Off the Clock

Yep. 'Cause that's the nickname Sawyer came up with for me on this page . Not that I know who Sawyer is. I don't watch Lost and have no interest in starting now, but it's always fun to get a cool new nickname, I'm thinkin'. So in response to Bev's question on the last post, I don't think the suspenders in the last post are so much a Canadian thing as I think they are a 1994 thing. Or maybe a Vogue Knitting thing. Vogue does come out with some really odd things sometimes. Actually I think they were looking for some type of a retro highland look with the hat and all. But I do love that vest. More bad news on the job front. We're losing ANOTHER plant . The news came out yesterday morning. It will mean another 500 or so jobs gone (plus another 100 or so salaried), so we will now be down to about 2,000 workers when we were at almost 6,500 maybe five years ago or so. It won't affect me personally yet (and yet is likely the key word here) but...

I thought I'd found a project to use up some of the huge stash of sport weight wool cluttering up my house. The gauge on the wool and recommended needles are just about what this pattern calls for. I've been hanging on to this pattern for years; it's from the 1994 Vogue Knitting that I had a subscription to way back then. I've always loved it. Sounds perfect, right? Well, problem is that even though it calls for 3 1/2mm needles, I have to use 2 1/2mm to get gauge. I seem to run into this problem a lot. I don't feel that my knitting is loose but I always have to go down several sizes in order to get gauge. Now I have a hard enough time getting through a pair of socks on teeny tiny needles. I can't imagine an entire vest. The other thing holding me back is I've run into problems whenever I've tried using Vogue patterns. So if I do decide to go for it I'll have to make sure I give the pattern a really good once-over first. On the other hand ...

Here's Journey , my brother's puppy, with her buddy George. Now tell the truth; your day just got a little better, didn't it?

I finished up Branching Out. I even updated the progress bar on the side. Now I've started a basic rolled brim hat to go with it. I have two more balls of this yarn left over so I figured I might as well use it up. Not that I have a lot of time for knitting, school is definitely taking over my life these days. I don't know what I was thinking signing up for three courses. But I'm having fun with it, and that's what matters. This is the kitty-bed that I bought awhile back for Tabitha. She explored it a little when I first brought it home but now she just ignores it. I took the cushion out of the top basket and put it in her favourite hot-spot , she's happy with that. So today I decided to fill the empty basket with all my sock yarn. That way it can inspire me to come up with ideas for new socks while I'm busy time-wasting here on the computer. Most of it is Briggs & Little sportweight 1 ply wool that I mail ordered from New Brunswick. I love the ...

I've been fighting this cough that's going around. If anyone tells me how good my cough is sounding, I'll tell them good; I've been practicing all night! It could be a whole lot worse, and probably would be if I didn't get the flu shot. I was desperately in need of a little TLC today, and that includes comfort food. So after I dragged myself out of bed at NOON (now you know I'm not feeling well; I never sleep in like that!) I hit the stove. I have to tell you this has got to be the best beef stew I've ever made. I think one of the problems I often have is I try to make a huge batch and then it doesn't get mixed enough or catches bottom or is out of proportion or something. This small batch turned out just right. Of course I made it up as I went, so I'm going to write it down here in case I try to remember how I made it one day down the road. I made it from things I had on hand, but if I were shopping for it I'd add some fresh button mush...

As always it's feast or famine around here. A gazillion posts at once and then nothing for over two weeks. I've managed to get through another set of holidays, even if "Catzilla" decided to crush the villagers like in a "B" list horror movie! And look what she did to it! It looks like the village snow has now melted just like the real-life stuff outside in the balmy spring weather we're experiencing. We actually set a new record of 62F yesterday, when we are usually well below freezing at this time of year. While most people are thrilled with the break in the weather, DH is sulking. No snowmobiling, and even the base is gone, which means we'll need several good dumpings of snow before he (we) can get out riding again. So what else? I've been completely obsessed with my latest DVDs. DH got me the latest (and last) season of Gilmore Girls as well as Little Mosque on the Prairie . I love those shows! I'm also working my way through the latest...