Molly Bee's Attic

On Monday night I finished the cable hat that I screwed up last week. My buddy Cole modeled it for me and after a few false starts.... ...his mum finally got the money shot and emailed it to me today! Isn't he the cutest ever? That is a 'Grade A Wisconsin Cheese Eating Grin' there if I ever saw one! You Da Man, Cole! Today was absolutely beautiful out and my apartment complex had a pot luck/bar-b-que, meet and greet at lunch time: We all brought out our dogs, dishes to pass, and lawn chairs and got to know each other. Nice folks, each and every one. Dog people are my kinda people! At one point, someone spilled beer on Ben so he smells a little like a brewery now, but he was more than happy to lick it all off. I only stayed for a couple of hours because I wanted to go to Last Saturday Knitting at 2PM. When I came back at 4PM they were still out there so I went out for a bit longer but then came in to feed/walk Ben, make some phone calls and catch on on computer stuff. It is...

Oddly enough, one of my great joys these days is my early morning walk with Ben. I've never been a morning person but for whatever reason, I am now! We go out after he's had his breakfast around 6AM, just as the sun is peeking over the trees. It's quiet and still and, with the cooler weather, there's often ground fog. One of my favorite places is the pond in the prairie conservancy across the street. Every morning there is a variety of water fowl in there including a blue heron, inland terns, Sandhill cranes, Canadian Geese, ducks and a Kingfisher. I got smart this morning and took my camera. Our buddy the heron was there. He was standing tall and majestic until I aimed the camera at which time he proceeded to hunker down like a toad under a cabbage leaf and glare at me. Thus, I have evidence of his existence (you'll need to biggify for proof), but I don't have a shot at that National Geographic Photographer of The Year Award I had my eye on... What a prima...

Friend Anne emailed this to me today! I hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes by posting it. I LOVE this. It made me smile. Look closely....these sheep are made of old phones and phone cords....right down to their widdle hoovies! I wonder if their reception is good or Baaaaaaaad? Can you herd me now!?! ♪♪♪ When I'm calling Eeeeewwwweeeeee?!?♪♪♪ Friend Anne asked me which one was the 'BELLwether'...get it? She's always on top of her game, Friend Anne; never just 'dials it in'. Come on...let's hear those sheep/phone puns!

I went to Knit Night Friday night and got a huge surprise. Dale Harriet came in and handed me a manila envelope with the sweetest note about friendship and that the contents were for my new nest. Guess what I pulled out... OMG ! Squeal!!!! I know! An ORIGINAL FRANKLIN HABIT cartoon! It's called 'Wool and Gossip'. I about died. I did the happy dance and wouldn't let anyone touch it thus making me have to go to everyone individually and show it off while continually doing the happy dance. I may have even licked it a little. Not only is it an ORIGINAL FRANKLIN HABIT... but it sums up my friendship with DH. Whenever we meet it's wool and gossip! I have to find the perfect frame and put it in the corner with my spinning wheel! Dale Harriet, you are the best!!! "But choo luv me best, doncha, huh?" Mr. Ben has boo boo eyes. I took him to the vet today and they gave me some medicine for doggie pink eye. He tends to get it when he's stressed. I expected it wh...

I've been working on a cabled hat since last Friday. I'm not especially good or quick at cables but was very pleased about how the hat was turning out. (Looks even better stretched out a little...even if it is weird colored Red Heart yarn!) I made it through the 4 cable repeats and then went to decrease last night and discovered this.... See the two rib rows without a cable in between? Oh Crap! How did I make it this far without noticing that!?!? So back to the frog pond and starting all over. I did finish my 'Pink Squirrel' dishcloth from last week's Dish Cloth night at The Sow's Ear though. Don't know why it's an oblong diamond instead of a square but maybe it will miraculously change during use. ( Kathy Cubed calls that 'interactive blocking"!) Or maybe it just looks like that because I've had too many pink squirrels ! But really, is there such a thing as too many ice cream laced alcoholic drinks?! Speaking of miracles. I came home ye...

Today I got a few surprises that cheered up my grumpy butt considerably. I came home from work early, not feeling well, and found a box of goodies from blog buddy, Knitzu . Look at all of the loot: Biggify ! It's worth it! Beautiful deep purple yarn from French Hill Farms, a wonderful chicken mug made by a potter friend she knows at Maple Lane Pottery (and yummy coffee from the Carrabassett Coffee Company) and a little kayaker dude because she knows I miss kayaking back in Maine. Knitzu and I have never met in person, but have become friends through our blogs and the fact that she lives in Maine and I'm from there. She does all the things in Maine that I used to love to do and I am jealous and hate her for it from way out here in the Middle Lands. She knows that all dogs on the planet belong to me (I just keep them different places around the planet) so she lov...

This week has been very difficult; the first one alone in my own apartment in 18 years. I took the week off to 'settle in' and acclimate Ben, but that may have been a mistake since it gave me extra alone time to think and sob. I'm looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow. Nothing distracts you from real life like a dozen wacky scientists to take care of! Friend Anne and I went to the Jefferson Sheep and Wool festival. It was pretty difficult as I had always attended with Mr. Bee and last year's purchase of my spinning wheel, Mabel is such a strong memory for me. I was a bit verklempt , except for watching that sheep shearing guy. I have to admit, all of those arm muscles did distract me for a bit. Boy Howdy! I didn't buy ANYTHING for me; not roving, no books, no yarn. That should tell you how off my feed I am! I did get a backseat extender and seat belt for Ben at the border collie shop though, and used them when I took him to the dog park yesterday. I feel...

There has been little knitting content this week. Bentley and I have been busy setting up our new digs. I did do another charity hat and am working on the matching scarf but don't have pics of them yet. Here are some pics of our new pad though. I told my Mum I'd take some and I was afraid they might swamp her email so I am posting them here. So if you Knitterly Types (you know who you are) keep reading expecting yarn- ey excitement, you've been warned. Mum, you can biggify the pics by clicking on them twice. Kitchen with Ben's butt as he tucks in to a kibble dinner I lovingly prepared for him. Another one of kitchen and breakfast bar. The sink and dishwasher are on the other side of the bar. That's a utility/coat closet with the brown wood door and the entryway on the way right. Left living room wall. That end table is like that because it will have a love seat sitting next to it once it's off back order ! New sofa and right side of living room. Looking ...

My brand, new car, Preston, has 780 miles on him. I know it flies in the face of convention to give a car a male name but y’all know me, I FLIES IN CONVENTION’S BIG OL’ FAT FACE ALLA TIME! Take THAT convention, I say! Ahem…anyway. Preston. 780 miles. Just a baby, really, and I’ve already crunched him. I am not a responsible car Mommie apparently. I had a fender bender in the gas station parking lot last Friday evening. Crap. Yet another thing that ain’t goin’ my way these days. It wasn’t my fault and it didn’t do major damage but Geez Louise, will someone please get me out of this G***D*** whale! It smells really fishy in here, I have a shrimp allergy and Jonah's constant humming is really working on my last nerve. Anyway, I go to the auto place today for an estimate. My insurance company set up the appointment for me. I check in with the receptionist. Pretty soon ‘the guy’ comes out with his clipboard of doom and gloom. I’m the only one in the miniscule ‘waiting area’. He looks ri...

Red hat, blue hat. The biggest skein of yarn in the world had yielded six completed hats, one on the needles and quite possibly one more before it finally dies. It was 11 oz of puff so I expected several hats from it, but not quite this many several! It's hard to tell the size in the photo but they'll fit elementary school kids. They are for the Sow's Ear charity thingie so maybe there are a set of septuplets (possibly octuplets ) who widdle noggins are cold! Went down to The Ear for Charity night knitting and potluck. What a great bunch of talented ladies. They always make me laugh and feel human for at least a couple of hours. They have no idea how much that means to me these days. I cleaned out my stash last weekend. I have one plastic tote full of kits and bags with a specific pattern and the yarn I bought for it together (so essentially a 'kit' made by me), one tote full of lace and worsted weights that I thought were pretty but have no projects in m...

Been grooving on the Charity Knitting initiative for The Sow's Ear. The hats and other knit goods are going to various charities including the good folks over in Cedar Rapids who were flooded out this spring. Makes me feel good to be doing something for other and the mindless repetition of going roundandroundandroundandround for kids' hats is about all I can handle right now! I found various skeins of acrylics in all different weights in my stash. Good way to use it all up. Off to start # 3-a purple fuzzy one!

Have been knitting a bit but forgot to take pictures before I gave the projects away. I made a kid’s black hat with multicolored stripes for the Sow’s Ear Charity endeavor. I also have the Hat from Heck worked up on straight needles, I just have to seam it tonight at Knit Night and I started another black hat which I can hopefully finish tonight too. That is if I don’t punk out too early like last time. (8:45. Peh , it was disgraceful!) I’m emotionally drained and overly distraught these days and it all seems to make me way more physically tired than normal but I am determined to say until at least 8:55 tonight. Building up my stamina. I made a dish cloth at Dishcloth Night at The Ear on Tuesday. It’s pretty cool. It’s only knit and purl stitches, all one color. The knit stitches are the background and the purl stitches make the Olympic Rings symbol with ‘2008’ underneath. I have a few more balls of dishcloth cotton in my stash and the Olympic one went so fast that I’ ve decided ...

I finally finished my blanket (except for the blocking) for Project Linus. It was 3/4 done and languishing in the basement. All of this Charity Knitting for the Sow's Ear made me remember it again. I really like the pattern. It's crocheted. I've made a couple others as baby gifts for friends. I'll take this one to the Fitchburg Fire Department. They are the drop off for Project Linus. If any of you are local to Madison, WI and love quilting, I just posted my entire Quilting Magazine collection over on Craig's List ( http://madison.craigslist.org/art/790652497.html ). I won't have room for them in my new place. Thousands of patterns and ideas if you are a quilting addict! And it's a really good deal too! Go on over and look! I've had pretty good luck selling stuff, that I can't take with me, locally on Craig's List. It's stuff that's a little too nice to put in a garage sale, like my piano keyboard and violin. I've met some real...

Bulletproof Baby Blanket I finally finished the hat from heck, and laced the leftover granny squares I had lying around together for a baby blanket or lap robe. Those buggers made one industrial strength blanket, let me tell you. I'm showing it all spread out because it literally won't bend. It's one solid sheet like plywood. Red Heart- bleck . I, as a Yarn Snob, snub thee. I know, I can't believe it myself, but I am making another hat out of the stuff. This time I am doing it on straight needles like the pattern tells you to instead of in the round. I call the purple hat the "Biblical Hat' because it seemed like it took 40 days and 40 nights to finish. (I used to call it that Damn Voodoo Hat, as some of you at The Sow's Ear can attest, but I changed it.) I got 6 inches done in 2.5 hours with the new variegated one I started last night. Same pattern...same Red Heart....only using straights instead of circs . Somebody call Ripley's because I don't...

I read a review of that book that everyone's raving about, The Last Lecture , and it says that everyday you can choose to be either a Tigger or an Eeyore. I have had way too many Eeyore days lately ( like Monday when I had to put my 8-year old bunny girl, Sneakers to sleep-talk about an Eeyore Day! Oy Vey !) , so decided that for the rest of the day I was going to be a Tigger ; optimistic , happy and filled with energy. And I was for the most part. I had a couple of tiny Eeyore moments but they didn't amount to much and I was able to transport myself back to Tiggerdom quickly and without the aid of medication. Has my situation changed? No. But my attitude is slowly changing; making it easier for me to make the upcoming transition to being on my own. From now on I'm choosing Tigger days every day. Tiggerish Things That Happened Today Finished and washed the charity baby blanket (photos tomorrow when it's dry) Finished the charity hat (and started another one-...

Went to Knit Night last night. I had to go back up on the porch because I just couldn't run with the big dogs. I pooped out at about 9:15 and wussed back home to go to bed. It was a pretty quiet knit night (except for me...of course). The Hat From H-E-Double Hockey Sticks I was working on a child's hat for the Sow's Ear Charity initiative . Sounded easy. Cast on 73 and knit (K1/P1) ribbing for 10.5 inches and then there are 7 decrease rows. Simple, yes? I was knitting on size 9 circs with Red Heart Acrylic [Which I used to love when that's all there was, and is infinitely the best choice for a sturdy, practically bullet-proof hat but now is icky because I have become a natural fiber yarn snob. But I digress]. I discovered that either the pattern, the needles, the yarn, or my tape measure (you know who my first suspect is, RH) is possessed by Satan. I knit and I knit and I knit and I knit (repeat this phrase about twenty-hundred more times) and when I measured and ...

My friends have the greatest sense of humor. I told Friend-Gail, who works in a church in North Carolina, about the new car I bought. I told her that it wasn't exactly the one I wanted because it has a sunroof and I didn't want one. She told me, tongue in cheek, that I HAD to have one and that all the folks down south call them "The Rapture Roof". I LOVE that! The Rapture Roof comes in handy when the Rapture comes and God sucks you back up to Heaven. It will be a smoother transition than beating your head against your car roof like a moth at the screen door I reckon. I thought that that was so cute, that I told the story to Friend-Jen. She thought it was funny too but then explained that she wouldn't need one. She has been honing her skills for the Post Apocalypse Communes that are bound to spring up. She knows how to knit and spin. Now she's set her sights on canning garden veggies! With credentials like that, she'll be a shoe-in for the Commune of her ...

Today was a good day for me. They aren't always at this stage in the game, but it seems that every time I go to a knitting group I feel a little more human. Today's group was Last Saturday Knitting at Victor Allen's. I still had to fight to get myself out the door but 2 minutes after I got there, I felt fine. Elizabeth , Jen-with the Beeb in tow , Cindy , Linda , Laura (whom I haven't seen in a crow's age) and a new friend that I hadn't previously met, Faith, were all working on wonderfully inspiring projects while I just went round and round on my simple sock because that's all my brain can handle these days. Good iced coffee drinks and great conversation...it does a body good. I was telling them that The Sow's Ear is doing a new thing on the 4 th Monday of the month. From 6:00 p.m. to closing, you bring your needles, and they will supply the yarn and patterns to knit things for charity. I think I'll head down that way on Monday after work. S...

Taking a cue from Crazy Aunt Purl, I am using my knitting these days to cope with a breakup. Yup. Mr. Bee and I are splitting up after 18 years. Shocked and awed? Yeah, me too. And devastated ... etc. etc. etc. So as soon as I could get out of the fetal position and stop crying long enough to see the needles, I started to knit socks like a woman possessed. I must be doing better 'cause for a while there I couldn't do any knitting. I was kind of walking comatose but now I'm back in the swing of things. This first pair is knit from "Opal" that I got at the ' Sow's Ear's 25% off anything with purple in it' a while back. Talk about my kinda sale! And this is the first sock from some Socketta (that stu ff made with chitin , the antibacterial protein from seafood shells) I got at the same sale. You have to look close but there is purple in there. My lighting isn't so great tonight. Sock #2 gets cast on tonight whilst I spend the evening with the p...

Life has been pretty sad around here lately. We had to put our 18 year old cat down yesterday. He's been our baby since we were first married. There will never be another like him. Sebastian, you will be so, so, so, so, misssed. Other things have been going south around here too, so I'm going to take a break until I can get things straightened out. I appreciate all of the questions regarding where I am and why I'm not posting. Just need some breathing room for a while. Nothing around here is amusing these days. I promise I'll be back once everying gets back to normal in whatever form that takes. You all are the best. Molly Bee