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Always Have a Plan C

Posted on December 23, 2009 by auburnchick

First off, Super Sis, if you’re reading this before Christmas, do yourself a favor and skip it.  Just for a few days.  You’ll get it…later.

Back to my story.

Somebody somewhere is having a good laugh right now…

At my expense.

You see, for some odd reason, the knitting magic has disappeared from my hands, and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why.

You’ll recall the disaster I encountered with the felted slippers.  A HUGE thanks to all who assured me that this tragedy has befallen others in the knitting kingdom.  I don’t feel as stupid as I did.

The latest mishap occurred today.

The AuburnChick family headed out for some Christmas visiting, spending oodles of hours in the car en route to our multiple destinations.

I figured this would be the perfect time to finish the project I made reference to in yesterday’s post.

The pattern I had set my heart on was the Journal Cover, found in the 2010 Calendar included with the December issue of Simply Knitting.  As soon as I saw it, I thought of Super Sis.  She loves to journal, so I figured I would pair it with a nice pen and Voila!

Of course, this is AuburnChick.  Simply saying “Voila” doesn’t make things magically happen.

Anyhoo, at 8:00 this morning, I was still blind to my lofty aspirations.  This is, after all, the Christmas season when there is magic in the air and when miracles happen.

I eagerly knit to my heart’s content, marvelling at how quickly I was making progress.

It wasn’t until we were headed to our second destination that I realized I might have a problem.

As I was working on the journal’s strap, I ran out of yarn.

Great.

I closely eyed my project.

I pulled out my ruler.

That’s when I discovered that my gauge was off…by two stitches per inch.

Yeah.  You can guess what that means.

The cover is humongous…and oddly shaped.

Still, I held out hope and carried it with me as I entered Coupon Queen and Grand Pooba’s home.

Queenie pulled out a journal she had in the closet.  I realized that this was the size the journal cover was SUPPOSED to be.

Great.

Take a look for yourself…

I didn’t exaggerate, did I?

I voiced the idea that maybe I could find a journal at the store…one that was a little taller and narrower.

Everyone raised their eyebrows.

Around this time, Super Sis’s husband, Super D, came to visit.

I explained my dilemma, and he did what everyone else was doing.

He laughed.

Oh, not a snicker, but a deep gutted laugh.

Thanks.  I feel so much better now.

We decided to play a game.  How many different things could this “thing” be?

Here’s what it looks like right now…

Perhaps it could be a wash cloth.  Except that my sister is the same size as me (which ain’t big, mind you).  This thing is large enough to almost go around her waist.

How about a kerchief?  Or a bib (to which Super D said that she has gotten kind of messy lately)?

A shawl?  Or how about if I put a dowel in the top, embroidered “Sisters are Forever” and asked her to hang it in her kitchen (to which Super D responded that this would be the thing you hang up right before said company visited). 

Gee thanks.

You know, though, I can be stubborn (ok people who know me…I know you’re SHOCKED by this admission).  I decided to visit the book store anyhow…just to make sure I had covered all bases.

Coupon Queen looked on as I tried to figure out a way to make this thing work on the many journals lining the store shelves. 

One thing she didn’t do was to lie.  She didn’t say a word as I stretched that piece of something over each book.  However, she did look visibly relieved when I finally seemed to come to my senses…declaring the mission (and the project) a total failure.

Needless to say, we’re headed out shopping VERY early in the morning.

Just for laughs, I plan on wrapping this thing with whatever her “real” present is.  Just to watch her reaction…see how nice she can be about something so utterly unusable.

As for me…Plan A, B, and C will henceforth involve better planning and a mass-produced item…just in case.

I am, after all, AuburnChick…Queen of Disaster.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

The Frog Prince

Posted on November 10, 2009 by auburnchick

Once upon a time there was a fair-haired girl named Chicky.

Chicky had a friend named Happy who always had a way of bringing joy to those around him.

One day, Happy became sad when his Papa became sick.

Chicky visited their castle  and inquired how she might be of assistance, making special mention of the skills that her mother, Duchess of Knitting, possessed.

“Does she make stuffed animals?” Happy’s mom asked.

“The Duchess is very talented.  Your wish is her command,” and she carried the request back home to her very beautiful mother.

The Duchess found the perfect pattern (Frog Prince by Alan Dart) in a magazine she had stowed away (Simply Knitting – March 2009).

The Duchess then visited her local market, picking up some Vanna’s Choice in Olive and Dusty Green (we all know that Vanna’s been around for a very long time) along with some I Love This Yarn in Buttercup and Forest.

She toiled late into the night…several nights, in fact, and produced a work of art even a king would be proud of…

The frog’s crown is a reminder that there is a Great King who rules over the land, keeping watch over His children…

Chicky and the Duchess hope that every time Happy and his Papa look at the frog, they will remember to Fully Rely On God (see the acronym)…especially during this time while Papa is sick.

As the frog has great big eyes that see all, so does our Heavenly Father, who loves each one of us and keeps a close eye on each of His children…

And they lived Happily Ever After.

The End.

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Day 2 of Spring Break

Posted on March 31, 2009 by auburnchick

Today the sky was overcast.  We’re in for some severe weather.

Chicky and I slept in, finally crawling out of bed around 8:30.  I just love these easy mornings!

I took my time getting ready for the day.  Much of the morning was spent on-line, catching up on neglected items.  I finally printed the postage needed for my last box of blankets.  The box is on its way to Colorado, where the blankets will be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Denver.  While I was out, I ran to Target to spend the gift card my sister had sent me.

I don’t know about you, but it’s hard to spend gift cards!  It’s almost like you don’t want to use up the gift because you know that once it’s gone, it’s gone.

I looked all over that store…

I’ve been wanting new measuring spoons for the kitchen, but the sets at Target didn’t include a 1/8 tsp, so I walked on by.  I meandered through the movie section but couldn’t find one I wanted.  Mr. AuburnChick tends to pick up movies here and there, so why bother spending my gift card on something he’ll probably purchase anyhow.

I checked out the magazines, but there were no knitting ones!  Golly, don’t these people know they would have a lot more magazine sales if they carried the right titles?  Sheesh…

I took a peek at the Nintendo DS games, but since I don’t have the console, it really did no good.  I would have loved to get one for my birthday, but money is so tight that not getting one was okay too.  Still…the games…Brain Age, Crossword Puzzle…sigh…I’m such a nerd.

I walked through the make-up section and peeked at the organic lines.  Somehow, I couldn’t see myself paying $8 for a bar of soap.

The home furnishings department left me less than enthused as well.

I guess I wasn’t in the mood for shopping.  I don’t know.  I walked out with the soap and kleenex that I paid for using the Mr’s account and kept my gift card safely stashed away in my purse for another time.

When I got home, I couldn’t help but notice all of the weeds in my yard.  Even though I had spent some time yesterday pulling weeds, I obviously had a ways to go.  I should just plow the whole thing.  Most of the green that you see is actually weeds and not grass.

Yet, I did my obligatory work and pulled as many as I could stand.  The weather, although not sunny, was breezy and perfect for such a task.  All I managed to leave behind were a lot of empty holes.

The rest of my afternoon has been spent on Ravelry.  Yeah, time-suck, eh?

Well, I’m actually on a mission…to find another project.  I actually have two I want to work on, but I’m waiting for a seller to email one I purchased earlier.  I can’t tell what it is because the person I’m making it for might just read my blog.  Once I get it, I’m going to use some of my birthday money to get the yarn for it.  While I’m out doing that, I’ll purchase yarn for my other project:  Frog Prince, by Alan Dart.  The pattern is in the March issue of Simply Knitting.  It will be a gift for one of Rooster’s teachers, who is collects frog-themed items.

I’ve also almost decided to knit the Shetland Shorty shrug with the bamboo yarn I purchased in Las Vegas last year.  The pattern is free and located here, on Knitty.com.  I’ve never knit a sweater before, so this could be interesting.

Ugh…I am in such a knitting funk.  I think that’s why I’m all over the place with the ideas.  I frogged my Duckies sock yesterday after turning the heel the other day.  Long story, which I won’t bore you with.  Needless to say, I’m not happy with the knitting right now.

Sigh…

At least it’s Spring Break!

Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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