Gibson's Sweater

I decided to do a complete overhaul on the sweater for Gibson. Soon as I saw him, the other just didn’t seem right at all.

However, I’m 90% sure that the neck won’t fit over his noggin. I told my sweetie to bring it back if it doesn’t so I can fix it. I already know how I can modify it with nominal work and have it perfect…but, somehow I get a feeling the sweater won’t come back home. **chuckles**

It seems that Loki has managed to get a bit of foxtail into his paw.  He’s on antibiotics and painkillers as well as a salt bath twice a day and an alcohol pack every night. The vet says there’s a strong chance it will work its way out.  I hope so because the alternative is an $1100 vet bill…

So, of course, I do what I do when I get stressed out, or have people around, or have the ingredients, or …you get the idea…I’m baking  I’m making some bread.  MMMMMMMMmmmmm can’t wait for it to be done so I can have that first, piping hot slice slathered in butter. The real thing…Creamery butter.  Absolutely sinful.

Too precious for words

Well, I decided to put the kibosh on the layette set I was making. Instead, I’m working up a sweater of my own design. It will be a little large so it should fit the tyke come fall/winter time, with room under for a comfy t-shirt or whatever for extra layers. Making it like a little Guernsey. It will be a natural cotton – I’m contemplating using light blue for the cabled areas and then the cuff and neck in the natural like the base of the body. We’ll see. Now to make sure I get the proportions correct on this little sweater so it doesn’t come out all wonky.

We moved last weekend into an RV park in the middle of the Cleveland National Forest. I love it. No, I’m not living in an RV. I’m living in a ‘model’ home. It’s got two rooms, a living room, bathroom, kitchen, patio and fire ring. The view is just excellent, and the park pays for all utilities except propane and TV. It’s a bit more space than what we had before – at nearly a $400/mo savings after everything is considered. Seemed like the smart move. We have satellite television and internet – yes, we are that remote. No phone service. We drive about five miles down the road and call from the lookout…absolutely amazing signal there. **laughs**

Porch view

Friday night, we started up a fire in the fire ring and within five minutes of the smoke hitting the air, one of our neighbors showed up, beer in hand. We visited for several hours, cooked some turkey dogs on the fire and just really enjoyed the evening. The following night, several of the neighbors got together and visited for several hours by a large fire. It was very enjoyable. A little more company than my introverted soul enjoys at one time – but, even so, it was great to discover that we have so many wonderful neighbours. The Grove’s community is just special. Each and everyone we’ve met, so far, has been a pure joy. It has been a very long time since I lived in a place where people not only were curious about their neighbors, but made the effort to get to know them all – and to make it a true community. That is a priceless thing.

Saturday, we went on a major shopping spree to fill the larder. I got three full roasting chickens and popped them in the oven to cook while I put the rest of the groceries away. Then just relaxed on the couch while I came up with the plan and design for Gibson’s sweater. After the chickens finished (3 chickens cooked at 375 for ~2 hours), I pulled them out of the oven and separated the breasts, legs, thighs off of two of the birds and froze them. The third one, I pulled all the meat off, shredded it and put it in a Tupperware container in the fridge – now I’m ready for my recipes that call for chicken in the upcoming week.

The drive

I took the juices from the roasted chickens and dumped it into a stock pot. I added an equal amount of water and then as I was separating and shredding the chickens, I put all the fat, bones, necks, hearts, skins, etc into the stock pot. I added two bay leaves, some oregano and basil, onion (we had a witherd up bi that really needed to get used ASAP), the leaves off the celery and the itty bitty celery hearts, two carrots and a couple mushrooms and left it to boil for two hours. I strained it out and froze the resulting stock – three containers in the freezer prepared for chicken ‘n’ dumplin’s or whatever else I may wish to make that requires chicken stock.

I have planned out a tentative menu for the next few weeks. Nothing for any particular day; but, we went shopping with specific recipes in mind. That being the case, it was really so much more cost effective to purchase several whole chickens and just prepare them at home and make my own stock rather than buying it all in separate bits. We figured it out and we saved approximately $25 doing it this way. A whole chicken cost us $4.11. The breasts (four in the package) were freaking $12. The thighs were $7 for a rather goodly portion. M prefers the dark and I prefer the white, so I tend to cook with a mix of both – it just made buying the whole chicken a lot more cost efficient. And, really, it wasn’t that difficult to do. Sure, it was a touch time consuming to debone and skin them…but, I didn’t have anything pressing to do other than work on Gibson’s sweater. And, an hour to debone and skin three chickens is really not that big a bother – esp when it saves me $25 off my grocery bill!!

The house

Last night, I made a homemade pizza – prepackaged pizza crust (I was feeling lazy), marinara sauce, chicken (from the chickens I roasted on Saturday), chopped asparagus, mushrooms, diced broccoli, diced zucchini, feta and mozzarella. Considering the grumbling from M about some of the ingredients, I was happily surprised when he devoured it. Yay for another successful meal. So, in my moment of happiness, I decided to bake up some brownies. I availed myself of our neighbour Kurt and borrowed some vanilla (yes, people actually do still borrow ingredients from each other – amazing!). I gave him one of the brownies this morning as he headed off to work. **chuckles** These were brownies from scratch, not prepackaged. I had everything except vanilla. I used cacao nibs and cacao powder, sugar, butter (yes, the real deal), flour, vanilla and baking powder. I was informed that the only thing missing was pecans. Since I can’t stand nuts in my food, I disagreed…however, next time I’ll put pecans on his side…and, I think I will try adding cherries to my side. Sounds pretty tasty to me.

When I moved to California and left all my furniture behind in Austin, my bed became my defacto couch, chair and sleeping surface…and, interestingly, my knitting has suffered because of it.

However!!  Thanks to mi novio’s wonderful talent, I now have a knitting bag extrodinare.  It’s based off of his Mamacita design – a diaper bag.  Strange, I know – but…Mamacita is not your typical diaper bag.  It’s a glorified hobo bag.  What he did for me was turned the bottle sleeves into drawstring pockets on one side (the front of my bag) and removed them all together from the other side.  This way, my knitting is easily available.  The drawstring pockets are slightly larger than the bottle sleeves, allowing me to comfortably carry two skeins of yarn and a project.  With all the additional pockets and room, I can carry my project book/magazine and all my notions in the ‘knitting’ area – and still have the central section of the bag to be my ‘real’ purse and the back section to give me easy access to my cell, sunglasses, keys, badge for work, etc.

It is perfect because it eliminates the need to carry my tote (my old knitting bag) and my purse.  It’s all in one.  And, on those occassions when my knitting bag is just more than I want to haul around, he made me what I’ve been calling a “bambina” – he’s calling a “chiquita” – it’s an adorable, little bag that’s just big enough to carry my wallet, comb, lip gloss, keys and cell phone.  And, best of all – it matches my knitting bag. **grins**  How great is that?

So, with such a wonderful gift – I’ve been back to knitting while standing in queue and otherwise finding five minutes here or there with nothing to do with my hands.  It’s getting me back on the knitting track so I can do this to my poor Loki.

I suppose my priority list should be Megan’s jacket and bonnet and booties (won’t take long) and Paco’s kiddo’s blanket. Then I can split my time between Mike’s socks and Mica’s shawl. Given how fine Mica’s shawl is, I’ll need the break. I’m making here the “Cobweb Crepe Shawl Project 5″ from Heirloom Knitting by Sharon Miller.  I don’t have any photos; but, when Mike gets back from Mazatlán, I’ll ask him to take some photos of the projects.

Or, I’ll see if I can get my camera in working order.  It’s being really weird, lately, and burning out batteries within minute – literally.

I really haven’t been up to a whole lot with Mike gone.  On Wednesday, I got hit with a migraine for the first time since December.  I’m 90% sure it was stress and depression combined that kicked it off.  Though I’m not sure depression is the right word.  Maybe “the mopes” would be better.

I had oral surgery on the 19th and the stitches got caught in my toothbrush on Thursday and ripped out.  It has hurt like crazy ever since.  I’m just hoping nothing gets infected.

Anyway – back to my knitting…and, I’ll work on getting those photos up!

I finished up the seed block blanket I was working on and gave it to Mike. No photo of the finished project. I’ll try to get one the next time I’m down on Liberty. He absolutely loved the blanket. It’s the perfect size for traveling on the bus or just curling up under. I certainly wouldn’t use it as a afghan; but, it suits the purpose for which it was created. That purpose being a small blanket for tossing over your lap or used while traveling. It’s big enough to cover you in a bus/airplane/car seat without being obnoxious.

There are currently two projects in the works. One is a baby blanket for Paco’s latest addition. I’ve been designing/working on it for forever, it seems – and, it’s slowly coming to a finish. I figure by the time the newborn is a toddler, I should have it finished. Here’s hoping it actually lays flat when I finish – I’m working from the outside in, which is always a challenge. For some reason working outside in has more issues with laying flat than working from the center out.

I had to order more yarn.  I had no idea I’d burn through so much!  I get a feeling this blanket is going to be a lot larger than I anticipated.  Not a problem in the least – but, when you figure I’m working on US 3 / 3.25 mm size needles…well, it does take a bit of time to finish a project.  Especially when you get a bit bored by the repetitive nature of the pattern.  I do enjoy how it is turning out, mistakes and all.  The people receiving it will love it no matter what it looks like; but, it’s nice to be happy with something you are designing and creating yourself.

As there is so much of just a single stitch (knit, knit, knit, knit…yeah), the project can get a bit tedious at times, so I am also working on a pair of twisted rib socks for myself.  They are being knit on a pair of US 1/ 2.25mm needles.  I lost the band to the yarn so I’m not sure exactly what it’s called, though I know it’s a German import.  I love it…except that it splits like crazy!  Ah well, c’est la vie.  I like how it feels knit up; and, will enjoy wearing them after I’m done…and, it serves its purpose of giving me a break from the incessant knit stitch from the baby blanket.

We went out dancing at Swallow’s Inn, last night.  I’d forgotten how much I love that dance floor.  It’s tiny, but a pure joy to dance on.  Mike and I were receiving all sorts of compliments from people.  It was a little disconcerting; but, I do have to admit it’s nice to have your ego stroked like that, sometimes.  I always enjoy listening to the Honky Tonk Kings.  They are a good band that understands the difference between good listening music and good dancing music.  I wish more bands could figure that out.  They had a good number of people up from San Diego to support them, which I thought was wonderful.  Ken even showed up – which was a surprise.  For some reason, I’d believed he wasn’t going to be there.  I always enjoy getting to dance with him.

As for the Honky Tonk Kings…they will always have a special place in my mind/memories.  I originally met them when they played at Swallow’s Inn in August.  They were the group that wound up causing me to start making the drive south to San Diego and the Renegade every weekend. Which is where/how I met Mike.  Lot to be thankful for, there. Amusing that the guy who the first thing I noticed was that he was in my way has wound up being such an intrinsic part of my life.  Isn’t it interesting how life takes its various twists and turns to get you someplace you had no idea you needed/wanted to be?

Speaking of said fellow…I think it’s time I grabbed my knitting and went and curled up with him for a while to watch one of our favorite shows, “How It’s Made“.  And, if it strikes his fancy, maybe I’ll make a London broil with Yorkshire pudding and English peas (or green beans) for dinner.

Anyway, I needed a pick me up.  The STR colourway I’d been using for a set of RPM socks got frogged.  I just couldn’t make myself enjoy the knitting of the pattern.  And, if I’m not enjoying it, why am I doing it?  Seriously, it’s a hobby, not a job…so, yeah.  Out came the work I’d done on the RPM pattern.  Then I dug around the house and found a pattern I liked in one of my very few sock pattern books (Folk Socks by Nancy Bush).  I chose the Mamluke pattern and am doing it, unlike her natural and blue afair, in black and Firebird.  Mmmmmm tasty.  I love how it’s turning out and it’s just the spark I need to cheer me up.  It’s obvious I love how it’s turning out, or I’d have stopped quite a while back.  I despise the black yarn (Wildfoote).  It splits and…it’s just not my yarn of choice.  But, I had it in my stash from an aborted sock request from a couple of years ago and so it got chosen as the background colour of choice.  None of the other colours would have done the Firebird justice.

As for what’s got me down?  Well – people are rarely what they portray themselves to be.  It’s rare that you find one who truly seems to be 100% genuine.  And, when – after a while – the facade shatters and the real person is let come forth into the true light of day.  Well.  Rarely is it something that one would wish to actually look at too closely.  So, I’m doing some house cleaning, so to speak.

I try very hard to be who I am.  I don’t lie to people – even when it hurts or alienates them.  I try very hard to be forthright and honest and up front.  I actually lost one person I adore because of being honest.  I could probably have strung them along while I tested an opportunity that had presented itself.  Instead, I was honest and forthright – and, I will probably never hear from them again.  While I will miss them, I can still feel good about myself because I honoured my standards and stayed honest and upfront.  I’m sure there are parts of myself I’d rather not have bandied about under a mega-watt bulb.  But, I do my best to be comfortable with all I say and do, so that I am never ashamed of myself.  I have enough baggage from before I learned to be so forthright.  I certainly don’t need to add more to it!

So, cleaning house and getting rid of leeches and slugs and other such things that find themselves hiding in the dark.  It will be a trying and nerve wracking time.  But, I think, at the end of it all – when it’s all said and done – that I will be better for having done it.  But…in the mean time…to see me through…I have colour!  Bright, popping, zapping, in your face colour…and it is good.

The book? The Thermodynamic Universe.

Sidharth’s new paradigm has been dubbed “fuzzy spacetime.” Its core principle is that the physical laws that govern the Universe were not set a priori at the moment of the Big Bang, but have arisen as a result of fluctuations occurring among particles and fields. For example, both the velocity of light and the value of the gravitational constant are not arbitrary numbers, but can be deduced from thermodynamic and stochastic considerations.

The first two chapters summarize the mainstream approach to physics and posit the viability of emergent laws. Subsequent chapters summarize Sidharth’s “universe of fluctuations,” and show how it can be applied to describe phenomena on both the largest and smallest scales of nature. Several surprising revelations follow. For example, dark energy, which came as a shock when it was discovered by mainstream cosmologists in 1998, is actually a logical consequence of fuzzy spacetime; the theory predicts that the Universe’s expansion will be accelerating via a small cosmological constant. Additionally, a series of so-called “large number coincidences”—links between seemingly unrelated physical values—can be satisfactorily explained by Sidharth’s framework.

I have two other books that I’m looking forward to getting at some point, too. But, with finances how they are, I’m having to wait until I can get killer deals on them as well. The two books? The Eclectic Sole and New Pathways for Sock Knitters.

So far – I’m really enjoying how it’s turning out.

Here’s a close up of the latest stitch being used in the pattern. I’m not positive it will be the last stitch used. I do have a lot of blanket left to knit still, so things may change. I really like this current stitch I’m doing. It’s a fairly time consuming stitch; but, I love the results. This stitch I actually came across in the Wrap-Me-Up-Shawl and modified it so it would work in the round and decrease appropriately. Now that shawl is definitely a worthy knit. I’ve seen a few of them completed and hope to be able to make one one of these days. I just need to find an affordable way of making it.

My mother finished the king sized quilt she’s been working on for me for years. I love it!

Then, if that weren’t enough to blow me away – Daddy gave me a spinning wheel! He made it out of jarrah wood. It’s got ash splines in the wheel; but, otherwise, it’s 100% jarrah. It’s gorgeous and the weight of it is surreal. It definitely won’t be walking across the floor when I use it.

Plus a gorgeous cedar box. And, Dad let me play with his lathe and make myself a jarrah rolling pin out of the left over wood. How much does my Daddy love me? Well, he found out he was allergic to jarrah when he started making the wheel. Yet, he pushed on through and finished it for me – in a wood he’s allergic to!

Finally, we pieced together the family blanket. Each of the blocks was made by someone in the family:

Emily – age 10 – did the brown and blue variegated squares.
Jessica – age 12 – did the rainbow variegated squares.
Jason – age 17 – did the ivory squares.
Julia – my sister – did the maroon squares.
I did the oatmeal squares.
Mom did the green squares.

I did a key square to fill the one spot that was left empty. As you can see, not everyone got their full number of squares done.

I love how it turned out.

Photos:

They all opened their presents at the same time and loved them. I managed to select the perfect colours for each of them. Yay!

Then the cuteness overload began:

Of course, who can focus on just the knitting when there are so many other wonderful things going on and so much wonderful family and laughter?

I am going to cheat and just post the whole crew here, to help keep the post from going way overboard in the photo area – but, I am so glad to be a part of this family. I can’t even begin to explain how much they mean to me – each and every one of them.

Back Row (left to right): Grace, Emily, Matt, Jessica, Deborah, Wayne
Front Row (left to right): Bryan, Kaylee, Lesli, Dianne, Robert, Helen, Carol, Delbert, Julia

If only Jaz had been there, it would have been perfect. As it was, we all thought of him and called to let him know he was missed and loved.