So far...

2012 is flying by, isn't it? I'm sure it's like this for everyone. With celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary (went to New Orleans for the first time -- must go back!), work, kids'schedules, unexpected family "adventures", and life in general, everything gets caught up in the whirlwind and becomes a big blur. I love January 1, because I force myself to slow down, look back on the previous months, and plan or just dream about the months ahead. My last post was January 1 and I am just now revisiting the goals I posted then to 1) remind myself of what they were and 2) to see how I've done so far. So, here's where I stand...

• Spend much more time in 2012 at my two favorite LYS's knitting with new and old friends: Ewe & Company and Haus of Yarn
  
  Gee, this has been a tough one! OK, not really.
  
  Haus of Yarn - Sadly, I've only been able to spend a couple of sessions there so far. The shop is in Nashville, between work and home (40 minute drive), and I can only make it there on Thursday nights. The schedule has been a bit packed with 3 surgeries in the family already this year (2 that were unexpected), the doctors' appointments and travel that those brought, and working late to prepare for being off of work.
  
  Ewe & Company - I am happy to say that I have been able to spend more time at my local-est (is that a word?) LYS. The shop is only 15 minutes from my house, so I am able to go on the weekends. I spent some time there on New Year's Eve. I attended my first PJ party last month and had great fun. I've been able to meet the Saturday breakfast group at our local coffee shop, Red Tree Coffee, a few times. And for my first post-op trip out of the house (yes, 1 of the unexpected surgeries was mine), my husband drove me in for Thursday night knitting group.

• Return to Atlanta for Stitches South
  
  My knitting friend and Stitches roomie from last year, Liana, decided to sit this one out this year. She's attended the event the last three years, so I understand. I had decided not to go, having so much on the calendar already, when another knitting friend, Donna, said that she'd like to go this year and asked if I was interested. It took me all of 10 seconds to say "YES!" and off I went to book the hotel.



• Escape for at least 1 knitting retreat with my good friend TNknitter
  
  We've been kicking around some ideas, but have not settled on anything yet. There's still lots of time left.



• Give weaving and spinning a fair chance
  
  Um....zip, zilch, nil, nada



• Do more fund-raising knitting - so much fun to knit with a purpose
  
  I have one more scarf to knit for a fund-raiser. Other than that, I've knocked out 6 chemo caps for Halos of Hope in the last couple of weeks. Check out their Soothe for Spring campaign, running through April. I've also pledged a preemie cap to the Remembering Remy KAL in March that the Knitting Brooklyn podcast is promoting. (Also see the thread in her Ravelry group.)

Aside from the above, I have embarked on a podcast adventure. As a knitting/fiber podcast junkie (long commute -- need to listen to something other than my bad singing), you are likely always on the lookout for new podcasts. There are several new ones that have appeared on the scene, including...

drum roll...

Yes, that's me, podcasting from my little camper in back of my house. I was a bit shy about letting you know about this, in case I sounded like a complete dork or decided this wasn't my thing. However, having a little bit of positive feedback and not a "this is dorky" comment (immediate family's commentary aside) among any of it, I've decided to let you know. I have 6 episodes up and will try to get #7 up today.

I have more, but this post is running a bit long, so I'll close. I hope 2012 has been good to you so far!

Happy New Year!

Long time, no post. Been busy busy busy, knitting knitting knitting, scarves scarves scarves. I spent the last 3 months making tons of ruffle scarves out of Katia Triana and similar yarns (do you call that mesh stuff yarn?). It's time to make things for me me me!

So...here is the first FO of the new year (actually, I just finished blocking it today, but I'm still counting it as a 2012 project). It's the Belmondo Shawl in Universal Yarns Classic Shades colorway Tropics. The poor-quality ipod pics do not do this yarn justice, but it's the best I can do today:

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at Ewe & Company enjoying good company, good food, good knitting and great yarn. Glenna made cookies and a great black-eyed pea soup (does it count if you eat those on New Year's Eve instead of New Year's Day). While we were visiting, the nicest older couple came into the shop asking if any coffee shops were open. They were driving down from Canada to visit friends in West Tennessee on their way to spend a month on the Mexican coast. They had tired of interstate driving and had ventured off onto one of the state highways. They wound their way around one of our hilly, curvy backroads and ended up in Kingston Springs, hoping for a nice coffee shop at which to rest for a bit. We have a great local cafe, but it was closed for New Year's Eve, so Glenna offered them a cup of her freshly made coffee. They sat and talked to us for a bit, and it turned out that the lady was a knitter (knew I liked her). Her husband was from Scottish descent and I could have listened to him talk all day long. After they finished their coffee, they went on their way. Funny how something as simple as a bit of small talk with folks just passing through can add such a bright spot to the day. I hope they have safe travels.

Back to knitting, while at E&C, I used some of my Christmas money to buy an alpaca blend for the Glitter Shawl, which is next on my list to cast on. Yesterday, I cast on the Lintilla out of some Poem Sock yarn that I also purchased at E&C several months ago. I love this stuff. The colors and texture look a bit like Noro, but with a much softer hand. I do need to get another project started and in the mail this week. My sis-in-law asked me for another pair of Susie's Reading Mitts for her sister. These are a fun knit and this pair will be my fourth.

I hope you all have a healthy and prosperous new year. As for me, in 2012 I hope to:

• Spend much more time in 2012 at my two favorite LYS's knitting with new and old friends: Ewe & Company and Haus of Yarn


• Return to Atlanta for Stitches South


• Escape for at least 1 knitting retreat with my good friend TNknitter (been too long, Liana!)


• Give weaving and spinning a fair chance


• Do more fund-raising knitting - so much fun to knit with a purpose

Best wishes to all!

Living Spherically

One of my favorite movies happened to be on a week or so ago, Under the Tuscan Sun. I hadn't seen it in a long time, so I watched for a few minutes. One of the characters was relating some advice that she had been given as a young girl:

"Live spherically...in many directions." ~Katherine, Under the Tuscan Sun

I've always been one that is interested in everything. In other words, I'm a dabbler. I always thought that was a bad thing and have tried (unsuccessfully) to supress this trait.

Now I understand that I've been "living spherically". That sounds so much nicer, doesn't it?

Lopsided?

We've all had them--those projects that you began with a gauge swatch, followed the pattern to the letter, were monogamous (no little side affairs with a sock or scarf), used your very best tools, pet and cooed at the project every day and . . .

something goes awry.

Is it in the button spacing? No. I think that turned out well.



Or how about the lace pattern. Uh uh. Looks A-OK to me.

Let's keep going then.
Sleeve #1 - Looks OK.



Sleeve #2 - Oh, I like this. But hold the phone. Something is different.

AAAAAAARGH!!!!!!

Sleeve #1 looks like it's been Super Sized. Looks like a lampshade. I thought I was done with this project and was so ready to move on to the next one (something for me). But, since the intended recipient is due in the next couple of weeks -- and her mama looks like she's ready NOW -- I guess I'll be ripping out this sleeve and re knitting. Have I told y'all how much I HATE DO OVERS!!! It will be worth it to get it right though. Especially since this is done in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and is heaven to work with.

P.S. Yes, I know the body looks a little woppy-jawed, but it's the way I laid out the sweater. I was just too lazy to retake the photo.

P.S.S. See if I ever start with a gauge swatch again!

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

I have been a bad blogger. This I know. Funny how life gets in the way of good intentions, isn't it? Since my last post, I've:

tried my hand at spinning - still need lots of practice;

worked my 5th year in the infield at the Kentucky Derby;

vacationed with the family in a new place - Crystal River, FL

and saw my 1st manatee;

read and read and read;

watched my oldest turn 15;

turned another year older myself;

knit a few hats;

(These were for Halos of Hope to send to Camp Happy Times for their Medieval Week)

gave crochet a chance (still not my fav) ;

started and finished my first Multnomah from some Creatively Dyed yarn I bought at Stitches South;

and cast on an Angel Sweater as a gift for one of my bosses who is having a baby this summer;

had our 1st Rogers' Birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day Extravaganza at my brother's house in Kentucky to celebrate all the summer birthdays (there are 7 within 3 weeks) and to all get together to celebrate our folks;

made some new knitting friends;

welcomed TNKnitter back to our Wednesday lunch knitting group -- YAY!!!!

Of course, there's more but I'd rather hear what everyone else has been up to this summer.