Author: kokomeau

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Off-Shoulder Top Finished

Posted on by kokomeau
Well, it’s done. But if you look at this picture, you’ll see that what was supposed to be the same dye lot definitely looks different at the top than at the bottom. I don’t understand why, and if someone has any ideas, please share them. I know that every skein was from the same lot, but for some weird reason, it looks much brighter at the top. It was done on circs and the sleeves added later. I also didn’t put the novelty yarn around the sleeves like the pattern calls for. I still like it, but I sure don’t understand the color change.

Oh, well! Knit on!
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CAPS FOR A CURE!

Posted on by kokomeau

I’ve decided to do the Caps for a Cure project through Yahoo Groups. I’ve picked this great hat called ODESSA designed by Grumperina that is shown on the Mag Knits website. I love the textured look of it. I won’t be doing the beads, since these are for chemo patients, and if they have to sleep in them, those definitely wouldn’t be comfortable. I’ve already frogged it once because of trouble with the yo’s. This is another of those projects that I cannot share with television!
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PROJECT PROGRESS (Updated)

Posted on by kokomeau

Here’s what I’ve been working on lately (though I can’t take much credit for the afghan as a friend helped with the majority of it). The main body of the Showy Shrug is done, but now I have to add all the ribbing that will go around the edges. This is the project that has caused my love/hate relationship with knitting; I love it when it’s going well, but I hate frogging it over and over. This yarn, Lion Brand Mystery, is horrid to fix because of the super-bulky areas of color. But I do love the effect! On the bright side, I’ve become extremely adept at UN-knitting. I need to pace myself, though, as I don’t want to finish these at the same time and then have nothing to work on! (Gasp!)
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Fair is middling.

Posted on by kokomeau

Life really does begin after 45, it seems.

And if you want the proof, here’s a recent report from the Journal of Advanced Nursing, in which researchers from the College of Nursing at Arizona State University measured the stress levels and personality traits of 299 women of various ages.

What they found is encouraging:

  • Women between ages 18 and 29 were under high stress, and had poor personality traits. Result: poor health, both physically and emotionally.
  • Between ages 30 and 45, stress levels generally went up, but women with strong personality traits saw their way through it all, and they were healthier than when they were younger.
  • Once past 45, emotional stress levels declined, while the healthy personalities became better still.
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Meet Sadie (above photo album).

Posted on by kokomeau
Meet Sadie, (above) the newest member of our family! We rescued Sadie from the local shelter. She’s a four-year-old Spitz mix (which would account for the wolf-like appearance) who was not treated well by her former owner. She was left outside on a chain and has not been socialized at all. She is timid and fearful of strangers, loud talk, big men, and unfamiliar noise. She doesn’t bark, doesn’t know how to play, but she has a heart of gold and has stolen mine. She’s totally devoted to me and is at my feet constantly, mostly lying down keeping my toes warm. I know she’ll eventually come around, because her need to please is more than obvious. She seems eager to learn, and every day she opens up a little more. It hasn’t even been a week, and already our cat, Cali (see other posts), has accepted her, which is amazing since Cali hasn’t accepted another animal in the house in over 14 years. Could it be she senses a wounded soul?
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I’m so DMEUMB!

Posted on by kokomeau
I’m so BUMMED! I was halfway done with that “showy shrug” I’ve been working on. I laid it out last night just to make sure it wasn’t going to be too big. When I compared it to the image on the pattern, I discovered I’D DONE IT BACKWARDS! I was thoroughly confused because it calls for reverse stockinette stitch, so apparently the purl side is the “RS” and the knit side is the “WS.”

So now I have to frog it all the way back to the sleeves, which really ticks me off because I’ve tried so hard to follow this danged pattern carefully. I should have asked more questions.

Oh, well. Live knit and learn.

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What can I say? She’s the boss of me.

Posted on by kokomeau
This is Cali, our 14-year-old calico. I’ve posted photos of her before, but I love this one. She knows my attention is at the keyboard, so that’s where she decides to lay. She also does this when I’m trying to knit. She’s too old to worry about the ball of yarn; instead she just lays on my lap and watches the yarn move past her feet. I know lots of people aren’t “cat people,” but there’s really something special about them once they finally choose to show their affection. It’s true what they say: “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.” And I’m really glad I’m hers.