I am still here!!!!

I truly am- it's just that work is very demanding lately-more so that I had expected. In fact, Tuesday night (when I finally got home at 5:30), I threw supper on the table, decided to take a quick bath (my knees hurt more lately), then have a 20 minute snooze before I started my marking. Well, the 20 minute snooze my ass. I woke up at 6:30-in the morning. My husband said he thought that if I was sleeping so soundly, it would be best to let me sleep. So, of course, the kids had finished a math test on Tuesday-and the first question on Wednesday morning-"Are we getting our math test back this morning?" (I have an evil voice in my head that says things like- "yeah, kid, Bathing, eating. sleeping, family life- everything is on hold for you, because you are so much more important that everything, and I wouldn't want you to wait any longer than 2 seconds for every little thing you ask for.") Instead- "Nope- since I have 25 to do to your one, I figure you guys can let me take a little longer to turn around a test."Okay, a little snarky. But God help us all if the evil voice ever gets out.

That Kauni is mesmerizing!

I went up to the in laws on the weekend, to see them, and also to see a good friend from England (Hi Jean!). Annie went apple picking with her cousins and her Aunt Larissa (and they had a grand time, judging by the fact she fell asleep on the drive home!) Anyhow, I got to knit on Kauni- about three hours' worth(!!!!!!)- oh- I do love this sweater. I hope when I start the patterning on the top that I will still love it. Anyhow, I have close to 16 cm. of the ribbing finished-about ready to start the top part. So-let me knit a bit and I will take another picture then.
Otherwise-have a good start to the work week! (yes, you have to put down your knitting and go to work now)

Added later-

This is how much I have knit so far- I am about 15 cm. in. If you want to know what I did to make it bigger- go and join the Autumn KAL-I have told all over there!

The Kauni

I am unbelievably entertained by this Kauni project. I decided that I wanted to make the Autumn Flowers sweater, and that I wanted my two "colours" to be red-orange-yellow and green-blue-purple. So I have been chopping and spit-splicing (EEEEEEEEEUUUUWWWWWW according to my husband- who, by the way, lets the dog eat from his fork)(spit-splicing is the least of his worries). And this is how far I have gotten-

isn't it cool? I can't wait to see the next couple of rows and how the colours pair up together. It is just so addictive!!!! The way this one goes is this-you knit a 3 x 3 ribbing for a bit, then a 3 x 2, and finally a 3 x 1 in the corrugated ribbing. It has a lovely feel and drape to it-firm, without being stiff. And, I am going up to my in laws and back tomorrow to visit, so that means at least 3 hours of non stop knitting in the car!!! (provided I don't have to look down to often, then I get woozy) (I know- way too much information) Off to go and entertain myself with this knitting-have a good weekend!

Gangway!

Blimey- I will have to hang the job, mateys, fer I totally forgot that today, my hearties, is
International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
I totally forgot!!!


http://www.talklikeapirate.com/howto.html

I'm in!!!!!

I finally got my invite to Ravelry!!!!!!! Come and find me- I am (of course) notprettytowatch!!!!!!!!
Gotta go and play!

Oy

I swear Berroco is losing it- did ya get a load of their new featured free pattern? Normally, I wait impatiently for their Knitbits- just to see what they have come up with.

I can hear my husband's eyes rolling from here.

WOW

The new Knitty is up (knitty.com) and let me be the first to say.............

WOW.

Excellent work, as usual.

Progress

Well, Arisaig is sitting in the marination chamber for a bit. I tried to use some vertical bust darts to add a little extra room for the girls, but I didn't like the way the lace looked. (If anything, it looked "clotted" along the dart) Not pretty, let me tell you. So now I am thinking that I will add extra rows from the high waist to the armpit, and then gather the side seams along that point- so extra boobage room will happen. Right now, I need to sit and think about it for a bit- just to see if there are other options. I actually considered a couple of different things- that I rip out all the ribbing on the main part of the body, do it over in lace, and use stocking stitch on the bodice. Then I thought, if I left the ribbing alone, and then knit part of the bodice in stocking stitch (the parts that go over the girls, like what a bra would cover, so I could work in the short rows) and then pick up stitches around it and make a wide lace border. Hmmm. Still must figure out the best way to go (for me). I don't want something that screams-hey-check out these hooters. But I want a good fit.
So, enter the Kauni yarn. It has been taunting me like crazy. But I need to make the sweater larger. It has a flare around the bottom, and you have to account for that. As well, you make an icord, and pick up stitches all along it (very tailored, very clever). So when I get the numbers sorted out, I will publish them. I am aiming for a finished 52 inch chest. However, my hips are smaller than that.
Stay tuned.
School is progressing-if I stay in my classroom, not going to the staffroom, I am much happier. I just don't know what is going on.
Oh well.

Kauni and Arisaog

Ruth Sorenson has done it again- another beautiful sweater for the Kauni yarn. And Shelley, from Fun Knits is carrying it!!! Just go to her blog-see my sidebar- and she will send you to the right place to buy the pattern!!!And Arisaig (from knitty.com) is coming along. I am using The Sheep Shop Wensleydale Longwool-DK-and I have played around a bit with the numbers. I added a mosaic knitted band to separate the ribbed bottom from the lacy top. And I have been playing with the numbers to make a better fitting "cup" in the top of the sweater (the girls need their space, you understand). Stay tuned-if it works, I will give you the numbers. If not, it will be a lesson in what NOT to do, and then it will dance itself into the Tinking Pond!!!!

Had a horrible start to the school year. I won't go into it, but suffice it to say, pretty bleak. Let's see how week two goes. Wish me luck!

Cute teapots and cute faces

I was wasting a fw minutes, while supper cooked, looking up Wensleydale Longwool sheep-they have the sweetest faces. AND I came across these teapots-they are too dear for words- right here http://www.teapottery.co.uk/ - and they say they are the home of the eccentric teapot!!!Aren't they totally cool? It is worth it to go and see what they have-brings new meaning to a spot of tea!!!!!!!!See what I mean by cute little faces??

Wasn't that a party!

Last night we had our annual "End of the Block/End of the Summer" Backyard BBQ. It is great fun- we invite the neighbours who live at the end of our block, and it is one of those pot luck affairs. We had great fun. In the picture, that's Annie with the big grin, and her friend (who has dyed her hair blue for the start of Grade 8), and, as Sean says, the rest is the "load test" on the new deck (it all held, thank you very much). You can see what Bear was up to-wanting to know what he could schmooze from someone (mostly me!) The kids- and some of the adults- all got into the pool. Then we barbecued (well, Sean did) and ate and drank, and for dessert, I had a "brain flash". I bought these mini frozen cream puffs (filled with some sort of cream). I set them out, with chocolate sauce, and sprinkles, and butterscotch sauce and whipped cream (the real thing) and just let everyone make their own dream dessert. I would highly recommend it!!!!

And this is what happens when a wee Bear parties just a little bit too much. (He slept in until almost 10:00 this morning!)

Have a good Labour Day, whatever you do- and to all returning to school- good luck!

Added later................................

Shout out to JULIA and to JANET and to any of my other teacher or EA friends out there-have a good Tuesday!!!!