Long time

Wow, 2014 was the last time I was on my blog. I am resurrecting it due to the nightmare changes Ravelry has done to their site.

To say that I am disapointed that the classic version of Ravelry is being discarded is a huge understatement. I have been a long standing member since back in the day when you had to wait for your membership to be approved (2008), have added TONS of knowledge sharing to the Ravelry database and yet will no longer be able to utilize it as I am unable to view the NuRav site. 

Even months after the change, with them promising fixes and rolling out a few other options "Herdwig/Merino/Swatches" bullshit, I start to get a pounding pulsing behind my eyes within minutes of being on the NuSite. If I ignore the pounding, it just keeps growing until it's a full blown migraine within 1/2 hour of being on their site. Their change to NuRav is not only causing me issues, but MANY users are not able to access it and people are leaving. It's really a shame that TPTB are so invested in their updated teeny bopper twee change to the site, that they've forgotten (or just don't give a shit) about the almost 9.5 million users that love the site as it was, and of those, many were also daily users who can no longer use it as we all once did. Such a mind-boggling thing that TPTB have done - why would you intentionally destroy all your hard work? WHY? The worst part, is nobody knows, and they won't enlighten us. They just delete all the posts in the For Love of Ravelry group, archive them, block users and ignore us. It's so sad. Heartbreaking, really... but, it's brought me back here. To this old friend...

I am going to take a few minutes to figure out how to update the side bar with my projects, check if any of the existing links still work, and start posting here once again.

Yep, I'm still around. Finished a few noteworthy projects recently... 

all can be found in my Ravelry project pages...

Jacobean Square

Molly pullover

Elfe top

Lotus flower

where does the time go?

I guess I'm not much of a blogger when I'm working full time. I'd much rather knit, then blog about it - lol.

There has been a significant change in my life. We got a dog! Opie is a white & brindle Olde English Bulldogge - we got him at 11.5 weeks old and he weighed 22 lbs. He has brought joy, laughter and fun into our home ♥ and we all love him dearly.

This is our first day getting to know each other. ♥

He is now 8 months old. He's is the best people person dog, but not-so-much friendly with other dogs. So, we are also doing obedience school. Next wednesday is our last class, and I think we'll sign up for the next session also. it's not terribly expensive, and it get's us out learning with other doggies, so it's good for my Opie.

This is Opie now, laying on his pillow on the couch, living the good life! lol

Work is going very well - I support 4 different areas in my team, so my job is always fresh and interesting, and we are working on a new concept right now for our next campaign.

Knitting is going very well also. I really have to update the side bar, as all of those projects were done eons ago!! (I'm wearing my catkin right now!) I've become a Wollmeise junky, and absolutely love the FO's that I've made with this yarn.

Just a couple pics of my projects:

Catkin

Luiza

and am working on my very first Herbert Niebling and although I'm finding the pattern to be a bit difficult, I'm loving it! It is SO elaborate and will be stunning.

Helene (Joy is actually the name written on my pattern)

Still knittin'

Yep, I'm still knittin'

It's the ending of summer... work is really ramping up with one of the largest, most in-depth campaigns my company has ever embarked upon, and I'm happy to say that I am a part of it!

So, suffice it to say, that I'm knittin' like a mad woman on my breaks and lunches! (and on my commute to/from work also!)

I have a few projects on the go... some are actually 'going' more than others, to be honest... one that I am working on it driving me mental only because I absolutely love it and the mistakes in it are killing me!! lol

anyway, love and kisses! ♥

Sunday, and I haven't knit a stitch yet!

It's been a long, tiring weekend to say the least.

Saturday i woke up at 4AM barfing and diarreha. Yeck! Lasted about 8 hours. couldn't eat a bite either, and any liquids i drank came right out again via one end or the other. o.O

Today I had to get up early as I had a MRI scheduled at 7:30 for my knee. Uggg, those machines are weird! What the hell is with the noises it makes????
(Why did i go for an MRI)
I slipped in the bathroom about 3 weeks ago and twisted my knee, hurt my hip and my lower back. Since I've been having issues with my knee lately, my doctor wanted to make sure i didn't seriously damage anything in there.

Knitting:
I finished quite a few projects since last on here! lol

Work:
is going very well. I'm very busy, working for 3 managers, a Program Director and a Director - plus any of their staff that needs assistance.

Family:
Hubby is doing very well in his new Career! He's happy and enjoying the work.
M moved into her own apartment and is still doing a lot of travelling with her job.
S isn't doing that well in school
A is doing well in school

Right now I've been watching the first 2 episodes of Game of Thrones season 2 on the movie network, can't wait for tonight for ep3!!!!

Well, I better go and finish my laundry. ♥

Hello, old friend

I can't believe its' October - Thanksgiving weekend to be presise, and I haven't posted on here for almost a year! Wow. And what a year its' been!

I finally found a job, and after 3 weeks of contract - was offered full-time permanent with full benefits! Now to get caught up on some bills.

I've been knitting a wee bit. Really need to change that side bar to reflect what's going on with my needles right now.

My oldest DD is in Mexico right now with her work. Thus I won't see her on her birthday tomorrow. So, happy birthday Bella Mia. You are my heart, be happy and safe, and have a wonderful year. I love you, M.

My son started high school. He's taking a double auto mechanics course, science math and explore tech. Poor kid! lol. And he's taller than I am now!

And my youngest, has also changed schools. She is now walking a little way to her new school, but is always with a friend, so that's ok. She loves her teachers, and has made tons of friends.

Ok, that's all for today. I'll see you soon.

can't fix it!!

hmmmm, for some reason I can't edit my side bar anymore. Where my wips show.... what the hell happened, and how do i fix it! A few of those things are done, and a few more have been started. :)

Shawls

I'm also working on Juneberry. I originally got the magazine specifically for this pattern, but the pattern was condensed too much (considering this is an advanced knit), and it was too difficult to understand what to do on Chart B. Thus, the Ravelry Juneberry pattern came my way via a RAK. I've just started chart D, and hope to finish that tonight. :)

Damask is also started, and it's a beautiful shawl! Plus, I just received Batic in a RAK!! lol.

Winter Lillies

Winter Lillies close up
Originally uploaded by lynn893

Been working on a few projects over the past little while. One I really enjoyed doing was the Winter Lillies for a very good friend of mine, Shannon. I finished the short row shaping and the bind off, but ripped it back to the lace section because it seemed too small. (totally my fault, i thought i could change the short row shaping from 5 sts after the wrap to 3 sts, not realizing this would make the top border shorter. I was just trying to get the back to have a tiny bit more depth) Oh well.

So, now I've just finished working on the short row shaping again, and this time I did it as the pattern is written. But, I went up 2 needle sizes when I did the cast off.

Coffee with a good Friend

Saturday morning usually is very quiet and low key around here... kids in pajamas, eating cereal, cartoons on the tv, me knitting and hubby reading the newspaper drinking coffee.

Well, this morning I changed it up a little, and stepped out for a couple hours to meet with a good friend of mine. We took a bit of a walk to my local LYS, where we wandered around touching and stroking and ooohhhhing and aahhhhing yarns for almost an hour! We both walked out with a skein of Malabrigo worsted (mine is blue Oceanos and Shannon bought a beautiful purple she is planning on making into an 198 yards of heaven for her Mother). Shannon also bought some fun fur for a gnome beard. :)

Then I found $5 on the sidewalk as we were walking to the local coffee shop!!! We went in and discussed my quilting extravaganza that will be starting this week (I plan on making 2 twin size quilts for 2 of my teenagers for christmas). Since Shannon has made a few beautiful quilts in the past, I really wanted to pick her brains about them.

What I really love about getting together with Shannon is how comfortable I feel with her. I've known her for 10 years now, and although we don't talk or get together often enough, it's always like... I don't know, I can't even explain it... it's like she's always on the same wavelength as I am. I completely get where she's been and where she's going in life, and I think she feels the same with me. It's like... if I could have chosen my sister, I would have chosen her.

Thanks for driving all the way down here this morning Shannon. I loved seeing you today, it was the perfect start to ensuring a wonderful weekend.


OH, and she made me this for my tree:



it's at the top of my tree, just to the right of the bottom of the angel



see it?

:)

To Do List started.... 19 days to go

My To-Do list

* Get Christmas Tree and Decorations out of basement
* Put the Christmas tree up
* Decorate the Christmas Tree
* Find the recipe for Grandma & pa's Christmas cookies
* Make list of ingredients required and them make them
* Think about making some more different cookies as well
* Package & gift cookies to friends and family
* Finish all of my Christmas knitting
* Finish shopping for items that are not hand crafted
* Fill out bazillion Christmas Cards
* Distribute Bazillion Christmas Cards (after locating address lists from last year)
* Buy eggnog and rum and enjoy a nice drink
* Remember that this is a time of happiness and cheer

That time of Year

My To-Do list

* Get Christmas Tree and Decorations out of basement
* Put the Christmas tree up
* Decorate the Christmas Tree
* Find the recipe for Grandma & pa's Christmas cookies
* Make list of ingredients required and them make them
* Think about making some more different cookies as well
* Package & gift cookies to friends and family
* Finish all of my Christmas knitting
* Finish shopping for items that are not hand crafted
* Fill out bazillion Christmas Cards
* Distribute Bazillion Christmas Cards (after locating address lists from last year)
* Buy eggnog and rum and enjoy a nice drink
* Remember that this is a time of happiness and cheer

Birthday

Well, last weekend was my birthday. Thank goodness it's over for another year. My eldest came over, and one thing I'm really grateful for is that my husband offered to make dinner and told me to invite my favoritest person in the entire world, my friend Shannon, and her family.

So, last Saturday, hubby was cooking in the kitchen and I was sitting in the livingroom chatting with my buddy. Her hubby was in the kitchen with mine, and her kids were hanging with mine. :)

We shared stories, and projects, and the love flowed (as did the wine). I don't see Shannon nearly as much as I would like to, but when we do get together, it's always like no time passed at all. I also follow her blog and her projects on a knitting site we are both part of, although she doesn't post updates enough there for my liking :)

So, with my spirit refreshed with great friendship, family, food and wine - I welcome another year. xox

Factory Fresh (again?)

“Laptop issues again?” hubby asks as he walks by me.
“yeah babe, some Admin restrictions. Having an issue installing software or viewing images”
I’m on the phone on hold with HP service. It’s been about 25 minutes. I’m getting cranky so I hang up. No sense being cranky with some young kid who happens to get my help desk call.

I go to the HP website and go to the Customer Service chat help. This seems to go faster and in no time there is Kalam typing a “Hello, how can I help you?”

I type that my hard drive died a month or so ago and HP replaced it and reinstalled everything, but did more after the factory fresh and changed/updated some settings because I was getting Administrator access only error messages. So, he advises that I make a ‘new account’, transfer all my files to the new account, and then delete the old account. At this point, I ask if it would be better for me to just do a System Recovery and go to Factory Fresh after backing up my stuff. “No, no, no… not necessary. Lets make new account first.”

So, 80 minutes later, a new account is made and my files are copied over to this new “Lynn”. I go ahead and deleted the “Admin” account. Then I go and try to install jzip (the program that started all this Admin crap) and still get the same error pop up box about Administrator permissions and to contact my Administrator. I AM THE FUCKEN ADMINISTRATOR!!!! It’s a home laptop. There is only ME!!!

I back up the 3 files that I’ve added since my last back up, restart, and go to System Recovery. “Are you sure?” pops up. “Yes, Factory Fresh this time, please” I speak back to my laptop, hoping against hope that I don’t end up throwing this piece of lemon out the window.

Well, 40 minutes later, I’m Factory Fresh and getting all my files back in order. The first one I install is the jzip. No problem at all now.

Thanks for a serious waste of my afternoon HP.

Knotty but Nice Hat

I finished a Knotty but Nice hat for Sebastian. You can find the pattern at http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTknotty.php I love this site! Free patterns, with a new newsletter out every 4 months. I'm going to ask S if I can post a pic of him modelling it! lol, lets cross our fingers.

Kids are at TwaeKwonDo right now. They are both brown belts, and doing very well. I just wished they would practice a bit more.

HUMPH!!! Never ask a man for his opinion in regards to something knitted. Hubby just said that the Knotty but Nice hat is too girly! And now S is worried about it... well, I guess I just knitted myself a hat. :(

My knitting area

There have been some changes around here lately.

#1 - I bought a new chair - an Ikea Poang with a black cover. (We put my big armchair out into the sunroom)
#2 - I bought a new shelving unit - an Ikea Expedit with 8 cube spaces.
#3 - I organized my yarns and magazines and books and printouts!

ta da!!!



and a closeup of my shelf...



Well, what do you think of my knitting corner?

Woodstock Fleece Festival

Last weekend I went on a bit of a road trip with a good friend of mine, Shannon and a couple buddies of hers. She came and picked me up on her way to Woodstock! An hour and a bit in the car on the way up, and we were immersed in fleece and wool and all kinds of yarny goodness!

Since I'm not working right now, i had told myself that I wanted to walk around at least once before buying anything! And I did. But I still came home with 4 purchases! A beautiful skein of madelinetosh Pashmina in Terrarium - a sport weight yarn that is the squishiest, softest yarn ever!

And I also grabbed a skein of Dye-Version in Rustico - it's a beautiful autumn russet colors, almost looks like different shades of fire!

And, I bought 2 skeins of curly yarn - lol - it's yarn that has a bit of a knotty bubble to it... don't know how to explain it any better. One is Fleece Artist, Kiss Curls in shades of red and orange, and the other is a dark purple from Wellington Fibres.



order: Madelinetosh Pashmina, Fleece Artist, Wellington Fibre, Dye-Version

and another shot of the Pashmina after I retwisted the skein



Thanks for a fantastic day Shannon, Rochelle and Kim! Let's do it again next year! :)

Halloween

I remember Halloween as a child. The lead up to it was so exciting, maybe because it was my Father's birthday as well. I remember one year, a bunch of older kids were out egging and toilet papering the neighbourhood. When our house got hit, my Dad went out running after those guys! OMG, it was hilarious! He came home about 20 minutes later, huffing and puffing, his face completely beet red! We had to sit there waiting for him to get his 2nd wind so we could do his cake. lol!

Halloween does not hold the same love for me since his death. I used to spiderweb the whole place when the kids were little, and big scary posters all over... but now the kids are bigger and it's become more of a melancholy time for me. Not depressing, just sad.

Happy Birthday, Daddy. I love you and miss you alot. xox

Happy Birthday/Thanksgiving, Melissa baby!

My little girl turned 20 on Saturday! Thanksgiving weekend has always been her birthday celebration weekend. So lucky, a turkey for her birthday every year. ;)

The year she was borne, I went into the hospital and it was still the end of summer. The leaves were all still green. When I came out 5 days later, after 2 fierce storms blew through toronto, there were no leaves left on the trees. It looked like I had missed Autumn all together. Not only that, but I missed Thanksgiving. :(

This year (as normal), we celebrated twice. Once at her grandma's on Saturday. There, we sat outside in the sunshine, soaking up the 22 degrees celcius heat.

Today, was a little cooler, but still a beautiful day.

I put the turkey in at 9:30 this morning, and we were eating at 5:30.
Turkey, gravy, biscuits, cranberries, stuffing, potatoes, carrots, squash, green beans, mushrooms, creamed corn and then afterwards apple and pumpkin pies with cool whip and vanilla ice-cream. mmmm, mmmmm!

Happy 20th Birthday sweetheart! I love you, and hope all your wishes come true in the coming year.

Work

Job Application

Yesterday I filled out a job application. The blurb on the company website stated: "(deleted to maintain confidentiality) focuses on creating and maintaining a workplace of choice, where its people are recognized and valued. We focus on creating a workplace where people enjoy the challenge of their career, create and engage in best practices and are treated with respect."

Damn, I really want to work for a company that recognizes and values its employees. Where I can go and be treated with respect.

Wish me luck!