Pair O'Sox is Actually a Pair!

I finally finished my Pair O'Sox this past weekend! What, you don't believe me? See for yourself!


With Thanksgiving finished, the Knitsburgh area is aflurry with Yuletide preparations. Nature Boy put up some lights outside and the stockings were hung by the fire. We only need to get the tree up and we are set!

I am of course in the middle of making some Super Secret Suprises that cannot be discussed here for fear of someone snooping and knowing what is in store for them soon. So if you came here to be sneaky, ha! Your plan has been foiled, now go back to work.

I am still looking for work. I am interviewing and posting my resume and even took an application into a buisness who was unfortunately not even hiring. This is not the best time in United States of America to be unemployed, apparently. I am trying to keep my chin up but some days it's just not possible. What does one do in those moments?

One has a photo shoot with one's cats, of course! Here are just a few shots from the shoot, trust me I have about sixty total pics. Furry photo shoots make the day a tad bit brighter. Seriously, try it, you'll see!

Coincidental?

2ND Sock is draining my creative force from me, but she lives.

I have set a new deadline--she must be finished by Sunday. That gives me plenty of time to complete her and embark on new, exciting creative journeys. I will surely keep you posted as to whether Ms. Knitsburgh meets this challenge.

This week has been odd at best. Random thoughts popping into my head, then weird coincidences happening. If I were smart, I'd write these all down but I will probably think on them for a bit and then release them when my brain needs more space for other more mundane things, such as the grocery list or the due date for my library books. It's been a week of some change, letting go of some negativity that has probably been around in my life much too long. It feels good, feels freeing.

It snowed off and on yesterday and I had to take my trusty steed, Blue Molly, in for some repair work. Her engine light had come on over the weekend. She is nearing 100,000 miles, that great milestone and I hope to have her for at least 100,000 more! I hope she feels better now. And great news, her windshield wipers have rubber on them and actually work now!

I've seen quite a few characters at the bird feeder already. Three squirrels were there today, including the one who just climbs up the tree, uses a slender branch to bend him over and hops right into the feeder. He lies down in there and eats like a fat Roman emperor. I've also seen a pair of cardinals, a pair of blue jays, the flock of sparrows and my favorite, a pair of chickadees. There also is a rabbit who likes to hang out in my flower garden now. Unfortunately no pics of these because they all flee when I come outside to take their photos.

Here is Izzy, watching the snow and the birds yesterday:

Here is Madison, warming her belly on top of the radiator--they REALLY like the radiator covers Nature Boy made now!

Here is a homemade vegan peanut butter cup I made a few nights ago--they are really yummy!

When the chips are down...

...make cookies with 'em! Behold the vegany oatmealy choco-chippy goodness:


Yesterday I decided, whilst raining, my good friend Seymour needed a trim.

Some in my neighborhood have already trimmed their rose bushes back, but Seymour just kept on producing roses. I cut the last new bud off and then I put Seymour to sleep for the winter. I had to be very careful to ensure I did not get eaten by this monstrous plant. This rose must have lived here for years. The Estate itself was built in 1921--do rose plants live that long? I've never met a rose bush that grows as much as Seymour does--he's quite wild.

Sock #2 is coming along but very slowly. They are too much like sleeves--once you make one, the second isn't as exciting and it quickly loses my attention. Oh well, I will plug away at it this afternoon, maybe while taking a walk in the park. It's warm and the sun is peeking out from time to time. Snow is on the horizon so this may be one of those last great days...

Nummy Nummy Num!

When I lived in Colorado, there was the greatest ever fast-food deli chain called Schlotzsky's. They have the best bread and they toast their sammiches and I have gotten to be craving them. I made my own vegan version of their veggie sammich today.

I used some ciabatta bread cause I couldn't find any good vegan sourdough bread here. You need something with those pockets of air, like spongey-ness for this sammich. I put the bottoms under the broiler after I sprinked some shredded "cheddar" style vegan cheese. I then added sliced olives, onions, cukes, a tomato slice and some lettuce, topped it with some vegan ranch dressing and presto! Veganized Schlotzsky's! I served it up with the pickles and chips, of course.

PS--Sock #2 was born last night--yay!

PPS--I was told by someone that today is my day, and they are right!!

PPPS--Happy Esbat!

Over the Weather

As I am no longer "under the weather" I have climbed out of my coccoon on the couch, the one made of Afghanistan and a tumble of used tissues and cats. I am feeling better and it's time to get on with things.

I have been very very bad about knitting this past week. Last week, I busted out a side project (true, it was a very small scale project) and finished Sock #1 of the esteemed Pair O'Sox. Then I lie dormant whilst not working, watching TV of the likes that would destroy brain cell after brain cell. Enough!

I proclaim this week as follows:

Great Week of Creative Pursuits

That's right, here in Knitsburgh there will be a cultural revolution of sorts, a junction and grand fusion of artistic efforst so stupendous, it will earn it's own place in Knitsburgh History. Hold on to your hats!

Speaking of hats, I did buy not one, but two hats, this weekend. The first is my Irish hat, purchased with a gift certificate left from a return following Yule of last year. The second is my 100% green organic cotton cap found on sale at Anthropologie, in cranberry. How very exciting indeed, I don't think I have ever purchased two caps in the span of two days in my entire life. They are seen posing with the Trick or Treat ammo: that's 2 bags of 75-count Reese's PB cups and Kitkats, 2 bags totaling 7 lbs. of Tootsie Roll/Dots/Tootsie Pop assortmant and 3 bags of fun size 100 Grand bars. Last year we ran out and had to turn off the porch light. Nature Boy has already started the rationing: we start with the cheap candy and give one piece per goblin, no more! Seems he blames me for giving out too many candy bars at the start of the game last year. If you saw the stairs the goblins must climb up to even get a little something, you'd feel bad too!

Finally, I will leave you with my lastest creative pursuits from last week. Here are pics of a bath cloth and some geranium mint soap I made, as well as some bookmarks as part of the Vegan for All Seasons swap I participated in. The enitre package is featured last, with some yummy yarn.

It was really a lot of fun getting everything together and shopping for yarn. It's also nice to kinda get to know someone from a different corner of the country too. Well, I'm off to get all creative and stuff....'night!

Salvation!

So last night as Nature Boy and I were on the couch, anticipating some fine TV entertainment for the evening, we heard footfalls upon our porch, then a knock on the door. I was all slumped down under Afghanistan so Nature Boy went to the door and was greeted by...

Well, not really Jesus himself but some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They kindly handed Nature Boy this card with Jesus and urged him to order the free DVD it advertised.


Now I'm going to rant here and if it's about to offend you, then by all means quit reading and go away. So I don't get why, even if I were in my home contemplating my life and feeling I was missing something spiritually, this church would think coming to my door to convert me would win me over. Personally and in my humble oppinion, it feels cult-like. I personally would not want to belong to a faith that randomly approached people to "save" in this way. I think most Americans have various churches, synagogues, temples and what-have-you in the name of religion all over their respective neighborhoods and if one were inclined to believe in the Christian faith, they could seek out a church on their own and go there. I think it's rude to assume someone needs saving by your own beliefs. Lead your life your way and I'll believe what I believe and we will both be happy and get what we need in the end. Your conversion will work better if people who actually want this come to you.


Ok, so the rant is over now. Also in the photo you will note Sock 1 from Pair O'Sox in all its finished glory. Between coughing, sneezing and blowing my nose I managed to finish it today as I sat on my couch. You see I called in sick to work today, for the first time in I-Can't-Remember-When. I'm done with dragging myself in to work to help out people who don't seem to appreciate the things I do anyway. Ok, back to the sock:

That's about it for now. I'm gonna jump in the tub to relax with a nice, hot bath and then watch The Office. If I can pull myself out of the bath that is...

Yarnburst

Look what came home with me!


During the photo shoot a passerby stopped to see my taking pics of yarn on my front steps. I felt the need to explain my actions. The next time I think I'll just say, "Move along ma'am, nothing to see here, that's it, on your way..."

Here is Sock #1, from Pair O'Sox:

Progress is slow but is still going onward, at least. I am already ruminating on what to make when I'm finished with Pair O'Sox.

Here is my vegan pudding waiting for me yesterday in the fridge when I came home from work:
I know, our fridge looks way classy, right?

So I saw Wicked and that night finished the last 50 pages of the book. They were very different and although I enjoyed the musical, I did like the book a lot better. Some things never change...

Some things do change. There's been lots of change around me of late, at my job and here at home and even amongst friends. Today I got news of the best kind of change ever so I'm over the moon right now. I've been enjoying meeting up with friends I haven't seen in a bit, both last weekend and today, and I think I've been grinning ear to ear all day thus far. The sun is shining, the earth is brown and red and orange and warm, and I feel at peace for the first time in over a month.

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

Crystal water turns to dark
Where ere it's presence leaves it's mark
And boiling currents pound like drums
When something wicked this way comes...

A presence dark invades the fair
And gives the horses ample scare
Chaos rains and panic fills the air
When something wicked this way comes...

Ill winds mark it's fearsome flight,
And autumn branches creak with fright.
The landscape turns to ashen crumbs,
When something wicked this way comes...

Flowers bloom as black as night
Removing color from your sight
Nightmarish vines block your way
Thorns reach out to catch their prey

And by the pricking of your thumbs
Realize that their poison numbs
From frightful blooms, rank odors seep
Bats & beasties fly & creep

'Cross this evil land, ill winds blow
Despite the darkness, mushrooms glow
All will rot & decompose
For something wicked this way grows...

I am reading. Reading in the kitchen while my teakettle heats. Reading at the table waiting for Nature Boy to serve up the dinner. Reading when I should be sleeping, even reading while knitting.


Why, you ask?


Well, I am going to see a musical this weekend. And in my mind I need to read the book first, or it will all be ruined. I'm one of the breed who usually like the book better than the movie, play, what-have-you. If I see it, then I will never go back and read the book which would have been infinitely better. So I am reading because of that.

Plus this came in the mail today:

A double whammy. So torn about which to read! I am still working on Sock #1 of Pair O'Sox. I hope to return to knitting full force once this reading jag is through.

Speaking of, I recently tore through three novels by Jules Watson. They take place in Scotland during the time of the Roman invasions and I could not put them down or read them fast enough. My local library is so sick of me, seems I'm requesting book after book from them of late!

I have been checking out some knitting and sewing books to see if they are worth the purchase and so far nary a one is looking like something I'd want taking up precious space on my bookshelf.

My sleep has been fretful, eluding me and then driving me mad with strange dreams. I am very frustrated of late in one area of my life and am trying to figure it out. It still amazes me, a former student of psychology, how the mind can irritate, aggravate and unnerve every inch of one's bodily systems, from digestion to immune system, circulatory to muscular/skeletal.

Oh well--off to read a little more and then try for some sleep, I work a dreaded 12-hour shift tomorrow and will be alone all morning to boot. No wonder a girl can't sleep!

Out of the Trees

Back from a recent camping trip with Nature Boy, Ms. Knitsburgh feels rested and re-connected with the universe. Here are some highlights of the trip:
The lake:
Spores!
Little hop-toad:
No balloon but found the note:
Fuzzy caterpillar:
Salamander!

As you can see, some knitting was accomplished. I turned the heel of Sock #1 in Pair O'Sox. Now on to the toe...at this rate, I hope they are finished before flip flop season begins anew!

So I recently joined up with Ravelry. I "applied" back in March but never responded to the invite and decided to finally get in the door and see what the fuss is all about. Holy crikey! I've been in Ravelry almost non-stop. Why did I not listen to the whispers and rumors about the super goodness of it all? The patterns, the patterns, the patterns! Seems someone there stole my name from me. If you are on Ravelry, you can find me listed under "Knitsburgher." Friend me up!

In other news, I've been gathering flower seeds and tomato seeds in preparation for the Spring. It's been getting much colder here and is much darker in the morning when I wake up. It can only mean one thing...winter is at the doorstep. I like the turning of the wheel and the seasons changing and all that, but I'm sorry, I much prefer warm and hot weather than cold. And if it's gonnna be cold there better be snow covering everything.

Bad Vegan!!!

Being a vegan isn't as hard as one might think. On most days. Here is my sordid confession of my downfall.

It all happened at Irish Fest. I was happily enjoying a plain baked potato. No butter, no sour cream for this staunch vegan. I was walking across the lawn to join Nature Boy who was eating lots of different animals in a bowl. And then I saw it.

My clan's tie. Hanging on a display in the back of a vendor booth. It called my name, I swear it.

I walked closer, fingered the fabric and shuddered. I knew it but had to look. Damn it was wool! I swear my ancestors whispered in my ear, get this, wear this, be proud of this. And so I faltered, purchasing this tie of wool. I tell myself, I will wear it and pass it down and if my sisters don't have kids, I'll ask them to tie it 'round my neck for the wake.

And you thought I ate a steak or something, didn't you? Pshaw!!!

So here is the new McPherson clan tie, in the dress tartan. I could not bring myself to don the hunting tartan, you see. Also hanging with it is my latest sewing project, a long shirt. In the background, note the newest addition to our family, a happy fern I call Reilly. She hangs too high up for evil Madison Penelope to destroy her. She did try for some time to get to her, then ran off to forge some other evil plan of destruction.


Here is Sock #1 in the Pair O'Sox, stretched over the kittens' Oral Hygiene Solution bottle so you can see the pattern a little better. It's from a former Interweave Knits pattern.


On the knitting topic, I seem to knit things from Interweave Knits all the time. The other publication I subscribe to, Vogue Knitting, usually doesn't inspire me so much. Sadly, I can't not re-subscribe and just did so this week...I think I need more strength to resist here. Anyone else have this problem? I really think Vogue Knitting sucks but can't let it go.

I leave you with some of my last flowers and some shots from the garden, highlighting the heirloom tomatos we grow from seed each year. Nature Boy and I are off for more camping this weekend and I hope we don't spend the whole time a soggy tent while it pours out there...