What my dash looked like...

The tires leading up to the dumpsters.  Yep had to hoist myself into and out of 2 dumpsters and through 3 sets of tires.

 I think we had 13 obstacles and sadly didn't get pics of each one, but HM did snap a few as I went through them.

My attempt to climb and then I panicked...you don't see that one.  I came right back down!

ok, the other tall climber that I freaked out over once I got to the top.  I saw myself falling through the wide slats on top and climbed right back down!  (shorts are wet from the swamp)

fire pit, jumped over 2 of them, they were hot!

And me after the finish line and the "hosing" to try and get the mud off of me.  It didn't really work, but it felt good to get a little cleaner.

I did the Warrior Dash!

pre Dash....clean

post Dash...after being hosed off

We did the 5k Warrior Dash this weekend and I must say it was a blast and very hard for me.  I wish I could show you just how muddy I was, but we didn't get a picture of that.  I had mud in my ears, nose, inside of my clothes.....I was covered.  I threw the clothes away :)

I recommend signing up if one comes near you.  You will get a killer viking hat!! 

I will warn you, if you have a fear of heights (like me) there are several obstacles that are HIGH!  I couldn't do 2 of them, for fear of falling to my death.  But that is okay, I'm still proud of myself for participating.

And knitting has been taking place, just no pictures :(

I think I love blue!

Looking at my finished projects, I discovered I love blue.  This hat included :)

This is my Shroom hat by Lee Juvan.  Very nice knit and quick with the bulky yarn.

 

I like a looser hat, more beret style than this, so next time I will knit more repeats.  I think I will give this as a gift and use my leftover yarn for another.

I'm also getting ready to cast on Star Crossed Slouchy Beret, though I should really go work on socks....oh dreaded socks that are taunting me from the project bag.

She lives and knits :)

I have been trying to knit a little on each project every day.  Great plan, doesn't always work, but good intentions...I'm trying!!!!

I did finish up my little Lace baby Beanie, just in time for shower giving this week.  Very sweet hat, little smaller than I thought.  I hope it fits this wee one due October 12th.  I'm sure the baby's head will be larger than sock monkey :)

 I also finished the Arrow hat and love it.  Yes, I did mess up and it is obvious, don't you see it?????

I somehow switched my wrong and right sides and ended up with a major ridge along the top.  Once I saw it I almost cried :(  but I was too lazy and tired to rip it back....so it is there!

I guess my hat sadness showed, so His Majesty helped me with a lazy kate.  We were in the home improvement store and I started playing around with the PVC pipe.  I explained what I was thinking and we came home with $6.00 worth of pipe and a lazy kate was born!

 

It has 45 degree angles built in and I can always add more bobbin holders if I decide  to live on the edge and 3-ply someday.

No knitting to update so....

 My knitting progress on my Arrow hat is coming along, but nothing to brag about and haven't any progress on my other projects. 
So, I thought I would share some precious pictures of my big babies Ava and Finley.

Every morning Finley washes Ava's face for her and I think it is so stinking cute :)

She expects him to wash her face and that makes it even funnier.  She is spoiled!

Just a pile of stuff...

So, I just have a pile of stuff to share today.  Nothing with any connection, just stuff.
  Okay, pic is kind of not showing, but it is a Japanese crafting book (The Life of Amigurumi Cats) that His Majesty brought back a few years ago.  We both thought it was a knitted cat...wrong!  Crochet and I don't know how :(  Anyway, found a website today with the English conversion and now I know how to make my crocheted kitty if I learn to crochet.

Someone needs to drive over here and teach me this week, please!  I will make muffins!!!  I will make iced mocha too.  Heck I will order pizza, just come teach me to crochet please.

We took a couple of days and drove to the beach with the poopies.  We stayed in my in-laws camper and had a good time.  I loved the RV park (first time we had done this), but next time need a bigger camper! 

I did get to knit on my Arrow hat while at the beach and made more progress.  I like this pattern and hope to finish it by tomorrow.

Hats are so much fun, let's make more

I love hats, so I need to knit a few more.  For Me?  Maybe, maybe for gifts.  I just cast on this Plymouth Encore worsted for the Arrow hat.  It was a peachy color that I wasn't crazy about, so I dyed it with Kool-aid and got this pale green that is much nicer.

I am also casting on this tealish-blue baby for the Shroom hat.  Another lovely hat on Ravlery that is a free pattern.  Awesome!  This yarn is from a recycled sweater I picked up at the thrift store.  It was a grey, black and white striped sweater.  So I took the white and dyed it this color with Easter egg dye.  I thought it would be a different blue, since the tablets were a royal blue....but that's what I got, no complaints.

And while casting on, Finley observed in his handsome way :)

A finished project, thank goodness!!!

I finally dedicated myself to finishing a project.  Yes, I am a SLOW knitter, but I think it is because I continuously stop knitting to surf Ravelry for patterns.  I know that is a bad habit!

So here is the 198 yds of heaven getting ready to go into a soak and then out for a little block...

I am happy with it, loved the Noro, but not happy with the size.  I knew it would be small, but not as small as it actually is :(  I blocked the heck out of it, but still not very large.

Oh well, I did it and by tomorrow I can wear it...always a good thing!

Plying like the wind....

 

Whoever said slow and steady wins the race was SOOOO wrong.

What I learned today....

I REALLY need to get a lazy kate!  I need one that will fit my Spinolution bobbins, but that isn't expensive.  I can't find that combo...all I keep finding are too expensive for my checkbook these days :(  boohoo....
So right now I am winging it with a basket and knitting needles.  I like to think it is old school...like I'm cool :)

I started plying my BFL this morning and hopefully will have it finished by tomorrow.

I also learned that I need to learn to crochet.  The reason is this website.  Milky Robot is the coolest thing ever!  I love these patterns, but I can't crochet :(  another sad moment...  Please go check out the patterns if you love little monsters, they are adorable.  And then come teach me how to crochet.

I also learned that breaking braids down into small bumps will make a mess, but it is a fun mess. (The top is a Twoifbyhand braid and the bottom was a swap gift) I worked on 2 braids this afternoon and can't wait to get these beauties on a wheel.  I'm going to aim for a chunky single with the above purple/turquoise fiber pile.  I want to make a hat out of it...keep your fingers crossed with me.

I freaked out....

and about fell over when I was shopping yesterday and came across this book.  It was on sale for $3.99, yes you saw that, $3.99!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I bought it before they changed their mind.
I love this book.  I have looked at it repeatedly at the stores.  I have checked it out from the library....repeatedly.
Now I have a copy...for $3.99.  I freaked out!

Of course, it takes me FOREVER to knit a pair of socks, but I love it!






It takes me just as long to spin, but love that too.  I have been working on the sparkly batt I bought at a destash and feel like I am getting nowhere, but have finished up 3 of the batts now.

 

You can't tell in my fuzzy pictures, but the blues and greens are blending nicely.  I have no clue about my wraps per inch.  That stuff confuses me and I need to reread those sections and get a WPI tool, but I'm lazy :)

I hope to ply my fire roasted lasagna tomorrow and resume spinning this baby up.  The TDF continues in my house....

I wish I had a tiny head...and could knit faster

 

I finally started the 198 yards of Heaven shawl, finally!  I kept changing my mind on the yarn choice and went with a Noro Kureyon.  I am enjoying this project, though I have ripped back SEVERAL times, due to stitch counts being off.

 

 

 

198 yds of Heaven

If I was a faster knitter, this would have been done ages ago!

I joined the Remembering Remy Ravelry group, go give it a look and consider joining too.  It is a wonderful cause.

 

Hats for Remembering Remy

I wish my head was tiny so I could wear one of these little hats.  Yeah, I know I could knit one for my big head, but they look so sweet little.

 

TDF11 day 15

I finally finished my 8 ounces of BFL I have named Fire Roasted Lasagna....I'm celebrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I didn't think I would EVER finish this roving.  I was getting antsy to start spinning up another braid I have in the wings.

I will ply these two bobbins tomorrow and hope to get some decent yardage, but no clue what to knit it into....shawl??????  I love shawls and have quite a few in the favorites folder on my Ravelry page.

Big obstacle in plying...I need a lazy kate :(  I'm going to do a makeshift kate until I can find an affordable one that my Spinolution bobbins will fit on.  Why are lazy kates so expensive?  Seriously, they have gotten crazy high.

It has been a good day!

 Today I went to Asheville to visit the Friends and Fiberworks store and their Summer Retreat fiber fun.  I did not take classes (boo to you economy!), but did make a purchase to make me happy.
Yep, I needed to buy a little fiber happiness on this cold, rainy day...to boost the economy and my spirit.

Merino/silk bend

I bought 4 ounces each of orange and purple roving.  It feels so soft, like a little kitten.  I hope I can do it justice when I spin it up. I did not buy yarn, which is a good thing.  

I told all of that gorgeous yarn, "NO, get away from me, stop tempting me with your lovely softness....evil yarn! "

 Then on my way home I stopped in Black Mountain for lunch.  Let me just say, I LOVE the Wendy's Baja salad.  It is now my go-to fast food meal when I am out and about....don't get me started on how yummy it is...

Anyway, I stopped at a wonderful yarn shop called Black Mountain Yarn Shop.  People, you must go to this store and make many purchases.  Not only do they have scrumptious yarn (and other goodies), but they are sooooo nice.  Friendly, helpful, pleasant....so refreshing.  I made a few purchases while there, which included a bottle of Eucalan (for me to try out) and a cute pattern. 
This Blue Sky Alpaca Cropped Cardigan was knitted up and hanging in the store.  Gorgeous!!!  Had to have the pattern.

 

And I rounded out that visit with this shawl pin.  It is so cute!!

Overall, the trip was great for my spirits.  (Though I froze...what happened to summer?  It was 92 degrees yesterday and 67 today.  What?????)