As Secret Pal 12 starts to wind down, I looked upon my pal’s neglected socks and realized that I need to crack the whip and finish them. Meanwhile, I have been working on Eric’s cabled pullover in snips but what really has had my attention is this blanket.
I am incredibly pleased with this finished object, especially with the bound-off edge. The scary part of that edge? It took 5 1/2 hours to do. Seriously, I timed how long it took me to bind off each section and the average was 33 minutes — a total of 330 minutes. Here are the stats from my Ravelry project page:
Pattern — Round or Pinwheel Baby Blanket by Genia Planck
Made for — Scott’s daughter born early July
Size — blocked to 48 inches in diameter
Needle — US 6 / 4.0 mm, Addi Lace 47-inch and Addi Turbo 60-inch
Yarn: 2 kinds used
4 skeins = 900.0 yards (823.0m) of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Multi in 201 Yellowstone purchased at Ewe Knit Kits & Yarn in Virginia Beach, Virginia
1 skein = 85.0 yards (77.7m) of Mission Falls 1824 Wool in Pistachio
Meanwhile, to prevent SP withdrawal when it ends, I have joined a couple of other swaps and started one on my own.
1.) The Red Sox Good Juju Swap is a secret one-time swap with packages due at the end of September.
2.) The Amazing Lace Swap has each person knowing who their upstream and downstream partner. It is similar to the Ravelry Scarf Exchange that I participated in last year.
3.) The Bunny Swap does not have us trading our rabbits, but requires folks to send 2 items to the other’s furry-loves, something yarny to the parent, and another treat in that package.
I think I may be addicted to swapping! =:8
Well maybe not everywhere, but this crazy bunny ended up playing in our fourth softball game Thursday night because of the “3 women must be on the playing field” rule in our league. What? I never mentioned that I play softball? Teehee, nobunny is missing much. I had never played before until a month after I started working at my new job and was told about a team being formed. Knowing that I lack the hand-eye-coordination to catch or bat, I warned folks that as much as I would like to play, I would not be a good player but would be a good cheerleader. With the first two games postponed due to rain, somehow I ended up in the batting line-up in the third game. I surprised myself by actually hitting the ball for a base hit and out-running the throw to first! Wow! Excited from being able to get on base, I called my (high school jock) sister “Ace” after the game. I could tell she was proud for me. 
Admittedly I think losing the extra weight helped in running around the bases. Now if I could only lose those last additional pounds… 
Clicking the photo of myself on base will show how badly I felt during Thursday’s game. I kept coughing up a storm, and my misery was evident. We did win 24 to 17, so at least my pain amounted to something! One of the coolest shots is of us after we said “good game” to the other team when everything was over. The three men in the middle consist of one of my co-workers Ron (#11), my boss Jerry (grey cap), and QA extra-ordinaire Mike (with glasses). The photos above are from a friend from work, Misha. He has a fabulous camera and is one of our team’s “official” photographers. The photo below shows the other photographer Rich M. in the background and Misha in the foreground. I remember taking the photo, but was getting agitated because I could not find it. Later I realized that I was using the coach’s camera, not mine. DUH! The other photo happened when I drove home on Thursday. Right after the game, it began to rain, then it downpoured. Driving on the newly grooved Route 128 highway was not fun. Attempting to Kinnear a rainbow in the downpour is also not fun! Please excuse the blurriness, but it was the only shot of many that shows the colors best.
Now with the title mentioning bunnies, I just had to post some recent photos that I took of my fur-children in action. Today Zydeco kept flopping on his side, so I just could not resist snapping the camera at him. The other is his “giving disapproval” look on taking his photo the other night.
For the crazy part, Julius is still pining for a girlfriend and keeps hoping Jessica Bunny will give in and be his. Unfortunately for him, this middle-aged biddy has other thoughts. By the way, that photo of her and him together is her biting him in an attack!
Teehee! Time for the Secret Pal 12 Question of Week 8!
What is your favorite supper for a hot summer evening? (For added “flavor”, post a photo or recipe link)
With this SP12 question, I had to think for a bit but only for a short time. My favorite meal ever during the summer was just over (gasp!) 13 years ago. My sister Ace, our room-mate Anita, their (now husbands) boyfriends, my “puppy” (that was what my rugby teammates referred to the hapless creature), and I cooked a bushel of blue-crab along with a couple pounds of butter. Pair that with cases of cold beer and white German wine, and that is a feast to remember! Lately I have a tendency to pick up 2-3 pounds of King crab legs or large shrimp. Somehow those and lobster salad sandwiches seem to be the summer treat in the house. However, since showing a photo is mentioned, I will happily show everyone what I eat about every morning. A two-egg omelet (well that day it was a frittata) of bacon, cheese, onions, and tomatoes paired with a parfait of fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt. Add my cup of tea and loads of water, that is what I eat daily for my diet! =:8
A week ago, a Ravelry pal that I know from the “Bunny Rabbit Lovers” group suffered an awful tragedy. Her elder 10 year-old son had an accident which resulted in 60% of his body being covered in full burns — meaning full skin-grafts were needed. He and his mother are at the Shriners’ Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. It was in the back of my mind that she was also from the Roanoke Valley area of Virginia where I visited for that memorable weekend in April. Knowing that she needed help to take care of the various animals on her farm — she has 17 housebuns — my heart was torn.
In the “Bunny Lovers” and “Roanoke Valley Crafters” groups, she said that knitting was the only way she could cope with the stressful waiting periods and the nervousness. Though I already sent her a little package of yarn, I joined the Roanoke Valley Crafters to help make 8-inch squares that will be sewn into a blanket. Mission Falls 1824 Merino was donated by the wonderful Becky of Knitters Knook Yarn Shop (sorry, she has no website, so I put the Ravelry link here). Since I have a full-10-skeins bag of MF1824M in Pistachio, I decided to grab 2 balls and see how many squares I can make. So far, I made 1 1/2 squares out of a skein, and have 2 squares completed. I will probably end up making 4 total from this stash of MF1824 Wool. As for the pattern I am using? I am such a goober because it is the same one I love using for blanket squares — the Bunny Dishcloth pattern by Judith Prindle of the “Dishcloth Pattern Corner” blog. I used it for Stephanie, Suzanne, and now I am using it for young Austin.
If anybunny is interested in helping out the local SPCA handling Rabbit Rescuer’s re-homing of the houserabbits, donations of any amount would be greatly appreciated. The Roanoke Valley SPCA is waiving the adoption fee for those who have taken in these well-loved house rabbits. Please feel free to mention that “Some Bunny’s Love” passed out the info.
Contact: Kathy Perdue
Attn: Rabbit Rescuer’s Bunny Fund
1340 Baldwin Ave.
Roanoke, Virginia 24012
540.344.4840
mail@rvspca.org
*Update: There is a way to donate online!*
“You can make your donation online at www.rvspca.org. Go to “Support Us” then [scroll to the bottom of the page to] click on the “Donate Now” button. If you do that, be sure to add in the “Comment” section that the donation is in honor of Christine’s bunnies or however you want. We will send the family a notification that you made a donation in their honor.”
Wait, what time is it? Secret Pal 12 Question time!
Questions #6
What is your favorite type of project to take along on holiday/vacation?
If you’d like to share a story…Tell us about a time that you packed too much knitting or were stranded without knitting.
Answer 1: I always take at least one time-consuming project with me, especially if it is a WIP that has been sitting around for awhile. This way I am forced to work on it and get it done. Doing that allowed me to finish the 14th Clapotis for Karen’s shop, Fresh Purls, in April. For my last trip home, the Killer King Caesar was my incentive.
Answer 2, Part a: Pack too much knitting? Me? How about a photo of half of what I brought for this one weekend trip back to Virginia. Granted, it was during the winter of December 2006 / January 2007 and I was unsure if I would be stuck in an airport…
Answer 2, Part b: Now as for a stranded story, it begins with my second trip to Denmark in February 2005. I was a new knitter and had just finished crocheting a gift scarf on the plane ride over the pond. I had another one-skein project but was bored. Unfortunately, the short Galway wool key-hole scarf (my first real project!) that I did wear was not warm enough for the sudden snowstorm that hit the area. Thank goodness I found a yarn shop called Martha’s because I bought some black/purple merino and whipped out a crocheted scarf in less than 2 hours. Since then, I am never without a knitting project even if we are just going to the market! =:8
Here I am, back from Virginia. The news: my Daddy suffered another stroke last Saturday and refused to go to the hospital until late Sunday night. When my Sister Ace and Mother dragged him to the ER, the hospital kept him overnight for a bunch of tests. After the initial tests were done, Ace called me to share the news and said I needed to come home. I flew home Tuesday to hear the whole situation. Daddy’s clot is somewhere in his left temple area. An angiogram and angioplasty were being scheduled, but there would be huge complications if the angioplasty were done. Because of the general location of the clot, a bunch of digging would be done in his brain during the surgery. If the stint were to be successfully inserted, Daddy would be in the ICU for at least 6 months while his body healed. If the operation were to be disastrous, he would become a machine-dependent vegetable or the unthinkably worse.
All that data was a bit difficult to stomach. The alternative was if he refused the additional tests and surgery, his next stroke would most likely be fatal, but using coumadin might help. Ace and Mother had called me home because Daddy immediately had opted for the surgery. By the time I had arrived and sat with him on Wednesday morning, he changed his mind and was ready to go AMA (against medical advice). Long story short, the doctor never scheduled the angiogram and was fudging his words about the surgery’s complications. Turned out that there are only a handful of local surgeons capable of performing the delicate operation — one of them is the Duke University surgeon who removed Ted Kennedy’s brain tumor. Not wanting my father to be a guinea pig, we let the doctor know of our thoughts. He then acquiesced and allowed us to take Daddy home.
I spent the remainder of the week hanging out with my father at the rental properties — partially chauffeuring him around in his truck (I keep getting told that it will be mine in the future, yes I think that is morbid!), partially keeping a watchful eye to make sure he was okay. Doing so gave my Mother a chance to do every day basic chores, and relieved Ace to spend time with her family. My parents are selling one of their rental homes, and are in the process of leasing out another. Here are some photos that I took at the Chambers location. Notice the hydrangea bush? I had disturbed somebunny napping under it.
During my time home, I managed to visit my beloved favorite yarn shop in Virginia Beach, Ewe Knit Kits. LYSO Bobbie never fails to make a person’s day with the various yumminess that she keeps in stock. I showed her the Baby Pinwheel Blanket that I cast on with the Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in Yellowstone which I purchased during my last visit in April. I scooped up more Lorna’s Laces, Jade Sapphire, beads, buttons, and needle felting tools. The buttons had a purpose — check out the Killer King Caesar!
Now that my weekly update has been written, I will answer the latest for SP12.
Question(s) of the Week #4
1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”?
2) What yarn do you never want to be without?
Hmmm… I must say that I cannot think of anything that would make my stash “complete” or that I never want to be without in any respect. I admit that I have a crazy amount of yarn — almost at a collector’s level. Peering into my stash, the guess would be acquiring a silk laceweight like Sundara, Fyberspates, or Sunshine Yarns to help in completing the stash. As for a yarn that I never want to be without? The toss up is between fiber content — 100% buttery soft merino (Melosa, Malabrigo, Sunshine Yarns South American, Marta’s Merino Lace, etc.) and the silk/animal blends in my stash (Jaggerspun Zephyr (DK and Lace), Classic Elite Posh, K1C2 Richesse et Soie, Horstia Silk/Merino, Reynolds Rapture…). It is so hard to choose because I love them all!! =:8
The past few weeks were pretty quiet without fanfare. I spent them by working on Ravelry, updating my LinkedIn page, and following possible job leads. So far, nothing that will give me the same pay that I was making. But wait — there have been a number of events that must be shared…
Taking advantage of my days mean that I have been able to check the “In Search Of and Destash” group on Ravelry more often than not. Unfortunately, that also means I have been doing a lot of trading and swapping of stash. Rich pointed out recently that though I am not buying yarn, I still have to pay for the shipping, and those costs do add up. So that means I will probably be doing a huge destash sometime in the future. (Sorry, these yarns are not being destashed!)
Another bunch of events — SNBs and other knitting circles. I have been to the Providence SNB at Reflections Cafe, Yarns at Lace Wings’ Knitting Circle, the North Attleboro SNB at Borders, the Knitting group at Sophie’s Coffee, my own “Walk and Knit” at the Garden City Borders, the Crafters’ group at Panera Bread in Cranston, the Sweet Binks Craft group at Panera Bread in Seekonk, and the Quilting and Knitting group at the church down the street from my home.
The big SNB event is the Fresh Purls’ Anniversary party. Let me assure everyone that LYSO Karen knows how to give her customers incredible treats! From the catering to the champagne, she welcomed everyone with a happy grin that shone with much earned pride for the store’s success.
Hmm… I just realized that I failed to mention the bunnies. Sweet Binks had an education seminar, and there were a few bunnies who were happy to assist. What was kind of cool is that little Jessica (yes, Richie’s baby girl) has a photo included in the presentation.
The slide simply states that she is an example of a truly contented and happy houserabbit. I totally love that! Alrighty, next post will be about the pilgrimages I made this past week. Where to? Try Boston for the Great Saturday Stash Swap, NYC for Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s debut into the USA, my (crossing paws!) job interview — um, maybe I will wait on that one, and the visit to Virginia’s Chateau Morrisette Winery for knitting amongst the grand casks. Gosh, too many things with not enough time nor money. I leave one final celebration. Please click on the photo below to see it… =:8
There was a post in the Bunny Lovers group on Ravelry in which the owner wanted to dye her pet rabbit up in “seasonal” colors. Though her query was giggled at and that dyed stray rabbits can be found at this time of year, it saddened me. Why? Because of the fact that these dyed strays were obviously abandoned by families who scooped them up and gifted them to their children as if these live animals were disposable toys. Yikes, I just realized how distraught the whole situation makes me!! In spite of all that dismalness, I intend to appear at the Sweet Binks Rabbit Education Seminar on March 22nd at the RISPCA location in East Providence.
I also have more not-so-happy news, I am parting ways with my department and probably will head to either sales or outside the company. Today the kind generalist in human resources “talked me down from the ledge” so to speak. Though I am addressing the corrective action and working my bunny tail off in my current projects, I have meetings lined up with sales managers in different regions. Here is where I distract everyone with some photos…
Now that all that negative mojo is out of my system, how about something really positive? I promised that I would write about my adventure in meeting Michelle last Sunday. The afternoon was a fabulous time, combining her bringing me yarn, our checking out Mind’s Eye Yarns, chatting with Lucy and Kimberly, and eating lunch at a great burrito place called Anna’s. I always forget how much I love the Boston area!! =:8
Reminder: My Contest ends on the 17th of March — Saint Patrick’s Day in the United States. So far, only a couple of folks have attempted to name the yarny goodness from my stash in the photo. Admittedly, there are some items that have not been added yet, so please consider them a challenge.
Recently in Ravelry, I requested that pants be drawn on my Ravatar (avatar in Ravelry). I had to ask the mighty all-knowing Bubbo for them. Listed below is my request, her answer, my response, and Bubbo’s reaction…
My Request
Oh Great Bubbo,
I am down at your feet on all fours, and humbly beseech thee for a pair of clown pants.
Bubbo’s Answer
I love bunnies. I want to own bunnies. I think you should post many pictures of bunnies and a picture of a bunny doing something bubbo pants related.
My Response
Okay, I did some digging for more of Jessi in her pants, and found these “clickable to make bigger” baby photos:
“Hello! I’m just a cute baby girl. My name is Jessica; I love you both!”
(My butt she loves me!!)
Leaning against her train set:
In her play basket:
Cleaning herself:
My hubby’s favorite:
And my favorite:
Bubbo’s Reaction
oh my god go get pants!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I did good. Next post? Hmmm… How about my trip to meet up with “The Boring Knitter” at Lucy Lee’s LYS, Mind’s Eye Yarns? And do not let the name fool you, The Boring Knitter is FAR from boring! =:8
This past holiday weekend was full of a different sort of F-bomb, the kinds that are enjoyed by many (I heard that there are, *GASP*, folks who dislike this wonderful game). Nothing is better than spending time with them, and proof of that consists of the happy memories in my head. Another “F” is going to be said now — FINALLY. I gave up trying to find the photos I took with the old Sony, and re-shot the goodies from one of the fabulous Knit Goddesses, Debbi, who is known as Cockeyed in Ravelry. I had been trying to write a post just on her special package for the Ravelry Scarf Exchange and am happy it is DONE! Her delightful package came from Oregon — a state that I very much want to visit. Besides Debbi, my mysterious Sock Monkey and my cousin Ray live there. She lives in Portland while Ray lives in Sunriver.
The first bit of goodies are well-thought of to match me. I have a 2008 rabbit calendar, a sweet ceramic rabbit figurine with moving arms and legs, a bar of my favorite Toblerone, and treats for my furry children. Did you click on the larger photo yet? Are they not SO COOOOL?!!
The next part of the package is, in my humble opinion, oversizedly generous. I like to think that Debbi’s heart is the same way, because of the size they are.
The enormous steeping teacup is awesome! I love how the pieces fit together like a glove. Who said that practicality had to be ugly? The clean lines are smooth and warm. To balance the simple glow of the steeping teacup, Debbi sent me something a bit unexpected — 2 skeins of BMFA Bambu in Scaponia. A while back, I noticed that she had marked her single skein in Ravelry as “For Sale or Trade” so I inquired about it. She replied by asking if it would be okay to include it in my package (this was not a secret swap). Not thinking much else about it, I agreed. I never expected to get 2 skeins!! WOW.
The lace scarf she made for me is breathtakingly gorgeous. She knitted the Brooke’s Column of Leaves Knitted Scarf Pattern in (get this!!) the Cockeyed colorway of Socks That Rock!! If you have not read her blog yet, she is at Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I absolutely love wearing this scarf because its size is perfect in the office. Whew. That took long enough to write. Next post? More packages — Jette’s goodies from the Fano Festival, and a special birthday package from my Secret Pal. Now one last photo before I close… It is a gift from Sarah, aka “swroot” on Ravelry. I had favorited it once before, and she sent it to me because of the work I have done in Ravelry! Now I am searching for the perfect pattern to make with it. Be sure to stay warm from the snow this weekend everybunny! =:8
How time flies when you are having fun! Last week was such a blur, but I will do my best to be as descriptive as possible. Let me start the week with Tuesday night where I had stopped in to visit Knitters Nook in Johnston before the PetSmart Adoption Center’s bunny session. I had wanted to drop in to visit LYSO Sharon and her husband Mike to check on how they were doing, and this was my chance.
That evening Sharon was there with her mother and a couple of other knitters. One great item about this place is that the shop is open until 8PM from Tuesday to Friday. They have the latest Berroco, Debbie Bliss, and other KFI brand yarns in stock. The sectional is comfortable and the long pine dining table has inviting chairs that beg you to sit and knit. I did some work on my test sock and then bought some much needed bamboo circular needles.
There were a couple of new bunnies at PetSmart. Gabby is practically a negative image of my mischievous Julius, and she is such a sweet girl. Cricket is one squirrelly guy who gave me a hard time when I attempted to trim his nails. Meanwhile, the hilarious comedic duo of Nudges and Paddy romped about the cages area while I was taking care of the other two. They were teasing the lone kitten who so wanted attention. Such crazy bunnies I played with!
Wednesday was to be my sole night of staying home and knitting. Instead I played on Ravelry and did some behind-the-scenes work in the groups and yarns. I always find myself getting wrapped up in my work and not realizing the time that should be spent elsewhere. My husband constantly says I am obsessed and addicted. I guess there could be worse habits to be involved in.
After work on Thursday, I dropped by Yarns at Lacewings in Warwick, RI. LYSO Mary was there working on the latest newsletter and had just sent it out while I was there. The shop looks fabulous with its reading corner to sort through patterns and yarn, and the group table is cozy as ever. The new shipment of Harrisville’s bulky yarns were unpacked and are under the store’s sheep mascot. I really like how the baby section was moved and displayed. The possible FOs to make definitely bring in bright cheeriness to the space. Feel free to sign up for the e-mailed newsletter, or bookmark Mary’s blog to find out the latest classes and sales.
Later that evening was the RI “In Stitches” Meetup at Providence Place Mall’s Borders Bookstore. A few of us converged at the large table and had a blast chatting and knitting away. We caught up with Krista’s adventures of being a newlywed, Beth’s grueling studying, Erika’s Bohus, and Jen had brought her friend Jessica along. New additions Amy and Nancy joined us, and it was fun to sit and compare notes on yarn, projects, events, and stores. Okay, that is enough for now. I need to stop writing now so I do not go overboard. Next post will be what I did during the weekend! =:8
Must have bad karma.
ME!!
