Knitting Circles are Political??

So, I went to a knitting group the other night. All things considered, besides freezing my ass off in the Starbucks, it was pretty fun. There were only 2 other ladies that arrived, but that's OK.

Now what shocked me was that there is a whole under current of drama and politics in these meet up groups.

There are several around here in North DFW suburbia. And they are all aware of each other. And they all talk about each other. And one person will start a new group and recruit/"steal" members from the other groups. Blah, blah, blah, or rather cluck, cluck, cluck.

Weird. and all I wanted to do was to meet some new people that are knitting nerds like me.

I may have to see what is involved and start my own group. Ha!! There is a lovely Irish pub here in town and it would be a sweet place to meet and stitch and bitch.

How 'bout them apples!! (Bock bock)

Grandma's and Grandpa's Garden...

My parents have the best yard. They do not live in Texas! This is obvious at a glance. I took a few pretty pictures when I was home and want to share. And it takes me to my happy place when I look at them.

Mom's Hydrangea bush.

And Dad's grafted apple tree. It has 5 or 6 different types of apples grafted onto the same tree.

Lavender, which I have never been able to successfully grow here in Texas.

And a whole lot of tomatoes, especially the cherry ones. There were more, but I think the kids cleaned off the plants before this pictures.

And the grass...... It has been a long time since I have walked barefoot in the grass and it felt good on my feet! The kids kept rolling around on the lawn. Look Mom, no fire ants!!

Book #15

Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris

Sookie Sookie Sookie...

Book 8 in the series. A Vampire wedding, another epic battle, The Big Easy, an unfortunate incident involving a Witch and a Mormon and Sookie gets a new room mate.

Finished watching the first season on DVD. Hmmmm, does a True Blood Season 2 DVD box set qualify for tax free weekend. I'm sure it is some kind of school supply...

www.dragonflywillow.blogspot.ca

Well, here I am with the first of the Canadian edition entries.

I hope create some kind of an homage to my visit homeward. I am working on some pictures to post.

It is amazing how you acclimate to the weather where you live. It is pretty hot here, especially if you figure in the humidity, but after 105 F, 85 F doesn't feel too bad.

I love listening to everyone talk. I know I never sounded like that, ha! It actually is a little bit of a bummer that I have lost as much of my accent as I have. It'll be back for a while after I leave. I'll have to work on it some while I'm here.

Off to watch movies with the fam....

I know, I drank the Koolaid...

Just set up my iPhone so I can mobile blog. Ha! Just what I need. Let's see how successful this is...

Book #14

Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris

Yes, yes, Sookie Stackhouse again. (Book #5 in the series)

These books are like crack to me, dammit!!

We can now add Fairies to the list of creatures. Plus snipers and arsonists. Never a dull moment in Bon Temps, Louisiana.

I am now watching the first season of True Blood on DVD. Hubby is home!! I couldn't wait for it to be delivered via Netflix or to borrow it from my co-worker. Went out and bought the first season this past weekend. Can you say instant gratification!! Now, same above mentioned co-worker has the 2nd season coming from Amazon and has also graciously offered to lend it to me when he is finished with it. I'll probably buy that one, too before he gets to bring it to me.

So, about the TV series. It is different and yet the same as the books. It actually lends an additional dimension to the books, I think. They compliment each other. I don't know the story behind Charlaine Harris's input in making the HBO series. I expect she is pretty heavily involved. This merits some further research. As always, kudos to HBO. I heard some blurbage on the radio stating that True Blood is the new Sopranos from a popularity and ratings standpoint.

I gotta shake this vampire thing, but not until I've re-read Interview with the Vampire and completed a couple more Twilight Vampire knitting projects. Hmmm, that's really kinda nuts...I am not normally trapped in the brain of a 16 year old girl. (Although, I hope that there are not too many 16 year olds watching True Blood...yikes, a lot of VERY adult content!!)

Twilight Mitten Prototype

I finished a sample mitten. It initially was not supposed to be a sample, but I messed up the gauge, so will go back to the drawing board.

I started it out on a round needle, but when I started the decreases it got too small, so I switched over to 4 double points. I should have known better, but the double points were a 1/2 size larger than the rounds. That really messed up the gauge. I wound up with a Twilight oven mitt.

Oh well, live and learn. The pattern is quite nice. I love the horseshoe cable. I took the pictures with some shadowing to show off the cables.

I have already started again, this time on 4 double points from the beginning and messing with the gauge again. Silly me!! I chose needles a 1/2 size smaller than recommended, so I have a much tighter knit and hopefully fit. I am hoping that they are not so much like gauntlets when the are finished this go around.

You can see right before the thumb gusset where the gauge changes. Ack!! It is definitely a work in progress. Will post a picture of the new mitten with the tighter gauge tomorrow.