Friday, December 31, 2010

Last Scarf of the Year

My last scarf was too short, as I said, and I wasn't happy with the width either.

So I pared the stitches down to 10, instead of 12, used size 13 needles to help take up the slack in between the puffballs, and while the scarf is only slightly longer, I'm much happier with it.

Big change in the pooling of the colors, however, which I'm not too impressed about that, but them's the breaks.

I did manage to find another skein at Michael's store, but think I might return it, as I don't think I need it anymore.

It's New Year's Eve. No special plans.There's nothing special on television except for football previews, and the local stations are all spouting about MSU...The biggest complaint about it, is that I have heard that the Wolverines are playing in the Gator Bowl, and frankly, I don't think they deserved to play in a well known bowl game--if anyone deserved it, it was MSU. 

Ah, my brother-in-law would disagree with my assessment, I suppose (grin)--he's a staunch U of M follower. For Christmas one year I had to buy him a U of M Clock. This has sort of been a standing rivalry between he and I, and every time we see each other, it becomes a taffy pull as to who will end up at the Rose Bowl. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. This year, we both lost.

Or we both won. I suppose it was a tie, either way you look at it.

But a new year is just around the corner. Do I have any resolutions? None that I can think of--naturally, I could stand to lose some weight. I could join the local gym and exercise more. I could promise to limit my yarn budget to a lot less that I spent this last year. I could spend more time with family and friends. You know. All the normal stuff.

I think I am going to resolve to go to church on Sunday. I think that's what I'm going to do. It's only 52 days for the entire year, right? I think I can manage it, as long as I can take my knitting with me.

Would that be considered rude?

In any case, I'm scarf happy and getting back to the HoneyComb Scarf that I was working on for JoAnn's. I downloaded a really pretty scarf pattern from ArtYarns, and will probably make it next year for a Christmas gift.

But for those who read my column regularly, Have a Safe and Happy New Year filled with lots and lots of blessings and presents and yarn and whatever else you might wish for! Since I only know what I would wish for, that's what I list...your list may vary.

Have a happy one!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Yes, Finished.

But far too short for my body.
I'll need another skein. 

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Pin Pa Doodle Progress

Here is how far I got in an hour.

1 skein Red Heart yarn
Size 9 needles
12 stitches

Work only with the strand between the gobbles, begin with a slip knot and backward e cast on
Then just knit until the yarn is gone.

Very easy.

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

The Next Project....

Not feeling very creative today, so I read the last half of Stephanie Pearl McPhee's "Things I Learned from Knitting...(whether I wanted to or not!)"

Yarn Harlot is a stitch. Pun intended.

I'm dressed and ready to head to Barnes and Noble for some answers to questions about my Nook (yes, I bought one of the blasted things...must keep up with technology, right?). I was sent some kids books--those are always fun reading. And I've bought a few to read. I've also put some books on my wish list for the year--it would appear at first glance that I'm falling out of love with Knitting, and into love with reading again, but I don't think it will last forever.

I also have Kindle on my cellular "Droid", and have been reading Sherlock Holmes on it. Little short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, of course. There's another book on my cell phone, but since I can't transfer it to my nook, I'll have to read it on the cellular, which is much smaller than the nook. I have found that I can read a hundred pages in a few hours, and Stephanie's book went pretty fast. She's got another one coming out soon. I'll be saving my $$ for that.

Presently on the needles is a puffball scarf--made with Pompa-Doodle yarn by Red Heart. Stuff is soft, only 12 stitches (two per strand between the poms), and on size 9's. Can't beat this little bugger for speed and ease--One ball makes the scarf about 6' long. You just keep going and going until there's no yarn left. It's a sweet little idiot project I'm doing before I decide to delve back into Rhiannon. I also have a honeycomb scarf in an Aran weight yarn (Fisherman Yarn purchased at JoAnn's) going. I just have to find my size 7's to get back on track with that one. Pattern stitch (only 1) is really easy.

But back to my B&N queries...I'm getting fingerprints all over the screen of my Nook. I think I'm going to invest in some covers for it to protect the screen from fingerprints. I'll still get fingerprints, but when it gets dirty, I can remove it and add on a new one. I've got the same sort of filament on my droid.

Next project on the needles will be socks, I'm fairly certain, unless someone else needs a hat...those can be made quick and easy on the loom. Faster than you can say "hat".

So, I'll see you in a little bit.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Hat for a Computer Guru

Made for my computer guru, Chris..for helping me put my new computer together and move files from my old computers. Can't wait.

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Hat to Match!

It's so pretty!

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

It's a Christmas Scarf

Made for JoAnn's at JoAnn's.
You can't see the sparkles, but they're there. 

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

It's a Dog's World

I have good news, which I actually got yesterday, but saved to share with you today--

I don't have to renew my driver's license this year. It's not due until next year.

This was all sorts of good news for me yesterday, since

a.) I didn't have to stand in line at the DMV

b.) I didn't have to spend that $$ which is better spent on yarn anyway.

c.) I didn't have to break their camera with my god-awful picture!

For whatever reason, my driver's license picture always makes me look as if I'm standing in a lineup or getting a mug shot after two or three days of too much alcohol, which is sort of odd, since I don't drink alcohol at all. But I truly dislike having my picture taken. I have never been photogenic and there have only been two pictures of me in my life that I *did* like, and those were SEVERELY airbrushed.

But I didn't have to take all that time and all that money and all that *wasted time* at the DMV, which made me VERY HAPPY.

And then, to make matters EVEN BETTER---

Hubby paid off the house.

Yes, yes, BIG dollars there, since we sold the property (for a loss) in Fowlerville, but it was just enough to pay off the house and make a GREAT Christmas for everybody. He let me get the check and send it out--the most money I've ever held in my hand at one time on a slip of paper! I carried that in my pocket book all the way to the post office and sent it Priority Mail to the mortgage company, who should receive it today at noon.

But the best part of all of that is that the house is ours now. All ours. I'm not really sure if that's a blessing or a curse, actually. I was thinking that with the house paid off, our credit rating might take a hit. It's a sure thing that our taxes are going to take a big hit what with the loss of the itemized deduction for interest, as well as the capital gain for the sale of the property, so we might end up paying in this year, but you know what? I don't care! The house is ours and we can burn the deed.

So I'm thinking, I really need to clean up the house so that we can invite friends and relatives over and have a deed burning party--but that will take me months to prepare, considering we have this big console analog television that we can't seem to get rid of--

It's always something, isn't it?

And I have to make the chair covers for the dining room chairs so that we can get those put where they belong.

And the fireplace needs to be returned to it's cave. This should have been done the day we pulled it out, but by the time we got the fireplace running, we were both simply exhausted. So it's sitting outside the hole in the wall on bricks, and looks ghastly.

John WayneCover of John WayneThere also seems to be quite a bit of junk to go through and dispose of--like the 60 vcr tapes from both our previous marriages and the tapes from Bud Dart who died and left us his collection of bootleg John Wayne videos. What a deal! We did decide to keep the vcr/dvd player--and just a few of the vcr tapes--My copy of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Grinch (the one with Jim Carey), and the Wizard of Oz with all the deleted scenes. Most of the rest went to a bin for hubby to review--since he believes that there's one with his kids when they were little. So it's tapes, laying helter-skelter everywhere.

And I'm thinking seriously about buying the pack of Knifty Knitter looms so that I can make kid hats for charity (since I have a LOT of extra yarn that I need to pare down), and yesterday, found three books using the Knifty Knitter looms, along with the sock loom that I think I'd like to try. I think I will use my gift card for it.

And of course, I have to get busy making the fuzzy slippers. Hubby said he doesn't want a pair, but I think he really does--just not with the fuzzy part--even though I can make them look very masculine--in a brown, perhaps.

And I'm also trying to reach my computer guru, who doesn't appear to be available for some reason. Now it could be that he's out of state and forgot his cellular phone. Or it could be he's in the hospital. Without his cellular, I can't reach him. I have no idea what I'm going to do now.

Or how I'm going to do it.

The trials of living in a dog's world.

Particular of a crochet hookImage via WikipediaSo I think that I will take a shower, and head out for JoAnn's and demo while I wait for my class to begin. I have a scarf that I have to make with a size Q crochet hook and three skeins of yarn that I'm truly not willing to buy. To be honest, I have so much yarn here, it would seem that I could pull something from my stash, but I'm not sure that I could find something that coordinates, and I would really like this scarf to look nice, since I need it to attract customers! And what's a size Q crochet hook? I don't believe I've EVER seen a size Q crochet hook. I have an "N" size, and it's huge! A "Q" would be gargantuan. I'm not sure I've got hands big enough to use it! Then, there's the problem of which yarn to use. I'm leaning toward acrylic. I'm leaning toward three different types--a ribbon, a baby (held double) and a boucle, or maybe just two bulky yarns? I am having palpitations just trying to figure it out.

Perhaps I'll just take my shower and head out and see where the muses take me? Maybe I'll make another pair of these slippers? The world looks like an oyster today. My oyster. I can hardly wait to begin!

Monday, December 27, 2010

A Pair of Fuzzy Wuzzies

I made these in only a few hours. Two skeins of Paton's Classic Wool and two skeins of Fun Fur. 45 minutes for felting then on my feet. Very cool slippers. I can make a pair for everyone in the family, but will shorten the pattern, because it runs just a little long.

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Christmas Holidays!

There's some really busy times coming!

Yesterday was spin day, where I all but finished the blankie  in yesterday's post. Today is Knit Night in Lake O, and before I go to Lake O, I'm picking up my bff Linda, and we're headed over to Ada to the yarn store there for some Cascade 220 Superwash in Scarlet and Black. Presently, I am learning to knit Brioche. I've just begun with the knit stitch. I learned a new cast on (Italian Cast On) and JUST LOVE IT. I love the way the ribs sort of wrap around the cast on and begin anew on the other side. I'm thinking a brioche scarf would be GREAT. From Ada, Linda and I will grab something to munch and then off to Knit night. This will be her first exposure to the group there, but make no mistake--I know that she will love it. I think she plans to take her rug hooking. I'm taking Rhiannon, some scrap yarn and my brioche knitting, plus the finished blankie for show and tell.

My brother is supposed to come to Michigan with his new wife and a few of his children. This is supposed to happen on the 23rd. I'm really looking forward to that, because my brother hasn't been in Michigan except to visit for nearly 10 years! Last year, he was in the hospital with an unruly gall bladder. But he seems fine this year.

Then on the 24th, Hubby and I travel to his Aunt's house in Battle Creek for the family Christmas Party. I have to bring a dish, and I have no idea what I'll make--and wonder if I might have time for cupcakes?

On Christmas Day, Hubby and I travel to his mom's for Christmas, although Hubby has been asking me if it was a bit much, since we're going to his mom's again the day after Christmas....He's right about that, and I asked him if he knew if his sister could come on the 26th instead for our family Christmas--to which he said he didn't know. So perhaps I will contact her and ask. We shall see.

After that, I have a class on the 28th. Maybe another on the weekend after the new year.

Like I said. BUSY! But it's not a stressful busy...at least not until we wrap presents...which I think will need to be tomorrow.

Blessed Christmas to everyone, and Happy New Year if I don't see you before.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Final Curtain!

Such a nice sweater! I hope he likes it!

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Friday, December 17, 2010

Tis the Season

I wore it to work for my last day before vacation.

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Still Hot and Heavy..

Well, mostly heavy with hot flashes, anyway.

Meant for my work on my gs's sweater. I have the front, back and neckline done. I have to work the sleeves. I think I'm going to do a 40 stitch sleeve, which should be plenty big for his arms (he's a skinny, cold kid).

Had the worst dream I think I've had in a long long time. There was some sort of virulent bug going around, killing people. And the government set up a tank full of water that folks could, if they wanted, to jump into and basically mass suicide by electrocution. To help ease the fears, a dog was also killed at the same time.

Hey, don't ask me where this stuff comes from!

I'd be perfectly happy to just sort out my knitting! But the dream really shook me, and I dreamed about putting the information in a journal, so I thought perhaps my dream was saying: Put this in your blog.

I was also going to a website that was tracking all the people who were electrocuted this way, honoring their sacrifice--the whole thing just mortified me. Most of the people were already terminally ill--not that it matters to the effect the dream had on me, but the whole thing was meant so that the government didn't have to pay to take care of these folks in their last days--older, infirm were also accepted--times when most folks medical care is at their most expensive.

And of course, I'm from the baby-boomer generation...so elder-care is going to be a drain on the government's resources when it comes to my time--and this is probably why it affected me so deeply. I'm worried that I'm going to end up in that tank...not by government decree, necessarily, but just so that I'm not a drain on someone's finances--and I definitely don't want the government in charge of my care.

And thusly, we come to government run health care.

And now you know, the rest of the story.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Updates, Updates...

Who's got dat update?

It seems like everything with Windows needs an update. Every time the Operating System changes, EVERYTHING changes, and all the programs you have need to be updated to work with the new Operating System (AKA "OS"). All of this is to keep Windows in business with millions coming in, and the software isn't getting "better". It's just getting BIGGER.

Not just the software updates, but the drivers have to be updated, too, and many times, the drivers for older hardware just doesn't cut it--and so the hardware has to be updated as well.

It's all a conspiracy to have us part with our hard earned dollars and put them in Bill Gates' pocket. I think I'd rather have my HAND in Bill Gates' pocket, but that's just me.

In the meanwhile, I'm getting a newer computer. The laptop still works, but I'd like it to be more mobile--read that--I would like to be able to sit in the living room with the heat on my feets, instead of freezing in the bedroom.

Can you say "Is your nose cold?"

Why yes, it is. And just so you know, my head is cold as well, so I am wearing my double knit hat inside. Tis a bit frigid inside the house today.

So I went to knit night in Lake O tonight, and added several more rows to my grandson's sweater (front and back). I have 2" more (that's 12 rows) and I can 3 needle bind off the shoulders and begin the sleeves. I will be done by Christmas for sure.

My manager at JoAnn's has given me two big bags of yarn, plus a kit for an afghan. That should come in handy this winter. I can knit or crochet it and keep my legs warm at the same time. Hubby gets the Ocean Waves. I had thought about getting him an mp3 player, but he's quit his job, so he isn't using it nearly as much. He still USES mine, however, so perhaps I'll get him one and a subscription to Amazon for songs? I think it could work.

I read "Free Range Knitter" by Yarn Harlot (AKA Stephanie Pearl McPhee) and laughed all the way through until the last chapter, where I cried like a baby. Entitled "Helen" it reminded me so much of my ex's grandmother--and of course, all the "stuff" that comes with those types of thoughts. And then thoughts of poppa (Hubby's pappy) and when he died. And the losses of my last two doggies, Cookie and Chip. In fact, I was pretty teary all day. Now, I am reading "Water for Elephants" which was suggested by my Monday knitting group. All I can say is "wow". This book is an excellent read. The writer paints pictures with words the way an artist paints with oils, and makes the picture so clear that you literally can see what the writer is "seeing" right there on the page. A picture is worth a thousand words--and this writing does exactly that--uses lots of descriptive words to get the scene across. You can almost feel the characters as if in real life. I'm only a couple chapters into the book, and trust me, it's hard to put it down--I'm reading it on my Android with my Kindle application, and I have to put it down to recharge now and again. THAT is how good this particular book is. I'm going to have to pay more attention to the folks in the Monday knit club--especially those who also participate in book clubs.

Well, I'm gearing up for bedtime. I believe that I will wear my Snuggie to bed again tonight and pull it up over my nose.

Then again, perhaps I'll just call my hubby in and put my nose someplace warm...

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The Start of Something Big

Well, big enough for my grandson, anyway. A camo sweater! What do you think of that? The lower hem is done and I'm five rows into the body of the sweater.

My classes went very well and very quickly. Tomorrow, another two classes for knitting. I can't wait!

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Disappointment!

It's very sad. Rowdy Roddy Piper did not show up for the show last night.

I dressed up!
I had to rush!
I had to drive for two hours!
I had to sit through a show where all but ONE (Honky Tonk Man) were relatively unknowns!
And NO ROWDY--even though the box office said I would be sitting in a chair two seats behind the icon.

Hot? You don't know the meaning of the word. I paid good money for that seat, took the DVD I own and (with the exception of the Honky Tonk Man) wasted two hours (plus driving time) to see my favorite who wasn't even there.

Honky said that he wasn't there, and I probably should have gone out to the box office RIGHT THEN, but I thought he was just playing with me.

Hot Rod! How could you let me down this way?

Beyond that, I ran into an old friend at the show, who ended up sitting on the other side of the arena, which was a good thing because he would have talked my ear off (and nearly did before the games began).

I hope that nothing serious is wrong with Rowdy. And I wonder if Honky is trying to make a comeback, or if he's in charge of the horse and pony show last night.

I will never know.

And even though the casino advertised Rowdy, they would not refund the $ for the false advertising. I'll never go to another show--even if it does advertise Rowdy. THAT'S how angry I am.

I really miss Hot Rod. Sigh.

On a good note, I got the hem done on a new wool hat since I knit during the entire show.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sweater Done and Friday's Comin'!

I finished the sweater for my granddaughter at break today. I think it turned out adorable.  Do you think she might like the dvd of Dowdy Roddy Piper?

Tenna Draper
Ravelry id-drapert
Blog-www.tothenines9.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

The Latest...

Lots of things going on in the household.

Firstly, the knitterly stuff, which I know you are all intrigued in--I've finished the front and back and one sleeve. The second sleeve is on the needles. I opted to work the sleeves first, then to do the neckline, because it's going to give me trouble, I just know it. I'll likely have to work it with dpns, because the opening is just too small for a circular, although I could use magic loop and/or two circulars--I just don't want any ladders on the neckline.

Then I can start my grandson's sweater.

And lastly, the best news of all...

MY HUSBAND QUIT HIS JOB!

This is such a good thing. I didn't mind him being on afternoons, but the midnights was killing us both. Since he didn't feel he was doing a very good job, he quit (before they fired him). I'm doing a happy dance. While I'd just as soon he worked the afternoon shift, I hated the midnight shift so much that I would rather he quit and just stay home  and do a few things around the house. As soon as he catches up on his sleep, he'll be available again.

YAY!