Size Matters

It's the pumpkin size!!!  Yes....the pumpkin size!!!!  What did you think I was going to say!!!  "Size Really Does Matter"  Check out the link.  You'll be amazed!  When I grew pumpkins years ago, I used to inject the vine with milk as it grew to encourage growth.

Twelve of these babies were lowered in the water for the "2nd Burlington Annual Pumpkin Race".  A forklift was used and it took quite awhile.

You couldn't be overweight to sit in these chairs!!!

This guy, wearing his life vest, was anticipating winning the race as Obama did his!!!  (His team won in the end!!)

People getting in the spirit on this beautiful, warm autumn day!

Nice to be young!!!  You can dress up like this and noone thinks you're weird!!

The guy pictured above was a little overconfident........see below!!!

It's wet!!!

This little girl with her hand-crocheted pumpkin hat was trying to figure out what this was all about!!!

Three local weathermen participated in the race.  Of course, they ordered perfect weather.

It was really fun!!!  I was fortunate to have a great spot to take pictures.  I was on the dock and managed not to fall into "the drink" what with everyone trying to get a great viewing spot.  Several thousand people lined up along the shore of Lake Champlain.

Buttoned Neck Warmer #3

Pattern: DK Buttoned Neck Warmer and Hat (free pattern from my LYS)

Yarn: Manos Silk Blend (30% Silk, 70% Merino)
Needles: Size 6 circular

This cowl is a quick knit.  I've knitted three of these and gifted them.  Each has been in a different colorway.  Manos offers a wonderful selection of yarn.  Though I like this one a lot, the others are even prettier. 

I feverishly knitted on this cowl while on the plane to Denver back in June.  By the time I arrived I only had the buttons to sew on.  I became disenchanted with it and have been until I actually sewed on the buttons this week.  My intentions were to gift this cowl to the lady helping care for my mother.  I had not yet met her and when I did, I no longer felt this colorway would be flattering for her.  I still need to knit up something soon.   

Some of my knitting students from my mitten class want me to offer this cowl for one of my upcoming knitting classes.

Part of the fun of knitting is looking for just the right buttons for a finished project.  These are perfect for this cowl.  The picture does not show the true brownish-green that matches perfectly with one of the colors in the yarn.  The buttons for each of the cowls I've knitted were found at my LYS. 

Amy S., who is also a cross-stitcher was asking me about my new pattern book that I recently purchased.  I don't have enough time in my life already to do everything that I want to do, that the thought of cross-stitching again gives me visions of a pot of coffee constantly brewing in the kitchen and I don't drink coffee.  If not so painful, I'd use toothpicks to prop my eyelids open as I did in my younger, dancing, party days.

I seldom pay full price for my books.  I either wait for a sale at knitpicks.com or I use my Jo-Ann coupon, each at 40% off.  Then I can justify buying more yarn.  I definitely do not need any more floss.  I have boxes and boxes and more boxes of the stuff like a little girl who wants every crayon available that Crayola offers.

This book caught my eye in part because my older daughter, Amy, loves giraffes.  They were a favorite after, at age 3, we were at a zoo and the giraffe extended its long neck over the fence and ate her cotton candy while she was in her dad's arms. 

This pattern has my attention because my high school mascot was a tiger.  Brings back many fond memories of all the things I knitted with a tiger on it to wear to my high school football games on a chilly Friday autumn evening.

I have been approved by my local recreational department to offer additional knitting classes this winter season due to demand.  I am quite excited.  After the first class, which had only a few in attendance, the rest of my classes have filled to my acceptable max.  I absolutely thoroughly enjoy teaching.  The classes are once a week, 2hrs. in duration for four consecutive weeks.  I meet other wonderful women who want to learn to knit or learn additional skills.   

Sometimes I wake during the night and think about knitting patterns that I'd like to design, classes I'd like to offer and other knitting-related topics.  The other day I was trying to decypher whether I have a passion or an addiction for yarn.   

Happy Knitting!

Delicato Mitts

Pattern:  Delicato Mitts from Dye Dreams
Needles:  Size 2 dp's
Yarn:  Fingering Weight (50 gr.)

These mitts were really fun to knit.  The pattern is extremely well-written.  I had difficulty putting this project down.  No SMS (single mitt sydrome) with this project.  I knit on my lunch hour and an hour or so in the evening and this project took me about 1 - 1 1/2 weeks to complete.  The yarn was purchased just a short time ago when I attended the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival.  Fiber content is merino and tencel.

Here's a close-up of the mitt.  It appears to be cables but isn't.  Not sure why Blogger is cutting off part of the pic when it is saved, but you get the idea.

I love the cuffs.  The cable look is achieved with K2tog and YO's. 

My "Beginner Knitting Class" came to a close this past week.  I had the maximum of eight women and they were all so very much fun.  Already, they are asking me to teach another class and telling me what they would like.  I also may soon be starting "private group" lessons in someone's home along the line of a "Tupperware Party".  This evolved because a previous student was disappointed that I taught only the one class this fall and the next one is not till January.  She wants to knit cowls in time for holiday presents.

I have several other knitting projects in the works.  One just needs buttons sewn on.  I've also started the "Spiralucious Cowl".  It's almost completed and I just started it yesterday.  I'll be knitting the matching mitts next.  The customer service from Anne Hanson at "Knit Spot" was fantastic.  Her patterns are beautiful and I'll definitely be purchasing patterns from her again.

Happy Knitting!

Women and Health Care

I grew up in an era where women definitely were not equal.  I remember working with a man who did the same job I did and earned quite a bit more money and didn't work as hard.  It was frustrating.    I'm sure today there is still a fair amount of discrimination in the work force. 


As I raised my daughters I often told them that "Women had come a long way, but we had a long way to go yet!"


I regularly watch "Larry King Live".  Last evening, ten of our female senators were on the program, a few of them chosen as spokepersons, as to the discrimination in health care for women.  In only 14 states is it mandatated that insurance companies cover maternity health care.  If I'm not mistaken, there are fertile women in all 50 states and most likely some are trying to conceive.  Often, insurance is denied to women due to pre-existing conditions.  One of those conditions is having had a pregnancy.


It is proven that a man and a woman of the same age, an example of age 24 was given by one senator, the woman will pay 48% more for the same medical coverage as a man. 


Of course, there are many other issues regarding our health care.  Instances where someone having been treated for something as simple as acne is denied covereage because it is, again, considered a pre-existing condition. 


I am fortunate, more fortunate than most, to have excellent medical coverage through my employment.  My employment, like so many, is precarious.  Age 65 will be welcomed as I will have guaranteed insurance for whatever that is worth which is better than nothing.

Food for thought.........all comments are welcomed.

Yarn Purchases

Several people wanted to see pictures of my purchases from yesterday while I was at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival.

Dye Dreams was one of the vendors that caught my eye.  They had many beautiful patterns and yarn.  They had clear plastic tote bags where you selected the pattern and then the yarn on the idea of "Make Your Own Kit".  Fun....lots of fun!!!

Here's a closer look at the yarn.  I'll be knitting the cable mitts shown in the first picture.

Ball and Skein, a Vermont vendor, had absolutely gorgeous yarn.  The skein pictured above is 60% seacel/40% silk.  It's a beautiful ocean blue/green.  There's 600 yds. in the skein, not enough for a shawl, but I'm sure I'll find a pattern I like.  I only purchased the one skein because it was so expensive. 


Before leaving for the festival I had a $$$ amount in my head that I was willing to spend.  I only went over by $3 so I was pleased.

On a different note, I am totally excited about becoming a volunteer for "Everybody Wins-Vermont".  I will be matched with a grade school student for lunch and we will be reading together for pleasure or playing educational games.  The program is designed to boost the child's self-esteem,  promote self-confidence and form a friendship.  Years ago I worked full-time as a teacher's aide with 4th, 5th & 6th grade students, helping with english, math and spelling, and I absolutely loved it.

I am so fortunate that my boss is allowing me to adjust my work hours in order to volunteer. 

We also had staff appreciation day a couple of weeks ago.  The entire university staff was invited to a catered picnic on the green.  The university president was there the greet us as we arrived. 

The food was great, the weather was fantastic, and again this year it was announced that we were being given the week between Christmas and New Years off with pay.  We all cheered.  This is the 4th year that the university gifts us with the much-appreciated time off. 

Combined with the holidays it means almost two weeks off.

Happy Knitting!

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival

The Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival was moved from my town to Tunbridge, Vermont (home of the "World's Fair") which is about 1 1/2 hrs. away.  The "World's Fair" must be a joke.  I could be wrong but there must be 200 people in that town and not much of anything.  I had not planned on going but a couple days ago my friend,  Norma, asked if I wanted to go.  She wasn't really sure if she wanted to go either. 

Missed Clue #1 (that we should have turned around and gone home)- Weatherman said it would stop raining by noon......ha! Trust your gut feeling!!!

Missed Clue #2 - This was a sample of the mud we had when we arrived.  It was much worse by the time we left.  I was wearing clogs and the mud was sucking by heels as I tried to walk. 

Missed Clue #3 - More mud!!!!!  These people were ankle deep in the brown stuff by the time we left.

Missed Clue #4 - This was the sign beside the ladies room.  Norma kept moving closer to get a better picture.  "NO, NORMA!!!!"

Missed Clue #5 - This is getting weird!!!  The urinal behind the bush.  I didn't dare look.  Not sure if Norma did!!!!

Missed Clue #6 - What????  No dogs.....actually, there were sheep dogs.

We walked around the festival, purchased a little yarn, jewelry for Norma.  Now, we all know that when you go to a fiber festival, you touch and feel.  Norma wanted to show me a felted item and someone behind her screamed....."Lady, can't you read?"  "It says, do not touch."  "Are you an idiot?"

Well, the sign was curled over itself from the moisture from the rain.  The sign was nailed on the bench at waist height instead of eye level.  Norma wanted to go purchase a muffin and coffee and kill this lady with kindness.  After all, she was one of the festival workers.

We ran into quite a few blogger friends.  I finally was able to meet Mangofeet.  That's always so nice when that happens.  Ann Marie, Norma's friend, was there also. 

Missed Clue #7 - and this is the biggy!!!!...........

By this time Norma and I had been standing in line for a lamburger for 20 minutes.  It was "build an ark raining".  What you can't see in the picture is that Norma's umbrella was leaking like a sieve.  Our shoes were full of mud, the bottom of our jeans were soaked from walking through puddles.  So......after 20 minutes of waiting we decided that we would be better off in a nice warm restaurant as there were no places to eat under cover.  We prayed that the car would not be stuck in the muddy field.

We really did have a lot of laughter and fun in spite of being soaked. 

Are we going next year?  I think not, unless they move it back to the fairgrounds in Essex Junction.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting Gadgets

Sometimes commenters on my blog will say they could never attempt a project that I posted. I often believe it is just because they don't have the correct tools to work with. For instance, a knitter may not attempt a more complicated pattern because of too many family interruptions. In such a case, a magnetic board woks wonders.  It can be purchased at Jo'Ann's for about $7.  You can also purchase a separate stand for less than $10.


The board looks like this with magnetic strips and a mangetic ruler.  An old metal typing stand will work just as well.

As you knit a row, you just slide the magnetic ruler down the page.  Simple!!!!

Buttonhole measurer/marker.  It evenly spaces the placement.

This gadget is wonderful!!! Select the number of buttonholes you want, expand this gadget and it evenly spaces where the buttons/buttonholes should be. It sells for about $20, but is well worth the money. Sorry, I can't give you more information as to the exact name or where I purchased it. Perhaps one of my readers will be able to comment and tell us.

Lizzie made me this row counter about three years ago. For each row, slip it up or down one ring. Simple and fun!!!

Or, you could use these candies, put 10 in a dish and after each row, eat one of the candies. Three candies left, you've knitted 7 rows. Ok, admit it......you like that idea!!!!

And if you have an Iphone, check this digital knitting gadget (click).

I started teaching my "Beginner Knitting Class" this week.  It is a full class.  My classes are a maximum of 8 and a minimum of 4.

Happy Knitting!

Aeslight Shawl

Pattern: Aeslight Shawl
Yarn: Fingering weight
Needles: Size 7

Awhile back, Lizzie sent me a link to this pattern as she thought I would enjoy knitting it. Too fuuny as it was my curret project on the needles. She definitely knows my knitting taste.

This pattern can be knitted as a scarf or a shawl. It truly is a beautiful pattern once it is blocked.

I had this shawl about 75% done and just was not inspired with the yarn
I was using so I took it off the needles and started over again with this pink yarn. I wish I had selected something a little more luxurious.

This has been my slowest knitting month every. Because these edges of this shawl pattrn is not asily memorized, the knitting is time-consuming. I can't wait to start something new but I have about 3 baby sweaters to finish and two single socks screaming for a mate.

I start teaching a new knitting class this Thursday. This one will be "Beginner Knitting" so it should be easier than my sock or mitten classes. I've also been contacted by a yarn shop to teach three classes but I'm not sure their schedule fits mine. Four classes in one week besides my regular job is a little too much so if they are agreeable, I am willing to teach just one class for now.

Happy Knitting!

Great Yarn Give-Away!!!!

We all really like free yarn so go check out Renee's (<--click) web site and let her know I sent you when you comment on her post. Unlike many other give-away's, you only have to leave her a comment that you are interested.

Happy Knitting!!

Granddaughter Socks

Pattern: Granddaughter Socks (sorry, can't get link to work so just Google)

Yarn: Koigu and Baby Ull

Needles: Size 2 dps

If you are one of my longtime readers going back to the days of Yahoo 360, I started these socks and promptly lost them somewhere probably in the back of the closet. So this past June I started them again while on a flight to Denver.

The socks go quickly if you stick to this one project as I have difficulty doing, after all crochet does work up more quickly. I've not touched this project since the end of June. I modified the pattern to have only two granny squares instead of three. There are really four squares in the picture and they are smaller than they appear to be. With three squares you have this awkward seam in the front. This pattern was once offered for free but must have proven to be so popular that Interweave now charges $4 for the pattern.

I've been promising pictures of the shawl.....perhaps tomorrow I'll have more time. I miss working on socks and the portability of smaller projects.

I've been busy preparing for a major audit at work. It's been insanely busy and I'm exhausted when I return home thus not feeling like knitting very much.

I start my next round teaching knitting classes on the 24th. This class will be easier as it's a beginnner knitting class. I need to revisit my prices as the adjoining community is charging $200 for 15 hours of instructions with a minimum of twelve students in the class. We are both part of the community educational centers as opposed to a LYS.

Happy Knitting!

Wanna Be On A Tight Budget!!!

To understand the reason for the title of the blog post, you'll have to scroll through the pictures and get to the last few.

I attended the Shelburne Museum Hot Air Balloon Festival. The weather was great, the crowd sparse due to so many activities going on in the area including a Kelley Clarkson concert.

Notice the center flap. As the balloon is inflating the velcro strips will connect with each other, thus allowing the balloon to life. When it is time to drop in altitude, the cords on the inside will be pulled thus separating the velcro again.

Now, you must give this guy credit. He's on a tight budget and a "wannabe balloonist". Nothing colorful about his balloon but he is still having fun in spite of the fact that he's having a heck of a time inflating it.

He's either a purist, a daredevil or whatever as he does not have the usual "basket" for liftoff. He merely has a harness. Reminds me of the scene from the movie "Back To The Future".

These pictures were taken last Friday night. On Monday morning, one of the balloons crashed at a nearby mall. Occupants had minor injuries.

On Tuesday evening I had the bajebies (sp?) scared out of me when a balloon was over my apartment building and appeared as if it was going to crash. It cleared the rooftoop by less than 10 feet. Cell phone in hand and in my driveway, I went running in the opposite direction. They smiled and waved to me as they were finally able to gain altitude.

Too close for comfort for me.

I'm coming along on the shawl knitting. Target date for completion is September 20th so I can wear it to the first knitting class of the season that I am teaching. Pictures coming soon.

Damn Computers

Damn computers....you can't live with them and can't live without them. It appears that I will need to take a break from blogging again. My 6- month old laptop is being sent back to the factory for repairs. The cursor/mouse freezes up and I lose whatever I have written unless it is auto save such as in Google Mail.

The laptop will be gone for four weeks. I'm hoping they are saying four weeks and it will really be two weeks and I will be so grateful that I will not complain, greet them with a smile, and perhaps even offer to buy them dinner. If they tell me two weeks and it turns out to be three weeks, well this gal will not be a happy camper (maybe).

So, I have been reading some of your blogs, start to leave a comment, cursor freezes up and I have to reboot. Frustrating to say the least and the reason for not commenting.

My old computer, who is slower than molasses going uphill in the winter in Vermont, has gotten a reprieve from a visit to the recycle center. There's a lesson in there somewhere. Age has its advantages. So I will have to see if I can get it to work again without too much aggravation.

Anyone having problems with moving pictures in Blogger within a post? I attended a balloon festival yesterday, great pictures, wonderful time and I cannot put the pictures in their proper order so I have abandoned that little post. Hmm....will post one picture here with not too much trouble, I suppose.

The balloon festival was at beautiful Shelburne Museum overlooking Lake Champlain. I was able to sit in the shade, enjoy a cool breeze, and watch the balloons inflate and liftoff. Children all around me were having a fantastic time. There was a really funny incident at the end but I have to be able to post the pictures properly in order for you to see what happened.....a post when the computer is well again.

It would be so fantastic to have everything in this household working properly, behaving itself and just being nice to me. The new printer/fax/copier is being stubborn. The wireless...well, I've given up on that for awhile. It would be nice if formatting stayed true to itself in Blogger as well. And this body....let's not even go there. Oh, but the camera is working up to its great reputation.

Happy Knitting! I'm slowly getting my shawl done.

Staying In Touch

Just staying in touch. Not much knitting on the home front. I do have a couple things almost done but have not taken pictures yet. None of my projects seem to excite me lately.

Not sure why these pictures are coming out so small but here goes anyway.

I had a birthday on August 22nd so I bought myself a new digital SLR camera. It was tax free day also. I love my new camera.

So after reading the manual and waiting a couple of days for the weather to clear up, my new love (the camera) and I took a little trip to Maine.

Dont' you just love all those colorful Adirondack chairs lined up next to each other!

I took a scenic route I was not familiar with and came across this sign. Notice that "chocolate" is on the list for directions. A lighthouse and chocolate...what more could a girl want.


One of my very favorite places...."Nubble Light" in York, Maine.

I love seeing all the dingys lined up next to each other. Vacant of ocean farers, it means that they are out having fun. I've named this photo, "Team Work".

Life continues to be immensely difficult and thus the lack of blogging. I do read your blogs though I may not always have the time to comment. I'm hoping that things will calm down and get boring.

Taking A Break!

Yes, I'm still knitting! But I've been frogging as much as knitting.

I'm going to be away from my blog for awhile. I need to take a break....I'm exhausted with so much going on that I can't seem to resolve.

Tatting and Kissing Mr. A.

Tatting Chic had her giveaway today and I didn't win but I'm excited that there will be a new tatter out there besides me. It was meant for me to learn to tat because I went to a new Jo'Ann's today and look at what I found at 40% off.....my new adventure for August.

I think it was Lizzie who blogged the other day about taking up one more new hobby and feeling neglectful of the others. I'm feeling that way but I'm still going to learn to tat.

In another post, I will tell you why I want to learn to tat. It has to do with the love of one of my relatives.

Like Deb, who likes to collect knitting needles like crayons, I like to collect floss, yarn, etc. in a variety of colors. It brings back the excitement of opening that new box of Crayola crayons as a child with the nice new sharp tips, all the while planning how colorful my coloring book would be.

And then this happened............

Mr. A_ _ _ _ _ _ and I kissed today quite by accident. (hehe...hint!) It took me by surprise to say the least and not what I expected. It was far from exciting. He was in his '50's, scruffy, a couple day's beard growth, yucky t-shirt, and appearance questioned as to whether or not he had showered in a few days!!! I wish I had thought to have my cell phone camera handy so I could take a picture.

I was returning home after the above tatting purchase. I was in Montpelier, Vermont's capital, and about 45 miles from home. I was a little thirsty so I went to the drive-up at McDonald's to quench my thirst with a diet coke.

Mr. A_ _ _ _ _ _ was behind me. Notice that I am letting you fill in the blanks to his name. I heard this thump and felt a slight movement. Sure enough this guy's bumper had just kissed mine. This is how the event developed.

Joan: Opens car door and gets out to assess the situation.

Mr. A: "Yeah, yeah, lady, I just hit your car. Get in your car and keep going." (as he is also ordering his burger and fries)

Joan: "Excuse me!!!!" "I need to make sure there is no damage to my car."

Mr. A: "There isn't"

Joan: "How do you know?" "You haven't even gotten out of the car to look."

Joan: "Please back up." "Your bumper is on mine and I can't tell if there is damage or not."

Now, foolish me....I'm thinking he will at least say "I'm sorry!".

Mr. A: "No, I won't back up." "You move forward."

Joan: "Back up or I'll call the police for an accident report."

Obviously having a bad day, he backs up and is totalling fuming at me.

No damage, I get back in my car, move forward and I pay for my beverage. The clerk offers to call the manager for assistance as this guy is being beligerent.

"No". "It'll be ok." I'm thankful that I don't have to visit a body shop. I hoped this guy's day would improve. Something very upsetting must have happened to him earlier in the day to make him so angry.

I drove off looking forward to reading my tatting book once I arrive home.

Happy Knitting!

The "Gift"...Are You Kidding Me?

Today was move day at the office. If someone could only get the license plate number on my forehead of the Mack truck who hit me today, it would be most helpful!

In recent weeks I have noticed that fast food chains are removing their trash cans in the parking lots. Yet they promote "supersize" meals, etc.

The owner of my apartment building has also "downsized" the trash dumpster leaving us with no place to dump trash the last two days of the week before pickup day.

Last week I arrived at work to find this little "gift" on my desk.


It's a mini trash can with a note inside!!!!! Everyone had the same "gift" on their desk. You are probably getting curious as to why I would have the word gift in quotes.

Don't strain to read what the pic below states. It is merely important information regarding my office custodial service change.

Zooming in on the note you will notice that is says "this is probably all you will need".

However, you will notice in the first picture that the "note" doesn't even fit in the trash can, allowing the owner to secure the lid.

So to compare..........

the bin on the left is my trash, the bin on the right is my recycle and the bin in the middle is my new trash can.

We now have to transport our trash to a central location for pickup. We do have the option of keeping the current trash cans. So someone earning over $100,000/yr. is going to transport his/her trash? Will they ask their assistant to do this task? Cost effective? I think not.

However, on the positive side, it really has me thinking as to what to print, what to discard because I better darn well be able to carry it all.

Isn't this hilarious!!!

The office...the new office is beginning to look nice. I will miss being able to look outside while working.

BSJ-Sherbet Is Done!

This pattern for the Baby Surprise Jacket, designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman, can be found at "Schoolhouse Press". It was knit using a sportweight yarn and size 6 needles.

I forgot to take a picture before seaming the shoulders (the only seam to the sweater) but it looks like a piece of origami that you fold and.....voila!!!!...you have a sweater. There is currently a KAL (knit-a-long) on Ravelry. It's a classic pattern dating back to the '50's.

A back view............
Buttons can "make or break" how I feel about a project.
I finished the sweater using an I-cord Kitchener bind off. The buttons I originally selected just didn't work in the end so I purchased those shown instead. Cute as they are, they get caught in the yarn when trying to button the sweater, etc.

I file this particular BSJ in the "deflated balloon" category. I was so happy with it when I started this 3rd BSJ. I was on vacation, not paying as close attention, had to frog back some, and not happy with the yarn used as a border. The buttonholes are not my best work either. There may also be something wrong with the neckline as it looks awfully narrow. So, in the end, it was like a deflated balloon and happy to have finally finished it and move on to another project.
Buttons were on sale (like in discontinued sale) at Jo'Ann's. I have a thing for buttons so I went a little wild in the department. I found this article, "Great-Aunt Belle's Buttons", very interesting.

You all know that I want to learn how to tat. Look at these absolutely gorgeous tatted buttons. I want six of those.

Need to use up leftover walnut size balls of fingering sock yarn? Check this out....knitted/quilted greeting cards.

Ivoryblushroses is a blog I faithfully read. Of particular interest is the current ocean theme exchange. I wish those blocks were mine. They do inspire me greatly. Check here also. If you go back in time on this person's blog you will see the wonderful things she makes with Altoid tin boxes.

Great day at the lake today. Lots of knitting done and rested and relaxed for my big office move tomorrow.

Happy Knitting!