Ravellenics 2012 - Let the Games Begin

Mass Cast On happens in each time zone to match the 9 p.m. happening in London. For me that is 2 p.m.

I am participating in the Cowl Jump this time. And it will be the only event I even try to do over this two week period. I have too many distractions and other things going to even try more.
So, I will be happy to knit away on my cowl and watch what events in London that I can see in the evenings.

TWW - Siblings, Sillieness and ....

We had a family reunion of sorts today. It is the first time all of the siblings have been together in 10 years. That could account for the sillieness...

Camp Loopy 2 - FO

The Bay of Fundy Wrap is bound off and ready for blocking. Whew, that was close. I really like the way this knit up. I look forward to seeing it blocked and wearable. Of course, we will need to get some cooler weather first.

The Lightning Bugs were a great group to knit with, always sharing their thoughts and ideas, as well as their pictures of yarn and progress and pattern suggestions. That is the best part of virtual camp.

I am off to accomplish some other things before Camp Loopy 3 begins on the 27th. Happy knitting to all!

Camp Loopy 3 - Shopping at the Camp Store

During the Camp Store I struggled to find a pattern that would fit the last challenge for Camp Loopy. It calls for two colors or more (and not just a variegated yarn) in a project over 500 yards, and in a pattern I had not knit (and for me - not stripes to use color).

For a while I was stuck in the Westknit pattern section because I have wanted to knit a Clockwork or a Daybreak, but I could not decide which was better and with what yarn. So after three full days of considering Iwas ready to throw in the towel and say I was done for this summer. This was more about all the other things that have been going on not just about the pattern/yarn decision.

Then I found the pattern I had admired and that gives me a chance to try a different kind of colorwork - slipstitch. I chose Array by Shibui. I will be using Lorna's Laces Worsted in Blackberry and Dream in Color Everlasting Sock in Brownie. So this project is named "Blackberry Brownie", doesn't that sound yummy?

I am ready to cast on and knit this in conjuction with my Ravellenics event in Cowl Jumping. This will be a fun two weeks. I hope everyone is finding fun things to occupy their mid-summer~!

Camp Loopy 2 - Lightning Bug Update

Now that I have gotten back on track, I am making progress on the Bay of Fundy Wrap. At this point I am halfway to the end. There are 14 days to my self-imposed deadline and I hope I can get there so I can get it blocked.

I really like the yarn and the colors, my is a bit darker. It will make a great wrap for cool evenings and hopefully I can wear it while camping later this summer.

And it is time to pick the pattern and yarn for the final camp project. I better get busy. One more to go and I will be able to watch some of the Olympics while I knit this last one. More on that later.

Lions and Tigers and Pedro, Oh My!

Pedro went for his first haircut today. His vet, Carefree Cats, has been doing lion cuts for the long-haired kitties that are not taking the summer heat too well.

Pedro is one of them this year. I took him in this AM and when I picked him up he had a new do and trimmed nails. A full morning at the kitty day spa - priceless!

TWW - Calmer, Cooler, Damp

This weekend was much calmer than last. I was delighted to see the rain and cooler temps. EvenPedro feels better. And I am making progress on the second Camp Loopy project. I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Thank You, Firefighters

Thank you for all the hard work and dedication in the pursuit to corral, contain and extinguish all the fires in Colorado so far this summer!

Camp Loopy 2 - Update - Knitting with the Lightning Bugs

It has taken me a couple attempts to get this going on the needles. It is more from the distractions of the 24/7 fire coverage that is going on here. What an awful thing to see in our beautiful area, but watching the efforts and the community coming together is beautiful in its own right.

For this project, I am knitting the Bay of Fundy Scarf/Wrap by Shireen Nadir. I am really liking this knit. It is an easily memorized pattern which is good with all the distractions. Today, I had to do some calculations to see if I can get this done by deadline.

It looks like I can! I have to knit a minimum of 3 pattern repeats (24 rows) per day to accomplish this. After I sat down this morning, before going up to see the folks and help them get their second car home (they have been the fire zone for two weeks now) I found that I can knit 8 rows in less than an hour. That was good to know and I feel much better about getting this one done.

The yarn I am using, Dream in Color Smooshy in Deep Sea Flower, is yummy and will make a lovely wrap that I hope to get to use at a campout before this summer is over.

Now I will go do a little rain dance to see if we can get some relief from the longest hot spell I have seen in this are in the 20+ years I have been here. Wish me luck~!

Happy Birthday America - July 4th

Celebrate our nation's birthday, safely!

Finally!

Finally, some rain fell in our yard tonight. It has been almost a month since we have seen any moisture. It is a blessed relief to feel the damp air. The double rainbow was an added bonus after the week we have had here.

TWW - Fire, Smoke, Frustration

I hope your weekend went better than mine. I was on standby to do something useful for the fire victims in our community, however did not get the call and could not go out and do it on my own as was tied to this group.

The "waiting and doing nothing" was the worst thing for me to endure. I plan to do more this week for all that need something to make up for the statis I was in. My thoughts go out to all those who lost so much and for those who tried so hard to prevent that from happening. I have seen the most incredible coming together in this community and help from far and away, and I am so grateful to live here.

Please remember to say thank you to your emergency responder teams wherever you live, be they fire, law enforcement, EMTs or animal rescue, they deserve our recognition and respect for the jobs that they signed on for. And to all those who stepped in to assist in the recovery - you also get a large round of applause. Be well and be safe, look out for your neighbors and be ever vigilant to help prevent future tragedies.

Note: The picture is from the Carefree Cats Veterinary Clinic Facebook page (this is where I take Pedro for all his vet visits) and this kitty was rescued from Mountain Shadows after the evacuation and the fire had leveled 346 homes. They've named him Ashes.