Moving!

Here is the link to my new blog...........I couldn't get the conversion from beta to non beta or whatever.

Check it out!

http://texaspurlgurl.blogspot.com/

In love..............

with my Ipod. Are you just loving the yummy pink? So girlish with all of these boys in this house. I have been knitting away and listening to knitting podcasts. I really know how to take life to the extreme, don't I?

For January, I am going to try to finish some projects that I have lying around. I will describe them to you starting on the left. Camo beanie in Bernat Camoflague (I think I so spelled that wrong) in Outback for DS2. DW washcloth in Peaches and Creme Peppermint for a swap pal. Must be mailed by 1/8/07. Missy Lace scarf in Elisabeth Lavold Silky Wool. Peanut butter and Jelly sock in Trekking XXL. Short sock in Online. Ugly sock in Fortissima Socka. Great pattern, ugly color way. Purchased in discount bin, but I will wear anyway. And then I have 2 balls of Rowan Yorkshire tweed for the Red Scarf Project which I have to mail in January as well. http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/red_scarf_project_2007/

So, there you have it! We will see how doable it all is, but I am very excited about it. These are not all of my UFOs, but it is the majority of them.

Tomorrow is my 17th wedding anniversary. Yea!!!

If no blog before January 1, have a safe and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

There are just 30 minutes left in this Christmas Day..........mine has been wonderful, quiet, and relaxing. Hope yours has too!

I have gotten an ipod, two knitting bags (one handmade by my mom which looks like a Vera Bradley bag), two pairs of KnitPicks circs, two books, a DVD, money, gift cards.........and more to come at the IL tomorrow.

Have been knitting on the neatest sock...........with the ugliest yarn! Yes, I got it in the discount bin. Will post pics when it is finished.

Sleep in heavenly peace..........more later this week.

The Rush is on.............

I have been reading other's blogs and there are people in the blog world who are saying they won't be back until January 1. Are you serious? If I didn't have the daily bonding experience with my laptop I am not sure what I would do!!

A point of business first. If blogger doesn't cooperate and let me upload this pic, I will not be happy. Martha sent me this sweet White Elephant gift of fabric. Which made me laugh uproariously because I DO NOT SEW so for me it was a White Elephant for sure!! However, my mother the fabric collector will think it is wonderful. So, it is in the suitcase ready to be gifted to her. I am still laughing over the fabric.................. The White Elephant was started by the lovely lady at Half Pint House. http://www.halfpinthouse.com/

Now, some Christmas cuteness. Not sure if I mentioned DS2 Christmas party, holiday party, whatever! He is in the 4th grade. They had to bring a jar to school for the craft. This is the cutest thing I have ever seen! It is a Texas Snowman. A jar with water, a hat, button eyes, glitter, and a ribbon. Cute!!

So, it is over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go (my mom and dad) today and home tomorrow. I will be knitting in the car and watching DVDs. How did we ever survive without these luxuries??

I may not blog much between now and January 1 but you can bet I will be here!!

Merry Christmas to all of you............

Peace......finally

Why is it that I only feel peaceful when I feel things are under control, close to being done, or managable? I admit to having no peace at this time last week with the whole virus thing and all. I need to work on that. For the record, the tree is decorated but still leaning. It has character and that is all I am saying.

I saw this meme on LollyKnittingAround and thought I would steal it as I have had a very good knitting year.

What is your absolute favorite project you've ever knit?

Fetching fingerless gloves. I learned to do cables and have made 2 pairs. I have yarn for 2 more pairs. I love these and they were a hit in Boston.

What was your favorite gift to knit?

The clogs for my Mom in March for her birthday and the Christmas trio (Firefly's I live on a farm hat and scarf and Fetching) for my MIL for Christmas. I think those are the only things I have knit for gifts this year. If there are any others, I can't remember them.

Which of your handknits are gathering dust your closet?

The first sweater I knit. It is too hot and not froggable. I may make a pillow out of it!

If you've knit socks, what is your favorite pattern?

Widdershins because I learned how to do toe up socks! In 2007 I am going to tackle some of the stitch patterns in Sensational Knitted Socks, Knitting Socks on the Road, and Knitting Vintage Socks.

What would you like to make in 2007?

First of all, January is FO month. I am going to FO two pairs of socks, a lace scarf, and a top down cardigan that all need finishing. Then, hopefully I can start fresh on some socks or a lace shawl or something. My learning goal for 2007 is to learn to read charts and to learn to knit 2 socks on 2 circs.

What have you learned about your craft in 2006?

How to read my stitches. How to knit with dpns. How to knit socks. How to do socks on 2 circs. How to do cables. How to blog. I have just grown so much in my knitting in the past year it has been overwhelming!


What events/sites have you particularly enjoyed in the blogosphere in 2006?

Socktoberfest, Knitting Olympics, The Amazing Lace, and finding tons of new blogs to read!

Tag, you are next!

3 Wise Thoughts

For the past few days I have been viewing my bathroom from all different angles, yes I got the stomach virus. I would never wish that on anyone. Things are looking up and PurlGirl is on the mend.

A friend asked me a couple of questions today and I thought it they were good questions and that I would share them with you. Green words are hers, purple words are mine.

At what point do you throw up your hands and shout into the wind that you no longer have faith that you can complete EVERYTHING before Christmas while still baking several dozen cookies from scratch and attending two "must-attend" parties?

Baking from scratch is great but at this point forget it. Those cute little Pillsbury predecorated sugar cookie thingys with the santa and snowman pics are the way to go. When my kids were little I tried to do the Martha Stewart thing and it did not work for anyone, most especially me! Simplify, simplify, simplify. Instead of baking here is one thing I pull out of my hat every year that people love. I got it from my mom (hi mom if you are reading!) Take a bag of MMs, a box of raisins, and a jar of peanuts. Mix and enjoy. Ho, ho, ho! Which is more important: my attitude and sanity vs. my baked goods. What will my kids remember the most? That mom sure was a bitch at Christmas but boy we ate good!! That is not how I want my kids to remember me and I think I figured that out early on.

What superhuman power does it take to not run out and buy your child ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING because you are about to crumble under the pressure of other people telling you that you are a bad mother for not buying anything and everything?

The superhuman power to not buy, BUY, BUY!! is that you have mental discipline. This is what we can do, period. And, stay out of the stores as much as humanly possible during Christmas!! I don't know how old your child is but in all honesty they are not paying attention to how many gifts they got vs. how many Johnny down the street got. Once my kids stopped believing in Santa (which was last year) I explained to them about how they will get 3 gifts from us each year. The reason is because the 3 wise men each brought Jesus a gift and Christmas is about the birth of Christ and honoring Him. When we give gifts to people we are honoring them as the wise men honored Christ. Remember I have boys, so don't think this was all Martha Stewarty and that they went "oh, yeah mom! Give us some more spiritual truth!" It still takes reiterating for it to sink in.

I'll end today's post by adding this: Watch Christmas Vacation, that will make you feel good about your own family!!

PS--I love you too, friend!! Thanks for giving me material for the blog today.

Hopefully pictures tomorrow. I think someone has made off with the camera.

Shhhhhhhhhh. There is an elephant in the room

in the form of an undecorated tree. Hey, at least there is a tree up which is a huge step from last week. And, some Christmas shopping is done. Miraculous considering DS1 has had the throw up virus and I now have a cold. It IS the most wonderful time of the year.

So, I am home today and I flip over to Food TV. Rachel Ray is on. She is really growing on me. I wouldn't say I am a fan but I do find her entertaining. Remember the hyped up me post that I posted earlier this month? Yea, well, hyped up me began to reappear after this. Ol' Rachel was making gingerbread waffles, chicken sausage patties, mulled maple syrup, and toffee hot chocolate. Well it started.........me thinking to myself that is. Mmmmm. Gingerbread waffles bet the kids would like those on Christmas morning. Rachel, dear....they only have 3 ingredients? (THEY SO DO NOT......... http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_32497,00.html?rsrc=search) Hmmmm. I could do 3 ingredients. Chicken sausage? That sounds healthy. Mulled maple syrup, gee I can stud my orange zest with cloves just like RR. Toffee Hot Chocolate? Now that may be pushing the mark a bit. And then, WHAP! I slapped the right side of my head with my right hand and quickly laid down on the floor until the thought went away. And, quit watching Food TV. Especially when the Food 911 show came on and the theme of the show was Vegetarian Indian. Blech. If you weren't already ill before the show, you will be by the end. It is the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year....

So, I sit here and admire the Leaning tower of Treesa. The tree in the revolving stand. A side effect is that it leans slightly. Especially since one of the screws is not like the other. Maybe I should trek out to Home Depot and remedy that this season. We will see....

Maybe some knitting content next time.