Knitted nests

Posted on by
2

I suspect the birds are knitting a nest in the rain spout above my window at work.  I see them  flying in there with long pieces of straw and grass.  They must be rebuilding as we had torrential downpours over the weekend and a pile of nest making materials was on the ground below the rain spout when I came in yesterday morning.

Nest above my window

YOu can see in teh above picture that it’s raining here again today.  I wonder if their work will be washed away again.

A couple of weeks ago I scattered small bits of yarn (less than an inch long) in the wooded area behind our house for the birds to use in their nests.  I noticed most of it was gone when I walked around our yard last evening.

Monday Mish-Mash

Posted on by
4

Short on time this morning but I have a few “purls” of wisdom:

  1. If you buy a GPS, buy a good one.
  2. Don’t hog the left lane when driving.
  3. Separation anxiety sucks.  Reassure your kids that it’s ok for them to get on the school bus so they don’t cause a scene and hold up traffic for a full five minutes.
  4. Drinking 32 ounces of anything in a short period of time will make you sick.
  5. Tell those you love that you love them.  Often.
  6. Thank God for your blessings as well as your challenges.
  7. Sometimes you can find a pattern for the amount of yarn you have.

Sticky Note Queen

Posted on by
3

I’m a saver.  That’s probably why my house needs decluttered.  I’m not going to be on Hoarders anytime soon but it bothers me.  I’ve posted about it several times.  I’m trying to get in the cleaning/decluttering mood so I do a lot of talking about it first.  Acting on it comes later.

I read many years ago that when you find something in a magazine that interests you, instead of saving the entire magazine, just tear out that article and toss the rest of it.  I tried it once then wished I would have kept the whole thing as my interests changed and I wanted something else from it.  Now when I get a book or magazine, I use sticky notes to mark things I want to remember, things I want to knit, things I want to research.  You get the idea.  My daughter used to call me the Sticky Note Queen.

My knitting magazine collection

Did you see all those purple, yellow and green stickies?

I was going to gather this pile of knitting magazines to put away last night but decided to go though them first to look for a sweater pattern that only takes 525 yards of worsted weight yarn.  Something with a short sleeve.  Yeah, I know, I’m dreaming.

I looked at all the patterns not just the ones I marked.  And some of the ones I marked made me wonder: what I was thinking?  Of course I had only knit one sweater that fit (sorta) when I poured over the magazines the first time.  With a few more knitted garments off the needles (three huge fails and you only know about one) I think I can make better decisions about what will work for me.  I found several things I liked so much more than the ones I marked.  I’m glad I saved all of them.

As for the short-sleeved, worsted weight, cotton blend sweater I want to make using only 525 yards of yarn, I might have to wing it.

Empty needles again

Posted on by
5

Since I finished the Peony Twist Cardi over the weekend (still minus the buttons), I don’t have anything else on my needles.  For some reason I have great ideas and projects I want to start but I just can’t get enthused about any of them at the moment.

Click on the link below for a preview.

Several months ago I bought Around the World in Knitted Socks  by Stephanie Van Der Linden intending to start at the beginning and knit my way through the book.  I love hand knitted sock but only have one pair to call my own.  For some reason I just can’t get the first one on the needles.  In fact I can’t get anything on the needles.

Maybe I need to take a break and concentrate on the decluttering aspect of my house.  I really need to organize my knitting, sewing, printmaking, paper, polymer clay, and painting materials.  Do I have enough hobbies?

Two done, many more to go

I found the box of felt ornaments I wanted to complete for Christmas last year.  I also decided what I was doing for Christmas card this year.  Why do I have Christmas ideas right now?  It’s cold, wet, and dismal outside and it reminds me of winter, not spring.  Plus if I get on with these now, I won’t be in the panic I usually am in December.

I have a “procedure” Friday morning and the prep involves laxatives.  Lots of laxatives.  And lots of sitting.  Then Mr. Aitch and I will be in the car for about 6 hours this weekend.  Maybe I can get motivated to get something on the needles to keep me busy.

Edit:  Happy Birthday, Mom.  I miss you.