Busy, Busy, Busy

Since my last posting, I have been busy working on a number of things. The CPH is coming along and, hopefully, will be done this weekend. I have seamed the shoulders, completed the hood and the front bands. On to sewing in the sleeves and then seaming the sides. Kayti leaves for Lincoln College on August 17 so the deadline looms.

Between working on the CPH, I have started a clapotis with yarn purchased at the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair. The yarn is a hand-dyed DK weight yarn that is turning out nicely. The Summer of Socks Flutter-by Socks are slowly growing and Kayti has expressed interest in a pair of socks for Christmas in pink.

The Mr. Greenjeans sweater is on hold but just until the CPH is done. And the lace blocking wires finally arrived so I can block the Lace Scarf.

Midnight Louis and Carole Nelson Douglas

I have been reading a mystery series over the past 4 months. I am now finishing the 23rd book in the series and am eagerly waiting for the 24th one to be published in September. Midnight Louis is a black cat living in Las Vegas who becomes the pseudo-narrator of the series. He has moved from being the "house P.I." at the Crystal Phoenix Hotel and Casino after the first 4 books to living at with Temple Barr, a free-lance public relations person at the Circle Ritz. Over the 23 books, Louis and Temple have met a variety of characters: Matt, an ex-Catholic priest, C. R. Molina, the female head of Homicide for the Las Vegas Police Department, Electra Lark, the flamboyant owner of the Circle Ritz, Midnight Louise, Louis' presumed daughter and new house P.I. at the Crystal Phoenix, and Max, Temple's former live-in love. And last but not least, an assortment of crimes and murders.

What I have loved most about these books is that each book does not answer all of the questions asked during the story but continues to the next one as if no time has lapsed. Murders that occurred several books ago may get solved and people met show up much later in a totally different book. There is also a level of humor that allows the reader to continue to journey and there is a level of romance that drives the story. I should mention that this series did start as a 4-book series for Harlequin Romances as one of the first in the romantic suspense genre. Douglas has taken this clever cat and made him a hero. Check out some of Midnight Louis's escapades:

Cat in a Midnight Choir By Douglas, Carole Nelson 2002/05 - Forge 9780312857974 In this 14th Midnight Louie mystery, the black cat detective is hunting a mysterious and possibly murderous organization of renegade magicians called the Synth, which has been making Las Vegas too hot for some of Louie's human friends. ...More

Cat in a Hot Pink Pursuit By Douglas, Carole Nelson 2006/05 - Forge 9780765352682 As a favor to homicide lieutenant Carmen Molina, amateur detective Temple Barr agrees to go undercover as a contestant in a TV reality show. The lieutenant is worried because someone is threatening the contestants--including her own 13-year-old daughter. ...More

Cat in an Orange Twist By Douglas, Carole Nelson 2005/05 - Forge 9780765345936 Starting a new story arc, this latest mystery is ideal for new readers to begin the Midnight Louie series, as it focuses on private investigator Temple Barr and the love triangle between her, her magician boyfriend, and her neighbor, a former priest. ...More

CPH, part 3

I am so excited. I have finished the CPH and started blocking it. The back and right front are blocked and the left front is currently drying as I write this. Once it is dry, I start sewing the shoulder seams and can begin knitting the hood. Haven't figured out how I am going to block the hood but will deal with that later.

I am really thrilled with how drapy and soft blocking has made this. Let's hope Kayti is as thrilled as I am.

One down and one to go

Just finished one sleeve and have one more to go. Then it is off to blocking and finishing. I have decided to keep with the pattern and not have buttons or zippers, figure Kayti will wear it open anyway so why bother. I have 2 full skeins and several partials so hopefully, that will be enough for the fnal sleeve, the hood and the border band. All in all, am feeling pretty good about this.

Working on the CPH

I have finally gone back to finish the Central Park Hoodie for Kayti. It is in a lovely brown heather wool and is knitting up pretty quickly. I am done with the back and both fronts and about half a one sleeve. The goal this week is to finish both sleeves and start blocking. Pictures to follow.

Summer of Socks, part 2

As I mentioned in a previous post, I cast on for the Flutter-by Socks and completed one and a half patterns. I wanted to see what the butterfly motif would look like and to see how difficult it was to do. I ran into problems because I didn't leave enough give in the slip stitches and managed to lose a couple of stitches which proved to be even more difficult to pick-up. The result: I had to frogged it and start-over. This time it was much easier because I now know to leave more yarn in the slip stitches than one would expect to leave.

Now I am putting them away until I finish my CPH and Mr. Greenjeans.

Summer of Socks

I decided to make the Flutter-by Socks using my stash yarn, Pagewood Farms Denali in Navajo. Cast on and have finished the cuff and am starting the leg. I really shouldn't be doing these yet since I have so many UFOs laying around but, it is a holiday and I really want to get to the pattern and see at least 1 butterfly appear. So the plan is to work one pattern round and then put them down and pick up the CPH that I started for my niece, Kayti, so that it will be done for her to take college in August.

What Happened? - McClellan talks

I have just finished reading Scott McClellan's book, What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception. Much has been reported about McClellan's open criticism of the people he worked for over the past 6 years and Congress has called him to testify about a number of allegations that he makes regarding the Plame affair and others resulting in calls for impeachment investigations to begin.

My thoughts on this book are varied, at times it is preachy and downright dull but then he turns around and makes a statement that is less than flattering that tickles me because it reinforces my thoughts of the people involved. Did he shed new light on the current administration, no. But it is refreshing to have someone who was involved be as candid and revealing about situations that are currently in play.

Introduction

How fitting that on the six-month anniversary of joining Ravelry, I would start blogging - about knitting, books and other related musings. Yes, knitting is understandable since Ravelry is the community of knitters and crocheters. And books, because when I am not knitting, I am reading, ordering or working with books.

So it is only fitting that this will become a forum for my musings on current projects and activities but also discussions on recent books that I have read or are reading. So, Happy July 4th everyone and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you.