Baseball Fanatics

What a week this has been! We went to the Mariner's game on Sunday then C called me Tuesday afternoon and asked if I wanted to go to Wednesday's game. One of his coworkers wasn't going to make the game and wanted to know if we wanted his 4 tickets! But of course!!!

Off we went Wednesday afternoon to see the M's play the Florida Marlins. Once again the M's lost but we had a great time. Our seats were in the 27th row up from 3rd base. Great seats and a great time once again.

I really have baseball fever and I don't even care whether they win or not. Of course it would be nice if they would win for a change but it is just great fun to be there.

Here's a pic of Ichiro lining up to bat. Not as clear as it could be.

So now we are home for a while and I don't see anymore baseball games in our near future but there is a Stitch 'N Pitch going on August 7th which coincides with a training I have to attend in Tacoma and I think it would be just AWESOME to go watch a game with hundreds of other knitting fanatics. We'll see. I haven't fully decided yet.

And lest anyone think I have given up knitting for good I assure you I have not. Here's a little duo I just finished to go in my kitchen. The tube is one of those things you can shove plastic grocery store bags in and the dishcloth is a ballband pattern. The colors aren't exactly like my kitchen (turquoise 1950's) but will do.

Up next for our family is 4th of July then summer camp for the boys. And swimming. Lots of swimming. We got our passes to the pool again this year so if you are looking for us, that's probably where we'll be! Happy summer.

Spring? Are you out there? Spring?

So this seems to be more of a seasonal blog than anything else and that's ok. It is what it is, right? I think I am just plum tuckered out and most of my computer time is spent on mindless drivel these days.

Work is going well. I just started Weight Watchers about 3 1/2 weeks ago. 12.4 lbs. gone so far. I have a long way to go (and a short time to get there)--sorry, I just broke into a Smokey and the Bandit song. Don't tell C. I swear to him that I HATE that movie. Along with Rudy, Red Dawn, anything with Sylvester Stallone in it, Ahhhnold, etc. I swear, that man will sit through a movie he has seen nine million times if he comes across it on cable. He doesn't even care that he comes in at the middle. He just sits and enjoys it at whatever point it starts at when he gets there. Humph!

Oh yeah, I was saying....Weight Watchers. I've done it before online but for some reason it skeeved me out to be losing the weight. I started having panic attacks and garbage like that. Why? Who knows. Obviously I have some issues with keeping the weight for "protection". So I think that means I really have to do some work this time around to make sure I am not my own worst enemy. I am going to meetings this time too so I am hoping if I run into the mental health roadblock I can talk it out with other like-minded souls.

In other news, it is Pinewood Derby race time. Everyone in the family, sans moi, has a race car. This weekend they are going to take them to a tournament? race? event? I obviously don't have the lingo down. At least they are all excited and it has been pretty cute to see C. working on these cars. I'm not sure the boys have actually been allowed anywhere near them but, you know, that's how it goes.

Soccer starts next week and baseball soon thereafter. With the start of soccer we will now be booked 4 nights out of the week, leaving only Friday, Saturday and Sunday night free. No wonder I am tired.

On the knitting front, I am knitting a simple fun fur scarf for a co-worker. It's red and I am dragging my feet on it for some reason. I need to get it finished this week. I am also working on a dropped stitch scarf for myself. It will be a year-round type of scarf. My secret pal at work gave me a ball of Hempathy yarn in a beautiful sage color (sage #07) that I wear often. I have been really thinking about how best to use this yarn and found this little gem on the net. It's not super difficult but you do have to pay attention to it. I am intrigued by it and think it will turn out lovely. I can't wait to find out who gave me the yarn because it really was so perfect.

I better scoot. I am suffering from a bit of insomnia. Not sure what that's all about. LOST is on again and it is better than ever. If you don't watch it WHY? Watch an episode then come back and tell me what you think.

Working Girl

Buy me a drink 'cause this woman just got a job! It's been over 10 years since I have been a contributing member of the workforce so I'm a bit rusty but I know it will all come to me.

I was hired on by the school district as a teacher's aide. Looks like I will be helping students with reading and math. 6 hours per day, days off with the kiddos, summer vacations. Wooo Hooo! What could be better.

Of course, the family already has my first 12 paychecks spent on things we have had to put off buying for the last 10 years. Seems like a Wii is one of the first things on the list. If we can find one. What's the deal with that? I can understand them being hard to find during the Christmas rush but year-round? Hmmm....

On to the creative front...or not. I have been home alone this weekend so you might think I would have done a ton of knitting, scrapping, creating. You'd be sadly mistaken. Basically I slept a lot, ate substandard meals and watched some really cheesy Exorcist movies. Apparently the first one was the only really scary one.

Hey, here's a little factoid for you. The guy who played Grima Wormtongue in Lord of the Rings is the same guy who played Billy Bibbitt in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and he also played in Exorcist III: The Legion. His name is Brad Dourif.

Back to the creativity. I did go over to a friend's house to look at her daughter's new bedroom. I am going to help make curtains and I think we are going to modify twin sheets to make the curtains. I know it's supposed to be uber easy but I have never done it before so I am really looking forward to it.

I think I am off to finish knitting my little soap saver sack thing. I can get it done today if I focus.

Happy Summer.

Yahoo avatars

I have been using My Yahoo a lot lately. Mostly to keep track of my favorite podcasts. However, I lately have started using the calendar feature and I love how it ties in to all of the yahoogroups I belong to.

Tonight I was playing there and found the cutest avatars. So this is my summer look. She's quite a bit cuter than me but it's what I fancy I would look like in my fantasy world. Cheesy, huh?

A bit of good news. It looks like I should have an interview on Wednesday for a J-O-B. It's been 10 years so I am a bit nervous but it will be good if it all pans out.

Off to dreamland.


One last thing...I meant to post a picture of the soap saver thing I talked about in my last entry. It's about halfway done here.

Ravelry accepted ME!!!

I've been accepted by Ravelry! It is completely awesome. Knitters, and crocheters, can track ALL of their projects, see how many others are working on the same projects, keep an inventory of needles, keep an inventory of stash yarn, rate WIPs (works in progress) on a happiness scale and get all kinds of ideas. You can link your blog to ravelry, link your flickr account and just have a great time.

Ravelry is still in beta stage so I am hoping it will be a huge success and last forever!

What else is new? I am working on a cute little soap bag. I picked it up here and it is completely cute. I made one in white but my dad snagged it before I even had a chance to take a picture. I'll get a picture of this one when I am finished with it.

We celebrated niece J's birthday this weekend at the cabin. She is 7! Only 7 more weeks until T's birthday and he will be 7 too. Wonderful weather and good food. Brother and I made homemade onion rings and I think we have finally hit upon the perfect method. Found that here.

C fixed my XM radio antenna in the car. Finally I can actually receive a good signal. Now if I can only get HIM out of the car so I don't have to listen to Squizz all the time. I'm more of a Sunny girl myself.

Great American Pasttime

Was it Tennyson who said "In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ...baseball?" Ahhhh...the roar of the crowd when Jr. knocks the ball out of the field, the groaning and grumbling when the ump makes a bad call, the distraction of a pile of dirt or your best kindergarten buddy on the base you are supposed to be covering during your t-ball game...

I think Tennyson was actually speaking of love but that's probably only because he didn't understand the passion of baseball. Heck, maybe they didn't even have baseball back then. Isn't he English? Wouldn't that make it cricket over there anyway? And obviously cricket and baseball are miles apart.

So, both boys are in baseball. B is in the minor leagues and T is in his second year of t-ball and I, for ill or good, am in my 3rd year as a board member of our local youth baseball association. Why they chose me I will never understand. I do know that I enjoy the games and I get a bit of knitting done so it's all good.

Speaking of the knitting, I attempted a sock and am thinking of frogging the whole thing on account of the wonky bits on the heel. I finished a couple of burp rags for a friend who is having a girl (she has 4 boys, poor woman-she is due for a girl!) and I have a few WIPs on the needles that I have little interest in finishing right now. Here's what I started last night.

It's called the Ballband Dishcloth. It's the pattern that comes on the paper label on Peaches and Creme 100% cotton yarn. T said it looks like blue bricks. The fun thing about it is that it looks best in bold, funky colors. I was thinking pink and orange might look good too so that might be next.

Finally, my new favorite station on XM Satellite Radio is Sunny, Channel 24. I don't know how to describe it but they play lots of stuff. Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, The Beatles, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Jim Croce, Heart, all kinds of stuff. Right now they are playing Eye of the Tiger so I guess it can't all be good. However, if you have the XM, give it a listen.

Felted Spring Tote

So, here's the first felted project I will do. I have already had to frog it once. Ugh. If I get the hang of it I am sure it will come together rather quickly.

Supplies:

*One US #11 30" circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge

*One pair of US #10 double-point needles

*4 locking-ring markers or stitch markers that can slide

*Yarn needle

*Sharp scissors for cutting felted wool

*1 large or 2 small mesh laundry bags

*Washing machine

*Laundry detergent

*"Wool of the Andes" 100% Peruvian wool yarn from Knit Picks:

-7 balls of Fern #23433

-1 ball of Evergreen #23427

-1 ball of Mulled Wine #23423

Instructions:

Finished bag after felting is 11" wide x 10" tall x 4" deep.

Gauge: Using size #11 circular needle and garter stitch: 16 stitches and 28 rows equals 4 1/2".

st(s) = stitch(es)

CO = cast on

BO = bind off

M1 = make one

K = knit

P = purl

Note: The bag body is knit all in one piece. The handles, roses, leaves and stems are knit separately. All pieces are felted in the washing machine and air dried before the bag is assembled. The handles are added after the bag has been assembled. The roses are hand-sewn to the front of the bag.

1. Bag Base - Using Fern yarn and circular needles, CO 60 sts. Do not attach for knitting in the round. K every row for 40 rows.

2. To form sides of bag, pick up and K 20 sts along first short edge of base. Pick up and K 60 sts along next long edge of base. Pick up and K 20 sts along last short edge of base. Note: You should have 160 sts on circular needle.

3. Knitting in the round, P 1, K 58 sts, P 1, place marker. K 18 sts, P 1, place marker, P 1, K 58 sts, P 1, place marker, P 1. K 18 sts, P 1, place marker, P1. Note: The last marker you place marks beginning of round as well as a corner. The four stitch markers mark bag corners. ***I think there is one error in this section. Please read instruction 4 and you will see it says to knit in the round, purling 1 stitch before and after each marker. Anyway, if you go by the diagram below that shows P 1, K 58, P 1, P 1, K 18, etc. you should be just fine.

4. Continue knitting in the round, purling 1 st before and after each marker until bag measures 22" from bottom edge of bag side.

5. Form slots for handles. Beginning on one long edge, K 9 sts after marker. BO 4 sts. K 34 sts. BO 4 sts. K remaining 9 sts before marker.

6. K next 20 sts, purling 1 st before and after each marker.

7. Repeat Steps 5-6 on next long edge.

8. K 9 sts after marker. CO 4 sts and slide onto other needle. Note: Do not knit CO sts. K 34 sts. CO 4 sts and slide onto other needle as before. K 9 sts. Note: There should be 60 sts between markers on long edge.

9. Repeat Step 6.

10. Repeat Step 8. Note: When finished there should be a marker, 60 sts, a marker, 20 sts, a marker, 60 sts, a marker and 20 sts for a total of 120 sts.

11. Finishing bag body - Continue knitting in the round, purling 1 st before and after markers until work measures 1 1/2" from handle openings. BO sts.

12. Handles - Using Fern yarn and double-point needles, CO 5 sts. Work in I-cord pattern for 52". BO sts. Repeat for second handle. Note: Handles should be approximately 22" long once they are felted and attached to bag. If longer handles are desired, continue knitting in I-cord pattern until desired length is achieved.

13. Flower stems - Using Evergreen yarn and double-point needles, CO 3 sts. Work in I-cord pattern for 10"-12". BO sts. Repeat until you have three stems.

14. Leaves - Using Evergreen yarn and circular needle, CO 50 sts. K every row for 34 rows. BO sts. Note: Leaves will be cut from this piece after felting.

15. Roses - Using Mulled Wine yarn and circular needle, CO 35 sts. K every row for 10 rows.

16. Increase: *Row 1: K 1, M 1, K until 1 st from the end, M 1, K 1. Row 2: K. Repeat from * five times until you have 45 sts. BO sts loosely, leaving an 18" tail. Repeat Steps 15-16 until you have three pieces.

17. Fold Mulled Wine pieces in half lengthwise, cast-on edge to bind-off edge. Coil piece around itself to form rose shape. See photo. Using yarn needle and rose tail as thread, hand sew edges together, making sure to secure firmly and catch all edges.

18. Weave in ends for all pieces.

19. Felting - Place knitted items in mesh bag. Set washer on normal cycle, and wash pieces in hot water with no more than 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent for 5-10 minutes. Stop washer and check pieces. Untangle handle and stems if necessary. Repeat until desired finish is achieved. Note: Felting is done when you are not able to see any stitches and bag is desired size. Let washer finish cycle, and spindry pieces.

20. Remove pieces from mesh bag and reshape if necessary. Lay pieces flat to dry, making sure pieces are out of direct sunlight and away from pets. Note: If possible, dry bag over something of similar shpe and size, such as a box or the back of a chair to help bag retain shape. Pieces may take several days to dry. Make sure to turn pieces a few times each day.

21. Finishing - Cut out six leaves from Evergreen knitted pieces.

(These are not to size so you will want to eyeball them. They are about 2 1/2-3" long and about 1 1/2" wide.)

22. Using Evergreen yarn, hand sew stems and leaves to front of bag. See photo. Note: If stems are too long, cut to desired size. Using Mulled Wine yarn, hand sew roses to front of bag, making sure to secure well. Note: Push rose edges away from rose center, and then stitch through center or rose to hide stitches.

23. Push one end of one handle through one slot in bag top, and knot on outside of bag. Repeat for other end of handle. Repeat step for remaining handle. Use fern yarn to hand sew handles securely to bag inside.

There you go. I hope it turns out as cute as in the picture! Happy knitting!