twisted fate

I love my Toby.

2011-09-02T11:20:00.002-05:00

Apparently he was hunting badgers in my knitting again. The top one should be obvious, double points aren't supposed to look like that, the tooth pick was a Harmony circ, astoundingly he dropped two stitches of the hat on that one when he snapped it. And the empty space? That's supposed to be another of the double points that I haven't found yet, there's one of three left in that hat. Completely badger free though so there's that.

Found it!

2011-08-01T16:16:00.001-05:00

Prizes from Zebra!

2011-07-26T16:23:00.001-05:00

New friends

2011-07-22T21:47:00.001-05:00

Waiting Molly style.

2011-07-14T23:26:00.001-05:00

Nessie is done!

2011-06-25T21:08:00.001-05:00

2011-04-30T16:06:00.001-05:00

Blast! It doesn't fit properly. Just click on it for the full info and please help.
Tony Hawk on WhoSay

What was I thinking?

2010-12-03T17:20:00.001-06:00

Despite everything I lived through NaNoWriMo again this year even though it was the hardest NaNo since my first one. Gah. It was like my brain wanted to hibernate for the month and I had to take a sledgehammer to it to provide proper motivation.

Yeah. So.

I survived it and that’s all that can be said, onto December.

Christmas knitting to do, other knitting on the To Knit list and what do I do? Take on another commission. Good idea wasn’t it? Oh well, two months without sleep can’t be that bad for you can it? I’ll sleep after the Super Bowl… wait, that makes it three months. Maybe a nap here and there.

Got to go knit. Y’all have fun.

If you celebrate it

2010-11-25T23:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great day with friends and family!

Late Night Viewing

2010-11-24T23:16:00.001-06:00

I like to call Open Range my ‘crack Western’ if it’s on odds are better than even I’ll stop and watch a bit. Not only is it just a good movie but Kim Coates is in it and I’ve proved I’ll watch anything with him in it at least once and usually more than that.

*spoilers*

**and then I get maudlin, you might just want to go now.**

Lately though if I watch from the beginning I always have the bad timing to look up just as Charley is carrying Tig to bury her with Mose and it just kills me. I know it’s coming and I know if I look it’s worse and usually I don’t look but sometimes I don’t think and I look up from my knitting or the laptop and it’s bad all over again. I remember how hot I was and how oak trees have fearsome roots to hack through to dig a grave and how much I had never buried my own pet until that day, they were always someone else’s and I helped to spare the pain and how much I still want my sweet, goofy, weird looking, loving, heart owning dog back.

Sons of Anarchy Mystery Solved

2010-11-23T22:15:00.001-06:00

Damn you Kurt Sutter. Just in case I didn’t already love Tig enough I find out what this whole mess with Kozik is over a dog. I was expecting if I cried this season it would be over baby Abel. I was wrong when I saw Tig’s picture with his girl Missy. Damn.

I’ve known this season was going to hurt since April and tonight was the absolute topper to it.

Well done @sutterink

My Girl Tig (May 31, 2002 – April 15 2010)

Not dead yet.

2010-10-30T10:55:00.002-05:00

Wow, it's been a really long time since I've dropped by hasn't it? I'll try to change that but not today. Bob's Halloween party is tonight and I've got a lot to do before then. See ya later.

Fluffy mail today!

2010-06-23T13:39:00.000-05:00

By the numbers.

2010-02-07T21:22:00.001-06:00

February 7, 2010

Super Bowl 44

42 years in the League

1st Super Bowl appearance

1st Super Bowl victory

Would have been my Dad’s 71st birthday too.

Who Dat!

2010-02-07T21:02:00.001-06:00

To all the doubters and all the haters out there I only have two words to say to you:

WHO DAT!

2010-02-02T17:59:00.003-06:00

Which Supernatural Angel Are You?

More on Supernatural. Created by BuddyTV

Today

2010-01-19T23:37:00.001-06:00

Should be promoted to Monday.

It should have been a reasonable Tuesday, maybe a little more so because it was Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday but that was actually where I got my first hint that things were going wonky.

After that I found out that Robert B. Parker died at his desk yesterday doing what he loved and what I loved most about him – writing. He and Spenser and Hawk and Jesse Stone and all of the others will be sorely missed. I’m trying to decide which Spenser I want to start rereading first.

In an odd twist the argument could be made that Mr. Parker was Mr. Poe’s yearly visitor no? Probably not but I’d like that.

A little closer to home the rest of the day went more and more spectacularly wrong as the hours passed and that’s all I really want to say on the matter. Steps are being taken and tomorrow is another day according to Miss O’Hara so I suppose I’ll try again tomorrow.

Y’all have a good night, I’ll try to, it’s been better than my day but that’s not all that difficult.

Standing in Line

2010-01-15T18:58:00.001-06:00

I need to KIP more, just to spread the gospel of knitting but the main problem with that is I’m rarely in public that I’m not moving at speed to get done and get home.

Yesterday, however, I stopped on the way home to pick up a treat for Mom’s birthday and I knew from experience I’d have to wait while it cooked so this time I took my knitting in with me. A good idea as it turns out.

While I was waiting I met a nice lady that likes hats so she’ll be checking out the shop and an older man that crochets and was curious how knitting compared in mechanics. And a second man that wanted to know what I was making. Lots of friendly interest at the chicken counter yesterday.

I also learned that I should carry a hat around with me because it is a lot easier when asked “What are you making? A cap?” to answer, “Yes indeed. See?” Answering with “A sleep sack” draws blank looks that demand an explanation; so I explained, three times. The ladies behind the counter probably know more than they want to about sleep sacks now.

Maybe next time I’ll just lie and say “Why yes, it is a hat.” (At that point in the knitting it still could have turned into a hat but I love the way the colors are pooling so I’m going to carry on with the sack.) Or maybe not, this way I got to spread knitting and cloth diapering, that can’t be a bad thing.

Still not sure what next time will bring, today was another day of moving at speed to stay ahead of the rain so no knitting in line. There will be, however, lots of knitting now that I am at home. Y’all have a good night, I’m off to do that knitting now.

Waaaay too cold

2010-01-08T16:49:00.001-06:00

It's a little hard to see in the bad phonepic but I hung some freshly washed yarn (happy dog, waggy tail, can of Pepsi, emergency bath for the yarn) outside to drip for a few minutes before I brought it in to dry in front of a vent. Yes, those are, in fact icicles. The yarn was outside about 15 minutes. I need another hoodie.

A little better

2010-01-02T22:59:00.000-06:00

Warm Legs in action!

2010-01-02T22:52:00.001-06:00

I think this is the one and only knitted gift I managed to remember a picture of in any form or fashion. As soon as my 2yo niece opened her new Warm Legs she had to have her shoes off and the Warm Legs over her sweat pants. It was quite the lovely ensemble.

Another Sunday

2009-12-13T16:32:00.001-06:00

Another Sunday, another win and the Saints are off to their best start and most wins in a season ever. At 13-0 they not only locked up a playoff berth but a bye for the first week. Wahooo!!!

To celebrate use the code FranchiseBest when checking out and I’ll refund 13% of your purchase price (before shipping). Good for anything in the shop.

And to tempt you over there are a couple of new additions to check out.

Y’all have a good Sunday, I’ve got knitting to do.

Christmas Knitting

2009-12-12T15:25:00.001-06:00

Yep, I’m knitting for Christmas, I know it’s December 12, just hush. I figured if I put my list here then I wouldn’t be able to lose it. I might not come back and look at it until January just to avoid it but I definitely won’t lose it.

1. Greenhorn Hat – needs horns

2. Viking Helmet – needs horns attached

3. Nessie – needs one flipper and finishing

~~4. Girl Legwarmers~~

~~5. Boy Legwarmers~~

6. Goomba Hat – needs eyes, next for the head, drying

7. Snake Scarf – not looking likely

8. ~~Winchester Washcloths~~

9. Puggles

~~10. Fox Hat – needs ears, drying~~

~~11. Ruffled longies – not Christmas but need to be done, drying, need drawstring, needs to stop raining again so I can photograph~~

12. Girly Camo Longies – see 11

~~13. Brown Wrist Warmers – Sewing in ends is not hard but you can’t prove it by me.~~

14. Orange Wrist Warmers – I have two hands, so I must need two, and the one needs a thumb

15. F*** Off, I’m Trying to Read – I know a lot of readers

16. Dr. Pepper - no, not a knitted one, it’s a reminder

17. Black Hat – needs ds

18. Dwarf Hat – ripped back a second time and it’s still not for pinheads. – 3/4

19. Elementary x2

20. Death of Rats – ~~wash yarn and stop spilling things on all yarn~~ attempting to dry but it won’t stop raining

21. Squid – where did I leave that book?

22. Knitty – another reminder

If you watch carefully this list will change as I *gasp* finish things and probably add things to it. And if I’m really good, I’ll even remember to take pictures before the presents so away.

Snow!

2009-12-04T16:50:00.000-06:00

It’s raining! It’s snowing!

2009-12-04T15:20:00.001-06:00

But only at a distance. Up close I can see a flake now and again mixed with the rain but over against Mom’s field I can see the snow better. Until it hits the ground anyway, it’s over 40 here and much too warm for snow to stick. Yet.

Still don’t need that snow shovel though!

Currently

2009-12-04T13:55:00.001-06:00

Where am I again?

2009-12-03T22:24:00.001-06:00

Not a normal Louisiana forecast:

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN LAKE CHARLES HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR EXCESSIVE SNOWFALL.WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON FRIDAY TO 9 AM CST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

Psssstttt…

2009-11-13T16:50:00.001-06:00

Anybody wanta buy a spinning wheel?

Or two?

Sneak Peek

2009-11-13T16:33:00.001-06:00

New Hobby

2009-10-28T16:05:00.000-05:00

Well, I only said my dogs were non-knitting. Apparently Tig is taking up the lucet instead.

Brain Coral Tawashi

2009-10-26T20:59:00.001-05:00

Due to all the clamoring (thanks for asking katie) and to make up for the My-phone-has-no-flash-but-is-otherwise-awesome picture here is my "pattern" such as it is.

Worsted weight cotton or acrylic if you want, that one ^ is cotton.

DP needles, a bunch of them around size 6 or so, whatever you're comfortable using with the yarn I'm not entirely sure all of my needles were the same size and I'm good with that, they worked.

Using your favorite circular cast on, I used a crochet hook (you need one of those for about a minute too) and made 9 single crochets in a circle, just because I like 9 and 6 was very small. I'd show you 6 but Elder Child has claimed it, not real sure why.

Anyway, cast on your stitches, get them onto your double points and commence knitting one in front and one in back in each and every stitch. Don't worry about where rounds start or end, the only concern is when you feel the need to add another needle to the mix. I started with the stitched divided on two with one to work on and at the end had 10 in there only because I couldn't find any more within arms reach that were even close in size.

Contine k1f & k1b until you're throughly sick of it and/or your brain coral is the size you think you want. Cast off. Collect all your needles, sew in your ends and you have a brain coral. It's decorative and useful, you can use it to scrub dishes or yourself.

I'd post a better picture but it's cloudy today and now that one has disappeared in the night. I hope it's at the bottom of my knitting bag and not creeping around the house some... ack!

Pick Up Sticks!

2009-10-26T18:58:00.001-05:00

It really will turn out to be something. I hope. I'd cross my fingers but I think they're in there somewhere.

Cripes!

2009-10-24T21:03:00.001-05:00

A week and three hours until NaNoWriMo starts?

Gulp!

Where’d I leave those index cards?

Pocket Doxie!

2009-10-23T23:07:00.000-05:00

Picture Day!

2009-10-15T13:19:00.001-05:00

There has finally been a break in the rain long enough for the ramp to dry so out I scampered with the camera and various woolies that had been languishing for their photo op.

First up a couple of longies headed for the shop shortly.

Cherry Spritely:

and Kettle Corn:

a small Pixie hat with a tiny friend:

and longies still in the works:

Wow. Got the pictures done and this post written before tiny life starts stirring. Must dash, he’ll want to eat before we make the school run and likely the rain will start again.

Y’all stay dry out there and I wish I could send warm to those that are already cold. It’s almost up to 90 again today. Blagh.

D’oh!

2009-10-13T16:16:00.001-05:00

Some days I just feel like my brain is plugged in wrong. See, I have this knack for picking out obscure patterns and references that sometimes drives people around me crazy. I think it’s interesting making all these odd connections but sometimes it just doesn’t quite catch. Those are the ones that bug me.

The latest one: I watch Castle and it’s great. It’s funny, ABC is running it in order and I never have to guess what night and what time it is going to air. Hear that FOX? It’s amazing how well a good show does when people can find it to watch it. Anyway, last night at some point Nathan Fillion tweeted

Anyone catch the obscure Firefly reference in Castle just now? 6 min in?

Ummm… No. Surely I would have caught anything said about Firefly, I’ve watched the DVD’s countless times. (Hello? FOX?) How could I miss a Firefly reference? And of course I didn’t tape Castle last night, I watched it so I had to tape CSI Miami. I had to track down a friend that did tape it to get another look.

6 minutes in, nothing. A minute either side of that, nothing. Watching again. Nothing except Castle playing with his hands after he pulls on his latex gloves; don’t need extra fingerprints at the crime scene do we? I thought it was odd last night but hey. Watch again. Nothing but the gloves. And Castle’s hands. Flashing a peace… not a peace sign, a two. With blue gloves.

Ack! Two by two with hands of blue! I can even hear River saying it in my head over the clicking of pieces falling together.

That thunking noise? Ignore that, it’s my head banging against the side of my desk, the top is too messy. Maybe I’ll pull out Firefly tonight after NCIS, NCIS:LA and SoA. Wow, it must be initial night.

Y’all have fun, I have to find supper, can’t miss Gibbs.

Free Stuff!

2009-10-13T13:59:00.003-05:00

And a great blog if you're hopelessly addicted to all things pen like me.

Here

Para-dachs

2009-10-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

R2D2

2009-09-26T16:37:00.001-05:00

Little round guy, smarts off to C3P0 right? You know you remember him. He’s great; manages to convey all kinds of attitude without ever saying a word we can understand. I never thought I’d say this but right now I can, quite honestly say I hate R2D2, the dome topped little jerk.

A lot.

No, really.

I’m sure I’ll get over it soon but right now, not so much.

Surfing Ravelry late one night I ran across this pattern, here if you’re not registered and knew the perfect person to make it for; a friend of Elder Child that is a fanatic for all things Star Wars. Awesome, a project, a target, it’s all good right?

No, this just turned into one of those cursed projects that I normally send to a corner to think about its misbehavior or frog and retask. Not this time. It was a gift, I was going to finish, I still had two weeks, it’s a hat, not so tough. Well, I didn’t like the size of the Adult Small, my target is not a pumpkin head. Child sized is even faster to make but the party has been moved a week. To today in fact.

Last night all that was left was the duplicate stitch detailing to make the hat look like R2 and not just a striped hat. Almost done with the major part of the chart and realize that even though it’s in two colors and I’m working with one of the two I’m stitching the other color. Arrrrrggghhhhh. Stomp stomp stomp slam!

After a brief time out I did finish the silly thing in time to give it a light block and send it out the door at 7am. Unfortunately I was so happy to be done I forgot to take a picture so you’ll have to imagine it.

I won’t. I hate R2D2 right now.

Different Red Blob, kinda.

2009-09-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

Goodies off the needle.

2009-09-14T19:32:00.002-05:00

But not the red mystery lump. Actually, it is off the needles but it’s a surprise for someone I don’t think reads the blog but you never know so no more pictures for right now.

What is off the needles are these two goodies.

Nameless Longies

Feeling clever is not the same as being clever and I just could not come up with a name. They remind me of something, have since I started knitting but cannot think of what so they remain the nameless ones.

Waist – 14”

Hip – 16”

Rise – 20”

Inseam – 9”

Thigh – 9”

Just Your Ordinary Average Hat

And so it is. A rollbrim that is washable, crushable and brightly colored it fits heads from 20-22” and probably larger and rolls down to be 9” long unless you want it shorter. Made of a blend of acrylic, wool and alpaca.

Both are up in the shop so drop by and take a look when you have a moment.

And on a sad note after all these bright colors: R.I.P. Patrick Swayze, loved you since The Outsiders.

Puppy Love

2009-09-14T13:49:00.000-05:00

The Great Red Mystery Blob!

2009-09-13T22:16:00.000-05:00

Season 2

2009-09-08T22:23:00.001-05:00

For all y’all that watch Sons of Anarchy and haven’t seen the Season 2 premier tonight…

What are you waiting for? Get to it! Somebody else out there needs to share this state of gobsmacked I’m inhabiting at the moment.

Stop reading, go watch. Now now now!

From the Makers of…

2009-09-06T19:40:00.001-05:00

Remember Eagle in an Envelope Rif? From one of the same creators I present

Baby in a Sack!

Waist – 12”

Body – 17”

Length – 12”

100% Pure Wool in one of their colors I can’t remember the name of but it’s pretty. Perfect for preventing frustration caused by trying to thread noodly little limbs through pants legs.

The Purple & Gold sale continues through tonight, this doesn’t qualify but there is plenty that does. Go take a look!

Almost Fall

2009-09-05T17:16:00.001-05:00

Another sign that fall is almost here is the beginning of football season and around here one of the most anticipated events is the first LSU game. The waiting is almost over, just a few more hours and in case you don’t have your colors yet I have some for you.

Bayou Tiger Longies

Waist – 15 1/2”

Hip – 18”

Rise – 21”

Inseam – 12 1/2”

Thigh – 9”

All wool, all the time!

Oh yeah, in further celebration Purple & Gold sale in the shop. Anything with the lovely colors has free shipping for the weekend.

Geaux Tigers!

Finished!

2009-09-03T16:32:00.001-05:00

I actually finished one pair of longies from my last post, I’m making progress on another one and the third is stalled because I need the needle the second is on. Oh yeah and I looked at a calendar and realized there are two birthdays coming up next week to knit for, oops. Once again it’s a matter of too many projects and not enough hands or hours. *Sigh*

But! As I said, I did actually finish one project for the two I started (shouldn’t that be the other way ‘round?)

Summer into Fall Longies

Waist - 16 1/2”

Hip - 21 1/2”

Rise – 18”

Inseam – 12 1/2”

Thigh – 11”

Got to run now. One secret project to work on, yarn to track down for the other and LSU-ish longies I want to finish before the game this weekend.

Geaux Tigers!

In Progress

2009-08-28T17:37:00.001-05:00

Y’know, I could probably get more done if I would concentrate on one item at a time but it just doesn’t seem to happen that way. See?

Those are just the longies that are in progress right now but if you notice they’re all at different stages of completion. That’s mostly because they’re all waiting for the next needles down the line. I did that on purpose so I can’t start anything else until the blue ribbing is off that needle and onto the next size. Well, I could but I’d have to spend time looking for the needles and right now I’d rather knit so I think I’ll do that.

Right after I hang some laundry.

New Offerings

2009-08-28T14:49:00.004-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and apparently my fingers are ahead of the rest of me this year. They're already cranking out Halloween Appropriate Woolies without consulting me about it.

New to the shop are these two pair that are also just cute as the dickens. (I'm Southern y'all, I'm just sayin')

This pair might not be exactly Halloween but they seem to fit the general feeling. We've all encountered diapers that should have come with a warning like this one right? That's the bum by the way and they are a dark charcoal and light olive green so if you're a Steelers fan, sorry, it's the monitor that makes them look that color.

Toxic Longies

Hip - 16"
Waist 19"
Rise - 18"
Inseam - 12"
Thigh - 10"

These are a little more Halloween/Fall related. He's either the Great Pumpkin in disguise or a snaggle tooth Jack O'Lantern but he won't tell me. He's a cutie though.

Punkin Butt Longies

Waist 12" - 18"
Hips 19"
Rise 18 1/2"
Thighs 10"
Inseam 10"

I have the distinct feeling that these will only be the beginning. In fact, my fingers have a question: Do ghosts have to be white? Very small people and white clothing make me twitch but Elder Child managed to get ketchup in her eyebrows on a regular basis much less on her clothes. So what do you think? Would ghosts in different sheets be as spooky?

Worlds Fattest Mongoose 3 Snakes 0

2009-08-27T18:35:00.003-05:00

Sort of anyway. Bandit got another snake yesterday but Tiger must have helped at some point judging by her newly pierced nose. Everybody but the snake is fine though, Tig's been bitten so many times now I only looked closely at her nose because I had already seen the dead snake. She didn't seem to notice at all.

Fall is beginning to sneak into the air so maybe this will be the last battle of the year. At least Toby stayed out of this one, half of his nose was huge after the last one, I think he's figured out that he's short and old so snakes are not his best target.

And two new pair of longies up in the shop! Hopefully I'll finish another pair tonight during the Royal Pains finale. Maybe.

SALE

2009-08-21T22:05:00.001-05:00

I'm having an end of summer sale in the shop this weekend. Free shipping inside the US and discounted international shipping on all shorties. Go take a look around and have a good weekend.

My new mailbox

2009-08-21T12:13:00.002-05:00

Mine is the one that's not quite flat yet. Isn't it lovely? Thank you parish highway department.

Summer Hobbies on the Gulf Coast

2009-08-15T16:16:00.005-05:00

SATELLITE IMAGES INDICATE THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWO HAS
STRENGTHENED AND HAS BECOME TROPICAL STORM BILL..THE SECOND NAMED
CYCLONE OF THE SEASON.

Ummm... Hello? Try the second named cyclone of the day.
That would be a little more accurate.

*UPDATE*

Let's make that 3 named storms in 2 days shall we? Ana,
Bill and Claudette.

Score!

2009-08-14T13:24:00.002-05:00

My triumph for the day is not finishing a pair of longies meant for the shop but discovering that refills for my much loved Pentel Energel pens fit and function in the body of my Pilot G2 Limited. I love the look and feel of the pen but I seem to be one of few people on the planet that cannot stand the way they write. So now I have my lovely gold Limited with purple ink and that helps feed another craze, first game September 5!

The other victory for today is all the PBS books are wrapped and ready to mail, just got to get to the post office now.

Wow!

2009-08-04T09:57:00.001-05:00

That's all I could manage the first half dozen or so times I watched this. Go, watch, I'll wait.

Stupid Weather Gnomes

2009-07-22T01:36:00.004-05:00

That promised round two of the storm not only didn't get here but it completely disappeared! However, looking at the radar it's reforming in a slightly different place so there still might be more rain tonight, I figure about 3 minutes after I finally go to bed. While I'm partly trying to out stubborn the rain and doing some knitting I thought I'd use the fingers differently and show you my newest new toy.

Another lucet!

Hmmmm... on reflection I probably should have taken a picture of both of them for comparison but I didn't think about that until right now. The peg tips are the same width apart on both but the baby one only reaches to the top of the decoration so this one is much bigger which might be useful to someone without tiny little paws like mine. Personally I like both of them.

This one came from another great seller Mosaic Moon. It's a great product and her customer service is great when she doesn't have a slightly stupid customer to deal with. When I ordered I was immediately informed that there was a problem with the supplier and there would be a delay in shipping. I was also offered a refund if I did not want to wait. Awesome. The stupid part comes in where my filtering system hid that e-mail from me until after I had written asking about the delay more than a week later. I found it about an hour after I sent my e-mail and according to the timestamp after it was answered. D'oh! Like I said, excellent customer service, slightly stupid customer. I think I'm over the stupid, at least that strain of it, and I'm pleased with my new toy. I just need more hands so I can knit and lucet at the same time.

Okay, break is over. Still no rain but Little Man has decided he's not going to sleep he is, in fact going to fuss until I pick him up so I'll do that. I can knit that way but not type so well so rain to those that want it and have a good night.

All new!

2009-07-21T18:12:00.004-05:00

It's been almost a week and I'm still not sure what I think of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince so I'll just say it was a really good movie but I'm not entirely sure what book the script writer was reading for reference. There was a lot that wasn't in the copy I read and a lot more that was in my copy that should have been in the movie because it's, what's the term? Oh yeah, essential to the plot. Less teenage angst and more actual plot would have been fantastic. They did however, leave in Dumbledore's delightful line about enjoying knitting patterns and he even made off with a knitting magazine, I forget the title now. There were three of us in the theater that got a giggle out of it and the other two were Elder Child and the Bob sitting on either side of me.

Okay, before I get irritated and start ranting, thus spoiling things for those waiting for the crowds to clear next topic.

Two new pair of shorties/capris up in the shop. One is the finished LSU sock monkey I started during the CWS finals and the other is a sweet pair I'm calling Ice Cream Social made of Ray's Neapolitan with pleated cuffs that are much easier on the fingers than the double ruffles.

Hmm... it's getting darker outside, round 2 of our storm is supposedly on the way so I'll shut down for now and go fume about HBP some more, hopefully not in the dark. See y'all later.

Lazy Afternoon

2009-07-18T20:09:00.000-05:00

Toy in Action

2009-07-10T18:21:00.004-05:00

Sort of. Actually I didn't get the camera out until I was finished playing with the new toy, for the moment so I have no action shots. I do have a picture of the teeny tiny lucet with a soap sack that has been needing a drawstring. Today, finally, thanks to my mail carrier and Sistermaide Woodworks it does. And Elder Child's eyes are in danger of rolling out of her head I'm so tickled with my lucet. It's all right though, if they do I'll put them on the ends of my next cord.

I also have new shorties/capris going up in the shop soon, I hope. Younger Child is finished napping so it's a toss up if I get to accomplish anything else for the next few hours. Just in case here's a picture, they're eye searing but I love the way the double ruffle turned out no matter how much I cursed trying to figure out construction.

Y'all have a good night, I'm off to play more, maybe.

New Toy!

2009-07-10T16:34:00.001-05:00

I got a new toy in the mail today, it's smaller than I thought it would be but it's very cool and utterly entertaining so far. I'll pull out the real camera in a while for pictures of it in action.

Time is running out!

2009-06-29T21:28:00.004-05:00

The 4th of July is almost here and your little one wants to strut their Patriotic best too don't they? Check out my shop for a sale on Patriotic woolies for your little darlin's and if I don't have what you're looking for try katidids for a further selection of newly reduced but fully Patriotic goodies.

Back to this century.

2009-06-29T20:08:00.003-05:00

Now that the power is back on, not complaining, we needed the rain and it's not so hot until the sun comes up tomorrow, that is, I have a picture of the latest off the needles. He's a cutie and he's not wearing lipstick like his little sister was.

Okay, power is flickering again so I'm out of here for right now. Knitting can be done by candle if need be.

It's raining, it's pouring!

2009-06-29T14:38:00.002-05:00

And I have a frightened dachshund laying on one of my feet with his head resting on the other one so the thunder can't get him. That makes it more than a little difficult to do a happy dance because it's honest to goodness raining out there and it has been for about 15 minutes now. That may not sound like much but the average shower around here, if we even get one has been less than 5 minutes. Wheeeee!!

Geaux Tigers!!!

2009-06-24T22:05:00.001-05:00

Ever seen a whole state do a happy dance? Most of it at any rate. LSU just beat Texas 11-4 in another really good game to win the College World Series. Don't let the score fool you, it wasn't looking good at first and I knitted to keep from making too much of a fuss and distressing the little man who should be used to mommy and sporting events by now.

See?

I started him right after the game last night when the boys seemed to have lost their mojo. It's another phone shot so the color isn't good but take my word, it's purple and gold and it worked, that's al that matters.

Off to join in the dancing. Y'all have a good night.

And no rain.

2009-06-24T18:59:00.000-05:00

Yep. It has stopped already. I'm stunned.

Rain!

2009-06-24T18:53:00.001-05:00

It is really hard to take a photograph of rain but that's it pouring off the corner of the house. The good news is it is finally raining for the first time in recent memory; the bad news is for a while there the weather somewhere knocked out Dish for about half an inning of the LSU/Texas game. More good news is that Dish is back now and LSU is still leading!

Geaux Tigers!

It is never

2009-06-23T16:06:00.001-05:00

a good sign when the Weather Bug turns red down there at the bottom of the screen. That means it's searingly hot out there. It wasn't supposed to hit 100 today but the weather elves didn't get that memo, I see. Ugh.

I'm meeeelting...

2009-06-22T17:04:00.004-05:00

Any of you out there with an excess of rain or even clouds please feel free to send it all this way. I can't even remember the last time we had some rain and even 97 with a heat index of 101 feels cooler when it isn't so bloody bright out there. Perfect weather to stay the heck inside, watch the College World Series and knit. Or anything else so long as I do not have to set foot out the door.

As proof that I haven't actually melted yet because I have stayed inside and knitted I have pictures:

A nifty little skirty for the Fourth of July! It should be up in the shop soon.

Y'all stay cool, I actually have to venture into the sun for a few minutes. Blagh!

Twins!

2009-06-15T17:02:00.003-05:00

Of a fraternal sort anyway.

Catching Waves

And

Catching Rays
Y'all have fun. I have laundry to do, it was dog washing day and I got as wet as they did.

Finally!

2009-06-07T15:43:00.004-05:00

In case I haven't mentioned it Louisiana summers are humid. Very humid. As in we grow gills to deal with it. I neglected to knit gills into these shorties so they were taking 40 forevers to dry but I fixed that. Rather than ripping them out to add gills I bought them a fan, a tiny, 4" across fan, it's adorable. Earned me some odd looks from the family, then they figured out I bought a fan for the knitting and they shook their head and walked away. You'd think they'd be used to it by now.

On to the now dry shorties:
I almost had a fit when I looked at the picture and thought one cuff was longer than the other but it's a white section last thing before the cuff. *Whew* I have made stupid mistakes like that before but I usually catch them sooner.

Y'all have a good evening, I have family to go visit.

Good Vibrations

2009-06-07T13:05:00.002-05:00

Is there a higher compliment to a knitter than to see a knitted gift being used to strings as you intended, especially without it being called to your attention?

Ta Dah!

2009-06-01T23:30:00.003-05:00

And the winners are...

2009-06-01T00:00:00.002-05:00

For #1, Propane and Propane Accessories, it's Stephanie of Stephanie and Carlos.

For #2, the nameless longies it's bylulu

and

For #3, the rippling water shorties it's Adriana

Congratulations everyone!

If I don't contact you please send me an e-mail at renegade knits at bellsouth dot net and I'll get everything posted out to you.

Elder Child had fun with this rolling. She matched the dice she rolled to the color of the project she was rolling for, silly Elder Child.

This was so much fun I might try it every couple of months for random things from the shop.

Y'all have a good night.

Yet another one.

2009-05-31T23:02:00.001-05:00

It's later, it's darker but Sock Monkey Girl can now see how bad her photo is. Yes, she's a girl, she's wearing bright pink lipstick, not that you can tell in this picture.

That's her drawstring off to the right, almost and there's not really a carabiner sticking out of her head, she was reclining against my tool bag.

If anybody else out there watched the MTV Movie Awards, I am profoundly sorry, that's two hours of your life you'll never get back either.

Almost time to roll, keep an eye out.

Beware! Another bad picture.

2009-05-31T16:34:00.001-05:00

Eyes and a drawstring and these will be done but I have to go take a few deep breaths first. Ever seen a dachshund kill a snake? I haven't either but he came out of the kitchen cabinet with a badly wounded one, I think I was still freaking out about him dragging it over my foot when he finished it off.

He seems to be unhurt and quite proud of himself that he outshone Tig who killed a squirell yesterday. So one heartattack but no emergency trip to the vet today, I hate making those.

Y'all have fun, Elder Child is warming up the dice.

Almost over

2009-05-31T11:38:00.001-05:00

Midnight my time, just a little over 12 hours and we'll be rolling the dice so make sure you check back to see if yours was the lucky number!

It's time!

2009-05-26T21:59:00.004-05:00

Toby is excited about Giveaway Day! He says you should scroll down for three different Giveaways. He also says "wuff."

Giveaway #3

2009-05-26T21:13:00.008-05:00

Last but not least is a pair of wool shorties for some lucky little one. This color was the result of me playing with the dye again and I had no clever name for this one but I think it looks kind of like rippling water.

Waist - 19"
Hip - 24"
Rise - 19"
Thigh - 12 1/2"
Inseam - 3 1/2"

The winner works the same way. Leave a comment if you like these, no matter where you are in the world and on the 31st Elder Child will roll for the lucky number that sends these on to you.

Giveaway #2

2009-05-26T20:20:00.005-05:00

Next says nothing about my television viewing at all. These little longies demonstrate that I'm a sucker for pretty colors and really soft yarn. They're single ply Purewool so they're wicked soft as well as being dreadfully cute.

Waist - 12 1/2"
Hip - 17"
Rise - 15"
Thigh - 9 1/2"
Inseam - 9"

If these will fit someone you know or you just want to frame them and hang them on the wall(hey, when they're yours, they're yours) just leave me a comment. I'll number them all and on May 31 the same Elder Child will roll different dice to pick a number and if your number's up this time it's a good thing.

After she rolls the number we'll package them nicely and mail them anywhere in the world.

Giveaway #1

2009-05-26T18:01:00.010-05:00

Welcome to Giveaway Day!

First on the block is absolute proof that I watch entirely too much King of the Hill. All I could think of when these colors came out of the dyepot was Hank Hill saying, "propane and propane accessories." Nothing else clever sprang to mind when these longies were finished so the name stuck.

They're 100% wool and need a lanolin bath for soaker duty but other than that they're ready to go.

Waist - 13"
Hip - 18"
Rise - 15"
Thigh - 10"
Inseam - 9 1/2"

If you have or know a munchkin that will fit into these please leave me a comment and on the 31st the Elder Child will pick one by rolling dice. No, really we have enough multi-sided dice in the house that she can roll any number greater than 3.

See?

Yes, there are gamers in the house, why do you ask?

After that we'll send them on to anywhere in the world.

Keep looking, there's more...

We have no monkeys today.

2009-05-26T15:58:00.002-05:00

There's been a little progress on the sock monkey today but no new pictures, at least not yet. I do have a picture now though and I might have more later. I hope I do anyway.

The Candy Cane Soaker!

In progress

2009-05-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

Downgraded

2009-05-23T16:41:00.005-05:00

So no early storm, just a lot of rain all over the Gulf Coast, it just started falling here and the sun is even still shining. Guess rain is a good excuse for watching more Babylon 5, so we are.

More ends have been sewn in during the watching so I have more shorties to show off and hopefully I'll have another pair finished tonight.

I like these colors, I just have to see if I can repeat it, I was playing with the dye again and didn't make any notes. Astounding how that always happens when things go well with the dyepots.

Okay, I'm back to knitting or I won't have anything else to show you later.

Y'all have a good day out there.

*Update 6:05pm*

Doin' a Snoopy Dance! I just set a record, this pair is already sold!

Upgraded

2009-05-23T02:15:00.000-05:00

To high potential. Bunk.

Oh come on now!

2009-05-22T18:55:00.002-05:00

Hmm... That posted a little early.

Anyway, when you live on the Gulf Coast a major hobby is watching the weather, especially between June 1 and November 30, Atlantic Hurricane Season. Well, if you take a look at the calendar it'll tell you that we are not currently between those two dates. However, if you look here you'll notice an area designated Medium Potential for Tropical Cyclone Formation (roughly 45 minutes ago it was Low Potential), apparently it cannot read a calendar.

This is so not cool, especially that rather quick jump in potential.

If you're down here on the Gulf keep an eye out, could be nothing, could be something. I'm off to print out my hurricane tracking chart.

School's Out

2009-05-22T17:42:00.003-05:00

For summer!

Actually it was out yesterday but a promised Babylon 5 marathon with the Elder Child has taken up a lot of time, we're only on the second season. It has given some good knitting time but that doesn't make me do the finishing work any faster so there's only one FO and here it is:

Blue on Black for you Kenny Wayne Shepherd fans out there and nifty for a boy or a girl.

Y'all have a good evening, I'm going back to B5.

It's a beautiful day.

2009-05-19T12:17:00.007-05:00

Too bad half the household is sick. Even worse it's the two supposed adults. This couldn't be next week so no one has to go retrieve Elder Child from school could it? Oh no. Pbbbbbtttt!

Anyway. Since my fingers are functional again I'm doing the finishing work I love so much and fixing the stupid mistakes they made earlier. This one is a result of delaying the finishing because the errors started but it's finished now. All but the clever name, my brain feels half pudding and not clever at all.

Isn't it amazing what you don't notice while you're taking the pictures? Isn't that a lovely bow?

And just to show that knitting isn't all that happens around here this is Toby, recharging his solar panels further up the ramp while supervising the photography.

Y'all have a good day. Take some time to recharge your solar panels if you can.

P.S. Check out May Giveaway Day, details to the right.>>>>>>
Looks like fun, I'm planning what to make.

Off the needles

2009-05-18T16:52:00.004-05:00

And astoundingly without any stupid mistakes that made me frog far more than I wanted to!

I present Flowers in the Field:

Hooray remembering how to knit!

Y'all have a good day, may your fingers remember their skills.

Question.

2009-05-14T02:35:00.002-05:00

Anybody else out there suddenly forget how to knit? I'm making so many stupid, dinky mistakes I swear my brain is dribbling out my ear or something. Maybe I put my fingers on the wrong hands this morning when I washed them. Or my true inner blonde is coming out at last. I do know for sure that it's blasted annoying.

Y'all have better luck with your knitting than I am, you couldn't have much stupider luck at any rate.

The Latest

2009-05-13T13:05:00.005-05:00

I told you I hadn't been completely sucked into Mafia Wars, there's also lots to do with school ending in a few days. Elder had another field trip last week and she's on another one today, I think this is the last one but Awards Night is tomorrow so there's more to day.

If I tried taking pictures of everything on the needles I'd never get any more knitting done so instead I have pictures of what's off the needles.

More field trip knitting from the last one. I started this one waiting to leave school and finished... sometime during the day.

Then I started this one, I finished it the next day during the first official showing of Wolverine Origins in town. After running all over two towns all day we were too tired for the midnight showing.

And these Elder Child volunteered a name without even being asked this time and she was right. I was leaning toward something I can't even remember now because Mint Chocolate Chip fit better.

The body is dyed by me, the trim is Patons Merino, I think.

Everything is up in the shop already and I'm going to shut up now so I can get some actual knitting done. Y'all have a good day.

P.S.

2009-05-10T19:55:00.001-05:00

I haven't completely disappeared into Mafia Wars but I haven't managed to take any pictures of what's on the needles.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T19:54:00.001-05:00

To every mother out there and everyone who does the many jobs of a mother!

Just in case...

2009-05-04T00:30:00.003-05:00

Any of you out there are on the evil, time sucking black hole of Facebook.

Mafia Wars

Join my Mafia and I'll join yours.

2009-05-01T13:20:00.001-05:00

Wolverine rocks! Run, don't walk to the theatre!

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Ahead of the storm.

2009-04-27T17:13:00.006-05:00

The mighty Weather Bug says we only have a 40% chance of rain tonight but three downpours have raced through already so I'll just take what comes. The last was heralded by a crash of thunder that with the rolling and all was actually longer than the (extremely) brief shower that followed. The dogs were scared longer than all of it and there's more coming. Yay.

Points for me thought, I didn't drop my camera when the thunder crashed so I have pictures.

Cool, more thunder, I think I heard the rain start again and the sun is brighter than it's been all day. Got to love Louisiana weather. Or wait a minute or two it will change. In fact, it is right now.

Well, just in case it changes for the worse here are the pictures, with or without details:

Wow that bow blends in doesn't it? There is a drawstring there, it must be shy.

Yarn: Blue Faced Leicester dyed by me
Waist: 13
Hip: 17
Rise: 13 1/2
Inseam: 2 1/2
Thigh: 10 1/2

This picture is actually a pretty true representation.

Yarn: Merino dyed by me
Waist: 14 1/2
Hip: 18
Rise: 16
Inseam: 2 1/2
Thigh: 10 1/2

Not a good picture but I decided inside was better than out, I'll get a better one later. I'm considering some type of embellishment but I'm not sure what. Right at the moment I'm leaning toward obnoxiously yellow flowers but that's just me. Any ideas?

Yarn: Wool dyed by me
Waist: 14 1/2
Hip: 20
Rise: 18
Inseam: 6
Thigh: 10
Skirt: 7

Hey, got all of that done and it's a little cloudy outside but nothing else. If the nothing continues on I'll get everything but the skirty up in the shop tonight, I hope. If not, they'll be there soon.

Y'all have a good night and stay dry. Watch out for scared dachshunds too.

This long

2009-04-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Another night time phone photo of questionable quality but A Midsummer Night's Dream is this long. There was ribbing shortly before the play started and this much at the end.

Y'all have a good night, I'm tired.

A couple more

2009-04-16T18:57:00.006-05:00

Introducing Spring Seaweed :
It's possible I should stop asking my eldest for suggestions on color names but this one wasn't entirely her so maybe not.

Waist- 13"
Hip - 19 1/2"
Rise - 19"
Inseam 2 1/2"
Thigh 10 1/2"

The bib has no clever name, it's a bib:

Bib 7" x 9 1/2"
Strap 9"

Fresh burgers are ready so y'all have a good night.

Better Pictures

2009-04-15T15:56:00.004-05:00

I promised them and this is a easy way to get three posts in as many days, I'm trying to start a trend here people.

Introducing the Bonfire of the Skirty:
Check it out over on the shop.

Y'all have a good day, I have dog crates to wash while the sun shines.

FO

2009-04-14T20:51:00.002-05:00

The only think the new phone seems to be lacking is a flash, I'll get a better picture tomorrow when there's enough light to see the ramp, much less what's on it but I actually got those ends worked in and I was quite tickled I managed to do that. I can knit another entire pair of shorties in the time I delay sewing in ends.

The skirty is a lot brighter than that picture shows and there's a brown soaker under it, fall colors I know but I liked them.

Okay, that's the promised FO for today and Deadliest Catch is back on.

Y'all have fun, I'm goin' fishin'

We went on a field trip

2009-04-13T20:25:00.003-05:00

And it was this long. Another set of shorties, I started around 10am, wandered around the museum and the arts center and had the above by 2pm. I also had a small flock of stalkers following me and my progress during the day.

And here's another FO.

Medium sized ruffled shorties in over dyed merino. I could not get a decent picture, they're really purple and turquoise, not blue on blue, really, take my word for it. They're already up in the shop so wander over and take a look if you want.

Y'all have a good night, I hope to have another FO tomorrow, maybe tonight if I get the ends sewn in.