Eat Like a Bird, Really?

Shortly after moving into our new home, we put out a bird feeder with black oil sunflower seeds.  Honey would fill it once a week, and then he needed to fill it twice a week, and this past week, he filled it three times.

Yesterday we purchased another LARGER feeder.  This morning both feeders were full when we went to town.  In the last three hours we have had non-stop flying piglets visiting the feeders.

It was wonderful sitting on the cold wet deck, trying to capture the chaos of our feeders.  Birds are chirping, swooping in from the back woods, grabbing a seed or two, and departing. 

Business Casual Meets the Chart

I was moving along quite nicely with the Business Casual KAL.  Yet, often, when traveling stitches met/crossed, they didn't all do it at the same time.  Something was amiss!

I read the pattern several times and still couldn't figure out where I had gone wrong.

I am a chart knitter and when I have the option to knit off a chart, I prefer the chart.  So, I made my own chart and finally, I saw what was in the pattern all along!

After frogging one pattern repeat to get those traveling stitches where they should be, I am back at it again.

It will be lovely to be knitting fresh yarn again!

I have ditched the cable needle and twisting my stitches without the needle!

Loving the Business Casual KAL

A picture from Monday, socks have one more diamond to them

No current pics today, just a quick entry! 

After the rather complicated reverse cable of the Every Way Wrap, these socks are a great change.

Still a "cable" stitch, so to speak, but, in the words of one of my students, "easy peasy, lemon squeezy"!  Will look into doing the traveling stitches without the cable needle.

Once I got the traveling stitches set up, I ditched the pattern.  Added another set of "diamonds" to the socks since above picture was taken yesterday.

Parent/Teacher's conferences at work yesterday and today.  Yesterday was a 10 1/2 hour day, today is a half day.  Hoping to get home and add another "diamond" or so to the socks! 

Quick Business Casual KAL Update

Changed the pattern on the Business Casual KAL as I am knitting toe up, my favorite way to knit socks.  I  have already ditched the pattern.  After the Every Way Wrap and it's reverse cable, these traveling stitches are a breeze

My First KAL~Business Casual Socks

When I first saw this pattern, I thought it was very cool, but I had to finish my Every Way Wrap before casting on any new projects; I knew it was the only way I'd finish the wrap.  This pattern is being done as a KAL, I have never done one, and I am about 2 weeks behind. 

Yesterday we had our monthly Knit2tegether, and I attempted to cast on multiple times.  I do not like knitting cuff down, attempted the stretchy cast on for them cuff down on the Magic Loop just was NOT working!

I sat there for the longest time, trying to figure out how to adapt the pattern to toe up.  Calculator in hand, looking at the pattern, casting on, frogging casting on again.  Then an "uh, DUH!" moment when I it hit me, all I have to do is cast on, do the toe until I have the 64 inches and follow the pattern that way!  DUH, indeed!

In addition to the issues I was creating with this pattern, I wasn't too happy with my choice of yarn.

We often have a yarn stash-busting swap.  I don't really have a huge stash, have never bought yarn for the sake of buying yarn, unless it is sock yarn, so I normally don't bring yarn; then feel guilty when I take yarn home!  Then I spied this little skein of yarn needing a new home.

Upon returning home, I made a few more attempts at casting on with my first choice of yarn before leaving for our family game night and dinner at my mom's.

First thing this morning, I grabbed my coffee, swift, and ball winder and made these two little cakes of yarn (after first taking pictures of the skein):

Note to self:  keep first cup of coffee far away from swift and ball winder -- my cup had quite a lot of fiber floating in it!!!

I am off to cast on my Business Casual Socks with this new yarn.  Hmmmm, now that I look at the yarn, it looks a lot like the yarn from my Happy Feet Socks! 

Moving On....and a KAL

It is Valentine's Day and our friends are getting married "after work".  My honey and I were asked to be witnesses, and every time I have things planned for after work, it seems that something happens and I'm always late, so I took a personal day.

I have spent the day getting things done that I never seem to find time for.  Personal phone calls and such that I can't seem to get to during "business hours" when I'm at work, as well as some work related things, and cleaning and organizing.  My Rav4 and dog have appointments.  Loads 3 and 4 are in the washer and dryer, 1 and 2 have been folded and put away.

In between getting chores done, I have been knitting.  I am enjoying having the Every Way Wrap off the needles.  In about an hour I will head to town to pick up some items from town, and swing by the yarn store to see what they have for shawl pins, then it will be truly done!

In the mean time, I am moving on to my Dalekanium Socks.  I have been working for an hour or so, then sit and do a round/row. Have managed an inch or more.  Still not sure if I want to knit the Seeds and Vines baby sweater with the needles I used to knit the swatch.

Now it is back to chores.  Our furniture should be arriving soon, so most of my craft items went into storage off our bedroom today; the office/guest/craft room is a bit of a mess. The dryer just went off, and it's time for me to find something for lunch.

ETA:  I have decided to join the Business Casual KAL, but first, off to town for shopping and a shawl pin before time gets away from me!

Finally Finished!

The Every Way Wrap is done!  The first of the year, I told myself I couldn't cast on anything until I finished the Every Way Wrap, and set myself a 'deadline' of completing it BEFORE the one year anniversary of the cast on of March 30.

I have spent some time on my Dalekanium Socks, and completed a Dish Cloth during training, but most of my knitting, since January 1, 2013, has been on my Every Way Wrap.  I have completed more than 1/2 of the wrap since that date.  And now?  She is done!!!!  Well, kind of, still need to sew buttons on, and find, or make, a way cool shawl pin!  I will have to see if my honey can take pictures of me with it on when she is 100% complete with buttons and a shawl pin.

Not enough of those "blocking squares, so I had to improvise.  The wrap is still damp so it is hanging on my banister.  Will put buttons on tonight.

The little lilac swatch is for my next project.  Recommended needle size gave me too loose of a fabric and are not to gauge.

WIP update

I have focused on my Every Way Wrap, so my Dalekanium Socks have sat and not grown any larger, so no need to post pictures of them here.

I am finally on the last pattern repeat, then 5 inches of 2x2 rib.  This will be competed before the year anniversary of the cast on.  I was beginning to think that the knitting Gods were messing with me.  I would count the pattern repeats, and come up with 16, knit the pattern, count the pattern repeats and AGAIN come up with 16 (the number of repeats needed for as per the pattern).

I am not sure if the 16 repeats will be long enough.  In addition to the small ball left on the skein I'm knitting from now, I have two more skeins.  I will check to see if it is long enough for me before the rib pattern.

But right now, as I type, I am on the last pattern repeat as per the pattern.

Last Monday I had training and grabbed my needles and cotton yarn and whipped out another dish cloth.   It was the first time I encountered a presenter that was not impressed with someone knitting.  Part of the training was on classroom/behavior management.  Whenever the presenter would give an example of dealing with unwanted behaviors, it was always my knitting!  LOL  Maybe I should send her the wash cloth!

Quick Wee Post

It is Saturday morning, and as I do every Saturday, I drink my coffee and read blog posts.

And

I put off going to Weight Watchers--I try to eat healthy, but it is so hard, especially when there are stressful things going on in my life (just a little too much drama at work lately, and I'll leave it at that "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.").  The scale scares me this weekend.

Yesterday I had training and had to leave my students in the hands of a sub. 

I subbed for two years while waiting for a full-time position way back in the early 1990's.  Some of my fondest memories of teaching come from subbing, as well as some of the worst teaching days of life!

I never want my class to be the class that scares subs away; never want my students to be the ones to cause someone to go home in tears (been there, done that!).

I have always told my students to be nicer to the sub than to me.  I have shared how hard it is to sub, and have taught them to be good host/hostess to the guest in our room.  I have played "okay, I'm a sub, I don't know where anything is, can you tell me what book your teacher uses with you?"

My kiddos made me proud.  The sub texted me at the end of the day:

All done.  The kids were very very good.  Thanks for letting me sub for you.  Had a rough week subbing at the middle school and your class was a great way to end the week!  Would be happy to come back any time, just let me know!

When I thanked her and said I had good kids, her reply, "they have a good momma!  You are a great teacher and it shows in your students."

Awwww!  Moments like this are few and far between in teaching, and after all the drama this past week dealing with difficult a coworker, this too was what I needed to end my week!!!

okay the scale at Weight Watchers awaits me....  :-(