It’s been raining for two days.  I need to cut the grass.  I wish the rain would stop.

BUT, optimist that I am (most of the time), I’m going to pop in a movie and ply this yummy deep blue wool/alpaca/silk blend that I got from my friend Bonnie.  I can’t wait.  I worked a bunch of night shifts this past weekend and got the rest of the singles done.  Now I can’t wait to see the actual finished project.  Plying is my favorite part of spinning – seeing how the yarn will turn out.

Had a little teenager crisis this morning that I hope I managed to ease a bit.  Something about being overwhelmed but how much work is due for French class.  One thing at a time I guess.

I’m still making tones of baby things but… I managed to sneak in a shawlette in there.

This is a cowl I made with the yarn I got in Chicago this past January.  I love hand-painted yarn.  BUT, it never looks as good knitted (or in this case, crocheted) up as it did in the skein.  I also might have miss-judged the circumference.  It’s too long to wear just like that and it’s a little tight to wear doubled.  I might have to undo it and re-crochet it at a later date.

This little blanket is for the photographer.  I crocheted until it was square and then made a border until I ran out of yarn.  EASY.

This is the Magrathea shawl/scarf I made for my friend Tina out of Blue Moon – Socks that Rock in Thraven.  I must admit that I’m not 100% happy with it.  It needed to be longer.  BUT, at $30+/skein, I wasn’t going to buy another just to use a few yards.  So, I modified the pattern a bit so as to not run out of yarn.  It worked but it’s a little short compared to the recommended length.  I think she’s happy with it.

This is another blanket I crocheted for the photographer.  I think it turned out great!  I love the texture of it.  I was at knitting circle last week, trying to figure out a nice crochet pattern (I like crochet for little blankets – it’s faster), and Karen told me to try this stitch – 1 single, 1 half double and 1 double.  You just do that throughout.  It was easy and it’s pretty.

Now comes the story of the cursed socks!!  My friend Denis’ mother wants a pair of long socks.  I have to skeins of this yarn.  It’s Black Lamb Merino DK.  I’m not a fan of this yarn.  Not sure why.  I’ve used it before in another color and it was absolutely beautiful (I totally wanted to keep those socks for me).  But for some reason, this yarn isn’t plied the same or something.   Anyway, I started a patterned toe-ups.  Hated them.  Ripped them back.  Started plain toe-ups.  Hated them.  Ripped them back.  Started plain regular socks.  Was worried she wouldn’t like them.  Ripped them back.  Found a pattern for knee socks from Drops.  Not a fan of their patterns.  I don’t know if it’s the way they’re translated that I just don’t find them clear.  I lost where I was in those so I ripped those back.  Tried to make up my own knee sock pattern from the cuff down but got worried I would run out of yarn.  Ripped them back.  I’ve since started a new toe-up but somewhere in the last week, I’ve lost one of my dpn’s.  I’m going to keep going though.  BUT, I’m frustrated as hell with these socks.  I’m going to finish them if it’s the last thing I do!!!

I have one last thing to make for the photographer.  It’s another one of these:

That’s the last one I made for her.  Cute eh?  And easy.

But first, I ply!!!

Oh, I whipped this up yesterday for my earplugs.  As if, I know.  But I think it’s cute as hell.

Yesterday, I went to Yarn Forward in Ottawa for the first time.  It’s a pretty cute store.  Decent selection.  I got this though… fell in love with the colors:

I got a couple of other skeins to make tuques for some friends.

I have a few shots of the climbing gym and how silly we can get sometimes.

This is my friend Steve.  He’s very patient with me and how much I have to learn about this sport.  He encourages me and gives me a lot of high-fives when I do well.  I like that.

This is me at the shooting range.  I’m taking a gun course at the end of this month.  Figured I should probably get comfortable with a gun.  I’m almost there.  Hahaha.

I won’t lie.  It’s a bit scary.  But it’ll be fun when I stop being such a wuss.  Haha.  On the up side.  I’m pretty sure I hit the target each time.  Where I hit the target, I’m not sure.  It’s a pretty decent-size surface.  Hahaha.

I’m also starting my motorcycle course at the end of this month.  I’m really excited for that too.  Got my gear already.

It appears as thought I’ve got a very exciting summer ahead of me.  Can’t wait!

In my last post, I said I had to stay put for a while to pay down my travelling debt.  That may be true but it doesn’t mean that I’m sitting at home doing nothing.  Quite the opposite.  I’ve been out there trying a bunch of new things – things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time but always had excuses for.  I got myself a harness, climbing shoes and a little chalk bag.  I’m climbing in a gym so that I can be good enough to climb the easy stuff in the out-of-doors this summer.  There are a couple of decent climbing spots within a few hours’ drive from home.

A few weeks ago, I registered for a gun course.  Not really sure why, but I’ve been wanting to learn to use a gun for a while.  Sounds odd right?  Whatever.  So it’s odd.  I’m ok with that.

Two weeks ago, I got my M1 – that’s the learners permit for a motorcycle.  Yesterday, I registered for the course because I have no idea how to drive a motorcycle.  So, you ask “Why would you get your licence?”.  Because I can.  Hahaha.

I’m still knitting a lot and spinning a bit.  I’ve made what feels like a hundred baby things for that photographer.  I was so glad to make my friend Steve a tuque – something for a grown up!  Yay.  And I finally finished the socks I started in Banff.  Took forever.

And a few grown-up things!  Yay.

Be back soon… hopefully.

January 20th.  As if!  That’s the last time I posted.  Can someone tell me where the time goes cause I can’t seem to figure it out!

I’m not sure why I didn’t post any pictures of Chicago… oh yah, must be cause I posted pictures of too many other things. I’ll post a few today… just because.  Brian and I had a great time.  Travelling with friends who are in to the same kind of things as you is really AWESOME!!!

We ate, visited museums, ate, went to the yarn shop, walked the waterfront, visited an old-school camera shop, ate…  It was seriously wonderful.  I can’t wait for my next jaunt with Brian.

A few days after that last post, I left for Dominican.  Went to a friend’s wedding down there and had a blast.

Then I came home for just over a week and left to meet up with my friend Denis in Calgary.  We went to Banff, Canmore and Calgary.  It was a really awesome trip.

Total BLISS.  I’m madly in love with the Rockies!!!

Now I’ve been home for about a month and a half and must stay here for a while.  I’m really broke.  Haha.  I’m really not happy about having to sit still for a while.  But, it is what it is.

However, I have made some new friends and become closer to old friends and it’s been great.  I’m doing things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.  I’ll post about those later.

No new tattoos… the itch is there though.  ;)

And, that’s what I’ve been up to so far this year.

When I was in China this summer, the students we met in Shanghai informed me that 2012 was the year of the dragon.  Turns out I was born in the year of the dragon.  This means that this year, 2012, is my year.  Technically, I’m a fire dragon and this year is the year of the water dragon but, let’s not get technical here.

LE DRAGON:

Occupying the 5th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dragon is the mightiest of the signs. Dragons symbolize such character traits as dominance and ambition. Dragons prefer to live by their own rules and if left on their own, are usually successful. They’re driven, unafraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They’re passionate in all they do and they do things in grand fashion. Unfortunately, this passion and enthusiasm can leave Dragons feeling exhausted and interestingly, unfulfilled.

While Dragons frequently help others, rarely will they ask for help. Others are attracted to Dragons, especially their colorful personalities, but deep down, Dragons prefer to be alone. Perhaps that is because they’re most successful when working alone. Their preference to be alone can come across as arrogance or conceitedness, but these qualities aren’t applicable. Dragons have tempers that can flare fast!

Considering their hard-working nature, Dragons are healthy overall. They do get stressed and suffer from periodic tension/headaches, likely because they take so many risks.

Dragons prefer leading to being led.

Dragons will give into love, but won’t give up their independence. Because they have quick, sometimes vengeful tempers, their partners need to be tough-skinned. Dragons enjoy others who are intriguing, and when they find the right partners, they’ll usually commit to that person for life.

A Fire Dragon’s emotions can flare instantly. Fire Dragons put themselves on pedestals, and because they react quickly and recklessly, they sometimes make wrong decisions. Fire Dragons need to slow down and keep their tempers in check as that’s when they’re best.

That’s totally me.  Even the bad stuff.  I’m very much ok with it.  

So, this year, I’m going to make things happen!