This is my I’ll-get-around-to-this-on-the-sixth-Sunday-of-the-month pile. Also, known as the dear-knitting-gnomes-I-will-pay-anything-to-make-it-go-away pile.

Somewhere in there are WIPS that whisper their sorry state of neglect to me at 2 AM. There is a design idea or two gone horribly wrong. Forgotten yarn adds their mantra to the WIPs. There might be a few project leftovers hanging about – too small to be used on their own but too large to be tossed without regret.  Even a childhood stuffed toy bear is buried under all that best of intentions.

But like any mountain, I’m going to move it one shovelful at a time.  I’ll probably start with a WIP. I could use the sleep in the early morning hours.

How do you wrangle your stash and UFO’s when they get out of control? Better yet, how do you stop it from getting this bad?

I have also done some mental cleaning house as well.  As is often the case, one makes a decision with expectations of a certain outcome.  However, the result rarely meets expectations exactly.  Sometimes it is better, sometimes worse, but almost always different than the intended vision.  Such is the case with my decision so long ago to sell patterns wholesale only.  For reasons too long and convoluted to detail in a single post, I am beginning to offer patterns by download in addition to wholesale.  Not that I want to deny you a post that would rival War & Peace in length, but I still have to clean under the beds and tackle the paper mountain that is our computer desk.  I have priorities and sleeping sometime between now and going to work tomorrow is one of them.

Over the future days, or if I’m truthful weeks, I’ll be adding more “add to cart” buttons to more patterns.  But for today, I’ve begun with these. 

Bois Blanc
Split hem and welted details make this a fun sweater to wear. While virtually no finishing and bulky weight yarn make it a quick piece to knit. The pattern is sized from 34.5” to 50.25”. Knit in the round with bulky weight yarn and US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles.
Click here for more details

Woven Waves
Toe-up socks with an easy to memorize and fun to knit stitch pattern. The unique gusset placement on the sole of the sock adds interest without changing the overall fit of the sock. The pattern is written for double point needles and the two-circular method. The socks are worked with US2 (2.75mm) needles and fingering weight yarn.
Click here for more details.

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Scowl)
A great accessory for the cold winter months, this combination cowl and scarf knits up quickly. Since the skill level is for an advanced beginner, it is a wonderful pattern for all knitters. One size fits all, it uses approximately 220 yds (200 m) of DK weight yarn and a US 5 (3.75mm) 16? circular needle.
Click here for more details.

In the meantime, I hear a dust bunny calling my name in the spare bedroom.

I can show you the yarn I dyed with Sonya.  She has some great pictures.  Go on, click the link, I’ll wait.  She brought over some knitted blanks and we set to work with the K*ool-aid.  Having dyed yarn at the store, I knew it was alot of work to make hand-painted yarn. Instead, I gave into my lazinesschose to tie-dye my blank.  This method also allowed me more time to hang out and watch Sonya work talk with a friend.

The cake looks very different from the blank.  I think once it is knitted up, it will have a tweedy look to it.   Of course, it is taking all my will power to not cast on and find out.  I can only knit so many things at once. And I must get some of the design work off my needles first.

What does one do when there is no TV, radio, computer games, Internet surfing, ravelry-ing, blog reading to keep one entertained?  I chose to invent new ways to play solitaire, knit, and do all I could to keep the white wine from getting too warm.  Cleo chose to nap.  Truthfully, I don’t think she noticed the lack of power at all.  Hubby didn’t notice the lack of power either because he had chosen to be in the great north of Michigan a few days prior to the blackout.

 I also discovered how much of my to-do list could be accomplished without the TV, radio, computer games, Internet surfing, ravelry-ing, and blog reading to help me procrastinate to do first.  There was some photo taking of my woefully behind ABC pics, classroom notes for my upcoming classes - Focus on Socks and Fit, and some number crunching for some future patterns.

I almost regretted the power coming back on.  But then I remembered my fondness for cold milk, email, and Deadli*est Catch. 

ETA: I almost missed learning that Claudia had put up my pattern and yarn donation.  If you are able and so inclined, donate to a good cause.

I have a lot to blog about but I can’t seem to put a coherent post together.  I’ve tried several times in the past few days and failed horribly.  I’m blaming the cold.

Fortunately Sonya tagged me to list seven things about me.  Apparently coherence isn’t required only weird and random.  This I can do. 

1) I watch Heroes, The Closer, CSI: Las Vegas, Dirty Jobs, and the Deadliest Catch regularly.  But if I miss an episode, I don’t really worry about it.  Except for Deadliest Catch.   I am absolutely fascinated with the work that those guys do.  I can’t not watch.

2) I have started my own business - a pattern publishing and distribution business.  I have only told about three people before now, because I am absolutely terrified that I am making a huge mistake.  And yet, it feels like the best decision I have made in a very long time.  It fits.  I look forward to coming home and working to get it up and running.  It also takes up a huge part of my time outside my day job.

3) Because of #2, I find myself daydreaming that the Easy button really could finish my projects.  A lot.

4)  Taco B*ell is my favorite fast food.  However, I only eat it on the weekends.  Monday through Friday any other fast food joint is fair game, but not Taco B*ell.  It just tastes better on a Saturday or Sunday.

5)  I love to cook.  I would give anything to have an herb garden.  However, the mere thought of a plant coming to reside at my house is enough to cause it to wilt and shrivel up.  Even a cactus cannot survive.

6) In college, I worked one summer as a customer service person for a local grocery store.  I quickly learned that winning the big lotto jackpots was a long shot by watching the “regulars” spend tens of dollars every week and never winning a dime.  But, I buy a ticket anytime that I get incredibly fed up with my day job.  Can’t win if you don’t play.

7) Every other weekend I bowl with my husband, my ultra competitive husband.  I, however, own a bowling ball with Eeyore on it that glows in a blacklight.  I could not care less about having a 90 average.  Definitely his yin to my yang.

If you’ve made it this far and are still reading, Tag! You’re it!

Strutting ceased about 6 days ago.  My feet began to hurt and strutting isn’t the same with a limp.  The preening stopped around 2 days ago.  If I had continued, I would soon be bald.

Thank you for the gentle reminder that someone somewhere might worry if I don’t make the occasional noise to show I’m alive and well.  No cause for alarm or an emergency flight to check up on me.  Unless, your emergency flight consists of arriving well stocked with daiquiri mix or wine.  Then, I might have to fake an alarm.

Dear Kate,

I know that you have often accused me of being an enabler.  Therefore, I hope it is some consolation that I have met my match.  Nay, I have been defeated.

I have always prided myself on resisting the lure of shiny, pretty yarn-patterns-fibers-needles-colors-accessories that can be seen in blog land.  However, today Donni proved that she is a far better enabler than I.  I had to have this.  I didn’t even finish reading her post.  No pausing, no considering.  I went through the checkout process so fast, I wouldn’t be surprised if two showed up on my doorstep.

Dear Donni,

See above. 

I have made a note to not read your blog late at night or under the influence.  I, obviously, need to have all my mental powers sharp and focused if I am not to slip again.

Sincerely,
Jae

I did. How could I not?  Their blog is great! They talk about chocolate and brown sugar an awful lot.  Who couldn’t use extra chocolate and sugar in their blog readings?

I was graciously thanked with a bit of chocolate and the cutest kangeroo ever.  Kate, I see you eyeing the chocolate box.  I regret to inform you, its empty.

Thank you so much Rosered and Bells.  Reading your blog is thanks enough, the pressie is icing on the cake.  Yes, pun intended.  I can hear all of you groaning now. :) 

Now I have to decide – what cookie recipe should I use?

It isn’t raining exactly.  There is a lot of fog.  As the moisture condenses, it slowly gains enough weight to fall. The sound cannot be heard inside my home. Outside on the deck it is loud, everywhere and nowhere at the same time.  Drip . . . drip . . . drip . . .

Until the sun has enough strength to burn off the mist and dampness, I’m going to focus on the felt hat I’m knitting.  The bright red is a cheery contrast to the grey day.

Llama song

My work here is done.
(I figure if I have this stuck in my head, I should share the fun.)

;)