In The Knit Of Time

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T16:03:00.002-05:00

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what’s to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

The man she loves she’s never touched
How will she Keep his trust
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can’t stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it’s coming soon
There’s no place, there’s no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And she cries and she cries oh she cries

Shepherds all gather round …
Star shines down…

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything, A baby changes everything, everything,
everything, every day Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My whole life is turned around
I was lost and now I’m found
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

And I cry, oh I cry . Blessed be His name. This BABY changed everything. May glory, honor and power be to this BABY that gave me every single thing. Praise Him. Praise Him for He is God Almighty.I thank Him for His miracle in my life. Undeserved miracles!

Merry Christmas! God Bless!

A baby changes everything!

2009-11-11T20:01:00.003-05:00

Pattern: Joseph's Blankie of Many Colors from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Baby in Pink Poodle, Goldfish, Duckie, Sweet Pea, Aqua, Bluebell one skein each. [3.50 oz./100 g (170 yd/156 m)]
Needle: US #11 32 inch circulars.

I knit this for a very precious little baby. This blankie is an easy knit. I love anything that doesn't require a lot of finishing. This project is definitely easy. You just pick up sts and keep knitting till you are happy with the size. I used most of the yarn. A lot of prayer for sufficient yarn went into the sweet pea border that I knit all around. I really didn't want to have to go and buy another skein at the wee end. Thank God it got done with just a couple of inches of the yarn left.

Blanket

2009-10-27T19:43:00.002-04:00

Pattern: Pinwheel Baby Blanket
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy in White 1/4 a skein, Caron Simply Soft in Soft Yellow less than 1 skein, Red Heart Worsted Weight in Light Blue 3/4 skein, Mainstays in Pale Blue 1/2 skein.
Needle: US #8 DPNs and 36 inch circulars.
Notions: 9+1 stitch markers to place after the yarnover in each section. Always keep one stitch marker in a different color from the rest, for the beginning of the round.

Some knitted items

2009-03-30T19:44:00.003-04:00

Pattern: Knitting Spring Wristers on Lionbrand.com (You have to log in to access the free pattern)
Yarn: Regia Sock Yarn 4 Fadig Patch Antik Colors Color # 5756
Needle: Dont remember probably US #4/5 DPNs
Notions: 1 stitch marker, st holder.

Pattern: My own, just plain ribbing for the bottom and stockinette for the rest.
Yarn: Peaches 'n Creme in Strawberry 1 skein
Needle: Don't remember probably US #8 DPNs
Notions: 1 stitch markers
I knit this for a student of mine. He wanted a hat and none of the girls in his class would knit one for him. So he begged and pleaded till I agreed to knit him one. But the problem arose when he wanted it in shades of pink. I wasn't sure of his choice, but he insisted that's what he wanted. So pink it was. He was thrilled, but his parents weren't. So now it lies safely in his keepsake box!

Pattern: February Sweater from Knitter's Almanac by EZ
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Chiffon Print 1 skein
Needle: US #6 24 inch circulars.
Notions: Stitch markers & Stitch holder.

EZ rocks! I mean she is an awesome woman. Just look at this beautiful sweater. The pattern is a simple gull pattern. This is another classic minimal finshing-needing pattern.

Birthdays Come And Birthdays Go

2009-03-15T21:31:00.002-04:00

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you did not get old? How about this idea - if we don't blog for a period of time then we don't age? Naa, the fun of life is encountering the challenges of every year as we gleefully watch others age and blissfully think of ourselves as still that young and energetic 18 year old!!
Birthday cakes are a wonderful way to record these epic moments. Here are some from the past year or so. The Elmo cake was terribly last minute to say the least. But the birthday boy couldn't have cared less!

Some of the cakes were totally unplanned creations. I just baked a cake an did whatever came to mind.

Bounty !

2008-09-14T15:07:00.006-04:00

I have been very behind in updating my blog. So I wanted to put up some pictures from my container garden from last summer and this summer. This year I ventured out into the uncharted territory of vegetables. I planted some organic bell pepper and sweet tomato seeds and then I waited and waited. Well my tomatoes have been giving me a good harvest - considering that they are in one single pot. My peppers are beginning to produce. I also have some flowers going on this year - cosmos, alyssum, impatiens and zinnia. But the pictures I have put up are from my flower garden from last year. Enjoy!

Let me introduce.......

2008-06-24T17:05:00.003-04:00

I want to introduce to you my friend's blog. Its called Bestchristianjobs. It is a public blog so anyone can visit. She never stops amazing me. I am very proud of her and her heart to encourage others. That's what her blog is about - encouraging you in the work environment. Boy, don't we all need that. So go check it out. God Bless You my dear and keep up the great work.

Back to the present

2008-06-24T16:45:00.000-04:00

Here's the tree I was talking about. Majestic isn't it? And happy birthday to a friend of mine - S. God Bless you!

After all the detailing of my past projects. Its time to show you what I knit recently. I hadn't been knitting for a few months. You could attribute it to boredom. But then a friend of mine wanted to learn to knit. As though I owned the store I proudly took her around ACMoore and showed her the yarn. I dutifully taught her how to pick a yarn, what needle to use, how to make the knit stitch. Well we got that far and she has half a scarf to show for that. Teaching her really sparked something in me and I knit another pinwheel blanket for an expecting friend of mine. I was a little doubtful about the color combination after about 300 sts. But I had come too far to turn back. I was praying that it wouldn't look like an Italian flag. I kept telling myself that its a choice between gift or donate. If it looked not so great it will be donated, if it looked decent it will fulfill its original purpose. But I have to say it looked quite nice - maybe not baby colors but it is for a boy, so I guess its not too bad. So I shipped it off to my friend. She called to say that she liked it. If momma's happy, then everybody is happy.
Pattern: Pinwheel Baby Blanket
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy in White half a skein, Lion Brand Wool Ease in Cranberry 1.5 skeins, green yarn -brand unknown but color fantastic
Needle: US #8 DPNs and 36 inch circulars.
Notions: 9+1 stitch markers to place after the yarnover in each section. Always keep one stitch marker in a different color from the rest, for the beginning of the round.

I wanted to do a quick project with some Peaches 'n Creme yarn that I had. God has blessed me with a memory that serves me well. I remembered the baby kimono from Mason Dixon. This is what came out of my knitting. I got a little worried that the yarn may be insufficient so I went and got some red yarn as insurance. The 2 skeins of Fiesta ombre would have been sufficient. But I went ahead and added the red yarn for both sides of the front bottom. I think it kind of gives some definition to the variegated yarn. I still haven't blocked it or attached the ribbon. I will add a picture with the finished details soon. The beauty of this project, is the need for minimal finishing. All you have to do is sew up the side seams. I am not a fan of finishing, thats why its been over a month and I still haven't attached the ribbon. So for people like me, the fewer things to sew up= a happier knitter.

Pattern: One Piece Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Peaches 'n Creme 2 skeins Fiesta Ombre, little bit of Red.
Needle: US #6

Take That

2008-05-22T21:48:00.007-04:00

The weather was fantastic today! I mean it was beautiful. There's this tree outside my house, its really tall and majestic. It looked so great today as it swayed and held its own against the wind. I love trees. I actually talk to the ones I love. I tell them how strong and patient and great they are. God is one creative person ha? Tomorrow we shall have a picture of that tree in the backdrop of blue skies dotted with cotton clouds.
For now here are two more of my Christmas gifts from last year.

Pattern: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream in Warm Brown and Robin's Egg Blue - 1 skein each
Needle: US #7
This washcloth is the soulmate for one I knit in June last year. I was never a person who liked brown, but of late I had been leaning heavily towards the blue-brown combination in choices of clothes and yarn. I finally figured out why, when I knit this washcloth. Clearly, the body butter that I had been using for several months had silently yet strongly influenced me. So it was only right, to take a picture of the washcloth with the jar of cream that inspired it.

Pattern: Headband from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Opinionated Knitter
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool in Palais and Natural Mix
Needle: US #8 16"circulars
I cast on 80 sts, turns out that this is too big even for a fully grown man. So I knit up a second one with 60 sts for a teenager, I was concerned that he might complain of lack of blood circulation in his head but he said it was fine and I shall choose to believe him.

Hibernation

2008-04-28T22:11:00.008-04:00

Every animal in this side of the world has its favorite seasons. Mine apparently isn't winter. While other animals simply curl up and go to sleep, at least I don't do just that. Believe it or not, I do a lot of other stuff and as you know, I don't blog because I have to, I blog only when I want to.
I present some proof of my being active these past months:

Pattern: Lady Eleanor from Scarfstyle
Yarn: Patons SWS in Natural Plum - 9/10 skeins
Needle: US #11 32" circulars
Finally, finally I finished LadyE last September. As I said before, I love the beautiful shades in this yarn. The yarn sheds a lot and if you have sensitive skin it does make you itch, but it is beautiful and I can vouch for it keeping me warm this winter. I never in my life thought that I would knit a wrap or a shawl. Well I have surpassed my knitting expectations. Love it, love it, love it.

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Rosewood (Pink shades) & Carron Simply Soft Shadows in Soft Merino (Blue shade)
Needle: US #8/9
If you love to knit wraps/scarves, this one is sure to become one of your favorites (if it isn't already). The scarf flies off the needles real quick, I felt like a kid at a candy store every time I dropped the stitches. After all these years of kicking the couch and throwing stuff across the room when I dropped a stitch, I never imagined that it could actually be this exciting to drop not just one stitch, but a whole bunch of them.

Consider This.........

2007-12-25T19:59:00.000-05:00

A Gift for Christmas

The dream of every child is to receive the most expensive and hard to get toy for Christmas. They sometimes spend the whole year making a list of things that might get into their Christmas list! Like children we as adults too, want stuff and the more stuff the better. I like to have things and I like to be given things. Sometimes I get so caught up in things that I forget to appreciate that which really matters.
This Christmas, I would like to remember a few of the things that really matter - a good family, a happy & safe home to live in, good food, good friends, the ability to laugh, to love and to give to those less fortunate than me.
But most of all, I thank God for the gift of life that He has given me - the life I received when I was born and the gift of life & forgiveness that He gave to me when He sent Jesus to this earth.
This Christmas I thank God for the little baby that was born in Bethlehem - Immanuel(God with us).

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people; for unto you is born, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10, 11)

Wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

What is taking so long?

2007-09-05T11:53:00.000-04:00

It had been over a year, I was still trying to survive, to cope, and to fit in. Everything still seemed new and exciting and yet for some odd reason I longed for the 'old' life! I felt a certain kind of 'homesickness'.

What was wrong with me? Is this even normal? To look back? To miss those days in the white uniform and the blue pinafore. How could I yearn for the motherly chiding of Ms.A or the sisterly advice of Ms.Jo? Or was it all the friendly counseling of Ms.Ju and Ms.E?

Besides, what excuse did I have for never stopping by school? I pass by everyday! Did I live far away? Yes, if you can call a 7 minute walk as any kind of 'distance'!

I made up a list of excuses. "I had no time!", "College is tough.", "We follow a TIGHT schedule.", "Do you know how many tests we have each semester?" That should do it. But wait a minute what if they ask me questions? Why has your English deteriorated? (Have I spelt that big word right?) Looks like you've 'changed'! (meaning - "We don't like what we are seeing."). Are you acing your exams? (Panic) Whoa! That’s not cool.

Did I really want to go back and risk the possibility of being scrutinized?

Every single time I would muster up enough courage to go up to the gate, then suddenly I would develop cold feet and quickly walk away before someone recognized me. I did this again & again & again. Then one fine day, I took a deep breath, told my fears to rest in peace and gave my courage wings to take me flying across those 'pearly' blue gates of my SCHOOL. Hallelujah!

As I stepped in, everything started coming back to me. It looked like I was never away! The old school building, the wooden stairs, the classrooms, the fields, the beautiful trees- in my mind, I could even see the yellow and white 'carpets' of flowers around them! The powerpoint presentation of all the photos from my mind's album began to play - all the lessons (yes you read it right), the teachers (again your eyes aren’t playing any tricks!), the friends, the fun, the joys and the sorrows. It was not the buildings that made it special, but the people.

What was I thinking? There's nothing to be scared of. What is wrong in going back to one of the places that really means a lot to you? I don't care if people think its 'childish' to be going back 'THERE'. "Why do you even visit?", "Don’t you feel weird?", "How do you manage to talk to the teachers?", "What were you thinking?” - they ask me.

I'll tell you what I was thinking. No matter how many thousands of miles away I was, no matter how many different changes happened in my life, deep down in my heart I was still a ___onian and I always will be. After all, I spent 12 long years of my life there. The foundation for my dreams, my values and my life was laid there and going back reminded me of who I was, who I am and what I stand for. It always, always felt good to be back.

So if you are one of those people standing at the gate, like me, and wondering about the questions they might ask you, let me tell you the one question that they are sure to ask -"What took you so long?"…………………

Hurry home - they are waiting for you!

PS: Today is celebrated as Teacher's Day in India, in honor of one of our Presidents who was a teacher by profession. This post is dedicated to all the teachers that I have ever known. Each one is precious to me. If there is a teacher out there who is frustrated by your job or feels unappreciated, I want you to know that your life makes a huge impact on the lives that you touch. You may never know it, but believe me that it really does. Thanks to all teachers for your love and dedication and WISH YOU A HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!!

Happy Friendship Day!

2007-08-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

"I thank my God every time I remember you, in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy" - Phil 1:3-4

Wish you all a very Happy Friendship Day!

I thank God for all the lovely souls that have graced my life and shared their life with me! For all those who have spent a life time putting up with me, I am forever grateful. I love you all and I really appreciate each and every one of you, even if it was meant for only a season.

May God Bless you all with His choicest blessings.

July in August!

2007-08-02T21:12:00.000-04:00

July is by far one of my most favorite months. Its the middle of summer - a time for activities, flowers and fun. But the real reason I love July is for all the people who were born in July that I personally know and am close to. Atleast 8 yes EIGHT of my favorite friends and relatives were born in the month of July. I am really thankful to God, for all these wonderful women, you are the warmest and most loving women that I have come across in my life. (can't think of any men born in July, if I missed you, sorry about that)

Here are some pictures from one of the most exciting weekends I have had this year. I went to the Joyce Meyer Ministries Conference. I just LOVED IT!! I always enjoy her teaching and I went there just for her and ofcourse for Hillsong and Darlene Zschech.

But I ended up being TOTALLY bowled over by Delirious? I did not think that I would enjoy a rock band so much. But it was fantastic. I loved their passion for God. I was truly amazed that inspite of having headaches the entire week, I was able to actually sit through each and every deafening performance without throwing up. We also had some of the closest seats to the stage. That for you is the grace of God in action. Praise God for that memorable weekend.

Fondant & Gumpaste

2007-07-10T21:44:00.001-04:00

I made a practice cake for my Fondant and Gumpaste class. We learnt to make the sheet draping, the hanky, daisies and garlands. This cake cannot be scrutinized aesthetically as we used the techniques we learnt without worrying about the look.

Pinwheel Baby Blanket

2007-07-09T17:52:00.000-04:00

Here is the pinwheel baby blanket that I knit for my very special little nephew. Blankets take forever to knit and this one would have too IF I had had an indefinite completion date. But this was needed to be knit in 14 days. I think I knit it in 8 of those 14 days and I averaged 5.5 hrs of knitting on the last 4 of those 8 days! I was praying that my hand wont pop out of its socket or something. From about 240 sts onwards it was a slow process and towards the end it got to a crawl. I stopped the increases at 450 stitches because I couldn't stand it anymore and it turned out that, had I gone further I wouldn't have had time to finish it. It was just 'in the knit of time' - if I say so myself.

The diameter was 42 inches, which was ample. I was almost tempted to keep it for myself, because the white Jiffy yarn and the cranberry Wool Ease yarn were originally meant for an adult afghan that I wanted to knit for myself. That never materialized, so soon the rest of the yarn will be transformed into a similar baby blanket. I am very very happy with this blanket, the knitting was frenzied but the outcome was 100% completely satisfying.

For more inspiration go to Flickr.

Pattern: Pinwheel Baby Blanket
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy in White 3 skeins, Lion Brand Wool Ease in Cranberry a little over a skein, a little bit of Hometrends/Style yarn from Walmart in Pale Blue.
Needle: US #8 DPNs and 36 inch circulars.
Notions: 9+1 stitch markers to place after the yarnover in each section. Always keep one stitch marker in a different color from the rest, for the beginning of the round.

Vacation Take III

2007-07-01T21:16:00.000-04:00

A Very Happy Birthday Miss E - one of my favorite teachers, who is also the greatest friend that I could ever ask for! May God Bless You with a very long life so that I can have many more precious days with you :))
I Love you and I want you to know that you are a great blessing in my life. Every word from your mouth edifies my soul!

Its been a while. When I actually started posting on this blog I promised myself that I wouldn't obsess over it so much that it took over my life. So its good to be back with a post. This is a continuation on our NH vacation.

The great thing about vacations is that they never go out of style. You never think "Oh that was a stupid place to visit". Even the most mundane of places can teach you something new.
They make you feel like you are a part of a fantasy novel, where you discover 'unchartered' territory and face a new adventure at every corner.

The really great thing about vacations is no matter where you are, what you are doing or what time of the year it is, with just a single thought you can relive the whole experience all over again in your heart. This memory can lift you up and out of boredom or stress or even sorrow.
So here's to pleasant vacation memories - the last episode from the New Hampshire White Mountain trip!!

We covered a lot of ground on the 2nd day. We concentrated on the Franconia Notch State Park region. There are several exits that you can take along the parkway where there are interesting natural spectacles. Special mention to the Boise rock. This is a huge glacial boulder sitting on the side of the parkway and its really huge!! I can't even imagine what power of nature moved it there.

We then went to Flume Gorge for a 2 mile trail walk. It wasn't bad at all. Unlike the previous day, these trails were pretty much clear cut and well defined. The walls of the flume are parallel columns of Conway granite(70-90 ft high). The basalt column that had filled the gap, has been slowly eroded by the waters and frost, forming the gorge.
This is The Pool. It is a natural basin formed in the Pemigewasset River (love the name!) by a silt-laden stream almost 14,000 years ago! It is 40 ft deep and 150 ft in diameter. Unfortunately, no swimming or diving allowed.
The view - looking out from the Flume Gorge trail.
On our way to the next stop, we stopped at this beautiful Beaver Lake. Its just the kind of sight that Bob Ross would have painted. This truly was a high point of the day. I wanted to linger longer, but we had another trail to conquer before the forecast of rain came true.
Our last trail was at Lost River Gorge. This is a boardwalk trail with a lot of steps. It is a pretty straightforward trail. But the most exciting parts are when you go off the 'regular' trail.
You will encounter around 10 short detours that you can take. These are clearly marked with signs and they are usually some sort of dark cave or passage, lit with lanterns. Some of them are very easy, all you have to do is crawl through it. But some, boy oh boy, can be scary and tight! You have to be ready to crawl on your hands and knees, get your clothes dirty/wet in the process, squeeze through dark tight gaps. It takes only about a minute to go through each passage, so its pretty much like a roller coaster without the unsavory lurching and screaming!

This really made my day. I don't like dark tight spaces, I thought I was claustrophobic and I was really terrified of doing this. But Mr.PT really encouraged me and it truly was time to face my fears. We had to do the tougher passages alone as we couldn't carry the backpack in. So one of us went in while the other watched.

The tough one that was open for visitors was the Lemon Squeezer. They have some wooden logs nailed to the rocks and that is your gauge. If you can squeeze through the gap between those logs then you wont get stuck inside the tight passages. This really put the fear of God in me. It looked oh so dark and tiiiight and forbidding. It did not help that the little ones in the family going ahead of me started crying and backed out of the passage.

I was ready to give up. But there was this fantastic kid - a shout out to Mike working at Lost River Gorge, he was overseeing this passage and he encouraged me to go in and he went in ahead of me to show me the way! The first gap is so tight that you can't go in unless you back into the gap. That's when this picture was taken. I am backing into a pitch dark tight space. For me it was really scary. I was already asking Mike when this was going to be over :)).

It wasn't over until I had crawled almost flat on my tummy, stepped up on a precarious-looking rock to take a look at the back of a miniature waterfall and squeezed myself out of another gap! Phew! What an amazing experience. I was glad it was over and I was surprised that I had actually done it. Now I know that no phobia is bigger than me. I don't know if I will ever get into a tight dark space again, but I do know that if I was ever forced into one, it will not kill me!!
My heartfelt gratitude to Mike. This young man was so enthusiastic about this passage, its unbelievable. It still amazes me when I meet people who seem to be doing a simple job, but to them it is an adventure everyday. What a way to work!!

So from there we went to Echo Lake Beach. The water was quite cold. But I just had to take my shoes off, wet my feet and freeze them in the process. Once again a wonderful view.
So that's about it for this trip. I have to close with a picture of the kind of scenic beauty that we encountered even as we were driving from one place to the next. Tell me, who wouldn't want to drive in this region?

The drivers are so nice. They don't drive on the left lane unless they want to overtake someone. If they see someone coming a little fast behind them in the left lane they quickly move over to the right lane and give way. I guess people in New Hampshire and Vermont haven't heard of the term 'road rage'! It was amusing though, to see on our return drive - the number of out-of-state cars that were pulled over by the cops! Another thing that they appeared to be oblivious to was 'fast food' joints. I couldn't seem to find a single place - not even a Subway!

Phew!!

2007-06-19T20:03:00.001-04:00

The last 10 days were very busy for me, that's why I have been silent. I did a wee little bit of knitting. I finally got the chance to knit a washcloth. What better pattern to knit than the Ballband dichcloth pattern from Mason Dixon. I was in urgent need of washcloths that I could gift to a very very special lady. So I started this one with yarn I had at home. But I realized that I wasn't going to finish it in time to present it to her because I couldn't possibly gift someone just one washcloth now could I?? I loved this project and you can expect to see its partner/s sometime in the near future.
By the way, the friend I was knitting this for, is someone I have to tell you about. She is this amazing woman who obeyed God's command and she gave up her full time job to provide a temporary safe haven to newborns in transition to foster homes!! So now, that is her full time job. Can you believe it? I am so proud to know her and I am so humbled to see such wonderful people who can give up everything at His command. A truly amazing woman of faith!!

Pattern: Ballband Dishcloth from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Lily's Sugar 'n Cream in Dark Pine and Hot Green - 1 skein each
Needle: US #7
My gauge was way off. Hey its just a washcloth. So instead of the 9x9 finished size, I had 11x8.
Ofcourse if there is a rule that dishcloth patterns cannot be used for washcloths, I broke that too! Pardon me please :)

Finally we had a busy week weather wise too. There was hot, cold and then wet. We had this lovely spectacle treat for our eyes one stormy evening RIGHT outside our door. This was truly one fantastic home delivery.

What is it?

2007-06-06T17:15:00.000-04:00

What is it with husbands that they:

1. Can get excited about the next treacherous terrain to conquer after having just walked on one, but suddenly become weak in the knees when the word 'souvenir' is mentioned?

2. Expect you not to whine when you are asked to pose for EVERY SINGLE snap that they take?

3. Can take hundreds of pictures of you posing alone EVEN on your honeymoon trip, but consider it a sin to ask someone to take a picture of the two of you together?

4. Can say, "Oh your hair looks just fine," after your long tresses were exposed to 40-50 mph winds, but there is no way that they would pose for a snap with their 'messed up in the wind' 4-5 inch long hair?

Crawford Notch

2007-05-31T16:29:00.000-04:00

This is the next installment of our NH trip pictures. We were primarily visiting the White Mountain Region. The Appalachian Trail that stretches across 14 states from Maine to Georgia, passes through this region.
We made our next stop at Crawford Notch to hike the Mt. Willard trail. The trail is a 3 mile trail that probably took us about 2-2.5 hrs to hike. The trail is mainly made of rocks and pebbles that go up gradually. You just have to watch your footing for many a time I almost twisted my ankle in an urge to walk faster :) We met families with kids around 8 yrs of age or older going up this trail. Use of hiking pole or even a long sturdy branch will definitely ease the struggle especially on the kids.
The trails are so quiet and so close to nature, you hear the squirrel scuttling around and the branches swaying in the wind. Hmmmm so peaceful! But when we just began to start wondering whether we will ever get to the top, several folks were kind enough to encourage us. They all promised that the view was well worth and trouble.
Well, we finally saw bright sunlight at the end of the 'leafy tunnel' and we excitedly raced to the finish, if it is possible to race over rocks and stones.
This is what met the eyes on Mt. Willard at an elevation of 2804 ft. No picture can replicate the view or the feeling of awe and amazement that you get when you behold this sight. That teeny tiny road way down there, was the road we had just traveled. What a humbling experience!!
It felt much warmer and less windier here, when compared to Mt. Washington, because of the lower elevation. So we just sat there, rested awhile and drank in the breathtaking sight in front of us from all directions possible. This was the best part of the trip. It still gives me goosebumps!

Later we stopped at Silver Cascade, right beside the road. This one was a very easy hike, it takes around 10 minutes or so. The fact that your destination is always visible to you on your way up helps a lot!!

A little bit of vacation

2007-05-29T23:00:00.000-04:00

At the literal last minute we made hurried plans to go spend the weekend in New Hampshire.
The beauty of New Hampshire obviously lies in its mountains and valleys, its lakes and gorges and rivers. I just love a mountain range that has lakes at its foothills. This combination is my idea of what heaven would look like. There's a calmness and peace that you feel rising up from inside of you at the beautiful creations of God.
I take joy in the cakes that I decorate, the stuff that I knit and the things I do. But time and time again when I step out into the 'natural' unadulterated world, I feel extremely proud that the God who created these awesome natural wonders, is the same God who created me. I really can't help but think what a tiny inconspicuous speck I am when compared to the grandeur and sheer power of these mountains. Yet, of His many creations He calls you and me, the most precious of them all!! I can't even imagine it or try to comprehend the love of this Creator.
So presenting the one of the greatest of God's creations --
[insert my picture here!]
Just kidding.
Let's roll with it.
A visit to NH, isn't really complete if you don't visit Mount Washington. What better way than to take a round trip on the Cog Railway. I am pretty sure that the cog rail is the inspiration for all those bone rattling wooden roller coaster rides. Truly, I prefer this gentle cog rail, started in 1869, to its modern counterparts. I simply don't see why I should pay for a scary nauseating ride when I can get the sights and sounds of nature while I take a leisurely ride up the mountain.

I take my imaginary hat off to the hardworking men who operate the rail (special mention to a young kid named Joey the apprentice). They brave extreme weather and high winds, standing outside the coach during the uphill journey. I tell you, its these kind of people who deserve the multimillion dollar pay checks for they do their job with great love and dedication. They even make most of their own parts and assemble them on site!!

The grand view from atop Mt. Washington at 6288 ft.

Como estas?

2007-05-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

Hello there, I hope everyone is doing great. It's hot out there today so slap on the sunscreen and enjoy the sunshine.
Here's a scarf I knit for a friend of mine. I used the daisy stitch pattern, which is pretty easy. I was hoping that the Patons yarn would form its own color pattern as I knit. Initially I was disappointed for it did not form any color pattern that made sense. But then my skein came out of its amnesia and gave me something similar to the double helix DNA pattern that the Patons yarn formed when I knit the scrunchable scarf. I was happy while it lasted and finished the scarf off before it started having irreparable memory loss!

Pattern:
Garland of daisies
Cast on 29 stitches
Row 1 & 3 (RS) Knit

Row 2 K1, * [P3tog, without dropping the stitches off the left needle, YO, P3tog again(purl the same 3 stitches together) , now drop them off the left needle] = daisy stitch, K1 , repeat from * to end.

Row 4 K1, P1, K1, * work daisy stitch, K1, rep from * , end P1, K1

Repeat rows 1-4 for length desired.

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Rosewood - 1.25 skeins
Needle: US #8

Try to knit as loosely as your sanity will permit. Do not be afraid of the stitch pattern. You will working on it on the wrong side but it will 'bloom' very beautifully on the right side. Enjoy!
Have a great weekend everybody!

Stumbling upon some sites

2007-05-17T16:09:00.000-04:00

Check them out
Some cute animals at
http://www.allknitup.com/blog/

If you love kitties like me
http://mfrost.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/knitted_kitteh.jpg

Some unique yarn creations
http://www.threadbanger.com/post/433/the-top-10-geekiest-yarn-creations-on-the-web

A cheap yet creative solution
http://www.worstedwitch.com/2006/10/22/yogurt-yarntainer/

A few fab free patterns
http://knittingkninja.com/2007/03/03/maude-louise/
http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/?page_id=397

Cool stuff to buy
http://www.peacefleece.com/knitting%20needle.htm

And you thought you were a knit freak!!
http://www.bugknits.com/gallery/mbdolls/

2007-05-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

Dear Mom,
Wish you a happy mother's day! I wish you a happy everyday!

Thank you for everything, for the person you are
For your strong spirit and your strength in adversity.
For smiling through all the struggles - to protect me from all the troubles,
For the tough love and the tender care,
For the many sacrifices you made of your dreams and desires
So that we can achieve ours.
There are few things in life that are more precious to me
Than the knowledge that you will always love me
Thank you for believing in me - but most of all, thanks for being my mom!

I love you!

I got myself treated - no pun intended!

2007-05-09T20:42:00.000-04:00

Yup its true, I finally admitted to myself that I had a problem that needed to be dealt with. Severe yarn deficiency that needed to be instantly satiated with some fast acting 'softgels'.
Dosage: Mix one skein of Gedifera in a yellow fused shade #4508 with a similar skein in a green self striping shade #4669 to make a fabulous scarf. When the effect starts to wear off, most people like to knit socks with Regia Cotton color #5412 . Finally when it feels like a short term solution is not enough, go for a slightly bigger project using 3 skeins of Wendy's cotton purchased at $1 a skein! That should lift you up, atleast for the time being :)
I am not afraid to admit that my favorite colors are bright girly, flowery colors. I loved yellow as a kid and I felt I needed something yellow this season. I didn't really have yellow yarn in mind when I went to the yarn store, but ended up with it somehow!!

It's a new day!

2007-05-08T01:44:00.000-04:00

The day is new and the weather is great!
I see blue skies and happier days,
The birds bring joy and music to my ears-
They sing of hope and joy and love.

The flowers remind me of what its like
To live a life - live it full and well,
If only for a day my life should last;
I shall live and love and blossom for the Lord!

Have a very Happy day!
Its a new day - a new chance at life!

Pooh the Winn(i)er!

2007-05-06T15:18:00.000-04:00

Well, lets start at the very beginning. When Su-Boy was due for his grand entry into this world, I sat and thought and calculated and swatched and knit up a hat. The hat looked great but li'l Su had a normal newborn head that was too small for my abnormally large hat. So I purposed in my heart to knit his next hat just the perfect size. I studied and scoured numerous books and researched as much as a person who gets easily distracted, can actually research. So after 4 months of deliberation - just in the kni(ck)t of time for the first major snow before the impending end of winter, I was able to deliver this hat. But once again it was a little loose for his head, but hey there is always next winter!!!

Pattern: Earflap Variation hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Euroyarns Peru DK Luxury(70% Merino/20% Alpaca/10% Silk124 yds/50gm) 1 skein each in Black and Offwhite. I doubled the 2 colors together to get the gauge.
Needles: US #8, 16 inch circular and US #8 DPNs

I liked this pattern a lot, especially the I-cord tie and the yarn is oh-so-soft!

That's just me..

2007-05-03T16:48:00.000-04:00

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer

You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.
A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.
In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.
You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for.

You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

What's Your Personality Type?

My first fondant cake

2007-05-02T13:55:00.000-04:00

I wanted to make a special cake for someone special. But every time I made a cake, my hand pain came back. Every time the pain returned, I always get more determined to bake a cake! But you do have to be wise. Injured muscles need time to heal. So I chose to do a fondant cake where the stress on the wrist and palm are not as pronounced as when decorating with buttercream icing.
I am so happy with the result. The fondant cakes are part of the 3rd Wilton course that I haven't yet taken. I followed the instructions in the book and I hope you agree that for a first fondant cake it turned out just as I had imagined, very special for my favorite person. I used a 24oz packet of white fondant icing and colored it with buttercup yellow and juniper green. I mixed in the colors till there was a slight marbling effect. I used garlands and fondant balls at the base of the cake. I used a Yellow chocolate marble cake, covered with white BC icing.
Just because I said it seems to be easier than BC icing decoration please don't expect it to be effortless. When you look at the wonderful 'artwork' that some talented women do with fondant, you will understand the hard work they put into it.

Consider This.........

2007-04-25T08:23:00.000-04:00

Press on

Spring time is a really beautiful time. Everything starts blooming, the birds come out in full force, people seem friendlier and knitters knit less and go out more!
I particularly enjoy walking in the morning, with music plugged into my ears. Most times I leave the music at home and then I get bored and cannot wait to get home.
On those days what keeps me going is the anticipation of seeing a beautiful sight halfway through my walk. There is this beautiful garden at my halfway point. Some kind soul has everything from lovely flowers to vegetables planted in his/her garden. There is a little bird bath and a small park bench which I imagine, is used a lot in the evenings. Everything looks so pleasant and peaceful that I cant wait to get there. When I do, I stop for a second and let the sight before my eyes sink into my heart before I continue back home. The sight gives me the energy to get back.
I remember the first day I saw that garden, I wasn't expecting anything so nice at this traffic-ky thoroughfare and what a wonderful encouragement it was!
I think about that garden everytime I need something to lift me up.
It has been over a week since the VA Tech tragedy. My prayers are with all the people suffering as a result of this incident. Most things seem senseless and unfair in our lives, it only sounds sensible to give up on people and assume that we all have to watch our own backs. But God promises a reward for everyone who obeys Him and trusts in Him. His Word encourages us again and again to never give up, to 'fear not' because He is with us.
Whenever you feel discouraged, whenever you think of giving up, whenever you feel that you have reached the edge of the precipice and there's nothing left to do except jump, when you can't take it for even one more millisecond. That is the time to press on. Do not give up! Press on and you will win the race. Maybe this post is going to be the 'garden' that encourages you. So keep going and let God encourage you with His word.
Consider memorizing this passage and claiming it everyday - (change the you's to me's and personalize it)
"For He will give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up lest you dash your foot against a stone" Psalm 91: 11-12

A coupla cakes!

2007-04-24T15:48:00.000-04:00

I made these two cakes this year. One of course is for Valentine's day. As you can see I really didn't have any plans for that day except for having good food and some cake!! I was trying to watch Shall We Dance as I was decorating the cake. I obviously didn't catch much of the movie but I really loved Jennifer Lopez's clothes. They were all so very feminine and flowing! You thought I was going to talk about cake?? This cake has rosettes, drop flowers on rosettes and e-motion techniques. I used half a packet of red velvet cake mix. So the cake was gone in 60 seconds!!

I love this cake and I hope you think the same. I particularly like this shade of green. It is a combination of leaf green and juniper green. I have used the reverse shell border on top, it is my favorite border. So I am always drawn to make cakes that have this border. The flowers are wild roses. I was supposed to make them using royal icing, but I just used stiff buttercream icing and got by with it.

The Power of the Written Word

2007-04-17T14:39:00.000-04:00

I walk in and immediately his face lights up. I think that he is happy to see me, or is he happy to see just about any new face?? I hope that somewhere in the map of his mind, he has given me a prominent place in his land of love. I know for sure, that he does love to share his new possessions with me. I am always invited, with a lot of enthusiasm to get my 'hands dirty' with the new 'gadgets'!

As I sit there watching him, I wonder what he is thinking, because he hardly said anything all these days and now when he does - I am barely able to guess his thoughts. Such people speak in tongues, they say, they speak in tongues that God has given them. Theirs is the language of heaven and one day all humanity will speak that way. But for now God has reserved it just for these 'special' ones (and a few others).

He looks up at me with indignant eyes, makes angry gestures at me and waves his hand around in frustration, when I suggest to him that he might have cheated in the last game we played. I had no clue that he actually understood the term 'cheat'. If he happens to call a truck - a 'tuck' or a car - a 'tuck'; you better wise up to his word definitions or you are bound to 'hear' from him.

As if this wasn't enough, he also understands the power of the written word!! He writes for hours and yet I am baffled by it all. To the unintelligent eye, it looks like the random doodling of a toddler. But I see the possibility of a great future! The hope of marvelous things to come, achievements to be made and lives to be influenced. I see the power to love all freely, give to all generously and embrace all without inhibitions. I see no ego, no prejudice, no misconceptions.

He knows the power he wields, when he makes his creations on his mom's favorite couch, my white dress, or his favorite wall. In the drool-covered crayola spirals of my favorite toddler, I see the power to be all that he can be.
One day I hope and pray that he will be ALL that God meant for him to be!!

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matt 19:14

Please note: The below picture is a failed attempt by the author to depict the genius of the aforementioned young artist.

Of Birthdays and Cakes

2007-04-10T20:17:00.000-04:00

Right after I attended my very first cake decorating class, I took it upon myself to bake cakes for a few wonderful people, I love. The above is the teddy bear character cake that I made YET again. To make it a little bit interesting, for the kid, I added balloons (in case you were wondering what those blue, orange and yellow globs were!!). This is the 2nd cake that I EVER decorated (including the one made at my first class) and I was so so happy when everyone at the party liked it. God is Great!!!

The above joker cake was made to supplement the teddy bear. I don't know how long it take others to decorate cakes, but I usually end up spending 5 hrs just to decorate and clean up. By the end of it I am ready to just slap the icing on :)) When I got done with the two cakes I thought that they looked real horrible. But looking back, I guess I was just too hard on myself.

I don't know how I manage it, but miraculously I was once again making two cakes on the same day. I taught myself the rope border to decorate this cake. I didn't have a plan or design for the cakes so I don't think they reached their full potential. But shown above is one of them anyway.

I have decided to avoid dark colored icing because unless it is chocolate icing, it will take way too long to get to the shade that you want. That's what happened to these red roses. I spent at least an hour and a half getting to the shade that I wanted. So if you can avoid dark icing, by all means please do!! Having said that I love this cake. It was for a beautiful young lady who had just turned 16, hence the 16 roses, red is her favorite color and her name comes from the term 'the Rose of Sharon' from the Bible denoting Jesus.

So that's it for now :)

Consider This.........

2007-04-07T15:46:00.000-04:00

Looking for love?

In this world where everything seems to change all the time - where nothing seems permanent, how do we find love?

What should we do when the one friend whom we thought will never let us down, does?
What do you do when the love that you thought will last forever, doesn't?
What about the child who disappoints? Or the parent who is too critical?

How do you find acceptance among fellow teenagers, when they have already judged you by your race or by your hair or by your intelligence or by the neighborhood that you live in?
What can you do when your father leaves and never comes back?
Or how can you make amends when your loved one refuses to forgive you and give you a second chance ?

Is there any hope to find love? By the way what is true love? How do we measure it, when there does not seem to be a benchmark for it?

There is a very good example for love. In fact it is the only definition of love -

"There is no greater love, than to lay down one's life for one's friends."
-John 15:13

Do you know of anyone who fits that bill?

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." and He is the "Lamb that takes away the sin of all men"

So if you ever think that there is no love in this world, think again. This whole universe was created out of great love and it still stands because of the love and mercy of God.

There are three things that will endure - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love. - 1Cor 13:13

Happy Easter!!

I am.................

2007-04-05T20:48:00.001-04:00

I am a
Violet

What Flower
Are You?

Scrunchie & So So......

2007-04-03T00:06:00.000-04:00

Now My So Called Scarf may have a so so name, but the scarf, or the process of knitting it, is in no way forgettable. The pattern is a simple stitch pattern which can be easily memorized but the wonder of it all, is how the strategic placement of a few known stitches can create the texture that it creates - no wonder that it is such a big hit among knitters. This scarf goes to show that you do not need any fancy lace or cable patterns to create something so fantastic. This scarf measured 4.5 inches in width and I bound off when I reached the end of the skein - around 48 inches.
Pattern: My So Called Scarf
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Harvest 1 skein
Needle: US #9/10.5 not sure
As I knit the first few rows of this scarf, while Mr. PT was driving me to my favorite gardens, I realized that there was a simpler way to do the first row of the scarf. Instead of -

Row 1: K1, *sl 1, K1, psso but before dropping the slipped stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of it

I did Row 1 - K1, *sl1, K1, yo, psso which is the same as the above.

Boy, was I proud of myself! I had truly become a knitter brave enough to identify a task that needed simplifying and changing it. When I went to my knitting group I was able to teach one of our very seasoned knitters, this pattern and even suggested the simplified version, which helped her understand it a lot easier. Well my pride didn't last very long. I went onto Knittinghelp and realized that our dear old Ingrid had already come up with this idea months before I did the scarf. It brought me down to terra firma, but hey I can still pat myself on the back, for they say - Great minds think alike!!

I wanted to knit a scarf, but I wanted to try a few different stitch patterns to see how they looked on this yarn. So as you can see, I knit a long swatch. At the bottom of the swatch is the flying chevron pattern, followed by the seafoam pattern, the daisy stitch and the rib & welt pattern. I did not think that any of them except for the daisy stitch suited this particular color yarn. So guess what? I chose to knit the scrunchable scarf with this yarn because it was for a male subject and I took the safe way out :)) But you have to agree that it looks real good.
I cast on 27+2 for the selvedge to give me a 5.5 inch width and 65 inches in length.
Pattern: Scrunchable scarf
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Palais - 1.25 skeins
Needle: US #8

Cake Walk!

2007-03-30T10:36:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of the cakes I made for Wilton Course 1 and 2. You have already seen my very first cake - which was the Teddy Bear character cake. I made that cake twice within such a short period that I had so much of brown icing left, so I made another cake to use it up. I just thought up a random idea using the drop flower technique and taught myself the shell border to finish this cinnamon swirl cake.

Then I made the Clown cake for the second class. I use cake mixes to make my cakes and French Vanilla is my favorite flavor. The flavor is mild enough to necessitate the need for icing. But for some reason all my friends love the Cinnamon Swirl cakes I make. I somehow feel that Cinnamon Swirl is too sweet to need any additional icing! I usually gobble up the pieces left over after leveling the cake!!

For the last cake in the course 1, I made the Rose Bouquet Cake, sans the lettering, the bow and stems. I placed them in the center and did a shell border interspersed with sweet peas. I used the wrong plate that anyone can ever use to place a cake on!!

The Wilton course 2 was really trying for me. The royal icing I made turned out really runny, and even though I had followed the recipe to the 'T'. I kept adding more and more icing sugar but it did not help my case. One thing I learnt about royal icing, is that it takes colors very well, so a little bit of color goes a long way. We used a different technique for making the daisies and we all liked it better than the Wilton one. I have to say that I had a really patient and good instructor. So here is my Basket Full of Flowers cake.

Planet Earth

2007-03-29T18:27:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow on Oprah, she is going to be discussing her new obsession. I think I know what it is. I am pretty sure that she is going to be talking about the BBC show Planet Earth. This show, is THE BEST nature show EVER!! Seriously, it has amazing visuals (check out some pictures and a 14-minute video on Amazon) and you learn quite a lot about the ecology and especially about the animals. This show just recently premiered here in the U.S. on Discovery channel.

Even if you are not a nature enthusiast, and don't like documentaries, even if you have resolved to watch only one documentary in your entire life, this should be the one. It will not feel like a documentary, but in each frame, you will learn something new about the world we live in. I have to thank Mr. PT for introducing me to this show. He is always trying to entertain me with great stuff.

Just a word of caution, even though I am a grown woman, I felt a little uneasy watching the hunting scenes. They film the predatory animals hunting their prey in the natural habitat. Since the people are just observers, they will not stop to help any animal, because that will eventually harm the ecosystem. I hated those scenes, simply because I wanted and willed every helpless, hunted animal to escape the clutches of its enemy! So those of you who have kids, might want to direct their attention away from the screen at such times.

But all said and done, this show is the ultimate, there are no words to describe it. Watch it and you will know!

Bits & Bytes

2007-03-29T18:26:00.000-04:00

Millions of shark are caught every year, their fins are cut off when they are still alive and the mutilated shark are thrown back into the sea to die a tragic death. Shark meat is not as saleable as the fins, which are worth a lot in places like Hong Kong, hence this heinous act!

My fair LadyE!

2007-03-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

" There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott." - Alfred Tennyson

This is my Lady Eleanor Stole from Scarfstyle knit with Patons SWS in Natural Plum. I thought the above verse from Lady Shalott fits my lady perfectly. I love the colors and I knit this stole night and day, obsessively for about 2 weeks until my hands could take it no more. Well, the truth is, that my hands were under a lot of pressure because of a great combination of activities I was involved in at that time. Unfortunately this was 4 months ago and my hands are still coping, so even though I have only a little way to go with my Lady E, I keep putting her off. Perhaps she has a curse on her?? Nah don't think so. She is just a patient lady waiting for me to pick her up again.

On another note - for those of you who love cats and dogs, here are some cute pet pictures I saw today. Enjoy!!

Things I saw on cyberspace

2007-03-24T23:44:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you a couple of useful/cute sites I came across on the web this week.
The Barbara Walker Treasury Project - a blog where knitters are knitting up various patterns from the treasury books, so that all of us can have a colorful representation of her much beloved patterns. It is for the good of all knitter-kind!!

I did some real random browsing on my Stumble and came upon this really cute and good use for knitting. They are knitting jumpers for penguins to prevent them from ingesting oil. I love animals and this gives me a good excuse to knit something new and different. I'll have to find the pattern though.

I had been wondering why Eunny had not been posting much on her blog recently. Then, we all heard the big news a few weeks back. For those of you who have no clue yet - Eunny Jang has been named the Editor of Interweave Knits magazine!!! Congratulations to her!!

The Namesake

2007-03-23T18:59:00.000-04:00

What makes a good book? Is it the suspense? The drama? The comic situations? To me a good book is one that has interesting protagonists, its always about the people in the book. If there is a common thread of connection between who I am and a character in the book, even better!!
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri is a good book to read. It is like an extension of the last story(The Third and Final Continent) in her first book- The Interpreter of Maladies. For those of us who are not familiar with immigrant life in the U.S.A, this book gives you a small glimpse of it. For all those who have experienced the immigrant life, this book will bring back memories - memories of leaving your kith and kin for a foreign land, of the first windy fall and the first clock change and the first snow!!
The book is like a flashback of events that have happened in my life and the lives of people I know and so I like this book. I do not agree with everything in the book. But I do believe that Jhumpa gives us quite a nice picture of the life of Indian immigrants and the dilemma that the first generation of American Indians face as they are sandwiched between the culture of their parents and the culture of their peers.
I do believe that no matter who we are , what we do and who we marry, it is up to us to keep ourselves satisfied. Joy is a gift from God that comes with the assurance of His love and salvation. There is nothing in this world that can equal that.
So anyway, I read the Namesake last year and I will go see the movie. I hope it is as good as the book.

'Tis Spring!!

2007-03-21T15:43:00.000-04:00

Zechariah 10:1
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.

Bake Decorate Celebrate??

2007-03-20T08:46:00.000-04:00

Watching PBS Create! is a hobby of mine(that is if you can ever call any form of watching TV, a hobby!) I love the cooking shows, makes my mouth water all the time and makes me hungry even after I've just had my lunch. I love to watch Daisy cook. Even though some of her dishes may not be stuff that I would eat because of cultural differences, it always intrigues me to watch her cook with all that energy and vitality. I have tried some of her dishes and they taste real good. Looking at her, no one can even guess that she is the mother of 2 kids and one of them is already in college!! I mean seriously!! I remember reading in a recent survey that Puerto Ricans have the highest life expectancy. I absolutely believe it when I see Daisy cook. The Puerto Rican cuisine plays a major role in their long life. So take a hint everyone!

Other cooking shows I love are Lidia's Family Table, Simply Ming and Everyday Food. Simply Ming is by far my favorite because being an Indian I can relate more to Asian food and actually try out some of the dishes. For simple cooking its Everyday food all the way. This is one show where Martha Stewart has bet/invested right. Another show that has become quite a favorite is Jacques Pepin. He is an interesting man with some useful tips and ideas.

Of course I travel the world with the travel shows and enjoy the sights and sounds of beautiful countries. I LOVE Bob Ross' Painting. I just love that show. I know the man is long dead and these shows are old tapings but hey, I am sure glad that they are still telecasting it.
Does this post sound like a marketing pitch for PBS Create? Well it just might be, you never know :))

Anyway the point of my post today was to talk about a show called Bake Decorate Celebrate on PBS. So as is my usual routine especially on quiet weekends, when I have a splitting headache, to watch all the different PBS channels, I was flipping the channels when I caught two ladies making some Wilton style decorations on Create. I was soooooooo excited. I didn't move. I just sat in one place and watched the show. When the program ended I looked to see what was next and imagine my surprise when I realized that they were running only this show on this particular day from morning to night!!!

Mr. PT came to the sad realization that I was pretty much going to hog the television that day and thanks to the commercial-free format of PBS, he didn't have a hope of getting his f(oot)inger in on the remote. Ha Ha ! I begged him to make this huge selfless sacrifice and I thank God that he obliged. Mr. PT is a generous man.

So I made myself comfortable on the couch, got myself a few refreshments and painkillers on standby, trusting that Mr. PT would provide the rest if I happened to run out! I watched and I watched for 3.30 hours and taped another hour:))

I watched - two women, being a little tense with each other. One of them didn't know anything about decorating and the other obviously is not a seasoned TV host. The tensions did run high, but I just loved to see them actually demonstrate the stuff that I had personally learned at Wilton cake courses.

Then I went to the website and saw all the experienced cake decoraters bashing the women on their forum!! Most of the women who do cake decorating for a living take it very seriously and boy can you see it reflected in their work!! But to their credit I think the women have at least made an effort to try to teach us something on the show and I am sure(hope) they will improve as time goes by, ESPECIALLY the cake decorating part really does need to improve.

These shows seemed geared to give an introduction to decorating, but my advice to viewers would be to learn the decorating part from somewhere else because the deco.'s are not done properly on the show. The other thing was the fact that they did not have very many new ideas. almost all of the cakes they did were already in the Wilton course books and their other publications. Maybe I am expecting too much??

I found a few things amusing- the ladies usually sneaked up a look while they are decorating to probably check the timing or something and they are not aware that the other cameras are still focussed on them. There is definitely a lack of communication between the cameramen and the women. The women need to be able to identify which camera is focussed on them in order to maintain their decorum and the cameramen need to know when to focus on which part of the cake, to get a shot of the method being taught. So that is possibly an area for improvement.

But overall I have to give the ladies the benefit of the doubt. I don't know how my body language will be if someone was filming me for a local show which had the possibilities of becoming a national show.When we decorate we do so in the privacy of our homes and have the opportunity to redo stuff and we certainly do not have someone standing over our shoulders telling us we still needed to shoot 4 more shows!! Even though most of us might love to hear that said to us, I don't think its an easy thing to do. So good luck to the ladies and I hope they try harder and do a better job.

So after all this talk of cakes here is my first cake from Wilton Course 1. I made a character cake and I was really impressed with myself, when I got done. I did not in the least expect it to turnout the way it did. For beginners, well defined character cakes are the easiest to do, in my opinion. Look for character pans that do not need anything too fancy and you will be surprised at how nice the cake will look just with a star tip and a few color changes!!

On Blogging

2007-03-16T22:18:00.000-04:00

Although my profile might indicate that I have been a blogger since 2005, my blog will clearly show you that I do not have much to show for the past few years. Except of course I spend most of my free time reading blogs. Mr. PT registered me for blogger, but I was kinda reluctant to air my views on such a vast portal of communication. I put up a couple of posts and then didn't bother. But finally thanks to the encouraging of Mr. PT and my R- friend I have recently started posting my work, here.
So I was really intrigued by this news article that I came across about blogging.
I feel awed that I have actually joined a rather talented community of writers.

Marissa Marissa...

2007-03-15T22:03:00.000-04:00

Here is the very first top I knit for myself. I wanted something to wear in the summer, so I picked Marissa from Hot Knits I felt it will be good and simple knit and it was. Very straightforward and fast. I had some trouble with getting the right gauge so I frogged at least 5 times as far as I can remember! I wanted my first knit to be perfect. After all that frogging for 2 weeks I finished the pieces in 2 weeks and then it took me a lot of motivation to pick up the pieces and seam it up. Then the weather changed so I figured I didn't really need to weave in the ends until spring :) Am I lazy or what!!
I have to add that the picture doesnt do my Marissa any justice. YES I am lazy to take another picture but when I do I promise to update this post.
Pattern: Marissa from Hotknits by Melissa Leapman
Yarn: SRK Butterfly Super 10 Mercerized Cotton in Green - a leeetle over 3 skeins
Needles: US #5 & 6

I am...........

2007-03-07T20:45:00.000-05:00

Take the Quiz here!

I took the poll and I was smart enough to rig it in such a way that I ended up as Liz Bennet :) Haa there you go....
Just kidding, but I am glad that I am my favorite Jane Austen heroine. I love Elizabeth Bennet.

My dear love

2006-11-11T18:31:00.000-05:00

I knew you even before I met you.
I heard of you and knew that you were the one for me.
I was ready to pay the price to make you mine.
I did everything in my power and then I waited.
I waited and waited hoping that you would come to me.
Everyday I wakeup hoping that this would be the day that I would finally get to see you.
Every voice outside my door, every knock makes my heart leap, it makes me run to the door with the anticipation of seeing you.
Yet days have gone by and you haven't come.
Why do you tarry my love?
Why do you hesitate?
Do you doubt my love for you?
Are you unsure of how I might handle you?
Do you just want to come and go?
I am looking for a life long relationship, if you are looking for 'no strings attached' then I am not the one for you.
You can expect a lot of devotion, I will stare into you for hours and hours on end.
You will never leave my side, who knows, perhaps you will always sit on my lap!
Take my invitation my love and come on home quick, you know my address - it must be stuck on top of the package that you are in.
I have to start my lace project for Lacevember, so you better get here FAST!!!

Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf

2006-10-21T22:33:00.000-04:00

I wanted to knit something using Noro Kureyon. I just love the colorways of that yarn. It is so beautiful. Having a weakness for anything with a shade of blue in it, I got 3 skeins of Noro in color 52 several months ago, on a day trip. I remember fishing out the yarn every now and then just to look at it and think of a good project for it.
I initially had this bag by Amimono in mind when I bought the yarn. Or I could have always made a Booga bag. But Mr. Pani Thuly lovingly reminded me that I already had 2 felted bags+ a felted UFO that I haven't yet told you about and hinted to me that may be, just maybe, I was getting crazily obsessed with felting.
Then one of my very dear friends was moving away and I figured it was a good excuse to make a bag, NOT FOR ME, but for my dear dear friend. I even started Amimono's bag but unfortunately my friend needed help with moving, more than a knitted gift. So I sadly put down the bag and went out and got her something cute and ready made :( .
I didn't have the heart to frog the bag, I determined that when I did find some good pattern, it will lessen my misery. So one day, I was minding my own business surfing the net and reading other people's blogs, when I came across the multidirectional diagonal scarf. I was hooked, or rather should I say needled.
This pattern is perfect for self striping yarn. It uses short rows so it takes awhile but there is no joining of pieces or anything, and the torture that it could add to finishing (if you know what I mean). I have received several compliments for this scarf. Thanks Karen for the lovely pattern.
So there you have it - my very own multi. scarf. Actually its Mr. PT's, but hey there IS such a rule that if the gifter and the giftee live under the same roof, the object of desire can be amicably shared. Isn't that the 'well-meaning' motive behind knitting something for your better half??
Pattern: Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in color #52 - 3 skeins
Needles: US #8

On another note, you should try Amimono's bag its cute and simple.

Talking of pretty dresses

2006-10-07T20:12:00.000-04:00

I made this delicate lacy dress for my S-girl. It is by far my most favorite project. I loved the climbing vine lace pattern which made the whole knitting process interesting and yet not too difficult. It is an easy pattern - once you get past the bottom edge and the neck edge. There is a 'make bobble', which for people like me who knit tight is a bit of a challenge, but after you finish that, its smooth sailing throughout. I let the blocked pieces dry overnight and the next day morning, I started sewing up the seams as soon as I got out of bed and finished it in 3 hours. I loved the way the garment looked after I blocked it and finished it - which is a main reason for me enjoying this project so much.
I made one change in the pattern, I left out the huge bobbles because bobbles and toddlers don't sound like a great combination. I realized that after I finished one row at the bottom edge with bobbles.
My pretty S-girl looks even more prettier in it!
If you go to Amazon you can even see a picture of the cute baby wearing this dress and hat.

Pattern: Pretty Pink Baby Set in Knitting Year-Round published by Better Homes and Gardens
It is actually a set complete with hat, cardigan and dress - I just made the dress.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Orchid - 2.5 skeins
Needles: US #6

Of happy layers

2006-10-05T21:21:00.000-04:00

This is the trellis scarf made out of lion brand trellis yarn. I have made several of these scarves for young girls and for the young at heart!!
Pattern: Cast on 14 sts or however many you want. Its usually on the back of yarn label.
Yarn: Lion Brand Trellis in Stained Glass (my fav) . I have also used Night Life. - 1 skein
Needles: US 17

I made this scarf for dear L-friend to match with the hat I made for her.
Pattern: Cast on 10 sts and work in garter stitch
Yarn: Lion Brand Jiffy Thick & Quick in Green Mountains- 1.5 skeins
Needles: US #17

My mom wanted a hat with ear flaps to protect her ears against the wind and the wind chill. So I used a pattern from the Knitting Year-Round book, but just with monochrome color. My mom felt warm and her ears felt much better this winter.
Pattern: Peruvian Cap from Knitting Year-Round by Better Homes and Gardens
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver in Soft Navy.
Needles: US #7

I made these socks, my first, quite some time back. I wasn't very confident that I could do it but I was pretty amazed that with a little bit of reading and rereading the instructions and with valuable help from my Experienced Knitter Friend (EKF). I knit one sock and it languished for a few months without its mate. But I finally did get around to arranging the meeting for these two lovers. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the happy couple together before I sent it off to a great relative.
Pattern: On the back label of Magic Stripes yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes in Purple Pattern
Needles: US #4 DPNs

My constant companion

2006-10-04T21:10:00.000-04:00

When something is so useful that you carry it around wherever you go and use it for all kinds of purposes - whether to carry your knitting projects+knitting books+water+anything that can be stuffed into the bag, to carrying books to and from the library then it is justified in calling the bag a constant companion. What an apt name for a nice bag.

My bag is larger than most constant companions - I didn't check gauge, used a bulkier yarn and I did not really worry about getting the exact size because, lets face it, its not like I was going to wear the bag. The bigger the better!!!

This was yet another fantastic knitting experience. Felting projects seem to really thrill me. The original design has pouches you can put on the outside of the bag. I did knit the pouches(not in stripes, just doubled the yarn), but I put them on the inside because they wouldn't have gone well with the stripes that were going on outside. I made one big pouch, 2 medium size ones to store stuff like tape measure, blocking pins etc and one narrow long one as an emergency place to store knitting needles.

Pattern: My Constant Companion in Knitter's Stash
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in Plum and Cotton Candy - 4 skeins each
Needles: US #11

My very first scarf design - Vairam

2006-10-03T23:59:00.000-04:00

I knit this scarf for a very dear person. She is a wonderful woman whom I really love and admire. I literally consider her my adopted mom/friend. I have seen her go through a lot in her life with quiet dignity and I knit her this scarf to tell her how much she means to me.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Worsted Weight in Fisherman - 1-2 skeins. I wanted to knit this scarf in pure wool and did not read the label carefully so ended up with a yarn that had more wool in its name than its fiber!!
Needles: US #8

Pattern: Adapted from Barbara Walker's Treasury

Cast on 34 sts

Make a 3 ridge garter border

Begin pattern as follows:

Row 1 (WS) and all odd rows purl

Row 2: P3, K11, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K11, P3

Row 4: P3, K9, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K10, P3

Row 6: P3, K8, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K9, P3

Row 8: P3, K5, [K2, K2tog YO]twice, K1, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K8, P3

Row 10: P3, K6, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K3, [YO SSK K2]twice, K5, P3

Row 12: P3, K8, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, YO, K2tog, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K6, P3

Row 14: P3, K9, YO, SSK, K2, YO, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K2, K2tog, YO, K8, P3

Row 16: P3, K10, YO, SSK, K2, YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K9, P3

Repeat rows 1-16 till you get the desired length.

Finish with a 3 ridge garter border and bind off. Add a fringe if you like and enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen Presenting...............

2006-10-02T22:06:00.000-04:00

Here are some more of my finished objects:

I knit these baby mittens for my cute little Su-boy. I used a pattern from a very old book I found at the library.I ~~don't~~ remember the name of the book - Knitting for the Family by Carolyn Carr
Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun in Lily White - 1 skein
Needles: Dont remember! Probably size 6 or 7

While hunting for yarn, I came across this pattern on the yarn label and I fell in love with it. Ok maybe I fell in love with the cute little baby wearing it. Come on who doesn't succumb to temptations that come in small bundles?
Pattern: Softee Baby Jacket. You can find it at Bernat.com but you have to register.
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in Prettiest Pink - 1 skein
Needles: U.S. #6

All the above hats are made using the same pattern - Gusto 10 Rolled Brim Hat. I have made several more using the same pattern because its a 2 hour quick and easy pattern!
Pattern: Gusto 10 Rolled Brim Hat
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick in Navy, Charcoal . Jiffy Thick & Quick in Ozarks.
Needles: U.S. #15, 16 inch circular.

Right now I am not in a position to talk about these blankets. I am traumatized by simplicity, boredom and hours and hours of garter. I hereby declare that I will NOT EVER reproduce this pattern. I have already done it too many times to mention. I made them for some very lovely moms-to-be.

Pattern: Easy Baby Blanket. I am sure this is a free pattern floating around somewhere, because it was a word of mouth pattern given to me, so I am going to give it to you anyway.

Cast on 5 sts.
Row1: K5
Row2: K 3, YO, knit to end.
Repeat Row2 till you get 144 sts or however many you want.
Just a hint to determine what size you want, at 144 sts you have completed half of your blanket.

K2, K2TOG, YO, K2TOG, Knit to end.

Repeat above row till you get to 7 sts.

K2, K2TOG, K2TOG, knit to end.

Bind off and gift to a tired yet grateful mom.

A similar one is available at the Lionbrand site. Its called Baby Love Diagonal Baby Blanket.
Yarn: Mainstays Crafts in Pale Blue and Baby Mint 10-12 oz., Red Heart Giant Multicolor in Girly Print - 1 skein
Needles: U.S. #11 circular

This was meant to be a new born hat. But the little one was too little for it at that time. He did wear it later on though.
Pattern: Who cares!!
Yarn: TLC Amore in Sand & Fantasy Yarns Cashmere Luxury Chunky 3/4 skein
Needles: No idea probably US 8 (I was trying to knit tight to get the gauge I wanted)

Felting

2006-10-01T20:58:00.000-04:00

I first encountered felted knits when I went to the Knitting Convention organized by TKGOA. Before I talk about felting, just a little bit about the convention experience. If you haven't been to any knitting convention before, you should try it. But I do have to warn you that it is not for the faint of heart or the easily tempted! It would help to have a list of things you REALLY need(not want!) and a fixed budget, because believe me you are going to go over your budget by ATLEAST a minimum of $50.

The joy of meeting knitters who are different one from another in innumerable number of ways is truly something that every knitter should experience. You will meet the wise, the seasoned, the young, the novice and everyone in between!

I felt very conscious when I first stepped into the Marketplace but slowly the love of knitting took over and pretty soon I was running behind a lady to find out what pattern had given her the nice bag she was carrying. She was carrying a My Constant Companion tote. It looked real fab.

Then we (I was with a few friends) stopped by the Breast Cancer Society booth where they were knitting a huge banner of sorts (I think). We decided to contribute a little, so we too took up the needles and knit for a few minutes. Even in that simple act, I learnt little known facts about breast cancer and had my first encounter with some smashing Addi Turbos. I am a staunch bamboo needle knitter and was quite surprised at my attraction towards these, of all things, metal needles!! I had to get some Addis.

I wandered through the numerous booths and it looked like my yarn fantasy had just become reality. There are no words to describe the lovely yarn and especially the beautiful glass buttons and glass knitting needles that I saw at the convention. I was still a yarnling at that time and my what an eye opening experience it was. It was like a crash course in yarn.

I wisely decided to look at all the booths and then decide what I really wanted. That's when I walked past the Kraemer yarns booth and my eyes rested upon the beautiful Romantic Ruffles bag. I knew that I just had to knit this one. So I picked up 3 skeins of Mauch Chunky in Kiwi. So I got a few Addis and the yarn. It was just my luck that the very next day Mr. PT and me were going that way, so I sweet talked him into stopping by to pick up some more needles. So what was my budget for that first convention visit? Zip, zilch, zero, nada. I had officially gone over my budget. Hey it was bound to happen.

I have to say that to this day I still remember that joyful feeling I had throughout the time that I knit this bag. It was really very quick and I just could not wait to felt it. For a quick tutorial on felting go to Knitty.

This is how my romantic ruffles looked before felting:

This is after it got its extreme makeover:
Pattern: Romantic ruffles bag from Kraemer yarns
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in Kiwi - 3 skeins. I used a little over 2 skeins, I knit tight, but my friend who knits loose, did use some amount of the 3rd skein.
Needles: US #13, 16 inch circular needles

Creation!

2006-02-07T22:33:00.001-05:00

I used to wonder why God created us. In my darkest and saddest days, especially I have thought a lot about this and asked God. Then one day I learnt to knit.BINGO!!
My EUREKA moment, my AAHAA moment, my OPRAH moment!!
Now isn't it obvious.
Why do we create things? Why do we make beautiful, magnificent things?
The ultimate power in this world is to create something beautiful with your own hands!!
Would you have asked Van Gogh why he paints? Or Beethoven why he made such wonderful music?
Would you have asked the cuckoo why it sings? Or the peacock why it breaks out into its beautiful dance?
Wouldn't you rather just sit back and enjoy the moment of splendor, instead of going into the why's and the why-not's?
Do not ask God why He created you. Your purpose is to enjoy the art of His creation and to spread His love on earth.
However you can ask me why I knit :)
I knit because I love it. I knit because it gives me joy in overcoming challenges and creating things with a piece of yarn!! I knit because I like presenting loved ones and charities with handmade gifts of love.
But most of all -I knit because I can!!!

Shown above is the Blue Bayou sweater I knit for my dear one - Mr. Pani Thuly . This was my second project that I started right after my poncho. But it underwent a couple of froggings of SEVERAL inches, because I was either knitting too tight or too lose as I was carrying the contrast yarn in the back. So I needed a break from it and did not pick it up until the next cold season.
Pattern : Blue Bayou from Family Circle: Easy Sweaters
Yarn : I knit it using good old Red Heart Supersaver 3 skeins each of Light Blue and Soft Navy
Needles: U.S. # 8 36 and 16 inch circular

Early beginnings

2005-07-23T21:59:00.000-04:00

When I walked into my local craft store, I was looking forward to signing up for a crochet class, because that's what I wanted to learn and I was already trying to teach myself using a book. But (un)fortunately they didn't offer any, so I settled (or so I thought) for the knitting class. Boy, am I glad or what!! I have loved every single moment of knitting ever since. Be it the simple therapeutic garter or stockinette stitch or the lovely lace and cable, I love the whole package. If you want to know what its all about go on out and sign up for a class at your local craft store or check out the knitting resources on this site.

Here are a few (read - all) of my earliest knitting endeavors.

This here that you see, yes that humongous poncho was my very first creation! Even though I call it ugly names, I am still very proud of it. And would you believe me, if I said that I actually wore it OUT a couple of times?? Yup that's the complete unadulterated truth. Although no one can pay me enough to wear it out again, I don't regret having worn it in the past.
The poncho was knit in 2 rectangular pieces and joined together and given a single crochet edging. So there you go, I even got to do some crocheting in my very first project.
Pattern: A combination of patterns that my knitting instructor concocted.
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver - Color Aran Fleck (3 skeins) & Bernat Soft Boucle - Color Black (1 Skein)
Needles: 10mm - Size 15, 36 inch circulars , 10mm crochet hook.

This scarf is my best friend on cold windy days. I am a person who feels cold and hot very quickly, and this scarf keeps the wind chill at bay. Even though I wouldn't recommend a beginner to use Homespun that's what I used to knit this scarf and it was the first scarf that I made.

Pattern: I cast on approx. 32/42 sts. whichever gave me a 12 inch width and around 72 inch length. I like my utilitarian scarves to be just that - utilitarian.

Yarn: Lionbrand Homespun- Color Shaker (3 Skeins)
Needle: I think U.S 10 1/2

This was my second knitted item and my very first 'design'. I just bought the yarn and the needle and knit it in garter to the size I wanted and finished off with some single crochet. They are placemats in case you were wondering. I was going to knit four of these for a great loveable person, but I was so bored with the garter that I stopped with the second one. (you know what i mean right?). There's only so much garter that even a beginner can endure!!

Pattern: Cast on 50 sts and till I got a 7x12
Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream - Color Summer Splash & Lime green shade for the edging.
Needles: U.S #9

This scarf was once again my own design. It was my 3rd project ever knit for my dear one. I don't have anything to say about it, because this one was and unfortunately is a loser FO. The yarn shads like crazy. I knit it with Patons Divine and God only knows what I was thinking when I picked out the yarn!!!
Pattern: Non-existent
Yarn: Patons Divine - Color - a light blue and a white shade. Yarn was doubled.
Needles: U.S. #10 1/2

I love this scarf that I made for I-friend. I had to do a lot of combing as I was knitting, which was tedious. But this one feels nice and soft.
Pattern: In my head
Yarn: Bernat Fur Out - 3 skeins of Groovy Green
Needles: U.S. # 10.5

This is a one skein Homespun scarf made for S-friend. It was meant to be a quick and easy project and so it was. Will I ever use homespun again? I might, inspite of being acrylic, it is soft and very very very DURABLE.
Pattern: Cast on to to get 5 inch gauge.
Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun in Metropolis
Needles: U.S. # 10.5

This is a 7x9 inch patch I knit for a charity blanket. I tried out a lacy pattern and it was fun. I apologize for the blurred image.
Pattern: In my mind
Yarn: TLC 3Ply Ultrasoft in the shade Claret
Needles: U.S. #9