Why Humans Live with Felines

Well at least this is why I live with cats, LOL! They give me good laughs and sometimes I can even catch their antics on camera if I am quick enough ... and not doubled over in laughter.

The other day a woman at work brought in some sneakers from a friend who is making them and they were shipping samples. They were too big for my co-worker, but just my size. So she gave them to me. In the morning I wanted to wear the new sneakers, so I put them on and just left the box on the table. I came home from work, walk in the door and see this ...

Apparently someone thought this was left out for her enjoyment ... its the cheapest, littlest things that amuse these animals!

The other recent funny, it reached very high nineties around here a few times so far this summer. My bedroom is the furthest from the central air conditioning unit so the flow from the vent is not as strong as other rooms in the house, this room is also the most southern so it gets a lot of sun exposure. I take the cover off the vent sometimes to allow more air to flow, apparently somebody thought I did it so that he could cool off his face ...

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And on to the knitting news

I started working on my swap package for my pal in the Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap. I won't give away too many details since this is not anonymous. But I made my own stitch markers and have never done any bead or jewelry work before and I think they came out awesome! I also made the bag last night, it just needs some finishing touches and will be complete. Also something I have never done before (but purchased enough fabric for a test piece or several actually in case I ran into problems, but I think I will use the first bag because it came out just fine).

I have given my wrists a rest for 2 days now and they are feeling much better so I will be getting back to work on the fingerless gloves this weekend.

Dog Days of Summer Dishcloth Exchange Questionnaire

1. Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting?

I do both. I learned to knit this last September and that brought about an interest to learn crochet and I found I liked that as well and learned to crochet in October.

2. Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before?

Yes. I started out knitting dishcloths because they are small projects and I wanted to learn to knit different stitches.

3. What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not?

I like Lily Sugar 'N Cream. Most of the patterns I have found for dishcloths call for that or any other 100% worsted weight cotton, so I haven't really thought about trying anything else.

4. Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with?

Haven't found any yet.

5. What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic)

I usually prefer metal with cotton yarn because it has less give than other yarns and it seems to work smoother with the metal.

6. What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting?

Socks, scarves, baby blankets, baby sweaters and hats, chemo caps and headbands.

7. Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting?

Oh boy - my house is full of craft stuff, LOL! I like rubber stamping, cross stitch and needlepoint. I just made a pair of stitch markers for another swap and think I may like beading as well, LOL!!

8. What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts?

Chocolate or fruit flavored candies.

9. What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any?

My kitchen is country blue w/ some yellows and oranges. The bathroom walls and fixtures are pretty ugly so I jazz it up with a tropical sea theme with bright tropical colors that blind us so that we can't see the ugliness, LOL!

10. What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike?

My favorite colors are green and purple. I do not care so much for red and yellow.

11. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages?

I like coffee (especially flavored varieties) and tea.

12. Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)?

I have three cats and a dog.

13. Do you have any allergies?

Nope. I do prefer fruity smells over flowery or musky ones though.

14. Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting.

• I am a big sci-fi nerd .. um I mean FAN.
• Johnny Depp is my hero and I wish Captain Jack Sparrow was a real person.
• I love chemistry and take college classes hoping some day to finish with a degree (I work full time and part time jobs) and be a chemist. Oh wait I already said I was a nerd ...

No knitting for me today :o(

Should have been no knitting for me yesterday, but I lasted unil 7 or 8 pm before I just HAD to knit. I have some pain in my wrists and I think its from over-doing it knitting! I do some repetitive small range motion at work all day and I think that combined with marathon knitting is causing me some pain. So NO knitting today and hopefully I will feel better tomorrow!!


Here are some photos of my rose bush. Despite the negligence this poor thing receives, it still blooms beautiful flowers for me every year! There are more flowers in the back. Maybe that is the result of Doo-Dad's company (little orange guy there in the front).

Since I am not knitting at the moment, I am searching around for goodies for my swap partners in the Virtual Vacation Swap and Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap I recently signed up for. I also found a Dog Days of Summer Dishcloth Exchange! So I have now officially filled my summer with swaps - Hogwart's due in July, Dishcloth in August and Virtual Vacation due in September!

Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap Questionnaire

1. What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?

HUFFLEPUFF

2. List your favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length. Or would you prefer circulars?

I USE CLOVER BAMBOO DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES, BUT AM OPEN TO TRYING OTHER WOOD BRANDS. I CURRENTLY OWN SIZES 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 AND 8 BAMBOO 7" DPNs.

3. Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?

I WOULD PREFER 5" LENGTH IF POSSIBLE FOR SOCKS (SIZE 1, 2 or 3). I HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE SOCKS ON CIRCULARS YET, SO I PREFER DPNs AT THIS TIME. A NEW BRAND / TYPE I AM INTERESTED IN IS BRYSPUN (THEY ARE FLEXIBLE AND CAUSE LESS TENSION ON JOINTS). IF THOSE ARE NOT AN OPTION I LIKE WOOD JUST FINE TOO :O)

4. If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?

N/A

5. Do you have any allergies?

NOPE.

On and on and on and on ...

Some background for the following story (I'll keep it short and not rant and rave since I have recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure - completely unrelated to the following I am sure (that's sarcasm for sure!!!):

I've had an ongoing noise complaint with my neighbor. Our units are about 2 car widths away from each other. So in other words when she is outside on the phone she is literally outside my windows gabbing away in that really loud way people do when they talk on the phone ... or when her dog barks day and night ... I can hear it in every room of my house. She's fought with boyfriends via phone and in person outside at odd hours like 3am several times in the past. I usually get woken up 3-5 times a week because she is outside with her dog barking, smoking a cigarette and hacking up a lung at midnight or later (I used to be a smoker, so this is no insult to smokers, she literally sits out there coughing and being disgusting about it ... not a noise you want to wake up to!!!)

So Thursday evening the cable TV is out ... ok sometimes that does happen. So we wait, then try again, still out. Later I go to bed and the tv in the bedroom is working fine. BF tries the one in the living room and it is still not working. The cable starts at the back of the house, splits there and one section travels under to the bedroom, while the other cable travels along the side of the house (most of it under the skirting, but two areas are outside where it comes in from the main feed and then the other end that travels along under the side of the house, comes up out of the skirting for about a foot where it then enters through a drilled hole into the wall in the living room).

That evening, when the one in the LR started to not work correctly I said, gee, dumb*ss was out there weed-wacking earlier, she probably hit the line (somewhat joking). Friday I take a break at work and run to the cable company (next door to where I work conveniently enough) and swap out the old box because the customer service rep said that was the first thing to try. Doesn't work, so I schedule a service tech.

Well the cable tech comes out Sat and finds this:


Accident?!?! Intentional?!?! I'll let you decide, LOL! Funny how she's lived there for several years and this has never occurred in the past. I make two noise complaints in the last two months and this happens .... hhmm. If we are charged for it, I am sending the bill to the landlord (we own the units, but rent the land they sit on). I am certainly not the one who weed-wacked it or whatever happend to it ... so I don't think I should have to pay for the damages.



Anyway on to the knitting!!

This is more progress on the fingerless gloves. It seems like this is taking forever on these tiny size 1 needles.

Don't get me wrong, this Koigu yarn is fantastic to work with and the colors in this skein are candy to the eye. I have about 1 more inch to go and then I can start the thumb gusset.

All About UFOs and WIPs ...

For those of you who knit or craft in any form ... you know that UFOs are Unfinished Objects and WIPs are Works In Progress :o) I would eventually like to become one of those people who only work on one project at a time until it is finished and then start on another. I have a sinking feeling that I will never be one of those people :o) I have a project on the table by the recliner in the living room and I always have one or two by the bedside (for during commercials or a few rows before nighty night). Then I usually have a project or two in zip lock bags to grab on the go and throw in the car if I think I may have to wait somewhere.

How do you determine what is a UFO and what is a WIP?!?! When does a WIP become a UFO!?!?! LOL!!

I like to periodically go through the list and prioritize:

WIPs

Headband - for birthday gift this month. It is almost complete. I have about 4" more of one of the ties and then I just need to weave in all the ends and it will be finished.






Fingerless Gloves - gift for my BFs mom who taught me to knit. Will be given this Christmas or whatever holiday we see them at that they are completed by. I also have yarn on hand to make a pair for myself.


The ones that are started in the lighter color are for his mom. The yarn is Koigu KPPPM 100% Merino Wool. And the other yarn is for my pair - Claudia Hand Painted Yarns also 100% Merino Wool.

Upsidedown Daisy Hat - for my friends daughter, want to complete by this Fall when she can wear it. It is size 2-4 and she'll be 3 this Oct. so I think she'll be able to get a bit of use out of it.

Once those projects are completed (or at the same time, who knows!!) I want to complete the following:

• Socks - Worsted weight socks - have 1 of the pair to finish, then I have 2 skeins of different sock weight yarns to do on size 1 or 2 needles.
• Reversible Cable Scarf - for BF, needs to be completed by winter :o)


• I have yarn for two tank tops for myself ... maybe these will be done by next summer!


• Baby Blankets - I have yarn on hand for two baby blankets, but no babies in the works at the moment, they were just patterns I saw and wanted to try.
• Chemo Cap - Yarn on hand.
• Baby Lace Hat - Yarn on hand - not sure who this will be for, the pattern is really pretty and I just wanted to try it.


• And I'm sure there are a lot more I am forgetting at the moment that are sitting in my stash ....

Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap

I have been scouring the net looking for a sock kit swap and finding many, but finding them a day or week after the sign-ups had closed. I just found one ... also related to Harry Potter no less that I made with ONE day to spare for sign-ups, LOL!!

Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap 2

I LOVE sock yarns, have a few skeins around the house here, need to sit down and make the socks, LOL!! Whenever I go to my local yarn store, I touch and look at all the sock yarns when I get there and before I leave again :o)

Successful Sock

Well its only one of the pair so far, but finished successfully with I believe no mistakes! This is worsted weight yarn, so they are meant to be worn around the house type socks (nothing you would wear with shoes). I chose this pattern because of that, these are good socks to learn for your first pair. This sock pattern was shown on Knitty Gritty in the past. Also, there are some videos on DIY website showing some of the harder to understand techniques.

Summertime ...

Here are some of my Works In Progress (WIPs) for the summer!

This is a scarf I started on when I saw one in my local yarn shop as a sample. I had the Matrix yarn at home, so I picked up the Alpaca to complete the project. This is Frog Tree Alpaca and Bernat Matrix held together on size US 10 1/2 needles. The finished project will have fringe on the bottom.

I started a crocheted headband for a friend who always wears headbands :o) I am going to do another in dark purple as well. This is Brilliance by Pattons and the pattern is from Family Circle Easy Crochet magazine.

This is a hat for my friend's toddler (size 2-4 years). The finished hat will have an upsidedown flower (with stem) on the top. The hat is actually more like a lavender or lilac color (but for some reason in certain light this looks blue ... the yarn is Saucy by Reynolds (100% mercerized cotton)and the pattern is from Knit It! magazine.

This is a scarf I started for my BF (so it will be finished by winter, LOL)! The yarn is Ultra Alpaca by Borroco (50% Alpaca, 50% Wool - which is super soft and fantastic to work with) and the pattern is from Cables Untangled by Melissa Leapman.

This is my very first knitting project! Don't worry, I haven't been knitting that long, LOL!! I learned to knit last September and this was the first project I started. It will hopefully be finished later this year so I can use it in winter :o) It is a reversible squares afghan done in Softee Chunky by Bernat.

Here is my second try at socks. I finished one sock previously, but in my excitement to be finished, I neglected to read the next line on the pattern and only did decrease rows for the toe instead of a knit row inbetween each decrease row. So here's try 2 ... maybe I will end up with a pair of socks this time!!

Vitual Vacation Swap Questionnaire :o)

1. If you could visit any state in the US, which would it be and why?

I have always wanted to visit Arizona and Colorado. I would like to see the desert in Arizona and the mountains in Colorado. I love nature and the beautiful landscapes.

2. If you could visit any country in the world, other than your own, which would it be and why?

I have always wanted to visit Ireland. Most of my genes are from Irish ancestors. I would love to visit castle ruins and of course actual still standing castles as well!!

3. Have you ever driven across several states/providence/countries?

Yes, in 2004 my dad and I trekked to Michigan from Massachusetts. We went though NY, Canada and arrived in Michigan. I have also traveled through NH, ME, CT and RI.

4. Have you ever visited someplace you consider exotic? Where was it?

I have been to Hawaii once. I think that would have to be the most "exotic" place that I have been.

5. What was your favorite "travel" vacation? Why?

I would have to say my most favorite travel vacation was to England in 2001, it was the furthest and foreign-est I have ever been. We stayed with a friend that I met over here in the USA when she was on vacation and then we stayed in touch via email when she went home. I still talk to her via email about every other day and hope to visit again sometime in the near future.

6. Have you ever played tourist in your own home city/state (if international, country)? Explain.

I have visited gift shops in Salem, MA and New Hampshire towns and that somtimes feels touristy. Touring the towns and visiting the shops that are local to that place makes it feel like I am visiting that place and learning about it.

7. Are you a museum visitor, beach comer or an amusement seeker?

As much as I like the beach I do not like the crowds, so usually I would be found in a VERY QUIET museum :o)

8. What's your favorite type of yarn?

I like natural or unusual fibers - alpaca, bamboo, wool.

9. What's your least favorite type of yarn?

Anything too novelty that is hard to work with - ribbon, lots of different components, things that split and get caught up on needles.

10. What items do you like to knit/crochet?

I like items that are small and progress can be seen quickly - scarves, hats, socks, decorative items.

11. What do you pack, knit/crochet wise when you go on vacation?

I have not yet taken a vacation since I learned to knit and crochet last Fall :o) But I would probably pack a project that was small, something on circular needles (for ease of transport). Something that was a fairly repetitive or simple pattern so that I could do it without too much attention to the pattern details.

12. What other crafts do you do/would like to do other than Knit/Crochet?

I also cross stitch, rubber stamp and scrapbook. With all of these things there really isn't anything else I would be interested in taking up except maybe paitning.

13. Are you allergic to anything? (Yarn wise or treat wise)

Nope.

14. What is your favorite color? Least Favorite?

Favorite - purple or green. Least favorite - red or yellow.

15. Sweet or Savory (Treat not personality)?

Sweet, sweet, sweet :o)

16. Anything else we are forgetting to ask that you think your partner desperately needs to know?

I like all animals and have three cats and a dog.