Riot of Color

I'm never good at making decisions. Ask my husband. Where to go to eat, what color shirt to buy, where to go on vacation. Making a choice means excluding something else. I hate exclusion. It's no different with knitting. When I'm faced with picking a new project to start, I have a hard time picking the yarn, and an even harder time picking a pattern! Sometimes, but very rarely, it all just comes together magically without me even thinking much about it. Usually though, it's a painful process of decision. Especially when there are lots of choices.

I laid out bunches of color combinations last night to see what I liked for a new colorwork project. Granted, I'm not sure what said project will be as of yet, but rest assured it will be either mittens or socks. Anyone who has read my blog or seen my knitting before knows I love bright, high contrast colors. This was the first combination that I put together. Love it. But then I did this and this and I didn't know when to stop. I started to like the more subtle combinations - not necessarily bright. What is happening to me?? So, I sit and stare at all the wonderful, amazing color combinations not sure what to do with them and not sure which one to pick. I trip through both Ravelry (where you can now search your queue! Yay!) and many pattern books to see what strikes me. Hands or feet?

Maybe I'll just leave them in a big pile to admire....

We interrupt knitting for this special announcement!

Very exciting news! I just got the call that Ace's mom Deuce just won the breed at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show! Australian Shepherds were on bright and early at 8am. If you remember, I made the trip down to New York last year, and she unfortunately didn't win. I guess motherhood and a little time off agreed with her! She not only beat the dog that won last year, but beat the #1 dog in the country! Be sure to watch tonight at 8pm on USA network and cheer her on! I know Ace will be very proud to see his mom on TV! You can catch all the results here

On to knitting progress. While not totally casting aside the second Sigrid sock, I had the itch to start something new. So, I picked something small and relatively fast that would use up some stash and provide me with a very useful product in the end.

They are the Merletto Mitts by the talented Jody. The yarn is about half of a skein of leftover Tess yarn from the Turret Socks. It's a beautiful pattern - a little lace and a little cable. Working up fast too - I did the entire hand yesterday afternoon! My plan, so as not to totally abandon the second sock, is to complete this first mitt, then go back to Sigrid. Keep everyone happy.

Use a little stash, get a little stash. Look what I got in the mail!

Fleece Artist Sea Wool in a beautiful Peridot colorway. I won a little contest given by Lis from One Planet Yarn. How cool is that! The yarn is super soft and has a great sheen to it. The color is amazing. Kind of a greenish gray color. It will make some amazing socks!

We got another blast of snow this weekend. Yesterday was on and off snowing all day. One minute it would be blue skies and sunny, the next a white out.

It was really pretty how it stuck to the trees though. Unfortunately, with the 45 mph winds last night, it's all blown off. The boys had a great time yesterday afternoon. Luckily the cold and snow don't bother them.

Otis

Tucker

The Boys in a rare moment of stillness yesterday

A Bit of Enhancement

1. Enhancement for the feets - check!

Yarn: Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop in the Crazy Love colorway
Needles: Ever trusty #1 KP 32" circulars
Pattern: Your basic top down 68 stitch sock

These were the epitome of a simple knit. The yarn is a work of beauty, I felt that the best way to show it off was just to let the yarn do the work and not do any stitch work to interfere. (Plus, my pooling and striping fear!) It did stripe a little, but in a Trekking kind of way. Not very offensive. They are squishy soft and cozy.

2. Enhancement for the stash - check!

Last weekend, Sarah and I headed to Webs. She had never been, and for some strange reason I was looking to buy a sweaters worth of yarn. I had my list of things I wanted to look at, and printed out my Ravelry Queue so I'd have the information on any patterns I may want to knit. Off we went. It always entertains me to watch people go into Webs for the first time. The shop up front it pretty normal. Packed full of stuff, it's a big place and we spent the first hour or so there browsing, touching and squeezing many a skein. Then I asked her if she was ready to venture out back. That is when the dropped jaw/look of astonishment happens. It is overwhelming, even to me - and I have been there quite a few times! Needless to say, she did very well. We policed each others purchases to make sure we weren't going overboard. I came this close to buying yarn for the Bias Fair Isle pullover, but some of the colors just weren't perfect. Sarah luckily talked me out of making a bad decision. Instead, I managed to get three sweaters worth of yarn - all on clearance.

Di Ve Zenith in a pretty pink. Very soft, superwash, worsted weight. This stuff will work for almost any pattern out there, but I was thinking maybe for Demi or Gathering Intentions or Marseilles. Any stitch pattern or cables will really pop with this yarn. (notice how I found pink examples...)

I also got the irresistible Kathmandu Aran in a gorgeous orange. This is yarn I have been reading about and seeing all over blogland and Ravelry for a while now. Good reason why. It's super soft, tweedy and a nice weight (did I mention tweedy?).

Not quite sure what this will turn into, but it would also work for the previously mentioned Demi, along with Cobblestone (with shaping of course), or Fifi (but a long sleeve with ease version). Many options....and, I haven't really even looked through some of my older books yet!

The other yarn I picked up was the 2/4 Highland Tweed. Thanks to Ravelry I never would have known about this bargain. Two pounds of yarn (just over actually) for $24!

It's in a nice, neutral oatmeal tweed color. Great as is or for overdying! (I'm thinking maybe reddish?) This is slated for maybe Salina or maybe Nordic Memories with another color. Many, many possibilities!

3. Hair enhancement - check!
I got a little bored last night and was ready to do something to my hair. Armed with scissors, my sister cut about 1.5" off (nothing major I know) then out came the dye.

Now I match the couch! It is a little RED, but it's growing on me....

We got more snow last night, and the forecast for this weekend is showing highs in the single digits with a nice wind thrown in for good New England winter measure. Tucker and I have an indoor agility trial on Sunday. We won't be venturing out much!

How Do You Decide?

In another few weeks, we'll have the big puppy decision to make. Which one to bring home. Right now it's leaning heavily towards Ace (his new name), but Hint (was "Orb") is making a great play for me as well now. Final decisions will not come until around 6 1/2 or 7 weeks when their conformation and temperaments really show through. Since I didn't post any puppy pictures yesterday, here's a few for your fix.

Ace and Gracie

Ace

Shiner

RJ

Ace

Hint

Dekker

On another subject of choosing and decisions, I got a few color cards in the mail yesterday from Beaverslide after seeing their beautiful tweedy yarn popping up around blogland the past few weeks. I haven't bought a sweaters worth of yarn in about a year. With all the wonderful patterns out now, as well as older classic patterns, there is a lot to choose from.

All the colors are amazing. Saturated, tweedy, beautiful. And pretty darn soft too. I just have no idea how I'd ever decide what color to get! I would ultimately love to make a sweater around the idea of Adrian's shown here and the other one here, or along the lines of this one or even this one. But I'd also to do more cable stuff - this, this, or maybe even this. There are just so many great patterns out there! What do I pick first - yarn or pattern?

New Additions

No, not the kind you are thinking! The four legged addition has another 4 weeks with mom, then he comes home. I am spending as much time with him as possible though. We do our daily cuddling....

And I stare into his adorable little face and just melt.

How could you not! The puppies are growing so fast. They are 18 days old today and are starting to really walk and toddle around. Last night we witnessed the first puppy play! They wrestled a little and even went to bite our hands when we scratched their bellies. It's hard to believe in a week or so they will be super fuzzy and running around! We plan on starting them on puppy food this weekend to supplement mom's milk. Speaking of mom, Deuce is doing so great. She is a wonderful mother and is itching to get back to doing agility!

As for the new additions, they are of the yarny sort.

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Loden, Slate and Natural. I got them during the big Labor Day Sale at Trash and Treasure. They have one every year, and I keep an eye out for it to stock up on Supersock. Last year, I got a four pack of brights which went on to become lots of great socks. I love love Supersock! I was tempted by all the color choices, but ended up going with the semi-neutrals. I plan on hopefully making some colorwork mittens this winter, and wanted some more subtle toned yarns to match up with the bright and rich colors I have in my stash.

All the knitting projects are slowly but surely making progress. The turret socks are halfway through the heel flap. Naomi will be in town this weekend for a job interview, so I'd like to have the heel done so she can try it on. Cabling continues in earnest on the Street Smart Hoodie. I'm on the really boring part of going up the front until I hit the armholes. Ten inches left to go.

For pure inspiration and knitting beauty, go check out Whitney's Demi. It is stunning. I want one!

We are planning on going to the Pet Rock Festival with the dogs on Sunday if the weather isn't too hot. If you are in the central Massachusetts area, come check it out!

Crazy Love for Cake

Just a short post before the weekend (I'm hanging out with Sarah!!) but wanted to post a few goodies. One food, one yarn - should satisfy everyone.

With the plethora of veggies we have recently come into possession of, I was running out of ideas for them. Anne was nice enough to suggest and send a recipe for a Chocolate Fudge Zucchini Cake. Yep - you heard right - veggies and chocolate all in one pan.

It turned out really good. Super moist and not too sweet. Just what I was looking for (and it used up 3 cups of shredded zucchini!) I may make a few zucchini breads as well this weekend and freeze them - feel free to pass along any tried and true recipes!

The yarn goodie comes from Klaus and Teyani way out west. Some Sock Hop yarn in the "Crazy Love" colorway.

How pretty is that!?! Outside my normal color range (I really wanted to go for the bright orange, but I felt I needed to broaden my sock yarn horizons), this should knit up wonderfully into Trekking like stripes. It is squishy soft.

A fun weekend is in store - some agility, some baking, friends and hopefully knitting! Have a wonderful one!