Knitting stuff and going on and on.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Projects and Pets

Well, I'm finally over my snit about the backpack. I put the bag down and started working on the pocket and straps. I will never knit this pattern again and the next time I see the estimated time to make and skill level I will keep in mind that those people had nothing else to do, no distractions and lots of experience (plus they're not screwing around with the pattern).
I swear if it isn't a knitting project it's a dog driving me nutty! He's shedding a grocery bag of fur a day and barking like mad lately. I think someone new has moved into the neighbourhood. Then there's the cat. His feline herpes is acting up and his poor eye is so leaky he can't stand himself.
On to better things though, I found my next project and my first DIY pattern.
So expect more bad language and hopefully some triumphs to come.
Funny story.
My dog absolutely loves balloons! We had some helium filled balloons the other day and we tied one to his collar. He jumped around like mad trying to get it and when he finally did, he popped it, jumped back and then kept looking around to see where it had gone. We laughed and laughed. Then we blew up some more and let him go nuts. Such fun. Today I had a few blown up for my daughter to play with and I caught the dog with one very carefully held in his mouth sneaking off to play with it! I nearly peed laughing!
They all drive you nuts one minute and make you pee your pants the next!

Sunday, February 26, 2006

$&(*^%^$#%^&*!!!!

Whose idea was this stupid backpack anyway?!!!
I had almost the entire bottom of the bag sewn in place before realizing that it is 3" too short!!! Good thing my daughter was sleeping! I had to turn on the exhaust fan over the stove just to clear all the blue out of the air. Spent just as much time taking it out as sewing it in. Now I've got to do some creative sewing just to get this thing put together. Sigh... can't wait to see it leave my house!

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Backpack

Finally! I've finished the body of the bag. Thank God! Now I'm starting on the Icord, then the straps and finally the bottom and hopefully I don't feel the urge to go cut a hole in the ice and jump in too often! It probably a good thing the ice is still thick enough for it to take me forever to get an auger through it!

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Knitting Olympics

Just found the Knitting Olympics conceptualized and set up by the Yarn Harlot (see her site by the same name) this afternoon. Sounds like great fun! Wish I had known about it before, I'm working on my niece's backpack and so far it's been a challenge just to find the time and energy to get it done! I hope it happens again for the Summer Olympics and again when the Olympics arrive in Vancouver! Maybe then I'll be able to join in and curse, cry, sweat and hope for gold (or to finish on time along with everyone else).
We're hoping that we can manage to get out Vancouver way for the next Winter Olympics. We figure if we start saving and planning now, we might make it! We'll probably have to make hotel reservations a year or two in advance, but we'll get there. Good thing it's not a horribly long drive. It feels even shorter if you go through the prairies at night! Sorry all, but, it's a long time to see not much. Of course it might be interesting to see the set for Corner Gas in "Dog River"

Friday, February 17, 2006

Thank God for the Wiggles!

Anyone who has children really ought to check these guys out! My daughter just woke up from her nap (me too) and immediately asked to watch her new DVD. We just got her "Top of the Tots" by the Wiggles and now she's sitting there glued to the t.v. quietly giving me time to wake up and update this blog. So nice! I dance along to some of the songs with her and have managed to lose most of my baby weight. Plus they have a great website at www.thewiggles.au.com to play games and listen to little clips of their songs.
Happy kid, Happy parents!

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Surgery

So, I had a really bad varicose vein removed from my right leg. I'm hoping to improve my quality of life by being able to fly, drive for more than an hour and walk around for more than 20 minutes without pain or fear of a blood clot. Unfortunately my leg really hurts right now! I wound up getting 7 small cuts (21 stitches) so the surgeon could tie off the top of the vein, remove the worst parts and leave enough behind to use in the event of a heart by-pass. God forbid! He told me when he had his heart by-pass, the legs were to most painful part! Thank God he told me that after the sugery was over! The stitches came out Thursday and now the real healing begins. So far so good, I just feel bruised and when my 2 year forgets about Mommy's sore leg, really hurt!
The good things is that the recovery allowed me to really get going on my knitting and since I am a slow knitter, that really made all the difference. I'm nearly done the body of the backpack I was knitting (Lily's Sugar 'n' Cream Backpack from Knitting Pattern Central.com) and I finished a small wallet from Sister Sister, again found on Knitting Pattern Central.com. I changed the pattern a little though. I cast on 28 stitches instead of 25 and once I was happy with how it looked when it was folded (garter stitch), I started to decrease by knitting the first and last 2 together then cast off when I had 12 stitches left. I also did 2 yarn overs so I could have 2 button holes and added a small chain on one corner to loop over a wrist. One little tip though, when going into the hospital and having an I.V. put in, get those 7" plastic starter needles (mine are from Red Heart) if you want to use straight needles, they're easier to use when one hand is nearly immobilized. Of course you'll only be able to do small projects (I did the wallet in three hours but I had to rest a lot and found I had to hold the needles differently plus, I'm normally slow). I've found some really funky small projects on Kitty.com like the guitar strap I'm going to make for my husband and daughter once she's old enough to handle her own guitar.
Back to work Monday! No more husband to look after everything. He's been awesome! If I had to get knocked down for any length of time again, no more worrying about how he's going to handle everything. He's the best! I'm in love all over again!