It's not a mistake ...

it's a hat!!! Below you'll find the ultimate in making lemonade from lemons -- last year I started a scarf knit from Lamb's Pride Bulky. Tried the triangle-modular thing (I'd done a solid color one for TwinB last Christmas), but hated how this looked. Shoved it in a drawer, tried not to think about it.

So last night, as I was rummaging for yarn to knit a charity hat, I saw the scarf. Hmmmm, I thought. What if I sewed the ends together, picked up stitches and made it into a hat? So I did!



It's even cute on, warm as the Sabres' dressing room, and will be donated to our Bar Association's charity drive for Xmas -- hats, scarves, etc. for patients at the VA Hospital (men and women).




I had a good day yesterday -- actually took the afternoon off, got a haircut, spent some time with TwinA. Who is studying and working waaay too hard and needs to eat more and take care of herself (are you listening, Andy?) 2 more weeks until the quarter ends, then hopefully some down time with Mom at home.

Here are the flowers the camoflague hat caused:






Lovely, eh? (forgive me, I grew up essentially across the street from our friendly neighbors to the north -- Canada)








Now, I didn't notice until I took the photo, what the card actually says: Love, Como Man.

As in Perry Como? I thought he was dead!



It reminds me of a few summers ago when my oldest wanted to invite her friends to a vegetarian cook-out -- grilled veggies, salads ... We went to the local supermarket for a cake, and she told the bakery clerk to write "Meat is Murder" on it. I know, a little extreme, but funny.

Funnier still was what was on the cake when we picked it up. Of course, this was a weekend, and the bakery was staffed by a guy in his early 20's who appeared ok, but was in reality a few yards short of a skein. The cake read: "Meats is Murder". Meats!!! It's now become part of the family laughography!

So back to the title of this post -- it's not a mistake, but when they do happen, they can be damned funny.

over and out ...

Elmer Fudd has mittens!

Isn't this funny? The spouse loves them. It's camo yarn (Paton's Merino), and I pattern I found in one of my mother's old books from the forties. Trigger Finger Mittens. I used size 3, KnitPicks dps (which I love) for a tighter gauge -- it gits cold in dem dere woods! I was also thinking, couldn't Mr. Spock use a pair? In Science Officer blue, with black trim, of course.

And here's the progress on the hand-dyed self-creation. This is a sleeve, and the yellow is a provisional cast on because I can't decide if I want ribbing or something different.


I'm worried the sleeve is going to be too baggy -- but I always worry -- and if it were smaller, I'd worry it was too tight. I love the softness of the wool/alpaca blend, and can't wait to be wearing this, because snow is in the forecast.



Off to Court -- to fight for truth, justice and the American Divorce!

Nasty November

Almost everyone I know is sick -- my partner in the law practice, my secretary, TwinB ... and people are hacking and spewing all over Family Court. Other than encasing myself in plastic, I'm wondering what I can do to prevent what Marvelous Marlene (my sect'y) calls "the creeping crud." My hands are so dry from repeated washing that the skin is about to flake off.

And flake is the operative word -- meant to take photos of the camo yarn mittens today, but forgot the camera. So words will have to suffice ...

I'm trying to perservere and finish projects before seriously planning others -- but I find myself leafing through magazines and books, planning what's coming next -- and not really paying attention to what I'm doing. Exhibit A -- the sweater being knit from the lovely hand dyed yarn. I love the colors, love the feel of the wool/alpaca, but get distracted and voila -- find that I've cast on the wrong number of stitches for the sleeve, 10 less than needed, and don't notice until half way up the arm.
In the words of that wascally wabbit, what a maroon!

But seriously, I wonder if that's typical of how most of society is now behaving, myself included. I am always multi-tasking -- watching tv, and knitting; knitting and reading; blogging and talking on the phone; eating and reading. My DH sits on the couch, watching tv (okay, we love Law & Order a little too much), with the laptop on, surfing, watching, talking on the phone.

So maybe, just maybe, I should (gasp) do one thing at a time.

Think it'll work? Think it'll catch on?

A new GrandPuppy!

For those that have known me a long time, it's no surprise that I a simply a 'ho for babies. Always have been, always will be. Kids too, of all ages, but there is something indescrible about holding a tiny one, having him/her sleep in your arms, nuzzling that soft skin ... Now, I have 4 children, 3 of whom are daughters, and all in their early twenties. So I'm in no hurry to be a grandmother -- I want them to be settled and secure, and most of all, ready. On the other hand -- my hands, actually -- I'm dying to knit teeny tiny little cute garments.

Enter, Ubu.



Oldest daughter (that's Lizzie, with fiancee Bob in the background) and their new pup, "Ubu". He's a rescue pup, part Boston Terrier and part Beagle, and adorable.

He needs a sweater. No, he needs a sweater! And maybe a little cap ...


Anyone with doggie patterns, please email!

And since the site has been devoid of knitting content lately, I can only promise more later. My camera is in the car, it's raining like crazy outside, I'm still in my pjs ... but here's a list of what's being currently worked on:

Camo trigger mittens -- yes, I finished the hat, and the man loves it so much, he sent me flowers. Yipe!

My Hemlock alpaca/wool hand-dyed sweater -- about 1/2 way to the armholes on the body.

Family Denim Tunic from Weekend Knitting -- I love this sweater, I hate the miles and miles and miles of seed stitch.

Swallowtail Shawl -- I have to frog back a few rows and am dreading it. Mohair. Need I say more?

Log Cabin Blanket -- this is for Project Linus, and I'll be knitting during hockey games. Easy, mindless, can be thrown to the floor during victory dances without a problem.

And to end with another dog photo -- here's Alice, sleeping with paw over eyes. Definitely too big for a dog sweater, and at 90 lbs, no need!

Do you number your briefs?

Another baby cap, modeled by the unbeatable SabreTooth. The boys did it again, beating the Bruins and now have an 8-0 record.

I have to admit, this winning streak scares the crap outta me. We've been so close before ... only to have the Cup stolen from us (bitter? nah), and it's early in the season. Oh well, more tension means more knitting for charity!

And the mandatory knitting:

Mandatory as in mandatory (read -- stupid, useless, waste of time, ridiculous -- you get the picture) Continuing Legal Education for lawyers in NY State. We need 24 hours every two years, no matter how long we've been practicing, no matter how much we know about our specific area of practice.

So, Saturday, I spent the entire day in a room in downtown Rochester with 30 other lawyers listening to such pearls of wisdom as, "Always remember to number the pages of your brief." Duh. After 21 years, I need to hear this? Another gem: Don't single space. Arghhhhhhh!

The silver linings were two: I went with my friend Andrea, and we snickered together in the back row, and I brought my knitting. Hence, the scarf.

Yes, I did all this in one day. My hands were screaming, but it was the only thing keeping me in my seat. That's the other thing -- you have to sign in and sign out -- no leaving early, or all your credits are revoked. Like we're in detention!

So, unfortunately, I don't feel like I had a weekend off. I'm already grumpy about court tomorrow, but if it snows, I'll have a nice warm scarf to wrap around my neck.

Random Thursday

Books on CD

Has anyone used any of the audio book rental programs out there? I'm always scouring the local library for good selections, and most often the ones I'd like aren't there, and the overall collection is pretty thin. So I checked on-line, and there are a few companies that operate a lot like "Netflix" -- for $ per month, you can have unlimited rentals, no late fees, pre-paid mailing envelopes.

I'm trying to justify spending 15-20 bucks a month on this and am wavering. I don't drive long distances (usually), but I hate FM radio, and I think I could copy the discs to my computer and/ipod to listen to places other than the car (and ... while knitting!). Then I add it up and say, "$240 a year for stuff I can get from the library?" And then my other voice says, "You work hard and have few vices (okay, ignore the stash)."

Arghhh. My sister would tell me just to do it. "You deserve it", I can hear her say.

So, if anyone has any experience with this stuff -- please let me know. I can't tell which site has the most books, and which might be the better deal. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Everyone into the Pool

I finally started knitting with the lovely yarn I bought at the Hemlock Fiber Fest. Here's a photo:


I've also decided to take the plunge and try to design the sweater myself. Just a basic pullover, raglan -- and I'm not sure about the ribbing/edging, so I did a provisional cast on with waste yarn.

160 stitches, joined in the round, and the first thing I notice is that each time around, the same colors come up in the same place. Pooling. So i quickly search the web, and some books at home, and decide to alternate rows with both ends of the skein -- 1 row from the center; 1 from the outside.

I've only done 4, but I'm wondering -- will this lead to stripes? Is this a bad thing? What are the rules? I may have a WIP photo tomorrow, depending on whether or not I fall asleep on the couch (again) tonight.

Waking early and School Bus Rant

Couldn't sleep past 4 this morning. I was wiiiide awake, and by 6 decided that if I was going to be tired later anyway, I might as well go to the office and get some work done. On the way in, I got stuck behind a few school buses (my usual time to drive in is around 8:15 -- this was 6:45).

School buses. That got me thinking -- most businesses run on 9-5, or 8:30 -5 time. Most employers don't expect their employees to wake up at 5:30 and be ready to roll at 7. So why do we expect our kids to function well by doing that? Especially teenagers, who seem to need sleep like I need yarn.

Wouldn't it make more sense to shift the school day to, say, 8:30 - 4? That would also make life easier for working parents, wouldn't it?

Just a thought ...

Okay, I'm about to fall face first into the keyboard with fatigue, but have to put on the game face and go to Court. One of my JDs made threatening remarks at school. Again. Hey! Maybe if he didn't have to get up so damned early! Think the Judge will buy it?

... nah :)

Not UFO's, FOs Scottie!

Two FO's today -- the first is a scarf for TwinA, my own design. She's not sure about fringe, so I left it off, and can add later if she decides.

It's Lamb's Pride worsted, knit on 10's. Seed stitch on the sides, Trinity Stitch on the ends, and yer basic cables in the middle.

The second is the cutest baby hat ever! (can you tell I'm a 'ho for babies?) It's part of my hockey charity knitting : www.hockeyknitalong.blogspot.com, and adapted from the Bee Hive hat in S-n-B Nation. Now I want to do matching sox.

Well, it's almost 11 and all I've done so far at the office is surf the web. My boy turns 16 next week, and I'm going nuts trying to get him a special present -- of all 4, he's the only one who inherited the love of sci-fi and Star Trek gene. I'm looking all over for a cardboard standup of Mr. Data, to no avail. Worf is second ("Today would be a good day to die!" - it gets me every time). I'm close, and can't believe I'll be spending almost $40. Oh well. It's cheaper than buying him a car!

Muzak

Fetching! With a few changes ...

Yarn: Brown Sheep

Needles: 6 dp

Pattern: Knitty

I added a crocheted edge on the top and bottom, and did one more row of cables on the top end. Love 'em!

In other news ... driving to the office today, listening to the radio, I became inspired. Why not have music in the waiting room? Like the very song I was listening to -- remember "Band of Gold"? Perfect! or maybe "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover?"

Suggestions from the matrimonial lawyers out there?

Hockey Hat in Progress

The "Tooth" (as in Sabretooth) is wearing a baby hat, based on the bee hive pattern in S-n-B Nation. I plan to sew bee buttons on it for fun.

Tooth is very happy to be wearing the hat. Tooth is VERY happy indeed, with the Sabres 5-0 record. *victory dancing*

In other knitting news, I'm just finishing up my first "Fetching" from Knitty. I'll post a photo when they're both done -- soon I hope because, although I'm not suffering like my Buffalo brothers, it is getting cold here.

Uh oh, here goes that victory dance again! *********

I went to Buffalo once ...

and it was closed! Seriously. Both my brothers live in Buffalo, and both are without power and not expected to be back on the grid until sometime next week! To torture them, I called each and made them listen to the coffee grinder as payback for years of little sister abuse! What a freak storm. So they're freezing, and I'm painting! This is the first coat of the living room, and the alcove that goes out to the deck. I had to go back to Home Depot twice to get the right shade of green. Why do things look so different in the store?




Here's last night's hockey hat -- a wild and crazy chemo cap for the local hospital.





It's loosely based on the sparkly hat from Stitch -n- Bitch, with flower shaped sequins.





Well, back to do the second coat. And rest up for tonight's game against the Rangers -- in true Buffalo style, the City may be in a state of emergency, but the puck will drop. Go Sabres!

Trial From Hell (almost)

.... with the help of a very straight shooting Judge. I've been driving myself crazy the past 2 days, organizing exhibits, making testimony outlines, going over the facts in my head again and again, knowing that trial was a huge risk for my client.

So this morning, after I lug in two briefcases, set up all the exhibits on the counsel table, prep my client for cross, the Judge calls counsel back in the chambers.

Let me ask you this: when a judge says to you, "Counselor, I'd advise you to tell your client to take the settlement offer and run," that would be a good indication that the trial won't go your way, correct?

So I did. She took it. No trial. What a relief. So ... I came home and took a nap!

and tonight ... frog city. You guys are right, Twig and Carrie. If I hate it now, I'll hate it always.

ribbit

To Frog or Not to Frog

Into the pond. Or not:









It's the Geometry Lessons shawlette/wrap from Vogue Knitting Spring. Finally finished it, in Cherry Hill Baby Loop. Hate it. I know blocking will make it more even, but I'm supposed to sew it together at the armholes, making a little "sleeve", and the back is too short, with those tails in front ...





So what do I do? I love the yarn, love the colors. Here's a close up:














I'd show you some bad photos of me trying it on (with metal binder clips serving as pins under the arms)



I've been toying with adding on, trying to make it into a triangle shape, or a rectangle ... or adding a border ...












Suggestions?

You probably won't believe this ...

... but our toilet backed up this morning at the office. No shit. Actually, the reverse! Did I bring this on by my last post, she wonders?

The day can only improve ...

The difference between being a lawyer and a plumber

Water, water everywhere. Just like:
My home town.










What does all that water have to do with the practice of matrimonial law, you ask? Well, it's like this: Plumbers deal with crap. Toilet crap. Clogged drain crap. Backed up sewer crap.

Divorce lawyers deal with emotional crap. He cheated on me. She took my baseball cards.

Same job, right? Wrong. Here's the difference -- if your toilet is backed up, you can't flush and the entire house smells like crap -- YOU DON'T TELL YOUR PLUMBER HE/SHE NEEDS TO WAIT TWO WEEKS TO GET PAID! (Was that me yelling?)

No, a plumber needs a check (cash preferred) in hand before the snake comes out. Or, the plumber walks away and says, "Sorry, that's not my crap to clean up."

Not so with lawyers. Case in point -- an ugly ugly case scheduled for trial, let's say this week. And let's also say, weeks ago you told the client he/she needed to come up with a trial retainer to pay for the intense preparation needed for trial, as well as a full day in Court. A week passes. No payment. The check is in the mail. Well, the check is for less than half the trial retainer when it arrives -- the amount you quoted for finishing the divorce IF THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT, which you strongly recommended due to the gaping holes in the case. (sorry, yelling again).

Trial is in 2 days. You know the Judge won't let you out for non-payment by your client at this late date. You feel like an ass. You realize that, despite 7 years of higher education, including law school, you are not as smart as a plumber.

Pass me a wrench, will you?

But ... not to ignore knitting, here are 2 Caps to the Capital, knit during the most recent Sabres games. Go Buffalo Go!

Five Things

In the middle of my sleep deprived existence (read at 3:00 a.m.), I found myself thinking about things that go with knitting, and things that don't. So here's my list, with a disclaimer that I may be suffering from sleep deprivation hallucinatory thoughts --

So, knitting and

1. Hockey. Okay, of course I'd say that. But it works. During tense moments, I knit faster. During really tense moments, I look down at my project, with one tiny peek at the t.v. screen. It can't be a complicated pattern though, or one that will fly off the needles when thrown off the lap for a victory dance.

2. Watching children sleep. It's been a while, but I fondly remember sitting in the twins' room, rocking and knitting, seeing the little cherubs quiet at last.

3. Drinking Guiness in an Irish Pub. The highlight of my knitting life. No one gave me strange looks, and every time I wear the shawl I made during that trip, I can taste that creamy goodness.

4. Groups. I just love to get together with other knitters, whether one or twenty. There's a loose collection of us that gathers at a local coffee shop every Sunday, and I've been trying to imagine a cool name for us.

Q: "What did you do this weekend?' "
A: "Oh, got together with my knitting crew."

-- knitting posse? gang of knitters? needle wielders?

5. Train rides. I've been known to extend the length of my trip just to feel the train sway back and forth, look out the window, and knit. Flying just isn't as knitting-friendly -- narrow seats, no room for the knitting bag, fear that knitting needles will suddenly and without notice go the way of toothpaste and cosmetics.

and not

1. Snacks. Try as I might, I just can't figure out how to eat popcorn and knit. Maybe if someone would feed me ... But, there is an upside -- it stops me from digging right into that evil bag of Doritos if I have sox in my hands.

2. Movies. I can't do it in the dark.

3. Driving. I would if I could, believe me. (Note: this does not apply to being a passenger, but then I do have to suffer through DH's driving habits).

4. Sleep. See answer to #3, except for the reference to DH.

5. Blogging. Can't type and knit at the same time! Hmm, could try typing with toes ...

So, those are my thoughts -- feel free to respond with answers of your own!

We Shoot ... We Score!!!!!

I am so thrilled at Twig's (www.mapleontheweb.com) genius in setting up the Hockey Knitter's Knitalong. I can already tell it's going to be loads of fun, with good natured (not) rivalry :) especially between certain teams.

Dallas? Dead to Me. Forever. "No Goal" -- remember the foot in the crease?

And if forced, I'll root for any other Eastern Division team NORTH of the Mason-Dixon Line, no matter how many MDL warshcloths I might make. A hockey team in Florida? Give me a break.

In the famous last three words of the national anthem of our Canadian friends, those gentle giants to the north, "Drop the Puck"!

Another Fine Mess ...

... the yarn cabinet. Will I organize it? ever? Will I make something wonderful out of all those random skeins?

Suggestions gratefully accepted.

Tower O' Yarn

What fun I've had! Winding winding winding. This is only half of what I made into those little birthday cakes of yarn. My only regret is that I didn't get a swift and winder before this. No skein will stop me now!

Oh, and the yarn is that wonderful stuff I bought last year in Ireland -- heathery colors, thick -- a little scratchy -- now it only needs to tell me what it wants to be when it grows up!

And the Knitpicks Options? Love 'em. I don't find them to be too heavy at all, unlike Ms. Grumperina. The pointy ends are just right, and the join is smooth. I envision buying more -- maybe the 13 and 15's, and longer cables. I also picked up a pair of size 3 dps for heavier socks, and those are good too, although a tad too long for my comfort. I really prefer shorter sock needles, but have only been able to find them in wood -- the Brittany's, I think.

My biggest dilemma is what to knit first! The yummy alpaca/wool blend I got at the Hemlock Festival, or wrist/handwarmers (it is getting a little cool on my morning walks), maybe a hat ...

WARNING: HOCKEY RANT TO FOLLOW

I know it's a cliche, but ... so much yarn, so little time. EXCEPT ....
NHL Season starts on Wednesday!!!! Hurray!! And my Sabres are looking good. Well, if you totally ignore the new "third jersey". What a crock! What a marketing ploy! What an ugly Buffalo! You can check it out at www.sabres.com, but be prepared. At first I thought it was one of the Pittsburg jerseys -- dark blue almost black, yellowy-orange. What happened to going back to the traditional royal blue and orange. And, more importantly, where are the crossed sabres? On the shoulder? Give me a break. Actually, give me a cross-check.

Anyway, 83 games in the regular season. 83 evenings on the couch, knitting away. Drop that puck!

A long and winding road

No photos. No time. I'm winding!

I love the swift and winder. All the lovely yarn I bought in Ireland last year is creating a "tower" of wound skeins. And the new alpaca/wool from the Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Fest. I'm in heaven. It's knittiner Knirvana.

More tomorrow -- hopefully with photos. And I haven't even mentioned the Options needles!

It's Christmas!

My Knitpicks box arrived -- Options, yarn winder, swift!!! I just want to go home and play. Think the Judges will understand? After all, it's knitting!

Tame(r) Tuesday

No throbbing-vein Judges today; just Judges who don't mind keeping lawyers (and clients) waiting for over an hour for their pre-trial conference. Great idea, isn't it? Have both parties to a divorce wait outside a courtroom, staring at each other, shooting daggers with their eyes (no wait, that's the lawyers) for hours. I know why they have metal detectors at the courthouse door.

Anyway, here are the photos that wouldn't come through yesterday -- they have titles~

"When Good Yarn Goes Bad" or ... why I ordered the swift and winder.
It's lovely ribbon yarn from Cherry Hill, but a snarly mess. A winder probably wouldn't have helped, but a swift sure would!







"Chinese, Again?"
My unique way of making stash into coffee table art.









"She Came in Through the Bathroom Window"

... or, the color I painted our bathroom last week. The floor tile is going to be soft green. ribbit.






"Siamese on Shawl"
Need I say more?

Manic Monday

I have all these wonderful photos, and Blogger won't let me post them. It's Monday.

And, as I am hoping a certain Family Court Judge doesn't read blogs, it is one hell of a Monday. This certain Judge has a habit of jumping down everyone's throat when he is in "a mood" -- lawyer, client, innocent Law Guardian (i.e. moi) and today was one of those days. His face turned red, the veins began to pop out ... and it just makes me ask one question --
I went to law school for this????

Of course, I was also asking myself that very same question this weekend when I was cleaning the refrigerator. Hmmm. Cleaning is not exactly the correct word. What would you call pouring boiling water on the bottom part (underneath the produce drawers) to loosen the hardened, unrecognizable goo that had little celery leaves stuck to it? It's not as bad as it sounds (okay it is); the goo was later determined to be maple syrup which turned out better than the toxic soup I originally thought it was. When good refrigerators go bad ....

So, no photos. No finished socks to post. No photo of blocking shawl with Siamese. Maybe tomorrow will be Terrific Tuesday.

Nah.

By popular request ...

Okay, not popular -- here's a photo of Hourglass in situ. (The sweater is not really that "lumpy" or rumpled -- I think it's the way I was standing trying to get a photo in the mirror)

Don't you just love those Latin legal terms? My favorite is "nunc pro tunc". All you legal knitters out there, what the hell does it mean? I've used it, but have no idea why. Maybe it's time to invest in "Latin for Dummies".

So in the meantime, pro hoc vice. Or, certainly, res ipsa loquitor.

Have to go ... the folks with the white coats are here ...

At Last Glimpse ...

your correspondent was throwing up and feeling achey. I'm pleased to report that the malaise abated within 24 hours, and was not related to the mixed green (with baby spinach -- oh, plucked from their mother's leafy arms!) salad I ate for lunch on Wednesday. I made my own toast (forced to, Twig) and tea, then rallied because Saturday was ... the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival!!!!!!!!!!! I braved the mud and clouds and had a great time. Almost needed CPR there was so much wonderful stuff.


This is one of my finds. It's 50/50 alpaca and wool, and will be a cardigan. I love the shading. It's hand-dyed, and came in three separate, yet joined, hanks from Ellen's Half-Pint in Vermont. What a hoot! It's run by at least two sisters, one older, one younger, who squabble just like me and my sib! So it will be a long and winding road, as I put it around the back of my office chair ... or (she said hoping for encouragement), I could invest in a swift and ball winder ...

And ... I finished it! The Hourglass from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts." It's knit in Katmandhu Aran, a lovely willow green (the color seems to have washed away in the photo) with flecks of brown and blue. Size 7 needles, and I altered the pattern two ways: Seed stitch cuffs and edges, and I made the sleeves narrower to start off, as I am rather thin of wrist. Not hips. Let's not go there ...



So the question is: To block or not to block? It fits perfectly now, and the yarn is soft and nubbly. Do I block just to see what difference it makes? Or wait until I wash it for the first time?




Here's a close up of the neck:













And, here's another Fiber Fest find: I'm making the Swallowtail Shawl from this Fall's IK in a violet alpaca fingering weight. I love it -- so soft, and the color cheers me right out of my menopausal blues. I've joined the KAL, but have yet to figure out how to put the button on this blog.

So that's all the knitting news for now; back to the legal grit and grind.

Hone sick

Law & Order re-runs, flat Dr. Pepper, saltines ... and I'm too dizzy and achey to knit. Why was staying home sick more fun when we were kids?

Mom would bring out the t.v. tray, make Jello, and cinnamon toast. Even if I felt like crap, I felt pampered. Now, with my hair sticking up on one side like a deformed rooster, and crusty things in the corners of my eyes, I just want to crawl under a rock.

back to the couch ...

Just when I thought it was safe ...

Just when I thought I was actually going to make progress in both stash reduction and number of projects finished ... the new Knitty (http://www.knitty.com) came out.

Arghhhhh! To think I actually made myself a schedule. Green Hourglass sweater alternated with Denim Family Tunic at night while watching "Law and Order"; big brother's sox alternated with TwinB's sox at lunch during the week; shawl progress on weekends. It was working! I'm close to finishing the second sleeve on Hourglass, making slow but definite progress on the tunic (seed stitch is a bitch. A bitch on slow wheels. never again for the body of a sweater), and rounding the heels on the sox, I clicked on Knitty.

I love everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

The socks, the shawl, the sweaters. This is cruel.

Okay, a prize to the first person who can figure out how I can just knit all day, and still send kids to college. The practice of law will survive without me. My clients can survive without me (in spite of what they may believe -- especially the ones that call 10 times in a row, or leave voice mails in the middle of the night like I'd actually be there to answer!)

Why oh why don't we live in a society that values creative art, let's say knitting for example -- creating lovely, warm, useful objects -- over arguing about who gets the ATV or the Fiestaware?

It ain't fair.

To compound the problem, I'm going to the Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival on Saturday. To buy yarn. More yarn, now that those *&*^^* Knitty patterns have arrived.

Doomed, I tell you. Doomed.

Finally, a post

... to tie me to and flog me. Oh, that was last week.

Every year, I get amnesia about how bad the practice of family law is the week after Labor Day. All those summer visitation issues that arose; all those litigants back from vacation. All those parents who can't decide whether or not their child should go to school A or school B, or be home schooled. All the trials that Judges schedule because they are lucky (read, well paid) enough to take the entire month of August off, every year! By Saturday, I was lucky to have a single hair left on my head. Just one example. Friday? 4 court appearances, including a half-day hearing. 3 counties. arghhhhhh.

So the knitting has been sporadic. But we do have ....



Sock for Big Brother for Xmas. Opal, and I'm hoping that one 100 gram ball will be enough. This, believe it or not, is the first man's sock I've done. I'm about a third through the heel. And when I'm not sneezing from ragweed season, have been able to put in a few inches a day.

Here's a fun, but blurry photo:

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal, and JUNIOR! It's the first time I've seen a fledging, and it looks like it's a male, too. Think I can knit it a pair of birdie booties?

Tonight is the knitting group at the local library, and I'm looking forward to it. And this coming Saturday is the Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival in Hemlock. I've never been, but it sounds fantastic, and I can already see the money flying out of my wallet.

Whoa -- my upstairs colleague just IM'd me that she has both diet Cokes and chocolate in her office. I'm there!

Labor Day

Aptly named. Not, "Rest Day". Not "Take it Easy Day." No, it's work your tail off because summer is over and all those projects you meant to get to -- it's now or never.

What I did today:

1. Felted sweaters I bought at Salvation Army for a project yet to be revealed.

2. Cleaned the room where the cats sleep. And eat. And poop. Need I say more?

3. Legal work. Yes, files. Those nasty NY State Law Guardian vouchers that now have to be completed within 90 days of the case being closed, and which those of us with little or no staff support can never seem to get to.

4. Made Indian food. Yum. (Okay, so that's not a summer project.)

5. Filled 4 bags of clothes for donation. Mine, his, and the twins. Drop off is tomorrow.

6. Washed the quilt and hung it out to dry. I hope. Rain is forecast.

7. Opened a Corona. Maybe another :).

8. Dreaded going into the office tomorrow -- a full week of Court. Two, count them two, trials. Ugh.

9. Downloaded the rest of the vacation photos, leading to ...

10. My favorite lawyer joke: Why don't sharks eat lawyers?



Why, professional courtesy, of course!

(Shark photo from the North Carolina aquarium -- Pine Knoll Shores, NC) We bonded.

One down, one to go! It's the Vogue Knitting lace sock, pattern by Cat Bordhi. I'm using Knitpicks Parade, color Daffodil, on size 5. I varied from the pattern two ways -- I didn't like the picot edge, so did 1x1 rib, on size 3s, and did only 3 repeats of the leg pattern (I'm "vertically challenged"). It went quickly, and was fun.

As you can see, Mr. Bill's mouth is still present; I didn't have a yarn needle with me at my office before I took the photo.







Oh, noooooooooooooooooo!








I'm bummed, and may post about it later, for both work and hormonal reasons. But I'm not sure I want to "sully" knitting content with venting. Suffice it to say, although I'm approaching 50, my hormones are acting like I'm 13 again. And my body. (See? I'm posting about it anyway. Damn mood swings.) Arghhh. Must...knit...estrogen.

Sun Sand Surf

... and no knitting to report. Here's a visual of the daily routine:

The beach. My sister and I trek down at 9:30, loaded like pack mules with chairs, towels, and snacks. But it's worth it -- today we saw dolphins!










Later, the boy surfaces. 15 years old and soooooo happy to be on vacation with his mother.










Sister and oldest daughter having fun.











Brother-in-Law having the MOST fun. (note the Labatts)














Tonight, it's off to "Snakes on a Plane." Tomorrow? More beach. Can I stand it? Hmmmm. Yes!

Knitting in Knorth Karolina

It's finally vacation, and in true knitterly form, I spent more time deciding which projects to bring than which clothes to pack!

Naturally, some had to be sand proof:
Baby kimono from MDK, of course --










And some complex: Lace sock from new Vogue Knitting, project # 11. This is the first I've done a toe up, and all I can think about is "Oh noooo Mr. Bill!"



So far so good, but I have learned a valuable lesson -- don't work on anything complex when you've had a few of these ....


especially when topped off (in the neck of the bottle before you add the lime), this!

Time to lather up again!

It's my birthday ..

... and I'll cry if I want to!


ps It's a mask at the Museum of Natural History from some African culture. Or, it's how I feel today.

A Bad Day ...

My printer won't work.

My secretary is sick and the other one is on vacation.

I have to be in three counties in three separate courts tomorrow.

Photos won't post on my blog.

I'm going out for ice cream.

It's a Dog Eat Dog World ...

and I'm wearing MilkBone underwear.