Purls and Pugs

And now I am raccoon free

Did I mention that I had raccoons living in my roof? I can't remember if I did...too much has been going on lately. Anyway, about a month ago, I caught the first one by hiring Critter Control. They put a trap on the roof near the holes that the raccoons created themselves with some goodies in it, and viola! I had caught a raccoon. They took it away and did some temporary closing of the holes. Well, the holes were reopened by another little raccoon friend, so another trap was put out.

That time I caught a squirrel, and we closed up the holes permanently. Marty at Critter Control told me to give him a call if I heard anything more. I'm sure you all can tell where this is going...Friday morning I was awoken to the scratching and frustrated screaming  of a raccoon who could not get back into his happy unpaid for home. The screaming part was actually a little funny....Imagine how you get frustrated and yell... So, Marty came back out yesterday and set the trap with the yummies in it. This morning I woke up very early to the sounds of a frustrated (yes, screaming, too) raccoon trying to break out of the trap.  Marty is on his way to pick him up, and hopefully I am raccoon free! Let's hope...

So, knitting--Here is the Chic Hoodie to the point where I need to put the sleeves on waste yarn. It's an easy knit and is looking pretty nice. I am doing the lace version, which has lace down the sleeves, and I am debating if I really want to put lace on the sleeves. I'm thinking I might like it without since the lace starts partially down the sleeve instead of at the top, but have the front lace and the hood lace.

I am also plugging away on the Something Black and just began the ribbing. I would have taken a picture, but really, how many black blobby pics do you really need to see?

Lastly, BFF and I went on an Odyssey Brunch cruise this weekend. We were trying to target a weekend when there would be sun, but we failed. I kinda knew it would happen because all the weekends we passed on were bright and pretty. It's just odds...But it worked out. The weather made for a night relaxing, cozy brunch. The food was really good and the scenery was, as always, exceptional.

 

Everything happens for a reason

Last night became one of the weirdest nights of my life. It all began when I left work a little early to catch an earlier train. I wanted to get some grocery shopping done...

Anyway, I managed to leave my cell phone (my only phone) at work. I was already on the train when I realized I had done that, and the doors already closed. Oops! It would have been silly for me to get off the next stop of my express train and go back, so I low-teched it.

You have no idea how crazy it is without a phone all night! I felt a little cut off from the world, but I decided to make the most of it. I watched some Project Runway, knit, and went to bed early. Sometimes I guess we all need to unplug.

So, this morning on my way to the train, I heard that my normal train, the one I would have been on if I had been able to get off the train and go get my phone, was stopped for about an hour last night because a train hit a pedestrian. It's unfortunate that a person was hit, but I'm grateful that I wasn't sitting on the train for that long!

Moral of the story: Even when you feel inconvenienced by something, there is a bigger reason why that happened!!

Yesterday was the first day of Autumn!

So, I ripped out the CDR to nothingness. I was so disgusted with myself that I did not cast back on for it. I'll get to it...instead, I cast on for the Basic Chic Hoodie. It was calling to me! I'm going to do the lace version with this yarn and if I like the way it looks, there will be more of them in my future. This is how far I got on the train ride into the city this morning -- I'm all the way to the lace panels and have gotten all the neck shaping done. That's pretty far, I think.

On the train ride home, I worked on Something Black and got the sleeves onto waste yarn. I'm flying along on this one. I think an inch or so more and I'll be moving onto the ribbing. I'm loving this having multiple things going and actually getting somewhere with them. I'll go back to CDR soon, but I'm afraid that my anger at myself will blind me and help me to make more mistakes.

Happy Fall!!

It's the official first day of Fall and it's supposed to be 80 degrees (F)! We had a gorgeous weekend that I spent with a friend from Peoria. We all need a girls weekend, no?

On Friday the lovely FedEx guy (Now, I have no idea if the delivery person is a guy or how lovely he really is, but he delivered goodies for me.) left me some books. One of them was a Java book (boring) and one was Custom Knits. When I looked at the projects on Ravelry for this book, I liked them, but was not blown away. I picked some for my queue, but was a little blah about them.

Well, now that I have had some time to look through the projects in the actual book, I do love a lot of the projects. And to be honest, these might not be the main project, but the alternate view. Some of the little changes to those really caught my eye. I think most people will like this book, so go pick it up, sillies!

Who needs more size 7 needles? Oooh, oooh, oooh, pick me!

I've become obsessed with worsted weight knitting, so I think I need a few more size 7 needles. Maybe I should just keep working on what I am working on and not start anything else? Nah! Variety is the spice of life, right?

So, I began the Something Red Black with the Valley Yarns Florence. It's a wool, mohair, acrylic blend, and I gotta say I'm liking it. It's not too fuzzy that pieces fly around all over, and it's not too acrylicy feeling. I like the way it's looking knitted up, too...all fuzzy and already worn and broken in looking. I have a feeling I might be using this stuff again somewhere.

Anyway, I've actually quiet a bit farther on it than what is shown in the picture, so I'll probably be putting the sleeves on waste yarn fairly soon. I am just flying on this thing! That's why I love worsted weight yarn...

In other knitting, the Cable Down Raglan is giving me fits. I'm almost done with the first diamond, and I decided to finally read the errata. Please tell me why I didn't do it sooner!? I have managed to mess up the sleeve seams. I thought they were looking weird, but I thought that was by design.

Here is the correct seam:

And here is the way WRONG seam:

So, since it's a mess to fix it, this is my dilemma and options:

I also just received my patterns to make the Basic Chic Hoodie and Cassidy AND some yarn for the Basic Chic Hoodie from Elann. I decided to try the Elann Worsted Superwash. Why not? It's inexpensive and washable (I hope). And both these patterns are for worsted weight yarn on size 7 needles! Oh dear...

Your chance to help!

On Sunday, November 9th, I will climb the Sears Tower step by step, as part of Go Vertical Chicago 2008, the longest indoor stair climb in the world.

I am climbing to raise funds for cancer research for all types of cancer, through an organization that funds the top young cancer scientists in the country, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

This is a unique event that only happens once a year. I have a personal goal to raise $500, so please visit my Go Vertical Web Page and click on the "Go Donate" button at the top of the page to make a donation that supports my climb.

If you would like to climb, please click "Register to Climb" located on the left navigation of my Go Vertical Web Page.

You can choose the amount you want to give, or sponsor me by step or by floor - or just make a general donation to the charity itself. All donations are gratefully received!

Thank you for your support.

About the charity:

Since 1946, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has supported innovative investigators who are finding new ways to beat cancer. It has invested more than $200 million in the most gifted young scientists across the nation, including many in the Chicago region. 11 of its scientists have won the Nobel Prize, and many have made critical discoveries leading to new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Rain Rain go away...

...don't came back any other day! OMG! This was a weekend for the record books! While Texas was dealing with Ike, Chicago was dealing with the most rain in one day (I'd say weekend) EVER. Seriously.

So, when it's raining, it's a good thing to stay inside and be cozy. Saturday BFF and I cracked open a bottle of champagne, got a pizza, and hung out on the couch! We tried to go shopping, but after two stores we were SOAKED. The rain would not let up. So, we figured, "why fight it?" I gotta tell ya, champagne sure brightens up a rainy day!

Sunday I met up for another KIB. It was nice to just hang out and knit on the Cable Down Raglan. As you can see, I'm almost through the first of the diamonds down the front of the sweater. I'm really liking this yarn, and it's not a boring pattern at all!

I hope everyone else managed to stay dry and got a little knitting done!

FO Friday!

Yes, my friends, I have finished the second Rusted Root, and I even wore it to work. Unfortunately, I was unable to coerce one of my coworkers to take a pic of me in it, so you'll have to do with the mannequin shot for now. 

I like the way it turned out, and I think it will be great next year for the spring with a cute little khaki skirt.

Pattern: Zephyr Knits Rusted Root
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - Pink-a-boo (signature color!)
Needles: Knit Picks sizes 6 & 4
Notes: I made the second size. I did 12 lace repeats plus rows 1&2 for the length. I used size 6 needles for the ribbing on the arms, but size 4 on all other ribbing.

In other entertainment, here are a couple shots from my window at work. I have a southern view. It's a little disappointing in that I don't have a view of the Sears Tower because, well, I'm in it!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Are you sure it's not winter?

Because it sure feels like it out there! We've been having some rainy, cold weather so far this week. I was able to wear a sweater to work...that's crazy!

So the weekend was good...somehow the Bears managed to win against the Colts. (You know I like both teams, so I'm not sad either way...) BFF came over and we grilled out for the regular season opener of Bears Football. Yoda was all set in her pretty scarf, and BFF matched her in his hat. I felt a little left out...only a little. I made Rachel Ray's burger of the month--Apple-Cheddar Turkey Burger. And I have to say it was fantastic. A little messy, but tasted great. If you have not yet discovered Rachel Ray's Everyday magazine, please hop over to the site and check it out! Mmm...

This past week was Lillie's birthday! She turned 3, and had a little celebration. Here are Yoda and I wearing our party hats! Doesn't Yoda totally look like she loves Mickey ears?

And don't fret, there was knitting! I didn't completely finish the Rusted Root #2, yet, but I am darn close. I think tonight I'll get myself to the ribbing and work on that tomorrow during the commute. Soon, my friends, soon!

That is one HUGE ball of yarn!

So, I got a little ahead of myself and wound some yarn tonight...I decided to wind the Tess yarn for the Cable Down Raglan. It's ginormous! I took a picture of it, but you couldn't tell how big it is without something there for scale....this is the yarn with a regular size ball of Pastaza. Massive!

I'm getting excited to start this sweater...I need to keep myself focused on the Rusted Root #2 even though I may not get to wear it this year. It's getting to be a little cool and, well, wet. That's wool, alpaca, cashmere time and not cotton time.

I also think I might really pick up the ribby pulli sleeves again. I looked on Ravelry and got some good ideas on how to do the sleeves and help my brain blockage. I just was having one of those moments EVERY time I picked that sweater up. And it's CUTE! So my inability to figure out the sleeves was due to me just wanting to wear it. Makes sense, right?!