Eye of the Storm

You ever wonder where you fellow bloggers live? Well, from now on when I tell people where I live, they'll actually know. Unfortunately, they'll know all about "Melbourne, FL" because tropical storm Fay has been sitting over us for the last 36 hours or so. Thankfully, we are safely nestled away in our home with our storm shutters down over the windows. We only lost power briefly this morning and my DH finally figured out what was wrong with my internet connection so we're good. The only time we leave is to let the dogs out. There is some flooding of nearby roads so we can't get out of our community but our actual road is OK.

It also means lots of time for knitting. I'll be done soon with the body for my Licorice Whip (take 2). Depending on whether or not I'm tired of it, I may go back to working on the socks for my FIL or get started on the sleeves right away. I have some other things to share so as soon as it clears up long enough to take some pictures, I'll share.

ETA: DH just found out work is cancelled for tomorrow too because of all the clean-up and residual flooding tomorrow. Unfortunately, they also announced the make-up days-he'll be working a few weekends but that's better than taking unnecessary risks on the road. I hope everyone is safe.

I'm back!

I know I have yarn and fiber to give away but I am sorry to say that I have not picked the winners yet. Sorry! My inlaws are coming tonight so I'm thinking Monday will have to be the big day so I can try to reach winners via email over the weekend.

Alaska was beautiful and I highly recommend that if you ever have the chance, you should go. The marathon was tough and there were moments where I wasn't sure I would make it. Thanks to the support and reassurance of DH (who stayed with me the whole way, isn't he great?), I made it across the finish line. But best of all, I raised lots of money for a cause I believe in (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) and I had a good time training. I may even do it again some day...

Have a great holiday weekend!

Last Raffle - Lots of Prizes

June 21st is my first marathon. As part of the fundraising effort to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I'm raffling off the rest of the prize yarn/fiber. Just a dollar gets you a chance at a prize and for every $5 you get 6 chances. Donate at http://www.active.com/donate/tntcfl/tntcflBGuzman. Technically, I get an email from the site but you can also send me an email at betzig AT gmail DOT com just so I know to be on the lookout.

Look at all this fiber goodness (and one could be yours):



Yarn: YarnAhoy Desert Song
Content: 50/50 silk/merino
Yards: 1250 yds



Yarn: YarnAhoy's Velvet Night
Content: Cotton/lycra (great for summer socks or for those with wool allergies)
Yards: 375 yds



Yarn: YarnAhoy's Royal Peacock (I think, she donated the yarn and it doesn't have a tag)
Content: 100% Superwash merino
Yards: 375 yds



Yarn: YarnAhoy's Hummingbird's nest (I have two of these skeins up for the raffle)
Content: 100% Superwash merino
Yards: 375 yds



Fiber: 100% superwash merino roving
Weight: 4.7 oz

The details: the marathon is this Sat. and we're hopping on a plane on Wed. so I'll use a random number generator to pick winners after we get back. We get back June 27th so that means all prizes will be awarded in 2 weeks. One person per skein/fiber. Remember, all it takes is $1 and every donation goes directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Thank you!!

For the love of ravelry

I know not everyone is on Ravelry or would care to be part of it, but it has saved my credit card from over use. Although I have bought yarn (for a good cause to be sure, but still) so my diet is a bust, I am trying very hard to stop myself from spontaneous/"must have now" purchases. I was cruising through some pattern pages and that, of course, leads to yarn pages and next thing I know I'm looking at yarn shops online. In fact, I was looking at some laceweight on a discount site when I remembered that I already had some of that yarn in my stash. I flip back to my stash page on Ravelry, and there it is--no need to get more. Phew! Because if I had bought said yarn, it would mean that I would have had to buy more just to get the free shipping. I mean, really, why not spend just a little over the shipping cost so there is something to show for that additional expense? (Yes, this is how the slippery slope of gratuitous yarn shopping happens.)

I've worked on the ABC afghan and finally finished the ribbing for some socks for my FIL but neither show any exciting progress. I'll work on them tonight so I have something to show for my time (other than leaving comments on everyone else's blogs).

C is for crochet

I gave in to the temptation and started a crocheted baby blanket. My college roommate just had a boy and another friend is supposed to have a boy next month. Since I don't have really boy-appropriate yarn in my stash (stop snickering, its true that despite all that yarn there wasn't anything just right for a baby blanket for a boy), I fell victim to the acrylic at one of the big box stores. Now, not all acrylic is equal. Sadly, I got some crappy acrylic because I thought the colors were exactly what I wanted. I am not enjoying the actual crocheting of this blanket but it is turning out lovely. I'll just have to steam the crap out of it so its not so scratchy.

A photo of the ABC Afghan:



From the side its easier to see the puff stitch which creates the outlines and letters:


Again, the colors were perfect for the recipient so I went with it. I'm sure she will appreciate the easy care acrylic but it sure is tough on my hands. On the other hand, it is such an easy project, it is just zooming along and makes for great TV crocheting.

Guess what came in the mail yesterday?



Yeah, because I really need another distraction from my work during the day. (It's actually DH's anniversary present. Wednesday marked 4 years since we got married.)

Bad Blogger

Um, yeah, its been a few days since I posted and I owed you some photos.

First, the nearly finished Baby Surprise Jacket:



When I seamed up the first sleeve, I went too far over and the neck opening was too small so I had to pull out the seam. This time I'm going to use safety pins to help me figure out the right spacing. I need to find buttons--what side should the buttons be on for a girl? I never know these rules... Since this isn't for anyone in particular now, I have time to find something perfect.

The yarn haul from MDS&W was modest. There was some Socks that Rock (mediumweight) in Lodestone and Ravenscroft:



Its hard to see but there is some green in that black:



I think that together they are destined to be a beautiful shawl. Its hard to tell from the pictures but the green hue in the black is picked up in the Lodestone (those parts that look kind of dirty are really a green color).



There was also some Worsted Weight (Russian American) yarn from Peace Fleece in Siberian Midnight:



Look at all that tweed-y goodness:


The base is navy blue plied with a dark brown and then its got white, gray, and tan flecks. I'm thinking it might be the perfect Cobblestone yarn.

The Peace Fleece customer service was fabulous, just so you know. They only had 6 skeins left at the festival and I wanted 7 just to be sure I didn't run out of yarn. I paid for 7 at the festival and they shipped me (free of charge) the last skein. I can't wait to cast on.

Next time, how I succumbed to the call of crochet.

Crochet is calling

I'm almost finished with my Baby Surprise Jacket. Only one more ridge, the bindoff and I'm ready to put it all together. I love the colors and think it will make a great gift. Unfortunately, its intended recipient is already too big for it. (I guess I should have actually started this while the baby was still in the womb.) I didn't bother to swatch since I knew I wanted to make the pattern and I knew I wanted to use this yarn so I don't really care. Of course, it means I need to come up with another gift for the baby girl.

So I went to Maryland Sheep & Wool and did the abbreviated tour (I was only there on Sunday). I actually got to meet Casey and Jess of Ravelry fame. I showed some restraint and only came home with two skeins of Blue Moon Fiber's Socks that Rock and some beautiful tweedy wool from Peace Fleece--enough to make a Cobblestone sweater for hubby. (Well, in theory since we all know how often I actually finish a sweater for him.)

But what is most interesting about the whirlwind trip to the MD/DC area? I came back with a serious hankering to do some crochet. Honestly, I think its the STR--it is screaming to become a crocheted something. (Or maybe it was all the exposure to other crocheters like Carrie, Pam and newbie crocheter Christi.) Perhaps a Blue Curacao?

I'll finish up the BSJ tonight and then take pics of the FO and new yarn tomorrow.