I am a Ravelympic Medalist!

After a grueling day of dog pee, barf, poo and the den of germs that is a Pediatric Doctor's office...The Clap is complete!!

Yes, those are my Malificent PJ's

Now for a playing of O Canada while I accept my award:

I'd like to thank Briar Rose Fibers for the beautiful yarn, Kate Gilbert for writing the pattern Clapotis,  Melissa Gilbert for making me want to be Laura Ingell's, and lastly, the dog, for pissing on my bag and spurring me on to the finish line.

This was submited as part of Fiber Arts Friday with your host the Wonder Why Gal of Wonder Why Alpaca Farms...now with buttons!

  Please visit the Wonder Why Gal's blog to read other Fiber Arts Friday posts, or better yet, take part!!

The Clap has an Accident

This morning I woke up to the Ogre yelling.  He yells a lot, so I wasn't real concerned.  When I went downstairs he said "I've got some bad news."

At this, I started to pay attention.  What he told me, well,

Remember this bag?  My lovely Zombie Prom Date Knitters bag?

The one I keep my Clapotis in.  It also had the new Knitting Traditions magazine from Interweave in it.

 Yeah, well, it was in an unfortunate accident.

A dog peed on it.  No, not the sweet puppy you see in the photo.  He's a baby dog and can't be trusted out at night.  It was this dog.

Some people call him Tiger, others Copper, or Pork Loin.  Right now, I call him Asshole.

Luckily, the magazine and my knitting accessories bag took up the brunt of the incident.

I know, my knitting accessories all covered in pee, right!

Available at Your Local Yarn Shop

Ok, maybe not your local yarn shop, but definately at the one in Battle Creek

Due to the large amount of snot I deal with because of the Pigs, anytime I see a snot or barf resistant looking bag, I buy it.  These beauties are also pee resistant.  I would imagine it's sort of like the water resistant watches, only water resistant up to 10 feet of pee.

My Clap is 33 rows away from done.  I guess I should have stayed up and watched the Ladies Figure Skate, I would have been done.

Look at the Clap in all it's filthy glory!

Instead, I will be finishing today, carefully, and ignoring any wet spots I might come across.

Ravelympic Gold...

I really wanted today to be the day of my Ravelympic Gold Medal victory.  Sadly, it's just another day of kitchen dancing, and delicious New Mexico Pinon Coffee drinking.

 Oh, hell, that's really not too bad.

It may just be the SNOW MADNESS talking. 

What keeps you from Knitting?

Saturday knitting on the Clap was a bit light, becuase I was weighted down by all this bleu cheese dressing I ate.

An Ogre sized serving of salad dressing

I have 2 points to add to this, the dressing was really Cake Andrea's and the salad was human size.  I don't know if she ate all the bleu cheese, I was trying not to look.

It wasn't just large amounts of dairy products that kept me from knitting, we also went to the WMU-Ohio State (THE Ohio State University) Hockey game.

Kentucky Irish had never been to a game, so I took it upon myself to teach her all I know.  Here's what I dropped on her:

1.  Icing-The puck goes too far

2.  Off sides-the people go too far

3.  Hockey Sweaters are called sweaters, not jerseys because they used to actually be knit sweaters.

4.  WMU Hockey games are the best place to score cheap WMU swag. 

 (I got a $5 t shirt for  Pig 3.  It even has Elmo on it.  He then told me he didn't like Elmo anymore.  I said for $5, his friend Lucas can have the damn shirt.  He now likes Elmo again.)

The hockey loving Dad on my left was not impressed with my knowledge.  But when it came right down to it, we cheered exactly the same. 

No mention of the Ogre in all this hockey.  Well, he did set it up for his friends, arranged dinner reservations for 20, and then was not able to make it.  No, it wasn't due to his broken vehicle.

That happened the next day.  He was taking the Pigs to Cub Scouts so Pig 1 could get his Webelos badge.  Yes, my baby is no longer a Cub Scout, he's a Webelo.  He's working his way to being that geeky kid getting his Eagle Badge you see in the newspaper on Sunday.  Well, praise those geeky kids.  This Scouting stuff is a lot of hard work.  Ok, and loads of fun.

Oh, the truck.  That also kept me from knitting.  You see, the Ogre went out to Target, and never came back. 

But we ended up going to Target to try and jump start his car.  It didn't take.

I may not know about hockey but HEY! jumpstarting a car is one thing I know how to do.  I also know how to drive a stick shift, and I can stick my foot out the door and get it started that way too.  I have many car related talents.

We ended up calling a tow.

Then our Truck broke the Tow Truck. 

 

The Ogre calling for a 2nd tow

Yep, broke the hydrolics.  Our truck was dangling to one side of the tow.  I didn't get a good photo, because I was laughing too hard.

I don't know what happened after that.  We left, and went sledding.  Yes, broken truck=great time to go sledding.  It was actually tubing.  Which I highly recommend.  Especially when it's 40 degrees out.  It was perfect. 

Yes, I hogged my tube.  I finally found a sport I'm good at.  I wasn't all pushing kids over, but I did feel much like Napolean at the WaterPark in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. 

So, the knitting...after all my adventures of yesterday, I sat down with a glass of Barefoot wine and knitting the heck out of that Clap.  You know, I've drank exclusively Barefoot wine during the knitting of this Clapotis, I think they may be my knitting sponsor.  I need a t shirt.

Or a sponsored beach clean up trip.  So I can wear my sandles, because here, I can't.

Fiber Arts Friday-What to do today...

I start each day much the same as you.  I have my coffee, fill out zombie reports, and get the Pigs around for school.

Then I wonder, what should I do with my day?

Should I worry about the Pigs?

No, it's cool.  I'm pretty sure that at least one of the Pigs may be the next Doctor Who.

Maybe I should go work on the Wonder Why Alpaca Farm.  That's always fun.

WAIT!  No!!  It's Ravelympics.  For some damn fool reason I decided to make a Clapotis during the Olympic time period!  It may be because I am a damn fool.

Oooh, pretty.

Work on ridding myself of the Clap and fullfilling my Ravelympic dream of a gold medal or save the world from a zombie invasion?

The sword that has caused many a zombies' demise

Too bad it's up too high for me to reach

Let's knit.

This was part of Fiber Arts Friday.  To see other fun, cool, and informative posts about Fibery things...go to the Wonder Why Gal, she'll hook you up!

Still with the Clap

I am covered in the Clap!

Clapotis-Briar Rose Fibers

The thrill of the Olympics is really paying off.  I'm talking for me personally here. Just look at me go with my bad knitting self.  I mean really, my bad knitting self normally doesn't get this far in a project without tears, rum and a load of zombie parts.

Speaking of zombie parts.  I believe even the evil scientists are taking time off to watch the Olympics.  I've had only one reanimated corpse around these parts, and it looked more like a product of natural zombism rather than scientifically enhanced. 

Now, will I finish the Clap before the closing ceremonies?  I'm hoping for nothing but gold!

Pancake-Olympics (that would be cool)

The Pancake Breakfast was a great success! Thank you to everyone who was able to make it.

Ravelympics.
I think I have been knitting in my sleep. Luckily, I've been keeping in pattern. If I can keep up sleep knitting, I'll get this Clap done and be able to knit the Ogre a pair of Olympic Spirit mittens.

O Canada-by Swatchless

Which, due to his Ogre size, will probably require more yarn than the Clapotis.

Forgot your Sweetie? Here's an idea!

Today, TODAY, Pig 1 and I will be serving up pancakes at the

Cub Scout Pack 251
PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND SILENT AUCTION

VUMC

8-1

I like to think of this event as

"Put those boys to work and so they can build character!" or

"Hey, cheap Valentine's Day Breakfast! It will look like I thought ahead!" or What it really is

"A super easy way to support your local community Cub Scouts-and get a good meal-for cheap."

Actually, that last one may be on the flyers.

Also, this is your chance to bid on an actual Zombie Prom Date Knitters hand knit, hand spun item.

An example of the priceless beret. Zombie Prom Date Knitters Cleaning up zombie carnage.

Also there are many great items from area businesses. Including our very own Wonder Why Alpaca gal! No, not a real alpaca. Although I hear you can buy one from her. But a sweet alpaca teddy bear. A great gift for any Valentine!

There are also 2 condos, dinner, blankets and loads of other wonderful things.

So, get your butt out of bed and support your local scene!

Bob Costas wants to be a ZPDK

Do you have Olympic Spirit?

Zombie Prom Date Knitters, Ravelympics 2010 Cast on Party

We of the Zombie Prom Date Knitters, TEAM Zombie Slayers do!

Our team captain KWAK graciously offered up her lovely home as Ravelympic Village for the Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

There were many hardships to overcome to get to the Ravelympics Village.

Touching stories of Zombie Slayings, hot wired cars, and lack of ammo. But we all were able to overcome and join in the celebrations and once again show our Olympic Pride.

Even Slayers away on missions were able to join us, via satelite.

Wileycomma!

Later we had our very own Fatcatcrochet all the way from SC!

Ok, it was technically by way of Sype, but via satelite sounds so much fancier. Plus, skype kind of creeps me out, like skynet, and robot invasions from the future thing.

Now continue on Slayers! Keep your Olympic Torches burning! Even if you have to work through some technical difficulties.

I've been cleaning

It has recently come to the Ogre's attention that I have a lot of yarn, knitting books, a spinning wheel, and all the accessories that go with said craftiness. Ok, I don't have a swift. But other than that, many, many items of craftiness.

Guest room. Cozy, no?

The Ogre sent me to the basement. To clean up my mess. For 2 days.

I found 7 poorly executed projects, and 1 beautiful tank top, meant to be given to Beth as a Birthday gift.

Go ahead, feel better about your knitting

I can understand why the 7 crappy projects were lying half done with the needles still in them, they were too horrible to continue. Actually, the mittens were so mismatched in size that I didn't have the heart to finish the thumbs. No, I'm not knitting endless mittens until I come up with a match.

But the tank top was all done except for straps. Why did I abandon it so close to the end? This is when a knitting notebook would come in handy. Or less secret knitting. Hell, maybe I knit it in my sleep and it will be done in a couple more months.


Bagged and organized

What did I learn from all this? I learned that an organized tidy space leads to...Oh ha! I learned that I'd rather be out slaying zombies.

This was part of Fiber Arts Friday. If you'd like to read blogs that are actually informative, please stop by the Wonder Why Alpaca Farm, where Wisdom begins in Wonder.

Knitting for Babies=stupid

I don't know if it's the counting, the paying attention, or the fact that the stitch markers always seem to be in the way, but Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket always kicks my ass.

Sure, it's a super easy knit, just follow the instructions. This time I even have line by line instructions written out by a friend. Also, I've knit this before. I have proof.

Unfortunately, I also have proof that I had a problem knitting this before. It's also documentation of the begining of my love affair with rum.

What have I learned from this venture into my blogging and knitting past? I'm not getting any better at knitting, and rum is good.

A Zombie Free Craft Day

There is a 5 mile zombie free zone radiating around a spot in South West Michigan. Even with their limited capacity, zombies know to steer clear of a bunch of Zombie Prom Date Knitters. So where is this safe haven...

Home Grange #129 in Ceresco (just south of Battle Creek.) Just look at these Slayers working on their techniques. .

Yes, she is holding an implement of death

"No, really, I think I had zombie slay of the week."

They look sweet, but they are deadly warriors

Abi, one of our Junior Slayers, just finished a skirt for her American Girl.

Get that girl a shovel!

Many of us spin to help stay strong during the Winter Months

Oh, my two lovely hats. Whoever could have done something so pretty?

The I have Confidence Hat, and I'm growing out my hair Hat

Both London Beanies

Our very own Wonder Why Gal finished the pink one in record time, did not cry and enjoyed the experience enough to cast on another.

I worked on my jump-kick-spin moves and also wound up my Briar Rose Fiber, Wistful, in preparation of the Ravelympics/Olympics.

Yes, it's beautiful yarn and it's going to be a gorgeous Clapotis. Oh, sure, I'm going to want to keep it, but it's for charity and I would want something pretty if I was sick. Remember that. If I ever get sick, I want a really pretty Kozy.

If you weren't able to make it, or were too shy to come, please try to make it next month. It really was a nice break from work, family, and troubles. Plus, it's a Grange Hall, there will be food.

Bad Camping = 2 Hats

Remember this?

It's my Wonder Why Alpaca Farm roving I bought last summer. Yeah...summer. Ah, summer.
We had so many adventures together...

My glasses were under the tent...what camping does to feet...ready to hike

Not another mile....why is my tent always in the rain?


I spun that alpaca fluff during rest times between my adventures.

Wow, looking back at the summer, you'd think I'd never want to go camping again. I am apparently not very good at it.

But remember when I wasn't good at spinning, and knitting?

Well, look at this!

Matching hats? Yes!

Two beautiful handspun, hand knit Berets!

I don't give up! On camping or spinning and knitting!

Of course I don't need two hats. Whatever shall I do? One is going to the Wonder Why Gal, and the other will be donated to the Cub Scouts Pancake Breakfast Silent Auction. Wait, that leaves me with no hats...I can make more.

Cub Scout Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction

Feb 14th

VUMC

Contact me for tickets...You know you want to eat, and then bid on that hat!!

This sad story was submitted as part of Fiber Arts Friday, hosted by the Wonder Why Gal. Please go read about other Fiber-y people's adventure. I'm sure no one else's are this snotty, or dirty, or involve so many broken tents...