texaspurlgirl

Moving!

2006-12-30T14:52:00.000-06:00

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..............

2006-12-29T20:54:00.000-06:00

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!

2006-12-25T23:28:00.000-06:00

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.............

2006-12-22T06:41:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-20T11:15:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-12T14:41:00.000-06:00

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.

All is calm...........all is not bright, yet

2006-12-08T11:40:00.000-06:00

I think this year is the first time in our Christmas History that I have not had the tree up by now. That is the goal this weekend. I have reached the point where I do not worry about the decorating. We get out the tree and put it up. It has a rotating stand (artificial tree). When I was growing up, my parents had a rotating tree stand and we got one for our anniversary one year. I cannot imagine Christmas without a rotating tree stand!! So, dh and I set up the tree (a lot of......"is it straight?, little to the left, no little to the right..........there! now why is it rocking?" going on) and then we let the boys put the ornaments on where they wish. If the bottom half of the tree is decorated, so be it. It is their own creation. Of course, now that they are 10 and 12 the decorations are going higher.

This is also the first year that I do not have the majority of my shopping done. Two words.......who cares. It will get done when it gets done. Some lightning bolt from Above hit me this week and I am in a "it will all get done when it gets done" mode.

Several years ago, I stole a tradition from a friend. She and her dh do "The Twelve Days of Christmas" as opposed to doing gifts. It starts December 14 and you give your beloved a gift every day..........it can be small or big but typically small is what happens at our house. Starbucks gift card one day, a book, a movie, a special date...............whatever!! Now, it is yours for the stealing.....................

Another tradition that we have every year is that we put the kids in their pajamas (I wear mine, too!) and get in the car and drive to other areas of Dallas and view the Christmas lights. The kids have decided they definitely want to do that this year. When they were younger, they would fall asleep in the backseat of the van. A very sweet memory. Maybe a thermos of hot chocolate and some cookies will make it in the car this year.

I am up to my eyeballs in Christmas knitting and thoroughly enjoying every minute of it!! Maybe the zen mode I get into while knitting is one of the reasons why all is calm at this moment...............I love zen!

I hope each of you will take a moment to pause and appreciate a quiet moment this weekend. I think you will feel blessed if you do.................

P.S. blogger is not cooperating with the lovely pic I found to add to this post................oy!! It is the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year................eh?

Focus

2006-11-28T19:41:00.000-06:00

Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines focus as:

a state or condition permitting clear perception or understanding

At this time of year, I am trying desperately (as I try to do every year) not to get caught up in the hype of it all. Right now I am watching Emeril as I type this. He is making up some splendid looking pasta dish. I am enjoying it for entertainment purposes only and feeling relaxed about just observing. The hyped up me would be on the Internet, searching the recipe, deciding if Tom Thumb had the ingredients, thinking about if my family would like it, should I serve it on Christmas Eve, etc.? See the difference?

One thing I am really trying to do this year is to focus on the season. The Meaning of the season which is the birth of Christ. We try to do 3 gifts for our kids each year which represent the 3 Wise Men. We got this idea from a good friend and it has worked well for us. It helps control the hype for me and keep a lid on things. I would love to buy, spend, give until it hurts but I just am not able to. I love to give presents and my gift is getting to see the pleasure/happiness that my gift brings to another. Those are the thoughts I am thinking this year. I can't help it. I want to LOVE Christmas, but I let the financial aspect of it rob me of my joy and that is wrong. That is a goal of mine this year.

So, I am trying to let the relaxed me find the balance with the need to get it done me. It is an interesting mix..................stay tuned.

Chrismas Dazzle

2006-11-26T09:28:00.000-06:00

This is the beginning of some fun Christmas knitting. They will be gifted to someone very special this week. I spent my Thanksgiving doing a LOT of knitting...................and plan to do a lot more! More later, just popping in with a quick pic.

Thanksgiving Blessings

2006-11-23T10:57:00.000-06:00

I hope everyone in cyberspace has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, friends and fond memories.

May we all pause to reflect on those who may be having a difficult holiday...............those that are fighting for our freedom, those who are facing a first Thanksgiving without a loved one, those who may be ministering to a sick one or someone who is hurting. Pray for those around us who are hurting.

Remember those who have to work on this holiday. Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers, and other people who must forge on 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Two years ago on this day my husband had just been moved out of ICU after heart surgery. It was a trying day and one to be especially thankful.

May you have a blessed holiday........................Let Freedom Ring! We are so blessed..............

What I have learned today..............

2006-11-14T17:35:00.000-06:00

Tip #1:

Coke (Dr. Pepper, Pepsi, etc.) takes off battery corrosion in small electronics. You can wipe the conducter thingys off with it and it might possibly work again. How much money would I have saved in my lifetime had I known this?

I'll get back with you on if the small electronic object works again, the jury is still out on that. I can tell you that yes, Coke dissolves battery acid. Then I remembered the ol' chemistry lesson Coke (carbonic acid) vs. battery (alkaline). I still have it goin' on in the head..................

Tip #2:

Tis the season to kill 2 birds with one stone. Case in point. Have a function to attend Thursday night (I will miss Grey's..........so you know it has to be good!) and have to take an appetizer. Am making Broccoli Balls which is a recipe that I got when I got married. The recipe makes 11 dozen. Staggering. So, I am freezing half for Thursday and 1/2 to take for Thanksgiving in addition to the corn casserole. So, first batch just came out and they are HEAVENLY!! So, I will share the recipe:

Broccoli Balls

(may substitute spinach for broccoli if you wish............therefore making them spinach balls)

2 10 oz. pkgs. broccoli
3 c. herb stuffing mix
1 lg. onion
6 eggs, well beaten
3/4 c. melted butter or margarine
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 T. pepper
1 1/2 t. garlic salt
1/2 t. thyme

Preheat oven to 325. Cook broccoli according to pkg. directions. Drain well and let cool. Mix remaining ingredients and broccoli together. Shape mixture into 3/4 inch balls and place on cookie sheets. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 11 dozen and can be frozen and enjoyed later! Thaw slightly before reheating.

Tip #3

10 and 12 year old boys find the fact that their mother is making broccoli balls to be uproariously funny......................as well as disgusting.

Knitting content:

Finally took finished pic of Mason Dixon Buttonhole Bag.

Specs:

Started 11/11/06

Finished 11/12/06

Used 3 skeins Lion Brand Landscapes in Coral Reef on Size 15 circulars.

Knitting and Creativity

2006-11-10T13:59:00.000-06:00

I have been taking some online classes lately. These are not comprehensive college courses, just personal enrichment classes. I completed Intro to Quick Books and Accounting Fundamentals for work. After that, I wanted something that challenged me to explore my creative side rather than learning something factual, cut and dried.

So, I signed up for Introduction to Journaling and The Craft of Magazine Writing to learn to write both for personal growth as well as to educate others. These 2 classes are proving to be harder than the first two because I am having to work harder!! But I am loving it.

Today, the lesson in the journaling class was on exploring your creativity through your journal. Specifically, how often to we not allow ourselves to dream and write something down for fear that if we put it in writing, it must therefore happen!!

For my class I wrote a short blurb about knitting and creativity. I love to dream about the different colors of yarn, the different textures of the fiber, and the selection of a pattern. I have about decided that with all there is out on the Internet for absolute FREE, you would never need to buy a pattern again!! Looking for a pattern is like shopping for something for free, very cool! I love the high of starting a new project and I love it when I get into the groove on a project and things are moving along quickly. I would like to learn to be patient with myself when projects become complicated and I need to walk away from that one project but not knitting all together. I love the way my mind feels when I knit. Relaxed, quiet, coherent. The end result of a project is the equivalent of its birth (according to my lesson in class today). I thought about how hard it is for me to give up something once it is knit, not that I necessarily want it for myself but moreso that I am awed that I created something myself that is useful and pretty to look at. I try to revisit my projects for a few days before I give them away, just savoring it all.

Anyone else??

P.S. This is not my yarn...........just a pretty picture I found on the Internet.............

When life gives you zits, make scarves............

2006-11-02T08:10:00.000-06:00

Ahem................attention please!!!! (tapping stick on podium) Is this thing on??

Okay, in honor of Halloween, almost turning 40, midlife puberty, and an FO I have composed a ditty to go with my first FO for the month. This was composed in the shower this morning and no, I have not had any caffeine.

Everyone get your sheet of lyrics and join in..........................

This song will be sung to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

PurlGirl the crazy knitter
Had a very shiny nose
And if you saw it Wednesday
You would even say it glows.

All of the other knitters
Didn't laugh or call her names
They all knew the reason why
she was on a chocolate high!

Then one teary Tuesday morn
She said the hell with it
"Damn you ugly, bulbous zit!
I'm gonna find a scarf to knit!"

Then all the knitters joined her
And they shouted out with glee!
"PurlGirl you are so crafty.
You'll go down in fashion his-to-ry!!"

Thank you, thank you (bowing, waving, blowing kisses)

The moral of the story..................when life gives you zits, make scarves.

Happy Thursday!

Thanksgiving Images

2006-11-01T12:07:00.000-06:00

Once again, Blogger is not cooperating with uploading images.

November 1st always makes me think about Thanksgiving which is one of my favorite holidays. Why is it one of my faves? #1 Repeat after me.............4 day weekend. #2 No school for the whole week for the boys = no homework hassles for Mom. #3 Chilling for 4 days straight. #4 Female bonding while doing dishes...........I am not kidding. I am not much on the cooking part of it because I don't like being in the kitchen during the stressful part. #5 Dallas Turkey Trot, which I have not been able to do for the past several years. This year, you can bring your dog! Ginger will be thrilled...........not! #6 Yummy food. Probably shouldn't state the obvious, but why avoid the elephant in the room?

The Trot..................just do it. Let's see if I take my own advice.

http://www.thetrot.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000000

Some days, a picture just says it all

2006-10-31T11:43:00.000-06:00

Today is just one of those days....................I am taking a mental health day from work. You know how you just need a day to make dr. appts., pay bills, and find your camera cable??? That is me today. Plus, a pint sized man around here is getting on my last nerve. Let's just say it is a battle of hormones. One of us is an almost 40 year old mess of hormones and the other is an almost 13 year old mess of hormones. Thank God we are not both female. Today will be comprised of taking care of me. Knitting, B&N, and Starbucks. Anything else is off the list. Oh, and yes I did find my camera cable................now if I could just find my Visa bill........................

Happy Halloween!

First Toe up Completed

2006-10-24T14:03:00.000-05:00

Whoa is me, how I would love to post the pic of my first toe up sock and first sock knit on 2 circs for you! But my picture uploading thingy is not working. Not to mention, blogger hasn't been accepting any of my pictures for whatever reason. So , here are some pretty to me pics that I found on the web for your viewing pleasure. Also, if you have not learned to do socks on 2 circs, you are missing out! In my opinion, much easier than dpns. Pop on over to Socktoberfest to check out some more really cool socks for further inspiration.
I promise I will post my own pics when I am having less technical difficulties.

Boston Travelogue Day #6--October 19

2006-10-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! I am sad to leave Boston but glad to get back home to my own bed. I have put days 1-4 on my blog and have been trying to upload pics but blogger is not cooperating. I am off tomorrow so will have the day to play with that plus do the mountain of laundry that we are bringing home. I am going to TRY to upload more pics in my yahoo albums before I hop in the shower.

Last night we went to the banquet where my dh department received a community policing award. It was really cool. The dinner was great, they had steak one of my favorites. And Boston Cream Pie, one of dh favorites which I did not realize. What is up with Boston Cream Pie? It is not a pie……….it is cakeish. I think these Bostonians are glad I am going home because I don’t get a lot of things. But I can tell you that I love New England Clam Chowder!!

Funny story. We got a cab to return from the Convention Center to the hotel. This cab had no shocks. I told my dh that if we ride in a cab like that again I am wearing my sports bra. It was dangerous I tell you. I had things bouncing that I didn’t realize had any bounce left in them!!

This morning we will finish packing and get some breakfast. We should be back in the DFW area by midafternoon. Our children will be delighted! They have missed us. I am sure Ginger cannot wait to see me.

Of course, there will be knitting on the plane and maybe I will finish that book I have been reading. Hopefully dh will find something to read or do so that he won’t be leaning over me chatting to the person on my right like he did on the way here.

Bottom line, I highly recommend Boston. It is a fun place to be and I could see myself living here for a short period and having fun doing it. Part of me wishes that I had done some travel nursing and worked short contracts around the country when I was younger. But, I wasn’t a risk taker back then and had my life strictly planned out. I am still amazed that I took the T and survived it all. I guess nearing 40 is making me feel riskier………

Boston Travelogue Day #5--October 18

2006-10-22T20:54:00.000-05:00

Today was probably the most chilled out and uneventful day we have had. We hung out in the room until almost 11. I was with dh all day so the fact that I was able to really find adventure was limited. I turned the heel on my sock and am now doing the leg. Yippee!!

I went to Timeless Teas and bought some tea. Nice store, but I didn't have long to spend there. Came back and dh was ready to go.

We took the T to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. When I came back from the tea place, I told dh that it was going to rain. It started as soon as we walked out of the hotel. We stayed dry as the subway is right here. Got on, got off at Fenway. Stopped at a restaurant called Uno Chicago Grill and ate there. More New England Clam Chowder and I had Buffalo Wing Quesadillas. Tip for you Texans. Do not order quesadillas in Boston. You will be sorely disappointed. But our waitress was very nice and we both loved the restaurant. Lots of Red Sox memorabilia which was cool. Headed for Fenway. Missed the tour and didn't want to wait another hour for another one. Took a few pics, got some souveniers for the boys and walked around that part of Boston for a bit. Went to the Barnes and Noble by Boston University. Tried a pumpkin spice latte. Yum! Decided we would have to see Harvard another time we were just simply tired of walking. We came back to the hotel and fell asleep. There is a banquet tonight and we both wanted to rest before that.

So now I need to go get dressed for the event. Hopefully we will find someone to take a picture of us looking all snazzy. Keep your fingers crossed that my feet hold up under the pressure.

While we were in Barnes and Noble, dh asked me where the bathroom was. WITHOUT THINKING I said, "Why do you want to know?" he said, "Because I want to go see if they have flushing toilets just like they do in Texas! Here's your sign!" Of course, I cracked up. A real Bill Engvall moment.

Boston Travelogue Day #4--October 17

2006-10-18T16:32:00.000-05:00

This one starts at last night.

We went to eat at a FABULOUS Italian place, Maggiano's. Thank God it was right near the hotel because I could not walk. Literally. I figured out that I had blisters on top of deep blisters. My little toes are both black on the sides. Not pretty.

The food was fab, the atmosphere was fab! At the table next to us were 6 women, probably a little younget than I. They were a riot! They were talking about some friend of theirs who got a chandelier as a present. Who gets a chandelier as a present (this is part of their conversation...). One girl suggested that she should hang it in her bedroom as that is where she does all her entertaining...............ZING!! Boston women are a force to be reckoned with. Then there was a man-man couple at the table next to us who almost missed their reservation because they were in the bathroom together............of course this provided me with endless amounts of entertainment. Thank God I wasn't drinking or it would have really gotten bad..............While we were eating DS1and 2 called and DS1 had a football game and he sacked the QB!! Do you believe it?? So, in my very Texas twang I was saying, "you sacked the QB..........get out!!" and girl table was very interested in this turn of events. It was a fabulous moment, I am so sorry I missed it.

Came back to the hotel and went to bed. I was wiped out and my feet were KILLING me.

Got up this morning, feet are better...........yeah! Hubs wants to go on the duck tour. So, I get online and buy the tickets and off we go. Thank God for the laptop! The Boston Duck Tour is a land and water tour that takes 80 minutes where you are traveling in a WWII vehicle called a duck that is both land and amphibious. http://www.bostonducktours.com/pages/introduction.html For the record, I had been everywhere we went on this tour on foot yesterday. No lie................ Apparently, John Kerry lives over in Beacon Hill and I walked right past his street. More blue state trivia for you. We went in the water. Dh INSISTED that we sit in the back of this vehicle in the uncovered portion. I froze my butt off. Thank God I had my fetching gloves and a hooded jacket plus the blanket they provided. I did a fair bit of knitting on this jaunt.

After the tour, dh wanted to know if I wanted to go to lunch but I knew that he had to be at the convention center by 1 and it was close to 1. I was not hungry so I set off for A Good Yarn in Brookline via the T. I have amazed myself that I am so friggin' adept at getting on this damn subway and not getting lost! I am endlessly fascinated by riding the subway!!

Hands down, A Good Yarn is the best store yet. http://www.agoodyarn.biz/ The neighborhood is adorable!! For you DFW girls, it is comparable to Woolie Ewe. For you Austin girls, it is comparable to Hill Country Weavers but not nearly as much stuff. I bought Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush which I have been coveting for a long time and I bought some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed DK which was on clearance in a wonderful red. Elizabeth has gotten me inspired to do a scarf for the Red Scarf Project http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/red_scarf_project_2007/. I am hoping I have enough to do the Irish Hiking KAL, I bought 2 skeins that each have 123 yards in them. I wish I had Vicki's phone # with me because I would have called her regarding how much to buy. Live on the edge, I say! Beautiful red! I also bought a Chibi..............do you believe I do not have one? Now, they had the best selection of Sock Yarn I have seen. I found some of the Opal Rainforest but didn't purchase because they had Owl, Tiger, and Fish and I am looking for Flamingo. They had Mountain Colors in some AWESOME colors. Lots of Regia and Koigu. Good, good stuff. For you etsy girls, they had Sunshine Yarns. I would post the link, but I have not been able to get on etsy since I have been here. Google Sunshine yarns and you will see what I mean. They had the Indian Corn, Love, Dragonfly, Twilight, and Stormwatch colorways. Gorgeous and so soft! Thank God I did not have my credit card with me................it would not have been pretty. They had a lot of FOs around the store and they told you what the pattern was, how much yarn was used, and what your total cost would be to buy the project. Pretty handy I thought. They also had a great selection of buttons. This place was also the easiest to find once I got off the T.

Got back on the T and knitted my way back to the hotel. Am starting the gusset increases on the toe up sock. We are going to dinner with my dh boss tonight, should be fun. I am keeping an open mind. If nothing else, it will be entertaining.

I am going to rest my feet for a while. Dh should be back soon and I will find out what the dinner plans are.

Tomorrow, I am going to check out Timeless Teas on Newbury. I can't decide if I want to go to Cambridge to Mind's Eye Yarns. We have a big event to go to tomorrow night, so I really need to pace myself tomorrow. Plus, I think dh may have more time on his hands and may want to go do some sightseeing. If I don't go, I know that I have seen plenty of yarn on this trip and won't be disappointed.

Boston Travelogue Day #3--October 16

2006-10-18T16:28:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Beantown!!

OMG.............my feet are killing me. Truly they have never hurt as bad as they hurt right now. My toes look like cocktail weinies.

I have two stories that happened yesterday. Dallas road rage folks ain't got nuthin' on Boston women on the T. When I was trying to buy my ticket on the Orange Line, this one woman was asking for help from the attendant. And, the attendant was trying to explain how to purchase the ticket and the woman turned to her and snapped, "I am NOT an idiot!" I let her go ahead and buy her ticket before I proceeded further. After I went to Circles, I was coming back on the Orange Line again and this woman was trying to put 2 $1 bills in the machine and the machine wouldn't take them. She was carrying an umbrella and she SLUNG it like a torpedo. Whoa!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eventually, it took her money (thank God!) but I was worried for a moment there.

On to today..........

Repeat after me....................

Yahoo Maps are not your friend.

I put in the address for the Windsor Button place and it gave me directions to what I assumed was WB. Not so, it was an APARTMENT!!! in Beacon Hill. I need you to know that when they say Hill in a name in a part of this city................there is a very HUGE hill there that you must traverse. And I did traverse it up and down. You see we have Flower MOUND, Cedar HILL and there are really not mounds or hills to traverse. Here, that is different. You cannot do anything but watch where you are going or you will wind up flat on your face.....brick sidewalks, uneven, etc. But extremely quaint. All the way to the door of 35 Temple STREET rather than 35 Temple PLACE which is where WB is. Saw Suffolk University. Lotta people smoke there, must be a stressful place. Wow.

Navigated my way through the Boston Common and found Temple PLACE and it was WORTH IT! Now, when you walk into Windsor Button you will think it is sort of Ben Franklinish 5 and dimeish. But, it is really a nice store. They had Blue Heron yarns....yum! I pondered some Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn in Fall Foliage but decided against it. I bought some Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran in the olive color that the Knitty Fetching is done in and 2 skeins of Cascade Fixation because I have never tried it before. The buttons were completely overwhelming..............I didn't even look at them because they were so overloading. Great selection of yarn!

Walked back through the Boston Common. Do you believe that they honk like crazy in this city but they have a sign in the park that requests that you restrict your dogs from barking in the park? Hello?? I took a picture of that on my cell. Stopped and knit on a bench to give my feet a rest.

Walked on to Newbury Street. Went to Newbury Yarns. Absolutely no rhyme or reason to the organization of yarns in this store and it smelled big time like MOTHBALLS...........ewww. But it was very quaint and the owner was nice. Kept going down Newbury, stopped at a bookstore. Very crowded. Dh called and wanted me to come to the Convention Center to hang with him. And could you bring batteries for the camera? Found a CVS, I have seen at least 4 since I have been here. This place is big on Starbucks, CVS, and Dunkin' Donuts.

They have a Life is Good store. I love their stuff! Stopped there and bought a shirt and a coffee mug. http://www.lifeisgood.com/

Stopped in Tealuxe but was too tired to enjoy. And it was crowded. May go back before the week was up.

Came back to the hotel and checked email and rested my tootsies. Got the batteries and headed out to find the shuttle to go to the convention center. Rode the shuttle. Found dh in a detailed seminar on the BTK killer. My stomach actually lurched a few times. Pictures and everything. So, I did what any of us would do to calm ourselves. I knit. I don't think any of those folks even noticed.

Walked around the exhibits. BO-RING. I kept asking "where are the police dogs?" I saw one but couldn't pet him because he was sniffing for bombs. Excuse me?? Yes, sniffing for bombs because you never know where one might land. Dh kept showing me these assault vehicles and shoot 'em up training things......ho-hum. Finally persuaded dh to leave and we have been chillin' in the hotel. We are getting ready to go out and get some dinner. I have been working on my toe up sock and it is quite an improvement over the elephantile one I was working on last week.

The women here wear very high heels and they walk on very uneven sidewalks and brick streets. It must be very profitable to be an orthopedic surgeon here. There are a lot of people who smoke here. Maybe I just don't notice it at home. Still very few fat folks. And, I have heard the "f" word with much regularity here. Gee, at home we use a, an, or the..........or "DANG!"..... I counted it 5 times in one story that a guy was telling about the Red Sox who was walking behind me. Impressive.

Must go to dress for dinner. Have no idea what I am doing tomorrow. It will be a surprise for all of us I am sure!

Boston Travelogue Day #2--October 15

2006-10-18T16:22:00.000-05:00

So, slept very well last night..........dh complained there were a lot of sirens. Hello---we are in downtown Boston!! I slept great!

Got up this morning and decided I needed to research more yarn shops and would include one a day in my travels. I will probably do the 2 that Alissa recommended in one day because they are close to the hotel.

So, I decided I would take the "T"..............train...............subway..............public transportation. I find this FASCINATING!! So, you go to a website, plug in your to and from and it tells you walking directions and which trains to get on. How easy is that?

Dh informs me that we need to go to the convention center to register. Register schmegister. I have yarning to do bud! So, I go to the convention center to register and they give me this gigantic hanging billboard to wear around my neck and I have to keep my drivers license in it or I will get stopped (I saw it happen!). So, we get there and I whip out my ID and dh can't find his. Oy. So, they print out an ID card for him. So, now that we have gotten him settled and tucked in at the convention center I am off to experience yarning in Boston. And we need to find his driver's license, it is here somewhere.

Do you know that Grumperina, creator of the Jaywalker, lives here? Fascinating.

So, I had researched January One's blog re: her trip to Boston and read the recommendation for Circles Salon. http://www.circles-salon.com/aboutus.htm

http://www.januaryone.com/ It is in Jamaica Plain which I assume is a suburb. I took a couple of pics, not many. I am very much paying attention to where I am going. So, I get on the Silver Line, transfer to the Red Line, accidentally miss the Orange Line, get off at the Green Line, find some sweet girl who literally walked me to the platform and said, "when you see a train come, get on it and get off at the next stop". I gave her the thumbs up sign. Got on the train and went back to the Orange Line. Got off at Green Street and walked right to the door of Circles. Amazing.

It is a small shop, yarns are arranged according to weight.....starting with lace and going around to chunky. They just started a sock club and had no sock yarn. I bought some Misty Alpaca Chunky to make the scarf they have been talking about at the Woolie Ewe. http://www.mistialpaca.com/downloads/ribs_ruffles_scarf.pdf It was hard to tell about the pricing because they put it all on shelves and assign each shelf a number. You then have to go look up the shelf number and it shows you the price. The best part about the store is that they have this room in the back of the store called the Sitting Room. It was packed with knitters, probably about 15 when I got there. So, I waited for someone to leave and then went and had a seat. First shot out of the cannon, this girl is looking for a knitty.com pattern that I am working on called Widdershins. I whip it out of my bag and the owner pulls it up on the internet and prints it for her. I am officially "in" the group now!! I have Boston peeps people! They are fascinated that I have the pattern. A sheer stroke of luck. Lots of people working on socks, the girl next to me was doing a baby sweater, one girl finished some fingerless gloves while I was there. Which leads me to tell you that.................fingerless gloves are the RAGE in knitting circles here. I fit right in with my fetching. The owner was there knitting away and she is designing a hat for Southwest Trading Company (?) and it is that double knitting stuff. Very cool. One girl had all of her needles stored in a tackle box. I was so not worthy.............There was a guy who came in and joined us. His name is Patrick. He was knitting a cool enteralac scarf. And he brought some chocolate cookies that were da bomb. That is another thing, people come in to knit and bring goodies, so you sit back there and knit and snack on goodies. Fabulous! They really got a kick out of it when I left and said, "Well, thanks for letting me knit with y'all!" Then I got back on the T and rode back to my hotel. While I was on the T I struck up a conversation with this woman and she said something and I said, "Well, dang!" I thought her friend was going to pee her pants she laughed so hard.
So, I am waiting on room service to bring me some more New England Clam Chowder. I have not eaten anything all day!

Tonight we are going to a reception downstairs and then I have no idea what we are doing after that. My feet are so tired from walking.

These Boston women may have hat hair, but they have got the scarf thing down! I have never seen more ways to wear a scarf!!

Also, there are not many.............chubby, fluffy folks here. I guess when you walk this much you don't get that way. I find this whole lifestyle here fascinating and entertaining. I am betting I will be down a jeans size when I get home. Fingers crossed.

Talked with dh, he is attending one more class and then coming back here. I am going to cast on for my scarf and plan tomorrow's yarn excursion!!

Boston Travelogue Day #1--October 14

2006-10-18T07:37:00.000-05:00

It is always a bad sign when your dh asks you 3 times where the hanging bag is at 7AM on the day you leave. Guess what? No where to be found. So we threw the rest of our junk into the car and headed out for Kohl's. Thank God they open at 8. Literally finished packing in the parking lot.

Then, you get to the airport later than you had desired and go through the whole screening procedure only to have 20 minutes before the plane boards. And you haven't eaten breakfast. And your dh lectures you for bringing knitting needles on the plane.........which sail right through security. And you educate your dh that you did in fact check out http://www.tsa.org/ so that you were completely up on all of the regulations regarding knitting needles. You inhale a bagel which sits like a rock in your stomach on the way to Boston while you cheerfully knit a toe up sock on 2 circs. And, there is no time for coffee.

Then you get on the plane and sit for 2 1/2 hours because there is a mechanical problem in the luggage compartment that took 4 times to fix. So, you make friends with all of the folks around you including the cute couple in front of you with the baby that cried all the way to Boston. You lead the passengers in applauding the dad who was brave enough to change the baby in the plane lavatory.

Then, when they finally serve drinks on the flight, they only have 15 muffins to sell to people who missed lunch due to the flight. You drink a Pepsi and hope it holds.

Whilst sitting and waiting for plane to depart, you look at dh folder with all of the travel information and realize that, alas!, you are not in fact staying in the hotel he told you you were staying in but a different hotel that you know NOTHING about. And, you didn't pack your hair dryer because the hotel that you spent hours researching had one. You pray that new hotel has a hair dryer and an iron. They do.

You get to Boston and get to new to you hotel and go to room #1 and there is a queen bed. BEG the bellman to have a room with a king size bed. Wish is granted. Thank the Lord that you are probably going to sleep for the next 5 days.

Pull out sweater (it is a bit nipply out here) that you purchased at..............shhhhhhhhhhh..............Walmart. And it is the funniest damn sweater you have ever seen. It is a friggin poncho with arms. It is a SWANCHO.........and you look a little like SQUANTO in it. Rule #2.............try stuff on before you wind up in Boston with it. Fear not, the women here do not have big hair................they have hat hair................because it is cold and windy here. Goofy sweater trumps bad hair on Boston women. I may have to buy some yarn and whip up a hat while I am here.

Go for walk, find 2 yarn stores..............note to self to check out this week. Find tea shop, note to self where that is as well. Eat clam chowder and lobster for dinner. Come back to hotel room, get in pjs (18 hour bra is on overtime!) and chill with dh.

Hilarious story from dinner....................hilarious! Do not yell at me for making fun of people because this is funny!

We walk in to this seafood restaurant and sit down at our table. There is this table of 6 people sitting next to us and this woman is eating with her eyes closed and has a look of sheer ecstasy on her face. (Think Meg Ryan in When Harry met Sally) I am thinking, "I'll have what she is having". Check out her dish and study her for a while longer and realize that she is blind. And doesn't wear glasses!! Hello.........get a fashion tip from Ronnie Millsap and Stevie Wonder so that people don't think you are making love to your food!! Look around their table and realize that 3 people are blind, one just doesn't look right, the one in charge is in a wheelchair, and there is a college student with them. Okay..............the blind folks................they are freakin' shutting down the bar with fuzzy navels, beer, and coffee amaretto drinks!! And, they are trying to drive the wheelchair woman around! So, I ask my dh if there is a law when you are blind and drinking alcohol if you have to have a designated walker. He does not think I am funny and then I get a lecture on how if blind people cannot see that means their hearing is better and they can probably hear every word I am saying...............yada yada yada. It was a riot I tell you and I have not had one drink all day!!

For those of you who don't know, I have never been to this part of the country. I told my dh that I got on the plane in a red state and got off the plane in a blue state. I am having to use great restraint in not saying "Oh MY GOD............................look at those two guys holding hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chuck, tell me the truth......are there a lot of gay people in Boston?" because I am just a conservative Southern woman with slightly big hair. So, it is a bit of a culture shock but I am loving every minute of it!!

2006-10-03T12:19:00.000-05:00

Fall, or is it Autumn?

2006-09-29T12:24:00.000-05:00

Can't believe I have not posted in so long.

I quit my job and am working for my MIL and working less hours. My dh says he doesn't recognize me because I am not stressed!! Yes!

I am trying so hard to learn how to knit 2 socks on 2 circs with the Crazy Toes and Heels method. I am getting there, it is just a slow and steady process. I am also working on Fetching from Knitty to take with me to Boston in October.

Boston in October................can you imagine anything more fallish than that?

Things I think of when I think of fall...............

sweatshirts
World Series
Football
Cider
Apples
Thanksgiving
Halloween
Christmas shopping (so I'm a planner, sue me!)
The time change
Pumpkins
Pumpkin pie!!

As my site implies, I live in Texas so the thought of leaves turning is not overly realistic. Not like in New England.

Hopefully, next time I will have some knitting pics.

Stitch and Pitch

2006-07-30T17:12:00.000-05:00

Report to follow........................

Can you tell I am excited?

I do not need one more thing to feel guilty about....

2006-07-27T08:55:00.000-05:00

Whenever I open my blog, I look at the date and feel bad about not posting more. I don't need one more thing to feel guilty about right now. I am a travel agent for guilt trips. I feel like my body is worn out from self-flagellating, beating myself up for everything. Which brings me to go find one of my most loved books, Praying God's Word by Beth Moore. I just love this woman! There is a chapter in it on overcoming ongoing feelings of guilt. One of my favorite chapters. I may have to read it again today. I desire so desperately to break free of guilt in my life and just not be so hard on myself and move on. Things I tell friends, family, and patients everyday but have a hard time practicing myself.

So, that said, when I get to the blog I will do it and hopefully do it well. Trust me, if I waxed poetic about my everyday life you would all be asleep instantly.

Last night I went to Shoemaker and Hardt for knitting night with my LSSK buds. We had a blast. I had iced Snickers coffee...........this is wonderful! The conversation was good, I just love getting to KNOW someone.........like Hanane. She is very intriguing and one of those people who doesn't mind answering the stupidest of questions. Like, "what is the name of that thing on your head" "how is that different from a burka?" "How long have you been Muslim?". Questions you could never ask another person. I like people who are just out there, they are who they say they are with no apologies. I can live with that. When you are out there trying to be someone you are not or covering up your life with a lie, that bothers me. I just want to be out there.......just me.........with no guilt. My life is not perfect, my family is not perfect and that is okay.

So, I am home with a sick child today. (wake up! wake up! this is my everyday life) We are going to the doctor and I am just going to enjoy hanging out with my boys and the dawg and knitting and putting around the house.

Today I will leave you with a pattern that I wrote myself........it is called Come On In doormat.
You need sz. 17 circulars, 3 skeins of Sugar and Creme, Peaches and Creme yarn and one skein of jute. Cast on 43 stitches with all 4 strands of yarn. Knit in garter stitch until you have reached your desired size and cast off. You may need more skeins of yarn in order to get to your desired size. Wah lah--------rough but extraordinarily cushy doormat.

Until next time..............

Blogging for dummies, part deaux

2006-07-15T20:43:00.000-05:00

So, I got the book...............and it has purple on it, too. Haven't had a chance to read it, but plan to sit here and play with it while ds2 and friend are swimming. Two brothers are spending the night with my boys..........lots of noise people!!

So, I am also showing pics of my Trekking XXL 127 sock that I just started. I am using Yarn Harlot's basic recipe and the Jaeggerspun Zephyr laceweight yarn I got today for Mystery Stole 2. The color is Iris...............gorgeous!!

I think I am drunk on purple!

Blogging for Dummies........it has come to this...

2006-07-15T20:29:00.000-05:00

So, I bought this book at B&N the other day. Hoping it will help me learn how to do some of the cool things I see others do. So, if you see improvements, then you know where they came from.

Project Spectrum July is all about purple.............so, believe it or not, I found lots of purple in my backyard and I got some purple in the mail today...........

The first picture, to me, is fascinating because it is of a crepe myrtle next door. Actually, at one time there were 2 crepe myrtles, a lavender and a white one. They have grown together and have both colors of blooms on them now..........extremely cool!

My bachelor buttons from last year, as mom predicted, have gone wild!! And there are other pretty purple flowers and plants blooming in our yard. The blanket is one I finished this month for my friend, Lynn, who is having a girl in August. She loved it!!

More pics in the next post............

I am in love.......

2006-06-17T14:52:00.000-05:00

DS2 and I are going to Cub Scout Camp at the end of June. When we went in March, not only did we get rained out, but we had the worst time with our tent. So bad, that I almost left it there, pitched and all. So, we literally ditched it when we got home and today we bought a new, female tent pitcherer friendly one. It has 2 poles!! I put it up in about 10 minutes tops. As you can tell, it is pitched inside because, ALAS, it is raining today. I was feeling very tense about this whole camping thing while I was at church camp last week, but knowing that I have a great tent that is easily pitchable makes my life so much easier and makes me dread tent camping less. Next purchase............battery operated fan. Both boys are going to test drive it tonight as far as sleeping in it, only they are sleeping inside.

I think I will take socks to knit on the camping trip..............yippee!!

2006-06-08T20:12:00.000-05:00

2006-06-08T20:11:00.000-05:00

2006-06-08T20:10:00.000-05:00

2006-06-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

Lace

2006-06-08T20:04:00.000-05:00

So here is my lace knitting. I have set aside Candle Flame for a while to try my hand at something easier. Yes, I see the HOLE people!! It is a design element.

Silky Wool in Shocking Pink. Addi size 4s. I am enjoying this project more. Maybe because I am KAL with my LSSK chickies.

things I have found today

2006-06-04T11:46:00.000-05:00

I have been in the backyard this morning and here are a few pictures of things I have found.
My toe ring that I got at a women's retreat, glad I got a pedicure so you wouldn't have to be party to my naked toes. My bachelor buttons are coming in, can you see the widdle purple bloom in the middle? Also, check out this hibiscus that is sunning by the pool.
And, a June Project Spectrum entry...........blue pool. And, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't include a pic of the Candle Flame Shawl, frogged and restarted. So, there you have it. These are the happnins at my house today. Happy Sunday!!

Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

argh!!

2006-06-03T21:19:00.000-05:00

Trying to fix my blog.........may have fatally messed it up.

Socks!!

2006-05-31T18:05:00.000-05:00

Here's what my sock looks like..............I started it over the weekend. It is my first sock. I started one but frogged it because I made a lot of mistakes and I just really wanted to do a self-striping yarn. I love the yarn, it is really soft. I think it is called Online and it is color #793. The label is written in German, so I am doing the best I can. I think I love knitting socks!! But, I am still learning.................

Freedom isn't Free

2006-05-29T08:12:00.000-05:00

Beginning last year, Memorial Day took on a whole new meaning for us. I know that we all KNOW what Memorial Day means but do we really understand it? I learned for the first time in 2005 the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Both of these holidays have a price and the price is freedom is not free.

This is our friend, Aaron Hudson with Matthew. They lived next door to us and he babysat our kids. You have never met a nicer, more loving family than the family of Mark and Annette Hudson. He wanted to enlist in the Army but his parents wanted him to wait and explore other options first. He tried jr. college, working in the "real" world, but nothing ever really ignited a spark in his heart. So, his parents finally gave their blessing and he enlisted in the Army. He went to boot camp in Spring 2004 in Fort Leonardwood, MO and loved it. He came home in Fall 2004 and learned he would be deployed to Iraq in January 2005. He was home at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's and then was deployed during the first 10 days of January 2005. He was a gunner and loved what he did. On April 16, 2005 he was killed by a roadside bomb near Baghdad. That was the day that our family really learned the meaning of the words "freedom is not free". We miss Aaron every day.

Today is a day to remember those who have fought for our freedom. Please pause today to remember and reflect those who have paid a high price for our freedom and to also appreciate the freedom that we do have.

Let Freedom Ring!

No one has greater love than the one who gives his life for his friends. John 15:13 (NIrV)

Coffee umbrellas and bathmats

2006-05-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

Just a pic of how I will be drinking my coffee this summer.

And, here is a pic of the bathmat yarn.

TTFN.

Meet Our New Gecko

2006-05-27T13:22:00.000-05:00

If you are a mother, you will understand this.

Sometimes it is not a good idea to say no. Sometimes there are more nos than yeses in a child's life and they become immune to no because no is all they hear.

Saying no is a very good idea for running out in traffic and hosting keg parties for underage drinkers, to name a few examples.

Sometimes you have to go through the motions of shopping for something that you have clearly NO intention of buying so that the buyer can figure out what a bad idea a gecko or turtle was on his own. That is why we have a Nintendo DS and no gecko or turtle.

So we went and looked at geckos and turtles. My comments were along the lines of...."Turtles carry salmonella which is a very dangerous germ that can make you sick to the point of throwing up. Remember last night when we read in that gecko book that if the geckos weren't eating the crickets in the cage that meant they were sick? Hmmmm.........I would hate to buy a gecko and take it home and then it died. That would be a waste of money. Yes, I see the gecko is on sale for $19.99 (who the hell ever heard of a sale on geckos?) but it says here that the gecko package is $253 for its house and that doesn't even include the gecko. You only have $120. Hmmmmmmmmm...........what to do?"

So then my dh, who is not a thinker, called and starts hollering at me on my cell, "are you buying a gecko? Do I need to remind you of Jingles the Hamster? We have a dog and that is enough! I am telling you the answer is NO!!!" Of course, DS2 hears all of this and I get off the phone and say, "dad says no." He starts crying. So, I distract him and call my husband back and tell him that he is a moron and has earned the title of bad guy because he thwarted my plan. Then I remind him of some of his "bad ideas" and "bad purchases" like the golf clubs he insisted both of them get for Christmas one year that became bludgeoning tools.............he got the message. Isn't marriage grand? This is why I deserve love, adoration, and BIG gifts on Mother's Day people!!

So, we were momentarily sad and then we walked across the parking lot to Walmart and bought a NintendoDS with the Nintendogs game and we are now very happy. It solved my problem because I can take back the GameBoy SP game that I bought him because I chipped in for the new game.

We are home, we have a Nintendo DS that doesn't poop or shed, doesn't need to be watered or fed and won't incur vet bills. We are very happy. It will be a quiet afternoon.

Mason Dixon KAL strikes again. While I was shaving my legs this morning I decided I need 2 bathmats in my bathroom. So, I bought the yarn at Walmart. DH didn't flinch when I brought it in the house after our phone conversation. Smart man.

Off to knit and relax. Maybe float in the pool a bit.

Saturday Morning Cuppa

2006-05-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

Well, lots to peruse and ramble, not rant, about here.

DS2 has money from his birthday and, as my dad would say, "it is burnin' a hole in his pocket". He has decided that he wants a gecko or a turtle. Of course, I would be the designated driver for this adventure. Chuck and I keep trying to tell him that it won't be like the Geico gecko, witty and funny. That is what I am for!! I have tried to impress on this child that it will probably stink. Someday, when I am feeling brave I will have to share the story of Jingles the Hamster with you. Anyway, at some point I will be at Petsmart today pricing reptiles. As soon as this message goes through I feel certain my phone will ring and Carrie will be on the other end. I am sure it will start out, "Are you out of your @#$%^&&* mind?"

I have found a new delight in the morning. Coffeemate has come out with a Coconut Creme coffee creamer!! Hold on a sec..........Carrie, honey here is the trash can. She hates coconut!! Sorry..........anyway, so I put it in my coffee yesterday AM and.......the transformation was unreal!! No longer was I standing on lineoleum, I was standing in sand!! And baggy pajamas, no, I was a size 2 in a itsy witsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini with perky breasts!! Stretch marks? Gone, disappeared, nada. What is that? The washer? No, those are waves crashing!! Oh look, there is Paco in the corner playing the steel drum! I was sure there was a microwave there before..............I think I will go get little umbrellas for my coffee this summer. Yum! If you are a coconut fan, you must try it.

I am to the halfway point on the Candle Flame Shawl on the first repeat. So far, it looks like blue string with a lot of holes. I'll keep you posted.

Anyone here obsess about their weight? I do. I just don't think I can walk into Weight Watchers again. I can hear them now. "Oh yes, she's back again. And look, instead of losing 10% she has gained 10%!! Do we have a key chain for that? Let's see darling, which one of these books do you not have?" You get the point. I know...........the secret is calories in should not exceed calories burned off. Yea, right......if anyone has any ideas beyond laxatives and vomiting let me know.

And planting, brace yourself Carrie I may do yardwork for the second time this month, I am thinking about going to Calloway's or one of those places to get some moss rose and sal-vi-a. The nurse in me wants to walk in there and look for "some of those saliva plants"(said in my best Jethro voice). I could really work on my tan doing this. Of course I have more skin surface to tan than in the past............

So, these are the things that are rattling around my brain today. Who listens to audiobooks while they knit? I have a subscription to Audible.com and just finished The Devil Wears Prada last night. Good story to knit by.

I need to go get a second cup. Hope all of you are having a FAB 3 day weekend.....that would be the nonretired of us.

School's Out!!

2006-05-25T19:35:00.000-05:00

And there is no homework..............Amen!!

I get all bogged down in a funk in the middle of the year about read this, sign that, send a check for that, taking a donation for this............sell this, buy that..............blah, blah, blah. I feel a huge relief when summer is here!!

I am not above bribing my children either. My 10 year old's report card said that the kids should read 20 minutes a day over the summer and keep a journal to keep their writing skills up for 4th grade. Having had a child in 4th grade 3 years ago, I remember the pain of all of the writing assignments. So, I told this child that if he would write in a summer journal for 1/2 page 3 times a week and read for 20 minutes 4 times a week that I would pay him $50 at the end of the summer. He is all fired up. It has to be quality work and the reading material must be a book. My 12 year old is not so fired up or willing to take on the challenge. We will see.

Can a dog be unphotogenic??

2006-05-23T20:20:00.000-05:00

The answer is yes. My poor sweet lil Ginger has the cutest face but when the camera comes out, this is what happens. Notice the Ginger colored font? Clever................

Poor Ginger...........she is a sweet girl!!

Rushing

2006-05-21T19:31:00.000-05:00

Anyone tired of rushing?? I feel like I am rushing everywhere. Sometimes I rush so much that I don't feel like I have time to enjoy whatever it is I am involved in as I will be rushing to the next thing. May = rushing.

I am looking forward to summer. No homework is the #1 reason. No worries about bed time. Just chillin'.

This will be the last week of school, yea!! If we can just get through final exams we will be good. Hopefully, now that all of the end of the year events are over I will get some knitting done. And, there is the 3 day weekend next week to look forward to................

Knit On!!

Candle flame shawl progress and other WIPS

2006-05-20T08:23:00.000-05:00

I am typing in orange today because orange is DS2 favorite color and today is his birthday party. His actual birthday is May 30 but we are celebrating before school lets out and all the kids scatter hither and yon. We are going to a rock climbing gym which will be a lot of fun.

Let me start off by saying (see photos of mug). I have so amazed myself by all I have learned and how much I have grown as a knitter this past year, specifically these past 6 months or so. I thought you just took a class to learn one thing, like how to make clogs but you come away with so much more like M1, short rows, etc. So, with all of that said, I am sharing pics of my WIPs. There is the 14th row of the candle flame shawl for The Amazing Lace. I am loving working with lace and the colors of this yarn are stunning! Also inserted is the color copy of the pattern (see previous post).
Also included are the little blocks blanket designed by Linda Q. in Cotton Tots Jelly Belly and a Mason Dixon warshcloth in Sugar and Creme. I have more WIPs..............but let's not go there.

The Amazing Lace Challenge #1

2006-05-16T21:29:00.000-05:00

My name is Dawn and this is my teammate, Candle Flame Shawl. I saw her on Knit Picks and was smitten. I had never in my life ever even considered knitting lace until my LSSK buds decided to do a lace KAL this summer. I can't just have a teammate just to have a teammate......I have to love my teammate through and through. We must be one...........

When I saw her on Knit Picks I knew I must have her on my team. Oh, but the conflict?? What color would she be? Stained Glass? Grape Hyacinth?? No, I knew she must be Turquoise Splendor, just like the one in the picture. In fact, I wanted to BE THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE. I wanted her figure, her hair, her Adiorondack chair, her porch, whatever she was drinking to make her look that euphoric...............the whole package.

So, I took a chance and downloaded her...........but what the hell was this?? Charts?? Small dots, slash lines............isn't purling 3 together against the law?? A 36 row repeat..........for a lace virgin like me?? No, I couldn't do it..........I clicked "X" and closed her out of my life.

But she kept calling me............."Dawn, really we can be friends...........I look formidable but all I am is knit and purl...................come open my door and look again............." So, I did..........and I printed her................on black and white because color printing...........well, that is a whole new level of committment..............

I took her to my LSSK WHIBSIB weekend and showed her to the girls. Alas, these girls barely know me and none of them batted an eye when I said I wanted her on my team..........."you can do it Dawn, it is all just knit and purl" and then my sister said "oh yes, the Candle Flame Shawl, I was thinking of doing that one". And JoAn, who I am not worthy to be in her knitterly presence, had a part of her............she actually had the Turquoise Splendor Shimmer on her person. I couldn't even approach her to verify that that was it.........in real live person. So, I winked at Turqoise Splendor across the room and told her that my people would be calling her people first thing Monday AM.

And indeed, my people called her people and she flew here on flight 515 UPS airline. She arrived and I squealed before opening the box. I opened it, touched the lace and closed it and put it in my closet.............you know, you have to explain these extra teammates in life to dh and children. I called my sister and let her know that she had arrived safely because I knew that my newest teammate secret was safe with her. She sat in the box in the closet for 2 weeks and I took her out Sunday and moved her to the project basket. But, she is still in a twist and in the bag. Maybe she is having a hard time breathing? I cannot wait for us to start the challenge. I am even thinking about suiting her up (winding her into a cool center pull ball) and letting her take a spin on the size 4 Addis chosen just for her knitterliness.

We will finish the race...............in a blaze of glory!!

I never promised you a rose garden.........

2006-05-15T19:50:00.000-05:00

I came home to this tonight!!! I am putting out an APB because someone has stolen my husband and an alien has invaded my house, people!! OMG!! They are pink, I am learning to be a better photographer. Excuse the house. As Phyllis Diller so aptly put it, "cleaning a house with children is like shoveling a sidewalk while it is still snowing". Very well put Phyllis. Cheers!

Last night I worked on the top down cardi so that MIL and I can go to the next level. Am also working on another Mason Dixon dishcloth. I started out with 7 inch needles which were too short and the knitting was falling off of them and then found longer needles at a secondhand store on Saturday. Okay, people these puppies are 13 inches long. I am learning to do the armpit knit. Very interesting to view. I am determined to have a drawerful of goodness by the end of the summer. Must. use. the. handknits. I have so many WIPs right now my head could very well spin off my body. My life will be a Dr. Seuss book: she knits on the pot, she knits when she is hot, she knits at night, she knits and flies a kite. She knits at meetings, her boss gives bad greetings when she knits at meetings. You get the point.

DS2 is having a birthday party Saturday at a rock climbing gym. (She knits at the gym, she knits while they swim................) I offered to knit party favors.............he looked at me as if I had sprouted a 3rd eyeball. You think 10 year olds would like warshcloths??

Tonight is the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and I must go camp out in front of the TV so that when Dubya is finished hopefully we can cut straight to the chase of Grey's Anatomy. I like Dubya and all, but didn't someone drop a hint to him that tonight is the season finale of Grey's Anatomy? Don't they have TV in the White House?? I suppose when you are Dubya you have Tivo.

Mother's Day

2006-05-14T15:02:00.000-05:00

What a day!!!!! And it is only 3 PM.

Got a laptop for Mother's Day. Should be here by the end of the month. It is a Dell and dh picked it out so I know it will be good.

Decided to knit the Candle Flame Shawl from Knit Picks for The Amazing Lace. I really like this shawl and really want to do it. I have never done lace before, keep your fingers crossed.
As you can see, I have posted the pics. I need to swatch, but tomorrow is another day.

Made one dishcloth from the Mason Dixon book. It is awesome. I would post a pic but it is currently in use.

Other than that, going to enjoy Mother's Day floating in the pool and hanging out knitting. Happy Mother's Day!!

TGIF

2006-05-05T21:21:00.000-05:00

TGIF and happy Cinco de Mayo......................I am so glad the weekend is here.

According to the forecast, it is supposed to rain all weekend. We will see. I mean, we have already done 3 baseball games this week, what is 2 more??

Am having trouble getting focused on any one project right now. Here is what is OTN: beginner socks, little blocks blanket, need to finish last clog, top down cardi, and I think that is it. Just got Knit Picks order with candle flame shawl in turquoise splendor. Am going to learn how to do lace this summer. Am debating joining in on the amazing lace.

off to surf some more.checking in to see if my blog was still here.......

2006-01-15T11:21:00.000-06:00

Oh how relaxing it is to be at home, in my pjs, and with no plans to go anywhere. To hear a beagle snore....................ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Relaxing. Am going to work on finishing the baby blanket for Sara. Am really getting into reading others blogs and getting ideas.

Let it.................ice!!

2005-12-08T11:41:00.000-06:00

I am home with the boys today due to ice on the roadways. School has been cancelled, work has been cancelled-------------yippee!! I think I will spend my day knitting and playing board games. Also learning how to do my blog. More later..................