Bron's Blog II

Today Is Too Much A Monday To Be A Tuesday

I go in to work for two hours & find out one good friend is getting a divorce (not totally unexpected, but still...) and my best friend at school is turning in his 2 weeks notice - and moving back to Iowa for awhile to be with his aging parents. It's the best move for him at this time but....I'm selfish and don't want him to go. Sniff.

Then after some blog reading I find out another good friend just got a diagnosis no-one wants to hear.

And you know that sweater I just finished? I wore it half an hour & remember the real reason I didn't wear the first Cabaret I made. The neckline is too high! The front just cuts across my trachea and I'm constantly pulling the front down. I'm going to see if I can wash it, then block the neckline bigger but I'm not holding out much hope.

Not a big problem after the first three things I listed, but it certainly is the icing on the cake, eh?

Grump, whine, kvetch, whimper, moan.

Now where is that magic wand that makes everything better????

Happy Birthday To A "Foolish" Cat

Yes, Arnold was born on April Fool's and he's seven today:

I haven't talked about the animals for awhile so I couldn't resist a gratuitous pic. ::grin::: We had good news about Emma last week: When we took her in for her shots, the vet said she'd lost 8 pounds in the past year. Another 8 and she'll be right about where she should be for a Corgi of her size. We were thrilled because obviously we'll have her with us much longer when she's at her optimum weight.

It's also looking like I won't be called back for a closer look following my mammogram on Monday. That makes me very happy indeed. :) After it happening two years in a row, I guess the 3rd time's the charm!

We found the absolute perfect house for us yesterday. Well, Doug did & then took us all to see. It's SO perfect that I'm afraid to talk about it for fear I jinx everything. Obviously, we weren't planning on finding something like this so soon - we're about 3 months ahead of schedule - but we'll go forward cautiously, just to see. (It's so wonderful I just KNOW a sale is pending or else they have 4 different offers...or something equally atrocious.)

It...is...SERIOUSLY....wonderful.....4 bedroom, 2 1/2 baths, tri-level 70s style in a very exclusive area around the golf course, huge driveway, room for RV, lovely landscaping, fountain out front, big deck off the back AND off the master bedroom in front, over-sized two car garage with large shop, THREE storage sheds.....

Oh dear...and I said I wouldn't talk about it. Sigh. If anyone wants to float a good thought out into the universe for us and that house, I would be forever grateful. :) But....you know....as long as none of us are talking about it.....

I'm trying to ignore the little voice in my head saying it's way too good to be true.....

So in order to distract myself, I'm looking at new projects. :)

Thanks to a wonderful, wonderful reader named Gina (Hi, Gina!) I am now the proud owner of the English directions to this Bergere De France beauty:

Yes, I had the French directions but the translating thereof was far down on my list of things to do. Now there's actually a chance I'll make this for next fall! Gina did all the legwork, tracking down the instructions & letting me know her progress. Did I already tell you all how great she was? ::Grin::: I also have the directions for these:

And this:

Among others. Oh - the possibilities!

I purchased the magazine from Angel Yarns in Britain and my, my - what wonderful things they have! The shipping was quick and I was informed of my order's progress the whole time. I'm very, very pleased with the service & the product. :)

I also received this yesterday:

Which I purchased for these:

Could my knitting mojo be coming back? Hmmmmm......

I just have 5 more inches to go on the back of Cable Tank:

(I can't wait to get to the fun front!) And I got a bit of stash enhancement in the mail from "De-Stash:"

6 and a smidge skeins of Knit Picks Main Line in Dusty Lavender. I have 10 skeins of the same dye lot on my stash shelf so I couldn't resist adding these. Now I have enough for a long-sleeved something or other...details to be decided at a later date. :::grin:::

OK - I'll shut up now. ::wink::: Yesterday was crazy (my car died in the driveway, right after we went & looked at the house! We have to have it towed to the mechanic tomorrow....Grrrrr!) so today I'll be hanging out here & getting ready for school tomorrow. Yes, I really will finish sewing that top - I swear I'll have pics asap. :)

To Echo My Category Choice: General Life Stuff

• I was a real stinker yesterday & managed to get out of subbing PE. Actually, it helped the fill-in sub coordinator. She had to fill 4 emergency sub positions so I offered to trade my job (which had a prep period) for one that had 4 full periods - one less emergency sub for her to find. :) So I ended up with a full day of 8th grade science, which was just fine with me. ::wink:: It was a win-win situation!

• I was so tired yesterday I went to bed before 8 and slept off & on until 5. I'm feeling much better & plan to make the lace cardi my project for the day. As well as crocheting an orange slice to match my lime.

• I'm going to buy a ball of yellow cotton today because I really will need a lemon slice to match both. ::wink::

• I've been haunting eBay for long skirts. The weather here has turned very warm. It's been close to 80 a couple of days and that's tank top/skirt weather, definitely! It blows my mind that other people are having snow. Of course, as I recall, back in December/January we were buried under a foot of snow while those on the east coast were wearing shorts! I guess the weather is finally evenly out.

• Can you tell I have absolutely nothing to say? hehehe Don't answer that!

• Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Things That Make You Feel Better

• An understanding Sub Coordinator. I told her how sick I was feeling yesterday and, after my first two classes, she let me go home for lunch and a prep period (I was able to take a nap!) and then had me come back for 4th period to cover an emergency absence. The best part is....she changed the job times so that I'd get paid for the time I spent at home. :) She's very good that way and I always appreciate it. That nap made all the difference & I was able to get through the day fairly well.

• Having the "4th Period from hell" and actually having a good time with them. It's one of my favorite "bad" classes. I had no problems with them and was able to leave a very good report. It gave me a real sense of competence because 3rd period had gotten a truly awful review from another sub.

• Finally watching "The Illusionist" and loving every minute of it. Achingly romantic, mysterious, a real puzzler, i was smiling when the end credits rolled. Edward Norton was mesmerizing - in every sense of the word. I think I might have to buy this one and watch it at my leisure. I even loved the lighting - low but rich. :) Seriously - go watch this one, you won't be sorry!

• Having this waiting for me when I got home:

And feeling some crochet mojo returning because of these patterns:

Of course, now that it's here, I don't have the right yarn to make the tunic I've been lusting after. So while I decide what I want to use, I think I'll be making that lacey tie cardi (second from last) with yarn I have on hand. (Yes, Paula - I realize it's a cardi! LOL)

• Having my cup runneth over with this waiting for me too:

But more on that one next time. :)

• Being able to go to bed early & sleeping pretty well for around 8 hours. I'm feeling tons better today, which is just as well because I have two jobs: 2 periods of science in the AM and a period and a half of 7th grade math in the afternoon. Luckily for me, these stress related episodes usually last just 24 hours. I'm going to be more careful in what I eat - I think part of this was some poor food choices catching up with me!

Thanks for all the get well wishes. :) Much appreciated!

I was too out of it yesterday to do much knitting or crocheting, although I did manage 4 full rows on Bianca's Jacket. At least all the pieces are attached now and the lace pattern is started. I can't promise I'll be finishing any time soon (especially with all the new crochet patterns to make!) but I will keep plugging away on it. :)

Just...In A Good Mood

You ever have days like that? Even though your stresses are still there you're just feeling pretty good? That happened to me yesterday. :)

The proctoring wasn't too bad - I was kept fairly busy and there was a group of us doing the same thing so we had the whole people-stuck-doing-the-same-thing-camaraderie going on. I brought knitting and crocheting to do and, the shameless hussy that I am, I made sure to wear something I'd made (Tahki's Bell-Sleeved Top) because I knew people would be commenting on what I was making & I wanted to be wearing something smashing to brag on.

Sure enough, I got ooohs & aaaahs over my top AND what I was working on!Man, after so many years of nothing it was like water in a desert. :) The TIPS director is teaching one of the EAs to knit and I helped her a bit while we sat there. She commented on the dishcloth I was crocheting, "All you need is a crochet hook to make a dishcloth?" and liked it so much I gave it to her when I was finished. Heck - it's not like I can't make more! ::wink::

Then when I got to the one class I was subbing yesterday, I found this:

In case you can't read it, it says, "A gift for my fave! fave! sub."

Altogether now: "Awwwwwww!"

It's a mug from the American Association of University Women:

I'm subbing a week for my "fave" science teacher and she really appreciates it. :) Besides - we're making bottle rockets (just 2 liter bottles shooting straws across the room, no explosives!) and not many subs would be willing to do that with 8 classes! LOL

Anyway, it was just so nice to be appreciated yesterday for both my substituting AND my crafting! Hence the pretty darn good mood. :)

I would've had the first front finished on Bianca at school, but I forgot to bring an extra ball of yarn! So when I got home I finished it:

and got a decent start on the left front:

I'm hoping to have the sleeves finished this weekend and everything joined together by Monday. I'm proctoring again Mon, Tues & Wed, but Mon & Tues we're only there until 1:30. So things could be worse. Things could always be worse! LOL

Today is a regular school day & I have 4 science classes - no prep & no knitting for me today!

I'm really looking forward to the weekend. I've got some Netflix goodies (The Prestige, a horror movie whose title escapes me at the moment and I'm hoping the last 3 episodes of season 3 of "Six Feet Under" will make it in Sat.) and plenty of knitting to accomplish!

Oh yeah...I might want to put away the 6 or so loads of laundry still stacked in various & sundry places too. hehehe

Have a good one!

Somebody Stop Me

If only it wasn't so interesting watching the patterns emerge:

And look - I found a round knit dishcloth pattern that uses short rows instead of dpns!:

With all this talk of dishcloths, I must confess that in my head....I call them "dishrags." That's what Mom called 'em and I can't help but follow suit. Hey - I grew up in a household with an "icebox" rather than a "fridge." I can't help being archaic!

I found this at Michael's yesterday:

And really liked the butterfly and the chicken potholders:

(Ahem...I also have 2 dishcloth pamphlets on their way from eBay but I swear....that's IT! LOL)

In the meantime, I've remembered another pattern I used to make all the time. It's for a potholder and it's easy-peasy too. I'll crochet one up today & post the pattern tomorrow. :)

Here's a sweater picture for all those out there who are about to un-sub from my blog in disgust at my kitschy kitchen helpers:

I'm an inch into the ribbing on "Something Pink (Red)" and have about 10" to go before I finish. I'm going to make the body a little longer than specified (as I almost always do.)

I found this at B&N yesterday:

Let me go on record with almost everyone else & say that I dislike the new layout of the magazine. It's very hard to tell what's an ad and what's a pattern and, well, I don't know - I just don't like it!

The patterns were ok this time, but nothing really jumped out & grabbed me. I liked the cabling in this (naturally):

And this is probably the one thing I'll seriously think about making from this issue:

I have some yarn on my shelves that I received for Christmas (thanks again, Wendy!) that might be just the ticket for this. It's even in the same color family. :) We'll see.

Some patterns were, to me, kinda pointless:

But then again, I'm not a sweet young thing that can get away with wearing things like that!

As always, I found things in the ads to interest me. Case in point:

I doubt I'd actually want to knit all of that, but I'd sure like to have the sweater! LOL

And I found that Amy Singer has a book coming out called No Sheep For You, all about knitting with cotton, hemp, bamboo, etc. You know - for all of us who are allergic to wool. :) I had no idea that Amy was allergic too - I feel that I'm in good company. Anyway, that's one I'll be checking out when it becomes available.

Here are a couple of life updates:

• Our guy who was set to buy the house decided he couldn't swing it, but it's totally OK - we signed up with a really good Realtor yesterday & after about 3 weeks of renovating, we'll have it on the market again. As we were talking to him yesterday, two people stopped in front of the house to ask if we were still selling it & when they could see it. No joke. I doubt we'll have it on the market long.

• I've officially lost 10 pounds since early January - which gives me hope that all those patterns in Fitted Knits that I showed you will look pretty good on me. ::wink::: Now I'm back to just another 20 to go! (Stupid Christmas fudge! ::Grin:::)

What A Difference A Day Makes

Just getting a few things accomplished, having a good night's sleep (yeah - I went to bed during the State of the Union address...sometimes I just can't bear to see his face on my TV), and making a couple of decisions can make everything look brighter. :)

More life bullets:

• I got the rental's electric/gas/water transferred back into our name. One thing off my mind.

• Doug called the renter & we've got assurances that $$ is forthcoming within the next 48 hours AND all the trash will be hauled away forthwith.

• I've been very dissatisfied with WW Online, mainly because their online tools fail. They lose days out of my points tracker, for instance, and that is VERY irritating. Also, they are so backed up in customer service that they say they'll answer questions within five days! Nope - sorry. After one week I decided to cancel, but then found out I might be out $40 for just one week's worth of use! Grrrrr! I'll keep you posted on how THAT works out!

• I've gone to what is tried & true for me: I lose weight AND I get rid of gas & bloating. It's low carb all the way. (I didn't say NO carb, so don't anyone get up in arms!) I've lost a couple more pounds and feel wonderful. The best part is not worrying about a poochy stomach - I'd forgotten just how bloated carbs make me. The really best part is that I don't have to pay anyone to tell me how much or what to eat. Low carb is pretty much a no-brainer diet. :)

• Classes yesterday could've been worse but they could've been better. I had to lecture all of them on behavior a time or two but avoided writing contracts. Although since I threatened to, next time I'll probably have to in order to prove I don't bluff. Sigh.

• Today I have a half day job - Special Ed Science. If no emergencies come up, I'll be out at noon. I'd love to be able to come home & have a couple of hours of peace & quiet. It's been awhile!

Now...on to knitting & crocheting....

I've made just a smidge of progress on Black Lace Cardi:

(I've made this my school project since I've memorized the pattern & it's small & easy to carry.)

I've knit on Holey Cables during the evenings, but with around 270 stitches per row, even at a larger gauge this is taking awhile!:

I got a new Sandra in the mail yesterday (October, 2005) and this is the pattern I've been waiting for:

Fishtail lace is my favorite and I really love this wrap cardi. :) But wouldn't you know - this calls for a chunky yarn (size 11 needles) and I'm fresh out of yarn that big on my shelves! I've been making a concerted effort to buy worsted weight & below and stay away from big knits. Hmmmmm....could there be some yarn shopping in my future? Or can I make something in my stash work???

I'll let you know!