In which she gets incredibly busy ..

.. and copies the trend of people styling their post titles after Friend's episode titles. :) But hey, it works!

Anyway, yeah. It has been busy here at Casa Tygher. And yes, admittedly, a lot of it is because of Wolrd of Warcraft, but I have been knitting. I've finished the second pattern repetition of my candleflame shawl, and it's really beginning to look like more than a bundle of yarn. I'm also getting close to done with my second red scarf .. which is good, because I only have another 5 days or so to mail them off.

My pretty candleflame shawl on my lovely Destiny circulars. Ahhhh.

Oh, the delight of reading a psychology textbook.

Classes started on Wednesday though, and that is what's been taking up the rest of my time. I'm taking 18 credit hours, and I'm determined to keep the 4.0 I earned last semester. But the classes are more difficult and more reading this time around, so it's taking a lot more time from my day. As I type this I'm skimming through my Psychology reading for a first go-round, and trying to figure out what I need to remember for the exam, which is due next Friday. I also need to finish my Spanish work for the first chapter .. that's due Sunday. But that's much easier than all this reading. I also have to read the first chapters for Amercan Government and State & Local Government .. and several stories for my English class. Whee!

Everyone should go check out the photos of Comet McNaught on Spaceweather.com. I didn't get a chance to see the comet because .. well .. we were busy and such, but the photos are simply amazing.

They changed the program .. new journals! Yay! And ooh, they're bigger!

Oh. We're back at Weight Watchers, and I'm back On Program. I gained 8 pounds in the two months we weren't going, but I managed at least to maintain last week. Good, since I didn't count a damn thing.

I leave you with an utterly adorable shot of Isis from yesterday.

Fair Warning

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade - the much awaited expansion to the online game I play obsessively - releases today. I'm heading to work here in a little while, and I'll be picking up one copy of the collector's editions and two of the regular edition (for Brandon and Jason).

This will likely eat into some of my knitting time, at least for a little while. I promise not to vanish entirely, but there is much new fun-ness to explore, and I intend on exploring all I can.

I can report that I frogged the new Red Scarf .. the pattern wasn't working for me, and was annoying me. Right now I'm knitting it on the bias with drop stitches and it's going fast .. and I should have enough yarn to make at least one more scarf. Whether I'll have time to is another story, but I'll certain ly give it the old college try!

Not a Knitter

That is what my husband says .. he's not a knitter. Oh, he knows how to knit and all .. but he's not a knitter. But this is what my 'not a knitter' husband knit lastnight. Double-stranded Tahki New Tweed in colors 14 (black with purple and orange flecks) and 27 (purple/black multi with orange flecks).



And .. why yes, that -is- an advance copy of Open Season. A perk for working for the movie studios is occasionally they send us goodies. :)

In my own knitting news, I have completed my first Red Scarf. I so want to keep it for myself, as despite being acrylic it is snuggly and soft and warm, and longer than I am tall! I used a modification of the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, with only two cables instead of three because I wanted it to be nice and long and had limited yarn to work with. I think it looks lovely, don't you?




I'm now working on Red Scarf #2, which I will hopefully finish before January 25th so I can mail them off. I'm making this one out of Yarn Bee Italia - one of the many store-brand novelty yarns at Hobby Lobby, but admittedly one of my favorites. I'm using a pattern I found in a recent Knitter's magazine, one that makes it look almost like it's actually crocheted. It uses p4tog though, which is much more difficult than it needs to be. I'm managing though.





In that last photo .. you see the little skinny sticks, with butterflies on the end? Those are size 0000 needles. I need said needles for the bracelet kit my beloved got me for christmas. Yes, they are as tiny as they look, but I'm oddly excited to be knitting on them. :)

Working has, this week at least, taken over my blogging time. I haven't been able to keep up with the ones I read, nevermind the one I try to write in at least every couple of days. But the holiday season, for me and my employment, is over. My store is back in order, and looking pretty good I must say, and I can finally quit working 30-hour weeks in addition to being a house-wife. A homemaker. You know, those women that are purported to stay home and do nothing all day but magically the house stays neat and the dishes are done and laundry is kept up with and food is cooked? Yeah, that's me. 'Cept it doesn't all get done magically.

Anyway, I -have- been knitting. My first Red Scarf is nearly complete. I keep waffling about if I'm going to just use up the skein I'm using now, or stop the scarf as it is and send it. It's plenty long, but I think I don't want the extra yarn hanging around. I dunno. I also finished the back of my sweater, and started the front. And I'm knitting on my mystery shawl as well .. I've nearly finished a second pattern repeat, which I say is impressive since one repeat is 32-freaking-rows. I do intend on knitting some hats soon, but first things first, the scarves have to be mailed in two weeks. Then I can start the hats.

I do have to say thank you to Kristi for her post about how to use a nostepinne. I bought Jason one for Christmas, mainly because he likes the word, but neither he nor I know how to use one. Now we can try it out on one of his own handspun hanks of pretty yarn!

Here's an amusement for me while I wait for Burning Crusade to hurry up and release already. (I got to see the collectors edition as merch staff checked in todays shipment. One of them -will- be mine .. just as soon as Tuesday gets here. *sigh*)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Eminence the Very Viscountess Tania the Waspish of Frome Valley Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Grr.

Why does everyone adore Flickr so much? I mean, unless you actually pay for the dern thing, you can't organize it well at all, and it's impossibly frustrating to deal with.

Side note .. I -really- need to get more ram for my computer. It's disturbing to watch my words come up several seconds after I type them.

Anyway, I've decided to join the picture-a-day thing, in part to encourage me to actually use my camera. But because the insanity is too much for me, I think I'm going to limit posting of said pictures to once a week. (Snaggle-fraggin' computer .. it's not -that- hard to keep up with me, is it!?!) And I'm not, I repeat -not- going to use Flickr. I hate Flickr, because it's .. well .. it's Yahell, and I hates me the Yahell. And if my computer were behaving a bit better right now I'd decide where I wanted to post my 365 photos .. but since it's being a dipshit, I don't have the patience right now. It'll probably be Fotki, and I may actually pay for my existing account to use it that way, but we'll see.

Okay. All knitting progress is currently halted, as I need to go to Hobby Lobby to get more yarn for my red scarves. I did finish the back of my sweater and started on the front .. but there's not a lot to show for that just yet. And I'm not attempting to upload with the beast acting this way. Photo evidence shall have to appear tomorrow. Along with my first week's worth of photos.

I'm going to kill things in World of Warcraft.

Real Knitting Post

Okay, since I posted two totally non-knitting related things, I have to post something truly knitting related, right? (Isis insists she -is- knitting related .. she plays with the yarn too, after all!)



So, this is where I am with the sweater. -Almost- finished with the back.

I'm doing well with the shawl I'm working on .. halfway through the second repetition .. only about 38 more to go! (I can't post photos because it's for someone that might be reading this occasionally.)

I've been working steadily on a red scarf, but ran out of yarn today. This was the progress until I sat down to watch tv tonight with Jason. I'll be heading to Hobby Lobby Monday when I pick Brandon up. What kind of store closes at 8pm?? Wierdos.







Oh yeah, and I bought some books. I can't buy yarn until May, but I can buy books! (I actually purchased said books before joining the Stashalong, but y'know .. I had to make a point.)


So, I'm going to learn to knit socks finally, maybe even on two circulars, since the instructions are in the Sensational Socks book. And I'm going to use the Knitting in No Time book to help use up my stash. And the Knitted Flowers book I've been wanting for a while .. and it has instructions for sunflowers in it! Happy Tygher!

The was one other thing I wanted to show off... oh yeah. I'm not the only one in my family with creativity. My sister is about to start her own photography business apparently. This is a photo she took recently.


I don't know if she did anything to it, or just used filters and lighting, but isn't it beautiful!

Oooh, one last thing. Kate is asking people to knit fun-fur hats for Boston Children's Hospital. And who among us can say they don't have any fun fur? (And if you need some, lord knows I've a ton in my stash!) Don't you wanna help out?

Kitty pr0n

This is the good kind. I was going through my memory card today, and found a bunch of Isis shots I never posted. And since she's been Miss Bitchy Cat lately, I'm thinking it might be that she's upset for not being a feature of my blogging.


Kitty in her daddy's arms. She spends as much time as felinely possible in this position. As often as her daddy will tolerate her there anyway.

She was very curious about the strange spinning thing when it first arrived. Not so much now, so I'm glad I got a few shots. (Now she just chases the fiber as Jason's spinning it.)


Fiercen kitzen! (Actually, I woke her up from a kitty-nap and she yawned at me. But isn't she just darling?)





All together now. Awwwww.

Saturday Sky

I did actually get out and take pictures today, though I've been busy in the house and almost completely forgot to post them.




It's so very sad to see the buds already on the Bradford Pear trees. I'm terrified that the warm weather is gonna get them leafing out, and then the inevitable cold snap will come, and it'll kill them. Not a cloud in the sky after we got home from breakfast, since Jason didn't have to work till 11 this morning, and it was warm and .. well, spring like. Problem is, it's only January.

Ultimate Eye Candy Friday

I just got the most amazing shots ever .. of a rainbow. I watched it appear, while I was taking a few quick shots of the rain storm going over us, and quickly pulled off my UV filter. I saw where it began and ended .. it began on the dormer of the house catty-corner to ours, and ended in the field across the street. OH MY GOD THIS IS COOL!

There has been knitting progress, especially since I stayed home yesterday. But today, I have found a solution to womeryn-ly pain, though you'll have to read about it here.

I'll be back later to explore bloglandia more and to post and other some such.

My -intention- is to post actual knitting content today, however my womanly innards are not quite behaving, and I'm half doubled over, whimpering and cursing enough to make some sailors blush. I've already had to call my DM and tell her there's absolutely no way I can work today, which I hate doing cos we have really no backup help right now, but I simply cannot work. Hell, I can hardly sit, never mind stand! So. I've got a shower, made tea and oatmeal, and rubbed mineral ice on all my aching parts.

The lovely Norma, who won the Mom You Always Liked Better award at JenLa's, has thrown down the gauntlet. And I have to agree with her. The festering sore that is the poor grammar usage in bloglandia needs to be stopped. Hopefully, she'll let me in the band.

Speaking of awards, congrats also need to go to Chaos and Mayhem, for winning best couple .. but come on, was there even a question? And also to Trailing Yarn for her Fresh Blood Award, Cara for her Most Enthusiastic Knitter award, Lolly for Project Spectrum winning Best Meme, and to Sandy and Purley Whites for their Keep Blogistan Beautiful awards.

In other random happinesses, Lolly has announced Project Spectrum 2.0! Yippee! I've already signed up. Of course, this might interfere with my Stashalong efforts, but I -should- have enough yarn in stash to manage a knitted project for every two-month grouping.

February / March - Blue, White, Gray : This is the perfect month to work on my Hearstrings Smoke Ring. And maybe my Victoriana Top too. And I can felt another bag with the blue/black wool to give to Neely.
April / May - Green, Yellow, Pink : I have some beautiful green wild-stuff-type yarn that is begging to become a scarf or shawl. And all my baby yarns are pink/yellow/green, so I can work on some baby things.
June / July - Red, Black, Metallics : I can start on red scarves for the Red Scarf project for 2007. I don't think I have a lot else to knit in these colors right now, but I'm sure with some stash-hunting and judicious purchases I can find enough.
August / September - Brown, Orange, Purple : Socks! I have sock yarn in these colors. I'm sure I have other stuff too, but it's hiding in my stash right now. But definitely socks. Oh! And my brown/lilac scarf I've been dying to make.

So, yeah. Project Spectrum 2.0 begins in February, and I'll be beginning with it!

...

Now then. Have I been knitting? Yes I have! I've actually almost completed the back of my dot check tunic sweater, though it's on hold while I frantically work on red scarves for the month.





This was my progress yesterday before I started knitting on it again. It's a variation of the Irish Hiking scarf, because I'm only doing two cables instead of three. I don't know how long the yarn I bought for this scarf will hold out, so I'm making it a little thinner. It's now about twice as long as it was here, about 3' long I'd guess.

I've just discovered a Broadway play I absolutely adore is coming to town this month, so I'm waiting for my husband to respond to me so I can get the go ahead to buy tickets for us and a friend. So while I handle that, I'm going to go find myself some food.

Yikes!

I figured out how much yarn I have, not including the three bags with 'Wild Stuff' makings that I got for Christmas from Jason. I have 32,031 yards of yarn. 18.2 miles. 96093 feet. 1,117,152 inches. 145.6 furlongs. 9.49 parsecs.

Ouch.

Great Balls of Yarn!!!

Okay. I need help. In a huge way, and the Stashalong KAL is going to be that help, I can feel it. I had a huge cleaning push here at Casa Tygher Knits, and can actually see the floor in every room again ... and discovered I had yarn stashed away in places I'd forgotton about. Forgotten Yarn! The horror of it all!

Anyway, I have got to stop buying yarn, and I think the only way I'm going to accomplish that is by being accountable for my stash. Stashalong to the rescue!

Anyway, I'm choosing Option 1 for the moment, but I am borrowing from Option 3 as well, as I have a lot of things I want to get finished.

1. Candleflme Shawl - being knitted as a gift, so this is important to finish soon!
   
2. 'Dotted Check' Tunic Sweater - My first garment, and as such I really want it done before .. you know, march/April, when it won't be terribly wearable for long.
3. Irish Hiking Scarf (my variation) - Being knitted for the Red Scarf Project.
   
4. 3x3 Rib Scarf - Also planned for Red Scarf Project.
5. 'Cat's Eye' Scarf (from Knitter's Winter 2006) - Also for the Red Scarf Project -- All 3 need to be completed by the last week in January if possible.
6. Victoriana Top - Which I won't start until my other sweater is complete.
7. Heartstrings Beaded Smoke Ring - Again, should be finished before the cold weather runs out.
8. Tiny Beaded Scarf - I suddenly have a lot of beaded projects. Ack!
9. 2 pairs of socks - pattern undecided
   
10. Dishcloth KAL's to catch up on, which can be tossed in here and there.
    

I am chosing a 4-month period in which I will buy no yarn .. keeping in mind I can take 1 day off a month -if needed-. I have only one exception that I'm reserving for myself, and it will be used up in the next week or so: I received a Hobby Lobby gift card, and I intend to use it to purchase all the Sugar & Cream I need for the years KAL's from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL, and extra skeins for the Red Scarf Project scarves I'm working on, as I only have 1 ball of each yarn, and that just won't do.

Boughs of haul-y

Ahh, that's right, time for the requisite 'what I got for Christmas' post. Since it's still spread throught the house, it won't be too terribly tough I imagine.

So, without further ado:

• Kitchen stuff: a deep fryer, a mini cuisinart, a fondue fountain and a set of stoneware mixing bowls.
• Halloween stuff (It's my favorite holiday after all!): A silk scarf, a Limoges with's hat, a candle snuffer and a candle holder.
• Other non-knitting stuff: a quilted tree skirt, snowflake earrings, my 2007 Witch's calendar, a pirate devil rubber duckie, the new Loreena McKennit cd (awesome, btw!) and candy in my stocking.

The knitting stuff, which is numerous, includes:

• A box of pale blue Llama/Wool yarn and the pattern to make myself a coat - Yes, I'm actually going to take on such a large project, once I'm closer to done with my sweater.
• 13 balls of dark blue BabyAlpaca/Silk yarn and the pattern to make myself this top. - Not to be started until I'm finished my current sweater.
• 3 balls of pale cream BabyAlpaca/Silk yarn and the pattern to make myself this cowl.
• 4 hanks of handpainted Atacama Alpaca yarn, in colors 506 (pale tan with burgundy and blue and purple) and 513 (brown with burgundy and orange-ish spots). I'm probably going to make a shawls with it, but I'm unsure just yet. I have 220+ yards of each color.
• A stand-up basket lined with fabric to set by my knitting chair.
• A pair of lined baskets for my knitting bookshelf, for yarn storage.
• 2 pairs of Lantern Moon Destiny circular needles: 16" US 6 and 26" US 4. - And oh, are they a delight to knit with!
• A knitted, beaded bracelet kit with pale white beads - for which I have to find size 0000 needles. That's just damned scary. But exciting too!
• Half a dozen balls of Patons' Katrina in Lilac and Ocean. I love this yarn, though I've no idea what I'm making with it!
  

The day before the Day Before Christmas

I've gotta say, first of all, I'm loving the knew new Blogger. I was able to easily add link lists, and have been playing around with it in other ways, and I didn't even have to lose my rings this time. Fan-fucking-tastic! I'm not yet finished I don't think, but I'm close. I'd like to see a three column template available though .. I do better with threes.

Work has, for the most part, slowed down. I've got to work tomorrow, Christmas Eve, but it'll be in the morning, and then it'll be over, and it's money, dontchaknow. Besides, I've got to pick something up for Johnny, and Miss Neely asked me to buy something for her to give to her sort-of ex-husband. She is, of course, paying me back, but since I work there and all, why don't I just make her not have to leave the house. *growl* Ahh, friends, how I love them.

I've almost finished the Booga bag for Brandon's momma. Just have to knit and felt the strap, but the body is done. It's all ratty looking though, so I need to take a sweater stone to it or something .. it's got pills everywhere cos it got out of the pillowcase in the water, and I'm a bit miffed at that. Other than that though, it's looking good, and should have enough size to it for her, once I get a good strap on it. The plan is, to fill the bag with tissue paper and have it look like a gift bag .. maybe she won't realize it's part of the present!

It's cloudy and dreary today, and were it colder I might think it looked like snow. But since I can probably walk out in shorts it's so mild, I don't think we'll get so lucky. Nope, no white christmas for us down here. But that's okay.




Well, I've -got- to get going. I have a 6' I-cord to knit, and pictures to print at CVS, and other such fun things. At least that's the -only- thing I have to go out for today. Everything else is -done-. My tree is drowning in gifts this year, and not everything is there. Jason apparently has gifts hiding in the back bedroom, unwrapped. If I weren't such a good wife, I'd already know what they are. Damn me! I'll return and post pictures of the tree once everything I can wrap is wrapped .. that way I can start loading them in the car, since we head to Brandon's tomorrow after I work and we run out to bring a gift to Mardell, the woman I went to the church concert with momma with.

Speaking of moms, my mom sent Jason and I gift cards to Best Buy, so I can buy my PS2 and he can get his stereo to be able to use the XM I bought for his birthday. She also sent us little spoon lapel pins, because she sometimes doesn't have enough spoons. You can go here to learn more about the 'spoon theory'. Mom has given us a couple of spoons to hold in reserve for her, just in case, and it's making me cry right now just to think about it. Please, read the article at least, and think about someone you know with a chronic illness, and just imagine for one day what it's like to live life with a limited amount of spoons.

Success (And Knitting)

I know, I know. But I have an excuse. First of all, I've been working 30+ hours a week, which is like double what I had been getting when I started the new job. And second, school got massively crazy all at once towards the end of the semester, and I just didn't have time for anything else.

But I have my grades now, and a month off, and now I can focus on relaxing for a month before classes begin again on January 17th.

ART 101 - Art History and Appreciation - A
AST 101 - Solar System Astronomy - A
HIS 101 - Western Civilization to 1689 - A
SPA 101 - Elementary Spanish I - A

That's right, I have a 4.0 currently. Me. Mrs. hasn't been in school in over a decade has a 4.0 GPA. Woohoo! Now I just need to keep it that way.

I'm taking 5 classes next semester, but they shouldn't be too difficult, and I've decided not to try to take Stellar Astronomy considering the issues we had with the text and study guide not matching up. And besides .. it's too cold to be out observing the stars!

ENG 102 - English Composition II - 3.000
PSC 201 - American Government - 3.000
PSC 215 - State and Local Government - 3.000
PSY 201 - General Psychology - 3.000
SPA 102 - Elementary Spanish II - 4.000

One of those Jason is also taking, and one he's already taken, which is nice. The English Comp I have to take for my degree, as despite having a tone of English classes, I don't have another composition class, and the Spanish I also have to take for the credit, but it should be fairly simple to pass, as I had no problem with the first half. Wish me luck!


(There has been knitting of course, but not a lot. I've been working on a felted bag for Brandon's mom for Xmas, and it's fairly mindless knitting. I got a good 5 inches knitted lastnight while we went looking at christmas lights, but since it's black and plain it's not much to see. I'll post maybe when I have something to show off .. like finished product.)

Arrrr.

I don't scare easy. Believe me. No, your bitchy comments aren't getting posted. Why? Because they're bitchy, and I told you so. And frankly I don't have any interest in what you have to say.

Karma? Oh, I know all about it. What part of me saying I'm a Witch did you not understand? I'm well aware of what Karma is, and sadly, you aren't, clearly. So I'm not particularly worried about it, and you can blow smoke all you want dearie.

I'm a pirate now. Whee! I've always wanted to be part of a pirate crew. Maybe now I can find Cap'n Jack .. especially since he releases Tuesday. *purrr*

Just to make certain this is understood: I don't care what you little soccer-mom bitches say to me. Your lives are unimportant to mine. Your words cannot harm me. Nothing you say or do can change my life in any way.

Oh, and 'watching for me' in other swaps? You go right on ahead and waste your energy honey. You won't find me. This experience has ruined it for me. And I've run a swap far greater in scope than this one .. I should have known better.

I promise, there will be knitting content later. And yule tree photos too, since we finally got ours decorated lastnight. I've got to go to work, and then I'm going with my mother-in-law to a Christmas Concert at one of her work-friend's church. Yeah, I'm -such- a horrible, bad person that I go to church concerts with little old ladies that have no one else in the world to visit with. God. I'm just evil.

*laugh* Just had to add .. law of three? Lord and Lady, I'm not a Wiccan. At least have a clue when you -attempt- to attack me.

Gods forbid someone have an opinion that's unpopular.

I've had to set my blog to moderate comments because people seem to think they have a right to trash me. So, those of you that want to be bitchy, be my guest. Your comments will be deleted, unread. Have a nice day.

I don't blog here to be part of a popularity contest, and I'm not apologizing for my 'rude' and 'childish' behavior. I am who I am. Don't like it? Don't read me. I don't really give a damn.

Marco ... Polo!!!

Ugh. I'm so worn out, and the week's not over yet! Gah!

As I said the other day, Marco Polo has arrived safely, and is starting on his way out to another destination tomorrow. I couldn't even get pictures taken before my darling husband, who the swap was for anyway, attacked the packages of candy sent within. But I got some pictures once I wrested everything from his greedy little paws.

Look! A box full of beautiful stuff!

And inside, some -beautiful- fibers. Some utterly beautiful white merino (that hubby is afraid to work with until he gets a little better. He's having some issues with merino not taking spin well for him) and some simply fabulous BFL in a gorgeous colorway that I cannot wait for him to spin so I can knit it up into .. well.. something.

Candy .. that he broke into before I could pull out the camera. Very much his favorites. Thank you!

And finally, some tea, some cocoa and some mints which we both will love!

Thank you thank you thank you Amanda. Everything is much loved and much delighted in, and we have to say that being part of Yarn Aboard 2 has been just a blast!

EDIT: Unfortunately, Amanda of the Yarn Aboard deserves, after her recent comments on her blog and emails to be, no thanks. I entered this swap because I thought it would be fun, not because I wanted another job to do. Getting snippy and bitchy with me because I had the -gall- to not email my husband's thanks to her the moment I got the package is simply rediculous, insensitive, and prompts me to believe that this 'good hearted' woman simply wants to get all these packages back, and isn't really interested in the idea of giving. Gods forbid someone actually have a life. Gods forbid we have trouble going on in our home, in our lives, and not be able to email her immediately. Gods forbid we want to post our thanks for everyone to see, and not simply send an email, which I personally find cold and without a human touch.

So I am no longer a part of Yarn Aboard 2, I do not want to be a part of the contests she has running for it, and will not involve myself in any of this callous, uncaring woman's swaps. Actually, I will probably not involve myself in any further swaps with this bad taste in my mouth.