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When's the last time you bought a set of white bed sheets? Remember white bed sheets? So clean, so crisp, so....grandma's beds. I love white sheets.
I haven't bought new sheets for......18 years or so. Yep. The last set was an exchange of flannel sheets we received for a set of cotton ones. And they were "Martha Stewart" design. I don't care much for M.S., and would never purposely buy something of her line. But I liked the pattern and the material....so there ya go. There are 6 sets of sheets in the linen closet. A few of them are before the "deep pockets" sheets that came out with the introduction of 10"+ thick mattresses. So I have a couple sets of the "deep pockets", but they're showing their wear.
I've had it in my mind that I want white sheets. I'm sick of prints and matching coordinating colors. White. It's the way to go. Can't wait to hang them out on the washline this summer. Nothing is better than crawling into bed on fresh sheets that have been dried outdoors. And white is a bonus! Just like Grandma's.
I bought 6 sets of white pillow cases last year. I use them as pillow protectors under the regular cases.
So now we have a new set of white sheets....and, I'm shy to admit....a set of beige. Because we all need some color in our lives. I'm sure my Grandma would approve.
So I started another Aran sweater. Grey Perendale/Romney cross, plied with Corriedale. Spun and plied a nice 4-ply. I've never done 4 ply before. I take a published pattern, for the size, decreases and increases....I hate doing a lot of math. But then I incorporate my own stitch patterns that I pick out. It's all good.
Got the back done over the weekend. I like knitting the back first; it feels like a big accomplishment. Knitted on size 8 circulars. I like circulars when there are a ton of stitches. But not working it in circular. Then the front sides. So...started the right side, but went to straight needles...10" in length. Got about 4" done, but not happy with the feel of the fabric. Stitches look too close, feel is too dense. May have to go back to circular needle. So, get out the adjustable set (whatever they're called); find a not-too-long connecting wire, screw on the size 8 tips and begin the other side. About 3" into it, something's not right. Oh the fabric is working up beautifully, nice and light. If Aran can be called light. But something's not right.
Get out the needle sizer. Crap!! The needles used for the back were size 10, not 8. Aaaarrrrghghhh! Well, thank goodness, it wasn't the front sides that were knitted up first. All those stitches on the back....all those cables, bobbles and cross-overs. Yikes.
So today I will rip out the 2 front panels and start again. FYI : I have 2 needle sizer thingies. One is plastic and I could never figure out which hole was the correct one for the size. Does the needle have to go all the way through easily, or is it just the tip of the needle? A needle could give me 3 different sizes. That can't be right.
But I found another sizer, metal, from Susan Bates company. Perfect!! The needle only goes through 1 hole easily.....not too big, not too small. And that's the size. Why can't manufacturers develop a way to permanently mark circular needles?? C'mon.....really??!! With all the technology today???
The now completed back. With raglan sleeve openings. I love raglan.
My day was planned as of 5:30am. Lots to do, lots to do. Lots of wool things to do.
I have this black wool, purchased at a yarn store for cheap! Because the owner says there's no call for fiber anymore. People want yarn. ok. $10 for 8 oz....it's got blue glitz in it!! Sold!
It's terrible stuff....lots of VM, nepps and second cuts. But I sallied forth because I have 2 lbs. of black top that I want to ply with it. Already I'm thinking of making a felted, Fedora-style hat with it.
Then I happened across 3 bobbins of white Corriedale that I forgot about. Hmmmm....well let's get those babies plied and I'll have 3 empty bobbins. That's going well.
2 days ago I started blending Merino and silk for granddaughter's wedding shawl. I've had the silk for about 4.....yep....4 years. Waiting for the right project. The Merino was purchased this Fall when it was on sale from my favorite fiber place. Also iridescent Angelina. So, one single is with silk, the other, Angelina. A beautiful 2-ply yarn will be the outcome. At least, that's what I see in my head.
I've also got 1 more inch on the back of an Aran sweater being knitted. A 4-ply grey and white. Looks very nice. Love the patterns. It's just the beginning. 4 more sections to knit.
So, housework has been hit or miss for the past month (or so). If I can see it, it gets cleaned. If it isn't noticeable, it's good for another week or so. So far, it's working. It's winter, afterall. And my penchant and energy for housework is nil.
Got the blending board set up this morning, ready to go. Working on the 3rd bobbin of Corriedale 3-ply. 1 bobbin of black top is done, another needs to be. The crappy stuff with the glitz is all spun up.
Going into a drawer in the kitchen, I discover little.....black.....dots. Ovals, if you will. Yeah.....we all know what that means. Especially those of us living in the country. Damn!!! Go to the spice drawer, one of their favorite eating establishments......yep......they got the dill. Dill. Who knew? Checking all drawers.....2 more with evidence. Clean the drawers, get rid of all the damage. Tell BH, "we had a mouse in the drawers". He says "well, better set some traps tonight. You want to go pick some up later?" Sure.....there's a new thrift store in town I'm dying to check out. Not for mouse traps, mind you. Just for fun.
We do have these little sonic thingies all over the house. Plugged into the outlets, they let off a low hum. We've had them for 3 years now and they seemed to be working just fine. But...there's always that one little son-of-a-gun that thinks he's Mighty Mouse. We'll get you, my pretty.....we'll get you. Warn your friends and family.
Every year at this time, I feel yukky. It's my medical term for "not quite feeling good, not quite really sick. No cold or anything; just yukky. Every year. I feel anxious, tired, uninterested, bored and sometimes, nauseas. Eh.....maybe it's the weather, the season. Does anyone else go through this at this time?
In other news, I don't think I mentioned this before, but took daughter to the Orthopedic Doc for a cortisone shot in her elbow (every 3 months), and had him check her knees too, which have been giving her problems for quite some time. Xrays show.....both knees are shot....no cartiledge in either....replacement surgery is required. Yeah. So he'll do one at a time, 6 months apart. We'll have to make the consultation appt. for March, hoping surgery for April and the next in October.
She just missed 2 weeks of work with the horrible congestion, cold, sinus trouble. That has finally abated, and she's going back to work today.
Granddaughter called yesterday afternoon to say her fiancé surprised her with a puppy!! Oh yay. A puppy. A brand new puppy. Born in November. He got it from a pet store. "No Refunds". So, they went to the office of their new apartment they just moved into 3 weeks ago to pay the pet deposit. Only to find out....no dogs or cats allowed in their building. They would have to move to another building (3 in this complex)....and there is no apartment available until April.
So, I gave her all the "ooohhhh nooooo's" I could think of, and I knew why she was calling, so I also had to say emphatically that since our pets passed away some 5 years back, BH and I decided no more pets. Not at our age. We don't want the responsibility and really don't have the energy level for it. And we took damn good care of our pets, dog and cat, that lived to be 14 yrs. old each. I made suggestions about their friends, getting the word out at work, even calling my brother who lost his dog last year.
Well, she sent me a message last night that they took the puppy back and explained the situation to the clerk. She did not say, however, if they got their money back. But, even if they didn't, sorry to say....it's a hard lesson learned. She already has a bunny, who's 8 years old, so it's not that they're "petless".
What else.....well, I finished those colorwork socks, and started on another Aran sweater. Grey. From a new book with more patterns. So far, so good. I'm half-way up the back. I've been spinning this black wool with blue glitz. Got it really cheap from a yarn shop that no longer deals in spinning fiber. Yeah. It was a challenge. Lots of nepps, second cuts and VM. And....8 oz. of the stuff to boot!! Well, now I'm spinning a black "top" to ply with it. I think there's over a pound of that. I've still gotta prepare some white Merino and get it spun laceweight for granddaughter's wedding shawl....that will then have to be knitted. What am I waiting for? I don't know...it's just the way I roll. I work better under pressure. They haven't set a wedding date yet....whew.
Weather has not been too bad. This past weekend we were in the high 30's. And it doesn't sound too bad for this week. Let's keep it going...Spring can't be far away.
Today we're going to the Casino for an overnight. Can't wait!! Maybe that's just what the doctor would order for my malaise. Sounds good to me. And maybe.......just maybe.......there's another Jackpot with my name on it! Oh, that'll cure the winter yukkies just fine!
