First Day as a Telecommuter

Today was my first day of working at home.*  My perks include:

• Zero commute: just roll out of bed and cruise down the hall.
• Superior break room: not only does my kitchen have anything I want for lunch, it also includes my family to enjoy lunch with. I played Rock Band during my break with my son, then took the dog out to the yard to play ball for a few minutes.
• Quiet: almost too quiet.  I found myself singing out loud to myself.  I've had to train myself not to talk to myself out loud at work so I wouldn't disturb my co-workers. I don't want to unlearn that skill!
• Music: I can play my music out loud instead of having to wear headphones.  Which could be a cure for the previous perk.

I got a lot of work done, but I did miss my co-workers.  My office assistant kindly helped me out by coming over for a pat periodically.  

*Actually Friday was my first day, but it's a bad memory.  I couldn't get my laptop to connect wirelessly.  The fix involved some highly technical shenanigans that included resetting my router. 

I couldn't remember the router's password and so I called Jim at work to ask him if he could remember.  Then my eldest son said that he and his friend had reset the password and he explained that the reason was because they could never remember the password.  "Well good!" I exclaimed "What's the password then?"  His response: "I forget."

And.... Switch!

I had a very exciting week.  I've been hired full-time at my job in Waterloo!  Yippee!!  And the best part is...  I get to work part-time from home!  I just have to be in Waterloo on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Fortunately, we've a spare bedroom just waiting to be converted into a home office.  Here's my new workspace:

Notice my office assistant?  He's going to be very happy to have me at home.  Oh, of course, some other people might be pleased too.  Maybe Jim and the boys,  my extended family and possibly the London knitters.

Oh, I'm just kidding!  If they're half as happy as I am the grins will split their faces.  Look out London!  I'm back.....

Dang Hot!

It's been too hot for much of anything this past week.  Too hot to steam block, but I did it anyway, for all six panels of my Lizard Ridge blanket.  I didn't want to wet block it and leave it home to dry all week in the care of my husband and teen-aged boys.  The steam block worked just fine and it was quite the thrill to see how the Noro softened up and how the panels looked flat with all their glorious colors on display.

It's been too hot to seam a wool blanket, but I did work up two seams anyway.  I love mattress stitch, but this is a bit fiddly because I want the waves to line up.  Plus, there's the yarn I carried up the edge confusing things a bit, and some of the colors blend to the point that there are no waves.  Only three more seams to go, but I'm waiting for the cooler weather.

It's just too hot for the Lizard Ridge blanket.  KnitTech wanted to know how long my Lizard is.  Ahem.  It's long enough to satisfy me, but I think Jim would like it to be longer. 

So what does a Canadian knitter work on during the sweltering mugginess of an August weekend when she wants a little fun? Cat mittens by Jorid.

Oh yeah!  That hit the spot!

And, if you'd rather see some hot lace, go check out the new pattern by FishyKissKnits. Lace and beads and colors, oh my!

The Knitting Phase is Over

The past three weeks at work have been intense.  On Friday I finished up the last bit and I told my co-worker it felt like a load off a guilty conscience.  Similarily, in my knitting I worked this weekend to finish up the knitting on my Lizard Ridge Blanket.  I like how it looks as a mess:

But all laid out, and even unblocked, I can see the potential there just waiting for me to unfurl it.  No worries about ugly strips, they all go together beautifully.

I've been puzzling on how to block it out for sewing.  A full on wet block would be proper and correct I think, but a quick steam with an iron would be faster.