I have a friend that’s OCD and has a very good attitude about it. She’s been talking to me about her therapy and her particular issues, and I’ve noticed that aside from the fact that I have a remarkable number of her symptoms myself, the Jays I’ve been feeding are OCD.

Although in the end every single peanut gets taken without exception, they can’t seem to be content with the first one they pick up. They hold it for a second, set it down, and find something better. The funniest thing, though, was when I put a handful of peanuts out and arranged them in a perfect circle. Although there were multiple birds taking them, they took them in a methodical and symmetrical order.

To the end.

I’m not joking.

It was eerie.

And hysterical.

The birdfest continued all day yesterday. I identified a female Annas hummingbird, although there were many others. We have Dark Eyed Junkos. A flicker performed some crazy acrobatics trying to eat out of my hanging feeder.

I love it.

I probably could have gotten a bit more knitting done yesterday if I hadn’t been quite so enthralled by the birds, but I did finish the heel flap and turned it.

(Ooooh, bathroom floor….)

I’m excited to start striping again.

Our shower door was delivered and installed today. And there’s a problem with it. Of course. Honestly, how could there not be? It’s been months. And months. This bathroom will never be done. A tile guy was out again today to do “one more thing”. You know, a month ago I might have believed it. But at this point, I don’t.

I’m going shopping this afternoon for light fixtures for inside the shower. It’s the last thing “fingers crossed” that we have to get. But our new handles still might not work, so I can’t bank on that one either.

We’ve been watching the wildlife this morning. I’ve had a couple red-breasted nuthatches, dozens and dozens of at least two kinds of chickadees (chestnut backed and black capped), numerous hummingbirds I can’t name, a couple squirrels, and several Stellar’s Jays on our upper deck today, right outside the large windows in the living room. Our upper deck isn’t very big. Maybe 20 feet wide and 7-8 feet deep. So they’re right there. It’s been so cool.

I went to Wild Birds Unlimited last week to pick up more seed for the nuthatches and chickadees, a hummingbird feeder, and to get some peanuts for the stupid squirrels so they’d leave my seed alone. I didn’t know that Jay’s eat peanuts. In their shell. Lots and lots of Jays and peanuts. It’s been so much fun. Clark loves to watch them.

I’ll try to get some pictures.

Conference was fabulous over the weekend. I was sorry it had to end. I didn’t get a lot of knitting done, because Clark had to be held, but I did get to the beginning of the heel flap on Abigail’s stocking.

That last row on the needle is Evergreen. I like how it’s turning out so far, but I’m hoping it doesn’t end up looking too sophisticated/grown up. It is for an 8 year old, but she’s a very serious 8 year old. I’m hoping that once I get a little more color going in the foot, and the snowflake on, it’ll lighten up a bit.

This past week started out very well. I did treadmill Monday, weights and PT Tuesday, and went for a walk on Wednesday. I don’t remember what happened Thursday and Friday to keep me from exercising, but I didn’t. I ate pretty well until Thursday night, when I ate too much thai food, which seemed to be the start of a self indulgent downfall. But I still feel good.

How was your week?

And there are beautiful pictures up on her site. We’re SO happy for her!

I apologize for this entry being so late in the day. I did not make efficient use of a bit of free time this morning, and I’ve been gone ever since.

Danielle M says, “I have 1 of my stockings done, but I’m not to happy with the way the toe turned out…I was running out of yarn, so I had to end it just a little short. As such, it badly, badly needs to be blocked, too. I’ll try to email a picture of it for Friday’s KAL.”

Darra says, “My update: Turned the heel last night on the second stocking and will close the toe tonight. They will probably be lined on Sunday, since tomorrow is hubby’s first day off in a week :)”

Brandy had a question this week about knitter’s graph paper. I had Nate make some up for me once, so my Superman would be proportionate once I knit it. (If you’re lost and don’t know what I’m talking about… when you map out a design to knit on regular graph paper, the squares on the graph paper are perfectly square. Knitting isn’t perfectly square, so the design usually looks wider and shorter than you want it to).

A kindly reader pointed me in the direction of this site which will map out paper to your gauge, and give it to you in .pdf so you can print it. And it’s free. Very kind of them, I do say. I think I’d pay money for that.

Jenifer wanted to know more about the heel stitch I mentioned in an earlier post, and I posted a response in the comments. And now I’m wondering why I put it in that post. Her question was the next day.

Poor Amy Lu received her kit (that’s NOT cheating, BTW), and realized she didn’t have the right needles, so she’s waiting for yet another internet order to arrive. My heart’s with you, sister. That sucks.

And Carrie has frogged the smurf! (You are welcome to copy anything you like, dear. I don’t care. I’m going to post my pattern here at some point).

Anyone else have anything?

I’ve started Abby’s stocking.

This weekend is our Church’s General Conference. That page isn’t particularly informative, sorry, but basically, it’s a satellite broadcast in which the Prophet and Apostles and other Elders of the church, as well as the presidencies of the women’s organizations (who are women) give inspirational and instructional talks discussing scripture and doctrine and how to better apply it in our lives. It’s a total of 5, 2 hours sessions over Saturday and Sunday, and it happens twice a year. To the non-religious, it probably sounds grueling, but I really enjoy it. Plus, it translates to lots and lots of knitting hours. I’m quite excited. Provided Clark cooperates somewhat.

Sweeeeeeet! All that’s left of this one is to knit the i-cord to thread through the cuff casing to hang it by, and to block it. Which needs to be done. It’s kind of rough, I’m guessing because it’s worsted weight yarn knit on size 6 needles.

Abigail’s snowflake stocking is started. I’m about 3 or 4 rows into the cuff right now. She picked out the snowflake pattern she wants at a yarn store awhile ago. I’m just using the snowflake.

As for today, if all goes well, I’ll be painting my bathroom. But first, I need to get dressed and go and get paint. I’ve also been thinking about picking up some fake turf or something to make a bunch of putting greens with. We want to set up a portable mini-golf type thing in the house for grins and such. Anyone have any experience/tips for me? I have no idea what I’m doing.

More stocking to show.

I finished the knitting part of Veronica’s stocking, and now I’m stitching the Christmas tree, evergreen tree, whatever kind of tree it is over the top. Here’s my chart-

I had originally planned to do a large tree, and one or two little ones, but I think it’s going to end up being just one tree, mainly because I’m running out of space. But I’m pretty happy with how it looks. I haven’t had much luck with duplicate stitch in the past. A couple things I’ve learned? Work from the top-down. Make the stitches a little loose. Work in sections, and plan your path before you start. Lastly, at least in my experience, the base knitting needs to be rather tight and firm.

Nate fixed it so I can upload pictures this morning, but I still can’t update my sidebar. I’m anxious to show a few things.

This is Veronica’s stocking, as of Friday. I decided to do use heel stitch on the heel, even though it isn’t necessary since it isn’t going to be worn. I’ve always liked the look and feel of heel stitch, and I think it looks great on the stocking, which I want to look like a sock anyway.

The floor in the background is our new bathroom floor as of Friday as well. It was finally grouted on Thursday, and when this picture was taken, the grout was still damp. So it is much lighter now.

They still need to seal the stone, and I’m not sure when that’s going to happen. The fixtures will go on after it’s sealed. Our shower door and mirror get delivered and installed on Friday. We need to paint… so it’s going to be at least a week before we can start using our bathroom.

I was finally able to pick up another set of circular needles for Olivia. She’s been impatient to start her own stocking, and now is very happy.

I’m letting her pick her striping colors. I think hers is going to be wild and colorful. Just like she is.

Good morning. It’s lovely out, and I’ve gotten the older two off to school. Veronica is eating breakfast. I’ve eaten a shake…. I think I’m going to go for a walk.

No exercise last week, but I got a lot done in my house. It looks pretty nice, and has been reduced to the status of “cluttered”, as opposed to the “site of mass destruction” that it has resembled since our floors were redone. So I’m happy with that. I ate well last week, until last night. I’m happy with that too. I’m back on track this morning. I feel good, mostly, but I’m not going to get into that.

How did you do?