Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, dear fellow knitters. I hope your day will be relaxing and filled with warm feelings, delicious food, and some quality knitting time. Jim and I will be spending a quiet cooking, eating and knitting day at home. I am brining a turkey breast that will go on the rotisserie. Squash soup will be the first course, whipped sweet potatoes and garlic herbed peas and green beans will round out the meal. Pumpkin pie (soon to go in the oven) will finish.

I have a few projects underway - Jim's sweater that has progressed this far:

And Bamboozle Lace Panel Tunic for me.

Here is the start of the back.

Our busy season begins tomorrow with the first round of Nutcrackers. Then the next day off (no students, no rehearsals or performances) will be Christmas Day. Oh - I will fly to NY one day to get Mom and fly back the next with her. Those days don't really count as days off, do they? If my blogging is sparse for the next few weeks, please understand. I will try to stop by yours and leave comments.

If you haven't started your Mr. Greenjeans yet - now is the time :-) I have worn mine and felt all cosy and warm. The girls at my LYS thought it was a goody. I was pretty thrilled when Jill (the owner) asked me what pattern it was.

So, friends, have a wonderful holiday, enjoy your weekend and whatever else is going on.

Another FO

Thank you all for your lovely comments. I really enjoyed knitting Tilia even on #2. I guess since I knit socks on #1 and #0, #2 didn't seem so small. Go figure. I did wear her on Saturday at Jim's Mother's 90th birthday party. The sweater got rave reviews - Jim made sure everyone knew I have knit it (he is a keeper.)

The only thing was that it stretched quite a bit and by the end of the night *really* needed to be smaller. If you are going to knit with Hempathy, I would suggest as small a needle as you can stand and knit a smaller size.

Here is Mr. Greenjeans:
This was really quick - I think even with all the other distractions, it took me 2 weeks. Would have been sooner if Tilia had not been pressing. I used Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Charcoal with #7 and #6 needles. Since it is so chunky, I think it sweater makes me look even bigger than I am, but will be great for casual wear any winter day. That is if we ever get to winter here. Today is 80 degrees and tomorrow is forecast to be 84. Yikes!

And here is the cuff of one of Jim's socks:

He picked the Ash colored KP Essentials from the stash and the ribbed pattern from SKS. I am knitting these on #0 Harmony DPNS. All I can say is I LOVE these needles.

As soon as I get to the heels of these (I knit them 2 at a time on matching DPNS) there is a pullover pattern for Jim I am ready to start. The yarn is a beautiful heathered green wool blend. I will let you know as soon as I get going on it.

As always, I appreciate your kind remarks. Your comments make my day. Have a wonderful week, dear knitting buddies.

Tilia is Finished!

She was begun in August and finished today, Nov. 4. This pattern is Elesbeth Lavold's Tilia, knit in Hempathy. I used #2 Addis for the entire piece (except the picked up neckband on #0).

I think the fit is pretty good, just feels a little big around the neck.

Mr. Greenjeans is getting close too.....

I am knitting this in Charcoal Cotton Ease on #7 needles. It is fast and seems like it will be cozy and casual for fall. The cable bottom:

Blocking pics

Blogger was cranky this afternoon, but obviously is happier tonight. I didn't pin the lace/ribbing at the bottom so it doesn't look straight - but I think it will be fine. Same with the sleeves below. They look larger because they are on the daybed and the body is on the floor.

I cast on Mr. Greenjeans and already have 4 of the 7 repeats done. It is moving very quickly - maybe I'll have 2 new sweaters for the Indiana trip :-)

I just spoke to Mom and she is planning to spend Christmas with us!! I will fly to wherever she changes planes to meet her and fly her here. She is still pretty darn good for an 87 year old, but I hate to see her negotiating the airports alone (or only with the aid of an airport porter). I felt sad that she spent Christmas alone last year since my brother had to work.

I hope to have more to post soon ~

We Be Blocking

Here we are in the blocking stages (oh my gosh - I am so excited - you can't see me jumping around, can you?)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - Blogger can't upload any pictures right now! Rats!

I also started Mr GreenJeans in a charcoal colored Cotton Ease. Sorry, I can't show you that either.

Dratted Blogger. Grrrrrr.

Lallygagging around - not!

Just so you know there has been no lallygagging even though I haven't blogged in a while, I thought I would let you see where the sleeves are:

For some reason, none of these colors are really true. This is Lavold Hempathy in Rose. There is a slight thread of grey running through and the pink is fairly muted.

We have just finished a week of difficult rehearsals and performance with the Richardson Symphony and a concerto performance (Marcello Oboe Concerto in C Minor) on a recital program so my knitting has not been moving as fast as I would like.

Here is a shot so you can get a perspective on how long the sleeves are. The others who have knit this sweater have noted that the sleeves were too long. That is a great head's up and I will try to judge as I get closer to the top. I have been knitting this as a 2 person KAL with Sherri. It has really been fun to encourage each other along and compare notes as we go and also really nice to get to know her.

My goal is to wear this to Indiana when we visit on Nov. 10 for my mother in law's 90th birthday celebration. Will I make it?

The next performance is tomorrow night - Brahms German Requiem. The Dallas Chamber Orchestra is accompanying the Plano Civic Choir in the performance. For a non-professional group of singers, they sound especially grand! It should be a moving evening.

Tomorrow morning is a recording session were I get to play with my dear friend and colleague Silly Ewe aka Sharon. It should be fun. I guess I better get in my studio and make some recording quality reeds for the morning.

Have a great weekend, y'all and leave me a note before you leave :-)

More on Tilia

Woohoo - the front and back pieces are knit.

On to the sleeves.

Fine Finishing Course

Last Saturday was the Fine Finishing Course taught by none other than Nancie Wiseman. The Woolie Ewe put on the class and there were about 25 participants. I was a bit nervous never having taken a class before but was soon put to ease. Ms. Wiseman is so personable with a keen wit - I thoroughly enjoyed her. Her teaching was clear and beautifully presented. I was sitting in the very front, so I could hear everything but the knitters in the rear had a difficult time due to an a/c vent making noise over their table. I learned so much that I am very motivated to get Tilia finished (read on) and put together.

She was so gracious - signing our books and posing for pictures.

Here is the completed Debbie Bliss Baby Bolero, all seamed up (thanks to your words of wisdom, Nancie!)

After the last post, my life has been insanely busy. In addition to the Saturday knitting class, I performed on the faculty recital at TAMU Commerce Monday, played 2 rehearsals and a symphony concert later in the week plus taught my 30+ oboe students their lessons. Luckily, Saturday was a light student day and Sunday was totally free.

What did I do on my free day? Well! Cleaned three bathrooms and did 2 loads of laundry. Then I cleaned the five gallon fish tank I keep in my studio, redecorated it with a rock ledge and three plants and moved a new Betta into it. Then I put a chicken on the rotisserie and cooked some potatoes and green beans to go with it. And knit, knit and knit some more while watching Tiger Woods play amazing golf.

I would go totally nuts if I wasn't busy (not to mention there is a lot of yarn to buy therefore the need for income) so I feel very lucky and happy to fully ensconced in my career. I figure at some time it will slow down - people just aren't going to want some ancient babe (ha!) performing and teaching. Until that time, I will pedal as fast as I can and be grateful to be in demand.

I have been chipping away at (aka knitting) Tilia. The third time was indeed the charm and here is the finished back.

And a closer view of the lace-

I already have 6 repeats on the front finished and am determined to finish the front sooner rather than later.

It was really nice to hear from you all last week. I appreciate your well wishes and comments. Woodstock was in 1969 and I was a foolish 15 year old (yikes! now you know my age). But I was so lucky to be able to go and it sure was an event I will never forget. There was nothing to compare with seeing Jimi Hendrix play the Star Spangled Banner early that morning.

Alpaca and Veggies and Woodstock, Oh My!

Warning - picture intensive!

I am back from New York after a week with Mom. She is doing very well - I see no change since last time (this is a good thing when Mom is 87 years young). And after the second round of Prednisone, continuation of Advair, Nasonex and antihistamine, I cough no more!!!! No more prescriptions (other than the Nasonex) - whew! I feel great! And I appreciate all your thoughtful comments.

While in NY, I went to the old Woodstock site in Bethel. It has been turned into a Performing Arts Project where the NY Philharmonic and popular musicians come to play:

Much to my happy surprise, there was an Alpaca Festival going on. Here is the local Alpaca Farm from just down the road.

There were lots of things to look at:

A spinning demonstration

Food for thought

Crafts to buy

And down the hill is the original Woodstock site commemorated by this monument:

The actual amphitheater was smaller than I remembered (stage was on the left near the road) but then again, things might have been a bit hazy back in 1969.

I did do some knitting while at Mom's - here is an unseamed Baby Bolero from the Debbie Bliss Baby book. I used Cotton Ease and #6 KP Options.

And the socks I have been knitting from Sensational Knitted Socks using Lorna's Lace and #0 dpns.

Tomorrow is the class I signed up for put on by the Woolie Ewe - it is Nancie Wisemann teaching us her finishing techniques. I thought I would wait until after the class to seam the bolero so maybe I could put my new knowledge to work.

I am *really* happy to be home.

So, see you later and leave me a little note if you want.

:-)

Quick Update

Sorry, no pics today; been crazy busy again. Tilia is coming along slowly but well. I am on the 7th pattern repeat and it seems like a nice firm yet drapey fabric.

After all the tests, the pulmonary doc has determined I have no lung disease (asthma or anything else) and my problems are actually allergy induced bronchitis. I am following an agressive course of treatment and should be better *real* soon. Thanks so much for your well wishes - they did the trick :-)

Third Time a Charm?

Yes, dear fellow knitters, your read right. I have begun Tilia for the third time. And the last (I say that now). I appreciate your commiserating with the frog pond adventures and learning curve events of the last week. I know we have all been there.

Here is Tilia as of last night:

In my efforts to stay sane, I found these sweet little Ribbed Lace socks from Sensational Knitted Socks and knew I had to begin them right away: (the ones top left)

The yarn that was beckoning was Lorna's Lace in the color Amish. I love these colors - am using #0 dpns on these:

Love this yarn: soft, squishy and pretty.

This week has been quite an experience in other ways - I have been coughing and wheezing to a point where it is bothersome. Being an Oboist who must be especially able to breathe well, I decided to go to a pulmonary specialist to see if he could figure out what is going on. He changed my blood pressure meds (coughing is a side effect!!) and gave me inhalers and nose spray. The inhaler helps, but the nose spray is gross. I have tests scheduled on Wednesday to see if this is asthma (runs in the women in my family) or what. Unfortunately I was a smoker for 20 years as the dr. so pointedly reminded me. I will let you know what transpires. Please think good thoughts.....

On the exciting news front - I have been offered an adjunct faculty position as oboe instructor at one of the state universities. Yes - I accepted! Now I am scrambling around trying to figure out what to write for my course syllabus.

As you see, things in our house have been pretty interesting this week..... I always love your comments, so if you have anything at all you want to say - please, please, please sign in and say it!

Talk to y'all later in the week.

Tilia take two

So as I am merrily knitting along, I felt the fabric was too loose and floppy. Even though I thought I had gauge. I ran into a roadblock at the neck; Lavold's directions assume the knitter has more experience than I.

I stopped knitting to wait until I could get to my LYS for advice. I was able to go Monday and found out what to do at the neck. But I was informed that my gauge was too big. (AHA!! That's why the fabric was so loosey goosey.)

We talked about frogging down to the pattern, but when I got home, I decided to start the entire bit on smaller needles. Here we are right now:

I hope to have more to post soon. This is a learning experience.......

This

We spent lots of time looking at this:

And not enough time eating desserts that looked like this:

But I sat on the beach and did plenty of this:

When we returned home, they looked like this:

The pattern is Almost Argyle from Knit Picks.

Yarn is KP Essentials and I used #1 dpns.

And then I had nothing else on the needles, I decided to begin this:

It is Tilia from Elsebeth Lavold's Designer's Choice Book Eight.

And I have this much done:

I am using Hempathy in Rose.

So after lovely relaxing vacation, we are back in gear.

Students are all attending their lessons, schedules are firming up for the start of school, symphony contracts are coming in with repertoire lists and it is HOT, HOT, HOT here.

Sounds like August to me! Have a cool week y'all.

Random Sunday Stuff

The final performance was last night. It was a fun run, but I am happy to be done. Gilbert and Sullivan music is somewhat simple and seems to roll around in my head almost constantly after playing it for two weeks. I am ready for a little R & R.

Did I mention we are going to Mexico tomorrow? For a week? To meet Jim's sister and family and lay around on the beach, belly up to the pool bar and basically decompress?

I didn't? Oh, bad, bad me!

We plan spending many hours gazing at this.

And Twig - thank you ever so much for nominating me for

What a sweet surprise. Now it is up to me to nominate five more buddies. Hmmm - This was difficult, since there are so many wonderful Rockin' Girls!

But here we go:

Sharon at Unraveled Again

Shrodinger Knits

LarjMarj at Knizzle fo Shizzle
Mer at Mer Knits

Lobstah Knits

There are really a few more people I would like to nominate, but I am only allowed five. So some of you are in my heart, but not on the list..... Please forgive.

Finally - some knitting content!

Even though we were in production, I did knit a few little (and I mean little) goodies:

How about a pair of tiny (3") baby mittens? Yes, I warned you they were little :>)

I am still trying to decide what to take for beach knitting.... in the meantime, here are my beach ready toes:

~~~~~ See you next week ~~~~~~

Pirates and Kimonos

Hi Bloggie Knitting Buddies!

Pirates has been going well. We got reviewed last night and although he wasn't completely kind to the singers and conductor, he wrote "Dr. (conductor's name) got mostly taut and carefully scaled playing from a compact ensemble of four winds and five strings." To me that says we did just fine, playing together and well balanced. Nothing wrong with that!

As for stage fright (or pit fright) Twig and Larjmarj - I do have random times of performance anxiety. However, in this show there is a lot to concentrate on so I haven't felt nervous. I guess after 40 years of playing the oboe my nerves are usually under control. Only now and then do I feel scared. I appreciate your interest and concern.

Shrodinger - thanks for the well wishes. One of the divas, oops, I mean singers said "toi toi." I know it meant good luck, but I had never heard that one before. Any idea what language??

Here are the bibs and kimonos from Mason Dixon patterns I just finished. They were knit with Sugar and Cream cotton on #5 needles. I know Twig's new (in the fall) grandbabies will feel loved in them. :-)

Quick View

Here is my view at work before the house doors open:

We are in producton of Pirates of Penzance with the

Living Opera.

The first show went pretty well and we are hoping the remaining ones do too.

See you soon -

UFO and FOs

As promised, here is the finished Soleil.

Pattern: Soleil from Knitty
Yarn: KnitPicks Shine in Sky
Needles: #5 circs
Began: June 11
Finished: July 5
Modification: I altered the neckline to the scoop from the designer's Ballet Camisole pattern.

I am pretty happy with this one!

Here is some baby knitting I am doing for a friend's twin grandbabies. The bib from Mason Dixon knitting:

And I found these adorable buttons:

And since I bought a humongous ball of this color Sugar n Cream cotton, I started on the a pair of the Baby Kimono:

We begin rehearsing the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "Pirates of Penzance" tonight and over the weekend. Then two more rehearsals next week and the first of five performances begins on Thursday.

So until next time - happy knitting!

Blogger and Knitting

Blogger, Wordpress, Typepad

After some research and much consideration, I decided to stay here at Blogger. It seems all the free services have issues one way or another. It is somewhat comforting to know you all have the same issues with emails, spacing, etc. as I do. I also save (on my second address) the addresses of people who respond by email and reply that way.

I did look at the HaloScan forums and found that link you sent, Twig. Thanks for thinking of me and sending it. I tried pasting the html and it made things *very* wonky. Maybe because I really did not know where to paste it. So I did away with it. Blogger it is - at least for now.

Knitting Preview

Here is the almost finished Soleil. I decided to knit the neckline in a scoop instead of the V after reading comments on the Knitty Coffee Shop. Most everyone said the V was quite deep. I took Ballet Camisole (by the same designer) and will use that neck. I hope to finish tomorrow or Wednesday.

Wednesday is July 4th. While you are picnicking and listening to the orchestra while watching the fireworks, think of me as I will be working a symphony performance for the holiday.

Have a patriotic 4th of July!

Blogger Rant

Knitting content soon - but in the meantime:

I love that you all comment, and when I comment on your blogs, you send me a personal email. I would love to be able to do that in an efficient manner as well. With Blogger, there seems to be no way to do that!

So I downloaded Haloscan (many of you use this) and lost ALL the previous comments. The only way (according to the help forums on Haloscan) to get the old comments back is to cut an paste them all in. I have no idea how to do that, and if I did know how, it would take a long time to transfer 3 years of comments. Haloscan is not an option.

So - as much as I would love to be able to just email you back, I cannot unless you have your email available somewhere on your blog or profile.

I think this is a big short coming in Blogger. And if there are programs that will do this, they should be compatible with one another. Why even Mac and Windows talk to each other (now.)

Also - the spacing between paragraphs is always weird when I try to edit and publish posts. I am at a loss here. Maybe it is time to change blog hosts....