Filler...

Well, there's more bathroom renovating than knitting going on at the moment. I could post a picture of the 3 or 4 inches I've got completed on Orangina panel #2 but really it's the same as last week's picture - just a little shorter so I won't bore you at least not with that particular item. I could also post pictures of our recently gutted bathroom but that is just too depressing. Instead...

The lovely Jacqueline tagged me for a meme last week that I thought was definitely worth thinking about...

5 Things I Miss From Childhood:

1. The Skating Rink - we spent 3 or 4 nights a week at the skating rink plus weekends when I was a kid. I figure skated and both of my brothers were hockey players. This may seem like a strange thing to miss but there are so many great memories! I loved being on the ice and they had the best hot chocolate ever.

2. THE BEACH - my parents' home is up on the cape right above the beach. A 30 second walk and you're there. I love the beach in all kinds of weather. A cool fall day where you need a blanket wrap is my favorite though - to sit down there with a book and your dog while the waves crash had got to add years to your life.

3. Childhood pets...our dogs Sparky, Lady and Cuddles - I cried myself to sleep for 2 weeks when Lady died. I was 24 and we got her as a pup when I was in grade 5. She was such a good dog.

4. Extended Family - I don't live that far away - about 5 hours but I still don't see extended family as much as I would like. Everyone within a mile of mom and dad's house is related to us and it seemed like all us kids were about the same age. Growing up with my cousins living next door was great - there are so many happy memories of games we used to play - even some of the fights we had are fun to remember. There were actually enough of us to have ball games and the best days were when dad and my uncles would take a break from mending nets or traps and come over to play a few rounds.

5. Last but not least I miss believing in magic. Santa Claus, the Toothfairy, the Easter Bunny - one year Santa left sooty boot marks all through the house and Rudolph left half of his carrot in the snow outside the window - now that was excitement. And of course, we can't forget Halloween - I miss getting dressed up and going trick or treating. It's makes me sad that most kids don't get the chance to trick or treat these days. I still decorate the house for Halloween and Otis always puts on his doggy costume for a walk that day...not sure what he'll be this year. In case you think I'm kidding, here's the photographic evidence that proves I'm completely cracked. ;-)

Here we have the best of the costumes. SuperOtis! His super "powers" include the ability to pee 50 times on a half hour walk, super sonic hearing that can detect the opening of any bag that may contain food within a square mile, and powers of attraction that are irrestible to little cats who scare the heck out of him. Sadly, cheddar cheese is his kryptonite.


And here we have the worst of the costumes. Otis the Friendly Ghost. That is a pillow case but Brad thought it looked like an old pair of underwear - even Otis seems to sense this is not a cool costume. They can't all be winners folks.

ORANGEina??

Ok, so it isn't orange but it is indeed the first panel of Orangina. I want a black one now too.





I cast on the second panel EARLY this morning. Otis somehow got locked in the basement last night - not sure how that happened but I think the cats had something to do with it. Anyhow, at 5:45AM he was crying for help - we found him at the top of the basement stairs with his head as far as he could get it through the cat door - he's an 80 pound golden retriever so we're talking back of the ears max. The cats were watching him with amusement so I figure they either shut the door intentionally locking him down there for entertainment value or they were thinking "what an idiot, why doesn't he just come through the cat door." In any case, I was up so I figured I might as well get some knitting done - it was actually a very nice way to start the day but I don't think I'll do it again tomorrow.

As promised...

Here are a couple of modelled pics of Peace. Sorry no head shots this morning - was still in a state of "bed head". Anyhow, as you can see, she's a wee bit on the tight side. It actually fits quite like the Rowan photo but I was going for something with slightly more ease.

Stand back folks - those buttons could pop at any moment. ;-)


It doesn't look terribly bad unbuttoned but as soon as I start moving about, the gap widens considerably. The color in this photo is the "most true" - the buttoned shot came out a bit too glaring.


Project Specs:
* Peace - Rowan, Mag. No. 25 designed by Kim Hargreaves
* I knit the second size and used approx. 7.5 skeins (115m/skein) of Rowan Cotton Glace (100% cotton) in Spice (color discontinued - I got mine from Janette's Rare Yarns on eBay)
* The stockinette on Peace was broken up by tons of shaping - I didn't particularly care for the look of the K3togtbl decrease but in the end, I no longer notice it and, quite frankly, I don't know of a subsitute that would achieve the same darted effect without changing the gauge.
* I made no modifications to the pattern - just knit it through as is.
* If I were to make this cardi again, I would plan ahead and do a 3 needle bind off or grafting on the shoulder seams - I found my shoulder seam to be a bit bulky when sewing in the set-in sleeve.

How'd That Happen?

So, first of all the good news - "Peace" is finished. And I'm very happy with it. It's just the sort of thing I would throw on with jeans and wear and wear and wear. So that brings us to the bad news. It's almost a full size too small. How'd that happen you might ask - didn't you check gauge? Didn't you measure it against a favorite sweater to ensure it had the correct amount of "ease"? Yes, I did all of those things and have since come to realize that that favorite sweater is now also too small. The problem, sadly enough, is not that the sweater came out too small but that I have come out too big. Crap.

So it's back to working out. I've been incredibly lazy this past year and it is showing obviously - why do I always think it won't catch up with me? I was on the treadmill at the ungodly hour of 6:30 this morning but managed to get a few shots of Peace hanging over the dining room chair before I headed out to work. I'll have a couple of modelled shots tomorrow - Brad left for work early this morning.

(Click to Enlarge...)


What do you think of these buttons? I wanted something plain but not sure these were the right decision...


Oh yes, almost forgot - I also got a parcel from Amazon this morning - I used that gift certificate to get Fishermen's Sweaters by Alice Starmore. I haven't made it through the entire book yet but WOW!! There are some absolutely incredible and classic designs in here - several will be making it into my knitting bag in the not too distant future.

The Power of Suggestion...

So yesterday I'm innocently reading through Li's blog. But it's not an ordinary day at Domesticat. There are pictures of incredibly refreshing looking beverages posted. Mint Juleps to be exact. Mmm...minty drinks...whatever you do don't scroll down to her strawberry icecream from last week, you'll really be in trouble. So naturally I get a hankering for a mojito because, well, let's just say it. I'm easy. Why deny it...someone says "hey, let's go out for some nachos after work"...I'm not the girl saying "well, I really shouldn't - my diet you know". I probably should be...but I'm not. So, it's decided - we're having mojitos tonight (last night). First stop: liquor store. Second stop: grocery store for mint and limes. Third stop: another grocery store for mint? Where the heck is all the mint? Any other day, I would tripping over mint in the freaking aisles. No mint at the second store either but I cornered a stock boy and he got me some from the back of the store. Nice boy - he saved me from a third stop and probably 10 more minutes of muttering and searching frantically in the produce department. So, after all this, I have to say that last night's mojitos were well worth the trouble. Yum.

Now, on to yarn. My order came in on Friday and I was not disappointed.

First out of the box was some white Rowan 4-ply cotton - this is going to be used for Orangina. Actually, I'll probably put Peace on hold to fit in Orangina and get some wear before summer is over.


Next out, 10 balls for Jaeger Trinity silk/cotton for a Cozy. Obviously, I'm going to have some left overs here - maybe enough for another small wrap. I love this neutral color.


And finally, my first fall purchase, Rowan Felted Tweed for Salina in the same color as the Vintage Knits picture "Herb". This color is as nice in person as it looks in the VK photo - I couldn't be happier with it.