Glorious Chocolate!

Just look at what my Chocolate-Swap pal sent:
this box looks different now.

That's a skein of 100% Merino sock yarn from Fleece Artist (if you click on that link expect to be mesmerized by the beauty of the fiber there) and absolutely scrumptiously elegant chocolates from Ethel's Chocolate Lounge in Chicago....(road trip ... road trip!!!) In addition to what's in the box, she sent a bar of Rasberry Creme in Dark Chocolate.... oh my...:) I'm thinking...hot tub on cool autumn night (as much autumn as it gets in Sept in Calif.) glass of red wine and ....smooth dark chocolate....yikes!!!!

I think I'll be forever ruined by my pals....Rachel from sp8 sent some cute little bars of very fancy bavarian dark chocolate... I have never .... ever .... tasted such smooth yummy chocolate! Holy Crap!!! Like I said, I'm ruined. And then..... I opened this box from Susan....equally smooth....equally fancy and yummy .... Ruined...just Ruined! (Thanks ladies!!!!)

I was thinking about lunch but I think I'll just eat chocolate!!!!
THANK YOU SUSAN!!!! You Rock!

Life Before the K-Word

Does anyone remember what I used to do online B.K. (before knitting)? I vaguely remember a time when I had other things to look at online...but I can't remember what they would have been. Medical sites ok...yeah...e-mail...yeah... but what else? Seems like pretty much all I look at now are my blog, my friends blogs my sister's blog, yarnharlots blog...hmmm sp9 & chocolate swap blogs. Yeah that's about it. yikes.

I'm sitting here waiting for the guy to get here to replace the springs above my garage door. A word of advice my friends....when the first spring breaks (don't ask me how this happens those are dang big springs)....replace it....replace it when you notice that your door opener is complaining, (and it will). Don't wait for years....making it open with just one spring...because eventually...that spring will break too. OH and don't think that when that happens...you'll just open it the old fashioned way....you can only do that when both springs are intact. Just trust me on that. (Unless you have the incredible hulk or some other hulk with superhuman strength lurking nearby)

Yes here I am at the computer.... when I should be crossing things off this list (only after they're completed of course):
1. clean off back patio
2. buy a new wheel barrow
3. use the new wheel barrow to haul dirt from side of house to front planter
4. plant new plants in front planter before they too die like the many others that have been
purchased before them.
or
5. do the many projects you have lined up to do inside the house....like
5a. paint the bathroom
5b. paint the bedroom
5c. paint the spare room
5d. finish painting the kitchen ceiling after replacing kitchen light fixtures
5e. replace the kitchen light fixtures....

or better yet....knit or sew! Now see that's how my lists stay so long.

Life is short.....work hard, play hard! Have a great weekend!

The Happy Box!!!!

Yay....The Happy Box arrived today from Rachel (sp8). I love it, love it, love it!!!! Look:

It was packed full of Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn in 9 colors...yep NINE yikes Rachel!!!! :) And... A pattern for soap sacks and doily shaped washrags for the stork yarn she already sent me...and she already sent me the ballband dishcloth pattern to use for this yarn!!!!

In the can on the left...I is all the fixins for a plant...I love it! In the two little boxes next to it... mmmmmmchocolate!!! There's a tube of lotion and a little bar of soap in the same flavor....and just behind the boxes of chocolate...a very cute little mirror with a pic of a girl standing in front of a big flower... so cute!!!!

And the bumper stickers... Bella's gentlman's club ahahaha.) I'm pretty positive she picked up on her trek across country with her husband, baby son and their puppy dog!!!! (Very brave woman!) Check out her blog for all the details of that trip!

Thanks Rachel!!!! You've been a great pal... I AM SPOILED!!!!

Also....GOOD NEWS ..... I heard from DS tonight.... he's been on a strike team on the fire in Ventura County....sounds like he will probably be on his way home tomorrow..... all in one piece...so far so good!!! YAY!

My friend Julie came over tonight to finish up her soon to be born first grandchild's little hat. She did a great job, it's so cute.....Julie you need to post a picture of that on your blog! And she started some cute little booties that look like ugs.

I've been working on a few scarves...and a few Christmas presents....I'll try to post a few pics this weekend...

One more thing....Check out the Yarn Harlot's blog....she's got a link to a great little cartoon/video...it's pretty cute!

Have a great weekend everybody!

What a weekend!!!!

It was a working weekend around this place and I'm pooped!!!! I spent most of the day Saturday doing yardwork....mowing, trimming, weeding....drained the hot tub .... walked my son's dog....knitted all evening with my sis and niece Lindsay. Then I got up this morning and started in the house...yikes... where does the dust come from??? Does anybody know? I cleaned all day....you'd think it was spring or something. Then I had to finish with the hot tub, clean it, fill it... Then, I invited my brother over for dinner, so we barbecued moose and tri-tip cabobs, fresh pineapple yummmm. And did I mention the laundry?! I'm thinking all this cleaning should grant me a fair amount of knitting time this week!!! Yay!!!

Hope you all had a more relaxing weekend! ta ta.

Chocolate Swap....yummmm

Ok, so first of all the Chocolate Swap has started....yay!!!! My pal is Susan! Susan is from Chicago! Hi Susan!!

So my plan was to go shopping tomorrow for .... chocolate and all things chocolate...but it turns out I will be working tomorrow instead....but Wednesday....Wednesday is wide open.... woohoo!!

The questions

Do you like to eat chocolate cookies and what kind do you like?
I like chocolate chip cookies or white chocolate/macadamia nut cookies....oh yum!!! (But I'm not all that fond of cookies made from a chocolate dough)
What kind of chocolate do you like?
hmmm I like milk chocolate the most...and then white and I don't care much for dark chocolate (but if it's the only chocolate around...oh I'll eat it!)
Milk, white, dark.What are your favorite brands of chocolate?
I don't think I'm a brand snob when it comes to chocolate...except for the cheap stuff that leaves a waxy coating in your mouth...that just takes all the fun out of chocolate ya know?
Do you enjoy chocolate covered candies, pretzels, fruits, coffee beans, cream filled, caramel, nuts etc? I think I like most things covered in chocolate!!! I love those chocolate covered dried fruits and I'm a nuts and chews kinda girl.
Do you like fudge with nuts or without? With please :)
Do you like solid chocolate bars with or without nuts? With but again.....not that picky.
Do you like hot coco mixes? Yes uh huh....I sure do.
Is their any particular chocolate treat that you would love to try? Hmmmmm is there some secret kinda chocolate out there that I haven't tried???? Cause if there is...well then hand if over!!!!
Do you have any food allergies that your pal should be aware of? No....not a problem
What kind of yarn do you prefer?cotton, wool, mohair etc.? Yes... I like all of those... not all that fond of Acrylic...but I have to say I've seen some very nice acrylic blends...those are fine.
Do you have any fiber allergies that your pal must be aware of? Uh...Nope don't think so.
What small knitted items do you prefer to knit?Socks, scarves, hats, mittens etc. I haven't tried mittens or gloves yet but plan to soon....I do knit socks (love it) and scarves and hats!!!

On another note....I'm feeling much better now.... I'm sure Susan will be happy to know that I'm over my cold before I shop for her chocolate!!! hahaha I'm over it I promise!!!

Ok gotta go...prison break is on soon.... I love that show!!!

Just a heads up....

Look out my friends...take your vitamins, get your rest, try some Airborne, and WASH YOUR HANDS!!! There's a cold going around and it's a doozy! I've been home for two days, have to go back to work in the morning and am not looking forward to that! Snot, Fevers, Aches...just plain yuck! I haven't even felt that much like knitting...hard to believe I know! But I have "forced" myself to knit a little. I've been working on the Enterlac Danika Scarf, see:


I like it...it's cool, but I'm ready to move on...or... I'm just ready to feel like movin on again :).
I spent part of my morning watching online clips of the Stuart skits from mad tv. See, I've lost my mind!

Wash your hands and hope you don't get it! Gotta go...fever breaking...sweating...gross!!!!!

In the Light of Day

Funny how some things just look better in daylight. Yesterday the lovely Heatherly taught me how to do the Enterlac Danika scarf. I'm using some silk garden that I had (though I am a skein short I think) and after working on it awhile last night, I just wasn't all that excited about it. I love the pattern, and of course with Heather's instruction it's working up nicely, but I just wanted to see more in the way of color change (aka: instant gratification). However....in the daylight.... I really like what I see:


Of course after it's blocked it will lay a little flatter, and the edges will be straight....I hope :) It is a fun pattern! Pattern: Enterlac Danika Scarf
Needles: size 7 Addi circulars (worked like straights)
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden (should take about 2 1/2 skeins without fringe)

off to finish yardwork so I can watch movies and knit later!!!! Happy Sunday!

if at first you don't succeed....

Thought I'd try to post the pics again...don't know what the problem was the other day but I couldn't get all of my pictures to post.
This is a picture of the town of Anacortes on Fildalgo Island, which is where I stayed last weekend. (see previous post for details if you're really bored or suffer from insomnia)


And this...is the other side of the island Beautiful isn't it? They tell me Anacortes is known for being an island with an island and here it is.



I'm all signed up for SP9, and I also signed up for a chocolate swap!!! yep...we swap chocolate and chocolate colored yarn...yum! I'm excited for both to start....AND.... I'm really excited to learn how to knit the enterlac scarf this weekend....(less exciting will be the mopping and the mowing that is sure to be in store this weekend as well)

Have a great weekend ever-body!!!!

My Trip

Hi All! I just returned from a quick trip to the Pacific Northwest! I went to visit my friend Tina who lives in Anacortes, WA. On the plane I knitted most of this: well, from the heel flap on anyhow. And on the way home I grafted the toe and cast on sock number two!


Anacortes is a town on the island of Fildalgo which is one of the San Juan islands very near Seattle. The weather was beautiful, temps in the 70's and 80's. We spend the first day in Anacortes and a few of the little towns on Fildalgo. At the Anacortes farmers mkt I found this little steal

It's homegrown, homespun alpaca. 160yars of it! yum!! I bought it from a very nice lady who has a sheep ranch (and obviously at least one alpaca) she also had wool there but I had to show some restraint (it was still early in the shopping day!)

On Sunday we went to Seattle, I apparently am a poor planner because I didn't realize until the night before that the Harlot was in Seattle Sunday and Monday, as was I! However this trip it just had to be enough to be in the same city....I'm working on my friend but she isn't quite hooked on the way of the string! But....we did have fun even without the Harlot!!! Right Tina??? Tina's daughter Kirsten was with us and she did her shopping for school clothes, we looked in a lot of cute little shops with artsy stuff in them...and we ate dinner at Benihannas (I'm sure I've butchered the spelling on that) which was really fun (everyone should do this at least once). Our chef at this Japanese steak house was from Mexico City!!! Pretty funny, and he did a great job. oh dang no pics what was I thinking....he was cute and I love a spanish accent!!!We spent the night in Seattle and did more of the same on Monday. We drove back through a little town called La Conner. Very cute, if you ever find yourself on Fildalgo Island, it's a must do! Lots of cute shops, and most of their back doors open onto little deck/patios on the water! Very cool. And on Tuesday we found our way to a yarn shop in Anacortes where I made this purchase (and I just want to say that I showed great restraint here because I could have done alot more damage in the sock yarn department):

This is 60% wool, 40% recycled sari silk from Himalaya Yarn Co and is made in Nepal (though the company is in Vermont. It's called Tibet. And I did not limit myself to two skeins (175 yds each) I bought seven!! Yep, it's gonna be a sweater. Sorry the picture is blurry....it's beautiful just take my word for it!

So, we shopped by day....and in the evenings, I finished this: It's a beanie for my neice Lindsay, she'll be living in Cincinatti this winter....it's cold there.

Yarn: the new Cascade (thick and thin I can't remember the name) and Optique by Berocco

the pattern is by Mountain Colors, and the needles: cast on with 8 or 9 circ for the ribbing and then switch to 11's.

And this....I worked on some in the evening and mostly on the plane....and in the airport...did I mention 5 hour layover in SF? (with delays) I could have rented a car and driven home faster! But I couldn't knit and drive so not all was lost :)

Yarn: again Optique and HipHop both from Berocco, knit on size 15's. By the way, it's a scarf!!!

So, it was a fun trip....and productive to from a knitty standpoint!!! But now I'm home and there's work to do.

I have a few pics of Anacortes, but I 'm having trouble getting some of them to upload, I'll try again later!

Happy Hump Day everybody!

objects....finished or otherwise

I have been knitting like crazy lately....late into the night with burning eyes and cramping fingers...when I start nodding off (or Letterman ends) I figure it's time to quit and go to bed. Today I'm supposed to be taking a few hours to catch up around the house....does blogging count I wonder? Well I did need to catch it up too, so today it counts!!

I have a lot of projects I've been working on. But I realize as I type this that I can't really blog about most of them! Christmas presents. It's not that I think all of the recipients will read my blog, in fact most of them won't. But, I don't want to risk it....I mean, what if...the girlfriend looks as my blog while DS is looking over her shoulder...then, the smartypants will know a few of his presents....can't have that... I just hate when that happens. So, in order to keep the secrets of Christmas.... I must not blog about them, until after the holiday....or my will power breaks down whichever happens first!

But I can show you this: My herringbone stitch scarf in progress



Heatherly taught me this last weekend. I love it. It's a fun stitch, but it does require one to pay a little more attention than stockinette or garter stitch, it's worth it though! And ... it is really a pain to frog or tink. (but Heather... I do believe I've conquered that too!)

Alright, I just learned I'll be having company at my house tonight...so, I'd better go and use this time as it was intended for catching up the cleaning and not the blog!

ta ta.

Secret Pals

I heard from both of them tonight!!! Way cool! It's late, and I'm tired, and have to been in the office early (early for me) tomorrow so this will be short!
1. Please check out my secret pals blogs....there are links on the right hand side of this page! Cate has information on her blog about knitting for charities, so if you're interested...check it out. Sound like good causes, and nice things to do. Rachel has cool pics of her cross country trip, if for no other reason than to see the human crabs, you must click on the link to her blog too!!

2. Pics of recently finished quicky projects:


first pic: 4 seasons by King Cole 50% cotton 50% acrylic the booties pattern is from Knitter's Bible, the hat...yikes I borrowed it from a knitters blog, can't remember which one but basically, it started out like the blue one....sort of but I adapted it...quite a bit I just used their cast on number for the baby size and used their decrease instructions, the rest I winged it!

The blue beanie is definately from that knitter's blog, it turned out cute and if I can find it again I'll post it and give her credit because I think it was her design! oh and it's made from a little bit wool and a lot acrylic from plymouth...and I can't find the band!!!

All I have left to do on my purple tank top is....do one row around the bottom of reverse crochet, which is the reason I'm online...I'm supposed to be finding instructions on just how to do that!

good night all....

knitty knitty knit knit....

That's pretty much what I've been doing...(have the messy house to prove it too)! That and working...today I did get out there in the yard for a little while...but was planning to go back out and finish up this evening...that plan was foiled by my sister (who is just looking out for me :)) when she came over to hang out for a few hours to KNIT. She's finishing up her "sweater/jacket" in seed stitch...it's looking great....she's sewing side seams tonight!

I have a few finished objects to show for my wasted day.... I made a pair of booties...working on a matching hat. And last night I finished a beanie for my great nephew (3 years old) for Christmas. Yep, trying to get Christmas going and finished early!!!! (and don't I just say that every year?) I'm off to a pretty good start though... I've really done a good job of enhancing my stash with just that purpose in mine :) (that's my story and I'm stickin to it). OOH and I cast on another pair of socks from fixation in a rose colored colorway!

I'll post pics when I'm not to lazy/tired to get out the camera!

hope you all are having a great week! Knit on...

weeee're baaaack

Just got back from our quick weekend getaway....my son and I. Mendocino was wonderful as usual. Much cooler than home. (a little too cool at night ) Here's a picture of the coast near the campground where we stayed.
Looks nice and cool doesn't it?
It was a little overcast this morning...as usual, but it cleared off nicely as you can sorta see here: This is my handsome son and myself...we aren't really standing in the water. We are standing on glass beach in Fort Bragg. In between the taking of these two pics we went into the little town of Mendocino, got a yummy "organic" mocha at the local cofee shop and then walked around and browsed in the shops and galleries. I did buy a postcard and mailed it to my sp and then went to the LYS, yes there is a Mendocino Yarn Shop yay!!!! And my son was very good...he was very patient....and when I tried to get him to pick a color and yarn for a sweater...he said " mom, I'm not really a sweater guy" so, I didn't force the issue!!! He'll just have to be a beanie and slipper guy!

It was a nice road trip, it's going to be nice to sleep in my own warm bed tonight too!

on the sp front.... my sp revealed herself!!!! ThankYou Thank You Thank You Rachel!
Her blog is www.whitecowboyhats.blogspot.com she's a kick!!!

Have a good week everbody!

e-cards

My sister sent me the funniest e-card I've ever seen.... and she's sent some funny e-cards!
Check it out:
http://www.hallmark.com/ECardWeb/ECV.jsp?a=1679161972074M128001158Y

Finished Objects!

Hello my bloggy little knitters ... or is it knitty little bloggers??? uh.... as you like! As I write this... I should be mowing my lawn...and since I sat down at this computer, starbucks in hand, I've lost 4 degrees of coolness...meaning... it's now 78 degrees and it was 74 darn it...so I'd better hurry... heaven forbid I should have to work up a sweat! Have I mentioned that I bought a new lawn mower last week??? Well yes I did....not only is it rear wheel driven as in SELF PROPELLED... which is the best kinda propelled because it was killing me to propell my old mower ... but...it also is key start!! Yep, just like starting the car I love it!!! The only thing better would be if some shirtless hunk was out there mowing for me. yeah yeah, I can dream.

So, I finally finished my sleeveless sweater/tank whatever:

Pattern: Jat Top from Karabella
Yarn: Touche from Berocco
Needles: size 8 circular
fit....just right. :)
the pattern called for a higher, rolled neck
and rolled hem...but I crocheted around
neck, armholes and hem... I like it.

Next.... Socks from fixation...yes I can get two socks from one ball of fixation...they're ankle height and I knit with a little stretch in the yarn but they fit fine...they don't cut off the circulation so I'm happy! These were done on two circulars size 5 US Addis... which is the easiest kinda sock knittin ever!




what else...oooh I'm working on a baby blanket for a lady in my office who's baby girl is due in December....and it's just about done. Ran out of green yarn just short of completing this last stripe so it's a bit narrow and I haven't decided quite what to do about it....my plan was to do a white border around the whole thing anyway to increase the size just a bit...any suggestions???
Pattern: just garter stitch 8 rows of green 6 rows of white with cast on 54.
Yarn: Heaven by Plymouth
Needles: Size 13 US circulars


Did I mention I'm headed to the beautiful Mendocino Coast this weekend? Yep, leaving tomorrow to camp for the weekend with my son. We are meeting friends there, they do the ab diving thing and Sat night....yummy ab feed. I hate fish but I like abalone when it's deep fried and tastes like chicken! hahaha. We'll also visit friends that live in Fort Bragg....it's always fun... oooh oooh it's a 4 hr drive in the car visiting with my son...and knitting!! Yahoo!!

ok... I've got to get outside...or put it off til tonight perhaps...hehehehe

Have a great weekend my friends!

wow

I received TWO postcards from my pal this past week!!! The one of Utah sent from Kansas....and the second one is of the Atlantic Beach, postmarked from North Carolina! Way Cool! Thanks SP!!!! Hope you're having a great time on your trip and arrive home to some nice cool dry SF bay area weather!!!!

ps.. to my sp: I saw some fabric the other day with ice cream cones...that said I scream, you scream etc.... It made me think of you and smile!!!

post card....

Got a postcard today from my secret pal!!! It's a postcard from Green River Utah, but she sent it from....Lucas Kansas....The Garden of Eden .... oooh aaaah!

Have a safe trip home sp.....stay cool!

Not Sleet, nor Rain, nor even HEATWAVE.....

Could stop the USPS from their duties... Yay! My secret pal received her package this week....and she liked it!!!! Can't say what it is...cause that could give my secret identity away now couldn't it....or ....maybe I've already said too much!

Happy weekend everbody!

all better

Yep....at 0500 this morning, the cat proclaimed herself mostly healed and proceded to scratch and bang at my bedroom door until I got up and got her some fresh catfood! And by this afternoon she's pretty much back to her normal gait....leading me to ask myself....was she really hurting or is she a big faker!!!! Alright I'm sure she was sore but she's getting around fine now but none the less grouchy. Geez what was in that injection anyway!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

SP-- oh my gosh, no craft stores???? only walmart???? what kind of black hole did you get sucked into anyhow....you must get on a westbound freeway immediately! Travel safely!
(do you need me to overnight some yarn to you somewhere or are you well enough supplied til you get back home or at least to a decent walmart :))

knitting bags

OK FINE!!! Here's my messy pile of knitting bags. Most of my stuff stays in my constant companion bag...or a yarnshop bag while I work on it. But I have to say... I'm really loving my small project bags that my secret pal made me. That's one right there with the circles on it....it has a sock in progress in it as we speak. It's perfect to take to work. Absolutely perfect!!



My elderly lady cat has recently moved back in the house. She's always been at least and indoor outdoor cat...but for quite a while now more outdoor than in...allergies ya know. But...with all the heat we've had and her getting old old old...she's back inside. Took her to the vet yesterday and she got a rabies shot....and she's dang sore today. Anyone have a kittycat weelchair or walker? Cause she's needing one today. Did I mention how much I hate cat hair??? uh yeah.

Works been busy but mostly the fact that I've worked everyday this week...I have brain strain. Isn't that awful? I've gotten so used to my light schedule that I've turned into a princess I think. Yeesh I hate that. But the week is almost over... and I'll survive I'm quite sure hahaha. Next week, back to our normally scheduled programming!