Happy Independence Day

I decided to reserve today for working on the Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket for Tate's birthday. I was a little nervous about the Finishing. As I sipped my coffee, I read some of my favorite Blogs. I thought it was serendipitous that Marilyn is posting about the art of Finishing. I agree whole-heartedly that knitters should embrace the art of Finishing.

I read her 10 Rules for a Healthy Finishing ‘Tude and went on my merry way. I decided to blow off removing the cats and the Beagle. Boy spends most of his time sleeping, so I figured he wouldn't be a nuisance. Oh, but I was wrong. Every time I got out of my chair he would sit in it. And then he had to pick up the pins from my magnetic pin cushion and throw them on the floor. The Beagle interrupted me a zillion times having to be let out to chase the squirrels. So, Marylin is right. Get those little bastards out of the way.

Marilyn also mentions to NOT start another sweater until you have finished your current sweater. I'll have to take this one to heart. That's probably why I have so many UFO's. Even as I was seaming up those sleeves today, I itching to cast on for a cardigan.

I got both sleeves set in using Queer Joe's excellent tutorial. And the sleeves are seamed up. I'm currently working on the crab-stich crochet edging. I learned to crochet from my mother way before learning to knit. I haven't picked up a crochet hook in years. So, it's slow going. I feel like I'm all left hands.

Sam smoked a brisket today and I made Charros. We were going to grill corn on the cob, but another storm has hit us. The beef and beans were done just about the same time the storm hit. So, I'll just boil the corn.

I'm just about done with the watercolor socks. I'm decreasing for the toes. And I cheated and stared another pair of Fetching glovelets using Rowan Calmer. I found Grumperina's tutorial on cabling without a cable needle, which made making the glovelets a lot easier.

Earlier in the week, I found my partially complete Branching Out scarf and tried to dive right in. I was having trouble with the pattern and then my yarn got all kinds of knots in it. I figured, forget it, there's no use in getting all frustrated. So, off to the Frog Pond.

Have a safe and happy holiday. And as I told my son, John, yesterday, try not to blow your fingers off.

Progress

Or as the Canadians say: Proh-gress.
I have the cuff of the second Watercolor sock done. I've started on the heel flap. Judging by the overtime I have volunteered to do, I may have the second sock completely done by Saturday!
It's always funny for me when I start the knitting of socks. At first, the needles seem so small. But after a while the rhythm comes back.
It occurred to me that I need to suck it up and get the Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket finished. Tate's birthday is July 17. I received a call from my son, John, today. He informed me that he wants me to buy him an electric guitar from a pawn shop. That should be an interesting field trip. His Birthday is July 6.

All work and very little play

Today I finished the Kureyon striped scarf. After that I searched through the basket of UFO's and grabbed the Watercolor Socks. I finished the first sock and have about an inch or so of ribbing for the second.
The best news of all is that I completed this while at work today. The overtime project I've been working on is different from my regular job. I pretty much have no down time at my regular job. However, my work is not live. I have time to stare at the computer screen and figure thing out. The overtime job is live. But, the main thing is to be available. Today, I had five contacts in five hours. That equates to quite a bit of knitting time. Pictures will be posted later.
Lately, I've been having a bit of pain in my right thumb. Probably from typing and knitting all the time. So, I took a few evenings off from knitting.
I took the Beagle on a walk this week after work. Probably around 4 p.m. I was meeting Dustin for a bit. Dustin wanted to get an iced tea from a swanky coffee shop, so I had to wait out in the heat with the Beagle for about 20 minutes. We walked around a bit. The shopping district we were in has lots of water bowls out for dogs, and the Beagle had many drinks of water. We all walked around for some time. All of the sudden the Beagle looked funny and started to collapse. I guess she was really overheated. Fortunately, we were close to the car. She was so weak that I had to lift her in. And then she acted crazy in the car. I was in "Emergency Mom" mode. Having a cow inside but acting calm. I got her home okay and tried to get her to lay in the cool air. It took about an hour for her to be herself again. So, I guess I can take the Beagle early in the morning or later in the evening when it's not so hot. Stupid Kansas summers.

Work gets in the way

I've been working a lot lately. So that eats up a bunch of my knitting time. I'm about half done with the Kureyon striped scarf. That will be a gift for Caitlin when she comes home in August. She hasn't been home for almost a year!

I'm hoping my body gets used to working these extra hours. It leaves me quite wiped out afterwards. And my eyes get really sore by the end of the day. I'll be really glad when I get those paychecks, though.

One good thing about the extra work that I'm doing is that you simply have to be available to answer questions. A lot of the time it's not very busy at all. They have no way of predicting whether it will be busy or not. I'm hoping to use that time to get the socks done. Paid knitting time. Woo Hoo!

Busy

I have been going in to work this week for extra training. I will be assisting with our Web site. Of course it will be the crappy times it is open. And it will be live. But, I'm looking forward to it.

I forgot how much time it takes to GO to work. Getting ready, driving, etc. But, I have enjoyed seeing my buddies. The training I'm having is a total waste of time. HARRIBLE.

So, there has not been much knitting or cooking. We had a huge salad tonight.

Not that anyone reads this, but a girl was abducted from a shopping center close to my home. They found her body today. I doubt that there would have been such publicity if it were a black girl from the city. It's sad that some people are are worth more than others. There is another girl that has been missing since May 4, 2007. Not a peep about that. But she wasn't from an affluent part of the area.

I called Tate to tell her to be careful. She fits the profile: young, petite, pretty in the face.

Keep your loved ones safe and close.

Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.

Well, I fell off the wagon. I cast on, and knit, a pair of garter fingerless mitts from Weekend Knitting. It took one day. I made them for Tate out of one ball of Debbie Bliss Cashemerino Aran in a bittersweet color. I made modifications to the pattern. (I thought the mitts would be HUGE if I followed the pattern.) I was left with about 8 yards of yarn. This was a fun knit. A great last minute project, provided you have enough yarn. I would estimate that it takes just a little over a ball for hands that are normal sized.

My Tate has wee hands. Wee hands that are mighty artist's hands.

He who works with his hands is a Laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hand, his head, and his heart, is an artist.

--St. Francis of Assisi

Que Sera Sera Syndrome

I can't get this song out of my head. This is what is called the Que Sera Sera Syndrome. The only way to rid yourself of a dumb song going through your head all day long day after day is to put in someone else's head. So, I thought I'd pass it on to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsHekmWWucs

Have a good day.