Unfinished Funk

I was surfing the other day when I hopped over to see what Kim was up to and she had a post about being in an in between project funk. I could totally relate. Here I have all of these long-term projects on the needles that seem to be taking for-freaking-ever. That compiled with the endless cloudy days has left me in a funk. Those who know me well, know that if I don't have anything nice to say, I don't say anything at all. So, that's why there's been a long silence.

I do have some good news. I got my passport on Friday. Here they said it would be a couple of months but it turned out to be just a couple of weeks. I also got the time off I requested around my sabbatical approved. So, it's written in stone: I have from May 17 to July 7 off with pay. The countdown begins: 8 weeks to go.

Caitlin sent an email letting me know that she blew out her fuzzy feet slippers. She's got them held together with duct tape. And Danny is so fearful that hers will blow that she is rationing wearing them. So, I quickly made some felted moccasins for her. The last time I made them slippers, I mailed Danny's first and then followed up with Caitlin's. I learned that those two are competitive, so everything has to be equal. So, I'm in the midst of making a pair for Danny to mail off. Silly lesbians.

I also found that Martha Stewart published a felt slipper pattern a while back. So, I've used her pattern to make slippers from recycled felted sweaters from the thrift store rather than trying to make my own pattern. They are fast and fun to make. I set up my sewing machine in my office. It was nice to hear the whir of the machine. Years ago, I used to sew my kids clothes and a bunch of mine. I forgot how much I like to hear the sound of the sewing machine run.

I also signed up for two wet felting classes in April with Cottage Fiber. That should be a total blast.

I had an appointment this week and grabbed the long languishing landscape socks to knit while waiting in the office. After knitting a bit using this fabulous sock yarn, I realized that I hate knitting with the Noro Kureyon sock yarn. It has no give. It twists up on itself making knot after knot. It flies off your fingers as you knit. Frustrating. However, I spent an arm and a leg on this yarn, so I'll be damned if I don't finish these socks.

The diswarsher is installed and Sam and I are back full force in the kitchen. We were supposed to have some friends over for dinner last night. But, they canceled because the wife and the daughter were both sick. I had gone to a LYS and bought some "beginner" style knitting needles. I had big plans to teach the little girl how to knit. Maybe next time. We had planned on making smoked meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, sauteed mushrooms and peas with fresh thyme and garlic. We had all the food, so we made the meal for ourselves anyway. Since I spent the majority of Friday cleaning the house, it's all done. Those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers with Febreze are fabulous.

I think I'll spend today working on the Lady Eleanor Wrap. It's a welcome change to be knitting on larger needles after jacking around with the damn Noro socks.

I've got a little more of my OWN time

The Fuzzy Feet are complete. These slippers are for Danny. And I'm done with the second of the socks on two circs, with the exception of Kitchenering the tip. I prolly should make Caitlin a pair before I mail then out.

I'll be moving the Nikko Wrap to the Stall Wall. It just needs more beads added. And beading is such a pain in the ass. I'm wondering if I'm just too dumb to have figured out the easy way.

On Saturday, I listened to some of the Pod casts on Knit picks. I was surprised to find out that the owner has about 7 projects on the needles at all times. Maybe it's because she wants to encourage us all to buy more stuff from her web site. Or maybe she's just not as strict with herself. After hearing that, however, I certainly wanted to cast on for more projects.

But, I resisted.

I'm kind of holding off to see what happens when I finally get on Ravelry. I'm under less than 1K now. I'm excited. I wonder how many projects other knitters have on their needles. And what everyone else is making. Maybe I can get some help with the dang Baby Surprise Surplice Wrap too. I'm also waiting to see if I get any of the Kaffe Fassett Sock Yarn soon. If I do, that will be my next sock project. On one long circular.

I decided that I have to pair down my weeknight cooking. While I was working overtime, we had carry-out more than I'd like to. It left us both feeling yucky. And while I'm glad that I'll have some more time, I want to keep our weeknight meals simple. I think I'm going to do more cooking on Sundays, so that the weeknights can go smoothly.

I made some chicken stock on Saturday. I love making stock. I'll hope to be making matzo ball soup this week. Or I can it freeze the stock for later. Tate mentioned that they brown their bones where she works. So, that will be next. She also mentioned a technique where you drop cold water on the roasted bones to cause them to open. That way, when you boil them you get the most bang for your buck.

So, I'm going to start working on the Knitting Pure & Simple Cardigan again. I remember saying that it would fly off the needles. I guess that is only if you don't have Knitter's ADD.

Tonight I made Sopa Seca. I used up the rest of the roast turkey I had instead of smoked turkey. I also used Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes and added some chorizo I had on hand.

Playing with String Some More

My dang computer was down yesterday.

We had a busy morning with Sam's folks. In the afternoon, while Sam took a nap, it was time to play with string in a different way.

I had made all the pieces for a v-neck sweater some time ago. But, the size was all wrong and the colors turned out wonky. I used this fabulous hand dyed yarn I bought from Bonkers Fibers. It's the picture of yarn I have at the top of my blog. At the time, I didn't realize that you need to alternate every row of knitting since hand dyed yarns never really match. So the back, front and one sleeve were all one dye lot and then the last sleeve was a different more brilliant version of the colourway. So, to the frog pond it went.

First, I ripped out the knitting and wound the yarn around an old packing box. You have to tie the loop of yarn in a couple of places to hold it together. It's best to use a contrasting yarn. I used a bright red mercerized cotton yarn.

Then, a soak in the sink with Eucolan. The yarn will look like Ramen Noodles and you want to relax the yarn so it can be knitted again.

Then, squeeze most of the water out, place on a towel and roll up to get more water out and hang to dry. After the yarn is dry I will wind it up for a different use. This is the second time I've ripped this yarn out. I just haven't found the project that does this yarn justice. I'm thinking of doing the Cobblestone Pullover by Jared Flood in the current Interweave Knits.

After frogging the entire sweater, I looked in my closet and found my Haiku sweater that I made several years ago using Peace Fleece. I never really wear this one either. So, I started frogging this one too. This one was more difficult to frog because I had actually put the sweater together. Hopefully, I'll salvage enough yarn to make a vest or something. I love Peace Fleece yarn. It's just too dang hot to wear indoors.

After an afternoon of ripping, I was pretty hungry. Caitlin had mentioned that she prepares her own juice concoctions when she gets hungry in the afternoon. I don't have a juicer, so I made this green smoothie. It was delicious. I'm definitely having this again.

I've reached the stall wall an the Nikko wrap. I've purchased the beads and the beading needles. But, I cannot for the life of me get the damn needle threaded. The eye of the needle is so small I cannot see it! I even bought a damn needle threader and it got stuck and broke off in the needle. I guess I'll have to call the bead shop and ask that awful woman what I'm supposed to do. It's frustrating.