Hi! It's Friday!

I have lots to do today, so this will be a short post.

First of all, before I forget, here's the post from Vicki Howell about another contest she's having on her blog. If you're a crocheter, get on over there and enter!

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Here's where I am on the first of two Christmas stockings I'm knitting on a commission.

I'm about to switch to knitting in the round for the foot. It will eventually (when I've finished the foot) need a seam up the back of the leg.

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I have to go over to Comcast to pay my bill and yell at them once again. I yelled last month, but I started keeping a journal of stuff that's been messed up on TV because of them, and I've got two pages almost completely filled already. I plan to make an "I Hate Comcast" sandwich board to wear over there. They drive me crazy!

This is going to keep me pretty busy for the rest of the day, considering that I have to take two buses to get there, so it's a three or four hour round trip. I'm considering stopping at JoAnn Fabrics as a reward on the way back.

I also need to pay a flurry of other bills before I leave to do that.

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I watched a bit of the British version (the original) of Life on Mars before I watched the US version. I was less impressed with the original than most people seemed to be, but persevered through the first four or five US episodes. I'd read where some people were annoyed that the US version was so different, but the main difference I found in the first few episodes was that they called Sam's phone a "wireless" in the original, and a "cell" in the US versions. I didn't really see much difference between the two. They even had the woman policeman (Annie) in a knock-off of a British police uniform which is something I've never seen on a US cop anywhere.

After the first few episodes, I gave up on it, lost interest. But then I heard rumors that Sam kills himself in order to get back to 2008 in the original, and when the season finale came up last week, I watched it.

Wow! It was good. And Sam didn't kill himself. The ending was neat, though. I won't say any more except watch the reruns (if they ever show the series again).

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Tru Calling is on the SciFi daytime rotation today.

Tonight, we have a new episode of Dollhouse, and a rerun of Ghost Whisperer. 

On SciFi, a rerun of last week's Ark of Truth followed by the premier of Continuum this evening in the Stargate universe. If you have a problem watching Dollhouse and Continuum, the latter will be rerun next Friday.

I have to get running if I hope to do all I need to do today.

Have a great weekend!

Oh, and since it's a bill-paying day, I thought you would enjoy this:

Snow Tomorrow!

My new needle case arrived last night!


For anyone who knows me, you can see immediately that it's mine. I have white mullets (five-pointed stars) on  a blue background, and the same thing with the colors reversed (counterchanged) on my SCA arms, so when camping, I mark my things with a mullet.

There's plenty of room for all my needles, plus a few more, should I want more. Two sets of needle tips are not in the case because they're being used. It's got room for 4 different lengths of cables so that I can find them without having to measure them against each other. Left would have 24 inch cables (if I wasn't using all of them at the moment), next is all the 32 inch cables (I'm not using any of them now), then the one 40 inch cable that I'm not using, and an empty space for the 47 inch cables that are ordered and will probably arrive later this week.

If you want a wonderful bag like mine (I think she said she made two of them), check out LunaStitch on Etsy. If you see anything you like, buy it quick, because they're moving out as fast as she can make them!

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John has a new post up with more Steve Canyon news and some great photos and trivia! Volume one will be out really soon, and the excitement is mounting. 

There are photos from the series, along with trivia about the actors and episodes, and photos of some of the menus on the discs.

You may be seeing news reports on the internet about it soon.

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There's a new episode of Supernatural on tonight! Check it out on the CW.

Also, we have Eleventh Hour and Life on Mars, naturally on at the same time.

The SciFi Channel will also be having their weekly Doctor Who episode late tonight/early tomorrow (5 am here). This week it's The Doctor's Daughter, a really excellent episode, and the set-up for a spin-off if I ever saw one.

There's also a weekly broadcast of reruns of Knitty Gritty at 6:30 am on Home and Garden TV.

I have some errands to do that I've been putting off since Monday, so I should get rolling.

Have a great day!

Mischief Night

The wimple I'm making as a Christmas present is doing very well. It's about an inch or two from the top edging, so I expect to finish it tonight. Here's what it looked like a little earlier today. This was taken in some sunlight, and has made the colors much warmer than they really are.


Continuing in knitting news, my late birthday present from Holly arrived today!

It's a set of Knit Picks Options nickel needles! I am sooooo excited. I love the options nickel needles. I ordered one pair of Options Harmony needle tips to try them out. So many people on Ravelry keep saying that they like them better. I find that difficult to imagine, but I haven't tried them, so I shouldn't say things until I know.

I have been corresponding with a person on Etsy who makes cases for these. Check it out here. I'm hoping that when you look at her store you'll actually be able to see some of the beautiful cases she makes. There were a bunch a few days ago, and they're almost gone. But she's going to make one for me with white stars on a navy background with a grosgrain ribbon fastened with a couple of D-rings (I think). I told here to take her time, but I can hardly wait!

Once I get my sewing machine set up, I'm thinking of seeing if I can get some ultrasuede scraps and make a better bag for myself. I think I want to use the one that someone else has perfected before I do that, though. She uses Options needles and made these cases specifically for them, so I tend to think she knows what she's doing.

I was surprised at how compact the whole set is. It took up less than 1/2 an inch in height in the bottom of the box! Even with the addition of a bunch of cables and end caps, safety pins (to use instead of the keys provided), rubber grippers (for tightening the tips) and a set of label tags for using the tips elsewhere, it's still not very thick. I love the set the way it is, but I'm going to love the new case for it even more.

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John and I have continued working on the Steve Canyon on TV Volume 1 DVD. Well, I've been doing a little. John has been going crazy putting together extras for it. Interviewing people, and just assembling lots of information. He and others helping him find even more photos every so often.

Find out more about it here, here, and at the link above.

I'm in the enviable position to hear all about it as it happens, and it's exciting. He just finished interviewing Marion Ross, and some others, and I get to hear him bubbling over about how wonderful they all are.

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride, and this is only the first one.

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So, I'm going to be doing a lot of knitting tonight during all the fun stuff on TV.

First of all, the best horror show ever on TV, Supernatural will have a new episode on tonight, and although their general quality is excellent, I suspect that they'll have something special planned for mischief night.

There's also Eleventh Hour and Life on Mars. Check your local listings and enjoy. I will!

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Here's a warning for tomorrow night. Watch and learn!

Good luck! Don't let them soap up your car!

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Addition:

Some friends of mine are having their own private "trick or treat" this Halloween. They are doing everything to avoid losing their home. They have until the end of the month to come up with money, and they are short at this point. If you want to help them and all the animals they've rescued from shelters avoid becoming homeless, you can visit here and donate. Please click on the link and see what you'll be contributing to before you decide.

We're all in this economy together, and we need to help each other. Tell your friends!

Tales from the Bus

I've spent a good proportion of the day on the bus on four of the last eight days. And that's without counting in the crazy, robbing lady who is making it her life's work to abandon her kids.

Today, I went trucking over to Borders to get a copy of Welcome to the Jungle, only to discover when I got there that it is a graphic novel, not a book. I was very disappointed.

But, Backup will be out soon (Halloween), and while it's only a novella, it'll be something to get me through the withdrawal caused by having finished all the Dresden Files books (twice).

I did go across the street to Shoppers Food Warehouse and buy a dozen packs of Ramen noodles, so it wasn't a complete waste, although I wouldn't have chosen to pay $1 for the bus so that I could do a lot of walking to buy $3 worth of noodles. But then again, Safeway is no longer stocking Top Ramen in the Oriental flavor, so I wouldn't have gotten them any other way.

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Now that I'm back, I am just about ready to fall face first into my bed and take a nap. Whether I want to or not.

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Tonight, we have Supernatural, as usual on the CW, and they are very appropriate to the Halloween season, if you want to get in the mood.

Later, there's Eleventh Hour, Life on Mars, and a rerun of Burn Notice. Check your local listings.

Rainy Thursday

I had planned to go to WalMart today to do my monthly large shopping trip, but the weather forecast said that it would be partly cloudy today and that there was a chance of thundershowers.

What I saw by looking out the window was about 5 minutes of sunshine around noon, and a cloudy, grey day otherwise. I haven't caught it actually raining yet, but every time I look out the window the ground looks wet, but starting to dry. 

So, although I wouldn't be overjoyed at being rained on, I do have an umbrella, and unless it really pours, it wouldn't be so bad. But I really don't like either alternative: standing under an umbrella during a thunderstorm or not using the umbrella and getting soaked during a thunderstorm.

But I used some of the time I was home today to find a doctor to see tomorrow. And the location is close enough that I can go there, and then continue on the bus to WalMart, drop off my Rx, get my shopping done and escape all in one trip. So, that's working out well. And the receptionist even knew what my medicine was, unlike the doctors, who usually say "You're taking what? What is that?"

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Work continues on the Celtic sweater. I have the fronts and back done to the bottom of the armhole, and have started the sleeve (about three inches done). I think the sleeves are going to come out really well this time.

They will be kind of a bell sleeve. I'm knitting from the shoulder down, and there will be decreases down to about the elbow, and then just a little increasing down to the cuff. There will be a small St. John's cross on the forearm, and the bottom of the cross will continue off the surface of the sleeve in two I-cords which will be threaded through a row of eyelets. It will be possible for the I-cords to be pulled up tight, closing up the wrist area a bit (for warmth) and creating bloused sleeves with a ruffle around the bottom. I think I'm going to really like this design!

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Lots to se on TV tonight! Supernatural (CW), Eleventh Hour (CBS), and Life on Mars (ABC). Later, the Doctor Who episode on SciFi will be The Fires of Pompeii.

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Here's another photo John sent me. I'd be happy to credit the photographer if I knew who it was.

Down in the right hand corner, it says http://www.funpic.hu

Have a great evening!

GREAT Fall Fiber Fest!

Here's a small glimpse of the Fall Fiber Fest on Saturday.


Spinning wheels and fiberarts everywhere!

Holly and I went by ourselves and had a great time. The weather was heavenly. It couldn't have been better if we had been able to plan it ourselves! It was sunny all day, and at no time was I too warm or too cold. And there was no mud! After the mud fest of 2006, this is always a concern. Who could ask for more?

Holly got a Christmas present for someone. I won't tell what the present is or who it's for, but she was very happy with it, and I think that the recipient will love it, too. She also bought some yarn for a scarf she plans to make. It's going to be really nice!

Now that I started making my own socks, I've found that it's much easier to do the kitchner stitch at the toe with a darning egg, and I've been thinking about getting one, which I actually did at the FFF. I got this from Knitting Notions, a very beautiful darning egg made from poplar. This feels so nice in your hand, like it just fits and belongs there. I love it!




I  looked around at everything else. I was hoping for some nice light blue wool yarn with some silk neps for a tweedy look to make a wimple to go with my new coat. But there was nothing of that description. I found some beautiful self-patterning sock yarn that was not what I had planned on, but would have made a beautiful wimple, but it would have cost $40 for enough yarn for the wimple, and after buying the egg, I just didn't have it.

I also found some beautiful light grey alpaca for $25 that was out of my league. I've seen some publicity photos of the making of the Half Blood Prince where Hermione is wearing a knitted cap in light grey, and I've been looking for something to make it in. So, that would have been perfect. Actually, she's wearing a knitted scarf in the photo that would be interesting to make, too.

I found some nice wool and tencel fiber that would have been perfect to spin to make a wimple. But I went back to get the egg, thinking that if it was there, I'd just buy 4 ounces of the merino/tencel, and if it wasn't, I'd buy 12 ounces. When I came back it was gone.

So, Holly and I left, and I was happy about the egg, but sad that I hadn't gotten some yarn or fiber for the wimple.

But the universe had other good things in store for me.

Holly wanted to stop to get something to eat, and we found a Carabbas Restaurant and had a great dinner. But the restaurant was just a few doors down from an AC Moore, and we stopped in and I bought some more of the beautiful tweed that I had used for the Celtic sweater, but now didn't have enough of. 

It turned out to be a really wonderful day!

Friday, I finished the poncho I was making, but didn't get around to taking a photo of it until today. So, here it is:


Over on the Steve Canyon blog, the votes are still poring in for the cover for the first of the Steve Canyon series DVDs. Go over there and vote, if you haven't already!

Life on Mars is on the BBC in America today, and I want to take the day off and sit and watch it. It's already started, but I'm recording it. I have to go check it, though, because I don't think there's enough space on the disk to record all of it, so I have to get something off of there real soon.

Have a great time with what little weekend is left!

Steve Canyon Covers!

John and I have been working hard all week on the cover for the Complete Steve Canyon on DVD Volume I, and the result is not one, but three covers!

This turned out really cool, and John and I are both pretty happy with it, except that we're having a hard time deciding what colors we want in the Steve Canyon logo at the top.

Here are the three covers:





To get a chance to vote for which one you want for your very own copy, go here.

Today is going to be a busy day for me, so I probably won't get a chance to blog again until Sunday, since we'll be going to the Fall Fiber Fest this Saturday.

So, I want to mention that the BBC in America will be rerunning a batch of the British series Life on Mars on Sunday. I've heard so much about this, but missed it when they were showing it before, so I really want to see at least some of it. Check your local listings.

And have a great weekend!