Alllllll Aboarddd

Whoo Hooo, it was my turn to get the drill! Kate from Knits and Grits sent it to me with the most wonderful gifts inside. Not only were the gifts great, look at the packaging.

I Love that there were sheep stamps on the outside, and then look inside..... a pink explosion!

Of course Katie and Ben claimed the candy, and I have a feeling that they were meant to be for them anyway!

After unwrapping all the pink, this is what I found,

A beautiful skein of Opal Flamingo sock yarn (pink of course), a Clemson postcard, 5 inch Bryspun US2 DPN's, wool wash, stitch makers, and a stitch holder.

I have been dying to get one of those stitch holders, but haven't found them in any yarn shop I have been in. The DPN's look really nice and Katie says they are great. All of my sock needles are bamboo or birch so I look forward to trying them out.

Thanks again Katie, you made me "pink" :-) Oh and everyone, go look at Katie's kids, they are beautiful. I just want to hug her little baby.

This Yarn Aboard swap has been so much fun. Amanda had a great idea and she did a great job putting it together.

My box of goodies will be on it's way Thursday....I have to wait for the postman to bring one of the goodies that I am sending out. Want a hint to where it's going? A long way.......

My Scarf Pal is the best....yes, even better than yours

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

She knit me Ene. Yes, Ene. In laceweight baby alpaca. Can you believe it? Really can you? It is so beautiful, so soft, and so warm. My middle son tries to use it as a blanket. He tries to take it OFF ME and use it. Of course he can't pry it off me because I wear it all the time. Here she is in all her glory.

Not only did she knit this for me, she also sent me some sock yarn, and stitch markers with matching earrings. I love the pink sock yarn and will have to find the perfect pattern for it.

Celia I have no words to express how beautiful this shawl is. I am so flattered that you went to all the trouble to knit this for me. People, please go tell Celia that she is so kind....and wish her well on her upcoming marriage!

LOVING the Blues :-)

Some time ago I was reading Teresa's blog, Knitting the Blues. For the ABC along she was showing off pictures of "blue" for B. In one she had this AMAZING teapot....blue (of course) with sheep on it. Turns out that she collects tea pots and sheep. I just fell in love with that tea pot....it's right up my ally, kind of folk art, country style.

Anyway, the next day she told this story about how her Mom buys her anything she comes across that pertains to what she collects. Even if it isn't really her style. I commented about how my Mother in Law is like that. She means well and I love her gifts but I collect a certain type of cow material..... I then get this email from Teresa telling me that she has this cow teapot and wants to send it to me. How sweet is that? I told her she didn't have to.... and look what showed up.

I love the back. So do the kids, they crack up when I turn it around!

I just love it and it is sitting on the windowsill in my kitchen where I am most of the day (3 kids=LOTS of dishes).

Thanks again Teresa and watch your mail, I am on a mission to find the perfect thank you gift!

Oh no, I just found that same tea pot with a sheep on it....I may have to get that. What did you start Teresa?

I've been a bad SP...6

I never did publicly thank my wonderful SPA for her last packages. Things got so hectitc at the end of that SP round, with us moving and all....but still that is no excuse. My SPA was The Knitting Wannabe, and I couldn't have asked for a better one!

I don't have a picture of the last package, it arrived the day the movers were there and well, it has all been spread to the four corners of the house!

I did get some beautiful sock yarn (picture to come), an ornament for our Christmas tree, bath confetti, and some Choxie truffles. (Note to self...do NOT leave the truffles out for DH to see, he will eat all but one!)

The ornament took center stage on our Christmas tree. Since we were in the corporate apartment for Christmas, I had to run out and buy a fake tree and some things to put on it. I bought some really cheap things, and the one beautiful one was the one my SP sent. Thanks for making the tree feel more like ours :-)

My Sp was going through a move as well. I feel that I complained about being away from Greg for a month, she had to do it for 6! God bless her, being a "single" mom is hard! Now she is all moved across the country to Washington. Drop by her blog, she just saw her first sleet and had to ask the neighbor what it was LOL.

Music Meme

I was tagged by Amanda for a music meme. It won't be easy because I mostly listen to older music, think 80's.... or country. Shhhhh my favorite band is Poison. I now feel like SUCH A DORK that I actually admitted that.

Funny story, I was SUPER pissed when I found out that Poison was going to be playing near me 2 DAYS before my due date with my oldest child. Greg talked me out of buying tickets. (good thing since she was 3 weeks early!)

Next time they are within 500 miles of me I WILL GO. And I will buy Aqua-Net, poof my hair, tease my bangs be PROUD of it!

(Now if you are reading this and are too young to know who Poison is stop. Download a song. And FEEL the 80's .)

Ok on with the Meme:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if theyÂ’re any good, but they must be songs youÂ’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what theyÂ’re listening to.

Your Love (Outfield) - Because I like to sing along

I Won't Forget You (Poison) - Ahhh the 80's ballad sung by men with more makeup than me.

Best I Ever Had (Gary Allen) - LOVE this guys voice, so haunting

Travelin' Soldier (Dixie Chicks) - Makes me cry.....makes me think of my Dad

Sweet Southern Comfort (Buddy Jewell) - Because I miss the south. Can you believe that someone can MISS humidity?

Faithfully (Journey) - This makes me think of Greg, I think because we danced to this at his 20th reunion

My Immortal (Evanescence) - agathe voiceice beautiful. The whole CD is great.

Now to tag 7 people...wow ok here goes:
Catherine, Heather, Mini, Glacia, Carola, lol can that be it?

Where has the time gone.....

James turned one last week.....Why do they have to grow up?

And Katie started a new preschool....





I would post a picture of Ben but he has a new habit of being NAKED all the time. It is always something with little boys! Tonight I dined with a naked superhero, sounds good you say? Not if the superhero is almost 3, and is wearing your cashmere shawl as a cape. I did get a picture but ummm...you don't want to see it:-)

FO Report!

First off, the binder has been found. It was left at the apartment and the company that does the coporate housing had it at their office. Thank goodness that their office is close, in Rancho Cordova. The kiddo's and I took a little trip down there yesterday. I could have kissed the woman at the office. Now WHY they didn't contact Safeway and tell them that we had left some belongings there......I'll never know.

Ok on to knitting..... I have 2 finished objects! Wait. did you hear that? Two, count them, TWO FO's.

First up is my International Scarf Exchange scarf. I really liked how it turned out. I would wear this myself. I LOVE the yarn (Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK) and the pattern (Zig Zag Scarf). I first saw this pattern over at Anne's, The Knitty Gritty, and I had to order it. Go look at the lace weight cardi she just made. Lace weight! I think I will be making one of these for me in pink. So soft and warm! I think my pal will really like it, at least I hope she does.

And second up is the felted ballerina slippers by Fiber Trends. I made these for Katie out of Cascade 220. She really likes them, and of course she calls them princess shoes. What is it about 4 year old girls and princesses? I made the pattern with the strap but during the felting process, the strap felted so much it would no longer go over her foot! So I just cut it off.

And because I can't just take a picture of Katie's feet....a shot of Ben's as he was running around this morning. And trust me, it's a miracle that he has ONE sock on! He now thinks he IS Buzz Lightyear. He even wants to be called Buzz. So I have a Princess and Buzz, and they call the baby, Baby Dragon. Buzz saves the Princess hundreds of times a day from the dragon. The dragon thinks it's funny and yells BOO everytime. Kids.....................

Oh and no my floor is not dirty....there is water damage to the wood floor in front of the door to the deck.... I could never have a floor THAT dirty!

Sick...with worry

I can't believe it. We've lost the binder that held all of our birth certificates, immunization records, social security cards....

I can't do the taxes because I don't know the kids SS #'s, can't get a new SS card without birth certificates.

I need to enroll Katie in preschool and kindergarten for next year....can't do that without the birth certificate and immunization records.

Guess I'll be on the phone a lot on Monday.

I think may be in a box that was left in the apartment we stayed at.......I'll be calling them Monday too........I hope it wasn't stolen.

I don't think I can knit.

I now feel like a real knitter......

I've knit scarves, socks, mittens, hats, and even a shawl.....but never a sweater. Well I haven't actually KNIT the sweater yet but I bought the yarn for it! I have never made such a big yarn purchase before.....well $$ wise anyway.

17 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran plus the Cotton Angora book. I am going to knit Grace....for me. I have enough cotton angora in pale pink for it also. So now I have to decide, Cotton Angora or the Cashmerino Aran. What do you think?

Cotton sometimes hurts my hands so I am worried about that. I would love to hear from anyone that has used the cotton angora or just anyone that has knitted Grace!

If I use the cotton angora for Grace, then I can use the Cashmerino for Tubey!!! Have you seen
The Wool Palace's Tubey? It is beautiful and as soon as I saw it, I knew I'd have to knit it.

Tomorrow pictures of the scarf for my scarf pal. There will not be any natural light pictures for a week or so. I was going to take my yarn outside and play with my new camera but ummmm it's snowing and so cold!

:-) See what happens when you husband doesn't get you a birthday gift...you buy your own. In my case it was a brand new digital camera. Thanks Greg ;)

The 4's have gotten me (that's the best I could come up with!)

I have been tagged by Laurie, a fellow cow lover :-)


4 jobs you have had in your life
First job was at MJDesigns (that's a craft store for all you west coasters)
Assistant Manager at Papyrus
Receptionist at Big Oil and Tire (That's how I met Cath)
The best job in the world.... MOM

4 movies you could watch over & over
Gone with the Wind
Patriot
Anne of Green Gables
A River Runs Through it

4 places you have lived
Manassas, Va
Middleburgh, Ny
Grass Valley, Ca
Ukiah, Ca

4 TV shows you love to watch
CSI - Miami
CSI - Las Vegas
NCIS
The first 3 seasons of Alias (ummm it now sucks, sucks so bad that its GONE!)

4 places you have been on vacation
Montana
Sun Valley, Id
Flordia
ummm no where else, sad huh?

4 websites you visit daily
Bloglines
Weather.com
?
?

4 of your favorite foods
My creamy Chicken enchiladas
Rouladen
Reeces Peanut Butter Cups
Taco Bella Crunch Wrap Supreme (and me wanting to loose 10 pounds!)

4 places you would rather be right now
Gainesville, Fl visiting my sister
Filati's
St. Joseph, Missouri doing some genealogy research
Upstate New York doing some genealogy research

4 bloggers you are tagging
Cath
Birdsong
Heather
Mini

That's my Brother!!!

Check out the review of the restaurant that my brother works at.

Escabar

My big brother, Jeff Johnson, is the executive chef. I am so proud of him! He is an awesome chef, all the dishes are his original recipes....I just wish I wasn't 3000 miles away, I would like to EAT some of his cooking!

So if any of you are in the Richmond, VA area make sure you check Escabar out!

Oh and the laundry room smell....it's going away. The floor is not carpet thank goodness, but I did find cat urine sprayed on the wall..... I cleaned it off, and then took a shower. GROSS!

Yes I am alive....

Moving during the holidays is hard...moving anytime is hard. I am exhausted from all of it. First moving into a 2 bedroom corporate apartment....let me tell you that moving from a 3000 sq ft home into a not even 1000 sq ft apartment brings a whole new meaning to the words "close family". The apartment was nice but I am happy to be in a bigger space and to be with my "things" again. Can you believe that I had to put my YARN in storage!!!!

But now we are in our new home. The ex cat ladies home. The lady before us had 8 cats...8. Can you say STINKY? I am positive that she had the litter pans in the laundry room because it still smells like cat pee in there. I have vacuumed and scrubbed this whole house to get the smell out. I should buy stock in Febreeze..and that baking soda carpet deodorizer! So now you can walk in without wondering what that smell is....just don't open the laundry room door.

Christmas was great this year. It was the first year that Katie really got into it. All the kids had a blast and we spent the day having a great dinner at my parents.

My birthday was last Sunday. My parents and my in laws were the only ones to get me a gift....or a card. I'll not say anymore on that....(yup Greg is in trouble)

Other than that I haven't been doing much. I haven't had much time to knit. After unpacking all day and getting the house set, I am so tired I could sleep where I sit. Soon things will be better.

I did finish the Koigu pattern and start another sock....pictures when I find the camera!

Knitting? Do I talk about knitting?

Ok, I'll start this post off with a little knitting content......

My SP6 sent me a wonderful gift a few weeks back and I never did take pictures....now the chocolate and cookies are gone but I do have some pictures of the book she sent me. Also of the book that I bought with the gift certificate that she sent me.

She sent me the Handy book of Sweater patterns, and I bought Knitting on the Road with the certificate that she gave me....I love these books!



My Sp5 was great and my SP6 has been wonderful too but I am not going to do anymore SPs....go read the SP6 blog, it's gotten nasty and that's not what it is about.

Not much actual knitting has been taking place. I was making a scarf for a retirement party but I frogged it. I HATE the yarn that I was using. Debbie Bliss Cotton Silk Aran. Not a fun yarn. It hurts my hands and splits like crazy. I ordered some of Elann's new silk and wool to make it instead. The party was last night so the scarf will be late....(more on the party later)

In knitting related news......

Carola, the sweetest woman on earth and a sock knitter extraordanaire, sent me a package from Iceland. ICELAND!!! How cool is that? (no pun intended) She sent a cow purse, a puzzle, some beautiful yellow sock wool, and candy. The candy is not in the picture. I mean come on...Icelandic candy....candy from Iceland....between the kids, Greg and I, it wasn't around too long! As you can see the puzzle was a big hit. Katie LOVES puzzles. She thinks the cow purse is hers....ummmmmm cows are MINE! She said that it could be mine but I have to let her play with it. I can handle that deal.

Ok knitting talk is over, feel free to stop reading.

Anyone left?

I HATE THIS MOVING CRAP! The moving itself isn't so bad. Greg's company pays for movers to come, pack us up and move us. It's the being away from him that sucks. I am so isolated as it is, and my outlet was when he came home each night, now I don't even have that. Good thing he's the boss since I call him at work 50 times a day! Looks like we won't be in a new house until January. I think that in a week or so we will move into corporate housing until we can move in. I haven't been to look at the corporate housing but the pictures on the internet look nice. It's a 3 bedroom furnished apartment. I think I can handle that for a few weeks. By Tuesday I'll know more.

One good thing that happened is Greg and I went to a grown up party last night. We took the kids to my parents and then headed to Reno. Greg's boss is retiring and they had a party at the Atlantis. We even stayed the night. The first time we have left all three kiddo's all night. It was GREAT! I'm ready to do it again. Note to self: Next time if I am still breastfeeding James, BRING THE PUMP! All I can say is OUCH.

And just for Catherine, here are the Turkey's that came to visit me the other day. I was on the phone with her, I look up and this is what I see! We've seen Mountain Lions, Deer, Partridge, and now Turkey's back there. Our very own wildlife viewing area!

Ok got to go get in some cuddling time with Greg. He's off for another week on Monday.....this really sucks.


One more thing, coming back from Reno, my ears "popped" because of the altitude. One cleared and the other one is STILL plugged. Any suggestions so that I can have my hearing back?

When it rains it pours!

I have a crappy knitting blog.....I never talk about knitting!

Anyway my darling husband got a promotion and we are moving..MOVING! I am happy to be getting closer to civilization but the stress of moving I could do without. Greg starts at the new store on Monday...and I will be left here alone with the children. THAT is going to be the hard part. I have to explain to the kids that Dad will be gone all week, we will see him for about a day and a half and then he must go back.

Then there is the looking for a house to rent. Right now isn't a good time for us to buy so it's renting again. I don't really mind that....it's the weeding through the bad places to find one that we want to live in.

For you local readers (who am I kidding, there is no one Local to me) we are moving down to Pollock Pines. Could be bad....I now can drive to my favorite yarn store anytime I want. Good thing that Dh got a big raise :-)

I PROMISE to take pictures of my knitting and post tomorrow. It maybe the last time I have to update in a while.....or maybe I will be updating more since I will need contact with adults and the outside world!

Why I have had no time to knit....

....or do anything else. Can you STAND the cuteness?



A real post tomorrow!

Happy Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Make sure you take some time today to think of all the sacrifices that the men and women, past and present, of our military have made for us. I know that itÂ’s just a three day weekend to most, but it really is so much more.

So happy Veterans Day to my Father, all but one of my UncleÂ’s, and to my Brother in Law who is currently special forces. IÂ’m proud to call you family.

I have been tagged by Jennifer for a meme so here it goes:

What is your all-tifavoriteite yarn to knit with? That is hard....I really like Lornas Lace and Koigu.

Yofavoriteite needles? I really like Bamboo but I did get a pair of Addi's for the last shawl I did and fell in love with them.

The worst thing you've ever knit? So far it's been Ben's sweater.... but after I rip out the neckline it won't be so bad.

Yofavoriteite knit pattern? I really liked the Leaf Lace Shawl and the Waving Lace socks that I did for my Sockapaloza pal.

Most valuable knitting technique? lol The knit stitch???

Best knit book or magazine? I really don't have too many knitting books. I love the book that my SP just sent me.....The Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. (Bad me, I have to blog my thank you to her)

Yofavoriteite knitalong? The Sockapaloza one that Alison just did. It's the first one that I finished!

Yofavoriteite knitblogs? Humm I like them all..... I read Catherine, Sockbug, Cara, Birdsong, Heather, Chris and MJ first.......but I have hundreds on my bloglines that I try to read when I have time.

Your favourite knitwear designer? I love the Debbie Bliss designs, classic and beautiful.

The knit item you wear the most? My Koigu socks..... (shhhh I didn't knit them, my Mom did )

Who to tag? Cath, Birdsong, and you :-)


I am making some felted ballerina slippers for Katie. I have one done and thought I could finish the other tonight....but I can't. I must go to bed. DH has commandeered the TV and I do NOT want to watch war movies. So once I am finished with this, I may just go read a book in bed!

Christmas Knitting….Christmas Mice and Christmas Balls?

Christmas is staring me in the face. I have so much I want to knit for Christmas presents, just thinking about it makes me tired. I have started the Koigu Patches of Berries scarf for my Mom and I have started one Liesel scarf. I plan on making 3 of them for various people. I thought I would have a lot of trouble with the Koigu pattern. It is very poorly written but it only took me a couple of minutes of looking at the chart to figure it out. I haven’t had to rip any out yet so I guess I am in the right track!

Patches Of Berries Leisel

I am using koigu #111 for the POBS. This is the first time I have knit with it and I love it. I can’t wait to make myself a pair of socks with it. I am using Karabella Aurora 8 for the scarf. This is great yarn. I love it! It’s my new favorite yarn. One day I would love to make myself a sweater out of it.


Sorry for the bad pictures. It’s raining so I have no natural light. Maybe that’s why I am so tired. I really could lie down and take a nap. And that’s saying something since I never nap, even if I have the opportunity.

I also finished up the front of Ben’s sweater. I will not be posting a picture of that disaster. One shoulder is about an inch longer than the other. That’s in my to be ripped out pile.

I think I will cast on for my Father in Law’s second sock tomorrow. I have to take my darling hubby to the doc for minor surgery. He is getting the big snip. Oh wouldn’t he love it if he knew I was telling the blogging world about that. I am not sure how I fell about this. I was the one that made the appointment and told him it was time but it seems so final. But really, we have 3 children, Greg is in his 40’s, I am violently ill while pregnant, and I am fertile myrtle. All signs are saying that this should be done. It’s just emotional for me. I may be crying in the waiting room tomorrow. Someone tell me I am not crazy :-)


You know it always seems like there is something wrong with this house. Either the roof is leaking, we have termites, the toilet breaks…..I could so on and on. Well we have a new problem. I brought up a box of Halloween items from the basement the other day and what was in the bottom? MICE DROOPINGS! Great. I know it’s common but mice…in the house…well not in the house but the basement is close enough for me. Thank goodness for the Clark man. He will be here on Friday to take care of the problem.

So now I have to go strip sheets and do laundry. Mom and Dad will be here tonight and I have to at least make the house look like I tried to clean it :-)

~Edited to add that surgery went well. I didn't cry......yet. I now have 4 children to take care of for the next few days :-)~

Hey Moneybags.......

I'm worn out. Why do little boys have to be such little boys? The local ER has become on a first name basis with us this past week. One week ago tonight my darling 2 and a half year old was playing with some pennies. Pennies you ask? Why was a 2 year old playing with coins? Let's just say that an adult that lives here (there are 2 that live here, and I am NOT talking about me) let him play with them. Minutes later there was one less penny. Where did it go? DOWN HIS THROAT. He was fine but I was sure upset. After a call to the hospital Daddy and Ben left.

Hours later they were back. Ben was sleepy (it was 10:30pm) and Dad was a wreak. They did x-rays and saw that it was in his stomach, a good sign. The next day he was fine. Daddy just has the fun job of checking if the penny was out. Thursday was more x-rays to see the progress. It had moved into the colon but wasn't progressing as rapidly as they thought it should. They prepared us for the worst.... a colonoscopy on a 2 YEAR OLD!

Fast forward to Saturday night. Ben jumps off the couch and splits his eyelid. No ER visit, just some TLC from mom and he was ok. Sunday morning however TLC wasn't enough.

I was blowdrying my hair and in walks in covered in blood. He had cracked his nose on the hearth...the stone hearth. I thought that it might be broken because of the swelling, and the fact that it wouldn't stop bleeding. So back to the ER we went. No broken nose. It's just bruised and swollen still today.

But the good news...Ben made change! Thank goodness. Now if I can only get him to give 100.00's we'd be all set!

Knitting tomorrow I promise. I've gotten a lot done...I've been a bit worried about Ben ad the knitting helps. :-)

It's Done......

My Leaf Lace Shawl is finished. I made it a bit smaller by taking out one pattern repeat. I will be making this again. I think one in a lace weight would be very nice.

Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl by Fiber Trends

Yarn: Lornas Lace Shepard Sock in Tuscany

Needles: Addi size 5, 24 inch

Here it is all streched out. It hasn't been blocked yet, I am having it done by the owner of Filatis so that it will be perfect. I really think that Greg's Grandmother will like this.

I am waiting on yarn to start 2 Liesel scarves for presents too. I picked out Aurora 8 and Blue Sky Alpaca, Silk and Alpaca both in a plum color. I ordered it from Knit Happens on Wed so it should be here next week. In the mean time I am working on the Irish Hiking Scarf. My needle exchange pal sent me Britney Cable needles and I LOVE them. I have been wanting them for so long, I just never think to buy them when I am in a yarn shop.

Speaking of my Needle Exchange Pal.....it was Cyn of I Hate Waiting. She sent me a pair of size 6 Britney Birch needles, Cable needles, a package of yarn bras, (I love the name too), and a beautiful candle. I didn't take a picture so I'll have to gather everything up and take a picture tonight. Thanks so much Cyn!

Things are starting to feel like fall and winter here. Right up to the COLD that I got. It's the strangest cold ever. In the evening I start to feel stuffy and my throat gets scratchy, I wake up at night to blow my nose....then around 9am I feel all better. So very strange. The sad part is that James got it too. I hate when babies are sick. Katie and Ben had a touch of it and are all well and of course Greg didn't get sick at all.

We are off to the Sacramento area tomorrow to head to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm. The kids should have a great time!!

An Almost FO

I thought I would have a picture of my finished Leaf Lace Shawl but no. Just before I started the edging I took it off the needles to see how big it would be....I thought it was a little small. So I put it back on the needles and did one more pattern repeat. I started the edging last night. My goal is to have it done by Monday. My parents are coming up tomorrow and if it's done than Mom can take it back to the shop where the owner will block it.

It is supposed to be a Christmas present for Greg's grandmother but I think I will send it to her when it's finished. I think she will get some use out of it before winter since Montana has already had snow!!!

I'll be glad once the shawl is finished....then I can move on to more Christmas knitting. My plan is to make something for my Mom, my Sister, and if I can squeeze it out, something for Greg's two sisters. I have decided on the Patches of Berries Scarf from Koigu for Mom. I have heard awful things about this pattern and haven't found anyone who had done it yet. So we will see if I can do it. I ordered the Koigu from Patternworks and boy it sure takes a long time to get here! That will be the next thing on the needles.

I have been wanting to make the "Friday Harbor Socks" from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road. I fell in love with them on Jackie's blog. Maybe in the new year I will knit something for myself. Of course I have to get the book first.

I have joined Lolly's Socktoberfest since I am knitting mates for two socks this month. Should be a fun knit a long.

Well, long entry and no pictures. I'll have to post more today. I have to show off my needle exchange gift..and tell you about the swap I started!