theraineysisters knitting and so much more

Well, actually, it’s my Ode to Joy cardigan. The sides are together and I’ve started one sleeve. For me, with the amount of knitting I can do, that’s progress.

Speaking of progress, my left hand almost feels normal; my right hand not so much. My knitting, therefore, is a bit sporadic. I don’t want to push it and risk prolonging this slow slow recovery. It’s been long enough as it is! That leads me to an important Rainey Sister announcement. *Clears throat and taps side of glass with spoon*

Important Rainey Sister Announcement

It’s the summer doldrums. It’s also a time of vacations and increased family responsibilities. Therefore, Susan and I are committing to blogging at least once a week, most likely on Thursdays or Fridays, through the end of the summer. We just can’t promise to blog more frequently than that, although we won’t hold back. If we have something to post, we will do so. We just need to feel as if we can kick back and relax a little bit so we are refreshed with lots of enthusiasm and projects in the fall.

We hope all of our readers will understand and we hope each of you has a happy and productive summer.

PS from Susan — I echo Sally’s sentiments.  It’s not that we want to disappoint our loyal readers.  It’s just very hard with work and soccer and summer activities to get enough knitting in to post about.  Aaaaghh!  The pressure of it all!

PS2: About the pants:

First, I did have my doubts about the pants.  When I got ready to leave for work yesterday DH says, “What’s the deal with those pants?”  Hmmm, thinks moi.  I shrugged it off because DH has no fashion sense.  Whatsoever.  None.  But, it gave me pause.  So, when I was in line at the cafeteria, I deliberately mentioned the pants to the cashier to gauge her reaction — thinking her reaction might be “polite” and neutral, but less than enthusiastic if she did not like them.  BUT to hear such a clear negative response from both her and the woman in line, it confirmed my worst fears.  The pants looked ridiculous.  It’s one thing to dance to your own drummer with confidence and flair — but quite another to look ridiculous.  At work.  In an important meeting.  So, once my fears were confirmed I could not continue the charade.  So, I lost the pants.

Susan arrived in DC today for a 5-day multi-faceted extravaganza.  Actually, it may be more like deja vu all over again!  Susan was thrilled to see flowers in bloom since spring in Minnesota has been non-existent slow in coming.  It is in the high 70’s here and absolutely gorgeous.

Tomorrow is the start of the world famous Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  Susan has been meaning to come out for this particular weekend for several years.  It happened to hit right after Sally’s recent visit to the Twin Cities — which seems like only yesterday!  Obviously, the focus of the event is sheep and wool and everything knitting/spinning.  We will report back after the big day.  If you see us wandering around, please be sure to say “hi.”  We will be carrying our Rainey Sisters totes for identification.

Sunday, it is off to New York to see a Broadway play and visit yarn shops — something wild and crazy and out of character completely ;)!

Sally has brought out her knitting bag so let’s hope for the best.  TTFN

Here’s a little diversion that is both knitting and movie related!

Want the answers?  Click here!

I tried to read the blog and it had misappeared — I got a dreaded error message. I was unable to get in for at least fifteen minutes. Of course, the moment I sent a trouble ticket to our hosting service, we were fixed (and they certainly hadn’t had a chance to respond yet).

I hope it was a temporary glitch. I plan to be back with a knitting-related post tomorrow.

We are very excited to announce that two weeks from today is our second bloggiversary!  Woo Hoo!! 

Stay tuned for more details about how to win “fabulous prizes” as we gallop into another wonderful year.

For what?  You didn’t win anything!!  Well, that’s true, but I want to thank them for hosting the awards this evening — an annual event I enjoy every year :).  Unfortunately, I saw very few of the movies because they were so grisly.  I did see Juno and was pleased Diablo Cody won the writing award.  A couple of other Twin Citians did well, too (the Coens).

This afternoon I went to the MKG Tea and had a wonderful time.  Met some new peeps and ran into some people I have not seen in AGES (15-25 years to be exact).  Wow — flashback time.  It goes to prove that knitting is a way to bring people together.  We had a 7-year old there (Anna) who has been knitting since last October — taught by her grandmother and attending her first Guild meeting.  How cool is that?

I am still working on that $%^^$## scarf!  As my peeps pointed out this evening, I could have finished a sweater by now!  I am down to the last skein  — BUT, I digress!

At knitting tonight, Emily was wearing a recent FO — an oldie but a goodie.  It is the Roseleaves Tunic from A Gathering of Lace. 

I had a brainstorm: could I use the laceweight silk and wool that Sally and I bought in NYC?  It is crazy with color — lots and lots of gorgeous color:

Sirino 50% silk/50% wool from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company, color Serengeti II (675 yds, 150 gms)

Purple, gold, tan, turquoise, etc.  I swatched and I am starting it.  I’m not sure if it will work, but so far I am pleased.  I am excited to be excited about some knittin!  The yarn is lustrous because of the silk.

I hope to be able to blog again this week.  My computer is acting very strange — the desktop icons keep disappearing.  It is tres annoying.  I am not a computer person, so we may need to seek HHHHHHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!! 

No, I don’t live over at youtube. I really don’t. I have friends who send me links that they think I’ll find of interest. This one involving “animated” pieces of knitting is simply amazing.