New Jewelry

Here are my newest earrings

Sterling Silver Wire and glass teardrop.................. Gold filled wire, crystals annd beads wrapped

beads in two sizes/colors ...........................................with gold filled wire

gold filled wire, crystals ............................................silver shapes, dichroic glass beads

resin flowers........................................................... keishi and coin pearls

Simple shapes added onto ear wires

My newest bracelets

gold end caps, crystals and gold spacers .................olivine, aquamarine and clear crystals

my own design - glass crow beads .........................russian spiral with sterling silver end caps

silver leaves and Amazonite

Silver Beaded Earrings

Here are a pair of earrings I just finished making. They're a gift and the prompted hubby to ask if something like that could be sold online. LOL I can hear the wheels in his heads turning.....

I brought the kids to the airport this morning to leave for the summer with their dad. He used a different airline than he had been because the tickets were cheaper. But, when I got there they informed me that my two youngest were considered unaccompanied minors (which they weren't on the other airline) but the oldest couldn't be considered an accompanying adult so I had to pay a $100 fee for it. He'll pay me back, but it's a good thing I had money! To charge a fee like that on top of the ticket without stating so when the ticket is purchased is just bad business. His economy fares turned into not-so-economy.

So, in short, don't fly Delta/NWA. Southwest is MUCH better all around.

Jewelry and Lampwork Beads Part II

Here is another bracelet I made. It is another "Under the Sea" bracelet but this one is made with Purple and Turquoise beads for Em.

Here another pair of earrings I made. They're simple, but I like them.

These are the rest of the Lampwork beads I made last weekend. You can tell that I got better as the day progressed. My favorites are the upper left hand corner (purple and lime) and the bottom right hand corner (Turquoise, Ivory and Lime - the Ivory reminds me of Toasted Marshmallows).

Dawn (Bead Shop owner) made a bracelet out of her first beads. I liked the idea, so I made a bracelet just like hers. Now I will be able to remember back anytime I wear my bracelet. The class wasn't cheap, but the bracelet ended up costing less than a Pandora bracelet with a complete set of beads. Plus mine is better because I made all of it.

Back from a long hiatus.....

I lost track of blogging for awhile! I haven't been knitting much either. I think I needed a mental vacation from just about everything.

I started making jewelry again though. It's nice to have many hobbies so that you can switch back and forth between them so you won't grow tired of any of them!

I've made some jewelry with silver and gold wire and some with beads. I've been making mostly earrings and a couple of bracelets and a couple of necklaces. Today I took a class in Lampwork Bead making. So much fun and the creative possibilities are endless! Here are half of the beads I made today. These were made in the first half of the class so they are not that great. But, I still love them!

Top left - white with light blue and red dots

Top right - solid lavender encased in clear glass

Middle left - solid cobalt blue rolled in silver leaf and then encased in clear

Middle right - 2 lime green (my very first beads and not very round!) and orange, encased in transparent turquoise with white dots that were melted flatter than the ones on the top left

Bottom left - white round with orange and light blue dots

Bottom right - solid red with squiggle lines of light blue and white

It was such a great experience. The class was pricey but well worth the money. I will definitely go back for another one!

Here are the necklaces. The one on the left is browns and pinks and I kept it for myself. The one on the right was made as a Birthday gift for my friend Rox (Happy Birthday again Rox!)

I made these earrings for the same friend to go with the necklace. I LOVE them! They were an experiment and I can't wait to make a pair for myself.

These are the first earrings I made when I started taking classes. The beads were strung on wire, then that wire was coiled, then another thicker wire was put through the center and the whole thing was coiled again.

Next are all of the earrings I have made and kept for myself. The first pair below were made with gold accents and clear beads with flowers inside. I didn't realize it before, but I could make these beads now. It is just lamp work with flowers "drawn" with glass and then the whole bead was encased in clear. The second pair were made with jump rings and glass bead dangles. I have had these beads for years and love them. I am glad I finally found a good use for them.

This next pair is made with REALLY AWESOME beads. They seem like they are on fire and I had to have them when I saw them. I had no idea what i was going to make with them but bought a few of each side and came up with this design when playing around with them. The pair after those are made with one crystal, one square glass bead and a wooden bead. They are simple but I get a lot of compliments on them.

The next pair is also pretty simple. I think the focal bead is metal. The pair after those are made with another set of beads I fell in love with. I wound the wire at the base into a coil to make them more decorative.

These were pretty easy to make, but the wire bends easily so they become misshapen every time I wear them. If you hammer wire, it becomes less flexible but then it is easily snapped too, so I am afraid to try to use that as a solution.

This pair is easily my favorite pair. LOL They were stupid easy to make but I get a lot of comments on them. Most often, I hear, "Oh I get it! Chandelier Earrings", which is the direction i was going when I chose the materials.

Finally, here is the first bracelet I have made. It is called "Under the Sea" because some say it resembles a sea anemone. It was pretty time consuming, but well worth it. The beads are "sewn" onto the base and each stitch includes a 6.0mm bead an an 11.0mm bead.

So, there you have it. That's what I have been up to other than hanging out on Facebook taking stupid quizzes. LOL

I BOUGHT MY CAR!!!!

This is what my new car looks like. It's Powder White Pearl. I love the way the exterior looks compared to my soon-to-be old one. I loved the front of that one but not the side or rear view. I love every view of this one.

Here is the interior of the next model up (Limited). The only difference with mine is that I have a cool silver color where the wood grain is in this picture. It has the controls for the radio on the steering wheel which I LOVE and it comes with an XM satellite radio and 6-CD changer and the lights on the dash are blue. Everything just looks rich.

A lot of people are afraid to have white cars, but every car gets dirty. It was my favorite out of all of my choices.

I pick it up on Monday after work. I can't wait!! One more round-trip commute with nearly bald tires and bad brakes.

Nutmeg Spinning Guild - April Meeting

Abby Franquemont was the guest speaker. I'm totally bummed that I had pre-decided to leave at lunch and made a commitment to go to the car dealer because she did ABSOLUTELY no spinning in the first half of the meeting. I'm not sure if she will spin after lunch but i will be evilly jealous of my friends if she does. But, alas, I need a new car......
I finally learned to spin with a spindle today. I have been spinning for just over a year on a wheel. I tend to jump into things with both feet and usually put the cart before the horse. So, this backwards learning is normal for me. HAH! I bought a "beginner" spindle at Rhinebeck last year and had yet to dig it out and try. So, I packed it up this morning with some Coopworth fiber that I have an ass load of and skipped off to guild. After about 20 VERY frustrating minutes of trying to spin and draft that fiber, I gave up (I know I'm impatient!) and went back to the vendors and bought a beautiful, but inexpensive smaller spindle that would spin faster so I could try lace weight and some BFL from "The Painted Sheep" that would be easier to draft. I tried spinning with that for about 20 more VERY frustrating minutes and found that it wobbled too much. So i went back to the vendor and asked if she would consider taking the spindle back for an upgrade to a more expensive spindle that would be easier for a beginner to use but still light enough to do lace weight. I settled on a beautiful all wood spindle that I would tell you the name of except my fiber is currently wound over the top of the name. ;0) I'll get back to you on it!

But here it is.....

Sundara Yarn Collection

I finally got into a Sundara Sock yarn Collection. I signed up for Summer. The description of the colors sound like they will lean toward what I like, so my fingers are crossed. These will be my first skeins of Sundara Yarn so I am excited. The sign ups are here, if you are interested. They just opened today.

New Fluevogs...

I got my new shoes today. Aren't they loverly????

My Whole House is Full of crazies....

...but these two are probably the craziest (and yes one of them is the dog!)

Even though she thought it was creepy, "E" couldn't get enough of my "disembodied" foot "mannequin". She thought it would be fun to model with my new Peeps Socks. Narrative by "E"

and then who can resist taking a picture of the most beautiful dog in the world???

"Wouldn't it be funny if I took a picture of myself smelling the foot???"

"Well, if it's good enough to model socks, it's good enough to rest my head on" (yes that is the foot)

This girl is seriously deranged....

"Hey! Why don't I take a picture of the dog looking at me upside down?" (isn't this the CUTEST picture ever??)

No photo shoot is complete without a wet kiss!

I love these two NUTS!

My New Pot Rack

My mom and step-dad have a pot rack in their kitchen that he built himself. I loved it so much, I asked him to make me one too. I've always wanted a pot rack and thought it would be perfect for my new kitchen. I even bought my first really nice set of pans in anticipation of being able to display them. I want to add to the pan set. There aren't nearly enough saucepans. But, this is a good start. Before now, my pans were a mismatched set that I collected over the years. I feel like a "grown-up" now!

After we hung this up and got the pans on, I felt like it was a real kitchen for the first time since we moved in 8 years ago. "E" said that it felt like home now. LOL Took long enough huh? Who knew all it would take is a couple of coats of fresh paint and a pot rack??

Woolgirl 2009 Sock Club - 1st installment

I got the first package of the new club year. The theme is "Queen of your Knitting - Cleopatra"

For the first time (since I have been a member) the kit included not only a sock pattern but also a scarf pattern. Jen wants us to stretch ourselves and knit something else with fingering weight besides yarn...

The yarn is a nice gold color (of course) and is Zen Yarn Garden. I love the rich color.

This is a small box shaped like a pyramid that had two chocolates enclosed. The chocolates were dusted with gold and silver powder.

Next is a note card with art by an artist who is local to Jen. It's pretty cute and right on theme. Love the sheep!

She also included an annual calendar magnet complete with all of the 2009 shipment dates. Clever girl!

Of course, she included some soak since no good sock kit comes without a sample of soak. ;0)

Her kits usually include a stitch marker and this one was made by Mama Llama. I really like the design. Snag-free!

The project bag is rich looking. It's from Lantern Moon. I love the color combo!

Hand made hand cream...

and finally, a pen that says Queen of Knitting.

Happy Easter to All My Peeps!

My newest sock design...

Glenda the Good Witch Sock Kit

Here is another installment in the Woolgirl Wizard of Oz Sock Kit Series and I don't know how Jen will ever top this one!

Glenda the Good Witch

So much thought and care are put into these sock kits. If you have never gotten a sock kit from Jen at www.woolgirl.com, you need to! I don't have a separate picture of it, but this kit even included a sparkly magic wand, just like Glenda's in the movie.


The pattern is called Twisted Cables The Glenda Sock and it is designed by Bethany Whitney. The sock yarn is Tosh Sock by Madelinetosh and the color is Glenda the Good Witch. I am not a huge pink person (even though my stash looks like I am) but this pink is awesome. It's really muted and dusky.

This is a picture of a pencil that was included. Look at the inscription. LOL

Jen has included a stitch marker from WeeOnes in most of her kits. This one is adorable just like the rest. Now I have a Bad Witch AND a Good Witch!

She always includes candy. I hate Black Licorice but my daughter skarfed them up with no problem!

This is some handmade soap. There was a lot of attention to detail put into this. The packaging was classy and so much a part of the overall theme of the package. I am thoroughly impressed with it!

Next is a Sugar Cookie Recipe with 2 cookie cutters; a crown and a star.

I am in love with this bag! It is completely lined and all edges and seams are invisible. When it is closed up, the bottom is a square. It's perfect for a mitten or sock project to take on the go. I just started a new mitten project and needed another bag this morning!

This is a bookmark and it says "only bad witches are ugly". (I know a few of them, trust me!) I got the Wicked Witch kit too and it had a similar book mark in it. I love to read so I can never have too many cute markers!

Finally, here is a notepad. Too cute! Jen never lets me down!! This made my day!!

That's REALLY weird

Is it possible that it is just a coincidence that both Private Practice last week and House this week but have kids that are BOTH male and female and the parents had to make a choice which one to raise them as???

How IGNORANT!

Check out this post.

I cannot understand why people feel the need to label activities as feminine or masculine. I think this woman needs to find herself a hobby. She sounds bitter. LOL

Estuary Socks

Well, one month on the couch seems to equal four Sock designs, folks. Here is my fourth design, Estuary Socks.

These socks were inspired by the place where a river runs into the ocean. This place is called an estuary. A river will just pour out and become one with the sea and I find that fascinating. My design shows rolling hills on one side of the estuary and cliffs on the other. Try your best to imagine a beautiful woman (or man) with long flowing hair flapping in the breeze standing on the highest cliff looking out over this amazing natural wonder....(corny huh?)

Boogie Wunderland

Here is my newest design. My family and I have fun trying to name them as I finish them. We wanted to name this one Creamsicle, but I explained to my kids that I could get into some hot water if I chose a name that is probably trademarked. So hubby (who is the king of fun nick names) came up with Boogie Wonderland since it is another retro design. I changed the spelling so they would not be named after the song.

The cuff is made with the Latvian Twist technique. It was surprisingly easy. My inspiration for the design was some wallpaper in a movie I watched during my recuperation this past month. I think they would look awesome with dark purple instead of the orange too. If you give it a try, send me a link to a picture when you are done.

Bella Mittens

I finished these mittens in 2 days...the benefit of knitting with Chunky Yarn! I used my first month's Malabrigo Club yarn. Not my colors but my daughter loves it so they are hers. The pattern was made to resemble mittens worn in the movie Twilight and this daughter loves those books. She hasn't seen the movie yet.

I warned her of the value of the yarn and when she can and can't wear the mittens so they don't get ruined. This was my first time knitting malabrigo (believe it or not) and it's scrumptious.

Entrelac Scarf

Here is my first attempt at Entrelac. I think it came out nicely. Fun to knit.

Ahhhhhh (that's a sigh of relief)

I have my laptop back and ALL of my files were recovered. PHEW!! They are all backed up on my new external hard drive too.

So, I am now ready to finish up some more patterns!

YIPPEEEEE!

Woolgirl Valentine Sock Kit

Another fabulous Sock kit from Woolgirl. The yarn is Tosh Sock by Madeline Tosh in the Valentine colorway. My color is dark which I LOVE! But, I see other color intensities in the card pictures. So, I'm not sure if everyone got the same color or not. There is no indication of who made the cards, but the pictures are awesome. I have a close up of them down below. The kit also included a really cool heart shaped box filled with chocolates (which is very welcome today because I am in some pain!). There is also a stitch marker made by Sunneshine on etsy. There is a picture of her business card below if you want to check out her shop.

Thanks Jen! I just love your kits!

Laptop disaster

Yesterday my laptop wouldn't boot up. I ran diagnostics on it and called Dell this morning with the error codes. Turns out I have a hard drive failure. They are shipping me a new one. BUT, I just designed 8 new sock patterns that I haven't test knit yet and they are on the old HARD DRIVE. :( waaaaaa.

I have a PC guy here in the city who has done amazing things for me in the past with an old computer. I am hoping he can get everything off of the old hard drive before I replace it. If not, I think I might be sick!

Right now, I am using my old laptop that I passed down to my kids and the space bar hardly works and it is missing the e key. (took me forever and lots of editing, just to type this)

Think good thoughts for me please! I need those socks designs. They are so awesome! (all of my patterns that I bought are on there too!)

I bought an external hard drive too. From now on, all of my designs will be saved on both hard drives and as hubby suggested, I will email it to myself and store them in my yahoo account. HINDSIGHT!

Ravelry Store now open!

If you have been waiting to buy my Shamrock Sock pattern, it is now up, and available for purchase on Ravelry.

The price is $5 until 2/17/09. At that time, the price will be raised to $6 to help defray unexpected costs. Please take advantage of the lower cost. I struggled with the decision to increase the price and decided that I needed to for the long term, but I really want everyone who has been waiting patiently for it to be available on Ravelry to get stuck with the higher price.



Thanks!!

Funny movie you have to see...

I am NOT a Martin Lawrence or Cedric the Entertainer fan, but I just watched one of the funniest movies. It's on HBO on Demand this month. It's called "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins". It has James Earl Jones in it too, which was a pleasant surprise.

I have OFFICIALLY watched every On Demand Movie possible....one week into my recuperation. Now what? LOL

Decorative Sock Cuffs

Latvian Twist Edge:
Cast on 60 stitches.
Knit 3 rows flat back and forth in garter stitch.
*k4, rotate the left hand needle under the cast-on edge and then behind and over the top of the right hand needle to where the stitches are ready to be knit again*, repeat between * to the end.

Join in the round and knit socks in your favorite way.

Picot Edge
K 6 rnds in stockinette stitch
*K2tog, yo; repeat from * to end of round.
K 6 more rounds in stockinette.

Fold facing along picot edge to inside of sock and attach as follows: Pick up the edge of the first cast on stitch and knit this together with the first stitch on the needle. Continue to end of round.

Ruffle Edge
Cast on 4 times the number of stitches that your pattern calls for.
Row 1: Knit 2 together across the row
Row 2: Purl 2 together across the row

Crochet Picot Edge:
With crochet hook size 3.5 mm/E/4, beg mid back: 1 sc, * 3 ch, 1 dc in the first ch, skip approx. 1/2", 1 sc in next st ,

repeat from * and finish with 1 sl st in first sc from beg of round.

Sock Heel Stitches

If you know of any other heel stitch patterns, please let me know what they are, so I can add them here.

Heel Stitch
Begin with wrong side facing. (This would be the inside of the sock.)
Row 1: Slip 1, then purl all remaining stitches.
Row 2: *Slip 1, k1; repeat from *.
Repeat these two rows.

Eye of the Partridge Heel
Row 1: Sl 1 purlwise, *k 1, sl 1 knitwise,* repeat from * to * end.
Row 2: Sl 1 purlwise, p to last stitch, k 1.
Row 3: Sl 1 purlwise, sl 1 knitwise, *k 1, sl 1 knitwise,* repeat from * to * last 2 sts, k to end.
Row 4: Repeat Row 2Repeat these rows till heel flap is about 2 1/2 in or desired length.

New Mitten Kit

I had a tulip mitten kit on my wish list from Riihivilla. But, after I saw the picture of this one that my friend Jenn posted a picture of on the blog for the 3rd round of the mitten, swap, I had to have it. With shipping from Finland, it was NOT cheap. I plan to knit through a lot of my Ravelry queue during my recovery and I want this to be at the top of the pile. Roses normally aren't my thing but I just love the red against the white.

ENTRELAC!

I don't know why I have been putting it off for so long, but I finally decided to tackle entrelac tonight. I just finished my 2nd triangle (out of 23 needed for my base for the scarf I am knitting). It's pretty fun. I also decided to master backwards knitting so I don't have to turn my work and purl the even rows. It really speeds up the process! The yarn I am using is sooo soft. I found it at Webs. It's called di.ve' Autunno

Need Help finding pattern

I'm looking for this Pattern Booklet and can't find it in stock anywhere. I want to make the gray/red socks in the upper right hand corner of the pic on the left. I have the yarn but need the pattern. If you know where I can get copy, please let me know. It's Kertzer SRK 403 for their "On Your Toes DK" Sock Yarn.

Thanks for your help!

No-More-Humdrum-Mittens Swap Round 4 Questionairre

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I taught myself just over 2 years ago using www.knittinghelp.com after my kids taught me how to do the long tail cast on and the knit stitch.

Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'd say advanced in some areas, beginner in some and Intermediate in most.

What are your favorite colors?Any you dislike? I love Lime Green, Orange, Red, Brown and Turquoise. I also like weird combos like Red, Turquoise and Orange and Brown on a white background. I just love color! I do tend to shy away from jewel tones and pastels unless they are mixed in a trendy combination with something else.

Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns? Yep - I like just about all that I have seen. See my queue :) I have the yarn to knit the Vinterblomster, Bird in Hand, Fiddlehead, Ladybug and Tiffany already so please don't knit those for me! (I also already have the Sea Mineral mittens from a past round). If something is in my queue, I already have the pattern. I do have some on my wishlist located at

Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child? Me please

What is the measurement from your wrist to the tip of your longest finger? 7 1/2 - 8 inches

What is the circumference of your hand at it's widest point? 7 1/2 above my thumb

What other things do you enjoy knitting? socks, sweaters and rectangular stole/shawls

What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) I have two sets of Denise Interchangeable, 1 set of Knit Picks interchangeable in the colored wood, a full set of bamboo 10" straights, a full set of bamboo DPN's and several 40" long sock needles in sizes 0,1,2, and 3 for magic loop. In other words, unless they are a splurge such as glass needles or ebony/mahogany, I am all set in the needle category. LOL

What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? the Hemlock Ring Blanket

What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? Quiviut!

What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook? I spin on a spinning wheel and have a drop spindle but have not used it yet. I love to sew and plan to make another quilt soon. I haven't quilted in over 10 years though. I love funky patterned materials, especially the Japanese ones and any you can find at repro depot. I want to make a Cathedral Quilt with a bunch of different funky material with an all white background. I have tried to garden in the past but just can't get into it and I hate to cook.

Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Not really

What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? I'm on weight watchers so I don't eat too many treats. but the weight watchers chocolates are good. (Russel Stovers makes them)

Anything you hate or are allergic to? Not allergic to anything but I hate white chocolate and although I have tried to become one several times, I am not a tea drinker. I love flavored coffees though, especially Southern Pecan or Coconut.

Do you have any kids? yes, 3 beautiful daughters

Pets? my first and last dog (whose adorable but way too much work and noise), and my first female cat who has cured me from ever wanting another female cat.

What is your favorite part of Winter? Watching it snow and getting to wear mittens!

What is your least favorite part of Winter? Driving in the snow and being cold down to the bones.

They're done!

I'm officially a knit designer! I designed a sock pattern and I am so happy with them.

Designing my own pattern has taught me a lot. It's all trial and error and a lot of ripping out and reknitting. But really, the hardest part was finding a fun name. We can thank my husband for this one. While in recovery after my surgery last night I asked him to help me come up with funny Irish words or phrases because I had wanted to name them "Luck O' the Irish" and found that name was already used for another sock pattern out in knitdom. So, we came up with "Shamrock Shenanigans" so you can wear them while you act out all of your tomfoolery. LOL

I am in the process of getting set up as a designer on Ravelry and will be offering it for sale on there once it is done. But, if you really want the pattern and don't want to wait, you can paypal me and I will email it to you. Here is the link to the pattern on Ravelry so you can put it in your queue. My email address for paypal is debberooni at comcast dot net (just make sure you put it back into the real format. I don't wan to get spam so I am not using the correct format here).

The pattern price is $5. I you wait until it is on Ravelry, you can buy it through there and store it in your library. I am fine with either way. I also have a link to it in my etsy store in the right sidebar.

Recuperating nicely....

I don't think I have blogged about having surgery...

I had some minor surgery yesterday. I am home with nothing to do but KNIT and fool around online. I know...it's a shame! LOL

I have to say that I am a very lucky woman who is married to a real gem and has 3 wonderful kids. They get it. They know how much I do for them and have no hesitation about taking care of me. So, I am being pampered very well.

I found the quotes below online recently and wanted to share them here. They all made me laugh and you probably already know, laughter is my number one passion in life. I hope they make you laugh too.

Sneak Peek

I'm designing my first pattern. It's a sock pattern for Irish pride or St Patty's Day. I am so excited about how it is turning out. I had a few false starts with sizing and have learned a lot. Watch here for more updates. I am going to have it on Ravelry for anyone who is interested.

Something funny to get you through....

My wife and I are watching "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" while we were in bed. I turned to her and said, "Do you want to have sex?" "No," she answered. I then said, "Is that your final answer?" She didn't even look at me this time, simply saying "Yes." So I said, "Then I'd like to phone a friend."

And then the fight started....

********

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home. I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later. The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair. She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' And she processed my Social Security application. When I got home, I told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office. She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten Disability, too'

And then the fight started.....

****

Saturday morning I got up early, quietly dressed, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, and slipped quietly into the garage. I hooked up the boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a
torrential downpour. The wind was blowing 50 mph, so I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad all day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, 'The weather out there is terrible.' My loving wife of 10 years replied, 'Can you believe my stupid husband is out fishing in that?'

And then the fight started....

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'
'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.' 'My God!' says my wife, 'Who would think a person could go on celebrating for that long?

And then the fight started.....

****
I rear-ended a car this morning. So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car. You know how sometimes you just get so stressed and little things just seem funny? Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... He was a DWARF!!! He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, 'I AM NOT HAPPY!!!' So, I looked down at him and said, 'Well, then which one are you?'

And then the fight started.....

****
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.
'I'll have the strip steak, medium rare, please.' He said, 'Aren't you worried about the mad cow?'
'Nah, she can order for herself.'

And then the fight started.....

****
A woman is standing nude, looking in the bedroom mirror. She is not happy with what she sees and says to her husband, 'I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment.' The husband replies, 'Your eyesight's damn near perfect.'

And then the fight started.....

I bought my first pair!

YAY!! I bought my first pair of John Fluevog shoes. I bought the Bowling ones first since they were "only" $79. I REALLY want the red ones but they are close to $300. I'll only get them if I get a bonus, I guess. I can't wait until they come in the mail. I finally smartened up and had them shipped to work. They ship UPS and require a signature. I'm never here when they deliver so I am always stressed out how I am going to get my package. The bonus is that they charge sales tax if they are shipped to MA and I work in CT. SCORE!!!

Say hello to my little friends.....

shoes GLORIOUS shoes

Ever since the Fall issue of the Twist Collective came out, I have wanted these shoes. They were featured in the sock pattern section of that issue. The shoes speak to me. They are all so funky and I feel a connection with all of them. If any of these sell out before I can afford to buy them, I think I will be devastated. But they are NOT cheap so it will take awhile to get them. Most of them are over $200 a pair. Normally, I wouldn't even consider spending that much for a pair of shoes. But, these ones have so much character. For me, they are definitely worth the money. My birthday is in 25 days, so hopefully my WONDERFUL husband will get me a pair.











Red is such an awesome color. They say, "HEY look at me!" I must own them.

These ones are also very funky. They remind me of bowling shoes and are definitely me!

These ones are my FAVORITE out of all four styles. I just love Lime Green and Brown and to have them together in one shoe is just amazing!

These ones are quite a bit tamer, but I love the color combo. If I ended up with all four pair, these would be the last of the four. I could live without these but I definitely like them.

I think I need a Sugar Daddy! Income Tax Return time is coming, but we decided that we would use this years return to replace the roof on our house (blech! I hate pesky life necessities). I don't think we'll be getting a bonus this year at work either. The economy is in the toilet and it is affecting everything. If we do get a bonus, it won't be anywhere close to the amount I got last year. As with all companies, they're talking about layoffs. I think our division is safe since we have been pretty profitable despite everything. If our division is not safe, I feel that I am pretty safe. It would a very bitter pill to swallow to win a huge award and then a couple months later get laid off. I don't feel that is possible so I am going to "Let go and let God take care of the worry for me."

Happy 2009 Everyone!

I don't really believe in Resolutions because they are most often forgotten about after the first 4 days following New Year's Day.

But, here is my list of things I will continue to do in the new year and a couple of new ones...

1. go back to WW meetings and eat on plan
2. go back to gym every day at lunch (or at least 3 times per week)
3. use the Wii Fit at least 3 times per week for Yoga to stretch muscles
4. continue to take multi-vitamin and glucosamine to stay healthy and pain free
5. continue to take baths with Epsom salt to reduce stress and tension
6. continue to get monthly massages to further reduce stress and tension
7. continue to pick up and finish one hibernating project before casting on for something new
8. finally knit my clapotis and chevron scarf
9. call the music school down the road and sign up for piano lessons which is a life long dream of mine
10. Draw and Paint again

Looking back over the past year, I feel content and happy:

• We had a tough time in the beginning of the year with A's diagnosis, but that diagnosis brought me peace when I realized that she got the Tourette's from me and I finally had some answers.
• We welcomed 3 new nephews into the family.
• I found four wonderful friends/sisters through knitting and thank God for them everyday (actually we might have met last year at the end, but we grew very close over the course of this year)
• E came home! :)
• I started sprucing up the interior of the house with paint and new ceiling fans
• I won a big award at work and gained a lot of recognition from it
• I got down to a size 14 and although I have slipped back to a size 16, I am not discouraged and will continue on my journey to a healthier life

Leg Warmers

"A'' loves leg warmers so I wanted to make some for her for Christmas. Knowing from experience that they won't stay in style for too long, I didn't want to knit anything intricate. So, I just made them up as I went along. No pattern. Plain, basic, black leg warmers.LOL

She likes them. :)

Another Mitten Chart

I made this chart for a full mitten based off of a picture of some very pretty fingerless gloves on Ravelry. Please feel free to download and Knit away. If you knit them, please link back to me so I can see how they turned out. (Click on the picture for a printable version)

Traffic Cone

Each Christmas in our city, they hold a huge drive-thru light display called Bright Nights. It was fun the first few years, but after living here for 7 years and battling the traffic along with the inconsiderate idiots who drive in the wrong lane and then cut you off once they get to the end of their lane, after you have waited in traffic in the correct lane for 15-20 minutes for the past 1/2 mile, it can get pretty obnoxious after awhile.

They take our normally 4 lane main road and cut it into a Bright Nights lane and then two travel lanes going in opposite directions. These are "mapped out" with miles of orange traffic cones. While driving through the mess at the beginning of this holiday season, my oldest daughter, "E" tried to get to me to stop and steal a cone for her. It became pretty funny after awhile. Every time I slowed down for traffic, she acted like she as going to open her door while looking to me for approval. Needless to say, although the urge was great, we did not succumb to the temptation and arrived at home without a traffic cone.

After the girls left for Florida last week, I decided that it was would be pretty hilarious if I crocheted the adorable little traffic cone pattern I saw on Ravelry and wrap it up for her for Christmas.

They arrived home at 10pm last night. When we got home from the airport we had "Christmas". This kid got Uggs (from her Dad) ($160), Nike AF1 sneakers ($75), a scrumptiously soft hooded bathrobe from Bath and Body Works, Skinny Jeans, Timberland Boots and a bunch of other assorted stuff (not to mention the Wii I bought for the family), yet, when she opened this gift, she proclaimed that it was her favorite present!

Folks......it's moments like these that matter most!

Tempting

I can't believe I never posted the picture of this sweater. It was the first one I completed. I have bought several ribbons to lace through the top.

Pattern - Tempting by Jenna Adorno

Yarn - Dream in Color - Black Parade

White Night

I think this scarf must have gotten it's name from the color the designer knit hers in. It looks totally awesome in white. I like my version too, but I prefer the white. I found the pattern when I searched for something to knit with the yarn I got with a total deal up at Webs (yay warehouse!!) This became one of Molly's Christmas Presents because she fell in love with it when it was done and it matched the hat I made with the same yarn that she also loved.

Pattern - White Night by J. Sun

Yarn - Rowan Chunky Print - maroon/yellow/white

Envy

When I saw this, I knew I had to have it. I am not sure if it is the pattern or the color it was knit in, or both. All I knew is that I had to have it and I had to have it in the same color.

Pattern - Envy by John Brinegar

Yarn - Brown Sheep Burly Spun - Limeade

Finished - 11/23/08 (knit in one day - cable pattern with no cable needle)

February Lady Sweater

Here's my February Lady Sweater. I finished this on 11/10/08 and forgot to post the picture here. This was a free pattern I found through Ravelry. You can do a search anywhere online and find it. The yarn I used is Dream in Color Classy. The color is Happy Forest. I have a leftover skein that I am not sure what to do with yet.

Christmas has come and gone for another year...

That's what hubby said to me as we watched a movie Thursday night. It as 12:04 am when he said it.

This is true, but since my girls spent Christmas with their dad this year, I still have more Christmas left! I also have a party to "make-up" because my knitting group got snowed out last weekend and we had a little get-together planned with a Yankee Swap. I guess we'll do that in the new year when everyone is back home and settled from their holiday travel.

We had a pretty quiet Christmas. We drove down to my Aunt's house for Christmas Eve. It's my only chance to spend time with my family each year. We're all scattered with most of us in Maine. So, I got to see some cousins and my two brothers. Usually my niece is there with her kids, but this year, my sis came down from Maine to spend the holiday with her so they stayed put. It's a long drive and it's very tiring so I understand the need to stay in. On Christmas Day Fred and I opened our presents from each other. He liked everything I bought him, but after 7 years, I already figured that. I can't go wrong with Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Steelers stuff and any neat gadget or tool. He is the kind of guy who won't use a tool often but it thrills him to death to have the tool he needs when he needs it.

He got high marks from me this year on his gift selection. He got me the Fall/Winter Sock yarn sampler from Knit Picks which came with 6 patterns for cool looking socks; a wooden Umbrella Swift that I have been wanting for a couple of years and a Knit Picks Options Interchangeable Knitting Needle Set in the Harmony Wood.

Since the kids aren't home yet, I got to finish up my shopping and wrap presents after Christmas. That's what I have planned for today. It couldn't a better day for it. It's rainy and dreary outside. All of the snow from last weekend is just about gone. It poured on Christmas Eve and now it's raining again. Christmas was clear weather and there was just enough snow left to consider it a White Christmas, so it's all good.

So, now I am just waiting for the kids to come home so we can watch them open their presents. They'll be home Monday night around 10pm. By the time we get home from the airport, it will be 11:00 and I KNOW they won't go to sleep until they open everything so I will very likely be up until 2 in the morning or later (knowing what they got for Christmas, they will want to spend time with their gifts before going to sleep too!) I'll post more about that once the date has passed.

How was your Christmas? Get anything good? Any funny family stories to tell? Dish!

Snow (beautiful?) Snow

We got dumped on Friday and Friday night...about 12-14 inches. Yesterday we were snowed in. Today we had to drive the girls 30 min south to the airport for their flight down to their Dad's house for Christmas. It started snowing first thing this morning and the main road out from our house wasn’t plowed yet, nor was the highway. So, I drove all the way there in low gear going about 35 mph. The kids got on the plane about 15-20 min later than scheduled. They de-iced the plane, pushed out and just sat on the tarmac for about 1.5 hours. Here it is waiting....

Then they taxied out to the runway where they sat for another hour. "E" called me after awhile to tell me that they de-iced the plane again. It finally took off, 2.5 hours late, which isn’t so bad considering the weather. Now my heart will stay in my throat until I get my "we're here safe and sound mom" call at 7:45.

Driving out of the airport was better than driving in. The highways had been plowed and the major road leading into my house was plowed (it's a state road). When we got to our road, it was a totally different story. I got stuck pulling into the road because the snow at the end of it was about 2 feet deep. They hadn’t plowed the road all day plus it had all of the snow pushed onto it from the main road that DID get plowed while we were gone. They likely won’t plow it until midday tomorrow knowing this city. I managed to rock the car back and forth from reverse to low gear over and over with Fred pushing it form the front until I finally backed out onto the main road (I thought for sure he was going to get killed). I drove around the city to get to the back end of our street. Those roads were treacherous too, but I found a rut and rode it all the way in. There is no way I am going to get out of here in the morning for work.

We were both fuming by the time we got home. I am so tired of this city mismanaging our money. They never plow our roads properly and I assume they blame it on the lack of funds. It’s ridiculous. We experience the same thing winter after winter. We'd have enough money if they monitored who was getting welfare a bit more closely. I have known several people over the years who only reported their income from one part time job, and received reduced rent, reduced day care costs and food stamps, while they also worked side by side with me in Corporate America, MAKING $2 MORE AN HOUR THAN ME!! Government just seems to turn a blind eye to it and I don't understand why. There are people in this world (a few of them friends) who truly need this assistance, but have such a hard time qualifying for it in honest ways. I just don't understand how society has let it get so far out of control. It was nothing like this back when we were kids.

When we finally got into the house tonight we turned on the TV just in time to hear that they are raising our taxes so much that our mortgage payment is going to go up about $200 per month.

Merry Christmas Springfield!!

Grrrrrrr

Winter Poem

I found this beautiful winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you. It was to me, and it's very well written.

"WINTER"
a poem by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

SHIT, It's Cold !!!!

The End

Our Christmas Recipes

I thought I would share the recipes that are special to me and my family at Christmas time. Enjoy!!

We made these recipes every year throughout my childhood. I now make them with my kids and I think they all came from my grandmother.

Butter Ball Cookies (aka snowballs to some families) I do a double batch

1 C Butter or Margarine (soft but not melted)
1/2 C Sifted Powdered Sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2-1/4 C flour
3/4 C nuts

Mix butter, sugar and vanilla. Mix in sifted flour and salt a little at a time until well mixed. Mixture will be very thick and hard to mix. After thoroughly mixed, mix in chopped nuts.

Chill at least 1 hour. Roll into 1" balls. Bake at 400* on an ungreased cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar when they are still warn and then again once they are cooled.

Party Mix I do a double batch

1 lb butter or margarine (4 sticks)
2 tsp celery salt
2 tsp onion salt
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
5-1/2 C Wheat Chex
5-1/2 C Rice Chex
5-1/2 C Corn Chex
5-1/2 C Cheerios
1/2 bag of pretzel sticks
1 can mixed nuts

Put the nuts, pretzels and cereal in a roasting pan. Melt butter with seasonings and pour over cereal mix. Bake in 250* oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Creamy Fudge

1 C (6oz) Chocolate Chips
1/2 C Marshmallow Fluff
1/2 C chopped nuts
1/4 C butter or margarine
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 C sugar
2/3 C evaporated milk

Place chips, marshmallow, nuts, butter and vanilla in a bowl. Set aside. Combine sugar and evaporated milk in a 2qt saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Boil 10 minutes at full boil, stirring constantly. Carefully pour boiling syrup over chocolate mixture and stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour into a greased 8" square pan. Chill until firm - about 1 hour. Cut into small squares.

The following is a family recipe that we use for gifts:

Kahlua

4 C water
4 C sugar
1/4 C instant coffee
1 vanilla bean with slits cut into it

Bring water and sugar to a boil and boil for 7 minutes. Add coffee granules and vanilla bean. Cool and mix with a fifth of Vodka. Pour into bottles for gift-giving. Best when made months ahead.

The next recipe is form the family of a childhood friend that I have been making with my kids.

Magic Cookie Bars

1 can sweetened condensed milk
8 oz chocolate chips
1/2 pkg coconut
1 C chopped walnuts
2 C graham cracker crumbs
1 stick butter

Melt butter and mix with crumbs. Press into 9x12 pan. Layer nuts, then chips, then coconut. Pour milk over top. Bake for 25 minutes in a 350* oven. If pan is glass bake at 325*

I have one more family cookie recipe that I can't find. If I find it, I will post it here.

My new favorite singer

This week's Private Practice episode played a song at the end that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!! I have a nifty thing on my cell phone that will listen to a song, analyze the song's "DNA" and tell you the title and singer. It couldn't come up with ANYTHING. So I went online and did a search (love me some GOOGLE) and found that it is called Achin' All the Time by Ray LaMontagne.

I am so upset to find out that the song is not available on any of his albums. I guess it was supposed to be on the most recent album but it got replaced by another song. :(

Now I am on the hunt!

Have you ever heard of him? In researching him, I have found that his songs have recently played on Eli Stone, Grey's Anatomy and Fringe, too. It can't be coincidence that all four of these are my favorite shows! (sadly Eli Stone is getting cancelled)

Woolgirl Peppermint Patty Sock Kit

I got my newest specialty sock kit from Woolgirl today. It is the next installment in the Peanuts theme and is just in time for Christmas.

It includes a pattern for socks called Peppermint Twist designed by Christina Bain.


The yarn is Yummy Sport Hand painted from Miss Babs (love the colors!!). The colorway is called Peppermint Patty and they even included 70 extra yards of a solid red for heels and toes.


Next is some Peppermint Patty Candy Cane Hot Cocoa. I'm interested in trying it. I love thin mint cookies, so maybe this will be similar. :) Below that, in the same picture, you see a peppermint measuring tape from Lantern Moon. Soooo cute!


The next two items are a Soap Bar and Lip Balm made by Naiad Soap Art http://naiad.etsy.com/

Also, included and shown in the very top picture is a knitting accessory bag by Sheila at Sheila D Bags http://www.sheilad.com/ . I am impressed with the craftsmanship. The red material is corduroy and the peppermint print is adorable. The interior fabric is brown to match the yarn. Also included is a candy cane striped pencil stamped with "Merry Christmas from Woolgirl", Peppermint Patty chocolates and Peppermint Hard Candies, and last but not least, is a beautiful stitch marker with a really cool clear bead with a red core that has a "barber pole" white stripe all the way up the length of the core. That was made by Stitch Markers by Sunneshine at http://www.sunneshine.etsy.com/

I loooooove these packages. I needed a pick-me-up today!

Mystery Solved

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

Like mother like daughter?? LOL

Why did the chicken cross the road?

SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because gosh-darnit, he's a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA : The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road

HILLARY CLINTON : When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH : We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY : Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL : Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON : I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY : Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross,and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON : Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL : The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR! so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE : That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN : To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART : No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS : Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY : To die in the rain, alone.

JERRY FALWELL : Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay, too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side.' That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS : Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish it's lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE : It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.

BILL GATES : I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2008. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN : Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS : Did I miss one?

- author (authors?) unknown

WOW?

You can't really tell from the picture, but I dyed my hair Black....yes Black! I have been getting a lot of compliments on it. Today someone told me I looked like I was going "punk" LOL. I said, "Yeah, I'm Joan Jett". ;0)

If I was keeping score, I'd have to say today was a winner!

Today was the last day of a four day weekend. I treated myself to Friday and Monday off to relax before and after my annual "No Men Allowed" Christmas shopping trip to Portland Maine with my mom, sister, aunts and cousins. I spent lots of money and had just as much fun.

Instead of staying home today, I drove to my hometown and met up with a "long lost" friend from school. It was a great day. We had great conversation. After I left her, I stopped by my dad's house to see him since I was there and it's an hour and 20 minute drive.

My stepmother didn't let me down. She gave me her usual negative remarks. I nearly laughed in her face when she told me that my "bangs" were too short and looked like I had a receding hairline. It used to cut deep, but now, I am just amused by her stupidity. It's called a PIXIE beotch! hahahahahaha SNORT

When I was leaving, my dad went out to his car and grabbed a bag. When he handed it to me, he told me not to open it until I got home. I obeyed. :) When I walked into my house, I opened it up, having no clue what it could be, and nearly dissolved into tears when I realized that it was his blue cardigan. He used to wear this sweater all of the time. It was hand knit by someone he knew in Maine. We had a conversation about a month ago and I told him that he could NOT ever die, but in the event it happened, I didn't care what my step-monster withheld from us, out of spite, the only thing I wanted was his blue sweater because it held so many dear memories of him in every stitch. He gave me the only guarantee he could by giving it to me while he is still alive. It smells like him and fresh tears spring to my eyes each time I smell it.

After dinner, I took the girls to the mall to pick up E's ring. The stone was loose so I had to send it out to be fixed. On the way, I stopped to get gas and got it for $2.17/gallon!!! Such a great way to end a great day.

When we were at the mall, we swung into Lenscrafter's to get E's glasses fixed (she slept on them). I had picked up a pair of lime green reading glasses at Target this weekend and wanted to know if they could put my prescription in them. They said they couldn't because they weren't made to change the lenses :( So I looked around and found a really cool pair of Vogue Lime Green glasses that shouted my name. Now, I don't know what to do. With lenses, $309. GAH!

That was HARD!!

I just cancelled my subscription to the Spunky Eclectic Fiber Club. It was tough because I love getting yummy fiber delivered every month. But, I joined eat.sleep.knit's Malabrigo Club which is starting in January and I'll only allow myself to be in one club at a time while the economy is sucking wind. Plus, although the colors are nice, and it was nice getting a different type of fiber every month, the shipments weren't always what i would have chosen for myself. I do the clubs to stretch my imagination. But, like with the Yarn Pirate's Sock Yarn Club I was finding myself less excited after the package arrived. I didn't like more than I did like.

I have high hopes for the Malabrigo Club. The info for the club said that there would be at least one "sweater" shipment and I am hoping for their new sock yarn. Maybe I will luck out and that will be the first month!

If you want to sign up, I think today is the last day! There's a link to the site in my sidebar.

Free Mitten Charts

I've been looking at awesome mittens on Ravelry and wanted to have them all. So, I decided to try my hand at charting so I COULD have them all. I used the Norwegian Mitten chart that Hello Yarn has graciously shared with the knitting community to chart them on but I plopped them into Microsoft Excel instead so that I could keep them digitally.

A few of them I charted form the mittens I saw and then I designed a couple of my own. I decided to share them with you all. Mitten yumminess deserves to be shared!

These first ones were inspired by mittens I have seen, but the planning, and charting are my own.

Tulips

Ribbons

Retro

Stars

From there, my brain went crazy and I came up with the following ones on my own (if they look like any you have seen, please let me know. They are pretty "average" geometric designs so, anything is possible)

Floral

Kitchen Wallpaper
inspired by my new wallpaper

Enjoy! I hope you like them. Link back to me if you knit any and send your friends....

Weird coincidence...

Anybody out there watching the new Show, "Life on Mars"? I've been watching it. I love anything that has to do with the 1970's because it brings back so many memories from my childhood.

Well, tonight I was watching this past Thursday's episode on my DVR and I noticed that my new Kitchen Wallpaper, is in the main character's kitchen. It's just a small piece on the back of a door that is covered with shelves, but you can see it anytime he is sitting at his kitchen table.

Let me know if you see it!

What'd she say? What'd HE SAY????

"E" begged me to make Shepherd's Pie for dinner tonight. Anyone who has made it, knows that it is time consuming and a pain in the a$$ to make.

After we were done eating, I asked her if it met with her expectations because she hadn't said if she liked it, or "Thanks" or anything (damn teenagers LOL). She said it was good. So, (while working on my mitten pattern blog) I said, "You better appreciate it. It takes a long time to knit". Of course, she started to laugh, and and told me what I had said. And Fred said, " I think you should take a week off from knitting, you're clearly obsessed. I'll even take a week off from watching sports."

The man is clearly delusional. What is he thinking???? NEVER!! 'hehehehehe SNORT'

(If you like knitting mittens, or have a love for stranded mittens, take a look at my mitten pattern blog. I have links with pictures to many free and pay patterns all over the web in one place. I did it for the Swap I host bi-annually, but it's a great resource for anyone who loves knitting mittens

Best Buds!

Found a picture of us on Flickr from the Ravelry party after Rhinebeck. Just looking at it makes me smile. We had so much FUN together! Friends like this is what truly makes life worth living. Thank GOD it only took me 37 years to find them.....my only regret is that Jenn couldn't be with us. :( Hopefully next year!!

(LOVE YOU GUYS!!!)

Crazy Daisy

My Cat is an oddball! LOL PEEAKABOO!!

She climbed inside this bag and then couldn't figure out how to get out of it (she's not the smartest cat in the world, apparently.

She tried to come out through the handle and got stuck. I happened to have the camera in my hand because I was taking picture for my Rhinebeck post below and couldn't resist getting a couple shots.

Rhinebeck 2008

I spent the day, yesterday, at the NY Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY with three of my best friends. We had an awesome day. The weather was perfect, the fiber was yummy, the foliage was beautiful and the day was rounded out with an awesome Ravelry Party in Red Hook.

We arrived just after 9am and beat feet over to Building A to snag some Socks that Rock Sock Yarn at The Fold. I got a Mill End in Medium Weight that I think might be "Downpour". The next two pictures show each end of the skein. Do you recognize the colorway?

The next two pictures another STR yarn in Heavy Weight (Sport) and is called Storey-time. I just couldn't resist this color!

We wandered through the rest of Building A. All of us tried our hand at a Golding Wheel (which was a religious experience, to quote Lexi). It was so smooth that if you took your feet off of the treadles, it still spun for you for quite a bit. Lexi bought a Golding drop spindle. I resisted for now since I am a wheel spinner and have not mastered the drop spindle yet. Instead I bought this Schacht Drop Spindle for 1/5-1/7 th of the price.

If I find I like to use the drop spindle I will either invest in a Golding or I will get a Lily Spindle. The Lilies are GORGEOUS! Gilbert Gonsalves hand carves them out of wood and Formica countertop! He explained that by thinning out the flower in the center and leaving it thicker at the edges you get a much smoother spin. No matter what size you buy, they are all the same price and closely match Goldings prices.

Also in Building A we found Stefania of Handspun by Stefania. She sells these awesome kits including yarn she handspun herself with Jacob Wool and Great Pyrenees Dog Hair. The mittens looked like they were knit with Angora, they were so hairy/fluffy and soft. I bought the kit below for Plaid Glitten (flip top glove/mitten). Mine is in Orange and Natural and I can't wait to knit them.

Then we found Galina Alexandrovna Khmeleva of Skaska Designs Limited where I found this awesome Wool Laceweight in a Clearance Basket for $8. It is 1080 yds/60g or 65/35 Superwash Wool/Wool. I also got 65/35 Yak/Silk Lace weight. That was $35 but WELL worth it! It is so soft and so shiny and beautiful! That is 1675 yds/100g. Her stuff is truly a treat!


I decided that since I was going to venture into the drop spindle world, it was also time to start learning how to process my own fiber. Lexi and I split the cost of a 4 pound Merino Fleece that we will divide between us. Now I will have to learn how to wash a fleece, and have a need for hand carders, so I bought my first set. They are from Strauch Fiber Equipment Co.


I also bought a 1.38 pound Shetland fleece that was already washed. I think I will start out by carding this one before I try my hand at the other raw fleece. I'm excited! I also have 4 oz of paca-vicuna that I got form another spinning friend who bought a whole fleece and wanted to split it with someone (hoping to get 4 more oz from her). So I can card that one now too.

In another building I found Silk Hankies and I have been wanting to try my hand at spinning these. I bought an orange/hot pink colored one, a brown/blue one and 2 natural ones that I will leave natural or dye myself.



Days like this are also filled with many opportunities for laughter. It seems that everyone was vying for the top spot for the person who could wear the most knit items without regard for how well they matched each other. We saw tons of people who felt they needed to wear a sweater, shawl or scarf, hat, AND fingerless mitts. LOL! We had decided early in the day that we needed to find the gaudiest knit item and we found it while buying a soda. There was an unfortunate woman who thought that it would be a good idea to knit herself a huge cardigan with different colored blocks of fun fur. EEK!

*****************

I was thoroughly amazed at the number of February Lady Sweaters I saw on people. They were in all different sizes and colors and as long as the knitter followed the pattern, it really flattered every single one of them from the biggest person down to the smallest. The pattern is definitely a good choice, so I am glad I am in the middle of knitting it myself. If you decide to knit it, follow the pattern and trust the designer. Don't modify it so that the garter stitch extends down below your chest because you think you need to cover up more of yourself. It really looks nice when it stops above the chest. It's also not a good idea to alter it to add buttons all the way down the front. Just having the buttons on the top is the best choice. It looks fabulous! Trust me!!

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After Rhinebeck, we went over to the Ravelry Party. I think there ended up being at least 500 people there. We were 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th in line to get in, so we got one of the gift bags, but unfortunately didn't win any of the door prizes. We're convinced that our tickets were stuck to the bottom! The gift bag had all sorts of discount coupons, a "Bob" sticker, a "Got Bob?" pin and a Della Q accessory bag. The door prizes were awesome, so it's too bad none of won one of them. But, we were satisfied with the food, open bar and gift bag. The sponsors provided us with a fun night.

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There was a strange woman who sat with us and did her best to know everything about us. We spent more time laughing than talking though and I almost killed Tammy because she was laughing so hard she couldn't get a deep breath in. That was scary because at first I thought she was just kidding like all people when they say, "I can't breath" because they are laughing so hard, but she really couldn't breath! Thankfully she was able to get a deep breath and get herself back to normal breathing. As it turns out, she was just diagnosed with asthma. (dingy didn't tell us)

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It was amazing how something as simple as size is not understood to some knitters. We saw people with sweaters that were too big (meant to be worn as snug fitting) or too small for their size. We saw a woman who had knit a beautiful Arwen Sweater, but she either bought too few skeins of yarn or decided that having it end just about her waist would be a good idea. Unfortunately she was very large and it was not a flattering look on her. I took a picture but decided it would be best to leave it to your imagination (plus that would just be mean and the day was just about fun, not being mean).

*****************

So, the day was pretty great. I haven't had a day that fun in a long time. I've definitely found the best group of friends. It's amazing that 5 women (we missed you yesterday Jenn) could be so far apart in age and have so much stuff in common and so much fun together. Mary Alice summed it up when she said that we were family. It's true. We just click....and my god we're funny together!! ;0)

Thanks gals, I had a blast!

OMG OMG OMG OMG

I am going to sit here and admit that I cried myself to sleep last night and I have felt sick all day long today for the very same reason....






Last night as I was knitting my February Lady Sweater, I glanced down at my hand and realized that my RING was not on my hand. I almost puked. I then spent the next few hours searching my house from top to bottom. I dumped out every garbage can in the house, stuck my hand in the sink disposal, searched the dog's crate and the cat's bed. I tore apart my dresser, and make-up table, searched in every other sink and tub drain in the house, in all of my bedding and racked my brain to think of where it could have disappeared to. I ran through every step of my entire day. Was it there when I cooked breakfast? Well, it HAD to be because I distinctly remember taking off all of my rings in the afternoon when I donned my rubber gloves to dye my hair (shhhh don't tell anyone this color isn't natural). My engagement and wedding rings are sitting right there on my left hand so I KNOW I put my rings back on after that and I wouldn't put the rings on one hand and not the other. Where the BLEEP did it go? After I dyed my hair, I got dressed. I ran 'A' to her friend's house and then I went to the grocery store. %&#(*&^% It's IN the damn potatoes in the produce aisle or in the freezer in the Pot Pie section (yummm Marie Callender's!!!) Mother-f-ing-shit.......WAAAAAAAAAAAH. I had to have lost it there. No wait, maybe it's in the car somewhere. Maybe it fell off when I put the groceries in the backseat. Nope. In the cup holder? Nope. Between the seats? Nope. In the glove box (who the hell puts gloves in there anyway?). Nope. I think I'm gonna puke.

Alas, I went back to bed and tossed and turned, cried, got up to look in more places, got back into bed, cried some more, got up to look in places I had already searched 3 times. Eventually, I guess I fell asleep.

This is the ring, however, I had mine special ordered in yellow gold and it is just so beautiful.


This ring is not only valuable monetarily, it is a symbol of my personal success. I dropped out of college to get married and had baby after baby because THAT is what I wanted to be 'when I grow up'. I had been one of the most likely to succeed in my graduating class and I hadn't amounted to much of anything other than a mom who loves her kids more than life.

After my divorce, I went to work at a casino for $8.01 an hour and had absolutely no skills to offer a company.

Then I met my wonderful husband and moved a state away. After being in MA I went to a temp agency to see if they could help me find a job in an office atmosphere so I could have nights and weekends off for the kids. They placed me at a big Insurance company doing data entry. That was April of 2001. Since then, I was hired full time, became a 'subject matter expert' and the one to go to when you had a question, and was promoted into Middle Management just because I had been hungry to succeed and learned everything around me and then sought out more info until I was the one to go to when anyone had a question. As you can imagine, my salary got better over the years. So, last year, I went out and rewarded myself with this ring and it's GONE.

I mentioned in my earlier post about my new watch that I had JUST finished paying for this ring. It took me a year. I'm not going to mention the price because that would be tacky, but it was not something I am ready to pay again. I just checked the Jeweler's website and they do sell it still, but just thinking about having to pay for it again makes me want to puke all over again.

So, I took a stab in the dark and called the grocery store to see if anyone turned it in. (Yeah RIGHT!) It would have to be a pretty honest person to turn something like that in but I tucked away my cynicism and called them anyway. The lady put me on hold for a couple minutes and came back to say, "No, ma'am, I'm sorry, no one has turned in a ring.

I put the phone down, turned and grabbed my purse, sat in the middle of the kitchen floor and upended the whole thing on the floor in desperation. I KNOW I looked through here 5 times last night, but I only took some things out, I didn't take EVERYTHING out and shake it violently.

PLOP! Myyyyyyyyyyyyyy riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.


Thank you LORD JESUS!!! (yes I turned my head up and thanks HIM first! ) Then I yelled and laughed and went a little bit crazy. Now it is sitting on my right hand and I can GUARANTEE, I will be looking at my hand obsessively every minute of every day just to make sure it stays there!

Thank God my day ended like this because my 'best friend' told me today that he gave his notice and will be leaving the company after 20+ years. He will be a BIG loss to our company and I just can't imagine going through life without him. I just know how things like that go. You have a great relationship and then you aren't in each other's face every day and eventually you lose contact. Now I am happy about my ring and still feel like I could puke. :( Last year when our company was acquired (again) we made a pact that if one of us left we'd take the other with us....as he walked away from my desk he said "You're coming with me".

puke

My cute and crazy dog!

Look at these pictures. LOL 'E' was just sitting on the couch watching some TV and Lila climbed up on her and laid in the strangest position. I couldn't resist taking a picture. It just made me laugh. She has a thing about blankets. I think she thought she was hiding under it and that we couldn't see her.

Just LOOK at that face! It melts my heart!!! I love my little wiwa-woo-woo.

Two More Sock Kits

Woolgirl puts out some awesome specialty kits. Jen is so clever when it comes to picking themes. The first one I have shown is a Woodstock Kit. It is based on two 'Woodstocks'. Charles Schulz once said that he named Snoopy's little friend after the big concert in the 60's known as Woodstock. So this sock kit had a bit of both. I didn't snap pictures of everything.

The kit included a disc of music from the late 60's and a package of candy that was popular at that time. Then for the little yellow Woodstock theme, there was a pattern created by Lisa Dykstra called Woodstock Socks and a little knitting bag form a place on etsy (I lost my paper so unfortunately, I don't know which shop).

It also included a cute little Woodstock key chain.

and a Woodstock Stitch Marker from wee ones on etsy.

And finally, White Oak Studio TVyarn in a special Woodstock colorway.

The second kit is shown below. It is based on The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard Oz. This one is just in time for Halloween and soooo cute. I labeled everything in the picture below and got more pics of the individual things for this kit. I don't have a close up picture, but there is also a wee ones Stitch Marker that looks like the Witch and some black and green jelly beans.

This yarn is also White Oak Studio TVyarn. The colorway is Wicked Witch of the West.

This kit included the cutest notepads ever. One says "Don't Make me get the Flying Monkeys" and the other says "I'm Melting, I'm Melting". LOL I brought them to work and have been writing notes to myself and other people so they are slowly making their way around the office.

This picture shows an adorable bookmark (and I love to read). It's perfect because I can never find a bookmark when I need one so I have been moving this from book to book since I got the kit. The quote on it is perfect.

This is a close up of some of the other things. There is Hot Chocolate that turns orange, A Wicked Witch PEZ dispenser, a little note card in the shape of the witch and a pen that looks like a broom that says something on the other side. Since I have been writing with this in all of my meetings at work (LOL) I don't have it here at home to look at the saying right now. In the upper left corner you can see a bit of a project bag that was included. You can see it better in the top picture. The material has the witch all over it and it is shaped like a men's shaving kit bag. Very cool.

The picture below is my favorite part. I love this metal tin. I think I am going to put Ibuprofen in it and keep it in my purse.

If you ever get the chance, you should sign up for one of her future kits. I know she is doing a Peanuts Christmas kit and a Peppermint Patty themed kit. A lot of the ones in the near future are already full but if you keep an eye on her blog, you may find other opportunities in the future.

Awesome blog

I just spent about 20 minutes blog hopping...following links from one blog to another to another.....

and I happened upon this blog. You have to visit it. It's VERY clever! Definitely going into my all time favorites.

Trip to the mall

E, A and I went to the mall today and while we were there, I had Lenscrafters take apart my clear plastic glasses and clean around the lenses. Some black stuff had built up in there from cleaning the lenses and I could see it in the mirror and when I was looking out through my glasses. The frames are a trendy clear plastic and so are the lenses so it was really noticeable. They look much better now.

Then we looked at dresses and shoes for E's Homecoming dance. We found some really cute ones at "Deb". But, I have a dress that I wore to a Christmas Party years ago (when I was still in my 20's and very thin LOL) that she tried on this morning and it looked great. She just wore it over to her friend's house to get an opinion. I told her I would buy her cute shoes if she wore my dress, but that if I had to buy her a dress, shoes were out of the question. We'll have to wait and see what she decides.

After that I headed over to Kay Jewelers to look at watches. Last month, I finished paying off my Kay card for the two rings I bought myself and the ring I bought for E's 15th birthday present. I was in desperate need for a new watch because the 'gold' watch I bought a few years ago on Vacation up in Kittery Maine was turning my arm black whenever I wore it. LOL

I didn't want a dainty "girl" watch and I only wear yellow gold, so it was really hard to pick something that I could wear every day AND when I dress up. I finally found this watch:

Bling right? LOL I figure if the Rap guys can deck themselves out in Diamonds with a pair of baggy jeans, I can surely pull this off with a casual look. It run with eco-drive so there is no battery to replace. It runs by solar power. Cool feature! It also has a mother of pearl face. They had it in Silver too and the silver had either the mother of pearl or a black face. I wish I had the option of black in the yellow gold, but I like this one too. I like that it has marks for numbers on the dial so you don't have to guess. It also has the date and glow in the dark hands.

While I was there, I had them clean all of my rings so all of my diamonds are dazzling now.

E just got home with her friend's seal of approval, so I guess she's going to wear my Marilyn Monroe dress.

All is right in the world.....it really does balance out eventually

Have you ever been driving along minding your own business and all of a sudden, someone is riding your bumper, flicking their lights on and off in order to make you move out of the way because they are so much more important than you are because they drive a Mercedes and how dare you get in THEIR way on THEIR highway in THEIR left lane???? Have ya?

I have a 30 minute commute down I-91 through Connecticut every day to and from work and that happens to me all of the time. I can't stand it!

Well.........


Today as I was driving to work, I passed a three car accident and there sat a Mercedes Benz with their entire front end smashed in. Tail gating anyone?????

All was right in my world. KARMA is a BITCH!


hehehehehehhe

Update on my kitchen...

I picked out the paint for the Kitchen. I decided on a lime green that matches the wallpaper for the other three walls, white for the trim (the cupboards that will be turned into shelves and the door and window frames) and TURQUOISE for inside the shelves and the ceiling. I hope it looks as good as I imagine it will. I also bought a really cool ceiling fan to replace the VERY dusty piece of crap I have now It's Black and silver and will match the black and silver in the wallpaper. They had another really cool one that was all silver with 3 spotlights but they took halogen bulbs and we try to use fluorescent only to save money and to leave a smaller carbon footprint. So, I settled on the black and silver one. It'll take 2 60w candelabra base bulbs which come in fluorescent which only use 13w of energy to burn (and they last at least 2 years).

Do you know anybody who is interested in buying a diner style table and two sparkly red dinner type chairs? My 'old' kitchen is/was red.

I also bought the purple paint for one of the kids' bedroom and a new ceiling fan for it too. Back when they were little, one of them tossed a stuffed animal across the room to hit the other one and it hit the fan instead. It has been unbalanced every since and is very noisy. No matter what I have tried, I have never been able to balance it, so for $20 I bought another one. Nice and cheap!

Cool Mittens (soooo me!)

I love these mittens. They're from Patternworks. I have a mitten kit for semi-felted mittens from Morehouse Farms. I think I'll add this fringe on with a crochet hook before felting.

Do you think Walmart sells these mirrors??

I really need to get one!!!

Satan in da' hood????

We were sitting around the table tonight having a conversation about ancestors. 'M' said, "Did you know we're related to Adam and Eve?" Which brought us to the topic of Noah and his ark and then 'M' said, "I don't believe in Satan, he doesn't exist." So, 'A' says, "yeah he exists. His name is Ludacris."

LMFAO!!! (this is obviously not funny to you if you have no idea who Ludacris is but I thought it was hilarious!!)

A bit addicted??

So, I have this little problem....

I lived outside of Atlanta for 3 years back in 1993. While there, I enjoyed many southern foods and miss things to this day like Fried Okra with Hot Sauce, Red Velvet Cake and many many other things.

One of these many, many other things is Luzianne Decaf Iced Tea. I LOVED the stuff and went many years without it and missed it terribly. One day, a couple of years ago, I was talking to a group of close 'internet' turned 'real-life' friends of mine about how much I loved this stuff, and ever since, two of them who happen to live in the South (Texas and Georgia) have been supplying me with it.

I have a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Pot and need to have a full pitcher of tea on hand at all times. I have even trained my kids how to make it. BUT no one is allowed to drink it since it is so hard to come by. LOL

Well, I just ran out of tea bags again and needed to get some before I drank the rest of my last pitcher. I did an online search and found that I can buy it online at a place called The Cajun Grocer. The shipping is steep at $7 so to make it worth it, I bought three boxes. With $7 I could have bought almost two more boxes at a grocery store, though!! Too bad I can't get free shipping with a certain amount ordered like I can with my coffee. But, if I could it might turn into another situation where I buy $50 at a time in order to save $7. LOL

I've got mail!

I came home to 4 packages, a replacement debit card and a new Lowe's credit card. LOL
One package was wallpaper (a 1970's retro print) for my kitchen. (see below) I am going to do one wall and have to decide what to do with the other walls. I think green would be too much. But. it's all white now and I don't want white. I 'think' I want to paint the ceiling a 'color' and have it darker than the walls (I have high ceilings) but I am not sure what color. My house was built in 1916 so it has a lot of character. I have a pantry off of the kitchen and no cupboards. The previous owner built some cupboards that have no doors They are just a box with 4 holes in it and no doors. I have been seeing these cool looking shelves in kitchens in lieu of cupboards, so I think I want to modify these so that they are shelves instead. I'll just have to buy new dishes so they look good sitting there on exposed shelves. LOL (so what color should I do the walls, ceiling and trim?)

The next package was my new 'skeiner'. I had it hand built by the husband of a raveler named KnittinDeb . If you're interested, you can send her a message on Ravelry. I'm not going to quote the price in case they ever have to change, but it was well worth the price and I had it (freshly built for me) in about a week or so (depends on his project load. I think he is quicker at times but I was happy with the week!!) I'll try to remember to take close up pictures of it's features but you can probably see that there is a knob on one of the arms for you to turn it easily, and it is adjustable if you want to make skeins that are wound smaller than 2 skeins per turn. Also, the arm that slips over the wheel is lined with felt so it won't scratch the wheel (clever man). I love it! I really wanted this because you can take it apart VERY easily to store it flat.

The third package was from an etsy purchase I made at goodwiu . They specialize in 'recycled' goods. This is a vintage clutch that I fell in love with when I happened upon it and it was only $12! Isn't it funky?

and lastly, I finally got my Joe Cool Sock Kit from www.Woolgirl.com (the 'finally' is only because it took me so long to pay for it LOL). I'm a big Peanuts fan so I signed up for all of them that she has scheduled so far. The candy and sunglasses have already been claimed by my youngest (pictured below). The patterns look cool. I have to find out who designed them because I couldn't find it on the pattern anywhere. The yarn is from White Oak Studio. It also included note cards that look to be hand stamped, and a really cute square project bag with a drawstring and a Joe Cool keyring.

and just for laughs, I thought I would include a picture of my baby with her 'George Washington' hair. LOL Somehow they figured out how to do with while in the pool. LOL

Back to Quilting....

So, last weekend, I was looking around for decorating ideas, wallpaper, etc and happened upon some blogs that were based on quilting, sewing and other fabric crafts and I found so many fabrics that I just loved. After "link-hopping", I landed at a site called Pacific Fabrics where I bought the 11 fabric prints below. I only bought a 1/4 yd of each so it cost me less than $3 a piece. I think I might make this quilt I found on one of the blogs. There is just something about it!

They said what?

1. Weightlifting commentator: 'This is Gregoriava from Bulgaria . I saw her snatch this morning during her warm up and it was amazing.'

2. Dressage commentator: 'This is really a lovely horse and I speak from personal experience since I once mounted her mother.'

3. Gymnast: 'I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father.'

4. Boxing Analyst: 'Sure there have been injuries and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious.'

5. Softball announcer: 'If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.'

6. Basketball analyst: 'He dribbles a lot and the opposition doesn't like it. In fact you can see it all over their faces.'

7. At the rowing medal ceremony: 'Ah, isn't that nice, the wife of the IOC president is hugging the cox of the British crew.'

8. Soccer commentator: 'Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field.'

9. Tennis commentator: 'One of the reasons Andy is playing so well is that, before the final round, his wife takes out his balls and kisses them... Oh my God, what have I just said?'

Books n More Swap package received

Look at this awesome swap package!

Kate(thehappystudent on Ravelry) really spoiled me! I received THREE books, Socks Socks Socks, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, and Folk Mittens; 2 skeins of Artyarns Ultramerino4 Sock yarn in my FAVORITE color, Acid/Lime Green; a bag of undyed and unspun fiber that is a mix of Cashmere, Milk Protein and Soy Silk (all of which I have not spun before YIPPEEEEE!), 2 bars of handmade Oatmeal Soap, one of which is Mango Peach (another fave of mine) and the other Oatmeal Milk & Honey; a large della Q project bag in my other favorite color Brown and last but not least, 3 postcards showing some sites around her city of Chicago (where I have been dying to visit for years!).

Thank you so VERY much Kate. WOW! I am blown away by this package and am soooo looking forward to knitting some of these socks and mittens.

Back from vaca

Well, I didn't realize that it had been so long since I posted. I had been doing so good! This post will sure make up for it!

We just got home from vacation. The girls went to spend a week at my mom's in Maine and hubby and I went to Hampton Beach NH. We had planned the vacation prior to knowing they were coming home early so we didn't have enough money saved to bring them with us. In the end, it didn't matter because they had a great time with their Grammie and Grampie, and Grammie and Grampie had some helpers for the week.

On the drive up, we stopped at a rest area for a bathroom break and to stretch our legs and the Oscar Mayer Weenie Mobile was there. It's the first time any of us has seen it and were all thrilled to get weenie-whistles.



Aren't they beautiful? I am so happy to have them all back together living under one roof.



While they were in Maine they got to see my sister too. They have a mini farm so they got to experience some of the work involved and even got to milk a goat. 'E' says that it tastes like cow's milk and 'M' says it's DISGUSTING. LOL

We drove all the way up past Bangor to drop them off and then had to drive back down to Hampton NH the next morning. This is what we arrived to. :( It's a good thing we always spend the first night eating Lobster at Little Jack's. It stopped raining so we could walk there.

The rest of the week was great. It rained one other day and we spent that day driving around looking for yarn shops. I was sooo disappointed in them. I only bought TWO skeins of sock yarn!

I bought this one at 'The Yarn Basket' in Portsmouth. It WAS a REALLY nice store, but it's small and pretty new so the selection was pretty small. I have been wanting this one (J Knits Sock Yarn - Cincinnati) for quite awhile so I bought it so as to not have it be a wasted trip. I was really hoping to get some nice lace yarn but their lace selection was very small (so was their sock yarn selection). I think she will really grow it into something nice. I definitely liked the atmosphere in there and she was really nice.

I bought the second one at 'Yarn for Ewe' in Rye, NH. It's SRK On Your Toes by Kertzer Yarns. I've never heard of it before. It has aloe in it and they had it next to a picture of some really comfy looking 'sock monkey' socks with read toes and heels. Of course, they didn't have any of the red so I have to try to buy it online. They just looked like they would be so comfortable to wear around the house this winter.

I am so spoiled by living so close to Webs and also having Creative Fibers right down next to where I work in CT. The stores were both nice but they were just so small and had such a small inventory compared to what I am used to.

When we drove back to the beach after shopping, we saw a FULL double rainbow stretched over the ocean. It was GORGEOUS! This picture doesn't do it justice, and you can only see half of one of them in the picture.

On Thursday, I drove back up to my Mom's to get the kids and we drove back home today. Altogether, I put 1500 miles on my car. YIKES! I had to have spent at least $200 on gas. I'm afraid to look for the real total.

When I got home I had my final Yarn Pirate Booty Club shipment. I dropped it because $30 could be spent elsewhere and I was really only thrilled with about 2 of the 8 shipments I got. I ended up giving away a few of them. I am not sure that i am really thrilled with this one too but it has a lot of my favorite colors so it may grow on me. It's called Neptune.

I also came home to my new Woolgirl Sock Club shipment. The theme is "The Dog Days of Summer''. Everything is so cute AND I was notified that i was the second place winner in the Georgia O'Keefe contest and get to pick out two yarns from Mama Llama. When I get them, I will post a picture. Here is the kit as a whole (there is a cool bag on the bottom of the pile that says Woolgirl Sock Club Dog Days of Summer - everything else is pictured again beneath this picture individually):

The yarn is from MadelineTosh and the color is called Beach Towel. Not my first choice but it's fun looking and it looks great knit up in the pattern below. I'll definitely knit it up in this pattern.

This is the pattern I am going to knit with it. It looks cool.

But, then there was a second pattern that looks interesting. I'll have to pick another great yarn for this one.

Jen always includes some fun things in the swap kits. This one was no exception, right down to the tiny flip flops that my daughter swears are erasers (and Jen's note confirms that!!). There is also a stitch marker, an SPF 15 Cocoa Butter Lip Balm that says Dog Days of Summer on it and also a cute measuring tape that keeps the theme going.

And last but not least, a water bottle with the theme printed on the front. Isn't it cute?

One final thing to tell you about....

When doing a search online for Lime Green eyeliner and eyeshadow, I came across a video on youtube of a girl applying this eye makeup. I have a THING for Lime green and her eyes looked awesome so I asked here where she got her eyeshadow. She told me she bought it on eBay and to do a search for '80 color eyeshadow' and that it came form Japan of all places. I hopped over to eBay and found it right away. I ended up winning an auction and got it for about $3 and then paid about $10 for shipping. Still, not a bad price when you see what i got. Look at all of the colors! I'm going to have FUN!!

The BIG day

The girls are coming home today. All four of us have been looking forward to this day since they left many weeks ago. It is just not natural for a mom to be without her children. It is the hardest thing I have to endure all year long each and every year. A BIG part of me knows how important it is for them to spend time with their dad and I wouldn't begrudge any of them this time together, but my god it is hard!

If any of my faithful readers ever find themselves in this situation, feel free to contact me. I've been through just about everything a mom can go through after a divorce.

I'll be heading to the airport in a few hours. After that we're going straight to Friendly's for dinner and Ice Cream Sundaes. "A" has been jonesing for ice cream since she left and they have a sugar free vanilla and sugar free hot fudge that she can have. (I'll actually probably let her have the full sugar kind as a special treat!)

We went to a wedding last night. I don't usually cry at weddings but this one was extra special. It was the wedding of hubby's childhood friend who had a severe drinking problem since their teenage years and has been maintaining his sobriety for the past few years. I was so PROUD of him last night. His wife looked gorgeous and he looked so happy. We've seen him at his lowest and last night was surely a high. This friend was actually supposed to be in our wedding and he ended up missing it entirely leaving a big hole in our wedding party because he had gotten so drunk at the bachelor party a week prior that he ended up checking himself into rehab for about the 5th time. What made it worse is that he didn't stay sober that time. Last night he looked at Fred and me and said, "Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot, especially since I missed yours. I'm REALLY sorry for that". Somehow, that apology made it ALL better.

So, maintaining anonymity, CONGRATULATIONS, "G" and "A". You looked beautiful last night and your ceremony touched me deeply.

I finished a hat

I fell in love with a yarn while up at Webs last week. It was in the warehouse and was priced with a "you can't leave me here" price. So, I bought enough for a hat, scarf and mitten set. I think I may give it to someone for Christmas when I am done. I love the way the hat turned out. On to the scarf next....

SP 12 Package :)

I got a package from my Secret Pal the other day. This is the first time I have had a chance to post a public thank you. As you can see in the picture it included two Cookie A patterns I had been wanting and that yarn is YARNTINI!!! woo-hooo. LOL She also sent some cute note-cards with my first initial on them, two Yankee Candle Buttercream candles (my favorite) and some sugar free candy.

Thanks Secret Pal! I love it all. (I didn't have time to take a picture of it before I unwrapped everything, but it was all wrapped up nicely in tissue paper and ribbon). :)

Please heed this important WARNING

(hehehehehe SNORT)

I'm in a funk today

God I'm so BLAH today! I am tired and have no reason to be. It's been storming a lot here this week. Maybe it has something to do with it.

We just went to a Flea Market. It's always fun seeing things from your childhood, even if it is just the tea pot your mom had. But, my God, was it a FREAK SHOW! The people in those places are S-C-A-R-Y looking! LOL I did manage to pick up a mirror that can be fixed up for "A" and "E" 's bedroom. They didn't have one and need one to make themselves beautiful before school. The guy gave it to us for free. It needs some fixing up but isn't too bad looking.

After the Flea Market we went to the mall. I picked up 4 uniform shirts for "M". She has to wear light blue this year. "A" needs dark blue but they didn't have any. I won't know what color "E" needs until she is registered for school up here. I have to make an appt to do that this week. I think I'll take a day off to do it. Why the hell not?

We went to the Christmas Tree Shop. I bought three mixers for drinks. One is Pomegranate, one is Mango and the last is just a boring Pina Colada one that sounded good at the time. Maybe I need a drink!

Hubby is about to go buy Steak and Lobsters, corn on the cob and baking potatoes for dinner. Then I think I will knit a bit on my sweater.

I went spinning up at webs yesterday and picked up some Rowan Big Wool on Clearance. It's maroon and yellow and really caught my eye. I think I am going to make myself a scarf, hat and mittens for this winter. The colors should make me happy during the long cold months.

I'm also going to make these two pairs very soon so I have them ready for the cold months. They make me smile. :)

Link to Ladybug Mittens on Ravelry - The chart they had was too tiny and hard to read so I made one in excel. You are welcome to download the picture and use it. You'll need to use a generic mitten pattern of your own. They have these in Latvian Mitten books, etc.

...and here is the link to the yellow mittens on Ravelry and to the actual pattern.

I got my hair cut yesterday too. I got a pixie. We left it a little longer on top so I can make it messy and funky too, but today I decided to wear it in the traditional pixie style. How does it look? (yes I am wearing a Ravelry shirt!)
I have to go do laundry so I have something to wear at the gym this week. ta-ta for now.

New Mitten Swap Blog is up

http://mittenswapthree.blogspot.com/

I think this might be my last one since it is such a hassle to get some people to follow through on sending packages and I get nothing in return for my efforts. That might sound selfish but the knitting swap world is brutal. In my scrapbooking days the hostess always received little thank you gifts which ALMOST made it worthwhile. LOL But not in the knitting swap world...which really kinda surprises me since knitters seem to be the nicest people on the face of the earth. Hmmmmm

So, anyway, if you want to do it one last time...go on over and join. I'm sitting this round out as a swapper so I can focus on getting everyone to do what they promised to do....grrrrr

What's better than floating in the pool with an icy beverage?

Tastefully Simple has these new Drink Buckets that you just add the alcohol to; Mango Breeze Margarita and Samba Sangria Slush.

The Mango Margarita is AWESOME! We had it on the 4th of July. Last night I tried the Sangria Slush in the Hot Tub and am about to go have a glass in the pool while i read my book.

Relaxing like this is me favorite part of summer. :)

If you haven't tried these, and you drink (of course), find a Demonstrator on the website and help her earn some money. It's a win-win situation. I happen to have a co-worker who sells it. If you live in Western MA and want her name, let me know.

Noni - Seussish Cat in the Hat Bag

This one has been snoozing for a looooooong time. I am trying very hard to keep my promise to myself that I will pick up and finish and old project each time I start a new project so that my WIP's do not continue to grow without resulting in any Finished Objects.

So, alas, I pulled this one out of the bottom of my knitting basket and worked on it until it was done. I hadn't felted in a little while so it was fun to do that again. This is so whimsical and came out just like Noni's sample. I am very pleased with it. I can't help but smile when I look at it. It's such fun! (as I have mentioned before, I live in Dr. Seuss' hometown (Springfield, MA) so I had other motivation to knit this particular pattern. I am sure it will get a lot of comments.)

Feel the Sweat. Own the Energy.

OMG I went to an Aerobics workshop today with Karla from Sudor Taino. She is a Detective with the Hartford CT police Department. She is so motivational, but a bit nuts. LOL

The workshop was three 45 min sessions. The first one was kick boxing which I have never done and had me drenched with sweat by the time I was done. WOW. What a workout! The second one was a Core Workout. Imagine doing squats etc with your pelvis tilted up. We even did squats on our toes and tons of crunches and bicycles. The third session was Dance. Tons of fun! We did some Salsa moves etc. I don't have much rhythm, but somehow with her leading us, I was able to shimmy, and shake my ass like a real pro (a white, rhythmless pro....hehe). Nevertheless, I got quite a workout, sweat about 40 pounds off (I wish) and had a ton of fun.

If you live in the Hartford area, you should look her up. She teaches at a gym in Newington, CT. I know her because my gym at work had her come in and do an hour workshop a couple of weeks ago (that was when I found out that it was possible to sweat from your eyelids....snort). I am so glad I went. It was the best $30 I have ever spent (as good as the $30 monthly fee I pay to belong to the gym at work which has helped me regain my strength and power).

If you don't work out.....now is the time. You just feel amazing. I used to hate to sweat. Now it helps me know that I have pushed all of the negative energy out and replaced it with self confidence and strength.

Today is the day I also decided to get back on the Weight Watcher's Core program too. I have been following it loosely for a few months (since "A" was diagnosed) and decided that I need to get back on track. This month is the year anniversary of the beginning of my weight loss journey. I've gained some weight back since I started at the gym and stopped being careful with my eating. I know some of it is muscle weight, but not all of it is. I still have about 30-40 pounds to get to "my goal".

I earned about 19 points working out today. LOL I'm just going to eat a bit extra at dinner. No more slipping even if I do have the points to spare.

Finally finished my Monkeys...

I cast these on MONTHS ago. I can never focus on one project so it took me forever to finish them. They sat in my knitting bag untouched for a long time after I cast on the second one. I vowed to never succumb to SSS (second sock syndrome) so I would knit on it a little bit now and then but never focused on it for a long period of time. A couple of months ago I talked about them at knitting and decided I had to do the heel and gusset. But after I did those, I put it aside again.

Last week I decided that I needed another completed project in my Ravelry Projects so I picked it up again and knit on it a little bit every day. Well, I finally finished them last night. They are blocking now. It'll be months before it is warm enough to wear socks again, but when that time comes, I am armed with a pair of hand knit ones!

If you look in my stash and queue at Ravelry, you notice a slight obsession with sock patterns and sock yarn.....so why on earth are these only my second pair of completed socks? LOL The first pair went to my mom, so these are my first. They should be quick to knit. I have no idea why I can't seem to focus on them.

SP 12 Package

I got a package from my Secret Pal. What a nice surprise for a rainy day. "E" left for FL today and "A" and "M" left for FL last weekend. So, I really needed a pick-me-up.

The package including some Sylph from Spritely Goods in Fairy Duster II colorway, WW Chocolate Candies, a yummy tasting Pomegranate Lip Balm, A note pad and some yarn cake plastic holders that I had on my "The Things I Want" wish list. They're really just simple plastic food containers, but have a hole cut in the bottom with a grommet of some type encasing the edges of the hole so the yarn doesn't snag on it. It keeps your yarn clean and untangled and is the perfect size for a cake of sock yarn.

Thanks Secret Pal!!

SP 12 Question of the Week #4

1) What yarn (that you don’t have/haven’t used) would make your stash “complete”? I don't think a stash can ever be "complete". Mine always evolves. I buy yarn with projects in mind, except for sock yarn. That's just an obsession....With that said, I would LOVE to someday have enough quiviut to make a lace stole, but it is so cost prohibitive. I suppose once I have all of the tools I need (still don't have a proper swift) and I have gone through a yarn purchasing drought, maybe I will be able to splurge on it. I'd also like to get some corn yarn and milk yarn. Lace or sock weights are always best, because I can make anything them. I usually stay away from worsted and bulky unless I am buying them for a specific sweater or felted bag pattern.

2) What yarn do you never want to be without? Sock yarn! DUH!! LOL I have so many favorite Indie Dyers but a few I can think of that I will purchase again and again are Yarn Love, Yarn Pirate, Wollmeise (when I can be lucky enough to get some without having to stalk anyone), Lime & Violet, Twisted, Three Irish Girls, Numma Numma, etc.

SP 12 Question of the Week #3

What would you consider the perfect amount of stash?

I think my stash is the perfect size. It is a mix of unspun roving, sock yarn, lace, and worsted weight. I have a great selection to choose from no matter what I want to knit and probably won't need to buy any more yarn for some time. (But of course you know I will!!)

Ravelry shows that I have just over 300. Some of those are single skeins and some are multiple skeins. have at least 100+ of sock yarn alone. I love it so much in the skein and hope that I will love it as much when it is knit up.

SP 12 Question of the Week #2

As a kid, what did you look forward to most about summer vacation/break/holiday?

I loved to play under the sprinkler. We had the kind that made an arc as it moved back and forth. So, my friend (who later became my step sister) and I used to try to run underneath it without getting hit. A couple of years we also had the one that went around in the circle one stop at a time and then it would race back really fast in the other direction. We used to jump over it and try to not let it hit us.

We used to also play games like TV Tag, and Freeze Tag. Dodgeball was also something we played alot along with kick ball. I miss the days of being able to play outside with a group of kids. The way the world is now, my kids don't get to experience that. It doesn't help that we live in a city and there is nowhere for them to play. It also seems like most people keep to themselves these days. I don't really know any of my neighbors. It's quite sad.

How about you?

SP 12 Question of the Week #1

What is your favorite summertime drink??

My favorite summer drink is my favorite drink, year round! It's Decaf Luzianne Iced Tea. YUMMMMM! It hits the spot and just a taste of it after a long stressful day at the office is enough to unwin the knots. I can't get it up here in the north, so I have to enlist a couple of wonderful friends who live in the South to mail it to me when I run low. I have a Mr. Coffee Iced tea maker and I use the Family Sized bags. No one in my house is allowed to drink my iced tea and a new pot is made the very second I empty the pitcher so I always have it available.

It's a sickness. LOL

Package from my SP12 pal ALREADY!

I feel so special. I got a package today from my SP12 pal just to "get things started". Very sweet! It was the Tubby pattern from http://Mochimochiland.com/shop .

Isn't it adorable?? Thanks Pal!!!

2008 Woolgirl Sock Club 2nd installment

I got my sock club package today. It's "Frogging" themed. (Rip-it. Rip-it. Rip-it. :) Everything has to do with Tree Frogs. I'm not crazy about tree frogs but everything is so cute. The yarn colorway is not something I would have picked out for myself but I think they'll be cool knit up and you can't beat GREEN. The pattern is called Froggin' and is designed by Lisa Dykstra. The yarn is Froggin by Dashing Dachs (I got sport weight. We had the choice of fingering or sport for some packages). There was also a couple of little frogs that my kids inherited, a frog pencil that went to "A", a frog lollipop that went to "M" and some other things that are shown in bigger pictures below:

Here is a close up of the yarn. Definitely not something I would have picked up but I LOVE IT. Every one is handpainted and the colors differ. Some have more blue, more orange or more red. I can't tell yet, but mine looks to be pretty even for all colors.

Here is the cutest notebook I have ever seen. It's a key ring!

Then we have a stitch marker made out of clay. The detail is amazing and it is so tiny. Look at my thumbnail for comparison. It is from WeeOnes at http://www.weeones.etsy.com/ . I think these frogs are exclusive but they have some really cute ones. Check them out! (I've made clay stitch markers. These are incredibly small and the designer is hugely talented!)

This is a hand-crafted bamboo 1 inch square stitch gauge with Frog designs etched into it. You can find them at http://www.karatstix.etsy.com/

and finally, a calculator engraved with "Woolgirl 2008 Sock Club" to count stitches when, inevitably, you need to "frog" a project.

I'm so glad I joined this club. I will definitely join again next year!

How Massachusetts are you?

You Are 60% Massachusetts

You're likely a Massachusetts transplant. Big rotaries still scare you, and you probably live outside of 495.

I'm a transplant from CT and have been in MA since 2001. I guess some things run deep even across state lines. LOL

How "Massachusetts" are you?

SP12 Questionnaire (I always spell that wrong)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?

My favorite yarns to knit with are anything natural, especially alpaca. I think the only yarn I haven't splurged on yet (that is within a normal price range) is Cashmere (or maybe I do have some cashmere sock yarn). I also don't have quiviut, but that's probably an obvious one. I would say that I don't like acrylic but since I am obsessed with Alan Dart patterns, it's one that I have been buying a lot. His patterns use Sirdar DK yarns. My obsessions are Hand Dyed Roving/Top for spinning and Handpainted Sock yarns. I covet yarntini because it is so hard to find. I've only ever scored one. I actually have more Wollmeise than I do Yarntini!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have 2 sets of Denise Interchangeables that are in their own cases. Then I have a cloth roll up thingy that I made for my straights. It's a PITA to get the needles out when I want a new set. I have my DPNs in a cloth Crochet hook case and they don't fit properly. I have every size and the bigger sizes are too long for what I am using. I also don't have anything for my crochet hooks. I don't crochet much but I still have a full set of hooks. LOL (you never know when you might need something)

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I have been knitting for about a year and a half. My kids taught me the long tail cast-on and the knit stitch and I have taught myself everything else by doing. Believe it or not, I consider myself to be Intermediate. I can't say I am advanced since I have not done a big lace project and have not tackled Entrelac or Double Knitting yet, but I have done pretty much everything else, and done it well.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yep - they are linked on the right. Amazon has the books I want and "the Things I Want" has everything else. :)

5. What’s your favorite scent?

Fresh Baked Bread. Yankee Candle Buttercream scent.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, but I am a Weight Watcher. :) I love Weight Watcher's chocolates, especially the coconut ones and the Toffee ones (Like Heath Bars)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Yes I spin. I have a Louet S10 and just got a Woolee Winder for it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Yes I can play MP3. I love classic rock, Blues, Jazz, Top40. Basically anything except Hardcore Rap, Heavy Metal and country. I DESPISE country. (sorry if you are a fan LOL)

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?

I love color! I tend to stay away from Jewel tones but they are nice when mixed in funky ways with other colors. I love Lime green (aka acid green), Orange, Brown, Turquoise, Brown, Lime Green, Brown, Red, and Brown. (heheheheheh SNORT) I love REALLY trendy color combos.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am married to a very funny and adorable man who puts up with my crap without too much complaining. I have 3 daughters. One lives with her Dad, but she's here with me this month. She's a TEENAGER!!! YIKES. She actually just completed her Frosh year. At the end of the month, all three will go to spend time with him and I will have 8 weeks alone with hubby. It isn't as nice as it sounds, and it's also not terrible. ;0) I miss them like crazy. Every year it gets easier, but it's still tough. I do enjoy the free time though and not having to worry about anyone except myself for 2 months. Meals, free time, etc. I have a Pomeranian, and a long haired indoor cat. The dog and cat are lesbian lovers. :) - We are very open and accepting of all kinds of love here.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes, nice lacy ones or very trendy ones for scarves, funky or trendy for hats (winter ones), any cool mittens (I hate gloves, I am definitely a mitten person) and no to ponchos. It's 2008 thank you very much.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks and Knit Toys. I have lots and lots of Alan Dart and Jean Greenhowe patterns, but I don;t have them all. I also really want some of the mochi mochi patterns, especially the bathtub!

13. What are you knitting right now?

3 different pairs of socks. I just finished my first sweater and the Alan Dart gnome. I am about to cast on for the AD Easter Bunny and plan on finishing some of my WIPs shown in my Ravelry project page.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Depends on what it is. Tough to be PC on this one.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circulars. I am knitting one pair of socks with 2 circulars and another with magic loop (2 at a time socks). I tend to use the shorter bamboo straights when I use straights at all. I need quite a few of the sizes on those still. My ravelry needle thing is updated with what I have already.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I have a yarn winder but I really need a swift. I am holding out for a wooden one. I always seem to need something else when I go to buy one so it gets put on hold. Currently I am using a skeiner. It works, it's just not portable or compact.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

lol probably a year and a half. I have a drop stitch scarf I cast on for back when I first learned. Eventually I will finish it and gift it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas!!!! Every year I hope my birthday will become a favorite, but I always seems to get let down because I expect much more than I ever get (in attention, not in monetary things).

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Sock yarn and Roving!! LOL

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I buy what I want, so I am not dying for anything that is actually affordable except for what I have already mentioned. I really want a skeiner that a lady on my Louet group's husband makes that winds perfect 2 yard skeins. But, that's about $100+ I also want a Bulky Flyer/Bobbin for my Louet S10, but again that is very pricey. My wish lists are the best way to go.

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?

I have the yarn and pattern all ready for entrelac. I'd like to learn Double knitting. Eventually I will take the time to do that.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yep! 9" circumference which is usually a ladies medium.

23. When is your birthday?

January 25th, and it sucked per usual. ;0)

24. What’s your Ravelry ID?

Knitiot.

These kids are NUTS

We set up the pool yesterday and filled it up. The hose is still running to finish filling it so you can imagine how cold the water is.....

My kids are CRAZY! They didn't want to wait to go in so they are in there freezing their butts off. They had to dare each other to go under. That's like an ice headache from the outside in! But, then again, it's not much different from swimming in the ocean in NH or Maine during the hottest weeks of the summer since that water is always cold (which is why I spend my time in a lounge chair on the beach knitting or reading a book)!

I'll be waiting a few weeks before I get in there. But, I can tell you, I am looking forward to floating around in there with a Margarita as soon as possible....

MA Sheep & Wool Festival

I went to the MSWF today and got lots of awesome fiber. Here's a few pics to make you drool:


Merino Silk ----------------------------------Merino Tussah

Enchanted Knoll Farm Merino---------------- Enchanted Knoll Farm Merino

Enchanted Knoll Farm Tussah Silk-----------Spunky Eclectic Superwash Merino

Foxfire Fiber & Design Merino Silk------------ Acker's Acres Bunny Blend (Angora/Merino)

Isn't it boooootiful???

We had a great day. I went up with the gals from my knitting group. (Ladies, I adore you and enjoy your company so much!) "A" went with us too. She enjoyed seeing the animals. She did a little weaving which we all thought was pretty cool and we bought some fiber for her so I can teach her how to spin. I'm glad she is showing an interest in it! :) (Happy mom).

It was much smaller than Rhinebeck and not much yarn. But, since I am all about Roving right now, I thought it was perfect. I enjoyed seeing people that I have met at Webs while spinning with my friend and also some Ravelry friends.

I also took my "2-at-a-time socks" books and had it signed by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. We all sat and knit for a bit too.

Thanks to Lexie, Jenn and Mary Alice for a great Saturday!

Meet my friend Sven....

This is my new little friend. He's an Alan Dart Gnome, and my first AD knit toy. Looking at him makes me smile. :)

I perfected mattress stitch on this little guy. Lots of seaming. But it was a quick knit and will definitely knit some more to keep him company.

Love notes...

I came home from work on 4/22/08 and found this in my driveway...

This stuff reminds me why I wanted kids so badly. :) This was a message from my daughter "A" out of appreciation for all of the time and attention I have devoted to her, especially since her diagnosis.

Sock Club stuff

I forgot to post this.....

I got the Loopy Ewe Don't Be Blue Kit since I didn't get into their Sock Club. The kit was cool. Blue isn't my color but the theme was cool and it's Dream in Color yarn so you can't miss. There was also a Chocolate Kiss for the shower which is really cool. It came from a shop on etsy named GudonyaToo. They sell all kinds of cool vegan "Bath" products. I just put in an order for some stuff and can't wait to get it. The kit also included a Terry Ross sock pattern, a blue Loopy Ewe keyring and a small project bag which is currently holding a sock in progress.

So, I'm not as Blue about not getting into the club as I first was because this prompted me to go hunting for another club and I found the Woolgirl Sock Club which I love. Here is my first kit from that club:

It included a Mama Llama exclusive colorway inspired by Georgia O'Keefe's paintings, a really cool sock pattern, a medium sized project bag (which is holding my first sweater project) and a pen, stitch marker and notecards picturing more purple yarn.

So, there you have it. My first sock club kits. Not too shabby.

New Stuff in my Etsy Shop

I've been busy today. I put some new stuff in my etsy shop. I made some cool things to help you keep your place in your knitting patterns (like the Pattern Tamers). I call them Knitting Buddies and sell the individually, but have three sizes (6", 9" and 13") so a knitter can buy a whole set. I thought it would be a good idea to sell the individually because I know not everyone has a need for all different sizes, and this way someone can mix and match what they like. I hope they do well. I also have stitch markers for sale.

Here is a picture of them....neat, huh?

Some results from my spinning adventure...

Here is my first handspun. It's Mama Llama C*eye*ber Fiber Merino Roving. The colorway is called "It's a Mystery". You can see where the thick and thin is plied and the plying isn't the greatest. But, it's my first handspun and will become a lovely scarf.



Here is my second handspun. It was dyed by a dyer I found on etsy. The shop is CopperPot Woolies and is also Merino. I have 3 more of her colorways waiting to be spun up. I'm a big fan of her stuff. It's beautififul!

You can see that it has less thick and thin areas and the plying is much better. I did one bobbin with a stripe pattern and the second bobbin, I combined the colors into one big mix. I love the way it turned out. I'm not sure what I can make out of it because I only ended up with 116 yards, but I'll find something, I am sure.



I am working on my third now. I am getting a really consistent thickness and the singles are thin enough that I think I'll be able to get fingering weight out of it once it is plied. The roving I am using this time is Corriedale, which has a longer staple length and is much easier to spin (in my opinion). I chose to leave that one natural and am going to try dying it myself once it is spun up.

Fun!

Just read....don't nag :)

Yes, I know I am being bad, and no I won't go backwards....I have come too far. But, I have to say that i have really fallen off of the WW wagon since A has gotten sick. I was so bad this weekend. We drove up to Maine to drop M off at my Mom's for the week. I ate so much junk food. I am now topping it off with Chinese delivery tonight. I used to get it at least once per week. I have gotten it occasionally since I started WW but I always get steamed shrimp with veggies and Brown Rice...tonight, I am eating my old stuff, Kung Pao Chicken, Fried Rice and Crab Rangoon. When I put my order in the girl on the line said, "no celery right?" LOL I guess that just goes to show how often I used to frequent their delivery services in the past.

Anyway, I am going to enjoy it. It's back on the wagon tomorrow. Summer is almost here and I want to lose a bit more before then.

On another topic, I bought a spinning wheel. I got it in the mail on Thursday before I left for my weekend away. Since I have only spun at my knitting night twice (on my friend's wheel) and for a little bit Thursday night, I decided to bring it to Maine with me. I'm doing pretty good! I'll have questions when it cometo plying, but I have the hang of drafting and spinning so that i am getting a pretty consistent thickness on my first spool.

Here's the wheel I bought. It's a Louet S10 DT (double treadle)

Sooo exciting!!!

Another updated pic of me

I can only stomach doing this when I also post the before pic of me. For some reason, I like how I look in the mirror, but when it comes to pictures, I think I look terrible. But, I'll do anything for my faithful blog readers, so here is another updated pic of me.

Before (circa June 2007) ----------------------Now

I don't know if it is the style of the shirt, or what, but I truly don't think I look as bad as this picture "says" I do. It doesn't look like there has been much change at all, and in my mind, I know that's not true.

"Lots of info" update

Let's see.....what's going on here?

I just got back from a run. I managed to get 1.6 miles before crapping out. Considering it is only my 2nd run since sometime last Fall, I figure that ain't half bad.

I bought a bathing suit this past weekend. It looks far better than it would have if I had never started down the fitness and weight loss path since last summer, but I am still not happy with my appearance, so I am going to push even harder in aerobics class and my running before beach season gets here.

I got new 3 new pairs of glasses. One pair is a brown plastic pair of Vogue, another is a pair of prescription sunglasses that remind me of the 1950's or 1960's Hollywood glam and finally my favorite pair which are Miu Miu clear plastic.

Here is a random picture of my kitty in her favorite place; on top of my laptop. I have to keep it closed because she'll sit on it and lay on the keyboard if I don't. I have had 100's of windows opened in the past. ;0)

I took A to the ER on Thursday. She had a week of mysterious pains that moved form her chest and stomach to her leg, then her upper thigh, then back to her stomach. She was pitiful, and by Thursday I decided that I needed to be sure that it was just a harmless side effect of her meds. They confirmed that it was. She's been ok since. I think she needed to hear them say that she was ok.

My friend Mary Alice brought her spinning wheel to our knitting group Wednesday night. After I got the hang of it, I had so much fun. She gave me my first hand spun to keep. It's terrible. LOL But I guess I can improve because I bought my own!! I'll post when I get it. I got a Louet (like hers) but I got a double treadle. I got some Brown Sheep Top Fleece to practice with too. Once I get better, I'll buy more fun wool, but wanted to start with something basic to practice with.

I also got a bunch of new sock yarns in Loopy Ewe's last sneak up. Here is a montage:

The Shibui Knits is for a pair of Transitions Gloves. I think the Orange and Brown will look cool together. Very Retro!

More later...

Med Mod

We had to modify A's meds today. Stating last night sh was complaining that it was hard to breathe. She was taking a double dose in the mornings and evenings, so beginning tonight we are going to cut it in half. I lucked into the 50mg dose on clearance at Walgreen's, so I bought the last 4 bottles. Hopefully, she will be ok with the new dose and we can continue it, but if not, I only lost $20. It's worth the gamble because I got them for a third of their original price.

I also picked her up some Sugar Free Reese's cups, SF Andes Candies and SF York Peppermint Patties. She's been craving candy since we cut out the sugar, so hopefully these will help. I have already warned her not to eat more than 1 piece a day since SF candies can have a laxative effect. That's all this poor kid needs!

Not much else going on. I skipped my weigh in tonight. I have knitting tomorrow and don't want to be out two nights in a row, so soon after everything. I'm still being good. My aerobics class today was awesome. We did upper body strength training. I'm toning up nicely. I saw the perfect shirt at Hot Topic this weekend. It said, "Call the vet, these puppies are sick" and it had a picture of a guy flexing his muscles. If it was a woman I would have bought it LOL.

I bought a couple of really cool glasses this weekend at Lens Crafters (and some prescription sunglasses). I'll try to take a picture soon so you can see my new hair color and each set of glasses. One pair is brown plastic, the other are clear (yes completely see through) and the sun glasses remind me of a 60's Hollywood actress.

Update on A

The meds she was on were not doing a darn thing to help her and the side affects were terrible. I did some research on other treatment options so that we could try something new and found that there are some vitamins and other supplements that have helped people with Tourette's. Two specifically are 5HTP and DHEA. I have read that DHEA is a hormone so my doctor is looking into whether it would be safe for "A" since she has not gone through puberty fully. In the meantime we started her on a multi-vitamin and the 5HTP. She began taking it Thursday night.

We also cut sugar and caffeine out of her diet. We scoured the grocery aisles for replacements for the high sugar cereal she is used to eating and for healthy snacks. We found some organic cereals to try. One is a Wheat Puffs cereal put out by our grocery store, Big Y, which tastes like Sugar Smacks but is sweetened by organic wheat syrup. The other one is a "Cheerios" type cereal put out by Kashi. She likes both of them so it won't be too much of a hardship on her (this kid loves sugar!!). We also bought some snack crackers and fruit for snacks. My lucky husband gets all of the left over Easter candy. LOL

So yesterday was her first full day off of sugar and caffeine and on the 5HTP and multi-vitamin. I am happy to say that her tics seemed to be decreased last night, even after holding them in all day at school and she fell asleep after about 4 minutes in bed. EUREKA! I think we're on to something!

I am so glad that this seems to be working. The side affects from the first medication she was placed on made her really weak and tired and didn't seem to help her tics even a little bit. I am going to continue my research and see if I can find anything else to help, but we seem to be on the right track.

On another subject, i have an eye doctor appt today at Lenscrafters. I lost my vision insurance when my company was acquired by another one this past summer. I found that Lenscrafters accepts my new (really really bad) medical insurance so that will save me $70 on the exam and i found a 50% off coupon for the lens portion of my new glasses. I am excited to get my new glasses. Do they still tout that you can have your glasses in about an hour or is that somewhere else? LOL I don't want to wait for them! (I think I am actually going to buy two new pairs because they have some really cool frames there)

I got my Seatbelt Bag!

This is a picture of my Harveys Seat Belt Bag. It came in the mail today. One of my knitting friends, Jenna, has one and I have been coveting it since I first saw her with it at Rhinebeck last year. Hers is red and I was convinced that I wanted a red one, also, but when I saw this new color, Mojito which is new this Spring, I knew I had to have it instead. (the picture does not do the color any justice. It is gorgeous IRL)

The bags are very sturdy, and yes they are constructed from seat belts. Even the handles are made from seat belts folded in half lengthwise. Inside, there is a cell phone pocket, another pretty big open pocket and also a zipped pocket. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes (including laptop bags) and also a variety of cool colors and prints. I have a feeling I will own quite a few more of these in the near future!! Visit them at http://www.seatbeltbag.com

Today was also "Dyeing Easter Eggs" Day in our house. I let the girls do them all by themselves with just a little bit of help with the measuring. We have a tradition in our house to make a "poopy" egg, which is an egg that has been dipped in every single color resulting in a brownish-green color. It started years ago when my oldest daughter "E" did an experiment to see what would happen if she put an egg in all of the colors, and it's stuck. This year we made two so both girls could do one. LOL This is "A" on the left and "M" on the right. The "inventor" of the poopy egg is "E" and she lives in FL now with her Dad. (nice hair, right? LOL)

HBO program I blogged about yesterday...

I don't think enough people know what Tourette's is and how it affects people who suffer from it. I mentioned that I had recorded the program and made copies for my mom and daughter. It is coming back on 3/25. If you'd like to watch it, mak sure you tune in. Or, if you don't have HBO, I'd be glad to send you a copy.

If you'd like one, please email me with your contact info at mittenexchange at gmail dot com . I'd be glad to send you a copy.

I think it's important that other children learn about this to make it easier for other children they come in contact with who may be have it. Kids only tend to be mean when they don't understand why someone is different than they are.

I am considering asking our school to play it for the students who surround "A" on a daily basis so she can be more accepted and not have to feel so self conscious.

Update on "A"

I know I haven't mentioned exactly what is going on with "A" yet, so here goes.....

She got along ok today. She is starting to have muscle aches in her stomach area from the movements involved in screaming out repeatedly, and her medicine makes her extremely weak. This coupled with the fact that it doesn’t seem to be doing a damn thing to help stop or slow her tics, leaves me wondering what the hell the point is for the meds. We’ll definitely be discussing other meds at her Dr. appt on Monday night.

Tonight she told me that she is afraid that she will be running out of her classroom too much, when she goes back to school on Monday because the tics come so frequently. It will get in the way of her education if she does that. But, imagine being an 11 yr old girl having to scream “love you” over and over at the top of your lungs while all of your peers are trying to learn. Sometimes it comes out so loud and abbreviated that it does just sound like a bark or something. She just moans after them sometimes because they knock the wind out of her. If that doesn't do her in, she'll surely die of embarrassment (ask any 11 yr old girl).

Today we went to the mall to buy Easter outfits for both girls. They got adorable sundresses at Pac Sun. "A" is comfortable enough to let the tics come out while in public but we both agree that it is because the people around her are strangers and she doesn’t give a damn what strangers think. I told her that if anyone stared at her to calmly say “It’s called Tourettes, go home and do some research”. Short and sweet, not rude, but to the point. She liked that and gave me a giggle.

Tonight we discussed how much better it is to shout Love ya than to say obscene words. She said “yeah, beep beep beep beep beeeep” We both laughed a lot at that. I’m glad that humor is still alive in this home. It helps A LOT!

Tomorrow we'll spend the day coloring Easter eggs, and Sunday we are going to Brunch with the whole fam damn-ily. It'll be a quiet, subdued day, so I am not sure how "A" will feel. We've decided to take 2 cars so she and I can leave if she wants to. Our strategy is to take frequent walks outside if she needs to let the tics out. It physically hurts her to keep them in, so I am a little nervous to let her try for too long.

Coincidentally, there was a great program on HBO last night called "I have Tourettes, but it doesn't have me". All 4 of us watched it as a family this morning and I burned copies on DVD to send to my older daughter and their father down in FL and to my Mom up in ME. It helped me to see other kids suffering from this disorder, yet succeeding at so many things. "A" said that it didn't help her much, but I think it did because tonight at bedtime she was talking to me about one of the boys who also had a vocal tic to deal with. I think it was good for her to identify with someone else and not feel so isolated. One of her biggest complaints this week was how lonely she felt even though she was never alone.

On a lighter subject, my big moment of the day today, was buttoning and zipping a wicked cute pair of shorts from the Juniors department. I’ve taken a nose dive on the WW front this week. We’ve eaten Chinese, Friendly’s Ice Cream sundaes, Dairy Queen, Nachos and Cheese, etc. And GUESS WHAT? I’ve lost freaking 4 pounds!! I think I needed to jump start my metabolism again. I am hoping it stays there so I can weigh in at that weight. That would mean that I finally made it down to the 50 pound mark.

Please continue to think good thoughts for us and pray for us if that is your thing....

YAY! I got my package for the NMHM swap!

I was spoiled!! You have no idea how much I needed this package! My partner Lori sent me beautiful Sea Mineral Mittens, the book "Colorful Stitchery" which is all about embroidery and is perfect considering I did embroidery on the mittens I made for my partner (I can't wait to embroider on something else! and it's by Kristin Nicholas who also wrote one of my favorite knitting books, "Kristin Knits". She's amazing with color.), the book "At Knit's End -Meditations for Women who Knit too Much" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka The Yarn Harlot, Sock Blocker keychain, the pattern for the Baby Bobbi Bear to go with 2 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton (which can be crossed off my list of yarns to knit with :) ), a skein of some beautiful yarn that she dyed and spun herself which is DK to Sport weight and 100% Alpaca (scrumptiously soft), the pattern for Knitty's Spirogyra Gloves which I REALLY wanted to knit and now I have the perfect yarn for them now, and finally Whipped Shea Butter from Frost Fish Cove Soaps and some spa masks to pamper myself with. Below is a shot of the handspun yarn up close.

This package really couldn't have come at a better time. It's been a really rough, emotional week. My daughter A was diagnosed with a "condition" that is very tiring in itself and the medicine prescribed for her symptoms makes her very weak and exhausted. We're all very scared and don't know what to expect. So, there's been a lot of time spent researching online and crying and comforting. She's been sleeping with me at night because she is too afraid to be alone with the newness of all of this, and we've both been home trying to figure out what our "new normal" is. In time, I will share more, but for now, we're keeping it private. I know everyone who reads this blog cares for me and will understand. Someone out there may just have the answers we are looking for.

She's an incredibly bright child. My main focus is to make sure she continues to see a bright future ahead of her and continues to love learning and not withdraw from friends and the experiences that life has in store for her. We went to her school today to speak with the administration in order to set up a plan so she has an "escape" from the classroom if she needs one. Some of her friends saw her and said hi from inside the classrooms. I could hear them asking her when she would be returning. It was nice to see that she has friends who miss her. She's in the other room as I type this talking on a 3-way call with some friends who are reassuring her that no one will laugh at her in class. This is exactly what she needs form them so I am happy about that. She's very nervous about going back.

Keep us in your thoughts.

My No-More-Humdrum-Mittens Round 2 Mittens are complete

So, these are them. :) It's just a basic mitten pattern.....before the embroidery was on them, my pals at my Stitch and Bitch Group affectionately called them "Poopie Mittens" LOL Well guess what? They must have made GREAT fertilizer because there are some GAWGEOUS flowers sprouting up on them! hehehe

Personally, I love the color combo but i am worried that my partner won't. I think they look kinda retro.

I've never really done any embroidery before. The Orange flower and the blue and white flower are crocheted circles that are attached with lazy daisies. The blue and orange flower is just free form lazy daisies and the leaves are free form.....I guess you call it satin stitch, and then there are some tiny flowers made out of french knots.

Long overdue update on me....

I've been such a bad blogger! I've been busy knitting for a couple deadlines, we had a death in the family and work has been busy. Gosh I have so much to say, so much has happened.

I'm drawing a blank. I can't remember if I mentioned that I joined a gym a month ago (and don't want to open another window to look on the blog to find out, quite frankly LOL). I just completed my fourth week. I feel so much stronger already. I might have mentioned before that I was in the Army about a hundred years ago, so the muscle was there, it was just covered up with fat. My legs and arms have toned back up nicely. I had reached a plateau with WW and knew that it was time to add in the exercise. I missed weigh in last week so I am not exactly sure, but I do not believe that I have lost a pound still since beginning the exercise. Logically I know that this is because I am building muscle. But, I hope to see some more weight loss soon.

The gym is in my office building and there are aerobics classes early in the morning and at lunch. I go from 11:20-12pm every day, Monday through Friday. Monday is Basic Step, Tuesday is "Hard Top" where we focus on our top half using hand weights, Wednesday is Intermediate Step, Thursday is "Rock Bottom" where we concentrate on our bottom half with lunges and squats galore, and Friday is "Boot Camp" when we do a mixture of everything and is tons of fun. It's never the same from week to week. I LOOOOOVE IT! I am so glad that I joined. It's such a nice break during the day.

I missed my weigh in this week because I had scheduled another full body massage. While there I asked if they had any openings for a haircut and they did so I went for it and got all of my hair chopped off. Here's a pic. I love it in the mirror but not so much in this picture. It's wicked cute. It's choppy and messy and I pull the bangs to the side in a bobby pin. We took tons of pictures and this is the best one of the lot. I chopped off the bottom half of my face because I am so disgusted that after losing nearly 50 pounds and working my buns off for a month, I still have a bit of a double chin. (YUCK)

It is so much easier to do my hair after my shower at the gym. Since my class is 40 min I don't really have much time to fuss with my appearance and I can never get away without showering. I had been wearing my hair in a pony tail every day and when it gets to that point, I get bored with it and need a change. With my hair short,it takes less than 60 seconds to dry and then I just mess it up with my handy dandy wicked expensive hair paste and slip the front into a bobby pin. VIOLA! GAWGEOUS!!

This morning we went to hubby's sister's baby shower. I knit her the Saartjes Bootees, Olive You hat from "Itty Bitty Knits" and the Presto Chango sweater. I was up until midnight last night sewing up the seams and finishing the Lace front of the sweater.

Here they are:

Then to round off the day, I took the two crazy kids to get their hair done. They also went from long hair to short. This is M's front:

This is M's back:

This is A's front and side:

and this is A's back:

I ate a half of a bagel with cream cheese and three slices of bacon this morning at the shower. It's the first time I have had it since sometime before July when I started WW. It was an OK treat but now i want to go out running to work it off. It's POURING out though! :0(

Please don't think less of me.....

...but I think this is hilarious!!

7 Random Things About Me

I've been tagged by My last International Tote Exchange Partner, Shawnee, who knit the awesome pink/brown/white harlequin bag located in my post archives.

Here are the rules, and they must be posted to your blog:

1. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (see above).
2. List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!

And now, my 7 things:

1. I was An MP in the Army (hoo-rah)
2. I am obsessed with Sock yarn
3. I am proud of the fact that I am successful in the business world without a college degree based on my drive, and desire to be the best.
4. I have always wanted to own a Convertible and cannot die before I do.
5. Like Shawnee, I have been dying my hair since my 20's to cover my gray and have tried every natural color except black. (only blonde once and never again! LOL). I love being a brunette and have been trying unsuccessfully to recapture my natural color.
6. I like to be differerent. I want to have an edgy hairstyle but can't find a hairdresser who is willing to give me one that will look good on me. I am on a lifelong hunt for the perfect pair of edgy eyeglasses. So far, I have one pair of red cat glasses with rhinestones on them. I like to stand out from the crowd. (there is a heavily tattooed, psycho knitter hiding inside of me)
7. I WANT to be addicated to fitness, and am giving it a real go with aerobics and plan on being a very active runner by the summer.

And now, for the tagging:

1. My buddy and motivator Kris
2. My SP 11 pal Katie
3. Loopy friend Kellie
4. My knitting friend Jenn
5. My knitting friend Eina
6. My knitting friend Jenna
7. My knitting friend Linda

I did it!!

I survived my first day back at aerobics. We have a gym in my office building and I finally broke down and joined. They have aerobics classes during lunch every day, and since I used to love taking the classes, I decided it was time to go. It's been eight years since I went last, but it was like riding a bike. All of the steps came back to me. It whipped my ass, but I made it through the class. LOL (although it did take about an hour for my normal color to come back to my face LOL).

After class I took a shower, then ran to get my salad in the cafeteria and ate at my desk. All in all, it took about an hour so it's very doable on a daily basis (and really convenient). Do you ever find it hard to wake up early to exercise, or choose exercise over the couch after a long day of work? This is perfect for me.

Today was Basic Step, Tuesday concentrates on our top half with weights added in, Wednesday is Intermediate Step, Thursday concentrates on our bottom half and Friday is Cardio Boot Camp.

Endpaper Mitts Completed

Phew! They're done. I can't believe I actually completed them, and ON TIME! Yes these are for a swap. I am going to give them away!!

You can find the pattern HERE

They were a lot of work but the knitting went quick. These were my second stranding project and I have gotten quite good at it. If I haven't mentioned before, I am a continental knitter and am self taught. Anytime I need to learn something new, I look at all of the different ways it can be done and I choose the way that seems most natural for me. I strand with both yarns in my left hand. Some people knit with one in each hand.






This is a shot of the inside. No bunching and no long floats. I guess this is a sign of an experienced strander??? Everyone always turns my stuff inside out and inspects it. Is this good? I have no idea!

Presenting........the 2007 Bobby Awards Prizes

Here are my prizes from the Bobby Awards...

This is the only picture with the bag in it. I LOVE it! It's Lime green with longish handles and a pocket on th front where the Ravelry logo is.

Here is my award. :) Under "The Bobbys 2007" it says "the official inaugral year of the unofficial ravelry awards". (Have a mentioned yet how stinking excited I am to have won this honor???)

These are probably my favoritist part of my prize (yeah I know it's not a word, get over knit hehehe SNORT) I plan on getting "frogged" asap so I can use these babies. :) (for you non-knitters, frogging is ripping out your knitting to fix a mistake or, in this case, it means something entirely different) ;0)

Then I got these pins... (I typed my name on this one with Photoshop)


I think this one is WICKED cute!
and this one is Ravelry's "motto"

Here are two cool lapel pins. The doggie is "bob", Ravelry's official mascot and the other is the Ravelry symbol.

and this is a sticker with Bob on it

This prize is better than I could have hoped for. Definitely not something I could pick up just anywhere, and they made me feel special. :)

I always thought I was funny. It's nice to know other people think so too. LOL (my husband thinks that he's funny as long as he's laughing. it's nice to have some validation to support my claims)

I saw "The Bucket List" this weekend

You have to see this movie. It's funny, it's poignant, it's REAL!

I absolutely love Jack Nicholson, and this movie is one of his finest. Morgan Freeman was also great and it was a pleasant surprise to see Sean Hayes, of Will & Grace fame.

My favorite quote form the movie is, "There are three things to remember when you are old; never pass up a bathroom, never waste a hard on and never trust a fart".

If you see the movie, let me know what you thought about it. And don't forget to see my bucket list posted below.

Regarding the Bobby Awards on Ravelry

I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON - I WON -


lol!

I am so stinking excited!!!

LMAO@ME!!!

When walking into work the other morning, it was FREEZING and pretty icy. I came upon the large containers that they have at the entry way of work that always host really pretty flower arrangements year round. Because of the time of year, they currently have Pine branches and other branches with red berries all over them. I was awestruck by how beautiful they looked because there was ice all over the berries. See below...

So, as I walked into work, I thought how wonderful and beautiful the world is. :)

Fast forward to this morning, not so chilly.....the berries still had the same AMOUNT of ice on them. So, I bent down for a closer look and reached forward and touched them. THEY'RE PLASTIC!!!! Ice and ALL!!! LOL

MORON.....

Are you on Ravelry?

If so, can you help? I am knitiot over there.

I was nominated for a Bobby Award for funniest Ravatar.

I am in the lead, right now but the margin is slim. If you think it's funny can you please go on over and click on agree under my Ravatar? It's number 45 at http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-bobbys/63865/26-50



This is it...


If you already voted for me, THANKS SO MUCH!!!

(I would be so happy to win this title!!!)

UPDATE - It's Wednesday night and I have over 500 votes (HOLY COW!!!). Thank you all so much! Please keep the votes coming. 2nd place is only 20 votes behind me last time I checked! YIKES!

Kris - I will blog soon. Been busy with work, etc. Lost another two pounds this week and my knitting group is up and off the ground with quite a few wonderful women. I couldn't be happier (even though I turn 37 on Friday!!!)

Courtesy of my good friend Pam...

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. If you're choking on an ice cube simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you'll be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

9. If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

Daily Thought: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES. NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

Winter Wonderland

This is what I woke up to this morning. This is what it looked like out my front door....



...and this is what it looked like out my back door. Look at that tree! GORGEOUS! and the fence to the left and the right of the tree is a metal chain link fence. It's completely covered.



This is what my dog Lila looked like when she came in after a romp in the snow. She bounds around the yard in it. It's hilarious to watch. (she's affectionately known around here as Wiwa woo-woo)



Then, it was even more hilarious to watch her try to eat the snow off of herself. hehe

tried a Cactus Pear tonight

Cactus Pear is the fruit of the cactus plant. The flesh is BRIGHT fuchsia! Boy that was unexpected. Isn't it beautiful? It has a bunch of seeds in it, that the web says are edible but they were like trying to chew on tiny pebbles so I didn't try too long. The flavor reminds me of watermelon. It was very wet with very little taste, so maybe they are "off-season". I'll try again in the summer, BUT AT LEAST I TRIED IT! Can you say the same?

Weighed in tonight

I haven't weighed in for a few weeks because my meetings are on Tuesdays (Christmas and New Year's Eve) so I was a little nervous.

My God guys....I lost 4.8 pounds! I am down 45lbs as of tonight. I am so stinking happy!

Experimenting with Food

Years ago (around 1999 or 2000), I decided that I needed to be open to new things. I had lived a pretty sheltered life in a Dairy Farm town in the eastern corner of CT. I had only been away from there two times. Once for 5 months for Army Basic Training in Alabama, and then for three years to live in the Atlanta GA area. I had only ever been up and down the east coast from Florida to Canada.

I wanted to travel and experience other cultures and try foods that I had never had. I decided that I wouldn't say "yuck" to something I had not tried and if I had the opportunity to try something new, I would seize the opportunity. That year, I tried Escargot and Caviar for the first time while on a cruise in the Caribbean. Then I flew to the UK ALONE to meet chat friends from a chat room on yahoo. I stayed for a week in London at one of the nicest hotels, saw Phantom of the Opera (in the front row of the balcony) and ate Squid and Fried Seaweed in China Town. Then I went up to Newcastle upon Tyne and drank Hard Apple Cider with the locals and learned to put "English" on the ball when playing pool. I had their version of Fish n Chips wrapped in newspaper, and doused in vinegar. Mmmmmmm (I think i just gained 5 pounds remembering all of this). After that I went to Scotland. All I experienced there were the people and more pubs, LOL....and a traditional British Breakfast, of course. But I was never presented with the opportunity to try Haggis. I don't know if this is a true regret or not. LOL

Well, after awhile, I slowed down on trying new things. I do still try to get the one thing on a menu that I have never tried, when dining out, but nothing adventurous.

So last week, I decided I would try at least one new food per week beginning with Fruits.

The following is a list of all of my new foods and date eaten:

Kumquats 1/2/08 (yummmmm)
Papaya 1/3/08 (bland - not a favorite)
Persimmon 1/2/08 (pretty good)
Cactus Pear 1/13/08 (eh....it was ok, watery and bland)
Asian Pear (label also called it a Korean Pear) - 2/23/08 (this was very good. Crisp and VERY juicy)

not new but still different:
Pomegranate - YUMMMMM and so much fun to eat
Mangos (my all time favorite fruit!!!)
Rhubarb
Freshly picked (by me) Maine Blueberries

Fruits I still want to try:
ugli fruit
Lychee
Mangosteen

Veggies I want to try:
Jicama
Yucca
Rutabaga

Other foods I want to try:
Alligator
Frog legs (eww right?)

Can you think of anything that I have to eat before I die? Anything!

I also have a "Bucket List" inspired by the new movie of the same name.

Things I want to do before I die:
Skydiving
Scuba Diving
Visit Hawaii
Visit Germany
Visit Italy (especially Rome and Venice)
Visit California, especially San Francisco and San Diego
Visit Colorado
Visit Texas
Visit Oregon
Visit Seattle
Visit Chicago

Things I have done:
Flown across the Atlantic
Visited London and Newcastle Upon Tyne in England
Visited Scotland
Visited Cancun Mexico
Visited NYC (several times)
Visited Atlanta
Visited Disney World as a child and an adult
Visited Canada (Niagara Falls included)
Parasailing
Snorkeling
Riding waverunners
Driven my own snowmobile (I want to do this as an adult. Haven't since I was a kid)
Gone fishing with my Dad and Grandfather
Gone ice fishing
Ice Skating
Gone smelting (tiny fish that you catch with a large net while moving slowly (called trolling) while it is still dark.
Eaten those smelts fried in cornmeal, complete with the heads and bones FOR BREAKFAST!!

I'll update this often. Please feel free to comment or give your suggestions. If you decide to do this, please link back to me and let me know!

Cast-ons Bind-Offs and Knitting Stitches

(if you have any suggestions for things I should try, please comment)

Cast Ons

Conquered
long tail (aka Double Cast-On or Continental Cast-On)
backward loop (aka Single cast on)
italian tubular
knitted
cable


Need to try
Provisional Cast-On (aka invisible cast on)
Crochet Cast-On
Old Norwegian Cast-On (aka Twisted German Cast-On )
Alternate Cable Cast-On
Magic Cast-On
Moebius Cast-On
Turkish Cast-On
Braided Cast-On
Circular Cast-On
Lace Cast-On
Aloha (toe up socks)
Judy's Magic Cast On

Bind Offs

Conquered
Sewn Bind Off

Need to try
Russian cast-off


Stitches or Stitch Patterns

Conquered
garter
stockinette
rib
cables
twisted rib
simple lace
twisted stitch
slip stitch
dropped stitch
textured stitch patterns
stranding
intarsia
Lace
entrelac

Need to try
smocking

OK OK OK here is a "Before" shot of me and a "So far" shot

As you might know, I began Weight Watcher's at the end of July. Since then, I have lost a whopping 40 pounds and THREE pants sizes.

I have been asked by a few people to post Before and After shots. But since I am not done losing, I can only post "Before" and "So far" pictures.

Be nice. LOL

This is a full body shot from July 2007 just before joining Weight Watchers (about to go for my first run - which sadly I have slacked off on - using the excuse of losing my GPS watch as the reason)

...and a face shot from 4/07

and here are "So far" pictures from December 2007 when I was 1 size larger than I am now (no current pics yet)

Holiday Party 12/8/07

Cooking breakfast at Fundraiser 12/11/07

I feel so much better. I am cold all of the time versus sweating all of the time, but I am willing to freeze in the name of thinness! I haven't been sick once since I began the Weight Watcher's Core plan. I guess this proves that "Garbage in = Garbage out"

Who is going to join me?????

FINISHED! Hilja's Mittens

I finished these a coouple weeks ago but am finally finding time to post them.



These are for my No-More-Humdrum Mittens Swap pal, Katie Franceschi of Yarn Love (OMG her yarn is to die for!! I am searching for Valentine and Plum Cake (I think that the name of it))



I hope she likes them.



Presenting......Hilja's Mittens from Folk Knitting of Estonia

My No-More-Humdrum Mittens

I received my beautiful mittens from the first round of the No-More-Humdrum Mittens Swap. They were knitted by Jenni in Finland. Aren't they gorgeous? I wear them everyday because they are super warm.

If you like these, you may want to consider joining our second round. The details are located on the blog. We'll be starting mid-January but it's not too early to sign up and get your questionnaire up on your blog.

No-More-Humdrum-Mittens 2 Swap Questionnaire

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I have been knitting for about 13 months. My kids taught me how to cast on and do th knit stitch and I taught myself the rest with the help of www.knittinghelp.com
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I consider myself to be intermediate. There isn't much I haven't tried and succeeded at but I have not been knitting long enough to b consider advanced, in my opinion.
What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike? I love Brown with light colors such as baby yellow, pink, mint green, light blue etc. I also love lime green and orange.
Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns? Yes.Here are come of my favorites: Zemgale Region, Vidzeme Region, Kurzeme Region, and Latgale Region.
Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child? Me of course! LOL
What is the measurement from your wrist to the tip of your longest finger? 7 1/2 inches to my wrist
What is the circumference of your hand at it's widest point? 9 inches at the base of my thumb and about 8 inches above my thumb
What other things do you enjoy knitting? Fancy, lace or cabled scarves, intricate SOCKS, Felted bags and many other things. I want to knit some lace stoles but have not attempted one yet.
What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) I love my bamboo straights and DPNs. I have two sets of Denise Circulars and I enjoy using knitpicks circs for my socks on 2 circulars. I want some 24" Knitpicks Circs (sizes 2 and 3) in the new colored wood that they have. For socks you need two of each size.
What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? Lace Stoles. I don't like triangle shawls but do like the wide rectangle stoles. I also want to make quite a few sweaters. I have a ton of both of these saved in my favorites at Ravelry.
What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? Hemp and Organic Cotton
What other hobbies do you have? I crochet a little and make stitch markers. I have done everything in the past but don't do much of any other than knitting now. Do you spin? no Sew? I can but I don't do it much anymore unless it's relatd to knitting Garden? Love th idea but I don't Cook? Only when I have to. LOL
Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Dust from sitting too long. LOL
What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? I'm on Weight Watchers so I steer clear of "food" treats, but do enjoy knitting related things to treat myself.
Anything you hate or are allergic to? acrylic and novelty yarn. (I will use some higher priced acrylic blends if they are right for the project, but I don't like the "Red Heart" type ones they sell at Michael's.)
Do you have any kids? Pets? Yes, 3 daughters, a furry fuzzball cat and a Pomeranian who is so darn cute!!
What is your favorite part of Winter? Watching the snow fall
What is your least favorite part of Winter? Driving to work in the snow when my kids and husband are at home because of a "snow day". Grrrrrr