A Newswomans News

2008-01-31T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Cabled Shrug from VK Winter 07/08

The Cabled Shrug started in Rowan Tapestry (blue/grey)

The thickness and the thinness of it all

Showing how the thickness and the thinness translates to the pattern

Alrighty then.
Since I'm now a Ravelry poster(!) - username: newswoman - t is imperitive that Flickr works for the illustration of projects. Not that anyone has perused me. Still.
And I couldn't upload these simple photographs today.
Tried to do all 4; directed to an API page. Tried one at a time, same thing.
Tried all four again: Nuttin'

I'll try again, later. I want it easy.

As with all Vogue Knitting patterns, yes, each and every one, I had trouble with the cast-on relating to the chart. The instruction call for 61 stitches cast-on, which I did. Then work row 1 of the chart, sts 1-32, then sts 5-32. 32 + 28 = 60 in knit math.
I work the said 60 sts with 60 sts cast-on and have four sts left to work and I'm out of cast-on sts. I have made a mistake? Surely it is me. I frog.
Cast-on 60 sts again. Knit purl knit across chart. Still 4 short. I backward-loop 4 sts.
And so it goes until the first increase row. ** sigh **
Now, of course, I have too many sts when I come to the end. So, instead of k1, p1 in one st, three times, I only do it once, knit across sts and I'm fine.
I haven't gone to the VK site to see if there are corrections on this particular pattern.
Yes, I paid attention (I can be accused of not doing so, however).

The finished piece is supposed to measure 22 inches across. When I measure 11 inches from my shoulder to my chest I think the girls will be showing and the girls are supposed to be covered. I do not mirror the flat-chested model in the photo. So I may be making some adjustments to the hem. I've got ideas brewing. We'll see.

Now. Rowan Tapestry. 70% wool, 30% soy.
Wish I had #8 bamboo needles. Its a bit slippery on the aluminum set.
I'm a bit disappointed that there are only three mild color changes - that's my fault. If I wanted the surprise colorway shown in the picture, I should have purchased the Noro/FKI. What I have is nice, and conservative, and will go with many things.

First of all I'm getting a lot of mileage (131 yds per skein). I purchased 10 little patties, have about 6-1/2 inches finished and haven't budged the skein much. Very nice.

The twist is alternately tight, just right and non-existent. This feature, I understand, is quite the fad. And this is a loose, casual garment, so the bumps and dips are fine. The Rowan catalogue for Tapestry shows some structured sweaters though ... and I wonder.

2008-01-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

Tribune-News
Smith Notes for 30 Jan 08
The hopes and dreams of another chili title got foggy for the Heyerly's Meat Market cooking team over the weekend.
Their marvelous and award-winning recipe was over looked at the Fire and Ice Festival in Columbia City.
Well, we win some and we lose some in a contest. All is not lost in this case because the chili is available for the tasting this week at the grocery store.
However, we do have winners we can call our own.
Tribune-News correspondent Jennifer Zartman-Romano and her sister Sarah won first place in the Whitley County Council on Aging's cook-off, part of the Fire and Ice Festival. JZ-R not only writes and takes photos for the Tribune-News she helps put pages together Monday nights.
Jennifer, pictured above, second from right, is sporting a sweatshirt with a Talk of the Town logo. Talk of the Town is the name of her online newspaper where she posts articles and pictures on a nearly daily basis. www.talkofthetownwc.com Her stories and images focus on non-profit organizations and events ... all "good" news!
Another familiar face in the photograph above belongs to Kelly Sheiss, a correspondent for the Columbia City newspaper, who attends the South Whitley Town Council and Whitko school board meetings.

My first encounter with a computer came as a communications operator for the US Navy back in '76.
Then, we entered code into a door panel, that led into a room with banks of equipment from floor to ceiling. On each computer compartment there were shelves that swung down to accept a punch card. The shelf swung back up when the card was placed, a code was entered, and the room clicked and whirled into life.
This equipment was linked to teletype machines. The operator typed a message that resulted in punched, inch-wide ticker-tape. Another piece of machinery read the punched code and sent the message off to its destination.
Today, I press buttons to fire up the equipment and speak commands (that are obeyed!) into my cell phone.

For the last 10 years the newspaper industry has wrestled with the Internet, alternately embracing and cursing the medium.
Phil says its the wave of the future, while not being able to quite define the coming days.
Newspaper Web sites don't offer everything that can be found on the printed page. In tour of the national and regional offerings some stories are offered for free; other items come with a fee. Some stick to the "hard" news; others are sensational. Some are subscriber-based; some are wholly advertiser-supported.

JZ-R's Talk of the Town format allows her to post stories and photographs immediately. That has delicious appeal.
At the Tribune-News, we've discussed a Web site. EVERYONE has one, we hear. Not quite true, but near enough.
Just the idea of being able to showcase all of Phil's photographs in glorious color is a real incentive. Folks, because of space considerations we cannot provide the half of the things he sees through a lense.
Quite frankly, I have time, equipment and personnel issues to consider. Time to give to such an enterprise, the equipment to support such a program and people or persons to maintain and monitor the site.

And for me, old-schooled and cautious as I am, having a Web site has its appeal. It's something to consider in the coming weeks and I'll keep you posted.

2008-01-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

Lament for Arwen
All right, I've decided.
The Cardigan for Arwen will be frogged.
Completely frogged.
Last night I started knitting backwards, just because I can, and three inches later looked down to see a noticeable change in gauge. Note to self: Either knit backwards on the entire project or ... don't.
So ... peeu.
I love the yarn and have enough (obviously) to make a sweater, however, I just tossed an old brown vest yesterday. So I think a new one is in order. Simple, V-necked, knit in the round, of my own design. Probably enough left over for some fancy fingerless mitts.

2008-01-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

A is for Alex

2008-01-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

Frog City
Back in April I presented this fine photo. Front left of the Cardigan for Arwen.
She's been frogged. I put her down and knit other things! I took over a newspaper business!
I, I, I took meticulous notes and still lost my place on the cable charts. The beautiful cables were a mess.
So. I've got a new plan. One stinking chart at a time.
I'm going to make the front cables a panel, knit seperately and sewn onto the fronts and hood.
I'll incorporate the cuff cables in the knitting.

I hope to have it done by the end of February. Its the perfect spring/fall sweater. I have several other UFOs and/or froggings to do and I want to get on those Ravelry groups. And I came across a cool, cool, cool sock club today. I need more socks. But, dang, this one averaged out to $40 every other month for six socks at the end of the year. And, I still have to knit them! I think I can get sock yarn for less, although they won't be as cool.

I came across my bicycle gloves today. It's an Interweave Knits pattern. One glove nearly complete, except for the thumb! I'd completely forgotten about it. Gaaaa!

I really, really want to make the Cobblestone Sweater for Phil. He approved it and Kathy has some Rowan tweedish cotton that would be perfect for the project. Can't knit anything for him in wool or he'll sweat to death!

2008-01-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Cape. She is done.

2008-01-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hey! I'm on Ravelry.
And its cool.
I posted my first project and I've been poking around, looking at groups.

2008-01-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

Moyer takes over Corner Cafe in South Whitley
Although he’s thought about going to a culinary arts school, one thing Tanner Moyer didn’t want to do was leave South Whitley.
“To make big money you have to move to a big city,” he said Friday afternoon, one week after taking ownership of the Corner Café restaurant and building, corner of State and First streets in South Whitley. “I have no desire to move away and there’s a lot of potential here.”
The café menu offers solid fare for breakfast -- eggs, toast, meat and sides items with an ever-filled cup of coffee -- and lunch -- daily specials, soups, sandwiches, combination plates, soft drinks and desserts. The meals are served to a platoon of regulars by friendly gals who quickly learn their customers’ preferences.
Moyer, 26, immediately added Sunday hours, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., making the café open seven days a week. With just a sign on the door noting the expanded hours, the place was packed. He plans to add more homemade items to the menu including pies. He wants to remodel and redecorate. New booths have arrived, it’s just a matter of time before they’re installed by freshly painted walls and with other changes to the interior. He wants to make the unique corner entrance more noticeable and improvements to the building, which has three apartments on the second floor.
He cooked at Carol’s Corner during the summer for 13 years. There, he had to have a special spatula “because my hands are so big. I always said it was my spatula and Carol (Eberly, owner of the Carol’s Corner) brought it to me as a gift.”
He’s always had a couple of jobs going at once in the restaurant business and in the home health care industry. He recently gave up his “night” job to work full-time in the Corner Café as chief cook and bottle-washer.
“I plan to open for dinner after the remodeling,” he said. “We were packed Sunday with just a sign on the door. There are so many die-hard regulars who walk right in the door with you in the morning. One customer makes the first pot of coffee every morning, at 4:30 a.m.
“It’s just like family here and I couldn’t ask for a better staff.”
That staff includes cooks Julie Gonzales and Annetta Lengacher and servers Elizabeth Myers, Tonya Reiff, Stephanie Hood and Wendy Lude.
“There are also the random friends who come in when we’re busy.”
Moyer said he’s ready for ownership. He’s worked for good business owners and his father, Tim (and Diana) Moyer, owns his own business.
“Hopefully I’ve learned a few things and will run a successful business here.
The Corner Café, 202 S. State St., has been a restaurant for more than 30 years and the building once served as a bank.

2008-01-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

Alrighty then. Back to knitting.
The spicy thing above has been the bane of my existence for about three months.
What should have been an easy knit was frogged about six times.
It's one size fits all, for Xxx's sake!
I suspected Lion Brand patterns are the worst and I was right.
That may not be fair. This is my first LB pattern.
Please, people, give complete instructions for the back and sides. Don't have me refer back to previous instructions because I'll forget to do something vital, which I did, several times ... thus, the frogging.
The pattern is from VK's 25th anniversary issue.
The yarn is Lion Brand Wool ease, chunky, spice.
Needles: 15
I like the yarn (so soft, didn't split) and will use it again for other chunky projects. The yarn band had a fabulous coat pattern (on size 13 needles), which I may very well may craft for spring-time wear.
I hate basketweave, so what was I thinking?
I already discussed the pattern writing. The inability to follow the pattern could very well be a failure on my part. ahem.
This is a Christmas/New Years (now) gift which will be sent out at the beginning of next week. I don't think the recipient reads my blog (haven't prompted her in a while and I haven't been blogging in a while) so I'm safe.
I'm still knitting the collar, then there's the blocking, assembly, packing and shipping.
Oh. I forgot the buttonhole so some other fastening will be, er, fashioned.

2008-01-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin picture alert!

Regan Lieneman, turned 2 in November.

2008-01-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the look outside, New Years Day, 2008.
Treebert is covered in snow.
It's going to be a white year.

Howard K. is covered in red fur.
Oh, how he'd like to go for a walk.

2007-12-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

Not called friends
I’ve made a weird, liberating decision.
I’ve stopped referring to people who used to act like friends and don’t anymore as friends.
Criteria for friendship:
1) Regular communication, other than annual birthday and holiday cards. I have had “friends” wherein I was doing all the initial calling/e-mailing/inviting. That’s not friendship.
2) Honest communication, wherein, if I screw up the problem is pointed out verbally and I have a chance to honestly explain myself and rectify the situation or at least ask if there is a solution. Letters detailing a situation, sent on business stationery in a brisk, business-like manner -- even when it’s about business -- ends a friendship.
Now, there are individuals who are far, far away that I only hear from once in a great while, to whom I only contact once in a great while, or see every year, five years. I’ll always be happy to see these “old friends,” but they ain’t my friends now, not truly.
So where does that leave me? With family, some of whom are friendly …
This decision pares everything down, let’s me start afresh.

2007-12-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Nephew James McIntosh, Dec. 29, the best picture I took during our family's Christmas gathering ... well, except for the one below of Phil and his new guitar.

2007-12-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Elijah Goins Christmas Eve 2007

2007-11-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

Above is Newslee the Wildcat, a photograph taken during greener weather.
Now? The weather is orangish-brown.
Anyway the News was named by a young South Whitlan, Haylee Wolfe, during a Tribune-News contest.
She's grown into quite a mascot, lives at the newspaper, greets some customers and ignores others. She entertains - or diverts - people's attention while we are getting what they need.
I figure she was about six months old when I found her in my driveway. Since she was marked like a wildcat (the high school's mascot) I brought her to work and there she has been, ever since.
Yesterday (Thursday, 29 November) (according to eye-witness Linda) a woman came in for copies. Newslee came to the counter. The woman picked up a paw and put it in her mouth, licked it and began licking the cat's arm.
Linda almost gagged. I about gagged when she told me about it.
Yucko.
Then, of course, our Post & Mail papergirl delivered the CC newspaper and gave her a smack right on the mouth. Heavens!

This week we had a full-color front and back page, thanks to the 4-color ad order from Parkview Memorial Hospital. If an advertiser orders color we can have color!
This is the third time in the 125 year history of the newspaper that full color has been printed.
How exciting.

Knitting:

In the August 24 post I said I'd begun the IK bicycle gloves. They're not finished.
Also on the needles is a pattern from one of VK's 25th anniversary covers, its a Xmas gift though and cannot be posted about further
Cardigan for Awren has not progressed.
I began a cotton thong out of teeny tiny crochet thread ... it will be done if I apply myself for an hour.

So many UFO's! I must complete the cover pattern for _____ first.

We have two Thanksgiving dinners - one on Thursday with Phil's extended family, one on Saturday with mine. They were both very relaxed and the food was tasty. I didn't have to take anything to the MIL's and provided the bird and several desserts at mom's.

Reading: Deepak Chopra's Book of Secrets
John Sanford's Dark of the Moon

2007-08-24T02:55:00.000-07:00

By now I've produced an even dozen issues of the Tribune-News.
I write "I" like I'm the only one. Not so.
The Trib has a general manager, an advertising manager, a typesetter/customer service representative, a sport editor (Phil), and a community that supports us with articles and advertising.
But I'm pretty much the person at the keyboard, out and about meetings and covering events.

Then there's the commercial printing and office supply side of the business! Whew!

Knitting? I've frogged the socks shown in May . . . twice. They're on needles now, again, and the color is pooling, 'stead of striping. Sigh and peeu. Really, I must start again.

On a happier note I'm working the bicycle gloves featured in the Summer 2007 Interweave Knits magazine. Mine are white in Skael cotton/silk. Since my digits are plumper than the average bear's, and because I've knit gloves before, I know how many stitches to pick up and add for the fingers. That number is more than the usually recommended "two."

2007-05-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best - Hubby At The Ballpark - 20May2007

2007-05-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

A peek at an engine from Sterling Heights, Illinois.
Chris Sanders of Banzai Racing
And again. I didn't like the water bottle, especially.

BANZAI!

The folks at Banzai Racing in Pierceton put on a fantastic appreciation dinner each year and people come from miles around with their Mazda RX-7s, along with other models.

His story began when he purchased his own RX-7 years ago and started rebuilding the engine. When he joined an internet forum he starting providing technical advice. People started dropping by his house and he'd tweek their cars. That led to the purchase of a pole barn; which led to a central location and . . . viola! . . . a business in Pierceton.

The full story and black and white photos appear in the Tribune-News this week. Available via subscripton or at local newsstands

2007-05-16T14:51:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, Times-Union
Hello, Tribune-News

Today was my last day at the Times-Union daily newspaper in Warsaw Indiana.
No tears were shed.
I logged three articles and waited around until deadline to give hugs, say goodbye and skip out the door.
It was a good ending, on good terms and best wishes were given as I go forward to own, publish and edit my own newspaper. The times are exciting and the possibilities . . . endless.
In addition to the newspaper, which covers the Whitko school district, there is a thriving commerical printing business, soon to be known as Smith Printing and Copy Shop.

2007-05-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best - Poppies
These Oriental beauties were made for the camera. I didn't do anything to the images except make them blog-sizeable. They grow on the south side of our house.

2007-05-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Knitting like the wind
With apologies to Brenda Dayne.
Whilst the males were involved with various aspects of baseball -- Phil had a double header to officiate in the a.m. and Alex played in a double header in the afternoon -- I stayed home and knit, knit, and knit. And then I took pictures of my knitting.
Somewhere on the Internet a gal blogged about taking a Master's Course in sock knitting. She intended to learn from Nancy Bush authored books, beginning with Knitting Vintage Socks, which has wonderful content, starting at the beginning and going to the end -- then starting again with another volume and another author.
The idea was intriguing. I was knitting a sweater at the time though, the great UFO -- Cardigan for Arwen (Interweave Press Spring(?) 2007). Of course that was immediately set aside for Eiffel (on Knitty). Then I started the crocheted socks and the Grumperina's Jaywalkers.
The Jaywalkers, as others have commented, gulp yarn at an alarming rate. My stitches became small and tight. Yesterday I frogged it and started on the first ribbed sock pattern in KVS.
The photos - I like the inside too! -- show about four inches of the leg. I continued to knit until nearly midnight and am halfway through the heel.
I have a large foot measurement - 9-1/2. I wear a size 9-1/2 or 10 shoe now. After years of wearing flats and going barefoot the old pups have grown or evolved or something and I no longer have a 7-1/2-inch foot measurement that most patterns feature.
Sock patterns should come in several sizes just like sweaters. Since when does one size fit all feets? I do note that most of the Knitty sock patterns have more than one size. So I may be alternating between the Bush and the Knitty for patterns.
With the ribbed sock I added two inches, casting on 80 stitches. For the heel turn I have 41 stitches, which seems alarmingly wide (not pictured) and will see how it works out. I think the 31 stitch heel would also work out fine and maybe look better.
I like the Socks that Rock yarn -- Garnet Dreams, part of a 2004 purchase at the Michigan Fiber Festival. I have another skein in blues that will be used next.

2007-05-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

One Ultimate
For my crochet project, Ultimate Crocheted Socks, one sock is kinda finished.
I’m waiting to see how the second skein plays out for the final length.
These socks will be for winter wear. I cannot wait to slip my feet into these and then my insulated boots.
Since they started to travel up my calf I added increases at the back. And yes, yes, yes I kept careful notes.

2007-05-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best -- Our New Business

For more than a year I’ve kept a wonderous secret.
Phil and I are purchasing a newspaper and a commercial printing business in the small town of South Whitley in Whitley County Indiana.
The newspaper is called Tribune-News. The printing company will be known as Smith Printing and Copy Shop.
We are purchasing these gems from Linda and Dave Tranter, whom I’ve known for years, for decades. They’ve operated Tranter Paper Co. for 32 years.
Above is the dark brown facade of the building which is under option to buy. One of the many upcoming changes is to paint the front of the building. The bricks need tuck pointing. The second floor needs electricity and plumbing and complete renovation.
Newspaper circulation is at 1,300 currently. Subscriptions are $30 per year, 60-cents for single copies. We plan a bit of newspaper redesign and will add sports coverage. A hotshot sales gal is being added to the staff in July.
The commercial printing division -- ohh, I can say division! -- is quite healthy sales wise.

Stay tuned to this location for more news about the Tribune-News!

2007-04-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best - Spring Beauties

2007-04-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

Pinked!
Standing along the first base line, directly in line with first and second base, I commented about how dangerous it was to stand along the fence when the new first baseman missed a couple of practice throws.
And, dang, if I didn't get pinked when the second baseman whipped one to first and the first baseman missed it. I saw it coming, after it missed the first baseman's glove, straightened up and started to turn and got PINKED in the upper rib, right below my right "girl."
Ah ... baseball.
Then to top it all off, the Orioles lost 8 to 5 in their season opener.

Darlene and I attended the South Whitley town-side garage sale today. She got toys for her puppies.
I got a three piece suit (black pinstriped, double breasted jacket, skirt and pants); a pair of grey pants with black stripe; a navy blue skirt; a long black and grey sleeveless dress (which shall be shortened and belted) with gray jacket-like top. Not a lot of color there, however, I have colorful tops.

I also scored a women's bicycle, fairly new, for $25 - Free Spirit model - Mountain Bike with extra rim and tube! I love bike riding. An this one has pink brake lines and accents. That will hopefully, keep the males off MY bike.

Plus a month by month herb book and a Reader's Digest North American Wildlife Book that's three inches thick. Howard K also got a gift - a stuffed Simba in cub form - that about three feet long. He is shaking it all over the living room as I type this.

And an interesting little gadget: Magic Loom. It has a variety of plates to make different kinds of squares. I haven't experimented with it yet. I couldn't go wrong for the fantastic garage sale price of 10-cents.

2007-04-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

What does one do when one has three projects on the needles?
Goodness, I haven't touched Arwen for weeks and I'm sure she's resentful.
I love working on Jaywalker but the Ultimate Crocheted Sock is getting the most attention now.
I thought I had the gusset finished last night only to count stitches and find I hadn't increased in quite the right places. :-( So it all got ripped back. That's the theme of this yarn however, is it not?

Before all the neighborhood children finish ripping the tulip flowers off their stems I should photograph them. And the fire bush is fantastic this year, full of blossoms.

Countdown: 37 days.

Oh. Now isn't that a tease?
Family and a select amount of friends know what the countdown is all about.
In 37 days a great, juicy post will appear here.

I've kinda gotten away from listing books I'm reading.
Well. I just finished "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" by Lillian Jackson Braun and I am shocked.
Shocked. Polly - gone for three years? The barn - gone for good? What!

2007-04-22T05:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best - Pica, the Noodle, Smith
Sunday Best Bonus - Howard K. Smith

Someday, a picture of Xacto the pushkin.

She is amazingly hard to photograph.

Our animals have newspaper-related names.

A "pica" is a unit of measurement.

There are six picas to an inch.

Xacto is the brand name of a knife with a triangle-shaped blade

used to cut columns from larger sheets of paper.

And Howard K. Smith was a writer who became one of the legendary CBS World War II correspondents known as Murrow's Boys and later was a news anchor for ABC.

I admit, Howie's name has evolved.

He found me 19 August 2005 in Pierceton

during a Housing Opportunites of Warsaw (HOW)

and Grace College home rehabilitiation blitz.

Since I was covering the event for the newspaper, it's still tied to the biz, and I can change things, afterall. Requests to HOW for grant money to supplement Howie's habit of eating and infrequent veterinarian bills have not materialized. It's the newspaper business that is supporting this dog.

2007-04-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

Yum. Yum.

Blue Moon

Socks That Rock

Garnet Dreams

100% superwash Merino

Hand painted.

Let me say it again.

Yum. Yum.

Wish I'd taken a picture of the hank all twisted in upon itself because it was delicious.

I have another hank in other colors which shall be photographed prior to being wound into some kind of shape.

Using an empty, plastic waterbottle as a swift, I wound, with Pica's dubious assistance, this little ball that is already falling apart. It's not the prettiest nor the perfectest.

On the needles is Grumperina's Jaywalker sock pattern. On needle #1 I've already lost a stitch. **sigh** I shall find it sometime today.

So. This makes three projects going.

The crocheted socks.

The Jaywalker socks.

The Cardigan for Arwen.

The Jaywalker socks have two sizes - for the 8-inch round foot and for the 9-inch round foot. That's good cause I have the 9-incher. Nine And A Half, actually. In high school I had dainty size seven dogs. Today they're a, well, size 9-1/2 or 10, after years of wearing flats and going barefoot.

I must get on my WWW knit sib design/pattern makers about offering two sizes of socks. For the regular size and for me, the big footed. No. I don't want to figure out what to do about adding an inch or so myself. You're the pattern-maker, you do it.

There has to be plenty of us out there with the bigger feet.

2007-04-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

This skein of yarn has been through the ringer. Or the frogger, if you prefer.

Part of a load of stash given to me by my sister about three (or four?) years ago, all it says about itself is that it is 6 oz. of sock yarn. It is 100% wool, I'm sure.

It is stiffish and itchy -- although since I've reincarnated it about a zillion times, swatching, frogging, starting a sock on #1's, ripping it out and now used to work the Ultimate Crocheted Socks pattern (Crochet Me Magazine, 2007 Spring) by Dorothy Hardy -- it is getting softer and I like it.
The pattern is toe-up and calls for an elongated single crochet, which I am ignoring and going with single crochet. Sorry, Dorothy, I like the stitch, but it made the sock too wide, somehow. I just want to check out the sock pattern, see if I like crocheted socks.

Even with the latest project its been frogged and frogged again, becoming softer and softer.

2007-04-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

Back again
It's not as if I have 30 regular readers who also leave comments.
I try to encourage this in folks; they just won't do it.
"Oh!" They say in e-mails! "Great blog!"
** sigh ** have to be content with that.

Anyway, I think we have recovered from the attacks of cuteness brought on by a mega exposure to grandchildren last month.

I'd say that things have returned to normal, except baseball fever is about to rise its pitch.
Practices have begun.
Challenges are being issued.

I have hired step-boy Alex as my weekly car detailer. The child can clean a window and uses an odd technique. Armed with Windex and balled up newspaper, he sprays the window. Then using the newspaper as a squeege goes down the pane in strokes, side to side, never leaving a streak! I love it!
The Geo didn't get swept Wednesday, due to rain. The clear light of day shows some areas that weren't touched, but that will come.

2007-04-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best
Reagan G. Leineman and Easter bonnet.

Sunday Best II -- A feature photo from guest photographer Phillip A. Smith of granddaughter Reagan at her great grandmother's house playing with a cat toy. These were taken last weekend during the whirlwind trip from the Nebraskans.

2007-04-08T03:59:00.001-07:00

The Easter Bunny usually works alone. An exception was made this year, as all can see, when Howard K. Smith nosed in on the arrangements.
Easter basket

A nice presentation for the DH. This basket was brought up from the kitchen floor to the sugar container where Phil is sure not to miss it. Loads of chocolate. Hope there's enough left over for me, me, me.

Work continues on the CfA. I finished the first wrapped stitch rows for the left sleeve at a horridly late hour, seeing double, head bobbing, I just managed to mark my last row on paper and put it all away.

Yesterday the office was given a brisk spring cleaning and reorganizing. Ah. So much nicer. That's three rooms down -- living room, kitchen (which always needs updating) and office. And four rooms to go -- the dining room, the spare room (lets just call this the junk room, shall we?) the bathroom and the masters' bedroom. I believe I'll hit the dining room today.

And knit, yes, I'll knit, too. The end of the month deadline is pending.

2007-04-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

The Patient Puppy waits. Sighs. And waits.

He hasn't visited the fairgrounds in two entire days whilst I labored at a second job and the daddy that he loves wouldn't take him for a long walk.

I have the day off. It's Good Friday. Instead of sleeping until a delightful hour, say, 8 a.m., I've been up since 3:30 a.m., puttering. It won't be light enough to venture forth for another hour.

2007-04-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Yes ... I still knit!!! Why?
Haven't there been any updates?
And what is that bit of fluff?

Above is the Cardigan for Arwen from the Winter 2006 Interweave Knitting magazine.

It is my second start on the project. Did I knit a swatch? No. Am I 56-inches around? No.

That's what I needed to be had I continued to work on the first installment.

The back and half of the left front were finished before I took one measurement of the width. All was frogged. Even now I'm fudging because my gauge is much larger than one the recommended.

I've given myself until the end of this month to finish. Ha. Such a lofty goal.

And what is that bit of fluff? It is attached. It just appeared.

2007-04-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

New Hairdew

I think I'm getting closer to Meryl Streep's 'do in "The Devil Wears Prada."

Think.

This was taken Monday, 2 April, hours and hours after the cut. I must remember to comb and style prior to posing. One can see view my April tan, however, which didn't need combing or styling. ;0)

2007-04-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Major Score

I sat and sat and sat and left for a while and sat some more and finally

scored these two McCoy pottery pieces at an auction today.

I collect the white glazed works.

No other colors, thank you ... just in case you were thinking about getting me a piece. ;0)

The top planter, called a jardiniere, is in perfect condition.

The stove shaped cooke jar has a couple of chips in the back and the gold paint is worn.

One does not care.

2007-04-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best

Reagan and her daddy.

2007-03-30T21:12:00.000-07:00

Doritos

When Lindsay goes on an all natural, organic, vegan lifestyle for herself and her brood we will always have this photo for Reagan to show mommy fed her junk, junk, junk when she was just a toddler.

2007-03-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Can we stand any more of ...

The Cuteness!

This is the first meeting of the grandchildren. Reagan is 16 months old. Elijah is 11-1/2 months.

Lindsay and Jeff arrived fromLincoln, NE, around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

We are overwhelmed with the preciousness of the grandpumpkins.

Lindsay turned 23 today.

Here's a great picture of Alex - who turns 12 on Friday (tomorrow) with Elijah.

2007-03-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

Reagan Lieneman

Hers arrived around 10 p.m. Wednesday.

I had a camera at the ready for any and all possible poses.

Hers is adorable.

2007-03-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best

Zacto and Pica

We do, of course, have a couple of cats.

The problem is, when ever I head toward them with a camera they act like they're going to be herded. Or they blink. Or move. Or lightening strikes.

The pushkins are out of focus here and I intend to make a concentrated effort to show them in focus. The puppy is much more cooperative when it comes to posing; he is, after all, a dog.

The Knife and the BFTOL (beef-tol, short for big, fat tub of lard) are siblings and about seven years old.

Pica is the lap-sitter and has an excellent disposition toward yarn being draped along his back.

2007-03-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best

My new favorite restaurant has to be the Cerulean Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Winona Lake.

Here is what I (top) got - the seared tuna, salad, pea pods and mandarin oranges - and my friend, Michelle, (bottom) got - that's chicken strips of something with a pear salad, cucumber salad and soy pods this week. A main dish comes with three sides for lunch! You pick!

Oh the goodness of it all.

2007-03-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Smiles and Star Stickers

The above images are from my desk side calendar.

Isn't that tulip fairy the sweetest?

The smiles represent the days the puppy is taken to the fairgrounds for at least 45 minutes OR taken for a walk the same amount of time.

The stars represent the days I meet my pedometer goal of at least 8,500 steps per day.

Think I'll kick up that amount next week, to 8,700 steps per day.

I tried to leap to 9.000 steps a couple of months ago and just couldn't make it.

Now, since walking to work (.3 of a mile) has resumed with more favorable weather, it's easy to get to more than 4,000 steps before lunch!

As one can see puppy-dog doesn't get walked every day ;0( and we take Thursdays off.

Speaking of lunch I ate with my friend Darlene Redinger at the Tap Room around noonish today.

I had the Asparagus Salad which included portabello mushrooms, walnuts and delicious greens with a soy dressing that was out of this world. I gasped when it was presented. Yum. Yum.

The switch to nearly everything organic foodstuffs has gone quite well.

I feel great and didn't feel bad before.

Phil gets off the general organic theme now and again and he has a ferocious sweet-tooth. Oh well.

2007-03-04T19:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best

Snow-frosted oak leaves.

2007-03-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

Lakeland Art Gallery

Sara Robbins of Syracuse, at top,

and Andrew Tomasik of Leesburg, bottom, had a show at the relocated Lakeland Art Gallery this last month. With all the blizzardish weather I never made it over to do a story until today.

The article will appear Monday with a nice interior shot and picture of the board of director's president in print and online at www.timesuniononline.com

2007-02-28T19:26:00.000-07:00

Eiffel ... She's Finished

The Sexy Knitter's Club KAl project is finished ... Eiffel from Knitty Winter 2006.

www.sexyknittersclub.com

What fun it was to participate in the work. It's really my first foray into lace, finishing sleeves, front and back all in one piece, and working with so much cotton! The Skael is so soft with its bit of thread running through it. I have enought skeins left over to make some ... hum ... kneesocks?

Actually I've had Eiffel done for about 10 days, but didn't get around to having a picture taken and blogging about it until now.

I see that quite a few of the gals chose white, like I did.

At top is a cluttered background picture.

Then a detail of the decreases and neckline.

Then a bit of the sleeve.

At the bottom is a sepia-toned portrait.

I had almost decided against a ribbon on the body and on the sleeves. Now I think I will add that - some kind of irredescent ribbon would be fun.

I really like the length of the sleeves.

The Wicked pattern is beautiful, too. It was so flattering on every body that made it.

Oh yes. Hopefully I'll be able to join the SKC now, too. I'm just a lurker ;0( because of Blogger issues.

2007-02-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

Reagan's Dance

We don't know if this is the twist or the watusi, it is Reagan's Dance ...

Evidently it is warmer in Lincoln, Nebraska, than it is here, cause she's near naked!

Hers shall be arriving March 29, with her parents, of course, she's too young to drive, and spending the weekend. What fun!

2007-02-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday Best

I've been kicking around a "Sunday Best" idea for this blog, meaning the best photo of the week and thought it should be artsy. And whilst this isn't artsy xcepting in it's angle (maybe) it is precious.

2007-02-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

Elijah & Grandpa
Right in the camera's lense ...
looking up at ... something ...
a soft focus, but look at those teeth! There's six of them in there!

We had a busy little vist by grandson Elijah today.

He's not quite walking. He's standing and attempting a step or two at 10 months of age.
He's a happy little guy, except when Grandpa startles.

Phil had every expectation of babysitting him for a couple of hours. His daddy x-nayed that idea. Evidently his mommy isn't as in charge as she thought.

I visited with my friend Marilee yesterday afternoon and came home with goodies - chocolate kisses with macadamia nuts, a couple of delicious Hawaiian teas, two pin sets:

gold pen and pencil and another of a computer. Cute.

Four weeks ago she had surgery and is four weeks into recovery.

I think she's about ready to get back out and about ... two more weeks to go.

I directed her to the Blogger site and she created a blog.

For the life of me I can't seem to access it this morning.

She's also got this GREAT idea to publish what women think

every woman should know by the time she's 18.

2007-02-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

Heere Be Dragone
I did it, I ordered it.
I saw this on extravaganzayarn's blog and coveted.
Sharon from Aurora Alpacas is the designer of this lucious pattern.
I will, of course, do her in gold, to follow the Pern tradition.
What have I gotten myself into?

The Eiffel pattern is about 30 rows from being finito.
Then I can restart Cardigan for Arwen. That was a quick knit, I just didn't have the gauge dialed, so it was way, way too wide.

2007-02-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

The Seven Things Project

The Seven Things Project, touted on the Cast-On Podcast website, as inspired me to get rid of seven things a week.

Earthchick's idea is to sell, donate, giveaway or recycle the equivalent of an item a day then post it as the Saturday Seven on her blog.

Last week I boxed up packaged food and intend to take it to a local charity. There are more than seven items in the box.

My goal is to rid myself of the unwanted, the unuseful and unforgiving from 21 Feb 07 until 21 Feb 08. I'm coming six months late to the game. And that's OK.

One thing I won't be getting rid of is the puppy pictured above. Does anyone else have a dog that uses a pillow for his headybrain? And what is with his pink nose? It's turned pink this winter and (according to the Internet searches I've conducted ... could be a "snow nose." A nosey poo that turns pink in the winter. Or the dire hyperthyroidism. Or it could just be a natural discoloration of the breed. However the only Shar Pei's I've seen with pink noses are the blond types.

2007-02-20T20:03:00.001-07:00

So inspired was I by Meryl Streep's hair in The Devil Wears Prada, that I went out and got that very cut for my own head. Now ... should I dye it white? Hmmm? Maybe in a few years.
Here is the new do, a few hours from the cutting chair.

2007-02-17T05:20:00.001-07:00

Snow Marks

Howard K Smith's footprints

Rabbit Tracks
Bird Stampings

I've taken to collecting photos of footprints in the snow. And the snow is deep in places. At the Kosciusko County fairgrounds I've been encountering drifts up to my knee. It's fun to slog through them.

Above, puppy is bounding through a huge drift. What's interesting, to me at least is how he lands -- with his feet in a line. And the Shar Pei can jump! As I slog along behind him, lifting my feet 2-1/2 feet to put them down in another drift ... there are his four paw holes, all in a row. The next set, a few times were at least four feet away. He is leaping, bounding through these deep drifts! And managing to keep his feet aligned.

Desert dwellers may see a striking resemblence to their dunes in the photos below.

Well, maybe Sarah Desert dwellers or the Freemen of Dune.

And, to end the day ... this sunset.

2007-02-17T05:03:00.001-07:00

The eyes

This AM I had dental implants screwed into my upper jaw in preparation for crowns to fill a couple of spaces later in the year. There's been no pain. I'm doing quite well; sleeping and "relaxing" as instructed.

I've got a great dentist, Steve Hollar, who calls me Treese. He does this instinctively. The first person to call me Treese (and still does) is my brother, Todd. My family does, too, occasionally. Very few others outside of my family do and when they do, I know I've met a friend.

Steve called me Treese at my first appointment. Good thing I was in a chair, otherwise I would have fallen out of it. I found my dentist. Ahhh. And he's been kept busy with my deteriorating mouth.

Surgical assistant, Anna Morales, during a break, questioned his use of Treese. She asked if I had noticed it. And I said yes. She says your name is Ter-Re-SA, right? I assured her that was true and told the Treese story.

The implants are the latest in a series of dental work. I shall continue. Good thing he is younger than me. We might make this a long relationship.

I attempted to take pictures of the little screws in my jaw, but nothing came out. I could have Phil take a shot, but really, who wants to see such? Thus, the altered eyes.

Steve is a bit of a celebrity. He had the role of Rade in the movie Hoosiers when he was at DePauw University.

2007-02-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

Chore Boy

Hubby clears the parking area Tuesday, 13 February.

You can't tell, perhaps, but it is snowing as he shovels.
And whilst he shoveled, the city plow came through again and blocked the end of the "drive."
Today, on Valentine's Day, it had snowed all night, delivering another six inches to the pile.
The doomcasters called it a blizzard. It certainly was cold and dangerous to navigate.
I walked to work - three-tenths of a mile folks - because I couldn't get my car out of the garage. Said plow had not been through the alley and a foot of snow lie there. So I have the gear and walked.
I received a big, white fuzzy bear and a bag of Hershey's Valentine's Day packaged candy bars at work today.
The office closed early and I was home by 1330. Yippee!

2007-02-13T17:32:00.000-07:00

Snack Time

Alex helps himself to a pizza I made this afternoon.

One can see by the glob of sauce on his t-shirt and the stain around his mouth that he is having a second helping.

I have had better.

Whilst spreading around the dough on the pan I considered that I must regain my baking skills 'cause some have been lost the last eight years. That's not the only thing lost, but that is another post.

Anyway, said pizza base was from a Jiffy pizza crust box.

I sauteed onions, pepperoni, yellow and red bell peppers. I added marinated mushrooms, Ragu tomato sauce (not bad and not too loaded with unpronounceable ingredients), sprinkled sweet basil and shredded cheese on top. The cheese was a mix of cheddar and colby jack, and, of course, ran.

Hey! Did I have mozzarella? No.

And the crust wasn't fluffy and golden brown. It was thin and browner than I'd like. Not burnt, not burnt-tasting. It was quite delicious. However. Much to be desired.

I'll experiment. Perhaps I'll start trying out some new recipes for bread with organic flour, of course.

With my new health plan, organic is the way to go.

2007-02-13T15:21:00.001-07:00

Blizzard conditions
Howie out in the yard does not do justice to the amount of snowfall we received today. In the photo it doesn't even look up to his knees. He is in a sheltered spot.

And how did those bird feeders get empty again? Gaaa!

The furnace guys were here today and have it installed and running.
Of course they'll be back tomorrow afternoon to do some odds and ends.
They began at 8 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m.

Around 2 p.m. I was getting quite cold. I bounced around with hat, denim jacket, fur vest and gloves. My feet were toasty in their Crocs with a pair of store-bought ankle socks, topped with a pair of handknit (by me!) 100% alpaca tube socks.

The new heater is a Lennox 96.5 percent efficient, whatever that means. I think it means the unit will use gas efficiently. The NIPSCO representative I talked to today agreed with that assessment.

So we're going loosey-goosey with the gas bill next year, putting it on a budget that should be considerably lower in gas expenses. I'm going to try and stand the heat a little more this summer, too. I had it quite cool (and pleasant) last summer. I can stand the heat outside -- inside, if it's too hot, I'm quite uncomfortable.

Anyway, it will be interesting to measure the snowfall when "this" is all over. I call this the Blizzard of February 2007 because we have plenty of other months in which it may snow.

2007-02-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

Phil the Filleter
A day on the ice = a sink full of bluegill.
What can I say. The man is a provider.
And check out the fillet-ing skill!
I probably should have put a warning on this post for the faint of heart or PETA members. Can't wait to cook 'em up and eat, eat, eat!

2007-02-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Shepherdess

Lisa Truman of Pierceton is shown working on a triangular weaving loom at the Living History Fair in Pierceton today.

Lisa is a sheep shearer, has a flock of various fiber-bearing sheep and a fiber artist. She spins and knits, and, one assumes, knits and spins. She advised me Sunday she is engaged, too. Good for her.

Here we have Blue Lion Coffeehouse and (coffee) Roaster owner Dave Taylor, on the left, and local artist Robert Hudson. Hudson painted the portrait of Taylor as a pirate, behind them. In the painting at the right is Al Disbro, local banker and photographer, as a sheriff of about 120 years ago.

Bob and I got to talking and I offered to model for a 1812-era portrait he might take to Mississenaw 1812 near Marion. Don't know if he'll remember my offer. I sure would be thrilled to pose.

2007-02-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

No heat!
Phil was ice fishing all day yesterday.
I was at the part-time job (its retail, folks, a bore).
Hubby was covered on the couch, recuperating from his hobby.

He got up and said, "Is it cold in here?"
I replied, "I don't hear the furnace."

And, lo, the old unit wasn't running.
Called repair person, who evidently fixed whatever was the problem, when he finally arrived, whenever that was.
Hey, I went to bed around 8:30 p.m. And the bed is a heated waterbed, so where else to better be?
Left the old boy to deal with the situation.
Of course I had to be roused to add my signature to a check.

I don't know when everything was completed. We're back in the warmth this morning.

2007-02-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Iroquois Bio-Energy

This picture, boys and girls, was taken from a from a small airplane, by myself, earlier today.

Do I love to fly in little, bitty airplanes or not? Yes, yes, yes.

No, I haven't suddenly received a pilot's license. County commissioners Brad Jackson and Ron Truex were in charge of the Cherokee. I got to sit in the back when we flew to Rensselear, Ind., to see the ethanol plant.

VeraSun Energy is proposing a plant, three times as large as the one pictured above, just outside and to the east of Milford in the northern part of Kosciusko County. Many Milfordians are quite opposed to it.

The state of Indiana is welcoming the plants with open arms and a 51-cent per gallon stipend.

There's a spider's web of pros and cons about the industry.

Back to the picture. The ethanol plant is in the lower part of the picture. The Pleasant Ridge Co-op is in the upper portion. Rensselear - Jasper County folks reported no outcrys over the proposal or the construction.

I wrote about the trip, which was published in the 8Feb07 edition of the Times-Union.

www.timeswrsw.com

2007-02-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

What is there to sniff? Thar's nothing but snow on the ground!
OK. One more precious puppy image, and that's it for a while.

And him is precious, is he not?

The soft, toy bone pictures above is no longer. Shortly after this was taken, he'd chewed down to the stuffing and that signals the end of an item. I wish someone could manufacture chewable soft toys for real dogs. He's only 50 pounds, for goodness sake, and a chewing machine.

Favored, well, lasting, chew toys are tennis balls and a "Kong" and beef bones. Real beef bones, folks. I purchase them at the grocery store as soup bones. Boil them up. Let them cool, present one to pup and freeze the others.

A bone keeps him occupied for hours, for days, sometimes.

When a bone has been gnawed enough, I take one out of the freezer, let it thaw and give him another.

This dog has never chewed electrical wires or shoes (except the plastic bits off of shoe strings) or destroyed too much. We have had, of all things, plastic pens chewed to bits. That's a bit inky to clean up. And he did destroy hubby's first Palm Pilot, unfortunately. However, Phil got a spankin new one with all the bells and whistles for his trouble, and we were able to recover all the information.

All in all, Howard K. Smith, is a pretty good boy.

2007-02-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

He loves it.

I took a lot of pictures of pup in the snow. This one is quite nicely composed, I thought.

And I'm thinking, after making the list of what I have to do, that I'm quite short on woolen ware handmade by self when I go out into the elements. One of those caps with ear flaps would be just the ticket. And big, long, thick socks. And a couple of pair of gloves: some regular ones and some fingerless with optional flaps. And a scarf. Acutally, a helmut for some of the particularily freezing days is in order.

That will all have to take place for next year's forays, however.

I've Eiffel to finish and Cardigan for Arwen to restart.

2007-02-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Frozen Tundra
And the dog what does not care

Howie is pictured racing along the shores of Winona Lake on the Kosciusko County fairgrounds January 30.
We visit said fairgrounds every day for at least 40 minutes ... sometimes for more than an hour.
Every. Day.
Well, except on Thursdays. One must take a break. After six days of all out running, he usually curls up on the couch on his day off, recovering.
When the temperature finally tipped into coldness, I feared for the puppy's life. Except for frozen cheeks and brows, I was fine. I made one day a short one and left the fairgrounds earlier than on most days.
I reached to warm eartips - they were quite warm.
Oh. Frozen feet. No, his feet were warm, too.
Since then I've decided the dog is quite adapted to these lower temperatures. The Shar Pei books caution against him getting over heated. That's when we walk at 4 a.m. in the summer.

Here's what I have to do to exercise the pooch in winter weather:

Tuck pant legs into woolen stocks (not handmade - sorry).
Pull insulated snow pants over pants.
Stick feet into wonderously warm Columbia-brand snow boots, zip these.
Don woolen sweater, handmade for hubby, but too short, and he gets too hot in it, over other clothes.
Put on insulated coat with optional hood.
Put on two stocking caps (again, sigh, not hand knit) and earmuffs over these.
Optional scarf. Not an option when temperature is below 10 degrees, as it was for two weeks.
Pull on two pair of gloves: one full set of manufactured, knitted, cheap WallyMartie gloves and a pair of fingerless mits with mitten covering.
Slip choke chain over Howie's neck.
Have him step into his halter which gets affixed to leash in car.
And off we go.

As my mother-in-law would say ... What an ordeal.

2007-02-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Long Sleeve

Here's a pic of the finished left sleeve and our plush blue velvet couch.

Or it may become the right sleeve. One never knows, do one?

I'd purchased point protectors, a bit unyieldy on the needle tips, but they were necessary to keep the cotton/silk Sakel yarn from sliding off the needles once the project got to a certain weight. That has become a drawback to using the dpn's. I still like the heft and feel of the yarn, though.

My sleeve is 23" long. I'd gone through a period (35 pounds ago - last year!!!) of having too short a sleeve. All my sleeves are longer now that I've lost a considerable amount of weight and reduced my arm circumfrence quite a bit.

Anyhow, I like long sleeves and hope the length will allow for a bit of shrinkage, too. It's mostly cotton, after all.

2007-02-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Must ... Read ... Pattern

I had to frog the first Eiffel sleeve because I didn't read the pattern. Imagine!

Steady increases were built into the column from six inches on up, which I completely ignored.

The thing is, the sleeve fit, without increases, all the way up my arm. I was an inch away from the armpit and putting the stitches on stand by.

And.

Is it just me or are the pattern breaks wierd? I don't see anyone else posting about their progress on the SKC. They'll be "under" my arm, so I don't suppose it matters.

2007-01-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I zipped down to the Indianapolis area and Carla and I hastened to Sticks and Scones, a LYS in Westfield. Carla took a drop spindle spinning class. I documented this momentous event and cruised through the yarn shop.

I love the spinning process. Shepherdess Lisa Truman has shown me the basic, very basic mechanics of it. I cannot (at this time!) take up another craft. If I'm spinning, I'm not knitting.

I am hopeful that Carl will pass all her lovely handspun on to me. Apparently Courtney is quite taken with it (spinning), too.

Wait, I didn't mean Carla should pass on ALL her handspun. I'm certainly happy to knit up things for her. We have in fact, a pattern, a hat pattern that 'twill be lovely!

The LYS was magnificent. Carrying all those yarns I read about and would like to try. Thank goodness sock yarn is exempt from the knit from the stash rules ... cause ... the other gal in the spinning class had on a wonderous striped pair that I must have. A very simple stripe - an orange stripe with a black specked white between. I saw it in red, pinkish, blue ... ahhh.

Then we went to the Half Price Book store where they bought my books and gave me money. I got $22, about a dollar a book. I went in with two boxes and a handful and came out with one box -- they didn't take the Gene Stratton- Porter first editions because the spines were broken. Perhaps there's a way to fix that. I like them anyway. A couple of other books that looked damaged - wet pages or somewhat, they didn't take either.

Now I have a feel for what they will accept, I'll take more this spring.

Of course I used the money to buy three knitting books! I discovered I didn't have any knitting pattern books. I now have a Nancy Bush knitting vintage socks, a Rowan "Vintage Knits" and Vogue Knitting's "Crocheted Scarves" from the on the go series. Yippee!

2007-01-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

The Eiffel pattern from Knitty Winter 06 is moving along quite nicely, when I have opportunity to knit it. It was selected for the Sexy Knitters Club knit-along.

I had to get point protectors, which are serving as stitch slide-off protectors because the cotton-silk blend has a nice weight and is quite slippery. I've had to pick up too many slipped off rows.

The top photo is of the upper 2/3rds, of course, patiently waiting until the sleeves are finished.

The bottom pic is of a 7" sleeve.

I'm still deciding upon the ribbon and whether or not it will just be I-Cord.

I notice I've neglected to post books I'm reading or books on CDs I'm listening to. Heavens!

I just finished the Battle of Corrin, I've read it before, I liked it again.

Tony Hillerman's Shapeshifter is at my fingers now and I'm listening to "Hissy Fit."

2007-01-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Nephew pictures!

The cutest boys in the world!

Ryan on the left, and a ketchup stained Kyler on the right.

2007-01-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

Courtney and Phil playing "Dust In The Wind." Their group is called "The Trained Monkeys."

Phil was once asked, in an impromptu fashion, to sing or play the guitar, I can't remember which.

He must have been in a pesky mood, because he said, quite rudely, "I'm not a trained monkey."

2007-01-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

No, that's not my daughter, that's my niece, Courtney.

We look alike now, but I don't think I looked like her when I was her age.

I shall have to investigate.

2007-01-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

Here's Ki-Ki and my mom. The young cockatiel resides at my parent's house.

Ki-Ki is in the learning stage. She's a funny little bird. Mom has the patience to fiddle around with her.

I just took the plunge and downloaded my Fujifilm photos WITHOUT the Fuji software. I'll have to send the software in to get a new CD back. Hopefully its worth my computer memory space - Photoshop-ish.

2007-01-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

I figure the new stash rules will force me to complete unfinished objects:
1. A blue blanket that I designed.
2. An orange vest converted from a Basketweave pattern. I know. Orange. This will come in handy at Tiger sporting events, though. Tiger colors being orange and black.
3. A Vogue jacket, which will be frogged, because I'm NOT using the right yarn.
4. Also on the to be frogged list is the ** sigh ** Cardigan for Arwen, which has turned out to be too wide. Much much too wide. It is to fit loosely, not like a tent.
5. The ankle warmer.

And actually, I think that completes my UFO list.

2007-01-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

I've decided to take the pledge:
Fortunately I purchased enough for Eiffel LAST YEAR!

Knit From Your Stash 2007: Guidelines for L-B and Wendy
www.wendyknits.net/stash2007.htm
1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of nine months.
2. We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:
2.a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think we are made of stone?
2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.
2.c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.
2.d. We each get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time.
3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn.
4. Trading stash is allowed.
5. Spinning fiber of any sort is exempt.

2007-01-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of my new dog, Howard K. Smith.

He looks and smells just like my old dog, Howie.

He's a new dog because he's recently figured out there is a leader in charge ... me.

In charge of him, at least.

And he can now relax and not try to insert his considerable nose into bossing and herding everyone else.

I took the Cesar Millan book "Cesar's Way" to heart and to foot.

Millan is The Dog Whisperer. Got a dog? Get the book. Read everything else you can get your eyes on; and then get this book. Be the leader and give your dog a break.

Of course being the leader is a danged hard thing to do. One must walk one's canine for an hour or more a day. With one exception, when we were both so pooped we just lolled on our respective couches all night, I have had Howie up and out of doors for a couple of hours a day since Jan. 1. At o'dark thirty each morning we are walking down Main Street to Lincoln School (a 20 to 25 minute hike there) without stopping to sniff anything.

He's either at my side or behind me. If he wanders out in front, without permission, I stop, readjust his collar "up high," shorten the leash and bring him back in line.

In the afternoons or evening he's free at the fairgrounds ... racing, racing, racing the grounds ... for another 45 minutes to an hour. When he's slowed to a trot and has his mind straight, we work on off-leash heeling. I'd love to be able to have him off leash on walks. The goal of him heeling off leash may come in a year or two. I may never be able to accomplish that goal, but it will be worked upon.

I go in and out doors first. He is not allowed to stare at anyone's bowl of food. The play growling has stopped. He still likes to mouth my hands, but now its so gentle and more tongue than teeth.

He is a changed animal. He's relaxed, easy-going and doesn't consider obedience commands optional anymore.

Good puppy.

2007-01-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

May I present my nephews (Todd's boys), Ryan, to the left, and Kyler, to the right.

These were taken whilst playing some kind of game involving the movement of farm animals and their look is intense.

They are poor subjects for a formal pose as one of them always blinks or wiggles or will not smile, so I patiently waited by the table with my camera, well, Phil's Olympus, not my camera, while they eventually got used to and ignored me.

2007-01-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Since I don't seem to have the hang of or ability to post several photos intersperced with text I must create several posts to show what I want to show. ** sigh ** How very tiresome.

At left is a picture of my sister, Carla. She learned the purl stitch at our Christmas observation, working on a pocketbook slippers pattern. I finished mine the next day and forgot to take a picture of the final product before whisking them off to my friend Jenna in Davenport as part of her Christmas package.

Carla is going to learn to spin wool! How exciting to have a bit of handspun to work with. I hope she gets into it.

2007-01-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

We can kick off the new year with a picture of my handsome brother, Todd.

He's available, ladies. The scar gives him a rakish look, does it not?

We spent New Years Eve with my family in Columbia City at my parent's house. Todd's boys, Ryan and Kyler; my sister Carla and her husband, Mike and their children Courtney, James and Travis; my sister Tiffany and her husband Joe were there along with, of course, me Phil and Al.

BIL Mike had my name in the Christmas exchange and did a fine job of gifting. First was a set of dishes! Well I loved them and went out and got another set so we would have eight of everything. He also gave me two of the first prequel Dune books, which I had, of course, read. He took a chance with that, he knew. I am promised the thrid book. Also a wonderful container of tea - red orange and cherry I beleive -- delicious in the new mugs that came with the dishes. Did he stop there? Oh. No. A bottle of French wine was included, a la Bicycletta Rose, which we have yet to partake.

Mom got me a beautiful patterned top in I have looked at, but not tried. Well it fits like a glove and is quite flattering.

With Phil at vocals and on guitar and Courtney playing violin we were all treated to a rendition of "Dust In The Wind." Now Phil is part of two groups, the More Cow Bells band and The Trained Monkeys duo.

2006-12-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

Last night I popped open the software CD for Fuji only to discover a horrid spider crack on the back surface.
After a tremendously long wait, I was told to send it back in with a copy of the receipt and I would be furnished a new one.
How long is that gonna take? Four weeks? Six weeks?
Dang.

I thought about trying to download it anyway because I did put it in the drive and it did open for business. But the LOML cautioned me. What if there was a glitch later?

I should take it back to the camera shop, have them open up a new box and replace it that way. Hmmmm.

Tomorrow I'll use both cameras -- Phil's Olympus, which I can download and Fuji, which will just have to wait. I can store 1,000 images for Pete's sake.

In the meantime, in the ever successful quest to entertain myself, I'm going through the SexyKnitter's Club members list and visiting their Web pages. Oh my goodness. What wonderous things people are knitting.

What wonderous blogs there are out there. I love the ones with pictures, pictures and more pictures.

2006-12-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I attended a retirement party for Avis Gunter. The only picture I took was of her and her friends. Inconsequential friends in the power scheme of things, but they said they had known each other as children ... as Claypool girls. So. You know what? That was the important picture in my view.

Avis received awards and recognitions from state representatives, from county council members and from a Congressman. Power brokers all. The Claypool gals will be there for her the longest.

See story in Thursday's Times-Union. The Web site is pitiful still. Supposedly that is to change in February and we'll have an exciting Web site.

2006-12-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone (my nonexistant readers) had a great Christmas.
I received a Fujifilm S6000 digital camera!
Love it.
Must get a few accessories before photos are viewed here, like an AC adapter and/or a card reader. Of the multi-card gadget we have (it takes five sizes) there is none for the M1 which Fujiyama needs.
We spent the day at my Moms and I took a great picture of her feeding the new birdbrain, a cockatiel named Fifi or Hehe or something.
In the meanwhilst I've been knitting.

First is the progress on Interweave Knitting Winter 2006 pattern a Cardigan for Arwen. The back is complete. About half of the left side is finished.

The cables have been fun. Frogging them is not, but I've only been confused a couple of times.

Next we have Eiffel from Winter Knitty and a KAL with the SexyKnittersClub blog gals. Somehow I've been invited but cannot post pictures properly. I think it had to do with their not switching to the new blogger system until recently so I shall try again.

I love the yarn -- Svale from Dale Yarns. I purchased it at my LYS after much agonizing about yarn substitutes.

These pictures, sadly were not taken with Fujiyama.

2006-12-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Yeow. I'm a bit sore today.
On Wednesday I signed up for the YMCA -- again.
Has to be forever now that I'm aging and want to be younger next year.
I hoisted myself onto the track Friday and walked for 25 minutes. That's how long it took me to walk a mile. My aim is for a 20 minute, start up mile.
My goal is to participate in the Susan G. Koman 5K with my sister, Carla, April 21 in Indianapolis. That is a three-point-something mile run. I've never run in such an event. I'm not partial to running at all. Can I knit and run at the same time?
Carla has been doing her miles as a runner for about a month now. I'll have to work up to it as I work up to everything.
After the slow start I push around some weights on three machines for about 20 minutes - lower body stuff - and I feel it today.
Then I hopped upon the treadmill and did an 18 minute mile at a quick pace. I liked that, broke a sweat and all that good stuff.
Some folks had a CD player or IPod or reading material even! That would make the long trek much more amusing. I had treadmill controls to figure out though.
I haven't mentioned it before, but I have a part-time job at a retail department store: Elder Beer-man. I've worked there since July an average of four days a week. This will cut into my workouts at the Y unless I get up at o-dark-thirty and exercise before I go to work at the Times-Union.
The week of January 7 I'm signed up for a yoga class on Thursday mornings. The class begins at 5:45 a.m. The Y has very, very few afternoon or evening classes. It is a definate drawback as I haven't figured out how to get away for morning classes. Perhaps I'll just go and not explain. Be a creature.

2006-12-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

Above is a portrait of Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Ron Truex, Kosciusko County Commissioners. Today was Avis' last meeting. She has been a commissioner for 12 years and has held various public offices for 43 years. She holds the record for the most years as an elected official.

Wednesday afternoon there is a retirement party for her which should be very interesting.

2006-12-20T18:16:00.000-07:00

Winter Solstice
was of course cloudy and dampish. It is always with a sign of relief I greet the shortest of days as it means they will become longer, lighter brighter.

I completed this ribbon scarf, yarn is a Lion Brand product I found frustrating to work. Needle tips kept poking through the rather wide fabric, much to my dismay. The holes were self repairing but I didn't like all that backing out and fussing.

It is quite long and quite colorful though.
Compliments have been received.

2006-12-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Christmas with the Boyer-Smiths.
All of husband's brothers and their wives and a scattering of children were there, plus step-sisters and step-brother, spouses and another skattering of children.
Below are some photos:
First Phil, on the right, and my brother-in-law, Dave. Dave had just been gifted with a guitar for a left-hander.

Then my favorite Smith niece: Amber and her BF, Pado.

And finally the youngest Smith nephew: Luke, age 4. That's a pool stick in his hand and a pool ball rack around his neck. The last son of a Baptist minister, when he is known as "the Shark" we can all say we knew when it started.

2006-12-14T16:00:00.001-07:00

OK.
I dyed my hair.
Navaho Bronze from Clairol's Natural Instincts. I'm about three weeks into it and I love it. I didn't mind all the white streaking through my hair. What I minded was the lack of color between silver strands.
What is that all about? My ungrey hair was slate-colored.
This is a semi-permanent color ... will wash out eventually.
One drawback is how straight my hair is now. I usually have some body. Some curl. Not no more. Could be the cut, too, which I plan to remedy. I'm not happy with my last cut and it may just have grown out too much.
Shown here it is simply tied up.

2006-12-14T15:54:00.001-07:00

The puppy-boy and I whirled around the fairgrounds this afternoon. At 18 months it takes Howard K. Smith about 45 minutes to quit racing at top speed and begin to trot. The fairgrounds have acres and acres of open space in which a puppy may run.

Situated on the shores of Winona Lake, the property also has a channel along the east side. Since the dams to the lake are closed the water is down. And since the water is down foul smelling mud lies in this channel. Perfect for a puppy boy. He comes back to "level" ground with black stockings quite often. So we just stroll over to the lake shore where he is still entering the water up to his chest. A few feet of shoreline gets him pretty clean.

Today he "rolled" in somewhat. I guess it was just for joy because he didn't come back smelling like putrescence.

I'm frustrated in my attempts to join the Sexy Knitters Club as a member. I want to knit along! I've received the invitation. I've clicked on the link. It only takes me back to my own dashboard when I sign in. Can it be because the SKC hasn't gone to beta?

My one attempt to advise the administrator came back with no reply, so I shall contact her again. I realize she is busy. But there is quite a community out knitting along. I can't wait to see what everyone picks. I like most of the nominations. I voted, prematurely, for a wrap sweater featured on Knitty. I like the Flicca cardigan coat, too.

2006-12-11T12:02:00.001-07:00

Good golly, look at the date! I figure if I've got a blog a day during the week, though, I'm fine.

Above is a picture of the reformed Salvation Army Band of Kosciusko County. Not reformed in a spiritual way, they already have the spirtual part taken care of, rather reformed as in there has been no band for 10 years.

They played for WalMarteers Saturday when I took this shot. Unfortunately Capt. Amy Dahlberg's face is hidden. Above are Capt. Joel Dahlberg, Jennifer Mink, Amy, Judy Brown and Mr. Bowyer. I'll get his first name later.

They were OK as musicians. Hard to play carols when one is quite cold.

Ah, the military titles. God's army. I find it a bit humerous, to say the least, that secular titles are used in the Salvation Army. This latest set of captains are young and energetic and have the cutest baby in the world.

Story ran today in the TU.
The photo used belongs to one Gary Nieter instead of my humble self. He's our much lauded professional photographer. I'd forgotten to tell him I'd be there.

Well, on Pearl Harbor Day I thought I told him to take pictures and didn't take my camera.

Supposedly we will be getting an updated Times Union Web site soon. I know you tire of the old, old, old look.

I've gone back to a ribbon scarf, which will be someone's Christmas present. I've set Cardigan for Arwen aside for a bit. I'm keeping my eye on the Sexy Knitters Club blog site because a pattern will be selected soon. I voted for the wrap sweater from Knitty and have a stupendous purple yarn from the LYS chosen, but will be happy with the long sweater coat, too.

2006-12-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

This is a look up into the dome of the Kosciusko County Courthouse dome from the rotunda on the third floor.

I covered a health department meeting tonight and coughed when they discussed new tuberculosis cases! Heavens! Not the thing to do. The nurse could have whipped around and asked for some spittle or something - skin even!

Last year we had more than our share of TB outbreaks in the county, stemming from one particular bar in Syracuse. It was considered an epidemic. There were 10 active cases; now there are seven people being monitored and through treatment and one active case. The Center for Disease Control people came up from Atlanta, Ga., so alarmng was the situation.

The health department meets on a quarterly basis and has quite a lively board with MDs, dentists, vets, nurses and environmental inspectors.

Probably no knitting news tonight except that I cast my vote on the Sexy Knitters Club blog for a wrap sweater featured on Knitty. Unfortunately the only colors of yarn available in the recommended brand are pink and lavendar. I'll substitute with something georgeous from my LYS, The Shuttle Shop. I saw some fantastic purple there yesterday.

I did take a picture of the Cardigan for Arwen's front left side, I have about 7 inches finished. However, the color was washed out -reddish instead of the lovely dark brown the yarn is. So peuw. There's either a trick to the camera or somewhat is wrong with my color sense (Horrors!)

2006-12-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Wavy scarf is all done. It's been done. I just had to have a photo to go with today's post.

It is a Knitty pattern. I wonder why I buy knitting mags or books for patterns when there are so many absolutely wonderful patterns -- for FREE! -- on the Internet.

One must support the industry, I suppose. And I'm always thrilled to read people's blogs and read they've been published. I have to remember that this is a big event. Since I'm used to publication the edge of the thrill has worn a bit for me.

I've been puttering about at work, with no meetings or prospects for stories. That all changes tomorrow when I go have a feature story followed by three meetings at noon, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and feature stories coming up.

The sidewalks and the street on the south side of the Times-Union has been torn up and "fixed" in various stages since the middle of October. Today the asphalt and bricks were removed from Indiana to Buffalo streets. What pounding! What dust! And I imagine they're actually going to pour asphalt in 14-degree weather. Waaaa!

2006-12-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I met my grandson for the first time. Well, step-grandson, Elijah. He was born in April ... just what his Scorpio mother deserves. hee hee.

At seven months old he sits up just fine and is very wiggly.

2006-12-02T00:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Darlene Redinger and I went to the 10 shops in Pierceton as part of the Antique Town's Holiday Open House. We had our passports stamped and hope to split the fantastic grand prize gift basket worth about $700!

We had a little "I've won this" contest to hop up our chances. I had to trump her with the tank. ** sigh **

The shops are wonderful. I haven't been in them for awhile. There were many precious things and the shops are clean and smell good. That's not always true of antique places. They can be stuffy and dusty.

Did I take pictures? No. Bad, bad newswoman.

2006-12-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

These photos are of the cottonwood tree being trimmed along Big Barbee Lake.

I sat on Larry and Linda Smith’s deck with Linda Wednesday while they took the old behemoth down, or began to take it down. The process will take three days to hack it back to the trunk. Thursday and today were blustery with wind and near constant rain.
I do not know whether or not they worked the last 48 hours.

Isn't that fellow a dare devil? He was suspended 120 feet in the air to trim the branches.

Story published 1 Dec 06 in the Times-Union.

Linda is a knitter, too and had no idea about the wonderful on line knitting magazines like Knitty and MagKnits. She was thrilled to find out about this possible source of new patterns and information. One must pass on info about the craft.

I met local philanthropists Bill and Jean Bibler Thursday at Our Father’s House, a local charity. The Bibler Family Trust was giving Roz Morgan, proprietress, $10,000 for the year.
The Biblers have a daughter, Sandy, who was in an automobile accident in 1982 and suffered massive head injuries. Cheerful and gregarious, she nonetheless is what I would tenderly term “slow.” Awww.

Story in the 2 Dec 06 Times-Union.

I still have Caroline Myss’ series of tapes and have been note taking. Sort of. I stopped at the third chakra (Can't get above the waist?) I plan to return to the study, changing one perception at a time.

And Younger Next Year for Women! Hurrah! I love it. I am saved and looking forward to a productive and interesting “last third” as they say, from ages 49 to 109. Oh. That’s the last half.

Reading: “Dragonspell” first of three books by Donia Paul.
Listening on CD to: “The Sunday Philosophy Club,” first in a series of books featuring Edinburgian Isabel Dalhousie, by Alexander McCall Smith. Do we not love Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s No. 1 and only, female private detective?

2006-11-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

I rushed right out and bought Interweave Knits and am half way through A Cardigan for Arwen pattern. Of course I mean half way through the back - about 12 inches so far. I’m sure I don’t have enough yarn for the long sleeved version and have decided to make a hooded vest with moss stitch armholes. I'm using some very dark brown yarn.

I think I’ll like it enough to make in another color and make it long-sleeved and have plenty of yarn on hand when I do.

Wavy is finished. A photo will be posted soon. I really like it … too bad it’s a Christmas present for someone who has been nice by Santa’s standards.

I began weight lifting today with weeny three pound weights - upper body only - for 45 minutes. I was exhausted. This doesn’t really qualify as strength training according to my Younger Next Year guys, but one has to be in shape! To get into the heavy stuff. So next year I will be. In shape that is. And by next year I’ll have the $$ to afford a gym accomodation of some sort.

I regret that I didn’t get out and walk today. I had the tail end of a cold. I didn’t work Monday because of it and pampered myself to day by staying home. Also, the plumber had to come and who knows when he would show up! He finally arrived around 2 and left just a few minutes ago.

On DVD: The Future of Food - food for thought, to be sure. This is a documentary about gentetic engineering and the giant Monsanto corporation. How frightening!

2006-11-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

It's Thanksgiving day.
Above is the puppy, head on a pillow.
My friend Dr. Hobbins says he's close to humanhood. Next incarnation ... or maybe he was a bad boy the last whirl and this is his new learning experience.

Things I am thankful for:
my health
my husband
my home

Reading: Ride of the Patriarch, by R.A. Salvatore
Listening to: Energetic Anatomy, still, and taking notes
"Younger Next Year, a guide to living like 50 when you're 80 and beyond," Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge.
What the heck, I'm 49 now. May as well maintain.

2006-11-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

The precious granddaughter, Reagan Leineman, of Lincoln, Nebraska, raises cake in celebration of her first birthday.

2006-11-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Reading: “Anatomy of the Spirit,” by Caroline Myss
Listening to and taking notes from: “Energetic Anatomy,” by Caroline Myss
I’m kinda starting out at the bottom with this post.
I think I’ve been saved a lot of pain and confusion by Caroline Myss. Well, by her teachings, to wit: We’re energetic beings. 80 percent energy, 20 percent biological. How does that roll around in the heady-brain?
Caroline, if I may be so familiar, proposes that when we send our energy out it comes back. Energy as in thoughts and intentions. Negativity begats negativity. Like a boomerang.

Why is this significant, particular to me? I’ve had chronic lower back pain since July. Whew. Bad.
Energetic Anatomy was sitting around (on loan from the library) for about two weeks and I finally started playing it. I started tabulating what was going out as negativity and calling it back immediately.

In the last week I’ve taken two Advil instead of the six a day I’ve consumed for months.

And, oh yes, dear readers I’ve been to the orthopedist, the chiropractor. But the thing was when I worked at my part-time retail job, my back didn’t hurt. I thought it was because I really didn’t care about the work - just doing it to save money. I realized when I’m there … I’m there … present … no expectations. When I leave, I’m gone. I don’t think about it except knowing when I’m to be there the next time.
With almost everything else I’m fussing, worrying.
Not no more.
I’ve always “believed” in the chakras, in creating my own reality, it’s one thing to hear of the process. It’s another to apply the teachings.

Still knitting the wavy scarf.
I started knitting a ribbon scarf (Lion Brand) on great big needles - for me great big is size 11. Whew, sure goes faster on large needles.

2006-11-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

OK
No more poop stories.
Oh, that's a lie. Poop is all around us and I'm sure to have an update on the putrescent pond in Wabash County. A happy update.
Work continues on Wavy.
I began a ruffled scarf project for self and am still unsatisfied with this use of the Briar Rose yarn.
What the heck?
There's got to be something, something beautious.
I really like the yarn. I really like the colors. So ... what is up with it?

I'll just return to my Christmas projects until I'm finished, then work on things for ME, ME, ME.

Capt.-turned-priest Lin Hutton, USN-R is the guest speaker at the Veteran's Day ceremony next weekend. I'm looking forward to it.

Will be writing about the Wind Ensemble's dedication to Phil Eherenman for Monday's TU edition.
The concert is the 17th, I think.

2006-11-01T03:27:00.000-07:00

Today’s story, dear readers, is about poop.
Poop in a pond.
Calf poop, the poop of hundreds of calves, which unfortunately got washed into saturated fields, into a creek, into the pond and thence, thence into the Eel River.

This is bad. Very bad.

The culprits are probably the poop pumpers at the Real Veal confined animal feeding operation a few miles north of Kenny Shepherds’s dream property, 26 acres, with said pond, now running red with effluent. The Shepherds have had this happen three times when area veal barns are cleaning out their lagoons. And they’ve called in the departments of natural resources and environmental management folks.

What will they do? Close ‘em down? Fine ‘em?

Probably not.

On the knitting side I started a ruffled scarf pattern, lots of short rows and turning over 18 stitches, I found on the Interweave Press site. Haven’t touched Wavy in a while and must return to it. I’ve decided to knit gloves with the other Briar Rose yarn “grandmother’s blessing,” a hand painted sport weight. If there is any left over I’ll make a headband out of it.

The cottonwood story appeared Tuesday. While I was at the Smith place we talked about a skeleton found in Wabash in the basement of the building they rent for their business. I asked Linda if Larry had an alibi. She said he was never even asked about it. And we laughed and laughed. The police suspected who it may be, the brother of a bank robber who took his earnings and bought various properties. Anyway, also on Tuesday an update appeared in the same issue. So I called the Smiths, who are not subscribers to tell them the story was in the paper, which they knew, and that the Wabash skeleton had been identified with story on page 10B, which they also knew.

I took Phil’s Olympus with me to photograph the tree and the lens wasn’t wide enough. I took two pictures of the bottom and the top of the tree. Because of distortion the two halves wouldn’t fit together … so I sent Nieter. Gary Nieter, the Times-Union photographer. He took a fantastic shot and got the whole tree in.

Reading: “Judge and Jury” by James Patterson and Andrew Cross.
Still listening to “The Twelfth Card.”

2006-10-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

I visited one of the biggest cottonwood trees in Indiana today. It’s along the east side of Big Barbee Lake. According to local gossip, people who stopped by, rumor, the tree, at one time was the largest in the nation. And wanted at the Chicago World Fair.
It is indeed of monstrous proportions. Quite impressive.
It will be a nice little story.
http://www.timeswrsw.com

The ‘a cappela’ pattern didn’t quite work out for the Fourth of July. It calls for No. 6 needles and I knit it up on No. 10s, according to the pattern. The length was supposed to be 12 inches and I only got 8. I could have cast on 12 more stitches, but, poo. That would have meant more adjustments.
Perhaps I’ll order up some yarn from Briar Rose for the project, something chunky.
** sigh **
So I’ll continue to work on Wavy. Must finish presents first, anyhow.