My Bloody Valentine

Celtic Consort is a very basic man. He's not into what he calls "made up" holidays. Don't get me wrong, he'll likely come home with a sweet card and maybe some extra dark chocolate for me. And most years, that's the extent of our "romantic" holiday.

So when I saw Honeysuckle in Rowan 45, I knew I wanted it just not in some soft neutral. I wanted COLOR. I wanted BOLD! I wanted Kidsilk Haze in Blood, a rich deep red that looks great on just about everyone include this fair redhead. I scored some at the Bloomin Yarns Black Friday sale. The only Black Friday sale I have ever attended.

I decided rich red would be perfect for Valentines. A way to treat myself like the fabulous woman I am. As I started working on it, I was lured into attending the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival. Friends would be there as vendors and it'd been a few years. And what better way to show off my fabulous new lace sweater?

I worked feverishly after finishing my mother's gift. Ignoring posts on Ravelry. Knitting whenever possible. I overcame two sick days. I planned when to knit various pieces as beading was added to the border. Beads do not travel well on the trolley. But I did it! I love it!

Many comments and fawning happened at the festival. I felt great! What a wonderful Valentine gift. So here are my thanks to Elder Celting for his help with photos.

Ready... Set....

GO!

Yep, I fell down the rabbit hole called 11 shawls in 2011. I had found the 10 shawls in 2010 group what I thought to be too late in the year last year. Lucky for me, they decided to do it again this year.

You know what's even better? I have a bunch of shawls/wraps/shawlettes already in mind WITH stash yarn. I've been feeling guilty about the stash. And every time I toss it, I remember things I'd forgotten.

If I'd stuck with last year's resolutions, I wouldn't have that problem. But I did an epic fail instead. So now I set up my 11 shawls in my Ravelry queue with a special subset to find them. One I'm even designing for a special yarn gifted to me by SpaceCadet. It's Spice Trade and it inspired. To start though, I'm doing Damson for my Mom in Dream in Color Starry Spanish Star (Dream Club Nov 10)




On the side, I'm also working on finishing up some other projects. Oh and if I'm not crazy enough (and you know I am), I cast on for this beauty:




















Yep Honeysuckle by Sarah Hatton from Rowan 45. I'm doing mine in Kidsilk Haze in Blood. I want it for Valentine's Day. I've even considered that should I reach my goal, I'd go to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Fest to show it off. This is where I am now:





Well I hope I keep this up. See you soon!

Memorial Day

I'm not one to continually post of those in military service. Sometimes I even find it irritating though I do appreciate what they do. However, I've found that people have forgotten what Memorial Day is about. It is a time to remember those veterans who have passed away. Those who have lost their lives fighting for our freedoms and those who survived that fight and were fortunate enough to enjoy those freedoms afterwards.

This Memorial Day marks a landmark for me. It is the first that I remember my favorite war veteran, my grandfather. A man whose joy for life and all encompassing love enlightened many a life. Unfortunately, he passed last August just before his 88th birthday. He was a man who I hope I have raised my boys to be half as good as. Who cared deeply for those around him.

He would tell stories of his service but at the same time saw no reason for the current war. A man who thought being American meant that it was quite normal to disagree with your President, vote not for a party but a person, and tell any elected official where to shove it when they voted for a lobby and not their voters. He showed me what it was to be a patriot. He showed my boys what it is to be a patriot. To impress upon them that service to your country was honorable and yet to not chase after it. That service can be necessary and yet glory at the price of humanity a terrible thing.

His stories told of the humorous side of war when discussing how he met General Patton at the end of WWII and was fined. They also told of the horror of the concentration camps when he helped to liberate Dakau and was met by a Polish survivor covered in body lice and looking like a skeleton.

Here is to his memory on this Memorial Day. May all of those whose loved ones are currently fighting come home safely so we may celebrate them at Veteran's Day. For those who don't may we remember the great service they have done for all of us.

I can't believe I bought the whole thing....

As you know Laurie and I went to MDSW the first weekend in May along with tons of other people. I ended up being close on finishing Que Sera but decided to get the extra sleep instead of finishing since the weather was predicted (correctly) as being in the 90's.

I had a ton of fun but didn't really take any pictures. I think I was too hot. I ended up making a tshirt to wear with my Ravatar and some cards with my contact info. If you've found me that way, welcome to the party!

Due to the rumors of Rare Gems, Laurie and I decided to stand in line at The Fold this year. I haven't done this for several years as I already had a bunch of STR and I could get it online. But a Rare Gem is something you CAN'T get that way. Both Laurie and I found some that appealed. I even found one for DPUTiger!

So what all did I get? Well here's a pic:

So let’s see if I can document it all starting top left:
Gale’s Art Fibers - 2 Blue Faced Swirl in Moldy Pumpkin, 1 Polwarth in Mudpie, 2 Alpaca Silk in Scarab, and sock yarn in Scarab, Moldy Pumpkin, and Crayon Box.
Funky Monkey Pattern from The Fold specially requested by my 8 yr old
Cricket Loom and some extra heddles from Susan’s Fiber Shop (Hi Newt!)
Spirit Trail Fiber - Merino, Angora, Cashmere in Indian Corn
Almaza from Just our Yarn is the blue in front of the the fiber for Dragon Wing Shawl
Rayon Scarf weaving set from the Mannings in Jewel Tones next to the fiber
8 oz Galaxy, 1 Spontaneous Spinning batt in coppery/russet tones, and Striping Batt in Beach Bonfire from Loop
8oz of Merino/silk/bamboo blend from Bullen Wullens (great deal on Sunday)
2 bags of basic fiber and 3 superwash/bamboo sock yarns from Little Barn. Love using this fiber to try new techniques. No guilt!
To the left of that is project bag I got at Spirit Trail, some blueberry honey and Scottish Heather Hand Cream from Bee Folks.
Fiber Optic Siren Song in Peacock, FootNotes in Russet, Lace in VitaminC (a little buried) for Cascata, and fiber in Acorn. With a sample of Siren Song Unspun I got waiting in line at the Fold
MDSW hoodie and earlier year apron for spinning
Stitch Marker necklace from Jennie the Potter
STR in Cattywampus, Illanqu, with 2 lightweight rare gems, 1 mediumweight rare gem
Pair of yummy slippers from Sheperd’s Flock(?)
Tess Yarns: Raw Silk in a piney color for Summit, Cascade Silk in blue and green for Corset Top, 2 sock yarns for baby sweaters, and a mug.
TIG Glenhaven in Father Time from Cloverhill just above the weaving books.
I also got 2 bobbins for my Schacht Woolee Winder and lots of fun buttons including “If knitting were exercise, you could bounce a quarter off my @$$”

Not pictured is a Cottage Creations pattern for Kylie's Kardigan.

Next up I'll show you my Que Sera and the one that got away.

Crunch Time

Well despite the forecast for close to 90 degrees this weekend at the Maryland Sheep & Wool festival, I am in a crunch to finish a sweater. Que Sera from Knitty. I'm doing it as part of the Bloomin' Yarns KAL. I've finished almost all knitting. I'm now setting in my sleeves and seaming them up. Once that's done, just 4 rows for the neckband and BAM! I'm done. Think I can do it for tomorrow morning?

Wish me luck! Let me know if you see me at MDSW in my sweater if you can tell I pulled it this close. :)

Golden Bees

I thought for a while as to what to do for Knitting Olympics this year. I wanted a challenge but I didn't want to go nuts either. So I opted for The Bees' Knees from The New Stranded Colorwork. Not terribly large, challenging with having to stitch and cut steeks, all around perfect.











I managed to cast on during opening ceremonies despite having to go to dinner at the MIL's for Celtic Consort's delayed birthday dinner. I worked when I could given trying to cram in extra work. I even worked it in around Celtic Consort's carpal tunnel surgery.












I ordered a new steamer and bought my first sewing machine. Both excellent purchases and easy to use. I was happy that I purchased the sewing machine at a bargain price at Target. Perfect basic machine for the types of things I would need to do with it now and in the future.











I spent my last few days managing a drugged up husband and final preparations for closing ceremonies. Basting steek lines, blocking with the steamer, stitching the steek lines.

Then the scissors to knitting. I have to say, after sewing the steek lines it was a giant relief. That was the part that scared me, not the cutting.





















The cuts made it a freeing moment. And the final knitting of the facings. And the seaming of the sleeves. I felt I grew for this olympics.

Here is the beautiful end. Enjoy.

Body Bag

So for Wuletide, DPUTiger was fabulous with her sewing skills and gifted me with a lovely box bag. (mine is the dark purple, second row from top) I think there's something about the fact that there is a big zombie theme here at Celtic Castle. She made it in purple and green because those are the colors listed as favorite in Ravelry and I LOVE it! However, kind of funny that purple and green make me think zombies. Why is this relevant? Well right now, it's acting as a body bag. I have a head, two arms and a partial torso in it right now. That's right I'm carrying around body parts. All soft and squishy.

I should finish Lego man in time for the party Saturday night. I just have been hiding knitting. So lots of trolley knitting.

I'd also like to give DPUTiger credit for enabling this. She might as well have posted a billboard saying CQ sign up here. I've decided to do it in Silk Thread II from Blue Moon in Blue Moonstone. I've also gotten these beads. Yum!

Oh and did I mention I also found my Knitting Olympics project? I'm doing this.

Yarn is winging it's way here right now!

Last but not least, I had a library stash enhancement that will surprise almost no one. I found this book during Celtic Consort's post dinner excursion. I took one look inside and said I had to have it.

Happy Birthday Younger Celting

So 8 years ago during an ice storm, I was in the hospital being induced. Later that night and early in the morning, Younger Celting made his reluctant entry into the world. I'm a day early with the post but I had to share the class birthday prep.

The theme this year is Pokemon. I dread this stuff. However, what he wants he gets. So as many things as I mess up as a mom. As many times as I'm not the uber mom, I do some things to shine. (I hope). When he asked for Pokemon cupcakes, I went to it.

First it's mixing of icing to get some red and some white. I then started here with white half of cupcakes.

Then a nice twist of red icing to be half and half.

And finally a fine line of black and voila! Pokeball cupcakes! A full two dozen to be exact.

Gosh I must love this kid. :) BTW, thanks to Elder Celting for the early photos.

Lego Man-ia

Younger Celting will be 8 later this month. We're doing a dual celebration with YC and Celtic Consort as their birthdays are just 9 days apart. Usually, we do them on different weeks but this year had it's own issues. CC's family is full of January bdays. YC's bday lands on a Wednesday this year and unfortunately, I have to work (from home) this weekend. Not a good idea to plan to have people over.

So I thought okay we'll do the following Saturday to have everyone over for celebratory treats. No go. CC's middle sister has her birthday then. Since she still behaves as though she's a child and her mother indulges this behavior, YC has to wait to celebrate until the 30th. Almost 2 weeks AFTER his own bday. Just so you know, 30th aunt bday trumps 8th nephew bday. So grownup.

ANYHOW, I got side tracked. YC is a HUGE Lego fan. So when I saw this pattern (thanks to my Rav friends), I had to make it. I made a special stop tonight to pick up some red, blue, and yellow to make it. I probably could've raided the stash for something but I knew I didn't have appropriately primary colored yarn. I think that's part of what makes it work for me. The only question is what will Elder Celting think? :)

Holiday Deals

So when we pulled the Christmas tree out this year, I found the top broken. I was able to jam it in enough to make it through the holiday season but the top of the tree was a bit sparse on decoration to not worry. So the tree we've had since Elder Celting was a toddler is about to make it's departure. Apparently, this is the year of the departure.

I decided to shop after the holiday so as not to pay several hundred dollars for a tree we use once a year. And this evening, I stopped out with the Celtings to find the replacement. I was hoping for prelit with multicolor. I was also hoping for LED. No luck on the LED but I DID find the prelit multicolor for 80% off! YAY! Celtic Consort needs to stop out tomorrow to pick it up.

I decided that I would wait until the holiday stuff was put away before trying to take pictures and document the stash. My broken tree blocks most of the light from the front window so it's not very conducive to good pics. So I should have nice pictures later this week. I'm also trying to use some stash for things.

Having said that, I also just signed up for Rockin Sock Club. This will be my fourth year. I've participated in every year except the very first. That was only because I didn't know about it until after signups closed that year. I'm also renewing my Vesper Sock Club. How could I not? Have you seen Julia's stuff???? It's like telling a kid in a candy store that they can't have anything. Yeah RIGHT!

Talk to you later this week and hopefully see some of you for Wuletide!

Testing..... Testing.....

Is this thing on?

Yeah I've been away for months. Things have been crazy with the merge into the parent company, soccer season, and just life in general. I haven't been a good blogger.

However, one of my New Year's resolutions is to blog at least twice a week. So here's to a fresh start.

One of my other resolutions is to get my entire stash into Ravelry complete with pictures. While it may seem intimidating at first, I think once I get rolling, I'll be okay. Then once everything that's already in the house is logged, it's only just keeping up with the new items.

So here's to the New Year and improving one's self. No matter how many bad choices you make, you can always change for the better.

Now I'll leave you with something that makes me very happy. My Vesper Fiber Club December Shipment.

End of an Era

Sniff, sniff. Today we had a tried and true member of the family given it's last days. The minivan we bought when we bought our house has met it's match. We have finally reached the point of no return with car repair vs. car payment. We've had this one longer than we've had Younger Celting.

No more Pirates of the Caravan! No more green mom mobile. Instead it seems we will be following Laurie's lead and going for a Sienna. We looked at a few different minivans tonight, but the Sienna seemed far and above everything else. Good options, workable price, and comfortable. The worst drawback was that there aren't any decent colors except the red. Celtic Consort won't hear of red. He claims a jump in insurance. Instead it seems as though we will end up with a sand colored one.

The good news is that I'll finally have a brand new vehicle. While the car was new when we bought it, I didn't really get to call it mine. I don't drive it very often. The van was always mine. And this will REALLY be mine.

WTF??

Okay I've been trying to keep the negativity to myself but I can't be quiet anymore. I'm tired of people jumping to the most horrific conclusions on the debates that are in the forefront of the news these days.

First, the smaller issue: Obama's address to schoolchildren. I feel I can comment here as I'm a parent of two school age children (Grades 2 and 6). Near as I can tell, our President decided to speak to our children about staying in school, working hard, and furthering their education. The benefits of which would be richer, fuller lives, opening multiple opportunities.

Now Celtic Consort and I are slightly off the beaten track. Neither of us hold a 4 year degree but are fairly self educated. While we both started off to get a 4 year degree, we both emerged on different paths and feel we are better for it. We don't hid that fact from the Celtings. We, in fact, encourage higher education but also recognize that one must forge their own path and not be a follower. Elder Celting is a perfect example, I can see a typical 4 year degree probably won't suit him. He will probably end up in some sort of art related training. Younger Celting is the one to chase a master's degree.

So will someone PLEASE tell me what is so horrific about the President telling kids to go to school to improve themselves? There are days I roll my eyes about Obama but I can't see what all the hubbub is about. Our school district recorded the address "for future review." What a crock! If you only feed your child's minds with one option, how are they supposed to tell good from bad later? How do they know how to discuss pros and cons and make a decision based on facts and not propaganda? I'm sick of national decisions based on sound bytes.

This brings me to my second topic: National Healthcare.
I'm in the thick of this one folks. I've spent almost my entire professional career working for health insurance companies. How I ended up doing IT there, I'm still not sure. However, it's kind of hard to back away when MY HEALTH COVERAGE is through my employer. Two young boys and a husband doing skilled labor is a big incentive to keep as many benefits as I can get. I know because I've also been on the other side of the fence; a single mom making $200 too much a year to be covered by Medicaid while I went to school full time and waited tables. I dreaded every sniffle. Imagine, I'm serving people food with goodness knows what kind of infection because I can't take the time off to get checked out, let alone pay for it. I've seen letters to the editor talking about how health coverage is a luxury like a cell phone or cable. That these "whiners" should pay for coverage before those items. Umm, yeah, I lived in my aunt's attic because I didn't have money for rent and yet I was "whining" because I couldn't see the doctor?

Get it straight folks PEOPLE DESERVE HEALTH COVERAGE. Not people like "us", EVERYONE. The same people bemoaning the proposed system and pointing to horror stories elseswhere are the same ones who are living in fear of swine flue. They are the same ones who expect antibiotics when they have a viral infection because they don't get that it won't help. They are the same ones who would shirk away if someone remotely ill looking came up to them. They are also the ones who would cry foul if they were caught up in the wrong side because they were sick too long or were bankrupted by medical bills caused by something beyond their control. It's not people not working, it's also the people getting cancer and losing their job because they are too sick to work. It's the folks who are hit by some drunk driver causing life long injuries which take their ability to work, their savings, and their homes.

You want to prevent a pandemic? Give people a chance to catch it early. How many people will die from a pandemic flu because they didn't go to the doctor when it was just an achy feeling due to lack of health care coverage?

You know what this reminds me of? In Tudor England during outbreaks of the "sweating sickness", people of the court would escape from London to their country estates to isolate themselves in order to avoid getting sick. The poor had no choice, they were stuck in the city. Guess who filled the body pits?

Do YOU want to be classified as "unworthy" of treatment?

Good News, Bad News

First the bad news. For the next month, I will be working an hour extra every day. So instead of an 8 hour day, I'll have a 9 hour day. Bleah. Why am I so blessed?

The good news, G20 summit is coming to the 'Burgh and working downtown will be WAY too difficult. The options given to our IT department were work from home risking a dropped connection, take personal time, or do make up hours for the three days and take the days off. I opted for the last one.

With my cousin getting married that Saturday and my crazy aunts (you know who you are :) ) coming in, it seemed like the best option. Just this time? Can you please give me a better Danny's hoagie heads up?

Tomorrow I'm going to try for pictures. Tonight seems risky as the lights are already flickering.

In Memoriam

Here's to a man who's life experience reads like a movie script, James Edward Clark (August 17, 1921 - August 3, 2009) . He's the man that the rest of the men in my life have to measure up to.

Many years ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, a friend mentioned to him a wonderful woman who he might be interested in. She was a divorcee with 6 girls. Fortunately for us, he took that recommendation. He had the privelege of meeting these girls, along with me, shoved into a Volkswagen Bug. Somehow, this did not chase off this widower. We were the lucky ones. Many years of joy grew from that choice.

I spent my childhood looking for both his approval and his joy at my accomplishments. Nothing could've topped the moment he held each of my boys. The Celtings could not have enjoyed him more. There's something to be said for a man who, in this position, topped my own father for giving me away at my wedding.

While we are sad to lose this loving soul, we are glad that he no longer suffers. May he find joy in the Summer Land with his lost love. We may cry for our own loss, but rejoice in your reunion. We miss you, Pap-Pap.

Tour de Fleece, Day 5

Day 5
Originally uploaded by sjbench@verizon.net

Well I finished the other bobbin and started this. Another Spunky Club in the appropriately named "New Day" colorway. I thought the yellow and red appropriate to my pace. Yellow because I win every day I spin. Red because I feel like I'm always bringing up the end in my less than prolific progress. :)

Rough Day #4

First let me say that yes I did spin for Day 4 of Tour de Fleece. However, no exciting progress as I had bigger fish to fry tonight.

So I was just about to start my second day of my 30 day fitness challenge on Wii Active, when crying and sniffling noises came from the side door. Based on what I was hearing I was expecting a "EC hit me with a ball!" "Did not!" kind of conversation. Instead, I got YC with his face covered in blood and EC quickly trying to reassure me it was not his fault. The basic story was that they were playing on the back hill with the wagon. At some point, the wagon was going fast and started to list to one side. YC trying to recover, leaned the other way and promptly met face with tree.

After cleaning away the bloody mess, I could see that it all came from a nice gash style cut on his browbone. Not sure if it was stitch worthy, we took off to MedExpress. Turns out, no stitches, just surgical super glue and a steri strip. First true medical patch job on either of the Celtings. We've had breathing things, nursemaid's elbow, and the weedkiller scare, but nothing requiring some outside item to hold the body together.

Side note: I was pleasantly surprised how well this shot actually captured YC's eye color.

After coming home, I did get back and finish my second day's workout and I'm feeling it. But in a good way.

I then checked my email to see resolution in yesterday's Redbox debacle. Instead I got a reply telling me that emails get caught in spam filters and that it was too bad, so sad for me. I IMMEDIATELY called Redbox back where poor Shane answered my call. Shane was much more helpful than his coworkers. It only took me to almost screaming that I had bank records and that the machine I rented from wasn't even at it's location on the alleged rental date. He placed me on hold (probably to tell a supervisor that there was a raving madwoman on the phone). When Shane came back, he identified that the machine was the problem and they would be refunding my money FINALLY. I also received free rental codes for 3 movies. Apparently, my suggestion of the machine not being at the location prompted him to look into it's history. What he found were items being returned BEFORE they were rented, items which were rented before the machine was in service, and various other whacked out scenarios. If the woman I spoke with yesterday had not been so condescending, perhaps I wouldn't have almost jumped through the phone at poor Shane. I'm just glad that I check my receipts.

Tour de Fleece, Day Three

Day Three
Originally uploaded by sjbench@verizon.net

Thanks to Elder Celting who did my entire photo shoot. I thought this one showed the fiber best. I'm surprised I could still spin after working all day and completing my first workout for my Wii Active 30 day challenge. We'll see how I am tomorrow.

BTW, fighting with Redbox right now. Usually I love them, but I was just charged for 17 extra days EACH for two videos I rented on July 3rd and returned on July 4. When reviewing my rental receipt again for the initial night, I found that the invoice was dated for JUNE 16TH. I had to forward the email and I included that I could provide bank records as well for the initial night charge. Almost $37 bucks in bogus charges because someone somewhere didn't set something right.

Tour De Fleece, Day Two

Day 2
Originally uploaded by sjbench@verizon.net

Well, I made more progress today. But I think it will be next weekend that will make a dent for the stash. I just hope that I don't spin so much I injure myself. :)

Tour de Fleece 2009 Day One

Soul Windows Single
Originally uploaded by sjbench@verizon.net

Here's what I was doing while Lance was running his time trial