On May 25, I received a phone call from my mom upset that our beloved family dog Willa Blake was dying. In high school I found Blake as a three month old black Lab mix at St. Hubert's Giralda in Madison. She was shy and my dad described her as having a "rat's tail". I loved her immediately and convinced my parent's we should adopt her. Blake got her name from my favorite poet at the time William Blake.
When she was four years old, a truck barreled through our street as a shortcut and hit Blake. My parents (I was away at college) rushed her to the Animal Emergency Services. Blake survived and developed arthritis in the back leg that was broken as a result of the hit and run. However, this never stopped her from jumping on the divider, between our house and the neighbor's, and inciting their three hunting dogs from barking everyday. We only realized she did this intentionally when we saw her prancing back and forth until they started barking.
Blake recently enjoyed retirement life on Lake S. After fourteen years of actively instigating the neighbor's dogs, frisbee, stealing chicken from the Christmas dinner table, and overcoming a serious battle with obsssessive compulsive disorder (with the tennis ball) she moved with my parents to a lake house. Days were filled with riding on a boat and extended naps, and nights were filled with extended naps and occasional forays into the neighbors yards.
Blake was accompanied to Animal Emergency Services and at 11:25 found her forever home. Although, we are saddened by her passing away, we know that she had fifteen years of running, fetching, and general mischieveness that made our lives richer by her presence.
And here's a picture of my Flamingo yarn.
I have been feeling tired lately so I bailed on the Thursday snb so I can remain in my pajamas. Oh, yeah, I did make progress on the Log Cabin. KnitXCore posted a photo of the progress on his blanket, and of course, we are knitting off to see who finishes first. Stop by Robbie's site and check in on his blanket.
This is an easy pattern which you can make up as you go along (not that I am doing that-oh yeah that is exactly what I am doing). It is gater stitch so you can watch whatever show and knit. In my case we are watching Blade 3 (again for the second time). While I do enjoy the plot and characters better in Blade 2, I think Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds and Triple H were fantabulous! And most times, I can enjoy Parker Posey but this movie is one of the times I don't and the guy who plays Dracula was ho-hum. I think joining the Buffy KAL made me have a thirst for some vampire viewing.
Tomorrow, I go to visit Anna Bannana and see her daughter. I wll probably bring socks and baby blanket for knitting. Although, I am going over to be of assistance. Wish me luck driving over the GWB on Memorial Day Weekend.
The particulars - Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog. I’ve been tagged by Midnight Purls!
1. I am addicted to Mountain Dew. I have been since college and as I type I sip the green magic potion. I have to give it up every so often and around mid-terms and finals I am drinking a 2 liter bottle all by myself.
2. I have rules. I have lots of funny rules which I considered learned behavior from my dad. The way to drive, the right way toilet paper should be placed in its holder, the proper way to answer the phone and take a message, how the newspaper should be placed in order after being read, how to fold towels, where things go in the fridge, that plastic bags from the supermarket should be tied in knots, there are lots of rules.
3. I love Sci-fi movies and at this point being able to quote Star Wars makes me a geek. I love X-Files (btw we are on season 4), Buffy, Angel, Battlestar, and yet no Star Trek. I love X-Men and even collected the comic books at one point. I have interrupted students I work with to correct them on X-men trivia. I got into a debate with the custodian over Battlestar vs. Stargate.
4. I loved insects when I was a kid. I went to the Smithsonian and some old lady was there holding a tarantula in her hand and held it to my face. Now, I don't recall if I ran screaming from this but I certainly had nightmares ever since then and I now have a huge fears of anything with more than four legs.
5. I studied Russian in college. I love Russian. It is my favorite language in the world, it sounds so sexy. My best friend speaks it and I never practice but when I have more time I will take lessons (and art lessons).
6. I need breaks. I am an only child and sometimes I need breaks from everything (work, friends, family, reality). I have a tendency to isolate myself every so often and turn off the telephone and email and...knit or watch tv. Next day I am back to my usual self.
7. I have been substituting teaching Spanish for a couple of months and I seriously liked teaching. I never wanted to teach because my whole family is in education (here in the US and Puerto Rico). But, I really liked teaching.
I tag-- Margaret, Kim, Dee, Ida, Claudia, Deborah, Kim
Also for another contest click here!
KnitXCore posted a comment challenging me to finish this blanket. I accept. I think competition can help both of us finish more of the blanket. Today, I picked up additional yarn for the project at stix and in additional colors (see squash and green).
My blanket now measures 19" x 24" so it is closer to a baby blanket size. I don't know how much he has completed. I noticed the yarns he selected look similar to the ones I have (minus green, yellow and red). Ok, KnitXCore, where are you on this project?
I haven't really formulated my summer knitting goals. Last year, I made my first (baby) sweater and then completed a sweater for me. I made socks in April and doing quite well. So, this makes it difficult to find something challenging but here's what I am thinking:
- Knit something with beads. SIL gave me Rowan books which include a pair of beaded socks so I may try that for her Christmas gift.
- Knit a pair of socks for Titi Vicky (Titi=Aunt). She always takes care of me and I think she would like a pair (especially considering she said she would like a pair of socks).
- Finish the Wicked sweater.
- Make a pair of socks each month.
- Finish the log cabin blanket I started but never published a photo because I was so embarassed I only made one square (but I lift my head up because I have now added more to it).
To participate in this contest go to Skeins Her Way.
Mark with bold the things you have ever knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest
Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener
BOPurses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Saw it on Elan Knits
Oh, I am so happy.