Blitzen's To Fault

Hey, it makes as much sense to blame someone else for my recent yarn purchase as to accept responsibility for it. Honestly, I just remember wandering into Serendipity thinking, "Oh, let's see what's new..." And then the next thing? I'm handing over my debit card.

The Encore skeins are going to be for the Tulip baby sweater (which I just *love*) for a certain Miss N up north in the great white that used to be Minnesota:






Meanwhile, the search is still on for late-spring sweaters for Mr E and Ms A. I have the yarn, just need the right pattern.

Now, this purchase was for the Aspen Wrap that I fell hard for while searching for a wrap pattern for a friend. It's Louisa Harding's Baby Kashmir:








I'm thinking we're now at the shameful part of my purchases. I do *not* know what possesses me to buy sock yarns. I have a pair that are going on three years that I've been "knitting on." And the *really* shameful part? I DON'T KNIT FULL SIZE SOCKS! Because I don't like things on my lower legs (don't go there), I knit ankle socks. Here, remember? I have 14 skeins sitting in my studio, that are going nowhere in a hurry:





And then I go and buy this yarn! Obviously, I'm the target audience of people in marketing who sit around in meetings saying, "Yes, it's the same damn yarn we sell over and over again. How can we repackage it to make it seem like new, magical yarn that practically knits itself? And sell it to people who take a decade to knit a pair of socks to begin with? How do we get *their* money?"

Enter this...then enter me and my smoking debit card:














My theory is that since it's a German company, it's my German heritage that made me buy it. Never you mind about the American, Japanese, Canadian, English, and Uruguian sock yarns in my stash. My story, that's what I'm sticking with this time.

Yes, fine, I admit it. It'll probably be a pain in the ass to actually use. And it will still take me a decade to produce a pair of socks for myself. Shame, shame, shame. (But damn it's cool!)

Since I was in so deep anyway, when I saw the new shiny from the makers of the Knit Kit, that went in the bag.




I'm off to go find a drink now...

Happy Holidays

Holiday WTF:
I made the unfortunate decision today to go out and take care of some errands. Tank had her nails clipped and I had to get the beloved FUBAR BB fixed (again, but we figured out the root issue and it's been fixed but good now).

PEOPLE! Not only does the first snow of the season cause people to lose all abilities to drive wisely in inclement weather, apparently last-minute holiday shopping causes people to drive as if they were participating in NASCAR trials except with a full field. As I was driving the Sumo Beast with a bit more caution, I saw seven (7!) near-collisions in an hour span of time.

I was never so happy to be home as I was this evening.


Tank Update:
She is well-pleased with the heated dog pad/bed. She no longer violently shivers (to the point of looking like she's having convulsions) while snoozing at my feet.






Knitting Update:
I had some holiday baking gigs get paid up this week. It helped offset some tuition and textbook bills for college and pay a medical bill. I had some leftover and after debating about it for three days, finally broke down and ordered the 5" length of Bryspun DPNs, sizes 2 through 8. I really like using these DPNs for the hats and mittens I knit. They should be here mid-next week.

The fingerless mitt #1 had to be ripped back a bit and re-knit. They were too long and the pattern was messed up a bit: I somehow began a seed stitch instead of 1 x 1 rib. Once the shorter Bryspuns get here, I can finish the thumb on #1. At SnB last night, I began #2. The Malabrigo Twist is lovely to work with (very smooshy soft) and the color is typically gorgeous Malabrigo saturated hue.








A Festivus Miracle*:
I spent part of the past week of evenings doing some research into this beautiful reader and determined to find one that wasn't the full price, new, and purchased from some business that wouldn't be accused in the near future of laundering money for the Russian mob (I succeeded, I think). I hope to have it in my hands by tomorrow afternoon. I already downloaded a few books to my MacBook:

Life
A Christmas Story
Johnny Depp
Strippers, Drag Queens, and Beauty Pageants

And borrowed from my library: The Dog Who Couldn't Stop Loving. The *main* reason I went ahead and purchased the Sony Reader is the fact that I can get books anywhere AND borrow titles from the library on it. I'm not stuck with Amazon's Kindle and what they have to sell me.
(*This is the only episode of "Seinfeld" that I watched in its entirety...brilliant!)


Tomorrow, ah, tomorrow I will show you pictures of my shame in using the remainder of my funds. Except I'm not ashamed of nothin'...

Baby, It's Cold Outside

And it's none too warm and cozy on the floor of my apartment.

There's a rather drafty slider door to my balcony which remains locked tight during the winter, but the cold just rolls in from the bottom of the frame, even with a rug banked against it. This means the Tank shivers quite a bit while hanging out with me as I work on homework, cook, write, screw around on the 'net...and this is when we hang together on the couch:




Can't see anything but a lump of blanket? Here, this is all that's showing, her cute little nose:




So, I found several heated dog pads/beds online and did some research. The best reviews I found and one that was on sale in a local store was put out by Allied Precision.




She didn't leave the dog bed/pad all evening, especially when I threw her dog blanket over her.

January with its protracted deep cold and winds makes it *really* uncomfortable. I basically abandon my living room and hide in my studio which is smaller and has a regular window that I have covered. However, that Tank stays in the living room during the day, so I ordered an indoor sweater for the Tank after my numerous failures in knitting her one.

A friend was razzing me about my having such a "wardrobe" for the Tank, and then the heated pad, to which I replied: "Do you know how much money I had wrapped up in her and her care prior to these items? This is my way of protecting my investment." To which she replied: "Oh bullshit, you're still just stupid in dog love for her!" and laughed.

All I could do was smile.

Phantom Limb

So, I upgraded my operating software (OS) on my Blackberry (BB) Curve 8530 as directed by the BB gods when I got the info on my Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

Unfortunately, when I got the new and groovy OS after a 45 minute download, it blew out my BBM so that I couldn't access it any longer. *GASP* I use the BBM more than I talk on the phone and I can talk a blue streak most days.

Now the BB is at the store I purchased it from last year, so that the "data tech" can downgrade the OS to what I had prior the fiasco of an upgrade.

Bloody hell. It's like I have a limb missing. I was at the grocery store to pick a few marrow bone bribes treats for the Tank, and PANICKED! when I thought it odd I hadn't heard from someone I had sent a SMS text to...couldn't find the phone. I'm sure I looked like a maniac giving myself the equivalent of the TSA pat-down in the middle of the Health Market section. I was about to do a sweep of the store when I remembered I had dropped it off.

First it's having to use Burt Bee's Foot Creme first thing in the morning and just before bed to keep your skin from cracking like an old orange, then it's your memory that goes; so sad when you get old like this and I'm only 44 yrs old next spring.

So in my frustration last night of being cut off from the BBM, I started a pair of fingerless mitts inspired by the ones a friend made me a few years ago. A number of persons had asked for the pattern it was made from, it's the Festivus Mittens pattern without the tree pattern:





JW used Encore chunky and carried a strand of kid mohair with it to give a soft halo. I'm still using these mitts.


The ones I'm making are out of Malabrigo Twist, in Tuareg, size 8 Bryspun DPNs. I'm almost done with the first mitt, I should be done with the second one tomorrow.

Who the hell you calling "Frosty?"

One of the members of the gifted SnB group created a "flurry of snowmen" for the holiday season. Of course, I wanted one in blue and with a bit of attitude, so I ordered one from her...


















Someone was not happy that I had closed the blinds and forgotten to reopen them after photographing the snowman. This had cut off the sunshine to her sunning spot.





Ahem...


Soames is now residing in his spot for the rest of the season, next to my collection of witches balls:




as well as my wee Buddha, and the felted basset hound a friend sent me:





If you would like to order a snowman, drop me a line or post a comment and I'll hook you up with the creator of Green Button Girl Creations!

Ensemble Complete

Last night we had more snow, so Tank was able to test out the boots. First, we had to get dressed...




Oh holy hell, they're back!



I almost didn't get any photos because I was laughing so hard: Tank would take two steps and do this kind of up-in-the-air jig with her back paws. I can only say that it resembled someone doing bicycle legs while jumping at the same time.

She finally settled down after a few attempts to fling the back boots off and with an application of organic turkey jerky treats, I got this pic:




You will not believe the mess I'm gonna leave in your bed later...


And I had to carry her down the stairs to the entry way, the boots put off her touch so much that she would have broken something trying to navigate them. Once we were outside in a few inches of snow, she was sort of okay with the fact her paws weren't freezing. In fact, between her warm coat and the booties, she frolicked in the snow for 10 minutes before demanding to go inside!

Of course, I had to remove the booties in the entry way, so she could climb the stairs safely. However, they slip off easily enough - and I was very happy with the way they worked on the Tank out in the snow!





This is about 30 minutes and one marrow bone later:

She's gonna chew my face off while I sleep...

The doggy coat is still "in transit" WTF that's supposed to mean by USPS standards. It could be vacationing in Miami for all I know.

However, I'm happy the booties arrived for upcoming deeper snows and January weather.




These are size medium for Tank's paws. While I'm *very* satisfied with the way they slide on her paws, she was less than thrilled.



Wha... There's something on my foot!





What did I step in?






OMG now they're on *all* my paws!





I really need a drink, I hope there's doggy gin in here.





What fresh hell *is* this?






Once these are off, I'm gonna go throw up in your bed.






You're kidding, me, right? A stupid biscuit for that torture? Where are the marrow bones of contrition and apology at?!

The Sweater Is Dead, Long Live The Dog Blanket Coat

This weather is ridiculous. We're experiencing cold temps that we normally don't see until January. Poor Tank is suffering and this sweater pattern is (yet again) not turning out row vs stitches.

Tank will now be be stuffed under this dog coat and since she starts limping and whimpering after a few minutes in the snow and on the ice, she's going to have her toes put into these dog boots.

Oh Rats

Finally! Some progress...at this rate, M will get this bugger in time for next year's bday (it was supposed to be only a few weeks/months late).






And there's the Tank in her usual sofa position while I'm *not* knitting. When I knit, she's trying to become one with my lap.




And here's the Tub O' Projects Yet To See The Light O' Day:






I hope to make decent progress on the scarf, I've carved out significant "leave me the hell alone" time this weekend.

Ready for her new home in Canuckland!

I hope Rose finds this wee pug as charming as I do - especially since I'm the worst person to sew anything up!









* * * *
The down and dirty details:

Yarn(s): 1 skein Bernat Roving (cork colorway) and 1/3 skein Bernat Roving (bark colorway) for pug; 1/2 skein Plymouth Galway Worsted (pink) and 1/3 skein taupe acrylic worsted.

Purchased: Mary Maxim online

Needles: size 9 circs

Time: for me 40 hours; for most knitters, 12 hours

NOTES: If I were to knit more of these pugs, I'd skip using a chunky weight yarn and drop down to aran weight and use wool. The Bernat Roving pulled apart too easy while knitting and split like a gold-digger who's main squeeze got nailed by a hostile takeover.