A Good Time Was Had by All

Scout was very happy to help open presents and roll around in all the tissue paper. Apparently he is real Space Cat, judging from his eyes!

Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse;

Clement Clarke Moore


I can't believe everything is done! No more shopping, wrapping, cooking, fighting insane traffic, nothing! Just a few cards to sign for my family. The Angel Chimes are lit and tinkling, the tree is beautiful, we even have lights in the window and some outdoor decorations. whew! Just waiting for Santa to come.

Merry Christmas to all my friends. Happy Yule, Winter Solstice, Hannukah and Kwanza. God Bless Us, everyone.

No Room at the Inn

Nor at the Target parking lot either... H and I tried to go there today and we couldn't even manage to turn into the lot. So, we consoled ourselves by going to Michael's on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. It was swamped but manageable. This is the same famous Colorado Boulevard that the Rose Parade travels down each New Year's day. For those of us who grew up in this area, one of the signs of the season is when they start building the bleachers for the Rose Parade. They are all up, big lumbering metal constructs waiting patiently for Christmas to be over with and New Year's to arrive. These are the seats that you pay for; camping on the street to snag a spot on the sidewalk is free. I'll try to go back and take a photo to post. Since all of my three readers are local, I'm sure that you've seen them yourselves.

I thought I'd post a few links to things I've found in Blogland. The first is a photo from Supergirl's blog, Kato wears a hat. I'm a sucker for a cute cat photo, especially a cat in a hat.

Norah Gaughan hosts a new blog named Berroco Design Studio blog. I enjoy the behind the scenes look at Berroco. I'm not sure how I feel about the knitted beets (Would someone please explain the Office reference?), but I love the Boyfriend bag.

There's Getting Stitched on the Farm for Kristin Nicholas fans.

If you'd like a highlights reel of knitting blog, check out Re:Knit a knitblog re-blog. I find all sorts of interesting references on Re:Knit.

Finally, to make you smile when your feet hurt from shopping, your stomach hurts from eating too many Reese's chocolate jingle bells and your head hurts from too many crowds, I present a new blog, A Steaming Pile of Knit. This is for those of you who are missing "You Knit What?"

I'm Baaaaaaaack

Last week's regularly scheduled blogging interrupted due to a visit by Ms. Bron Chitis. Thanks to the wonders of modern chemistry, I'm better, but the kid is having a relapse. aughgh.

A lot of people knock Southern California for having no seasons. I don't agree with that, we certainly do have seasons: Drought, fire, earthquake and Blazing Hot. However, this week, we've actually had weather--it has rained TWICE! The weathermen are beside themselves, on full out storm watch. We've also had our first good snow in the local mountains. Looking east from the San Gabriel Valley, you can see the snow on Mount Baldy and other peaks in the San Bernardino mountains. There's a nip in the air, California style, and I've actually worn grown-up long pants and a coat. I'll wait while that settles in for those who know me, I know it's a shock.

I thought this Christmas meme was fun. I found it over on Knitting the Blues.

Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love wrapping paper, but love the ease of gift bags

Real or artificial tree? The kid is allergic to real trees, so it's artificial for us. A couple of years ago I bought a pre-lit, 3 piece tree. best thing EVER!

When do you put up the tree? Usually the week before Christmas or whenever we get the living room de-cluttered.

When do you take it down? My personal record is some time around Valentine's Day, but these days usually around New Year's.

Do you like eggnog? good grief, no!

Favorite gift received as a child? 1963 Barbie that came with 3 wigs: Bubble-cut Blonde, brunette pageboy, titian side-part flip. No, I'm not so psychotic that I remembered all this, I looked it up. In my Barbie book.

Do you have a nativity scene? yes, the one from my childhood.

Hardest person to buy for? My step-father who only likes tv, golf & Sudoku.

Easiest person to buy for? the kid. She makes very clear lists :-).

Worst Christmas present you ever got? Kermit the frog telephone.

Mail or email Christmas cards? I try to mail.

Favorite Christmas movie? I'd have to say the Santa Clause, because that was the first holiday movie I took my daughter to and it is a really happy memory for us.

When do you start shopping for Christmas? Um, now...

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I 'll never tell!

Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? For our family, Christmas means lefse and various Scandinavian cookies.

Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both. As many as possible.

Favorite Christmas song? It's hard to pick just one. The entire soundtrack of A Charlie Brown Christmas, White Christmas, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Feliz Navidad...

Travel at Christmas or stay home? home

Can you name all of Santa's Reindeer? Yes. I have to sing the song to get them all, but yes.

Angel or star on top of tree? Angel. I have the one from the 1930's that was on my grandparent's tree. NB - don't worry about fire hazards, it was reworked and rewired about 15 years ago.

Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? My sister and I always got to open one present on Christmas Eve, and we have continued that tradition. Everything else is opened on Christmas.

Most annoying thing this time of year? The way that the commercial part of the season now starts at Halloween. That is too early!

Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? No, we have an eclectic/kitschy mix from several generations.

What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and a note, which Santa always answers.

Big Game Saturday

Things are kind of pathetic chez Ward. H has been sick for a week and yesterday I found out that I have bronchitis. I spent most of last evening lying in a fetal position on my bed trying not to cough, surrounded by my daughter and the cat. That's quality family time, I tell you. Anyway, in lieu of having a "real" post, I present:

Your Brain is Red

Of all the brain types, yours is the most impulsive. If you think it, you do it. And you can get the bug to pursue almost any passion. Your thoughts are big and bold. Your mind has no inhibitions. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about love, your dreams, and distant places.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Today is our Big Game, UCLA vs. USC. My brain may be red, but I bleed blue and gold. 'nuff said. Be kind and pass the cough drops.

One of a Kind

I wanted to acknowledge the passing of Mary Walker Phillips. Her obituary ran in the Los Angeles Times last Sunday. We knitters all owe her a debt of gratitude. I discovered her book, Creative Knitting some time in the early 80's and was quite inspired. This quote from her obituary expresses Mary's contribution:

"She has elaborated on one of the most traditional of women's textile arts, while maintaining a reverence for its time-honored tradition," wrote M. Catherine Daly, who curated a Phillips exhibit in 1987. "She has expanded the techniques of knitting beyond the boundaries of apparel. . . . It is this sense of continuity and change that is the magic of Mary Walker Phillips' knitting needles."

Ms. Phillips thought that knitted counterpanes, a traditional knitting technique was being lost, so in 1989, she wrote Knitted Counterpanes. This book is out of print. I managed to buy a copy on eBay this year when I couldn't locate the copy I know I have somewhere. Anyway, I digress. This subject is as fresh now as it was 20 years ago. Just look at Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring Blanket. Moreover, his new take on a vintage doily epitomizes the spirit of Mary Walker Phillips.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Since today preceeds our annual salute to materialism, aka, the Holiday Season, it seems like a good time to express some gratitude. Today, when the L.A. Foodbank distributed 8,000 food packages, I am grateful for my life. Now that I'm older, I've had the opportunity to see that it only takes a few bad breaks for one to go from stable to really hurting. Let's keep in mind how lucky most of us are to have the lives that we have and try to help those who have less.

I am grateful for my family, friends and one huge crabby cat. They all bring so much into my life every day. I'm grateful for knitting, for the comfort, challenge and company it provides. I don't know what I'd do if I were unable to work with my hands. Even in the old folks home, I'm sure that I'll be gluing macaroni to cardboard. Note to the kid: be sure I get a bottle of glitter.

For those of you who will be lining up in a couple hours to hit the sales, good luck and no pushing1 I'll be catching up on my sleep, dreaming of beads and bobbles.

Monday musings

Things I have learned today:
When a water connection to your toilet is leaky, don't pull on it to check it. When you are in Orchard Supply describing the tubing to a salesperson there and they exclaim "wow, that's how they USED to do it!", that can be a bad thing. When you have moved on to Home Depot and the two sales guys helping you say that replacing the valve and new tubing (since the original replacement tubing from OSH was wrong) is a cinch, don't believe them. When the previously mentioned sales guys tell you "a little water could seep out when you disconnect the old tubing," proceed with caution. Maybe with a bucket instead of a Tupperware bowl. When you accidentally turn off your neighbor's water instead of your own, expect them to complain. When your other neighbor whom you consulted about the procedure comes back to your door to check on how things are going, it's a very good thing. I'm practically a plumber!! yay DIY Nation!

Non plumbing discovery: I really, really like the Mr. Greenjeans cardigan. Plus, the name makes me happy. Probably some 40 year old subconscious suggestion from Captain Kangaroo... If you have to ask, you're too young. [sigh]

Chillaxing in Arcadia

Woo Hoo, it has been a good day. First of all, the kid competed in her first Academic Decathalon scrimmage today and TA DAAAAA! made the competition team!! We are celebrating Chez Ward tonight. Actually, I'm celebrating with Ravelry and Harry Potter, the poor kid is dead asleep on the couch. We all party in our own little ways.

While I was anxiously waiting to hear the results from the aforementioned competition, I was able to hang out with most of my knitting peeps at Unraveled's 3rd anniversary sale. Congrats to Christine and the Unraveled gang. At UR, I was happy to see the UR girls, Christine, Fay Lynn (Marvels of Knitting), Sandy, Susan (UnraveledGal), and Jillian, and also my knitting peeps, Michele and JoShell (Yarn Traveler), Mary (Dim Sum Knitting), Larry (Knitdad), Andy (do you have a blog?), and Margie. Auntie Ehm and Janice R., you were missed! I managed to control myself and bought a little Berrocco Jasper for myself and some Foliage for the kid.

Knitting report: 6, count 'em, 6 rows done on the Illusionist Shawl, more work done on the Babykid ruffles shawl.

Elusive Illusionist

Well, it's been a big weekend. Cast on 336 stitches and knit 2 rows in pattern for the Illusionist Shawl. At this rate, I'll finish the thing in 2010. I've already changed yarn, no more Shibui wasabi, hello Alchemy's Haiku yarn in fig. Why are so many color names food names anyway? What does that say about us? I guess if I were naming colors they would be espresso, latte, crema, sumatra, java, earl grey, darjeeling, lapsang souchong, etc. We're all about our brewed beverages here. Oh, chocolate too.

Blogger is not cooperating in uploading my photo of the fig color, so I'm going to bed. Happy (?) Veteran's Day, thank you to all who have served. It is not an easy job. We will be enjoying a day off from school.

Chevron Ruana

My ruana is done! This was a fun knitting experience. Every minute spent with this luscious yarn was a pleasure. The colors in the photo are a little washed out, what looks yellow is actually chartreuse green.

Ravelry

Ok, I've spent all evening working on my Ravelry notebook. My user name is feltaholic, come visit me. I refuse to catalog my stash. First of all, I can't count that high, secondly, my family will have me institutionalized. I'd rather spend my time knitting than counting. Anyway, special thanks to Janice Rosema for encouraging me (i.e. bugging me until I did it) to get going. Even though I can tell that Ravelry is and will be a major timesuck. oh well... Have a great weekend, everyone. A Stitch in Time in San Marino is having their Trash to Treasure event on Sunday, from 12-4 pm. The proceeds benefit a local charity.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our little devil!

Sometimes things get so stupid at our house, I think that if there were a hidden camera here, we'd have to move. seriously. Tonight's escapade involved all three of us, myself, H and the cat. Scout had a raw spot on his stomach that he kept licking and picking at until finally, it has turned into a real mess. Since we don't have one of those cone things, we (translated=my friend Carole and myself) came up with a plan. Put on antibiotic ointment, cover with gauze and then wrap with an ace bandage. We put a lot of thought into the process, even deciding that we'd use safety pins instead of the butterfly clip so that he wouldn't swallow anything. easy peasy with a 22 pound cat. H was warily pressed into service to hold the cat while I put on the ointment and did the wrapping. I don't think I've ever seen his ears go back quite that far onto his head. When we got the bandage in place, Scout looked like one of those fat sumo wrestler cats that Kliban used to draw. I had planned to post a photo on my blog. That would imply that the ace bandage remained in place long enough for me to remove the lens cap from my camera. ahem...send bandaids.

Winter Interweave Knits

The preview for the new IK is available

here

Interweave Knits has pretty much superceded Vogue Knitting as my favorite knitting magazine, but I have to say, not this time. Perhaps it is due to the Vintage Knitting theme, but the sweaters are too close to the body, too much the same, and in some cases, dated. It is too soon to see if this will be the norm in future issues, but I was concerned about this when the new editor was announced. I think that an editor should include a variety of designs, beyond their personal tastes. Strictly my opinion, take it or leave it. I mean, come on, a TABARD?? good grief. It's a good thing I only have three readers, or I'd be in trouble...

I do like the Celtic Bag (big surprise, I know). photo here Other "likes" are the Logan River Wrap and Rosemary's Swing Jacket.

Devil Winds

Wow. What else can you say? From the mountains to the sea, southern California is on fire. You always know there are going to be Santa Ana winds in October, but this is just insane. There are so many fires going, I don't know which of my friends to worry about first. We are lucky enough to live in the "flats" of the San Gabriel Valley, not in any fire danger. I am sincerely hoping that everyone's friends and family will be ok. I have some very dear friends up in Crestline who are particularly on my mind tonight. be safe.

We survived endless shoe shopping, the PSAT test and Homecoming this weekend. H had a good time, I'll let her tell her own stories. On Sunday, H and I took a workshop called Antonia's Adornment at the San Gabriel Bead Co. I finished my bracelet last night and loved it. photo to follow.

What's in Your Queue?

Naturally, since I've hit the "boring" part of my ruana, I've started thinking about the next project. Last night when I couldn't sleep, I made a list. Here is it, in no particular order:

1. Modern Quilt Wrap A beautiful wrap from Folk Style, also available as a free pattern from Knitting Daily.

2. As previously mentioned, the Illusionist Shawl

3. The ubiquitous Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

4. Something made from Habu, e.g. the Kusha Kusha Scarf

5. Charlotte's Web shawl

I wonder if cats can have deviated septums? Scout is sitting next to me, snoring like a cement mixer.

I had a great photo to upload, but Blogger is not cooperating...

Monday night notes

Three posts in a week! I'm on a roll. Just some random musings. It was a wonderful, cool, overcast day. Very pleasant. I love days like these, they remind me of many days of this sort spent in San Francisco.

I have always been happy to be a girl, and now as the mother of a "girl," you get to reexperience moments from your youth, but this time as a parent. The preparations for the Homecoming Dance would make the people over at the Rand think tank weep. Seriously. You need a math major from Cal Tech to keep up with the shifting numbers of who's riding in the limo, how many kids will be at the dinner. Who is angry with whom and will the agouraphobic parent show up at the dinner? How many cars do we need to shuttle the kids over to the restaurant., and most importantly, who is getting ready at which girl's house? Eyebrow (yes, eyebrows!) and manicure appointments need to be made. Fill in the rest of the week with meeting reps from Georgetown University in Brentwood, the Homecoming football game and possibly a small outpatient surgery. I'm glad I don't have to live it this time around, but happy to be around for the ride. Gotta love the creatures known as teenage girls.

I'm working away on my Chevron Lace Ruana from Iris Schreier's new book, Lacy Little Knits. I'm using a lovely colorway of Silk Rhapsody, ivory, chartreuse and slate grey. It's gotten a little boring, but I'm trudging on. Trying desperately to hold off casting on the Illusionist until I finish. Here's a photo of the Ruana from the book.

The Ilusionist

Don't you love it when you wander into your favorite yarn store and discover that two new magazines are in? I found these two yesterday. Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts and Vogue Knitting Holiday 2007. I enjoyed both, but the edge definitely goes to IK Holiday Gifts, mainly because of Leigh Radford's Needle Felted Messenger bag.

Really attractive design, good colors, etc. I'm not crazy about needle felting, but will give it a whirl again for this bag.

In the Vogue Knitting, Alchemy Yarns had an ad for one of their new patterns, the Illusionist Shawl, which just happened to roll in with the mail a couple days ago:

I saw this design online somewhere and had to make it. Love the ruching. With all the increasing, knitting this will make the ruffled scarf in Kid Silk Haze seem like knitting a swatch, but I think it'll be worth it. If I get it done in time, it will be perfect for all my holiday entertaining (VBG, my entertaining is limited to cheese balls and triscuits).

Here is the yarn I'm going to use, Shibui Silk Cloud. 60% mohair/40% silk. It is like a cloud, too, a 25 gram skein contains 330 yards. This yarn appears to be identical to the Alchemy Haiku, which the pattern uses. My color is called Wasabi, which is so appropriate. My photo is on the dark side, all you sushi eaters can picture the real color. Ja, mata ne.

Back sooner than Haley's Comet!

Ok, I'm back, finally. And in less time than the next Haley's Comet (the year 2061, if you're keeping track). There are various reasons that have kept me from posting. In no particular order, they were: 1) extreme heatwave end of August. We're talking meltdown here folks. 2) back to school--a mixed blessing. More time to myself, belayed by the 6 am wake-up call. every day. I know people do that every day, even some want to, I don't. 3) we lost 2 friends, one very dear...attended 2 funerals in 5 days. enough said about that. We're moving along, working through stuff, looking forward to the future. Homecoming is in two weeks and there is much talk Chez Ward about dresses, shoes, limos and boys. very fun stuff. That's all I can safely mention without being killed in my sleep.

So, we're fully into Fall now. School has been on for a month, the fall knitting magazines have all come out, new knitting books have started to appear in the bookstores. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, tempting new yarns are showing up in our LYS's.

A new book that I was most looking forward to:



I have been inspired by Kaffe Fassett since Glorious Knitting came out in 1985. I was, and still am, a Kaffe Fassett groupie. he influenced my knitting and appreciation of color more than anyone else. Kaffe Knits Again is a collection of previously released designs updated in new yarns and colors. It also happens to be a gallery of many half-finished projects of mine. One piece in the new book that I particularly like is the Foolish Virgins scarf. Foolish Virgins was originally a cardigan. The new design has the pattern included in a scarf with 4 other popular patterns of Kaffe's. A brilliant idea. The scarf has also inspired me to get out all my unfinished Kaffe projects and see if there is some way I can assemble them into a throw. That crashing sound you hear is me upending all my boxes of knitting, looking for these pieces.

Sunday night

Night blooming cactus

These blooms are outside our house. I don't know the name of it, but I am fascinated by the fact that the cactus works and works to put out this huge bloom, it blooms one night then the blooms wither and fall off.


Night blooming Chica Bella


Today is my sister's birthday. Katy is my only sibling and means the world to me. Happy Birthday, Kate!! You're an amazing sister and person.