KNITTING WITHOUT DOG HAIR IS NOT AN OPTION

Pattern: Angee by Cookie A.
Needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm - ADDI Turbo circular 32" for magic loop
Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight
How much: 2 skeins = 460.0 yards (420.6m)

OK - so, there is a new book out and a couple of weeks after I got the book and started one of the patterns, I have to find out that there are actually already 10 pages with errata available.

I am talking about Sock Innovation from Cookie A. I totally love her patterns and I hate for her book being published with so many mistakes. You can find the corrections here. I guess that is one of the reasons why I hardly ever publish patterns. I am still working on a sock pattern from last year...

So, if you have the book, print the updated pages now, before you start one of the sock patterns. I think I got lucky and the mistake in the Angee would have been in the next couple of rows. So, at least I don't have to rip anything. And many thanks to Ms. Jane who mentioned the errata drama to me on Friday.

Hope you have a great week ahead of you - stay dry! Georgia seems to have storms in the forecast for most of the days this week. Which is a perfect excuse to stay home, curl up in bed early with knitting and a good movie. ;-)

Well, there is not much I can do. The easiest would be to hop on a plane and fly to Germany. But I have been to Germany four times last year. That was my record of visits since I moved to the US in 2000. So this time "being homesick" - and I know that must sound very horrible - is not really about missing my family. This time it’s about German food. Yeah, like I need to have more food…

It all came about when my co-worker and I talked the other day about the foods we really miss from our childhood and which are hard to find over here in the US. Of course, high up on the list was Nutella. Which you can get here in the US, but it actually tastes very different from the original. While growing up, I would eat Nutella every morning for breakfast – a slice of dark German bread with butter and Nutella slathered on it. I sometimes wonder how I got to be almost 42 with eating habits like this.

And then there were of course cold cuts and the bread and and and…

So, here is what I ordered at a very good online place, German Deli.

- Leberwurst (Liverwurst - the main ingredient of liverwurst is pork with pork liver as a second ingredient.)
- Gelbwurst mit Petersilie (in Germany this “Gelbwurst” is known as a "diet bologna" for its low fat and salt content. Originating in the Black Forest and Bavarian regions of Germany, Gelbwurst is made from veal and pork, mildly spiced with nutmeg, white pepper and ginger. You can get it with or without parsley.)
- Mohnsemmeln (Poppy Seed Hard Rolls)
- Nutella

And no, I did not already eat half of the food. I actually shared with my coworker. She was a very happy camper yesterday. ;-) And yes, normally I don’t eat pork or beef – but I am known for making exceptions every once in a while.

And because I also miss my mom’s baking, I made a “Bienenstich” cake for my boss last night.

It is his 60th birthday today. I hope he’ll like it. It is a very old-fashioned German cake, my favorite when I grew up. You can find the recipe on my blog.

I just wanted to check in for the week. I’ll be having cold cuts for dinner for the rest of the week – YUMMY! See ya!

***

NOTE - 03:05PM - We just had the cake for dessert at the office. Our summer intern said that that was the best version of "Bienenstich" cake he ever had. HAH - I can still impress 20+ year old guys... At least with cake... ;-)

OK - this totally made my morning...

Carpooling to work this morning, Brett and I saw this bumper sticker and since we had to wait at a traffic light, Brett took a picture with my camera (since I rarely leave the house without it except when we get 10 inches of snow...) We had a good laugh. That will be my new motto. ;-)

I also have an update on Angee for you. The first sock is finished and the second one cast on. I am trying not to have SSS (Second Sock Syndrom), since I already have 5 socks without a sibling...

Sorry for the unshapely picture, but I usually don't carry my sock blockers to work... The pattern is easy to knit and very pretty. It looks like a lacey cable. Isn't the project bag totally cute with the cows... Brett sewed it for me.

And thank goodness, I printed the errata in time. Two rows later and I would have had to rip on the first sock.

That's all I have on knitting for this morning.

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and I will spend some time with friends. It'll be a quiet weekend. YAY for that - I need it. The last few weeks at work were very busy. I need some downtime. And I will get more of that downtime very soon. Actually, next weekend. I will head to the John C. Campbell Folk School with Ms. Jane. I am so excited. Jane and I will take a week long class with Annie Hall called Appalachian Shawl: From the Pasture to the Pattern. What could be better for a knitter (and sometimes spinner) to pack up a bunch of knitting, Esmerelda (my spinning wheel), roving, the laptop (for possible blogging from the mountains) and spend a week just doing nothing but spinning and knitting? I will keep you posted. Don't be too envious. ;-)

Oh, and say hi to the puppies.

That is the view I go to sleep with every night. My two furry rugs. ;-)

I am so proud and excited. My nephew Moritz arrived on Friday. Here he is:

Project Stats:
Date: May 22, 2009
Time: 10:34pm
Length: 55 cm (21.7 inches)
Weight: 3850 grams (8.48 pds)

Congrats Bro and SIL!!! Everyone I talked to so far says that Moe is supercute. I haven't gotten any other pictures yet. But I am sure they are busy getting settled in at home. My SIL went to the hospital Friday night at 09:30pm and an hour later Moe was there. They went home Saturday morning. My niece Julia is very happy that her little brother finally got here and nobody is allowed to hold him but her. Go figure. ;-)

Now I have to weave in all the ends on Moe's baby blanket and send it off to Germany. I haven't done that yet because Germans are superstitious. We don't do baby showers etc., because unfortunately you never know what might happen.

Moe and his mom are doing great. My brother was superproud and excited when I talked to him. Now I have to plan a trip to Germany in fall to check out if Moe is really that supercute. ;-)

Y'all have a great Memorial Day!

This day last year was the day I saw Irwin for the last time. I remember the picture so crystal clear in my mind. I took him to the airport in Munich because it was the end of his visit in Germany. He wore blue shorts and a white polo and his only carry-on was the book "Anna Karenina". His hair in a pony tail, he walked up the escalator, smiled and waved, and was gone. I remember standing there for a while to maybe get another glimpse at him.

It is really bizarre that this hit me sometime during work today. I was thinking about our last vacation and went back to my blog entry from last year. And it was exactly May 28. Sometimes things are just weird.

It was a tough day today, but I made it. I just stayed super busy. Which is no problem at work because I have actually too much to do, especially since I am going to be on vacation next week. And when I came home, I mowed my lawn and called friends.

I have been through a lot of "That is the first time without Irwin..." and lately it has changed to "That was the last time with Irwin...". Well, in June it will be one year. Unbelievable, how fast this first year without him went by. The next few weeks will be rough or maybe not, but I know I can get through. I have lovely friends and a great family - with a new baby - and I have a bunch of plans for the summer. I have to say, I have been so much better lately but I don't think the big void that Irwin, the person and the friend, left behind will ever go away.

LITTLE PEOPLE

My new nephew is just as cute as can be. My brother keeps sending me pictures every day with cute little notes from my nephew – like this one which I got yesterday afternoon.

OK, dear Aunt Claudia, I know you still have to be at work for a few more hours, but I am going to bed now. Love you, Moritz.

Awww… That just make my heart ache with joy. What a sweet brother I have to send me emails like that. I can’t wait to hold Moe in a few months when I will be in Germany for his baptism. And I am sure my mom knitted that blue baby blanket that you can see in the picture. I finally got mine in the mail today. It should be in Germany in 6-10 days. YAY!

And speaking of little people - this picture is my new favorite.

I can hear my niece putting a spell on her little baby brother: “Dude, I am your big sister and you will always do what I tell you to.”

FRIENDS

Like in my Friday night knitting group:

Not only the friends in this picture keep me going, all of you who think about me. I know you are out there and I love your comments, thoughts, calls, etc. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that so many people care and will catch me if I need to fall. I am VERY grateful for that. These are little things that make my life a happy place. And Irwin always used to say: “I am happy when you are happy.” He should be very happy to watch me in such a good place, wherever he is these days.

A GREAT ROOM MATE

You know, having Brett move in with me, has just been one of the best things that happened this year. Besides that I am not alone and the dogs have a second person to hang out with (and bother for attention and food), I am the happy recipient of sewed items. Like this fabulous bag...

He found a cow print for the lining. Very crazy and right up my alley. And the bag matches my messenger bag.

And Brett called me this morning to tell me that he got his grades in from the last quarter – in case you don’t know he went back to school last fall to get a degree in fashion design. Again all “A”s. I am so happy for him – this is his third quarter and the third time that he has straight “A”s. He just needs to remember that he lived in my guest room for a while once he is a famous designer in Milan. ;-) Hahaha… You should see some of his drawings. They are fabulous. If I ever need a gown, he will have to make it for me.

KNITTING

Yes, that fuels me. I just finished a doily last night. The pattern is from Marianne Kienzel’s first lace book. I always love the look of lace before blocking – boiled a$$... So unexciting…

And then after blocking… So exciting…

I kid you not – this was really not a hard pattern. I knitted it in a few hours on Memorial Day weekend. Binding the whole thing off with the crochet singles felt a lot longer.

SUMMER PLANS

I have several. Well, y’all know about the trip this week to JCC with Jane.

But I am also going to Florida in July to spend a week at the beach in Siesta Keys. And I am in for a big treat during that beach trip. If everything works out, I am go to see Barbara Walker while I am down there. She invited me and Irwin to come visit while she was in Atlanta two years ago. Irwin and she shared a passion about jigsaw puzzles and he gave her a puzzle while she was here (the picture on the puzzle was yarn – go figure, he was such a sweet guy). So, I was brave and let her know that I was in Florida sometime in July and she told me to call and come visit once I am there. I loved spending the weekend with her in Atlanta. She is such an interesting person to be with. I am so excited about seeing her again.

And if it doesn’t work out while I am in Florida, I get to see her at the Sock Summit in Portland, OR, in August. Yes, that is next on the agenda this summer. Jane and I are travelling buddies again. After the suspense thriller last Tuesday about signing up for classes, we managed to get in the following workshops:

Vintage Socks (Nancy Bush) - Old Tricks for New Socks - Thursday, August 06, 2009, 09:00am (6hrs)
This workshop will begin with a discussion of the patterns that were written for sock and stocking knitting in the 19th century, drawing extensively from the Weldon’s Practical Needlework journals. We will look at styles that were popular and how they translate into modern times. We will also discuss the patterns, how they were written, and how best to translate them into 21st century knitting language. Students will make a sampler in this class, using techniques adapted from Nancy’s book, Knitting Vintage Socks (Interweave Press. 2005), including a very interesting heel and toe shaping not commonly used today.

Arch-Shaped Stockings (Meg Swansen, Amy Detjen) - Friday, August 07, 2009, 09:00am (3hrs)
Another project knit from the top down. An intriguing foot that conforms to the wearer’s arch (the flat-footed among us need not bother). Great design possibilities in 2-color or texture.

Seismic Socks (Lorilee Beltman) - Saturday, August 08, 2009, 09:00am (3hrs)
Interesting patterning effects can be created by stranding color vertically in your knitting. During class, we will learn to prepare our yarn, read a chart, and properly manage the yarn as we work our way through two sample charts prepared for you. Lastly, you will venture out to write your own chart and begin to knit it. The design possibilities are many and can be worked easily into other knitting projects to liven up your knitting.

Special Stitches for Special Handpainted Yarns for Special Socks (Merike Saarniit) - Sunday, August 09, 2009, 09:00am (3hrs)
Explore a collection of unusual stitches that work beautifully with the special properties of many handpainted yarns. These were “unvented” during the course of researching old Estonian stitch libraries.

And we managed to get tickets to all the events, the Opening Night Reception, the Sock Hop and the Luminary Panel. I am really excited about this trip and I am glad we got into the morning classes because then my old brain is still fresh. And Jane will be perfect to go with – she is the Sock Queen after all. ;-) We already have a hotel booking and now we are on the lookout for a good airfare.

OK, that all I have for today. I need to make plans what to take to JCC. Thank goodness Jane has a big car because I am sure I can’t really decide what knitting projects and roving to bring. Oh, and I guess I should bring some clothes, too. Steve gave us some really good advice tonight. He said to bring pants with elastic band - the food is really good. I am hoping for some hiking trails to take a bunch of walks here and there.

I am also taking the laptop with me, even tho’, the school wants you to chill out and detach yourself from all the modern technologies. So, no TV in the rooms, no cell phone reception, internet access only in the great room. Hey, but I am happy about all that.

Have a great week! I’ll be posting when I can. ;-)