Bird's Nest Knits

Where to begin..

A blog is a lot like weeding your garden.  A little maintenance here and there and it looks lovely.  But sometimes, life gets in the way, work gets a little busy, the needles start to get dusty, and you realize that you haven't knit a full row in over a month.  You start to forget how much pleasure the delicate stitches gave you, and the comfort a tube of stockinette could provide.  The effort of picking up an unfinished object to figure out where you'd left off weeks and weeks ago seems too much trouble.  You become ashamed.  Reluctant.  The excuse that posting with so little knitting to show for yourself gets in the way of actually writing anything.

If you let it go, a week maybe four, ten minutes of pulling the odd weed here and there turns into a full days work usually involving a machete, the neighbor's weed wacker and 911 on speed dial in case either gets a little out of control.  This is where I find myself.  A backyard filled with 6 foot tall weeds without a machete in sight and the only thing to do my much needed maintenance with is a butter knife.

To say that I haven't been knitting at all is not entirely true.  I have in my brief and sadly rare moments spent time working on Mariah's sleeves, still not quite done yet, and also a pair of worsted weight socks.  The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill worsted weight in this wonderfully plummy color.  I started out planning to make them into knee highs but realized that it wouldn't be all that flattering on me and I didnt remember to put in calf shaping, or a stretchy enough bind off at the cuff.  Definitely a downer when you can't get your socks on.

My sister tried them on and they dont fit her either so its not entirely my chubby feet at fault here.

March in San Diego is the beginning of a long extended summer for us.  With the change of Daylight Savings Time, the longer days have allowed me to spend more time with Lila the WonderDog.  She's starting to grey around the muzzle, reminding me that life is so short, and I've only got a few years left with my darling fur child.  I dread that day coming, and try to enjoy every moment I have with her.

That stuffed animal she's got in her mouth is a hedgehog that she loves with all her little heart.  She'll carry that thing around all day and then bing it to bed with her.  It's lasted nearly three weeks and now there is a bit of a split down the center of it.  It'll have to go into the trash soon but I'll leave it with her as long as I can.

With the longer days has come warmer weather as well, and I've taken advantage of it to start my spring planting.  Tomatoes, strawberries, green beans, radishes, cucumbers, and peppers are all on the agenda this year.  Last year's blueberries are starting to flower, as well as the wee nectarine and tangerine trees I have in pots so I'm hoping for a really great harvest of wonderful home grown produce.

Clockwise from the top: 
Nectarine flowers, Tomatoes, Blueberries, and Tangerines

Does anyone out in blogland know how to get rid of aphids?  They have over taken my roses and are absolutely decimating the buds.  Check out the grossness:

Digging myself out of a hole

My poor blog has suffered of late.  Cast aside in the face of endless hours of work, much shaking of fist at Microsoft over the whole Daylight Savings Time change and the havoc that it wreaks, wrecks?  I've been completely drowned in work, and only today has there been even a hint of an end.   I haven't even had a chance to barely do any knitting, and my mood has suffered for it.  I even missed out on meeting up with the usual suspects at Rebecca's last weekend,  But finally, finally, sweet Jesus Mary and Juan Valdez.. FINALLY - it's time to relax and unwind at last. 

Last night I managed to pick up Mariah - the only big project that I'm working on, and will work on until I'm done with her (socks do not count, and lace might not count either - I haven't decided yet).  I'd forgotten how much I love the cabling, and discovered that armed with my Knitpicks Pattern Holder (love this thing - you must get one) I can actually knit pretty challenging cable while watching TV. 

I am about 2/3 of the way done with the sleeves, all sorts of modifications to the body brewing in my head.  Lengthening, adding short rows at the boobal area, no hood, maybe a button front instead of a zipper, or even a pullover instead of cardigan, maybe a collar - oh the possibilities.    It's going to go to my sister I think, unless I decide that I want to keep it for myself.  Considering I'm significantly more.. um.. ample than she is - I'd better decide soon.

Not content with just knitting - I've taken a stab at sewing as well.  Here is an even more neglected dress - which will probably remain neglected till closer to summer.  It just needs to be seamed up the sides - which is what - 10 minutes?  If even that.  But no - I revel in my slackmaster like abilities.

I think it's going to be darn cute, and the boobages will be flirtily on display.  And you can't underestimate the value of flirty boobs.

As if I didn't have enough junk laying around related to various hobbies, I've also tried my hand at wire jewelry.  This is pretty darn fun.  Note for the day:  The higher the number "gauge"  the thinner the wire.  These earrings were super easy to whip up but the wire I used was a little too delicate so if you yank on them they will definitely bend out of shape.  Purty though - gifts for a few teenage girls I know.

On a more personal note, I found out that my parents were sick when they went to Vietnam.  No it wasnt birdflu.  They both got chest x-rays and the doctor there found a mass in my dad's left lung.  The big C word was whispered about, and my sister and I freaked out quietly.  When he got home he went to his regular doctor, got scanned again.  No cancer - it was pneumonia.

My dad's a crusty old sort - and it's much too soon for him to go anywhere.

I missed you blogland - glad to be back.

New beginnings

With the beginning of a New Year it seems rather auspicious to also be heralding the birth of a new child (a future knitter surely).

Sophie Arabella was born to Heidi and Mr. Absinthe on Friday, Jan 12, 2007, @ 2:58 PM.  A healthy bairn at 8 lbs 11 oz, 22.5".  Mama and baby are doing well and Sophie is the most beautiful wee thing.    Makes me ovaries twitch I tell you.  Parents are tired but happy and so in love with the fruit of their loins!

In the mail was this lovely little gem from the Sexy Knitters Club for the  Sizzle knit a long.  Filled with naughty little knit items.  I don't see myself knitting a cotton bikini anytime soon but there are a few items in there that I have my eye on.

As far as my own knitting goes, Mariah has been resurrected from the ashes and I'm enjoying the cable work.  After some time and much experience - Mariah the second time around is a lot more engaging and I'm looking forward to getting it done soon and have a few modifications in mind.

2006 Out with a Bloom

A Primrose bloom that is.  I closed out 2006 with a finished object - not a bad project to finish with either - considering that Heidi's about to pop any day now.  The only thing left to do is to find a couple of pretty snaps for the front.   My contribution to the Stranded Knit Along is done!

All in all - despite the bazillion ends to weave in - this was a really fun project and the yarn was really nice to work with, resulting in a lovely fluffy warm fabric with the sheen of silk and the softness of baby alpaca.   I made a few changes to the original pattern.  The sleeves were knit in a solid color instead of continuing the fair isle pattern.  I picked up stitches around the armhole and knit in the round with a few subtle decreases after the elbow.  I think the solid sets off the colorful fair isle very well, and by the time the sleeves came around I was tired of the finicky-ness of having to fiddle with the stranding.

Pattern: Primrose by Louisa Harding
Yarn: Knitpicks Elegance 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk
Needles: Knitpicks Options Size 5
Started: November 28th, 2006
Completed: December 27th, 2006

Come on - you know you want to peek at the wrong side...

I think that some pearly snaps for the front would be really nice.

Happy New Year to you - and here's a cup of tea while I enjoy one of my own.

Joy to the World...

A heartful holiday greeting to you all.  Regardless if its Christmas, Hannukah, Yule, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice in your home - may it be filled with laughter and love.   From the bird's nest to your nest...

Peace be with you.

The prodigal Hamster returns

Ted is back safe and sound, there were no bloody hamster parts strewn over my back yard.  I left his cage open on the ground and sometime during the next night he climbed back in.  I dont think I've ever been so glad to hear his squeaky wheel.

Thanks for all your good vibes sent this way - the furry hammy will live another day

Hamster on the Lam - aka I'm a terrible mother

Hamster missing.  Bait set out.  Dog not talking.

Coming up roses...

Primroses that is.  Moving along on the finishing - I went ahead and seamed up one of the fronts to the back piece and tucked in all the ends during some TV watching last night.  I'm not terribly ashamed to show the wrong side of the work and the tension is coming out pretty nicely.  I weaved the gajillion (which is 100 x gazillion)  ends into the seam and it turned out.  Its not a perfect seam - the yarn ends were making it hard to pick up the bars in mattress stitch, and I knew I should have done a selvage and knit every end, and moved in the decreases a couple of stitches etc etc.  But I think it's turning out pretty damn awesome myself.  The Knit Picks Elegance yarn is really nice to work with and the stitches are coming out really pretty.  I can't wait to soak it and block it out again to see how well the yarn blooms.

I have just picked up the stitches for the arm and am knitting those in the round in a solid color to match the ribbing.  I think it will come out quite nicely and gets me out of doing any more Fair Isle.  A fun technique to be sure but those ends are a bitch.  The colors I picked are not too girly but nice and bright and happy.  I will definately be able to get this done before the new year and before Absinthe the Revenge pops out.

So what might a furry child be so intently staring into the bottom of the bathtub for?   None other than Ted E. McSnackersons!  I made sure that Lila stayed seated - and she was enthralled by Ted's cutiful fuzzy buttness while I cleaned out Castle Stinkenstein.    There was one attempt to climb into the tub that was cut short and I was given the look.  You know the look.  The "You are such a mean mean mommy that I must now go eat worms."  Thats life kiddo - you can't smell the hamster's butt just because you want to.  And this ain't a democracy.

It's a good thing he is so cute or he'd be a kabob by now.

Just to prove that I have zero sense of self control - and why I do not manage the finances in my house hold - I'd be holding afternoon tea in the west wing of my Kenmore Fridge box...  Some retail therapy and yarn porn. 

Curious Creek Fibers Serengeti (I loooove this stuff) in the Glacier Lakes colorway.  I'm thinking will be a pair of fingerless gloves for me.

To there and back again

So as an early birthday present, Mr Bird took me up to Napa Valley to a shi-shi resort for the weekend.  We even got to bring our darling dog-child, and a good time was had by all.  The drive up was brutal - getting caught in the morning traffic in LA AND afternoon traffic going past Vallejo added nearly 3 hours to the trip bringing it to a mind numbing 11 hours.   The package included a couple of massages and dinner at their restaurant (very good for a hotel restaurant btw) each night and a "Pampered Pet" package.  There were lots of stops on the way up to try to get the pooch to run around a bit and stretch her legs - she was a trooper the whole weekend.

We were unlucky enough to get stormed in a good portion of the weekend so there was quite a bit of knitting done.  I got to work on Primrose and got both the front pieces done (knit at the same time).  There is a mistake on one of the fronts but there is no way in Helllllll I'm going to frog that sucker and reknit it for one row.  Do you see all those ends?  No way.  I'd rather peel my eyeballs like grapes.

Now I'll seam the front and back, and then do the sleeves in the round I think.   Going down the final stretch wooo hoo!

Considering how complicated the chart was for the fair isle Primrose - I had to have an easy project for the cart.  Nothing fulfills that need like a stockinette sock in delicious Curious Creek's Serengeti in Plum Thunder.   I am so in love with this color.  I'm going to do a short row heel, stockinette foot and the cuff will have a small cable running up each side.  I haven't decided if these will be for me or if they will be a Christmas gift.

Napa was really beautiful - even if there was a lot of rain.  We didn't go to any wineries - probably because I already drink a lot of California wines.   We did have a rather weird experience at the groomer that was setup by the hotel.  It was down this dirt road and there were piles of junk and broken down cars all over the place, and Mr. Bird and I just looked at each other and said "Texas Chainsaw Massacre all over this."

The lady was nice but her place was rather unkept and I wouldn't have brought my dog there if I'd known it was like that. 

Most of the vineyards you could see from the roads have turned yellow and withered from the cold weather but I'm sure it must look amazing during the spring and summers.

Coffee Tea or me?

There is nothing like a gathering of friends and an excess of good food.  Sunday was an English afternoon tea hosted by yours truly.  We tried to be all sly and turn it into a surprise party - but considering the nature of surprises - our guest of honor wasn't feeling well.  It all turned out for the best though - cause there was knitting to be done and my present isnt even near ready!

On to the food - cause thats what it is all about Chez Bird.

There were three kinds of scones - Ginger Carrot, Blueberry and Apple Carrot - all based on this basic cream scone recipe.  I just would mix the fruit mixture into dough before making the little balls to go into the oven.  There nearly was more fruit than dough in these lovely crumbly bits.

Tell me this isn't what dreams are made of...
 

In addition to the scones, there were proper tea sandwiches (cucumber dill, curried egg salad, and smoked salmon cucumber), real devonshire double cream, lemon curd (so tart and tasty), fig pear butter, lemon poppyseed rosettes (thanks to Hilari), and yummy goat cheese and french bread that Crissy brought.

And what is an English tea (hah! I typo'd teat first)  without a generous selection of teas.  I had some Earl Grey, Chai, Green Tea and some fresh tea of Lemon Verbena Leaves, Mint and Crystallized Ginger (which was my personal favorite).  Yoly brought a very cool selection of loose leaf teas, (Rooibos, some minty stuff, another chai, and this dragon blooming tea) which we all enjoyed as well.

So part of the dress code for the tea party was a tea party HAT.  No tea without a hat, bitches.  Happily - everyone came with a hat, and someone even came with a boob.  With a tassle no less! There was even some knitting done.