Sunday, January 24, 2010

First Day of Cleaning Results in More Mess

My place is a mess. I'm not joking. There is crap everywhere, and my place is so small that I have nowhere to hide. I tried to start organizing but I'm just creating more mess as I go. I thought I would start in the bedroom closet but then I realized I needed to start with the miscellaneous papers and mail all over the place. I started to box up the CDs and DVDs that were in my bookcase (to make room for books and framed photos) but now I can't make room for those boxes! And to make it worse, I've got a sinking feeling that my landlord's foreclosure might start heating back up. My lease allows me an out for that but I don't want to move right now.

I'm done for today; I organized my knitting stash and the closet. I'll be taking a bag of clothes to the Salvation Army tomorrow and then I need to start cleaning.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Knitting Makes Me Happy So Long As I'm Not Driving

I bought myself a present, KnitPicks Options Interchangeable Wood Circular Needles. I was trying to make the decision between the wood tips and the nickle-plated. I really love working with the bamboo dpns I have, so I finally settled on the wood tips. As soon as I got the shipment, I went to Michael's and bought some wool yarn to start my first Booga Bag. I've been aware of this pattern for a while, and I really hope my first felting attempt is successful. Not to worry because I will post pictures of the results, no matter what they are.



Lately, Delilah has been so sweet and climbing into my lap to nap while I knit. Today, I managed to get a pretty good shot of her at the window.



I'm taking a big leap this year by saying aloud that I feel like this will be a good year for me. I know that changes are on the way for me, and I'm going to embrace them. Although I'm not ready to announce what they are just yet, I do plan to include them in my future posting.

I have the worst road rage lately, and I've got to get it under control. I was making a left turn out of a parking lot this morning, and my car stalled (I drive standard transmission and my foot slipped off the clutch pedal), and the car behind me honked at me for not moving! I let loose by screaming my head off (all to naught because my windows were up and I have tinted windows). I was so angry; too much for the offense. The honker drove away and I proceeded home. And just like that, my anger was gone. But it was quick and fierce. I do not think this was a healthy response, even though I had immediately let go of the anger after I was able to scream and yell. I have to figure out why I can't seem to handle the little infractions that happen when you drive.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Practical Knitting

After four attempts, I have mastered the knitted skull cap with stripes. Well, to fit MY head. I cannot guarantee that I can do it in one try for someone else with, perhaps, a more normal-sized head. Of course, I still find fault with this hat. I don't like the colors. I know, you are wondering why I would combine these yarns if I didn't like them. I will answer you. Because that is the yarn I have on hand. Not a glamorous answer, but the truth. And surprisingly, I am not sick of this pattern yet.



I am sidetracked at the moment because I'm knitting some dishcloths (cat-themed) right now. In fact, I'm knitting one dishcloth strictly from a chart, which has been incredibly challenging for me. I started knitting and got to about row 15 or so before I realized I was knitting part of the pattern backward. So I ripped out the rows (about 6 or so) and started again. The pattern is here. I'm slow going on this because there is no "knit x, purl y, knit x....." but instead just some colored squares. And because this is a knitted flat pattern, on the wrong side of the work, you have to reverse what is on the chart. Very confusing but if it comes out right, I will have a very cute dishcloth. If I want to knit this again, I might have to write out the pattern for a quicker knit for me.

Finding My Treasure

Now that my shawl is complete (yarn purchased during the Orange Blossom Yarn Crawl in March), it is just hanging out in my foyer until I de...