Post Thanksgiving

Hess winery
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

At work today I decided to give my computer angry stares. I had hoped to intimidate it into listening to me. Worked for about 5 minutes, and then the computer saw right through my plan, it realized I am not allowed to hit it with a bat or throw it out the window. So it just did it's own slow thing.

And that is why I decided to upload a thanksgiving day picture. To be more precise, this was taken Friday. Here you see part of the family, in front of the Hess winery. It was fun, my uncle got a stretch limo. Oh yeah, cruisin' the wine country in style.

Spoomophie
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

And I just couldn't leave you without another look at my baby. Here is Spoomophie. For those that have been to The Old Spaghetti Factory and have had the spoomoni ice cream, they can see the pattern. The spoomoni ice cream is very colorfull. And Ophelia usually goes by Ophie anyway... viola Spoomophie.

It's a good thing she has a short memory and has forgotten all about this ... this. Because she still loves me.

My frustration

cropped jacket
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

Oooh, I have had many things to be frustrated about. First, there was my rugby team being in denial about how badly we played our last game. I mean, there are some people that truly believe that the other team should not have put in their good players and that is why we lost so badly. WHAT!!?? If it sounds crazy to you, that is because it is crazy. Luckily it's only a few people on the team that are delusional like that. Which means there is hope that the rest of us can improve our own game, because we can at least admit that we need to improve our games.
Sigh, but I am mostly over that now. My new frustration was once the joy of my day, a shimmer of light after a long day of work. But now, it has betrayed me. I show you my cropped jacket (more like cr*p jacket) (no wait, I didn't mean that ... yet) The problem with this one is that it doesn't quiet fit in the front. So I forget to do a few increases (three on each front panel), who cares. I didn't. But now that the front does not come cover me up nearly enough, I'm starting to think those increases were somewhat important. But, that is not where it ends. I have already seamed up the sides, I had to seam up one side THREE times over. I am just too stubborn to undo both seams, frog the sides and start over. I can't do it. After a few major rants (only kitty was unfortunate enough to hear them, but she didn’t care) I decided that I will just crochet a collar and beef up the sides a bit along the way. Oh, and I won’t mention the fact that the left side and the back don’t match. Nope, not a word about that.

Prize
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

But at least this gives me joy. I won this in a contest from Lyssa. I have a few ideas as to what I can make with it. It's really soft, so it will be fun to knit.

kitty at the window
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

And just for fun, this is Ophie, she wan't to come in from the patio. She's looking in to make sure nobody forgot about her.

Cleaning up the mess

I just can't take it, right now. I'm at work, bangin my head against the desk. My predecessor wrote a pipeline (several computer programs to be run in a certain order) it is my job to make sure his pipeline runs and does so correctly. He wrote down some notes too, for me to follow. Not bad you think. BUT HIS NOTES SUCK! I look at his programs and I am supposed to create lists, but he doesn't say how, or what is in then. He has several program, different programs, same name. They are in different directories so the computer allows it. Well I don't! It is very frustrating. I thought I was getting near the end. But as Whitney would say "hell to the no", I am nowhere near done.

I guess deep down I knew it was coming, because I did a little preemptive breakdown cast on. I got the new Vogue Knitting, and just had to go for the cropped jacket. I have some lovely Rowan Tweed, the gauge is perfect for the project. It makes me happy that I can go home, ignore the work for my presentation tomorrow and knit my jacket. The thought of working on size 11 needles ... pure joy. Of course, I have about 5 square inches of the left front knit and I think my error count is some on the order of 1 mistake per square inch. But I guess I will fix it in my usual way. I will just ignore them and make the same mistake on the right front. (Oh, yeah, my soul is all mine, haha)

My tag

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?
I love so many yarns, really haven't met a yarn I did not like. But if I have to choose, my September 7th 100% Merino comes to mind. Very soft, very cooperative.

Your favorite needles?
Again, not picky here. I like my Denise needle set, and I have been recently introduced to the Addis, and me likey for socks.

The worst thing you've ever knit?
If it was truly bad, it has been blocked from my memory.

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
Hmm, I like the easy pattern, stockinette in the round and then just to mix it up with a little lace pattern, not too hard but just a little more challenging. Basically, I just love knitting, but I will tell you this, at the moment I am not enjoying my honeycomb baby blanket. Just too boring.

Most valuable knitting technique?
I forget what it's called, but it is NOT continental, so English (as I just looked up, I "throw" my yarn)

Best knit book or magazine?
Don't buy to many books. But I did get a pattern book from Debbie Bliss 'Cathay'. Pretty stuff. I will enjoy it.

Your favorite knit-a-long?
I haven't actually joined one. When I got the silk corset pattern (from Annie Modeset) I sign up for it, but I haven't posted anything really. I guess it's because I just can't knit on one item and it takes to long for me to finish.

Your favorite knitblogs?
You see them in my sidebar.

Your favorite knitwear designer?
Ok, very bad of me, I barely have the patience to read a pattern, so ... (not even finishing the sentence)

my favorite
Originally uploaded by kittensmittens.

And as for my most worn knit item: the fiery bolero. It is kind of by default. I haven't finished much, only two items that I can wear (not counting hats and scarves). I wear this on the most because of the weather, my other finished item, a nice warm sweater and we haven't had much cold weather yet...

And you see a little glimpse of my good hair day (not as great as the first, but I'll take it)

Happiness is ...

... a good hair day.