Here we are again

I had a complete bone scan a few days ago, and a follow-up with an orthopedic physician today -- and got some good news.  It appears there aren't any metastases in my right arm.  I'm very happy, as of course I don't want any surgery there. 
I have put the Gramps Cardi in hibernation for the time being, while I cruise the forums & project pages in Ravelry for some kinda clue about maintaining the cables in the yoke of this little sweater.  While it's cooling its heels, I must have some other knitting going on.  I finished the knitting for the CAP bracelet bags for the nieces, and don't "feel" the felting just now.  So...I dug around in my library, and came up with Nancy Bush's Lacy Estonian Scarf pattern in the Winter 2011 issue of Knitting Traditions.  And look!  I have several skeins of 100% baby alpaca laceweight yarn, including two that are the same color & dye lot.  And over here, I have the 2.5 mm circular needle called for in the pattern.  I started & frogged this d^$*#d thing about 12 times before I finally put some sewing thread into a needle, and started putting lifelines every 5th row.  Since then, I haven't made any errors that weren't immediately seen & fixable.   What magic is there in a lifeline?  I don't know, but I'll continue to put them in frequently, and hope the knitting sprites are happy. 
I had a call from my sister, with support & love & other good stuff as well as important news.  Dear old Dad has been moved into an assisted living facility a few miles from her home.  What a relief!  She's nearby, and he'll have access to social interaction, and someone will make sure he eats daily and gets his meds.  Now, I have some time left before I really must try to go back to work, and Sis is suggesting I travel to her home for a visit.  I would like to see Dad.  But can I afford to go?  I'll have to think about that.

Twice in one week

Gotta be a record for me posting, lately.  The Plaidman has his marching orders, to get in touch with some structural repair companies & have them give us estimates on the floor joist repair.  We'll just hold our breath until that's done...or maybe NOT.  But summer is now officially upon us here, and this is the time to get home repairs done  with minimal weather delays.  I don't know if anyone's interested in the process, but I think I'll be documenting it all -- just to show what I survived (if that actually is the outcome; otherwise, it'll show just where the final straw was laid on my back!).  To that end, I want to create another page here.  That would be the fourth page, although there are currently only two: I've promised DiscoDame her own page on my blog, to showcase her jewelry & stitchmarkers.  I'll need to take some more pictures!  She's really been busy since she took a class in jewelry making.  I gave her some strands & other bits that I don't wear much anymore, and she's cannabilizing them for other jewelry.  She's hoping to be able to sell some items; we'll have to set her up a PayPal account & figure out how (& how far!) she'll ship her goods.  So, I'll probably be back here this weekend to get all that set up. 
And I hope to have a Finished Object to show -- a lace scarf that I finished on Saturday.  I still need to wash & block it, but I'll get before & after pics.  Honestly, right now it looks like someone spilled Easter egg dye all over a huge vat of Ramen noodles. 
In other knitting, I finally swatched with the Knitter's Pride Trendz acrylic needles, for the Gramps Cardi.  Guess what?  I got soooo close to the stockinette gauge!  I'm so glad I forked over the $ for the Trendz interchangeable set.  I've already ordered more of the DK yarn from Knit Picks (and it's already been shipped!  yippee!), so I'll make the next larger size with the Trendz, getting a gauge just a smidgen smaller than the pattern calls for.  I'm sure I'll have to swap back & forth between the yarn I got earlier and the new yarn, as KPicks was actually completely out of the Tahitian Pearl colorway -- sure to be different dye lots.  Of course, I always order enough from KPicks to get the free shipping, so there are 6 skeins of the Coastal colorway coming along as well.  Plus some lace weight...for which there is no excuse. 

Fine film

I am still chuckling about DiscoDame's reaction to our "creature feature" on Christmas day. We watched It Came From Beneath the Sea! while we were having dinner (ham, seasoned & roasted cauliflower, rosemary red taters, and collard greens). Every time the beast came onscreen I made sure to scream loudly; the first time Disco dropped her fork, and she jumped *every* *single* *time* afterwards. So worth the hassle (trying to find Barnes & Noble out in Cool Springs -- twice! -- while every freakin' redneck in three counties was zipping around there too), and the $ spent.
I am still working on the Every Way Wrap.2, and Pup's sock(s), and the tiny garter stitch kimono, and I even picked up Dolly Blankie #3 a few times. Shall I make a resolution? Continental knitting is supposed to be so much faster; I believe I'll make it my goal this year to become proficient in Continental style knitting. I have enough yarn for another Every Way Wrap--which I'll make ala Continental style, once I feel I can handle it. There's lots of purling in the EWW, so I'll have to really get good at Continental purling before I attempt another EWW. I was reading about a similar wrap, the Every Which Way Wrap, with lace in it. You know I loves me some lace. Anyway, I'll have to search Ravelry for it. Meanwhile (back at the ranch), I've still got the second Janet beret on the needles; my current lace fixation.

Hey, guys! I got pictures!

Oh, I had such a terrific time in Texas back in October -- didn't really do a whole lot, but relax! First, I have to show you my gorgeous niece in her fabulous lace beret:

Is she gorgeous, or what?!?!? She's very bright, plays the cello, and is just the nicest young gal you could hope to meet. And proved her "knit-worthiness" by wearing this beret almost the whole time I was visiting; I think she took it off to sleep & bathe, but that was it. The younger niece, Princess T, wanted a hat too. I had a ball of K1C2 Ty-Dy sock yarn with me, and access to Ravelry--so started a beret based on the Feather & Fan aka Old Shale pattern. Had some issues with it, didn't try to get it done while I was there, but frogged & restarted it once I was home. It's turned out well. Voila!:

I had quite a bit of yarn left, so I'm whipping up some itty fingerless mitts for the Princess:

And, taking an idea from Knucks in Knitty, I will embroider the right mitt with "PRIN" and the left with "CESS" -- which should make her mother crazy.
I did visit Hill Country Weavers, down on Congress in Austin, and took a picture or three:

Yes, I bought some from the clearance section (the first pic) and I bought a ball of this lace yarn, which I haven't seen since -- Sis is supposed to be mailing this stuff to me; I hope it gets home soon! I mentioned sitting in on a class, that didn't seem to really be a class so much as a sit-n-stitch, and here are the ladies of the class (if any of you see yourselves, please give me a holler--I'd love to know who you are!):

Well, we had a lovely visit, and I really should write another thank-you note. I've sent one to Sis already, but her Mum-In-Law, my "other" Betty, was kind enough to spend part of the Saturday with me--we two went to the neighborhood's Garage-A-Palooza yard sale! Most streets in this large (& well-to-do!) neighborhood had several yard sales in progress; we just cruised around until we saw several close together, then jumped out & visited all of 'em. I picked up several cashmere sweaters for pennies, practically! I don't think they'll fit me, but they can be unravelled & the yarn put to other uses. I bought some purses, and some earrings too. All in all, it was a splendid haul for very little $. Thanks, Betty Too!

Buzzy

We went straight from the tag-end of winter into 91F summer over the weekend! The wasps & hornets have hatched! Run for your lives!!
Knitting news: I finished a Gwen Slouchy Beret, even blocked it! It is so purty! I used Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe in colorway Beach Glass, which is a really nice light aqua-teal color. This was a free pattern, and is on Ravelry. Being a wool-bamboo blend, it's a bit more suitable for spring & summer than just wool. So, who wants it? Yes, I'm giving it away! Comment on this blog between 4/12 and 4/29; I'll draw a winner 4/30 from all commentors. This hat will fit a head up to 23", while the ribbing is stretchy so will hold onto a smaller noggin.


I've heard from Fleegle, so I'd better get it together & pack up the March goodies. I still have not heard from Ele, either on the blog or on Ravelry (I'm AnnBan). So..the suspense is killing me...

Agony of defeat

I finished the Janet Beret last night; it seemed small, but I knew the tubular cast on would definitely stretch to 21" or 22". I made it in the "slouchy" version, with four 8-round repeats of the pattern as called for. Well, there was a brief struggle before I could get it on my head--and it's a beanie. A very pretty lace beanie, to be sure! But not what I wanted. So, it will go to the frog pond over the weekend, and I'll use bigger needles & increase more stitches -- a repeat of the lace pattern is 12 sts wide, adding a repeat above the brim would bring the total to 120 sts. Starting with 90 sts (actually 45 for the tubular cast on), I'd increase by 1 every third stitch. If the cast on is worked in US 7, then the 4 repeats of 8 rounds each could be worked on oh, say US 9? That should make a beret. I did have a good bit of the skein leftover, so will hope to have enough. Le sigh. I was really hoping I could have this ready to go to TEXAS real soon.

Lookee, new stuff!

Hi y'all! If it's Saturday, I must be posting from the library...and I am. I have some more pictures of this month's giveaway, which will be drawn on 3/25 from commentors on my previous post. Here's a pretty item up for grabs:

























I have pics of this month's stitchmarkers, but I haven't decided which ones I can bear to part with! DiscoDame is all about "reduce, re-use, recycle", so she's been saving the big pony beads from her old hair dodads, and put them to use in these:


I'm working on another lace beret, called the Janet Beret, and this is also done in a Stitch Nation yarn--Alpaca Love, in color Dusk. It's a lovely deep purple, which just happens to be a favorite of one of my nieces. I think I missed her birthday, but maybe a pretty lace beret would make her forget that!

I may not be the brightest bulb...

I came into work today. We're in the middle of a winter weather advisory, but you know me, I hate to miss work. It took me an hour and half to get from home to work, and I was pretty much terrified the whole way. The main drag in our neighborhood was in better shape than the interstate; I think that gave me a false confidence. Now I wish I'd packed jammies and a change of clothes -- I seriously rather check into a hotel out here, than try to get back home in the dark. I might still do just that, after a quick trip to the drug store to see if I can pick up clean socks & undies, & a toothbrush! That will put a dent in the budget.
The stole is coming along swimmingly, except for a few "tinks" to put in missed yarnovers. I've decided to add a different lace as an edging, to make the thing wider. The plan now is to get a section about 3.5' long, finish it with garter ridges, then pick up the cast on edge & knit in the other direction in the same way. The edging will be worked separately & sewn on. I'll try to get a WIP picture soon. I was on Ravelry over the weekend, and noticed that the Lacette isn't listed on Paton's website anymore, but there are a lot of Ravelers wanting to sell or trade theirs. Not too sure I actually want anymore, but it's good to know.

Plugging away

I restarted the Knitting Olympics vest, and I decided to just forget about the vertical stripes. I'm working narrow stripes on the light tan ground, in various shades of blue & green. I have to keep the ground color stripes fairly narrow too, since I may not have enough tan and can't buy anymore. Wouldn't you know it, the weather's finally turning towards spring, so this vest will likely be too warm to wear once it's finished. That's ok, I'll have a new vest to wear in the fall. Once I get this silly thing done, I'm off to the races on the Drops lace tank -- which will likely be done about next fall, when the only way to wear it will be as an undershirt/camisole. Le Sigh!
***
I'd like to visit Bliss Yarns Thursday, just to sit 'n stitch with all the gals there, but for sure I'd want to buy more yarn -- and I can't afford to. Truly, I don't need more yarn! I can't even find enough storage for all I got, and I still haven't unravelled all the thrift sweaters I bought! I've been thinking of them lately, just itching to get them frogged & clean the yarn & wind it up...
Haven't a clue what I'll do with any of it, but once it's all clean & either in hanks or wound into balls, I'm sure I'll think of something.
***
I looked at CAP's budget sheet for Excel, even saved a copy for the Man with a Plan, but I'm not sure if the Plan is more than "hey, maybe we can pay another bill or two next week when you get paid." He's not into actually committing a plan to paper, just not his thing. If I have to do all the actual planning & budgeting, I'm going to be a real witch on wheels. I tend to get entirely too tightly wound about money, (Ya think?!?!) so asking me to be in charge of paying the bills is asking for one grumpy Momma. And when Mom's unhappy, God help anyone who smiles in her vicinity.
***
Let's think of more pleasant things, shall we? I picked up the Spring Vogue Knitting at the store -- just a little morale boost, you understand -- and wow, have you seen the nice lacey patterns? Looks like fun. I'd love to be working on my lace tank right now, but I'm blogging at work and the only knitting I brought up here is the Knitting Olympics vest. Not lacey, just soft & chunky (I resemble that remark...).