...Cheeckan Good...

Today we had oatmeal again, the kids love it, and I didn't over salt this time so things were good. The monkeys played their hearts out this morning and all laid down for naps at their regular times, it was great. I cleaned up my desk and the kitchen (some more) and started another holiday gift. This one is the scarf for my Gran, I wanted to get it started and the pattern figured out so I could have it as a take along knit. And if I don't think it's long enough, I found some places that sell the yarn and colorway.

For dinner the kids and I had chicken pre stuffed with wild rice stuffing, white rice (there wasn't a ton of stuffing and the kids aren't big fans of it either) and mixed veggies. Se's teeth were hurting so bad he didn't want to eat dinner, so he ended up with baby food, he was hungry, he just didn't want the dinner I made.

Before dinner and after naps, Courtney stopped by again with her Peanut, and the babes had a bawl playing and running around. I showed Courtney the wonders of Ravelry and we talked about some books we both like. Good times, I love it when people visit, it's a definite sanity break.

T is home from hunting, no deer yet. Hope he gets some soon. I missed him and so did the kids, Ju even told him so on her own. She's such a smart girl, I sure do love those kids. And I love T, too.

Not much knitting got done but if you look to your right side of the screen, you will see I've added a new section called Patterns. These are patterns I've created that you all can share, just don't claim them as your own, Thanks.

Of course, it would help if I knew how to add pdf files. Anyone??


ETA: Figured it out, googled it and found the answer I was looking for. :D

Monkey Movie Mania ....

The children have learned the wonder of TV, quite well, it's a treat when they are being good. And daddy bought them and me Shrek 3, so they are very excited to see it tomorrow. We've been on a Shrek kick lately and it's been driving me a bit batty watching the same two movies over and over the last few weeks. It will be nice to add to the repertoire.

While watching Kitchen Nightmares this evening I made a knitted version of one of these, I plan to felt it soon and than we'll know if it works. I didn't have any elastic so I'm going to add that afterwards, and I didn't do any beads because I don't have any, It's something I'll have to look into.

I still need to get some pics of my new Calorimetry to show you all. And I need to download my pics of T's new hat on to Flickr! for Ravelry, and so I can post it here. I may end up felting the Calorimetry a little because it still seems too big even on Size 5 US needles. Do any of you know if the stretch will still sort of be there if I only felt it a little?

I have at the very least 1 large pan of lasagna to bake tomorrow and possibly my version of a pot pie for dinner tomorrow, we'll see how things work out. I also realized I need to at the very least scan if not type up some of my favorite recipes in case I lose them. My meatloaf recipe is missing and I thought I had lost my lasagna recipe, so it may not be a bad idea.

Well not much to talk about, I worked on my Nov Mystery Socks some more today and I'm hoping I've got them all figured out, 3.25 repeats on one sock to go and 3.6 repeats on the other one. More tomorrow and hopefully some pics.

Another late night talk with me...

So I'm definately on a late night strike, I just seem to have trouble sleeping lately, don't know if it's the moon or my coming period or just day to day craziness but it helped get some knitting done tonight.

I worked on my Nov Mystery Socks, both cuffs are done and the first row of the second clue (leg of the sock), I plan to work on the pattern tomorrow, doing one repeat on one sock and than doing the same to the other. I'm now knitting them both on separate magic loop needles, I did the cuff on dpns. I'm loving the look of this pattern and can't wait to get them done so I can wear them. This is great fun, and my first time hopefully finishing a pair for the sock-a-long.

I also want to make myself a couple of sets of these. They are so cool, I just need to figure out a knitted version, but it shouldn't be too tough. I have some ideas I'm going to try out real soon.

I was also surfing the web and found some really neat needle holders and thought, I could make those, shoot I have a bunch of fat quarters I originally was going to make into a quilt that would work great. Now I just need to do it. I also found these really cool dpn holders that I'm now going to have to sew up.

Well off to bed I go, see you all tomorrow.

PS I officially finished my Calorimetry, I sewed on the button today.

Free Rice....

For Each word you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice to those in need, to end world hunger.

It's kind of fun and you get to help someone out, how cool is that.

I finished the fingerless mitts for my friend last night and woven in the ends today. I'll take pictures and post them soon. The yarn was a lot like a pencil roving, I could probably buy a ball and re-spin it. It actually split on me near the end, it pulled apart just like roving. You know now that I think about it, I may just do that.

I'm now in the process of deciding what to go forward with next.

• Fetching or similar for my mom
• Mystery socks for me
• Socks for m-i-l
• Calorimetry for me
• Calorimetry Repurposed for T in orange
• Tam for my mom
• Lace Scarf for my mom
• Cabled Scarf for Gran
• Scarves for Tweedels (Ro and Ra)
• Socks for Hubby
• Something for f-i-l
• Tie for my dad
• Itty-Bitty-Bears for the kids
• Shawl for sis

Most of this I would like to do before Xmas but I'm in serious doubt, for one I'm not working on the shawl until after the holidays. The socks for hubby are unlikely as well. Mom's scarf will be after I do the mitts and hat, for sure, and that leaves still a whole lot to do.

I guess that means I should get my butt (hands) knitting, and this will really be fun when I go to the dentist after Thanksgiving, yippie.

I'm alive and I have FOs

Okay, I'm still not quite up to par from the weekend but I'm alive and "well". I've been pretty busy with Ren faire and family life. I've got two finished objects for you so hopefully that will appease the need for a long blog, I'm too tired to write too much, sorry.

Pattern: Fetching
Source: Knitty
Materials: Knit Picks Andean Silk | 55% Super Fine Alpaca, 23% Silk, 22% Merino Wool
Source: Purchased for this Purpose
Color: Pitch | Color Number: 23516 | Lot Number: 1491
Needles: US 6 (4.00 mm)( Knitpicks 24" Options circulars)
Started: September 17, 2007 (?) | Finished: September 21, 2007

These were gifted to my boss at the Renaissance Faire, Slugger.

Pattern: Tessellating Lace Socks
Source: Test Knit for someone from Ravelry
Materials: Knit Picks Essential Tweed | 65% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon, 10% Donegal
Source: Stash
Color: Flint | Color Number: 23861 | Lot Number: 4470
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)( Knitpicks 32" Fixed circulars)
Started: July 26, 2007 | Finished: October 3, 2007

These will be a gift for the Holidays to come.

I GOT IT....

Yea!!! for me. I've tried 3 times to get this and the 3rd was the charm. Yip, Yip, Yippee!!!

I also ordered folk socks and twisted sisters sock workbook last week I think?? :D

Poll for you all.

I just purchased three balls of Bernat Felting Natural Wool in English Rose. Now if you knew my Gran you would see this yarn and say that it was her exactly. The few issues are that there is only 84 yards/77 meters per 75 g/ 2.6 oz and I have only three. She is a fairly tall woman and she is English so I want something with lots of English taste. What would be the best pattern for this type of yarn? Would a simple cable look nicer than a lace or vice versa?

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks for your vote.

Friday, Saturday, shopping, accosted

So we've been having a busy weekend and it's only half over. My hubby took Friday off so week could work on the house and we actually did. We painted trim, the corners in the 2nd kids room and worked on some garden stuff. Ju got some peat moss in her eye and had to be coddled for half the day, I can understand the hurt but she would giggle and then all of a sudden if you wanted her to do something, scream, cry, whine, grr. Anywho, then Jacque and Rachel came over, we did dinner and burned things (I just found out today we probably shouldn't have because of the dryness but we had a hose right there and watered around our off the ground fire pit). Then T got a call from his cousin Bill and he and Jacque went out to the "metropolis" of Hammond and had a few down at the bar.

Today, we slept in, or I should say T did and I attempted and failed. I messed around with the kids. T got up helped a little and than off to Menards/Fleet Farm again for things he forgot the day before, and he still forgot some things I picked up late tonight (or should I say yesterday since its past midnight, nah haven't been to bed yet still Saturday in my head). T cut some trim to put in the room only to not have enough painted and/or painted properly, argh. I did some grocery shopping in the town over, came home, had to run back I had forgotten the charcoal for the grill. Came back home again and made my first batch of potato salad, and if I don't say so myself, it wasn't too bad. The potatoes were a little over done, but what can I say, I kept getting distracted by children. After dinner we played outside for a bit to really wear the kids out and Ju got to watch the end of Godzilla, she told Matthew Broderick's character to stay away from Godzilla, I believe her words were, "Get back", I'll have to ask T. Super Cute, she is talking so much now. When she was done with that she gave kisses and went to bed, I don't know what T did because I left.

I got to leave the house by myself. I know you may need to sit down after that one. I ran over to Woodbury, near where I go for knit night on Thursdays, I went to see if the new yarn shop was open but it wasn't and then I went to Borders to drool all over books. I purchased Knitting Vintage Socks for myself, The Knitter's Companion for my sister as a going away gift (more about that in a minute), a book for Ju and the crew on words, definitions, and pictures all together, and a couple blank books. Then one round on the sock since I'm a putz and had spent all my time debating what book to buy since the ones I really wanted weren't there. Over heard some crazy discussions while knitting said round. It went something like this:

Bleached Blonde High Schooler (BBHS): "I just realized the other day that I'm not the center of the universe." [this is to her friend]

Some other rather load chatter from across the room and just so you all know I was completely across the cafe when she was speaking of this.

Up stands two cute young girls to leave (not the two HS that are talking). One leaves, the other gets up to go talk to BBHS, we'll call her Super Christian Girl (SCG).

SCG: "Hi, I'm ___ I just wanted to ask you, are you Christian. Because I saw you smile at me when I walked in and just new that you were."

BBHS: "Yes" and than she gets really quiet and I can't really hear the conversation, which is fine with me. I know it was something about school, church, and names but other than that just garble.

SCG leaves, I smile nicely when she makes eye contact, out stage left/front of the store.

BBHS and friend get up and talk about what just happened giggling.

I get up to wrap said sister's gift, I was thinking of doing this while they chatted.

I'm wrapping, thinking I'm free and clear, when SCG and friend come back in to ask who, ME.

SCG: "Are you Christian?" blah blah (something else can't quite remember)

Me: "Nope, I was when I was younger though" (Dumbass shut up, this is to myself)

SCG: "What were you?"

Me: "Lutheran but I don't do Church anymore"

SCG: "Oh, I was Lutheran but now I'm Episcopalian" then something about going to her church and my interest, I'm not listening very well because I'm trying to find an out.

Me: "No thanks, I don't think so"

SCG: "Oh, well I'll pray for you"

Me: "Uh, thanks." (thought, yeah um just don't, too polite to say that)

SCG and friend really leave and I damn near run to the car so I'm not accosted again.

Now don't get me wrong, you believe what ever you want to believe, but I don't want to know. I keep mine to me and you keep yours to you and we'll be great, shoot I'm not even going to say what my beliefs are here because none of you probably care and I'd rather talk about knitting but I need to get this off my chest. Oye friggin' vay. I just seem to attract the extremes of a crowd, this isn't my first time someone has tried to get me to go to church, and when in the hell did smiling start equaling being Christian, I mean really can't I just be nice. I don't get it. And it isn't just Christians other religious groups and even political groups have tried to sway me, I guess I'm just too stubborn.

After Borders I did a quick run to Walley World and then came home, I really dislike it when the move things around, you can't just get in and out quickly, you have to search. And Borders and Walley World moved things around on me, grrr.

Anywho, tomorrow's another busy one, I'm supposed to get to sleep in, we'll see. Then T goes to do his working out and than off to my 'rents for a going away party for the sis. I can't believe it but I'm going to kind of miss her, especially the free babysitting :D.

Chat with you later, oh and I may be adding a pic link thing to my sidebar with the books on knitting I own and/or would like to own.

So, it was an okay weekend,

T never told me about the bbq his sis and hubby were having so that was cranky making, but other wise the weekend was relatively good. I got 4 skeins of some Norwegian wool (at least I think that's what the sign said there's no band) it's supposed to be great for felting, and for $3.50 each you really can beat it. A ball of Sockotta in a very strange color. A tea cozy pattern and the felted clogs, the copy didn't copy well. I also got a free pattern for a rug. I then went to Ikea and spent way too much on little crap that wasn't necessarily needed but would be useful. I did all this with my sister and than my sister, my mom, my sis's future m-i-l and s-i-l all met up at the Mall of America and we did a little shopping on the first level, ate dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and my mom got me a new pair of cross trainers for working out. We then had to haul ass cause my sister had another engagement and was going to be late. So my mom rode home with me so I could get gas and not worry about the monkeys. T got home late (2 am) and chattered my ear off trying to tell me all that happened with the sca fighting, I hadn't been able to sleep until he got home and then he wouldn't let me finally go to sleep, but I love him. On Sunday we went to Teri's for some hanging out and picking up of the Ju, we had some bbq chicken and potato salad, did some general just moving and picking up of things and played two hands of double cribbage (we're tied). Other than that, not much happened.

I'm going to a sheep sheering festival mothers day weekend Sunday and I'm way excited, there is to be tons of vendors and lots for kids to see. And T is going with me. Yea! :D

Books & Sew

So I ordered some books on Amazon the other day, I'm very excited to get them. Of course two aren't published yet, but hey what can ya do. Amazon says I won't receive any of them until April and that sucks. Now I need to get some sewing done.

Yarn and Magazine

It's a good day when you get yarn and a knitting magazine in the mail. I also feel better :D Time to peruse, and fondle new yarn.