It's my Monday

I am ready to go back to work. Though my days off were great and all, it's time to get back on a schedule.
Had such a good visit with my sister. We don't get to see each other much but when we do, we're just the same as always. I was glad to see the folks doing pretty well, too. Now if we just get my household in order, things will be terrific!
I bought more gold satin for the costume- washed it and folded it. I've got the dress pretty much made in my head, including the hat. But so far nothing done, just pinned together. I am eager to start but just can't make the time what with all the knitting.
Made a cable hat for a child, then a pair of mittens. So far I have one done, without the thumb, and about half through the other. I was done but found a flaw....several flaws...hell, it was all jacked up! I keep looking over patterns but none of them seem to be logical to my weird head. I'll keep trying. Next one I'll actually follow a pattern.
I made the kangaroo hat and discovered Thelma is terrified of it. She would lay her ears down and run when I put it on, then come right back the minute I took it off. Lots of fun with that last night!

Hats

I like hats, hardly ever wear them and I love to make them. I've almost decided that I will stay exclusively with caps and maybe mittens and just do the Who scarf. I haven't really enjoyed scarves and probably wont until I come up with a more rewarding pattern.
I made the kangaroo cap and knit a little cabled cap suitable for a little boy. So cute! I didn't have any other yarn with me so that's what I ended up with. I started a mitten. Bug suggested little boy across the street. I love the hat with the black band, and am considering making it in a little smaller size for Fiona. It would look cute in green or maybe blue. I don't know. I'm starting to think I need to get to work on the costume, which is starting to shape up in my head. I plan on making the underskirt in gold, then the big over dress. I got some black spray paint for the hat, which I might or might use but I'll have a bitchin' black hat at any rate.

Packing it Up

I should be running around but I can't get motivated. Once I start I'll be ok but starting is proving to be a challenge. I need to pack and render myself dressed and see to the animals and Bug.
First thing this morning I was hugging Chloe and she flopped her head and popped me in the mouth. I figure the whole day will be like that.
I finished the mittens. I've done worse. I think I will attempt another pair, in a different size and dimension. I have to laugh at myself.
I need to get more serious about patterns. I WILL! Seat of the pants sewing and knitting is great but using a real pattern always produces the best results. Lazy not to do it. But you have to read it, then figure it out, then start it all and see if it's right. There is some satisfaction of grabbing some yarn and taking off.
I just decided I would make a few cardboard hands and come up with my own mitten pattern. We'll see.
Part of my difficulty with patterns is my problem with needle size. My hat knitters started out in life being one size (Which I can't even remember what that is) and due to Chloe's chewing and the regular demands of business (I sanded them down to get them closer to the size of my double pointed needles.) I don't know WHAT they are.
I just started a kangaroo hat for Tabatha at work. She is a great dresser upper, soon-to-be-married all around good girl. But I looked up some photos of kangaroos and they are not cute and cuddly. They are all gross and rodent-like. Eeeew. I might look up baby pictures. All babies are cute, no matter the species. Even humans!

Mittens

I am fumbling through mittens- made a very cute hat with a simple knit-purl rib knit brim then increased the body of the hat, shaping it to the crown and decreasing, ending in a little pompom. All done in tan and rose, which is very pretty together. I am about 1/3 through the mitten trying to think how to make a better thumb than the last few thumbs I've made, which is a challenge. I love it!

Hot Tuesday

Temperature hot, that is. I shudder to think what my PSO will run next month. Ah, well! Summer is like that. I'm not sure what my plans include today. Thought about making chicken and noodles which is Bug's absolute favorite... home made noodles. He just peeped in and said, "It's too hot outside. Why don't you just have a day of leisure." Which are great words to hear. Finished Justin's scarf, put thumbs on Heather's gloves and now am starting a Dr. Who scarf, an undertaking I approach with a little trepidation, since it's a 9' scarf with eight or more colors in it. I hope it's a long journey of ups and downs. I watched "The Last Knit" on Youtube and just nodded understandingly.

No Coffee

I haven't had coffee since Tuesday, so I figure I can quit drinking it for good. Not that I had a problem with it but I do know caffeine is bad and I don't want to do anything bad for me. Ha ha ha. I also have tried so hard to quit Pepsi.....there is a whole story. I wont go into it but at times my password is, pepsi4me or pepsi4u....I love it. DELICIOUS! Oh, bad for you, bad for you.
Last night at work I was gifted with the coolest hat EVER, a patrol cap, with a beautiful pin and it's all the way from Iraq, given by the dear son of a dear friend. I get tears in my eyes thinking about what heads those hats shelter, young uns far from home, brave, good souls, just kids- but what kids! God bless our troops from all wars.
Perish the asshole son of a bitch teacher I had in high school who called our armed forces "Welfare in Uniform". I hate that fucker for even putting that in people's heads, when our soldiers in times of peace or war go willingly to make the same sacrifice. As the proud daughter of a proud veteran I feel deeply respectful and aware of those defending our freedom and protecting us. USA! USA!

Not too bad

Went to the doc office today and they took some blood, screening for...oh, lots of things I guess. One of the problems is liver enzymes, and the doctor said that might be caused in part by my spectacular no-smoking weight gain. I was pleased to note I have lost about 10 pounds of it. Oh, well! I don't know what's worse, fat or sick! Fat. No, sick. No, fat. Oh, tossup. I don't want to be either.
The bad thing is, I know about calories and diets. I used to do that for a living. Nothing has changed since I got out of it. I know you have to use more than you take in to lose. Back to counting every calorie.
I quit drinking coffee. Started drinking reduced calorie Gatorade. Maybe, maybe I will start to feel better.
As for knitting, about which this is supposed to be, I am still on Justin's scarf- the short side though. Who knows how long that will take.