In the Gray Zone

I am in a strange place.  I call it the gray zone. This occurs when the various aspects of my life start to change and move without my permission. So I'm waiting for a final job interview next Tuesday where I have to fly to Chicago.  it involves leaving at 5:30 AM and arriving home around 10:30 PM.  I'll be on a plane, meeting 7 or more new people and then flying home.  I feel like I can't look at other job opportunities because I'm so thinking about this one. At least I don't have to change time zones. 

I'm also at odds with my housework.  When my house is out of order, I feel out of order.  I have been out of work for two months and have only cleaned out the "yarn room" closet which, granted, was a huge task.  I feel...uh...discombobulated (yes, that's a real word). When the Texas Rangers decided to mess up not just one, but two opportunities to clench the World Series of Baseball last night, I had to jump up and DUST for goodness sakes!!!!

I am even off in my knitting.  I made those mittens for no one in particular.  I spent the afternoon yesterday with my mother and ended up with another thing to make for her. And then for no reason whatsoever, I started a swatch of a pattern I saw online. I purchased some gray variegated wool to match her Sassy Scarf that I made her for her birthday in order to make some fingerless gloves that she would like to have.  I also purchased some hat wool for my niece and nephew.  He's in the army so I thought a soldier's black watch-cap would be good and then hers is a soft black and grayish white with some antique buttons to go with his hat. 

So here it is, the gray zone in yesterday's yarn purchase, visual proof. 

First Mitten

So this is my first mitten.  I am not sure why I waited so long to try this.  Its been a breeze really.  I wasn't going to write about the mitten until I'd actually completed it but I think this is substantially complete.  Just 5 or 6 more rows and the bind off/weave in ends. I bet the hardest part is making the second one.

While knitting this I practiced not looking at the knitting.  I figured its like typing.  So sometimes I did pretty good and sometimes I just had to look.  I am surprised at how easily I picked it up.  Not that I'm great at it but with some practice....

This mitten (and hopefully its identical twin) will match the beret I made last month.

I also realize that I haven't written about the ice pack pouches yet.  I had frogged a sweater that was aweful but saved the pieces because they were fairly rectangular.  Earlier in the summer I had made a friend some wash clothes and she commented that they were perfect for wrapping an ice pack in (when here daughter had the wisdom teeth taken out) and so super soft, except they needed to be enclosed on the ends.  So if any of that makes sense, this is what I did for her:  Made two ice pack pouches out the sleeves of the frogged sweater. Yipes, I don't know that I understand it either.

Another Item that I finished is the "Kisses" hat.  I initially made this for my step-grand-daughter but I am rethinking this.  I may give it to my little cousin who is 7.  I'll have to work that part out.

So that's it for now.  I really need to focus on my outstanding projects.  Some of them I am no longer interested in.  I think as soon as put an item on a list meant for completion it becomes a "not gonna do it" project.  /sigh.

Yarn Harlot Sighting in Fairview Texas

It was a warm evening.  Around 82F, which is 30 degrees cooler than this summer if you think about it.  I left home at 4:30 so I would arrive in Fairview by 5:30.  My plan was to arrive, get a bite to eat, have a cup of coffee find a seat or space in line.  It all worked out great.  It went according to plan.  The sandwhich I had at A Real Bookstore was just great. Okay, not just great, I mean really great.  They even gave me two small bites of cookie and cake that were awesome.  I don't know what was in that cookie but I would drive another hour for another quarter of a cookie to be honest.

So in true Texas form the ladies arrived with about half in flipflops, about another 30% in tennis shoes and then the rest of us (and that is very few) in boots.  I had on my black boots, and sat by a nice lady who not only had on some pretty snazzy boots but periodically read me the Texas-Cardinals World Series of baseball score that her husband was texting to her.

I sat between two women who's husband's, like mine, were at home having an aneurysm over the baseball score.  As it turned out, the Texas Rangers won and all was well.  We were afraid of what our homes would look like when we got home if they lost.

Best of all, 90% of us were knitting, laughing, knitting, sharing, knitting.  Really fun.  We sat there for an hour and I won't say waiting because it's not like waiting when you have your knitting.  My Observations:  most knitters don't look directly at the knitting while knitting.  I was astounded.  I taught myself to knit and usually knit at home or, if away from home, I'm the only knitter.  So being in a situation where everyone was looking at each other whilst knitting was a new phenomenom. Holy Buckets, Batman!!!

The bookstore person introduced her as Stephanie Phee-McPearl.  Small snickering occured with this.  I think most of us were going "hmmm, that's not quite right, is it?"

So here we go:

First Sighting

Me and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The New Book



The Signature

 So I could tell she was exhausted.  I was at the signing table about 30 seconds.  Our conversation consisted of how she couldn't get any decent vegitarian food and I explained that she was, in fact, in beef country.  We took pictures. I moved on. As I was leaving I couldn't help but feel that my 30 seconds of meeting someone I admire so much was an inconvenience for her and I was glad to be leaving her in peace.  I would do it over again but next time, I'll just opt out of the book signing part.  I'll enjoy the reading and then head for the farm to see the baseball game.

I can't remember when I've had such a fun, funny and interesting evening.  "Thanks for coming to Texas, YH.  When you come next time, I'm going to wave at you from across the room, Okay?"

All Wound Up in Texas!

So in just 5 days the Yarn Harlot (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee) will be here in Texas, close enough for me to get a good look at her.  I don't know if I'll get to get very close but I am planning to go to the book signing in Fairview on Monday. I've invited all my friends who knit to come along for the ride.  I had forgotten about the signing and then Amazon sent me a note that my Pre-Ordered book would arrive today.  Nice.

Well, anyway, that's all I had to say really.  I'm working on the Christmas present list and will have an update later next week or sooner if I finish sooner.  But one thing is for sure, I will have a Yarn Harlot/Yetti sighting blog come Tuesday next. Yippeeeeee!!!!

LK

My Sister's Hat

I have made my sister a hat for christmas.  I think its pretty good.  Last Christmas I made her a shrug and she didn't seem pleased with it at all.  I am hoping this one goes over better.  It feels great (its mostly wool and nylon) and sooooo soft!

The Red Hat:

 

I

I've been trying to come up with a scarf that goes well with this.  I've started and frogged the scarf 5 times. So far all I have is this and it doesn't lay flat so I am thinking its not going to fly either.  Hmmmmm...



I would also like to add a memorial to a young man who passed yesterday.  He will be sorely missed.  British IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon died from injuries after his car went sailing through the air during a 15-car wreck at the Las Vegas Indy 300 on Sunday.

 

Be at peace, Dan (1978-2011)

Cloudy Skies

We've been having some rain here lately.  It didn't rain two drops this past summer but all weekend we had a lovely, steady rain.  I have the proof of it:  my hair is really a humidity gauge.  As soon as the himidity started to rise, my hair started to curl.  Here's to good hair days again, Hurrah!!!!

If I could be any busier, I can't imagine how.  I've been knitting, reading,  and interviewing for jobs.  I went out an bought 2 suits last night for interviewing.  Just need to take them to the tailor for adjustments.  Yes, I could do it myself but I'm too busy! And that's a good thing.

So today I have bunches to do but here is a sample of the current Christmas in Process:

I now have to consider putting sleeves on the Swathe sweater from last year....Knit on!

Christmas Part Un

I have Christmas presents in full production.  I have the hats done except for one which I'll do later.  I can't decide if I want to add scarves and gloves to this package or not.  I guess I'll need to see how time permits.  Since I have four nieces, I have to think in multiples of 4s!!









For the "gypsy" side of the family I thought I'd make lucky dice bags for my aunt, uncle and grandmother's favorite dice.  I'd need three, so one down, 3 to go.  Yes, I can count, I have to make one for my mom too.  She gets one of everything!!!

Now this little treasure is made from German wool.  It is so pretty, the picture doesn't do it justice.  Of course, I'm giving this to my sister.  She's a bit hard to please and doesn't think too much of hand knit thingys.  Maybe she'll change her mind...???

So this you've seen before but I still haven't finished it.  For my step-mom.  I think a matching hat to go with it.

This is a boa scarf I started a while back.  Just completed.  Not sure who I would give it to.  Maybe my sister-in-law, Elaine if she lets me give her something!

 I mentioned before that I didn't have a winter coat.  It really doesn't get that cold here but I did make myself one.  This involved getting out the sewing machine and finding thread and what not. And the fake wool skin made enough fluff to make a sheep, no kidding, baaaaah....

...and I needed a hat to go with it, for me.