I finally finished stuff!!!!!

Finally some finished stuff!!! First up is a Hot Tranney Mess of a dishcloth that I knit for giggles in the Ravelrylmpics. Totally not usable but I have to admit that I did get a laugh out of posting it on the finished thread topic. Everyone else had beautifully, useful dishcloths and I posted this.

As part of the Ravelrylmpics I also decided to finish all the socks hanging out in the bottom of my knitting bag. Was soooo glad to get them all done.



And I also knit some socks for the grandkids too. 2 pr for Miss A for her 2nd birthday and one pair each for N and W to wear on their first day of preschool and kindergarden.



I still have my assistand kitten Moe to help me out on a daily bases. Here he is making sure I'm not typing bad things.



And here he is checking the lighting on my photo shoot for my socks yesterday.



Or at least I thought he was checking the lighting until he picked up one of the socks and ran off with it. PLEASE SOMEONE ADOPT THIS KITTEN!!!!

Moe isn't a knitter's cat

I've come to the conclusion that Moe needs to find his forever home really, really fast before I do something .... like duct tape his mouth shut when he's not eatting. Sounds a bit extreme but I'm about at the end of my rope. We're up to 4 ruined double points and 2 ruined circular needle. I wouldn't mind except he's now knocking over things to get to the needles. Obviously he's not a knitter's cat.

Moe says: Maybe I'll just hang out a little out of reach for a while. Is it my fault that those bamboo sticks are tasty?
In spite of the fact that I'm running out of needles I've been finishing up on some socks that were languishing in the bottom of the knitting bag.
And casting on more.
Of course I'm drowning my sorrows in my blog contest prize from leaving a comment on Julie's blog. She's got a cute little granddaughter who is featured on her blog all the time. Isn't that what grams are supose to do?
Hubby and I went on a little vacation to Rhode Island last week. I love Rhode Island. We went to the Nordic Lodge for dinner and ate lobsters and king crab legs until we waddled out the door.

We went to the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence. Nice little zoo where you can actually see the animals. We also went on the Providence River Walk. Really nice way to see the city while strolling along. The have fire holders in the water which they fill with wood and light every so often. It must look really nice.

Made sure I was home in time to spend Sunday with Dad. We've got a new routine since he really can't get out much. I go over and bring along a movie that I know he'll like. Last week it was Casino (I told my mom that I was paying dad a quarter every time they said fuck and that I was up to $4,000 before the movie was half over). This week I brought along Master and Commander. He's kind of in and out of it because of some heavy duty pain medication but at least he's not in discomfort.

Gotta go find some more double points and finish some knitting. W and N need new socks for starting school and I have to finish up a couple pair for A for her birthday.

Kittens don't know how to knit

Oscar says: It's so wet outside. I can't believe Diane actually forgot to bring me inside. My fur is wet and my dainty little paws had to walk on wet grass.

Moe says: num num num this kitten food is yummy.

And then this happened. Oscar aka the evil one started sharing a bowl of food with little Moe. The cat who hates everyone and everything actually eatting peacefully with a little feral kitten. No one would believe it without pictures.
Lately when I'm knitting you'll hear me say intelligent things like .... Moe, stop chewing on that needle. Moe, kittens don't knit. Moe, enough with the chewing on the yarn. Moe, get your claws out of that. Come on Moe go play with your kitten toys.

Moe is obsessed with my knitting. Last week he chewed my brand new knitpicks 24" size 3 circulars into brand new knitpicks size 3 12" non circular needles. Last night I was working on a sock for little Missy A for her birthday. I put the finished leg in my knitting bag and covered it over to hid the needles. This morning I came downstairs to this sitting right on my usual knitting spot on the loveseat. My sock with one needles removed from the stitches and sitting right next to the sock.

And just when I was about to celebrate that more damage hadn't been done I noticed that Moe chewed the crap out of one of the needles still in the sock. Of course Moe was sitting on the back of the loveseat looking a cute as ever. I held up the sock and said, "Moe this is why kittens don't knit. They don't know how." D2 came around the corner laughing at me.

70 rows done on the 2nd dress with 18 more to go before I decrease and start the top. Dress #1 has the front done but I pulled the needles to work on this dress so I'll be finishing them both around the same time.

Gotta go check to make sure my knitting is tucked away for the night.

And then there was one

Moe says: Hi everyone. I'm going to be the last kitten in the house after today. Larry left yesterday with his new mommy and Grey is leaving today with his new family. I'm going to have to put up with all the hugs, smooches, and pets all my myself. Better rest up.

But somehow napping takes second place the minute I get out my wip to grab a pic or two. Please note that no cats were even in the room. They must have heard the sound of yarn being pulled and ran over.
Dress #2 take 2. I really wasn't feeling the pattern too much so Sunday when Moe decided to gnaw on brand new knitpicks 24" circular size 3 needles into 12" non circular size 3 needles I decided just to rip it out and start over. I changed the bottom to a couple rows of ridges and eyelets before changing over to ss. Love it. Ordered another 24" circulars today. Can't be mad when kittens ruin your stuff.

Moe says: When you're a kitten everything becomes a kitten toy.
Grey says: I hope my next family doesn't put that shiney thing in my face to take pictures all the time. It's annoying .... especially when I'm trying to get in a couple more nips before I leave today.

Knitting is a little difficult lately

Knitting usually is challenging however knitting at my house has become almost impossible. Why? Because my foster kittens seem to think they are my knitting buddies. At least one of them is always attempting to assist me ... usually by trying to hold my needles or yarn in their teeth. Granddaughter's dress is coming along even with all the help I've been getting.

And I casted on another one in the pink tones. Moe doesn't seem to like the pinks as much as the purple/blue/green. Must not taste as good.
It's kitten adoption weekend this weekend so hopefully these guys will be placed.

When you see this ...

you can't help but grab the camera first before assisting the kitten.

Notice that Curley and Moe did nothing to assist poor Larry.

I {{{heart}}} yarn

Part of the fun of picking out a project is picking out yarn for the project. I wanted to make a couple things for my granddaughter for her 2nd birthday. After clicking around Ravelry I found this cute little dress . So cute but I knew my daughter would prefer something not a solid color. I found these colorways on knitpicks and decided they would make great looking dresses and socks.

Larry says: I'd like yarn a lot better if mommy let me bite it to pieces. Of course my brothers and I just wait until she goes to sleep and then we have our way with her knitting.
I found this on ebay. Looked interesting and really can one ever have too much sock yarn?
And this was interesting too.
I've finished knitting 2 pair of socks and will be casting on a couple more things. Since I've designated August the month to put the finishing touches on things I find myself knitting more to gets more things put aside for August.

My little white and tiger guy Curley is getting adopted tomorrow. I'm happy to see him go to a nice home. Hopefully Moe, Larry, and Grey will find homes soon. I love how I can come downstairs in the morning call out, "Babies" and have everyone come running for a little petting. I'll miss that once they are gone. The ladies who run the feral cat program do an awesome job at keeping track of every cat and kitten. I think I'll be a foster home for a long time to come.

Why Brooke Hogan isn't running for political office ever

Los Angeles (E! Online) - "You know what? I am actually not that much into voting. I think it's kinda crazy that a woman is running, because I think that women deal with a lot of emotions and menopause and PMS and stuff. Like, I'm so moody all the time, I know I couldn't be able to run a country, 'cause I'd be crying one day and yelling at people the next day, ya know?"

I'm kinda glad she's not actually that much into voting because I'd hate to have someone in power who doesn't really know all that much but has bitchin' shoes.

This posting brought to you by cats

Grey: Hi everyone. Mom's a little busy cleaning up around here. You wouldn't believe how much of a mess a couple knocked over plants can make. Plus there was that issue with the broken glasses in the kitchen .... knocked over cat food .... oh and the yarn. I won't go into the whole yarn thing but Mom said something about not thinking she would be spending her first day of vacation like this. How are the other kittens doing you wonder? Haven't seen them lately. Nope just laying here all by myself.

Curley: I don't want to rat Grey out since I'm still recovering from 2 days at the vet but I know where Moe is. Think I'll go hide before mom finds me to give me my medication. I don't know what it is but it definately doesn't taste like chicken!
Moe: No I'm really not in trouble at all. I'm actually sleeping. Larry decided to sleep under the table but I wanted to sleep on this nice soft loveseat. I think Larry might have made a better decission.
Curley: I'm going to watch from up here where I'm nice and safe.
Curley: Ok mommy, enough computer. Once you finish cleaning up in the living room you might want to take a look at that suprise we left you in the bathroom. It involved open conditioner and some towels pulled off the towel rack. Here's I'll put my shaved leg in front of your face so you'll feel sorry for me. Is it working?
Diane says: OMG!!! It's like having a 4 man wrecking crew around here. Curley is recovering well. I had to treat all the cats including my own for tape worms. Not fun. Curley's 2 nights at the vet's ended up costing the Friends of Cheshire Ferel Cats about $1000.00. He's got medication every 12 hrs but is recovering well.

I've been knitting but not really sticking with anything long enough to finish. Think August will be the month to finish everything before I start anything else. Well, that's the game plan for now but we'll see what happens.

What I did last night

Curley was sick Saturday night and most of the day Sunday. He seemed to be a little better Monday as show in this picture. Curley says: I don't feel well but somehow sleeping on a downward slope with my head 2" lower than my butt and my paw tucked under my chin makes me feel better.

Monday night he threw up what I thought looked like string but wasn't, was gagging more and couldn't catch his breath. After 5 minutes of freaking out I packed him up and ran to the emergency vet. 7:45 pm to 12:30 am I waited in the waiting room for news. They ended up keeping him overnight. I went home and got 5 hrs of sleep before I had to be up for work.

Thankfully I had taken the time to stuff a ball of yarn and some needles in my purse so I knit away of this sock. Larry says: Moe! Get away from that needle. Mommy doesn't like when you bite those. Just look cute and gnaw on the string like I do. Turns out that Curley had tape worms so bad he couldn't eat or use the litter box. His entie intestines were filled with them. The vet said it's probably the worst case he's ever seen and Curley could have died in a matter of hours. He was treated 4 times with worm medication since he was captured in May but obviously the treatment didn't work for him.Curley is resting comfortably and will be home tomorrow. Poor baby.

I've been plugging away on two pair of socks. Obviously I've got startitis so maybe for the Olympics my project will be to finish every project I've started so far this year. Larry says: Moe! Stop with those needles already. They aren't yours!
Moe says: Hummmm nice tail you have there, Larry. Think I'll give it a little nip or two.
And Grey says: Zzzzzzzzzzz silly kittens. Why can't they just grow up already. Chasing tails is so 2 weeks ago.

Ray of sunshine on a cloudy day

Here's the latest picture of my foster kittens. Moe is laying down with is eyes closed pretending not to notice and Curley was walking over him. Larry has that deep thoughtful look probably thinking something like 'When's Mom going to put down that silver flashy thing and clean the litter box.'

So yesterday was a picnic at my parents house. Usually I love family get togethers but now they are just making me sad. Is this the last birthday with my Dad? The last memorial day? Last 4th of July he'll be around? And to make matters even worse my oldest brother is pissed about all this. He thinks my father should do everything possible to fight this cancer. He can't come to terms with non treatment.

Now I understand that everyone goes thru stages of grief. Heck last month I was pissed at all 3 of my brothers because they don't have kids so they only have to come to grips with this situation and don't have to help young adults and small children thru this process. Irrational? Yup but I was going thru the process.

So by the time I got home yesterday I was just drained. Too emotional to cry. Brain just racing a million thoughts a second. I sat upstairs with my kittens for about 2 hrs and went to bed but didn't sleep a wink. Today? Super sad for everyone. Just trying to get thru the work day. And then this came.

Who is it from? I'm not sure but I do know it's from someone in the Ravelry Brave Whores group. It's a hysterical group where you can freely admit that you are addicted to far too many reality tv shows. The discussion are light and lively. I love all the people in the forum like they are neighbors I'll never actually see. It's a great escape from real life. The note says: To wear Sunday's reading the paper with dad - and in the years to come to remember him by - Not expertly knit - but knitted with love - A Bravo Whore

Now I've never discussed any of this on Ravelry so someone took the time to read thru my blog, knit a beautiful shawl, get my address, and mail this off to me. I'm so touched. Thank you fellow BW. I love you for doing thing.

Grey runs the house

I thought that little Grey would be lonely once his sister got adopted but he seems to have adjusted well. Now that he has the run of the entire house he has found some great napping places. Grey says: Hey not like Charlie was using it.

I've finished enough squares for 2 kitten blankets and have 2 more on the needles. These are so much fun. Should make for some bright colored blankets for my new guys
And I finally casted on some socks for the summer of socks but I'm having a huge issue.
Grey loves to bite yarn and knitting needles. In particular he loves to bite my beloved bamboo double points.

The boardgames of childhood as skill training

When I was growing up we didn't have video games. We played board games. My oldest brother was the king of Monopoly. My younger brother was a whiz at Stratigo and my baby brother could beat the pants off anyone on chinese checkers. Me? Operation was my game. I could take out a funny bone while standing on my foot (which my brothers made me do so the game would be even). Who knew a board game skill could be used in real life. Notice the dryer lint trap in the front? D2 took out the trap before she removed her clothes and at the exact same time an underwire in her bra fell out and landed in the trap.
There's a little ledge and the wire caught on the ledge. How to get it out? No one's hand was small enough to reach. And then it hit me .....
Operation .... salad tongs .... no buzzers as I touched the side. I felt like George Costanza when he was moving the Frogger machine in Seinfeld. lol

My calico foster kitten was adopted on Friday. We've been calling her Calli and her formal name according to her new owner is Calli so I guess they were ment to be her forever home. Grey's adoption fell thru so he's still with us. Grey has now been moved downstairs where he's made himself at home.

I picked up these 3 on Friday night. 3 tigers which I've named Larry, Curley, and Moe.

They are a little skidish around humans but when I come into the room they will usually come running over and after a couple minutes they'll let me pet them. Hopefully sometime this week they'll like me enough to where I can let them out of the bathroom to have the run of the hallway.
Just adorable! Love being a kitty mama.

Monday ramblings

I've got scarves that just need the ends woven, shawls that just need to be blocked, socks that just need the ends hidden and yet I can't seem to focus enough to finish a thing. However does that stop me from casting on new things??

These are going to be blankets for the kittens to sleep on. I figure 4 washcloths is about the right size for a kitten. Hummm what pattern to use? How about a cat?

And a paw print?
I started a pair of socks for the Summer of Socks. SOS. Since I also signed up for the 52 pair plunge 2 I thought I'd better cast something on.
In the middle of making the bed this morning and had to stop to answer the phone. I came back to see this. Guess I'll wait until Joey wakes up to finish.
The grandkids were over this weekend so I've been entrusted with a couple treasures left behind. Lucky for me the rock and plastic mouse haven't given me much trouble although Oscar did try to make off with the mouse. Oscar says: Well it's your fault since you won't let us carry the real mice into the house.
This is kitten central aka the 3rd floor bathroom. Hard to believe that every night this gets swept up and cleaned because the following day it always looks like no one has cleaned it in weeks. Such is the life of a kitty mama. Grey and Calli say: numm numm numm This kitten food is the best. Be back soon mommy ... we'll be needing you to clean the litter box shortly.

Crochet? Here? WTF! Yup I crocheted a couple blankets for the current kittens before I had the idea to use squares. Grey says: Acrylic!?!? Come on mom and cough up the good stuff. I know you have wool and alpaca around here somewhere.
2 kittens 2 blankets.
All the knit squares to date.
My kittens have turned into great escape artists which means if you are a human then you have to get past this in the hallway. I've got to spring for a couple baby gates and modify them for the kittens. Until then my poor daughters will have to figure out how to get to and from their rooms every day. Hummm maybe they'll think it's a hint to move out? Hope not. D3 is leaving the end of August for college and that's soon enough.

My father is not doing well. The cancer has spread more into his liver and is now showing up in his lungs. He's really slowing down but still manages to get out and about a little. I think I'm finally at peace with his decission for no treatment. Not happy but at least at peace.

When the grandkids were over Saturday my parents came over too. Dad sat on the couch the whole time and all 3 of the kids surrounded him for attention. I find myself watching their interaction more; almost like I'm trying to capture it all in my brain so I can play it back for years to come.