A Hat for Linda

This is the Zephyr Style Delite Hat, free on their site !

Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2006, had a double mastectomy in February and began her chemo treatments on Friday. This is the first one of my friends to go through this and it really hits hard.

Linda was my kids' counselor in elementary school, and became a close biking buddy. We did many charity bike rides together. She moved to the other side of the country 6 years ago. I can't believe it's been that long.

Linda finally met the man of her dreams and was to be married on June 2, 2007. Now she's planning to be back here in DC on that day to walk the Komen Race for the Cure with us, god willing. The wedding is still on, mind you. She just wants to have hair. (she used to have to buy an extra big helmet for all her hair!) And her honey is being just great through all this.



All three of us, the Starbikers, have knit her hats. We're hoping that her wearing them will bring her closer to us, and that they keep her poor naked head warm.

I'm Still Here!

Wow, It's been a little while! Last posted Feb. 24. Let's see, the week of the 26th was what I call "prelude to a headache". The migrain started Monday morning and sort of hovered all week. I thought It was finished with me on Thursday. I felt pretty good, went out and had coffee, got my hair cut. Then WHAM BAM Friday morning 3 am. It hit back with a vengence. It was ER time. The ER was surprisingly NOT empty at that time of the morning though. I think I waited about 15 minutes to be "triaged" and they thankfully put me in a dark room in the back. But I was there until 7 before I got my shot of Demerol and the pain stopped. So Friday was a wash, and when the pain began creeping back Friday night, DH said, :You have the drugs, take them!" So I took a whole Percocet, went back to sleep and woke up Saturday feeling pretty beat up. Headache gone, but beat up. So this past week was my get back on the horse week. Catch up on work, family stuff and school stuff. I looked back at my records, and the last time I had to go to the ER was March 06. So that's much better! Used to be, I'd go 3-4 times a year. And before I went on the beta blocker, it was much, much more often. Maybe by the time I'm done with menopause, they'll leave for good? I'm hoping!

So, while there hasn't been too much knitting, I have almost finished Clapotis, and a chemo cap for a friend, I did manage to frog an entire sweater. Yep, a FINISHED OBJECT is no more.



This is my Gedifra Trendy Tweed sweater. Sorry, WAS.
This is what it looks like now



My Gauge was off. The measurements were right on, but the armholes were too tight and I knew I'd never wear it. So It will be a top down raglan which is supposed to be knit in a bulky yarn

I love the yarn, It is a soft wool with a nylon acrylic strand running through it. So it's my Yarn Pr0n for this week. And here's my helper:



She insists on rolling around on my keyboard.

I'm A Classic

What Kind of Coffee are You?

You're a Classic Cup 'O' Joe!
Take this quiz!








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Pure Bliss!

I have 8 balls of this. I'm thinking a vest maybe. Unless anyone out there has 5 more balls in color 11, dye lot 62597. I'd love to make the Lara sweater from the Alpaca Silk book. But I need 13 skeins. I'm looking to come close to the dyelot.
This color is so rich and the yarn is about the softest thing I have ever knit with. I cannot have it languish in the stash for too long!

Not Too Late for Yarn Pr0n Friday…

Here is the photographic evidence of my trip to Tuesday Morning. Something called Darling, made in Italy, Nylon/wool/acrylic, enough for a sweater And something called Krista Metallic, made in Italy, nylon and cupro, whatever that is, couple of balls



Then there was this one, Jewels, wool,nylon, cupro. 4 balls.
How could I resist?

We Have Hats…

Bubble Wrap Cap in Patons Soy Wool Stripes. Nice pattern, Lark's Heart !


Favorite Scarf Hat - needs a bit of elastic thread around the rim. It's a little baggy after blocking. But it's warm and comfy and it matches my favorite scarf.

Pink is the New Black!

Blogstalking's assignment is: Pics of 5 things around the house in our favorite color.
CPurl already showed the red kitchen. Nice Red things! I love red kitchen things, Have a kitchen full of 'em! But will save those for another time. Here are my things:


My pink Uggs


Self explanatory, even if it is fake, I mean silk


My "Life is Good" ballcap


A Charles Rennie Mackintosh Rose


My bicycle seat


A Hall teapot

Oops, that's 6. Couldn't stop myself!

Be an m-and-m

I'm back walking after a week of migraine headache. 3.796 miles and "baby it's cold outside!" Here's some inspiration! Go be an m and m!

And I just got back from Tuesday Morning with a haul of yarn I didn't need. Photos to come!

[make your own]

Kitty on Knitting

I was just looking through some old photos and came across this one of Spicey sitting on one of the first things I finished.

Why do cats do this?

My Favorite Scarf

I made this one 3 years ago and it's my favorite. Lion Woolspun,(now discontinued :() Candy FX, Caron jewel box, lazer FX, Splash, and a linen/flax blend.

I had just enough left for a hat. Which I will photograph soon. Just have to get through this headache. Day 4. This has really screwed with my walking. I have a grand total of 0 miles walked this week. ZERO. Ah well, I'll get back on track next week. In spite of the headache We managed to get all the college apps in, and finish the Eagle requirements, and file the FAFSA (required for any type of financial aid for college) and finish the taxes. Oh, and my son turned 18 yesterday! Whoopeeee!

It's That Time Again!

Eye Candy Friday, Yarn Pr0n Friday, Wooohooo
I gotta try harder to post more than once a week! Jeeeez



Here is some Patons SWS for a Bubble Wrap Cap ala Lark's Heart . Thank you, Lark!

And PROGRESS has been made on the "Heart" scarf from Knitty



I've finished a whopping 11 repeats! 21" unblocked. Now, the pattern is written for a much bulkier yarn, but this will be really soft and lacy and I'll make it longer, so I'm maybe a third of the way finished. It'll be done by Valentine's Day, which was the intent.

And I walked 11.5027 miles this week. For all you 100 miler folks out there!
And it's Weekend Time again!

It's Friday!

This is Feza Kid Mohair and Alpaca with a Twist "Punch". They will be knit together for Knitty's "Heart" scarf.





This is Diesel. 18 pounds of Maine Coon cat, part dog, part bear. He is 4 and a half. And he rules the roost. He loves taking over the shelves in my office. He's such a pussycat, though, and will snuggle up in my lap when he finds me at the computer. There's not much room for him, but he snuggles for a while anyway, then moves to the more roomy shelves.

And last, but not least…



A 6.1655 mile walk this morning. Beautiful morning! Temps in the 30s, and sunny. But on the return trip the wind gusts were beginning to pick up! Made us feel better about the decision not to go out on bikes. I HATE wind on the bike!

Keeping Track

3.594 miles yesterday and 3.6811 miles today. Gotta pay for all those m&ms

And Here's to You…

I'm Bookends!

Which Simon and Garfunkel album are you?

…Mrs. Robinson -
I admit I'm a Simon and Garfunkle groupie. I have almost every "album" they put out. And this one's not too shabby. I guess I could be it, though I like the "Wednesday Morning 3 am" one better… I couldn't resist this quiz.

Oops, forgot a couple…

This makes 14!


Sampler top in Classic Elite Cotton Chenille, need to knit sleeves.


Orangina in Jeager Siena, this one's going r-e-a-l-l-y slow.

Ta Da!!!!!

12, yes folks, count them, 12 WIP's Or are they UFO's? Whatever.
Here they are (in no specific order):


Ribbon X-back in Tahki Capri, at the v-neck/halter top section.


Tivoli in Red cotton ease, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!


Marijke in Berroco Zodiac, an error in the pattern ground me to a halt.


Clapotis in Noro Sakura, great mindless knitting!


Glampyre's top down V Neck in Debbie Bliss Soho, coming along.


Emily in Classic Elite Star, at the bust increases.


Sondra in Berroco Seta, need to s-e-a-m.


Sizzle in Cotton Twist, I'm to the v-neck now.


Daria bag in Noro Daria


Kimono Jacket by Wendy Johnson in Silky Tweed, back done.


Cinxia in Danubio - I'm to the sleeves now!


Kim Hargreaves Sage in Rowan Summer Tweed, working back and front at the same time.

Obviously, the summer tops are on the back burner, and the Kimono Jacket and Clapotis are my favorites right now, but can you see why I CANNOT START anything NEW!!!!
But soon I should have a LOT of FO's!

14 Inches Done

14 inches done on the back of my Kimono Jacket in Elisabeth Lavold Silky Tweed. This is really nice and soft. After starting this project in three different yarns… third time's a charm!

And I walked 6.19 miles this morning! I think I may need the epsom salts later this afternoon. It was cold and rainy.

Back on Track

3.3048
Miles walked today
4 rows
Knitted on my Kimono Jacket
back in the past 4 days.

What a weekend! We celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary (it's actually the 9th of January) on Saturday with a party for 35 at my parent's home.
So Friday and Saturday I was a crazy person, running around trying to tie up loose ends, cook food and get the kids to their swim meet/track meet, etc.
Sunday I had a teeny weeny hangover. Must have been the champagne… or the lemon drop shooters…

So I did not begin Monday with the class at the gym. But I did walk!





25 years! WOW

An FO for 07!

Debbie Bliss Baby Alpaca Silk. It's Soooo soft, and not quite as gray looking as the photo. More of a slate color. It was gifted to my brother on New Year's Day. Finished that morning.

And I am not much for resolutions, but I figured I need to kick myself in the butt and get moving again. I found this on Cara's blog:



I'm in!
I had been cycling around a hundred miles a week back in October, and I just let go. I let weeks go in between rides. Not good. So I had been thinking about heading back to the weekly Strength and Tone classes (I dropped them years ago!), Yoga and walking.

So today I walked 1.4391 miles. Plotted on GMaps Pedometer . It's very cool. Now if I can just stick to it, Thru wind and rain and snow and sleet…