Crap!

Another storm may be coming. It's supposed to be the wintry mix crap that covers everything is ice, icy slush or slushy ice. Basically it's a mess. With a lot of people still without power, this is not what we need right now. I don't want to spend the rest of the week navigating icy sidewalks and parking lots.

As for my sock, I think I am going to start over. I didn't do very pretty increases, or enough apparently (I am short 2 stitches). I started with dpns and using this cool CO was tricky. I was afraid I would break one of them! I am heading to the store after work to pick up some circulars to try. I will need them anyway if I want to make Thermal.

I think Josh may let me knit something for him! I have offered in the past, but he never wanted anything. He kept using the cost of yarn as an excuse until I showed him Avast. I plan to use this yarn since it is cheap, soft and washable. If you know him, I am sure you can probably guess which color he wants. I already have one skein of it so he could check it out. He approved even though it is wool. I will probably make him a hat with it so he can get a feel for it.

I think I am a little obsessed!

Well, we were lucky and didn't lose power, but it looks like almost everyone the the west of us did. The hotel behind my apartment is more full than I have ever seen it. While most of the ice had melted off the trees and our apartment's windows, there was still about half an inch on my car yesterday. I am ready for spring.

Picture time before the power goes out!!

We have some nasty weather right now. I wanted to get some groceries today before I got stuck due to the weather, but apparently 1:30 this afternoon was too late. Our parking lot was full of icy slush and my car was covered in about half an inch of ice on 3 sides.

This is the view out of my front patio doors.


These are the lovely icicles outside my kitchen window.
This poor tree has been folded. You can't really tell from the picture, but it doesn't look comfortable.

Since going outside is not the best idea, I decided to start knitting my first sock using this lovely yarn. I switched patterns last night after I had trouble with my first one because it was a custom pattern so no exact numbers of stitches were given. I think I may use that pattern for my next pair of socks.

This is what I have so far. It's a pretty good start and I really like the pattern in the yarn. I hope to have most of the foot done tonight if the power doesn't go out. It uses a really cool cast on that is invisible. Well it would be if I was better at it, but it's still cool!

Josh told me most of North Liberty and much of Coralville are without power right now. Our lights have flickered a little and we lost on TV station. I put the flashlight near me and made sure I new where the candles and matches are. Now I just need to make sure I have food that doesn't need to be cooked. Josh is going to stop at Hy-Vee on his way home to make sure we are stocked for at least two days worth of being trapped in the apartment. I am going to continue my knitting and watching Wonderfalls.

Last night was supposed to be a relaxing night. No tae kwon do, no work, just sit around and watch NCIS and Veronica Mars. It was going good until about 10:00. Josh decided to make some hot chocolate. That would have been fine if he had turned on the correct burner and I hadn't left a potholder on the burner he did turn on. So we are down one pot holder, my new set of tongs, the burner, the drip pan and the as yet unidentified bottle of spices that melted to said burner. I am now glad I have taken the fire safety training for work about 4 times now or I may not have been as efficient with the fire extinguisher. I probably would have gone for water if it wasn't burning so much. I was worried it would damage the oven and I didn't want to pay for a new oven. I have a feeling the fire extinguisher is cheaper than an oven. I have a few pics I will share if they turned out well.

I want this

So I tried to make my own little Wicket using a furry yarn so he would be furry, but I couldn't deal with the stuff! I couldn't tell where my stitches were and it was slippery. I am thinking about it with a plain acrylic yarn in brown so he's furry but I can see my stitches.


I am almost done with Norberta. I have her partially stuffed and am working on assembling her. I like her a lot.

Grrr.....

The heatblock killed my enzyme and all my samples!!!

Happy VD!!!!

Finally!!!

Ladies' and gentlemen, I present *dramatic pause* Calorimetry!!!

I finally did it. I started it two times last night.The first time I forgot to replace my marker after one of the short rows and couldn't figure out where it went and the second time I finally got it. The first time, I thought I had gotten it right but when I got about 3/4 of the way through I realized it wasn't. One side was significantly thicker than the other. Calorimetry made with Lion Brand Cashmere Blend in light pink is for Lexsea. She lost her headband awhile ago, so I offered to make her this one. I thought I would have it done at Christmas, but that didn't happen. Then I figured I could have it done shortly after the New Year, but again, that didn't happen. I actually finished it twice, but it was huge!! We both have kinda small heads so I had to switch to needles two sizes smaller and decrease the number of stitches I cast on so it would fit. I hope I have her address so I can send it to her tomorrow.

Picture time!!!

I have been taking a bunch of pictures, mostly of cupcakes and knitting.

I will start with the cupcakes. This was my first trial for the birthday cupcakes.


Before frosting. The look kinda like brownies. They taste like them too!


With frosting. I won't show you the top view because they are pretty messy. I wasn't going for pretty; I just wanted to get the frosting on.


This is my first attempt at circular knitting on dpns. I am preparing to make my gauge swatch for Fetching.


It looks like I am doing it!


I have to have tea for this.


Woohoo!! Successful gauge swatch, or a wrist warmer.


So far so good. Cables are not that scary and neither are dpns. The pink waste yarn is where the thumb is going to go. I moved the thumb on the left one over a bit so it looked more like that right one.


It's hard to take a picture of your right hand if you are right-handed.


Yay! I did it! My first completed and successful knitting project! I used Cascade 220 in color 7811.

This looks impossible to me.

Bugknits

I feel so lazy!! I haven't been able to work out due to this cold for almost two weeks now!!! I still start coughing very easily. Josh made me laugh pretty hard last night and that led to a coughing fit. I always get such nasty coughs. I hate it!

I really want one of these cute and practical bags.

I love the fabrics at these places.

Reprodepot
Superbuzzy
purlsoho.com

I need to learn how to sew. I want to be able to make cute bags and needle/hook cases with cute and fun fabrics.

Work is frustrating, and I still have a cold. I have a headache. I have had a headache since Friday. It was a sinus headache for the first few days, but I don't think it is anymore. I think it's related to my cold. It's been over a week! I guess my colds always last over a week, but I was hopeful this time since it didn't start out with a cough. Frustrating!!!

I am almost done with one of my lovely, cabled fingerless mittens. I just need to add the thumb and then on to the left one! I should really try Calorimetry again for my sister starting with fewer stitches and see how it goes. I really want to try some socks now that I am not afraid of dpns or knitting in the round. I need some cute new socks to go with my cute new shoes. I have sock yarn I bought for crocheting socks, but I had trouble with them. I kept splitting the yarn with my little hook. I think it may work better for knitting. My mom only has a few more weeks with her boot so I should think about getter her flip-flop compatible crocheted socks done too!

It snowed again and I want soup. Since I have a few baked potatoes left over from our Thursday night fight watching I may make some baked potato soup (similar to Panera's). The only problem is I need more chicken broth and I don't really want to drive anywhere tonight.

Ok, I just had a wacky idea. I am currently knitting two items right now. I am struggling with one b/c it keeps ending up way to big for my little head and I am insanely enjoying the one I just started last night. I started Fetching last night and it is going beautifully. So far I haven't poked an eye out with the dpns. Calorimetry on the other hand is not going well. It's sooooo simple!! I should not be having these problems with it. anyway, I am thinking about adding the cables from Fetching to Calorimetry to spice it up a bit and maybe tighten the gauge a little. I think it should work since Calorimetry uses a k2p2 rib and Fetching's cables are 4 wide. I should be able to sneak a cable in somewhere and then they will match! I probably shouldn't be changing patterns since I just learned how to knit, but I don't think I can help myself. I love cables!

As for the cupcakes, no one seemed to understand how to unwrap them. I did not think that would be the issue with them! They turned out very brownie-like which I was not expecting. The cupcake kind of overwhelmed the peanuts and caramel. The frosting was light and fluffy. I think I had about the right amount on there (I hate too much frosting), but I do think it needed to be more vanilla-y. I have another cupcake recipe ready to try, so maybe I will get to them Tuesday night when Josh is working.

This cold is still kicking my butt after a week! The cold has moved from my sinuses to my chest. I woke myself up last night because I was wheezing so loudly. i am glad to be rid of the sinus headache I have had for the last two days

I would totally make these cupcakes if I didn't have to start designing my Snickers cupcake recipe.

I am not rational when it comes to shoes. I can be a little obsessed with them. I will often form an attachment to a pair of shoes and not be able to let it go. I don't know why shoes became my favorite part of my wardrobe. Right now I am obsessed with Keens. They are so comfortable and I love how they look. They are pretty pricey, but I wear mine so often that I probably get my money's worth out of them. I have two pairs of sandals and two pair of shoes right now. My newest pair arrived yesterday. They are so cute! Now I want a pair of their clogs. I have wanted a pair for quite awhile now, but have never gotten them. I love slip-on shoes. Now they have a really cute pair with a similar design to the Mary Jane style I just purchased. Maybe this one pair will satisfy me for awhile, but I have such a weakness when it comes to shoes, that I don't think it will last.