Very Quick Update

Well I can't believe that I did not remember what the fingerless glove yarn was from. Although I did vaguely feel that it had something to do with my way out west friend. And I can't believe that the kid I made the sweater for is in middle school now. It does not make me old, it makes me very experienced. Also, the yarn I am using to make the next pair of fingerless gloves is not from my grandma's afghan, it is one I made for myself! I was on a kick, for quite a long time, where I was rocheting these very intricate fisherman knit pattern afhhans. After making 4 of them I got it out of my system, but they are gorgeous. I should take a picture of mine and post it.

Anyway, I am glad a few people read this blog

I started my leaf pattern sweater and it is going to be great. I had to cast on 3 times because first I twisted the cable (which I only fully realized after knitting 3 rows), then I somehow managed to pull the needle out after casting on 260 stitches. The third time was the charm. I got the first leaf motif finished, 5 rows. It just didn't look right to me. So I read the pattern about 50 times and then the light bulb went off above my head and I head to tink 9 rows which took me all afternoon. I was not going to go back to the cast on. So yesterday I got the first little motif done and started the large leaf pattern and then stopped knitting, not wanting to press my luck! The real point of this is that I really like the pattern and it is going to look great when it is done. I am off to take more pictures.

Another Luka Story & My Fingerless Gloves

I finished these gloves a few days ago, and I finally got the pictures on my computer. I am very happy with the patterns, there is a nice simple cable on the wrists & back of the hands, and then stockinette stitch across the palms. But the yarn I used, although very pretty, is too stiff. I am going to make another pair out of a softer acrylic yarn from my stash. I have several skeins of purple heather that I think date back to my grandmother making me an afghan when I was in grammar school. We don’t want to calculate how many years ago that was.

One day this past week everyone was out of the house for several hours as eldest son was working and I had several errands to run and BG kindly chauffeured me around the state. When we came home someone (whose name is spelled L-u-k-a) had gotten in the garbage, leaving some chewed up foil in the living room. BG suggested that we put her down stairs for a couple of hours so she would get the message. So he called her downstairs and shut her into the back room. Sophie kept coming to me telling me that something was amiss, but I was firm and Luka stayed until dinner time. I gave Sophie her dinner, which she completely consumed (not something she always does as she is an indifferent eater). Then BG went down stairs and released the penitent. Luka came running up the stairs and Sophie chased her around the dining room table 4 or 5 times, growling and barking at her the whole time. I only hope that she does that when Luka raids the garbage and we are not home. After a few rounds around the table, I fed Luka her belated dinner, she dove in and I went into the sun room. Luka walked over to me about 30 seconds later looking forlorn. I looked up and there was Sophie eating out of Luka’s bowl. I walked over and said, C’mon Sophie, that’s Luka’s dinner. I pushed the dish away from her with my foot and she determinedly kept eating. So I said, well, Luka, it’s a doggie thing, next time think twice before you eat the garbage.

After finishing her second bowl of kibble, Sophie lay down in the dining room and did not move for the rest of the nigh. I thought I heard her moan a few times.

Ta-Da!

I finished Mom’s sweater in record time and it looks great. The pattern is February Lady’s Sweater from Ravelry. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater#

The pattern is Pamela Wynne’s adaptation of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Almanac baby sweater, which she generously posted on Ravelry. Which my California, former new Jersey, former Michigan knitting friend told me she was knitting and I just had to make one. The Ravelry pattern calls for 3/4 length sleeves, but I knew my always-chilly mom would want full length sleeves. I particularly like the detail just above where the garter stitch meets the gull pattern. And of course the gull pattern is great. And so much fun to knit. You can see I don’t have buttons yet. My local Conglomo-Craft Mart has a lousy selection of generic buttons and there are no close by nice little knitting or sewing shops. Ebay to the rescue once again.

My new box of dreams will be here soon. Translation: yarn order. Can’t wait.

Knitting With Dogs

For Christmas last year my sister gave me Sox Stix, 5 wooden sock-size needles in a cute little fabric bag with a drawstring. It was a much appreciated gift as I certainly knit enough socks and one is always misplacing those tiny little skewer-like needles. As a matter of fact (sidebar) once when visiting a friend for a few days, and, of course, knitting together, she told me that she found one of my sock needles in a kitchen drawer. Her housecleaner had found it and assumed som dope had left a skewer in the living room.

Back to this story: a few days after last Christmas. I had put my new Sox Stix in my knitting bag in anticipation of making yet another pair of baby socks and my knitting bag was in my home office. I was working (or playing) on the computer and I gradually became aware of a noise that sounded like a dog chewing wood, not a sound I ever wanted to hear. I turned around and there was Luka chewing on my brand new bag of Sox Stix! I yelled, grabbed and she ran from the room. She had actually gone into my knitting bag, rooted around under several skeins of yarn, taken the little drawstring bag out and was happily (and somewhat daintily) chewing on them through the bag. After my initial surprise I examined the needles and found them remarkably intact. The bag was fine (a little soggy) and there were a few minuscule dents in the needles. All in all, no harm done although I certainly was puzzled as Luka had never shown any interest in my knitting before.

Fast forward to last night, eight month later. I am using the Sox Stix to make a pair of Almost Fingerless Gloves. http://fiberfiend6891.blogspot.com/2007/12/almost-fingerless-gloves-free-pattern.html I am using 4 of the 5 needles and the remaining needle is in the bag on the coffee table two feet in front of me along with the usual detritus, phone magazine, notions box, TV remote. The gloves were in my lap and I was talking to RG, not paying attention to the coffee table. Out of the corner of my eye I see Luka’s head on the coffee table. I quickly turn my head and see that she has ever so carefully taken a corner of the bag in her front teeth and is s-l-o-w-l-y pulling it off the table. I yelled. She jumped. What is it about that little nylon bag? I told her to go away. She did. And about 10 minutes later (I guess she gauged it the optimal amount of time for me to cool off) she came over and all 70 pounds of her climbed into my lap and she was contritely licking my face. Sigh. Knitting with dogs, always an adventure.

Finally

Finally for a couple of reasons. First, I FINALLY finished my Sweet Allysum shawl. And I love it. It is cuddly and warm and really lovely. And I have decided that I really like lace knitting. However, how many shawls and scarves can you use or foist on your family and friends? So now it’s time to pick out a new pattern and buy some more yarn, always an exciting proposition. I think I am going to make a turtleneck with a pattern of leaves along the bottom hem and a little border of leaves on the turtleneck. I also think I will buy a couple more skeins of kid mohair and make something. I really just love lace knitting. I won’t get sick of it too fast as I can only do it during the daylight. And I have made countless socks and I am far from sick of sock knitting.

The other finally is that I finally got on line. Excitedly, I downloaded the pictures from my camera this morning so I could put them on the blog. My personal computer tech has told me a million times that I have to tell the computer that I am removing the outside device so it (the computer) doesn’t get confused. So I did. Then when I tried to get on line again. Nope. Tried and tried. No luck. So I waited for my personal tech guy to get up. Turns out I disconnected my broadband connection, not the camera. So I am not a computer tech I can knit and spin.

The Luka Chronicles -chapter 3 - Who Is That Good Dog?

It is October and the tomatoes are all picked, the houseplants are ready to come inside, and I am totally uninspired, so its time to pull out the old Luka Chronicles. So here goes:

Luka had her third class last night and I knew it was a red-letter day when we WALKED into PetSmart. It is the first time EVER that we walked into the store. Actually it is the first time ever that we walked anywhere in a calm & sedate manner. On all previous occasions I was sliding in on my heels as Luka dragged me. I felt quite grand just walking in with my obedient and alert dog at my side.

For another milestone, Luka's teacher used her as a demo dog for "come." When there are treats in hand Luka "comes" very well. This has nothing to do with the new harness, but I did not mention that. And Luka's teacher does have the best treats. She had liver bites and lamb trachea crunchies. (I really didn't like being in the same room with lamb trachea crunchies!) But what self-respecting dog could resist? On the subject of treats, the cat treats were also a hit with Luka. I had thought to try them because they are tiny & stinky. And despite my son’s concerns, the other dogs did not make fun of her.

Luka only barked a few times and, miracle of miracles, she was not the worst dog in class. There was a long-haired Chihuahua who was cutting up quite a bit and making trouble with his neighbors. But not Luka!

We practiced “come” and “down” and “settle.” These “come” and “down” are things Luka really knows well and if bribery is involved, she is quite amenable. When we were practicing "settle" our neighbor Snoopy was told by his mom to look at how good Luka was!

Still glowing with success,

Patty & Luka

Luka's Big Adventure

Sigh. Nothing else to say about that. I am not one of those people who look forward to the leaves changing, the frost on the pumpkin, and all that crap. It will get progressively colder and the days get shorter & all you can do is hunker down in front of the wood stove in your long underwear. And wait for spring.

A friend of mine came up with the best description of Luka. I can only wish I thought of it. I sent her a picture of Luka dancing around with Sophie. She said Luka looks like a slightly chubby ballerina who ate too many Dunkin Donuts. In this picture she is wearing a Mobius scarf I made and she does look like she stuck her head in a stray tutu.

Anyway……On to Luka’s Big Adventure. Poor Luka had one of the worst night of her life last night. Our basement is ¾ finished, carpeted recess ed lights, ¼ is unfinished, cement floor, water heater furnace, boxes, boogie man. Luka is very curious and always the first to dash through any opened door. Unfortunately, last night she forgot to dash out. BG & eldest son were searching for a large bag of rice that disappeared (don’t ask) and of course the dogs were helping. I got up this morning stumbled to the back door, let Sophie out, let Sophie in, And said “Wait a minute. I have two dogs.” I checked the garage. No Luka. Maybe she ran away last night when the garbage was put out on the curb. No she would have been waiting by the front door. She knows were her kibbles live. Finally I went down stairs and Sophie ran to the far door to the unfinished part of the basement and I let Luka out. Sophie proceeded to jump on her and bark at her as we tripped up stairs. Then Luka climbed into my lap on the sunroom loveseat (strictly forbidden) and told me about her horrible night on the cement floor with the boogie men. Life is very scary and uncertain for Luka.

In my continuing canning adventure, I canned pickled green tomatoes this week. I did not taste them, but they smelled like my friend’s bread & butter pickles so I have high hopes. Another cooking adventure: I made reconstructed chocolate chip cookies. I truly think that the traditional toll house chocolate chip cookie is pretty close to cookie perfection. I make lots of different cookies, but always come back to chocolate chip. But I always experiment and I thought I would melt the chocolate chips and swirl the chocolate into the batter. Sounds pretty good. I made the batter. I melted the chips in a double boiler. The melted chocolate seemed a bit clenched so I added some cream and it smoothed out nicely. When I added it to the batter it just melded into the batter and I got chocolate cookies with a few caramel colored swirls. The cookies came out really flat, but surprisingly good and chewy. I think next time I will add less cream. All in all a very good experiment.