Pischi Days

Finally, a New Surface

After countless redesigns, poor miters and endless delays (the cobblers children have no shoes), I finally have my new mantle. It is a maple stained cherry and created with multiple crown moldings coupled with a dental design and ogee edged 1 1/2" thick tops and bottoms. I've had the corbels for over a year. As for the cost...I don't want to think about it. I am very happy and now have to think about what to place upon it. Oma's saying doesn't look as good as it did on the old mantle.

Before

After

Details

                                                               

The tile work was done by our tile setter, Ed and Glen built and installed the mantle. The design was my own.

UV Factor 10

With Erik at camp, Tom and I have the weekend and the boat to ourselves. The weather has been very wet and Sunday came as a pleasant sunny surprise. The boat launch traffic at River Breeze in Edgewater was fairly light so we were off in no time. We motored north on the Halifax toward Ponce Inlet. After passing under the overpass and around Bouchelle Island Tom looked up we saw this unusual rainbow behind the clouds. I'm surprised that my camera captured the colors.

and again...

They look fake, don't they?

As far as knitting, I took 3 projects, all of which I had left either a needle, the contrast yarn or the instructions at home. So I improvised and unraveled a sock for the CIC, not in the C&L pattern and began knitting to comply!

Knitting Jewelery

I was given some wonderful stitch markers. I work with Connie who makes her own beads that are so original and colorful. We were checking out each others hobbies and I told her about the markers that I have seen online. Many not nearly as unique as hers. No sooner said than I arrived at work to a small envelope containing these. I want more...in all sizes Connie sells her beads on eBay. I hope that she makes some markers and tries to sell them as well. I think that her spare beads are perfect, they have weight and substance.

I am slowly working on my socks in between this sweater. This is the Tricotine that I had for years. I just hope that I have enough and don't have for rip it up yet again!

Found: 1 Knitting Group

I attended a knitting group that meets at Barnes and Noble every Wednesday. The all seem very nice, they're knitters, right? The facilitator is a grandmother and represents a company called Knitablility. She sells yarn, needles and the like and is also qualified to teach. She had the most beautiful felted bag, entrelac, in shades of blue and purple. Her current project was a similar bag in cotton in greens and purples. I sat next to a woman who was spinning alpaca with a drop spindle. She told me, at one point, that she doesn’t buy her yarn at the local shop in Cocoa because they don’t sell pure fibers. She prefers natural, sheep, cotton …I think she said that she grows cotton. Apparently this woman started Fiber-In. The woman across from me was also an earth mother; she was knitting the most beautiful sweater in shades of purple. In wool, of course.  She also likes “Peace Fleece” and Philosopher’s Wool” and is part of the 6sox group and had her Chutes and Ladders with her. It was beautifully knit in a shade of green wool. She also doesn’t post much either, if at all. Then there was a lady who was crocheting lap rugs for seniors and must spend time up north. The rug that she was working on was in sunset colors and a chevron pattern. Another lady joined us later on. She was a new knitter and seemed to like sparkly, expensive synthetics, like me. She was knitting a cute sweater out of Berrocco Zodiac.

I knew that there were yarn snobs who shun Red Heart and Lion Brand, me for instance…it just never occurred to me that it could go the other way. I don’t think that I will ever grow, spin or dye my own. I don’t know if I can attend every week except for during the summer. Maybe twice a month.

It was great to knit with like minded, synthetic or not! Here are some of the yarns that I purchased on my trip to Macon. I paln to make the scarf out of the Berrocco and the cotton yarn, well, not sure, it's supposed to be sock yarn but it has no elasticity at all. On the the girls at the group last night complained about the socks she knit out of 100% cotton and was wearing. Apparently they get pretty saggy baggy.

Blast From the Past

I just returned home from quaffing a bottle with Lisa. Tom said that he just received a call from a collection agency wanting me. They were looking to collect an overdue amount of $22.00 for a parking ticket that I incurred in, get this...1988! That was what (not sure I can count that high right now) 17 years ago. Tom thinks the agency is in New Jersey and the operator from India...Pakistan...somewhere in Asia, probably outsourced. This got me thinking about how the hell it could have been triggered. When all the fuss about missing children, sexual predictors went down, the papers were full of the .gov website to check for bad guys in your neighborhood. After many prompts, who can resist to snoop with impunity. As I was looking up our zip code the faces were listed in alphabetical order on the left. I was perusing the addresses when Erik walked up behind me and recognized the boy across the street. I would have never noticed the mugshots resemblance. Anyway as on site lead to another, I discovered that one could type in anybodies name and...poof... there's their rap sheet. Mostly innocuous stuff... like traffic tickets. I plugged in my name an saw that there was a ticket in my name from 1988. After a call to an officer friend, he assured me that it must have been overlooked, it got me to think back to past transgressions.

I used to work for Walden's at our local mall. I remember having to haul books in my car, from on location to another, particularly during the holiday season. Bestsellers one store or another had a glut or lack thereof. I remember parking in the no parking zone and leaving my trunk ajar. A young overzealous officer, female, was busy ticketing my car. I argued to no avail. I remember opting for a court date. I even remember hauling out our ancient Polaroid camera and taking a picture of the "Unloading Only" sign. I  recall wearing a fetching purple Benetton sweater/skirt ensemble, complete with black silk scarf. I remember being mortified as every defendant plead trooped past the bench, pleading guilty to DUI's, speeding, driving with a suspended license, etc. I though, God, I don't have a chance. The judge was surprised as I plead not guilty. After presenting my photos and my well prepared case, he smirked and pronounced the not guilty verdict. I had my day in court. So, why am I now being hounded for the 22 bucks...stay tuned.

Om to more pleasant matters, I have completed my first baby sweater and used my old Teddy to as a model. The chenille is very shiny and after 3 tries have settled on this photo.

I have frogged the Pingouin ribbon( for the 3rd time) to begin the next sweater.  I so want to begin the Tigger sweater but feel the need to knit up the past as best  can. I'll have to ask Julie if she remembers the shopping trip in Flushing. The yarn has finally become attractive and fun to knit. I truly have knit 3 things that never were completed. Maybe 4 times a charm.

Off to Camp

Erik and I made the long trip to Camp WinShape in Rome, GA leaving Titusville at 4:00 AM. The trip really wasn't as bad as we both expected it to be. I was dreading it because Tom, still recovering from surgery, couldn't come with us and Erik was equally worried that he had to spend endless hours in the car with his mother! He has a smile on his face because we stopped for breakfast at the Georgia border.  Hope fully Tom will be feeling up to travel when the time comes to pick him up at the end of July.

After getting the heave ho from my son, I swear the dropping off process to less time than taking him to school, I drove south again and spent the night in Macon. What a great little town. The downtown area is beautiful, albeit empty on a Father's Day Sunday evening. I drove up and down the streets and saw a wealth of homes that must have been built in the late 1800's. The prices are reasonable as well. Tom and I are going to be looking for a second home somewhere in Georgia, preferably on the water. I had visited a local B&N bookstore and spent 2 hours browsing, mostly for things to tuck into camp care packages. I looked into the local interest section for places to eat, not wanting to eat at the chains. I ended up at an buffet downtown eating fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, fried crab...you get the drift. It was all delicious though.

Macon has a great yarn shop, Me & Thee, on Ingleside. I had a great conversation with the owner and bought some Berrocco yarns to make a sparkly scarf, cotton sock yarn for socks and a Reynolds pattern for another baby sweater. I still have Penguin ribbon cotton that I bought on a trip to  New York in '82 I think. The stuff is bright orange and I have a skein of black. The sweater should be cute though.

When I got home I had to start on the sweater right away. Fining needle is always a problem form me. It seems that in the tangled messy mass, I never have the right size. I found some in a box of yarn, a place that I had the ancient Penguin for the sweater. There are unfinished projects dating back to 1980. All in a tangle. Be for I buy anything else, I promise that I will untangle mess and actually attempt to find patterns to use up some of this stuff. Really!

Mid June

I'm having a hard time believing that we're already into the middle of June. Erik is leaving for camp on Sunday. I'm taking the trek to Mt. Berry, GA by myself, Tom can't get out of work. Hopefully we can get everything packed and into the car by Saturday night. I have planned the trip to begin at 4 AM so that we arrive by around 1 PM. I plan on 2 breaks and a marathon drive up the east coast of Florida, over into the panhandle and on up I75 through Georgia. Camp Winshape is part of Berry College and just outside of Rome. Erik will spend 6 week there. Good for him and good for me! I'm sure that I'll miss him but its good to have our space.

Driving up by myself has me humming the theme to Deliverance. I couldn't find a road trip partner due to the impending Father's Day Sunday. I'm spending the night in Macon and if time permits will try and visit the yarn shop, Me & Thee. I would like to spend more time and meander back. I will make a pit-stop in New Smyrna and maybe hit JB's Fish Camp for some fine dining. Unfortunately work will resume on Tuesday.

I wandered into the guest room, junk room and pulled out some old knitting projects from ...ashamed to admit it, 20-25 years ago. I didn't think I had a stash. I just forgot. My figure has matured since some of these projects started and I'm sure that there is no way that I could hole to fit in them now. Maybe I could start by pulling out the individual projects and finish them between socks. What I'll do is take a picture of each sweater and work my way through the pile or just close my eyes and pitch! I saw yarn going back to 1980 in there...may even earlier. What a waste!  I'll see what I can accomplish by tomorrow.

Finally

Coming home to 3 boxes from 3 different yarn companies is such a joy. Just like Christmas. I can understand why one gets itchy fingers and has so many projects going at one. I am determined to finish the chenille sweater before casting on any more. My poor 6 sox is languishing away untouched. Among my loot is the second ball of Elann sock yarn so there are no excuses. Progress so far...

The chenille is so blinding and hard to photograph, but I think that this is a good representation.

The yarn above is for the knitty sweater called Tigger. The Skacel yarn is so soft and the colors so vivid. The tape yarn from Berrocco is a perfect math. The designer just had this stuff laying around ...imagine. My next purchase will be some cashmere yarn. A library book, Vogue Knitting On the Go, I think its called, has a baby sweater in a seed stitch with silk ribbon embroidery. I tracked down the yarn...$23.00 for 50 grams. I would need 250 grams. Too pricey for a baby to spit up on. Beautiful though. I was told that Debbie Bliss has a nice cashmere blend called Cashmerino. Maybe I'll give that a try. I should really make my family something next. Tom could use some new socks and maybe I could knit a hoodie for Erik the slacker.

In the Pink

I call home every day and hope that the yarn for the little sweater has arrived. Its Saturday and still no packages. I had to try out Connie's yarn, Sirdhar Chenille in the most beautiful watermelon. I found a sweater on Magknits site, this one was knit in Cascade 220. I decided to make the larger sweater and hope for the best the Chenille requires a 4.5 mm needle. The neck is taking shape and I can see the sleeves appear as well. I'm not so sure that I'm a fan of bamboo. When your hands perspire and they do in this humidity, the yarn just sticks and its a chore to move them up the needles. I'm going to place smaller buttons on the sweater. I may not have a yarn stash, but I certainly have a button stash!

Our weather has been wet and rainy due to the storm in the gulf. Hurricane supplies are flying off the shelves. I balanced the check book and saw that we spent $300.00 on ply-locks, black jack roofing tar and tarps in case the roof leaks. I don't think that I can stand another season like last year...too depressing.

Tom has harvested our abundant basil from the garden. I can smell the strong garlic scent from out here on my porch! The wealth of herbs is a positive byproduct of all the wet weather and the sun not burning up the plants.

Bedside Manners

Arrived at the hospital around 10:45 this morning. Tom had his backside surgery today, right in the middle of his vacation of all things. I sat in the second floor surgery waiting area and was able to turn the heel on the sock that I'm working on. Francie and Maria found me and we caught up on news. The hospital had a string trio play in the atrium during the lunch hour. It was very serene for a hospital setting. Tom's surgery went well according to the doctor. He should be up and about in the next few days.

I ordered the yarn for a baby sweater that I plan on making for Christine's baby girl. Gianna isn't here yet and the sweater is a toddler 2 but I think that the work involved is better spent on that size than a 6 month old. I found a great pattern on knitty. the pattern is called Tigger and looks like it will be fun to knit as well as quick. Well, I do have 2 years. I ordered the yarn , Skacel Luxor and Berrocco Zen Colors from 2 different sources in the same color that the designer used. I'm not feeling very adventurous yet.

I will post progress as the sweater grows.

My 6 sock progress photo was posted today. This is my first attempt at a knit along. I just hope that I can keep up with the group. I don't really wear socks and I have yet to find a sock yarn that I love. I do love to knit them though. Socks are quick, cheap and portable. Maybe the "yarn of my dreams " will appear...someday.

Monday, Monday

Erik's first party, Friday, was a success. I learned a lot about adolescents. That they take up a lot more space than adults do. Their attention spans are as short as ever. Hormones have an aura. I was reminded of something Jackie Kennedy said.

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.

Return to work after a rainy weekend. I was actually productive and learned that 8 hour days are easier than 6 hour days. I finished a kitchen and have 2 more to go before I'm caught up.

I am avidly knitting my Chutes and Ladders sock. The white just doesn't seem to show up when photographed. The other sock is for CIC and is a Regia variegated wool blend. I want to start another project, something small for a friend baby, not yet born...Gianna. I'll have to see what I can come up with...

Short Week

Its been a short but hectic week. Erik graduated 8th grade. See the pictures mixed into the EPCOT photo album. We had a small, very last minute party with friends. I know that he is exited about finally leaving the charter school environment, Sculptor for a proper public high school, Titusville High. Friday night will be a crazy evening with Erik hosting a movie night for 18 of his friends. It should be interesting to see them all huddled around our 27" set. No high definition here! I'll be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for the hungry masses.

6 Sock has posted its newest in hosiery, Chutes and Ladders. I think that I will try to make these from Coats LusterSheen in white. The socks that I am knitting for my CIC contribution is a leftover skein of Regia sock yarn. After my friend Deborah rearranged my bedroom, she convinced me to rid the room of the TV. Bedrooms are only for sleeping and sex. Her words. Sleeping sounds pretty good to me, when I can get some. Oh, reading and knitting, too.I asked where the offensive TV will go. "My bedroom", she laughed.  So, a trade was made for a bowl carved by some friend in Chicago. A precious heirloom, a dear friend. Turns out the bowl has never seen the light of day due to time spent in basements and trunks of cars. I now am the proud owner of a bowl that has been oiled an contains the pieces of the mohair "Cardie from Hell". Love the color, hate the yarn, adore the bowl. It sits on the floor in my newly stripped down bedroom. I am sleeping much better.