- Of Christmas
We are visiting the in-laws soon so I need to wrap their Christmas presents. However, SmallFry’s fondness for tape has left me with a little problem. There is no tape to be found in the house. Do you think it would be considered cruel or insulting if I were to glue the wrapping paper to their presents? Would I be invited back next year? My friend GG says that it would make a great experiment in human behavior. What do you think? Should I try it in the name of science? - Of car repairs
We have the misfortune of owning a Jeep Liberty. One of those with the window defect which makes the windows fall into the door without warning and for no apparent reason. We have owned the vehicle for a little over a year and we have had 5 repairs on the windows, two in the last three weeks. Note: This amounts to one more repair than the number of windows in the vehicle.Thursday we got the vehicle back from it’s most recent visit to the repair shop. Yesterday while visiting some friends, I was recounting the tale of the most recent repair adventures. We were laughing over the thoughts of me driving with one hand on the steering wheel and one on the window. I assure you, this is not an easy or safe way to drive. How do you signal that you are planning to turn? How do you turn on the wipers or dim the lights?
During this conversation, it started raining. Really raining. The kind of rain that would have made Noah’s neighbors start building their own arks. My friend turned to me with the most earnest expression and said “I hope your windows are up.” We all burst into hysterical laughter. When I could breathe again I replied, “So do I, man. So do I.” But with that silly Jeep, you never really know.
- Of rainstorms
The good news is we made it to the Jeep and the window was still up. The bad news is that we were all drenched. When we made it home, I stopped the Jeep in the driveway so I could get the mail. I hurried across the road to get my mail, stepped into a puddle that soaked my jeans to my knees and reached in the mailbox to find…a stupid sale ad. I stepped knee-deep in ice cold water for a sale ad. Some days you just can’t win. - Of ladybugs
Everyone thinks that ladybugs are wonderful bugs but I would like to share a few little known facts about ladybugs that show a different side of the little nuisances.
Fact 1 – Ladybugs like to hibernate indoors and together. Unless your home is extremely well insulated these little buggies can find a way into your home for a winter snooze.
Fact 2 – Ladybugs stink. When threatened ladybugs give off a rather disgusting odor to convince predators that they taste bad.
Fact 3 – Ladybugs are small and move rather quickly into places where you do not want them, particularly in areas of high humidity.
Fact 4 – Contrary to popular belief, ladybugs can and do bite when properly provoked. Trust me on this.These ladybug facts bring me to my final rambling. Yesterday, I gathered my jeans and tee-shirt from the dryer and went to the bathroom for a shower. I placed my clothing on the back of the toilet while I showered (we have a really small bathroom so that is the only “shelf” available). I enjoyed a lovely hot shower and got dressed. I went to my room to put on my shoes and noticed a weird feeling on my leg. A rapidly realized that I had a ladybug in my pants. After a hurried apology to the kids (that the kids said reminded them of Dean from The Iron Giant), I shed the jeans but not before the aforementioned ladybug felt properly threatened. Yup! I got bitten and stinked. I hate ladybugs.
Next post, I will talk about knitting.
Author: tabitha
KUI*
*Knitting Under the Influence
This week has been a slow week for knitting for me. I have had allergy problems most of the week and have been spending too much time with my friend Zyrtec. Unfortunately, though it helps with the allergies, Zyrtec messes with my head. I get just fuzzy-headed enough to be dangerous with a knitting needle. So here is what most of my knitting for the week looks like.
Hopefully, I will have been luck next week.
Going Green
What do you get when you cross Arwen Wrap with Watercress.
This
The yarn is Valley Yarns Northfield in Watercress colorway. Color is more accurate in this photo.
If you are wondering about the blob on the left side of the photo. That is the second half of the wrap. I am knitting both halves at once which is going unexpectedly well. I am pleasantly surprised with the results of the stitch pattern in this color. Doesn’t it just say Hello Spring. (Yes, I am tired of winter already)
Of Turkey and Temperatures
Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in the US which means turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. This tradition requires an insane amount of cooking, most of it necessitating an oven. Fortunately, yesterday was also the first cold day we have had this fall. Somehow, you don’t mind having the oven on all day when it is cold out.
The whole family got involved in the preparations for the meal. Everyone ooohed and aaahhed over the lovely turkey that I cooked. The meal was served on the good china and flatware. Everything was just like a scene from Norman Rockwell – except for the fact that we spent the day in our fleece pajamas. Only Hubs, who had to make the Cliff Huxtable run to the store for that missing ingredient, got dressed yesterday.
After all the cooking and eating was done, we settled down to the only sensible way to spend an afternoon – knitting and a movie or two. I am wondering if sedation is a side effect of turkey overdose. The kids didn’t even argue over which movie to watch. I was one of the nicest days we have had in ages.
Now for the important question – what do you knit on a cold and lazy Thanksgiving Day afternoon? Why a wrap, of course!
Arwen Wrap to be exact.
My latest design is a wrap worthy of Arwen. The scallops in the border echo the hilt of the sword of her beloved. The lacy body reflects the peaceful elven beauty of her Rivendell home.
Despite its complicated look, the wrap is quick to knit due to the larger yarn and large needles. The wrap is knit in the positively dreamy Valley Yarns Northfield from WEBS. The 70% Merino/20% Baby Alpaca/10% Silk yarn is outrageously soft, has fantastic stitch definition but, at the same time, provides excellent drape – all the features you want in a wrap. This color is Chestnut – a deep, orangey brown that surprised me with its color depth. I don’t generally like browns but I am head-over-heels for this color.
Obviously, that wrap is not the one I worked on yesterday since it is quite complete. The one I am currently knitting is in Watercress – a deep rich green that should transition well into spring and early summer. It is a bit crowded on the needle since I am knitting both halves at once. The color is richer in person.
The rectangular wrap is knit in two identical pieces and then grafted together at the center. Pattern contains full written and charted instructions. The pattern is available as a download from Ravelry and in print version from my etsy store.
$7.00
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MacGyverisms
They say necessity is the mother of invention. There’s a lot of wisdom in that statement. This morning we discovered just how inventive you can get when necessary. PrincessButtercup has a set of Crystalites knitting needles. While the needles are really pretty, they aren’t incredibly practical for knitting as the plastic is quite brittle so they break easily. This morning, she was knitting on a scarf on the way to church. Dad hit a bump at exactly the wrong moment and snap went the needle. PBC and I began a frantic search for a spare needle in our knitting bags. My bag was empty but PBC had a double pointed needle. She said “If I had a point protector, I could use this dpn.” Unfortunately, neither of us had a point protector in our knitting bags. Then we began to search knitting bags, purses, and the console of the car for something to use as a substitute. Stitch counter – too loose. Eraser – not big enough. End cap to interchangeable needles – didn’t fit needle. We didn’t even have any duct tape. At the bottom of PBC’s purse however, we discovered the solution. A pony tail holder. We wrapped the pony tail holder tightly around one end of the double pointed needle and Voila! Instant straight needle. PBC had the tools she needed to continue knitting. MacGyver would have been proud.
My latest design is a lot like that. At the request of a friend, I recently designed a cowl. While cowls are hugely popular, I am not their biggest fan. They look really nice but you have to muss your hair to put them on and to remove them. In my eyes, that is not terribly practical. So I started trying to think of a way to get a cowl-like scarf that would give you that great splash of color at your neck but that didn’t muss your hair and makeup when you removed it.
My solution: Arwen Keyhole Scarf.
It keeps your neck warm and gives you that great splash of color at the throat but it is simpler to put on.
Just wrap one end around your neck and thread the other end through the clever little keyhole at the other end. I think even MacGyver would approve of this design
Pattern is available for download through Ravelry
$3.00
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I am also excited to announce that the entire Arwen collection is now available as an ebook at a discounted price. Arwen’s Elven Accessories is available as a download through Ravelry.
$10.50
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