WIP Weds: Zonked!

On friday I told you about all the firsts I would be involved in last weekend…

My friend Bonnie and I went into Toronto for the DKC Knit Frolic!

2013 DKC knit frolic – Bonnie and I high on fibre fumes :0)

Lots of people and potential treasures

Some friends from home

The Girls!

 and hi Debbie D! (wish I took your picture too)

Treasures that came home with me :0)

I will highlight my purchases on Friday, so you can get a better look.

 First Communion of my Cousins little girl.

First Birthday of their little boy.

1st Birthday Party

and I actually learned to Crochet a strip of Mile a minute afghan 

Dk weight yarn

well more like a foot in and hour… Cool, my only crochet accomplishment has been granny squares to this point!

Really good video instruction!

Background for this success story: Crochet has never really appealed to me, I had a brush with brain tumors, a few years ago. Stuck in bed with mobility issues, and knitting being a little too much to wrap my head around, my darling mother brought me a crochet hook and a Ball (a round ball) of yarn, and a book… needless to say the book and hook went into beside table drawer and ball is still on vacation with the dust bunnies somewhere! Totally frustrated…who wants to crochet anyway (this was probably a really bad time to start a new skill) DH brought me a spindle and a hand full of fibre, tranquility was restored :0)

and the Scrap Jar for April

Oh and Jack is famous, he’s in the Guardian Uk news 

And after all this I am Zonked!

Current WIP List (13)

I am starting to note how close to done my WIP’s are.

1. Sssydney and friends two more to do
2. Mile a minute afghan 1st crochet project
3. From Dawn Till Dusk shawlette / scarf 45% Done
4. Camellia shawlette - A wedding gift (due May 25) 5%
5. Sea of Dreams Blanket 60%
6. Top Down Swing Pullover – Both sleeves done 80%
7. Beryl Blanket – Long term project  (60 hexs)
8. Box of Boxes Blanket – Long term project  (17 squares)
9. Easy Peazy Shawl – almost 90%
10. Ruffle Scarf – for the fall Bazaar so no hurry 80%
11. SPROUT – Growing Roots vest 60%
12. Cozy Winter Shawl 85%
13. Pine Forest Baby Blanket 75%

FO’s 2013 = 36

WIPS 2013 = 13

Used of 37 purchased patterns from Rav = 8 (29 to go)

Stash Used 2013 = 34

Books 2013 = 14

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday :0)

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

WIP Weds: Stashbuster and Funny Story

I was just thinking over what I had to say this week.  I really didn’t have that much to say. Then this happened and I had to share.

Well jack made me laugh and I mean really laugh. Willow went to the Vet last week, and we were told that she is turning into a basket case because of Jack. He sees her as a mobile cat toy. So yesterday I began a program of incarceration for assault on Willows. Every time he made her hiss and or jumped on her, I stuffed him in the cat carrier. I tracked him all over the house and in he went. This went on all day. Just before I sat down to do the finishing touches to my post, he was at it again. I got up, he looked at me (kinda shrugged) and headed straight to the carrier, walked inside, turned around and waited for me to shut the door. He knew he had been naughty. At 8 months old he’s pretty smart. I somehow think that this approach to discipline is not having the desired effect…Rofl!

WANTED: Lucky Jack AKA Jack – for willow assault, repeat offender.

One of my New Years resolutions #6 is to use up more stash, so I have been looking for useful little projects for leftovers. Just love this one, and it is a great carry along project!

Yarn Ball Cozy by Kerstin Geiger a very useful, freebie pattern.

I use this large mug, to rangle the little ball of yarn. I pass the ball through the handle.

This is a Large one, I think I’ll be making a few more. They come in to sizes, one for 100gm and one for 50gm balls of yarn.

The Large one takes about 14gms Small one about 12gms of fingering or sock yarn

My knitting mug, and Willow who has no interest in knitting unlike Jack. I think she just looks at this as a peaceful place where Jack won’t bug her, and she likes me of course.

Keeps centre pull balls in order right down to the bitter end.

Pure and Simple Top Down Swing Pullover

I continue to work away on my sweater. When I started the next ball I went back and knitted the Neck edging and darned in the ends. Once I complete the rest of this ball on the Body of the sweater, I will go back with a fresh ball and work the sleeves, Then tuck them inside the body and continue with what remains of the yarn to whatever length the torso will be. I have 7 skeins, this should tell me if I need another. I usually knit much finer yarn, so this is working up very quickly and the yarn is lovely and soft.

The actual colour is more indigo.

Did you see this on Ravelry: I am going to start linking things I see on Rav that appeal to me and that you might have missed. This week, Biscotte’s sheeps - Les moutons de Biscotte Socks by Louise Robert aren’t they gorgeous, I am going to knit these someday!

My current WIPS

• Yarn Ball Cozy or 2
• Pure and Simple Top Down Swing Pullover
• Beryl Blanket (this is a long-term work in progress)
• Cozy Winter Shawl
• Pine Forest Baby Blanket
• Easy Peazy Shawl
• Kelp Forest Shawlette
• Ruffle Scarf
• Growing Roots cardigan

Music Link: Tomás Luis de Victoria  music from the 16th century Spanish Counter-Reformation. This is a BBC4 program, an over view of his works. I spent sometime in my youth in Spain and visited Avila, where he was from. Truly lovely! 

FO’s 2013 = 0

WIPS 2013 = 8 + 1 = 9

Stash Used 2013 = 0

Books 2013 = 3

Thanks again for visiting,

cya Friday

I’m off to visit Tami’s, then on to my blogwalk

come join me in the blogpond :0)

Funny: Oh Deer!

Obviously the Deer are not being cautious enough about using Deer crossings!

The Interview

The scary thing is that this person has a license, at least she is only rubbing out deer.

My favourite comment: “How did she get a driver licenses … no wonder she has a problem at deer crossing signs, I bet signs that show, Bridge Ices Before Road and Slippery When Wet signs really shake her up. Of course without these people, we would have nothing to laugh over.”

Gio-bike: Update, Harley is home and DS is fine!

Ok, never again! ”Harley” our friendly little Gio-bike is home from the Gio Doctor, and my hair is 20% grayer. DS (age 22yrs) drove him home down hwy 2, and we lost sight of him in traffic. Between B-ville and Oshawa, traffic goes 80 kph. We circled around looking for him, he was gone! I was freakin, hey I’m his mom right! Well we gave up and headed home, stopping at Timmies of course. We got back on the road and about 6 blocks from home there was Ben running out of juice and putting along at a slow walk, almost out of juice… question answered can he take it to school, ya but he will have to walk back lol.

FYI: Examine your bike carefully when purchasing!

• Harley had a problem with is pedals, they were falling off. I understand this is a common problem with this bike. The dealer after a load of song and dance tapped the pedals to the place they attached on the bike, and screwed them on. (It is illegal to ride bike here without them)
• The smaller kickstand was also not positioned so it could be used, it tipped the bike off-balance. They bent it out more, now it is fine.
• The fork stand was difficult to use, they have oiled the spring, don’t know it I can use it I was not strong enough before oiling. DH and DS can.
• I read the literature available on the web, and once the battery gets into the red zone it takes 4 hours to recharge (initial charge is around 12 hrs) this depends on how cold it is outside.
• Cold weather can also reduce distance per charge by as much as 20%

Yes I have this conversation everytime I knit in public…Grrr

A Stitcher’s Haven‘s photo.

Thanks Soper Creek Yarns for passing this on.

Funny videos: Billy Connolly, this guy is a riot!

Billy can make me laugh till I cry!

(Some bad langauge)

Old Lady on the Bus,

Sea Life,

Best joke ever,

Billy Connolly Live in London Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Interviews with Billy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Funny! What happened when 4 Old Ladies got in an accident.

Very Funny voicemail message of man witnessing accident while on the phone!

Just too funny, do all knitters sound a little like this?

“Sh*t knitters say”

This was sooo funny, seems like most knitters have said some of these things one time or another. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Tx32hwJ28

Stuart McLean, One of Canada’s best kept secrets!

A few years ago a dear friend gave me a CD of Stuart MacLean’s “Odd Jobs”. I was a convert. This man is a storyteller with the most marvelous sense of humour!

1) Toilet trainning the cat Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (so funny I cried!)

2) Dave meets Morley  Part 1 Part2

3) The jock strap

4) Christmas at the Turlington’s Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

5) The First Day of School Part 1 Part 2

End of the Year Funny :0)

Just love this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=nGeKSiCQkPw