Nittany Knits

Monday, April 30, 2007

I have a day and a half worth of work this week, and then it's time to start knitting! Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sun are all devoted to knitting. All knitting , all the time! I think I should pace myself since I've been out of the loop (pun intended), so that I'm not injured by the end of it all.

Then again, maybe not.

Today was dedicated to finding good Pho in the area. Those of you familiar with the delicious Vietnamese dish will understand the quest. I was rewarded for my in depth Internet search and enjoyed a lovely lunch at An Loi on Minstrel Way in Columbia. The fresh ingredients were such a nice compliment to the wonderful spring weather!

Off to pick the kids up at school and hunt down an administrator who can give me the answer to my question, "Why are all important school functions scheduled during my knitting meetings?"
Inquiring minds want to know! At least 3 out of 6 of my sit' n knits and guild meetings during the month of May will be spent at my children's school. Probably payback for all the knitting I'm going to do this week I suppose.

Happy Knitting!

Sunday, April 29, 2007

I'm Back!!!! My part of the job I was away doing is over and I can officially begin to learn to knit again. Great timing with the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival just days away. I've got to tell you, the thought of huge yarn purchases is the only thing that got me through the past three weeks!

While I was not doing any knitting, I did have a funny knitting story happen to me. I work in environment where I get to meet ALOT of people. The other day I met and was talking with a lovely 6 year old girl. She was making a shape out of a piece of dough and I asked her what she was making. She replied that she was making a sock. Well this of course peeks my interest, especially since I have been deprived of the joy of doing that very thing! I very excitedly told her that I was a knitter and I make socks, too. At this point, this very pretty and enjoyable child screws up her face and lets out a sound similar to a squirrel getting run over by a car. " EYOU!" she shrieked, "That's disgusting!!!!!!" Now, I've had a lot of responses to my knitting, but that one sure takes the cake!

Now I will let Lindsey off the hook and let you all know that, yes my Blue Moon Socks That Rock were waiting for me when I finally arrived home after three weeks. I have to say, it's not my favorite. Hopefully I will get a chance to have Large Marge take a picture of it this week and post it for you all to make your own opinion of it.

Glad to be back, and thanks for stalking my blog and waiting for me.

Happy Knitting!

Monday, April 23, 2007

I'm going to have to learn to knit again after all the work I've been doing lately, but I did want to report in that those pesky Monkey socks are off the needles and on the child's feet!!!!! Yeah.
Gotta run, work work work worjk work

Sunday, April 15, 2007

The Orioles won 6-4 against the Royals with Chris Gomez hitting a Grand Slam to win the game. It must have been the lucky orange Monkey socks. I only got to knit for three innings before I lost all feeling in my fingers and the rain became an issue. I think my children were very happy when this happened since we were sitting with some of their friends from school, and we have officially reached the age where Mom is embarrassing. Especially when she busts out the knitting.

Work will be taking it's toll on my knitting and blogging again for the next two weeks. I will check in when blogger allows me to. The best part of all of this is that I will be done with all the madness right before Sheep and Wool so that I can relax and enjoy myself for the weekend! That is if I can find a random gypsy to watch my children for me. All of this extra work has me using up all of my 'get out of jail for free' cards with their father.

Happy Knitting!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

I had a great time at the Saturday morning coffee group at A Good Yarn in Fells Point. For a $5 donation that goes to a local charity you get pastries, beverages, and the company of wonderful knitters for a relaxing weekend morning. Last year they collected $2,300!

I'm supposed to be heading out with the kids to the Orioles game this evening, but I'm sure we will be getting very wet. I will be taking an orange knitting project to stay in the spirit of things. It will be good practice for the Stitch 'n Pitch next month with the Nationals that I got my tickets for this week. Of course, then I probably should take a red or blue project.

Happy Knitting!

Friday, April 13, 2007

This new version of blogger does not like letting me on my own blog. I secretly think it's because of my dial-up connection. And by the way, why won't it let you publish exclamation points? Very odd.

Any who.... I have new sock yarn. Going away on business means buying new sock yarn. So I did. Yummy Yummy Yarn. Perhaps someday I will stop buying so much sock yarn, so that I could be able to buy a digital camera so that you could see my yummy yummy yarn. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

Work kept me from getting to knit much this week, but I did pick that second Monkey sock back up this week. Turned the heel, did my decreases and now it's foot time. Lots of muggles, mostly men, were digging it. I even met a fellow knitter at 'Perk Up' in Old Town Alexandria who hadn't tried socks yet, and I think I converted her. Just call me the sock knitting missionary.

Happy Knitting.

Friday, April 06, 2007

A trip to the book store yesterday led me to discover that we are not alone. We of course being the kind of people who go to great lengths and expense to knit what others spend $3.95 on at the local big box store. Apparently knitters are not alone.

The bright colored paperback with a giant red tomato on the cover beckoned me over to the bargain book table. Of course it was a bargain book. We who out of synch with the rest of society would not be looking on the best seller list for one of our own. The title had me. "The $64 Tomato". I instantly notice the publisher is the same one that Miss Debbie Stoller and Miss Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee use. Once again showing that birds of a feather flock together.

As I begin to read the back cover I realize that the author of this book, a Mr. William Alexander, is a misled knitter. He has instead gravitated to the gardeners. The title reflects the author's realization that after all of his investments into his garden, his tomato cost him $64. This is not the best part. It is the reaction of his children. They are so disgusted with his obsession, that he overhears them complaining about his "hobby". The one daughter goes so far as to wish he could be an alcoholic couch potato like all the other fathers. WOW. And I thought I had a hostel household!!!

The book is described as "How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune,and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden." Sound familiar????? Hitting a little close to home for me.

Happy Reading and Happy Knitting!

Thursday, April 05, 2007

This is my third attempt at blogging this week. If my computer doesn't kick me off, or blogger doesn't shut itself down half way through this blog, I will consider it a miracle!

How about The Yarn Harlot's great picture of the traveling sock with the city of Pittsburgh in the background! No matter where I live, Pittsburgh will always be my home, so that picture was very special to me. I might have to get my own version of that shot next time I'm there. The big surprise for me from reading her blog about Pittsburgh, was that Vesper sock yarn is made there!!!!!! This is huge news. Everyone in Pittsburgh knows everyone, so I essentially can have six degrees of separation to this sock yarn! I'm fighting the urge to squeal.

The kids are due home in two and a half days, and I haven't gotten loads of knitting accomplished due to that annoying thing called work. They are smart cookies and I am not. I told them my children were leaving me for ten days, and they decided to work me like a donkey! I have been so exhausted that the only thing I have done a lot of is click the remote of my television. This is odd, since I am not really a TV kind of gal. It is so odd in fact, that my right thumb is actually sore from clicking the darn remote! I'm not making this stuff up.

I do have today off, and after sleeping eleven hours, I'm off to get my errands accomplished so that I can knit like the wind!

Happy Knitting!