Knit Two Together

Racing - again.... let me know when you're sick of it kay?

I promised a good racing story for this post. Sometimes pictures are just more efficient than words, especially moving pictures. This video is from the last race of the 2008 season. Remember, I drove a dark orange car with the number 69A on the side....

Hehehehe!! 

Now the answers to your questions:

No, I wasn't hurt. Not really anyway. I did have a most impressive, truly BLACK bruise on my left arm from shoulder to elbow and that arm was pretty sore for a good week. My chiropractor was a wee bit put out with me when I told him about it, but he straightened me out and I was good as new.

The car? Totalled.

Scared? Not a bit. I was seriously MAD about it! Those of you who know me, know my favourite word and I made full and loud use of it the whole time. Things like this happen in slow motion and you have a ton of time to think. First I was angry about getting spun out - again (was an unusually rough night on the track due to the presence of some inappropriately competitive people). At the top of the slope I sat there for a good 5 minutes wondering how the hell I was supposed to get back on the track. Actually, when the roll started I was happy - cause that seemed like a good way to get down. Then it seemed like I didn't have enough momentum and was going to stop on the roof, which pissed me off again because I'd have to hang there upside down in the straps until the rescue guys could flip me over again. Fortunately, I kept going! Finally wheels down on the track, still holding the steering wheel in both hands, first thing I did was gun the engine to see if it was still going! YAY! Not only wheels down but engine working - back in business!!

Yeah...no. The extremely concerned firefighter man and the equally concerned track safety people explained that my car would never race again.

If you can't win, lose spectacularly!

I drove off the track under a red flag (everyone else stopped in their tracks) right past the packed grandstand to a standing ovation!!

For more video and lots more pictures, including this year's stuff please visit our team website: NEKKIDRacing 

Next time I'll try to have some knitting content on this formerly knitting blog. Let me know what you think of the racing stories.

Oh.... last night.... finished 2nd in the first heat then got slammed hard into the wall right at the start of the second heat race and broke a tie rod. Out for the night. That's racing folks!

And what have you been up to?

Ten months is quite a lot of time to try to review.

Let's see.... where did I leave off?....

Oh yes! Claimer Car Racing. The September race was incredible! Wheels flying everywhere, minor crunching, spectacular crash avoidance skills, pumpkinheads who thought they knew it all....

There I was... racing in 5th position in the main event of the night. Africa's sitting in 3rd and set to move up when WHAMMO!! He throws a wheel halfway through turn 4 straight at the guy driving in 4th. Both of them spin out in the middle of the track while the wheel flies off into the infield. I (using my newly acquired mad driver skillz) somehow manage to squirt through the hole between them unscathed. Now then.... Looking pretty fine... 3rd place up nice and close on a yellow flag while they clear the debris Africa's car and the one he took out. Around and around a few times.... then the flagman signals 1 to go then 3 laps - green, white, checkered.

Something inexplicable happens next. The two cars in front of me, both driven by experienced drivers from the other local track, both of them PULL OFF THE TRACK!! WTF?!?!? and it takes me until I'm coming out of turn 2 to realize that HOLY SHIT I'M IN FIRST PLACE AND THERE ARE ONLY THREE LAPS TO GO AND THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE IS GETTING PAST ME!!!

You can bet I had my eyes glued to that green flag and I jumped on the gas the instant it dropped. No idea who was behind me or how close and I didn't care. The only thing that counted was getting around that track 3 times as fast as possible.

They said they could hear me screaming and howling from the stands as I pulled off the track. Hehehe... I was a little ecstatic.

They had a trophy presentation ceremony and everything!

What an amazing memory! Second time at the track and I have a trophy for winning the main event. You bet I'm hooked!!

Next post I'll tell you about the last race of last season - there's video you have got to see but I need to figure out how to do that first.

And what have you been up to?

Ten months is quite a lot of time to try to review.

Let's see.... where did I leave off?....

Oh yes! Claimer Car Racing. The September race was incredible! Wheels flying everywhere, minor crunching, spectacular crash avoidance skills, pumpkinheads who thought they knew it all....

There I was... racing in 5th position in the main event of the night. Africa's sitting in 3rd and set to move up when WHAMMO!! He throws a wheel halfway through turn 4 straight at the guy driving in 4th. Both of them spin out in the middle of the track while the wheel flies off into the infield. I (using my newly acquired mad driver skillz) somehow manage to squirt through the hole between them unscathed. Now then.... Looking pretty fine... 3rd place up nice and close on a yellow flag while they clear the debris Africa's car and the one he took out. Around and around a few times.... then the flagman signals 1 to go then 3 laps - green, white, checkered.

Something inexplicable happens next. The two cars in front of me, both driven by experienced drivers from the other local track, both of them PULL OFF THE TRACK!! WTF?!?!? and it takes me until I'm coming out of turn 2 to realize that HOLY SHIT I'M IN FIRST PLACE AND THERE ARE ONLY THREE LAPS TO GO AND THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE IS GETTING PAST ME!!!

You can bet I had my eyes glued to that green flag and I jumped on the gas the instant it dropped. No idea who was behind me or how close and I didn't care. The only thing that counted was getting around that track 3 times as fast as possible.

They said they could hear me screaming and howling from the stands as I pulled off the track. Hehehe... I was a little ecstatic.

They had a trophy presentation ceremony and everything!

What an amazing memory! Second time at the track and I have a trophy for winning the main event. You bet I'm hooked!!

Next post I'll tell you about the last race of last season - there's video you have got to see but I need to figure out how to do that first.

The Prodigal Knitter returns...

I haven't blogged in 10 months. At times I've missed it. I've missed the writing and the reflection required to write something worth someone's time to read. I've missed playing with pictures and having a reason to take them. I've missed feeling like I am part of a larger community. At the same time though, I've been busy. I took a new teaching position at a new school and have worked harder than I ever have before. I got onto Facebook and Ravelry, both of which are enormous time sucks. I still knit of course, but even that has somewhat slowed. Right now is the start of a new racing season and yes, I have a car and will race again through the summer.

So why come back?

I'm busy. I have a ton to do, all of the time, always. It's not like I'm lonely or bored or bereft of contact.

In fact I am blessed with the most incredible friends in the world. Friends who love me for me, who understand and accept my faults and challenges and who value my skills and talents. Friends that I have most willingly given a place to live in my heart.

My friend Africa left a comment. He said, "I miss the blog." and I realized something.

I miss it too.

This is me racing!

READY...



















SET ...



















GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!






















































THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!




















How did I do?

In the first heat the track was pretty sloppy as it had been watered both to control the dust and to help it to pack properly. I started at the back of the pack and finished there too but really didn't mind. Coming over the lip and onto the track was scary and my heart was just pounding!

For the second heat they flip the finish order; last place gets pole position. I ran the first 3 laps flat out and in the lead until the better drivers caught up and a couple passed me. On about the 7th lap I blew a front tire but, never having blown a tire before in my life, had no idea why I was suddenly fighting for steering control. Undaunted I finished the race, and then some, never knowing that the yellow flag was for me! My amazing pit crew shook their collective male heads at me, muttered about not being able to save the tire and chewing up the track, put on a spare and got me ready to go in the main event.

I had some trouble with my 5 point safety harness and was late getting to the line up for the main event but the officials waved me onto the track anyway with a huge grin and shouted "GO GIRL!" for the newbie chick. The starter held off on the green and I caught up to my place, at the back of the pack. Determined not to finish last I really did my best to follow a smooth line and keep my foot to the floor. I had passed at least a couple of cars when the yellow flag went up - my friend Africa was in the wall and the tow truck was pulling him back to continue. Once the green came back he was racing again and had blown past me in the straightaway. Without warning his front end collapsed and a wheel went bounding 30 feet into the air! As he said, if you can't win then at least lose with style! Africa ended with a DNF in the main event, but maintains his substantial lead in the season points. Meanwhile, I was still racing and managed to pass another car when the green came back. The checkered flag came all to soon and I'm quite positive that another lap (or two) would have given me another position.

According to friends in the stands, I finished as the 8th car. However, there were several disqualifications (including the arse that put Africa into the wall) which had a big impact on the final standings. The official record will say that I finished in THIRD PLACE in the main event on my very first race day!

It won't be the last!

This is me.

This is me. (Pardon the cleavage... ahem...might as well flaunt them since I have them)

I am 44 years old; my birthday was earlier this month.

I am a veteran teacher with 20 years of classroom experience.

I am the mother of 3. You may know them as the Boy, Goofy, and Dragonsdottir.

I have been happily married to the same wonderful man for 18 years.

I am blessed with friends who know me and love me for the person I am.

I am a compulsive knitter.

I am a beginning spinner.

I am spray painting a car orange.

It's kind of a special car.

Those are fire holes in the hood.

Africa and a couple of his gear head buddies took a few days off work to build it for me as a birthday gift. He considers it fair trade for birthday socks.

 

This is me.

 

Rocky Mountain Raceway Park
Tonight
Gates open at 6:30.
Racing starts at 7.

Family friendly. Everyone is welcome.

(It can get pretty dirty - bag your knitting.)

Midsummer

The days are still long, the sun is bright, work is still distant enough to be ignored (although not for much longer)and I am genuinely happy.

So far, with pictures...

(you know to click the pics to see them bigger right?)

I cast on for the Aleita Shell (Bonne Marie/Chicknits in the Spring 08 IK) using the recommended yarn, Plymouth Yarns Linen Isle which I got on sale from Elann. I used the wrong size needle for the ribbed bottom but figured what the heck until I discovered (several inches later) that I had also missed the "join to knit in the round being careful not to twist" part of the directions...

  I went on a bit of a yarn crawl with my friend Melissa and Dragonsdottir (who was wonderfully well behaved). This pile of gorgeousness was discovered. It begged to come home with me.

I think it's merino (lost the tag) and it's a beautiful multi-coloured roving with strands of greens, reds, yellows, and blues blended into a copper base.

Melissa gets the credit for discovering Legacy Studio in Cochrane, AB.

 Also from Legacy....

Yak Down

dehaired, combed, ready to spin

Very very soft....mostly I pet it

I do love the exotic fluff!

Baby Camel Top

Luscious.

Again, for the petting right now until I have practised the spinning enough to do it right.

I cast on again for Aleita. Used the correct size needles on the ribbing AND remembered to change sizes when I got to the stocking stitch part. Linen Isle is quite nice to work with. It doesn't seem as hard as a 100% cotton yarn and is easier on the hands but it does tend to shed little strands of coarse fiber which I assume come from the linen part. Easy enough to pick the pokey bits out as I knit.

On the left is a truly enormous pile of llama fluff and on the right is asssorted bits of wool, llama, and alpaca to spin with. Lots of fiber to experiment and practice with. The other night I picked up my drop spindle for the first time in quite a long time. I was converting teaching my friend how to spin. Dragonsdottir joined us with her cd spindle. My spindled singles are so much more evenly and tightly spun than anything I produce on the wheel. I think I may just go back to spinning BFL on the drop spindle for a bit until I get the feel for it in my fingers again.

I took Aleita with me everywhere. Around and around in stocking stitch. No brain knitting other than remembering to do the waist shaping.

The Boy went to summer camp with Air Cadets. I took Dragonsdottir and Goofy to see the "Graduation Parade" in Penhold. It was like being in a time warp. 30 years ago I was a young cadet going to Basic Training summer camp at Penhold.  As far as I could see the only thing that had changed was the paint on the barracks.

The Boy, Dragonsdottir and I had a little road trip and went to Medicine Hat to visit with some friends and watch the drags. They're fun, but get a bit repetitive if you know what I mean. The Boy managed to catch this shot despite the delay on my digital cam.

I finished Aleita!

Still 3 weeks of summer left to enjoy. I've started knitting birthday socks for my friend Africa and there's at least 2 baby sweaters to make. My knit bud and I have our own little surprise exchange going too, but she reads this (Hi Bryony!) so no clues here. I hope that you are enjoying these lazy summer days, saving up lots of solar energy so you don't freeze up solid in February, smiling, laughing, and taking joy in the light.

Me? I'm dancing in sunshine....

She Spins Too...

Oh yes... The Baynes has been getting another workout and is such a happy wheel because of the attention.

This is the merino batt hand-dyed by Denny at Lettuce Knit which I bought on my trip to Toronto (Hi Toronto Knitters!)
Actually, it's two bats. One was a fairly evenly dyed deep turquoise blue, the other a fairly unevenly dyed batt of shades of turquoise and white. Denny explained that she'd used it to exhaust the dye bath. Fair enough. I decided to separate each batt into strips about a thumb wide and to alternate them in my spinning. The hope was that it would produce a variegated yarn that would have shaded areas rather than blatant stripes.

I'm still working on this spinning thing. I took one lesson on hand spindling the summer before last. That's it. I think this is somewhat underspun as a single, although I don't really know what I'm doing wrong there. The plying seems ok but that's probably because I don't know what I'm looking at. I would like to take a class that would show me how to adjust the wheel properly (I'm just guessing as I go) and would love to have a spinner give me pointers on technique. I'm sure that with some experienced eyes I could be making a nice consistent sock yarn in no time.

Meanwhile, this is a perfectly knittable yarn in a perfectly beautiful shaded turquoise that makes me think of sunlight on a perfect pool. The skein is about 235 yards of about dk weight and I think it would make a perfectly lovely lacey scarf.

What do you think?

Next time: Llama, Llama, Llama!

Flutter Sleeve Cardigan - Modelled

I replaced the camera batteries and recruited the husband as photographer.

Really happy with this project!

And now for something completely different...

Summer is for lace knitting. It's the only time of year that I have enough open hours that I can concentrate hard enough to actually knit lace. It's not the knitting that I find difficult; it's the charts. I don't track well and following grid lines and symbols is tiring and taxing for me. I stick to simple patterns that I have either a hope of memorizing or at least being able to predict. When I went to Toronto I picked up a ball of Noro Kureyon Sock in a colourway that made me think of parrots in the jungle. While I struggled with the Flutter Sleeve Cardi I continued to eye the Noro. It was just to pretty to be socks. A Ravelry search revealed some gorgeous Swallowtail Shawls done in Noro Sock. Really really pretty!

I opened the ball and made it into a skein on my niddy noddy. Mr. Noro, you make pretty colours. Then I soaked it, gave it some pretty solid thwacks to teach it some manners, and let it dry. It helped to kill the curl, removed some VM, and went a long way toward softening this somewhat coarse yarn.

Once it was wound onto the cake I could see that there are about 3 colour repeats in this skein. That's good to know because it will help me to gauge how much yarn I have left as I knit the shawl. See what I mean about the jungle parrot?

I'm following some very good advice and knitting this from the outside of the cake. Pulling from the centre tends to result in tangles and glops of yarn.

Here is attempt # 5 (I think) Somehow I get to 3 repeats and end up with one too many stitches on one side or the other. I don't know what I'm doing wrong however, I have mastered the cast-on technique. Attempt #8 is currently waiting it's punishment and is about to be frogged back to the lifeline I started inserting after each successful repeat. Perhaps #9 will be the charm and I'll be able to fork up the next repeat instead?

This yarn is quite slubby in places and very thin in others. Part of what some consider the charm of Noro I guess. I'm using 5mm KnitPicks and I'm happy with the overall look.

Next post: She Spins Too!