t w i g

awwwwe man...am i ever missing my camera...there have been so many great photo ops lately...sure i could take a few photos with my iphone...but it's just not the same...hopefully dad will visit this weekend and will bring it with...

sooo...i have a confession to make...i put aside the yucky acrylic blanket after finding a mistake and ripping back not 1 but 5 pattern repeats...instead i cast on and finish the rock island shawl...i knit it up in madelinetosh lace twig/brown colorway...it's a slightly late mothers day gift...the sad part of the story is...after i finished blocking it...i left it unpinned lying on my bed...turn my back to help my little guy and who decides to jump up and have a love affair with it? but my cat...so it is back soaking and currently blocking once again...i'm so frazzled...arggg...

on another note...i've been loving the cooler weather...sunny with a slight breeze...perfect for playing outdoors...destructo/damien has been spending more time outdoors then in...he's currently crushing on collecting bugs...he would like for them all to live harmoniously in his bug box forever...and hates to release them at night before he goes to bed...

on the needles...picking back up the chalice baby blanket

on vinyl...help, i'm alive by metric

yuckity...yuck...yuck...

is exactly how i feel...i'm currently in no way enjoying what's on my knitting needles...i was commissioned to knit up a baby/crib blanket in which they provided the yarn...let me just say that i'm pretty sure it's the worst acrylic known to human...it hurts my fingers, hands, and heart! however...on a positive note...i'm loving the pattern and will revisit it again with a much nicer yarn...

on the needles...chalice baby blanket

on vinyl...tree by the river by iron and wine

i know...i'm terrible...

i received this in my ravelry inbox this morning:

Sent at 8:14 PM Yesterday
hey Torchy,
I miss reading your blog entries! You’re fallen a bit behind eh?
luv ya
mum

soooo...i'm guessing that i should do something about it...

wow...i can't believe that it's been almost a year since my last entry...as you can see i'm terrible about posting regularly...but i'm going to try and update once a week...

i'm still knitting...and recently committed myself to wrapping ufos that have been sitting and collecting dust...not all at once but one a month...that way i can continue to knit selfishly and not feel guilty about it...

on another note...mother's day is soon approaching...and i've been thinking that it's about time to finally knit up the february lady sweater for mum...it's so bloody cold when you dine out during the summer months in florida that you usually have to carry around a sweater so that you don't freeze...it will be knit in acrylic...cause yanno spills happen and that way she'll be able to throw it in the wash...maybe i'll be feeling froggy enough to have it finished before she visits at easter...if that's the case i best get the ball rollin'...because i still have to figure out what color i want to knit it in and cast it on...

on the needles...or how about currently off the needles instead...i just finished with the knitting portion of the napoleon vest...and i'm still unsure if i want to attempt to try the crochet part or wait on mum...for she's the one with the amazing crochet skills...

on vinyl...hurricane drunk by florence + the machine

oh where to begin...

lets see...as you can see i have been knitting...just on a smaller scale/smaller things...on saturday i had this grand illusion of knitting a bike...so with a little floral wire...pliers...dpns...and scrap yarn...a few hours later it was born...my own little unicycle...yes i'm very aware that i'm a little strange...and now i'm thinking about knitting a few different styles of bikes...a tricycle...10/12 speed...bmx...mountain bike...maybe i'll even go as far as a knitted red radio flyer wagon...hmmm that maybe on the needles next...*scratching chin while cocking eyebrow* now where is my red yarn?

on the 25th of april we celebrated ricky's birthday and our 7th anniversary of marital bliss...this year i gifted him 7 olives in a jar with a tag saying "olive you" i told him for each anniversary we celebrate i'll knit him a new one and add it to the jar...he was surprised...and i didn't cave and give them to him early...



as for home life...well nothing much is new...dani will soon be finished with school and off to jersey to visit his dad for two months...he'll be returning home a little early only to be attending the 100 anniversary of scouting this year with his troop...and as for dami he has been loving the warmer weather...we've been spending the majority of our days outside in the sun gardening or in the pool/slip and sliding...every so often he'll put in a knitting request...the latest one was a rocket for oliver(his little blue bear)to ride on...

i've knitted a few other things...but haven't photographed/post them on rav...echo flower shawl in kiwi green is one of the 10 shawls in 2010...it's mum's for mothers day...i cast on and knitted a few pattern repeats then suddenly realized that i only had 375 yards...not even enough yarn to complete the shawlette version...i purchased the yarn a while back and was sure they wouldn't have anymore so i knit 7 pattern repeats...after blocking 42x19...dammit vontorchie pay attention...



on the needles...dad's sweater...

on vinyl...bad mans world by jenny lewis...

slackasser...

well...well...well...i know...i'm terrible...it's been so difficult for me to try to keep up with my blog...butwhatcannaisay...i'm a slack ass...however i'll try to be a little better about posting more frequently in the future...

i've been knitting on the regular which has kept me from insanity...it's usually quick little projects that give me instant gratification...even tho i really should be picking up my needles and completing some of my bigger projects...sorry dad...i'm still working on your sweater...you'll get it one day...i badly want to get the damn thing done but there is something i just don't like about it and i'm itching to rip it out and start over...it's hard to push on...and i know that's why it's taking me foreva...

i set two goals for myself for the new year...to read 52 books in 52 weeks...and to knit 10 shawls in 2010...i don't know what i was thinking at the time...but i'm starting to believe that these two goals are attainable...so far i'm lovin' the book goal...i'm reading some great books...and blowing up my library card that's for damn sure...unfortunately i haven't started on any shawls just yet...but i will be pretty soon...so that's all that's new in my part of the world...until next time...

on the needles...three more of these cute little bears...and dads sweater...

on vinyl...uprising by muse...

whoots on my hooters...

i am happy to announce that i have finished my owls sweater...it's too freakin cute...and warm too...i may just add a set of eyes on one of the owls...if i do it'll be the back of the left shoulder...also i finished knitting up dami his slippers...i renamed them his zippy mcflippy's cause when running threw the kitchen he continually does the splits or busts his butt...i guess i better hurry up and knit dani a pair or i'll never hear the end of it...i have more then enough yarn so they'll end up with matching ones...i've really been enjoying this cooler weather...there is nothing better then cracking the windows and letting in all the fresh air...sure seems to be doing me some good...well...off i go...i want to try to finish dani's slippers before he returns home from school...that gives me about an hour or two...




on the needles...hmmm...dad's sweater...and to finish up loki...

and on vinyl...rock lobster by the b52's

whoa nellie...

look at me go...as you can see...i've been a knittin'...as a project rolls off my needles...another is being cast on...it's a miracle i say...there is nothing like a quick gratifying knit...i knit myself the slouched tuva hat...great one evening knit while watching tv...and while my mum was visiting for the weekend she wanted to snatch it up...but i would not let her...maybe after the season is up i'll consider it tho...while visiting she brought me some cascade ecological wool so that i could knit myself up the owls sweater...i knitted up the sleeves last night and cast on for the body today...so far it's knitting up rather quickly...and i'm loving it...i have a few ideas in the back of my mind for some quick x.mas gifts however we'll have to see how long my knitting mojo last for...i have to cast on for my dad's hemlock blanket...but i'm presently using that circ for my sweater so i'll have to wait till it's off the needles...


i may do a drive by michaels to pick up some lion brand thick and quick for some slippers for the little one...who hasn't been feeling the greatest...saturday night i had to take him to the hospital...he was crying/complaining that his ears were sore...and whatdoyaknow...a double ear infection...he's been a little more clingy then usual...but that's to be expected...i'm thinking maybe some slippers will make him feel a little better...while i'm there i better pick up some yarn for dani...he's been wanting me to knit him up a slouch hat...he's been wearing one of my old ones and now thinks that it's his...

on the needles...the owl sweater...dad's sweater...and i still have yet to pick up a darning needle to finish up loki...i dunno how i lost them all...but i did...

and on vinyl...the rake's song by the decemberists

back on track...

*scratches head* i guess i've been absent for a little while now huh...damn sometimes i feel as if there are not enough hours in the day...and other times i'm wishing my life away...go figure...well as you can see i've gotten some of my knitting mojo back...i'm knitting his and her hemlock ring blankets for my parents...and i finished another gail nightsongs shawl...this one i'm keeping...i gave the other one to my mother...i started and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that i'll have my dad's sweater finished in time for christmas...lately every time i pick up my needles my little one asks me if i'm knitting him his socks...now that the weather is getting a little cooler i think i'm going to knit him up a quick pair of slippers...

as for the boys...well...

dani got his report card yesterday and is doing quite well...1st quarter down...3 more to go...his birthday was a few weeks back and he's now 14...he went to his first school dance and had good times...he's becoming a young man...where does the time go...it feels like just yesterday that i was dropping him off at daycare...now the girls are starting to call my house and cell asking if they can speak to him...damn..i'm not so sure i'm ready for this...it came a lot quicker then i thought it would...

dami...well he's the same and up to his usual tricks...i'm growing out his hair for his grandma who has stage 4 cancer and has lost hers...it's driving ricky crazy...he's sick of everyone saying what a cute little girl he is...he likes it better when he's clean cut...oh well...he'll get over it...i still think that he looks handsome...he's really taken to the radio and certain songs...thanks to dani owning my radio every time he jumps in my ride...lookin' in my rear view i see both of them boppin' their heads...it's a site to see...

and as for ricky...well he crashed his ride on the track a few weeks back...he was a little bruised up...his motorcycle has seen better days...however...it doesn't look bad considering he high sided...

on the needles...loki's been put on hold...my darning needles gone mia...dad's sweater...dad's hemlock blanket...and i'm thinking about casting on for the owls sweater...i need a warm sweater for the cooler months...

on vinyl...empire state of mind...by jay-z and alicia keys

69.

i've been absent for the last few weeks...i wish i could say what has had me preoccupied but i honestly don't know...i guess just life in general...i've been really moody lately...or shall i say bitchy and high strung...i haven't been knitting much at all...shitty for me cause it somehow seems to balance me out...

my parents are out west visiting my brother mark and i'm pea green with envy...i have to get over to the island to visit him sometime...i miss him lots...more then i'd ever let on and tell him that's for sure...i love talking to him...and tend to notice that we are a lot alike in many ways...i'm almost finished with loki the chameleon...i just have to stuff and stitch up all the legs and under body...then i'll have to pack him up and ship him away...

the boys seem to be keeping me busy...dami seems to think that it's funny to unlock the door and run like a bat outta hell down the street...my neighbors say it's hilarious to watch...i'm just not finding it all that funny...as for dani...he's seems to be enjoying the school year so far...and is very much into graffiti art at the present moment...he tends to spend hours on the computer searching for different styles of color and lettering...this week we are working on 3D lettering...who knows what it will be next week...

i seriously need to pick up my needles and swatch for dad's v.neck sweater...for x.mas really isn't that far away...maybe i'll set some time aside to do that this weekend...

on the needles...loki the chamelon...
on vinyl...flutter by bonobo

well...

the night before leaving to visit my parents in georgia i managed to finish up grandmum's swallowtail shawl and block it...mum loved it so much that i told her that she can keep it and that i'll knit grandmum up another...the weather was beautiful while visiting...i got to relax...sit on the porch take in the scenery and knit...i actually finished up dad's socks...

i'm not sure what is worse...packing or unpacking...slowly the house is becoming organized...i've been unpacking a few boxes each day...slowly but surely it'll come together...mum
and dad drove from georgia to help out...i'm so thankful they did..they are always a big help...especially my dad...what a guy...not only did he help move all the heavy stuff...he hung up my pictures too...thanks a million...

on the needles...mum's fls...i'm waiting till she returns from canada to pick it back up and continue on...i still have to cast on mark's chameleon for his bday...which is the 21st of august...and dad bought me some yarn to knit him up a v.neck sweater that he would like for x.mas...so i better get on the ball soon...

on vinyl...one of mine and the little man's fav's...the littlest birds by the be good tanyas...

alive and kicking...

wow...it's been awhile...

lets see...what's new on this side of town...

i guess i'll start off with dani graduating...no more elementary school...wow...where did the years go...i tried to snap a few pictures...however he was successful at avoiding me and looking the other way...

as for dami as you can see he isn't wearing his cast anymore...and seems to think that everything i knit somehow is for him...

oh...and we will be moving the beginning of july...so i've been busy packing and pitching...

my jaywalkers are done and i love them...what a easy knit...i named them bubblegum and blue jeans...i may just knit myself another pair...they are comfy...and fit perfectly...i had a little hiccup with the yarn...but all in all...it's all good...

on the needles...nothing much has changed....i still have grandmums shallowtail shawl to finish up...i'm on the heel with dads masonic lodge socks...so i should probably pick those up and finish them off...as for mum's fls...it is on the back burner...she has been walking and loosing weight so i think it's best to wait...however...i think i will start on my brother mark's birthday present...he used to own a chameleon named loki so when i saw hansigurumi knitted version i couldn't resist...

on vinyl...change by deftones

socks...shawls...scarfless...

as we all know socks and i don't really have a good track record...how i enjoy knitting them up it's the second sock that kills me...i have the hardest time finishing...i cast on the jaywalkers tuesday evening and knitted 8" of the leg and put it to the side...then last night i cast on for the second sock...i'm thinking this might help me...i should seriously consider knitting two socks on circulars...i think it just might be in my best interest...

i've also cast on the shallowtail shawl...it will be mailed to my grandmum when finished...my mum, lj, and i are knitting it up together...

on a different note...i dunno if i've mentioned that last year i signed up to join others in the 1st annual facebook handmade scarf exchange...it works by making a scarf for someone and someone different makes a scarf for you...a makes for b, b for c...i knit and sent out the scarf to my partner prior to the deadline which i believe was jan 15th...however still to this day i have not received a scarf...i'm officially throwing in the towel...it's the end of april and i'm still scarfless...this has left me bitter...i really enjoyed knitting for someone i've never met before...it's interesting to wear something that was made from ones heart & hard work...they have an angel program...but i refuse to sign up...i guess it's just my luck that i ended up with a partner who was a slackass...

on the needles...masonic lodge socks...jaywalkers...fls...swallowtail shawl...

on vinyl...bionic by placebo

april showers...has me knittin' mittens...

i have no idea why i wanted to knit up mittens in april...*scratches head* i'm thinking it was the yarn's fault...it was screaming at me to be knit up as owl mittens...such a cute and quick pattern... not sure if i will add the buttons for eyes just yet...i'm actually thinking about possibly gifting them to my little niece lily for christmas this year...whooo knows...

the little one is keeping on his toes and utilizing his cast arm to his advantage...i'm now nervous to see what will happen once the cast is removed...

dani has been hassling me about scouts and not always wanting to go...he can be so wishy washy...one day he's telling me "it's not cool mum"...but after getting away and going camping for the weekend he's usually chewing my ear out on the drive home telling me all the cool stuff they did...he's signed up for rainey mountain ga...hopefully he'll have a blast and make some amazing memories...

on the needles...dad's socks...and fls

on vinyl...you are the one by shiny toy guns

it's been a long time...

well...it's been a little busy around here lately and lots has happened...i just have to figure out where to begin...i'll start with dami...about 3 1/2 weeks ago he broke his elbow...he's cast and will remain that way for another 4 weeks...this was his first er visit...but i'm not so sure it'll be his last...i thought maybe the cast would slow him down a little...but it hasn't...he's still my little spider monkey...still running...jumping...skate boarding and bicycle riding...shit...i wish i had half his energy...

my mum & dad came to spend time with us for easter...they arrived thursday and left on sunday...thursday they took the boys out and bought them some clothes for easter...friday we just hung out at home...saturday we drove to old st augustine walked around...had a little lunch...ate dinner at texas roadhouse...sunday after returning from mass we looked all afternoon and evening for a nice outdoor restaurant...we weren't to lucky with the last one...and ended up at tgif...good times...however...time seems to fly and before you know it they are leaving for home...

the easter bunny came by and dropped off the twilight movie to dani...so sunday night we sat down to watch it...he thought it was okay...a while back he asked me to read the series with him...the first day reading i was half way into the book but then i put it down to knit...he's still on me about catching up...he's disappointed in me...his teacher keeps asking if i finished it yet and his replies are "no she's too busy knitting" he's now finishing up the 3rd book in the twilight series and has started reading the last book in maximum ride series at the same time...a few years back he hated to read and now his nose is always buried in a book...at the beginning of the year the teacher told them the student that finishes the most books throughout the year gets a reward...a gift certificate...and dani is determined to win...i just hope it's to a book store...

i'm sure much more has happened...but hell if i can remember...oh yeah....we took trip to the jacksonville zoo...but i'll post pictures and write about that another time...

on the needles...mums fls...and socks for dad...however i did finish the gail(nightsongs) shawl...it has to be blocked and that probably will not happen until this weekend...pictures to be posted after blocking...

on vinyl...specialist by interpool

mi corazón...

yeah i know...i'm supposed to be finishing socks and a february lady sweater...but i couldn't help but knit up this bad ass heart...using some scrap sock yarn...shhhh...it's a anniversary present for ricky...as for the february lady sweater...it has been put on hold...i've knitted past the eyelet increases but now i have to wait for my mum to visit so that i she can try it on...i'm pretty sure that i'll have a few more rows to knit before starting the gull lace pattern...and dad's socks...well...i just started the second sock...

on vinyl...julia...by our lady peace

february lady sweater for a floridian...

bye...bye...february...hello february lady sweater...i cast on for mum's sweater...yeah...i know...like i need another distraction...or something else on my needles...hmmm...i'm starting to think that i may have knitters add...so far it's knitting up pretty quickly...22 more rows before i start the eyelet increases...things couldn't be looking any better...i'm really holding back from casting on the gail(nightsongs) shawl for myself...i'm totally smitten by the design and i have the perfect yarn for it in my stash however i have to stay focused*massaging temples* think socks...

the monkey is still feeling under the weather...and not eating so well...hopefully by monday he'll be back to his usual michevious self...

on vinyl...lusty scripps...by one of my all time fav's...fugazi

trying to keep up...

well i'm a little behind schedule...i wanted to have both socks done by today...but one's better then none...i'll cast on the second one tonight...

dami has been sick for the past two days...nothing like having a fever...cough...runny nose...sore throat...and congestion...poor little guy...i wish i could be sick for him...

i've been thinking...maybe i'll cast on the february lady sweater...my mum plans on visiting towards the end of march...who knows...maybe i could even have it finished by then...

on the needles...socks

on vinyl...strange and beautiful by aqualung...

look...

here is a picture of my socks...

i'm truckin' away with dads socks...i'm on the heel and hopefully i'll get one finished by the end of this weekend...and possibly the second one started and finished by midweek...i'm also going to cast on him another pair of socks so that i can keep rollin'...

i took dami to the dr for his 2 yr check up and he's not even on the chart when it comes to weight...i've been forcing him to eat more and writting down everything...he's like his mommy...doesn't like meat much...nuts, eggs, and good ol' penut butter have been doing the trick...

dani continues to get into trouble at school...that damn his mouth of his...he's not even sly about it...and to think i've just started with his teenage years...

on the needles...socks...socks...and more damn socks...

on vinyl...a day in the life...by the beatles

happy feet...

these will be dad's 2nd pair of socks...every time i call the parents he just happens to ask me where his socks are...initially i cast on the guitar man socks...but frogged them...instead i've decided to go with the masonic lodge pattern...the pattern is easy to memorize and seems to be knitting up rather quickly...

lj and i made a pact with one another...to finish a pair of socks a month...this will be much harder for me to accomplish then her...that woman is forever knitting...however i have serious case of second sock syndrome...and never enough time to knit...well that's not all together true...i get alot accomplished when i tend to knit from 11pm till 4am...and shit i would do it every night....it really wouldn't be a problem...well...maybe a small one...that i happen to be one nasty miserable bitch the next day...i personally don't have a problem with that...however the ones around me do...

on the needles...masonic lodge socks

on vinyl...i walk like jayne mansfield...by 5,6,7,8's

v.day...

well i finished the dishcloths por dani...just in the nick of time...his teacher loved them...

as for valentines day i bought the boys cards and let them pick out something...ricky and dani decided to go with nerf guns...and dami picked out some motorcycles...my dearest husband and oldest are running around shooting at each other and anything else the bullets will stick to...while the wee one is collecting and distributing the discharged bullets....as for me...i'm dodging bullets while blogging...

on the needles...i just cast on for dad's socks...

and on vinyl...shankhill butchers by the decemberists