Knitting Woes

On those days where nothing seems to turn out right with ye olde knitting, when every one row you knit causes you to rip out two in its place, when you see that the stitches you thought were just the right amount to allow for the thumb hole turn out to be too many and you're going to have to rip it again...

...thank goodness you can still find some solace in knowing that...

...you are now a LEVEL 9 BARBARIAN!!!!

Yes, some of us are more easily amused than others.

And now, I shall listen to my Skynext podcast and cast on for some fingerless gloves out of a different weight yarn and try to clear the Studio of all the bad chi left over from the frogging.

BTW, for those Sarah Connor Chronicles fans out there...can you freakin' believe tonight's episode????

Easily Amused

So I had to go over to Knit Wars and post my accomplishments for the day. That would be lots of knitting, a bit more tinking than I would have liked (drat those two stitches that just disappeared without even waving "goodbye" - I hunted them down and found them about 4 rows back but it seemed more like 40), some KIP time at the Borders at Stonecrest Mall, and now I'm looking at the yarn for scarf number 3! Hooray - I'll start that one tomorrow.

So, what is it that has amused me quite so easily? Well, over on Knit Wars you accumulate some pretty nifty inventory as you amass points. I was perusing my "stash" and found the following:

Inventory:

Medallion of Good Playership, Golden Row Counter, Tome of Perseverance, Certificate of Guilt Free Stash Enhancement, Gift Certificate of Guilt-Free Yarnage, Crown What Says "Weird Fiber Lady" and 237 gold pieces.

Okay, the Crown What Says "Weird Fiber Lady" just got me giggling. I'm sure if my girls read this I can count on one or more of them making some wacky sort of crafty goodness that mildly resembles said crown. I mean, this is the gang that comes up with pipe cleaner creations like the one below...
This is the mouse in an exercise wheel that is supposed to be my pet substitute since I can't have animals here in the condo. Mary made it - it's in 3D and sits on top of my computer. I love animals that don't eat anything and you don't have to clean their cages or take them for walks. :-)

Saturday Wrap-Up

The past couple of days have been interesting. Let's see - on Thursday, I went to lunch with my former boss and had yummy Mexican food. We've been trying to get this lunch in since - let me think - last winter, perhaps? Afterwards, I wandered over to Atlanta Sewing Center and bought a new foot pedal for the Bernina. It will be so nice to be able to sew on a good machine again! I have only used the Golden Touch and Sew (circa 1972) for emergencies and it's really not running well. It will be nice to retire it again and let it sleep in the dark recesses of the sewing machine cabinet until we need to resuscitate it once more.

The new foot pedal is much more sleek and compact than the old, clunky one (which was about twenty years old). Considering I've had this machine since about 1987 and the death of the foot pedal is the first problem I've ever had with it, I'd say my $500 investment has paid off big time.

I've decided to tweak the scarf pattern a little bit and hope to use it as a prototype for some Etsy offerings. Watch for an announcement when I'm up and running with that project. Also, check out my stats on Knit Wars - I'm up to a level four Shaman already - totally cool!

Yesterday, most of the gang went to lunch with Grampa to celebrate Squirrel's 22nd birthday. Here's a picture for your enjoyment:

Here's the birthday girl exiting through the famous red door of the Dwarf House in Duluth.

And here are the squirrel pajamas I gave her.

Changing gears, I would like to point out something we considered absurd today whilst hanging out at ye olde Mall O'Georgia. I wish I had taken my camera to illustrate but let me attempt to draw you a virtual picture. Outside the mall, there is a fountain which is often inundated with small children in the searing summer Georgia heat. There is no wading pool, just geysers of water with a walkway that goes through the middle. Kids run in and out, splashing wildly, which amuses those of us who are not daring enough to make fools of ourselves (even though we are secretly wishing we could cool off similarly).

Now, picture a lovely autumn day without said children running around. Things are peaceful and calm but your eyes are drawn to a nearby sign which reads...No Lifeguard On Duty. Okay, folks, are we really talking about a drowning hazard here? And, let's face it, if a child slips and falls is this any different from the possibility of doing the same thing should the floor in the mall be wet? On rainy days when people are tracking water into the mall, should there also be a sign saying the lifeguard still isn't on duty?

Perhaps we have warped senses of humour...okay, I will admit that we definitely have warped senses of humour...but still...several of us thought this was a tad bizarre.

Here's one last picture in front of the Dwarf House, one of my mom's favourite places to eat with the kids.

Project Update

What in the world am I working on now? Well, let's see...

I just started a scarf for DD#1 from green Woolease. I'm finishing up a pair of socks for myself (Really...they are for me. I am not going to give them away. Even though I'm pretty sure they would fit one of my daughters, I am going to hang onto these...uh huh...right.) Then there's the swatch/scarf of celtic/cabled patterns that I'm experimenting with to see what I'll end up using in baby blankets.

Now, for quilting, I have so many projects started that are over at Melissa's that I am not even going to count them (out of sight, out of mind) but I have a duvet that I am refashioning into a king-sized quilt at the top of my list of WIP.

Last week I finished up a baby blanket and matching hats which are pictured here.


That's just the abbreviated version of my To-Do List. I'm also reading about 5 books and studying medical terminology. But I made time for DD#1 today which we spent at Borders for coffee, Joanne's for cross stitch supplies, and then brunch at the IHOP. Now that I have ingested a few cups o'caffeine, I'm ready for an evening with my knitting.

BUT FIRST...

I just discovered Knit Wars! Whist perusing the neverending list of blogs that I follow, I found a kinda/sorta role-playing game for those of us for whom knitting, crocheting, or spinning just needs even more addicting qualities. Stroll over to Lime & Violet's Daily Chum and check it out. I just registered as Wombat of Doom (who is really surprised at that?) and can't wait to get started.