audioknits

Yellow

Yellow, my favorite color (not counting all my other favorite colors) is the color of April. 

Knitting

I've decided to add an extra row to Diamond Patch (row 5) as it will really be too short otherwise.  Here's hoping I have enough yarn. 

Star Tee is chugging along.

I checked my stash and the Adrienne Vittadini 'Teresa' I got at the JCA sale some years ago is just the right weight for the Cafe Cardigan. 

I see StitchinGirl has made a pretty top from Teresa- it looks like it may even be the same color. Maybe I'll swatch it this weekend.  Of course some people *cough-Cindy-cough* will probably have completed a sweater-sized swatch by then!

Reading

I finished listening to Paradise Postponed today and will start the sequel, Titmuss Regained, on my commute tomorrow. Leslie Titmuss is the man you love to hate in an admiring kind of way.  I do recall that the sequel, though good, was not as appealing to me as the first book.

I'm a big admirer of Jimmy Carter, who puts his money where his mouth is and at 81 is still building houses for the disadvantaged with Habitat for Humanity, among other practical and humanitarian deeds.  Sharing Good Times is a collection of short accounts about activities he has enjoyed throughout his life with family and friends. 

Lynn at ColorJoy! had a good post on some of my all time favorite books, C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia ,that pretty well expresses my feelings about them.  When I was 9 years old and had stayed home sick one day from school, I asked my mom to be sure to bring me home some books when she went to the library.  One book she brought me was The Silver Chair, and I fell in love.  It was the 4th book in the series though, so I had to go back and read them all in order.  I read all 7 books at least once a year for many years, sometimes in the order Lewis wrote them, and sometimes in 'chronological' order of the books' events.  I've seen some new editions in the bookstores but they are not the same - they have to have the illustrations by Pauline Baines!  The last time I read them was to my kids many years ago - it's high time I read them again.

Kristen

Tues. April 26

I've decided to do a weekly 'litter patrol' on my road.  Sunday I covered the same area, plus a little further, that D. and I had de-trashed just 7 days before, and filled a plastic grocery bag to overflowing with cans and bottles. 

Spring vacation is over and J. and I are back to school/work.  I'm trying not to think about the slew of evaluations, writeups, and IEP meetings due in the next few weeks or I'll go into panic mode.

D. had a dentist appointment yesterday and found he needs a night mouthguard too!  Won't we be the cute and fashionable couple with our matching mouthguards!  I think our dentist may have his eye on a new boat/car/college tuition with all the mouthguards he recommends.

Knitting

I've started the 4th row of Diamond Patch and had to wind the 2nd hank of Cherry Tree Hill 'Ariel', which I was dreading after the tangled mess of the first hank.  Sure enough, almost immediately after starting to wind with the swift and ball winder I encountered a huge snarl, and started untangling and winding by hand.  After what seemed 1000 rounds, I realized no more snarls had appeared, so chanced the ball winder again, and thankfully the rest went smoothly and FAST. I'm going to try and finish row 4 today and post a pic. next time.

I also wound the Papaya, and need to scour my stash for a suitable shawl pattern.

The fabric strip hat is kind of fun to knit.  At first it was tough on the hands, but after several rows it is a little looser and easier.

The new Cast On  arrived and there are some really pretty things.  Kathy Zimmerman is one of my favorite designers and she has 3 great patterns with her signature cables.  And I would definitely like to knit the Cafe Cardigan by Ann E. Smith.

Kristen

Guild Retreat

On Saturday we had a marvelous time at Judith's for our annual Guild Retreat.  Her beautiful house and wooded yard, along with the ton of catered salad, sandwiches, and goodies, were a virtual replica of our previous Alton Jones retreats at a fraction of the price!

Carol, Judy, Judith

So much fiber, fun, food, and friendship, not to mention one furry feline! (Did I hear that Peter and the dogs were banished to the island for the day?)

There was a swap for yarn, books, etc.  I brought a lot of my leftovers, and took only some skeins of Patons Grace.  Judy brought a basket of her scrumptious handspun and dyed yarns, for sale on her website.  I bought 3 skeins of the bright tropical merino and silk "papaya" in the lower right in the basket.  It is incredibly soft and will make a wonderful shawl.

I worked mainly on the Star Tee.  I also started a shell with some mint-colored Grace (not the skeins from the swap) but realized when I got home that it would be humongous (and I'm usually a tight knitter) so frogged it and will make the smallest size rather than fiddle with changing needle sizes.

Here are more photos from the retreat; click to enlarge.

It was such a lovely and relaxing time- thanks so much, Judith, for sharing your home!

Kristen

Impulse buying

Bet you didn't know we had such an early growing season here.  Well we don't!  J. had to buy a few things for his models so we went to Walmart (sorry!) and I couldn't resist buying these realistic fake peppers for my friend at school who is crazy about fake food.  She even has wind-up walking sushi on her desk!

And I couldn't resist a fabric strip knitting kit marked down to $5, to make a roll-brim hat.

You do have to glue, sew, or tie the long strips together.  I'm just tying them.

I also stopped at the new Knitwits in Westerly to get a surprise giftie.  There were 3 women at the table knitting, and I knew I recognized one of them, but am terrible with names.  Then I heard her talking to the owner about the Ocean State Knitting and Crochet Guild, and that they are having a retreat tomorrow, and she thinks 'that lady' (me) is in it, and I went over to talk.  It was Nancy M. (she reminded me) and she remembered my whole name.  I think we'd only met once, at last year's retreat.  She is a famous-in-RI knitting teacher, and has been written up in the local papers.  She's also a member of the guild, but as she teaches on our meeting nights, doesn't make it to the monthly meetings.  She has just started teaching in Westerly rather than Wakefield, and will be there every Friday.  She won't be able to make it to the retreat as she has to help cook for a dinner for 250 people for the Chorus of Westerly!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's retreat at Judith's, and have filled 2 boxes with stuff for the swap.  Once again, I don't want to bring anything home if I can help it.

Kristen

College visit

Wednesday was a perfect day for driving to NH to visit Kate.  Her classes were over at noon, so we went out to lunch in Keene.  I made my first visit to the Knitting Knook on West St. It was a little tricky to find but so worth the trip; it's loaded with yarns etc. I bought Patons Fresco ribbon yarn in pale blue, and a Patons pattern book.

Then we visited the Kitty Rescue where K. volunteers on weekends. Despite all her talking about it, I never realized how many cats were in the place- well over 100 I'd say. Whew it stinks!  Even though they are well cared for it hits you when you walk in, though eventually I got used to it.  I had fun patting cats of all types.  K. has her heart set on adopting 'Cookie', a tortoiseshell who is a skinnier version of our Ruby.  Since K. has worked there for 6+ months, she can adopt one for 'free'.  Otherwise it is $100 for a cat, which is to ensure that the owner really wants it and will care for it. Plus it will already have been neutered and have all its shots.  I took a ton of cute kitty photos, and the ones here include: K. and Cookie; gray and white double-double pawed guy who kept following me around; caged silvery tiger who grabbed me whenever I tried to turn and leave; a young white and black yawning kitty with the coolest spotty coat which doesn't all show in pic., and my ideal type of cat, a totally tabby shorthair. 

It was good to see K., the last time before we pick her up in a few weeks for the summer!

You would think I'd be getting lots of knitting done on my week off, but that's not the case.  A few inches on the Star Tee is about it.

And I've got to check into my stash for anything to bring to the retreat on Sat. for swapping.

Reading

With all the driving I've been putting in I'm 'reading' a lot anyway.  I ditched the boring and soap opera-ish Ann Perry tape for a favorite author, John Mortimer's Paradise Postponed.   And joined another webring, Knit One Read Too.

Kristen

Slow news day

It must have been slow at the Westerly Sun as yesterday's front page had a small picture of me and D. trashpicking on Sat. plus a HUGE picture of just D. 

More bad news from the vet- another fat American pet.  Onslow gained 5 pounds this past year!  Part of the reason is I'm only walking 1 dog at a time now, so each is getting half the walk they used to.  I got tired of being dragged by the 2 of them.  The other part is he is my leftover eating machine.  So now he is only supposed to get 1 1/2 cups of dog food daily.

Knitting

We were a small group at the library last night: Lynn G., Lynn H., Margaret, and better late than never, the lovely and talented Christine!  Except for Cindy D. and Judy, whom I already knew through the Guild, she's the first knitblogger I've met face to face.  She is also a published designer!  See her cute lacy tank top here.

Oh- and the funny thing is, it turns out Margaret knows Christine's mother!  They are both weavers.  But living in RI, it's not at all unusual.  Never mind six degrees of separation; here it's more like one or two.

Kristen

Mon. April 18

What a beautiful week for vacation!  Wouldn't you know it, when I took my morning walk yesterday less than 24 hours after our litter patrol, there was more trash!  People are such pigs.

I pulled out a project I started last August, the Classic Elite Star T-shirt.  I had only one sleeve completed before putting it aside, and will probably have to redo it anyway as it's not to gauge.  So I started the body on the needles called for but one pattern size up.  The yarn is very stretchy and soft.

 

Today J. and I will take Onslow for his vet checkup.  I always make sure to schedule it for when J. can go as he can drag Onslow in and get him up on the table.  Then I have another podiatrist appointment for a cortisone shot.  And tonight is the library knitting group, where I get to meet Christine!  I feel like I'm going on a blind date!

Kristen

Earth Day every day

What a beautiful string of sunny days we're having, perfect for today's Earth Day cleanup in town. One of my pet peeves is litter, and during my walks I'm always irked by the trash along the roads.  D. and I picked up trash bags at the town hall and then spent 2 hours on a stretch of 1/4 mile max on our road, and filled 6 bags with trash and recyclables. 

It would have been a perfect day to go to Barbara T's Open Barn, but I didn't make it. The blog scuttle tells me a good time was had by all! The time of year has started when there are so many things scheduled at the same time.

I counteracted today's Earth-friendly deed yesterday by putting 235 polluting miles on the car.  In the a.m. our special ed. director sent us (4 SLPs) to a short workshop on central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). The speaker turned out to be my college roommate from my last semester at UCONN!  I didn't even recognize her until she said her name. 

Dad and I went to see The Pirates of Penzance at RIC last night- Gilbert & Sullivan are always fun!

Knitting

What can I say - not much.  I've started the 3rd row of diamonds.  I'm on vacation this week- YEAH! - so I plan to get a lot of knitting in.  I want to start new things - I want to have a summer and a winter project going. 

Reading

Judy mentions getting an audiotape of her favorite book only to find out that the reader's voice ruined it for her.  I've mentioned that problem before too, the one that always leaps to mind first being the infamous Debra Winger reading of The Brothers Karamazov.  If you listen to audiobooks frequently you get to know some frequent narrators and prefer some over others.  I especially like readers who not only read well but who give each character a distinctive voice.  Some of my favorite readers include Anna Massey, Martin Jarvis - excellent with Dickens' novels!, Barbara Rosenblat, George Guidall, Michael Prichard, Andrew Sachs (Manuel on Fawlty Towers- 'Que?'), and Harriet Walter.  I've just started Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott and read by Michael Hall- good reader and good story.

Cats

Have you ever seen a tribble?  Here's a front and back view.

Kristen

Staff of life

The middle school had a cool assignment this weekend.  On Fri. there was an assembly by the King Arthur Flour Co. (which I didn't get to see) but obviously it had to do with making homemade bread, and some kids had a chance to take part in the demonstration.  Then everyone in the school was given a kit with enough ingredients to make 2 loaves of bread, one to keep and one to bring in Mon. to donate to the food pantry.  I brought both in (and am showing only the better looking one!).  It was so neat to see so many kids coming in to school carrying their bread to the drop offs.  I haven't made bread in ages- maybe I'll do it again this weekend.  My Dad used to make bread a lot, all different kinds, and we would scarf it down.  Mmmmmm.

I made a trip to the podiatrist yesterday as my heel spurs have been acting up recently after 7 years free of pain.  Who woulda thunk that I would actually look forward to having a needle jabbed in my foot?  Cortisone does the trick; I go back next week for the other foot.

Knitting

Polls are closed for the baby sweater buttons - pink and yellow it is, by a margin of one!  Thanks for the input.

Somehow I stumbled across a wonderful online knitting magazine called KnitNet.  I don't know why I've never heard of it; the patterns are just right for 'CORKs'!  What first led me there was an article about listening to audiobooks while knitting.  Uh, that is supposed to be the purpose of my blog, hence the name, right?  Even though I seem to give the audiobooks short shrift here, I've always got one going in the car and one in the house.  And KnitNet has started a knitter's audiobook club - how could I resist subscribing at only $12 a year? 

Cindy P.  alerted us to a new Aran webring - of course I'll join!

Speaking of joining, I've just joined the sides of the Diamond Patch.  I do enjoy knitting this and the diamonds are now quick to knit.

Cute photos

I haven't had enough gratuitous kitty pics lately.  Here's Cecil not letting me disturb his nap so I can make the bed.

Kate told me to check the Chariho website as there was a photo of her in the jazz band from last year.  She's the mean saxophone player, front row 2nd from right .

Kristen

Sunday April 10

A beautiful spring weekend!  I raked out the gardens and just sent the boys to buy a garden cart to haul the leaves and branches out back.

Mystic River Yarns had a spring sale Thursday through yesterday, though I didn't get their postcard 'til Fri.  I made a superstitious little pact with myself- if my unmet knitting buddy Christine wanted to go, then I was meant to go and buy yarn I don't need.  But as she had other plans, my decision was made for me and I resisted going on my own.  I also ended up not going to the Christine Lavin knit-in and concert, which I bet was fun.  I stayed home and worked on Diamond Patch in front of a P.D. James mystery.

I added an FO to the photo album.  I don't know how I forgot to include this one as I wear it all the time in winter.  I love Jo Sharp, both her yarns and her designs.  A large percentage of my stash is made up of Jo Sharp DK.  I had a hard time finding just the perfect buttons for this sweater, and ended up finding just the right color and number of star/flower shaped buttons in my Mom's button box.

Speaking of buttons, I  need more votes on the baby sweater buttons to break the tie!  Otherwise I will end up asking my husband's opinion and then doing the opposite of what he says.  You know how that goes.  Check the photos from a couple of posts ago and let me know.

There are a few patterns in the new Knitty that I like including Cambio and Tie One On.  I find a lot of magazines and designers catering to what they call 'HYUKs' ('hip young urban knitters').  I may once have been a young knitter, but I doubt if even then I could have been considered 'hip'.  Now I need designers who cater to FORKs (fuddy duddy older rural knitters), or DORKs (dull older rural knitters) or PORKs (prosaic older rural knitters).  Or how about CORKs- Classic Older Rural Knitters.  Yeah, I can live with that!

ACA

ACA met with DEM officials Thursday night to get information on the water test results that were done last fall.  The Westerly Sun had an article. It was a good meeting, (plus I knit a couple inches of the Broadway shawl.)

Kristen