Plumbing

I can handle most plumbing repairs.  Most of them are fairly easy, especially since the changes to PVC vs copper or other types of pipes.  Cheap parts, easy hack saw cutting, glue.  Vs solder, soldering iron/gun (I own both), flux, medium hack saw cutting, expensive (and getting more so) parts.

However, when it comes to clogged sewer lines, especially due to tree roots... well, now we're talking spending money and calling in a "specialist".

The cool part - we actually qualify for a senior discount... The sad realization - we actually qualify for a senior discount!

Otherwise, nothing much else to report.  My mind is kind of consumed by the annoying waiting game - the plumber will be here between 3 and 5, and there isn't much more I can do.  I managed to clear enough of the basement to make room for him to work (I hope!) and moved anything that would be ruined by water (I hope) so now it is just... waiting till he gets here, going through the same routine -no, we don't have a larger clean out pipe, yes, that is the one that has been used every time since we bought the house, yes, I know it would be better if it were bigger, yes, I know that "normal" houses have them located elsewhere, but this house doesn't, no, this isn't my first house so I know what a normal one looks like.... etc.  

Anyway - that is where I'm at today.  Hopefully, I have more positive things to post tomorrow.

Confidence coming back

Well,  I didn't do much, but accomplished a lot today.

I was asked by a friend/extended family member if I would help her out with her knitting.  She'd learned several years ago, but wasn't sure if she could remember any of it, so would I teach her.  Ended up that she took me out for brunch today to a buffet place, so we knit between courses. :)  She actually did quite well - but it took me a while to realize that she had been taught to knit by a left hander, so she was knitting from the right needle to the left, instead of from the left needle to the right... I should have picked up on it sooner, but we sat across from each other and for some reason, it looked right.  I know that in the first few minutes, I think there were things going on in my brain, but I was more focused on how she held the yarn, and the technicalities of how to cast on, because that was what she had said she couldn't remember.  So, I did think there was something, but dismissed it because I was watching something else... it wasn't until she was distracted for a moment mid-row, and started knitting the same stitch twice, that I realized what was "wrong".  But, it works for her, and the only real trouble she will have is if she reads a pattern that has shaping... she'll have to reverse some things.   She said she will be content to knit some scarves and maybe move up to hats, so she isn't worried.  Besides, if she ever does go farther, she can always come to me again for help :)

In the meantime, we had quite a bit of enjoyable conversation, too.  I quite enjoyed the break, and the company.

This evening, just before I started this post, I finally sat down with notes and chart, and I undid two more rows of the shawl, and I counted and placed markers, and found the mistake.  It was several rows back from the one that I'd ripped and knit three times, so I'm glad I finally just ripped back a few more rows to fix it.  Having a few regrets at not using a lifeline, but I'm really getting good at "tinking" or unknitting rows stitch by stitch.  I really wouldn't have wanted to rip back to the start of the repeat of rows, which would have been where I would have placed a lifeline.  So, I'm glad it worked out. :)

Anyway, I'm now ready to move forward again on the shawl. Hopefully, I don't run into too many more major reknits like that again.  It is almost the end of April, and I just haven't gotten any project finished!  I am really looking forward to getting this shawl finished and ready to share the pattern :)

So, that is my post for today.  It is raining out, finally, we really need it.  But it's cloudy and dark and miserable...they're saying it is supposed to be sunny and warm - we'll see...

Small improvements

Today is a better day.  I'm still not accomplishing much, especially basement-wise, and last night, I opted to watch some of the recorded shows instead of paying attention to fixing the row of knitting.  BUT - today, I'm making jambalaya for supper, and some soup.

I bought some chickens the other day.  Three whole chickens for $19 and change.  Took the breast meat off two of them, and barbecued it up to test the new machine.  Then, today, I cut up the rest of those two birds, and the third into pieces.  Have bags with 6 thighs, 12 wing parts, and 4 drumsticks in the freezer.  The two other drumsticks, two breast pieces, and whatever other big enough bits of meat I cut up for the jambalaya.  The rest of the skin, fat, bones and scrap went into a pot, got covered with water, some chopped up onion, garlic, and celery and salt was added, and it is simmering away on the back of my stove.  Pretty good deal, in my opinion - the jambalaya will be two or three meals (only the second time I made it, so we still do the over-eating pig out thing), the BBQ chicken the other day, the parts in the freezer will be two more meals, and the stock will become all kinds of good stuff.

So far, the truck is still running good, and the sewer isn't backing up yet.  Toilet flushing makes a gurgly sound, which is not good, but at least not coming up.  We've learned the hard way that to ignore the gurgles and slow drain for too long results in big problems.  So, now, we take it as early warning system, and make arrangements to get it taken care of.  Which is why I'm moving stuff around.  At least, though, things will move forward again, instead of stalling.

With the weather improving, I can start clearing things out.  I have, over time, slowly worked toward the goal of decluttering (though I'm running out of clutter; honestly, "clutter" is stuff you don't want or need.  My problem is space for the stuff I *do* want and need...) and getting rid of things I really don't want or need anymore.  BUT - where do I put that stuff in the meantime?  Summer is easy - I can take a box of stuff to the thrift store without trouble.  Winter, yeah, I can take it, BUT.... First, I have to make sure there is no snow in the back of the truck (or at lease a space with little snow). Then, it means warming up the truck - let it run so there is less wear and tear on the engine and the cab is comfortable and windows clear - those of you who live in warmer climates, you know how you can make frost on a glass by chilling it, then letting the humidity hit the glass?  Well, that is a daily occurrence for those of us with cold winters... Anyway, after all that, bundle up, put boots and coats and hats and mitts etc. on, just to deliver a box about a half mile away...

Summer, still a bit of a "chore", but much quicker and easier.

So - I just got word via Facebook that the rescue that I got my gorgeous Mr. D. from is going to be accepting donations for their yard sale any time after May 1.  The sale is the first weekend in June.  So, now I can set up a box for them, a box for thrift store, and a box for Freecycle.  I did mention last night that the box of jars went quickly.  But a bag of plastic ware is still here.... I guess that will go to the thrift store.

Well, my timer is beeping, so I'd best see if it is time to add the shrimps :)  Mmmmm...shrimmmmppssssss.... :)

Progress, shawl, comments

So, I made a little progress in the basement.  I actually cleared a few things up.  Boxed up all the jars, and posted them on Freecycle.  I was very clear they were from the basement, and would need to be cleaned... they were claimed in less than five minutes, and picked up this morning at around 8:30.  :)

I didn't do anything today, though, in the basement.  I took the truck in to be checked... they tested the electricals, and couldn't get the truck to not start.  So they don't know what is wrong, until it doesn't start again.  Good thing I have the number for our favourite tow truck driver programmed into my cell phone.  Bad thing, that we actually *have* a favourite tow truck driver...

The shawl.  I fixed the row -well, sort of.  I found the problem - at the very start of the row.  The rows aren't that long.  Three border stitches, 97 pattern stitches, three border stitches, then a varying edge - from as little as 6 stitches up to 17. (I think, going from memory at the moment, too lazy to go find the notes)  I had tried to take the row back, but wasn't sure how far before the mistake, so I had to trace.... now I have to finish ripping back, then reknit.  Of course this is a beaded row, so I have to move all the beads, too.  I've also noticed a bit of a pattern...

See, I knit a row, and everything works by the time I get to the end.  Then, I do the return, where I purl 97 stitches... the count works. Then, I knit the next row, and there is a problem.  I rip back, to discover a missing yarn over in the previous row.  Yet, when I purled back, they were all there.  So, I'm beginning to wonder if it is the yarn - I've mentioned it is thick and thin, and I've had it break a couple times.  I wonder if the yarnovers are somehow jumping off the needle, or pulling the purled stitch off or something...

I'm going to have to track it a little closer for a while.

Now, the comments.  Yesterday, I had referred a friend to look at my blog, to go look back when I'd shared the pictures of the kitchen.  I wondered if she would leave a comment at some point.  Of course, it isn't essential that she does, since we're in touch on Facebook, too.  But, another friend told me today, via Facebook, that she didn't think her comments on my blog worked.  Well, they didn't.  And, if you are a regular reader,  you know that another of my friends had emailed me directly because her comments weren't going through a month or so ago.

I don't want to take the moderation off, really.  When I started this blog, I got major spam comments in the first week.  So, I turned on the moderation thing.  That was a few years ago, now, and Blogger has changed the interface stuff, so I don't even know if I can turn it off now.  But, if my friends aren't able to post, then I'd rather have to delete the odd spam comment instead of having my friends shut out.

So - that will be a project for the next few days - try to figure out how to unmoderate the blog comments.  See if that makes it easier for people.... Oh, and I also have yet another friend who subscribed to my blog, and she mentioned that she was not getting the notices that I'd posted.  So, I don't know for sure if she has been busy, been reading, or blissfully unaware that I've been trying to post every day!  (Yeah, I know, I have missed a few, and nearly missed today... )

Well, off to see about fixing that row. :)  Yes, I'm feeling a little better today.  Even though today didn't go well- not getting the truck fixed, doing my shopping errands (and picking up two cans of tomatoes, thinking they were the same, but one had been stuck on the wrong shelf and I didn't find out till I got home, and I forgot to pick up some things, even though two of the three forgotten were written on my list), knowing I should have and in hind-sight could have still gone to get my hair cut and see my chiro.... Realizing that part of my edginess has to do with the goings on in the neighbourhood - a house is being built down the street, so there is a lot of droning of heavy equipment and banging and buzzing that is rubbing my nerves the wrong way.  Just far enough away to be low background noise, but close enough to reverberate through every bone in my body.  I think it is disturbing the dogs, too, because they've been running around the yard, barking at nothing, but in all corners of the yard.  So, my day wasn't perfect.  BUT - sitting around talking with DH this evening, we were reminiscing about some things from childhood, and talking about the grandson coming for a visit, and DJ was talking about visiting *his* grandparents, and he mentioned something that left me giggling.  Don't know exactly why it seems so funny, but it put me in a good enough mood to make this post.  Apparently, his grandparents owned a small dog, and they lived in an apartment, and (now this goes back many many many years) because they lived so high in the building, instead of going downstairs, they would take the dog to the roof to do its business.... The images in my mind about what happened to said business just set me off giggling.

Ok, enough of this silliness!  It's late, and I do want to tackle that row before I fall asleep!  :)

Upset and shutting down...not a good thing.

Every time I start to feel good, be cheerful, get a step ahead, decide I'm going to work on an area of the house or my life that needs tending, something else goes critical and sends me two or three steps back.

I need to deal with some things in the basement, so we can call a plumber, and get the sewer line cleared.  But, instead of dealing with it, because I just get so frustrated and tired before I even start, I'm here on the computer.

I really need to get myself motivated to deal with stuff.  I just get thinking about what needs doing, then I consider the best way to start/move forward, and then I get exhausted because I feel like it is all a waste of time...  For example -

I've often posted about my commitment to the environment.  But where I have trouble is drawing the line between the environment in general and my environment.

I keep jars.  I was worried at one point that I was overdoing it, maybe "hoarding" jars.  So, I stopped saving all jars, and only saved a few that I knew were a good size and sealed well.  I found myself in a situation of needing to buy new sealer jars for some jam I made.  I realized that new jars aren't that terribly expensive.  I looked at some of the old jars I had in the basement, some with dust and spiders, others with left-over vinegar/pickle juice in them.  I thought about the work to clean vs. cost to buy  new.  The ones that weren't too dirty, I packed up with lids, and sent to a thrift store.  The mismatched and too dirty, I offered up on Freecycle, pointing out they were incomplete or needed washing.  The simple fact is, if I have to go to any trouble to make these jars clean for someone else (despite my desire to help the charities running the thrift stores) I am not going to bother, I'd rather blue-box them for recycling.  The thing is, a lot of these sealer jars are fine, just dirty, so I would feel somewhat guilty tossing them.  But, if I hang onto them long enough to find and match up all lids, or have to spend the extra time washing them, I'm going to run out of storage room, energy, etc.  It is even a hit or miss on Freecycle - I still could have to keep the box around under foot for up to a week... or more - if no one takes, then I'm  back to square one, of having these jars around.

So, I feel like I'm caught in an unending loop of what to do, and end up sitting here at the computer, feeling frustrated and exhausted and ready to cry.

Melt down.

And it doesn't help that last night, I got three whole rows done - one a reknit, two new rows, then the next row - I got it unknit about halfway before I put it down and decided to wait till tonight, instead of getting frustrated yet again with the lack of progress on the shawl.

I so feel like I can't move forward at all.

And then there is the vehicle problem - I'm supposed to go for my hair cut tomorrow, as well as my chiropractor, and shopping for the week, and I have some library books to take in/pick up... And I guess I need to take in the vehicle to find out what is wrong with it, and hope it isn't a major expense... In other words, I guess I need to phone and postpone my appointments, have to walk to the library (hope it is fairly warm and not windy tomorrow) and cross my fingers I have enough time later in the day to do the shopping... I don't want to go out shopping, only to have the thing not start, and have to call a tow-truck.  Not that I don't have the tow-truck driver we used programmed into my cell phone.... :P

Well, like it or not, I have to get off my butt and deal with the basement today... and when I have a few moments tomorrow... and every day until either next laundry day (when the volume of water from the washing machine overwhelms the sewer again) or until the sewer line totally plugs and backs up when we flush.  :(  Then I call the plumber, and get it dealt with.  Recurring problem every couple years - I hate that tree in front of the house.  Always have....

Meltdown

So, I'm having a meltdown.  Didn't post yesterday, don't have much to say.  I've been slipping into the depression thing again.  Haven't accomplished much.  Ran into snags (both literal and figurative) with the shawl. My nails tear easily, and one is tearing into the quick, so I can't cut it off or rip it off easily.  And I seem to keep making errors every second row again... Right now, I'm faced with a retranscribe of one row - seems I copied something wrong when I was writing down the directions from the chart.

And, seems like everything else is going wrong too.  Our truck broke down again yesterday - could be an expensive fix.  And today when I started the laundry, the sewer decided to act up.  Drains, but super slow.  Usually means the tree roots are a problem - again.  So, that is another expensive fix.

And right now, I don't give a damn about the house issues.  I really don't.  Just means I have to wait a couple hours between laundry loads.  Of course, this had to be a rare three load week.

So - I just want to curl up in a ball, and cry right now.  But I can't - I need to go get that last load of laundry started.  :P

There wasn't anything really to post

I know  I missed posting yesterday.  I thought about it a few times.  But all I could think of was that I have said so much lately about garbage and compost and recycling, that to make any sort of "Earth Day" post would be repetitive.  And I really had nothing much else to say that hasn't been said about the shawl, either.  I'm still working on knitting the first of three lace patterning sections.  Slow going, because I'm writing it out line by line while I knit... The chart is more or less put together, but I'm also refining that as I go - figuring out how many repeats, etc.  And, last night, I was making the silly mistakes again, needing to rip back every second row.  So, I finally made a note that I need to fix, and what row I was on, and put it aside.  Toyed with the idea of dragging out the laptop and posting to the blog... finally just caught up with some recorded programs and ate potato chips. ;)

So - I'm behind on Grimm - DH "discovered" while channel surfing that "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was on, so we watched that.  Then it was hockey on Saturday night, and last night, he went to bed early... Since he has started watching Grimm with me, I didn't think it fair to just watch it myself, at least not without checking with him first.  He's not as into it as I am - so he hasn't seen every episode, but knows enough to be able to follow the story lines.

So, I figured I'd go with back to back Star Trek Voyager - three episodes knocked off last night.  I think I'm somewhere into the second season... and wondering about the continuity people from that show.  There used to be a joke - definition of a soap opera? where it takes a woman 12 months to have a premature baby - So, I'm watching these episodes, and in the first, second, or third - the ship has been tossed out of the alpha quadrant, and will take years to get home... one of the crew members mentions she had found out she was pregnant shortly before the mission... Then, later, there is an episode that mentions they've been in the delta quadrant for ten months... but this crew member is seeing the holographic doctor for her pre-natal check-ups.  And she still hasn't delivered as of the latest episode I've seen, where Neelix (a character they picked up in the delta quadrant in episode one or two) mentioned being on the ship for "about a year".

Just glad I'm past child-bearing years, if in the future, women are pregnant for over a year....

Yes, if I'd been watching this first run, with weeks or months between episodes and seasons, I still would have noted the lack of continuity...

I even notice some things about Big Bang Theory... (first episode, the boys were looking to raise money for improved internet access, yet Sheldon has few financial needs so he has wads of money stashed in the apartment to loan to Penny, but also says that if he didn't need a roommate to help with rent, he'd kick Leonard out....)

Doesn't change my enjoyment of the show(s), just that I do notice these things.

I also ended up staying up later, because I decided to also watch the latest episode of Once Upon a Time.  Last week, I taped it, and when I was going to watch it found out it was a rerun... When I was done watching STV, I put the TV back on regular programming, and hit OUaT at the mid-point.  Saw it was a new episode, so rewound and started watching...

In other news... ;)  We put together the new BBQ we bought yesterday.  Nice looking machine!! Works, too.  We didn't cook on it, just turned it on to make sure it was all working right.  The instructions said, "estimated assembly time - 30 minutes".  Uh huh.... 3 hours later....   It didn't help that I did manage to put two cross pieces on upside down and backwards...   I looked and looked at the picture, diagrams, etc. and couldn't tell from them where the one screw-hole would be used.  And, the way they went together - there was a keyhole shaped hole, you put over the screw heads then moved to lock in place.  Honestly, that gives me trouble almost all the time - so, instead of putting them so they locked in place by moving down, I had them moving up - so of course, they fell off later!  (we needed to back off a screw to make another piece fit - and the directions said not to tighten all the screws until the end anyway).  So, when I was fixing that part, I realized where the screw hole was supposed to line up to - which really was not shown well at all in the diagram anywhere.  I finally found it, at the end - a small marked circle in black print on a dark grey shaded part... you could see it once you really knew what you were looking for and where to look!

We took pictures of our new toy - I'll share them later when I do my next camera download :)

Weekends

Weekends it is getting harder to think of things to type.  My life lately has revolved around knitting the shawl, and working on that special project.  I made the mistake of putting it off, then hurting my hand so I couldn't do anything... So, it became push coming to shove, and I had to get the job done.  I did.  Finished today - and due to be turned in Monday.  So, that is a relief.

So now, I can get cracking on the house.

We have set a date for another pig roast this summer - going to be the second weekend in August. :)  Same as last year.  So, now I have a goal to work toward - getting the house done and the planning.  Looking forward to it.

Otherwise -  I guess it is back to the shawl.  I have four more rows written out, that need to be knit, then I get back to the chart and write it out.  I normally prefer to work from charts, but since I started writing this one out, and since I'm working from the laptop which doesn't get along with my printer for some reason, I am continuing to write the pattern.  Then, the joy of typing what I wrote... ick.  I'm thinking about forcing myself into a deadline, and starting a Yahoo group soon for this project... So I can share the pattern free.  I mentioned before that I don't know how to do it via the blog, so I think I'll just do it as a non-mystery KAL and offer the pattern via an open Yahoo group.

Anyway - like I said, can't think of much more to say, and I'm running on battery power at the moment, so I will sign off now, and go knit for a while :)

Doggy Memory

I just responded to a post on Facebook, by http://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Forever-A-Book-For-a-Cause/184919434879193 - asking if you remember your first dog.  Brought back a whack of memories!  I may have to dig up a picture (if I can find one!) and scan it...

Anyway, my first dog was Suzy.  I don't know what breeds she was made up of, just that she was a "cross breed terrier" (I think it was terrier...but I don't recall her having any terrier characteristics)  I decided to make a blog post about her, because I was thinking about things like, her colour, and some of the anecdotes about her life.  So, I felt like sharing.

She was mostly black, with some white on her legs, face, and belly.  She also had some brown highlights on her face - when I thought about that, I realized, that those are the same basic markings/tri colour of both Bear (though I didn't pick him out) and Lady.  Wonder how much the subconscious mind works on those sorts of things?  I like all borders, but am particularly attracted to the tri-colours.  Mind you, I love black cats, as well as tuxedo patterned cats - and my first cat(s) were white, or orange or grey tabbies...

My dad brought Suzy home for me - can't recall where the name came from.  Just liked that name, I guess (I called my first cat Sydney, even though she was a girl kitty).  I think, though, in Suzy's mind, she was his dog.  After he died, my mother needed to learn to drive the car, and Suzy wouldn't let her get into the driver's side of it.  She had to get in the passenger side and scootch over.

She once alerted a neighbour a few doors down when someone was breaking into their garage.  She was loved by many in the neighbourhood.

Yup - she was a good dog....  Funny, how you don't think of an old pet like that for many years, then when someone tweaks that memory, a ton come flooding out!

Now, the shawl:  I've hit a bit of a disappointment.  I've discovered that there is no way to move seamlessly between lace patterns... I had hoped one would flow naturally into the next; they *can*, but not within the confines of keeping the shawl a rectangle!  Or, without having major sections of plain stocking stitch.  Neither of those appeals to me, so I'll just have to knit a plain row between sections... :(  I had hoped to do four different sections, to tell the "story" of the shawl, but couldn't find a really great lace pattern for one of them.  So, I am going to have to skip it.  Another pattern can do double duty on the symbolism (great word, and one I couldn't think of yesterday when I wrote my post) for the one I couldn't find, though.  Oh, and one of the charts that I found, I don't trust... so I'll have to take a break from the shawl to work a swatch of patterning on some scrap yarn.  I'm not in a rush for that, though - I still have a repeat or two on the first section, then I can do a few repeats of the second section before the one that I'm concerned about.  I'm just very excited, because I'd played around with the charts some last night, and pretty much have the shawl mapped out now. :)

I am also getting excited about talking about the story behind the shawl, but I really want pictures to go with. :)  So, I am going to try to contain my excitement.   :)  I think I already revealed the name - Memories of Mexico.  The seeds of this shawl were planted in my brain while standing with my feet in the ocean on a beach in Mexico, in February of 2011.

Argh!  I've said too much!!! ;)

Hard to sit still

I`m having a bit of trouble sitting still right now.  But I want to get this posted.

See, I needed to do something, and I wanted no distractions, like TV noise.  Normally, I just have the TV on as background sound, because I really get squirrely in complete silence.  Yes, I like "peace and quiet" like in the country, but not a true, dead silence.  When I was attending university, I couldn't stand doing any homework or studying in the library  - I usually did such things in a cafeteria.

Anyway, sometimes having the TV on in the background can be distracting, because I hear something on a program, or movie, and I kind of watch it for a few minutes... or at least, listen to it; which takes my concentration off what I`m doing.  Not bad for some things (like knitting while watching TV) but not good for other things, that require my focus.

So, today - I had been meaning to for a while, but I trolled youtube for some music.  Yes, a couple videos were a bit distracting, but only for short glances... However, the type of music I enjoy (honestly, pretty much everything except country music) or at least, the kind I was listening to today, was very upbeat - "dance" genre.  Venga Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Ricky Martin... To name a few.  I was all over  - don`t recall all the artists (one led to another, etc. plus some I may only like one song) including things like "Let's get moving, into action" (Skye Sweetin) or Pop Goes the World, oh, and some Shaggy and Pitbull... You get the idea.  Just because I`m over 50, doesn't mean I can't enjoy music!! :)

So, the sun is shining, I'm pumped up from the music, and now I need to sit still long enough to post some pictures!!  Dang.  I am in such a great mood, and I just want to move and do things!!!  Well, at least, I've reminded myself what to do to get motivated to get busy on the house!!!

Oh, and I don`t think I`ve blogged yet about how I get choked up and cry kind of when I hear/listen to a particular Black Eyed Peas song.  See, back when I first started hearing the song, "Where is the Love", I really hadn't heard all the words - I mostly listen to a radio station when I'm driving that plays all the current hits.  Again with the background noise... So, I only sort of caught the words of the chorus -
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love

And, it just happened that I kind of recalled two news items at the time.  One was about a man and his wife who had just been sentenced for animal abuse in regards to operating a puppy mill. (he got jail time, she got fined).  And another story about a dog boarding kennel and pet crematorium that had a fire - all the animals got out safe, including one that the owner went into the burning building to save, receiving several (minor) burns for his efforts.  I can remember thinking, when I heard the lyrics, that I know where the love is... (when my beloved Spud passed away, and this was the crematorium who's services I used, I had asked about the incident - to me, it said that the business was one that put caring above money - and learned that the dog he risked his life for was being kept in a different area because it was apparently unpleasant - a biter - and somewhat anti-social... in other words, *ALL* animals are important).   Makes me choke up even more when I hear the song.  

So... enough of that - I'm in too good of a mood to want to bring myself down with such things. :)  

Here is the shawl from the other day - though it is already moving along nicely - I got 8 rows done last night!  

The beads really make it sparkle!!  Exactly what I wanted to happen!

So, this is the top edge - you can see the beginning of the top edging.  Not exactly what I would have liked to do, but, even though I found a better edging, I realized it would not end up the way I wanted - without a lot of starch.  It would end up looking more like a fringe, and I do not want that... so I am going with an abstract representation rather than an accurate one.  


The bottom edging I had hoped would be more of an accurate look, but I guess I did not quite achieve it, which is why I want to offer the option to leave it off.  It actually is, but it is smaller than I had hoped.  But I also did not want it to overwhelm the end of the shawl, either...

Once I get the whole thing to be longer, or even finished, and add the story behind the shawl, it will be more apparent what I wanted to achieve.  I think, though, that I could have done better if I would have started with a bit more narrow cast on, and started the bottom edging further in...  This is how the whole thing looks:

Ok, off to take care of a couple more things, then spend some quality time outside with the doggies before this music-induced energy burst wears off :)

Only got two minutes

So I don't really have time for a long post.

I did a lot of knitting, a little unknitting, and just as I was drifting off to sleep, I solved the problem of the graph. I don't need to make a lot of black squares of dreaded "no stitch".  I just have to make a second graph... :)

It came to me, because when I pinned out the knitting on the couch, to take a picture and a fresh look, I realized that the bottom edging treatment may not appeal to everyone, so I could/should make an optional graph without it... (and thinking about how to note in the written directions to leave it off).  Anyway, I didn't worry too much - I'm a long way from being ready to type (thank God for computers, word processing programs, and copy/paste - I wouldn't have to retype the entire pattern to elimimate the edging, just copy/paste and edit :) )

Anyway - I did take a picture, I did download it onto the machine, but I didn't edit.  (remember, I edit for size and sometimes colour/contrast, not content).  So, I am not quite ready to share.  I promise, tomorrow.  :)

Today, I had to do laundry (a chore that I'm starting to dislike doing) and grocery shop.  I like to do that either Mondays or Fridays, but since we don't usually get our flyers until Monday (they are supposed to arrive Thursday, since most of the stores run their sales starting Friday) I'm getting very frustrated... I either miss a good deal, or by the time I get to the store, the item is sold out.  (oh, and they haven't restocked on the BBQ's that we bought, so I'm still relieved we got the one we did!)  Today, there were two things totally sold out, that we use regularly, and were at a great price.  :(

Well, more talk tomorrow, I promise!!

No picture, but making better progress

Nothing else really to talk about, but the shawl is coming along now.  I did have some issues with the top edging, and the stitch count vs the chart stitch count.  Once I realized my simple mistake, I was fine.  And, I didn't have to unknit two whole rows to figure it out, either, lol...

I did run into another frustration, though.  I went in search of a photo I'd saved to go with the pattern, but then couldn't find it anywhere.  So, I googled, and couldn't find it either... Found some possible substitutions, but really want the first one.  Nearly all the companion photos for the project are my own, but while planning some stuff, I wanted to confirm something, so I googled.  I found an excellent picture, that illustrated exactly what I wanted to convey, so I did what I could to source the picture for appropriate permission to use and credit.  Unfortunately, despite best efforts, I was unable to.  So, I figured, I would go ahead an use it anyway, with the appropriate explanations of sourcing.

But now I don't know where I put it.  :(

Otherwise - I will get a few more rows done tonight, and for sure get a picture of the progress.

I keep getting excited, and want to start sharing the pattern, but I'm not sure of the yardage needed yet, so I don't want to disappoint anyone.  I mean, I don't think it matters that the whole will be a work in progress while people start on the beginning, but it would be nice for people to have enough yarn :)  The good news is, that when I reach the halfway point, I will know exactly how much I'll need to finish. :)

Ok.  Sorry about the no picture thing... will try to get one soon.

TV and Shawl

Is my life becoming that boring and repetitive, LOL?

So, we did end up watching the last two parts of Titanic yesterday.  I think it really needs to be watched as a whole, maybe integrated - stay on the same day, and look at everyone for that day, instead of this group in part one from day one to sinking, then another group, back at day one, interacting sometimes with people from part one, then a third group, etc.  Too much back and forth.  Plus all the commercial breaks!  Some of those lasting up to five minutes!!  So, a cohesive whole would be shorter than the four hours allotted... even if they were still done in the divided, restarting from day one mode, at least, without commercials and back to back, you could follow the details a little better.  In my opinion, anyway.

Strangely, DH mentioned that he had trouble following the accents.  There was a combination of British cockney as well as the more formal English, there was Irish to varying degrees, a couple that were Italian (I'm not sure if they were a true Italian, though, because if they hadn't made a point of saying the characters were Italian, I wouldn't have guessed).  And the archaic terminology took a bit of paying attention to.  But I didn't have the same trouble as him... (maybe because I have a bit more interest in English Literature?)  I am not sure why he had difficulty - normally he doesn't have a problem following accents of any origin.

Other points - well, I guess they based most characters on real people from ship's manifests, and who lived and who died, but in some cases, I wonder if they based the stories of the people on survivor information or if they took some liberties with events.  I mean, for example, did a last minute replacement steward who was the brother of one of the engine room workers really ask one of the maids to marry him?  (sorry for not posting a spoiler alert for anyone who hasn't yet watched the series.)

Still, though, it really brought home the significance of the tragedy.  How far reaching the events really were.  That, and some of the 100 anniversary "specials" on the History and other channels this weekend.  Sometimes, I think a lot of people, myself included, tend to fix on the event itself, and the lives affected.  We forget the ripple effect, the other people less directly, though no less intensely, affected.  One of the historical programs mentioned the shipyard workers, and how their lives were touched by the sinking of the "unsinkable" ship.

Lots of food for thought....

As for the shawl... Let me just say, that designing a knit item isn't as easy as it sounds.  Really.  Well, maybe it is, if you just make something as a one off for yourself.  But this making sure everything works, and writing down what is going on, and planning and executing... Everything went well at the start.  I was making lots of progress, though the writing down did slow me up some.  But it was going smooth.  Now, it seems, that I knit four rows, rip out two.  Reknit those, and two more, then rip another two.... Hopefully, it is only because I've been watching TV as well as knitting...  And so far, the issue has been the actual knitting part and silly errors in counting, not an issue with the chart or written directions!

I'm second guessing myself a bit on the shaping.  It is doing what I'd planned it to do, just not sure if what I wanted is really what I wanted... Ok, that sounds silly.  But I can't think how else to say it.  I wanted the shape, I wanted the angle, I wanted it short and steep, I wanted the bottom edging to be small and do what it is doing, but I sort of thought it might be - not so short, not so steep, not so small...   I didn't want the ends to be two overpowering to the whole shawl, but I also don't want them to look like a silly tack-on... I really need to get more of the body done, and the whole thing blocked, before I can pass judgement.  And, honestly, I'm not sure I want to go to all that work and wear and tear on the yarn (remember I mentioned the other day it is a bit more fragile than I'm used to) only to be disappointed...

I really need to take my own advice, the one I share when someone else is concerned about small imperfections in their knitting - - step back, and look at the item as a whole.  When you are actually knitting on something, you are "up close and personal" with it, seeing every slight imperfection, every wonky stitch, every stretched out stitch, every loose stitch.... But once finished, blocked, and worn appropriately, even the mistakes are buried in the whole, overall, big picture.

I need to get a lot more knitting done, and to be happy with what I've done.  Even though I'm prepared to share the pattern, ultimately, I'm making this shawl for me, with symbolism that means something to me, and if no one else likes it or wants to make it, well - that is no reflection on me and my happiness.  :)  It just means they don't want to make a shawl like it.    I'd be more concerned if I was attempting to *sell* the pattern, and no one bought it... Especially if I was in any way dependent on that little bit of extra income (which I may be someday, so want to establish myself as a new designer - so maybe it *is* important that others like what I come up with)

Oh, well - I need to remember that regardless of anything else, any worldly or materialistic things, that ultimately I have to make myself happy, and be content with me and who I am, and my own abilities.

And, after I get a few more rows done, I will take another picture, and share it.  (oh, and I've already made a Ravelry project page for it Catlady2 if anyone wants a sneak-peak.)

Dang!!

Looks like I managed to forget again yesterday. (now there are four days of not blogging since January first... )

I was going to talk about how I didn't make much knitting progress on Friday night, since we had unexpected, though not unpleasant, company.  I did, though, play around with the chart, and did enough knitting to figure out the bead issue.  :) I'm very pleased with what I'm getting now.

Last night, though, I had another set back.  The count seems to be off by one, in the edging section.  I need to fix that up before I go any further... :(

Today is a gray cloudy miserable day... yesterday started out that way, with rain, too, but the sun came out late afternoon, and it ended off a gorgeous day.  We spent some time outside with the puppies.  And I peeked into the rain barrel...  we are about an inch from the overflow!

I'm thinking now of a mixed blessing - all that water that didn't go down to seep into the basement - but on the other hand, that water is not flowing into the ground around the basement.  Too dry, and the house will shift...

But then I realized, we can control that by simply opening the bottom valve, and allowing the water to just run into the ground - enough to keep it moist, but not so much to cause the seepage problem :)

So, today's plans - to get a few things done around the house, then to get the shawl moving forward just a little faster :)   I still need to play around  a bit with the chart, add the top edging to the master chart.  I think I might be able to rechart the whole thing, once the written directions are done, without the "no stitch" squares - the first bit won't "look like" the knitting, but we're talking some 30-ish rows... I'll have to see.  Otherwise, I could simply offer the pattern with the chart(s) not starting until the ends have been established...

I still need to figure out whether I'm really going to just graft in the middle, or take a crack at reversing the pattern at the other end... the thing is, there will need to be some mirroring stuff happen - because there is a top edge and a bottom edge to the shawl, the edging will be on the left of one end, but the right of the other, if I go with the center graph.  If I don't, though, then some of the patterning will have to have decreases reversed, etc....

Decisions, decisions...

And I think I need to come up with a slightly less involved project for some of the TV watching times...

We watched a couple of episodes of Grimm on Friday - getting very exciting and interesting.

And we watched the first two of four parts of a mini-series about the Titanic.  It's being told from differing points of view, and that is leaving it somewhat confusing... a bit of bouncing around in events, overlaps of people interacting... I'm glad we didn't watch it first run - waiting a week between episodes would have really left us confused!!  Not sure just when we'll watch the next two - probably tomorrow or Tuesday, since those are the "dead" nights for TV.  (I get confused too, about the NCIS shows  - they are on one station first run, and reruns on another station, but on the two consecutive nights, and I always mix up which is which.  Time I guess to check imdb.com and search and set the PVR)

So - that catches us up for the two days!

The Big Bang

The Big Bang Theory is one of my favourite TV shows.  I actually get the jokes, and understand most of what they are talking about.  Now and again, they make a reference to something I need to look up, but they usually explain things rather well (and yes, a lot of them I already knew, but still appreciate the clear explanations).

However, that is not what I am referring to in this case.  No, the Big Bang I mean, is the one I heard this  morning.  At first, I thought it might be a large truck or other vehicle (we are close to a bus route) hitting something or going over a bump or pothole in the road.  We're also close to an airport, so the noise might have come from there.  And the local air base is just past the airport (logical location).  But, the other possibility, was since it is so wet today, there may have been a hydro transformer malfunction or hydro pole fire.  Of course, since the computer was still on, and the fridge running, it was obviously not that.  Plus - and remembering that thoughts travel much faster than the time it takes you to read and me to write all this - DH, who took today and Monday as holidays, mentioned the TV was out... which also meant that the internet was also down.  So, since some of my morning routine pages were already open, I was able to finish off working with those pages.  Well, more or less - I couldn't follow links or download anything.  But I didn't get to do the other stuff I normally do.

Instead, I shut down, and decided to attack the back log of dishes.  Next was the usual Friday errands.  Because of a particularly great sale at the grocery store for last week, though, I had been to the store yesterday, and picked up nearly everything on the "urgently needed" list.  So, since the current flyers have not been delivered yet (they normally arrive Thursday evenings, but lately I've been lucky to get them by Monday evening... when they are nearly expired), I really wasn't sure what all was needed... except, I didn't realize I was nearly out of garlic, and the dog food is also low.  So, even though I wasn't positive about the dog food without being able to compare flyers, I knew I couldn't wait a few days to get it, so, I just went with the flow...

Anyway, last week or the one before, we got a "summer" flyer from the grocery store we shop at.  They are featuring summer items - picnic sets, chairs, patio umbrellas, BBQ's, etc.  We have a BBQ, but it is on its last legs.  We did try to fix it up, but since it is an older model, the parts aren't available.  We figured it might just make it through another summer, so we were going to watch for the clearance of BBQ's to replace it.

Well, this flyer came, and had several models of BBQ's featured.  Some of them are so big and fancy, you could use them for a restaurant... They also had a couple of smaller, "cheap" ones.  And I do mean, small and cheap.... Now, there are only two of us.  We don't need anything too fancy. But we also don't want something that will only last a year or two, either.  So, we saw one that was advertised for $199.  Reasonable price... Looked OK from the picture.  We were going to wait and watch for the clearance.  I was at the store earlier this week (I hate to admit it, but lately, things have happened that in addition to my once a week shopping, I've found myself running out for a  few things here and there this week -  partly because the delay in getting the flyer, I don't find out until after the weekly shopping that there was a good deal - such as a case of 12 cans of a brand name soup for 4.98 - less than 50 cents a can when regular price per can is around 1.50.  So, of course I had to grab a case or two of the canned soups we use in cooking.  Mostly, I make my own soup for eating.  And I'm slowly working away from using processed food for the most part.  But, using a can of mushroom soup in a recipe for a "quick sauce" or using a can of tomato soup in chili is still acceptable to me for now.  I do prefer to eat my homemade cream of mushroom soup, and I do have recipes to make tomato soup if I can ever get a decent garden full of tomatoes again.  But in the meantime... getting a deal on soup made the extra trips worth it.  And, even though I could have waited until the regular shopping day for other stuff, I was at the store, so I picked up other stuff.  Which is why I only needed garlic and dog food today.  But, I had meant to look at the BBQ while I was at the store earlier.  Pictures and written descriptions really don't give you a true idea of what an item is like - what does it look like when you open the lid? How tall is it?  What does the cooking surface look like?  How big is it?  There was a write up about how many square inches it is, but really, what does that mean???

So, I remembered when I was there yesterday, grabbing a couple more cases of soup (they made a limit of two, and besides, I know sometimes DH likes canned store bought chicken noodle soup, and this name brand is the only one that isn't so full of grease to make it unpalatable.)  I had a look at the BBQ, lifted the lid, looked it over good, came home and told DH I fell in love with it.  After I'd described it.

Today, since we were running errands together, we both looked at the demo 'Q.  He was as impressed as I was.  We debated, briefly (actually this part we did at home before we went out) whether to buy today or wait for the sale... we decided to go for it, and when I went to find where the boxed ones were... there was ONLY ONE left!  Yes, it is possible there might have been more at one of the other locations, and possible there might be some left when the clearance prices started up, etc. etc. BUT - we definitely were glad we went today, this morning, and had decided to not wait....

Oh, and we have our TV and internet back now, too :)

Did it again....

I came up with a great idea of what I could blog about, but it was while I was out doing a couple of errands... now I don't remember a thing!!

Sometimes, I think, it's because I have these thoughts and ideas and crap rolling around in my head.  Journalling  and or blogging is supposed to help to sort out those thoughts, vent, clear up stuff, and generally keep one mentally healthy.  So, when I'm doing some things, and allowing my mind to "compose" a blog post, I think the end result is accomplished. I've sorted my thoughts, organized them, and no longer need to write about them.

Oh, well...

I can tell you that I found the error.  It took me the whole evening to do.  See, because I'm excited about the shawl, and suffering knitter's block on the socks, and trying to organize and clean my house, I don't really have any other projects to do at the moment...  Or at least, not mindless or semi-mindless projects.  I *could* have knit the "purl back" row while watching Survivor last night - if I'd been able to fix the row during the news... But between a latish supper, and one of those evenings where every time I started to count out and look at the stitches, my dear, sweet, loving husband decided to talk to me, or ask me a question of some sort... After Survivor, the same thing... he suddenly became very talkative last night!  So, after he went to be, I found the missing yarn over in a very short short time... but I was too tired to bother to do anything else after!!

It really wasn't that simple of an error in the first place... I had dropped the stitch just above a double decrease.  In trying to save it, the cat pulled my needle... So, while fixing that bit of mess, I had managed to mess up the decrease a bit.  When I did the further row, it was apparent that there was a problem.  So, I undid my knitting to the row that was messed up, but in doing so, I managed to fix the decrease.  So, I really didn't need to rip back as much as I did the second time... a simple counting would have caught the dropped yarn over...

Anyway, I'm back to being ready to knit away... And I think I figured out a simple way to fix my bead issue.  I wanted to have a few more beads, but wasn't sure how to add them... But now, when I do the second repeat of the pattern, I can put in additional beads, and it will work for the theme!  I think I know which stitches to add the beads to get the look I want...

And I'm now sure that I want to do a third repeat.  I may find myself buying another couple balls of yarn... the yardage is not as high as most lace yarns per ball.  I only hope that there is still some of the same dyelot left!  If not, I might be able to make that work, though... We'll see.

Oh, and I promised to share a link to the other mystery knit along...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/summermysteryshawl2012

I think I'll offer this shawl pattern of mine as a Yahoo group - I still don't know how people do the thing where they share a pdf on a blog.  But I can do it in a Yahoo group.  I might even start publishing parts of the pattern before I finish.. no, I don't think that is a good idea after all - I just finished saying I'm not sure of the yardage.  Silly me!  I'm thinking of making it a free pattern, but I could sure use the extra cash... I'm still an "unknown" designer, though, so I should keep my patterns free a little longer. :)

Picture time

Hm... Suddenly got a sketchy little ditty float through my head... some thirty years ago, when my son was little, there was a short five minute TV spot/show, hosted by Bill Cosby, called "Picture Time" - the ditty was something like, "It's Picture Time, it's Picture Time....Time to... Picture with me.... " repeated... Then it showed a couple of pictures, and you either picked the one that went with the others, or didn't go, or something simple like that.  You could send away for a booklet of pictures to work along with the TV spots... Highly educational (well, besides being a comedian, he *was/is* a teacher).  I never sent away, but got my son to participate watching and guessing and pointing at the screen...

Anyway, I digress (and hope I can get the little tune out of my head soon).

So, I have been meaning to share a picture of my hand - yes, the middle finger is still quite sore. There is still scabbing and healing going on under the surface; I think I may have a permanent lump of skin embedded or buried under the new skin.  Which is also still quite thin and regrowing, so it is still very tender in places.  But to look at now, it hardly shows at all.  So, here is how it looked when I finally decided it could stay unbandaged:

I titled that picture, "kind of icky still" - you can see how it is still a little red (and would sort of bleed a little tiny bit now and again)

Then, it started to heal up quick - within a couple days of that picture, it looked like:

And now, I won't even bother taking a picture, because it hardly shows at all.  Yes, in person, you can see it, but no matter how good my digital camera is, you can still only get so close...

On to the rain barrel:

Not much else to say about that - I pretty much talked about it in my other post.  Simple enough construction; found the basic directions via Pinterest.  Some one pinned a picture of one, and clicking through I found the directions, and lots more.  Showed it to hubby, and - well, you can see the result.

Another idea I got via Pinterest (can't recall if it was directly, or one thing leading to another) was a potato post.  That is our next major outdoor project.  Started out, the person talked about how they got the idea from "living fence posts" they'd seen in Mexico.  Using living trees as fence posts.  Then, the person adapted the whole idea, and basically, you make a cylindrical form from chicken or fencing wire, place straw in the bottom and up the sides if the holes are larger, then you layer in compost/dirt and potato seed.  (seed potatoes, with the eyes).  Point the eyes toward the outside edges... then keep layering dirt and potato... The plant grows out the sides of the cylinder, and the potatoes grow in the middle.  No digging required at harvest time - just tip over the forms, spread out the dirt, and gather the potatoes!  Great space saver idea when you don't have a lot of garden space. :)

Now, I will share pictures of the shawl I'm making.  I was debating making it a mystery knit along.  But, I asked around a bit, and it seems that the novelty of mystery knits is waning... There are still a few around - Renee of Goddess Knits is running another one starting in June; (signups have started already - remind me to share the link in case anyone wants it)- but mostly people are shying away from ones that they don't know the designer well, or they wait to see what the end product is like.  They like the idea of the KAL, though.  But even with that, they're finding a lot of people are treating it like a race...

Anyway, I was asked if I would share, and I think I will.  I haven't gotten far - the joy of designing can mean a lot of tinking -  right now, I've had to rip back two rows, and now go thoroughly over the row that is on the needle, because I dropped a stitch, and my kitty chose that moment to stick her head in the cable and pretend she was strangling... Just bad timing... Anyway, I am on row 20 of the first repeat of 28 rows... I'll see how it looks after two repeats, but I think I'll add a third.  I also would have liked to add more beads along the diagonals, but wasn't sure how they would really turn out.  And, this lace yarn is a little more fragile than most I've used.  I love it, I knew I would... But it is fragile, I'm finding.  It is from Istex Lopi - called Einband.  Yes, the very same stuff that you make a wonderfully warm Lopi sweater from, that some people think it "scratchy", in a lace weight.  :)

Ok, first picture - taken of the end of the shawl, showing the shaping, but this is going to be the "top" side. I don't know how much to reveal, or talk about.... The shawl has a definite story behind it, but I kind of want each section to be completed before I share all the details.  The pattern will have lots of pictures added, to tell the story...













So, you can see the sloped edge.  You can't see the beads very well, though.  They are clear, with a silver lining.  Perfect for my plan!

Next picture, is of the other end - and you can see the challenges I had taking the picture.  I'm using a Susan Bates Silverado needle, and the cable is soft, but insists on curling... what you don't see in the picture above is me using my foot to hold the right side, since I had the camera in one hand, and my left hand holding the knitting ;)

The beads show up better.  You can still see that sloped side, but there is a garter stitch edging added.  And I realized why I was having so much trouble with the chart.  I added that garter edge, increasing at the outside end, and the center panel is increasing, but I had no decreases charted (or executed, because I didn't want them to be there) between the edging and the panel - so my chart was way off... the center panel moved (on paper) up and out, on the angle.  The edging increased at its own rate... but the total stitch count was off... Anyway, it is knitting up proper, but the chart would need a whole bunch of the "dreaded no stitch" symbols... So, I think I'll leave the first section uncharted for ease of knitting by all levels of ability... The first section is the only place this garter edging will be.  And yes, it is crucial to the design/story.

I'm planning that both ends of the shawl will be knitted from the outer edge in, and grafted in the middle.  That also means, the edgings will have to be mirrored - that is, the garter piece is on the right hand side of this edge, with right side facing.  But when knitting the opposite end, the garter stitch edge will have to be on the left hand side.  Because that is the bottom of the shawl....

Yes, I'm being somewhat mysterious :)

Dilemma

So.  I gave up drinking coffee many years ago.  I can't recall exactly how many, but I'm thinking four or five years now.  Time kind of flies sometimes... I know I've been not working for nearly two, was part owner for one, worked for one and a half before that, and it was before I started working or just after I started working, that I gave up coffee.  So - at least four years.  Never really cared for the taste (or smell!) of coffee.  Only started drinking it because "that is what people do".  There were times when I would drink tea in the morning instead of coffee, and given the option at other times of day, I'd often take tea over coffee. But mostly it is a case of, I just don't like coffee.

I do still like espresso, though.  And I did enjoy the odd cup of flavoured coffee.  So, here is my dilemma.  I have some flavoured coffee, enough for a pot or two, as well as some flavoured beans.  DH does NOT like flavoured coffee at all.  So.  If I drink the flavoured stuff (egg nog flavoured ground, hazelnut flavoured beans) does that count as drinking coffee?  I mean, it may have coffee as the base, but it is really a flavoured drink, rather than the straight coffee people drink in the morning.  And being flavoured (dang, I wish spell check would quit underlining that word!)means it doesn't taste or smell like regular coffee.  I'd hate to see it go to waste - -

In the meantime, I've discovered a cool store - I was briskly walking through one of the shopping malls I go to now and again, when I need something from one of the stores there.  Some of the small specialty stores come and go; high rent, being too focused, crazy economy, etc. make it hard for some to make a go of it.  Anyway, there was, right by the entrance that I usually use to the mall, a coffee bar.  The smell nearly overpowers me every time I have to walk past it (I guess I could try parking by a different entrance, but this one is so close to most of the stores I need...)  Anyway, that day, they were offering free samples... And, further up the - uh, hallway? uh, aisle?  Uh, mall? - was another coffee/snack joint... Anyway, I managed to avoid them.  Did my errands.  Was on the way out, when I was "accosted" (too strong, really, but sometimes the people offering samples almost seem like that is what they are doing) by a young lady politely offering samples - as I brushed past her, mumbling a firm "No, Thank You", her words sank into my brain.  "...tea".  I stopped, did an about face, and apologized for my brusqueness.  I'm hooked.... David's Tea is a great little shop, where you can buy some wonderful blends of herbal as well as regular teas by the ounce.  Loose tea.  Not tea bags.  The prices are - well, higher than the supermarket or name brand bags - but the tea is wonderful.  And as a treat, will last me a while.  I'll still use my inexpensive bagged English Breakfast tea for my morning two cups, with Earl Grey or Lady Grey or one of the other basic black teas now and again for variety.  But, for later in the day, when I'm in the mood for a hot drink, or an herbal tea, I'll be reaching for the David's Teas. :)  Now, some of them, though good, do not stand out enough to make it worth buying more.  There is a fruit blend that I'm drinking today, that is very much like any of the berry herbal teas from the grocery store (various brands) so I'd rather save money and just stick with those.  But, David's Tea also has some other blends that are much less common, and so very delicious!!  :)

The labeling they put on the packets when you buy the tea suggests 1 1/2 tsp per cup - well, I've found that for some of the teas, you can easily get two cups from the same 1  1/2 tsp of blend.  So, I've taken to using only a half teaspoon at a time  - if that is on the weak side, for a second cup I'll use one teaspoon.  Most are fine with the half per cup.  Making it more economical ;)

Besides the wonderful flavours to choose from, I like this tea because: A) all natural ingredients, B) no preservatives, and C) I haven't found one yet that I feel the need to add sugar to.  Ok, so I've only tried six so far, but still. I like the tea.

The shawl is progressing.... I'm looking forward to getting onto the next section of it.  Still got a long way to go.  I'm thinking I might need to do a third repeat of the first lace pattern.  It isn't getting as long as fast as I thought it would... but I'm liking the way the beads are looking on the yarn... :)

Giving up and Adapting

I'm giving up on creating a chart for at least the first part of the shawl.  For some reason, I just can't seem to get it to work out right... Normally I love working with/from charts, and I'll even chart out some written directions.  But, in this case, line by line directions are working better.  Maybe I can return to a chart later, but for now, I must write it out.

Which is fine - most people who like charts can still follow line by line directions.  But people who don't like charts, well... if there is no written directions, they will often pass on the project.  So, this seems like a win-win to just go with writing out what I am doing.  I'm still more or less using the chart for myself, though.

Remember a few days ago, i wrote about that 5S program?  Well, I've decided I'm going to need to adapt it slightly for my purposes.  Still the same thing, really, but slightly different order and focus.

My version:  (which is more than 5 S's, by the way)

Shoot:   Pictures.  Before and after.  I may or may not share the before pictures publicly.  Probably not... But I really need that reminder of how far I've come... As in, I tend to see what isn't finished, or still needs doing, or that I'm not happy with (painting issues), or whatever.  So, I need a clear reference so I can *SEE* a difference.  The after picture will be hand in hand with the end - the sustaining, the standard of clean that should be maintained.  A reference point, a goal to live up to, heck, even a future "before" picture, in case I can make improvements.  The after picture will also be a proper picture of possessions, for insurance.  I've been meaning to do that for years - once even phoned the insurance agent to ask if that were a good thing to do/acceptable.  I will take the picture, then burn it onto two CDs  or DVDs, then keep them in two different locations.  God forbid anything should happen, but if it does, it will help to have a record.

Strip:  Remove everything from the room or area I'm doing.  It really is hard to sort or clean if there is still stuff everywhere - you end up picking things up, putting them back, moving them around, trying to work around things, getting cramped and frustrated, maybe breaking something... So, it just seems logical to strip out an area completely. Box stuff up, put it in another location, at the very least, making it easily portable.

Shine (A):  Thorough cleaning of the area.  Wash walls, wash windows, wash ceiling, wash floor.... wash the entire area down. Paint if possible, make repairs.  Start fresh.

Sort:  Evaluate all that boxed up stuff that was stripped out.  Is it worth keeping?  Do I really need it?  Do I really want it?  Should it be kept elsewhere?  Should it be given away or thrown away/disposed of?  Group like things together, so it is evident just what sort of physical storage area it needs. (high shelf, long shelf, small cupboard, etc.)

Shine (B):  Wash or otherwise clean items that are being kept and returned to the area.  Kind of obvious - you wouldn't put dirty laundry back in the dresser and closet; you wouldn't put dirty dishes back in the cupboard; so everything that is being kept will be dusted or washed or whatever.  And if it isn't worth cleaning, well, it isn't really worth keeping, then, is it?

Systemize/Standardize:  Organize and arrange things when they are replaced in the area.  Make sure that the things used most often are easily accessible.  Arrange things in the most pleasing way, especially those things that are highly visible.  But don't cheat and slough off this one just because things are hidden behind closed doors of some sort.  Take the time to properly arrange things in a logical and orderly manner.

Sustain:  This is the killer one - the one that killed me before.  When I first had my house cleaned, I was able to have all maintaining housework done by 8 am at the latest - bed made, bathroom wiped down, any dishes dealt with, floors swept, etc.  I chose one day a week to do a deeper clean - wash floors, wash bathroom, etc. and on those days, I was done by 11 am.  Maybe noon, if I had a lot of dishes left over.  (Back then, it was Mondays, and I took Sunday off from doing dishes and things... It was also Monday for laundry day).  So, I used to  have a lot of guilt-free free time.  I loved it... I want that back....

Satisfaction:  I want that back.... So, I need to take back my life, and once I get it back, and start to enjoy the guilt-free free time again, I hope that it will help me to stay on the Sustain and maintain track. :)

Years ago, when I first had that lifestyle, it took me about three months to get it.  I started after we'd come back from a trip, so about mid January.  I had the lifestyle I wanted by the end of March.  Maybe only two or two and a half months... It really should be better now, in some ways.  But slower in others.... Back then, my son lived at home, and had a friend staying.  So there was more day to day cleaning...  Now, though, I've got that project to work on, and I'm older and a little slower, and thanks to dumb things I've done with my hands, I'm a bit out of shape physically.  And then there is the emotional exhaustion of depression and frustration... And I really have to make sure I don't keep making excuses that bog me down even further.

I just need to get off my butt, and START!!!

Start, Shoot, Strip, Shine, Sort, Shine, Systemize/Standardize, (second shoot) Sustain, and find Satisfaction!!

Happy Easter.

So, I learned something last night.  Making a knitting chart isn't as easy when you add in some shaping...

I'm basically making a rectangular shawl, but it does have a bit of shaping on the edging, and a bit on the ends.  Not anything drastic, just some angles. And, because of the particular edging, I find it necessary to chart the return rows - adding to my confusion...

And on row 6, despite having unknit the entire row, I seem to have one more stitch than I should have... I may reknit the entire row again, working from the master chart, because part of the issue is the chart fitting on one page of pdf.  :P

Instead of us going to see kids today, kids came here.  They were a bit antsy, and bickering among themselves.  Mostly the same as usual.  But because it wasn't yet warm out, they were a bit cooped up inside.  If we'd been able to be in the yard, they could have run off some of that excess energy.  They were all happy with their gifts, though.

Well... Guess that's it for now.  Would be warm out - the sun coming in the window is gorgeous - but there is a strong nippy wind out there,making it too unpleasant to be out.  :P

Green and Charts

Well, I got the chart done.  It needs some finessing; I need to fix a couple things.  But I basically have the chart completed for the first section.  I may still do another repeat - depends on how it looks once it is knit up.  I also have to make sure I have a couple procedures correct in my head (make one left and right - knitting stitches) and I still haven't grabbed the scrap yarn to test which double decrease I want to use (there are at least three that I could do - knit three together; slip one, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over; or slip two stitches, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over).  Otherwise, I might just be able to start knitting on the shawl tonight.

Now, for the green...

I've shared before about garbage.  About how we Reduce waste (I buy in bulk frequently, I do pay attention to excess packaging, I do try to use things up as much as possible) Reuse stuff (I just emptied a couple of dog treat containers, that got washed and will be used for holding other items; I wash and reuse margarine and sour cream and etc. plastic container for leftovers; I take the newspapers to an animal shelter for the dogs; I use the flyers for packaging, and so on) Recycle (whatever I can't reuse, or after it's been used to its limit, I toss into the recycling box; I repurpose or recycle various items around the house for other things).  I compost, which is a form of recycling, I think...

Well, now - yesterday, among the yard work we did (less in some ways than I wanted to, but the day was windy, making some chores more difficult) we built a rain barrel.  Ok, technically, "building a rain barrel" doesn't sound complicated, or whatever - strictly speaking, a "rain barrel" is a barrel used to collect rain.  But what I mean is, we took a big plastic barrel (that was used before for other purposes) and put two holes in the side, and one in the lid.  There was one hold put in the bottom, and a spigot was installed in this hole.  The second hole was near the top, and we used an old garden hose (repurposing a leaking hose instead of just throwing it out) that we cut a piece off on the bottom so we could fill a small pail or watering can, and the balance of the hose we put through the top hole, and then ran it along the side of the house to the front yard.  Our front yard gets a lot of shelter from rain, especially later in the summer when the trees are in full leaf.  So, it doesn't do so well, unless we water it.  The third hole we made was in the lid of the barrel, so we could put a downspout from our eave trough into the barrel, and the lid keeps most "junk" out of the barrel, as well as keeping out mosquitoes so they don't breed.

So - we will now have an additional or supplemental source of water for our garden this year.  I didn't take a picture, but I will...

Our next "project" will be a potato tower.

Beautiful Sunny warm day

So, I'm heading out to do some yard work, and we're building a rain barrel.  Last night, we stayed hanging around outside because it was so great out... I got so much fresh air, I ended up just going to bed early :)  So, no new knitting to report, and not much else to report for now.  :)

Just too nice a day to spend it inside a house I'm not particularly fond of right now... ;)

Shopping Stress....

Did my weekly shopping today.  Normally I would do it on a Friday, but since tomorrow is a holiday... And to make matters "worse", being Easter, the stores were full of last minute Easter candy buyers.  I had thought about making a post about commercialism at Easter time, but right now, I'm just too tired... Maybe I'll do that after we take stuff to the grandkids.

I recently figured out (Back at Christmas, actually) just how humble my grandkids are.  So, I'm not too worried about how they'll be about the stuff, but I'm thinking more general.

Anyway, I'm tired, I'm hungry, I"m thirsty, I'm hot. So you're getting another short post.  I still need to do a bunch of dishes, too.  I might wait for hubby to get home - he did offer to help with them.  I just don't want it to seem like I purposely waited, just because he offered.

As for knitting - I got my foundation going on the shawl.  I graphed out part of the edging.  Now I need to graph the first section.  The pattern I selected is already graphed, but I need to figure out my increases, and how that will work in the pattern.  I also need to scrap-yarn swatch some double decreases, so I can decide which one will work best.  And I have to arrange bead placement.  Oh, and I kind of have to graph out every row, even though the lace pattern panels I've chosen all have simple "purl back" rows - the framing and edging will need every row graphed.

And, I have to start typing up the directions!  I don't want to put that off until the end, or else, it will get procrastinated just like the baby blanket and afghan and pink sock... :(

And I really can't waste time, because I am not 100% sure I have enough yarn, and will need to match up a dyelot.

So, guess how I'll be spending my Easter Weekend?   Stay tuned...

Last night

Last night, I went all evening and overnight (and all day so far) without a bandaid on the finger.  :)  It is still a little sore, and I think the scab isn't ready to come off yet, but otherwise, it's doing fine.  I should take a picture...

I also got busy trying to knit on the shawl.  Couldn't find the paper that I'd jotted down my gauge notes on, so ended up casting on too many stitches.  Oh, well - frogging tonight and redoing the cast on during Survivor!

It has been several days since I posted any pictures.  So, I think I'll show this one I took a couple weeks ago, early in the morning.  I found it interesting, because normally in March we still have cold and snow.  But this year, we have been having a great mild winter, and a warm sunny March (and now April).  So, I was a little surprised to find...

Hopefully, you can see those.

Moths.

Not the kind that knitters and crocheters and spinners fear - just ordinary everyday moths.  A few different types, but still, the kind that eat leaves as caterpillars, and nectar as adults.  Strange to see them so early in the year, and early in the morning.  They hung around for a few days.  A couple found their way into the house, but the dogs and cats took care of them.

So - today is another of those gorgeous sunny warm days, so I'm not going to write much more.  But I'll take a picture of my hand... :)  See you tomorrow!

Socked Out

This could be my problem.  I've been working on a lot of socks lately.  And I think I've socked out.  I haven't been knitting as much as normal; have trouble getting enthusiastic about picking up the needles.  I think I'm suffering a bit of burnout.  I tried to restart the Blathnat socks last night.  Couldn't even get the first round done on one sock.  So - I think it is time to stop trying so hard, and to put the fun back into my crafting.  This means, either making something else, or doing another craft.

Honestly, I think I'm still a bit cabled out, too - between the cables on the recent socks (Sea Cruise) and the cabled sweater from last year, I think I want a bit of a break from them, too.  So, I'm going to put aside the socks, and work on the shawl instead.  And maybe some spinning, and maybe... I've been feeling like digging out the sewing machine and making some clothes for me.  Not to mention, all the quilt UFO's and WIM's.

Another of the things that I really need to get doing, is the house.  I have to stop allowing myself to dwell on the things I'm not happy about, and just start.  Start somewhere.  Start anywhere... Just do it, and look forward instead of beating myself up for what I haven't done.

I looked up,  mainly for interest, this thing that several businesses are doing these days.  Where my husband works, they are implementing the program in a lot of ways... It is called "5S".  I could/should let you look it up yourself, but basically, it is an organizational technique using 5 (sometimes plus 3) steps that all start with the letter S.  Originating in Japan, the five words start with S there, too.  Translated, they still start with S.  Interestingly, this is more or less what I did some 12 years ago, without knowing what it was called.  Except that, I blew it on step 5...  That only lasted a year.

So, I'm going to apply the 5 S program to my house.  Again.  Only this time, I'm hoping to make it stick!!

Here's the program, described in my own words:
1.  Sort:  Taking an area, clearing it out, sorting the stuff into things that are used frequently, things that are never used, things that are used sometimes, etc.  Translated to the home, of course, is reducing the clutter, getting rid of old stuff you won't use, determining which items can be stored away in the basement or garage vs keeping handy... remember the lack of storage space in my kitchen!!  Fancy serving dishes are mostly in boxes properly labeled.  I'm thinking, there are probably a few more things that don't get used often - prior to the day I took the picture, for example, my bread maker got put into the linen closet, and a lot of my small appliances live in the living room.  Not that those are ideal places, especially for the appliances I use often, but you get the idea...

2. Stabilize (the official translation), or Straighten out, or Systemize:   This is where I determine the best places to store items, where the handiest spot is for those things I use daily, where to put the rest...

3.  Sweeping (official), Shining, or Sanitize:  This is the cleaning, the washing walls and floors, wiping out cabiniets, etc.  Once I've pulled everything out for sorting, I can clean before putting back.  Not only cleaning the area itself, but also cleaning the items that go there.  Seems silly to put dusty or dirty things back on a clean surface...

4.  Starndardize:  This is where you get into the "a place for everything, and everything in its place".  This is the part where you put everything you are keeping back in place; putting the items you use daily in the handiest spot, grouping like things together, etc.  And making it a good place, so that everyone involved continues to replace things where they found them.  And logical, and workable.... We went through a few systems for some things before settling on one that really worked for us - finding the "right" garbage can, choosing the "best" container to keep our cheeses in in the fridge.  This step, to me, can involve some trial and error, and may change over time...

(I think that the actual order to do the steps in doesn't matter much at this stage - some go hand in hand, others can be done at the same time - sorting and cleaning, systemize and standardize)

5.  Sustain:  Ok, this is where I fell down before.  I managed to sustain for a year, but after that year, felt it was time to start again from the beginning - clear out any clutter that accumulated during that first year (it just happened to be 2000 - 2001) and maybe go through some that still needed weeding... you know, like you put some things in the "keep" pile, because you aren't yet ready to part with them, but later you might be.  Well, somehow, I just didn't get far, then that was the year I hit into my severe depression that lasted way too long.... My first major depression.  I never sought help that time, but did the next two times I went into depression.  Anyway, this is the step that I will be struggling most with.  I mean, in some ways, I did the first four steps in my bathroom between Christmas and New Year's.  I washed everything down, cleared out the cupboard under the sink, sorted everything...  But, aside from keeping the toilet clean and the sink washed out, the walls could use a wipe down, the mirror a polish, etc.  Last laundry day, I got a bit lazy and just shoved the clean towels in the cupboard without stacking them proper... No excuse, really, except the part where I hate sorting, and just wasn't in the mood when the time came to deal properly...

Now, for the 3 "extra" S words:  Safety, Security, Satisfaction.

Safety takes into account that if a business/manufacturing firm isn't cluttered and messy, safety concerns will be much less.  I kind of messed up that sentence grammatically, but you know what I mean.  Security, too - people will see a more organized operation, and know what is going on, so they will no longer be worried about their job due to an inability to perform properly or the company's apparent inability to perform.

Around the house, safety and security are much the same - a cluttered house isn't safe.  An unclean house can promote illness.  Not to mention, things like fire safety, theft safety, etc.

And  finally, Satisfaction.  Definitely a good thing for business - both for employee and employer.  The more satisfied each is with their role, and their importance in the organization, the better their moral and performance.

And *DEFINITELY* important to my moral and performance around the house!!  How many times have I said, thought, typed about my frustration levels in not seeming to get anywhere leaves me doing pretty much nothing... Satisfaction is something that can't be forced, but definitely comes as a result of doing the other stuff.

So - that is the plan.

But first, I need to get that special project finished... One of the reasons for this late post, as well as yesterday's late post - I'm trying to get off the computer earlier in the day, and getting my "work" done, so if I don't quite get done all I want to on the computer, I can catch it up later.  Like, now :)