buncha squares...

finally finished!!! )Okay so I still have to do 3 borders, but it is together (thank you Linda and Sara!!!) an she LOVED it!!!

All that worry for naught!

Will post pictures soon, it looks good if I do say so myself.

Will be nice to work on something different for a change. May put the Einstein coat on the back burner just so I am doing something other than garter stitch... Perhaps the Central Park Hoodie? I could finish the waves scarf.... or my swing coat... Hmmm....

Lost 5 lbs... lots to go, but it's a start!

Hope that all have a restful Holiday!

89%DRUNKARD

Buncha Squares... The neverending Project

SO I finished all 16 squares (yes I know I said I would do 24... but things change). And when I laid it out, it seemed very small. Enter the latest shade of Ultra Alpaca (yummy yummy) FIG. I love it (and Linda humors me by letting me think that I picked it) It's a really deep purple and here I go again, adding another border to the individual squares and the entire blanket (once it is sewn together) or once Linda shows me how to put it together. Have I mentioned how much time I spend at my LYS? If you haven't been... you should go. Especially now that they are expanding... even more room for yummy yarn!!

Elly

Am so sad... Had to have Elly euthanized on Friday. The pain meds were no longer effective.

Stitches

Now I told people that I would be bringing Mimosas for the bus ride... why on earth would they be surprised that I actually did? Hmmm.... next year, definitely need to bring more orange juice!

Stitches was fun... was fun to pet all of the pretty yarn. I bought some beautiful hand died hanks for an over sized shawl... and I found a baby sweater pattern that uses size 15 needles (and fat yarn)! Yippee!!! Perfect for me! And it is knit in one piece... even more perfect! I also was able to finish another square for the buncha squares project... 20 more... or maybe only 16... depends on how quickly I get them done.

Elly ~ the 190 lb English Mastiff

Long time no blog… so where should I start? Elly is my 190lb brindle English Mastiff. I adopted/saved her 4 years ago (her previous owner was going to put her down, as her size had become unmanageable and the son had developed an extreme allergy. I had just had to have my 18 year old Rottie down, and wasn’t sure I was ready, but Elly climbed into my lap and nuzzled my cheek and I was a goner… She is 8 now.

So last week I left for work on Monday as usual, but when I came home, Elly couldn’t walk down the hallway. She was hobbling and wouldn’t put any pressure on her right front paw. So I called the Vet, and got an appointment for the next day. I wasn’t all that worried… Mastiffs are in general overgrown couch potatoes, but every once in a while, Elly likes to chase her cat, so I thought that she might have “sprained” her ankle or stepped on a cat toy… I was not expecting to be told that she had an osteosarcoma, bone cancer. "Approximately 90% of dogs are euthanized due to metastasized disease regardless of treatment (even if the affected limb is amputated) within 6 months of diagnosis…" so sayth all of the research...
So my choices are (1) euthanize now, (2) Manage her pain medically until such time as her quality of life deteriorates and then euthanize or (3) Amputate the entire front leg, follow up with radiation and/or chemo… Now I may be crazy but 190 lbs when most of the weight is carried in the front on an 8 yr old dog… am thinking amputation is not really an option… so I chose 2. Right now, as long as I give her the painkillers 2x a day, she acts completely normal… so here’s to hoping For a few more weeks, or even a month!

Ravelry and Bunches....

I got my invite.... :-) Now I just need to find the time to explore...

Also finished another 2 squares... 22 more to go... And just in time to start the quilt wrap! I believe that I may be losing the battle.

Finished a square.. :-)

I finished my first square!!! and I love it! The Ultra Alpaca looks so nice with the Andes border... yummy! I'll have to get around to posting some pictures soon.

SO one square down, and only 23 left to go... hmm that's a bit of a buzz kill.

Other good news... they caught the 2 that smashed the windows. Found the bats (with glass imbedded) in the residence of one of them... You may wonder why the y would be dumb enough to keep the bats, but let us not forget that they were dumb enough to do it in the first place!!!

Buncha Squares

I started the "Buncha Squares" afghan yesterday (Mason Dixon blog)... I know I know, the last thing I need is another project... but nevertheless what fun! I certainly will be able to pick up stitches when I finish :-) I did decide to change things a bit (big surprise). I'm using wool instead of cotton...ultra alpaca for the center of the blocks and Andes for the borders... 4 different types of the Andes... so I am going to make 8 of each of the 3 blocks... at least that is the plan now...

When am I going to finish project? Good question... who knows, but I am sure having fun starting them!

More yarn... Oh No!

So the New Paltz Craft festival... wonderful artists and amazing work... and YARN!! I got a skein of variegated merino and then 2 of camel hair! I hadn't seen any camel hair yarn before... and it is so very soft. Then on to the next booth and lo and behold more wool... they had roving and made me wish I knew somethig about felting or spinning... but I didn't let that stop me from picking up a few skeins of beautiful yarn. Now what will I do with it??

Have to write some lesson plans for tomorrow and the coming week so that I can take time later to knit!

Adventures inYarn...

Picture a very blissful happy face... sort of like an addict after getting a fix. I just got pack from Morehouse (Store is called sheeps clothing) and it never fail that I find yummy yarn as well as a project or two to try. Today was no exception. I got some from the sale bed, and picked up some lace weight to try a poncho pattern with... as well as some variegated bulky to make some mittens... I really like making mittens, and am really not sure why.

We took the long way back to Pawling and stopped by Yarn Central in Hopewell Junction as well (okay so it's not even close to on the way, but I had to check it out). Lots of different yarns, but so cramped! Seems like a friendly place to meet and knit, but there really wasn't enough room to move around. I did find a really pretty red bulky yarn... who knows what it will become.

all for now. Am off to Ulster County fairgrounds tomorrow to check out a craft show, then home, and back to work... and of course the pumpkin class on Tuesday... I hope that the yarn I have will work....

Counting Rows..

So there are row counters and tick marks... hanging beads and bracelets... but is there one that works without you having to remember to do something? I was doing well with the tickmarks, but somewhere between my LYS and the car, or the car and my house, I have succeeded in losing the post-it that had my rows fo rthe swing coat. So I know that I had to do a wrong side row, but am not sure if the next row was the swing row, or if I had started a new repeat... Linda and Sara are just going to love me this week!!

I did do another repeat of the rigalatto (sp) scarf, and am looking forward to finishing it so I can do it again with different yarn. Have to finish the toe of my first sock, and pick up the stitches for the second one... almost there. Now if I could just knock out another 25 rows on the wave scarf I might actually feel like I accomplished something. Needed heavy therapy after Thursday...

So Sad... This sucks

Arriving at school today, I was feeling like my old self... excited for the new year, happy to be teaching, looking forward to working with the kids... despite all of my previous whining, I really do love what I do... So arriving and being told that there would be no kids do to some vandalism cut pretty deep. Broken/smashed windows... glass everywhere... too many rooms to really count... I know it wasn't our kids. We had such a great start the last 2 days. I really think that it was probably the few that our Principal told were no longer permitted to attend CHS... I just want to cry... scream... and hit something... this just SUCKS!

Potluck Recipes

Am posting the recipes for Noodle Pudding and the pulled chicken, just in case :-)

Crock Pot Pulled Chicken

Ingredients
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
¼ cup vinegar
¾ cup chopped onion
2 T Worcestershire
½ t salt
2 T dried basil
2T dried parsley
1t ground thyme
1 can (10.5 oz) condensed Tomato soup

Layer chicken in bottom of crock pot, combine all other ingredients in bowl and pour over chicken. Cover tightly and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Shred chicken with fork and cook for approximately 1-2 hours or until done through. Serve on hamburger buns.

Notes: I rarely measure anything, so season to your own taste... I have added molasses at times, and even commercial BBQ sauce... anything I add I do so after the meat has been shredded, and do so to taste... have fun! I prefer potato rolls instead of hamburger buns…


Noodle Pudding

Ingredients
½ - 1 lb wide egg noodles
½ lb butter softened
1 cup sugar
2 tsp Vanilla
1 lb sour cream
½ lb cream cheese softened
6 large eggs
1 large can cherry pie filling

Cook Noodles with salt. Grease baking dish (9x13). Line the bottom of the dish with noodles. Mix all other ingredients except cherry pie filling together and pour over noodles. Bake in 350o oven for 1 hour. Cool 5 minutes, pour cherries on top and bake again for 10 minutes.

Notes: A great brunch dish! Best when served hot.

Ravelry...

I keep wondering if I'll ever be invited...

I am #21699 on the list.
10889 people are ahead of me in line.
7993 people are behind me in line.
35% of the list has been invited so far

I don't think those numbers add up to my being invited any time soon...

I keep hearing about all of the time that people spend there, so maybe it's a good thing since I am supposed to be back at work... hmmm makes you wonder where my priorities are.

Today was a good day at school... kids were excited to be here and it was fun... they did ask about books, but didn't seem to upset when I said that it may have to wait a week... or at least until Tuesday. Am still going to get those rows down on teh swing coat, especially since the last official knit-a-long is next week... But with Stitches being open until 6, I may be able to spend some more time there than I expected... Poor Jan, Linda, Heather, and Sara... lol

Potluck and one project down...

Yippee! Finished my turtleshell mitts tonight at the knit and eat at my LYS. and Linda even let us schedule another one :-) What fun!

Tomorrow I need to do 15 rows on my waves and another repeat on the swingcoat... I figure if I take small bites I'll be able to finish... My logic was flawed tonight at the potluck, too many yummy dishes to try!

First days

So the students arrived, as I knew they would and all went well... more or less. The great news is that the books arrived today, so hopefully they will be delivered in time for classes tomorrow. Still no supplies, but who am I to complain.

As for my projects... I am almost through with my turtleshell mitts, and have made some progress on my waves scarf... now to get cracking on that second helmet liner and my swing coat. My goal was to have them done before I start the Wallaby... am still hopeful, but probably not realistic.

Have to admit that it was a good day all things together, and tonight is the potluck at my lys I can't wait! Knitting and food.... what more can I ask for? Maybe my boyfriend being around more...? Nah... lol

Venting 101

There should be a course in venting... how to vent appropriately... how to vent professionally... with whom to vent... but that may be the purpose of blogging...

So students arrive in my classroom tomorrow, no supplies, no textbooks.... I have plenty of yarn... maybe I should teach them to knit instead of math? Not likely, don't know if I want to share my needles. :-)

I have failed completely at my goal of whittling down my yarn stash this summer. Perhaps spending all of that time at my LYS knitting wasn't the best plan in order to see that goal to fruition. I also have not finished the projects that I set out to complete... still so many on needles, and so many waiting to begin. I have made progress... one of my turtleshell mitts is off the needles, a scarf is almost done, but the swingcoat needs some serious attention as does the waves scarf, and I really should get started on my wallaby. Perhaps tomorrow...oh wait I have to go to work, and deal with the no books thing, and the no supplies... and my classroom is a mess.... and.... and.... time to scream... nah, I'll just go knit...

First Day...

So the first day of school... at least for teachers. No supplies, no textbooks, and in some cases no access to classrooms. So therapy began as soon as I got home. 15 rows on the waves scarf and I did the cables correctly this time... am a little calmer, but have to make a Walmart run to buy essentials for my classroom. So it may be the swing coat for the therapy after that bill.

Cables... ARGH

So, I'm working on my big waves scarf (free pattern from knitpicks) ... my first cable attempt, and admittedly it's been awhile since I worked on it... but you would think that I would remember (A) that I did a cable cast on so the tail is at the start of even rows and (B) that when it says to hold the cable needle to the back, that you actually do have do put the cable needle behind... ARGH!!! Thank heaven for for Sara and Linda at Stitches! Maybe I should have started with a cable pattern that is smaller than 24? But it looked so yummy! And knitting it with Victor is very soothing.

Back to school on Monday! THis weekend was teacher appreciation at Staples and Office Depot, so I certainly made the rounds... Especially important since none of the supplies that I ordered have yet to arrive at school. Another great start :-/

First Timer

So, I've been reading blogs for a while, and have decided to venture out with one of my own... Hopefully this will indeed, "Beat Therapy"!

I use my yarn addiction as a cheaper form of therapy... it really is mindful meditation, and does help. I'm sure those that know me from my LYS wonder how crazy I really am, if knitting calms me.

With back to school coming at me like a train, I'd better get to work on the many projects that I've started... I think that I should probably finish something soon, instead of just buying more needles (though that does sound appealing). Currently am working on my first pair of socks, a pair of fingerless mittens, a large waves scarf (my first attempt at cables), a swing coat, an argosy scarf, a Rigaletto scarf, a basic long row scarf (with really yummy yarn).. I don't think I should have started this list.... But I need to free up some needles to start my Wallaby!