Where Has The Time Gone!

I can't believe that it has been more than a month since my last post. Where has the time gone. School will be starting in less than 2 weeks! WOO HOO.

A few weeks ago a group from my knitting group went to the Toronto Stitch and Pitch. The game was good and the Jays won in the bottom of the 9th inning, too bad we left at the bottom of the 8th when they were losing to catch the train home. We even made the evening news. We went to the big city early and went to a few yarn stores, Romni being the big one! OMG what a place! It really is overwhelming, beautiful and full of yarn, but definately overwhelming. I don't know that I could go there with out a project in mind. I wouldn't know where to look. The train ride home was the best! We had a BLAST. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as that ride home! Beth, Della, Kirsty, Kirsite and Sydney. Thank you ladies for making my trip to the big city a great one!

DH and I had a few days off the begeinning of August and we went to Bass Pro Store in Toronto. I always like to go there. They have alot of great storage cases in the fishing department. THIS beautiful statue is out front of the store and I just HAD to get a picture of him! In case you didn't know I am a lover and collector of anything moose! I told DH that I want this guy for my backyard! He thinks I am nuts!

On the knitting front. I have been busy. I knit 2 Baby Alligator scarves. One is a Christmas gift and the other was a just because gift.

I finished the Nine to Five socks that I was knitting. they are knit from Madelinetosh sock yarn in the Umoja colourway from Wool Girl. This has to be the best yarn to knit with. It is so soft and almost silky. It is now one of my favourites.

I finally finished my Feather and Fan Cardigan. I put buttons on it and blocked it. I have never been more disappointed with a sweater in my life. It stretched out SO much that I can't wear it! The only one it would fit has to be the size of an elephant. I even contacted the manufacturer of the yarn I used to see if there was a way to shrink it, but alas they said there was nothing I could do with out damaging the yarn. So I decided to frog it and knit the Printed Silk Cardigan from the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits magazine. I think it will be a better sweater because there is no lace pattern in it. It is the same look and style as the Feather and Fan which is what I want. I went back to the yarn store where I bought the yarn and explained the problem to her. She contacted the powers that be and they are taking my sweater from me and exchanging the yarn for me. They said that it shouldn't have happened and that they want a happy customer. So I have decided to knit the next sweater in Baby Bamboo as it has a bit of wool in it. I was so surprised that they would do that. I was sad to see my sweater go but happy to get started on the next one!

DD is still working on her BSJ for her friend. She has been traveling this summer. She was camping with her youth group up in Temagami for a week, then off to a friends cottage in Muskoka for a few days, now she is off the Freeport, Bahamas to visit her father for 2 weeks. She flew out of Buffalo last weekend and will be returning on Labour day weekend. School starts the Tuesday after she gets home and then that next weekend, she is off to a Highland Dance competition in Ligoner, PA. She is the only 15 year old that I know who travels that much!

We also in the last month, moved MIL into a condo. We have been getting the house ready to sell. It has been quite a task. They were in that house for over 40 years.

I have started another pair of socks. I am doing them in a 4 x 2 ribbing in some self striping yarn that I picked up in my travels. I can't remember the name. I started them for DH but when I was getting ready to turn the heel he went to try them on and he can't get them over his arch, so now they are for someone else! (I don't know who yet.) Someone will look in their mailbox one day and find a pair of socks. It worked out great last time. I will knit him another pair, only this next time I think I will use a DK or sport weight yarn and a larger needle.

I have also, in the meantime, started the Corset Tank Top by Anne Modesitt. I am using Estelle's 100% Silk Yarn. It is starting to look nice. I have finished the lace portion and am just past the armholes.

I am also PATIENTLY awaiting the next Sock Club parcel from WoolGirl. I have heard from people on Ravelry and from the sock club blog that it is amazing...I can hardly wait for mine to arrive!

Well I think that about catches me up for the last month. I have my knitting group this week. I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I won't be as long between posts.
Keep on Knitting!

Highland Dancing, Socks and More Highland Dancing!

Ok, I know it's been a while since I posted last. But life has been busy and I have been knitting!

Since my last post DD and I have been to the Embro Highland games on July 1st. DD competed in the Highland dancing and did very well. It was a very hot day. The bands were great and the dancing was wonderful. It was DD's first competition since November of last year. So we were pretty nervous about how she would make out. But all was well and the practicing paid off!

The winner of Who Fits These Socks was Alistair. His young male feet fit them perfectly! I will post a picture as soon as his mother can tie him down and take it!

I have been to my knitting meeting. We had a nice evening sitting laughing, knitting, talking, and eating. I find that if I can't make it to a meeting I really miss it! There is another one this Thursday evening. I can hardly wait!

I have been working every day and DH has been on 2 weeks holidays. So I have had lunch brought to me a few times. It was nice even though I haven't been home with him. I miss having time off with DH. Oh well I get to have 3 days with him in August and a week in September. I am very much looking forward to that time!

This past weekend DD, Della and her DD, and I went to the Cambridge Highland Games. We had a great day! the rain sort of held off. It drizzled a bit during the day but not too much. The dancing was late starting. We were to be there for 11 am and the organizers decided to do the Choreography competition before the regular competition. That caused the regualr dancing to start a bit late, at 2:30 instead of 11:30. We had a nice day in spite of the delay. The sun was out, the day was warm, the food was good and the company was excellent!. Both DD did well in the competitions. Overall it was a good day. Once we had packed everything up and finished loading the vehicle, the heaven's decided to open up and dump the rain. We were so grateful that it held off. There is nothing worse than having teenage girls dance in wet wool kilts and velvet vests!

In between all of the events going on, I have finished 2 pairs of socks, started another pair, frogged part of my Feather and Fan sweater and managed to get it back on track with it.

These are a pair of ankle socks that I knit using On Your Toes sock yarn. They are My FIRST 2 at a time toe up heel flap socks. I am happy with them and happy that I did them but I am STILL a fan of the 2 at a time top down version. They were knit for DD's friend. She is thrilled with them!

Here are Froggin ankle socks. They are from the Wool Girl Sock Club for the month of June. DD wanted them. She fell in love with the yarn when it arrived and told me I HAD to make them for her! The yarn is Dashing Dach's in the sport weight. The colourway is called Froggin. I like how they turned out. I have seen them in the laundry a few times now so I know they are liked!

I cast on another pair last week. I hate to be without a pair of socks on my needles. It's like the universe is wrong.

These are the Nine to Five socks. I am knitting them out of some yarn that I got a while ago from WoolGirl. It's Madelinetosh sock yarn in a fingering weight. The colourway is Umoja. 100% of the proceeds from this colorway will be donated to the Umoja Uaso Women's Group in Kenya.

The Umoja Uaso Women's Group in Kenya is an organization of indigenous Samburu women formed in 1990. This community advocates for and enables women's empowerment via HIV/Aids health education, children's education, political participation and community action.

I really liked the colours in it. and it was for a great cause. This yarn is so soft, it is almost sliky. It is a pleasure to knit with it. I would highly recommend this yarn for anyone who is looking to try something new. I am about to turn the heel on these. Hopefully I will be done in the next few days.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting...Finally! and a Bit of Dancing.

Late on the 20th of June I got my WoolGirl Sock Club June Kit. OMG I was so happy as I was in between pairs of socks to knit and could start it right away. It was a beautiful kit. I loved all the little extras. Jen is great! DD fell in LOVE with the yarn and since she collects FROGS it seemed like the perfect match. The pattern is called Froggin and the yarn is the sportweight Dashing Dachs. I started the sock that weekend then got sidetracked with other things that Life tosses at you. and didn't get back to it until this last weekend. Needless to say this is taking a bit longer than I expected. AND to make matters worse. I got the leg done and started to work on the heel flap when DD tried it on...OMG it was too tight! So I ripped it out and started it again this morning. HOPEFULLY this time it will be okay, fortunately she only wants ankle socks.

These are the Sailors Delight socks from the book 2 At A Time by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. The yarn is Miss Babs Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock & Baby Yarn in the colourway Woodland Viola. This yarn was so soft and wonderful to knit with. I loved it. The pattern was simple and weasy to memorize and they fit great! They have been done for a bit but I didn't get them posted.

These socks were knit this past weekend. The pattern is Thuja from Knitty and the yarn is a Finnish sock yarn I received in the World Yarn Swap. It is a thick warn sock yarn and I guess I didn't figure the needle size would make a huge difference. They were originally knit for my DH, but they wouldn't go over MY foot so DD thouht she would likehem. BUT alas they didn't fit her either, so they are going to the first person that they fit! We are going to the Embro Highland Games tomorrow and there are a few dancers that they may fit, so first come, first get! I will keep you posted as to whom the recipient is! It reminds me of Cinderella!

DD is dancing at the Embro Highland Games tomorrow. And since it is Canada Day and I will be closing my store I get to go with her! This is the first dance competition that she has been in since last November. I really enjoy the outside competitions as there is so much more to see at the highland games. If you have never been to one, you really should go at least oncec in your life! DD will be dancing 4 dances so I should be able to get a bit of knitting done as well.

This past weekend we had our end of the Dance Season BBQ. It was an enjoyable time, the food was great and the company was good. The kids had a great time 'swimming' in the hot tub! So now the only dancing will be the optional classes during the summer. DD has told me that she will only be going to a few, as she is going to camp for a week and then off to a friends cottage... I get to have most of my evening to myself at least until September when regular classes start again. WOO HOO!

Well off to work I go!

Have a great Canada Day tomorrow and to my friends south of the border...have a great Independance Day on Friday!

Happy knitting!

All Tattoo and No Knitting!

Well another Tattoo has passed. It was a great success. The girls dancing was wonderful and the pipes and drums were fantastic. This is a picture heavy post...

This past week end was pretty much all Tattoo. I did have my knitting with me but it was too dark to knit!

Friday evening was a practice for the dancers and their pipe band for about 2 1/2 hours. It was really weird seeing the pipe band playing and marching in regular street clothes and not in their tartan uniforms. I have seen the girls dance before many times but never a pipe band out of uniform!

Saturday I worked until 3, so DD got a ride to the tattoo for 1:00. I finished work and DH, my father and I went to the performance that evening. It was a great tribute to our military men overseas! They also had all of the vetrans in the audience stand up. What a wonderful round of applause they received for their efforts. In addition to the traditional pipe and drum bands and the brass bands there was a group called Mackinaw. There were a Quebec step dance performance group. They were fantastic.

I met up with DD after the tattoo at 10:30 and we headed home.

Sunday, the dancers had to be there for 1:00, as the performance started at 2:30 and they needed to get ready. I helped do some of the girls hair and assisted them in getting ready. Once all that was done I got to go and watch the performance again.

After all the old and new friends were bid a fond farewell, we left about 6:00.

It was a wonderful weekend filled with friends, dancing, bagpipes, drums and no knitting! I truly enjoyed it but I hope to get some knitting done this week!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!

Ducks, Socks, Quilts and Dancing!

This was walking across my lawn the other morning so I had to take a picture. Tiger REALLY wanted to go and play with the little guy, but I had to say NO!

June is here. Woo Hoo! Work has been crazy lately! School is almost over. Knitting is coming along.

As for knitting, I have done a bit more on the Feather and Fan Sweater. I figure if I take it slow then I can't get frustrated with it! I am almost finished the feather and fan part. I will very soon be onto the main part of the body...the dreaded stockinette stitch. I have only an inch to go...WOO HOO! I am so loving how it is looking. This Soya yarn falls and drapes so nice, I can hardly wait to wear the sweater.

Finished a pair of Apple Harvest Socks. They were made from Flat Feet yarn . They turned out great. I put them in a plain bubble envelope and sent them off to DH's cousin with no return address. They took 4 days to arrive. I received a very happy phone call saying that they were PERFECT!

I started another pair last Sunday. They are called Sailors Delight and are from the book 2 At a Time. I am using Miss Babs Yummy sock yarn in the colourway Woodland Viola. This yarn is SOOO soft. I would Definately use it again.

This weekend is the Canadian Military Tattoo and DD is dancing in it. There are 2 performances, one on Saturday evening and the second on Sunday afternoon. It should be interesting, I am going to help out on Sunday as I have to work on Saturday. Della is going to be there on Saturday and Sunday to do anything that needs to be done. She's a good egg!

The Georgetown Highland games are this weekend as well. We have not gone to them in the last 4 years as DD has wanted to take part in the tattoos. Her goal is to dance at the Edinburgh tattoo in Scotland.

Hey My friend Della received a few skeins of yarn as a thank you gift and she gave me a skein of the most beautiful lace weight yarn I have ever seen (it's on the right side of the picture). The colour and softness are wonderful! It is from the Knitting Goddess in the UK and is a cashmire and silk blend.

Not to change the subject or the project but I had to attend a wedding shower this past Sunday. Now I didn't know the bride to be or the groom for that matter. She is a second cousin to my DH. But I figured that I should go and make an appearance. So I decided on Thursday evening that I was going to make her a lap quilt. I looked through my stash to see what I had and found some blue, green and yellow fabric that would work. I also found the PERFECT backing fabric there too. I cut out the quilt blocks on Thursday night after DD's dance class. I got home from work on Friday and pieced it together. Then proceeded to quilt it. I finished it at 11:15 Friday evening. All I had left to do was hand sew the binding on. I worked Saturday till 4 then started the hand sewing. I FINALLY finished it Saturday evening. Wrapped it all up Sunday morning and was off to the lovely shower. It was a beautiful day and I had a very nice time. I was very glad that I had gone. I even got quite a few comments, all positive, on the quilt!

Well that's enough for now! I will see if I can sneak a picutre or 2 of the Tattoo practice and post them here!.

Have a great evening and happy knitting!

May...Where Has It Gone?

This past few weeks have been busy but I don't seem to have anything to show for it! I have been knitting, driving kids around, working and knitting.

The feather and fan cardigan is put aside for a few days. I have frogged it 4 times and was so frustrated with it that I wanted to rip it out. The pattern is NOT the clearest it can be. I have never knit a sweater before and there are a few things that I wouldn't just assume, but apparently according to Classic Elite, I should have. They were simple fixes but at the time they were HUGE!. Knowledge is power (and understanding). I will be working on it again this week as I really want to finish and wear it... so I will persevere.

This week is a busy one again. DD has a MilitaryTattoo dance practice tonight and again on Wednesday, dance class on Tuesday and Thursday evening and I have my knitting group on Thursday as well. She is also working a shift or 2 in that time and going to High school. DS has only to go to high school this week and to work at the end of it. DH is on midnight shift so my sleep pattern is all screwed up. Oh well more knitting time!

I have finished my socks for the Wool Girl Sock Club. I love them. They are made with Mama Llama Perfect Sock yarn in a special colourway for the sock club! The Pattern was design for the club as well. It is called Reina by Lisa Dykstra. I received the Sportweight yarn. I will DEFINATELY knit with it again. The colours are great and the feel is soft. I am also posting them to the SAM5 KAL as my socks for May.

Started a new pair of socks for DH's cousin. I am using Conjoined Creations Flat Feet yarn. It is really neat. There are 2 attached panels that have been machine knit and hand dyed. You knit right from the panel, as you knit the panel unravels! It is a cool idea. The pattern is Apple Harvest and is from Northern Sunshine Designs. The design is supposed to go up the back of the leg, but I think I may move it to the front. I will decide when I am closer to the heel. The yarn is a bit rough but I am hoping that it will soften once I wash and block it.

DD is knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket for a friend. She is doing a great job on it and is about 1/4 they way finished! She is using Mission Falls 1824 cotton yarn. This is DD's first project that is not a hat or scarf. She is very impressed with her knitting ability.

Sweater, Socks and Spring!

This is what I can see from my front window at my store. Isn't it lovely!

AND here is what I have out front of my home!

This is what I see when I look OUT of my window at my store!

Tiger sits in the window most days, enjoying the sun and watching the world go by!

AND here is my little store... If you look at the window closely, you can see Tiger jumping down.


Knitting progress...

I have made quite a bit of progress on the Feather and Fan cardigan. I am just about to start the bodice. I was working BOTH sleeves at the same time as I made then about 2 1/2 inches longer than the pattern called for. I am REALLY liking this Just Soya yarn and this pattern. I still can't get over how easy it truly is, yet it looks difficult. I look back and think "why was I afraid of it?" Oh well, Live and Learn!

I have not yet cast on for the WoolGirl Sock Club yet. I figured that I wanted to get the sweater done, but it is getting a bit too large to be carrying around with me. So I will be working on it at home and starting the Reina socks to take with me when I go out!

I am starting to repair another pair of highland dance socks for the dance studio. I am slowly picking through the many pairs that our dance studio has and making repairs to them one by one. Since there is no rush for these I can take my time and work on them in between my other projects.

Other than that not much else has happened in the last week. Mother's Day is on Sunday. I am hoping for some acknowledgement from my kids, but they are both working so we shall see...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all!