Aliens, Acupuncture, and a Bunny

It can be funny how projects evolve.

Last weekend, I worked on the the "alien" on the way to a soccer tournament. At this point, it looked like I was performing acupuncture on him (or her, I haven't decided).

We had enough down time between games that I was able to finish up. It took a couple of days to add the eyes and nose. I think the ears could use a blast of steam, but I am pleased with the results! I'd like to make another one.

One of my favorite things about out-of-town soccer tournaments is stopping in at LYSs. I picked up some cotton for some more quick projects that I have in mind at Yarn. This was my first visit to this shop and it was a beehive of activity with knitters working away on projects and a class going on - definitely will stop by again when I am in the area. 

Last weekend was prom, and they had a fun time. Both of these "kids" will turn 18 this Friday... where has the time gone? I guess I will be baking cakes and cupcakes this week!

Thinking Green

Thinking Green is a good epidemic, and those who know me would not be surprised that I consider it a personal challenge to overstuff the recycling cart. DS was not amused when he had to stand in it to compress it.

I've been working on this green scarf for a while... seems like forever, and it'll get put away until fall. I'll still love the colors when it resurfaces in the fall. The yarn is Yummy from Fibra Natura, and it took a little less than 1 skein for the whole thing. Blocked out, it's about 8.5" by 60".

I played around a bit trying to decide how to finish off the ends. I tried a couple of other stitch patterns before settling on this one.

I battled the wind trying to get a good shot of the lace. The dark red tree leaves are what replaced the snow-killed pink blooms from a few posts back. 

Finally, I bought blocking pins a couple of weeks ago knowing they would soon get used on this project. Exciting, huh? OK, I'm done talking about this scarf.

What's on the needles now? Something totally different and totally adorable. I'm working on Sophie. So far she has a head and a little bit of a neck. It's a quick little fun project for no real reason at all, other than I wanted to make it!

I'll sign off on a good note... ::drum roll::

DD22 found out yesterday that she got a job. She will iron out the details next week, but she'll be starting her first real. grown-up. full-time. job with her own benefits on May 18th, only 3 days after her Master's Hooding ceremony. I bet she'll still call me for recipe advice!

Hodge Podge

Life is a whirlwind sometimes, and I can only hope that there is time in every day for knitting. 

.....I have some new yarn... 

I love the colors and the possibilities for this yarn (Anne, by Schaefer Yarn). It's so-o-o-o soft. The colorway is Eleanor Roosevelt. If you like it and can find some, grab it!! This colorway is being discontinued.

....We e-filed our taxes. (BTW, Happy Tax Day!)

Where's our refund????

....DD22 blew in for Easter.

She wanted her hair braided to combat the KS wind. (She has an interview for a REAL job today, as in post-Master's employment with her own benefits - good vibes, please!)

We've been prom dress shopping. 

This was not the winner.  : ) 

(Hint: She chose the same dress in teal)

I have decided that DS needs cooking lessons, or at least closer supervision.

Pancakes, anyone?

Mostly, there has been a LOT of work for me. Sometimes I have to swatch to understand.

Sometimes all it takes is a sketch. Notice the ever-present cup of coffee.

::sigh:: Time to get back to work. 

Excuse My Absence

Where have I been?  Obviously I think about posting more than I actually do it!

The Spring we thought was here was pretty short-lived. The flowering plum from the last post is sad these days. The blizzard made short work of all those pretty pink blossoms.

DD thought it was great fun... as did the dogs.

I didn't even want to step out on my beloved back porch. Would you?

This is more my speed for blustery snowy days. Where's the hot chocolate? The kids inhaled these cookies!

We have also had a flurry of company. Nephews passing through on their way from west to east, and niece passing through on her way from south to north. 

Cousins have a special bond (ok, so the tall one is not related to us (but we will happily claim her as a honorary cousin!). The 2 girls on the sides are travelling pediatric intensive care nurses - not a bad deal for the young and unattached. They are headed back to North Dakota after working all winter in San Antonio. They are kind of young to be snowbirds, aren't they?!

Meanwhile, I have had a lot of work and only a little time for knitting. Our Saturday morning Meet-Up group had a dishcloth/facecloth swap this week. There were all kinds of cloths in every color, and the swap was a lot of fun. My 2 cloths were made from this book -- one was green and the other was blue. 

This is Jackie "modeling" her ruffled swap.

And this is my haul! Lanora made the bath mitt (and the cute bag), and Amy made the checkerboard cloth. Fun time!

One more thing... check this out. How to ask a girl to the prom has changed! Apparently the boys try to be uber-creative in their date requests at our school!

Time to get back to work.... and here's hoping that I will find time to play with my fledgling lace project, too.

L is for Lace, Someday

More Spring pictures. The colors are totally welcome after the dreary winter. I am tired of looking at dormant grass and bare branches. And the wind... it's been 40+ mph since Saturday. Maybe we will get a break today.

This cheerful thing is my flowering plum that sits outside my dining room window. I stepped out into the wind to snap a picture and had a hard time getting a clear shot. In the summer, squirrels will come and eat all the fruit off the tree. I don't think the fruit is edible for humans, so they can have it. 

Close.

Closer.

Closest. Ok, so maybe I am just playing with the camera!

I might not have buried my tulip bulbs deep enough, or maybe this is just an early blooming variety. Either way, I enjoy them! It amazes me that fragile flowers can stand up to the brutal wind. Mr Robin from the last post carries on in the wind as though it is a calm day. 

Knitting, yes! I finished the cardigan and even steamed it. DD gave her seal of approval and I asked if she would like to model it for me. She grumbled something unitelligible back. I'll corner her later.

And I started a new project... it's the 'L' word, as in Lace. It's not fine weight, but it's very intricate with YOs on right and wrong side rows. It takes total concentration, so it will not be a portable project. I am just far enough along that I can see the pattern taking shape and I keep finger blocking it against my leg to admire the pattern. I am working this from a chart - I think that will be easier for me than getting lost in words. The stitch and row repeat are both quite long. The yarn I am using is yummy, as in Yummy, in Lagoon colorway. It has all the greens of early spring and new leaves that I see out my window.  I think the pattern I chose will be a good match for the yarn. Did I mention that I have ripped back twice? So far, I am not deterred!

I am going to test myself and start a second project that will be portable, likely something in thread crochet. I need something to pass time between track meet events and for soccer road trips. The arrival of spring means I will be the spectator Mom again. The first track meet is this afternoon and DS is one of a handful of sophomores who made the varsity squad. He modeled his uniform for us last night -- too funny, and the HS girls varsity soccer kickoff is Thursday (she modeled her uniform last week), followed by DS's club soccer tournament this weekend, followed by DD's HS preseason tournament next week.... and so it goes.

Happy spring and happy knitting... now I need to get to work!

Rockin' Robin

There sure has been a spring theme to the blogs I follow, and I suppose this one is no different. I snapped a picture of this chubby robin through my window. I can't imagine that there are any worms left in the grass -- she's been plucking away out there for days. She's standing in a bed of sad-looking tulips that also seems to be a favorite place for one of our dogs to nap (thus the crushed tulips!).

This week is spring break for my kiddos, so they took a trip to the town we used to live in to visit old friends. They are heading back today, tired out, I'm sure. They have soccer and track practice for school, despite the break, and I am hoping that they will fulfill some service hour commitments, too. 

As for me, I have done some spring cleaning -- necessary stuff for this time of year. I took time out to make a really yummy cake to share with our neighbors (read: share the calories). Mostly, I have been working away on patterns galore, and there's plenty more waiting in the wings. When my brain gets tired from that, I've worked/ripped/reworked a little on my cardigan.

Here, the cardigan is resting. One sleeve to go... what will be next?!

Last week I worked the Kansas section of the Traveling Shawl, then sent it on to Oklahoma. I should have taken a picture... it will be lovely when it's done. You should check it out!

Hope you are having a good week!

That Back Porch Again!

Once again, it's pictures taken from the back porch. I'm not too crazy about heights, but I enjoy watching hot-air balloons float across the sky. I zoomed way in so I could see the colors. 

My guess is that they were headed for the civil aviation airport that's a couple of miles from here. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon to be outside.

Where did the weekend go? I managed to knit, though not nearly as much as I would have liked to. We survived the first tornado warning of the season and actually got some much needed rain without too terribly violent wind. Indoor soccer season is officially over and I am ready for outdoor season for the HS girls to begin. I will be juggling duties as soccer mom and track mom. I know about soccer knitting, but track is something new for me... I can knit while waiting on events, right? I hope that's the way it works. 

I am at a decision point on my top-down raglan cardi... the bottom edge. I don't want to do plain old ribbing. I'm thinking scallops, but time will tell. I need to make my decision before I take the kids to the dentist in a couple of days. LOL, I know I'll be sitting there a while - prime knitting time! 

Otherwise, it's going to be a busy week of tech editing.