East End and a few other updates........

I finally finished my East End sweater by Alicia Plummer.  I started this sweater just before my visit to NYC in June, and finished the sleeves today.  I gave it a quick steam block and plopped it on Caroline the dress form.  It fits Caroline and so it also fits me but a little more snugly than Caroline as she is much thinner than I am.  I have to say it is not as drapey and loose as the photo in the pattern but it still fits.  When I make something it is inevitably too tight or too big, just right just does not happen very often for me.  

This sweater was made with Entice Yarn from Silver Threads & Golden Needles Yarn Shop in beautiful Franklin, North Carolina.  I bought this yarn two years ago when visiting my dear friend Lynda for a few days.  This is the yarn that is dyed specifically for the store.  I have bought this in gray and this beautiful black cherry, and have been so happy with the end results.  What do you think?

I used approximately 750 yards of yarn for this sweater, I have about 400 ish yards left to make something else.  I used size 4 needles and these really great Addi Flex Tips double pointed needles to make the sleeves.  I could not believe I did not have size 4 double pointed needled in my stash!  So I popped in a yarn store in St. Petersburg, FL between patients last week and picked these up.  They also were out of regular size 4 double pointed needles, and only had these, so I bought them.  Although they were very expensive, I can see these being a great go to needle if you were a sock knitter, so much easier than wrestling four double pointed needles and hoping no stitches fall off.  Anyway back to the sweater, next time I make it I will move up to a size 5 needle to add more drape to the fabric.  It really is a nice and easy pattern and I think a great look.  I am usually all about cardigans but this sweater really caught my eye and I am so glad it did.  Now for it to get out of the mid 90's so I can actually wear it.

I have been battling from intense headaches these past three weeks.  A surprise visit from Mr. 21 last weekend helped me keep my mind off all the pain I was in.  He was taking a break from moving from an apartment into a home near his school.  I think it is very close to where you used to be Dee.  He was suffering from too much IKEA furniture assembly and needed a break.  I wish it were to see me but I really think it was to get some puppy love and of course Little Buddy snuggles.  He was nice enough to pop in the pool with the two of us for a swim.  It was so nice just to see his adorable face and talk about his plans.  He had a really rough time earlier in his life and to see him doing everything a normal college student does, with ease, just warms my heart so much.  Right now he is in Indiana after driving his best friend back up to school.  He returns on Monday.  See, just normal 21 year old stuff.  He is just a wonderful young man.

These two also got a bath last Sunday and I swear I could not stop laughing at them.  They look sooooooooooo skinny when they are wet.  We think they look like Greyhounds although I am sure it is much more like Irish Setters.  They get all sorts of crazy when they are wet, jumping and running around like maniacs.  Well, to be honest, they jump and run around like maniacs much of the day until they plop over in exhaustion.

They poof back out in no time at all.  I suppose that is the poodle in them.  This weeks casualties, the corner of the rug you can see in the photo, something completely unidentifiable that was thrown up by Hank right before I had to leave for work of course, two of Little Buddy's cars and a toothbrush.  See, we are making progress.  

Little Buddy starts school on Monday.  Please keep your fingers crossed it goes well.  I am a bit of a wreck.  He is expected to keep his own desk organized and sit still for much longer periods of time.  We will see how that goes.  I am so fortunate he has his helper, Ms Rachel, to be by his side and guide him along, she will do her best to keep him on task.  He is already talking obsessively about fire drills, poor guy.  They scare him so much.  And new this year is active shooter drills.  Is that not the saddest thing you have ever heard?  We need to train our children how to deal with active shooters and that is just going to be a normal part of their life now.  One month is the run as fast as you can drill, the next will be duck and cover.  I swear I could throw up right now just thinking about it.  What a horrible time we live in where guns are so prominent in the lives of everyone and gun owner rights over ride the rights of citizens safety.  Okay, no more lectures here. 

Have a great weekend my friends.  If my headaches calm down I hope to catch up with you all soon.