Silver looks good

Oliver was in his first 'show' like event today. It was fairly easy since it was at our barn. He was inspected for registration with the American Warmblood Society (essentially a registry for mixed types like Oliver) and... He Rocked! He took second place and the silver medal for the entire event (15 horses total) and scored a 71% (the winner scored a 75, they were the only 2 above a 70 which is a very good score!) . I am very proud of him and I can't wait to get him out to more events.

Here are some pictures. They had a professional photographer but I think mine turned out better so I didn't buy any of her photos.

This is Oliver in the morning before the show. Sporting his slinky and blanket to keep his mane and coat all clean. I was very proud of him for not ripping everything off during the night.















Here he is in the show. I took some pictures of him moving too but they are on the 'film' camera and need to be developed. Thats my trainer's daughter handling him, she did a good job.















And this is us after the show; I'm happy about the ribbon and medal, and he's happy its done!

Blankie

I loved my blankie as a child. That fact alone makes me love making blankies for other children. That and the more I get done on this huge mitered square just makes me want to giggle (and I do when noone is looking).
Here is one corner, as best as I could spread it out.













And another corner....



















The stripes alternate on each corner from knit to purl so that it will be reversible.

More when I get a little more done, and when I can bother to pull out the black velvet so that the carpet isn't so distracting.

Side note: Crazy horse decided to scrape himself up 4 days before he has to be inspected for his breed registration. He is now covered in healing creams and I have laid down massive amounts of shavings for him to roll in. If anyone needs me on Saturday, I will be bathing, grooming, primping, and shining the heck out of him.

Summer Workin' and Knittin'

I was going to make an attempt at not starting to temp (my summer job of choice) for a week to recover from school. Unfortunately, I need to remember that if I call the temp agency, then they will find me a job. So, I started temping on Monday, I'm only doing 3 days this week. I'm hoping to keep it to 4 days a week and I'm going to stop at the end of July.

I've also started some summer knitting...

I'm making a baby blanket. I'm determined to knit a whole blanket. Not half a blanked, not many squares that may someday be sewn into a blanket (don't worry Liz, I haven't lost hope, we just need another friend to have a baby!) but a whole blanket, in one piece!

I'm doing a mitered corners square. I'm working my way in from a cast-on of 400 edge stitches by decreasing 2 stitches in 4 corners every 2nd row. I couldn't find a pattern so I'm using the basic Idea from a smaller mitered square (thanks again Liz :) ) and doing some striping too. I'm using Blue Sky cotton and Inca cotton in beige, ivory, blue, and cantaloupe. The lady at Article Pract said they go together. Which is a good thing, because I still have color issues. I'll post a picture tonight... Off to my OTHER job now...

I'm done I'm done I'm done I'm done

Did I mention, I'm done?

Long day... a stupid child thought it a good idea to hand his cell/game/camera thing to a girl, who then stole his memory card, which made him jump on her, which made her squeal, which made him grab her backpack and run across the room, which made her run after him and jump on him, which made them play tug of war with the backpack.... which made me call security. All in the last 10 minutes of the school year. These are not 3rd graders. These are not even 6th graders... these are soon to be sophomores. As security arrived I let the 2 students know that I will not allow them to be in one of my classes again. I have a strict 'no double jeopardy' policy when it comes to repeat students. If you've failed my class once you get to try another teacher.

But... I finished my TA socks, I'm all packed up... I don't have to go back until August 28! Yipeee!


So I'm knitting some lovely socks out of Pagewood farm sock yarn (obviously popular, their website has out grown its visitor quota!). The yarn is a lovely pinkish rainbow, hand-dyed superwash wool, bamboo, nylon blend. Very soft and seems like it will wear well. I'm not sure who this pair is going to but I'm loving how easy it is to knit.... It may have something to do with my blood pressure doing a dramatic drop as soon as that last bell rang!

One More Day

I'll be out of school after tomorrow. I have to finish half a sock before the end.

Here are some of my summer projects:

• 3 pairs of socks (for the VERY few teachers in my department who are coming back next year)
• A shrug/small sweater. One that flatters/hides the cleavage, possible in alpaca. I've had little success finding one to purchase.
• City of Lost Children Sweater for K. If I can get him in to the yarn store for yarn choosing.
• Christmas Presents - A few pair of socks, finish a skirt I started last year
• Baby stuff for Chrishan (A teacher at school, she's the only one who is preggers so I think I might go for a baby blanket. But I might cheat and crochet it. ) Oh, and add a pair of socks for her too, she's been drooling over my knitting for weeks now.

I know there's more, but until I'm out of school my brain will not process it.

Thought I was finished. Thought Wrong.

More TA socks! So, I finished 3 pairs of socks for my 2 TAs and the teacher I share rooms with, but of course I have an unofficial TA who feels left out. Therefore I will be doing mad sock knitting for a couple days to make a pair for her too. I wouldn't do it except she has been a seriously good help to me lately, and she would actually appreciate. I stopped and picked up some Lorna's Lace worsted in Walnut Creek (not my 1st choice of shops but the others are closed Mondays, and this was an urgent yarn need). TA said she would be cool with thick socks, so its 44 stitches on size 6 needles (If I can find a 4th needle) and away I go!

On a side note... Urs and kids will be coming out to see Oliver tomorrow!

Meeting the YarnHarlot

Wow. What a great time! I went up to Petaluma Thursday night to the talk and book signing with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (Otherwise known as the yarnharlot) I got there 2 hours early, but had to sit on the floor because the seating was reserved for those who had bought the book from that bookstore. But as my new friend Laura picked up on rather quickly... I'm not bitter! Actually I had a great view of Stephanie for the entire speech, unlike many people stuck 20 rows back.


This is here taking a picture of all of us with the sock.
If you don't know. Don't ask.


The talk was hilarious, and I accomplished a lot on my socks for my TA Katie. I got even more done during the wait to have my books signed.






I also met Laura, she was collecting the hats for donation to homeless families in San Francisco. I waited and chatted with her and her coworker until nearly 10pm when we were the last to meet Stephanie and get our books signed.





It was SO cool to meet Stephanie, and have her see my knitting. and to touch the sock which thousands of other knitters have touched. Crazy good Karma anyway you look at it.

Other fair stuff

I didn't do very well in the knitting stuff, I won a 1st prize on a pair of plain socks by an error in categories, I won 3rd on the pedicure socks, and 2nds on both my hand spun entries and also a 2nd on the kitchen towel. Didn't win anything for the cabled socks or the kids sweater. I won 2 1sts in Jams and Jellies, and the Judge commented ' SOOO GOOD' on the card for my Pumpkin butter. Needless to say it was a fun fair. We won't speak of the BBQ contest. It was a sad event for me, lots of appreciation for my food, but no ribbons.

Couching the Potato

Wow, last minute county fair was crazy, haven't even thought of blogging about it until now. I stayed up until the wee hours last Wednesday making my potato. I made a 'Couch Potato'. I was the only entry that made a 'something' instead of a 'someone'. I won 1st place! Yippee!















I crocheted the granny square afghan and the coffee yam doily. I batted and upholstered the potato base for the couch and everything is held together with needles, t-pins, and straight pins.

It was a lot of fun, I think I will do it again next year. I'm thinking, maybe, tater tots...?