The Dreaded House Guest!!

Just kidding! Yes, I did have a house guest all of last week, but it was a welcomed guest. Mr. X came down and spend the week with me and Frisco. I think he felt more like a Show & Tell puppet then a guest. He came in Monday night. Tuesday night he met my friends Tulabug and KnitRedSox - I think Tulabug gave him a tad of a hard time, but he seemed to have taken it well. Thursday night we had dinner with my sister and her family. Him and my BIL talked computers the whole time. Friday night the State Dept. of Ed. had a dinner for all those who achieved National Board Certification and he got to meet two more of my friends (Naomi and Pam - below)



The dinner was at the Marriot down on Annapolis. The food was good, the company was great. It was a good night :)



Apparently, all you have to do is feed Frisco a few treats and he's your friend for life.



While he was here he tried to fix my dryer, but it was beyone repair, so I had to buy a new one. He did a few other things around the house for me as well. We had planned to power wash my house while he was down, but it never seemed to be warm enough to be playing with water outside, so that didn't happen.

Mr. X went back home on Monday and when I came home from the airport and for then next 2 days, each time I came home Frisco would sit and meow at the door waiting for his friend to come in after me. Wednesday night he actually huffed at me and then gave me a look that asked "Where is he?" Then he sulked off to his bed. I know exactly how he feels. *sigh*

Homespun Party

Two weeks ago I went to the Homespun Party that was held at Savage Mill. A bunch of local dyers and crafters got together to sell their goods to the masses. I was there helping out my friends Sheila (KnitsWSithSticks) and KozyKitty (Etsy shop) along with my friends Tulabug and KnitRedSox!

Here is Sheila and her lovely yarn (I picked up 4 more skeins in her gorgeous colorways!!)





Here is KK with her gret project bags! (I picked up one of these!!)





I also picked up 2 skeins from Sanguine Gryphon! Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the yarns before I added them to my stash :)

Afterwards, several of us had dinner at the Ram's Head Taven at the Mill. It was a fun, filled day!!

This Weather is Killing Me!!

Ugh! I wish Mother Nature would make up her mind and decide that Spring should be here and stop with this crazy up and down weather! All these drastic temperature drop, front and barometric pressure ups and downs are recking havoc on me and triggering migraines like crazy! I don't know what percentage of the population actually gets migraines - and I'm not talking bad headaches here - I'm talking about debilitating, super-sensitive, mind shit. I had a really bad one last week and not my usual kind of off-kilterness when it comes to migraines. I was in bed Monday night and I had a slight headache. I didn't take anything because I was going to sleep and usually sleep will help get rid of it. I was just finishing up a chapter in a book when BAM I had a full force migraine come on. I've never had one hit me like that without one of my triggers. So, I got out of bed and took one of my prescription medications and crawled back into bed. I was up again at either 2:30 or 3:30 AM, my vision was blurry so I couldn't read my clock, and my head was pounding! It was time for the ice pack. I went down stairs and only by the grace of God did I make it down the flight of steps without falling and breaking my neck because my balance was soooooo off whack! I grabbed the ice pack from my freezer (I keep two in my freezer for just such times) and crawled back up the stairs *and I do mean crawl because I was afraid I might fall if I tried to stand up*, took another prescription pill, crawled back into bed, pulled up the covers, placed the ice pack on my head and drifted off to the blackness. I was up again a few hours later. It was like my body just knew that it could not handle the loud alarm clock because I woke up again, literally two minutes before my alarm went off. My head was still pound and when I got up to head to the bathroom, my balance was still off. There was no way I could drive into work. Called in sick, took a 3rd prescription pill *I know, not good* made sure the sun blocking shades were closed *I have those heavy light blocking shades for days like this that turn my usually bright room into the Bat Cave* and went back to bed. I didn't get up again till about 11AM. My head was still bothering me, but not as bad. I had something light to eat, took a 4th pill and started to make a mental list of who I would call to take me to the hospital if this pain didn't go away. I knew I couldn't take any more of my prescriptions. I shouldn't have take 4 in less that 24 hours, but thinking kind of is non-existent when you're dealing with pain like this.

I was straightening up a few things, staying off the computer because that can be a migraine trigger for me. Usually it's when I'm working on the computer a lot, but when I'm teetering on the brink the slightest thing can trigger a full blown migraine instantly. That's when I saw it....
the one bootie....
the one Christening bootie....
ONE...
on the floor in the spare room. The other was no where in sight! *don't panic, don't get hysterical, and whatever you don't - don't let your BP go up or you'll definitely be calling someone to take you to the hospital for another migraine*

I had both booties sitting on the top of the bookcase, drying. They were stuffed with plastic baggies to shape and stretch then just a little. The other booties was not on the bookcase. The other booties was not on the floor near the one bootie that I found. *know, this is where you can officially call me the crazy cat lady* I'm shaking the one booties that I had while demanding that Frisco, yes that's my cat, tell me where the other one was. I have no more of this yarn left, so I could not make another bootie. I needed to find it! Frisco, of course, is looking at me like "Uh oh, mommy's losing it again." I went searching all through the upstairs, looking under the bed, in the closets, in his little bed, went downstairs, moved the couch, moved the china buffet, searched high and low for where he might had swatted this bootie. It was driving me crazy, because Frisco doesn't usually play with things that don't make noise, unless it's a long piece of string or yarn or a measuring tape. I'm am soooo trying not to panic here. I went back upstairs to plead with Frisco to show me were the other booties was. This time, something apparently sunk in with him and he walks over to the chaise lounge that I have in the spare room, flops over and starts pawing at something under there. I go over and get on my knees and take a look *oh thanks the gods!* There under the chaise lounge was the bootie with half the plastic bag pulled out of it. The little stinker was playing with the plastic bag that inside the bootie *told you, he likes things that make noise* I snatched up that bootie and put them away where he couldn't get his paws on them again!

Disaster averted, cat still have his skin in tact.

In other knitting news. I finished two projects since I last posted. First up is the baby blanket. This was made for one of the big wigs at the Panera's that my knitting group meets at every Wednesday night. The pattern was easily memorized and fairly easy to knit up.


Pattern: Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer
Needles: Addi Turbos size 9
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted (4 skeins)
Modifications: none

And then, I finally finished my Valetine Baudelaire socks *ok, ok, so it's no longer Valentine's Day, but who cares!* And I love them!! It was a perfect marriage of yarn and pattern!


Pattern: Baudelaire by Cookie A.
Needles: KnitPicks Circulars - 3.0 mm 32"
Yarn: Yarn Love Marianne Dashwood - Summer Sangria
Modifications: I made the socks 2-@-a-time and in the larger size, but without the larger instep. The larger instep would probably have aided in getting the socks over my heel a little better, but then they would have been to big on the calf. I like them just how they are.

I would definately make another pair with this pattern. It was lots of fun. I have another pair of Cookie A's on needles and can't wait for her sock book to come out! I've already ordered mine on Amazon and it says it should be delivered on April 3rd!! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

See Ellen, I posted before you could yell at me :)

Swamped in Swaps!!

And lovin it!! I know folks outside the swap world just have no clue as to why people would be in swaps.

"What? You buy stuff for someone you don't know??" Is the usual response I get when explaining a swap, but I've gotten some pretty neat things from a swap.

I will admit the very first swap I joined was a Secret Pal swap (a while back) and my partner completely flaked out on me! It was very disappointing. I had a lot of fun putting together a package for her and couldn't wait to see what she was putting together for me. Plus it's always fun to shop for yarn and goodies!! When I realized my partner had flaked out, I contacted the coordinator and she found an "angel" for me. An angel is a generous someone who is willing to put together another package for a swappee who hasn't received anything.

I did not let this one person taint my hopes for swapping. I was reading all the other swap posts and how other people were getting all these great package and though everyone must get a "dud" everyone once in a while. So I've tried a few other swaps and lucky have not been disappointed again.

I also think that Ravelry has helped to really cut down on the swap flakers because there is "Naughty Swappers" list that people can check.

Anyhoo, I was in 3 swaps this past month. I don't know what I was thinking in joining three of them, but I did and it was a lot of fun. One of the three I was even a co-hostess of.

First up in the Valentine Vampire Swap. *yes, I'm a vampire lover and have read and seen many vampire novels and movies*


Here’s everything that was in my package from LadyMay (Ravelry profile):

• 4 patterns: Thermis, Boo the Bat, Sweetheart Glovettes, Loves Bites fingerless gloves
• 4 skeins of yarns: Wool-Ease, Wiggles, Cascade 220, Classic Elite Alaska
• Loves Bites music CD she made for me
• A TY beanie Spider
• Pretty stitch markers
• Hand lotion
• The Cursed by L. A. Banks
• The Love Voodoo kit Vampire in a Box
• Tootsie Roll lip balm
• Choclate covered nuts and a few Hershey Kisses

And as if that wasn't enough - she knitted two items for me!! The first is a pair of fingerless gloves with Classic Elite Yarns Lush (50% Angora/50% wool) YUMMY!! I think I have worn these almost everyday since I received my package!



The second was Boo the Bat! Isn't he just too cute!!



The next swap I was in was from the Caffine Addicts Ravelry group. Pinky23 (Ravelry Profile)put togheter this great package for me.

• a pound of Irving Farms "Gotham" coffee - I just love that name!
• a bag of dark chocolate heart candies - yeah that package didn't last too long ;)
• a cute Valentine mug from Starbucks (a coffee lover can never have too many mugs, can she??)
• hand lotion (don't all yarnie people love their hand lotions!)
• a small package of SOAK
• two candles
• and of course yarn!! Malabrigo Sock yarn!! I have been dying to get my hands on some of this yarn! Look at that rich purple colorway!! *No Lavlaurie you can't have my purple!*
• and the card she semd me was so cute!! The cover reads "And now for the final word on knitting socks" and you open the card up and it reads “Whaddya MEAN, you’d kinda like one for the other foot?!” *laugh*

Luckily, I make my socks 2-@-a-time so I never worry about the dreaded 2nd sock syndrom.

My final package for this month came from the Knitter's Coffee Swap 4, which I was one of the hostess for. This terrific package came from Pennala (Ravelry profile) in Canada.

Here's what was in my goodie package:

• Knitscene Winter 08/Spring 09 (I almost bought this magazine on Monday!)
• The Sculptress (she apparently found my weakness for mystery novels)
• A French Press travel mug (now I can make GOOD coffee at work!)
• two different coffees that just smelled heavenly when I open the box - I tried the Cuzco this morning - YUM!
• a pouch of kitty treats for Frisco (which he absolutely loves!
• Avon goodies (hand lotion, hand sanitizer - perfect purse size, bubble bath, nail files)
• a keychain flashlight
• a little coffie cup candle holer (so cute)
• And of course and beautiful skein of Araucania Rance in a gorgeous Victorian pink and green colorway *no Tulabug, you can't have it, it's all mine!!*

I couldn't resist, here are a few pictures of Frisco eating the treats Pennala sent him! As you can see he was impatient for his treats. As I was trying to take pictures that he was trying to pull my hand holding the treat down to this mouth!

Now I am all caught up on my sharing :) .... At least I think I am for now!

Catch up!!

OK, so I've been a bad blogger, but at least I realized that before my friend Ellen has to tell me that I've been a bad blogger! (Hi Ellen!)

So, lots to catch you all up on!! First up, my sister came down with my new niece last weekend. Isn't she just precious!! I could hold her all day long!



Apparently, my sister and DH forgot the Pack 'n Play in Florida on their last trip and my other sister wasn't thinking clearly when they first came down. There was no place for Maya to sleep so they had to think fast and make a bed that was the right size for Maya to sleep in....

Tada! Baby-in-a-basket!


And just the perfect size too!! :)

As you all know, well those of you that have been following my blog for a while now, I earned my National Boards Teaching Certificate this year! The county that I work in had an official pinning ceremony for us were we received our official NBCT pins. It was a nice, although at times boring, ceremony. The pin is now officially collecting dust in my jewelry box :) My gf in the middle there called me up the day after the ceremony to inform me that her pin never made it home that night! I laughed so hard when she told me that. She apparently lost the name tag and the pin was on her name tag. She called me up just last night to let me know she did indeed find her pin in the back seat of her car on the floor board.

The state is having a formal dinner for all who have achieved in the state sometime in March and shortly here I should be received my official certificate! I can't wait.



I have several projects on the needles, but these are the three that I am currently working on. Back in December, I decided I was going to match up patterns and yarns so that projects were all ready to go this year. I bagged up about 16 skeins of sock yarns in hopes of getting more socks completed. My official goal is one pair a month, but the more the merrier! I picked this yarn out in February because there were suppose to be my official Valentine's Day socks. Needles to say - I just finished turning both heels last night and starting to work up the leg. I am loving this pattern (Baudelaire by Cookie A.) and the yarn! The yarn is Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood in the colorway Summer Sangria. This colorway is just luscious!



I'm also in a March sock contest in the Sheila Rovelstad Design group on Ravelry. We had to cast on a pair of socks with green yarn (minimum 25% green in the colorway) so I pulled out my BlueMoon Fiber Arts - Socks That Rock in the colorway Lucky and cast on for Pomatomus by Cookie A. *yes, that's two Cookie A patterns on needles at once* These socks have to be finished by March 31st, but I'm aiming to wear them ON St. Patty's day - St. Patty's Day 2009 that is!! :)




Lastly is a baby blanket my gf asked me to make for another friend. I will have this blanket done before Wednesday rolls around! *I swear it Tulabug!*



Here's a little yarn porn for ya. This is the first installment for the Wullenstudio sock club. Isn't this gorgeous!! This is actually my 2nd skein of it.





The first skein I received was to test knit the official pattern for the sock club! Didn't they come out beautifully!! I just love how the colors blend together so well!



Apparently Frisco thought this pair was for him!



Here are just a few projects that I have finished since my last post.

First we have a simple cowl that I made for my Valentine Vampire Swap partner.


Pattern: Simple Cowl (Rav link)
Yarn: South West Trading Company Gianna
Needles: KnitPicks size 11
Modifications: None

Next up the Christening bonnet for my niece. She doesn't look to thrilled to have this on her head does she? *she sure does have the Billy Idol snear coming along there*


Pattern: Feather & Fan Bonnet by Larissa Brown (Rav link)
Yarn: Patons Silk Bamboo
Needles: KnitPicks size 6
Modifications: None, I did add a wide satin ribbon around the bottom to tie a nice bow on the side and keeo the bonnet on her head.

Just couldn't resist sharing this picture as well :)



Last up are the Christening Booties.


Pattern: Mary Jane Booties by Lucie Sinkler (Rav link)
Yarn: Patons Silk Bamboo
Needles: KnitPicks DPN size 3
Modifications: None.

Next up - something for ME!!


Pattern: Just Enough Ruffles by Laura Chau (Rav link)
Yarn: 100purewool.com Worsted Merino Single (love this yarn!! Just like Malabrigo, but less expensive)
Needles: KnitPicks size 8
Modifications: None

Had another skein and a half of this colorway, so I made a beret to match and looking to make some fingerless gloves with the remaining yarn.

Pattern: Meret (Mystery Beret) by Woolly Wormhead (Rav link)
Yarn: 100purewool.com Worsted Merino Single
Needles: KnitPicks size 8
Modifications: 4 repeats before decreasing.

What a Wonderful World...

A New Hobby??

Last Saturday I took a glass blowing workshop with some friends, Naomi, Racheal and a friend of Naomi's Joe. Not something I would have scoutted out on my own, but I figured what the heck. The lesson was only $40 and I get to take home the piece that I make. For the life of me I can't remember the instructors name, but he was a good teacher. He gave a demonstration of the three different things you could make at the workshop; you could pull a flower, blow a glass ornament, or make a necklace pendant. After we each finished out pieces, we talked about taking the 4 week course. Unfortunately, my basement fiasco happened the very next day and the money I would have spend on the class went to the plummer instead. So, no class for me right now. I am thinking that I might take the workshop again - I mean for $40 and I get to take home what I make - instant handmade gifts!

Anyhoo, here are some photos from that day. There's apparently a video of this out on facebook somewhere too. If my girlfriend ever gets around to sending me the video I will post it.



And here is what I made that day. I call it my Twlight Flower *yes, after the series* I'm really happy with how it came out and right now it is front and center in the china cabinet, mainly so Frisco doesn't bat it around and turn it into a shatter glass.







I so would love to put a sink like this in my bathroom! Is that not the coolest! Yeah, those are the wacky girls I took the workshop with.

Water Whooos

I have not had a very good start to my year when it comes to my house. First, I had issues with my heat pump, AGAIN. I got an outrage electrical bill in December - almost as bad as the bill from last year. So, my immediate thoughts were that something is wrong with my heat pump again. After numerous phone calls to my home warranty company (shopping around for a different one this year) and numerous house calls from a heating & air conditioning company - turns out the HWC screwed me and I'm stuck with crazy electric bills.

What happened it that technically the warranty company created a mis-matched unit in my house. The indoor portion of the heat pump is a 10 SEER unit and the outside unit that was replaced last January is a 13 SEER unit. IF the units were matching the 13 SEER system would be much more energy efficient, but they didn't. Instead they replaced the outside unit with a PAYNE, which is turning out to be a Pain-in-the-ass or rather wallet, and the installed some little gadget to the inside unit that lets the warranty companies get away with creating a mismatched unit and sky-rockets my bills.

So, I bought myself a Delonghi oil-filled space heater. I put that in my bedroom and I still have one of those blowing space heaters which is in my computer room. The thermostat now stays on 60 and the space heater generates enough heats to warm up the upper floor of my house. So when I am home in the evening, I pretty much live upstairs. Hopefully the January will be a LOT less for me efforts.

OK, so I had my upset for the year right off the bat - so I thought. Sunday I was doing laundry and when I went downstairs to change out the loads this is what I encountered:



The culpret was that toilet in the basement. Apparently there was a clog in the main line of the house and all the water that was draining from house hit the blockage and then came back up from the toilet and all over the basement floor. I lost it. All I saw were the dollar signs it was going to cost me to fix this and knowing I just didn't have it right now. The one thing I am grateful for is that it was sewage that came up through the toilet! Thanks goodness for small favors I suppose.

This was like the straw that broke the camels back. I just lost it that morning. So after I cried out all my frustrations and got myself semi-together, I called my sister for help. I called the county first to see if the blockage was on their end. I prayed that it was! From there I called my insurance company, who inturn called a cleaning company to come out and clean up the water in my basement. County called me back and basically said "Nope. Not our problem." Soooooooooo, the plumber came out on Monday and snaked the main line. Nothing really seemed to be caught to create a blockage, but the toilet now seems to be flushing without incident. The plumber isn't sure what happened. " Could be rooted damaged the pipes." He said, "If this happens again he'll snake a camera down to see what is going on and to start saving money because I may need to install new drainage pipes." *WHAT?!?!?*

Can I catch a break.... PLEASE!

Sock it Two Me

Well, really three, but that wouldn't sound right. I finished three pairs of socks this month!! I can only show you two of them. I am a test knitter for my friend Sheila. She put together her first sock club this year and she asked me to test knit all the patterns before the shipments go out! Her yarn is FAaaaaaB - U - lous!! So go check out her sock club. I promise you won't be disappointed!

So, getting back to my socks!

First up.... Smeggin' Red Dwarf Socks...


Pattern: Red Dwarf Socks (Rav link)
Yarn: Knit One Crochet Two's Wick
Needles: KnitPicks size 4
Modifications: None

Next up are my Psychedelic Falling Leaves Socks


Pattern: Falling Leaves (Rav link)
Yarn: Colinette's Jitterbug
Needles: KnitPicks size 1.5 (2.5mm)
Modifications: None

I ran out of yarn while making these socks and looked around on Ravelry to see if anyone was selling this color. I found two people, but only looked like it would be the right color match. As you can see the colors in my skein were deep and rich and lots of the dark purple. I was careful when matching the new yarn to the old and you can't even tell where the new yarn starts!! I love it. Of course, now I have a little more that 3/4 of a skein left that I have no idea what to do with!

And my 3rd pairs for the month.....

Well, you'll have to check back mid-February to see those pictures :)

KCS4 Questions!

Round 4 of the Knitters' Coffeeswap is up and running. I am co-hosting with KnittyMama and Dawn. Here are the answers to my questions and I can't wait to read my partner's!!

1. Whole bean or ground? I prefer whole since Ihave a grinder

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? FULLY-loaded - a must!!

3. Regular or flavored? definately regular

4. How do you drink your coffee? usually I make a soy latte. If I'm running short on time or soy milk and I French press it with a little sugar and creamer

5. Favorite coffee ever? LaVazza or Jamacian Blue Mountain Coffee

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I tend to be a bit fussy about my coffee

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Since I'm losing weight, usually just yarn and needles to keep my hands busy. Every once in a while I cave in to temptation and I have what are called Dunkers. They are chocolate chip cookies that are long instead of round and have chocolate on the back side. When you dunk them in the coffee the chocolate melts a little into the coffee give the latte just a hint of flavoring. Yum.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? hmm, not that I can think of right now.

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Merino, Suri, silk, cashmere, I definately lean more towards the natural fibers

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? scratch wools - my skin is sensative and if a wool is scratch I simply cannot have it against my skin. I'm not a fan of the fun furs either.

11. What's on your needles? OMG, I have to list this?? OK, here goes - 3 pairs of socks, 3 scarves, 2 lave shawls, a cashmere cowl, Juliet, and I think I have another cardigan aw well. That's all I can remember off the top of my head.

12. Favorite colors? I find almost all colors appealing. I personally lean more toward the jewel tone colors, black and red. I rarely knit with yellow or orange unless it was specifically chosen for a knitted gift. I never wear those colors.

13. Allergies? It's not an allergie, but I can't stand the smell of smoke and I'm an ex-smoker!

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I love my Italian heritage. I collect fairies. I love knitting socks 2-@-a-time. I'm an avid reader and I have a kitty called Frisco who always thinks I don't give him enough attention!

Twitches with Temptation

Help!
I'm an addict!!!
I need a 12 step program!

"Hello, my name is Pheelya and I'm an addict....

Hello Pheelya...."

I just cast off 2 pairs of socks and swore I would not cast on another till I finished 2 more pairs of the remaining 3! Yes, I had 5 pairs of socks on needles! FIVE! For someone who swore when she started knitting she would never knit sock I had, yes count them - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - 5 pairs of socks on needles!! 2 down - 3 more to go. And, what did I do today? Can you guess?? Uh you guessed it! I cast on ANOTHER pair of socks! I need therapy!

BUT - O! M! G! I LU-HU-HUV this yarn!! I couldn't resist the color any more. Even thought it was wrapped up in tissue paper - I knew it was there. Lurking.... calling to me... I swear I heard it speak to me every time I opened my closet of yarn... whispering.... "knit me.... you know you want to.... come on, cast me on...." *oh the temptation* It's been calling to be ever since I bought it at Stitches East.

Today, I just couldn't take it anymore. I tried to resist. I did. Really. I swear! HONEST! *Don't mock me because you KNOW you've all been there!* But the force was strong today. If you were in my house today you would have heard it too, the yarn, call me, mocking me....

"Resistance is Futile!"

*yes, yes, I know I just cross referenced Stars Wars with Star Trek*

And then, I thought I had resist. Really I did! Then I heard it again on my way to Knit Night...

"Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile."

Uh oh, now I was hearing it in the car. Can't be. Am I going crazy? I must be. *hey, no comments from the Peanut Gallery over there* That yarn is at home... in the yarn closet.... wrapped in tissue paper.... So I thought.

I heard whisperings as I walked into Panera's to join my knitting group...

"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

I sit down and open my knitting bag and right there, right on top of all my other projects, mocking me... was THE yarn! And I heard it again....

"I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been, is over. From this time forward, you will service... us."

So, I gave up trying and cast on another pair of socks :)



Oh, the yarn? You want to know about the yarn? And here I thought you had read through all of that because it was entertaining! *grin*

The yarn is Yarn Love's Marianne Dashwood in the colorway of Summer Sangria (Wine, burgundy, maroon, claret. Kettle dyed) The picture below just does not capture the intense richness of this color. Oh so nice to work with!



"Resistance is, and always has been, futile." -- Locutus to Captain Picard

Returning from a Hiatus...

Sorry folks, I know I have fallen behind in my bloggin' and haven't caught you all up date with what's been going on *see Ellen, I'm writting* and sharing pictures of my two little cherubs *enough picture for you KK??* I was off work for just about two weeks and my whole schedule has been thrown off.

First off - I'd like to let you all know that I have resolved my transmission problem with my Honda. I sold the sucker!! Gone, it's probably up on some auction block right now or some high school kid is rebuilding it for auto-mechanics class! But, it is no longer my problem :) I now have a Toyota Corolla. My parent's were buying themselves a new car, so they sold me the Corolla. It's smaller then my Honda with the most annoying alarm system. I'll have to take a picture and share with you all another time. Feels so strange being able to sleep in an extra half-hour in the morning now that my car doesn't have to heat for 50 minutes!! The only think I hate is the color. Seems like everyone has a silver/light grey car and finding it in the parking lot is not so easy anymore! The first day I drove it to work, I completely forgot and I was looking for my red Honda that afternoon! It was a good 10 minutes before I remembered *DUH, you have a new car* But it felt good to be able to leave the work parking lot at exactly 2:30 PM that day and not have to wait 45 minutes for the transmission to warm up. Wow!! and whole hour and a half back in my day!!

For Christmas, I went home to NY. I spend several days there knitting, relaxing and playing niece Maya. She's such a little peanut of a thing. While I was up there I finially finished my Christmas Money socks!


Pattern: Monkey socks (Rav link)
Yarn: Wullenstudio Sock Yarn
Needles: KnitPicks size 2 fixed circulars
Modifications: None

They were finished the day after Christmas, but I wore them anyway!!

And here are some pictures of the little peanut at Christmas.



1. Christmas Eve 2008, 2. Nonni & Maya, 3. Nonni and Maya, 4. Grandpa & Maya, 5. Grandpa's the baby hog!, 6. Mrs. Maya Clause, 7. Felicia and Maya, 8. Felica and Maya sleeping, 9. She's a little peanut!, 10. She doesn't like the camera flash, 11. how peaceful, 12. I could have held her all night, 13. One pooped Ms. Clause, 14. Santa's little helper, 15. Christina, 16. Soon-to-be Godmother, 17. Are you talking to me?, 18. Hangin' with Zia, 19. Chillin' in the Boppi, 20. checkin' everything out, 21. Hi, 22. What's over there?, 23. She's trying to say something, 24. Wha' you say?, 25. Are you still talking to me?, 26. oooo fishies!, 27. Maya in her Santa's Helper PJ's, 28. Did that move?, 29. I can reach..., 30. Felicia babysitting, 31. Peaceful moments, 32. A steady heartbeat, 33. I'm not sure about you, 34. Oh, just gas :)35. Not available36. Not available

So, I was in NY for about a week, drove home Saturday, about an hour after arriving home I was picked up by my friends Stacey and KnitRedSox and we all went of to KozyKitty's for a graduation celebration for her son. We hung ou there for a few hours and then I returned home to unpack and pack for my trip to the Windy City.

I spend the next week chillin out *and it was chilly* hangout with Mr. X and Baby M. I have to say I was rather shocked that Baby M seemed to remember me from my last trip because as soon as her father put her down she came over to me for a hug. She so cute when she hugs too - she runs up to and then falls on top of you to hug you. Aside from saying Dada and Mama she now says Pup-py! Baby, Bye-bye and Thank you *it's sounds more like 'tank YOU' - so cute*. She will give you something just to take it back and say "Tank YOU!" I had her saying penguin a few times as she has this penguin today that she likes alot. Here are a few pictures from my trip.



1. Baby M unwrapping her presents, 2. Baby M with Dr. Suess, 3. A book, 4. Not sure about that, 5. Baby M, 6. Checking out the knitting accessories, 7. Tastey row counter over the cheesy poof, 8. She luvs this puppy., 9. Showing off her teeth, 10. Not sure what to play with next, 11. My cuddle toys!, 12. All mine!, 13. Baby M's House, 14. Daddy acting goofy, 15. Now how do I open this again?, 16. Mmmm Cherrios, 17. She loves her penguin, 18. Baby M's laptop, 19. The little doodlebug, 20. You can't have my laptop!, 21. No, this button Daddy, 22. That, that over there!, 23. Juice!, 24. more juice, 25. Hugs with Daddy, 26. Smiles, 27. Diabolicale!, 28. Cuddles, 29. Kisses just for Daddy, 30. Baby M's dress, 31. Baby M loves her laptop, 32. more smiles, 33. Her Puppy!, 34. Daddy and Baby M, 35. another hat!, 36. Doodlebug!

While I was that the airport I casted on for the Ruffle Hat with the leftover yarn I had from the Baby Bolero I made her on my last trip there. I wasn't sure if I would have enough, and sure enough, I didn't. So it was turned into a rolled brimmed hat. Still looks cute on her though and she seemed to like it. Mr. X warned me that she tends to pull her hats off, but she didn't. Soft, squishy, warm yarn tends to make a difference ;) I still want to make her the Ruffle Hat because it's just so cute! Here's a pic of her in the Roll Brim.


Pattern: Ruffled Hat (Rav link)
Yarn: Wullenstudio DK Yarn
Needles: KnitPicks size 6 16" & size 6 DPN
Modifications: Didn't make the ruffle. Kept knitting till I ran out of yarn

I had also started the Cat-Eared Baby hat for her with the yarn that Mr. X picked out on my last trip. I followed the directions, but the hat looked awefully small to me. So before I cast-off, I packed it and brought it up for her to try on. Sure enough - too small. She's got her Daddy's big head. So the first hat was frogged and I started over casting on something like 20 more stitches. When I finished the hat I decided I didn't want to make cat ears and started searching around on Ravelry for some idea when I came across these flowers and thought "oh, I like those!" So I made three flowers and Baby M now looks like a baby flapper in this hat:



I have also finished 2 more pairs of socks, but don't have pics yet. I will post them soon. I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

A Year of Review - 2008 Knitting

1. Madelyn's blanket 2, 2. Wave Scarf, 3. 2nd pair Fetchings, 4. 100_1040, 5. 100_1518, 6. Impressionist Cowl, 7. MD Moss Grid Hand Towel, 8. 100_1211, 9. Swiffer covers, 10. Chinese Waves Dishcloth, 11. Birthday Cowl, 12. Thumbelina Hat, 13. Baby M's Berry Hat, 14. 100_1033, 15. Baby M's Beanie, 16. Shetland Triangle, 17. 100_1000, 18. 100_1547, 19. 100_1316, 20. One Row Scarf, 21. 100_1203, 22. Moss Bark Short Sleeve Cardigan, 23. Cherry Garcia cowl, 24. Luna Moth Shawl, 25. WhoDuKnit Mystery KAL #1, 26. Neck-down Childrens Bolero, 27. M lacy, 28. Just Ducky, 29. 100_1377, 30. Gabbi's ocean blanket, 31. monkey, 32. Crosshatch Lace Socks, 33. 13, 34. Cowl'd and Frosty Outside, 35. Christening Gown, 36. Fetchings

New Year's Resolution

More Wine Please!!


updates with pictures coming soon

Holiday stuff

The first snow of the season!! Doesn't it look pretty.Last Friday evening it snowed and this is what my yard looked like Saturday morning :)




On Tuesday, Frisco's Christmas gift was delivered. What is it with cats and cardboard boxes? He just has to check it out.









Frisco is getting a bathroom upgrade for his Christmas present. :)





Wednesday night was my knitting groups 2nd annual Cookie Swap! We each had to bring 7 dozen cookies because there was suppose to be something like 35 people there. I have no idea if 35 people were there or not, but it was a good time and I came home with some great cookies. I have been so good too! I haven't eatten any of the cookies yet! I'm being a tad lazy this year, since I'm not going to be here for Christmas. I'm taking most of these cookies home to NY with me so that Mom doesn't have to bake. She's having the family over for Christmas dinner so that will be enought cooking for her. I will also pack a small tin of cookies to take with me to Chicago for Mr. X. Oh, I baked Triple Chewy Chocolate Cookies, and can I just say OMG they are rich! I got the recipe of a friend of mine who loves to bake. I can only eat one cookie and I have to have a HUGE glass of ice cold milk to wash it down.

OH! I finished my cardigan just in time to wear to the party!!





I also received my Winter Wonderland Swap package this week from my pal in Las Vegas! Check out the cool things she sent me!! I love the snowman ornament. It won't be in the tree this year because I'm not putting up a tree since I won't be here over the holidays. I know, depressing. Never really feels like Christmas to me without a tree, but if I'm not going to be here to enjoy it then why bother?? Anyhoo, check out that yarn! That color it sooooooo me!! Thank you Alexis!!