Happy Halloween!!

So I had a long day at work. But we got to see the new office space we're moving into in January. I don't like the space but I do love that in the lobby there's a knitting store. Not a good knitting store but a store nonetheless.

My knitting group met tonight (well its Jen's knitting group but who's splitting hairs?) and so it was obviously Halloween themed. We made little pumpkins. Here's mine:

I think its really cute! I've never made anything stuffed. I might have to make a stuffed animal or something!

We played some games, unscrambling words (which I suck at) and a word find which I'm apparently not so bad at since I won the prize for this one a really cool tape measure with a little witch on it. Totally perfect for the day!

Isn't it cool? And you get a glimpse of my awesome word search skillz

I love that the pull is the end of a broom!

It was a fun Halloween despite all the work I had to do today. Its getting closer to year-end and tax time so its only going to get worse from here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Baby Blanket Update

I finally got one picture of my friends baby with the blanket I made her, isn't she sweet...

Ok I know this doesn't really showcase my knitting skills BUT it does show just how cute Aria is! God a love this little creature. Apparently it gets a lot of use though which is good.

Carl and I went to see her when she got out of the hospital. This was a few months ago but look how small she was. She's such a little wiggle-worm and has such powerful little legs. When she starts walking this girls going to RUN!! I just love her!

I just saw this video on You Tube. Check it out. It’s kind of funny.

Autumn is Finally Here!

MSN had these great pumpkins in a slideshow for Halloween. It really is fall. The leaves are changing (if we had trees I could take pictures of them changing but we don’t), the air is finally getting cool and crisp and sweaters are finally being pulled out from their summer storage. It’s good to get the knitting weather back. After writing yesterday’s post I made some tea, curled up on the couch and got back to work on the sock. When I couldn’t see straight anymore I picked up my new copy of The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes and started to read. This didn’t last very long since I was exhausted from all the dancing and singing the night before at the wedding. I’m still a little hoarse today. I just want to apologize if last night’s post made no sense but everyone loves a good tired ramble so I hope you all enjoyed mine.

Sadly I’m not going to make much progress on the sock today. We’re having dinner with Carl’s mom and seeing Young Frankenstein so I won’t be home till late. I’m knit during the show but Carl will kill me. I just want to get to the heel already. I’m ready for the challenging part. SIGH…I guess it will have to wait till Thursday since we’re making pumpkins tomorrow. Which I can’t wait for!!!

Chicago!!

Friday morning we left for Chicago for Carl's cousin's wedding. I am an awful flyer so to get me through I of course brought my knitting! I worked on the sock on the plane and with the help of the little blue bottles of joy they sell I made it to Chicago without flipping out!

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Friday night we managed to see a little of Chicago. Mostly I saw the Loopy Yarns while Carl paced around the block for apparently 45 minutes. I think I lost track of time while I was in there oops! I picked up some Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in Vera so I can make the shrug below (which I am not starting till I finish a few more WIPs) and one skein of Silk Rhapsody in this gorgeous orange/pink/gold.

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I just loved this graffiti on the way to the store.

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Then we grabbed some margaritas at this place Lola's before having dinner with friends.

Then it was wedding wedding wedding all Saturday. Today we hopped on a plane so I made a little more progress on the sock which is great. I have about 2 inches to go on the cuff before I do the heel flap. I'm getting there. I'm starting to think that I should just frame this one when it is done and then start an actual real pair of socks that don't have all my little mistakes in them. Its just a thought.

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I just love my little black sheep stitch marker. So sweet.

I'm exhausted though so its going to be an early night. We definitely had a fun filled couple of days. I just got this fortune cookie, I think its trying to tell me something about my knitting ADD.

Embarking on a long weekend

So I was just sitting there at work with my ipod on reliving my high school years with a little “Motorcycle Drive By” by Third Eye Blind. I always loved this line for some reason “Where's the soul. I want to know, New York City is evil. The surface is everything, but I could never do that, Someone would see through that.” So in the spirit of the lyrics we’re off to Chicago for a wedding and hopefully a little yarn shopping. Carl had agreed to let me go to ONE yarn store…how kind of him.

And since he's such a kind and caring boyfriend and its supposed to be a little chilly in the winding city this weekend I made him a hat which I started last night and just finished. See I do love him. And it was my first ever hat! After two months of him not liking any hat patterns but wanting me to make him one he finally decided on the simplest hat ever. If only I had known 2 months ago...Anyway, Viola c'est complet!

I just had to try it on too

UPDATE: This hat pattern can be found in the Fall?winter 2005 issue of Knit 1 Magazine. I think you can still buy back issues from Sixth and Spring Books.

Alone time

Sometimes its nice to turn off everything and just knit and listen to the sounds of the city...

Someone has been bit by the hobby-bug

Something interesting seems to happening in my apartment. The hobby-bug must have come sometime over the last few weeks and bit Carl as well. He took up the guitar about a year before meeting me and is still very much a beginner. He hadn't played in a long time but over the last couple weeks he's been pulling out the guitar and practicing while I knit. One night I was knitting and he just whipped out the guitar and his old books from when took lessons and started practicing his scales. Now scales are annoying and are made even more annoying when the person playing them still does know their way around their instrument so I'm not going to lie and say it's wonderful and romantic and yadda yadda yadda. I hate the scales. What I love is that we're both finding something we're passionate about (other than each other). I want to ring his neck sometimes when he's playing (at least knitting is a quiet craft). But then again he wants to kill me most the time when my knitting magazines, books, supplies...etc are strewn around the room so I can't say much. What I can say is in the end I love the nights when we sit together engulfed in our personal passions struggling together to become more proficient. I would trade it for anything in world. Plus if he keeps it up he'll sound much better and I won't want to kill him anymore!

I also promised some pictures of the sock. Its progressing well. I had a couple bumps in the beginning so the ribbing is off. But this is the practice sock so onwards and upwards as they say (who are "they" anyway??)

so its coming along I really like the yarn I bought. The ribbing got a little messed up but its fixed now.


see small hole developed and I'm not sure how I also created a couple extra stitches when moving the yarn back and forth for the ribbing. I have to be more careful when I do this for real.

HP Shockers and Socks!

There was an article in the UK Observer yesterday which reports the Dumbledore is gay. In an interview JK revealed that this beloved character was gay. What a shocker but then again who cares…but it is some incredible news!

Last night I started my first sock. I’m just using the basic pattern in Ann Buud’s Getting Started Knitting Socks and its ok. There was a little bump in the first couple rows but I’m just going to keep going. This is my practice sock so mistakes are ok. The only big problem is that I’m using super fine yarn and size one rosewood needles. Oh and the yarn is sort of rosewood colored but that’s only because I couldn’t find my green sock yarn in my basket and the redish one came out first. I don’t think I was thinking when I bought all my supplies. This just means it’s a challenge and I accept said challenge. I have the entire plan ride to Chicago on Friday to devote to socks (and not flipping out). I’m hoping I can get to turning the heal by then so I can spend the flight working on the more labor intensive part.

Wish me luck!

Its been too long...

So its been awhile. The birthday celebrations and Rhinebeck seemed to have taken up a lot of my time SO I guess we have some catching up to do.

Birthday: so I got many presents for my birthday mostly knitting books and Jane Austen related books so I'm thrilled. I also got a new set of speakers for my ipod so we can listen to tunes in the den. Oh and the fifth season of Family Guy. I love that show. I was going to put up pictures of everything but there were so many little things it seems weird. Plus I have my last birthday dinner tonight so I still have a few more presents!

Rhinebeck: Mom and I went to Rhinebeck on Saturday for the first time. It was CRAZY! So many people and livestock and stalls. It was almost too much to take in. I did have a wonderful time and we're definitely going back next year AND it helped to get my mom back into knitting which is great.

What did I get at Rhinebeck? What didn't I get? My first purchase was very large handwoven basket with my birthday money from Grandma. And I mean large. I then proceeded to fill it with birthday gifts from mom (yarn and a swift), mom's purchases and my own purchases. Boy did it get heavy!!! And people had comments about my large basket everywhere I went. They all seemed to love it. At first I was getting scolded for not filling it quickly enough. I ran into those people later in the day and they were very proud of my progress. But it really did get heavy, I turned into mom's pack-mule by the end of the day but it was worth it.

On our way out we were interviewed by these people from knitayarn.com, I think that was their name, apparently we caught their eye with our large basket of goodies. That was fun. Apparently our little clip might be out there in cyberspace soon. I'll let you all know when if it happens.

My favorite purchases have to be my knew Alpaca friend (see Anna now Mr. Paci had a friend in NY) and the swift. Thank you thank you thank you mom for the swift. Man is it great! SO here are my shots from Rhinebeck. I didn't get as many as I wanted because I think I was too distracted by well EVERYTHING to take pictures.

Also I finally finished the purple jumper however its a little large in the bust area. It's almost as if I have wings under my arm pits so I have to try to make some adjustments. I should be able to fix the seaming so it fits better right? A little sewing maybe???

Happy Birthday Me!!

I'm very excited...I can't wait to see what presents I get!!

I will post pictures later...

NEW POLL - And apparently metals were the winners of the last poll! And I can't believe no one voted for glass do people just not use them or are they not that easy to work with? I know Lantern Moon makes some beautiful glass needles but who's buying them? Thanks for voting!

Confusion and PRESENTS!!!

The Dalai Lama comes to the US to receive the Congressional Gold Medal and China is furious. The Chinese are upset that Bush is giving him this award. Read this article from BBC World News and the Chinese sound rather irrational over this meeting. It’s the Dalai Lama!!! He’s a worker for piece. He’s a Buddhist for Christ-sake! Sometimes I really don’t understand the world. How can you hate the Dalia Lama? Ok I know he’s for the the freeing of Tibet and well, China doesn’t want to do that but seriously what wrong has he done. I guess we all see things from our own perspective.
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And I got my first two presents!!! One from me and one from Carl (well the first one from Carl): The first the Harry Potter 1-7 Chest!! PICTURES!!

So I'm trying not to open it so it retains its value...god that sounds dorky...forget I said it.

So now I'm knitting and watching the fourth Season of Wings. God I love this show what did they ever take it off the air...

ooops

So Carl and I had our normal end of the work day conversation. "when will you be home?" "what should we have for dinner?" same old same old. He told me two things that make me feel bad...1) I have to put my clothes away and 2) he said I can knit all night but I have to put my knitting way. Oooops I didn't mean to act like a child. I guess its all the good spirits that my upcoming birthday has brought. Plus I know there are knitting related gifts coming in under 48 hours and well I can't wait to see what I get...ok turning into a child again. Time to get home and knit.

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Sorry can't focus today.

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Oh almost forgot. I finally got my invitation to Raverly (YAY!) so check me out there as well. I think my username is APratt23. If I'm wrong tell me.

Apple Picking

I promised apple pick shots but I can do one better here's a little video of us apple picking!

I apologize for this being the wrong way but apparently blogger doesn't recognize that a rotated the video. Tilting you head does help some.

After apple picking we came back to the city so we could get ready for our friends Darren and Ross' housewarming party. We had a fabulous time. There of course was lots of drinking and champagne being poured since these guys know how to party. Today I feel like death however. But here are some shots of the good time had by Darren and Ross.

It was fun but I'm hurting today.

Random Decision

I decided today that life should have dance breaks...

...that's all for today. Apple picking was awesome now its time to get back to knitting. Pictures from today to come.

DANCE ON!!

Count Downs!

1 Day till apple picking!
4 Days till my birthday (woot woot)!!!
5 Days till my Moroccan Birthday Feast (hopefully minus belly dancers)
8 Days till Rhinebeck!!!!!

October is shaping up to be a great month! I have all kinds of dinners and trips and PRESENTS!! I don't care how old I get I still get as excited about presents as I did when I was 5.

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Interesting story from work today. My father emailed me to ask when I'd like to have my birthday dinner with him (yay divorce you can never have one meal with your whole family, yes that is sarcasm). We run through some dates and it comes up that I will be at Rhinebeck and can't do anything on the 20th. Now my brother, boyfriend and step mother are all copied on this emailed so from that point on they just keep bah-ing at me via email. Eventually the sheep pictures come and we get this one:

http://www.plasticnipple.com/images/forums/hit_it_sheep.jpg

Warning this isn't exactly PG.

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Oy! My family...gotta love them.

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I promised pictures of the jumper and here they are!
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The whole back piece is complete I just need to finish the front and the false pockets. I'm so close but so far. Actually I'm not that close at all. I'm starting my first round of decreases which is exciting. I'm about 8 inches in to the front...so many more to go.

Luckily I have two long train rides to westchester tomorrow where I hope to make some much needed progress. Its going to be a wonderful couple of weeks!

Happy Knitting!

Can't sleep

Tonight we went to see Maroon 5 at Madison Square Garden. I haven't seen a band play there since I was 5 and my mom took me to see New Kids on the Block (I was very obsessed). We generally see smaller bands so it was strange to see such a mainstream band in such a huge venue. I'm not used to being that far away from the artists I love but when you fall for a pop band you have to deal with the nose bleed section.

It was a lot of fun. We rocked out and watched the really drunk girl in front of us who kept standing up on this table thing and fling herself around. I think she was dancing but it looked more like seizures and honestly I think my whole section was just waiting for her to fall. It was amazing how good she was at staying on her feet all things considered.

The really cool thing about the show was that Kanye came out and did a song with them. It was a great surprise. The really sucky thing was that I forgot my camera. I never forget my camera. Oh well no pictures of the drunk girl or Maroon 5.

So now I just read some blogs and wait for sleep to kick in. My knees are bothering me from the rain we've been having. I know I sound like I'm an old lady but I'm not I just have bad knees. And I can't sleep with they ache...or walk but I don't need to walk to sleep thank god. So I'm waiting for the painkillers to kick in so the sleep can come. I'm just sleeping on the couch tonight since the boyfriend is all snuggled up in bed at the moment and after the last couple a days he needs all the rest he can get.

I do have an interesting story from yesterday morning. I was on the bus on my way to work knitting way on the front of my jumper (I swear pictures will be posted one of these days) and I spot a co-worker from our accounting department. We say hi and chat a bit and go back to our commutes. Later in the day we run into each other again and he says to me yah I knew it was you once I saw the knitting. Yup I'm now known around work as the knitter. I don't know if that's good our bad since I work for a very old boys club private equity firm but its who I am and I'm not going to fight.

Oh if there are typos, don't judge its late and I'm rambling.

Who Does This?

Who punches a Monet??? What kind of drunken beat is this?? Do people respect anything anymore??

read: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7033018.stm

I was very upset by this. We should cherish and respect great works of art not get drunk and punch holes in them.

Long Weekends

Thank goodness we had a long weekend this weekend. The boyfriend is feeling much better. He still can't sleep through the night without getting sick but he's been eating and sleeping which is progress. My allergies are awful and my whole head is congested to the point where my ear hurts like hell which is making it hard to take care of him but I must push on. Today we're going to try and go to Macy's and just walk around. We went out yesterday to the grocery store and the day before to Barnes and Noble. I think these little outings are good for him. The sunshine has to help at least to make him feel better. I wish we had outdoor space so he could sit outside during the day but outdoor space is hard to come by in New York City.

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I've been making a lot of headway on the jumper while all this has been happening. Hopefully I'll have something to show you all soon.

Thank God For Knitting

I don't have much to say tonight since I spent most the night taking care of the boyfriend and then 10 hours in the ER so I'm exhausted. And I have another night of taking care of him ahead of me. Thank god we have a 3 day weekend coming up so we can both sleep.

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And thank god for knitting. If I didn't know how to knit I don't know what I would have done today at the ER. 10 hours there just waiting and talking to doctors and waiting. I decided to bring along the yarn for Anna's charity afghan squares and thank goodness I did. I thought it was more appropriate to knit for others than for myself given the circumstances. And I'm happy to say since this whole illness thing started I finished my first three.

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Here are my three. I'm not sure if she needs me to knit all of them or if I can do something a little more fun with each square. Anna, let me know. I loved this really bright happy yarn. I think it will make some one very happy. I also think many sweaters were made from this yarn in the 80's. I can't wait to finish all 20 squares and send them over to her. I have a few other happy bright colored skeins just waiting to be used.

And in case you were wondering he's ok. Just a bacterial infection so as long as I can get him to take his meds and keep the fever from coming back we'll be fine. My dad says I should take a nap now since I'll probably be cat-napping throughout the night while I take care of him. So it's time to take care of both of us (and clean the apartment so the germs don't spread). Sometimes I'm so happy I'm a woman. We can handle anything and we don't need sleep.

Happy Knitting!

Connecting to Generations

Painting by Artist Rania Hassan

I'm feeling very womanly tonight. The boyfriend has something, he's been vomiting all day and has a fever of 101. So tonight I sit by his bedside (which is our bedside but I'm not getting in there with all those germs) nursing him back to health. And while I nurse I knit. I'm feeling very connected with the many generations of women who have probably sat in a similar situation knitting away the hours and worries while they take care of their loved ones. Of course they weren't living in sin but times have changed, thank goodness!

While you're at it check out the artist's blog: http://goshdarnknit.blogspot.com/ she has some great pieces for sale. Might pick one up as a present to myself for my upcoming birthday. We'll see!

New Toy

I found this new toy today on http://www.knitpicks.com/ its a WPI tool and hopefully it will help me with checking my gauge, since I'm awful with gauge. Has anyone used anything like this before? If so, let me know what you think. I can't wait to get it in the mail and try it out!

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There won't be much knitting progress for a bit I seemed to have hurt my wrist from the knit-a-thon I had this weekend (apparently one shouldn't knit for several days straight). So I will get back to you all in a few days when my wrist stops hurting.