on the go

Finally picked up the needles I needed to cast on the cat hat. They are long enough to poke someone's eye out across the country but they will do. I can always cut them down. So, the hat is on the go. So are a pair of socks for my son. I want to make a felted rug for under the dining room table because the floor gets so cold but I need to start (and finish a pair of socks for Dad before he accuses me of forgetting...LOL).
I think the rug will be done in Earthy colours with a bit of Red thrown in for fun:)
I am still skiing because we still have snow. 3ft of the friggin' stuff! Still!
Oh! I almost forgot...I needed some #19 (15mm) Double points to make the Urchin Beret by Wenlan Chia but I couldn't find any so I bought some wooden doweling to make my own:)

Knitter's Block

I seem to be having all sorts of difficulties with knitting lately. First, I decided to get started on my Dad's Re-soleable two-yarn socks but I didn't like how I cast on....it seemed HUGE and I was tired and couldn't put the energy into making my brain figure out the sizing. Then, I knit up a cute Poodle Pink cat ear hat for g-baby #2 but Frogged it due to the fact that unless she has a head the size of the Great Pumpkin (Charlie Brown) then it wasn't going to fit. Sigh. Decided to cast on with smaller needles and realized I didn't own the size I needed. AARGH! Shopping again. Just when I'm trying to Not Spend Any Money right now. Cast on different socks for my son then immediately pulled them off the needles because I just couldn't do it with a needle poking me in the eye. I wish this stupid headache would get lost!

Last Night

I went for a great long (ish) ski yesterday...about 2 1/2 hours. It was such a beautiful day. I sorted of cheated for the first bit and the last bit because I took one of the sled-dogs with me and did some skijouring. It's not something I really enjoy but I wanted to get her past temptations like traffic, the grumpy neighbour and the other dogs. Once we were past all that, I let her go and she was really good about sticking around.....treats in my pack didn't hurt.
After I got back I started supper, had a nice hot bath and knitted up a little cozy for my phone.

Then we got ourselves beautiful or at least presentable and went to the Blues Underground show. What a blast! It was so much fun. Danced all night..well until it was time to drive Cinderella home....LOL he will kill me for calling him that. He had to work at 0700 so we had to leave.
Here is a you tube clip of Julian Fauth.

The Amazing Missing Socks

I had a chat with my Dad the other day just to catch up on things. Somehow we got to talking about knitting and my then current project of socks. Here's how it went. I would like socks. I made you a pair. You did not. Yes I did! When? 4 years ago. You did not! AAARGH! Then he asked my step-mum and she said no (she wasn't even there) Then I said...I can tell you exactly when I gave them to you because they were a late birthday present. OK tell me. I gave them to you at the Vancouver airport sitting at the big window looking out at the planes while waiting for our flight to England! They were dark blue and not wrapped but in a big brown envelope! When you opened it you let out this big loud laugh! (he barks out a big loud laugh)...yes like that I say!
In the end it was decided (by him) that I never gave him socks; my memory must be failing (whose memory??) but he would appreciate some. Amazing! Anyway, I guess I know what I am knitting next.

Time Change

Hahaha...forgot to advance the clocks last night. Only realized it after I got up and turned on my mobile phone. Reason for laughing???......Todd was late for work. Can't wait until he gets home to find out how that went over.
Started the socks for my DIL. The pattern I chose was Broken Rib Socks. They are turning out OK but I don't like the big gap that the short row heel leaves when you re-join the instep stitches. Next time I will pick up an extra stitch to close the gap or follow the toe-up socks short row heel instructions. This bit of advice thanks to knitvanpurl. My plan today was to have an 'in' day and do nothing but bake and knit but the lure of Fresh Air and Sunshine took me outside for an hour long xc-ski. I thought it was cold out therefore I was totally overdressed! I was also totally Starving by the time I was done......anyone who knows me well knows that I am always starving!....but I really was. I didn't eat enough before I went.
p.s. I did do some baking.....Blueberry Yogurt Muffins and Raspberry Almost Nutri-grain bars.
YUM!

Getting my stuff together

Finally! Things seem to be getting back to normal and I have Energy again. I think a lot of it has to do with the longer days:) I started a regular fitness routine again. Mon, Wed, and Fri I am skiing and running. Tues, Thurs, Sat I am doing the 200 crunches program and the 100 push-ups program or some sort of workout with my resistance bands. Sunday, I am falling over dead...LOL.
Also, I am finally getting some of these knitting projects finished. Nothing like knitting under pressure! Two friends are due to have babies this month and I have been procrastinating about getting their gifts done. All I need now for the little cardigan is some buttons and blocking and for the blanket all that needs doing is the blocking. What a relief to be finished these. Next to come off the needles is a pair of Silk Sleeves for my DIL. They are a birthday gift...not until May but I want them finished! I found out though that she really wants a pair of pink socks so while I was in Vancouver I picked up some Mission Falls 136 Superwash 100% Merino. I know she will LOVE the thickness of them as she is always cold. It's called Mallow 025 and on my monitor the website shows the colour as sort of purple but it is pink. I haven't picked out a pattern yet but I'm sure I'll find something she will Love!
Today Todd & I took in a little night skiing and it was fabulous. There was only half the moon but it lit our way in the open field giving us these funny little shadows to ski besides:) We needed the headlamps only in certain sections of the trail that were treed in.