White Buffalo

Here are a few close-ups of my White Buffalo yarn. (In case you're picturing roaming the land looking for a white buffalo, I'm sorry to tell you that it's a brand of wool.)

I have 3-ply White Buffalo. It's wound on cakes of yarn that look like this. (Hand used for reference.) The three ply are wound together on the cakes. Separating the plies is not for the faint of heart.



They are not spun in anyway--together or separately. The slightest pull (or, the jumping up from the couch to answer the phone) will pull them apart.



Even so, knitting with the three strands held together has not been as horrible as I thought. I'm using metal needles, so the yarn slides around. I'm trying not to make mistakes, and if I do, I'm tinking and not frogging.


(I can hear your brain thinking. I DO try not to make mistakes. Really. I DO!)

It's going to be a warm cardigan for me. So far I have only used one cake, and this is 9" of the body.

Think I'll need all 8 cakes?

Logically speaking

Fearing my ever decreasing supply of brain cells, and the daily struggle that I have in writing a coherent sentence, I decided to take this English quiz.

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 80% Punctuation: 80% Vocabulary: 60% Spelling: 40%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

Just as I feared, I need a remedial English course--and fast!

Concerned that I am losing every brain cell that I ever possessed, I decided to take the logic quiz.

You Are Incredibly Logical

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic You think rationally, clearly, and quickly. A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!

How Logical Are You?

Ok, I feel better.

I can't spell, but I should be able to figure out why.

The ugly side of knitting

Here it is, the ugly side of knitting.


The downside of using all those colors is having to weave in all those ends.

Uggh.

I decided not to fight with them the whole way through the sleeves, so I opted for weaving in some ahead of time.



One sleeve is most of the way done, then on to the next.

It came to this.

You knew it would.



Thanks for not mocking me.

I won the Milk War!

I'm sure you're all waiting with baited breath to see what Saturday's project turned out to be. Well...here it is...ready?

I mowed the lawn. Three fourths of the lawn, anyway. Half the back yard is not done. Too many branches to mow over (Not that I do that. No sir.) and not enough time in between birthday party pickups and drop offs to rake. However, I did do the part that the neighbors can see (right, neighbors?). Finishing the lawn will be tomorrow's project.

Mowing the lawn also meant....no grocery store. Which meant....no milk for my coffee.

Saying, "Why didn't you pick up milk on one of the many birthday party trips" means that you have no idea of the geography around here. There WAS no place to pick up milk. Well, none that I frequent. I believe the liquor store sells milk....Anyway, I had no milk.

The next day, DH says to me, "I bet I can last longer with no soda that you can with no milk."

"Ha!" I say. "I have you beat hands down. I found an old milk cup of DS's in the frig and I've already used it twice. There's a drip in the bottom that I can use for my next cup, and then I have vanilla ice cream. And then the powdered stuff when I get desperate."

He went out and bought some milk and some soda (very quickly, and slightly disgusted. Alright, a lot disgusted.) He tried not to think too hard about my previous statement.

I bet you're wondering how long that milk cup was in the frig? I'm not sure. And I'm trying not to think about it.....

Moving right along, here's my knitting progress:



While I enjoy knitting on different projects throughout the day, it's hard to see the difference between one day and the next. Just take my word for it.

And take a swig of milk to help me celebrate me winning the Milk War!

Turned the corner

After a rainout and a DH-driven practice, I have returned to soccer practice last night. That means....work was done on the sock.

I managed to printout directions the night before, read them (yes--read them--the whole way through--at least once!), and got started on the heel.

Not just any short rowed heel. I, like so many others, have trouble with the short row heel. I get holes. And a fat ridge going up the mitered corner. And both sides don't match. Yuck.

I was so happy, then, to see emails from 6SoxKAL about the Sherman heel. (Not only run across, but saved them until needed--very unusual for me.) You can check them out here at hipknitism which refers to the Toe-up Sock using the Sherman heel. (You might need to be a member of the yahoo knitlist group to view them).

There's only 2 wraps, no holes, and no big tense ridge going up either side. Plus, it's simpler to do. What more can you ask for in a heel?


Pretty, huh?

(Feeling smug that I had saved the directions...I began to think....I saved the emails, but did I actually bookmark the directions? No. Of course not. So much for my smugness. It has now been fixed, and I can move on....)


My second CIC log cabin sweater is moving along.



Quite bright and cheerful. I continued on my "why wind a ball when I can skip that step" and....yep....the purple yarn is now all tangled.

Surprised?

DS#2 and I spent some time picking up the big branches from our yard. We still have plenty left to do.



This is today's project. Plus, washing the leaf imprints off the cars. But today's project was also going to be vacuuming the whole house (at the same time.) And also, a trip to the grocery store. We're out of food, and even more importantly, almost out of milk for my coffee. I'm not going to even mention the report that DD#2 has to write, or the 3-4 birthday parties that are going on today. (If twins have a party, is it counted as one party or two? There are two gifts to be bought. But one cake.)

Maybe I'll go knit.

The picture of laziness

Here's a picture of laziness:


That's right. I couldn't take the time to wind up my yarn before I started knitting with it. It's not as dangerous as it looks, however. I have it wedged on my knee, so as long as it stays put, and I pull out the yarn carefully, I should get no knots.

Sadly, this is something where I have a lot of experience. And the percentage of times where I do this successfully without knots is....

Hey, do I hear a kid calling?

No, wait, it's the dog....

Gee, I think I forgot what I was talking about....

Anyway, here's what I'm doing with the green yarn:


I've started a new CIC log cabin sweater, using this pattern again. It's a good knit.


I took a picture of our back yard to show that we got off lightly with the storm.


Just some branches and leaves, but no damage.

I took a look at this before heading down the road. Less than 1/2 mile away the neighbors have NO leaves in their yard. Nada. Zippo. Nothing.

Now I'm feeling like we got the brunt of the storm. I remind myself that the neighbors either have no trees or pine trees, but aren't surrounded by leaf bearing trees like us. But still....I'm a bit annoyed.

Then I see a tree down. Then another. Then I hear about the power still being out. Today, three days after the storm it's still out.

So now I'm back to ---hey, we got off pretty lightly.

I'm going to go and count my blessings, enjoy my electricity, and do some more lazy knitting.

Playing with color

As you can see, I've been playing with my blog colors. Waddaya think, too dark?

We lost electricity today for about 4 hours due to Ernesto. It's nice to get it back (hence this blog), but it's always kind of fun to come up with things to do in the meantime.

I was asked how I dye such bright colors. I use Wilton icing colors (the little pots of gel). For a whole skein of yarn I probably used a teaspoon of Wilton (I never measure) and some white vinegar (a big glug) in my crockpot, added the yarn, and stirred a few times. I probably left it in for a couple of hours, but it really only needs to be left until the water is clear. The purple tends to split into variations of blue, purple, and red, but since I like it like that, it's all good.

Progress

There's nothing like finishing a sock to make me want to start a new one. (Not finish the new one, mind you, just start it. :) So....I started the Snake Skin Socks from 6SoxKAL. Very nice pattern, and it's easy to memorize--just like other members have said.

Usually when someone posts, "...and it's easy to memorize", I think, "HA! Not for me it won't be." This time, though, it's true.

My cardigan is also moving along. Not very fast, but a couple of rows a day still make a difference.


I've also dyed more yarn for CIC sweaters.



These are the last 3 skeins of my gifted yarn. It started out as a garbage bag full, and I've been slowly but surely using it all up for CIC.

I dyed them in my crockpot. My family is so trained, that when suppertime came, they didn't even look into the pot, but just assumed it was yarn.

Show-And-Tell

It's show-and-tell time, folks! It seems like I've found a few finished items that haven't made it to my blog.

First, my most recent FO:

That's right, my socks. These are 6SoxKAL from.....May? April? Anyway, they're done. I've been quite happy about them, too. Nice and springy using sock yarn from Ellen's Half-pint Farm.

I had vague thoughts (that I always get this time of year but never follow through) that I could enter them in the county fair.

Sounds good.

Well, I had them both on my feet for about 30 seconds before I saw this glaring error:


See it? On the inner side of the left sock I only did a purl one, while on the inner right edge I did a purl 2. (Not a chance that I'll rip it out....)

Okay, then. A blue ribbon and a cash prize of a whopping $5 is out of my reach on this one.

Moving on....

Here are more 2 pairs of CIC socks.

At this point I should mention that none of these items have been blocked. Any funny looking shapes will become perfect when the magic blocking takes place. (I can dream, right?)

Here's the current CIC challenge--fingerless mitts. These are Fetching from Knitty.


Finally, here's the end result of my log cabin sweater. If you may remember, I had a variegated square for the center. I ripped it all out and started again with the green. (Just a side note: I've never gotten into quilting because of the exactness required in getting the corners to get so precisely matched and sewn. So what's up with my corners? This is KNITTING, not QUILTING! Nice corners should NOT be part of the equation.)

This was really a fun knit. It's one of those "wait, just one more side" kind of knits. I figure that I can make it bigger easily by going around more, right?

Ok, folks....show-and-tell time is done. Now it's time for snack!

...And another chick has followed

Yesterday was the big day for chick #2 (formerly referred to as DD#1). It was move-in day at her college. Everything went well, she got moved in rather quickly (you should have SEEN some of the stuff that some others brought. Where they put it all, I don't know.) The air conditioning got fixed before bedtime, and there were no major traffic jams for the shower. (Ten girls for one shower. Who was THAT architect? It must've been a guy.)

We got to bed on time the night before. DD got her stuff all packed into the car, while I made pillowcases.

At 8:30 pm, I thought, "Wow, it's 8:30 and I'm FINALLY getting these pillowcases made."

Had a brief sinking feeling where I found no needle in my sewing machine. Remembered that I had broken it the last time I used the machine, but then found a new one. (Rather unusual--I usually run out of needles completely before I buy more.)

Got distracted.

At 9:30 I sat down and thought, "Now I'm FINALLY getting these pillowcases made."

Got distracted.

At 10:00 I FINALLY started sewing and got the pillowcases made.

Here they are:



I made the polka-dotted ones, and the pink in the middle is from her sheet set. The comforter has one side lime green and one side pink. (If I was a better picture taker, I would've artfully postitioned the pillows on the comforter, but it was already packed. And by then it was 10:30, so use your imagination.)


I took the following pictures today to show that I don't just knit at baseball games, I also knit at soccer practices.



Why am I on the other side of the road, you ask?

Because of this lovely little tree, that provides shade the perfect size for my chair.



Other popular hangout places are under the other little tree to the right, and then in the shade of the sign by the field. The truly brave among us sit in the sun and fry.

Homework Time

It's that time of year again, going back to school, getting back into a routine (and a regular bedtime), and starting homework again. Today is the first day of school for the youngest two. The middle school bus came at an early 6:11 am. I'm typing this while waiting for the second bus.

This is my homework that I've been doing. Two days have gone by, but I've done my homework for each day. Notice that I'm now past the sock heel and am to the faster, but longest, part of the sock.

This picture was taken in the morning light--I haven't seen that for awhile.


I've planted some more fake flowers. In amongst them you'll find a couple of real ones--volunteers from last year that done't seem to need any water to grow.


Is it too much?

Don't get used to my blogging at this time of morning. I plan on practicing my "going back to sleep" techniques!

Now that's homework that I can enjoy!

Element of danger

The sock has had it's required 6 rows knitted on it today and is waiting for the heel.

Next, a correction about my 45 things about me post where I say that I'm not using math at work (#28). And while I stand by my statement that I don't use math while muttering 3 digit numbers, I will occasionally use math throughout the day.

Say, if a purchase cost $4.96 and a customer gives me a $5 bill. I mistakenly type in $500 and the register says that I owe change of $495.04. I use math enough to know that something's wrong... And then have to figure out the correct change (that's the hard part.)

At this point I should tell you that I had a math major in college and taught math in middle school for three years. Also, you should know that I'm not very quick with money. Someone recently said that if you major in math, you don't actually deal with numbers, and that's so true. Triple integrals, differential equations, Fibonacci sequence--yes. Figuring change from a $5 bill--no.

That all being said, my register is usually correct. I attribute this to the fact that no one knows about my math degree and therefore there's no pressure to perform.

(And yes, I also do the addicting Sudoku puzzles.)


In an effort to stay in the blogging world, I have taken pictures of my newest yarn purchase (pictured on top of DD#1's rug for college. Evidence that she really IS leaving.)


Here's my eight 8 oz. skeins of White Buffalo 3ply in a pretty turquoise that I got from ebay.

It's crazy. I've never knit with unspun before. My first attempt was to try knitting with just one strand. I found that if I looked at it too hard it would pull apart. Next, I tried with all 3. (Yes, it's wound with all 3 at a time, I just never noticed that at the beginning.) Much stronger. (Unless I jump up to answer the phone and have it wrapped around me. Then I break all 3 plies.)

I really don't have to do any twisting, just knit as it is off the ball, (or cake, as it's affectionately called.)

Here's the beginning of a cardigan for me. This is my other main project that I'm try to work on a couple of rows each day. It's a pattern found in "Quick Knits to Wear".


I quickly got bored of the seed stitch and am adding a few rows of garter. (May not be a more interesting knit, but will make it go faster.)

Now that you know about my math, you may think that I sit down and graph out the design, figuring proportionally where to put the design interest to fully catch the eye.

While a lot of math knitters do that, I prefer the "eyeballing" technique. In this case, it's accompanied by the "can't rip it out without it becoming a mass of disconnected fibers" technique.

Why not add an element of danger?

A chick has flown the coop

That's right, my oldest DS has flown the coop--literally--as he flew down to U of Miami yesterday to start a new year of college. This is the first year that he's been so far away, and I'm feeling kinda sad. I offered to knit him something, but really--in Miami what's he gonna need? A hat? A sweater? I don't think so. I'm not even sure that he took a sweatshirt with him, although I tried to convince that there might be days when it's needed.

I'll just wait for the email, "Hey, mom, can you mail me my sweatshirt", which I cheerfully will, including a nice little "I told you so." Ah, a mother lives for those moments.

Anyway, in an effort to get back into blogging, I've taken a picture of my Sixth Sense socks. I can't even remember how long ago the challenge started, but there's been 2 more socks assigned since then. I'm trying to finish these first and am trying a goal of knitting at least 6 rows each day (one repeat). They're almost ready for the heel, and then they'll go faster.



They're laying on top of my fake flower bushes, "planted" just today at the front of my house. (If anyone's driving past, take a look--they're by the sidewalk.) They were on sale for 99 cents, so I figured it was worth it to have some color.

Nothing like some fake flowers to dress up the outside!

Coasters

While I wasn't blogging, I managed to go on a mini vacation. Took in a family reunion, some shopping, spending time with my dad and brother, and spent a day at an amusement park.

Not just any amusement park, but the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World." Cedar Point was my favorite amusement park as a child, and has become my family's favorite in recent years. This year, only our two youngest could go while the oldest two were busy with jobs and baseball(what else?). I felt bad that the whole family wasn't there, but I wasn't above calling DD#1: "Hey, guess where we are right NOW? That's right, in line for the Dragster!"

In all the previous years, I've had a child too young or short (or scared) to go on the roller coasters, so I stayed on the ground with the younger one(s) while DH took the brave ones riding high. This year, though, the youngest finally was ready.

I said, "Okay, if the rest of you are riding the coasters, then I will too."

Big mistake.

I was already sorta sure that I didn't like coasters, and I came home with a 100% positive feeling that I DIDN'T like them. Not the wooden ones. Not the smooth ones. Not the hanging ones. Not the catapult one. Not the twisting ones.

I'm too old. I get too woosy. Too scared. (Did I mention too old?)

The rest of the family got off exclaiming, "Wow, that was GREAT!!!!" while I exclaimed "Wow, I survived!"

By the time we were done with the Dragster, I had ridden all the big ones, and was content to sit on a bench waiting for the rest. (If it wasn't so hot and I wasn't so sticky, I would've wished for my knitting. As it was, I sat still and sweated while waiting.)


So the next time I decide to ride Millennium Force"Termed a "giga-coaster" for its extreme height, this colossal coaster looms an incredible 310 feet above the ground and reaches a top speed of 93 mph!"


Or the Mean Streak "Built in 1991, this wooden forest of hills and thrills features a stunning 161-foot-tall first hill, a blazing top speed of 65 mph and more than 5,400 feet of hair-raising excitement.
Made from 1.7 million board feet of treated Southern yellow pine, Mean Streak is still one of the tallest and fastest wooden roller coasters in the universe."



Or Top Thrill Dragster"Riders begin their epic journey aboard this whopping 42-story screamer by securing themselves into ultra-cool trains that resemble top fuel dragsters. The train then moves into a "starting line" position, where it is launched forward, reaching 120 mph in approximately four seconds. The train then zooms straight up the 420-foot-tall hill on track that rotates 90 degrees, crests the coaster's apex and then free falls back to Earth. As the train races 400 feet to the ground, the track twists an unbelievable 270 degrees – what a rush!"

Someone please remind me that this:
is more my speed.

45 things about me

In an effort to get back into blogging, without actually blogging (believe me, I've written plenty of entries in my head. It's the photographs and uploading where I get stuck), I'm going to do a questionaire.... I got it off another blog, and changed a couple of questions...just because I can!

1. FIRST NAME: Ruth
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mother's older sister. Interestingly enough, I have a twin cousin who was born on the same day and is also named Ruth! (She's MUCH older than me, though, about 3 hours.)
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? At a wedding last Saturday. I cry at all weddings. I even cried at wedding of DH's co-worker, who I had barely met.
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes, but only the printing. Don't ask me to use cursive for anything.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Ham.
6. KIDS? Twenty. No, wait, they just seeeeeem like 20. It's actually four.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so. That would be quite a statement if I didn't want to be friends with me.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? No.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Yes, although I try to limit it. When it's people that don't know me well they think I'm serious.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? HA! Never! I don't even care for roller coasters (which is a subject for a different post.)
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Wheaties.
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no.
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, but not in my arms. Only when I'm using my entire body.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Moose Tracks.
16. SHOE SIZE? 10.
17. RED OR PINK? Pink, but only if it's Fushia.
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm not very verbal. I think in pictures and sounds, but not in words. I rely a lot on other people interpreting what I mean.
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom.
20. WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF THIS? Cooking dinner. I haven't thought about it yet, and it's already 6:30. And also laundry. And maybe a nap.
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Old jeans shorts and bare feet.
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? Espresso and some slices of cheese. (That's why I'm not cooking supper--I'm not hungry.)
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Nothing.
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Strawberry or vanilla.
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My son. (He called around question 20.)
27. FAVORITE TIME OF DAY? Afternoon, after my nap.
28. WHAT DO PEOPLE TEASE YOU ABOUT? I talk to myself. I plan out whole conversations--the kids are always teasing me about it. Now, at work, I talk in numbers. I walk around muttering, "246. 246. No wait, this is a 437." (This implies that I work with math. Not true. I work in the flower section of Michaels and am putting them back all day long--matching the UPC labels.)
29. FAVORITE DRINK? Coffee.
30. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch--diving on the Olympics. To play--volleyball or softball (at least, that's what I remember when I still did something besides take naps.)
31. EYE COLOR? Blue.
32. HAT SIZE: Large.
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? YES!!!! And also reading glasses. Uggh. But only for work,which, of course, is where most people see me. And then I forgot them on Weds. so had to go around and ask people until I found an extra pair.
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Mashed potatoes. (Hmm, that might be good for supper.)
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy Ending.
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE ? "The Lake House".
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Gray.
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. But I want to live where there's also a winter.
39. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Cheesecake.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? FInale of "So You Think You Can Dance".
42. FAVORITE SOUNDS? I dunno. The beach?
43. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Ireland.
44. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I can procrastinate with the best of them.
45 WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? December in West. PA, same as twin cousin, but she's older.

You MUST take your knitting

That's what my husband said to me yesterday.

I was on the fence. It was too hot. I got carsick the last time. Hey, I'll just leave it home.

"Take your knitting," he says. "Otherwise I'll pay for it for the whole trip."

I'm sure he's picturing me being a big whiny baby. And him suffering because of it.

"I'm bored. I'm fidgetty. I have nothing to do. Oh, if only I had my knitting."

"Well, ok," I said. "It's packed already, anyway."

So I took the knitting, carried the bag around with me, but didn't knit a stitch.

Too hot. Way too hot.

And nothing to knit that didn't need to be counted. Thought about a vest, but I already have so many UFOs.

These travelled with me:

Fetching fingerless gloves from Knitty. I'm making these pair for CIC. (Yeah, I know. I knitted gloves for the next challenge, and a sweater for the last challenge, but so far only one pair of socks for this challenge. Call me distracted.)


Log cabin pullover. This is fun, but with all the switching yarn, it's not the best to do at the baseball game.

And now that I look at it, it needs a different color for the middle square. Back to the drawing board.

Note to husband: I was able to survive for 9 hours without knitting a stitch. But thanks for the acknowledgement that knitting is part of my life (at least, to save YOUR sanity!)

And many days have passed....

....and this is the resulting CIC vest. (Oh wait, that would imply that it took a lot of days to finish this.)

And one day has passed....and this is the resulting CIC vest.


Unblocked, but otherwise finished. (I'm slightly worried after looking at this picture. Surely my stripes aren't that uneven. It must be the angle. Right? Right?)

The color pattern is called "winging it as you go". A swatch might've been helpful. Or a graph. Those ideas might've balanced out everything a bit more. But nope, didn't do either. Where's the element of surprise? Can't miss out on that.

Still have plenty of bright yarn. I see some bright CIC socks hopping on the needles soon.

Dyeing and vests

These pictures were taken several days ago....we'll pretend there wasn't a time delay in-between, okay?

Dyeing some yarn and knitting some vests. That's what I've been doing. My socks and Clapotis have been ignored. I guess I miss the worsted weight if I've been gone for too long.


Been working through those bags of leftovers, and finished a vest--pictured in the middle. Then, I decided to knit another one, this time in bright colors. Had a pink, then dyed a bright orange and yellow.

Then, we went to a movie, so I took it along, thinking...hey, it's just st st, I can do that in a dark theater.

Not! I didn't have anything started, so I had to cast on in the dark. That might've been okay, but I didn't count, just cast on, hoping to count the sts that were knit with double yarn--and count correctly--in the dark.

I know that lots of people are this talented, but not me. Not a chance. After several counting attempts, I ripped out, and counted each st as I cast on. After that workout, though, this is all that I knit. Hardly worth the effort, is it?


In other news, I finally got the courage to try my drop spindle. The spindle works great, the spindle operator needs some work. :) It was fun, anyway, and rather relaxing.

Doll Sockies

Finally finished and posted my new free pattern for these Itty Bitty Doll Sockies. They fit Bitty Twins and American Girl dolls. Try them, they can be addictive!