WIP

This simple white cotton project is for Véronik. I'm sure that I'm not giving away any secrets by showing the stockinette stitch!! This is a simple sleeveless top part of a twin set; the sweater will have some lace patterning, so it won't be all so very simple.

I knit on that to give myself a break from this work of art by Elise. Okay, but you know my deal - most projects are a secret. Trust me - it's really gorgeous, knit in Rowan's Felted Tweed and you're going to want to make one!!

And when I need something more interesting than stockinette and less involved than a colourwork piece I work on some simple cables for Bonne. Trust me, there are cables in there.

I am loving knitting along with Wimbledon coverage! Wimbledon is really the sign that summer is starting. I don't really have a single favourite player that I cheer on from the start but I usually have a favourite in each match.

Kerwyn was in a particularly patient mood and we sat through a 15 minute 2 hour presentation by these two ladies about their air purifier. The time passed fairly quickly and they really were very nice, but no, we didn't drop $3000 on it!!

The sunset last night was so beautiful - the lovely shades of pink confirmed the weather forecast of a gorgeous sunny day.

Hump Day Funny

My sister had this on her blog and, especially given the proliferation of Rx ads on TV these days, I thought that it was a hilarious way to start the day!!

Bad Mischief, Good Relay

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I give you the following 2,000 words.

The full-coverage extended warranty that I bought for Etienne is certainly paying off!
I have had to conserve battery power since the above teeth marks have probably most certainly severed the wires within rendering the 'power' part of the power cord useless. A new cord is on it's way and will arrive tomorrow!
I don't know why Mischief has suddenly decided that Etienne's power cord would make a nice chew toy. Hopefully my stern scolding & spraying water at her when she even looks at the cord will be a sufficient deterrent.

We rocked the Relay for Life - look at all of those scarves!! We have started off the 2007 donation year with 35 scarves & 1 hat! AND the DKC Knits for a Cure team was the 2nd highest fund raising team at our location (out of 60 teams) - thanks to your help!!

I will put up pics of actual knitting progress tomorrow. Only 3 more days of school & school bus driving!!!

Relay for Life

I am on Joan Kass's Downtown Knit Collective team again for the Relay for Life on June 22nd at the Forest Hill Memorial Park. I'm going to knit the night away and would like your support. I can't run a relay alone - please don't drop the baton.

Follow the link, click on "Pledge someone" to pledge myself (Wannietta Prescod) for Team Downtown Knit Collective in Central Toronto. Every dollar helps.

Thanks for your support!!


Edited to clarify the team name & location.
Edited again to add a date & map.

Still here ...

I've been trying to stay off of the computer so that I don't get sidetracked. I am very easily sidetracked. Amanda started this and I just couldn't stop myself from working on it. The table isn't big enough to lay out a 1000-piece puzzle, so I actually did most of it by running my fingers through the pieces in the box, picking out the piece that I needed and laying it in. I know, not very efficient but I have a very visual mind and it was amazing how quickly it came together. 3 days (I let Amanda help - I didn't want to take all the fun!). Then it was done, all 999 pieces. Yup. 1 missing. I'm going to email Springbok (I LOVE their puzzles!!) and hopefully they'll be able to send the missing piece.

What was I saying? Oh yeah, not getting sidetracked. I have much work to do so I am going to have to really stick to my knitting! I'll really try to get some pictures of my WIP up next week.

The Relay for Life is tomorrow night - so if you've been waiting until the last minute to make a pledge, then it's the last minute!! - then right back up home Saturday morning to watch Amanda and her gymnastics class doing their end-of-session finale. Trust me, it will be head & shoulders above that school talent show. I'm not worried!! Then maybe a nap.

OH!!! I got my June STR Rockin' Sock Club kit. I love it - totally my kind of colours. I won't be able to start on it right away, work knitting comes first & I'm still working on my February ones, but my longing for it will not wan. It will grow and deepen until we finally come together in an uncontrollable desire to make a sock. The anticipation that builds up will make our first stitch climactic!!

By the Power of ...

... you thought that I was going to say "Grayskull", didn't you?

Your Power Element is Earth

Your power color: yellow Your energy: balancing Your season: changing of seasons Dedicated and responsible, you are a rock to your friends. You are skilled at working out even the most difficult problems. Low key and calm, you are happiest when you are around loved ones. Ambitious and goal oriented, you have long term plans to be successful.

What's Your Power Element?

This one is kind of me - I have to question the "low key & calm" bit. Those who know me know that I'm rarely low key, and even when I'm calm it's only relative to my more normal state of energized.

You Are: 60% Dog, 40% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog. You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful. And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Are You More Cat or Dog?

Quite accurate.

What Wannietta did on the Weekend

There is yarn but no actual pictures of actual knitting.
Friday night - after I made sure that the power came back on at home - Amanda & I went up to the Ontario Handspinning Seminar at Georgian College in Barrie. It took us quite a while to find - I was starting to think that becoming a spinner was going to be like joining a secret society. But then we found it!! Not even 5 minutes after we arrived, Charlotte recognized me and said hi - it's so cool to meet people who blog and/or read your blog! It really does make the world seem small.
I wanted to check out a variety of wheels so that I could base a decision to purchase on my own experience (which would admittedlymore of a leaflet than a tome) as well as the recommendations of others. I would like to try out a Majacraft Suzie - does anyone know of a retailer in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) where I could take one for a spin? I know, I kill me!!!

I did fall madly and deeply in love with a Lendrum! Though my first experience was with an Ashford, I couldn't seem to get my mojo back with them.
Lise at The Yarn Source was really very nice and Amanda lent her a hand to ply the bit that I had spun. (After this, Amanda & I both forgot about the camera.)

Okay, maybe not so much 'madly' in love since I didn't buy him right then & there, but I keep thinking about him and this silly grin creeps onto my face. I'm sure that I'll order and pick one up this summer! I didn't leave empty-handed though. I bought an 1800m skein of laceweight alpaca/silk, a ball of the TOFUtsies that I've been hearing so much about and these really cool yarn/knitting themed words from IK. On the bottom left is the bit of yarn that I spun on the Lendrum - under Lise's watchful eye and gentle reminders it's definitely not overspun!!

Saturday was spent getting ready for and having a party. No reason, just a party. With Kerwyn in China it seemed like a good time to let Amanda have some girls sleepover.

My brand new stand mixer got used right away on a double batch of cupcakes & frosting. His name is Sir Mixalot - I love him!!

I filled and tied off about 200 water balloons - Amanda did some but had a hard time tying them off.

There was swimming in the neighbours pool.


Scrabble and a movie.

Amanda being not tired on Sunday at 5:30 in the afternoon.

Mischief wasn't tired either.

And Canada gets the Gold

Dear Back to Back Teams Around the World,

Well.

The Thirteenth Back to Back has been run and won.

The results are a day early because of the horrific State Emergency floods

in New South Wales, Australia.

The Spinning Knitwits & The Masters Apprentices unfortunately had to cancel

their challenge today, being from the flooded areas.

Our thoughts are with them and their families.

The three top teams bettered their previous times enormously.

Perhaps this was due to Edie Shipway & the Merriwa Jumbucks sharing their knowledge on how to beat that clock.

Sincere thanks to Edie and her team.

RESULTS:-

How exciting.

New country.

New Winner

Results:-

First :-

Toronto Spiders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

6 hours 00 minutes 18 seconds

Second:-

Bairnsdale Woolies. Victoria, Australia

6 hours 10 minutes 08 seconds

Third:-

Kurrajong Handspun Crafts, NSW, Australia

6 hours 34 minutes 19 seconds

Forth:-

Hitsujikouboh Masako, Chibaken, Japan

6 hours 51minutes 03seconds

CONGRATULATIONS TO:-

Lorraine Smith, Julia Lee, Denise Powell, Barb Jones,

Wannietta Prescod, Karen Richens,Judy Pergau

SHEARER John Steeles

Full result list will follow.

Cheers

Wendy

Wendy Dennis

Coordintor International ‘Back to Back’ Wool Challenge 2007

Talent is in the eye of the Mother

Amanda's school had a talent show and while I wasn't expecting to be blown away impressed entertained the whole night, but it was worse than I imagined (and I have quite an imagination)!! 2 hours of my life that I will never get back!! I took my knitting and used all my self-restraint to keep from using the needles inappropriately.
Amanda & Jenny performed a very good gymnastics routine - they spent a lot of time practising and it showed. Actually, all of the girls who did a gymnastics or dance routine did quite well. 2 girls who sang were good, one was actually excellent. The rest were torturous, one worse than the next, even when you thought they had scrapped the bottom of the barrel. The worst had to be the magic act where the poor boy could find the card & spent 10 minutes trying to get out of the chains ... with the key!!!
While I'm sure that their mothers are very proud of them and I totally give these kids props for getting up on a stage and performing, I really hope that someone who loves them doesn't let them think that their abilities are more than they are because Simon will rip them to shreds!!!
I asked Amanda if every student who tried out made it in. "Oh no!! 14 kids were told they couldn't be in it!" I honestly don't even want to know what their talents were!!
Yeah, I'll do it again next year if she wants to be in it. What's a mom to do?

On a completely different topic - Amanda & I saw this deer standing in a field the other morning. She was just standing there, the grass was so dew-covered that if there were another drop on any given blade it would have bent over from the excessive weight. It almost seemed like a scene from a movie - she heard me pull the van over and turned to look. Her ears perked up as I lowered the window and she just kept watching, waiting for me to make a move. She seemed to know when I was done taking her picture - she turned away, unconcerned until I started to pull away. The crunch of the tires on the gravel shoulder startled her into flight.

Mischief has taken to darting out the front door whenever she can. For some reason the Great Outside holds her in thrall and she takes what opportunities she can to answer it's call. I spent 20 minutes yesterday trying to grab her to bring her back inside. She's declawed plus I really don't want to take the chance that she'll get in a losing race with traffic or be picked up by someone. She does love it out there though and it really brings out her primal instincts - have you ever seen such an intense stalking gaze?
While she was out there I also managed to great a - if I do say so myself - wonderful picture of a bee on a flower. I'm not sure what it is - it looks kind of like a wild onion. She was busy all right - flitting about, sucking up nectar, paying no mind to me (phew!!!).

B2B pics

I've uploaded the B2B pics that Amanda took - have a peek.

And you know that I'm a sucker for these things! (I'm not a Snickers eater, but the description seems apt).

Snickers

Nutty and gooey - you always satisfy.

What Kind of Candy Are You?

And I'm afraid that we can't be friends anymore Sandra - I'm a middle finger and it just won't work out between us.

You Are the Middle Finger

A bit fragile and dependent on your friends, you're not nearly as hostile as you seem. You are balanced, easy to get along with, and quite serious. However, you can get angry and fed up with those around you. And you aren't afraid to show it! You get along well with: The Index Finger Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

Temporary Redemption

The offender, aka the boy, aka Kyle has worked fairly diligently and even quite hard at times and has redeemed himself temporarily for the sour milk/towel incident.

For 2 years since we have lived here I have truly hated the trees that are on either side of the front door. They are some sort of spready-out pine. They are unattractive at best, adding nothing to the curb appeal of my house and just plain old butt-ugly at worst.

I set Kyle to trimming them down so that we could pull them out. Here is a one in/one out picture. (Isn't it hideous?!) Why is it that I always forget to take pictures before something starts happening? Now, with both of them gone!! What an amazing transformation!!! The one on the left came out very easily; the one on the right must have been a few years older because it took quite a bit more effort.

Don't be silly - I can't just leave it bare! I think that I would really like a couple of Japanese Maples - they are so delicate that they wouldn't overwhelm the house. A semi-dwarf variety, not the lace-leaf shrubs (though they're gorgeous, just not for this spot).

Amanda & I planted flowers in the front beds - portulaca, verbena and dianthus. I really love portulaca - it's seriously hardy for full sun areas and is practically a succulent. Oh yes, and some red & yellow peppers - they're so pretty when they start putting forth fruit that they shouldn't be wasted in the backyard.
We also brought home some tomatoes - cherry & beefsteak, jalapeno peppers, english cucumbers and basil. I bought one of those upside-down hanging things for one of the cherry tomatoes. Has anyone tried it?
And some more flowers to fill a large container for the back deck. And potatoes - I just have to pick up some straw to cover them with. Trust me, it works and it makes for a much easier and cleaner potato harvest.
Amanda really loved planting the flowers and I had to hustle her inside for cleaning up and dinner - she wanted to plant everything tonight!! Tomorrow is supposed to be another lovely day so I have promised more gardening after school.

Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk

I agree - clean it up and get on with it.

But what if the lady of the house wakes up one fine morning, goes downstairs to wake up the boy of the house and with every step an odour - that can only be described as ass - becomes more pronounced. And when I say "ass", I don't mean a lady-like, well washed & powdered so that even her shit don't stink kind of ass. I mean a ridin' the rails hobo ass. The kind of ass odour that comes from using leaves (of a plant or newspaper) rather than Charmin' to wipe with. The kind of odour that comes from skid marks on top of skid marks, day after day, week after week, ripening. Yeah - you know what I'm talkin' about!! But it's permeating the whole basement - it's hard to pin down. A/C goes off, windows get opened and the boy is instructed to do a hard target search for forgotten snacks.
A few hours later the boy has cleaned a section of the carpet where he has admitted that he remembers spilling some milk a few days ago.

Okay good - it should get better now.

A few more hours pass, the hard working woman of the house comes back home and after getting a nice cold glass of water heads downstairs to knit & watch Y&R. Open windows have been fresh-airing out the house and all should be well with the world. You are an astute one, dear reader - the way you have picked up on my use of the modal verb "should". All thoughts of knitting were utterly banished as the smell of ass still hung in the air!! The boy claims no pertinent knowledge and has no viable suggestions.

With no idea what to do, the woman decides to go about her business - knitting, homework/shore supervision, dinner preparation & laundry, trying to inhale as shallowly and little as possible while in the lower level of the house. While mindlessly sorting laundry - I mean really, it takes almost no thought at all to sort whites/darks/brights - her eyes start to water. What could the boy have spilt on his shirt to make it smell like that? A few items later the air begins to ripple from the fumes rising out of the hamper.
edited to add: Remember the milk that had been split a few days ago? The boy sopped it up with a towel, then tossed it in the laundry hamper. And then put clothes on top. And didn't say anything. end of edit
The towel was a lost cause - right into the garage garbage, tied off and double bagged. The boys' clothes were washed in hot water with Javex Bleach-for-the-Unbleachables. Twice. They show no signs of their brush with Stink.

Should the woman shed a tear however, it will not be for the spilt milk. It could be for the loss of her favourite towel - once a thick, plush towel of soft pink and now a crinkled, sticky pink with greenish tinges. Truly a sad picture. The tears could also be from the stench of compressed soured milk (which we now know smells like ass) that had the strength to turn nose hairs & eyebrows to ash and peel paint. Fortunately the laundry room is unfinished and there was no paint to fall victim to the fumes. The tears may even be out of pity for the boy who seems to have been absent on the day that cleaning up spills was covered by the woman. And let there be no doubt in your mind, dear reader, that this lesson was covered!!

At this time you'll be happy to know that the ass smell is gone, the clothes are clean & fresh smelling and the woman has blocked her knitting (pics tomorrow Ada!!) and she will be going to bed. Even though it will be chilly tomorrow the windows will be opened again - just for good measure!!

And lest you begin to think that the woman is a deviant, she has not made a personal study of ass(es) and their odour(s). She is making ass-umptions based on conjecture and fictional literature.

And don't you doubt it!

Wannietta -- [adjective]: Sexually stunning 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com