Bird's Nest Knits

Summertime summertime...

I love summer time, especially in Southern California.  Long warm days, cool nights, and the bounty of fruit and vegetables from the garden (or the garden box) are some of the things I love most about this time of year.   My vegetables are doing really well, thanks to the Earthboxes that makes it difficult even for ME to kill everything in sight.  Tomatoes, green/purple beans, herbs, cucumbers, peppers, blueberries (thanks Wendy!) are doing really fantastically.  I'm thinking about putting up a box of corn as well.

They can never ripen fast enough for me, so I often end up splitting a single green bean with Mr. Bird or cutting a cherry tomato in half to share.    We've had a handful of blueberries, a couple of kumquats, and a few beans.  The sweet peas have suffered with the heat but I've been able to break open a couple of pods and had some super sweet samples.  Heidi suggested replanting those after the summer since they are a cool season crop.  The tomatoes are growing so fast that every day I go out there I marvel at the number of fruit and can't wait till they ripen.  They've grown as tall as I am and the EarthBox trellis system kicks some serious ass.  I only bought one trellis and the other tomatoes I put up in a cage and the cage proved to be a cheap and really really crappy alternative.  The tomatoes outgrew the cage really fast and then fell over the top because the fruit heavy sections snapped because there wasnt enough support.

I'm hoping that the tomatoes will produce enough to do some jarring in a few weeks.  Homemade tomato sauce - exciting!  I had some trouble with blossom end rot a couple of weeks ago, but I've added some bone meal to the soil and removed all the tomatoes with any sign of it.  Hopefully the rest of the crop will be ok.  I continue to be amazed by how well I'm doing with the gardening and so excited with being able to grow and eat my own produce.

Oh.

Did you think this was a knitting blog?

Well as a matter of fact I have been doing a bit of knitting.  Somethings here and there.  I will have to admit to breaking my yarn diet, not bad that I held out for six months though.   I picked up some Trekking sock yarn from the Grove and started working it up in the Conway sock pattern from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road.

Meh isnt it?  The color way just does not work well with the beautifully subtle pattern of Conway which just gets lost in the varigation.  I thought so at least, so riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.  Bye bye Conway, I'll revisit you soon with a more solid color sock yarn.

I had told myself I wasn't going to be a lemming and would NOT make a pair of Jaywalkers.  Cause everyone and their grandma's roommate had knit these and they just looked too much like the Broadripple socks that I'd already knit.  Who wants to do the same thing right?  Well - I've proven myself a hypocrite because I went with the Jaywalker pattern.  And sheepishly, I must admit its a pretty great pattern and it works up this varigated yarn beautifully.  I was wrong, it's not boring. 

Isn't that pretty?  I'll be kitchener'ing the toe today and casting on for the 2nd straight away.  The two row pattern is very nice cause I dont have to lug around the pattern. 

I've put Mariah on the back burner since I can't get myself motivated to sit and knit with wool during the summer heat.  I plan to get this one done in time for my sister's graduation from nursing school in December which is when she'll be moving back to Seattle and she'll have good use for a warm cabled sweater.

I've made a couple of modifications to the pattern.  I'm extending the cables up the sides to cinch in the body of the sweater to make it more form fitting.  It also keeps the stockinette section from being so painfully boring now that the lovely cabled arms are completed.  I'm also going to make a fold over collar instead of a hood, but we'll see how that all goes.

Can you see where there is a mistake in a cable cross?  I'm leaving it in, cause I'm too lazy to rip back that far.

 

Have I ever said that Elann is evil?  It is.  Really. 

I bought Elann's Callista yarn (50% Viscose Rayon/ 25% Cotton/ 25% Linen) in a DK weight to work on a summer skirt along the lines of the Indigo Ripples skirt from the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.  It's a much smaller gauge yarn and I'll be doing a leaf lace edging instead of the ripples, but the shaping will be similar and there will be a longer section of stockinette.

I have enough skeins of it in the Burnt Olive color and the Italian Plum for two separate skirts.  Delusions of grandeur?  Considering I've got one pair of socks done and it's June?  Yah probably - but it's nice to dream isn't it?

Oh.  And because I'm a Norma acolyte,  I made up some Rose Petal Jam and it is delicious!  I'll have to call it Rose Petal Lemon jam because the lemon really comes out.  It was incredibly easy to make and I changed the recipe just a bit.  I boiled the sugar, water, lemon juice, rose petal (blended) mixture until all the sugar was dissolved, and then mixed in the pectin (I used liquid) into the hot mixture then poured it into the jelly jars.   

I don't know the variety of rose this is but they are grown in my back yard organically and smell amazing so I figured they'd be perfect for this jam.   I had Mr Bird test out the jam and he's quite the PB & J connoisseur so if he thought it was good that was the stamp of approval.  It's a touch tart but is really nice on toast or with PB.  He really liked it!  I have a jar for Heidi, Crissy, Joelle, Wendy and Yoly.

Thanks for sharing Norma!

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.

I cant keep a secret (aka How much I love Heidi)

So originally I had planned to make a super secret baby sweater for Heidi's coming minion Sophie.  Baby sweater it is - secret it is not.  So if you ever think to tell me a secret and want no one to know about it?  You may be better off tattoo'ing it on Britney's asscheek.  I'm a big ole
blabbermouth yessirree.  I am working on Louisa Harding's Primrose Sweater from Tadpoles and Tiddlers.  It is also my project for the Stranded Colorwork KAL - two birds with one stone is a good thing, and baby items are small.  The size of the sweater does not however reduce the number of ends that will be weaved in once I seam this baby up.   If I were to be crazy enough to knit this again - I'd be doing steeks all the way.  Having to do the separate right and left fronts are currently a pain in my ample ass.

I chose colors that were a little more dark than what the original calls for, which I like really.    My stitches are coming out reasonably even and blocking will fix all the tiny imperfections as well.

See those loose ends?  This is how much I must love Heidi.  In fact - don't tell Mr. Heidi but - the baby is mine!  *Michael Jackson spin*

I am hoping to get it done this weekend - but its not looking good for our raven haired heroine.  Mr Bird and I are going away for the weekend next week to Napa Valley and staying at this nice spa (and bringing my doggy too!) for an early birthday - so hopefully if I cant get it done by this weekend - I'll have it done before Mamasan pops out the kid.

All Christmas knitting is being ignored.  What do you mean I can't get three pairs of socks done after the sweater is finished?

... a hole in the head

So, I told myself after spinning that I needed another hobby like I needed a hole in the head.  Then I took up sewing, and now to add to the many holes in my head, I present to you...

Medusa

Selene

After a little jaunt to the Whistlestop with Wendy -

We wandered over to The Grove - the site of regular frivolous spending, I once again ignore the more practical - yet not nearly as fun voice in my head - and came home with a wire jewelry book, a supply kit, and several neat little pre-packaged projects direclty from the book.  Two sets of earrings, and a ring project.    It took me a little bit to get used to using a pair of round nose pilers, and my first set of earrings you can see that the curves are not completely perfect.  I think that it adds to the charm of them though.    I don't have a ring mandrel so the knot ring project will have to wait. 

Lots of fun, almost instant gratification,... winner!

Last night I went to the Padres game with Wendy and Mr Spazz and her parents.  We didn't end up sitting with the rest of the knitters but the game still was lots of fun just the same.  We saw Tanya from afar.  The Padres kicked some Reds ass, and I got quite a bit of the back of Sizzle completed.

The view from nosebleed (not bad at all - but going up and down those stairs freaks me out)

Sizzle at the game - knitting with SWTC Phoenix (soy silk) on Knitpicks Options needles.  The perfect KIP project with lots of stockinette.  I'm finished decreasing for the arm holes and about to knit up to the increases for it.

Wendy was working on Rogue with her lovely hand spun (so frickin' perfect this yarn)

Don't say I never gave you nothin'...

Contrary to popular believe - I DO knit.  Really.  It's true.  I even occasionally finish things.  Although of late it's been few and far between.  Even though I knit Continental which is supposed to be "the fast way" - it still feels like I knit slow as molasses.  And I'm even trying to concentrate on a couple of projects at a time!  Generally two sometimes three because one is asking a little too much devotion for little fickle ol' me.  Hell - remember my initial lust and obsession with Butterfly?  She's sulking down at the bottom of my knitting bag right know - with only the edging done on the first side.  Dont tell her though - I'm planning put her on Center Stage for my trip this weekend to Colorado.  South Fork for those who were curious - my inlaws live there.  So what does one do in South Fork in the heat of summer?  Rafting!   If you don't hear back from me by July 4th - I fell out of the raft and drowned.  I have a 5 hour mini van ride from Denver to work with, and another ride back on Monday to catch the flight home.    I expect plenty of moments in between to get a row here and there in. 

But on more interesting note - I finished my two color Koigu socks.  I knit them with short row heels and toes - and a seed stitch rib similar to the Thuja socks in knitty.  I like to do em toe up though instead of cuff down.  My only issue now is that its too damn hot to be able to wear them!  Sweltering blistering humid heat that only bare feet can stand.  I think that becoming a drama queen in regards to any miniscule change in the weather is required for living in Southern California.  Did anyone get any thunder on Sunday?  I got about 3 minutes of rain drops and some half mumbled thunder before it cleared up.  I felt distinctly ripped off.  Premature precipitation even.    Oh right - socks.  Yes.  Knit them I did.   Wore them to work with tennis shoes.  Feet sweated profusely.  Tore them off soon as I got home.  Now soaking in Eucalan.  There is a haiku in there somewhere I know it.

Oh - pictures you say?  Yes there are pictures.

I did a picot edging in the contrast color and let the back of the heels stay in stockinette for a couple of inches for heel rubbing against shoe comfort.  Actually the truth is - I forgot to do the ribbing pattern on both sides after the heel was done, and decided to just mirror the same thing on the second sock cause I didnt want to rip back.  Screw that.  Its a sock.  You wear them with shoes.  Who would notice? 

As you can see - I am a rather "interpretive dance" sort of knitter as opposed to the tap dance kind.  No sharp staccato rhythms and snappy routines for me.  Thats me rolling around and doing somersaults in the corner waving my arms and calling it dancing while people stare and wonder if I have some sort of seizure disorder.  I'm cool with that.  Not that I've been doing any sort of somersaulting lately - I'd hurt myself.

Sweat and gifts and knitting

... but not necessarily in that order.

I got my first gift from my Secret Pal (part 7 the revenge) and it is awesomeness.  I got a box of Luna bars - which have chocolate mmmm in them, and might even be good for me.  A great little card, some stitch markers - you can never ever have enough of these, and I think they are even hand made!  A bottle of Eucalan wool wash - PERFECT timing cause I need to set the twist on some hand spun I recently did, and last but not least - some DP needle holders.  Thank you very much!

I am very nearly done my Picovoli - probably another couple of inches to cover my round belly, and once Picovoli is done.. what to cast on next.  Since I'm doing the whole Two Steps Forward, One Step Back  dealio that Jeanie thought up - I think that the Traditional Hat and Picovoli have earned me the right to cast on guilt free... something in lace I think.

I've been on a house hunt - looking to move closer to work.  Last weekend was a bit of a downer because I found this house that was great - less than a couple of miles from work - close enough to bike.  Made an offer - and ended up being out bid by someone else.  Back to the drawing board this Saturday.

Ran tonight with the pup - its so much easier with her because she never gets tired and wusses out before I do.  I made a little mini goal of being able to run up this hill by my house without stopping and I made it!  Next goal is to make it around the block without stopping - which is roughly 600 yards ~ 1/3 of a mile by Sunday!  (yes I know I'm majorly out of shape - but I'm working on it)

Saturday at the Library!

On Saturday the Oceanside library is doing a free Learn how to Knit program at 10am. Wendy, Heidi and I (and maybe Mary-Kay) will be there to demo hand spinning as well.  If anyone feels like stopping by to get your knit on - (or spin on)  we will be meeting at the Longboarder Cafe at 9am which is right across the street from the Library.  Wendy's bringing her Louet wheel for anyone who might want to be learning how to spin (cough HILARI cough).   

Heather the owner of Noble Knits is doing the Knitting Lesson.

Oceanside Civic Center Library
330 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054-2824

I'll be bringing my balls of BFL that I got on the trip up to the last fiber fest we went to - which I cant remember the name of.  Yummy thick thin stuff.  And I also have a surprise for Wendy and Heidi that I have to get done before Saturday.  *rubbing hands together*

I spent the weekend up in Oakland - San Ramon to be specific - with my brother in law and his family.  His daughter Ashlinn just celebrated her 5th birthday so we flew up and got our party hats on.  The house was filled with little kids and it was a little overwhelming for someone who's not spawned yet.  But I did meet a little girl that made my ovaries TWITCH I tell you.  Her name is Juliette, and she's about the cutest doll-baby I've ever seen.

*twitchtwitch*

I did my first training run last night - and I didn't die!  Going from devout couch potato to runner is going to be tough though.  I did my little intervals of jogging and walking - and on the 7th and 8th repeat - I was dragging for sure.  I like running at night though - there are fewer people around to see my ass jiggle and running with my dog is always motivating cause she doesnt get tired.    Its also nice and cold out so I don't feel like I'm getting over heated and sucking wind at 50 degrees is much nicer than sucking it at 85.  I'm not nearly as sore today as I thought I would be though which is nice - I might even go running tonight again since I have dinner plans tomorrow.

There also has even been some knitting going on.  I've been diligently working on my Picovili for the Sexy Knitters KAL and I'm just starting on the waist decreases.  I slipped all of the stitches to some waste yarn last night and tried it on - I'm knitting the 40" version for my 43" bustline and it seems to be fitting quite well so far.  The Knitpicks Shine is working up to a very nice soft and dense fabric which I like a lot.  The 5.25" of stockinette from the armholes was pretty boring though. Good thing my boobs aren't any bigger since I have the attention span of a 3 legged dung beetle.   It was the only thing that I worked on over the weekend during the waits for the plane, the flight, and during the party to keep myself from going insane.

And because I've already shown this photo to one person that I'd have been worried about what they might think of me looking like an idiot - here it is for ya'll in blogland.

Viva la NERF Tiara!

Mental Meanderings

So I have this theory about life... 

You suffer through the mediocre for those moments of bliss - and I call it the Corn Cake Concept.  See how wonderfully alliterative that is?

Let me explain...

If you've ever been to a restaurant called Acapulco, El Torito or Tio Leo's - you will have experienced the fare that often passes for authentic Mexican food.  (so.not.authentic)  Invariably a platter of forgettable food shows up and there is a mini scoop of some yellow stuff which is honey sweetened corn cake.  I have never eaten anything at these kinds of restaurants that was noteable save for this teeny bit of corny goodness that they never give you enough of.    You go there knowing that the food will be meh, but you'll get a few spoonfuls of this corn delight that makes slogging through the rest worthwhile.  The portion is just enough to make you want some more, but not enough to make you order a whole side of it which would be over kill and it wouldn't be as attractive the next time around.

Life is like that.  You slog through the mundane parts for the rare and wonderful bits.

Whats your corn cake?

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I've been knitting really - just not what I'm supposed to be knitting.  Clapotis only has the corner left to be done, but that did not stop me from casting on a pair of toe up men's socks (being knit two at a time on two circulars after being inspired by the fearless Wendy).  I did a provisional cast on and a short row toe, and am debating ribbing after I turn the heel.  These will be a gift I think.

Nor did it keep me from stopping by Common Threads to pick up the Fall IK (I am lusting after Everest) and three skeins of Koigu PPPM for a pair of socks like Ariane's!  (Because I am a follower) and a pair of Addi's to knit them on - two at once!

I think I'm going to use the contrasting color for the toe, heel, AND the ribbing at the cuff.  Question now is what pattern if any will I use for the ankle and top of foot?

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Last night was the monthly Oceanside Knitters Meet Up and also Noble Knit's  Knit Night so I got to spend a few hours knitting and drinking wine with other local knitters.  The shop is really great - I just need to convince Heather to carry Koigu and I'll never have to go south again for my fix.

Why you are going to be cursing me in about 20 minutes

Return to Status Quo

My body clock is finally back to mostly normal.  I've even gotten back to some knitting only to realize that I've left the Bea Ellis Traditional hat pattern in the seat pocket on the plane (argh).  I can pretty much figure out the rest of the snowflake band because its a mirror of the bottom.  The only part that I hadn't gotten was the lice pattern.  Maybe I can just fake it.  Oh..  I think MJ has a picture of her's  up - I can reverse engineer the last part from that. 

I decided to use three colors instead of the traditional two colors I went with three for a bit more contrast.  The white is a ball of angora-wool blend that is super super soft.  The two blues came with the kit, and I decided that using just those would have been not striking enough.   I'll be bringing it up to the SoCal Knitters Meetup this Sunday - I'm jazzed about meeting so many bloggers.  Wendy, Hilari, Heidi, and Jessica are going to be coming up with me.   I hope wherever we are meeting will have enough room for all the people.  If you are in SoCal and haven't heard of this meetup and want to go - let me know and I'll forward you the info - its on Sunday morning around 11am in Los Angeles off of West 3rd.  There are plans to go the Knit Cafe after brunch.  Food and yarn and bloggers - almost sounds better than sex.

I'm a darn slow knitter it seems,  and I always over estimate my knitting prowess because I packed enough yarn on my trip for 5 knitters.

Exhibit 1:  Yarn packed in suitcase.   From top going clockwise we have...  Artyarns Royal Silk for Annie Modesitt's Ribbed Corset (didn't even touch this yarn), enough sock yarn for 3 pairs of socks (yes you read that right - 3 pairs in 9 days HAH), Lorna's Laces Helen's Lace for a Madli's Shawl (didn't touch this stuff either) and next to my camera - the yarn for the Bea Ellis Traditional hat (unfortunately sans pattern now).   During all that flying time and bus time, I only managed to get done 1 Wyvern sock, the toe of the second sock, and that much of the Traditional hat.  I suck, but hope springs eternal.

As a knitting traveler's tip I didn't have any problems in any airports at all with getting my Addi Turbo's through security in my carry-on bag.  I didn't exactly wave them around or anything but going through the x-ray machine was fine.  I don't think I'd be trying it with super long metal straights though. 

In other knitting news - new Interweave Knits Winter 2005 was waiting for me when I got home, and there always is at least a couple of patterns in each edition that I want to knit which I cannot say that for Vogue Knitting (which generally isn't so Vogue) and Creative Knitting (definately not creative - hello - ponchos are so 2004) and Easy Knitting (also known as ugly knitting on big needles).  I think the only other publications (hard copy at least) that I enjoy as much as IK would be Rebecca and Rowan.  Those will be the only ones that I renew.    The patterns from this one that I'll be making sometime..  Ballet Wrap Cardigan, Brilliant Retro, and possibly a Speckled Beret. 

Perv-alert warning!  Turn to page 82 and tell me what you see in Figure 6.  Sorry... I should be ashamed really.  Ok moving on...

Thank you to Marina for my first birthday present!   I got some really cute knitter cards, stitch markers, and a recipe for Cincinnati Chili (you eat it poured over hot spaghetti).  You rock!

And for those curious - I'm uh.. 29... again.