A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

and not enough time to knit! I’m working on several design ideas at the moment. The actual projects are, of course, rather top secret since I’m hoping to shop them around for publication . . . but I can tell you there has been (and will be) a whole lot of swatching going on!

I’m currently working on a lace swatch for a project idea. I’m pretty much near the end of it, just a bit more edging to work out and then the whole thing can be washed and blocked, samples compared and design features finalized. Then I’ll be writing the whole thing up and sending it off to a wonderful knitter who is going to test/sample knit it for me. Isn’t that exciting?

I’ve got another lace idea rattling around in my head which will likely be the next project to get worked out and then I’ve got 2 sweater ideas and a couple of Mystery kit ideas so there really is a lot going on. . . . thank heavens I’ve got some test knitters lined up! I’d never get this all together without help.

I’m also kicking around a business idea for a second business that would involve MIL. Can’t say too much but it could be a lot of fun and give her some employment . . . and yes, it involves knitting. If it happens I’ll be sure to post more about it here

I haven’t been to see Gram for a couple of weeks now. We’ve been sick; first a stomach bug and then a terrible cold which is still hanging on and so we just haven’t been up there. From what I hear she’s hanging in there still. Perhaps she plans to stay for her 86th birthday in a few weeks? Who knows. Its not the first time they’ve told us she’d be gone in days only to have her bounce back. I don’t expect it will be terribly much longer, afterall, kidney failure is a pretty serious thing. I’m going to try to get to see her sometime in the next few days but there is so much going on!

Today I have to go shopping. Clothes shopping actually. Funny, I don’t really enjoy doing that all that much. I need to leave the toddler because actually trying anything on while I have him is next to impossible (he has his Father’s patience when it comes to shopping) and I really need a new outfit for Tomorrow since we’ll be going to church for Palm Sunday. And I need an offical “Easter Outfit” as well. I’ve some idea of what I’m looking for, I just haven’t found it yet.

Then, this afternoon I’m having my hair “done”. Since we are doing the whole get dressed up thing tomorrow I’m actually going in and having my hair blown dry/ straight by someone who knows what he’s doing. If you know me ITRW you know that hair styling is sooooo not my thing. However, I have a fabulous hairdresser and he will make it right.

We also have the big baby shower tomorrow so I need to pick up a basket to wrap up all the gift stuff in and some sort of pretty box for the baby sweater I made for the little guy. I’d show it to you, but I can’t . . . I’ve submitted the pattern and so can’t show you the sweater. If anything comes of the submission, I’ll be sure to note here that it was the shower sweater . . . Which reminds me, I really need to knit another to have on hand in case I need to take more photos and I’m going to do another in some of my hand painted yarn . . . guess that will be next after the lace swatch . . . at least its quick and easy and I’ve practically got the pattern memorized I’ve spent so much time with it lately.

Speaking of baby sweaters. I’ve got two more, also from that pattern but in a different yarn, that I need to sew up and send off to the people they are for! One of the little ones is already a month old! Yikes! Better get moving on that I guess!

And the list of baby sweaters to knit just keeps growing lately. Here is a the current version:

Shower gift sweater – done
Friend of a dear friend – sweater knit, needs sewing and to finish bonnet.
Friend from playgroup – sweater knit, needs sewing and to finish bonnet.
Dear friend who is expecting #2 – new design?
Dear friend’s daughter expecting #2 – due?
Friend from playgroup – due late June, isn’t telling pink or blue!
Friend from playgroup – due in August? doesn’t know pink or blue yet
Dear Friend’s sister expecting her first – due?

And I get the feeling I’m missing one or two in there! Guess its a good thing I really like knitting small projects, huh?

I’m also working up to doing another dye day but at this point I don’t think it can happen till Easter is over with. My Mom just got a job and so isn’t available during the week to watch the toddler . . .and MIL is baking like she’s charged with feeding the world at the moment so she isn’t going to be available. In fact, I really need to spend a couple of days this next week giving her a hand and learning how to make the Easter goodies. How much is she making? Let’s put it this way, she bought a case of eggs, yeah, a restaurant size case, 15 dozen eggs and she isn’t sure it will be enough!

So once Easter and the baking are done with I’ll be dyeing up a couple of special orders and a whole big batch of sock yarn . . . . I’ve got some Wool/Bamboo that I’m dyeing to try out

Last I heard, which was a few days ago now, Gram was still plugging along. Its been a few days now since we’ve seen her. I may stop in tomorrow afternoon but I’m not sure yet.

The baby has a little cold. Nothing serious, just a bit stuffy/runny and enough to make him a touch on the cranky side. We’re planning to go to playgroup in the morning but may cancel if he’s miserable. We haven’t been for a few weeks now so we’d both really like to go but I don’t want to take him if he’s too sick. If we go, we may stop on the way back, esp. since it really is on the way back, to see how Gram is doing.

Knitting wise I’m still sort of holding off from working on my “real” projects for now. I want to go back to them, and may soon since this isn’t all happening like we thought it would. I’d really like to be making progress on Fern. I miss working on her and had hoped to keep some momentium so Fern wouldn’t turn into one of next year’s UFOs.

I’ve been doing baby things still. I’m working on a bonnet to go with the sweaters. Still working on the design of it but it will be pretty simple overall. I’m finding more and more that there is something nice about working on simple projects. Don’t get me wrong, I love complicated (Fern anyone?) but at time when life is crazy it can be nice to just have something you can work on without too many mental gymnastics. Know what I mean?

I’m working on the Prairie Blanket from Oat Couture for the nephew’s new baby. I’m only at about 25 inches and it needs to reach at least 38 before the turning row. I am actually considering making it more like 40 inches so it will really fit a toddler bed. That should give the whole thing alonger life span. Since the shower is April 1st I have a sneaking hunch that the blanket is going to wind up being a welcome home present instead. At least I have the sweater finished and it may have a matching bonnet by then . . . . and I bought a few things so I can put a basket together . . . .

I’m also cooking up several design ideas. I can’t say much about them at this point but I’m really starting to feel like designing is the direction I’d like to move in. I’m having such a good time playing with yarns and stitches and ideas that I think this may be the thing. I can tell you that I currently have one pattern under submission but it will be a while before I know anything . . . once I can say more I surely will.

Okay, off to fix little Mr. Sniffles some dinner. I’m really hoping he’ll have an early/easy night tonight so I can spend some time working on one of these ideas! Wish me luck!

Gram has been transfered from the hospital back to the home she’s been living in for the past year and a half and they’ve signed her up for hospice care.

Funny thing is, she’s actually doing a bit better. Her color is better, she feels fine and her numbers appear better.

I don’t think this means she’s going to be okay, just that we may get a few extra weeks with her from the looks of things. My aunt and I were discussing all this the other day and both agreed its all the extra visits and attention. We’re all getting her to eat better, to drink more and she’s thriving on all the company.

I couldn’t count the number of times we’ve nearly lost Gram in the last 20 years, something like 6 or 7, and somehow she manages to surprise us again. I’m planning to go see her again tomorrow, perhaps stay for a couple of hours, and take advantage of the extra time I’ll get to have with her. I’m bringing some of my Geneaology research so I can see if she has some more names, dates or stories rattling around for me.

Thanks Marg for your kind words, sorry to hear about your mother.

Knitting wise, I’m still sticking to baby stuff and I’m thinking other than the baby gift blanket I’m doing next is going to be something for the Afghans for Afghans Mother’s day campaign. Seems like an appropriate project for now.

Toddler and I had a stomach bug this week, suspect we picked it up at the nursing home where gram is, feeling better now . . . but didnt’ get out all week. He’s going to be raring to go by tomorrow.

Off to do some laundry