Sentencing

Well, it's done. I went to the courthouse with my family, including Adam's dad, who flew in from the UK, and R, who was one of Adam's closest friends. We went into the courtroom and after a couple of wife beaters and rapists came through and pled whatever and postponed their dates, our case was called. I didn't expect them to read the accident report. I didn't expect to have to hear that. I didn't ever want to hear those particular details again, but they read it, which made me lose my composure. My father in law, John and I went up, and I read a statement from Ad's sister, then John read his statement, and I read mine. She pled guilty and made a statement that she was very sorry. The thing is, telling me you're sorry in court, while waiting for your sentence is a little like when, as a child, you're forced to apologize to a sibling, or face sitting in time out on the stairs or something. You know what I mean? Too little, too late, lady. And I think I made that clear. She lost her license for good and was given a $500 fine to charity, which is total bullshit. I mean, I didn't expect them to put the old lady in jail, but she's not poor, and I think $5K would have been a better start. But there wasn't anything I could do on that score. I tried, but I failed. I also made peace with things. As much as I could. And so that chapter is closed.

Headed to the frog pond...

I fear, is the clapotis I've been working on. I ordered 4 skeins in Aslan, but two are from one dye lot and the other two are from another. Hmmm. How these things happen, I don't know. Well, actually, I do know, but anyhow. There are a number of things to learn from my impatience.




1. Don't buy really expensive yarn unless you've seen it in person, or are very sure you'll get what you think you'll get. Mainly, remember to check dye lots!

2. That thing they say, about switching skins to prevent pooling? Yeah, it's true.


But here's the thing, I realize I don't really like multi-colored yarn. Just, not really my thing. And it's nothing to do with the pooling.

And as for the two dyelots, well, this I do find really weird. One is all natural colors, as seen here-



But the other 2 skeins, also called "Aslan" have pinks and aquas in them, which I did NOT want for this project. As seen here-


and here-


I'm not really sure why Lorna's does this. I get having slightly different shades of a color in a dye lot, but completely different colors? Well, in my opinion, that's a new colorway, not a new dye lot!!

So, really, I think I need to sell the two skeins (one wound into a ball, one not) that have the pink/aqua in them, and then figure out what to do with the other two skeins...






In this last photo, you can really see the "switch" between the two dyelots... not good, mostly, in my opinion, because I don't care for the colors in the newer dyelot. But I was panic knitting before the sentencing, which is now done and which I will tell you about later.






So, if anyone wants the two skeins with the pink/aqua let me know! I got the yarn at a good price :)

It's better than booze, right?

So, things have been stressful lately. And I'm getting sick. Sick and stressed. Sick of being stressed. Sick because I'm stressed? Who the fuck knows. But know this, when stressed, buy yarn. Buy a lot of yarn, and do it as fast as you fucking can. And so. Today's purchases.

First, I've ordered this pattern-




Jemima.


And I ordered the yarn, or what I thought was the right yarn. Hopefully this will work out- I was meant to order RYC Cashsoft DK, but ordered Aran by accident. Hopefully I can make it work.

I ordered it in this color-





So what else did I order?
Stumbled across a great e-bay seller and went a little nuts...
Several skeins of these for the Lady Eleanor-

I'll have to pick the turquoise out, but love the rust shades-


Also, how gorgeous is this?




And,





Finally, I have been going back and forth on this, and just decided to go for it, so I bought 4 skeins of Lion and Lamb to make myself a Clapotis. The colorway is Aslan




Now I wait for it to be delivered. Waiting on a lot of things, actually, but this one I'll look forward to arriving.

Still Knitting...

I'm still knitting!


A while ago, I asked here, and on Knitty, for people to please send me little odds and ends of Silk Garden, if they had some. And they did! Along with the 7 skeins I've bought so far, I'm using them to make a Lady Eleanor. The problem was, I wanted something in earth tones, because I am making this for myself, and it is the first thing I have made for myself in years. Silk Garden is one of my favorite yarns, but man, they sometimes really fuck up a color palette, you know what I'm saying? Brown next to fluorescent pink? Not so much. So, like the crazy person I am, I am picking through and taking only the bursts of color I want for this project, and am tucking the really bright colors aside for a to-be-determined later project.

Enough with the rambling- have a look at some photos. It's in progress!











Can you see my hair trapped in there? Honestly, I feel sometimes, like I am knitting with as much of my own hair as yarn...


Here are some of my little picked through balls, ready for knitting, with my favorite mug- you like?



So that's it for now. Taking a break from baby knitting, and making something I hope to wear a lot this fall.

Mosaic Progress

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments. We were married at Birtsmorton Court, a 12th century moated manor house in England. It was an amazing day.

Here are some updated photos of the birdbath. I'm working on the pedestal now and decided to do vines, in large part to distract me from my anniversary and also because I am a little insane.

Here it is- work in progress...

Three Years Ago, Today

On Ravelry!

Finally. As Knittibell. So add me, ok? I'm still trying to figure out how to add photos...

Birdbath Update and other happy things

Thanks to all of you, for your very kind comments in my previous post. I had intended to delete it after I wrote it, but ended up having to run out the door, and forgot. Sometimes I need to just vent, and I do it here sometimes, and I'm sorry if I can be a bit heavy sometimes. (wow, how many times did I say "sometimes??!" You guys rock.

Ok, so. Happy things.

Firstly, and most importantly, my dad got his PET Scans back and the cancer seems to be officially gone!!! He'll need careful monitoring and tests, but I am so, so thankful that it seems he'll be ok.

Secondly, my garden is doing nicely. It's such a source of joy for me. R mentioned the other day I should get a camera with a big zoom lens (he was more technical than that), for taking photos of my birds. I have a pair of Orioles this year. Very exciting.
There is a climbing rose that is doing amazingly well this year- here is one batch of flowers- they're incredibly fragrant and such a gorgeous red- I didn't fuck with the colors, this is what they look like-



They're fading, but check out these buds!






And this baby, I can't remember what it's called, but someone here might know!
It has another shoot coming up with loads of buds, as well...the bracelet I'm wearing was my 30th birthday gift from my parents and sis...





The lavender is also exploding, you may be able to see some in the background of the rose photo.

And now- the birdbath. It's coming along. Once all the major work is done, I'll need to do a lot of fiddly fill work...

Here is one of the leaves, with no flash...




Here is an over all pic.


Originally I thought I'd do the edge in cobalt, but then decided to mix it up. I also usually (ha! This is my second piece!), prefer to work very organically, not using perfect geometric shapes, but decided to give it a go for the edges. I personally find it easier, but less interesting to look at.




Here's another pic. That's my blood! I didn't realized I'd sliced a knuckle fairly deeply until I saw the blood on the concrete!





Here's some detail of the edge- it's amazing the difference when it's grouted and the excess glue is wiped/scraped off!



So that's it for now! Thanks again for all of your support.