Merry Christmas!

I'm sitting here, just finished the last Christmas scarf! It's A Wonderful Life is on. aaaah that's nice.
DS and I went to my sis's house for dinner tonight...(her homemade soup and rolls yum!) and did the gift exchange! She and her DH got me a winder and swift, and I got her a winder and talked her DH into getting her the swift....So, we literally exchanged gifts really....the same gifts pretty funny. So Long story short...we're happy knitters tonight!!!!

Tomorrow.... a nice quiet day with my son, more gifts, movies, dinner with son and brother!!!

Hope everyone else is having as nice a holiday as we are!

Happy Holidays!

dang sidebar

for some reason, my sidebar starts where mine main blog ends at the bottom of the page. I don't know why, nor do I know how to fix it. Any ideas?

on a good note, the internet and cable are back on. The company (who shall remain nameless) disconnected the wrong house....yeah.

Darned Cable Internet

So, I came home for lunch today, turned on the TV to find that my cable is all messed up. I'm hesitant to say it's "out" because, there is some semblance of some sort of signal there, but that's it...fuzzy, black, menu, no menu...what the #@$%^&*&*? I have no idea....and why are the first four symbols a link? A link to where??? Probably a link straight to hell.... don't click on it my friends don't do it!!!

Anyhow...if the cable is "out" my internet is also out. So I am right this minute sitting at Barnes and Noble (it's ok to click on this one...I think), sipping a pumpkin spice latte which will no doubt fuel my all night knitting. And, I had to PAY for internet here.... 3.95 for 2 hours!!! And it keeps disconnecting!!! Damn the cable company!!!!

Ok, I'm over it.. hehehe. I'm going home to knit!!!

OH.... and one more thing.....Please my friends... Pay a little visit to www.yarnharlot.ca and read todays blog post....don't forget your tissues.... I think Ms. Pearl-Mcphee is a wonderful person! Can you give?

Happy weekend everybody!

Busy Busy Busy

Well sorry it's been a while since I last blogged (Teri)!!! Like everybody else out there...I've been busy!!! Working, Knitting, Shopping, Playing! Yay...

THANK YOU Secret Pal!!! Today, I received an audio book from my secret pal. It's "Next" by Michael Crichton. I can't wait to get started on it...while I finish knitting Christmas presents!! Yay thanks!!!! What a great gift!

Also along the SP9 line....I sent off my pals December/Christmas package... she should get it next week....weeeeee.

And....Happy Birthday to Pseudobunny, my SP8 spoiler....watch your doorstep tomorrow! UPS Rocks, next day delivery! Of course it helps that we're in the same state!

Yesterday.... I went winetasting with a friend. We went to Amador County. Favorite of the three we visited was Montevina in/near the little town of Plymouth on Hwy 49. I highly recommend it for those of you who like wine.
Favorite Montevina Red: Barbera, no, Syrah, no Barbera, ooooh they were both really good!

Tonight...my DS came over, he helped put up my Christmas Tree and helped decorate it too. it's very cute! Thank you DS.

Hope you all are having a great week! Thirteen more days people!!! Yikes....knit away!

aaaahhh the weekend

Yay, the weekend is here! I'm trying to decide which UFO to finish first. I was going to spend Saturday morning raking leaves in my yard, but... when I got home from work tonight there was my nice nephew Jesse in my front yard, raking! Yay, I don't have to rake tomorrow... So.... I'll be knitting, and Christmas shopping, but mostly knitting.

I have two scarves to finish, slippers to felt, an afghan to finish, a sock in progress, oh... and a sweater to finish, and another pair of socks to start and finish. hmmm think I'll finish all that this weekend???? Me either. But....that's ok.

Home Sweet Home

I'm baaaack! Took a quick trip to northern Idaho to see the folks for Thanksgiving. Up on Tuesday home today! It's always frickin cold up there... snowed a little everyday....pretty but cold. Anyhoooo.... good to be home! Here's a pic of what it looks like where they live.

This picture was taken from inside the house and looks out past the back deck, there is actually a huge snow covered mountain past the trees here...but I was too lazy (and warm) to go out into the cold to get a better picture sorry!



Oh wait...found this in my picture folder from a few years ago.... same view, better pic...

And these pics are just a little way down the road from where my folks live....again taken out the window of the moving pick-up....window up of course....brrrr.






Anyway... you get the idea...it's pretty there and uh .... cold.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! gobble gobble!

Craft Harvest

This weekend my sister took me to Sacramento to a harvest festival. It was held in one of the huge buildings at Cal Expo (where the state fair is held). That place was packed full of crafts and their vendors. When we left that place, we realized we'd spent 5 hours looking at artsy craftsy stuff. It took that long to get through the whole place. It was great fun.

And then....we went to Elk Grove to check out the LYS there "Knitique". It was cute, small, nice yarn and nice knitters there but....I guess I'm just spoiled by my LYS's and that's all I'll say about that.

So, after our day in Sac, we came back to my house and .... knitted .... and .... knitted .... and .... knitted. And then, we got up this morning and knitted all day again.
She worked on her first sock and made it through the 2 in of ribbing (Yay) and then she cast on for a neck down cardigan!!!

I...well ... I worked on my trekking sock (with yarn from my sp9 pal) and started a Christmas present so I can't show it...but I can show my sock so far:


I started it on my new knitpicks double points but my guage was a little too loose on them so I switched to these generic bamboo needles, they say they're size 2 but they're actually a little smaller than that. Anyhow I'm happy with the way it's turning out...the colors are wonderful!

Sewed the sleeves on the nieces sweater.... almost done with that, think I'll take it with me to finish over the holiday!

And speaking of holiday, in case I don't get to post again before I leave.....Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

It's Here!!!!

Today I received a package from my secret pal. And I'm speechless...(I know, I know...that's never happened before) but I am!

She asked me to complete several additional questionaires, and now I see why! She put A LOT of thought into this package!!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!

The book: Knitting for Peace. well...she knows why, and I'm touched.

The Yarn: Malabrigo, Holy Crap! This may just be the softest yarn I've ever touched....Kettle Dyed, worsted, in the Velvet Grapes colorway, "butter" soft as butter is right secret pal! It's beautiful, and I'm thinking it's way too soft not to end up around my neck! I'm going to search for the perfect stitch pattern to show off it's rich colors. (it would be perfect for the "My So Called Scarf" pattern, but I'm going to look for something new first).

Yarn #2: Trekking Sock yarn YAY!!!!!! I too have seen socks knit from Trekking on a bunch of different blogs.... And I just love the way they turn out. And this color is perfect!!! I really really like it....

And....the needles.... size 2 US double points (for my socks of course), metal, slick, quick and sharp sharp sharp!!! OMG, she's a mind reader this woman. I have looked at the knitpicks sight so many times, hmmm haaaa hmmmm haaaa which should I get....the options kit???? The double points??? aaaah I can't decide..... afraid to start ordering....afraid I'd fill more than one shopping cart.... I might never stop!!!

And... I'm racking my brain now...did I say anything on my blog about flying somewhere soon? No, I don't believe I did....then how did she know that the yarn cutter pendant would be another perfect gift? Well I am flying somewhere soon, and it is ANOTHER perfect gift.

Girl, when your hot your hot.... You done gooooood!!! woooohoooo! I love everything in this box LOVE IT!!! Thank you sooooo much.

last but not least....this is simply the sweetest card ever! Thanks so much pal.

Have a great Holiday and safe travels!!!

ps to pseudobunny.... I love the new ride! Love it! I'm hoping to make it down to your area really soon, maybe the the weekend after Thanksgiving. I'll let ya know if that happens!

Back to our regularly scheduled program....

which is knitting of course! Hmmm I've been working on a little something for my niece for
X-mas. And something for my brother too.
And I started a new pair of socks a few days ago...got this 100% Merino sock yarn from Claudia hand painted yarns at my LYS (Heartstrings Yarn Studio). I'm loving the yarn and the colors.... And I picked up some new double points size 2 bamboo (Clover Takumi), I like em. I think I'd like to try some metal double points though, so that might be next.

And this....this is a very patient (ok, sorta patient) knitting companion...she's too old and tired to chase my yarn or needles...but she does like to get in my lap while I'm knitting, especially with black yarn, and that's just wrong!!

I'm back on my walk to the border, just not on the treadmill, I think I've finally left Durham!!! Yay, you can only spend so much time touring Durham before you've seen it all. So, I'm headed south like the birds.

On the sp front... I got two very nice pals, staying in contact with both, I'm getting ready to send off the second package...maybe this weekend.

Happy Knitting

SOLD

The truck is SOLD....Color me HAPPY!!!! That's right, 24 hours after listing it on craig's list, she drove away from my house with her happy new owner! Yay! I'll kinda miss the old truck but the stomach ache I've had since I bought the new ride is gone gone gone! :)

Cate- before I bought the SUV I put the back seat down and crawled in there to make sure I could lay down comfortably...perfect!!!! Room for me and an air mattress!! And it should be way warmer and less dusty! woohoo a campin' we will go!!

My poor sister fell down today .... she has a boo boo on her knee!!! I think she was very brave for her stitches though! And got to go home early from work....hmmm I wonder if she knitted while having that leg elevated????

On the knitting front....Sunday our knitting circle got together, celebrated Lynn and Linda's birthdays...yummy chocolate cake!!! And....Heatherly helped me cast off on that "my so called scarf" that I've been trying to finish but couldn't quite be happy with my cast off. If anyone is wondering...from the right side she purled the cast off which is what I was trying to do but she did it with smaller guage needles and it's perfect!

Thank you Heatherly! Happy Birthday Ladies!

Wanna Buy a Truck?

I'm hoping to find her a good home...she's been a great truck! And she still has a lot of yarn haulin miles left in her!

wicked wicked socks!

The socks are evil....they possess powers....they make the wearer do things she's knows she shouldn't do....they made me lose my mind (but I love them anyway).

The day after I finished the socks... I had big plans....I was going to run out to Starbucks, grab a chai tea and come home and paint my bedroom and bathroom. As soon as I put those socks on, the phone rang...my friend is inviting me to meet her for coffee.... despite the afore mentioned good intentions... I say "SURE! I'll meet ya for coffee!"....but hey, maybe an hour of painting time lost right? And that would be true if I hadn't made a detour to the Auto Mall on my way home...so .... 7 hours later.... I own this:



What's the problem you ask??? What got painted???? NOTHING!! Did I actually sell my old car first? NO. Did I trade it in? NO. Did I do careful research and comparison shopping like I normally would...NO...well some but not nearly enough!!!!
(Ok, I have been thinking about it...looking a little) But I had no intention of doing what I did this weekend!
And worst of all... my poor sister was waiting for me to help with her socks... instead we drove this baby to lunch and over yummy pasta on the patio we stared at this thing until we'd convinced me that it was pretty enough to buy. Not to mention how nice it drives and.... oh my lots of room for hauling yarn around in!

Which brings me back to the beginning.... it was the crazy chocolate socks that made me do it!

ta da....chocolate socks!

So, today I was supposed to get a lot done around the house.... I didn't really do that...but I did get a lot done on that second sock!!!

Thanks again Susan for the chocolate yarn....these socks are just yummy!

I ordered the ChaCha sock yarn by Susie that is advertised on the secretpal9 blog it's it's beautiful, can't wait til it gets here!

Next.....

I actually took this picture a couple of days ago.

Must not succumb to the second sock syndrome!!!!

Indiana U!

I received a postcard today from my Secret Pal!!! Yahoo! It is of a very cool painting and came from an art museum at Indiana University. My Pal...(you go girl) is touring grad schools!!! Wow! YOU GO!

Thanks so much, I love the card!

Rats!

I kept looking at the sock...and the directions...and thinking, huh, something doesn't seem right with the gusset decreases.....Well....Duh!!!! Now that I'm almost finished with the dang thing it hits me.... I decreased every round instead of every other round! Wellllll I do believe I'll leave it and call it character! hehehe And then I'll try to get it right on the second sock unless it looks too weird then I'll do that one wrong too! :)

must pay closer attention to detail! hehehe

from the leg....

we move to the heel flap...

and the heel turn....

And....on to the foot.... and almost done!!!!!

sock update

Well, after knitting the cuff, and the leg and a few rows of the heel flap, I decided to check size to see if this baby would fit...baggy at the ankle!!! Dang. So I ripped....I ripped all five inches of that thing. And after about 10 attempts at casting on (because by then I was just tired and being picky), I finally was happy with it and continued.... tonight I have almost finished the heel flap...and, I'm happy with the fit so far.... (I decreased my cast on from 64 to 60 and I think I'm knitting a little tighter). Here's what it looks like:

I love the colorway...
and the yarn!

Today, my sister cast on her very first pair of socks... it was sock lesson day! Well, it was shop for pals day too...and so, we did... SOOO much fun!!!!

What do ya think she's thinking here?

I think she's had just about enough of the knitting/blogging .... "Please mother, please get me a snack"

Happy weekend!

I liiiiike it!!!!

This: is my newly cast on sock....with my yummy chocolate colored yarn which my very nice chocolate swap pal Susan, sent me. I absolutely love it already!




Yes, you see it right, five double points....I'm used to using two circulars for my socks, in size 5. these are like size 2 1/2 us....yikes! But... I love it! I might switch and work it on 4 dbl pts...but...we'll see how long it takes to get used to all these sharp pointy things. My cat, obviously elderly .... came dangerously close to losing an eye last night when she jumped onto my lap!!!! double yikes!!!



This is a dilemma for me....I love this stitch, I love this yarn (manos del uruguay, my so-called scarf on US 11.) But for the life of me I can't happily bind off... I mean, I'm happy to bind off...but I haven't been happy with my bind off...not any of the 5 or 6 times I've bound off....only to undo my bind off. Does anybody out there have any ideas? I know it's best to bind off in the pattern stitch....but I'm not sure how to make that work...so I tried to bind off in knit then I tried to bind off in purl...and visa versa and versa visa and it just looks like doo doo.
Any ideas? Please?


So, that's what I'm working on.

Ok,I'm also working on this: A Christmas present




And this: Another Christmas present


And I finished this....


and....after taking half of these pictures, I got tangled in my sock yarn and jammed about 3 of the pointy little things into my foot....ouch.... ok, not clear into it... but it still smarted...
so take my advice....know where those pointy sticks are at all times!!!!

happy knitting.

patty's contest

My Favorite:

Actor - oooh I guess it depends on if we're judging on acting talent or just raw attraction....at
any rate I think Denzel fits the bill for both pretty well. But I like the Doctor on
Lost (Michael Fox)...and Michael Scofield's brother on Prison Break too hehehe (I'm not
that picky any of the three will do), oooh Gerard Butler, Phantom
Actress - hmmmm toughy... Meg Ryan, Shirley Maclaine, Joan Allen, Diane Keaton
Animal - I have a cool cat, and a cool dog and even a pretty cool goldfish...don't make me
choose.
Band - hmmmm jeez don't make me choose....I like Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, etc...etc..
Tim McGraw, etc...etc... no rap, no hiphop.
Beverage - hot: Starbucks non-fat Chai Latte with one extra shot of Chai
cold: Diet Cherry Coke (for now)
Book - Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter
Bubble Bath - citrus scent in the hot tub under a starry sky! Not a big bubble bath person.
Candy - Do I have to choose? Can't I just love them all?
Color - Blue or Purple or Burgandy, or Green, or....are ya starting to see a them here?
Flower - for scent Gardenia, hehehe "Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?" - Meg
Ryan, You've Got Mail.
Food - Do people really play favorites here??? hmmm my grandmother's lasagna or anything
she ever cooked for that matter.
Lip Balm - Burts Bees cherry flavor is nice.
Lotion - mmmm Citrus scents from Bath and Body
Movie - Something's Gotta Give, Family Stone, As Good As it Gets, Terms of Endearment,
Phantom of the Opera
Song - Cheryl Crow's version of Sweet Child of Mine (Is that the name of the song or just the
chorus, I'm not sure.)
TV Show - right now....Lost, Prison Break, Without a Trace, Law and Order
Vacation Spot - I'm still searching for it.

Ok....I admit I hate to choose.....I've have a 20 year career which requires me to make a lot of big decisions...and I have no problem with that...but don't make me choose a restaurant, or a favorite color...etc. I don't know why. :)