Moving Along

Four days in Iowa City convinced me that I'm really moving there, and I'm happy about it. Everyone I met was really nice, which doesn't surprise me, since Iowa City feels like central Illinois, where I grew up. I found a place to live -- a three bedroom townhouse with a little pond behind it -- despite the fact that it's totally the wrong time of year to find a rental in a college town. My mom drove over for a day while I was there, because it's only about a 3 and a half hour drive from where she lives. Mom got to meet my new boss and some of my co-workers-to-be.

I know that a few of you who have led sheltered lives wonder what Iowa looks like. I've made a Flickr set with a few pictures of the University of Iowa campus. So far, I don't know the names of most of the buildings, but the Hardin Library is where I'll be working.

Of course, on the way back to San Antonio, during my layover at DFW, I got a little teary at the idea of leaving San Antonio. I've been here almost my entire adult life. I've worked in the same place for over 22 years, working my way up the ranks. I've sold the only home I've ever owned. Simon will be going back to live with my sister, his real human mom. It's the first time I've ever moved anywhere alone, unless you count going off to college.

Actually, I won't be moving completely alone, because Harley will be going with me. I've talked to her a lot about the adventure we will be going on together, but she seems skeptical. She's never traveled anywhere except to the vet, and a 17 hour car ride will probably be a trauma. If any of you have advice on traveling with a kitty -- especially a skittish one who doesn't like to be held -- I'd love to hear it!

YFC

You can tell from the ticker up there that it's been over three months since I bought yarn. Well, we were allowed a free day each month, and I used two of mine, but still..... Thanks to Rebekah for setting up the Yarn Focus Challenge. It was really a good thing!!

And of course, I should keep it up, since I'll have to pay to move every skein of yarn that comes into my house. That didn't stop me from ordering a beautiful skein of Seafoam green sock yarn from Sophie's Toes this morning, of course.

And later this week, I'm flying up to Iowa City to find a place to live, and I plan on stopping by Crazy Girl Yarn Shop (actually in Coralville) and the Knitting Shoppe (no website?). They're already marked on my map, along with the realtor's office and my new boss's home. Priorities, people!

Hi there!

Yes, I'm still here. This getting-ready-to-move business is very time-consuming, especially since work is sort of freaking out about my leaving. I mean, pretty much everything I do will have to go on once I leave, and figuring out how that's going to happen takes a lot of meetings!

There has been knitting, though. In fact, I flew to Dallas and back yesterday for a meeting, which supplied quite a bit of knitting time.

Oops! That would be Simon....

I just turned the heel of my first Embossed Leaves sock in Lorna's Laces Shepherds Sock in Yellowstone. I like the way the colors stripe/pool differently in the stockinette heel, as compared to the lace leg. This is a really fun pattern--enough going on that I don't get bored, but simple enough that I could knit during my meeting yesterday.

And I hope you noticed the pie plate it's laying in. Here's a better picture:

Yes, Armadillo Pie! My meeting yesterday was (most likely) my last SCC/MLA Board meeting, and this was their surprise farewell gift to me. Our chapter's "critter" is the armadillo, and the current Past President (who was President-Elect when I was President) had been holding onto this dish for just the right occasion! My favorite part is the little line of 'dillos marching around the edge.

Sorry for the blurriness--I need to figure out how to take close-ups!

One of the hardest part of this move is leaving SCC. I'm sure the Midwest Chapter of MLA is very nice, but any group with an armadillo as the chapter critter is special!

FO: The Black Purl Socks

But first - BRRRRRRR!!!!! The high yesterday was 55ºF, but that was at midnight and the temperature dropped through the day. It stopped dropping around 9:00 p.m., when it got down to 35, where it stayed most of the night. This was a new record low for April 7 in San Antonio. Last year on April 7, we set a record high -- 99º. All in all, I'd rather it be colder than average, because it will be plenty hot soon, but still -- almost freezing in April is unheard of! (The average high for today is 79º and the average low 55º.)

Today, Easter Day, was a little warmer -- it got up to about 50º -- still chilly, but it was definitely warmer for those taking part in the San Antonio tradition of "camping out" at Brackenridge Park. Several days before Easter, the park district lifts the normal curfew, and families stake out tables and barbecue pits at the park for their Easter picnics. I looked for pictures online and couldn't find any, but I'll bet they were chilly Saturday night!

Remember the Black Purl socks? I finally finished them!

Here they are, modeling with their friends, the Mitred Squares

and here they are on my feet.

Specifics:
Pattern: Marietta Rib Socks, with Scalloped Turn-Over Top, from Lucy Neatby's Cool Scoks, Warm Feet.
Yarn: About a skein and a half of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl on size 2 bamboo DPNs
Modifications: I used the Round toe instead of the Common Wedge Toe, and I used Grumperina's pretty method for picking up the gusset stitches
What I would change: I would make them a little smaller, probably on size 1 DPNs -- the socks I make for myself are always a little big, because I'm so worried about them being too small. I also worry about running out of yarn, but I had a half skein left, so in the future I can make the legs a little longer, at least from LLSS.

What's this?

Where'd this come from?


It would appear to be the beginnings of something. It would be the beginnings of Cozy, a pattern I've considered frequently. It's made out of Brooks Farm Primero in a sort of golden/pinky/peachy color, which I purchased at Kid'n'Ewe and have been saving for something special. Unfortunately, I don't have enough yarn to make it as long as the pattern, but I think it will be a nice scarf-y accessory.

If you've been paying attention, you may realize that the Black Purl socks are not yet finished (although I'm past the heel on the second one), and I already cast on for a pair made from Yellowstone. And there's Arwen, whose back isn't even finished yet, although there's lots more done than there is in that picture I linked to. And the Mitred Square Baby Blanket -- all the squares are knit, but only 3 are sewn together. I really need to get it done before I move to Iowa....

And I should be cleaning out closets.

Shiny Things, and the Interview Meme

Remember when La asked us all to post pictures of DeFeet of Cuteness? Well, I posted Harley and Simon's toes, not realizing that La had once had a tortie/tuxedo set, too. Just because of that, I won a prize! Not only that, but obviously La has checked out my blog, because the stitch markers she sent have a ladybug and dragonfly theme....

It's hard to take a picture of such shiny pretties!

Thank you so much, La! (And thank you, Simon and Harley, for having such charming toesies!)

The Interview Meme
I'm jumping on the Interview Meme, with questions from Amy.

1. What do you feel is your biggest knitting accomplishment?

Definitely Seraphim (which my fingers always want to spell Serpahim) – it was my biggest project up to that time (and, I guess, still) and my first real lace project

2. What's a book that you disliked but everyone else seemed to "love?"

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I’ve started it many times and recently discovered that I own two copies. I’ve read and enjoyed several other John Irving books, though.

3. What's a favorite childhood memory of yours?

Thanksgivings at my Uncle Bill’s, with the crazy side of the family – my dad’s 8 siblings and my approximately 30 first cousins.

4. What will you miss the most about San Antonio?

My sister, followed closely by green chicken enchiladas. And my knitters.

5. What are three products that you absolutely love

• Vanilla Spice Body Butter from The Body Shop (available only at Christmas time, so I have a stash!)
• Jam Session lipstick by Origins
• Gerber Chicken baby food (the only way I can get Simon to take his meds!)

Wanna play? Leave me a comment and I'll send you some questions!

Big News of the Non-Knitting Sort

But first -- I couldn't resist winding up the oddly-named LLSS Yellowstone (although notice how much more yellow that skein has than mine) and I think it's even prettier as a yarn cake that in was in the skein.

I'm pretty sure that this yarn wants to a pair of Embossed Leaves Socks. In fact, there seems to be one already cast on! (My Black Purl socks are almost done -- I'm about to pick up the gusset stitches on the second one. Unfortunately, I left it at work this evening.)

And in case you wondered -- knitting on the back of Arwen continues....

Oh -- the Big News! Well -- I'm moving! To Iowa! After almost 23 years in San Antonio (almost all of my adult life), I'm going back to the Midwest. In a couple months, I'll be working at the Hardin Library at the University of Iowa. (Did you know a big river runs right through the middle of the Iowa campus?) I'm going up in a couple weeks to find a place to live. And yarn shops. So -- if you know anything about knitting or LYSes in the Iowa City area, please comment!

Irrational Fear Meme

Rebekah has started an Irrational Fear meme. I knew immediately what I should post, because I have one huge, stupid, irrational fear.

I cannot start down a flight of stairs without envisioning my ankle giving way, causing me to tumble all the way down. Obviously, I really like holding on to the rail when I go down steps (or at least for the first few steps).

I understand a bit about this fear -- when I was younger, I sprained my ankles all the time. I also had a habit of stepping off of curbs and falling down. But I've never fallen down a whole flight. Oddly enough, my sister did once (with a giant suitcase falling with her), but my fear pre-dates that.

So -- what's your irrational fear?

Ladybugs

Growing up in a little farming town in central Illinois, ladybugs were a standard component of summertime, along with lightning bugs and mosquitos. Here in south Texas, you occasionally see ladybugs, but not as commonly, unless you're in my kitchen.

There, you'll see them:

Above the windows (along with bumblebees and dragonflies)

On the opposite wall (this would be the boy ladybug, who refused to ask for directions)

In the flower pot on the kitchen table, and on the window sill in the background

And under the flower pot

Recently, some new ladybugs have come into my house, for non-kitchen-related use.

This little guy, a gift from my mom's friend Ray, sharpens pencils

And these hold my DPNs!

These great DPN protectors are from Three Owls Knitting. She's got all sort of cute designs for $8 to $10 for a set of two! Plus, she tweaked these for me to fit the 6" needles I usually use. You know you need some!

Yes, I am alive

My mom and her "gentleman friend" were here visiting for a week, and they kept me busy! We went to Fredericksburg (and what used to be called the Nimitz Museum), the LBJ Ranch, the Alamo, and a performance at the Josephine Theatre. We took a ride on the San Antonio River. We ate at Sea Island, the Rather Sweet Bakery, and Mi Tierra. We got up at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday morning to put this really yummy Italian Beef in the crockpot. And I went to work for at least a couple hours every work day.

Not much knitting was done. I worked on the sock occasionally. Last night, when it was once again just me and the kitties at home, I cast on for Hidcote, using Knitpicks Shadow in Oregon Coast Heather. Simon helped by literally grabbing the needles and watching the stitches slide off. There were only 21 stitches, so I was able to get them all back on the needle. Why I did that, I don't know, since I always have to cast on at least twice for any project. Sure enough, a few rows later, I felt the need to rip out and begin again.

Along with the yarn, I ordered some US #3 circular needles from Knitpicks. I have to agree with the reviews that rave about the wonderfully non-kinky cable (not that there's anything wrong with kinky....) and the wonderfully smooth join. The tips are definitely pointier that Addys, although not as pointy as most of my bamboo or other wood needles. And..... just as I suspected, they are very slick. This is not necessarily a good thing for me. However, I'm going to persevere. I didn't think I would ever be able to knit continental style, but I learned, so maybe I can learn to love slick needles, too....

Tattoo Meme

Scout has asked us to post pictures of our tattoos, so here it is. Long-time readers (it's all relative!) will remember that I got this to celebrate my birthday last summer. It's on my upper back, and shows when I want it to. I'm thinking, though, that I might want to get something little on my wrist, too.

It's really hard to take a picture of your own upper back!

YFC, WIPs, and UFOs

YFC

See that ticker up there? It's been 1 month, 2 weeks, and 4 days since I began taking part in Rebecca's Yarn Focus Challenge. In the YFC, sock yarn does count, but we get to have one day a month to buy yarn. In the first month, I used my day to buy dishcloth cotton for the baby kimono. This month, I splurged a little more.

I've finally decided that my next shawl will be Hidcote, so I bought that pattern from Mim, and bought the suggested yarn, Shadow, from KnitPicks. It's really inexpensive (less than $7.50 for a whole shawl's worth!), so I bought two colors, Lost Lake Heather and Oregon Coast Heather. I like Sunset Heather a lot, too, but I don't need another red shawl. I also dropped by one of the LYSes and came home with some Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the poorly-named (I think) Yellowstone. I think this looks like some sort of spring flower myself. I think I'll use it to make some plain stockinette socks for me.

WIPs
Remember the Mitred Square Baby Blanket from M-D Knits? I've finished the squares, but I'm not sure about the layout. What do you think? (click the pictures to embiggen)

Solid squares in the middle?


Or solid squares at the corners?

After they're all put together, I'll add a border - probably one row of each color.

After much talk about Arwen, I've cast on, using the Beaverslide Fisherman Weight in Wood Violet. I've never made a grown-up sweater, so we'll see how this goes!

The second Black Purl sock continues, too - I've got to fly to Harlingen again on Wednesday, so it will be airport knitting.

UFOs
I'm sure no one but me remembers the Flared Lace Smoke Ring from last fall. I really wanted it done in time for cold weather, but it got put aside for Christmas knitting. Actually, it and the Black Purl socks were both put aside at that time. I'm working on it again, but suspect it will be put aside when the yarn for Hidcote arrives. I'm on the fourth and last chart, but I'm guessing I need to do about 14 repeats of that chart - and I'm only on the fourth!

It's not really this pink!

Pretty things

Are y'all familiar with Heather's Twisted Lily jewelry? I have a pair of her leaf earrings, and bought a pair for my sister, too. Around Valentine's Day, she offered a special necklace called Nora. Of course, I didn't decide that I wanted to buy myself one until after Valentine's Day. And I needed the "chain" to be a little longer. But all it took was an email to Heather and I have one!

Sorry for the blurry picture.

Heather's packaging is just about as nice as the jewelry and comes with candy -- Creme Savers, which I managed to crop out of the photo.



And here's something kind of pretty: a finished Black Purl sock, and the beginning -- the cuff ruffle -- of the second sock.

Boy, are my feet big!

Speaking of feet -- La has asked us to post pictures of cute toes. She calls it DeFeet of Cuteness. So here are Harley Girl's absolutely adorable two-toned toes and Simon's more manly feet. And yes, Simon is holding a knitting needle.....

Bad Blogger

No, not blogger.com -- it's been very cooperative lately. The bad blogger is me. I haven't posted in almost a week and I haven't even responded to comments. If you've left a comment and haven't heard back, know that I really appreciate them. I'm still amazed that total strangers (and a few friends) come by to visit!

Life, both the work part and the not-work part, is hectic. There hasn't been much knitting, and what knitting there has been, has been baby blanket squares. These two are my part of a group blankie. I'm assuming the recipient isn't reading blogs right now..... I hope.....

The top square is a simple purled hearts pattern from The Knitter's Bible, which is one of my favorite technique books. The bottom is a cable adapted from the Woman's Simple Pullover from Cables Untangled. Both are knitted from Feza Zara and, if you could see the stitches better, are an excellent lesson in gauge. The hearts were knitted on size 6 needles, while the cable is being knit on size 5s. The heart square, while pretty, is kind of floppy and sloppy. The cable square has nice even, almost perfect stitches. Amazing. If I weren't so tired of knitting squares (and I still have a square and a half for the other blankie), I'd re-do the hearts. It's pretty obvious that I'm knitting looser than I used to.

A Belated Valentine's Day Post

I like Valentine's Day a lot. I love hearts and my favorite color is pink, so of course I like Valentine's Day. I had a Valentine's Day post all planned, but this week was really, really busy, and I forgot to take the pictures to go with it.

My office is a mess. That's okay; I know where everything is. But on the corner of my desk -- actually about two-thirds of the way down the front of it -- there are a multitude of hearts. The majority are glass or stone, but I have wooden hearts, a leather one, a couple metal ones, at least one made of plastic, and numerous hand-painted paper ones. I buy a lot for myself, but people give them to me, too. Here are a few of the twenty or so I have.

There are two different red glass hearts -- the one on the right is larger than the one on the left.

And in knitting-related news -- I got to meet the recipient of the baby kimono last night. He's 6 days old, and has something of a baby mullet, but he's awfully cute!

My current active projects consist entirely of squares for baby blankets. I'm looking forward to getting back to knitting something for me....

By Popular Request....

People keep asking about the ugly orange baby hat. How could a BABY HAT be ugly? Really, it's floppy and, because my needles were too big, has some holes. But -- if you insist:

You really can't see the worst of the holes, up in the decreases. Take my word for it.....

So much for unsuccessful baby knitting (that baby, my cousin's, is now getting a Mason-Dixon Mitred Square baby blanket -- hopefully before his first birthday!)..... here's some successful baby knitting, a baby kimono, also from Mason-Dixon Knitting. This is for a friend's baby boy, born last Friday.

This is a truly awful photo. The baby kimono is quite cute. Instead ribbons, I used I-cord for the ties -- more manly, you know. Although the pattern doesn't call for it, I also attached inside ties, made from crocheted chains.

Oh, and I finally succumbed and switched to the new Blogger. Let me know if anything weird happens.....

Airport Knitting

Yesterday I flew to Harlingen to teach a class. (Note: Click that link to the Wikipedia entry for Harlingen - I wonder how long it will continue to begin "Harlingen is the best city in the world"?) My 8:20 a.m. flight was delayed by fog until almost 11:00; luckily, I got there in time for the workshop! The highlight of any trip to Harlingen is the free wi-fi in the airport. I knew I would probably end up hanging out at the airport for a couple hours, waiting for my return flight, and had planned some work to finish up. But guess what? The wi-fi was out, and there's no one at the airport to fix it after 5:00. So instead, I had to knit some more.

Between the morning delay and the evening wi-fi-lessness, I finished over half of the Mason & Dixon Baby Kimono. I know for a lot of you, this would be no big deal, but, as one of the world's three slowest knitters, I'm pretty proud of it!

Sorry about the blurry picture!

FO!

Finally, I've finished the second Wine and Roses Mitt for my sister. In fact, she now has them in her possession.

I am so, so pleased with these. Despite the weeks it took me to get them done, they were really a quick knit. I just kept getting interrupted -- by a red scarf, by the world's ugliest baby hat, by a baby blanket.... I finally decided this weekend I just had to finish them!

The pattern looked a little daunting at first, but they weren't really hard. They were interesting, though, which I have figured out is important for me. I love the idea of 'mindless' knitting, but then I get bored!

And look at the ball of yarn I have left -- I think I may have enough left for another pair. Hmmmm........

Particulars
Pattern: Wine and Roses Mitts from the Winter 2006 Interweave Knits

Yarn: Jojoland 100% Cashmere fingering/lace weight yarn in Cashmere Blue -- way less than one 400 yard skein -- purchased at Kid'n'Ewe

Needles: Size 2 (2.75mm) Crystal Palace Bamboo DPNs

Famous Felines

Which famous feline are you?

You're the Pink Panther. Suave and sophisticated, you enjoy your superiority and your natural grace. Though to some, this attitude makes you appear arrogant, most people are attracted by it rather than turned off. You especially enjoy being in the social spotlight. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Take this quiz!

Huh..... well, pink is my favorite color and I do sometimes enjoy being the center of attention. But I really wanted to be Hobbes (of Calvin and....). I think maybe this description was really meant for Simon.

Look! Knitting!

But first, one last plumbing-related comment: Here is my new water heater, undergoing kitty inspection.


The water heater actually represents just a small portion of the plumbing work, and only about 15% of the money spent. However, it's the only thing I can take a picture of, unless you want to see the holes in the bathroom walls the plumber left. I'm lucky that my sister's father-in-law is very handy and works cheap -- he installed the water heater for me and will fix the holes.

There has been some knitting going on. I'm still working on the second Wine and Roses Mitt for my sister. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend. I'm also working on a Mitred Square Blanket, for the baby who originally was getting a hat. I originally had planned on 36 squares, but now I'm thinking 24 will be enough. I have 11 done now, and laid them out on the floor to get an idea of size. I guess you can say that Simon is included so you can get an idea of the size (although really he's included because he wouldn't move!). And although it looks like he's being fierce, in reality he was just talking to me.

I also need to cast on for a Mason-Dixon baby kimono for the second February baby. On Wednesday, I have to take a quick trip to Harlingen (my institution has a branch there), and I think it will be good airplane knitting.

And, finally, because Simon is a ham who gets a lot more pictures on the blog, here's one of Harley, in one of her favorite places -- under a chair.

ETA: If you've purchased Beaverslide yarn, you might want to make sure you keep it out of reach your dog, as Steve learned the hard way!