New Picture Friday

So, we've established the fact that vacation is over. This is the very last summer Friday of 2007. I am home through September 10th now, with two days of telecommuting in there, next Thursday and next Friday. There is no excuse to not finish the new wallaby and the new socks. Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that I started a new Wallaby? Breaking all the rules here. I have to re-do the toes of the Jaywalkers, add the fringe to the poncho and still I have two new WIP: Tofutsies socks - Sailor's Rib and another Wallaby in size 12 for my nephew. This is also out of CottonEase, color is Lake. I wish that they'd come out with more colors already! Maybe later I will do the pouch on this. I am feeling tired today.

In other news, the washing machine broke down and the new one doesn't come until next Thursday. I got one of those top of the line front loader ones that does everything. Amazing that we used to get by with less than this. Everything gets cheaper (tvs, tape decks, computers, etc.) except appliances. They get fancier all the time. I think this one makes grilled cheese.

In other news, I am still reading Harry Potter! I am having a hard time staying away at night. I am also procrastinating about taking apart my entire house and getting rid of junk that we don't need. I also have to pay the bills, do laundry, vacuum the pool, go food shopping and knit. There is just no time for anything else. Maybe I'll win lotto and will have a maid, a nanny and a pool boy to take care of the pool.

Oh well, kids, who are still in their PJs and it's 11:00 AM, are watching Spiderman, the first movie. I matters well add some rows to my socks.....

Pink Wallaby Done!

Ta Da! The Pink Wallaby is all done!

Pink Wallaby, Knit Picks Options size 6 and 8. Cotton Ease, color Berry, Start date: July 18th, End date: July 29th.
Well, that was just another lovely project. If you look closely, the left side pocket trim is a little messed up. I don't know what happened. I should've left it alone. I had a spot of looser stitches so I tried to distribute them better with a crochet hook and got carried away and had this giant loop mess thing going on....It's OK, kid's clothing. I would've redone it had it been for me. I also made the stockinette stitch hood this time, stretchier and can be worn more comfortably and for a longer period of time. I made the sleeves two at once, magic looping and they got done very quickly. This was a very nice short project and will be added to my Christmas knitting.

I am also picking up the Jaywalkers once more and hopefully they will get done this week. I cannot find two things in the house and it's very annoying. Honest, I am a very good record keeper. I used to be an excellent record keeper when it was just me. Now that there are four of us, there are more records to keep. Anyway, the day before I took my last vacation, I think that was June 28th or so, I took my socks book to work and my poncho pattern to work. I can't write on the poncho pattern, it's laminated. So, I made ONE COPY for my PERSONAL use. I stuck it in my sock book and put it in my laptop bag. I have the books but not the pattern or the copy. I have looked all over and I am beginning to think that I left it at work. I will look tomorrow, tear apart my desk.

The other thing that I can't find is more important. For the past 14 years, I have had the same car. It's a nice 1994 Mercury Sable. It's on it's second engine. That's a long story, but here's the cliff notes...the car was recalled due to an O ring problem. I brought it back in but the mechanics at the dealer told me it was my imagination. I guess that the temp gauge is supposed to go up and down, a symptom of the problem. If the problem isn't corrected, the engine blows. I brought the car home and drove it for the next week and it drove and sounded like *$_D@@#. So, I pull into the gas station by my house......I put the thing in for the gas to pump...I pay at the pump, I get back in and BANG!!! The engine blew right there. The nice man who had dollar signs in his eyes, came over and helped me move it out of the way and I walked home. The dealer had to go there, tow it, fix it. Somehow I had to pay $1,100 but I don't remember the details, this was years ago. I kept the car like new. I hardly drove, being I worked in the city and oftentimes just walked to the train. Later, we bought a minivan and I gave this car to hubby who ran it into the ground and had the inside looking like crap. It now has 101,000 miles on it. Whoever has the kids takes the minivan and being he's a teacher and home for the summer, he has the van and the kids and I commute in the car. The other day, temp gauge problems. It turned out to be the thermostat but the mechanic told us "It's time". You know, like when the vet tells you, "She's in pain". So, Friday night on the way home from work, I bought a Chevy Equinox. It's nice and we get it on Tuesday night. I got the LS with side air bags, FWD, sunroof. There isn't much optional equipment that I would want so I was happy with the base model.

Oh yes, back to what I was saying, what to do with my Merc? I can't find the title so I didn't trade it in, not that I'd get anything for it. I tore apart the house and still can't find the title. I am letting one of my friends at work look at it tomorrow and if he wants it, he can make me an offer. If he doesn't, I'll donate it and get a small tax deduction. He's a good mechanic and can fix it and sell it or whatever. After that, the plates come off and we wait for my replacement title to come in the mail. Another $20 that I didn't need to spend but what the heck, I've gone through thousands of dollars this summer and I just don't know where it's coming from.

We still have to fix the leak in the kitchen and we need a new front door. And we bought a pool a camera and a car instead! Some people never grow up, right?

We were supposed to go and see the first place minor league team, the Long Island Ducks play tonight but the game got rained out and postponed until Monday, August 6 at 7:05PM. I guess they'll pick me up at work that night and we'll head on out. We'll see. Should be fun. We'll be going with the Day Care Crew. You know, my son has more friends that I do...!

Still learning how to use the camera a bit. I have to tinker some more. It's fun!

Well, back to the Jaywalkers!

Midweek Quickie Post

Hi everyone! Just have a few minutes before heading out to continue making license plates so I thought I would post.

The size 6 Wallaby on my average sized 3 year old:

I am up to the placket and neck openning, only a tad past where I was when this picture was taken the other day. Remember, I've been reading Harry. I hate having two projects going on. The Wallaby should've been done and I'm only on page 150 or so of Harry. The Jaywalkers sit in my basket. They're up to the gusset decreases now. If I just get past that spot, I'll sail through the foot one morning before work and do the toe at night. The plan: finish this Wallaby, finish the Jaywalkers and start a new Wallaby and a new pair of socks. Big ol' man socks will be next, with Trekking Tweed, a rib pattern that I will pick out very soon.

AND, we'll be taking pictures of everything with the new camera!

That's another reason why I haven't posted or knitted. Last night, kids were in bed and hubby was off teaching a music lesson. The camera arrived yesterday and I read the entire manual. It wasn't that long, I got through it easily. I'm familiar with how cameras work, shutter and aperture, ISO speed and all that. I'm not sure how to take pictures totally on manual though. This morning, I took some shots of my lillies on 'flower' setting. I'll take some more on different settings and hopefully have a nice post for the weekend. Maybe beach (it's own setting) and sunset (also it's own setting) and if it snows, SNOW SETTING! Unfortunately, we'll have to wait awhile to try that out. I am not currently planning a trip to the Southern Hemisphere. This is the first time I've had a camera without a viewfinder. It's weird not holding it up to my face but it's nice because I can take pictures with my glasses on!

The puppy is calming down a bit but still digging holes to China. Hubby and kiddies put bricks under the soil all around the yard so she can't explore the neighbor's yards. We really don't want her to eat the rabbit next door. On the other side, there are two dogs that are each four times her weight and she terrorizes them. My 14 year old Sheltie, Bonnie, has arthritis and Zoey bothers her. Bonnie went to the vet due to limping and is on medicine. She's better today. Other than that, she's in pretty good health for a 14 year old dog. I'll post a picture of her very soon.

This weekend, we are going to a Ducks game with DS's old daycare buddies, a/k/a "The Four Families". We each had a first born boy in daycare at the same time. The kids all will go to different schools but the families are very close. We've vacationed together and everything! It's nice that we stay tight with them. I love them all very much! We are also going to a BBQ at one of the Four Families' house. This will also be a very busy weekend. I'd best get those two new projects started by Saturday morning so I can bring them and be at the easy part for the game.

Harry and the Wallaby

Happy Harry Day! My book arrived yesterday by Owl...I mean postman..I think! At first, when the Postman was walking up to my door, I said, "It doesn't look like you have my Harry book .... " and he said, "No, I do! It's in the bag, I couldn't carry it!" And here it is. Year 7. The Final Year.

He should've sent the Owl.

Having little time this very busy weekend......I am currently on page four.........

We hit the beach today. I brought knitting, not the book. I want to get those sleeves attached tonight. The waves were nice and low and the ocean was quite calm. You can see in the background right here behind my DS who is looking very handsome. He looks alot like my dad there for some reason.

One must always have nothing but respect for the ocean. Even though the waves were calm, there was a rip current. Not too dangerous, not enough wind to drive the waves hard. To those of you from the midwest, I remember seeing crop circles from the airplane when I flew out to Las Vegas. Well, they probably mean something. You might not have ever seen a rip current so I'll explain. It's when the waves break crooked on the beach, sometimes slightly and sometimes really hard. This example is a small rip current. They break and suck the water back through a trough, which forms from the crooked waves. The current in the trough is very strong and can suck you out to sea. To escape, you must swim across the trough and then let the waves carry you back to the beach. You will not be able to swim in a rip current. You would tire easily and possibly drown.

Here is a very small rip current, not too dangerous at this point. The man on the right (ruining my shots!) is standing in water that is pulling back out to sea at a different rate than the rest, forming the gully in the sand. Do you see it? See the girl on the left, on sand, he's still in the water. To his left, sand, to his right, sand. Notice the small wave breaking right at the center of the trough. That's the danger spot. Now watch....

See the two people in the water in the middle of the picture on the shot below? Just behind and to the right of them is a small eddy formed by the rip current. That can become potentially hazardous, particularly if this widens and becomes stronger.

One can never be to leary of the ocean. You never know when you may get that rogue wave!

DS running away as a particularly large one crashes to the shore!

I did go in the ocean and both kids swam in the waves. DS and I get out there and he says, "Ok, let go". So, I did, briefly. He wanted to swim to London...

As for my Cotton-Ease Wallaby, looking good!!!

Wallaby Update!

Have to show you my lovely pink Cotton-Ease Wallaby! Isn't she lovely? It's hard to see how nicely the pocket is fused. It's also hard to see that loose spot on the right that I have. I don't know what happened. I had a looser row of stockinette stitch and i tightened it a bit, working across the row with a little crochet hook. It needs a little more surgery to lie nicer. It's minor and can be fixed. I also haven't woven in the ends yet. It's starting to look more like a size 6. Suggestion: Make the body length longer than the pattern states. If you don't, it'll wind up at belt level, kinda short. I think that pullovers should be a little longer. Also, for a child, they can wear it longer. This is going to be slightly over sized for my THREE year old and it's a size 6. She is in the 65th percentile so she's an average sized three year old. (nearly 4..but still.) So, I suggest you watch the pattern and figure out the chest measurement. Her actual is 23" I believe (I will remeasure later) and the six actual completed is 27" unstretched. Be careful with the sizing for both children and adults. As for the sleeves, I chose the gradual method of increasing and I am magic looping them instead of knitting them flat like I did with hubbies. We'll see how I like a seamless sleeve. It's like making a sock, actually, with increases. Hmmn...this is giving me new ideas.

Here's how to do the sleeves this way. You CAN choose to drive yourself and do this:
1. Cast on half the number of sts for sleeve one. Then cast on ALL of the sts for sleeve two.
2. Put the ends of the needles together and attempt to join sleeve 2. I think...all these ends flapping around, a mess..

The easy way.
1. Using smaller needles, cast on all of the sts for sleeve one and do all of the ribbing. COUNTING THE ROWS.
2. When you've completed the ribbing and it's time to use the larger needle, knit half of the sts on the larger needle and then put the rest on a st holder or DPN. I use a DPN, size doesn't matter.
3. Cast on all of the sts for sleeve two and knit all of the ribbing, same number of rows as sleeve one.
4. Knit all of sleeve two onto the larger needle.
5. Knit the sts from the DPN onto the larger needle and there you have it.
6. At this point, you should have the tails both hanging to the left of each sleeve.
7. Mark beg of row to be at the left edge.
8. Now, magic looping, knit half of one sleeve, half of the other, pull needle through and knit half of the other and half of the original. You should be back at the marker and have completed row two of each sleeve.
9. Don't be an idiot like me. Once in awhile, I've knit socks together and it's a pain to fix, particularly if it's lacy.

I will post a better tutorial, with photos as soon as I get my new toy. Yes, yes, I sprang for a few bucks and ordered this camera. Tee hee. It does everything. We will be trying it out next weekend with beautiful posts of lovely scenery and my socks and sleeves. I can't wait for it to come!!! It has macro and sepia and black and white. Cool, hah?

Well, got a BBQ to attend this PM and I am making Florentine Artichoke Dip. Recipe link next time! Actually, I should post some of my favorite recipes. I've been collecting them for awhile, thinking one day of actually attempting to have a cookbook...we'll see. Need new Meal Master Software though, mine is obsolete. Note to self: look into recipe software.

Harry Potter book hasn't arrived yet. I am going to go and sit in my bow window, waiting attentively for the post man. I sure hope it comes today! I ordered it from Amazon and chose free shipping which means that I shouldn't get it right away but I think I will. I did last time. Oh boy! Now I have to read and knit and work and raise two kids and clean...and blog!

"So little time, so much to do! " , said the rabbit. (That would be the one that got Alice into trouble that day she fell in the hole.

Pink Wallaby

Time for the Wallaby Update. The sleeves were totally ripped out so I am making the official start date yesterday, 18th. I am using Cotton-Ease, color: Berry, Knitpicks Options size 6 and 8 and gauge is exactly on, 4.5sts per inch.

Here's the size 6. I know you can't tell from the photo but this again looks very small. There is no way that it would fit my son, who is a rather small 5 year old so making him a size 6 down the road is out. It will have a chest measurement of 27 inches. I am going to try it on my nearly 4 year old average sized DD and see if it fits her and then give it to her cousin for Christmas. One of her cousins. I have two nieces, one is 4 but petite and this should fit her. The other is 2 and is a bigger girl so we'll see. I was hoping to get two pink Wallabies out of my 7 skeins but it's not looking good. I have to wait until I am past the pocket fuse which is in about 4 rows and then we can see better. Also, I have this on a tiny cable so it's gathered at the top behind the pocket where you can't see. I am still concerned that this pattern runs very much on the small side. Am I the only one who feels this way? I see Wallabies all over the net but I don't see too many people complaining over the sizes they're getting....odd. I really am beginning to like this pattern. I particularly like the way that the pocket is fused, it's ingenious and it's neat and it's nice and perfect. Once you've done it once, it's really a snap.

When I get my 12 megapixel camera, I'll give you nice close-up of the pockets!

I'm gearing up for the new Harry Potter Book! Can't wait to read it but I also can't wait to finish another Wallaby. Stayed tuned for Harry and the Wallaby!

In other news, it appears that the massive headache was at least in part due to sinus issues. I wound up taking Claritin-D yesterday and today and although I am very thirsty, I only had a slight headache today. Certainly nothing to write home about. Thank GOD for that.

The puppy is getting a little bigger and alot stronger. She enjoys rough play from time to time which results in too much crate time. She's done growing and she's a little over 20 lbs but she's solid, sleek muscle. She gets that way from digging holes to China in the backyard.

Yesterday we had a very bad rain storm, as you saw from that picture I took yesterday. There was even a tornado about 15 miles east of here where the conditions seemed much worse. I don't think that this was expected to be as bad as it was. Naturally, it happened during the morning rush and there was alot of flash flooding. Dense, hard rain. I was very glad that my roof didn't leak, which it does do from time to time. Alot of people didn't make it in to work. Fortunately, I was scheduled to telecommute and I did so which was great. Phew!

Beautiful sunset tonight. Only one more month until vacation! I can't wait to see the Adirondacks again. I miss them and I haven't been up there since October.

Well, it's 8:32pm and it's time to knit. The kids are in bed, time to tackle pocket fusion.