Hooded Pullover, warm and toasty

I finally finished the last of the seaming of the Vogue Hooded Pullover. Other than the deterioration of the instructions toward the end, I like this pattern, like the yarn choice (and it was on sale!), like the fit except for the hood, which is too generous. I did not like how deep the V-neck was, so after adding the single crochet edging, I stitched it up a bit. That part could look better, but I am done. And very tired of cables.



Pattern: Vihervaara huppari / GreenGable hoodie
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky, in Bay Harbor
Needles: US11
Modifications: see above



Ordinarily, I am not a fan of acrylic or acrylic blends, but LB's Wool-Ease yarns are warm and sturdy. And a relief to one's plastic compared to what one could be purchasing.



Yesterday I finally sewed up the armpits, the last little bit left to do, so I could wear it to a gathering of friends. Despite the full house, it was a bit chilly there, but I was quite comfortable.

Winter isn't done with us yet

There are signs of spring - daffodils breaking through frozen soil, a robin at the bird bath, starlings back from their winter vacation - but.

Geese walk on water!

Goose prints

View from a meeting room

That explains it

A woodpecker was pecking the gutters on my house yesterday. Tried for a photo but no luck. Fortunately, the Sunday comics offered an explanation.

PITA

My seed orders have been rolling in (and already one item is sold out). Everything is as it should be EXCEPT for the order from Seed Savers Exchange. The package was addressed to me, but the contents (including the invoice) were for someone else. They are resending my order, but meanwhile they want the mistake returned. I marked it "REFUSED" and put it back into the mailbox, but my carrier could tell the package had been opened and would not take it. So now SSE wants me to schlep it down to the post office and they will reimburse me for the postage. Of course, I have no envelopes big enough for the package, so I can either use one of the post office's or I can create a new label for the package. What a PITA! At least the PO is between where I live and where I work, so I don't have to go too far out of my way.

Look what I made

My first wheel-spun, wheel-plied yarn:

And then, after three lessons, I had to buy a wheel. I chose an Ashford Kiwi 2. I also chose to assemble it myself, thinking we would get to know each other better that way.

In the process, I did learn a thing or two about the Kiwi. But really, the main thing was to start spinning.

I already had accumulated a fair amount of roving. The original intent was to spin it using a spindle. And I did that, for a while. But after spinning, spindling feels like something that requires three hands.

The spindles will now be relegated to decor - I'm hooked on spinning!

More phone rage, tamed

I have this expensive phone with a cheap plan, which has worked out well until the past couple of days, when service has been intermittent. Last call received was Saturday, I can make no outgoing calls except to 911 (and I don't think this is qualifies as an emergency); my attempts to send messages fail, then later succeed; I cannot even access my account through the phone.

I'm about to start a "live chat" with a customer service rep. That is plan A. Plan B is to call the local store (they don't know much about prepay plans since they cannot sell them). Plan C, try the menu hell they call customer service. Plan D, contact their sales department. Let's see how well this works out.

I went from being 14 in the queue to being second, but my wait time fluctuates between 4 to 6, 2 to 4, 4 to 6 minutes. Oops here we go...

Well, I was hoping for a rant here, but the live chat was actually helpful. It turns out I am in a "known impaired service area" and crews are working on it. I am glad it is not my phone. Or me. I also received a $5 credit for my inconvenience. Next time I will try the local store first, as they should know about impaired service areas.

We had a lovely snow last night/this morning, although not enough for cross country skiing. Shoveling the driveway will be my exercise for the day. Then off to pick up my wheel!

I can't keep up

A while back, I combined my three blogs into one and I'm still not posting very often. It's not that I don't have anything to say, I just seem to be too busy doing to do any writing. I suppose that is a good thing, although one of my goals with working part-time was to have more time for writing.

So what have I been up to? For one thing, tai chi. My SO and I signed up for a class, ostensibly called "Tai Chi for Health" but it is really "Tai Chi for Arthritis" per Paul Lam. It is taught by a former co-worker of mine, through the local parks department. We are both enjoying it. We are also taking yoga again as our Wednesday night "date night" followed by a light dinner out.

If that weren't enough learning, I also learned to spin yarn on a spinning wheel during the month of January. The first lesson was fun, but between the first and second lesson, I convinced myself I did not have time for one more hobby. The second lesson was even more fun, and who would not want to have fun? So my final question at the end of lesson three was "Will you sell me a wheel?" I pick it up tomorrow.

Besides exercise classes, I've been fairly resolute about exercising regularly: jogging two or three times a week, doing my shoulder and hip PT exercises twice a week, practicing yoga at home, doing the core exercises the chiropractor gave me almost daily, walking when the weather allows, riding the stationary bicycle occasionally, etc. All in an effort to keep up with my granddaughter, who is in the midst of the terrific/terrible twos. I decided to give her mom and dad a break by keeping her overnight most Saturday nights. In fact, she is sleeping in the guest room right now.

Then there is the knitting. I have been working on two sweaters for myself. Sweater number one, which we shall call Blue Denim, is from a Vogue pattern that I actually paid money for, which is really bugging me because the closer to the end I got, the more vague the instructions became, until they were just plain WRONG. I muddled along best I could, but am not satisfied with the last little bit. That has not stopped me from wearing the sweater around the house, loose ends dangling, because it is quite comfy and warm. Maybe I'll get it figured out today. The other sweater, Big Pink, is about 25% done. I hope its instructions are more robust.

I am also trying to develop the habit of processing my milk delivery sooner rather than later. I get two gallons bi-weekly. The cream I've been turning into ice cream, but that may have to stop - my homemade product is about 300 calories per half cup - no wonder it is so satisfying! A good portion becomes yogurt, plus I make some kind of cheese with the rest. This week it was queso blanco, which is like paneer, a cheese that does not melt and can be used as a substitute for tofu in recipes. In fact, I will be using this cheese to make vegetarian chili for our Super Bowl meal tonight.

There is still time to veg in front of the TV some nights. I am hooked on "The Good Wife" and have just finished the third season (thanks to Netflix). Season four won't be available for a while, as it is the current season and I don't want to jump into the middle of it by watching in "real time", and football season is ending today, so I foresee less TV in my immediate future. Just in time to start garden seedlings inside.

And I read! In the midst of listening to Metatropolis on CD. Just finished Die a Stranger, by Steve Hamilton, and Home Ground, by Allen Lacey. Starting The Paris Wife.

All this, and work too. I can't wait to retire. Someday....