How did that rumor start?

Yesterday in the comments it seems that someone, who will remain nameless, started a rumor about me making handspun yarn for all of you.  Now trust me I wish that were possible, but I do have to finish a degree in this lifetime!!!  (maybe...after the first of the year....I'll have a contest....with a prize....maybe some handspun yarn....what do you think?)

Wheel update: It is on the truck coming to my house!!! DH graciously rearranged his schedule so he could be home for most of the day to sign for it (thank you dear!) so hopefully....

Today I'm also going to participate in "Whisker's on Wednesday."  KSee always has such cute pics on Wednesdays and I caught a few of Knox this week so I thought I would share!

Who knew a brown bag could be so much fun?

And just the right size?

In response to my most recent socks....here is the chart I followed.  (I've posted it on my ravelry project page too!)

The dots in the cable mean you purl that stitch when crossing the stitches.  I had a hard time telling which ones had a dot in the original pattern.  Still have questions about this pattern?  Ask away!

The Finish Line!

Last night I crossed the finish line in the Shawl Relay!  I couldn't have done it without all your cheering....after a night of blocking here she is:

Pattern:  Swallowtail by Evelyn Clark

Yarn: Knitpicks Bare Lace weight (about 1/2 of the skein...don't have a scale to know for sure)

Needles: US 4 (everyone at knit night were perplexed that I used straight needles, but I did)

Modifications:  Make a little bigger by doing 5 extra repeats of the budding lace pattern.  I thought that would be it until row 3 of chart 4.  I must have ripped it out 5 times.  Pepperknit details the extra mod that needs to be made here!  Then all was well!

Knitted for:  Well originally I thought this was for me, but I have another shawl in mind for myself so this will be gifted.  Who will be the lucky one?

This shawl doesn't have the shine that the last one does (no silk in this yarn) but I still couldn't be happier with it for a small shawl/scarf!

And the week wouldn't be complete without a picture of Knox!

This and That

1. I have started the Lily of the Valley Border chart on my shawl! (yeah!)  I had hoped to be a little further along, but....had to do some school work and visit the pastor's new little baby, and special time with DH who came home early yesterday!  (definitely worth being a little behind)  There still should be no problem finishing in time, so no worries!
2. Last night DH and I tried a new restaurant....standard Louisiana fare.  Our favorite such restaurant has been the Chimes (close to campus, affordable, and very yummy)  It was the first such restaurant we had been to and while we've sampled many it has still come out on top....until now.  Now we say they are tied...each has their strengths.  The new restaurant we heard about during a guest preacher's sermon a church (another reason to pay attention during church!)  It is called Kevin's Cajun Cafe'.  It is a little bit of a drive, but yummy!  I've never liked catfish before....now I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
3. Thanks for thinking about Knox....she was doing the same whining/looking at the ceiling thing to DH later that night, but is now back to normal....enjoying my lap while I'm knitting.

Ravelympics...day 5

The shawl is going well!  I have done 15 of the 19 repeats of the budding lace pattern....then I get to change charts :)  

I think I have a total of 60 rows left!  I'm not letting myself get too relaxed about it though because each row gets longer.  It has been fun to knit on it while watching the games....I love the gymnastics!!  Our men's team did awesome last night....ladies tonight!

Here is Knox looking content and relaxed last night!

But this morning she is intent on something.  She keeps looking up and for the life of me and I don't what she is looking at....normally I find some minuscule bug, but who knows today.  Further she is whining while watching which is totally uncharacteristic.  Oh well...she'll get tired and take a nap and forget about it! :)  Happy knitting!

Updates

I've started working on Gertrude (the giraffe)!  Her body is done!  The increase are very visible because they are knit in front and back loop, but I think her dress should cover that up!  

Update on Ravelympics:  Several of you have asked in the comments if I am going to dye the Bare yarn I have picked out for my shawl relay.  The answer is no!   I want a cream shawl because it will be so versatile!.  But if I were going to do that, I could do the dying before the beginning of the games...it's called training!

On the needles this weekend....hopefully finishing the second lace merino sock!  Then I must work more on my Secret Prayer Sock Swap, not to mention Gertrude! :)

Knox getting comfy in the new bookcase! 

My Story:

Thank you all for letting me share my testimony with you!  God has worked mightily in my life and I expect Him to continue!  It is so comforting know that the Creator of the Universe is taking care of me and loving me!

DH and I plan to celebrate the 8 year anniversary of me being alive tomorrow by going out to dinner!  

Feel free to keep commenting through the 26th (but no new posts this weekend)  Monday I will announce the winner!

Yummy

Until a couple of months ago I had never had creme brulee, and now I'm making it!  My advisor had DH and I over for dinner, and her husband made us his favorite!!! Plus he shared the recipe with me :)   I made them once before, but didn't have the torch to caramelize the top....I tried caramelizing in the broiler, but it recooked the custard and wasn't quite right!  Now I have a torch!  and they were oh so good!

I think this would be a perfect dessert for entertaining.  You make them ahead of time (up to 2 days) and just torch the top before serving leaving plenty of time for you to be with your guests!

Knox being weird...not sure why she is under the rug, but she stayed that way for a long time!

This is my story of God working mightily in my life....and then:

After the first round of tests (following the seizures that landed me in the hospital) the doctors said I probably had one of the following:

1. A tumor in the brain

2. An infection of the brain

3. MS

Now I don't know about you, but I didn't like those options.  They all seemed very scary and I wanted to be healed.  I drew close to the Lord and trusted Him for His healing of whatever it was....I didn't accept any of these options.  So off to more tests to see what was really going on.  

Tuesday Knitting Night and another giraffe

So thanks to ravelry I found a group of ladies in town that get together to knit.  I heard they were knitting at a nearby book store on Sunday.....I must admit I was a little nervous to go without knowing anyone, so I wimped out, but I did post that I was interested in further meeting.  Then I got messaged that they were meeting on Tuesday night.  So I put away my nerves and decided I didn't have to be knitting alone and went last night!  It was a small group (4 of us), but they say there are often more.... I had a super time.  It was so fun to see what everyone else was working on and hear their tips and product reviews.  Some of these ladies have been knitting for a long time and it is super to hear their wisdom too!  I'm looking forward to going back (and not nearly as nervous).

Yesterday I also found an adorable new giraffe pattern (I know....I now have 2 on my list to make) Go here to see him!  He has such personality!!!!  Love that smile!!

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I announce a contest!!! (it will run through July 26th....details tomorrow)

And because no post is complete without a pic....here is Knox "helping" me figure out my tablet.  She saw the box and immediately tried to climb in it....she didn't quite get that she was a little big for it! :)

A cat who plays!

So I had a post all ready for you Wednesday all I had left to do was add the pics. I had written in the early morning anticipating a crazy day. Well now is when I'm finally posting it. Please forgive my quietness this week and next, it isn't that I have a lack of things to say, but with the semester ending things get crazy....I'm never sure why the semester gets so crazy, it isn't that I have exams because I don't, but guest lectures, visitors, research, etc. Then everything seems to stop once classes are over (that is when my house gets clean :) ) Anyway things are good here, so here is a short update, plus kitty stuff!


**previously prepared post, with updated sock info**

In light of no new knitting....well that isn't entirely true, I've got 9 more rounds before the heel! (woohoo), but it looks just like the last one, so not very exciting. So I thought I would share some fun pictures of my cat. (no kids=spoiled cat)

For some reason she likes to play under the family room rug. I'm not sure what the appeal is, but she rolls, sleeps, and even cleans herself under the rug. My dad would say the cat has "issues."

She is fun to watch when she is in the "rug" mood though! Hope you all are having a super week!