A Myriad of Knitting

Isn't myriad a fun word?!




So, I have been working hard to try and narrow down what projects to bring with me to the Hamptons. We will be there for an entire month, and I don't want to run out of options or things to do. I originally was going to start #21 Lace Tunic from the Spring 2010 issue of Vogue Knitting. However, I went to the LYS on Saturday, and couldn't purchase enough yarn.. or order it within the time we'd still be in CT.

So I retreated home, and started searching through Ravelry, and my own book/pattern stash. I decided to choose some things from my stash that I bought with the intent of doing certain projects. So here is what I wound up with:

Up first is the Rowan Felted Tweed in Midnight. This will become the vest Milly from the newest issue of Knitty. The front is simple, yet cute. But the back of it really puts it over the top. I love that it is lacy! This will be great for spring or fall... possibly even into the beginning of winter!


Next is Rowan Classics Bamboo Soft in a lovely shade of Lavender. I had cast on a sweater for this yarn at the beginning of last summer, and then moved on after finishing the back piece. Well now that I have lost weight the back piece is much too large, so I have frogged it, and I will be re-knitting it (this time I'll make all of the pieces, and maybe even put it together). The pattern is from Rowan Classics Booklet 18 Nature, called Herbage simple little cardi, with great ruffle detail!


Out of the same booklet I will be making a pattern called Monet. This yarn was not stashed, but, hey, I had the book, and needles already, so I really didn't do that much damage! The yarn is a sock yarn called Happy Feet by the Plymouth Yarn Co., They call the color Bronze, but it is more like the color bronze turns after being weathered for a dozen years.


Last but not least, is Stella, in Black. It is shiny, and wonderful. I wanted to do something small that could be a great accent for an evening out... nothing too over the top. I found this pattern on Ravelry... Diamond Rib Lace Shrug (bolero). It is cute, and the directions are so simple... you can make it to fit any size.


I told you it was a myriad! Do you think I have enough? Happy Knitting, and Happy Vacationing as well!!

Sheila Update

Yes I did go meet Charlie this morning and it went very well, but there will be more to post on that later. Right now I would like to update on my girl.

When we left the vet's office on Tuesday night, things weren't sounding so great. They said that they hadn't seen enough of an improvement with her over the past week and that if no drastic change for the better came about we were going to have to run some diagnostic tests on Monday when I bring her back for her final round of shots. The tests were going to be to find out if she had cancer, fatty liver disease, or anything else along those lines. My job is to keep watching her closely between the appointments and monitor her improvement.

Well I have never seen her as upset and worked up as she was Tuesday night at the Veterinary Clinic. Probably because she had realized that this was the bad place where they poke her with things and make her a little sore, and groggy. I thought she would be somewhat better when we got home, but she still wouldn't even let me touch her for a good half hour... which was fine, she stayed in her carry bag to calm down while I cleaned out her cage.

Then it was like there was a switch that flipped with her when I put her back into her cage. She ran over to her food and water, and was eating and drinking normally, then up to her wheel to run, then down to her litter for a dust bath, and then I swear that if she could smile, she looked out at me and smiled! She is back to normal! I am so relieved--granted I am still monitoring her, but so far, all is well! She has been running again every night, and eating and drinking normally, so I will have a good report to give the Dr. on Monday night when we go in, and then hopefully that will be the end of the stress for a while.

As far as the rest of the weekend goes... this weekend is Reinbeck's Wool festival, and I will be attending with several people from my knitting group. I originally was not going to allow myself to spend any money there, but then my mom, and several other people pointed out to me that if I find something that I love I am going to regret not purchasing it, so I am going with the mindset that I have a limit, and I can only use it on things that I LOVE! Then after the day of shopping all the vendors, and checking out all the cool wooly fun, we are going to an after-party. I'm not sure exactly what all this will entail, but I will be sure to post on it soon! Other than that Sunday I am going to a friends 25th birthday dinner and just running errands earlier in the day.. maybe taking a nap, or just lounging about the house with pj's on and my knitting in my hands :)


Have a great weekend!

Apartment Warming In a Box

The week after I arrived back at my apartment, ready to start my new job, and the next chapter, I found a box in the hallway where the mail boxes are located, with my name on it!

It was from my sister and my mom :)

Jessica sent me some Chai tea from this little tea shop in Olympia, Washington (which I've actually never been too, but have had this same chai before and it was the best mix I've had). We have a friend who lives down there and so I thought that she had gone to visit and picked up the mixes while she was there, but as it turns out, she was on the trip just to get me this tea which I love so much, and then ended up seeing our friend sense she was down there. The Chai, for all of you that love it and want to know is by David Rio, and is the Tiger Spice Chai (which is new to me, but also good), and then the Elephant Vanilla Chai... yummy!


Then from my mama, I received these wonderful Tomato Soup Socks! The reason why they are tomato soup and not any other creamy red and white food thing, is because the colors (especially still in the hank) look like when you are making homemade tomato soup, and you add the cream into the pureed tomatoes. It becomes this swirl of cream and tomato for a second before they mix together. Growing up, tomato soup and grilled cheese were a favorite of mine, and still, I love tomato soup because it gives me that warm and homey feeling. So when my mom was visiting CT and NY during the spring of 2008, she looked up several little yarn shops in NYC and when we were there, we ventured into this cute little place where we saw the tomato soup yarn, and I'm not sure if I saw her buy the yarn after I pointed it out to her or if I did and then forgot that she had it but it was really great to open up a package from home and get the warm homey feeling of tomato soup when I took out my socks! They are so warm and cozy, too, that I can wear them whenever I need to feel warm and homey :)

I love getting packages, especially ones that are filled with love!

While I'm in Block Island...

Let me update you on something that I ventured to a long time ago but never mentioned here....
It has to do with Yarn!
And Sheep (as well as a few other farm animals in their family tree).
And Knitting!

The Connecticut Yarn and Wool Festival (which took place on 4/25/09) :) It was so fun, and it was my first knitting festival of any kind, so it was extra special in that way. A few people from my knitting group went up there, and that's how I knew about it...thank goodness for Ravelry, and finding a local knitting group!

So I ended up purchasing a bunch of yarn, and a drop spindle (that came in a learn to spin kit, with a book, and enough fiber to get me going), then I purchased a bunch of fiber (probably too much) that I was excited about... and so far I have done nothing with it! But I did make a tiny little yarn ball, but I need to start trying to spin.. and I think once I move into my apartment and have no excess money to spend, I will start dipping into my craft stashes, and utilizing what I have.. so it is good that I have an excess stock of yarn and other crafty things ;)

Here is the lot of what I got: (At this point, I don't remember what is what, so if you want to know, comment or email me, and I will double check the label)



And here are some pictures of the animals :)

Munchkins Venture to Mystic!

During Spring Break, we had a wonderful week, filled with all kinds of fun, which was a great thing, because it gave me faith that the summer won't be "boring" and it will be so exciting!

We drove up to Mystic, CT, where they have all these great old tall ships, and they have preserved a part of the town how it used to be in "olden day times" --little Ann. They were working on restoring one of the ships while we were there, and it was out of the water, it was huge! We had to climb up 72 stairs to get to the top. Once we were inside, we got to explore the ship and we all got to pretend to drive it too.



Then we wandered around, and explored the area where the crew would have slept, made food, taken care of business, etc. It seemed very cramp, and quite frankly, I'm glad I've never had to live on an old ship.

After we spent the entire day enjoying Mystic, we had a picnic lunch, and then the kids let me stop at the yarn store for a small detour before getting ice cream and heading home. I ended up with 7 balls of Lang Silk Dream in a pale dusty pink, and my first ever hank of sock yarn, purchased with the actual purpose of making socks (who knows when that will actually happen) and I really liked the colorway, so I thought heck, I can give it a shot. I believe it was a Misti Alpaca hand painted sock yarn... I will post pictures soon.