Pinwheeling

There is -- I kid you not -- a Knit-a-long for the Pinwheel baby blanket a pattern I wrote when Nik was a wee one. And there are actually people participating in this along! You could knock me over with a feather!

I am truly amazed..... and now speechless

The House that Isabel Built

So we all know of the damage that Hurrican Isabel did on her trip along the East Coast. My neighborhood was no exception and if you've read any of my blog(s) then you know what happened around here.

My neighbor and friend, John was really hit hard. His house which sits over the River was absolutely flooded. There was over 4 feet of water in his living room and his outside 'fridge was floating down the street.

Well, it's been 2 years and he's finally gotten the necessary permits, builder, and County approval to start building his home. Talk about progress! His first and what he thought would be the hardest battle was actually with his insurance company. But he was wrong, that wasn't the worst battle it was actually the County and State permits. HA!!

Anyway, officially yesterday a crew of guys and machines moved into the neighborhood and started taking down trees and shrubs. Really looks odd now. John wasn't allowed to repair his current house (it's condemned!) he has to build a new house. And not in the same place, it has to go further back on the property. The lot belongs to John. It's a really wooded lot, well it was. Now it's pretty much empty.

So just for the fun of it, I've started taking photographs of this house. Wanna see? Go here. The plans are lovely and looks like the house is going to be wonderful. Another great place to host parties.

So if over the next few months I seem a bit more odd then usual it's because of the noise. Sometimes I think if I hear any more beeping (how far is he going to back that thing up?) chain saws, and hammering I'm gonna go hurt someone.

The shrug was indeed finished and it's beautiful. The pattern has been written and checked over. And hopefully this afternoon I'll get the divine Miss M to model for it's photo shoot. Now on to a summer shell. This time using Noro Renge Cotton. Very lovely and feels almost like silk.

Beth Brown Reinsel

Anyone interested there is a Beth Brown Reinsel Workshop being offered at A Good Yarn in Baltimore, Maryland.

Here's the scoop:

Beth Brown Reinsel Twined Knitted Mittens
Cost for Class: $75.00 which includes lunch, snack, coffee, tea, water
Date: July 16, 2005 - Saturday
Time: 11:00am - 6:00pm with 1 hour break for lunch from 1:00 - 2:00 and 4:00 snack break
Place: Mother Seton Academy, Ann Street, Baltimore, Maryland

There is an additional $10.00 fee (at the door) which will cover your instructional handout (from Beth), yarn, post-it notes and one set of size 6 double point needles.

Please bring with you:
Tapestry/yarn needle
stitch markers
scissors

There are 12 spaces left. Please call the shop to secure your space at this workshop. We will have a waiting list once all spaces have been filled. If you need a refresher on using double point needles, there is a "Help Class" every Thursday evening from 7-9:00pm. If you are coming from outta town and would like a place to stay for the evening, you can email me (knitgenia -at-AOL-dot-com) or leave a comment and I'll send on a list of possible venues. For more information on Beth Brown Reinsel you can read about her and her workshops on her website.

Another thought inspiring meme

EEK!! It’s Friday the 13th. So am I worried? No. Well, maybe but I’ll deal with it. Besides I’ve got a black cat on my side.

I’ve been tagged!! Dani has tagged me with this neat lil meme. So many choices some fun, some rather…… well bizaar. But all requiring some thought. The hardest part is who to tag next…..

The Premise:

Pick 5 of the following and then complete the sentences. Then pass it on to 3 more of your blog friends! But no tag backs!

If I could be a scientist¦
If I could be a farmer¦
If I could be a musician¦
If I could be a doctor¦
If I could be a painter¦
If I could be a gardener...
If I could be a missionary¦
If I could be a chef...
If I could be an architect¦
If I could be a linguist¦
If I could be a psychologist¦
If I could be a librarian...
If I could be an athlete¦
If I could be a lawyer¦
If I could be an inn-keeper...
If I could be a professor¦
If I could be a writer...
If I could be a llama-rider¦
If I could be a bonnie pirate¦
If I could be an astronaut¦
If I could be a world famous blogger...
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world¦
If I could be married to any current famous political figure¦

1) If I could be a bonnie pirate I would be sailing the Baltic and Mediterrian Seas and other places warm, blue and wild. I’ve just recently gotten a taste of sailing and standing at the Helm of a sailing ship and shouting orders; waves crashing; sails fully bellowed out; and striking fear in the hearts of other sailing captians and their vessels. Whoa! Warm blue water, white sandy islands to hide my pilages….. hmmmmm

2) If I could be an inn-keeper my place would be where folks stopped on their home to find out the latest gossip of the town; have a drink and quick bite to eat with friends; and spend romantic weekends with spouses/loved ones. My place would be bright and offer a good cup of coffee, a meal to look forward to, and a welcome smile to all who enter.

3) If I could be a gardener I would have flowers that would make you smile and detour your day just to pass by and have a look to see what was in bloom that day. There would be veggies for dinner and veggies to share and veggies and flowers to take to the farmer’s market.

4) If I could be an architect my style of building would more incorporate what is already available and making use the current structure and space rather than to tear down and build up new. I like the older styles of buildings (before those built in the 1970’s) and think it’s a crime take down an apartment building or office building just because it’s not shiny, or the floors are dull.

5) If I could be a professor I would be teaching the values of what we have and how to make the best of our current resources. You know along the lines of natural fibers and the uses of them. I know it’s already being done and that there are wonderful professors and teachers out there teaching about the uses of wool, cotton, linen and such. But I would want to show my students just how to use these fibers hands on. Maybe not necessarily by knitting (though that would be a start) but also by weaving, spinning and felting.

I think I'm going to think more on my answers and possibly tweak them later.

I’m tagging Lola, Michael, and Evelyn. These are three blogs that I really enjoy reading and will be looking forward to some adult-like comments!

Pirates! Really.

Keep those needles clickin’!

Here’s something else for you:


You actually don't unlock anything; you're the
winding key for an old grandfather clock. Few
people know how important you are unless you
aren't there, but there are a few who treasure
you all the time. You help people keep moving
forward, but you also help them through the
present by reminding them of the past.

What sort of key are you and what do you unlock?
brought to you by Quizilla

Maryland Sheep & Wool

I was so close to finishing up a pretty good post when BAMMO the blasted computer shut me down and everything was lost. Man, I hate when that happens! Makes it really difficult to write it all again. Especially when you got all those links included in the post.

So, here goes again. This time I’m using Microsoft Word to type this sucker out first and saving it as I go along. I’ll teach this computer to quit on me!

So first the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Yes, I was there on Sunday with the grrls in tow. We met up to shop with Alana and her son, Logan; Kim and Michelle. Alana and Kim are virgin Festies and also rather pregnant which gave our shopping experience a slow easy pace. Logan (a feisty 3 yo) adores Myla and has now also taken a bit of shine to CJ so they were a HUGE help with him while his mommy got her fiber desires filled. And then I got to rock him to sleep (my own specialty!) I stood firm on my intention not to go over board buying yarn this year and I actually didn't! I bought just one skein of yarn from Kiparoo Farms called "got dots?" that still has a bit of lanolin in it and will make a lovely pair of mittens. I also picked up my annual bag of Moth Beware from Simpler Thyme. I just love this mixture of goodies and won’t even think of putting away the winter woolies without it. Cj picked up on some wonderful soaps for her mom there for Mother's Day. Smart grrl!

Sorry that Annie from Kiparoo Farms doesn't have a website yet. But you can catch them on the Countyside Artisans Studio Tour. This tour happens three times a year and is great fun! Also she and Dallas of Dancing Leaf Farm host a Fiber Weekend and a couple of picnics every year. Much fibery goodness to be had by all!

We did get to have a blast at Wool in the Woods. Anita (owner of W/W) suggested filling the Shop’s order while we were there to save on shipping costs - invoice to be mailed later. So we called the Shop, and Lorraine talked with Anita and said that Lorraine wanted 40 colored skeins of Feelin’ Fuzzy (kid mohair), the entire lot of natural kid mohair and some other bunch of yarn. So I did a happy dance (as seen done by the Bald Guy of 6 Flags fame) and dug in! The big fun came later when we were carrying the yarn away in a LARGE clear plastic bag and got lots of envious looks from other knitters. LOL

If you’ve never used any of Wool in the Woods yarns run, don’t walk to your favorite yarn shop and pick up a skein or two or three and give it a try. Not only are the colorways beautiful, but the yarns just work for everything. My own DH gave us a pretty drop jaw of shock when we walked in the house with the bag. I didn't have my digital with me (left it at work) but have a little something or other camera that we paid a whole buck for. Cross your needles that the photos come out okay for us.

So now on to Myla’s birthday! I still can’t believe our little girl is going to be 16 years old. And yes, she’s still horse crazy! And in case you were wondering, the phone rings often with wannabees for our Myla.

Grrrr!

It's irritating to love the looks of a garment, read over the pattern (okay, I don't read it over very closely), find the "perfect" yarn, jump into the knitting only to find not one but three mistakes! The new Cast On May-July 2005 issue is out. I really love the look of the Cafe Cardigan and have a great yarn for it too! Even got gauge. So, I've cast on and I'm knitting away and lo and behold the number of stitches they tell you to cast on is one too many. Okay, this is really not a problem but can be if one is a blind follower.

The lower border is completed. Now to the fun stuff -- cables and lace. Here comes the next problem.....there are still too many stitches in the pattern. Okay, so we sit down and graph it out to work. Knitting away, here comes the next problem. Now there is a problem with the lace pattern. You have a decrease in stitches and no mention of making up the difference. Okay, insert another fudge in the pattern.

Now comes the next and pretty big problem -- there is no mention of how many rows are between the lace repeats. Insert another fudge.

Okay, now I know you are wondering "G, why haven't you gone to the Cast On website and picked up the corrections for the pattern?" Well my faithful reader, I did and there were no mention of the problems I've mentioned. So if you decide to knit this pattern let me know, I'll send you my fixes.

On to more fun stuff!!! My Secret Pal sent me another package!! Yippee!! She made me a top whorl spindle and sent me a baggie of Romney to spin with instructions (that even make sense). She has been such a wonderful Secret Pal!! Thank you very much Lana. So, when does SP5 start?

Lots of things on the plate for May. My dear Miss Myla will be 16 this month! I'm still reeling over that one. Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is this weekend coming. I'll be there on Sunday with Myla and my cousin, Carleigh (two of my most favorite people to fest with.) MMK Guild meeting is today we're working on "Tilting at Windmills" and are planning to donate it to the Church were we meet for a possible auction item. A dear friend of ours, Megan is graduating this month from George Washington University! Which is in fact the start of the rant at the beginning of this post. I'm hoping to finish the Cafe Cardigan in time to wear to the soiree after Megan's graduation. It will look lovely with my linen dress -- which I've never worn before because it's sleeveless.

Also coming up soon for those in the Annapolis area is Knit & Crochet Annapolis. Next Monday, May 9th at the Borders Cafe in the Annapolis Mall starting at 7:00pm. Come join us! Meeting other knitters/crocheters/crafters is fun. Everyone is welcome!