Finished Reading....

The final Harry Potter Book....

I can't believe it is over.... no more looking forward to the next installment....

Wait - I can look forward to this book coming out in paperback, so I can buy it!!!

Ok, I am on a serious budget, so I can't really afford to be buying hardcover books. Also, in most cases, paperbacks take up less room. We have a grocery store chain here, that sells books and magazines, at a percent off the cover price. I was pleasantly surprised at the low cost of the first few Harry Potter books. I started buying them.....

For whatever reason, the price of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in hardcover was reasonable... BUT - I wouldn't want to "spoil" my set... I mean, I can wait (yes, really I can...I know I can...I keep telling myself I can....) to own the book. I know that I want to re-read it...but I will be nice. I will return this book to the library today. There are loads of people on the waiting list, anxious to get their hands on the book to read it firsthand before someone says something to them to reveal the plot....

So. Now all I have to do, is get back to knitting and crocheting and all those other crafts, and get some UFO's tackled. But first, I want to finish the three main projects that I am working on right now - DH's Basketweave socks, my Nagini socks, and catch-up to where I should be on Mystery Stole 3. Next up: Bellatrix socks, and August Six Sox socks. Those are the new projects - I'll have to get my butt moving on some of the UFO's collecting around here - I think I need to get busy with finding where I stuck my "Kittens in a Row" afghan, and get it finished. So, I think that will be my next UFO to tackle.

Finally - I promised a few posts back to do a picture of Mica. I don't think I've posted this picture before:

I know it is an older picture - for one thing, I found it in a folder marked "January 07", and for another, she is still wearing her old collar.... I bought her a pink one when she "lost" the turquoise one. I found it, of course, soon after replacing it. It is now sitting on my desk, right beside the keyboard. I'm a packrat, I'm a procrastinator, and I'm sentimental.

I also have a sense of humour - want to see some pictures of a "Pole Dancer"? I took these around Christmas....

Priorities....

It is here... it is in my hot little hands....

Ok, so I really meant to post this yesterday, but I was kind of busy.... :D

I got the Harry Potter book from the library. I was number 20 on the list - I have no idea how many are on the list right now - but the library got in 140 copies.... I figured that I would have it in my hot little hands by yesterday, which worked out just fine, since we were at the cabin until late on Monday. So, the soonest I could have got it no matter what was yesterday. I've actually managed to avoid any spoilers!!! And I've now read the first 150 pages....

Oh, and I also picked up an EZ book.... Knitting without tears, I think....

Which of course, brings me to the title, "priorities" - - - - for the next few days, I won't be doing much besides reading!! I am capable of reading quickly, but I'd rather savour the read. But since this *is* a library book, I do need to get it read and returned.... So, I'm reading at about medium speed, and at every available moment. :)

In the meantime, though -the mystery stole is knitted to halfway up clue three. I'm a little behind, but since there are two weeks for clue four (Melanie has her priorities right, too, lol - giving us time to read Harry as well as knit) I dont' see a problem catching up. So, no pictures of it. I finished sock one (FINALLY) of the pair that I'm doing for DH, the basket weave socks. Now, on to sock two and writing up the pattern... I know, I have a few patterns in note stage, but like I keep saying, I'm not much of a typist, so it is taking forever to type them up to share....

And I got quite far, once I got over the cast on, for the Nagini sock. It took me several tries to get the figure 8 cast on done - in fact, I finally gave up, and did a slightly different cast on. I was finding the figure 8 was too loose and open for my liking - so I changed it. That killed a good couple hours of knitting time - but the pattern works up quickly. This is how far I got, knitting by the pool for part of it, even.....

We've been experiencing a bit of a heat wave - heat I love.... but the humidity is high, too, and that gets to me, I must admit.... So, this weekend, I actually ended up spending quite a bit of time in the pool.... and it is hard to knit while in the pool. But for one session, instead of swimming, I sat on the side and knitted. I was more tired than hot at that time.... Swimming is hard work for someone who is not used to much exercise.

Anyway - gotta go get my emails checked out, so I can get off here and get back to reading. DH knows that between the heat and the book, that not much else will be happening around here for a few days, lol....

Updates on lace and sockies....

Ok... I know I've posted the swatch picture before, but I'm doing it again. See, I was at Ram Wools this morning, picking up some more sock yarn, and mentioned that I like to use Briggs & Little Durasport for making lace shawls. And, since I still haven't posted a picture of my knitting so far on the Mystery Stole 3, I figure I should :)

I have not yet done clue number three.... but others have, so I know what it should look like. :) It continues the sort of honeycomb thing that is started in this clue...

I did the swatch pictures again, because of course, my stole isn't blocked, but the swatch is. I have to take the swatch and the stole back into the store next time I go. Or, make a special trip - which I don't mind doing. I'm sure, though, that I'll need even more sock yarn before too long!!

Relevant links: http://www.ramwools.com/ - I've posted this one many times before - just the greatest store... well, OK, honestly, I haven't had much chance to visit too many others to compare, but I do love Ram.... :) No, I'm not kissing up.... I really do like the people there - friendly, helpful.

Also, I have more lace pictures in my photo album. Until I get my sidebar straightened out, though, I'm going to put a link in here: http://picasaweb.google.com/catsrme

Ok...Now for the sockie update. Of course, I finished my Six Sox Socks - Victorian Lace.

I'm working on the basket weave socks for DH - most recently taken picture is in my photo album link - that I just shared above, the picasa thing - in the UFO album. I knit about 10 or 12 rows on it last night. So, it really doesn't look a lot different than the picture! Hopefully, I will get something done on it this weekend or so....

BUT - I'm so wired waiting for Harry Potter.... I have to wait for the library book. So, of course, this morning, I had to go and find, while wandering the net, three patterns. They are all from the Socktopia website, which I never heard of until today. One is called, Bellatrix, one Nagini, and one is Fawkes. Which of course, is why I had to head to Ram. I mean, I've been meaning to get around to going, and buying some Sisu yarn to make the Potter inspired "Dobby" Christmas socks... I had been working on a design in my head, but someone beat me to it for posting a free pattern on the net. And, I figured, it was time to get some yarn for the next Six Sox pattern, due to start August first. Guess what I forgot to buy??? Anyway, I also thought, that ever since I knit those brown socks for DH out of that Fabel(? I think, doing from memory, 'cause I don't want to go look in the bag at the label again...but I'll be sure to correct myself later....) I've been wanting to buy some for me... So, I thought I'd go and see if they had any colours that just said Bellatrix or Fawkes to me....They did. :) Why not Nagini? Well, remember a few posts back, I mentioned winning the draw on Six Sox group? And I got that lovely green Trekking? I have it, needles, and pattern all packed ready to go for the weekend!!! Along with the stuff for making the stole. Well, I need *something* to keep my mind off Harry for the weekend!!!

One of these days, I'm going to say, "no more project starts until I get the UFO list under control" and mean it!! ;)

Pig Roast Report

Ok, I know - it took me forever to report.... But, I don't type fast.... really. And I've had so much email to catch up on.... I've been really learning how to use the delete button.

Allright... Like I said, I've been nervous about anonymity issues. I will not be identifying anyone in the pictures. Of course, there may be some obvious ones, as well as some assumptions - there were more than just my grandkids - so not all children in the pictures are grandkids of mine.... And you should at least recognize my doggies!!

I know, too, that other people have blogged about their families - shown pics, etc. But, I've now had some direct experience with identity theft, and I'm still a little "gun shy"....

Ok, enough whimpering.... Day was great :) Got to spend not enough time with family and friends. I was going to say, "co-workers of DH", but really, they are friends too... so....

Weather was great. It was overcast most of the day, but thin overcast - meaning, bright enough and warm enough that people could wear shorts if they wanted. But, overcast enough not to be so stiflingly hot and humid. (hey, spell check didn't like grandkids, but accepted stiflingly. I wasnt' even sure it *was* a word!!). Anyway - with all the rain we've had this spring/early summer (When will it ever end???????? I don't know how to swim!!!! Should I be building an ark?????) it would have been very humid if the sun would have been able to come out and shine full strength.

The drawback to the cooler weather - all the lovely mosquitoes that have been hatching thanks to the rain were checking out all the "fresh meat"..... Of course, there was plenty of mosquito repellant on hand. And honestly, they were tolerable, if you sprayed yourself. And later on, there was a smudge fire started....

So...what else.... well, several people brought cards and gifts - which weren't necessary, because the gift of friendship was more than enough. But the gifts were much appreciated. Among the gifts was one - from a very good, long-time friend, who knows us so well - that I totally LOVE. He knew that we wouldn't expect gifts, but he was told that he should get something....so he did. He brought....

Dentabone dog chews for Spud and Bear!!!! I love it!!!!

Also, some family members decided we needed a cake. Now, what happened was, after the pig roast was all over and done with.... someone asked me, "Did you take a picture of the pig after it was cooked and before anyone ate it?" Well, um, no, actually, it didn't occur to me.... So, the very next picture I took (and this was the day after....)

I did, though, take a picture of the pig roaster in the morning, and later when we had finished clean-up and I was returning it....

Oh - most people left soon after dinner....and I was trying my best to get pictures of all the guests.... and I made sure to try for candid shots, because there are always some people who don't pose well, so some of the pictures are a bit blurry, and some just plain...well, let's just say, that it is impossible to take "candid" shots (I know, professional photographers are quite capable of doing it) of fireworks.... See, later on, when it got dark, some of the people who were planning to stay over, as well as my kid(s) * and grandkids stayed for the fireworks that one person brought along :) So, we capped the night off with a fireworks display. :) In general, it was a great day, lots of fun had by all - many people commented to us on how great the food was. So - here come the pictures.

Ok, with one further delay - * I only have the one kid. But to say, ....my kid and grandkids stayed... or to have to say ....my kid, my dil, and my grandkids.... especially as I *do* get along with my DIL, and I *do* in some ways treat her as a daughter... Anyway - she was there, she did stay too....

All right - here are some pictures of the people having fun:

Ok, in the next two pictures.... I've picked these, to illustrate something else. :) I decided that it was high time we owned one of those screen tent things...kitchen tent, some call them. I figured, that it would be nicer for the DH to maybe put the pig roaster in, so that he wouldn't be bothered by mosquitoes.... Instead, he used it early in the day to escape from the bugs. Later, we were just going to use it for the tables of salads, etc. again, to keep the bugs from bothering the food. Well, reduce their number, at least. What ended up happening - we also got a second kitchen tent as one of the gifts...and quickly realized that it would be perfect to set up in tandem with the first one, as we really needed that much room for the extra "potluck" salads and desserts!!! Oh, and our surprisingly intelligent dogs learned very quickly that they, too, could slip in under the first tent, and hide out from the mosquitoes!!! Spud put herself in there quite often during the early part of the day. Bear, of course, realized that there were far more people around, who were quite willing to throw his ball or frisbee for him. Spud also, later, when supper was over and people started leaving, decided she wanted to go "home" to the cabin and go to sleep...

Ok, so I didn't get pics of the dogs in the tents, or going home.... but I did get pics of them looking hopefully at the people with food.....

Ok, more people eating and enjoying:

Well....this post has taken me nearly an hour....so.... I think I'll leave it here. I did take more pictures...but this should give a pretty good idea of how much fun our day was. :)

Picture sharing, no pig report yet....

Ok, about the title... I haven't had a chance to resize all the pictures that I took.... There are mostly pictures of people. I'm always concerned about anonymity - especially on the net - especially with the chances of electronic identity theft and such. However - I figure, if I don't identify who is in all the pictures, or too much about location - heck, I don't even use my real name on the blog anywhere....

Anyway - I don't have pictures of the pig roast we had ready to post yet, so I am not posting them. But I did manage to find time (Make time, really - need it for my sanity) to do some crafting. I made a cute little elephant as a gift for a friend -

And I worked on the Victorian Lace sock:

And I took a picture of something that I made last year - in fact, it was the second of them that I ever made. I made the "Martha" poncho - the Coming Home pattern. The first one I made I used LionBrand Homespun in the Corinthian colourway. I liked the colours in the skein, but not once they were worked up. I ended up giving away that poncho to someone who loved the colours. Then, I made myself a new on last year. I forget the colour name, and I ended up running out, and it turned out to be a discontinued colour, so the last rounds and neck needed to be finished in another colour. I like it anyway :) Oh, and I didn't ever get around to taking picture of the first one, either....

I'm working on the Mystery Stole #3, too... remember my swatch pics? (I *think* I posted them here...) Anyway, clue one was out last Friday, and today is the last day for signing up to join. Clue two comes out today, too....

So, here's clue one, and a close up of the center beaded section.

I guess it has been a while since I posted any pictures of Mica, too.... I don't have any ready to go right now, so I better try taking a picture of her!!! Will try to include that in my posts for next week, when I have resized the pig pics and write about the party. It really was a fun time - way too short, though. Good mix of friends and family - everyone got along. Lots of food, enjoyed by all. End of the evening - one of the guests brought fireworks - not too many people were left, but the grand kids were still there, and they enjoyed the show....

So - that's it for now - will post more detail and pictures next week :)