Life and Knitting

I'm Destashing!

2009-08-08T10:49:00.002-04:00

I am in the process of destashing...

If you are interested, I have it all posted on Ravelry on my Trade/Sell page...check is out if you would like...

Lots of stuff...and it's all new and great...but my knitting mojo has been a bit off...and I know that there's just some things that I will not get around to knitting up...

The weekend once again

2009-06-20T08:53:00.002-04:00

Well, I reallly thought that I would be updating a bit more frequently, but I hadn't really gotten around to it, I'm afraid.

This past week was a good one, though. I ran at work on Tuesday, Thursday and yesterday doing 2.5 miles Tuesday, 3.0 miles on Thursday and a 5K (3.1 miles) yesterday. The 5K took me 46 minutes, so not fast by any means, but I did it and that's the important part I think.

I do still have a ways to go - it's a far cry from 3.1 miles to 13.1, but I do still have a while to prepare. I just cannot have my 2 younger sisters showing me up come December, so I will stick to it and make it happen one way or another. Of course, at that point I will be in a totally different age bracket since I'll be past the bit 4-0, but still. They will both be in that 35-39 year old grouping and I'll be up with the older ladies in the 40-44.

Fundraising is going pretty well. I mailed out about 150 letters and pledge sheets to doctors and dentists in my area this week, so hoping for at least a 50% response rate. That would be nice. And even if everyone only did a $20 or $25 pledge, that would be pretty awesome! Of course, I wouldn't be upset by either a higher percentage response or a higher average pledge.

I have been experiencing the blisters along the side of my feet again, but trying out some new socks and shoe tying techniques that seem to be helping. I keep having an issue with the same spot where I had a HUGE blister following the Shamrock 1/2 Marathon a couple years ago. I've tried changing the shoes, changing the socks, different blister band-aids, blister proof socks, and Vaseline on the feet...so hopefully some combination of those will help.

So, all in all, it's been a good couple of weeks so far.

Progress - not much, but a little...

2009-05-30T20:43:00.003-04:00

So, today is when I decided to get started...I need to get ready and work up to where I want to be when the official 'training' starts in the middle of August.

I started out slowly - 3 miles - running but a lot of walking thrown in there as well. It took about 45 minutes, but that's not bad considering I haven't run in AGES! Actually, since starting to knit just over 3 years ago, I haven't run that much at all. Knitting took the place of running, so the knitting time might get cut into just a bit. I know that I'm going to have to increase the time and distance and I get closer to the 1/2 Marathon in December.

But all in all, a good first effort...and the goal is to do the same thing tomorrow. The only problem that I see at the moment would be - the route that I did today and will do tomorrow - I don't think that it will be a good one to tackle early in the morning, before daylight, for a female running alone...so I might have to re-think that one just a bit.

I can always run at lunch at work if necessary...so that might be something to consider for during the week. We'll just play that by ear for now...

So Day 1 is behind me and Day 2 will be here sooner rather than later...

I'm training for a 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) in Las Vegas in December 2009 to raise money for Chron's and Colitis Research!
Even though both my sister Melissa and I have been diagnosed with Chron's, she is truly my inspiration.

My webpage is: http://www.active.com/donate/lv09national/monetwhitson

Have you seen this?

2009-04-23T14:15:00.001-04:00

Wow! This is a pretty cool house...

30 Days to MDS&W!!!

2009-04-02T18:44:00.004-04:00

Is it that time again already? Wow!!!

There's a great contest you can enter with the possibility of winning a gift certificate to Three Irish Girls! What could be better than that?!?! Sharon's eye for color and the amazing yarn bases that she uses are something that you must see (touch) to believe.

Sharon will be at the Cloverhill Yarn Shop's booth which is in the main building...it's a Must Stop!

So, join the contest and try your luck...

Actually, maybe I shouldn't say anything so that I have a better chance to win...oh well, I'm feeling generous...

Wicked Ways

2009-03-20T11:54:00.004-04:00

Have you seen this? How cool is this going to be? I mean, seriously?!?!

Woolgirl has done some other Wizard of Oz kits in the past, but a whole club devoted to nothing but Wizard of Oz...so very cool! She's had Glinda the Good Witch just recently, and there was the Wicked Witch of the West. I wish I had gotten that one!

If you haven't checked out Woolgirl yet, you should. She rocks! Her customer service is second to none, her packages are put together with lots of love, and she's just a gosh-darn good person. Check her out and I guarantee she will become your first place to shop (if you're a knitter, that is).

Also...did you see? Wicked is coming to Norfolk! I'm really trying to convince the hubby to take me. I'm not sure that he would enjoy it as much as I would, but I've read both of the first couple of books (Wicked & Son of a Witch)...and I got Lion Among Men for my birthday but I haven't read it yet...it's on the list.

3 years

2009-03-19T19:45:00.002-04:00

I totally missed my 3-year Knitting anniversary yesterday...how did that happen?

It completely snuck up on me and I should know better...it's always right around St. Patrick's Day...

Oh well...

Happy Knit-iversary to me!!!

Just because

2009-02-13T11:42:00.004-05:00

What do you get when you have a very talented son who is in Art School and lots of begging???

A yarn bowl! He came to our knitting group on Wednesday night and surprised me with this beautiful bowl...and I'm trying to convince him that he needs to make more and sell them. Because there's a groove for the yarn to slide thru rather than a hole, you don't have to cut your yarn to change colors.

Do you think anyone would buy these?

Of course when he came in with it, everyone else was wondering where the rest were...but I have a feeling he might be working on that...

I'm also making progress on my February Lady Sweater. I think that I only have a couple more repeats to get it to the length that I want and then I'll get to work on the sleeves. But so far, so good. Not bad for my very first sweater!

An update

2009-02-04T14:50:00.002-05:00

There has been lots of knitting going on and lots of 'life happenings' going on but not a lot of blogging.

On the Life front:

Oldest son has gone back to school, although home on weekends to work. He made the Dean's List last semester - so proud of him. He also has a piece of artwork that is going to be on display at the local botanical gardens which is very exciting.

Youngest son started a new semester in school with 4 new classes, he's getting all excited about his upcoming band trip to Walt Disney World, and he made Districts in track which he will run on Monday.

Hubby and I refinished the kitchen cabinets over the long weekend in January, and they came out really nice. Almost like new.

On the Knitting front:

I have completed 2 shawls - one for my mom and one for me. I used a pattern from Back on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber and I really like the way that they came out.

This is Mom's after it was blocked before I sent it to her.

I also finished and mailed off my niece's blanket. The only photo I took of it was with my phone, so it's not the best photo, but it came out nice.

I have started a KAL (Knit-a-long for the non-knitters) with some of the ladies from my Wednesday night group. It's the February Lady Sweater and we started it on February 1st and I'm hoping to finish it by the end of the month.

I'm also working on a Harry Potter scarf for my hubby. I hope he likes it...but it might not be finished right now.

I also have a couple of other projects 'in the works' but the main one right now is the sweater. I have the Lace Ribbon Scarf from Knitty on the needles. It is a very nice pattern and I like the way that it is working up in this yarn.

There's also the Moonshadow Stole from Sivia Harding, but I haven't gotten very far on that one. I got the kit from Woolgirl at Thanksgiving and it's beautiful. But there are 333 stitches on the needle so each row seems to take forever. I'm doing it in this beautiful pink and the kit included the beads, which is nice.

And now...Puppy seems to be pooped! I think that he's had a long day!

Happy Birthday Granny

2009-01-12T15:56:00.003-05:00

Today has been a day of reflection, I guess you could say, for lack of a better word. It’s been a day that I would call Granny every single year for as long as I can remember…but today she’s not there to answer the phone for me to tell her how much I love her and miss her…

She would have been 88 years old today, but unfortunately she didn't make it to this mini-milestone, but she was with us for over 87, and almost 40 years in my life.

I do have one FO to show...I started it on December 29th and bound off last night, January 11th! I think that it's the fastest I have ever finished something, but I could be mistaken. I was excited to have it completed though, since it's a gift for my mom...I hope she likes it.

The pattern is Alix's Prayer Shawl and I used 2 skeins of Blue Moon Socks That Rock Mediumweight that I got at Maryland Sheep & Wool in May. I love the way that it came out. It's my first shawl and my first lace, other than on some socks or a scarf.

A Christmas Funny

2008-12-23T08:53:00.002-05:00

Too funny! Do you have anyone like this in your family?

Hmmmm...

2008-11-28T15:51:00.003-05:00

Anyone who knows my kitty cat knows that she is not really a people person. Do you think that this could be why???

Things I've Done

2008-11-18T09:39:00.003-05:00

I got this from a fellow blogger…and it’s simple…

Bold or italicize the things you've done. I’ve changed a couple things and added some personal notes

1. Started your own blog - Obviously
2. Slept under the stars – No way, not when there are perfectly good hotels around
3. Played in a band – Does marching band count?
4. Visited ~~Hawaii~~ Greece – twice
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland – and Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain – Smokey Mountains on our honeymoon, but I’m not a huge fan.
9. Held a praying mantis - GROSS
10. Sang a solo – church choir as a kid
11. Bungee jumped – as a young and stupid 21-year-old
12. Visited Paris – I wish
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea – yup
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch – kind of, but does being taught by one of your best friends count?
15. Adopted a child – nope, but would certainly entertain the idea
16. Had food poisoning – oh yeah, horrible memories
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables – I can’t grow much of anything, the hubby does that
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train – never been on a train
21. Had a pillow fight – many times – I do have 2 sisters
22. Hitch hiked – no way
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – maybe? Depends on who is reading this
24. Built a snow fort – no, don’t really like to play in the cold that much
25. Held a lamb – no, but I have pet one and an alpaca and a bunny
26. Gone skinny dipping – no
27. Run a ~~Marathon~~ Half Marathon – Yup! And want to run another one…and maybe even a full
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice – nope, never been to Italy but want to
29. Seen a total eclipse – Pretty cool!
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run – no…never played baseball or softball
32. Been on a cruise – hubby took me last summer
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person – never been
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors – where would that be?
35. Seen an Amish community – I don’t think so
36. Taught yourself a new language – I learned a few words in Spanish so I could order drinks in Tijuana and ask about the bathroom and I learned a few words in Greek for basically the same reason, but not a whole language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – is there such a thing
38. Seen the ~~Leaning Tower of Pisa Parthenon in person –~~ I've been to Greece, not Italy

39. Gone rock climbing – no, and no real desire to either
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke – yes, but not very well at all
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - no
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa – Maybe one day
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight – a couple of times
46. Been transported in an ambulance – I don’t think so
47. Had your portrait painted – Not that I can recall
48. Gone deep sea fishing – No – I think that I would get sea-sick
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person – maybe one day
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris – again, maybe one day
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling – yes, but I’m not a big fan of it
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud - I did grow up in Louisiana...the whole place is a mud pit
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China – definitely some day
57. Started a business – no, but I would love to if I can ever win the lottery
58. Taken a martial arts class – does a Tae Bo class at the gym count?
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – yes, top sales person of my troop
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason – yes, but not recently without a reason (Anniversary, Birthday, Valentines, etc.)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – donated yesterday, actually
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check – way back in the young & stupid days, thankfully not in the last 20 years!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy – no, but in cleaning out stuff of my Grandmother’s I found my 2^nd tooth that I lost
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial – yes, several times
71. Eaten Caviar – no, doesn’t look appetizing
72. Pieced a quilt – no, not yet
73. Stood in Times Square – never been to New York City, but it’s one of the places I want to go
74. Toured the Everglades – bugs, mainly mosquitoes, alligators, no thank you!
75. Been fired from a job - Nope, always left by choice, thankfully
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards ~~in London~~ at the Parliament in Athens
77. Broken a bone – several – collar bone, fingers, arm in a couple places, etc.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle – 5 miles over the speed limit count?
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – no but I certainly want to
80. Published a book – no one would buy it
81. Visited the Vatican – again, never been to Italy, but I wish
82. Bought a brand new car – just bought another new one in January
83. Walked in Jerusalem – definitely up there on the top 10
84. Had your picture in the newspaper – many times as a kid
85. Read the entire Bible – working on this as a tribute to my Grandmother
86. Visited the White House – Yes but how exciting will it be to go back some time in the next 4 years?
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – GROSS, GROSS, GROSS
88. Had chickenpox – yes, and I shared it with both of my wonderful sisters
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury – I got called to Jury Duty but I didn’t get picked
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club – is this the ‘buying’ book club or sitting around reading book club?
93. Lost a loved one – more than one
94. Had a baby – 2 of them, actually
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee and a horsefly and a yellow jacket
100. Read an entire book in one day

Hagar the Horrible

2008-11-10T08:59:00.009-05:00

This was in the comics yesterday (click on it to make it bigger and easier to read) and I just thought that it was pretty funny...of course, I would LOVE to send my husband off to buy yarn, but what's the fun in that? And he wouldn't really know what to get...unless he happened upon my Wish List items at WoolGirl or The Knitting Sisters...

I am...Are you?

2008-10-03T16:54:00.002-04:00

Time is running out to register to vote in the upcoming Presidential election. Like a lot of people, I registered to vote as soon as I turned 18 and it's a privilege that I both appreciate and exercise.

This election is history-making and for a lot of people (I'm thinking of my son in college as an example) this is their first time to cast that vote for the President of the United States. It's been an exciting time and either candidate elected will be breaking thru barriers that have been in place since the formation of the United States Government.

Are you registered? Check with your state requirements, but for a lot of states, October 6th is the last day to register if you want to vote on November 4th!

If you don't register, and you don't vote, DON'T COMPLAIN! The only chance that you have of making your voice heard is by going in to that voting booth and casting your vote!

Shhh...test knitting going on...

2008-09-27T16:06:00.002-04:00

Ok, I admit, I have been very absent as of late. It's not because I haven't had anything going on, it's not because I haven't been knitting, it's probably because of to complete opposite. Once school is back underway, and with one in both a sport and band, things just seem to go non-stop, full-speed ahead.

He has had either cross country practice or band practice or a meet or a performance since we got back from our trip to Louisiana. It was practices rolling right into the start of school and the various competitions.

The oldest started right back to college about 2 weeks after we got back and he's in full-swing with classes, studio time and Ultimate Frisbee.

I have been knitting away too, but I don't have any pictures right now to post. I will try and get those posted in the next day or two. While I was down in Louisiana my youngest niece and my 2 nephews picked out yarn and decided that they wanted blankets. Lucky for me they picked thick yarn and they are little so I don't have to make huge blankets. The West Coast niece and nephew really just want them to carry around. I have finished (almost, I ran out of yarn with 8 rows of decreases and binding off to go, so I have to grab one more skein of yarn) the blanket for my youngest nephew and I am about half way with the one for my youngest niece. I haven't started the one for the other nephew but I will and it won't take long. I do have to find some yarn for the oldest niece - I want to find her something a little different from the other 3 and make her something a bit nicer - she's older, she'll hopefully appreciate it.

But referring to the title...I have started on a test knitting assignment...I'm working on 2 socks - 1 each out of a different color way and different pattern. It's kind of exciting...I've never done anything like this before so I think that it's rather cool. I'll tell you more when I finish...but for now, I must go and knit...

Pictures coming soon...

And before I forget - Happy 16th Birthday to my youngest son...and Congratulations and good luck to my brother Jason and his new wife Joy - getting married in Phoenix, AZ today.

My Granny

2008-08-06T09:59:00.003-04:00

We got the news on Thursday morning last week that my grandmother had passed away. It wasn't totally unexpected, but it kind of was. She was doing well, had been at my sister's house just a few days before. Even though she had been having some problems in the last few years, she was a tough cookie.

I was planning a trip to Louisiana with my boys to spend some more time with her. We did spend Christmas down in LA with her and I'm so happy that we were able to do that. My sister from CA was also planning a trip at the same time, so we were all almost here when she passed. She knew that we were all on our way. The only thing that changed with her passing is that my hubby and my brother-in-law came over as well and then flew back home on Monday.

I was very fortunate that I got as many years with her as I did. I will always remember her in ways that are not possible with some of my other grandparents. She also got to see my boys grow up and go from stumbling toddlers to men, and that is truly a blessing.

Even though I have lived away from her for the last 10 years, my granny knew how much I loved her and how much she meant to me. She loved my boys and they held a special place in her heart. She also adored my husband and told me every time I talked to her how lucky I was to have met him and what a wonderful person he is.

My grandmother wrote out her own obituary as well as her own service.s She actually wrote them about 10 years ago. She always planned ahead and she never wanted to inconvenience anyone.

This is her obituary as it was written by her and published in our local paper. I have added the names of the grandkids and great-grandkids in birth order.

She was a very special woman and she will be missed by all who knew her. She touched so many people's lives and changed them in ways that only she could.

Georgie R. Robinson, 87 years old died Thursday, July 31, 2008 at her residence.

Georgie was born January 12, 1921 to Samuel and Edith Richardson in Springfield, Louisiana. She was one of ten children. Florence and Delores died in infancy, while her three brothers, Melvin James, Cecil Samuel, and Edward Edgar Richardson, along with four sisters, Lula Mae R. Gainey, Elizabeth R. Lee Lemak, Orine R. Robinson and Neville R. Huneycutt all preceded her in death.

Her husband, Maurice D. Robinson, Sr., her parents, and one grandson also preceded her in death.

She had two children, Katherine R. Tackett of Hammond and Maurice D. Robinson, Jr. of Phoenix, Arizona, eight grandchildren (Bart, Beth, Carolyn, Toni, Monet, Amber, Melissa, Jason) eight great-grandchildren (Rebecca, Morgan, Raymond, Garrett, Regan, Sophia, Ethan, John) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received Saturday, August 2, 2008, at the Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Hammond from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Services will be held at Happy Woods Church of God 42418 S. Range Road, Hammond LA. 70403, Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Robert Weathersby officiating. Interment will follow in Carter Cemetery.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.harrymckneely.com

Making progress...but should I FROG?

2008-06-06T09:57:00.002-04:00

I am making progress, slowly but surely on my new Rockin' Sock Club socks. Only one problem...

They look kind of like what they are suppose to look like - I've made it thru one full repeat and half of a second one and have just started the gusset increases. And it fits so far.

So what's the problem you ask...

LADDERS!

At least it looks like ladders.

The pattern has ladders in it on purpose, and there are some ladders along the sides of the instep. Only thing is, it looks like I have ladders developing at the space between the instep and sole. This is not something that I normally deal with since I am typically on DPN's and I move the stitches around and around to prevent them.

For this pattern, however, I'm currently working on 2 circulars, which is making the pattern easier for me - my twisting stitches are not as tight and I'm not as worried about dropping a stitch, etc., but I don't want ladders.

Do I continue as act like they are just part of the pattern and design, almost meaning that I have to repeat the same thing on the second sock? Or do I FROG it and either go back to my DPN's or make sure to pay special close attention to that second stitch, remembering to pull it tight each round?

And I can hear Friend's voice in my head with the "I told you so's" and the "This is why you do your socks on DPN's and move the stitches around".

What do you think???

Something Fun

2008-06-05T11:27:00.006-04:00

As seen on Knitorious (and she had seen on My Perky World) and so on, and so on, and so on...

Here's a fun little game:

The Concept:

1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search

2. Using only the first page, pick an image

3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name

My answers:

1. What is your first name? Monet

2. What is your favorite food? Shrimp (I couldn't think of just one)

3. What high school did you go to? Trafton Academy, picture is Trafton Lake

4. What is your favorite color? Purple, of course

5. Who is your celebrity crush? Matthew Perry (one of the Matthew's I like)

6. Favorite drink? Diet Coke, of course

7. Dream vacation? Italy (one of several places I want to visit)

8. Favorite dessert? Cake

9. What you want to be when you grow up? a Millionaire - gotta work on the lottery stuff

10. What do you love most in life? my kids, my family

11. One word to describe you. Giving

12. Your flickr name. monymonyx

May Rockin' Sock Club

2008-05-29T19:19:00.010-04:00

Oh my, oh my, oh my...

Now, don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed and knit both of the patterns so far.

January's colorway (Dragon Dance) wasn't something I was particularly drawn to. I'm not really a Red person, but with the pattern it worked and I ended up really enjoying the whole process and the way the color striped.

March came along and the yarn was once again stunning. Tina does not disappoint there. The pattern was beautiful and I really enjoyed watching the pattern develop with the yarn colorway (Lucky). Again, I'm not really a Green person, and it was way out of my comfort zone to knit up green socks. But I loved them.

And now, MAY...this is my color...this is my yarn...this has my name written ALL OVER IT! I had peeked at the Spoilers, of course, so I knew what was coming but to see it in person - WOW! That's all I can say... It matches my car too!

The pattern looks like it may be a bit tricky, only because it's kind of wordy, but that's ok. As Friend says, "trust the pattern" and that's what I will do.

The colorway is Incredible Shrinking Violet and the pattern, Cleopatra's Stockings. I can't wait to get started on these...in fact, I'm going to go and wind my yarn now...

2008-05-27T12:36:00.002-04:00

I was tagged by Robin for this Meme...not sure how exciting you guys may find this but here goes:

The rules: Posted here at the beginning. The player answers all questions. The player then chooses six people you want to know more about and tags those people by listing their names at the end of the post and going to their blog and leaving a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Also, you let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? 1998 - I was just about to move up to Virginia. I graduated from college in December 1997 but the boys wouldn't be finished with school until the end of May, so when they finished we packed up and moved to VA on June 1, 1998. I was currently still waiting tables (didn't want to get a 'real job' when I was moving in June and I knew it)...and taking care of my boys - who at that time were 5 and 9 - WOW! Time has certainly flown by when you think of that.

2) What are five things on my to-do list today (not in any particular order)?
a) catch up on e-mails and voicemails from work since I have been out since Wed
b) do laundry (well, oversee since I can't really do it right now because of the recent surgery)
c) band banquet for youngest son - end of the year celebration
d) take care of mail/bills/personal items that need to be done for the week
e) try to do a little bit of knitting maybe while at the banquet

3) What snacks do I enjoy? My new FAVORITE snack would be Robin's white chocolate trash mix that she brought on our knitting retreat in April (but she says that the butterscotch one is even better). YUMMY!!!! I really need the recipe, although that might not be a good thing. I also love Peanut M&M's, Reese Peanut Butter Cups and Ice-Cream - chocolate with something peanut butter preferably.

4) What are some places I've lived? LA - Hammond, Baton Rouge; VA - Ashland, Williamsburg, and Toano; CA - San Diego, Santee, Poway, Encinitas, University City

5) What things would I do if I were a billionaire?
a) pay off all our bills
b) buy a new house or 2
c) TRAVEL
d) move
e) invest in my own store, or alpaca farm or Boston Terrier farm
f) buy a new car for myself and my husband and boys
g) volunteer with various hospital & charity organizations, especially those around cancer and cancer research.

And, most importantly, I would definitely quit my job! I am currently not happy with my job at all - it's just not me, too corporate. I certainly don't feel like I'm doing anything that is of any benefit to anyone at the moment, other than my creditors I guess.

Now the rules say that I'm supposed to tag 6 people to do the MeMe but I'm not going to tag anyone. If you want to do it, great...if you don't, you've just learned a few 'not-so-interesting' things about me.

More Medical Stuff

2008-05-23T08:32:00.002-04:00

Surgery for me yesterday went well. Still in pain, but doing OK. Hubby has been taking good care of me. I'm letting him rest now since it was an early start to the day yesterday and I know that he didn't sleep much last night. I'm sore, but not as sore as I was when we got home from the hospital...and not as sore as last night, so that's progress.

Friend is doing well. She's out of the hospital and resting at the parent's house. She's not able to drive until she sees the doctor and the neck brace comes off, but she sounds good and I'll see her next week. We talked on the phone last night, as usual, during the commercials for Gray's Anatomy...what a good show. It's her fault that I'm hooked on it...but now what will we do for the summer? Reruns, I guess, right?

Of course last night was pretty funny since we were sharing battle stories from our surgeries on back-to-back days. And yes, we basically do have to do everything together. Of course, my doctor's office scheduled my surgery and called to tell me when - it just so happened to fall when she was having hers. She's out of the office for a little more than 2 weeks; I'm out for 2 days (yesterday and today...but thankfully I have the weekend and Monday is a holiday).

Youngest son goes to the doc today to see if he will have a full cast or what else needs to be done. We're hoping that it won't be too major since we are going on vacation to Nags Head in 3 weeks - hubby wants to make sure he's able to fish and play horseshoes and whatever else it is that boys do on the beach or in the water. I will be sitting and relaxing and resting...that's all I want to do. I don't care that much for getting in the water and I'm not a huge fan of sand, but it's OK...but sun and relaxing, I'm all for that.

I'm almost done with my Toe-up Monkey socks and they look pretty cool. I will take pictures soon, when I am feeling a bit more up to it.

Medical Updates

2008-05-21T11:37:00.002-04:00

OK...well, I said that neither of my sons had ever had stitches, broken bones, etc. back at the beginning of the month...then the oldest ended up with 15 stitches...

Yesterday, the youngest broke a finger! Playing basketball at school in gym class. The worst part is, it's thru a growth plate so we have to go and see an orthopedist on Friday. Since I'm having surgery tomorrow (Thursday), looks like hubby will have to take him for that appointment. I don't know that I will even feel like riding with him, but we'll see how I feel.

Luckily, both boys hurt their left hands and they are both right handed. Oldest had the stitches out and now just a small scar across the knuckle of his pointer finger on the left hand. Youngest has a temporary cast on his hand at the moment and is keeping it elevated and iced until he sees the doc on Friday.

On another medical note, Friend is having surgery today on her neck. You can read all about it on her blog as to the exact kind of surgery and all, but let's just say that it's not going to be a walk in the park. Her surgery starts around 1PM so if you get a chance, please send a prayer her way. Until I get the chance to see her after she comes out of recovery, I will worry. So it will be off to the hospital after work for me...I'll update when I get a chance.

7 Years Cancer Free

2008-05-17T21:17:00.021-04:00

Yesterday was a very big milestone in my life - 7 years Cancer Free! Pretty awesome, actually...but I still have the feeling that some how, in some way, I'm a cheater.

Yes, I did have cancer...No, I do not have cancer now. So, yes, that makes me a cancer survivor. But mine was the easy way. I had surgery and that was it. No chemo, no radiation, I didn't lose my hair, I just had surgery and thankfully all the cancer was contained and removed. And now, 7 years later I still have a clean bill of health.

Yesterday was also the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Williamsburg. I don't know how other places do their relay for life, but in Williamsburg it is pretty cool.

There is always a Survivor's Reception to kind of kick off the walk, and it's catered by Outback. The reception is for the Survivor and their caregiver.

After the reception, the survivor's walk the first lap of the relay...but it's led by the Colonial Williamsburg Fife & Drum Corp. I don't think that any other Relay for Life has anything that cool to lead off the first lap.

The Fife & Drum perform all around Colonial Williamsburg but it's still really neat to see them perform in person.

My Father-in-law is a new inductee into the Survivor's club so hubby and I were happy to celebrate with him and my mother-in-law last night. It was nice to have him there to share in the excitement.

But it's also a very touching and moving ceremony. Especially the young kids. And it's incredible to look out into this room of about 500 people and know that 1/2 of them are cancer survivors.

There was also knitting going on during the ceremony. I was working on one of my Toe-up Monkey socks (Ravelry link). My hubby thought it would be cute to take a picture of it...

But I finished the first one and it fits great so I am getting ready to start the 2nd one. The first one took me 6 days to finish it but I wasn't working on it for a great length of time each sitting, so I'm hoping to finish the second one by the middle of next week. They came out pretty nice, I think, and I didn't make too many modifications to the pattern. And I love the way this colorway worked up.

And I leave you with a picture of my very lazy puppy and cranky kitty cat. I'm not sure what her issue has been lately, but she has been attempting to escape from captivity (the house) and she has been complaining (meowing) about anything and everything.

CRL

2008-05-16T09:49:00.000-04:00

Thursday, May 22nd - 2nd Season of CRL - check it out!!!

Weekend Recap

2008-05-12T09:12:00.010-04:00

Our weekend started with a relatively uneventful Friday night. Just the typical Date Night and dinner out with the hubby. It was fun and something that I look forward to every week - it makes the week bearable knowing that we will have some time together on Friday night. If this isn't something that you and your SO do on a regular basis, I highly recommend it. Date Night is awesome and it doesn't have to be anything extravagant - just a chance to spend time together.

Hubby had to work both days this weekend because of events going on at his work. One of his work commitments was a Black Tie event on Saturday night. This isn't the kind of thing that we usually do, but it was fun to get all dressed up and have a night out on the town. Of course, boys are lucky - they just go and rent a tux and they are done. And the tux comes with shoes and everything! Girls have to do the whole find a dress, find the shoes, get the nails done, do the hair, etc. So Saturday for me was filled with all of this. But I think that the final product was well worth the effort. The photo is not that great, but that's what happens when the youngest son is responsible for the photos.

Sunday - Mother's Day! I think that every day should be Mother's Day because a Mom's work is NEVER done. There's always something to do it seems like, no matter what day of the week it is. There's still laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. I did get out of the cooking thing yesterday, though!

Since Hubby had to work, my boys took me out to breakfast and then to see a movie. If you haven't seen Iron Man yet, I highly recommend it. Robert Downey, Jr. is really great in this role and hopefully there will be more to follow.

The boys also presented me with a wonderful mother's day present - New Chuck Taylors! I know that you have probably seen these around in Blog Land, but I had not been able to find them in a store because they were SOLD OUT! And Journey's is the only store that carries them. They are perfect for wearing with my hand knit socks. So here's some pictures of them with my Serendipity socks, the January Socks that Rock club installment. Aren't they awesome!

And there was knitting done this weekend as well - promise. My Toe-Up Monkey socks that have been on time-out were brought back out and started once again.

This time on size 2's since the last try was on size 1's and they fit but were a little on the tight side. I'm also doing a little variation on the sole stitches. It's an 8 Round pattern so on the Odd rounds I am just knitting the sole stitches then on Rounds 2 & 6 I'm doing a *S1, K1* and then on Rounds 4 & 8 I'm doing a *K1, S1*. I'm thinking that hopefully this will make for a sturdier foot and so far, I like the way that it looks.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend. Aside from the weather, it turned out to be a pretty nice couple of days. Unfortunately spoiled by having to return to work today, but I guess that all goods things have to end at some point.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T07:48:00.004-04:00

To all of my favorite Moms, I hope that today is a wonderful one for each and every one of you!

2008 Maryland Sheep & Wool

2008-05-05T12:17:00.014-04:00

Another year has come and gone and what a great time! Although, unlike last year when I took loads of photos, I didn't get many this year. There was a lot to see, but I kept forgetting that I had my camera. There are several people who got loads of pictures!

We (Beth, Carol and I) left Richmond about 10:30AM and were able to get up and to the festival grounds by about 1PM. We decided that the first stop should be The Fold just to see what, if any, Socks That Rock was still available. We were so happy to see that there was still some beautiful colorways that I have been eyeing on the website in person, so I picked up 3 skeins in medium weight.

Scottish Highlands

Watermelon Tourmaline

and then there was Rockstar!

I would have picked up the Knitters Without Borders colorway, but I ordered one off the Blue Moon site on Friday that should be at my house any time.

While petting and fondling, sorry, selecting yarn at The Fold I ran into, almost literally, Turtlegirl. Once we had gotten the STR that we were after, we headed to the main building and checked out the vendors there. We stopped in at Spirit Trail and Ellens Half Pint, both are awesome! I couldn't resist some of Ellen's Merino & Bamboo blend sock yarn. I mean, how could you? The color is pretty awesome but Beth did comment that she needed her sunglasses to look at it.

I did also manage to grab some very nice boots - Ugg in nature but without the Ugg price tag. Always a plus! They came from Trawitz Sheepskin Products. I really wanted to get some last year but I didn't and I regretted it ever since. So this year, I got these. They come in Tan or Pink and Beth really thought I should get the pink ones, but I think that these will be very nice come Fall.

While in the main building we ran into Maggi from the Wednesday night Richmond group and then there was Jess who I met at The Knitting Sisters.

After a gyro and a BIG ASS BUCKET OF FRIES we headed to some of the other tents and buildings. We ran into Robin at the Brooks Farm tent. She was armed with, well an armload of yarn.

We didn't make it for the Ravelry meet-up on Saturday but that was ok. We were ready for the gathering on Saturday night. And what a good time it was! Again, no pictures because I'm a dork and totally forgot that this would be something cool to get pictures of.

It was a great party! We ran into some folks we knew, Melanie, Mary, and Blogless Lou. It was a lot of fun catching up with them. Of course, Beth and I were told that we were being a tad disruptive - sorry, that we were being totally RUDE, but I think that was just the personal opinion of someone who was up way past her bedtime. We had a great time! I was able to visit a little bit with Lolly, who Beth knew (her very first ever secret pal), and then we made some new friends from Texas. NanJo and Skitter were Super Cool!

Very exciting too was that we talked with Mary Heather for a little bit. She totally rocked! I also talked to Jess & Casey, the folks behind Ravelry and Bob's parents. So cool, so cool.

Ravelry gear was purchased - an awesome tote bag, a Bob pin and a Ravelry pin. We also picked up our "My name is" Ravelry buttons. On Sunday we had a lot of people ask us where we had gotten our bags.

On Sunday I also picked up some very lovely yarn from The Sweet Shop. Isn't it pretty?

In my mail yesterday when I got home was some very nice yarn that I ordered from Donna and Valerie at Yarn4Socks. It's 2 colorways of the May Artist of the Month - Thank Ewe. They are now all sold out, it appears, but I got these 2 great colors:

Mother Lode

Purple Mountains Majesty

And since I was one of the first 50 orders of the month, I also got this cute sweather charm! If you haven't checked out their site yet, you really should. Their customer service is wonderful and they have a great selection of yarns.

Phone Calls & Knitting

2008-05-01T11:09:00.004-04:00

You know that it's never a good thing when the phone rings between the hours of 10PM & 8AM. I have been very lucky and fortunate with both my boys - no surgery, no broken bones and up until about 4AM today, no stitches.

Waking up to the phone ringing at 2:45AM you just know that something is wrong, but with who is always the question...and how bad.

Do you remember those late night study sessions back in college? Snacking on goodness knows what at 2AM? Well, that's what the Big Boy was apparently doing - whipping up something in the kitchen. Guess he thought it would taste better with a chunk out of his hand.

15 stitches and a few hours later and Big Boy is back home nursing his injured hand (his left one thankfully) but hanging in there. Luckily school is almost out for the semester for him and he only has a couple projects left to turn in and 1 test to take.

I had just had dinner with him at Panera on our regular Wednesday night knitting group.

I am currently working on Lady Eleanor (Ravelry Link, sorry). For those not on Ravelry, here's a picture, courtesy of Interweave Press. It is a beautiful stole and I will have photos of mine after this weekend. I want it to get a little bit of bulk to it before I photograph it. The book that it is from is Scarf Style, and it's worth buying the book just for this pattern.

That's all I have in me for today. With the early-morning wake-up and the long day at work, I'm ready for a nap.

Is it the weekend yet???

2008-04-24T09:32:00.002-04:00

Well, yesterday sucked...big time. You know, it was the whole Administrative Professionals Day and let's face it, there's not a whole lot positive to be said of being an AA. Or as some old timers still think of it, or people who just want to make you feel crappy about yourself - a secretary. Thank you very much, but I did not go to college and get my bachelor's degree to be a secretary - I have a brain but it's not my fault if you don't utilize it. I can do so much more than type, file and 'make things pretty.'

But, I digress...

Why was the day so awful??? I mean, the sun was shining for the first time this week, the weather was great!

I had one of the nice folks that I work with come in with a lovely card and a gift card to B&N and she said that she thought I might would like a new knitting book...maybe something by Debbie Macomber...wasn't that sweet? I thought so. Completely unexpected but very much appreciated.

Another one of the ladies that I work with came in with a very nice card and a gift card to Starbucks so I can get my coffee - a nice treat for me. That was again unexpected but very sweet and appreciated.

The Big Boss comes in...doesn't say hello...doesn't speak to me...AT ALL...ALL DAY LONG! Spoke to someone standing at my desk and basically looked straight thru me as if I am invisible...honestly...I mean, PLEASE? I know that I've lost weight but there's still plenty of me to see, I promise you that. I keep trying to tell myself that it doesn't matter...that maybe she forgot, felt like crap, and didn't know how to make it better...but that doesn't help at all.

I need to win the MegaMillions tomorrow night...$71 Million...I could live on that!

Oh well, at least I know that the folks that I care about care about me and that's a nice feeling.

And at least last night was Knit Night at Panera so the day ended on a very positive and happy note. Knitting has been happening on the Toe-Up Monkey socks and they are coming right along. The heel has been turned on one and the other is ready for the heel. I love the colorway and I like the way the pattern is coming. Pictures tomorrow, maybe...

And that is that...today is another day...and it's another beautiful one outside. I will go home and go for a run, relax and then settle in for knitting and BRAND NEW GREY'S ANATOMY!!!!! All I can say is, it's about time!!!

Rest and Relaxation

2008-04-14T18:28:00.009-04:00

There is nothing like being in a place where you do not have cell phone reception. It makes you wonder, 'what in the world did we do before we had cell phones?'...Seriously! Heaven forbid we had to find an actual phone that was connected to a wall and dial an actual phone number, rather then the shortcut way of just holding down one number or one letter to call someone. How did we survive that?

This past weekend was a wonderful knitters retreat at Graves Mountain Lodge. The retreat was put on by the River City Knitters Guild. Friend did a lot of the planning and everything was wonderful. The food was great, the weather was wonderful and the knitting was great!

On Saturday we had some free knitting time and then a very interesting class led by Pat of The Yarn Barn. The class was on entrelac, which is a pretty cool concept. It's a bit hard to grasp but I think that it's just one of those things that you have to actually do before you get it.

I, who have never really been a fan of Noro (although it's beautiful, I've never felt the urge to knit with it) made my very first Noro purchase. I got the yarn to make the Lady Eleanor. It is a beautiful wrap and I can't wait to cast on.

Along with the yarn shopping, which it was a knitting retreat so that is pretty much a given, there was also time to shop for soaps, lotions, stitch markers, and Mary Kay products. I picked up some super-d-duper soaps from Robin along with some stitch markers that she made. She's coming to Williamsburg this weekend to bring soap to The Knitting Sisters, but they do not stock the 2 that I absolutely loved! I picked up her Electric Pearberry soap as well as Fresh Laundry. I also had to get some wonderful smelling pearberry lotion. A girl cannot ever have enough lotions and potions, right?

Friend brought plenty of the Mary Kay Satin Hands for everyone to try and it was the perfect break from knitting...made your hands soft and ready to knit some more.

After the shopping spree and dinner, the PJ's were put on and the margaritas were blended. People brought tons of food to snack on and there was lots of choices as far as drinks went. Lots of knitting up until around midnight, when Friend and I turned in for the evening.

Sunday was another beautiful day in the mountains. After a very large breakfast everyone came back to the meeting room where we participated in a Yarn Tasting.

Sharon put together a beautiful presentation of various yarns that you might not have seen or knit with. I fell in love with a wonderful Classic Elite Premier yarn. I don't know what I am going to make with it, but I have to have some.

And since it was a knitting retreat, knitting was actually done and completed. I finished both of my Leafling socks! I love them. They came out pretty awesome looking, if I must say so myself. I love the heel and this pattern looks really nice in this colorway. It's definitely not one that I would have picked out for myself, but the good ladies at Blue Moon know me better than I know myself.

I don't exist!

2008-04-10T10:49:00.003-04:00

This is kind of frightening...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
0
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

They say:

There are 1,519 people in the U.S. with the first name Monet.

Statistically the 4019th most popular first name.

More than 99.9 percent of people with the first name Monet are female.

And:

There are 13,337 people in the U.S. with my last name.

Statistically the 2824th most popular last name.

But there are ZERO with both my first and last name!

How is that possible???

There are, however, 4 people in the US with my maiden name, so that makes me feel a little bit better knowing that I may actually exist.

There are 49 of my DH with over 1.1 Million with his first name! It's the 29th most popular name.

There are 142 of the oldest son...almost 61,000 with his first name...and of those, 55% are actually female...but I swear, it's a boy's name! It's the 697th most popular name.

There are 103 of the youngest son...44,000 with his first name...838th most popular name.

Running from Nothing

2008-04-03T19:54:00.005-04:00

Well, I am offiicially addicted to something other than knitting and yarn...It's running...

I actually came home tonight from work excited to get on my tennis shoes and go for a run.

Now, I'm not running a marathon, not yet anyway, and I'm certainly not running as fast as my youngest son (he just ran a mile in 6:02), but I'm running...and it feels GREAT!!!

Tonight I hit the 3 mile mark with my run, which is what I have been working up to. I'm still walking for 5 minutes when I first start to get my legs moving and the blood flowing, and tonight I ran for 36 minutes S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T!!!! I know! I was really excited.

To reward myself when I started running, I got a great new running skirt. I got a great one that is actually Zebra striped with pink trim, but I have this one too.I absolutely love SkirtSports and think that they are a wonderful company. I now have 4 of these and I love them. I don't know what it is about them, but I just feel like I run better when I have it on. It's a great feeling. The company is awesome and their products are great! When I am running a bit more, I'll reward myself with another new item from their collection.

So, now I am off to knit since I have cooled off from my run. I'm making progress on my Lucky socks, the March installment of the Rockin' Sock Club. I love the yarn and I'm really digging the pattern, now that I have figured out the LeftLeaningIncrease and the RightLeaningIncrease, which I was doing wrong at first.

It's not that I haven't been knitting...

2008-03-24T14:58:00.018-04:00

WARNING: Picture Happy Post!

Honestly...I have been knitting. I've been knitting up a storm, actually. I don't have a lot to show for it, but I have been working on various projects. I have to be knitting...I got a new bag just for it. It's last years fabric, but I don't care...I love it. This is my 2nd Lexie Barnes bag and I think that it is awesome!

While waiting for the March shipment for the Rockin' Sock Club, I have been working on the December shipment that I hadn't gotten to yet. The colorway is Bella Coola and the pattern is Salish Sea Socks (try saying that one 3 times fast...I can't). Anyway, I have knit these socks probably 5 times, no joke. I had one sock completely finished, all except the bind off, and I bound off not once, but twice and didn't like it...so instead of ripping back and just re-doing the bind off for a third time, I completely frogged the whole thing and started over once again. Here's a picture of one sock-in-progress on the needles. (It's my first time using 2 circulars - they are HiyaHiya needles and I do like them...and I totally can see the positives of knitting socks this way, although, to be honest, I did switch to my DPN's for the foot and again for the cuff.)

And then, they are FINALLY finished!!!! I love them. They fit great and look pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. I was pretty proud of myself for making it thru this pattern. I feel like I can conquer anything now that I have done this one!

The March shipment has come in and even though I am not a 'green' person, I'm much more of a purple or pink person, I LOVE this colorway.

It's called Lucky and the pattern to go with it, well, it's beautiful and I cannot wait to cast on for these. I will be doing that today at lunch. I would have started last night at Knit Night, but I forgot my size 2 DPN's at home. I have them today and I am ready!

The youngest son had a track meet over the weekend and I was totally amazed at his performance. He ran the 1600m race (1 mile) and he came in with a time of 6:02. He was running about a 15-minute mile in August when he started cross country, so we were very excited about his time.

And I leave you with this cute puppy picture...he loves to have his picture taken.

What size needles do you think these took?

2008-03-07T14:32:00.003-05:00

This was one of the "Week in Photos" in the local paper's online site today.

Woolen bonnets: A pedestrian walks towards advertising pillars topped with plastic caps looking like woolen bonnets in front the baroque Zwinger building in Dresden, Germany, on Feb. 28. The German governmental campaign promotes their program to insulate and renovate residential houses in order to use less power and save the climate. (AP/Matthias Rietschel)

Is February Almost Over? Really???

2008-02-28T09:20:00.008-05:00

Oh my...where has the time gone? I cannot believe that it is almost March and I've barely gotten use to writing February.

I actually have gotten lots of knitting done in the last few weeks. Some has been good, some has been frogged, but progress has been made none the less. I finished Serendipity and LOVE THEM! The color, the pattern, they work so well together.

I have also had a few supersoft yarn purchases that I must share. I finally broke down and got some Colinette Jitterbug that I have been eyeing for a while. The colorway is Monet. I mean, I had to have it...and I did resist for a couple months, but in a moment of weakness, it ended up coming home with me. Isn't it beautiful?

Oh, and here's another one that just kind of followed me home one day. It's very touchable. It's Araucania and so pretty and soft. I picked up both of these at The Knitting Sisters. They always have such wonderful yarn.

I finally started the December 2007 installment of the Rockin' Sock Club. The colorway is gorgeous (Bella Coola) and I really am enjoying this pattern, well, mostly. It was designed by the one and only Cat Bordhi and the pattern is Salish Sea Socks. It's a toe-up pattern and though it's not one of the patterns in her new book, it's definitely different than any of the socks that I have made before. I did order the new book based on this pattern and so far so good, I think. It's hard to stop yourself from thinking of socks in the usual manner, but following these patterns, it's a must.

I watched some of Cat's videos on youtube in order to understand Judy Becker's Magic Cast On and also see demonstrations of socks being knit on 2 circular needles. In the past, I have always done my socks on DPN's (of course I say that like I have been knitting for 90 years rather than almost 2 years). It's the way that I learned and I'm pretty good at maneuvering them around and around until I have a sock.

I do see the benefits of knitting on 2 circular needles so I thought that I would give this a try. I must say that I started on 2 circs, switched to DPN's for the straight part of the toe, and then back to 2 circs for the increases before the heel. And I love the circulars that I picked up... HiyaHiya's. The joins are awesome - very smooth, and the points of the needles are sharp enough for P2togs and K2togs, etc.

And here's the yarn that I am going to be using for my Clapotis. My BFF wound it for me so now I just have to cast on...

Next time...pictures of Salish Sea Socks!

Knitting Updates

2008-02-13T09:42:00.006-05:00

There has been some knitting actually happening and making progress. I think that what can be classified as the 1st FO of 2008 has made it's appearance. Big Bad Baby Blanket for soon-to-be nephew is complete, washed, blocked, and ready for the baby shower on Saturday.

I have also been working on Serendipity, the January 2008 installment of the Rockin' Sock Club. I love the color and the pattern. I haven't gotten as much done on them as I had hoped because I had to get the baby blanket finished, but now I am working on them - about to start the heel on one and half way thru the first pattern repeat on the second. Hopefully tonight at knitting I will get some more work done on them.

I also signed onto the Fashionably Late in '08 - Clapotis KAL. I purchased my yarn at last year's Maryland Sheep & Wool and I love it. I can't wait to start working with this yarn. Of course, the BFF has to wind it for me because I'm ball-winder-less, but I will start this very soon as well. It will be a nice project for the car and watching TV, which will hopefully soon be new shows once again.

Knitting and Weight Loss

2008-02-09T10:46:00.001-05:00

I think that knitting is helping...to a certain extent, with the weight loss thus far. When I am knitting, I don't want to be sitting around snacking - can't have anything hurting the yarn, you know.

Because of this, I am almost finished with the Big Bad Baby Blanket, just 15 more rows of the 20 row moss stitch border. Lucky for me, since the baby shower for SIL is next weekend!

Now, knitting might also be holding me back a bit. I started knitting 2 years ago, casting on for my very first project the night before the Shamrock Half Marathon. I haven't really run much since. Coincidence? I don't know. I am looking at doing the new Richmond Half Marathon in November so I may have to try and fit some running time in between the knitting. I wish that it was possible to knit and run on the treadmill at the same time. I don't think that I am that coordinated. Although, there was a woman who did a marathon while knitting the entire time. Maybe I should write her for some tips.

I guess I will be adding a tracker to track how far I am running while I am training. I have to be at a certain point before I will commit, ie pay my money, to the Richmond Half. I'm so not ready for a full one yet, but maybe next year. I'll be 40...it will be something to shoot for.

Mardi Gras Tradition

2008-02-05T13:45:00.000-05:00

It's Mardi Gras, once again. Much earlier this year than normal, but that's ok. It gets kind of hot down there wearing all those costumes, so maybe it will be a little cooler for them this year.

A friend sent me this great recipe for a King Cake. It's actually from the late Myriam Guidroz, a longtime food columnist for The Times-Picayune. It's based on a brioche dough, and can be made with or without the filling. Those using a bread-making machine should follow a recipe for brioche or sweet roll dough.

King Cake with Cream Cheese & Fruit Filling

Basic King Cake Dough
1 envelope dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
4 cups, approximately, unbleached flour

Mix the yeast with the warm water. Stir 1 teaspoon of the sugar and 1 teaspoon of the flour into the yeast and set aside. By the time you have measured the other ingredients, the yeast should be beginning to bubble and show signs of life.

Bring the milk to a boil and stir in the butter and the sugar. Pour into a large bowl; the mixture should be lukewarm. Beat in the egg yolks, whole eggs and the yeast.

Beat in approximately 2 cups of flour, until the dough is fairly smooth, then gradually add enough additional flour to make a soft dough that you can form into a ball. Knead it, by hand or machine, until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a bowl, turn the dough once or twice in it to grease it lightly all over, cover with a cloth and leave to rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Pat the dough down and cover the bowl with a damp towel, plastic film over that and refrigerate until the next day.

This recipe makes enough dough for two king cakes. Extra dough may be frozen, or make two king cakes and freeze one.

Thaw frozen cake and reheat 10 minutes in a 375-degree oven.

FILLING
1/2 recipe king cake (above)
1 (16-ounce) can cherry, apple or apricot pie filling
8 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 dried bean (to bake in the cake as per tradition or a plastic baby)
Colored sugars or confectioner's sugar and food coloring

Remove dough from refrigerator and with well-floured hands, while it's firm and cold, shape it into a long sausage shape. Using a floured roller on a floured surface, roll out the dough into a 30-by-9-inch rectangle as thin as pie crust. Let dough rest.

If necessary, drain extra juice from pie filling. Mix the cream cheese with the sugar, flour, egg yolks and vanilla. Spoon an inch-wide strip of fruit filling the length of the dough, about 3 inches from one edge. Spoon the cream cheese mixture alongside the fruit, about 3 inches from the other edge. Brush both sides of dough with egg wash. Insert the bean.

Fold one edge of dough over the cream cheese and fruit, then fold the other edge over. Gently place one end of the filled roll onto a greased pizza pan or large cookie sheet. Ease the rest of the roll onto the pan, joining the ends to form a circle or oval. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes. Brush again with egg wash and cut deep vents into the cake. Sprinkle with colored sugars if desired.

Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until cake is well risen and golden. Cool before icing with confectioner's sugar mixed with enough water to make a spreadable paste and tinted purple, green and gold. Make one cake that serves 10 to 12 people. If using a plastic baby instead of the bean, insert it into the bottom of the cake after it is cooked.

Rockin' Sock Club - 2008

2008-01-26T14:48:00.001-05:00

I got home yesterday to find that the postman had visited and with him he brought this:

I got the binder last year with the 2007 Club shipment, so I will be adding this one to that, my every growing collection of Sock Patterns that are AWESOME!

The colorway is called Red Dragon and the pattern is Serendipity. I can't wait to wind this and cast on. Of course, I haven't finished my Lenore's from October's shipment and I haven't even started the Salish Sea Socks from December's shipment, but this is just too yummy to wait, I do believe...

Still working on the baby blanket for the nephew due in March and still working on Tempting slowly but surely, but these socks are going into the rotation.

I hesitated about joining the club this year, but I am so glad that I did. Thank you Tina & Blue Moon. You guys rock!!!

Snow, snow & more snow!

2008-01-23T10:59:00.000-05:00

They were calling for snow this past weekend, and it actually snowed. We got over 2 inches of the stuff at our house. It looks very pretty covering the house and the yard, but thankfully the roads were not bad at all. They were very prepared for it.

These are pictures of our backyard (where the youngest went sledding down the hill on a trash can lid) and of the front of our house and front yard. It really is pretty and looks so "clean" with the snow on everything. We still had snow up until yesterday when it started raining. It's almost all gone now, but I think that they may be expecting more later this week.

My poor puppy hates getting out in the weather when it's cold and wet. Put them together, and it's next to impossible to get him outside.

He and the cat decided that the way to spend the afternoon was just lounging around on my oldest son's bed.

And my new car got a nice dose of snow. I didn't drive my car from Friday night until Monday morning (my DH's car is heavier than mine so better in yucky weather). She had over 2 inches of snow on the roof. And when it melted, my car was FILTHY! I had to take it in for a bath on Monday afternoon.

I did get some knitting done this weekend, but not as much as I had hoped. I'm working away on a baby blanket for the SIL. Don't know if it will be done by the shower this weekend, but it will definitely be done by the next baby shower on Feb 16th. I'll post pictures once it is complete and in her hands.

New Year, New Me?

2008-01-14T10:40:00.000-05:00

Saturday was back to WeightWatchers for me. Of course, since it's the first of the year I was there with about 50 or 60 of my closest friends. The numbers will drop as we move along in the year because on Saturday mornings at 8AM there are usually about 20 or so at the absolute most.

I have 29 pounds to lose until I am at the top of where I want to be, but 40 until I would be THRILLED! So, not as bad as the very first time that I started the program, so progress has been made.

There wasn't much knitting done this weekend. I picked up the baby blanket for my SiL yesterday and knit on that while I was watching football. I did absolutely zero knitting on Saturday because I went from my meeting, to getting my hair cut, to running a couple of errands before we headed to Richmond for a friend's 30th birthday party. (Oh to be 30 again...) Then we spent time with the SiL and hubby and let the dogs play for a while. Riggo was completely and totally zonked out for bed nice and early on Saturday night.

You would think that with all that time in the car I could have knit, but I did most of the driving so that was pointless. But since I'm doing WW and counting those points, hubby was able to have a couple beers at each stop while I enjoyed Diet Coke and water.

No pictures today, but maybe I'll take a couple pics of the baby blanket later this week. I'm almost half way done with it. Think I'll have it done in time for the baby shower on the 26th? Don't know...but I'm going to try!

New Year...New Car

2008-01-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well, my baby car (his name was Casper since he was white and moved at lightening speed) was a good car...he wasn't quite 4 years old but it was time for us to part ways. You see, I have quite a commute and so my poor baby had about 121,000 miles on him.

After much research and car shopping with the DH, we settled on a new Honda, which makes us a total Honda family. I got a Honda Fit Sport and don't let the small package fool ya, she's full of room. That's right - her name is Violet Beauregard. Her color is actually called Blackberry Pearl, but she's purple and she's beautiful!

And now while I miss my Casper, I think that Violet is the one who will take me into the future. How does this apply to knitting, you might ask?

If you look at the pictures of the interior of the Honda Fit Sport, you will see a "Magic Seat" arrangement which allows for some serious space in the backseat...and in the booklet on the Fit it shows a cute little alpaca that is being chauffeured around...possibly to some sort of wool festival. I tried to convince the DH that the purchase of an alpaca was necessary to go with the Honda Fit but he assured me that the alpaca is sold separately.

Bad Blogger...Bad Knitter...

2008-01-04T17:59:00.000-05:00

Oh my! It's been AGES!!! Seriously...ages...since I've blogged, since I've knit or at least had any FO's...where has the time gone? And now it's 2008...when did that happen? Oh right, 4 days ago.

So, questions about The Ellen DeGeneres Show. My sister and I were there on Day 9 of the 12 Days of Giveaways. We got giftcards to Trader Joe's, Calphalon pots and knives and a super-d-duper Starbuck's Espresso maker.

My sister and I had a blast at the show and even though it's been over 12 years since I have driven in LA, I did pretty good if I must say so myself. I got us up to LA from San Diego in one piece, parked the car, and then got us back, still in one piece.

It was also fun spending the time with the CA sister and her family (can you say totally adorable niece and nephew there?!) and I was even given the opportunity to go on a Kindergarten field trip with the almost 6 year old niece and her class. We went to the San Diego Zoo and had a very nice time.

After the 4 days in California, the middle sister and I flew to New Orleans where I got to spend another week with her and her family (a different set of totally adorable niece and nephew!).

My brood joined me there and we spent Christmas with everyone before heading back to Virginia Christmas afternoon. My boys loved spending time with their cousins in Louisiana but missed the family out in San Diego.

It was so much fun - not really restful at all, but a truly great experience for which I am very thankful. (I know, that's a different holiday and all, but I enjoyed every minute that I got to spend with my sisters and their families.)

Me and my 2 sisters...it really stinks being on 3 different coasts and spending the holidays with them makes me realize how much I miss them.

Greetings from Sunny California

2007-12-16T17:44:00.000-05:00

California is beautiful! I haven't been out here in over a decade and it's changed quite a bit but it is still just as gorgous as ever.

The best part of it is spending time with both of my sisters, an early holiday treat...and then there is the beautiful niece and very handsome nephew.

I am actually very fortunate and lucky because after a couple of days with the baby sister and her children, I get to go to Louisiana with the other sister and spend time with her two children and mom for Christmas. It has been way too long since I have spent the actual Christmas holiday in Louisiana with my family so I'm really looking forward to it. Can you say PRALINE(Pr-a-lean)?! Now, it must be pronounced correctly or my mother may let you have one...and trust me, they are a very nice treat.

While in California, one of my sisters and I are going to be attending a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres show. The taping is tomorrow but we're not sure what day it will be on yet. It's one of her 12 Days of Christmas shows too...but I won't be posting about what we get until after she has it up on her site so don't be looking here spoilers...

Well, this is a brief post but there was just a small lull in the activity of baking about 6 different kinds of holiday cookies...

I will post more, with pictures, from Louisiana later in the week.

Hail to the Redskins...

2007-11-27T20:50:00.000-05:00

What a sad time for football fans. Such a young guy in the prime of his life.

I don't know if you have read this, but it's perfect and sums up the feelings that was going thru...thanks to KnitCrit for putting it so eloquently.

My thoughts and prayers are with Sean Taylor's family and friends as well as his teammates.

Thanksgiving Holiday

2007-11-21T12:30:00.000-05:00

In honor of Thanksgiving tomorrow and the gluttony that is sure to take place, take a minute and do something to help out those less fortunate. And beware, it's kind of addictive!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving. Enjoy the family time, the wonderful meals and of course, football.

New Yarn & Fall weather

2007-11-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

This is perfect knitting weather...absolutely perfect.

I have been working on a set of scarves for one of my friends from work...her and the husband are going to Disney World just after

Thanksgiving and they are wearing Tigger Santa hats...so she brought in orange, green, cream and black yarn and I'm just making a 2x2 ribbed scarf alternating colors as the urge strikes. It is actually pretty cute - I had no idea how the colors would look together, but the more I knit the better I like it.

I got some yarn this week from Woolgirl. It's gorgeous and I'll tell you, the customer service from Jen is amazing. She ships everything super quick and there has been a handwritten thank you note in both shipments that I have received from her. The yarn is from VanCalCar Acres Sheep Farm and it's the Gryffindor colorway. It's even cooler looking in person.

I think that it will stripe, it says something about "single repeat" on the tag...how cool is that!?!?

I haven't made much progress on my baby blanket for my SIL, or rather, baby nephew due in March, and my Lenore's are about the same as they were, but that's only because I have been working on the friend scarves...I will be doing much more knitting over the next week thanks to a road trip and some 'family time' for Thanksgiving.

Not much going on...

2007-11-07T16:25:00.001-05:00

Honestly, not a whole lot happening in my world at the moment. Kids are good - school, extracurricular activities, etc. Pets are good - cat still hates dog, dog still wants to kiss on cat, cat has taken over dog's bed so dog is forced to sleep in the little bitty cat bed while she lounges in luxury...nothing new there.

The time change, driving home when it's really dark out, is something that I really dislike...and then once I'm home all I want to do is change into my jammies, crawl up in bed and knit while I watch TV. The darkness zaps all the energy out of me...why is that?

I started working on a baby blanket for my SIL...found out last week that "It's a boy!" so I could go and get blue's to start a blanket. I'm making the Big Bad Baby Blanket out of Stitch & Bitch and so far so good. I've got the border done and I have started on the patterned squares and it looks, well, not too shabby...

I don't have any new pics at the moment, but maybe closer to the end of the week. Lenore is still on the needles and even though I have had to FROG completely a couple of times, I think that I am making pretty good progess thus far. I'm into the pattern repeats on the leg and it's looking good. I still have the right number of stitches and everything is lining up...so keep your fingers crossed. I'll be starting Sock #2 shortly so that it can catch up to the first one.

2008 Rockin' Sock Club

2007-10-31T13:20:00.000-04:00

This was the best e-mail I have gotten all day!!! (Well, except for maybe comments that people have left on my blog and/or in Ravelry...but this is pretty exciting!)

Greetings!
This email is to confirm that we have received your renewal form for the 2008 Sock Club. Thanks for joining us again next year!

October Rockin' Sock Club & more

2007-10-30T10:54:00.000-04:00

I started my first sock of the October shipment last night and so far, in love. The first 'set-up' rounds are a bit challenging for me, but only because of all the Purls and p2tog's and what not. I can purl, and I don't mind purling, but I'm not the fastest purler on the block. But I have been told that once I get past the set-up, it is pretty smooth sailing. I'm counting on that.

They are starting to look like the picture. I was a bit worried at first because the 'points' weren't there...but lo & behold, they appeared as I moved further down the cuff. And I must say, I am still in love - with the yarn, with the pattern, with everything.

Again, the yarn is beautiful with the reds and deep purples running thru it and this pattern is truly inspired.

I do have another FO for October, but it isn't a sock...it's another Roll Brimmed Hat from "Getting Started Knitting". This is just a fun hat to make - it's my 3rd so far, and I made this one from leftovers from my other 2 hats...both are Debbie Bliss Cashmerino yarn and I just changed yarn whenever the urge struck. I had more of the cream color than I did of the camel...

Just a couple weeks ago, I had posted about the new podcast from Vicki Howell...and I won one of the contests on her blog by doing so. I received my package this week:

A book, Lion Brand Just Gifts; a skein of "Love" yarn in the Harold & Maude colorway and a Vicki Howell pin. Very cool!

I'm in LOVE!

2007-10-26T09:41:00.000-04:00

Ok, well I have been waivering back and forth about signing up for the 2008 Rockin' Sock Club. The package I received yesterday made up my mind 100% NO TURNING BACK. I sent in my information first thing this morning. There is no way that I cannot be a part of the sock club next year. NO WAY! I must be a member.

The yarn is beyond gorgeous - at first it looks black and then you see the purples and maroons woven thru it...and then, there's the pattern. The pattern is perfect and wonderfully designed by The Yarn Harlot herself. I cannot wait to get these socks on the needles. My Twinkle Toes socks are going to have to wait in the wings, I'm afraid.

Here's a close-up of the yarn, complete with the little creatures that came in the packaging.

And then, a picture of the yarn, the emergency skein and the creatures.

And now...The pictures of the wonderful pattern aptly named: LENORE. Totally and completely rocks!!!

Anniversary!

2007-10-25T12:12:00.000-04:00

It's my 4-year wedding anniversary today. It's kind of funny to say that, because I guess it's my husband's anniversary too, right?

I look at it like this - You (husband) need to give me (wife) gifts and take me to dinner to let me know how happy you are to be married to me...and I (wife) give you (husband) a card because your gift is the fact that you are happy and married to me. Makes perfect sense to me!

Actually, this year I am surprising Husband because I have a gift for him that will hopefully be near the top, if not the top, of all gifts ever received. You see, Husband is a Redskins fan, 100% born and bred Redskins fan. Of all the different teams that have played together as Redskins, his all-time favorite player is John Riggins. It probably is this reason that our puppy is named John Riggins, Jr. aka 'Riggo'.

Husband sent me these beautiful roses to my office today (he gets double bonus points because of course all the ladies 'ooh & aah' and then the men feel like they need to be better husbands as well because of course they didn't send flowers to their wives in ages):

For my part - I got Husband THIS:I hope that he loves it, as I suspect he will. He has several Redskins jerseys, but this one is his all-time favorite player. Now he can stop lusting after all the #44 jerserys at the Redskins games when we go and he can be one instead.

You think that I may get bonus points now too? I think that his friends will be quite impressed.

USPS Stamps

2007-10-23T11:39:00.000-04:00

The US Post Office is coming out with some great new stamps just in time for Christmas Cards. They will be available this Thursday, October 25th! So excited...can't wait to get these for my Christmas Cards.

Proud Mom!

2007-10-19T13:21:00.000-04:00

The youngest son ran his last cross country race (3.1 miles) in 24.30 minutes!

For those of you unfamiliar, that's a sub-8 minute mile that he's running. He first started out running at the beginning of August with a time of about 35 minutes so he has cut his time by that much in a very short amount of time. He has the build to be a runner - tall, thin, long legs. Here's a picture of him in his uniform...pretty funny!

Here's one of him in his marching band uniform, now that they are all official and stuff...And the best thing is, he's got super-duper grades right now too. He is doing great being as busy as he is with cross country, band and karate. Love it!

The oldest son is studying Art in college and his major is Crafts. He's in his second year and is still loving the various hands-on classes that he is taking. One of his favorite things is probably to be on the potter's wheel...doesn't he look intense?

Isn't it the weekend yet???

2007-10-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Wow! I won one of the book giveaways from Vicki Howell's blog! How cool is that?!?! I must say, very unexpected but greatly appreciated. Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to getting that in the mail.

As of last weekend, the color is YELLOW...as in, youngest son's earning of his yellow belt in karate. That's the 3rd belt for him (white belt, followed by orange belt) so we were pretty excited. Of course, I forgot to give DH the camera so we have no pictures of this...next color belt testing for sure.

The youngest does play in the high school Marching Band as well, Tuba. It seems like it's almost as big as he is.

Oldest Son plays Ultimate Frisbee (it really is a sport and a pretty cool one, actually) and sent me some photos from a tournament of him in action...Love it!

And now for the knitting - I think that I FINALLY figured out what I was doing wrong with this Twinkle Toes pattern. I love the CookieA patterns and think that her designs are pretty awesome but I'll tell you, the Yarn Over after a Purl stitch was really throwing me for a loop. I could not figure out why every time I did this one particular row in the pattern repeat I had an extra stitch - EVERY TIME. I think that I started this one sock about 12 times, but I have gotten really good at the Magic 8 Cast On and I really like the way the toe looks. I am a little bit further along now and will post new pictures soon. Hopefully I will be able to get a fair amount of knitting done this weekend (since I now know the answer to the issue I was having) and I will be ready to go once the next installment of the STR Sock Club comes in the mail.

Contest, Giveaways and Podcasts!

2007-10-16T11:06:00.000-04:00

HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!?!

New Yarn!

2007-10-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

I have to tell you that I got some new yarn in the mail on Tuesday and I love it! Not only is the yarn gorgeous, but the turn around time was AMAZING! I ordered from Jenn at Woolgirl on Friday and the yarn was in my mailbox on Tuesday afternoon (pretty cool considering that Monday was a holiday for USPS).

So, here it is...and a close-up so you can see the pretty colors...It's Spunky Eclectic and the colorway is Scarecrow.

Now, not only is the yarn just beautiful and squishy and begging to be knit up, but the packaging and the personal touches are really a treat. If you have not checked her out yet, you certainly are missing out.

This is how my beautiful yarn was delivered to my house - complete with a hand written note. Thanks Jen!

Pictures - Finally!

2007-10-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

I promised pictures, so pictures you will get.

1st up - Pedicure Socks:

The color of the yarn matches my pedicure PERFECTLY. Friend picked the yarn up for me and got it from a lady who purchased an abundance off E-bay. The best thing - $2 balls (or as well call them, Two Buck Balls). And the socks took less than 2 balls to make which was awesome. I could have made the leg a bit longer, but I luv these!

Next Item - Magic Scarf from Crazy Aunt Purl: This is yarn that I picked up at Maryland Sheep & Wool and I think that it's beautiful and I'm really enjoying the way that it is knitting up. I did alter the pattern a little bit be doing 5 rows of garter stitch as well as 5 Knit stitches on each side of the pattern. Luv it!

And last but not least, on the needles I have a Multi-Directional Scarf being knit in SWS which is just so soft although it is "splitty" and "slick" but it's very pretty.

I also ordered some new yarn today from Woolgirl and I can't wait to get this...it's my colors and it's gorgeous and hopefully I will be able to finish another pair of socks for Socktoberfest. I am planning on starting a pair this weekend, probably just a fairly simple sock, to have something portable to work on.

And now I leave you with an adorable picture of my puppy...

Knitting, Football & The Admission

2007-10-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

So, we'll start with Knitting...

Do Pedicure Socks count in Socktoberfest? I finished my first pair of them last night at our Wednesday Knitting Group at Panera. Yeah! Only October 3rd and 1 pair of socks for Socktoberfest! Like a big dork, I left my camera at home so I do not have pictures of them right now, but will post them next week. I love them and cannot wait to go and get a pedicure and wear my new socks. Of course, that means that the weather needs to cool off a bit first because right now it's still flip-flop weather.

On the Football front - Friend and I are struggling with our Fantasy Football team at the moment, but we are looking forward to hopefully some easy wins in the next few weeks so that we can move on up the leader board. Right now we are 1-3 but we have been hanging in there with the big boys who are leading the league and we are not getting smacked around like some of the other teams that they are beating. We have lost 2 games by less than 10 points each!

And now, real football - DH and I are going to see the Washington Redskins on Sunday when they play the Detroit Lions. Keep your fingers and toes crossed that the bye week has given them a chance to rest up and get ready for another win. Jason Campbell was looking great in their game against the NY Giants in the first half, but it just seemed like the whole team forgot that they were playing a football game when they came back after halftime.

And lastly, my admission...

I'm a chocoholic! There, I said it...I admit it. Unfortunately, there is not really a 12-step program for chocolate. There should be. Instead, I have found this and have been following it now for almost a week. I will tell you that it is very hard to find things in the grocery store that do not contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. It seems to be in EVERYTHING! They say that after a week or so without it, I will not miss it. I miss chocolate and will not totally forbid it, but at least for now I am considering it 'off limits'.

One of the hints regarding mindless snacking I really like - It says to play a video game to keep your hands occupied. I have changed it a little bit to - knit for a bit to keep your hands occupied. Hopefully that will prevent any mindless or boredom snacking.

So, Friend and I have been walking around the block aiming for twice a day and circling the block at least twice each time just to get moving...and I have gotten to where I am eating 3 meals a day with 2 snacks, a major change for me. I'm aiming for a change in lifestyle - I am NOT on a diet...I am working towards a new way of life. I can do this, I have to do this, and I will do this.

Whew - feels so good to get that out in the open! Of course now I feel totally exposed...best go and get a snack - apples, just plain, not dipped in chocolate.

Knitting and Football

2007-09-24T11:44:00.000-04:00

Well, it was a busy weekend full of knitting, football and family. Unfortunately, my Washington Redskins lost after they failed to participate in the 2nd half of the game. And my Fantasy Football team with Friend, well, we were doing pretty good there and lost our match-up thanks to last night's game and TO. I am not a fan of the Dallas Cowboys - no self-respecting Redskins fan could be.

But Friend and I lost by 3 lousy points - 3!!! To the guy who is dominiating our league. We were hanging in there pretty good, too. Oh well, there's always next week when we are playing another boy that has a pretty good team. We have to pull out a win and put up a good showing for the women. It's either that, or we are going to have to teach some of our football players to knit because they certainly aren't helping us on the football field.

And on the knitting front - I had started some socks in the Nagini pattern but as I worked up the foot and turned the heel, well I just wasn't feeling it. I loved the yarn - it's STR Silkie and it's beautiful and soft and I liked the pattern on the foot...so the yarn is in a time-out once again until I find exactly what it is meant to be.

Then I started on a multi-directional scarf but the yarn that I was using just wasn't feeling it...

So, after frogging a sock and a scarf, I started The Magic Scarf from Crazy Aunt Purl. And I must say, I am liking it so far...at this point, I do not have to frog it...but it's still in the early stages. I will take pictures and post them soon.

Football Time of Year

2007-09-14T12:23:00.000-04:00

Being a girl raised in a house that supports the LSU Tigers (my dad bleeds purple & gold, I think and my mom's cell phone ring is the LSU Fight Song), a friend sent to me the differences between the North & the South in regards to Saturday Night Football...

I had to share:

North vs. South FOOTBALL

Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different than up North. For those who are planning a trip to see a Saturday football game in the South, here are some helpful hints.

Women's Accessories:

NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.

SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.

Stadium Size:

NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

Fathers:

NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.

SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

Campus Decor:

NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.

SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.

Homecoming Queen:

NORTH: Also a physics major.

SOUTH: Also Miss America.

Heroes:

NORTH: Rudy Giuliani

SOUTH: Archie & Peyton Manning

Getting Tickets:

NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus.

SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution and put name on a waiting list for tickets.

Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:

NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because they have classes on Friday.

SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung over students that might actually make it to class.

Parking:

NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game parking.

SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.

Game Day:

NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.

SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to the idiots up north who wonder why "Game Day Live" is never Broadcast from their campus.

Tailgating:

NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down.

SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by "Dave Matthews Band," who comes over during breaks and asks for a hit off bottle of bourbon.

Getting to the Stadium:

NORTH: You ask "Where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in.

SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it's the state's third largest city.

Concessions:

NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.

SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on it, filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.

The Smell in the Air After the First Score:

NORTH: Nothing changes.

SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.

Commentary (Male):

NORTH: "Nice play."

SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch -- tackle him and break his legs."

Commentary (Female):

NORTH: "My, this certainly is a violent sport."

SOUTH: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs."

Announcers:

NORTH: Neutral and paid.

SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

After the Game:

NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.

SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the nearest store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week's game.

Nothing else in the universe comes even halfway close to the glories of Southern football!

GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!! LLLLLL SSSSSSSS UUUUUUUU!!!!!

Fantasy Football & Current Knitting

2007-09-10T14:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day in our household - the Washington Redskins won their season opener at home in overtime, my fantasy football team is up by 40 points going into the games tonight, thanks in no small part to Plaxico Burress and his wonderful showing last night in their loss to Dallas.

And in the midst of all the football and other weekend activities, I did actually get some knitting done on my Slightly Felted Cable Shrug, this great pattern that I picked up at City Knits in Detroit, MI while Friend and I were on a road trip to a wedding. I am about 75% done with the knitting part of it, then I just have to seam the sleeves and 'slightly felt' it. This will be my first excursion into the world of felting, but I'm very excited about it.

Nothing else exciting and new happening at this point in time. Just same old, same old, same old, I'm afraid. It's really funny how when school starts the way that you look at time all changes. My schedules are now according to what is happening at the school, after school and on the weekends as related to school. At this rate Christmas will be here before I know it...I must get working on that knitting!

Game Day!

2007-09-09T09:43:00.000-04:00

Let's go Skins!!!! Skins vs. Dolphins 1PM. Where will you be???

It's also the first week of Fantasy Football - The Chicks with Sticks (Friend and I) vs. Wing Man (one of the silly boys that we work with)...

Let the intimidation begin!!!!

Beginning of Sept and already 1 FO!

2007-09-04T12:26:00.000-04:00

Wow - these past couple of weeks and Labor Day weekend have truly been a blur.

Oldest son was home for the weekend because my mom was here for a visit but he is well immersed in his sophmore year of college. He is enjoying living on his own, but for some strange reason, he still came home with a laundry bag full of dirty clothes. I know that I saw a washer & dryer in the house that he is sharing with his 2 roommates...maybe that was a figment of my imagination...

Youngest son is now in high school. I can't believe it...my baby...he's not a baby any more. And because it was his first day, I had to take a couple of pictures...have you ever gotten the "Come on Mom...enough's enough" look???

But, Friend came over on Saturday afternoon and after she completed some surgery on a couple of wayward cables, I came up with my first FO for September...
I present to you - 3x3 Cable with Moss Stitch socks

Here's a close-up of the sock on my foot and I must say, I loved this pattern and how it knit up. They are done in Claudias yarn and you can find more details from this post.

My mom left to head back home with some Monkey's in her bag. I had made them for me originally but they were a little too slouchy (is that a word?) but they fit mom perfectly. I must make another pair of these, as well as a few more Cookie A socks, but I just have to find the perfect yarn...I have a few in the stash that may do.

I have made signifigant progress on my Solstice Slip socks. They are the June Installment of the Socks that Rock sock club and they are very nice. I love the colors and the pattern is a nice one and pretty easy to memorize.

I have finished one sock and I'm working up the leg on the second one and only have 5 more repeats of the pattern until I bind off. Speaking of - I had to bind off with a size 8 needle! I'm knitting these on 1's but in order to get them on my stupid feet I had to use an 8. And, that was what I happened to have in my knitting bag of tricks at the time.

And I almost forgot - I had another FO but it was actually in August. After putting away my oldest son's Harry Potter scarf, I picked that back up and finished it for him. Here's his Hufflepuff scarf alongside his brothers Gryffindor's scarf. The colors for Hufflepuff match my son's college so he will look super cool walking the campus this winter. In fact, I think that my son is pimping me out - he said that a friend of his at work wants to know how much I would charge him to make a scarf for Ravenclaw and then one of my DH's friends wants one in the colors of Slytherin...but he wants Year 3. I'm actually working on a Year 3 scarf for myself in the Gryffindor colors, or Redskins colors, depending on how you look at it.

For anyone in the Williamsburg area, Knitting Sisters is celebrating their 4-year anniversary starting Sept 6th and going thru the 8th. If you get a chance, stop by and visit with these wonderful ladies! They always have wonderful drawings and cake for everyone that stops by.

Countdown has begun to opening kickoff of the NFL Season...

Friend and I are once again playing Fantasy Football against all the boys in our department so wish us luck! We did pretty well last year and we plan on doing even better this year. The girl knitting on my blog is our team mascot and we are Chicks with Sticks and we plan to stomp all over these silly boys.

Finally - after a LONG Break!

2007-07-24T11:02:00.000-04:00

Time has certainly gotten away from me. It's not that I haven't been knitting, but life has just taken over and I have totally lost track of time.

Let's see...to catch up:

DS1: has been home from college all summer and working like crazy. We moved his furniture into a house that he is going to be sharing with 2 friends just off campus and he starts classes Thursday. Very excited for him and scared too, but I know that he will be just fine. He will still be coming home on some of the weekends because he is keeping his job in town, so it's great that he is less than an hour away from home. But still nice that he is able to stretch his wings.

DS2: will be starting high school in 2 weeks but has already started practicing for Cross Country. It will be his first school sport so he is very excited. Marching Band will start once school starts because they do not have all the instruments in yet for them to start practicing early since they are a brand new school.

DH: just working, working, working. We enjoyed our vacation cruise but since coming back from vacation, it's been non-stop it seems.

Today is also my puppy's birthday! He's 2 and he is just the cutest thing. I don't know what we did before we had him. I guess it was just a lot quieter then.

On the Knitting front:

I am still working on my Charlene Schurch 3x3 cable with moss stitch socks. I am on the foot of the 2nd one and had a bit of a screw-up so Friend is doing a bit of surgery on that one. The other sock is finished already and looks good.

I FINALLY finished DS1's Harry Potter Scarf in the Hufflepuff Colors (also the colors of his University) and I have started working on Prisoner of Azkaban Hogwarts scarf for me in the Gryffindor colors. I think that it's a little more grown-up. I'm a little over half-way thru with it too. It's a very quick knit!

Also, I am working on the 3rd Installment of the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin Sock Club socks and I am LOVING it...the colorway is called Firebird and the pattern is The Solstice Slip. It is another toe-up pattern and I have to say that I really like the fact that I can use all of my yarn and I don't have to graft the toe. 2 huge pluses in favor of toe-up.

I have almost finished the leg of Sock #1 and I am working on the heel of Sock #2. The next installment started shipping out to the East Coast on Monday but I don't think that I will be done with these when it arrives. I don't know if I will finish and then start or just start another pair of socks.

I have also cast on for a lace shawl but that is one that is going to take F-O-R-E-V-E-R, so I'm just hoping to work on that at home and maybe have it finished by 2010.

I will post pictures tomorrow, but wanted to get a post up since it truly has been months!

Unintended Vacation

2007-06-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

Well, I can't believe that it has been so long since I last wrote a post...I never intended to be 'away' that long.

I have not been knitting much at all. After failing miserably at my first attempt at the April installment of STR, I put that yummy yarn away. I did finish 1 sock of my Charlene Schurch cable socks (and to the gusset of the 2nd in that pair) and I have started on an Irish Hiking Scarf.

But now, I actually am escaping on a vacation and looking forward to it. There's a cruise in my very near future (tonight actually) and I can't wait!!! I will have pictures to share and post after we return next weekend.

More than anything I am just looking forward to the break from the day-to-day routine...

Anchors Away!!!

A Mother's Day Laugh

2007-05-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

(Not about my family or my boys, thankfully, but just a funny that my mother shared with me at a very special time of year to honor mother's everywhere...)

Why My Lips Stayed Chapped on Mother's Day!

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died. J ack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it.

So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.
Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood. We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for Eli.

I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying mychapstick very carefully to Jack's . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right -- their little bottoms do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind. And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds usthat no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

Weekend Fun (long post)

2007-05-07T10:07:00.000-04:00

So many things have happened since I last posted…

Where to start?!?!?!

I guess with the gorgeous yarn from Blue Moon for the April installment of the Rockin’ Sock Club! How lovely is this???

It is 81% merino and 19% silk. It is so nice to knit with.

This is another Toe-Up pattern but it is different than the Monsoon socks.

So, I have learned another way to start a sock from the toe-up .

I have actually now finished both socks up to the gussets. I worked on these while I was waiting to see Queen Elizabeth on Friday at William & Mary. Lots of knitting was accomplished while standing in line and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

I am having a little bit of trouble with the ‘turning of the heel’ but got some help on the Pfb’s from an expert this weekend at Maryland Sheep & Wool.

That brings us to MS&W. This was my very first time attending MS&W and I had a great time. Of course, I rode up with Friend so just the drive itself was fun. I think that we could have a good time sitting in a cardboard box.
There were sheep
More sheep
Alpacas
Baby sheep
Angora Bunnies
And of course, yarn!!!

I had never seen anyone actually spinning yarn, and I was fascinated watching as this vendor hand plucked the angora bunny that was sitting patiently and quietly in her lap and was spinning the yarn right there. It was really cool!

I did very good and only got yarn for things that I have projects in mind for. Well, all except for 1 but I did think about it for a good half hour before I went back and got it and it was still there so it was meant to be. I think that this will make a gorgeous scarf or shawl or something yummy. (And before you say it, I will...yes, there definitely was a 'theme' of colors for the yarn that was purchased this weekend. There were 2 purchases of corals & browns and 2 purchases of purples and greens.

There was sock yarn from Spirit Trail in some very lovely blues and purples as well as sock yarn from Ellen’s Half Pint Farms .
I also picked up some yarn that reminded me of Mardi Gras to make a clapotis.The only thing missing seemed to be the vendor selling Fried Twinkies. I don’t know that I actually would have eaten one, but the whole concept leaves me rather intrigued and I was hoping to catch a glimpse of one.

We went by the booth for The Fold where they were selling the lovely Socks that Rock yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts so we were able to see some of the colorways up close & personal (petting the yarn is always fun) but the line for them was UNBELIVEABLE and the yarn itself was going fast. Some of the people there (the ones doing the purchasing) were rather rude as well. They were pushy and shoving and no one said 'excuse me' or 'I’m sorry' or anything and that was rather annoying. Too many people shoved into too small of a space. Maybe they should re-think where to put them next year – perhaps outside where they can have more space and spill out into the ‘common areas’. Just my 2¢’s.

We left Maryland before most of the other traffic so it was a pretty smooth ride home, aside from a couple of accidents that we witnessed that were thankfully on the other side of the interstate. It did start to sprinkle and was raining rather steadily by the time I dropped off Friend, but on the ride home, it STORMED.

I arrived at the youngest DS’s school just in time to pick him up from a field trip…and just my luck, as the bus is turning into the parking lot it hit a light pole in the parking lot. That wouldn’t be so bad, except for the fact that the light pole is attached to a solid cement base. And so the kids could not get off the bus until the police came. All the parents were waiting out in the rain for the kids. No one was hurt, which is wonderful, but the bus was pretty torn up. You can see that there is a cement block where a front wheel should be. And of course, the light was not lit up, so maybe that had something to do with the driver not being able to see it.

So, that was Saturday…

Sunday, we went to see Spiderman 3. I must say, it was a little slow in parts, but because I am a Spiderman fan, I really enjoyed it. The fight scenes and special effects were pretty cool.

Virginia Tech

2007-04-30T15:45:00.001-04:00

Time flies

2007-04-24T15:54:00.000-04:00

Where has the time gone? Since I last posted, I have finished my Monkey Socks and I have started on a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks - Cable with Moss Stitch and I am using another of Claudias Handpainted Yarns in the Pink Cloud colorway. Here's a picture of Monkey finished: After doing the cables for the Inside Out Socks, I wanted to try some more cables and just fell in love with this pattern. And, after knitting with the Claudias for the Monkey pattern, I had some more in my stash from The Knitting Sisters so I wound it up and cast on.

This is my Cable with Moss Stitch sock in progress on the Pink Cloud colorway (I am at the same place on both socks):

This past weekend was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L so the DH and I worked in the yard. We planted a lot of begonias as well as some Hens & Chicks (no it does not yield baby hens and chicks, I was disappointed too). He did a little planting on Saturday while I was at Kings Dominion with the youngest and his band, but we were both out there on Sunday.

And lastly, here is a picture of what the Easter Bunny brought me! I guess this means that I actually have to cook...

New Project

2007-04-12T09:58:00.000-04:00

While waiting for the April shipment from Blue Moon and waiting to hear all about Sock Camp from The Yarn Harlot and various others, I have started a new project. I have some awesome yarn that I picked up at The Knitting Sisters - it's Claudia Hand Painted yarn and the colorway is Knitting Sisters! And can I just tell you, it's beautiful. But, I have had it in my stash for a couple months and wanted to find something to do the yarn justice.

Then...I found the wonderful Cookie A pattern Monkey on Knitty and when I saw it, I knew I had to make these socks. These are not very good pictures, but so far, totally loving and digging the pattern and yarn.

Now, when will these people be back from sock camp so they can send out the April Sock Club packages?!?!?! (Did I mention that I am very jealous of everyone there? Aside from the cool chicks at Blue Moon you also have The Yarn Harlot, Cat & Cookie A...what more could you ask for???)

Happy Easter???

2007-04-09T12:14:00.000-04:00

A day later, but better late than never.

Waking up on Saturday morning and looking outside, I almost got confused and thought we were back on Christmas Eve, rather than Easter Eve. It's APRIL people!!! Why is there this much snow on the ground???

The only good thing about this weather is that this:

Quickly became this:

Right-side out and Inside Out:

I also purchased some new reading material this weekend.

I am thrilled to be finished with my STR...pretty much just in time for April's shipment. Oh well, at least I am ready!

Already April...

2007-04-01T17:41:00.000-04:00

Very little knitting has been done this weekend. I am at the point on both socks where they are the same length and I am ready to start the heel. I don't know if I will attempt that tonight, or wait until I am at work tomorrow so Friend can help me if I encounter a problem. It will be my first attempt at a short-row heel...and unlike the toe, I will be very upset if I have to rip back. I have been working on 0's for what seems like FOREVER, and I'm about to go up to 1's but still...I'm really looking forward to starting on the leg with my 3's.

After our 10K yesterday we both felt like we had been run over by a truck. It didn't start out so bad, and we were really doing pretty good...right up until we actually stopped walking. And by that, I mean after we had walked an additional mile or so to where I had to park my car. When you have just over 25,000 of your closest friends in downtown Richmond doing a race, there really is no where to park.

We saw these people running and they were hysterical! They each won the individual and group awards for dressing up.

First you have Fred Flinstone and Dino...I have no idea how this guy carried this car all the way to the finish line.

Then, you have the Austin Powers group...HYSTERICAL!!! Dr. Evil and Mini-Me were so funny...but those costumes had to be HOT!

And you know, after absolutely ZERO training for this race, we finished just about 1 minute slower than last year. We both finished in 1 Hour, 54 Minutes and 25 Seconds. Last year our time was 1 Hour, 53 Minutes and 48 Seconds, so not bad for 2 old ladies. (Well, one old lady and me...HAHAHA!!!)

Now, you would think that my husband would feel sorry for me, right? I mean, I got up early, drove to Richmond and walked over 6 miles for a great charity...but NO! I came home and helped out with yard work, both yesterday and today. But I have pretty pictures to share.

So, first...we purchased some hanging plants last weekend - Geraniums. They are very pretty and look great on the front porch.

Well, apparently a little bird thought so too because we have a baby birds nest in one of them...and there's even a little egg.

This weekend, Husband dug up a tree that has been in our front yard for the last 2 years that we have lived here. It has not done a thing in the past two years, so up it came...he also dug some holes in another area of the yard and decided that we should plant something there too.

So I ended up walking around Home Depot yesterday (VERY SORE, mind you) and looking at plants. I was hopeful that we would not actually plant them yesterday, but rather plant them today, but that didn't happen. When Husband decides to do something, it's always RIGHT NOW. So, here is our work that we did yesterday and today.

Here is a beautiful Thundercloud Plum tree that we purchased and Husband planted (while I cleaned out all the spilled dirt in his car).

And this is what the flowers look like close-up...

I am going to plant these white and purple flowers around the base of the Thundercloud Plum Tree tomorrow...

This is the new flower bed that we planted yesterday. It's along our retaining wall and it is 4 African Daisy plants (a beautiful purple Daisy) and 4 Golden Euonymous. The color contrast is very nice and hopefully they will do well here in the sun.

And now, my puppy is ready to go inside and start watching some ESPN and getting ready for Opening Night of the 2007 Baseball Season!!!

Now if we could only teach him to fetch beers!!!

STR and Weekend Plans

2007-03-30T11:27:00.000-04:00

This is getting very frustrating! I am working on my FEBRUARY Rockin Sock Club sock kit. The thing that makes it so frustrating is that I am not working on anything else, NOTHING, not one other thing on the needles. ZIP!

I seriously do not think that has happened since I first learned to knit last year.

Last Wednesday I went to my weekly knitting group and Mary took loads of pictures of everyone working on their socks. Friend has finished both of her socks and so has Blogless Lou, so I am the only one still working on mine. Friend has promised that once I turn the heel the leg will go by in no time, so I am planning on holding her to that.

I will post pictures tomorrow after Friend and I finish the Monument 10K (which should be interesting since neither of us have trained at all for it...we have been knitting instead). The 2 of us and 24,000 of our closest friends will be out there tomorrow morning in the cold. I just hope that I can still walk after this!

It's a great cause to support the Massey Cancer Center - here's to almost 6 years Cancer Free!

A Casualty & More Progress

2007-03-18T19:33:00.000-04:00

Look at my casualty of war, well, sock knitting! It was bound to happen! I mean, when you are making socks using toothpicks, ok Size ZERO double point needles, at some point one of them is bound to snap in half. And tonight, it happened to me. There I was just knitting along in the middle of a round and SNAP! 2 pieces of a needle where there use to be only one. I have pictures to prove it!

Lucky for me, I was able to take my spare needle and slide it in to hold the stitches and continue on my merry way.

But still...it's the whole point! I have lost a perfectly wonderful needle.

I am making serious progress on my socks. I guess that's what doing nothing on a Saturday night except visiting with a friend with a 1-month old and watching movies will do for you.
I do knit tighter than Friend, so my stripes look a little different, but totally loving it! And I have tried them both on my feet, at least over the toe portion, and they are just G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! (I think that I have been listening to a bit too much Fergie!)

Here's another shot of the socks to show the striping. Yummy! The more that I knit with yarn from Blue Moon, the more I love it. It is so soft and the colors are so incredible and the way that the yarn works with the pattern is just awesome.

That's about it for me for the weekend. I have more knitting to do on the socks and I have to finishe laundry for the oldest son to take back to college with him tomorrow morning. He's been home for Spring Break and working which means more laundry for mom. It's a small price to pay for time with the oldest.

Slow Progress, but progress at last!

2007-03-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

It may have taken me 4 times to make it past the toe, but I do believe that I have turned the corner and am moving right along.

Like Friend, I am doing both socks at the same time. Not on the same needles, just at the same time. The concept to this is to pick up the smaller one each time, work on that. Then the next time you will pick up the smaller one, which will be the other one, and you work on that one.

So, I took a couple pictures of my STR socks in progress to share and I must say, I really like the way that it looks so far. The colors are great and the colorway name really fits the weather outside today, Monsoon. And, if I take my socks with me tomorrow, I do not have to worry about wearing green...instead, I will be carrying green!!!

Correction - 4th time?!

2007-03-10T06:20:00.000-05:00

Well, I thought that I had turned the corner on the toe of my Inside Out STR socks, but alas, I was wrong.

I was doing well right up until I had to unzip the provisional cast-on and pick up the stitches. It was going ok and I was preparing the set-up row and BAM! Totally misread the pattern...it snuck up on me. Of course this could have been because I was up at 3:45AM unable to sleep, but I'm sure that had NOTHING at all to do with it.

How did I mess up, you ask...well, I realized what I did and it was the TINKing that I screwed up on...

Totally and completely FROGGED once again.

But, on a positive note - I just crocheted my very first chain to re-start my sock once again!!! Friend had to do the other one because I was proving to be a bit 'crochet-challenged' but I think that I figured it out. I think that it also helped that there was not a table full of chatty knitters and all the other folks at Panera's when Friend was trying to show me how to do it...

So, I will press on and hopefully this will be the last time that I cast on for this particular sock in the pair!

Skinny Scarf and STR

2007-03-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

Here's the picture of "the scarf" that I promised. I have it stretched down my stairs to try and show just how long it actually is, but I don't think that it shows it off too well.

Here's a close up of the colors.
Yummy!!!

Last night I did start again, for the third time, my Inside Out STR socks and so far, so good. I guess the knitting god & goddess are looking out for me. Actually, I started doing a little bit of a cheat on the pattern. I couldn't remember what I had done on a row and to which stitch, so I got sticky notes and am making notes to myself. Hopefully that will get me thru the first part of this but I'm sure there will be something to try and trick me up ahead! I just keep telling myself that it's only sticks and string and I can make it do whatever I want it to do. It does not control me. Of course, that mantra does not work when I am in my LYS and yarn (lately it seems to be the Debbie Bliss CashMerino that is the guilty party) just seems to jump into my bag and magically appear at the counter when I am checking out.

When I have some more progress to show on my new socks, I will certainly show a picture. Right now, it only looks like this:

Socks That Rock

2007-03-08T19:59:00.000-05:00

I started the first bi-monthly shipment of Blue Moon Fiber Arts 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. This is totally different from any of the socks that I have knit before. Now, mind you, I have only made 4 pairs of socks so it is not like I am some expert, but this scares me a bit.

The pattern is called Inside Out and it is knit toe-up. I have ripped it completely out now twice, but hopefully third time will be the charm. Luckily I do have a Friend who is a great source of advice, support and reassurance that I can do this.

I finished the Skinny Scarf that I have been working on and it is LONG. I'm not talking kind of long, I'm talking LLLOOONNNNGGGG. But the colors and beautiful and it is so soft. I'm calling it my Cancer Survivor's Scarf because the colors are that of the Relay for Life. I will try and take a picture of it tonight and post it tomorrow, but I don't think that the picture will do it justice.

Well, I must get onto my sock so that hopefully I have some progress to show tomorrow. Keep your fingers and toes crossed and say a prayer to the knitting gods that I get through this toe without having to frog again!

FINALLY...

2007-03-06T16:12:00.000-05:00

I think that I must be the absolute last person to receive my February shipment of Socks That Rock! Well, I overexaggerate a bit, I guess. I think that the international folks have not received theirs yet, but I do feel like the last person.

With that said, all my stuff arrived today! And I must say, I love this yarn. The color is gorgeous. I do not think that this picture will be good enough to make anyone drool as I did when I opened my box, but take my word for it...it's beautiful!

The kit is pretty great too, but I have serious doubts that I can fill up the binder. I'm thinking that I will have plenty of room for other various sock patterns so basically I will make this my "Nothing but Socks" book. Another fabulous thing that everyone should have...

My husband may admit me for testing if I put the bumper sticker on my car, but I don't care. If I am in the crazy hospital, do you think that they will allow me to have my knitting needles? If they do, then put me away! I would be more than happy to sit in a padded cell and knit until my heart's content!

New Project

2007-02-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

I went to The Knitting Sisters this weekend and found this yummy, yummy yarn! It jumped into my bag, I swear! I picked up 2 balls each of the Mauve and the Grape. They are beautiful and so soft. I knew that I would make something for me, but I wasn't quite sure what.

Friend pointed me towards this Skinny Scarf from DIY and I think that I am going to do some variation of it. I started last night and cast on 425 stitches! That's a lot of stitches. Well, it wasn't until lunch today, after 3 rows of 425 stitches, that I was changing colors and realized that at some point I had screwed up! So, I completely frogged it and will start again tonight, maybe. I'm just really passing the time until Socks that Rock land in my mailbox and I can focus on the fun yarn that Blue Moon has picked out for us this month!

And, I have a new knitting bag. I'm not a Vera Bradley person, It's a bit too flowerey and loud for my tastes. Friend wasn't either but she has crossed over to the "dark side" and now has not only a Vera Bradley knitting bag, but also a purse and wallet. She is possessed...

But, I digress...

I found this great bag and the pattern is now discontinued, but I love it! I know that I am slightly behind the times, but I just think it is cute.

Now, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

The countdown for socks is still in progress...

2 FO's in 1 Weekend!!!

2007-02-26T11:49:00.000-05:00

Wow! I managed to finish not 1 but 2 things this weekend. I have been working on a scarf for a friend at work (she purchased the yarn and I just knit it up for her)...and the only reason why is because she was planning on holding my scarf hostage until she got one of her own. We have tried to convince her that she needs to learn herself, but she is definitely one that appreciates the 'hand knit' so it's ok. Here is a picture of her wearing it but her head has been removed to protect the innocent (cough, cough)!

Also, I have a friend who just had her first baby - a baby girl. This friend is not a girly-girl, pink wearing girl, so I whipped up a precious little hat for her in purple! I found a pattern on line doing just a simple search and love it!

The pattern that I used is called "A Little Hat" and it knit up so cute and very quick! I used the yarn that she called for, Lambs Pride Worsted, and the color is Wild Violet, I think...but I'm not 100% sure of that because of course the ball band is at home.

The rest of the weekend was rather uneventful, and that's just the way I like it. My oldest son was home from college (I think just an excuse to have his laundry done, but he did work a bit as well) so the house was a little busier than usual...

BUT...It's going to be a GREAT WEEK! The first shipment of Socks That Rock should be on their way, flying to the mail box closest to me! Well, me and loads of my sock-addicted friends! We are all counting down and waiting, albeit not very patiently, for the first packet of Sock Club 2007! The excitement is building and building...and trust me, photos will be published as soon as the first shipment makes it into my greedy little hands.

And I just wanted to share this picture...the large bed is actually the one that we got the dog for Christmas, but the cat thinks that she runs things and I think the dog is a little afraid of her. The smaller bed is the cat's bed and it's the one the dog used when he was a puppy.

Happy Mardi Gras!

2007-02-20T09:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Mardi Gras!!!!!

Being a transplant to VA from the great state of LA, born in the wonderful town of New Orleans, it makes me look back and reflect on Mardi Gras' past. I love Carnival season in Louisiana and everything it brings with it.

King Cake is my all time favorite treat, and one of my best friends down in LA had to tell me about King Cake ice-cream, but of course, you can't get that in Virginia!

Some of you may ask, "What is a King Cake?" and my answer to you is this:

The king cake traditionally was served on "Little Christmas" or "Kings' Day" other names for the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrated Jan. 6. Since Epiphany comes on the twelfth day of the Christmas celebration, it also became known as Twelfth Night.Traditionally the cake was baked on Epiphany Eve and served the following afternoon to family and friends. Today, the cake is served throughout the "Epiphany season," or until Mardi Gras.

By the Middle Ages, veneration of the three wise men had spread throughout Europe and Epiphany became known as The Feast of the Three Holy Kings. The cake was baked in honor of the Magi.

Latin Americans, like New Orleanians, place a figure representing the Christ child inside the cake. In other cultures, the king cake might contain a coin, bean, pecan or pea. In medieval France, the coin finder was expected to make a contribution to a worthy cause, usually the education of a deserving youngster. In some parts of Europe, those who find the bean and pea are king and queen for the day.

In New Orleans, the person who receives the piece of cake containing a "baby" must provide the king cake for the next gathering of the season. (In some offices, king cake has become a daily treat for the full length of Carnival.)

And, the parades are my other favorite thing about Mardi Gras! The Krewe of Bacchus always has a celebrity as their King and this year, it was none other than Tony Soprano.

So, Happy Mardi Gras everyone!!! And remember, tomorrow is Ash Wednesday so overindulge today in whatever you plan on giving up until Easter!

FO from Christmas

2007-02-18T10:02:00.000-05:00

Here's an updated photo of the youngest with his Harry Potter scarf that I made him for Christmas. I also made him a matching hat. I used this pattern and followed the colors in the Utopia yarn - Maroon #187 and Maize #176. The pattern is not a difficult one and it knits up pretty quickly.

The hat pattern I kind of made up myself and adjusted it to fit his head. It's a simple 2x2 rib followed by straight knitting, changing colors when the urge struck, but I tried to make it even. It's an issue.

And now, as it is snowing outside, I think that I will take a cue from my puppy and go back to bed...

For crying out loud!

2007-02-16T14:13:00.000-05:00

Ok...so last night, I got absolutely no knitting done. Zero, Zilch, Nada, None - NOT A STITCH! Why, you may ask? Because of this stupid show. Last night was a mix of crying, sobbing, speechlessness (is that a word?) and just utter amazement. I literally could not get over the ending. Friend and I were on the phone and I was texting another...total shock!

I have to recover from this...I think that a trip to my favorite LYS may be in order for me to get over this emotional turmoil. (By the way, new and improved updated website for them...they rock!)

Maybe I will knit this weekend...

Happy Love Day!

2007-02-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! A total Hallmark holiday, but one that is rather sweet. A perfect day to indulge in chocolate, candy, cards, flowers and jewelry! Some of us must go out and get these things for ourselves because of forgetful folks, but at least there is a legitimate excuse for them. Friend and another accomplice have me hooked on some new jewelry and I must say, LOVE IT!

And, tomorrow, 50% off candy...even better.

UFO's, FO's and WIP's

2007-02-13T11:05:00.000-05:00

FO:
I have finished another scarf, this one for me! I made it in the
Debbie Bliss Ca s hmerino Chu nky in a beautiful coral color and fringed it! I love it! Here is a pic of it still on the needles before the fringing. I used size 10 1/2 needles and made it in my favorite pattern of the mistaken rib. I just love the way that it looks when it is knitted up.

FO and WIP:
I am still working on my Jaywalkers, one is done, and the other one is on the needles still. The colorway is Socks That Rock, Christmas Balls. I think that they are sold out of that colorway now, but I just love it. So, one is finished and the other is still 'in progress'. I need to get it finished because the list of socks that I want to knit is growing almost daily and I seem to keep getting distracted by knitting other things for myself.

FO: The picture does not do this one justice! This is another scarf for
myself and I made this out of the Classic Elite Countess Yarn color 1375 and it is so soft and so yummy! I just love it! Of course, it should be yummy with both cashmere and angora in the mix.

WIP's: Last night I cast on for another scarf for myself! I seem to be doing a lot of those lately. But when Fr iend and I went to the LYS for their Superbowl Sale, I couldn't resist this yarn. It was calling my name and I had to buy it! Then with it being 15% off, that just made it that much nicer. I picked out Color 6 because to me it looked like a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I am actually using 10 1/2's again with this because I wanted the pattern to be a little more open, but so far I am really liking the way that it is knitting up.

UFO: Ok, I am STILL working on my oldest son's Harry Potter scarf...at some point, I will finish it. It is over 1/2 way done now so I am making progress. Hopefully by month-end, I will have that finished.

Of course, the first shipment of the 2007 Sock Club should be in the mail the week of February 26th, so this might be put on hold for another month!

Time Flies!

2007-02-06T10:27:00.000-05:00

Wow - I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last posted. The time just seems to get away from me, yet I still can't seem to catch my breath.

Where am I on my goals for 2007?

I haven't had a chance to see my sisters yet this year, but I do have some new photos of the nieces and nephews and of course, it makes me want to see them even more.

Well, I'm holding steady on the weight loss currently - not up, not down, since the first of the year. I guess that's good, but I really want to get the scale moving in the right direction instead of just being stuck.

I guess if I started doing the exercise more, maybe the scale would move. Only problem there is: if I am on the treadmill or running outside, I can't knit!

And where am I on the knitting you ask? Well, I have finished 1 Jaywalker Sock (not a pair, just one) but I have started on the mate for it and hope to have it finished this week.

Also in my bag right now is a scarf for my oldest niece, probably going to be a Christmas present, and a scarf out of some beautiful Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky.

From my UFO (unfinished object) stash I have recovered my oldest son's Harry Potter scarf in the colors for Hufflepuff (gold and black). They are also the colors for his university, so that's a good thing. I am about 1/2 way finished with that, and the goal is to have it finished by the end of February.

And now, as it is FREEZING outside, I leave you with this photo of the Aegean Sea, just off the island of Chios, Greece. I would love to be back here again. It would certainly be warmer and I wouldn't need a scarf, gloves and coat!

The Start of a New Year!

2007-01-02T16:17:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2007! I can't believe that it's already here and I am actually back to work and the same old grind seems to be taking over once again. It seems like I just went on vacation. Where did the time go?

It truly amazes me at how many things seem to need to be done when I am around the house to do them. Do these things never need to be done any other time? And what is it about vacation, especially those that are spent simply hanging out around your house and not trying to fit in 12,000 different things to do with your family and friends, that makes us think that we have to be busy the whole time?

I'll tell you this - I am more tired now after being on vacation! I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. I am never this tired when I work a 40 hour week plus the weekend job! Never!

There are a lot of things that I am thankful for this year; some wonderful things that I have accomplished; and many things that I want to do for myself and others in 2007!

Things I am thankful for and things that I accomplished:

1. I learned how to knit!

The person who taught me how to knit is a truly wonderful friend who I would be completely lost without. I really do not know how I managed to live so much of my life without her in it, but I know that she will always be a part of it from this point forward.

(that's a few hugs and kisses for you!)

2. I ran the Shamrock 1/2 Marathon in VA Beach! For those non-runners out there, that's 13.1 Miles! It's a lot of running.

My goal for that was to finish in 3 hours (really not that fast because some people finish full marathons in under 3 hours) and I wanted to make it to the finish line without getting sick. I was able to do both! I finished in just at 3 hours and I didn't get sick. In fact, I celebrated by having a beer in the finisher's tent!

3. My oldest son finished his first semester of college and made grades that we were very proud of! That's really an accomplishment for him, but I am very thankful that he is happy at his school of choice and that he is happy with the program (Art) that he has chosen to follow.

4. I am thankful for my family!

I have 2 wonderful sisters, 2 nieces and 2 nephews who I love dearly as well as my mother, father, grandmother, 2 kids, 1 husband, etc. I really do have wonderful people (some family some friends) surrounding me both physically in the same state and in various other states throughout the country.

My sisters are especially important to me, even though I do not know if they truly know this. There are a lot of days when I wish that we all lived closer together because I miss them terribly, but we try to stay in touch as best we can. With both of them having young ones around and with teenagers in my house, it can be tough just trying to find time to do the things that are right in front of you, but I hope that they both know and realize just how much I love them, how much they mean to me, and how happy and blessed I feel because they are a part of my life each and every day.

Things I want to do in 2007:

1. I want to do my best to see my family more.

This is a bit of a tough one since I have a sister on the Gulf Coast and a sister on the West Coast and I'm on the East Coast, but it really is something that I would like to try and do. I miss them more than I ever thought I would when we were young and all living under the same roof fighting for mirror space. I saw them the first week of November, but the time was short and it was over before it really started. I would love a bit more time with them.

2. I want to hit my goal weight with WeightWatchers.

This is probably even tougher than seeing the sisters as much as I would like, but one that I really want to do because I know that it would be healthy for me and I'd feel better and all that jazz.

3. I want to learn more with my knitting - sweaters, shrugs, socks and shawls is going to be the theme of 2007. The 4 S's! I think that I have knit enough scarves for a while, but I'm sure that there will be a couple thrown in there for good measure. You can't have too many scarves, right?

I have done 3 pairs of socks now but I have joined the Socks that Rock Sock Club and I cannot wait to get the first shipment from them! My friend was a member last year and I was so jealous of all the pretty yarn and cool patterns so I had to sign up this year too!

4. I want to exercise more (kind of goes with #2 I guess). I have been asked by 'friend' about walking in a 10K race on March 31st so I guess that I will start gearing up for that.

I guess that about does it for the accomplishments and resolutions and goals...let's see how I am doing on December 31st of this year...

Getting Started Knitting

2006-12-13T15:22:00.000-05:00

How did I get started with knitting in the first place? Well, I started knitting in March of this year. I had been working with someone for about 6 months and giving her a hard time about her knitting, you know like this is for Grandmas and all of that stuff. Then, I broke down and asked her to teach me. She told me to pick out a pattern for a scarf and that she would teach me what I needed to know. So, I picked out this pattern for the Rockstar Scarf.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/PATTrockstar.html

I decided on different colors and also that this was going to be for my mom, my very first knitting project. Well, needless to say, I was hooked. Before I had even finished my first scarf I was looking for something else to make.

I finished Rockstar a few weeks later (it was really little baby sticks that she had me knitting on - yes, I picked the project but I didn't know that the size of the sticks, needles, made a difference in how fast you could knit).

Here's my very first finished scarf! I was very proud of it and presented it to my mother in November and she loved it!

My second project was for a scarf for my youngest sister. She's a San Diego Chargers fan and her favorite color is yellow so her scarf is in Charger Gold. I got the pattern and yarn from Morehouse Farms. It was a little strange to me that I was suppose to knit this entire scarf and then on the last row I had to drop every other stitch and 'on purpose' let the thing unravel all the way down to the end! It ended up looking pretty cool, but I had worked really hard at not dropping stitches and now these pattern designers were telling me that was what I was suppose to do. Crazy!

So, here's her scarf that I came up with. She loved it, thankfully, and promised to wear it to a Chargers game if it ever gets cold enough in San Diego to do so! I guess that would be a drawback to living somewhere that usually has mild temps - you don't get to wear really cool scarfs and stuff.

That's enough for now. I'll have to get into my bugging the 'friend' to teach me how to knit socks next time. For now, I leave you with scarfs!

Very First Posting - EVER

2006-12-12T12:01:00.000-05:00

Ok...well, I have put it off and put it off, but have decided that it is time to have my own blog. I am new to this but hope to post info on my day-to-day kind of boring life and the fun that I have knitting with one of my best friends at work and away from work.

My husband and I went to Greece this summer. It was the second trip that I have won to this wonderful country (I know, I know...I've heard it all...but I have yet to win the lottery so I have a way to go).

This is a picture of us before we went to an ancient theater to see "Othello" presented entirely in Greek. It was an amazing production.

We spent a few days in Athens and had dinner with the owners of Korres Natural Products (the sponsors of our trip this time). They were very nice and we had an incredible dinner. Of course, he ordered in Greek and we just trusted that we would eat what came out of the kitchen. Lucky for us that it was all delicious. So was the wine.

After spending some time in the city of Athens we flew to the Island of Chios which is just about 3 miles from the shore of Turkey. It was beautiful there and very relaxing. Just what the doctor ordered. Here I am sitting just inside a cafe along the beach relaxing with a Mythos (the local Greek beer) and bottle of water. This is the life!