Licensed2Knit

Yikes, I finally took stock of my sock yarn. These pictures do not include the Koigu, STR and other “special” sock yarns I have…mostly because those fibers probably will never end up on my feet…they are simply too nice for that. These yarns on the other hand are specifically for my feet or someone else’s. Take a gander…there is enough fiber here for at least 31 pairs of socks…not counting the Lorna’s Laces.

And now for a finished object. This is the Multi-directional scarf knit with Noro’s Cashmere Island. To fringe or not to fringe is still my question?

I am currently working on the Multi-Directional Scarf by Iris Schreier and I am not really feeling it.  I can’t put my finger on the reason why I am not loving it…the yarn is wonderfully soft, it’s Noro Cashmere Island.  Perhaps it’s the color or the masculine look of the pattern.  Would a nice knotted fringe help?

I have 4 skeins and the work shown above represents one skein so I can make this sinfully long.  Thoughts anyone?

Take a look at my lovely new pair of socks. Although these are knit from two skeins of yarn that were conceived at the same place and time but they are each quite unique. The yarn is Colinette Cadenza in Florentina #48.

I love the color and the yarn, it’s yummy melt in your fingers yarn. If I were making anything other than a pair of socks with this yarn I would most certainly alternate between the skeins to get a uniform look. I actually have a third skein of this yarn…all were adopted together from the Knitche sale bin on the same day and the third skein also has it’s own look…different from it’s siblings. Visually I can see the difference immediately and the overall tone is lighter but I was afraid to break up the family and I wanted sock insurance in case my big feet needed the extra yarn. So perhaps I’ll knit some wristers with this remaining skein…the yarn is simply too nice to remain a wallflower.

So I finally took a day off from work and headed straight for Wool & Company for a bit of knitting and camaraderie. I had made a list of all the things I wanted to see and purchase while I was there. The funny thing is I totally got punk’d by Neil and Lesley. They had sent out their regular e-newsletter a couple of weeks back and I was totally psyched when I saw the news about yarn made from egg shells…I recall it saying something about the lovely pastel shades. Well this newsletter was a bit of British humor - a joke in the spirit of April Fool’s Day and they totally got me. There is no such thing as yarn made from eggshells…not yet anyway.

I should have listened to my husband when he said, “no way”. In my defense I just want to say that there is yarn made from crustacean shells so go figure. Yes, I am a gullible Gus at least when there is yarn involved.

Today is my day off and I thought I’d spend the day kicking butt and taking names with all the forgotten tasks around here. One such task that has really been pestering me is the refrigerator. When you read all these handy books about getting organized and getting rid of the clutter they usually recommend tricks such as the ten minute rule or doing just one space at a time to make the task more manageable, but I decided to gonzo and evaluate all contents of the refrigerator.

What do you think the contents of your refrigerator say about you? I have no clue but I definitely received an eye opener when I cleaned up my icebox. Here are the most notable facts.

The oldest item in the refrigerator was a box of Arm and Hammer Baking soda circa 1999. I have no shame with this one, it’s only baking soda and not prone to mold growth.

I lost count of the number of half used up jars of all manners of mustard. I apparently really like mustard….I really do though! Honey mustard, stone ground, Chinese, yellow, brown you name it I had it. YUM. Most were past their prime and are gone now.

Second to mustard had to be cocktail sauce for dipping seafood, again many half used bottles and jars that hid and went undetected so another was opened. My favorite is apparently the Tequila Lime from Stonewall Kitchens.

Next category…garlic products, spreads, puree, anything garlic and horseradish. I love both of these items and will probably find a number of them making their way back to the shelves shortly. Ditto for the olives…especially the green ones.

Some uncommon items were quince preserves so great for the holidays and Chow Chow which is a nice accompaniment to sandwiches and burgers…I have to give Martha a shout out for this one.

Strangest item…a robin’s egg. A neighbor I no longer socialize with, which will become apparent as to why when I tell you this…gave it to me. You see the woman apparently isn’t happy about the bird’s nesting in her trees and making noise so she removes the eggs out of the nest and “boils” them to kill them. The reason I have it is because I was outside chatting one spring and talking about how I love the color robin’s egg blue and how I’d like to find a shell fragment for color matching for some paint…the next thing I know I was gifted one of her latest victims and I haven’t the heart to toss it. I haven’t been to the paint shop either…still too traumatized I suppose.

I was hoping my husband would remain in his home office while I attended to the refrigerator because I didn’t really want him to see the waste factor but he appeared out of no where and was actually very pleased that I was cleaning the old girl out. Now I can have him open those last few jars with lids stuck on so tight.

I hope the recycle man doesn’t freak at the quantity of glass jars.

I am off to the upstairs to tidy up the boys bathroom before they arrive for Spring break then I am treating my hands to a Body Shop salt scrub and some Hemp Hand Protector.

OMG enough with the arctic freeze already….my stupid furnace is not working it’s 19 degrees outside and inside the house it’s 52….no heater repair guy until 12-3pm which you totally know means 3pm or later. UGH!!!!! At least the sun is shining and the pups are basking in the sunshine. Well… let’s think Spring shawl we….oops I typed “shawl we”….hahhaha….I mean “shall we” but you can totally tell where my mind is.

EDIT: The furnace repairman was here and gone by 1:45 so I have to give him mad props for speedy service…now here’s the sad and funny thing….a dried up leaf got sucked into my heater’s outdoor intake and just happened to land flat on some switch and that is what shut my furnace off. The leaf has been removed and the house is warming up….nicely. Go figure…the repairman said something like this is rare occurrence and only happens maybe once or twice in a season so..apparently we are the lucky ones this year…perhaps I should go play the Lottery.

Take a look at the daffodils I bought at Trader Joe’s. They are shipped dry cut and then open up as the days go by. You simply cut off an inch or so off the bottom and place in room temperature water and they bloom most beautifully in a few days. Jewel usually sells them too…normally at as special…and at 10 cents a piece. They are always my first sign of Spring. I have been enjoying their arrival for more years than I can remember. These pictures are day one, two, and three.

When I was checking out at TJ’s the cashier asked me if I had heard about the daffodils on Oprah…AS IF! Why does she get credit for all the good stuff? I mean seriously, I actually kind of dislike her listing her favorites on air and in her magazine…especially when I am accustomed to using the same products myself. Her blabbing them all over for the O disciples to gobble up just really twists my panties and makes it hard for me to enjoy my favorite things. I haven’t watched her show in over a decade or better and I no longer subscribe to her magazine past it’s inaugural year. She’s such a pantie twister. What’s next O…you gonna tell everyone about my lovely _______? Sorry…I simply refuse to give her any more ideas.

I received the most gorgeous birthday gift from my knitting group this week.  It’s a silk scarf that is dyed with the same dyes as my beloved Koigu.  Too cool huh?!  Here’s the 411 on the scarf and here are the pictures of my lovely new accessory.  Thank you so much to Julie, Kimberly, Diana, Laurel and the Bean.

I wanted to wear my scarf in a most attractive manner without buying some of those silly metal rings so I did what I always do …I googled it and found this… which is so perfect for all those pretty but not so long silk scarves I have.  Life is good!

See this monster skein? It’s 675 yards of Interlacement’s Oregon Worsted well…this beast broke my swift. Although I am hoping I have successfully repaired my wooden swift with the aid of some Elmer’s wood working glue and a couple of clamps…the proof will come if my fix holds when another monster rolls into town.

I got a bag of Dove Dark Hearts for Valentine’s Day so I have a couple of new Dove Promises for you.

Dove Dark Promises ~ Linger over chocolate longer. Chocolate always loves you back.

On Saturday I met up with some of my knitting buddies at Knitche in Downers Grove, what I didn’t know is that they had been planning and knitting a special birthday gift just for me that also included their talented hands and needles. Look at what they gave me…this terrific lapghan….which I love!

I totally used it that same evening while watching a movie on the big screen in the basement. I like the new TV okay but the basement is like a cold storage locker or meat locker but I remained fairly toasty under my lovely birthday lapghan. Thank you ladies I love my present!

Today at work I also got an early gift from one of my co workers, a 25th anniversary CD and DVD of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. I was so excited to have a copy of my very own as I have something quite special planned for myself this year.

Many of you know…each year I try to master a new skill with each passing birthday, two years ago it was the Hula Hoop, last year was the 5K run and this year it’s the Thriller dance! I’ve always wanted to learn the dance and I ordered special instructional DVD’s from Thrill The World, which you can read about on her site and if any of you are up for it…on October 25, 2008 at 1:00 PM we can participate in a Guinness Book event of performing the Thriller dance along with many others around the globe. I need a minimum of 25 people to qualify locally, so let me know. So my goal is to learn the dance and perform it often for the amusement of me.

A bit of knitting…I always wanted to knit a Cat Bordhi Moebius and now I have, thanks to a book lend from Julie for the cast on and the Knitty Gritty pattern. I used the yummy cashmere 4-Ply from Handmaiden.

So while at Knitche I broke my yarn fast and rescued some Noro Cashmere Island and some Colinette Cadenza from the sale basket at 40% off. The Noro will become a Multi-Directional Scarf and the Colinette…some yummy socks. I also picked up a skein of butter soft handpainted chunky Misti Alpaca destined for yet another hat…in my Mad Hatter’s menagerie of chapeaux. I just love knitting hats!