Maurice Murphy - Last Day in Ireland

Well I've dragged my feet on this long enough so today I bring to you Maurice Murphy's last 2 days in Ireland.

Picking up from this last post, we left Killarney and headed north. We made a couple stops along the way as we headed towards the River Shannon. We were making our way toward Galway.

Along the way we stopped at a sheep farm where sheep and land owner, Brendan Ferris lived and worked. We were privileged enough to watch some professional sheep herding!

I realize this might not sound too exciting for some folks but I was tickled. Maurice was confused. He didn't understand the concept of herding but was very excited to meet some of his long lost relatives.

"Oh, hello. I'm Maurice Murphy. Do you fancy my bow tie? Want to share a spot of grass?"

The herding was quite impressive. There was a very steep hill that the sheep would climb at their own pace but when Brendan Ferris the Sheep Herder Extrorinaire blew his whistle the boarder collies fled into action prowling the sheep this way and that. They zig zagged all the way down until Mr. Ferris blew his whistle again!

You can see in the photo above just how agile these dogs are. They practically fly when they run!

It was quite chilly on this day and while Maurice was enjoying watching his relatives transition from lazy grazing to terrified spurts of herding he needed some comfort. So Husband picked him up and positioned him safely under his arm so Maurice could continue watching the trials (where the dogs could not get too close).

We left Mr. Ferris' farm and made our way to what was suppose to be a Skellig adventure, however the waters were too rough and the fog had settled so we made our way through the gift shop instead and the Husband found himself a wind instrument. After I had purchased my Irish tokens I walked out of the gift shop and found the below image...

Someone was taking his new hobby very seriously.

After the lack of Skellig experience we got back on the bus and headed towards our next adventure, the Cliffs of Moher! Just before we arrived our tour guide stopped the bus at a pull-off location to allow us to stretch our legs and take in some of the beautiful landscape.

Maurice Murphy told me that after our last sheep visit he was not too keen on getting off the bus for a while so we left him stay on the bus as Husband and I left to stretch our legs and see what there was to be seen. While the landscape was beautiful I was taken by some of the residents.

This man played the accordion wonderfully and created such a permanent image in my mind that I will always remember him sitting there, singing his land's stories, staring blankly as tourist crossed his path.

This will also leave a permanent image in my head. I got to hold a baby sheep for the first time ever. There was another local resident sitting on the side of the road by the bus stops. He held the lamb in his lap, a tiny pup sat next to him and on the other side of him was a baby deer. They looked like they had all had a rough life but together they were a little family. I gave him some money and he let me hold this little lamb who could not have been more soft and warm.

Finally we boarded the bus and headed towards our final destination for the day, the Cliffs of Moher. Maurice Murphy was very excited about this stop! He had heard the views were breath taking and the weather was looking sunny and warm.

You might not be able to see it in the photo above but there is a small castle in the distance. We eventually walked over to this castle. Just to give you some perspective though of how large and how expansive the Cliffs are.

Again, the Husband and I lectured Maurice on the safety issues at the Cliffs and that it would best if he stuck by us and did not wander off on his own.

Maurice promised to do as instructed and so we made our way to the castle (see it in the background? It's getting closer).

Here we are at the castle. Turns out it was not as big as Maurice Murphy had expected but still, he was very impressed by the view.

And so our adventure with Maurice Murphy ended. He now lives with us back in Ol' Baltimore which he agrees has its own charm but will never compare to Ireland.

Happy Knitting!

Its a Wrap!

On the last day of the 2011, in the final hours of the day I wanted to make sure I posted my knitted gifts.

This year I managed to produce only 4 made holiday gifts but its the quality that counts, right?

This year's gifts were as follows:

An Ear Warmer for my Be Fri (that's best friend if you don't kno

w the lingo)

The pattern is The Whitney by Jennifer DiMaria. Be Fri had seen this ear warmer in a local trendy store and said she wanted one. I of course scooped it up for closer inspectio

n only to find out that the pattern looked fairly simple. And indeed it was, but thankfully I didn't have to worry my pretty little head with details and was able to find a similar pattern already written out on Ravelry. (*sigh, I <3 Ravelry)

A warm and fuzzy Christmas Cowl for Mamasita

She did not ask for this but I saw the yarn and thought it looked liked something she might wear. I also saw the pattern on a recent trip to A Tangled Skein. They had the same cowl already knit up and displayed by the yarn. I have to admit this was a selfish knit. I just really wanted to play with the yarn and knit the pattern, gifting it was just a nice little side effect.

Koolhass Hat and Mitts was for the genius boy

The last two items I knit were for my handsome and all "grown-up" little brother. Let's be honest, even though this year he techinically became legal to drink and that according to the state he is now 100% responsible for all of his actions and purchases (yet, still cannot rent a car) I had to put the "grown-up" portion of my previous statement in quotes because the reason I knit this kid a very nice hat and fingerless mitts was because the genius put the 100% wool mitts I made him 2 years ago in the washer and then (knitters cover your ears) the dryer! He might be bigger than me, he might be stronger than me, he might even be smarter than me (if you consider a 21 year old applying to Ivy League schools for a Ph.D. in physics smart) but "grown-up"? Not more than me, no. I would never do that to yarn.

It was a wonderful handmade holiday full of family, friends, laughter, and some very nice knitting books I received!

What will 2012 hold I wonder. Perhaps some color work!

Happy New Year, Knitters and Crotchers!

100 Things about Me (5 years later)

In June of 2006, I was 25 and wrote a '100 Things about Meeeeee' post over at my old blog, YarnCoffee. At that point in my life I knew two things for sure, I loved yarn and coffee and thus my blog title was born. I switched over to TheKnittingType in January 2008. In 2008 I also met my now husband, I lost my beloved cat, and officially decided that going out to bars to meet people/guys was pointless because all I ever did was hang out with my own friends and scream at them because it was TOO LOUD! I was getting older, perhaps a little more mature (I still laugh when I or someone else farts, let's not get too reflective), and I was changing.

I'm now 30 and just today, remembered that once upon time, roughly 5.5 years ago, I created a list. A list of 100 things that I thought I knew about myself. So, I thought it would be fun to revisit this list! To see what I wrote, to see if and how much I've changed.

Ok, here we go!

1. My favorite colors are blue and purple. (Ok, this one is still true but I also love mauve)
2. I don't like to wear purple but I do wear a lot of blue. (I do like to wear purple and blue, and gray and mauve!!!)
3. I have a cat named Bobi after a friend who died when I was fifteen, her name was Beth. (Bobi passed away in 2008 and is greatly missed. But I know have two adorable kittehs named Chalie, after 'Chalie Bit my Finger', and Spartacus)
4. I have fallen in love twice. (This is still true. Since meeting my husband I have reassessed what I thought I knew love was. I know believe that I have fallen in love twice, once with Hubby and once before)
5. I love to travel. (still true!)
6. I have traveled outside the US three times. (Thanks to my awesome honeymoon in Ireland, this is now four times)
7. I question faith, destiny, religion, and spirituality. (I hope this is always true)
8. I believe in faith in people, manifesting destiny, and finding spirituality. (yes)
9. I am an only child. (sort of)
10. I am the second old child. (Ok, so here is the deal. I am the only child born to my two parents when they were together. I am a step child to my step father and step mother, a step sister to my older brother and younger sister, and a 1/2 sibling to my little brother. I have known all these people since I was 5 years old so to me there are no steps or halves, there is only family and this is mine)
11. I am a sister, an aunt, and daughter. (And now a wife!)
12. I love irises and Gerber daisies. (This is still true and I used both at my wedding. I also lurv Dahlias!)
13. I hate the smell of beets. (Still true, I don't care what anyone says beets are the devil's food)
14. I cannot stand hearing the word "moist" pronounced. (yup, gross, don't say it)
15. My step parents names are Ken and Barbie. (so funny and so true!)
16. I love to dance. (I do! I also love yoga)
17. I grew up taking ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance classes. (this has no changed, haha)
18. I was on my high school Dance Team. (indeed I was)
19. I'm about to move into my very first, very own apartment! (Obviously, this is not a current statement)
20. I have about 5 friends who know me better than most. (I would say that I have three friends who probably know me better than most and I have known them since 3rd and 7th grade. Hi Bridget, Gretchen, and Emily!)
21. I love to dance in the kitchen while cooking. (yes, I do! I also like to listen to audio books on my IPOD)
22. I like cleaning. (Ok, this has changed a little. I really used to take my Sunday, later morning, and do a quick 1 to 2 hours cleaning session. I had this cleaning method down pack and my home always looked neat and tidy. Now I live with a boy and he is messy and never picks up after himself. So I have concluded that I enjoy cleaning up after myself and despise picking up after him but do for my own sanity)
23. When I do clean I like to turn music up to an obnoxious volume and sing loudly. (Because I no longer do my 2 hours of cleaning on Sunday mornings like I used to I kinda just clean as I move through the house and unfortunately don't play the music. But you know what? The 25 year old version of myself was right, cleaning is a lot better when the music is blasting, I shall make it a point to do this! You go girl!)
24. I like to read some fiction. (yes, and non-fiction, and yoga journal, and blogs, and facebook status messages
25. I don't really like sci-fi although i do love Harry Potter (books) and the Lord of the Rings (movies). (um, sure. I don't think really matters in my life anymore though)
26. I LOVE wine. (yes I do!)
27. I LOVE Burger cookies (Baltimore specialty). (yes!)
28. I leave candy wrappers tucked into sofa cushions. (I have really cut candy out of my life but if I had not this would be true. I probably leave other things in couch cushions now.)
29. I leave half drank cups of coffee in the microwave (thanks, Mom). (and tea and measuring cups)
30. I'm learning to cook. Haven't killed anyone yet so I think I'm doing well. (still no one has died, good job me!)
31. I last skinned my knees when I was 11, my mom took a picture as a keepsake. (yup)
32. I am not athletic. (my coordination skills have not changed, nor has my lung capacity so yes, still true)
33. I throw like "a girl". (probably worse than a girl)
34. I can speak in multiple accents. (yes!)
35. I don't crush easily. (I'm sure what the 25 year old version of myself was attempting to define about herself by this statement but the 30 year old version of me has no idea what I was trying to prove. I crush very easily! haha. I love to love things, people, animals, colors, movies, songs, etc. Silly girl)
36. I am in touch with my emotions. (yes)
37. I like math. (I liked algebra and geometry, they made sense to me.)
38. I do not like grammar. (grammar is inconsistent and makes no sense to me)
39. I do like poetry. (yes!)
40. I am the 2nd woman in my family to go to college. (This is dumb and not true. I think I was misinformed when I wrote this. Many woman on both sides of my family have gone to college. My grandmother did not go, my mom did, and so did I. So I guess that means 2nd in that little family)
41. To hide from the world's ugly reality I watch TV on DVD (no commercials). (haha, this is kinda true, but now I have cable and a DVR and still don't watch the news and FF through commercials)
42. This is hard. (not really)
43. I love live music. (yes, in controlled environments when I have a seat. 'old'!)
44. My favorite two instruments are the Saxophone and the Harmonica. (and piano and violin)
45. I once had a pet cat named muffin, I came home from school one day and my dad told me he had thrown my cat out the window because it was a farm animal. I was dumbfounded. (we lived on the 1st floor of the apt. just fyi)
46. I cannot wiggle my ears. (true)
47. I used to hate the taste of pickles and coffee but loved the smell. Now I like the taste of both. (yes)
48. I read before bed. (yes)
49. I tend to say inappropriate things at the wrong time (funerals, weddings, birthdays, etc.) (I also overshare. What? You did not want to know ...)
50. I am 1/2 this number. (not anymore)
51. I used to take violin and piano lessons. (haha, maybe that is why they were not listed as my favorite)
52. I tend to quit things I don't enjoy doing. (I've since learned to power through rather than quit but I will still walk out of a movie, concert, venue, or event if I don't like it)
53. I have moved at least 9 times. (I have moved a total of 18 times, and that does not include packing up and moving in and out of dorms)
54. I have lived in 2 different states. (yes)
55. I have lived on 2 different coasts. (yes)
56. I have lived in 2 major cities. (yes)
57. I once told someone I was a professional job hopper. (yes and have since added 5 more jobs to that profession)
58. I have been at my current job for 2 years. (I stayed at that last job for 4 years. I have been at my current job for 1.5 years and love it!)
59. I am a free spirited, type-A person. (right and left brained, its very confusing in this head)
60. I go with my gut. (And question everything) (*side note: I'm 1/2 this number!)
61. I tend to put all my eggs in one basket. (yes)
62. I over analyze people. (yes :/)
63. I'm impulsive. (yes!)
65. I lived in (not in them, I camped and survived on them) the mountains for 5 days, slept under tarp, hiked miles, rocked and boulder climbed, repelled...I'd do it again. (go me!)
66. I have one tattoo (yes)
67. I do not like spicy food. (I now like spicy and warm foods, bring on the peppers and the cumin!)
68. I will always opt to eat Italian food when given a choice. (Not really, too many carbs, too much dairy, etc. Now I really like Thai and yummy vegan dishes)
69. I'm not very political, I do pay attention. (this is still true)
70. I do vote. (yes!)
71. I sometimes wish I was a little more selfish. (yes. I have a problem saying no to people when I really need to take time for myself. I get myself all stressed out by doing this and then snap)
72. When I was a little girl I used to keep pet worms. (yes)
73. I've never broken a bone. (still true!)
74. I've never been stung by anything. (still true!)
75. I hate my calves, I call them "mamajama beaters". (it makes me giggle). (I've learned to accept them. They are not so bad, they are just meaty)
76. My mother will always know me better than I know myself. (yes)
77. I love popping bubble wrap, it relieves stress! Try it. (yes!)
78. I like Garfield more than Snoopy. (yes)
79. I often have to bug my family and friends to read this blog (who else will I wonder?). (yes!)
80. Hershey Kisses are my favorite chocolate. (yes, I have a bag hidden in the house right now)
81. I have 6 aunts named Mary. My grandma Mary named them. (my mother is also named Mary)
82. I don't believe in Heaven or Hell but have a sneaking suspicion that reincarnation is possible. (yes)
83. I make snap judgments but try to be open minded enough to know I could be wrong. (still true)
84. I want to go skydiving but not bungie jumping. (yes)
85. My all time favorite candy is Necco Valentines Candy Hearts. (yes)
86. I don't believe that Valentines Day should be for lovers. I think it should be for family and friends, those are the people you sometimes how much you love, appreciate, and need in your life. (eh, I have enjoyed spending it with my husband, its the one night a year he cooks!)
87. I am Anti-MySpace. (I broke down and got a profile just before Facebook took off. I don't have one anymore)
88. I like Independent Films. (yes)
89. I think God Father III is a joke. (yes)
90. I have freckles. (in the summer)
91. I never knew I was a dog person till we had to put our family dog to sleep. (yes)
92. I will one day own a dog and two cats. (I have 2 cats, and am working on the Hubby for a dog. He says once we have kids to take care of it. LOL, silly husband)
93. I procrastinate. (doing it now!)
94. I own a 6ft tall wooden giraffe. (yes)
95. I start projects and put them down for months, sometimes years at a time. (yes)
96. I have a problem thinking of 100 things about myself. (not really, I'm quite interesting,right?)
97. I am right handed. (yes)
98. I give all animals I see a personality by talking in a funny voice that I think would suit them if they could speak English, then I name them...All of them. (still do this)
99. My most favorite person in the world is my little brother. (for always)
100. I value friends, family, and my relationships with people more than work or schooling. (yes!)

Man, I cannot believe I did not mention anything about knitting. Thank you for reading!

Happy Knitting

Killarney and Such

I can't believe i'm still blogging about my honeymoon that happened almost 4 months ago now! But I told myself that I would blog the adventures so I don't forget and if it takes till next year I'm gonna do it! (bare with me there are only 2 more posts about it after this one, i promise!)

So, once we finished up at the Blarney Castle we boarded the bus and continued on our journey towards the Killarney Towers.

I diligently continued work on my Wispy Cardi (at this point it was not complete, remember this all took place in June and I finished the sweater in August). Don't think from the photo above that I did not spend hours upon hours gazing out our bus window and taking in all of the scenic landscape my eyes could gobble up, because I did. But you know, after 2 hours on a 4 hour bus ride you kinda get bored. (shhhhh, I didn't say that. I loved every minute and want to do it all over again!)

When we got to our hotel Husband and I were thrilled that our room was lovely, big king size bed, jacuzzi hot tub, we even had bathrobes, a bottle of wine, sparkling waters, and slippers waiting for us. Although quite parched and eager to drink the wine I hesitated insisting we inquire with the front desk before opening it. I'm American, they'll charge you $40 for a $10 bottle of wine if you just move it in your hotel room in the states! But the woman at the front desk told us it was a honeymoon gift and there was no charge. Yippee!!!!

We opened the bottle and tried on our bathrobes. And after just one glass my sophisticated and serious, never silly, Husband did this:

Yes, the belt of my bathrobe is around his head, a la Karate Kid. Actually, now that I think of it, he very well could have done this before we started drinking the wine.

Apparently the robes, slippers, and upgraded tub were also courtesy of the hotel for our honeymoon but we didn't find that out till later when we asked our fellow travelers how they enjoyed their robes and tubs! Whoops!

We had the night free to explore Killarney, so we gathered up all our money and hit the town!

Irish coinage!

...then 30 mins later we found ourselves back in our hotel room ready to sleep. Its a lovely and quaint town but we were exhausted. We had after all visited Blarney that day and gone sweater shopping.

The next day was to be full of sheep herding demonstrations and so much more!

Maurice went to bed quietly, quite exhausted from day, dreaming of all the adventures left to come.

Happy Knitting!

Wispy Thoughts

Does anyone mind if I take a moment and brag? I didn't think so!

I have now completed sweater number 2 this year! (Actually, at this point, its sweater number three but I'm not read to post about that one yet. Just sayin.) I set out with a goal of starting and completing Hannah Fettig's Wispy Cardi before my honeymoon started. Unfortunately a little sheep, who shall not be named, got in my way and I did not end up completing the cardigan till I returned from my honeymoon. But I finished just after I returned and other than blocking it in a my slightly smelly basement I am loving this quaint little cardigan.

Unfortunately this photo shows it falling off my shoulder a little much.

It actually fits better than it looks in this photo.

Pattern: Wispy Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace Weight Yarn
Needles: US 4 and US 6 circular needles (love my nickle plated interchangeable circs from Knitpicks)
Review: I really enjoyed knitting Wispy. The yarn was light like cotton candy and although it was lace weight the needle size was big enough and the sections were small enough to complete that I didn't feel like any particular part dragged on foreeeeeever. I guess the only question now is do I make another one? I bought two kits!


Happy Knitting!

CartoonYarn

Nothing makes me giggle more than garfield, unless maybe he is sitting next to talking yarn!

How to Pick a Sweater

How does one pick the perfect sweater? To knit? To wear? To buy?

This is the question I was faced with when Husband and I visited the Blarney Woolen Mills. Part of our day trip to the Blarney Castle was then stopping to shop at the BWM. It was a knitters dream and delight. Aran sweater galore, knit hats, knit mittens, knit scarves, and yes, oh yes, yarn! Donegal Tweed, Raw uncolored Merino Wool and much more!

Husband was so patient with me letting me know, "This is your time, I'll hold the camera, we have an hour, go!"

I was off!

"Hmm, maybe this one? Nope!"

Even though I had an hour, which in normal people's time would be plenty to try on a few knitted garments and make a decision, I was fretting over what I might miss by being given ONLY an hour! I wanted to try on every option, crew neck, turtleneck, cardigan, little cables, big cables....

...greens, purples, creams, grays...

Did I really want a sweater? What if I missed out on something? Oh, a caplet, what about a caplet?!?

Could I get a scarf and a sweater? Could I get one of everything? And more importantly, did they sell the pattern with the sweater?

In the end I chose this beauty. I liked the big cowl collar, the large and center cabled motif on the front and back, and the tight looking checkerboard style knit sides panels.

I discovered its important to know which Aran sweater feels like your own. Which one, if you did have a family Aran design, might have been yours. This one spoke to me and then I bought it...and some yarn ;)

Happy Knitting!