Oops. I did it again.

I worked on the Hyde Park pullover yesterday while working. I have about 8 inches left of the last sleeve and then picking up the collar.

Here are some reasons NOT to send your sweaters to the UFO basket:

1) it's hard to remember where you are in the pattern.

2) your knitting is not the same tension as it was when you started it.

3) you feel silly that you didn't just get it finished in the first place.

4) it's wasteful to have a lot of half finished projects.

However, after knitting on the Hyde Park pullover yesterday, I cast on for Nereides using this yarn.

It's a linen blend yard that I bought several years ago from Webs when they had an anniversary sale. I originally started Nereides using Recycled Sari Silk. But the yarn was too thick and since it's overspun it doesn't lend itself to the lacy effects. Then, I remembered that I had this thick and thin yard in my stash. Instead of Nereides, I will call it "Nikko" as the color of the yarn is much like Nikko Blue Hydrangeas. My rationalisation is that I will enter it in the Art contest my employer has about the same time as the Plaza Art Fair. The wrap has beads and lots of embellishment.

Today, I baked this rye bread.

It's made from a sour that ferments for several days. I made the sour last weekend and kept it in the refrigerator until I had time to make it this weekend. Next time, I will make it in loaf pans. I also made a batch of Kombucha. I used PG Tea and organic cane sugar.

We also went to see the new Harry Potter movie, which I enjoyed very much.

Yarn Porn Friday and two Finished Objects

Here is some hand-spun yarn I bought from E-bay about 10 years ago. It's undyed too. I'm going to mix it with this:

and make the Knitting Pure and Simple Cardigan (KP&SC).

The Watercolor Socks are finished. I know I started these this calendar year. They sat partially completed in the pile of UFO's for a while. The Fetching Glovelets are also finished. The only thing worse than knitting with black yarn is trying to take a picture of it. These are a quick project. I really wanted to cast on for the KP&SC, but then I thought that I would finish another project out of the pile of UFOs. Then, maybe it will be okay to start another project.

So, out of the dregs I bring you the Hyde Park Pullover. The cats are already competing to sleep on it.

Tonight, we are making kabobs.

Damndable Bastard

I couldn't post yesterday. My wrist is hurting me. I have Osteopenia, which is the beginning of Osteoporosis. I spent most of the past year in an air cast because my foot kept getting fractures. I sure hope I don't have a fracture in my wrist. Typing is hard. Knitting is hard. Cooking is hard.
Crap.
I'm wearing a brace. I didn't wear it while working today and it hurt like crazy this afternoon. I'm afraid it will slow me down.
Yesterday was my Caitlin's birthday. Happy, happy birthday. You've given me so much joy.
I'm SO close to finishing the Watercolor socks. But, alas. No knitting.

The Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket is finished. I ended up have a little more than five yards of the grey yarn.

Maybe I should have trusted Knit Pick's site. But, a line from animal House kept ringing through my head, "You fucked up. You trusted us." So, I'll have an extra skein of grey arriving on Tuesday. I started this sweater in November of 2006. I set it down to get some Christmas knitting done. That' when it went to the Stall Wall.

Sam went to the Farmer's Market on Saturday while I was working and brought back some blueberries and a ginormous head of cabbage along with the tomatoes and corn I sent him after. We had grilled corn on the cob, Cole slaw, and grilled sausages for dinner. I only used half of the head of cabbage and ended up with a plethora of slaw.

Sam requested a Blueberry Cheesecake, which I made today. I used Barbara's Universal Cheesecake recipe. I've been obsessing over her recipes. Every single one has been a winner.

I also baked some bread using this recipe. It was a gloppy mess. I thought for sure it would be a flop. But, it turned out well. Next time, I'll remember to use the no-stick foil instead of the kitchen towels it calls for. I'm soaking my towels right now because the dough stuck to everything that was near it.

I've also started on this rye bread. It takes several days to make because you have to make a rye sour. I hope it turns out well because rye bread is my favorite.

Happy Birthday, John

Today is John's 22nd birthday. Have a happy and safe time tonight, my love.
Today I went to the Pawn Shop and got the bright blue electric guitar with Dustin. We also went to a great Asian market. They even have chicken feet available, which I will buy the next time I make chicken stock. Barbara says they are the best.
Last night, I worked on weaving in the ends on the Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket. And I'm over half-way done with the crab-stitch edging. I really don't know whether I'll have enough of the grey yarn, so I ordered more today. It pisses me off that I used the yarn calculator at Knit Pick's and it wasn't enough. Though, I wonder if I'll have two inches of they grey yarn left when I'm done and she will have been spot on. I just didn't want to risk it.
Joms knocked my iron off the ironing board and wrecked it. Little bastard. I had to buy a new one at Target so I can steam the sweater.
Tonight, we are having grilled chicken with salad. We bought a lot of good stuff to put in the salad. It's getting so that it's too hot to do a lot of cooking.
I'll work tomorrow. I hope to get the Chanel-ish Cardigan Jacket completed and some pictures taken of it and the other finished objects.

Sending out an SOS

I just found out that Annie Modesitt's husband, Gerry, is in need of help. Here is the link. Help if you can.

The Long Run.

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.