Okay, so first I want to show you a picture of the yarn I dyed up on Monday. I really just love it. It is kind of a short yardage, about 150 yards between the two skeins of bulky. I think some fingerless gloves or house booties might work, maybe another scarf or a hat... any ideas as to what I should knit out of this? The gauge is about 4.5 stitches/inch.
So now I'm going to share my adventure with you, and because I am snowed in it's going to be long winded, just to warn you.
Last night I was all packed up for class, walked out to my car, pulled out into the street and "thump thump thump" my tire was flat. Down to the rim. Well crap, what to do. So I call farm and fleet to see if they are taking any more work orders, I figured I could call a friend, get the tire off, and take it up there, or just get towed up there and wait while they fix it. It was no good though, they were all booked up for the night.... well them and everyone else in town. That first blast of cold always does that up here in northern IL. So I figure I will at least get the donut on there and get it fixed in the morning... I can't find the spare. I call my dad, he can't remember where it is either. After about a half hour of looking in the instruction manual, pulling random levers, and lots of swearing, I find it hidden in the left panel in the back (I have a station wagon). My dad tells me that our insurance has towing/changing tire in the cold coverage, so I call around to find someone who can come out. No one can, they are all booked up too.... finally at around my 3rd or 4th call someone agrees. To wrap up this part of the story: my tire gets in the back of my trunk and the donut on the front right.
My plan was to go to bed, get up early, and get it taken care of first thing in the morning before I head off to work. Well, I overslept, I have never slept though my alarm, and it seems like I remember hitting the snooze at some point, but I don't remember it going off again... but it was still on, so I guess I slept straight though it. I jump out of bed, look outside, and well crap, there is a foot of snow on the ground... There is no way I'm going to be able to drive my car in that, which is front wheel drive and my flat is on the front... I don't think that my little spare would do me much good in a foot of snow. So I called my boss and told him that I was going to be a half hour late because I would be walking (this was at 8 am and so I'm thinking an hour to walk to work)... no big deal, a nice walk in the morning snow would be refreshing... I bundle up, take a shot of espresso, put mr b back to bed and head out the door. As soon as I turn the corner a blast of cold air and sleet hits me in the face... now I suppose I should, in the honor of things that are hand knitted, point out that that I have bundled myself in three shirts, a sweater, long underwear, two pairs of socks, industrial boots, pants tucked in, my long handknit gloves, my biggest, thickest, scarf and a hat.... so only my eyes are really exposed... but still covered with glasses... which are instantly fogged and covered in ice... that is correct: ICE! So I can't see... I take my glasses off and my vision improves for a moment... only a moment though because the wind decides to carry the snow into my eyes. I could not keep them open... so glasses back on... I had to walk in the middle of the street because I could not trudge though the snow on the sidewalk, which had now drifted to past my knees. I am moving along as fast as I can, which gives me plenty of time to take in this winter scene... as much as I could anyway with my glasses covered in ice. I did take them off from time to time to make sure that I was still headed in the right direction... it sure is beautiful outside.
I get about 5 blocks from my house and there is a car stuck... well... I'm already late, why not help out... good deeds never hurt anyone... the guy across the street comes to help out too. We push while the guy rocks himself out. The driver asks me where I'm going. "Oh just the VCB," he offers me a lift (I'm still only about 1/4 of the way there at this point)... I accept and we head on our way. So I'm going to only be about 10 mins late, not too bad.... things are going good, what a nice morning... that was really a pleasent walk.... and then the irony hits... my boss calls: "so they didn't call me, but I guess they called everyone else, we are closed today." Well okay, I guess I will head back home... the guy I hitched a ride with (a security man at NIU actually) drops me off at the gas station and asks if I want a ride home... I decline and decide to pick up some milk and bread.... if I'm going to be stranded at home I might as well have some food to eat (I was going to go to the grocery store last night, but the flat tire made that not possible). I bought my food and headed back home. It was strange to see the shadowy figures emerging out of the distance, becoming clear, and fading into the snow and fog again. I got back home safe and sound and only a little damp. And now I'm sipping on some more coffee, I'm about to make some toast and eggs... all and all it really has been a good morning. I love the snow!
And that was my adventure... and unfortunately the only thing that I am not liking about the snow is that there is now no way I will be able to drive home tomorrow morning and I am going to have to drop out the show... I was so hoping to sell my paintings, but these things happen for a reason I'm sure.
And with that I'm going to wish you a happy snow day! Drink some hot choco and stay warm!
I was able to fix it, kind of, and I'm starting to think the day to get a new one is fast approaching. Any ideas on what would be a good machine to get? At this point I don't think I need anything fancy. Just straight and zig-zag stitch, maybe a button hole capability. The thing that stinks is that it is not really the machine that is even breaking... it is all the little rubber parts. Mainly the foot paddle. And my machine is so old that I cannot find replacement parts for it. So it goes.
Okay, so I realize that it looks a lot like an explosion of fabric all over my apartment... So I will explain the assignment a little bit.
I finally received my yarn winder today and promptly wound the sock yarn that I dyed last week.
I also received a package from Sister Diane of the CraftyPod! The Christmas Digest! It's filled with a ton of great stuff including puzzles, stories, stickers, and crafty ideas for the Christmas season! Thank you Sister Diane!
So okay, I'm not a crocheting genious, but I do really enjoy it. The main reason why I have not crocheted more is that there is a complete lack of good quality/modern crochet patterns. They all look well... frumpy/from the 80's/for hippies only or a combo of the three. So I'm setting out on a quest... along with my friend Andrea who is helping with ideas and what nots... to create crochet patterns that are updated and modern. I have a stong inclination that crochet is best for household items, but I do have quite a few clothing items in mind as well. I've been told by quite a few people that this does need to be done. We really do need a revolution in crochet like there has been in knitting! I have looked around quite a bit and I found a site called CrochetMe that has more modern patterns, but they are just one site! We need one hundred sites! Where are the Crochet Lists?! Where are the crochet in's!? Where are the crochet books that make me happy and inspired!? So.... I'm not sure about the sites and the crochet in's, but I'm going to start focusing on crochet in my pattern writing and who knows, maybe I'll even write a crochet book! So there!
And it is reversable, so here is the other side:
Tissue included with purchase $3.50 + $1.50 S&H
Anyway, I'm off to help clean up the house and go collect some more dye stuff out in the yard. Have a happy thanksgiving! Stop eating if it starts to hurt!
