Two Black Sheep

You Are Goodbye

Keep the contest entries coming . . . we love them! Lola is with SK's family in Toledo until Sunday and the Flyer and I will be traveling with the girls to eastern Ohio tomorrow. His grandma died on Thursday . . . Helen was one of the sweetest and kindest women I've met and a chocoholic to boot. Have a safe and happy holiday and get your memoirs in by the 9th!

Ava

PS - Hey Buckeyes? How many of you knew about this? Umm, some of the places mentioned rang a little too close to (the Flyer's) home!

If it Kills Me

I always go into a funk when Ava leaves.  It's usually immediate, but we had dinner plans on Tuesday.  I guess my body didn't have time to slip into the blues that night.  But Wednesday came and things sucked.  The house is quieter.  No one's there to discuss alternate ways to SSK.  When I make a snarky comment about TV, I don't get one in return.  Granted, there's a lot less empty beer bottles.  It's just sad and boring.  It only last for a day, but it's a long day.

The one potentially good thing about yesterday also ended with a loud "Fuck!"  Our very good friend was accepted into a law school that isn't in our city.  When I moved here after college, SK followed about 3 months later.  He & our friend moved into a house near campus.  Once they came, things got better in the city.  Our friend has played a huge role in our grown-up lives (when you finally realize that you're becoming an adult).  We asked him to be ordained so he could marry us.  We've visited him at the hospital a couple of times & it wasn't because of some dumb college accident.  He was the first person to visit me after Tuck was born.  I don't think the drugs had even worn off & he was there with coffee in hand.  I know his Moving Day is coming, but I'm not prepared.  Since he's still going to be in a cold climate, I started a Marsan Cap out of my leftover baby camel.  I covet this yarn, but I felt like this would be an important knit to whittle away at my last cake.  A day of 1x1 twisted rib (not fun) and I had a cap.  With the baby camel, you have to wash it to felt the thread-like yarn.  I was so excited to toss it in the washer & feel the glorious yarn on my forehead.  Seriously, this yarn has got to be how it feels to be wrapped up in a Jolie-Pitt (take your pick) embrace.  Yesterday, it was tossed in & I waited.  Here's what greeted me 20 minutes later.

Ah well, it was a fast knit.  Maybe I'll give Ava's new favorite a spin. 

When things go shitty, Two Black Sheep throw a contest!  Actually it's because we've almost got 1000 comments.  When we started our blog, we thought we'd get an occasional comment from the Flyer or SK.  We're so happy with the friends we've made & the processes we've learned from our blog.  Selfishly, one reason I enjoy the blog because it serves as a journal.  I'm pretty sure my mind is slipping, so someday I'll need a clue on how the boy went from babies to men.  Without the blog, I'd have to rely on our mother's photographs (I never took photo pre-blog) & other people's memories of the boys (I tend to exaggerate).  In honor of remembering your lives, Ava came up with this fantastic contest.  She found this book a couple months ago & called me about the idea.  As an example, Ava's would be, "Roller coaster, front car, hands high."  She said that I need to come up with one too, but I need way more time.  If you're a long-time reader, you know she's the Wordsmith of the family.  Basically, you need to post  your six-word memoir in the comments by July 9th.  We'll pick one at random & then pick our favorite. Two lucky winners will have a fantastic black-sheepy prize sent to their home!  Get writing!  We're not a huge blog, so the odds are in your favor that you'll be walking home with something from Ava's nice stash.

Happy 4th!  I'll be watching Christmas trees explode.  That's right.  There's a whole post coming, don't worry.

-Lola

Stay Up Late

This one escaped my notice completely, so without further fanfare and because this post truly is . . . L is for late. It's a word that evoked dread one week in August, filling every fiber in my being with fear and panic and apprehension and questions galore? Would I make a good mom? Could I make it work with the dad? What the hell was my mother going to say? Would Dad, in fact, go for the gun? Well, to make a very long, almost 18-year-long story short: it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Trust me, I'm not advocating unplanned or out-of-wedlock pregnancies, but it worked for us. I love you girls more than you will ever know, no matter how many times that I tell you that. In lieu of actual photos of my own, a Flickr mosaic about the word "late."

Ava

1. Too late, 2. running late, 3. 28 Weeks Later, 4. 2008-01-07-032_1 London Hammersmith Bridge Stormy Sky late light, 5. 28 Weeks Later - For Real, 6. Late Afternoon Promenade, 7. "In Loving Memory of my late brother, Ezri", 8. Hello, boss? I'm going to be late..., 9. Confess, before it's too late ~!

Who Got the Hooch?

Bobo . . . she is done and happy and fits properly (sans the buttons - I'll get those on in Pennsylvania when I get home tomorrow). Talk about an awesome knit! It was relatively quick, the colorwork was enough to keep you interested, the shaping was present and excellent, and the skills needed (steeking, Fair Isle, button bands) are something we all should try at least once or twice.

Knitscene has its Fall Preview up. Perhaps you've seen it? Perhaps you've been enraptured by it? Us? Meh. Nothing jumped out unless you counted the numerous photos of models languidly relaxing in dimly lit rooms with their sweaters hanging off of them. I would love - LOVE - to see one of the magazines take a sweater that they think will be the hit of the season and show how to customize it for three different body types. Asking too much to have THREE of the same sweaters knit by different knitters? Probably, but you know that there are knitters out there who would jump at the chance to test knit anything just for the bragging rights. Hell, I would! Even so, we don't usually hold back on the "Meh" issues any more than that "I'll stalk that magazine until it comes out" issues. After all, there's only so much gushing about ho-hum patterns we can take before another Blue Moon top gets popped.

Cara had an interesting post the other day about a shift in knitblogs. It certainly is a fluid means of information dissemination (that is so not a bad word, but I love it anyway) and Ravelry has changed the face of knitblogs. Lola and I are always amazed at how "perfect" everyone's knits and lives are when ours are so very clearly not. Remember Grace? Big old pile of shit. How about the Aran Cardigan? Largest cake of Cascade you've ever seen after Lola frogged it. Here's what my suitcase looks like right now:

(and I have to cram all that shit back in it for the flight home tonight)

We promise to get less crabby and bitchy and "black-sheepy" in the near future. After all, someone answered my plea for a skein of Pandora Rose . . . maybe this knitting thing is the wave of our future.

Ava

A Beautiful Mess

An early flight is one thing; after all, I've had flights at 6 AM before but couple that with a very small regional jet, a seat mate who both doesn't adhere to the boundaries of the 14-inch seat and insists on bathing in the most heinous cologne known to God and man and you kind of get an Ava who is alternating between a migraine and retching on said seat mate. Compound it with not enough space to knit and you get a picture that isn't terribly pretty.

I wasn't very clear with the size of the tattoo that I wanted. When I emailed Lola and SK the design, I neglected to say that I wanted it exactly as is (minus the sticky note part). So, after sitting for about 90 minutes, I have the most lovely outline of cherry blossoms with one colored bloom and an appointment for August 11th to finish the job . . . just in time for the wedding debut.

The Flyer's Cobblestone is a zombie knit and so far, so good, but can I tell you how much in love I am with Cascade 220 Superwash?  This, my friends, might become the workhorse yarn of my arsenal. I'm hoping to have the Cobblestone done in time for his birthday, which I think is doable.

We stopped at Knitter's Merchantile yesterday and walked out without a purchase (there are first times for everything). I might be tempted to make a return for some of the Panda Silk that they have . . . but I doubt it. Fabric? That's another story. Fabric seemed to jump off the racks and throw itself at us (hussy!). Not sure what I'll do with half of it, but I think that I'm making a Note Taker and an Emmeline apron out of some of the fabric. Oh, I did find yarn at Jo-Anne's but I'll save that for home.

Once I get home, I'm wholeheartedly committed to finishing the trellis and leaf shawl so that leads to one more impassioned plea (okay, really I'm begging) for a skein of Cider Moon's Pandora Rose in any fingerling weight. I have a hank of it in the DK but the difference is perceptible. If you have any (or know of anyone who has one), please, please, please name your price or poison. I have some Trekking XXL in a dark plum (147) that will have to do if I can't track some down. Luckily Joanne talked me out of my first choice . . . a lovely puce which would serve to say, "I'm an asshole who didn't buy enough yarn to finish it properly."

More after the quilt show tomorrow . . . and some St. Bridget's!
Ava & Lola

PS - We've been mesmerized by the Infinity dress so Lola stitched up her own. For your enjoyment . . . discuss.

A Kiss To Build A Dream On

I wanted to finish the scarf for Joanne before I left for Lola's. Grafting lace? Not so fun, but it came out fine in the end. I can't say enough nice things about this yarn and trust me, I was prepared to hate it since the past times I've knit with Crystal Palace haven't been so good. Lace shawls are running through my brain as I type as long as I can knit them with Panda Silk. Yummy! Specs are listed after the photos and in the album. Off to steek the Bobo so I can cross that off the list as well. Wish me luck and much thanks to the lovely Betty for posing with the scarf!

Ava

Pattern: Lace Leaf Scarf from Vogue Knitting

Yarn: Crystal Palace's Panda Silk in Mint Cream

Needles: Addi Turbo 20 inch 3s

Mods: I used the 3s instead of the 5s called for since the yarn was fingering instead of DK. Also, to get the right length, I needed to do 12 repeats instead of the called for 10. All in all, it was a very easy knit (not the first time I've knit it) and can be memorized in a snap.

Come On Over (All I Want Is You)

Drive by post . . . because I am so chuffed. Since I am visiting Lola in a few days under the pretense of stopping by the quilt show (which we are going to attend, thank you very much), I thought that I should probably make one since my other attempts were rather iffy. So I started cutting out Turning Twenty yesterday around 2 PM, then called Lola to get her opinion on some dresses for "the wedding," and then I began sewing around 3:30 PM. At 8:35 PM, I called Lola again (this was probably call four of the day) to say, "Guess how has a quilt topper? That's right . . . me!" Her response: was it super easy or was I manic? Ummm, super easy, but here she is. If you click on the first one, there are notes a-go-go.

Off to go shopping with B and V . . . scarf in purse to pass the time!

Ava

 

Wheels on the Bus

Thank you all for my birthday wishes!  It was a nice surprise to see my face all over the blog this morning.  And yes, Ava, I'm snapping away.  Maybe a shot when you realize that a tattoo will hurt.  Or maybe a shot while you're at Comfest realizing that "Yes.  The beers are really that BIG." I don't celebrate my birthday in huge ways.  Last year, I was pregnant & decided that I'd go the whole I'll-Eat-Whatever-I-Want route.  Remember, during my pregnancy I went slightly insane with my eating habits.  Some have stuck, i.e. no Diet Coke & Quarter Pounders.  Quarter Pounders weren't that big of a deal to give up.  I was eating way too many on the road & something had to change, but I love Diet Coke.  Love it!  Especially out of the fountain.  Nothing cures my hangover faster than a really big fountain Diet Coke.  SK brought some home after work at my request.  I had to beg.  As I was slurping the bottom, I thought "Why would I give up this sweet nectar?"  Just looking at the picture is going to make me pull through tomorrow.  Stop looking, Lola!

Gust is finished!  I may have to block it again to even out the color, but I'm sure no one would notice if I didn't.  I'm a little disappointed with the yarn.  In the hank, the yarn had a gorgeous sheen.  It was beautiful.  Maybe it's my fault & I wasn't suppose to actually block it.  But why would you create lace weight, if you shouldn't block the project?  The green & sheen soaked off.  I'm left with a dull blue-green color in spots.  No matter the yarn's problem, I'll wear the scarf proudly all summer long!

Gus is home & thrilled.  When Grandma was leaving, he asked if he was going to stay for a while.  Poor kid.  Goes away for a week & thinks that we've given up on him.  He gave us the biggest hugs & showered Tuck with kisses.  A week is the perfect "vacation" time.  Last night was the first time that I was really missing him.  Every other night I was shocked by how easy one baby could be.  Our house was quiet & clean all the time.  It wasn't more than 15 minutes & both the toy baskets were dumped & scattered.

Ava's coming in a couple days!  I couldn't be happier.  Before she arrives, I've got to spend a few glorious days on the road.  So she better be ready to play when her plane lands!  I'm on the hunt for some of this.  I'm planning an ole timer's apron out it.  I really don't want to order it online, but I will dammit!  I'm also planning on making some risotto.  SK hates it & I figure she'll eat it.  SK always loses out on any decisions when Ava's in town.  Which is why he's the driver to Comfest this year.  I've done it the past three years.  Not a role I enjoy, but someone has to do it.  Just not me this year!

-L

Happy (Make You Happy)

So, are you happy, Lola? I mean . . . it's only your birthday today! And if that isn't enough, some of my favorite photos in digital form as I am too lazy to scan the others. Hope you have a good one, enjoy that Quarterpounder, and see you in a few days.

All my love,
Ava

PS - I know, I know . . . payback's a bitch!

Carry On Wayward Son

I feel like it has been years since my last post.  It also feels like years since my last knit FO post.  I'm almost ready to write one.  Until that post, you'll find me scrubbing my sink.  Gust is blocking in the basement, but before she was pulled to death, she left a nice blue stain in our sink.  I said "blue".  No typo.  The picture's color is pretty accurate.  I swear it turned blue.  From the first dunk, the water was a nice shade of toxic green.  It was almost frightening how green the water got.  I rinsed and rinsed, but she kept bleeding.  So I gave up and blocked.  I'm not sure if this bleeding yarn is a sign that it just wasn't right for the pattern.  Lace is something you must be patient with.  Don't look for a concrete pattern.  Just get the general idea and be amazed during the blocking process.  I didn't get the amazement this time.  Perhaps it's because I blocked it on a striped towel.  Or maybe the yarn just had too much variegation.  I guess I'll have to be patient for a little while longer.  I hate being patient when it doesn't have to do with a dawdling toddler.

I've got a birthday coming up, so I asked our Mom for some gift certificates.  I was ready to purchase Dixie Chick & Faulty Dyer.  I was buying them for the names alone.  You see, I'm a sucker for names.  Any sort of personal connection and I'll load my cart.  When I was younger, I'd buy lipsticks just for the name.  I've grown up and always buy "Slightly Better Than Your Own Color" lip-gloss.  But I still love the names.  When it comes to fiber, I pretty sure I'll never spin or dye my own yarn.  I just don't have that curiosity.  But is there a Yarn Namer job out there?  I'd love to knit a pair of socks out of Dirty Martini green.  A whole sweater out of Freshly Baked Bread.  What about a scarf out of Walk of Shame red?  OK, perhaps there isn't a market for oddly named yarns, but I'd go on a wait list for Sonny Corinthos black.  After doing some Ravelry searches on what my yarns would actually look like, I opted for different yarns.  I just didn't like how my original choices knit up.  I played it safe with the Oregon Red Clover.  I didn't get enough of the color when I knit my shawl. 

I was going to purchase some green colors, but I wanted something different.   When in doubt, I always choose greens.  Enter Love in Idleness.  Maybe that will be my wedding knit project.

I've got one long day of driving and then I'm home.  It's especially nice this week because Gus is having his annual Grandma/Grandpa week.  My SIL and BIL swear they could never do this.  I swear I can never go without this week.  I love it.  He loves it.  They love it.  Can it get any better?  Yep.  When both boys go!

-L