Beginning

Last Friday my yarn arrived from The Woolen Rabbit, a beautifully Blush (the lightest color) with the perfect compliment of Sweet Cheeks. So pretty, so lovely! I am ready! For the last four summers I've joined Kirsten's TTL Mystery shawl KAL.  Of all the shawls I've knit, three of my most worn are shawls from Kirsten's TTL Mysteries. I am a user of shawls of all colors, sizes, and styles. Winter's chill is kept off with the extra layer of lace and summer's artificially cool air conditioning about drives me wild. Knitting is a slow process any more and I take a long to finish a project. In between beginnings I forget how wonderful it feels when starting something new, something mysterious, something lacy. Kim's Opal might be my favorite yarn ever.

I am beginning the count down to July 14th. It hadn't crossed my mind to check how many days were left in my worklife, but yesterday Bonny reminded me I had only 23 days to go! How did that happen? I am thrilled! The company can't extend my stay as I'm heading out on a road trip July 17th!  I see knitting, reading, and lots of time with friends (among other things) in my future. Yay, summer! Yay, me! The countdown begins!

Hello Friends

Truly, I was shocked to see my last post was on March 7th.  The intent, at that time, was to stick around and continue to post when I could, but life–I guess that's it–just got in the way.

I am totally incapable of capturing a digital version of my card.

To get back into the swing of things I'm planning to join in the fun of summer knitting and reading. Thank you to Mary for stepping up to keep Book Bingo alive! She's created new Bingo cards, adding some great genres, as well as, hosting the link on her side bar. I pulled a card, hit refresh until I got a card I was excited about and I'm thinking through possibilities. Reading away the summer–from Memorial Day to Labor Day–does not sound like a bad idea! I've a few ideas and I'm exploring a few more. Suggestion from friends are very welcome!

Bad pictures abound!

My next plan of action is to join Kat's Summer Knit-Along for the sole purpose of finishing the two projects I have had on the needles forever! AND, perhaps starting something new (hopefully, a sweater).  My knitting mojo has been back and forth, strong and weak, certainly not at full steam, plus I've been distracted by reading and stitching an Alabama Chanin t-shirt.

I thought I'd stop in and say hello, tell you I'm planning to come back (if anyone is around to read) and catch you up with what's in my future (and past). That's the plan! I've missed you all!

I'm looking forward to more Unraveled Wednesday posts!

Knitting and Reading (Because I Do Not Do Football)

Kat's KAL ended on Labor Day, but my TTLM (now known as Thistle Rambles) did not meet the deadline.  A couple of weeks ago, while admiring my work of, I noticed a section that wasn't like the picture of Kirsten's shawl. It was then I realized I would have to take out ALL of clue 5 (because I had not read through it thoroughly enough) and reknit. I am very grateful I hadn't yet started the beautiful, but time consuming, picot bind off. As of today, the first few picots are now in place. Wish me well!

The book, The Underground Girls of Kabul, is for my Book Group. (This month marks our 29th year together!) I am only a chapter into the book and have 300 pages to go. However, I didn't buckle down and put in the time needed to finish, instead I found other things to do. 

I left for work a little early so I could take a picture of the sunrise. I love a crepuscular rays and it was worth giving up my reading time to capture this shot.

When I got home I cleaned the bathrooms. (It had to be done!)

I, also, worked in the garden because the weather was superb and I had to be outdoors. 

I sipped a glass of wine whilst enjoying the patio (I do drink alone). 

 

And, I ended my day with a walk and pictures of the sunset, which I painted with Prisma (Caribbean).  

With summer ebbing I have to revel in the beautiful days as much possible.

 

Reading, Knitting, Quiet

Since the past weekend was quite busy and, I rarely got off my feet, the plan for the rest of the week is to knit, read, and find some quiet time. However, there is more that needs doing, as in order for the bathroom walls to be painted, the dust must be washed away. There is, also, construction dust all over the house and I will deal with it after the bathroom is completely finished.

I have some catching up to do on my BOTN Bingo/Read Harder lists. I have decided on several books that should help me attain a total of three Bingos by summer's end. I have the added goal of reaching a blackout by the end of the year. Sadly, books with the plot points of fantasy, parody, or with happy endings, are not my strong suit. I expect to persevere.  I have tried to match up, as often as possible, the Read Header categories with the Bingo squares.

What little time I've had for knitting as gone into my TTL Mystery Shawl. I'm very pleased with the pattern and my yarn choice, and I am about a half, maybe a little more, of the way through clue four. There is a LOT more knitting to do.  Carole's Picot sock is back on the needles and the toe is proceed towards its finish. I'm very pleased to say, participating in Kat's KAL has kept me focused on the job of finishing two neglected pair of socks. One must keep ones eye on the prize.

The Old and the New

Maybe I'll just post a picture every day of my incredible mountain view. The light changes throughout the day, but in the morning it is often a breathtaking play of shadow and light between cloud and sky.

There are times I have made the (somewhat) arrogant statement that I do not have UFOs (which we all know can't be true) and that I rarely have more than two WIPs hanging about. It was Kat's summer KAL that got me thinking about what might be lurking in the corners of my crafting closet and, on closer inspection, I found two lovely knitting bags, each with a pair of socks tucked inside.

Technically, I'd finished the both pairs of socks pictured, so the UFO/WIP situation may hold true, BUT, shortly after they were finished, I had to admit to myself the toes where not very comfortable. I tucked the socks aside (or, as you can see, ripped out one toe), so as to fix the fit, and then, add the pair to my sock rotation. If you are a believer in "things happen for a reason" (I'm not), you could say this is a very opportune time for two nearly finished pairs to come to light. In any case, I will now have THREE new pair of new socks to greet the wintry chill. This is very good news, indeed!

The skein of yarn you see pictured, has yet to be wound. It is Knitterly Things "Vesper" sock yarn (Carole's favorite), in the colorway Fire and Ice, which must have entered my stash around Christmas 2 years or so ago. At the moment, I seem to be on a stripy sock kick, which is good, as I have numerous choices in stripy yarn languishing in my stash. If I end up knitting this pair it would result in a 4th pair of socks for winter's rotation, but I'll wait and see how my knitting time fares. 

Are you knitting this something fun this summer? Is it blazing hot where you live? 

KAL Squared

Thank you so much for your kind wishes and condolences. Grieving has its ups and downs, made all the more apparent because the memorial is a month away. My family is working on Dad's memorial and looking forward to the day we will all be together. However, that isn't the only reason for my blog silence, in fact, I'm not sure I can even pin-point what it is, but I've decided when the motivation strikes, I'll blog, or at least, try to. 

At the moment, I am happy to report I'll have a 4 day weekend. AND, Smith and I will have 3 of the 4 together! We can't remember the last time we had that many days in a row off TOGETHER! Smith has had very few holidays off at all. The luxury of time is something neither of us have on a regular basis and we're looking forward to luxuriating. This weekend we may tackle a few home improvements and/or maybe take a day trip. BUT, doing "nothing" is at the top of our list. There may also be exploration of a new cocktail recipe (or two). I need to stock up on lime!

Part of my plan for tomorrow is to do some organizing, contemplating, deciding, and joining. One thing I know for certain is I'll be joining Kat's summer KAL.  This is a KAL with NO rules(!) and, since I have a few things I'd like to finish up, plus a couple of new things on my "to knit" list, I jumped to join. As an added bonus, Kat's KAL comes with recipes and cocktails! I have been knitting socks (which I may have already told you) and might be able to finish them this weekend. I'll count them as my first finish of the KAL! Win-win! (I typed "wine"-is that a sign?) 

As soon as Kirsten announced her new Mystery Shawl KAL I knew I had to knit along. Every one of her mystery shawls has been a big win and Germinate, Liz Christy, and Algiers are in regular rotation and are more oft on my shoulders than most of my other shawls. I feel like I can't lose by joining.  Another win-win! The pattern calls for two color of yarn and since I had a few skeins of beautiful gray Marianated  Yarns just sitting around, I thought they should go to work. I think I've decided on the two darker grays, Steady Rain and Build an Ark, because this has been a pretty wet spring. 

I may be overly ambitious with my declarations as I'm in the midst of shoulder PT. Knitting (and computering) has caused considerable pain in my shoulder and arms, but with the help of my doctor, and now the PT, the issues are being addressed. I've been able to knit (for short periods of time), plus work on the computer without additional pain (a big win, because that's what I do for a living). In addition to KALs I'll be doing my PT homework!

This weekend looks to be a big WIN-WIN all around!  Here's to the kick off of summer!

Day 11: Winter WIPs

Winter made its first real appearance yesterday and tried as hard as it might to cover the ground with white. In our neck of the woods only a slight dusting covered the lawns and only wet covered the roads.  The temperatures stayed in the 30s and since I left home without my mitts, I really felt the cold. I will not be doing that again and might even put an extra pair in my car.

Last week I got a good start on the March Through Time cowl and finished clue 1 in time for the release of clue 2. I haven't had one second to look at clue or to put a single stitch into my knitting (or sewing for that matter). The cowl may languish over the next few weeks, as the cold reminds me I could use with a new sweater and, since I am almost finished with the back, my time would be well spent on this one project.

Until yesterday's cold, wet day, I walked daily to keep up with the KAL. March Through Time is about getting your fitness on, as well as, working on the cowl project. If I keep up the walking I will call this KAL a success, even if I do not end up with a finished object. My iPod has been a my companion, although ne thing I love about walking is I can listen to my iPod, listen to a book or a podcast. I've been reading and listening to Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín, switching off with music to keep my step up. So far so good, I'm getting in my mile. 

Day 1: Standard Time

Instead of complaining about the loss of light, or being elated about the extra hour in my day, I'm going to go with the flow (once my body clock is reset a few days from now).  For me, the return of Standard Time feels like the beginning of winter, a reminder of the long dark nights ahead, neither of which I like very much, but will get through the next few months just like I have for many, many years. I have thoughts on how to keep the blues away, a mental list of things to do in order to stay on an even keel, and I think I can do this. I WILL do this. 

I had a bad day yesterday and I thought about not doing NaBloPoMo, but today I'm glad I waited to post as Vicki lead me to a new KAL. It might help with my fitness level and my mental attitude. I'm fairly sure I have yarn I can use and I know I have the desire to knit something new, plus I think a little Startitis is not a bad thing.  I will do this.