Comic Con!

We went to ComicCon/AnimeCon in NY last weekend! What an experience. Here are the two girls dressed in their Japanese schoolgirl outfits ready to go.

This whole trip was instigated by my brother. He is a comic book fan from wayyyyy back. I don't think he actually read any books when he was little - just comics. He still has a stash of them. Since he generously offered to drive us down, how could we resist? It was also an opportunity for me to work on my crochet squares for Mark's "You Never Make Me A Blanket" blanket . . . I have way too many squares to go before Christmas. But, progress was made.

Here they are outside of the Javits Center. This is before I knew what we were in for . . .

Our entrance tags secured it was off! My sister-in-law was a little worried about letting the girls go off on their own to the Anime side, but since they survived Tokyo alone this summer, I thought they would be fine! We set them free and texted when we needed to meet up.

As the day progressed there were more and more and more people there! It was absolutely crazy! I had no idea that so many people were passionate about this. It was like Rhinebeck on steroids. You could hardly move in the vendor area. Tons of people were dressed up in costumes. Go over to the website and take a look at the Flickr group - it is pretty amazing! The girls got asked to have their picture taken aobut 10 times! We saw Stan Lee - that was pretty amazing! And there were load of exttremely talented artists drawing on Artists Row. This man was completing a HUGE chalk drawing on the floor!

It was a fun, fun day! The girls are looking forward to going to the Anime conference in Boston in April! I did finish my first super secret Christmas gift. One down and many still to go!

The Rowing Cat is continuing her foray into Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. She's on Book 4 of Laurie King's series! They are really fun books!

And of course another Anime book that she has been "waiting and waiting" to come out in English!

And finally, my tag for Comic Con with my button for Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series - another fun series of books with a Steampunk theme!

Army of Women

As you know, in February of 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation and am now in my third year of medication.  I was 47 when I was diagnosed and it was through a routine mammogram.  So I'm a tireless proponent of having a mammogram every single year, no excuses.  When was your last mammogram?????

I am also taking part in the Army of Women.  What is this you ask???

"The Army of Women initiative, a program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, funded by a grant from the Avon Foundation for Women, is recruiting ONE MILLION WOMEN of all ages and ethnicities, with or without breast cancer, to sign up and participate in breast cancer research studies. If we can get ONE MILLION WOMEN involved in research, we are one step closer to understanding the cause of breast cancer and how to prevent it."


Head on over to their website, take a look and I hope you will sign up!

Army of Women

Weekends

Well, last weekend came and went and things got done.  I worked a little on the WWII Navy Iceland Sweater I'm making for Mark because I ". . . never make HIM a sweater . . ." ;-)  I found this pattern on the American Red Cross Museum site.  There are several patterns there.  The interesting thing about these patterns is what is left out.  I'm so used to reading a pattern that has every little thing spelled out in triplicate with different instructions for different sizes, technique explanations, sizing and charts.  Take a look at the pattern - it's basically take your yarn and needles and knit!  It assumes that you already have an understanding of shaping and sizing and gauge.  A very different way of knitting.  I've made some adjustments in hopes that it will actually FIT Mark!

Our friend Rich came up last weekend.  He is a recent convert to rowing and bought a double racing shell that Mark picked up for him.  He came to do some work on the boat and to take a rowing lesson on Schroon Lake.  Of course, while he was here, Mark got him to help with one of those projects that never seems to get done.  They borrowed my Dad's chainsaw and cut down the trees next to our very old shed. 

Of course now you can actually SEE the shed and it looks TERRIBLE next to our house.  A new shed is in the works!

I've been reading Mr. Peanut, a book recommended by the Books on the Nightstand podcast (which I love, by the way!)  There's nothing better than a good book and a cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Here's a little progress on the pink beret.  I actually finished and blocked this during the week, but it is too large!  I may try to felt it slightly to see if it will shrink to a better size.  Or I may frog and re-use for a different hat! 

And a final picture of the Cat.  She really captures the weekend way to be!

Spinning Spinning

I've been  doing some spinning now that the weather has cooled down a bit.  I decided to pull out the green alpaca that I bought last year at Rhinebeck.  Finally!  It was soooo wonderful to spin - soft like butter.  

I'm planning to ply it with the remainder of my chocolate brown llama fiber from Saratoga LLamas.  I think it will be a beautiful mix - what do you think?  The Rowing Cat is already coveting the yarn to come!

This is a beautiful merino spun with KnitPicks Palette yarn.  This is destined to be a Christmas hat and mitts for a certain niece of mine ;-)

Here are my latest socks made with Shibui Sock Yarn.  I have another pair started - you can never be without a pair of socks on the needles!

Howdy!

What have you all been up to???  I've been taking a break, but now I'm back!  My biggest news is that the Rowing Cat spent 6 weeks in Japan this summer with the AFS program. 

She had an incredible time and met some wonderful friends.  What an experience!  I was soooo jealous :-)

From 2010-08-06 Here she is in her host mom's Summer Kimono - great color!

From 2010-08-06

They had a cooking demonstration class with all of the students and their host families.

Making Takoyaki at her host family's apartment!   Look for some knitting here this weekend!

What's Up With You?

What's up with you? I have been thoroughly enjoying the transition to Spring here in upstate New York. The temperature SOARED to 68 yesterday and I actually sat on our deck reading in the sun for an hour! We do still have some snow left on the front yard . . . but - we can use both sides of the driveway now!

The Rowing Cat successfully survived the school presentation of Damn Yankees. I was impressed with the amount of singing and acting talent hiding at such a small school. The kids were really teriffic!

We are off soon to Key West! Mark's parents are already on their way down and we'll soon be following. I am looking forward to cool gin and tonics on the porch and lots of swimming and reading by the pool. I'm planning to stop by Knit Wits, the cute little yarn shop in Key West, to say hello to Abigail! She is the knitter who so graciously assassinated me during Sock Wars last year. I went to the shop last year and have now found out that Abigail is working there part time this year! It will be so much fun to meet up with a Ravelry friend!

We are moving into the busy period at work. All of the incoming law students (Class of 2012) are in the process of applying for financial aid. So I have lots of paperwork to process and questions to answer. This is the time that I really have to remember to bring along my knitting just to de-stress during lunch! A few of us are planning to spend lunches under the trees knitting. I even think we may have a few more converts - I'm hearing a few non-knitters saying that they are ready to learn! Knitting at lunch is going to become the "in" thing this summer - I just know it!

In other news, I finally opened my Etsy shop! I've called it Saratoga Spinning and I'm listing all of the yarns that I'm spinning but don't have time to knit up! I think this will be fun to see my yarn go to good homes ;-) I just enjoy the spinning process so much - the feel of the fiber, the lovely colors coming together during plying, the sense of accomplishment. It's a little scary going out there, but the Rowing Cat has been encouraging me to do it, so I finally decided to go ahead!

Progress is being made on the Pi Shawl. I'd say it's almost done (I'm getting tired of the knitting and EZ says that's what indicates the shawl is ready to jump off of the needles!) It's going to be wonderfully warm for the Rowing Cat. I'm anxious to see what it looks like blocked and how big it will actually be.

Here is the progress on the Sullivan Street Bolero. It is such an easy knit! I'm using a wool and silk combo so it is incredibly soft. I'm almost finished with it - the truth will be in the blocking!

My Saratoga Llama fiber is all spun up and waiting to be knit into a vest. It is sooooo soft! The colors are dark brown and chocolate brown mixed. The colors in this picture don't seem to be right at all.

I am really enjoying the Bellatrix Sock pattern! I love the freedom of dropping wraps and the colors are striping wonderfully!




That's all for now - it's off to the grocery store for me!

In Praise of the Simple Knits

I've realized that I've been doing lots and lots of "plain" knitting recently. My socks have been simple ribs, I'm working the plainest possible Pi Shawl, my top-down sweater is rounds of knit and purl and I'm planning a Moderne Baby Blanket for a friend. And I am enjoying every minute. Maybe that should be my focus this year?? I'm not missing lace at all so far. But, at the same time, I'm adding in a little project here and there just to add a little interest. But I am loving the simplicity for now!

We had a great dinner last night with our friends Karen and Ron. We had crabcakes and Barolo risotto (made with Barolo wine) with a delicious cheesecake for dessert. The cheesecake was made by my friend Sam. I made her the turquoise and brown Market Bag and she's making me two cheesecakes - it doesn't get much better than that! It was wonderful not to have to worry about making dessert. Especially with all of the cleaning that had to be done. How does a house get so cluttered and dusty????

The Rowing Cat is off for the week for February break. She deserves a little break - she got a 99.44 GPA for second quarter. I guess she can have some time off ;-) She does have play practice three days this week though. The kids are doing Damn Yankees and the play is going to be at the Spa Little Theater next month. They're very excited about this - it's a REAL THEATER! Should be fun!

Blogger is a little wonky today - I can't get my pictures straight, but you get the idea! Here's a little hat I whipped up called Miss Alice. The pattern is interesting to knit and can be finished up in an evening. I used some worsted weight that I had hanging around the closet. The Rowing Cat promptly claimed it!


I finally started spinning up the beautiful blue roving I purchased at Rhinebeck. I thinking about trying a three ply with this because I have three bumps. I'm trying to spin pretty thin because I don't want the finished yarn to be too thick.

Here's the bag all felted. This was so much fun to knit and the color combo is fab!

And here is the progress on the Pi Shawl, just knitting and knitting and knitting . . .!

Oh yes, I took the girls to see Coraline last weekend in 3D! It was fun - go see it!

The Bag is Getting There

This is the way our winter is looking. Very very very snowy. With some ice thrown in for good measure. It's snowing again today. Spring is just around the corner - right??


These are the icicles on our back porch. One of them almost connected with the pile of ice on the deck. We keep knocking them down but back they come.


A little spinning has been done in between shoveling. I'm not as happy about the green/cream mix as I thought I'd be. The green is losing some of its distinctive colors. They seem to be washing away next to the cream. I won't have enough cream to finish plying with the green, so I think I'll make a small skein at the end plying the green with itself to see how it looks.

The Market Bag is almost done! This is such a fun pattern! I'm so happy to have revisited it and especially happy that it's going to a very thankful recipient. I just made a deal to barter the bag for two delicious cheescakes that will more than compensate for the cost of the yarn. Sam is a terrific cook and I can't wait! Besides, I've had way too much fun knitting this!

The Rowing Cat had an epiphany last week and decided that she wanted bangs! So bangs it is! She looks fantastic! (Do you know how hard it is to get a 15 yr. old to smile for the camera???) She went to a sleepover last weekend and got to surprise her girlfriends with the new "do"! We were going to go skiing on Sunday, but Mark hurt a muscle in his neck, so we had to postpone till next Sunday. I took the girls to see Bride Wars instead. It was cute!

Oh Yes! There's going to be a new Dr. Who! What do you think? Don't know who he is??? You should! (The Rowing Cat thinks he's kind of cute!)

And So Vacation Comes To An End . . .

It's been a great vacation from work! And having several snow storms made staying in and spinning and knitting even easier!

I did make one purchase this week. I'm going to be showing two co-workers the Magic Loop method for knitting socks and I needed to get some new yarn to use for demonstration purposes!



It's Sockin' Sox by Plymouth Yarns. I love the color. I think it will make a great pair of vanilla socks!

I finished spinning up the green merino. Now I've started on this beautiful cream merino fiber. I plan on plying the two together - can't wait to see how it turns out!




I'm on Tier 6 of the Market Bag - I'm just flying through this project - it is tons of fun!

January 1

New Year's has dawned sunny and cold cold cold. Mark is off to Gore again today for ski school. He'll probably get lots of kids today . . .

The Rowing Cat and I will be staying snug and warm at home today. Maybe I can get her to cast on for the hat she's been making noises about . . .

I'm working on an entrelac Market Basket bag for a friend. She's been admiring mine and asked if I'd make one for her. She chose chocolate brown and turquoise! I think the colors look great together. I think I made my original Market Bag back in 2000, so it's been fun to revisit entrelac. A co-worker of mine has even been inspired to knit her own! She has never done entrelac before, so it was a leap of faith. You just have to do exactly what the instructions tell you to and then magic happens!





I'm also working on my favorite sweater pattern once again. It's called the Cabled Yoke Pullover and it's by Lidia Karabinech from an old issue of Interweave Knits. It's great TV knitting - just knit one round, purl one round around and around and around.



And here's a glimpse of my spinning this week! So much fiber goodness can be had when I get a week off from work! It's Merino from Theytoldmesew, an Etsy shop.



And here's a picture of our cat - using my shawl during her nap . . .

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all! Here are some pictures of our Christmas - we go to my parents for the exchange of kid gifts! The niece and nephews are sporting their Christmas gifts knit by Aunt Lisa!

I'm looking forward to lots of spinning and knitting in 2009! (Maybe a little less snow would be appreciated . . .;-)

Oh yes - The Rowing Cat completed her writing challenge - over 16,000 words! Woo Hoo!