FO alert: The $2 scarf

So I was walking the aisles in Michael’s the other day looking for stitch markers and spotted this bargin.Incredible for $2 a ball. I quickly snapped up 3 balls to make a dropped stitch scarf for my mom. The result is this.

Yarn: Lion Brand Incredible in Autumn Leaves
Needles: Denise Interchangables in Size 15
Pattern: Dropped Stitch Scarf from Stitch and Bitch Nation
My take on the project: The scarf took me about 6 hours to finish. The gauge is super chunky so I cast on 12 stitches instead of the specified 17. Still worked out well. Now I miscalculated the amount of yarn I would need. I only knit 1 ball of yarn and it yielded a 5 foot scarf. Now what to do with 2 balls of ribbon that I normally would never knit with??? Come on guys, give me some ideas! This is a yarn that I would on an ordinary day never buy but it was such a deal. My mom has been asking for a fancy scarf and I think this will satisfy her insatiable need for hand knit fancy scarves.The light isn’t so good so the colors aren’t as bright. It’s a cloudy day in San Diego today.

In honor of my sick but recovering puppy, here are some pictures of him and Matt.

“Look mom, I’m typing”

 Men and dogs… just gotta love them.

My poor sick Waldo…

Poor Waldo.  (For those who don’t know, Waldo is my mini dachshund) He kept me awake last night.  He vomited about 5 times.  The first time, I heard him heaving in the bathroom.  If he wasn’t so sick, it would have been funny.  He had his head behind the toilet and he was aiming his vomit so that I couldn’t see it.  Now, Waldo has a tendency to overeat so vomiting is not a new occurence.  In fact, the family joke is that he is bulimic.  But this was different.  He was shaking and his stomach was churning.  I held my poor doggy and calmed him down then took him into bed.  He snuggled down but about an hour later, I heard him heaving again.  Oh gosh… I haul my sleep deprived butt out of bed to nurse him back to health.  We repeated this scenario a few more times.  Then Matt got up cause I was too tired to do it anymore.  Poor dog, he knew we were watching him and he couldn’t hide the vomit.  He started trying to lick it up so we didn’t have to wipe it up.  Poor baby.  I should have known that he was sick earlier.  Clues: he didn’t eat, drink, or beg to go outside to use the “facilities” before bed.

I took him to the vet this morning.  Diagnosis: gastritis/colitis.  This is not the first time his tummy has been irritated.  The first time was when he was 6 months old.  He became so dehydrated that he almost died.   The second time was about 1 year ago.  The vet usually does a few blood tests to see if his H&H are up.  Then they start him on some IV antibiotics and fluids for the rest of the day.  When Waldo starts perking up (meaning he tries to bite the vet/vet tech when the approach for a procedure), he’s well again.  When I brought my poor baby in, he was so sick, he let them do whatever they wanted without protest.  He especially hates getting his temp taken.

He’s much better after all the IV fluids.  But the vet doesn’t want him to eat until tomorrow.  Then he gets the bland diet of canned dog food or white rice and ground beef.  He’s not a happy camper right now.  Waldo and Wendy (his sister) live with my mom most of the time since we don’t have a fence and doggy door.  My mom said that he was begging for food in the most pitiful manner and she almost broke down and gave him a taste of his canned bland food.  She called me for moral support and I told her that she couldn’t do that under any circumstances.  It would probably make it worse since he’s kinda used to not eating.  Appetite= back to the old Waldo.

I got no knitting done today.  After I took Waldo to the vet, Matt and I went to the Buick Invitational since Waldo had to be at the vet all day.  It was a nice day, sunny and warm.  The sun on my face, the ocean view, this is why I live in San Diego.  Except for the fact my doggy was sick, I had a good day.  Tomorrow, I go to work and have the entire weekend off.  Maybe I’ll take a progress pic of my raspberry sock or my Lucky Clover Wrap for you.  I have been crocheting on the “Blanket that will complete our love”.  Matt has again guilted me into working into it.  I just need to get the darn thing completed so I don’t hear it anymore.  Hahaha… he just  wants something made by me.

Happy birthday!

to Matt… It’s his 35th birthday.  I was trying to get him to take yesterday and today off but of course that didn’t happen.  I wanted to go on a little getaway but ce la vie!  (I know I spelled that wrong.  I’m french phrase challenged.)  He’s going to take a half day off today and I’m taking him to the Laurel tonight for dinner.

Ariann is in the dump pile.  I don’t know how many knitters have a dump pile but it’s basically for WIPs that may never get finished.  I was thinking of starting over in another yarn but I’m so sad about it not working that I almost can’t bring myself to pick it up again.  I have many projects in the dump pile.   Knitty’s Tubey is one that comes to mind.  That one had me ripping my hair out.  I don’t know why.  Simply Marilyn from Interweave Knits.  I even bought Rowan Cork to knit it with and still haven’t picked it up after the first couple of inches.  So many things that need to be finished…

Oh well… I am working on the Lucky Clover Wrap from Stitch N Bitch Nation.  Petit Mandarin… Yummy yarn.  Try it sometime.  I’m knitting it in green to match the whole lucky clover theme.

The boy still wants his sweater!

I mentioned over dinner last night that my Ariann was a bust and I needed to frog his sweater for my new Ariann.  I got a frown.  When I asked him about his sad face, he replied, “I would have worn that sweater sometimes.”  So… I guess that Cascade 220 will be going to that Ribbed Cardi for my SO.   I’m on the search for another yarn for Ariann.  Any suggestions?  I guess I want wool now since cotton does not hold it’s shape too well.  Hence the weird row gauge.

To compensate for not knitting Ariann, I cast on for some simple socks out of Tofusi.  I love the way it feels so far.  Soft and thin. The underside is not bumpy at all.  I love it.

I am trying to exercise on my days off.  Yesterday I was on the treadmill and eliptical trainer for about 35 min total and I did some lower body strength training.  This morning, I’m going to do my Yoga Booty ballet DVD.  The diet thing was harder.  I went to the Kensington Grill on Friday and met some girlfriends who just moved down from Michigan.  I had a glass of wine at dinner but when I met the girls all hell broke loose.  We had sangrias, some guy gave us shots, and I had a few beers at Rock Bottom Brewery.  I woke up with a raging hangover!  And I’m supposed to be curtailing my alcohol intake.  I haven’t had anything alcoholic to drink since then and I’m really trying not to eat anything processed but last night I broke down and baked some brownies.  I don’t know how people who diet do it!  I am just going to pick myself up and try again.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get my triglyerides down this year.  I’m practically driving Matt crazy talking about it.

Starting over….

It’s a sad day.   I decided to frog my Ariann  because I’m not getting row gauge.  Sniff, sniff… That sucks.  My gauge was 16 rows to 4″ and it’s supposed to be 24 rows.  You are supposed to knit the body part for 13″ and have 4 button holes.  I ended up with 2.  Two buttonholes is not enough!!! Ack…  I decided that Matt is no longer going to get the Ribbed cardigan in the Summer 2006 IK because he’s told me he’s not going to wear it anyway.  I might use it to knit the Ariann… Although I do have some CottonEase that might also do the trick.  Oh no… decisions.

VLT review

I got my books from Knit Picks on Tuesday. Yeah!!! Here’s my take on the books in case you’re interested.

Victorian Lace Today

This book was compiled by Jane Sowerby and divided into sections. Each section contains patterns by the first ladies who wrote down patterns in the 1800’s. Jane tells a story about each designer and the concept of her patterns. The first designer Miss Watt has a very simple triangle shawl. The twist is that there is a picot edge and beads. Very pretty. I also like Lady Gaugain’s “Large rectangle with center diamond pattern”. In case you can’t tell, the pattern names are very simple. This is an easy lace pattern which I’ll probably start with. I have some beautiful maroon lace weight alpaca that I’ll use for this project. I also love Miss Lamber’s “Spider’s web shawls”. It can be knitted in a half hexagon, full hexagon, or fichu. Beautiful.

I love the photography of this book. It’s so beautifully shot and it shows the patterns off much bettern than any other lace book that I have seen I was so giddy when I opened the package on Tuesday and I was not disappointed. On the downside, I believe there is a published errata which I’ll have to check out.

I’ll talk about GOL next time.

On a personal note, I went to the doctor for a check up 2 weeks ago and got my labs drawn. Turns out my triglycerides are high, 204. Under 150 is normal. Funny thing is my total cholesterol is low and HDL is high. I don’t eat many sugary things but I love fatty foods. Things like french fries and ranch dressing. I did a bit of research and found out that alcohol, birth control pills, and skipping meals can raise your triglycerides. I’m going to work really hard on limiting my alcohol intake. I really only get 1 drink a night if that. But I’ll start saving my drinks for special social occassions. As for skipping meals, I thought it didn’t really do any harm. I think it’s harder to keep track of your diet when you don’t gain weight too easily. I keep under 110 no matter what I eat so I don’t have the gauge that other people have. I’m just really going to have to watch it. The good thing is nothing else like my blood glucose level is high which could be trouble. I’ll get this triglyceride problem under control. I know it! My doctor is scheduling a diet consult for me. I never thought I’d go through one of those especially at 30 years old. But at least I know now so I can do something.

I am still working on my Ariann. It’s a very easy lace pattern and I’m still working on the body part. It’s slow going but I’m getting there. I bought some Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton in dark brown and some Tofusie sock yarn. I have no idea why since I have bags of yarn in my bed room that have yet to be knitted up. There is not enough time in the day to get my knitting done!

Tonight the boy and I are going out with some of his friends to the Kensington for dinner. San Diego Restaurant Week has participating restaurants offering 3 or 4 course meals for $30 or $40 per person. On Monday we went to the Boathouse on Coronado Island. All of the restaurants participating are very upscale restaurants that I wouldn’t normally get to eat at except for restaurant week. Last year we went to Mister A’s. Wonderful food. I can’t wait to see what the Kensington offers.

Yippee!

I got my Knitpicks shipment.  And what’s in this package?  Why, Victorian Lace Today and A Gathering of Lace… I’ve had a hankering to knit lace for a while.  I’ll look through the books and let ya know my favorite patterns.  I work tomorrow again so it will be Thursday when I get to write again:((

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday with their loved ones.   I worked on Christmas so I spent that with my patients.  I felt so bad for them.  It sucks to be in the hospital on a holiday.  I worked 3 days in a row last week which was hard but I was rewarded with 8 days off.  Yeah!!!   Matt came home on Dec 27 after spending 3 weeks in Japan for work and 3 days in MN with his family.  We spent the rest of the week just hanging out.  On New Years, we had another couple over and had dinner with them and our roommate.  That day, Matt was driving himself crazy looking for the new version of Monopoly.  I guess this version has credit cards instead of cash but none of the stores we went to had it.  Must have been a hit for Christmas.  The recipient of the baby sweater I was making was over on NYE and I broke down and showed it to her.  It’s finished except it needs buttons and the ends woven in.  She likes it.  I’m off to the LYS in a bit to find the perfect buttons and weave in the ends.  Pictures will follow when it is 100% complete.

Of course, since this is my first post of the year, I have to include something about resolutions.  I don’t have too many since I never keep them them anyway.

1. Exercise:  I don’t want to have a heart attack or stroke.  I need to get at least 30 minutes in per day.  I easily get that at work but when I’m at home, I’m lazy.  To help me with this, I’m going to walk in the mornings and use my Yoga Booty Ballet (yes, I fell for the infomercial) and Pilates videos since I hate weight training.
2.  Pay off my student loan/credit card debt.  I have about $20K in student loans.  I want to  be done with it in 2 years.  Yikes….
3. Clean the house more.  This comes from being lazy on my days off.  I’m just soooo tired.
4. Cut out the junk.  This includes food and junk I buy from the store.
5. Use my time wisely.  Especially at work.

So… that’s it.  Mostly about keeping healthy and sane.  I see other people’s resolutions like meeting a SO, getting an education, buying a car, being nicer to people… As I have gotten older, I’ve become much more satisfied about my life.  I have a SO I love to death and have 2 degrees.
As for knitting, since I’m done with my mom’s scarf, the baby sweater, and another pair of socks, I am knittng Ariann from http://www.chicknits.com.   Lovely pattern.  I’m just starting it and love it already.  I’m knitting it with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece which is one of my favorite yarns.  Hopefully, it will hold it’s shape well.

I’m off to accomplish one of my resolutions.  Working out with Yoga Booty Ballet.