sheep in the city

Long time, no talk....

It has been a while, hasn't it? I'm not sure where to even begin? I want to say, once again, a huge thank you to all the people that have emailed me asking if everything was okay. It is, everything is okay. I think I just needed a break from life the past few months. A couple big things have happened. On August 26th, my Dad moved into an acute rehab center because my Mom was no longer able to care for him on her own at home. He, at that point, was not able to walk or stand on his own. This was a really hard decision for our family to make. We all know, especially now, that it was the right one. He is making strides in his rehab and loves the team of people that work with him every day. The facility that he is in couldn't be much closer to all of our houses. It basically sits right in the middle between my sister and I. It looks like he may be able to come home around the first part of December. Please pray that this happens! We all want him to be home for Christmas. His special red blanket has a place of prominence in his room. He often tells people that come to visit the story of how it all came together. It seems crazy that it is almost a year ago that we gave him his blanket.

On a more personal note, I was laid off at the end of August too. Many of you might be thinking, ummm, didn't you work for your Dad? Well, yes I did, but he is basically retired at this point. His sole job right now is to focus on his health and getting better. The people that are left in charge of the ministry, sadly, decided to cut the part that I worked for. August really was a tramatic time for our family. Both my brother-in-law and I lost our jobs. Things are looking up though. We both in the last couple of weeks have found new jobs that we're excited about, although mine doesn't start for a few more weeks.

Through it all though, I've kept knitting. I know that I haven't been able to produce a bunch of finished things...but I've kept knitting through the chaos. I was looking the other day on Flickr to see the things that I have finished in 2009, and it is lots of little things. Hats, squares for afghans, barn raising squares. It makes sense though, little things are easy to cart around and finish. That is what I've needed. That hasn't stopped me from starting things left and right though!

A few weeks ago, I went and had a much needed weekend with some girlfriends in Kansas City. Of course, days before the trip, I decide to knit them all hats. Well, I got them all done, just in time!

Thanks for still coming back to check in on my poor sad neglected blog. I'm not ready to give up the blog yet! It still brings me joy to write it and get responses back from all of you!!

...and the winner is!

Julie!!! You won! I need you to send me your mailing address and I'll make sure that you get a copy of Vintage Baby Knits!

The big news around here is that I'm going to SOCK SUMMIT! My bags are packed and I'm headed out to the airport right now!! My friends and I decided at the last minute to just do it! I'll have lots of fun pictures and knitting news when I get home. I may even try and post on the road from my iPhone...oh yeah...I got an iPhone about a month ago and I don't know what I did before. I love my phone!! Okay, I'm out of here!

The view from here...

What do I say? We are back at the hospital with my Dad. He was admitted to the ICU yesterday. Please just pray for him and for all the people working on him. Thanks everyone....I've been knitting non-stop here with my Mom. Lots of projects to choose from. I think I brought about 6 with me...at least. More news when we talk to the neurosurgeon tonight about his latest MRI.

Hopefully I'll have some happy sunny knitting to show someday. Ugh. I hate this. More later.

A little retail therapy.

I made it through the move and now I'm just setting up a temporary office at home until my boss and I find a space that will suit the two of us. Over the course of the last few weeks though, I've needed to indulge in a little "retail therapy" if you know what I mean. Things were a wee stressful with the move, things are a wee stressful with my Dad. (more on that later) So, I bought a bag and some yarn, and maybe a little more yarn.

The bag pictured above is one of my new favorites! It is covered in the cutest little owls (which oddly enough, this year I've been a little obsessed with. Birds in general really. Weird) I got it a Borders Bookstore and it was only 34.99!!! Can you believe it?! If you aren't into birds, they had tons of other options. Genia got a black one with skulls all over it. I was tempted by other ones, but I tried to have a little self-control.

This lovely pink yarn is Madelinetosh Tosh Worsted in the color 'Poprocks'. It is an electric pink. I don't think the picture can convey how bright it is....and I love it! The name is amazing too?! How could I not buy yarn named after one of my childhood candies? Candy + Yarn = Happiness every time! I bought three skeins to make a Mara shawl. (rav link) I can just imagine wearing this next winter with my bright orange wool coat. This one is a free pattern, so run over to her website, or ravelry and grab one! The yarn is from Colorful Yarns. She received a big shipment last week, in tons of great colors, from Madelinetosh. Both the tosh worsted and tosh sock are in. (and no, I didn't buy it all...I promise!)

I couldn't resist the call of the Felted Tweed any longer, so I finally picked some up. I'm not sure what I'm going to make with it, but it had to come home with me.

From left to right: Plymouth Earth 'Mainland', a 50/50 alpaca silk, Noro Silver Thaw (a discontinued Noro that I scored on Ravelry!), and Pagewood Farms Alyeska in the colorway 'Really Red'.

This one was not actually a purchase, it was a gift from my friend Jen. (yes, she is that Jen. I laugh every time I see her phone number in my phone because she is listed as "Jen Piddleloop". hee hee) She sent me this earring and necklace set (custom made, just for me) and it made my day! They are from the cutest Etsy shop called Happy Cloud Moments. Check out the goodies that Jen ordered. Fun stuff.

On the Dad front...I don't really know where to begin. He is going back to Houston with my Mom next week for more testing. He is having more extensive bone tests done, one of which sounds not too fun, a bone biopsy. The treatment he was getting here hasn't been working. His PSA levels are up, there is "activity" in the spots in his bone, he is just feeling worse and worse. It's just so hard to see. I hate it. I can't really express how I'm feeling about the whole thing. I know that all I can do is just keep praying for him and the doctors treating him. If I think about it too much all I want to do is cry. So, instead, I try to knit. I guess that is all I've got to say for now. Thanks to those of you who have stuck with me on this blog....even though I hardly ever post. I do miss it...and I hope to get back in the swing of things this summer. I have a couple fun projects that I'm working on that I can't wait to show you all. That will have to wait until next time!

*if you want to check out a really special article written about my Dad...go here.

Ummm...I take it back...

...this has been the longest week ever! Forget about last week, or the week before because this has been the longest week ever!! The office is all packed up, pretty much, and we are packing the final items in the truck tomorrow. Needless to say, I can't wait for the weekend! I have lots to talk about and lots to show you and no time to do it. The picture above is the first time I have been on my computer in days and as you can tell, I'm sitting in the corner. I feel like life is going to get back to normal next week...cross your fingers for me?!

The longest week EVER...

All day long I've been thinking that this has felt like the longest week ever and then I realized that it is only Tuesday?! Do you ever have weeks like that? We are packing up the office that I work at...and it is just draining me. This could be because I don't love change. Possibly. It could be because I leave for the mountains on Thursday morning for an extended weekend and I really need a mini-vacation. Possibly. It could be because I'm really excited to be going to see Dane Cook live at the Pepsi Center on Sunday night. Maybe.

The picture above is another barn raising square. The more I've seen my Dad using his blanket, the more I want one of my very own. I have been trying to carry around squares in my purse and knit on them whenever I have a spare moment. I think I've finished 4 or 5 in the last week. (yes, my lovely knitting group, some of these are for you...you know who you are!) The little bag with dancing bunnies on it is a Piddleloop "Piddly" bag. Last time I checked, there was still one in the shop...go get it! There are also a couple of her Wedge bags, which I highly recommend. The DPN's pictured are from Knit Picks and I have to say, I am loving them! I hadn't ever used them before about a week ago and my love/hate relationship with DPN's might just be over! My Mom gifted them to me last week and I am so glad that she did. Thanks Mom! They are the 6" Harmony needles, you get size 0 through 3, but the 2 different MM sizes of 1's and 2's. This works great for those of us that knit a little tightly. Check them out here.

I'm not sure how much I'll be on my computer this weekend, but I do know that I should have lots of fun knitting projects to show you when I return on Sunday. Hope you all have a great weekend...I know I will!

My *current knitting obsessions...

*I do have lots of different obsessions. Bag obsessions, reading obsessions, food obsessions...but these are the current knitting obsessions.

I am currently under the spell of 2 projects that I started last weekend. The first is Watermelon. (rav link) It is the cutest little sweater that comes in sizes 3 months all the way up to 6 years! You can find the pattern here on Ravelry or on the designers blog, Never Not Knitting. Be sure to check out her other patterns...they are precious! I think the girls are going to have to have a Spring Garden Tee too! I'm knitting it out of Tahki Cotton Classic, instead of the called for Manos Cotton Stria. The only reason is that the Cotton Stria isn't as readily available to me and as many of you know, Cotton Classic is one of my favorite cottons to knit kids stuff out of. The color range just can't be beat. I called dibs on making the 2 year size for Amelia and my Mom is knitting one for Alice. I can just see them now, wearing their sweaters on the 4th of July. I can't wait!

Let me interrupt myself and say, I'm feeling a little guilty for not knitting more for my nephew, Liam. I've fallen into the trap of "girl stuff is just so much cuter". Do any of you moms or aunties or grandmas out there have a fun boy sweater? I have some Rowan denim that I am dying to knit into something for him...but just haven't found the perfect thing yet. Plus, he seems to be growing leaps and bounds lately. I want to tell him to stop, so that I can actually make him something that will fit for awhile. Oh well. I'm just going to do it, bite the bullet, and make him something. Anything to make the guilt go away! Please bring on the suggestions!

The other project is the Flower Basket Shawl. It was published in Interweave in 2004 and also as a stand alone pattern through Trendsetter. It is lovely. I'm knitting it for my cousin, who is getting married at the end of June. Since I have a definite deadline with this one, I hope to get it done as soon as possible. The yarn is Tilli Tomas 'Voile de la Mer' in the color Atmosphere. It is a silk and sea cell blend. I thought it would work nicely for her "something blue". I don't think that she is necessarily going to wear it in the wedding, but she might at the reception. Alright...enough talking, I've got to get back to knitting!

Denver Nuggets, FTW!

The game last Wednesday night was amazing...what can I say? They won!! It was a blast and the noise level was super intense. My parents left early (it was a late game) and my brother and I ended up staying until the very end. I think I got home sometime after midnight. It was worth it though.

What a great game...and since then we have won game 1 of the second round against the Mavericks! Woo hoo!

I brought some knitting with me, but I don't think that I knit a single stitch, I was too involved in the game. It never hurts to bring it along, just in case though.

I'm knitting socks people!

Some of you are going to find this hard to believe, but I'm knitting socks! I picked up Cookie A's new book Sock Innovation and Wendy Johnson's new book Socks from the Toe Up. They are both amazing books and I feel like a must for any sock knitter. They are both chuck full of great information. Cookie A's has tons of information on designing and charting, plus her style is so...ummm...innovative! (I crack myself up!) Wendy's book is wonderful for anyone looking to try knitting socks from the toe up. It has everything from lace to plain vanilla socks and everything in between. If you can't afford to buy them, go check them out from your local library, or even request that they get them in!

I started a sock, in pink (shocking, i know!) ShiBui, on Tuesday night. It's a pattern from Cookie A's book called "Wanida". (rav link) So far, I am loving knitting it. I'm going to check with some of my friends tonight at my knitting group to see if all looks good. I can't really tell if the fabric of the sock looks tight enough. There are some girls in my group that I would consider "sock experts". I am definitely not one of them.

On the Dad front...he is doing better. He was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon after being treated for pneumonia there for the last 3 1/2 days. Thank you to everyone, once again, for all the prayers and encouragement. I truly appreciate it.

Squared

These squares are knit with: (clockwise, starting at the top left) Socks That Rock "Rhodonite", Red Rocks Fiber Works "No Repeat",Red Rocks Fiber Works "Sheep in the City", Pagewood Farms.

This week I pulled back out the squares for my very own Barn Raising blanket. I haven't worked on them much at all lately. After finishing the one for my Dad, I needed a break from mine. I guess it was last summer that I started mine. I just love how portable they are! Anywhoo...I know that this is a short post, I've just been too busy/too tired to write anything. I hope to write more later, I promise!

I love a snow day!

We got a crazy amount of snow here in Denver today! Enough accumulated that by the time I was going to go to work, I decided not to. My niece had spent the night with me last night, so we spent the morning playing with legos, drinking hot chocolate, and watching cartoons. Her Dad came to pick her up around lunch time and the snow was coming down like crazy. They live about 2 miles down the road from me, but it took them a good half hour to get home. As soon as the garage closed after they left, I busted out the knitting. I love days like this. It has been such a mild winter, that I thought we weren't going to have any more snow. My family had planned on going up to the mountains tomorrow for the weekend, but that doesn't seem like its going to happen now. I guess I'll just have to stay home tomorrow...since I had already taken the day off, right? What's one more snow day?

...not sure what to say...

pictured above: My brother, me, my mom, dad, sister (holding amelia), and my brother-in-law.

Many of you have been asking about my Dad and how he is doing. I'm sad to say that we got some bad news Tuesday night. On Monday, he went in for a routine visit and informed the nurse of some numbness in his chin. (this isn't that uncommon for him, as he has experienced numbness off and on during his treatment) The nurse was concerned enough that she immediately told his doctor. He then immediately scheduled an MRI to be done, the next morning, of my Dad's brain. (you can see where this is going) They did find that the cancer has moved into the Dura matter, which is the layer between the bone of the skull and the soft tissue of the brain. I don't know that much about where we are going from here, he hasn't discussed the treatment plan with his doctor, other than they are going to get a lot more aggressive. This is the first time that the cancer has been anywhere other than the bone in the last 15 years, so they are going to be treating it differently than they have for the last year.

I know that a lot of you have asked if there is anything that you can do, well there is. Please pray. Pray for the doctors who are treating him. Pray that my Dad would have a renewed strength, because at the moment he is exhausted. Pray that my family would have the strength to all rally around him and support him. Thank you so much for all the love and support that you all have shown me through the comments and emails that you've sent. I appreciate it, and I know that the rest of my family appreciates it as well. I'll be sure to post when there are more details to be had. I may even post about a finished knitting project soon! (what a concept!) I have 3 sweaters that are so close to being done...I just need to sit and finish them up! Maybe that should be added to the prayer list too. Pray that Stacey can ever sit down long enough to get something finished! (okay, that last one was a bit of a joke...I have to lighten the mood somehow!)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's day everyone! Go fourth and knit on something green! In my wanderings on the internet yesterday, I found a fun free pattern for knitted shamrocks! Enjoy!

Four little words...

They are very dangerous. Red. Rocks. Fiber. Works. My friend Mary-Kay has a gift. She dyes the prettiest yarns and I fall for them every time. Over the last week and a half Colorful Yarns has had a Red Rocks trunk show featuring all of the latest and greatest yarns. To say that I indulged myself is a bit of an understatement. (but thats neither here nor there, right?) Anywhoo, I managed to resist the temptation the first weekend of the show. Then last Friday she replenished the supply at the store and I could resist no longer. I saw pink yarn and I couldn't control myself! The yarn above is called "Newport" and it is a worsted weight Merino/Cashmere/Nylon blend. She let me name the color...so I decided on "Pinkalicious". Some of you with children might have heard of the book, it's a really cute story. (see it here) It really is the softest yarn and I'm thrilled that I have 1400 yards, enough to make a sweater! I'm thinking that it might become one out of Simple Style. (this is the one that I'm thinking about, it's called the sixteen button cardigan) The yarn pictured below is called Twisted. The colorway is Orange Zest. Not sure what it will become, but I have 1680 yards, so it will probably become a sweater. Although the show is over, Colorful Yarns has loads of her yarn still in stock. (and no, I didn't buy all of the good stuff, just some!)

Happy Birthday Genia!

Happy Birthday Genia! I hope that you have a great birthday and that it is filled with lots of fibery goodness.

All garter stitch, all the time....

Lately it feels like I just keep knitting and knitting and knitting...miles and miles of knitting. I have been concentrating on my Einstein Coat (knit with Noro Iro in color #9, Reds), my February Lady (Dream in Color Classy in In Vino Veritas), and the latest Baby Surprise Jacket (Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted). (all pictured above) All of these projects are garter stitch. (OK, so the Feb. Lady isn't, but it has garter at the top!) Thats why it feels like so much knitting, because it is! Don't get me wrong though, I love a good garter stitch project. I've taken my Einstein into a number of movies lately because I can knit on it with no problem in the dark. I think I passed the 1/2 way mark for the bottom of the Einstein coat...which means that I've knit almost 150 rows. I think I need something like 158 ridges....which is around 315 rows. Thats a lot of knitting!

Since all I've been doing is knitting...how about you share with me all the fun stuff that you are knitting on?! Come on, I need to be inspired! (check out the cute outfit that Sam whipped out over the weekend. She bought the yarn Friday night. I'm in awe!)

A few of my new favorite things!

I always like to pass it along when I find "new stuff" on Etsy or out and about in the real world. So here are a few things that I've stumbled on recently. Enjoy!

First we have Rohmer. I found her etsy shop a few months ago and promptly bought a project bag. (she calls them box bags) You all know that I'm pretty much the worlds biggest sucker for cute project bags. Anywhoo, I then contacted her about getting some custom bags made for me and my mom. She delivered! A few months go by, and I notice that a friend of mine has commissioned her to make a larger project bag, one that you could fit a whole sweater in. I had to have one too! She just happened to have some super cute green sheep fabric, and voila, she delivered again! I highly recommend buying bags from her, and if she doesn't have what you want, contact her and do a special order. I have always been 100% satisfied with doing business with her. The picture above is my new large project bag and a pencil case...for notions. I had to have the little matchy-matchy bag of course. You can find her shop here.

Then we have my new bag from the wonderful ladies at Be Sweet. This is the one item that I splurged on at TNNA this year. When Tiffany ordered some of their yarn for the shop...I conveniently had her order a bag for me. I'm sneaky like that. Needless to say, I love it and I've been carrying it every day since. The shot below is of the inside of the bag. It's polka dots!

Why the blog silence?

*Terrie, Sam, Genia, me, and Mary-Kay....not pictured are my sister Whitney and Kim.*

I really have no good reason for not writing on my blog. I think that I've just been doing other stuff. Teaching classes, hanging out with my roommate and family, reading a new series of books (I'm up to number 15 or so), knitting a little, and going to the movies to name a few. Last weekend I saw 3 movies in the theater, which I haven't done in forever. It was so fun! I saw Coraline in 3-D on Friday night with a group of girlfriends. I haven't seen a 3D movie in years and while it was fun, I'm not ready to do it again any time soon. Wearing the 3D glasses on top of my regular glasses was a recipe for my eyes to be really tired by the end of the movie. Then Saturday night I saw 2 more movies. New in Town and He's Just Not That Into You, both of which were enjoyable.

Honestly though, I just can't seem to get back into the rhythm of blogging on a regular or even semi-regular basis. I think that I'm going to try and have a specific time that I try to blog each day. (or the days that I chose to do it) Maybe having some sense of a schedule will help me. It seems to me like there has been a definite decrease in the amount that all my blogging buddies are posting too though. They are posting less all across the board. Has anyone else noticed that?

Just so that there is some knitting content...here's a glimpse of what I've been knitting on lately:

February Lady: I started this last summer at camp and set it down soon after. Since it is February...I thought it would be very appropriate to pull it out and work on it. :) The picture here is from last summer. At this point I am almost ready to start the lace section. I can't wait!

Francis Revisited: I randomly started this one a few weeks ago when I was reorganizing the stash. I paired up some Brooks Farm Primero that has been in my stash for about three years with some Louisa Harding Grace. (50% silk/50% wool) I'm holding them together and loving the look I'm getting.

Random squares: I've been knitting more Barn Raising squares for a swap that I'm in, as well as a cabled square for a swap on Ravelry.

Happy Birthday Amelia!

How is it that little Mimi is already a year old?! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was announcing that she was here. She's holding her own though, especially since she has two older siblings that she is trying to keep up with! She just follows her brother around all the time, mimicking all the noises he makes. It's pretty funny. What a sweet little girl. So....Happy Birthday Mimi!

Look what I got...

I'm so excited! I just picked up my very own set of Addi Click needles at Colorful Yarns on Sunday. I know that she has at least 10 or 12 sets left out of the 25 that she originally got in. They are selling quickly! I think its all of the die-hard Addi fans out there. We've all been waiting for years for them to come out with something like this, the addi needles, but interchangeable. I haven't had a chance to knit with them yet, but I hope to soon. (Does this mean that I get to cast on for something new?) As soon as I do use them, I'll let you all know what I think. I have a feeling that I'm really going to like using them.

On the knitting front, my sweater that I started at the beginning of the month is moving along. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to finish it or not, cross your fingers for me. I really need to take some pictures of it in better lighting. By the time I get home at night it's just too dark to take a picture of dark gray yarn. That will be my goal this weekend...take a few pictures. I've also been teaching and getting ready for all the Spring classes at Colorful. I'm teaching 7 of them over the next 4 months. (some of them have multiple dates, so check them out!) Here's the list of what I'm teaching: February Lady, Einstein Coat, Felted Clogs, Baby Surprise Jacket, Beginning Knitting 1 and 2, and a starter class on the Just Enough Ruffles scarf. All of that should keep me busy, don't you think?! If it doesn't...I'm also working on a secret project. You can check out a picture here. Shhhhhh.

Everything in its place...

It always feels so good to have everything in the right place, doesn't it? This doesn't happen all the time at my house, but last week my mom and I tackled my knitting space. We moved all the books and bought some new PINK shelves. Some of my friends (who will remain un-named, but hate pink) will hate these shelves, but they make me happy. All of my pink and pinkish yarn now lives in my pink cubes. Where did I get pink shelves, you ask? Target. I love that store. I'm sure that they are meant to be used in a 6 year old little girls room, but I just had to have them. Figuring that they were a limited edition thing, I went ahead and bought 2.

This is just a little glimpse of the pink/pinkish yarn that I own. I highly recommend that every knitter, at some point, look through their stash and organize it by color. It's fascinating to me. You really get a sense of the colors that you are drawn to. Maybe you never realized just how much of a certain color you already own. Now, in my case, I know that I am drawn to the pinks/reds/oranges, but it still helps to see it all together.

TNNA in San Diego was amazing. It was a whirlwind of running from one side of the convention center to the other. I met lots of really cool authors, some fantastic designers, finally spotted the Ravelry gang. It was a blast. The only bummer is that they don't let you take pictures inside...so the only thing I have to show for my trip is this picture of the stack of books I got.

**For those of you wanting an update on my Dad...he is right this very moment meeting with his doctors going over the latest scans and tests. His doctor here in Colorado is consulting with his doctor at MD Anderson and they are going to figure out the next treatment.**

I totally blame the cat...

This is why I don't get more knitting done! Every night when I get home from work and get settled onto the couch to knit...I have a little furry visitor. He snuggles right in and doesn't let me knit at all. How can you say no to that face though?

Any suggestions from my fellow cat loving knitters?!