to create a throw for Boy and DIL2B (hereinafter C&C, because it's so much shorter). Their living room is as follows: neutral cream walls and beige carpet, a fireplace with neutral tile surround. Sage green sofa with cocoa throw pillows. Dark wood tables. I am contributing two armchairs (whenever Boy can come collect them) a red with no blue undertones, and a gold wingback that he wanted from his grandparents' house. C-the-DIL2B thinks, and I totally concur, that a rich gold would go so nicely with their sage green couch, and would tie in the chairs to arrive later. (I'll be on the lookout for pillows that combine sage, chocolate and red or gold or cream.)
Criteria: Must Be Machine Wash/Dry. Do not even suggest a yarn that cannot be deal with that way - busy new parents/baby emissions/a high end throw is not going to happen. Must be soft, almost like chenille soft. Must be easy on my tired wrists. I have a yarn candidate: Berroco Comfort in Goldenrod. I used Comfort for a baby gift for a co-worker, and loved working with it.
Pattern: Right now I'm torn between a cable and a basketweave. Other suggestions are welcome.
See? I do knit!
Oh, the ultrasound? Postponed a week. Boy's work schedule changed, they want to go together, so on for it's a week from today. No worries - baby will be a week more mature and even cuter.
And I looked around and discovered I'm booked for every freakin' weekend from now until after the 1st of the year! While this is lovely and not boring, I'm suddenly slammed at work too.
I did make great progress on the garage yesterday. There is that.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Don't Faint...
Actual knitting content:
Hat and scarf of Manos del Uruguay Classica, in the Autumn colorway. The photo almost does it justice - that stuff is just so rich and luscious. The scarf pattern is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf, which is very enjoyable and just the right sort of mindless TV watching knitting I love. The hat I just made up myself - it's a no brainer 4x4 rib with an extra deep cuff, because I hate cold ears. I am now suitably accessorized for my winter travels, and I need to get cracking on Murphy's little sweaters.
Higgins is celebrating the return of Open Window Weather. It's been a long time.
Hat and scarf of Manos del Uruguay Classica, in the Autumn colorway. The photo almost does it justice - that stuff is just so rich and luscious. The scarf pattern is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf, which is very enjoyable and just the right sort of mindless TV watching knitting I love. The hat I just made up myself - it's a no brainer 4x4 rib with an extra deep cuff, because I hate cold ears. I am now suitably accessorized for my winter travels, and I need to get cracking on Murphy's little sweaters.
Higgins is celebrating the return of Open Window Weather. It's been a long time.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Bad Blogger - Again.
My attempt at updating at least 3x a week has once again fallen by the wayside, along with my vows to lose weight and keep the house immaculate. Am I forgiven if I show you a really handsome cat? (That appears to work for many bloggers.)
Or how about a little Halloween-loving dog, watching for trick-or-treaters? I should have put it in video mode, to capture his hysterical screaming at the sight of a whole bunch of kids all dressed up to see HIM! Because that is what Halloween is all about! Christmas caroling, too. It's so exciting when kids come to the door just to see HIM! He was crushed that we only had a couple of dozen trick or treaters last night - last year we had none at all, but that is somehow easier, because it didn't build his expectations.
Last night his hopes were raised by a couple of good-sized groups of kids, but it petered out early. Sigh. Halloween isn't what it used to be around this neighborhood. There are kids, but apparently their parents no longer believe in trick-or-treating. Their cars were in the driveways, but the porch lights were out, they were neither participating nor giving candy to the kids who did. I didn't recognize any of the kids who came to the door - I take that back; the gal up the street not only brought her daughter (the other was home sick) but was dressed up in a slinky black dress and long black wig, heavy makeup, and was trick-or-treating with wineglass in hand. Now that's my kind of gal. Apparently she's the last of her breed around here.
The leftover candy goes to the office tomorrow, where it will vanish from the break room table before lunch. And it's November, and the holidays are roaring at us like a freight train. I went to get my hair cut today (new stylist, new salon - I liked her, she's a keeper, and my last disastrous haircut from the Guy Formerly Known as the Hair God is on the road to recovery). Anyway, I was a few minutes early and walked the mall for a few minutes - the Christmas tree was up. Not fully decorated or lit yet, but up. November 1. That is just WRONG.
I may be a crappy blogger these days, but I've actually been knitting. I made myself a hat and scarf for the cold weather travel to come, from Manos del Uruguay worsted in the Autumn colorway (No. 106). I am very, very pleased with the results. Photos to follow one of these days, but the scarf is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf - easy and interesting looking. The yarn had enough going on with the color that I didn't want to get too "busy" with a pattern, and this was perfect - a rib that is more than a rib. Likewise, the hat is a basic 4x4 ribbed cap with a huge folded-back cuff, so I can have two layers of luxuriously thick wool over my tender ears. My ears hate the cold.
And I have been savoring Clara's latest book. I am so totally making that Bella Baby Ensemble - that will be the first project up, but there are several that tempted me.
Otherwise, just read the archives for the last six months. Blah blah blah hot. Blah blah work sucks. Blah blah F-ing House is Needy. Murphy's doing okay, which is a Big Yay, the biggest, in fact - but the rest of my world needs a makeover. I wish it happened as quickly as it does on TV, but in real life, it's like emptying the ocean with a shot glass.
Or how about a little Halloween-loving dog, watching for trick-or-treaters? I should have put it in video mode, to capture his hysterical screaming at the sight of a whole bunch of kids all dressed up to see HIM! Because that is what Halloween is all about! Christmas caroling, too. It's so exciting when kids come to the door just to see HIM! He was crushed that we only had a couple of dozen trick or treaters last night - last year we had none at all, but that is somehow easier, because it didn't build his expectations.
Last night his hopes were raised by a couple of good-sized groups of kids, but it petered out early. Sigh. Halloween isn't what it used to be around this neighborhood. There are kids, but apparently their parents no longer believe in trick-or-treating. Their cars were in the driveways, but the porch lights were out, they were neither participating nor giving candy to the kids who did. I didn't recognize any of the kids who came to the door - I take that back; the gal up the street not only brought her daughter (the other was home sick) but was dressed up in a slinky black dress and long black wig, heavy makeup, and was trick-or-treating with wineglass in hand. Now that's my kind of gal. Apparently she's the last of her breed around here.
The leftover candy goes to the office tomorrow, where it will vanish from the break room table before lunch. And it's November, and the holidays are roaring at us like a freight train. I went to get my hair cut today (new stylist, new salon - I liked her, she's a keeper, and my last disastrous haircut from the Guy Formerly Known as the Hair God is on the road to recovery). Anyway, I was a few minutes early and walked the mall for a few minutes - the Christmas tree was up. Not fully decorated or lit yet, but up. November 1. That is just WRONG.
I may be a crappy blogger these days, but I've actually been knitting. I made myself a hat and scarf for the cold weather travel to come, from Manos del Uruguay worsted in the Autumn colorway (No. 106). I am very, very pleased with the results. Photos to follow one of these days, but the scarf is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf - easy and interesting looking. The yarn had enough going on with the color that I didn't want to get too "busy" with a pattern, and this was perfect - a rib that is more than a rib. Likewise, the hat is a basic 4x4 ribbed cap with a huge folded-back cuff, so I can have two layers of luxuriously thick wool over my tender ears. My ears hate the cold.
And I have been savoring Clara's latest book. I am so totally making that Bella Baby Ensemble - that will be the first project up, but there are several that tempted me.
Otherwise, just read the archives for the last six months. Blah blah blah hot. Blah blah work sucks. Blah blah F-ing House is Needy. Murphy's doing okay, which is a Big Yay, the biggest, in fact - but the rest of my world needs a makeover. I wish it happened as quickly as it does on TV, but in real life, it's like emptying the ocean with a shot glass.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
OMG!
Miss Doxie's back! That just brightened up my hot, rainy Tuesday night. Because yes, October 27, and the weather forecast for the week is 90 degrees and afternoon thunderstorms. It's like Groundhog Day, if Groundhog Day happened in August. 90 degrees every day this week (yes, breaking records) and then on the weekend we will cool off to a brisk 88.
I hate this place. I hate it sooo much.
I hate this place. I hate it sooo much.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Weekend Update.
Whew. Work has gone crazy in the last couple of weeks - I've gone from bored to swamped overnight. Neither is good, nor did the enjoyment level improve. Bleh.
Otherwise, we just keep chugging along, here at the Bossy Doghouse. Last weekend Girl and the BF moved into their new house, and Dudley approves, especially of the nice big screened porch just perfect for a dog to nap in the sun. It's a gorgeous house, spacious and with custom paint and tile, lots of designer touches and upgrades galore, plush carpet in the bedrooms, a Jacuzzi in the huge master bath, and a gas fireplace in the living room. It is also a sign of the state of the FL real estate market that they could rent something like that for far less than it costs me to live in this house. Heavy Sigh.
Murphy is still doing well - he's not totally without symptoms of his illness, but he seems to be quite stable. I am not taking this for granted. I've joined a Yahoo group for owners of dogs with lymphangiectasia started by Louie's Mom. Another Yorkie owner joined a couple of weeks back. It was obvious how much she adored her baby, who was a very special dog who excelled at obedience work and even acted in a TV commercial. He was very sick, and she did everything humanly possible to save his life. She lost him on Thursday. She posted to the group yesterday to let us know. I felt as devastated as if I knew them personally - two Yorkies in the group, and now one is gone. I sort of made Murphy sleep on the bed with me last night, so I could rub his belly when *I* needed comforting.
In my initial reading about the disease, I developed the impression that it was restricted to certain breeds - most articles mentioned Yorkies, and other terriers - but the owners who have joined the group have a variety of dogs, big and small. And when Murphy is so stable and basically himself (save for the occasional intestinal outburst, which has become far less prevalent in the last month) it's easy to think of this as a scary thing we have conquered. That's not really the case. It's a balancing act to keep his system in check, and there is only so much we can do to manage it. The rest is up to his little body. But so far, so good - he's feisty and opinionated as ever, maintaining a healthy weight and energy level. But today I feel the delicate balance of his health a little more acutely than I did yesterday.
On to happier topics:
Friday was a Big Day in future grandchild world - Ultrasound Day. DIL2B (that sounds less like a federal agency than FDIL) is doing great. The baby is healthy and has all the requisite human parts, but because of its position, an absolute determination of gender couldn't be made. The tech believed she saw girl parts, but didn't get a good enough look to enter it into the chart as a sure thing. They were also unable to get a good image of the spine, again due to the way the baby was positioned, so that is justification to do another ultrasound in a couple of weeks - at which point I devoutly hope we get a clear image of the other parts and know for sure. So it's a good thing that they couldn't get the spine view, because they wouldn't re-do the ultrasound just for gender, and dammit, this grandma is not the fastest knitter on earth and needs plenty of lead time.
In the meantime, I do believe I will dig out the bits of pink and white Rowan Cotton in the stash and whip up a couple of pairs of summer booties, just to get in the mood.
Otherwise, we just keep chugging along, here at the Bossy Doghouse. Last weekend Girl and the BF moved into their new house, and Dudley approves, especially of the nice big screened porch just perfect for a dog to nap in the sun. It's a gorgeous house, spacious and with custom paint and tile, lots of designer touches and upgrades galore, plush carpet in the bedrooms, a Jacuzzi in the huge master bath, and a gas fireplace in the living room. It is also a sign of the state of the FL real estate market that they could rent something like that for far less than it costs me to live in this house. Heavy Sigh.
Murphy is still doing well - he's not totally without symptoms of his illness, but he seems to be quite stable. I am not taking this for granted. I've joined a Yahoo group for owners of dogs with lymphangiectasia started by Louie's Mom. Another Yorkie owner joined a couple of weeks back. It was obvious how much she adored her baby, who was a very special dog who excelled at obedience work and even acted in a TV commercial. He was very sick, and she did everything humanly possible to save his life. She lost him on Thursday. She posted to the group yesterday to let us know. I felt as devastated as if I knew them personally - two Yorkies in the group, and now one is gone. I sort of made Murphy sleep on the bed with me last night, so I could rub his belly when *I* needed comforting.
In my initial reading about the disease, I developed the impression that it was restricted to certain breeds - most articles mentioned Yorkies, and other terriers - but the owners who have joined the group have a variety of dogs, big and small. And when Murphy is so stable and basically himself (save for the occasional intestinal outburst, which has become far less prevalent in the last month) it's easy to think of this as a scary thing we have conquered. That's not really the case. It's a balancing act to keep his system in check, and there is only so much we can do to manage it. The rest is up to his little body. But so far, so good - he's feisty and opinionated as ever, maintaining a healthy weight and energy level. But today I feel the delicate balance of his health a little more acutely than I did yesterday.
On to happier topics:
Friday was a Big Day in future grandchild world - Ultrasound Day. DIL2B (that sounds less like a federal agency than FDIL) is doing great. The baby is healthy and has all the requisite human parts, but because of its position, an absolute determination of gender couldn't be made. The tech believed she saw girl parts, but didn't get a good enough look to enter it into the chart as a sure thing. They were also unable to get a good image of the spine, again due to the way the baby was positioned, so that is justification to do another ultrasound in a couple of weeks - at which point I devoutly hope we get a clear image of the other parts and know for sure. So it's a good thing that they couldn't get the spine view, because they wouldn't re-do the ultrasound just for gender, and dammit, this grandma is not the fastest knitter on earth and needs plenty of lead time.
In the meantime, I do believe I will dig out the bits of pink and white Rowan Cotton in the stash and whip up a couple of pairs of summer booties, just to get in the mood.
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