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)

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

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!

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.