Friday, March 6, 2015

Friday Mishmash

While we haven't had the terrible weather that the eastern part of the U.S. has experienced this winter, yesterday (really, it started Wednesday night) was bitterly cold thanks to a strong north wind that blew in.  It was so bad (gusting over 25 mph) that we didn't even run on Thursday morning.  I'll run in almost any kind of weather, but this was just too much, even for me.  At least we didn't end up with ice or snow, like other parts of Texas.  I find it funny that Spring is right around the corner - it sure doesn't feel that way.

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Speaking of cold weather, I still can't get over having a dog who doesn't mind going outside in it.  We had a dachshund for about 15 years, and if it was cold, or raining, or even just wet, she would balk at going outside, and when I'd finally get her to go out, she'd pretend to pee and then run back to be let inside.  I miss that dog - she had so much personality, even if she was a pain to deal with when the weather was bad.  Paco, on the other hand, bounds outside no matter what (well, maybe not when there's thunder and lightening, but who can blame him for that?).  Yesterday morning, when it hurt to even open the back door and let the cold air in, he ran outside, did his business, ran the perimeter of the yard for inspection, and blasted back inside like it was no big deal.  Over eight years of this and I'm still amazed!

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My knitting guild does a group project every year - usually it's a mystery knit-along, where we get clues to a pattern each month and knit the item; it's interesting to see everyone's take on the same pattern, just done with different yarn (and skill sets).  This year, we are doing something different.  The theme is "What Do I Want To Be?" - we were to bring a special skein of yarn that we have been holding onto because we just couldn't figure out what to make with it, and let the guild membership decide.  In January, we had a show and tell, pictures were taken of the yarn, and we listed what we were and were not interested in making.  Then our guild president made a thread on Ravelry with our yarn, and we all made suggestions.  We looked at everything at our February meeting, and voted on a project for each member who was participating.  There was a little bit of deal making going on ("I'll vote for this for you if you vote for that for me") - obviously some of us (ahem) weren't quite willing to make some of the suggestions.  In the end, the (heavily-lobbied-for) Diamond Cowl pattern won out for my yarn, so I set to work.  We have until the end of the year to finish, but I've been in a cowl-making mood, so I went ahead with it:
Pattern is Diamond Cowl, yarn is Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend in colorway #3122 Mermaid.
You can see how the colors did interesting things...first they did a spiral stripe, then they started to pool toward the bottom of the cowl.  It's weirdly interesting to me, but I'm glad this wasn't a sweater because I don't think I would like how it looks in that case.

Other things I'm working on are another GAP-tastic cowl (only for a short time each day so I don't further stress out my thumb joint with the bulky yarn and big needles), the second of two boot cuffs (using yarn that ended up being too scratchy to be put directly on skin), and I'm trying to get a top-down hat started, but I've had trouble getting the cast-on going. 
Purple boot cuff, gray cowl.

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Have a great weekend - we'll be running tomorrow, as usual.  It will be cold, but the wind should have died down, and that should make for a good run.

16 comments:

  1. Brrrrr ! I'm cold just reading your post !

    I love the cowl you made ! Beautiful !

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  2. I can't believe it's colder where you live at the moment than where I am. We are heading towards 60 degrees next Sunday.

    If we are walking and get rain, Bella doesn't mind. But if we leave the house and it's raining I have to drag her outside LOL. If we open the door to the garden when it's raining, she doesn't even put a feet outside. She's such a cry baby when it rains LOL. Snow however she can't get enough of.

    Love the cowl, the colors are fabulous.

    Have a good weekend my friend.

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    1. I can't believe how cold it's been, either! Lucky you with the warmer temps!!

      Paco loves the snow, too - he and Bella would have a field day running together in it!

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  3. My Labrador does the same thing. Most of the time she barely make is off the porch to do her business!

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  4. Knitting and dogs! Two of my favorite topics. The dachshund story made me LOL of course--PRETENDING to pee! I've seen it so many times! I have to say the doggie door has greatly enhanced Sophie's poddy experience. I guess knowing for 100% sure that she can get back in makes her more willing to go outside?

    The cowl is super fantastic! The pattern is gorgeous, and the way the color winds around is so interesting! And, bonus! It looks great on you.

    (whispering) Its predicted to hit 70 degrees today…...

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    1. 70 degrees and probably no humidity. I can get behind that!

      It's funny how the dachshunds are SURE we won't let them back in, and every extra second spent outside when they are ready to come in is just full of panic. Silly dogs. Sounds like the doggie door is a wonder!

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    2. Since I didn't post a blog today, I want Debby to know she BETTER whisper - we had record breaking temperatures overnight, again. And the most snow in all of CT. Feel very, very sorry for me, and please send that 70 degrees east!!!

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  5. I cannot stand running in winter wind. I'll pick a rest day or treadmill day over that any day! You can think of me tomorrow - we won the prize for the most snow yesterday so, yeah, no running outside again. The piles at the end of the sidewalks are up to the top of the pole and bottom of the octagon of the stop signs. I just can't bring myself to run, climb the snow mountain, repeat. Sigh.

    I think your cowl is cute and funky the way that pattern worked out.

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    1. Oh man, snow mountain. That kind of thing is only fun when you are a kid...

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  6. Hannah's tiny dog is like that - doesn't like the cold at all and will literally pee RIGHT outside the back door and high tail it back inside and will shiver - we have to put a coat on her so she doesn't freeze!

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  7. Your knitting is amazing. Love that wool. Everytime I read your blog, I say that i've got to knit a cowl.

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  8. I can't do wind. Rain yes, snow (no ice) yes, but wind is the worst.

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  9. That cowel is amazingly gorgeous! I love the colors contrasting with the diamond. It has a lot of motion to it.

    Weather is all relative. If you aren't used to cold winters, then what you got probably feels like it is to us being negative 10 and blustery. It just sucks. And don't get me started on the wind LOL! I don't even like the wind in the summer - especially if I am trying to ride.

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  10. Hey the cowl looks good - I like the pattern

    I'm not keen on cold winds and rain .... roll on warmer weather.

    All the best Jan

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