Pick Up Sticks

Easter

We had a glorious day for our Easter celebration.  The day was sunny and fairly warm.  The only sad part of the weekend was that my parents didn't make the trip from NC as dad had the flu.  I was disappointed as I haven't seen them since December.

We still had 12 for dinner and had a great day of good food and drinks! We baked a ham, made 2 roasts on the smoker, roasted fingerling potatoes and grilled asparagus and had a huge salad. YUM!

Since my youngest son's birthday fell on Easter this year we had birthday cake for dessert. He requested a chocolate chip bundt cake which is a cake I have been making for years.  Made the cake Friday...when I took it out of the pan the whole top half stayed in the pan!  I scraped it out and hoped that the glaze would cover the cracks...but it looked horrible!  My son still ate the cake - it tasted delicious but wasn't presentable to be served on Easter.  So Saturday we bought an Oreo ice cream cake...which was a hit.

I got teaes a lot on Sunday because every time someone commented about something I made I said I got it at Costco....the spiral cut ham, the fingerling potatoes, the gorgeous fresh asparagus...all from Costco.  Not precooked mind you...I did do all the cooking myself. 

Even the gorgeous tulips I used for a centerpiece...from Costco.  And it was funny because I bought red tulips with frilly yellow edges....my son and daughter-in-law brought me a pot of mums in the same color - red with bright yellow centers...they matched perfectly!

Spring!

Spring is here...or at least that is what the calendar says.  We finally have had some sun but it is so cold and windy.  But I'll take the sun no matter what the temperature.

One of the perks of working for a school district (I'm not a teacher but an accountant) is having a long break over Easter.  I was off yesterday, today and also have off Monday!  I spent yesterday doing some Spring house cleaning.  I washed windows and curtains, washed down walls and woodwork, etc.  I LOVE clean windows.  If I get nothing else accomplished in my house but cleaning the windows then I am a happy girl.  They looked especially wonderful with the sun streaming in this morning.

I am getting ready for hosting Easter dinner.  My parents are coming from NC for the weekend and we are also having some of my hubby's family.  So there will be 15 of us...which doesn't sound like a lot except that I don't have a dining room!  Always a challenge...but we'll set up tables in a 1st floor den which requires us to move out my armoire filled with yarn and craft supplies, a desk, a wing chair and some shelves with more craft supplies.  Whew...such work!  This is making my hubby realize that we need to add a room onto our tiny cottage house.  I have been wanting to do this for years but he has not.  But I think he is coming over to my way of thinking!

So Easter dinner will be cozy to say the least.  It will be a double celebration as our youngest son turns 19 on Easter as well.

Just a side note...there is a contest over on cinnamongirl's blog for Spring to win 2 skeins of malabrigo.  Be sure to stop by and enter.  She is asking what your favorite flower is.  Mine usually depends on what is blooming in the garden...but if I had to choose just one I would have to say peonies.  The ones I grow in my garden are pale pink and so lush.

Right now nothing is blooming in the garden...it is dreary and grey.  But I bought some pansies to plant in a pot for the front porch.

And in the house - a huge pot of tulips - red with frilled yellow edges.  Also a huge vase of flowers in the guest room for my parents...filled with irises, gerbera daisies, roses, eucalyptus and more.  They smell heavenly!

Happy Easter!

Weekend

Thank goodness for the weekend!  It was such a long week at work.  This dreary, wet late winter weather is getting the best of me and making the days seem so long.  I do like the change in time though - I like that it stays lighter longer...it makes me more productive at home when I get home from work.

Last night a bunch of us went to Chili's for happy hour - free endless chips and salsa - yum!  We ended up staying for dinner as well.  I had one Presidente Margaurita - but it was huge and last me the whole evening.  Today I remember why I don't do tequilla - it gives me a headache!  One drink and I feel like I had a few.  I ordered a caesar salad with grilled shrimp for dinner.  I know they always say salads aren't always the healthiest choice - I usually order the dressing on the side but didn't last night.  Now I realize I should have.  When I looked up the nutritional info online last night it said 1010 calories and 76 grams of fat!!!  Holy sh*t!  My husband had loaded mashed potatoes with his dinner and his meal had less callories and fat than mine.  Lesson learned - dressing on the side and check nutional info before your go!

The reason for all this is that I am trying to lose weight...for like the millionth time in the last 10 years. I have gained so much weight this winter and feel miserable...so I joined weight watchers online.  I had planned for happy hour last night but didn't plan on eating dinner out.  But surprisingly the scale was down this morning.  Hopefully all the lifting and moving of boxes at work for 3 hours yesterday afternoon helped offset the calories.  No I don't work for UPS - we are cleaning out the archives at work and had to go through hundreds of boxes of records, mark some for saving for scanning and mark the others for shredding.

And now a little fun...the meaning of my name.  Check it out at the website below.  The funny thing is I think I agree with a lot of what it says....even if it is just for fun!

What Karen Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Quiet

Our son went back to college today.  Spring Break is over.  So our house is quiet again...this isn't always a good thing.  We had so much fun with him.  He and his dad played some golf, we shopped and watched movies and basketball - GO UNC!!!

He said he's afraid to come home because it seems like every time he does we are going to a funeral.  My hubby's uncle passed away last weekend.  We traveled to DE for the memorial service on Friday.  He was a very sweet man - a true gentleman.

But our son will be back in 2 weeks for Easter break.  Woo Hoo!

Here is a picture of Gust...I love this scarf...it is so soft and light and airy.  Everyone at work oohed and ahhed over it.  I love the color as well.  It blocked out beautifully and is a joy to wear.

Also on the needles is my March sock - Sock of Kindness - made with Trekking XXL.

Love the colors in this yarn.  It isn't the softess yarn to knit with...we'll see what it feels like when it is washed.  The pattern is so easy to follow and creates a very pretty sock.

Need to find another project to start.  I only have this sock and my Totally Autumn throw on the needles.  I usually have at least three things going at once.  The throw is at a stand still until I wind up some more yarn - since I HATE to to this I have not been knitting on this project.

I think I may cast on for a felted bag.  I have the pattern and the yarn.

Or maybe some fingerless gloves for me.

So many choices...so little time.

My So-Called Neckwarmer

Yesterday the weather here in south central PA was beautiful - sunny, clear blue sky and 67.  Today it is rainy dreary and chilly  - but not chilly enough to wear my newest knitted project.

I finished a neckwarmer from the manos del urugauy I won from the Purling P's.  What a change to knit with size 13 needles after I have been knitting socks and lace!  The project went so fast and turned out pretty good - if I do say so myself!  I cast on 26 stitiches and followed the 2 row pattern from My So-Called Scarf pattern and knit until the skein was almost gone.  Added an oblong button and was done.  No buttonhole needed since the knitting was open and I could slide the button right through.

I love the colors in this yarn - pinks, purples, browns, greens, oranges.  and it looks nice on - no pictures of it being modeled - face is too chubby.

The neckwarmer is just long enough to tuck into the top of a coat.

Thanks Purling P's for the yarn!!!!

Weekend

Our youngest son is home for Spring Break.  I love having him home...he is a really fun kid!  Since most of his High School friends aren't home for break this week, we'll be seeing a lot of him.  I think he is a little bored already.

Yesterday he helped his dad set up surround sound for our TV.  My hubby bought this huge freakin TV several months ago.  I do like it - the HD is cool - but adding surround sound in our tiny living room makes me nervous.  They were hysterical yesterday - the two of them trying to get it all fixed up and finding space for all the components.  My only rule was that wires needed to be hidden - no wires crossing over the hardwood floors til they could be hidden under carpeting.  In the end they finally got everything working.  Now I just need to learn how to turn things on/off until they program everything in to one remote.  That's on the agenda today.

The weather this weekend has been brisk.  We got about an inch of snow late Fri. night.  Sat was bright and sunny but very windy and cold.  The snow did melt so we are back to dreary grey landscapes again.  I long for GREEN!  Today is sunny again is supposed to be warmer - in the 40's. Our youngest is off to go visit our oldest and spend the night and then he's hoping to get in some golf on Monday in that area.

During all the electronic set up yesterday I sat on the couch and watched and knitted.  I finished my February socks - just a day late.  I used a 6 x 2 rib for the cuff and a slipped stitch heel.  I think I've decided I like plainer socks - not lacy socks.  I think this is because I have thicker ankles and they just don't do justice to a lacier pattern. 

I'm on target to knit a pair of socks a month.  My next sock is The Sock of Kindness pattern and some Shibiu sock yarn in a lovely green - colorway wasabi.

 

I saw this pattern link on Ravelry and just loved the socks.  The designer - Chawne - is a very prolific knitter.  She doesn't have a blog but posts beautiful pictures daily to flickr.  Her most beautiful picture to me is the one of her sock drawer - with all her hand knit socks.  Inspiring!

It's Been Awhile

Wow...I haven't written since 2/6/08...I had a bad case of the flu and I am still trying to get back to normal.  I never slept so much in my life.  I NEVER take naps and this had me sleeping nearly all day and then again all night...with just an hour or too awake during the day.  Even with all the laying around there was no knitting or reading!  I just couldn't even concentrate.  My husband said he knew I was sick when he didn't see me knit for nearly 2 weeks.  As he put it - I always have the pointy sticks in my hands!

So now I am getting back to feeling better - and yes - back to knitting!  I did finish the zig zag mitts for my daughter-in-law as well as another pair of fingerless mitts - in a pattern I made up as I went along - for my son.  But I mailed them off before I got pictures.  I'll have to have them take a photo for me.  My son's turned out very nice if I say so myself.  They were just a basic rib pattern in a black tweedy wool blend.  My husband now wants a pair.

I am almost done with my February socks which I am knitting in Essential Tweed from Knit Picks.  The yarn is so soft.  I am using the Russet Tweed colorway.  Pictures to follow.

Also on the needles is Gust by Anne Hanson.  I bought a kit from Ball and Skein in the storm colorway.  It is beautiful - in purples and greys.  It is slow knitting as the yarn is so tiny and slippery. Here is a really bad picture of my progress...actually I have about 10 more repeats done since this picture.  This picture makes the scarf look like a big blob...but in person you can see the pattern develop.

The pattern states that the finished scarf needs to be heavily blocked to show off the lovely curving pattern.  I can't wait to finish it.  I just bought some materials to make a shawl pin...well really a shawl stick...like is shown on knitspot's website with the scarf.

I love this look.  I have a deep purple sweater that will look great with this scarf.

I received a package in the mail after winning a contest on the blog of Purling P's.  I won a skein of Manos del Uruguay in a wonderful colorway with soft greens, pinks and purples.  It is enough to make My So-Called Scarf which I love! Or I may make a neckwarmer.

Today I hit our LYS and found a great button to use in case I make a neckwarmer.  Maybe I'll make a neckwarmer using the scarf pattern.

Well off to order some pizza for dinner - a yummy white pizza with tomato and broccoli.

Project Spectrum 08

I joined up with Project Spectrum this year.  February is the first month and the specs are FIRE  in colors reds/oranges.  I cast on for a pair of fingerless mitts from Anne Hanson called zig zag mitts.  The pattern reminded me of flames (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).  I am using a very basic Wool-ease from Lion - I am not a yarn snob - since these are for my daughter-in-law and will get used heavily since they backpack and hike and play with the dog outside.

The pattern is very easy to follow.  I am up to the part where you put the thumb gusset on waste yarn - never done this before so it should be interesting.

My picture leaves a lot to be desired...it doesn't show off the pattern very well.  I am takinga one day digital camera photography class mext month...hopefully I learn how to use my camera better.

February

I was so looking forward to February...it meant the end of January...which has been cold and dreary.  But today has been a miserable day...first we had major ice this morning...now it is pouring...and I mean pouring!  And of course I had the afternoon planned to be off.

Our son is coming home from college for the day tomorrow.  He asked me to go to Costco for him and sent me a list.  That was my plan to do today...and to head to Ashcombe's which is a lovely garden and gift shop.  Well I made it to Costco...went in with my umbrella...but do you know how hard it is to get a case of water out of the cart and try to balance an umbrella in the torrential downpour and high winds?  Let's just say it wasn't pretty!  I got soaked.  Decided not to hit the garden shop...so what's a drenched girl to do?  Head to the knitting shop for a leisurely stroll...getting to touch all the lovely yarn in a next to empty shop.  It was a heavenly hour on a dreary day.  Of course I came home with more yarn for the totally autumn throw and a skein of Memoirs from Berrocco in a wonderful purpley-blue  color - called cassoulet #7717.  It is for a totally mindless scarf made on very large needles for a little lacy scarf.  I have a deep purple sweater that I plan on wearing it with.

Time to get down to some serious knitting and a leisurely rest of the afternoon...listening to the rain pounding down on our little cottage.

WIP

Last night I cast on a new project - the Totally Autumn Throw from Knitty.com Fall 2007.  It is designed by Anne Hanson - can you see a pattern here!  I love her designs - her patterns are so easy to follow and so beautiful.

I decided we needed a grown-up throw in our living room...especially since we just got new carpeting and I am trying to bring in some new accessories to match.   Normally we have a mish mash of fleece blankets that we use in our drafty cottage.   The picture below shows a typical evening on our couch.

This is where I spend most evenings - snuggled on the comfy down-filled couch with this cutie - Dallas - under this lovely soccer fleece blanket.

So here is the beginning of the throw - to replace the soccer blanket.

I am knitting it in Cascade 220 in an olive green heather - I don't have the exact colorway handy.  So far the pattern has been easy - except for a brief panic last night when the dog jumped up on my lap mid-row and got me all messed up.  That is when I decided to add the stitch markers after every repeat to help me keep my place.