a machine with me, just hand stuff.

Chat later

Susan