Getting the mojo back.

My knitting has really suffered since the PuddleMaster came to town. You might wonder what the hell my problem is. He's stopped peeing everywhere, right? Well, pretty much. We work hard at PuppySchool, too. He's an enthusiastic student.

Now, we have these episodes. Often.

He generally starts up well before I grab a camera. It never really occurs to me until he's in full run...

And thieving? Nothing is immune-books, underwear, laundry, sandwiches? Kleenex. Yesterday, I knit a few rows, and set it down on the couch. The sound must have been like a starter's pistol, because he woke up in a flash, and off he went to unravel!

Yesterday, I set out to reclaim my knitting mojo. I took an entrelac class with Gwen Bortner. And I think it's going to help significantly.

More on this later.

Oh, just go look. You'll laugh.

Here's a link for epic cross-stitch.

Le Sigh...

It's a good thing I didn't like the last pair of glasses I bought, because they were waiting patiently in their case for me this morning, after I found this. My dog is driving me to distraction. We thought Sug was bad, but this guy is a real handful.

Yesterday, I was on the phone getting an RX refill for hubs. And he lept up and bit me. On the ass.

He doesn't do it to be spiteful-that's what young dogs do to other young dogs. But I am not a young dog, and am getting frustrated. There have to be two long walks every day, and two absolutely crazy wrestlemania sessions when he's super tired and crabby. This morning, I am looking frantically for obedience classes.

Das show mit PRIZEN!

You may recall I entered in Melusine de Tricot's contest over Christmas. My prize showed up this week!

I got scared-at first I thought I got the French catalog again-as it turns out, I got English instructions. Whew!

A box of black yarn and a booklet.....to make this-

Getting back on track-

I'm really excited that my last day is tomorrow. You don't even know. I felt a little bad about quitting, because somewhere in the back of my head is my father's voice saying "Quitters never win, and winners never quit." On the other hand, I also remember him crabbing about people who complain about their jobs "Shit to bits...." At the end of the day, I felt like Sonny, making puddles in the wrong spots and not understanding why people were shouting. It's not good to cower when you go into work. I waited exactly long enough for my postmaster to get his eye surgery, and just a few days longer. And that is enough of that.

My knitting has REALLY suffered lately, between the soul-sucking post office and the Puddlemaster. I was totally gob-smacked to open up Vogue Knitting (S/S 2010) and see THIS:

Oddly, seeing THAT makes me feel better about quitting. Like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes, or sleeping in your own bed after a long trip.

I feel honored as well. I remember pouring over VK in Germany before I understood German, or even knitting, very well. I never EVER expected to see MY knitting in there.

I've got knitting that must not be named on the needles now. And since I have knitting that must not be named, let me leave you with a little something to make you smile:

Quit work.

I gave my notice today. The post office is going thru a rough patch-they don't make money any more, and are cutting and trimming in every way they can. What's the old saw about "Doing more with less for so long we can do everything with absolutely nothing?"

Here it is-

“We have done so much with so little for so long that now we can do anything with nothing.”

Anyhow-after working for the post office, I think it's a miracle that we actually can move a letter across the country for .44 cents. And the people you see at your post office are working a good deal harder than you think.

It's the Year of the Tiger-

There will be times you think 2010 is a good year and others when you will wonder if the opposite is true. On a positive note, the Metal year produces good fortune for you. The Tiger, on the other hand, is a big cat, and not exactly a friend to the Rat. Two important keys to your success are to be nimble and not to pick fights you have a chance of losing. The Tiger has claws, and defeat is not likely to be pretty. There will be plenty of action this year, which should suit you just fine. Scale back your endeavors in the first six months of the year and make your most concerted efforts during the next six good ones. This formula should leave your life's balance sheet in the black at year's end.

Hmmm. Not a Rat?

What I've been up to-

An easy entrelac tam-Universal Yarns Moods, pattern from Verbena Knits. 175 yds, for Carol, who is going thru chemo.

Chasing after this guy takes up a lot of time too.

Chemo Caps for guys?

Patricia's been looking for patterns. I think maybe this plain one. Or this one, done in one color.

Any other suggestions??

Holiday!

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. I expect someone in my family to organize a parade.

A chemo cap on the needles:

Here's the pattern. The yarn is Universal Moods.

Who takes all my knitting time?

What are you talking about, Mom?

Two months, 20 lbs. Whadda ham. We had to buy special shampoo because he has demodetic mange (240.00). It's 50.00 for a dip. And special food, because he has a dainty (read stinky) stomach.

My money pit.

When was the last time you laughed til you cried?

I suggest you have a look at the Sleep Talkin Man. Cause THAT's some funny stuff.

Another inspiration

As it turns out, Fassett's feathers are Japanese trees....

Inspirations.

A few weeks ago, I was surfing on ebay and found this haori. The design is formed by shibori, teeny teeny little circles sewn in, then dyed. The threads are snipped away, leaving a pattern made from itty bitty tie-dyed circles.

I bid like a crazy woman.

It came in a few days ago, and it is inspirational. It reminds me of something I'd seen before. I remember reading that Fassett spent a good deal of time at the V & A sketching. He must have seen something like this.

The haori is much more moving than the designs it inspired. You know what slays me? Look at the first photo. The pattern matches at the seams. Swoon.

No, I don't wear these-but I might begin playing crazy art lady and start. DH has a company function this week.... It cracks him up-the older I get, the more Dragon Lady I become.

A portrait of the artist and his work...

Some days, I just ask "What the hell?" Because who runs and pees at the same time??

I won!!

I entered a contest on Melusine's blog a few weeks back, and got word yesterday that I won third! (I had to mouse over the podium for the results, and do a lot of copy and paste to Google Translator!)

Yay! I get to pick out a project from Bergere de France! Double yay. I DO love their designs!

Thanks for helping me win. I didn't realize that we could vote every day, but no matter-I am happy!

Mail!

It's been quite a week. I worked at my post office this week. All this week. It was a LOT of work. I did everything but the mail carrier's job. I question whether the pay outweighs the PITA. The jury is still out on that. I'm daunted. My supervisor (an accountant) asks me why I am taking so long. Because I am unsure I am doing the right thing does not seem to be anywhere on that checklist.

This morning, I helped out at another post office. Very very different! I did one thing. It was fine.

This week, I got an email from DD entitled "I miss you!" I opened it up and found:

I melted.

Friday Funny

For Carol and her lost biopsy results

Eyeroll

This week, I discovered the perfect time to go Christmas shopping. That's right. New Years Day. It was great-the roads were clear, the mall wasn't packed, and there were good buys. I bought THIS:

I was all excited, and put my new comforter and shams on the bed, but skipped the bedskirt for now. I noticed that it was all dry clean only....

Last night, DH put Puddlemaster on the bed. This morning I woke up under the covers, damp...DAMP? It wasn't me!! I CHECKED!!! I asked DH if he'd taken Puddlemaster out. He hasn't had an accident in days ..... DH will get the privilege of getting the new comforter back OUT of the cleaners.

And my knitting mojo is back. Hope I can keep my knitting out of the jaws of (young) life!