Another store carrying my markers, and my Virtual Model

Go check out Mama Llama's Shoppe. She is now carrying my makers. I can say first hand that her yarns are a dream to work with, so pick up some yarn to go with your new markers ;-)


Saw this on Susie's blog. Had to play along :-)

Finally a FOE, and fun with the self timer!

My oldest WIP is now a FO!!!!! Whooo Hoooo!

May I present, The Irish Hiking Scarf.



Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf by Hello Yarn
Needles: Us 8
Yarn: Cascade 220 color? who knows, it's been too long
Started: almost 2 years ago
Completed: Dec 3, 2006


Now lets see what a person who has no idea how to use a self timer looks like

Fake smile in the sunlight

The lesson I learned? Wait until someone can take pictures for you!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! This year I am just not in the holiday mood. I think it's because it's been a rough six months, and all I really want to do is have all my family together. I'm really feeling sadness that my Sister and Brother will not be here for the holidays. I'm not exactly sure why I am feeling it this year, the last time that all of us were together was Christmas 1996.

I just remember growing up, that we always had a houseful on Thanksgiving. They may not all have been family, but I loved it. I loved having so many people in our house. I have two favorite Thanksgivings. One was at my Grandmother's house. She had 8 children, and most of them were there with there families. I was just a child but I still remember that dinner. The other was my first, and only, Thanksgiving without my parents. They had moved to Ca from Virginia and I stayed behind. I had broken up with my boyfriend and a friend took me with him to his Granddaddy's house. It was filled with people all having a good time and I really felt welcome. It was exactly what I needed and I won't ever forget that day either.





I had a doctors appointment on Monday with a new doctor. My first doc was getting a little off track. He kept telling me that I should have chronic fatigue syndrome. I don't. And he would. Not. Listen. He had moved away from a diagnosis of Lupus and had even brought up the possibility of Cancer. Now once I heard that I jumped into action. Found someone willing to see me and give me another opinion. There is no indication of cancer and I was told to put that out of my mind.....ummmmm ok, that will be easy.

So the new doc is leaning toward Lupus again. I have more tests to do, this time specialized tests that will have to be sent to LA to run. I'll go back to this new doc right before Christmas, and the old doc.....I don't think I will be seeing him again.

SO as it stands, we still don't know what is going on. There is still pain in my hand, in my knee, ankle and toes. I am really just emotionally drained from all this. I still don't want to go through all the testing, mostly because I am scared to find anything out.

Maybe this is why I really want my family all around me.

I never do these but.....

MEME

You.

Can.

Only.

Type.

One.

Word.



No.

Explanations.



1. Yourself: Emotional

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): Workaholic

3. Your hair: Curly

4. Your mother: Talkative

5. Your Father: Best

6. Your Favorite Item: Records

7. Your dream last night: none

8. Your Favorite drink: Ice Tea

9. Your Dream Car: JEEP

10. The room you are in: Family

11. Your Ex: Asshole

12. Your fear: Water

13. What you want to be in 10 years? Accountant

14. Who you hung out with last night? Greg

15. What You're Not: Rude

16. Muffins: Blueberry

17. One of Your Wish List Items: Mixer

18. Time: None

19. The Last Thing You Did: Laundry

20. What You Are Wearing: Jeans

21. Your Favorite Weather: Rainy

22. Your Favorite Book: Painted House

23. The Last Thing You Ate: Jr Mints

24. Your Life: Stuck

25. Your Mood: Happy

26. Your best friend: Texas :-(

27. What are you thinking about right now? Menu

28. Your car: MiniVan

29. What are you doing at the moment? Typing

30. Your summer: Lonely

31. Your relationship status: Married :-)

32. What is on your TV? Football

33. What is the weather like? Cold

34. When is the last time you laughed? Afternoon

35. Who do you tag? You :=)

EEEEEEEKKKKKKKK

Go look. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't get so excited. But. Go. Look.


KnitWit Momma Stitchmarkers

I know they have been selling out in the LYS but this is my first online store. And I am excited.

Also pretty excited about the order I got yesterday from the Yarn Garden in Portland. Whooooo Hoooooo!

My News

First, my children have been playing quietly all morning. Just as I sit down thinking I can pound out a few homework questions for my Marketing class....they POUNCE!

What ya doing Mom? Can I help Mom? When will I have homework Mom?

So much for getting that done this morning. I think a LONG trip to the playground with Daddy is in order later ;-)

So my big news. Well, for a while now I have been selling my stitchmarkers in a LYS. I decided to change them up a bit and change the packaging. By doing that, they have taken off like you wouldn't believe! Selling out within a week of the store putting them out. So it's been in the works for a while but I am now a legitimate business, at least in the eyes of the Federal Government and the state of California.

So here is my business website www.knitwitmomma.com

Right now I am just doing wholesale sales. There have been a few big online stores that are interested, and I am much more attractive as a supplier if I do not sell them myself online. There may come a time when I will sell online. Right now I am getting inquiries from all over the US for samples and price sheets. Kind of exciting and scary at the same time. Now Greg would kill me, but not only did I teach him to knit, he also knows how to make stitchmarkers. He's my free labor ;-)

So tell me what you think about my site. Good? Bad? Stick a fork in it?

Oh and one last thing. Now this is kind of funny.... my eyelid has been twitching on and off for about 3 weeks now. I sneeze, it twitches. I yawn, it twitches. I raise my voice, it twitches. I think of all the work I have for school, it twitches. Sooooooo, I'm thinking it's stress. Other than relaxing (can you see me rolling my eyes) got any suggestions to MAKE IT STOP? Unless I point it out, no one can see it so at least I am not scaring small children but come on.....do you have any idea how annoying this is!!!

So much to show you

And no pictures, well almost no pictures. It's a rainy, snowy at times, day. Just not enough natural light to show off all the beautiful yarns that I have gotten, or to show off my new knitting projects. I am still working on the Koigu Dublin Bay socks, and have started a capelet for myself.

This picture really doesn't do it justice, in fact it looks really bad on here. There was a sample made up at Filati's and it was really cute! I am almost all done, I would be finished but Greg decided to clean up one night while I was in class and the pattern has disappeared!

I got my first package from my SP9 the other day. Some beautiful Claudia Handpained yarn, and a beautiful yarn that is screaming to be a scarf! There was some Recess Peanut Butter Cups too...... WAS is the word :-)

I also got a box from my SP8, Rebecca. The cutest Cow with a rooster on it's back. I LOVE it! It's exactly the type of thing I would buy!

But wait that's not all. Susie sent me a ROAK. I can't even describe the yarn. There are no words. You will have to wait for a sunny day for me to take a picture. Really. How she does it I will never know!

One last bit of news, Katie lost her first tooth today. It's been loose and it's made me so sad! WHY do they have to grow up? She has asked the tooth fairy to please bring 2.00. In bills, not coins! Oh really? Far cry from the quarter that I used to get! Here is Katie and I, when she had a full set of teeth :-)

I have some big news for my next post, maybe tonight. right now I am going to make Split Pea Soup. It's a perfect day for it! And I have to say thank you to Katie for posting the link to KidZone. It really has saved us today. I think I may have used up a whole tree with all the things that I have printed out!

FO and a big whoops!

I've royally messed up my Dublin Bay sock. Not only did I pick up stitches for the gusset BEFORE turning the heel, I did the heel flap too narrow. That sick is now put aside for a night that I feel like taking a frog pond trip.

The wonderful and talented Catherine, aka Mama Llama, has started to dye her own yarn. She sent me a skein of her new yarn in the Rivers colorway. I am making socks for my kiddo's so that Cath start a gallery of her yarn.

These have been so fun to make, and so quick! And look at this color. She calls it Winter and on man it is so beautiful!

I guess I can count these as my first Socktoberfest Socks! Of course I joined. I also joined My First Toe Up's. I have not used this before, and I thought it might be nice to learn something new! Come join us as we fumble though it together.

Now look at this color from MamaLlama as well. She calls it Winter and oh by it is beautiful. One picture with flash, one without.

Tomorrow I am going out to do some genealogical volunteer work. Now I have to say it, don't get upset, but doing Genealogy is something I love even more than knitting. Ok. It's said. Stop throwing things as me!

I volunteer for a site called Random Acts of Geneaogical Kindness. People contact me to research records in the county that I live. I have about 20 obits to look up, and about 15 grave stone photos to take. My favorite thing to do is go find the grave sites and photo them, or take a rubbing. Greg says that I am the only person that he has ever met that gets excited about seeing a graveyard. I also get stark raving mad at people that talk about grave yards as "scary" or "haunted". In my opinion that is incredibly disresectful of the people, and their families, that are buried there.

Ok, I'll stop now before I really get going. Poor Greg, he has to hear this tanget of mine a lot. He's married to me so he HAS to stick around for it. You guys don't!

GRRRRRRRRR

A real knitting post WITH a FO coming in a day or two. Also an update in the whole Lupus - No Lupus thing.

Right now I am pulling my hair out as I study for my accounting test tomorrow night. Lat week I had no trouble with these concepts. Tonight? Can't get them. It's driving me nuts. Mr. Mama Llama where are you? I need your accounting brain!

And once I get the accounting done, Macroeconomics is calling out to me. I have that midterm on Wed night.

Thursday will find me on a plane to Orange County. I have a friend from high school that will be there for a business meeting. I haven't seem him in 8 years so I am running away for a few days to hang out with him and his wife. I have never been to Southern Cali (that I remember) so I am really looking forward to this trip!

Edited to add: If you read the problem correctly, and round to the nearest cent, and not dollar, the answers are correct. God help the general public when I get my accounting degree.

I'm a slacker

So starts tomorrow. I got all my matches out, my homework is done, I am feeling good today...... Whooo Hooooo!


1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like everything except really scratchy wool. I am pretty sensitive to the scratchiness of wool. For example, I can make bags and such out of Noro but can't imagine putting it on my skin!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have some handmade poutches for my needles.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've only been knitting for two years. I have been WATCHING knitting my whole life :-) My Mother has been knitting since she was a child. I would call myself an advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I do. I think I have 2 under different emails. hummmm. Email me if you really want to know.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I love food scents. Pumpkin pie, apple, banana bread, ect candles.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Ummm YES! Peanut Butter Cups are my fav, with tootsie rolls close behind.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin, I do cross stitch but haven't done any in a while. I just don't have time.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I listen to all kinds of music. My Itunes is filled with mostly country but there are a few rap songs and a lot of pop and alternative as well.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? My Fav colors are a soft pink and soft yellows. But I like blues, purples, and greens also. I can't stand bright reds, muted reds are OK, but bright reds are NEVER worn by me.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married and have 3 kids. Ages 5, 3, and 20 months. Sometimes I have another child as well.... he's 42 :-)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? No ponchos, but I do wear hats, mittens and scarves. Shoveling snow is cold work :-)

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks ;-)

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks :-) Also a capelet for me, and a sweater for me

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? It really depends. I love all my wood ones, but addi's have their place too.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No and No

17. How did you learn to knit? My Mother

18. How old is your oldest UFO? 1 and a half years. It's the Irish Hiking scarf. I just need to finish it!

19. What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving and Halloween. It's my fav time of year, and I love getting together with family at Thanksgiving!

20. Is there anything that you collect? Wow, Yes there is. I collect Wades that you get in Red Rose tea, and all country cows, willow tree angels, Wedgewood Jasperware....I am sure there is more :-)

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I just signed up for Interweave a few days ago, but that's the only magazine subscription that I have. There isn't anything that I can say I have to have. I do love the gathering of lace book. I got it for my Mom for Christmas. It was hard to part with :-)

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I think I would like to try Magic Loop. My friend Catherine loves it, and it seems to go faster than DPN's.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yes I am. I wear a 7.5 shoe and I am too lazy to get up to get the tape measure :-)

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) Jan 8th. I share it with Elvis.

It's Christmas time already!

I decided to start thing about Christmas knitting. I bowed out of Sock Wars because I want to concentrate on gifts. So what do I do? Start a pair of socks, of course!

These are the Dublin Bay socks, knit out of Koigu. I'm not sure who they will go to, but I need to make up my mind soon since I am almost at the foot. I really like this pattern, and I can see myself making more of these!

I also started something for me. I have been waiting to knit this cardigan for a year now. I've had the yarn in my stash for almost as long. I decided that I would really like to wear this to stitches in Feb (is it crazy that I already have a hotel room!. So here is the start of Grace. Now I have never made anything that requires seaming, but finishing this should be a piece of cake, right?

I have something else to show you, but it will have to wait a few more days. It's a surprise for someone :-)

Now that's funny!

Ok, Who got to my blog by search for:

Microwave Baked Potato Pouch Pattern

and is there really such a thing.

that's not as good as the person that came t my blog by searching:

Bamboo smells like Urine

ummmmm, I would love to ask that person a few questions.

I'm working on an actual knitting post for tonight.

It's been a long time comin!

I have a FO to show you. I finally finished the socks that I was making for my Sister in Law. Today is her birthday, and she should be receiving these tomorrow or Thursday at the latest. It's perfect timing as the weather in Montana is starting to turn chilly. I'm glad I took these pictures a few day ago, we have been inundated with smoke for about three days now.There is a fire not too far away, far enough that we don't have to worry about it, but close enough that breathing outside is a little hard. Birdsong, are you smoked out too?

Here are the Sister in Law socks. The first socks that I have ever blocked! They really look nice when they are blocked. They are a simple 64 stitch, basic sock. KnitPicks Sock Garden, US 2's. Now tell me WHY they took a year to finish?

Now, maybe I have never blocked socks before because I didn't have the PERFECT sock blockers. I do now! Thanks to Becky at Leggy Creations, I have the perfect blockers. Really. Look. Can you tell that I really like cows? I told her I wanted cow ones, and gave a little direction on the type of cows, and look what she made me!!!! They will have a special place on my wall when they are not in use. I LOVE THEM!

Cute right? Now go get yourself some!

Mail Call

I really am a lucky gal! My KSKS partner sent me the best, and I mean BEST, gift ever. She made me a Noni Bag!!! ( I can't link because I am not sure which one it is) I love it. I can't tell you how much I love it. She also sent me a big bad of tootsie rolls (now gone), a Fiber Trends pattern, Tootsie roll pens, a tootsie roll bookmark, a tootsie roll note pad, (do you see a theme here?) The Fiber Trends Magic Loop book, a se of DPN's, an Inox needle to try the magic loop, AND Art Yarns sock yarn. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, in this package is perfect!!! My partner was Knit Vicious. And the coolest thing is she is local! I hope one day to see her at the LYS, I think she loved the bag she made me as much as I love it! Wanna see it?

Now look at the bag :-)

You want it, don't you.....

My awesome SPA was Rebecca from Socks-For-Mum. She was so awesome with her encouraging notes and letters. This is my final package from her. She also sent me the new Vouge Knitting magazine. I have never been a fan of it but this issue has some great articles and even a few patterns that I may just have to knit.

Rebecca also sent me some bath tea, note pads, and she knit me a dishcloth! The dishcloth is already in use. Greg grabbed it and used it tonight! Nothing nicer than seeing a man do dishes WITH a handknit dishcloth! She also copied a book on CD, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. Now I read a lot, always have. This is one book that I have not read. I am looking forward to listening to it at night while I knit. She said that she didn't send me yarn because she didn't want to tempt me to knit ;-) And she's right, I should be resting my hands. (but I'm not)

Go check out Rebecca's blog. Her socks and pictures are just beautiful!

I do have a FO to share. I finally finished socks that have been on my needles for over a year now. Right now they are blocking on the most beautiful sock blockers that I have ever seen. See, now you can't WAIT for my next post can you?

I just don't want to do this.

No knitting content. No pictures of swaps that I have received. That will come tomorrow. I promise. Really.

Today is for telling you about my trip to the docs. He asked a million questions, gave me an exam, and looked over my blood work. He is almost positive that I have Lupus. He has ordered 16 blood tests. 16!!! He said they will take about 12 vials of blood. As long as they let me lay down I'll be just fine. I go back the first week in October and will know more then. With all the tests they are going to do, he will know more about me that I do!

The whole Lupus thing really hasn't even sunk in. They have started me on meds already. Just the beginner drug, Plaquinal. He thinks it will make me feel much better. I'm a little concerned about the side effects. It could affect my vision. I kind of like to see :-)

I really just feel like I don't want to do all this. I know that sounds so weird. Even m husband thinks I am a little nuts. I don't want to go back to the doc, I don't want the tests, I DON'T WANT TO BE SICK. I have to much to do. I am too busy. I don't have time for this.

It's kind of like asking me if I want pizza for dinner..... No, I don't. Want to be sick with Lupus? Nope, don't want that either. Let's move on.

Really I just want a hug. A long one. And a good cry. I don't want to hear I am going to be fine. I don't want to hear that people have lived full lives with Lupus. I just DON'T WANT IT! I'm mad. I'm sad. And I am scared.

Tomorrow will be all about knitting. Not that much of that has been going on. My damn hand hurts.

And I will give a proper thank you to my SP8...... but really, she was sent to me. really. Her cards and postcards have made me sit and cry. She understands how I feel and is a wonderful person. More tomorrow! With pictures :-)

Saturday Sky!

You get two sky's today. Both the "Big Sky" of Montana.

The University Of Montana, Missoula, Montana. Greg got his B.S. and his M.B.A. from here.

Helena, Montana.

Beautiful.....

I love the mail!

I have been getting a lot of goodies in the mail lately. Would you like to see?

I won this beautiful set of cotton yarns and a dishcloth pattern book from Emily over at Yarn Miracle. She held a contest and I was the lucky winner. Thank you Emily for the yarn, patterns, candy and peanuts. The Virginia postcard in on my fridge. Did you know that I grew up in Virginia? And that I miss it so much that it sometimes hurts? As soon as I can convince my parents that the east coast is the place to retire, this family is heading back!

Next up is the most beautiful hand dyed, hand spun, skein of wool and silk. Schrodinger is one of the participants of SP8 and she made this for me as a thank you/ get well gift. I have never had anyone hand dye and spin yarn for me before. I have no idea what I will knit with it, but it will have to be something very special. It's beautiful and I love it very much!!!

And last, but not least, is the latest package from my SP. She sent me the yarn and pattern to make the slipper socks from Knitpicks. I have been eyeing that pattern since it came out. I plan to make them for ME. They will be perfect in the cold snowy weather. There was also a Knitters Companion book in there as well. But I have to say that the best part of the whole box was the note that she wrote me. It was very touching and if I was closer to Colorado, I'd find my SP and give her a hug. Thanks again SP :-)

My oldest child, Katie, started kindergarten on Monday. I was amazed that I didn't really cry when I left her. She was so excited, I had to remind her to say good bye to me. She has been so eager to go to school everyday, and today was a bit difficult for her. Her first weekend. It was a lazy day, none of up got out of our PJ's until noon. I forgot how nice it is to be lazy when you have been so busy all week! Would you like a first day of school shot?

There ya go!

Saturday Sky

A Beautiful Sierra Nevada Sky!

Back from Vacation!!!

We had a wonderful vacation in Montana. We were lucky enough to fly home the day before the alert level was raised. I can't even imagine how much MORE stress would have been added. Flying with three young children is challenging enough. I will say that the kids did very well. I think the new crayons, coloring books, snacks, drinks, and the laptop that played Chicken Run over and over, helped :-)

While in Helena, I only bought one skein of yarn. It's Trekking in the pink and green colorway (107).

I have been looking at that color on line, and as soon as I saw it in person, I snatched it up!

I haven't really knitted in a few weeks. I have been trying to rest my hands. I did a little last night and so far so good. I do have a few WIP......

Green Gable, well really Lilac Haze Gable that looks like a Blue Gable! I have finished the lace section on this and am heading into the boring part. The Cotton Fleece is hard on my hands, so I think this will be a now and then project.

This is my bag for the KSKS swap. It's almost done and I hope to be able to felt it in a few days. I have all the goodies to put inside it, I just need to get knitting!

My wonderful SP!

My wonderful SP sent me this a few weeks ago. In between vacations and doctors, I just haven't been able to blog about it.

It's a wonderful Christmas theamed package! Not pictured is a really cute pattern for Christmas socks. She also included the yarn to make the socks. A red and green skein of Lorna's Lace, and a skein of white Jawoll. She also included a small wipe off board, post it notes, and a small journal.

Thanks so much SP! :-)

I also recieved this in the mail. A beautiful handmade charm bracelet. There was no note, and no name. It's really pretty and it came on vacation with me! Please let me know who you are so I can thank you properly!

I started this post before we left for Montana......almost 2 weeks ago!!!!

Thank you to Everyone.

I want to thank each and everyone for all their well wishes on my last post. I do have an appointment with a Rhumatologist in a few weeks. I'll know a lot more after I talk with him. In a way I am hoping that I have Lupus. It will explain a lot of some of the mysterious symptoms that I have been having. And if I DO have Lupus, then there will be a course of action.

Right now I am just going with denial as my course of action. The swelling in my hands and ankle are making that harder to do... but I am NOT sick until the doc says I am!

Not the best day

Knitting and yarn pictures have to wait. I've been having some trouble with pain in my hands. I went to the doc a month or so ago. They sent me for x-rays and saw nothing wrong. I was told to take ibuprofen for the pain and come back if it got worse.

It got worse. A few days ago I woke up with a swollen wrist. The doc sent me to an orthopedic surgeon. All he could say was yes, your wrist is swollen. His first thought was that I had Rheumatoid arthritis. He sent me in for blood work.

He called yesterday and said everything was fine. He thought I might have a cyst, and if it flared up again to call him.

Today he calls back. One test just came back today. The test was an ANA screening. My levels were elevated. This leads him to believe that I may have Lupus. Did anyone tell him I am only 28! I'm too young (yes I know that teenager can get Lupus.....but I think I am too young for this)

So after getting off the phone and having a little cry, I called Catherine. My Mother was at work, Greg in a meeting, my good friend Shawn was on a conference call.....and I really needed someone. Cath rallied the Texas family and I was soon in possession of a lot of Lupus info. (to Shawn's credit, he did call as soon as he could.....and Greg has been calling about ever hour)

But is it crazy that I don't really want to talk about it. Blogging is different. I'll blog until I can't anymore (which might happen) but I don't want to talk face to face about it. Is that strange? I had to tell Greg to stop calling. I don't want to talk. I have laundry, and cleaning to do. I don't even want to look up any information on Lupus.

They are sending me to San Francisco to see a specialist. I need more tests to determine if Lupus is what is going on.

*sigh* I would think that this was a mistake, but a joint in my ankle started to swell last night, and when I told the doc that on the phone, he said that I needed to go see the Rheumatoligst right away. Great.

I'll be fine.....unless they tell me I can't knit!

For Shelby

For the best SP hostess, Shelby.

1) What is your favorite season of the year? Hands Down, Fall. I love fall. I love the weather, the colors, the holidays, every little thing about it. Winter is a close second. I could be happy with a year that was fall, winter and spring. Summer I can do without.

2) Where is your favorite vacation spot? Well, I haven't really been on that many vacations. Most of the time we take a vacation to see family. But I think my favorite vacations have had a beach involved. Only good thing about summer is going to the beach.

3) If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be? Germany or Russia

4) If you could pick any job, and be paid well, what would it be? OOOOO I would love to work in a archive, historical museum or genealogical library. I would even do that for free!

5) If you were going on vacation for 1 week, and had to take ONLY one project with you, what would it be? Humm probably socks. I am going on vacation for a week at the beginning of August. Flying to Montana with all the kids. Are we crazy or what? I think I will just be taking socks, and maybe a pair of clogs with me. I plan on going yarn shopping wile there, so I am sure I will be coming home with more than I am taking!

6) If you won a shopping spree to your favorite Yarn shop, what would you get?? Hummm, Some Helen's Lace, Koigu to make a shawl. Cascade 220 superwash to make an aran sweater, some Euroflax linen, for a shawl, and enough Karabella Auroa 8 to make an afghan....oooo that would be so nice!

Ok, I am going to go right now to take pictures of an awesome secret pal gift that I got from my second SP8. Yes, second one......

Look what we did!

Last week I got the urge to go on a mini vacation. We have never taken the kids and gone on an overnight trip, and I thought it was about time. We are very luck to live where we do because there are so many great places to go that are just close enough for an overnight trip. We decided on Monterey.

So after a couple of days of doing homework on what hotel would be good for our family, we left on Sunday morning. Sunday was spent at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The kids loved it..... well loved it is an understatement. They were amazed at everything. The aquarium really caters to children and there were so many activities to keep them amused. All three of them were good as gold. Wanna see?

The Aquarium

Wow!

(The light up there is really sardines)

Isn't that Penguin cute!

Isn't that Dory?

On Monday we hit the beach before we left Monterey. I think they liked the beach more than the aquarium. I had to hold on to Ben because he wanted to just run into the ocean! A beach vacation is definitely something we will do next......a WARM beach. For all you east coasters, the beaches here are not the "lie in the sun on a towel" kind of beach. They are a "bundle up and don't let the water touch" you kind of beach. That didn't stop the kids. Good thing we had dry clothes in the car!

Run Ben, Run!!

The whole gang on the beach.

The first picture of me I have ever posted! A cold, wet, and windblown Jenn with my baby James!

There was a yarn shop trip in there as well....and some stash enhancement. Wonderful shop, wonderful owner. More on that next time :-)

Has Hell Frozen Over?

You could have knocked me over with a feather the other night. The hubby has been having some problems with his heart, nothing has been diagnosed yet, we are still waiting on many test results.

I mentioned in passing that knitting has been said to be more relaxing than yoga, and I could teach him if he would like. He looked at me and said yes. YES??? I can't tell you how many times I have asked him if I could teach him, and the answer has always been No.

So I ran and some Pattons Decor and size 8 needles. I had to show him a few times, and he got a bit frustrated, but he got the hang of it. He even let me take pictures!

So he actually had me go buy him yarn to make a dishcloth. He says he can never find any clean one's, so he is going to make his own. Sometimes he cracks me up.

Saturday Sky

I almost forgot this.... Well, not exactly forgot, I just was so busy today.

Can you see the moon?

Now go look at Birdsong's sky. She is not far from me at all and we didn't get any of of her beautiful clouds.

Father's Day FO

See what I have been up to....

These are the Felted Clogs from Fiber Trends. I gave them to him like this. Yes, I have my shoes on..... I thought it would be much easier for Mom to felt them so that they can make sure that they fit his feet well. I'll make sure to take a picture when they are all done. This pattern was really fun and very fast to knit. I can see a few more pairs to be knit for Christmas.

And while I was out taking pictures of the house for Catherine, I thought I would take a few of my roses. I don't know too much about rose growing but right now they are looking beautiful.

So whip me with a wet noodle

I know it's been a while since I last blogged. What kind of SP hostess makes their people blog once a week but yet slacks herself? A crappy one!

In my defense I have been busy. School has started. Summer semester is shorter than fall and spring, so there is a lot of work to do in a short time. In one class I have 2 assignments and 2 quizzes a week. Finding time to do the reading has been a challenge.

I do have thank you's to say! The first is to my Vacation Swap pal, Michelle. She made the Bucket Hat from Chicknits.I just love it! She also sent a PERFECT soft cooler. Really, the cooler fits perfectly in the van between the front seats. She sent a small battery fan, a freeze pack for the cooler, pink flip flops (they are already in the van), and a couple packs of Lik-m-Aid. The kids thank you and thank you for the candy! And also not pictured is the beautiful soft yarn that she sent me, that is already in my stash waiting for the perfect pattern.

Isn't the model cute :-)

I also need to say thank you to my Knitters Tea Swap pal, Cynthia. How cool is to have a pal whose blog you read? Cynthia found the time to put together a wonderful package for me in between running the Warming Grace project. As a thank you I'll be knitting some squares, won't you knit a couple too?

Cynthia sent me a lovely mitten pattern and yarn form Fleece Artist. The colors are just beautiful. I also got three types of tea, two tea diffusers, biscuits, tea cakes, and toffee. Oh and a FELTED TEA COZY! Can you believe that she made this for me...and the poor thing sewed on so many buttons to a felted piece? She is just amazing!

And Katie...she thanks you for the tea cakes. Really, this American had never had them and when Katie took her first bite, her face LIT UP. I big mound of frosting and chocolate. She as in heaven. She told me to thank my nice friend so Thank you Cynthia!

And my last thank you is to Glacia. That lovely woman sent me a box filled with Time Out bars for Greg. When I called him at work to tell him they had arrived, he almost yelled. He told me to hide them from the kids, and not to eat any. I didn't eat any but I did try the coffee bar...YUMMY. I LOVE chocolate from outside the US. I'll keep her supplied with grits, and she sends chocolate!
She also sent some sock yarn, notepads, notecards, footsoak, soap (that Katie took), and cards (that we used tonight). Thank you so much....and Greg thanks you even more!

I really haven't been doing much knitting. School really has taken that time away from me. I did work on a sock while watching Katie at her gymnastics class on Wed. I've only been working on this pair for a year now!

Now for a funny, kind of , story. Today we were outside playing. The weather was beautiful. 72 was the high. You gotta love the California high country! See our backyard? See that we live IN the woods?

We kept seeing a helicopter circling overhead. The kids thought it was kind of neat. I didn't think anything of it. Lots of people have burn piles this time of year and I figured it was keeping an eye out for one that got away. Well turns out that it was looking for something. A BEAR. Lovely. Greenville had Mountain Lions, and now we have Bear in the backyard. We might stay inside tomorrow!

Knit on People!!!