Happy Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving.

I'm trying to remember and remind myself of all of the things I am thankful for in my life on a more frequent basis. It has been a year of some pretty big highs and lows so I am most thankful for all of my friends that have kept me sane (OK OK sane may be a questionable concept). I don't know what I would do without all of you this year!

We're just wild about Harry

Potter that is....

I am part of a geeky family (shhhh don't tell them I said that... Oh heck they already know that) that is completely obsessed with Harry Potter.

When the final book came out we had eight people there to pick up four books. And the books were all for people over the age of 18.

My eight year old nephew can practically recite all of the Harry Potter movies he has seen them so many times.

What does this have to do with knitting? Well for Halloween the above mentioned nephew decided to be Harry Potter. Of course he needed socks in Gryffindor colors and his Aunt Mary was the knitter of choice. OK so I'm the only knitter the kid knows - shush!

And now may we present Harry Potter socks....

Such a sad day

Ignore my previous post of the day lamenting my crappy day at work - that is silly and immaterial now. I just discovered that someone that was a very dear friend while we were in college passed away last year. Tom Neziol was an amazing person, a fantastic hockey player and someone I am blessed to say was my friend.



(for those that don't know him Tom is the handsome fellow on the right)


We lost touch after he graduated (he managed to finish in 4 years while I took five years) but Tom was frequently in my thoughts during those years and I did try to use the net and our alumni web site to find out what he was up to with sometimes limited results.

Ironically Tom has been in my thoughts more than usual lately. I was just thinking of a time when he had a game curfew but wanted a sandwich from uptown. Luckily the team captain was his housemate so our only instruction was "don't get caught!" I still remember Tom sitting in my chevette, wearing my scarf over his head (to be more incognito) and making me get money out of the ATM for him so he could hide. Of course I had to run back to the car, praying his ATM card didn't get sucked into the machine - he forgot to tell me the code. When he told me he just looked at me like he couldn't believe I couldn't have figured it out on my own. And yeah for those who knew Nez - I should have been able to figure it out (and to this day I still remember it).

Tom and I became closer when he was seriously injured during a practice. His arm was sliced open by another player's skate and it was questionable if Tom would ever be able to play again. He worked so hard and came back to finish out his career at Miami and even went on to a pro career. I wrote my first article for a national publication on Tom's successful recovery. College Hockey Weekly had me write about everything Tom went through after I met one of the editors in the press box of some road trip we were on. After we finished doing the interview for the story, Tom rolled up his sleeve and said to me "Mary, should we include a picture of my scar?"

Tom was one of my three dearest friends on the team that came and sat with me the night my dad died. Steve, Paul and Tom made sure that I had company that night and tried their best to take my mind off of everything that was going on.

There are so many more memories and things I could say about Tom. He was a special person and I am saddened that he is no longer in this world. The world has lost a wonderful person.

Nez I will miss you.

Why why why......

why did I go back to work today?? Oh that's right I haven't won the lottery yet so I need the paycheck.

Today was one of those days that make you wonder why you can't just crawl under the covers and stay there for awhile (maybe until spring.....)

Sorry no knitting, no cake mania no nothing of interest. Just some whining (and if anyone has some nice cheese I'll take some to go with my whine)

Look Ma....

it is possible to visit three yarn shops and NOT buy yarn!!


Yesterday I visited three local yarn shops in search of knitting needles for some projects. I found a set of 2.5mm needles (only to discover when I went to actually start the project tonight that I really should have been looking for 3.0mm needles!!) and a set of size 11 dpns. Yep a wierd combination but two different projects.

I did come home with a new pattern - it's a felted bag from Candace Eisner Strick. The pattern is comprised of mitered squares with a variety of color changes in the bag. I think I might have enough wool in the stash for most of this but I haven't looked at the yarn requirements yet.

Of course my most exciting purchase of the day had nothing to do with knitting. I FINALLY found a cd-rom of Cake Mania for my pc. Not only is this "deluxe" version the original Cake Mania, it also has the newest edition of CM - Back to the Bakery. I promptly installed it last night and I think I played for about 2 or 3 hours.

So if my posts go back to their usual sporadic levels you have three choices:
1)I have to go back to work on Tuesday
2) I'm playing on Ravelry
3) I'm playing Cake Mania

Of course if it's 2 or 3 I need to make sure I remember to do 1!!

Ravelry

Yippee!! I just got my invitation to raverly today. I've already signed up and am now happily playing on there seeing what is what.

If anyone else is on (and if you're on the waiting list it went REALLY REALLY fast) please add me to your friend list. I'm maryw1968.

I actually have a "real" post planned for later on but that's going to be a little delayed now.

Dishclothes

I'm on a dishcloth kick right now. Partially because I had a wedding shower to attend last week and one of my standard shower gifts is some knit dishclothes. I do give the bride to be something else (in this case it was a movie night basket - a large ceramic popcorn bowl, plastic containers that look like the paperbags you get popcorn in at the carnival, popcorn, movie candy and a copy of The Karate Kid). The movie was a joke between me and the bride - we work together and one day she decided that I was her Mr. Miagi since she is often asking me questions since I've been with the company forever and as she says, knows everything.

Anyway - I also made her three disclothes (from yarn I had in the stash!!! Yeah me!!!)

First we have the nine-patch dishcloth from the lovely ladies at the Mason-Dixon Knitblog. It's a free pattern on the right hand sign of the blog. I liked how the colors worked together (please don't ask me color names - I don't remember and the bands are long gone. I do know the yarn is Sugar and Cream. The blue was purchased in Rochester NY last year and the orange was either Michaels or Joann)



Next we have a cloth in the bamboo pattern. This is one of my favortie patterns and I discovered it here. This place has A TON of dishcloth patterns. The yarn for this one was something I picked up at Walmart (I think it's Peaches and Cream).

Last, we have a simple basketweave. No real pattern for this one, just alternate knit and purl blocks.

I swear it's not a sign

of the apocalypse..... but yes this is a second post in one day (and a third post in the last two days!)

First of all I am very excited by what I got to pick up at the library tonight. I was the first person on the waiting list for our own Crazy Aunt Purl's book to come out and I got to pick it up tonight. (Note to Laurie although I'm sure she doesn't read my blog... I promise if you ever make it to Cleveland I'll shell out the actual cash to buy your book just so I can get you to sign it. Oh heck I may end up doing that anyway!)

And then if that wasn't excitement enough for one day (and no I'm not being sarcastic) THIS was in my mailbox! And I am a total geek... I had to take my own picture of the pattern on my dining room table instead of using the one I already had from my post about the ebay auction.


Now I need to start searching for yarn to get knitting on Shaun!

Umm I'm not responsible

if any of my readers (Diane I think that's you!) falls over from the shock of two posts in almost as many days. I actually planned on posting this last night but blogger had other ideas, hopefully it will be more cooperative today when it comes to posting pictures.

I figured since we showed Step Out pictures that were a month old yesterday than we should show Knit Out pictures that are now a month (and a day) old today. The Knit Out was put on by the swell folks at Stitch Cleveland (hi Heidi, Megan and Shannon!).
We had fantastic weather (honestly if anything it was too warm - imagine saying that about the first weekend in October in Cleveland??) and the event was held at Voinivich Park which for those familiar with Cleveland is right behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For those unfamiliar with what a knit out is, it's exactly what it sounds like - people gather in a public venue and knit. In addition to just hanging out and having a good time generally the organizers will also make sure that supplies are available so that we can teach any interested passerbys how to knit.

This is a view looking south towards downtown. OK that makes it sound rather far but it's not. Keep in mind that I walked past all of this stuff the day before and the walk route was only four miles long.

Well these should be well aged

These pictures should be appropriatly aged (hey here at Mary Has a Knitting Blog we show no picture before it is sufficiently aged - just like good wine!!!).

Actually these are from my Step Out for Diabetes last month. The fundraising walk (and thanks to my generous supporters I raised $225 which was over my goal of $150) takes place in downtown Cleveland so I had to show the sock the sites.



Along the Cuyahoga river there are a number of bridges, including some that even lift to allow ships to pass underneath. This is one of the lift bridges.







Our walk took us along the lake front where we paused to show the sock the Great Lakes Science Center.

I haven't ever been inside (it's one of those local things - like the New Yorker that's never been up in the Empire State Building.) It sounds like it has some great exhibits and I think about going but you know what they say about thoughts and good intentions.






Finally we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (yes I have actually been inside this one... saw the John Lennon exhibit in 2000). The guitars in front are a fund raiser for the United Way. Each year various companies sponsor a guitar which they have decorated, later there is a benefit and the guitars are auctioned. Some of them are absolutley amazing.

I forgot who sponsored and created this one but I really did like the guitar lion.

Yippee

Well my quest for the original Shaun the Sheep knitting pattern has finally been victorious. I won this lovely pattern from England this morning.



Hopefully I'll have this one before my December vacation since I'm itching to get started on making my own Shaun. The knitting kit won't be back in stock until the end of November so I'll have to wait until 2008 to start on that one!

Phew....

Sneaking in a post before October totally slips away. I actually have pictures of the sock and I (well I suppose I can be considered in the picture if you can see my hand) roaming around downtown Cleveland earlier this month as we stepped out for diabetes and knit out... well just to knit out!



But today we are going to have show and tell with my latest obsession..... SHAUN THE SHEEP!!!



I have always been a Wallace and Gromit fan and enjoyed Shaun the Sheep when he was in Wallace and Gromit's films. Thanks to the new BF (just slipping that one in all casual like LOL - edited to note that he's decided he has too much going on in his life for a relationship right now. He does and I understand the having stuff but it still sucks) I have discovered that Shaun is a star in his own TV show in England. Unfortunately the shows aren't available in the US but I've still renewed my obsession with Shaun.



I have be scouring ebay daily to try and get my hands on the elusive Shaun knitting pattern. I recently lost my last auction but soon consoled myself when I discovered this kit in an online shop in England.






Yep it's a Shaun the Sheep knitting kit! Of course I ordered it and am now patiently awaiting its arrival from England. Hopefully it will be here before I'm on vacation in December so I can spend some quality time making my own Shaun.

Oh and in case anyone felt the need to ask - yes I know I'm a geek!

A Concert, A Party and (GASP)

KNITTING

First, last Sunday the sock (a new one in Tofutsies yarn, which contains some of the same stuff that makes up crab and shrimp shells) went to a concert.



This is a shot from my seat (row 16!!) at the Donny Osmond concert. He was performing at the Taste of Cleveland and I happily splurged on a reserved ticket for the show.

My only complaint about the show was its length - it was way too short. The concert started around 9:15 and was over by 10:30. I've seen Donny in concert within the past two years and the last show I attended was MUCH longer. I am assuming that the length of this show had something to do with the venue. The Taste of Cleveland event was ending that night at 11:00 and I'm sure the promoters wanted everyone out of the concert tent in time to hit the food stands one more time on their way out.



I was able to wander up to the front and get a
close up picture of Donny. Even now that he's a grandfather he is still pretty darn cute!

The knitting and the party go together. We had a party this weekend for my friend's husband. It was a surprise party for his fortieth birthday. He seemed pretty surprised since his actual birthday isn't until December. Anyway they are RABID Ohio State fans so I knit him a pair of OSU slippers.

Guess I was naughty.....

Not sure what changed lately in blog land but apparently we now need parental guidance around here.

Mingle² - San Francisco Singles

Hi Diane....

It was pointed out to me (and rightly so) that I haven't posted much since July 4th, so to make up for it we will have a SECOND post this month (I'm still not sure where this month has gone) and we'll have pictures too.



This is some non-stash yarn (remember yarn purchased out of town doesn't count as stash!) that I bought on the guild bus trip in May (OK so I'm a bit slow on pictures sometimes!)



We have some Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in the front right, a skein of Regia bamboo yarn to it's left (I already had one skein from the guild Christmas party). In the back we have more Regia sock yarn in some totally obnoxious bright colors (they are basically flouresent!), Lily Chin yarn picked up from the sale bin that is designated for charity knitting and some Karabella lace mohair (can you tell I like BRIGHT colors???)

This is actually some alpaca blend that I picked up in NYC in April...believe it or not all of this cost me less than $11.00 (no not per ball - total!). Plus there is not tax on yarn in NYC! This was in the sale bin and I really liked the color so it got to come home with me. I think I might make myself a nice scarf out of this one.

Everyone have a great Labor Day (I am going to a cookout at my cousin's new house before I head off to the Donny Osmond concert!)

Once a scout always a scout

OK not only do I still know where my original girl scout sash is (and hauled it out to show the troop I taught to knit earlier this year) I've discovered a way to be a Knitting Scout.


Wander over to Cast On and you too can be a knitting scout.

These are my badges (so far)



The “I Can Be an Asshole When It Comes To Knitting” Badge - In which the recipient is so passionate, opinionated and entirely convinced of his/her own superior knowledge about all things knitting, that he/she may appear pompous, rude, or self-righteous.

Ummm I don't think I'm like this all the time but I may have looked at someone recently like they had an extra head when they asked me why they needed to check gauge.



The “Knitting Whilst Under the Influence” Badge - This applies to both actual knitting under the influence, as well as achieving moments of stunning intellectual clarity about ones knitting under the influence. Presumes talking about knitting whilst under the influence a given.

OK I spent a few hours (or days take your pick) knitting fish in a hotel bar last year.... 'nough said!



The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One) - The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers as dpns.

I have used paper clips as stitch markers, made my own knitting needles out of dowel rods and an unfolded paper clip will also act as a great stitch holder.




The “MacGyver” Badge (Level Two) - The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a knitting tool in a non-knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used a strand of Regia Bamboo to slice cheese, or repaired a small appliance with a metal knitting needle.

Did you know that a DPN will help shove your coupons into the coupon slot at the U-scan at the grocery store?? I do......




The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge - A requirement for all Knitting Scouts, the recipient must do his or her bit to present knitting in a positive light, whilst at the same time avoiding all references to “hipness”, grandmothers, and yoga.

I've taught several people how to knit (including the above referenced girl scout troop) and some of them have even completed their projects!



The “I’ve Knit Items With No Conceivable Practical Application” Badge - Recipients are those “special” campers who have knit items which somehow missed the mark of their intended application. There are probably more who are deserving of this badge than one would expect.

Well I don't know if they really have NO practical application but I have spent a lot of time making "tribbles" to sew on flip flop straps.

How I spent the Fourth of July

Well I spent the Fourth of July starting the second summer of DIY/This Old House - Cleveland edition.

My railing on the porch has been in bad shape for some time now and I finally decided to do something about it. The first order of business was to try and salvage the mailbox. It has sentimental value since it has my dad's name on the top of it in metal letters. Well I fought with that thing for over an hour trying to get it off the railing. Ummm considering it was attached to the railing for at least 40 + years it was not budging. I finally got the top of the mailbox off the rest of the mailbox and had to be satisfied with that.

I forgot to take any pictures pre-demo so we only have after pictures today.

The railing was really easy to get off (helps that it was rusted out where the rails met the steps) and I had no trouble getting it to the curb. Happily it did not actually leave with the garbage men on garbage day. Someone came by with a truck the night before and loaded it up to take to the scrap yard. Of course once I had the railing off I decided the carpeting that was on the stairs also needed to go. It was pretty much falling off the bottom step and was very torn on the second step.




Of course once I got everything off the steps it dawned on me.... I no longer have anywhere for the mailman to leave my junk mail (trust me - that is most of my mail). So it was off to the Home Depot to look for new railing and a mailbox. The railing they had (which I had looked at last week) turns out to be a bit longer than the railing that was removed so I am waiting for that until I do some more measuring.

I did get a mail box and a post. There was much swearing involved while installing the post (it's still a bit wobbly) since the screws (provided) don't fit well into the screw holes (predrilled).



I was thinking about painting a sheep on the side of the mailbox to go along with my knitting obsession. Which is why I have a black mailbox on a white post (plus it was the only not REALLY REALLY expensive post they had at the depot).

Wrapping Up the Sock

Remember the sock that kept meeting people at book signings? Well the pair has been finished since the beginning of May when I went on my guild bus trip.

The sock did get one more brush with glory though... we had lunch at Tony Packo's
(Klinger's favorite restaurant on M*A*S*H) in Toledo. They are known for having celebrities sign a hot dog bun which is then displayed on the walls of the restaurant. As a side note - I am now hopelessly addicted to their pickles and peppers....YUMMY!!! Also I really recommend their stuffed cabbage platter if you're even in Toledo (mine came with parika dumplings and a sausage). Oh and the fried pickles are also awesome (darn it now I'm hungry!)






I was delighted to find Scott Hamilton's signed bun (geesh that doesn't sound very good does it??)

And since Scott himself wasn't available for sock holding I did the next best thing -



Of course maybe someday I'll get Scott to hold another sock since he does an annual benefit for the Cleveland Clinic cancer center, but until then this will have to do.

Scattergories

Well after a total kick ass workout tonight at the Y, we will once again be swiping something from another blog for today's post.

It’s SCATTERGORIES, and it’s really fun (of course it helps that this is one of my favorite board games)! Thanks again to JenLa.....

Here are the rules:
~Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following.
~They MUST be real places, names, things…NOTHING made up!
~If you can’t think of anything, skip it.
~Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial.
~You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Have fun!

Your Name: Mary

1. Famous Singer/Band: Meatloaf/Michael Stanley Band (trust me they are/were huge in Cleveland)

2. 4 letter word: More

3. Street Name: Mullholland Drive

4. Color: Mauve

5. Gifts/Presents: Money

6. Vehicle: Mustang

7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Mousepad

8. Boy Name: Michael

9. Girl Name: Maude

10. Movie Title: The Money Pit

11. Drink: Mojito

12. Occupation: Medical Assistant

13. Celebrity: Morgan Freeman

14. Magazine: Ms.


15. U.S. City: Modesto, CA

16. Pro Sports Teams: Marlins

18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Morning traffic

19. Something You Throw Away: Melon rinds

20. Things You Shout: Moron

21. Cartoon Character: Mary Worth

Okay. Your turn!

(I've double checked both JenLa and the blog they got it from and for some reason there is no 17 - in case anyone was wondering)

All Audiences Approved

Found this over on Stephannie's page and decided to have the blog "rated." I guess if this place was a movie I would be more Disney/Pixar than Miramax.

Mingle²