Lead Me Not Into Temptation

As I sit here at my computer desperately trying to think of something interesting to blog about, a disturbing thought has come to my mind.

I only have one ball of sock yarn left.

Now I know I could just get online and order some more, but this doesn't fit in with my Stashalong goals. I still have 5 items on my WIP list that I haven't completed. I keep trying to justify buying more, even though I haven't finished my goals.

Let's see, there is that huge bag of yarn I donated to the art teacher at the school. There is no way I'd buy up enough sock yarn to replace all of that. Then there is the two rather large projects I've done/am doing from stash that weren't on my list. That ought to count for something. Plus, I have completed half of the list already...

Surely it wouldn't hurt to buy just a few balls of sock yarn. Or would it? Would fudging on my goals really accomplish the purpose of the Stashalong? If I cheat this time, wouldn't it be just that much easier to do it again?

Lead me not into temptation.

Back to knitting.
*
*

More Squirkles

I drew this orange about half the size of the previous one, so I was able to pay more attention to shading and stuff. It's still not perfect, but it's better.

Squirkles

To do the texture on this orange, I used a technique Brenda Hoddinott calls squirkling. I'm pleased with the result as far as the appearance of texture, but let me tell you, that's a lot of graphite to try to lay down in the 10 minutes or so I had left of my lunch break. As a result, the transitioning of my shading isn't as smooth as I'd like it to be. And my highlight ended up in the wrong place. Overall, though, I'm pleased with this one, considering.

Sensei was on vacation today, spring break you know, so I had to teach the adult class. It wasn't much to it because only 2 others besides Cody and me showed up. We had an open workout in which we critiqued each other's kata.

Last week, when we first found out sensei would be out, Blake begged me to come in and help with the kids class. I didn't, though. Last summer, sensei offered James and me teaching positions in his after school program. Paid teaching positions. Those positions never materialized, but now suddenly Blake is a paid teacher in the after school program. So I figure, if Blake is getting paid to teach the kids, then Blake can teach them.

*

*

This and That

And the first sock is done. I really like this colorway.

I didn't cast on the second sock, though. I had another skein of sock yarn that I really wanted to see how it would knit up, so I cast on from that one instead. I'll come back and finish this pair when I'm done with that one.

Still of a fruit phase. I just haven't had time to print out any reference photos.

The time change has gotten my schedule off. It's frustrating, too, because I can't get my computer clock to update. I've reset it manually, but it keeps going back to the old time. I downloaded the updater from the Microsoft website, but that didn't work either. So my computer clock is an hour behind.

Finally, courtesy of Google Earth, the house I grew up in. Yeah, it's kind of fuzzy but that's it.

Warrior

I was awakened early this morning by the sound of a wolf howling right outside my back door. His name is Warrior, and he is 12 months old. Mr. McPhail is going to have him neutered soon in an attempt to keep him from getting aggressive.

I rented Snakes on a Plane this afternoon. It is almost hilarious in its ridiculousness. The only reason I mention it is because I decided Onyx needed to watch it with me. We were watching all these snakes attacking people, and suddenly Onyx turned around and bit me! He hasn't done that since he was 6 months old.

"OK, that's enough Snakes on a Plane for you," I said. "It's giving you ideas."

*

*

Socks and Skies

There are three main methods of knitting socks. One uses double pointed needles, one uses two circular needles, and one uses the magic loop technique on one long circular needle. When I first started knitting socks, I wanted to try all three methods to see which one I liked best.

I've decided in very short order that I really do prefer dpns. My evidence to support that claim:


This is the most recent sock I started on dpns. Compare it to the picture below:

The two circulars sock is on the far left. I started that one in January. The magic loop sock is in the middle. I started it around the first of February. The dpn sock is on the far right. I started it yesterday. All other variables are the same. The yarn is all the same weight, and the needles are the same size. Given the choice of the three, I'll pick up the dpn socks first. I'll likely still use the magic loop to knit socks I carry along with me--like to the dojo or the doctors office, etc. That way I won't have to worry about losing a needle. I won't likely use the two circular method again. I might even transfer that sock to dpns when I finish the current pair.

Anyone want a book on knitting socks on two circulars?

Several months ago, I was doing my grocery shopping and I saw that Cody had written Clean Safe on my shopping list. I had no idea what it was. I looked all over the cleaning supplies aisle and couldn't find anything called Clean Safe. When I got home, I asked Cody what it was. He had no idea.

"You wrote it on the list," I said.

"I did?" he replied.

I never did find out what it was, until this morning. I was sitting at my computer and looked over and saw this.

So that's what Clean Safe was!
*
*
*
*

Mystery solved!

Today's sky was overcast most of the day, but the predicted rain never happened.

An Unusual Visitor

The neighbors down the way love dogs. They have about 10 of them. People tend to dump dogs out here where we live, and the McPhails take them in. They can't help it, they say. They love dogs so much they can't stand to send them to the pound.

Their newest dog is an Alaskan Malamute/timber wolf hybrid who was given to them by Mr. McPhail's sister. I don't know how old he is, but he is absolutely gorgeous. He is huge, probably weighing in at well over 100 lbs. He looks like a wolf, but has the personality of a dog. He's just as friendly as can be.

He has taken an inexplicable shine to B's dog Artex. He follows Artex home almost every night. I finally got to meet him when he followed Cody right on into our house! He showed no sign of aggression, but I still watched him very carefully. He seemed very well mannered, even sitting on my command. (There's an old saying around these parts. "Whenever you start thinking of yourself as a person of some importance, try bossing someone else's dog around.") It took me three tries to get us into the house with him outside. He kept trying to follow us back inside. During our little dance, I grabbed the camera and managed to snap a few pictures. These are the best ones. He wouldn't stay. He kept coming to me. I finally had to get Cody to hold him so I could get these pics.


As a child, I'd always dreamed of having a pet wolf. Now I have a half wolf buddy.

Still sketching fruit. Still out of fresh, new ideas...

*

*

When Ideas Fail

A piece of fruit is always a good subject when you can't think of anything else to draw. This one was drawn from imagination.

I broke down and started another pair of socks on dpns this afternoon. I was trying to hold out and finish my magic loop and two circulars pairs, but I really think I like doing them on dpns better. I'm still working on my WIP list also, but my second prayer shawl has gotten a bit bogged down. I'm just not motivated to work on it. I know I should be, but I just can't get into it. I've mostly been working on the grey scarf that I keep ripping and starting over. I'm done with ripping it, though. I think I've got it just the right width now.

We had a new student in karate tonight, so sensei worked with her while I led the rest of the class through basics, stances, and kata. After that, we did some self defense drills with the bags. Sensei is very fond of straight leg kicks to the shin, but I just can't seem to get the hang of them. I can't seem to get any power in my kicks. On the other hand, when I kicked Blake, he whined that it hurt, so there must be something to it.




Ahh, snake update. Scarlett and Blaze both shed. Scarlett, the one I though I was going to lose 10 months ago has finally hit the two foot mark! Blazie, on the other hand, is nearly three feet. They are the same age, but that shows how much her throwing up affected her growth. She should eventually catch up to where she should be. But the point I was going to make is, I got some videos of her shedding and will post them in a day or so.
*
*

Football, Then and Now

I got my tax return back a few days ago. Most of it goes into my savings account, but we do take a couple of hundred dollars just to spend on stuff we've been wanting but haven't had the extra to buy. Usually it's books or DVDs we've been wanting, or something along those lines--nothing really expensive.

This year, I bought Cody The Colts: The Complete History , and I, of course, got myself The Dallas Cowboys:The Complete History of America's Team. At the risk of sounding maudlin, it has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. The names I grew up with: Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, The Doomsday Defense, Too Tall Jones, Randy White and Harvey Martin, Charlie and Cliff--the terrible twosome, Hollywood Henderson...These are the names that bring back memories of my childhood and the glory days of football. I thought to myself that the feeling with which I remember these names, Cody will remember the names of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, LaDanian Tomlinson, Tom Brady. But he will be missing out on something very special.

There was a flair and a flamboyancy back then that I don't see in the game today. Most of all, there was a passion that has been lost. Those guys loved the game. They would have played for nothing. They practically did. All but the highest paid players had to take on second jobs during the off season just to make ends meet and support their families. There were no multi-million dollar salaries, no seven digit signing bonuses. They played because they wanted to play football.

As much as Peyton Manning spouts on about loving the game, ask him to give back his eight million dollar 2007 signing bonus and his twelve million dollar annual salary and play for free and see how fast he retires. Football has become a business, more concerned with profits and losses than wins and losses.

And the real loser is the game itself.
*
*

Polar Bear Take 2

I decided to give the polar bear another go, and I think this one turned out better, even though the eyes are still a little flat.

I went back to karate tonight, but didn't make it through the entire class. I lost what little strength I had and had to sit down. Sensei understood though, because he'd had the same sickness I had. He said that maybe he'd given it to me, since we both got sick the same day.

Mr. Eiffling was there from the Greenville dojo. Sensei had asked him to come and give Barrett and Josh an evaluation since they will be testing soon. I was nervous about him being there, even though he is really nice. Sensei had said he hoped he could get him to come more often, and I hope he does. It will be nice to have a fresh perspective on things. Besides that, Mr Eiffling is an outstanding martial artist.

One thing he mentioned to Barrett (Josh wasn't there tonight) was that he and Josh should train together as often as they can outside of class. Having a training partner will make such a difference in the quality of your training. I was thinking, "Boy I wish I'd had a training partner. All I had was James!"
*
*

Two Fer

You get a two fer today. Two sketches of the same thing. The first one was done last night while I was rebooting my computer. The second I did on my lunch break today. Yes, I know the first one is dated 3/3, but that's because I hadn't turned over my calendar page and wrote the wrong date down.

Lately here, I've been plagued with start-over-itis. I hadn't planned on doing the monthly dishcloth this time, but later I decided to do it anyway. I got all the way to day #4, and decided I'd chosen the wrong color for it, so I ripped it out. The pattern is of a bunny, and I really want to do it in pink. I don't have a solid pink, but I do have a real nice variegated that I'll do it in. Or maybe I'll just do it in an off white that I have. Also, I was knitting a grey scarf out of some leftover yarn when I decided it would end up too short and wide. So, despite being over half way through, I ripped it out and started over. I'd knitted about 10" and realized that this time I'd gotten it too skinny. So I ripped it out again. I think it's just right this time.

If only I could shake this persistent cough, I'd feel a whole lot better. Then I might feel like actually posting something interesting. The doc gave me some cough medicine, but it makes me so drowsy I can't take it during the day. It would make for some unusual posts, though.

*

*

How I Learned to Knit

I'd wanted to learn to knit for about as long as I can remember. I distinctly remember as a small child asking my mother to teach me how to knit. The only problem with that was that she didn't know how to knit.

"Your grandma tried to teach me once, but I just couldn't do it. It's too hard. Here, let me teach you how to crochet."

So I dutifully learned to crochet, but I never really enjoyed it. My heart longed to knit.

My grandma had known how, but she'd had a massive stroke when I was just three years old. Her right side was paralyzed, and the part of her brain that controls speech was damaged. She was never able to use her right hand or speak clearly again. I thought about asking her anyway if she could teach me, but my mother was afraid it would make her feel bad if she couldn't make herself understood. I never asked her, but in retrospect, I wish I had. I tried to think of anyone else in my family that may know how to knit, but no one did. They all crocheted.

"Oh, I tried to learn to knit, but I couldn't. It's too hard. My fingers just weren't made for knitting. Here, let me show you how to crochet."

So I continued on with my crocheting, though I didn't really enjoy it. My heart yearned to knit. When I was in the Navy, I wanted to knit a sweater for my now ex-husband. I found some absolutely beautiful yarn that I just loved. The only problem was, I didn't know how to knit. Yeah, there are patterns out there for crocheted sweaters, but they just weren't what I wanted. They didn't have the drape of a knitted fabric. They seemed stiff as a board to me. So I crocheted him a huge granny square afghan. We were divorced before I finished it.

Even after I'd gotten out and returned home, the dream to knit stayed with me. I was talking to one of my dad's neighbors over the back fence and somehow the subject came up. I mentioned that I'd always wanted to learn to knit and she said,

"I tried it once and it's just not....It isn't....You'd be better off sticking to crochet."


Fast forward five years. It is 1998, or thereabouts. I was perusing the craft department at Wal-mart when I spotted a I Taught Myself Knitting kit. It had everything I needed to learn to knit except yarn, but I already had that. I decided I was going to buy it and I was going to learn to knit. Finally. After 30 years of longing, I was going to learn to knit.


I bought the kit. I got home and eagerly sat down and read the book. I got my yarn out and started trying to knit, and guess what...

It just wasn't working. My fingers didn't seem to be made for knitting. It was too hard. I just couldn't do it. Needles and yarn ended up stuffed in the bottom of a craft drawer, forgotten...

Until the day I was cleaning out my craft cabinet and found them again. I decided I would try just one more time. I don't know what was different, but that time it just clicked. It worked. My fingers seemed made for knitting. It was easy, and I could do it.


I was living my dream. I was knitting. And I've never looked back...
*
*

We're Saved!

We're Saved! UFOs will save us from global warming!


There wasn't much warm about this

Don't let the blueness and sunshine fool you. It stayed pretty chilly all day, and is supposed to get even colder before morning.

Yesterday, Cody brought home a note from his art teacher. It was one of those "If you have any of this stuff laying around the house and would like to donate it" kind of things. Guess what was on the list...

Yarn--any kind, any color

Have I got yarn to donate??? I bagged up all my baby/fingering weight yarn, about half of my sport weight, and a few odds and ends of worsted weight to take up there. The small sack is some crochet cotton. That's that stuff that is about the thickness of sewing thread.

This is what is left of my stash, including the new stuff I just got.

It's still a lot of yarn, but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Speaking of light, as I sit here in front of my computer desperately trying to think of something interesting and clever to say, I realize my brain is lost in total darkness. There's only one thing left to do in a situation like that...fix a big mug of hot chocolate and curl up with some Jane Austin. I'm reading Emma now. It's not as captivating as Pride and Prejudice, but a good read nonetheless.

*

*

Polar Bear

He almost looks like he's smiling, but I wouldn't try to cuddle this one.

Ok, One More

A variation on one I already did. I haven't heard anything else from Shelly, so I'll just hold off on anything else for now.

Since I have absolutely nothing interesting to talk about, I'll just leave things at that. I'm not even doing the monthly dishcloth. It is the same diagonal pattern that I've done about a gazillion of already, and I just didn't feel like doing it. I'm still suffering the after effects of my recent illness, and I have no energy, strength, or motivation. I sure hope this passes soon...

*

*