Still playing catchup!

Still playing catch up here...you know, sometimes when you start baking/cooking, just like heading through the buffet line, your eyes get a bit bigger than your stomach! Well, going back to the NY trip, I had picked so many things to do there, that I just didn't have time for every thing that I wanted to do, including blogging. So, here are some more pictures and updates from the recent past. AND if the computer will remain connected to the Internet, I'll be able to finally post these for your reading pleasure...
Let's see...there was cake...

and cake...

and cake...

and chicken enchiladas...

and yet, still more cake...thanks to the youngest daughter's pick of 'numbers'...

my birthday was celebrated by the kids doing the cooking! Got to love having kids who can cook! (sadly I missed the picture of the beef stew the middle daughter made-for me!)

And what cook, doesn't deserve a kiss?

Or goofy grins for the 'correct' numbers?

Then, Thanksgiving came, and there was more cooking...

and our 'entertainment' was compliments of Big Brother teaching Little Brother how to play Guitar hero against...

Youngest sister...

And for Mom's birthday, I copied one of her reversible aprons with Charlie Brown and the gang's Christmas fabrics...

with the other side in Red and White stripes. You can't see it well, but both sides have pockets on them. Not too shabby for copying an apron Mom's already got hanging in her pantry!

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I was still knitting. A couple of weeks ago, while at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company, I picked up a pattern for a BSJ that fits on a bottle of beer. I thought I'd use Dale of Norway's Baby Ull, and shrink it down farther to make an ornament for the Christmas tree! I added the attached I-cord, and clearly have some more tinkering to do with this. I'm not thrilled with how my neckline came out. But as I did with my first BSJ, I knit it up in a solid yarn. Now I can go back and add stripes where I know they'll turn out. The neckline needs some attention, too. Can you see these made up for friends and family in colors to match hockey jerseys? Like I've done for the baby sweaters? Too cute for the sports minded in your family and gift list? I can't wait for more time on 'my plate' to really play with this pattern. But, can you see how little it turned out? It's got a 3 inch measurement across the 'chest' area to give you an idea next to my lens cap.

Next up, I'm making some hats for quick last minute Christmas gifts for my brothers. I have one done in Navy and Burnt Orange Paton's Classic Wool, (US) 6 (4.0mm) needles using the Mushroom cap pattern from Morehouse, you can find the pattern here: http://www.morehousefarm.com/Original/Pattern/duJour/09/

My middle daughter found these for my Birthday! They may quite possibly be the perfect blend of Raspberry and Milk Chocolate flavors, in my book! (Most put dark chocolate with raspberry...) I'm not sure if she needs to receive my undying love for this, or the responsibility for buying me some more workout gear...ahahahaha...But OH BABY I love 'em!

Yesterday, I started the annual Christmas cookie baking mess...errrr...process..Peanut Butter Blossoms! (Recipe over <----there).

Today, it's my goal to finish this baby blanket and make Swedish Cream Wafers (also over <----). We'll see how far I get! After all...I want a particular box in the mail by Saturday! And I've got a bit more knitting to finish before that can happen!

Happy knitting/crocheting/baking!

Happy BIrthday!

Happy 82nd Birthday MOM!

3x3 Twisted Rib Neck Gaiter

After reading through all the gaiter patterns I could find, I got the impression that the gaiter needs to be stretchy but also be able to pull into the neck area so it keeps that area warm. I got to thinking that a 3 x 3 rib really sucks it in while still being stretchy. A twisted rib keeps my ribbing from looking all wonky. Knowing that the skein of yarn that I had was only 85 g rather than a 100 gram, I chose a cast on of 90 stitches (6 st repeat) to see if it would end up long enough. It made it to 11.5" long with only a 1.5 yard left to the whole skein after I bound off.

3x3 Twisted Rib Neck Gaiter

© Cathy Waldie, October 31, 2009

85 g worsted weight 100% wool [sample made in Lion Brand Wool, Navy]
(US) 8 (5.0mm) 16'.40 cm needles
Gauge: 21 sts/24 rows in pattern = 4"/10 cm.
Size: 11.25" long x 4.75" wide laid flat (stretches easily to 12.5" when pulled wide)

K=Knit
P=Purl
TBL= Through the back loop
C/O=Cast On
B/O=Bind Off
* *= repeat directions between *'s

C/O 90 stitches, join without twisting. [If you are a tighter knitter, use a Cast On of 96 stitches and follow the pattern as written.]

Round 1: *K3 TBL, P3* around
Round 2: *K3, P3* around

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until you've reached 10-12" in length, or are 3 yards from the end of your wool. [Size must be no shorter than 10" and no longer than 12" and make certain it will easily stretch over a 22-24" head]

B/O in pattern. Cut wool, weave in ends. Give it a swish in a 'wool bath' and let dry. Pop it off in the mail on mailing days to Ship's Support. Let's keep those ground troops warm with hugs from home!

When Last We Met...

Isn't that how the old timed TV Serials used to begin? Let's see...I was in NY State..taking my knitting on a color tour.

And oh, how pretty those leaves were!

Then, the daughter and I went on a mini day trip and stopped at an Apple Winery..

then over to the their Sister Distillery (have you ever tasted Cider Vodka?) before

Making it to their Apple Orchards to pick our own apples! We had a blast! Laughing and giggling the whole day!

We road on the back of the flat bed the tractor took us out to the apple trees..

Found trees that were sooooooooo laden with apples, their branches were bent over to the ground...

soooooooo many apples that we had to leave behind!

Apples up high, and as far as your eyes could see...

With a daughter who caught me trying to get an apple 'just out of my reach'...

Before we had to leave for the day...

Since she did the driving, I got nearly the whole body done on the sweater for the boy twin.

Later on that week...I got a really good reminder why I try to ALWAYS have my knitting in the car. After sitting on the freeway for quite some time, it was apparent we weren't going anywhere for a long time. So, I shut off the engine and started casting on for the two sleeves of the sweater.

After almost 2 hours of being 'parked' on the side of the freeway, some people (and a dog) got out to visit, I got a good start on the two sleeves of the baby sweater.

While there, I did the Mom thing...and made some cheeseburger pie...

potato leek soup

apple butter, for the first time (Betty Crocker is the best, I tell ya!)

apple pie...(oh those apple picking apples...we good!)

and get this...74 1/4 cups of frozen pumpkin! It was great..until I had to leave my portion in NY to be able to make weight for my baggage! DOGGONEITALL!!

Once home, I found a box from Hobby Lobby's online order...packed in Bubble Wrap! Now that's a company that wants to get it's yarn there, safely!

I've started working on a new group of patterns...

My kids did a bit of cooking for me...and wise 'candle' shopping...sadly, I forgot to take a picture of the beef stew that was cooked FOR ME! But it sure is fun to have kids that can cook!

Sent some wool things to Ship's Support...another pattern will be up shortly...

Had to take out a pattern repeat on the coffee sleeves before sending them to my parents-they were too big and slide right off the coffee cups!

Packed up 46 pounds of yarn to send off to a knitting group back home so they can knit for the local charity groups...

Finally finished the Blue sweater set (Sirdar 264, tunic sweater, hat without the tassels and basic socks from Leisure Arts...) a week AFTER the twins were born...

Made another Feather and Fan blanket, but this time I knit 9 repeats of the pattern in all three sections, rather than a 7-9-7 count. This was for a baby that was already nearly 2 months old, so I wanted it a little bit longer in length.

Lastly, I finished another pair of sockies (Leisure Arts), for WRC babies. I do have another surprise sweater nearly finished and another crocheted blanket underway, but no pictures at this point. Guess, I'll have to post more often! hahahahhaaaa.....Now that the Twins knitting is finished, been mailed...I should be back online a little bit more often. So...happy Turkey Day shopping this week! My bird's already in the refrigerator waiting his big turn.