I'm going to have to break with the usual Wordless Wednesday format to explain that Soccer somehow moved this dog bed into this position all on his own and without opposable thumbs. I still haven't figured out how he managed it.
Wednesday, 8 November 2017
Wordless Wednesday
I'm going to have to break with the usual Wordless Wednesday format to explain that Soccer somehow moved this dog bed into this position all on his own and without opposable thumbs. I still haven't figured out how he managed it.
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Finished a Christmas Gift
Got the first Christmas gift off the needles today. It still needs to be blocked but at least it's off the needles. I'm not going to post a picture or the usual information about the project here right now; although I seriously doubt my Nephew is trolling the internet looking for knitting blogs it is within the realm of possibility that he can, will, or has googled the names of his family members which could get him this site. So no pictures yet, I'll post everything after the gifts have been exchanged.
The Christmas gift for my Calgary Niece continues and I haven't even cast on for my Scottish Niece yet. That one may be late since she's a bit young yet to be disappointed if her hand-knits from her Aunt don't arrive by Christmas day. (I laughed after typing that since I doubt anyone would get that upset if a hand-made gift was late.) Also, I'm not particularly consistent about Christmas gifts so no one is expecting anything. It's possible that is deliberate on my part.
Also started some socks for my Dad. I'm taking some courses and needed something to take on the train with me.
Soccer
Poor, poor Soccer landed at the vet yesterday with another ear infection. He's had one in the Fall or early Winter for the past three or more years. I really wish he'd break this habit. I will have to say though, that the worst one was in 2015 when we had to go to the vet three days after I had my gall bladder removed. They were kind enough to provide a chair since I could hardly stand. 10 weeks later he was finally infection free. I really, Really, REALLY hope that doesn't happen again.
He's got antibiotics again and the pain meds seem to be helping.
Current Weather
-12C and partly cloudy. It's COLD and supposed to stay that way for quite a while according to the long-term forecast; apparently we skipped the rest of Fall and went straight to Winter. Typical.
The Christmas gift for my Calgary Niece continues and I haven't even cast on for my Scottish Niece yet. That one may be late since she's a bit young yet to be disappointed if her hand-knits from her Aunt don't arrive by Christmas day. (I laughed after typing that since I doubt anyone would get that upset if a hand-made gift was late.) Also, I'm not particularly consistent about Christmas gifts so no one is expecting anything. It's possible that is deliberate on my part.
Also started some socks for my Dad. I'm taking some courses and needed something to take on the train with me.
Soccer
Poor, poor Soccer landed at the vet yesterday with another ear infection. He's had one in the Fall or early Winter for the past three or more years. I really wish he'd break this habit. I will have to say though, that the worst one was in 2015 when we had to go to the vet three days after I had my gall bladder removed. They were kind enough to provide a chair since I could hardly stand. 10 weeks later he was finally infection free. I really, Really, REALLY hope that doesn't happen again.
 |
| Pain meds are starting to kick in |
He's got antibiotics again and the pain meds seem to be helping.
Current Weather
-12C and partly cloudy. It's COLD and supposed to stay that way for quite a while according to the long-term forecast; apparently we skipped the rest of Fall and went straight to Winter. Typical.
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Backwards Knitting
Did you know you can knit backwards?
Me neither.
Then I decided to try entrelac knitting for a largish blanket. If you're unfamiliar with it, here's a video about entrelac, it's a bit lengthy but worth the watch, come back when you've finished watching.
Welcome back. Now, one thing you should have noticed when watching that video is that you have to turn your work every few stitches and work back along your stitches again. This works fine if you have a small or narrow project but what about if you were to decide to do a blanket? Naturally this is what I decided to do and it didn't take too long before I found out that as the blanket gets bigger turning it back and forth all the time becomes increasingly more awkward with every new row you work.
Fortunately I found another video about knitting in reverse, called "backwards knitting" or "mirror knitting". (A quick shout out here to VeryPink Knits, she has some wonderfully comprehensive technique videos on her YouTube Chanel and Website.) So it turned out that by taking on this one project I got to learn two new skills. Three if you count knitting and purling backwards separately. Nifty, eh?
Current Weather
16C and cloudy. That's the official temperature at the airport at this time but it's much cooler where I actually am, about 10C. I don't think we're going to see the forecasted high of 20C, at least not at home.
Me neither.
Then I decided to try entrelac knitting for a largish blanket. If you're unfamiliar with it, here's a video about entrelac, it's a bit lengthy but worth the watch, come back when you've finished watching.
Welcome back. Now, one thing you should have noticed when watching that video is that you have to turn your work every few stitches and work back along your stitches again. This works fine if you have a small or narrow project but what about if you were to decide to do a blanket? Naturally this is what I decided to do and it didn't take too long before I found out that as the blanket gets bigger turning it back and forth all the time becomes increasingly more awkward with every new row you work.
Fortunately I found another video about knitting in reverse, called "backwards knitting" or "mirror knitting". (A quick shout out here to VeryPink Knits, she has some wonderfully comprehensive technique videos on her YouTube Chanel and Website.) So it turned out that by taking on this one project I got to learn two new skills. Three if you count knitting and purling backwards separately. Nifty, eh?
Current Weather
16C and cloudy. That's the official temperature at the airport at this time but it's much cooler where I actually am, about 10C. I don't think we're going to see the forecasted high of 20C, at least not at home.
Wednesday, 18 October 2017
Thursday, 12 October 2017
The Most Boring Update Ever
There's not much to report on lately, hence the string of Wordless Wednesdays.
Knitting progresses on many projects, including a Christmas gift for my Nephew. But none are really worth taking a picture of at the moment. And my Nephew is getting old enough to be on the internet, although I don't think he knows this blog exists. Still, best not to take chances.
I've decided to use the yarn I bought for a large loom knitting blanket project that didn't work out for a double knitting blanket project instead. (Because I totally needed another project on the go.) I had to abandon the loom knitting as what I wanted to do required a loom too large to use without some kind of stand. I'm letting the stand idea sit in the back of my mind for now. But double knitting produces a very similar fabric, at least for two colours. Also sitting in the back of my mind is whether or not you can double knit with more than two colours in the row. Stripes are obviously possible but I was thinking of multiple colours within the row. Haven't found anything on YouTube but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
The Fence
The fence was replaced last week. The contractor did a good job and it only took them three working days to complete. It did take five calendar days because of a Sunday and a wind storm during construction. Boy did I miss being able to just open the back door and let the dogs out together, for days I had to carefully let them out one at a time on a rope otherwise they'd have been happily off exploring the entire neighbourhood.
That wind storm really did a number on the fall leaves.
Cat News
In somewhat sadder news Mouse has had a couple of pancreatitis episodes over the past month. The last one was really bad, the poor cat was clearly in a lot of pain. We ended up at the emergency vet after she had vomited half a dozen times and started passing loose bloody stool while lying on her side. She's on some pain and antacid drugs now. She seems OK but it took almost three days before she wanted to eat much. She's still not eating a lot at a time but she is eating a lot of small meals throughout the day.
Current Weather
-1C and cloudy. Fall has truly arrived, there's snow on the back deck.
Knitting progresses on many projects, including a Christmas gift for my Nephew. But none are really worth taking a picture of at the moment. And my Nephew is getting old enough to be on the internet, although I don't think he knows this blog exists. Still, best not to take chances.
I've decided to use the yarn I bought for a large loom knitting blanket project that didn't work out for a double knitting blanket project instead. (Because I totally needed another project on the go.) I had to abandon the loom knitting as what I wanted to do required a loom too large to use without some kind of stand. I'm letting the stand idea sit in the back of my mind for now. But double knitting produces a very similar fabric, at least for two colours. Also sitting in the back of my mind is whether or not you can double knit with more than two colours in the row. Stripes are obviously possible but I was thinking of multiple colours within the row. Haven't found anything on YouTube but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
The Fence
The fence was replaced last week. The contractor did a good job and it only took them three working days to complete. It did take five calendar days because of a Sunday and a wind storm during construction. Boy did I miss being able to just open the back door and let the dogs out together, for days I had to carefully let them out one at a time on a rope otherwise they'd have been happily off exploring the entire neighbourhood.
 |
| old fence gone |
 |
| new fence |
Cat News
In somewhat sadder news Mouse has had a couple of pancreatitis episodes over the past month. The last one was really bad, the poor cat was clearly in a lot of pain. We ended up at the emergency vet after she had vomited half a dozen times and started passing loose bloody stool while lying on her side. She's on some pain and antacid drugs now. She seems OK but it took almost three days before she wanted to eat much. She's still not eating a lot at a time but she is eating a lot of small meals throughout the day.
Current Weather
-1C and cloudy. Fall has truly arrived, there's snow on the back deck.
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