Spoons & Stitches

I've recently started using twitter to post status updates. I'll admit I'm not as prolific as some of the more serious users, but I'm trying to keep it updated. I've added those updates here for those who might be interested. In other news, I seem to have developed a serious issue with my shoulder. It started about the same time as I started learning to knit, so I was just sure that it was all because of that and I was going to have to go back to my monogamous relationship with crochet. Don't get me wrong-I love crocheting, but it's always exciting to try something new. How many of us crocheters out there have ever looked at a knitting pattern and said, "I sure wish they made THAT pattern for crochet, too!" After getting sick for about five days and doing very little besides sitting on couch and knitting, I discovered something: my shoulder was fine! But the day I went back to work, it hurt like all get out. Lesson learned: It's called repetiti...

Okay, I have a weird question for y'all. Have any of you played the computer game Chocolatier ? I saw it at a store one day and had to see what it was (for $20 why not?) and it's addictive. I now have all three editions of the game. The premise is that you are trying to resurrect a chocolate confections company and you have to make chocolates, operate the factories, buy ingredients, and make deliveries. It's a wicked fun game. The first edition is set around the turn of the last century, circa 1900, IIRC. The family owning the large chocolate company is having a squabble and you need to resurrect the company while the family makes peace. The second edition is set in the 1920s and another chocolate company is trying to interfere, so once again you are needed to help the company out. In this edition you not only pick up recipes from contacts in the game, but you have to discover the secret recipes in the test kitchen. (Fun!) That latest edition, just out this month, is called...

So it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I got the whim to make my son a Batman hat b/c he loves dressing up as Batman. Why? No idea. I was unable to find a pattern though, so I improvised one using my knitting loom and crochet hooks. The outcome was pretty cute and never mind those dark hand gestures he's making. This last week I've been project-jumping like crazy. At first I was going to use up some stash making scarves, but got bored. I manged to make a panta headband, and that was quick. I also decided to make some gift card holders for Christmas, too. Now I'm wanting a more long-term project again. (And no, it would not be okay to finish the afghan I started last winter. What are you thinking?!?) I started on a little poncho sweater last night for our youngest niece. If I can ever manage to join the first chain without twisting I'll finish it I think.

So yesterday morning I was at work when I had what felt like a charlie horse. Only the spasming muscle felt like my left ovary! WTF? I haven't had anything like that in a long time. I'm not even sure it's ever happened before. It felt like my ovary getting strangled by some kind of rope and it was all I could do not to scream out. The rest of the day I was wary of it and skipped my workout lest I aggravate whatever it was. Every time I stood up it felt like it was on the verge of starting again. Fortunately, it's better today. Thank goodness! I'm just not in the mood for more doctors right now. I'm finally make some effort to get to bed early, but I'm realizing I still need more than 6 hours of sleep. I'm working toward getting to bed by 11, but this is a slow 15-minutes per night change. I hope it works b/c I really need to get more sleep. I am sitting here at work contemplating if I shouldn't maybe go home before I get seriously hurt. I've been...

I finished the Kigali Lace Wrap awhile ago-in fact, just in time for the 50's night at a friend's church. I wore it to the event and I was so glad! It was downright chilly there early on and that wrap is pretty warm. Some of the other ladies looked jealous. :) My next project I undertook was a sweater for Ian. It's been kinda slow going (if less than a month can truly qualify as slow), but I'm almost there. I just have to finish the waist-band ribbing and then add the zipper. I'm hoping to finish this weekend so we can go get family photos for the holidays. I've also started a special item for my sister, but it's for Christmas so that info has to come later. :P

So I've started a new crochet project- a kigali wrap . I'll start by confessing that I chose this largely because of my husband. He saw me looking at the pattern boutique on NaturallyCaron .com and he said this one looked HOT. I liked it as well as a few others, but decided to go with this one first for DH. :) Unfortunately, I didn't make much progress on the wrap tonight. The boys were up and down from bed and I had some other things to get done. Like dinner for Thursday night. (Hey, it reheats really well but takes forever to make.) I'm looking forward to tomorrow's crochet & knit group at work. I'm hoping to finish the third quarter of the wrap. After that I have a Golden Snitch washcloth to start on. The best part of the day-my birthday present from my mom. She's been so eager for me to get it and has been way excited about how much I'd love it. And she was absolutely right! She bought me a fantastic tapestry hook case and a set of rosewood cro...

Okay, I have to confess that I did set aside my knitted dishcloth long enough to finish my lacy Lapa pullover that I started awhile back. When I went to update the project details I was shocked to see that I started it in August. Only August? I thought it was way longer than that! Or, maybe it just feels like I finished it fast. :) Either way, I'm quite happy with the results. I'll get a picture up here just as soon as I figure out how. I've made more progress on the dishcloth, too. In fact, I have just three rows to go-then the dreaded Bind Off. I did end up ripping out once and then starting over, but since I decided to change colors it worked out better anyway. Pictures as soon as it's done.