Runs With Needles

A little bit of everything: some knitting, the sky, cats, a minor change, a request for help and a feast.

I want to thank everyone for your wonderful compliments on my Log Cabin blanket. It was all enough to make me blush. I do appreciate everyone taking the time to comment.

The squares will be winging their way to Samantha tomorrow:



I'm really horrible at knitting a perfect 8" x 8" square, so I hope Samantha can use them all.

The second Log Cabin blanket is coming along:




I started a new blanket:




A fast moving storm went through this afternoon. This storm was dropping golf ball sized hail to the east of here:




Parker and Romeo are the animal stars of this post:




I've changed my blog comments from requiring word verification to requiring my approval. I find it difficult to read some of the word verification 'words', so decided to make it easier on folks by approving comments instead. I hate having to do this, but I got spammed into oblivion the last time I left my comments wide open.

To those of you who blog, I'd like to ask your opinion of the different blogging services. I've thought about leaving Blogger for awhile now and am trying to decide where I would go. I have a pretty good idea, but wanted to solicit feedback from those of you who use different services.

If you blog and don't use Blogger, who do you use and do you like them? Why or why not? If you've tried someone else and not liked it, I'd like to know that, too. I prefer a free service, but would consider a low priced option.

I may not leave Blogger (frankly, I'm quite lazy and it's work to set up a blog), but want to find out about the options that are out there.

It's nearly Friday, so it's time for Friday’s Feast:

Appetizer
What are some lyrics you have misheard (such as, instead of "Gettin' Jiggy With It" you heard "Kick a chicken with it")?
Like so many other people, I thought the chorus to Blinded By The Light was "Racked up like a douche, Another lover in the night".

Soup
What is the worst movie you have ever seen?
This a three way tie.

In no particular order:
The Island of Dr. Moreau: This was part of a New Year's Eve moviefest many years ago. I didn't know anything about the movie, but it had Brando, so it had to be good, right? Wrong! It was just horrific. I still don't know what the plot of this movie was supposed to be. I fell asleep about an hour into it.

Mr. Jones: Another movie that I still don't understand. My mom and I rented it and about 20 minutes into it we looked at each other and said, "This movie sucks!" and we turned it off.

Eyes Wide Shut: I watched this entire movie and I'll never get those hours of my life back. I'm still bitter. This movie was one big wtf? As I was watching it, I thought the movie sucked and made no sense, but I hoped it would get better. It never did.

Salad
Using the letters from your favorite number, write a sentence. Example: Tomorrow has really easy experiences.
Lame question. Next!

Main Course
What was the most interesting news story you have heard this week?
Scientists have made a huge discovery in the treatment of melanoma. Their rate of success is very low, but it's quite a step forward.

Dessert
Which word(s) would you choose to describe your wardrobe?
Dull and predictable.

It's a windy night here in Colorado. I love sleeping with the window open on windy nights. I'm going to sleep well tonight. Look how hard the wind is blowing:

posted by Kathy at 8/31/2006 08:20:00 PM | 2 comment(s)

Drumroll, please.....

What: My first Log Cabin blanket
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease, more details below
Needles: 8
Pattern: Inspired by Mason Dixon Knitting.
Lesson Learned: None. I adore this method of making blankets.
Destination: Warm The World.

From corner to corner, the blanket is 50.5”.

I used the following colors of Cotton Ease: Banana Cream, Popsical [sic] Blue, Pineapple, Sugarplum, Blueberry, Cherry Red, Pistachio, Orangeade, Candy Blue, and Bubble Gum.

I started with one skein of each color and had this much left over:



I’m very happy with how this blanket turned out. Even though it got a bit tedious near the end, I loved knitting it.

The Shepherds are a bit tougher to impress:





Last night it was stormy and I snapped this shot out the back door:

posted by Kathy at 8/27/2006 06:59:00 PM | 10 comment(s)

Saturday full of sky and yarn.

Saturday Sky:






This morning, Felicia, MJ and I had a yarn swap. Here's the yarn that was up for grabs:



All of this yarn found a new home, except for one skein. Can you guess which one?

MJ and Felicia also donated to my Warm The World yarn stash:



Also this morning I finished the square from hell:



I briefly considered tossing it into the fire. However, I didn't and as soon as I get the squares washed they'll be winging their way to Samantha.

On the way home today my car hit a milestone:



I bought this car in October of 2003, when it had 24,000 miles on it. I hit 100K sooner than I expected.

I drive too much.

posted by Kathy at 8/26/2006 04:34:00 PM | 3 comment(s)

Make the lambs stop screaming.

I'm halfway there.



Moving on....

Friday's Feast!

Appetizer
If you could have a free subscription to any magazine, which one would you like to have?
Hmmm. I love magazines so this is a tough one. If I had to choose one magazine, it would probably be Interweave Knits.

Soup
Describe your living room (furnishings, colors, etc.).
Can I cheat and just post a picture?


It's pretty basic: rental property beige carpeting accented by rental property white paint on the walls. Those are blue sheets masquerading as slipcovers. My ex-husband thought it would be a good idea to buy a corduroy couch (with three dogs!) and the sheets are the only way I can keep the couch clean. Dog hair is nearly impossible to get off the corduroy. I decided to keep the couch when I lost the husband because it really is the most comfortable couch I've ever owned.


Salad
What does the shape of a circle make you think of?
The lyrics to Windmills Of Your Mind. Seriously. When I was in elementary school we sang this song for a choir performance. I remember being hypnotized by the song and ever since then when I see a circle I think of that song.

Main Course
Name 3 things in your life that you consider to be absolute necessities.
I'll leave out the obvious (air, food, water,health, pets) and go with: my car (since I live 25+ miles from town), my computer and knitting.

Dessert
What was the last really funny movie you watched?
I can't remember. Lately I've been watching mostly documentaries and serious movies.

I was driving home from work yesterday and saw this:



When I tumbled out of bed this morning I saw this:



I am NOT a morning person, but sunrises like this ease the pain of being up so early.

I am so happy the weekend is almost here.

So is Kishka.

posted by Kathy at 8/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | 3 comment(s)

I'm just not that into you.

Like many knitters, I was entranced when I discovered the Mason Dixon book . This was a surprise to me because the Mason Dixon blog has never held my interest.

The book, however, is another story. I love the photography and the patterns, while quite simple, charmed me. I immediately cast on two Log Cabin blankets and fell in love with the mindless garter stitch and oodles of color possibilities.

I expected to have a similar reaction to the warshrag. With great anticipation (and a nice stash of cotton within my reach), I cast on for my first warshrag a week ago.

Tonight, I looked at the warshrag



and admitted that I'm just not that into this pattern.

I can't even pinpoint the reason. The pattern is interesting, yet simple, and has an endless array of color options. However, I've been knitting it for a week and am not even halfway finished. My four other squares for Samantha have been completed in two days or less. At this rate, the little warshrag won't be finished until Thanksgiving.

I'm going to finish it, send it off to Samantha and then move on to something else. Perhaps I'll discover the charm of this pattern in the future, but for now it's just not for me.

The dogs look pretty bored, too.

posted by Kathy at 8/22/2006 10:17:00 PM | 3 comment(s)

Knitting right along

The sweater is coming along nicely:



Does this look big enough for a one year old? It's looking small to me, but then again ~ babies are small. :)

The sunset tonight was spectacular:










Thank you to everyone who stopped by to welcome (No Longer Blogless) MJ to the blogging world. I know she was pleased to receive so many comments. :)

posted by Kathy at 8/21/2006 11:46:00 PM | 7 comment(s)

Activation of the Blog Alert System

We interrupt this blog to bring you a special announcement:

Blogless MJ is no longer blogless!!!

If you have a moment, please stop by and welcome her to the blogosphere.

She's still getting unpacked and fixing up the place, but I know you'll love seeing her wonderful knitting!

posted by Kathy at 8/21/2006 02:47:00 PM | 2 comment(s)

Sunset, a sweater and dogs (of course)

A gorgeous end to a rainy weekend:



Even the northern clouds were beautiful:




Also tonight, the dogs plotted their escape:




Max struck a pose:




Samantha picked a very dangerous spot to sleep:




And finally, my first sweater:



I'm still unsure about this whole thing, but Blogless MJ promises that it's going to turn out.

posted by Kathy at 8/20/2006 11:20:00 PM | 1 comment(s)

Sky, knitting and dogs for Saturday

The fifth square is coming along:




Earlier today, with Blogless MJ holding my hand, I cast on my first sweater:




It was a stormy and cool day here in Colorado. I spent most of the day knitting and napping and the dogs spent it relaxing:

posted by Kathy at 8/19/2006 11:35:00 PM | 0 comment(s)

No knitting included.

I love Colorado.

I love driving to work and seeing this:



The sky in Colorado is the prettiest I've ever seen.




I love Colorado Springs.

One reason I love the Springs is because of the flowers:





These flower beds are all over the city. They are planted and maintained by volunteers.


I've titled this picture "When Elderly Dogs Fight":



Max is already on his keister and Samantha ended up on hers just after I snapped the picture.

It was an evening of just missing funny moments on camera.

A second after I took this picture:



Max rolled right off the couch.

He says, "Prove it."




It's Friday, that means it's time to feast:


Appetizer
What color is your car?
Dark Green


Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
Wildlife Biologist


Salad
How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
Not very often. Only once or twice.


Main Course
What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
My insomnia has returned. Ugh.


Dessert
How old were you when you had your first kiss?
17.

posted by Kathy at 8/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | 3 comment(s)