Just a few more pictures...

I know this is a knitting blog, but because some of you would have liked to see some carved figures, I'm showing you a few more pictures. Above is Saint Florian. This one's in my house. He's the protector of the home and firemen.

Excuse the poor quality of the following pictures. I think my dad's digi is not the best on the market. ;o) This one is Virgin Mary with child, rather modern, but I like it.

The one to the left is a "Red hat" gnome, from a story, can't remember where I've seen that fellow, but pretty scary! Next is a drunken innkeeper, a monk, Virgin Mary and another monk.
Virgin Mary with child and a Rhino.

That's it folks. As I've said before, he made many more things, but I couldn't get pictures of some of the beautiful work he did. Thanks for all your responses to my fathers post. He was very touched as he heard about it. He'll be sitting on his desk now, with his dictionary in hand, trying to translate my posts. ;o)

A new week - new pictures!

Magic Mosaic blanket square # 5

square # 6

These two are from last week. After I've finished them, I've knit exclusively on my slip stitch scarf and it is driving me crazy! But I'm like a dog with a bone, can't give it up now. Knit, knit, knit ....... where was I, oh, yeah, knit, knit, knit .... sigh .....

Sam's like a bulldozer, sticking his head out through the screen. That's as close to nature as he gets right now, unless you count pee breaks. We went to the vet's today and he was very pleased and impressed, of his recovery. Dr. Doug took out the stitches, while David and I were keeping Sam still. All the while Sam was "singing" a ballad of his never ending ordeal. After we came home Sam fell asleep with his tongue sticking out. He was totally exhausted. It will be another couple of weeks until Sam's allowed to go for walks, but that's okay now. He's resigned himself to the fact, that that's his life right now. He's calmed down, snoozes and dozes, all day long. At least we are back to our normal sleeping routine! Yeah! We've devised a two towel transportation device, with David at the rear and me in front. The first two times, Sam was struggling and wiggling so hard, that he banged his head into the wall. Now we've learned to deal with this wiggle monster and we have to get him down the stairs only once a day. So, no broken necks so far.

That's how a good dog behaves in front of an open window! Biko is showing off here. Although she's looking quite calm, she was barking her head off. A pity the pictures don't come with sound effects! Or should I say "Thank God!" ;o)

Because I'm so proud ...

... I'm going to show you a few pictures of my dad (68) and some of his paintings and wood carvings. I don't know why, but I don't have that many of his art or even good pictures, because I never thought to take pictures of it, since it was always there.

Today was the last day of his show, which lasted over the last two weeks. My dad is a retired police officer. Before his retirement he was the Chief of Police in my home town. He was always very creative and only had to choose a profession other than being an artist, because, you know, artists, unless very well known, don't live that well. But he never stopped painting or wood carving, it was always a passion of his and still is. Although working with the wood working tools is not as easy as it used to be, since his fingers on both hands have arthritis and gout.

This summer he bought himself this moped, another life long wish was fulfilled, just for joy rides to places, which are too far to walk. I think he's smart and realized that one lives only once and it could all be over so quickly! ;o)

This carved birds were a great hit at the show, he sold them all and could have sold many more. (This is just a picture of a few, he had many more.) In the picture above you can see him standing next to his bird tree, full of all kinds of different birds, they all looked like the real ones.

For a long time he carved religious figures like the virgin Mary with child and Jesus C. on the cross, and Saint Barbara and so on. He made so many different things, it's impossible to recount them all. And now, that I think about it, I start to remember things he made, that I had forgotten. For example he made wonderful wood inlay work as well, a table top, small objects like boxes and very impressive the ceiling for one room. I don't know if you can imagine that. He also painted on furniture, like it was the custom in Austria with the peasantry, very rustic, flowers and all. He of course had to restore many pieces before he could paint on them.

I'm real sorry, that I don't have more and better pictures to show. I love his oil paintings and have one over the mantle piece. It was made the year I was born, in 1964. I would have liked to upload it, but blogger will not allow it. He gave away most of his paintings, some he sold.

He worked a long time in preparation for this show, and I'm so glad that people liked it. It was certainly a great and rewarding experience for my dad.

I'm proud of you, dad!

I need to know it isn't so!

Remember the Celtic Waves scarf I made with sea silk, which was a dream to knit with? I've worn it twice now and it's all sloppy and rolling together like a hose. Is this the fate of all knitted and blocked lace things??? Yes, it's soft and has a nice feel to the skin, it still smells, but only the one wearing it, can smell it. I like the colors, I like the stitch pattern, but I don't like it, that I've got a hose around my neck. Please tell me, that it's not always like that! Different yarn can still be nice after being used?!

I was looking for a particular picture last night and stumbled across this one. This is Sam about a year ago, some time between Christmas and New Year. It was about 9 AM, the rest of the family was still asleep and Sam, Biko and I were enjoying the fresh fallen snow!!! He was happy like a bug, we all were. There was no surface left untouched after we went inside. We were having so much fun.

This morning I walked Biko. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing, but not too cold. Is it April already? We went into the bushes behind our house to get all the tennis balls we lost over the fence. Biko turned out to be the perfect go fetch the ball dog. The ones I couldn't reach unless I was crawling on all fours, which I would not do, she went in like after a rabbit. We totally annoyed the neighbors dog, who got railed at by her owner for making such a hubbub. After that we went to the tennis court, were I can let her run free, in an enclosed environment. Nice for her. I threw the ball several times, but as "luck " would have it, she fell and now she's sporting a couple of abrasions on one front leg, thank god no vet was needed. It was just wet and slippery there.

Now we are back home and the sky turned all grey and it's raining lightly. Where's my snow???

On a different note: Holiday spirit! - We just found out, that last night somebody broke into my sons car. He did not have much in there, except for his school bag with the Sony recorder and the memory stick in it. They made quite a mess in the car, but took only his bag in the end. We found it in the ditch, all dirty and wet, with his parking pass and his notes and everything still in it, only the recorder was missing. I even found the batteries of the recorder in the ditch and some other loose stuff. They ripped the bag's lining as well. They were looking for money I guess. That's so sad! He needs this recorder to record the lectures. With the memory stick it's another $ 500 or more down the drain.

What about our dogs in all this mess? They sleep more soundly than we do!

I've got mail!

First of, what to do, if you are condemned to be a couch potato, living in the living room and can't sleep one more minute? Well, kill your favorite plush - chew - toy, of course. First goes the ear, and after the stuffing was flying through the air, I had to take it away from him. So sad. Bad boy!

Look what I've got. Some more Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz sock yarn in four different colors! I might even make a pair of socks with it! ;o)

And this was a total surprise, but a nice one! Connie of Pick Up Sticks sent me these lovely stitch markers. Aren't they cute? I LOVE the little mitten and the ball of yarn with the needles in it! Thanks so much, Connie!

Although I did a lot of knitting, there are no pictures to show you this time. I don't like WIP pictures very much. So please be patient!

"Sam and Biko howling at the stars" Hat

Well, there you go. I've promised you a hat! At first I thought it would be "Sam's hat", but seeing that there are two howling "dogs" facing each other, I had to think about that for a minute.

It did take me one day to make it and it was so much fun. For those of you who would like to make a similar hat, you should go and get yourself the "Slip-Stitch Knitting" Color Pattern The Easy Way book by Roxana Bartlett. I've got it used on Amazon.com There is a hat in there, which is called "Reindeer in the snow hat" and it's just too cute. After seeing it, I slept on it and was thinking of making something like it, but not quite the same. They use an invisible cast-on and sew the hem up after, which is one thing I'd like to avoid, as you all know! ;o) I made the "LatvianTwist". I found a tutorial for this on Carolyn's blog. Thank god for pictures! She used it for a pair of socks, but it works here as well.

Oh, and I made my first Pom-Pom. It's rather ratty looking, but it's O.K. The hat fits my head, just. Because of the slip-stitch it holds together well, but it gives more warmth too.

For yarn I've used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% Peruvian Wool) in the colors cranberry - fog - mist and it's knit on 4.5mm needles.

click pictures to get a closer look

David couldn't see the howling dogs at first, but here they are. I could have made any other design, but I didn't want to. I like dogs, why should I put a Reindeer on it? Or flowers? Or cats? You know what I mean.
Heike wanted to see what the Magic Mosaic squares looked like on the back side.

Sam is doing well. He's alert and even playful from time to time. He's chewing on the nylabone, because he's bored out of his mind. Recovery is slow, but steady.

Some kind of normal routine!

As you can see I'm getting in the Christmas spirit, slowly but surely. This is a scarf I've started last night.

Magic Mosaic blanket square # 4 - 63

This is going to be a hat, which I will call "Sam's hat" after it's finished. It's design came to me last night, while I was outside with Sam at around 4:30AM. It's progressed since I took this picture. I'd like to finish it today, if possible. But, it's too nice outside. The sun is shining, even though it's cold, wind and all.

After everything calmed down last night, this is what I was looking at. Totally exhausted Sam and content Biko. ;o)

Have a nice weekend!

He's home!

Boy, that was quite emotional at the vets today! Yes, we could pick him up this evening already. I wish we humans could express our feelings like Sam did today! He was crying and trembling and howling, and licking everybody's faces, hands and everything at the same time. For a while there was a ball of humans and one dog, all entwined, dancing in the round, up and down and left and right..... you get the idea. He was never away from us for that long. He cried the whole trip home, as if he'd tell his tale of forced confinement at the vets.
After all the excitement a little scratch and finally ....
he calmed down and after he had his food and a drink he's sleeping now. Totally exhausted I'm sure.

Welcome home my boy!

Oh, did you see the Christmas bow on his collar? I think somebody at the vet's decorated everything, which was longer there than a day. ;o)

Bring it on, Winter, I am ready!

It's definitely more quiet and less stressful without Sam in the house. Nevertheless we miss him terrible. The Vet called last night again. Sam's doing fine, although he rather walks the vet, when they go outside, than the other way around. That's my boy! ;o)


I made myself a second pair of mittens. They had to be a fast knit and warm. They are both. This is the same wool I've used for my hat, knit on 5mm needles. The cuff is made with a twisted K1, P1. I'm very pleased.
This hat is for David. This one's made with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca double stranded, so it's warmer and I've used 5.5mm needles so the hat would be and is tenser. It's still quite stretchy with the K2, P2 pattern. It fits him well. he's already got a scarf witch goes with this hat.Look what I've unearthed a few days ago. I was rummaging through my stash, when I found a bag full of Noro Kureyon and the first row of my Noro Kureyon blanket I've started back in April/May this year. I'm on the third row right now. I will take a better picture of it, when I'm on the 6th row or so, otherwise there's not a lot to see. It's my TV knitting now, once again just plain old garter stitch, mitered squares. Fun!
Just finished square # 3 of 63 for my Magic Mosaic Blanket. Only 60 more to go! ;o) Think - long term!

Quick Sam update!

Blogger didn't forward the comments and I thought everybody was busy otherwise.

Sam is recovering from his surgery. Because he re-injured the knee and he had to wait for a week to get surgery again (that's my opinion) he had an infection and there was lots of fluid when they opened his knee. To be on the safe side this time, the vet recommended for Sam to stay there until Saturday. Well, I'd like for him to get better quickly and even though it's hard for both of us ;o) , I've agreed to that.

He's a good quiet boy but very stubborn, says the vet. ;o)

It's still Fall, isn't it?

" Fall socks"

This will be probably the last pair of socks for this year, but you'll never know. I can understand if you can't see the attraction of these socks, but I really like them. It's not the "wow, so gorgeous-I can't wear them ever-just look at them" kind of liking, but more the" they are so nice and fit so well-I'd like to wear them every day" kind of socks. If you'll notice, they start out ringeling-a-ling nicely (64 sts), just before the heel I've increased 6 sts and after the heel the yarn went crazy until about an inch before the ribbing (80sts) it started playing nice again. But I don't mind, it looks kind of interesting.

yarn: Strumpf-und Sportwolle 4-fach (was gifted by Sybille from Germany, thank you), 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamid on

2mm needles throughout. They are toe-up of course and as I've mentioned I started out with 64 sts and increased to 80 sts for a bit of shaping.

I wanted to include a flickr badge here, showing all my socks I've made this year, but it wouldn't let me (or I was too dumb). So, I've put it on the side bar.

I thought I was pretty productive 19 pairs and one little pair of baby booties.

How many pair of socks did you make this year???

I've started knitting socks only in April though.

By the way, I've started a separate site called Readers Gallery, with pictures of knit stuff from my free patterns, you can find all that on the side bar. And if you've made a scarf or something and would like to send my a picture and description of it, I would love to post it there too.

I'm keeping myself busy, not thinking too much of Sam. He's in surgery right now.

Another nail in my coffin!

Sometimes I doubt the sanity of our dogs, especially Biko's. I was munching away on my dinner, when I heard David yell outside. He was playing with Biko, it was almost dark already.

I jumped up and ran outside, already knowing what has happened (because I thought to myself today, I wonder how long it will take Biko to jump into the pool), only to have my suspicion confirmed. She was standing in the pool like a captain on his ship (and here is a big THANK YOU to the pool guys, who managed to put the cover on oh so firmly this time!).

David was yelling at her and she was just watching him, freaking out. He got her moving, when he put the pool net behind her behind. It looked so easy to get her out, but I swear, one day she'll give me a heart attack! This was not the first time she did this. But the other time was in spring, equally cold though. She acts cool as a cucumber now, while we are still high on adrenalin.

Winter is coming and I'm not hatless anymore!

Yesterday gave us a taste of what's inevitable coming - winter. After the warmest fall I've had since I moved here, winter is knocking on the door. It was stormy, all doors and windows were rattling like crazy, and the dogs thought there was someone at the window, because a branch of a yew tree was scratching at the window in the living room. It was gloomy, rainy and very cold. The hat I made for myself was claimed by DD, so I dropped everything I was working on and cast on for this hat. It's 100% wool and I like the almost solid color. The yarn is Araucania, Nature Wool Chunky and I've used 6.5mm needles. I finished it this morning. I made it long enough to fold it over once. It's not an exciting hat, but a warm one. Cold weather here I come!

I've finished two of 63 squares for Hannah's Magic Mosaic Blanket. This is so much fun!

That's how far I got with the simple socks, it's just the one sock so far, right after the jojo heel. I love this heel. The yarn was striping nicely until I've increased six stitches an inch before the heel started. There was slight pooling, but nothing to obvious. I love this color, as I said before and I can't wait to wear them.


Sam's dozing, waiting for Monday. Well, he isn't, but I am. He's full with meds. His diarrhea is under control, but we still had a run outside once during last night (wished I had my hat then). But he's more alert (not that it looks like it in the picture) and he even threw his new nylabone around for a while.

So, now I'm thinking whether I'm in decorating mood or not.

Have a nice weekend!

For Gillian: Since I can't get in touch with you any other way, I'd like to thank you for your comments past and future! ;o)